Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 AI empowering digital development of global industries 09:14, November 22, 2024 By Ye Ting and Zheng Keyi ( Xinhua People visit the Light of Internet Expo in Wuzhen, east China's Zhejiang Province, Nov. 19, 2024. The Light of Internet Expo kicked off on Tuesday during the 2024 World Internet Conference (WIC) Wuzhen Summit in the water-town of Wuzhen, showcasing the latest technological achievements, especially those made in the artificial intelligence (AI) area. (Xinhua/Cai Xiangxin) HANGZHOU, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- China is home to almost 10,000 digitalized workshops and smart factories nationwide, according to a report released by the Chinese Academy of Cyberspace Studies on Thursday, highlighting the transformative role of artificial intelligence (AI) in driving industry digitalization. Among these, 421 have been cultivated as national-level smart manufacturing demonstration factories, 90 percent of which have applied technologies such as AI and digital twins, said the China Internet Development Report 2024, which was released during the ongoing 2024 World Internet Conference (WIC) Wuzhen Summit held in the ancient water town of Wuzhen in east China's Zhejiang Province. The report analyzed China's developments, achievements and future trends in information infrastructure, digital economy, cybersecurity and law-based cyberspace governance. The report also noted that by the end of 2023, the number of valid AI invention patents in China had reached 378,000, representing a year-on-year growth of over 40 percent -- 1.4 times the global average growth rate. From 2014 to 2023, China filed over 38,000 generative AI patent applications, ranking first globally. Generative AI applications have entered a phase of rapid growth, with more than 100 large-scale models with over 1 billion parameters in China as of March 2024. AI continues to expand its applications across industries, with sector-specific large models empowering fields such as electronics, health care, and transportation. This has led to the development of hundreds of application models, driving digital transformation and upgrading traditional industries. For instance, Alibaba Group is committed to making its self-developed large models open source. To date, over 100 open-source models are available on Qwen, Alibaba Cloud's proprietary language model, with cumulative downloads exceeding 40 million, said Wu Yongming, CEO of Alibaba Group, at the summit. As of the end of this September, more than 8 million developers are actively engaged in model development and application on Alibaba's AI open model community "ModelScope." Making these models open source has significantly lowered the barriers for AI development and adoption across various industries, accelerating the implementation of AI in diverse scenarios, said Wu. Likewise, the ERNIE Agent developed by Baidu has significantly advanced the capabilities of Baidu's ERNIE foundation model and driving widespread applications across various industries, which has attracted more than 800,000 developers and 150,000 enterprises, according to Wang Haifeng, Chief Technology Officer of Baidu. "For example, we collaborated with Academician Zhu Youyong from the Chinese Academy of Engineering and his team to develop the 'Farmer Academician Agent' based on ERNIE foundation model," said Wang, who added that it integrates Zhu's research and agricultural knowledge to provide farmers with real-time assistance on issues such as planting techniques and pest control. According to data from the market research firm International Data Corporation, the market size for China's large-model platforms and related applications reached 1.77 billion yuan (about 243.8 million U.S. dollars) in 2023. Also released at the summit, the World Internet Development Report 2024 said the promising outlook for future industries driven by AI has led to significant investment from the industrial circle in AI research. In 2023, the industrial circle produced 51 prominent machine learning models, compared to just 15 contributed by the academic circle. Limited access to funding, data and computational resources in academics has caused a talent shift toward industry, further solidifying its dominance in AI research and development. The two reports mentioned above have since 2017 been released for eight consecutive years as outcomes of the WIC. Themed "Embracing a People-centered and AI-for-good Digital Future -- Building a Community with a Shared Future in Cyberspace," the summit kicked off on Wednesday and is scheduled to conclude on Friday. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) 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 Google unveiled on Nov 20 its first mass timber office building, a cutting-edge and eco-friendly structure in Sunnyvale. The search giant hopes it will be a productive and healthy workspace. Over time, the five-story structurebuilt on the site of the one-time headquarters of video games pioneer Atariis expected to have 96% less carbon emissions than a conventional steel and concrete office building of equivalent size. "This building, 1265 Borregas, showcases creating sustainable buildings that empower people to do their best work," said Michelle Kaufmann, Google's director of R+D for the Built Environment and the guiding force behind the creation of the new workspace in Sunnyvale's Moffett Park district. Google executives are confident the eye-catching office building, constructed largely with pieces of Douglas fir wood pressed together, will provide workers with a healthier environment. "The way to empower people to do their best work is to give them access to nature, views and daylight," Kaufmann said during a ribbon-cutting event to officially open the building on Wednesday. "This building has it all. 1265 Borregas reflects our latest ways of working." Construction began on the building in late 2020 and the first Google employees moved into their offices in September. The building totals 182,500 square feet, according to official documents on file at Sunnyvale City Hall, and could potentially accommodate 700 to 900 workers. While company officials said "hundreds" of Google employees work in the building, the company didn't provide a precise number, as per its policy. Most Google employees work in the office three days a week, according to Kaufmann, with some teams working up to four or five days a week. The company thanked Sunnyvale officials for working closely with the tech titan on the project. "We always strive to be really good neighbors," Scott Foster, Google's vice president of real estate, said during Wednesday's event. "We are grateful to the city of Sunnyvale to let us do something different." With its first mass timber building, Google hopes to spark a trend in office space. "It starts with one building, but we want this to be more than something great for Google," Kaufmann said. "We want this to be great for the whole industry. This type of construction could benefit millions and billions of people." The company is betting that the building can serve as an example for other projects whose builders strive to be environmentally friendly. "Mass timber was central to our design goals," said Natalie Telewiak, principal executive with Canada-based Michael Green Architecture. "We created human-centric spaces. We hope this will serve as a model and benchmark for future sustainable architecture." When the tech titan embarked on its quest to develop a mass timber building, the company set goals that seemed to be tough to achieve at best, according to Kaufman. Mountain View-based Google sought to fashion and construct an office site that would be completed rapidly and economicallyyet still produce never-before-seen environmental benefits compared with typical steel and concrete buildings. "The building is beautiful," Sunnyvale Mayor Larry Klein said. "Seeing that open wood, the wood grain, is incredible. People can feel happy to go to work today." Klein also announced that Google.org had provided a $100,000 grant to Sunnyvale Community Services for homeless programs and a $50,000 grant to the Sunnyvale Education Foundation. "Google has always been very supportive for many years," said Marie Bernard, executive director of Sunnyvale Community Services, who noted that the grant comes at a time when the nonprofit is handling a 20% annual increase in people who need food donations or assistance. As audacious as this effort might have seemed at the outset of the company's mass timber office voyage, Google officials were convinced that the company's DNA would forge a path to a successful outcome. "That's always been part of Google. To try the impossible," Kaufmann said in an interview after the event. #YR@ MediaNews Group, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis hails the energy deal on the island of Naxos. Greece this week signed a clean energy deal with the EU in a bid to fast-track the green transition on its fragile islands threatened by overtourism and climate change. Hundreds of Greek islands are facing major challenges including water scarcity, said Dimitris Lianos, the mayor of Naxos, the largest island in the Cyclades archipelago, where the deal was signed Thursday with the European Union and the European Investment Bank to finance decarbonization projects. The symbolism of signing it there was hard to ignore. Like on most of Greece's many islands, farms on Naxos are imperiled by drought. The 1.6-billion-euro fund ($1.67 billion) will leverage the islands' main assetswind and sunto provide clean energy at affordable costs. Investing in "green" energy sources will "allow the islands to achieve their ecological transition", said Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. "Renewable energy will help the country become self-sufficient and reduce energy costs," he said. Greek islands depend heavily on liquid fossil fuels for their electricity supply, taking a toll on the environment and driving up costs. Overtourism Athens is focusing on developing renewable energy infrastructureoffshore wind farms, energy storage systems and connecting the islands with the mainland for power supply. Greece, which is at the forefront of global warming in the Mediterranean Basin, has been experiencing scorching summers and disastrous wildfires. On many islands, residents are alarmed by water shortages and prolonged drought. Even so, hostility to wind turbines is growing as it is in several European countries. Environmental protection groups are also warning against overtourism, particularly in the Cyclades, popular for its crystal-clear waters and picturesque villages. Naxos, south of Mykonos and east of Paros is becoming increasingly popular. But in 2023, this island known for its cheeses and potatoes, had only 270 mm (10.6 inches) of rain, compared to an average of 306 mm (12 inches), according to climate monitor the National Observatory of Athens. On energy autonomy, Greece has so far given priority to smaller, unconnected and remote islands, like Chalki in southeastern Greece, which now boasts a solar power plant. Reducing emissions Power on the Dodecanese island of Tilos now almost entirely comes from renewables, thanks to an 11-million-euro investment from the EU and four private Greek investors. Last month Greece unveiled ambitious solar and wind energy targets in a bid to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Athens will aim to reach an 82 percent share of renewables in its electricity mix by 2030, up from the 66 percent planned in 2019, according to Environment and Energy Minister Theodoros Skylakakis. The Mediterranean country is striving to reduce emissions by 58.6 percent by 2030. Greece has already shrunk its emissions by 45 percent compared to 2005, Mitsotakis said in a speech at the COP29 summit in Baku earlier this month. The premier also said that wind and solar energy covered "almost half of Greece's electricity needs" while the contribution from highly polluting lignite, or brown coal, was now "only 6 percent". 2024 AFP This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Publishing giants and generative artificial intelligence companies are striking deals that aim to both protect copyright and provide for the rapidly increasing needs of the AI industry. US publishing giant HarperCollins has reached a contract with an unnamed tech company allowing it to use some of its books to train its generative AI models. In a letter seen by AFP, the tech company is proposing a payment of $2,500 per selected book to train its so-called large language model (LLM) for up to three years. AI models need massive quantities of texts to train their everyday language use. "HarperCollins has reached an agreement with an artificial intelligence technology company to allow limited use of select nonfiction backlist titles for training AI models to improve model quality and performance," the publisher said in a statement. It said the agreement has "limited scope and clear guardrails around model output that respects author's rights." Authors "have the choice to opt in to the agreement or to pass on the opportunity", it added. The offer has had a mixed reception in the publishing world, with writers such as Daniel Kibblesmith curtly declining. "I'd probably do it for a billion dollars. I'd do it for a sum of money that wouldn't require me to work anymore, since that's the ultimate goal of this technology," the author posted on the Bluesky social network. HarperCollins is one of the largest publishers to reach such an accord, but not the first. US scientific publisher Wiley said it has allowed "access to previously published academic and professional book content for specific use in training LLM models" in a $23 million contract with an unidentified "large tech company". The accords underscore the tension behind AI models, which collect huge quantities of content on the web, creating the risk of widespread copyright violations. 'A broader conversation' Giada Pistilli, head of ethics at Hugging Face, a French-American open-access AI platform, said these agreements are a step forward since they involve payments to publishers. But she regrets that they leave little room for the authors to negotiate. "What we are going to see is a mechanism of bilateral agreements between new technology companies and publishers or copyright holders, whereas in my opinion, we need a broader conversation that includes stakeholders a little more," she said. Julien Chouraqui, legal director at the French publishing union (SNE), said the accords represented "progress". "An agreement means that there has been a dialogue and a desire to achieve a balance between the use of source data, which are subject to copyright and which will generate value," he said. The press is also organizing to face the challenges created by AI. In late 2023, The New York Times sued OpenAI, creator of ChatGPT, as well as Microsoft, its main investor, for violating copyright protections. Other media groups have cut deals with OpenAI. Tech companies may have no choice but to pay out to improve their products, especially as they are starting to run out of new materials to power their models. "On the web, you find lots of licit and illicit stiff, and lots of pirated copy. That not only causes legal problems but also raises issues about the quality of the data," said Chouraqui at the SNE. "If we are committed to developing a market on a virtuous basis, we must involve all the players," he said. 2024 AFP A leading Anglican body critical of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev. Justin Welby, has issued a statement following his resignation after failing to timely report serial child abuser John Smyth QC to police - saying his willingness to step down shows evidence of taking responsibility. Welby announced his resignation on November 12, following concerns about his handling of a sex abuse case involving the now-deceased Smyth, who sexually abused countless boys and young men in the 1970s and 1980s. The Makin Review, recently published, looked into the matters of Smyths abuse, and concluded that the serial abuser could have been stopped sooner if Welby had formally reported concerns disclosed to him a decade ago. An independent review cited Smyth to be the most prolific serial abuser ever associated with the Church of England. He died aged 77 in Cape Town, South Africa in 2018, after being accused of abusing boys at his home in Winchester, England, whom he worked with at a Christian summer camp in the county of Dorset in the 1970s and 1980s, as reported by Christian Daily International. Gafcon, the Anglican movement created to retain and restore the Bible to the heart of the Anglican Communion issued a statement two days after Welbys resignation, written by The Most Revd. Dr. Laurent Mbanda, Chairman of the Gafcon Primates Council and Archbishop & Primate of Rwanda (EAR), and Bishop of Gasabo. Mbanda, acknowledging that Gafcon has previously criticized Welbys leadership, spoke of sadness at the news of Welbys resignation, calling it not an occasion for celebration but for grief and self-reflection. The presence of child sexual abuse in the church of God is a pernicious evil, which has brought devastating, long-term effects upon survivors and their families, wrote Mbanda. Yet their trauma is only exacerbated by negligence or inaction in pursuing and prosecuting perpetrators for their crimes. Such failures to act also grieve the heart of God and bring shame upon his church. The resignation is appreciated by Gafcon, according to Mbanda, who said: it shows evidence of his desire to take responsibility for his own lack of action in investigating the allegations against John Smyth, which came to light in 2013. While his own admission of regret and remorse is welcome, the past cannot be undone. Mbanda pointed out that leadership for anyone had challenges and this truth is relevant for the church of God. Christian leaders are called to be shepherds of the flock. Yet, none of us is perfect, as we all make mistakes, but owning our failures is also the mark of good leadership. While some errors of judgment have greater consequences than others, the Good Shepherd, the Lord Jesus Christ, knows our frailty and forgives all who are truly penitent. He also cares for the downcast and broken, as he cares for those who have been abused. Mbanda finished by pledging prayers by Gafcon for Welby and his family at this difficult time. We also pray for all those who have experienced sexual abuse by false shepherds in the church of God. May they know the peace of God that passes understanding and that heals all our infirmities. Gafcon previously opposed Welby after he suggested on The rest is politics podcast that both heterosexual and homosexual people could receive prayers of blessing as long as they were living out their sexuality in a committed relationship. The British podcast and television series is hosted by Alastair Campbell, the ex spokesman and Downing Street Press Secretary for former British Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair, and also Rory Stewart, Conservative politician, diplomat and writer. All sexual activity should be within a committed relationship and whether its straight or gay, said Welby on the podcast, as quoted by Gafcon and before his resignation. In other words, were not giving up on the idea that sex is within marriage or civil partnership. Weve put forward a proposal that where people have been through a civil partnership or a same-sex marriage, equal marriage under the 2014 Act, they should be able to come along to their local, to a church, and have a service of prayer and blessing for them in their lives together. On November 1 (2024) Gafcon issued a statement rebuking Welbys words, calling it a clear breach of Holy Scripture because the only context for sexual intimacy, according to the Bible, is between a man and woman in marriage. While he may claim not to have changed the doctrine of marriage, the Archbishop of Canterbury has demonstrably changed the doctrine of sin, by promoting the sanctification of sin by means of a divine blessing, read a Gafcon statement at the time. Gafcon also opined that Welbys comments were in clear breach of Resolution I.10 of the 1998 Lambeth Conference, which rejected, homosexual practice as incompatible with Scripture. The Anglican group pointed out that Welby himself as recently as 2022 declared this to be the teaching of the Anglican Communion, including the Church of England. Lambeth Palace confirmed on Nov. 20 that Welby finishes his official duties on January 6 (2025), with the Archbishop of York standing-in until a replacement is decided. Opposition to Christian music in one school in Finland resulted in the cancellation of Handels Messiah in another, Finnish media reported. In Hameenlinna, a child had objected to songs about the life of Christ in a performance at an unidentified primary school, resulting in a tribunal ruling that non-Christian children had been discriminated against on the basis of religion or belief. The National Non-Discrimination and Equality Tribunal determined that the non-Christian pupils should be compensated 1,500 euros ($1,562 USD) by the school. On Tuesday (Nov. 19), however, the citys Education and Welfare Committee voted 6 to 5 that no compensation was due to the primary school students. The performance in question was the first of three faith-referenced concerts at the school, according to media reports. The first concert took place in 2022 with references to Christs crucifixion, death and atonement. At least one of the pupils watching the concert was non-religious, and Helsingin Sanomat news site reported the religiosity of the concert was not announced in advance, but [the school] apologized after the concert. Concerts were also held last year and this year, with all three events deemed religious, but only the first concert was accused of being discriminatory, according to the Finnish news site. The school removed a hymn from the second concert following a complaint by the compensation applicant. Concerns were also expressed about a parish choir at the third event. The Board also found that the educational institution had neglected its obligation to promote equality, Helsingin Sanomat reported in regard to the choir performing. It held this view, inter alia, because the educational institution did not inform that the choirs performance had been organized jointly with the congregation. Antti Karrimaa, director of Education at Hameenlinna, reportedly said the concert touched on extremely sensitive issues one way or the other. Such religious issues and schooling arise at regular intervals, Karrimaa said. We have to see what the right and smart course of action would be. Voting about the issue at the Hameenlinna Education and Welfare Committee meeting showed a split down Finnish party lines. Those in favor of paying compensation came from the Social Democratic Party, the Greens and the Centre Party. Those against the payout hailed from the Finns Party, National Coalition Party and the Christian Democrats. Committee member Pasi Honkanen told Suomen Uutiset news site of his relief at the outcome of the vote. However, this is quite an important issue in todays world, Honkanen said. This set a precedent, and the decisions of the National Non-Discrimination and Equality Tribunal are not binding, but merely recommendations. When the Board has the opportunity to take the right to admission, I think it is good that it is used and decisions like this are made. Honkanen pointed out difficulties for teachers and schools to operate normally if such compensation payouts were allowed. In no way do I think that equality or non-discrimination should be deliberately violated, but I hope that schools, principals and teachers want to promote them, he added. Society should consider these kinds of things a bit more than whether someone is traumatized by hearing the wrong kind of music. When I was at school, I went to an Orthodox church and I wasnt traumatized by it at all. The fallout at the primary school led to a comprehensive school in Uusimaa canceling a performance of Handels Messiah two days before the concert planned earlier this month because of concerns about references to Christianity in the music. Organizers had planned for a joint performance of the oratorio at a school by the Finnish Baroque Orchestra and the Helsinki Chamber Choir before school officials canceled it, citing issues with religious references in the music, reported Helsingin Sanomat. The atmosphere in the chamber choir and baroque orchestra has been shocked by the decision, Laura Kajander, executive director of the Baroque Orchestra, reportedly said, adding that this was the first time such a cancellation occurred. If concerts are canceled, it is the children who suffer. About 80 percent of Finlands population identifies as Christian, and 10 percent as evangelical Christian, according to Joshua Project; 17.1 percent identify as non-religious, and 1.9 percent as Muslim. Finnish MP and former government minister Paivi Rasanen said the compensation claims and cancellation defied common sense. Compensation payment of 1,500 euros for discrimination when a non-religious child accidentally heard a song about Jesus, Rasanen wrote on X on Oct. 31. Has the use of common sense disappeared? At the same time, schools celebrate Halloween with witches and zombie characters. How can a song about Jesus be perceived as so dangerous? The MP is facing a third trial after being accused of hate speech as a Christian for expressing her biblical views on marriage. The Supreme Court of Finland on April 19 ruled that a third trial would go ahead, as previously reported by Christian Daily International. She had previously been acquitted twice of hate speech but the state prosecutor appealed. Two previous trials at Helsinki District Court and the Court of Appeal found Rasanen, a grandmother of 11, not guilty of the hate speech charges. A former Minister of the Interior, Rasanen was criminally charged for sharing her Christian views on marriage and sexual ethics in a tweet on X in 2019. She was also charged in relation to a 2004 pamphlet for her church she wrote about the book of Genesis, stating, male and female he created them. A pastor and his family have gone into hiding after a Muslim neighbor who raped his 14-year-old daughter tried to kidnap her and force her to convert to Islam and marry him, he said. The daughter of Pastor Aslam Masih of Muridke, Sheikhupura District, Punjab Province, was on her way to school on Oct. 31 when Suleman Azhar blocked her way with his motorcycle and forced her to board it, the pastor said. The panicked girl, whose name is withheld as a rape victim, freed herself and ran back home. Upon inquiring why she had returned home, she told us that Suleman had been harassing her for a long time to convert to Islam and marry her, Pastor Masih told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. When I confronted Suleman, he threatened me, saying I should do whatever I could to protect my daughter. I did not know then that he had already assaulted her once. Fearing for his daughters safety, Pastor Masih moved his family to a relatives house in Lahore. Their disappearance angered Azhar, who attacked their home in Muridke, damaging property and firing shots in the air, the pastor said. Pastor Masih on Nov. 2 filed a complaint with police, who registered a First Information Report (FIR) but did not take any action against the suspect, he said. Their indifference helped Suleman in obtaining pre-arrest bail, and he has since been threatening us, demanding that we withdraw the case, Pastor Masih said. The 63-year-old pastor and his wife were stunned when their daughter later revealed that Azhar had raped her in September. She couldnt bear the agony and trauma any longer and broke down into tears, he said. She told us that Suleman and his friends bundled her into a car when she was returning home from school and took her to a house where Suleman raped her. She had kept quiet about the assault fearing Azhar would kill her and her family, he said. Pastor Masih again began visiting police, but his pleas for justice fell on deaf ears, he said. Frustrated and suspecting Azhar had influenced the police to take no action, he sought court intervention. His attorney, Malik Zaman Haider, said Pastor Masihs daughter has recorded her statement against Suleman in court, and that he has filed a request for a medical examination and the addition of rape charges to the FIR. Haider said the FIR had been registered under Section 354 of the Pakistan Penal Code against using criminal force against a woman with the intent to outrage her modesty, which carries a maximum sentence of two years in prison. Such a rape case should be registered under Section 375 against consensual or forced sex with a girl under the age of 16, which is punishable with death or imprisonment for 10 to 25 years, the attorney said. Aslam Pervez Sahotra, chairman of the Pakistan Masiha Millat Party, said her case highlighted the challenges that Christian girls and women face. Urging the Punjab chief minister and Punjab inspector general of police to take notice of the case, Sahotra said the victim was not only a daughter of the Christian community but of the country. We condemn the assault on our daughter as well as the threats being employed to force her to convert to Islam and marry her rapist, Sahotra told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. The polices refusal to act against the accused has exacerbated the familys ordeal, and they are forced to live in hiding away from their home. He appealed to the Muslim community to raise their voices as well against such brazen atrocities. Our daughters, our community, are living in fear, and the government must show that it cares for them by ensuring speedy justice and punishment to the accused, Sahotra said. The U.N.s Human Rights Committee on Nov. 7 expressed concern about persistent reports of abduction and forced marriages of girls from minority religions in Pakistan, regardless of their age and prevailing law. Forced to convert to Islam under threat of violence, they suffer rape, trafficking and other forms of sexual and gender-based violence. The U.N. body also expressed concern about reports of the widespread impunity surrounding these cases. Pakistan ranked seventh on Open Doors 2024 World Watch List of the most difficult places to be a Christian, as it was the previous year. State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada Zip Code Conelius Brent Hackshaw was gunned down at the usually well-patronised Young Island Dock. Three males were shot to death in the space of three days, pushing the homicide count to 44. This figure exceeds the 2022 (42) count by two and falls short, to date, by 11 over the 2023 record figure of 55. Brent Hackshaw Sometime after 9am on Friday 15th November, Cornelius Hacksaw, aka Brent, who was said to be originally from the Campden Park-Questelles area but resided recently in Arnos Vale, was shot at the Young Island dock, Villa. A source said Hackshaw was on the dock when a car pulled up and an unknown man exited the vehicle. The man opened fire on Hacksaw, hitting him multiple times about his body. The gunman calmly re-entered the vehicle, which then left the scene. A sign was found near Hacksaw body as it lay on the jetty. The sign read, "When you owe pay, and at least one person ventured to say that it was left by the gunman. The area is one of the countrys main tourist and hospitality centres of activity. Jelani John The following day, Saturday 16th November, during the early morning hours, Jelani John, aka Bolo, 37, of Fairbaine Pasture, was shot to death in the community. His bullet-ridden body was discovered in a neighbours yard sometime between 6 and 7am, leading some residents to conclude that he might have been shot elsewhere and had tried to escape. John, no stranger it appeared to the world of violent crime, had only recently been discharged from the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital where he had undergone treatment after being shot. The surgical cast that hugged the top part of his body as he lay motionless on Saturday told the story of the injuries he sustained four days before he ultimately met his death. One Fairbaine Pasture resident said there might be many people who would feel a sense of ease and comfort, as bad as it sounds, by Johns death. That person described John as "provoking.. always in your face who behaved this way because people said he looked like the Chinese Movie star Bolo (Yeng) who always played Bad Johns in his movies. Romano Durham The spate of killings killing continued in the West Kingstown community of Edinboro. Sometime between 10 and 11am on Sunday 17th November, 24-year-old Romano Durham, also referred to as Killa Bean and Spookie, was sitting under a shed in his community of Edinboro, when a gunman appeared and opened fire, hitting Durham about his body, a source told THE VINCENTIAN. Information received said that Durham made an attempt to run but did not escape the gunman, who ensured that Durham was dead by pumping more bullets into him as he fell to the ground. The incident is said to have occurred in the vicinity of the Edinboro hard court not far from where the deceased lived. Members of the community were for the most part tight-lipped about the incident, save and except to say that they hoped Durhams death was not the beginning of a resurgence of violent crime in the communities of Top Edinboro and neighbouring Ottley Hall. Police investigations into the three shooting deaths are ongoing. Prime Minister of India - Narendra Modi (right) is greeted on arrival at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, by President of Guyana Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, Prime Minister India - Narendra Modi - who arrived in Guyana on Wednesday the first visit by an Indian head of the state in 56 years - said his visit "will deepen the friendship between our nations. But this was not Prime Minister Modis first to Guyana. He visited the South American country 23 years ago on a private trip and also visited when he was chief minister. Following the pleasantries at the airport, the visiting delegation was taken to the Guyana Marriott Hotel in Georgetown where they were treated to a cultural display representing unity in diversity under the "One Guyana initiative. While at the hotel, they were joined by the Prime Ministers of Grenada Dickon Mitchell (current chairman of CARICOM) and Barbados Mia Amor Mottley, who are among the leaders attending the second India-CARICOM Summit in Guyana. The Indian head of state was also handed over the Key to the City of Georgetown as a testament to the close India-Guyana ties, officials said. The prime minister, who is visiting Guyana at the invitation of President Ali, is on the last leg of his three-nation visit after attending the G20 Summit in Brazil and visiting Nigeria. He is expected to remain in Guyana until Thursday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with heads of government and other officials in what is now known as the India-Caricom Summit. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Wednesday he would share technology for combatting seaweed infestation with Caribbean nations, as he visited Guyana in the first such visit by an Indian leader in more than 50 years. Guyana, a South American nation with many citizens of Indian origin, serves as headquarters for the 15-member Caribbean trade bloc known as Caricom, and Modi met with regional leaders Wednesday, as part of the India-Caricom summit. They last met in 2019. Prime Minister Modi arrived with promises to help the region in areas including health, energy and agriculture. He also announced more than 1,000 scholarships over the next five years for Caricom nations, mobile hospitals for rural areas and drug-testing laboratories as well as river and sea ferries for marine transport. But Caribbean leaders reserved their loudest applause when the Indian head announced that India had made tremendous progress in converting large quantities of sargassum into fertilizer and other economic uses, and he urged the region to take advantage of his offer. He added that additionally, his government is willing to fully equip at least one government building in each of the trade bloc nations with a solar power system. In reciprocation, the Prime Minister noted Guyanas growing importance as an oil-producing nation after vast quantities of oil and gas were discovered off its coast in 2015, and declared, "Guyana will play an important role in Indias energy security. Speaking after meeting with Guyanese President Irfaan Ali, the countrys first Muslim leader, Modi promised to help Guyana and the region improve agriculture production, saying food security is important to island nations. Trade between India and Guyana has strengthened in recent years, with India providing Guyana lines of credit for military passenger planes and funding to buy a fast river ferry that services far-flung jungle areas close to neighboring Venezuela. Most people are aware that their compatriots have been joining the British Army since 2001. What most might not be aware of is that Vincentians have been volunteering to join the British Army since World War I. Unfortunately, the bravery, dedication and legacy of these volunteers are too often forgotten. In an unprecedented event on 25 October 2024, several Vincentian officers and soldiers, seized the initiative to organise a semi-formal regimental dinner for their fellow Vincentian officers, soldiers, and veterans. The event symbolised the legacy they built, the paths they paved, and the doors they opened for generations to follow. Moreover, it was a powerful reminder of what is possible when individuals are given the tools and opportunity to succeed. The successful inaugural event saw 32 Vincentians gathered at the 2 Army Air Corps Officers Mess, in Middle Wallop, England, to celebrate their heritage, unity, and achievements. This first-of-its-kind event is a milestone not just for the attendees but for the British Army. It recognises the profound contributions of Vincentians as British Army officers and soldiers who, despite initial challenges, have become central to the Armys fabric. Their journeys reflect resilience, solidarity, and a dedication to excellence. This Dine-Out was not just a celebration of personal successes, it was an affirmation of the impact they have had and continue to have, both within the Army and in the wider community. One of the most striking aspects of this event was the powerful sense of camaraderie. Many worked in different parts of the United Kingdom (UK) and rarely crossed paths over the years. Yet, they came together for this special occasion, some travelling from as far Germany and Northern Ireland: a testament to their deep bonds. Reunited, they reminisced about their shared beginnings and celebrated the individual and collective growth that had brought them to this moment. As they look to the future, they pledged to strengthen bonds with the Vincentian diaspora, building a lasting network of support and inspiration for generations to come. The significance of the event cannot be overstated. When these Vincentians first joined the agency, they stepped into an unfamiliar environment. The Armys culture, norms, and expectations were foreign to them; there were no role models who shared their backgrounds or experiences to offer guidance. Yet, through perseverance, adaptability, and a strong sense of community, they learned to navigate the social, cultural, and structural intricacies of their new environment. Over time, they not only succeeded but thrived, ascending to leadership roles and redefining their expectations. At first, reaching the rank of corporal appeared to most as the pinnacle of success. Not only did every attendee achieve this milestone, but many also surpassed it, with several achieving the rank of Warrant Officer Class One or being commissioned as Late Entry Officers. One particularly inspiring example was a female who rose to a senior leadership role, a remarkable feat in a field that remains predominantly male dominated and historically challenging for Black women to excel. Her ascent required not only professional excellence but also a determined resolve to transcend cultural and gender-based barriers, setting a new precedent for what Vincentians, especially women, can achieve. Though some of these trailblazers are nearing the end of their active service, they remain deeply committed to uplifting future generations of recruits from St. Vincent and the Grenadines and wider Commonwealth. Their accomplishments have made them powerful role models, and their mission now is to empower those who come after them to rise even further. This inaugural 22-Year Dine-Out is a reminder that legacy is about more than individual milestones; it is the collective journey that strengthens and uplifts us all. For these Vincentians, their achievements are not the end goal but the solid ground from which future generations will rise. By coming together, they celebrated not only their own successes but their shared commitment to building pathways for others to follow and surpass. They recognise that true progress is about lifting each other up, measuring success not by single moments but by the enduring impact created together. This gathering marks just the beginning of what we can achieve as one. 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. You have reached a premium content area of Transitions. To read this entire article please login if you are already a Transitions subscriber. Not a subscriber? Subscribe today for access to: Full access to the website, including premium articles videos, country reports and searchable archives (containing over 25,000 articles). Mastercard and Fundbot, a UAE-based fintech firm specialising in supply chain financing, have announced a collaboration to accelerate business-to-business (B2B) payment flows across all industries. The two companies will launch a streamlined payments platform that seamlessly links buyers and suppliers. Rolled out initially in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, the innovative tech-driven solution will boost the user experience by including added-value capabilities, such as Fundbots dynamic discount product that incentivises quicker B2B payments, fast-tracking the conversion of receivables to cash for suppliers and reducing days sales outstanding (DSO). The initial roll out of the solution will focus on early claim settlements in the healthcare sector, tackling these significant payment delays. Empowering business At Mastercard, we seek to empower businesses of all sizes to enable them to benefit from the digital economy. We are driving a paradigm shift in the B2B payments landscape, putting an end to the operational and financial challenges caused by inefficient processes and multiple payment systems. We provide digital payment solutions that allow companies to pay and get paid quickly and securely, expand their reach and deliver a seamless experience for their customers. We are delighted to join forces with Fundbot to co-create this game-changing platform that will streamline B2B transactions and increase the use of virtual cards, said Amnah Ajmal, EVP, Market Development, EEMEA, Mastercard. Fundbots dynamic discount product is fully integrated with leading enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, ensuring compatibility and accessibility, which makes it easier for businesses of all sises to adopt and use. It features an AI-powered tool that uses advanced algorithms to recommend the optimal discount rate for each transaction based on country, vertical and industry trends to help buyers achieve high acceptance rates. In addition, it allows buyers to maximise savings by utilising early payment discounts before invoice due date. This investment in the supply chain strengthens the relationship between buyers and suppliers by significantly accelerating payments and helping address cash flow issues, which represent a key pain point for SMEs in the Mena region. B2B payments Fundbot is on a mission to revolutionise B2B payments, which forms a key part of any economy. Through our dynamic discount product, we provide companies with access to funds when they need them most, enabling them to manage their finances more effectively and grow their businesses. We are excited to work together with Mastercard to fuel the growth of digitised payments in this segment, said Karl Abouzeid, Founder & CEO, Fundbot. The platform will also leverage Mastercards In Control for Commercial Payments (ICCP) solution to issue virtual cards for suppliers in partnership with selected banks in the region. Buyers will be onboarded onto the platform and can initiate digital campaigns for their suppliers. Automated onboarding will allow for the cost-effective inclusion of small suppliers. Customer support will be provided in Arabic, English and French to engage businesses in regional markets.--TradeArabia News Service Al Ghurair Foods, a leading food processing firm in the UAE, has broken ground on its new state-of- the-art Hatchery & Poultry Processing Facility in Kezad Area A (Kezad Al Mamourah) in Abu Dhabi. This will include the largest Rendering Plant in the UAE. Located within a 15.5-hectare plot, the facility will include a Hatchery, Poultry Processing Plant, Rendering Plant and Effluent Treatment Plant, all designed with efficiency, sustainability and cutting-edge technology in mind. The Hatchery and Processing divisions will start out with the capacity to hatch 10 million, day-old chicks and produce finished goods of 10,000 tonnes annually to serve the local UAE population. Rendering Plant Meanwhile, the Rendering Plant will be one of the largest, privately owned of its kind in the UAE, with the capacity to process 1,600 tonnes of high-protein meals and 400 tonnes of oil/fat derived from poultry waste. These meals will be repurposed as feed ingredients for other species such as fish, and also serve as an alternative fuel for power generation, contributing to the circular economy and reducing environmental impact. The poultry facility represents a significant contribution to the UAEs National Strategy for Food Security 2051. The strategic location of the plant within Kezad will enable Al Ghurair Foods and Resources International to serve growing demand for poultry meat in the UAE, which has grown year-on-year in recent years. By establishing a local venture, Al Ghurair Foods will bring high-quality, nutritious and fresh poultry products closer to consumers, while reducing reliance on imported products. Furthermore, the plant will create 180 new jobs once phase one is fully operational. Abdullah Al Hameli, CEO, Economic Cities & Free Zones, AD Ports Group, said: We congratulate Al Ghurair Foods and Resources on the ground-breaking of the Hatchery & Poultry Processing facility in Kezad. This state-of-the-art facility, along with the corn starch plant and broiler farm already underway, represents a significant boost to the local food production ecosystem and demonstrates Al Ghurairs ongoing commitment to securing the UAEs future as a self-sufficient food hub. At Kezad, we are proud to be supporting these developments. 50-year land lease The announcement builds on an agreement signed between Al Ghurair Foods and Kezad in April 2023, establishing a 50-year land lease for three mega food processing projects involving investments of over AED1 billion ($270 million). Earlier this year, Al Ghurair Foods commenced work on the regions first Corn Starch Manufacturing Plant and a 60-hectare broiler farm, both located in Kezad, while a Liquid Eggs Facility was opened last year on the same plot. John Iossifidis, Group CEO of Al Ghurair, said: This ground-breaking represents another milestone in our AED 1 billion investment in food processing projects within Kezad. Working alongside key local partners such as Kezad, this new Hatchery & Poultry Processing facility underscores Al Ghurairs long-term commitment to the UAE's food security and economic growth. This investment continues Al Ghurairs legacy of contributing to the nation's prosperity and reinforces our dedication to building a sustainable future for the UAE. Hamad Al Ghurair, Senior Vice President, Special Projects and Commercial, Al Ghurair Foods, said: Todays groundbreaking is a testament to our commitment to building a fully integrated and sustainable poultry production ecosystem for the UAE. This new, cutting-edge facility will allow us to control the entire value chain with a focus on innovation and efficiency every step of the way, incorporating the most efficient design and technology to scale up production capacity as required. With this, we aim to enhance quality and productivity, while significantly contributing to the UAE's food security goals. Design consultants SDV Consulting Engineers have been appointed as design consultants for the project, while Al Qanater Al Thahbia General Contracting (QTC) is the main civil and MEP contractor for the project. Baader, Petersime, Mavitec and Emvees are the food processing, hatchery, rendering and wastewater treatment partners respectively for this facility. As the food processing division of Al Ghurair, one of the largest diversified family business groups in the UAE, Al Ghurair Foods is committed to enhancing the availability and capability of domestic food production in the UAE. Al Ghurair Foods Poultry farm is one of the largest producers of eggs in the UAE, distributed under the flagship brand Jenan.--TradeArabia News Service Students from CNN Academy Abu Dhabi and several local universities gained invaluable insights and a deeper understanding of artificial intelligence (AI) from a special masterclass by Bill Gates, technologist and philanthropist. Part of a series of training opportunities facilitated by Abu Dhabi's Creative Media Authority (CMA), the interactive 30-minute masterclass offered aspiring journalists a unique opportunity to explore future developments in AI with Gates, engaging in thought-provoking discussions and meaningful dialogue throughout the session. Becky Anderson, Managing Editor of CNN Abu Dhabi and anchor of Connect the World with Becky Anderson, moderated the conversation that addressed how emerging technologies today, especially AI, can tackle global challenges such as disease eradication, climate change, and food security in underserved regions. Meaningful change Students were also interested to learn how the Gates Foundation identifies challenges and mobilises innovative solutions to bring about meaningful change. Mohamed Dobay, Acting Director-General of CMA, said: Our dedication to cultivating and expanding opportunities for young talent in Abu Dhabis creative industries continues to gain momentum with every passing year. The opportunity to engage with one of the worlds most valued and respected innovators and leaders highlights this commitment and our unwavering focus on delivering exceptional learning experiences for our nations youth, in partnership with our valued partners at CNN Academy Abu Dhabi. Reem Al Mazrouei said: I am very appreciative of this unique experience that was offered to us by CNN Academy Abu Dhabi, as we met with two leading figures in their industries, Bill Gates in technology and Becky Anderson in journalism and media. The most valuable part of the masterclass was learning from Becky Anderson how to moderate a unique session with a leading industry figure, as well as understanding the benefits and importance of thoroughly researching the guest ahead of time. Delivering clean energy Since 2011, the Gates Foundation and the UAE have partnered on a range of initiatives to improve global health, respond to immediate and long-term threats caused by climate change and accelerate innovation. In addition to the foundations work, Bill Gates has also taken on projects to address issues such as delivering clean energy and scaling critical solutions to reach net-zero emissions. His work is centred on a philosophy of catalytic philanthropy: investments in innovations that will improve life for those who need it most. Launched in Abu Dhabi in 2020, CNN Academy is a pioneering training experience led by CNNs anchors, correspondents and technical specialists from around the world. After experiencing a comprehensive curriculum over 12 weeks, participants leave equipped with crucial skills needed to work in a newsroom, including a deep understanding of journalistic ethics, verification techniques, storyboarding and scriptwriting, all delivered via interactive workshops, masterclasses and digital on-demand tutorials.--TradeArabia News Service Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) has enacted amendments to DIFC Law on the Application of Civil and Commercial Laws in DIFC (Application Law). The amendments provide statutory certainty to the source of DIFC Law and how it may be interpreted. In addition, certain amendments have been made to the DIFC Real Property Law and Real Property Regulations. Jacques Visser, Chief Legal Officer at DIFC Authority, said: These amendments reinforce DIFCs status as an international common law jurisdiction and as the leading financial centre in the MEASA region. The amendments confirm that DIFC laws are supplemented with reference to English Common Law and the laws of other common law jurisdictions. These important amendments provide statutory confirmation, for practitioners and the Courts, regarding the source of law in DIFC and the way in which DIFC legislation may be interpreted. Law of Application Source of Law Since the inception of DIFC, it has been understood by practitioners that DIFC Laws are supplemented, or backstopped, by common law. DIFCA believes that it is necessary to provide statutory certainty as to the source and interpretation of DIFC law, especially as DIFC often looks at global best practice on a much broader basis than simply English statutory law. Hence the proposed amendments. Amendments To address the Source of Law issue, and further to public consultation, a new Article 8A has been added to the Application Law. In summary, this establishes that DIFC Law is to be determined first by reference to DIFC statute, and DIFC Court judgments interpreting and applying DIFC statute. Then, as DIFC law is not intended to be strictly statutory, Article 8A provides that DIFC Statute is supplemented by the common law (including the principles and rules of equity). The DIFC Courts in determining the common law for DIFC may have reference to the common law of England and Wales and other common law jurisdictions. The enacted version of Article 8A has been modified from the consultation proposal, which made reference to importing specific common law doctrines, causes of action, defences and remedies, where appropriate, into DIFC Law. These changes clarify that the DIFC Courts, like any leading common law courts, have the power to consider comparative jurisprudence from a variety of jurisdictions in developing or modifying common law rules and principles of equity on a case by case basis, but that they do not have broader legislative or policy making powers. A new Article 8B of the Law of Application confirms that interpretation of DIFC statute may be guided by principles developed in respect of analogous laws in established common law jurisdictions. Additionally, if a DIFC Statute is based on an international model law, its interpretation may also be guided by international jurisprudence interpreting and applying the international model law, as well as interpretative aids and commentary published by international bodies regarding the international model law. The amendments are intended to ensure that both English Common Law, and developments in other established common law jurisdictions, continue to remain a central feature of DIFCs legal system. Real Property Law and Regulations DIFC has introduced a Mortgage Registration fee of 0.25 per cent of the value of a Mortgage being registered by a purchaser of Real Property. This is in line with current onshore practice and will cover the administration required by the office of the Registrar of Real Property to review the documents and process registration. In addition, DIFC has extended the period of registration of Off Plan Sales from the current 30-day period to 60 days, to better accommodate the timetable for Off Plan Unit purchases, from launch stage to production of a final Off Plan Sales Agreement. The extension provides purchasers of Off Plan Units more time to register such transactions and pay the Freehold Transfer Fee. These amendments are intended to enhance the regulatory framework within DIFC, in line with best practice. The Amendment Laws were enacted on November 14, 2024 and came into effect on November 21, 2024.--TradeArabia News Service Fridays high temperature of 85 degrees was expected to make metro Tucson the warmest place to be in the contiguous 48 states, the forecast shows. Highs in the low to mid-80s were expected Friday across the region from Nogales west to Sells and north to Marana, according to the National Weather Service in Tucson. It means Tucson would even be warmer than Phoenix, which was likely to reach 81 degrees Friday. The weekend will be warm too. The high in Tucson was expected to be 84 on Saturday, then drop to 76 on Sunday, the weather service says. Temperatures are expected to stay in mid-70s through Wednesday. Thanksgiving Day in Tucson is expected to have a high temperature of 70 degrees and a low of about 50, the forecast shows. PHOENIX A federal judge said Thursday he is ready to reject a claim by the Arizona Republican Party chair that the secretary of state is illegally failing to clean up voter registration rolls. In a new court filing, Judge Dominic Lanza acknowledged that party chair Gina Swoboda and two Republican allies are claiming there are at least 500,000 people registered to vote in the state who have moved or are dead. Their attorney said that violates the National Voter Registration Act. Democratic Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, in his own legal filing, denied that is true, saying the state's list maintenance programs "exceed NVRA's requirements.'' And the judge, in a 17-page draft order, said that even if what the challengers claim is true and he does not address that issue none have shown they are in any way harmed by what Fontes has or has not done. A citizen does not have standing to challenge a government regulation because the plaintiff believes that the government is acting illegally, Lanza wrote. Nor may citizens sue merely because their legal objection is accompanied by a strong moral, ideological, or policy objection to a government action. The judge specifically rejected their claims that having all those extra people on the rolls somehow dilutes the votes of the challengers. He called that assertion impermissibly speculative. Strictly speaking, what Lanza issued Thursday is not the last word. The judge said he will give the challengers attorney a chance to argue in open court next month that he is wrong. But the judge made it clear he has reached a conclusion and said he would entertain oral arguments solely to address any perceived errors in the courts tentative analysis. Dallin Holt, one of the attorneys who filed the case, said the challengers respect the judge's "candor'' in issuing the draft ruling, but think he got the issue of their right to sue wrong. They will attempt to change his mind. The heart of the claim is that 14 of 15 Arizona counties have voter registration rates that another attorney who filed the case, Andrew Gould, called implausibly high. He claimed there are more registered voters both active and inactive than there are residents who are 18 or older. All the counties with the exception of Greenlee have registration rates between 80% and 99%. By contrast, he said, data from the U.S. Census Bureau puts the average figure nationally at 69.1%. Citing the same data, Gould said the expected registration rate for Arizona should be 69.9% Based on even the most conservative data sources, Arizona has at least 500,000 registered voters on the voter rolls who should have otherwise been removed, he said. In fact, Gould argued, the figure could be as high as 1.27 million. That is out of more than 4.6 million active registered voters and another about 708,000 inactive voters. The latter category includes people for whom there is evidence they have moved. The National Voter Registration Act requires the state to send out a forwardable notice to the last known address to find out if the person is still eligible. In the meantime, he is put onto a list of inactive voters. Still, anyone on that list can cast a ballot by coming in and providing proof of residence. But if there is no response and the person does not vote for two election cycles, the law says they have to be removed from the rolls entirely. Swoboda sued along with two others involved in GOP politics: Scot Mussi, president of the Republican-aligned Free Enterprise Club, and Steven Gaynor, who made an unsuccessful run as a Republican for secretary of state in 2018 and was briefly in the 2022 gubernatorial race before withdrawing. They asked the judge to order Fontes to develop and implement additional reasonable and effective registration list-maintenance programs. Gould said his clients have a right to sue to ensure the voter rolls are as clean as possible. Because the secretary does not maintain accurate voter rolls, ineligible voters have an opportunity to vote in Arizona elections, risking the dilution of plaintiffs legitimate votes, the lawsuit states. But Gould provided no examples of people casting ballots who did not have the right. It didnt matter. Lanza said even if Fontes was not maintaining the voter registration lists as required by federal law, that doesnt mean it would result in the voters of others being diluted. Such dilution could result only after: (1) an ineligible voter requests an early ballot at a polling place; (2) casts a ballot; (3) that ineligible ballot is tabulated; and (4) sufficient other ineligible voters engage in the same series of steps in a number sufficient to dilute plaintiffs votes, the judge said. Thats a long chain of hypothetical contingencies that do not rise to the level of providing a basis to sue, Lanza said. The judge was no more impressed by the challengers alternate legal theory that Fontes alleged failure to comply with what federal law requires undermines their confidence in the election system. Plaintiffs effectively ask the court to find that their fear of vote dilution which they allege, erodes their confidence in the electoral process and discourages their participation is an injury that is independent from the actual vote dilution they separately identify as one of their injuries, Lanza wrote. For the same reason Lanza said the vote dilution claim cant stand, he said this theory is no better, and that they were repackaging their fear of vote dilution ... as an independent injury. Their self-proclaimed fear alone of what might happen is legally insufficient to form the basis for this lawsuit, he said. Plaintiffs cannot manufacture standing merely by inflicting harm on themselves based on their fears of hypothetical future harm that is not certainly impending, Lanza wrote. World technical education conference creates new platform for international exchange in skill development Global Times) 09:32, November 22, 2024 The World Technical and Vocational Education and Training League has been launched during 2024 World Vocational and Technical Education Development Conference on November 21, 2024, in North China's Tianjin Municipality. (Liu Caiyu/GT) The 2024 World Vocational and Technical Education Development Conference began on Thursday in North China's Tianjin Municipality. The conference showcased China's achievements and experiences in skill development, discussed and adopted the "Tianjin Consensus on the Development of World Vocational Education," serving as a new platform for global collaboration in vocational education. Addressing the opening ceremony, Grahame Morton, Ambassador of New Zealand to China, spoke highly of China's efforts to improve and modernize its vocational education system to enhance quality, accessibility, and employability in key industries. "There is a lot that we can learn from each other," Morton said. The Luban Workshop represents a milestone in strengthening the partnership between our two sisterly nations, Muferihat Kamil, Minister of Labor and Skills of Ethiopia, told the conference. Through this collaboration, thousands of young Ethiopians have gained access to world-class technical and vocational training, preparing them for today's dynamic global environment, Kamil noted. Kamil said Ethiopia expressed gratitude for the continued innovative support and investment that China has shown, empowering its labor force and supporting sustainable development. As of November 2024, China has established 34 Luban Workshops in 30 countries, including Thailand, Cambodia, Portugal, Djibouti, Egypt, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, the Global Times learned from the conference. Highlights of Luban Workshop in Ethiopia are displayed at a special exhibition on vocational education during the conference on November 21, 2024 in Tianjin. (Liu Caiyu/GT) At a special exhibition on vocational education, Luban Workshop highlighted achievements aimed at supporting youth development in partner countries. For example, in the smart transportation section, it highlighted the construction status of programs related to automotive maintenance and intelligent transportation and urban rail systems. During the opening ceremony, the World Technical and Vocational Education and Training League was launched. Kamil hailed the launch of a timely initiative that aligns perfectly with Ethiopia's vision for global collaboration and looked forward to strengthening its partnership with China, whose remarkable achievements in skills development offer valuable lessons for Africa's journey. A ministerial roundtable convenes during the 2024 World Vocational and Technical Education Development Conference on November 21, 2024, in North China's Tianjin Municipality. (Liu Caiyu/GT) A ministerial roundtable meeting was attended by education ministers from 32 countries, including China. They discussed and adopted the "Tianjin Consensus on the Development of World Vocational Education," which provides a framework for advancing vocational education globally. Om Romny, secretary of state of Cambodia's Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, told the Global Times that China's vocational and technical education has achieved remarkable results, guided by clear goals and a systematic framework. Romny emphasized the importance of strengthening capacity-building efforts with China across various sectors, including vocational and technical education, to enhance mutual understanding and recognition between the peoples of both countries. Mustafa Mohamed Mahmoud, Minister of National Education and Vocational Training of the Republic of Djibouti, told the Global Times that he gained valuable insights from the meeting, particularly from the insights shared by Chinese experts regarding the mechanisms China has adopted for the development and management of its vocational education system. Currently, the world is facing an industrial and technological revolution. African countries must keep pace with global developments. Themed on Innovation Empowers the Future, Skills Enlighten New Lives, the conference hosted over 1,200 representatives from domestic and international backgrounds, including more than 600 overseas guests from over 100 countries and regions, covering government officials, diplomats stationed in China, representatives from international organizations, and academic institutions. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing) Support Us Your Support will ensure EPWs financial viability and sustainability. The EPW produces independent and public-spirited scholarship and analyses of contemporary affairs every week. EPW is one of the few publications that keep alive the spirit of intellectual inquiry in the Indian media. Often described as a publication with a social conscience, EPW has never shied away from taking strong editorial positions. Our publication is free from political pressure, or commercial interests. Our editorial independence is our pride. We rely on your support to continue the endeavour of highlighting the challenges faced by the disadvantaged, writings from the margins, and scholarship on the most pertinent issues that concern contemporary Indian society. Every contribution is valuable for our future. Low-cost imports from China have inundated the Vietnamese market and stolen market share from local producers. To level the playing field for local manufacturers, experts advocate for a two-pronged approach: taxing cheap imports and boosting domestic production through capital injections, infrastructure development, and streamlined logistics. Chinese goods flood Vietnam 'Nai' a popular Facebook page which sells fashion and personal items via live streams primarily markets made-in-China products. A set of six pillowcases, for example, retails on the 'Nai' page for just VND99,000 (US$3.89). Similarly, 'Nai' sells three knives for VND99,000, and a hotpot for VND199,000 ($7.8). Another Facebook page leverages its large weekly orders to secure significant discounts of 20-30 percent on fashion items from Guangzhou. This allows them to offer these products at equally competitive prices, attracting customers seeking affordable fashion trends. Ngo Thi Hoa, the owner of a live stream channel which sells fashion products, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that she used to vend both Chinese and Vietnamese commodities, but eventually gave up on the Vietnamese products out of the convenience in importing and diversity of their Chinese counterparts. A pair of shoes shipped from China is priced at some VND100,000-150,000 ($3.9-5.9), while a Vietnamese lookalike typically costs VND150,000-200,000 ($5.9-7.9). In addition, Chinese manufacturers are continuously producing new models, Hoa said. Many Chinese products sold in Vietnam are sourced from domestic warehouses rather than being directly imported from China, allowing retailers to streamline distribution and reduce dependency on imports. Vietnamese e-commerce platforms are also filled with Chinese goods, offering competitive prices and appealing promotions. Many online shops further attract customers with substantial discounts, free shipping, and compensation for delivery delays. A Vietnamese clothing outsourcing unit struggles to compete with low-cost Chinese goods. Photo: Tu Trung / Tuoi Tre Vietnamese goods lose ground Nguyen Dang Hien, vice-chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Industrial Park Business Association, told Tuoi Tre that Chinese companies have a keen understanding of consumer demands in developing countries like Vietnam, particularly in rural areas, allowing them to offer affordable and diverse products that cater to these markets. Behind-the-scenes incentives play a significant role in promoting Chinese-made products. For instance, while Vietnamese beverage companies typically provide commission rates of 12-15 percent to first-tier suppliers, Chinese beverage firms often offer substantially higher commissions, making them more appealing to retailers. Nguyen Ngoc Luan, CEO of Meet More Vietnam Co. Ltd., a coffee producer in Cu Chi District, Ho Chi Minh City, said Vietnam has a strong coffee market, but still faces stiff competition from Chinese rivals. Chinese goods receive huge support from Chinese e-commerce platforms, such as Temu and TikTok, and Chinese firms put significant effort into partnering with social media influencers to promote their products on various channels. Chinese clothing is on display at a trade center in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Tu Trung / Tuoi Tre Local production suffers Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, 50-60 percent of the shoes purchased in Vietnam were locally made, said Nguyen Van Khanh, vice-chairman and general secretary of the Shoes and Leather Association of Ho Chi Minh City. That number has since plunged in the wake of the influx of Chinese goods. A pair of Chinese sneakers sold in Vietnam for VND60,00-70,000 ($2.4-2.8) would sell for a minimum of VND100,000 ($3.9) if it was Vietnamese-made, Khanh said, primarily because Chinese producers do not need to import input materials while Vietnamese firms do. China has also developed large trade centers in areas bordering Vietnam which allow its products to be easily introduced to Vietnamese partners, Khanh explained. Nguyen Dang Hien, a member of the Ho Chi Minh City Industrial Park Business Association, noted that Chinese goods benefit from strong support from e-commerce platforms and transport and logistics companies, enabling Chinese producers to expand into international markets. China leverages capital and technology incentives to lower production costs. An e-commerce expert stated that Thailand is employing a similar strategy, with schemes to establish warehouses along its borders. In contrast, Vietnam has relatively few such warehouses, resulting in a significant challenge for Vietnamese businesses seeking to penetrate foreign markets. CEO Luan suggested that addressing the influx of Chinese products requires imposing taxes on low-cost imports, promoting Vietnamese goods, and reducing taxes and fees on materials for local products. Meanwhile, Doan Thi Thu Ha, a representative of Thu Duc Market's management board, reported that traditional wet markets are struggling under the weight of taxes, fees, and the growing popularity of e-commerce. As a result, many merchants are downsizing their operations or even leaving the markets altogether. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Private investments in education have picked up even more momentum in recent years thanks to involvement from a wide range of conglomerates since they began booming a decade ago. Though many large conglomerates in Vietnam did not start in education, their current ventures into the sector have made the industry hyper-diverse and ultra-competitive. Ho Xuan Nangs billion-dollar bet on Phenikaa The launch of Phenikaa University in 2019 drew widespread attention across the education sector. The company which owns Phenikaa University is Phuong Hoang Xanh A&A Group (Phenikaa Group) a conglomerate run by board chairman Xo Xuan Nang. The development of each country is highly dependent on its internal strength," said Nang, who goes by the nickname 'Jewish Nang.' "To build internal capability, it is important to maximize intellect, talent, and brainpower in the right way. Phenikaa University is funded by Phenikaa Group, with 100 percent of its revenue reinvested directly into the school. But higher education is not Nangs only education venture. He recently launched the Phenikaa Innovation Fund using an initial investment of VND1 trillion (US$39.4 million) sourced from the group's profit after tax. According to Phenikaa Groups most recent financial report, its consolidated profit after tax for the first half of 2024 reached nearly VND514 billion ($20.2 million), a year-on-year increase of 32 percent. Most of this profit comes from Vicostone a Phenikaa subsidiary which prospects for quartz for export to the United States. In the first nine months of this year, Vicostone's revenue topped VND3.223 trillion ($127 million) and its profit after tax hit VND617 billion ($24.3 million). Nang is currently among Vietnam's nine richest people and is worth an estimated VND8 trillion ($315 million). Truong Gia Binhs strong ties to education Truong Gia Binh, founder and chairman of FPT Group, has invested heavily in the education sector over the past seven years. Binh is among the seven richest individuals in Vietnam with an estimated net worth of VND11 trillion ($433 million). FPT has long been considered a tech leader in Vietnam, but its ongoing ventures into education have been significant contributors to the group's bottom line. According to an FPT report, the group's education sector achieved year-on-year revenue growth of 16.2 percent, generating VND5.155 trillion ($203 million) from January to September, driven by its expanding presence in provinces and cities nationwide. FPTs expansion into education began in 1999, when it opened a training center for international software developers FPT Aptech. It later established FPT University. Currently, the FPT education ecosystem includes elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools; junior colleges, universities, and graduate programs; international partnerships; and international student development programs. VinUnis global ambition Pham Nhat Vuong, founder and chairman of Vingroup, is Vietnam's wealthiest individual thanks to his net worth of $4.2 billion, according to Forbes. Vingroup made its first venture into education in 2018 with the launch of the integrated school system Vinschool and the establishment of Vin University (VinUni) later. VinUni focuses its educational and training programs on three key areas: business, technology, and health sciences, the company said, adding its initial investment into VinUni was VND6.5 trillion ($256 million). Vuongs stated goal is for VinUni to be amongst the 50 best young universities in the world. He plans to achieve this with a non-profit educational model that follows international standards and integrates exemplary models of higher education from around the world. VingUnis tuition fees reflect such high standards with undergraduate education costing approximately VND800 million ($31,504) per academic year. Like us on Facebook or follow us on X to get the latest news about Vietnam! The International Criminal Court on Thursday issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defence minister, as well as Hamas's military chief Mohammed Deif. The unprecedented move drew a furious reaction from Netanyahu, who said in a statement: "Israel rejects with disgust the absurd and false actions and accusations made against it." The ICC's move now theoretically limits the movement of Netanyahu as any of the court's 124 national members would be obliged to arrest him on their territory. "The Chamber issued warrants of arrest for two individuals, Mr Benjamin Netanyahu and Mr Yoav Gallant, for crimes against humanity and war crimes committed from at least 8 October 2023 until at least 20 May 2024, the day the Prosecution filed the applications for warrants of arrest," the ICC said in a statement. A warrant had also been issued for Deif, it added. Israel said in early August it had killed Deif in an air strike in southern Gaza in July, but Hamas has not confirmed his death. The court said it had pressed on with issuing the arrest warrant as the prosecutor had not been able to determine whether Deif was dead. 'Reasonable grounds' The court said it had found "reasonable grounds" to believe Netanyahu and Gallant bore "criminal responsibility" for the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare, as well as the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts. The ICC said the pair also "bear criminal responsibility as civilian superiors for the war crime of intentionally directing an attack against the civilian population". The court alleged both men "intentionally and knowingly deprived the civilian population in Gaza of objects indispensable to their survival", including food, water, medicine, fuel, and electricity. Regarding the war crime of starvation, the court said the "lack of food, water, electricity and fuel, and specific medical supplies, created conditions of life calculated to bring about the destruction of part of the civilian population in Gaza". This resulted in civilian deaths including of children, due to malnutrition and dehydration, the court charged. "On the basis of material presented by the Prosecution covering the period until 20 May 2024, the Chamber could not determine that all elements of the crime against humanity of extermination were met," the court said. However, judges did say there were reasonable grounds to believe that the crime against humanity of murder had been committed in relation to these victims. Veteran war crimes prosecutor and commentator Reed Brody said the warrants were "as unprecedented as they are justified and indeed overdue. "The ICC has never, in over 21 years, indicted a pro-Western official," he said. Hamas said the warrants for the Israeli officials were an "important step towards justice". 'Secret' warrants The arrest warrants had been classified as "secret", to protect witnesses and to safeguard the conduct of the investigations, the court said. "However, the Chamber decided to release the information below since conduct similar to that addressed in the warrant of arrest appears to be ongoing," the tribunal said. "Moreover, the Chamber considers it to be in the interest of victims and their families that they are made aware of the warrants' existence." ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan in May requested the court issue arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Netanyahu sacked Gallant as defence minister on November 5. Khan also sought warrants against top Hamas leaders including Mohammed Deif on suspicion of war crimes and crimes against humanity. The prosecutor dropped the application for Ismail Haniyeh, the group's political leader, on August 2 "because of the changed circumstances caused by Mr Haniyeh's death" in Tehran on July 31, the ICC earlier said in a statement. Khan also requested warrants against former Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, who was also killed by the Israeli military in Gaza. Since Hamas conducted its October 7, 2023 attack, the deadliest in Israeli history, Israel has been engaged in a military conflict in Gaza, which the militant group rules. The conflict was triggered by the assault on Israel by Hamas militants, a stunning cross-border raid that resulted in the deaths of 1,206 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures. The Hamas government's health ministry in the Gaza Strip said Thursday that at least 44,056 people had been killed in more than 13 months of conflict between Israel and Palestinian militants. The toll includes 71 deaths in the previous 24 hours, according to the ministry, which said 104,268 people had been wounded in the Gaza Strip since the conflict began. President of the Cambodian National Assembly (NA) Samdech Khuon Sudary presided over a solemn welcome ceremony in Phnom Penh on Thursday afternoon for Vietnamese NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man and a high-ranking delegation, who are on a four-day official visit to the kingdom. The event, held at Cambodias NA headquarters, featured a traditional flower presentation, national anthems, and a review of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces honor guard. The two top legislators held talks following the ceremony. Vietnamese National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man (L) and his Cambodian counterpart Samdech Khuon Sudary stand on a platform of honor during a flag-salute ceremony in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, November 21, 2024. Photo: Vietnam News Agency NA President Khuon Sudary expressed her thanks to Man for paying an official visit to her country, where Man will attend the 12th General Assembly of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties, the 11th Plenary Session of International Parliament for Tolerance and Peace, and the inauguration of the Cambodian NAs new administrative building -- a symbolic gift from the Vietnamese Party, state, and people. She extended her regards to top Vietnamese officials -- including Party General Secretary To Lam, State President Luong Cuong, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, and other cadres -- and the people of Vietnam. Man reiterated Vietnams commitment to fostering a strong, neighborly relationship built on mutual trust and strategic cooperation. He called on the Cambodian legislature to support Vietnamese businesses and ensure a stable environment for ethnic Vietnamese living and working in Cambodia. Their talks were centered around key areas of bilateral cooperation, including defense, security, trade, and investment, which have seen significant progress in recent years. Both leaders shared the belief that the outcomes of their discussions would significantly contribute to enhancing cooperation and an enduring friendship between the two nations. Cambodian National Assembly President Samdech Khuon Sudary (R) awards the Royal Order of Sahametrei (The Grand Cross), the highest honor that Cambodia bestows upon foreigners, to top Vietnamese legislator Tran Thanh Man at Cambodias National Assembly headquarters in Phnom Penh, November 21, 2024. Photo: Vietnam News Agency Earlier that day, Man and the Vietnamese delegation paid respects at the Independence Monument, the Norodom Sihanouk Memorial, and the Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Monument in Phnom Penh. The Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Monument stands as a profound symbol of solidarity and friendship between the two countries. It commemorates the Vietnamese soldiers who sacrificed their lives while carrying out the noble international mission of helping the Cambodian people escape the genocidal Pol Pot regime. The monument also embodies Vietnam's heartfelt gratitude for Cambodias support during its struggle for national reunification. Like us on Facebook or follow us on X to get the latest news about Vietnam! Vietnam-Malaysia relations marked a new milestone when the two countries upgraded their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership during talks between Vietnamese Party General Secretary To Lam and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday. The meeting was held as part of an official visit by the Vietnamese Party chief and his spouse to Malaysia from Thursday to Saturday at the invitation of PM Ibrahim and his wife. Following their talks, Lam and Ibrahim issued a joint statement and co-chaired a press meeting to proclaim the elevation of ties and other agreements. After discussing the development of Vietnam-Malaysia relations over the past several decades, especially since the launch of their strategic partnership nine years ago, the two leaders decided to upgrade the ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership, the joint statement said. Under the new partnership, both countries will continue supporting each others development and enhancing friendly cooperation and political trust based on the respect for international law, independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political institutions, all in line with each countrys actual conditions as well as the principle of non-interference in domestic affairs, Lam told the media. Lam and Ibrahim agreed to promote connectivity between the two economies, strive to push their trade to US$18 billion or higher in a balanced direction, and intensify cooperation in many other spheres, including security, defense, navigation, electricity, and digital economy. They agreed to foster cooperation in new areas such as green economy, innovation, science and technology, digital transformation, and green energy, while expanding ties in other important aspects, including human resources, labor, culture, sports, tourism, and people-to-people connection. The two leaders also pledged to encourage enterprises from each country to elevate their investments in the other while cooperating to boost the halal industry. They promised to join in ensuring common interests from oil and gas cooperation and consider establishing a regional cooperation development mechanism in overlapping sea areas, if any. PM Ibrahim addressed the effective operations of many Malaysian businesses in Vietnam and expressed hope that Vietnam would continue to provide favorable conditions for their activities. He also requested Vietnam's support as Malaysia prepares to assume the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025. Both countries agreed to support each other and closely coordinate in regional and international issues for common peace, security, and stability, especially at multilateral forums such as ASEAN, the United Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement, and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation. The two leaders promised to boost ASEANs development to realize the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and beyond, and strengthen sub-regional cooperation and connectivity, including the Mekong sub-region. The Vietnamese delegation led by Party General Secretary To Lam (L) meets with a Malaysian delegation headed by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, November 21, 2024. Photo: Vietnam News Agency Party General Secretary Lam reiterated Vietnams policy of supporting efforts to maintain peace, security, stability, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Vietnam Sea, peacefully resolve disputes without use or threat of force, in line with international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982). He urged all parties to exercise restraint and refrain from actions that could heighten tensions or jeopardize peace and stability in the East Vietnam Sea. He pushed for all sides fully and effectively implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Vietnam Sea and expediting the adoption of a substantive and effective Code of Conduct in accordance with international law, including UNCLOS 1982. The Party chief affirmed Vietnams consistent support for Malaysia's role as ASEAN Chair 2025. Following their talks, the two leaders witnessed the signing and exchange of two memoranda of understanding, the first for trade promotion cooperation between the Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency and the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation. The second is related to cooperation in renewable energy between Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam) and Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas). Vietnam and Malaysia established diplomatic relations in March 1973, and entered a strategic partnership in August 2015. Malaysia is currently in Vietnam's top 10 largest trade partners. In January-October, their trade reached $11.81 billion, equivalent to about 93 percent of the last year's turnover, according to official figures. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! What you need to know today in Vietnam: Politics -- U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper, General Kevin B. Schneider, Commander of the U.S. Pacific Air Forces, and Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Hien, Commander of the Vietnam People's Air Defense-Air Force, attended a handover ceremony for T-6C training aircraft in Phan Thiet, Binh Thuan Province on Wednesday, according to the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi. The embassy said that this initial delivery of five out of 12 T-6C aircraft marks a significant milestone in the bilateral defense relationship. -- Vietnam and Malaysia have lifted their ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership, Vietnamese Party General Secretary To Lam said at a press conference in Malaysia on Thursday after talks with his Malaysian counterpart Anwar Ibrahim. -- Cambodian National Assembly President Samdech Khuon Sudary presided over a solemn welcoming ceremony on Thursday for National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man and a high-ranking delegation from the Party and state of Vietnam on their official visit to Cambodia, according to the Vietnam News Agency. Society -- On Thursday, South Korean police announced that they had arrested a 19-year-old Vietnamese woman for allegedly abandoning her newborn baby in a bag placed in a restroom. -- A leader of the Quang Trung Ward People's Committee in Dong Da District, Hanoi told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Thursday that nearly 150 sets of human remains had been discovered during drainage system renovations in the ward. -- The remaining work on the Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien Metro Line No. 1 project in Ho Chi Minh City is being finalized by all parties involved. The metro line is scheduled to commence commercial operations on December 22. -- Nguyen Van Hoa, chairman of the Nong Son District People's Committee in Quang Nam Province, central Vietnam, announced on Thursday that he had signed a decision to declare a dog rabies epidemic in the district. Business -- Candy and snack companies are enthusiastically hiring hundreds of workers, aiming for a double-digit increase in sales this Tet season, due in January. Meanwhile, many retailers are concerned about low consumer demand and are considering increasing promotions. Sports -- Pep Guardiola has renewed his contract with Manchester City, the reigning Premier League champions, for an additional two seasons, saying he cannot leave now when the club enters what he considers the most challenging phase of his tenure at the Etihad Stadium, AFP reported. World News -- "Scientists have taken a close-up picture of a star apparently in its death throes, surrounded by gas and dust as it heads toward its demise in a huge explosion called a supernova - the first time the events of this pivotal stage have ever been imaged," Reuters reported. Like us on Facebook or follow us on X to get the latest news about Vietnam! The Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien Metro Line No. 1 project in Ho Chi Minh City is scheduled to commence commercial operations on December 22, the Management Authority for Urban Railways of Ho Chi Minh City (MAUR), which is the investor, announced at a press conference on Thursday. The metro line is fully completed and all parties involved are finalizing preparations for its official service. MAUR and Ho Chi Minh City Urban Railway No. 1 Company Limited, the metro line operator, are cooperating on staff training, train operation, acceptance, and the handover of completed items to prepare for the rollout. They are also seeking approval to use some of the metro lines infrastructure assets. Van Thi Huu Tam, deputy director of Ho Chi Minh City Urban Railway No. 1 Company Limited, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that trains on the first metro line will operate from 5:00 am to 10:00 pm daily. Intervals between the trains will be eight minutes during peak hours and 12 minutes during off-peak hours, including those time frames 6:00 am-8:00 am, 11:00 am-12:00 am, and 3:30 pm-6:00 p. Operating times will be clearly posted at each station. Ho Chi Minh City Urban Railway No. 1 Company Limited will provide information about the metro lines operation schedule and ticket prices on its website and mobile app. Also on Thursday, the Ho Chi Minh city administration issued a decision on fares for the metro line rides, ranging from VND6,000 (US$0.2) to VND20,000 ($0.8) per trip. Single-day tickets cost VND40,000 ($1.6) per passenger; three-day tickets, VND90,000 ($3.5); and monthly tickets, VND300,000 ($11.8). Students will be given a 50-percent discount per monthly ticket. The metro line is 19.7 kilometers long, including 2.6 kilometers of underground urban rail link and 17.1 kilometers of elevated track. It carries a price tag of VND43.7 trillion ($1.7 billion). The line has a total of 17 trains, each capable of accommodating 930 passengers, including 147 sitting and 783 standing. Construction on the metro line began in 2012. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Nearly 150 sets of human remains were uncovered during drainage system renovations beneath an alley in downtown Hanoi, a local official told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Thursday. Workers involved in the drainage system renovation found the remains burried nearly a meter below the surface of Alley 167 on Tay Son Street in Dong Da District, according to a leader of the administration of Quang Trung Ward in Dong Da District. Residents burn incense and place flowers and votive papers in the area where nearly 150 human remains were found in Hanoi. Photo: Anh Hung / Tuoi Tre The leader reported that they had contacted Phung Hung Mortuary to transport the remains to Yen Ky Cemetery in Hanoi for reburial. This is not the first time human remains have been found in the area. Several sets of remains have been discovered during infrastructure and housing construction projects there, the leader noted, adding that the exact time of burial remains unknown. Nearly 150 sets of human remains were discovered beneath an alley in downtown Hanoi. Video: Pham Tuan / Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Chris Pettit, left, the ex-attorney who stole tens of millions of dollars from his law clients, was sentenced in February to 50 years in federal prison. He's shown in a 2022 file photo on his way to U.S. Bankruptcy Court. Jerry Lara/Staff photographer Chris Pettit, the ex-attorney shown here in 2022, had agreed to set up an irrevocable trust for client Dr. Salvador Ortiz. But Pettit diverted the funds for the trust to accounts in his and his law firm's name. Jerry Lara, San Antonio Express-News / Staff photographer In 2022, Dr. Salvador Ortiz filed lis pendens on Chris Pettit's one-time law offices at 13111 Huebner Road to alert others that there was pending litigation against the now disgraced ex-lawyer. The office building is shown in a 2022 file photo. In attempt to raise capital, former lawyer Chris Pettit sold his main law office at 11902 Rustic Lane in San Antonio to Sin Reposo LLC for almost $217,000 in 2022. Some of the proceeds from the sale went to Dr. Salvador Ortiz, a Pettit client who discovered he was being defrauded by the attorney. Sin Reposo later deeded the property to Pettit's bankruptcy estate. In 2022, now ex-San Antonio attorney Chris Pettit had entered into a contract to sell the property at 555 Argyle Ave. overlooking Olmos Dam in Alamo Heights to Sin Reposo LLC for about $2 million. That contract was later terminated under a settlement agreement. The property was purchased earlier this year by Edward Galt Steves, CEO of San Antonio door manufacturer Steves & Sons Inc., for $2.3 million. In attempt to raise capital, former lawyer Chris Pettit sold an apartment building at 488 E. Olmos Drive to Sin Reposo LLC for $500,000 in 2022. Some of the proceeds from the sale went to Dr. Salvador Ortiz, a Pettit client who discovered he was being defrauded by the attorney. Sin Reposo later deeded the property to Pettit's bankruptcy estate. In attempt to raise capital, former lawyer Chris Pettit sold an Olmos Park house on Contour Drive to Sin Reposo LLC for $2 million in 2022. Some of the proceeds from the sale went to Dr. Salvador Ortiz, a Pettit client who discovered he was being defrauded by the attorney. Sin Reposo later deeded the property to Pettit's bankruptcy estate. Editors note: This article has been updated to reflect that Chief U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Craig Gargotta approved the settlement between Dr. Salvador Ortiz and trustee Eric Terry on Friday, Nov. 22. Dr. Salvador Ortiz was the first Chris Pettit client to discover the now-jailed ex-attorney had been perpetrating a massive fraud. In fact, the trustee administering the former attorneys bankruptcies has called him the canary in the coal mine for his early realization of the shocking misappropriation of client funds. But besides possibly alerting the FBI, Ortiz pursued Pettit in a civil action to recover millions of dollars his trusted lawyer had misappropriated. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The doctor got back what he lost and, apparently, then some. Now, Ortiz has agreed to pay $1.5 million to trustee Eric Terry to settle a lawsuit that sought to recover almost $11.7 million in transfers Pettit made to the doctor before the bankruptcy cases were filed. Chief U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Craig Gargotta approved the settlement Friday. It would mark the largest single recovery from any individual whos been sued by Terry. In all, the trustee has filed 13 lawsuits against individuals and businesses, though there have been other disputes seeking recoveries that havent led to lawsuits. In his May lawsuit against Ortiz in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in San Antonio, Terry alleged that the transfers Pettit and his law firm made to the doctor were fraudulent because he did not receive reasonably equivalent value as consideration. Terry added that the attorney and his firm were essentially broke at the time of the transfers. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Pettit, 57, is the disgraced former San Antonio probate, estate planning and personal injury lawyer who was sentenced to 50 years in prison in February after pleading guilty to stealing tens of millions of dollars from his clients. He has filed paperwork to possibly appeal his conviction and sentence. The appeal efforts are on hold pending a Dec. 12 court hearing to determine how much hell owe in restitution to his victims. He used the millions he stole to fund a high-end lifestyle for himself and those close to him, Terry has said in court papers, but tracking where the money went has been difficult. Pettit filed for bankruptcy protection for himself and his law firm, Chris Pettit & Associates, in June 2022. He also surrendered his law license and shuttered his law firm. Bankruptcy claims against the firm exceed $273 million while claims against Pettit individually are about $239 million. Irrevocable trust Ortiz, 88, was born in Spain and still has a residence there as well as in Fair Oaks Ranch. He and his now-deceased wife first engaged Pettits law firm for estate planning in 2011, Terry said in his complaint. Advertisement Article continues below this ad According to a 2021 lawsuit Ortiz filed against Pettit in state District Court, the doctor had Pettit create an irrevocable trust and a will in 2019. The attorney prepared the documents and convinced Dr. Ortiz to appoint him as the trustee of the irrevocable trust, Ortiz alleged. The doctor conveyed more than $10.9 million to Pettit to fund the trust. As trustee, Pettit was expected to provide tax preparation services and investment management and advice. While attorneys are not precluded from serving as trustees for trusts they create, there are risks and potential conflicts of interest. The beneficiaries of the trust were Ortiz, his wife and son, but Terry said the trust primarily provided monthly income to the son. Instead of depositing the money into an investment account for the trust, though, Pettit transferred the funds into an operating account for his law firm and proceeded to use those funds for his own benefit and purpose, Ortiz alleged. According to Terrys lawsuit, about $5.7 million was transferred from the trusts account at Charles Schwab & Co. to accounts in Pettits and his law firms names. Later the same year, another $4.3 million was transferred to the law firms account. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The deposits were then commingled with monies belonging to other clients, the firm itself or Pettit. It does not appear Pettit or his firm made any outgoing payments to Ortiz, his son or the trust during that time, Terry added. Pettit used his position as trustee and as the accountant for (the trust) to actively conceal his actions and the misappropriation, Ortiz said in his suit. In January 2021, Pettit told Ortiz that trust funds had been moved from Schwab to accounts at Frost Bank to secure better interest, Terry said in his suit. Wrongdoing discovered Ortiz discovered Pettits wrongdoing that month and demanded that the funds be restored, according to settlement papers. Pettit began making efforts to repay the money he took from the trust by making large, uniform and regular payments to Ortiz, Terry said. Many of the wires or checks were in the amount of $250,000, with some as large as $500,000. In his suit, Terry alleged Ortiz received $11.2 million in 2021 and another $350,500 in 2022. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Ortiz said that between late January and April 1, 2021, Pettit repaid the trust $8 million. At some point, Ortiz said, the payments stopped, forcing him to hire legal counsel to handle the matter. Pettit and Ortiz executed a Pre-Litigation Settlement Agreement in May 2021 that called for the lawyer to make monthly payments to the Ortiz trust to cover the remaining amounts owed as well as costs, fees, interest and to cover mental aguish. Pettit delivered a secured promissory note to Ortiz agreeing to make installment payments to the trust totaling an additional $4.5 million from May through August 2021, followed by a lump sum payment for any remaining interest and principal. Pettit also gave Ortiz a first lien on a Pettit law office building, which was to serve as collateral in the event Pettit defaulted on the agreement. The payments due under the agreement ceased after July, 30, 2021, Ortiz said. In September 2021, more than eight months before Pettits alleged wrongdoing made headlines, Ortiz filed a lawsuit in an attempt to recover the millions still owed him by Pettit and the law firm. The suit didnt specify how much was being sought other than saying it was more than $1 million. Besides actual damages, Ortiz sought punitive damages, interest and attorneys fees and costs. Pettit never answered the lawsuit. He and his firm entered into an agreement that required them to pay Ortiz and the trust almost $2.9 million, plus 10% annual interest and attorneys fees by Oct. 31. But Pettit again failed to make the payment by the deadline, Terry said in his suit, though Ortiz received an additional $500,000 in October 2021. Pettit properties With the deadline missed, the Ortiz trust in January 2022 recorded in county records lis pendens notices on 10 properties owned by Pettit. The notices alert parties to litigation, so any buyer would assume the litigation. The notices were actually dated a year earlier and said the trust was seeking title to, the establishment of an interest in, or enforcement of, an encumbrance against each of the properties. Among them were Pettits law offices at 11902 Rustic Lane and 13111 Huebner Road in San Antonio, an Alamo Heights mansion known as the Wedding Cake house at 555 Argyle Ave. and an apartment building and multimillion-dollar house on Contour Drive in Olmos Park. On March 18, 2022, state District Judge Laura Salinas signed an agreed final judgment. The court ordered Pettit and his firm to pay Ortiz and the trust almost $2.9 million in actual damages, nearly $8.7 million in exemplary damages, pre- and post-judgment interest at the annual rate of 10% and $200,000 in attorneys fees. In a separate action, the trust petitioned the court to judicially declare the trust void or terminated in whole and that all trust assets be distributed to the trust. Raising capital With the notices recorded, Terry said in his suit that Pettit engaged in a desperate attempt to raise capital (at least partially to attempt to pay off Dr. Ortiz) by entering into deals for some of the properties with Sin Reposo LLC, headed by San Antonio developer Garrett Glass. Sin Reposo bought Pettits office building at 11902 Rustic Lane for $216,667; the Olmos Park apartment building for $500,000; and the Contour Drive house for $2 million, Terrys suit said. It also entered into a more than $2 million purchase contract for 555 Argyle. All told, the Ortiz trust received almost $2.8 million from the sale of seven properties to Sin Reposo, Terry said in his suit. In exchange, the trust released the lis pendens on all of the properties. Then, less than two months later, Pettits world imploded and he filed the bankruptcies. Terry said in his suit that between the $2.8 million from the property sales and the $500,000 paid to Ortiz in November 2021, Pettit had overpaid him by more than $400,000. Meanwhile, Sin Reposo later agreed to turn over seven of the properties it had acquired to the bankruptcy estates. Terry asserted he could essentially undo the transactions with Sin Reposo because Pettit entered into them with the actual intent to hinder, delay or defraud creditors. The power to avoid the transactions prevents pre-bankruptcy payments to one creditor at the expense of other creditors. Terrys lawsuit against Ortiz sought to avoid or recover the transfers to or for the benefit of Ortiz relating to the proceeds from the sale of the seven properties. Mediation Based on the payments detailed in Terrys suit, Ortiz actually received more than $14 million from Pettit and his firm. But Terry only sued to recover about $11.7 million. He may have sued only for what he believed he could recover. Terry and Ortiz agreed to a mediation with U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Bradley in Austin. Hes the same judge who recently mediated a settlement between the trustee and San Antonio businessman Paul Black and trusts bearing his name. Black agreed to pay $250,000 and relinquish a claim for more than $6 million that had been filed in Pettits bankruptcy. Terry never actually sued Black but made demands on him and his trusts for the return of alleged fraudulent transfers. Black and Pettit had business dealings for at least a decade, the trustee said. In the Oct. 16 mediation between Terry and Ortiz, the doctor agreed to pay $1.5 million by Dec. 1 or no later than five business days after the settlement is approved by a judge, whichever is later. Even though Ortiz never filed an answer to Terrys lawsuit, its likely he could have raised various defenses to the claims including that he took distributions from Pettit in good faith. Ortiz and his Austin lawyer, Jay Ong, didnt respond to requests for comment. Terry also indicated collecting any judgment against Ortiz could be a challenge given the fact he has a residence and other assets in Spain. It could be difficult and expensive for the Trustee to attempt to locate and collect any assets that are located offshore, the motion requesting approval of the settlement says. Further, Ortiz is of somewhat advanced age (in his 80s) and experiencing health issues. The $1.5 million represents a reasonable approximation of the amount the bankruptcy estates had a likelihood of recovering if the trustee prevailed in the litigation, the motion stated. Ortizs only significant asset in the U.S. is his Fair Oaks Ranch house, which has an assessed value of $718,000, according to the Bexar Appraisal District. Law enforcement forces in Binh Thuan Province, south-central Vietnam have uncovered 533 drug-related cases, arrested 957 suspects, and seized a significant amount of illegal substances so far this year, according to a statement given at a teleconference hosted by the provincial Department of Public Security on Wednesday. The conference was held for participants to discuss solutions for monitoring, identifying, and managing drug addicts, illegal drug users, and those in post-rehabilitation supervision. According to the department, Binh Thuan has made strides in combating drug-related crimes, but the volume of drugs entering the province has risen and trafficking methods have become increasingly sophisticated. Despite ongoing efforts, the actual numbers of drug addicts and illegal drug users in the community remain significantly higher than recorded figures, with many cases going unreported or unmanaged, posing threats to public safety and order. Data released by the police agency also revealed that 228,215 individuals are currently under official supervision for drug use, addiction, or post-rehabilitation across Vietnam. Drug addicts and illegal drug users nationwide spend an estimated VND15 trillion (US$590.2 million) on narcotics each year. Speaking at the event, Colonel Le Quang Nhan, director of the police department, highlighted the complexity of drug-related crimes nationwide and in Binh Thuan. To curb the supply and demand for illicit drugs, he called for a large-scale campaign to identify and manage drug addicts and users comprehensively. He also insisted on dismantling trafficking networks and hotspots to ensure public safety. Like us on Facebook or follow us on X to get the latest news about Vietnam! Vietnam has been attempting to streamline its state apparatus for decades, but little headway has been made. Therefore, the job should be considered a revolution and done drastically. Government jobs are a dream for many young Vietnamese, but while some put the entirety of their efforts into contributing to their country, others use their jobs for rent-seeking, building a personal reputation, or simply collecting a paycheck while doing the bare minimum not to get fired. Many also believe that the massive state apparatus is wasteful. Though many officials and public servants complain that they are often busy with meetings, observers claim that only a few officials work and the rest just go along to get along. Even government ministers acknowledge the inefficiency of the current state apparatus, with one admitting to a National Assembly deputy that their ministry could still function normally even if its workforce were reduced by 30-40 percent. Party General Secretary To Lam once pointed to the involvement of up to six agencies in the issuance of birth certificates as a clear sign of the excessive size of the state. Residents are similarly critical of processes that require meeting with multiple officials, for documents relating to land, housing development, tax payment, business establishment, and project licensing. The oversized state apparatus is also attributed to a shortage of disciplined and determined leaders in state agencies, primarily owing to an overabundance of policies and regulations that are overly burdensome to enforce. It is clear that in order to serve residents effectively, state agencies must be streamlined to operate smoothly. Such agencies do not need power-hungry officials, irresponsible officials, and those with too much time to kill. If officials salaries continue to make up over 60 percent of the state budget, Vietnam will certainly not reach its full potential. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that rumors about Vietnam tightening visa policies for foreigners are unfounded. In terms of visa policies for foreigners, our priority is to create favorable conditions for foreigners to enter and exit Vietnam, as well as live in the country to contribute to its socio-economic growth, spokesperson for the ministry Pham Thu Hang told a regular press briefing in Hanoi on Thursday afternoon. The amended Law on Exit and Entry of Vietnamese Citizens and the revised Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam took effect on August 15, 2023. Hang underlined that the law for foreigners is meant to facilitate the entry of citizens from all nations into Vietnam for study, work, investment, research, and travel in accordance with local regulations. As per the amended law, the e-visa validity period is extended to 90 days from 30 days. The law also allows citizens from 13 countries entitled to Vietnams unilateral visa exemption to be granted temporary residence for 45 days, up from the previous 15 days. Like us on Facebook or follow us on X to get the latest news about Vietnam! South Korean police announced on Thursday that they had arrested a 19-year-old Vietnamese woman for allegedly abandoning her newborn baby in a shopping mall. At 5:00 pm on Wednesday, the crying baby girl was found inside a black bag left in a restroom of the shopping mall in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi Province, Korea Times reported. The baby was in good health and still had her umbilical cord attached. She was immediately taken to a nearby hospital for medical care. Using security camera footage from the mall and surrounding areas, police identified and apprehended the 19-year-old Vietnamese woman at her residence in Uijeongbu. She is a university student in South Korea on a language training visa, not a work visa. The cause of the womans act remains unknown and police plan to investigate it with the support of an interpreter, according to The Korea Herald. The newspaper cited a Ministry of Health and Welfare report in August as saying that nearly 100 children are abandoned by their legal guardians each year. South Koreas National Police Agency reported in 2023 that 1,185 babies were deserted in the country between 2013 and 2022. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! 60 Minutes turn its attention to a profile crime case following a recent TV dramatisation. Villains or Victims? Back when it happened, greed was the simple explanation that went with the headlines. Lyle and Erik Menendez had shot dead their wealthy parents in the familys Beverly Hills mansion to get their hands on a $14 million inheritance. Of course, the brothers denied that was the case. In court they said they killed because their evil father had been sexually abusing them. But they werent believed. Found guilty, the pair were sentenced to life behind bars, without parole. Now though, 35 years later, Tara Brown reports theres not only new evidence but enormous support from armchair detectives around the world who are convinced the Menendez brothers really are victims, not villains. So should they be freed? Reporter: Tara Brown Producers: Serge Negus, Sheree Gibson Get Shorty Rotting in prison for decades now, Stephen Shorty Jamiesons file is marked Never to be released. He is one of Australias most reviled criminals, because in 1988 Jamieson was the ringleader of group of young thugs who abducted, raped and murdered 20-year-old Janine Balding. It was a truly shocking crime. But Jamieson has always denied any involvement in the murder, repeatedly saying he wasnt even there. Most people would easily dismiss the pleas of a despised murderer, but as Nick McKenzie reports, a number of eminent experts have listened. Theyve been reviewing Stephen Shorty Jamiesons file and are now questioning his conviction. Reporter: Nick McKenzie Producers: Amelia Ballinger, Anthony Dowsley 7pm Sunday on Nine Production has commenced in Western Australia on Mystery Road: Origin S2 for ABC. The six-part drama series continues to delve into the early years of Detective Jay Swan, played by actor and proud Nyikina man Mark Coles Smith (We Bury The Dead, Beasts of War). Six months from when we last saw young Jay Narkle (NCIS: Sydney, Territory), we find them attempting to forge a new life together on her mothers Country, in the fading town of Loch Iris. As Jay begins to investigate an unfolding case, Loch Iris closes ranks around him. And the more he pieces together the crime, the more he realises the entire town has been hiding a shadowy past. Its a past that is still rippling through to the present. And with it, a secret, that threatens to tear Jay and Mary apart. ABC Head of Scripted, Rachel Okine said: We are thrilled to be partnering with Bunya Productions on the highly anticipated return of this iconic series. With a stunning new WA location, impeccable cast and compelling crime story that delves deep into our social fabric, our ABC audiences are in for another absolute masterclass in outback noir. Bunya Productions Producer, Greer Simpkin said: We are delighted to be on our next Mystery Road journey, where Detective Jay Swan heads to partner Marys hometown in the tall trees of the southern forests. There is murder, abduction and epic love, but it is the past, the ghosts of the stolen generation who haunt our story This series was written by an entirely First Nations writing team. Outstanding directors Jub Clerc and Wayne Blair are at the helm. Returning to their iconic roles from Origin series one are Mark Coles Smith, Tuuli Narkle and Clarence Ryan along with a terrific ensemble cast including Robyn Malcolm. We are excited to bring to our audiences an entirely new Mystery Road world, a visual feast set in the trees, dams and waterways of the South West of Western Australia. Screen Australia, Head of First Nations Angela Bates said: Audiences everywhere have been captivated by the rich characters, intricate backstories, and powerful themes explored throughout the Mystery Road world. Were thrilled to be supporting this talented creative team as they deliver an exciting new chapter for Jay Swan and Mary Allen, who navigate the complexities of a new town, confront racism, and uncover hidden crimes of the past. Screenwest CEO, Rikki Lea Bestall said: A big welcome back to Bunya Productions and the ABC. We are so proud to have now hosted four seasons of this critically-acclaimed series in Western Australia. This time the majestic forests of Pemberton in the South West will provide the backdrop for Jay and Mary as they navigate their new life together. Congratulations to Greer, David and the entire Mystery Road team. Head of Screen NSW, Kyas Hepworth said: Screen NSW is delighted to support another season of the critically acclaimed Mystery Road: Origin. Audiences in Australia and overseas cant get enough of detective Jay Swan and I look forward to seeing where Bunya Productions and the creative team will take this next chapter in the franchise. All3Media International, EVP Content Maartje Horchner said: Bunya Productions are celebrated for their cinematic, compelling, character-driven storytelling, so we are thrilled to once again partner with this exceptional team on the next chapter of Mystery Road: Origin. This acclaimed crime series, featuring some of Australias leading talent, has previously travelled to leading broadcasters across the globe, and were incredibly proud to bring this highly anticipated second season to our scripted slate. Coles Smith and Narkle will be joined by an impressive ensemble cast including Robyn Malcolm (After The Party, The Survivors), Clarence Ryan (Territory, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga), Geoff Morrell (Lord Of The Rings: Rings of Power, Ice Road 2: The Road To The Sky), Nicholas Bell (Elvis, Bay of Fires), Luke Carroll (Scrublands S2, The Artful Dodger), Helen Morse (The Eye Of The Storm, The Doctor Blake Mysteries), Aswan Reid (The New Boy, Beasts of War), Steve Le Marquand (Population 11, Christmess), Pippa Grandison (Population 11, After the Verdict), Rarriwuy Hick (Wentworth, True Colours) , Shantae Barnes-Cowan (Sweet As, Firebite), Tammy Lee Rock (The Sapphires, Boxing Day), Marley Sharp (The Circuit, Redfern Now), Alex Malone (The Royal Hotel, Colin From Accounts), Greg Tait (Firebite, Mad Bastards) and introducing Eloise Hart. Season two will air on ABC in 2025. Houston Carpenter meets with staff at Nineteen Hyaku. Social media users who said they were former employees accused Carpenter of misconduct. Paul Stephen/Staff Little Ems Oyster Bar owner Houston Carpenter is denying allegations of misconduct, including sexual assault and harassment, that erupted just a day after the restaurant was honored with a Michelin Guide recommendation. The restaurateur and wife Emily "Em" Carpenter are the brains behind Carpenter Carpenter Hospitality, a San Antonio restaurant group that operates Go Fish Wine Bar, Restaurant Claudine, Nineteen Hyaku and Little Em's Oyster Bar. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The Carpenters also owned Up Scale, where Lucy Kerr worked as a server for two years. When Kerr learned her ex-employers had been recognized by the Michelin Guide, she thought, "That's completely wrong." Allegations surface The Michelin announcement on Nov. 11 brought back bad memories for the former server, who said Houston Carpenter victimized coworkers and created a toxic work environment. Kerr took to her Instagram page, where she created a post allowing users to make anonymous confessions about the restaurant owner. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Over 200 responses mostly critical of the owner flooded in. Users claiming to be former employees and associates accused Houston Carpenter of using slurs, making homophobic comments, and generally mistreating employees. "Used to call a black employee by the wrong name cause it was 'too hard to pronounce,'" one submission reads. "If Houston doesn't like an employee he will come up with a plan to push them past their breaking point so they quit and can't file for unemployment," another submission reads. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Some alleged Carpenter sexually assaulted or harassed them. "He groped me in the back of a car with two of our former employees in the front seat... Houston Carpenter is a predator," one submission reads in part. "I felt like I couldn't tell anyone because I was scared of what he would do to me and that no one would believe me." Carpenter responds As the allegations rolled in on social media, Houston Carpenter posted a statement addressing what he called "anonymous remarks attacking my integrity and that of our restaurant." Advertisement Article continues below this ad "To be clear, I have put myself in distasteful situations that have caused speculation. I apologize and will learn from this," he wrote. "I sincerely apologize to my family, friends, team, and community for not learning this lesson sooner. I commit to being the best man I can be and hope we can all grow stronger from this." In a statement to the Express-News, Carpenter vehemently denied the allegations of sexual assault and harassment. "First of all, let me be crystal clear I have never, ever assaulted anyone. Period," he said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "The accusations have been anonymous, making it even more difficult to address head on. But weve done just that responded with facts and the truth," he continued. In both his statement on social media and to the Express-News, Carpenter acknowledged high turnover at Carpenter Carpenter Hospitality restaurants, saying he "had to learn to be a better leader." 'A tough boss' One recent loss at Little Em's is former head chef Jason Salas, who said he was fired in September after missing a mandatory meeting. Salas said he butted heads with Carpenter, who he claimed often swore at him in front of other kitchen staff. Amid reports that other staff at Little Ems have quit since the allegations broke, Carpenter confirmed that four employees left "recently," but he said that it's not unusual to lose staff in a demanding environment. Lead server Ariel O., who declined to provide her last name, is one who has stuck around at Little Ems. She joined the restaurant when it opened in 2020 and said its been one of her favorite jobs. "I understand where people are coming from when they say that he's a tough boss, or he's a demanding person but I think that he's put a lot of money into this company, and he does it because he cares," she said. "I personally have never had a negative experience working with him." One thing Ariel, Salas and Carpenter could all agree on was that patrons should support the Michelin-recommended staff's hard work. "To earn this designation takes a lot of hard work, discipline, and commitment to excellence," he said. "It wouldnt be possible, in my opinion, if we werent a work place with a high value on respect and compassion," Carpenter said. Submissions are still trickling in over a week after Kerr first posted her call for anonymous confessions. She never expected the post to reach so many people, but she hopes it gave former and current employees a safe space to talk about their experiences. US President Donald Trump has said he supports Article Five. Donald Trump has insisted he "supports" Nato's Article Five amid ongoing tensions between the US president and other members of the military alliance over talks to bring an end to the Ukraine war. Trump has been highly critical of other Nato member states in recent weeks over their levels of defence spending as he pressures Western countries to do more to pay for their own security. Ahead of his inauguration last month, he called on Nato allies to spend 5% of their GDP on defence. The US spends 3.4%, while each country is committed to 2%. His overtures to Russian President Vladimir Putin, and a recent decision to side with the Kremlins allies in Belarus and North Korea at the United Nations against Ukraine, the UK and major European powers have severely tested the alliance Article Five states that an armed attack on one member of the military bloc is considered an attack on all. European countries are keen to ensure that any negotiations around Ukraine result in a US-backed peacekeeping force stationed in the country to provide security and ensure that any ceasefire is permanent. ADVERTISEMENT Trump has been reticent to commit to such a proposal, insisting a rare minerals economic deal between the US and Ukraine could provide the necessary security. However, in a firm military commitment towards the UK during White House talks with prime minister Keir Starmer on Thursday, Trump was asked whether the US would come to its ally's aid if British troops were attacked by Russia while keeping the peace in Ukraine. A number of Nato countries do not spend the required 2% of GDP on defence. (Nato) Trump responded: You know, Ive always found about the British they dont need much help. They can take care of themselves very well. It sounds like its evasive but its not evasive. You know, the British have been incredible soldiers, incredible military, and they can take care of themselves. But if they need help, Ill always be with the British, OK? Ill always be with them but they dont need help. ADVERTISEMENT At a joint press conference later, Trump was more explicit when asked if he backed Article Five: "I support it. I dont think were going to have any reason for it. I think were going to have a very successful peace, and I think its going to be a long, lasting peace." But what is Nato, and why is it central to the current conflict? What is Nato? The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, or Nato, is a political and military alliance of 32 countries "that exists to protect the people and territory of its members". Its purpose "is to guarantee the freedom and security" of those members "through political and military means". Why was Nato created? Nato was set up in 1949 to protect members against the USSR, with 12 nations initially signing up to the North Atlantic Treaty in Washington DC. ADVERTISEMENT These countries were the US, Canada, the UK, Belgium, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway and Portugal. Over time, Nato has gradually expanded with additional members joining, including: Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Estonia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Turkiye. Finland and Sweden were the most recent to join in 2023 and 2024 following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. What is Article 5? The collective defence clause of Nato's founding treaty Article 5 of the Washington Treaty is a provision that means an attack against one member is considered an attack against all of them. This is a fundamental part of Nato and why it says it is a defensive alliance. ADVERTISEMENT Nato says military operations are carried out under Article 5 or a United Nations mandate, alone or in cooperation with other countries and international organisations. It states: The Parties agree that an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all and consequently they agree that, if such an armed attack occurs, each of them, in exercise of the right of individual or collective self-defence recognized by Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations, will assist the Party or Parties so attacked by taking forthwith, individually and in concert with the other Parties, such action as it deems necessary, including the use of armed force, to restore and maintain the security of the North Atlantic area. Any such armed attack and all measures taken as a result thereof shall immediately be reported to the Security Council. Such measures shall be terminated when the Security Council has taken the measures necessary to restore and maintain international peace and security. What about Ukraine? Ukraine is only a "partner country", which means it "cooperates closely with Nato but it is not covered by the security guarantee in the alliances founding treaty". Ultimately, this means Nato is not treaty-bound to defend Ukraine. Membership has been mooted as far back as 2008, with president Volodymyr Zelenskyy pressing the issue again following Russia's invasion in 2022. Following Nato's summit in July 2024, it said an invitation will be made once members have agreed "conditions are met" surrounding democratic, economic and security reforms. However, the arrival of President Trump in the White House has sparked peace talks with Russia and seemingly placed Kyiv's hopes of joining the alliance on the back burner. Trump told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a phone call on 12 February he did not think it was practical for Ukraine to join Nato and that it was unlikely Ukraine will get back all of its land lost to Russia during the war. We are excited to welcome Sunstone Partners as our new investment partner, said Leo Tucker, CEO of KMS Technology. This partnership represents a significant milestone for us and aligns perfectly with our vision to accelerate growth and elevate the impact of our services. With Sunstones expertise and resources, we look forward to expanding our technological capabilities and delivering even greater value to our clients. KMS Technology offers tailored digital engineering, data, AI, and consulting solutions through a combination of onshore, nearshore, and offshore resources, including highly skilled teams across the United States, Mexico, and Vietnam. The company has established a strong reputation for excellence in healthcare, enterprise software, financial services, and other industries, delivering comprehensive digital transformation services that help organisations meet their ever-evolving business and technology needs. We are still in the early stages of massive digitisation efforts across enterprises, further accelerated by increased demand for next-generation data and AI-enabled applications. We see tremendous opportunity in partnering with KMS Technology to apply our expertise and help accelerate growth and innovation, said Julian Hinderling, Partner at Sunstone Partners. KMS has built a deep track record of developing mission-critical, revenue-generating products for their customers. We are excited to support KMS in scaling to the next level. Vu Lam, Co-Founder and Board Chairman of KMS Technology, added, KMS was founded with the vision of bringing outstanding talent and innovation to clients across the globe. The investment from Sunstone Partners is a powerful validation of our business model and will help us scale even further. Were thrilled to collaborate closely with Sunstone Partners as we enter this new phase of strategic growth and expanded capabilities. KMS Technology has long been dedicated to providing organisations with innovative digital transformation solutions through its global centres of excellence. With Sunstone Partners investment, KMS Technology will continue to build its teams, deepen its service offerings, and broaden its impact in an increasingly competitive and rapidly evolving technology landscape. Canaccord Genuity and Choate Hall & Stewart acted as advisers to Sunstone Partners. Tree Line Capital Partners provided debt financing in support of the transaction. Houlihan Lokey and Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough acted as advisers to KMS Technology. About KMS Technology KMS Technology was established in 2009 as a US-based premier technology services company. With development centres in Vietnam and Mexico, we have been trusted globally for the superb quality of our software consulting and development services, technology solutions, and engineering expertise. We pride ourselves on creating brilliant solutions for our clients by leveraging deep expertise, advanced technologies, and delivery excellenceachieving shared success where everyone can reach their fullest potential. KMS believes that the business success we contribute to reflects our commitment to making a difference in our community, providing tangible solutions that create long-lasting impacts. Stay connected with KMS Technology and its brands: Website: www.kms-technology.com Facebook: facebook.com/kmstechnologyvietnam LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/kms-technology About Sunstone Partners Sunstone Partners is a growth-oriented private equity firm that invests in AI- and technology-enabled services and software companies. The firm partners with exceptional management teams, often as their first institutional capital partner, to help accelerate organic growth and fund acquisitions. Founded in 2015, the firm has $1.7 billion in committed capital across its three funds. Sunstone Partners has been recognised as one of Inc. Magazines Founder-Friendly Investors for 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. For more information, visit www.sunstonepartners.com. HA NOI The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) is proposing to develop a decree regulating the use of telecommunications accounts to pay for goods and services in Viet Nam, in order to promote non-cash payment in the country, especially in isolated areas. According to the SBV, currently, the use of a telecommunications account to pay for small-value goods and services in the country, called Mobile-Money service, is being implemented in a pilot programme under Decision No. 316/Q-TTg. Therefore, it is necessary to develop the decree to create an official legal corridor for service providers to be implemented. The SBV believes the development of Mobile-Money service, which can take advantage of the countrys infrastructure, data, telecommunications networks, will contribute to promoting non-cash payments, reducing social costs, bringing convenience to users, and increasing access to and use of financial services, especially in rural, mountainous, remote, border and island areas of Viet Nam. In addition, the development of the decree can help enhance the role of State management in the provision of Mobile-Money service as it will detail violations, business conditions, regulations on responsibilities and obligations of related parties. An official legal framework for Mobile-Money services will also contribute to establishing and creating a healthy business environment, ensuring fair and equal competition among service providers, the SBV said. After nearly three years implementing the pilot Mobile-Money services programme according to Decision No. 316/Q-TTg, enterprises have made efforts to develop services and achieved positive results. The service has so far contributed to developing non-cash payment activities, increasing access to and use of financial services, especially in rural and remote areas of the country. By the end of September 2024, the total number of customers registering and using Mobile-Money services was more than 9.87 million, of which Viettel accounted for 73 per cent, VNPT-Media accounted for 21 per cent and MobiFone accounted for 6 per cent. Of the total, the number of customers in rural, mountainous, remote, border and island areas was nearly 7.1 million customers, making up 71.73 per cent. The total number of active Mobile-Money accounts by the end of September 2024 was more than 6.56 million accounts, accounting for about 66.46 per cent of the total number of registered accounts. VNS HA NOI Viet Nam has adopted a national action plan on digital economy development, which outlines key tasks and solutions for the 2024-25 period. The freshly-issued plan aims to accelerate the development of Viet Nam's digital economy in line with the targets set in Decision No. 411/Q-TTg dated March 31, 2022, which approved the National Strategy on Digital Economy and Digital Society Development by 2025 with a vision toward 2030. It identifies sector-specific digital economy growth as the primary avenue for expansion, while highlighting the gradual integration of digital technologies and data as critical inputs in production and business activities across various sectors, ultimately enhancing overall efficiency and competitiveness in the economy. The plan puts forth four major tasks and solutions, covering ICT-based digital economy, digital data, sector-specific digital economy, and digital governance. Accordingly, information technology serves the foundational sector to drive digital economy growth. The plan also promotes the readiness of high-quality datasets as well as the circulation, sharing, and opening of data. Priorities will be given to key sectors where Viet Nam has significant potential for digital economy, including wholesale and retail, agriculture, manufacturing, tourism, and logistics. The plan touches upon the pilot deployment of virtual assistant platforms across ministries, agencies, and localities before scaling up. These platforms will support officials in drafting legal documents and performing public duties, assist citizens with legal matters, and provide other virtual assistant functions. Double-digit growth Viet Nam's digital economy continues its solid double-digit growth driven by e-commerce and online travel, according to the annual Southeast Asia Digital Economy report by Google, Temasek and Bain & Company. The report, titled Profits on the Rise, Harnessing SEAs Advantage, looked at the digital economies of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Viet Nam and covered six key sectors: e-commerce, food delivery, transport, online travel, online media, and financial services. Viet Nams gross merchandise value (GMV) was projected to increase by 16 per cent to $36 billion this year. Its e-commerce would likely surge by 18 per cent year-over-year to $22 billion, and be the main growth accelerator of the digital economy. In Southeast Asia, this sectors growth was being turbocharged by video commerce, a sub-segment that had experienced rapid growth, contributing to increased GMV and customer acquisition. The country's online travel sector, growing at 16 per cent YoY to $5 billion in 2024, would contribute significantly to the overall GMV. Viet Nam had the fastest growing online media in the region, with GMV poised to surge to $6 billion this year, a 14 per cent increase, and $11 billion by 2030. Viet Nam was levelling up game development with a growing pool of talented developers and a supportive ecosystem, making it a hotbed for innovation in the mobile gaming sector. Its ride-hailing sector was getting more competitive with local and electric vehicle players. Its GMV for the transport and food sectors was expected to hit $4 billion, a 12 per cent increase. HCM City and a Nang had the highest demand for AI in the country. Education, marketing and healthcare were the three industries mostly driving AI search interest in the country. Viet Nam was rapidly turning cashless, fuelled by public initiatives and innovative financial solutions. The rise of e-wallets, coupled with the widespread adoption of QR code payments, had significantly reduced cash transactions. Government initiatives had standardised payment systems and enhanced interoperability, further encouraging the shift away from cash. Marc Woo, managing director, Vietnam, Google Asia Pacific, said: For the last five years we have seen consistent strong growth and 2024 is another testament to the potential of Viet Nams digital economy. The countrys digital economy maintains double digit growth rates amidst global economic uncertainties driven by the key accelerator, e-commerce. Additionally, the online media sector is rising the fastest (14 per cent) amongst all SEA economies and more Vietnamese developers are making a global impact, creating popular apps for users worldwide. Vietnamese users have also shown strong interest in AI in 2024 and its encouraging to see that the country's leaders are prioritising this area. Googles commitment to Build for Viet Nam, with Google AI further supports the growth of Viet Nams digital economy via a focus on talent, startups and enterprises to be AI-ready. VNS SANTO DOMINGO Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended the Dominican Republic-Viet Nam Business Dialogue in Santo Domingo on Thursday (local time), within the framework of his official visit to the Latin American country. At the event, delegates and businesses of the two countries were introduced to the position, role, potential, strengths, and investment and business environment of each side; as well as opportunities for investment cooperation. PM Chinh said that Viet Nam and the Dominican Republic share many similarities in ideals and economies that can complement each other and promote mutual development. In addition, as the two countries are among the fastest growing economies in their respective regions, the potential for bilateral cooperation is huge, he stressed, pointing out several priority areas where the two countries and their businesses can immediately cooperate, such as energy, digital transformation, information technology, telecommunications, media, semiconductor, agriculture, fertilisers, chemicals, construction materials and infrastructure development. According to the Government leader, from a poor and backward country, Viet Nam has risen in the region and the world in many fields, belonging to the group of 34 largest economies in the world, and the group of 20 leading economies in terms of trade. It has signed 17 free trade agreements with more than 60 economies, including the world's largest markets. Currently, Viet Nam is promoting three strategic breakthroughs. Specifically, the institution breakthrough aims to improve the investment and business environment, and reform administrative procedures so as to simplify investment procedures, and reduce compliance costs for people and businesses. Meanwhile, infrastructure breakthrough is to create new development space, facilitate travel, reduce transportation and logistics costs, and increase the competitiveness of goods. The nation is also working to create a breakthrough in high-quality human resources, added Chinh. Stressing that Viet Nam has groups and enterprises, both state-owned and private, that can cooperate in investing in the Dominican Republic, such as Viettel Group in the telecommunications sector; the Viet Nam Oil and Gas Group (Petrovietnam) in the energy, oil and gas sector; and Vinfast in electric vehicle manufacturing, the Prime Minister suggested businesses from both sides connect and send delegations to directly learn about investment opportunities and implement specific cooperation projects. He affirmed that the two Governments will continue to improve the investment and business environment, create favourable conditions, and protect the legitimate rights and interests of businesses in accordance with the provisions of law so that businesses can invest effectively and sustainably. He also urged businesses to strengthen cooperation and investment to both bring profits to themselves and fulfill social responsibilities, contributing to building a self-reliant, self-resilient and autonomous economy in each country and fostering the Viet Nam - Dominican Republic relationship. Viet Nam will create favourable conditions for Dominican investors to invest in Viet Nam as well as Vietnamese enterprises to invest in the Dominican Republic, considering it a gateway to the Caribbean and Central and South American markets, Chinh pledged. VNS A 2019 aerial view of the Freeport LNG export terminal near the Brazoria County town of Quintana. A 2022 explosion shut down the terminal and sparked litigation against the builders, including a subsidiary of San Antonio-based Zachry Holdings. A bankruptcy judge this week dismissed the litigation. Courtesy Photo/Freeport LNG A Zachry Holdings Inc. subsidiary and its joint venture partners wont have pay $1.3 billion in damages related to a 2022 explosion at a liquefied natural gas facility they built in Freeport on the Gulf of Mexico. This week, a U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge in Houston dismissed a lawsuit filed by a group of insurers who sought reimbursement from Zachry Industrial Inc. and its partners for insurance payments made to the owner and operator of the LNG export terminal located 57 miles south of Houston on Quintana Island. Judge Marvin Isgur ruled that the contracts governing the construction precluded the insurance carriers lawsuit and that they didnt have standing to file suit against Zachry, the company said in a statement Friday. Advertisement Article continues below this ad A similar lawsuit brought by Houston-based Freeport LNG companies against Zachry and its partners Chiyoda International Corp. and McDermott International Ltd. also was dismissed, as well as proofs of claims filed in Zachrys bankruptcy case. Zachry Holdings and 20 subsidiaries filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in May, blaming a dispute with Golden Pass LNG that halted construction of a massive liquefied natural gas export terminal and threw thousands of people out of work. The San Antonio company is an international engineering and construction industry powerhouse. Zachry Holdings and its subsidiaries operate under the umbrella of the Zachry Group, which is unrelated to San Antonios Zachry Corp. A Zachry subsidiary had been the lead contractor on the Golden Pass plant, a $10 billion-plus venture launched five years ago for owners QatarEnergy and Exxon Mobile Corp. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Zachry is no longer involved with the Golden Pass project. The litigation over the Freeport LNG terminal was originally filed in Brazoria County District Court in June and was transferred to the bankruptcy court. Zachry said it was pleased that Isgur dismissed the Freeport LNG litigation and related claims, which occurred after Zachrys work on the site was complete. The dismissal of this matter is another significant development as we work to successfully complete our restructuring and emerge from the court-supervised process by the end of this year, the company added in its statement. We are excited about the growth opportunities we see ahead for our business as we continue providing outstanding quality and safety to our clients in 2025 and beyond. At a Wednesday hearing, Zachry argued that Freeport LNG and its contractors agreed to an extensive set of risk-allocation provisions when they entered into engineering and construction contracts. Those provisions included an obligation for Freeport LNG to obtain its own property insurance that would cover such losses and contained a waiver of any insurers claims against Zachry and its partners, Zachry added. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Freeport LNGs own investigation attributed the incident to operator error, placing responsibility on it rather than Zachry or its partners, a Zachry attorney said. HA NOI The Can Tho Promotion Agency and the Consulate General of the US in HCM City on Thursday in Can Tho City held a joint conference to promote business expansion to the US as well as accelerate bilateral economic, trade and investment cooperation. Nguyen Thuc Hien, deputy chairman of the municipal Peoples Committee, said that the conference provides significant opportunities to leverage cooperation between Can Tho City and the Cuu Long (Mekong) River Delta with the US. The municipal authority pledged to provide support for enterprises to expand their business into the US, while creating a favourable environment to make Can Tho an attractive destination for investments. According to the US Ambassador to Viet Nam Marc Knapper, one of the priorities of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the US and Viet Nam is to promote bilateral economic cooperation based on the foundation of free and fair trade, contributing to the prosperity of the two countries. The ambassador said that 2025 is the 30th anniversary of bilateral relations between Viet Nam and the US, hoping that Can Tho City and the Mekong Delta region will join the Vietnamese business delegation in attending the investment conference SelectUSA in the US. Bilateral trade reached more than US$120 billion in 2023, and hit $100 billion in the first nine months of this year. The US is the largest export market for Viet Nam with a revenue of $89.4 billion, accounting for 29.8 per cent of the countrys total export value. Meanwhile, Viet Nam is the eighth largest trading partner of the US. Can Thos exports to the US reached $106 million in the first 10 months of this year, or 5.5 per cent of the citys total export value over this period, while it imported more than $2.6 million from the US. The city mainly exports rice, fishery, agricultural, garment and steel products to the US, and imports pharmaceutical ingredients, agricultural chemicals and veterinary drugs. VNS HA NOI The US Department of Commerce (DOC) has initiated trade investigations on hard capsule pharmaceutical shells imported from Viet Nam, Brazil, China and India, the Ministry of Industry and Trade announced on Thursday. Products from all four countries are being investigated for anti-dumping and countervailing duties. The complainant, Lonza Greenwood LLC, alleges that two Vietnamese companies dumped prices and received subsidies for two types of hard capsule shells products with Harmonised System (HS) codes 9602.00.1040 and 9602.00.5010 when exporting to the US market. The anti-dumping investigation will be conducted for products exported to the US from April 2024 to September 2024, while the countervailing investigation will be for products exported throughout 2023. An investigation into damages allegedly caused to domestic US companies will look into products exported to the US from January 2021 to June 2024. The alleged dumping margin for Viet Nam is from 63.53 per cent to 86.04 per cent. Prices from Indonesia will be used as surrogate values to calculate the dumping margin for Viet Nam, as the US considers Viet Nam a non-market economy. According to data from the US International Trade Commission (ITC), hard capsule shell imports from Viet Nam accounted for about 12 per cent of the total shell imports being investigated. The total value of the pharmaceutical shells that the US imported from Viet Nam in 2023 was approximately US$26 million. The value of the shells imported from China was $49 million, from India $67 million, and from Brazil $4 million. Regarding the countervailing duty allegations, after reviewing the complainant's claims and request, the DOC initiated an investigation into 27 subsidy programmes from the Vietnamese Government that are believed to benefit Vietnamese hard capsule shell manufacturers and exporters, and which allegedly caused or are threatening to cause significant harm to the US domestic industry. VNS HA NOI Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son has signed a decision granting investment approval for the WHA Smart Technology Industrial Park infrastructure project. The decision specifies that three investors will execute the project: WHA Industrial Development 2 (SG) Pte. Ltd., WHA Industrial Management Services Viet Nam Co., Ltd. and WHAUP Nghe An Joint Stock Company. These investors are required to establish a legal economic entity and secure sufficient capital to implement the project. The projects total investment capital amounts to VN1.32 trillion (about US$55 million), with the investors contributing VN216 billion (about $9 million). With a goal of developing and operating industrial park infrastructure, the project will span 178.51 hectares located in four communes in Hoang Hoa District, Thanh Hoa Province: Hoang Quy, Hoang Quy, Hoang Xuyen and Hoang Cat. It will operate for 50 years, starting from the date of investment policy and investor approval. Construction is required to be completed within 36 months from the date the investors' established entity receives the land from the Government. Thanh Hoa currently leads the central region in attracting foreign direct investment (FDI). Currently, the province has 161 active FDI projects with a total registered capital of nearly $15 billion. By the end of 2023, Thanh Hoa boasted one economic zone, eight industrial parks covering over 2,000 hectares and 45 industrial clusters. The province aims to attract $30 billion in foreign investment by 2025, with three to six companies in the top 500 multinational companies and corporations. VNS HA NOI Saigon Beer - Alcohol - Beverage Corporation (SABECO) has solidified its reputation by once again being named to the prestigious list of Viet Nams Top 100 Best Places to Work in 2024, as announced by Anphabe. This recognition highlights the company's ongoing commitment to fostering an attractive and sustainable work environment. SABECO has earned high praise for numerous attributes, including a safe working environment, a respected brand, high-quality products, excellent employee benefits, and competitive salaries. These factors have helped SABECO gain the loyalty of its employees, making it a top choice for talent in the food and beverage (F&B) industry. Anphabes survey, which involved more than 65,000 employees across over 700 large and medium-sized companies from 18 industries, confirms SABECO as one of the most recognised brands in the sector. With more than 95 per cent of industry professionals familiar with the company, SABECO is well-positioned to attract and retain top talent. SABECOs strategy goes beyond business growth; it places people at the heart of its development efforts. The company has introduced several initiatives to safeguard employees' rights and foster personal development. Accordingly, all SABECO employees receive insurance benefits as mandated by law, including social insurance, health insurance, and 24-hour accident coverage. The company also organises activities to support mental well-being, such as annual retreats and holiday and birthday gifts. SABECO is dedicated to continuous training and professional growth. In 2023, the company logged an impressive 14,611 training hours - nearly five times the amount in 2022 - demonstrating its long-term investment in its workforce. The company implements a transparent salary and bonus system that rewards employees based on their roles and individual achievements. This approach fosters motivation, creativity, and dedication within a fair and supportive environment. Driving sustainable growth with ESG initiatives SABECO has integrated Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards into its operational strategy, pursuing sustainable growth that benefits both the company and the community. With over 8,000 employees working in 26 factories, 11 trading companies, and more than 200,000 retail outlets nationwide, SABECO has built a robust labour and business network that contributes to improving societal quality of life. The company is also committed to creating an inclusive work environment that respects diversity, one of the core values that has helped SABECO build its reputation as a leader not just in business, but in corporate culture. Being named one of the Top 100 Best Places to Work in Viet Nam 2024 is not just a recognition of SABECOs achievements; it is also a springboard for further growth, talent attraction, and the cultivation of an ideal workplace. By consistently upholding its humane values, continually improving, and prioritising employees, SABECO is setting new standards for the work environment in Viet Nam. This honour serves not only as a milestone but also as a source of motivation for SABECO to continue its journey of sustainable development. The company remains dedicated to delivering positive value to its partners and contributing to the development of the local communities where it operates and produces. VNS HA NOI Viet Nam's internet economy is estimated to reach US36 billion this year, an increase of 16 per cent from the previous year, participants at a forum organised by the Department of E-commerce and Digital Economy, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, were told. The forum, themed 'Promoting Digital Transformation and Green Transition Towards Sustainable Development', attracted the participation of over 500 businesses across different economic sectors. In his opening remarks at the forum, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Truong Thanh Hoai said the global economy is currently entering a recovery phase, with several international organisations expressing optimism regarding global economic growth for 2024, forecasting a global GDP growth rate of approximately 3.2 per cent. Similarly, Viet Nam's economy is expected to grow in 2024 by 0.9 to 1.1 percentage points higher than in 2023. "Viet Nam's e-commerce and digital economy market will expand even further as a major driver of economic growth," he said. A report on the Southeast Asia digital economy 2024 by Google and Temasek, published earlier this month, estimated Viet Nam's internet economy growth to reach $36 billion this year. The report said retail e-commerce remains a cornerstone, contributing $22 billion, an increase of 18 per cent year-on-year, or 61 per cent of the entire internet economy. Data also supports that the country's high growth rate is expected to remain stable, driven by robust manufacturing, processing and export sectors. By the year 2023, Viet Nam's internet economy size is projected to reach the $90-200 billion range. The forum has served as a platform for agencies from the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Information and Communications to share strategies and plans to foster e-commerce development and encourage manufacturing businesses to embrace the country's digital transformation. Participants from the Hanoi Department of Industry and Trade, Vietnam Electricity Group, Grab Vietnam and FPT Digital shared successful digital transformation experiences and made recommendations aimed at helping state management agencies enhance the efficiency of digital efforts. Two specialised workshops were held - 'Digital Transformation and Green Transition in Manufacturing and Energy' and 'Trends in E-commerce Development' - as well as exhibitions of technologies, digital transformation solutions, smart manufacturing innovations, and e-commerce applications. VNS HA NOI Samsung Vietnam Complex on Friday officially launched the Samsung Innovation Campus (SIC) 202425, a Technology Talent Development Programme aimed at equipping Viet Nams youth - the future leaders of the Fourth Industrial Revolution - with advanced technological capabilities. At the event, Samsung Vietnam, Junior Achievement Vietnam, and Letuin Vietnam signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), reaffirming their commitment to jointly implementing the Samsung Innovation Campus 202425 in Viet Nam. Upon successful course completion, students will receive a Samsung Innovation Campus Certification and gain opportunities to participate in other valuable project activities, such as the Innovation Tech Challenge, a competition within the programme framework. The SIC 202425 is projected to offer opportunities to learn and develop technological skills to approximately 6,600 students in Viet Nam. Speaking at the event, Choi Joo Ho, President of Samsung Vietnam Complex, said: "The era of advanced technology demands that the youth the future leaders master cutting-edge technologies such as Artificial Intelligence... In this context, we must strongly implement the responsibility of nurturing IT talent, creating a foundation for the younger generation to embrace and master advanced technologies. Samsung Innovation Campus not only provides youth with opportunities to access new technologies like AI, IoT, Big Data, and programming, but also serves as a solid foundation that helps them face challenges on their journey to shaping the future. In the near future, we hope to receive greater attention and support so that the Samsung Innovation Campus program can train more IT talents one of the key driving forces for societal development in the future." The Samsung Innovation Campus (SIC) is a global Information and Communication Technology (ICT) education project dedicated to empowering young people. The initiative nurtures young talents with problem-solving skills by equipping them with essential technological tools to thrive in the future. Officially launched globally in 2019, SIC is one of Samsung's core corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes. It has expanded to 36 countries worldwide, including the US, Germany, Spain, Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand. Since its inception in 2019, more than 12,000 students from 95 schools across 21 provinces in Viet Nam have received training and advanced technology development through the Samsung Innovation Campus. With the vision "Together for Tomorrow Enabling People," Samsung continues to foster and enhance Viet Nam's human resource quality through initiatives such as: the Solve for Tomorrow (SFT) competition, STEM education playgrounds at S.hub Kids in HCM City and a Nang, provision of computer labs and educational support for universities, enabling students to access cutting-edge IT knowledge, and the Samsung Talent Scholarships, which include internship opportunities at Samsung Viet Nam's Research and Development Centres. VNS by Hoang Mien Through a life of 60 years, I have enjoyed an adventurous youth and a busy motherhood, well into the years after my children left home for college. During those years I have always led an active life and maintaining a positive attitude no matter what circumstances I found myself in. I had spent time leading a group of young women workers in the former Soviet Union for about 8 years and met with quite an array of life circumstances and hardships. I went back to Viet Nam after the collapse of the Soviet Union and rebuilt my life once again and repatriated smoothly back into a new life in Ha Noi. But nine years ago, my father suddenly died. I ached over his passing away for quite a long time. And I found myself turning from someone who was an active person with a positive attitude, who was laid back, into someone who was exhausted a lot of the time. I felt I was swirling down and down. I closed myself out and didn't want to go anywhere. My hubby was the first one to notice changes in me and he asked me to join him and his friends to trek Tam ao Mountain top (1,348m above sea level). That trip turned my life around. The first time I went I didn't even have appropriate trekking gear or climbing shoes. But I got to meet with people my age and individuals who shared some common humanity with me. Many of them excelled in their fields of work yet they carry themselves very simply and modestly. I made up my mind to work out everyday. I started with not using the elevator. Everyday, I would walk the ten floors to get to my office and back. I would choose to walk rather than drive my scooter around. I've started to notice that my health greatly improved, by 70 per cent. I promise you I am not exaggerating! We got into a routine of trekking all the hills around Ha Noi for a few years, until my hubby's knees got hurt so bad that his doctor banned him from trekking high mountains. I then stopped for a couple of years. Everything changed again in 2020, when my friend introduced me to a group of people my age, I started to trek again. We all realised how wonderful trekking is for our health. Not only is it an active physical workout and you get a clean oxygen intake from the unpolluted mountain air, it is about finding the joy of overcoming our own limitations. We kept a weekly routine and would trek two or three mountains out of 15 tallest summits in the north. I didn't particularly like any mountain top more than the others. They are all categorised by the difficulty ratings, but each time when I got to the top, I had different feelings. My mood also depended on the weather at the top that day, because above 1,500m, it was impossible to predict the weather. We could have gone for a long time in foggy weather, but when we got to the top, the sun could come out shining brilliantly. The only feeling in common was one of achievement, of a greatness when we got to the top that kept us walking and overcoming ourselves. It's a combination of the feeling that you nailed something important and all your challenges have been dropped off behind you, so they won't cause you any more trouble. I was always among the first group to hit the top. I had a great satisfaction looking back to see everyone else in my group each come to touch the mountain top, as the last leg of trekking was always the steepest and most dangerous. This current trekking season has been delayed because of the heavy storms that hit the north. We started our three-day trip to conquer Lung Cung mountain in Yen Bai Province with our team leader Nguyen Ngoc An, an MD with an ob/gyn major. The mountain top has been much sought-after in recent years for its magnificent views above a sea of clouds. The first day we travelled from Ha Noi to Tu Le, then Van Chan in Yen Bai Province. It took us a day to get there, where we spent the night in Van Chan and had a hot spring bath. The next morning we all got a 20-km motorbike ride to start trekking. The roads were really a challenge because they were still so muddy from the rains. Only the most experienced northwestern riders could manage to cross such terrible roads. It took us one hour to trek to the two-tier waterfall. After a brief break, we continue our path for six hours to our camp site which was at 2,500m above sea level. We hired Mong tour guides to lead us. They helped carry some of the heavy stuff and helped out where needed, they cooked us food, took us on their motorbikes and if they saw rubbish on the way, they'd just pick it up. The way up was full of high slopes one after another, but thanks to our weekly training it wasn't difficult. But the way down on the same path was often really hard and some of our fellow trekkers had to crawl down. In our group there was a guy my age, he also exercises and bikes every week. But he didn't take enough water during the trekking. By above 2,000m, he was dehydrated to a point when he felt dizzy and had problems breathing. He had to take a rest, take some sugar intake, then got some assistance to get to the camp site. He had dinner with us, spent the night in the tent and by the next morning he got up feeling well again and ready to conquer the mountain top. But after about half an hour, he started to feel dizzy and found it hard to breathe like the day before. So our team leader had to send a guide to help him get back to the camp site to rest, have breakfast then wait for us to get to the top and back to all go down hill together. The second day, we trekked for two more hours to watch the sun go down, then we got back to the camp for the night's rest. On the third and final day it was an early start, up at 4.20am in the freezing cold of the mountain ready to greet the sun at the top of the summit. It took us close to two hours to get there, but when we got to the top, I felt a rush of positive energy rushing through my system. I felt every single drop of sweat was really worth my effort. We hung out at the top for an hour and tried to capture as much as we possibly could of the magnificent moment to bring home with us. We were all very happy to have met, joined by a challenging activity and we could watch with our own eyes the magnificent landscapes of the northwest. The beauty you can only capture and store in your mind, because no camera or mobile phone could ever do justice to what you saw with your own eyes. I find trekking has given me new resources and offered meaning to my life and the lives of my fellow trekkers. After the descent, when we arrived back in Tu Le, everyone got a hot spring bath before we went home. Next up, back to our training routine again, with promises to meet again, at the next mountain top. We shall see each other again next March, when we trek Ta Chi Nhu mountain. As for A Chu, the 26-year-old Mong leader and hamlet chief who guided us, he will be heading downhill, to Ha Noi next month for a workshop on ecotourism. VNS Cultural activities celebrate Viet Nam Heritage Day A NANG One hundred traditional paintings from favourite folk painting villages in Viet Nam will go on display at the central citys Fine Arts Museum in celebration of Heritage Day from November 22-30. The collection was selected from a 341-painting donation by the director of Ha Noi Ceramics Museum, Nguyen Thi Thu Hoa, French-Vietnamese painter Vu Trong Thuan, artisan Nam Chi from Ha Noi and other donors. The folk painting collection will feature typical traditional painting centres including Hang Trong, ong Ho, Kim Hoang, hand-drawn paintings, glass paintings and product from Sinh Village of Hue. The museum will also introduce a collection from French-Vietnamese artist Le Ba ang (1921-2015) with his full collection of 253 exhibits including 101 paintings and 30 sculptures that his family donated last year. The space will be open to the public on the third floor of the museum at 78 Le Duan Street from morning to evening. An installation Ky Uc, or Memories which features photos and exhibits of fishing communities in a Nang City, will be on display at space on the banks of the Han River from November 24 to December 1. The event is inspired from defunct ancient fishing villages in a Nang City and local collectors had spent time to seek the old fishing tools, nets, baskets and fragments of fishing boats that had been faded in the rapid urbanisation in the coastal city over past decades. The events organisers, the citys Culture and Cinematography Centre, said the installation will help young generations and visitors have a deep understanding on the former image of the beach city, a big centre of fishing industry of Viet Nam. Another exhibition of photos, sketches and hand-made mock-up of a Nang will be going on display at a Nang City Museum at 24 Tran Phu Street. In Hoi An ancient town, a sculpture collection of Mat Cua (Eye Pattern) by artist Bao Ly will be introduced at the Sa Huynh Culture Museum, 149 Tran Phu Street in Hoi An City, from November 21 to December 6. The collection, which selected the best 20 sculpture pieces of Bao Ly, introduces a unique architecture of wooden houses in the Old Quarter of Hoi An a busy trading port from previous centuries. Visitors can see eye pattern on the door at gate of some old houses in Tran Phu and Nguyen Thai Hoc Streets. The pattern is seen as an identify of Hoi An Culture and Architecture, and a symbol of ever prosperity and peace for generations living in the houses. Hoi An will offer free entrances for all on December 4 th in marking the 25th anniversary of the world heritage recognition by the UNECO for the Old Quarter of Hoi An. SANTO DOMINGO Viet Nam and the Dominican Republic have issued a joint statement on an official visit by Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh to the Latin American country on November 19-21. The visit aims to strengthen diplomatic relations, reinforce friendship and cooperation in various fields, and promote opportunities to enhance trade and investment activities between the two countries. In the joint statement, the two sides appreciated the strong and enduring friendship between Viet Nam and the Dominican Republic since the establishment of diplomatic relations on July 7, 2005. This relationship was strengthened by the decision of the Dominican Republic Government to officially open an embassy in Ha Noi on February 25, 2023. They emphasised the significance of Chinh's visit to the Dominican Republic to bilateral relations as the first official visit by a Vietnamese Prime Minister to the Latin American country, serving as a key milestone in enhancing the ties between the Governments and people of both nations. They underscored the significance of preserving and promoting the value of the President Ho Chi Minh Monument in Santo Domingo and the monument in Ha Noi dedicated to Professor Juan Bosch, the first President of the Dominican Republic, lauding them as symbols of bilateral solidarity and friendship. President Luis Abinader and Prime Minister Chinh reiterated their commitment to furthering high-level dialogue to guide the development of bilateral relations through the organisation of official visits and regular political consultations between the two countries. Chinh conveyed an invitation from Viet Nam's top leaders for Luis Abinader to visit Viet Nam at an appropriate time. The latter expressed his sincere thanks and gladly accepted the invitation. The two countries emphasised the potential for cooperation in key areas such as trade, manufacturing, investment, agriculture, energy, telecommunications, digital transformation, construction, education and training, culture, and tourism. Both sides agreed on the importance of enhancing trade and investment promotion and business connectivity activities, and creating conditions for their products to access each other's markets, viewing them as gateways to the broader Southeast Asian and Caribbean markets. The two leaders affirmed their commitments to promoting multilateralism, enhancing cooperation, and supporting each other in international organisations and multilateral forums of which both are members, such as the United Nations, the World Trade Organisation (WTO), the South-South cooperation framework, and the Forum for East Asia-Latin America Cooperation (FEALAC). The two sides welcomed the signing of important bilateral agreements, including the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two Governments on the establishment of a Joint Committee for trade promotion and technical cooperation, as well as the MoU on cooperation between the Diplomatic Academy of Viet Nam (DAV) and the Institute of Higher Education in Diplomatic and Consular Training of the Dominican Republic (INESDYC). They expressed their intention to initiate negotiations for the early signing of other key bilateral agreements, including a tourism cooperation agreement, cultural and educational cooperation agreements, and to start the intersectoral consultation process for negotiating an investment promotion and protection agreement. At the same time, both sides welcomed the first-ever dialogue between the business communities of the two countries, which helps open up new opportunities for bilateral trade and investment. They also acknowledged the significance of PM Chinhs policy speech on bilateral relationship at the INESDYC. Both sides highlighted the importance of strengthening cooperation between the legislative bodies, and local authorities, and promoting people-to-people exchanges, which will contribute to solidifying the long-standing friendship and cooperation between the two countries. Finally, President Luis Abinader and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed the significance of the celebration of the 20th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations in 2025. Both sides agreed to promote activities to celebrate this milestone, viewing it as a symbol of friendship between their people. VNS MEXICO CITY - An educational cooperation agreement for the 2024-2029 period was signed by Viet Nams University of Technology and Management (UTM) and Andres Bello Catholic University (UCAB) of Venezuela on Thursday as part of activities celebrating the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries (December 18, 1989-2024). The signing ceremony was held during a visit by a UTM delegation led by Rector Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Xuan Son. The event aimed to further enhance educational cooperation to parallel the strong political ties between Viet Nam and Venezuela. UCAB Rector Dr. Arturo Peraza praised the UTM delegations visit, noting its significance as the two nations are celebrating 35 years of diplomatic relations. He expressed his confidence that the agreement will foster greater partnership in education between Viet Nam and Venezuela. Dr. Peraza emphasised the agreements importance as a legal framework for joint efforts in teaching, scientific research, and technology. It will provide opportunities for students from both countries to deepen their understanding of each other's culture and people, thus strengthening the bilateral friendship. Both universities are leading institutions in eSports education, a rapidly growing global industry. The partnership aims to train a skilled workforce to meet the demands of this emerging sector. Dr. Son highlighted Viet Nams educational achievements after nearly four decades of reform, noting significant investments from the Party and State. He described the UTMs journey over the past two decades as a reputable institution providing high-quality, multidisciplinary education. The universitys mission includes producing a skilled workforce for both domestic and international markets, contributing to Viet Nams industrialisation and modernisation. Dr. Son expressed optimism that the UTM-UCAB partnership will further enhance the traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation between Viet Nam and Venezuela. The agreement focuses on faculty and student exchanges, training programmes, professional development for lecturers and researchers, information sharing, and co-hosting specialised courses, workshops, and conferences. Founded in 1953, UCAB is a renowned institution in Venezuela and Latin America, offering international-standard undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. With three campuses and around 15,000 students, UCAB delivers diverse, multidisciplinary education. During the visit, the UTM delegation also worked with other Venezuelan universities, research centres, the Venezuela-Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce, and the Vietnamese Embassy in Venezuela; and visited cultural and historical sites. - VNS A map shows the site of a proposed 1,100-home development north of Comfort. JA Wastewater, LLC A proposed 1,100-home development in the Hill Country has residents and environmental groups raising questions about the project's potential impact on the local water supply and the environment Miami-based developer Lennar Corporation filed a permit application with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to build a wastewater treatment facility to serve the proposed project, would would be built near Comfort in Kendall County. HILL COUNTRY: Officials start process to seize private land for Hill Country airport Advertisement Article continues below this ad The development, referred to as "Comfort 590" in the application, is planned for about 600 acres of undeveloped land east of U.S. 87, about 4 miles north of Comfort, according to TCEQ documents. Comfort is an unincorporated community near the border of Kendall and Kerr counties. The area's population is about 2,200 according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The proposed wastewater plant could eventually treat up to 600,000 gallons of wastewater a day, according to TCEQ documents. The treated wastewater would be discharged into an "unnamed tributary," flowing into North Creek, Cypress Creek and ending up in the Guadalupe River above Canyon Lake, according to the application. The wastewater would be treated with chlorine, then dechlorinated using ultraviolet light before it is discharged, according to the application. If approved, construction on the wastewater treatment plant could start in September, with the treatment plant operating by March 2026 and reaching full capacity by March 2028, according to TCEQ documents. Lennar Homes representatives didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Questions about water supply Micah Voulgaris, general manager of the Cow Creek Groundwater Conservation District, said he's received a number of calls from Comfort-area residents who are concerned about the proposed development. The water district monitors groundwater and aquifers in Kendall County. Residents say they are worried that the amount of water needed for more than 1,000 homes could lower the water level in existing wells or even cause them to run dry, Voulgaris said. A project of that size would require a water feasibility study proving there's enough water to serve it, Voulgaris said, so the number of homes built could change. The development would likely require multiple wells to supply that many houses, Voulgaris said. Lennar Homes would have to work with Cow Creek to see how much water it could pump from a section of the Trinity Aquifer. The developers have not contacted Cow Creek about drilling new wells or applying for groundwater pumping permits, he said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The Trinity Aquifer is a complex system of layered aquifers and formations. It stretches from northeast of Dallas to southwest of San Antonio, covering much of the Hill Country along with 10,000 square miles at the surface and more than 21,000 square miles below ground. Kendall County Water Control and Improvement District 1 serves as the water utility for most of the Comfort area. There are about 800 single-family connections serviced by the district. The district has been under severe drought restrictions since July 2023. Environmental groups react Annalisa Peace, executive director of the Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance, said area residents "should be concerned" about the development, as it could affect the region's water availability. The alliance is a nonprofit that advocates for the "protection and preservation of the Edwards and Trinity aquifers, their springs, watersheds and the Texas Hill Country that sustains them," according to its website. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Peace said there's potential for the discharge from the wastewater treatment facility to pollute groundwater. The treated wastewater would eventually end up in the Guadalupe River, which flows into Canyon Lake, which serves as a water source for some local utilities. However, water pumped from Canyon Lake is treated to make it safe to drink, and there are already other developments discharging effluent that ends up in the lake, Peace said. "(We) don't feel the TCEQ's requirements are actually adequate to protect the pristine Hill Country streams," Peace said. Marisa Bruno, water program manager for the nonprofit Hill Country Alliance, said the development would "100%" affect the area's water supply. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "It does cause me to raise an eyebrow when a 1,100-home development is announced right in a district that is in the throes of such an acute drought," Bruno said. "I fear that the developers don't understand how serious of a drought we're in." PHNOM PENH - National Assembly (NA) Chairman Tran Thanh Man delivered a keynote speech at the 12th General Assembly of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP 12), which kicked off in Phom Penh, Cambodia on Friday morning, affirming Viet Nam's consistent stance in supporting ICAPP's efforts to foster a peaceful, secure, and stable environment in the region. He emphasised that the world is undergoing significant upheavals with rapid and complex developments, which pose obstacles to global peace and human security and even threaten the shared prosperity of Asian nations at some monents. Man noted that Asia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have made great efforts and proactively proposed initiatives to address security and political challenges facing the international community, including seeking peace and reconciliation for disagreements, disputes, and conflicts. He emphasised that striving for peace, security, prosperity, and development of humanity is both a goal and an international responsibility of every political party and nation. He affirmed that 12th General Assembly of ICAPP, themed A Quest for Peace and Reconciliation, underscores the dedication and commitment of political parties in the region to fostering solidarity and collaboration, contributing to resolving conflicts and flashpoints. Ruling political parties need and can fully promote joint strength and efforts to realise the common goal of peace, security, prosperity and development in the world in general and the Asian region in particular, Man stressed. Under the leadership of the Communist Party of Viet Nam (CPV), Viet Nam consistently pursues its foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralisation and diversification of international relations, ready to be a friend, a reliable partner, and an active, responsible member of the international community, he stated. He stressed that the key to peacefully resolving current disagreements and conflicts lies in dialogue and multilateral cooperation based on equality, mutual respect, win-win collaboration, and adherence to international law and the UN Charter. ICAPP 12 saw the participation of representatives from political parties of 39 countries across the region and the world. In his opening remarks, President of ICAPP 12, Vice President of the CPP, and Prime Minister of Cambodia Samdech Hun Manet emphasised that the extremely important issue for peace and reconciliation is the commitment to complying with the principles and goals of the UN Charter, in which political trust is the foundation for building peace and cooperation. He also affirmed the CPPs stance is to protect peace, independence, territorial integrity and national development. Meanwhile, President of the CPP, President of the Cambodian Senate, and Honourary President of ICAPP 12 Samdech Techo Hun Sen praised ICAPP's continuous development since its establishment in 2000, becoming the largest forum for political parties in terms of scale and geopolitical influence. He also emphasised the importance of political parties gathering to discuss this years theme, amid ongoing tensions and conflicts in various regions worldwide. Maintaining a rules-based world order is crucial, grounded in mutual trust and understanding, and shared benefits to foster long-term harmony, reduce tensions, and resolve conflicts, he stressed, adding that achieving peace requires reconciling differences and addressing conflicts through dialogue and a win-win approach. Before the opening ceremony, NA Chairman Man and other members of the ICAPP Standing Commitee, leaders of ICAPP 12, and representatives of political parties and partner organisations paid courtesy calls to Samdech Techo Hun Sen and Samdech Hun Manet. - VNS HA NOI As Viet Nam and Bulgaria will celebrate the 75th founding anniversary of diplomatic relations next year, the official visit to Viet Nam by Bulgarian President Rumen Radev and his spouse from November 24-28 will mark a significant milestone in their enduring friendship and create momentum for the two countries to develop bilateral ties towards a strategic partnership in the years to come, according to Vietnamese Ambassador to Bulgaria o Hoang Long. The diplomat told the Viet Nam News Agency (VNA) that this will be the first trip to Viet Nam by a Bulgarian president in 11 years. This is also the first visit to Viet Nam by President Radev who will be the first head of state to be officially welcomed by State President Luong Cuong since the Vietnamese leader took office. This diplomatic activity underscores Viet Nam's high regard for Bulgaria as a traditional, trusted and important partner in the Balkan region. Viet Nam-Bulgaria traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation President Radevs visit comes as a testament to the thriving bilateral and multilateral cooperation between the two nations. Over recent years, Viet Nam and Bulgaria have held successful periodic meetings of the intergovernmental committee, enhancing collaboration between ministries, departments, and local authorities. Besides, they have maintained strong mutual support and coordination at international forums and organisations, Long stressed. The bonds between the two countries officially began in 1950, when Bulgaria was one of the first ten nations worldwide to recognise and establish diplomatic relations with the Democratic Republic of Viet Nam, now the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam. During Viet Nam's most challenging periods of struggle for national independence and construction, Bulgaria was always an unwavering supporter, providing both material and moral assistance for the country. It helped shape Viet Nam's future leadership by training over 3,600 scientists and experts, along with more than 30,000 skilled workers in diverse sectors, including construction, architecture, IT, biochemistry, agriculture, mechanical engineering, and medicine. Many graduates then became Viet Nam's high-ranking officials, leading scientists, experts, and top engineers, who have made contributions to strengthening the traditional friendship with Bulgaria. According to Long, despite the temporary setback caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the bilateral relations have bounced back with remarkable momentum, fueled by meetings between high-level leaders, ministries, sectors and localities of both sides. Bulgarian leaders have consistently expressed their deep appreciation for the historical partnership and admiration for Viet Nam's socio-economic achievements and international integration. Notably, they said Bulgaria stands ready to serve as a bridge to strengthen Viet Nam's cooperation with both the European Union and the Balkan region. The thriving diplomatic ties have translated into tangible economic results, with bilateral trade volume doubling from US$102.5 million in 2015 to $211.5 million in 2023, he said, adding that this upward trajectory continues, with trade revenue expected to reach approximately $300 million this year, a year-on-year increase of 20 per cent. As the two countries have recorded various achievements in their cooperation in politics, economy trade, investment, education training, science technology, culture tourism, defence security, labour and legislation, President Radevs trip will further contribute to bolstering and deepening the traditional friendship and multi-faceted collaboration between the two countries, particularly in the domains of their strengths and needs, he stated. Prospects for stronger bilateral cooperation in various fields Looking ahead, Long highlighted digital transformation and green transition as key areas for cooperation, with Bulgaria's IT sector contributing 7.4 per cent to its GDP and growing at an impressive 17 per cent annually over the past three years as well as a strong commitment to emission reduction and infrastructure improvement to meet climate targets. President Radev will be accompanied by dozens of Bulgarian IT and high-tech companies, signaling strong potential for technological partnership, he stressed, suggesting that both nations enhance collaboration at international forums on climate change and make joint efforts for a sustainable and prosperous future. He went on to say that people-to-people exchanges between the two nations remain robust, with over 30,000 Vietnamese having lived, studied, and worked in Bulgaria. Friendship associations have actively promoted the exchange, contributing to maintaining, consolidating and boosting the traditional friendship. Cultural exchanges continue to flourish, exemplified by Lai Chau city's folk music performance at the 2024 Kazanlak Rose Festivals street music event. Besides, the Vietnamese language department at the Sofia University attracts more than 30 Bulgarian students annually, while the Vietnamese community in Bulgaria continues serving as an important bridge to promote people-to-people diplomacy and contribute positively to the homeland as well as the host nation, he added. - VNS PHNOM PENH National Assembly (NA) Chairman Tran Thanh Man met with Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Hun Manet in Phnom Penh on November 22, as part of his official visit to Cambodia and participation in the 12th General Assembly of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP) and the 11th Plenary Session of International Parliament for Tolerance and Peace (IPTP). Highlighting the huge potential for bilateral cooperation, particularly in the fields of economics and trade, Man urged Cambodia to continue creating favourable conditions for Vietnamese businesses investing in the country. The Vietnamese NA is ready to work closely with Cambodia to encourage ministries, agencies, and localities involved to effectively implement signed agreements and treaties, said the top legislator. He pledged close coordination in organising key events, including the 21st session of the Viet Nam-Cambodia joint committee on economic, cultural, scientific, and technical cooperation and the 13th Viet Nam-Cambodia conference on cooperation and development of border provinces, in Cambodia at an appropriate time. He called on the sides to accelerate the demarcation and marker planting for the remaining 16 per cent of the shared border, aiming to build a borderline of peace, friendship, and cooperation and long-term development between the two countries. He went on stressing the importance of mutual support at multilateral forums and joint efforts in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the United Nations (UN) in a bid to maintain ASEAN consensus on regional issues, particularly the East Sea (internationally known as South China Sea). Additionally, Man urged joint action to counter misinformation and activities undermining Viet Nam-Cambodia relations. Both leaders acknowledged the steady progress in bilateral ties across various fields. They emphasised the need to educate younger generations about the sacrifices and contributions of their predecessors in the countries past struggle for national liberation, thereby contributing to fostering the Viet Nam-Cambodia traditional friendship and sound cooperation. Praising Viet Nams remarkable achievements under the leadership of the Communist Party of Viet Nam, PM Hun Manet said he considers the nations rapid economic growth a significant driver of regional development. He stated Cambodia always pays attention to nurturing its friendship and neighbourliness with Viet Nam, stressing the importance of their governments timely collaboration to address challenges threatening their development. He said he supports joint work between the two countries legislative bodies for the sake of their people. He advocated for stronger trilateral cooperation for economic growth among Viet Nam, Laos, and Cambodia, particularly via tourism and trade links. He commended Viet Nams support for Cambodias development, asserting that the countries' shared progress contributes to the stability and development of the three nations, the broader ASEAN region, and the world. VNS PHNOM PENH The Vietnamese Party and State always value and give high priority to consolidating the good neighbourliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation long-term sustainability with Cambodia for the benefit of both countries' people, and for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world, said National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man. During his meeting with President of the Cambodian People's Party (CPP) and President of the Cambodian Senate Samdech Techo Hun Sen in Phnom Penh on November 22, Man extended congratulations to Cambodia on its thorough preparation and successful hosting of the 12th General Assembly of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP 12), which underscored the growing stature of Cambodia and the CPP in particular. He congratulated the Cambodian people on their significant and proud achievements under the sound reign of King Norodom Sihamoni and the leadership of the CPP, the Senate, the National Assembly and the Government of Cambodia, with President Hun Sen playing a crucial role. He commended the CPP on its resounding victory in the recent elections, reflecting the overwhelming trust and support of the people. He expressed his belief that under the CPP leadership, Cambodia will continue to obtain even greater achievements in its national construction cause. The top Vietnamese legislator said that Viet Nam and Cambodia are neighbouring countries with both ruling parties sharing a common origin from the Indochinese Communist Party. Throughout the history, they stood side by side to fight common enemies for their national liberation and reunification in the past. This solidarity continues today in their collaborative efforts in national construction and defence. History has proven that the bond of solidarity, cooperation and mutual support is an objective requirement, a vital rule, and a key factor for each countrys security and development, he said. President Hun Sen welcomed Man on his first official visit to Cambodia in his capacity as the top Vietnamese legislator and a representative of the Vietnamese Party and State at two major international conferences hosted by Cambodia, stressing that his trip holds significance to developing bilateral and multilateral ties, particularly between their legislatures. Cambodia will never forget the wholehearted assistance provided by Viet Nam in the past as well as at present. Amid common challenges facing the region and the world, the two countries must strengthen their bond and cooperate even more closely across politics, economy, trade, national defence and security, he said. The host proposed continuing to effectively follow existing cooperation mechanisms and maintaining strategic cooperation mechanisms to further solidify the friendship and cooperation among Cambodia, Laos, and Viet Nam through appropriate, flexible and more effective measures in the new period. Praising Viet Nam's achievements under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), Hun Sen believed that Viet Nam will successfully achieve its national development goals, especially on the occasion of the CPV's 100th anniversary and the 100th founding anniversary of the nation. Building on this foundation, Man put forward several proposals to improve the efficiency of bilateral cooperation. These include maintaining existing cooperation mechanisms between the two Parties and nations, particularly the high-level meeting mechanism between the two Parties, as well as meetings between leaders. He reiterated Viet Nam's support for Cambodia's peaceful, secure, and stable development, seeing it as mutually beneficial for both nations. In response, Hun Sen agreed with Man's proposal to adhere firmly to the principle of not allowing any political or military forces to use their territory to undermine the other country. He emphasised the need to effectively realise the signed agreements, combat hostile forces, transnational and cross-border crimes, safeguard national security, and prevent the spread of fake information and the use of social media to incite falsehoods that could harm the relationship between the two Parties and countries. On the occasion, Man thanked Hun Sen and the Cambodian Government for their continuous support for people of Vietnamese origin in Cambodia to live, work and study sustainably there. He suggested that both sides continue to innovate and diversify methods of communication to help the public, especially younger generations, gain a correct understanding of their traditional solidarity, friendship, and comprehensive cooperation. VNS KUALA LUMPUR Visiting Party General Secretary To Lam on November 22 met with Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Rural and Regional Development, and President of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) Dato Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and senior leaders of Malaysias ruling coalition. Underscoring the friendship between UMNO and the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), the UMNO President expressed admiration for Viet Nams socio-economic achievements, describing them as a source of pride for ASEAN. He voiced confidence that under the CPVs leadership, headed by General Secretary Lam, Viet Nam will enter a new era of development, successfully achieving its national objectives. In response, the Vietnamese Party chief emphasised the CPVs appreciation of UMNOs significant role in Malaysias political landscape and its contributions to fostering the two countries relations over the years. He expressed a wish to deepen the sound friendship and cooperation of the two parties, affirming that strengthened CPV-UMNO ties will enhance political trust and lay a solid foundation for robust and sustainable growth of Viet Nam-Malaysia relations. Regarding the new cooperation framework freshly established between the countries, Lam urged Ahmad Zahid to direct Malaysian agencies to collaborate with their Vietnamese counterparts to capitalise on the potential of bilateral cooperation. He also called for more favourable conditions for Vietnamese processed agricultural products, seafood, and food to access the Malaysian market. Viet Nam stands ready to ensure a stable rice supply for Malaysia and share its expertise in agricultural development, including food and coffee production, he added, recommending Malaysia support Viet Nams development of its Halal industry development and encourage domestic firms to invest in the Vietnamese market. Highlighting education and training as strategic priorities for building a workforce serving development, the Party General Secretary proposed closer bilateral engagements in the area, particularly regarding official training and higher education initiatives. The two leaders agreed to boost delegation exchanges, enhance youth and women leadership exchange, and cooperate on multilateral platforms to contribute to the ASEAN Community. Ahmad Zahid said he hopes to further strengthen the sides relations through both state and party channels, particularly as Malaysia assumes the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025. He and other leaders in the ruling coalition affirmed their commitment to fostering multifaceted cooperation, helping solidify the partnership between the two parties and countries, and build a strong foundation for mutual growth and the partnership in the new period. VNS HA NOI The Vietnamese Party and State value strategic partnership with Germany, one of Viet Nam's key partners in Europe, said Politburo member, Chairman of the Central Theoretical Council and President of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics (HCMA) Nguyen Xuan Thang. During his reception in Hanoi on November 22 for Deputy Chairman of the Germany's left-wing Die Linke Party Maximilian Schirmer who is in Viet Nam to attend the fifth dialogue between the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and the Die Linke Party, Thang provided a comprehensive overview of Viet Nams major developments in recent years, including the review of 40-year reform and preparations for the 14th National Party Congress. He also reaffirmed Viet Nams foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralisation and diversification of external ties and extensive international integration. Stressing that the CPV attaches importance to theoretical exchange and policy discussions with communists, workers' and left-wing parties, Thang praised the results of the fifth dialogue and the talks between the two parties during the guests visit. On the occasion, he extended congratulations to the new leadership of the Die Linke Party and called for more practical and effective solidarity and cooperation for democracy, social justice and progress in each country, while contributing to maintaining a peaceful and stable environment in the region and the world. Schirmer, for his part, affirmed that the Die Linke Party values its friendly and effective partnership with international friends, including the CPV. He proposed continuing to strengthen cooperation and exchanges, deepening the relationship between the two parties, ultimately contributing to ties between the two countries and their people. He said his visit aims to further raise mutual understanding, trust and traditional relationship between the two Parties, contributing to fostering Viet Nam-Germany friendship and strategic partnership. During the fifth dialogue co-chaired by Vice Chairman of the Central Theoretical Council Nguyen Van Thanh and Deputy Chairman Schirmer earlier, both sides discussed experiences on the process of formulating the Party's policies and guidelines, election processes within the Party's agencies and organisations, as well as Party information dissemination and youth affairs. During talks with the CPV Central Committees Commission for External Relations, the two sides also shared views on the situation of each Party and country, measures to promote ties in the coming time. They agreed on the importance of the fifth dialogue as a major milestone in the friendship and cooperation between the two Parties. During the visit, the German delegation held discussions with member of the Party Central Committee and Editor-in-Chief of the Nhan Dan (People) newspaper Le Quoc Minh, alternate member of the Party Central Committee and First Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Unions Central Committee Bui Quang Huy, and leaders from various ministries, organisations and localities in Ha Noi and Ninh Binh. They also explored the implementation of the Party's guidelines and the State's policies on socio-economic development, particularly in labour, employment, agriculture, farm produce processing for export, cultural-heritage tourism, information and communications, youth affairs, and cooperation between ministries, agencies and localities of both countries. VNS TOKYO The Vietnamese Embassy in Japan held a ceremony on November 22 to present the Prime Minister's certificates of merit to Sojitz Corporation and Sumitomo Corporation in recognition of their contributions to Viet Nam-Japan friendship and cooperation. The certificates were bestowed upon Chairman and CEO of Sojitz Corporation Masayoshi Fujimoto and President and CEO of Sumitomo Corporation Shingo Ueno, who also serve as co-chairs of the Viet Nam-Japan Economic Committee under the Japan Business Federation (Keidanren). Speaking at the event, Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Pham Quang Hieu affirmed the embassys commitment to offering all possible support to the corporations, ensuring that economic relations between the two countries will achieve new milestones that reflect the stature of bilateral relationship. Fujimoto took the opportunity to reflect on nearly 40 years of Viet Nam's renewal policy and 20 years of Sojitz's presence in the country. He expressed the corporation's unwavering commitment to Viet Nam, noting its significant expansion with over 25 joint ventures now operating there. He also reaffirmed Sojitz's dedication to contributing to Viet Nams sustainable economic development and further promoting friendship and cooperation between the two nations. Ueno, for his part, outlined Sumitomo's extensive involvement in various sectors in Viet Nam, including industrial parks, power plants, chemicals, automobiles, and urban development. Notably, its recent investments in industrial parks have attracted manufacturing enterprises with a total investment of around US$6.1 billion, employing over 100,000 workers. He introduced recent projects such as the supermarket system in Ha Noi and the Smart City urban development project in the northern part of Ha Noi, stressing that they would continue to grow, contributing even more to Viet Nam's economic development. Pledging to continue upholding the Japan-Viet Nam Joint Initiative and supporting Viet Nam, he shared plans to arrange business trips to Viet Nam, explore investment opportunities, and further promote bilateral economic exchanges. VNS HA NOI The project 'Telehealth to Improve Access to Healthcare Services for Disadvantaged Groups in Viet Nam' was officially co-launched on Thursday in Ha Noi by the Viet Nam Administration for Medical Services, the Korean Foundation for International Healthcare (KOFIH) and UNDP. Speaking at the ceremony, Dr Ha Anh uc, General Director of the Viet Nam Administration for Medical Services, said that during the social distancing period caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, as early as 2020, the Vietnamese Ministry of Health had implemented the 'Tele-Medical Examination and Treatment' project and launched over 1,000 connection points. "This initiative saved thousands of critically ill COVID-19 patients. To date, the project has been actively deployed, providing remote consultation and treatment for tens of thousands of patients nationwide," uc said. To enhance grassroots healthcare capacity and improve access to high-quality medical services for people in remote, mountainous areas, the UNDP has partnered with the Ministry of Health since 2020. Both agencies have worked develop and implement a remote consultation and treatment programme at local levels using the 'Doctor for Everyone' software in eight provinces -- Ha Giang, Bac Kan, Lang Son, Thua Thien Hue, Quang Ngai, Binh inh, ak Lak and Ca Mau -- achieving positive outcomes, according to uc. "Building on the positive outcomes of the aforementioned collaboration, the Ministry of Health has partnered with the KOFIH and, through UNDP, mobilised resources to implement the project 'Telehealth to Improve Access to Healthcare Services for Disadvantaged Groups in Viet Nam'," he said. The project has been funded by KOFIH with more than US$2.7 million and targets ten disadvantaged and remote provinces across the country -- Ha Giang, Bac Kan, Lang Son, Lao Cai, Lai Chau, Yen Bai, Tay Ninh, Hau Giang, Ben Tre, and Ca Mau. A main goal of the project is to improve the health of disadvantaged populations constrained by supply issues. This can be achieved through a digital transformation in health and enhancing access to healthcare to help improve local health services. The project will modernise software and digital solutions, offer servers and IT equipment, train personnel, and reinforce the legal foundation for telehealth. It will include three main activities: creating and disseminating technical documents and guidance for telehealth; improving the capacity of the healthcare system to provide telehealth services through software upgrades and data integration; and providing and promoting telehealth services at local health facilities and communities, including for disadvantaged groups and patients with diseases like high blood pressure and tuberculosis. The 'Doctor for Everyone' software can help with monitoring, making appointments, tele-consultancy and prescribing drugs, as well as providing online trainings and meetings. It's available as a smartphone app, enabling a connection between local health station staff and residents to provide medical information, schedule appointments, and conduct remote medical consultations. Meanwhile, the internet browser-based application facilitates a connection between local health stations and district health centres or higher-level hospitals for diagnostic and treatment support. uc said: The project focuses on ten disadvantaged and remote provinces... because these provinces still face transportation challenges, limiting the general accessibility to healthcare, particularly at the grassroots level. Therefore, the implementation of remote medical consultations through the application of information technology will help eliminate barriers to healthcare access for people in remote and isolated areas, the health official added. This project focuses on grassroots healthcare, specifically at the commune level. Communal health stations will be equipped with infrastructure, such as computers, and software is already in place. In the future, commune healthcare staff will be trained and provided with professional support in primary healthcare. This is just the initial step; based on this foundation, the Ministry of Health will develop subsequent phases, he added. As a beneficiary of the project, Dr Tac Van Nam, director of the Bac Kan Department of Health, stated: "The remote healthcare application, aimed at enhancing access to medical services for vulnerable groups in Viet Nam, can be likened to bringing firewood to warm the people of Bac Kan during the cold winter." Since Bac Kan is a mountainous northern province where the population is primarily ethnic minorities, the terrain is rugged and steep. Residents frequently face risks of flash floods, landslides, and temporary geographic isolation caused by natural disasters. In some areas, people have to traverse challenging routes to reach healthcare centres. Therefore, recognising the benefits of a remote medical examination and treatment programme, we have always aspired to implement remote medical services to help improve local residents' access to quality healthcare services, Nam said. VNS HA NOI The Vietnamese Embassy in Israel, in collaboration with the International Womens Club (IWC) in Israel, organised an event on November 21 to introduce Vietnamese culture and cuisine. The event drew the participation of around 50 participants, including female diplomats, spouses of foreign diplomats in Israel, Israeli businesswomen, embassy staff, and representatives of the Vietnamese community in the Middle East nation. The attendees watched videos showcasing Viet Nams stunning and diverse landscapes, flavourful cuisine, and warm hospitality. They also learned about 'ao dai', the traditional Vietnamese long dress. Several IWC members who had visited Viet Nam shared their impressions of the country, praising its people and its rich cultural and culinary traditions. Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel Ly uc Trung provided additional insights into Viet Nams cultural and historical heritage and highlighted the nations recent socio-economic achievements. Professor Nir Avieli, a sociologist from Ben-Gurion University told the Vietnam News Agency's resident correspondent that he have visited Vietnam many times, adding that he loves the country and its people. For him, Vietnamese cuisine is the best in the world, he said. VNA/VNS HCM CITY Vietnam News Agency's southern branch has signed a cooperation agreement with Bach Khoa Alliance Education JSC - Pathway School on November 21 in HCM City to build and implement media strategies. According to the agreement, the two sides will work together on a wide range of projects, activities and media events, such as classes to teach children life skills and soft skills, including how to process information on social media; academic health programmes to strengthen healthcare for children in kindergartens, primary schools, secondary schools and high schools; conferences and seminars to share experiences and train workforces; field trips and camping trips for students to learn new skills while immersing themselves in nature; and career orientation sessions, among others. They will also co-operate in terms of news articles and video news on platforms under Vietnam News Agency, which will promote high quality educational programmes, scientific research and other relevant content. Nguyen Quoc Tuan, director of Vietnam News Agency's southern branch, said that this co-operation utilises both sides' facilities, workforce and experience, and that it will be carried out in a timely manner. Nguyen Hoang Anh Thu, board member and financial director of Pathway School, said that both sides will focus on making use of their strengths and capabilities in workforce training, organise media events, promote achievements, and provide information and consultation on the economy and investment for businesses. Established in 2014, Pathway School places a great focus on educating students on life skills, good morals and lessons, and bettering themselves. VNS Annasofia Scheve covers trending news for the Express-News. She can be reached at Annasofia.Scheve@express-news.net. Annasofia has bachelor's degrees in journalism and political science from the University of Missouri. She is an Ohio native, and wrote for Cincinnati Magazine and the Cincinnati Enquirer before joining the Express-News in 2023. A NANG Lifestart Foundation, an Australian organisation dedicated to empowering disadvantaged children, has delivered a donation of advanced medical equipment, fresh milk, furniture and childrens books worth VN1.82 billion to a Nang City Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital. It said the donation aims to elevate healthcare quality for children and pregnant and post partum patients. The 1,500-bed hospital, across 38 departments, has been a leading healthcare facility since 2012, providing specialised care not only to the city residents but also to the broader central and Central Highlands regions. Lifestart Foundation said the donation would help the hospital meet the increasing demands of patients and advanced medical equipment need for treatment. Founder of Lifestart, Karen Leonard OAM, said it has committed to providing resources that enhance both the quality of medical care and the overall well-being of these young patients during their hospital stay. Lifestart Foundation also provided 720 packets of fresh milk, 50 chairs, 79 childrens storybooks and 252 coloring books to bring added support to the hospitals youngest patients. Karen Leonard said: This project is vital for enhancing healthcare services for paediatric and obstetric patients at the hospital. With this support, Lifestart Foundation hopes that the medical equipment will be used to its fullest potential, reducing overcrowding and helping patients in the central and highlands regions avoid travelling long distances for treatment. Our mission is to make a meaningful impact on the lives of these children, improving their health and quality of life, while supporting a brighter future for the younger generations of Viet Nam. Doctor Tran Thi Hoang, deputy director of the hospital highlighted the importance of their support in improving the hospitals capacity to care for children. Vice chairman of the a Nang Citys Union of Friendship Organisations, Pham Huu Hoa said he hopes for a continued partnership with Lifestart Foundation to continue improving the quality of medical care at the hospital. VNS Kieu Trinh Ha Noi On the evening of November 21, a spectacular performance titled 'Soaring Amidst the Blue Skies' took centre stage at the Ho Guom Theatre. The event marked a decade since Nguyen Sieu Secondary and High School integrated the Cambridge curriculum into Viet Nam's national education programme, cementing its role as a trailblazer in international education. The celebration also paid tribute to the remarkable contributions of educator Nguyen Trong Vinh, whose lifelong dedication to education and visionary leadership have been instrumental in shaping Nguyen Sieus success. Joining the ceremony, Director of the Hanoi Department of Education and Training Tran The Cuong extended heartfelt congratulations to the teacher and the school for achieving this distinguished milestone. He expressed immense pride in the schools exemplary role within Ha Nois education system, serving as a bridge that connects Vietnamese youth to the global stage. Iain Frew, the British Ambassador to Viet Nam, shared in the schools joy, commending Nguyen Sieu for its growing prominence within the global Cambridge system. Today is a truly special occasion as we come together to celebrate Nguyen Sieu Schools remarkable contributions to the development of education in Vietnam, " the Ambassador said. "I would like to commend Nguyen Sieu School and their leadership team, for being a pioneer in international education in Viet Nam, preparing students to excel in a globalised world, while remaining connected to Vietnamese culture." In the 20242025 academic year, recognising the strong alignment between its core values and the educational philosophy of High Performance Learning (HPL), Nguyen Sieu School adopted this innovative approach. It became an HPL Pathway School, striving towards the prestigious title of HPL World-Class School. This marks a significant step towards advancing its mission of excellence and global standards in education. On November 6 2014, Nguyen Sieu School was recognised as a Microsoft Showcase School by Microsoft, USA. This milestone brought significant advancements in its technological infrastructure, including smart teaching devices, upgraded network systems and mobile IT classrooms equipped with iPads. The school also launched a visionary project to develop itself into an AI-driven educational institution. In terms of academic achievements, the school initially piloted three core subjects: Mathematics, Science and English as a Second Language (ESL). Today, 100 per cent of classes implement the Cambridge International curriculum across 27 subjects for all students aged from three years to eighteen. In the schools first IGCSE ESL exam in 2016, students from the school earned the Top in Viet Nam accolade for achieving the nations highest scores. In 2024, the school celebrated its first Top in the World title in ESL, with students excelling across other disciplines, including Mathematics, Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Economics, Travel & Tourism, Enterprise and Global Perspectives. Remarkably, Nguyen Sieu students have secured the Top in Viet Nam highest rankings for eight consecutive years. In addition to the Cambridge programme, the school has expanded into other international curricula, offering NCUK university preparation studies along with SAT and AP courses. In the 2023 and 2024 SAT examinations, Nguyen Sieu students achieved outstanding results, scoring 1570 and 1590 out of 1600, placing them among the top one per cent of young minds across the world. Building on its commitment to nurturing future generations, Nguyen Sieu has steadily expanded its model of international educational cooperation. The school is now an authorised International Teaching Practice Centre under the TES Institute (UK). On November 22, the school held a panel discussion and launched the Vietnamese edition of High Performance Learning: How to Become a World Class School by Deborah Eyre (Routledge, first edition, January 12, 2016), translated by Headmistress Nguyen Thi Minh Thuy. According to the global report from the High Performance Learning (HPL) organisation, this innovative approach has transformed the lives of over 120,000 students worldwide. It has been implemented in 125 schools across 24 countries, with remarkable outcomes. Fifty one per cent of students achieve A- and A+ grades, 96 per cent of teachers recognise its effectiveness in fostering student independence and expertise, while over 120,000 teachers have benefitted from professional development through the programme. VNS The event gathered leading experts in nephrology, respiratory, endocrinology, and rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs). They discussed the immunosenescence and the burden of disease in the adult population, and the strategy for adult vaccination, Leading experts discussed the immunosenescence, the burden of disease in the adult population, and the strategy for adult vaccination. Photo: Bich Thuy On this occasion, the Shingles Prevention with Vaccination guidebook for healthcare professionals was launched, marking an important milestone in preventing shingles in adults over 50 years of age in Vietnam, particularly those with chronic diseases. The guidebook brings together information on the pathology, complications, and epidemiology of shingles, while updating current preventive measures applicable in Vietnam. This is the result of close cooperation among leading medical experts from various medical associations and hospitals to systematise guidelines for unified shingles prevention. Professor Dr. Nguyen Van Kinh, vice president of the Vietnam Medical Association, said, Vaccination for shingles prevention is a medical solution that has been available since 2006. From 2017 until now, vaccination for shingles prevention has been used in over 50 countries such as the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Through this guide, we hope healthcare professionals will have a solid reference to advise and help patients prevent shingles, especially those with underlying health conditions. According to the Ministry of Healths Preventive Medicine Department, Vietnam currently has around 22 million people aged 18-69 with chronic diseases, primarily non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and cancer. The Shingles Prevention with Vaccination guidebook for healthcare professionals was launched at the event. Photo: Bich Thuy Research shows that one in three adults will develop shingles. Over 90 per cent of adults aged 50 and above harbour the latent VZV virus in their nervous system, raising the risk of developing shingles. Notably, postherpetic neuralgia can persist for more than three months. The disease can cause rare but serious complications such as vision loss (when shingles affects the eyes) and hearing loss. Studies have also shown an association of shingles with cardiovascular complications such as stroke. Prof. Dr. Tran Huu Dang, president of the Vietnam Endocrinology and Diabetes Association, added, Shingles is a dermatological condition with long-term and potentially serious impacts, especially for those with underlying conditions like diabetes. Shingles not only causes prolonged severe pain but has also been associated with disruption of blood sugar control, and can impact quality of life. Therefore, proactive prevention of shingles is crucial to protect health and limit complication risks in diabetic patients. Shingles, also known as herpes zoster (HZ), is caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), the same virus that causes chickenpox. It is a common disease that can cause significant pain and can lead to serious and prolonged complications. Shingles patients often exhibit acute symptoms such as painful, itchy, or tingling blisters on one side of the body. The disease duration ranges from two to four weeks and can be very painful. Symptoms and complications of shingles can become severe and long-lasting, especially in older adults and immunocompromised individuals. Shingles also reduces the quality of life for patients and places an economic burden on the healthcare system and society. According to experts, treating shingles and managing complications like postherpetic neuralgia is complex. Antiviral medications need to be initiated early within 72 hours; however, this is challenging in clinical practice. Furthermore, current treatments for shingles and postherpetic neuralgia are not entirely effective. Older adults often take multiple medications for underlying conditions and may not tolerate additional medications for acute shingles or chronic postherpetic neuralgia. Besides preventive measures like exercising, not smoking, eating healthily, and screening for chronic diseases, vaccination plays an important role in enhancing adult health. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Xuyen, president of the Vietnam Medical Association, said, Many infectious diseases can now be prevented with vaccines. This is considered a proactive and effective disease prevention measure with a favourable safety profile. Early prevention of infectious diseases helps to reduce the burden of disease and improve quality of life, while also alleviating the burden on the healthcare system. I hope this guidebook for shingles prevention will be a valuable tool for healthcare professionals to support their patients in preventing shingles. First international summit on shingles prevention held in Vietnam GSK organized a series of international scientific summits for healthcare professionals in emerging markets in three countries in October and November, including Colombia, Dubai (UAE) in October, and Vietnam in collaboration with Vietnam Medical Association in November. Health Ministry urges quickening vaccination against COVID-19 Amidst the rapidly increasing number of new cases of COVID-19, the Health Ministry has urged continued efforts to accelerate vaccination against COVID-19, with priority given to groups of high risks of developing serious symptoms and even dying when contracting the virus. The report titled 'Global Trade in Flux: Politics, Policy, and the Reconfiguration of Supply Chains' published in November offers insights from Citis experts around the world on how the very nature of global trade is changing, providing clear and present evidence of a rapidly shifting world order. Accordingly, manufacturing supply chains are undergoing a worldwide reshaping. Underpinning this is a growing desire to build resilience to shocks by reducing concentration risk. Various factors are likely to lead to increased demand to diversify, providing an opportunity for some Latin American and Asian economies to take market share. Beyond such broad-based manufacturing relocation, another important shift in global supply chains relates to semiconductors. There are clear signs that accelerated supply chain shifts are materialising in parts of ASEAN and India. ASEANs success in attracting supply chains comes from its own efforts to boost competitiveness, where there is already a deep manufacturing ecosystem built over many decades that cant be replicated elsewhere, especially in electronics. ASEAN also has pursued structural reforms to improve the domestic investor climate and provide various fiscal and tariff-reducing policy inducements. Foreign direct investment (FDI) into China fell below that into ASEAN and India for the first time, since late 2023. While FDI into China was four times larger than that into ASEAN (excluding Singapore) and five times larger than that into India between 2012-2021, it had fallen to less than a quarter of ASEANs by the first half of 2024, and just half of Indias. According to the Citi GPS report, Vietnam received the lions share of production relocations citations. Supply chain shifts have already enabled the rest of Asia to gain global export market share since 2018, especially in electronics. ASEANs market share gains have been most evident in the US import market for computers and electronics, where Chinas share fell 24 per cent since the start of 2019, and Vietnams increased by 8 per cent in the same period. Vietnam reflects a particularly interesting dynamic. Around 37 per cent of all Chinese relocations since 2018 went to Vietnam, which led to a surge in imports from China. India and Vietnam have the greatest similarities in industrial structure, and could therefore benefit most from supply chain shifts out of China. However, in general, China is likely to hold its ground in the near term with products it has been overwhelmingly dominant in, with an over 70 per cent market share. Citi report delivers insights to market opportunities with AI Citi has announced the release of a report which looks beyond the hype around AI potential and assesses market conditions, industry shifts, and key trends in investment. The MoU, on cooperation under the Direct Power Purchase Agreements (DPPA) mechanism, is between H&M Vietnam and the Power Engineering Consulting JSC 2 (PECC2). The deal, signed on November 19, marks an important step towards the international fashion brand's sustainable development goals. This event also marks a new beginning for PECC2. It is the first DPPA cooperation agreement signed with a major global fashion brand, and is expected to help H&M access clean energy at reasonable costs. The successful execution of DPPAs will be crucial to boost the viability of wind and solar power projects in Vietnam and jumpstart the commercial operations of transitional renewable energy projects launched over the past five years. This is the first DPPA agreement signed in line with new regulations of the government's Decree No.80/2024/ND-CP, approving the mechanism between renewable energy generators and large off-takers. As part of the signing ceremony, H&M representatives visited the BESS system installed at the PECC2 Innovation Hub building, the Operations Control Center, and the Digital Capability Center to learn about the application of technology in remote power plant operations and the digitalisation of power plant projects. Fast-fashion seeks speedy solutions High land lease prices, local preference on exported clothing, and the custom of shopping at local stores may not favour Japanese-based UNIQLOs plan to make waves in Vietnam. H&M launches first store in Hue Global fashion retailer H&M announced the opening of its first store in Hue, marking its 14th store in Vietnam. According to statistics from Vietnam Insurance Association (IAV), third quarter (Q3) revenue from new business in the life insurance sector surpassed $247 million, an increase compared to the same period last year, which saw $244.7 million. Photo: baodautu.vn Although modest, this growth is seen as a positive sign for Vietnams insurance market after a challenging 2023. Ngo Trung Dung, deputy general secretary of Insurance Association of Vietnam (IAV), noted that the growth in new premium revenue in Q3 reflects a gradual return of optimism and confidence in the life insurance market, despite ongoing challenges to sustain this momentum. During an industry conference 12 months ago, a representative from the Ministry of Finance highlighted 2023 as a particularly challenging year for Vietnams life insurance market due to the massive claims from the Bancassurance sector. The insurance sectors total premium revenue came to just $5.3 billion at the time, a decline of 11 per cent on-year, marking the first negative growth in the life insurance sector in two decades. After a period of adjustment, the sector is expected to recover, as it aligns with the principles of transparency, safety, and efficiency, benefiting the insurers, their customers, and the market in the long term. By the end of the first half of 2023, total premium revenue was estimated at $3.24 billion, down almost 8 per cent on-year, according to IAV data, marking five consecutive quarters of decline. "However, by Q3, revenue had resumed growth. The recovery was attributable to the customer-oriented efforts of insurers, such as simplifying processes, introducing products tailored to different customer segments, enhancing protection benefits, and improving customer care," said Ngo Trung Dung, deputy general secretary of the IAV. Despite the recent up tick, Dung warned the economy has yet to fully recover and consumers remain cautious about spending, "Insurers must redouble efforts to improve customer experience to achieve better results in Q4." IAVs aggregated data shows that total market premium revenue for Q3 was estimated at $4.43 billion, down 6.7 per cent on-year. Of this, universal life products accounted for 56.4 per cent, traditional life insurance products 16.3 per cent, unit-linked products 12.7 per cent, and rider products 12.4 per cent. Other products, such as annuity, pension, and health insurance, made up 2.2 per cent. As of the end of September, the number of active insurance policies approximated 11.7 million, showing an 11 per cent decline on-year. Universal life products remained the most popular, accounting for 57 per cent of active policies, followed by traditional life insurance at more than 24 per cent. Regarding new premium revenue in the life insurance segment, the first nine months of the year recorded nearly $750 million, a 15 per cent decline on-year. Bao Viet Life led the segment with $122 million, followed by UK-backed Prudential at $116 million, Japan-backed Dai-ichi Life at $115.5 million, Canadian-backed Manulife at $78.7 million and Hong Kong's FWD at $46.6 million. According to industry experts, the final quarter of 2024 represents a critical period to determine rankings and narrow market share gaps among leading insurers. Achieving the highest market share is crucial for major players, as it attracts agents and strengthens sales forces and influences long-term investment strategies by their parent companies abroad. Unofficial data from life insurers suggests that while new premium revenue in October saw slight growth, cumulative revenue for the first 10 months remained below the same period last year. This presents a significant challenge for the sector, especially during the final two months. Nonetheless, after a period of adjustment, the sector is expected to recover, as it aligns with the principles of transparency, safety, and efficiency, benefiting the insurers, their customers, and the market in the long term. The prospects for foreign exhange market for rest of 2024 Economist Le Xuan Nghia talked to Hong Dung about the forex market's prospects for the rest of this year and looks at how to bolster liquidity for sustainable economic development. Q3 FDI results improve on expectations Foreign investment is accelerating into the country, and expected to reach about $40 billion for the whole year. The launch took place on November 21, and represents a significant step in Solarvests regional expansion. Driven by the recent introduction of the direct power purchase agreement (DPPA) framework, the demand for renewable energy solutions has surged significantly among Vietnamese businesses. Many companies in Vietnam are turning to sustainable energy solutions for cost saving and to achieve sustainability goals. However, the high upfront cost of solar panels remains the key barrier. Solarvests Powervest programme offers two key financing options Powerflex and Powerlease designed to address varying financial requirements for Vietnamese businesses. Powerflex provides flexible packages with zero upfront costs, allowing businesses to either fully own their solar systems with 100 per cent financing or co-own the asset with Solarvest through 50 per cent financing. Powerlease allows companies to lease solar systems and purchase the generated electricity at an agreed tariff, through the DPPA model. Dang Khai Hoang, business development director of Solarvest Vietnam, said, Powervest provides a timely and practical solution to finance companies keen on adopting solar energy in Vietnam. The programme offers tailored financial models designed to make clean energy more convenient, affordable, and accessible for all business sizes. Solarvest has successfully implemented this financing model in Malaysia, with over 600MW in the solar asset development pipeline. Leveraging this expertise, we are now extending innovative financing solutions to support the growing renewable energy demands in Vietnam. Solarvest, through its Vietnam entity, Solarvest (Vietnam) Co., Ltd., also signed an MoU with a fintech company from Malaysia, Finhero, to enhance Powervests offering through advanced technologies. The MoU formalises the collaboration to introduce Vietnams first solar financing fintech platform. This technology simplifies and speeds up financing applications, enabling access to solar financing for businesses in Vietnam. Top Lim, co-founder and CEO of Finhero, said, With FinHeros advanced technology, Solarvest customers can easily submit financial documents and receive tailored financial advice for their solar investments. This solution enables Vietnamese companies to advance towards sustainability, making renewable energy adoption more accessible and supporting a greener future. Our partnership with Solarvest accelerates clean energy adoption, bringing us closer to our vision of transforming financial accessibility across Southeast Asia and fostering a sustainable economy for future generations. Solarvest (Vietnam) is a subsidiary of Solarvest Holding Berhad, a Malaysia-founded clean energy developer with a multinational presence across Asia-Pacific in eight countries. The company is a one-stop solar photovoltaic system solution provider for residential, commercial and industrial, and utility-scale solar farms. Today, Solarvest Group has accumulated over 1,300MW in its renewable energy portfolio. Greater green finance measures can entice investors Attaining green finance faces significant challenges in Vietnam, including the absence of a legal framework and policy, as well as a lack of coordinated incentives. IFCs record climate financing in Vietnam supports green transition Boosting its support for Vietnam's green transition and sustainable development, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) scaled up its long-term investment in the country with a strong focus on climate finance in the last fiscal year. Since 1994, Bayer, a 161-year-old German corporate giant, has established operations in Vietnam, with thriving facilities in Dong Nai and offices in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Its Pharmaceuticals Division focuses on cardiology, womens healthcare, and oncology. The Consumer Health Division offers over-the-counter products, while the Crop Science Division provides crop protection solutions. This year marks 30 years of Bayers anniversary in Vietnam, where the company has made significant contributions to drive sustainable healthcare and agriculture to realise its vision: Health for all, Hunger for none. On November 21, Bayer Vietnam organised a ceremony to mark its 30-year anniversary of operation in Vietnam. The event saw the participation of Josefine Wallat, consul general of Germany in Ho Chi Minh City, along with over 100 guests, including partners, associations, government representatives, and press. Bayer Vietnams Appreciation Night. Photo: Minh Anh The milestone not only reinforces Bayers commitment to innovation and sustainable development but also reflects the valuable support from the government, partners, and community over three decades of development. Addressing the ceremony, Maximilian Rummert, Executive Representative Bayer Vienam said, Sustainability is central to Bayers mission, emphasising innovation and community commitment. We strive to enhance wellbeing through self-care solutions, improve healthcare access, and empower farmers to adapt to climate change. To realise the goals, Bayer Vietnam has leveraged the power of partnership to create meaningful impacts in both healthcare and agriculture. Sustainable agriculture In Vietnam, Bayer has actively partnered with like-minded organisations to drive agricultural transformation towards innovation and sustainability in key crops like rice, coffee, black pepper, and durian. The company has launched two initiatives, namely Forward Farming and Better Life Farming, to help Vietnamese farmers to thrive, growing more with less and combating climate change. Specifically, the Forward Farming project is implemented in collaboration with the National Agricultural Extension Centre (NAEC) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. The project brings together rice farmers, technology partners, scientists and academia, value chain partners, as well as consumers, to drive the shift to smart and regenerative farming practices. Thanks to the Forward Farming initiative, Bayer Vietnam and the NAEC have received a Public-Private Partnership of the Year award in the Agriculture category at a GovMedia event in Singapore. Bayers agricultural projects aim to help farmers improve farming efficiency and ensure high-quality harvests. Photo: Minh Anh Meanwhile, Better Life Farming is built on Bayer Vietnam's longstanding public-private collaboration with NAEC and the Western Highlands Agro-Forestry Scientific and Technical Institute to support coffee and durian farmers in Vietnam. The initiative provides farmers access to innovative solutions and expert advisory to enhance farming efficiency and ensure high-quality harvests. Healthcare initiatives In healthcare, Bayer has formed strategic partnerships with the Ministry of Health, hospitals, and healthcare organisations across the country to provide better access to high-quality healthcare. By putting patients and consumers at the centre, Bayer offers a comprehensive approach via innovative solutions, ranging from self-care/over the counters to precise diagnostic solutions and medical treatments. In addition, collaborative efforts have also been made to enhance womens health throughout the journey from pregnancy to childbirth. Notably, Bayer has partnered with pharmacies and hospitals to implement the Science for Her campaign to raise womens awareness about their health issues in the modern world, ranging from contraception to endometriosis, menstrual pain and heavy bleeding, vitamin supplements, and skincare problems. Bayer is constantly innovating to improve healthcare in Vietnam. Photo: Minh Anh Besides womens health, Bayer has secured a strong footprint in cardiovascular, oncology, ophthalmology, and radiology. In radiology, a strategic partnership has been formed between Bayer and Siemens Healthineers that aims to enhance medical images and increase diagnostic confidence, thereby ultimately improving patient care outcomes. Meanwhile, a strategic partnership between Bayer and PhytoPharma has contributed to advancing healthcare accessibility and quality for patients in Vietnam. Societal engagement Bayers commitment to corporate social responsibility goes beyond individual projects to address various societal needs through partnerships with diverse organisations and NGOs, emphasising community engagement as a key principle. In Vietnam, Bayers Corporate Social Engagement initiatives cover a range of projects in collaboration with multiple partners to create a meaningful and lasting impact across different sectors. Among them, Bayer, in collaboration with Oxford University Clinical Research Unit (OUCRU) and Khan Quang Do (KQD) Publisher, have jointly implemented the Science Switch project to introduce an engaging science initiative for students. Science Switch is a part of Bayers global initiative, Making Science Make Sense, to help develop science literacy for local students in a different and effective way. Within the Science Switch project, Bayer, OUCRU, and KDQ have also published the 'One Health' book to introduce the concept of comprehensive health to students. This is a collaborative effort, with contributions from experts across various fields such as science, agro-industry, and communications. The Science Switch project is developed to ignite the passion for scientific exploration and discovery among the young generations. Photo: Minh Anh As we celebrate this 30-year milestone and mark an astonishing 161 years globally, we honour Bayers global legacy while reflecting on the positive impact we've made in Vietnam over the past three decades, driven by innovation and a shared vision for a sustainable future. We would also want to acknowledge the invaluable support of our partners and the dedication of our employees, embracing diversity, equity, and inclusion, said Bayer's Rummert. 30 years of Bayer Vietnam: health for all and hunger for none Present in Vietnam since 1994, Bayer has steadfastly pursued its mission Health for All, Hunger for None, fostering strategic collaboration and contributing to the countrys sustainable development goals with the three key focus areas of crop science, consumer health, and pharmaceuticals. Bayer Vietnam to improve patient care Collaborative approaches are core to Bayer Vietnams strategy as it ramps up efforts to drive medical progress, with a key priority optimising patient care through pioneering research and multi-sector partnerships. The initiative aligns with Vietnams National Strategy on the Prevention of Antimicrobial Resistance for 20232030 which calls on people to take action against antimicrobial resistance. Charaf Eddine Kadri, (second from left), general director, Sandoz Vietnam. Photo: Sandoz "In the simplest of terms, this means patients or often parents of patients tend to opt for antibiotics or anti-infective medications for routine illnesses for which they are ineffective," explained Charaf Eddine Kadri, general director of Sandoz Vietnam. "Purchasing medications without prescription from pharmacies for conditions such as the common cold ultimately renders them less effective for the diseases which they are originally meant for. This leads to needing ever-stronger medications for patients, including children, for relatively simple, treatable conditions," he added. Under the theme 'Antibiotics: Invisible Threat, Visible Love Learn how to protect yourself and your family', the scheme aims to address a serious global health threat that has a significant impact in Vietnam, affecting both public health and the nations sustainable healthcare development. Sandoz Vietnams campaign will run from now until the end of 2028, focusing on broad community engagement and education to encourage responsible antibiotic use. A series of large-scale educational activities will be implemented before the end of the year. High-visibility billboards in busy locations will display videos to increase public awareness of AMR, while a newly developed website will provide in-depth information, articles, infographics and videos that explain AMR in accessible, engaging ways. Additionally, Sandoz will collaborate with Childrens Hospital 2 and National Childrens Hospital during World Antimicrobial Awareness Week to offer AMR-focused informational booths, helping patients and visitors understand the importance of responsible antimicrobial use. Charaf Eddine Kadri, general director, Sandoz Vietnam. Photo: Sandoz Talking to VIR at the event, Kadri explained that this initiative aligns with the companys global mission of improving health outcomes and supporting sustainable healthcare practices. "We understand that measuring success is not merely about numbers; it comes from building a strong coalition of stakeholdershealthcare providers, pharmacists, policymakers, and the community; its about the real impact we have on public health and the important conversations we spark within our communities," said Kadri. As the largest global Gx antibiotics manufacturer by volume, Sandoz believes in responsible access, manufacturing, and use. By promoting education and responsibility, Sandoz aims to empower the Vietnamese people to mitigate AMR risks. "Our ultimate goal is to ensure that future generations can continue to benefit from the miracle of antibiotics. We want to change perceptions around antibiotic use, to emphasise that they should never be taken without a prescription. Antibiotics are not a cure-all; they are invaluable tools that must be used wisely," Kadri added. AMR poses a severe health risk in Vietnam, making infections harder to treat, increasing mortality rates, and raising healthcare costs. It endangers medical advancements like surgeries and cancer treatments, impacts food security, and affects the countrys vital agricultural productivity. Economically, AMR could significantly hinder GDP growth and disproportionately impact rural and low-income communities, widening health inequalities. Additionally, environmental contamination from antibiotic residues in water sources worsens AMR, affecting both ecosystems and public health across Vietnam. According to the World Health Organization, there were just under 300,000 deaths in Vietnam due to antibiotic resistance from 2020 to 2023. Vietnam experiences a high AMR rate due to factors like the overuse and misuse of antibiotics, the sale of antimicrobials without prescriptions, and improper prescribing practices. Sandoz leading in generics and biosimilar medicines in Vietnam Sandoz (a division of Novartis) one of the world's leading companies in high-quality generics and biosimilar is mapping its business in Vietnam with a passion to become the leader in this field. Ho Thi Thanh Van, country head of Sandoz Vietnam, shared her plan to implement this strategy with VIRs Bich Ngoc. Sandoz enters a new era as independent firm Sandoz, a global leader in generic and biosimilar medicines, successfully completed its separation from Novartis on October 4 with its first trading day on the SIX Swiss Exchange (SIX). Michelle LoweSolis began her Air Force career interning at the Brooks Air Force Base and continued to serve in the Air Force for over thirty years, making her way up to jobs at the Pentagon. Andy Morataya Michelle LoweSolis, a former Air Force assistant deputy undersecretary, won the chairmanship of the Bexar County Democratic Party by a razor-thin margin in a special election Thursday night. The contest had been triggered by party leader Monica Ramirez Alcantara's resignation days after the Nov. 5 presidential election. I appreciate everybody's vote, whether you voted for me or not, LoweSolis told precinct chairs who voted for their new leader via Zoom. This is what the democratic process is all about, and let's unify and move forward. Advertisement Article continues below this ad LoweSolis won the election by one vote against Theresa Terri Flores Lopez, who was backed by Alcantara. LoweSolis took 80 votes to Flores Lopez's 79. Lawrence "Larry" Romo, the third candidate in the race, was eliminated in the first round of voting after taking 16 votes. Romo, who served as the selective service director under President Barack Obama, then endorsed LoweSolis. Her narrow victory came 16 days after a dismal election for Democrats. Donald Trump won Texas by almost 14 percentage points while U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz defeated Democrat Colin Allred by close to 9 points higher margins than Trump and Cruz achieved in their previous campaigns in the state. In Bexar County, state Rep. John Lujan narrowly defeated challenger Kristian Carranza, denying Democrats one of their top Texas House pickup opportunities across the state. Advertisement Article continues below this ad LoweSolis, 62, will finish the remainder of Alcantaras two-year term. Alcantara, who had served as party chair since 2018, was re-elected last March. LoweSolis, graduated from Trinity University with a business degree, began her civilian Air Force career interning at the Brooks Air Force Base. She worked in the service for more than 30 years, climbing the ladder at the Pentagon. After protesters stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, seeking to overturn the presidential election results, LoweSolis said she and her husband decided to retire and dedicate themselves to fighting for democracy. I was in Washington, D.C., when January 6 happened, and that was just kind of a shocking moment for me, LoweSolis said in an interview. Having spent my entire adult life defending the United States of America, and seeing that happen, it was just shocking. LoweSolis returned to San Antonio in the summer of 2021 and began working with the Mothers Against Greg Abbott political action committee. She now serves as the group's legislative director and led the effort to publish the Mothers Report Card, which grades each Texas legislators on their support for voting rights, public education and other issues. Advertisement Article continues below this ad LoweSolis said she wants to increase the number of party precinct chairs tasked with engaging voters, strengthen ties between groups within the often fractious county Democratic Party and revive relationships with Democrats in neighboring counties. Only 203 of the nearly 800 precinct chair positions in Bexar County are filled, LoweSolis noted. Adding more "boots on the ground" is key to winning future elections, she said. And she said she'll encourage precinct chairs to participate in party meetings in person. They've largely taken place over Zoom since the pandemic. You go to Comal County, you go to Hays County any of the counties they're doing hybrid meetings, and the folks will come together that want to be in the community, said LoweSolis, a former state Democratic executive committee member for Texas Senate District 25, which includes Bexar, Kendall and Guadalupe counties. "They'll have food. They'll chat. They'll be talking. They're asking about their families. I mean, it's just a very community-based effort. She also wants to sharpen the party's messaging. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Dinh Ngoc Dung (left), director, SHB Corporate Banking Division, receiving the award. Photo: SHB The award reaffirms the banks efforts to ensure transparency and governance according to best practices for sustainable development. It is the fourth time that SHB has received this honour. Launched in 2018, VLCA is an extension of the Vietnam Annual Reports Awards. The awards are an annual event that evaluate and honour businesses with outstanding efforts in reporting, information disclosure, regulation compliance, corporate governance as well as environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices. VLCA is organised by the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange, the Hanoi Stock Exchange, VIR, and Dragon Capital. VLCA 2024 is supported by professional partners like ACCA, VIOD, International Finance Corporation, and leading audit firms PwC, Deloitte, KPMG, and EY, along with information from the State Securities Commission and both stock exchanges. SHBs 2023 annual report was lauded by the organising committee as it meets its strict criteria on content and form. The award recognises SHB's outstanding efforts in conveying transparent annual reports and corporate governance according to best practices on sustainable development, to improve operational efficiency and bring the best benefits to customers, shareholders, investors, partners, the community and the bank. In the 31 years since its founding, SHB has reinforced its position as a top Vietnamese financial institution, reaching regional and international standards. The lender has been in the top five largest private joint stock commercial banks in Vietnam, top 10 prestigious private joint-stock commercial banks by Vietnam Report, and ranked 137th among the top 500 largest organisations in Southeast Asia by Fortune magazine. In the first nine months of 2024, SHBs accumulated pre-tax profit reached VND9 trillion ($355 million), fulfilling 80 per cent of its annual target. As of September 30, total assets stood at VND688.4 trillion ($27.2 billion), up 9.2 per cent from the end of 2023. SHBs key business indicators are among the industry leaders. SHB also engages in community activities, recently contributing to a scheme that supports poor and near-poor households nationwide living in temporary and dilapidated houses. In addition, SHB has implemented interest reduction and exemption for customers, supporting people affected by the recent storms and floods, estimated at nearly VND150 billion ($5.9 million). The bank has sponsored two school projects in Dien Bien province with a total value of VND12.5 billion ($492,000), and is also working with the Ministry of Public Security to build 150 houses and a school for people in disaster-affected areas. From now until 2028, SHB will channel its resources to implement a comprehensive transformation strategy based on four pillars: institutional and mechanism reform; people as the subject; taking customers and the market as the centre; and modernising IT and digital transformation. The bank claims to follow its six core cultural values, 'Heart - Faith Trustworthiness Knowledge Wisdom - Vision', strictly. SHB has set a goal to become the most efficient bank in Vietnam, the most popular digital bank, the best retail bank, and the top bank for providing capital sources and financial products to both private and state-owned enterprises. SHB also boasts a green and sustainably developed supply chain, value chain, and ecosystem. Moving forward, SHB will continue to support the creation and spread of good societal values within the community, working with others to build a strong and prosperous Vietnam in a new era for the country. SHB accompanies foreign-invested enterprises with separate policies Saigon-Hanoi Commercial Joint-Stock Bank (SHB) is committed to creating the ideal environment for foreign-invested enterprises to scale up their operations in Vietnam. Krungsri to purchase remaining 50 per cent of SHBFinance's charter capital early Ayudhya Public Bank Limited (Krungsri), a member of Japan's MUFG Group, announced plans on November 5 to expedite the purchase of the remaining 50 per cent of SHBFinance's charter capital. One of the important regulations in the amended law is ensuring adequate and timely supply of quality drugs at reasonable prices for disease prevention and treatment requirements. Another is ensuring rational, safe, and effective use of drugs, with policies to develop clinical pharmacy. The National Assembly adopted the amended Law on Pharmacy on November 21. Photo: VGP/LS For drug purchases using the state budget, capital from other legal sources of revenue at public health facilities can be implemented in line with the rules on bidding. Incentives for drug purchases can apply in the following cases: drugs researched and produced domestically using domestic raw materials; original brand-name drugs with technology transfer in Vietnam; the first domestically produced generic drugs; the first domestically produced biosimilars; medicinal herbs and traditional drugs using domestic medicinal materials that meet Good Practices for Cultivation and Collection of Medicinal Herbs; medicinal herbs and traditional drugs produced on the basis of national, ministerial or provincial science and technology tasks that have been accepted; drugs on the list of national products approved by the PM. Regarding preferential policies and investment support policies for the development of the pharmaceutical industry, the amended law stipulates they must be in accordance with the Law on Investment. Regarding the issuance, renewal, change, or supplementation of marketing authorisation (MA), the National Assembly Standing Committee has revised the amended content in Article 56 by not specifically regulating in the amended law but assigning Ministry of Health to specify the necessary dossiers and procedures. With these positive changes, the amended law is expected to create more favourable conditions for the business community in the pharmaceutical industry. The amended law will take effect from July 1, 2025, except for the regulation on renewal of MA of drugs and pharmaceutical ingredients, which will take effect from January 1, 2025. Vietnam discusses amendments to Law on Pharmacy 2016 The National Assembly is discussing amendments to the Law on Pharmacy 2016 after months of proposals from the business community. Potential FIE impacts through Law on Pharmacy adjustments The newest amendment draft of the Law on Pharmacy (LoP), proposing changes to 44 out of 116 articles from the current law, has been published for feedback and is expected to be adopted soon. A launch ceremony was held on November 20, and was jointly organised by the Agricultural Trade Promotion Centre and the Department of Quality, Processing, and Market Development under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. The products are promoted using a 'product-seeking-consumer' model through short videos and livestreaming to help suppliers sell directly to Chinese consumers and introduce brand products to the market. To join the marketplace, businesses must obtain a registration code in China and undergo certification approval. They will then receive training in video production, 'key opinion leader' marketing, packaging, market trends, and guidance on using warehouse management systems. According to nld.com.vn, Nguyen Minh Tien, director of the Agricultural Trade Promotion Centre, said, "Online exporting to Chinese e-commerce and social media platforms will help Vietnamese agricultural products penetrate deeper into the Chinese market." Tien also recommended that businesses invest more in product design and packaging. Previously, when Vietnamese businesses exported agricultural products to China through distributors or importers, these partners typically handled packaging to suit local preferences. "When connected to e-commerce platforms, Vietnamese agricultural products can directly access Chinese consumers. Vietnamese businesses will reduce marketing and promotional costs and alleviate transportation expense concerns," said Nguyen Thanh Binh, chairman of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association (Vinafruit) According to Dang Phuc Nguyen, secretary general of Vinafruit, introducing Vietnamese agricultural products on Chinese e-commerce and social media platforms represents a successful push in international cooperation. "Vietnamese agricultural products have the full potential to advance in the international market, but organisations should collaborate with local businesses on mutually beneficial terms, understanding the market and finding appropriate business strategies," he said. China is Vietnam's largest fruit and vegetable export market. Fruit and vegetable exports to the Chinese market are projected to reach between $4.5 and $5 billion in 2024. Durian exports alone are estimated to have exceeded $2.5 billion by the end of September, with potential to reach over $3 billion by year-end. With current growth trends and increasing consumption demand in the Chinese market, industry experts have predicted that Vietnamese fruits and vegetables have the potential to reach $10 billion in exports in the near future. Fruit and vegetable exports hit record high in first half of 2024 Fruit and vegetable exports continue to be a bright spot in the overall economic picture for the first half of 2024, with revenues approaching $3.5 billion. Thailand increases spending on Vietnamese fruit and vegetables Thailand spent $97 million on Vietnamese fruit and vegetables in the first six months of the year, doubling the figure from the same period in 2023. Fruit and vegetable exports experiencing robust growth Fruit and vegetable exports are expected to hit record highs this year amid strong growth in the first seven months and abundant supply as harvest season approaches. Work continues on the Interstate 10 and Loop 1604 interchange on the north side of San Antonio on Thursday, June 6, 2024. TxDOT plans for full closure of eastbound and westbound lanes on I-10 at the interchange from Friday at 9 p.m to Monday at 5 a.m. Loop 1604 main lanes will be open. Marvin Pfeiffer/Staff Photographer If youre thinking of driving out of San Antonio on Interstate 10 this weekend, be warned: The Texas Department of Transportation is planning to close off the highways westbound lanes as part of a long-running construction project. TxDOT plans to close the lanes from 9 p.m. Friday until 5 a.m. Monday, according to the agency. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The state transportation agency has other closures planned during the same times near where I-10 and Loop 1604 meet: The two rightmost lanes of I-10 westbound as far north as Camp Bullis Road The two rightmost lanes of Loop 1604 eastbound from Chase Hill Boulevard until La Cantera Parkway The frontage road for I-10 eastbound north of Loop 1604 The eastbound and westbound frontage roads for Loop 1604 at the crossing with I-10 The I-10 eastbound exit ramp south of La Cantera Parkway The exit ramp from I-10 westbound to 1604 eastbound The exit ramp from 1604 westbound to I-10 westbound All four cloverleaf ramps between the two highways On Friday night only, TxDOT will also close the eastbound lanes of Loop 1604 between the exit ramp for Vance Jackson Road and the entrance ramp for Lockhill Selma Road, according to the news release. The work is being done as part of TxDOTs $1.4 billion Loop 1604 North Expansion Project overhauling the stretch of Loop 1604 between Bandera Road and Interstate 35. The project is being done in six segments, with the final one set to be complete in 2028, according to TxDOTs website. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Brayan Armando Lopez-Esparza has been charged with murder in connection to the death of his father Jorge Lopez, 45, during a West Side shooting on Nov. 17. Bexar County Sheriff's Office A 23-year-old man was arrested in connection to the shooting death of his father outside a home on San Antonio's West Side. Brayan Armando Lopez-Esparza has been charged in the death of Jorge Lopez, 45. The shooting, which happened during an altercation involving several people, happened shortly before 6 a.m. on Nov. 17 near Rasa Drive and Tarasco Street. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Officers found Lopez with a gunshot wound to the chest. Lopez was taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries. He died while in surgery. According to an arrest affidavit, the incident began when Lopez-Esparza got into a fight with the mother of his child's new boyfriend outside of a home. Shortly after the fight, Lopez-Esparza and his child's mother left the residence. He would later return to the home without her, the affidavit states. There, the boyfriend's siblings began arguing with Lopez-Esparza, but the boyfriend de-escalated the situation, the affidavit states. It was shortly after the confrontation that the boyfriend allegedly made threats toward Lopez-Esparza's child as he was leaving the residence. Advertisement Article continues below this ad That's when Lopez-Esparza retrieved a gun from his vehicle and fired toward the boyfriends vehicle as he drove away, police said. The boyfriend tried to run over Lopez-Esparza as he fired toward a crowd of people, including his family and the boyfriends family. During the shooting, Lopez-Esparza allegedly struck his father in the chest as he stood next to his truck where his grandchild was sitting, the affidavit states. Investigators said Lopez-Esparza fired his gun approximately 16 times during the incident Lopez-Esparza took off in his vehicle after the shooting according to police. His mother identified him to the police during their investigation. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Lopez-Esparza was charged with murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and deadly conduct with a firearm. 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The units of the Sever Group of Forces inflicted losses on formations of 41st, 47th, 115th mechanised brigades, 5th and 17th tank brigades, the 82nd Air Assault Brigade, the 36th Marine Brigade, 112th, 117th and 129th territorial defence brigades of the AFU near Aleksandriya, Viktorovka, Daryino, Lebedevka, Leonidovka, Malaya Loknya, Nikolsky, Novoivanovka, and Sverdlikovo. Operational-Tactical and Army aviation and artillery inflicted losses on enemy manpower and hardware near Agronom, Aleksandriya, Bogdanovka, Kruglenkoye, Kurilovka, Lebedevka, Leonidovo, Martynovka, Malaya Loknya, Melovy, Nizhny Klin, Nikolayevka, Nikolayevo-Daryino, Nikolsky, Novoivanovka, Plyokhovo, Sverdlikovo, Staraya Sorochina, Cherkasskoye Porechnoye as well as Basovka, Belovody, Zhuravka, Obody, and Yunakovka (Sumy region). The AFU losses were over 150 troops over the past 24 hours. Five AFU servicemen surrendered. Since the beginning of hostilities in Kursk region, the AFU losses amounted to more than 34,540 troops, 215 tanks, 147 infantry fighting vehicles, 120 armoured personnel carriers, 1,190 armoured fighting vehicles, 988 motor vehicles, 296 artillery guns, 40 MLRS launchers, including 11 of HIMARS and six of MLRS made by the USA, 13 anti-aircraft missile launchers, seven transport-loading vehicles, 68 EW stations, 13 counter-battery warfare radars, four air defence radars, 27 units of engineering and other materiel, including 13 counterobstacle vehicles, one UR-77 mine clearing vehicle, six armoured recovery vehicles, and one command post vehicle. The operation to neutralise the AFU units is in progress. Tags: *** Russian Defence Ministry reports on the progress of the special military operation (21 November 2024) The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation. In Kharkov direction, the units of the Sever Group of Forces have defeated units of the 116th Territorial Defence Brigade and the 5th Border Detachment of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine near Lebedevka and Kazachya Lopan (Kharkov region). The AFU losses were up to 145 troops, two tanks, 11 armoured fighting vehicles, and one 122-mm D-30 howitzer. The units of the Zapad Group of Forces have improved the tactical situation and inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of 28th, 63rd, 116th mechanised brigades and the 119th territorial defence brigades of the AFU near Kupyansk, Zagryzovo, Glushkovka (Kharkov region), and Krasny Liman (Donetsk Peoples Republic). Five counter-attacks of AFU 14th, 115th mechanised brigades and the 119th Territorial Defence Brigade have been repelled. The AFU losses were up to 480 troops, two infantry fighting vehicles, one armoured fighting vehicle, six motor vehicles, one 155-mm U.S.-made M198 howitzer, two 152-mm D-20 guns, two 122-mm Gvozdika self-propelled artillery systems, and one 122-mm D-30 howitzer. Two Anklav-N electronic warfare stations and four field ammunition depots have been eliminated. The units of the Yug Group of Forces have liberated Dalneye (Donetsk Peoples Republic). Russian troops have hit 33rd, 54th mechanised brigades, the 56th Mechanised Infantry Brigade of the AFU near Chervonoye, Seversk, Verolubovka, Dachnoye, and Kurakhovo (Donetsk Peoples Republic). One counter-attack of the AFU 46th Airmobile Brigade has been repelled. The AFU losses were up to 380 troops, 12 motor vehicles, one 155-mm UK-made Braveheart self-propelled artillery system, two 152-mm D-20 guns, one 122-mm D-30 howitzer, and four 105-mm U.S.-made M119 guns. One Bukovel-AD electronic warfare station and one ammunition depot have been eliminated. The units of the Tsentr Group of Forces continued advancing into the depths of enemy defences, inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 100th Mechanised Brigade, the 68th Infantry Brigade, the 425th Air Assault Brigade, the 38th Marine Brigade, 2nd, 14th national guard brigades, and the 241st Territorial Defence Brigade close to Grodovka, Sukhoy Yar, Dachenskoye, Ulyanovka, Dimitrov, and Pravdovka (Donetsk Peoples Republic). In addition, 11 counter-attacks of assault detachments of AFU 117th, 151st mechanised brigades, the 68th Jaeger Brigade, the 35th Marine Brigade, and the Lyut Brigade of the National Police of Ukraine have been repelled. The AFU losses were more than 385 troops, two Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, one U.S.-made M113 armoured personnel carrier, one armoured fighting vehicle, two motor vehicles, one 152-mm D-20 gun, two 122-mm Gvozdika self-propelled artillery systems, two 122-mm D-30 howitzers, and one 100-mm Rapira anti-tank gun. The units of the Vostok Group of Forces have taken more advantageous lines and positions, defeated units of the 33rd Mechanised Brigade, the 71st Infantry Brigade of the AFU, and the 130th Territorial Defence Brigade near Zelyonoye Pole, Ulakly, and Novosyolka (Donetsk Peoples Republic). One counter-attack by units of the AFU 36th Marine Brigade has been repelled. The AFU losses were up to 145 troops, one tank, one infantry fighting vehicle, one U.S.-made M113 armoured personnel carrier, three motor vehicles, and one 152-mm Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system. The units of the Dnepr Group of Forces have engaged manpower and hardware of the 31st Mechanised Brigade, the 141st Infantry Brigade of the AFU, 118th and 126th territorial defence brigades close to Novoandreyevka, Malaya Tokmachka (Zaporozhye region), Burgunka, and Nikolskoye (Kherson region). The AFU losses were up to 85 troops, nine motor vehicles, and one 122-mm D-30 howitzer. One field ammunition depot has been destroyed. Operational-Tactical Aviation, attack unmanned aerial vehicles, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have engaged AFU manpower and hardware clusters in 142 areas. Air defence facilities have shot down two UK-made Storm Shadow cruise missiles, six U.S.-made HIMARS projectiles, and 67 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles. In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, 648 aircraft, 283 helicopters, 36,467 unmanned aerial vehicles, 586 anti-aircraft missile systems, 19,420 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,490 MLRS combat vehicles, 18,318 field artillery guns and mortars, and 28,573 units of support military vehicles have been neutralised. Tags: Special Military Operation WtR Commissioner pledges action against dangerous e-Bike and e-Scooter use This article is old - Published: Friday, Nov 22nd, 2024 The Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales has pledged to tackle the issue of e-bikes causing danger on streets across the region. It comes after a rise in complaints of e-bikes, off-road bikes and e-scooters being used inappropriately. A number of accidents and injuries caused to pedestrians have also been reported. During Antisocial Behaviour (ASB) Awareness Week which runs from 18-24 November the PCC is pledging to further act on this key concern on behalf of residents and to make the streets of North Wales safer for all. At the recent Strategic Executive Board meeting of North Wales Police on 30 October, the PCC conducted a review of Road Safety to look into the issue of e-bikes and other similar forms of transport. At the meeting, Andy Dunbobbin and his team met with the Chief Officers of North Wales Police to review overall Force performance, including against the priorities in the PCCs Police and Crime Plan. The Chief Constable provided an update on North Wales Police performance and how North Wales Police are approaching the issue of off-road motorcycles, e-bikes, and e-scooters. Officers from North Wales Police have carried out initiatives in the past such as Operation Blue Takeoff to tackle the illegal use of off-road bikes and to seize them if necessary. Earlier this year, Rural Crime Team officers also launched an operation targeting off-road bikes being ridden illegally anti-socially in rural areas of Wrexham, Denbighshire and Flintshire. The PCC is currently writing his Police and Crime Plan for North Wales, which will set priorities for policing in the area for the next four years. This plan has been prepared following a consultation that took place with thousands of local people over the summer. The issue of e-bikes and e-scooters being ridden inappropriately is expected to feature in the plan. Andy Dunbobbin, Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales, said: The issue of e-bikes, e-scooters and also off-road bikes, being ridden inappropriately is one that has been raised with me time and again in recent months. It was a key topic mentioned by many people during the public consultation I recently undertook for my forthcoming Police and Crime Plan for North Wales. Members of the regions Police and Crime Panel have also relayed the concerns of their communities on the subject at meetings I have had with them. The safety of these bikes and scooters is therefore clearly of importance to many residents of North Wales and recent accidents have shown that it is an area where we need to remain vigilant. The Police are developing ways to tackle when they are used for anti-social behaviour, an approach which I fully support. As PCC, I remain committed to working with the Chief Constable to address public concerns around e-bikes, e-scooters and off-road bikes. Many riders use e-scooters and e-bikes appropriately and with concern for pedestrians, but there is a minority who do not and they must know their behaviour is unacceptable. I am determined that our streets should be safe for all, whether they are pedestrians, riders or drivers there is no excuse for putting others in danger or causing injuries by reckless riding. For more information about ASB in North Wales and how to report it, visit the North Wales Police website. The City has released an update on residents displaced by the recent closure of the Lakemill Lodge in downtown Reno. The building was shuttered in late October after it failed a health inspection. It has since passed an inspection, but the City still needs to complete some checks before reopening. In an update, the City's Housing And Neighborhood Development (HAND) agency has helped a total of 55 people, including 32 pets. More than 20 households have moved into, or will soon move into, permanent housing. Two additional households are working to get approved for a unit, while six were denied for lack of income or failure to make progress. HAND also says that $29,986 has been paid in interim hotel assistance and $36,664 has been paid for deposit and move-in costs. NOVEMBER 21, 2024: Northern Nevada Public Health says the currently shuttered Lakemill Lodge has passed a health inspection. The City of Reno said people who were living there were allowed to collect personal items but the license remains suspended. The City still needs to complete some checks before they can reopen the property. The Lakemill Lodge was shut down last month after Reno Police found human feces and drugs in common areas of the building. As a result, residents were evacuated. NOVEMBER 7: The Lakemill Lodge has failed a requested reinspection and is not yet allowed to reopen. At a meeting on Thursday it was revealed the City of Reno might revoke the Lodge's business license. The City of Renos Housing and Neighborhood Development Department staff helped over 30 units of displaced residents with placement and housing assistance after the Lakemill Lodge was closed until further notice due to multiple health code violations. Northern Nevada Public Health's HAZMAT Program, the City of Reno Code Enforcement, Building Compliance, the Reno Fire Department, and the Reno Police Department inspected the building, discovering human waste and drugs in stairwells and common areas, according to a Northern Nevada Public Health press release. Reno Police performed rapid testing on used hypodermic syringes found on the main stairwell steps. Positive results returned for fentanyl, methamphetamine, and heroin. Due to the evidence of dangerous controlled substances, as well as human urine and feces, residents of Lakemill Lodge were evacuated, and the building was shut down until issues could be addressed. In their release, NNHP says the entire building was shut down because the stairs and common areas where the hazardous substances were found provide the main entry and exit points from the building. Representatives from the City of Renos Housing and Neighborhood Development Department, in addition to other community agencies and organizations, worked with the residents currently living in the building to find temporary housing until issues are addressed. Together the agencies were able to provide direct financial assistance to some of the Lakemill Lodge's residents, and indirect assistance to several more residents at the expense of the Lakemill Lodge. You can read the full details of assistance provided below. Danni looks at his reflection in a small compact mirror after shaving in the parking lot at Corazon Harm Reductions campus. HIs friends, Andrea and her partner lay on the ground next to him, Andrea with her arm extended so her partner can draw on it with a permanent marker.Danni who is 35 has been using drugs for 13 years. He started with marijuana and moved into cocaine and pills. From there began using heroin and meth. I would do any drug that was handed to me. Now Danni only smokes meth and worries about fentanyl being laced in his drugs. Danni almost always has Narcan on him.Its a scary thing, but sometimes we just dont care about ourselves. I may not know a lot of these people but I care about them Jessica Phelps Council member Terri Castillo makes remarks concerning a an emergency declaration for opioid crisis at a San Antonio City Council meeting on Wed, Nov. 20, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Christopher Lee/Staff Photographer The City Council has declared drug overdoses a public health crisis, pledging to support community groups battling a surge in such deaths. "This resolution recognizes overdose deaths as preventable tragedies that impact all of us," said District 5 Councilwoman Teri Castillo, who first asked the council to consider adopting the resolution in June 2023. "This crisis is claiming lives at an alarming rate." The council passed the resolution 10-0 on Thursday. District 7 Councilwoman Marina Alderete Gavito was not present for the vote. Advertisement Article continues below this ad A San Antonio Express-News investigation published last month found the rate of fatal overdoses in the county has more than doubled in five years. Driving the surge is fentanyl, a synthetic opioid 50 times stronger than heroin, and stimulants such as methamphetamine. In 2013, 197 people overdosed and died in Bexar County. Last year, the number climbed to 501, a 154% increase. The opioid epidemic, which has been a federally recognized public health crisis since 2017, has swept downtown San Antonio, where many homeless people struggle with addiction. But the San Antonio Fire Department responds to overdose calls across the city. In 2023, the department responded to an average of 12 fatal and non-fatal overdose calls every day, the Express-News investigation found. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Seeing folks out on the street who are suffering with the use of stimulants and or opioids continues to be a concern and priority, said Castillo, who represents the West Side. She hoped the resolution would push the city to draw up a spending plan for funds from a federal opioid lawsuit settlement, expand the use of Narcan, a medication to reverse the effects of opioid overdoses, and develop a city-sponsored drug recovery and treatment program for new and expecting mothers experiencing addiction. The San Antonio Metropolitan Health District is currently collaborating with Bexar County on opioid initiatives. Those are ongoing conversations that Metro Health is currently having with Bexar County around the spending plan and how to be most intentional with our resources, Castillo said. The city expects to receive intermittent payments totaling $6.1 million from lawsuit settlements with opioid manufacturers and distributors accused of flooding the prescription drug market with addictive products. Payments will be dispersed through 2040. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The city has so far received $1.4 million in opioid settlement funds. In May, the council allocated $909,000 to Metro Health for Narcan kits, outreach to homeless people suffering from addiction and other measures. Bexar County saw a slight dip in fatal opioid overdoses in 2023 thanks to having more Narcan kits available in public places, said Jessie Higgins, chief mental health officer at Metro Health. But overdose deaths caused by meth and other stimulants continue to rise. "What this tells us is that we can't stop. We can't kick our foot off the gas," Higgins said. "We've got to keep going." The city also sends money from its general-fund budget to organizations dealing with addiction. This year, the city has given $447,000 to Corazon Ministries, a downtown nonprofit that runs Bexar Countys needle-exchange program. There are great organizations with relationships doing the work, and our role should be how to help facilitate strengthening the work they're already doing by providing resources that they may need, whether it's Narcan or financial resources, Castillo said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Bexar County Commissioners Court is planning to vote on a similar resolution on Dec. 10, county spokeswoman Monica Ramos said. The county is currently negotiating with 13 organizations to potentially spend a combined $11.2 million of the $14.5 million the county expects to receive in settlement funds on addiction treatment. The recipients would include Crosspoint Inc., a nonprofit that provides substance abuse treatment, and Alpha Home, a drug and alcoholic treatment center. While working to get Thursday's resolution passed, Castillo said she lost a family friend to an overdose. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Shortly after she turned 60, Michelle Yeoh won her first Academy Award and got married. We had the Oscars in March, then in July we married in Geneva. At the end of the year, we celebrated with family and close friends in Hong Kong and Malaysia. It was a crazy year, the actress says of her 2023 adventures with her longtime partner and now husband, Jean Todt. It was all the different levels of existencegetting the Oscar, that star youve always tried to reach for, and then being marriedall aligning. Members only And that multifaceted state of beingin which everything feels like it is happening, everywhere, all at once, one could sayhas hardly abated. In the nearly two years since winning Best Actress for Everything Everywhere All at Once, the jet-setting icon, now 62, has released four films, including the Wicked musical adaptation (in theaters November 22) and three television series, and shot two major upcoming features: Avatar 4 and Star Trek: Section 31. She also wrote a New York Times op-ed on behalf of the United Nations Development Program, for which she is a goodwill ambassador; received the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom; and handed out medals this summer in Paris as a recently elected member of the International Olympic Committee. Im always working. I suddenly realized this year that Ive been working too much, Yeoh says over Zoom from her hotel suite in Prague, where she iswhat else?working, this time on the series Blade Runner 2099, in which shell star as a replicant near the end of her life. Michelle Yeoh won an Oscar in 2023 for her starring role in Everything Everywhere All At Once. Pal Hansen But that plot couldnt be farther from Yeohs current trajectory. Michelle Yeohs been preparing for this moment her entire career, says her Everything Everywhere costar and now mutually dubbed bae Jamie Lee Curtis, a fellow 60-something acting vet experiencing a similar bounty of roles and overdue acclaim. Decades and decades of suiting up and showing up, and we both now have the opportunity to step into a new level of work. Its a testament to her perseverance, her belief in herself and her understanding that these moments dont come very often, and you must take full advantage of them. For 40 years, Michelle Yeoh has epitomized untouchable coolfrom her early days as the first lady of 1980s and 90s Hong Kong action cinema, to her breakout crossover roles as a Bond girl more than holding her own in 1997s Tomorrow Never Dies and a stoic martial arts master in 2000s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, to her latter-day reemergence as an ice queen of a prospective mother-in-law in 2018s Crazy Rich Asians. And on magazine covers and red carpets around the worldglittering in priceless jewels and haute couture (she is currently a brand ambassador for both Balenciaga and Helena Rubinstein)she radiates unfazed glamour. The real Yeoh is indeed graceful and poisedher regal bearing gives away her daily regimen of honing her body into the exquisite instrument that it is, and even the most subtle lift of an arm or flick of a wrist instantly conjures up a decades-long highlight reel of coolly dispatching bad guys. Yet for a film legend who is so undeniably, unrelatably fabulous (the iconic emerald engagement ring featured in Crazy Rich Asians was famously her own, after she deemed none of the options procured by the costume department suitable), she exudes a genuine warmth and down-to-earth approachability that feels surprisingly familial. Everywhere she goes, shes very nurturing, and she feels very much like the matriarch of every situation shes in, Everything Everywhere codirector Daniel Kwan told me in 2022. And I can confirm that: Since we first met six years ago, Ive had the fortune to spend time with Yeoh in one-on-one interviews, on set and at photo shoots, screenings and parties. Each time, I am struck by how much she sounds and looks like the various Asian women who have been a part of my upbringing; its like catching up with a favorite aunt who also happens to be a massive movie star. Ke Huy Quan and Michelle Yeoh in 'Everything Everywhere All At Once'. Allyson Riggs/A24/Courtesy Everett Collection Her Oscar season coincided with Wickeds filming schedule, so she spent the winter of 2022 flying between a London soundstage and obligatory campaign stops that ranged from L.A. awards ceremonies to New York talk shows. During that span, no matter where she was, she would have care packages sent to Wicked director Jon M. Chu and his family, who were on location with him in the U.K. She would always write notes: This is for your babies, Take care of Kristin, says Chu of his wife, who was expecting their fourth child at the time. Thats her in a nutshell. Yeoh was initially hesitant to sign on to the Broadway adaptation when Chu first asked her to read the script. Jon, its a musical! she told him. You know I dont sing, right? She received in response a video from the films stars, Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande: You must come and join us! they insisted from the rehearsal room. Its imperative! So Yeohwho once told me she has too much stage fright to do live theatersigned on for her first musical in the role of Madame Morrible, the headmistress of the magical university where the two future witches first meet. Ive been around her long enough to know that she has great rhythm, great tone, and that she can sing, says Chu. She was scared, but she dove headfirst into vocal training. She did a great job. Chu first directed Yeoh in Crazy Rich Asians, the breakout rom-com that showed Michelle Yeoh could be a badass without pulling off a single flying kick. As Eleanor Young, she is the intimidating, disapproving mother of the leading man, and in less skillful hands, the character could easily have been a caricatured antagonist. But Yeoh was adamant that her portrayal honor the dignity and selfless strength of all the Asian women in her life. Eleanor was very representative of some of the most beautiful women Ive met in Asia who take a second seat, because thats how you manage your husbands position in the society, she told me then. Her own father was a respected and affluent statesman back in Malaysia, a U.K.-educated lawyer who also ran a successful motor coach company and served for a decade in the Malaysian Senate. He was my hero, because he was the stabilizing factor in our lives, says Yeoh. My mom is more happy-go-lucky. I was blessed with a very balanced family. (MUSIC INTRO) [00:00:01] Bob: This week on The Perfect Scam. [00:00:04] Georgete Papadimitrios: They pulled my transaction and had me go to the service desk. And Im standing there with all this food, my baby in the carriage, just freaked out, embarrassed, upset. I dont understand whats happening. (MUSIC SEGUE) [00:00:23] Bob: Welcome back to The Perfect Scam. I'm your host, Bob Sullivan. (MUSIC SEGUE) [00:00:28] Bob: Thanksgiving is a special time for family, food, for feeling grateful. It means a lot to today's guest Georgete Papadimitrios for reasons we'll get into in a moment. And that's why when Thanksgiving was essentially stolen from her, this struggling mom was hit with such a crushing blow, but when you hear about the highly organized crime Georgete was caught up in, your blood will boil because she was one of hundreds of thousands of victims who suffered when, well every American suffered when $150 million of taxpayer money was stolen by criminals, and it's still happening. Let's meet Georgete. As I mentioned, Thanksgiving means a lot to her. [00:01:17] Georgete Papadimitrios: Yes, well, both of my parents are deceased. My mom died in 2000 and my father passed away in 2017, and Im a single mom. Im 2000 miles from family, friends, and everyone I know and love. Here Im completely alone. So because my children are 5 and 2, I just want to instill in them how important family holidays are, spending time together as a family because growing up I had a big family, lots of aunts and uncles and cousins, and I just look lovingly back on my, you know, childhood and I, I want to do the best I can to give my children that same feeling I get when I think about Thanksgiving and Christmas and Easter and the ham and the turkeys and the, the food. I love to cook and I believe, you know, being Greek that uh food is like one of the biggest ways you can show love. [00:02:09] Bob: What's your favorite Thanksgiving plate? [00:02:10] Georgete Papadimitrios: I would have to say, I mean I love everything but the, you know, honey-glazed ham, mashed potatoes, some good turkey breast, and butternut squash. [00:02:23] Bob: See, you've already gotten my attention, because nothing wrong with turkey, but I'm a big fan of ham, and so, you know... [00:02:28] Georgete Papadimitrios: I love ham. (chuckles) [00:02:30] Bob: Yeah, so honey-glazed ham is great. [00:02:33] Georgete Papadimitrios: It doesn't get its due. [00:02:36] Bob: Georgete lives in Texas, far away from her extended family for very practical reasons. [00:02:44] Bob: So you, you uh, you're from New England. How long have you been in Texas? [00:02:47] Georgete Papadimitrios: Um, since 2015. [00:02:49] Bob: And, and what brought you there? [00:02:51] Georgete Papadimitrios: Lower rent. Its just the cost of living is much, much less than up there, that northeast corridor is very expensive. [00:03:00] Bob: Very expensive, that's true, yeah, and I know that there's reasons why you're, I mean everyone's conscious of how expensive rent is nowadays, but, but you have reason to be even more conscious maybe than some other people, right? [00:03:10] Georgete Papadimitrios: Yeah, my situation isn't perfect. [00:03:13] Bob: So no one's is, right? But tell, tell me what's, what about your situation isn't perfect? [00:03:17] Georgete Papadimitrios: I was born with a congenital heart defect, so because of that, as I aged into my 20s and into my 30s, my heart wasnt doing so well. So I ended up actually needing a pacemaker, and I still have issues with my heart today because of that. [00:03:38] Bob: And you've had several heart surgeries too, right? [00:03:40] Georgete Papadimitrios: Yes, a pacemaker, several sinus node modifications and ablations and things like that. [00:03:50] Bob: Hmm, that, I'm sure that's not an easy way to live, but this also impacts your ability to work, right? [00:03:56] Georgete Papadimitrios: Yeah, unfortunately. [00:03:58] Bob: So Georgete and her kids rely on public assistance to make ends meet, and a really important part of that is Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, usually called SNAP benefits. She gets a few hundred dollars a month to buy food. [00:04:15] Bob: Can you help people understand how important this monthly payment is for you in terms of, you know, being able to feed your kids? [00:04:22] Georgete Papadimitrios: It's incredibly important. I mean this is a matter of us eating or not. I live on 940-- I think 3 or 42 dollars a month. I have rent. I have bills, I have car insurance, I have my children and their needs for the month, and penny pinching at its finest. So I dont have extra for food. That is literally my lifeline. That is my ability for my son to have snacks for school, have breakfast, lunch, and dinner for both of them, and dinner and uh I usually fast. I try not to eat a lot. So like mostly, lunch and dinner maybe for me. But its more about making sure they have food. Ill go hungry, but Im not going to let them. [00:05:04] Bob: SNAP is the difference between her kids having snacks during the day or going hungry. And that's why what happened last year was so scary. [00:05:16] Bob: Where were you, where were you shopping, what were you trying to buy? [00:05:19] Georgete Papadimitrios: Okay, so give me a sec, I get a little emotional because it's, it's a tough... memory. [00:05:23] Bob: Of course. Yeah... [00:05:24] Georgete Papadimitrios: And not my favorite. [00:05:26] Bob: Georgete drives a long way once a month to get most of her groceries to a large market named HEB that has substantially lower prices than her local store. Last November that was especially important because she planned to buy everything she needed for that big Thanksgiving dinner. [00:05:44] Georgete Papadimitrios: And I went in there and I had my buggy full, I had all of my stuff, my food for the month, and then my Thanksgiving trimmings, you know the things that you get for Thanksgiving; a pie, turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, stuff like that, stuffing, and I got up to the register and I ran my card and they said, "Theres a problem." And I was like, "Well there shouldnt be. I know I called it and the money was there," and not thinking anything of it, we swiped it again -- nothing. So then I went onto the app, the YourTexasBenefits app and I checked and it showed that it was gone. And then I was like, what? What is happening here? So then I clicked on uh transactions, and it showed transactions that I didnt make. So Im like, wait, what is happening? So then Im upset. [00:06:34] Bob: What is happening? Her monthly benefit was loaded just two days earlier. She checked, but the purchase just won't go through. [00:06:42] Georgete Papadimitrios: So I was extremely embarrassed. They pulled my transaction and had me go to the service desk. And Im standing there with all this food, my baby in the carriage, just freaked out, embarrassed, upset. I dont understand whats happening. It was just, it was just not a good time. I ended up actually, you know, apologizing to the manager and saying, you know, I dont know whats going on. I dont understand this. I felt like he was looking at me kinda funny. I just felt very uncomfortable. I, I ended up walking out in tears. [00:07:17] Bob: Walking out in tears, no Thanksgiving food, a ton of embarrassment, and now running late. [00:07:24] Georgete Papadimitrios: Because I had to get my 5-year-old off of the school bus by a certain time, I wasnt able to go directly to the food stamp office to try to figure it out. So I went home, I got my son off the bus, and by then it was after 4, theyre not open, so I had to wait till the following morning to even kind of understand what was happening. [00:07:47] Bob: So she goes to sleep twisting and turning, wakes up the next morning, gets her kids ready for the day, and then... [00:07:55] Georgete Papadimitrios: I immediately, as soon as they opened, I called trying to get answers and understand and basically I was told, youre going to have to come to the office in Bryan which is 35 minutes each way away, with the little bit of gas I had where my funds are tight, to go to the office. They're not very pleasant. They're kind of short, and I get they probably deal with people all the time, but I, I'm in there trying to worry about how I'm going to feed me and my children for the month. That's scary. [00:08:24] Bob: But the office confirms there's a series of purchases on her account that she didn't make. So many that her balance is nearly zero. The transactions all occurred out of state in Massachusetts. It's obvious there's been fraud. Her account has somehow been hacked. But the office can't help her right away. [00:08:45] Georgete Papadimitrios: And even though they could see on there that it wasn't even used in the state of Texas, which I'm standing in front of you, the day, you know a couple of days before it's used, and it's used in a whole other state across the country. Like obviously it wasn't me. They couldn't issue emergency ones, they just said you just have to wait, it has to be sent to someone, and then theyre going to have to investigate it, and this and that. [00:09:08] Bob: Eventually, her missing SNAP benefits will be replaced after the investigation, she's told, but not for a while. And that means... [00:09:18] Georgete Papadimitrios: I basically didnt have Thanksgiving dinner. I didnt have groceries. Luckily, my 2-year-olds father actually helped us get, you know, some Thanksgiving stuff to help us get through, so and a few groceries, so that was a little bit of a relief. It wasnt as bad as it could have been, thank God. [00:09:38] Bob: So Georgete makes it through a decidedly less than perfect Thanksgiving and follows up with the state benefit office. They confirm, yes, the investigation showed there was fraud, and yes, they will restore her benefit, but she has to make sure she changes her pin code associated with the account and uses the app to freeze the account so no one can spend any of the funds. But then... [00:10:01] Georgete Papadimitrios: But again, it took I believe almost a month for them to reissue the food stamps that were stolen back, and it was like almost I think five or six hundred dollars worth of food stamps stolen from me and my family, and then they didnt reach out and let me know that they had reissued me them, so I didnt know. I did everything they asked; I froze the card. They actually issued me a whole brand-new card, so I didnt even have the same card, not the same numbers, different pin, everything, had it frozen through the app, the YourTexasBenefits app, and before I even knew they were there, they were stolen again. [00:10:40] Bob: Oh my God! [00:10:41] Georgete Papadimitrios: So then I went through it all over again. I had to drive back to the food stamp office yet again, wait for them to reissue them, yet again... [00:10:51] Bob: This time all her benefits had been spent at a bodega in the Bronx. So now, we're talking about two months in a row her food money's been stolen. Again, the state investigates, issues a refund, but this time she watches her account like a hawk and springs into action immediately. [00:11:09] Georgete Papadimitrios: So the day that I got them, on the 12th, that first thing in the morning I got my son on the bus, I got my other son dressed really quickly, and we flew to HEB because I did not want to risk them stealing them again. I was trying to like basically beat the clock, beat, beat whoever it was to the punch, cause I didnt know how they were doing it, what they were doing. [00:11:32] Bob: I can't imagine the stress of waking up one day a month where you get money to buy groceries and having to race to the store and spend it before a criminal spends it from out from under you. [00:11:45] Georgete Papadimitrios: It's incredibly frustrating and its nerve-wracking because Im so in fear that Im going to show up at the grocery store and they had beat me to the punch. Not to mention the fact that Im sitting there with my phone calculating every single thing to make sure Im spending at least close to what I have and not leaving too much left on it. And then theres, theres just so many concerns. So its exhausting mentally, emotionally, and physically because I cant just go and do a couple hundred here and a couple hundred there. Im literally unloading almost $600 and Im not complaining because Im blessed to get that and be able to get through, we need it. But it is a lot of work to do when you cant just use some and then go back another time or go to a different store thats closer and get some more stuff. It's a lot to carry. [00:12:37] Bob: And you can't buy anything that's perishable really. [00:12:39] Georgete Papadimitrios: No, I, I do and I just try to eat it within the first week like you know, produce and dairy, but once its gone, its gone, and unfortunately, its not like I can keep a whole lot on my card to replenish. [00:12:54] Bob: Yeah, it's so complicated, my God. [00:12:56] Georgete Papadimitrios: If we run out of something, we run out of it. [00:12:59] Bob: So this has now become Georgete's routine. The morning the benefits hit her card she races to the store to spend them before a criminal does. It's been going on for months, basically since last Thanksgiving, and at roughly the same time that Georgete starts playing this crazy game of beat the criminals while we here at The Perfect Scam get an email from a woman named Millie Gonzalez in New York City. She works for a group named Search & Care, which helps people utilize public benefit programs. She's a fan of our show and she wrote in to tell us she'd noticed something really strange happening at work. She wrote to us, "In the last year there has been an uptick in fraud committed against the poorest of the poor, families who rely on SNAP to put food on the table. I'm sure you have many experts that can speak on this topic, and I really think they should." Well Millie is one of those experts, and here she is. [00:13:54] Millie Gonzalez: So I have a client who, at the time that this happened was 87 years old. She is homebound, right, and very low income, right, so that her SNAP benefits were the only way that she could really afford to buy her, to buy her food. I, I came in and I knew that she'd had a substantial balance, but then when I looked at the receipt, I noticed that the balance had gone down a lot, and I couldn't quite understand why. A couple of weeks later, I noticed that there were purchases that just didn't, now there were purchases that actually didn't seem right, right, because now there were deductions to her account that were happening on the days that nobody was doing any food shopping for her. So now I started to get suspicious, right, it's like the red flags in my head just started going off. [00:14:48] Bob: So Millie visits her client and they call the state benefit office to see what's going on. [00:14:53] Millie Gonzalez: We finally got a hold of someone and we spoke to the representative and she was able to run down for me the transactions that I suspected were fraudulent, right? So she told me about a $2100 charge from one store that turned up as a food stamp purchase, and obviously my client was never going to spend $2100 at one store. Sheh gave me the name of the store where it happened, and she told me that this purchase had originated in, I believe it was in Texas, Texas or, yeah, I think it was in Texas that the, that the purchase originated from. So there, you know my client only uses this card at one store in her neighborhood. She's not going anywhere. [00:15:41] Bob: So Millie applies for a reinstatement from the state office which she gets, but this is just the tip of the iceberg. Other workers start reporting the same thing with their clients. [00:15:51] Millie Gonzalez: I have personally worked with four clients to get, you know to that had benefits stolen, but I know that my colleagues have also dealt with this, because I, you know, because again, I mean we, you know our office, we have a very small office, so there's no way that you don't know what everybody else is, is going through. But now, you know, but now I know what to do. So I knew exactly where, where to go and, and what to do. And I sort of became the uh, the go-to at the office... [00:16:21] Bob: You're the office expert, sure, yeah. [00:16:23] Bob: Not only is fraud happening with multiple clients, there's a pattern. Criminals seem to know just when SNAP benefits get applied to their clients' accounts and swoop in and steal them. [00:16:35] Millie Gonzalez: That's my assumption you know is putting on that detective hat and trying to figure things out so that in my mind, it has to be, you know that there's, that they somehow, they even know when the benefits are arriving, or they just get really lucky, and they hit them on the, on the right day. I mean I had one client that had, you know, numerous transactions occur on one day like on, on her activity report I saw numerous transactions. They're all rather small transactions, right, $25, $23, $18, but the transactions were, according to the activity report, were happening at all types of different locations, and literally within minutes of each other, because on the activity reports you could, you can see what time the purchases happened. And they were within minutes of each other. I'm like, there's no way that you can get from uptown to downtown within minutes and swipe a card. And that was the other thing. None of these clients that, that this happened to, their cards never left their hands, right? They, their cards were not lost, they weren't giving their pin numbers to, to anyone. They weren't, they weren't doing all the things that they, that they tell people to do to protect their, their money. [00:17:55] Bob: Yeah. [00:17:57] Bob: And it's still happening. [00:18:00] Millie Gonzalez: One of my colleagues just had um, one of her clients calls her in the last week and a half to tell that it happened to her. I have another client, a new client that called me about, maybe about three weeks ago to tell me that it happened to her as well, and she told me that she actually, she called the morning of her receiving, when, when she receives her, when she's scheduled to receive her, her benefits, and the full amount was received. And then she called the day after because she was going shopping, and again, she just wanted to make sure. The day after she called, all of her benefits were gone. She, she never got a chance to go, to go shopping. [00:18:42] Bob: Oh my God, wow. [00:18:42] Millie Gonzalez: They took the, the, they took the, the full, the full amount. And that's exactly the, the type of scenario that I, that I see happening, that I,, that I see has happened, right? Your benefits arrive let's say on the 1st, and by the 2nd, they're com--, they can be completely wiped out. [00:19:00] Bob: Completely wiped out, and remember, this is money that people need to eat. Many of these victims like Georgete are extremely careful with their pin codes, and careful to use their apps to freeze the funds. [00:19:16] Millie Gonzalez: They were all being so careful because of the fact that these benefits are lifesaving for them. You know without these benefits, they don't eat, right? Without these benefits, they have to decide, you know, do I pay my rent or do I go food shopping? I mean I; I can't even begin to explain to you like how heartbreaking it is for a client to call me and tell me that they have absolutely no money on their food stamp card. And that now they have to take from their, from their rent money, or they have to take from the money that they would use to, to pay their Con Edison bill. Or they have to use the money that they would pay, you know that they would need to pay for their, you know for their, for their medications or for, you know it's, I mean it literally can be life and like life-or-death decisions that they have to, to make, right? Do I forego paying my rent this month because I need to be able to buy, to buy food, you know. And they're, I've heard, you know, people say, well you know, they can go to a food pantry and they can get the, you know, they can get food from there, right? And that's all well and good, but there are some clients that are not physically able to get to, to a food pantry. Right? [00:20:32] Bob: Sure, sure. [00:20:32] Millie Gonzalez: These are people that are, you know, they can't just go onto Amazon and order their, their groceries, right? They can't go to Instacart and have them deliver their, their groceries for them. They just, they don't have that, that kind of money. If you're receiving food stamps, then for the most part you know you are someone that is low income, and this is a life saving measure for you. [00:20:56] Bob: The money can be lifesaving, but also trying to buy groceries for your kids only to be told at the checkout line that your card won't go through, well that's a crushing experience of its own kind. [00:21:09] Georgete Papadimitrios: Well I just, my heart goes out to anybody that this has happened to, because it can be devastating. It's really too, it's too much. I'm getting choked up, sorry. [00:21:18] Bob: No, don't be sorry. It's, it sounds, I mean you've already got so much else to deal with. This just seems like... [00:21:22] Georgete Papadimitrios: It's embarrassing. [00:21:24] Bob: You shouldn't be embarrassed. Those people who administer the program should be embarrassed, and the criminals should be utterly mortified and much worse than that, I think, but... [00:21:31] Georgete Papadimitrios: Well it's embarrassing because I have to go the grocery store and get a huge amount of food all at once, and I feel like sometimes the cashiers or people look at me sideways, like jeez, you got all this food. And Im like, yeah, but I dont have a choice. And Im like trying to be explanatory, like, well I live kind of far, and they stole my food stamps, and I was on the news, and so Im afraid to keep it on... and I feel like I have to over explain because Im embarrassed. Im pulling up to the register with this huge amount of groceries, because I want to make sure my, me and my children get through the month. [00:22:02] Bob: You know I hadn't thought about that, I'm really glad you said that. Of course, right, people, there's a stigma attached to you standing there with $500 worth of groceries buying them with a food card, right? [00:22:11] Georgete Papadimitrios: Judgment, yes. [00:22:12] Bob: Yeah, yeah. [00:22:14] Bob: As you might imagine, all this stress isn't good for a young mom with heart disease. [00:22:20] Georgete Papadimitrios: Well I worry. I know in the last few months Ive had a serious uptick in dangerous arrhythmia called sustained VTAC. Its just, Im already under a tremendous amount of stress being a single mother of two little kids. [00:22:32] Bob: Yeah, of course. [00:22:32] Georgete Papadimitrios: So adding insult to injury is not helping my arrhythmias and my health problems, unfortunately. [00:22:38] Bob: I mean I can't imagine that, I mean first of all, my heart hurts just listening to you. I can't imagine that it's not impacting your heart. [00:22:45] Georgete Papadimitrios: Yeah, it's not easy uh being under this amount of stress. My heart also breaks for everyone else this is happening to, because it, I know personally how it feels, and it's not fun not knowing how you're going to feed your children. [00:22:58] Bob: What is happening to Georgete's benefits, to those SNAP cards in New York City? Well whatever it is, it's happening all over the country. Here's Celia Cole, CEO of Feeding Texas, which is the state association of food banks. [00:23:14] Celia Cole: I think it was in, back in 2022, we started hearing about it in Texas and then there was, of course, you know steps taken to set up replacement benefits for people who'd, who'd experienced the loss uh, but yeah, it's a, it's, skimming's been around for a while with credit cards, and it happens a lot at gas stations, but it's really kind of a relatively new phenomenon uh for SNAP, for EBT cards that are used for SNAP. Um, I think the first time it was reported in Texas was in February of 2022. [00:23:44] Bob: You've probably heard about card skimmers, small devices placed on ATMs or on point-of-sale systems at grocery stores; they can be almost invisible. But they skim the data from credit or debit cards that are inserted. Authorities believe criminals using skimmers are at least part of the problem with SNAP benefits. It seemed to start in 2022, but then in 2023, it became rampant, so rampant that Congress had to set up a special system to refund victims of SNAP benefits theft. And the USDA began tracking those refunds, and... [00:24:19] Celia Cole: So um, since they started tracking the data, which I guess would have been fiscal '23, and so over like the past two years they've reported that over 190,000 households have been affected, over 500,000 fraudulent transactions, and the benefits replaced over 94 million. [00:24:41] Bob: And in fact, the latest numbers on that dashboard show about $150 million has been refunded to victims who said their money was stolen. That's $150 million in taxpayer money that was supposed to help moms like Georgete feed their kids or aid workers like Millie make sure their 87-year-old clients could eat. Instead, criminals are spending it all at places like bodegas in New York City. [00:25:07] Bob: But I imagine those first few cases that came into your call centers, people must have had no idea what was going on, right? [00:25:13] Celia Cole: Yeah, no, and I think, you know, well we've all probably been the victim of fraud at some point or another, but I think when you are a family living on limited income and, and SNAP can make up sometimes all of the money you have for food, but at least a big portion of it, and to suddenly have that gone and no sort of immediate recourse, it, I, it's just, it can be devastating, you know because it's, it's, you have to, you know, worry immediately about whether you're going to be able to put food on the table. So I think, you know, to go into a grocery store and try to use your card and, and to find out there's, there's nothing on there, I think can just be really scary for families. But this particular kind of fraud, you know, it's just super nefarious, you know, the, the steps that criminals will take to steal people's information. But obviously, just you know, just evil that you would do this to people who are low-income and, and struggling to get by month-to-month. [00:26:05] Bob: And counting on it to eat. [00:26:07] Celia Cole: Right, exactly. [00:26:09] Bob: It turns out there is a serious flaw in the way SNAP benefits are distributed. Many years ago, states switched from handing out paper vouchers, we used to call them food stamps, to using plastic cards that look like credit cards, EBT cards they're called. Loading money onto those cards is easier to manage and also takes away some of the stigma associated with spending SNAP money. Now you might recall over a decade ago, credit card companies switched from using those old-fashioned magnetic stripe cards to using cards with computer chips on them. The chip cards are pretty secure, the mag stripe only cards, not so much. Once criminals obtain card data, perhaps through a skimming device, or perhaps another way, the mag stripe EBT cards are easy to clone. Well SNAP cards still use just those old magnetic stripes. So criminals can feast on them. The problem is well known, but getting states to update their systems to chip cards is well, not in the cards right at this moment. [00:27:13] Celia Cole: So there are, there is a long-term technology fix that's in the works, but it, it's going to take time. Yeah, so I think you know that basically we, we want people who participate in the SNAP program to have the same protections that anyone who uses a credit card has. So the, I think, uh USDA's been working with the industry that produces these cards; there's not that many EBT makers um, com--, companies in the country. So they've been working with them to, to basically come up with the technology fix, which is to move away from the magnetic stripe to the, the chip card. And so the, the question now is how quickly can states basically adopt that new technology. It's not like you can't flip a switch, right? And there's a lot of different moving parts, and at, at this point right now, it's really up to states to decide whether to make the move. It's not a mandatory thing. So, you know, even for those states that are eager to move quickly, it's going to take time. But the technology, the technological fix is, is there, it's available. In the meantime, we just need to make sure that there's legislation passed um, to make sure that until we have those, we put those protections in place and make that shift over to the, to the chip card that people aren't losing SNAP benefits. [00:28:35] Bob: So it will take a huge ordeal to secure Georgete's SNAP benefits and currently, no state uses chip cards on their SNAP cards, although some are discussing it. [00:28:40] Bob: It's hard when you hear that story to not think, oh, somebody's neglecting the neediest here, because maybe they, they don't, they don't deserve the investment in better technology in their food stamp cards. Is that sentiment, is there any truth to that sentiment? [00:28:54] Celia Cole: I think just generally speaking, we don't always prioritize the needs of, of low-income people. You know there's definitely a, a lot of inequity in our food system overall and inequity in, in public policies. And I think in a capitalist economy, businesses are looking to do things that make money, give, give them profits. And so if doing something for a low-income person isn't profitable, I think that they're slower to, to move. And you know, if you go back a couple of decades, people were still using actual food stamps, you know, actual paper coupons. And you know that was, it, you know in the early 2000s people, it took a while to get all states to even move away from that. So and that was obviously happened way after everyone else was already using you know, plastic. So I think yeah, we are slow to move when it comes to doing things that, you know, aren't moneymakers. [00:29:49] Bob: And that issue aside, if taxpayers knew $100 million is, is being stolen systematically because we haven't bothered to upgrade this technology, I think they'd be pretty angry about that. [00:29:59] Celia Cole: Yeah, I, I mean I would be. And I think, you know, I mean obviously SNAP serves a, a really diverse population. And it's a, it's a fairly broad based program, so but, but there, everyone who I think participates is, is vulnerable to a certain extent, but then when you think about particularly vulnerable populations, for example, seniors I think who are more vulnerable to this kind of fraud generally, I mean I think we all have stories of our mothers and grandmothers, um, being uh taken advantage of. Um, I have my own story with my own mother and the, the, so I think I'm, I, I would think we'd be, we should be particularly worried about the impact this is having on, on seniors who I think are just generally speaking more vulnerable to this kind of fraud. [00:30:43] Bob: The scale of the problem is so large that federal authorities have taken notice, and in February, they arrested two people in Brooklyn who they allege trafficked in stolen SNAP benefits. The problem has wider impact beyond the SNAP recipients too, plenty of recipients rush to stores when their SNAP benefits hit and at least some of them, like Georgete, are trying to beat the criminals. [00:31:05] Celia Cole: You know and, you know I, I think, and it's also really stressful on the retailers. I mean they, they staff up at the beginning of the month to, because they do see a surge in people generally coming in. Because, you know, SNAP benefits typically run out by the second or third week sometimes of the month. They're definitely not adequate. And so, you know people will often, you know, be waiting a week or two once their benefits run out just to be able to go grocery shopping. And so there's usually a surge of people using their SNAP benefits at the beginning of the month. So you know it's definitely, it impacts the industry as well. And then, you know, I mean some people don't have the type of sort of refrigeration space to store a whole month's of food. [00:31:45] Bob: Of course, a whole month's worth of food, yeah. Yeah. [00:31:46] Celia Cole: Yeah, and you just don't want people to have to you know be, be taking those steps simply because they're afraid of, of their, their card being defrauded. [00:31:54] Bob: Before SNAP cards can be upgraded, there might be more that can be done, Celia thinks. [00:32:00] Celia Cole: So anyway, I, I just, I think that we, credit card companies, banks, et cetera, are taking steps to help to make sure that, that when your debit card is defrauded, I mean I get an alert any time there's something suspicious on my debit card, and if I, you know, if it's not, if it is fraud, I'm typically issued a credit, you know while they research it, and so there's just all these protections I think for people who are a part of like the mainstream banking system in this country. And so I just think we need to have, we obviously need to have the same protections in place for anyone who's using this kind of a card, a debit card. [00:32:35] Bob: For the foreseeable future Georgete will continue to race to the store every time her benefits appear. [00:32:42] Georgete Papadimitrios: We need the food stamps to feed our families, our children, ourselves, so kicking someone when theyre already down and theyre already vulnerable, it's just heartbreaking to say the least, especially when youre on the other end of it and its happening to you. [00:32:57] Bob: I'm so sorry you're dealing with this. This is, again, I, I just can't, I don't know how you're staying sane in the middle of it. Yeah. [00:33:03] Georgete Papadimitrios: I hope it doesn't happen to others, that it's not fun and you wait. And if, if you dont have people or support, I was lucky the first time it happened to have some help. But if I hadnt, I would have had gone hungry, me and my children, for a month. The only thing they could suggest was go to a food pantry. Theres only, I believe, one in my county, and its once a month. And when I did, a long time ago tried to go to food pantries, theyre all in the city which is where the food stamp office is. And theyll tell you, well youre out of, youre in a different county. [00:33:36] Bob: Oh boy. [00:33:36] Georgete Papadimitrios: So their only suggestion was go to a food pantry. And a food pantry, yes, it is, though its helpful, its not going to feed you and sustain you for a month. They give you bare min--, bare essentials, you know like a few things of meat, maybe a thing of rice, maybe a box of pasta. Maybe this or that, its, its sparse, and I mean its enough if you really had to put a meal together and you were starving, but its, its mostly odds and ends. [00:33:59] Bob: Yeah, and boxes and cans, right? [00:34:01] Georgete Papadimitrios: Yes. [00:34:03] Bob: But she wishes there were a better, quicker way to get stolen funds restored. [00:34:08] Georgete Papadimitrios: Anything would be better than making a family of three wait almost a month, you know, even issuing 100 or two in emergency food stamps just to, to get, you know, people through, would be better than making them wait. I mean you can, you can easily penalize someone if its discovered that they had played a part in it, by you know taking them, permanently taking them off of the SNAP program, but to make those who had nothing to do with it suffer for almost a month before they were reimbursed with what was stolen, its just making me and my children suffer. There has got to be a better way. [00:34:44] Bob: I just saw a survey also that said about a third of people who are victims of this don't even know that they're entitled to reimbursement, so they don't file a claim. So then that money is just lost to them forever. So it's, it's great to call attention to this so at least people know to, to complain and, and get a reimbursement. [00:34:59] Georgete Papadimitrios: You, yeah, you, you get the money back if its proven that obviously it wasnt you or you didnt give your card info or anything to someone else. [00:35:08] Bob: And as Thanksgiving approaches this year, well she really hopes she gets to the store before criminals can get to her money. [00:35:16] Georgete Papadimitrios: I hope we beat whoever it is to the punch; we get all of our turkey, all of our trimmings, our ham, and all of our favorites, and our pie. [00:35:25] Bob: So if you or someone you know gets SNAP benefits, how can you protect yourselves right now? [00:35:31] Celia Cole: Well, I think just generally speaking, you know, that people should protect their card in a safe place. Don't like write down their pin or anywhere else, and never share the card. That's just an immediate step, setting aside the issue of skimming, and I think then reviewing purchases and checking your balance frequently. So like if there's something sticking off of it or there's, the keys are sticky, it's like they, it's hard I think to tell because the skimmers really look like part of the card reader, but our Office of Inspector General says to look out for evidence of loose pieces that look glued or taped and tapped in place, and then look where a video camera might face the card reader. Number keys that feel soft or spongy or covered in plastic, those are all kind of can be signs that there's a skimming device on it. Um, and then obviously, if they see something strange, they, they obviously want them to report it immediately. And then of course, if they have experienced a loss or fraud, there, there are steps they need to take pretty quickly to get those benefits replaced. Essentially what you need to do is go into a office, and it has to be within 30 days of the date you discovered the fraud. So it's important that people act quickly. There is a form that they will need to fill out in the office. [00:36:50] Bob: Can I interrupt you for a second? [00:36:50] Celia Cole: Sure. [00:36:51] Bob: Because I think within 30 days is a really important piece of information. [00:36:53] Celia Cole: Yes. [00:36:54] Bob: Because that's stricter than most people are familiar with with their credit or debit card. [00:36:59] Celia Cole: Yes. So I think that's why checking your balance frequently is important because it, you do have to, and then of course keeping track of, and keeping a record of anything, any fraudulent transactions that you see, all of that's important. [00:37:13] Bob: I mean I know there have been a couple of uh, prosecutions of criminals in this, uh and I, I just wonder, not, not that those criminals are listening to this podcast, but wow, what kind of person do you have to be to be stealing money out of folks who, who just need a few dollars to get food every month, right? [00:37:27] Celia Cole: Yeah, it's, it's despicable, it really, really is. And you know again, we have like a two-tier system, so we've got families, the most vulnerable Americans stuck you know with this sort of outdated, easy to hack system, and then people with more income have credit cards and ATM cards are better protected and so I think that that is an inequity thats very obvious, and you know I think this should be, this should be a no-brainer. [00:37:53] Bob: You know there's just one other thing I want to make sure I get to, which um, I'm sitting here feeling nervous about. There has to be a universe of people who either don't notice that their money is stolen or, or when it's stolen, just sort of shrug and say, well I guess that it just didn't work out for me this month or, or don't know enough to, to file to get a, a rebate, right? [00:38:13] Celia Cole: Yeah, I think you know when I was sharing the data from, from USDA's dashboard earlier, I was thinking that this probably isn't everyone that's been affected. And I'm glad they're keeping, obviously, the dashboard is there and they're keeping track of it, but yeah, I mean again, when you think about the population of the universe of people who participate in SNAP, it's, the majority is families with kids or seniors or people with disabilities. But you have people with language barriers, who I think already sort of struggled to understand, you know if you have people with limited literacy, you know you have people with disabilities, It's not just seniors. So you have people that I think probably um, don't, aren't aware that there's something you can even do about it, or they're not able to understand um, the information that's going out about what you can do about it. So I think you know when you asked earlier like what can be done in the meantime, I think just recognizing that there are people who are probably harder to reach with the information that they need if their benefits are stolen. It's just something to keep in mind. [00:39:17] Bob: I asked Millie Gonzalez what she would say to criminals who are stealing money off SNAP benefit cards if she had the chance. [00:39:24] Millie Gonzalez: Oh my gosh, I mean I, I mean I, I probably can't say on this, on this broadcast what I would want to say to them, right? But you know I mean I just don't understand how you can do this knowing that you are stealing pretty much, you know from the, the poorest of the poor, you know and, and people that are elderly, and people that have young children. I mean how do you do that? You know, how do you sleep at night? How do you, how do you live with yourself? I just don't understand that. I can't imagine what goes through the minds of someone that is doing this, because you obviously know the kind of person that you're, that you're stealing from, right? Because you're, you're not getting food stamps if you, you know, if you have, if you're a millionaire, right? Or even if you're, you know if you're, if you have a, a regular good income. You're not getting food stamps. So why are you stealing from the people that can afford it the least? I mean it's horrible, it's just horrible. And I just don't und--, I just don't understand the mind and the heart of that person. [00:40:31] Bob: Millie says victims don't have to take care of this problem alone. [00:40:35] Millie Gonzalez: If you see anything that looks the leastest bit suspicious, you know, call us and let us know, talk to your social worker, talk to your case manager, talk to someone and you know either get in contact with us or get in contact with someone that's going to be able to, to help you get, get through this. [00:40:53] Bob: All of us at every age could always use someone else to help us look through our account statements. [00:40:59] Millie Gonzalez: Yeah, it's one of, you know it's, it's again, you know it's because so many people, they don't understand the statement. They can't read the statements because they print them out so tiny, right? A lot of people don't even get statements anymore because the banks are charging them a monthly fee to get a paper statement, right? So they need to save that money so they don't even get a statement anymore. You know so we become that set of eyes. And Bob, I think that that's something that I think I may have heard you say that at some point on, on one of the podcasts, right, that people need, that you need a second set of eyes, you know family members need a second set of eyes when they're not there. [00:41:38] Bob: I mean look, I miss things on my credit card statements, we all do. [00:41:41] Millie Gonzalez: Right. Exactly and, and if it happens to us, you know, then the likelihood is that it's going to happen to someone else. [00:41:51] Bob: For more on SNAP benefits or on what to do about SNAP benefit fraud, visit FeedingAmerica.org. And happy Thanksgiving. For The Perfect Scam, I'm Bob Sullivan. (MUSIC SEGUE) [00:41:13] Bob: If you have been targeted by a scam or fraud, you are not alone. Call the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline at 877-908-3360. Their trained fraud specialists can provide you with free support and guidance on what to do next. Our email address at The Perfect Scam is: theperfectscampodcast@aarp.org, and we want to hear from you. If you've been the victim of a scam or you know someone who has, and you'd like us to tell their story, write to us. That address again is: theperfectscampodcast@aarp.org. Thank you to our team of scambusters; Associate Producer, Annalea Embree; Researcher, Becky Dodson; Executive Producer, Julie Getz; and our Audio Engineer and Sound Designer, Julio Gonzalez. Be sure to find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. For AARP's The Perfect Scam, I'm Bob Sullivan. (MUSIC OUTRO) END OF TRANSCRIPT 763 Chinese nationals involved in cross-border telecom fraud repatriated from Myanmar to China Global Times) 09:39, November 22, 2024 Police transfer a group of Chinese nationals suspected of cross-border telecom fraud from Myanmar to China after being apprehended in Myanmar's Tangyan region. (Photo/CCTV) A total of 763 Chinese nationals suspected of cross-border telecom fraud have been transferred from Myanmar to China after being apprehended in Myanmar's Tangyan region, marking another significant breakthrough in China's cooperation with Myanmar, according to China Central Television (CCTV) on Thursday. Since 2023, more than 53,000 Chinese nationals suspected of telecom fraud have been captured, and all large-scale telecom fraud industrial parks in northern Myanmar bordering China have been dismantled. To intensify crackdowns on telecom fraud targeting China from northern Myanmar, eliminate scam hideouts, and apprehend suspects, China's Ministry of Public Security (MPS) recently strengthened law enforcement cooperation with local authorities in Myanmar. For the first time, a total of 1,079 suspects involved in cross-border telecom fraud were captured in Myanmar's Tangyan area, including 763 Chinese nationals, according to CCTV news. Since the launch of a specialized operation by MPS in 2023, criminals have increasingly shifted their activities to more regions in Myanmar. They continue to recruit or lure individuals from China to illegally leave the country and engage in telecom fraud, leading to serious violent crimes such as illegal detention, intentional injury, and even kidnapping and murder, which pose significant threats to the safety and property of Chinese citizens. MPS has directed Yunnan police to maintain close cooperation with Myanmar's local law enforcement. A joint operation in Tangyan led to the capture of 763 Chinese suspects involved in telecom fraud, including 69 fugitives on China's most-wanted list, on Sunday, the report said. A large number of tools used in the crimes, such as computers, mobile phones, and scam scripts were also seized. The suspects and evidence were handed over to Chinese authorities through the Yonghe port in Lincang, Southwest China's Yunnan Province. An MPS spokesperson stated that authorities will continue to maintain high-pressure enforcement against cross-border telecom fraud, particularly in areas where scam operations are concentrated. Efforts to enhance law enforcement cooperation with Myanmar will be intensified to resolve telecom fraud crimes targeting China. In March, Chinese and Myanmar police conducted their first joint law enforcement operation in the Muse region of Myanmar, arresting over 800 telecom fraud suspects. In May, the ministry said 49,000 criminal telecom and internet fraud suspects had been handed over by Myanmar to China's custody since July 2023. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing) Jacob Beltran covers crime, breaking news and general assignments for the Express-News. He can be reached at jbeltran@express-news.net. A San Antonio native, Jacob began his journalism career in 2010. He's worked for the student-run newspaper for San Antonio College, The Ranger, and for Texas A&M University-San Antonio, The Mesquite. He enjoys video games, photography and exploring during his free time. By Hugo Gravell, Principal and Investment Consultant at Barnett Waddingham We explore factors that have led to this concentration in global equities, differences compared to the tech bubble, and why our view on how to invest in equity markets is unchanged. The Four Horsemen, FAANGs and the Magnificent Seven (M7) When small numbers of stocks drive market returns, the financial press often provide a nickname. In the tech bubble it was the Four Horsemen (Microsoft, Cisco, Intel and Dell), in the 2010s it was the FAANGs (Facebook [now Meta], Apple, Amazon, Netflix and Google [now Alphabet]), today we have the M7 (Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta, Microsoft, Nvidia, Tesla). The M7 represent seven of the eight largest listed companies in the world. All are US-based big tech companies that have benefitted from increasing use of technology, including recent advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), even if not classified in the information technology (IT) sector. They have collectively generated around one third of global equity returns over the last two years. Is this a repeat of the tech bubble? There are similarities with the tech bubble, including: Market speculation about significant future revenue growth from emerging technology. Equity market concentration in a smaller number of companies. However, there are key differences. During the tech bubble many of the leading companies had enormous price-to-earnings (P/E) ratios. The Four Horsemen reached an average valuation of 66 times earnings as investors bet on profits rising rapidly. While internet usage did take off, it proved slower than expected, and so valuations proved unsustainable. In the 2010s the FAANG stocks reached even higher P/E ratios, but this time earnings growth came through much quicker. Today, the M7 trade at 34 times earnings - closer to the tech bubbles lows than its highs. Is the market concentration justified? Significant equity market concentration is not unusual, and not just in the US. The top ten stocks in the UK FTSE All-Share make up 41% of the index. The share of the largest US stocks in global markets is more unusual. However, we are confident this concentration can be justified by company and economic fundamentals. The rise of the US The US has grown much faster than other developed economies in recent years and this trend is forecast to continue. As most companies still generate an outsize proportion of their revenues in their home market, its not surprising that the US equity market has risen as a share of the global equity market. Technology is a global industry Technology companies find it easier to expand and benefit from growth in emerging markets, which has been even stronger than in the US. This is not unique to US companies, but other regions have a much smaller technology sector. This is partially because non-US companies have listed in America including the semiconductor ARM, which started life in the UK and would be our fifth largest stock. Emerging Markets are the only other region with significant technology exposure, notably Taiwan-based TSMC, the only non-US stock in the global top 10, and Chinese technology stocks. However, China's 2022 crackdown has slowed its tech sector compared to US companies. Network effects and economies of scale The big tech stocks derive significant benefits from their enormous scale, for example they can: Benefit from network effects Facebook, the largest social network with three billion monthly active users, attracts new users as they can connect with friends already on the platform. Afford to purchase emerging competitors - Meta purchased Instagram and WhatsApp, now the third and fourth largest social networks. Afford to diversify away from their core businesses Amazon Web Services is the largest cloud computing service provider, and its Prime Video brand earns more revenue than Netflix. Use data access to their advantage in research and development AI development relies on access to data and the M7 make up 40% of the S&P 500 expenditures on research and development. Is there a risk to this concentration? Companies can fall victim to poor management or changing markets, and governments can intervene to increase competition. Even one M7 company falling victim to such risks would have a significant impact on market returns. There risks can be mitigated by investing in equally weighted indices or in equity indices weighted to favour smaller companies. However, these options likely lead to reduced performance and greater volatility than the market due to greater exposure to smaller, less liquid stocks. Balancing market exposure and market concentration risk Our view when investing in equity is therefore unchanged - a starting point of investing in the market benefits from the collective wisdom of investors all around the world. Thats not to say that markets are always fairly priced. Our Megatrends note outlines areas where controlled moves away from equity indices could create long-term benefits, such as climate risk. For equity investors wishing to diversify from big tech or tap into megatrends, we recommend a satellite approach. However, a more effective approach would be to widen your opportunity set by exploring private markets or considering downside protection. Callum Smith, Lead Investment Research Specialist, contributed to this blog. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting launched the much-awaited second season of the celebrated animated series Krish, Trish, and Baltiboy: Bharat Hain Hum at the ongoing International Film Festival of India (IFFI) Goa. Superstar Nagarjuna graced the event along with Shri Sanjay Jaju, Secretary, Information & Broadcasting; Shri Gaurav Dwivedi, CEO of Prasar Bharati; Shri Yogesh Baweja, DG, CBC; creators of the show Munjal Shroff and Tilak Shetty of Graphiti Studios; Mahima Kaul, Director of Public Policy, Netflix India, and Shilangi Mukherji, Director & Head - SVOD, Prime Video. The groundbreaking animated series, which celebrates India's lesser-known freedom fighters, made history with its Season 1 debut across multiple platforms. Season 2 of the animation series, like Season 1, will premiere simultaneously across Doordarshan, Netflix, and Amazon Prime Video. The series will be available in 12 Indian languagesincluding Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Punjabi, Marathi, Gujarati, Bengali, Assamese, and Odiaand seven international languages French, German, Spanish, Russian, Korean, Chinese and Arabic making it accessible to a global audience in 150 countries, further amplifying its reach. Season 2 also available on Waves, the newly launched Prasar Bhartis OTT platform, continues the mission to highlight unsung heroes from all across the country, including Taji Dele and Ponge Dele from Arunachal Pradesh, Wazir Ram Singh Pathania from Himachal Pradesh, and Birsa Munda from Jharkhand, among others. These stories are meant to inspire pride in India's history while celebrating the diversity and resilience of the countrys freedom fighters. I have grown up watching a lot of mythology, and stories of Shri Ram, Lakshman, Bharat, Arjun, but stories on our freedom fighters who scarified their lives for our country is equally important. With the new show Bharat Hai Hum, the children and the next generation will get to know about our heroes. said Nagarjuna. The Secretary, highlighted the importance of such initiatives in nurturing national pride among Indias younger generation. The diversity of Indias freedom struggle needs to be communicated in ways that appeal to children. By using animation, were making these rich histories not only accessible but also engaging. Through these animated stories, were offering young minds achance to learn about the unsung heroes who played pivotal roles in shaping Indias destiny, Jaju said. Munjal Shroff and Tilak Shetty, the series creators, added, The stories of Indias unsung heroes have often been overshadowed, but through this series, we aim to ensure that their contributions are remembered and celebrated by the younger generation. Its not just a story of the past; it's a lesson for todays youth to understand the values of courage, resilience, and patriotism. We are delighted to launch a new season of Krish, Trish and Baltiboy: Bharat Hain Hum on Prime Video starting 1st December. The series beautifully highlights the invaluable contribution of several heroes who played a significate part in Indias freedom struggle, giving viewers in India and around the world a chance to learn more about our rich history, said Shilangi Mukherji, Director & Head SVOD, Prime Video, India. We would like to congratulate the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB), Central Bureau of Communication, and Graphiti Studios for producing this wonderful series. The series is a significant step in our efforts to foster the growth of Indias creative economy and give Indian stories a global showcase. We are confident that the new season will be as well-received by our viewers as the first season. Mukherji added "We are happy to bring another season of this beloved title to Netflix. Co-produced by Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and Graphiti Studios, Krish, Trish & Baltiboy is a wonderful story that celebrates Indias local culture and storytelling. At Netflix, we are committed to bringing more such stories for our members. Said the Netflix spokesperson. The creators employed nearly 1,000 professionals across India, including animators, voice artists, and production experts, in order to meet an ambitious timeline and deliver the series in record time. Unique Cross-Platform Promotion In an unprecedented move, Krish, Trish, and Baltiboy: Bharat Hain Hum will also be available in an innovative format: a radio series and a podcast. The Krish, Trish and Baltiboy Bharat Hain Hum Radio Series will premiere on December 1 on All India Radio (AIR),broadcasting in 12 languages across India. Each episode will be heard at 10:30 AM on Sundays, just 15 minutes before the animation series airs on Doordarshan at 11 AM. The radio show will promote the animated series, creating a seamless cross-platform transition that will help maximize the show's audience. The unique scheduling strategy promises to offer a significant push for the animation series, ensuring that the young and diverse audience can transition from radio to television effortlessly. Additionally, a podcast will be available worldwide on Spotify in 180 countries. This podcast will feature episodes from the series, while also encouraging listeners to watch the animated show on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, WAVES and Doordarshan amplifying the reach of this cross-platform distribution strategy. Also Read: MIB Secretary calls for collaboration among all stakeholders of AVGC Segment Renowned actor Pankaj Tripathi, celebrated for his impactful performances and deep connection to the craft of acting, has been appointed as the Festival Ambassador for the Arunachal Rang Mahotsav 2024 (ARM '24). This prestigious international theatre festival, the largest of its kind in Northeast India, will run from 22nd November to 5th December 2024, celebrating the rich cultural heritage and creative talent of Arunachal Pradesh. Pankaj will be attending this festival along with his wife Mridula. Pankaj Tripathi's journey in the performing arts began in the small village of Belsand in Gopalganj, Bihar, where he honed his skills through street plays and theatre (rangmanch). His passion for the art form led him to the National School of Drama (NSD) in New Delhi, India's premier acting institute. Over the years, Tripathi has become one of the most sought-after actors in Indian cinema, earning widespread acclaim for his versatility and authenticity. Reflecting on his appointment as Festival Ambassador, Pankaj Tripathi shared, "Its a great honor for me to be associated with the Arunachal Rang Mahotsav 2024 as its Festival Ambassador. Theatre holds a very special place in my heart, as it was my first teacher, my first love in the performing arts. I owe everything I am today to the lessons I learned on the stage and the passion I developed for storytelling during my early days in Gopalganj, performing street plays and rangmanch." He further adds, "To see a festival like Arunachal Rang Mahotsav celebrating the power and beauty of theatre, especially in the culturally rich and vibrant region of Arunachal Pradesh, is inspiring. This platform not only honors the traditional and contemporary performing arts of the region but also provides a dynamic space for artists from across the world to collaborate and showcase their work. I am particularly excited about the festivals emphasis on Arunachals oral folklore traditions, martial art forms, and local performing arts, which are an essential part of our cultural fabric. The fusion of these traditional elements with modern theatre practices makes this festival a unique and transformative experience. I believe theatre has the power to connect people, transcend barriers, and create a deeper understanding of our shared humanity. I look forward to witnessing and celebrating the magic of performances at ARM '24." Through the ultimate support and blessings of Honourable Deputy Chief Minister Shri Chowna Mein and our chief patron, we could organise this festival. The Arunachal Rang Mahotsav, now in its second edition, is spearheaded by Riken Ngomle, Assistant Professor of Acting at NSD, and made possible by the patronage of the Government of Arunachal Pradesh and the support of Arunachal Tourism. This 15-day festival will feature a wide array of performances, including proscenium theatre, street plays, and intimate stage productions, showcasing both national and international talent. With a mission to celebrate Arunachals artistic spirit, the festival will present performances inspired by the regions rich oral traditions, local dance, and martial arts, creating a unique blend of traditional and contemporary art forms. Also Read: Pankaj Tripathi unveils Shuddha Honey secret in Saffola's new TVC The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed listing the Pecos pupfish as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The species is found in the Pecos River basin in parts of Texas and New Mexico. Courtesy U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service A small desert fish found in far West Texas could be given federal protections to help ensure its survival. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced it plans to list the Pecos pupfish as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The species lives in both still and running water and was historically found in the Pecos River and surrounding areas from Terrell County in West Texas to Chaves County, New Mexico. Now, its range is limited only to Chaves County, near Roswell, and an isolated population in Salt Creek, a tributary of the Pecos in Reeves County, Texas, about 365 miles northwest of San Antonio near the New Mexico border. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "The best available data indicate that the Pecos pupfish is threatened, facing multiple risks to its survival, Amy Lueders, the agency's Southwest Regional Director said in a news release. The most secure populations of the pupfish are found on public lands in that area, including sinkholes in Bottomless Lake State Park in New Mexico, she said. The biggest threat to the pupfish is the non-native sheepshead minnow, which was introduced into the river basin in the 1970s and 1980s. The minnow and pupfish "readily hybridize," the service said, meaning they breed and create a new type of fish. The hybrid fish "is larger, grows faster and outcompetes the Pecos pupfish species for resources," the Fish and Wildlife Service said. "Additional threats to the Pecos pupfish are the impacts of climate change, which lead to the loss and decline of surface-waters and the degradation of water quality," the agency said. The pupfish are small, growing only up to two inches, and can vary in color from gray and brown to shiny blue. The species adapt to their habitats; Pecos pupfish found in sinkholes have larger heads and lower mouths than those found in marshland habitats, allowing for more efficient feeding, the service said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad READ MORE: Feds OK swap of property set aside for endangered birds In addition to listing the species as threatened, which would come with federal protections against killing, selling or otherwise harming the fish, the federal agency is considering designating critical habitat for the species. The proposal would cover 136 river miles and more than 26,000 acres of land in Reeves and Culberson counties in Texas and Chaves and Eddy counties in New Mexico. "The river miles are lands surrounding the river and the proposed acres are numerous isolated sinkholes and wetland areas, representing a mix of federal, state, and private lands," the agency said. Critical habitat designations don't affect land ownership or prevent private landowners from using their property, but do affect anything that requires federal funding, licensing or permits. In those cases, federal agencies would have to consult with the Fish and Wildlife Service before modifying land in the critical habitat area. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Bollywood actor, fitness and travel enthusiast Sara Ali Khan will for the first time curate and host an exclusive wellness and yoga retreat for a group of up to four guests at a serene Airbnb in Goa, India. Set amidst the lush landscape of the sunshine state, this retreat is set to offer the ultimate escape, providing a perfect backdrop for relaxing and nurturing ones holistic wellbeing. Known for balancing her dedication to fitness with her fast-paced cinematic career, Sara is now bringing her passion for wellness and yoga to Airbnb for this retreat in Goa. Guests will enjoy practising yoga with Sara in a stunning nature-inspired sanctuary, and get the opportunity to gain insights into Saras personal wellness rituals and secrets. Im really excited to welcome guests to this special wellness and yoga retreat in Goa, only on Airbnb. Surrounded by natures beauty, well focus on nourishing the mind, body and soul while creating meaningful memories together. Its an opportunity to unwind, reconnect and embrace lifes simple pleasures in an unforgettable setting, shared Sara. Airbnb signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Goa Tourism Department in 2022, focussed on promoting Goas serene hinterlands and its unique homestay ecosystem. Through this collaboration, Airbnb aims to support the governments vision to promote Goa beyond beaches for domestic and international travellers seeking tranquillity, culture and connection. We are ecstatic to welcome Sara as Airbnbs latest host. With the rise of Indian travellers seeking unique and immersive experiences when they explore destinations, combined with Bollywood as a cultural zeitgeist, this retreat promises to be unlike any other. It also offers a glimpse into wellness tourism as an exciting emerging travel trend, said Amanpreet Bajaj, Airbnbs General Manager for India, Southeast Asia, Hong Kong and Taiwan. "Goa's evolution as a wellness destination highlights the state's incredible diversity. In partnership with Airbnb, we are committed to promoting Goa as a harbour for high-quality tourism and experiences that travellers can discover, cherish and rejoice in, said Shri Rohan Khaunte, Minister for Tourism, Government of Goa. Embark on a Wellness Getaway with Sara Ali Khan Also Read: Sara leads Fashor's Dil Se Indian campaign as brand ambassador Tata CLiQ, one of Indias leading e-commerce destinations, rebrands as Tata CLiQ Fashion in a move to champion a fashion-forward approach. With this transition, the brand repositions itself from a horizontal marketplace to a specialised vertical platform, focusing on fashion and lifestyle across categories like apparel, footwear, watches, accessories, beauty, gadgets, and home. Along with a complete visual redesign, the platform has introduced a new brand manifesto, packaging, and refreshed both its app and web experience to appeal to consumers looking for the best in fashion. The new brand identity symbolises the platforms transformation, positioning it as a fashion e-commerce destination. Focused on reimagining fashion, the platform seeks to empower consumers to find their voice, identity, and tribe, all while delivering excellence, driving innovation, and leading with responsibility. As part of the rebranding, the platform has unveiled a striking new logo. With its vibrant Rose Pink and Cerulean Blue colour palette, the logo delivers a dynamic appeal that resonates across generations. The typeface of Fashion captures the boldness and sharpness of 'TATA' alongside the smooth, rounded form of the 'CLiQ' logo, giving it a modern and sleek look. Every consumer touchpoint, from the app and website to the packaging, will reflect this refreshed visual brand identity. Gopal Asthana, CEO of Tata CLiQ, said, Our new brand identity and positioning reflect our commitment to offering consumers the best of fashion curated for their evolving needs. It is a strategic pivot to drive growth and our leadership in the fashion category. By focusing on fashion and lifestyle, our goal is to elevate fashion as a powerful form of self-expression. We aim to empower consumers who value authenticity, individuality, and impact, helping them express their unique style in a bold and meaningful way. Driven by a vision of a future where fashion is not just worn but lived, we are committed to serving our customers with passion and offering a more refined, personalised, and cutting-edge online shopping experience. With over 6000+ brands to choose from, in addition to category- and brand-specific stores, the platform features a range of curated stores tailored for various occasions, styles, and consumer segments, offering a seamless, fashion-forward approach, hence elevating the consumer's shopping experience. Sneaker Store : Step up your game with the latest kicks at the ultimate sneaker destination. Indie Finds Store : Handpicked treasures from homegrown and emerging brands that blend traditions with modern styles. Lingerie Store : Feel confident, comfortable, and chic with lingerie designed to embrace every curve. Tata CLiQ Palette is now available in Tata CLiQ Fashion app. Shop from a mindfully curated range of the beauty products. The platform will also feature thematic stores that will showcase a selection of styles and essentials from a wide range of brands. Winter Wear Store : Stay warm and look cool with winter essentials that combine style and comfort. Wedding Store : Find your perfect look for every unforgettable wedding moment. In addition, a new feature called 'Fit Assessment' will be introduced, which analyses customers' past purchases to understand their size and fit preferences, ensuring they always find products that are perfectly suited to them. Apart from this, in the coming months, the platform will enhance the shopping experience further with the introduction of virtual try-on and hyper personalization features, which will streamline the search process and make it easier for customers to discover and shop for their favourite styles. The fashion destination will enhance the experience further through editorial content with the launch of an exciting new e-magazine, 'e-Stylist', available on the app. Aimed at inspiring and educating consumers to build their personal style, e-Stylist will offer them ready access to trend reports, how-to-style playbooks, care and maintenance guides, and theme-based curated shopping lists, thus keeping them up to date with the latest trends and happenings in the world of fashion. Browse through the app and shop for the latest styles as you embrace your individuality and define your style, only with Tata CLiQ Fashion. Also Read: Tata CLiQ rebrands to Tata CLiQ Fashion Adani's US Indictment: A Ripple Through Politics, Business, and Sovereignty 2 The indictment of Indian businessman Gautam Adani in the United States has unleashed a storm of debates and speculation across various domainspolitical, economic, and diplomatic. This development raises critical questions about global accountability, national politics, and international relations. While the legal battle is fundamentally Adanis to fight, the ripples of this case are poised to affect Indias domestic political landscape and its relations with the United States. Adanis Legal Battle in the US: A Test of Power Gautam Adanis indictment by the US Justice Department marks a significant moment in global corporate scrutiny. Known for his unparalleled rise in India and growing global influence, Adani is now facing allegations that could challenge his vast business empire. However, as a seasoned player on the global stage, he is expected to assemble a formidable legal team to defend his interests in the US. The current global order often sees powerful tycoons evade the full brunt of legal consequences. Adani, with his significant clout, is unlikely to be an exception. Yet, this case transcends the legal realm and veers into the political and diplomatic spheres, particularly given Adanis close ties to Indias political elite. Political Ramifications in India: Modi-Adani Nexus Under Fire Adani is not just any Indian businessman; he is perceived as an integral part of the ecosystem surrounding Indias ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This connection has been the subject of intense scrutiny and criticism. Political leaders and observers alike have often pointed to what they see as a mutually beneficial relationship between Adanis business empire and the BJPs political agenda. Ajit Pawar, a prominent Maharashtra politician, recently claimed that Adani played a role in the BJPs operation to destabilize the Uddhav Thackeray-led government in Maharashtra. This accusation adds fuel to the ongoing political firestorm surrounding Adani. The possibility of an arrest warrant or further legal actions in the US against Adani could provide opposition parties, particularly the Congress, with ammunition to target Modi and his government. The aim would be to portray Adani as a liability for the Prime Minister, potentially likening the situation to the infamous Bofors scandal that destabilized the Rajiv Gandhi government in the 1980s. The BJPs Counteroffensive: Shielding Modi The BJP is unlikely to remain passive in the face of these developments. Known for its combative political strategies, the party will aim to distance Modi from the controversy while defending Adani. This task, however, will demand considerable political capital. Whether the BJP can insulate Modi from the fallout of this case while retaining its credibility remains to be seen. The moral high ground often claimed by the BJP in its political narrative may face erosion. The opposition is expected to exploit this to project the ruling government as compromised and overly influenced by corporate interests. Whether this narrative gains traction among voters could significantly impact the political dynamics leading up to future elections. Sovereign Implications: Indias Position in US Relations Beyond the domestic ramifications, the Adani indictment could have consequences for Indias diplomatic dealings with the United States. The legal process initiated by the Biden administration is likely to persist irrespective of the outcome of the next US presidential election. The timing of the indictmentjust after the American electorate has voted for a new presidentensures that this case remains a live issue even under a potential Trump administration. India must tread carefully to avoid any sovereign vulnerabilities. The perception that a close associate of the Indian Prime Minister is entangled in a US legal battle could impact Indias global image. Moreover, any perceived interference or favouritism in handling the case could strain relations between New Delhi and Washington. YSRCP and the Bribery Allegations: Andhra Pradesh in the Spotlight Adding another layer of complexity to the Adani controversy are allegations linked to the Andhra Pradesh government during the tenure of the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP). According to US court filings, bribes amounting to approximately Rs 1,750 crore were allegedly paid to a high-ranking Andhra Pradesh official to facilitate power purchase agreements involving Adani and the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI). The YSRCP, led by former Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, has strongly denied these allegations. In a statement, the YSRCP clarified that the state government had entered into agreements with SECI and not directly with Adanis companies. The party emphasized that these agreements were made to procure power at competitive rates to alleviate the financial burden on Andhra Pradeshs power distribution companies (DISCOMs). The Power Procurement Debate The power procurement policies of Andhra Pradesh during this period are at the heart of the allegations. The state governments decision to enter into an arrangement with SECI to procure 7,000 MW of solar power at Rs. 2.49 per kWh was presented as a cost-effective and beneficial initiative. According to the YSRCP, this agreement was approved by regulatory bodies, including the Andhra Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (APERC) and the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC). The governments justification highlighted substantial savings of Rs. 3,700 crore annually, with long-term benefits of over Rs. 92,000 crore over a 25-year period. By refuting claims of direct agreements with Adani entities and asserting the legality and transparency of its actions, the YSRCP aimed to distance itself from the indictments shadow. Repercussions for Indian Governance and Business The unfolding events raise broader questions about the interplay between business and politics in India. The allegations against Adani and the Andhra Pradesh government spotlight potential gaps in accountability and transparency in large-scale projects. This case could catalyze discussions about corporate governance, regulatory oversight, and the need for stricter checks on political-business nexuses. Moreover, the indictment underscores the vulnerability of Indian businesses operating globally. As Indian companies expand their footprint, they must navigate complex legal and ethical landscapes, particularly in jurisdictions with robust anti-corruption laws. The Adani case serves as a reminder of the challenges of maintaining compliance and credibility in the global market. Conclusion: A Pivotal Moment Gautam Adanis indictment in the United States represents a watershed moment with far-reaching implications. Domestically, it could alter the political narrative, offering opposition parties an opportunity to challenge the BJPs dominance. Internationally, it tests Indias diplomatic acumen and the resilience of its global image. For Adani, the legal battle is not just a fight for his business empire but also a test of his influence and credibility. As the legal and political drama unfolds, it is clear that this case goes beyond Adani. It is a reflection of the complex entanglements between politics, business, and global governancea reminder that power, no matter how significant, is not immune to accountability. Whether this accountability translates into meaningful consequences remains to be seen. For now, the spotlight remains firmly fixed on Adani, India, and the intricate web of interests that bind them to the unfolding saga. MVA Plans to Shield MLAs Post-Election Amid Fears of Poaching 2 The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance is preparing to house all its newly-elected MLAs together in Mumbai after the Maharashtra assembly election results to prevent possible poaching by rival parties. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut announced this on Friday, explaining that the arrangement aims to safeguard the alliances integrity as it gears up to form the next government. Raut revealed that MVA leaders, including himself, Anil Desai (Shiv Sena UBT), Jayant Patil (NCP Sharad Pawar faction), and Congress leaders Satej Patil and Balasaheb Thorat, met to review the election outcomes and finalize post-election strategies. The alliance plans to provide collective lodging for the MLAs since many of them lack residential arrangements in Mumbai. Expressing confidence, Raut stated that the MVA expects to win 160 seats, with several independents also showing interest in supporting the bloc. He reiterated that the chief ministers post would be decided jointly by all alliance partners after the results. This comes amid Congress state president Nana Patoles claim that the CM will be from his party, which Raut countered by insisting the decision will be finalized in Mumbai with the participation of all MVA leaders, including Sharad Pawar and Uddhav Thackeray. Raut raised concerns about potential interference from the BJP and the governors office, alleging that attempts could be made to obstruct the MVAs government formation even if it secures a majority. He warned that any delay in finalizing the leadership could lead to the imposition of Presidents rule in the state, as the assemblys term ends on November 26. The MVA is not alone in its internal wrangling over the chief ministers post. Similar disputes have emerged within the ruling Mahayuti alliance, comprising Eknath Shindes Shiv Sena faction, the BJP, and Ajit Pawars NCP faction. Both alliances are navigating a political tug-of-war as Maharashtra awaits the results of its pivotal elections. Tension in Sambhal: Tight Security for Friday Prayers Amid Mosque-Temple Dispute 2 Security has been heightened in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, ahead of Friday prayers at the Jama Masjid following a court-ordered survey based on a petition claiming that the Mughal-era mosque was built on the site of an ancient Harihar temple, significant to Hindu faith. Key Developments Court-Ordered Survey: A local court directed a survey of the mosque after a petition by Supreme Court lawyer Vishnu Shankar Jain alleged that Mughal emperor Babar partially demolished the Harihar temple in 1529 to construct the Jama Masjid. Jain emphasized the sites importance as an ASI-protected area, asserting the presence of Hindu temple symbols. A local court directed a survey of the mosque after a petition by Supreme Court lawyer Vishnu Shankar Jain alleged that Mughal emperor Babar partially demolished the Harihar temple in 1529 to construct the Jama Masjid. Jain emphasized the sites importance as an ASI-protected area, asserting the presence of Hindu temple symbols. Heightened Security Measures: Prohibitory orders under Section 144 have been imposed, preventing gatherings of more than five people. Police conducted a flag march and warned of strict action against any attempt to incite unrest. Social media platforms are under close surveillance to curb the spread of inflammatory content. Local Administrations Appeal: Clerics have been urged to ensure that people offer prayers only in their designated mosques. Authorities are working to maintain peace and prevent communal tensions. Political and Religious Reactions Petitioners Claim: Vishnu Shankar Jain, who has represented Hindu causes in several high-profile religious disputes like the Gyanvapi-Kashi Vishwanath case, insists the mosque encroaches on an ASI-protected temple site. Vishnu Shankar Jain, who has represented Hindu causes in several high-profile religious disputes like the Gyanvapi-Kashi Vishwanath case, insists the mosque encroaches on an ASI-protected temple site. Oppositions Objection: Samajwadi Party MP Zia Ur Rehman Barq criticized the petition, citing the Supreme Courts 1991 ruling that maintains the status quo of all places of worship as they were in 1947. Barq called the mosque a historical monument and questioned the basis of such claims. Current Situation The dispute has drawn sharp reactions, rekindling debates over historical and religious sites in India. As tensions simmer, authorities are leaving no stone unturned to ensure communal harmony in Sambhal. A double homicide investigation is underway after Birmingham police found two men shot to death at an abandoned house Thursday night in Inglenook. Two men have been detained in connection with the deadly shootings, police said. East Precinct officers responded to a shots fired call around 6:30 p.m. Thursday in the 4400 block of 41st Place North, said Officer Truman Fitzgerald. Officers went to the back area of an abandoned house where they found a man shot and lying unresponsive in the driveway. Police found a second victim inside the house following a search of the area. Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service personnel arrived on the scene and pronounced both victims dead. Officers at the scene found a third man who was then detained by authorities. Responding officers discovered a fourth man walking in the area and detained him as well, Fitzgerald said. A stolen vehicle was recovered at the scene. Right now, we are unsure of who is who whether the victims were originally suspects; did the victims fire shots? said Fitzgerald. This is a scene that is going to take time and time to uncover. Police determining if the shooting occurred outside the house. Officers are treating the scene as if more suspects could be on the loose. Were not ruling anything out in this scenario, Fitzgerald said. The shooting came hours after a man died in a barrage of gunfire Thursday afternoon in the parking lot of a Birmingham apartment complex. Shots rang out at 3:51 p.m. at Park at Wood Station apartments. That is in the 6000 block of Wood Station Drive, which is off First Avenue South in Woodlawn. Birmingham has now had 144 homicides this year. Of those, 10 have been ruled justifiable and arent deemed criminal. The city ended 2023 with 135 homicides. Birmingham ended 2022 with 144 homicides, marking the deadliest year in recent Birmingham history. Until 2022, the highest number recorded in recent memory was 141 in 1991. Birminghams all-time record for homicides was in 1933 with 148 slayings. A 23-year-old man has been charged in the death of a 6-month-old Montgomery boy. Johnnie Taylor Sr. is charged with capital murder, police announced Thursday. Montgomery investigators launched their investigation earlier this month when the infant was hospitalized at Childrens of Alabama with undisclosed, but life-threatening, injuries. The child died on November 10. Major Saba Coleman earlier this week said an autopsy by the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences deemed the boys death a homicide. Authorities have not released the babys name nor said how he was killed. Charging documents state the blunt force trauma led to the boys death. They also have not disclosed the relationship between the suspect and the victim. Taylor, jailed Thursday, is being held without bond in the Montgomery County Detention Facility. Anyone with additional information is asked to Crime Stoppers at 334-215-STOP, Secret Witness at 334-625-4000, or Montgomery police at 334-625-2831. Alabama continues to have one of the nations highest rates of babies being born too early, according to a recent report by March of Dimes . The annual report, which looks at preterm births and other maternal health outcomes, again gave Alabama an F grade. The state ranked 49th of 52 in the rankings, which include Puerto Rico and Washington D.C. Every baby deserves the chance for a healthy start, yet the data continue to show unacceptable health outcomes for far too many families, said Cindy Rahman, the interim president and CEO of March of Dimes, in a press release. The states preterm birth rate was 12.9% in 2023, according to the report. The national average is 10.4%. The preterm birth rate measures how many babies were born too early due to factors like pregnancy complications, chronic medical conditions or socioeconomic circumstances. The report also found a high maternal mortality rate in Alabama - 38.6 deaths per 100,000 births. Thats significantly higher than the national average of 23.2 deaths. Alabama also had a higher percentage of low-risk cesarean births at over 28%, compared to 26.6% nationally. And 18.1% of women in Alabama reported inadequate access to prenatal care compared to 15.7% nationally. The March of Dimes report found that Alabama can improve health outcomes for moms and babies by expanding Medicaid to allow for greater access to preventative care during pregnancy, and by implementing more supportive midwife and doula policies. More than half of the states counties 38 out of 67 dont have hospitals providing obstetrics services, like labor and delivery. All of those counties are rural. Federal government officials were in Centreville in Bibb County on Thursday to meet with mothers and doctors about solutions to the maternal health care crisis. Federal officials met with community organizations, leaders and mothers in Centreville, Alabama as part of their Enhancing Maternal Health Initiative.Savannah Tryens-Fernandes A roundtable discussion, hosted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, focused on federally funded initiatives in the state, like the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting program and a maternal mental health hotline . The home visit program sends trained professionals to help families in all 67 counties of Alabama, free of charge. The professionals help with education, health screenings, evaluating their social support needs, and helping them access local services. Alabama received $8.2 million dollars this year to support the program . The roundtable also touted the success of Cahaba Medical Care, a federally funded clinic that provides care to uninsured and underinsured patients in West Alabama. I live about 30 to 40 minutes away [from a hospital], but having everything here, its a one stop shop, it has made my experience so so easy, said Madison Panther, who got care at Cahaba. She said her newborn and her toddler can get treatment at the clinic, as well. All three of us can be seen so Im not running around to different doctors offices, Panther said, and just knowing theyll actually listen to you makes it worth it. Michael Warren, the associate administrator at the maternal and child bureau of HHS, said he expects these programs to continue after the Trump administration begins in January. These are long standing programs that have sustained throughout multiple administrations and have had a lot of success in places like Alabama, he told AL.com. Other stakeholders at the discussion included Dr. Scott Harris, Alabamas state health officer, doctors from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, members of the states Maternal Health Taskforce, and representatives from Tuskegee Universitys Research Center for Maternal, Child and Family Equity. When we look at how to close the gaps in maternal health care, the only way we can is if we all collaborate and work together, said Dr. Claudette Poole, the medical director at UABs Family Clinic. The executive board of the Alabama Public Library Service on Thursday heard complaints from several parents about books they considered inappropriate for children, part of an ongoing public debate how libraries should control access to books with sexual and LGBTQ themes. The Alabama Legislature and APLS Board has required local libraries to update their policies in what they say is an effort to protect young readers from sexually explicit material or risk losing their state funding. Several of the speakers during the public comment period of Thursdays meeting said they believe some libraries are not following the new policies. APLS Board Chair John Wahl said parents should first raise concerns with local library boards and come to the APLS Board if they believe the library is not following new guidelines. Also, in a move supported by local library directors, the APLS Board reversed an earlier decision and reinstated a federal grant program for local libraries. In September, the board had voted in favor of a statewide plan to allocate services with the federal funds, rather than awarding the competitive Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grants, an annual program for many years. Thursdays meeting drew a standing-room only crowd in the board room and others watched remotely from an overflow room. Wahl, who is chairman of the Alabama Republican Party and represents the 5th congressional district on the APLS Board, served as chair at a meeting for the first time on Thursday. Wahl met with local library directors for a question and answer session before Thursday mornings board meeting. I think the board as a whole and our local library directors should have a good working relationship and I think the best way to accomplish that is open communication, transparency, and making sure that they have a chance to talk with me as chairman and share their concerns, ideas, or how things will impact them, Wahl said. Dozens of directors attended the session and others participated remotely. When Wahl asked for a show of hands on reinstatement of the LSTA grants. the support appeared to be close to unanimous. Later, at the board meeting, Gadsden Public Library Director Craig Scott, who is president of the Alabama Library Association, urged to board to reinstate the grants. Over 100 library directors are eagerly awaiting your reconsideration today, Scott told the board. LSTA funding is a vital resource that empowers libraries across Alabama to offer transformative programs, services, and resources for their communities. Jessica Ross, director of the Washington County Public Library, said LSTA grants had helped fund a career readiness and small business development center and community college satellite campus. Our library may be small and rural, but it is thriving and dynamic and serves as the anchor institution and community center for our county, Ross said. APLS Director Nancy Pack urged the board to stick with its decision in September to use the federal funds to allocate services through a statewide plan, rather than the LSTA grants. Pack said that would better serve all libraries, including small ones that are unable to effectively compete for grants. Wahl supported the reinstatement of the grants after hearing the local directors' concerns. The board voted for the reinstatement. In the end, we agreed with them that the best policy was making sure that those libraries have the resources they need directly through a sub-grant program, Wahl said. Earlier this year, the APLS Board approved a new legislative code to require libraries to move inappropriate material for children, mandate library cards specifically for minors, and make other changes. APLS Director Pack said about 132 of the roughly 210 public libraries have successfully updated their policies. She said 36 have not submitted their new policies and 42 have submitted new policies but still need to make revisions. During the public comment period, Melissa Gates of Mobile showed the board a book entitled Its Perfectly Normal: Changing Bodies, Growing Up, Sex, and Sexual Health. The illustrations include depictions of sexual intercourse, including gay and lesbian images. Gates said it was checked out from the Moorer/Spring Hill branch of the library and was on a shelf that a small child could reach. Im sorry, but I dont want to have to explain that to my 4-year-old if he happened to just say, Ooh, look at the colors on that book. I like it. Im going to grab it. And Im going to look through it, Gates said. This shouldnt happen." Gates said she asked to have the library to move the book but that it did not. They said the book has been in the library 15 years and its been checked out numerous times, Gates said. Rebecca Watson of Baldwin County showed the board the book Parts & Hearts: A Kids (& Grown-Ups) Guide to Transgender Transition. Watson said the book was in the juvenile section Fairhope Public Library for ages 3-12. Watson said her request to move the book from the juvenile section was denied by the library director because the book was classified as an educational and instructional book. She said the Fairhope Library Board upheld the directors decision. Read more: Library war in Fairhope: Group calls for board chairs resignation District 3 APLS Board member Amy Minton said Parts & Hearts, should not be classified as educational and noted that the Alabama Legislature passed a bill prohibiting the use of hormones, puberty blockers, and surgeries as transgender therapies for minors. Watson, who is chair of the Baldwin County Chapter of Moms for Liberty, said she wanted to know whether the Fairhope Library was following the regulations on the placement of books. This isnt me personally trying to distort or manipulate anything, Watson said. I just want to make sure that all libraries are complying with the law. Whatever the law is, I want to make sure theyre complying. And our public library is not in compliance. Amber Frey of Prattville, executive organization administrator for Read Freely Alabama, said Parts & Hearts is an important book for transgender children and their families. There are transgender children out there, whether people like it or not, Frey said. Theyre there. And to have a book that shows people like them and shows them how they can be themselves is so important because they are the biggest targets right now. Read Freely Alabamas mission is to defend libraries and librarians, Frey said. Were here to defend the freedom to read whatever youd like, Frey said. The library is a place where everybody should be able to be seen. And it shouldnt be a partisan, political issue because libraries are apolitical. Reed Freely Alabama is apolitical. And there are people across the political spectrum who are with Read Freely Alabama who agree that the government shouldnt be involving themselves in what the public library offers its patrons. As for the sex education book that Gates showed the board, Its Perfectly Normal, Frey said its not a book that parents should hand their child to read but one that they would read with them. I dont think it should be placed with younger childrens books, no, Frey said. I think its appropriate in the juvenile section, which generally is higher shelves. If its on a low shelf, maybe consider moving it up. I dont think that that would be a problem. But the librarians know more about that than I do. I trust the librarians to shelf books more than I would trust myself or anybody challenging the books. Wahl said the APLS Board is committed to protecting children. Local libraries in order to receive state funding will have to remove any sexually explicit materials form libraries, Wahl said. Once that goes fully into place, if parents are still finding that material in libraries, they should reach out to the local library boards, make sure theyre aware of it, give them a chance to remove it. If they refuse to remove it, at that point they should come to the APLS Board, and we will make sure that the statewide policy is enforced. Authorities have arrested a high-ranking member of a drug cartel who allegedly faked his own death to evade the Mexican authorities and spent the past few years living a life of luxury in California, the justice department said Thursday. Cristian Fernando Gutierrez-Ochoa, who was arrested this week on international drug trafficking and money laundering charges in Riverside, California, was a leader of Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion (CJNG), one of the worlds most violent and prolific drug trafficking organizations, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said in a statement. According to the justice department, Gutierrez-Ochoa is the son-in-law of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, the alleged founder and head of CJNG. The state department is offering a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to the arrest of Oseguera Cervantes, who is also known as El Mencho. CJNG is responsible for unprecedented violence in Mexico and helping to fuel the deadly drug crisis in the United States, DEA Administrator Anne Milgram said in a statement. Gutierrez-Ochoa, 37, who allegedly began working for the cartel in 2014, is believed to have personally coordinated the transportation and distribution of an estimated 40,000 kilograms of methamphetamine and an estimated 2,000 kilograms of cocaine in Mexico destined for the United States, the justice department said. In 2021, Gutierrez-Ochoa allegedly kidnapped two members of the Mexican Navy in an attempt to secure the release of El Menchos wife, who had been arrested by Mexican law enforcement, authorities said. Gutierrez-Ochoa allegedly fled to the United States under a false identity to evade capture by the Mexican authorities, the justice department said, adding that El Mencho may have assisted his attempt to fake his own death by telling his associates he had killed his son-in-law for lying. In October, the DEA office in Los Angeles learned that the Department of Homeland Security had an Interpol Red Notice issued by Mexican authorities seeking Gutierrez-Ochoa in connection to the kidnapping case, according to an affidavit accompanying the criminal complaint. Using facial recognition software, the Department of Homeland Security was able to to determine that Gutierrez-Ochoa was the same person as a man named Luis Miguel Martinez, who had moved into a $1.2 million luxury home in an exclusive neighborhood in Riverside in 2023. The home, which is located 20 miles from where El Menchos daughter, an American citizen, runs a coffee shop, had been paid for in cash by a tequila manufacturer in Jalisco that investigators believe the cartel has been using to launder money, the affidavit states. The escrow agent, real estate agent and seller all told investigators that they found the circumstances of the home purchase suspicious, with the previous homeowner saying she believed the buyers were drug dealers from Mexico. DEA agents conducting surveillance on the home observed luxury vehicles, including a BMW and another car with Mexican license plates, frequently parked in front of the Riverside residence. Gutierrez-Ochoa was arrested on Tuesday. The federal public defender who initially represented Gutierrez-Ochoa in court did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment. If convicted, Gutierrez-Ochoa faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison on the drug charge, and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on the money laundering conspiracy charge. El Mencho remains at large. The justice department charged El Mencho in April 2022 with leading a continuing criminal enterprise to manufacture and distribute fentanyl for importation into the United States. In September, a federal jury convicted his son, Ruben Oseguera-Gonzalez - also known as El Menchito - of conspiring to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine for U.S. importation and using a firearm in a drug conspiracy. By Vivian Ho Katt Williams dreams of being a movie mogul have taken him to Alabama, where the comedian purchased a former military base with the intention to launch a movie studio. I cant disclose the amount or exact location just yet, but I can confirm that he has purchased a former military base in Alabama, Williams publicist, Amy Sisoyev, said in an email Thursday to AL.com. While the comedian is mum on the property he purchased, Fort McClellans Cold War-era barracks in Anniston had been up for sale at a $1.5 million asking price. An old Cold War barracks, known locally as Starships, is on the market in Anniston, Ala. (Alabama Film Office) Known locally as Starships, the barracks and surrounding property consists of 30 concrete buildings with three million square feet of indoor space. There are 10 barracks with 20 rooms each, two large gymnasiums, and more than 90 acres of usable flat land on the old Ft. McClellan site. Connie Alexander, designated broker at the Luxe Group, which represented the seller of the Fort McClellan barracks, said the property was purchased through an LLC but Katt Williams did visit the property frequently during the purchase phase. Its a visionary endeavor, and were excited to see how this historic site evolves under his leadership, Alexander said. Efforts to reach the McClellan Development Authority -- a non-profit public corporation made to speed economic development of the former fort -- was unsuccessful. In an interview published by GQ on Wednesday, Williams said he purchased a former Alabama military base sometime this year. The comedians January appearance on Shannon Sharpes podcast Club Shay Shay holds the YouTube interview record with more than 83 million views. Williams put several entertainers, including Kevin Hart, Rickey Smiley and Tyler Perry, on blast. In the GQ interview, Williams told GQ he has ambitions of becoming a movie mogul a la Perry. Its just not fair to put all that pressure on Tyler Perry, he said. He can only do so much. Williams was in Alabama earlier this year for stops on his Dark Matter tour, where he performed sets in Huntsville, Birmingham and Mobile. Updated at 8:33 p.m. to include comment from the Luxe Group. A Montgomery man charged with possession of a firearm with a machine gun conversion device who was at the scene of the Nov. 10 shooting at Tuskegee University appeared briefly in federal court Friday morning. Jeremiah Williams, 20, was in court for a preliminary and detention hearing but waived his right for the hearing. U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephen Michael Doyle said Williams will remain in the custody of U.S. Marshals pending further proceedings in the case. Williams' attorney, William Blanchard, said he expects the case to proceed to a grand jury. Blanchard said Williams would plead not guilty if he is indicted. Blanchard did not rule out requesting a detention hearing later. Williams appeared in court in a red prison jumpsuit with hand and feet restraints. Some members of his family were on hand for the hearing. Williams, 20, was arrested by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agents after a search of his home last week. Williams told investigators he was at the scene of the shooting, which happened after midnight in an on-campus parking lot as Tuskegees homecoming weekend was winding down. Williams is charged with having a gun equipped with a machine gun conversion device, commonly known as a switch. Williams told investigators he did not fire his gun. Williams is not charged with any crime linked to the Tuskegee shooting, and records show the investigation into him began over the summer. Witnesses said the first shots fired that night came from a white Dodge Charger, the same type of car Williams was reportedly driving that night, according to the complaint. ATF Special Agent Andrew Erdmann said in the complaint that Williams first came under investigation over the summer during intelligence gathering by the Metro Area Crime Suppression Detail in Montgomery. That investigation included Facebook posts about switches and pictures of Williams holding an AR type rifle. Investigators also linked Williams to another man whose home was searched and yielded multiple machine gun conversion devices. Messages between the two discussed profiting from the sale of switches. The Nov. 10 shooting resulted in one death and multiple injuries. LaTavion Johnson, whose family said the 18-year- old died saving someone else, was pronounced dead on the scene. Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Lt. Jeremy Burkett said of the 16 injured, 12 of those were shot. They were taken to hospitals in Montgomery and Lee County. According to Burkett, four others sustained injuries in the chaos that followed. Williams is the second person arrested for being in possession of a weapon with a conversion device following the Tuskegee University shooting. Jaquez Myrick, 25, was taken into custody on campus early Sunday. He is charged with being in possession of a handgun with a machine gun conversion device. Myrick denied firing his weapon, but later told federal investigators he did fire his gun but did not shoot anyone, according to federal court records. Thanksgiving Day is less than a week away, and there could be the potential for storms in Alabama. But note that xits not a sure thing. The National Weather Service warned that storms are not guaranteed by any means, but its one of the scenarios on the table as forecasters search for trends about next week. The weather service in Birmingham gave a glimpse into what forecasters were watching on Friday: Looking ahead at Thanksgiving plans? Keep weather in mind for your activities! We have a system that is expected to move through the area bringing a high chance of rain (60%). We're also watching for how the system evolves to determine any potential severe threat. #alwx pic.twitter.com/99lxLZw8b1 NWS Birmingham (@NWSBirmingham) November 22, 2024 So far, NOAAs Storm Prediction Center has not outlined any potential severe weather areas to watch in Alabama for next week. But that could always change as the forecast becomes more clear, so keep an eye on the forecast next week. The weather service in Birmingham said the Thanksgiving weather system will bring a good chance of rain to Alabama on Thursday. Here are the expected rain chances for the 6 a.m. until 6 p.m. timeframe on Thanksgiving Day: Here are the rain chances for next Thursday from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m. These will likely change some as the forecast evolves.NWS Forecasters said the strength and the track for the system will determine whether any part of Alabama has to deal with potential severe weather. After former U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration for the attorney general spot, he immediately got support from someone close to home. On Instagram, wife Ginger Luckey posted a picture of the couple on the steps of Capitol Hill, writing, The end of an era. No one loves America more than this guy. Gaetzs withdrawal wasnt a huge shock. The former congressman had been facing major roadblocks to be in president elect Donald Trumps incoming Cabinet due to allegations that he slept with minors and paid women for sex. Though the Justice Department investigated the accusations and the case was closed with no charges filed, questions remained about the politician. The House Ethics Committee will continue looking into the allegations that Gaetz paid two women more than $10,000 via Venmo for sex between July 2017 and January 2019. It is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the incoming Trump administration, he wrote on X, formerly Twitter. There is no time to waste on needlessly protracted Washington scuffle. For the time being, Luckey appears to be standing by her man, possibly because the purported misconduct occurred before their relationship began. The two met in March 2020 during a fundraiser for then No. 45 at at Mar-a-Lago; Gaetz popped the question in the very same place just eight months later. They married about a year later. _____ 2024 Miami Herald. Visit at miamiherald.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. A week ago, Matt Gaetz was on his way to becoming Donald Trumps avenging angel as U.S. Attorney General, the nations top law enforcement official. But now that the former Florida congressman has withdrawn his nomination amid persistent questions about his involvement in a sex scandal involving a 17-year-old girl, his political prospects are not so clear put. His future is not as bright as it once was, said Aubrey Jewett, a political science professor at the University of Central Florida. I dont mean to imply this is the end of his political career, or lobbying career, because he still has the ear of the president-elect. Gaetzs fall has left him politically adrift and battered by allegations of drug-fueled sex parties. One option considered a remote possibility would be to try to reclaim the North Florida congressional seat he resigned from on Nov. 13, a move that effectively shut down the House Ethics Committees investigation into the sexual misconduct allegations. In his resignation notice, Gaetz said he was stepping down from his current term to pursue the Attorney General nomination and didnt intend to take the oath for the upcoming term he was reelected to on Nov. 5. Technically, Gaetz could show up when Congress reconvenes on Jan. 3 to be sworn into that new term, said Michael T. Morley, a professor of election law at Florida State University College of Law. Ultimately, the House would decide whether Gaetz could change his mind and keep his seat, Morley said. Mark Herron, a Tallahassee lawyer specializing in state and federal election and ethics laws, agreed that Gaetz has wiggle room on his future in Congress. I dont think anything is real until Jan. 3, he said. The Constitution requires that House vacancies be filled by a special election, and state governors are responsible for scheduling those special elections. Gov. Ron DeSantis has already ordered Secretary of State Cord Byrd to schedule a special election for Gaetzs district seat but no date has been set as of Thursday. GOP state Reps. Joel Rudman and Michelle Salzman announced they would run for the opening, but they signaled Thursday they would step aside if Gaetz needs to run to get his old job back. Gaetz easily won reelection in November with 66% of the vote in the solidly red North Florida district. Salzman called Gaetz a real friend and said she will stand with the congressman and whatever he decides. In a post on X, Rudman wrote he will support Gaetz 100% if he wants to return to Congress. Politically, though, it might not make sense for Gaetz to return to Congress, which would resurrect a House ethics report said to contain damaging testimony against him, Morley said. His colleagues could vote to censure or expel him based on the reports findings. One of Floridas U.S. Senate seats likely will be open as Trump has tapped Sen. Marco Rubio to be his Secretary of State. But it seems unlikely that DeSantis would appoint Gaetz to take Rubios Senate seat, Jewett said, especially if DeSantis wants to stay in Trumps good graces by appointing his daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, as many MAGA supporters want. Gaetz can also expect other high profile political candidates to run for Rubios senate seat when a special election is held in 2026, he added. They would have no compunction going after him and the baggage he brings. Gaetz has been mentioned as a possible GOP gubernatorial candidate in 2026, when DeSantis leaves office. But U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds is Trumps most likely choice for governor in 2026, said state Sen. Joe Gruters, a Trump backer and former chair of the Republican Party of Florida, and the presidents endorsement could effectively end the race. Its a primary of one, Gruters previously told The Orlando Sentinel. Gaetz has repeatedly denied accusations that he paid for sex, had sex with a 17-year-old girl and used illicit drugs. The U.S. Department of Justice investigated those allegations for several years but did not file charges. But House ethics investigators continued with a separate investigation and were preparing to release their findings when Gaetz resigned. Two women who testified to the committee behind closed doors said Gaetz paid them for sex, and one of the women testified she witnessed Gaetz having sex with her 17-year-old friend at a July 2017 Orlando-area house party, their attorney Joel Leppard said. The ethics panel had a paper trail linking Gaetz to more than $10,000 in Venmo payments made to two women who were witnesses in the probe, ABC News reported. Although his political brand his tarnished, Gaetz continues to hold favor with Trump, and he could still get a soft landing somewhere, Jewett said. In his statement, Gaetz didnt describe his future plans only that he will remain fully committed to see that Donald J. Trump is the most successful President in history. In a Truth Social post, Trump wrote that Gaetz has a wonderful future. Gaetzs wife, Ginger, posted a photo on social media of the couple walking up the Capitol steps after news broke that he had withdrawn. The end of an era, she wrote. _____ 2024 Orlando Sentinel. Visit at orlandosentinel.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Moments before the execution of Carey Dale Grayson on Thursday for the 1994 slaying and mutilation of a hitchhiker in Jefferson County, the warden of William C. Holman Correctional Facility held a microphone for Grayson to say his final words. But Terry Raybon immediately pulled the microphone away after Grayson started by saying, For you, you need to f*** off. The rest of his statement went unheard from the three witness rooms. After that, nitrogen gas flowed into a gas mask attached to Graysons face. He was pronounced dead at 6:33 p.m. Did you hear his statement? Alabama Department of Commissioner John Hamm said at a press conference following the execution. That was enough. He has cursed out most of our employees tonight, so we were not going to give him the opportunity to spew that profanity. Grayson, at one point, also pointed up the middle finger on at least his left hand, which was visible to media witnesses. Following Graysons death, his attorney and spiritual advisor Kacey Keeton said that Grayson had more to say when the microphone was taken away. Keeton, who was sitting in the execution chamber with Grayson, said that he was cursing at Raybon specifically with his expletives and not at the broader audience. After the microphone was taken and those in the witness rooms could not clearly hear him, Keeton said Grayson talked about how he committed a horrible crime and how sorry he was for it, adding that he had been sorry for over 30 years. According to Keeton, Grayson said he repented and that he was saved and knows God, and hopes for forgiveness. He talked about the prison and disappointment in the system, mentioning that people there are committing murder and are serial killers. Grayson said, according to Keeton, that he hopes everyone knows the state is committing murder in the name of Alabama and the people that live there. He said he was praying for everyone, that God was with them. The gas apparently started flowing at 6:12 p.m., followed by Grayson gasping and raising, shaking his head left to right. About 6:14 p.m., both of his legs on the gurney raised up. His movements slowed, but he had what appeared to be periodic gasps over the following six minutes when he stopped moving. At a press conference following the execution, Hamm said the first movements Grayson was doing were all show and the later movements were consistent with nitrogen gas executions. Grayson was the third inmate in the United States to die by nitrogen gas-- all in Alabama. He was put to death for his role in the brutal murder of 37-year-old Vicki Lynn Deblieux. Deblieux was kidnapped while hitchhiking from Chattanooga to see her mother in Louisiana. She accepted a ride from Grayson, Kenny Loggins, Trace Duncan, and Louis Mangione on the Trussville exit of Interstate 59 on Feb. 22, 1994. Deblieuxs nude and dismembered body was found four days later at the bottom of a cliff on Bald Rock Mountain in St. Clair County. Court records show after picking up the woman, the teens took her to an abandoned area near Medical Center East in Birmingham, where they all drank. At some point, the teens attacked and killed Deblieux, drove her body to St. Clair County, then tossed her body and luggage off the cliff. Prosecutors pointed to each of the men as ringleaders at their separate trials. Deblieuxs daughter, Jodi Haley, was present at Holman prison on Thursday night. She described her mother at a press conference following the execution. She was unique. She was spontaneous, she was wild. She was funny and she was gorgeous to boot, Haley said. Haley also focused on Grayson and her stance against the death penalty. Grayson was abused in every possible way, including having cigarettes put out on his skin, facing physical and sexual abuse and being thrown out on the street as an adolescent, Haley said. I have to wonder how all of this slips through the cracks of the justice system. Because society failed this man as a child and my family suffered because of it, she said. Haley wondered what kind of positive impact Grayson could have had on lives. The eye for an eye justification for the death penalty its not right, Haley said. Murdering inmates under the guise of justice needs to stop, Haley said. State sanctioned homicide needs never be listed as cause of death, she said. I dont know who we think we are. To be in such a modern time, we regress when we implement this punishment. I hope and pray my mothers death will invoke these changes and give her senseless death some purpose, Haley said. Earlier in the evening, an Alabama Department of Corrections spokesperson released details of Graysons final meals and visitors. He refused his breakfast and lunch tray, but had coffee and Mountain Dew. For his final meal, Grayson had from a nearby restaurant soft tacos, beef burritos, a tostada, chips and guacamole, and a Mountain Dew Blast. An 18-year-old girl is facing criminal charges in connection with an alcohol-fueled single-vehicle wreck in north Alabama that left a 13-year-old dead and three other teens injured earlier this week, according to jail records and prosecutors. Yeismin Ramirez, 18, of Albertville was booked into the Marshall County jail Thursday night on charges of vehicular homicide and two counts of first-degree assault, records showed. Ramirez remains held in the jail Friday on $500,000 bond. Marshall County Assistant District Attorney Adam Culbert told WAFF that Ramirez was driving the 2015 Nissan Altima that left the road and struck a tree stump, a sign post and then a fence around 7:45 a.m. Wednesday on Blessing Road near Arley Lacey Road, approximately two miles north of Boaz, in Marshall County. Alcohol was involved in the fatal wreck, Culbert told the station. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency said a 13-year-old passenger in the vehicle was killed and two other teens -- a 17-year-old and a 15-year-old -- were injured and taken to a hospital. They were not wearing seat belts. Ramirez, who was initially only identified as the 18-year-old driver of the vehicle, was also injured and taken to a hospital. She was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. This is an opinion cartoon. Sign up for JD Crowes newsletter: Enter your email to subscribe to JDs weekly newsletter, Crowe Jam. In the three weeks since Pickens County dropped down to one ambulance, two women died after waiting an hour for paramedics to arrive. Thats the first line of Savannah Tryens-Fernandes report on Alabamas ambulance desert. Its an enlightening report. Read all of it here. Lets cut to the chase: Many of Alabamas rural healthcare issues could be fixed with one stroke of the pen by Gov. Ivey. Expand Medicaid. To include the working poor people of Alabama. Rural Alabama. The places that need at least one more ambulance. Or one more doctor. To save a life. Or two. Medicaid expansion is frowned upon by Ivey because its an Obamacare thing. And because it works. Why not just embrace it and call it yours? Thats how politics works, right? So, lets do this: Call it IveyCare. Or TrumpsterCare. What Alabama has now is WeDontCare. Maybe we just need NobodyCares. Medicaid expansion would help cure a lot of ills in this defiant state. If nobody cared who got the credit. The one ambulance problem in Pickens County is a mixed bag of Alabama dysfunction. Read on ... Excerpts from This Alabama county is now down to just one ambulance: It costs lives Pickens County moved to only one ambulance on Oct. 25. The reduction in ambulance service is just the latest in a downward spiral, as rural communities across Alabama watch emergency rooms and hospitals shutter, and as pediatricians, dentists and maternity care have disappeared in over a third of the states counties. Sullivan McCrory said her team of paramedics has had to triage callers ever since the move to one ambulance. She said its not unusual to get two to three calls all within an hour, forcing them to decide where to go based on which call is most life-threatening. All I know is people are suffering, she told AL.com. What can you do when you have one ambulance in a county with over 19,000 people in it? In 2022, Alabama passed a law deeming emergency medical services and ambulances an essential service, saying emergency medical services are an essential public service and a part of the health care safety net for many residents of this state. Alabama is one of 37 states to pass such a law. But unlike most other states, Alabama does not require the state government to fund the service. U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell represents Pickens County in Washington. Her office said typically the only source of federal funding for those services comes from Medicare reimbursements. She has introduced two bills in the House since 2021 to increase rates for both ambulances and rural hospitals to help them stay operational. But neither bill has received a vote. Congresswoman Sewell and our whole team have spent years pushing for congressional action to address these ambulance shortages at the federal level, said Christopher Kosteva, Sewells Communications Director, in a statement to AL.com. This issue has been exacerbated by the states refusal to expand Medicaid, which has put an enormous strain on the resources of rural health care providers. When asked by AL.com if any emergency support could be provided by the state to keep an ambulance running, a spokesperson for Gov. Kay Iveys office said we continue monitoring and are aware of developments in Pickens County, but at this time, you may wish to reach out to local officials. Read the whole report right here: This Alabama county is now down to just one ambulance: It costs lives True stories and stuff by JD Crowe The mysterious Bubble Guy of Fairhope and the art of bubble Zen - al.com How I met Dr. Seuss Robert Plant head-butted me. Thanks, David Coverdale I was ZZ Tops drummer for a night and got kidnapped by groupies Check out more cartoons and stuff by JD Crowe JD Crowe is the cartoonist for Alabama Media Group and AL.com. He won the RFK Human Rights Award for Editorial Cartoons in 2020. In 2018, he was awarded the Rex Babin Memorial Award for local and state cartoons by the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists. Follow JD on Facebook, Twitter @Crowejam and Instagram @JDCrowepix. Give him a holler @jdcrowe@al.com. Staff Reports news@albanyherald.com TIFTON Peanut farmers are encouraged to make plans now to attend the 48th annual Georgia Peanut Farm Show and Conference scheduled for Jan. 16 from 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m. at the University of Georgia Tifton Campus Conference Center. The one-day show is free and open to all farmers and industry representatives to attend. Attendees will have the opportunity to visit with nearly 100 agribusinesses and organizations in the peanut and agricultural industry. Farmers will be able to earn private and commercial pesticide applicator certification, as well as learn about cutting-edge research and developments during the University of Georgia Peanut Production Seminar and industrywide sponsored Peanut Seed Seminar. Farm Show chairman Rodney Dawson said he is looking forward to the 2025 show. I encourage farmers to attend this one-day show in Tifton, Dawson said. The knowledge they will gain from industry representatives and seminars is an investment in the future of their farm. The Georgia Peanut Commission, in cooperation with OneBlood, will host a blood drive from 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. on the day of the show. At the close of the event, there will be nearly $10,000 in door prizes presented to farmers, as well as a grand door prize, vendor products, certificates and equipment. For more information on the show, contact the Georgia Peanut Commission office at (229) 386-3470 or visit www.gapeanuts.com. Staff Reports news@albanyherald.com ALBANY During a recent City of Albany Commission meeting, Mayor Bo Dorough asked City of Albany staff to work with the Marine Corps Logistics Base (MCLB) to assist with their annual Toys for Tots toy drive. In partnership with MCLB, the City has placed boxes city-wide to help provide as many locations as possible for anyone wishing to donate toys. The City will also be hosting a toy drive event where kids can come and meet Santa Claus, Touch-aTruck, meet firefighters, and bring toys to donate! MCLB reached out to Santa directly, and he will be stopping in Albany on Monday, December 9, 2024, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., at Firehouse 1, located at 320 N. Jackson Street. Those wishing to donate toys to the MCLB Toys for Tots campaign online can visit the local Toys for Tots donation page or the mobile version if you use your phone. For anyone needing assistance this Christmas, please visit the Toys for Tots local request page. If you would like to find a location to drop off toy donations, please see the list of City of Albany locations and their hours of operation below. Toy drop-off will be available through Tuesday, December 10, 2024. City of Albany Toys for Tots Toy Drop-Off Locations and Hours Fire Stations: Toy drop-off for all fire stations will be between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Station 1: 320 N. Jackson St. Station 2: 1500 Palmyra Road Station 3: 109 Honeysuckle Drive Station 4: 2601 W. Gordon Ave. Station 5: 2036 Newton Road Station 6: 2521 Meredyth Drive Station 7: 2203 Leonard Avenue Station 8: 5824 Newton Road Station 9: 1406 Antioch Road Station 10: 4717 Gillionville Road Station 11: 5115 Hill Road Transportation Centers: Southwest Georgia Regional Airport: 3905 Newton Road, Monday-Sunday: 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Albany Transit Station: 300 W. Oglethorpe Boulevard, Monday-Friday: 7 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday: 7 a.m.-2 p.m. Recreation and Parks Locations: Administrative Office: 1301 N. Monroe St., Monday-Friday: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Flint River Municipal Golf Course: 2000 McAdams Road, Monday-Tuesday & Thursday-Sunday: 7:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m.; Wednesday: 1-7:30 p.m. Downtown: Albany Utilities Administrative Office: 401 Pine Ave., 8 a.m.-4 p.m. The International Criminal Court on Thursday issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence Minister Yoav Gallant, as well as Hamas's military chief Mohammed Deif. The ICC's move now theoretically limits the movement of Netanyahu as any of the court's 124 national members would be obliged to arrest him on their territory. "The Chamber issued warrants of arrest for two individuals, Mr Benjamin Netanyahu and Mr Yoav Gallant, for crimes against humanity and war crimes committed from at least 8 October 2023 until at least 20 May 2024, the day the Prosecution filed the applications for warrants of arrest," the Hague-based ICC said in a statement. A warrant had also been issued for Deif, it added. Israel said in early August it had killed Deif in an air strike in southern Gaza in July, although Hamas denies he is dead. The arrest warrants had been classified as "secret", to protect witnesses and to safeguard the conduct of the investigations, the court said. "However, the Chamber decided to release the information below since conduct similar to that addressed in the warrant of arrest appears to be ongoing," the tribunal said. "Moreover, the Chamber considers it to be in the interest of victims and their families that they are made aware of the warrants' existence." ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan in May requested the court issue arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Netanyahu sacked Gallant as defence minister on November 5. Khan also sought warrants against top Hamas leaders including Mohammed Deif on suspicion of war crimes and crimes against humanity. The prosecutor dropped the application for Ismail Haniyeh, the group's political leader, on August 2 "because of the changed circumstances caused by Mr Haniyeh's death" in Tehran on July 31, the ICC earlier said in a statement. Since Hamas conducted its October 7, 2023 attack, the deadliest in Israeli history, Israel has been fighting a war in Gaza, which the militant group rules. The war was triggered by the assault on Israel by Hamas militants, a stunning cross-border raid that resulted in the deaths of 1,206 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures. The Hamas government's health ministry in the Gaza Strip said Thursday that at least 44,056 people had been killed in more than 13 months of war between Israel and Palestinian militants. The toll includes 71 deaths in the previous 24 hours, according to the ministry, which said 104,268 people had been wounded in the Gaza Strip since the war began. The Democrats may have made a significant mistake in their all-too-obvious attempt to steal a U.S. Senate seat from GOP candidate Eric Hovde. As Hovde explained in a November 12 video, in the early hours of November 6, 2024, he received congratulatory calls for his apparent win. Then, suddenly, by 4:00 am, a staggering 108,000 absentee ballots were dumped from Milwaukee, with two-term incumbent Senator [and Democrat candidate] Tammy Baldwin receiving nearly 90 percent of those votes. Hovde objected: Statistically, this outcome seemed improbable, as it didnt match the patterns from same-day voting in Milwaukee, where I received 22 percent of the votes. The problem for Democrats is that the late-night drop of an improbable 108,000 thousand absentee ballots that were nearly all for the Democrat candidate fitted an all-too-recognizable pattern of election fraud made possible by cryptographic algorithms embedded covertly in the official State Board of Elections (SBOE) voter registration database. Unfortunately for the Democrats, Andrew Paquette, Ph.D., had previously found an illegal clandestine algorithm in the SBOE voter rolls. As reported on GodsFiveStones.com, Paquette concludes: This study of Wisconsins voter rolls reveals strong evidence of multiple ID number assignment algorithms, with two appearing over-engineered, enabling data segregation and hidden assignment. The presence of over 60,000 records with encrypted ID numbers further suggests hidden attributes, potentially violating public disclosure laws. Paquette has also discovered similar illegal cryptographic algorithms in New York, Ohio, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Arizona, with algorithms yet to be reported also found in New Jersey, Texas, and Hawaii. In common sense parlance, the algorithms are an intelligence-grade complexity mathematical scheme that facilitates creating and hiding false voters who receive legitimate state voter IDs. After making the false voter records, the criminals responsible for embedding the algorithm in the database can hide the false records so that they can be recovered by an algorithm locator number known only to the criminals. The criminals favorite targets for creating duplicate clone voter records are inactive voters, deceased voters, and voters who have moved out of the state. By creating duplicate clones of these records, the criminals have exploited a voter record that should have been purged to produce a second nonexistent voter registration duplicate that can be double-voted in mail-in ballot schemes that are difficult to detect. State officials turning a blind eye to the late dropping of thousands of mail-in votes favorable to Democrats strive to block forensic examination of the mail-in ballots that almost certainly would have detected the fraud by identifying mail-in ballots that were never mailed, signatures on mail-in ballots that do not match signatures on registration cards, failure to date mail-in ballots properly, and in community canvassing to see if qualified registered voters live at the addresses to which the fraudulent mail-in ballots were supposed to have been mailed. Searching the Wisconsin SBOE voter registration database, Paquette discovered that a search of voter names and phone numbers yielded 2,471,519 matched clone voter records in a database of 7,744,986 voter records, nearly one-third of the SBOE voter records on file. Startled by these results, Paquette commented: Wisconsins clone records significantly outnumber those in other states, potentially matching New Yorks total despite having only a third as many registered voters. This fare exceeds any normal error rate or acceptable administrative standard. Alarmingly, new clone records have increased dramatically year-over-year for over two decades, potentially surpassing legal registrations within years. Paquette continued: These findings indicate potentially unethical management of Wisconsins voter roll records. Regardless of intent, the algorithms use creates a hidden classification system for data segregation, posing a security risk. The large number of cloned records exacerbates this risk, as such records would be of particular interest to those seeking to misuse voter rolesa concern recently realized when Wisconsin mailed absentee ballots to inactive voters. In a statement issued on November 13, Hovde objected: Since last Wednesday, numerous parties have reached out to me about voting inconsistencies, such as certain voting precincts in Milwaukee having a turnout of over 150% of registered voters, and in some cases, over 200%. Additionally, in 2020, President Biden received 10 million more votes than Vice President Harris did last Tuesday. Yet in Milwaukee, even though the population has declined and registered voters decreased by 26,330, and early voting numbers were down, somehow, Harris received only 1,100 fewer votes than Biden did, which is not consistent with most major cities. This was accomplished by same-day registration that surged by almost 50% on a rainy day. Many people have reached out and urged me to contest the election. On Monday, November 18, Hovde conceded without asking for a recount. Since the margin of defeat was less than 1 percent, he would have had to pay for the recount. In the 12 days between the election and the concession, Hovde was heavily criticized for not conceding immediately. Sam Liebert, the leftist Wisconsin state director for All Voting Is Local, charged at a news conference that Hovdes statements constituted a direct attempt to cast doubt on our fair and free elections and said that Hovdes refusal to concede is not only disappointing but also unnecessary. Another problem for Hovde is that a recount would not allow a forensic examination of the mail-in ballots, while a computer search of falsified mail-in votes would be certified because the state ID numbers assigned false clone voters would show up within the SBOE computers with matching numbers requesting a mail-in ballot and casting a ballot with the same number that was tabulated. Moreover, Wisconsin has a 45-day window to complete certification, allowing very little time to organize a challenge to the federal district courts to challenge the election results on suspicion that a large enough number of algorithm-assisted clone voting records could be found in a forensic examination of the mail-in ballots to substantiate claims of election fraud. Final counts showed 108,000 absentee and provisional ballots from Milwaukee in the early hours of Wednesday, November 6, went 82 percent for Baldwin, according to the Milwaukee Election Commissiona percentage perhaps calculated to be more in line with the 75 percent of the in-person votes cast for Baldwin in Milwaukee on election day. In conclusion, those playing 21 in a casino found to be using marked cards have a justifiable claim that the casino cannot prove the player lost any hand played. Similarly, how can anyone certify any election as legitimate based on an SBOE voter registration database riddled with clandestine cryptographic algorithms, in which nearly one-third of all voter records are suspected to be illegal duplicates? How could the SBOE officials possibly prove Hovde lost when cryptographic algorithms could have been responsible for producing a suspicious early morning drop containing enough fraudulent mail-in ballots from Milwaukee to steal an election from Hovdean election Hovde had been winning until the suspicious drop occurred? A criminal investigation in which an honest forensic examination of the SBOE computers and the mail-in physical ballots should provide helpful information to answer these outstanding questions. In full disclosure, our offer to assist a Hovde campaign challenge to the election results has not resulted in a response from the Hovde campaign to proceed. We at GodsFiveStones.com reserve the right to present our findings to any criminal investigation of election fraud that a reconstituted Department of Justice under Trump administration control may care to pursue. Image: X screen grab. GodsFiveStones.com is a tax-deductible 501(c)3 foundation created by Jerome R. Corsi, Ph.D., and Karladine Graves, M.D., managed by Capstone Legacy Foundation. As reported on GodsFiveStones.com, Andrew Paquette, Ph.D., has discovered cryptographic algorithms in the State Board of Elections voter registration databases in New York, Ohio, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Arizona and yet to be reported in New Jersey, Texas, and Hawaii. As noted in a statement on Donald J. Trumps election victory published on November 8, 2024, Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano explained that the algorithms allowed false voter registrations to be printed and concealed, which could be used in various election fraud schemes, including counting absentee ballots by nonexistent voters. By exposing the scheme, Dr. Corsi prevented the creation of millions of fraudulent votes for Kamala Harris. In a recent news, we learned that the murderous Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua (TdA) is now in 16 states in the U.S., committing crimes openly and brazenly. These gang members many horrific acts include robbery and murder, gang rape, assaults, shakedowns, burying people alive, and even beheadings and public executions. They are reputed to be more violent than the notorious Salvadoran gang MS-13. TdA first gained notoriety on August 18, when a video showed gang members wandering through an Aurora, Colorado apartment building, brandishing guns, knocking on doors, even breaking off locks and entering apartments unbidden. In this instance, it appears they were shaking down residents for their rent money with threats of violence and the lethal weapons to make good on them. It turns out this apartment building in Aurora was one of three that TdA had taken over. While residents and people in neighboring communities voiced fear for their safety and the safety of their families, apologists pooh-poohed and minimized the incidents. Many in the mainstream media soft-pedaled the gangs presence, claiming theyre not terrorists but just petty criminals. The mayor of Aurora and a City Council member downplayed the threat in their official newsletter. The position several in the left media took was that the furor over TdA was overblown. They werent taking over cities; they were just terrorizing them. So that made it all right. I remember having a discussion on Facebook with a friend who had a similar rationalization: It was just one apartment building. It wasnt the whole town. No big deal. This is a bright, conservative man. I was dumbfounded. I wanted to echo Chris Pratt in the movie Jurassic World, after Vincent DOnofrios character goes on an insane rant: Do you hear yourself when you talk? Shortly after the criminal exploits of Tren de Aragua came to light, it was learned that they were a more pervasive presence than originally known, and experts postulated that it would take ten years to root them out and fully remove them from the country. Now theyre in 16 states, most recently in Washington, D.C., Virginia, Wyoming, Montana, and in every major city in Tennessee. With this expansion, we can only imagine how much more difficult it will be now to rid our country of this human plague. Although President-Elect Trump has vowed to deport every criminal illegal alien in the country, TdA presents a unique danger to our immigration and law enforcement agencies: What sets this group apart is the level of violence. Theyre aggressive, theyre hungry and they dont know any boundaries because theyve been allowed to spread their wings without any confrontation from law enforcement until now. (Wes Tabor, retired DEA agent) These are violent sociopaths, even psychopathic killers, with no social or moral constraints. Tren de Aragua was born in a Venezuelan prison, a hellhole of violence and brutality. Violence is their currency and trade. If we thought law enforcement faced challenges during the Minneapolis riots, or pursuing criminals in Chicago, those dangers pale in comparison to the soldiers of Tren de Aragua. How did these despicable monsters gain such a presence all over America? We have DHS director Alejandro Mayorkas to thank for that, aided and abetted by Vice President Kamala Harris, President Bidens inept border czar. Their willful dereliction of duty in securing our porous southern border is directly responsible for enabling this human pestilence to invade our country, putting millions of Americans at risk. And they are still slipping into the country in numbers we cant imagine. Instead of ten years to remove all of them from the country, perhaps we now must think in terms of twenty years...or more. Its chilling to imagine all the acts of terror, murder, assault, rape, and robbery they will perpetrate in the coming decades, not to mention all the men and women of our law enforcement agencies who will face death and torture from these psychotic animals. All Americans should be outraged at Alejandro Mayorkas. We have watched numerous televised congressional investigations in which Mayorkas lied outright to the committee and the American people time after time, claiming that the border was secure, despite the millions of aliens who continued to pour into the country illegally, hundreds caught on camera by Fox News reporters and other news outlets. When not lying outright, Mayorkas dodged every question that would have revealed his dereliction of duty. But nothing unnerved him. He was cool as ice (pardon the pun). His smug smirk and baleful eyes revealed an arrogant, cold, calculating mind that was able to stonewall and rebuff every question. It was hard for American viewers to stomach. Republicans in Congress couldnt stomach it, either. After a first failed attempt, the House of Representatives impeached Mayorkas on its second try, alleging willful and systemic refusal to comply with the law. As to be expected, the Democrat-controlled Senate let Mayorkas off on a point of order, claiming that the articles of impeachment failed to comply with the U.S. Constitution: they didnt allege that Mayorkass conduct rose to the level of a high crime or misdemeanor. But its not just his bald-faced lying directly to our faces, nor his escape from impeachment, that should most infuriate Americans. Above all, we should be outraged that Mayorkass willful dereliction of duty. His purposeful contravention of U.S. immigration laws is directly responsible for the deaths of hundreds of United States citizens during his tenure at DHS. The Federation for American Immigration Reform documents that just this year, from January to August, there were over 60 deaths, shootings, or assaults of Americans by illegal aliens, with more than 60 just through August. At that rate, there could be close to 100 by the end of December. And we can add the illegal alien who has now been convicted of brutally murdering Augusta University nursing student Laken Riley. The blood of every one of those victims has stained Alejandro Mayorkas hands indelibly. And to paraphrase Shakespeare, not all great Neptunes ocean will wash this blood clean. If Mayorkas had not allowed those criminal aliens to cross into America illegally, the probability is that the people murdered by these monsters including Laken Riley would still be alive. The rest wouldve been spared the shootings and assaults. And the most heartbreaking aspect of his crime is that there will be more brutal deaths to come, even after President-Elect Trump boots him from the Cabinet. Politicians are often concerned with the legacy they will leave after their term in office. Alejandro Mayorkas legacy is death. Eric Dawe is an award-winning writer, chess enthusiast, and Shakespeare buff and the author of two historical novels based on Virgils epic poem The Aeneid: Aeneas, Last King of Troy, and Aeneas, Landfall of Legend. Image via Picryl. The trend is your friend. And if there's any question that Jaguar's wretched wokester makeover, complete with a creepy new ad failed to read the room, note that right now, the edgiest, hippest new ads for products are ... from Volvo, and Bud Light. One is unabashedly promoting classic family values. The other is mocking wokery, and made me laugh out loud. Take a gander: Volvo posted a 3 min and 46 second ad on Instagram, shot by Hoyte Van Hoytema, the cinematographer of Interstellar and Oppenheimer. It goes against every single rule you can think about as a social lead. Length. Format. Over-produced. Every comment under the ad said it pic.twitter.com/wkmghuP4ye Guillaume Huin (@HuinGuillaume) November 21, 2024 ... Bud Light has released a commercial mocking the woke culture Thoughts? pic.twitter.com/JqPI2qJt3U American AF (@iAnonPatriot) November 21, 2024 Volvo is a nice car that has always been known for its safety features. Tying the car (which is shown driving around) to family values, responsibility, love, and fearlessly facing the future, is a perfect match, and bound to bring in buyers. Bud Light, which has a major cleanup job following its Dylan Mulvaney fiasco, obviously has a new ad team -- and they'd like to show their viewers that no, they're not woke anymore, they're people just like their customers, normal as can be amid a sea of weirdo fashion-trendy screaming. Both ads are bound to raise the image of their products with their audiences and with it, their potential to become customers. That's the trend right now, just as non-woke movies seem to be making something of a comeback among those quarters that would like to make money. What it highlights is that the Jaguar ad: ... is hopelessly out of touch. And it didn't have to be that way -- actually, they could have credibly and effectively done the opposite. These observations from what appears to be a professional ad man on Twitter really drive home that woke is out, and classic is now in: 5: There is no better time for a classic brand to differentiate itself from the automotive market by doubling down on its unbroken history of classic styling, premium quality, and local manufacturing... Especially since it is the only thing this brand has left. Isaac TRexArms (@IsaacBotkin) November 20, 2024 Had they gone the opposite path than the one they did, they'd be riding the crest of a trend. Instead, they embraced 'woke' and the results speak for themselves. British BREXIT political leader Nigel Farage, who's also on the rise in grossly wokester Britain, has with a stock trading background, and he stated what he thought was in the wind for the wokester at Jag, too: Mark my words, Jaguar will go bust. pic.twitter.com/DP5zUL0Y7B Nigel Farage MP (@Nigel_Farage) November 20, 2024 No kidding. Image: Twitter / X screen shot Zooey Zephyr, whose real name is Zachary Raasch, is a trans legislator currently holding a seat in the Montana House, and in light of the hullabaloo in Washington D.C. surrounding the battle over the bathrooms and which ones the males dressed in ladies clothing should be using, Raasch dropped this zinger: I literally just got out of meetings with members of Congress & used the bathroom on my way out. Trans women are womenfull stop. We're every bit as "biologically female" as cis women & @SpeakerJohnson's statement doesn't change the fact that women's spaces include trans women. https://t.co/B4gpBkuXRo Rep. Zooey Zephyr (@ZoAndBehold) November 20, 2024 Raasch claims that he is every bit as biologically female as the gal next to him except biologically speaking hes not. A quick search engine inquiry for the definition of biologically reveals that for something to be biological, it must be inherited or innate those are Googles words, not mine. And, the chromosomes that Raasch inherited from his biological parents are X and Y, meaning hes innately male. It doesnt matter if he lops off his reproductive organs and appendages, grows his hair out, and dresses like a girl, he is immutably male. He can slather makeup all over his face, put on some costume jewelry, and wear high heels, but hes still just a man in drag. Sex is an inherited genetic disposition, and that cannot be changed, even if you alter surface-level appearances, reject reality, and attempt to coerce others into participating and going along with your disturbing sexual fantasies. Whats also worth noting is Raaschs appropriation of terms, referring to himself as a biological woman and legitimately biological females as cis[gender] women. Since its hard to keep up with all the leftist gobbledygook, cisgender refers to someone whose identity matches their biological sexin other words, someone without a crippling identity crisis or gender dysphoria mental illness. Its also interesting that Raaschs use of the term cis hearkens back to a biological reality since after all, cisgender can only be defined in the context of two distinct biological sexes. Ironic, no? Ill never understand the leftist women who support this madnesson the one hand, theyll argue that men are dangerous creatures who will go to great lengths to victimize and abuse women, but dont bat an eye when a mentally ill man dresses up like a girl and demands access to the spaces where women are most vulnerable. At this point though, how do you reason with someone who actually vocalizes such absurd claims? Spoiler alert, you dont. Image: Free image, Pixabay license. In a win for lawfully conducted elections, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court stepped in on Monday to stop election officials from counting deficient mail-in and absentee ballots. The emergency order came after Bucks County decided to go rogue and count illegal ballots in the race for U.S. Senate between Republican Dave McCormick and incumbent Democrat Senator Bob Casey. The Associated Press had already declared McCormick the winner of the race. Notably, Centre, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties allegedly also overlooked the deficiencies. State law requires a handwritten date on the outer return envelope containing a ballot. The 4-3 decision on Nov. 18 from the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in the Middle District ordered all 67 county boards of elections to comply with prior rulings of this Court in which we have clarified that mail-in and absentee ballots that fail to comply with the requirements of Pennsylvania Election Code, SHALL NOT BE COUNTED for purposes of the election held on November 5, 2024. The Republican National Committee and the Republican Party of Pennsylvania were Petitioners in the case. Justice Kevin Brobson, joined by Justices David Wecht and Sally Updyke Mundy, emphasized that election officials must follow the Election Code, I write separately to disabuse local elections officials of the notion that they have the authority to ignore Election Code provisions that they believe are unconstitutional, Brobson wrote. Only the courts under our charter may declare a statute, or provision thereof, unconstitutional. The decision ordering all 67 counties in Pennsylvania to follow the law was likely in response to a widely distributed Nov. 14 statement from a Bucks County Board Commission Chair named Diane Ellis-Marseglia, who indicated in a recent Board of Commissioners meeting she would ignore Election Code provisions. In a somewhat puerile statement, Ellis-Marseglia seemed to imply that because some people break the law, she too could also ignore laws that exclude deficient ballots in election counts. Ellis-Marseglia is currently in her fifth term on the Bucks County Board of Commissioners. During the meeting, Ellis-Marseglia seconded another members motion to reject certain categories of ballots, including deficient mail-in ballots. The Nov. 14 commission debate to include the ballots concerned approximately 400 deficient ballots. Ellis-Marseglia seconded the motion with the following statement: Yeah, Im going to second that, mostly because I think we all know that precedent by a court doesn't matter anymore in this country and people violate laws anytime they want. So for me, if I violate this law, it's because I want a court to pay attention to it. Ellis-Marseglia later apologized but also said her comment was inartfully worded and taken out of context. Perhaps some of the confusion over whether to count deficient ballots came from a state appeals court that in October ruled undated ballots should be counted. Notably, however, the October 30, 2024 order was narrowly directed for a special election. The October 30 decision ordered the Philadelphia County Board of Elections to count the undated mail-in ballots cast by two Appellees, Brian T. Baxter and Susan T. Kinniry and the absentee and mail-in ballots cast by the other 67 qualified electors whose ballots were rejected due to outer envelope dating errors in the September 17, 2024 Special Election. The fuzzy language the court used may have left the door open for the November election. The court wrote that it was not being asked to make changes with respect to the impending 2024 General Election. Image: Thomas Nast Joe Biden is at that stage of his presidency where, like the old man that he is, he can do whatever he darn well please. He's 83. His party threw him out. He's on his way out from the White House with a big pension, lifetime Secret Service protection, and a big state funeral. In short, he owes no one. He has no need "to be good" because political horsetrading is over, he needs nothing, and no one needs him. So what does Biden do? Showers a Planned Parenthood operative with U.S. honors -- away from the public eye. In a secret ceremony, Joe Biden awarded the former CEO of Americas biggest abortion business. Biden presented the nations highest civilian award to Cecile Richards, who ran the Planned Parenthood abortion giant for years and was responsible for it killing millions of babies. The ceremony was not listed on Mr. Bidens public schedule, nor was his decision to award the medal to Ms. Richards publicly announced until after the presentation, the Washington Times reported. Members of the media were not invited to watch the ceremony, which was not live-streamed on the White House website. With absolute courage and conviction, Cecile Richards fearlessly leads us forward to be the America we say we are a nation of freedom, Mr. Biden said in a statement. Carrying her parents torch for justice, shes led some of our nations most important civil rights causes to lift up the dignity of workers, defend and advance womens reproductive rights and equality and mobilize Americans to exercise their power to vote. So abortion is no longer a "regrettable necessity" or "private" and "agonizing" decision in this person's mind, it's a celebratory act of affirmation to be told to all. What's more, this person did a lot to ensure that everyone out there without certain scruples got one. She's reportedly responsible for 314,000 abortions, which involve an agonizing death for the baby involved and often the cutting up of the baby and selling him or her for spare parts to morally unconcerned medical researchers. LifeSite News noted that Planned Parenthood was recently caught doing this: Yesterday Joe Biden gave Planned Parenthood CEO Cecile Richards a Presidential Medal of Freedom. Today Planned Parenthood was caught selling 23-week-old aborted babies for research. What kind of "devout Catholic" does this? pic.twitter.com/gLVFJNSakd LifeNews.com (@LifeNewsHQ) November 21, 2024 It's quite an ugly way for Biden to end his presidency. Nominally a "Catholic," Biden has done more than any atheist or Wicca practitioner to promote abortion and ensure that there's lots of it. Like the pope in reverse, he never wavered even once from his commitment to its propagation during his miserable presidency. Yet for much of his long career in politics, he's favored abortion with at least a few restrictions in what was said to be a moderate stance. No more. He looks through all the lists of people he could honor as president on his way out of office, and picks the fanatic from Planned Parenthood to bestow the medal on for public "service." Yet he also understood that honoring this baby slaughterer would be repulsive to much of the public, so he chose to give her the honor in secret. Well, it got out. And now he stands exposed as completely sincere in his devotion to abortion on demand, including partial birth abortion, infanticide for abortion survivors, abortion up to the day of birth and all the other extremist stances the abortion crowd has tried to foist on us, all the while taking public money and finding it very lucrative indeed. So much for the president as a devout Catholic, as Jen Psaki once said of him. Did he jingle his rosary beads he claims to carry in his pocket when decided to honor her? Is this his way of honoring St. Cecilia, virgin and martyr, on her feast day today? (The Planned Parenthood official's name is Cecile.) That's the same saint whose name was desecrated by trans activists at St. Patrick's cathedral a while back. Lucky St. Cecilia. Or was he always a hypocrite, the man who raised Hunter Biden with Hunter Biden's "values" and pretended he was a moderate on life issues? Now that he's heading for the exits with nothing to lose -- and nothing to gain, actually -- it looks like the latter. Image: Twitter screen shot Tech giants like Google, Microsoft, and Apple have been on the receiving end of the European Union (EU) lately. Amazon, on the other hand, is already a scanner of antitrust regulators in the US. But, it seems a new problem is already knocking on its doors. According to a recent report by Reuters, the EU is likely to start an antitrust investigation against Amazon in 2025. Amazon is likely to face an antitrust investigation by the EU in 2025 for alleged violation of the DMA The EU is reportedly planning to investigate the company for violating the Digital Markets Act (DMA). The report suggests that the EU isnt very happy with Amazons practice of promoting and offering its products ahead of other third-party sellers in its online store. The incoming EU antitrust chief Teresa Ribera will reportedly make the decision to start the investigation. Ribera will take the chair of the current EU antitrust chief, Margrethe Vestager, who is stepping down after serving two terms. If the EU finds Amazon guilty in this matter, the company may have to pay a fine of up to 10% of its global annual turnover. Amazon denies any wrongdoing Meanwhile, Amazon has denied any wrongdoing. The company says it is compliant with the DMA and has been working in line with the EU rules. In addition, Amazon has previously said that its ranking algorithms dont differentiate between its products and those from third-party sellers. For those unaware, the European Commission introduced the DMA last year. One of its provisions restricts major tech giants from giving preference to their products and services on their platforms. Besides antitrust allegations, the US Congress recently criticized Amazon for its ties with TikTok. Time will tell how Amazon approaches this whole situation. But from the looks of it, 2025 could be a challenging year for the online retail giant. Every so often, the tech industry leaves us with funny news stories because of how surreal they are. Currently, artificial intelligence-based developments are quite prevalent in our daily lives. So, it was only a matter of time before something related rose. A Minnesota law that attacks AI-generated realistic contentalso known as deepfakesmight have been written by an AI. An AI could have written Minnesotas anti-deepfake law The law in question is titled Use of Deep Fake Technology to Influence An Election. Ironically, it is being challenged for showing traces of generative AI in its content. The appeal does not mention drafting paragraphs with AI. However, there are citations to studies that do not actually exist. Its possible that the studies mentioned are the result of the AI platforms hallucinations. In artificial intelligence, hallucinations are segments of incorrect information or directly invented by the service. AI chatbot developers work hard to reduce these to a minimum in order to deliver the most accurate output possible. However, a small percentage of inaccurate responses still occur due to hallucinations. Citations to non-existent sources could be the product of AI hallucinations As reported by The Minnesota Reformer, the judge in the case, General Keith Ellison, asked Jeff Hancock, founding director of the Stanford Social Media Lab, for a submission to the law. However, it soon became apparent that non-existent studies were present among the citations. The document cited studies such as The Influence of Deepfake Videos on Political Attitudes and Behavior from the Journal of Information Technology & Politics. There is no record of such a study. Another citation, Deepfakes and the Illusion of Authenticity: Cognitive Processes Behind Misinformation Acceptance, also does not exist. The citation bears the hallmarks of being an artificial intelligence (AI) hallucination, suggesting that at least the citation was generated by a large language model like ChatGPT, argue lawyers for Mary Fransonrepresentative of the state of Minnesotaand Mr. Reagan, a conservative YouTuber. Plaintiffs do not know how this hallucination wound up in Hancocks declaration, but it calls the entire document into question, especially when much of the commentary contains no methodology or analytic logic whatsoever, the appeal to the law says. Google is in the middle of an antitrust case that could see the company one search engine lighter. However, the U.S. DOJ (Department Of Justice) doesnt only have its axe to the search giants neck, as Apple also needs to fend off an antitrust suit. Apple urged the DOJ not dismiss its antitrust case to the courts. If mega corporations are the bullies on the playground kicking over the smaller kids sand castles, then regulators are the tired parents pulling the bullies ears. As big as large corporations are, governmental regulators have the power to knock them down a peg. Apple has been battling with EU regulators over how it manages the App Store among other things. This latest antitrust lawsuit alleges something that weve all known for a while. It says that Apple maintains a Monopoly on the smartphone market by locking customers in its ecosystem and raising prices. Also, the company limits the functionality of third-party smartwatches, only offering a full experience with the Apple Watch. This case is a long time coming, some people feel. Apple urged the DOJ not to dismiss its antitrust case An antitrust this big could have a major effect on the company and its future plans, so you can bet that Mr. Tim Cook wont take it sitting down. According to a new report, Apple reached out to a federal judge, asking it to dismiss the case its built against it. The company argued that theres no concrete evidence of any wrongdoing. The DOJ held a hearing on Wednesday, and DOJ counsel Jonathan Lasken stated that The court is allowed to use common sense. He continued, Were here today based on the idea that its not plausible that [Apple] has monopoly power, but instead is at the mercy of supposed global behemoths who are a fraction of its size. Building a superior product Back in August, Apple argued that this case is outlandish. [This case] is based on the false premise that iPhones success has come not through building a superior product that consumers trust and love, but through Apples intentional degradation of iPhone to block purported competitive threats. This characterizes exactly what the company does, according to many people. We cant deny that iPhones are technical marvels. Theyre some of the best phones on the market. The question is: Why does Apple need to hinder the messaging experience for Android users and block third-party smartwatches? If the iPhone is purely superior, why pull underhanded moves like those? Apple is a massive company; however, its block certain functionality for much smaller companies that just want to have a chance to compete. No smartwatch can touch the Apple Watchs market share, and this is partly because third-party companies are operating on a handicap. Apple flatters the competition Apple also argued that the companies it harmed as well-capitalized social media companies, big banks, and global gaming developers. So, it says that the companies affected by its actions arent quite small. The thing is that this doesnt characterize the entirety of the competition. There are many small companies being hindered by Apple. The District Court Judge will hold the power over the decision. Judge Julien Xavier Neals says that he wants to make the decision before January. This gives him just over a month to bring down the gavel. It makes sense that he wants to make this decision quickly, as January is when America gets a new driver for the next four years, so this could have an effect on the final decision. Apple and Samsung continued to dominate the US smartphone market in Q3 2024. Apple maintained a substantial 53% market share, while Samsung lagged at 23%. Despite an overall decline in the market, Apples consistent performance stood out, allowing the company to retain its dominance amid fierce competition. Apple continued leadership in Q3 2024, and Samsung came second The latest report, which covers the period from July to September, shows the iPhone makers unwavering lead, despite a 5% decline in overall smartphone shipments. Samsung experienced a notable 13% drop in shipments YoY in Q3 2024. This decline followed a high point of 31% market share in Q1, driven by the early success of the Galaxy S24 series. Despite launching its Z series foldable devices in July, the South Korean giant struggled to sustain momentum amid increased competition in the prepaid segment. Counterpoint Research identified Motorola, owned by Lenovo, as a key competitor chipping away at Samsungs market share. Motorolas shipments rose 21% YoY, bolstered by the strong performance of its budget-friendly Moto G Play 2024. The US smartphone market remains polarized, with Apple and Samsung dominating most of the pie. Together, they accounted for 76% of the total market in Q3 2024. Motorola claimed 14%, a record high for the brand in recent years. Other brands, including HMD and smaller players grouped under Others, collectively held 10%. Apples consistent market share reflects its ability to weather changing market dynamics. However, its shipments also declined by 5% YoY, attributed to softer sales compared to previous quarters. Despite these challenges, the companys dominance remains unmatched, thanks partly to strong customer loyalty and a robust ecosystem. The iPhone 16 series will significantly impact the tech giants Q4 results in 2024. Motorola marked significant growth YoY Motorola, owned by Lenovo, marked a significant year-over-year growth of 21% in Q3 2024. Its success stems from improved performance in the prepaid segment, particularly with the Moto G Play 2024. This uptick propelled Lenovo to a 14% market share, making it the only major player to show substantial growth during the quarter. Motorolas growth contrasts sharply with the stagnation of other brands. This suggests shifting consumer preferences toward value-oriented devices as economic uncertainties persist. The Q3 2024 report underscores the polarized nature of the US smartphone market. Apple and Samsung together control over three-quarters of the market, leaving little room for other brands. Motorola is the only other significant player, while smaller manufacturers, including HMD and Google, account for marginal shares. Googles shipments increased by 19% YoY, aided by the early launch of the Pixel 9 series in Q3. However, this growth has yet to translate into a notable shift in market share. As reports surface of Russia and Ukraine striking each other with missiles, concerns have also grown about North Korean troops' support for Moscow in the war. On Friday, South Korea's National Security Adviser Shin Won-sik said in exchange for military assistance, President Vladimir Putin has supplied Pyongyang with air-defense equipment and anti-air missiles. "North Korea appears to have received equipment and antiaircraft missiles to bolster its weak air defense in Pyongyang," Shin said in an interview with SBS. He also added that the deal reportedly included economic aid and access to Russian military spy satellite technology. According to two South Korean lawmakers, citing a briefing from Seoul's intelligence agency, nearly 11,000 North Korean soldiers have been sent to Russia's Kursk region, with some already engaged in combat against Ukrainian forces. However, the exact number of troops is yet to be confirmed. On Thursday, Ukraine claimed that Russia had launched an ICBM missile targeting Dnipro. However, no confirmation was made by Russia. Later, Putin said that they had fired a "ballistic missile with a non-nuclear hypersonic warhead" with a medium range. In a stark warning, Putin said that the missile was fired in response to Ukraine's use of US and British-French long-range weapons. "Our missilemen called it 'Oreshnik,'" he added, claiming Ukraine has "no means" to counter the new "Oreshnik" missiles. Russia informed the United States about its missile launch in advance through the National Nuclear Risk Reduction Center, according to statements from both the Kremlin and the Pentagon. "The warning was sent in a standing automatic mode 30 minutes before the launch," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said, according to CNN. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned Russia's deployment of a new ballistic missile, calling it "a clear and severe escalation in the scale and brutality of this war." Ukraine's foreign ministry added that Kyiv has "the full right under international law to target any legitimate military objectives within Russian territory" using long-range missiles. Meanwhile, the United Nations described Russia's use of the weapon as "another concerning and worrying development." Governments around the globe are pulling strings on social media platforms over their effects on the mental health of teenagers. Whats happening recently with TikTok is the perfect example to sum up the ongoing situation. That said, its not alone. Other giants including Meta have been treated similarly. Now, Australia is doing something big in this regard. Today, Australias majority party introduced a bill in parliament that would ban teenagers under 16 from using social media. Australias Labor Party proposes a bill to ban teenagers below 16 years from using social media The proposed bill would directly impact top social media apps like Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and X. From the looks of it, Australia wants to hold the platforms accountable instead of parents and children. Its worth noting that repeated violations of the proposed law would attract a hefty fine of up to AUD 49.5 million ($32.2 million). The Labor Partys bill also requires platforms to destroy the collected data of underage users. There are a few exemptions, though. Teenagers below 16 will have access to social media apps promoting online gaming, messaging, health, and education-related services. This includes the young mental health support app HeadSpace, Googles YouTube, and Google Classroom. Reuters reports that Australia also plans to trial a different age verification system. The new system may require users to provide biometrics or government identifications to prove they meet the set social media age cut-off. The news agency further notes that this law is some of toughest controls imposed by any country to date. There are no exemptions in regard to parental consent Its worth noting that the proposed bill would have no exemption for parental consent or pre-existing accounts. In a statement, Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese said, This is a landmark reform. We know some kids will find workarounds, but were sending a message to social media companies to clean up their act. Speaking in parliament, Communications Minister, Michelle Rowland said, For too many young Australians, social media can be harmful. Almost two-thirds of 14 to 17-year-old Australians have viewed extremely harmful content online, including drug abuse, suicide or self-harm. He further added, Social media has a social responsibility, thats why we are making big changes to hold platforms to account for user safety. Worth noting that the opposition Liberal Party supports the new bill, while the Green Party has criticized it and seeks more details about it. Several countries around the globe are already working towards curbing excessive use of social media by children. However, Australias law now stands as one of the most stringent. Google has canceled the Pixel Tablet 2, claims a new report, allegedly relying on insider information. The primary reason behind canceling an unreleased product could be poor profit predictions. Google may have canceled the Pixel Tablet 2 Google released the first-ever Pixel Tablet last year. It is a decent large-screen Android tablet that benefits from blazing-fast updates. Multiple reports indicated Google was readying the second generation of the tablet next year. The search giant was rumored to be planning for an early 2025 release of the Pixel Tablet 2. Interestingly, even the third generation was reportedly in the very early stages of development, with a tentative release planned for 2027. However, a report emerged yesterday, claiming Google canceled development on the Pixel Tablet 3. According to Android Authority, Google hasnt canceled the third iteration of the tablet. Instead, Google allegedly wont release the Pixel Tablet 2. Why wont Google release the second-generation tablet? There are several Android tablet makers in the market today. Devices from Xiaomi, Samsung, and many other reputed brands have a lot to offer. Moreover, Android tablets are available at multiple price points. Google has been building Android OS for large-screen devices. Not just for foldable devices, Android is steadily being modeled to work well on large portable devices. Features such as Desktop Windowing should be available in Android 15 QPR1, expected to arrive next month. All this development suggests Android tablets have a future. Hence, it is baffling to hear Google terminating the second generation of the Pixel Tablet. It appears Google is unsure of the financial viability of the Pixel Tablet 2. Specifically speaking, Google is not moving ahead reportedly over concerns that the company would lose money on it. Recent reports about the Pixel Tablet 2, suggested Google wasnt going to mess with the external form factor, and perhaps even the aspect ratio of the display. The company was merely going to upgrade the chipset and the camera module. However, this time, Google was reportedly going to sell an official keyboard accessory. All big brands have confidential information about their developments. This allows them to stay competitive in the industry or have technological advantages over their rivals. As one of the biggest names in the industry, Google has many of these in its portfolio. In a recent development, Google is suing an ex-engineer for stealing and revealing secrets related to Pixel chips. Google sues ex-engineer for leaking confidential data about Pixel chips Harshit Roy, the defendant, appears to have a personal vendetta against Google. The lawsuit claims that the former engineer at the company has been disseminating threatening messages, occasionally accompanied by classified information about Pixel device chips. When sharing the confidential data, Roy tagged the accounts of rival companies like Apple and Qualcomm, presumably to maximize the potential harm of his disclosure, Google says. After an investigation, we found that this former employee stole numerous documents, and were pursuing legal action against them for the repeated and unauthorized disclosure of confidential company information, said Jose Castaneda, a Google spokesperson. Harshit Roy worked with Google from 2020 to early 2024. In February, the former engineer resigned and moved from India to the United States. The document filed by Google compiles some of the threatening content against the company. Phrases like I need to take unethical means to get what I am entitled to and remember that empires fall and so will you were read on his X/Twitter account. Dont expect me to adhere to any confidentiality agreement, Roy said defiantly in another post. The company is seeking financial compensation and a cease and desist This behavior is something we will simply not tolerate, said the Google spokesperson. The Mountain View giant reportedly first tried to request the removal of the content. However, the defendant ignored the requests. The former engineer started his posts against the brand in October. Multiple media outlets have echoed the revealed secrets, increasing the potential damage. With the lawsuit, Google seeks monetary damages for an unspecified amount and injunctions prohibiting Roy from continuing what he is doing. The company filed the case before a U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas. This didnt only affect Tensor chips Tensor chips are one of the foundations of Googles current smartphone business. The public does not place the highest value on Tensor chips, as some models have shown performance and thermal management below the competition. The company aims to improve this with its future move to TSMC factories. In fact, the Tensor G4 powering the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro has already improved a lot in both sections. Anyway, there are more chips besides Tensor in Pixel smartphones. There is hardware that controls multiple other functions. For instance, the Titan security chips that continuously verify the devices boot sequence among other functions. A national blue plaque celebrating the life and achievements of inspirational actor and film star Cary Grant is being unveiled at his early childhood home. It will shine a light on the rags to riches story of Archie Leach the boy from Bristol who ran away from home at 14 and joined an acrobatic troupe. He travelled to America and reinvented himself as Cary Grant, becoming one of the brightest stars that Hollywood has ever known. Grant was born in the Horfield area of Bristol in 1904 to a working-class family and escaped his unhappy poverty-stricken childhood by joining an acrobatic troupe. With his signature tan, suave and sophisticated style, he was the consummate leading man who came to symbolise the authentic American hero. A blue plaque will adorn Cary Grants early childhood home (Historic England) But despite his fame, Grant never forgot his roots in Bristol. He visited regularly, returning to see his mother Elsie, and happily posed for publicity photos in his native city. The new blue plaque is being unveiled by Historic England at his early childhood home of 50 Berkeley Road, Bishopston. He moved there when he was four and lived there until 1909 or 1910. The inscription on the plaque reads: CARY GRANT / (Archie Leach) /19041986 / Actor and Film Star / lived here / as a child. Barbara Jaynes, Grants widow, said: Cary often spoke fondly of his childhood in Bristol, where his journey began. He cherished the memories of his early years, and I can only imagine the joy he would have felt knowing that his roots would be commemorated in such a meaningful way. Carys charisma, talent, and charm captivated audiences worldwide, yet he always remained grounded and proud of his origins. He would have been delighted to see his childhood home recognised, serving as an inspiration for future generations to dream big and pursue their passions. This national blue plaque is a beautiful tribute to his humble beginnings and the extraordinary path he forged in Hollywood and beyond. Jennifer Grant, Grants daughter, said: My father would be thrilled to receive the honour of the national blue plaque placed on his home. Duncan Wilson, chief executive of Historic England, said: His iconic performances are part of film history but before his meteoric rise to fame in Hollywood, he had humble origins. Through this blue plaque we can physically memorialise and celebrate this remarkable actors connection to Bristol. Heritage minister Sir Chris Bryant, who will unveil the plaque, added: With impeccable style, charisma and talent as vast as the Atlantic, Cary Grant embodied the silver screen star persona better than many of his American peers. As he himself said, Everyone wants to be Cary Grant. Even I want to be Cary Grant. A box-office favourite, Grant starred alongside Hollywoods leading ladies from the 1930s to the 1960s, including Katharine Hepburn, Ingrid Bergman, Grace Kelly, Deborah Kerr, Sophia Loren and Audrey Hepburn. His hit films established him as a master of screwball comedy, a romantic lead and a box-office favourite who could command top billing and some of the highest fees in Hollywood. The parents of a British lawyer who died after allegedly being served drinks laced with methanol in Laos have said they are devastated by the loss of our beautiful, kind and loving daughter. Simone White, 28, from Orpington, Kent, was one of a number of people taken to hospital after the incident in the popular backpacking town of Vang Vieng last week. Police in Laos have detained the manager and owner of a hostel in connection with the death of Ms White and five others, who are also believed to have been poisoned. In a statement, Ms Whites parents said: We are devastated by the loss of our beautiful, kind and loving daughter Simone. Simone was one of a kind and had the most wonderful energy and spark for life. She was a soul who gave so much to so many and was loved by her family, friends and colleagues. Simone has been taken from us too soon, she will be sorely missed by her brother, grandmother and entire family. Our hearts go out to all other families who have been affected by this terrible tragedy. An officer at Vang Viengs Tourism Police office said no charges have been filed but a number of people have been detained in the case. Staff at the Nana Backpacker Hostel, which is still operating but not accepting new guests, confirmed the manager and owner were among those taken in for questioning. Ms White was a lawyer with global law firm Squire Patton Boggs, whose work involved general commercial matters, and contentious and non-contentious intellectual property law issues, according to the firms website. In a statement, the law firm said: It is with deep sadness that we mourn the tragic passing of our dear friend and colleague Simone White. Simone was a talented colleague with a bright future ahead of her and someone who epitomised (our firms) values. Our thoughts go out to all of Simones family, friends and those colleagues and clients who had the privilege to work with and know Simone. She will be sincerely missed. The FCDO said it was also providing consular assistance to British nationals being treated in hospital after the incident, as well as their families. Five others are currently known to have died, including two Australian teenagers, an American and two Danish tourists. The FCDO said it was in contact with the local authorities regarding the British nationals affected. The Nana Backpacker Hostel in Vang Vieng (Anupam Nath/AP) Those poisoned in the incident are believed to have been served drinks tainted with methanol, which is sometimes used by disreputable bars as a cheaper alternative to ethanol, but can cause severe poisoning or death. Duong Duc Toan, manager of the Nana Backpacker Hostel, said staff were told by other guests that the women were unwell after they failed to check out as planned on November 13, and they arranged transport to a hospital for them. He said the women had joined more than 100 other guests for free shots of Lao vodka offered by the hostel two days earlier. He said no other guest reported any issue, adding the alleged victims had then gone for a night-out, returning in the early hours of the morning. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told parliament that 19-year-old Bianca Jones died after being evacuated from Vang Vieng for treatment in a Thai hospital. A second Australian was reported to have died on Friday following the incident. Australia said several foreign nationals had been victims of methanol poisoning. The US State Department confirmed an American had died and Denmarks Foreign Ministry said two of its citizens also died in the incident in Laos, but neither would comment directly on a link to the methanol poisoning that killed Ms Jones. Thai authorities confirmed Ms Jones died because of a brain swelling due to high levels of methanol found in her system. Landlocked Laos is one of south-east Asias poorest nations and a popular tourist destination. Vang Vieng is particularly popular among backpackers seeking partying and adventure sports. Officials in Laos have released almost no details about the case, with the government keeping a tight lid on information. The country is a one-party communist state with no organised opposition. The Home Secretary has said that we will continue to see aggressive language from Vladimir Putin after the Russian leader threatened to strike the UK. Yvette Cooper told Sky News that there has been an aggressive, blustering tone from Mr Putin throughout the conflict, which she called completely unacceptable. On Thursday, Russia used a new ballistic missile in Ukraine, which Mr Putin said was in response to the UK and US allowing missiles they have supplied to Ukraine to be used to strike targets in Russia. In a televised address, Mr Putin said: We consider ourselves entitled to use our weapons against military facilities of those countries that allow their weapons to be used against our facilities. Asked about the Russian leaders threat to use weapons against nations that allow their own weapons to be used against Russia, Ms Cooper told Sky News: Russia invaded a sovereign state. We have seen the aggressive, blustering tone and response from Putin all the way through this, its completely unacceptable, and we will continue to see that sort of aggressive language. We are clear that that sort of behaviour cannot be tolerated, and thats why we have provided the support to Ukraine as they defend themselves against Putins aggression. As with other Government ministers, Ms Cooper also declined to confirm officially whether British weapons had been used by Ukraine in Russia, saying: Im not going to comment on the detail of any individual defence operations. The UK is believed to have allowed its Storm Shadow missiles to be used by Ukrainian forces within the Kursk region of Russia, while the US has given permission for its ATACMS weapons to be fired at targets in Mr Putins country. Mr Putin confirmed Russia has tested the new intermediate-range weapon in an attack on Dnipro in response. The US said the weapon was a new, experimental intermediate-range missile based on Russias existing RS-26 Rubezh intercontinental ballistic missile. The missiles range far outstrips that of newly authorised US and British-supplied weapons, which can hit targets around 250-300km away. The distance from Moscow to London is around 2,500km, suggesting the range of the new missile could threaten the UK. Foreign Secretary David Lammy has vowed to continue to support Ukraine (Leon Neal/PA) Meanwhile, the Foreign Secretary has vowed to continue to do everything that is necessary to help Ukraine combat Russia. David Lammy and his French counterpart Jean-Noel Barrot wrote in the i newspaper promising to continue to support Ukraine and put the country in the best position to achieve a just and lasting peace. The two said: By launching his illegal and unprovoked full-scale war of aggression in Ukraine 1,000 days ago this week, not only did Vladimir Putin accelerate the largest war on the European continent since the Second World War, he also sought to rewrite the international order. The annihilation of the global architecture that has been the cornerstone of international peace and security for generations. All to justify his illegal and intolerable aggression against a sovereign European country. The UK and France will not let him do so. Together with our allies, we will do everything that is necessary to put Ukraine in the best position to achieve a just and lasting peace. Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine 22 November 2024. Find out more about Defence Intelligence's use of language: https://t.co/rGOlnhdoQr#StandWithUkraine pic.twitter.com/Zs535n85TA Ministry of Defence (@DefenceHQ) November 22, 2024 In an intelligence update, the Ministry of Defence said the key development that had changed the nature of the conflict to Ukraines advantage had been Kyivs deployment of drones against military targets in Russia. Over 1,000 days into the conflict, Russias Aerospace Forces, despite technological and numerical advantage have failed to gain air superiority over Ukraine, the ministry said on Friday. In mid and late September Ukraine struck four Russian strategic ammunition depots hundreds of kilometres from Ukraine. The total tonnage of ammunition destroyed across the sites represents the largest loss of Russian and North Korean supplied ammunition during the war. The attacks again highlight Russias inability to protect strategic military sites from Ukrainian UAV (Uncrewed Aerial Vehicle) attack. A gang of masked men broke into the home of a woman who took a civil case against mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor accusing him of raping her, the court heard. Nikita Hand was awarded damages of almost 250,000 euros (206,000) following a civil case heard by a jury at the High Court in Dublin on Friday. The incident was referred to at the start of the trial when the jury was not present, and the court heard masked men had broken into Ms Hands home, smashed the windows and stabbed her boyfriend. Nikita Hand, who is also known as Nikita Ni Laimhin, speaking to the media outside the High Court in Dublin on Friday. (Brian Lawless/PA) Ms Hands counsel John Gordon told Judge Alexander Owens that the incident happened on June 14. The plaintiffs home was invaded by a group of men wearing balaclavas, he said. The broke into the plaintiffs bedroom, and were driven out by the plaintiffs partner, who suffered a stab wound in the process. Her daughter was in the next room, sleeping. Mr Gordon also told the court that the men broke windows in the front room before leaving. We are not laying that at the feet of the defendants or saying they have anything to do with that, he added. We do make the claim that it was not an untargeted attack, (it) rose from supporters of the first named defendant (Mr McGregor). It is related to the claim that she had to move out of the Drimnagh area. The judge asked whether the claim was being made that McGregor had anything to do with it, to which Mr Gordon replied: No, judge, it is an item of special damage. It related to her state of anxiety and her claim that she had to move from the Drimnagh area, as she has now done. Mr McGregors barrister Remy Farrell said it seemed Ms Hand was introducing a claim which is nothing to do with us, and complained it would be an invitation to the jury to speculate. The judge ruled that he considered it to be completely irrelevant and shouldnt be referred to. At the close of the case it was agreed by Ms Hands counsel and the judge that the claim would not be made for the house move. A Garda spokesperson said: Gardai received report of an incident of aggravated burglary that occurred at a premises on the Errigal Road in Drimnagh, Dublin 12 at approximately 2.20am on Friday, June 14 2024. One man aged in his 30s was conveyed to St Jamess Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries sustained as a result of this incident. Investigations are ongoing. At the outskirts of a South Korean industrial city, workers at a sprawling weapons factory were conducting final-stage testing for a newly built surface-to-air defence system that could, eventually, head to Ukraine. Longstanding domestic policy bars Seoul from sending weapons into active conflict zones, but ever since its spy agency accused the nuclear-armed North last month of sending thousands of soldiers to help Moscow fight Kyiv, South Korea has warned it might change course. If so, likely top of the list for Ukraine would be the "Cheongung" -- or Sky Arrow -- air defence system, a domestically-produced Iron Dome-style interception shield that AFP saw Thursday during an exclusive tour of the Hanwha Aerospace factory in the southern city of Changwon. As the melody of Beethoven's Fur Elise played on repeat over the in-house speaker, veteran welders worked on huge cylinders that will become part of the inceptor system, which is defensive in nature -- although Hanwha also produces an attack-focused variant. "The Cheongung system can be thought of as similar to the US Patriot missile system," said senior manager Jung Sung-young at Hanwha Aerospace, South Korea's largest defence contractor. Ukraine is reliant on Western air defence systems, particularly Patriots, to protect itself from Russian missile barrages -- and has been calling for more deliveries. Washington said in June it would prioritise deliveries to Kyiv, ahead of other countries that have placed orders. But were South Korea, which remains technically at war with the nuclear-armed North and has maintained production of weaponry long ignored by Western arms industries, to get involved, it could potentially make a huge difference, experts say. "As a divided nation, we have systematically established and implemented standards at the national level, from the development of these weapon systems to quality control," said Jung. "The quality, capability and manufacturing supply chain of our products is sufficiently competitive compared to those of other countries," he added. Whether -- or how -- South Korea decides to help Ukraine directly depends on "the level of North Korean involvement", President Yoon Suk Yeol said earlier this month, adding Seoul was "not ruling out the possibility of providing weapons." If South Korea were to supply arms, the initial batch would be defensive in nature, Yoon said. To fend off the steady barrage of missiles that have targeted Ukraine's energy infrastructure and civilian areas, Kyiv urgently needs more air defences, Han Kwon-hee of the Korea Association of Defence Industry told AFP. "Counteroffensives require stability in the rear zones, which is why Kyiv has also conducted drone attacks within Russia, including Moscow," Han explained. "They will help Ukraine hold off Russia's offensives by intercepting drones and missiles flying deep into their territory," he said -- a huge boost for Kyiv, alongside the recent US move to let it use long-range American missiles against targets inside Russia. The South has remained combat-ready since its 1950-53 war with the North ended in a truce, and while Hanwha Aerospace, South Korea's largest defence contractor, was once seen by analysts as retrograde for its focus on land weapons, it is now in high demand. AFP saw a wide range of weaponry moving along assembly lines at the company's sprawling Changwon factory, from infantry armoured vehicles to surface-to-air missile systems designed to intercept incoming missiles. The heightened geopolitical tensions in Europe have heavily benefited the South Korean company, which saw its on-year operating profit soar over 450 percent in the latest quarter to $343.3 million. It has signed major arms deals with countries such as Poland and Romania, including the export of K9 Howitzers and Chunmoo missile systems. Seoul has long harboured ambitions to join the ranks of the world's top arms exporters -- aiming to be the fourth-largest, behind the US, Russia and France -- something that is now possible, industry research indicates. It has already sold 155mm artillery shells to Washington -- but with a "final user" agreement in place meaning the United States would be the military that uses the munitions. Experts have said this allows the United States to then provide their own shells to Kyiv. Hanwha's other weapons offer that could shift the balance of war in Ukraine is its Chunmoo guided missile system, experts said. "With a maximum range of 290 km (180 miles), Chunmoo can strike targets in Pyongyang if launched from the border area in the South," said Choi Gi-il, professor of military studies at Sangji University. "What Ukraine urgently needs to turn the war in its favour are offensive weapons like Chunmoo missiles and K9 howitzers, capable of inflicting significant damage on the enemy," Choi added. "If North Korea's direct involvement in the war escalates, (Seoul) may consider sending lethal weapons, in addition to defensive ones." Gatwicks south terminal is reopening after a security alert was cleared by police, the airport said. The building was closed to new passengers for more than four hours on Friday as Sussex Police deployed its bomb disposal unit because of the discovery of a suspected prohibited item in luggage. The force said it was called to what is the UKs second busiest airport at 8.20am. Passengers who had not cleared security were required to evacuate at around 10.30am. The airport released a statement at 2.44pm which said: The earlier security alert has now been resolved and cleared by police. The south terminal is reopening to staff and will be open to passengers shortly. It added: There are some delays and cancellations. Passengers should contact their airline for any updates on flights. Sussex Police said in a statement that an explosive ordnance disposal team was deployed to the airport as a precaution and a security cordon was put in place. Around 100,000 passengers were set to travel through the airport on Friday. A number of flights to and from the south terminal were cancelled, including at least 16 departures and 13 arrivals by British Airways. Other flights continued to depart, but were only carrying passengers who had passed through security before the evacuation. The south terminal at Gatwick airport near Crawley, West Sussex (Gareth Fuller/PA) A British Airways flight to Orlando in the US departed one hour and 49 minutes late. Spanish carrier Vueling ordered an inbound flight from Barcelona and one from Seville to turn around and return to their starting airports. A Norwegian flight to Bergen departed two hours and seven minutes late. The north terminal was unaffected. Nejadeen Braham, 35, who works as a nurse on the Isle of Man, was due to fly to her homeland of Jamaica to collect her children. Speaking to the PA news agency outside the south terminal, she said: I couldnt get in the airport. I saw everybody coming (out) from one direction. I was supposed to go inside, drop my bags and go through security. When I got here I saw everybody coming down. Air crew at Gatwick airport near Crawley, West Sussex (Gareth Fuller/PA) There were no proper updates. I m very frustrated. British Airways said in a statement it was in contact with affected customers and giving them updates as and when we can. It went on: Were also providing them with options including flight re-bookings and hotel accommodation where necessary. We ask customers to check ba.com for the latest flight information before coming to the airport. Train services at Gatwick were suspended as the railway station is attached to the south terminal, but are set to resume. Aviation analytics website Cirium said 316 flights were scheduled to depart from the airport on Friday, with a total of more than 60,600 seats. A further 318 flights were scheduled to arrive, with more than 61,400 seats. As of now, only 70% of flights had departed within 15 minutes of the scheduled time. The Home Secretary has signalled her backing for proposals to legalise assisted dying for terminally ill people ahead of a Commons vote next week. Yvette Cooper said she was in favour of the principle of needing change to the law and pointed to her previous support for different but similar draft legislation when it came before Parliament several years ago. It comes after care minister Stephen Kinnock confirmed he would back Labour MP Kim Leadbeaters Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill on November 29. Asked on Good Morning Britain how she would vote on the issue next Friday, Ms Cooper said: I have voted for change in the past. These are important and difficult issues, and I havent changed my view on the principles of this issue. But I do also recognise that there is a detailed debate to be had on the detail of legislation on the kinds of safeguards and things that need to be in place. I will continue to follow that debate like everybody else. She added: I continue to support the principle of needing change but also to ensure that weve got the proper safeguards and systems in place. Asked if that meant a yes next week, the Home Secretary replied: I think I last voted on this about 20 years ago and so I have supported the principle in the past and continue to believe that change is needed but we do need to have that debate on the detail and Ill continue to follow that debate next Friday. The vote next Friday will be the first in the Commons on assisted dying since 2015. Kim Leadbeaters Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill will be debated on November 29 (Stefan Rousseau/PA) Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer supported a change in the law on that occasion and has since indicated his ongoing backing for reform but declined to say which way he will vote this time, arguing he does not want to risk pressuring others. However, other ministers have been more explicit, with Health Secretary Wes Streeting facing a backlash for saying he will reject the Bill and suggesting it could cost the NHS more. Many of those opposed to a law change have voiced concern about the potential for coercion and mission creep, and say the legislation has been rushed. But proponents argue existing legislation lacks proper safeguards, fails to respect patient autonomy and discriminates financially between those who can afford to travel abroad to end their own lives within the law and those who cannot. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson and Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood have also said they will vote against the Bill, while Mr Kinnock, who is a minister within Mr Streetings health department, said he will back it. Health Secretary Wes Streeting has said he will vote against the Bill (Peter Byrne/PA) Ms Leadbeater has described her Bill as the most robust in the world, with three layers of scrutiny in the form of a sign-off by two doctors and a High Court judge. It would also make coercion an offence with a possible punishment of 14 years in jail. The Bill, which covers England and Wales, states only terminally ill adults with under six months left to live and a settled wish to die would be eligible. Figures from pollster YouGov released on Friday indicate that more than seven in 10 people agree with the principle that assisted dying should be legal. When asked whether in principle do you think assisted dying should or should not be legal in some form in the UK, 73% of people said it should be legal, while 13% said it should not. Fourteen per cent said they do not know. Support was similarly strong among men and women, with 74% of men backing the idea, compared to 73% of women. Inside Court 24: How the case against Conor McGregor played out What started as a fun night out for a Christmas work party, ended six years later inside the High Court in Dublin, with Nikita Hand winning her case against Conor McGregor. The Dublin woman and the Irish sports star knew each other from growing up in the same area of south-west Dublin and socialising in similar circles. Throughout the three-week civil case, Mr McGregor and Ms Hand sat feet away from each other inside the small Court 24. The mother-of-one sat next to her partner, Gary, for each of the 12 days of the case he often had his arm around her as the court heard details of Mr McGregors version of events. While the mixed martial arts fighter described the mood throughout their time in the penthouse suite as happy and playful and full of energy, Ms Hand spoke of feeling afraid for her life. At one point as he gave evidence, Mr McGregor leaned into the microphone and said Ms Hands character was someone who was joyed and excited and having a good night. He recalled the night in detail, telling the court his story never weaned. Mr McGregor said he was shocked when Ms Hand went to police about what had happened in room 715 of the now-closed Beacon Hotel, that he had wanted to take a microphone to the top of the mountains to shout about his version of events. Ms Hand gave evidence for two-and-a-half days, her voice shaking as she told the jury she had struggled to break free from Mr McGregor, how she had been attacked, and how she thought she would never see her young daughter again. Mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor was accompanied in court on Friday by his partner Dee Devlin (Brian Lawless/PA) She tightened her hand around tissues and at times she was reminded to speak up and into the microphone as her voice became barely audible. The sharply divergent accounts of what happened on December 9 2018 were laid out before the jury. One side or the other is telling lies, Justice Alexander Owens told the panel. The court was packed with members of the public every day of the case, with some people attending almost every day. On one occasion, Justice Owens ordered those who could not get a seat in the upstairs gallery to leave. He reminded them that courts did not have to accommodate every person who wanted to watch proceedings. Nikita Hand was reminded in court to speak up and into the microphone on occasions (Brian Lawless/PA) Members of the public squeezed into the public balcony to hear what all parties had to say. Among those seated in the public gallery was a man with his young son dressed in his school uniform, others had shopping bags, while some took packed lunches pensioners and teenagers sat side-by-side. People in the front row of the public balcony could be seen leaning over the edge of the rails to look down at Mr McGregor, who sat directly below them. Sitting next to Mr McGregor was his father, Tony McGregor, who was in court every day, including during the few hours his son said he could not attend due to an upset stomach. For the most part, Mr McGregor stared straight ahead, sometimes glancing to his left where the jury sat. On Friday, he was accompanied in court by his partner Dee Devlin, his parents, sister, brother-in-law and niece. His mother rubbed his arm as they waited for the jury to return their verdicts. Mr Justice Alexander Owens told jurors one side or the other is telling lies (Brian Lawless/PA) John Gordon, senior counsel for Ms Hand, had previously told the jury that they had been subjected to arrogant, distasteful, dishonest testimony by the Irish sportsman. In his closing speech earlier this week, Mr Gordon described Mr McGregors alleged behaviour as savage, coward and devious. He said Mr McGregor had colluded with his friend James Lawrence to concoct a story that they had had consensual sex with the hairdresser in the penthouse. Mr McGregor, who is reported to be worth around 160 million, will now have to pay out more than 206,000 (248,603.60 euro), not including legal costs. Speaking outside court, Ms Hand said: I want to show Freya (Ms Hands daughter) and every other girl and boy that you can stand up for yourself if something happens to you no matter who the person is and justice will be served. Irish police would arrest Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he arrived in Ireland, the countrys premier has said. It comes after the International Criminal Court issued warrants were for Mr Netanyahu and former Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes in Gaza. The ICC also issued a warrant for Mohammed Deif, head of Hamass armed wing, over the October 7 2023 attacks that triggered Israels offensive in Gaza. Benjamin Netanyahu addresses Israels parliament (Ohad Zwigenberg/AP) Israel is believed to have killed Mr Deif in an air strike but Hamas has never confirmed his death. Asked by Irish national broadcaster RTE if Mr Netanyahu would be arrested in Ireland, Taoiseach Simon Harris said on Friday: Yes, absolutely. We support international courts and we apply their warrants. He was not asked about any other individual but the countrys deputy premier later said warrants against Hamas leadership would absolutely be executed. Micheal Martin said: There should be no equivocation in condemning Hamas and condemning Hezbollah in terms of what theyve been doing, and indeed, Irans malign role in the region because its a complex issue, its not simple. Mr Martin, who is also foreign affairs minister, said he did not agree with US President Joe Bidens characterisation of the warrants for Mr Gallant and Mr Netanyahu as outrageous. The Tanaiste said war crimes have been committed in northern Gaza and added: Its a collective punishment of the people. They are war crimes. Its genocidal. Deputy premier Micheal Martin (Brian Lawless/PA) Speaking on Newstalk radio, Mr Martin said: Im very concerned about the United States approach to the International Criminal Court in that there are 100 signatories, and we have to have accountability at international level through a court system that is independent. Mr Harris has said the issuing of the warrants was an extremely significant step. He said the court points to reasonable grounds to believe that Mr Netanyahu and Mr Gallant bear criminal responsibility for crimes perpetrated in the war in Gaza, including the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare, and the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution and other inhumane acts. In the case of the leadership of Hamas, the court points to reasonable grounds that Mr Deif, along with Ismail Haniyeh and Yahya Sinwar, agreed to carry out the attacks of October 7. It says there are reasonable grounds that Mr Deif is responsible for crimes against humanity of murder, extermination, torture, rape and other forms of sexual violence, and taking hostages. Mr Harris said: These charges could not be more serious. The Government has long expressed its profound concern about the conduct of the war in Gaza and has stated clearly its belief that the rules of international law and international humanitarian law have not been upheld. We have insisted that international law must apply in all circumstances, at all times, and in all places, and that those responsible for breaches, those who commit war crimes and crimes against humanity, must be held fully to account. Israels ambassador to Ireland said the Irish Government should challenge the issuing of warrants for Israeli officials. Dana Erlich said all Israelis were outraged over the warrants. She said: We have been failed by the UN and by international mechanisms time and time again. This is a dark moment for the ICC and for international law. Speaking on Newstalk, she added: I think Ireland, as a country that holds international law so dearly, should challenge the abuse of these international mechanisms by political tools. The ambassador said Israel rejects categorically assertions that it has carried out war crimes in Gaza. Ms Erlich was recalled to Israel in May for consultation with the Israeli foreign ministry on Irish-Israel relations. Mr Harris and Mr Martins respective Fine Gael and Fianna Fail parties are separately contesting a general election in Ireland to be held on November 29. A film from Oscar-winner Jennifer Lawrence and Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai documenting the oppression of Afghan women by the Taliban was emotionally challenging to complete, Afghan filmmaker Sahra Mani said. The Apple TV+ documentary titled Bread & Roses exposes the realities faced by women in Afghanistan after the fall of Kabul to the Taliban in 2021 which first drew Lawrence to the project. I felt a huge passion to make this project just as a human, the Hollywood actress told the PA news agency. Jennifer Lawrence, producer of Bread & Roses (Chris Pizzello/AP) The 34-year-old said there were so many times where we were in and out of contact with the director, who was capturing the spirit and resilience of Afghan women fighting for their autonomy. We knew that we were helping her facilitate getting equipment on the ground, and that she was in contact with these women, and that we were getting footage. But there was so much that I did not know until we had an assembly, until we were in post, producer Lawrence said, referring to the process of putting the footage together to appear on screen. One of the things that I didnt know was that it was going to be showcasing the womens resistance in Afghanistan, Lawrence, who won an Oscar in 2013 for her role in Silver Linings Playbook opposite Bradley Cooper, said. Director Mani worked with a group of activist women who provided a window into their reality forbidden from work, school and leaving their homes. Sahra Mani, director of Bread & Roses (Chris Pizzello/AP) The difficulty of making this film was not only logistical and being in contact with so many people in different parts of the world, filmmaker Mani told PA. But also it was more emotionally challenging for all of us working on this project, because its really deep effect on us while we were watching the first rough cut of material, because we were facing with the human story of loss, resilience and, of course, hope. We did our best to tell their story with authenticity and respect to these women. This year marked 12 years since Ms Yousafzai narrowly avoided death after being shot in the head by the Taliban for her campaigning for girls rights to education. Ms Yousafzai said the new documentary gives visibility to Afghan women and girls during what she claims experts are calling a gender apartheid. From left, executive producer Malala Yousafzai, producers Jennifer Lawrence and Justine Ciarrocchi, and director Sahra Mani at the premiere of the documentary film Bread & Roses (Chris Pizzello/AP) It gives them that platform to bring attention to their stories and really make their voice the centre of whats happening there, she told PA. It is shocking how Afghan women are sometimes not even included in the rooms where decisions about them are made. I hope that this documentary can help raise awareness about what is actually happening there, that the situation has already worsened, and it adds to the global movement that Afghan women are leading right now to push countries, for example, to codify gender apartheid in the crime against humanity treaty and to hold the Taliban accountable for their crimes. Bread & Roses was released on Apple TV+ on Friday. Sir Keir Starmer has said we are engaging with the communities and campaigners affected by the Birmingham pub bombings, but declined to commit to an inquiry. Earlier this week, relatives of people killed in the 1974 bombings renewed calls for a public inquiry as a matter of urgency ahead of the 50th anniversary of the IRA atrocities. Speaking to BBC Radio WM as part of a wider local radio round, Sir Keir Starmer conveyed his deepest sympathies to those affected when asked about an inquiry. He added: We are engaging with the communities and campaigners, its very important that we do, and well listen to what theyre asking for, and so well continue to engage with them. This evening 50 years ago 1,000s of people went out into the streets of Birmingham to meet friends & family. Over 200 of these people eventually made it home, some with life changing injuries, 21 others never saw the light of day again! 200, 21, Zero Justice Law & Order? pic.twitter.com/FsjYVewjjY Justice4the21 (@Justice4the21) November 21, 2024 Sir Keir said his thoughts are with everybody affected by this, particularly those that lost someone. Pushed again on whether there would be a public inquiry the Prime Minister said were engaging on that with the community and the campaigners. Asked how long people are going to have to wait for an answer, he went on: Well obviously keep talking to them, engage and come to a decision as quickly as we can. But it is important that we listen to as many voices as possible, and thats what the Home Office is doing. Twenty-one people died and about 200 were injured on November 21 1974 when bombs exploded minutes apart in the Mulberry Bush, at the foot of the Rotunda building, and the Tavern In The Town in New Street, in what remains the worst unsolved terrorist atrocity committed in Great Britain. Earlier this week, Julie and Brian Hambleton, whose 18-year-old sister Maxine Hambleton died in the twin blasts, said they believe an inquiry could disclose new evidence capable of leading to a new investigation into the bombings. Speaking near a permanent memorial to the victims outside New Street station, within sight of the Rotunda building, Julie Hambleton said of this weeks anniversary of the attacks: Fifty years for us is just like last week, and for the survivors too, I would imagine that they re-live it in their sleep with nightmares. Ms Hambleton, who founded the long-running Justice4The21 campaign group with her brother, added: Its something that never goes away and something that you never forget. The Mulberry Bush pub in Birmingham was the scene of one of the bombings (PA) And thats why our campaign exists, to be the voice of those who are not here to fight for justice and truth themselves. Mr Hambleton and his sister, who both regard a 2019 inquest into the bombings, which failed to examine which individuals were responsible, as a whitewash, hope a public inquiry could force the disclosure of documents currently subject to 75-year secrecy rules. Ms Hambleton questioned why public inquiries had, quite rightly in her view, been set up to examine the Manchester Arena bombing, the Grenfell tragedy and the Salisbury poisonings, but calls for one into the Birmingham attacks had repeatedly fallen on deaf ears. Asked what her message to the Government is, Ms Hambleton said: Please give us a statutory one public inquiry as a matter of urgency. Six Irishmen, Hugh Callaghan, Paddy Hill, Gerry Hunter, John Walker, Richard McIlkenny and Billy Power, were wrongly convicted over the attacks and jailed for life in 1975, but were freed in 1991 after the Court of Appeal ruled their convictions were unsafe. Inquest hearings which concluded in April 2019 found that a botched IRA warning call led to the deaths of the 21 people unlawfully killed. An 11-member jury, which sat for almost six weeks, unanimously concluded an inadequate warning call by the Provisional IRA cost police searching the area vital minutes. They also found there was not sufficient evidence of any failings, errors or omissions by West Midlands Polices response to the bomb warning call. Newfoundland dogs have long been prized for their protective instincts. They are often thought of as a nanny dog capable of watching over young children. In fact, J.M. Barrie based the nursery dog Nana that belonged to the Darlings in Peter Pan on his own Newfoundland dog. They have also been essential to the practice of water rescue for hundreds of years. But, as this family learned after several years of allowing their Newfoundland to walk their daughter to the school bus stopthey may not be as reliable as you want. Especially when the dog would rather play hooky with his favorite girl. View the original article to see embedded media. In this video, we see years worth of clips of a little girl walking down the front walk to her bus stop alongside her pretty Landseer Newfoundland dog, Chewie. Its an adorable sight, and speaks to the strong bond between animal and child as well as to how well-trained the pet is. Related: Newfoundland Dogs Walk to the Beat of a Popular Song Is Cracking People Up Hes been doing it every morning since he was a puppy, and you can watch him grow as his charge does, as seasons, hairstyles and even backpacks change. Only this time, after three solid years of accompanying the little girl to her bus, hes decide that shes not going to school today. He refuses to turn right at the sidewalk and instead pulls her away from her destination, refusing to budge. Guess he wants a little extra quality time. Is a Newfoundland Right For You? Newfoundland dogs come from the area of Canada that gave them their name. There, they were bred as working dogs to help the fisherman of the island pull fishing nets and haul carts. They are especially adapted to working in the water, with thick, water-resistant coats, large lung capacities, and webbed paws, that makes them perfect for swimming, water rescue, or just, you know, attacking sprinkler heads. (Maybe that was just my own Newfie.) They are very large, have a tendency to droop, and are prized as gentle giants. They are great dogs for families and children due to this friendliness and protective instincts around children. The one I had growing up would sit by the side of the pool and watch us play, as hed been trained to be a lifeguard himself (he had not, but there was no telling him that). Dogs Day Out I think I would have let the dog call a mental health day, observes one person in the comments of this video, while others make up even wilder suppositions about a dogs intuition, supposing everything from the dog understanding that the daughter didnt want to go to school to the dog having a supernatural premonition that something bad was going to happen there. Its honestly amazing how many people are parachuting into this womans touching post to warn her that dropping her daughter off at school means certain doom. Some people have the weirdest theories. Never fearthe dog was just being a goober and wanted extra time with his girl. His plan didn't work! Their mom writes. I sent her to school but he refused to walk her. At least some people are in agreement that this little show of will is nothing but the usual canine antics. What amazing memories your daughter and Chewy are making!! It must keep a smile on your face all the time to be able to watch, said one person who was amused by the situation. 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 is not revealing which side he plans to back - FRANK AUGSTEIN/AFP Almost a third of the Cabinet are opposed to legalising assisted dying, The Telegraph can reveal. At least eight of the 26 Cabinet members do not support the proposed legislation allowing the terminally ill to get help to end their lives. David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, is expected to vote against the proposed law change when it comes to the House of Commons next week, building on his past opposition. Baroness Smith, the Leader of the House of Lords, is also understood to be against legalising assisted dying, though given she is a peer she will not have a vote. The pair join Angela Rayner, the Deputy Prime Minister, Bridget Phillipson, the Education Secretary, Jonathan Reynolds, the Business Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, the Justice Secretary, Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, and Darren Jones, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, in not supporting the legislation. Leader of the House of Lords Baroness Smith arriving in Downing Street - JORDAN PETTITT/PA The group of eight is currently outweighed by public supporters, with 11 Cabinet ministers known to be in favour of legalising assisted dying. Seven have not revealed where they stand. But the fact that a sizable chunk of the Cabinet is against the law change is significant, given it will be the Governments duty to implement the new regime if the law is passed. The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, a piece of legislation being proposed by a backbencher Labour MP, Kim Leadbeater, will have its first vote in the Commons next Friday. David Lammy, the Foreigh Secretary, is expected to oppose the Bill - ANADOLU It proposes allowing terminally ill adults given less than six months to live to get assistance to die. Various checks are proposed, including securing the approval of two doctors and a judge. The Government has given MPs what is known as a free vote, meaning that party whips will not give orders on which side to support, since the issue is deemed a matter of conscience. Even Sir Keir Starmer, who voted to legalise assisted dying back in 2015 when the move ultimately did not pass, is not revealing which side he plans to back on Friday in order not to influence the public debate. It means that there is major uncertainty about how Fridays vote will go, with campaign groups on both sides admitting it is hard to know where MPs stand given the recent general election. About half of the 650 MPs elected to the Commons in July are new, meaning some are just a few months into their frontline political careers and have publicly said little in the past on the topic. One Cabinet minister told The Telegraph it was very hard to say how the result will go, adding that some MPs may choose not to cast a vote at all. Dr Gordon Macdonald, the chief executive of the group Care Not Killing, which is campaigning against the legislation, said the scale of opposition in the Cabinet was relevant. Dr Macdonald said: With such grave concerns at the highest levels of government, this law is becoming totally unworkable. The more senior ministers have seen of the proposals the more their concern has grown. The Bill should be paused and consideration given to better alternatives like good NHS-funded palliative care for all. Mr Lammy has previously talked about his concerns about legalising assisted dying, saying last year: Im worried that we start somewhere and that it sort of ends up leading to legalised murder. Im just worried that certain types of people might find themselves encouraging others to help them go, not because they want to go or should go but more because of the financial burden. Campaigners near Londons Parliament Square with their placard Kill the Bill, not the ill - DAN KITWOOD/GETTY IMAGES The opposition from Mr Streeting and Ms Mahmood, who as Health and Justice Secretary respectively would oversee the implementation of the law, is seen by some MPs as significant. Mr Streeting has said he is concerned the insufficient state of palliative care could pressure some people into choosing assisted dying. But supporters have insisted the legislation has come at the right time, pointing to public opinion suggesting that the majority of the country favours a change in the law. They have also insisted that the checks and balances being proposed exceed those in other countries that have already legalised assisted dying. The 11 Cabinet ministers planning to vote for the Bill are Ed Miliband, Hilary Benn, Jo Stevens, Lisa Nandy, Liz Kendall, Louise Haigh, Lucy Powell, Pat McFadden, Peter Kyle, Sir Alan Campbell and Yvette Cooper. Its said that armagnac is fierier than cognac: a cellar master checks the quality of an aged armagnac. Photograph: Georges Gobet/AFP/Getty Images The seemingly staid world of armagnac was well and truly disrupted earlier this year by the arrival of a brand called Hogsworth that blends bourbon whiskey with brandy from Gascony. Its the creation of American entrepreneur Raj Bhakta, who in 2020 began buying up aged armagnac, and the name is a mischievous dig at his former company WhistlePig, a rye whiskey distiller in Vermont that he left in 2019. As you can imagine, Bhakta has ruffled a few feathers by combining rare 42-year-old brandies with young bourbons and thats even before we get on to the accompanying sales pitch video, which can only be described as Trumpian. Dogs dinner or pigs ear, the idea behind Hogsworth does point to something interesting going on in the spirits world: mature whisky, be it single malt scotch or bourbon, can be extremely valuable. Armagnac, by contrast, isnt. If youre looking for a 40th birthday present, you could buy, say, a 1984 Delord armagnac for 125.65 (from Brandy Classics, 40%), or you could go very large indeed and splash out nearly 5,000 on a bottle of Glenfarclas Winter Cask 1984 (Master of Malt, 47.1%). There are many Gascon brandies as smooth as anything from farther north I went to Armagnac in south-west France a few years ago, and was stunned by the quality of the spirits I found there. As Jerome Delord of the eponymous producer explained: We have been sleeping on our laurels for too long. Armagnac lives in the shadow of Cognac, its big brother to the north, which makes about 180m bottles a year compared with Armagnacs 6m. Cognac is export-led and dominated by four big producers, whereas half of all armagnac produced is sold in France. Its also made largely by farmers who might also keep cows, make wine and grow tobacco, whereas cognac is a monoculture: most cognac uses one grape variety, ugni blanc, whereas in an armagnac there are 10 varieties. The other main difference is that most armagnac is single-distilled in a wood-fired alembic that looks a bit like a Heath Robinson device. Its said that armagnac is fierier than cognac, and that can certainly be the case, but there are many Gascon brandies as smooth as anything from farther north. The main thing about armagnac, however, is that it is on the whole absolutely delicious, and has big, fruity flavours that are impossible to dislike. Even my mother, who doesnt really touch spirits, enjoys a little drop every now and then. At the moment, armagnac is the biggest bargain in spirits, so get hold of some before the bourbon bros finally wake up and start snaffling it all up. Four armagnacs to suit every budget plus two to blow the bank Waitrose No 1 Armagnac VSOP 27.50, 40%. With flavours of peach and muscovado sugar, this is great for mixing try it in a brandy and soda or a sidecar. Chateau de Tariquet Bas-Armagnac XO 37 Waitrose, 40%. Big, spicy and bursting with tobacco, chilli and toffee notes. Would appeal to lovers of Islay whisky. Laballe Bas Armagnac Resistance 47.95 The Whisky Exchange, 43%. Made from 100% baco, a hybrid grape unique to the region, this is spice city: think liquorice, cloves, cardamom and vanilla. Sempe 18-Year-Old Bas Armagnac 56.95 Master of Malt, 40%. From a house that dates back to 1934, this is dry and full-bodied, with notes of menthol, orange peel and toffee. Castarede 1979 Bas Armagnac 97.95 The Whisky Exchange, 40%. Rich and, intensely flavoured, with a smell of cooked apples and old leather. Take a sip and your mouth will explode, and burst with bitter apricot, leather and dark chocolate. Darroze Les Grands Assemblages 30-Year-Old Armagnac 116 The Whisky Exchange, 43%. Or really push the boat out on one of the most beautiful spirits I have ever tried: a symphony in fruit and wood, and worth every penny. Prison Layouts of more than 20 prisons have been leaked onto the dark web, amid fears they could be exploited to smuggle drugs into jails or aid an escape. Extra security checks have been deployed at jails across England and Wales after the plans, believed to have been taken from a contractor, were shared online. Prison chiefs have launched an investigation into the leak of the plans, which include details of security cameras and sensors on perimeter fences. Prison staff have been ordered to increase patrols and perimeter checks until the investigation assesses the risks from the leak. Prison service sources said the investigation was trying to establish whether it was simply a hack of the plans, which were then posted on the dark web, or if it was masterminded by an organised crime gang to help them deliver drugs and phones into prisons via drones or to facilitate an escape. We are unclear about the motivation. It might just be someone who has hacked a contractor and posted it on the dark web, said one source. Additional security measures have been put into prisons including extra perimeter checks. Security alert Prison officials who work at the jails were sent an internal email titled security alert to inform them of the security breach earlier this month. They were told that the breach could affect the security of the jails perimeters, internal fences that have security cameras and technology installed within them to alert attempted breaches and raise an alarm. The memos to staff reported that there had been a data loss that had led to vulnerabilities to these security systems. This meant there was a risk that members of the public had been made aware of information that put prisons perimeters at risk. This may be from people attempting to convey items into the establishment/aid an escape, the email warned. It urged staff to be extra vigilant and alert to any changes in prisoners behaviour that may be connected with the security breach. Staff at prisons affected were told there was no specific intelligence about who was behind the leaks but added: We must not be complacent to this risk. Ian Acheson, a former prison governor and a counter-terrorism expert who reviewed extremism in prisons for the government, said that organised crime groups could use copies of the layouts along with other public information to coordinate drone deliveries of drugs and weapons, and potentially orchestrate an escape. If plans of high-security prisons have been leaked, co-ordinating that with open-source material or Google maps could aid an escape after an attack on the exterior of the prison, he told The Times, which first revealed the leak. Much more plausible is using additional data to co-ordinate drone drops. But if you can deliver half a kilo of drugs via a drone then you can deliver weapons, explosives, whatever you want. These places are wide open. We can move cameras A senior prisoner service source said security measures had been put in place to make sure every jail was secure. The plans only show how things are at a certain point. We can change them to make sure security is in the right place, said the source. We can move cameras. We are able to mitigate the risks. The leak comes amid a surge in drugs being smuggled into prisons via drones. Charlie Taylor, the chief inspector of prisons, has found up to three quarters of inmates at prisons are now testing positive. He said organised crime gangs were using the drones to drop heavy payloads of cannabis into prisons via ever more ingenious approaches because of the enormous mark-ups that they could make from selling the drugs in jails. Earlier this month, an inspection report revealed Garth high-security prison near Leyland in Lancashire had become an airport because so many drugs were being delivered to its inmates by drones. At Manchester prison, inmates ripped out the element from their kettle, burned a hole in the perspex windows of their cells so that drones could fly in and deliver drugs, and mobile phones, which are used to coordinate the influx of drugs. In another jail, HMP Oakwood, in Wolverhampton, the gangs disguised the drug payloads in grass then dropped them via drones onto the prisons playing fields so that they could not be spotted by officers and could be retrieved by the prisoners. Dan Scavino, deputy chief of staff to President-elect Donald Trump, announced Friday that former Rep. Mike Rogers is no longer being considered for the role of FBI director. Rogers, 61, had been rumored as a contender for the position, but Scavino said Trump dismissed the idea when questioned about the former Michigan Republican's candidacy. "Just spoke to President Trump regarding Mike Rogers going to the FBI. It's not happening In his own words, 'I have never even given it a thought.' Not happening," Scavino wrote on X. Meanwhile, Kash Patel, a former aide to President-elect Trump, was also a contender for the leadership role of the FBI. Ex-FBI Director Andrew McCabe said Thursday that the bureau's stability would be at risk if Patel was nominated. Patel has maintained his loyalty to the president-elect, having served as a senior advisor to the acting director of national intelligence and as chief of staff to former acting Defense Secretary Chris Miller during Trump's first term. However, he has never held a direct position within the FBI. "No part of the FBI's mission is safe with Kash Patel in any position of leadership in the FBI, and certainly not in the Deputy Director's job," McCabe told CNN's Kaitlan Collins on Thursday evening, adding, "The scope of authority is enormous." "If you enter into that position with nothing more than a desire to disrupt and destroy the organization, there is a lot of damage someone like Kash Patel could do," he said. Patel has maintained his loyalty to the president-elect, having served as a senior advisor to the acting director of national intelligence and as chief of staff to former acting Defense Secretary Chris Miller during Trump's first term. However, he has never held a direct position within the FBI. Meanwhile, former FBI Special Agent Daniel Brunner also said Patel's leadership would do "massive damage" to the agency. "Putting someone like Kash Patel in the position of director of the FBI is, I believe, extremely, extremely dangerous because ... his resume isn't traditional," Brunner said Sunday on CNN. Rosalind Hernandez combs the hair of resident Antonio Ruas - KAREN DIAS A New York City building superintendent who was praised for her devotion to her elderly tenants in a New York Times profile has been charged with stealing more than $350,000 from a 100-year-old resident of the building. Rosalind Hernandez, 56, who worked at a 53-unit co-op apartment where many residents were older adults, is accused of persuading the victim to grant her power of attorney and then using his chequebook and debit and credit cards to make hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of purchases. The victim relied on Ms Hernandez for help, yet after she befriended him, she allegedly broke his trust and stole his hard-earned money for her personal greed, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said in a statement, adding, Those who prey on vulnerable older adults will be held accountable. Vik Pawar, Ms Hernandezs attorney, said: We intend to fight these charges. Ms Hernandez was praised for her devotion to her elderly residents at the apartment block - KAREN DIAS The 2023 Times profile called Ms Hernandez the unofficial companion and caregiver to the retirees, widows and widowers who occupied more than half of the apartments in the building in Manhattans Chelsea neighbourhood. If it werent for her, Id be in the gutter, a then-98-year-old resident named Antonio Ruas told the Times. The district attorneys office would not say whether Mr Ruas was the person Ms Hernandez is accused of stealing from. According to the indictment, the victim agreed to give Ms Hernandez access to his bank account and credit cards as he became increasingly more frail. The victim was injured in a fall in the summer of 2023 and was not expected to recover, so Ms Hernandez accompanied him on a trip to visit his family, prosecutors said. She returned to New York City with the mans chequebook, bank card and credit cards, prosecutors said. Ms Hernandez is alleged to have used the victims debit and credit cards for personal expenses - KAREN DIAS He had given her the task of selling his apartment and tying up his affairs in exchange for $100,000, prosecutors said. Prosecutors said Ms Hernandez also used the victims debit and credit cards on personal expenses such as travel, clothing and a subscription to an entrepreneurship training program for herself and her niece. Despite his earlier prognosis, the victim recovered from his injuries and returned to New York. Once back home he regained access to his financial accounts and discovered the theft, prosecutors said. Ms Hernandez was indicted on two counts of grand larceny and released with an order of protection to stay away from the victim. Mia Bonta speaks at a news conference in Sacramento, California, on 10 May 2022. Photograph: Rich Pedroncelli/AP As Donald Trump returns to the White House, anti-abortion groups are hoping this is their moment. With Republicans controlling both chambers of Congress and the US supreme court governed by a conservative supermajority, activists are pushing an extreme agenda, including a nationwide abortion ban, a prohibition on abortion pills, a fetal personhood doctrine that could restrict in vitro fertilization and attacks on contraception. Rights groups are looking to states to safeguard reproductive care, perhaps none more so than California, the most populous and among the bluest in the US. California lawmakers are already preparing. Mia Bonta, a Democratic assemblymember, who chairs the state assemblys health committee, said she will be introducing a package of bills next month that seeks to expand access to birth control pills, protect emergency abortion care at hospitals and enhance maternal health in the state. Related: Californias attorney general readies the fight against Trumps extreme agenda: Were prepared When the federal government and president is moving to a motto of your body, my choice, I think its very important we clarify in the state of California what our bottom line is, Bonta said in an interview on Tuesday. California will continue to be a sanctuary state, to push for the recognition of womens autonomy and our bodily autonomy and to prioritize through our healthcare policy, access to full reproductive care. Bonta will put her bills forward on 2 December, the start of the Trump-proofing emergency legislative session called by the states governor, Gavin Newsom. Since 2022, abortion rights are enshrined in Californias constitution and the state in recent years has established itself as a sanctuary for women from other states seeking the procedure. Bontas proposals seek to further that trend, she said. Since the supreme court overturned the constitutional right to abortion in its 2022 Dobbs decision, states have been free to set policy, with 21 banning or restricting the procedure. Californians in 2022 passed a measure enshrining abortion rights in the state constitution. A first bill is meant to ensure access to emergency reproductive healthcare. Its a response to a law passed last year in Idaho, which established that abortions in the state are only allowed when the life of the patient is in danger. Advocates fear that under Trump, Idahos interpretation could be expanded nationwide, threatening abortion care in emergencies. We wanted to ensure that in California you do not have to go through a heartbreak and health emergency should you need access to abortion in emergency rooms, Bonta said. Her second bill aims to increase access to over-the-counter birth control for recipients of Medi-Cal, the states Medicaid program. Her third bill seeks to streamline the licensing process for alternative birthing centers, as the number of labor and delivery wards in some parts of the state has dwindled in recent years. In some regions, Bonta said, women in labor could have to travel up to two hours to get care: Im just blown away that in the United States, in this day and age, that that is the case.. Birthing centers are linked to better health outcomes for lower-income women, the lawmaker noted, adding she was looking for ways to make the centers more financially sustainable. While Trump on the campaign trail has said legislation should be left to states and that he would veto a national ban, he has repeatedly flip-flopped on the issue. And there are many other ways his administration could unravel rights and access, even in blue states. Project 2025, the rightwing manifesto crafted by his allies, calls for the president to roll back the FDA approval of abortion pills, increase CDC surveillance of pregnancy loss and erode federal funding for family planning programs that provide contraception. Bonta said it was important to recognize that access to abortion is a right supported by a majority of voters, including many in states that voted for Trump. Missouri, Montana, Arizona and Nevada all favored Trump and passed abortion rights measures this month. Safeguarding Californians access to abortion is personal for Bonta. In 2022, she revealed she had an abortion at the age of 21. I chose to own my body, she said at the time. Its a decision that helped her break the cycle of poverty in my family, she said. It was important to me to be very open about my own health journey, she said this week. In this moment when women in other parts of the country are having to go back to considering engaging in a practice that will put their lives at risk, its important to be a beacon and fight to make sure [they] have the same kind of care that I was afforded. I want to be able to look my daughters in the eye and tell them Im fighting for their health, their quality of life and that of their children. Bonta is married to Californias attorney general, Rob Bonta, who is readying the states department of justice to fight a range of possible Trump administration efforts that would restrict civil rights and impede other progressive initiatives in the state. The attorney general has said he is prepared to take on those policies with litigation and has draft legal briefs ready, including to challenge a national abortion ban. Trump is expected to push back hard. Bonta said she hoped legislators wouldnt be distracted by culture war rhetoric, and would focus on sound policy that can stand up against federal intervention. While the conservative leanings of the courts have made that challenge more difficult, she said, our job is to fight for whats right and and hope the court system will not try to legislate through legal rulings and that there will be some modicum of decency in the judiciary. Its hard not to feel like were heading into a dystopian state, said Bonta. There are a lot of people who are just as scared as I am in this moment As a legislator, I have the privilege of being in the halls of power in the state of California. Im thankful I have the ability to fight. Conor McGregor and partner Dee Devlin arrive outside the High Court in Dublin - Brian Lawless/PA Conor McGregor, the Irish mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter, must pay nearly 188,000 (250,000) in damages to a woman who accused him of rape in Dublin in 2018, a jury decided on Friday. The 36-year-old fighter previously told Dublins High Court he had consensual sex with Nikita Hand in a penthouse at the Beacon Hotel in December 2018. It also emerged a group of masked men invaded Ms Hands home and stabbed her partner, prompting her to move out of the area she lived in. The break-in was not put before the jury as the judge said it was not relevant to the case. Her lawyers did not accuse McGregor of being involved. Ms Hand alleged McGregor pinned her down, choked her three times and brutally raped and battered her. McGregor shook his head as the jury of eight women and four men found him liable of assaulting Ms Hand following six hours and 10 minutes of deliberation. Ms Hand says the last few weeks have been a nightmare - Brian Lawless/PA McGregor has been ordered to pay her 188,000 (250,000) in damages. He remained tight-lipped as he left the court on Friday but later said he planned to appeal the decision. McGregor said he was disappointed that the jury did not hear all the evidence that the director of public prosecutions reviewed. I am with my family, focused on my future, the MMA fighter added. Speaking outside of court after the decision, Ms Hand said the last few weeks had been a nightmare. I know this has impacted not only my life, but my daughters, my family and friends tremendously, she said. Its something that Ill never forget for the rest of my life. Ms Hand was left with purple and blue bruising along her hands and wrists, a bloodied scratch to her breast and a sore neck, the jury was told. Mr Justice Alexander Owens presides over the the civil case between Conor McGregor and Nikita Hand - Brian Lawless/PA Her lawyer told the jury that when she was referred to a sexual assault treatment unit the day after the alleged assault, a doctor was so concerned he ordered photographs to be taken of her injuries. Ms Hand said that she and a friend met McGregor, whom she had spoken with on social media, after attending a Christmas party. The MMA star then drove Ms Hand and her friend to a party in a penthouse room at the Beacon hotel, where there were drugs and alcohol, the trial was told. Ms Hand said McGregor came on to her in the hotel room but told the trial she did not want to have sexual intercourse with him. John Gordon, her lawyer, said she was on antidepressants at the time, and full of drugs at the time of the alleged assault. Conor McGregor denies any wrongdoing - Brian Lawless/PA McGregors lawyers hit back by accusing Ms Hand of extortion and asked the jury to look at the evidence rather than his character. The lawyers pointed to CCTV footage of the woman arriving at and leaving the hotel with McGregor and James Lawrence, who she also accused of sexual assault. Ms Hand lost her claim against Mr Lawrence. Both McGregor and Mr Lawrence denied any wrongdoing. Before the civil action against McGregor began, lawyers for Ms Hand told the High Court about an incident at her house in the Drimnagh area earlier in June. A group of men wearing balaclavas smashed the windows of her home before being driven out by Ms Hands partner, who was stabbed in the process. During the trial, the jurors were told that Ms Hand had made a claim for the cost of relocating and buying a house in a new area but were not told why this claim was made as it was deemed irrelevant to the case by Justice Alexander Owens. Overseas prisoners represent one in eight inmates, each costing the taxpayer more than 50,000 - Paul Faith/PA Archive Dangerous Polish criminals could be deported from the UK to serve their jail sentences in Poland under plans being drawn up between the two countries. Lord Ponsonby, a justice minister, has begun consultations with Poland on setting up a prisoner transfer deal similar to a scheme with Albania last year to help tackle prison overcrowding and save British taxpayers millions. Under the agreement with Albania, 200 of the countrys most dangerous criminals, including up to 17 serving life sentences for murder, are being deported from the UK to serve the remainder of their sentences in Albanian jails. Polish criminals account for nine per cent of the 10,422 foreign offenders in English and Welsh jails. Overseas prisoners represent one in eight inmates, each costing the taxpayer more than 50,000 and taking up valuable space in overcrowded prisons. Offenders from Poland are the second-largest foreign population in English and Welsh prisons behind Albanians, who account for 13 per cent of the total. Seven per cent are Romanian. Under the transfer deal, the UK Government would pay Poland a fraction of the amount it costs to house them in Britain. For example, it costs the UK 1.6 million to house a lifer for a minimum of 30 years in Britain, but costs less than a quarter in Albania, at 360,000. Under a memorandum of understanding signed by Lord Ponsonby with Poland, the countries agreed to ensure effective prisoner transfer arrangements with the aim of maximising the return of convicted and imprisoned persons to their home state to provide better rehabilitation, supervision and management of release. It said that this would reduce the risk of reoffending, promoting the prospects of the offender and better protecting the communities into which they will be released. Lord Ponsonby has begun consultations with Poland to set up a prisoner transfer deal - Roger Harris The memorandum also committed to cooperation in fighting crime, extraditing criminals who are wanted on arrest warrants, and sharing criminal records. Polish organised crime groups involved in firearms, drug smuggling, people trafficking and modern slavery have become established in the UK since free movement started for nationals from the country in 2004. The number of extradition requests grew significantly until Brexit when they began to drop. Last Wednesday 10 Polish nationals appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court for extradition hearings concerning allegations of drug trafficking, extortion, robberies, assaults, forgery and burglary. The memorandum commits to reducing the risk of reoffending as well as fighting crime and sharing criminal records - Andrew Aitchison/Corbis Historical They included Grzegorz Stanislaw Pietrusa, 48, from west London, who is wanted in Poland to face 11 drug trafficking charges. He opposed extradition and was remanded in custody until a later date. Also appearing was Kamil Kazimierz Sekowski, 32, from Wembley, wanted in Poland to face a robbery charge. His extradition was ordered and he was released on conditional bail for the flight to be arranged. Other high-profile Polish extradition cases that have been heard at the same court this year included Krzysztof Szlachetko, 44, suspected of leading an armed criminal group, who is wanted in Poland to face charges for drug trafficking and an axe murder. His extradition was ordered by a district judge in May. Sebastian Gnyp, 37, was wanted in Poland to serve a sentence for participation in an organised crime group and investigation for several dishonesty offences. He was found as wanted following his arrest in 2022 over a series of ram-raid burglaries across the Home Counties that caused 1.5 million in damages and lost earnings to the victims. He was jailed for three years last year and initially fought extradition, but he has since consented and was extradited in April. Anti-drone netting at Wormwood Scrubs prison. Photograph: Andy Hall/The Observer Guns could be delivered by drones into jails already riven by drug-related gang wars amid an inadequate response from the prison service, a leading watchdog has told the Guardian. Charlie Taylor, the HM chief inspector of prisons, said the surge in the use of large unmanned aerial vehicles was his number one concern and had increased the possibility that firearms would be used to settle turf wars or attempt to escape. Official figures showed the number of drone incidents at prisons in England and Wales had risen tenfold since 2020 to 1,063 incursions last year. In an interview, Taylor said his concerns had been heightened after inspectors found drones in constant use at HMP Manchester, which houses prisoners considered a risk to the public. Related: Gangs recruit skilled drone pilots to fly drugs and even ketchup into UK prisons The risk of drugs, plus other sorts of contraband, is huge. There is the destabilising effect of drugs in prison, so prisoners under the influence, but also debt, which equals violence, and the dominance of organised crime. At the moment, its mainly drugs and mobile phones. But there is the danger of other contraband getting into prisons. HMP Manchester was getting absolutely hammered by drones and theyve got category A prisoners in there, so theres a danger of something more, he said. Asked if he was specifically concerned about guns, he said: Yes, it almost doesnt bear thinking about. The more sophisticated drones, worth several thousand pounds, are about a metre wide, equipped with thermal imaging, and can carry up to 7kg of illicit goods under the cover of darkness. Laws introduced in January made it a criminal offence to fly drones within 400 metres of any closed prison or young offender institution in England and Wales. Drone operators who break the rules could be fined up to 2,500, while those found smuggling illicit items will face up to 10 years in prison. Some prisons have introduced counter-drone technology to detect when unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are nearby but few, if any, are thought to actively block the devices from approaching. Experienced pilots are being hired by organised drug gangs to fly drugs into prisons, usually at night, Taylor said. Unfortunately, the current response from the Prison Service to this threat is inadequate, he said. Taylor said the decrepit condition of many prisons was being exploited by gangs and must be improved. Prisons need better physical security in place robust netting, secure windows, more perimeter patrols, technology and CCTV thats fit for purpose. But, ultimately, its about reducing the demand for drugs and other illicit items in prisons providing purposeful activity, he said. A recent report by Taylors inspectors into HMP Garth, near Leyland, Lancashire, said so many drones were flying to the prison at night to deliver contraband to cell windows that an inmate compared it to an airport. Drug gangs operate with such impunity at HMP Garth that new inmates are forced to sell drugs if they want basic furniture, Taylor said. Prisoners were going into their cells and they were empty. Another prisoner would turn up and say, If youd like some furniture in here, youre gonna have to sell drugs for us for a bit, and then, once youve sold it, then you can buy a chair off me, or you can buy a kettle, he said. Taylor said dangerous weapons may have already been snuck into prisons including HMP Manchester, formerly known as Strangeways. Our recent inspection of Manchester, where we issued an urgent notification, found the number of weapons and other illicit items getting in was among the highest of all prisons holding adult men. Given the prevalence of drone sightings, which we know are delivering illicit items, it is very likely that they are being used to deliver weapons, he said. Steve Gillan, the general secretary of the Prison Officers Association (POA), said he has warned authorities about a possible influx of weaponry through drones. Crime gangs have a lucrative trade in this and I have warned previously it may only be a matter of time before a drone drops a gun, incendiary device or other weapons into our prisons. That is not me being alarmist. The reality of drones needs to be treated seriously by the Ministry of Justice and government, he said. The MoJ was asked if the government was developing technology to stop drones and if there were plans to expand the use of counter-drone technology to detect them. A government spokesperson said: We have a zero-tolerance approach on contraband and are working with the police to deter, detect and disrupt the growing illegal use of drones around prisons. There are restricted fly zones for drones around all closed prisons and anyone found guilty of bringing contraband into a prison will be punished. James McMurdock was convicted in 2006 for the assault of his then girlfriend outside a nightclub - Geoff Pugh for The Telegraph Essex Police is under investigation after failing to provide details of an MPs assault on his girlfriend 18 years ago. The force refused to hand over documents relating to the historic case of James McMurdock, who was elected as a Reform MP in July. It has now been referred to the Information Commissioners Office (ICO) after failing to respond to an appeal by The Times newspaper in the time limit of 40 working days. Essex Police is already facing a separate review by the National Police Chiefs Council over its investigation into Telegraph journalist Allison Pearson, which was dropped earlier this week. Mr McMurdock, the MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock, was convicted in 2006 for the assault of his then girlfriend outside a nightclub. He spent three weeks in a young offenders institution after admitting the attack. When the conviction emerged after the election, Mr McMurdock apologised and said that he pushed his then partner hurting her in the process. But court documents obtained by The Times stated the reason for the custodial sentence was kicking to victim on around four times. A spokeswoman for the ICO said: We have received a complaint regarding Essex Polices failure to respond on time to an information access request appeal. Mr McMurdock was elected to Parliament this July having only joined Reform in May - Reuters The requests to Essex Police were submitted by The Times under Freedom of Information laws. After the forces refusal, the newspaper applied to the courts for the record of Mr McMurdocks conviction. In a previous statement, Mr McMurdock said: A generous person might call it a teenage indiscretion, but I do not expect everyone to be so kind. Nearly 20 years ago, at 19 years of age, at the end of a night out together, we argued, and I pushed her. She fell over and she was hurt. Mr McMurdock said he was sorry, adding: Despite being 38 now and having lived a whole life again, I still feel deeply ashamed of that moment and apologetic. Despite us both being very drunk, I handed myself into the police immediately and admitted my fault. The investigation by Essex Police into Ms Pearson was dropped this week in the wake of accusations of an appalling attack on free speech. Officers refused to tell her any details about the post on X that had led to the investigation, or who made the complaint. Two police officers called at the award-winning writers home at 9.40am on Remembrance Sunday to tell her she was under investigation and invited her to a voluntary interview. After it emerged the investigation had been dropped, Ms Pearson said: I feel angry with Essex Police. I do not believe there was ever any case to answer, I was expressing my opinion in what I thought was a free society. Criticism of the force case came from across the political spectrum. Graham Stringer, the Labour MP, attacked its Stasi-like approach while Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative Party leader, expressed her support for Ms Pearson. Essex Police and Reform UK were contacted for comment. Historian Dan Snow says Id die now if my kids wanted to become broadcasters Dan Snow has revealed that his father warned him against a career in television. The TV historian, whose father, Peter Snow, covered general elections for the BBC, and was also a Newsnight presenter, said he was urged not to follow in his fathers footsteps after being touted by the broadcaster for a history series. Speaking to the Full Disclosure podcast, Snow added that he would die if any of his children wanted to become a TV presenter. The 45-year-old, who has presented dozens of specials for the BBC and Channel 5, was first spotted by TV producers during the Boat Race in the early 2000s. Dan Snow got his broadcasting break when he co-presented a show with his father, Peter - Colin McPherson/Corbis/Getty Images Revealing that his father was opposed to him fronting TV programmes, he said he has the same attitude towards his children: My dad urged me not to go into this industry and now I feel the same way about mine. The Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race can be a bit dull so they sort of spruce up with videos of students going oh, Im so tired and Ive got to do my studies and train. I was one of said whining students and someone at the BBC said what about him doing a show on history. And my dad originally said no and then he also took me around Barnes Pond in south-west London and he said youre better than this, which I wish was true. Snow added: Id die now if my kids wanted to become broadcasters. Im like, please go and become bioengineers or something exciting. Snow got his broadcasting break when he co-presented a BBC2 special on the Battle of El Alamein alongside his father in 2002. Joe Biden has several options to protect the most vulnerable Americans. Illustration: Marcus Peabody/Guardian Design In less than two months, Donald Trump will take office, threatening several areas of American life and international policy. The president-elect has pledged to take aim at LGBTQ+ rights, specifically for transgender and gender-non-conforming people. He has promised to conduct mass deportations and raids as a part of a far-right approach to US immigration. And he is expected to roll back data collection practices on police misconduct and stifle any hope of passing police reform in Congress specifically the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. Trump will largely be able to roll out his agenda, outlined in the 900-plus-page Project 2025 document, as Republicans took control of Congress during the 2024 general election. Joe Bidens actions in his remaining time in office could be a crucial buttress against the expected impacts of the next four years. Six experts spoke with the Guardian about what the US president could do in his remaining time to protect the most vulnerable people: LGBTQ+ rights: fulfill executive order initiatives and confirm judges Among Trumps collection of anti-LGBTQ+ initiatives, his administrations plans to redefine sex are of particular concern, said Elana Redfield, the federal policy director at the Williams Institute on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Law and Public Policy. Sex would be redefined in such a manner that actually eradicates trans people, said Redfield, and would not allow for self-identification. The definition of sex that they would propose is that sex is defined based on anatomical characteristics at birth and is unchangeable. The definition of sex is at the core of some of the biggest civil rights conversations were having in the LGBTQ+ context, said Redfield. The Biden administration has interpreted the definition of sex to include sexual orientation and gender identity. But with Trump, redefining sex could rollback protections and cause issues for transgender people attempting to access federal programs such as social security benefits, especially as many programs ask for participants to enroll with a gender identification. A redefinition of sex could also result in people being investigated for fraud if their gender doesnt match across all federal identification documents, said Redfield. Many of these questions around the federal governments ability to define sex will face legal challenges. So Biden, in tandem with Democrats, should continue to confirm federal judges who will probably hear legal cases about gender, Redfield said. Congressional Democrats have managed to confirm several and are only 15 short of the 234 judicial confirmations needed to match the record set by Trump during his first term. Biden should also complete everything outlined in his Executive Order 14075, including checking in with federal agencies to make sure they are well equipped to handle increased needs from LGBTQ+ people amid Trumps presidency. For example, Redfield said, if everyones changing their passports right now, they need to make sure they have enough staffing for that. Police reform: make sure data on policing is publicly available Through executive orders, Biden largely increased data collection on patterns and practices of police departments, said Patrice Willoughby, the chief of policy and legislative affairs at the NAACP. But such data, which tracks police actions including traffic stops, arrests and use of force, will probably come to a complete stop under Trumps administration, likely to boost the narrative of Black violence cited by conservatives. Willoughby added that Trump will not provide an opportunity to continue reform efforts seen under Biden, especially given past comments supporting a violent day of policing to end perceived increases in crime. With his remaining term, Biden must make sure that data on policing is available publicly for advocacy organizations, state and local governments and disseminated so it does not disappear during a second Trump presidency. Additionally, the Biden administration should ensure that the methodology of collecting data is available to state and local municipalities so it can be replicated across different ecosystems, said Willoughby. States and localities that are interested in police reform [can] have the path forward in order to continue to collect data and apply it in their individual communities. Its also important for Biden to direct federal agencies to use funding that has already been earmarked by Congress to address police reform, especially, she said, as conservatives will probably claw back funding allocated towards equity and communities of color. Immigration: close detention centers and slow rate of detentions Biden should close the estimated 200 US detention sites that will be used by Trump to carry out mass deportation and slow down the current rate of detention for undocumented people, said Naureen Shah, deputy director of government affairs at the ACLU. When I think about the Trump presidency, Im anticipating an avalanche of anti-immigrant action from day one, from within hours of inauguration, said Shah. She added that Ice will probably conduct raids using state and local law enforcement, targeting of undocumented students and attacks on birthright citizenship. The biggest issue is that the Biden administration has left intact the infrastructure for abuse, Shah said, including the US detention sites that will be used during Trumps mass deportation. We urged the Biden administration early on to close detention facilities across the country, she said. We argued that they needed to close the facilities so that another administration couldnt come in and fill them up. But instead, the number of detentions has increased throughout the Biden administration, now reaching approximately 37,000 a day, said Shah, with Trump planning to increase that amount. Shah warned that Trump would now have the empty beds to fill because the Biden administration left it all there. Biden also left in place 287(g) agreements, which allow Ice to tap local law enforcement to identify and place immigrants in the deportation pipeline. Requests for the Biden administration to end said agreements have gone unfulfilled, said Shah. At this point, were calling on the Biden administration to at least slow down the expansion that is planned of Ice detention and to close facilities run by abusive sheriffs and private prison companies, Shah said, naming the Baker county detention center as a site that advocates have been flagging for years. Gaza: end arms sales to Israel Biden could withdraw US military assistance and arms sales as well as allowing for an honest assessment of Israels conduct, said Kenneth Roth, the former executive director of Human Rights Watch. Its not too late for Biden to invoke that leverage as US law requires and even in recognizing that Trump would probably reverse it, it still would be an extremely important statement, Roth said. Allowing for a review of Israels actions, including the restriction of humanitarian aid and bombing shelters housing civilians, would make clear that such conduct [are] war crimes. It would be more than just an important rebuke of how the Israeli government is fighting this war. It would help to lay the groundwork for potential international criminal charges, Roth said, adding that Trump could later face charges for aiding and abetting war crimes if the war is still conducted in this manner. But such actions are unlikely. The Biden administration could have allowed the United Nations security council to insist on a ceasefire with no political cost, Roth said, comparing the moment to when Barack Obama allowed a security council resolution on the illegality of Israels West Bank settlements to go through before Trumps inauguration in 2016. [But] Biden wouldnt do it. He vetoed it [He] would not do the comparable thing, even though the stakes are much higher. Biden has said all the right things. Hes pressed for a ceasefire, hes urged greater attention to civilian casualties, hes pressed for food and humanitarian aid to come into Gaza, Roth said. Hes done nothing to use his leverage to back up those pleas. Education: broadly expand DEI efforts Trumps plans to rescind diversity, inclusion and equity (DEI) efforts from the Biden administration could embolden states that are already targeting such initiatives in education, through anti-CRT (critical race theory) laws, which often restrict classroom material and curriculum on topics including race, sexual orientation and gender identity, said Jordan Nellums, a higher education senior policy associate at the Century Foundation, a progressive thinktank. The problem that weve seen in some states like Texas is that now faculty are looking at their syllabi for classes and realizing that they cant even use the word race or any type of word that may indicate that theres going to be a discussion on race in certain classes, he said. With the Department of Education potentially being dismantled, it could also pause its work at making sure that students facing discrimination have a means of reporting it, specifically through the Office of Civil Rights within the education department. Education is largely a state issue, said Nellums, but the Biden administration could sign executive actions to mandate that agencies protect DEI efforts more broadly. In terms of student debt, an issue disproportionately affecting people of color and low-income people, Biden could also make sure that those who are eligible for student loan forgiveness, specifically with public servant loan forgiveness and individuals who were defrauded by their college, said Aissa Canchola-Banez, policy director for the Student Borrower Protection Center. The Biden-Harris administration has done so much great work in trying to fix some of the programs that were broken under the last Trump administration, fixing the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program and fixing Income Driven Repayment program, said Canchola-Banez. But many people are still waiting to get debt relief due to bureaucratic backlogs, said Canchola-Banez. The Biden administration can also work to make sure that all those folks who were promised relief actually see it happen. Ezra Michel at his home in Los Angeles. Photograph: Ricardo Nagaoka/The Guardian Top of the weekend to you all. Five Great Reads typically explores the full range of Guardian offerings, but this week Im stuck in the Lifestyle lane. From travel (via music) to parenting to end-of-year fatigue, there should be something for everyone. Lets hit the road. 1. Road-tripping on Kraftwerks Autobahn My ultimate rocknroll road trip was through the Palm Springs desert, in search of the road sign Kyuss immortalised on the cover of Welcome To Sky Valley. For Tim Jonze, it was hitting the speed limit-free highways of Germany to mark 50 years since Kraftwerk released Autobahn. Jonze arrived in their home town of Dusseldorf expecting the electronic music pioneers to be celebrated a la Liverpool and the Beatles. Its fair to say he has a deeper appreciation of Kraftwerks influence than the locals he encountered. A travel feature with a difference: Jonze doesnt just supply words and pictures but field recordings including dashcam video with the appropriate soundtrack. How long will it take to read: Nine minutes. 2. School camp photos and the datafication of childhood This week in life was far simpler back in the day, Celina Ribeiro writes of sending her daughter off for her first two-day camp. The school asked Ribeiro to download an app before the camp began. The first batch of photos arrived two hours later and the pings did not stop until her daughter returned. Its another example of what has been dubbed the datafication of childhood. One expert says of the photos generated by daycare centres to keep parents informed: It has, in some ways, become a runaway train. The kicker: Stick around for the ending, when mother and daughter are robbed of a moment. How long will it take to read: Three minutes. 3. My scars arent a finish line Top surgery is a gender-affirming procedure that involves the removal of breast tissue to get a flatter or masculinised chest. For some trans and non-binary people, it can be one of the last steps towards feeling comfortable in their own skins. For others, its another stop on a long journey. Three Americans share the stories behind achieving their dream chest and the quite different relationships they have with their scars. *** None of my friends supported the tattoo idea. But after I did it, I got comments online saying: This is such a power move. Ezra Michel, pictured above, had his scars tattooed about two years after his second operation (the first was botched). How long will it take to read: Four minutes. 4. The changing face of masculinity (via the Gladiator films) The titular hero of Ridley Scotts 2000 opus was brooding and determinedly unfunny. In the 2024 sequel, Paul Mescals Lucius is boyish and thoughtful. Does this change reflect how the world expects its men to act? Or is it just because Russell Crowe took the role of Maximus (and himself) very, very seriously? Zoe Williams investigates. How long will it take to read: Five minutes. Further reading: Its hard to know where to begin when presented with the full, lavish, epic spread of historical inaccuracy, writes Charlotte Higgins of Gladiator II. 5. Why are so many of us so tired right now? Tired has been my standard response to most inquiries about my wellbeing this year. Theres a sense that much of Australia is running on empty; emotionally, physically and financially, writes Bianca Nogrady. Im sorry to say she doesnt discover a silver bullet for our societal malaise, but its sometimes enough to know that youre not alone. Pro tip: Banking your annual leave for one big holiday? Try taking shorter breaks through the year to release the pressure valve. How long will it take to read: Three minutes. Further reading: Thats enough for this week. Have a rest. Youve earned it. Sign up If you would like to receive these Five Great Reads to your email inbox every weekend, sign up here. And check out out the full list of our local and international newsletters, including The Stakes, your guide to the twists and turns of the US presidential election. Scenes as people were told to evacuate Gatwick airport on Friday morning. Photograph: Tanya Willis/SWNS Gatwicks south terminal has reopened for passengers after a security alert caused disruption for thousands of people. Sussex police said they had released two people after concluding their investigation into reports of a suspect package at the airport. A bomb disposal team made the package safe, the force added in a statement on X. Travellers were unable to check in for more than four hours after the terminal building was evacuated on Friday morning as bomb disposal experts responded to reports of a suspected prohibited item in the luggage area. By mid-afternoon, Gatwick airport said the security alert had been resolved and a security cordon around the terminal had been lifted. The scare caused frustration and alarm among evacuated passengers, many of whom were handed foil blankets as temperatures hovered barely above freezing. Brian Torres, 22, who was visiting from New York in the US, had been in the terminal preparing to go through security checks when he was ordered to evacuate. He said: I just want to get back home to talk to my mom. Its scary. Theyre not informing us about anything. Denice Sealy, who was travelling to Malta for her birthday, had also been queueing at security when she was told to turn back. When we got outside we didnt know where to go because there were no staff there, she said. With regards to passengers and communication, its been absolute chaos. She added: In the end, a load of us ended up walking from the south terminal to the north terminal, and it was freezing. The airport thanked passengers for their patience and understanding. It said in a statement: The earlier security alert has now been resolved and cleared by police. The south terminal is reopening to staff and will be open to passengers shortly. Trains will also start calling at Gatwick airport once the terminal is fully reopened. We would like to thank everyone for their patience and understanding while this situation was resolved. Safety and security is always our top priority. There are some delays and cancellations, passengers should contact their airline for any updates on flights. Sussex police were called to the south terminal at 8.20am on Friday when the suspect luggage was discovered. The force imposed a security cordon around the terminal to ensure public safety. An explosive ordnance disposal team was deployed to the airport as a precaution, it said. Passengers were warned to expect significant disruption and the public were urged to avoid the area. Deborah Cohen, a former BBC journalist, shared video of passengers being ushered to lower floors of the airport. Another video posted on X by Cohen showed passengers being given foil blankets to keep warm. Staff wearing national inter-agency liaison officer (Nilo) bibs were videoed at the scene. Such officers work with police, fire and rescue services and other agencies to support critical incidents. The aviation analytics website Cirium said 316 flights were scheduled to depart from the airport on Friday, with a total of more than 60,600 seats. A further 318 flights were scheduled to arrive, with more than 61,400 seats. Train services at Gatwick station were suspended for several hours. Patricia Lima, 36, from Brazil, who was due to fly to the US after a holiday in the UK, was among passengers at London Victoria struggling to reach the airport. She said she was disappointed and tired, adding: I dont feel well when we dont have much information. South Texas Nuclear Project reactor unit 2 control room at Bay City. Larry Reese, HC staff / Houston Chronicle An employee walks past the nuclear reactors at South Texas Nuclear Generating Station near Bay City, TX on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2017. Bob Owen /San Antonio Express-News The spent fuel pool where the rods are cooled down at South Texas Nuclear Project Electric Generating Station. Bob Owen /San Antonio Express-News Bob Owen /San Antonio Express-News A worker clad in protective ware walks past the spent fuel pool at the South Texas Nuclear Project Electric Generating Station. Bob Owen /San Antonio Express-News Bob Owen /San Antonio Express-News Nuclear power is making a comeback as a reliable generator of clean energy, and state leaders want to make Texas the epicenter of a new atomic age. Advocates promise a high-tech, high-paying industry that will drive the Texas economy, but first, they argue, companies will need huge taxpayer handouts to get started. The hard part will be convincing lawmakers without using the words climate change, which is the only reason to subsidize the industry. If anyone talked about global warming at the Texas Nuclear Summit in Austin on Monday, I dont remember it. They emphasized how nuclear could provide power 24/7 without emissions, meeting two of the three of the electricity grids requirements. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The third, affordability, is nuclears Achilles heel, but Texas is working on it. Companies are working on every link of the supply chain, from mining uranium to splitting the atoms. Texas has two nuclear facilities: the South Texas Project near the coast in Bay City, owned by a partnership, and Comanche Peak, operated by Vistra in Glen Rose, outside of Fort Worth. Together, the four reactors supply about 10% of the states electricity. Public opposition to nuclear power squelched plans to build four additional reactors, even though no U.S. civilian reactor has caused a significant accident or loss of life from a radiation accident. The biggest challenge has been cost overruns. The newest nuclear power plant was completed last year in Georgia. Plant Vogtle was seven years late and $17 billion over budget. Because Georgia Power is a regulated utility, state officials passed those additional costs onto customers, resulting in some of the most expensive electricity in the country. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The Electric Reliability Council of Texas operates a wholesale market where generators compete to offer the lowest-priced electricity. While ERCOT has historically offered some of the cheapest electricity in the country, it hasnt always been reliable or sustainable. The Texas market, in my opinion, has focused more on affordability, and through the transmission plan, which makes it very easy to build and connect, has also achieved sustainability, Jim Burke, Vistras chief executive officer, told the summit in Austin. But it's still working on achieving the reliability. The Public Utility Commission and the Texas Legislature need to redesign the wholesale market to make expensive projects such as new nuclear reactors economical, he added. Burke said safer and less costly small modular reactors would boost reliability, but no company will build them without higher payments for reliable, clean energy. Dow Chemical needs highly reliable power and high-temperature steam for its Seadrift Plant, a 4,700-acre facility that manufactures more than 4 billion pounds of materials annually. Dow has started work on a small module reactor supplied by X-energy. The Texas A&M University System has volunteered land outside of Bryan to build and test new small reactor technologies. Chancellor John Sharp said the facilitys neighbors are excited about the testbed, and he received only one email in opposition. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The United States also needs to restart uranium mining and processing because almost all of it comes from overseas. Texas companies are gearing up to meet those needs, too. Uranium Energy Corp., based in Corpus Christi, calls itself Americas leading, fastest growing, uranium mining company. It has restarted a mine in Wyoming and is considering opening a new mine in South Texas. EnCore Energy extracts and processes uranium at two facilities in South Texas, 60 miles west of Corpus Christi. The company plans to expand to Wyoming as well. Small reactors need a specialized fuel called high-assay low-enriched uranium. The United States has no commercial HALEU producers, though a Department of Energy program is trying to encourage it. So is Gov. Greg Abbott, who released a report from his blue ribbon Texas Advanced Nuclear Reactor Working Group during the summit asking the Legislature to pass laws that will enable and finance companies and projects. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Public Utility Commissioner Jimmy Glotfelty chaired the commission and said state loans and grants could make Texas the headquarters for new nuclear. He also believes the PUC should redesign the wholesale electricity market to make nuclear power profitable. I understand the impulse to subsidize small reactors. Tax incentives helped reduce the cost of wind turbines, solar panels and large-scale batteries. The real problem is that nuclear power only makes sense if you believe fossil fuels must be phased out due to climate change, a term verboten inside Texas halls of power. Its hard to make the case for spending taxpayer money on a solution to a problem that Republicans do not believe exists. (Updated Nov. 22 at 10:40 a.m.) This column was updated to clarify operation of the South Texas Project. Gordon Brown says the state of the NHS means now is not the right time for a decision on assisted dying. Photograph: Murdo MacLeod/The Guardian The former prime minister Gordon Brown has declared his opposition to the legalisation of assisted dying, saying the death of his newborn daughter in January 2002 convinced him of the value and imperative of good end-of-life care. In a rare and poignant glimpse into the tragedy, he says the time he and his wife, Sarah, spent at their baby Jennifers bedside as her life ebbed away were among the most precious days of [our] lives. In an article for the Guardian, Brown says the debate on assisted dying is moving too fast given the profound ethical and practical issues, and the state of the NHS means this is not the right time for a far-reaching decision. Instead of a yes/no vote in parliament, Brown writes that a commission to devise a fully funded, 10-year strategy for improved and comprehensive palliative care should be set up. He cites unpublished polling showing that half the public are not confident of the governments ability to fund specialist end-of-life care, and that more than two-thirds back a commission on the issue. MPs are due to vote next week on a private members bill to legalise assisted dying in England and Wales. MPs have been given a free vote, meaning individuals rather than parties will decide whether to back or reject the bill. Supporters and opponents of the bill are expected to increase their lobbying of undecided MPs over the next few days as uncertainty surrounds the outcome of the historic vote. Brown says he and Sarah knew the extent of Jennifers brain haemorrhage four days after her birth in December 2001, when he was the chancellor. She died when she was 11 days old. He says: We were fully aware that all hope was gone and that she had no chance of survival. We could only sit with her, hold her tiny hand and be there for her as life ebbed away. She died in our arms. But those days we spent with her remain among the most precious days of my and Sarahs lives. The experience of sitting with a fatally ill baby girl did not convince me of the case for assisted dying; it convinced me of the value and imperative of good end-of-life care. We were reassured that she was not in pain. On Friday, Yvette Cooper, the home secretary, became the latest cabinet minister to share their view on assisted dying when she said she supported the principle of needing change in the law. I have voted for change in the past, she told Good Morning Britain. These are important and difficult issues, and I havent changed my view on the principles of this issue. But I do also recognise that there is a detailed debate to be had on the detail of legislation on the kinds of safeguards and things that need to be in place. Pushed on how she would vote, she added: I continue to support the principle of needing change but also to ensure that weve got the proper safeguards and systems in place. A YouGov poll published on Friday found almost three-quarters of the British public believe in principle that assisted dying should be legal, with 13% opposed. More than half 55% of respondents would like to go further than the current proposal, saying assisted dying should be legal for people with debilitating incurable conditions that are not terminal. Brown argues that such a profound decision should be delayed to allow more listening and learning. He writes: Britain usually moves too slowly on those matters where it should move fast. But sometimes, as now, it can move too fast on an issue where it should go slower, listen and learn. And with the NHS still at its lowest ebb, this is not the right time to make such a profound decision. Instead, we need to show we can do better at assisted living before deciding whether to legislate on ways to die. At the heart of the assisted dying debate is a desire to prevent suffering, and both sides share genuine compassion for all those facing painful deaths, he writes. How best to achieve this divides our country, raising as it does profound ethical and practical issues. He says his view is that assisted dying is not the only option nor even a good option compared with good palliative care. But I also know that, as things stand, care and on-hand personal assistance is still in short supply for terminally ill people, and end-of-life care is the biggest postcode lottery of all. Fears around the scarcity of funding for end-of-life care are shared by the public, he says. When only a small fraction of the population are expected to choose assisted dying, would it not be better to focus all our energies on improving all-round hospice care to reach everyone in need of end-of-life support? He says medical advances could transform end-of-life care, adding: This generation has it in our power to ensure no one should have to face death alone, uncared for, or subject to avoidable pain. Kim Leadbeater, the MP whose bill on assisted dying will be debated next week, welcomed Browns call for a commission on end-of-life care. It is a vital issue and one that deserves to be examined in depth. We in Britain have probably the best palliative care in the world, but that doesnt mean it cant be improved and I agree with Gordon that it should be, she said. But, she added, even the very best end-of-life care doesnt work for everybody. She said she was deeply touched by Browns description of how he and Sarah surrounded their new-born daughter with love as her life slipped away He says that baby Jennifers death convinced him of the value of good end-of-life care and I agree with him completely. Orban called the decision outrageously brazen and said the judgment will have no effect in Hungary. Photograph: Balazs Mohai/AP Hungarys illiberal prime minister, Viktor Orban, has said he will invite his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu, to visit in defiance of an international criminal court arrest warrant, as world leaders split over the ICCs momentous decision. The worlds highest criminal court issued warrants on Thursday for Netanyahu, his former defence minister Yoav Gallant and the Hamas commander Ibrahim al-Masri, commonly known as Mohammed Deif, who is believed to be dead, for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity. Orban, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency and who has previously said he would not arrest the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, who is also wanted by the ICC, called the courts decision outrageously brazen and cynical. Related: ICC issues arrest warrant for Benjamin Netanyahu for alleged Gaza war crimes There is no choice here, we have to defy this decision I will guarantee Mr Netanyahu, if he comes, that the judgment will have no effect in Hungary and that we will not follow its terms, he said on Friday. Nations are divided over how to respond to the arrest warrants, the first ever issued by the ICC against leaders of a democratic country. Analysts at Eurointelligence said: For us Europeans, this warrant exposes a real dilemma between international law, which is our law, and our foreign policy, especially for those member states that are unconditionally backing Israel. In principle, Netanyahu and Gallant would risk arrest if they go to any of the 124 states that are members of the ICC, including the EU nations, the UK, Canada, Australia, Brazil, Japan and dozens of African, Latin American and Asia-Pacific countries. The reality, however, is different and Netanyahu and Gallant also remain free to travel to any of the countries that, like Israel, are not signatories to the Rome statute that established the court in 1998, including the US, China, India and Russia. Netanyahu has denounced the warrants as antisemitic and the ICCs accusations as absurd and false, while Israels staunchest ally, the US, said it fundamentally rejects the decision and was deeply concerned by process errors that it said had led to it. Beijing did not criticise the arrest warrants directly but its foreign ministry spokesperson, Lin Jian, said on Friday that it hopes the court will uphold an objective and just position and exercise its powers in accordance with the law. Hungary signed and ratified the Rome statute during Orbans first term in office but it has not promulgated the associated convention for reasons of constitutionality and therefore asserts that it is not obliged to comply with ICC decisions. Netanyahu thanked Orban for his moral clarity, adding: Faced with the shameful weakness of those who stood by the outrageous decision against the right of the state of Israel to defend itself, Hungary [is] standing by the side of justice and truth. The outgoing EU foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, has said the courts decisions must be binding. It is not a political decision, he said on Thursday. It is a decision of a court, of an international court of justice. And the decision of the court has to be respected and implemented. Some EU member states were quick to say they would comply. Spain, long one of the blocs most persistent and outspoken critics of Israels war in Gaza, confirmed on Friday that Netanyahu would be arrested if he travelled there. Alongside Ireland and Norway, Spain has officially recognised a Palestinian state. The Spanish labour minister, Yolanda Diaz, said on Thursday that Madrid was always on the side of justice and international law The genocide of the Palestinian people cannot go unpunished. A source in Spains foreign ministry said on Friday: Spain respects the decision of the international criminal court and will fulfil its commitments and obligations with regard to the Rome statute and international law. Irelands prime minister, Simon Harris, said in a statement on Thursday that Ireland respects the role of the international criminal court. Anyone in a position to assist it in carrying out its vital work must now do so with urgency. Asked on Friday whether Ireland would arrest Netanyahu who became the first Israeli prime minister to visit the country in 1996 if he returned, Harris said: Yes, absolutely. We support international courts and we apply their warrants. The Netherlands foreign minister, Caspar Veldkamp, confirmed to the Dutch parliament on Thursday that the country would in principle act on the warrants should the situation arise. He cancelled a scheduled visit to Israel on Friday. Italys defence minister, Guido Crosetto, said on Friday that while Rome considered the ICC decision to be wrong in putting on the same level the leaders of a criminal terrorist organisation and those of country trying to eradicate it, Italy would be obliged to arrest the Israeli politicians if they visited. By joining the court, we must apply its judgments, it is part of the treaty, Crosetto said. Every state that joins would be obliged the only way to not apply it would be to withdraw from the treaty. Switzerland, Finland and Portugal have all said they would execute the warrants. However, Norway and several EU member states including France and Germany have been non-committal, saying they respect international law but not confirming they would act. A French foreign ministry spokesperson, Christophe Lemoine, said on Thursday that Paris would react in line with ICC statutes. But Lemoine declined to say whether France would arrest the Israeli leaders if they came to the country, saying it was a point that is legally complex. Germanys foreign minister, Annalena Baerbock, said Berlin was examining the warrants. Baerbock said Berlin was bound by the court as a country that recognises the body and respects international law, but the question of whether or not Netanyahu and Gallant would be arrested was theoretical for the time being. A spokesperson for the British prime minister, Keir Starmer, said the UK respects the independence of the ICC but there was no moral equivalence between Israel, a democracy, and Hamas and Lebanese Hezbollah, which are terrorist organisations. The spokesperson did not say whether Britain would execute the warrants. Outside Europe, the Canadian prime minister, Justin Trudeau, said Canada, a founding ICC member, has always said its really important that everyone abide by international law We stand up for international law, and we will abide by all the regulations and rulings of the international courts. Turkey said the ICCs decision was a belated but positive decision to stop the bloodshed and put an end to the genocide in Palestine, while South Africa, which has accused Israel of genocide in Gaza at the international court of justice, said it was a significant step towards justice for crimes against humanity and war crimes in Palestine. Argentinas prime minister, Javier Milei, an outspoken Netanyahu ally, described the warrants as an act that distorts the spirit of international justice, adding: This resolution ignores Israels legitimate right to defend itself against constant attacks by terrorist organisations such as Hamas and Hezbollah. Additional reporting by Lorenzo Tondo and Sam Jones This article was amended on 23 November 2024. An earlier version said South Africa, had accused Israel of genocide in Gaza at the ICC; we meant the ICJ (international court of justice). International Criminal Court With major conflicts raging in Europe and the Middle East, the International Criminal Courts decision to charge Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel, as well as Yoav Gallant, the countrys former defence minister, with war crimes raises profound questions about the ability of democratic governments to wage war. Since Hamas launched its murderous terrorist assault against Israel from Gaza on October 7 last year, the Israel Defence Forces have been engaged in a major military offensive, justified as self-defence under international law, to destroy Hamass terrorist infrastructure. Civilians, as inevitably occurs in any war zone, have been killed or injured in the bitter fighting between Israeli forces and Hamas terrorists, who regularly use Palestinian civilians as human shields, itself a clear violation of the rules of conflict. In such circumstances, and with hostilities ongoing, making a proper assessment of the civilian casualty figures is difficult, if not impossible. The only figures available are those provided by Hamas-controlled health bodies, which appear to make no distinction between the number of dead Hamas terrorists estimated to be around 20,000 and civilians. Yet, despite not having access to reliable facts, the ICC has nevertheless felt compelled to issue warrants for the arrest of Israels prime minister and former defence chief, the first time such action has been taken against the leaders of a democratic country. The ICC decision raises worrying questions for other democratic countries including the UK that could find themselves engaged in conflict. It compromises the ability of democracies to prevail over their enemies if their military operations cause civilian casualties. Would Britain and its allies have emerged victorious from the Second World War had Winston Churchill and other wartime leaders been distracted by the prospect of facing war crime accusations? The ICC action is also problematic for the British Government which, as a member of the ICC, is now obliged to detain the accused Israelis if they arrive on British soil, despite the fact that Israel is still supposed to be our close ally in the fight against Islamist terrorism. Sir Keir Starmers immediate response was seemingly to back the ICCs decision, a gesture he may come to regret if either Mr Netanyahu or Mr Gallant visit these shores at a future date. The Governments confusion on this issue was reflected in the inability of Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, to provide a coherent answer when challenged. Labour would be well-advised to determine how they do intend to deal with the challenge presented by the ICCs erroneous act. Dr Michael Dixons appointment as head of the Royal Medical Household in late 2022 caused a stir - Getty/Max Mumby The Kings personal doctor has insisted he is not a homoeopath but admitted that he had hypnotised himself to be happy. Dr Michael Dixons appointment as head of the Royal Medical Household in late 2022 caused a stir owing to his unconventional views on homoeopathy and faith healing. His interest in alternative medicine is shared with the King, with whom he has enjoyed a close relationship for decades. However, Dr Dixon, 72, moved to set the record straight on his practice, while also expressing disparaging views about the NHS, noting that staff were being throttled with regulation and treated in a toxic way. He also expressed huge frustration with the clamour for Ozempic among those keen to lose weight, suggesting that people should take responsibility for their own health. Can I say, on the record, Ive never studied homoeopathy, he told The Times in a rare interview. Ive never even offered homoeopathy. What I have done is said that if patients feel theyve benefited from homoeopathy, whats the problem? Dr Dixon, 72, who juggles his job as an NHS GP in Devon with leading a team of medical professionals looking after the Royal family, admitted that he did dabble in alternative medicine techniques. I like acupressure. I do a bit of manipulation, a bit of herbs, a bit of self-hypnosis I think it is very effective, he said, adding that in the past he had hypnotised myself to be happy. Could serve a purpose He acknowledged that he thought homoeopathy could serve a purpose on the NHS but not at the expense of good evidence-based conventional medicine. Dr Dixon has long advocated for a complementary or integrative approach to medicine, once stating that he was converted to homoeopathy after inviting a Christian healer into his NHS clinic. He also wrote a paper in which he said that being seen by spiritual healers may be an effective adjunct for the treatment of chronically ill patients presenting in general practice. Speaking about the doctor in 2019, the then Prince Charles told an audience: I have nothing but the greatest admiration for everything he has managed to do over all these years. Since he was appointed to the Medical Household shortly after the death of Elizabeth II, Dr Dixon has accompanied the monarch on state visits to Germany and Kenya. His salary is paid from the Kings private purse. Turning to the broken NHS, Dr Dixon said it was madness that one in five adults in the UK was on anti-depressants, suggesting that time-pressed GPs simply had no time to deal with patients problems more holistically. Similarly, on the popularity of Ozempic, he said attitudes were focused on the quick fix. The more we go down this Ozempic route the more were saying, its not my responsibility, give me the injection, give me the pill, he said. Matt Gaetz has withdrawn himself from being considered as Donald Trumps attorney general - MANDEL NGAN/AFP The system worked. Donald Trump and his loyalists huffed and puffed about breaking the US Senates role as a check on bad appointments by the president, but in the end Matt Gaetz withdrew his name with shocking speed from consideration to be Trumps attorney general. This makes it less likely that Trump will force a showdown with Senate Republicans over his harebrained scheme to have the Senate declare itself in recess so that he can fill his Cabinet with temporary appointees. That avoids starting his term with an immediate constitutional crisis. Yet, it may also be good news for Trump, and perhaps even for Gaetz himself. The Gaetz nomination was intended to signal Trumps seriousness about shaking up the Department of Justice by picking a bomb-thrower who has been caustically critical of everything from the investigations and prosecutions of Trump to the prosecution of January 6 rioters and protesters. But it put Trump in the immediate and unnecessary position of having to push for an unprecedented recess, because Gaetz is neither liked nor respected on Capitol Hill and faced implacable opposition from enough Republican senators to sink the nomination. Trump may have a strong hand right now, but he will need to pressure senators on many more votes over the next four years. He can save his political capital, and can roll into the holiday season with more post-victory goodwill among his party intact. While Republican senators may be alarmed at choices such as ex-Democrats Robert F Kennedy Jr and Tulsi Gabbard, at least the nomination of converts who helped in an electoral victory is more explicable and less of a finger in the eye to Congressional allies than picking the rebel who overthrew the last Republican speaker of the House. More importantly, if Trump takes the opportunity to pick a more serious, competent candidate, he stands a better chance of employing an AG who will actually carry out his agenda at Justice. Bending a large bureaucracy full of lawyers and investigators to your will isnt easy. Its doubly difficult if, like Gaetz, you have been repeatedly investigated for sordid matters such as allegedly paying a 17-year-old for sex things that can and would be leaked to the press at times least favourable to Gaetz. Recall that the anonymous Deep Throat source whose leaks to the Washington Post drove the Watergate scandal was a deputy director of the FBI. A candidate who enters the office with a weak public reputation and a ton of messy private baggage could be eaten alive by leaks. There are many other candidates better prepared for the job. That includes a number of Republican state attorneys general and former United States attorneys, as well as governors and senators who have held those positions in the past. Moreover, if Trump replaces Gaetz with an attorney general who gets confirmed by the Senate, he need not worry about a temporary appointment that might be challenged in court. As for Gaetz, assuming that he doesnt reverse course and return to the House of Representatives in January, he can for now permanently bury what was apparently a damning House Ethics Committee report on his personal scandals. He can avoid a bruising Senate hearing that would have given a national platform to his accusers to stage a nasty public airing of his sexual past. If he leaves government, he can cash in as a media star a role for which he clearly has the flair and a fan base. Of course, Gaetz will be dogged by the same rumours if he ever again seeks higher office, but he at least would be able to fight them under more favourable conditions on the campaign trail than in a Senate hearing room where his own answers are under oath and under hostile questioning. Wrapping this whole thing up in mid-November ensures, for both Trump and Gaetz, that this nomination will be far from the front pages come January. That is best for all concerned. Dan McLaughlin is a senior writer at National Review Tibbs in the LDV before joining the Royal Navy Lieutenant Michael Tibbs, who has died aged 102, served in convoys during the Second World War and took part in two of the longest ever diesel-powered submarine patrols of the time. On the equator off Singapore in November 1944, Tibbs was navigator of the submarine Tantalus, commanded by Lt Cdr Rufus Mackenzie (later Vice-Admiral Sir Hugh Mackenzie KCB, DSO and bar, DSC), when the boat was hunted by Japanese aircraft and two destroyers. All machinery was shut off, to be silent, and with the ventilation turned off the atmosphere became stifling as the destroyers passed overhead, making a noise like express trains charging through a station. Unofficial crest of Tantalus (motto meaning never satisfied), preferred by Tibbs and his crew to the official, less imaginative version We could hear the ping as they fired the charges and held our breath for the woof as they exploded, Tibbs recalled. I really thought we had had it when one escort came at us from ahead dropping charges all the time. As he dropped one just ahead, Rufus ordered full ahead, so we shot forward and the next one dropped just astern. Of all times during the war, that was the closest I thought it was to the end, but thanks to Rufus it was not. All this time, a photographer had been creeping through the boat with his cine camera, photographing paint coming off the bulkheads, light-bulbs bursting and the wardroom lampshade with its scantily clad ladies whizzing round and round as there were explosions all round us. We were on the continental shelf with a depth of only 60 feet normally one would go deep down to about 150 feet so we were scraping along the bottom, and the top of our periscope masts was only a few feet below the destroyers hulls. Eventually Tantalus was able to draw away. Sub Lt Tibbs RNVR at home with bulldog, Buddy Tibbs had joined the submarine Tantalus in August 1943, just as the boats work-up at the Lough Larne base in Co Antrim was interrupted by urgent orders to intercept the German battleship Tirpitz, which was reported to be off Spitzbergen. Tantalus missed Tirpitz by some hours, but on surfacing met a German U-boat: both boats dived and circled each other, but neither reached a position to fire. Tibbs recalled that it was so cold he and the crew wore submarine frocks sweaters which came down below the waist and long johns known as dunghampers, both made from thick, white wool. Soon, Tantalus deployed to the Indian Ocean and the coasts of Burma, Siam and Malaya, where the dress code was sarongs and sandals. There, on patrol in early 1944, she sank a supply ship and two smaller vessels in the Malacca Strait, and in April during Operation Remarkable IV she landed two Chinese-Malay agents on the enemy-held coast. In May that year Tantalus carried out a torpedo attack, sinking a supply ship, and the next month, in addition to mine-laying, she intercepted the Japanese submarine I-66, though the subsequent torpedo attack failed. In July there were air-sea rescue duties during the British Eastern Fleet air attack on Sabang on the north-west tip of Sumatra. Tantalus flying her Jolly Roger as she leaves Fremantle for the last time In September 1944 Tantalus changed base from Trincomalee to Fremantle in Western Australia, from where she resumed operations against the Japanese; two months later she was involved in the failed mission to retrieve from the island of Merapas the survivors of Operation Rimau, an audacious plan for commandos to attack shipping in Singapore harbour using sleeping beauties, or powered submersible canoes. On the same patrol, Tantalus sank a supply ship and damaged the Japanese submarine-chaser Chi. The submarine returned to Fremantle after a patrol of 52 days. Next, on January 3 1945, Tantalus sailed for air-sea rescue duties during the British carrier-borne air attacks on oil installations in Sumatra, and then into the South China Sea to attack small craft there with her gun. When she returned to Fremantle after her final patrol, she had covered almost 12,000 miles in 55 days and her crew were living off ships biscuits (hard tack) and tinned guavas. The two patrols were almost certainly the longest of the war and probably the longest ever before the advent of the nuclear-powered submarine. Tibbs was mentioned in despatches. Geoffrey Michael Graydon Tibbs was born on November 21 1921 in Ewell, Surrey, while his father, the Rev Geoffrey Tibbs, was chaplain in the battleship Iron Duke; his christening in the upturned ships bell (now in Winchester Cathedral) was witnessed by Prince George, later the Duke of Kent. Young Tibbs was educated at Mount House prep, outside Tavistock, where he got full marks for a 10-minute lecture about submarines, and at Berkhamsted School, Hertfordshire, where he joined the OTC. On the deck of Tantalus He recalled that when, in 1932, his father took the rural living of Lynchmere, near Haslemere, he visited his parishioners on horseback. His father wanted him to become a dentist, but was persuaded to take his son to the naval recruiting office in Portsmouth where they were caught in a blitz: they fled with bombs falling, ack-ack guns firing up, some of the planes were very low and dodging through the wires of the barrage balloons. We drove at 60 mph up Commercial Road that, needless to say, was quite deserted. Tibbs joined as an ordinary seaman in September 1940, trained at HMS Collingwood, and discovered in his first ship, the destroyer Cottesmore, that he was seasick. Sent for abbreviated officer-training at Lancing College near Hove (then named HMS King Alfred), he proudly recalled that King George VI stopped to speak to him, but he could not remember what he said. As a midshipman, still under training, Tibbs joined the light cruiser Sheffield on convoy duties in the Arctic, Atlantic and Mediterranean. In September 1941 he was on the bridge of Sheffield when as part of Force H, she escorted Convoy WS11 into Grand Harbour, Malta where every single vantage point was covered with cheering people greeting the ships that had brought the first supplies they had had for six months; a welcome from the brave people of Malta that none of us would ever forget. HMS Sheffield at anchor off Kola On Arctic convoys, he recalled Sheffield being encased in an inch of ice and how bare hands would stick to anything touched, and he was officer of the watch in Sheffield during the Battle of the Barents Sea on December 31 1942. Fought around the Russia-bound convoy JW 51B, Sheffield engaged at close range and sank the German destroyer Friedrich Eckoldt, which burst into flames, broke in two and was lost with all hands. Promoted to sub-lieutenant RNVR in April 1943, Tibbs volunteered for the Trade and trained at HMS Elfin, Blyth, and at HMS Dolphin, Gosport, and joined the submarine Tantalus later that year. He served in her until July 1945, rising from navigator to communications officer to first lieutenant. When the news of VJ Day broke, Tibbs was second-in-command of the submarine Varne and in line to command his own boat when it was ruled that only career officers would be eligible for peacetime command. Tibbs kept his naval greatcoat all his life, with the Gieves receipt for its purchase in the pocket Disappointed, in 1946 Tibbs went up to Oxford to study geography, before joining the Sudan Political Service. When Sudan became independent, he settled in Lynchmere. He was a manager at the Automobile Association and later secretary for 18 years of the Royal College of Physicians, for which he was appointed OBE. In 1951 he married Anne Wortley after a whirlwind romance while home on a short leave from Sudan. She died in 2019, and he is survived by his two sons, both of whom are doctors. Tibbss wartime memoir, Hello Lad, Come to Join the Navy? (2013), is based on the thousand or so letters which he exchanged with his family during the war. Tibbs kept his naval greatcoat all his life, with the Gieves receipt for its purchase for 12 10s in the pocket. Lieutenant Michael Tibbs, born November 21 1921, died October 2 2024 Harshita Brella came to the UK in April after an arranged marriage to Pankaj Lamba. Photograph: supplied The family of Harshita Brella, who was found dead in the boot of a car in east London, have said they will never forget you till our last breath. They said in a tribute issued through Northamptonshire police on Friday: Harshita, you left this world but you are still with us in our hearts and will always be there. We will never forget you till our last breath. Always stay with us. We miss you in every very moment of our life. The body of Brella, 24, was found inside the boot of a vehicle in Ilford, east London, in the early hours of 14 November. Detectives believe she was killed in Corby, Northamptonshire, on the evening of 10 November. Her husband, Pankaj Lamba, 23, is the main suspect in the killing and police believe he has fled the country. Brella, an Indian citizen, was living in Northamptonshire having moved to the UK in April shortly after an arranged marriage to Lamba. On Thursday, Northamptonshire police released CCTV footage showing Brella and Lamba at Corby boating lake on the evening she is believed to have been killed, as detectives appealed for witnesses to come forward who may have seen them. Any information you have may help us piece together exactly what happened to Harshita and help bring her killer to justice, said DCI Johnny Campbell, of the East Midlands special operations major crime unit. Brellas family, who live in India, have criticised the police and said they failed to protect her after she filed a complaint alleging domestic abuse by her husband weeks before her death. I believe the police did not do enough to help her or protect my sister, her elder sister, Sonia Dabas, told the Guardian. She reported her abuse but the police processes just made her feel even more scared and alone. It drove her back to Pankaj. The Northamptonshire police assistant chief constable, Emma James, said Brella was identified as being at high risk of domestic abuse and assigned an independent domestic violence adviser, and a safety plan was formulated. She said Brella was placed in a refuge and visited by officers on a number of occasions, while the alleged perpetrator was identified, quickly arrested and bailed with conditions. A 28-day domestic violence protection order was authorised at Northampton magistrates court on 5 September, Jones said, while investigations against the alleged perpetrator continued. Northamptonshire police have referred themselves to the Independent Office for Police Conduct because of their previous contact with Brella, and a domestic homicide review is under way internally. Firefighters work at a site in Sumy, Ukraine, hit by a Russian drone strike - STATE EMERGENCY SERVICE OF UKRAINE/REUTERS A high-ranking general has become the first senior North Korean military figure to be wounded fighting for Russia against Ukraine, Western officials have said. The general was said to have been injured in a Ukrainian missile strike on the Russian border region of Kursk, where thousands of Pyongyangs troops have been deployed to help repel Ukraines offensive launched in August. The official, speaking to the Wall Street Journal, did not disclose his identity or how exactly he was wounded. Ukraine launched at least 10 British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles at a military facility in Kursk on Wednesday. The target was a former country estate, the cellars of which were being used by the Russian military as a command centre, where senior North Korean officials may have been stationed. A Ukrainian soldier in Kursk, Russia - FUTURE Washington has accused North Korea of sending more than 10,000 troops to Russia and last month warned they would be a legitimate military target by Ukrainian forces. US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Friday night that he expects North Korean troops massing in Russia to soon enter combat against Ukraine. In exchange for the troops and a steady stream of artillery shells, Vladimir Putin is said to have given Kim Jong-un a million barrels of oil as well as anti-air missiles. Satellite imagery, shared by the Britain-based Open Source Centre with the BBC, appeared to prove that the Kremlin is breaking international sanctions sending huge quantities of oil to North Korea. On Friday, Shin Won-sik, Seouls security chief said: It has been identified that equipment and anti-aircraft missiles aimed at reinforcing Pyongyangs vulnerable air defence system have been delivered to North Korea. Following the news of the wounded North Korean general, Kim accused the US of increasing tension, saying the Korean peninsula has never faced a greater risk of nuclear war. North Korean troops training in Russia ahead of their deployment to fight Ukraine - PARA PAX In a speech at a military exhibition in Pyongyang, the dictator criticised Washington for its unchangeable aggressive and hostile policy towards North Korea. Never before have the warring parties on the Korean peninsula faced such a dangerous and acute confrontation that it could escalate into the most destructive thermonuclear war, he said, according to the KCNA state news agency. Kim also hinted that he would be reluctant to sit down with Donald Trump, despite the president-elect previously touting the pairs close ties. We have already gone as far as we can on negotiating with the United States, he said, adding that North Koreas only guarantee of security was to bolster its nuclear-armed military. Kim was speaking at a defence exhibition in Pyongyang, where he showed off a range of strategic and tactical weapons including supposed intercontinental ballistic missiles, hypersonic missiles and drones. 01:04 PM GMT Thats all for today Thank you for following our live coverage. 12:47 PM GMT Take Putin threats seriously, says Orban The Hungarian prime minister has warned Western states to take Putins threats at face value. Viktor Orban emphasised that those countries supplying weapons to Ukraine should be cautious and act with common sense or else problems may arise, according to Tass news agency. If the Russian president says something in his country, it is not just empty noise. It is not a communication tactic, Orban told Kossuth public-broadcasting radio station. He added that when Russia changes the rules of engagement of nuclear weapons, it is not a communication ploy, it is not a trick, and it will have consequences. Orban previously said in a video posted to social media that the next two months would be the most dangerous of the war in Ukraine. 12:27 PM GMT Pistorius paves way for Scholz second term Boris Pistorius has ruled himself out as the next leader of Germanys Social Democrats [SPD], clearing the path for Chancellor Olaf Scholz to take the embattled party into snap elections. In a major blow to some figures in the SPD who wished to oust Mr Scholz, Mr Pistorius announced that he was not available to run for the party leadership ahead of elections in February 2025. This is my sovereign, personal decision and only my decision. I have emphasised this over and over in recent weeks and Im saying it again as clearly as possible: In Olaf Scholz, we have an excellent chancellor, he said. His announcement means Mr Scholz is all but guaranteed to run in the elections as SPD leader. The move is significant in the context of Russia and the war in Ukraine: Mr Pistorius has proven to be a more hawkish ally of Kyiv than Mr Scholz, who spent much of his tenure resisting calls to provide it with more powerful weaponry, such as Taurus missiles. Mr Pistorius has also been an advocate of making Germany war-ready through a major rise in defence spending and the reintroduction of conscription in Germany. 12:21 PM GMT Pictured: T90M tank in Russia Russian T90M tank manoeuvring at an undisclosed position in Russia - RUSSIAN DEFENCE MINISTRY PRESS SERVICE HANDOUT/EPA-EFE/SHUTTERSTOCK 11:53 AM GMT Germany laments Ukraines use of antipersonnel mines A German foreign ministry spokesperson has described Ukraines decision to use antipersonnel mines as regrettable. It is regrettable that Ukraine feels compelled to take such steps as this war continues, the spokesperson said. Joe Biden agreed to send antipersonnel land mines to Ukraine this week in a bid to hinder the advance of Russian forces. Germany and Ukraine are signatories to the Ottawa Convention banning the use or transfer of anti-personnel landmines, while the United States is not. 11:26 AM GMT New Russian missile flew at eleven times the speed of sound, says Ukraine The experimental Russian mid-range ballistic missile that struck the Ukrainian city of Dnipro on Thursday reached a top speed beyond Mach 11, Kyivs top spy agency said. A speed of Mach 11, which is more than 13,500km/h, would classify the new missile as faster than hypersonic, which ranges from 5 to 10 Mach, reaching the high-hypersonic qualification. The flight time of this Russian missile from the moment of its launch in the Astrakhan region to its impact in the city of Dnipro was 15 minutes, the Main Directorate of Intelligence said in a statement, adding that the weapon was likely from the Kedr missile complex. The missile was equipped with six warheads: Each equipped with six submunitions. The speed at the final part of the trajectory was over Mach 11. 10:53 AM GMT Kim Jong-un accuses US of stoking nuclear tensions The North Korean dictator has accused the United States of ramping up tension, saying the Korean peninsula has never faced a greater risk of nuclear war. Kim Jong-un, in a speech at a military exhibition in Pyongyang, criticised Washington for its unchangeable aggressive and hostile policy towards North Korea. Never before have the warring parties on the Korean peninsula faced such a dangerous and acute confrontation that it could escalate into the most destructive thermonuclear war, he said, as quoted by the KCNA state news agency. We have already gone as far as we can on negotiating with the United States, he said, adding that North Koreas only guarantee of security was to bolster its nuclear-armed military. Kim Jong-un attending an opening ceremony for the National Defence Development exhibition in Pyongyang - STR/AFP 10:34 AM GMT Russia pleads for migrants to fill labour shortage Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has stated that Russia needs migrants to prop up its dwindling domestic workforce. Migrants are essential, he told Russian state news agency RIA Novosti, adding that Russias population was relatively small in comparison to its land mass. Thats why Russia welcomes migrants. To ensure dynamic development and achieve our growth plans, we clearly need a strong workforce, and we fully support their arrival, he said. Peskov noted that while Russia was not fond of migrants, there is a practical necessity for workers as someone has to weld the pipes. In July, the Kremlin acknowledged the low population was disastrous for the future of the nation as Russian media said the country was recording the lowest number of births since the 1990s. 10:14 AM GMT Pictured: Russian soldiers sworn in before deployment Russian soldiers to be deployed to Donetsk Oblast and Luhansk region attend their swear-in ceremony in Rostov-on-Don, Russia - ARKADII BUDNITSKII/ANADOLU VIA GETTY A priest sprays holy water on the Russian soldiers - ARKADII BUDNITSKII/ANADOLU VIA GETTY 200 Russian soldiers were sworn in during the ceremony - ARKADII BUDNITSKII/ANADOLU VIA GETTY 09:52 AM GMT Russian ballistic missile strike was terrible escalation, says Scholz German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has described Russias use of an experimental hypersonic missile to hit Ukraine as a terrible escalation in the war. In a speech on Friday, Mr Scholz said the deployment of the new weapon showed how dangerous this war is. He said: That Putin has now also used a medium-range missile to strike Ukrainian territory is a terrible escalation. 09:24 AM GMT Nato to discuss new Russian missile Nato and Ukraine will hold talks next week in Brussels over Russias firing of an experimental hypersonic intermediate-range missile. Ambassadors from countries in the Nato-Ukraine Council will meet on Tuesday to discuss the strike on the city of Dnipro. A spokeswoman for Nato said: Deploying this capability will neither change the course of the conflict nor deter Nato allies from supporting Ukraine. 09:14 AM GMT Russian shrapnel drones hit residential areas overnight A Russian attack on the northeastern Ukrainian city of Sumy killed two people and injured 12 on Friday morning, local authorities said. Drones hit 12 apartment buildings, five private residences, a store and three cars at around 5am, according to the national police. The head of the Sumy region, Volodymyr Artyukh, said Russia had deployed a drone with modified munitions that were equipped with shrapnel, describing the weapons as being used to kill people, not to destroy buildings. It comes after a missile attack on Sunday killed 11 and injured 89 people. Credit: National Police of Ukraine/State Emergency Service of Ukraine, Sumy region 08:36 AM GMT Ukrainian parliament cancels sessions amid airstrike fears The Verkhovna Rada has cancelled its scheduled sessions today amid warnings of a potential Russian-strike on Kyivs central government buildings. Members of parliament were notified about the threat and urged to stay away from the area, according to newspaper Ukrainska Pravda. 08:26 AM GMT China urges restraint after Russian hypersonic missile strike China has called for calm and restraint from all parties in the Ukraine war after Russia fired an experimental hypersonic ballistic missile on Thursday. All parties should remain calm and exercise restraint, work to de-escalate the situation through dialogue and consultation, and create conditions for an early ceasefire, foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian told a regular briefing. 08:21 AM GMT Pictured: Kim Jong-un attends arms exhibition Kim Jong-un speaking from behind a podium at the opening ceremony for the National Defence Development 2024 exhibition in Pyongyang on 21 Nov - STR/AFP Kim Jong-un meets the Fourth Conference of Battalion Commanders and Political Instructors of the Korean Peoples Army in Pyongyang on 21 Nov - STR/AFP A flypast during the opening ceremony in Pyongyang on 21 Nov - STR/AFP 08:17 AM GMT Moscows troops have accelerated advance in Ukraine, says Russian defence minister Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov said Moscows advance had accelerated in Ukraine and ground down Kyivs best units. In a meeting with military commanders, Belousov said Russian forces had derailed the entire 2025 campaign of the Ukrainian army. We have, in fact, derailed the entire 2025 campaign, Belousov said of the Ukrainian army, speaking in a video published by the Russian defence ministry. 08:13 AM GMT Welcome to our live coverage Hello and welcome to our live coverage. Well be keeping you up to date with the days events as they happen. Olivier Gerbault has appealed against his two-year ban, saying he is the victim of a smear campaign by a rival surgeon A French plastic surgeon was suspended from the medical register after patients complained he turned their noses into potatoes, it emerged on Friday. Olivier Gerbault, dubbed the nose maestro by French media, will serve a two-year ban following a court conviction in November 2023 over cosmetic surgery that his patients say left them mutilated. The 58 year-old has appealed and says he is the victim of a smear campaign by a rival surgeon. Despite the ban, the French General Medical Council has filed a legal complaint for illegal medical practice over allegations he has flouted the decision and continues to practise, according to Le Parisien. The charge carries a maximum two-year prison term and 30,000 (24,000) fine. In August 2020, Elisa, not her real name, decided to treat herself to rhinoplasty to straighten her hooked nose at Dr Gerbaults clinic in Vincennes, east of Paris. A regular at international cosmetic surgery conferences, the doctor was as renowned for his flamboyant fat ties as his claim to having invented ultrasonic rhinoplasty. But Elisa said that she was shocked after waking up from her operation. My left nostril was collapsing My nose was long, crooked, thick and looked like a potato, she told Le Parisien. My left nostril was collapsing and I couldnt get any air through. The doctor hailed the procedure a success but Elisa cried in front of the mirror. When I drank water, my nose touched the glass. I couldnt blow my nose, so I had to use cotton buds, she explained. Along with another patient, she filed a complaint with the medical ethics committee, and in November 2023 Dr Gerbault was handed a two-year disqualification from practising, a decision he appealed against. It took Elisa two more operations and a 20,000 loan extension before she finally felt satisfied with the result. She is still repaying the sum. Her Facebook group on Dr Gerbaults alleged failings now has 258 members. A string of other patients have filed legal complaints including Chloe, not her real name. Following the intervention in 2020, she said no longer recognised her face, producing before and after photos to demonstrate her point. I lost all taste for life I had a lump [in place of my nose], a big potato, she said. Little by little, her nose became infected and necrotic, and her nostrils collapsed. From then on, I lost all taste for life, she was reported as saying. Chloe lost her job and was diagnosed with depression. She said Dr Gerbault operated on her again but her woes continued. I had a strange white button on my nose. In fact, it was a piece of cartilage sticking out. He massacred me, she told Le Parisien. After consulting various plastic surgeons in France who declined to operate because of the risks, she finally had reconstructive surgery in Italy. Another alleged victim, named Alix, said she was horrified to discover that Dr Gerbault had fitted her with a chin prosthesis despite her telling her she didnt want one. The doctor must have used a trowel I woke up with a Bogdanoff chin and an asymmetric nose, she said, referring to the late Bogdanoff twins, two high-profile French science TV presenters famed for their penchant for serial plastic surgery. I feel like Ive been mutilated, said Alix, who said she has been in pain ever since. When I woke up, I was vomiting litres of blood. The doctor must have used a trowel. Since then, Ive had a horrible burning sensation, air rushes in too strong and gets on my nerves. Gerbault has ruined my life, she is cited as saying. Despite his ban, the doctor has received authorisation from the Hauts-de-Seine departement, west of Paris, to continue his practice. The French General Medical Council said it had appealed against the decision. Dr Gerbault told the newspaper that he has received a provisional authorisation to practise but has ceased all surgical activity since the start of the year. Quizzed on the serious complications several patients alleged he caused, Dr Gerbault said he was the victim of a cabal by an unnamed rival to torpedo his career. These patients are all connected and the complaints are strictly the same, sometimes down to the last word. Its obvious that they are being helped by a colleague, which is particularly serious and unprofessional, he is cited as saying. In addition, Dr Gerbault has been engaged in a PR war with a Marseille-based rival surgeon called Nicolas Lari. In March 2023, the Marseille criminal court found Dr Gerbault guilty of attempted blackmail with execution of the threat against Dr Lari, 43, and sentenced him to a six-month suspended prison sentence and a 5,000 fine. Dr Gerbaults son, Nicolas, received a one-year suspended sentence and a 8,000 fine. Both have appealed. In September 2022, Nicolas Gerbault and his co-director of a cosmetic surgery PR agency were found guilty of seeking to smear Dr Lari with negative reviews by fictitious patients on Google My Business, causing his rating to plummet. Mr Gerbault and his co-director were fined an initial 486,000. Dr Gerbault, his son, and the PR agencys co-director were then also fined another 114,500 and made to pay 7,000 in damages and 7,000 in costs incurred by Dr Lari. They have appealed against the ruling. The Russian president Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin on Thursday. Photograph: Vyacheslav Prokofyev/Sputnik/Kremlin pool/EPA Like Chekhovs gun coming off the wall in Act V, it was probably only a matter of time before Vladimir Putin launched an experimental, nuclear-capable ballistic missile into Ukraine. It is hardly a coincidence that his decision comes as the war approaches a likely endgame, with both sides jockeying for position ahead of negotiations in the shadow of Donald Trump. Neither Ukraine nor Russia quite knows what Trump will do when he takes office in January. But the escalations taking place now will set a new status quo for the day he becomes president, at which point Trumps options range from hard-nosed horse-trading to simply throwing Ukraine under the bus. Ukrainian officials said this week that they simply do not know what the president-elect has planned for them. And with little idea of Trumps intentions, they are focused on optimizing their battlefield position, seeking to hold a beachhead in Russias Kursk region and shore up the frontlines elsewhere across the battlefield to be in as strong a position as possible before the new US administration. US officials, similarly unsure of what their new president will do, are keen to make Ukraine as self-sufficient as possible and to prepare their European partners to increase support to Ukraine after Bidens departure. One way some of his administration officials have described the goal is to avoid handing Trump another Afghanistan, where the countrys military collapses as soon as US ceases to provide support. Most are pessimistic that Ukraine can continue the fight indefinitely, however. In the final months of his term, Joe Biden offered Ukraine one thing it has been clamoring for: the right to use Atacms long-range missiles against targets inside Russia. He has also given Ukraine authorisation to use landmines and the right to send US military contractors in to fix the hardware Ukraine needs to stay in the fight. None of those are a game-changer, officials have admitted. And Bidens caution in the months before when they would have been more useful was partially dictated by political concerns of a backlash ahead of the election. Trump could reverse those decisions the first day he arrives in office. But he could also decide that they are useful currency as he goes into negotiations with Putin and, as the more optimistic observers hope, acts in the spirit of a good businessman: to never give something of value away for free. Bidens last spurt of support comes with a cost, however. And on Tuesday, Russia sent the west a very clear signal: we can escalate as well. With just a 30-minute warning, Russia launched an experimental missile that appears to be a variant of an older, never-deployed missile, the RS-26, which was originally designed for nuclear-weapon delivery. The missile had been criticised in the past for violating the now defunct Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty signed in the late 1980s to prevent a missile crisis in Europe and its deployment could revive those fears. Putin sought to look menacing as he gave a rare address on Russian national television on Thursday, threatening to strike western countries involved in the war and claiming that the US and Europe cant intercept such missiles. (If he wanted to make a splash in America, he should have fired his experimental missile another day. US media were firmly focused on Matt Gaetz, Trumps candidate for attorney general who abandoned his nomination after a series of accusations he had had sex with underage girls). Nonetheless, the missile was meant to send a message. I take the launch as a reminder to the United States that the risks of nuclear escalation remain present, said James Acton, the co-director of the Nuclear Policy Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. US officials have appeared deliberately sanguine in terms of the nuclear threat in recent days. Despite suddenly closing the US embassy in Kyiv on Wednesday amid warnings of a mysterious air attack threat, officials had said they had seen no change in Russias nuclear posture. And Russian officials also appeared keen to avoid an accidental escalation with the US by providing a pre-notification of the launch. That said, Putins decision to inform Washington in advance of the test was clearly intended to avoid it misinterpreting the launch and to mitigate the risks of immediate nuclear escalation, said Acton. Indeed, I think it is very unlikely that Putin would use nuclear weapons given Trumps election and the likelihood that the United States will cease to provide aid to Ukraine. US officials had warned that Russia would at least nod toward a nuclear escalation if Biden gave Ukraine permission to use Atacms. The CIA chief, Bill Burns, on a visit to London alongside the head of MI6 in September, said the US had brushed off a previous Russian nuclear scare in autumn 2022, demonstrating that threats from Moscow should not always be taken literally. Putins a bully. Hes going to continue to sabre-rattle from time to time, Burns said. We cannot afford to be intimidated by that sabre-rattling we [have] got to be mindful of it. The US has provided enormous support for Ukraine, and Im sure the president will consider other ways in which we can support them. Kacey Musgraves performs in concert at Toyota Center on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, in Houston. Karen Warren/Staff photographer Even cowgirls need to unwind, y'all. After playing to a packed house Thursday night at Toyota Center, Kacey Musgraves needed a beer break, so she stopped in at Shady Acres Saloon in the Heights. The spot on W. 19th calls itself a "dog and country fan friendly saloon smack dab in the middle of Htown." KACEY IN CONCERT: Read all about what her show at Toyota Center was like Advertisement Article continues below this ad Musgraves shared a pair of photos to her Instagram Stories late Thursday night. One was of the bar's Shiner wall and jukebox. The other was of herself drinking a Lone Star beer. Shady Acres opened in 2018 and features weekly live music and bingo nights. Kacey Musgraves visited Shady Acres Saloon in the Heights after her show at Toyota Center. instagram.com/spaceykacey Earlier that night, Musgraves told Houston fans that her concert was a "safe place" after a tumultuous few weeks. "We finally made it to Texas. I'm so f****ng stoked to be back in my home state," she said. Musgraves is from Golden, a tiny town known for its Sweet Potato Festival. Musgraves released her sixth album, "Deeper Well," in March. The songs reflect her personal growth through her unique songwriting lens. It debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, her highest placement to date. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Her last performance in Houston was in 2019 when she made her RodeoHouston debut. That set included a cover of Selena's "Como la Flor" that earned the approval of Selena's sister, Suzette Quintanilla, who said it made her "wanna shed a tear." A source close to Rachel Reeves has strongly denied reports that the government is about to exempt farmers aged 80 and over from the family farm tax in a bid to end a revolt in rural England. The prime minister and the chancellor are under growing pressure to provide some relief for farmers amid growing anger over the decision to extend inheritance tax to include family farms. The changes mean that farms valued at 1 million or more would be liable for 20 per cent inheritance tax. The Treasury claim that in reality with tax allowances it would mean only farms worth 3 million would be affected covering just 28 per cent of family farms. But Defra figures appear to suggest as many as 66 per cent could be hit. Thousands of farmers brought Westminster to a standstill on Tuesday when they descended on the capital to voice their opposition to the changes. Earlier on Thursday the Independent revealed the 81 Labour seats most at risk as a result of the backlash, and it has since been reported that the concession was being considered to give the farming sector longer to plan. Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves in her office at no 11 Downing Street, London (Jordan Pettitt/PA) (PA Wire) According to The Guardian officials are now looking at options including an exemption for over-80s. It came as Downing Street denied that the prime minister and chancellor had an emergency meeting today on the issue. But when the report was put to Ms Reevess office asking if the report was true, a source close to the chancellor replied: No. However, even if the move was being planned, farmers representatives and supporters made it clear that the concession would not nearly be enough. Tom Bradshaw, president of the National Farmers Union (NFU), said: The average age of death in the UK is around 80, so they should bring it down to 73 to allow them to use the seven-year gifting rule. If they are looking at how they create an exemption for the elderly members of the industry then the exemption should come in seven years before the average age of death. I would prefer an exemption before April 2026, when the rules come in, so you can make the transfer and dont have to survive the seven years, but we have far better options on the table if they come out for consultation. We could come up with a policy that would answer the questions but be far better for the industry. Thousands of protesters gathered in central London on Tuesday (Gareth Fuller/PA) (PA Wire) Mo Metcalf-Fisher, external affairs director for the Countryside Alliance, added: If true, while its reassuring to see the government may finally acknowledge that the family farm tax is a flawed policy, it still has to make the right calls about mitigating the impact on family farms. It is vital that this time ministers listen to the farming industry and reach a solution that will not see family farms bearing the brunt of this change. There is still a long way to go to heal Labours relationship with the countryside. The reports came after environment secretary Steve Reed received a mooted response when he spoke at the Country Land and Business Association (CLA). Opening the CLA's rural business conference, the organisation's president Victoria Vyvyan warned: "Farmers, landowners and businesses in the rural economy are facing a very bleak future, if we have one at all." Mr Reed told delegates at the conference in central London that farming leaders and individual farmers he spoke to during Tuesday's protest had told him the Budget was the "final straw" after decades of issues, as he pledged to work with rural communities to support them. He was challenged in the conference over the issue of elderly farmers thinking the only way through the changes to inheritance tax was to take their lives before the measures came in in April 2026. In response, he said he wanted to listen to understand how the government could make the changes easier to bear. But he also warned the country "can't go on the way that it was" and Budget decisions on tax and spending were made to restore economic stability, and to support public services such as the NHS the elderly relied on. "The prize is for the long term, and an economy that works for the future, for every single person in every single part of the country, including our rural communities," he said. Poll reveals British adults want Royal family to drop media appearances about their personal lives The Royal family should do fewer interviews about their personal lives and talk more about the challenges facing the country, a poll of the public has suggested. An Ipsos poll, conducted for The Telegraph, found that a quarter of British adults want the Royal family to drop media appearances about their personal lives, preferring more focus on charity work and current affairs. Eight in 10 people want the monarchy to do more or about the same amount of talking about social issues and challenges facing the country; 43 per cent want more and another 33 per cent believe they already get it right. On the subject of promoting charitable causes, 43 per cent said the Royal family should do more, while 40 per cent thought it should continue to do about the same. The result may be a surprise to some traditionalists, who have cautioned against the King and his family veering too far into current affairs in favour of concentrating on the volume of engagements and patronages in line with the late Queen and Prince Philips approach to working royalty. The survey was conducted by Ipsos UK online, questioning 1,089 British adults aged 18-75 between Nov 8 and 11. Three-quarters of the general public would like to see members of the Royal family conduct more or the same number of interviews focused on their work. A quarter said they wanted the Royal family to do fewer interviews about their personal lives, compared with 21 per cent who wanted them to do more. Some 35 per cent said they were content with the amount they currently do. The most high-profile recent personal interview was from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who spoke to Oprah Winfrey about why they left the working Royal family. The couple went on to star in their own six-part Netflix show, titled Harry & Meghan, which included self-filmed footage of themselves and their children. In 2019, the Duke of York agreed to a Newsnight interview about the Epstein scandal in which he told Emily Maitlis about a condition which meant he could not sweat, his alibi at the Woking branch of Pizza Express and his sin of being too honourable. The interview effectively ended his career as a working Royal, resulting in suspending his duties four days later and stepping down the following year under public pressure. AppleTV+/ "The Me You Can't See" In the 1990s, interviews by the then Prince Charles and Diana, Princess of Wales, became, separately, some of the most explosive royal television in history. Prince William was recently asked about his own family during an interview in South Africa, where he was working to promote his Earthshot Prize. He said this year, in which his father was diagnosed with cancer and his wife endured a course of chemotherapy, had been brutal and probably the hardest year of my life. The Princess of Wales released a video in September in which she told the public she had finished her chemotherapy and was working to stay cancer-free, over loving shots of her family in the Norfolk countryside. The Prince and Princess of Wales remain the countrys most popular members of the Royal family, at 65 and 64 per cent approval rating respectively. They are followed by the Princess Royal at 55 per cent, regularly hailed for her work ethic, and the King at 51 per cent. The Royal family as a whole is viewed favourably by half of those surveyed. Queen Camillas popularity is split into near equal thirds: 35 per cent favourable, 33 per cent unfavourable, and the rest neutral. Prince Harry, at a 30 per cent favourability rating, is the only member of the extended family to see his number rise slightly since the last survey in September 2024, by two percentage points The Duchess of Sussex was viewed as 20 per cent favourable and 53 per cent unfavourable. Prince Andrew was liked by just one in 10 people who completed the survey. ITV Just over half think Charles III is doing a good job as King, while two-thirds believe William will make a good king one day. Half of the adults who completed the survey think that the working Royal family currently do the right amount of overseas tours and formalities such as plaque unveilings and ribbon cuttings at home. Four in ten believe they should do more small public engagements, such as visiting charities and schools. Asked whether the Royal family are good value for money, 44 per cent said yes. But the younger the respondent, the less likely they are to believe so: 58 per cent of 55- to 75-year-olds said yes, compared to only 32 per cent of 18- to 34-year-olds. Overall, 43 per cent believe the country would be worse if the monarchy were to be abolished. A quarter think it would be better, and 24 per cent believe there would be no difference. The more personal the interview, the more irresistible it is to the public By Hannah Furness The wisdom of the British public should seldom be doubted. If they believe, as our Ipsos survey suggests, that the Royal family should do fewer interviews about their personal lives, who could disagree? The monarchy would certainly have benefitted from slightly less loose-lipped disclosures about its failings over the last few years, delivered largely in very personal interviews via the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Prince Andrews Newsnight interview was cataclysmic, and the most memorable parts of it could just about be considered personal: the non-sweating disorder, the trip to Pizza Express. Could the most recent words from Prince William about the brutal year for his family be on the minds of those who responded to the survey, contained though they were within a longer conversation about his Earthshot Prize? And the Princess of Wales video confirming she had finished her chemotherapy? It wasnt an interview, but it was deeply personal. These are the royal moments that have fascinated the public over years, decades and centuries: a glimpse behind the throne, into the curious lives of Kings, Queens and courtiers. So be careful what you wish for, the 25 per cent of the British adults who want to hear less. Life, and royal news, may prove rather more dull without them. The rest of the survey will be cheering for the King and the working members of his family. As they increasingly work on topics or causes close to their hearts - environment, domestic violence, homelessness and child development to name but a few - so the public seems to have moved with them. Most people now want them to do more or about the same amount of talking about social issues and challenges facing the country, suggesting they want to see the royals as politically neutral campaigners for good. It is a far cry from the exaggerated image of ribbon cutting and plaque unveiling of old. It is also a path the King has already trodden, with his views on all manner of matters, from single-use plastics and knife crime to preserving the Welsh language, well known. The Prince and Princess of Wales want to go further, taking on their few key causes and focusing more deeply on them. This survey suggests they are in step with the public, and what it wants. It also shows broad support for on-topic interviews about their work: three-quarters of the general public would like to see the Royal family speak more or continue at the current pace of no more than a handful a year between them. To continue to connect with the public, the modern monarchy must be slightly personal. It is, as ever, about finding the right line. To be heard and read by a wide audience, even Kings, Queen, Princes and Princesses must say and do more than repeating stock phrases about worthy causes. Talking about their own lives and feelings, within sensible boundaries, is part of the game. That said, perhaps the results of this survey will work as a gentle nudge about where that right line is for royal disclosures. Saying more than a press release, but less than an account of losing their virginity behind a pub, is probably the PR goal. But lets be honest. If the last few years show anything, its that the more personal the royal interview, the more irresistible it is to the public. Sharing their innermost secrets may not be wise, but everyone - even that 25 per cent - will read it. Ruja Ignatova has allegedly been spotted in South Africa - www.youtube.com The hunt for a Bulgarian cryptoqueen wanted over one of the worlds biggest cases of fraud has spread to South Africa. Ruja Ignatova, a Bulgarian citizen who was educated at Oxford, is the only woman on the FBIs top 10 most-wanted list. She allegedly swindled 3.6 billion out of millions of investors as part of a scam involving the fake cryptocurrency OneCoin. German authorities have revealed in a new documentary about her case that they are focusing their search on Cape Town, although they are not sure of her whereabouts. We are working with the hypothesis that Ruja Ignatova is still alive, Sabine Dassel, German investigator, said in the documentary, rejecting earlier theories that Ms Ignatova was killed and dismembered by Bulgarian ex-accomplices in October 2017. The search is complicated by a recent FBI update on Ms Ignatova, which said she may have had plastic surgery to change her appearance, and which raised her arrest bounty to $5 million (4 million). The documentary cites security forces in Cape Town, who stated that Ms Ignatova had recently been spotted in Cape Town, although her exact whereabouts were unknown. Fled on flight to Athens Ms Ignatova fled Bulgaria in 2017 on a flight to Athens, and then disappeared. But her brother Konstantin is known to have taken over her business and to have spent a lengthy period in Cape Town after she vanished. At the time, he posted pictures of his visits to the citys best sight-seeing spots on his Instagram account. Konstantin has since co-operated with the FBI investigation and has claimed that his sister carries half-a-billion pounds in stolen investor funds, which may have been used for plastic surgery, bribing officials and creating a new identity. Ms Ignatova founded the OneCoin cryptocurrency with Karl Sebastian Greenwood, a joint Swedish-British citizen. Last year, the US Attorneys Office for the Southern District of New York said Greenwood had been jailed for 20 years over the scam and is required to pay back $300 million. Karl Sebastian Greenwood operated one of the largest fraud schemes ever perpetrated. Greenwood and his co-conspirators, including fugitive Ruja Ignatova, conned unsuspecting victims out of billions of dollars with promises of a financial revolution and claims that OneCoin would be the Bitcoin killer, the office said. In fact, OneCoins were entirely worthless, and investors were left with nothing. Simone White, left, Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles, right An Australian teenager has become the sixth foreign tourist to die of suspected methanol poisoning in a backpacker hotspot in northern Laos. Holly Bowles, 19, died in hospital the day after her best friend Bianca Jones lost her life in a separate Thai hospital. The owner and manager of the hostel, where they were both staying, have been detained by Laotian police after an investigation was launched. British lawyer Simone White, 28, died on Thursday after she was believed to have drunk the same shots laced with methanol on the night of Nov 12. Simone White, a British lawyer, died on Thursday from suspected methanol poisoning - FACEBOOK The father of Miss Bowles confirmed his daughters death on Friday. It is with broken hearts, and we are so sad to say that our beautiful girl Holly is now at peace. We find comfort and solace in knowing that Holly brought so much joy and happiness to so many people, Shaun Bowles told Nine News. Penny Wong, Australias foreign minister, said: All Australians will be heartbroken by the tragic passing. Just yesterday, Holly lost her best friend, Bianca Jones, Ms Wong said. I know tonight all Australians will be holding both families in our hearts. The two friends, from Melbourne, had been mid-way through a dream trip in south-east Asia. They had been staying in a hostel in Vang Vieng and visited local bars the night before becoming critically unwell. Staff at the Nana Backpackers Hostel found them in their room when they failed to leave on time. The Nana Backpackers Hostel in Vang Vieng where Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones had been staying - Anupam Nath/AP The other victims, who were staying at the same hostel, included two Danish women in their 20s and an American man. The Telegraph understands the American victim is 57-year-old James Hutson. Mr Hutson was found unwell in bed a week ago and died in hospital, The Times reports. The Laos government said the suspected cause of their death was methanol poisoning and in a statement on Saturday morning said it was profoundly saddened by the deaths. At least 10 others, including other British tourists, became unwell after drinking in the same town. They are believed to have consumed drinks tainted with methanol, which is a cheaper alternative to the ethanol found in alcoholic drinks, but can cause severe poisoning or death. Duong Duc Toan, the manager of the hostel, said he had served more than 100 guests on the night of Nov 12 with free shots of Lao Tiger vodka mixed with ice and Coke Zero. But he denied that the alcohol was tainted, and said the hostel had not sold or given away drinks that caused the travellers to fall ill. Duong Duc Toan, the manager of Nana Backpackers Hostel, served more than 100 guests on the night of Nov 12 with free shots of Lao Tiger vodka and Coke Zero - Anupam Nath/AP We dont do anything wrong, for sure, Mr Toan told ABC, the Australian network. I really take care of all of the customers [who] stay with our hotel and our hostel. Ms White, from Orpington in the London borough of Bromley, was taken to hospital following a night out with friend Bethany Clarke, a healthcare worker who is also from Orpington. It is not clear when Ms White died or her cause of death. Her family were unavailable for comment when approached by The Telegraph on Thursday. Ms Clarke, who was also treated in hospital, said her liver started to shut down after drinking free shots offered by one of the bars in Vang Vieng. She warned other travellers to avoid all local spirits on a Facebook group for backpackers in Laos. Urgent please avoid all local spirits, she wrote. Our group stayed in Vang Vieng and we drank free shots offered by one of the bars. Six of us who drank from the same place are in hospital currently with methanol poisoning, she added. A Foreign Office spokesman said on Thursday: We are supporting the family of a British woman who has died in Laos, and we are in contact with the local authorities. Dr Paulo Torres is a foot and ankle surgeon at Hadley Freeman Hospital in Newcastle An orthopaedic surgeon has been allowed to keep his job despite crashing his car into hospital barriers while more than five times the drink-drive limit. Dr Paulo Torres, a foot and ankle specialist, was spotted by a police officer driving erratically before he crashed into the barriers near the hospital where he worked. However, the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service has decided to let him keep his job after hearing he was in personal crisis at the time of the offence. Dr Torres was spotted driving erratically by an officer at around 4.30pm on 22 Feb 2022, the tribunal heard. As the surgeon reached the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle upon Tyne, he mounted the pavement and crashed into the barriers and was discovered slumped drunk at the wheel. He was later arrested. Two breathalyser tests revealed he was five times the drink-driving limit, with readings of 190mcg and 175mcg the legal limit is 35mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. Hadley Freeman Hospital in Newcastle Tom Moran, for the General Medical Council (GMC) told the hearing it was only good fortune that nobody was hurt, adding that Dr Torres had been so intoxicated it affected his ability to stand. The tribunal ruled that Dr Torres was allowed to continue in his orthopaedic role but must be supervised by a workplace reporter while at work and inform the GMC if he moves job. However, it also heard Dr Torres had demonstrated significant insight into his offending. Tribunal chair Nessa Sharkett said: He remained responsible for his actions and given the circumstances in which he drove and the high level of alcohol in his breath at the time there can be no doubt of the seriousness of this offence. Further, there can be no doubt that his actions resulting in the conviction had the potential to put others at risk of harm and undermined public confidence in the profession. Furthermore, the tribunal considered that Dr Torres conviction brought the profession into disrepute. Sincere remorse Tom Day, representing Dr Torres, told the tribunal that the surgeon had shown obvious and sincere remorse for this conduct. Mr Day argued there was a public interest in allowing Dr Torres to continue to work, given the specialist nature of the work he carries out and the high regard in which he is held. In its ruling, the tribunal noted that Dr Torres had struggled to put into words his remorse and regret for his actions, adding that it was impressed with his honesty and sincerity. Dr Torres had been uncomfortable discussing his background as he did not want it to look as if he was seeking to excuse himself, it was also heard. The ruling added: He also acknowledged the negative impact his behaviour would have had on the profession and felt that his actions were a huge betrayal of his profession. He recognised how supportive his colleagues had been and wanted to ensure that he worked hard to regain their trust and be present and reliable. Since 2012, Dr Torres has been a consultant orthopaedic surgeon specialising in disorders of the foot and ankle at Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. He was previously handed a 12-week suspended jail term and banned from the roads for 36 months by magistrates. It is possible to detect the presence of methanol in a drink but home tests or portable devices are not commercially available. Photograph: Martin Godwin/The Guardian The risks of methanol poisoning are in sharp focus this year. Four Australians went to a Fiji hospital seriously ill with what local authorities suspected was alcohol poisoning. It follows the tragic deaths of several young people in Laos, including Melbourne teens Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones. According to Doctors Without Borders, thousands of people are poisoned by methanol every year, with outbreaks killing 20% to 40% of victims. Given the toxic liquid looks, smells and tastes like regular alcohol found in beer, wine and spirits, is there any way to detect its presence? What is methanol? As Ian Musgrave writes for the Conversation, methanol is an alcohol, like the familiar ethanol in alcoholic beverages but far more dangerous. Like ethanol, methanol is a colourless, flammable liquid and smells similar to ethanol. Its typically found in industrial and household products, including windshield cleaning fluids, antifreeze and fuel and cannot be safely consumed by humans. While methanol and ethanol are both classed as alcohols, they break down differently in the body, according to Prof David Ranson, head of forensic medicine at Monash University. The enzymes that helps bodies break down and eliminate regular alcohol found in beer, wine and spirits react differently with methanol, and produce substances called formaldehyde and formic acid which is toxic to human cells. Can I test for methanol in my drinks? No. Home tests or portable devices have not been made commercially available yet. But common laboratory techniques can detect methanol, Dr Ian Musgrave, a pharmacologist and toxicologist at the University of Adelaide, says. One method uses gas chromatographymass spectrometry, Musgrave explains, where chemicals are separated based on size and chemical properties and how volatile they are. In other words, sorting the ethanol, found in regular gin and tonics, from toxic methanol, found in commercial-grade cleaning products. Another approach is mixing the sample with a chemical solution of sodium dichromate and sulfuric acid. If its merely ethanol, a fruity smell ensues but if it is methanol, a pungent and irritating smell meets the nostrils, Musgrave says. Needless to say, neither testing method can be easily accessed by travellers, he adds. The other problem is that gas chromatographymass spectrometry kits are very expensive worth tens of thousands of dollars. Although a kit would fit in a briefcase, you couldnt really take the science experiment into a bar. There is one other method, Prof Ian Rae, from the University of Melbournes school of chemistry, says, that he used to use when testing peoples home brews. It involves a magnetic resonance spectrum placing a sample in a strong magnetic field to see what characteristics arise. But there is hope. Researchers based at ETH Zurich in Switzerland are working on a portable smartphone-based methanol detection system that sniffs out methanol vapours from liquid a bit like a breathalyser. The handheld sensor, which is not yet commercially available, may soon help consumers, authorities and healthcare workers to more easily screen for methanol. Publishing in Nature Food, researchers said 789 people died as a result of methanol poisoning in 2019, mostly in Asia. What if I dont have access to a test? Methanol contamination can occur randomly, and there can be different standards of quality control outside Australia. Musgrave suggests it is safer to go to trusted bars, and only drink alcoholic beverages from a sealed container that you opened yourself. Methanol-type poisoning from the formic acid is severe and causes abdominal pain, chest pain, blurred vision, blindness, seizures. Its really very, very nasty, Ranson says. Its a really important public safety issue, and particularly now with schoolies starting its really important to get the message out about the risks. Organisations like Doctors without Borders and Red Frogs provide advice for travellers on symptoms and treatments. And if anyones just slightly worried go to a hospital, get tested because the earlier you can get treated, the better it will be. NAHT says phonics are embedded within primary schools so do not need to be tested. Photograph: Graeme Robertson/The Guardian Primary school pupils in England should not face compulsory tests on phonics, times tables or grammar and punctuation, an influential headteachers union has advised the government. The National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) told the governments national curriculum and assessment review that there was an urgent need to reconsider the phonics check of reading ability, along with the multiplication check and tests of spelling, grammar and punctuation, as a potential waste of school time and funding. The statutory phonics check for five- and six-year-olds was introduced in 2012 by the then education secretary, Michael Gove, to ensure that schools were using synthetic phonics techniques to introduce reading to infants. Related: Englands curriculum review: what education experts want to see But the NAHT argues that the use of phonics is now embedded within Englands primary schools, making compulsory assessment of year 1 pupils no longer necessary. It also said that multiplication is repeatedly taught throughout primary schools and does not need a separate test. The statutory phonics screening check and multiplication tables check should be ended. It is disingenuous to suggest that [they] are needed to identify which children need further support in these areas teachers know this about their pupils without a statutory test, the NAHTs submission states. The union was also highly critical of the current requirements for teaching grammar in primary schools, another policy introduced by Gove. It called for the year 6 Sats assessment of spelling, punctuation and grammar to be scrapped. The content of the [key stage 1 and 2] grammar curriculum makes little contribution to children developing effective writing skills nor their grasp of the English language, and goes beyond what most would consider to be what is needed to establish a strong foundation in English, it said. The review of the curriculum and assessment was ordered by Bridget Phillipson, the education secretary. The review is headed by Prof Becky Francis, the chief executive of the Education Endowment Foundation, and public submissions close at the end of this week. An interim report is to be published early next year, with a final report and recommendations in autumn. The review is expected to focus on the education of children with special needs and disabilities, as well as the one-third of pupils in England who fail to achieve good GCSE grades at age 16. The governments guidelines say the review should consider reducing the burden of exams and assessments where feasible and appropriate, while continuing to recognise the socially progressive benefits of public examinations. A submission by the AQA examination board advises the review to cut down on the number of GCSE papers sat by students, and reduce the amount of content to be taught in some subjects. Trimming some subject content and reducing the number of exam papers, on a subject-by-subject basis, would free up teachers and students to develop wider skills that would help them get on in life, study or work, AQA said. An empty classroom in Utopia, Texas, in 2022. Photograph: Allison Dinner/AFP/Getty Images The Texas board of education voted 8-7 on Friday to approve a new Bible-based curriculum in elementary schools. The curriculum, called Bluebonnet Learning, could be implemented as soon as August 2025 and affects English and language arts teaching material for kindergarten through fifth grade public school classes. Teachers will have a choice to opt into the new faith-based learning curriculum, but the state is offering a financial incentive of $60 a student for participating school districts. Parents, teachers and rights groups expressed outrage at the move that some say violates the US constitution and will alienate students and teachers of other faiths. The Bluebonnet curriculum flagrantly disregards religious freedom, a cornerstone of our nation since its founding. The same politicians censoring what students can read now want to impose state-sponsored religion on to our public schools, said Caro Achar, engagement coordinator for free speech at the Texas chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union. We urge districts to reject this optional curriculum and uphold a public school education that honors the religious diversity and constitutional rights of Texas students. Examples of Bible references in the curriculum include a kindergarten lesson on the golden rule, which teaches the importance of treating others the way one would want to be treated, linked to Jesuss sermon on the mount, and a third-grade unit about ancient Rome and Jesuss life: According to the Christian Bible, on the day Jesus was born, his mother Mary and father Joseph were traveling to the town of Bethlehem to register for the census. The census, ordered by the Roman government, required Roman citizens to be counted and their names registered. This was used in part to help the empire know how many people needed to pay taxes and is a practice continued by governments to this day. When Mary and Joseph arrived in Bethlehem, they were told there were no rooms available to rent. They took shelter in a nearby stable, a type of barn where animals are kept. When Jesus was born, Mary wrapped him in pieces of cloth and laid him in a manger, which is a long wooden or stone box used for horses and cattle to eat animal feed. This story of Jesuss birth in a stable is commonly featured as part of displays put on by Christians even today during the Christmas holidays each year. The Christian Bible explains that throughout his life, Jesus taught about Gods love and forgiveness, and performed many miracles. In text messages seen by the Guardian between Chancie Davis, a former school teacher from the Katy independent school district who objected to the curriculum, and state education board member Audrey Young, who voted in favor of the curriculum, Young denied any mention of Jesus in the curriculum and doubled down on her vote. Related: Oklahoma educators push back on state rule forcing Bible into lesson plans You think every single person regardless of their beliefs should be learn about the Bible, Davis wrote to Young. Young replied: In order to be able to participate wholly in a literate society. Both Young and the Texas board of education did not respond to a request for comment. Davis said she began texting with Young after finding her cellphone number on the boards website. She said she was shocked to receive a text back from her elected representative, especially in the middle of the board meeting about the vote. I think I was most surprised by her non-professionalism in thinking through the matter, like it was a done deal already, Davis said. She wasnt ready to listen to anything. Davis said theres a clear line between separation of church and state, and I think that this crosses that, and its a slippery slope in our public schools, and all students deserve to be represented, not just the Christian sect. Bryan Henry, a local Cypress, Texas, parent and public school advocate affiliated with Cypress Families for Public Schools, said the curriculum was just the latest example of Texas being a laboratory for Christian nationalism. Henry added: What I find particularly insidious about it is the fact that they are going to incentivize school districts to adopt the curriculum in exchange for extra funding at a time when the state government is starving public schools of needed money because they want vouchers for private Christian schools. A spokesperson for the Texas State Teachers Association, which is affiliated with the USs largest labor union, the National Education Association, told the Guardian: The implementation of this curriculum means grade-school children in schools that adopt the curriculum will receive what amounts to Christian Sunday school lessons in their public schools, something our public education system was not intended to provide and should not provide. Students who observe religions other than Christianity, in effect, will be discriminated against because their own religions will be all but ignored. Darcy Hirsh, the director of government relations and advocacy at the National Council of Jewish Women, the USs oldest Jewish feminist civil rights organization, said in an interview with the Guardian: As a Jewish organization, maintaining the separation of church and state is a key priority for us as it is the cornerstone of our democracy. Hirsh added she was devastated about the Texas school boards decision today to implement a curriculum that is based in the Bible, and even one specific interpretation of the Bible. Holy Bible Texas has approved Bible-based teachings for pre-schoolers. Children as young as five years old will be taught stories from the Bible including Jesus Sermon on the Mount and the Prodigal Son, according to the classroom plans. Schools are not required to adopt the new curriculum, but they will receive additional funding if they do so. It could appear in classrooms as early as the next school year. Supporters argued the Bible is a core feature of American history and that teaching it will enrich students learning, although critics say that it will alienate those of other faiths. The material draws on lessons from Christianity more than any other religion and will be taught from nursery through to fifth grade. More than 100 testimonies Texas education board, which is controlled by the Republicans and oversees more than five million students, approved the materials in an 8-7 vote on Wednesday. One of its members is a Republican temporarily appointed to the board by Governor Greg Abbott, who has voiced support for the lesson plans. A Democrat was recently elected to fill the same seat and will start next year. More than 100 parents, teachers and campaigners testified at a board meeting this week before the plans were narrowly approved. Supporters of the curriculum argued that the Bible is a core feature of American history and teaching it will enrich students learning. It is said that there are close to 300 common-day phrases that actually come from the Bible, said Mary Castle, director of government relations for Texas Values, a Right-leaning advocacy group. Students will benefit from being able to understand a lot of these references that are in literature and have a way to be able to comprehend them. Curriculum not age-appropriate However, critics argued that it would present the Bible as factual truth to children. This curriculum is not age-appropriate or subject matter appropriate in the way that it presents these Bible stories, said Amanda Tyler, head of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty. Children who would read the material, she said, are simply too young to tell the difference between what is a faith claim and what is a matter of fact. The new Texas curriculum follows Republican-led efforts in neighbouring states to give religion a larger presence in public schools. Oklahomas education chief has ordered a copy of the Bible in every classroom, while Louisiana wants to make the states public school classrooms post the Ten Commandments beginning next year. Matthew Patrick Shaw, an education professor at Vanderbilt University, said it was unclear whether the lesson plans were constitutional and would survive a legal challenge. Farms worth more than 1 million will be liable for inheritance tax from April 2026 - Paul Grover The head of a think tank used by the Government to justify its tax raid on farmers has suggested the state could take ownership of land. Arun Advani led a report for the Centre for the Analysis of Taxation (CenTax) suggesting that the state could become the landlord to tenant farmers. The report suggested such a move would prevent the loss of tenant farmers as a result of introducing inheritance tax burdens on agricultural assets. It was released shortly before Rachel Reeves announced that farms worth more than 1 million would be liable for inheritance tax (IHT) from April 2026. Farming groups have warned that the tax could lead to landlords selling up tenanted farmland to cover their tax bill, forcing tenant farmers out of the industry. The report suggests the state becoming landlords would prevent the loss of tenant farmers - Tolga Akmen/Shutterstock The report from CenTax reads: A key input for farmers is land, and for a farm to be productive it needs the land to not be fragmented into disconnected small parcels. This sometimes motivates discussions about the need for relief. It adds: Longer payment periods would allow the effective tax rate to be lower, as would the state taking part-ownership of land and becoming the landlord to tenant farmers. It suggested a cap on agricultural relief, inheritance tax and business property relief at 500,000 half the level set by the Chancellor would improve the fairness of IHT. The think tanks director claims the National Farmers Union overestimates the number of farms affected by the IHT raid - Carl Court/Getty Images Europe Earlier this month James Murray, exchequer secretary to the Treasury, and Daniel Zeichner, the rural affairs minister, defended the tax in The Times, which has caused widespread discontent among farming communities. They cited CenTax, alongside the Institute for Fiscal Studies, as having suggested that the new farm tax was reasonable and fair. Treasury sources said the comment was in reference to public support for the policy on social media and other platforms since it was announced in the Budget in October. CenTax has not tweeted since the Budget was released, but Mr Advani has tweeted from his personal account in support of the tax. Mr Advani, who is the director of CenTax and a professor of economics at the University of Warwick, said the National Farmers Union had overestimated the number of farms that would be hit by the new tax. Mr Murray was the keynote speaker at a Parliamentary reception held on Nov 11 to officially launch CenTax. In the speech he said he wanted to make sure that collaboration between CenTax, Treasury and HMRC continues for many years into the future. CenTax says its research focuses on the characteristics, behaviours and economic impacts of top earners and the wealthy, and the design of taxes affecting this group. One of its two core funders is the abrdn Financial Fairness Trust, whose stated aim is to make the UK a more financially fair place for people on low-to-middle incomes. The October report on inheritance tax is part of a project funded by the Nuffield Foundation, which is intended to provide evidence on the potential of raising tax revenue from high-income and high-wealth individuals. Mo Metcalf-Fisher, director of external affairs for the Countryside Alliance said: This latest revelation further fuels the growing perception that the Treasury has treated this as a mere accounting exercise, rather than a serious impact assessment on the lives and livelihoods of farmers and the stability of the wider countryside. The blatant lack of consultation with relevant stakeholders prior to the Budget announcement is incredibly alarming. The Treasury needs to get back round the table with farming bodies to think again about this policy before its too late. An HM Treasury spokesperson said: We remain committed to fully implementing the policy and are not considering mitigations. Pontoon troops ferry military vehicles across river China Military Online) 11:09, November 22, 2024 Armored vehicles attached to a pontoon unit under the Chinese PLA 71st Group Army maneuver to the designated area during a river-crossing engineering support training exercise on October 25, 2024. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Ma Jiancong) Soldiers assigned to a pontoon unit under the Chinese PLA 71st Group Army set up a ferry during a river-crossing engineering support training exercise on October 25, 2024. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Ma Ming) A propulsion boat attached to a pontoon unit under the Chinese PLA 71st Group Army tows a pontoon bridge carrying a military vehicle during a river-crossing engineering support training exercise on October 25, 2024. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Song Tangchun) (Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing) Danielle Wade as Maizy in The North American Tour of SHUCKED Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman Danielle Wade as Maizy in The North American Tour of SHUCKED Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman "Shucked" is a musical about corn. But it isn't. The show, running through Nov. 24 as part of Broadway at the Hobby Center, is sold as a love letter to small-town America and its favorite bright yellow crop. It even has Reba McEntire as an unofficial spokesperson, adding to the down-home appeal. Advertisement Article continues below this ad But beneath the husk, "Shucked" is much more. "It's such a tricky thing to explain. It doesn't take itself very seriously, but it's so beautifully heartfelt at the same time," says Danielle Wade, who plays Maizy, one of the show's leads. The cast of the national tour of SHUCKED Matthew Murphy Wade has family in the Houston area and got her big break as the winner of "Over the Rainbow," a 2012 Canadian reality competition looking for an actress to play Dorothy in Andrew Lloyd Webber's adaptation of "The Wizard of Oz." She went on to star as Cady Heron in the "Mean Girls" musical national tour from 2019-2022. It was then that Wade first saw "Shucked" on Broadway with her friend/agent. "At intermission we turned to each other, and I said, how do I do that? As I was saying that, he was like, how do we get you to do that?" Wade recalls. Advertisement Article continues below this ad 'Shucked' When: Through Nov. 24 Where: Broadway at the Hobby Center, 800 Bagby Tickets: $40 and up; thehobbycenter.org In "Shucked," Maizy is about to get married but leaves Cob County to find a solution when the town's corn suddenly begins to die. She arrives in Tampa and is enticed by "corn doctor" Gordy, a con man who promises to help her save the corn. They return to Cob County, where Gordy instead plans to pull of a swindle that will save him from a huge debt. Wade sees the show as an allegory for bigger themes. "When you see outsiders, don't write them off right away. It's about accepting, and it's about being inviting to other people even if you don't know them. Give them a chance to prove themselves," she says. Danielle Wade as Maizy and Erick Pinnick as Grandpa in The North American Tour of SHUCKED Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman "Shucked" ran for just under a year on Broadway and earned nine Tony nominations. The national tour began in October and runs through most of 2025. Plans for a feature film were announced earlier this year. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Wade moved from Canada to New York in 2018 and says there are some "painful similarities" between herself and Maisie. "I'm just kind of playing my old self, my little Canadian self. She's just a girl who's never been outside of her town," Wade says. The show's laughs are reminiscent of "Hee Haw," the classic variety show featuring country music set in the fictional Kornfield Kounty. Wade says the cast has counted approximately 184 jokes in "Shucked, a number that requires you to be an "Olympian of comedy." Alongside Maizy and Cady, Wade's impressive list of credits includes lead roles in regional productions of "Cinderella," "Beauty and the Beast," "The Music Man" and "South Pacific" all stories anchored by small-town American girls who evolve through self-discovery and the pursuit of their dreams. It's a tale as old as time that Wade herself experienced as a teenager in Canada. She began pursuing theater in ninth grade when she auditioned for a production of "High School Musical" and didn't get cast. "The teacher just forgot I was there. I was so quiet and shy that they just forgot about me," Wade says. It light a fire, and she spent the rest of the year taking singing lessons and building her confidence. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "I auditioned for the talent show, and the teacher said to me, why didn't you audition for the play? The next year, we did 'Grease', and I was Sandy," Wade says. "I've learned, and this is a compliment to all my American friends, to take up a little more space than I used to. Canadians are so polite and like, no, you, no, you. Eventually, someone has to go. Karim Khan, right, with Amal Clooney, the human rights attorney - JUSTIN LANE/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Donald Trump is considering sanctions against a British lawyer over the International Criminal Courts arrest warrant for Benjamin Netanyahu. The Hague-based court is facing a major international backlash for its decision to issue a warrant for the Israeli prime minister and Yoav Gallant, the former Israeli defence minister. Mike Waltz, who will serve as Mr Trumps national security adviser, said the court had no credibility and promised a strong response to the anti-Semitic bias of the ICC when the Trump administration takes office on Jan 20. Karim Khan KC, the ICCs chief prosecutor, could be among the officials targeted for sanctions by Mr Trump. International Criminal Court Germany has signalled it would not detain the Israeli leader because of its Nazi past and special relationship with the Jewish state, despite being a member of the ICC. Viktor Orban, the prime minister of fellow member state Hungary, has vowed to defy the order to arrest Mr Netanyahu, and instead invited him for a state visit. However, Britain has said it respects the court and ministers have refused to say if Mr Netanyahu would be arrested if he came to the UK. On Friday, Israels ambassador to the UK called on all countries to reject the ICCs farcical order to arrest Mr Netanyahu. Writing for The Telegraph, Tzipi Hotovely accused the court of finding common ground with Hamas, the Islamic terror group behind the October 7 massacre. She said: We thank the US and other allied countries that have rejected the farcical decision of the court and call upon other nations to follow suit in rejecting this injustice. The ICC has shown that every democratic leader, seeking to defend its people, may become a target of the court. Weve reached an astonishing new low when an international court, which claims to uphold international law and human rights, has found common cause with a terrorist organisation that just over a year ago perpetrated the deadliest day for Jewish people since the Holocaust on its gratuitous rampage of murder, torture, kidnapping and rape. Make no mistake, this moment has sounded the death knell of the ICC, she added. Like Israel, the US does not recognise the authority of the Hague-based court. Senior Republicans have called for sanctions against the ICCs top officials in response to the arrest warrants. The courts politically charged investigation into Israels military operation in Gaza was opened by Mr Khan. The ICC said Mr Netanyahu and Mr Gallant should answer charges of starvation as a method of warfare and murder, persecution and other inhumane acts. Mr Khan is being investigated outside the ICC over allegations of sexual misconduct. He denies the accusations. During his first term in office, Mr Trump sanctioned the courts former chief prosecutor over an investigation into alleged war crimes by US troops in Afghanistan. At the time, Mike Pompeo, then-secretary of state, branded the court a thoroughly broken and corrupted institution. The sanctions against Gambian-born ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda, which included a travel ban, were eventually overturned by Joe Biden when he entered office in 2021. But there is an expectation that Mr Trump could re-enact the same strategy in response to the ICCs treatment of Israel. He could also withdraw US involvement and resources from ICC-led investigations into Russian war crimes in Ukraine. Sanctions could hit Khans bank account Any sanctions enforced on Mr Khan and his staff could threaten the relationship between Britain and Mr Trump if Sir Keir opts to comply with the arrest warrants. Depending on the nature of the sanctions, it could also make it difficult for Mr Khan to secure banking facilities in the UK. The warrant marks the first time in the ICCs 22-year history that its judges have sought the arrest of the leader of a Western-backed democracy. The courts 124 member states, including Britain, are responsible for enforcing arrest warrants it issues. In a sign of splits among European nations, Ireland, Italy and the Netherlands promised to arrest Mr Netanyahu, as well as Mr Gallant, if they arrived in their territories. France affirmed the courts standing but stopped short of saying whether Mr Netanyahu would face arrest if he crossed its borders. Josep Borrell, the EUs top foreign diplomat, confirmed the blocs 27 member states, including Germany and Hungary, would be obliged to enforce the warrants. Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, refused on Friday to say publicly whether Mr Netanyahu would be detained if he travelled to the UK. Credit: Times Radio Mrs Cooper said: That is not a matter for me as the Home Secretary. International Criminal Court investigations rarely become a matter for the British legal or law enforcement processes or for the British Government. If they ever do, there are proper processes that need to be followed and it wouldnt be appropriate for me to comment in advance on any of those. However, Downing Street signalled the Israeli prime minister would face arrest if he entered the country. Asked whether the Government would comply with the law, Sir Keir Starmers official spokesman said: The UK will always comply with its legal obligations as set out by domestic law and indeed international law. No 10, however, confirmed the Prime Minister would continue to talk to Mr Netanyahu despite the ICC arrest warrant, pointing to the need for dialogue to ease tensions in the Middle East. Anti-Israel witch hunt Michael McCaul, chairman of the House foreign affairs committee, said the court had made a shameful decision to issue the warrants, accusing it of an anti-Israel witch hunt. In an online statement, the Republican said the Senate should immediately enact legislation to sanction ICC officials to protect American servicemembers and officials, and our allies. Lindsey Graham, a senator for North Carolina, went further, promising to back a law that would punish countries that comply with the arrest warrants. Any nation or organisation that aids or abets this outrage should expect to meet firm resistance from the United States, and I look forward to working with President Trump, his team, and my colleagues in Congress to come up with a powerful response, he said. Jim Risch, the Republican senator who is the incoming chairman of the foreign relations committee, also urged sanctions against the courts top officials. While I supported the work the ICC was doing to prosecute Putin for his war crimes in Ukraine, I can no longer support an organisation that has blatantly chosen to disregard its mandate, he said. Donald Trump sits in court in New York on 28 May 2024. Photograph: Andrew Kelly/UPI/Rex/Shutterstock The sentencing in Donald Trumps Manhattan criminal hush-money case has been postponed indefinitely while attorneys on both sides argue over its future given his recent election victory. Judge Juan Merchan, who is overseeing Trumps case, did not provide a new sentencing date in his one-page scheduling order on Friday. Merchan said in his decision that Trumps lawyers had to file their argument for dismissal by end of business on 2 December. Prosecutors have one week to respond. The development came in the wake of filings from prosecutors and defense lawyers over their views of how Trumps case should proceed after he won the 2024 election against Kamala Harris. Trumps spokesperson, Steven Cheung, issued a statement calling the decision a decisive win. However, he repeated the president-elects claim that the case which found Trump guilty on 34 felony counts of falsified business records was a hoax. Trumps lawyers on Tuesday asked Merchan to throw out the case, contending that dismissal was necessary in order to facilitate the orderly transition of executive power. Todd Blanche, Trumps lead attorney and choice for deputy US attorney general, and Emil Bove, the president-elects pick for principal associate deputy attorney general, complained that the Manhattan district attorney Alvin Braggs team appears to not yet be ready to dismiss this politically motivated and fatally flawed case, which is what is mandated by the law and will happen as justice takes its course. They argued that the US justice department was on the verge of dismissing Trumps federal cases and pointed to a departmental memo that bars prosecution of sitting presidents. As in those cases, dismissal is necessary here, their filing said. Just as a sitting president is completely immune from any criminal process, so too is President Trump as president-elect. They claimed that if this case proceeds, it would be uniquely destabilizing and could hamstring the operation of the whole governmental apparatus, both in foreign and domestic affairs. They asked Merchan to give them until 20 December to file their push for dismissal. Prosecutors previously told Merchan that they planned on fighting Trumps expected plans for dismissal in the aftermath of his recent presidential win. Prosecutors also said that other case proceedings should be put on pause until Trumps dismissal argument is decided. Prosecutors disagreed that Trumps case should be dismissed simply because appeals would not be decided before his inauguration. While they respected the presidency and understood the logistical issues, no current law establishes that a presidents temporary immunity from prosecution requires dismissal of a post-trial criminal proceeding that was initiated at a time when the defendant was not immune from criminal prosecution, and that is based on unofficial conduct from which the defendant is also not immune. The prosecution said that courts must respect the varying constitutional interests the executive branchs need for independence, and the judicial branchs need for integrity. Prosecutors told Merchan that there were routes he could take other than outright dismissal, including deferral of all remaining criminal proceedings until after the end of defendants upcoming presidential term. Trump was found guilty of falsifying business records in an effort to sway the 2016 election on 30 May. The prosecution said that Trump falsely listed reimbursements to his then-lawyer, Michael Cohen, who gave the adult film star Stormy Daniels $130,000 for her silence about a purported affair with Trump, as legal expenses. The jury reached their guilty verdict in less than 24 hours. These proceedings were the first time a US president former or sitting stood a criminal trial, as well as a conviction. Ihor Kuzin, Ukraines deputy health minister, speaking in Stockholm - Jonathan Nackstrand/ECDC Ukraine needs more help from its allies if it is to tackle the growing problem of drug-resistant infections, the countrys deputy health minister has said. Front line combat and Russias drone and missile attacks on Ukrainian cities are inflicting large numbers of traumatic wounds, leading to aggressive bacterial infections. Doctors in Ukraines overstretched hospitals and field treatment centres often have no choice but to prescribe strong antibiotics to save lives. This is thought to be the main reason for an explosion in cases of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), particularly among Ukrainian soldiers severely wounded in action who are often then taken out of the country for further treatment. Ihor Kuzin, Ukraines deputy health minister and chief doctor, told The Telegraph that the country needs more modern laboratory equipment for its hospitals so that cases of AMR can be identified quickly. Unfortunately, on the regional level, we are using only very outdated and very classical microbiological investigation methods, he said. Ukraine also needs technical assistance with repairing and upgrading its health facilities to make them safer for patients. One of the big problems are the systems of ventilation in our healthcare facilities that are affecting healthcare associated infections, he said. Ukrainian hospitals need access to more modern drugs to treat patients who have shown resistance to even the strongest available antibiotics, he added. Testing of tens of thousands of blood and spinal fluid samples within Ukraines surveillance network in 2023 found that some 60 per cent of infections discovered in patients in certain medical facilities were resistant to carbapenem, a class of powerful antibiotics that are considered a drug of last resort. The sharp rise in cases of AMR in Ukraine has been described as an urgent crisis and has caused alarm among public health officials in Europe and beyond. The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention recently warned that aggressive bacteria is now spreading beyond Ukraines borders, and antibiotic-resistant strains have now been detected in at least six European countries and even in Japan. A significant amount of effort has already been directed at alleviating the problem according to the World Health Organization (WHO), Ukraine now has 100 laboratories for investigating drug-resistant bacteria. It only had three in 2017. Ukraine has also already had some success in bringing down AMR infections in hospitals or other medical facilities thanks to new standards and increased control. The rate of healthcare-associated infections is now 12.6 per cent, down from 14 per cent in 2022 but still higher than the European average of 5.5 per cent, according to data from the Ukrainian Ministry of Health. Ukrainian military doctors treat an injured comrade in a hospital in Donetsk - Evgeniy Maloletka/AP Routinely described as a silent pandemic, AMR is now responsible for some 1.14 million deaths every year more than HIV/Aids and malaria combined, according to a recent Lancet study. Cases have steadily risen across Europe since 2019, prompting the European Union to launch a major effort to make sure its members can still hit the target of cutting antibiotic use by a fifth by 2030. But the explosion of AMR in Ukraine is a problem that is still poorly understood. Before the war began, Ukraine already had higher AMR rates than most other European countries because antibiotics were accessible without prescription until August 2022. It has also been suggested that the nature of the fighting in Ukraine, where troops frequently spend long rotations living in squalid, unsanitary conditions in their trenches, could be contributing to the spread of AMR. Jarno Habicht, the WHOs representative in Ukraine, said: We need to better study the root causes of antimicrobial resistance. He stressed the need for the war to end, as well as for better monitoring and research to ensure appropriate treatment. We dont want to go back to the era where we cannot treat certain diseases, he told the news agency AFP. Protect yourself and your family by learning more about Global Health Security Israeli air strike hit the middle of a tower block on Friday Beirut residents watched as an Israeli air strike flattened an 11-storey building in Hezbollahs southern stronghold. Israel launched a missile at the middle of the tower block in broad daylight on Friday after urging residents to evacuate. The raid followed intense Israeli attacks in recent days on the Iran-backed terror groups south Beirut stronghold. The Israeli military also issued warnings to part of the coastal city of Tyre in south Lebanon and swathes of nearby areas on Friday, according to the state-run National News Agency (NNA). The NNA said Israeli warplanes launched strikes on two buildings just inside Beiruts southern suburbs, near the centre of the capital. Footage captured the moments before a missile struck a tower block housing shops, a gym and apartments, located on an usually busy street in the heavily populated Shiyah district. An Israeli missile about to hit the tower block - Fadel Itani/UPI/Shutterstock The impact produced a fireball and caused the structure to collapse on top of itself, littering the road with debris. Fire and smoke erupt from the building just after an Israeli air strike - AFP via Getty Images The building which was hit is in Shiyah, in the southern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon - Bilal Hussein/AP Avichay Adraee, an Israeli army spokesman, warned residents on social media that the military would strike Hezbollah facilities and interests in Shiyah, attaching maps which pinpointed the buildings being targeted. For your safety and the safety of your family members, you must evacuate these buildings and those adjacent to them immediately and stay away from them for a distance of no less than 500 metres, Mr Adraee said. He later declared that the Israel Defense Forces had launched a series of raids targeting Hezbollah command headquarters in Beirut. The NNA earlier on Friday reported several other Israeli strikes on south Beirut, adding that thick smoke was seen rising from the vicinity of the Lebanese University in the Hadath neighbourhood. The strikes came as the United Nations announced rockets likely launched by Hezbollah or affiliated groups had hit a UN peacekeeping base in southern Lebanon on Friday. Italys defence ministry said four Italian soldiers had been injured after two rockets hit the UN mission base in Shama in southern Lebanon. More than 11 months of cross-border fire between Israel and Hezbollah over the Gaza conflict escalated into all-out war in September, with Israel sending ground troops into southern Lebanon. A review that cleared former WiseTech Global chief executive Richard White of bullying and intimidation allegations noted he had a direct approach and was involved in robust and challenging discussions. Photograph: Bianca de Marchi/AAP A company-ordered review into Richard White, the embattled billionaire founder of Australian software giant WiseTech, has cleared the former chief executive of bullying and intimidation allegations. The law firms that reviewed a series of allegations against White, including alleged misuse of company funds, also concluded that their investigations had uncovered no impropriety, according to an update presented to shareholders on Friday. The 69-year-old stood down last month after weeks of damaging revelations about his personal life, sparked by a dispute with a former lover erupting in the federal court. Law firms Herbert Smith Freehills and Seyfarth Shaw examined five allegations. These included claims that White failed to disclose several close personal workplace relationships to the board, the company entered into transactions with suppliers with whom he had personal relationships, and he had misused company funds. One of the most damaging claims regarded allegations from a former female WiseTech director that White engaged in bullying and intimidatory behaviours. The review found no evidence to support the five allegations and dismissed the bullying claims. It noted that White took a direct approach and was from occasionally involved in robust and challenging discussions. Related: WiseTech Global billionaire CEO Richard White steps down as company rocked by allegations of secret affairs This approach was generally consistent with the process of creative abrasion, in line with the companys mantra creative abrasion fuels collaboration, the review found. While White, who is the companys single biggest shareholder, stepped down from the chief executive position last month, he has been appointed to a consulting role for a 10-year term, with the title founder and founding CEO. His $1m annual pay packet will remain unchanged. On Friday, he acknowledged the impact of recent events on family, friends, loved ones, the WiseTech team, and you, our shareholders via a pre-recorded message played at the companys annual general meeting. Whilst this time has been difficult and challenging, I want to assure you this has not diminished my passion and dedication to WiseTech, he said. Later in the meeting, White was asked about his relationship with the companys board. All of you know I dont have any problems in speaking strongly about what I think is right for the company, and youve always accepted that, and youve always pushed back reasonably when weve had those intellectual debates, he said via video link. Shares in the company sank on Friday after the company revised its revenue outlook, caused by delays in the launch of one of its software products. WiseTech blamed media attention around White and organisational changes for the slump. Separately, WiseTech is defending a class action lawsuit being run by legal firm Phi Finney McDonald over allegations it released misleading earnings guidance in 2019. The lawsuit claims some investors are entitled to compensation because the guidance was later downgraded, resulting in a share price plunge. Yvette Cooper leaves Downing Street after a Cabinet meeting - KIRSTY WIGGLESWORTH/AP The Home Secretary is planning to expand the recording of non-crime hate incidents despite the backlash over the threat to free speech. Yvette Cooper is committed to reversing the Tories decision to downgrade the monitoring of the incidents, specifically in relation to anti-Semitism and Islamophobia, so they can be logged by police. Labour believes the current guidance to forces prevents officers from tracking tensions involving Jewish and Muslim communities that could escalate into violence and criminality. It comes amid calls by senior Tory MPs to scrap the requirement for police to record non-crime hate incidents (NCHI) or further restrict the ability of officers to log them to protect free speech in the wake of the Allison Pearson row. A Home Office source said: It is part of our manifesto commitment so we will work with the College of Policing to understand the best way of doing that so police can assess where there is a high incidence of anti-Semitic and Islamophobic hate crime. Award-winning journalist Allison Pearson - ELLIOTT FRANKS Pearson, an award-winning writer for The Telegraph, was being investigated by Essex Police for allegedly stirring up racial hatred with a social media post made in November last year. The force dropped the case on Thursday. While Pearson was being investigated for an alleged crime, she initially thought an NCHI was being recorded against her. The case prompted criticism of NCHIs, which do not meet the criminal threshold but are recorded by police regardless. Speaking on Radio 4s PM, Pearson said: The issue here is these non-crime hate incidents are out of control. Nobody with great knowledge of the law has ever suggested that there was any basis for charging me with anything. And we have to ask the question, why did Essex police persist in this? Why did they escalate it with me? I did not incite racial hate, nobody thinks I incited racial hate. I feel I was bullied and threatened, and this was wholly disproportionate. I wont censor myself, but I will be more watchful in future. The plans to expand the recording of NCHI were first revealed in the summer but have recently come under fresh scrutiny. Free speech campaigners are also threatening to take legal action against the Home Office if it goes ahead with plans to unpick rules laid down by Suella Braverman, the former home secretary, to stop police recording incidents just because someone was offended. The rules, introduced last year, limited officers to recording personal data for NCHIs only where there was a real risk of significant harm to individuals or groups and a real risk that a future criminal offence could be committed against them. However, a report by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in September found many forces were still failing to correctly apply the guidance. It uncovered evidence that confusion over the rules meant officers were taking a risk-averse approach summed up as if in doubt, record. As a result, NCHIs were too often being logged for complaints that amounted to little more than peoples hurt feelings. Police have recorded a non-crime hate incident after a person refused to shake hands, which the victim perceived to be hate related due to gender identity. They also logged a rough haircut reported by a customer who claimed his barber was aggressive following a discussion about the Ukraine war. Ms Cooper has urged police to use common sense when recording non-crime hate incidents and has pointed to recommendations by the HM inspectorate for improved training and clearer direction for officers. A Home Office source said: We support the Inspectorate and College of Policing assessment that there needs to be a common sense and consistent approach that means that trivial, irrational or malicious cases should not be recorded. The Inspectorate has been clear that guidance is not being followed consistently and well be working with them and the College of Policing to make sure that the recommendations are implemented. Over the past 12 months there has been a big increase in anti-Semitism and Islamophobia and its really important that police forces are able to track and monitor that so that action can be taken to prevent harassment, crime or serious threats. Labour believes it can amend the guidelines to boost the recording of anti-Semitism and Islamophobia without changing the wider requirements to follow a common sense approach and not to record trivial or irrational incidents. Squaring the circle is what we are looking at mechanisms to do, said a Home Office source, although they added that it was not being actively pursued at the moment. A No 10 spokesman said Sir Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, was clear that the police should be spending their time protecting the public and keeping streets safe. When it comes to those incidents weve also said that its vital we carefully consider how we balance the fundamental right to free speech and how police can gather information where relevant. Were looking at how we can best ensure this is the case and will set out next steps in due course, said the spokesman. Loosening of the guidance The Free Speech Union (FSU) and former police officer Harry Miller, chief executive of campaign group Fair Cop, have written to Ms Cooper threatening legal action if there is any loosening of the guidance on NCHIs. The guidance was re-written by the Home Office and College of Policing under Mrs Braverman after Mr Miller won a Court of Appeal challenge over a police investigation into his tweets. The judges ruled the old NCHI guidance had been wrongly used and had a chilling effect on his freedom of speech. Toby Young, director of the FSU, said: The reason Suella Braverman tried to circumscribe the recording and retention of NCHIs isnt because, as a Tory, she has more tolerance for anti-Semitic and Islamophobic hatred than the lovely and caring Yvette Cooper. Its because the Court of Appeal in Miller vs College of Policing ruled that the guidance devised by the College, and the behaviour of the police in their efforts to comply with it, was unlawful. If Yvette Cooper scraps the statutory guidance and encourages the police to record even more NCHIs, she will be ordering them to go back to breaking the law. Thats not a great look for the Home Secretary. Changes under the crime and policing bill are similar to the antisocial behaviour orders (Asbos) introduced under Tony Blair. Photograph: Christopher Thomond/The Guardian People who persistently demonstrate antisocial behaviour will face up to two years in jail under Labours Respect orders, the home secretary will say on Friday. Yvette Cooper will also announce that police will be given new powers to immediately seize off-road bikes, e-scooters on pavements and street-racing cars as part of the clampdown. The changes, which are meant to deal with rowdy youths, problem drinkers and unruly hooligans, might not be rolled out across the whole of England and Wales before 2026, Whitehall sources said. They will be introduced in the crime and policing bill in the new year but will be piloted in a specific area before further implementation across other police forces. As well as a prison sentence, courts could hand out unlimited fines and order those who flouted the rules to carry out unpaid work or abide by a curfew, the Home Office said. Respect orders will give police and councils the powers they need to crack down on repeated antisocial behaviour, keeping our communities safe and ensuring repeat offenders face the consequences of their actions, Cooper will say. These new powers alongside thousands more neighbourhood officers and PCSOs will help this government deliver on our mission to take back our streets. Under the orders, police and councils will be handed powers to ban persistent offenders from town centres or from drinking in public places such as high streets and parks, with officers able to arrest anyone breaching their order. Perpetrators could also be told to take anger management courses or attend rehabilitation treatment for drug and alcohol problems to address the causes of their behaviour under the plans. Police would no longer have to issue warnings before seizing vehicles, allowing forces to impound vehicles without delay, the Home Office said. Social landlords, Transport for London, Transport for Greater Manchester, the West Midlands combined authority, the Environment Agency, Natural Resources Wales and the NHS Counter Fraud Authority are among other public bodies allowed to apply for Respect orders. The move signals a return of rules similar to antisocial behaviour orders (Asbos), introduced under Tony Blairs government, which were previously in force in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and are still used in Scotland. Asbos were criticised for being used to disproportionately criminalise people of colour. They are an early step towards Keir Starmers mission statement to halve serious violent crime and raise confidence in the police and criminal justice system to its highest levels in a decade. Last month a watchdog said police must and can do better in cracking down on antisocial behaviour. The inspector of constabulary, Lee Freeman, called for a renewed focus on staffing neighbourhood police teams, who are often the first to deal with such incidents. Most police forces in England and Wales needed to improve the way they identified, recorded and responded to antisocial behaviour, as well as how they protected victims, his inspection report said. In the year to September 2023, about 1m antisocial behaviour incidents were reported to the police. Andy Prophet, a deputy chief constable who leads the National Police Chiefs Councils work on antisocial behaviour, said: Respect orders will give the police and councils the ability to crack down on those who persistently make our streets and public spaces feel unsafe. A Reform UK MP was jailed for repeatedly kicking his girlfriend 18 years ago, it has emerged. Former investment banker James McMurdock did not publicly disclose his conviction for assault before being elected and claimed he had pushed his partner when details were first revealed this summer. However, The Times applied to the courts for information from the official record of his sentencing, which it obtained on Wednesday. It said he was was detained in a young offenders institution for 21 days for kicking the victim around four times. The conviction came to light in July when the victims mother told Mail Online he had left marks on her body and it took two security guards to pull him off her during the attack outside a nightclub in Chelmsford, Essex. At the time, Mr McMurdock apologised for what he described as the biggest regret of my life but downplayed the assault as a teenage indiscretion and disputed the details of the mothers account. In a statement, he said: A generous person might call it a teenage indiscretion, but I do not expect everyone to be so kind. Nearly 20 years ago, at 19 years of age, at the end of a night out together, we argued and I pushed her. She fell over and she was hurt. Despite being 38 now and having lived a whole life again I still feel deeply ashamed of that moment and apologetic. Mr McMurdock pleaded guilty to assault by beating, according to court records obtained by The Times. The paper reported that Essex Police refused to provide any documents about the case under freedom of information laws, claiming that to do so would be in breach of data protection rights and could prejudice the detection of crime. It then obtained the court register through an application to the courts. The MPs sentence was not suspended in light of the serious nature of the offence, the records say. A pre-sentence report indicated a lack of willingness to comply. There is no requirement for MPs to disclose previous convictions to the public when standing for election, but Mr McMurdock has been accused of failing to be properly accountable. Labour MP for Nottingham East Nadia Whittome said: Neither he nor his party (which knew) disclosed the conviction at the election. This man belongs nowhere near law-making and power. The refusal to be properly accountable is disturbing The passive she fell over and she was hurt. Mr McMurdock won the seat of South Basildon and East Thurrock for Reform UK at this years election, beating Conservative candidate Stephen Metcalfe by just 98 votes. He and his party have been contacted for comment. Essex Police declined to comment. The family of Ian Ogle expressed relief at the end of a long, difficult process after three men were found guilty of his murder in Belfast. They also called for a serious look at the judicial system in Northern Ireland and described as unfair how long victims have to wait for a trial in the region compared with the rest of the UK. Mr Ogle was 45 when he was beaten and stabbed 11 times just yards from his Cluan Place home in the east of the city in January 2019. Margaret (left), mother of Ian Ogle, outside Laganside Courts, Belfast, after Walter Ervine, Glenn Rainey and Robert Spiers were found guilty of Mr Ogles murder in Belfast in January 2019 (Liam McBurney/PA) Delivering his verdict in the non-jury trial, Mr Justice McFarland said he was satisfied that Glenn Rainey, 38, from Ballyhalbert Caravan Park, Walter Ervine, 43, from Litchfield Street in Belfast, and Robert Spiers, 41, from Millars Park in Dundonald, were part of a group of five men who had carried out the attack. The judge told the three men the only sentence he could hand down was life imprisonment. There were cheers from the Ogle family when the verdict was announced at Belfast Crown Court on Friday. The three defendants showed no emotion as the verdicts were read. Two men had previously admitted killing Mr Ogle. Jonathan Brown, 39, from Whinney Hill in Dundonald, and Mark Sewell, 45, of Glenmount Drive in Newtownabbey, were handed life sentences earlier this year. Delivering his judgment, the judge said there had been an ongoing feud between two factions in east Belfast after some of the defendants were involved in an incident in a bar with Mr Ogles son in 2017. On the evening Mr Ogle was attacked, he and his son had been involved in an assault on another man on the Beersbridge Road. Robert Spiers at a previous court hearing (Liam McBurney/PA) The judge said this had been a precipitating factor in the fatal attack later that night. CCTV footage indicated Mr Ogle had been the victim of a 30-second attack, the judge said. Witnesses said Mr Ogle was attacked with a baton and a knife, and his head was stamped upon. A local pastor, Kevin Sambrook, who had been speaking with Mr Ogle before the attack and gave evidence during the trial, described the group acting like a pack of hyenas, the judge said. Mr Ogle died from a stab wound to the chest and had also suffered extensive bruising and a fractured skull. Mr Justice McFarland said: This is the classic joint enterprise case. The man who used the knife may have direct responsibility for the death but it is clear beyond any doubt that each of the five men were involved in the attack on Ian Ogle and each intended to cause him at the very least really serious bodily injury. He added the case against the three defendants was circumstantial and the prosecution case was made up of a number of strands. Considering the evidence, the judge said a strong inference could be drawn from the mobile phone activity between the defendants on the night of the murder. He said: The overwhelming inference that can be drawn from the telephony evidence is that Brown, Sewell, Rainey, Ervine and Spiers made up the group that murdered Ian Ogle. Mr Justice McFarland also said the fact two of the defendants had both left Northern Ireland the day after the murder Rainey flew to Thailand via Moscow and Ervine sailed to Scotland was a strong contributory piece of evidence against them. The judge said police had recovered an Ernesto knife and an extendable baton from the Connswater River two weeks after the murder. He said a search of Spierss house revealed an Ernesto knife missing from a set. The judge also said Spiers had lied to the police about not having a mobile phone. Mr Justice McFarland said he also drew an inference from the fact none of the three defendants had given evidence in the trial to answer evidence against them. The judge concluded: I am satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that Rainey, Ervine and Spiers were part of the group, the others being Brown and Sewell, that murdered Ian Ogle at Cluan Place. Addressing the defendants, he said: The only sentence I can pass is life imprisonment and I now pass that sentence. The judge said a tariff hearing to determine the minimum amount of time each would spend in prison would he held in July. Before the three were led from the dock, Spiers blew a kiss to someone in the public gallery. There were emotional scenes outside court as Mr Ogles family gathered together to say the Lords Prayer. Toni Johnston (centre), daughter of Ian Ogle, speaking outside Laganside Courts, Belfast (Liam McBurney/PA) Mr Ogles daughter Toni Johnston thanked all those who supported the family since her fathers murder in 2019, the detectives involved in the investigation and the judge for bringing the case to a successful conclusion, describing a difficult process. As anyone who has witnessed the trial and heard the facts and evidence will know, it was a very complex one, she said. It has taken almost six years to get to this moment and that has been a particularly difficult experience. The judicial system in Northern Ireland needs serious change, particularly when a crime of this seriousness has been committed. We believe it is unfair that victims and witnesses in Northern Ireland have to wait so long to go through this process and see justice delivered. I also want to emphasise that after waiting so long for a trial to take place, it took a further 10 months for it to be completed. In the meantime, those charged with murder and assisting offences lived in our community yards from where the crime took place. They were also yards from the murder victims family. The length of the wait put indefensible strains on the people directly involved in the trial as well as having a damaging effect on the wider community. In Northern Ireland, I believe we should have some serious conversations about why our trial process takes so much longer than in the rest of the UK. Furniture retailer DFS has said sales have continued to improve in recent months, as it also hired a new interim finance boss. It comes after the sofa specialist saw sales slump over in late 2023 and earlier this year as shoppers pulled back spending on big ticket items. Revenues had dropped by almost a tenth in the year to June amid pressure from Red Sea shipping delays and pressure from high interest rates on household finances. However, it had reported an uptick in performance from July as customer sentiment rebounded. DFS had seen weaker sales in the previous financial year (DFS/PA) On Friday, the London-listed business said this has continued, with it reporting a growth in orders year-on-year for the 20 weeks since the start of July. It said this order growth is in line with previous expectations. DFS said it has also continued to make progress on reducing its cost base. The company has previously laid out plans to secure at least 50 million in cost savings by 2026. The company also told shareholders it has appointed Marie Wall as its new interim chief financial officer from next month. Ms Wall, who has previously held senior finance roles at Imperial Brands, Wolseley and Dixons Carphone, will take the role ahead of the departure of John Fallon as DFSs finance chief. Tim Stacey, chief executive of DFS, said I am very pleased to welcome Marie to our group. She is a strong addition to our leadership team, bringing with her a wealth of financial leadership experience as we pursue our growth strategy. Upscale steakhouse Andiron has been reimagined with a new patio and adjusted menu a year after chef Michael O'Connor was hired to lead the kitchen. Sambrooks Hospitality, the group behind the Pit Room and Candente, is taking a more casual approach to the steakhouse, now going by Andiron Grille & Patio. The restaurant has scaled back on some of its high-end offerings to better align with the neighborhood, while still focusing on steak and seafood. NEW IN RESTAURANTS: Former March pastry chef and fine dining veteran opening first Houston restaurant in early 2025 "We're not a restaurant you have to plan far in advance to enjoy, but a local spot you can stop by to grab a bite or beverage any day and almost any time of the week. Im excited to welcome both loyal patrons and new guests as we embark on this next chapter of Andiron," said Michael Sambrooks, owner of Sambrooks Hospitality in a statement. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The restaurant had been closed Monday through Wednesday in late September through October, in which the team worked on the redo. The restaurant first opened in the spring of 2023. Three months after opening, executive chef Louis Maldonado departed from the company for a new position in Austin. O'Connor, formerly of Vic & Anthony's steakhouse and restaurant-bar Better Luck Tomorrow, was brought in to lead the kitchen around this time last year. The revamped restaurant showcases a menu intended to be a bit more wallet-friendly and tavern-style. New shareables include mussels in a yellow curry, a bratwurst sausage roll with marrow onions and beer mustard, and tuna tataki with giardiniera, herb and aioli. A new signature item is called, Just Rewards, and features a martini, fries and olives. Roasted chicken at Andiron Michael Anthony/Contributor New entrees include roasted chicken, a crab Napoleon and branzino in brown butter fumet. Steak will continue to be a focal point of the menu, including cuts of A5 wagyu. The burger and prime rib sandwich also returned. Ive always enjoyed the opportunity to create new and exciting culinary offerings at Andiron, OConnor said in a statement. The new iteration showcases comfortable, familiar dishes that pull from seasonal ingredients, without compromising the sophistication and quality that remains at the heart of our kitchen. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Sambrooks Management CEO Michael Sambrooks and executive chef Michael O'Connor of Andiron. Duc Hoang / Andiron The cocktail menu has also been refreshed by head bartender Angel Bautista, who recently returned from training in Mexico City's Handshake Speakeasy, named Best Bar in the World. The menu now involves carbonated cocktails such as the Vie En Ver with gin, mezcal, green chartreuse, cucumber, ginger and a citrus blend. Another new drink: the Beet Le Juice, made with whiskey, amaro, hot chili, golden beets, lemon, vanilla, sesame chili oil and whey. Customers can now find glasses of wine for $12. A new happy hour menu also has $8 cocktails and light bites from 4 to 6 p.m. on weekdays. But perhaps the biggest change is the new 2,800 square-foot patio. Designed by New York's AvroKo, it has a central fire pit lies with lounge chairs. A mix of high-top and standard tables can seat 75 people. There's also a separate outdoor bar. More than 50 urns decorate the area with greenery and foliage. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Andiron has a new patio. Michael Anthony/Contributor Small changes to the restaurant's interior lean into the more casual feel like the glassware and front of house uniforms to have a more bistro-style rather than formal wear. Defence firm Thales has denied allegations related to an investigation by the UKs Serious Fraud Office (SFO) and French authorities. The weapons manufacturer said the investigation is targeting four of its entities in the UK and France, regarding the performance of a contract in Asia. The SFO said on Thursday that it had launched an investigation into suspected bribery and corruption at the firm, alongside French agency Parquet National Financier (PNF). Thales said in a statement to French financial markets: Thales confirms that the Parquet National Financier in France and the Serious Fraud Office in the United Kingdom have initiated an investigation in relation to four Thales entities located in France and the UK, regarding the performance of a contract in Asia. Thales denies the allegations brought to its knowledge. The group is fully co-operating with the PNF in France and the SFO in the UK. Thales complies with all national and international regulations. Thales, which employs more than 7,000 workers in the UK, is one of the Governments key defence contractors, and built hundreds of lightweight missiles which the UK sent to Ukraine in September. It comes after police in France, the Netherlands and Spain searched the companys offices in June over suspicions of corruption linked to arms sales abroad, according to reports. On Thursday, SFO director Nick Ephgrave said: Working collaboratively with our international partners is a crucial factor in the fight against international corruption and with this case I hope to reinforce the SFO and PNFs long-standing relationship, built on mutual co-operation and shared success. We will together rigorously pursue every avenue in our investigation into these serious allegations. Thales specialises in defence electronics, and built the 650 so-called Lightweight Multirole Missiles (LMMs) that the UK announced it would supply to Ukraine in September, in a 162 million order. The weapons, manufactured at one of Thales plants in Belfast, are designed for short-range fire and can hit targets up to about six kilometres away in the air and on the ground. Thales also won a 1.8 billion UK defence contract in February which will see it maintain the Royal Navys fleet of ships and submarines for the next 15 years. The UK wants to see a deal at the UN climate conference that accelerates the clean energy transition, Ed Miliband has said. The Energy Secretary said the country wanted a good outcome at Cop29 in Baku, Azerbaijan. Mr Miliband also said the UKs national climate action plan, which was announced at the summit last week and pledged an 81% cut in domestic emissions by 2035, had put Britain back on the map of global climate leadership. Ed Miliband was speaking to UK staff during a closing event at the conference (Peter Dejong/AP) This years talks have been dogged by polarised positions over how much money rich countries should pay poorer ones and how to make progress on cutting down climate-heating greenhouse gas emissions. But a growing sense of optimism emerged on Friday when the Cop29 presidency Azerbaijan released the latest draft of an agreement. It showed countries closing in on a compromise over thorny issues such as climate finance and mitigation although sticking points remained. A UK Government source said: The current text doesnt make the headway we are looking for, but gives us a platform to negotiate from. There is a hard but achievable path ahead in the final hours- and that is what we are focusing on. Speaking to UK staff during a closing event at the UKs pavilion, the Energy Secretary said the green transition was right both ethically and economically. He said: We dont know what the outcome of this Cop is going to be. We want to achieve a good outcome for Britain and for the world. What is a good outcome? A good outcome is one that accelerates the clean energy transition. Why? Because it is right for tackling the climate crisis and for the face of future generations, and it is right economically for Britain because it will spur jobs and export opportunities and help businesses. The latest proposals from the Cop29 presidency included the long-awaited hard numbers on climate finance, meaning parties can enter the final stretch of negotiations and hammer out the details of a deal. 3/ As long as Britain remains exposed to the rollercoaster of global fossil fuel markets, we will be vulnerable to energy price rises over which we have no control. Our clean energy mission is the only way to take back control of our energy, with cheaper and more secure power. Ed Miliband (@Ed_Miliband) November 22, 2024 The core finance target put forward was 250 billion US dollars in public money and a wider goal of 1.3 trillion, including all kinds of finance to be flowing into poorer countries every year by 2035. The proposals place developed countries such as the UK, US, European nations and Australia as taking the lead on providing this money to poorer countries to help them cope with the impacts of global warming and to green their economies. It comes after developed countries argued that more nations, such as oil-rich Middle Eastern states and China, should also be required to pay climate finance. Comparing this years climate summit to when he was last in the role of climate change secretary, the Energy Secretary said: This feels very different This is an unstoppable transition. Its an unstoppable transition because its the right thing ethically for intergenerational justice. But its also an unstoppable transition because its the right thing economically. Because this is the way that countries are going to grow, countries are going to succeed, countries are going to create jobs, countries are going to get energy security. The UK has been pushing hard for a deal that includes specific reference to last years pledge to transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems after it received significant pushback from some oil rich countries such as Saudi Arabia. Offering his reflections on the talks, he said: We have been very clear, that our clean energy superpower mission is about energy security, lower bills and good jobs and growth at home. And it is also about engaging with other countries, because we are only 1% of global emissions, and if were going to keep future generations safe, weve got to engage with those other countries responsible for the 99% of emissions. Because climate change knows no borders and thats what our presence at Cop has been all about. After working through days of deadlock in Baku, he described the multilateral process as incredibly hard and incredibly torturous but added: Its the best process weve got. Yes its imperfect. Yes, its hard. Yes, its torturous. Yes, it always goes on beyond the deadline, but it moves and this transition is moving, he said. The Energy Secretary also praised the British team working on the ground at Cop29, calling them an unbelievably inspiring bunch of people. The UKs civil service staff had garnered huge respect among other countries during the negotiations, he said, adding that it was part of the reason the country was asked alongside Brazil to help the Cop29 presidency gather views from different countries. Zelensky demands response from allies as Putin threatens West with new missile The world must respond to Russias use of a new ballistic missile, Volodymyr Zelensky said as Vladimir Putin threatened to strike the UK with his hypersonic weapon. The Ukrainian president said the use of a ballistic missile to hit Dnipro was a clear and severe escalation in the scale and brutality of this war and he warned that Russian president Mr Putin would attack or destabilise other countries unless stopped. Mr Putin said the use of the new weapon was in response to the UK and US allowing missiles they have supplied to Ukraine to be used to strike targets in Russia. In response to the use of American and British long-range weapons on November 21 of this year, the Russian armed forces launched a combined strike on one of the facilities of the Ukrainian defence industry, Mr Putin said in a televised address. One of the newest Russian medium-range missile systems was tested in combat conditions, in this case, with a ballistic missile in a non-nuclear hypersonic warhead. He added: We consider ourselves entitled to use our weapons against military facilities of those countries that allow their weapons to be used against our facilities. But Mr Zelensky urged world leaders his dear partners not to be cowed by Mr Putins actions otherwise there will be endless Russian strikes and not just against Ukraine. Today, Putin admitted to taking a second step this year toward escalating and expanding this war. A new ballistic missile was used. Putin struck our city of Dnipro, one of Ukraines largest cities. This is a clear and severe escalation in the scale and brutality of this wara Volodymyr Zelenskyy / (@ZelenskyyUa) November 21, 2024 A lack of tough reactions to Russias actions sends a message that such behavior is acceptable, the Ukrainian president said on X, formerly Twitter. This is what Putin is doing. Putin must feel the cost of his deranged ambitions. Response is needed. Pressure is needed. Russia must be forced into real peace, which can only be achieved through strength. Otherwise, there will be endless Russian strikes, threats, and destabilisation-not just against Ukraine. The UK is believed to have allowed its Storm Shadow missiles to be used by Ukrainian forces within the Kursk region of Russia, while the US has given permission for its ATACMS weapons to be fired at targets in Mr Putins country. (PA Graphics) Mr Putin confirmed Russia has tested the new intermediate-range weapon in an attack on Dnipro in response. The US said the weapon was a new, experimental intermediate-range missile based on Russias existing RS-26 Rubezh intercontinental ballistic missile. In Westminster, the Prime Ministers official spokesman said: My understanding is that it is the first time that Russia has used a ballistic missile in Ukraine with a range of several thousand kilometres. Defence Secretary John Healey said it was yet another example of Putins recklessness. He said: Since the illegal invasion of Ukraine began, Russia has consistently and irresponsibly escalated the conflict while Ukraine continues to fight in self-defence for a democratic future. The missiles range far outstrips that of newly authorised US and British-supplied weapons, which can hit targets around 250-300km away. (PA Graphics) The distance from Moscow to London is around 2,500km, suggesting the range of the new missile could threaten the UK. Mr Healey said the UK knew Russia had been preparing for months to fire a new ballistic missile. Downing Street and the Ministry of Defence have repeatedly declined to comment publicly on Ukraines use of Storm Shadow. It risks both operational security and in the end the only one that benefits from such a public debate is President Putin, Mr Healey told MPs. I had a meeting with the UK delegation led by Chief of the Defence Staff @AdmTonyRadakin_. We discussed defense cooperation between Ukraine and the United Kingdom, focusing on developing and enhancing the technological capabilities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Particular pic.twitter.com/EcjqfTuR49 Volodymyr Zelenskyy / (@ZelenskyyUa) November 21, 2024 The head of the UKs armed forces, Chief of the Defence Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, met Mr Zelensky in Kyiv to discuss the war on Thursday. Mr Zelensky said: We discussed defence co-operation between Ukraine and the United Kingdom, focusing on developing and enhancing the technological capabilities of the armed forces of Ukraine. Particular attention was given to Ukraines current military needs and the continued support from our partners. An 84-year-old Texas man has been charged with first-degree murder after allegedly killing his roommate and her dog, authorities said. Police in Austin, Texas responded to a deceased person call at a home in the city's University Hills area on Monday afternoon, according to a news release from the department. Austin Police Department officers found a dead woman and dog inside the home. The woman was later identified as Linda Mlsna, 83, the department said. APD detective Israel Pina described the scene as a "very, very brutal attack," according to CBS affiliate CBS Austin. It's the 63rd homicide in the city this year, police said. While investigating Mlsna's death, homicide detectives found that her roommate was unaccounted for. Jack Moore was a mutual friend of Mlsna's son, CBS Austin reported, and had stayed on as a roommate when Mlsna's son moved away. Lupita Diaz, a neighbor who lived across the street from the home, told CBS Austin that Mlsna had begun having issues living with Moore. Jack Moore / Credit: Austin Police Department "It was probably like a month ago that she told me she didn't feel comfortable with him around," Diaz said. The APD's Tactical Intelligence Unit and the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force arrested Moore on an unrelated warrant related to carjacking, CBS Austin reported. Investigators found that Moore had been using Mlsna's credit cards to make purchases after her death. Moore confessed to killing Mlsna and her dog, taking the credit cards and formulating a plan to flee the country during an interview with detectives, the APD said. Moore was arrested on a charge of first-degree murder and booked into the Travis County Jail. He is being held on $1 million bail, CBS Austin reported. The station also reported Moore has a criminal history and has served prison time, but police told the affiliate that there had been no domestic violence-related calls to Mlsna's home. "We shouldn't underestimate anyone. He's 84 years old," said Pina. "But you just can't predict who is dangerous and who is not. It is disturbing that you never know, when you have someone living with you, who you're actually bringing in unless you thoroughly vet them, or you've known them your entire life." Matt Gaetz may be able to return to his congressional seat after withdrawal from AG consideration Former deputy assistant attorney general on indefinite Trump "hush money" sentencing delay What to know about indefinite delay of Trump "hush money" sentencing Alabama death row inmate Carey Dale Grayson on Thursday became the third inmate in the U.S. to be executed by nitrogen gas. Grayson, 50, was executed for the torture, bludgeoning and mutilation of Vickie Lynn DeBlieux on Feb. 21, 1994. Deblieux, 37, was hitchhiking from southeastern Tennessee to visit her mother in West Monroe, Louisiana, when Grayson, then 19, and three other teens picked her up along and soon after proceeded to kill her, court records say. He was pronounced dead at 6:33 p.m., according to the Alabama Department of Corrections. The execution is the 22nd in the U.S. this year and the sixth in Alabama, which has put three of the men to death using nitrogen gas, a controversial method that some witnesses describe as torture. Republican Gov. Kay Ivey said in a statement that "an execution by nitrogen hypoxia bares no comparison to the death and dismemberment Ms. DeBlieux experienced." "I pray for her loved ones that they may continue finding closure and healing," she said. Jodi DeBlieux Haley, who was 12 when her mother was murdered, talked about what a special person she was at a news conference following the execution. "She was unique. She was spontaneous. She was wild. She was funny," Haley said. "She was gorgeous to boot. I don't know what it is like to have a mother while going through life. Graduation, marriage, children, hurts and joys. I've had to experience life without her presence because all those opportunities were stolen from her." Here's what you need to know about Grayson's execution, including his last meal and last words, and why Haley is opposed to the death penalty despite the devastating loss of her mother. Carey Dale Grayson, sentenced for murder on March 8, 1996 What were Carey Dale Grayson's last words? Unlike many inmates who deliver last words that are apologetic to their victims families and loving to their own families, Grayson cussed and flipped his middle fingers. When given the chance to say his last words, he said: Yeah you need to (expletive) off! His microphone was quickly cut off and the execution process began. When the nitrogen began flowing, Grayson tightly clenched his hands, took deep gasps, shook his head vigorously and pulled against his restraints. He appeared to lose consciousness at 6:18 p.m., about six minutes after the gas began flowing. Alabama Department of Corrections Commissioner John Q. Hamm said after the execution that Grayson's movements at the beginning of the process appeared to be "for show." What was Carey Dale Grayson's last meal? Grayson's last meal was soft tacos, beef burritos, tostada, chips, guacamole, and Mountain Dew Blast. What was Carey Dale Grayson convicted of? On Feb. 21, 1994, DeBlieux was dropped off by a friend in Chattanooga near Interstate 59, where she began catching rides southwest. At some point, Grayson who was 19 and three other teens picked DeBlieux up along a Jefferson County interstate in Alabama, about 15 miles northeast of Birmingham. The teens stopped at a wooded area on Bald Mountain, and proceeded to beat, stomp and kick DeBlieux. Testimony showed Grayson and another teen stood on her throat to kill her. Her body was eventually tossed off a cliff but the teens returned later and mutilated her corpse, cutting the body at least 180 times, removing a portion of a lung and cutting off her fingers, court records show. The teens became suspects in the murder when one of the boys showed one of DeBlieux's fingers to a friend. In addition to Grayson, a jury convicted Kenny Loggins, Trace Duncan and Louis Mangione in the murder. Duncan, Loggins and Mangione had their death sentences reversed and were each given life in prison without the possibility of parole. The move came in 2005 after the U.S. Supreme Court banned the execution of people who were younger than 18 when they committed a crime. Victim's daughter condemns 'state-sanctioned homicide' While losing her mother ripped Haley's life apart, she doesn't lay all the blame on Grayson, saying that he faced severe physical and sexual abuse as a child and was still a boy when he was thrown out on the street. I have to wonder how all of this slips through the cracks of the justice system," she said. "Because society failed this man as a child and my family suffered because of it." She said she's opposed to the death penalty because "it's not right" and that "murdering inmates under the guise of justice needs to stop." State-sanctioned homicide needs never be listed as cause of death, she said. I dont know who we think we are. To be in such a modern time, we regress when we implement this punishment. I hope and pray my mothers death will invoke these changes and give her senseless death some purpose." A bell used in Delaware to toll for death row inmates prior to the death penalty being abolished in that state is displayed as death penalty opponents gather on the steps of the state capitol building in Montgomery, Ala., on Monday November 18, 2024. The protestors delivered petetions to Governor Kay Iveys office. More about Carey Dale Grayson's execution method Grayson was killed by nitrogen hypoxia, which was used for the first time in the U.S. when Alabama executed Kenneth Eugene Smith in January. Smiths execution by the method drew national and international scorn and media attention, including a protest from the Vatican. Smith appeared to writhe and convulse on the gurney for at least four minutes during the execution. State and prison systems' officials had said before the execution that Smith should lose consciousness within seconds, and be dead within minutes once the gas started flowing into the full-face mask Smith wore. Alabama Department of Corrections Commissioner John Q. Hamm called Smiths execution textbook, in a news conference about half an hour after the Smith died. Alan Eugene Miller's September execution was the second by nitrogen gas in Alabama. With the nitrogen hypoxia method, the condemned breathes pure nitrogen through a mask that displaces oxygen in their system. Proponents claim it is an almost instant and painless method. Opponents claim it amounts to torture. Who was Carey Dale Grayson? Grayson had bipolar disorder and his mother died when he was 3 after battling mental illness, according to court records. A forensic psychologist testified that Grayson was "in a manic state" during the murder but that he "did know the difference between right and wrong and was able to appreciate the nature and quality or wrongfulness of his acts, court records say. In a police interview, Grayson described the younger teens as committing the most heinous acts during the crime. When asked about why they killed DeBlieux, court records say, he told police that he didn't know and that "it was not his problem. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Carey Dale Grayson executed in nation's 3rd nitrogen gas method A Connecticut couple has been charged in connection with an elaborate two-month theft spree at Lululemon stores across the country that an investigator with the retailer estimates netted about $1 million worth of product. Jadion Richards, 44, and Akwele Lawes-Richards, 45, were arrested on Nov. 14 in the MinneapolisSaint Paul, Minnesota suburb of Woodbury. The couple, from Danbury, Connecticut, were charged with organized retail theft after a Lululemon retail crime investigator contacted local authorities in Minnesota. But Lululemon's investigator said evidence shows their crimes go back to September and took place in states like Utah, Colorado, New York and Connecticut, according to the criminal complaint. Attorneys representing Richards and Lawes-Richards did not immediately respond to USA TODAY's request for comment Thursday. A Lululemon store at Freehold Raceway Mall in Freehold Township, New Jersey on Nov. 30, 2023 Richards claimed he was racially profiled, complaint says Richards and Lawes-Richards were stopped after exiting the Lululemon store in Roseville, Minnesota, on Nov. 14 when the security alarm went off, according to the criminal complaint. Richards allegedly claimed store employees racially profiled him and the two were allowed to leave afterward. The Lululemon investigator later alleged the two visited the store the day before on Nov. 13 with an unidentified man and stole 45 item valued at nearly $5,000. That same day, the pair had allegedly conducted four other thefts in Minneapolis, Edina and Minnetonka. Officers arrested the couple at the Lululemon in Woodbury. The two denied any involvement in the theft, with Lawes-Richards allegedly claiming they were staying with her aunt and had only been in Minnesota for a day. Officers found several credit and debit cards on the couple, as well as an access card to a Marriott hotel room. Using a search warrant, officers found 12 suitcases in their room, including three filled with Lululemon clothing with tags attached worth over $50,000, according to the complaint. In all, the company investigator estimated the couple has taken up to $1 million in stolen product, according to the complaint, which does not detail how he arrived at the high figure. Couple blocked cameras among other tactics: Investigator The Lululemon investigator said one of the couple's alleged tactics was for one of them to distract associates while another stuffed product in the clothes they were wearing, according to the complaint. Another technique involved the two strategically exiting the store, with one of them holding a cheap item they had bought and the other carrying more expensive products that had sensors, according to the complaint. When the alarm would sound off, only the person with the cheap, purchased item would stay behind and show a receipt, while the other would keep walking with the stolen product, the complaint says. The pair are accused in eight Colorado theft incidents between Oct. 29 and 30, and seven thefts in Utah on Nov. 6 and 7, according to the complaint. The pair are currently being held at the Ramsey County jail in Minnesota, court records show. Their next court appearance is set for Dec. 16. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Connecticut couple charged in alleged $1 million Lululemon theft spree Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) finally conceded the US Senate race in Pennsylvania to Republican Dave McCormick Thursday, two weeks after media outlets called the race in favor of the GOP. I just called Dave McCormick to congratulate him on his election to represent Pennsylvania in the United States Senate, Casey, 64, said in a video posted on X. As the first count of ballots is completed, Pennsylvanians can move forward with the knowledge that their voices were heard, whether their vote was the first to be counted or the last, he added. The Associated Press projected McCormick to win the tight race on Nov. 7, but Casey refused to acknowledge defeat. Bob Casey finally conceded his race, weeks after his Republican opponent was declared the winner. AFP via Getty Images The three-term Democratic incumbent insisted on a statewide recount, which the commonwealths Department of State projected would cost taxpayers more than $1 million to complete. Democratic officials also launched a legal effort to count undated ballots in all of the Keystone States 67 counties, a last-ditch bid which was struck down earlier this week by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. Casey said he was proud of the his teams post-election efforts. This race was one of the closest in our commonwealths history, decided by less than a quarter of a point. Im grateful to the thousands of people who work to make sure that every eligible vote cast could be counted, including election officials in all 67 counties, he said in his video message. Republican businessman Dave McCormick will be sworn in as Pennsylvanias junior senator in January. Getty Images Im proud of the work weve done since Election Day to enfranchise voters across the state, Casey added. At the time Casey conceded, McCormick led the race by about 16,000 votes with nearly 7 million ballots counted. Senator Bob Casey dedicated his career to bettering our commonwealth. Dina and I want to extend our sincere gratitude to Senator Casey, Terese, and their family for their decades of service, hard work, and personal sacrifice, McCormick said in a statement released after Caseys short concession speech. I am so honored to represent every single citizen in Pennsylvania in the United States Senate and will fight for you every day. Thank you! he added. WIth McCormicks win official, Republicans will have a 53-47 Senate majority when the 119th Congress convenes Jan. 3. The stalwart show at Walt Disney World is ending its run to make way for the new Monsters Inc. land, Disney confirmed Friday Walt Disney World; Greg Williams/Disney The Muppets of Disney Studios are preparing to take their final bow. Disney announced on Friday, Nov. 22 that one of its most beloved attractions, Jim Henson's Muppet*Vision 3D, will close to make way for a new Monsters Inc.-themed land. Fans of the long-running show, which debuted in 1991, were understandably devastated by the news, which had been rumored for several months, as park watchers guessed at areas of Disney's Hollywood Studios that were ripe for a re-theming following the Monsters Inc. announcement in August. "This is not gonna sit well with people," one Instagram commenter predicted. Another added simply, "Not cool." Helen Sessions/Alamy Several pointed out the important legacy of the ride, which was the last project Muppet creator Jim Henson worked on before he died. "Goodbye to the oldest and last thing the great Jim Henson had brilliantly built with his own two hands," one comment reads. The Muppets aren't leaving the Orlando park altogether, however. Disney Related: Disney Announces a Villains Land, Monsters Inc. Land, Encanto Ride Plus More Coming to Walt Disney World Instead, Disney revealed, they are getting a new gig as the stars of a re-themed Rock 'n' Roller Coaster. Kermit, Miss Piggy and the gang will be "teaming up with some of musics biggest stars for a rockin music festival!" according to the official Disney Parks Blog. Disney The thrill ride is currently hosted by and features the music of Aerosmith, as it has since it opened in 1999. It was just recently closed for refurbishment from January until June 2024, but reopened looking much the same. Evan Nichols/Wikimedia Commons "We know so many of you share our love for The Muppets and know their energy will be a perfect fit for this coaster," the Parks blog post continues. "Plus, as the first Disney ride ever to feature The Muppets, theres sure to be laughter, screams and new tunes for this attraction for fans to enjoy throughout the adventure and plenty of Muppets-themed merchandise on Sunset Boulevard!" Disney has not revealed a closing date for Muppet*Vision, but said there's "plenty of time" left to catch the show one last time. It will very likely be in 2025, as the company previously shared this past summer that work on the new Monsters Inc. land "is slated to begin next year." The fate of the other tenants of the area currently known as Animation Courtyard, where Muppet*Vision is located, including Mama Melrose and Pizza Rizzo, was not addressed by the blog. Disney/Pixar Disney first announced the Monsters Inc. land at its annual D23 conference on Aug. 10. Billy Crystal, who voiced Mike Wazowski in the Pixar animated movie, appeared on stage to share the news, including that it will allow humans to "stroll the streets alongside some of your favorite monsters" and include a new suspended coaster (Disney's first) that travels through the magical door factory featured in the film. Disney Related: Which Attractions Are Leaving Disney World Forever to Make Way for New Lands Plus, When Theyll Close At the same event, Disney also revealed a slew of new lands and attractions coming to its parks over the next decade, including a long-rumored Villains-themed land at Magic Kingdom, an Indiana Jones ride and an Encanto ride at Animal Kingdom, among others. Courtesy of Jessica DeCristofaro "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." The cough started when I was around 25 or 26. I noticed it right before the pandemic, and I didnt have a bad flu or anything that brought it on. It was consistent, and I had to clear my throat all the time. I decided to see a primary care physician, who suspected I had allergies. I then saw multiple specialists who agreed that I was experiencing basic allergy symptoms or suspected I had mold in my apartment building, which can impact your respiratory system. I was told to take allergy meds, but in general, it didnt feel like doctors were attentive to me or my symptoms. I learned right away that I would need to be my own advocate. Over time, my cough got much worse. It was so bad that coworkers started commenting on it to see if I was okay. When I visited my PCP again, they suggested I could have acid reflux. I ended up going to two ear, nose, and throat specialists (ENTs), both of whom suggested I had gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a form of reflux. The second doctor felt the lymph nodes on my neck and told me one of them was swollen, which could be a red flag of cancerous growth, but assured me that it probably wasnt cancer. I was told to take Prisolec, an over the counter heartburn relief medication, and not to go to bed right after eatingstandard guidance for reflux. My original PCP even gave me cough syrup with codeine during one of my many visits. But when I started experiencing severe stomach pain, I decided to get more opinions. One doctor suggested that I might have sprained an abdominal muscle while doing pilates. Another doctor did an ultrasound, and still suspected that the pain was from working out. Had the doctors ordered a chest X-ray, they probably would have seen what was really going onand it was far more serious than they imagined. More mysterious symptoms started showing upand I finally hit my breaking point. After about three months, I got a rash all over my legs. I had horrible cramping in my stomach, was exhausted all the time, and I would wake up in the middle of the night drenched in sweat. I felt like I was going crazy, and I knew something wasnt right. Eventually, a lymph node in my armpit became so enlarged that it was noticeable and uncomfortable. I saw yet another primary care doctor, who theorized that it was a cyst and that it could be removed by a general surgeon. Another turning point came that week: My exhaustion and stomach pain got so severe that I went to an urgent care, where a doctor claimed I had kidney stones. The urgent care did blood work, but the doctor didnt note anything abnormal in my results. But my mom, who is a nurse, noticed that my white blood cell count was concerningly high, which could be a sign of infection or a bone marrow disease . This felt like a red flag, especially because my aunt had just passed away from leukemia. When my mom noticed my white blood cell count, I went to the ER. The attending physician immediately ran tests, and shortly after being admitted, I went into respiratory failure and was sent to the ICU. Doctors had to drain two liters of fluid from my lungs. A surgeon also did a biopsy underneath my left arm. Doctors told me I had stage 4 cancer. I was 28 years old. It took 10 doctors for someone to uncover the real diagnosis. I was told I had stage 4B Hodgkins lymphoma, a rare form of cancer that can affect people in their 20s and 30s. My response to the diagnosis was numbnessthen, I felt immediately bombarded with information. One doctor told me that there was nothing they could do to treat me. Another asked if I had considered freezing my eggs (because some types of chemotherapy can lead you into early menopause). I was then told that I needed to be transferred to Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami, which was considered the best in that area for lymphoma. On painkillers and in and out of sleep, I woke up in the new hospital and met my oncologist, who looked at me and said, How did you let this go on for so long? He said it was the worst case of lymphoma he had ever seen in his life. This oncologist agreed to treat me and I started chemotherapy immediately. Altogether, I had treatment for seven months: six rounds of intense chemo and 25 rounds of radiation. Because I had such a severe case in such a late stage, I was given an extremely strong cocktail of chemo drugs to kill the cancer, plus all of those rounds of radiation. Jessica DeCristofaro I thought, If I can get through this, I can get through anything. Even throughout intense treatment, I tried to stay true to myself. I had started to lose my hair during chemo, so I started experimenting with all kinds of looks and started wearing different wigs. (I figured, If Im going to die, Im going to look cute doing it!). My oncology nurses affectionately called me Lymphoma Barbie. Gradually, treatment was helping remove the cancer. I also mixed in some holistic interventions, too, and slowly got back to myself. Now, Im healthy. I spent what feels like ages doing various cancer treatments, and Ive been in remission for years now. Jessica DeCristofaro Starting a blog helped me document my experience and find solace. When I was diagnosed, I couldnt find any information about some of the ins and outs of going through cancer treatment, beyond the basic medical info. (For example, I had hair extensions all throughout my 20s, and had no idea what to do once I started losing my hair.) So, I decided to start a blog and post photos of myself on Instagram so that other patients would feel less alone when going through cancer treatment. I called the blog Lymphoma Barbie to honor my nickname from the oncology nurses. Many people started reaching out to me after seeing my Instagram posts and the blog. I even wrote a book called Talk Cancer to Me: My Guide to Kicking Cancers Booty to document my experience and leave behind a guide with what its like to go through cancer treatment. Jessica DeCristofaro Now, its my mission to give back to the cancer community. When I found out I was in remission, I started another passion project: making care packages and bringing them to the cancer care center so that patients would feel more support than I did during their chemo treatments. The packages contained basic items that people could use during treatmentfor example, a pre-tied turban for people who lose their hair and cant tie one themselves, ginger candies for nausea, and lip balm and hand lotion for the inevitable dry skin that comes with chemo. So many people started reaching out about the packages that I started sending them all over the world. I even did some fundraisers to collect money and products to continue making the kits. Chemo Kits evolved from my apartment to a full-blown business. Eight years have gone by since I was in treatment, but I still feel so tied to supporting this community. Im one of the lucky ones to have survived cancer, in part because I advocated for myself. Its easy to get overwhelmed by a medical diagnosis, especially when youre misdiagnosed with so many things and youre simply searching for answers. You Might Also Like Have you purchased a frozen Thanksgiving turkey and have it sitting in the freezer? Depending on the size of the turkey, now might be time for you to begin thawing your bird. Here is a general rule of thumb on when to move your turkey from the freezer to the refrigerator, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture: 4 to 12 pounds 1 to 3 days 12 to 16 pounds 3 to 4 days 16 to 20 pounds 4 to 5 days 20 to 24 pounds 5 to 6 days RELATED STORY | Which Thanksgiving foods you should never feed to your dog But what if you miss the deadline? Now what? You can thaw the turkey using water, but it does require some labor. According to the USDA, after placing the turkey in a water-tight bag, submerge the wrapped turkey in cold tap water. Then, change the water every 30 minutes until thawed. Here is how long it takes to thaw a turkey using water: 4 to 12 pounds 2 to 6 hours 12 to 16 pounds 6 to 8 hours 16 to 20 pounds 8 to 10 hours 20 to 24 pounds 10 to 12 hours Once a turkey is thawed, the USDA says a turkey must be cooked within one to two days before becoming contaminated. The USDA also says it is safe to cook a turkey from a frozen state, but it generally takes about 50% longer. As a reminder, turkeys need to be cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees. Cadets line up for their graduation ceremony for Houston Police Academy Cadet Class 264 on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024 in Houston. HPD welcomed 53 new officers to the force during the graduation. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Newly appointed Houston Police chief, Noe Diaz, walks through Houston City Hall moments after City Council confirmed the appointment on Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024 in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Houston Chief Noe Diaz promoted a new assistant chief this week who was disciplined in 2015 for using inside knowledge to buy cars at auction and resell them for a profit. James Skelton was a sergeant at the time and handed one of the most severe punishments stemming from the investigation a 20-day suspension served in two 10-day increments, records show. He was named assistant chief this week as part of a department shake-up that also saw Alvaro Guzman Jr. named executive assistant chief in the wake of Ban Tiens departure to become METROs police chief. Skelton declined to comment about his promotion or his disciplinary history. Advertisement Article continues below this ad MORE FROM HOUSTON CHRONICLE: Where do Houston city leaders stand on Trump's mass deportation plans? An internal affairs investigation ruled Skelton violated department rules about misconduct, authority and solicitation of gifts and bribes. Investigators also accused him of withholding information about the other officers and failing to report wrongdoing to his superiors. Charles McClelland, who served as police chief at the time of the investigation into the detail, said a 20-day suspension was a significant punishment under his administration. He said department leaders at the time brought the evidence they collected through the investigation to the Harris County District Attorneys Office, but prosecutors didnt accept charges. McClelland declined to speculate on whether or not Diaz made the right decision in promoting Skelton to serve as an assistant chief. I dont want to be second guessing the new chief, he said. I dont know what factors he considered, if he considered past disciplinary history and felt what hes done since then outweighs that, I dont know. Im in no position to say. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Skelton was one of at least three officers disciplined after an investigation into the departments auto dealers detail, records show. Jodi Silva, a spokeswoman for the Houston Police Department, said Chief Diaz doesn't comment on previous internal affairs investigations. She said when department leaders consider promotions, they take everything into account including an employee's discipline record, how many years ago the discipline occurred and what rank an officer was when disciplined. The auto dealers detail is tasked with regulating, inspecting and licensing automotive businesses in town. That includes the towing and storage industry, companies that oversee the disposal of vehicles abandoned in storage facilities and administer agreements between the police department and storage lots and towing companies. The internal affairs findings came during a larger department review of the unit, McClelland said. The investigation reviewed vehicle purchases multiple officers in the unit made at the time all of which were against department policy because of their role overseeing dealership and auction enforcement at the time. Advertisement Article continues below this ad General Motors is insulated from traditional cyclical volatility in the auto industry, its CFO told investors Wednesday and that includes whatever changes might be coming from the Trump administration. CFO Paul Jacobson said the automaker has learned to stop having a "knee-jerk reaction" to market shifts and instead takes a conservative and consistent approach to ups and downs. That means sticking to a long-term strategy no matter what short-term challenges might arise. Jacobson, who spoke Wednesday at the Barclays Global Automotive and Mobility Tech Conference in New York, said he would often grow frustrated hearing the word "normalization" bantered about when discussing how to run GM's operations. General Motors Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Paul Jacobson addresses investors Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022, at a meeting in New York City. "We banned the word normalization inside the company because what is normal? Isnt it possible weve established a new normal?" Jacobson asked. "Weve learned a lot about the value of our products in consumers' eyes: How to price them, how to not react with a knee-jerk reaction to whats going on around us, and focus on our inventory, our demand and our execution." A guarantee to 'perform better in a downturn' GM used to overproduce vehicles during good times, he said, only to then have to scale back and heavily discount them during down times, creating wild swings within the company's ledgers. Now, it has "reset" its new normal behavior to use restraint in production and control incentives to keep prices strong and production volumes consistent. "It doesnt make us immune to a downturn, but I guarantee you that performing with that level of consistency and the fundamentals, well perform better in a downturn than we ever have before," Jacobson said. That can mean leaving "money on the table in the good times," he acknowledged. "Could we make more money by producing more and driving more volume at lower prices? Yeah, on the margin, maybe we could," Jacobson said. "Its not going to be worth the capital, the fixed costs, et cetera, to ramp that up only to have to tear it back if the market comes back down again." The strategy is key when it comes GM's goal to transition to all electric vehicles by 2035. The big hitch is that the incoming Trump administration could derail that target. Many experts predict President-elect Donald Trump will repeal the $7,500 consumer federal tax credit, which would slow EV adoption. Trump also has vowed to increase tariffs the taxes imposed on goods when they cross borders on vehicles made in Mexico and sold in the United States. The Detroit Three all build vehicles in Mexico for sale in the States. More: Trumps economic agenda includes tariffs, tax cuts and more Former president Donald Trump Speaks to supporters during a campaign stop at Huntington Place in Detroit on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024. Jacobson said GM will not change its business strategy, noting that whatever Trump decides to do is still speculation. "Weve been pretty consistent that were not looking to next quarter, next year, et cetera. Were thinking about this in a much longer time horizon," Jacobson said. "I think many of the things were doing today will continue irrespective of what happens with the regulations." Where GM objectives and Trump objectives match GM will continue to emphasize cost reductions, he said. He did not specify where the company would find savings. Last week, the Free Press reported that GM cut 1,000 jobs globally, mostly salaried but some hourly, as a "normal course of business" to gain operating efficiency. GM will stop using its Yuma Desert Proving Ground for hot weather vehicle testing. Additionally, GM is permanently closing its Durability, Corrosion and Teardown departments at its Milford Proving Grounds. In August, GM eliminated nearly 1,500 from its software division globally. GM will continue to prioritize its software development and push out its EV lineup on its Ultium propulsion system to match demand because, Jacobson said, "We do believe that EV penetration is a long-term objective." As to higher tariffs on the vehicles GM builds in Mexico such as the Chevrolet Blazer and Blazer EV and the Equinox and Equinox EV to name a few, Jacobson defends GM's manufacturing portfolio, noting a large U.S. presence. "Were the largest producer in battery cells in the U.S. together with our partner LG (Energy Solution)," Jacobson said. "We could have gone with cheaper alternatives and bought imported technology and we didnt do that." GM and LG jointly run Ultium Cells LLC, which has plants in Ohio and Tennessee that produce battery cells for GM's EVs. Ultium Cells will soon start operating its new facility in Lansing and its website said it will employ 1,700 there by the end of next year. Jacobson said GM is ready to work with the Trump administration. "I think our goal is very consistent with what the administrations goal is in terms of U.S. jobs and what that could mean," Jacobson said. "Weve got to have the balance and flexibility to be competitive, because we compete in a global environment. But when you look at our track record, you look at onshoring in our supply base, thats in the spirit of what were trying to do and what the country wants us to do." Contact Jamie L. LaReau: jlareau@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @jlareauan. Read more on General Motors and sign up for our autos newsletter. Become a subscriber. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: GM CFO Paul Jacobson: 'Normalization' is banned at automaker Sen. Mike Rounds, a South Dakota Republican, introduced a bill in the Senate Thursday to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education, promoting a policy President-elect Donald Trump backed to close the agency if he regained the White House, according to a news release from Rounds' office. We all know local control is best when it comes to education, Rounds said in his statement. Local school boards and state Departments of Education know best what their students need, not unelected bureaucrats in Washington, D.C. Rounds' Returning Education to Our States Act proposes redistributing the work of the Education Department to other federal departments. Senator Mike Rounds speaks during DakotaFests U.S. Congressional Representative Update forum on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024, in Mitchell, South Dakota. Why is Sen. Rounds bringing this bill? Rounds introduction of the bill comes after President-elect Donald Trump vowed on the campaign trail to abolish the federal agency. On the campaign trail, Trump repeatedly vowed to "close" the Education Department if he regained the White House. We want federal education dollars to follow the student, rather than propping up a bloated and radical bureaucracy in Washington, D.C., Trump said in October. We want to close the federal Department of Education. In Rounds' statement Thursday, he said hes worked toward removing the federal agency for years. The U.S. Department of Education was created in 1979 and began operating a year later. Today, it has many functions and provides billions of dollars to low-income public schools and billions more to help millions of Americans pay for college each year. The South Dakota senator said the federal agency has grown into an oversized bureaucracy. Rounds also criticized the size of the agency's budget and its per-student spending given students' dropping standardized test scores. The US Department of Education building is seen on August 21, 2024 in Washington, DC. Who will decide the fate of the bill? Bills proposing to eliminate the Education Department have been introduced in previous sessions. The Rounds bill is not expected to move forward this session while Democrats who oppose eliminating the agency still control the Senate and White House. It could be reintroduced next term but would require 60 votes to pass the Senate. Dismantling the agency next term would likely require the support of Democrats, who vehemently oppose the idea. Some in the GOP have also said the Department of Education would be better left intact because it could play a pivotal role in enacting Trumps policy agenda. This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Mike Rounds introduces bill to cut US Department of Education A recent Israeli airstrike in Syria killed a senior Hezbollah commander who helped plan one of the boldest and most sophisticated attacks against American troops during the Iraq War, according to a senior U.S. defense official. Ali Mussa Daqduq had been captured by U.S. forces following the 2007 raid in which militants posing as an American security team killed five U.S. soldiers. But he was later released by the Iraqi government. Details of the Israeli airstrike were scarce. It was not immediately clear when the strike took place, where in Syria or whether it targeted Daqduq specifically, the senior defense official said. A Pentagon spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Israeli embassy referred questions to its military, which did not immediately respond. The elaborate raid Daqduq helped plan was carried out at a U.S.-Iraqi military complex in Karbala on Jan. 20, 2007. A group of men posing as an American military security team wearing U.S. military combat fatigues, carrying U.S. weapons and some speaking English convinced security to let them through several checkpoints and right up to a building where U.S. and Iraqi troops were working. The facility was part of a series of compounds known as Joint Security Stations in Iraq, where U.S. troops lived and worked with the Iraqi police and soldiers. More than two dozen U.S. soldiers were in the Provisional Joint Coordination Center, or PJCC, when the militants arrived, including several in the barracks room where the troops were living. The militants surrounded the building, using grenades and explosives to breach the entrance. One American soldier was killed by a grenade. Once inside, the militants captured two U.S. soldiers inside the building and two others outside the building, before speeding away in waiting SUVs. U.S. attack helicopters caught up with the convoy, prompting the militants to bolt from their vehicles and take off by foot. They shot and killed the four U.S. captives at some point during the escape. The four soldiers shot by their captors were identified as 1st Lt. Jacob Noel Fritz, 25; Capt. Brian Scott Freeman, 31; Pfc. Shawn Patrick Falter, 25; and Spc. Johnathan Bryan Chism, 22. The soldier killed by the grenade at the compound was identified as Pfc. Johnathon Miles Millican, 22. In the aftermath of the attack, U.S. officials suspected the militants had direct support from Iran, given the level of coordination, training and intelligence required to carry it out. U.S. forces captured Daqduq in March 2007 and soon achieved a breakthrough in establishing that Iran's Quds Force, an elite unit of the country's Revolutionary Guard, was involved in planning the Karbala raid. Under questioning, Daqduq said the operation resulted from direct support and training by the Quds Force. Daqduq was held by the U.S. military in Iraq for several years but then handed over to Iraqi authorities in December 2011, when the U.S. military mission ended. He was the last prisoner handed over before U.S. troops pulled out of the country. The Iraqis assured U.S. officials that they would prosecute Daqduq, but within months he was released, prompting outrage from American officials and politicians. Daqduq was soon leading Hezbollah fighters once again, the senior U.S. defense official said. This image from police body-worn camera video, and contained in the Justice Department's sentencing memorandum, shows Marc Bru, at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. (Department of Justice via AP) WASHINGTON (AP) A federal judge on Friday imposed a one-year reduction in a prison sentence for a man who stormed the U.S. Capitol and then engaged in a pattern of disruptive courtroom behavior, including berating and insulting the judge. Marc Bru complained about his prison conditions but refrained from hurling any more insults at Chief Judge James Boasberg, who resentenced him to five years in prison. Bru is one of the beneficiaries of a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that limited the governments use of a federal obstruction law. Bru, 44, joined the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol with fellow members of the Proud Boys extremist group. He grabbed a barricade and shoved it against police officers. He later joined other rioters inside the Capitol and entered the Senate gallery, where he flashed a hand gesture associated with the Proud Boys. Bru wasn't one of the most violent rioters at the Capitol, but his conduct after the Jan. 6, 2021, riot was the worst I think I've seen of anyone, the judge said. In my 22 years as a judge, I've never seen a defendant say the things he said at sentencing, Boasberg said. At his initial sentencing hearing in January, Bru repeatedly interrupted Boasberg and called him a clown and a fraud presiding over a kangaroo court. He referred to a prosecutor as despicable and repugnant. You can give me 100 years and Id do it all over again, said Bru, who has represented himself with an attorney on standby. On Friday, Bru initially deferred to his lawyer and declined to address the court before Boasberg announced his sentence. But he spoke up when the judge asked if he had any objections to his new sentence, a routine question at the end of sentencings. Bru, who has been incarcerated for 15 months in several different facilities, said his experience behind bars has been an eye-opener to the conditions and to the realities that lie within the walls. Putting me in that system longer, it is not that much of a deterrent, he said. It doesn't help." More than 1,500 people have been charged with crimes stemming from the Jan. 6 attack by a mob of Donald Trump supporters. President-elect Trump has vowed to pardon rioters, whom he has called patriots and hostages. Some rioters have cited Trump's campaign rhetoric in asking judges to pause their cases. Nobody mentioned the possibility of pardons during Bru's resentencing. Boasberg convicted Bru of seven charges, including two felonies, after hearing trial testimony without a jury last year. Bru is one of a handful of Jan. 6 defendants to be resentenced after a Supreme Court ruling in June led to the dismissal of convictions on a felony obstruction charge. The high court ruled 6-3 that a charge of obstructing an official proceeding must include proof that a defendant tried to tamper with or destroy documents a distinction that applies to few Jan. 6 criminal cases. Vacating Bru's obstruction conviction reduced his recommended range for a prison sentence from between 70 and 87 months to between 18 and 24 months. Justice Department prosecutor Madison Mumma argued that Bru's conduct during and after the riot still merits a six-year sentence. I don't think anything has changed, Mumma said. Prosecutors said Bru, a Washington state resident, planned for an armed insurrection a January 6 2.0 attack to take over the government in Portland, Oregon, several weeks after the Capitol riot. After his pretrial release, Bru was charged with separate drunken driving-related offenses in Idaho and Montana. He absconded before his trial, skipped two court hearings and defiantly boasted via Twitter that the government would have to come get him if it wanted him," according to prosecutors. Bru represented himself at his bench trial but didnt present a defense. Instead, he repeatedly proclaimed that he refused to consent to the trial and showed nothing but contempt for the Court and the government, prosecutors wrote. Two days before his January sentencing hearing, Bru said he intended to command the U.S. Marshals Service to arrest Boasberg and a prosecutor for human trafficking, according to prosecutors. Also on Friday, a former Maryland police officer who hurled a smoke bomb and other objects at police officers guarding a tunnel entrance during the Capitol riot was sentenced to 18 months in prison. Justin Lee, who applied to join the Montgomery County Police Department several months after he participated in the Jan. 6 attack, declined to address the court before U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden sentenced him. The judge told Lee that he compounded his egregious actions at the Capitol by lying about his conduct during his trial testimony earlier this year. McFadden said it was beyond comprehension that Lee blamed police for violence on Jan. 6. You dishonored yourself and your former office by your testimony at trial, the judge said. In August, the judge convicted Lee of two felonies and three misdemeanors after a trial without a jury. The police department suspended Lee without pay after his arrest last year and fired him last month, according to a department spokeswoman. Maine State Rep. Lucas Lanigan after he turned himself in on a domestic assault charge on Oct. 28. CAMDEN, Maine A Republican lawmaker in Maine accused of choking his wife last month won re-election by a single vote after a Thursday recount. State Rep. Lucas Lanigan turned himself in days before the election, after being charged with domestic violence aggravated assault, WCSH, an NBC affiliate in Maine, reported. According to a police affidavit obtained by WCSH, Lanigan is accused of choking his wife after she confronted him about an alleged affair. His race against Democratic challenger Patty Kidder for a state House seat representing part of Southern Maine initially ended in an apparent tie. After a hand recount, the secretary of state's office said Thursday that Lanigan had received 2,478 votes to Kidders 2,477, putting him over the top by a single vote. Lanigan did not respond to a request for comment from NBC News. He has denied any wrongdoing in the criminal case. On Facebook, two days after the election, Lanigan said he was fighting these "ridiculous charges." "I have thick skin but for my family enough is enough," he wrote. Lanigans wife later asked that the charges be dropped, saying she did not think he intended to hurt her. But prosecutors are continuing to pursue the case, saying domestic violence victims sometimes recant under pressure from abusers, according to WCSH. According to WCSH, prosecutors said she was taken to the hospital with bruises on both sides of her neck consistent with strangulation. Democrats immediately called on Lanigan to resign after he was booked for the crime, which is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine. The actions described in the warrant for the arrest of State Representative Lucas Lanigan for domestic violence aggravated assault are incredibly disturbing and are disqualifying for any elected official or individual seeking public office," said Maine Democratic Party Chair Bev Uhlenhake. The top Republican in the state House, Minority Leader Billy Bob Faulkingham, said that while he took the issue seriously, he wanted to let the legal system run its course. Theyre very serious charges, obviously, Faulkingham told the Portland Press Herald. I think thats what led to this being a very close race. But Rep. Lanigan has due process, and this will all get sorted out in court. Faulkingham added that the recount shows every vote counts. Republicans made modest gains in the Maine state legislature in this year's elections, but Democrats will retain control of both chambers. Five seats in the state House have yet to be decided, pending recounts. A Memphis business owner is closing her doors temporarily after she said she received death threats for refusing to serve supporters of President-elect Donald Trump. Everbloom Design is a floral design company located in the Broad Avenue Arts District in Memphis. The company creates arrangements for weddings, holidays and has a flower subscription. Recently, owner Kristin Wolter made a post on the store's Instagram page saying supporters of Trump were unwelcome in her store. After her post, Wolter said she began receiving receiving messages calling her obscene terms and several death threats. Wolter shared some of these messages on the store's Instagram account. All social media accounts for the store have been made private in response to the backlash from her posts. Along with social media accounts being made private, the store closed its doors for the week. Everbloom Design owner Kristin Wolter is the founder and owner of Everbloom Design. She is originally from Chicago and moved to Memphis with her husband over 15 years ago. Wolter comes from a creative family and ended up working with flowers as she got older. She worked for another floral designer in a store, learned about the business and ended up opening her own. Can Tennessee businesses deny service to customers? The Tennessee Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination based on age, color, creed, disability, national origin, race, religion or sex. As political belief or affiliation do not fall into any of these categories, it is not technically against the law for Wolter to deny service to supporters of Trump. Everbloom Design reviews Everbloom Design's Yelp page has been flooded with negative, one-star reviews since Wolter made her statement. These reviews come from users in the Memphis area and other states like Colorado, Texas, Missouri, California, Oklahoma, Georgia, Indiana, Nevada, New York and Arizona. Prior to the controversy, Everbloom Design had primarily four and five star reviews on its page. Rachel Johnson touches up artwork drawn on the windows of the soon to be opened Everbloom Design floral shop on Broad Ave. The arts district continues its decade old move towards revitalization. Similar cases nationally Recently, the Supreme Court backed a web designer who wanted to decline creating website for same-sex weddings on account of her religious beliefs. Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote the opinion for a 6-3 majority. The case was decided on ideological lines. A similar case in 2012 included Jack Phillips, owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop, who was sued when he declined to bake a cake to celebrate a same-sex wedding. The case went all the way to the Supreme Court where Phillips won in a 7-2 decision. USA TODAY contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Why Everbloom Design, Memphis florist, angered Trump supporters Outside Meta's headquarters in Menlo Park, Calif. Some major tech companies including Meta are taking steps to combat pig butchering scams, which trick Americans out of billions of dollars each year through fake online friendships and romances. Pig butchering scams are elaborate and often take months to unfold. Scammers will patiently strike up an online friendship or romantic relationship with a victim, eventually guiding them to invest in elaborate fake cryptocurrency ventures. Victims become convinced theyve found a way to get rich and sometimes give away their entire savings before realizing it was all a scam. Meta on Thursday announced it has taken its first major steps into addressing the scams, including dedicating staff to identify where scammers operate, sharing that information with international law enforcement, and taking down more than 2 million accounts this year. Pig butchering scammers use a wide range of apps, including meeting victims on dating apps and guiding them to chat on Telegram, which is relatively unmoderated and reluctant to work with international law enforcement. But some scammers meet targets on Facebook and Instagram or chat with them on WhatsApp. Telegram did not respond to a request for comment. Since its owners arrest in France in August, it has changed its terms of service to say that it will sometimes cooperate with law enforcement. Scam reports have risen steadily in recent years. In September, the FBI announced that victims had filed reports of losing a record amount nearly $4 billion in crypto investment scams, a category that primarily refers to pig butchering. Given that many victims dont report to the FBI, the actual losses are likely much higher. Meta will begin automatically flagging potential scam messages when strangers message people over Facebook Messenger or Instagram DMs, or add them to a WhatsApp group, it said. The announcement reflects how more tech companies are recognizing the severity of pig butchering scams. Meta recently took down a ring of accounts that appeared to come from a compound in Cambodia after being alerted to it through OpenAI, which found that the scammers had been trying to use ChatGPT to translate their messages to victims. They were also using ChatGPT to generate social media posts, an OpenAI spokesperson said. Earlier this year, Meta, Tinder and Hinge owner Match Group, and several cryptocurrency companies announced a coalition to make their first major joint effort to tackle the problem. Calling themselves the Tech Against Scams coalition, the companies pledged to share scammer information with each other and better educate users. Jeff Lunglhofer, the chief information officer of the cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase, told NBC News that while it was unclear how long it would take to make a serious dent in pig butchering and other scams, sharing information with other tech companies was a necessary step. Many of the initial outreaches are on platforms like Instagram, he said. You very quickly get taken to the Telegrams and kind of get moved around a little bit so that theyre hard to track. But we understand that working with those folks and collaborating with them and sharing information is really the only way were going to holistically address this as an industry. Some scam fighters find tech companies' efforts to fight pig butchering too little and too late, however. Jake Sims, a co-founder of Operation Shamrock, a global coalition working to fight scams and the criminal networks that underpin them, said that proactively warning users about potential scams and periodically taking down accounts fail to cover the extent of criminal activity taking place. Given the scale of the problem, this sort of reactive response is not proportional to the crime, Sims told NBC News. After three years of Metas awareness of this problem on their platforms, the situation is getting worse, not better, he said. At least 130 people were killed in deadly sectarian clashes in Pakistans northwestern Kurram district in spite of a tentative ceasefire, days after gunmen opened fire on a convoy of vehicles carrying Shiite Muslims, local officials said. Kurram, near the border with Afghanistan, has been a flashpoint for sectarian tensions for decades. They spilled over into a fresh wave of attacks last month when clashes between Sunnis and Shias left dozens dead. District administration official Wajid Hussain said 133 people had been killed in the attacks in the last week and a half. Last week, a convoy travelling from Parachinar to Peshawar was ambushed despite prior threats to Shiites in the region in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province an area with a history of sectarian violence between Sunni and Shiite communities. At least 20 others were also injured in the attack. "The district administration and other relevant authorities have initiated efforts to stop fighting between the two communities but there is no breakthrough yet," Mr Hussain said. A Pakistani government team mediated a seven-day ceasefire deal between the rival groups last Sunday. Armed Shiite and Sunni Muslims have engaged in tribal and sectarian rivalry for decades over land and other local disputes in Kurram. Provincial authorities put the death toll at 97, with 43 people killed in the initial attack when gunmen opened fire on mostly Shia drivers and the rest killed in retaliatory clashes. The chief minister for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Ali Amin Khan Gandapur, visited the area on Saturday for a large gathering of tribal elders and leaders. "Anyone who takes up arms will be treated as a terrorist, and their fate will be that of a terrorist," said Mr Gandapur according to a statement from his office late on Saturday, adding that security forces would remain in the area. Residents and officials said the main highway connecting Kurrams main city of Parachinar to the provincial capital Peshawar was blocked, which had made the transfer of wounded people to hospitals difficult. "Our medical team is working around the clock to perform surgeries due to the challenges in referring patients to larger hospitals in Peshawar and elsewhere," said Dr Syed Mir Hassan, from Parachinars district hospital. He added that they were currently treating around 100 wounded patients and had received 50 bodies during the violence. KP government spokesperson Barrister Dr Saif provided details of the attack, stating that the gunmen first targeted police personnel before opening fire on the passenger convoy from both sides. The convoy consisted of around 200 vehicles, he said. He added that an investigation into the incident is currently underway. Kurrams deputy commissioner Javedullah Mehsud told AFP that two separate convoys of members of the Shia community were targeted by the terrorists in the Kurram district. Both convoys consisted of around 40 vehicles travelling under police escort, he said. Shiite Muslims constitute about 15 per cent of Pakistans 240 million population, of which the majority are Sunni Muslims. The country has a longstanding history of sectarian tensions between the two communities. In July, clashes over a land dispute in Kurram escalated into sectarian violence, leaving nearly 50 people dead from both sides. Baqir Haideri, a local Shiite leader, criticised local authorities for failing to provide sufficient security for the convoy of over 100 vehicles, despite prior threats from militants targeting Shiites in Kurram. President Asif Ali Zardari condemned the attack, while prime minister Shehbaz Sharif vowed to bring those responsible for the killing of innocent civilians to justice. Attacking innocent passengers is a cowardly and inhumane act, Mr Zardari said. Mr Sharif said: The enemies of the peace of the country attacked the convoy of innocent citizens, which is tantamount to brutality. All attempts of anti-national elements to destroy the peace of the beloved country will be thwarted. An injured person, on the right, receives treatment at a hospital in Parachinar, in the Kurram district of Pakistans northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, on Thursday, 21 November 2024 (AP) The evil elements involved in the incident will be identified and punished accordingly. Saboteurs cannot demoralise the brave Pakistani nation by such cowardly actions, he said. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan accused the government of failing to protect citizens in Kurram. We demand immediate and decisive steps from both governments to permanently break this cycle of violence, the commission said in a statement. Additional reporting by Reuters. Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened to strike the UK with a new ballistic missile after using the weapon to hit a target in Ukraine. Downing Street condemned Mr Putin for further escalating the conflict by using a ballistic missile with a range of several thousand kilometres against the city of Dnipro. Mr Putin suggested the missile could be used to hit Kyivs allies who have given Ukraine permission to use Western-supplied weapons to hit targets within Russia. The UK is believed to have allowed its Storm Shadow missiles to be used by Ukrainian forces within the Kursk region of Russia, while the US has given permission for its ATACMS weapons to be fired at targets in Mr Putins country. Mr Putin confirmed Russia has tested a new intermediate-range weapon, saying it came in response to Ukrainian strikes on the Russian territory with US and British missiles earlier this week. The Russian leader declared that Russia would issue advance warnings before strikes on other countries to allow civilians to evacuate to safety. In response to the use of American and British long-range weapons on November 21 of this year, the Russian armed forces launched a combined strike on one of the facilities of the Ukrainian defence industry, Mr Putin said in a televised address. One of the newest Russian medium-range missile systems was tested in combat conditions, in this case, with a ballistic missile in a non-nuclear hypersonic warhead. He added: We consider ourselves entitled to use our weapons against military facilities of those countries that allow their weapons to be used against our facilities. The US said the weapon was a new, experimental intermediate-range missile based on Russias existing RS-26 Rubezh intercontinental ballistic missile. In Westminster, the Prime Ministers official spokesman said: My understanding is that it is the first time that Russia has used a ballistic missile in Ukraine with a range of several thousand kilometres. No 10 said it was an example of escalatory behaviour from Russia. (PA Graphics) But the Prime Ministers spokesman added it only serves to strengthen our resolve and to ensure that Ukraine has what it needs to act in self-defence against Russias reckless and illegal invasion. Defence Secretary John Healey said: Since the illegal invasion of Ukraine began, Russia has consistently and irresponsibly escalated the conflict while Ukraine continues to fight in self-defence for a democratic future. Todays ballistic missile attack is yet another example of Putins recklessness. The missiles range far outstrips that of newly authorised US and British supplied weapons. The distance from Moscow to London is around 2,500km, suggesting the range of the new missile could threaten the UK. Russias military claims it has shot down two British-made Storm Shadow missiles, following reports that debris from the weapons had been discovered in the countrys Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces have launched an incursion. Mr Healey earlier revealed to a committee of MPs that the UK knew Russia had been preparing for months to fire a new ballistic missile. (PA Graphics) Mr Healey warned Ukraine faces a serious moment in its defence against Mr Putins invasion, but refused to confirm that Kyiv had been given permission to use Storm Shadow in Russia. Downing Street and the Ministry of Defence have repeatedly declined to comment publicly on the use of Storm Shadow. It risks both operational security and in the end the only one that benefits from such a public debate is President Putin, the Defence Secretary told MPs. Battle lines in Ukraine are now less stable than at any time since the early days of the full-scale Russian invasion, Mr Healey said, citing British intelligence. Speaking at the same time, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer told the House of Commons the UK will not be deterred or distracted by reckless threats from Mr Putin, who has lowered the threshold for using his nuclear arsenal. Sir Keir also insisted that all the UKs support for Kyiv was in accordance with international law and always for self-defence. I had a meeting with the UK delegation led by Chief of the Defence Staff @AdmTonyRadakin_. We discussed defense cooperation between Ukraine and the United Kingdom, focusing on developing and enhancing the technological capabilities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Particular pic.twitter.com/EcjqfTuR49 Volodymyr Zelenskyy / (@ZelenskyyUa) November 21, 2024 The head of the UKs armed forces visited Ukraine to discuss the countrys military needs. Ukraines president Volodymyr Zelensky met Chief of the Defence Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin in Kyiv. Mr Zelensky said: We discussed defence co-operation between Ukraine and the United Kingdom, focusing on developing and enhancing the technological capabilities of the armed forces of Ukraine. Particular attention was given to Ukraines current military needs and the continued support from our partners. Harris County Precinct 5 deputy constable Katherine Hutson and her daughter, Kacey, died Friday when the car they were in was involved in a fiery early-morning crash on the Katy Freeway. Heres what we know: Hutson worked for the office for 18 years. At the time of the crash, she was working extra employment and providing a police presence at a highway work site, according to the constables office. According to a public LinkedIn profile, Hutson was previously a firefighter at the Tri-County Volunteer Fire Department and a substitute teacher at the Waller Independent School District. She attended both Lone Star College and Houston Community College. Hutson's daughter Kacey was a second-grade student at Turlington Elementary in Hockley, according to KHOU. Advertisement Article continues below this ad ALSO ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Highway crash claims Harris County Precinct 5 constable deputy, daughter Where is Harris County Constable Precinct 5? Harris County Precinct 5 covers western parts of the county, roughly between the Northwest and Southwest Freeways, west of the 610 Loop. The office is currently led by Constable Ted Heap. In January, a new constable, Terry Allbritton, will be sworn into office. What is the state of the investigation? Houston police on Friday afternoon said a man was facing driving while intoxicated charges in connection to the crash. In a post on X late Friday, HPD identified the man as Omar Jose Alvarado, 23. He has been charged with two counts of intoxication manslaughter. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The original Gladiator debuted nearly 25 years ago, winning five Academy Awards, including Best Picture. Now, director Ridley Scott is returning to ancient Rome with the long-awaited sequel, "Gladiator II" which hits theaters Friday. The film stars Denzel Washington, Connie Nielsen, and Pedro Pascal in a story set in the same brutal Roman Empire one that didn't leave Scott's mind in the years since its first release. "Well, since 'Gladiator' one, I made 17 big movies. I was quite busy," Scott said. But he admitted, "During that time, I kept thinking, well, we should be doing 'Gladiator II.'" A new hero in the arena Scott brings a fresh take on the same empire fans loved in the first movie. In the original film, Russell Crowe played Maximus, a general-turned-gladiator battling for honor. This time, the spotlight is on Irish actor Paul Mescal, who stars as a slave fighting for his freedom in the same empire. Scott, who studied art before becoming a filmmaker, started crafting the sequel's storyboards before the script was even complete. "I'm already thinking images. I'm drawing as [the writer] is writing. So when I enter on the set, I've already pre-planned everything," Scott said. "It's very efficient because we did 'Gladiator' in 51 days." The sequel opens with an ambitious attack scene involving three full-scale Roman ships. "I'm going to make three full-scale real ships," Scott said, explaining how they were mounted on massive industrial movers. "Each trolley is about 100 feet long." While Scott embraces old-school filmmaking, he's also excited about modern tools like CGI. While Gladiator II features thrilling battles, Scott says the film also explores timeless themes and reflects on the constants of human nature, cruelty and violence. "It reminds you that Rome would have Christians walked into that arena and eaten alive. Men, women, and childrenfor fun," he said. "What on earth was in the minds of Romans in that particular point? And have we come very far away from that? It's extraordinary that's still happening. We don't learn by history." The challenge of a sequel At 86, Scott admitted it was daunting to follow up on his original masterpiece. "In a funny kind of way, I feel like I'm in a sport. It is competitive," he said. "You're fighting yourself and your own fear and your own insecurity." When asked about his favorite part of the movie, Scott said, "I think I'm relieved it is so embraced. And so I'm the favorite as the whole movie. It's pretty good." "Gladiator II" is distributed by Paramount Pictures, which is part of CBS News' parent company, Paramount Global. "Gladiator II" hits theaters on Friday, Nov. 22. Humans in the Loop I Sunday on 60 Minutes NATO, Ukraine holding emergency meeting on Russia's new missile targeting Ukraine Breaking down the Trump sentencing delay in the "hush money" case GREEN LAKE, Wis. Authorities are urging a Wisconsin man accused of faking his death and fleeing to Europe to come home and spend the holidays with his wife and three children. Ryan Borgwardt, 45, went missing on Aug. 12 while kayaking in Green Lake, about 50 miles northeast of Wisconsin Dells. Crews spent 54 days searching the lake, which is more than 200 feet deep at points, to no avail. The entire search effort cost nearly $40,000, according to Green Lake County Sheriff Mark Podoll. "Great news, we know that he's alive and well," Podoll said in a press conference on Thursday. "And, well, the bad news is that we don't know where Ryan exactly is, and he has not decided to return home." Podoll says investigators have been in email contact with Borgwardt since earlier this month and played a cellphone video he had sent them on Nov. 11. "I'm in my apartment. I am safe, secure," Borgwardt said in the video. Podoll says Borgwardt has since admitted to staging his disappearance by overturning his kayak, padding back to shore in a child-size inflatable boat, riding his e-bike to a bus station, bussing from Detroit to Canada and then flying to Europe. Ryan Borgwardt / Credit: Green Lake Co. Sheriff's Office Podoll says his investigators discovered in early October that Borgwardt had entered Canada a day after his disappearance. He synced his laptop to the cloud a few days earlier, swapped out his hard drive and cleared his search history. They also determined he had taken out a $375,000 life insurance policy for his family in January, transferred money into a foreign bank, set up a new email address and purchased airline cards. Podoll says Borgwardt had been in contact with a woman living in Uzbekistan, and they were eventually able to contact him via a Russian-speaking woman. Podell became emotional during Thursday's press conference, saying Borgwardt's family wants him to return home. He implored Borgwardt to "clean up the mess that he has created." "Christmas is coming, and what better gift he could give his kids is to be there for Christmas with them," Podell said. The sheriff says no criminal charges have been filed yet, but Borgwardt could be charged with obstruction of justice. Borgwardt is from Watertown, located about 50 miles northwest of Milwaukee. Amazon investing more in Anthropic, ChatGPT's competitor Latest news on Trump's future after sentencing delay, Bondi attorney general pick Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe talk women's sports movement and their podcast London Police in London carried out a controlled explosion Friday after finding a suspicious package near the U.S. Embassy in the British capital. They blocked off roads near the embassy compound, which sits on the south side of the Thames river in London's Nine Elms neighborhood. "We can confirm that the 'loud bang' reported in the area a short time ago was a controlled explosion carried out by officers," London's Metropolitan Police said in a statement posted online. The embassy said in its own social media post that police had closed a road near the building out of "an abundance of caution." People wait in line outside the U.S. Embassy in London, in a Nov. 6, 2024 file photo. / Credit: Mina Kim/REUTERS Later Friday, the embassy said in a new statement that the facility was "back to normal business operations," but that all public appointments were cancelled for the remainder of the day, with people scheduled to renew passports and attend other appointments told to await emails to reschedule. "Local authorities investigated and cleared a suspicious package outside the Embassy," the statement said, adding its thanks to London's police "for your swift action, and thanks to all visitors for your cooperation and patience at this time." The U.S. Embassy in London opened in its new location just outside the center of the city at the beginning of 2018. It sits on a sprawling campus relatively far from major public roads and is surrounded by security fortifications. Former U.K. counterterrorism coordinator Nick Aldworth told CBS News on Friday that the U.S. embassy building is "one of the most secure locations in London." An aerial view shows the U.S. Embassy in London, with emergency vehicles seen blocking off roads around the building as the Metropolitan Police investigated a suspicious package found in the area, Nov. 22, 2024. / Credit: AP Television "It's a purpose-built embassy," he said, which gave the compound "the benefit of being constructed with built-in environmental protective measures" such as earth berms and other physical features, putting it "at the top end of design and location for protecting it from terrorism incidents." London's Gatwick Airport hit by separate security scare Not long after the alert was raised at the embassy, a similar situation played out at Gatwick Airport, just south of London, with a suspected prohibited item found in someone's luggage prompting the closure of a terminal. "The South Terminal has been evacuated as a precaution while we continue to investigate a security incident," the Gatwick press office told CBS News. "Passengers will not be able to enter the South Terminal while this is ongoing. Safety and security of our passengers and staff remains our top priority. We are working to resolve the issue as quickly as possible." The Sussex Police said in a statement that an explosives ordnance team was deployed to investigate the item, "as a precaution," but after a couple hours the airport issued an all-clear. "The earlier security alert has now been resolved and cleared by police," Gatwick Airport said in a statement posted on social media. "The South Terminal is reopening to staff and will be open to passengers shortly. Trains will also start calling at Gatwick Airport once the terminal is fully reopened. We would like to thank everyone for their patience and understanding." Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe talk women's sports movement and their podcast Gaetz on not returning to Congress after dropping out of Trump attorney general consideration Matt Gaetz may be able to return to his congressional seat after withdrawal from AG consideration Steve Exum // Getty Images Catastrophic inland flooding in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee has made headlines across the country in recent months. Severe flooding in areas not typically associated with flood problems may have Americans wondering if they should buy federal flood insurance. But National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) coverage may not be available to everyone who wants it, Insurify reports. Nationally, 2,279 communities don't participate in the voluntary program that provides insurance against flood damage, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, and most homeowners policies won't cover flood damage. Property owners in non-participating municipalities can't buy federally backed flood insurance. Often, non-participating communities are rural, and many have very small populations. Other communities may seem to have little to no risk of flooding, though some may be unaware of the true risk in their area. Communities that don't participate in the NFIP often "have horrible, inadequate flood maps," Chad Berginnis, executive director of the Association of State Floodplain Managers, or ASFPM, told Insurify. "FEMA's limited mapping budget goes to areas with risk, and your areas of higher risk are going to be bigger. In smaller communities, you're going to have old, approximate flood data." A lack of good data and floodplain maps is a widespread problem for communities, Berginnis said. "We have 3.5 million miles of streams, rivers, and coastlines in the country. We've mapped 1.2 million miles of them. We've only mapped a third of our floodplains." How the NFIP Works FEMA manages the NFIP, which Congress created in 1968 with the National Flood Insurance Act. Homeowners, businesses, and renters can buy flood coverage through the NFIP Direct system or more than 50 insurance companies that work with FEMA. In order to participate in the NFIP, communities must agree to regulate residential and commercial development in any floodplains that fall within the municipality's boundaries. Communities can participate in the NFIP only if their adopted and enforced regulations meet or exceed NFIP criteria. In participating communities, any property is eligible to buy NFIP coverageeven those outside a mapped floodplain. Currently, the NFIP underwrites approximately 5 million policies in over 22,600 communities across all 50 states and six U.S. territories. Any area that receives rain can be at risk for flooding, and flooding is the most common natural disaster, causing the costliest damages, according to FEMA. Yet nearly one-third of all NFIP claims originate in areas outside high-risk flood zones. Why Communities Don't Participate Berginnis, who spent a decade in Ohio's state floodplain management office before joining ASFPM, said communities may forgo NFIP participation for multiple reasons. Some have no identified floodplains in their boundaries. Others may have flood zones that are already off limits for development. Some may have considered the relative costs of initiating a floodplain management programa prerequisite for NFIP participationand chose not to participate in the program. In such situations, town officials may decide participating isn't worth the effortespecially if they don't see demand from residents for flood insurance. A lack of penalties for non-participation may also be a factor, Berginnis said. "Essentially, joining the [NFIP] is a very simple and straightforward proposition," he said. "Typically, the community passes a resolution of intent to join the program. That's something the [town] council could do, literally at their next meeting. Then, they adopt a set of regulations and standards that include designating someone to be the floodplain manager." Every state provides model fill-in-the-blank ordinances to make it easy for communities to create the regulations required to participate in the NFIP, he said. Once communities commit to participation, they must administer and enforce the regulations they adopted around development in floodplains. "We've kind of made it easy in this country, in my opinion, for communities to participate, and remove all obstacles for them participating," Berginnis said. "They just need the political will to do it." Insurify Consequences of Non-Participation Residents of non-participating communities can't buy federally backed flood insurance. They may also struggle to find private flood insurers willing to cover their properties, as some private insurers won't sell flood coverage in areas that don't take part in the NFIP. Additionally, residents won't be able to use federally backed mortgages, such as loans from the Department of Veterans Affairs, Federal Housing Administration, or Rural Housing Services, to buy or build a home in a Special Flood Hazard Area, or SFHA. And, if disaster strikesas it did on Sept. 27 for many Western North Caroliniansnon-participating communities won't be able to secure financial assistance from the federal government to repair or rebuild structures in SFHAs. The Tragic Example of North Carolina Perhaps no state is a better example of the potential consequences of unprotected flood risk than North Carolina. Most of North Carolina's 550 municipalities participate in the NFIP. But 27 don'tincluding Mills River, which experienced damage in Hurricane Helene. Helene ripped through the northwestern part of the state on Sept. 27, decimating communities in North Carolina's largely rural Blue Ridge and Appalachian mountain ranges. The storm killed more than 225 people, and about half of those deaths were in North Carolina. As of October, authorities were still unsure how many people remained missing. Flood damage to homes and businesses in affected communities is extensive. Since many affected communities are participants in the federal program, the NFIP could cover those losses, at least in part. But few property owners in those areas purchased NFIP policies before Helene. For example, Asheville, with a population of more than 95,500 and 47,606 housing units, saw nearly 10 inches of rainfall that caused devastating flooding. But city residents and businesses had just 447 NFIP policies in force, offering total coverage of just under $152 million. Helene's total cost could range as high as $250 billion, according to AccuWeather. North Carolina's Non-Participating Communities At least one Tarheel community that saw damage from Helene doesn't participate in the NFIP. The town of Mills River in Henderson County lies south of the Asheville Regional Airportand the Mills River. After Helene, the town's Mills River Park became a distribution point for food, water, and supplies, and offered a mobile shower station, and mobile kitchen serving hot meals for storm victims. The town was home to more than 7,300 people, according to the North Carolina League of Municipalities. Because the community doesn't participate in the NFIP, mostif not allhomeowners and businesses in the town lack flood insurance and will have to shoulder the cost of rebuilding without federal funding. Many of the North Carolina communities that don't participate in the NFIP have very small populations of fewer than 1,000 residents. Like Mills River, they also tend to be rural. Many exist in close proximity to a number of waterways, from large rivers and lakes to creeks and streams. With inland waterways comes an elevated risk of inland flooding. Insurify What's Next: Will Communities Rethink Non-Participation? Helene's severe effect on many inland communities across multiple states took many people by surprise. But with climate change driving more frequent and stronger hurricanes and other weather events, it's likely more communities will face situations similar to Helene's effect on Western North Carolina. Smaller communities may be unaware of the elevated risks they face. "In counties and rural areas, you need to pick up 10 to 20 square miles of drainage before a FEMA flood map starts picking up on the floodplain area, yet you have flood risk even if there's only a square mile of drainage," Berginnis said. "These small communities way up in the hollows, they have significant flood risk. [But] we've not mapped it, and that's, I think, on us as a country." Property owners can take steps to protect themselves, even if they're in a non-participating community, he said. The federal government has been working for over a decade to support the development of a private flood insurance market. People in communities where NFIP coverage isn't available may be able to purchase private flood insurance. Homeowners and businesses can also ask their town leaders to begin participating in the NFIP. Above all, Berginnis cautioned, communities should continue to prepare for floodingeven those that have already experienced a catastrophic flood event. "Do not delude yourself to think it can't happen again, or it won't happen again. It will," he said. "And it could happen next week, it could happen next month, it could happen a year from nowthe same extreme event." This story was produced by Insurify and reviewed and distributed by Stacker. Our feline friends are called cool cats for a reason and we want to try to keep them that way when traveling. In the worst cases, flying or driving with a cat can be fraught with stress, because cats become threatened by unfamiliar smells and can hate being stuck in a carrier. Airlines also require paperwork ahead of time, including a health certificate signed by a vet. Unless you're willing to put in the work to prepare properly, it might be best to leave your cat with a house sitter if you can, said Ashlie Saffire, president of the Feline Veterinary Medical Association. Thats the big thing," Saffire said. "Consider how long youre traveling for, is it worth putting your cat through that stress of traveling? For situations where you can't leave your cat behind, planning ahead is a must and you can purchase some key products and everyday items to help your cat chill out. Does your cat catch mice? Hunting drive could be linked to cat's personality Divya Zweigart gives a cat a kiss on its head in Brooklyn, New York, where the nonprofit Flatbush Cats works to reduce the stray cat population. Should I travel with my anxious cat? Cats as a species are far less adaptable and socialized than dogs, which are used to traveling with humans and enjoy going on walks, said Wailani Sung, a cat behaviorist who helped make the 2022 Netflix documentary Inside the Mind of a Cat. Most cats get scared in unfamiliar settings, because cats in the wild are solitary predators who must also be on-guard against potential threats from even larger predators. Cats are creatures of habit and territory so being taken away from their space is stressful for them, full-stop," said Max Branch, who works transporting rescued cats daily with nonprofit Flatbush Cats in New York City. Puppy under the tree: Why not to surprise someone with a pet this Christmas If a cat is not used to its carrier, it may try to escape, Branch said. That's what happened last summer, when an orange cat named Tofu Veggie decided to be "Houdini" during a trip from the clinic to the shelter, Branch said. "The driver turned around to see a little orange head poking up right beside them," and then had to pounce on Tofu Veggie to try to get him back inside the crate, Branch said. "He went nuts," said Rosario Washburn, the volunteer who went after the escaped cat. "He slithered under the driver's seat and came out at my husband's feet." Saffire, of the Feline Veterinary Medical Association, said our pet cats need to feel at-home in order to feel safe, and smells are the top way they gain a sense of familiarity. That's why cats rub up on furniture and brush their cheeks against corners in their homes, Saffire said. Your cat will think its carrier smells "weird" and will likely feel trapped unless it has spent significant stress-free time inside the crate, Saffire said. Do not skip carrier training, vets warn Familiar smells and positive memories of the carrier are the two key things to prep your cat for travel, Saffire said. It's even important to consider how you hold the carrier, Sung said. "The best thing you can do for your cat is carry it like a box, with both arms underneath, not swing it like a hand bag," Sung said. Carrier training recommended by vets includes: Feeding your cat inside the carrier Placing treats inside the carrier Keeping the carrier in the living room, that way it smells like a space your cat feels safe in Playing with your cat inside the carrier Gently take your cat in and out of the carrier after they're comfortable inside it Practice carrying the carrier with your cat inside Take car drives around the neighborhood with the carrier A lot of it is going slow," Saffire said. "Each day you do a little more." Service guide dogs: Families raise the adorable puppies to have perfect manners Pet prenuptials: Why this married couple has them Assess after taking several of these steps, and ask yourself if your cat is terrified or nauseated, Sung said. If so, consult a veterinarian and ask for advice about anti-anxiety and anti-nausea medications. If you have a kitten, you can start getting them used to traveling in their carrier now so that they're more comfortable traveling their entire lives, she said. Kim Kearns presses her forehead against a cat in Brooklyn, New York, where the nonprofit Flatbush Cats works to reduce the stray cat population. Calming sprays are a 'gamechanger' On the day of travel, calming sprays are a "gamechanger," Saffire said, because they mimic the pheromones that come from cats' cheeks when they rub on surfaces. Here are sprays, medications and non-drug supplements Saffire recommends. Feliway spray "makes a huge difference," Saffire said, and she uses it all the time with cats in her clinic in Dublin, Ohio. Saffire recommends wiping the entire carrier with Feliway while also spraying towels with it to keep inside the carrier during transport. Placing a sheet sprayed with the stuff over the carrier can also help a cat "feel like they can hide." VetriScience Composure supplement treats are non-drug treats made with colostrum proteins, Vitamin B1 and a naturally occurring amino acid, all of which have been proven to reduce stress and improve cognition in cats, according to VetriScience's website. Bonqat, an anti-anxiety medicine, became the first approved for cats by the FDA in November 2023. Saffire said she recommends it because it was developed specifically to treat "anxiety associated with travel in cats." Heard of the 'cat distribution system?' What the craze really means, rescue groups say DENVER, COLORADO - NOVEMBER 22: Travelers navigate a security checkpoint at Denver International Airport on November 22, 2022 in Denver, Colorado. What cat carrier is best? Branch and Saffire both recommend hard-sided carriers because your cat will feel more secure inside them and be more able to hide, tucked away in a corner. Owners may feel more comfortable with a soft-sided carrier because they may be easier to squeeze underneath a seat on a plane. But remember that cats need to feel like they can hide in a secure place, not one that's closing in on them, said Branch, whose nonprofit only uses hard-sided carriers when sending cats home with foster parents across New York City's five boroughs. Their instinct in a new space is to hide and we have to make sure theyre able to do that," Branch, 42. In a car, a hard-sided carrier can easily fit in the back seat. But if you must fly, carefully research your airplane's seat dimensions to ensure a hard-sided carrier will fit under the seat in front of you. Airline websites also have carrier size recommendations. You can find recommendations for different carriers on the Feline Veterinary Medical Association's "Choosing the Perfect Cat Carrier" guide. How to fly with a cat: Airlines need paperwork ahead of time Each airline has slightly different paperwork requirements and fees for bringing a cat onboard. In most cases, your cat's carrier can be considered baggage and placed under the seat in front, but it's up to you to confirm. Consider buying an airline-approved cat carrier to give yourself extra peace of mind. You'll need a vet to sign a certificate of health and submit it to the airline days before traveling, and some travel destinations may require proof of vaccination, especially against rabies, Saffire said. 3 more tips for traveling with a cat There are a few predictable hiccups you can prepare for ahead of time, Branch said, including bathroom accidents and escapes. Line the carrier with puppy "pee pads" in case your cat has an accident. Don't feed your cat their normal breakfast and/or dinner the day you travel, because "traveling on an empty stomach minimizes the risk of nausea and vomiting," VCA Animal Hospitals says. A harness will let you hold your cat effectively when you have to take your feline out of your carrier, especially during TSA screening at airports, during which owners must remove their cats from the crate, Branch said. "You should have your cat in a harness so that you're not just clutching the cat's fur during that moment you'll feel a little more secure." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How to travel with a cat: Tips for taking pets on a plane COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) Democratic U.S. Rep. Marcy Kapturs Trump-endorsed rival said he called the veteran Ohio congresswoman to concede defeat in the 2024 election. In a video posted to X, formerly Twitter, fourth-term state Rep. Derek Merrin did not rule out running for Kaptur's seat again in two years, but he said his immediate plans were to rest and recharge with his family. The race for Ohio's 9th Congressional District was not settled until this Wednesday, when official results landed Kaptur ahead of Merrin by about 2,300 votes, or 0.7% of the vote. That narrowly averted the automatic recount that would have been triggered at 0.5%. Libertarian Tom Pruss, whose campaign was boosted by more than $400,000 from the pro-Democrat Voter Protection Project, won more than 4% of the vote. Merrin pointed to the contest's huge price tag as evidence Republicans were competitive against the longest-serving woman in Congress. Guys, they spent over $10 million against us. Democrats propped up a third party candidate to siphon votes from us, they hit us hard for almost 100 days in the media, and, that's life, man, that's politics," he said. "We were fortunate enough to have the money to get our message out, and outside groups were able to talk about Marcy's record, and it was mainly a fair fight that way and Marcy Kaptur got more votes than we did, and I accept that. Merrin pledged to help the other GOP candidates who were successful in the state, as he faces a term limit in the Legislature at year's end. That includes President-elect Donald Trump, who won Ohio for the third time Nov. 5, and Bernie Moreno, who unseated veteran Democratic U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown. We stood up for our Constitution, we fought for lower taxes, fiscal responsibility, set a vision out for more prosperity in northwest Ohio and we weren't able to win," Merrin said, "but our message and team across America won. Karim Khan, right, with Amal Clooney, the human rights attorney - JUSTIN LANE/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Donald Trump is considering sanctions against a British lawyer over the International Criminal Courts arrest warrant for Benjamin Netanyahu. The Hague-based court is facing a major international backlash for its decision to issue a warrant for the Israeli prime minister and Yoav Gallant, the former Israeli defence minister. Mike Waltz, who will serve as Mr Trumps national security adviser, said the court had no credibility and promised a strong response to the anti-Semitic bias of the ICC when the Trump administration takes office on Jan 20. Karim Khan KC, the ICCs chief prosecutor, could be among the officials targeted for sanctions by Mr Trump. International Criminal Court Germany has signalled it would not detain the Israeli leader because of its Nazi past and special relationship with the Jewish state, despite being a member of the ICC. Viktor Orban, the prime minister of fellow member state Hungary, has vowed to defy the order to arrest Mr Netanyahu, and instead invited him for a state visit. However, Britain has said it respects the court and ministers have refused to say if Mr Netanyahu would be arrested if he came to the UK. On Friday, Israels ambassador to the UK called on all countries to reject the ICCs farcical order to arrest Mr Netanyahu. Writing for The Telegraph, Tzipi Hotovely accused the court of finding common ground with Hamas, the Islamic terror group behind the October 7 massacre. She said: We thank the US and other allied countries that have rejected the farcical decision of the court and call upon other nations to follow suit in rejecting this injustice. The ICC has shown that every democratic leader, seeking to defend its people, may become a target of the court. Weve reached an astonishing new low when an international court, which claims to uphold international law and human rights, has found common cause with a terrorist organisation that just over a year ago perpetrated the deadliest day for Jewish people since the Holocaust on its gratuitous rampage of murder, torture, kidnapping and rape. Make no mistake, this moment has sounded the death knell of the ICC, she added. Like Israel, the US does not recognise the authority of the Hague-based court. Senior Republicans have called for sanctions against the ICCs top officials in response to the arrest warrants. The courts politically charged investigation into Israels military operation in Gaza was opened by Mr Khan. The ICC said Mr Netanyahu and Mr Gallant should answer charges of starvation as a method of warfare and murder, persecution and other inhumane acts. Mr Khan is being investigated outside the ICC over allegations of sexual misconduct. He denies the accusations. During his first term in office, Mr Trump sanctioned the courts former chief prosecutor over an investigation into alleged war crimes by US troops in Afghanistan. At the time, Mike Pompeo, then-secretary of state, branded the court a thoroughly broken and corrupted institution. The sanctions against Gambian-born ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda, which included a travel ban, were eventually overturned by Joe Biden when he entered office in 2021. But there is an expectation that Mr Trump could re-enact the same strategy in response to the ICCs treatment of Israel. He could also withdraw US involvement and resources from ICC-led investigations into Russian war crimes in Ukraine. Sanctions could hit Khans bank account Any sanctions enforced on Mr Khan and his staff could threaten the relationship between Britain and Mr Trump if Sir Keir opts to comply with the arrest warrants. Depending on the nature of the sanctions, it could also make it difficult for Mr Khan to secure banking facilities in the UK. The warrant marks the first time in the ICCs 22-year history that its judges have sought the arrest of the leader of a Western-backed democracy. The courts 124 member states, including Britain, are responsible for enforcing arrest warrants it issues. In a sign of splits among European nations, Ireland, Italy and the Netherlands promised to arrest Mr Netanyahu, as well as Mr Gallant, if they arrived in their territories. France affirmed the courts standing but stopped short of saying whether Mr Netanyahu would face arrest if he crossed its borders. Josep Borrell, the EUs top foreign diplomat, confirmed the blocs 27 member states, including Germany and Hungary, would be obliged to enforce the warrants. Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, refused on Friday to say publicly whether Mr Netanyahu would be detained if he travelled to the UK. Credit: Times Radio Mrs Cooper said: That is not a matter for me as the Home Secretary. International Criminal Court investigations rarely become a matter for the British legal or law enforcement processes or for the British Government. If they ever do, there are proper processes that need to be followed and it wouldnt be appropriate for me to comment in advance on any of those. However, Downing Street signalled the Israeli prime minister would face arrest if he entered the country. Asked whether the Government would comply with the law, Sir Keir Starmers official spokesman said: The UK will always comply with its legal obligations as set out by domestic law and indeed international law. No 10, however, confirmed the Prime Minister would continue to talk to Mr Netanyahu despite the ICC arrest warrant, pointing to the need for dialogue to ease tensions in the Middle East. Anti-Israel witch hunt Michael McCaul, chairman of the House foreign affairs committee, said the court had made a shameful decision to issue the warrants, accusing it of an anti-Israel witch hunt. In an online statement, the Republican said the Senate should immediately enact legislation to sanction ICC officials to protect American servicemembers and officials, and our allies. Lindsey Graham, a senator for North Carolina, went further, promising to back a law that would punish countries that comply with the arrest warrants. Any nation or organisation that aids or abets this outrage should expect to meet firm resistance from the United States, and I look forward to working with President Trump, his team, and my colleagues in Congress to come up with a powerful response, he said. Jim Risch, the Republican senator who is the incoming chairman of the foreign relations committee, also urged sanctions against the courts top officials. While I supported the work the ICC was doing to prosecute Putin for his war crimes in Ukraine, I can no longer support an organisation that has blatantly chosen to disregard its mandate, he said. 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. UPS (UPS) will pay $45 million to settle charges that it improperly valued its freight division, the Securities and Exchange Commission announced Friday. The regulator agency said that UPS materially misrepresented its earnings because it failed to follow generally accepted accounting principles in valuing its freight unit. The SEC order said that in 2019 UPS determined that its freight division was likely to sell for no more than about $650 million. UPSs own analysis indicated that nearly $500 million of goodwill it had associated with the unit was impaired. But instead of using its own analysis, the SEC said that UPS relied on an outside consultants valuation of the freight division, without giving the consultant information necessary to conduct a fair valuation of the business. The commission said that the consultant used assumptions approved by UPS and then estimated that the freight unit was worth about $2 billion three times as much as UPS had determined. Goodwill impairment is a term used in accounting to recognize that the face value of an asset on paper exceeds its fair value. Based on the consultant's estimate, UPS didn't record a goodwill impairment in 2019, the SEC said. Had UPS properly valued the division, its earnings and other reported items would have been materially lower. The SECs order also alleges that in 2020 UPS entered into a non-binding term sheet to sell the freight unit for $800 million with adjustments to be made later that were likely to reduce the final price. Despite its own analysis and its entry into this term sheet, the Atlanta company again relied on a consultants valuation of the unit in 2020 to support not impairing the businesss goodwill. UPS also did not inform the consultant of the term sheet, the commission said. Similar to the previous year, the SEC said that had UPS properly valued the freight division and impaired goodwill, its earnings and other reported items would have been materially lower. It is essential for companies to prepare reliable fair value estimates and impair goodwill when required," Melissa Hodgman, associate director, said in a statement. "UPS fell short of these obligations, repeatedly ignoring its own well-founded sale price estimates for Freight in favor of unreliable third-party valuations. Shares of UPS rose more than 2% Friday. UPS said Friday that the amount of the settlement had been set aside and that it will have no material effect on its business. Its been nearly 25 years, but the Oscar-winning Gladiator is back! Or, at least, a sequel is! True, "Gladiator" star Russell Crowe cant return as Maximus (for obvious reasons), but Gladiator II is packed full of nostalgia, familiar characters and callbacks to the 2000 film. Its also stuffed with much of the spectacle that made the first film such a success: brutal fights with animals and humans in the Coliseum, political intrigue, class warfare and a hero who fights with determined purpose. So what do we need to know about this sword-and-sandals epic before it opens wide on Nov. 22? Here's what to know. Note: Light spoilers are included regarding both films. Do you need to watch Gladiator to follow along with Gladiator II? Not necessarily, but it helps. The key fact of the film: That Maximus had a son who ends up in the arena, and leading a revolt is already part of the early trailers. But its not critical, because the film makes liberal use of flashbacks to the previous film to help fill in the blanks. Paul Mescal as Lucius in "Gladiator II." What is Lucius connection to the first Gladiator? In Gladiator, Lucius is an incidental character. Played by Spencer Treat Clark, the boy is the son of Lucilla (Connie Nielsen), and its stated that his father is Lucillas late husband, Lucius Verus (Lucius namesake). Lucilla, by the way, is the sister of the leader in the first film, Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix). But we also learn in that film that Lucilla had an on-again, off-again relationship with Maximus, so its not a huge surprise to discover that the script for II has retconned Lucius (Paul Mescal) into being a more significant player: that is, Maximus son. For his safety, the boy Lucius is shown to being spirited away and raised elsewhere when he finally meets Lucilla in II, he claims to barely remember her. Who from the original Gladiator appears? Aside from the actors in the flashbacks, there are two key performers who show up in II Nielsen, who has remarried the man Lucius blames for murdering his family, Marcus Acacius (Pedro Pascal) and Derek Jacobi, who plays Senator Graccus. In Gladiator, he was part of the plot with Maximus and Lucilla to overthrow Commodus. Connie Nielson in "Gladiator" (L) and "Gladiator II" (R). And technically, Ridley Scott is also a return from the original Gladiator as the director of both films. He was nominated for best director in 2001, so maybe hes hoping to win that Oscar this time around. How does Maximus play a part in the new film? In a way, hes everywhere. Adult Lucius doesnt know hes Maximus son, and hes worshiped the warrior all these years. There are several callbacks that suggest their connection before its stated explicitly: The image of Maximus running his hand through wheat field grasses shows up early on, and when Lucius is in the arena he sticks his sword in the ground, leans down and runs sand through his hands just like his father did. Paul Mescal plays Lucius in Gladiator II from Paramount Pictures. Then, during Gladiator, Maximus has a maxim he loves to share: What we do in life echoes in eternity." The aphorism makes an appearance in II to lend it depth and scope. But the biggest contribution Maximus makes to the film (Lucius aside) comes when his son visits a tomb beneath the arena and is given his fathers armor and sword for a big challenge. Whos been maintaining that all these years? How does it look so shiny and spiffy? Why does it naturally fit Lucius perfectly? These things can all be answered by whispering the name of a distant, future land far from Rome Hollywood. This article was originally published on TODAY.com Family members of Dennis Tuttle and Rhogena Nicholas bring a photograph of the couple to the trial of retired Houston Police Department officer Gerald Goines Monday, Sept. 9, 2024 at Harris County Criminal Courthouse in Houston. Goines trial on two felony murder charges in the January 2019 deaths of Tuttle and Nicholas began Monday. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer Attorneys representing the families of the man and woman killed in the 2019 Harding Street Raid on Thursday proposed dropping eight police officers from their civil lawsuit over the deaths, according to court filings. The proposal was made with the goal of avoiding further delays in the long-pending lawsuit that was once planned to start on the heels of former Houston police officer Gerald Goines conviction. The new motion proposes removing officers Eric Sepolio, Manuel Salazar, Thomas Wood, Oscar Pardo, Frank Medina, Clemente Reyna, Cedell Lovings and Nadeem Ashraf from the lawsuit, according to filings. Advertisement Article continues below this ad COUNTY WARNED: Defense lawyers warned Harris County about inmate ahead of 2022 jail killing Attorneys wrote that removing the officers would end complications caused by them citing Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination, and prevent more delays if the officers sought appeals before the start of a trial. Were laser-focused on getting this to trial, said Mike Doyle, one of the attorneys representing the family of Rhogena Nicholas No rulings had been made on the removal as of Thursday afternoon. Nicholas and Dennis Tuttles families in 2021 sued the City of Houston, police officers who participated in the raid and former police Chief Art Acevedo, claiming the botched drug raid violated the couple's constitutional rights and sought damages for pain, suffering, mental anguish and funeral expenses. Advertisement Article continues below this ad There were hopes that the civil trial could begin in November, after the felony murder conviction of Goines, who planned the raid and lied to obtain the no-knock warrant fellow members of Squad 15 used to enter the house. Tuttle and Nicholas were killed in a hail of gunfire moments after the officers forced their way into the house. A jury convicted Goines on two counts of felony murder and sentenced him to 60 years in prison. U.S. District Judge Alfred Bennett last month pushed back the start of the trial, in part because of a new round of indictments against eight Squad 15 members including Wood, Pardo, Medina, Reyna and Ashraf sought by District Attorney Kim Oggs office. The officers are accused of participating in a self-serving overtime scheme that was uncovered by the investigation into Harding Street. City of Houston attorneys, who are also representing the officers, asked for delays in the civil case. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The overtime scheme trial is scheduled for April 2025. Bennett moved the start of the civil trial to May 2025. Doyle said removing the officers would reduce obstacles to keeping the May trial date and reduce the number of attorneys involved. Goines, his former partner Steven Bryant and Officer Felipe Gallegos, accused of firing the fatal shots during the raid, would still remain defendants. Doyle said he expects the city to oppose his motion, anticipating their lawyers to seek to have the officers removed with prejudice to prevent being included in future lawsuits. The city has until Dec. 12 to file a response to the motion, according to court records. Goines' lawyers seeking new trial The latest request was filed Thursday as Goines' criminal defense attorneys took steps toward a new trial of their own, arguing for access to previously-undisclosed evidence: Tuttles cellphone. Advertisement Article continues below this ad A representative for one of the civil lawyers has protested handing over the phone, saying the device is not theirs to share. The phone, found at the Harding Street home after police finished searching the residence, has been in the possession of plaintiff lawyers since 2019 and was never shared with prosecutors or the defense team before the criminal trial. Goines lawyers contend the phone could contain evidence to merit a new trial. We want the data on that phone because we believe it exonerates him, potentially, attorney Nicole DeBorde Hochglaube said in court. One of the prosecutors who secured Goines conviction, Tanisha Manning, said their office sought evidence from the federal court earlier this year but were denied access. Civil lawyers have also cited a confidentiality order preventing disclosures of evidence. At the time, we didnt know there was a phone, Manning said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad They learned about the phone within days of going to trial and attempted themselves to obtain the device from the civil attorneys to no avail. It didnt take long for BookToker Asia Lin to understand that Wicked, the book by Gregory Maguire, would be nothing like the musical she had first seen months earlier. It was the first page, Lin tells TODAY.com, recalling a scene in which Dorothy and her companions discuss a rumor that Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, is intersex. I was like, Wait. Hold on. This was not in the musical at all. Content creator Sara Ribeiro, who grew up listening to Wicked in a musical theater-loving family, experienced a visceral shock while reading the book this year. (The book) ended up being a lot darker than I thought. I would say within the first 10 to 20%, my jaw was on the floor multiple times. I wasnt expecting it to be so graphic, she says. The musical Wicked is based on the novel by Gregory Maguire. With the first part of Wicked debuting in theaters Nov. 22 (and the second and final part coming in 2025), TikTokers like Lin and Ribeiro are discovering the novel and sharing their experiences from surprise to admiration in real time. Why didnt anyone warn me? Lin asks in a TikTok, echoing many other fans. Maguires Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West a revisionist take on L. Frank Baums The Wonderful Wizard of Oz originally published in 1995 and was followed by multiple other books to make a series. Wicked the musical made its Broadway debut in 2003. The book and musical could be distilled to the same plot summary: Behold, the unexpected backstory of Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, and Glinda the Good. But the ways the book and musical convey its themes like injustice, identity and friendship is what distinguishes the two. Theyre both about a young woman named Elphaba but very different. The best way I can explain is like when your parents would hide vegetables in your food, and you wouldnt notice it. Thats kind of what they did with the musical, Meredith Ammons, a content creator, tells TODAY.com. Whereas the musical hides its political message, Ammons says, the book is less subtle. She continues, Its like reading a childrens Bible for the first time versus reading the actual Bible for the first time, and how differently the tones are. The plight of Animals conscious animals takes center stage in the book, as does Elphabas activism. Not so much a side character, the Wizard is rather a full-fledged dictatorial force committing massacres on the hinterlands of Oz and amassing power. While political allegory is the B-plot to Wicked the musical, which centers on Glinda and Elphabas friendship, its the main storyline of Maguires book. Maguires Wicked doesnt contain hallmarks from the musical, like a Popular-esque union between Glinda and Elphaba. But it takes detours the musical never would have space for long explanations of religious sects, descriptions of terrain never mentioned in the musical and, well, quite a bit of R-rated content. For example: Elphaba bites off a midwifes finger as an newborn; her parents are involved in what is essentially a loving throuple with a Quadling man named Turtle Heart; Fiyero is a child groom married off at 7. Plus, there is inclusion of sexual assault, bestiality, murder, racism and politics. Trigger warning for everything. If you can think of it, its in here, Eryn Kieffer, whose multipart read-along of Wicked has amassed millions of views on TikTok, said in a video. Asia Lin and Eryn Kieffer. Kieffers series goes into all the graphic scenes she wasnt expecting like the Clock of the Time Dragons puppet show or the Philosophy Club scenes, which have become shorthand for the books surprising sexual detours. Among Wicked fans, the books content is divisive. Kieffer, on her end, said that the sexual content muddles the plot. Ribeiro says she loves the shock value in the books and that the unexpected parts were her favorite to read but ultimately took away from what she considered the point of the book. I think I was so distracted by all of the weird stuff that was going on that the political aspect of it was overshadowed, she says. Meanwhile, TikToker Aynsley Broom worries the focus on salaciousness takes attention from the books more powerful parts about the rise of authoritarianism, which she sees as a mirror to the news. In the book, the Wizard of Oz is a despot who ostracizes and marginalizes entire classes of Ozians, not to mention Animals. I saw a video that was like, (The book) explicitly describes (Elphabas) pubic hair. And I was like, Not really. The book just said it was purple and then moved on, she says. To me, the stuff people are focusing on is completely missing the message. The message needs to be talked more about than the shocking parts, which to me, werent that shocking. Granted, I also read a lot of romance novels. In the book, she sees a more substantial offering than the musical calling the former a great dinner and the latter cotton candy. Broom is among the readers who want a more faithful adaptation of Maguires Wicked than another retelling of the more saccharine musical. I think people want fluff, and we dont need more fluff, she says. Maguire, on his end, seems at peace with the adaptation. During a 2020 interview pegged to the books anniversary, he said the musicals composer, Stephen Schwartz, presented his vision during a walk in Connecticut, and that he felt they were aligned that Schwartz understood his book and the moral universe its set in. I came home and I said to myself, Im going to let this happen, I dont care about the money. This is far more in line with why I wrote the book than the movie scripts Ive read so far, he told Broadway World. Maguire said he was very happy with the way Schwartz and book writer Winnie Holzman told the story. It made efficient, economic and narrative sense for them to make the story choices that they chose to do, and I applaud it completely. The play is a little less subtle than the novel in some ways. And I wanted the novel to be more ambiguous because thats the nature of how I was trying to tell my story, he said. What TikTokers generally agree on, though, is that Wicked the book is certainly not as kid-friendly as Wicked the musical. Creators like TikToker Sal Currie are remarking on their experiences reading the books as kids, and giving a heads up to parents who might be persuaded by the newly rebranded cover. My main thing is its not for kids. Its really, truly not for children. The musical is completely fine for kids. I would not say this book is at all, Kieffer tells TODAY.com. Ammons says her mom bought the book when she was a young child. She asked if she could read it. She said, Absolutely not. And I said, Why not? And she said, Youll understand when youre older, she says. Ammons ultimately waited until she was 22 to read Maguires novel. My first reaction was like, Yeah, Im glad I waited to read this, because my mom was right on this one, she says. Others think reading, and being bewildered by, Wicked is a rite of passage: Its a canon event for most Wicked fans, one comment on Curries post reads. We must not interfere. This article was originally published on TODAY.com OneStep Group has pushed its presence further into Queensland with the acquisition of C5 Technology, a Brisbane-based IT services company. This acquisition will help OneStep Group meet the growing demand for secure, scalable, and technology services. The combined entity will provide access to an expanded service portfolio and offerings that will span across managed IT, cloud and cybersecurity. It will also include national support infrastructure, with service delivery capabilities across multiple locations. The partnership also leverages OneStep Groups relationships with technology providers such as Microsoft, Cisco, and Fortinet. C5s founder, Mark Osborne and CFO, Ashika Lala will join OneStep Groups Executive Team. In November, fresh fruit and vegetables were distributed to 5,000 families, Christian and Muslim, thanks to convoys organised by the Patriarchate with the Sovereign Order of Malta. Work is also underway to set up a medical centre and to reopen the school in the parish. Card. Pizzaballa: "It is not just a response to needs, but a moral duty towards these brothers". Jerusalem (AsiaNews) - 140 tons of aid, benefitting almost 40,000 people, that is, 10% of the population left in the north of the Gaza Strip after the massive displacement caused by Israeli military operations. This is the balance that the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem has released through its website on the solidarity initiatives carried out in support of the civilian population by the parish of the Holy Family, the tiny Catholic community in Gaza led by Fr. Gabriele Romanelli. This reality is not spared the death and destruction that affects everyone living in the Strip, but which over the months has become an important reference point for those trying to survive in the midst of this war. The organisation and distribution of humanitarian aid is one of the fruits made possible by the visit made on 16 May by the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Card. Pierbattista Pizzaballa. Thanks to the cooperation with the Sovereign Order of Malta and its solidarity agency Malteser International, the arrival of convoys with essential goods for the refugees in the parish has continued on other occasions, despite enormous logistical and security problems. In September 2024, the operation reached a milestone with the delivery of 20 tonnes of fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as 40 tonnes of food and hygiene supplies. In October, the effort doubled, with 40 tonnes of fresh produce reaching the community. In November, the relief initiative provided crucial support to more than 1,000 families in the Christian community and areas surrounding the Holy Family compound: each family received 20 kilograms of non-perishable goods. In addition, 5,000 families received 5 kilograms of fresh fruit and vegetables each. The Latin Patriarchate, in cooperation with its partners, is committed to supporting this vital mission. Efforts are being made to make possible the delivery of two shipments per month, each with 100 tons of basic necessities. In addition, efforts are being made to establish a medical facility within the Holy Family compound to meet urgent medical needs and to enable the reopening of the Patriarchate school. "We share the deep sorrow of our brothers and sisters in Gaza, who for over a year have endured the tragic reality of this total devastation," Card. Pierbattista Pizzaballa -. The relief operation is not only a response to their needs, but also a moral duty on our part towards our brothers and sisters. It is our way of saying that we are at their side, that we embrace their suffering and that we will never abandon them'. Today's news: The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Gallant and a senior Hamas leader; Police kill 10 Maoists killed in Chhattisgarh; Putin says Ukraine war is becoming a global conflict; Singapore has the highest number of identity frauds in East Asia in 2024. LAOS British lawyer Simone White has become the fifth tourist to die in a suspected mass poisoning in Laos, south-east Asia. Suspected methanol poisoning, caused by contaminated drinks, reportedly killed five tourists in Laos in the past fortnight. In addition to White, an Australian woman, a US man and two Danish citizens. Methanol poisoning has long been a known problem throughout South East Asia, particularly in poorer countries along the Mekong River. Foreign travellers, so-called backpackers, are often the victims. ISRAEL - GAZA The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant. World leaders were divided over this decision. Arrest warrants were also issued for a senior Hamas leader, Mohammed Diab Ibrahim Al-Masri (Deif), on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. This is the first time Netanyahu or any other Israeli official has been indicted by an international court for the ongoing war in Gaza. INDIA At least 10 Maoists - of an underground political group aiming to overthrow the Indian government - were killed in a clash with security forces in Sukma district, Chhattisgarh. The clash took place in the jungles of Korajuguda, Dantewada, Nagaram and Bhandarpadar. Police teams recovered several weapons, including INSAS, AK-47 and SLR rifles. Search operations are still ongoing. RUSSIA - USA - UK Vladimir Putin declared that the war in Ukraine is escalating into a global conflict after the US and Britain allowed Ukraine to strike Russia with their weapons and warned the West that Moscow might retaliate. Russia responded to the US and British missiles by firing a new type of medium-range hypersonic ballistic missile at a Ukrainian military facility. Putin warned that more could follow. He said civilians would be warned before further attacks with such weapons. SINGAPORE According to a study conducted by Sumsub, Singapore recorded the highest annual increase in identity fraud among countries in the Asia-Pacific region in 2024. The number of such cases increased by 207% compared to 2023. This is significantly higher than the 121% increase recorded in the region as a whole. Thailand and Indonesia follow closely behind with increases of 206% and 201% respectively. Among the top types of identity fraud globally are the use of false documents and chargebacks, in which customers dispute legitimate transactions to obtain refunds. AZERBAIJAN - COP29 During Cop29 in Baku, a new UN special programme for the Central Asian economy was presented, involving the signatory states in climate and innovation dialogue to open a new phase of regional climate cooperation, with the participation of the five Central Asian countries, together with Azerbaijan and Afghanistan. ARMENIA The President of Armenia, at the request of Prime Minister Nikol Pasinyan, appointed 30-year-old Arlina Sarkasyan, former deputy minister to Vage Kazaryan, who resigned on 18 November, as the new Minister of the Interior. This is a very symbolic change, which Pasinyan demanded from many senior law enforcement and interior officials. by Vladimir Rozanskij In his speech at the inauguration of the new parliament, the president of Uzbekistan calls for a healthy confrontation between opposing views and rules for the representation of minor parties, in a country where groups truly opposed to the government are excluded from electoral competitions. Women and young people are on the rise among local MPs. Tashkent (AsiaNews) - Uzbekistan's president, Savkat Mirziyoyev, has opened the first sitting of the Oryz Mazilis, the republic's parliament in the new legislature following the early elections that followed constitutional changes and the re-election of the president himself for a seven-year term. According to the unchallenged leader since 2016 - the year of his rise to power after a quarter of a century of post-Soviet dictator Islam Karimov - more opposition is needed in Parliament. To achieve this, the president has proposed increasing the guaranteed seats for opponents from three to six, giving each representative of formally opposition parties a parliamentary committee chairmanship, and at least two vice-chairs in the other committees. Mirziyoyev believes that if healthy competition and confrontation between opposing views moves from the election campaign to the halls of the legislative chamber, this will undoubtedly help to draft laws that serve the interests of the people. In fact, he notes that in the past elections, the programmes and ideas of the political parties differed from each other, there was an obvious struggle between different political ideologies, without specifying in detail these more representative differences, since groups that are truly opposed to the president's policies are not admitted to electoral contests. For Mirziyoyev, in the new era that has opened, parliament must become the true home of the people, and the Chamber a creative place for generating ideas through constructive discussion and debate. Priorities were then set out on which to unleash the creative energies of all parts of Uzbek society, starting with the strengthening of a general medical insurance system. There is also a great need for investment support, especially for the construction of schools and kindergartens, the development of legal bases for the most innovative financial technologies, help for start-ups and franchising, the development of regulations for the use of artificial intelligence, and the expansion of market mechanisms to the energy sector. The president was pleased to note that the Lower House of the Mazilis, the one in charge of preparing bills, was 60 per cent renewed, with 87 new deputies compared to 63 re-elected. Of these, 11 are under 35 years old, and 38% of all deputies are women, the highest indicator in the whole of Central Asia. For the first time in Uzbekistan's history, a mandate was won by a citizen with a disability. The speaker of parliament was confirmed in the person of Nuriddin Ismailov, who has held the post since 2015, and there will be only two deputy speakers instead of the previous seven. Two representatives of the Liberal Democratic Party, Mavluda Khodzaeva and Rakhimzon Khakimov, have been appointed to these posts. For the period of the deputy speaker's office, they will suspend their participation in the party, and may not be members of the relevant parliamentary group. The Senate, the Upper House of the Olij Mazilis, also took office in recent days, gathering four representatives from each region of the country instead of the previous six, reducing the total number of senators from 100 to 65. In addition to politicians representing regional administrations, the president added 9 senators of his own appointment, including the youngest of them all, 30-year-old Aliser Sadullaev. According to data from the Election Committee, 56.6% of the members of the Senate are over 60 years old, 41.6% are between 40 and 60. According to tradition, the president of Zokargi Kenes, the parliament of the Karakalpakstan autonomous region, was added to the Senate, along with the governors of regions throughout Uzbekistan and the mayor of the capital Tashkent. Finally, the parliament once again confirmed Abdulla Aripov as prime minister, at the proposal of Mirziyoyev, who explained that the country is entering a new stage of its development with many responsibilities, and we will no longer have to work with the criteria of the past, indicating in Aripov the new leader. by Shafique Khokhar The official death toll speaks of more than 40 dead, but according to other information disseminated online, the number of victims is more than 100. The convoy that was targeted was travelling along a recently reopened road with an escort of agents. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has been unstable for some time and residents accuse the government of failing to guarantee the safety of residents. Parachinar (AsiaNews) - The official death toll after yesterday's attack on a convoy of vehicles in the Kurram district of Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province has risen to more than 40, but according to other information circulated on social media there could be 110 dead, most of them Shia, including 11 children. According to politician Mushtaq Ahmad Khan, the youngest victim was just six months old. The local population today organised demonstrations against the local administration for not providing a sufficient level of security. Unidentified gunmen opened fire at a group of about 200 vehicles travelling from Parachinar to Peshawar, according to the police. The local deputy commissioner, Javedullah Mehsud, also said that Shia worshippers had been targeted in two separate attacks. The road had been reopened in recent days and transit was limited to convoys escorted by police. Between 40 and 50 officers were present with the passengers. The attack took place in a region with a long history of sectarian tensions and territorial disputes, but it is not yet clear who the perpetrators are. The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, the Pakistani Taliban, also known as the TTP, distanced themselves and accused Pakistan's security forces of staging the attack to instigate sectarian riots between Sunnis and Shias. According to Iftikhar Firdous, a local journalist and analyst, an Islamic State cell active in the region (known as ISKP, which stands for Islamic State Khorasan Province) 'has been trying to exert influence in the area for some time by targeting the Shia population and fomenting sectarian violence'. Demonstrations broke out in Parachinar today: demonstrators looted and set fire to two checkpoints, chanting slogans against the provincial administration. The local government has been accused of not taking the increase in terrorist attacks seriously, but of only being focused on the release of Imran Khan, former prime minister and leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party. For about two years, PTI politicians have been accusing the central government in Islamabad of keeping Imran Khan in jail on fictitious charges. In the meantime, armed clashes in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Belucistan (another province that has seen an increase in attacks, in this case mainly by independence militias) resulted in 55 deaths among the security forces in the first three weeks of November alone. Sources in the Pakistani English-language daily Dawn explained that the attack appears to be a response to another clash, which occurred on 12 October and in which 15 people died. Deputy Commissioner Mehsud explained: 'We will try to restore routine as quickly as possible and then a grand jirga will be convened. The jirga is a meeting in which elders and tribal leaders take important decisions for the community. The province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa borders Afghanistan and has long been unstable. Sectarian violence had also been fuelled by tribal conflicts over land ownership in the past. The provincial government had appointed a commission in September to resolve the issue, but has not yet made public the report produced by the experts and has not taken any decision on the matter. According to Amelia Gill, a Christian human rights activist based in the UK, 'the main cause of these incidents is hate speech that can incite mob violence and religious extremism'. The activist also accused the state of being absent in some regions of the country: 'What is the state doing, why is it not dealing with these monsters? In fact, the silence of the state is the main reason for all these unpleasant incidents. The citizens of KP and Baluchistan live their lives like hell because the state has failed to control the situation. My question is: is Pakistan a place where innocent citizens can live freely? When will the state protect its citizens?" he added. Emergency officials are shown at the scene Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, in Houston where Houston firefighter Marcelo Garcia of Station 23/B died from injuries sustained while fighting a warehouse fire at 6536 Supply Row Blvd. near Polk St. overnight. Melissa Phillip/Staff Photographer Firefighters stand near photos of Houston Firefighter Marcelo Ox Garcia III during his funeral at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024 in Houston. Garcia, 42, of HFD Station 23, died on Nov. 6 while responding to a fire in Houston's East End. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Yesenia Espinoza, accused of setting a warehouse fire that killed a firefighter, during her arraignment before Judge Brian Warren in 209th District Court at the Harris County Criminal Courthouse Monday, Nov. 11, 2024 in Houston. Michael Wyke/Contributor A woman accused of starting a fire that killed a Houston firefighter has been charged with murder, court records show. The new charge against Yesenia Mendez, 38, was filed Thursday. She is also facing two charges of arson causing bodily injury or death. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Mendez is accused of starting a Nov. 6 fire at an East End warehouse. The fire caused a wall to collapse on top of firefighter Marcelo Garcia, officials said. Garcia was pulled from the rubble, and later died at a hospital. Another firefighter suffered minor injuries in the collapse, officials said. He was the first Houston firefighter to die from injuries suffered at a fire since 2013. Mendez was arrested on Nov. 8 and accused of intentionally starting the fire. Police haven't speculated why Mendez allegedly started the fire. A man who was living in the warehouse told police he had known Mendez for about three months, and pointed investigators in her direction when he was interviewed about the fire, according to court documents. It's unclear if she was also living in the building. Mendez is described as unemployed and indigent in court records. She has lived at multiple addresses around the East End, according to court records. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Police recovered video footage of Mendez leaving the building after the fire began, according to court records. Tensions between the West and Russia are rising after Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed the launch of a new ballistic missile against Ukraine, saying the war has taken on elements of a global conflict. As Putin said in a speech to the nation after days of escalating conflict with Ukraine, the attack was carried out with an Oreshnik medium-range missile without a nuclear charge, which was launched at a facility of the Ukrainian military-industrial complex. In response to the use of American and British long-range weapons on 21 November this year, the Russian Armed Forces launched a combined strike against one of the facilities of the Ukrainian military-industrial complex, the Russian leader said, adding that one of the new Russian medium-range missile systems was tested in combat conditions. Putin further argued that the war that began in February 2022 has taken on global aspects due to long-range attacks from Ukraine. We consider ourselves entitled to use our weapons against the military facilities of those countries that allow their weapons to be used against our facilities, Putin stressed, assuring that, in the event of an escalation of aggressive actions, they will respond with the same decisiveness. Russian President Vladimir Putin - PHOTO/FILE The Russian leader described the Oreshnik as a ballistic missile deployed in this case in a hypersonic non-nuclear configuration. Its launch, according to Moscow, has been successful and has reached its target. We have always preferred, and are now ready, to resolve all disputed issues by peaceful means, but we are also prepared for any developments. If anyone doubts this, they are wrong. There will always be an answer, Putin stressed. In the message, Putin also confirmed the recent attacks on Russian territory with American ATACMS and British Storm Shadow long-range missiles, which targeted military infrastructure in the Bryansk and Kursk border regions. According to the Russian leader, the country's anti-aircraft defences repelled these attacks and prevented the enemy from reaching their targets. Infantryman of the 22nd Mechanised Brigade of the Ukrainian Army next to an armoured vehicle - PHOTO/MARIA SENOVILLA Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged the international community to react to the attack, which he said increased the scale and brutality of the war. The world must react. At the moment, there is no strong reaction, Zelensky lamented in a message on social media. We must react. We must put pressure. We must push Russia towards real peace, which is only possible through force, he added. 22 November 2024 19:55 (UTC+04:00) Qabil Ashirov Read more Reading an article recently published by Politico, a prominent European news agency on Azerbaijan's alleged 're-exporting' of Russian gas to Europe, one might conclude that either the author has lost his mind or the editor is ignorant of the facts. Frankly speaking, the article resembles the work of a defiant teenager trying to assert himself by challenging societal norms. Even, calling this collection of words an article is improper. The author claims that after the outbreak of the Russian-Ukrainian war, the EU turned to Azerbaijan to replace the Russian energy it had relied on for years. This claim alone proves that the author lacks information about the current economic and political situation in Europe, let alone Azerbaijan. It is worth noting that the EU made a significant mistake by relying on a single energy source and, following the outbreak of the Ukrainian war, tried to diversify its energy sources, which should have been done long ago. On the one hand, Azerbaijan has neither the ambition nor the resources to replace Russian gas in the European market, nor does the EU demand it. In other words, Azerbaijan cannot replace Russia with a capacity of its energy resource roughly six times lesser than it in the European market, and even if Azerbaijan somehow had enough gas to replace Russia and provided it to Europe for free, the EU would not accept it. As mentioned earlier, the EU aims to diversify its energy sources. Another fact that confirms the author's detachment from reality is that Azerbaijan has not imported any gas from Russia in 2024. In an attempt to tarnish Azerbaijani-Ukrainian relations and defame Azerbaijan, the author goes to great lengths. He exaggerates the oil trade between Azerbaijan and Russia and comments on Azerbaijani-Russian relations. Frankly, I didn't bother to verify the truth of his claims. Even assuming he is correct, the author's assertion that Russia can finance over 1,000 newly recruited soldiers with this revenue is misleading. It is crystal clear that 1,000 soldiers cannot change the fate of the Ukrainian war. On the other hand, Russia exports gas to some European countries through pipelines traversing Ukraine. With the revenue from this pipeline, Russia can recruit many more soldiers. Additionally, Russia's trade turnover with pro-Western countries, such as Armenia, has soared, earning Moscow billions of dollars from this trade. However, the author does not touch upon these issues. To tell the truth, the author is not the only journalist who exaggerates Azerbaijani-Russian relations. Several other journalists have either hinted or openly criticized Azerbaijan's relations with Russia. All of these can be described with one word - hypocrisy. Firstly, Azerbaijan has always recognized the territorial integrity of not only Ukraine but all countries suffering from either separatism or invasion. In this regard, Azerbaijan is decisive. However, Azerbaijan has not witnessed the same level of concern in the Garabagh issue. The countries that criticize Russia today and provide Ukraine with weapons acted completely contrary during the Garabagh wars. Take France, for example. Today, Paris arms Ukraine, but during and even since the II Garabagh War, it has been providing Armenia with weapons. Members of the separatist regime in Garabagh used to travel frequently to France. Unfortunately, we did not see any sanctions against the political leaders who committed the Khojaly massacre and destroyed Azerbaijani cities the way they did for Russia, which affected an ordinary citizen. Even some Western or pro-Western media outlets, including Ukrainian ones, aired Armenian propagandists under the guise of neutrality. It is interesting that we do not see the same neutrality in the light of the Ukrainian war. Furthermore, it is worth recalling that when Russia attacked Georgia in 2008, one of the Western media outlets denounced then-president of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili and said that he should have remembered that big countries, such as the USA and the EU, do not commit suicide for their little allies, such as Georgia. We saw the dark and hypocritical face of the West in 2008. We saw how they used our neighbor fraternal Georgia, and we do not intend to repeat the same mistake. In a nutshell, if you have any problem with Russia, please solve it yourselves and do not involve us in it. We are not going to be a tool of the West like some others. 22 November 2024 14:19 (UTC+04:00) Full digital access to all news for 1 year Full digital access to all news for 6 months Full digital access to all news for 3 months Full digital access to all news for 1 month Find the plan that suits you best. The "azexport.az" portal operated by the Center for Analysis and Communication of Economic Reforms has issued a Certificate of Free Sale for the export of confectionery products from Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic to Ethiopia, Azernews reports. Here we are to serve you with news right now. It does not cost much, but worth your attention. Choose to support open, independent, quality journalism and subscribe on a monthly basis. By subscribing to our online newspaper, you can have full digital access to all news, analysis, and much more. Subscribe You can also follow AzerNEWS on Twitter @AzerNewsAz or Facebook @AzerNewsNewspaper Thank you! 22 November 2024 16:17 (UTC+04:00) Full digital access to all news for 1 year Full digital access to all news for 6 months Full digital access to all news for 3 months Full digital access to all news for 1 month Find the plan that suits you best. Azerbaijan has lowered the price of electricity it sells to Georgia, Azernews reports. Here we are to serve you with news right now. It does not cost much, but worth your attention. Choose to support open, independent, quality journalism and subscribe on a monthly basis. By subscribing to our online newspaper, you can have full digital access to all news, analysis, and much more. Subscribe You can also follow AzerNEWS on Twitter @AzerNewsAz or Facebook @AzerNewsNewspaper Thank you! 22 November 2024 16:59 (UTC+04:00) Elnur Enveroglu Read more As part of the COP29, an informal press conference was held in the press room allocated for the US Embassy in Azerbaijan at the pavilion. Having been attended by journalists, and editors from influential media outlets, the conference was kicked off by the US experts from Washington DC, including Laura Daniel Davis, the Acting Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior, and Rick Spinrad, the Undersecretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA Administrator. At the event, both experts shared their experiences and effective suggestions on climate change, sea and ocean levels, and the relationship between natural disasters and climate, as well as their prevention. Speaking about her experience in Scotland, Laura Daniel Davis emphasized that COP29 in Baku was organized at a high level, as well as that a number of important issues were discussed by experienced experts within the framework of the climate conference in Baku. The Acting Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior also noted that COP29 plays a leading role in climate action. During the conference, experts also answered several questions by Azernews in the Q&A session of the conference. Droughts related to the decrease in water levels in the seas in recent times and floods related to the increase in ocean levels have been a major concern in our world. Especially the decrease in water levels in the Caspian Sea in recent years is showing its negative effects on our ecology and overall fauna today. Explaining the technical aspects of the issue, Richard Spinrad, the Undersecretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA Administrator, said that despite the efforts of modern technologies, accurate information about the causes of changes in the waters of the seas and oceans has not been obtained in recent times. I think part of my answer is improving technology and capabilities to understand not only by how much water levels sea levels are changing but where; and I think one of the most important things we've learned in the last few years is there is not a uniform, homogeneous answer to things like sea level rise or lake changes. We see the same thing in the Great Lakes, for example. However, Richard Spinrad noted that many achievements can be achieved as a result of the development of AI. We're seeing very variable lake levels. And also building improved forecast capabilities, which means not just having the best observations to, I would say, initialize, to start the model, to put into the model, but also improving the mathematics, if you will, of the model. That's where artificial intelligence comes in. So I think there's a technology-sharing aspect on both the observational side and the prediction side that can answer the question of how we can work effectively together, he said. Reforestation looks a feasible option to prevent sea level rise or floods In her answer to the question, Laura Daniel Davis, the Acting Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior, touched on their focus areas, including U.S. coastal areas. One of the major things we've been doing is ensuring that along those areas where we can, we're deploying nature-based solutions and doing replanting of indigenous natural materials, like for example, Florida, sort of rebuilding the mangroves. And that's true in Puerto Rico and other places as well. And that does enhance community resilience, she said. Thus, the expert concludes that it is possible to prevent sea floods by afforesting coastal regions and planting more trees. According to Laura D. Davis, it does protect communities. And they also have been able to work with upstream as well as communities in North Carolina. She added that the state has decided it would like to do hardwood reforestation in some areas. And as you know, water all flows in the direction of the sea. And so being sure that we're supporting local communities, tribal communities, and they're thinking about how they can bring terrestrial resilience forward as they are thinking about how they can best protect their communities from the kind of sea level rise you're talking about, she emphasised. Plastic waste and contaminated sea waters amidst climate calamities In addition, experts have shed light on the recent increase in the amount of toxic substances and waste discharged into oceans and seas and its impact on the climate. As is known, the Mediterranean Sea, the North Pacific Ocean and especially the Gulf of Mexico have recently faced serious risks of pollution. These areas have already been listed according to the level of pollution. Expressing his opinion on the question, Richard Spinrad noted that the problem is caused in particular by plastic waste. I think there's a few perspectives on this. There are some elements like marine debris plastics, and the United Nations has been very aggressive in trying to identify protocols, processes and frameworks for limiting the introduction of plastics into the sea. And I think there's a good framework in place for trying to get at solutions on plastics. However, what we do know about plastics is that it's not just the large mega-plastics. The microplastics are also particularly insidious. And so, part of the answer is getting a better understanding of the consequences to ecosystems of plastics. On other forms of pollution, I believe one of the most important things we can do is, if you will, get it at the source. Make sure to understand what kinds of sources are responsible for some of the kinds of pollution you alluded to. So, for example, you talked about the Gulf of Mexico. One of the big challenges we have in the Gulf of Mexico is the annual dead zone, R. Spinrad noted. Boosting agriculture: way to minimize pollution in seas and oceans Referring to the situation in the Gulf of Mexico, Laura Daniel Davis emphasized the importance of developing agriculture in such circumstances. Where I was going on the issue of things like a dead zone from pollutants, the answer is to look at agricultural practices, in this case in what we call the bread belt, the middle states in the United States, and understand what agricultural practices could be changed, what fertilization, what irrigation practices might be changed to reduce the input of phosphates and nitrates into the Gulf of Mexico that result in things like harmful algal blooms. And that means bringing different people to the discussion. Historically, we would not have brought the agriculture community to a discussion about Gulf of Mexico pollution, but now we're having that discussion much more than this. Yeah, and I would just reiterate what Dr. Spinrad is saying about land management practices and the importance of ensuring that you are having those conversations with communities, and state actors in the United States to address pollution that can and is happening in cases there, she added. 22 November 2024 16:35 (UTC+04:00) Nazrin Abdul Read more Speaking at the ongoing COP29 climate conference today, Germany's Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock emphasized the urgent need for global action to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, Azernews reports. She warned that without accelerating efforts to reduce CO2 emissions, the world would soon be unable to bear the escalating financial costs of climate damage. Highlighting Germany's leadership within the European delegation, the Foreign Minister stressed the importance of building on the progress made at COP28 in Dubai, particularly on mitigation efforts, and expanding climate finance. She called for continued cooperation across continents to establish a framework that ensures developing nations are not left behind in the global transition to clean energy. Every tenth degree of global warming makes the damage more expensive. Climate finance does not work without CO2 reduction, and vice versa, she stated. We cannot afford to reverse the commitments we made last year. Our goal is clear: triple renewable energy expansion, double energy efficiency, and phase out fossil fuels. The Foreign Minister also underscored the centrality of climate justice in the global effort, urging wealthier nations to assist developing countries in their green transformation, especially where energy transitions have not yet been fully realized. She emphasized that phasing out coal and fossil fuel-powered plants is essential, particularly in countries with developing economies. As part of the ongoing negotiations, the Foreign Minister called for a new approach to climate financing, highlighting the need for a significant expansion of the donor base. We cannot write unfunded checks. We must have a clear commitment from all large emitters, especially the new ones who can afford it, she said. She also pointed to the upcoming climate summit in Belem, Brazil, where nations will once again update their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to meet the Paris Agreement's goals. Europe remains a reliable partner in this endeavor, she said, but the global response must evolve to meet the challenges of 2024 and beyond. The Foreign Minister's comments reflect Germanys ongoing commitment to both mitigation and adaptation strategies, setting a tone of urgency and collaboration for the remainder of the conference and the critical years ahead. 22 November 2024 12:28 (UTC+04:00) Laman Ismayilova Read more Azerbaijan Culture Minister Adil Karimov has received a delegation led by Seyyed Reza Salehi Amiri, the Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts of the Islamic Republic of Iran, who visits Azerbaijan to participate in COP29, Azernews reports. Adil Karimov greeted the delegation and thanked his Iranian counterpart for participating in such a prestigious event hosted by Azerbaijan. He underlined that there are broad prospects for cooperation in various fields of culture between Azerbaijan and Iran. In particular, the promotion of joint activities in the fields of library work, museum activities, and exhibitions, as well as the establishment of collaboration in cinema, and mutual participation in traditional music festivals and competitions could contribute to the development of relations. Moreover, there are opportunities to expand cooperation at the level of international organizations. He emphasized the importance of preparing joint nomination files for including cultural heritage examples in UNESCO's relevant lists, as well as the need for collective efforts to combat the illegal circulation of cultural assets. Minister Seyyed Reza Salehi Amiri expressed his satisfaction with participating in COP29 and also thanked for the meeting. He highlighted the significance of continuing efforts to develop relations and the interest in mutually beneficial cooperation across various fields. The Iranian minister stated that public-private partnerships are essential in the protection of cultural heritage. He mentioned that experience exchange between the two countries can be conducted in this area. At the same time, he noted the possibility of jointly restoring the Khudafarin bridges on the Araz River. During the conversation, issues related to cultural heritage and the environment within the framework of COP29 were discussed, and an exchange of views on other areas of mutual interest took place. At the end of the meeting, Adil Karimov presented a commemorative gift to the minister. 22 November 2024 14:41 (UTC+04:00) Laman Ismayilova Read more The Azerbaijani Ambassador to the Kingdom of Morocco, Nazim Samadov has met with the Director of the High Institute of Audiovisual and Cinema Professions, Hakim Belabbas, Azernews reports. The ambassador recalled the historic visit of the head of the Moroccan government, Aziz Ahnuch, to the Republic of Azerbaijan for the COP29 conference, expressing confidence that this visit would contribute to the development of economic, cultural, and other relations between the two countries. The ambassador emphasized the importance of establishing productive cooperation between the Institute of Audiovisual and Cinema Professions and similar educational institutions in Azerbaijan. It was noted that as part of this cooperation, the parties could benefit from each other's experiences by implementing joint programs, events, and training projects. Hakim Belabbas provided a brief overview of Morocco's achievements in the audiovisual and cinema fields and expressed readiness to promote cooperation between the institute and educational institutions in Azerbaijan. The institute's Secretary-General, Yusif Farid, highlighted Morocco's necessary infrastructure and personnel for film production. The Azerbaijani Ambassador mentioned that a presentation ceremony for a film depicting the period of the occupation of Azerbaijan's Garabagh's region would be held at the institute in early next year. He also welcomed the idea of organizing a photo exhibition about Azerbaijan and a week of Azerbaijani films in Morocco, adding that a week of Moroccan films would also be organized in Azerbaijan. At the end of the meeting, Ambassador Nazim Samadov visited various sections of the institute, including broadcasting halls, filming studios, editing rooms, and technical equipment storage. He then met with students in one of the classrooms. A student exits the Peter T. Lawn Academic Center at the University of Texas at Austin on Wednesday, June 28, 2023 in Austin Alyssa Gisselle Olvera/Staff photographer An audit at the University of Texas at Austin found about 13,000 instances where diversity or justice-related terms including colonizer, safe space, gay, underserved and Latino appeared on its websites though less than 1% of them have prompted review for potentially noncompliant activity under the states anti-Diversity, Equity and Inclusion law, university officials said. The universitys Director of Digital Strategy, Chris Sullivan, informed administrators about the audit in an Oct. 31 email, obtained by the Houston Chronicle. Officials said they completed the search in preparation for next years annual certification of Senate Bill 17 compliance with the state. The University routinely scans its website as a means to identify programming or events, unrelated to academic and research functions, that may not be permitted under SB17, said Mike Rosen, UT-Austin's assistant vice president for communications. The scans were first implemented in Fall 2023 in advance of the laws effective date and include a list of terms that are guides for identifying potentially non-compliant functions that require review. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Rosen stressed that the university was not banning specific words from its websites. The search terms were used to find potentially noncompliant web content across the institutions roughly 400 unique domains, Sullivan said in the email. Of the 42 search terms shown in the audit, obtained by the Chronicle, some were geared toward DEI more explicitly, such as "diversity," "equitable" and "inclusive." Others related to specific race, sexuality or gender categories, including "BIPOC," "bisexual," "lesbian" and "Latinx." Several referenced hot-button terms often used in social justice contexts, such as "institutional racism," "anti-colonialism," "microaggression," "whiteness," "underserved" and "anti-racist." Sullivan said in his email that most of the search hits were linked to permissible content. Some were archived web content describing DEI programs that no longer exist, he said. Others fit into exceptions to SB17, which allows topics of diversity, equity and inclusion as it relates to course instruction, research or creative works. The scan identifies hits without considering the surrounding context, he wrote. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The audit is the latest example of universities attempting to adhere to the law. Senate Bill 17 stops public universities from having DEI offices or employees, bars activities that discriminate against students based on their race, ethnicity, or gender and bans mandatory diversity training for employees. The law comes with annual audits, and compliance has become a standard topic during the state university systems' regular board meetings. Many students and faculty who support the programs have described the changes as far-reaching and at odds with higher education's goals of helping underprivileged students succeed, though legislators who have attacked DEI programs claim that they ran afoul of federal anti-discrimination laws. The immediate aftermath saw many of the institutions remove their on-campus cultural or gender and sexuality centers. DEI trainings were banned, and DEI offices were dismantled and replaced with centers focused on student success. At UT-Austin, dozens of employees were eventually let go after being moved out of the DEI office to other parts of the university. DEI has continued to be a topic of conversation ahead of the upcoming legislative session, with the Senate Subcommittee on Higher Education meeting last week to gain testimony related to "Stopping DEI to Strengthen the Texas Workforce." While DEI-related topics are allowed to be taught in classrooms, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick had asked senators to look at certificates and programs that incorporate DEI policies. Advertisement Article continues below this ad 22 November 2024 10:00 (UTC+04:00) Nazrin Abdul Read more The State Border Service has successfully completed the tasks set for COP29, Azernews reports that Lieutenant General Araz Mammadov, Deputy Chief of the State Border Service and Commander of the Border Troops, made this statement during a media tour in Shamkir. The Border Troops Command of the State Border Service took all necessary measures in preparation for the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) held in our country. The tasks assigned have been duly completed, he said. It should be noted that COP29 opened on November 11. The highest-level event within COP29, the World Leaders' Climate Action Summit, was organized on November 12-13. COP29, held at Baku Stadium until November 22, is the largest event Azerbaijan has ever hosted and the first of its kind in the region. The main expectation from COP29 is the agreement on a fair and ambitious New Collective Quantitative Goal (NCQG) for climate finance. The COP29 Presidency has introduced 14 initiatives addressing the link between climate action and the Sustainable Development Goals. These include topics such as green energy corridors, green energy storage, climate resilience, clean hydrogen, methane reduction in organic waste, and green digital action. Creating climate finance is a key priority, fostering conditions for action and supporting the achievement of the 1.5C commitment by bringing all parties together. 22 November 2024 10:43 (UTC+04:00) The UK Government is here to ensure nature is high on the agenda at COP29. Half of the global economy depends on nature, and we must protect nature not only for its own value but also to save ourselves." The British Nature Minister Mary Creagh said these words at an event held within the framework of COP29. The minister announced 20 projects to be financed under the first phase of the ocean community strengthening and grants program. These projects will make lasting changes to the marine environment and coastal communities around the world, reduce poverty, strengthen local communities, and protect the health of marine ecosystems. Mary Creagh said the ocean is suffering from the triple threat of global warming, pollution, and acidification, which increases the risk of marine and coastal ecosystems collapsing. "These important projects will help protect marine habitats in the most climate-sensitive areas of the Earth. Half of the global economy depends on nature, and we must protect nature not only for its own value but also to save ourselves," the minister said in his speech. 22 November 2024 11:42 (UTC+04:00) On the platform of the main event of the COP29 climate summit, the Congress of the participants of the negotiation groups of the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) was held in the "Nizami" conference hall. Azernews reports, citing Azertag that the Congress was opened by the President of COP29, Mukhtar Babayev. He announced that the final draft of the document, which is the result of the long consultations of the ministers and the work of the relevant groups, has been prepared. M. Babayev called on the participants of the Congress to support the project in order to achieve the goal of finishing the conference by 18:00 on Friday. Then the chief negotiator of COP29 Yalchin Rafiyev presented the draft document to the participants of the Congress. He said that the text was reduced from 25 pages to 10 pages and that the said document was the product of the efforts of everyone involved in this work. Y. Rafiyev also called on the parties to abandon the maximalist approach, especially in the way of mitigating the impact (measures to reduce the negative consequences of climate change). Later, the COP29 President invited the participants to express their views on the presented project. At the event, the participants who expressed the most opposite positions - those who expressed their opinions from a critical approach to individual paragraphs containing support - spoke. Representatives of almost all national delegations, as well as representatives of the European Union, were among those who commented on the draft document. In particular, the representatives from Uganda and Turkiye expressed their admiration for the hard work of the Azerbaijan Presidency and urged their colleagues not to leave Baku before preparing the final document. Representatives of Pakistan, Bolivia, and other developing countries called for an agreement on the access of these developing countries to the allocated funds. 22 November 2024 12:38 (UTC+04:00) President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev received Miri Regev, Minister of Transport and Road Safety of the State of Israel, on November 22. Miri Regev conveyed greetings from the President of Israel Isaac Herzog to President Ilham Aliyev. The head of state expressed his gratitude for the greetings and asked Miri Regev to extend his own greetings to the President of Israel. During the meeting, the significance of the COP29 conference held in Baku was highlighted, with both parties emphasizing the importance of conducting climate change-related discussions. Miri Regev also congratulated Azerbaijan on the successful organization of COP29. The discussion further included an exchange of views on bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Israel. 22 November 2024 17:33 (UTC+04:00) Full digital access to all news for 1 year Full digital access to all news for 6 months Full digital access to all news for 3 months Full digital access to all news for 1 month Find the plan that suits you best. Within the framework of the Istanbul Energy Forum, the Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov had a meeting with the Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister of Hungary Peter Siyarto. Here we are to serve you with news right now. It does not cost much, but worth your attention. Choose to support open, independent, quality journalism and subscribe on a monthly basis. By subscribing to our online newspaper, you can have full digital access to all news, analysis, and much more. Subscribe You can also follow AzerNEWS on Twitter @AzerNewsAz or Facebook @AzerNewsNewspaper Thank you! 22 November 2024 15:34 (UTC+04:00) Full digital access to all news for 1 year Full digital access to all news for 6 months Full digital access to all news for 3 months Full digital access to all news for 1 month Find the plan that suits you best. In the first nine months of this year, Azerbaijan exported over 1.4 billion cubic meters of gas to Bulgaria, with further distribution to other European nations. Here we are to serve you with news right now. It does not cost much, but worth your attention. Choose to support open, independent, quality journalism and subscribe on a monthly basis. By subscribing to our online newspaper, you can have full digital access to all news, analysis, and much more. Subscribe You can also follow AzerNEWS on Twitter @AzerNewsAz or Facebook @AzerNewsNewspaper Thank you! 22 November 2024 20:21 (UTC+04:00) By Alimat Aliyeva Italy is the European Union (EU) country most engaged with Black Friday and Cyber Monday discounts, Azernews reports. It was noted that 9 out of 10 Italians express interest in shopping on these discount days. A total of 86 percent of consumers plan to take advantage of the special offers during this shopping period. More than half of Italian respondents (54.3 percent) expect to spend between 101 and 500 euros. Interestingly, shoppers are spending less on themselves and more on gifts for friends and family. On average, each person is expected to spend 229 euros. The most popular categories for spending are electronics, clothing, health and beauty products, as well as medical supplies. However, there is a shift in shopping behavior this year. Only 37 percent of consumers started their holiday shopping in the first weeks of November, compared to 62 percent during the same period in 2023. This suggests that many shoppers are waiting until closer to the actual Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales to make their purchases. This growing interest in Black Friday and Cyber Monday is not only a reflection of changing consumer habits in Italy, but also part of a broader European trend, with more shoppers looking to maximize savings on both online and in-store purchases. The increasing role of e-commerce platforms and digital marketing is driving earlier promotions, while traditional retailers are also adopting strategies to compete with the rising dominance of online discounts. The shift in spending habits also highlights a growing trend toward more thoughtful, gift-focused purchases, possibly as a result of economic uncertainty and a shift toward more socially responsible consumerism. Former administrator of the Small Business Administration Linda McMahon speaks during the last day of the 2024 Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on July 18, 2024. Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP/TNS WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 17: Administrator of the Small Business Administration Linda McMahon speaks as U.S. President Donald Trump listens during the inaugural meeting of the Presidents National Council for the American Worker in the Roosevelt Room of the White House on September 17, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Oliver Contreras - Pool/Getty Images) Pool/Getty Images Many of President-elect Donald Trumps cabinet picks have raised eyebrows, but tapping former World Wrestling Entertainment CEO Linda McMahon to be the U.S. Secretary of Education has experts in public education concerned. While mostly known for her involvement in WWE, McMahon is also the current board chair at the conservative think tank, America First Policy Institute. McMahon stepped down from the WWE in 2009, when she joined the Connecticut Board of Education, before resigning due to stricter regulations surrounding whether board members could be involved in fundraising. She then ran for the Senate twice in Connecticut, losing to Sen. Chris Murphy and Sen. Richard Blumenthal. McMahon served in Trump's cabinet during his first term, as the administrator of the Small Business Administration for two years. Recently, she also held the position of the co-chair on Trump and Vice President-elect J.D. Vance's transition team. Beyond her short stint on the state's Board of Education, her false claim that she had earned a Bachelor of Arts in education (it was actually a degree in French that she received) and serving on the board of trustees for Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT, McMahons resume lacks education experience, which has drawn concern from the National Education Association. Advertisement Article continues below this ad NEA President Becky Pringle said parents and educators will not stand by as Trump and Betsy DeVos 2.0 steal resources for our most vulnerable students, increase class sizes, cut job training programs, make higher education more expensive and out of reach for middle-class families, take away special education services for disabled students, and put student civil rights protections at risk, a recent piece penned by leaders of the national teachers' union reads. Since Trump made his announcement Tuesday, controversy has also swirled around McMahon and her leadership at a company that has been sued for allegedly enabling sexual assault and trafficking of minors during her tenure. But if confirmed by a Senate vote in January, what powers would McMahon have over Texas education? Despite concerns about the appointment, the Secretary of Education doesnt have much local power. In the U.S., education policy is mostly controlled by state and local agencies. But the leader of the department does have control over the dispersal of federal funding, such as loans and special education programs and federal programs like the Community Eligibility Provision (which Project 2025 calls to eliminate). The department also collects data on schools across the U.S. and oversees some federal investigations. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Two new cases involving journalists in Europe give a frightening glimpse of how freedom of speech is being systematically snuffed out in Europe. One case comes from Germany and the other from France, and follow a long list of attacks by government suppressing free speech in both countries. The situtation is also particularly dire in the UK and Ireland. In France a TV journalist for the conservative network CNews during a program oriented to Catholics referred, correctly, to abortion as the world's leading cause of death. Although factually true, it was something that the French establishment did not want said on TV, so the French media regulator fined the network 100,000 euros and compelled them to apologize on the air. https://europeanconservative.com/articles/news/french-tv-channel-fined-for-calling-abortion-the-worlds-leading-cause-of-death/ In Germany, the editor in chief of the conservative news website Deutschland - Kurier has been heavily fined and could face up to three years in prison for posting two satirical memes on controversial Social Democrat Interior Minister Nancy Fraeser. One of those is a photoshoped image showing Fraeser holding a sign that reads "I hate freedom of expression". That was published after Fraeser had illegally shut down a conservative magazine in a well publicized raid with dozens of masked policemen, an action that was later overturned in the courts. https://europeanconservative.com/articles/news/german-journalist-could-face-prison-for-mocking-government-officials/ Americans can thank our lucky stars that we escaped this same sort of nonsense from free speech opponents Harris and Walz., who George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley, who is a leading advocate of free speech, called the most anti-free speech presidential ticket in American history. Beaufort County Schools are building a new school on the same ground where Eastern Elementary already exists, at a cost of $10,500,000.00 to Beaufort County's Taxpayers. Is this a wise expense of taxpayer dollars at this time? 22.73% Yes, Beaufort County has been awarded a 42 million dollars of grant money from the state of North Carolina (FREE MONEY) to construct school at 3.00 per squ. ft.65.91% No, this is the wrong time, to build the wrong school, on the wrong placement - its lowest point - of Eastern Elementary's existing location, when community schools work best.11.36% Why should I care about the public's education? Mayor John Whitmire speaks as he joined community partners to announce a comprehensive strategy to end homelessness. He spoke at the City Hall Legacy Room on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, in Houston. Karen Warren/Staff photographer Mayor John Whitmire stood Thursday afternoon on a stage in City Hall, alongside a screen with a bold proclamation. "In Mayor Whitmire's first term, Houston can be the first major city to end street homelessness," it read. The word "can" was crossed out and replaced with the word "will," in italics. He had gathered with city officials, law enforcement officers and nonprofit leaders to outline his plan for how to do so. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The press conference was simultaneously a lofty vision statement, a fundraising pitch and a call for legislative changes that could create sustainable sources of funding and make it easier to commit people with mental illnesses who are living on the street. Whitmire twice characterized the plan as involving both compassion and enforcement for individuals who may resist housing, citing a recent Supreme Court decision ruling. The nation's highest court ruled that homeless people can be fined and arrested for sleeping in public, even if there isn't a shelter where they could sleep instead. Houston has for years been viewed as a rare success story in the face of growing homeless populations across the country since 2011, it has cut its annual count of people sleeping in shelters or on the street or in other places not meant for human habitation by more than two thirds. (The count does not include people who lack a home but are staying with friends or in hotels.) Advertisement Article continues below this ad The city's new plan tries to address those concerns by adding a new goal: Making sure everyone has a place to stay off the street. "I'm here to declare today, you help the homeless by getting them off the street and reclaiming our public spaces," Whitmire said. A monitor with the slogan Houston will be the first major city to end street homelessness after Mayor John Whitmire held a press conference to announce a comprehensive strategy to end homelessness at the City Hall Legacy Room on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, in Houston. Karen Warren/Staff photographer Changing strategies The declaration marked a departure from the strategy taken by the city and its partners for over a decade, which focused limited funds on permanent housing, coupled with caseworkers. Mike Nichols, the city's director of housing and community development, estimated that it cost $23,000 a year to provide such housing, compared with $35,000 a year for each spot provided by the city's navigation center, a place where people stay between when their encampment is shut down and they secure housing. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Shelters are more expensive because they require staff and meals, among other services. But without them, police officers face difficulties responding to public complaints where are people to go? Whitmire said his plan would "restore public spaces for the public." "I'm tired of living in the past and hearing what Houston has done since 2011," he said. He pointed to the public spaces just outside City Hall such as the Central Library, where homeless individuals sometimes get out of the Texas heat and other harsh weather conditions. "The city library's their washroom!" he said. "The public avoids it." However, the repeated emphasis on a "call to action" highlighted that the city and its partners have to find a path to the $70 million a year they believe the plan will require. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Mayor John Whitmire speaks as he joined community partners to announce a comprehensive strategy to end homelessness. They spoke at the City Hall Legacy Room on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, in Houston. Karen Warren/Staff photographer Where will funding come from? Houston's homelessness strategy has long depended on influxes of federal disaster funding, such as the funds unleashed by Hurricane Harvey and the pandemic. Now that $150 million of COVID-related funding that had channeled into the region's homelessness response is winding down at the same time that a budget crunch has caused the Houston Housing Authority to temporarily stop issuing vouchers used to pay for permanent supportive housing the pace at which people can be moved off the street into housing has slowed. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Nichols said that the city would commit roughly $25 million "from various funding streams." He hoped the county would contribute $20 million, and that he could get $10 million from other government sources. The Downtown District has contributed $1 million, and Whitmire said he expected other districts, such as Tax Increment Reinvestment Zones and management districts to contribute as well. "We put $200 million into Memorial Park," Whitmire said. "The Med Center, we spend billions." He said he had been meeting with foundations across the city. Larry Satterwhite, the city's director of public safety, emphasized that change would take time and would depend on funding. "Tomorrow you're not going to wake up and suddenly there's no homelessness outside." Mayor John Whitmire shakes hands after a press conference to announce a comprehensive strategy to end homelessness. Whitmire spoke at the City Hall Legacy Room on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, in Houston. Karen Warren/Staff photographer How Houston will fight homelessness The city's efforts would start in the areas with the highest homeless populations, officials told the Houston Chronicle. The plan would involve stepping up outreach to those who may become homeless and teaming up with partners such as the Salvation Army, which already offers transitional housing; the Harris Center, which has various temporary housing programs for those with mental illness; and the Sobering Center, which has beds for those struggling with addiction. Satterwhite spoke of people who may refuse housing because "they simply lack the awareness because they suffer from mental health." "We need some law changes to give us more tools," he said. Such a legislative change would be a significant change from current policy, which only allows individuals to be involuntarily committed if they are a risk to their own safety or that of others. Whitmire also said that legislative changes might be needed to create sustainable sources of funding. He pointed to the Harris County Flood Control District, a special purpose district created by the Texas Legislature, and the Harris Health System, created by a voter referendum. Both entities have taxing authority. "Can we imagine maybe having a mental health/homeless (district)?" Whitmire asked. Whitmire referenced the recent spate of civility ordinance zones which ban individuals from sitting or lying down on the sidewalk during the day requested by various neighborhoods since he was inaugurated in January. During public comment about the creation of a civility ordinance zone in Magnolia Park, Whitmire said in October that Houston planned to open a 'city-sponsored encampment,' an assertion city officials have since said will not be happening. But during Thursday's press conference, he emphasized the need to remove homeless individuals from public spaces. Manasi Agrawal, MD, a gastroenterologist at Mount Sinai in New York City, discussed the findings in a Nov. 21 article published by Medpage Today. Here are five notes on the findings of the study: 1. The researchers measured pesticides in serum samples up to 10 years before diagnosis in patients through a case-control study using high resolution mass spectrometry. 2. The study measured hundreds of different chemicals using this technique, Dr. Agrawal said, and then applied mixtures methods to understand how all of these chemicals linked with inflammatory bowel disease. 3. Prior to diagnosis, the researchers found that this mixture of chemicals was connected to an increased risk of both ulcerative colitis and Crohns disease 6-10 years before diagnosis, but not at closer points to diagnosis. 4. This indicated that there may be a link between exposure to these chemicals, which primarily consisted of pesticides, and IBD risk when exposed several years pre-diagnosis. 5. The lag between time of exposure and diagnosis also indicates to researchers that it may take significant time for the biological effects of these exposures to occur. Question: What emerging trends or opportunities do you see driving growth for ASCs in the next few years? Editors note: This response was edited lightly for clarity and length. Traci Albers, CEO of Surgical Management Professionals (Sioux Falls, S.D.): I do not believe these are new trends or opportunities, but I foresee these continuing to drive growth for ASCs: Joint replacements: It is hard to believe that all physicians are not performing appropriate joint replacements in ASCs; however, we go into some markets and are still seeing joint replacements performed exclusively in hospitals. I believe joint replacements will continue transitioning to ASCs. For those ASCs that have been performing them for many years, they are continuing to perfect care delivery and cost management, which helps as reimbursement continues to tighten. It is hard to believe that all physicians are not performing appropriate joint replacements in ASCs; however, we go into some markets and are still seeing joint replacements performed exclusively in hospitals. I believe joint replacements will continue transitioning to ASCs. For those ASCs that have been performing them for many years, they are continuing to perfect care delivery and cost management, which helps as reimbursement continues to tighten. Cardiology: Cardiology continues to be a growth area in some markets. Cardiology continues to be a growth area in some markets. Spine: Much like joint replacements, there is still significant opportunity to move spine cases to ASCs. Much like joint replacements, there is still significant opportunity to move spine cases to ASCs. Employer-directed healthcare: In markets with high healthcare costs where employers are getting involved, we are seeing unique opportunities for ASCs to partner with self-funded employers to help drive down the cost of healthcare. Employers are designing their benefit plans around ASCs to direct their patients. Will Brancamp, ASC Administrator, Infirmary Health System: The growth of hospital systems doing joint venture ASCs. This includes hospital systems, physicians, and ASC management groups, as many hospital systems do not have ASC experience. Private equity companies pushing for more ancillary services, particularly ASCs. Growth of procedures that are acceptable in an ASC setting. Development of new procedures in hospital system surgery departments. Jennifer Boese, Director of Healthcare Policy at CliftonLarsonAllen: Shifting sites of service for procedures is propelling growth and volumes in ASCs. This shift has been occurring for years, with procedures moving from higher-cost settings (like hospitals) to more cost-efficient settings, such as ASCs. Volume opportunities may increase if more procedures are covered under Medicare. Im watching what the incoming administration might do with the Medicare ASC-covered procedures list. (Remember, the first Trump administration wanted to add hundreds of procedures to the list.) Opportunities to assess and participate in joint ventures with hospitals. By participating in ASC ownership through JVs, hospitals can capture revenues they are losing as outpatient procedures move to ASCs. Demographics, especially individuals aging into Medicare eligibility, are a long-term trend to watch. Consumers and employers are becoming more cost-conscious, potentially turning to ASCs for better value. Vance Chunn, CEO of Cardiology Associates (Mobile, Ala.): There are a number of trends driving growth for ASCs. One includes the continued shift of cardiac procedures from the hospital inpatient and outpatient setting to ASCs. Additionally, CMS has approved numerous cardiac related procedures that can now be performed in the ambulatory surgery setting, and other payers are coming along as well. However, this transition is moving slower than previously presumed. Many hospitals are reluctant to see these procedures move out of the hospital setting. Cardiac procedures account for a significant portion of a hospitals revenues. Because of this, only those hospitals that see the importance of an early and aggressive ambulatory strategy are focusing on current development of cardiac specific ASCs or muti-specialty ASCs that are expanding to accommodate cardiac procedures. Many hospitals will have to give up revenue by seeing procedures exit the inpatient and outpatient setting. Additionally, they will also, in many cases, have to share revenue with physicians by including them in joint ventures or other ownership in ASCs. Another trend is the push by some payers to lower the cost of procedures. Again, this too is a mixed experience. That is, some payers have been slow on the uptake of pricing and paying for ASC procedures. Gastroenterology, ENT, ophthalmology and general surgery procedures are more mature and stable, but orthopedics and now cardiology are still considered relatively new to the space. On the other hand, other payers are pushing to get procedures into a lower-cost setting. Additionally, patients are looking for alternatives to the hospital setting and are becoming more and more accepting of the convenience and satisfaction associated with the ambulatory surgery environment. The concern about quality in ASCs is minimal and, in some cases, educated patients understand there are potential quality benefits for having procedures in that arena. Another trend is the rapid growth in involvement of private equity in ASCs and physician practices that could shift procedures to ASCs. This is especially true in non-CON states. Private equity has recently more rapidly become involved with cardiology because of the enormous potential to shift cardiac procedures out of the hospital. Private equity companies see this as a way to increase revenues to practices they become involved in owning and an opportunity for them to participate in the ownership and management of ASCs. Daniel Hatef, MD, Plastic Surgeon (Nashville, Tenn.): Plastic surgeons working in office-based surgery suites will begin to partner to create multi-location mini-ASC management organizations. These ORs are typically financial losses, offering a boutique experience and allowing surgeons to control their schedules and perioperative care. Economies of scale, access to big data, and professional management will reduce overhead and turn these OR suites into moneymakers for participating surgeons. Carina Topf, RN, Director of Nursing at Riverview Surgical Center (Sioux City, Iowa): Same-day endoscopic back procedures and total shoulder replacements are becoming more popular. The cost of lengthy hospital stays is very expensive, and an ASC is more attractive to patients as they will have less out-of-pocket costs. With same-day procedures for bigger cases such as backs, and total joints patients have the capability to finish recovery in the comfort of their own home. As insurance companies add these CPT codes to their list of covered procedures at an ASC, I feel that in the long run most of these procedures will eventually be done in an ASC setting. Kathy Weihman, Administrator of Genesis Surgery Center (Fowlerville, Mich.): I definitely see growth in some of the higher-dollar cases, such as orthopedics. I also think we need to watch emerging AI technologies to see how they can improve how we do business and enhance patient care. Six notes: 1. Voices for Vermonts Children, a nonprofit child policy research and advocacy group, published a report earlier this month detailing oral health disparities in the state. 2. According to the report, Vermont is losing dentists at a faster rate than almost every other state. It went from having nearly 60 dentists per 100,000 residents in 2019 down to 53 dentists per 100,000 residents in 2023. 3. The number of hygienists practicing in the state also declined by about 4% between 2015 and 2021. 4. The Vermont Department of Health currently only has one hygienist, compared to five before the COVID-19 pandemic. 5. The state also has made slow progress in adding dental therapists and inexpensive, non-invasive dental procedures. 6. Voices for Vermonts Children recommended several solutions to improve oral health in the state, including investing in low-cost facilities and procedures and integrating dental facilities with primary care facilities. Baylor College of Medicine and the Texas Heart Institute, both based in Houston, will partner to establish a cardiovascular health and research center at Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center. The Texas Heart Institute at Baylor College of Medicine will be led by the institute's president and CEO, Joseph Rogers, MD, who holds a faculty appointment at Baylor, according to a Nov. 21 news release from the college. The consolidation will occur in phases over the next five years, with plans to raise additional funds for the project, the release said. The battle over who should provide obesity and diabetes drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy has reached a critical point, as manufacturers and compounding pharmacies clash over the demand of these medications, NPR reported Nov. 20. While drugmakers Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly push to end compounding by claiming the drugs are no longer in shortage, compounding pharmacies argue that their services are still needed due to ongoing patient demand and limited access to brand-named options. Here are five things to know: Nate Carter has been appointed CEO of Pocatello, Idaho-based Portneuf Medical Center after serving in the role on an interim basis since August. Mr. Carter has been with the 205-bed hospital since 2019, serving as COO before stepping into the interim CEO position, according to a Nov. 21 news release shared with Becker's. He succeeds Jordan Herget, who stepped down on Sept. 6. The long-standing federal cap on Medicare-supported residency slots coupled with ongoing economic challenges faced by hospitals could spell trouble for the nation's physician shortage. Most large academic medical centers train residents well beyond the number of positions for which they receive support from Medicare, meaning they cover the full cost of training for any additional residents. Across the country, teaching hospitals fully cover training costs for roughly 25,000 residents averaging around $184,000 per resident annually in 2021 without any federal reimbursement. They do so because a core part of their mission as teaching hospitals and academic medical centers is to develop the future physician workforce. But amid ongoing financial pressures facing the industry, including high labor and supply costs, healthcare groups have warned that self-funded resident positions are not sustainable long-term. "It is extremely expensive," said Leonard Marquez, senior director of government relations at the Association of American Medical Colleges. "Those over-the-cap positions are the types of things I think are at risk [of being cut amid escalating costs.]" "That's one of the things that certainly worries me about how we're ultimately going to be able to address the physician shortage." The American Hospital Association shares the concern. "While some hospitals are filling in gaps by self-funding a portion of their own, this model is not sustainable over the long haul, as evidenced by the -17.3% Medicare margins (without COVID-19 relief funds) for teaching-only hospitals in 2020," the group wrote in a June 2023 fact sheet on graduate medical education funding. Even with Medicare funding, hosting residency programs is a significant expense. In 2021, teaching hospitals spent $23.1 billion to run residency training programs, AAMC data shows. Of that, Medicare covered just over $5 billion, or 22%. The path forward Despite growing enrollment in U.S. medical schools, the number of Medicare-supported residency slots has essentially remained frozen at 1996 levels. In 1997, Congress established caps on the number of Medicare-supported positions, which were based on the number of residents teaching hospitals were training at the end of 1996. Hospitals, medical schools and physicians say the cap is a major contributor to the nation's growing physician shortage and are urging federal lawmakers to pass bipartisan legislation the Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act that would add 14,000 Medicare-supported residency positions over seven years, with one-third of the slots reserved for hospitals already training above the cap. "Lifting the cap on Medicare-funded residency positions would enhance access to care and help America's hospitals better meet the needs of the communities they serve," the AHA said. Should such an expansion come to fruition, the nation could limit the shortage of physicians to 86,000 by 2033. Without major federal investments in graduate medical education, the U.S. will likely end up with a much larger shortfall of up to 124,000 physicians, according to AAMC projections. Since 2021, Congress has authorized funding for 1,200 new Medicare-supported positions under two laws, marking the first increases since the cap was established 27 years ago. The new positions will gradually phase in over the next several years. To date, CMS has awarded half of the 1,200 positions to teaching hospitals. The physician shortage is complex and driven by a range of factors. But many healthcare stakeholders largely agree on one thing: The nation will not make meaningful progress in addressing the shortage until there are significant expansions to residency programs. Almost a year after receiving FDA approval, Florida's plan to import lower-cost prescription drugs from Canada remains mired in delays, KFF Health News reported Nov. 21. Despite the green light from the Biden administration and expectations that the initiative would lower costs for state health programs, the program has yet to take effect. Here are five notes: FILE - The app for Bluesky is shown on a mobile phone, left, and on a laptop screen on June 2, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File) (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File) The number of users on BlueSky has more than doubled over the last two months as millions of people sought alternatives to X, formerly Twitter fueled in part by new X policy changes. Now, more than 20 million users on BlueSky have broad control over what is in their feeds and who can interact with them on the platform a stark contrast to its competitors. The decentralized social media app was invite-only during its initial launch last year by Jack Dorsey, former Twitter co-founder and CEO. It's now welcomed people from around the world looking for something different. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The invite-only strategy was not tied to exclusivity, despite rumors that it was, said Emily Liu, developer relations specialist at BlueSky. The reason why we used invite codes back then was because we wanted to give ourselves time to grow the network responsibly, to build up our trust and safety team and have all of our moderation practices in place before we really let the doors open and let everyone sign up, Liu said. Liu said more users have flocked to the app since the presidential election less than a month ago noting a 5.75 million increase. The open network also saw an uptick in users after X, formerly Twitter, announced its terms of conditions and privacy policy would change. Celebrities like Don Lemon and Steven King posted fond farewells to their followers while asking them to join them on other platforms. A large number of users in Brazil signed up for the app after the Brazilian Supreme Court banned X, Liu said. The ban was later lifted. Advertisement Article continues below this ad I would say that this growth wave actually started like a couple of months ago, she said. BlueSky already had like 7 or 8 million users before any of this even happened and so we already had a growing, vibrant community. BlueSky is advertised as being is made for the people by the people" and unlike anything created before. I feel like prioritizing the health of our community is one of our top priorities, Liu said. At the end of the day, the backbone of any social platform is the people the community." During a Q&A hosted on Twitch, CTO Paul Frazee and COO Rose Wang discussed the inner workings of the app and what new users could expect by joining the new network. Frazee and Wang dived into how users get a chance to curate the experience they desire. One of the many features of the app, the ability to create and share what's called a starter pack, has helped grow the community. Any user can create a starter pack, recommending up to 150 people and three custom feeds for other users to follow, and the starter packs are easily shared via text or on other social media networks, according to information from BlueSky. Advertisement Article continues below this ad When asked about the possibility of BlueSky being shut down, Wang explained developers built BlueSky to function anywhere on the app protocol. She said with the freedom of exit, users can choose to store their data on their own servers, and can leave at any time their followers will still be able to find their content. I'm leaving Twitter. Tried to stay, but the atmosphere has just become too toxic. Follow me on Threads, if you like. Stephen King (@StephenKing) November 14, 2024 High street nursery brand Mamas & Papas is opening its biggest store within a store in the UK and Ireland in Lisburn today. The brand, which is continuing its recovery after going into administration five years ago, is now trading from a 4,500 sq ft concession inside Marks & Spencer at Sprucefield Shopping Centre. And shoppers will be able to avail of Black Friday deals in the store, with up to 50% off on bestselling items, until December 8. Its the brands second store in the Belfast and Lisburn area, as it already trades from a standalone unit in Belfasts Victoria Square. The first shoppers to spend more than 25 will receive a goodie bag filled with "parenting essentials, the company said, while those who spend more than 50 will have the chance to win vouchers to spend in store, as well as a tote bag and Percy Pig treats. The new opening will be the brands largest concession to date throughout the UK and Ireland. It will also offer services such as car sear consultations and one-to-one Buying for Baby personal shopping appointments with industry experts, as well as a Click & Collect service. Sarah Starkie, regional manager at Mamas & Papas, said: Were hugely excited for our new state-of-the-art Lisburn concession to open in Marks & Spencer. The move marks an exciting time in our expansion and our commitment to being the high streets most accessible nursery brand, with the new in-store concession being our biggest yet. Families are such a big part of our community, and were proud to be able to offer parents-to-be across Belfast the chance to get their hands on some brilliant giveaways this weekend as well as making the most of the incredible Black Friday savings on offer. Phil Wiltshire, store manager for Marks & Spencer at Sprucefield, added: Were thrilled to welcome a bespoke Mamas & Papas shop-in-shop to our Sprucefield Centre store, complementing our baby and kidswear offer, and its great to be able to open just in time for shoppers to save on their baby essentials. We know how daunting welcoming a new addition can be, and we look forward to seeing our customers faces when they visit and find everything they would expect at a Mamas & Papas store, with the added value of shopping at their local M&S. The store is open from 8am to 10pm Monday to Friday, 8am to 9pm on Saturday and 1pm to 6pm on Sunday. Mamas & Papas was sold in a pre-pack deal after going into administration in 2019. The cost-of-living crisis has meant this Christmas is going to be a stressful one for many in Northern Ireland and shocking levels of shoplifting have left many shop owners and retail workers dreading the festive period. Troubled DIY and garden chain Homebase was waiting on around 5 million of tax rebates before collapsing into administration last week. It comes as the stricken firm has set a deadline of the end of next week for potential buyers to snap up its remaining shops in the UK and Ireland. Defence firm Thales has denied allegations related to a probe by the UKs Serious Fraud Office and French authorities (Liam McBurney/PA) Defence firm Thales has denied allegations related to an investigation by the UKs Serious Fraud Office (SFO) and French authorities. The weapons manufacturer said the investigation is targeting four of its entities in the UK and France, regarding the performance of a contract in Asia. Outgoing Joel Cooper has been the difference maker for Linfield and they'll wrap up the title in March Container lorry in which 39 people were found dead in Grays, Essex. Credit: Aaron Chown Defamation proceedings brought by a haulier over a newspaper report on the police investigation into the deaths of 39 migrants in a lorry container are to be dismissed, the High Court in Belfast ruled today. A minister jailed for conning his church and a grieving parishioner out of a total of 11,000 is to be released due to the impact on his two children, the Court of Appeal ruled today. Ireland badly needed convincing win over Italy to end Six Nations on high and this just wasnt it Incident at Coleraine bus station An incident has occurred at Coleraine bus station. The Air Ambulance has been pictured at the scene. A Translink spokesperson said: We can confirm an incident has occurred involving a car at Coleraine Bus & Rail Centre this morning. Emergency services were called to the scene and we are assisting the PSNI with their enquiries. Translink services are currently departing from the front of the station. More martyrs' remains to be returned to China from ROK Xinhua) 15:41, November 22, 2024 BEIJING, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- The remains of 43 Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs who lost their lives during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea will be returned to China from the Republic of Korea (ROK) in late November, according to China's Ministry of Veterans Affairs. This will mark the 11th repatriation of CPV martyrs' remains since the signing of a handover agreement between the two countries. From 2014 to 2023, China and the ROK, in accordance with international laws and humanitarian principles, successfully completed 10 consecutive handovers involving the remains of 938 CPV martyrs in the ROK, along with related artifacts. Both sides have agreed to continue their cooperation in these efforts. Almost 200,000 CPV soldiers were confirmed killed in the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea, with most interred on the Korean Peninsula. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Galveston firefighters, police and emergency medical personnel respond to an oil fire at Texas International Terminals in Galveston on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. Five contractors were injured. JENNIFER REYNOLDS/The Daily News/Jennifer Reynolds/The Galveston County Daily News Galveston firefighters, police and emergency medical personnel respond to an oil fire at Texas International Terminals in Galveston on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. Five contractors were injured. JENNIFER REYNOLDS/The Daily News/Jennifer Reynolds/The Galveston County Daily News At least five workers were injured in an explosion near a shipping terminal at the Port of Galveston Thursday afternoon, according to officials with the Galveston Fire Department. Officials said the explosion was reported at around 3 p.m. Thursday at a Texas International Terminals Facility on Old Port Industrial Road. A spokesperson for the Galveston Fire Department said that the five workers were transported to UTMB Galveston. Advertisement Article continues below this ad A spokesperson for Sullivan Brothers Family of Companies, which owns Texas International Terminals, said the workers were in the process of installing a valve when the explosion occurred. An incident occurred at Texas International Terminals Ltd. while welding contractors were installing a valve on a crude oil pipe which resulted in a flash fire, the spokesperson said in a statement. Five contractor personnel were treated for injuries. The fire was promptly contained by onsite trained personnel and no spills or releases occurred. The condition of those injured was not immediately available Thursday afternoon, but the spokesperson said three were burned while the other two received injuries unrelated to the fire. The explosion and subsequent fire has since been contained, but emergency personnel from the Galveston Police Department and the Galveston Fire Department were still on scene at around 4:30 p.m., officials said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad A 38-year old man has been charged after drugs worth 1.8 million was police in Co Tyrone on Thursday. The operation targeting the Irish National Liberation Army was carried out by detectives from the Paramilitary Crime Task Force. They discovered the quantity of suspected class A drugs and arrested a 38-year-old man following the search of a vehicle in Omagh. THe man has since been charged with possession of class A controlled drugs with intent to supply and importing a controlled drug. He will appear before Dungannon Magistrates tomorrow, Saturday 23rd November. As is usual procedure, all charges will be reviewed by the PPS. DI Pyper said: We are committed protecting our communities by removing dangerous drugs from our streets. This demonstrates the PCTFs commitment to tackling all types of organised criminality linked to paramilitaries. "Our enquiries are ongoing and we would like to thank the local community for their continued support and we will continue to act on the information you provide us. If you have any information about the use or supply of drugs you can contact police on 101, or submit a report online using the non-emergency reporting form. Paschal Donohoe has said he paid for his own meal during a private meeting with Ryanair boss Michael OLeary. The Public Expenditure Minister has come under scrutiny from the opposition over the February 2022 meeting with the airline chief, which was previously undisclosed. Sinn Fein finance spokesman Pearse Doherty said there was a need for Mr Donohoe to come clean over the meeting, accusing Fine Gael of a lack of transparency and accountability. Ryanair chief executive Michael OLeary (Brian Lawless/PA) He said: Paschal Donohoe is the Minister for Public Expenditure and Michael OLeary is a business figure who is regularly seeking to influence government policy. It is important for the Irish people to know whose interests their government really serves. Mr Doherty said the minister did not disclose the dinner meeting when first asked about engagements with Mr OLeary. He said he later acknowledged the meeting after journalists came with more information. We have now been told by Fine Gael that no records were kept of the meeting as no actions were taken arising from it. Thats not good enough. Mr Donohoe said on Friday: Any matter that ever refers to government business is dealt with in the right way. Any meeting that I have with anybody that refers to Government business is recorded and its published in my diary. Mr Donohoe was Finance Minister and 18 months into his Eurogroup presidency at the time of the dinner. Fine Gael ministers Peter Burke and Paschal Donohoe (David Young/PA) Asked if it was acceptable to have a purely social meeting with the chief executive of Europes biggest airline, given his roles at the time, he said: Yes, it is. Pressed on what the two men talked about if no official business or policy was discussed, Mr Donohoe said: We talked about very general matters. If any issue in relation to government, business, regulation or policy had been dealt with, that would have been recorded and it would have been dealt with in the same way that every other engagement that I do. Mr Donohoe said he would not describe himself as friends with Mr OLeary, adding that attendees paid their fair share. It is not the first controversy involving Fine Gael and Mr OLeary during the election campaign. The Ryanair boss appeared to malign teachers during the launch of enterprise minister Peter Burkes campaign in Mullingar. Mr OLeary and Fine Gael were criticised after the crowd at the event laughed when the airline chief said he would not hire teachers to get things done, saying the Dail needed more people from private sector backgrounds. Sinn Feins finance spokesperson Pearse Doherty (Niall Carson/PA) Mr Burke and senior Fine Gael figures including Taoiseach Simon Harris welcomed Mr OLearys endorsement but distanced themselves from his remarks about teachers. Mr Doherty added: It would be instructive for the public to know just how much influence Michael OLeary has with Fine Gael and, by extension, over decisions made by that party in government. Mr Donohoe was speaking to the media at the launch of Fine Gaels election policies for Dublin and other urban centres. The party said it is committed to transforming Dublin city centre into a more vibrant, safe and attractive destination in which to live and work. Mr Donohoe said Fine Gael would implement recommendations of the Dublin City Centre Taskforce, with a focus on revitalising OConnell Street, delivering more visible policing and security, and transforming derelict sites. Fine Gael also pledged improved security measures in the city centre with increased CCTV coverage and a targeted response to reduce open drug use, redeveloping the GPO, collaborating with cultural institutions to offer more late-night events and extended opening hours. The party said it would recruit 6,000 new gardai over the next five years and reduce the concentration of drug treatment facilities in the city centre. Legally challenging the UK Government over Irish unity votes is an option, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald has said. Ms McDonald said successive UK governments have failed to provide clarity on its position for the preconditions or tipping point where a referendum would be held. The Sinn Fein leader said: I dont think thats a sustainable position. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said when he was in opposition that a referendum on Irish unification was not even on the horizon (Stefan Rousseau/PA) I think now this new British Government under Keir Starmer needs to set out their stall. Under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement of 1998, the UK Government is obliged to call a referendum in Northern Ireland if there is evidence of a shift in public opinion in favour of unity. In that event, there would be a simultaneous vote in the Republic of Ireland. Earlier this year, Prime Minister Sir Keir said he was committed to the principles of the Good Friday Agreement. However, while in opposition he said a referendum on Irish unification was not even on the horizon. Asked on Friday if Sinn Fein would consider a legal challenge against the British Government to force it to provide clarity on its decision making, Ms McDonald said Ireland had previously challenged the UK in the courts over legacy legislation. She said: Would (a legal challenge) be our first option? No. Is that option available to the Irish state? Yes. Ms McDonald said it was open to any citizen to challenge the UK Government on the terms of the Agreement. She added: Our first choice is political and diplomatic. Meanwhile, Ms McDonald also criticised the leader of Fianna Fail for saying he did not believe a border poll would happen within five years. She made the remarks as she launched Sinn Feins latest policy document on its long-held ambition for a united Ireland. Ms McDonald told reporters in Dublin: We need a mature, respectful conversation about constitutional change. Its a conversation that should be approached with optimism, with ambition and with the real sense of opportunity. Of course, the conversation must be inclusive. It has to recognise that people hold competing and different views about the future. It has to recognise the reality that partition has hurt Ireland politically and economically, and that we now have a chance to change all of that. Its time to plan and prepare for a united Ireland. The General Election policy document expands on the partys plans to work towards holding referendums for Irish unification by the end of the decade, under the provisions of the Good Friday Agreement. The party would also appoint a junior minister focused on reunification, and initiate a diplomatic offensive to promote Irish unity. Ms McDonald said she would seek support from US President-elect Donald Trump and other American politicians across the aisle. It would establish citizens assemblies to discuss the constitutional future of Ireland and prepare for an Irish national health service. Asked if the Irish flag would change in a united Irish state, Ms McDonald said the current tricolour represents an alliance between the Gael and the Planter. She said: For me the flag the green, the white and the orange represents all of our traditions. The entente between the orange and the green the Gael and the Planter. So I see no reason to change the flag. Ms McDonald said she personally saw no reason to change the flag or the anthem, but accepted others would have differing views. She said there was now a need to prepare for Irish unification in a better way than what was seen during Brexit. During the time leading up to the UKs withdrawal from the European Union, the DUP refused to engage with all-island talks established by then-Irish premier Enda Kenny. Asked if Sinn Fein expected to proceed with its preparations for unity without engagement from the DUP, Ms McDonald said: At that time, the argument was made that: Whats the point in extending it to the north? Unionism wont come. And correct, the DUP didnt come, but the Alliance Party did, and unionism came. It came as hauliers, agriculture, business. So we have to have the objective that every political party, all political representatives, will not just come and participate, but will feel very welcome coming and participating and their views and perspectives valued. Ms McDonald said it would be a mistake to reduce unionism to individual political parties, adding that there had been a sea change in how Protestants, unionists and loyalists engage with the conversation around unity. She also said there had been exciting political advancements in Northern Ireland. She pointed to Michelle ONeills position as First Minister as something that was against all odds and never supposed to happen. First Minister of Northern Ireland Michelle ONeill with deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly (Liam McBurney/PA) One of the proposals in Sinn Feins plans is to change the rules of the Oireachtas parliament in Dublin to allow MPs from Northern Ireland to have speaking time. Sinn Fein MPs do not take their seats at Westminster. Asked if she believed this could see her as a future taoiseach taking questions in Dublin from TUV leader Jim Allister during Leaders Questions, she replied: Well, I would very much welcome that Im not sure how Jim Allister would feel about it. Earlier on Friday, Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin said he did not foresee a Fianna Fail government holding a border poll in the next five years. He emphasised his work on the one-billion euro Shared Island Fund, which he described as the most important initiative for cross-border relationships since the Good Friday Agreement. Tanaiste and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin (Brian Lawless/PA) Speaking on Newstalk, Mr Martin added: Thats the future, its about reconciliation. Its about the old Wolfe Tone principle of uniting people, Protestant, Catholic and the centre. Ms McDonald said his position was astonishing and irresponsible, adding that she thought Fianna Fail believed in unity. She said: Change is happening, its evident that its happening. It needs to be managed and planned for and I actually think its irresponsible of any political leader to refuse to plan for the future. Ms McDonald added: I think its irresponsible, I think its short-sighted. I think it lacks ambition. I think its very much out of step with the opportunities that we now have as a country. We should be grasping opportunity, not pushing it away. Mary Lou McDonald has told a group of Dublin students they will live their best years in a united Ireland as she set out her partys vision for young people. The Sinn Fein president was surrounded by students on the campus of Dublin City University as she promised reforms on housing and mental health. Among the issues students raised with her as she arrived for the event were the short window new voters had to register, the high cost of car insurance, Gerry The Monk Hutchs election bid, and a united Ireland. Ms McDonald told the students: I hope all of you have, youre all registered to vote because this is a very important election for everyone, especially your generation. In my mind, this is your election, this is the moment where you make your mark. Aaron Casey, a journalism student, asked about the partys plan for Northern Ireland and the cost of unity. Ms McDonald said: Its a measure of how much has changed that there (Michelle ONeill) is, against all of the odds, and more than that shes a First Minister for all. Were really, really conscious that we have to build this new Ireland and we have to do it together. Whatever happened in the past, and you must remember the past and all the rest of it, the job is the here and now and to build tomorrow. I feel so optimistic. I think all of you are going to live your best years in a united Ireland. Sinn Feins Mary Lou McDonald speaking to students at the launch of the partys policy document for young people at the DCU, Dublin (Brian Lawless/PA) I think were going to have referendums in this decade and I think we need to go out and really imaginatively set out what the best Ireland looks like for all of us. I dont have a question for you, I just wanted to say youll be a fantastic taoiseach, said Samuel Kennedy, 20, the manager of DCU TV. Asked about Mr Hutchs election bid, Ms McDonald said that anyone can run for election, but she represented families that suffered because of gangland violence. She added: It wasnt glamorous, its not cool, its not funny. There were people, families and children left very, very traumatised still by that and that kind of activity in communities brings nothing but bad news and hardship, especially for young people. Erica Elliott asked about the partys plans for disability services, while Amy Casey, an international relations student from Co Roscommon, raised concerns about access to mental health supports. Ms Casey said she had been nine months waiting for an appointment, and said while housing is important, without mental health the country wont run. If Sinn Fein promise to work on that, Sinn Fein will be getting my vote, Ms Casey told Ms McDonald. Taoiseach Simon Harris canvassing at Avoca in Malahide Castle, Dublin (Brian Lawless/PA) Meanwhile, Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris canvassed in the Avoca shop in Malahide Castle, where issues such as school places for children with additional needs were raised. Mr Harris also met Audrey Howard, the mother of Ciara and Rachel Howard, whose business designed Simon Harris mugs with his quote You Aint Seen Nothing Yet. They were very quick off the mark, Mr Harris said to Mrs Howard. Well the mug sits on the desk of the Taoiseachs office Im trying to keep it there. A housing minister has warned far too many buildings remain unsafe, with work to remove dangerous cladding yet to begin at almost 50% of monitored properties. Lord Khan of Burnley said there is a need to go further, faster as he told peers that remediation work has not started at 2,415 residential buildings 11 metres and over in height in England. His remarks came as the House of Lords debated the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Report, which Lord Khan said focused on fire safety but also exposed wider failures in practice and culture across government and industry. Conservative peer Lord Porter of Spalding said it is pure luck stopping a tragedy similar to Grenfell as he questioned whether the work to make buildings safe will ever be completed. Campaigners have repeatedly criticised the slow progress of remediation work in the seven years since the Grenfell Tower fire killed 72 people in 2017. Speaking in the upper chamber, Lord Khan said: Culture change cannot be a long-term aspiration, it must begin immediately. The Government has an obligation to carefully consider the findings and recommendations and continue to reform accordingly. So too do the designers, house builders, contractors, specialists, professionals, those who produce and market products, those who service and manage buildings. Every constituent part of our housing sector must act. What is abundantly clear is that far too many buildings remain unsafe. Addressing the latest Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government remediation figures released this week, Lord Khan said: They show that of the 4,834 residential buildings 11 metres over in height with unsafe cladding that the department is monitoring, 1,436 30% have completed remediation, 983 20% have started remediation, but that 2,415 buildings 50% have still not started remediation. We must go further, faster. Investment in remediation will rise to over 1 billion in June 2025/26 and we have previously committed to accelerating the pace of remediation through targeted measures. Im pleased to say that more on this will be outlined imminently. Everyone is entitled to and should be able to access a safe home regardless of background or community. What we saw prior to, during and after the tragedy at Grenfell Tower was a lack of respect for residents and a community treated appallingly both by their landlord and by local government leaders who should have listened and acted sooner. Lessons have been learned but more must be done so the right support can be mobilised quickly to respond to major events. Lord Porter, who was chairman of the Local Government Association on the day of the Grenfell Tower fire, said: When the minister said he was hopeful wed never have to have another case of this, I didnt see whether you had your fingers crossed because thats the only way wed get no chance of another one. It is pure luck that is stopping another Grenfell being the case tomorrow, today, tonight. There are so many unsafe buildings in this country that will not get remediated at any time in my lifetime. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content There will still be buildings that are dangerous places for people to live in when Im in my wooden box, there will still be people who will live and sleep every night in a building that could end up killing them. Were not going to get through the remediation process. Every time somebody brings a new piece of work to the table, we find more properties that need fixing. The National Audit Office earlier this month said a target date must be set for work to make safe thousands of buildings covered in dangerous cladding. Whitehalls spending watchdog said up to 7,229 buildings across England are yet to be identified and some might never be, as it warned completing works to make all buildings safe at an estimated cost of 16 billion might not be achieved in the next decade. Liberal Democrat Baroness Pidgeon, a former London Assembly member, said: The huge issue that remains is the number of buildings with dangerous cladding and other fire risks that remain across the country, but particularly in our big cities. For the Conservatives, Baroness Sanderson of Welton told the debate: It is now nearly seven-and-a-half years since that terrible night, but none of us should ever fall into the trap of thinking Oh, its a long time ago or that it is somehow easier for people now than it was then. It isnt. As the chair of Grenfell United said on the day the final report was published, We paid the price. The price was their children, their parents, their neighbours and their loved ones. We cannot bring them back, but we can do what is right in memory of them and we on this side of the House stand ready to help the Government in that task. Maria Eagle opened the new office in Glasgow on Friday (Andrew Milligan/PA) A new office for specialists which will help deliver the Aukus nuclear submarine programme has been opened in Glasgow, with a minister saying it will play a critical role. Defence procurement minister Maria Eagle also said the UK Government does not foresee any capability gaps as it retires older Royal Navy vessels. The Rolls-Royce Submarines office will support the programme to build the Dreadnought class of submarines, which will replace the Vanguard vessels which carry the UKs Trident nuclear deterrent. The company says it will create more than 100 skilled jobs, mainly in designing electrical components for the vessels. Aukus is the name of the trilateral agreement between Australia, the UK and the US to create a joint nuclear submarine project. Rolls-Royce Submarines is expected to provide all the nuclear reactor plants for the attack submarines, which will enter service in the late 2030s in the UK and early 2040s for the Australian navy. The office in Glasgow has been opened in response to the increased work the new orders are expected to create. Ms Eagle opened the office near Glasgow Airport on Friday, saying it will play a critical role in the future programmes. After an opening ceremony, she told journalists: Its a big job and Rolls-Royce do a lot of it when it comes to the propulsion side of things and its great to see them expand. Theyre going to have to expand more to do all the work. Its really brilliant that Glasgow is getting a slice of this. What better place, with the history of shipbuilding and marine engineering that there is here. Defence minister Maria Eagle cuts a ribbon to open the office, alongside Vice-Admiral Sir Chris Gardner, far left, Commander Paul Dunn, left, and Steve Carlier of Rolls-Royce Submarines, right (Andrew Milligan/PA) Earlier this week, the Government announced it is retiring a number of older Royal Navy vessels in a bid to cut costs, including the landing ships HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark and the frigate HMS Northumberland. The minister was asked about the procurement of new surface ships and what the Government is doing to ensure there are not slippages in the delivery dates, an issue which has plagued other military shipbuilding projects in the past. New classes of frigates are currently under construction in Glasgow and Rosyth, Fife. Ms Eagle said: We have to do better at the processes we undertake, but ships do take quite a long time to build and I dont think theres any way around that. She said that under the Governments current plans, there are no capability gaps as it retires the older Type 23 frigates. Steve Carlier, president of Rolls-Royce Submarines, said: The work we do for the Royal Navy is of critical strategic importance and to deliver it we need to harness talent from across the UK, not just from our base in Derby. The opening of our Glasgow office allows us to benefit from the regions strong pedigree in electrical engineering and add to our own existing pool of nuclear experts. A warning to the UK from Vladimir Putin features among the stories on Fridays front pages. The Daily Mirror reports the Russian leader warned UK targets could face strikes after British missiles were used by Ukraine to attack Russia. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content Foreign Secretary David Lammy says Britain and France will relentlessly fight this campaign of Putinisation, according to the i. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content Meanwhile, The Times, The Guardian, The Telegraph and Financial Times all lead with the International Criminal Court issuing an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with the decision backed by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content Metro reports a British lawyer has died after allegedly being served alcohol poisoned with methanol in Laos. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content The Daily Express leads with the Government committing 536 million in aid for overseas agricultural projects amid backlash over inheritance tax changes. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content The Daily Mail says Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has revived plans for a boiler tax in an effort to deliver Labours clean energy plans. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content The Sun leads with a report on police investigating non-crime hate incidents. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content And the Daily Star reports Storm Bert is set to bring 70mph winds, snow and ice over the weekend. Kyle Pugh died in hospital in Telford in March 2022, the day after West Mercia Police were called to an address in Newport, Shropshire (West Mercia Police/PA) A woman accused of murdering a father-of-three more than two years ago has appeared at crown court. Amy Pugh, of Stafford Road in Wolverhampton, was charged on Thursday with the murder of Kyle Pugh, 29, who died in hospital the day after West Mercia Police were called to a property in Aston Drive in Newport, Shropshire, on March 22 2022. Appearing at Birmingham Crown Court via videolink from Eastwood Park prison on Friday, the 34-year-old wiped away tears as she learned she was remanded into custody until her next appearance in January. Pugh, who wore a sleeveless summer dress to the hearing, was not asked to enter any pleas during the brief hearing and was told she would need to appear at Stafford Crown Court on January 10 2025. She asked: Can I go now? after being told by Judge Kristina Montgomery KC she would be remanded in custody unless a bail application was put forward and considered. A provisional date for trial, which is expected to last two weeks, was set for March 24 next year. Mr Pugh died at the Princess Royal Hospital in Telford surrounded by his family on March 23 2022. In a statement released through West Mercia Police after his death, his family said: Kyle was a beloved son, father of three, brother, uncle and a friend to many. He was known for being a local MC, and despite being a Newport resident he was also a well-known Hollinswood lad. Kyle was a visionary in design and the CEO and founder of Design Dudes UK, but he could turn his hand to almost anything as he was a man of many talents. Our hearts are broken as Kyle was taken from us far too soon and he had so much more to give. He will be missed by so many. The King and Mere Takoko perform hhe hongi, a traditional Maori greeting, as Charles joined scientists, businesses and indigenous leaders to celebrate the launch of the Circular Bioeconomy Alliance at St Jamess Palace in London (Eamonn McCormack/PA) The King has shared a traditional greeting gesture with a Maori advocate at the official launch of his environmental charity. Charles, 76, shared a hongi a traditional Maori greeting where two people press their noses together with Mere Takoko, the co-founder of Pacific Whale Fund, at the launch of the Kings Circular Bioeconomy Alliance (CBA). Ms Takoko, whose organisation works to protect the ocean and marine life in the Pacific Ocean, hailed the shared gesture as hugely symbolic. The King shakes hands with Mere Takoko at the launch of the Circular Bioeconomy Alliance at St Jamess Palace in London (Eamonn McCormack/PA) Wearing a blue kakahu, a traditional Maori garment, Ms Takoko attended St Jamess Palace alongside dozens of other organisations, including fashion houses Brunello Cucinelli and Giorgio Armani, and pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, to celebrate the CBAs official launch. The Kings organisation, which was first established in 2020 and became an officially registered charity in 2023, aims to support the global transition towards a climate neutral economy. Speaking after she greeted the King, Ms Takoko, who came from Gisborne in the upper North Island of New Zealand, said it was vitally important for her to greet Charles. I came here in the spirit of reconciliation, friendship, and unity, she said. Talking about the late Maori King Tuheitia, who died in August this year, Ms Takoko said: From the Maori kings perspective, they enjoyed a very strong friendship and this legacy must be maintained. We are two peoples but bound together through the treaty of Waitangi, which his ancestors signed, and my ancestors signed. The King meets Uyunkar Domingo Peas Nampichkai at the launch of the Circular Bioeconomy Alliance at St Jamess Palace (Eamonn McCormack/PA) She added that she wanted to continue to celebrate that relationship at a time which is quite divisive. Tens of thousands of people have been protesting outside New Zealands parliament in Wellington this week. They oppose a controversial Bill seeking to reinterpret the countrys 1840 Treaty of Waitangi between British colonisers and Maori people, which many critics say is an attempt to take rights away from Maori people. During the reception, Charles greeted the CBAs founders and trustees in the Throne Room of St Jamess Palace, before moving on to the Entree room to speak to attendees. The King joins scientists, businesses and indigenous leaders at St Jamess Palace (Eamonn McCormack/PA) At one point, the King stopped to admire a pashmina produced by the fashion brand Brunello Cucinelli using fine wool from Ladakh in the Indian Himalayas that has been produced through regenerative farming. Its amazing, isnt it? he said, touching the fabric. Charles was also shown cotton grown in Puglia, southern Italy, to produce T-shirts made by Armani. One of these T-shirts has been sent to the King as a gift, along with one of the pashminas. Air strike have been carried out in Chiyah, in the southern suburb of Beirut (AP) Israeli troops are fighting fierce battles with Hezbollah fighters in different areas in south Lebanon, including a coastal town that is home to the headquarters of UN peacekeepers. A spokesman for the UN peacekeeping force (Unifil) said they are monitoring heavy clashes in the coastal town of Naqoura and the village of Chamaa to the north-east. Unifils headquarters are located in Naqoura in Lebanons southern edge close to the border with Israel. Peacekeepers are monitoring heavy clashes (AP) We are aware of heavy shelling in the vicinity of our bases, Unifil spokesman Andrea Tenenti said. Asked if the peacekeepers and staff at the headquarters are safe, Tenenti said: Yes for the moment. Several Unifil posts have been hit since Israel began its ground invasion of Lebanon on October 1, leaving a number of peacekeepers wounded. The fighting came a day after the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former defence minister and a Hamas military leader, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity over their 13-month war in Gaza and the October 2023 attack on Israel respectively. The warrant marked the first time that a sitting leader of a major Western ally has been accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity by a global court of justice. Air strikes are continuing as the war grinds on (AP) Israels war has caused heavy destruction across Gaza, destroying parts of the territory and driven almost the entire population of 2.3 million people from their homes, leaving most dependent on aid to survive. The war began after Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on October 7 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting another 250. Around 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, at least a third of whom are believed to be dead. Israel has also launched air strikes against Lebanon after the Hezbollah militant group began firing rockets, drones and missiles into Israel the day after Hamas attack last October. A full-blown war erupted in September after nearly a year of lower-level conflict. Octavia Johnson is a general assignment reporter for the Houston Chronicle. Follow her on Bluesky (@octaviajnews.bsky.social), TikTok (@octaviaj_news) and Facebook (Octavia R. Johnson). Before joining the Chronicle, Octavia worked as a digital content producer at WATE-TV in Knoxville, Tenn., where she became a leader in producing fast-paced, audience-focused content. Octavia graduated from UNC Pembroke with a bachelor's degree in journalism before earning her master's degree in media and communications at Norfolk State University. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said his past negotiations with the United States only confirmed Washingtons unchangeable hostility toward Pyongyang and described his nuclear build-up as the only way to counter external threats, state media said on Friday. Mr Kim spoke on Thursday at a defence exhibition where North Korea displayed some of its most powerful weapons systems, including intercontinental ballistic missiles designed to target the US mainland, the Norths Korean Central News Agency said. While meeting with army officers last week, he had pledged a limitless expansion of his military nuclear programme. Mr Kim has yet to comment directly on Donald Trumps re-election as US president. President-elect Donald Trump (Brandon Bell/Pool via AP) During his first term, Mr Trump held three highly orchestrated summits with the North Korean leader in 2018 and 2019, before the diplomacy collapsed over disagreements in exchanging the release of US-led economic sanctions and the Norths steps to wind down its nuclear programme. During the speech at the exhibition, Mr Kim touched on the failed summits without naming Mr Trump. We have already gone as far as possible with the United States with negotiations, and what we ended up confirming was not a superpowers will for co-existence, but a thorough position based on force and an unchangeable invasive and hostile policy, he said. Mr Kim accused the United States of raising military pressure on North Korea by strengthening its military co-operation with regional allies and increasing the deployment of strategic strike means, apparently a reference to major US assets like long-range bombers, submarines and aircraft carriers. He called for accelerated efforts to advance the capabilities of his nuclear-armed military, saying the countrys only guarantee of security was to build up the strongest defence power that can overwhelm the enemy. Russian president Vladimir Putin, left, and North Koreas leader Kim Jong Un pose for a photo during a signing ceremony of the new partnership in Pyongyang, (Kristina Kormilitsyna, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP) Mr Kims expanding nuclear weapons and missile programme includes various weapons targeting South Korea and Japan and longer-range missiles that have demonstrated the range to reach the US mainland. Analysts say Mr Kims nuclear push is aimed at eventually pressuring Washington into accepting the North as a nuclear power and to negotiate economic and security concessions from a position of strength. In recent months, the priority of Mr Kims foreign policy has been Russia, as he tries to strengthen his international footing, embracing the idea of a new Cold War and aligning with President Vladimir Putins broader conflicts with the West. Washington and its allies have accused North Korea of providing Russia with thousands of troops and huge amounts of military equipment, including artillery systems and missiles, to help sustain fighting in Ukraine. Mr Kim, in return, could possibly receive badly needed economic aid and possible Russian technology transfers that would possibly enhance the threat posed by his nuclear-armed military, according to outside officials and experts. Dolours Price and me: What really happened in my interview with IRA bomber portrayed in Disneys Say Nothing Allison Morris interview with the IRA woman is depicted in Disney+ series Say Nothing, a dramatised retelling of the abduction and murder of Jean McConville. Here, our crime correspondent recalls the memorable interview. I spoke to Dolours Price at her home in 2010 in a scene recreated as part of the new Disney+ show. Alison Morris Fri 22 Nov 2024 at 13:54 On a cold morning in February 2010 Dolours Price stood at the door of her impressive Malahide home and waved me in. A popular Northern Ireland beauty spot will be closed this weekend due to strong winds as a result of Storm Bert. Northern Ireland Water confirmed Silent Valley will be closed on both Saturday and Sunday and is scheduled to reopen on Monday. In a statement they said: In light of a weather warning tomorrow with Storm Bert on the horizon predicting 60-70mph winds, NI Water would like to announce that we are closing Silent Valley over the weekend and this closure will commence once the park closes this evening as usual. The safety of visitors is paramount and NI Water thanks the public for their patience and cooperation as we close the site this weekend. We anticipate Silent Valley will be reopened on Monday 25th November and please refer to our website for further information. It comes as there have been warnings issued about hazardous routes across Northern Ireland due to snowfall and wintry weather causing travel disruption this morning. Police have warned drivers commuting today to drive to suit conditions as a new warning is set to come into place due to the storm on Saturday. Translink have warned rural service routes such as Ballyclare, Larne, Cookstown, Ballymena and Magherafelt have all been impacted. Services from Belfast, Newcastle and Omagh did not run on this morning. Storm Bert is set to Northern Ireland at the weekend as the Met Office issued yellow warnings ahead of late Friday night into Saturday. The Met Office noted a risk of flooding power outages and delays as heavy rain, snow strong winds are expected ahead of further challenging conditions. Gusts of up to 60mph will be seen in many areas of the country with top wind speeds of up to 70mph along the coast on Saturday. Coastal routes could see large waves while high-sided vehicles are advised to avoid exposed sea fronts. The strong winds will potentially cause power outages, damage to trees and travel delays across the country. A wind warning will be issued from 5:00am until 7:00pm on Saturday. Rain will move into Northern Ireland in the early hours of the morning with snowfall expected in the higher ground, particularly the North and West. Frost is also expected to creep in with minimum temperatures of -2C, however by Saturday morning snow will melt to rain with milder temperatures reaching 14C. Strong winds and are expected to continue into Sunday with gusts of up to 51mph and small chances of rain throughout the day, Both Republican and Democratic elected officials have called for Centerpoint to do more to maintain vegetation and harden its infrastructure. Above: Workers remove trees and brush from an energy corridor that cuts through the Shepherd Forest neighborhood. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer As the 2024 hurricane season winds down, Harris County voters remain very concerned about the reliability of their electricity service. The one-two punch of the May derecho followed quickly by Hurricane Beryl in July vaulted electricity service reliability to the very top of concerns affecting the nations third largest county. That's according to a University of Houston Hobby School of Public Affairs survey of Harris County likely voters this fall. Almost two-fifths of the respondents listed electricity service reliability as a top-three concern, more than other high salience topics such as rising property taxes, housing affordability, flooding and crime. Such concern has resulted in strong support for proposed legislation requiring CenterPoint to better harden its distribution network. Respondents also overwhelmingly believe CenterPoint, not ratepayers, should cover the cost of the companys controversial $800 million noncancelable lease of mobile generators that have not, and may never, be used. In public hearings and press conferences across the metro region and in the state Capitol, Houston-area elected officials have also expressed deep concern about the reliability of the CenterPoint electrical grid. And members of the Texas executive branch and Texas Legislature have gone beyond the mere expression of concern, with demands for a major course correction by CenterPoint. In fact, potential legislative remedies related to CenterPoint could be adopted during the Texas Legislatures biennial session that begins in January. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and other elected officials have called on the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) to require CenterPoint to pay the entire $800 million price tag for the mobile generators from its own profits and reimburse ratepayers the portion of the $800 million which they have already paid. If the PUC was unwilling or unable do this, state Sen. Paul Bettencourt indicated that he would file legislation clawing back the ratepayer increase and mandating that CenterPoint cover the cost of the generators from its own profits. State Sen. Phil King has filed similar legislation. The Harris County survey respondents overwhelmingly back such clawback legislation. Almost 9 out of 10 (86%) support, with 65% strongly supporting, a bill that would reimburse ratepayers and require CenterPoint to cover the cost of the generators from its profits. In contrast, only 5% of voters oppose this legislation, with 9% unsure whether they support or oppose it. In a period of tremendous political polarization, this strong support for a clawback transcends partisan and sociodemographic cleavages. For example, 88% of Democrats and 86% of Republicans support the legislation, as do more than four-fifths of white, Black and Latino voters. In addition to Patrick and Bettencourt, other Houston-area elected officials, including Houston Mayor John Whitmire and state Sen. Carol Alvarado, have called on CenterPoint to do more to maintain vegetation and harden its infrastructure to help ameliorate future outages. Under current statute, CenterPoint is encouraged to do such maintenance, but they have been given considerable latitude. The days of granting CenterPoint such latitude could be over. Texas lawmakers are now considering legislation to increase the power and authority of the PUC to require CenterPoint and other Texas electric utility companies to harden their distribution network via more aggressive vegetation management, the replacement of wooden utility poles and raising wires above the tree line. Harris County likely voters are very supportive of such legislation in principle, with 82% in support (57% strongly) and only 8% in opposition, while 1 in 10 didnt know enough to have an opinion. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Backing for this proposed legislation is also robust across partisan and sociodemographic lines. For example, 83% of Democrats and 80% of Republicans, and more than three-fourths of white, Black and Latino likely voters support legislation empowering the PUC to be able to do more to keep CenterPoint, and other electricity utilities accountable and ensure they are doing all that they reasonably can to safeguard their respective grids. During the 2025 legislative session we hope that Texas lawmakers will prioritize what Harris County voters want: a more reliable grid and a monthly bill where they pay for the electricity they use, not for CenterPoints past poor decisions. The threat of a destructive winter storm is right around the corner, along with the ever critical need for reliable electricity. If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom. Eagle Archives, March 13, 1957: Mr. and Mrs. Philip Wynne brought their family of three from Leeds, England, to Pittsfield in 1951, looking for security from nuclear fission and greater opportunity for their children. Six years later, they're not sure about the security; they are about the opportunity. Jim Shulman, a Pittsfield native and retired Psychologist living in Ohio, is the author of "Berkshire Memories: A Baby Boomer Looks Back at Growing Up in Pittsfield." If you have a comment or memory about this story, please write the Berkshire Eagle at letters@berkshireeagle.com and if you have a memory of a Berkshire baby-boom landmark, business or event you'd like to see in a column, write Jim at jesjmskali@aol.com GREAT BARRINGTON We're not out of the wildfire woods yet, but things are looking up. Fire officials stopped short of declaring that the Butternut Fire is under containment in a Friday morning statement. For that to happen, they would have to actually see the extent of the fire under the proper conditions (dry and sunny,)." Otherwise, they cannot verify with 100% confidence the extent of the fire. In an early morning update on Friday, authorities said that Butternut Fire is not showing new growth, and that firefighters are watching several hot spots. Fire officials plan to scan the area from the sky as soon as the weather clears. The rains are helping, but are not enough to put out the fires, they said. Meanwhile, residents should continue to observe a strict outdoor fire ban that includes doing anything that could cast a spark or ignite, fire officials say. That means no cooking or using of gas powered equipment outside, and dousing woodstove ashes and smoking materials. A list of recommendations by the Great Barrington Fire Chief can be found on the towns website. Authorities also expressed gratitude for all the donations of food so far but ask that those now be diverted to food pantries. The update, sent by the town at 7 a.m., said the goal today is to cut the final line the final break through, connecting the eastern and western line. This line, the statement said, would in theory bring the fire under containment." A break line is a gap in the ground without vegetation involving the removal of any fuel for the fire like leaves, trees and bushes. When the weather clears from its current snowy, raining and cloudy condition, officials will ask for the Massachusetts State Police Air Wing, or a similar entity to provide aerial infrared scanning. The statement said that more information would be posted throughout Friday, however we expect to have little to report. It was late Monday night that the human-caused fire started on East Mountain. By Thursday it had burned more than 1,300 acres, endangered some homes and sent smoke billowing throughout South County and beyond. Early Wednesday the fire had crossed into Sheffield and began traveling down the mountain near homes in the Brush Hill Road and Home Road area. Towns are continuing to send air quality advisories for those with health issues. As of Friday morning, the air quality website, AirNow, registered air quality in Great Barrington as good. Only one person, so far, was injured on the mountain as a result of the wildfire, officials reported. That persons injuries were not life threatening, and that person is not a firefighter. At Butternut Ski Area, where National Guard helicopters had at one point been scooping water from the snowmaking basin, "Everyone is safe and there has been no damage to the property at this time, a message on its website says. The Butternut Ski and Board Shop, however, will be closed through the Thanksgiving holiday until at least Monday. That's because the ski area didn't want the public arriving given all the firefighting activity at the mountain, said Dillon Mahon, Butternut's marketing director. Mahon said that the use of snowmaking water to fire won't affect operations, and that the ski area is hoping to open in early December. The weather has to cooperate first. "We just need cold temperatures at night," Mahon said. On Wednesday mornings, when my schedule allows, I park at the north end of Wendell Avenue and walk to the Central Berkshire District Court. Every week, from 8:30 a.m. until early afternoon, the Western Housing Court holds session there. When I arrive, just shy of 9 a.m., the hall is lined with landlords, tenants and attorneys. Some are from Pittsfield, others have traveled the 30-minute car drive or hour-plus bus trip from Great Barrington or North Adams. I file to the back of the courtroom and spend the next few hours listening to case after case. It's at housing court, where I watch mothers cry because they and their ill child are about to be evicted and listen to landlords speak to their own financial strain, that this beat I cover becomes personal. For this installment of our housing Q&A, I sat down with Angelina Morisi, a housing attorney at Community Legal Aid to talk about legal representation in housing court. Community Legal Aid provides free civil legal aid to low-income people, seniors and people experiencing housing discrimination who live in the five counties of Central and Western Massachusetts. Here are Morisi's thoughts on what brings people to housing court and what inequities in legal representation they face once there. THE EAGLE: Can you share a little about yourself and your housing story? MORISI: I went to law school out in Colorado at the University of Denver. I knew that I was really interested in public interest law, so being a lawyer for some public interest purpose and thats why I went to law school. I grew up in Western Massachusetts, so after living in Colorado for a while I really wanted to come back here. So being able to work at a place like Community Legal Aid that does really great public interest work and also be in Western Massachusetts that seemed like a really great fit. Community Legal Aid has a lot of service areas, but housing really called to me. I have volunteered with a lot of homeless shelters throughout high school and college and into adulthood, so housing issues were first in my brain as something that would be really interesting to work with. THE EAGLE: For those who may be unfamiliar, what is Community Legal Aid? MORISI: To answer that question we have to take a step back and look at why legal organizations like CLA exist in the first place. Readers may or may not know that the sixth amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees that everyone whos been accused of a crime gets the right to a lawyer. Thats why public defenders exist. Thats only for criminal defendants. People who have serious civil issues so legal issues that are not related to them being prosecuted by the government for a crime dont have the right to an attorney. So people who cant afford to hire a private attorney to help them with whatever civil issue they may have, like a housing issue or a divorce or education issues, youre just on your own. And a lot of times, the opposing side will be represented by a lawyer. That creates some unfairness and unbalance in the system. So legal organizations like CLA are here to fill that gap. So were lawyers and advocates representing low-income and elderly clients that cant afford to hire a private attorney in their civil legal cases and all the services we provide are free. THE EAGLE: What are the benefits of having access to legal counsel and what can happen when people dont it? MORISI: So knowing deadlines, knowledge of court procedure and of course knowing what kind of defenses may be available. People may have an idea of some things that are going wrong in a tenancy, for example, and say, "Well I dont have any heat, isnt that worth something? Shouldnt I bring that up?" But there are many, many other things that they might not be aware of because theyre not lawyers so why would they be aware of those things? So having a lawyer who is aware of all of the defenses that you could possibly raise, all of the strategy that you could possibly use, if there is anything wrong with the notice that you were given or the procedure that has happened so far, individual people might not be able to pick those things out and a lawyer would be able to pick those things out. It could end up getting your case dismissed, it could be used for negotiations. Its just more of an insight into how that world works that people who arent in that world, because they dont work there, wouldnt have. So it can be really really helpful. THE EAGLE: When it comes to housing, when do people find themselves in a position where they need legal representation? MORISI: I generally see people who are facing an eviction, so their landlord wants them out for one reason or another. It could be for an alleged nonpayment of rent, because the landlord is saying theyve violated the lease or it could be for no reason at all, which a landlord is allowed to do in Massachusetts. We also work with people who have government subsidies. For readers who dont know what that is, someone whos living at a certain percent below or at the poverty limit could qualify to have the government help them make rent so that they are able to actually have a home and not having to be homeless. Everyone knows rent is very expensive, for someone who doesnt have enough income to be able to pay for their rent, there are programs where the government can help them out in paying rent. And if youre part of one of those programs and youre going to lose it, so the government is saying "Im sorry, Im not going to help you anymore," you also have rights to try to prevent that from happening. So we see tenants in those situations, as well. THE EAGLE: For people experiencing housing instability and homelessness, what legal services does CLA offer? MORISI: We run the lawyer-for-the-day program, so we always have at least one lawyer at the housing court at its session in Pittsfield on Wednesdays. Well be there to answer any tenant questions for really any tenant whos there. It could be a tenant whos there for an eviction, it could be a tenant whos trying to file a case against their landlord for something. And wed be able to give just day-of advice. Its not full representation; just day-of advice. In addition to that, we do also offer actual representation on cases. So were not just giving advice or stepping in for the day, but actually representing the person through the beginning of the eviction all the way through to the end. THE EAGLE: What does legal representation look like in housing court? MORISI: Most landlords are represented. Occasionally there are cases where landlords arent represented, but for the most part landlords do have attorneys. Some tenants have attorneys, most of them do not. Its very, very imbalanced in the housing court. So thats our place to step in and be representing people. Since November, drivers of cars and light trucks have been instructed to use half-mile Old Main Road No. 2, which cuts a corner between Route 116 and Route 8A. But the detour is proving tricky to navigate for some drivers. Jeremy Wallace has covered politics and campaigns for more than 20 years. Before joining the Hearst Texas newspapers in 2017 he covered government and politics for the Tampa Bay Times, The Miami Herald and the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Previously he covered Congress for the Boston Globe and Detroit Free-Press. Originally from San Antonio, he attended the University of North Texas and earned his bachelors degree from the University of Missouri. Jeremy also authors the Texas Take with Jeremy Wallace newsletter, where he shares insights from inside the Capitol along with the occasional Willie Nelson reference. You can sign up here. You can follow him on Twitter, @JeremySWallace, or email him at Jeremy.wallace@chron.com. Together with our friends and families, we enjoy regular celebrations, which include feasts for holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas, or events like birthdays, anniversaries or weddings. In the Bible, we see that the Lord God instituted feasts for His people's various celebrations. But why did the Lord God make feasts so important in biblical celebrations? Feasts are significant because through them, the people worship God and observe and celebrate the Lords wondrous acts for His people. Well look at the feasts God established for Israel and what each one signified. What Feasts Did the Lord God Institute? The Bible records that the Lord God instituted seven main feasts for Israel to observe. All are first recorded in the book of Leviticus. Leviticus 23:1-2 reads, And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them, The feasts of the LORD, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these are My feasts. The Jewish calendar dictates the timing of each feast. 1. Passover Leviticus 23:6; Numbers 28:16-25 To be held in the first month on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight. 2. Feast of Unleavened Bread Leviticus 23:6 To be held on the fifteenth day of the same month. They were to eat unleavened bread for seven days and present a food offering each of the seven days. 3. Feast of First Fruits Leviticus 23:10 The people brought the beginning of the harvest to the priest, who waved a sheaf of grain before the Lord. A year-old male lamb served as a burnt offering. 4. Feast of Weeks Leviticus 23:15-22 Fifty days after the seventh Sabbath (during First fruits), the people were to present an offering of new grain to the Lord. 5. Feast of Trumpets Leviticus 23:24 On the first day of the seventh month, the people were to observe a day of solemn rest a memorial proclaimed with a blast of trumpets a holy convocation. The people were to do no ordinary work and were to present a food offering to the Lord. 6. Day of Atonement Leviticus 16, 23:26-32 The tenth day of the seventh month was to be a day of solemn rest. There was to be no work, fasting, and the people were to present a food offering. 7. Feast of Tabernacles Leviticus 23:34-36 A seven-day observance on the fifteenth day of this seventh month. The first day was to be a holy convocation with no ordinary work. For all seven days, the people were to present food offerings to the Lord with a holy convocation accompanying the eight-day offering. What Was the Purpose of the Feasts? God has a purpose for everything He does, and each feast served a specific purpose. Without exception, every feast pointed to its fulfillment in the Lord Jesus Christ. Before He gave Moses instructions regarding the feasts, however, the Lord ordained a Sabbath a solemn rest, a holy convocation (Leviticus 23:3). This day was the foundation for the feasts and gave the people a solemn focus on and worship of the Lord God. Part of the purpose was remembrance of and thanksgiving for what the Lord had done for them. Observing the feasts according to Gods specified calendar also kept Israel spiritually separate from the surrounding nations. And the feasts also provided a template for proper worship of the Lord God. Passover: The seven-day Passover holiday signifies Israels redemption from Egyptian slavery, as recorded in Exodus 12. Passover celebration feasts include the Seder meal. The Seder meal, blessings, prayers, stories, and songs follow the order and rituals outlined in the Haggadah, a special Jewish book used in the commemoration feast. Feast of Unleavened Bread signifies Israels sanctification that they became holy people unto the Lord. Feast of First Fruits symbolized the resurrection of Israel as a free people. This feast memorializes the redemption of Israels first-born in Egypt and the coming bounty from God in the promised land. Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) celebrates Israel as Gods covenant people and thankfulness for Gods blessings. The remembrance is of the giving of the law at Mt. Sinai fifty days after the Red Sea crossing. Feast of Trumpets remembers a calling of Israel to judgment. Day of Atonement celebrates Israels atonement from her sins. Feast of Tabernacles (Booths) signifies Gods presence with His people. The significance of all the feasts is they place the focus on the Lord God and lead the people in humble surrender to and adoration of Him. Do the Feasts Point to Something in the New Testament? At the center of the Bible is the Lord Jesus Christ. He, the perfect God-man, Creator, and Redeemer, is preeminent over all creation (Colossians 1:15-23). God has always clothed His redemptive plan for humanity in Christ. Therefore, the Old Testament feasts were a part of Gods redemptive work in human history, which found their fulfillment in Jesus Christ (Luke 16:16; 22:16; 24:44). Wycliffe writers and hosts, Aaron and Jennifer Smith tell us, The feasts described in Leviticus 23 are more than simply Jewish traditions they are prophetic shadows pointing to Jesus. The Passover foreshadows Jesus atoning work on the cross as the sinless Lamb of God. The sacrificial lambs blood spread over the doors of the captive Jews homes in Egypt caused the angel of death to pass over their homes. Jesus blood shed on the cross at Calvary secured salvation for all people He calls to Himself (John 6:44). The Feast of Unleavened Bread, which symbolizes purity and sins removal, took place right after the Passover celebration. It was during this time that our pure Lord Jesus was in the tomb; His sacrifice provided the ultimate removal of sin. The Feast of First Fruits: Jesus resurrection on this day signifies the firstfruits of all believers who will rise from the dead. It symbolizes new life and Christs victory over death (1 Corinthians 15:26). Pentecost commemorates the imparting of the law on Mt. Sinai. Jesus fulfills the law and gives the gift of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. Jesus church is born on this day, too. The Feast of Trumpets corresponds to the sound of the trumpet when Jesus will return and call His church home at the last trumpet (1 Corinthians 15:52). The Day of Atonement speaks to Jesus as our great High Priest (Hebrews 4:14). His was the last and perfect sacrifice for all the sins of the world. God has then reconciled man to Himself (Romans 5:10). The Feast of Tabernacles is a sign of Gods faithful presence with His people. One day, Jesus will dwell with man forever in His physical kingdom (Revelation 21:3). Through the feasts, we can track Gods thread of redemption through Jesus Christ. All the feasts display features of Jesus life and kingdom work. Jesus fulfilled the law and the prophets and secured what the sacrifice of bulls and goats could never accomplish mans salvation (Hebrews 10:4). Should Christians Observe Biblical Feasts? Since Gods Word tells us about the feasts, it benefits us to learn what we can about each one (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Knowing about them teaches us about our Lord God and how He would have us worship Him (John 4:23-24). Christians, however, are part of the New Covenant in Christ (Matthew 26:27-29; 2 Corinthians 3:5-6). The Old Testament feasts foreshadow their fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Christians enjoy one special feast now and an ultimate feast in the future. The Lords Supper occurs every time we celebrate communion and partake of the bread and the wine (or our more common wafers and grape juice). Jesus said, Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is My body. And He took a cup, and when He had given thanks He gave it to them, saying, Drink of it, all of you, for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in My Fathers kingdom (Matthew 26:26-29). When Jesus referenced drinking the cup new with us in His Fathers kingdom, He meant The Wedding Feast of the Lamb as described in Revelation 19:9 (a supper and a feast are synonymous here). Long expected by all Christians, it is a perfect celebration of the culmination of history and of the union of Jesus with His bride, the church. We will celebrate the end of evil and death and the righteous reign of the Lord Jesus Christ. Hallelujah! Photo credit: Getty Images/gorodenkoff Lisa Loraine Baker is the multiple award-winning author of Someplace to be Somebody. She writes fiction and nonfiction. In addition to writing for the Salem Web Network, Lisa serves as a Word Weavers mentor and is part of a critique group. Lisa and her husband, Stephen, a pastor, live in a small Ohio village with their crazy cat, Lewis. BillOReilly.com is not available in this country. We apologize for any inconvenience. Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis will meet the Vice-President of the EU Commission, Maros Sefcovic, on Wednesday. (archive picture) Keystone Switzerland's negotiations with the EU are apparently close to being concluded: next Wednesday, Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis will meet the Vice-President of the EU Commission, Maros Sefcovic, in Bern. Keystone-SDA SDA This was announced by the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) on Friday on X. There has been speculation about the meeting in various media over the past few days. It is eagerly awaited as it heralds the final phase of negotiations between Switzerland and the EU. The meeting should actually have taken place in the summer. However, it was then canceled at short notice because the negotiating positions were apparently still too far apart. Next Wednesday's talks between Cassis and Sefcovic are likely to focus in particular on the amount of the cohesion contribution. This is what Switzerland pays the EU for its partial access to the European single market. Borsa Italiana non ha responsabilita per il contenuto del sito a cui sta per accedere e non ha responsabilita per le informazioni contenute. Accedendo a questo link, Borsa Italiana non intende sollecitare acquisti o offerte in alcun paese da parte di nessuno. Sarai automaticamente diretto al link in cinque secondi. They say, "Change is inevitable." This concept applies not just to life's circumstances but also to physical bodies. As people age, the inevitability of aging becomes apparent, manifesting in both visible and invisible ways. This nature of agingaffecting both our outward appearance and our internal physiological processesunderscores the comprehensive impact of time on the human body. However, the advancement of medical science has opened new avenues for managing the effects of aging, offering hope for maintaining vitality and health well into later years. One promising new method is stem cell treatment. What is stem cell treatment, and how does it actively regenerate healthier skin and body at a cellular level? The Science of Aging Aging is a complex process influenced by both intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Intrinsically, the skin's natural aging process leads to a decrease in collagen and elastin production, resulting in thinner, less resilient skin. Meanwhile, extrinsic factors like sun exposure, pollution, and lifestyle choices accelerate this process, causing premature aging. However, aging also impacts the function of stem cells. As people age, stem cell numbers and regenerative capacity decline. This decline is particularly notable in highly regenerative tissues like the skin, blood, and skeletal muscle. Consequently, the regenerative capacity of these stem cell populations diminishes, impairing the body's ability to repair and maintain healthy tissues. The reduced stem cell pool and impaired regenerative potential contribute to age-related tissue structure and function deterioration. Collectively, these age-related changes compromise stem cells' ability to maintain tissue homeostasis and respond to damage. This decline in stem cell function is believed to significantly contribute to the progressive deterioration of tissues and organs with advancing age. Stem Cell Treatment: Natural Rejuvenation Tool According to a regenerative expert and founder of the Immunotherapy Regenerative Medicine clinic in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, the beauty of anti-aging stem cell treatment lies in their ability to address the root cause of aging, targeting the foundation of the body's health. Dr. Romero explains aging leads to the decline of the body's natural ability to repair and regenerate tissues, mainly due to stem cells' decreased number and functionality. Stem cell treatment aims to counteract this by introducing new, youthful stem cells or rejuvenating existing ones. For instance, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are among the most researched types of cells for regenerative therapies. These cells can differentiate into various cell types, potentially regenerating damaged tissues throughout the body. This stem cell treatment has shown potential in multiple areas, including tissue regeneration, cell rejuvenation, and improving overall stem cell function in the body. Moreover, stem cells secrete beneficial factors that can improve the function of existing cells, stimulate collagen and elastin production in the skin, and modulate the immune system to reduce age-related inflammation. Dr. Romero elaborates, "What makes stem cell treatment so effective is their ability to adapt and respond to the skin's specific needs. They don't just provide a one-size-fits-all solution; they intelligently interact with the surrounding tissue to promote healing and regeneration." Maximizing the Benefits of the Stem Cell Approach Translating the ability of anti-aging stem cell treatment to the patient level, Immunotherapy Regenerative Medicine takes a comprehensive and personalized technique, addressing the visible signs of aging and targeting the underlying cellular mechanisms that contribute to the aging process. Dr. Romero explains that their stem cell treatments include four comprehensive skin rejuvenation protocols: mesenchymal stem cells, exosomes, and platelet-rich plasma (PRP). This multi-faceted method allows the clinic to simultaneously address various aspects of aging, from surface-level concerns like wrinkles and loss of elasticity to more profound, cellular-level issues such as decreased collagen production and reduced cellular regeneration. Aside from these stem cell treatments, Immunotherapy Regenerative Medicine also highlights its commitment to quality. Recognizing that each patient's aging process is unique, the clinic tailors its treatments to individual needs, making certain that the therapy effectively targets specific concerns. Their team of highly trained professionals adheres to the strictest quality standards, providing treatments with living mesenchymal stem cells that demonstrate an impressive vitality of 98% to 99%. This level of quality and customization allows the clinic to facilitate a more comprehensive rejuvenation process beyond surface-level improvements. A Breakthrough in Aging and More As our understanding of the human body evolves, so do the approaches to maintaining and enhancing our health. While traditional medicine has made significant strides in treating various ailments, there is a growing interest in alternative therapies that address the symptoms and target the root causes of diseases. For those seeking a more comprehensive and regenerative viewpoint on not just aging but overall health, stem cell treatments have emerged as a promising option. With this, Dr. Romero looks forward to bringing better health treatments that will improve patients' quality of life worldwide. A film from Oscar-winner Jennifer Lawrence and Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai documenting the oppression of Afghan women by the Taliban was emotionally challenging to complete, Afghan filmmaker Sahra Mani said. The Apple TV+ documentary titled Bread & Roses exposes the realities faced by women in Afghanistan after the fall of Kabul to the Taliban in 2021 which first drew Lawrence to the project. Advertisement I felt a huge passion to make this project just as a human, the Hollywood actress told the PA news agency. Jennifer Lawrence, producer of Bread & Roses. Photo: Chris Pizzello/AP. The 34-year-old said there were so many times where we were in and out of contact with the director, who was capturing the spirit and resilience of Afghan women fighting for their autonomy. We knew that we were helping her facilitate getting equipment on the ground, and that she was in contact with these women, and that we were getting footage. But there was so much that I did not know until we had an assembly, until we were in post, producer Lawrence said, referring to the process of putting the footage together to appear on screen. Advertisement One of the things that I didnt know was that it was going to be showcasing the womens resistance in Afghanistan, Lawrence, who won an Oscar in 2013 for her role in Silver Linings Playbook opposite Bradley Cooper, said. Director Mani worked with a group of activist women who provided a window into their reality forbidden from work, school and leaving their homes. Sahra Mani, director of Bread & Roses. Photo: Chris Pizzello/AP. The difficulty of making this film was not only logistical and being in contact with so many people in different parts of the world, filmmaker Mani told PA. But also it was more emotionally challenging for all of us working on this project, because its really deep effect on us while we were watching the first rough cut of material, because we were facing with the human story of loss, resilience and, of course, hope. Advertisement We did our best to tell their story with authenticity and respect to these women. This year marked 12 years since Ms Yousafzai narrowly avoided death after being shot in the head by the Taliban for her campaigning for girls rights to education. Ms Yousafzai said the new documentary gives visibility to Afghan women and girls during what she claims experts are calling a gender apartheid. From left, executive producer Malala Yousafzai, producers Jennifer Lawrence and Justine Ciarrocchi, and director Sahra Mani at the premiere of the documentary film Bread & Roses. Photo: Chris Pizzello/AP. It gives them that platform to bring attention to their stories and really make their voice the centre of whats happening there, she told PA. Advertisement Entertainment Pregnant Charlotte Crosbys home targeted by maske... Read More It is shocking how Afghan women are sometimes not even included in the rooms where decisions about them are made. I hope that this documentary can help raise awareness about what is actually happening there, that the situation has already worsened, and it adds to the global movement that Afghan women are leading right now to push countries, for example, to codify gender apartheid in the crime against humanity treaty and to hold the Taliban accountable for their crimes. Bread & Roses was released on Apple TV+ on Friday. Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald has insisted that when people in her party fail to behave well they experience real consequences whilst accusing some other party leaders of not demanding similar accountability. In an interview with the Opinion Line, on Corks 96FM, Ms McDonald was asked if voters should should question the suitability of Sinn Fein for Government given recent scandals which have rocked the party. Advertisement However, Ms McDonald insisted that there was no way to legislate for human behaviour. Issues arise in any organisation. The question is the response when issues arise. And in each case, and there were difficult cases, I demanded accountability and where there was bad behaviour where behaviour fell below standards there was real consequences for people. "The way I have handled matters contrasts very dramatically with the way in which other political leaders have failed in my view to seek accountability from their members who havent behaved well. Meanwhile, Ms McDonald stated that housing remains a key issue with voters. Advertisement We are saying to people that you have the real historic opportunity to elect a government beyond Fianna Fail and Fine Gael. "It is about a whole generation locked out of housing. It is about home ownership collapsing particularly for the under forties. Rents through the roof and rising and the fact that we need to get to grips with that. The whole system needs to be faster and more responsive. "We believe that with the right Government in place, with the right Minister in place with the right approach and the right plans we can get to grips with things and that we can deliver houses. Just remember that the construction workforce is at or in fact slightly larger than it would have been at peak Celtic Tiger. "I mention the need for us to be resourcing our apprenticeships more effectively and getting people through their time efficiently. Advertisement "We are going to have to come at this from a number of different directions, but the good news is that the resources are there. They have to be invested. We have the plan. The Sinn Fein party leader also described policing as a huge challenge and expressed her dissatisfaction with the running of the Department of Justice. I think obviously the level of policing and policing visibility is a huge challenge. Garda numbers are an issue. We have proposals for that including the opening of a second garda training college. "I think we need something of a sea change in how we deal with repeat offenders. I would say we would be open to serving in all portfolios. For us the housing portfolio is obviously absolutely key. Health is key. The Justice portfolio the Department of Justice has not been served well in recent times. Advertisement "We are looking to expand the footprint of that Department to be a Department of Justice and Home Affairs. We think issues around immigration and so on need to be consolidated and brought under the watch of that department. We need a big change there. She added that at this time her first job is to maximise the party vote. We can all speculate on the mathematics of the election but it is in the hands of the people. Half of the population or more vote beyond Fianna Fail or Fine Gael so I think there is ample scope for Government with Sinn Fein in it led by Sinn Fein. "But the big proviso is that people come out and make the change. Give us our chance that is what we are asking for. Our advice to people is to vote for your Sinn Fein candidates and then to progress your preferences to others who like us believe that we need as the Housing Commission put it a fundamental change in housing policy. Advertisement "Yes (vote left). For those of us who want to see a change of Government, a coherent government that can deliver homes for people, that is serious about delivering services for people with disabilities, for children with disabilities for mental health all of the lived things that your listeners know. Halloween is one of the most celebrated holidays in the U.S., with millions of children and adults dressing up in costume and hitting their neighborhood streets to "trick-or-treat" on October 31. A recent study by Backyard Oasis identified the top states where Halloween celebrations thrive, considering factors like costume purchases, haunted houses, and public events related to the holiday among other things. So if you're looking for an immersive haunted house or an excuse to dress up with strangers we give you the top 5 states that love Halloween the most: @brittanyvheats The BEST Halloween decorations in LA! Info on where and how to find them. Free and updated for 2024! Give me a follow for more fun Halloween events in LA and fun things around LA in general. Every year, many of the houses in Burbank and Toluca Lake go ALL OUT with the best Halloween decorations, featuring scare actors, photo ops, walk throughs, and more. Keep in mind these houses are NOT all in the same place. While some of them might be near each other, theyre not all walkable from each other. Luckily, theres a handy map that compiles them all with addresses and pictures for you to plan out exactly which ones you want to see you can find all the info linked on my Instagram account, or go to the following handle on IG: @halloweeninburbankmap. Some of the houses featured in this video (all IG handles): @burbankclownhouse @lilley_hall_toluca_lake @burbankhaunt @nightmare_on_orchard @holidayfantasiescometolife @circus_of_nightmares (not featured in this video, but opening Oct 17th) #labucketlist #thingstodoinla Fall October Halloween horror classic(177261) - rareNote Legally challenging the UK government over Irish unity votes is an option, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald has said. Ms McDonald said successive UK governments have failed to provide clarity on its position for the preconditions or tipping point where a referendum would be held. Advertisement The Sinn Fein leader said: I dont think thats a sustainable position. UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said when he was in opposition that a referendum on Irish unification was not even on the horizon Photo: Stefan Rousseau/PA. I think now this new British Government under Keir Starmer needs to set out their stall. Under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement of 1998, the UK Government is obliged to call a referendum in Northern Ireland if there is evidence of a shift in public opinion in favour of unity. In that event, there would be a simultaneous vote in the Republic of Ireland. Advertisement Earlier this year, UK prime minister Sir Keir said he was committed to the principles of the Good Friday Agreement. However, while in opposition he said a referendum on Irish unification was not even on the horizon. Asked on Friday if Sinn Fein would consider a legal challenge against the British government to force it to provide clarity on its decision making, Ms McDonald said Ireland had previously challenged the UK in the courts over legacy legislation. She said: Would (a legal challenge) be our first option? No. Advertisement Is that option available to the Irish state? Yes. Ms McDonald said it was open to any citizen to challenge the UK Government on the terms of the Agreement. She added: Our first choice is political and diplomatic. Meanwhile, Ms McDonald also criticised the leader of Fianna Fail for saying he did not believe a border poll would happen within five years. Advertisement She made the remarks as she launched Sinn Feins latest policy document on its long-held ambition for a united Ireland. Ms McDonald told reporters in Dublin: We need a mature, respectful conversation about constitutional change. Its a conversation that should be approached with optimism, with ambition and with the real sense of opportunity. Of course, the conversation must be inclusive. It has to recognise that people hold competing and different views about the future. Advertisement It has to recognise the reality that partition has hurt Ireland politically and economically, and that we now have a chance to change all of that. Its time to plan and prepare for a united Ireland. The General Election policy document expands on the partys plans to work towards holding referendums for Irish unification by the end of the decade, under the provisions of the Good Friday Agreement. The party would also appoint a junior minister focused on reunification, and initiate a diplomatic offensive to promote Irish unity. Ms McDonald said she would seek support from US President-elect Donald Trump and other American politicians across the aisle. It would establish citizens assemblies to discuss the constitutional future of Ireland and prepare for an Irish national health service. Asked if the Irish flag would change in a united Irish state, Ms McDonald said the current tricolour represents an alliance between the Gael and the Planter. She said: For me the flag the green, the white and the orange represents all of our traditions. The entente between the orange and the green the Gael and the Planter. So I see no reason to change the flag. Ms McDonald said she personally saw no reason to change the flag or the anthem, but accepted others would have differing views. She said there was now a need to prepare for Irish unification in a better way than what was seen during Brexit. During the time leading up to the UKs withdrawal from the European Union, the DUP refused to engage with all-island talks established by then Taoiseach Enda Kenny. Asked if Sinn Fein expected to proceed with its preparations for unity without engagement from the DUP, Ms McDonald said: At that time, the argument was made that: Whats the point in extending it to the north? Unionism wont come. And correct, the DUP didnt come, but the Alliance Party did, and unionism came. It came as hauliers, agriculture, business. So we have to have the objective that every political party, all political representatives, will not just come and participate, but will feel very welcome coming and participating and their views and perspectives valued. Ms McDonald said it would be a mistake to reduce unionism to individual political parties, adding that there had been a sea change in how Protestants, unionists and loyalists engage with the conversation around unity. She also said there had been exciting political advancements in Northern Ireland. She pointed to Michelle ONeills position as First Minister as something that was against all odds and never supposed to happen. First Minister of Northern Ireland Michelle ONeill with deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA. One of the proposals in Sinn Feins plans is to change the rules of the Oireachtas parliament in Dublin to allow MPs from Northern Ireland to have speaking time. Sinn Fein MPs do not take their seats at Westminster. Asked if she believed this could see her as a future taoiseach taking questions in Dublin from TUV leader Jim Allister during Leaders Questions, she replied: Well, I would very much welcome that Im not sure how Jim Allister would feel about it. Earlier on Friday, Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin said he did not foresee a Fianna Fail government holding a border poll in the next five years. He emphasised his work on the one-billion euro Shared Island Fund, which he described as the most important initiative for cross-border relationships since the Good Friday Agreement. Tanaiste and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA. Speaking on Newstalk, Mr Martin added: Thats the future, its about reconciliation. Its about the old Wolfe Tone principle of uniting people, Protestant, Catholic and the centre. Election 2024 Mary Lou McDonald says people who fail to behave i... Read More Ms McDonald said his position was astonishing and irresponsible, adding that she thought Fianna Fail believed in unity. She said: Change is happening, its evident that its happening. It needs to be managed and planned for and I actually think its irresponsible of any political leader to refuse to plan for the future. Ms McDonald added: I think its irresponsible, I think its short-sighted. I think it lacks ambition. I think its very much out of step with the opportunities that we now have as a country. We should be grasping opportunity, not pushing it away. A cleaner is entitled to compensation after she developed dermatitis on her hands due to the use of cleaning fluids in the course of her work, the High Court has ruled. Luiza Kepa (40), of Poulboy, Kilganey, Clonmel, Co Tipperary, was employed by cleaning services firm, Noonan Services Group, with registered offices in Swords Business Park, Dublin. Advertisement She worked cleaning a factory when she claimed a problem developed with her hands in 2016 and 2017. She sued the company alleging she developed hand irritant contact dermatitis as a result of being exposed to detergents. She also claimed, among other things, that there was a failure to provide her with suitable and sufficient personal protective equipment, including the appropriate gloves. It was alleged the gloves that were provided caused her hands to sweat. Advertisement Noonan initially denied her claims but during the hearing admitted breach of duty while issues of what caused the injury as well as what the level of compensation should be remained to be determined by the court. Noonan also argued the proceedings had been brought outside the statutory time limit for bringing personal injury cases. Ms Justice Nuala Jackson ruled there was a clear causal link between her injuries and the acts or omissions of the defendant. She said Ms Kepa was entitled to 17,500 in general damages but larger sums in relation to claim loss of earnings for two years of nearly 50,000 would have to be assessed when the court is provided with information in relation to any deductions for social welfare. Advertisement The judge said Ms Kepa was involved in normal and usual cleaning duties in a factory setting. Ms Kepa claimed she was in regular, daily contact with strong cleaning chemicals in the course of her work. She said she was supplied with inadequate gloves which did not protect from these chemicals as they frequently split open due to their being of too light quality for the work. She also claimed the gloves themselves exacerbated skin irritation she suffered. Advertisement There was no doubt that she suffered a nasty skin irritation allegedly derived from her employment conditions, the judge said. The response from Noonan to this was "significantly suboptimal", the judge said. Text messages from her employer suggested to her to cease wearing gloves altogether, she said. The judge also said it was suggested to her to cease using chemicals altogether for cleaning. When Noonan's representative was questioned by the judge about the efficacy of not using cleaning agents, she was told there are modern eco-friendly cleaners which are water-based only. Advertisement "While I have no doubt that such methodologies exist and are used, the evidence in this case does not support that such were being applied in this instance", the judge said. The judge found Ms Kepas claim was not statute barred. She found the injury was of a moderate intensity, but at the upper levels of this category, and that Ms Kepa was in a position to resume appropriate employment no later than January 2021. She was also awarded 1.422 for medical and travel expenses. The woman also claimed around 50,000 in loss of earnings for 2019 and 2020, but there would be another short hearing to determine the correct figure when the deductions from lost earnings figures may be accurately calculated, the judge said. Gardai would arrest Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he arrived in Ireland, the Taoiseach has said. It comes after the International Criminal Court issued warrants for Mr Netanyahu and former Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes in Gaza. Advertisement The ICC also issued a warrant for Mohammed Deif, head of Hamass armed wing, over the October 7th, 2023 attacks that triggered Israels offensive in Gaza. Benjamin Netanyahu addresses Israels parliament (Ohad Zwigenberg/AP) Israel is believed to have killed Mr Deif in an air strike but Hamas has never confirmed his death. Asked by RTE if Mr Netanyahu would be arrested in Ireland, Taoiseach Simon Harris said on Friday: Yes, absolutely. We support international courts, and we apply their warrants. He was not asked about any other individual, but the Tanaiste later said warrants against Hamas leadership would absolutely be executed. Advertisement Micheal Martin said: There should be no equivocation in condemning Hamas and condemning Hezbollah in terms of what theyve been doing, and indeed, Irans malign role in the region because its a complex issue, its not simple. Mr Martin, who is also foreign affairs minister, said he did not agree with US President Joe Bidens characterisation of the warrants for Mr Gallant and Mr Netanyahu as outrageous. Tanaiste Micheal Martin (Brian Lawless/PA) The Tanaiste said war crimes have been committed in northern Gaza and added: Its a collective punishment of the people. They are war crimes. Its genocidal. Speaking on Newstalk radio, Mr Martin said: Im very concerned about the United States approach to the International Criminal Court in that there are 100 signatories, and we have to have accountability at international level through a court system that is independent. Advertisement Mr Harris has said the issuing of the warrants was an extremely significant step. He said the court points to reasonable grounds to believe that Mr Netanyahu and Mr Gallant bear criminal responsibility for crimes perpetrated in the war in Gaza, including the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare, and the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution and other inhumane acts. In the case of the leadership of Hamas, the court points to reasonable grounds that Mr Deif, along with Ismail Haniyeh and Yahya Sinwar, agreed to carry out the attacks of October 7th. It says there are reasonable grounds that Mr Deif is responsible for crimes against humanity of murder, extermination, torture, rape and other forms of sexual violence, and taking hostages. Advertisement Mr Harris said: These charges could not be more serious. The Government has long expressed its profound concern about the conduct of the war in Gaza and has stated clearly its belief that the rules of international law and international humanitarian law have not been upheld. We have insisted that international law must apply in all circumstances, at all times, and in all places, and that those responsible for breaches, those who commit war crimes and crimes against humanity, must be held fully to account. Mr Harris and Mr Martins respective Fine Gael and Fianna Fail parties are separately contesting a general election in Ireland to be held on November 29th. A man (60s) who was arrested in connection with the investigation into an explosion in Creeslough, Co Donegal in 2022 has been released without charge. A file will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions, a garda statement said. Advertisement The investigation into the fatal explosion at a building complex in Creeslough is ongoing, co-ordinated from Milford Garda Station where an incident room has been established under the direction of a senior investigating officer. Gardai said a man aged 60 was arrested on Thursday for alleged offences contrary to the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997. The man was held at a Garda station in the north-western region before being released without charge on Friday. The investigation continues to be led by local gardai in the Donegal division, supported by the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (GNBCI) and other agencies, including the Health and Safety Authority and the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU). Advertisement Four men, three women and three children, ranging in age from five to 59, died in the blast that ripped through the Co Donegal villages Applegreen service station and a nearby apartment block on Friday, October 7th, 2022. Last month, the affected families met Helen McEntee at Government Buildings in Dublin as well as ministers Charlie McConalogue and Eamon Ryan. Speaking after the meeting, which lasted an hour and a half, the families said the engagement was very successful. Hugh Harper, whose 14-year-old daughter Leona was killed in the explosion, said the three ministers took on board all our concerns and that he felt a step closer to the truth. A Lithuanian man hiding from a crime gang and extradition over human trafficking allegations was tracked down through Department of Social Protection facial recognition technology, a court has heard. Darius Musinskas (56), who was later acquitted of people smuggling, had unlawfully claimed 17,000 from the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) under an assumed identity. Advertisement Judge Keenan Johnson imposed a three-year suspended sentence and ordered Musinskas to pay 9,300 at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court. Factory worker Musinskas, of Oliver Plunkett Park, Dundalk, Co Louth, pleaded guilty to theft and using a false instrument between April 2020 and April 2021. In evidence, Garda James Donaldson said the social welfare office's anti-fraud facial recognition measures led to a "match" of two images of the accused under separate names. He used a doctored Lithuanian identity card to apply for a PPS number under his alias in 2018 and claimed to be renting a home in Kinnegad, Co Westmeath. Advertisement He also used an old bill from a former tenant at that address to show he lived there. It was checked, but none of the tenants there had heard of him. Judge Johnson heard that Musinskas had came to Ireland in 2002, worked and had PPS under his real name. Pictures from both applications lead to a "match". He received 52 PUP payments and was then extradited to Lithuania. Advertisement Garda Donaldson agreed with Andrea Callan BL, defending, that her client was aware of the existence of a European Arrest Warrant under his actual name concerning alleged people trafficking. He was sent back to Lithuania last year but was not convicted and released. The garda also accepted that it was not a case that Musinskas had not obtained double PUP payments under both identities but solely under the false name he had worked under since 2018. He had also saved some money to give back. Advertisement The married father of two had one prior conviction in Ireland for drink-driving. Judge Johnson heard there was no loss to the state. When the pandemic hit, Musinskas was let go from his job under his fake identity. Ms Callan submitted that he would likely have got it anyway because he had worked since coming to Ireland more than 20 years ago. However, she added that Musinskas had a "genuine fear for his own safety", and a letter from his wife was provided to the judge. Sentencing, Judge Johnson said that "underworld" figures involved in people trafficking caused Musinskas to be concerned for his safety. He noted the accused was later acquitted in Lithuania, after which he returned to Ireland and made admissions about the PUP claim. The judge said he was impressed how the facial recognition measures picked up on this fraud, which he described as comforting. Ranking the offence as "mid-range", he suspended the sentence on condition that Musinkas did not reoffend in the next six years and paid the 9,300 he had put aside to the department. The operation of State contracts to accommodate International Protection (IP) applicants helped pre-tax profits at the TIFCO group of hotels to surge by 28 per cent to 21.73 million last year. New accounts show that pre-tax profits increased at TIFCO Ltd as revenues rose by 14 per cent to 49.3 million last year. Advertisement The group also enjoyed the jump in profits due to a 5 million gain booked from the disposal of assets last year and the directors state that the group sold the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Dundalk in August of last year. The accounts disclose that it secured 11.3 million from the disposal of an asset during the year. The group sold the hotel located just off the M1 motorway to a prominent direct provision operator, East Coast Catering Ireland Ltd and the hotel comprises 129 guest bedrooms and suites and includes a rooftop restaurant on its 13th floor. Tifco is one of Irelands largest hotel operators with almost 3,000 bedrooms located throughout the country with almost 2,000 rooms located in Dublin. Advertisement The 24 strong hotel group offers a combination of international hotel brands, with the Crowne Plaza Hotel at Dublin airport and Dublin Blanchardstown, the Hilton Hotel in Dublin Kilmainham, the Holiday Inn Express Dublin Airport and a collection of non-branded hotels. The directors state that hotels in the group secured a number of State contracts relating to direct provision for refugees which contributed to the results for the year. World Bomb disposal experts sent to Gatwick airport Read More The directors state that they consider the year-end financial position of the company to be satisfactory. Separate figures published quarterly by the Dept of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth show that TIFCO last year received payments of 16.2 million (incl VAT) for accommodating IP applicants and Ukrainian refugees last year. Quarterly figures for the first two quarters show that TIFCO has received 12.67 million (incl VAT) for the first six months of this year. Numbers directly employed reduced from 316 to 254 though employment costs increased from 8.9 million to 11.98 million. A variety of stories feature on Ireland's front pages on Friday morning, from international stories and election stories to weather stories. The Irish Times lead with a story wherein Taoiseach Simon Harris rejects the idea of a coalition with a left alliance, alongside a story about anger in Israel over the arrest warrant issued for prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and a story about councillors from numerous parties blocking plans for hundreds of new homes in Dundalk. Advertisement The Irish Examiner leads with a story about a coroner calling for quay barriers in Cork, a story about Storm Bert after the now, a story about Israel branding the international arrest warrants issued for prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence chief Yoav Gallant as 'antisemitic'. Their front page also features stories about Aontu's election manifesto launch and Matt Gaetz withdrawing as Donald Trump's pick for Attorney General. The Echo lead with a story about a man being jailed for sending intimate photographs and videos of his wife to two other men, along with offensive sexual texts, and a story about University College Cork's 'College Christmas'. The Irish Independent lead with a story saying that 90,000 mortgage customers have been overcharged interest. The Herald lead with a story about a personal injuries claim made by a personal trainer who had been stuck in an elevator. Advertisement The Irish Daily Mail lead with a story about Ireland embarking on a diplomatic mission to "woo" Donald Trump in the hopes of avoiding the introduction of tariffs between the EU and US. The Irish Daily Mirror and Irish Daily Star both lead with stories about Storm Bert. British newspapers A warning to the UK from Vladimir Putin features among the stories on Fridays front pages. The UK Daily Mirror reports the Russian leader warned UK targets could face strikes after British missiles were used by Ukraine to attack Russia. Advertisement British Foreign Secretary David Lammy says Britain and France will relentlessly fight this campaign of Putinisation, according to the i. Meanwhile, The Times UK, The Guardian, The Telegraph and Financial Times all lead with the International Criminal Court issuing an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with the decision backed by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. Metro reports a British lawyer has died after allegedly being served alcohol poisoned with methanol in Laos. The Daily Express leads with the Government committing 536 million in aid for overseas agricultural projects amid backlash over inheritance tax changes. The UK Daily Mail says British Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has revived plans for a boiler tax in an effort to deliver Labours clean energy plans. Advertisement The Sun leads with a report on police investigating non-crime hate incidents. And the UK Daily Star reports Storm Bert is set to bring 70mph winds, snow and ice over the weekend. The only emperor penguin known to have swum from Antarctica to Australia has been released at sea 20 days after he waddled ashore on a popular tourist beach, officials said. The adult male was found on November 1 on Ocean Beach sand dunes in the town of Denmark in temperate south-west Australia about 2,200 miles north of the icy waters off the Antarctic coast, the Western Australia state government said. Advertisement The penguin was released from a Parks and Wildlife Service boat on Wednesday. Gus was found thousands of miles from its normal habitat on Antarctica (Miles Brotherson/DBCA via AP) The boat travelled for several hours from the states most southerly city of Albany before the penguin was released into the Southern Ocean, but the government did not give the distance in its statement. It had been cared for by registered wildlife caregiver Carol Biddulph, who named him Gus after the first Roman emperor Augustus. I really didnt know whether he was going to make it to begin with because he was so undernourished, Ms Biddulph said in video. Advertisement Ill miss Gus. Its been an incredible few weeks, something I wouldnt have missed, she added. Ms Biddulph said she had found from caring for other species of lone penguins that mirrors were an important part of their rehabilitation by providing a comforting sense of company. He absolutely loves his big mirror and I think that has been crucial in his well-being. Theyre social birds and he stands next to the mirror most of the time, she said. The penguin was found in a malnourished state (Miles Brotherson/DBCA via AP) Gus gained weight in her care, from 21.3kg (47lbs) when he was found to 24.7kg (54lbs). Advertisement He stands one metre (3.28ft) tall. A healthy male emperor penguin can weigh more than 45kg (100lbs). The largest penguin species has never been reported in Australia before, University of Western Australia research fellow Belinda Cannell said, though some had reached New Zealand, nearly all of which is further south than Western Australia. The Australian government said with the Southern Hemisphere summer approaching, it had been time-crucial to return Gus to the ocean where he could thermoregulate. Emperor penguins have been known to cover up to 1,000 miles on foraging journeys that last up to a month. Nato and Ukraine will hold emergency talks after Russia attacked a central city with an experimental, hypersonic ballistic missile that escalated the war. The conflict is entering a decisive phase, Polands Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Friday, and taking on very dramatic dimensions. Advertisement Ukraines parliament cancelled a session as security was tightened following a Russian strike on a military facility in the city of Dnipro on Thursday. The war has lasted almost 33 months (AP) In a stark warning to the West, President Vladimir Putin said in a nationally televised speech to his nation that the attack with the intermediate-range Oreshnik missile was retaliation over Kyivs use of US and British longer-range missiles capable of striking deeper into Russian territory. Mr Putin said Western air defence systems would be powerless to stop the new missile. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov kept up the bellicose tone on Friday, blaming the reckless decisions and actions of Western countries in supplying weapons to Ukraine to strike Russia. Advertisement The Russian side has clearly demonstrated its capabilities, and the contours of further retaliatory actions in the event that our concerns were not taken into account have also been quite clearly outlined, he said. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, widely seen as having the warmest relations with the Kremlin in the European Union, echoed Moscows talking points, suggesting the use of US-supplied weapons in Ukraine likely requires direct American involvement. Today, Putin admitted to taking a second step this year toward escalating and expanding this war. A new ballistic missile was used. Putin struck our city of Dnipro, one of Ukraines largest cities. This is a clear and severe escalation in the scale and brutality of this wara Volodymyr Zelenskyy / (@ZelenskyyUa) November 21, 2024 These are rockets that are fired and then guided to a target via an electronic system, which requires the worlds most advanced technology and satellite communications capability, Mr Orban said on state radio. There is a strong assumption that these missiles cannot be guided without the assistance of American personnel. Advertisement Mr Orban cautioned against underestimating Russias responses, emphasising that the countrys recent modifications to its nuclear deployment doctrine should not be dismissed as a bluff. Its not a trick there will be consequences, he warned. Separately, Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky arrived in Kyiv, posting on social media that he wanted to know how the Ukrainians are coping with the bombings, how Czech projects are working on the ground and how to better target international aid in the coming months. Polands Prime Minister Donald Tusk issued a stark warning over escalation (AP) Three legislators from Ukraines parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, confirmed that Fridays previously scheduled session was called off due to the ongoing threat of Russian missiles targeting government buildings in central Kyiv. Advertisement In addition, there also was a recommendation to limit the work of all commercial offices and non-governmental organisations in that perimeter, and local residents were warned of the increased threat, said legislator Mykyta Poturaiev, who added this is not the first time such a threat has been received. President Volodymyr Zelenskys office continued to work in compliance with standard security measures, a spokesperson said. Ukraines Main Intelligence Directorate said the Oreshnik missile, whose name in Russian means hazelnut tree, was fired from the Kapustin Yar 4th Missile Test Range in Russias Astrakhan region, and flew 15 minutes before striking Dnipro. Hungarian PM Viktor Orban warned of repercussions (Russian Defence Ministry Press Service via AP) The missile had six nonnuclear warheads each carrying six submunitions and reached a speed of Mach 11, it said. Advertisement Test launches of a similar missile were conducted in October 2023 and June 2024, the directorate said. The Pentagon confirmed that Russias missile was a new, experimental type of intermediate-range missile based on its RS-26 Rubezh intercontinental ballistic missile. Elsewhere in Ukraine, Russia struck a residential district of Sumy overnight with Iranian-designed Shahed drones, killing two people and injuring 13, the regional administration said. Ukraines Suspilne media, quoting Sumy regional head Volodymyr Artiukh, said the drones were stuffed with shrapnel elements. These weapons are used to destroy people, not to destroy objects, said Artiukh, according to Suspilne. A second Australian teenager has died after drinking tainted alcohol in Laos, her family said. Holly Bowles, 19, had been in a critical condition in hospital in Bangkok for days following the poisoning in Laos more than a week ago. Advertisement Australian broadcaster Network 10 read aloud a short statement from the Bowles family, saying: We are so sad to say that our beautiful girl Holly is now at peace. Her friend, Bianca Jones, also 19, died earlier this week. Vang Vieng is a lively tourist area (AP) British woman Simone White, 28, an American man and two Danish tourists also died, following reports that several people had become ill in a Laotian town popular with backpackers. Earlier, Laotian police detained the manager and owner of a hostel involved in the case. Advertisement An officer at Vang Viengs Tourism Police office said a number of people had been detained in the case, but no charges have been filed yet. Staff at the Nana Backpacker Hostel, which is still operating but not accepting new guests, confirmed that the manager and owner were among those taken in for questioning. Tourist police offices are common in south-east Asia and are set up specifically to help with incidents involving tourists and other foreigners. The manager and owner of the Nana Backpacker hostel have been detained (AP) The US State Department issued a health alert for citizens traveling in Laos, warning of suspected methanol poisoning in Vang Vieng, possibly through the consumption of methanol-laced alcoholic drinks, following similar alerts from other countries whose citizens were involved. Advertisement A 28-year-old British woman, Ms White, from Orpington, Kent, also died from suspected methanol poisoning in Laos, the British Foreign Office said. An American and two Danish tourists also died, though specifics about the causes of death have not been released. The area is known for its lively social scene (AP) Laos is a one-party communist state with no organised opposition and the government keeps a tight lid on information. In this case, officials have released almost no details. The Foreign Ministry has refused to comment, and in Vang Vieng, the small hospital where some of the victims are believed to have been treated initially, referred all questions to the towns health office on the hospital grounds. The town health officials refused to comment, saying they lacked proper permission. Advertisement Methanol is sometimes added to mixed drinks at disreputable bars as a cheaper alternative to ethanol, but can cause severe poisoning or death. It is also a by-product of poorly distilled homebrewed liquor, and could have found its way into bar drinks inadvertently. Landlocked Laos is one of south-east Asias poorest nations and a popular tourist destination. Vang Vieng is particularly popular among backpackers seeking partying and adventure sports. Neil Farmiloe, a New Zealander who owns the Kiwi Kitchen restaurant in town, said a lot of his customers were very worried about the incident. Two Australians were allegedly poisoned, one fatally, at the hostel (AP) I think its never happened before, so it is hopefully just a one-off incident, said Mr Farmiloe, who has lived in Vang Vieng for 20 years. Its very sad all around. Im sure nobody intended to cause injury, but its happened. Advertisement It has been more than a week since the two 19-year-old Australian women fell ill on November 13 following a night out drinking with a group. They failed to check out from the Nana Backpacker Hostel as planned and were found sick in their room and then taken to Thailand for emergency treatment. Thai authorities confirmed earlier that 19-year-old Australian Ms Jones had died by brain swelling due to high levels of methanol found in her system. Duong Duc Toan, the manager of the Nana Backpacker Hostel, said the day before he was detained that the two Australian women had joined other guests for free shots of Laotian vodka on the night in question, before heading elsewhere and returning in the early hours of the morning. New Zealands Foreign Ministry said one of its citizens became ill in Laos and was a possible victim of methanol poisoning. Financial literacy is a critical skill that empowers people to make informed decisions about their money, savings, investments, and general financial health. However, within the Hispanic community, access to financial education resources remains limited. According to a report from the FINRA Investor Education Foundation, only 24 percent of Hispanic adults are considered financially literate, compared to 36 percent of white adults. This gap portrays the pressing need for tailored resources that cater specifically to Spanish-speaking individuals. A lack of accessible materials in Spanish adds to the problem. While many financial education resources exist, they are often not available in languages that resonate with the Hispanic community. The FINRA Investor Education Foundation study found that Spanish-speaking adults are less likely to use financial services and are more likely to report feelings of financial insecurity. Without appropriate resources, many individuals are left navigating challenging financial concepts without adequate guidance. Someone working to boost financial literacy in the Latino community is Diego Apaza, a seasoned financial professional and founder of Alpha Stocks Lab. Mr. Apaza recognizes the barriers that the Spanish-speaking community faces when it comes to financial education. He has committed himself to providing comprehensive trading courses and mentorship entirely in Spanish. His mission is to empower this underrepresented group with the knowledge and skills necessary for success in the financial markets. Due to his background, Mr. Apaza is especially well-suited to lead this initiative. Growing up in a family involved in finance, he developed an early interest in trading, but he faced some challenges along the way. While juggling a regular job and his education, he taught himself the ins and outs of day trading. "My first three years were the hardest part, because I was working a normal job, going to school, and trading," he explained. This perseverance laid the foundation for his later success. In 2020, Mr. Apaza founded Alpha Stocks Lab with just six members. His transparent, hands-on approach has fostered a rapidly growing community with over 2,000 members. Through live trading sessions, real-time market analysis, and a wealth of educational content, he offers an environment where aspiring traders can learn and thrive. Mr. Apaza stresses that education, practical experience, and resilience are vital components of successful trading. He is available to members of the community at all times, which is very different from other educators. Members of Alpha Stocks Lab can engage with Mr. Apaza directly, ensuring they receive timely support and insights. This level of engagement is especially crucial in a field where market conditions can shift rapidly. "Most people come to this industry and think it will be easy, which is why 90 percent of day traders fail," he noted. He focuses on realistic expectations and the importance of ongoing effort and education. The resources offered by Alpha Stocks Lab include a variety of classes covering different trading strategies, market preparation, and psychological aspects of trading. Mr. Apaza advocates for a community-centric approach, where members can share insights and strategies and make collective trading decisions based on thorough market analysis. This collaboration enhances the learning experience and reinforces the importance of shared knowledge in achieving financial independence. As Mr. Apaza continues to expand his influence in the trading world, his vision remains clear: to increase the accessibility of financial education for the Hispanic community. His journey from amateur trader to successful entrepreneur represents the power of determination and innovation. Through Alpha Stocks Lab, he is paving the way for many to achieve financial independence through trading and helping to address the significant gap in financial education resources for Spanish speakers. In a world where financial literacy is essential, initiatives like those led by Mr. Apaza are vital for individuals striving to enhance their financial acumen. By focusing on education, community engagement, and practical experience, Alpha Stocks Lab is not just teaching trading; it is fostering a culture of financial empowerment within the Hispanic community. Say Nothing Disney+ The setting is The Troubles, the brutal asymmetric war fought in Northern Ireland in the final decades of the 20th century, and the detail is intensely specific, but the telling message of this compelling political thriller is sadly universal. Laced with blood and recrimination, Say Nothing observes that political fanaticism, and the violence that extends from it, is a natural accelerant for the young, but for those who live long enough, self-doubt and eventually guilt are a heavier burden than any weapon previously brandished. Lola Petticrew as Dolours Price in Say Nothing. Credit: Rob Youngson/FX Say Nothing was adapted from the 2018 book of the same name by American journalist Patrick Radden Keefe. It begins with the 1972 kidnapping of Jean McConville (Judith Roddy), a widowed mother of 10 children who was disappeared by the paramilitary Irish Republican Army (IRA) because she was believed to be informing on fellow Catholics to the British soldiers maintaining Westminsters control of the country. Like so many examples of sectarian struggle, it is a crime carried out by a community that cannot acknowledge it. Jeans unknown fate hangs over the shows central characters, starting with sisters Dolours (Lola Petticrew) and Marian Price (Hazel Doupe). The children of IRA members, the siblings grew up helping tend to an aunt maimed by her own explosives. The young women break the gender barrier, serving under mercurial IRA field commander Brendan Hughes (Anthony Boyle) and his boss, future political leader Gerry Adams (Josh Finan), whose presence on the show comes with a disclaimer on every episode the character appears in. We bring you the stories of womens lives lost in Australia in recent years. Some of the cases featured are still before the courts. See all 53 stories . We are primed to wait for the next murder; one that will shake the public and create sufficient media noise for politicians to respond. When journalist Jess Hill and criminologist Michael Salter published these words in April in a paper on domestic violence, they cited the murder of Luke Batty by his father on a cricket pitch in Tyabb in 2014, public reaction to which drove the push for the 2015 Victorian Royal Commission into Family Violence. Reforms worth $3.7 billion were to follow, and in January 2023, the Victorian government announced that all 227 of the royal commissions recommendations had been implemented. Isla Bell had dreams of being a marine biologist. The cruel death of Isla Bell, details of which emerged this week, is very different in its particulars. But as the lives of women and children are claimed again and again by male violence, it is impossible to view the case of the 19-year-old from Brunswick in isolation. It is now commonplace to talk about this situation as a national crisis. But has our response been commensurate with this sort of language? Are the actions we have taken so far the right ones? If you believe Bluey then backyard cricket and a Christmas swim are non-negotiables of a Brisbane Yuletide celebration. But if youd rather just kick back and eat like royalty in air-conditioned splendour, then lunch or dinner at a hotel or restaurant may be just the ticket. Not only will you avoid arguments over who has to stand guard over the barbie, theres no mountain of washing up to contend with once the rellos have scarpered. From seafood feasts to lavish roasts with all the trimmings, heres 14 of the best Christmas Day lunches in Brissie. All were available at the time of publication, but get your reservation in quick as most will sell out. The object of crime is usually to make large amounts of money. But the skill of crime is to stay out of jail to spend it. Read, who died in 2013, would admit that as a crook he was a failure as he spent more than 23 years in prison. The success came later when he wrote about his crimes, making more money with a pen than a gun. The prison system is supposed to punish inmates by depriving them of their liberty while educating them on the advantages of living law-abiding lives on release. But what about those who are beyond reform, those who truly enjoy violence? Sometimes an individuals human rights have to be balanced with the need to protect prison staff and inmates from them. There are a handful of prisoners in the Victorian system who fit this bill. There can be no greater example than George Marrogi. Despite spending only one year of his adult life on the outside, Marrogi built a powerful crime syndicate from the inside valued at around $100 million. His sister, Meshilin, was operations manager on the outside until her death from COVID-19 in 2021. As Marrogis money disappeared, so did his allies. As reported by this masthead, there is now a $2 million contract on his life. He is kept in solitary confinement, has to wear handcuffs and ankle shackles when taken from his cell and is forced to kneel if near anyone so he cant attack. No one expects him to get better, they just dont want him to get worse. The problem for Marrogi is that having been such a ruthless and violent inmate when he ran the Notorious Crime Gang, he is a juicy target now his syndicate is falling apart. Most crooks have no sense of history, which is why they repeat the mistakes of other generations. Before Marrogi there was Christopher Dean Badness Binse. He has spent 39 of the past 43 years in prison and for much of it was held in solitary confinement often in chains. He was a prolific armed robber and Australias best escape artist, breaking out of custody six times. At his best, Binse was dashing, funny and brave (while remaining dangerous), but was also brooding and malevolent. Christopher Dean Badness Binse. Credit: Fairfax Moved into mainstream prison, Binse knew he was being set up for an ambush. Inside his shirt he stuffed magazines as a homemade stab vest and when he was attacked beat his enemies senseless before returning to solitary confinement. While sentencing him to another long term for armed robbery and offences relating to a police siege, Justice Terry Forrest suggested that if Binse was ever to see the light, it would be a flashing blue one. Then a strange thing happened. Binse contacted Ken Ashworth, a detective he respected, and said he wanted to confess to a series of unsolved armed robberies as he wanted to clear the slate. This time, Forrest said: I assess your 2017 prospects for rehabilitation as reasonable. This is a substantial and surprising development since 2014. Now he is just a couple of years away from being able to apply for parole. Crimes can be planned and gangs formed on the inside. Armed robber Ray Chuck Bennett planned the 1976 Great Bookie Robbery while in a UK prison refining methods used by the Wembley Mob to be used in Melbourne. He was said to have flown to Melbourne to check out the Victoria Club while on prison pre-release. And, certainly, murders on the outside have been ordered by crime bosses on the inside. One of the few who seem to have survived unharmed from the mental anguish of solitary confinement is Mick Gatto, who, when charged with the 2004 murder of hitman Andrew Veniamin, spent 14 months in solitary confinement before his trial. Mick Gatto was back at his fighting weight as he walked free from the Supreme Court in June 2005 after being acquitted of the murder of Andrew Veniamin. Credit: Angela Wylie Gatto arrived at the Supreme Court 30 kilograms lighter and back to the weight he carried when he was a professional heavyweight boxer. I asked him how he did it. He said that every day he would shadowbox for hours and read his brief of evidence. He was acquitted on the grounds of self-defence. After he was charged, a policeman said to him that the death of Veniamin probably did the world a favour. Gatto is said to have responded, Sometimes when you hear the music you have to get up and dance. Loading There are three ways to have power as an inmate: be rich on the outside so fellow inmates will do your bidding in the hope of getting a job on release; be part of a prison gang that gives you strength in numbers; or just be so physically imposing that a sideways glance could end in intensive care. For years, drug boss Tony Mokbel was protected by fellow inmates who saw him as a potential employer on the street. A hitman turned informer, The Runner, told police: Tony Mokbel came into the unit [at Port Phillip Prison] when he was on remand for drug charges. After a period of time Tony became part of our crew; we used to eat together and occasionally drink alcohol. I was working in the kitchen at the time and used to smuggle food out for Tony, as he loved his food. Over this time Tony and I became friends. I helped Tony with a dispute he had with another prisoner. I also managed to smuggle in a mobile phone for him whilst in the Penhyn Unit. But, like Marrogi, when the money ran out, so did Mokbels friends. In 2019, he was attacked, bashed and stabbed seven times, leaving him with brain damage. When lawyer Andrew Fraser was doing time over cocaine charges, he would always be the last in the queue for food as he would rather go hungry than have an inmate behind him and risk being stabbed. It is a cliche that prisons are ruled by the laws of the jungle, but it is true. The toughest may rule until age diminishes them, and those who can send fellow inmates into protection end up needing protection themselves. Chopper Read was the king of Pentridge until he was stabbed by Bluey Brazel. Brazel (who actually put on weight during a hunger strike by eating a stash of Mars Bars hidden under his bed) was the most feared inmate. That is until he was bashed by the fearsome Matthew The General Johnson, who in 2010 beat drug boss Carl Williams to death inside Barwon Prison. Of all the inmates to reform, Russell Mad Dog Cox seemed one of the least likely. A career armed robber and known killer, Cox escaped from Sydneys Katingal Prison in 1977 and spent 11 years on the run before being recaptured in 1988 at the Doncaster Shoppingtown. His former armed robbery partner, Ian Revell Carroll, had been killed by Cox in a shootout at Mount Martha in January 1983. His crime partner when he was arrested, Ray Denning, became a police informer and died of a mysterious drug overdose. Cox beat a number of charges, including escaping from Katingal when it was discovered it had not been gazetted as a prison, and so returned to jail to serve out his existing jail term. He was released in 2004. Prison officers reported he had become a model inmate. Twenty years on, he is living a quiet life with his wife Helen Deane in Queensland. Vang Vieng, Laos: Police have ordered the closure of the Laos hostel where two 19-year-old Australians and other travellers were staying when they were rushed to hospital in a suspected mass poisoning now believed to have killed at least six people. Australian teenager Holly Bowles died on Friday, a day after her travelling partner and fellow Melburnian Bianca Jones. They had been enjoying a night out in the Laos backpacker hotspot of Vang Vieng and drank spirits believed to have contained methanol, a lethal form of alcohol most common in crude brews. Killed: Bianca Jones (left) and Holly Bowles. Credit: The story has sent a shudder through parents across the world. Australians, gripped by the Melbourne teenagers fight for life in Thai hospitals, are now bereft. Investigators questioned the venues manager in the Laotian capital Vientiane on Friday, as the last of Nana Backpacker Hostels guests were checking out. The dormitory-style backpackers stopped taking guests on Thursday on the orders of police. Today, with the generous support of the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, data.org launched the Asia Pacific (APAC) Data Capacity Accelerator, the fifth in a growing network of global partners that are building a workforce of purpose-driven data practitioners. The APAC Data Capacity Accelerator will catalyze the application of data to address systemic financial inclusion challenges including the critical need to build the data for social impact workforce. In partnership with the Asian Institute of Digital Finance (AIDF) a university-level institute at the National University of Singapore (NUS) and the Association of Pacific Rim Universities, this accelerator will produce a cohort of data practitioners and a training model to scale across the region. Digital transformation, AI and data all have a role to play in shaping society and driving economies towards financial health and resilience, said Shamina Singh, founder and president, Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth. At Mastercard, we are committed to driving financial inclusion for small businesses, workers, and communities all around the world. We are proud to work with partners such as data.org, the Asian Institute of Digital Finance at the National University of Singapore, and the Association of Pacific Rim Universities to reach the next generation of data practitioners, so they can harness the power of data and AI to support inclusive economic growth in the APAC region. The latest Capacity Accelerator Network (CAN) launch announcement came at an event held at NUS. Domain leaders across academia, industry, government, and NGOs came together to discuss shared goals and coordination around developing and upskilling purpose-driven data capacity for inclusive growth. data.org works at the intersection of what is possible and what is practical, as increasingly illustrated by the impact of our CAN network partners, said Danil Mikhailov, executive director of data.org. We will only reach our goal of training one million purpose-driven data practitioners by 2032 through interdisciplinary, locally-led programs. Our growing and diverse network of partnersincluding now five Capacity Accelerator Network hubs worldwideis making connections across sectors and across borders, inspiring a new generation of problem solvers. The APAC Data Capacity Accelerator builds on the work being done at hubs in Africa, India, Latin America, and the United States. To date, data.org programs have engaged more than 20 academic partners around the world, applying the power of research and academic expertise to enable social impact organizations to unlock the power of data to meet their missions. For the APAC Accelerator, AIDF and the Association of Pacific Rim Universities are the primary higher education partners. AIDF is proud to host todays event together with data.org and the Association of Pacific Rim Universities. Its very exciting to be a part of a movement to empower young people and underprivileged communities, such as small business owners, around the world with the skills they need to be competitive in an increasingly tech-driven workforce, said Professor Huang Ke-Wei, Executive Director of AIDF. Our students, regardless of their disciplines, can benefit from exposure to and understanding of data and AI. We hope to create more opportunities for them to apply such critical skills in ways that would be beneficial to the community, society, and the world. This partnership is about tapping into the power of higher education to ensure that our workforce and our communities are not left behind, said Thomas Schneider, chief executive of the Association of Pacific Rim Universities. Data science for social impact has the potential of significant societal benefits in areas such as economic mobility, gender equity, and even public health and climate, so we are eager to see how the data practitioners and social impact organizations involved will address this challenge in a way that serves the public good in the Asia Pacific and beyond. Todays event included keynotes on topics such as data and AI driving inclusive growth, the power of collaboration among government and social impact leaders, and the unique challenges and opportunities of AI in social impact. Subject matter experts shared their perspectives through panel discussions on bridging the data talent demand-supply gap, data-driven decision-making in multistakeholder partnerships, and scaling innovation and resources. About data.org data.org is accelerating the power of data and AI to solve some of the worlds biggest problems. By hosting innovation challenges to surface and scale groundbreaking ideas, and elevating use cases of the most effective tools and strategies, we are building the field of data for social impact. By 2032, we will train one million purpose-driven data practitioners, ensuring there is capacity to drive meaningful, equitable impact. About the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth The Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth advances equitable and sustainable economic growth and financial inclusion around the world. The Center leverages the companys core assets and competencies, including data insights, expertise, and technology, while administering the philanthropic Mastercard Impact Fund, to produce independent research, scale global programs, and empower a community of thinkers, leaders, and doers on the front lines of inclusive growth. For more information and to receive its latest insights, follow the Center on LinkedIn, Instagram and subscribe to its newsletter. About the Asian Institute of Digital Finance The Asian Institute of Digital Finance (AIDF) is a university-level institute at the National University of Singapore (NUS), jointly founded by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), the National Research Foundation (NRF), and NUS. AIDF aims to be a thought leader, a FinTech knowledge hub, and an experimental site for developing digital financial technologies, as well as for nurturing current and future FinTech researchers and practitioners in Asia. For more information, please visit: https://www.aidf.nus.edu.sg/. About the Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU) As a network of leading universities linking the Americas, Asia and Australasia, the Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU) is the Voice of Knowledge and Innovation for the Asia-Pacific region. APRU brings together thought leaders, researchers, and policy-makers to exchange ideas and collaborate on practical solutions to the challenges of the 21st century. For more information, please visit: https://www.apru.org/. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241121438657/en/ The Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AI (HAI) AI Index today released its Global AI Vibrancy Tool which allows flexible comparisons of 36 countries based on 42 openly available AI-specific indicators. Comparisons between countries can be made using either absolute or per capita versions of the indicators and are supported by interactive visualizations. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241121006002/en/ Graphic: Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence (HAI) The Global AI Vibrancy Tool measures the strength of the AI ecosystems based on 8 pillars research and development, responsible AI, economy, education, diversity, policy and governance, public opinion, and infrastructure with indicators including AI journal publications, total AI private investment, AI legislation passed, and foundation model datasets. It is designed to empower policymakers, industry leaders, researchers, and the public with actionable, data-driven insights into national AI development that allows audiences to explore the findings in a way thats most relevant to their goals. Policymakers can use the tool to strategically guide policy decisions, enterprises can gain insights into global AI market trends, and the general public can access concrete data to better understand the evolving debates around AI. The Global AI Vibrancy Tool is available now at https://aiindex.stanford.edu/vibrancy/. The Stanford HAI AI Index hopes to further encourage global stakeholders to improve their data collection and sharing efforts in the interest of improving visibility into the global AI ecosystem. Regular updates will ensure the tool remains a valuable resource for tracking global AI development. Using a set of weights determined by a panel of experts, this years top ten countries are as follows: United States: the U.S. leads the ranking by a significant margin and excels in the research and development (R&D) and in the AI economy pillars. The U.S. consistently produces the most notable AI machine learning models, attracts the highest levels of private AI investment, and leads in publishing responsible AI research. China: China demonstrates substantial strengths in the R&D, economy, and infrastructure pillars. China's focus on developing cutting-edge AI technologies and increasing its R&D investments has positioned it as a major AI powerhouse. United Kingdom: the U.K. demonstrates particular strength in the R&D, education, and policy and governance pillars. India: India has strong performance in R&D and recent improvements in the economy pillar. The United Arab Emirates: The U.A.E. scores highly on the economy pillar. France: France ranks sixth and shows strength in the policy and governance, education, and infrastructure pillars. South Korea: South Korea ranks seventh, scoring highly in the policy and governance, infrastructure, and public opinion pillars. Germany: Germany ranks eight, showing strength in the R&D, responsible AI, and education pillars. Japan: Japan demonstrates strong performance in the infrastructure, R&D, and economy pillars. Singapore: Singapore shows strength in the economy, diversity, and responsible AI pillars. AI has increased as a topic of national interest, and correspondingly narratives about which countries lead in AI have become more prominent than ever, said Nestor Maslej, Project Manager of the AI Index. However, theres limited data providing a clear, quantitative view of where countries actually stand in AI. At the Index, we wanted to address this gap with a rigorous tool that could help policymakers, business leaders, and the public ground these geopolitical AI narratives in fact. About the AI Index The AI Index report tracks, collates, distills, and visualizes data related to artificial intelligence (AI). Our mission is to provide unbiased, rigorously vetted, broadly sourced data in order for policymakers, researchers, executives, journalists, and the general public to develop a more thorough and nuanced understanding of the complex field of AI. The AI Index is recognized globally as one of the most credible and authoritative sources for data and insights on artificial intelligence. About the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AI (HAI) The Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AI (HAI) is an interdisciplinary institute established in 2019 to advance AI research, education, policy, and practice. Stanford HAI brings together thought leaders from academia, industry, government, and civil society to shape the development and responsible deployment of AI. Stanford HAIs mission is to advance AI research, education, policy, and practice to improve the human condition. We believe AI should be guided by its human impact, inspired by human intelligence, and designed to augment, not replace, people. Our interdisciplinary faculty conducts research focused on guiding the development of AI technologies intended to enhance human capabilities while ensuring its ethical, fair, and transparent use. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241121006002/en/ State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada Postal Code Wednesday, November 20, 2024 at 9:26AM Image: Microsoft Microsoft's newest artificial intelligence feature, which is coming to Teams, allows you to sound like you are speaking a language you are not. The app offers a new AI interpreter that simulates your voice and provides near-real-time voice interpretation. The feature is being tested by a limited group of users and is expected to roll out in 2025 for accounts with a Microsoft 365 Copilot license. It initially supports nine languages: Chinese (Mandarin), English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese (Brazil) and Spanish. Microsoft plans to add more languages in the future. According to Nicole Herskowitz, corporate vice president of productivity and collaboration for Copilot, the feature is designed to democratize access to interpreters as it can be expensive to hire human interpreters for everyday activities, like meetings. However, as with most AI and computer interpretations, Herskowitz concedes it may not be 100 percent accurate. Microsoft said it plans to enable Teams' multi-language transcription service so that users can see the transcription in the original language alongside the interpreted version You will need to provide consent via a notification to use the feature. You can also enable it in your privacy settings. If you don't want to use it, there's also an opt-out setting that will disable voice replication and enable the default voice. SOURCE Kampala, Uganda (PANA) - A Ugandan military court in Kampala has ordered former opposition presidential candidate, Kizza Besigye, and his travel companion, Obeid Lutale, to be held in pretrial detention in a prison, the latest example of Ugandas authorities misusing military courts and military-related charges to clamp down on the opposition, Human Rights Watch has reported The Idaho Supreme Court has selected District Judge Eric Wildman to adjudicate water rights in the Kootenai River Basin. The legislature this year authorized the adjudication to move forward, examining water rights in the states northern tip. The state in coming months is expected to petition the water court to begin the adjudication, according to a news release from the state judicial branch. Wildman presides over the states longtime water court based in Twin Falls. Idaho Department of Water Resources staff are working with the deputy attorneys general on petition language, said Shelley Keen, IDWR deputy director. A petition is currently in the drafting stage, he said. I would anticipate a petition to be filed sometime before the end of 2024. A filing timetable has not been set, but thats what were working toward. After a petition is filed, the court starts its own process that usually includes holding a hearing. Based on recent experience, if the department submits a petition before years end, it might be possible for the court to issue a commencement order perhaps sometime in the first half of 2025, Keen said. Idaho on Oct. 23, 2020, petitioned the court to commence the Clark Fork Pend Oreille River Basins Adjudications, also in the north. The court issued a commencement order June 15, 2021. A Nov. 20, 2020, petition to start the Bear River Basin Adjudication, which includes the states southeast corner, was followed by a commencement order June 15, 2021. A general stream adjudication is a lawsuit to inventory the water rights of an entire stream system by deciding their nature, extent and priority, according to the state judicial branch. The process confirms details of rights and provides information that helps manage water use according to state law, including in situations where water rights conflict or additional rights are created. Other adjudications in the state are Palouse River Basin, the Northern Idaho Adjudications, and Snake River Basin completed except for some stock water and domestic claims. Population growth is among reasons the Kootenai adjudication is needed, state water officials said when House Bill 687, which authorizes the IDWR director to petition the district court, was introduced. The adjudication, supported by the basins water users, will involve an estimated 3,000 claims, according to the bills purpose statement. Cost is estimated at $3.25 million over five years, plus funding for negotiating federal claims. Claim filing fees are expected to fund 5-10% of the adjudications cost. How long the Kootenai adjudication takes will depend on how many claims are filed, Keen said. Geneva, Switzerland (PANA) - The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) has launched a $10 billion appeal for 2025 to meet critical needs and implement sustainable solutions for millions of refugees, displaced persons and stateless people worldwide High Court reporters The High Court will dismiss as frivolous and vexatious a couples case aimed at preventing the demolition of their large home that was built about 18 years ago without planning permission. Plumber Chris Murray and his wife Rose issued their legal proceedings despite earlier agreeing to vacate their 588sq m family home so it could be demolished in September 2022. They claimed new information came to light that means the court should set aside the agreement and earlier court orders requiring them to vacate. In May 2017, the Supreme Court upheld High Court orders for them to remove any unauthorised development from their land at Faughan Hill, Bohermeen, Navan, Co Meath. The Supreme Court gave them one year to vacate the property, which the court said had been deliberately constructed in flagrant breach of the planning laws. This order to vacate was not complied with, and Meath County Council brought a motion in March 2019 seeking for the Murrays to be brought to court over alleged contempt of a court order. The motion did not proceed as the two sides reached a settlement agreement in September 2020 that involved the Murrays agreeing to vacate the property within two years to facilitate its demolition by the council. Three days before the expiry of the period to vacate, the Murrays issued a fresh case against Meath County Council. Their action sought a pause to the High Court and Supreme Court enforcement orders and injunctions preventing the local authority from taking any enforcement steps. They claimed there was new evidence relating to land sterilisation agreements made by their lands previous owners. They claimed this and a recent High Court judgment invalidated the planning refusals for their home. The council asked the court to dismiss the case. The background was set out in the judgment of Mr Justice Conor Dignam, who said he was compelled to conclude that the Murrays claim should be struck out. He agreed with the council that it was frivolous, vexatious and an abuse of process. He noted that judicial review proceedings challenging a planning decision must be brought within eight weeks of the decision unless the High Court grants an extension on the basis of a council allegedly deliberately or fraudulently concealing information. The Murrays did not bring such a challenge, the judge said as he dismissed their case. The Murrays were refused planning permission in 2006 but they proceeded to construct a home considerably larger than that for which they had sought permission. The council wrote to them in 2007 requesting removal of unauthorised development, which led to the Murrays seeking permission to retain the build. The council and An Bord Pleanala refused this application and another later one seeking permission to demolish parts of the house and retain the rest. Meath County Council initiated its enforcement proceedings in June 2007. As part of their soon-to-be-dismissed case, the couple said they had applied again for planning permission for their home. Mr Justice Dignam noted the council and An Bord Pleanala rejected the application before he delivered his decision. However, he was told the Murrays made a further planning application after this. By Cillian Sherlock, PA Paschal Donohoe has said he paid for his own meal during a private meeting with Ryanair boss Michael OLeary. The Public Expenditure Minister has come under scrutiny from the opposition over the February 2022 meeting with the airline chief, which was previously undisclosed. Sinn Fein finance spokesman Pearse Doherty said there was a need for Mr Donohoe to come clean over the meeting, accusing Fine Gael of a lack of transparency and accountability. Ryanair chief executive Michael OLeary. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA. He said: Paschal Donohoe is the Minister for Public Expenditure and Michael OLeary is a business figure who is regularly seeking to influence government policy. It is important for the Irish people to know whose interests their government really serves. Mr Doherty said the minister did not disclose the dinner meeting when first asked about engagements with Mr OLeary. He said he later acknowledged the meeting after journalists came with more information. We have now been told by Fine Gael that no records were kept of the meeting as no actions were taken arising from it. Thats not good enough. Mr Donohoe said on Friday: Any matter that ever refers to government business is dealt with in the right way. Any meeting that I have with anybody that refers to Government business is recorded and its published in my diary. Mr Donohoe was Finance Minister and 18 months into his Eurogroup presidency at the time of the dinner. Fine Gael ministers Peter Burke and Paschal Donohoe. Photo: David Young/PA. Asked if it was acceptable to have a purely social meeting with the chief executive of Europes biggest airline, given his roles at the time, he said: Yes, it is. Pressed on what the two men talked about if no official business or policy was discussed, Mr Donohoe said: We talked about very general matters. If any issue in relation to government, business, regulation or policy had been dealt with, that would have been recorded and it would have been dealt with in the same way that every other engagement that I do. Mr Donohoe said he would not describe himself as friends with Mr OLeary, adding that attendees paid their fair share. It is not the first controversy involving Fine Gael and Mr OLeary during the election campaign. The Ryanair boss appeared to malign teachers during the launch of enterprise minister Peter Burkes campaign in Mullingar. Mr OLeary and Fine Gael were criticised after the crowd at the event laughed when the airline chief said he would not hire teachers to get things done, saying the Dail needed more people from private sector backgrounds. Sinn Feins finance spokesperson Pearse Doherty. Photo: Niall Carson/PA. Mr Burke and senior Fine Gael figures including Taoiseach Simon Harris welcomed Mr OLearys endorsement but distanced themselves from his remarks about teachers. Mr Doherty added: It would be instructive for the public to know just how much influence Michael OLeary has with Fine Gael and, by extension, over decisions made by that party in government. Mr Donohoe was speaking to the media at the launch of Fine Gaels election policies for Dublin and other urban centres. The party said it is committed to transforming Dublin city centre into a more vibrant, safe and attractive destination in which to live and work. Mr Donohoe said Fine Gael would implement recommendations of the Dublin City Centre Taskforce, with a focus on revitalising OConnell Street, delivering more visible policing and security, and transforming derelict sites. Fine Gael also pledged improved security measures in the city centre with increased CCTV coverage and a targeted response to reduce open drug use, redeveloping the GPO, collaborating with cultural institutions to offer more late-night events and extended opening hours. The party said it would recruit 6,000 new gardai over the next five years and reduce the concentration of drug treatment facilities in the city centre. High Court Reporters Lord of the Dance star Michael Flatley has launched further legal action aimed at overturning a judges decision that the dispute between him and his former insurance company over a 30 million claim on his Cork mansion policy should go to arbitration. Lawyers for the former Riverdance star this week lodged an appeal with the Court of Appeal seeking to set aside the referral of the matter by High Court judge Mr Justice Michael Twomey to out of court arbitration. The latest move in the Flatley drama surrounding his Castelhyde mansion comes after the former Riverdance performer last June lost his High Court bid to prevent his multi-million claim against the high-end insurance company Hiscox over alleged defective work done to Castlehyde being referred to out of court arbitration. Mr Justice Michael Twomey rejected Mr Flatleys claim that Hiscox, in trying to get Mr Flatley to arbitrate, rather than litigate its dispute with him, was seeking to avoid their responsibility to him. The judge stated that, "On the contrary, it seems to this court, that it is Mr Flatley who is seeking to avoid his responsibility to Hiscox. "This is because, in the plain English terms of the arbitration clause, he agreed to arbitrate any dispute he had with Hiscox. However, he is seeking to avoid his responsibility to Hiscox, by now seeking to litigate his dispute. Mr Justice Twomey said for this reason, the court had little hesitation in referring this dispute to arbitration, particularly as there is nothing "unfair" in the possibility of Mr Flatley having to pay his own legal costs and those of Hiscox, if an arbitrator finds against him in his claim against Hiscox. The High Court recently heard from Mr Flatleys counsel, Ronnie Hudson BL, instructed by Maxwell Mooney and Company solicitors that an appeal was planned. The papers were lodged in the appeal court this week. Amongst the grounds cited by the Flatley side in the appeal is that the High Court in sending the matter for arbitration exceeded its jurisdiction and there was an alleged failure to sufficiently consider Mr Flatley a consumer in place of a businessman. It is further claimed that there was an alleged failure to fully and appropriately consider Mr Flatleys constitutional right of access to the courts. In the proceedings, Mr Flatley is also seeking a declaration that the referral of the Flatley policy with Hiscox Societe Anonyme is non-binding on Mr Flatley and a declaration that the dispute between the parties in respect of that policy can continue to litigation. Mr Flatley further seeks a declaration that the arbitration clause contained in his home insurance policy is unconstitutional in denying his right to have the case heard before a court. The case will be mentioned before the Court of Appeal at the start of next month. Mr Flatley, in an affidavit opened during the High Court hearing, claimed the high-end insurance company which covered his Fermoy estate until earlier this year was trying to rewrite his consumer household policy into a commercial policy in order to rely on the Arbitration Act. Hiscox Societe Anonyme had applied to the High Court to have the proceedings against it before the big business Commercial Court where Mr Flatley is suing several parties over alleged damage to the mansion stayed pending arbitration. In the main Commercial Court proceedings which are continuing, Mr Flatley claims he and his family had to vacate Castlehyde in October 2023 after toxic chemical residue was detected during routine maintenance. He has sued several parties, including Hiscox. By Cillian Sherlock, PA Legally challenging the UK government over Irish unity votes is an option, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald has said. Ms McDonald said successive UK governments have failed to provide clarity on its position for the preconditions or tipping point where a referendum would be held. The Sinn Fein leader said: I dont think thats a sustainable position. UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said when he was in opposition that a referendum on Irish unification was not even on the horizon Photo: Stefan Rousseau/PA. I think now this new British Government under Keir Starmer needs to set out their stall. Under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement of 1998, the UK Government is obliged to call a referendum in Northern Ireland if there is evidence of a shift in public opinion in favour of unity. In that event, there would be a simultaneous vote in the Republic of Ireland. Earlier this year, UK prime minister Sir Keir said he was committed to the principles of the Good Friday Agreement. However, while in opposition he said a referendum on Irish unification was not even on the horizon. Asked on Friday if Sinn Fein would consider a legal challenge against the British government to force it to provide clarity on its decision making, Ms McDonald said Ireland had previously challenged the UK in the courts over legacy legislation. She said: Would (a legal challenge) be our first option? No. Is that option available to the Irish state? Yes. Ms McDonald said it was open to any citizen to challenge the UK Government on the terms of the Agreement. She added: Our first choice is political and diplomatic. Meanwhile, Ms McDonald also criticised the leader of Fianna Fail for saying he did not believe a border poll would happen within five years. She made the remarks as she launched Sinn Feins latest policy document on its long-held ambition for a united Ireland. Ms McDonald told reporters in Dublin: We need a mature, respectful conversation about constitutional change. Its a conversation that should be approached with optimism, with ambition and with the real sense of opportunity. Of course, the conversation must be inclusive. It has to recognise that people hold competing and different views about the future. It has to recognise the reality that partition has hurt Ireland politically and economically, and that we now have a chance to change all of that. Its time to plan and prepare for a united Ireland. The General Election policy document expands on the partys plans to work towards holding referendums for Irish unification by the end of the decade, under the provisions of the Good Friday Agreement. The party would also appoint a junior minister focused on reunification, and initiate a diplomatic offensive to promote Irish unity. Ms McDonald said she would seek support from US President-elect Donald Trump and other American politicians across the aisle. It would establish citizens assemblies to discuss the constitutional future of Ireland and prepare for an Irish national health service. Asked if the Irish flag would change in a united Irish state, Ms McDonald said the current tricolour represents an alliance between the Gael and the Planter. She said: For me the flag the green, the white and the orange represents all of our traditions. The entente between the orange and the green the Gael and the Planter. So I see no reason to change the flag. Ms McDonald said she personally saw no reason to change the flag or the anthem, but accepted others would have differing views. She said there was now a need to prepare for Irish unification in a better way than what was seen during Brexit. During the time leading up to the UKs withdrawal from the European Union, the DUP refused to engage with all-island talks established by then Taoiseach Enda Kenny. Asked if Sinn Fein expected to proceed with its preparations for unity without engagement from the DUP, Ms McDonald said: At that time, the argument was made that: Whats the point in extending it to the north? Unionism wont come. And correct, the DUP didnt come, but the Alliance Party did, and unionism came. It came as hauliers, agriculture, business. So we have to have the objective that every political party, all political representatives, will not just come and participate, but will feel very welcome coming and participating and their views and perspectives valued. Ms McDonald said it would be a mistake to reduce unionism to individual political parties, adding that there had been a sea change in how Protestants, unionists and loyalists engage with the conversation around unity. She also said there had been exciting political advancements in Northern Ireland. She pointed to Michelle ONeills position as First Minister as something that was against all odds and never supposed to happen. First Minister of Northern Ireland Michelle ONeill with deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA. One of the proposals in Sinn Feins plans is to change the rules of the Oireachtas parliament in Dublin to allow MPs from Northern Ireland to have speaking time. Sinn Fein MPs do not take their seats at Westminster. Asked if she believed this could see her as a future taoiseach taking questions in Dublin from TUV leader Jim Allister during Leaders Questions, she replied: Well, I would very much welcome that Im not sure how Jim Allister would feel about it. Earlier on Friday, Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin said he did not foresee a Fianna Fail government holding a border poll in the next five years. He emphasised his work on the one-billion euro Shared Island Fund, which he described as the most important initiative for cross-border relationships since the Good Friday Agreement. Tanaiste and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA. Speaking on Newstalk, Mr Martin added: Thats the future, its about reconciliation. Its about the old Wolfe Tone principle of uniting people, Protestant, Catholic and the centre. Ms McDonald said his position was astonishing and irresponsible, adding that she thought Fianna Fail believed in unity. She said: Change is happening, its evident that its happening. It needs to be managed and planned for and I actually think its irresponsible of any political leader to refuse to plan for the future. Ms McDonald added: I think its irresponsible, I think its short-sighted. I think it lacks ambition. I think its very much out of step with the opportunities that we now have as a country. We should be grasping opportunity, not pushing it away. By Jonathan McCambridge and David Young, PA Three men have been found guilty of the murder of Ian Ogle in Belfast. Mr Ogle was 45 when he was beaten and stabbed 11 times just yards from his Cluan Place home in the east of the city in January 2019. Delivering his verdict in the non-jury trial, Mr Justice McFarland said he was satisfied that Glenn Rainey, 38, from Ballyhalbert Caravan Park, Walter Ervine, 43, from Litchfield Street in Belfast and 41-year-old Robert Spiers from Millars Park in Dundonald were part of a group of five men who had carried out the attack. The judge told the three men the only sentence he could hand down was life imprisonment. There were cheers from the Ogle family when the verdict was announced at Belfast Crown Court on Friday. The judgment was handed down at Belfast Crown Court. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA. The three defendants showed no emotion as the verdicts were read. Two men had previously admitted killing Mr Ogle. Jonathan Brown, 39, from Whinney Hill in Dundonald, and 45-year-old Mark Sewell of Glenmount Drive in Newtownabbey were handed life sentences earlier this year. Delivering his judgment, the judge said there had an ongoing feud between two factions in east Belfast after some of the defendants were involved in an incident in a bar with Mr Ogles son in 2017. On the evening Ian Ogle was attacked, he and his son had been involved in an assault on another man on the Beersbridge Road. The judge said this had been a precipitating factor in the fatal attack later that night. CCTV footage indicated Mr Ogle had been the victim of a 30-second attack, the judge said. Witnesses said Mr Ogle was attacked with a baton and a knife, and his head was stamped upon. A local pastor, Kevin Sambrook, who had been speaking with Mr Ogle before the attack and gave evidence during the trial, described the group acting like a pack of hyenas, the judge said. Mr Ogle died from a stab wound to the chest and had also suffered extensive bruising and a fractured skull. Robert Spiers at a previous court hearing. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA. Mr Justice McFarland said: This is the classic joint enterprise case. The man who used the knife may have direct responsibility for the death, but it is clear beyond any doubt that each of the five men were involved in the attack on Ian Ogle and each intended to cause him at the very least really serious bodily injury. He added the case against the three defendants was circumstantial, and the prosecution case was made up of a number of strands. Considering the evidence, the judge said a strong inference could be drawn from the mobile phone activity between the defendants on the night of the murder. He said: The overwhelming inference that can be drawn from the telephony evidence is that Brown, Sewell, Rainey, Ervine and Spiers made up the group that murdered Ian Ogle. Mr Justice McFarland also said the fact two of the defendants had both left Northern Ireland the day after the murder Rainey flew to Thailand via Moscow and Ervine sailed to Scotland was a strong contributory piece of evidence against them. The judge said police had recovered an Ernesto knife and an extendable baton from the Connswater river two weeks after the murder. He said a search of Spierss house revealed an Ernesto knife missing from a set. The judge also said Spiers had lied to the police about not having a mobile phone. Mr Justice McFarland said he also drew an inference from the fact none of the three defendants had given evidence in the trial to answer evidence against them. The judge concluded: I am satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that Rainey, Ervine and Spiers were part of the group, the others being Brown and Sewell, that murdered Ian Ogle at Cluan Place. Addressing the defendants, he said: The only sentence I can pass is life imprisonment and I now pass that sentence. The judge said a tariff hearing to determine the minimum amount of time each would spent in prison would he held in July. Before the three were led from the dock, Spiers blew a kiss to someone in the public gallery. PEOPLE Before Profit general election candidate cllr Adrienne Wallace has organised a meeting with representatives and activists from the disability sector, as she emphasises that disability must be a priority for the next government. The meeting will take place today Friday, 22 November, in the Irish Wheelchair Association Centre, Kilkenny Road, Carlow at 2.30pm and is open to the public. She will be joined by Danielle Dunne from Family Carers Ireland and an activist from the local access group, which wants to see accessible public infrastructure in Carlow. This government has been in power for the last 14 years and has not prioritised family carers or people with disabilities, said cllr Wallace. Disability justice has been placed firmly on the agenda for the general election in a way it never was before, because families and organisations are fighting back, and scrapping the governments green paper on disability is just one example of this, she said. All are welcome to attend. Port Sudan, Sudan (PANA) - A World Food Programme (WFP) convoy arrived in the Zamzam camp in North Darfur, Sudan, on Friday the first since famine was declared there three months ago, the UN agency has reported Articles / Market Reports Tunisia: poised for growth Tunisias cement market has fallen to the lowest level in over two decades, while the industrys overcapacity is now idling at 50 per cent, supported by significant exports to Libya and Europe. The recent arrival of Chinese cement producers provides a glimmer of hope as infrastructure projects are expected to pick up pace. Tradeship Publications Ltd 1988-2024 | No part of this website may be reproduced without prior written consent from the publisher. Advertisement Uzbekistans custom authorities have raised the customs clearance fee for Tajik cement imports from US$35/t to US$300/t as of early November. A source speculated to Asia-Plus on Wednesday that the hike may have been orchestrated by Uzbek cement manufacturers: On 16 October, a meeting was held in Samarkand involving representatives of several cement production companies, many of which are owned by Chinese investors. They discussed the development of Uzbekistans cement industry, pricing policies and the possibility of forming a cartel. Uzbekistans primary supplier of cement is Tajikistan, requiring 2.2.Mta. Over the first nine months of this year, Tajikistan has reportedly exported around 532,000t of cement (worth US$21m) a substantial decrease from 782,000t in the same period last year. Uzbekistan has 30 cement facilities, with additional plants under construction or being modernised. Once operational, these may lead to a complete ban on cement imports. In 2020 Uzbekistans government temporarily banned cement imports from 1 May to the end of the year, but the restriction was only lifted three weeks later. Cement is one of Tajikistans main export items. Since 2018, Tajikistan has ranked fifth in Uzbekistans foreign trade turnover. Advertisement Cement imports into the Philippines have increased by five per cent to 6.2Mt in the first 10 months of 2024, according to the Bureau of Customs. Vietnam is the main importing country, accounting for 94 per cent of imports, followed by Japan (five per cent) and Indonesia (one per cent). As imports continue to increase, cement producers are pushing for the imposition of safeguard measures on cement. Cement Manufacturers Association of the Philippines (CeMAP) Executive Director, Renato Baja, said the group and Eagle Cement Corp are supporting the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)s move to initiate a preliminary safeguard measures investigation on cement imports from various countries. This critical step underscores the governments commitment to ensuring fair competition and protecting the local cement industry from undue harm by excessive imports, Mr Baja said. "Despite the Philippines cement industrys ample capacity of 50Mta sufficient to meet local demand estimated at 34Mta, the influx of imported cement has brought substantial harm to domestic manufacturers, he added. Under the Philippine Republic Act 8800 or the Safeguard Measures Act, the government may impose a safeguard measure such as increased tariff on certain imports as a relief to the domestic industry when a surge in imports of like products cause serious threat or injury. The DTI decided to conduct a preliminary safeguard measures investigation as cement imports increased from 2019 to 2023. A 10-year-old in Shawano County, Wisconsin, recently dialed 911 not for an emergency, but for help with a math homework problem involving decimals. Dispatcher Kim Krause explained the emergency line was not meant for such requests but, recognizing an opportunity to assist, asked Deputy Sheriff Chase Mason to check in on the child, ABC News reported. "Personally, I am also not overly proficient when it comes to math, but nonetheless, I responded to assist," Mason said in a statement. Mason, who has a stepson of a similar age, visited the home and worked through the problem with the young student. Despite the deputy's lack of mathematical expertise, the two solved the issue together. The Shawano County Sheriff's Office later posted about the incident on Facebook, using it as a teaching moment to encourage kids to use the non-emergency line for non-critical requests. Sheriff George Lenzner praised the deputy for his actions. "Cops are there to help people, especially the youth. I don't want our youth to ever be afraid of law enforcement," he told ABC News. Originally published by Latin Times. 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Mark Warren, suing the city, alleging they are at fault for the tragic accident on Frazier Avenue that took the lives of two pedestrians? Does C. Mark realize this is a documented road rage incident? Does he realize there is public testimony and video, showing a Chattanooga doctor and the suspect were performing PIT maneuvers on each other on Cherokee Boulevard, just prior to the accident? Does C. Mark realize the suspect driver ran a stop sign on Cherokee Boulevard, just before the crash? Does C. Mark realize that the suspect was given a BAC (blood alcohol) test at the hospital, and the results showed the suspect was illegally intoxicated at the time of the crash? How are those factors the civil responsibility of the city of Chattanooga? Or does C. Mark just need a quick paycheck from the city, so he can have a second orange-colored BMW in the garage for Christmas? He has opined many times on this website, stating how he seems to know so much more than the public officials who actually run the city. Maybe C. Mark should put his contingency fee where his keyboard is, run for public office, and show everyone how it's supposed to be done. Jay Piercy East Brainerd * * * I can't believe Prosecutor Brian Finlay can see the video, video now, not opinion, not speculation, and determine that Dr. Patrick McGinty purposefully executing a pit maneuver on Randy Vega's vehicle and "causing" it to veer onto the sidewalk on Frazier Avenue and kill two people, injure one, doesn't constitute any charges being filed on the doctor with a straight face. Reportedly he, the doctor, felt culpable enough to visit the surviving victim in the hospital to apologize or curry favor soon after it happened. Additionally C. Mark decides the city of Chattanooga is the responsible party (deep pockets). Without the doctor's involvement it would probably would have not happened. If that's not substantial culpability I'm at a loss. And government entities wonder why the general public has lost faith in them to do the right thing and tell the truth. What a crazy world we live in today. Sam Lewallen * * * So many questions have been brought up in this publication over the past several weeks, and I know how we can get answers. The first subject is the accident on Frazier. "Proximate cause" is a legal term used to determine liability for a tort act. There can be a list of entities who are the proximate cause, both primary and secondary. It's obvious that the city of Chattanooga is not number one on the list. C. Mark "show me the money" tort lawyer Warren would be the perfect person to answer why he is making them number one, although "deep pockets" a.k.a. taxpayers wearing those pants, is most likely the answer. Even so, I would like to give him the opportunity to expound. While he is expounding, I would also like to know if the plaintiff contacted his office direct, or is it a result of a "bird dog". I would also like to hear from Assistant D.A. Brian Finlay as to why Dr. Patrick McGinty is off the hook. If there is something we don't know, just tell us. Don't leave us in the dark. Two other people who could step up to the plate and answer questions I have posed in this publication are Hamilton County Commissioners David Sharpe and Jeff Eversole. David Sharpe has repeatedly used tort lawyer Warren as a surrogate, in my opinion, to trash our good county mayor. It's my belief, for good reason, that David Sharpe has his eye on running for Hamilton County Mayor and Jeff Eversole has his eye on running for city of Chattanooga Mayor. Both have shown signs of posturing for such a run, but this can best be answered by them. Enquiring minds want to know, J. Pat Williams * * * Guys, y'all seem to be determined to miss the point. The city conducted a traffic study of Frazier in 2016 that showed Frazier to be a dangerous street considering the high concentration of pedestrians in that area. Furthermore, there is a pattern of accidents in the very spot where the accident occurred last year. Having a passing lane in dense pedestrian heavy part of town directly facilitated the reckless actions of both Dr. Mcginty and Randy Vega. The new traffic pattern makes the competitive jockeying between lanes a non-issue. It is a shame the city didn't follow recommendations to road diet Frazier in 2016. Anyway, the accident was caused by both the reckless actions of the drivers involved and the poor road design that prioritized speed over safety. Byron Spenser * * * One should not worry about frivolous lawsuits such as this one. Some attorneys just never learn. William Parker * * * Never mind holding people accountable for their actions. Blame the road, blame the gun, blame the video game, blame the other person. We have no need for personal responsibility. A thing of the past, like common sense. Sam Lewallen Drivers traveling on I-24 West should be aware of upcoming road construction activities that will have an impact on traffic. On Thursday, from 9 p.m. to 12 a.m., Tennessee Department of Transportation maintenance crews will reduce I-24 West to one lane from mile marker 182 to mile marker 183 for pothole patching. Drivers are encouraged to use caution as they travel through this area and expect delays. Signage will be posted directing drivers through the work zone. This work is weather-dependent. Should inclement weather or unforeseen circumstances cause delays, it will be rescheduled to take place at a later date. Uniformed police officers will be present to assist with traffic control and law enforcement. As always, drivers are reminded to use all motorist information tools wisely and Know Before You Go! by checking travel conditions before leaving for your destination. Drivers should never tweet, text, or talk on a cell phone while behind the wheel. Get the latest construction activity traffic updates from the TDOT SmartWay Map. Travelers can also call 511 for statewide travel information. Courts are products of legal doctrine. A judges primary responsibility is to interpret and fairly apply the written law to the facts of each case. To this end, everyone knows judges are governed by a host of written statutes, as well as by precedent from previous cases decided by higher courts. Most people also know there are written rules of procedure and ethics judges must follow. But in the real world where there are nuanced and complex issues, the explicit statutes and cases may not provide all the answers. Written rules similarly cannot address every aspect of a judges behavior. Thus, in addition to written laws and rules, there is another, implicit, body of principles that comes into play. Unwritten Norms, Customs, and Expectations This implicit body of principles is largely unwritten. It consists of norms, customs, standards, and shared expectations for judges. Together, these norms serve as institutional guardrails for the judiciary. Judges comply with them voluntarily. Some compliance results from agreement with these principles, while some results from social pressure from fellow judges. These unwritten principles shape the way judges manage and adjudicate their cases, conduct themselves both on and off the bench, relate to others in the judiciary, and even how they interact with the public and other branches of government. Norms Inform How Judges Manage Their Caseloads A prime example of norms informing a judges behavior is how a judge manages his or her caseload. How the judge handles pretrial matters, schedules the trial, and interacts with the lawyers is a matter of personal preference for the judge and not a matter of law. This is one place where judicial norms and expectations come in. Even though judges have substantial discretion on how to manage their caseloads, it is the norm and the expectation that judges will manage their caseloads efficiently and with dispatch, so that cases progress reasonably expeditiously. Litigants have a right to expect that their cases will not unnecessarily linger in a judicial labyrinth. The norms and expectations also call for judges to handle their cases with fairness, impartiality, and civility. Norms Inform How Judges Conduct Themselves On the Bench Norms also come into play with how judges conduct themselves when presiding over a trial or hearing. This is the most common picture the public has of judgesin their robes on the benchmaking compliance with norms in this situation especially important. Norms dictate that a judge is well prepared for the matter under consideration and knowledgeable about the relevant law. Ethics rules and norms also require the judge to handle himself or herself with discipline, restraint, and dignity. Equally important ethics rules and norms compel judges to treat the lawyers, the parties, the witnesses, and any spectators in the courtroom with respect and civility. These are all norms with a long and honored history. Norms Inform How Judges Conduct Themselves Off the Bench Norms apply outside of the courtroom as well. Norms, along with judicial ethics and codes of conduct, require that judges conduct themselves in such a way as not to bring disrepute upon the judiciary Even actions that may be perfectly legal can shed a bad light on the judiciary. In most occupations, habitually coming to work late or not performing a job satisfactorily might get a person fired, but it would not reflect poorly on the persons occupation as a whole. It is different for judges. When one judge falls below the standard, it is common for the public to lose some respect for judges as a group. Therefore the norms and expectations are that judges will diligently perform their duties and give their very best. The same principles apply outside the courthouse altogether. While a member of the public may be excused for getting into a loud or profane dispute in a restaurant or at a sporting event, that would be quite damaging for a judges reputation. More importantly, it would damage the reputation of the judiciary itself. Judicial norms and ethics codes rightly demand that judges be cautious about their actions in public, control their tempers, and always exhibit integrity in all they do. Norms Serve an Important Function in the American Legal System Our courts are the protectors of the rule of law. But judges are not automatons mechanically applying the relevant legal rules, statutes, and precedents. They are living individuals who must rely on and be guided by not only written laws but also many unwritten norms. By preserving the publics confidence in the courts, these principles help maintain the legitimacy, reputation, and credibility of the judicial system. As such, they play an important role in our society. We are very fortunate that the great majority of judges in the United States, in both state and federal courts, live up to these norms. Curtis L. Collier United States District Judge Chair, Eastern District of Tennessee Civics and Outreach Committee Carrie Brown Stefaniak Law Clerk to the Honorable Curtis L. Collier Rachel Elaine Noveroske Law Clerk to the Honorable Curtis L. Collier Katherine E. Philyaw Law Clerk to the Honorable Curtis L. Collier City Parks and Outdoors Administrator Scott Martin has accepted a position as Chief Executive of the Fort Monroe Authority, a partnership with the National Park Service and the city of Hampton, Virginia. Mayor Tim Kelly said, "While we are sad to see Scott depart, his advancement underscores the exceptional talent cultivated here in Chattanooga. His leadership and vision have set a high bar for parks and recreation management, leaving a legacy we will cherish for years to come. "Scott has been the visionary leader our Department of Parks and Outdoors needed, and he has set Chattanooga on a path to become a city where every person can enjoy the outdoors, every day, no matter where or how they live. We understand he could not turn down the opportunity to be closer to family in this prestigious new role in Virginia, but we're sad to see him go. His leadership led to the unanimous passage of the Parks and Outdoors Planthe first of its kind in 25 years. Thanks to Scotts dedication and the support of our many community partners, we are making transformative investments in our parks and we are on the verge of becoming Americas first National Park City. That work will continue. Scott has led the successful opening of Lynnbrook Park, Lupton Mills Meadows, and Shallowford Preserve, while also driving significant enhancements to parks, playgrounds, recreation fields, and programs citywide. "Through collaboration with numerous partners, he has championed transformative, visionary projects, including the reimagining of the Riverfront, Chatt Town Skate Park, Montague Park, and many others - all with a steadfast commitment to delivering high-quality outdoor spaces for every neighborhood. "Scotts tenure in Chattanooga has been marked by bold vision, collaborative efforts, and a steadfast commitment to creating spaces where community and nature thrive together. On behalf of the city of Chattanooga, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to Scott Martin for his incredible contributions and wish him continued success in this next chapter of his career." Mr. Martin said, "It has been an honor to be a small part of Chattanoogas incredible story. I want to thank Mayor Tim Kelly, the Chattanooga City Council, Chattanooga Parks and Outdoors staff, and all the partners who invest, support, visit, and love this city for their unwavering support and shared dedication to making Chattanooga a better place for all. I leave knowing its in great hands and look forward to watching Chattanooga continue to grow its reputation as one of the nation's best places to live." Governor Bill Lee on Thursday signed an executive order to establish the Duck River Watershed Planning Partnership and "further the states commitment to balancing economic growth, water resource management, and environmental and habitat conservation to ensure the long-term sustainability of Tennessees watersheds." The Order specifically recognizes the Duck River Watershed as North Americas most biologically diverse freshwater river and its critical contribution to Tennessees outdoor recreation economy and communities as the sole water source for approximately 250,000 Tennesseans. Governor Lee said, The Duck River is not only a scenic treasure, but it is also North Americas most biologically diverse freshwater river and the sole water source for thousands of Tennesseans. As we continue our work to balance Tennessees economic growth with a plan to protect our environment, preserving waters like the Duck River and enhancing water resource management statewide will be a cornerstone of our long-term conservation strategy. Executive Order 108 outlines the Governors intent to bring budget initiatives for the General Assemblys consideration that will facilitate a comprehensive plan for statewide water conservation and the conservation of the Duck River, while simultaneously establishing The Duck River Watershed Planning Partnership to support the Duck River Development Agencys mission of facilitating collaboration among stakeholders and developing strategies for the sustainable management of the Duck River. The Duck River Watershed Planning Partnership will be responsible for the following: Developing comprehensive watershed management recommendations that balance the needs of water users and economic growth against the need to protect the environmental integrity of the Duck River. Advising and providing recommendations to the Governor, the Duck River Development Agency, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA), and legislative leadership on policies and actions to promote the sustainable use and conservation of water resources in the Duck River Watershed. Identifying opportunities for water system regionalization, drought resilience, habitat conservation, and water loss reduction. Engaging with local communities, utilities, industries, and conservation organizations to ensure broad participation in watershed planning efforts. In an effort to continually manage and preserve other watersheds and prioritize regionalization throughout Tennessee, the Order also requires TDEC, in partnership with TWRA, to identify additional priority watersheds, continue conducting statewide water supply planning, support municipalities in optimizing their wastewater treatment operations, and provide technical and financial assistance to urban stormwater communities for implementing nature-based stormwater control measures. The video may be viewed here. Two beer permits were issued at the meeting of the Chattanooga Beer Board on Thursday, but the majority of the meeting was used for talking about how to handle issues that are relatively new. Cherokee Distributing Company, Inc. has been in business since 1958. The business received a distributor beer license for the Chattanooga location at 5045 Summit Spring Way in Ooltewah. The wholesale beer distributor sells many of the leading beer brands as well as non-alcoholic beverages. The business services 48 counties in the eastern half of Tennessee. The Chattanooga location distributes to eight surrounding counties. And the Hampton Inn and Suites Hamilton Place was approved for a Consumer/Carry-Out beer permit for the hotel at 2014 Hamilton Place Blvd. just off I-75. After hearing the applications, the board spent the remainder of the meeting in discussion. In the last several months, the Chattanooga Beer Board has run into some problems it has not encountered before. Neither Chairman of the Beer Board Dan Mayfield or Board Member Ron Smith, the two longest serving members, could remember dealing with an applicant with a DUI conviction until a couple of months ago. The board has had a couple of recent incidents since then when a background check found that the applicant had received a DUI within 10 years of applying for a beer permit. In his research, Beer Inspector Jason Wood found that the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission does not consider a DUI as a prohibitive factor in issuing a liquor license. Assistant City Attorney Kathryn McDonald said that the beer code specifies a permit cannot be given if there has been a crime related to possession, sale or transportation of beer within 10 years or a crime related to moral turpitude, but it does not use DUI by name. Until recently, the beer board did background checks for applicants through the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation but that has changed. Board Chairman Mayfield said that now the background of applicants is being checked nationwide, which reveals more DUI convictions than before. That is one reason that the beer board has started seeing the violations show up on applications. The beer board must now decide on how to deal with applicants with a history of DUIs. The beer boards interpretation that was decided on Thursday will set its policy going forward. That is a single DUI conviction within 10 years will not prevent the applicant from getting a permit to sell beer in Chattanooga. The second topic of discussion at the meeting was about the requirements and rules for brown bagging. That is when a business does not sell liquor or wine but sells set-ups and allows customers to bring their own bottles. It has always been in the beer ordinance but people have been misinformed about it, said Sgt. Wood, "so we started telling business owners that if they to do it, the business has to be permitted." He has also been looking for guidance for how the practice is handled in other cities. He has discovered that there is not a lot of information to find and that there is not any real guidance. The practice is really about liquor, not beer, however the permit holder is still responsible for their customers, said Calandra Smith, the certified trainer in alcohol sales for the Hamilton County Coalition and the city beer board. Brown bagging is found most often in bars and restaurants that only sell beer. Ms. Smith said that if a customer arrives intoxicated, bringing a brown bag or not, the permit holder must decide whether to allow them in, because there is not supposed to be anyone on the property that is intoxicated. And to protect themselves, it is up to the owner to notify 911 or the police non-emergency number if they decline to leave. And the business still has to monitor the condition of its customers the same as it does for alcohol sales. If the bottle is not empty when they leave, she said that the person who brings it in is responsible to cork or seal the bottle when they leave, because the permit holder is not allowed to touch or store the liquor. Penalties are the same for a consumer or brown bag permit, said Ms. Smith. The business takes on the liability. And that is one of the reasons that businesses allow brown bagging, said Beer Board member Smith. The high cost of liability insurance for businesses that do serve liquor is a factor that is considered. On Nov. 28, eight Tennessee State Parks will offer Thanksgiving meals, and even more parks will hold Day After Thanksgiving hikes on Nov. 29. Thanksgiving is the perfect time to gather with family around a great meal. But if you're focused on all of the cooking and cleaning, the holiday can feel more stressful than you'd like. This year, let Tennessee State Parks take on the meal, and you just gather with the people you love most. Tennessee State Parks will host Thanksgiving meals featuring the holiday staples and southern favorites. For more information on Thanksgiving meals go online to Tennessee State Parks. Day After Thanksgiving Hikes Many Tennessee State Parks will have Day After Thanksgiving hikes on Nov. 29. Officials offer guided hikes for all ages and abilities, ranging from easy, peaceful strolls to rugged ramblings. Whether you're eager to join one of our signature guided hikes or embark on a self-guided adventure, our parks are here for you to find space to give thanks. For example, at Mousetail Landing State Park, hikers will learn about the history of the Tennessee River and its port locations. Hikers at Cedars of Lebanon State Park will use a new paved ADA trail. Savage Gulf State Park will host a seven-mile trek. Dunbar Cave State Park will show hikers how the landscape has been altered by various cultures throughout centuries. Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park hikers will follow the woodland trail one-mile loop with options for advanced hikers to take a more strenuous route. Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park will take visitors on a tour focused on Tennessee history. Some of the hikes have special times. Pickwick Landing State Park will host a Pre-Gobble Wobble on Thanksgiving Day, then an After-Feast Stroll the same day. Paris Landing State Park will host a Thanksgiving night hike. As always, the parks encourage hikers to wear good walking shoes and bring water. For more information go to Day After Thanksgiving Hikes. The Day After Thanksgiving hikes are part of the Tennessee State Parks Signature Hikes series that includes the First Day Hikes on New Years Day, Spring Hikes, and National Trails Day Hikes. Elizabeth Burns, of Chattanooga, majoring in general business, was among the 189 University of Mississippi students who were inducted into the Phi Kappa Phi honor society, one of the nation's oldest and most prestigious honor societies for all academic disciplines. The university held an induction ceremony on Nov. 3 at the Gertrude C. Ford Center for the Performing Arts on campus."Phi Kappa Phi is an all-discipline honor society," said Annette S. Kluck, Phi Kappa Phi chapter president and dean of the Graduate School."Membership is by invitation only and is highly selective. Thus, the students invited to join our chapter are the top in their class."Membership signifies a student who passionately pursues academic excellence. The ceremony is a wonderful opportunity for us to recognize these outstanding students."Phi Kappa Phi membership is based on a student's character and academic standing. Juniors must have completed 72 credit hours and rank in the top 7.5 percent of their class, while seniors and graduate students must rank in the top 10 percent of their class. If you visit Cameron Hill, youll find a tribute to Boynton Park but both the hill and the park are mere shadows of their former footprint. Who was Boynton and what is the history of this notable Chattanooga park? On July 7, 1903, Chattanooga Mayor Alexander Chambliss informed his aldermen that the Southern Land and Loan Company had contacted him about purchasing several lots on Cameron Hill for park purposes. Mayor Chambliss asked for authorization to commit to purchase and then read aloud a letter from for Mayor George W. Ochs suggesting that this park, if purchased, should be called Boynton Park. Additionally, Ochs offered to deed to the city, free of cost certain adjacent property on Cameron Hill to become part of the park and commended the board that the city would honor itself by showing this slight token of respect to General Boynton. He concluded his letter with a nod to this distinguished gentleman who had been Chattanoogas friend, steadfast supporter and generous benefactor. The Board unanimously approved a resolution submitted by the Parks committee members Russell, Lieb and VanDyke, for the purchase of the Cameron Hill lots, the naming of the proposed park and the acceptance of former Mayor Ochs property gift. Upon the third and final reading of the resolution, Boynton Park became a plan. The following day, the Chattanooga Daily Times editorial page offered support for the action honoring General H. V. Boynton, one of the best and most influential friends this city has ever had. The endorsement continued with a challenge that the park should be one of the handsomest public places in the South. Once the city fathers had taken the initiative of creating a monument to him [General Boynton] on Cameron Hill, work should guarantee a park that would not only be a credit, but a source of pride to the people. Who was this friend of Chattanooga? Henry Van Ness Boynton had served as a Major and Lieutenant Colonel in the 35th Ohio Volunteer Infantry during the U. S. Civil War and commanded that regiment both at Chickamauga and during the storming of Missionary Ridge. He was brevetted Brigadier General following his gallantry at Chickamauga and awarded the Medal of Honor for valorous action on Missionary Ridge. A newspaper correspondent after the war and acclaimed author of Shermans Historic Raid, General Boynton was subsequently the Chairman of the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park. His return to the scene of his most significant military actions and his work with local and national leaders on securing Chickamauga and Chattanoogas designation as the first national military park in the United States had endeared him to the regions residents. As word spread regarding the city councils action, scores of letters in support of Boynton Park arrived at City Hall. George Fort Milton, publisher of the Chattanooga News, both wrote to the Mayor and Council and published his letter. In every emergency, Chattanooga has been at liberty to ask and secure the services of General Boynton. When the rivals of Chattanooga were attempting to create the impression that Chickamauga Park was not the proper place for an army post, it was General Boynton who challenged them to produce the proof or cease their slanders. He stood firmly for Chickamauga and won his right. In every way possible, General Boynton has befriended Chattanooga, and it would be the proper thing to name the new park in his honor. Others joined Milton in his praise for the citys decision to name the park for the elderly stateman. The Reverend J. W. Bachman wrote: The name Boynton is very appropriate for the new park as General Boynton has done much for the interests of Chattanooga. The endorsement by Chattanoogas pastor, a former soldier in the Confederate Army, spoke clearly to Boyntons ability to unite people in service to the community. Dr. E. B. Wise echoed Bachmans words, Nothing would be more appropriate while Colonel Ed Watkins added, No name could reflect more credit to this city than that of Boynton. J. M. Trimble, a member of the Parks Commission, reflected on the Generals connection to Chattanooga and noted, Anything this city can do to express its appreciation of his services should by all means be done. A.L. Thomas, Parks Commission Chairman, addressed the Council on July 16, admitting that very little work could be done on Boynton Park until the 1904 budget is created and approved. At present, there are no funds available for that purpose. * * * Linda Moss Mines chairs the Chattanooga Parks and Outdoors Commission and she is the county historian. She can be reached at localhistorycounts@gmail.com Bodo Moller Chemie Group has announced its entry into exclusive discussions regarding the potential acquisition of Rocktins distribution activities, aiming to further increase its strategic growth in Asia. This acquisition represents a significant milestone in Bodo Moller Chemies ongoing mission to expand its reach in the specialty chemical distribution sector, reinforcing its product offerings across the APAC region. Redish Chen, Assistant of CEO, Rocktin; Philip Law, CEO, Rocktin; Frank Haug, CEO, Bodo Moller Chemie Group; Lionel Breuilly, President, Bodo Moller Chemie APAC; Kevin Pang, Managing Director, Bodo Moller Chemie China & Hongkong Bodo Moller Chemie The acquisition would enable Bodo Moller Chemie to integrate most of Rocktins distribution operations, offering an exceptional opportunity to extend its product portfolio and deepen partnerships with key principals in Asia. This collaboration will harness the complementary strengths of both companies, positioning Bodo Moller Chemie as a premier distributor of adhesives and specialty chemicals in the region. Additionally, Rocktin customers would gain access to a global network and enhanced technical support through Bodo Moller Chemies newly inaugurated laboratory facilities in Shanghai, providing state-of-the-art testing and formulation services. Strategic Market Positioning: A Key Milestone for Group Growth in Asia This acquisition aligns perfectly with our growth strategy, allowing us to reinforce our presence in Asia and enhance the support we provide to both our partners and customers, stated Mr. Frank Haug, CEO of Bodo Moller Chemie Group. We are constantly exploring strategic opportunities worldwide to position ourselves as the leading distributor in specialty chemicals. The integration with Rocktin will be a pivotal step in strengthening our market position in APAC, and we are thrilled to bring together the expertise and innovation of both companies. Upon completion, the combined entity will establish a strong foothold across several Asian markets, including China, Vietnam, and neighboring countries, with projected revenues exceeding USD 100 million. This transaction is anticipated to be finalized in the second quarter of 2025, pending regulatory approvals and final agreement terms. A man was arrested in the theft of $25,000 worth of jewelry and checks from two properties in Marin County during open house showings, authorities said. Rafe Swan/Getty Image A man was arrested this week on suspicion of posing as a real estate agent and stealing $25,000 worth of jewelry and checks during open houses at two properties for sale in Marin County, law enforcement authorities said. The suspect, 50-year-old Joshua Lamont, first used an alias in October to contact the listing agent for a home in Sleepy Hollow, an unincorporated area between Fairfax and San Anselmo, according to a news release from the Marin County Sheriffs Office. Lamont claimed he was working with another agent interested in the home to gain access to a self-guided tour of the property during an open house showing, the release said. Once inside, while the listing agent was distracted with other agents or clients, Lamont was able to locate and steal $15,000 worth of jewelry from the home, according to authorities. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Three weeks later, in November, Lamont used the same ploy to steal $10,000 worth of jewelry and checks from a home in Kentfield, authorities said. Lamont, whose last known residence was in Southern California, has a history of arrests for similar crimes throughout the state, according to Lt. Adam Schermerhorn, spokesperson for the Marin County Sheriffs Office. Detectives used cellphone and call data records to identify Lamont and traced him to a hotel room in Walnut Creek, where he was registered using his own name and was arrested Wednesday without incident, Schermerhorn said. Jewelry and checks were found at the scene, along with pawn shop receipts to connect him to the burglaries, authorities said. Lamont was booked into the Marin County Jail on two counts of burglary along with two outstanding warrants for similar crimes in San Diego and Santa Barbara counties, authorities said. Bail for the Marin County crimes was set at $250,000, with additional bail amounts for his outstanding warrants bringing the total to $400,000, the release said. Researchers at Colorado State University have found a new approach for breaking down PFAS a group of human-made forever chemicals commonly used for their water-resistant properties that can carry health risks from long-term exposure. A researcher working in the Miyake Lab at Colorado State University. Colorado State University College of Natural Sciences/John Cline The carbon-fluorine bond found in PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances) compounds is particularly challenging to break apart. That durability has led to widespread use of these manufactured chemicals in medical, industrial and commercial settings. However, that inherent stability has also made them difficult to dispose of, and over time, they have made their way into water, air and soil across the world according to the Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA says exposure to these lingering compounds can lead to health problems, including cancer or reproductive issues. In a paper published in Nature, CSU researchers showcase an effective LED light-based photocatalytic system that can be used at room temperature to break down those key carbon-fluorine bonds. The system is an improvement over traditional chemical manufacturing processes that typically require high temperatures to achieve similar results. Work at CSU was led by Professor Garret Miyake in the Department of Chemistry. His team partnered with fellow CSU chemistry Professor Robert Paton as well as Professor Niels Damrauer at the University of Colorado Boulder on the paper. Miyake said complimentary expertise across those teams led to this high-impact interdisciplinary research finding. Our approach is a fundamental advancement in organic synthesis that achieves activation of these challenging carbon-fluorine bonds across a variety of situations, he said. Our method is more sustainable and efficient and can be used to address stubborn compounds in plastics, for example, in addition to the obvious uses around PFAS. Most people in the world have been exposed to PFAS by touching or eating materials containing them. A common source of exposure is drinking water, but the compounds can also be found in non-stick consumer products, food packaging, and common manufacturing processes. Research led by the EPA shows that even low-level exposure can result in developmental effects like low birth weight or reduced immune response, among many other health issues. Postdoctoral researcher Mihai Popescu served as an author on the paper and contributed to the mechanistic understanding of the research using computational chemistry. He said the next challenge will be in taking the technology and preparing it for application in the field across many instances. We need to make this technology more practical so it can be used in water or soil places where PFAS are found, said Popescu. We need the chemistry we are showcasing here to be useful in those conditions and that is where a lot of work remains. Miyake currently serves as director of the National Science Foundation funded Center for Sustainable Photoredox Catalysis (SuPRCat) on campus. That center launched in 2023 with a goal of developing chemical manufacturing processes that harness light energy and utilizing readily available materials as catalysts. Miyake noted that similar research projects to the one discussed in the paper are happening every day through the center. Postdoctoral researcher Xin Liu who lead the synthetic development of this work and is also a member of SuPRCat said the work holds many possibilities. Rising production costs are challenging many companies, and Qemetica Salz Deutschland is no exception. As a leading manufacturer of vacuum salt in the European Union, Qemetica is committed to delivering top product quality, reliable deliveries, and sustainable production. To continue meeting these standards, a price adjustment for salt tablets will be implemented next year. The last price increase was two years ago. While Qemetica managed to keep prices stable during this time despite rising costs, a price adjustment will now be necessary in 2025, specifically for salt tablets, affecting both Germany and other Western European markets. Our priority is to continue providing our customers with the highest quality and reliability, even in a challenging economic environment, explains Thilo Birkenheier, Business Unit Director at Qemetica Salz. The price adjustment ensures that we remain competitive and can further develop our sustainable production practices. The price adjustment is a response to the current economic situation. Energy costs now exceed the original 2024 budget projections. Labor costs have risen by 5%, and the prices for raw materials and packaging materials such as pallets and foils have also increased. Additionally, new environmental taxes and higher logistics costs have further exacerbated the situation. To counter rising costs in the long term, Qemetica has implemented several optimizations. These include improved brine cleaning to reduce chemical usage, more efficient compressor operations to lower electricity consumption, and the use of new centrifuges to minimize disposal costs. New conveyor belts automate fine dust transport, and insourcing has reduced maintenance costs. Despite these measures, a price adjustment remains unavoidable to offset the increased costs in the short term. This allows Qemetica to continue offering high delivery reliability, flexible pickup options from the plant, short processing times, and a broad product portfolio with packaging sizes ranging from 10 kg to 1,000 kg. In addition, Qemetica has invested in expanded storage capacities, higher safety stocks, and an improved palletizing system for 25-kg bags. An expanded customer service team ensures faster responses to market demands, extended availability, and quicker order confirmations. Home News Migrant children trafficked, sent to strip club; Republicans press Xavier Becerra for answers The U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra was pressed by lawmakers about the agency's sponsor-vetting process as a report claims that the Biden administration settled unaccompanied minor children at a Florida strip club where a woman posing as an "aunt" pimped out children. During a U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement hearing on Wednesday, Rep. Tom Tiffany, R-Wis., questioned the HHS secretary about a Florida grand jury report accusing the agency of sending migrant children to a Jacksonville strip club. Becerra replied that he did not have any information on the case but promised to review it and get back to the Republican lawmaker. He testified that his agency follows "child welfare best practices" and conducts "extensive" background checks, adding that the office would not allow a migrant child to be placed with someone "engaged in criminal activity." Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe The HHS Office of Refugees and Resettlement did not immediately respond to The Christian Post's request for comment. "ORR is comprised of a dedicated team of career federal staff that works closely with grant recipients and contractors, all of whom are committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of every child in our care," Becerra stated in his written testimony. "I have met some of the children we serve and many of the dedicated professionals who serve them, and I have witnessed firsthand the commitment and devotion of our staff," he added. "Providing for the safety and well-being of children in our care is not only ORR's congressional mandate but also the Office's guiding principle. This goal is reflected in our policies, our people, and our efforts to strengthen the program every day." The hearing examined what Republican lawmakers say are the failures of the HHS Office of Refugee Resettlement, including the "fast-tracking the release of gang-affiliated and criminal unaccompanied alien children" and the agency's "prioritization of speed over safety" in the placement of unaccompanied migrant children. Whistleblower reports allege that ORR has lost thousands of migrant children or allowed them to fall into the hands of potential criminals. In March 2023, a Florida grand jury accused the Biden administration of "facilitating the forced migration, sale, and abuse of foreign children, and some of our fellow Florida residents are (in some cases unwittingly) funding and incentivizing it for primarily economic reasons." The grand jury's 46-page report detailed the HHS' process for facilitating the transport of migrant children into Florida and claimed that witnesses described how some sponsors used the address of a Jacksonville strip club and open fields. The grand jury's report outlines the allegations of abuse facing these unaccompanied children, including the claims that one child was "pimped out" by an "aunt," others had been sold for sex and some dropped out of school to pay smuggling debts. "As one witness reported, they were told after voicing concerns that 'we can't judge where people are forced to live' while being ordered to force a child to live in such circumstances," the grand jury report stated. In Wednesday's House hearing, Becerra was asked if he disputed the Florida grand jury report, to which he replied he had a "number of issues" with the report. Tiffany asked Becerra to share at a later time all the issues Becerra has with the Florida report. "The important thing about Florida is that it took action to unlicense centers that provide care," Becerra said. One whistleblower told lawmakers earlier this year that she knew of at least one case where over 300 children were sent to live at a Texas apartment where human trafficking took place. When Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, grilled Becerra Wednesday about the criminal history checks for potential sponsors, the HHS secretary again insisted that the agency follows "child best practices." The Texas lawmaker pressed Becerra again, and the official provided the same answer. "How can you credibly claim that HHS is working to protect these children?" Roy asked, noting that the number of lost unaccompanied migrant children is likely over 400,000. According to a June statement from ORR, more than 400,000 have been released into the United States to live with sponsors. In February 2023, The New York Times reported that the agency had lost track of at least 85,000 children. "Which you are dismissing? That they are lost?" Roy continued. Another lawmaker who questioned Beccera, Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., asked about the possibility of a child ending up in the custody of an MS-13 gang member. Earlier this year, Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, released documents that showed HHS released two unaccompanied minor children to a sponsor with ties to the international criminal gang. Despite receiving a report that a female adult sponsor for the children was in a relationship with a member of MS-13 in California, the HHS allegedly disregarded this information, according to the documents. The agency sent the two children to live with the woman in September 2021. During the Wednesday hearing, Biggs noted that Becerra claimed the HHS' focus is on safety, not speed. "But if you don't do the vetting right, you don't know if they're engaged in criminal activity. That's how you end up with an MS-13 gang member as the sponsor," Biggs said. "That's how you end up with pedophiles getting 20 children in the same home," he continued, stating that the vetting process has been "crappy." As The New York Times reported in February 2023, the Biden administration pushed to move children quickly through the shelter system. Becerra told Congress in 2021 that he did not want children to "languish there." Kelsey Keswani, a former HHS contractor, told the outlet that 20% of kids had to be released each week; otherwise, you would get "dinged." Other staff members alleged that Becerra repeatedly pushed them to release children faster. "If Henry Ford had seen this in his plants, he would have never become famous and rich. This is not the way you do an assembly line," Becerra said in a recording of a 2022 staff meeting provided to The Times. Home News Bible college says human trafficking claims by former students fueled by T visa scheme Updated: Nov. 22, 2024, at 12:55 p.m. EST Officials at Olivet University, a Christian Bible college headquartered in Anza, California, say a sophisticated T visa scheme has fueled a civil lawsuit filed by four former international students who accuse the school and its officials of human labor trafficking. A "T-visa scheme" involves fraudulently using a human trafficking claim to convert a temporary visa into permanent residency. In the lawsuit, previously reported by the Los Angeles Times, the former students Dawin Liranzo Galan, Roland Broccko, Minerva Ruiz and Rebecca Singh claim they were confined, surveilled and forced to work sometimes for free for more than 40 hours per week when they should have been studying at the Bible college on full scholarships. Olivet has denied all the claims. Singh, who is an Indian citizen, first reported to local police in 2018 that she was forced to work without pay at the rural college for months doing all kinds of labor, including housekeeping, babysitting, laundry services, and help in the kitchen. Galan, who formerly resided in Spain, as well as Broccko and Ruiz, who came to the U.S. from Venezuela, had similar narratives of forced labor. Galan was forced to work at Olivet approximately 40 hours per week. He was forced to perform manual labor, including receiving and unloading large containers full of furniture for Olivet, the lawsuit alleges. Galan also unloaded the furniture items and then assembled them. Galan never received any money as payment for his labor at Olivet. The T nonimmigrant visa, according to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, is a temporary visa that allows certain victims of a severe form of trafficking in persons to remain in the United States for an initial period of up to 4 years if they complied with any reasonable request for assistance from law enforcement in the detection, investigation, or prosecution of human trafficking or qualify for an exemption or exception. Human trafficking or trafficking in persons, the agency said, is a crime in which traffickers use force, fraud, or coercion to compel individuals to provide labor or services, including commercial sex. The T nonimmigrant status was created by Congress in October 2000 as part of the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act to help protect victims of the crime. Nonimmigrants who gain this status are able to become lawful permanent residents if they qualify. The lawsuit lists among the defendants: Matthias Gebhardt, who served as the dean of Olivet Theological College & Seminary and head of the Financial Aid Committee at the time the plaintiffs were at Olivet; David Jang, founder of both Olivet University and the World Olivet Assembly; and other school officials, including Jasmine Park, Andrew Lin, Rachel Cheung, Nathanael Tran and Stephanie Choi Gebhardt. Attorney C. Yong Jeong of Jeong and Likens, L.C. sent a comprehensive response to the LA Times report in a letter on Oct. 10, which CP has reviewed. Jeong explained that the lawsuit, which was originally filed in September 2023 and then later amended, had been dismissed at least once already. He demanded corrections or a retraction of the report. Olivet University President Jonathan Park told CP that the school has yet to receive a response from the LA Times. These allegations continue to be completely false," Park asserted in an earlier statement to LA Times reporter Colleen Shalby, which was included as an exhibit in the legal letter to the LA Times. "The lawsuit was dismissed once already (called demurrer in California), and the main key plaintiff's wife (Nogleides) withdrew herself in the amended complaint because her [mother who is a] lawyer advised that their actions were repaying goodness with malice (original in Spanish language is quien mucho ayuda, mal le paga). "In fact, the individuals who originally filed these complaints have offered invitations to settle on numerous occasions in civil court, all of which the university has rejected, because the allegations are completely false. The plaintiffs had asked the school for $300,000 each to withdraw their claims but the school rejected the offer, a school official told International Business Times. Their attorney reportedly lowered the amount to settle the claims to $200,000, but still, the school refused, arguing they had done nothing wrong. OU President Park said the students decision to sue the school for human trafficking appears to fit with the T-visa scheme because they were only at the school for short periods before they transferred to other schools to do their ESL studies. They received a three-year ESL visa [from their new schools], and after their three years was up, they alleged human trafficking from three years ago, Park explained. They are in the process, or might have already received it, but what was already discovered is they were in the process of receiving this human trafficking victim visa. Colleen Shalby, the LA Times reporter whose byline appears on the story, did not respond to CPs request for comment. The attorney for the plaintiffs, Darren Harris of Harris Grombchevsky LLP, when asked if he would be willing to respond to questions about the lawsuit, told CP that he had written to Olivets attorney and was waiting to hear back. He did not indicate a willingness to respond to CPs questions beyond that. He asked if CP had any connections to the university and he was told CPs CEO is a graduate of Olivet. Sitting on a historic Indian sanctuary, Olivet University in Anza spans more than 900 acres, according to the schools website. The school offers a variety of full degree and certificate programs at its Anza headquarters plus campuses in San Francisco, California; Washington, D.C.; St. Louis, Missouri; Nashville, Tennessee; and Orlando, Florida. In 2022, the campus the school ran in New York lost its permission to operate after the state's education department decided not to renew the school's expiring permit, citing non-compliance with laws and regulations. Besides the four students mentioned above, former Chinese students Tingbo Cao, 41, and Qilian Zhou, 35, have also made similar claims of being forced to work without pay for their education, according to the LA Times. They also alleged that they loaned Olivet University hundreds of thousands of dollars in 2019 and were only repaid this year. They told the Times that the university still owes them thousands of dollars in interest on the loans, which the school denies. In a letter to the San Francisco field office of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, reviewed by CP, OU attorneys requested an investigation of and punishment for Cao, Zhou and another woman identified as Sophia Yu for the malicious and false human trafficking report ... in order to obtain a T-Visa. Yu, also known as Sophie or Jihee Yu, was the mastermind behind the scheme to fraudulently get T visas, the attorneys alleged. Tingbo Cao and Qilian Zhou, a married couple, and former students of Olivet Universitys San Francisco campus, have made a false report to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), claiming they were victims of human trafficking and labor exploitation. The couples intention was to obtain a T-Visa as their visas were expiring. The mastermind behind their actions is Sophia Yu, who is suspected to be affiliated with a pro-North Korea cell group, the attorneys wrote. The school had never borrowed money from Tingbo. The San Francisco campus where Tingbo lived is open, with no fences or gates, allowing free access to anyone, and no one interfered with their daily lives. They regularly left the campus for Sunday worship services at the church of their choice (not Olivets Chapel) in the San Francisco suburbs, which supports the claim that no one confined or controlled them, the attorneys added. The school has never forced them to work. Allegations against Newsweek Olivet University has also been accused of violating a number of education regulations by California's Bureau of Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE). In a response to the allegations reviewed by CP, Katherine A. Lee Carey, another attorney for the university, accused Newsweek of instigating and influencing, directly or indirectly, BPPE towards some type of negative action by making false claims and referring the Bureau to inaccurate and misleading articles Newsweek itself had written about Olivet. Carey alleged that Newsweek is actively trying to cause Olivet University to lose its permission to operate in the state of California, similar to how actors for the publication influenced education officials in New York to not renew the school's permit to operate. She pointed out that both Newsweek co-owners Dev Pragad and Johnathan Davis were at one point active members of World Olivet Assembly, the global denomination affiliated with Olivet University, and they both had ties to the school. Pragad and Davis are both reportedly no longer members of the denomination. Newsweek is engaged in a lawsuit, NW Media Holdings Corp. v. IBT Media Inc., where defendants include Olivet University and Olivet University's founder, David Jang, along with IBT which previously owned Newsweek and IBT CEO Etienne Uzac. The lawsuit's earlier claims against defendants World Olivet Assembly and IBT Vice President of Technology Younseok (Titus) Choi were dismissed. The complaint alleges that the defendants conspired to delete 1.8 terabytes worth of data from Newsweeks Google Workspace to cover up ties between World Olivet Assembly and IBT related to a host of misconduct by the defendants after IBT sold Newsweek to N.W. Media Holdings Corp., in 2018. This claim was dropped in an amended version of the complaint after it was dismissed. Lawyers for Olivet University insist that Newsweek has been fueling an ongoing campaign to damage the schools reputation with negative reporting. Some of those reports contained false statements on at least two occasions in February 2018 and March 2023. The university also reported that they filed a defamation lawsuit against Newsweek on June 30, 2023. Newsweek did not immediately respond to a request for comment from CP on Thursday but gave the following statement Friday after publication: "There is no truth to the allegations. Newsweek has a proud history of rigorous reporting on Olivet. We remain committed to continuing our coverage of Olivet." In a July 2022 statement, after Olivet Universitys permission to operate in New York was not renewed, the school pointed to the dispute as a factor. As mentioned already in OU's April statement, it has to be pointed out that the media that is driving the false narrative is Newsweek and the driving motive is an internal shareholder conflict. Newsweek's CEO Dev Pragad has threatened Johnathan Davis that he would attack Olivet University if Mr. Davis did not surrender control and ownership of Newsweek to him. Home News Biden declares ICC arrest warrant against Netanyahu 'outrageous,' vows to 'stand with Israel' President Joe Biden decried the International Criminal Court's decision to issue an arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant, calling the action "outrageous." "Let me be clear once again: whatever the ICC might imply, there is no equivalence none between Israel and Hamas," Biden said in a Thursday statement. "We will always stand with Israel against threats to its security." The ICC announced Thursday that it issued an arrest warrant against Netanyahu and Gallant over alleged "crimes against humanity and war crimes" that purportedly took place between Oct. 8, 2023, and May 20, 2024. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe Israel launched a military offensive in Gaza after Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attack in southern Israel, which resulted in the deaths of around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and the abduction of over 200 others. Following Hamas' attack, Israel has faced additional threats from other Iran-backed terror groups, such as Hezbollah. While the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry claims over 44,000 people have died in Gaza since Israel's military offensive began, the tally doesn't distinguish between civilians and combatants, nor does it account for the people killed by rockets being launched from the Gaza Strip. In the warrant, the ICC accused Netanyahu and Gallant of "the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare; and the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts." The Pre-Trial Chamber of the ICC, which issued the warrant, asserted that there are "reasonable grounds" to believe that Netanyahu and Gallant "each bear criminal responsibility as civilian superiors for the war crime of intentionally directing an attack against the civilian population." Throughout its military operations, the Israel Defense Forces have shared photos and videos of Hamas rocket launching sites set up at playgrounds and other areas where civilians are likely to be present. Trucks delivering humanitarian aid into Gaza have also been looted, and Israeli officials have also reported that Hamas often steals the aid and sells it for more than it's worth. On Thursday, evangelist Franklin Graham also condemned the ICC issuing an arrest warrant against Israeli leadership. The son of the late Rev. Billy Graham highlighted the atrocities Hamas committed on Oct. 7, 2023, questioning how the ICC could accuse Netanyahu of war crimes. "It seems their hypocrisy knows no bounds," Graham stated. "The Jerusalem Post said, 'The International Criminal Court in The Hague, instead of standing as a bastion of justice, has devolved into a stage for hypocrisy and cowardice.'" Graham, who is the president of Samaritan's Purse, has dedicated ambulances in Israel to honor the medics who have fallen in Israel's ongoing war against Hamas. Earlier this year, Samaritan's Purse donated 14 ambulances to Magen David Adom, Israel's national ambulance and emergency services agency. "Do you agree? Join me in praying for peace, that this war in Lebanon, Gaza, and Israel can end quickly with the safe return of all hostages," the evangelist added. Netanyahu issued a statement Thursday that condemned the warrant as "antisemitic," comparing the situation to a "modern Dreyfus trial." The Israeli prime minister predicted that this would end the same way as that trial. The Dreyfus Affair that Netanyahu alluded to refers to a political scandal that occurred between 1894 and 1906, according to The Holocaust Explained, which is managed by the Wiener Holocaust Library. Alfred Dreyfus, an officer in the French military, became the focus of an investigation following the discovery of a document in 1894 known as the "Bordereau." The document, which was found in a bin before it was sent to the French Secret Service, offered military secrets to the Germans. Dreyfus was a suspect because he was an officer in the artillery and he was of Jewish descent. Despite a lack of evidence, the officer was arrested in October 1894 and found guilty a few months later. Then, in 1895, Georges Picquart, the new head of the Information Service, discovered the true culprit. Dreyfus was granted a second trial in 1899, but he was found guilty again and sentenced to 10 years; however, the French government gave the officer amnesty. Years later, in 1906, the supreme court annulled Dreyfus' sentence, reinstating him to the French army. "The Dreyfus Affair shows that despite the emancipation and equality of the Jews following the Enlightenment, antisemitism still continued," The Holocaust Explained states. "The Affair divided the nation's opinion, questioning the very morals of the Republic's existence. It left a deep and lasting legacy in France." Last week, Israeli President Isaac Herzog gifted Biden with an artifact from the Temple Mount inscribed with the name "Joseph." The Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C., worked with the Israel Antiquities Authority to create a "photogrammetry" of the object. The Israeli president thanked Biden for standing with the Jewish state and its people during their "darkest hour." Herzog urged Biden and the incoming administration to prioritize the over 100 hostages still in Gaza and prevent Tehran from fulfilling its "evil intentions." Adalberto Aldo Toledo is a city hall reporter with The San Francisco Chronicle covering the mayor and Board of Supervisors. He is a Venezuelan American from a family of longtime journalists. Before joining the Chronicle in 2023, he reported on Peninsula governments and breaking news for the San Jose Mercury News. He also has bylines in the Dallas Morning News, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Champaign, Illinois News-Gazette. Raised in Texas, he studied journalism with a print news focus at the University of North Texas Mayborn School of Journalism, where he worked as News Editor for the North Texas Daily student newspaper. Home News Christian leaders, politicians react to ICC's arrest warrant for Israel PM Netanyahu Politicians and faith leaders are raising concerns after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Minister of Defence Yoav Gallant Thursday over its military offensive in Gaza. The International Criminal Court, a supranational organization tasked with "trying individuals for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and aggression," released a statement Thursday announcing that it issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu over "crimes against humanity and war crimes" that purportedly took place between Oct. 8, 2023, and May 20, 2024. The time period covered by the warrant overlaps with the conflicts that have erupted in the Middle East after the terrorist organization Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, launched a deadly invasion in Southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people, mostly civilians. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe The Hamas-run Gaza health ministry says that over 44,000 people have died in Gaza since Israel's military offensive began, a tally that doesn't differentiate between civilians and combatants. The Israeli government has long accused Hamas of using citizens as human shields. The warrant, which extends to Israel's Minister of Defence Gallant, alleges that both men engaged in "the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare; and the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts." According to the Pre-Trial Chamber of the ICC that issued the warrant, there are "reasonable grounds" to believe that Netanyahu and Gallant "each bear criminal responsibility as civilian superiors for the war crime of intentionally directing an attack against the civilian population." "The Chamber considered that there are reasonable grounds to believe that both individuals intentionally and knowingly deprived the civilian population in Gaza of objects indispensable to their survival, including food, water, and medicine and medical supplies, as well as fuel and electricity, from at least 8 October 2023 to 20 May 2024," the warrant stated. "The finding is based on the role of Mr Netanyahu and Mr Gallant in impeding humanitarian aid in violation of international humanitarian law and their failure to facilitate relief by all means at its disposal." The warrant maintains that the actions of Netanyahu and Gallant caused the "disruption of the ability of humanitarian organisations to provide food and other essential goods to the population in need in Gaza." "The aforementioned restrictions together with cutting off electricity and reducing fuel supply also had a severe impact on the availability of water in Gaza and the ability of hospitals to provide medical care," the document states. The warrant characterizes Israel's military action as "calculated to bring about the destruction of part of the civilian population in Gaza." While the chamber stopped short of charging Netanyahu and Gallant for "the crime against humanity of extermination," the warrant alleges that they committed "the crime against humanity of murder." The arrest warrant drew intense reactions from politicians on both sides of the aisle, faith leaders and advocacy organizations. The following pages highlight reactions to the development. Home News Christian convert murdered by Muslim brothers for refusing to denounce his faith in Christ NAIROBI, Kenya A Muslim teacher at an Islamic school in eastern Uganda who became a Christian on Oct. 4 was subsequently murdered on Oct. 21, area sources said. Wanjala Hamidu was a teacher at Swidiki Islamic School in Nankoma, Bugiri District, 4 kilometers (2.48 miles) from his home in Masita village, where his brothers beat him to death after learning he had put his faith in Christ, the sources said. Hamidu was 32. Hamidu converted to Christianity at an Oct. 4 evangelistic event in Bulange that he attended with his brother, Wulasiyo Swamadu. As Hamidu remained after the event for further Christian teaching, Swamadu returned home and told other Muslim family members about his conversion, said an area source who spoke with villagers and Christian sources. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe Word of Hamidus new faith spread quickly in Masita and at the school, where the head-teacher learned of it and planned to fire him at the end of the school term, the source said. On Oct. 21, four of his brothers arrived at the school led by Hiire Isifu and Hawumba Jamada and found Hamidu teaching, he said. After the brothers had a long meeting with administrators, the school officials gave them permission to take him and his belongings back to his home village of Masita, the source said. Upon their arrival, he said, the brothers ordered Hamidu to renounce Christ, but he refused. Isifu slapped him as the other brothers looked for a stick to beat him with the 39 blows they believed Islam prescribes for apostates, said the area Christian source. We heard a very loud cry, wailing and alarm that required help and attention, so neighbors thronged in large numbers to the scene of the incident, the source told Morning Star News. When we arrived, we found Hamidu on the ground held tightly by his three brothers bleeding as the brothers were shouting, Infidel, infidel, shame, shame to our family. Hamidus mother stood nearby shouting for help, but no one dared to defy the Muslims and their vigilante administration of Sharia (Islamic law), the source said. Ugandas constitution and other laws provide for religious freedom, including the right to propagate ones faith and convert from one faith to another. Soon he was dead and lying in a pool of blood, the source said. He had deep injuries in the head and chest from a sharp object that hit him. The source had called police, who soon arrived, and the brothers fled, he said. Local council security members were still searching for the four brothers who remain missing since killing Hamidu, the source said. Worldwide, most Islamic jurists believe sharia derived from the Quran, the Hadith (a collection of teachings, sayings and deeds of Muhammad) and the Sunnah (body of traditions about and practices by Muhammad) holds that apostasy is a crime that should be punished by death. Police took Hamidus body to Bugiri for an autopsy, and his family later received it for burial. The attack marked the second killing of a Christian convert in eastern Uganda in October. Muslim extremists on Oct. 30 killed evangelist Emmanuel Dikusooka, a 29-year-old father of three children, after he helped lead 18 Muslims to Christ at an event in Kaliro District and refused their demand to return to Islam. The killing of Hamidu was the latest of many instances of persecution of Christians in Uganda that Morning Star News has documented. Muslims make up no more than 12% of Ugandas population, with high concentrations in eastern areas of the country. Originally published at Morning Star News Home News Biden awards Ex-Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards highest civilian honor The former president of the nation's largest abortion provider, Planned Parenthood, has received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the United States' highest civilian honor, disappointing pro-life advocates. In an X post Wednesday, President Joe Biden announced that he had awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Cecile Richards, who served as president of Planned Parenthood from 2006-2018. Richards was diagnosed with an incurable form of brain cancer last year. Biden shared a picture of himself and first lady Jill Biden at the White House with Richards and her husband, accompanied by a caption reading: "With absolute courage, she fearlessly leads us forward to be the America we say we are a nation of freedom." Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe "Through her work to lift up the dignity of workers, defend and advance women's reproductive rights and equality, and mobilize Americans to exercise their power to vote, she has carved an inspiring legacy," he added. Richards reacted to her recognition in a separate X post Wednesday. "Such an honor representing abortion rights and the need for health care for all," she wrote. "@POTUS and @FLOTUS, thank you for all you've done to support women's health and rights. Here's to the work ahead!" According to a White House pool report, the following statement was delivered at the private ceremony: "With absolute courage and conviction, Cecile Richards fearlessly leads us forward to be the America we say we are a Nation of freedom. Carrying her parents torch for justice, shes led some of our Nations most important civil rights causes to lift up the dignity of workers, defend and advance womens reproductive rights and equality, and mobilize Americans to exercise their power to vote. A leader of utmost character, she has carved an inspiring legacy that endures in her incredible family, the countless lives she has made better, and a Nation seeking the light of equality, justice, and freedom. Richards being awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom did not sit well with pro-life activists, such as Lila Rose, founder of the advocacy group Live Action. "Cecile Richards presided over the abortions of 3.9 million babies as president of Planned Parenthood," Rose wrote in an X post published Wednesday. "She belongs in jail. Not in the White House receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom." Kristan Hawkins, president of the pro-life advocacy group Students for Life of America, expressed disgust. "Cecile Richards was just given an award for killing babies in the name of 'freedom' by the Biden Administration," she lamented in an X post Thursday. "According to Planned Parenthood's own annual reports, under Richards' leadership, 3.5 million children died unspeakably cruel deaths in barbaric acts of abortion," Hawkins asserted. "Some of these children's bodies were then dissected and sold to the highest bidder. Planned Parenthood representatives haggled over prices for livers and brains." Hawkins stated that "Planned Parenthood's abortions skyrocketed under Richards even as the organization's total number of clients plummeted year after year. Cecile Richards is anything but honorable. What a disgrace." Throughout Richards' tenure at Planned Parenthood, the organization was subject to scrutiny over undercover videos implying officials at the abortion provider aided in prostitution and admitted to selling aborted fetal tissue, with pro-lifers alleging the abortion provider violated federal law. The undercover videos led to efforts to defund Planned Parenthood, which receives millions of dollars in taxpayer funding every year. While Planned Parenthood has sought to portray itself as a provider of women's healthcare in general as opposed to an organization that specifically focuses on abortion, Richards testified under oath to the Republican-controlled United States House of Representatives in 2015 that Planned Parenthood does not provide mammograms. Richards had previously insisted that women would lose access to mammograms if Planned Parenthood stopped receiving taxpayer dollars. Then-President Barack Obama made a similar assertion on the campaign trail in 2012: "There are millions of women all across the country who rely on Planned Parenthood for not just contraceptive care: they rely on it for mammograms, for cervical cancer screenings." Although Richards stepped down from her role as Planned Parenthood head in 2018, she continues to engage in abortion advocacy. Richards has co-founded a website titled "Abortion in America," which seeks to tell the "stories" of the "thousands of people around the country [who] have been impacted by abortion bans" enacted at the state level after the U.S. Supreme Court determined that the U.S. Constitution does not contain a right to abortion in its 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organizationdecision. Following the Dobbs ruling, several states have implemented abortion restrictions. Richards describes herself as the co-founder of Charley, marketed as "the private and secure abortion chatbot." Home News Family of US missionary murdered in Angola struggling through grief as they prepare for funeral The family of murdered American missionary Beau Shroyer, whose wife has been accused of plotting his Oct. 25 murder with three men in Angola, say they have been struggling through grief as they prepare for his funeral at the end of this month. A memorial service for the late 44-year-old missionary, who was stationed in the African country with his wife and their five children, is scheduled to take place at the United Methodist Church in Grey Eagle, Minnesota, at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 30, according to an announcement on Legacy. The family says coping with his death has been difficult. We are just flipping through all of the stages of grief on repeat, Beau Shroyers sister, Marina Roering, told Forum News Service. My mom and dad, I think, are probably having the hardest time, understandably, but mostly were all OK. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe Manuel Halaiwa, a spokesperson for Angolas Criminal Investigation Service, said 44-year-old Jackie Shroyer was the mastermind behind a murder-for-hire plot involving the three men charged with his murder in Lubango. Investigators allege that Jackie Shroyer was involved in a romantic relationship with one of the men, Bernardino Elias, 24, who worked as a security guard for her family. The two other men have been identified as Isalino Kayoo, 23, and Gelson Ramos, 22. Roering said her family has been in touch with officials from the U.S. Embassy in Angola, Angolan officials and the missionary agency SIM USA to get updates about whats happening with the case, but they have not been very successful. We dont even know whats real and reliable out of those stories because, for one, how much gets lost in translation (from Portuguese to English), and for two, I dont know how trustworthy the press is over there. Weve been told there is a lot of government corruption. That ties into it as well, Roering said. We just want accurate information. Roering confirmed that they also spoke with Jackie Shroyer before she was taken into custody, as well as her family members. She said some U.S. media outlets erroneously listed that her brother previously served as a pastor, but he did not. He previously worked as a Detroit Lakes police officer and a realtor before moving to Angola to become a missionary in 2021. The first reports that came out mentioned that Beau was a pastor; he was never a pastor, she was quoted as saying. Even on the U.S. side, we know there are inaccuracies. It seems like theres a story here and people want to know, but theres just such little information, so theres a lot of speculation being printed, and thats been frustrating. Roering said the family is working with U.S. officials to repatriate her brothers remains, but beyond that, they continue to struggle with the lack of reliable information. We dont know who to turn to. Theres so many factors a language barrier, a time difference, and just not knowing how their legal system works, Roering said. No one has been able to connect us to any resource to help get some clarity of answers. Home News From 'Elf' to 'Bonhoeffer,' Todd Komarnicki on telling stories that matter: 'One man against the devil' Todd Komarnicki, the visionary filmmaker behind Sully and producer behind the beloved Christmas film "Elf," is now tackling his most profound story yet with Bonhoeffer: Pastor. Spy. Assassin, a film about the German pastor and theologian who stood against the Nazi regime. Im drawn to stories of one man against the system, the 59-year-old director and producer told The Christian Post. In Elf, its Buddy fighting for Christmas spirit in a jaded New York. In Sully, its Captain Sullenberger defending his heroic actions against a skeptical system. And in 'Bonhoeffer,' its one man against the devil. Bonhoeffer, born in 1906, became a symbol of defiance during a time when moral compromise was common. Despite a promising future in the German church, he denounced Adolf Hitler as early as 1933, giving sermons that defied Nazi ideology and condemned the churchs collaboration. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe The pastors poignant statement, Silence in the face of evil is itself evil, was the guiding force that would ultimately lead him to resist the Nazis, even at the cost of his life. Bonhoeffer was executed in 1945 due to his resistance to the Nazi regime. Komarnickis film, from Angel Studios and releasing Nov. 22, dives into the complexities of Bonhoeffers life a pastor who plotted to assassinate Hitler in the name of justice and moral responsibility. Rated PG-13, Bonhoeffer" stars Jonas Dassler as Bonhoeffer, the founding member of the Confessing Church. Then I Will, the end-title track for the new film, written and performed by Lauren Daigle, declares obedience to Gods calling, even in the face of death. Bonhoeffers story of moral courage resonates today, Komarnicki explained, not because of his superhuman strength but because of his struggles and doubts. What I found in Bonhoeffer was a man who wrestled deeply with God, Komarnicki shared. He doubted, he questioned, and yet he acted. He saw injustice and stood against it. He saw Jews being othered, and he fought for them. He saw the Gestapo infiltrating his church, and he preached against it. All of this came from a purity of courage rooted in his love for God. As the world witnesses a rise in antisemitism and division, Komarnicki told CP that Bonhoeffers story is more relevant than ever. Its not just about antisemitism, he noted. Its about the alarming trend of othering labeling people, dividing communities and justifying it as righteousness. Bonhoeffer lived as a man for others, as he called Jesus. His life challenges us to stop judging and start serving. The film, which does include some mild language, highlights Bonhoeffers transformation from a promising academic to a man willing to risk everything for what he believed was right. At just 27 years old, Bonhoeffer denounced Hitler from the pulpit, declaring that no leader could supplant God. Komarnicki said that many Americans are often unfamiliar with Bonhoeffers story because history classes largely skip over the years before the U.S. entered World War II. But his research uncovered a man whose defiance of Nazi ideology came at significant personal cost and whose legacy is deeply inspiring. For Komarnicki, faith is inseparable from his work. The director, who counts the late Pastor Tim Keller and Narnia author C.S. Lewis among his greatest influences, told CP that he wraps every project in prayer. I don't know who I am outside of Jesus Christ. It's 100 percent my identity. So I don't think about my faith as a thing. I think about my life in Christ, he said. My life is hid in Christ. Every day begins with surrender. I pray without ceasing. Thats how I live and how I create. Jesus is King. No one else determines my destiny, he added. If groups in back rooms decide not to work with me because Im outspoken about my faith, so be it. But Ive never experienced that. What I do know is that good art flows from living an open-handed life, as Jesus taught dont worry about tomorrow, dont store up treasures in barns. Surrender and create. Komarnickis approach to filmmaking mirrors this sense of surrender. He told CP he believes that great art happens when creators live open-handedly, unburdened by worry or the pressures of control. Dont worry about tomorrow, dont store up in barns just surrender everything, he said. Thats the only way good art happens. Its an expression of creativity that flows through you, not something you calculate or control. For Komarnicki, the notion that being an outspoken Christian could hinder his career has never been a concern. Its possible that in back rooms, people decide not to work with me because of my faith, he said. But Ive never experienced that. And Im very clear: there is nobody out there who is the gatekeeper of my destiny. Jesus is King. Thats who I walk with. This unshakable confidence in Gods sovereignty frees him to focus on what matters creating meaningful stories and living authentically, he said, adding: I could have any job, whether its as a filmmaker or an oil rigger. The point is to fully be who Im supposed to be and do it all for His glory, by His grace. For Komarnicki, the intersection of faith and creativity is a calling: We are co-creators with God, he said. Every day is an opportunity to do what matters, to live to give and give to live. The world is noisy with judgment and division, but were called to be people who wash feet, not point fingers. And in todays polarized world, Komarnicki believes Bonhoeffers legacy is more relevant than ever. Weve forgotten the grace weve been given and the call to love and serve. Instead of dividing, we need to be inviting. Bonhoeffer reminds us of what it truly means to follow Christ a life of sacrifice, courage and humility. Komarnicki told CP his passion for Bonhoeffers story extends beyond the film itself. He sees it as a call to action for Christians to live more like Christ serving rather than judging. Jesus, with all power from on high, wrapped a towel around His waist and washed His disciples feet, he said. If were doing anything other than that, were missing the point. Bonhoeffer, he said, is not just a historical drama but a spiritual challenge to a divided world. As the film nears its release, the director said he hopes audiences will see Bonhoeffer not just as a hero of the past but as a guide for living in the present, a reminder that even in the face of evil, faith and grace are enough. Its easy to doomscroll or get lost in the noise, he said. But every day is an opportunity to do what matters. Bonhoeffers life reminds us that courage and faith can prevail, even against the darkest odds. Home News Trans lawmaker Sarah McBride won't use women's bathrooms on Capitol Hill Sarah (Tim) McBride, the first transgender-identified individual elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, has agreed to refrain from using women's facilities amid an ongoing debate about female-exclusive spaces on Capitol Hill following his election. In a statement Wednesday, McBride, Delaware's 34-year-old representative-elect, promised that despite his disagreements with the rules Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., outlined earlier in the day about the use of sex-segregated facilities, he would follow them. He remarked that discussions about bathrooms are an effort to "distract from the real issues facing this country," adding that he remains hard at work preparing for his new role. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe McBride publicly announced in 2012 while attending American University that he identified as a woman. His recent election to represent Delaware's at-large district brought the debate about men accessing women's spaces to Capitol Hill. Speaker Johnson, a conservative Baptist, was forced to weigh in and outline a set of guidelines. Johnson issued a statement Wednesday regarding the use of single-sex facilities in the Capitol and House Office Buildings, clarifying that restrooms, changing rooms and locker rooms "are reserved for individuals of that biological sex." "It is important to note that each Member office has its own private restroom, and unisex restrooms are available throughout the Capitol," Speaker Johnson stated. "Women deserve women's only spaces." Responding to The Christian Post's request for further comment, a spokesperson for McBride confirmed that the newly elected official does not intend to use the men's restroom despite agreeing to follow Johnson's guidelines. Instead, McBride plans to use private facilities, according to the spokesperson. In a statement provided to CP, the representative-elect said his goal is to represent his constituents, including LGBT constituents, not himself. This means not "allowing a right wing culture war machine to turn [him] into an issue." "I am continuing to work to guarantee that the Capitol complex is safe for all staff and interns and visitors," McBride stressed. "I can deal with this, other people shouldn't have to." In his statement, McBride said that serving in Congress will be the "honor of a lifetime." "I continue to look forward to getting to know my future colleagues on both sides of the aisle," McBride continued. "Each of us were sent here because voters saw in us something that they value." "I have loved seeing those qualities in the future colleagues that I've met and I look forward to seeing those qualities in every member come January. I hope all of my colleagues will seek to do the same with me." The bathroom debate taking place on Capitol Hill gained media attention after Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., introduced a resolution Monday to require lawmakers and their staffs to use restrooms that aligns with their biological sex. "Biological men do not belong in private women's spaces. Period. Full stop. End of story," Mace wrote in a Monday X post, which included a copy of the proposed resolution. In response to a comment about her proposal, the female lawmaker declared, "We must protect girls everywhere for this sick policy of forcing men into private spaces for women and girls." According to the resolution, allowing men into single-sex facilities like bathrooms, changing rooms and locker rooms reserved for women "jeopardizes the safety and dignity" of female employees or government officials. Mace's resolution would prohibit House employees from using any of the facilities in the Capitol or House offices not reserved for their sex. The sergeant-at-arms would be responsible for enforcing that policy. Speaking to reporters Tuesday on Capitol Hill, Mace confirmed her bill was in response to McBride. "Yes and absolutely, and then some," Mace said. "I'm absolutely 100% going to stand in the way of any man who wants to be in a women's restroom, in our locker rooms, in our changing rooms. I will be there fighting you every step of the way." Home News Xi-appointed bishop speaks only of 'Sinicization of religion, no mention of persecuted clergy Despite 10 Catholic bishops in China in being held detention, disappeared or forced from their positions, the government-installed bishop of Shanghai at a conference this month spoke only on President Xi Jinpings Sinicization of religion, without mentioning hoped-for pastoral plans. Shen Bin, installed as bishop of Shanghai by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) on April 4, 2023 more than three months before Pope Francis officially appointed him to the post did not mention the prior months Vatican Synod or the resulting papal documents at the Nov. 4-6 conference on Sinicization, according to human rights magazine Bitter Winter. On the contrary, he focused on Sinicization, which, as it is now clear, does not mean adapting religion to Chinese customs but to the CCPs ideology, Bitter Winter reported. An optimist could object that Bishop Shen Bin did not explicitly tell Shanghai Catholics not to listen to the popes teachings, which oppose the CCPs ideas on key matters such as abortion and the role of religion in society. But for a bishop ignoring the pope and his documents in such solemn events is tantamount to rejecting them. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe The conference encouraged clergy to study and disseminate to church members documents of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CCP Central Committee and Xis dictates on Sinicization of religion, which include putting his ideology at the center of all activities and preaching, according to Bitter Winter. At the conference, Shen Bin also spoke on the need for stricter cooperation with the United Front Work Department, which controls and supervises official religion in China. When the CCP appointed Shen Bin on April 4, 2023, the Vatican reported that the Holy See had learned of it from media reports only on the morning it happened. On July 15, 2023, the Vatican then announced the pope had appointed Shen Bin as bishop of Shanghai. The Vatican stated it had rectified a canonical irregularity for the greater good of the diocese,' Bitter Winter reported. According to a 2018 Vatican-China agreement, bishops are selected by the CCP but should be officially appointed by the Vatican. However, Shen Bin was installed as bishop of Shanghai without Vatican appointment, Bitter Winter reported. Nina Shea, director of the Hudson Institutes Center for Religious Freedom, wrote in the National Review in October that the government's installation of Shen Bin violated the 2018 agreement. She noted that he had replaced Bishop Thaddeus Ma Daqin, who has been detained at a seminary since 2012. Ma Daqin, in turn, had replaced Joseph Xing Wenzhi, who had served as bishop for six years before he went missing in 2011. Last year, in a tacit acknowledgment that he is being persecuted, the Vatican expressed hope for a just and wise solution to his case, Shea stated. Repression against the Catholic Church has intensified since the 2018 agreement, she wrote. At least 10 Chinese Catholic bishops, all Vatican-approved, are currently in indefinite detention, have disappeared or been forced out of their episcopal posts, or are under open-ended investigation by security police, Shea stated. To evade Western sanctions, the Chinese Communist Party uses less bloody and more hidden methods of coercion against these bishops than the show trials and physical torture of the Mao era. The bishop of Baoding, Hebei Province, James Su Zhimin, has been in secret detention for 27 years after he led a procession to a Marian shrine, she stated, adding, The CCP had previously imprisoned and severely tortured him. The bishop of Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, Peter Shao Zhumin, has been in secret detention since his arrest in January, Shea stated, noting that he has been similarly held without due process six times since 2018. In Xuanhua Diocese, Bishop Augustine Cui Tai was arrested in April 2021 and placed in secret, indefinite detention for the fourth time since the agreement was signed, Shea stated. This continues a cruel 30-year pattern against him, she wrote. Authorities placed Zhengding Diocese Bishop Julius Jia Zhiguo under house arrest in 2018, Shea stated. In 2020, police transferred him from the house to a hotel, where his diocese believes he remains, she wrote. Police recently dismantled the orphanage he ran for 30 years. There, in defiance of state Sinicization laws, he allowed children to pray. The bishop has spent much of the past 30 years in detention, she added. In Xinxiang, police in May 2021 closed the seminary of Bishop Joseph Zhang Weizhu and placed him in indefinite detention at an unknown location, she wrote. He was arrested soon after having cancer surgery, she added. Officials have detained Bishop Melchior Shi Hongzhen of Tianjin in his parish church compound for 15 years; in August, the Vatican reported that China would officially recognize the 95-year-old bishop, declaring the move a positive fruit of the dialogue, according to Shea. Its a bitter fruit, considering his advanced age, Shea wrote. The gesture aims to influence public opinion. It is on par with Beijings cynical practice of releasing prisoners of conscience once they are on their deathbeds. As a precondition for the 2018 agreement, China forced Francis to demote Bishop Vincent Guo Xijin of the Mindong Diocese and replace him with a government-appointed bishop who had been excommunicated, Shea wrote. Then-auxiliary bishop, Guo faced restrictions in his pastoral ministry and was evicted from his home, forcing him to sleep on the street in wintertime, she stated. Later, the government cut off his utilities and arrested and tortured some of his priests. In 2020, he resigned. His whereabouts are unknown. Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun, bishop emeritus of Hong Kong, a long-time critic of the regime, is being investigated under a national security law for colluding with foreign forces, for which he could be sentenced to life in prison, Shea wrote. All nine of the mainland bishops are primarily persecuted for being conscientious objectors from the Catholic Patriotic Association, a Mao-era group founded to control Chinese Catholics, she wrote. The Vatican does not recognize the group as legitimate. To join, clergy must pledge independence from the Holy See. China in 2018 put the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association under control of the CCPs United Front Work Department and began forcing mainland bishops into it, she wrote, adding, The China-Vatican agreement makes no accommodation for bishops to opt out. Few outside China know of these 10 persecuted bishops, She wrote. Yet they are an essential part of the faithful leadership needed to ensure that the 400-year-old Chinese Catholic Church continues in communion with Rome and follows Catholic teaching. They stand as a testament to the reality that China represses the Catholic Church along with all its other religions. Originally published at Christian Daily International Home Opinion Ex-Planned Parenthood head Cecile Richards needs our prayers In a private ceremony on Wednesday, President Joe Biden awarded the Medal of Freedom to Cecile Richards, former president of Planned Parenthood. Established by President John F. Kennedy in 1963, this honor is awarded by the president of the United States and is the Nations highest civilian honor, presented to individuals who have made exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values, or security of the United States, world peace, or other significant societal, public or private endeavors. Previous honorees of the Medal of Freedom include Walt Disney, Neil Armstrong, Martin Luther King Jr., Billy Graham, Jackie Robinson, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Roberto Clemente, Dr. Ben Carson, and Justice Antonin Scalia. It is hard to imagine Cecile Richardss name should be added to this list. Cecile Richards was president of Planned Parenthood from 2006 to 2018. In her first annual report, Richards noted, Our policy agenda focuses on preventing unintended pregnancies through effective and well-funded family planning programs and protecting the health of our teens through real sex education. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe When Richards came into office, the abortion titan carried out 264,943 abortions per year and performed 844,201 breast exams. One year later, in the annual report, she noted, Increasingly diverse communities across America have differing health care needs, and we continue to adapt to help meet them. By adapt to help meet them, Richards meant Planned Parenthood was going to decrease any actual health care services and increase the number of unborn children they killed. During her last full year as president, in 2017, Planned Parenthood expanded the services they provide to include permanently damaging cross-sex hormones for people with gender dysphoria. She dedicated that year to defiance, and the power of the Planned Parenthood family. Thats ironic, given that all the work she did was intended to destroy the family. When she left in 2018, Planned Parenthood performed just 296,310 breast exams each year a 65% decrease from when she began. Even more tragically, that year, Planned Parenthood killed 332,757 unborn babies through abortion. Richards increased the number of abortions Planned Parenthood carried out each year by almost 70,000. During her time as president, Planned Parenthood killed over four million babies through the atrocity of abortion and broke the hearts of countless mothers and fathers. Nothing Cecile Richards has done meets the definition of exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values, or security of the United States. There is no doubt she does not deserve the Presidential Medal of Freedom. But she does need our prayers. This past year, Richards revealed that she is battling glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer one that typically claims the lives of its victims in under a year and a half. In an Instagram post on her diagnosis, Richards wrote, In my experience, having cancer doesnt suddenly fill you with profound insights on life. What it does is make it really clear whats important. And there is no more important work right now than fighting for abortion rights ... After all, as my mother used to say, Why should your life be just about you? While none of us know the time nor the hour, it seems that instead of working to further abortion rights, Richards should prepare to meet our Maker. She, like the rest of us, will be judged as to how she treated the least of these. Her mom was right, your life shouldnt just be about you. Each of us should pray daily for Cecile Richards healing not just of her body, but also of her soul. We should pray for her to repent. We know that conversion is real Saul became Paul. Our God is a loving and forgiving Father, and there is no sin too great for His mercy. Let us pray for a miracle for Cecile Richards to recognize her role in championing the culture of death, to repent, to spend her last moments fighting for the unborn, and to one day receive a reward far greater than the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Originally published at The Washington Stand. Home Opinion Misinformation on Georgia women's deaths and abortion restrictions The media coverage of two tragic deaths in Georgia continues to perpetuate a dangerous and blatantly false narrative that threatens women's safety. As someone deeply concerned about women's health, I must address the alarming spread of misinformation surrounding these cases. The deaths of Amber Nicole Thurman and Candi Miller were not, as it continues to be misreported in other Pennsylvania media outlets, the result of abortion restrictions. Rather, these heartbreaking losses occurred because these women used dangerous abortion drugs without proper medical supervision a practice that puts women at risk regardless of state laws. The facts are sobering: According to FDA data, approximately one in 25 women who use abortion drugs require emergency room care. In Pennsylvania alone, complications from abortion have tripled in the last five years, with chemical abortions now accounting for over 55% of all abortions more than 19,000 in 2022. Many of these pills are being prescribed via telemedicine without proper medical exams or ultrasounds to verify pregnancy status and risks. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe Yet instead of highlighting these dangers, many media outlets have chosen to weaponize these tragedies to attack pro-life legislation. This narrative isn't just misleading it's dangerous. For 16 years, from 2000 to 2016, the FDA maintained strict safety standards that it once argued were necessary for the safe use of these drugs. These included mandatory in-person visits and two follow-up appointments to monitor for serious complications. The consequences of removing these vital safety measures are stark: in Pennsylvania, nearly half of reported complications in 2022 stemmed from chemical abortions, with retained fetal tissue, bleeding and infections being the most common problems. Pro-abortion advocates deliberately downplay these risks by misleadingly labeling basic safety protocols as restrictions, even as data shows a 300% increase in hospitalizations when in-person visits were eliminated. Georgia's LIFE Act, like every pro-life law across our nation, explicitly protects doctors' ability to provide care in all medical emergencies. The law neither prevents physicians from treating abortion complications nor prosecutes women who obtain abortions. Women and girls across the country have suffered serious complications including severe bleeding, infections, and sepsis because the FDA stopped requiring doctors to provide vital in-person exams. The FDA and their media allies seem more interested in pushing abortion drugs than protecting women's health and safety. The real threat to women's health comes from pro-abortion activists masquerading as journalists who spread misinformation for political gain. Their tactics frighten vulnerable women away from seeking necessary medical care the very people they claim to protect. Tragically, this deception can have fatal consequences. Pro-abortion forces appear more concerned with protecting industry profits, than with the health and well-being of women and girls. If the media did its job, they would investigate and hold the FDA accountable to its mission of protecting women's health and would report honestly about the harm caused by abortion drugs. These deaths underscore the critical need for ethical journalism regarding women's healthcare. Rather than exploiting tragedies to advance political agendas, we must focus on providing women accurate information that values both maternal and child health. Had the FDA maintained its original safety protocols, including ongoing care requirements, many tragedies might have been prevented. By continuing to spread misinformation about these deaths, news outlets put countless other women at risk. San Mateo County Sheriff Christina Corpus speaks at a news conference. County supervisors have ramped up calls for her to resign following the release of a 400-page investigation into 15 allegations of abuse and misconduct. San Mateo County Sheriffs Office San Mateo supervisors on Thursday released new evidence to buttress their case against Christina Corpus, the embattled sheriff who they have repeatedly pushed to resign so far without success. Addressing media at the county Board of Supervisors chambers, Supervisor Ray Mueller presented screenshots of text messages from Corpus phone, which used homophobic slurs to malign a local city council member. Authorities obtained the text messages after hiring a consultant to conduct a forensic analysis of a recipients phone, Mueller said. Corpus has insisted the texts are not authentic. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Additionally, Mueller cited a memo from Undersheriff Dan Perea, summarizing an unusual request from Corpus alleged boyfriend and top administrative staffer, Victor Aenlle. The memo directed Perea to change the codes to a safe that contained rifles with silencers that Aenlle illegally possessed, according to an investigative report by retired Santa Clara County Judge LaDoris Cordell. It is a felony for people to carry firearms with silencers, unless they are full-time members of law enforcement or members of the military on duty. This is how they are going to get me, Aenlle said to Perea, according to the memo. Perea said he did not follow Aenlles instructions. Mueller and another supervisor, Noelia Corzo, also released a claim against the county from former sheriff employee Brian Philip, who said he had no choice but to quit his job after Perea ordered him to arrest an officer who publicly engaged in legally protected union activity. A claim is a precursor for anyone seeking to sue a municipality. Perea refused to provide me with any factual basis to warrant this arrest, Philip wrote in the claim. I refused his order as I believed the arrest was improper and illegal. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Last week, a different employee, Assistant Sheriff Matthew Fox, signed a probable cause declaration to arrest Carlos Tapia, president of the Deputy Sheriffs Association, for alleged time card fraud. Fox resigned two days later. Union leaders have characterized Tapias arrest as an act of retaliation. These new bombshells came two days after the board unanimously voted to call a special election on March 4, allowing San Mateo County residents to weigh a charter amendment that would create a path to oust the sheriff. If passed, the amendment would enable the Board of Supervisors to remove an elected sheriff for cause, if four out of five supervisors agree to do so. Corpus was not immediately available to comment on Thursday. Attorneys representing Aenlle also did not immediately return a phone call. We are in an operational crisis in the San Mateo county sheriffs office that is without precedent, Mueller said, again demanding that Corpus step down, and promising to remove her if she remained intransigent. County officials tapped Cordell in July to probe 15 allegations against the sheriff, including the homophobic slurs and the improper possession of suppressed rifles. Her 400-page report provided a window into an office that began to unravel under Corpus, who won election in June 2022, on promises to clean up the good ole boy culture and entrenched corruption of her predecessor, Carlos Bolanos. But instead of instituting reform, Corpus intimidated employees, retaliated against perceived enemies, and elevated Aenlle, who had served as her campaign consultant. Advertisement Article continues below this ad These findings, which Cordell laid out in thorough and unsettling detail, jolted officials in San Mateo County and statewide, who have repeatedly called for Corpus resignation. She has remained defiant, disparaging the reports contents as politically motivated slander. When the supervisors passed a no-confidence vote on Corpus last week and eliminated the executive administrative job she had created for Aenlle, Corpus shot back by promoting Aenlle to a senior law enforcement position. Editors note: This story was updated to clarify that the forensic analysis was performed on the phone of a person who received Corpus texts. Home News Hezbollah fired rockets that injured 4 UN peacekeepers, not Israel: Italy Two rockets exploded at a United Nations peacekeeping base in southern Lebanon on Friday, injuring four Italian peacekeepers, days after Italy's Defense Ministry clarified that Israel was not responsible for a similar attack that wounded four others. In a statement Friday, the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon, or UNIFIL, stated that two 122-mm rockets struck the Sector West Headquarters in Shama. Although four were hospitalized, none of the injuries were life-threatening. Italy Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told Italian media that evidence suggests Hezbollah, an Iran-backed Lebanese Shia militia and U.S.-designated terrorist organization, is responsible for the latest attack. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe On Tuesday, Italy's defense ministry admitted that Hezbollah was responsible for an attack on Tuesday that injured four Ghanaian peacekeepers, reports AFP. Three of the wounded required hospitalization. The acknowledgment reverses earlier claims that had attributed the attack to the Israeli military. A defense ministry official clarified that Defense Minister Guido Crosetto only had "partial information" when he earlier blamed the attack on Israel. UNIFIL said the attack was likely carried out by "non-state actors," aligning with the findings of the Israeli Defense Forces, which identified Hezbollah as responsible for two separate incidents that day, hitting posts in the Ramyeh and Chamaa areas of southern Lebanon. Italy's initial statement prompted a response from Israel's newly appointed Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, who assured his Italian counterpart, Antonio Tajani, that an immediate investigation would be conducted. Following the investigation amid military escalations in the region that have continued since the Hamas attacks in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, the IDF confirmed that Hezbollah was indeed behind the attack, The Jerusalem Post reported. The French Foreign Ministry condemned the rocket attacks, which hit multiple UNIFIL positions, including a patrol of French peacekeepers. Although the French patrol suffered no casualties, the attacks have heightened concern for the safety of UNIFIL personnel. UNIFIL reported that its peacekeepers and facilities were targeted in three separate incidents on Tuesday. One attack took place at 9:50 a.m. local time, when a rocket hit a UNIFIL post in the Ramyeh area, while another occurred at 1:30 p.m., targeting a post in Chamaa. The incidents have prompted repeated calls to ensure the protection of U.N. personnel, assets and premises to guarantee the continuation of their operations in southern Lebanon. France expressed support for the U.N. peacekeeping forces, praising their courage and ongoing commitment amid the escalating tensions. The French government stressed that UNIFIL must operate freely to fulfill its mandate and called for a ceasefire to be implemented immediately, per U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701. A key part of Resolution 1701 was to expand UNIFIL's mandate. UNIFIL was originally formed in 1978 to monitor the withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon during the civil war. In 2006, UNIFIL was given the tasks of monitoring the ceasefire, overseeing Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon, and ensuring that only the Lebanese Army operated in the area. Home News Texas board approves optional Bible-infused curriculum for elementary schools Democratic-linked South Asian advocacy group warns move undermines religious freedom The Texas State Board of Education voted Friday to approve a new curriculum that introduces optional Bible-based teachings in elementary schools, a move which aligns the Lone Star state with other Republican-led states pushing for greater religious presence in public classrooms. The curriculum, which is optional for districts to adopt, aims to infuse Bible teachings into various subjects, particularly reading and language arts, for students in kindergarten through fifth grade. While districts can choose whether to implement the lessons, those that opt to do so will receive additional state funding. Fridays final vote follows a preliminary vote earlier this week that saw the boards 15 members narrowly endorse Bluebonnet Learning, a curriculum proposed earlier this year by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) for use in K-5 public school classrooms. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe Notably, three Republicans, including board member Pam Little (R-Fairview), a self-described Christian conservative, voted with the boards four Democratic members against the curriculum. Little was reelected to another two-year term on the Republican-led panel earlier this month. Created by the states Education Agency following legislation passed in 2023 by the Republican-controlled state legislature, the curriculum materials were made publicly available this spring, and Texas officials are preparing for their implementation in the coming school year. The materials could be rolled out as early as next school year. Gov. Greg Abbott, who has voiced his support for the curriculum, praised the initiative as a way to enrich students understanding of American history and culture. Supporters argue that biblical references are deeply embedded in the nation's foundation and that incorporating them will enhance students' education, helping them to better understand literature, history, and even modern-day expressions derived from the Bible. Keisha Russell, senior counsel for religious advocacy group First Liberty Institute, lauded the boards vote. Supreme Court precedent has repeatedly confirmed that the Bible is appropriate for instruction in history, literature, poetry, music, art, government, social customs, values, and behavioral sciences, she said. We fully support the Texas State Board of Educations decision. However, the decision has sparked significant opposition. Critics argue that the curriculum primarily focuses on Christian teachings and could alienate students from diverse religious or non-religious backgrounds. More than 100 individuals testified during a public meeting earlier this week in Austin, with emotional arguments from both sides. Supporters highlighted the Bible's historical importance, while opponents warned of the risks of religious indoctrination in public schools. Among the groups that have voiced opposition to the curriculum is South Asian Americans for Voter Empowerment Texas (SAAVETX), which has argued the changes risk transforming our public schools into platforms for promoting a single religious viewpoint, undermining the diversity that makes Texas strong. According to SAAVETXs advocacy platform, the inclusion of Bible-related curriculum undermines religious freedom and ignores Texas cultural diversity. The group offers supporters a sample letter to send to lawmakers which states the curriculum overwhelmingly focuses on Christianity and does not adequately address the history and contributions of other religious groups, including South Asians. SAAVETX, which represents Hindus, Sikhs, Muslims and other South Asian faith traditions, also offers a guide on navigating post-election trauma for South Asians following Donald Trumps victory on Nov. 5. The group also links to ActBlue, the Democratic donor platform. While acknowledging freedom of religion as a key component of a well-rounded education, SAAVETX also argues that no curriculum should impose religious beliefs or promote a single faiths teachings. CP reached out to SAAVETX for comment Friday following the board's final vote. This story will be updated if a response is received. Texas is home to the second-largest Indian-American population in the U.S., with Hindus alone numbering around 740,000 statewide, representing approximately 4% of the state population. Despite growing religious demographic shifts in Texas, the new statewide curriculum looks to endure, at least in the near term, following similar moves in other Republican-led states. In Oklahoma, the states education chief ordered a Bible to be placed in every classroom, and in Louisiana, efforts are underway to post the Ten Commandments in all public schools starting next year. Home News Trump nominates Pam Bondi for attorney general after Matt Gaetz withdraws President-elect Donald Trump has nominated former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi as the U.S. attorney general after former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., withdrew his name from consideration. In an announcement Thursday evening, Trump named Bondi, 59, who also served on the defense team during Trump's first impeachment trial, as his new pick to lead the U.S. Department of Justice. "Pam was a prosecutor for nearly 20 years, where she was very tough on Violent Criminals, and made the streets safe for Florida Families," stated Trump. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe "Then, as Florida's first female Attorney General, she worked to stop the trafficking of deadly drugs, and reduce the tragedy of Fentanyl Overdose Deaths, which have destroyed many families across our Country." Trump previously appointed Bondi to a position in his first administration in which she served on the federal Opioid and Drug Abuse Commission. Trumped credits her with saving lives. "For too long, the partisan Department of Justice has been weaponized against me and other Republicans Not anymore. Pam will refocus the DOJ to its intended purpose of fighting Crime, and Making America Safe Again," Trump continued. Texas Gov. Gregg Abbott, a Republican, was among those who congratulated Bondi, posting to his X account on Thursday that she will be a strong supporter of the rule of law if confirmed. "I was the Attorney General of Texas when Pam Bondi was Attorney General of Florida," tweeted Abbott. "We collaborated on countless legal matters that improved our states and our country. She will be a steadfast fighter for what is right and restore respect for the rule of law." Earlier this month, Trump announced Gaetz as the attorney general nominee, with the decision reportedly creating an "audible gasp" among some Republican lawmakers. Gaetz, who had helped orchestrate the removal of fellow Republican Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., as House speaker while in Congress, faced several accusations of sexual misconduct and was the subject of a House Ethics Committee investigation. Many on both sides of the aisle expressed opposition to the Gaetz selection, believing that the Florida representative was unqualified and had too many scandals. Gaetz eventually declined the attorney general nomination, saying in a statement posted to his X account on Thursday that "it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition." "There is no time to waste on a needlessly protracted Washington scuffle, thus I'll be withdrawing my name from consideration to serve as Attorney General. Trump's DOJ must be in place and ready on Day 1," stated Gaetz. Gaetz concluded by saying that he "will forever be honored that President Trump nominated me to lead the Department of Justice and I'm certain he will Save America." (Photo: Getty/iStock) (CP) Politicians and faith leaders are raising concerns after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Minister of Defence Yoav Gallant Thursday over its military offensive in Gaza. The International Criminal Court, a supranational organization tasked with "trying individuals for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and aggression," released a statement Thursday announcing that it issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu over "crimes against humanity and war crimes" that purportedly took place between Oct. 8, 2023, and May 20, 2024. The time period covered by the warrant overlaps with the conflicts that have erupted in the Middle East after the terrorist organization Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, launched a deadly invasion in Southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people, mostly civilians. The Hamas-run Gaza health ministry says that over 44,000 people have died in Gaza since Israel's military offensive began, a tally that doesn't differentiate between civilians and combatants. The Israeli government has long accused Hamas of using citizens as human shields. The warrant, which extends to Israel's Minister of Defence Gallant, alleges that both men engaged in "the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare; and the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts." According to the Pre-Trial Chamber of the ICC that issued the warrant, there are "reasonable grounds" to believe that Netanyahu and Gallant "each bear criminal responsibility as civilian superiors for the war crime of intentionally directing an attack against the civilian population." "The Chamber considered that there are reasonable grounds to believe that both individuals intentionally and knowingly deprived the civilian population in Gaza of objects indispensable to their survival, including food, water, and medicine and medical supplies, as well as fuel and electricity, from at least 8 October 2023 to 20 May 2024," the warrant stated. "The finding is based on the role of Mr Netanyahu and Mr Gallant in impeding humanitarian aid in violation of international humanitarian law and their failure to facilitate relief by all means at its disposal." The warrant maintains that the actions of Netanyahu and Gallant caused the "disruption of the ability of humanitarian organisations to provide food and other essential goods to the population in need in Gaza." "The aforementioned restrictions together with cutting off electricity and reducing fuel supply also had a severe impact on the availability of water in Gaza and the ability of hospitals to provide medical care," the document states. The warrant characterizes Israel's military action as "calculated to bring about the destruction of part of the civilian population in Gaza." While the chamber stopped short of charging Netanyahu and Gallant for "the crime against humanity of extermination," the warrant alleges that they committed "the crime against humanity of murder." The arrest warrant drew intense reactions from politicians on both sides of the aisle, faith leaders and advocacy organizations. The following pages highlight reactions to the development. US Evangelical leaders The Rev. Johnnie Moore, founder of the Congress of Christian Leaders established to unify Christian movements worldwide, issued a statement on X Thursday calling on the U.S. Congress to "take action against the corrupt ICC." "This actually has little to do w/ @Netanyahu or Gallant," wrote Moore, an Evangelical public relations executive who had strong ties to the first Donald Trump administration and was a former commissioner on the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. "It is about the profound corruption of our international institutions (some should not exist at all)," he added. Prominent Christian conservative activist Tony Perkins, a former USCIRF vice chair who is president of the advocacy group Family Research Council, suggested that the ICC's decision is antisemitic. "Antisemitism? This decision by the ICC to go after Israel's leader for defending his country should be a death knell for the court," Perkins wrote in an X post. "Pray for Israel and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as the ICC has issued arrest warrants. Also, pray that Bible-believing Christians will stand with Israel and their God-given right to exist." Congressional Republicans Leaders on Capitol Hill telegraphed disappointment with the development. In a Thursday X post, Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., slated to become the senate majority leader in the upcoming 119th Congress, forcefully condemned the ICC's warrants. "If the ICC and its prosecutor do not reverse their outrageous and unlawful actions to pursue arrest warrants against Israeli officials, the Senate should immediately pass sanctions legislation, as the House has already done on a bipartisan basis. If Majority Leader Schumer does not act, the Senate Republican majority will stand with our key ally Israel." Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, considered one of the most moderate Senate Republicans, published an X post Thursday urging the ICC to "abandon its unlawful pursuit of arrest warrants against Israeli officials." She stressed that the "U.S. stands with Israel," agreeing with Thune that if the ICC fails to rescind its warrant against Netanyahu, "the Senate should immediately consider the bipartisan legislation passed by the House to sanction the ICC." The legislation both Collins and Thune referred to, the Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act, passed the Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives in a 247-155 vote in June. The measure received no opposition from Republicans, while 42 Democrats joined their GOP colleagues in supporting it. The bill has not come up for a vote in the Democrat-controlled U.S. Senate. Congressional Democrats Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., offered a blunt response to the warrants in an X post Thursday. He maintained that the ICC had "no standing, relevance, or path" to bring the charges before declaring "F that," accompanied by an image of the Israeli flag. Rep. Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y., who has emerged as an outspoken supporter of Israel, issued a lengthy rebuttal of the ICC warrants on X Thursday. "The ICC's decision to issue arrest warrants against the leadership of Israel represents the weaponization of international law at its most egregious. The ICC has set a precedent for criminalizing self-defense: any country daring to defend itself against an enemy that exploits civilians as human shields will face persecution posing as prosecution." "The ICC ignores the cause and context of the war. Israel did not initiate the war. The war was imposed upon Israel by the unabridged barbarism of Hamas on October 7th," he noted. "Not only did Hamas wage war on Israel, causing the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust, it carefully constructed a battlefield designed to maximize the loss of civilian life. None of that context seems to matter to the kangaroo court of the ICC, which cannot let facts get in the way of its ideological crusade against the Jewish State." Torres concluded by asserting that "The ICC should be sanctioned not for enforcing the law but for distorting it beyond recognition." Incoming national security advisor Rep. Mike Waltz, R-Fla., slated to become national security advisor to President-elect Donald Trump after he takes office on Jan. 20, shared his thoughts in an X post Thursday. "The ICC has no credibility and these allegations have been refuted by the U.S. government," he wrote. "Israel has lawfully defended its people & border from genocidal terrorists. You can expect a strong response to the antisemitic bias of the ICC and [United Nations] come January," Waltz vowed, referring to the forthcoming Trump administration. The Christian Post (Photo: Getty/iStock) Critics of abortion and trans ideology could be silenced in Australia after parliamentarians backed a proposed law to give the country's media authority more powers, vexing the Australian Christian Lobby. Australian lawmakers approved the "Communications Legislation Amendment (Combatting Misinformation and Disinformation) Bill 2024" in the House of Representatives by 78 votes to 57 on November 7. The Bill has now been referred to the Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee for further scrutiny. The legislation amends the Broadcasting Services Act 1992, and imposes certain "obligations" on digital communication platform providers for distributing digital content deemed "reasonably verifiable as false, misleading or deceptive," summarized the Parliament of Australia on its website, "and is reasonably likely to cause or contribute to serious harm of a specified type." The law also expands the compliance and enforcement powers of the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA). It would mean the ACMA is enabled to receive information from providers as needed, and determine standards for misinformation, with parties falling foul of the proposed law facing financial fines. Proponents for the law cited concerns about online misinformation expressed by 75 percent of Australians in a survey by the University of Canberra for its Digital News Report: Australia 2024. However, the Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) lashed out at the new legislation, calling it both "Orwellian" and "an unmatched threat to freedom of speech in Australia." "The proposed legislation would allow the government of the day to impose their subjective view of 'truth' onto public discourse and effectively silence dissenting voices," said Michelle Pearse, Chief Executive Officer of the ACL. Pearse expressed particular worries about the bill silencing the rights of pro-lifers and people opposed to trans ideology. "The Department's own Impact Analysis states the Bill would stop the spread of information that might reverse 'the rights of women and LGBTQI+ people,' suggesting it may well silence pro-life views and views that oppose trans ideology," Pearse warned. She added that limiting freedom of speech in such a way could threaten democracy itself in the country. Pearse expressed further fears that digital platforms faced threats with "enormous fines" if they failed to remove so-called "misinformation", should the bill pass through the Senate. "By granting ACMA the ability to arbitrarily determine what is 'false, misleading, or deceptive' and what is 'reasonably likely to cause or contribute to harm,' this Bill gives the Government unprecedented control over the media narrative on contentious and disputed topics," she added. Pearse compared the bill to a "similar" previous Exposure Draft Bill, gaining 23,000 responses from the public during a consultation, with concern about the "broad new powers" proposed for the ACMA to censor online content. "This is especially concerning for Christians and Australians who disagree with radical ideologies being pushed by influential fringe groups," Pearse continued. "We have already seen the E-Commissioner forcibly remove posts on X (formerly known as Twitter), which criticize radical gender ideology." Many parliamentarians opposed the new legislation, expressing similar concerns to the ACL, according to Pearse who accused the Australian Government of "pushing this through." "The ACL is disappointed to see the Australian Government rush these reforms through the House of Representatives after giving Australians only 11 days to formally respond to the Bill," added Pearse. The ACL is now calling on the Australian Government to abandon its online misinformation Bill and commit to protecting democratic freedom of speech. In a Human Rights Scrutiny Report dated October 10 (2024), the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights acknowledged that the bill supports several human rights, as per the Universal Declaration. However, it also found issues with the proposed law in regards to legal rights to freedom of expression and to privacy. The issue with freedom of expression, according to the human rights committee, is the proposed monitoring and regulation of disseminated information by the ACMA actually "limits the right." A further limitation are found in the extra powers proposed for the ACMA in approving standards and making rules, alongside information and documents provided to the media authority by digital providers, which may involve the disclosure of personal information. The committee expounded that freedom of expression rights were allowed to "shock or disturb" according to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, and "includes the freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, either orally, in writing or print, in the form of art, or through any other media of an individual's choice." Furthermore, the committee acknowledged this legal right carried "special duties and responsibilities" but pointed out "restrictions on the right to freedom of expression must be construed strictly and any restrictions must be justified in strict conformity" within certain limits. In regards to privacy, the committee said the scheme would regulate potentially content deemed seriously harmful: "However, this would not prevent a digital service provider platform from regulating content in circumstances outside the scope of scenarios contemplated by the bill so as to avoid the risk of a civil penalty for non-compliance." The committee gave as an example someone posting factually incorrect content about a local election. Under the proposed law, the platform could remove this content on the basis that it is incorrect and political "even if that end-user had a very small following and so the dissemination of their views would be unlikely to have a tangible impact on that election or lead to any other tangible harm." The committee also warned that nothing would prevent a platform provider, under the proposed bill, "from regulating more content than is specified in a code or standard." Christian Daily International (CP) Tony Campolo, a bestselling author, teacher and evangelist preacher known for championing a movement called "Red Letter Christianity," has died. He was 89. Campolo's death was announced on his Facebook page on Tuesday evening. The message to his friends and followers said the notable preacher "died at his home in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania," where he was "surrounded by his family and loved ones." "His life was a testament to faith, love, and the transformative power of relationships, and his influence will be felt for generations to come," the announcement added. "For more than six decades, as a pastor, distinguished professor, mesmerizing public speaker, and prolific author, Tony touched countless lives around the world with his hopeful message of social justice, love, and reconciliation." Shane Claiborne, a progressive Christian activist and author, conveyed his condolences on his X account, describing Campolo as "a dear friend and brother." "Tony Campolo has been my partner in ministry for the past 20+ years at [Red Letter Christians]. I will miss him something fierce, but I know there's a party on the other side," tweeted Claiborne. "I don't have much more to say right now. But I will soon. Thanks for all the love and condolences being poured out from around the world. Grateful for all the lives he touched over the years." Born on Feb. 25, 1935, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Campolo was known for his charismatic preaching, years of work as a professor, and social activism, especially among the needy. For nearly 40 years, Campolo led a group known as the Evangelical Association for the Promotion of Education, which he launched to help serve communities in need. He retired from his position in the organization in 2014. In 2007, Campolo helped to found a group called Red Letter Christians, named such because in some published versions of the Bible, Jesus' words are printed in red rather than black ink. "We believe in the black letters, too, and are convinced the whole Bible is God's word. But Jesus is the lens through which we interpret the Bible, and the lens through which we interpret the world we live in," stated the group's website. "It's clear that some of the loudest voices of Christianity have not been the most beautiful voices. And some of the most beautiful voices haven't had the amplification they deserve. The way we change the narrative is by changing the narrators." The movement was not without its critics, among them Mark Tooley of the theologically conservative Institute on Religion & Democracy, who believed that the movement's reasoning was "destructive and dangerous because it implies the whole of Scripture is less than reliable and that modern individuals in one culture can singularly reinterpret or reject historic Christian ethical teaching without counsel of universal Church." "So a few words from Jesus supposedly mandate unlimited welfare state, opposition to military, gun abolition, etc.," said Tooley in an interview with The Christian Post in 2016. "Meanwhile, too often historic Church teachings about abortion or homosexuality are dismissed because Jesus did not specifically address it." For his part, Campolo defended Red Letters Christians, telling CP in a 2016 interview that there was "no question that the morality prescribed by Jesus is superior to anything that was hitherto suggested by the law and the prophets." "I want to always add that the early Church didn't have a New Testament, but what they were able to do under the influence of the Holy Spirit is to find the message and the story of Jesus written all through the law and the prophets of the Old Testament," said Campolo. "In short, the Scriptures that were written before the New Testament point to Jesus and they are crucially important for us to understand Jesus." Campolo garnered controversy for some of the ideological stances he took over the past few years, including his belief that churches should fully accept same-sex romantic relationships. While coming to reject the label "Evangelical," Campolo told CP in an earlier interview that he still held a "very traditional" view on salvation, rejecting accusations that he was a universalist. "I believe that when Jesus died on the cross that He took upon Himself the sins of people who will repent and trust in Him for their salvation. I believe in the penal substitutionary doctrine of the atonement," Campolo explained. "I am still an Evangelical when it comes to faith practices and faith beliefs. What I am trying to communicate, and I think a lot of people would agree with me, is that the word 'Evangelical' has become politicized in a way that causes some of us to be alarmed." In addition to his activism and preaching, Campolo was a faculty member at the University of Pennsylvania, a professor emeritus of sociology at Eastern University and the author of over 30 books. Campolo is survived by his wife, Peggy, whom he was married to for over 65 years, two children, four grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. The Christian Post We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form San Francisco police arrested a group of seven teens and a 12-year-old accused of stealing tens of thousands of dollars worth of merchandise from multiple stores, including Walgreens. Michael Dwyer/Associated Press San Francisco police arrested a group of seven teens and one 12-year-old child for what investigators said was a series of organized retail thefts in which they allegedly entered businesses and fled with stolen merchandise worth more than $84,000. Investigators believe the group is responsible for at least 23 thefts across San Francisco, including one that involved an assault on a Walgreens employee who sustained what police called a serious head injury. Those arrested range in age from 12 to 18 and are residents of San Francisco, Oakland, Pittsburg, Hayward and Oakley. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The youngest member of the group is a 12-year-old San Francisco boy. Police booked him into custody on charges of assault, three counts of robbery, seven counts of burglary, seven counts of grand theft, 10 counts of organized retail theft and four counts of petty theft. The oldest, 18-year-old Brandon McClain of Hayward, was charged with four counts of burglary, four counts of grand theft and four counts of organized retail theft. He was booked without bail and was in the San Francisco County Jail as of Thursday afternoon, jail records showed. Investigators noticed a pattern on Sept. 23, when the group allegedly ransacked a Walgreens on the 1100 block of Potrero Avenue and violently assaulted an employee who tried to intervene, San Francisco Police Department spokesperson Paulina Henderson said Thursday in a statement. During the investigation, officers said they recognized five of the juvenile suspects from an investigation into a separate assault that occurred Sept. 16 at 24th and Mission Streets, Henderson said. Investigators with SFPDs Burglary and Organized Retail Crime Unit then connected the group to several other retail thefts carried out over the summer at various Walgreens locations in San Francisco. In one July robbery, seven masked suspects allegedly forced a stores door open and stole more than $1,300 in merchandise. In August, the same suspects allegedly stole a cash register. In September, the group allegedly brandished a firearm at a security guard, according to police. Advertisement Article continues below this ad 00:00 Hi everybody. Welcome to Global Tech Tales: What Buyers Want. I'm Keith Shaw here to moderate a discussion with other editors from around the world about the hottest technology topics. Joining me for today's show. Matt Egan, he is the global content and editorial director at Foundry, representing the UK, and he's also my co host on this show, Lee Rennick, she is the executive director of CIO communities who interviews CIOs in the US, Canada and the UK through our CIO Leadership Live podcasts. And Martin Bayer, he is the editor in chief for B2B for Computerwoche in Germany. Welcome all. So the topic for today is artificial intelligence. We're going to talk about what's going on, what we've seen over the past year before we start. I want Matt to explain why we're doing this show versus some of the other shows that we do within foundry. Go ahead. Matt, Sure. Thank you, Keith. Really appreciate that opportunity. So look, I'm really fortunate because I get to work with fine people like Lee and Martin and the other 160 or so editors that we have all around the world, in the biggest markets for it. And the reason that I'm fortunate is because these guys, they just speak to it leaders the whole time, right? Every day, we're speaking to literally hundreds of people who are leaders of organizations, leaders in the IT, departments of organizations, strategic leaders, business leaders. And what they're doing the whole time is helping their organizations succeed through it, and so what that gives us is this unique insight into what really matters, right? Forget the marketing hype. Forget even sometimes what you hear from the analyst side, right? This is the real world, lived experience of what it means to be working in it today, in any of the major markets in the world. That's what we want to bring together and chat and share today. All right? And I like the global perspective part of it as well, because sometimes we get bogged down here in the US on just focusing on us stuff. So it's really cool that we're going to have a lot of different voices for this show, plus future episodes where we're going to tackle some other topics and bring in other people. So it won't just be these four faces that you'll see on the show, it'll be it'll be me and Matt and probably a few other people as we go through these these episodes. So we also wanted to start the episode with a couple of statistics to to kind of frame the discussion around this. And so for the first stat for artificial intelligence worldwide, spending on AI is forecast to reach $632 billion in 2028 This is according to IDC, our sister company that we work with here. This includes AI enabled applications infrastructure and related IT and business services. Again, this is going to be a compound annual growth rate of 29% from 2024 through 2028. Gen AI is going to outpace the overall AI market with a five year C AGR, 59.2% yet with all of this enthusiasm, we're also seeing a lot of surveys that are indicating that companies are not succeeding initially with the technology. And we're also seeing some some some surveys that say employees are not adopting this. So there seems to be a little bit of a balance I want to just show you. There was a at the 2024 CIO 100 and symposium. Meredith Whalen, who is the Chief Research Officer of IDC, opened her keynote on Gen AI. Lee, you were actually at this conference, and basically she said that, one year later, companies are reporting 37 POCs, five production launches and a 68% success rate of Gen AI predicting that in 2025 and 2026 companies were going to be in that AI pivot adoption phase. So it feels like we do have two sides of the same coin. So let's start the discussion there. You know, what are you seeing around the world of AI. Is this the best thing since sliced bread? Or are we taking a more of a cautious approach? What are the IT leaders that you speak with saying, Lee, I'll start with you, since you were at this conference. Yeah, great. So I was at the conference. It was amazing. This year, a three day conference, we had sessions on AI, building teams, de and I lots of great topics that we were covering off data and cloud, which is huge, right? So, yeah, what we're hearing from organizations, and what I've been hearing from a lot of CIOs, is this year was a year where, you know, what IDC said was last year was kind of the scramble stage, right? We were scrambling. Now we're pivoting. And what you're hearing from CIOs is they really looked at utilizing Gen AI, excuse me, for building internal productivity, right? So really ensuring that their internal processes were increased or they were better, you know, they could do work better, which meant the bottom line of their businesses were in better shape because they were just enhancing this productivity. Now I pulled some stats here, some a few little discussions I had with some CIOs at the conference. So Kari Ekberg Gallagher said, you know, they were doing a cloud migration program. They had a code base of 220,000 lines of code. He said it would have taken money. To do the work for that migration. They did it in days, days. Okay, so, huge transformation for them. There. Mike Aiello of SecureWorks, he's the CTO there they, they're a company that works in cyber events. You know, they have 4 trillion events a week that was filtered down and many and manually processed in the past. Now, 60% of those investigations because of Gen AI are fully automated. So there's a huge transformation in how businesses are looking at building internal productivity. What I'm hearing and sort of seeing is there's a couple of factors here with that data, right? If you don't have your data in a good shape, forget it. Jenny is just not going to do what it needs to do for you. So we still have some companies going through that data transformation. A lot of companies during COVID put their data in the cloud. Now they're looking at the word repatriation, back to servers, right? So they're kind of, I think, figuring that out. And now they're looking at ways of, okay, we've done this internal productivity. What does that mean for our external clients? You know, those customers, those end users, outside of our business. And I think that's where we are right now, and that's what I'm hearing from many leaders and many CIOs Martin, you got some some stuff to add. Are you hearing the same kind of thing? Are they? Are they still in that spending money phase? Yeah, that's That's right, really there. But from my point of view, the time for experimentation is over. Ai projects are complex and expensive, and it's not just about asking a chat bot a question on the on the internet. Data must be prepared for use in the company. It architectures and infrastructures must be redesigned, security concepts must be developed, and above all, employees must be trained. All of this costs money, in view of the difficult economic situation here in Europe, and especially in Germany, CFOs are asking very carefully, what the return on investment in AI is it? Budgets are also generally under pressure, and the challenge for CIOs is therefore to find the right KPIs to prove the added business value and benefits of AI. That's the critical point at the moment. Yeah, I agree. And like those two gentlemen I spoke to at the event the CIOs, that's exactly what they were saying. We were able to prove to our C suite and show that we have this internal productivity within our organization that's saving a lot of money, a lot of time, so therefore, it's been hugely successful for us, and we're tracking those use cases to then show the benefits to the business, right, and help the business grow. So I agree totally. Yeah, everyone says how important AI is, but after all the hype over artificial intelligence, the value is still hard to find. Do you feel like that? A lot of the IT leaders and the buyers are being pressured from the business side to adopt this. And maybe some of them are saying, well, wait a second, we we're still in the middle of our transformation projects here and now you're throwing, you know, Gen AI at us, or all of this other AI stuff. Do they feel that pressure? Or do you feel like that? They can get on top of it and be the spokesperson for the AI movement within, within companies. Well, you know, with state of the CIO report, we researched 1100 leaders from around the world about, you know, technology. And this was earlier in the year, right? This was in early 2024 and what they said was, 79% of those surveyed said that they felt the CIO had an educational partnership with the CEO and the C suite. And I asked that question to every CIO I interview, and they absolutely shake their head and say, Yes, that's exactly what it is we have an educational partnership whereby, you know, they have to the C suite has to understand what we're working on, how we're implementing this. It's not a matter anymore. I think of that pressure, many told me about it, like we need to do this because, obviously generative AI was democratized, right? It's a very different thing. Now those CIOs are really researching getting those people on the board. One CIO told me at the CIO 100 she has a board appointee that just deals with the technology first, right? And they meet on a weekly basis to talk about what she's working on. So I think you have to look at that aspect of it. You know, these individuals are so instrumental to running business. Now, their roles have completely changed. You know, they are at the C suite level, and they're in their educating and partnering in that, in that respect. But I, I just interviewed Tony Olvet, who's the Group Vice President of Worldwide C suite and Digital Business Research at IDC yesterday, which is really cool. And IDC just released a Gen AI use case, a really special survey they researched over 3000 people around the world. And the question of who decides around the investment, it was pretty much equal, an equal investment to. Decision between business leaders and IT leaders so that, just based on some of our really amazing research we put out. So, you know, I think that's what I'm hearing as well too. That educational partnership has been there now this year. And then, of course, that decision buying becomes sort of 50-50, all right, I wanted to, I wanted to ask Matt this question as well as Martin, because they are over in Europe. So I've got a couple of European questions. But first, do IT leaders and buyers feel like that they're properly training employees on the use of general generative AI tools. I know that training is one of the issues that or training in the end, slash the skills gap is one thing, and then all. We're also hearing concerns around accuracy of these these tools, especially with the idea of hallucinations. So, you know, obviously the three big concerns too, would you know, are basically training skills, skills gap, accuracy and then also security. They want to make sure that their data isn't going to be leaked out by these tools, especially in Europe, I think, with all of the regulations that they're moving versus the US, what are some of those concerns? One of the things that's really interesting from my purview, I have the privilege of, I'm based in Europe, but I get to travel around the world, and actually, these are pretty consistent concerns, and it's borne out in the AI priorities study we did earlier last year, where, I think I'm going to quote this accurately, like skills was one of the biggest barriers, and it was like 50% of respondents says that was an issue, and security was the biggest concern. I think that was 51% of respondents. And that's across the world, right? That's in all the various different markets. The Skills thing, I think, is really interesting, and it kind of relates back to one of the questions you asked before Keith, which is, you know, this is one of those rare occasions where a technology has passed over into the mainstream, and therefore business leaders who aren't technically minded are asking their IT leaders, what are we doing with AI, right? You don't often get business leaders asking, you know, what are we doing with edge computing, or, what are we doing with, you know, veg, right? But AI, is that thing that's kind of crossed over because chat, GPT, right? No, because it can do this cool, crazy, right? And so there's an element of pressure there. And exactly as, as Lee said, like a lot of people, have focused very early on, on return on investment, so can we just do what we're doing now more efficiently, and to the point that Lee made, if your data and your infrastructure is in a sufficiently clean state. Like, yeah, you can like, that is, that is totally achievable. But I think the more interesting kind of challenge now is, is to move on to those projects where it's built with AI ingrained from the ground up to solve a problem. But there is no doubt that skills is a big challenge. I was speaking to some IT leaders when I was in Singapore, admittedly, a few months ago, and they were talking about the fact that, how do you hire for something when you don't know what the it is going to be? Right? Like you like, what you need is people who've got really good core skills and they're curious, and they've got the right values, and they're comfortable solving problems like that. That is a challenge, and it's, and you're starting to see, you know, we see this in our kind of online engagement, how IT certifications are becoming valued in some ways more than college degrees. Because, like, how can you teach someone in a in a three year course, something that three years ago wasn't like a key thing to worry about kind of thing? So the skills gap is definitely there, and and it's it's also compounded by the fact that a lot of these kind of operational efficiencies that are being driven by AI through IT implementations reduce the need to have junior people. So in a way, you're kind of reducing the pool of people who might become your skills leaders. And then on the security side of things, I mean, Martin should definitely speak to this, because, like living in mainland Europe, there's a whole other set of compliance issues there. But the reality is, AI can let you do anything at scale, right? And if the thing you're doing isn't correctly set up and ethically set up and doesn't have the right amount of human oversight, like the risks are exponential, just as a potential for success is exponential. But I'd really like to hear from you on that, Martin, because living in working in Germany, you have a different and maybe more acute perspective on that. I guess. Yeah, regulation here in Germany is very, very hard sometimes, and it's an important aspect at this point to give employees a framework for how they should use AI. This framework must leave room for experimentation and not prohibit too many things, but at the same time, must ensure that no rules, for example, regarding data protection are violated, and this framework is very important, because otherwise a kind of shadow AI can emerge very quickly in the company, and cleaning this up can be very tedious, and we saw this in the early years of the cloud. Yeah, we hear, we hear the same thing here. When I talk to a lot of companies in the US, a lot of them want a framework, or want some regulation. So they look at like, are we going to see what Europe is going to do? Because I think that there's a realization to that, that waiting for our government here in the US to do something, it's probably not going to happen given, given, not only the political side of things, but also a general attitude around regulations and, you know, capitalism and free spirit and innovation, all that other stuff that that I think we have sometimes gets in the way of that. I think a lot of companies in the US and around the world have had to, you know, go have strict regulations around where they store their data in the cloud, right? So I would disagree little a little bit. I don't think it's like, I Yeah, entrepreneurship and all of that is great, but the reality is, is that many companies right now have to have very strict regulations around their data around the world and where they store it, right? So, yeah, that's that's one thing maybe that will help inform the security side of it a little bit more. We'll have to anyway, because they'll have to have security overlay of that look. I mean, just on the Europe side of things, I just thought maybe I'd share a conversation I had with Elizabeth Akorita, who's a group Deputy Director of Digital for Department of science and innovation, and a few departments in the UK. So she works with 13 organizations and 17,000 employees, and they've developed this shared services model, right? So they're sharing out across these these organizations within the UK, they did do a whole comprehensive change management plan. People were, excuse me, at the center of it. So what she said was, you know, the team skills and the expertise were paramount to the success of the project, and they invested in training and development programs to ensure that the teams had the knowledge, the capacities to support the new platform and also assist users, right from all bits of the government. Because remember, when you're doing some sort of you're trying out a new type of technology, you're also, you know, prompt engineering comes into this, right? Because, you know, this has been a problem with many companies, right? They they let people use chat GPT, maybe lawyers are using it, but they don't know how to prompt it to do what they need. So, you know, she really drilled down on the fact that, you know, under this model, that they had training development programs, all of that were so key to the success of the platform and sharing the other reason, and this is very related to entrepreneurialism. And like, certainly, we all work for a company that's headquartered in the US, like, the other thing you've got to think about is intellectual property, and it's related to security, because it's, again, it's how you handle your data when using an AI tool and thinking and thinking three steps ahead in terms of what can happen to your intellectual property using tools like chat, GPT or any of the other models that rely on large language models. So it brings us back to where Lee was there, which is like what sounds like a very well executed plan, which is surprising to me, as a UK citizen from the UK Government, but excellent. Glad to hear that some of our tax dollars are being spent well, but a well executed plan requires a level of education of everybody, right, technical or otherwise, as to a what you're trying to achieve, but also, what are the guard rails within which you're trying to achieve it? And with that, Keith, I'm going to let you speak now, because we both spoke over you. So because, because the show is called what buyers want, or, you know, global Tech Tales, and then what buyers want, I want to ask if you know the IT leaders that you're speaking with when they're developing their AI projects, do they want vendors to add Gen AI to their existing tools and software that they're using? Do they want to build it themselves? Are they in that that built, you know, build or buy mode? And they say, No, we can do this better if we build it with our own people, or are they looking kind of in between there, and they're looking for consultancies, you know, the big, you know, the big three, or the four of those, to then guide them through the process. Because, you know, each of the vendors that we talked to, they would raise their hand and go, of course, they want vendors, you know, the vendor would say that. I'm just wondering if this is a decision that's even being made at this point. I think it's all of the above key, and it depends. I don't like all of the above answers. Okay, let me pick it a bit. I'll bring in some research afterwards, but go for it. Matt, okay, I think it is all of the above, but it's all the above on a horses for courses basis. And if you flip it around and you think about it from the vendor perspective, right? What I'm seeing where some of the most successful vendor relationships with IT leaders, and that includes vendor CTO, is working really closely with it. Departments like IT leaders, is where you get organizations would be really smart about building, like, ecosystem products. So yeah, like, it definitely is all of the above, because at one level, it's like a I PCs, right? Great or or adding AI capabilities to existing software platforms. These are great for what we were talking about before, which is the kind of almost at the edge, building increased efficiencies into output and to workflow. But like, what IT leaders are wanting for the next stage is the environment and the plan. Platform and the infrastructure from which they can innovate. And so I look at, I'm going to name loads of vendors now, because I'm being vendor agnostic here, but I look at some of the work that, for instance, Dale, Microsoft, Nvidia, are doing together to create like combinations of hardware, software and cloud and cloud and on prem, which which, in principle, at least out of the box in Amazon and Google, they're doing similar things with their hardware partners, often the same hardware partners, but in principle, allow IT leaders to have all of the above right. They're going to they're creating platforms for where, yes, there is efficiency in the way that things are processed. The infrastructure is working in a way that supports the use of AI in all of the kind of process driven approaches. But also, if you're trying to innovate, on top of that, to build your own products and solutions, in principle, at least, you've always got best in class technology. You've always got the compute that supports and supports the AI. So that's from the vendor side, like but Lee, I really do want to hear your actual facts. Like I said, I just interviewed Tony Olvet, who's our, you know, one of our top researchers within our organization. So look this report they just put out. 47% of those surveyed said they would compose the solution, either by by leverage and tweak. So when I looked into that stat, what they were saying was that they would definitely partner with a vendor. They would leverage that and then they would tweak it to their own internal needs, which is kind of what you're saying, Matt, it's like they're going to look at it and say, how do we increase productivity? For our sales teams, for our finance team, for, you know, our legal teams, for our end user customer, whoever that is, because the end user customer is everything. So I think, you know, that's really interesting. And what I've heard from CIOs is, yeah, we're working with the vendors and the partners. Um, I interviewed a CIO here in Canada, who said, you know, I actually meet with all the vendors I want to work with. We have a good working relationship. We look at how we can leverage what they have to offer. And then, yeah, we look at tweaking it for our various use cases we need internally for our organization. So yeah, depends on the kind of solution as well, right? Because I think there are maybe, maybe three different levels to this, right? There is the, and we talked about this a lot, there is the, we have an existing process, a thing we do, can we do it Quicker, quicker with AI, right? And then that is definitely where you're either looking for tweaks to existing, hardened software products, co pilot in, you know, in Microsoft's products, it is the AI PCs that are coming out that just then you can start to spin the wheels quicker, right? Then there's creating a new process that is somewhat, that is somewhat enhanced by AI, right? And that's similar, right? But you kind of get moving more towards where you might need all of your infrastructure and platforms to be aI enabled. And then there is the showstopper, which is, I think, where we're moving to now, which is where we think in the customer journey, we're thinking of a new product, service or solution within our organization, and for that, from the ground up, we need like vendor support to give us, like aI capabilities that can allow us to really fundamentally change the way our business is operating. And that's where I mean this is a massive land grab, right from the vendor perspective, it's it's both exciting and terrifying, because there's going to be big shifts in terms of who, who provides services to all these, all these customers, but it's a huge opportunity, right? Because that is what it is looking for. That level of support. I wanted to, I wanted to bring up another question. And, you know, obviously we don't live in a bubble here with a lot of these technologies. So while all of these companies are making decisions around, you know, what vendor to use for generative AI, what projects to do, whether, whether someone is using an existing software package and waiting for Gen AI to be added to that. At the same time, all of these large scale AI companies open AI, Google, anthropic, all of those companies continue to update their models. In fact, this week, we just heard a story that open AI is going to be starting to add AI agents, or agentic AI, and all of a sudden, all of the news comes out. We're like, oh, well, you know they're already at the next phase. So when you talk with it, leaders and buyers, do you do you hear that any of them, are any of them on the fence about waiting for the technology to get better? Or are they just basically saying, We'll take what we can get now and we know that in the future, maybe that'll be better, or maybe they'll be moving on to other other technologies within this space. Martin, I'm going to start with you. Yeah, I've hardly seen any other technology in recent decades that has developed and spread as quickly as Gen AI. But this is also a problem for the user companies that want to utilize this technology, it's very difficult to keep track of the various developments and to evaluate and categorize them. Every month, new models come come onto the market, or there are new versions of existing models. Last year, we talked a lot about chat bots and CO pilots. Today, it's all about agents systems, and when Mark Benioff tells us that millions of AI agents will soon be flying through the Salesforce universe, it confuses me at first. What do these agents do? Who controls them through the Salesforce? A. Agents get on with agents from other manufacturers like SAP or Microsoft, and with every news item, dozens of new questions arise that CIOs have to answer for the company. I think we must be very careful that AI does not become a nightmare well, and also, yeah, I completely agree with that, Martin, and it's interesting, I was at a vendor event not long ago. There are lots of CIOs there, so they're kind of talking a slightly different way at a vendor event, right? But what? But this, this one person said to me, like, it feels a lot like these are really impressive technologies, looking for a killer app, right? And, you know, like the best, IT leaders, the best, the best people in those roles. Yes, they're ambitious and they're strategic, but they're also kind of pragmatic, in the sense that, like, we're using a technology and we use an IT strategy to solve problems, to improve things, not just because they can do stuff right. And I was thinking cloud is such a good analogy for this, because I know it's not. It was never nearly as big in the public imagination, but it was another, there was another period of time where everything was cloud for a bit, right? And that's all everybody said. And the whole idea was, Cloud is going to solve all your problems, everything's going to be more efficient, everything's going to be cheaper like and, no, it's a whole other set of problems. But who would have thought that an online bookstore, you know, would revolutionize enterprise cloud, right? But that's what Amazon did, almost by accident. And so when I look at the continual technological updates that these, these AI specific vendors, and I include Google in that, and include open AI, even despite their relationships, when I think about the more than iterative improvements that they're making the whole time, I still feel like, yes, there is a, there is a winning killer app solution out there, but this is so much kind of window dressing to show what we can do, rather than actually solving a problem for a customer. And that's what, in my experience, it see leaders really care about. I would say anybody that says this will solve all of your problems, typically, just be skeptical and take a grain of salt, because, you know, anybody that's been in this industry for a number of years knows that that's never gonna, yeah, right, yeah, right. You're either gonna create new problems or to solve some problems and then, and then give you new ones too, anything to add on that, like, you know, yeah, go ahead. I was gonna say often the things that really cut through, and I talked about Amazon to AWS there, right, which was kind of an accidental thing, like, think about something as fundamental as Google search, right? That was not like a well structured business plan to do the thing with technology, right? It was, it was, it was a tool that solved the problem really well and then took over the world, and then, as a consequence, change the entire way that the world works, right? You don't get many Googles, but I do think this time with AI, you're going to see some things emerge like that, that fundamentally change the way we do things, but we have to rethink how we're doing things. And if I'm an IT leader, and I hear this often enough from these people, right, like they're ambitious and excited, but also it has to solve a problem. Otherwise, we're just spending money to spin our wheels. Yeah. And so Lee, I want to ask you a you know, in terms of next year, do you start seeing we talked about ROI in the beginning of the show? When does that, that three letter acronym, start to rear its ugly head with a lot of these companies? Because you're seeing a lot of this money being spent and spent and spent. At some point, the CFOs are going to get involved, and they're going to be like, Wait, where's where's this return that that was being promised to us, whether it was the vendor or whether it was the internal IT group, like, do you see that happening next year, or is it still going to be a little bit of the the Wild West in terms of what, what they can spend in the budgets and that kind of stuff. Well, look what I'm hearing, what I'm seeing from CIOs is, look, if they, if they have that educational partnership with the C suite, right? That's the first winning objective here, if you're a tech leader, right? How are you communicating to your C suite? What are you telling them? How are you working with the CFO on this? You know, the companies that are really most of the companies I spoke to at the CIO, 100 in in the US were implementing Gen AI. They were seeing, as I mentioned at the top of the show, great, you know, great work around increased productivity within their own internal teams, which in which, in that respect, has savings from a financial perspective, right? So I think many of these organizations have already got some internal productivity going. They're making game changing, you know, work with their internal teams, saving money there. The question is, is like, what maybe, to Matt's point, what's going to be added on to this? Right? Is this, like, where is this on the Technology S Curve, right? Where is this right? Now, it's probably somewhere down here, right? And it's going to go up here. Is it going to fall off? Is quantum the next big thing, right? And everyone laughs at me, but it's like quantum, you know, the speed at which we right, very related. So, you know, I guess what I would say. Right now, I hear that many organizations have developed really great use cases. They've implemented them. They're seeing some savings. I don't think there's any person that have said to me, Oh, my board or my CEO doesn't want to continue to invest in this and look at ways we can improve increase productivity in our business. But the question is, to your point, Keith, with these vendors, where are they at? How are they going to improve this, and what's coming next, right? One, cio just said to me last week, it's fine. We're doing it, we're implementing it. We're going to keep using it. It's going to keep evolving. But what's coming behind it, right? And what's the next thing on the technology, S curve and and he said to me, you know, yeah, maybe it is quantum, but so I think that's, that's where I would sort of wrap it up. For 2025 we're going to continue to see that increased productivity. We're going to see it being used. We're going to see benefits of it. The CC, the CIO, will still be very connected in the CTO to the C suite, and, yeah, they'll keep using it as the organizations and vendors keep developing it, increasing it and making it a better product to use. Yeah, Matt, any anything else that to add that you're hearing, or are you hearing that any the CFOs are, are they? Are they keeping out of this for a while? I think the CFOs are very deeply involved in this, because, like, they're looking at that again, it's crossed over to the mainstream, and they're looking at AI, and I think now, specifically agentic, AI, I can never say that word and thinking, I know I'm not a big fan of that, that phrase, quite frankly, thinking about removing humans, right? I've said this before, like, as a senior executive, I've spent many years, you know, answering questions from well meaning board members about about, you know, where our employees are based in the world, right? Can we move into a cheaper market? And now it's about, can we replace them with AI? Not in our world, I should say, but, but I know that's the question. You don't know that I'm you don't know yet if I'm in AI, really smart one. She's giving me some food for thought. But I think we did a poll survey on CIO.com last month. And, you know, 74% of the CIO respondents said they, you know, they really bullish on the critical, critical nature of AI for their business. That's the plus point. The negative point is ahead of that were things like security and skills and it business alignment, which I think is a really critical point here. And what I think about when I think about 2025 is, and I'll butcher it, but there is a Bill Gates quote about people always overestimate the amount of change that's going to happen in a year and underestimate the amount of change that's going to happen in five years, which I always read as just, just look back five years, right? And I promise you, five years ago we were talking about GPT. We were talking about generative AI, but we as enterprise technologists were talking about it in a way that nobody was interested in, right? And we're not there now. So I think I couldn't tell you what it's going to look like, but I really expect acceleration in 2025 to be honest. Yeah. Martin, any, any final thoughts on 2025 what, what to expect? I'm a little bit skeptical, as I think companies will realize that Gen AI is not, not the holy derail that solves all business problems. And for for many use cases, companies will realize that they don't need large, expensive AI models, but the Lean search or automation tool is often completely sufficient. So I think the hype will come down a little bit and a much more realistic view of AI technology will prevail. From my point of view, we should put this date in the diary and come back in a year and re record it, and let's see. The last thing we want to do on the show is we want to have everybody vote. So this is just a simple yes or no question. It's unrelated to the buyer part of it. But I am I do want to think there's been a lot of stories about the disillusionment around AI. And, you know, have we reached that trough of disillusionment? The word bubble has been thrown out a lot. So my vote. My question for you, will the AI bubble burst in 2025 mainly from the giant vendors that have been getting a lot of money to develop a lot of these models. I'm not saying that AI is going to burst within companies, but do you think that we might see a minor bubble burst where some of these big companies are in trouble. The investments are going down, or companies are going to be pulling back their spending. Any one of those could contribute to a AI bubble burst. So just give me a yes or no. I'm going to vote. I think at the moment, I think we will see one. We'll see maybe a pullback of some sort. So I vote yes. Martin, yes or no, yes, yes. Well, yes, okay, Martin's on my side. Market cap from from Nvidia, $3 trillion it's absolutely crazy, from my point of view. Well, yeah, I agree with that. So I would say yes. In a sense, I don't think the implementation of AI within the enterprise. Going to slow down. I do think the the level of investment in AI specific tech will because I think, again, as always, often happens, the big vendors are hoovering this stuff up, right? They're figuring it out, and they're going to provide solutions rather than exciting technologies. Okay? And Lee, no bubble burst. Anyway, I'm not, like, really good at these little phrases. So I just hope I'm voting the right way. But I don't think the bubble will burst. I think we'll continue think of vendor companies. We'll continue to innovate or try and partner with as many organizations as possible, build in new solutions, and we'll still have a pretty robust year with generative AI being part of the whole business platform. All right, I want to, I want to modify my vote just a little bit, and allowed to, because I'm the moderator, the host of the show, I don't think it's going to be a burst in the same way that we saw a bubble burst in the early internet days. Remember, like in the 2000s I think we are going to see some, some company, pull back, or there's going to be an adjustment, is that a good word, a readjustment of some of the money that coming out. But it's not going to be a, you know, we're not going to be launched into a recession in the in the AI world, and we're not going to get an AI winter like we used to, you know, we did years ago. Are you telling me I should sell my shares in Netscape at this point? Is that? Wow, there's, there's a reference, yeah. Listen, I want to thank everybody for participating in this. It's, again, very brave of you guys to do this. Thank you all for participating. And we're going to be back next month with some additional editors. So the faces you see here might not be the same faces, and we're going to talk about the world of cloud computing. So that was even brought up by Matt, so we're going to kind of jump off that. And so again, thank you all for participating. Thank you. Thank you. All right, that's all the time we have for the show today. Feel free to add any comments you have below. Check out our other TECHtalk shows, such as Today in Tech, CIO Leadership Live and DEMO if you're interested in seeing B2B product demonstrations. I'm Keith Shaw. Thanks for watching. Transcribed by https://otter.ai The UNHCR Respresentation in Moldova invites local qualified companies to submit a quotation in response to the RFQ No. 843 for the provision of consultancy on position papers development for the socio-economic assessment of refugees and host community members in Moldova. To access the RFQ documents and submit a quotation, please access the UNHCR ERP Supplier portal. If you have never registered before, register a profile using the registration link shared via the procurement notice or following the instructions in guides available on the UNHCR website: How to become a supplier | UNHCR. Do not create a new profile if you already have one. Use the forgotten password feature in case you do not remember the password or the username from previous registration. Please note that all communication should happen via the Supplier portal. The deadline for submitting quotations via the Supplier portal is 28/11/2024, 17:30 EEST. If you experience issues accessing the UNHCR Supplier Portal, please contact mdachsupply@unhcr.org Alte articole de la acest autor: Peste o mie de copii din raionul Criuleni vor avea acces gratuit la un spatiu modern pentru joaca si lectura Centru de Drept al Avocatilor hires a consultant to strengthen the capacity of the Secretariat within the Coordination Commission for Migration and Asylum BBC Children in Need BBC Children in Needs chair Rosie Millard resigned this week over allegations of institutional failure at the charity, according to a letter seen by the Times. The Times reported that Millards decision to step down after six years was linked to grants awarded to LGBT Youth Scotland, a Scottish charity for LGBTQ+ people aged 13-25. In her letter to Children in Needs board of trustees, Millard reportedly criticised the charitys chief executive, Simon Antrobus, for his solipsistic response over the withdrawal of funds to the Scottish charity after concerns were raised. Children in Need said it suspended grants to LGBT Youth Scotland as soon as concerns were raised and launched a governance review after Millards resignation. Grants to LGBT charity In 2009, James Rennie, former CEO of LGBT Youth Scotland, was convicted as a ringleader of Scotlands biggest paedophile network. At the time, a criminal investigation found no link between his criminal behaviour and work within the charity. Seven months after Rennies conviction, Children in Need began awarding grants to LGBT Youth Scotland, according to the Times. Separately, Andrew Easton, who was found guilty of downloading and distributing indecent images of children in September 2024, co-authored LGBT Youth Scotlands former schools guidance. Meanwhile, in 2022, LGBT Youth Scotland referred itself to the police after two men said they were groomed by staff members. In her letter, Millard said she raised concerns with Antrobus and alerted the charity about Rennies case in May 2024. That month, Children in Need suspended grants to LGBT Youth Scotland and withdrew funding three months later following a review. Institutional failure In September, the BBC confirmed that its charity had immediately suspended grant funding to LBGT Youth Scotland, following a thorough review in response to concerns raised by the BBC and others. Millard accused Children in Need of institutional failure, questioning due diligence at the charity and saying that Antrobus had failed to respond with the necessary level of seriousness. She said Antrobus only decided to cut funding to LGBT Youth Scotland due to fear of negative publicity. Antrobus and senior managers did everything in their power to distract the board from its duty to sever funding to the Scottish charity during the three-month review, Millard said. This included a bogus issue of safeguarding, which was later dismissed, she added. Review of board relationship with CEO A Children in Need spokesperson told Civil Society: Nothing is more important to us than the safety of all children and young people. When allegations were made in relation to LGBT Youth Scotland, their grant was immediately suspended with the full support of the board and a review began. In order to do this thoroughly and fairly, the review took three months and culminated in the decision to withdraw funding. The spokesperson said the charitys trustees are supportive of the actions taken by the CEO and senior leadership team and stand by the decisions made. Rosie at all times retained the boards support, they said. In the wake of her resignation, in order to ensure any lessons learned are captured, the trustees have instigated a review of ways of working between the board and executive in which Rosie has kindly agreed to participate. LGBT charity says attack is attempt to destroy our reputation LGBT Youth Scotland chief executive Mhairi Crawford said Millards resignation letter demonstrates the ideologically driven nature of her attacks on our organisation and calls into question her suitability for a role such as chair of a nationally significant charity. She told Civil Society: Its only appropriate that wider boards challenge a chair who demonstrably ignores robust evidence in their decision-making. Were pleased to see confirmation that Children in Needs investigations into the work of LGBT Youth Scotland found nothing to report. Time and time again, those with anti-inclusivity motives point to historic allegations against us in attempts to destroy our reputation. Allegations that have been investigated and cleared by Police Scotland, and proven to have had no link to our charity and our work. sign up to receive the free Civil Society daily news bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector, Kaushik Mistry, CEO of the Anthony Walker Foundation, standing next to the portrait bench of Gee Walker Just over a year ago, Kaushik Mistry made a life choice. After working in the corporate sector for 35 years, he joined the charity sector as chief executive of the Anthony Walker Foundation. At the time, Mistry knew that leaving the private world to work in charity would mean taking a huge pay cut and adapting to a new lifestyle a decision he was willing to make. I was financially stable, not dependent on that salary, but also Covid-19 was a big time of reflection, he says. Im a person of colour. I was involved in campaigning all my life and most of that has been based around colour and poverty. That was the kind of charity sector job I was interested in and when Covid-19 happened, when I was able to reflect and certain things aligned in my personal life and finances, that allowed me to take that leap. Outward racism was rife Mistrys parents immigrated to Britain from East Africa in the late 1960s, with no money, and worked in a factory. His family lived in the west end of Ashton-Under-Lyne, which Mistry describes as a white working-class mill town in Tameside, Greater Manchester. He says that part of Manchester was home to lots of Indians who had come from Tanzania to settle there and worked in the same factories which were desperate for people. Thats how the community was built. Eventually, there were a few thousand people in Ashton-Under-Lyne who were from that community. We built a temple, community centre and that sort of stuff. The community was built there, but it was a white working-class community with factories all around us. Mistry grew up in the 1970s when outward racism was rife and the norm was very different, he says. To have outwardly racist language in comedy programmes was an acceptable thing. That translated into hurt and hate in the real world. On TV, they were using the N-word and P-word blatantly in a comedy context and then in the playground that became a harmful tool for pain. I was brought up with that and all the racist stereotypes, norms and behaviours youd expect someone of my age to have. Name-calling was accepted as normal, watching racist TV programmes was acceptable and fine and everybody thought it was funny. Mistry says many young Black and brown people who grew up in Manchester in the 1970s found life difficult and challenging and had to navigate a way through that. For him, it was through education, ensuring he did well at school so that he could find a good job and get himself out of poverty. Unconscious bias As his career progressed, Mistry says he struggled to get a job at a charity, partly because of his private sector background and also his skin colour. Its something I wanted to do for a long time but found it incredibly difficult to get in the charity sector as a person of colour outside of a Black-led organisation. Before joining the Anthony Walker Foundation, he applied for numerous jobs for which he thought he had suitable transferable skills, but struggled to get interviews. I couldnt even get to the starting gate because they said: Youre not from the charity sector at senior level. We dont want to talk to you. Im talking about big, mainstream charities with huge equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) policies. They dont know how to implement them and thats why theres still a huge shortage of senior leaders of colour in the charity sector. Mistry wrote to more than 200 charities over two years, either to apply for jobs or ask them about their EDI policies and how they were implementing them. He asked them questions such as: How are you implementing what you say you want to deliver in terms of EDI; how do you make your leadership more representative of the people you represent; and how do you ensure that your leadership has Black and brown faces? Funnily enough, a significant number of charities said: You dont have the skills and experience because youve not worked in the charity sector at senior level but you have some interesting things in the background, he says. So, why dont you become a trustee? The thing about being a trustee is that you dont get paid. Mistry thinks there is a lot of unconscious bias in the sector, particularly when it comes to the recruitment process. He recalls a job interview for a position at a large London-based refugee charity where he was interviewed by four white people. When I met the attorney general [Richard Hermer] recently, I said to him: You need to have Black and brown people in the room because we have a different lens. If the charity sector is mainly white and if the people who are interviewing are mainly white, wheres the lens? 300% rise in demand The Anthony Walker Foundation was founded in 2006 by Gee Walker following the racially motivated murder of her son Anthony in Huyton, Merseyside. It supports more than 1,600 people per year through its dedicated hate crime victim support service to help those who have experienced racism and faith-based hate in Merseyside. Mistrys deep understanding of anti-racism, as he puts it, made him a suitable candidate to take the helm at the foundation after former CEO John Denny stepped down to become a trustee. I had massive empathy with the family for what they went through, he says. Anthonys story is incredibly moving. It breaks every single barrier they dont want you to break. He was bright and intelligent and wanted to be a lawyer. He was a committed Christian. He was liked and had a lovely personality. He had a close-knit family. When you hear his story and see and hear Gee Walker talk, its impactful and you go away moved. Thats life-changing work for many people and we do that. We work with dozens of people every single day and affect their lives in a positive way. We punch above our weight Mistry says the last few months have been horrific for small charities like the Anthony Walker Foundation, which often punch well above their weight with increasingly limited funds. He mentions the riots that took place in the UK over the summer and resulted in a substantial rise in demand for his charity, but no extra funding. We dont have any extra money. Within a few weeks of the riots, we had a 300% increase in referrals of people through all our various streams looking for support and nobody thought for a minute: How do we fund that other than us? His charitys hate crime victim support service is funded by the Ministry of Justice through the Police Crime Commissioner for Merseyside, receiving 23,500 from this source last year, less than half the amount it received in 2022. Although the funding helps the charity do essential work, Mistry says that its nowhere near enough. For us, to go out to get more money, for example, by procurement, it costs money to tender and we dont have money to tender either. He asks whose responsibility it is to fund a victim of race a crime: Is it a statutory responsibility? If it is, thats where the money should be coming from. Were doing essential work and find it incredibly difficult to reach out for further funding from elsewhere. We must be a beacon of hope Next year will mark the 20th anniversary of Walkers murder and Mistry says that the Anthony Walker Foundation must continue to be a beacon of hope for people. We want to have a large programme of activity thats national, delivering a message of hope that if we carry on doing the work were doing in a bigger way, we can bring about palpable change. Twenty years is a hell of a long time and this summers riots have shown to people that that underlying surface of racist tension is there. Theres an opportunity to deal with it head-on, with a government that seems to want to deal with it head-on. He says the government and politicians must engage with charities that work with communities as they have an essential relationship with them. If you want to know what people think, need and want to do, then you need to engage with people like us. You dont need to do your own surveys or reinvent the wheel. You need to establish a good channel of communication and line between our sector, what we deliver, the people who work in it and the people we represent. We can talk eloquently about the victims of hate crime every year. Just come and talk to us and well tell you what the biggest issues are. sign up to receive the free Civil Society daily news bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector, Bob Egelko has been a reporter since June 1970. He spent 30 years with the Associated Press, covering news, politics and occasionally sports in Los Angeles, San Diego and Sacramento, and legal affairs in San Francisco from 1984 onward. He worked for the San Francisco Examiner for five months in 2000, then joined The Chronicle in November 2000. His beat includes state and federal courts in California, the Supreme Court and the State Bar. He has a law degree from McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento and is a member of the bar. Coverage has included the passage of Proposition 13 in 1978, the appointment of Rose Bird to the state Supreme Court and her removal by the voters, the death penalty in California and the battles over gay rights and same-sex marriage. By Farnaces/Adobe It is poor timing for the new Civil Society Covenant, the chief executive of a local sector infrastructure body has said at a meeting in Westminster this week. Bristol-based Voscurs CEO Rebecca Mear said the recent announcement of an increase to employer national insurance contributions (NICs) would be detrimental to the finances of her organisations charity members. She said the covenant, which is being designed to reset the relationship between charities and the state, must come with investment to recognise the financial challenges facing voluntary organisations. Addressing the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Charities and Volunteering on Wednesday, she said: Im going to be honest: the impact of employers NIC is major, and we cant get away from it. Its poor timing for the covenant. Meanwhile, charities minister Stephanie Peacock told charities at a Pro-Bono Economics event this week that the government was keen to tap into your expertise to tackle the UKs challenges together as part of its work on the covenant. People are very worried Citing a recent survey that Voscur conducted among its member charities, Mear said that 87% of the organisations that responded said that the controversial employer NICs would impact their budgets negatively. Coming on the back of depleted reserves, both financial and emotional, from the pandemic and cost of living crisis, it is major. People are very worried, Mear added. Mear continued that additionally the VCSE sector itself has incredible workforce challenges around retention and recruitment of staff, tied in particularly to the cost-of-living crisis and the sector generally not being able to pay decent enough salaries to recruit and retain. Discussing Voscur member charities wishes for the covenant, Mear said that it needs to have investment. More broadly, Mear said: Imagine what we could achieve if we allowed community organisations to define not just the delivery of the outcome, but the outcome itself. We all need a long-term approach. Long-term investment is required if were to make real, community-led social change. That will need to come away from six- or 12-month funding streams, [and decisions] made at the 11th hour [] It will have to be a much more long-term basis. She also called for a decrease in bureaucracy from the national government, and more trust in civil society organisations. [Government ministers] need to trust us, said Mear. Imagine what we could do with more resourcing and less onerous reporting that appears to go nowhere [] If this was cut and instead, there was investment in community-driven solutions and assets. Minister acknowledges power of civil society Charities minister Peacock told a Pro-Bono Economics event this week: Weve all seen the sector play an indispensable role in our towns, cities and villages up and down the UK. From stepping up to support national emergencies, to the aftermath of the civil unrest this summer, to everyday interactions and support for those who need it most in society. Each government department has a unique connection with civil society and Im keen that we work together across Whitehall to make this relationship stronger for a better covenant. Government can do many things, but it doesnt have the same relationships, local knowledge, trust, and understanding of the challenges being faced by people across the UK that civil society does. That is why we want to tap into your expertise to tackle the UKs challenges together. sign up to receive the free Civil Society daily news bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector, Sign up for The Media Today, CJRs daily newsletter. At the end of November in 1999, when the World Trade Organization met at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center, so many thousands of protesters arrived on the scene that they effectively ended the conference; what ensued became known as the Battle of Seattle. Among the union members, environmentalists, and students who descended on the city was a group of volunteers keen to document the action live, by making use of the newly emerging internet. They were not, strictly speaking, journalists. One was Evan Henshaw-Plath, a coder and activist in his twenties who liked to pick up lefty mags at food co-ops and Whole Foods; in 1998, hed created a calendar site called Protest.net. He and his cohort had grown frustrated by what they saw as a recurring problem: demonstrations seemed to receive press coverage only if conflict erupteda clash with police, property damage, a scuffle with counterprotesters. The response from journalists, even sympathetic ones, was that they needed a hook, he recalled. They needed a story. As the WTO convened, a group of volunteers set up a makeshift media center, to do reporting of their own; he joined in to provide tech support. Someone put a laptop with a camera and one of these Ricochet modem things in a heavy backpack, he said. They set up a video stream of the protestsand of the pepper spray, tear gas, and stun grenades lobbed by police. The posts appeared on a website under the name IndyMedia, reaching more than a million people worldwide. The site was intended to last only as long as the demonstrations. The resistance is global, the opening post went. The web dramatically alters the balance between multinational and activist media. With just a bit of coding and some cheap equipment, we can set up a live automated website that rivals the corporates. In the twenty-five years that followed, IndyMedia revealed the extent of that promise well beyond its early bloggers imaginations, as it grew into a full-fledged open publishing network of activist journalism, with some two hundred community centers and national and global online hubs. It connected the development of local journalism that was for and by poor and working people of the left, and it was able to scale from there, Todd Wolfson, professor of journalism and media studies at Rutgers University, said. Its rise did not come effortlesslyIndyMedias anarchic roots and vast reach at times posed logistical challengesand the emergence of social media eventually came to displace much of its infrastructure. (Henshaw-Plath became one of the first employees of Twitter, where he adapted IndyMedias live feed into the companys signature product.) Many of the centers have since closed. But to Wolfson and Victor Pickard, a professor of media policy at the University of Pennsylvania, who jointly run an initiative called the Media, Inequality, and Change Center, IndyMedia still presents the most promising model in recent history for how grassroots community journalism can work. From the start, IndyMedia was a collaborative endeavor. Dont hate the media, be the media, its slogan went. There were people teaching folks how to code, doing audio interviews, uploading their videos to this newswirethat was revolutionary, Ana Nogueira, who founded New Yorks IndyMedia center in 2000, recalled. At the time, the idea was just that the spaces would be temporary, to cover movement protests, specifically global justice movement moments. But it was quickly realized that this needs to be a permanent thing. Each local center was scrappy and self-run, which applied to all manner of editorial, staffing, and funding decisions. Early on, the work was done entirely on a volunteer basis; later, through donations and ad sales, some centers found the means to pay contributors. Editorial committee members, representing centers from across the IndyMedia network, conferred over email about what to feature on the national and international sites; their deliberations were translated across languages. The approach connected towns and cities together around a common cause, Nogueira said. She remembers a story about farmers fighting for better conditions in Bolivia, and another, similar piece set in India; each of those countries centers wound up joining forces to organize. There was coverage of workers in Argentina reclaiming failed businesses in the wake of national economic collapse. I remember seeing on the newswire comments from workers from other places, asking more questions about the worker takeovers, and the organizers responding, Nogueira recalled. That IndyMedia functioned not merely as a disparate network, but as a publisher, made it particularly effective at uniting people. IndyMedia scaled across topics, so that you could see, for example, that there were struggles around housing justice in New York City and see how they were connected to similar struggles in Spain, or in parts of Central America, Wolfson, whose 2014 book, Digital Rebellion, examines early movement media efforts use of the internet, said. It really bound those things together in a way that we just dont have at this point. In the early aughts, IndyMedia expanded rapidly. But as the organization became larger, so did the weight of its decisions about how best to support that growth. Committee members came to an agreement that acceptance of any major philanthropy had to require total buy-in from all local chapters. At one point, when the Ford Foundation offered funding, IndyMedia Argentina voted against it, and the network had to decline. The rise of Facebook and Twitter, with their own self-publishing platforms, redirected the energy of people suddenly able to post even more independently than before. Local centers shuttered. During that time, as a graduate student at the University of Illinois, Pickard, who had followed IndyMedia from the start, happened upon one local center in the middle of the cornfields, he recalled, that resisted the downward slide, to marvelous effect: the Urbana Champaign Independent Media Center. The UCIMC, as its known, was established a year after the inaugural chapter in Seattle, and made a couple of key decisions from its early days that put it in good stead: it registered as a nonprofit organization and claimed a piece of real estate. We Midwest organizers are a very practical bunch of people, Danielle Chynoweth, one of the founders of the UCIMC, told me. Were in farming communities, we like to get things done, and we dont spend lots of time arguing with each other over the details. So while the IndyMedia movement was having a lot of arguments of, like, Should we engage in the power structure or not? Should we engage with the state? Were like, Thats fine, you have your conversation over there, well set up a 501(c)(3) here. The UCIMC produced a news site, the Public I, and used its physical space to house community meetings and events, while fundraising and applying for grants. We had so many ideas and projects, Chynoweth said. One was a gathering to construct internet-access devices using mesh technology (a precursor to Wi-Fi), sponsored by the Open Society Foundations; another helped build out the local internet infrastructure in low-income areas. The UCIMC orchestrated a successful campaign to lower the cost of prison phone calls in the state. There were skateboard-making workshops for kids, performances. We were the happening space in town, Chynoweth told me. Sign up for CJRs daily email Eventually, in 2005Chynoweth noted that it was May 5, Karl Marxs birthdaythe UCIMC bought the citys historic downtown post office: a sprawling, three-story brick building, fronted by Doric columns. On the roof, they placed a hundred-foot radio tower, for the centers new station, WRFU Radio Free Urbana. Inside were offices and organizing spaces, which have since been used for community initiatives such as Books to Prisoners and Makerspace, a tech-education lab. Recently, the team has focused on coverage and programs around policing; in response to a three-million-dollar plan to expand the local police department, the UCIMC hosted a series of meetings that drew wide engagementand, ultimately, helped steer the city council away from its original proposal, in favor of hiring just one police officer and more community engagement and social workers. I think the work, Chynoweth said, is communicating how policies come to be and how do you bring to fruition wide-scale policy change. When it comes to press coverage, she observed, media outlets tend to have a very thin understanding of how change happens. Crucially, the UCIMC acts as a landlord, renting about half of the buildings space to other nonprofits, artists, businesses, and the Postal Service. The rental income generates about 70 percent of the centers revenue; the rest comes from grants and donations. For Wolfson and Pickard, that is allstillproof of concept for a revolutionary system. When I talk about a public media center, Im really thinking of the UCIMC, Pickard told me. In their view, centers such as these can and should exist across the country; Pickard believes that, in the most ambitious, utopian model, they would be federally guaranteed and supported. Through the Media, Inequality, and Change Center, and inspired by the lessons of IndyMedia, Wolfson and Pickard are researching how to develop local infrastructure that can be replicated and used to build connections across communitiesa challenge of particular urgency now, in the wake of an election that showed just how fragmented Americas media landscape is. Wolfson is interviewing staff of the UCIMC, as well as others in public media and activists; Pickard is interviewing local journalists elsewhere. What they have found so far is that, to community members, the work of local journalism is intrinsically tied to social organizing. Thats the approach that Chynoweth, from her start at IndyMedia, has always taken. I think that we are a really good case study in that, she said. Editors Note: This piece has been updated to clarify that IndyMedia centers continue to operate outside of Champaign-Urbana. The parents of an 18-year-old who was killed in a hail of gunfire at Tuskegee University filed a wrongful death lawsuit this week, saying the school failed to provide adequate security measures that could have prevented the fatal shooting. Tamika and Larry Johnsons son, LaTavion Johnson, 18, was shot and killed while attending a party to celebrate the end of the schools 100th homecoming week outside a dormitory on campus in the early hours of Nov. 10. The flurry of gunfire sent students and visitors running. At least 16 people were injured. Johnson was not a student, the local coroner said, but was on campus for the schools annual festivities. Johnsons family told AL.com that Johnson, who graduated high school earlier in the year, was shot as he pushed someone else out of the way of the gunfire. Its an unfortunate tragedy that could have been avoided with appropriate policing and security measures on the campus, Ted Mann, an attorney for the family, said in an email. Mann pointed to another shooting in September 2023, when two visitors to the campus were shot and two students were hurt while trying to leave what campus officials described as an unauthorized party, the Montgomery Advertiser reported. The lawsuit says the school failed to undertake appropriate measures to protect residents, alumni, guests, visitors and students, despite knowledge of unspecified prior physical threats and acts of physical violence. The suit also names former university Police Chief Terrance Calloway, the schools facility management company, and Jaquez Myrick, a 25-year-old man who was charged with illegal possession of a machine gun after he was arrested at the scene with a Glock that had been converted to an automatic weapon. The lawsuit says the defendants allowed guests, including Myrick, to enter the campus without showing identification, and that vehicles were not inspected for firearms. Jeremiah Williams, 20, who witnesses placed at the scene of the shooting, was charged Friday in federal court with illegal possession of a machine gun. Neither Williams nor Myrick has been accused of killing Johnson or injuring others. Both deny firing their weapons during the shooting. Attorneys for Williams and Myrick in their criminal cases have not responded to emails seeking comment. A spokesperson for Tuskegee University said the school does not respond to questions about pending litigation. At a news conference the day after the shooting, Tuskegee University president Dr. Mark Brown announced that Calloway would be replaced and that the school would no longer be open to the public. All students and faculty are now required to carry visible identification on campus, Brown said. He said the school hired over 70 additional officers during homecoming week and pointed to security checks that were at all official school events. The checkpoints included metal detectors and pat-downs, Brown said. Brown said the party where the shooting happened was not sanctioned by the school. We did not nor could we have planned for security at an event that was not approved in advance or sanctioned by the university, Brown said. Nonetheless, it happened on our campus, and we take full responsibility for allowing a thorough investigation and implementing corrective actions. Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. McKinsey & Co. is in the final stages of negotiating a deferred prosecution agreement to resolve a U.S. criminal investigation into the consulting firms work helping opioid manufacturers boost sales that allegedly contributed to a deadly addiction epidemic, people familiar with the matter said. McKinsey is in talks to pay more than $600 million to resolve the longstanding U.S. Department of Justice probe, which also encompasses findings of civil violations, the people said. Related: Insurers Paying $123M in Walmart Settlement of Shareholder Suits Over Handling of Opioids The settlement, expected to be unveiled before the end of the year, would result in prosecutors seeking to dismiss criminal charges against McKinsey after a period of time as long as the company abides by the agreements terms. The discussions are ongoing and the timetable for disclosing the settlement and the terms of the agreement could change, the sources said. McKinsey and the Justice Department declined to comment. As part of their investigation, prosecutors have also been looking at whether McKinsey obstructed justice in connection with its work advising opioid manufacturers, people familiar with the matter said. McKinsey said in 2021 it had fired two partners who had communicated about deleting documents. Related: McKinsey Poised to Pay at Least $500 Million in DOJ Opioid Probe McKinsey previously reached agreements totaling nearly $1 billion to settle widespread lawsuits and other legal actions alleging the company helped fuel the opioid epidemic through its work advising OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma and other drugmakers. The settlements involved all 50 states, Washington, D.C., U.S. territories, various local governments, school districts, Native American tribes, and health insurers. In 2019, McKinsey announced it would no longer advise clients on opioid-related businesses. The company has maintained that none of its settlements contain admissions of liability or wrongdoing. Purdue pleaded guilty in 2020 to criminal charges covering widespread misconduct regarding its handling of prescription painkillers, including conspiring to defraud U.S. officials and pay illegal kickbacks to both doctors and an electronic healthcare records vendor. Purdue is currently involved in court-ordered mediation over a multibillion-dollar settlement reached in bankruptcy proceedings that the U.S. Supreme Court turned aside. Prosecutors in Boston and Roanoke, Virginia, are involved in the McKinsey investigation alongside officials at Justice Department headquarters in Washington. (Reporting by Raymond in Boston and Spector in New York; Additional reporting by Chris Prentice in New York; Editing by Bill Berkrot) Dear Eric: I am trying to divorce my spouse, but he is using suicidal ideation to get out of the responsibility. He was disappointed to receive my divorce petition. He contacted a bunch of people via text that day and got taken to the hospital by the police, who did a welfare check. He stayed there for three weeks. Next, when I offered to try mediation, he enthusiastically pounced on it, but when the mediator explained that his process was much cheaper than standing before a judge, my spouse threatened to kill himself if he was ever brought to trial with our unresolved negotiations. He wants me to accept a settlement that offers me about 15 percent of our shared wealth. I hate to set a precedent for future divorces where a person can claim they will try to kill themselves if certain conditions are not met in a divorce process. What is the most humane course of action here for the sake of humanity? Big Picture Dear Big Picture: What your spouse is doing is emotional abuse. He is trying to manipulate you and your emotions with threats of suicide. Its good that he received some treatment after the welfare check, but that treatment needs to be ongoing. But at present it cant be your responsibility to make sure he gets it. Moreover, for your own safety, its best if you rely on professionals or others to help him right now. It may seem that, should you accept an unfair settlement, all this will clear up. I dont think thats true. His behavior is controlling. If you dont have an attorney, its important that you consult with one and shift all communication with your spouse to the attorney. You dont need to be in contact right now. If you are still living in the same place, please reach out to family, friends, and/or the National Domestic Violence Hotline (thehotline.org, 800-799-7233) to help you get to a safe location while this is going on. Your husbands threats are a danger to himself and to you. Please make use of the resources available to you, both legal and protective, as well as your support network to ensure your safety. (Send questions to R. Eric Thomas at eric@askingeric.com or P.O. Box 22474, Philadelphia, PA 19110. Follow him on Instagram and sign up for his weekly newsletter at rericthomas.com.) LYNDHURST, Ohio -- Following the retirement of Lyndhurst Police officer/K-9 Aries a few months ago, Chief Patrick Rhode is pleased to introduce the departments new four-legged officer, Sonic. The 17-month-old Belgian Malinois, born in the Czech Republic and imported from The Netherlands, accompanied by his handler, patrol officer Amy Barnett, is making his way about the city for introductions. LAS VEGAS, Nevada A man wanted in connection with the fatal shooting of a Cleveland man in January was arrested Thursday by federal agents in Las Vegas. Daryl Patton, 29, has been charged with aggravated murder in the slaying of Martin Johnson, 27, according to the U.S. Marshals Office. The shooting occurred on Jan. 17 near East 95th Street and Pratt Avenue in the Union-Miles Park neighborhood. Johnson was found wounded in the waist on his front lawn. He later died at a hospital. No details have been released on a possible motive for the shooting. The U.S. Marshals Office says it learned Patton was living in Las Vegas. Members of the Nevada Violent Offender Task Force arrested Patton at an apartment in the 3900 block of Cambridge Street in Las Vegas. This violent fugitive fled 2,000 miles across the country in an attempt to avoid arrest, U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott said in a statement. This collaborative arrest is the ultimate example of the nationwide reach and teamwork amongst the United States Marshals Service. People react to the artist Maurizio Cattelans piece of art Comedian during an auction preview at Sothebys in New York on Nov. 11. A San Francisco cryptocurrency mogul has paid $6.2 million at auction for the piece a banana taped to a wall which made headlines in 2019 when it debuted at Art Basel Miami. Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/Associated Press A woman looks at artist Maurizio Cattelans Comedian installation during an auction preview at Sothebys in New York on Nov. 11. It sold for $6.2 million to a San Francisco crypto mogul. Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/Associated Press A San Francisco cryptocurrency mogul has paid $6.2 million at auction for a banana taped to a wall, part of an artwork by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan. The piece, titled Comedian, made headlines in 2019 when it debuted at Art Basel Miami and sold for $120,000. Now, Justin Sun, founder of the Tron blockchain and its associated cryptocurrency, plans to eat the multimillion-dollar fruit. The auction, held at Sothebys in New York City on Wednesday, Nov. 20, saw fierce bidding from six contenders before Sun emerged as the victor. After his win, he took to social media to express his excitement. Advertisement Article continues below this ad I believe this piece will inspire more thought and discussion in the future and will become a part of history, Sun said. I am honored to be the proud owner of the banana and look forward to it sparking further inspiration and impact for art enthusiasts around the world. Artist Maurizio Cattelans Comedian is on display during an auction preview at Sothebys in New York on Nov. 11. Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/Associated Press For Sun, the value of the piece is less about the banana and more about its cultural significance. Cattelans Comedian, which gained widespread attention for its bold minimalism, serves as a critique of contemporary art and consumerism. The piece features a solitary banana affixed to a wall with duct tape, and its value lies not in the banana itself, but in its identity as an authentic work. (I)n the coming days, I will personally eat the banana as part of this unique artistic experience, honoring its place in both art history and popular culture, Sun said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Justin Sun, founder of Tron and CEO of BitTorrent, has purchased artist Maurizio Cattelans Comedian, a piece consisting of a banana affixed to a wall with duct tape, for $6.2 million at auction. VCG/Visual China Group via Getty Images The $6.2 million auction price did not include the banana itself, however, as the fruit is inherently perishable. What Sun bought was a certificate of authenticity, along with a roll of duct tape, a 14-page set of installation instructions, and a guarantee that future reproductions of the work would be considered original Cattelan pieces. So Sun can recreate the artwork himself. What you buy when you buy Cattelans Comedian is not the banana itself, but a certificate of authenticity that grants the owner the permission and authority to reproduce this banana and duct tape on their wall as an original artwork by Maurizio Cattelan, David Galperin, Sothebys head of contemporary art, said in a statement. Despite the unconventional nature of the work, Sun believes it will only grow in cultural value over time, much like an NFT. Advertisement Article continues below this ad This is not just an artwork; it represents a cultural phenomenon that bridges the worlds of art, memes, and the cryptocurrency community, he said. Im thrilled to announce that Ive bought the banana !!! @SpaceX @Sothebys I am Justin Sun, and Im excited to share that I have successfully acquired Maurizio Cattelans iconic work, Comedian for $6.2 million. This is not just an artwork; it represents a cultural phenomenon pic.twitter.com/lAj1RE6y0C H.E. Justin Sun (@justinsuntron) November 21, 2024 In a final twist on Thursday, Nov. 21, Sun proposed a dramatic future for the banana: If Elon Musk agrees, he will donate the fruit to be sent into space. Im willing to donate my banana to Elon Musk, tape it to the body of a SpaceX rocket, and send it to both Mars and the Moon! Sun wrote. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Paramedics carry away a man who survived a drug overdose last year on Mission Street near Seventh Street in San Francisco. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle 2023 San Francisco this past week reported the lowest number of monthly drug overdose deaths in four years, continuing a sustained trend with 2024s running total of fatalities down nearly a quarter compared with the same period last year. The trend which local officials called remarkable echoes similarly promising national data, released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention this month, that show fatal overdoses are down almost 15% compared with 2023. Overdose deaths in California are down about 10%, according to the CDC data. The figures are provisional and compare the 12 months ending June 2024 with the 12 months ending June 2023. Both nationally and locally, it marks the first time in years there has been an apparent sustained reversal of the steep climb in deadly overdoses mostly driven by fentanyl that have devastated families and frustrated public health leaders. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Mayor London Breed this past week attributed the decline in part to efforts by local, state and federal law enforcement agencies to arrest dealers and take fentanyl off the streets. Public health experts say its unclear whether those crackdowns are having an effect on overdoses. Doctors and researchers dont yet have clear answers on whats driving the decline, but are looking into several factors they believe may be contributing. The decline of the COVID pandemic Before the start of the pandemic in early 2020, overdose deaths were rising but at a more modest rate. But the trend took a turn for the worse during the early months of COVID, when deaths spiked sharply. Researchers attribute this in part to people using substances more during an exceptionally stressful time. Because of stay-at-home restrictions, people were often using alone rather than with peers, which put them at higher risk of overdosing. Overdose deaths continued to soar in 2021 and 2022. COVID pushed overdoses off the historical growth pattern dramatically, by as much as 30% in a single year in a lot of cities, which wed never seen before, said Keith Humphreys, a professor of psychiatry and addiction researcher at Stanford University. COVID created isolation, which made drug use dangerous. It also caused understandable fear, upset, anxiety, lack of structure, all incentives to use drugs more. All that is gone now. Advertisement Article continues below this ad More Narcan and treatment Health officials in many parts of the country, including California, have made the distribution of overdose reversal spray Narcan also known by its generic name naloxone a key part of their response. During the first nine months of 2024, the San Francisco Department of Public Health distributed about 155,000 units of naloxone to community-based programs, which then gave out the product to individuals. Thats up from about 107,000 units during the same period of 2023, according to city data. Perhaps we hit a tipping point or saturation point where there is enough access to naloxone among the population in need, said Dr. Dan Ciccarone, a UCSF professor of family and community medicine who researches addiction. Statewide, the Naloxone Distribution Project, the primary mechanism for the state to distribute naloxone, has distributed 1.9 million units of naloxone this year up 27% compared with 2023, according to the California Department of Health Care Services, which runs the project. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The naloxone goes to first responders, law enforcement, community organizations including libraries, harm reduction groups, schools, county health agencies, substance use recovery facilities, hospitals and community clinics. But naloxone is only part of the equation. Overdose deaths are falling in communities with a lot of low-cost naloxone distribution such as St. Louis, but theyre also falling in areas with limited naloxone distribution including Mississippi and Arkansas, said Nabarun Dasgupta, a senior scientist at the University of North Carolina who studies street drugs. That suggests other factors are at play. Still, he encouraged local officials and community groups to continue efforts to make naloxone, treatment, housing and shelter available. If you see something thats working, if you know theres a scientific reason it should be working, just keep doing it, Dasgupta said. If youre working directly with people who use drugs and you see their lives getting better because of the care youre providing, youre doing something right, regardless of what the numbers say. In San Francisco, health officials attribute much of the progress to the expansion of addiction treatment options, including methadone and a type of behavioral therapy called contingency management, residential treatment and on-demand telehealth access to buprenorphine. Methadone and buprenorphine are prescription medications that help manage opioid addiction. Advertisement Article continues below this ad As we expand access, were seeing higher rates of people starting life-saving medications, said Dr. Grant Colfax, director of the San Francisco Department of Public Health. During the first nine months of 2024, 776 people in San Francisco were admitted to residential treatment for substance use disorder up 21% compared with the same period last year, according to city data. The figures are for people on Medi-Cal, the government insurance program for low-income residents, who enter a treatment program that has been certified by Medi-Cal. Changes in the drug supply Perhaps counterintuitively, the introduction of xylazine, the veterinary tranquilizer that was first detected in San Franciscos illicit drug supply in 2022, may actually be helping to reduce the severity of opioid overdoses. This is because when fentanyl and xylazine are used together, which is common among drug users, xylazine appears to protect against some of the most acute effects of fentanyl. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Overdoses with both xylazine and fentanyl are less clinically severe than overdoses with just fentanyl, Dasgupta said. Xylazine has a protective effect on the severity of an opioid overdose. That may be preventing some of the overdoses. In recent field studies in areas where xylazine is more prevalent, including Pittsburgh and Grand Rapids, Mich., drug users said they were using fentanyl less often, Dasgupta said. Among the reasons they cited were because xylazine appears to prevent withdrawal longer than fentanyl and because xylazine causes skin wounds that force people to moderate how much fentanyl they can use. The group at highest risk of overdosing may be shrinking There is some evidence that fentanyl users in San Francisco are getting older, and little evidence that new or younger people are coming in, said Ciccarone of UCSF. And within the cohort at highest risk of fatally overdosing, so many have died already that the cohort is getting smaller, experts said. Those still in it may be changing their behavior as they witness others around them dying, or as they learn about how to use fentanyl more safely like in groups, or with naloxone nearby. Journalists can publish or report on government documents they lawfully obtain. Any state law that says otherwise is unconstitutional. giftlegacy/Getty Images/iStockphoto Add San Franciscos city attorney to the growing list of officials who cant wrap their heads around the fact that journalists are constitutionally entitled to publish government records, even when the government doesnt want them to. Journalist Jack Poulson, executive editor of the nonprofit Tech Inquiry, accurately reported that a police report showed tech executive Maury Blackman was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence in 2021. Blackman wasnt charged and he was able to get his arrest record sealed, but Poulson obtained a copy of the incident report from an undisclosed source and published the disturbing details of the alleged victims version of events (which, as Poulson noted in his article, she recanted). Poulson focuses his reporting on the relationship between tech companies, weapons manufacturers and the U.S. government. Blackman was the president and CEO of Premise Data, which lists government agencies among its clients on its website and which, according to the Wall Street Journal, pays app users to unwittingly provid(e)basic intelligence to the U.S. military. In other words, hes exactly the kind of character Poulson keeps his eyes on. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Unfortunately, Blackman did what too many powerful people do: attack the messenger. He had his lawyers send takedown demands to Poulson and, when Poulson didnt comply, he reportedly sued him for $25 million. We say reportedly because the lawsuit against Poulson, along with entities including Substack, which hosted Poulsons articles, was filed under a John Doe pseudonym. But Blackman and his lawyers censorship campaign left a trail of public records unmasking himself, as evidenced by recent news coverage in the Chronicle and the Daily Mail. Thats a good thing: The public deserves to know who is suing journalists over coverage they dont like. So far this may sound like an ordinary SLAPP (short for Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation). That would be concerning enough, but, unfortunately, wealthy and powerful people use lawfare to bully independent journalists and small newsrooms all the time. But theres more to the story. And thats where the city attorney comes in. A provision of California state law subjects those who disseminate information relating to a sealed arrest to civil penalties. Blackmans lawyer, David Marek of the Marek Law Firm, cited that provision in his takedown demand (and later his lawsuit), and informed the City Attorneys Office of the purported violation. City Attorney David Chiu and his deputy, Jennifer Choi then sent their own takedown demand to Poulson, claiming his journalism violates California law and instructing him to refrain from publishing sealed arrest reports going forward. The right of journalists to publish or report on government documents they lawfully obtain is virtually ironclad the U.S. Supreme Court has never found a case that warrants an exception. Any state law that says otherwise is unconstitutional. For example, the Supreme Court struck down a plaintiffs effort to enforce a Florida law against publishing names of sexual offense victims after a newspaper published a victims name derived from a lawfully obtained police report. Poulsons reporting is far more newsworthy. Marek should have known better. His lawsuit also contains other attacks on journalism, including that Poulson actionably invaded Blackmans privacy by making phone calls seeking comment for his story. In other words, routine reporting. Judges called upon to enforce Californias anti-SLAPP law rightfully come down hard on litigants who put forth these kinds of anti-speech legal theories. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Marek should have also anticipated the inevitable Streisand Effect, a term coined by Techdirt CEO Mike Masnick in reference to Barbra Streisands lawsuit over a photograph she didnt want published, which led to that photograph getting far more attention than it otherwise would have. Lawyers considering picking a fight with the press over truthful and newsworthy reporting like Poulsons should be mindful that theyre far more likely to further damage their clients reputation than to prevail. But Mareks a private lawyer; Chiu is a government official. His office definitely should know better. Law students learn the lessons of the landmark Pentagon Papers case, in which the Supreme Court held that even allegedly dire national security threats dont justify a prior restraint barring the media from publishing government records revealing the truth about the Vietnam War. A request to a public official to instruct a journalist to unpublish government documents, and refrain from publishing them going forward, should have immediately brought Chiu back to his constitutional law class and set off alarm bells. Its embarrassing that it didnt. Its also troubling that the California Legislature passed a law with such obvious constitutional problems when used to stop journalists from publishing the news. But that is no excuse for the city attorney to act on it. 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 Disturbingly, this is just the latest example of an alarming nationwide trend of illegal attempts at prior restraints, and specifically efforts to claw back government records from journalists. A Nevada city recently agreed to pay the Las Vegas Review-Journals attorney fees after it made the censorial mistake of teaming up with a police union to try to force the newspaper to take down a leaked jail video. Los Angeles just paid hundreds of thousands in settlement dollars over similar shenanigans, after the city sued journalist Ben Camacho for publishing police records that identified officers. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Election workers process ballots at the Orange County Registrar of Voters on Tuesday, one week after Election Day, in Santa Ana. Mario Tama/Getty Images WASHINGTON California Republicans say their colleagues unfounded allegations of election fraud in tight House races arent helping the party. Two California House seats are still too close to call: The race between Republican Rep. Michelle Steel of Cypress (Orange County) and Democrat Derek Tran in District 45, and the race between Republican Rep. John Duarte of Turlock (Stanislaus County) and Democrat Adam Gray in District 13. As of Thursday, Tran was winning by 397 votes and Duarte was ahead by 351 votes. Some Republicans, however, have baselessly alleged election fraud because the votes are still being counted. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene claimed, without providing any evidence, that Democrats were stealing Steels district. Greene, a Republican, has a history of sharing unfounded conspiracy theories. Trump adviser Elon Musk reshared a post that called California corrupt as hell because officials are still counting ballots in Steels race. Although Republicans have already won control of the House next year, these two races could determine whether the party has a majority of one, two or three votes. California is known for its slow vote-counting operation due to mail-in ballots and a nearly month-long process that allows campaigns to fix problems with voters ballots in order for them to be counted, known as curing. The state counts ballots it receives up to a week after the election, so long as they were postmarked by Election Day. The states Republicans, however, said their focus was on getting the votes counted, and several said they hadnt seen evidence of fraud. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Duarte, one of the two lawmakers still uncertain if they will return to Washington, D.C., in January, said he knows of no foundation for that whatsoever. The counts look honest to us theyre slow, which is ridiculous, but we dont see any evidence or aberrations that would lead us to believe theres any election fraud in my race, Duarte told the Chronicle on Wednesday. People are free to say things that are unfounded. Right now, were just trying to win the elections we have left, Rep. Ken Calvert, R-Palm Desert (Riverside County), told the Chronicle. Calvert said he hasnt seen any evidence of election fraud. I dont think its helpful to make any judgments or comments until the count has been completed, Rep. Young Kim, R-Anaheim (Orange County), told the Chronicle. The California Republican Party hasnt commented directly on the unsubstantiated allegations of election fraud, but Chair Jessica Millan Patterson released a video statement Nov. 11 about the partys efforts to monitor the count and cure ballots. Advertisement Article continues below this ad I know how frustrating it can be to wait on results during this long process, but please know that the California Republican Party and our partners are committed to ensuring that our elections are fair and your vote is safe and secure. We wont rest until the last legal ballot is counted, she said. Tran campaign manager Gowri Buddiga said in a statement Monday that every legally cast ballot must be counted. It is critical that elections officials are able to continue their work without interruption so every voters voice is heard, Buddiga said. Steels campaign didnt respond to a request for comment. CNBC's Jim Cramer on Thursday reiterated his longstanding belief in Nvidia and CEO Jensen Huang, saying that despite the concerns of some on Wall Street, demand for the artificial intelligence behemoth's products isn't slowing down. "The demand is accelerating because the payoff is so great," he said. "According to Jensen, for every dollar their customers put in, they're making five smackers. That means they have no choice but to buy Nvidia's chips." Nvidia posted earnings Wednesday that comfortably topped estimates. Shares dipped in extended trading and traded unevenly during Thursday's session, but the stock managed to finish the day up 0.53%. Nvidia has had a meteoric rise, with shares currently up more than 196% year-to-date, and the company has posted large earnings beats quarter after quarter. But some investors worry the AI juggernaut won't be able to keep up the rapid growth. According to Cramer, supply isn't set to outpace demand. Some of Nvidia's biggest customers, like Microsoft , Meta , Amazon and Tesla will have to keep buying the products, he said. Cramer described why he thinks Nvidia is well-positioned, saying it has strong business in both AI and accelerated computing, saying there's "a trillion dollars worth of computing power that needs to be replaced by Nvidia." And Nvidia can help the enterprise save enormous amounts of money by easing tasks including legal work, supply chain management, engineering and coding, he added. "What's happening at Nvidia is so positive that it defies description," Cramer said. "Our minds can't comprehend it." Nvidia declined to comment. President-elect Donald Trump's tariff plans could weigh on the broader stock market, but some attractively valued names with strong cash levels could withstand the pressure, according to UBS. "U.S. equities have rallied with renewed momentum into and since the elections on expectations that a Trump presidency will see through large corporate tax cuts and company-friendly deregulation," analyst Michael Lerner said to clients Thursday. "The rally overlooks the potentially negative knock-on implications of tax cuts and tariffs on corporate performance and valuations." The former president has vowed on the campaign trail to implement a universal tariff of at least 10% on goods arriving to the U.S. and at least a 60% tariff on goods from China specifically. If implemented, these levies could drag on the economy and the market. "Fundamentally, equity markets do not like tariffs and the economic uncertainty of trade wars," Lerner also said. "Whether or not they directly caused a spike in the U.S. market implied discount rate, large U.S. tariffs on imports the 1930 Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act, Section 301 of the 1974 Trade Act and Reagan's early 1980s import quotas all coincided with a material move up in the U.S. market implied discount rate." Against that backdrop, UBS looked for stocks that have high levels of cash and are attractively valued. These stocks also have dividend yields of more than 2%, offering a hedge to investors. Below are some stocks that made UBS' screen. Payroll processing company Paychex turned up on UBS' list. Shares are having a relatively strong year, up roughly 21% in 2024. The stock has a dividend yield of 2.7%. Bank of America recently highlighted Paychex in a report, noting that lower tax rates on corporations would be a "tailwind" for the stock. Indeed, Trump has proposed cutting the corporate tax rate from its current level of 21% to as low as 15%. "Our companies with particularly high US exposure would benefit most," wrote Bank of America analyst Jason Kupferberg on Nov. 6, calling out Paychex as one such example. CVS Health , which also made the cut, has been in the red this year, seeing year-to-date losses of more than 27%. The stock has a dividend yield of 4.7%. This week, however, has been a positive one for the stock, as it has risen more than 7% week to date. On Tuesday, the company, along with UnitedHealth and Cigna, sued the Federal Trade Commission , alleged that the agency's case over high insulin prices in the U.S. is unconstitutional. Additionally, CVS earlier this week struck a deal with activist Glenview Capital to give the investor four board seats. Meanwhile, home improvement retailer Home Depot has had a notable rally in 2024, seeing gains of more than 18% year to date. It has a dividend yield of 2.2%. China is willing to conduct active dialogue with the United States based on the principles of mutual respect and promote the development of bilateral economic and trade relations, vice commerce minister Wang Shouwen said on Friday. China is willing to conduct active dialogue with the United States based on the principles of mutual respect and promote the development of bilateral economic and trade relations, vice commerce minister Wang Shouwen said on Friday. Wang, also China's International Trade Representative, said China would be able to "resolve and resist" the impact of external shocks, responding to a question about the impact of potential tariffs from U.S. President-elect Donald Trump. "We believe that China and the U.S. can maintain a stable, healthy, and sustainable development trend in economic and trade relations," Wang said at a press conference in Beijing. China is also willing to "expand areas of cooperation and manage differences" with the U.S., Wang said. With Trump's threat to impose tariffs in excess of 60% on all Chinese goods, which has rattled Chinese manufacturers and accelerated factory relocation to Southeast Asia and other regions, Chinese exporters are bracing for any trade disruptions. Economists polled by Reuters believe the United States could impose nearly 40% tariffs on imports from China early next year, potentially slicing growth in the world's second-biggest economy by up to 1 percentage point. A DirecTV satellite dish is seen mounted to a building on October 01, 2024 in San Rafael, California. U.S. satellite TV provider DirecTV said on Thursday it had terminated its agreement to acquire Echostar 's satellite television business, which includes rival Dish TV, over a failed debt-exchange offer. The deal would have created one of the nation's largest pay-TV distributors with a combined 20 million subscribers. For the deal to go through, Dish bondholders had to agree to exchange their debt for new debt in the merged entity at a discounted rate, taking a "haircut" of about $1.57 billion on the debt. As part of the transaction, DirecTV was to pay $1 to buy the pay-TV business called Dish DBS, including Dish and Sling TV, with the assumption of about $9.75 billion of Dish's debt. Reuters reported last week that a group representing about 85% of Dish bondholders had rejected that proposal. "... we have terminated the transaction because the proposed exchange terms were necessary to protect DirecTV's balance sheet and our operational flexibility," Bill Morrow, CEO of DirecTV, said. DirecTV said the deal termination would be effective Friday. Echostar did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on the termination. The proposed deal, initially announced in September, was seen as a strategic consolidation in a shrinking pay-TV market. The deal was also to provide a crucial lifeline to EchoStar, which was co-founded by telecommunications entrepreneur Charlie Ergen and is currently saddled with more than $20 billion in debt. DirecTV and Dish have held on-and-off talks over the years. Axios first reported on the deal termination earlier on Thursday. LONDON European stocks closed higher on Friday, as investors reviewed weak economic indicators from across the region which built expectations for central bank rate cuts. The pan-European Stoxx 600 index closed 1.18% higher, with all sectors except banks ending in positive territory. Health care and retail stocks led the gains, both up over 2%, while Europe's banking index slipped 2%. In the U.K., the pound fell to a six-month low against the U.S. dollar following U.K. retail sales data. The country's Office for National Statistics said that retail sales volumes lost 0.7% month-on-month in October, well below economists' expectations of a 0.3% decline. London's FTSE 100 jumped 1.4% in its best session since early August as investors assessed whether the data along with weak business activity figures this week could see the Bank of England cut interest rates more rapidly in the year ahead, despite a recent uptick in inflation. While market participants broadly expect a BOE hold in December, a 75 basis point reduction in the key rate from the current 4.75% is now fully priced in before the end of 2025. The euro meanwhile slid against the dollar after PMI data showed that euro zone business activity fell sharply in November. The euro was last seen trading at $1.0397, down 0.73% for the session. S&P Global's HCOB flash composite Purchasing Managers' Index for the euro zone came in at 48.1 in November, down from 50.0 in October and below expectations. Separate data published Friday showed the German economy eked out 0.1% growth in the third quarter on the previous three months lower than a preliminary reading of 0.2% for the period. Asia-Pacific markets mostly rose on Friday, tracking gains on Wall Street that saw the S&P 500 log gains for a fourth straight day. U.S. stocks were higher in morning deals. Lexi Tobin was always "the planner" among her siblings and friends. In 2019, Tobin helped her brother-in-law to-be plan his proposal. She ordered picture frames, strung lights across an archway, put candles in paper bags and set them up at her family's beach house in New York state. On the day, she shakily filmed her sister running down a white runner across the deck into her fiance's arms. A year later, she uploaded the footage to TikTok, on a whim. Within 30 minutes, more than 100,000 people watched the 41-second video, says Tobin, now 27 and living in New York City: "I think 9 million people watched it in the first 48 hours. I was completely blown away by the thrill of going viral." A side hustle planning other people's wedding proposals and posting bride-to-be's reactions on TikTok was born. Tobin brought in six figures of revenue, including roughly $9,000 in median monthly revenue, during the 12-month period ending last month, according to documents reviewed by CNBC Make It. In her highest-earning month, November 2023, Tobin's side hustle brought in more than $20,000. DON'T MISS: The ultimate guide to earning passive income online Tobin also plans other events: bridesmaids' proposals, brisses, engagement parties, birthday parties and, currently, her first wedding. Some of her revenue comes from her clients, and she keeps roughly 15% of her event planning fees as profit, she says. The rest of her revenue comes from brand and affiliate marketing deals through TikTok, which has nearly 330,000 followers, and Instagram. She invests her side hustle earnings into the stock market, she says, living instead off the income she makes as a director of account management for an advertising tech company. Tobin spends up to 40 hours per week on her side hustle a full-time job for most people and roughly 60 hours per week at her day gig, where she earns "substantially more," she says. Working up to 100 hours a week is taxing, but Tobin says she sees her side gig as a long-term project that's worth her time. And within the broader wedding industry, narrowing in on a specific niche like proposals is good for business, says Brian A.M. Green, an Atlanta-based upscale event planner who consults for WeddingPro, a vendor marketplace for wedding planning websites The Knot and WeddingWire. One in four proposers now pay someone to help them pop the question, found The Knot's 2023 Real Wedding Study, which surveyed 10,000 newlywed couples. Right now, a proposal with five vendors could cost upwards of $10,000, a number that'll likely grow as the entire wedding industry gets more expensive, says Green. Tobin typically hires one to three vendors per event, she notes. "It's all trial and error," she says. Her business took "a really long time to build up. I constantly have to remind my friends I've been doing this for five years, and it took time to get followers, to monetize content, to have an actual business." In March, Tobin got married. Under twinkling lights, she walked down a candle-lined aisle in a embroidered gown with her parents on each arm. She took a deep breath as she reached her husband. Her beaming smile never wavered. She posted it all to TikTok. More than 19 million people watched. Want to make extra money outside of your day job? Sign up for CNBC's online course How to Earn Passive Income Online to learn about common passive income streams, tips to get started and real-life success stories. Plus, sign up for CNBC Make It's newsletter to get tips and tricks for success at work, with money and in life. Chinese markets are "turning a corner" following a series of government stimulus measures , HSBC said, naming its top stock ideas for 2025. "Mainland China has announced a slew of policies to help ensure that local governments can pay their bills and service debt. This should reduce the risk of an immediate slowdown in growth in mainland China and the market has so far reacted positively to these initiatives," the investment bank's analysts wrote in a Nov. 19 research note. Here are two of the stocks HSBC likes: KE Holdings HSBC is bullish on real estate player KE Holdings (or Beike), and considers it a key beneficiary of "China's 2025 inflection point." The stock is "set to benefit from a pick-up in sales volumes and potential home price stabilization in 2025," HSBC Global Research's Asia Real Estate analyst Oliver Yu said. KE Holdings "has the highest earnings sensitivity to a recovery in property sales in both the primary and secondary markets," he added. HSBC's optimism comes as the real estate sector shows signs of stabilization after lingering in the doldrums for the past year. Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley and more have all said they expect China's property market to bottom in the second half of next year. KE Holdings' third-quarter results fell short of Wall Street's expectation - with adjusted earnings per ADS coming in at 1.53 Chinese yuan ($0.22) - compared to the 1.57 Chinese yuan expected - while revenue hit 22.6 billion Chinese yuan, versus the 23.46 billion expected. Looking ahead, Yu sees KE Holdings' profits expanding as it gains market share and sees rapid expansion of its new home renovation and rental services businesses. KE Holdings' shares are listed on the Hong Kong Exchange and trade as an American Depositary Receipt (ADR) in the U.S. under the ticker BEKE . HSBC has a target price of $34.30 on the stock, implying about 71.7% upside potential. Hongfa Technology HSBC is also bullish Hongfa Technology and has a target price of 48.10 Chinese yuan ($28.30) on the stock, giving it around 50% upside. Calling the stock "a leading manufacturer of industrial automation equipment, solar inverters, electrical relays, and other automotive components," HSBC considers it one to play the structural growth in mainland China. Corey Chan, head of A-share industrials and renewables research at HSBC Qianhai Securities, expects the company to benefit from the use of modularization or the breaking down of systems into smaller parts especially by OEMs, or original equipment manufacturers, in the auto industry. "Hongfa is well positioned to benefit, given its market leadership in auto relays and its ability to supply a wide range of other auto components, including connectors, film capacitors, inductors and fuses," Chan explained. Shares in Hongfa are listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange and also trade in the iShares Global Tech ETF (18.7% weight) and Fidelity MSCI Information Technology Index ETF (17.2%). CNBC's Michael Bloom contributed to this report. According to video footage obtained by the FBI, Daniel Goodwyn, center, entered the Capitol building on Jan. 6, 2021. Goodwyn is now leading a new San Francisco Republican group. FBI A right-wing faction of the San Francisco Republican Party has splintered off into a new group and elected a self-proclaimed Proud Boy convicted for his role in storming the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, as its leader. Spurred by the takeover of the local Republican Party by a slate of moderates, a group of social conservatives is seeking to start a new San Francisco chapter of the California Republican Assembly. The statewide volunteer organization endorses candidates and issues and is a consistent, if small, presence at California Republican Party conventions. Its newest potential chapter met for the first time this week and elected Daniel Goodwyn, who was federally prosecuted for entering the Capitol, as president. We want to do our own thing and do what we think is right and support the Republican Party, but we may have views that are unlike what the S.F. GOP (has), said Jason Zeng, a data engineer who lives in San Francisco and is one of the groups founding members. We have people who are out there and they are excited to make San Francisco great again. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Goodwyn pleaded guilty to one count of knowingly entering a restricted building in 2023 as protestors stormed the Capitol in an attempt to stop what they believed was a stolen election. He entered the Capitol for 36 seconds and left when police instructed him to. Goodwyn did not respond to a request for comment. Zeng said he never felt any kind of unsafe around Goodwyn. He is really about God, Zeng said. Hes very pro-God. The new group is being formed amid a broader shakeup in local Republican Party leadership. In March, a group of moderate Republicans won 17 of the 25 seats on the partys local governing board, unseating incumbent leaders who they viewed as running a dysfunctional organization that did not focus enough on supporting political candidates. Advertisement Article continues below this ad While the moderate delegates will not take their seats until January, Zeng said his group is already plotting to reclaim control of the committee in the coming years. In four years, we will 100% take over the board, Zeng said. Jay Donde, who spearheaded the moderate takeover as the co-founder of the San Francisco Briones Society and is one of the newly elected delegates, said he did not know Goodwyn well or support the riot at the Capitol. But he saw the formation of the new group as a positive. If the Briones Society is motivating other conservatives to organize and get more involved, Donde said, then thats a welcome development. Zeng said Goodwyn assembled the new group, which includes several delegates who lost in the March election. Among its members is Ellen Lee Zhou, a perennial Republican candidate for San Francisco mayor whose first policy platform is to End slavery systems and human trafficking to protect children and humanity, according to her website. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Goodwyn presided over his unofficial chapters first meeting Tuesday night at a Chinese restaurant in the Richmond District, according to meeting minutes. Among other agenda items, one member presented a report called Trump Won and You Know It. Trump won the election. He is a true mf patriot. If Trump can do it, we can do it, the minutes summarized the report. During the meeting, Goodwyn offered suggestions for future meetings, including urging the San Francisco GOP to push the party to the right, find conservative candidates for all upcoming elections and form alliances with other conservative groups. He also suggested a chapter movie night and offering pro-life sidewalk counseling in the city. Federal court records painted a clear picture of Goodwyns role in the insurrection efforts and prosecutors painted the software engineer as petulant and insolent after his arrest in 2021. As he was taken into custody, prosecutors said he tried to chew through five COVID-19 masks placed over his mouth. His attorney at the time said Goodwyn regretted his actions and that the controversy around the election was extremely triggering for him. Advertisement Article continues below this ad A far-right videographer captured images of Goodwyn inside the Capitol, and Goodwyn himself posted on Instagram the day of the attack: I didnt break or take anything but I went inside for a couple of minutes. In images, he is seen wearing a MAGA hat and sunglasses. He was arrested on Jan. 29, 2021, at his parents home in Texas. A judge ordered a mental health assessment. In August 2021, a Christian autism specialist submitted a letter to court that concluded Goodwyn presented on the spectrum. She wrote the court that he reached out to her in 2017 after having problems at a Christian ministry house. He was very passionate and up to date on world events and passionate about theology and politics, which is common among Christian (autistic) men, the specialist wrote. She said his most passionate interest became First Amendment rights. Goodwyn was sentenced by a federal judge to 60 days in prison followed by a one-year supervised release, which included a special condition that the probation office could monitor his computers for a year for transmittal of disinformation about Jan. 6. That was dropped on appeal. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Even before the Capitol attack, Goodwyn was prolific in his protests. He railed against the election results, mask mandates and San Franciscos coronavirus lockdown on Twitter, now X. In October 2020, he said he was arrested on Muni for refusing to wear a mask and posted a video of himself protesting outside of the Hall of Justice. An iPhone 16 signage is seen on the window at the Fifth Avenue Apple Store on new products launch day on September 20, 2024 in New York City. The Indonesian government expects Apple to increase its proposed $100 million investment into the country, according to state media, as the iPhone maker seeks clearance from Jakarta to sell its latest phones. The American tech giant's latest smartphone model doesn't meet Indonesia's 40% domestic content requirements for smartphones and tablets and hasn't been granted clearance to be sold in the country. The purpose of the ban is to protect local industry and jobs, with officials asking Apple to increase its investments and commitments to the economy in order to gain greater access. According to a report from Indonesian state media, the country's Ministry of Industry met with representatives from Apple on Thursday regarding its proposal to invest $100 million over two years. The funds would go toward a research and development center program and professional development academy in the country, as per the report. The company also plans to produce accessory product components, specifically mesh for Apple's AirPods Max, starting in July 2025, it added. Apple didn't immediately respond to a request for comment from CNBC. While the new offer is 10 times larger than a proposal that was reported earlier, the government is still striving to sweeten the deal to get a "fair" commitment. "From the government's perspective, of course, we want this investment to be larger," industry ministry spokesperson Febri Hendri Antoni Arif told state media on Thursday. He said that a larger investment would help the development of Indonesia's manufacturing sector, adding that its domestic industry was capable of supporting production of Apple devices such as chargers and accessories. While Indonesia represents a small market for Apple, it also offers growth opportunities as it has the world's fourth-largest population, according to Le Xuan Chiew, a Canalys analyst focusing on Apple strategy research. "Its young, tech-savvy population with growing digital literacy aligns with Apple's strategy to expand [global sales]," he said, noting that it also offers potential for manufacturing and assembly that supports Apple's efforts to diversify its supply chain. Success in this market requires a long-term approach, and Apple's investment offer demonstrates a commitment to complying with local regulations and paving the way for future growth, he added. Every weekday the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer holds a "Morning Meeting" livestream at 10:20 a.m. ET. Here's a recap of Friday's key moments. 1. Stocks were higher Friday with the S & P 500 on pace for its fifth straight session of gains. Jim Cramer pointed out that the speculative trade is on as investors pile into riskier bets. Rallies in both bitcoin and Nvidia have "given people license to buy a lot of stocks that are probably not deserving," Jim Cramer during the Morning Meeting. "I am uncomfortable recommending stocks that have no fundamental basis," he added. In this environment, we're reiterating our focus on stocks that trade on how the businesses of the companies they represent are doing. 2. Best Buy shares rallied more than 3.5% on Friday after JPMorgan raised its price target to $117, implying 35% upside as of Thursday's close, and kept its overweight buy rating. While anticipating a comparable sales miss next week, JPMorgan is bullish that Best Buy is at the beginning of a replacement cycle for AI-powered electronics. The analyst made the Club stock a top pick for 2025. To be sure, JPMorgan does see Trump tariff risk for Best Buy since lots of electronics are made in China. This is why we sold some Best Buy shares on Wednesday. 3. CrowdStrike shares jumped more than 3% on Friday continuing their comeback since one of the cybersecurity company's software updates caused a global IT outage in July. Jim believes CrowdStrike has more room to run as indicated by the Club's buy-equivalent 1 rating on the stock. The company reports earnings next week. Wells Fargo analysts said, "While these next two quarters could be choppy, we believe Crowdstrike is still the single-best solution for stopping breaches." Jim added fellow Club cybersecurity stock Palo Alto Networks is a buy on Friday's weakness as the market digests this week's earnings print. 4. Stocks covered in Friday's rapid fire at the end of the video were: Ross Stores , Gap , Abbvie , and PepsiCo . (Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust is long NVDA, BBY, CRWD, PANW. See here for a full list of the stocks.) As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio. If Jim has talked about a stock on CNBC TV, he waits 72 hours after issuing the trade alert before executing the trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB. NO SPECIFIC OUTCOME OR PROFIT IS GUARANTEED. Owning overcrowded stocks could increase volatility and lead to muted portfolio gains, according to Morgan Stanley. The Wall Street firm studied the 70 largest hedge funds based on assets under management, and identified Russell 1000 stocks with the highest percentage of public float owned by them, based on the most recent 13F filings. "Crowded trades come with the risk of overvaluation and increased volatility as it may be more difficult to attract the marginal investor, while avoiding overcrowded stocks can provide investors with an opportunity to capture unrecognized value when paired with strong fundamentals," Morgan Stanley strategists said in a note to clients. The firm noted that "crowdedness" could mark a starting point for idea generation, and additional research is needed before making an investment decision. Car rental agency Avis Budget Group was the most crowded stock among hedge funds, with more than half its float owned by professional traders. Aerospace and defense company Loar Holdings and real estate development and management firm Howard Hughes were also on the list of crowded trades. Janus Henderson , The New York Times , Planet Fitness and Wayfair were popular names among hedge funds last quarter. ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA - NOVEMBER 29: The Pentagon is seen from a flight taking off from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on November 29, 2022 in Arlington, Virginia. The Pentagon is the headquarters of the U.S. Department of Defense and the worlds largest office building. A recent Chinese cyber-espionage attack inside the nation's major telecom networks that may have reached as high as the communications of President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect J.D. Vance was designated this week by one U.S. senator as "far and away the most serious telecom hack in our history." The U.S. has yet to figure out the full scope of what China accomplished, and whether or not its spies are still inside U.S. communication networks. "The barn door is still wide open, or mostly open," Senator Mark Warner of Virginia and chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee told the New York Times on Thursday. The revelations highlight the rising cyberthreats tied to geopolitics and nation-state actor rivals of the U.S., but inside the federal government, there's disagreement on how to fight back, with some advocates calling for the creation of an independent federal U.S. Cyber Force. In September, the Department of Defense formally appealed to Congress, urging lawmakers to reject that approach. Among one of the most prominent voices advocating for the new branch is the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a national security think tank, but the issue extends far beyond any single group. In June, defense committees in both the House and Senate approved measures calling for independent evaluations of the feasibility to create a separate cyber branch, as part of the annual defense policy deliberations. Drawing on insights from more than 75 active-duty and retired military officers experienced in cyber operations, the FDD's 40-page report highlights what it says are chronic structural issues within the U.S. Cyber Command (CYBERCOM), including fragmented recruitment and training practices across the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines. "America's cyber force generation system is clearly broken," the FDD wrote, citing comments made in 2023 by then-leader of U.S. Cyber Command, Army General Paul Nakasone, who took over the role in 2018 and described current U.S. military cyber organization as unsustainable: "All options are on the table, except the status quo," Nakasone had said. Concern with Congress and a changing White House The FDD analysis points to "deep concerns" that have existed within Congress for a decade among members of both parties about the military being able to staff up to successfully defend cyberspace. Talent shortages, inconsistent training, and misaligned missions, are undermining CYBERCOM's capacity to respond effectively to complex cyber threats, it says. Creating a dedicated branch, proponents argue, would better position the U.S. in cyberspace. The Pentagon, however, warns that such a move could disrupt coordination, increase fragmentation, and ultimately weaken U.S. cyber readiness. As the Pentagon doubles down on its resistance to establishment of a separate U.S. Cyber Force, the incoming Trump administration could play a significant role in shaping whether America leans toward a centralized cyber strategy or reinforces the current integrated framework that emphasizes cross-branch coordination. Known for his assertive national security measures, Trump's 2018 National Cyber Strategy emphasized embedding cyber capabilities across all elements of national power and focusing on cross-departmental coordination and public-private partnerships rather than creating a standalone cyber entity. At that time, the Trump's administration emphasized centralizing civilian cybersecurity efforts under the Department of Homeland Security while tasking the Department of Defense with addressing more complex, defense-specific cyber threats. Trump's pick for Secretary of Homeland Security, South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, has talked up her, and her state's, focus on cybersecurity. Former Trump officials believe that a second Trump administration will take an aggressive stance on national security, fill gaps at the Energy Department, and reduce regulatory burdens on the private sector. They anticipate a stronger focus on offensive cyber operations, tailored threat vulnerability protection, and greater coordination between state and local governments. Changes will be coming at the top of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, which was created during Trump's first term and where current director Jen Easterly has announced she will leave once Trump is inaugurated. Cyber Command 2.0 and the U.S. military John Cohen, executive director of the Program for Countering Hybrid Threats at the Center for Internet Security, is among those who share the Pentagon's concerns. "We can no longer afford to operate in stovepipes," Cohen said, warning that a separate cyber branch could worsen existing silos and further isolate cyber operations from other critical military efforts. Cohen emphasized that adversaries like China and Russia employ cyber tactics as part of broader, integrated strategies that include economic, physical, and psychological components. To counter such threats, he argued, the U.S. needs a cohesive approach across its military branches. "Confronting that requires our military to adapt to the changing battlespace in a consistent way," he said. In 2018, CYBERCOM certified its Cyber Mission Force teams as fully staffed, but concerns have been expressed by the FDD and others that personnel were shifted between teams to meet staffing goals a move they say masked deeper structural problems. Nakasone has called for a CYBERCOM 2.0, saying in comments early this year "How do we think about training differently? How do we think about personnel differently?" and adding that a major issue has been the approach to military staffing within the command. Austin Berglas, a former head of the FBI's cyber program in New York who worked on consolidation efforts inside the Bureau, believes a separate cyber force could enhance U.S. capabilities by centralizing resources and priorities. "When I first took over the [FBI] cyber program the assets were scattered," said Berglas, who is now the global head of professional services at supply chain cyber defense company BlueVoyant. Centralization brought focus and efficiency to the FBI's cyber efforts, he said, and it's a model he believes would benefit the military's cyber efforts as well. "Cyber is a different beast," Berglas said, emphasizing the need for specialized training, advancement, and resource allocation that isn't diluted by competing military priorities. Berglas also pointed to the ongoing "cyber arms race" with adversaries like China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. He warned that without a dedicated force, the U.S. risks falling behind as these nations expand their offensive cyber capabilities and exploit vulnerabilities across critical infrastructure. Nakasone said in his comments earlier this year that a lot has changed since 2013 when U.S. Cyber Command began building out its Cyber Mission Force to combat issues like counterterrorism and financial cybercrime coming from Iran. "Completely different world in which we live in today," he said, citing the threats from China and Russia. Spain's Ministry of Consumer Rights on Friday slapped a $179 million euro ($186 million) fine on five low-budget airlines for "abusive practices" including charging additional cabin luggage fees. Ryanair was struck with the lion's share of the penalty, receiving a 107.78-million-euro fine. Spanish low-cost airline Vueling was ordered to pay 39.2 million euros and EasyJet was fined 29 million euros. Scandinavia's second-largest airline Norwegian and Spanish airline Volotea each received penalties in excess of 1 million euros. The five airlines should discontinue their practice of requiring additional payment for cabin luggage and reserving a seat near a dependent traveler, the ministry said. The airlines were also criticized for "disproportionate and abusive" charges to print tickets, allegedly omitting or failing to clarify pricing information on their websites, and failing to allow cash payments at Spanish airports. Spain's Association of Airlines (ALA) said it will appeal the fine for cabin luggage fees in court, dubbing the penalty as "manifestly illegal" and against European norms, according to a CNBC translation of a statement from the industry group. "If implemented, the resolution of the Ministry of Consumer Rights would imply irreparable damage to [the] passenger, an attempt against their freedom to tailor their voyage depending on their needs, and an obligation to pay for services that they might not need," ALA President Javier Gandara said, according to a CNBC translation. CNBC has reached out to the airlines for comment. Ryanair said it would "immediately appeal Spain's illegal and baseless baggage fines," with CEO Michael O'Leary saying the sanctions, which "have been invented by Spain's Consumer Affairs Ministry for political reasons, are clearly in breach of EU law." "The success of Ryanair and other low fare airlines in Spain and across Europe in recent years is entirely due to Europe's Open Skies regime and the freedom of airlines to set prices and policies without interference from national Governments which is what today's illegal Spanish fines are," he noted. Norwegian, likewise, said it will follow up with Spanish and EU authorities to dispute the charge and noted that its baggage policy reflects its commitment to "providing safe, affordable travel." "We completely disagree with the decision of the Spanish Consumer Ministry and find the proposed sanctions outrageous," an EasyJet statement said, stressing it considers its cabin luggage policy to be aligned with all applicable laws. "We will be formally appealing this through the courts and will vigorously defend our position." After a long recovery following Covid-19 travel disruptions, budget airlines have been contending with a range of issues including higher fuel prices, global decarbonization and geopolitical uncertainty. Hold-ups in aircraft deliveries from American manufacturer Boeing which incurred more than $5 billion in losses from a two-month-long machinist strike this autumn have also impacted traffic growth rates, with Ryanair on Nov. 4 downgrading its fiscal-year 2026 target to 210 million passengers, from a previous projection near 215 million on account of the delays. Last month, a GlobalData report projected that the low-cost carrier market will grow at a compound annual growth rate of more than 10% over 2023-2028, citing affordability as a key priority for such airlines, which implement cost-cutting measures such as extra charges for baggage and in-flight meals. In its June forecasts, the International Air Transport Association noted that profitability across carriers, including non-budget airlines, are slated to reach a record-high revenue of $996 billion in 2024, up 9.7% year-on-year. Matthias Ritzmann | The Image Bank | Getty Images With the Biden administration's new student loan repayment plan is tied up in legal battles, millions of borrowers have had their monthly payments put on hold. The break from the bills is likely a relief to the many federal student loan borrowers enrolled in the Saving on a Valuable Education plan, known as SAVE. But it may also be causing them anxiety over the fact that they won't get credit on their timeline to debt forgiveness. For example, those also enrolled in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, who are entitled to loan cancellation after 10 years, have seen their journey toward that relief halted during the forbearance. "Borrowers are frustrated about the delay toward forgiveness," said higher education expert Mark Kantrowitz. "They feel like they've been waiting for Godot." Here's what borrowers enrolled in SAVE should know about the delay to debt cancellation. Delay could stretch on for months In October, the U.S. Department of Education said that roughly 8 million federal student loan borrowers will remain in an interest-free forbearance while the courts decide the fate of the SAVE plan. A federal court issued an injunction earlier this year preventing the Education Department from implementing parts of the SAVE plan, which the Biden administration had described as the most affordable repayment plan in history. Under SAVE's terms, many people expected to see their monthly bills cut in half. The forbearance is supposed to help borrowers who were counting on those lower monthly bills. But unlike the Covid-era pause on federal student loan payments, this forbearance does not bring borrowers closer to debt forgiveness under an income-driven repayment plan or Public Service Loan Forgiveness. Adding to borrowers' annoyance is that "those enrolled in the SAVE Plan were not given the choice of forbearance," said Elaine Rubin, director of corporate communications at Edvisors, which helps students navigate college costs and borrowing. If borrowers want to stay in SAVE, they can't opt out of this pause. Borrowers enrolled in PSLF are especially concerned, Kantrowitz said. That program requires borrowers to work in public service while they're repaying their student loans. "They have been working in a qualifying job, but aren't making progress toward forgiveness," he said. "Some borrowers are working a job they hate, but are sticking with it in the expectation of qualifying for forgiveness. Others are close to retirement and don't want to have to work past their normal retirement age just to get the forgiveness." What borrowers can do The U.S. Supreme Court sidestepped on Friday a decision on whether to allow shareholders to proceed with a securities fraud lawsuit accusing Meta 's Facebook of misleading investors about the misuse of the social media platform's user data. The justices, who heard arguments in the case on Nov. 6, dismissed Facebook's appeal of a lower court's ruling that had allowed a 2018 class action led by Amalgamated Bank to proceed. The Supreme Court opted not resolve the underlying legal dispute, determining that the case should not have been taken up. Its action leaves the lower court's decision in place. The court's dismissal came in a one-line order that provided no explanation. The Facebook dispute was one of two cases to come before the Supreme Court this month involving the right of private litigants to hold companies to account for alleged securities fraud. The other one, involving the artificial intelligence chipmaker Nvidia , was argued on Nov. 13. The Supreme Court has not ruled yet in the Nvidia case. The plaintiffs in the Facebook case claimed the company unlawfully withheld information from investors about a 2015 data breach involving British political consulting firm Cambridge Analytica that affected more than 30 million Facebook users. They accused Facebook of misleading investors in violation of the Securities Exchange Act, a 1934 federal law that requires publicly traded companies to disclose their business risks. Facebook's stock fell following 2018 media reports that Cambridge Analytica had used improperly harvested Facebook user data in connection with Donald Trump's successful U.S. presidential campaign in 2016. The investors have sought unspecified monetary damages in part to recoup the lost value of the Facebook stock they held. At issue was whether Facebook broke the law when it failed to detail the prior data breach in subsequent business-risk disclosures, and instead portrayed the risk of such incidents as purely hypothetical. Facebook argued that it was not required to reveal that its warned-of risk had already materialized because "a reasonable investor" would understand risk disclosures to be forward-looking statements. President Joe Biden's administration supported the shareholders in the case. U.S. District Judge Edward Davila dismissed the lawsuit but the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals revived it. The Cambridge Analytica data breach prompted U.S. government investigations into Facebook's privacy practices, various lawsuits and a U.S. congressional hearing. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in 2019 brought an enforcement action against Facebook over the matter, which the company settled for $100 million. Facebook paid a separate $5 billion penalty to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission over the issue. The Supreme Court in prior rulings has limited the authority of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the federal agency that polices securities fraud. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz attends a session on November 13, 2024 at the Bundestag. John Macdougall | Afp | Getty Images When the German government collapsed earlier this month, clashes within the former ruling coalition about economic and budget policy were widely cited as a key factor with the country's debt brake playing a central role. Former Finance Minister Christian Lindner, whose sacking was the tipping point for the ruling coalition breaking up, told press in early November that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz had demanded a pause to the debt brake, a request he could not accept. Scholz had fired Lindner that same day, saying that the former finance minister did not seem willing to cooperate on Scholz' suggestions for Germany's 2025 budget. Scholz claimed that his plans incorporated the ideas of Lindner's party, but also clearly demonstrated the need for more financial leeway. Tensions about fiscal policy had long been brewing, heightened by ongoing concerns about the state of the country's economy, which has been teetering on the edge of recession for several quarters. A second reading of third-quarter GDP released Friday indicated 0.1% growth from the previous quarter. And so the three-year-old coalition between Scholz' social democratic party (SPD), the Green party and Lindner's free democratic party (FDP) fell apart. Germany is now facing early elections in February. But what is the debt brake and why is it so contentious? What is the debt brake? Germany's debt brake, or 'Schuldenbremse,' is a fiscal rule that forms part of the German constitution. The debt brake limits how much debt the government can take on, and dictates that the size of the federal government's structural budget deficit must not exceed 0.35% of the country's annual gross domestic product. It was agreed upon in 2009 in response to the financial crisis of 2008 and the sky-high debt the German government had at the time. In some exceptional circumstances, the debt brake can be suspended this happened for example during the Covid-19 pandemic. Germany's government debt is just over 60% of its gross domestic product, according to the European Commission, which is below the debt to GDP ratio of other large euro zone countries. watch now When the debt brake was first implemented, its advocates argued that it would ensure a sustainable, responsible approach to public finances and spending. To this day, this remains a popular argument in favor of the policy. Critics meanwhile, say the debt brake is too restrictive, and that it has hampered investment which is necessary for a successful future. Philippa Sigl-Glockner, the founder and managing director of the think tank Dezernat Zukunft, last week told CNBC's Annette Weisbach that the debt brake has resulted in "a huge lack in investment." Infrastructure like Germany's train network and education are now suffering, she indicated. "And for me, that is a consequence of the debt break," she said. A point of contention In the now former ruling coalition, views on the debt brake differed. Scholz' SPD for example has repeatedly advocated for a reform of the debt brake, calling for a broader scope for what can be seen as a worthwhile emergency situation for suspending it, for example climate change and the Russia-Ukraine war. Lindner's FDP has supported the view that the debt brake rule must be adhered to and has argued that remaining effects from the Covid-19 pandemic, the climate emergency and the war in Ukraine are long-term challenges for the government rather than emergency situations. This has marked a shift in policy however, as the FDP abstained in the 2009 vote on adding the debt brake to the German constitution. The debt brake became even more contentious after the German constitutional court last year ruled that it was unlawful for the government to re-allocate emergency debt taken on during the Covid-19 pandemic to the budget. At the time, some observers and government figures argued that the climate crisis was likewise an emergency, but the court's ruling stood. The ruling, which enforced a "strict interpretation of the debt brake," was a key contributor to growing disputes within the former coalition about "how to deal with the lack of fiscal space," Holger Schmieding, chief economist at Berenberg, told CNBC. But while the debt brake was an important factor in the government's break up, Carsten Brzeski, global head of macro at ING, said other factors were also at play. "Lindner's almost religious sticking to the debt brake, even though he had shown some flexibility in the past, suggests that there was a political motive," he told CNBC. "I think that the government collapsed mainly due to political reasons and personal tensions." The future of the debt brake As attention now turns to the upcoming election, questions about the future of the debt brake under a new coalition government have emerged. Polls suggest that the current opposition party, the Christian democratic party, will secure the biggest vote share and therefore deliver the next chancellor. watch now Berenberg's Schmieding said that if elected, the CDU will likely enter a coalition and strike a deal with a center-left party such as the SPD or Green party. He predicted that the CDU, along with its Bavarian affiliate party CSU, will agree "to a modest reform of the debt brake to create fiscal space for more military spending and investment. In return, the centre-left will agree to some pro-growth reforms including a pruning of welfare benefits, less generous conditions for early retirement and lower business taxes." ING's Brzeski also expects the debt brake to soften, but pointed out that any structural changes to the law will require a two-thirds majority in parliament as the fiscal rule is part of the constitution meaning the outcome will also depend on the broader parliamentary make up. Others have been more hesitant, with Marcel Fratzscher, president of DIW Berlin last week telling CNBC's Weisbach that he believes the new government "will not really touch" the debt brake. Public support for it is high, and the country "has an obsession with savings and debts," he said. Symbolic change could come, such as how the structural components of the debt brake are calculated, he explained "but not really a fundamental change that we would urgently need in Germany to push public investment." Brzeski meanwhile argued that even without major debt brake reforms, there could still be some movement in Germany's fiscal policy, for example through a special purpose vehicle designed to fund investments. watch now Former U.S. President Donald Trump attends the second day of his trial for allegedly covering up hush money payments linked to extramarital affairs, at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City on April 16, 2024. A New York judge on Friday indefinitely postponed President-elect Donald Trump's sentencing in his criminal hush money case. Judge Juan Merchan in a court order also allowed Trump's attorneys to file motions to dismiss the case, in which Trump was found guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records. The ruling cancels, for now, the sentencing that was set for next Tuesday. Prosecutors from the Manhattan District Attorney's Office told Merchan this week that they supported pausing the sentencing date to give Trump's lawyers time to argue that the case should be tossed entirely. But the DA's office also said it would oppose that dismissal bid. Trump's attorneys including Todd Blanche, whom Trump recently tapped to be the No. 2 official at the Department of Justice argued Tuesday that the case must be thrown out "immediately." "Just as a sitting President is completely immune from any criminal process, so too is President Trump as President-elect," Blanche and lawyer Emil Bove wrote in a letter to Merchan. Blanche referred CNBC to Trump's transition team, which celebrated the court order. "In a decisive win for President Trump, the hoax Manhattan Case is now fully stayed and sentencing is adjourned," Trump spokesman Steven Cheung said in a statement. "All of the sham lawfare attacks against President Trump are now destroyed," Cheung said. Bringing people together, showing determination and being a good listener are some of the qualities younger generations look for in leaders. That's according to Generation Z and millennial participants at the One Young World summit in Montreal, Canada, a gathering of young leaders addressing the challenges facing the world today. "It's essential that, when leaders are at the forefront, they are acting upon the interests of the people, and not the interest of themselves or of a small group," according to Sue Whisky, CEO and founder of sustainability organization Environmental Network Malawi, who spoke to CNBC's Tania Bryer at the summit in September. She also said persistence and determination were important in leaders. "People go through so much and yet their achievements are so much greater than everything that they've ever been through," she said. While some leaders "aren't really always driven by good intentions," according to Whisky, even those with differing views can "sit in the same room." "We can all make the world that we want to make. We can all work towards achieving peace," she said. For Northern Irish politician Cara Hunter, empathy and understanding are paramount. "The importance of listening can never be undervalued," she said. Hunter, who became a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for East Londonderry at the age of 24 in 2020, said she is keen to hear what those younger than her want from education. "A good leader is about listening and raising the voices of people who maybe can't vote but want to be part of the political process, and ensuring they know the power that they have," she said. Hunter is part of the Northern Irish Education Committee, in a role that she said contributes to building a peaceful society in the region. "A key aspect of that is looking at the importance of integrated education, so ensuring every child, regardless of background or belief, is educated together and really respects cultural difference," Hunter said. A marine services company carried out the removal of miles worth of lead-lined cables from the bottom of Lake Tahoe this fall. League to Save Lake Tahoe A marine services company removed lead-lined cables from the bottom of Lake Tahoe this fall. League to Save Lake Tahoe Several miles of century-old lead-lined telephone cables laid along the bottom of Lake Tahoe, feared by many locals to have leached toxic chemicals into the water, have been removed. News of the removal came Thursday afternoon from the League to Save Lake Tahoe, a nonprofit conservation group that helped coordinate the effort in partnership with telecommunications giant AT&T, which is believed to have owned the cables in question. AT&T confirmed to the Chronicle via email that the cables had been removed. This is a major milestone for Lake Tahoe, said League to Save Lake Tahoe Chief Strategy Officer Jesse Patterson, in an announcement. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The effort to remove the cables over the past several years has included multiple legal arguments and a false start. Twelve years ago, scuba divers in Tahoe discovered approximately 6 miles of defunct cables running along the edge of the West Shore, across the mouth of Emerald Bay, and extending toward South Lake Tahoe. In 2021, in an effort to remove them, the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance sued AT&T, claiming the company owned the cables and that they posed a public health risk. About 6 miles of defunct and abandoned lead-lined telephone cables were recently removed from the bottom of Lake Tahoe. Tahoe Lead Removal Project AT&T has disputed the notion that the cables were leaching toxic materials but agreed to remove them. However, the company pulled out of that commitment last year after a blitz of media reports detailed other areas in the U.S. where old telecommunications lines owned by the company might also be creating public health problems. In a settlement agreement with the sportfishing alliance announced in September, AT&T said it would, in fact, extract the cables, which by an estimate from the sportfishing group weighed about 100,000 pounds. Advertisement Article continues below this ad AT&T hired a marine services contractor, J.F. Brennan Co., to conduct the extraction, and a professional team of consultants, including divers, biologists and archaeologists, helped ensure the cables were removed from the Lake bottom without disturbing water quality, aquatic life, or Tahoes natural setting, according to the Thursday announcement. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said on Thursday (November 21) it was allowing US flights to resume to six airports in northern Haiti.On November 12, the FAA said it was barring US airlines from operating in Haiti for 30 days after three commercial jetliners were struck by gunfire including a Spirit Airlines flight as it was trying to land at the countrys main airport in Port-au-Prince, the capital. That flight diverted instead to an airport in the Dominican Republic, reported Reuters.The stoppage of flights had stranded passengers all over the world and also affected the flow of aid into Haiti, as even humanitarian flights were grounded.The agency said its bar on flights to Port-au-Prince would remain place until December 12, but it was allowing American carriers and general aviation pilots to fly to six airports in Haiti - Port-de-Paix, Cap-Haitien, Pignon, Jeremie, Antoine-Simon and Jacmel.Haiti has been in a state of chaos for more than three years, since its last president, Jovenel Moise, was assassinated. Gangs filled the power vacuum, taking over roads and ports, killing and kidnapping at will.The crisis worsened this year, when rival gangs joined forces and attacked police stations, freed inmates from prisons and took over entire neighbourhoods. The United Nations has said gangs control 85% of the capital.Spirit Airlines, which flies to Cap-Haitien, said it had not yet resumed flights. Truckers line up along the side of I-5 on Wednesday to let the storm pass before the highway is reopened in Weed (Siskiyou County). Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The Chronicle As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, travelers heading out of the Bay Area to destinations like Lake Tahoe, Yosemite and Mammoth are facing winter storm warnings. The National Weather Service forecast that heavy snow and strong winds in Northern California and Western Nevada on Friday and Saturday would create hazardous travel conditions. Live storm map: See where rain is hitting California and Bay Area Advertisement Article continues below this ad In the Greater Lake Tahoe region and Lassen-Eastern Sierra Counties, up to 2 feet of snow was expected above 7,000 feet, along with winds gusting up to 75 mph. Mono County, home to Mammoth Lakes, was expected to see 10 to 18 inches of snow, with some areas receiving up to 2 feet, and wind gusts reaching 85 mph. Roads, and especially bridges and overpasses, will likely become slick and hazardous, the weather service warned. Travel could be very difficult to impossible. Farther south, Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks are under a winter storm watch through Tuesday afternoon. Heavy snow was expected above 7,000 feet, with accumulations ranging from 10 to 18 inches and wind gusts up to 50 mph, which could bring down tree branches and cause power outages. Travelers should prepare for difficult conditions, especially on Monday morning, when snow and icy roads may disrupt commutes and create hazardous conditions, the weather service said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The Sierra Nevada also faced a moderate risk for excessive rainfall on Friday, with rising snow levels due to incoming warm air. This meant that heavy rain on top of the existing snowpack at higher elevations could mean more hazardous conditions. For those planning to travel, experts recommend taking extra precautions. Before heading out, ensure your vehicle is snow-ready by checking the brakes, tires and heating system. Carry chains, a flashlight and other essentials such as food, water and blankets. Allow extra time for your trip, monitor road conditions, and slow down in snowy or icy conditions. High winds and heavy snow could make even short trips more challenging, so its important to prepare for the worst. The weather service urges travelers to check highway conditions and forecasts in real-time before heading out, as conditions were expected to worsen over the weekend. The California Highway Patrol offers these travel tips for driving in winter weather: Advertisement Article continues below this ad What vehicle maintenance should I do before heading to snow country? Make sure your brakes, windshield wipers, defroster, heater and exhaust system are in good condition. Check your antifreeze levels and consider adding a solvent to prevent your windshield washer reservoir from icing. Ensure your tires are properly inflated and have good tread. Do I need chains for my vehicle? Where snowy conditions are possible, you should always carry chains, ensuring they are the correct size for your tires and in working order. Install chains on your drive wheels (check if your vehicle is front or rear-wheel drive). Practice installing chains in dry conditions to be prepared for snow. What should I carry in my car for snow travel? Essential items include an ice scraper, commercial deicer, broom (for brushing off snow), shovel, sand or burlap (for traction) and an old towel for cleaning your hands. Bring water, food, warm blankets and extra clothing. Keep an extra car key in your pocket to avoid locking yourself out. Advertisement Article continues below this ad How should I prepare for a long drive in winter weather? Get an early start and allow extra time for your trip. Driving in bad weather requires slower speeds and more caution. Keep your gas tank full in case you need to change routes or encounter delays. What should I do if my windshield or windows get covered in snow? Stop safely and use a snow or ice scraper to clear your windshield and windows. What speed should I drive in snowy conditions? Slow down. Snow and ice increase stopping distances, so maintain a safe distance from other vehicles. Avoid sudden stops or sharp turns. Advertisement Article continues below this ad What should I do if visibility is limited or Im stalled? In poor visibility, slow down and watch for other vehicles and snowplows. If you get stuck, stay with your vehicle to conserve fuel and maintain warmth. Be mindful of exhaust or carbon monoxide risks. What else should I know? Check current weather and road conditions before you leave. Some roads may not be maintained for winter travel, so contact the local ranger station for updates. Be cautious of hidden hazards like rocks, boulders, washouts or downed trees under the snow. Fans of classic silent film comedies, and Charlie Chaplin in particular, will no doubt be interested in visiting the Chaplin Cabin in Paradise Springs, California. No, Chaplin didnt film any of his iconic movies in the cabin, nor did write any iconic gags while staying there. The cabin was purely for debaucherous partying during the heyday of prohibition. These days, the cabin is part of a glamping resort owned by the French company Huttopia. On its website, Huttopia boasts that the Paradise Springs Chaplin Cabin is rustic yet refined, features a cozy atmosphere perfect for relaxing evenings and is a historic retreat nestled in a stunning natural setting, rich with Hollywood history. Theyre not wrong, but that Hollywood history is actually pretty darn filthy. Don't Miss The original owner of the cabin wasnt Chaplin, it was silent film actor Noah Beery Sr., who along with his hard-partying Oscar-winning brother Wallace Beery bought the Paradise Springs property and turned it into a hedonistic wonderland for stars of Hollywoods Golden Age. As a Fodors journalist noted during a recent stay in the cabin, the Chaplin designation stems from the fact that the City Lights star was a frequent guest of the Beerys. As the campground host proudly proclaimed, one of the cabins staircases was built by Chaplin himself because its where his mistresses would run up and escape out the back window if his wife was coming up the hill. Somehow the Robert Downey Jr. biopic omitted all the horny carpentry scenes from Chaplins life. As reported by The LAist, the prohibition-era parties were pretty wild. According to the marketing director of the Christian camp that would, ironically, later take over the property, the parties included illegal bathtub gin, illegal gambling and an also illegal cathouse. Advertisement The Beerys were also rivals with famed psycho newspaper tycoon William Randolph Hearst, who reportedly tried to burn down the resort and once released a wild bison into the Paradise Springs ballroom (Beery took the animal out with a shotgun, then invited his guests to join him for a barbecue). Thanks to all this immoral tomfoolery, Chaplin, who had invested money to help the Beerys purchase the property, loved Paradise Springs. Advertisement That being said, Chaplin was a sexual predator who targeted underage girls and physically abused women with his cane. The cabin looks like a cozy spot, but maybe we shouldnt romanticize Chaplins libidinous escape stairs? Advertisement Incidentally, if youre planning on booking a stay at the Chaplin Cabin, you should know that it isnt cheap: It costs a whopping $650 a night. And that doesnt even come with any bathtub gin or barbecued bison meat. Its a little shocking when Jim Gaffigan walks out on stage for his new Hularious stand-up special, The Skinny. The reason: Gaffigan is, well, skinny. Shockingly so, like down-50-pounds skinny. And the secret behind his weight loss isnt what youre thinking, which he says right at the top: Hes not on Ozempic. Im on a different one, he clarifies. Im on Mounjaro, which is better because it sounds like an Italian restaurant. Gaffigan spends the first 10 minutes of The Skinny getting real about his weight loss, including the knowledge that it might be temporary. While his doctor recommended the appetite suppressant to prevent future health problems, Gaffigan is keeping his fat clothes for the inevitable slide. Hes also aware of the drawbacks of such medications, replacing self-discipline, exercise and healthy eating with a weekly shot that killed all the passion inside of me. Now, like other thin people, Gaffigan is enjoying the benefits of being dead inside. Don't Miss Unfair or not, it can be disconcerting to comedy fans when formerly husky funny people lose weight. Weve been down this road before, with Jonah Hill, Roseanne Barr, Drew Carey and John Goodman, to name just a few. In fact, only a few days ago, TMZ caught up with Seinfeld's Wayne Knight, who claimed dropping 100-plus pounds cost him acting jobs. Losing weight can be the ultimate comedic curse if you have established yourself as a fat comedian. Once we create our images of famous people and actors, we dont like those images to change or to be challenged, human behavior expert Patrick Wanis told FOX411. John Goodman and Drew Carey lost weight and lost our attention because we had already embedded in our mind, our association with their old image as the funny fat guy. John Candy and the character he portrays in the movie Uncle Buck is the epitome so warm and funny that you want to run up and hug him. Advertisement Candy, of course, probably isnt the best example, dying of heart failure at age 43. The extra weight didnt help. But maintaining a funny weight is on the minds of at least some comic actors. Chris Farleys brother Tom told The New York Times Chris feared that shedding pounds would take his edge away. Advertisement Tom Arnold told Salon the same thing. Its the same mistake people make about when comedians quit drugs, he explained. They think that when people lose weight, they wont be funny. Advertisement Weight loss cant help but affect the jokes. It is possible that a comics self-image as a heavy person was formed during the same time the act was formed, and consequently weight loss becomes a similar topic, argued Jamie Masada, owner of The Laugh Factory. A heavy person who used his or her weight as a topic of humor can either ditch weight from the act or comment on how the loss of weight had an impact. Seeing as Gaffigan had a best-selling book called Dad Is Fat, he has little choice but to make his evolving body a part of his act, at least for now. Im trying to enjoy being thin because I know Im going to be fat again, he half-jokes in his new special. This is not sustainable. This is 99 percent Big Pharma, 1 percent Little Jim. Truck driver Harry Singh of Seattle tries to dig out from snow to free his big rig after being stuck overnight in Weed (Siskiyou County) on Wednesday. Far Northern California is getting hit by significant weather throughout the week due to a bomb cyclone off the coast. Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The Chronicle Workers remove a mangled car after a collision between a downed tree and a vehicle during the atmospheric river in Loleta (Humboldt County) on Wednesday. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle Robert Honeyman walks along Weed Boulevard during the snow storm that closed I-5 in both directions in Weed (Siskiyou County) on Wednesday. Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The Chronicle An umbrella shelters a person waiting for a bus on Phelan Avenue in San Francisco during a downpour Wednesday. Lea Suzuki/The Chronicle Cori Lambert of Perth, Australia, tries to keep her balance walking slush in Mount Shasta (Siskiyou County) on Thursday. Lambert said she was on vacation for two weeks to see Mount Shasta. Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The Chronicle A vehicle drives along North Mount Shasta Boulevard past a tree with a fallen limb in Mount Shasta (Siskiyou County) on Thursday. Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The Chronicle A toy tractor is partially submerged in floodwater near a home during the atmospheric river in Fortuna (Humboldt County) on Thursday. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle A road along the Eel River bank is submerged in water during the atmospheric river in the Worswick neighborhood of Fortuna (Humboldt County) on Thursday. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle The fire hose pointed at Northern California remained on full blast Thursday, dousing communities already hit by record-setting rainfall and spurring official warnings of imminent flood damage and even death. After nearly 40 hours, the atmospheric river that first hit California on Wednesday remained stalled over the North Bay and areas toward the Oregon border, inundating residents with inches of rain and feet of snow. Santa Rosa recorded its second-wettest day in 120 years Thursday, with nearly 7 inches of rain in a 24-hour period, while Ukiah (Mendocino County) and Red Bluff (Tehama County) also broke records with more than 3 inches of rain. Advertisement Article continues below this ad By Thursday afternoon, Sonoma County Airport had recorded nearly 10 inches of rain from the storm while Venado, an unincorporated part of the county near Healdsburg, saw nearly 16 inches. Meanwhile, other parts of the Bay Area were nearly bone dry. Just 92 miles south of Sonoma, San Jose had seen no measurable rain while Concord recorded a few drops, adding up to just 0.05 of an inch. Nearby in Fulton, a community just north of Santa Rosa, those inches were creeping up around Bob Mortensens home. As of mid-afternoon, a few inches had seeped into the garage but the house remained dry. The septic system was being inundated, he said, and he may take his wife and kids to a hotel tomorrow if the rain keeps falling. This is the worst Ive seen it, Mortensen said. About 10 miles away at Ace Hardware in Sebastopol, customers had been coming in all morning for tarps and sump pumps. Kim Fiori drove down from Healdsburg looking for specialized water barriers for his antiques store, where water was coming through the walls and leaking from the ceiling. He said nothing had been damaged yet, but he needed to stop the leaking, given the forecast. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Im OK for now, but this will be going on and on and on, Fiori said. Great swaths of the northern part of the state were seeing severe weather warnings, flooding advisories, avalanche notices, power failures, delayed flights and school closures. The worst impacts may be yet to come. Stormy weather Friday could result in the heaviest rain so far this fall across the Bay Area. An additional 2 to 6 inches of rain was expected to fall across Marin, Sonoma and Napa counties Thursday into Friday, compounding flooding issues and putting stress on rivers and streams. An additional 4 to 8 inches of rain was on tap to fall across large parts of Humboldt, Mendocino, Trinity and Shasta counties. The atmospheric river was categorized as a Level 4 out of 5, meaning it is extreme and dangerous, according to the Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes at UC San Diegos Scripps Institution of Oceanography. At the same time, the strong storm is chock-full of atmospheric moisture, which is near record levels over Northern California for this time of year. Advertisement Article continues below this ad So far, on-and-off rain is in the forecast through Tuesday for the region from San Francisco to Redding as the unstable weather pattern persists, keeping the atmospheric river active. Its shifting location, however, means the amount of rain or snow will vary significantly depending on location. Significant snowfall and strong winds were expected to hit the Greater Lake Tahoe region and Lassen-Eastern Sierra counties Friday into Saturday, with 1 to 2 feet of snow above 7,000 feet forecast, along with winds gusting up to 75 mph. Mono County could see up to 2 feet and winds gusting up to 85 mph. Residents already slammed by the storm were keeping a wary eye on those forecasts as they tried to respond to damage and clear out debris. In Mount Shasta, snow transitioned to rain Wednesday night into Thursday, creating a slushy mess throughout town. Cars drove through puddles of deep standing water, and residents navigated slushy sidewalks littered with the downed limbs that fell from nearly every deciduous tree. Residents Phoenix Bourgoin and her husband, Chris, said the blizzard was one of the most impressive storms theyve experienced in a decade-plus living in Mount Shasta. Advertisement Article continues below this ad We were definitely able to dig out, and now its just very wet and slushy, Phoenix Bourgoin said Thursday morning. As if on cue, sheets of rain fell from the sky after a brief morning respite Thursday, with coffee-colored water rushing across Highway 116 near Forestville, blocking a main thoroughfare between Sebastopol and Russian River communities. Law enforcement officers turned drivers away and rerouted them back to town. Sonoma County Fire Chief Mark Heine said the brunt of the storm seemed to be stopped right over the top of us, especially west of Highway 101. Local creeks were flooding and swamping roads through the county. Crews have been busy responding to crashes and helping motorists get their cars out of flooded streets. Late Wednesday, a redwood tree crashed into a house in Forestville, sending one person to the hospital with minor injuries, Heine said. The Russian River was among several rivers projected to spill over its banks in the next day or two as the rain continued. The ground, the trees, the roots and the creeks can take 24 hours, but not repeated atmospheric rivers, he said, adding that crews were bracing for storm-related problems to grow Friday. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In Eureka, the conditions reminded Hensells Materials owner Ken Canepa of the Christmas flood of 1964, one of the regions worst deluges. That storm brought 15 inches of rain in 24 hours, resulting in 47 deaths across California, Idaho and Oregon. Thousands were left homeless. Though this storm wasnt as bad, he noted customers were coming in to buy shingles even as the rain poured outside. People dont put roofs on in this weather unless its an emergency, he said. At some point late Tuesday night, the winds damaged the roof of Arcatas Sanctuary, a local community art center and theater, and by Wednesday morning the storm had peeled most of the roof off, leaving rain pooling throughout the building. Owner Katie Belknap put out a call for help on Wednesday morning. Dozens of friends and supporters showed up with dehumidifiers, squeegees, wet vacuum cleaners and other tools. Some drilled holes in the attic to drain water and others packed up art, records and books, she said. They were still hard at work Thursday afternoon. Its pretty much affected the entirety of the building, Belknap said. Were going to have to take everything out. Officials across the region remained concerned about significant rain expected to fall across Humboldt County over the next three days, given the waterlogged soil. Were about as well prepared for this thing as we could be at this point, said the countys emergency services director, Ryan Derby. In Chico, 200 miles south of Derby, resident Todd Steinberg was keeping tabs on Big Chico Creek, which was quickly rising Thursday. Over many decades of scientific inquiry, weve landed on a few reliable methods of predicting disaster: seismic activity, weather patterns, the announcement of a new Zack Snyder movie, etc. But these disasters also have weird side effects that we never see coming unless we know to look for them. 5 Earthquake Lights Have you ever seen eerie flashes of colored lightning around the same time as an earthquake? Some scientists believe theyre caused by electrical currents created by ruptured tectonic faults, meaning those currents can be used to identify where quakes will strike. If nothing else, theyre awfully pretty. 4 Tsunami Elephants Youve probably heard someone insist that their dog can predict earthquakes, and while the jury is still out on Fidos seismological usefulness, large animals like elephants can definitely sense low-frequency vibrations in the ground preceding tsunamis before humans can. One elephant even saved the life of the little girl who happened to be riding him before the 2004 Thailand tsunami struck. Isnt that heartwarming? 3 Hurricane Sharks Advertisement Likewise, if youre out on the water and you notice sharks retreating to deeper waters, its not because they think you would taste gross. Sharks can sense drops in barometric pressure preceding hurricanes, so they head for safer, deeper waters before they strike. And they probably dont think about you at all. 2 Receding Shorelines If youre ever at the beach and the shoreline suddenly pulls back as if the tide decided to quit and chase its dream of Broadway stardom, run. You know how you pull back your fist before you punch something? Its kind of like that but for tsunamis. Dont even stop to explain this to other beachgoers. Just scream RUN! and head for higher ground. Contemporary culture finally caught up with Billy Crystal when he performed his Sammy Davis Jr. impression while hosting the Academy Awards in 2012. While Crystal had trotted out the character several times during Saturday Night Lives 10th season and included a Sammy for Africa track on his Mahvelous comedy album without incident, many were no longer laughing at his blackface makeup, no matter how affectionate the tribute to Davis. Feministing pointed out the obvious: Blackface is not okay. Ever. Grantland wondered how the Academy allowed it: For Crystal to do this bit in blackface, at the exclusion of genuinely any sense, points to, in a Panglossianly benign interpretation of their motives, a world-class indifference to race at the very minimum. After Octavia Spencer took home a Best Supporting Actress Oscar later that night, comedian Paul Scheer tweeted, Octavia Spencers win shows just how far weve come since Billy Crystal performed in blackface. Why any white comic would think its a good idea to perform in blackface is unfathomable, but one can see how Crystal would be conflicted since Davis family loved the character. After the Academy Awards debacle, Sammys daughter Tracy Davis rushed to Crystals defense. Billy previously played my father when he was alive, and my father gave Billy his full blessing, she told Hollywood Reporter (via The Grio). I am 100 percent certain that my father is smiling. Don't Miss Crystal opened for Davis early in Crystals career, and it meant the world to him. Yes, Im really in show business Im opening for Sammy Davis, he told American Masters. It was like a really big thing for me. The two hung out in Lake Tahoe, playing backgammon and talking about Davis life in and out of show business. It was a long run of shows, and by the end of it, Davis was pranking Crystal he swapped a porn film into the onstage monitor for the entirety of the comics last set. Their friendship led to Crystals affectionate impression. I loved him. And I got him, Crystal said. Heres this giant of a guy speaking Yiddish. He had converted to Judaism, and he had great knowledge, and he would talk to me like one of my uncles. Advertisement After Crystal debuted the impression on Saturday Night Live, Davis called him with a mixed message. He wasnt happy with me, Crystal confessed. He said, Listen man, its cool. I thought it was fantastic. Im calling to say it was great, but you know, where are we going with this? A few weeks later, Davis poked back with a Billy Crystal impression at the CableACE Awards. Complicating matters even further: Crystals impression jump-started Davis career in the 1980s, giving the Rat Pack musician cachet with a new generation of fans. If Davis daughter was in favor of Crystals cool cat character, it was in part because Saturday Night Live gave (Davis) legendary status. Post-2012, Crystal appeared to get the message that the makeup should stay off permanently, even as he was reminiscing about his Davis impression to American Masters and the Television Academy Foundation in the 2010s. Other parts of Crystals shtick he also did bits as Muhammad Ali and Black jazz musicians werent aging well either. Comedy was becoming a minefield and I get it, Crystal told The New York Post in 2021. I understand it. Its a totally different world, and it doesnt mean you have to like it. Photo: Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office City of Yes, Mayor Eric Adamss plan to create tens of thousands of new housing units through sweeping zoning reforms, passed through the City Councils land use and zoning committees on Thursday, clearing the way for the largest changes to the citys zoning code since 1961 with some large carve-outs. Negotiations were extensive, lasting well into Wednesday night and delaying the vote by a good five hours, as councilmembers hashed out compromises on parking mandates, accessory dwelling units, and transit-oriented density. So whered we end up? The mayors original plan was projected to create more than 100,000 new units of housing over the next 15 years through changes to the zoning code with the new plan that number has been reduced to 80,000 including lifting minimum parking requirements, which was particularly contentious in car-centric neighborhoods of eastern Queens like College Point and Fresh Meadows. (This is a calculated effort to destroy the character of our districts, Councilmember Vickie Paladino, who represents Bayside and Whitestone, told the Queens Daily Eagle this fall.) The deal reached on Thursday offers a diluted version of that proposal: It will create three zones for minimum parking mandates, eliminating them entirely in all of Manhattan (except for District 12) and much of western Queens and Brooklyn, and lowering them in others. New York City is a very large city and some areas of the city are not well serviced by public transportation, said Councilmember Kevin Riley, the chair of the zoning committee. Less than half of all New York households own a car, and developers say that the current requirements can add $50,000 to $100,000 per spot to building costs. The new deal will also water down the transit-oriented development-density provisions (reducing them from a half to a quarter mile off some Long Island Railroad and Metro North stops), town-center zoning (putting residential housing above shops), and, significantly, the ADU provisions, which were expected to account for half of the new units in the plan, according to Crains. Per the new deal, such units in some outer-borough districts, historic districts, and flood zones will be restricted to the existing structure, i.e., attics and basements, instead of being allowed in backyards. Along with parking mandate minimums, ADUs were also unpopular in the outer-borough neighborhoods where theyd be most likely to be created. (This, despite the fact that some opponents of the plan, like Queens councilmember Paladino, already have them.) Funding was another question: Should the city direct more money to affordable housing subsidies and tenant protections or pour it into infrastructure improvements to meet the needs of more densely populated neighborhoods? As part of the last-minute deal, the city also committed funding for sewers, streets, open spaces, and affordable-housing construction and preservation, as part of a complementary housing package. And Governor Kathy Hochul has committed $1 billion to help fund the $5 billion the city has committed to cover affordable housing and infrastructure improvements over the next few years, according to Gothamist. Other aspects of the plan were essentially unchanged, including office to residential conversions and allowing developers who include affordable housing to build bigger. The plan will also facilitate landmarked buildings ability to transfer development rights, weakening community input, according to Riley. Everyone left a little unhappy, it seems. The compromises reached on Thursday will likely lower the number of units built by about 30,000, according to City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams. And that still wasnt enough for some councilmembers Councilmember David Carr, who represents neighborhoods in Brooklyn and Staten Island including Bay Bridge and Todt Hill, made a motion to disapprove the agreement and replace the 1,300-plus pages with one word: no. While the zoning-committee vote was being taken, an attendee started chanting we say no to the city of yes and was removed. The plans supporters particularly those who wanted to see more done were equally dismayed. City of Yes was never going to fix everything, said Brooklyn Borough president Antonio Reynoso in a statement after the deals carve-outs were announced. But it was at least a modest opportunity to begin addressing the discriminatory zoning practices that force low-income, Black, and brown neighborhoods to do all the work of building new housing while low-density neighborhoods get away with contributing nothing. Adams has said that the city needs to add 50,000 units per year, nearly double the 27,980 that were added in 2023, according to the Department of City Planning. The City of Yes, with qualifications. STORY LINK GBP/USD Outlook: Pound to US Dollar Exchange Rate Slides Towards 1.25 Advertisement Like this piece? Please share with your friends and colleagues: At the time of writing, GBP/USD was trading at approximately $1.2641, virtually unchanged from the start of Thursdays session.The Pound (GBP) stumbled against most currencies on Thursday after the UK's latest government borrowing figures were released.According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), UK government borrowing exceeded expectations, hitting 17.4bn in October, significantly higher than the predicted 12.3bn.This news put pressure on GBP exchange rates, highlighting the limited fiscal manoeuvring room available to the UK Chancellor ahead of the spring statement.Jessica Barnaby, Deputy Director for Public Sector Finances at ONS, commented:This months borrowing was the second highest October figure since monthly records began in January 1993. Despite the cut in the main rates of National Insurance earlier in 2024, total receipts rose on last year. However, with spending on publicservices, benefits and debt interest costs all up on last year, expenditure rose faster than revenue overall.The US Dollar (USD) edged higher against most currencies on Thursday, bolstered by a sense of caution sweeping through the markets.As a prominent safe-haven currency, the USD tends to gain strength during uncertain trading conditions.With tensions rising in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, markets favoured safer currencies on Thursday, thereby boosting the US Dollars demand.Looking forward, the main driver of the Pound US Dollar exchange rate on Friday is anticipated to be the release of November's PMI data from both the UK and US.In the US, the latest PMI data is expected to present a mixed picture, with the services index predicted to rise while the manufacturing index is likely to remain below 50, indicating contraction.If the data aligns with these expectations, USD exchange rates may fluctuate during Friday's European trading session.Meanwhile, the UK is also due to release its preliminary PMI figures for November. With the manufacturing sector poised to enter growth territory (signalled by a reading above 50) and the key services index expected to maintain its level at 52, theseoutcomes could give the Pound a modest lift towards the week's end.However, the UK is also set to publish its latest retail sales figures, which are expected to show a decline from 0.3% to -0.3%. This could potentially weaken GBP exchange rates following the release. International Money Transfer? Ask our resident FX expert a money transfer question or try John's new, free, no-obligation personal service! ,where he helps every step of the way, ensuring you get the best exchange rates on your currency requirements. TAGS: Pound Dollar Forecasts Craig Latham checks out the flooding at Johnsons Beach in Guerneville, Calif., on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. The Russian River is expected to rise past the flood stage of 32 feet. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle Property off River Road floods as the Russian River overflows in Sonoma County, Calif., on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle Wohler Road off River Road is closed off as the Russian River floods in Sonoma County, Calif., on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle The Russian River is flooding in Guerneville, Calif., on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle Gabe Sitton works to rescue a driver stuck in floodwaters on Slusser Rd. as heavy rains fall in Windsor, Calif., on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Noah Berger) Noah Berger/Associated Press A scooter rider wears a poncho and uses a rain cover for the handlebars as other scooter rides battle the rain in their parks all while riding on Market Street in the rain on Friday, November 22, 2024 in San Francisco, Calif. Lea Suzuki/The Chronicle Members of the San Francisco Fire Department works to clear a sewer as rain and running water starts to flood Cayuga Street on Friday, November 22, 2024 in San Francisco, Calif. Lea Suzuki/The Chronicle Floodwaters rise on the corner of 56th Street and San Pablo Avenue in Oakland, California Friday, Nov. 22, 2024 as an atmospheric river causes torrential downpours of rain on the Bay Area. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle Scott Knippelmeir, left, lays tarps down on the side of his hillside property to prevent further mudslides on Madrone Ave. in Healdsburg, Calif. on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. Sonoma County in Northern California continues to experience heavy rains and flooding. Brian Feulner/Special to The Chronicle The driver of construction equipment removes vehicles underwater at the intersection of Highway 116 and Neeley Road in Guerneville on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. Sonoma County in Northern California continues to experience heavy rains and flooding. Brian Feulner/Special to The Chronicle Sharon Scofield, 71, checks the debris in her front yard after winds knocked over many signs and halloween decorations, as flood water from the swollen Eel River is seen in the background in Ferndale, Calif., Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle San Francisco was placed under a flood advisory until 8 p.m. Friday. National Weather Service The atmospheric river was forecast to bring heavy snow to the Sierra Nevada on Saturday as the heaviest weather impacts spread south after torrential rains pounded the Bay Area on Friday, deluging San Francisco after the National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning. The worst is over for most of the Bay Area, but the weekend is likely to bring the chance of intermittent rain. A very strong atmospheric river will produce heavy snow across the Sierra Nevada before winding down over Northern and Central California on Saturday, the National Weather Service said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Heavy snow is likely over much of the Sierra Nevada, where 1 to 2 feet is expected to accumulate, the weather service forecast Saturday morning. Moisture from the atmospheric river will diminish as it sags south and east through Central California on Saturday, the forecast said. The axis of heavy rain finally started to shift to the south of San Francisco on Friday evening. The cold front was forecast to linger until late at night, leaving rain showers in the mix. Further to the south, Santa Cruz and the South Bay got into the action late yesterday. Some of the heaviest rain in the final part of the day was over the Santa Cruz Mountains and the interior East Bay. Now that the final pulse of energy riding along the cold front has progressed far enough eastward, the entire cold front will continue its slow progress southward. But not before delivering upwards of an additional 1 to 2 inches of rain to the Santa Cruz Mountains and further south toward Monterey. The worst is over though for the majority of the Bay Area though, once the cold front moves away, we can call an end to this multiday atmospheric river event. But that doesnt fully remove the chance of some intermittent rain as we move into the weekend. Advertisement Article continues below this ad You may notice that despite the cold front moving through the area, its still pretty warm and humid outside. Thats because the difference in surface air temperatures ahead and behind the front arent that drastic. Above the surface in the upper atmosphere, the air has gotten colder. And the combination of cold air aloft along with warm and humid air at the surface will keep the atmosphere generally unstable on Saturday and Sunday, which keeps the potential for pop up showers in the forecast for both days. There may even be a few rumbles of thunder with some of those showers. A flood warning for the Russian River at Johnsons Beach in Guerneville in Sonoma County was extended until early Sunday morning, as minor flooding is in the forecast, according to the National Weather Service. Motorists should not attempt to drive around barricades or drive cars through flooded areas, NWS officials said in a statement. San Francisco has already logged its wettest day since New Years Eve 2022, when 5.46 inches fell. Rain is still continuing to fall across Northern California, but this map shows totals through 5 p.m.: Advertisement Article continues below this ad Three cars were almost submerged under floodwaters in the Produce Market district in San Francisco in the early evening. Video shows three cars almost submerged under floodwaters in the Produce Market district in San Francisco on Friday, November 22, 2024. Aldo Toledo This map shows rainfall totals across the state. In one striking statistic, over 20 inches of rain have fallen in 72 hours in Venado in Sonoma County. Advertisement Article continues below this ad On Friday afternoon, Rob S stood at the threshold of his garage on Marina Boulevard in San Francisco, sandbags laid out. He said hes lived in the home with a view of Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge for about a decade, but only began having flooding issues in the last three years. Over the course of 15 minutes, floodwaters threatened to lap at the sandbags at the edge of his garage, before receding back to the street. He said one year flooding caused a backup in a ground floor bathroom, causing tens of thousands of dollars in damage. This time he is more prepared, with a second line of defense of long absorbent gel packs that block any water seeping past the sandbags. Advertisement Article continues below this ad My neighbor has lived here for 50 years, and said that wouldnt happen again for years to come, Rob S said. Instead floods have become almost a yearly occurrence. Elsewhere along Marina Boulevard drains backed up, forcing cars to drive through deep puddles and sluice water onto sidewalks. As darkness fell, a truck with a large suction hose and a tank pulled up at the intersection of Divisadero Street. Workers said the area had flooded multiple times in the last four hours, but they were not using the device around 5 p.m. Farther down the street other homes had sandbags set up, with some double layered behind extendable wait high metal flood barriers. Some joggers still passed by, seemingly oblivious to the downpour. Chase DiFeliciantonio Localized flooding on a portion of BARTs Red Line shut down train service between Daly City and Millbrae, officials said Friday. Crews were addressing the flooding problem, which was taking place outside Colma, according to BART spokesperson Jim Allison. Jordan Parker A flash flood warning for Alameda County has been extended to 7:45 p.m. Friday and now includes Oakland, Hayward and Alameda. Flash flooding has already been reported in Castro Valley and Union City, with rainfall amounts between 0.5 and 1 inch, and an additional 1 to 2 inches expected. As of 4:30 p.m. what should be one of the final pushes of heavy rain was pivoting through San Francisco. After this, the trend should be for the heavier rain to shift toward the East and South Bay, with the cold front finally starting to move out of the area after 7 p.m. Fridays heavy rainfall caused significant disruptions at San Francisco International Airport, with 491 flight delays and 61 cancellations as of 4:30 p.m. United Airlines alone reported 183 delays, while SkyWest has seen 74 delays and 51 cancellations. The weather is also impacting nearby roadways, with SFO officials advising travelers to allow extra time to reach the airport and check with their airline for the latest flight updates before arriving. The flash flood warning for San Francisco has expired, but warnings remain in effect for parts of the East Bay, the Peninsula and South Bay. A warning continues until 6 p.m. Friday for Alameda and Contra Costa counties, where flash flooding has already been reported. Between 0.7 and 1.2 inches of rain has fallen, with additional rainfall expected. A separate warning remains until 5 p.m. for San Mateo County and 12:30 a.m. Saturday for Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties. Abel Perez, 26, fiddled with a watch under a large tent at the corner of 17th St and Treat Avenue in San Francisco trying to stay out of the rain. Unhoused for the past three years, Perez said the biggest challenge during rainy season is just staying dry and warm. Im freezing, he said laughing. Perez told the Chronicle hed dragged the large white tent from 30th Street up to the Mission Creek neighborhood because the tent he found with his friend Miguel Rivera, 28, just wont keep the rain out. Everything is soaked, Perez said. Blankets. Clothes. Everything. I have nothing to wear. What Im wearing right now is wet. Perez said he has been offered housing at a temporary shelter, but because of stringent rules that dont allow him to bring personal belongings hes decided to stay put. Still, he has been moved around a lot. Perez said he moved just two days ago further south in the Mission by SFPD and was offered housing. He suspects very soon hell be asked to move again. Were just trying to survive day to day right now, Rivera said. I guess its going to come soon, the day when I have to move into a shelter or a hotel. Meanwhile Ramon Castillo was further up the road sitting inside a small one-person tent smoking while worried about moving. I know Im going to have to move in a bit, Castillo said. I was in a hotel but people wont leave me alone with all the rules. Castillo,48, said hes from El Salvador and has been homeless for two years but has lived in the Bay Area for thirty years. He said rainy days are the worst as an unhoused person. Its always something, he said. Aldo Toledo A flood advisory is in effect until 12:30 a.m. Saturday for parts of the South Bay, including San Mateo, Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties. Between 0.2 and 1 inch of rain has already fallen, causing some flooding in urban areas and streams, with an additional 1 to 4 inches of rain expected, which will likely lead to minor flooding. Affected locations include San Jose, Sunnyvale, Palo Alto, Santa Cruz, Cupertino and other cities across the region. All California addresses under some level of flood warning can be looked up using the tool below: Residents were told to avoid Grizzly Peak in Berkeley due to a landslide in the northbound lane. The landslide occurred about 1 mile south of Centennial Drive, according to UC Berkeley officials. Excessive flooding at Centennial Drive and Stadium Way in Berkeley has been cleared. The intersection and surrounding roadways are open, an alert from UC Berkeley officials said. Downpours have caused Northern California rivers to rise, and the California Nevada River Forecast Center is forecasting floods. The Eel River at Fernbridge (Humboldt County) is already in moderate flood stage, with water levels rising to over 23 feet. The following rivers are in minor flood stage, as of Friday afternoon Navarro at Navarro (Mendocino County Russian River at Hopland (Mendocino County) Sacramento River at Tehama Bridge (Tehama County) Sacramento at Vina Woodson Bridge (Tehama County) The following rivers are forecast to reach minor flood stage Friday Russian at Guerneville (Sonoma County) Napa at Saint Helena (Napa County) High flows continue on numerous rivers across the state, according to the offices latest briefing. Jack Lee The Silverado Trail, which meanders through vineyards in Napa County, was closed Friday between Oak Knoll Avenue and Yountville Crossroad because of a mudslide. In alert sent to students on Friday, UC Berkeley said to avoid the area of Centennial Drive and Stadium Rim Way due to severe flooding in the roadway. Officials said campus police and facilities services crews were working to clear the flooding. The intersection and connecting roadways will be closed for the immediate future until the flooding can be cleared, officials said. Jordan Parker Torrential rain pooled into a large lake Friday afternoon outside Dog Eared Books on Valenicia Street in San Franciscos Mission District, with a power outage impacting half the block. The cashier was still able to ring up purchases just not in cash. A patron browses by cellphone light at Dog Eared Books on Valencia Street in San Franciscos Mission District amid power outage during the atmospheric river storm on Friday, Nov. 22. The Chronicle/Lily Janiak Lily Janiak The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood warning for portions of Alameda County and Contra Costa County, effective until 6 p.m. Friday. Between 0.7 and 1.2 inches of rain have already fallen across the East Bay, with an additional 1 to 3 inches of rain expected. Cities at risk include Oakland, Berkeley, Richmond, Alameda and surrounding areas. Authorities advise motorists to stay off the roads unless necessary. The National Weather Service has issued flash flood warnings for parts of the Bay Area for Friday afternoon, including San Francisco. Baron/Lynx A section of westbound Interstate 80, just west of the metering light near the Bay Bridge toll plaza, was flooded Friday afternoon, causing disruptions ahead of the evening commute and the busy Thanksgiving holiday week. Flooding was reported in the Marina and Mission districts in San Francisco on Friday afternoon, as well as a stretch of South of Market near the corner of Folsom and First Streets, according to the National Weather Services local emergency manager. A flash flood warning remains in effect as heavy rainfall continues in the region. Authorities are advising residents to avoid travel unless fleeing an area subject to flooding or under an evacuation order. Rain pours down the steps leading to Buena Vista Park near Haight Street in San Francisco on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. Anthony Edwards/The Chronicle Flooding on northbound Highway 101 at Interstate 280 has caused the closure of multiple lanes. The estimated time of reopening is unknown. The California Highway Patrol advised drivers to expect delays and seek alternate routes. The heaviest band of rain so far in the Bay Area has been centered across the Santa Cruz Mountains, San Francisco and Oakland for nearly 90 minutes, dropping anywhere from 0.25 to 0.75 inches of rain during that time frame. How severe the flooding situation gets across the Bay Area today depends on the forward progression of the cold front. And that progression is being determined by a small wave of low pressure (referred to as a shortwave) developing out over the tail of the frontal system located over the Pacific Ocean. As that shortwave rides eastward along the frontal boundary, it has essentially stopped the forward movement of the frontal system, stalling the front out directly over the Bay Area. Once that shortwave progresses far enough to the east (which should happen sometime after 7 p.m.), we should start to see the cold front finally move out of the Bay Area, taking the heavy rain with it. But that still leaves several more hours with bursts of moderate to heavy rainfall. Downpours on Friday have the potential to drop up to 5 inches of rain on San Francisco over the course of the day. Read more about which neighborhoods are at risk of floods during extreme storms. Jack Lee Up to 5 inches of rain may pelt San Francisco, and the city is under a flash flood warning. Anthony Edwards The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood warning for northwestern San Mateo County, effective until 5 p.m. Friday. Flash flooding is already reported in the area, with 0.5 to 1 inch of rain and an additional 1 to 3 inches expected. Affected locations include Daly City, South San Francisco, San Bruno, Pacifica and surrounding areas. Authorities warn of flooding in urban areas, small creeks, highways and low-lying regions. Be aware of your surroundings and do not drive on flooded roads, the agency warned. Flooding on northbound and southbound Highway 121 between Highway 116 and Eighth Street East in Sonoma County has been reported by the California Highway Patrol. All lanes remain blocked. Motorists should expect delays and use alternate routes to avoid the area. Caltrans estimates that the road will reopen at 5 p.m. During the worst of the San Francisco deluge, pedestrians walked in the Fifth Street bike lanes between Mission and Market streets to avoid streams that gushed among the curbs. Some passers-by ducked under store awnings or took cover in parking garages. The normally busy sidewalks had largely emptied out. Rachel Swan Firefighters helped a driver caught in a flooded culvert along a Santa Rosa city street on Friday, officials said. The woman, who wasnt identified, told firefighters she didnt realize the water was so deep and when she tried to turn around she accidentally drove off the road and into a deep culvert. The water level was receding during a break in rainfall, and the woman was able to get out of the vehicle. She was uninjured, Santa Rosa Fire Marshal Paul Lowenthal said. Lowenthal urged drives to assume floodwaters swamping streets across the region are deeper than they appear. Turn around, dont try it, Lowenthal said. Firefighters in Santa Rosa, Calif, helped a driver stuck in a flooded culvert on Friday, and a tree toppled into a house in central Santa Rosa. Courtesy of Santa Rosa Fire Department Julie Johnson Flooding on I-280 in Daly City: Over a foot of water reported A flood has been reported in Daly City with over a foot of water covering Interstate 280, according to a local law enforcement alert issued at 12:50 p.m. on Friday. The flooding was causing significant disruption along the highway and causing major traffic delays, according to the National Weather Service. A landslide near Bodega Bay blocked both northbound and southbound lanes of Highway 1 on Friday afternoon. The National Weather Service issued the alert, noting that the blockage is causing significant disruptions in the area. Travelers are advised to avoid the affected section of Highway 1 and seek alternative routes. On Dec. 31, 2022, an atmospheric river stalled over Central California, fueling downpours that dropped 5.46 inches of rain on downtown San Francisco. It was the citys second-wettest day on record, going back to 1849. The deluge caused widespread flooding across the Bay Area. Fridays storm could bring 3 to 5 inches of rain could fall on San Francisco, which could produce minor flooding of low-lying and poor drainage areas. Ponding of water in urban or other areas is occurring or is imminent, according to a flood advisory issued by the National Weather Service. Jack Lee As of Friday afternoon, San Francisco International Airport reported 413 flight delays and 51 cancellations the most disruptions for any U.S. airport., according to FlightAware United Airlines had 141 flight delays, by far the most of any airline. SkyWest had 64 delays; Delta had 41 and Southwest had 37. Some of the heaviest rain of the day is about to move into San Francisco and Oakland. A narrow band of heavy rain is lurking offshore, moving slowly to the east and its poised to sit over the region for the next few hours. An inch or more of rain is possible in the next 2 to 3 hours. Thats on top of the broad 0.75 to 1 inches of rain that have already fallen today. An extremely heavy band of rain over the Bay Area. NOAA Flash flood warning issued for S.F.: A flash flood warning has been issued for San Francisco, with the National Weather Service alerting residents via emergency notifications on their mobile phones. The warning, in effect until 3:45 p.m. states: This is a dangerous and life-threatening situation. Do not attempt to travel unless you are fleeing an area subject to flooding or under an evacuation order. Residents across San Francisco received an alert warning of dangerous flash flooding in the city. The Chronicle The atmospheric river fueling rains stalled over the Bay Area could lead to continued rain producing flash floods. Update from the warning desk. Looking at the future radar this afternoon/evening. More high resolution models are showing a stall over the central Bay Area. We can't rule out flash flooding from this. Most concerned about 1PM-7PM #CAwx pic.twitter.com/J4uOrufFlF NWS Bay Area :bridge_at_night: (@NWSBayArea) November 22, 2024 The Weather Prediction Center called for a moderate risk of excessive rainfall in parts of the North Bay, which means numerous flash floods are likely. San Francisco faces slight risk, meaning scatter flash floods are possible. The Weather Prediction Center calls for a moderate risk of excessive rainfall for parts of Northern California, shown in red. Baron/Lynx Jack Lee New data from the National Weather Service indicated the approaching weather front was expected to stall over the Bay Area for the next 6 to 8 hours, with some fluctuation in its movement. During this period, San Francisco was projected to experience sustained heavy rainfall. Current estimates suggested the city could receive between 3 and 5 inches of rain. Flooding Caused By Excessive Rainfall Is Expected. Portion Portion Of Northern California, Including The Following County, San Francisco.. #CAwx pic.twitter.com/zgcoGT4PZH NWS Bay Area (@NWSBayArea) November 22, 2024 Flood advisory issued for San Francisco due to heavy rainfall A flood advisory was in effect for San Francisco until 8 p.m. Friday, due to heavy rainfall. Minor flooding was already occurring, with up to 0.7 inches of rain falling, and an additional 1 to 3 inches expected. Flooding was most likely in low-lying and poorly drained areas, including roadways like Interstate 280 near Geneva Avenue. A moderate to heavy rain band has set up shop over San Francisco and a large part of the Bay Area. The rain band will not move much until mid-afternoon, so expect urban flooding issues to pop up as 1 to 2 inches of rain pelt the region. Read more here about the atmospheric river stalled over San Francisco and much of the Bay Area. As of 11:12 a.m. Friday, Pacific Gas and Electric reported that 15,522 of its customers were affected by ongoing power outages. The second wave of a potent atmospheric river is sweeping through Northern California, bringing heavy rain and strong winds into the Bay Area. PG&E said its crews were actively working to assess the damage, make repairs and restore service. Since the storm began, the utility has restored power to more than 191,000 customers, with 89% being brought back online within 12 hours. Customers can monitor the status of outages and restoration efforts through PG&Es online outage center. A winter storm warning remained in effect across several California and Nevada regions, with heavy snow and hazardous conditions expected through Saturday and into next week. Snow accumulations of 1 to 3 feet were forecast above 7,000 feet in areas such as the Lake Tahoe region, Mono County, and parts of the Sierra. Winds could gust up to 55 mph, with ridge winds reaching 125 mph, causing potential power outages and tree damage. Travel could be very difficult to impossible, the agency wrote. A winter storm watch is also in effect Sunday through Tuesday. According to the weather service, a watch is typically upgraded to a warning or advisory Santa Rosa firefighters monitor flooding from Piner Creek with a stalled car sitting in the water in the driveway to the Sutter North Bay Medical Plazain Santa Rosa, Calif., on Thursday. Alvin A.H. Jornada/The Chronicle While the storm drenching Northern California was essentially the first major rain event of the year, it brought record-breaking rainfall, said UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain during an online briefing Friday. Charles M. SchulzSonoma County Airport in Santa Rosa logged nearly 7 inches of rain Wednesday, which is expected to occur just once every 100-200 years, according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration precipitation frequency data, Swain explained. Around a foot of rain has fallen in two days, which exceeds the defined threshold for a 1,000-year event based on 48-hour rainfall. But such rare events may actually occur more frequently that predicted by the NOAA precipitation atlas, Swain said. Was the two day precipitation in Santa Rosa that weve seen exceptional? Definitely. Do I think it was truly a 1-in-1,000 year two-day rain event in this part of the world? Probably not. Climate change has made precipitation more extreme, scientists say. Nonetheless, the rain event has been exceptional for places like Sonoma County and nearby areas. This is literally the heaviest rain event on a one-to-two-day period that weve observed, period, in this part of the state, Swain said. So that is quite notable. Jack Lee A mudslide blocked a road linking Sonoma and Napa counties Friday morning. A rain-soaked hillside sent mud, rocks and debris washing over both lanes of Porter Creek Road about 11 a.m. Sonoma County Fire Chief Mark Heine said the risk of mudslides was rising as the unrelenting rain continued saturating the ground. Were now starting to see earth move, Heine said. Julie Johnson A moderate to heavy rain band has set up shop over San Francisco and a large part of the Bay Area. This rain band will not move much over the next several hours, so expect urban flooding issues to pop up as upwards of 1 to 2 inches of rain are likely to fall from now through the mid-afternoon. Rainfall rates will be about 0.25 to 0.5 inches per hour over the next several hours, which will undoubtedly cause large puddles and urban flooding across the city, Peninsula and Oakland. A sharp cut off to the southern edge of the heavy rain stretches from about Palo Alto up the northeast towards Livermore and Tracey. South of these points, including San Jose, little if any rain is falling. Heavy rain battered Santa Rosa Friday, but emergency officials reported few problems beyond swamped roads falling trees. Santa Rosa Fire Marshal Paul Lowenthal said that a seven-hour break in the rain Thursday overnight into Friday morning diminished the threat of flooding from city creeks. The timing of the storm at the start of winter when the creeks and ground werent already saturated has given the voluminous amounts of water places to go, according to the fire marshal. With the break we had, hopefully well be in much better shape today, Lowenthal said. Julie Johnson Jorge Martinez, left, and Manuel Barral pause after the crossed a road flooded by rain waters from the nearby Eel River in Ferndale, Calif., Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle Friday brought a break in the rain in much of Humboldt County, even as rivers around the region and further south swelled with rainwater. On the outskirts of Ferndale, rising water from the Eel River flooded fields near Sharon Scofields home. Nearby, Jorge Martinez and Manuel Barrals tractor splashed through a flooded section of Sage Road.The farmhands normally work from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., they said. Today, their boss was only having his workers in the fields until about noon, because of the potential for more flooding in the fields, they said. I guess well rest, Martinez said, with a smile. Nearby, Scofield scoffed at the storm. Her family has lived in the area since the 1850s, and Scofield, 71, moved into her home on Sage Road two years ago. This is nothing, she said. It will come up a little bit more, but because the ground takes it so well, it will also probably drain. Water had pooled in her fields and closed some local roads but her home was perched 10 to 12 feet above those areas. When they said the Eel River would crest at 23 feet, I know I was ok, she said. If it was 26 feet (or more), I might have gotten nervous. Prior to the storm, shed banked hay for her horses, and she had extra batteries, food, and water in store as well. Sonoma County Airport records over a foot of rain in 3 days In the past three days, Sonoma County Airport has recorded 12.67 inches of rain, according to the National Weather Service a remarkable amount given the areas average annual rainfall of 34 inches from 1991 to 2020. The recent downpour represents more than 35% of the regions typical yearly rainfall in just 72 hours. The Santa Rosa Police Department warned of ongoing flooding in various parts of the city on Friday morning. Although no road closures were reported in the city, some areas are experiencing partial flooding, and ponding on roadways was widespread. A flood warning remained in effect through 4 p.m., while a flood advisory covers the entire North Bay until 3:15 a.m. Saturday. With over 10 inches of rain recorded in less than 48 hours, the National Weather Service confirmed yesterday as the second-wettest day in Santa Rosas history. Authorities urge residents to avoid unnecessary travel and never drive through flooded areas or around barricades. Brian Nokleby looks over the Big Chico Creek at the site of the gated dam used for flood control at Five Mile Recreation Area to see its level and clarity after storm runoff following the Park Fire in Chico, Calif., on Thursday. Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The Chronicle The Butte County Sheriffs Office issued a flood evacuation warning early Friday morning for the North Chico and Richardson Springs areas. The warning affects evacuation zones 312, 313, 314, 315 and 317 due to ongoing flooding. For the latest updates, see the evacuation map. The Sierra Avalanche Center issued a backcountry avalanche watch for the greater Lake Tahoe area that will last through early Saturday morning. The alert covers the Central Sierra Nevada Mountains, from Yuba Pass (Highway 49) to Ebbetts Pass (Highway 4). This does not include ski areas and highways where avalanche mitigation programs exist, the agency said. A powerful storm, bringing heavy snow, rain and strong winds, is expected to trigger widespread avalanche activity. Avalanches large enough to bury people or knock down large trees could occur in backcountry areas, authorities warned. The public was advised to avoid traveling in avalanche-prone terrain and to check the Sierra Avalanche Center for updated information. Steady rain is about to move into San Francisco and will overspread the rest of the Bay Area slowly this morning. Some of the worst conditions of the day, heavy rain and strong winds, will occur over the next several hours. The cold front responsible for the wind and rain is in no rush and will take basically all day to move through the area. We are still expecting a broad 1 to 3 inches of rain today, with 2 to 6 inches of rain expected in the North Bay. Winds will be the strongest over the next few hours as well, with frequent gusts of 30 to 40 mph across the city and Peninsula. Schools in a dozen districts in Sonoma County were closed Friday because of the severe weather. All campuses were closed in the following districts: Cinnabar Fort Ross Elementary Geyserville Unified Guerneville Horicon Kashia Monte Rio Union West Sonoma County High In addition, these schools were closed: Credo High School, Cotati-Rohnert Park Unified District Forestville Academy and Forestville School, Forestville Union District Montgomery School, Montgomery Elementary District Northwest Prep at Piner-Olivet, Piner-Olivet District Olivet Elementary Charter School, Piner-Olivet District More information and updates about closures can be found online at www.scoe.org/ The National Weather Service reported rainfall records for several Northern California locations Thursday. Charles M. SchulzSonoma County Airport in Santa Rosa tallied 4.93 inches, breaking the previous Nov. 21 record of 0.93 inches set in 2001. Records at the airport go back to 1998. Ukiah (Mendocino County) logged 3.66 inches of rainfall Thursday, breaking the previous daily record of 3.16 inches set in 1977. Redding registered 3.21 inches, breaking the previous daily record of 2.4 inches, also set in 1977. Records for both areas go back to 1893. Jack Lee As of 9:10 a.m. Friday approximately 11,100 Pacific Gas & Electric Co. customers were experiencing power outages, with 241 separate outages reported. As the atmospheric river continues to deliver heavy rains and strong winds along the North Coast and south through the Bay Area, PG&E crews and resources are working throughout our hometowns to assess storm-related damage, make repairs, and restore power safely and as quickly as possible, the utility company said. Firefighters quickly contained a wind-driven vegetation fire that broke out on Waverly Road near Farmington in Calaveras County on Thursday, after a downed powerline sparked the blaze. The Duck Fire, which started around 11 a.m., spread rapidly due to strong winds, growing from five acres to 54 acres by noon, according to Calaveras Consolidated Fire. By 4 p.m., Cal Fire reported the fire was fully contained at just over 73 acres. Pacific Gas & Electric Co. crews were also on site to address safety concerns related to the downed powerline. A tanker drops fire suppressant on a blaze started after wind knocked down a power line in Calaveras County. Calaveras Consolidated Fire S.F. Bay Ferry officials said shuttle service for the Alameda Oakland water shuttle was suspended due to inclement weather. All Pier 41 Short Hop trips were also cancelled on Friday. Highway 1 was fully closed north of Point Arena near the Garcia River in Mendocino County due to flooding, according to Caltrans. There was no estimated time for reopening. For the latest road conditions, the agency recommends checking road conditions on the QuickMap app or website. Highway 1 was fully closed north of Point Arena, near the Garcia River, in Mendocino County due to flooding, according to Caltrans. Caltrans The National Weather Service issued an extended flood warning for the Russian River at Johnsons Beach in Guerneville. The river was forecast to rise above the flood stage of 32 feet by late Friday, reaching 32.5 feet after midnight. This could cause localized flooding, including road closures at the intersection of Highway 116 and Neeley Road, as well as Mays Canyon Road. Drivers were urged not to attempt crossing flooded roads. The warning will remain in effect until further notice. The Russian River was expected to reach flood state Friday evening. National Weather Service All lanes of Highway 121 in both the northbound and southbound directions were covered in floodwater Friday morning between Highway 116 and 8th St. E. in Sonoma County, according to 511. Drivers were advised to expected delays and seek different routes if possible to avoid the area. Caltrans did not expect to get the lanes reopened until 5 p.m., according to the 511 alert. The atmospheric river parked over the Northern California was expected to bring more rain to the Bay Area on Friday, as a powerful cold front reaches the region. As much as 6 inches of rain could fall across the North Bay and 1 to 3 inches of rain was likely in San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose through Friday evening. For many locations south of San Francisco, Fridays heavy rain will bring the first notable precipitation of the ongoing atmospheric river event. A detailed look at the Bay Area forecast is here. Officials in Humboldt County issued evacuation orders early Friday morning due to flooding in areas that abut the Eel River, which was swelling from a deluge of rain on Thursday. Areas slightly further from the Eel River were placed under evacuation warnings. Butte County officials issued evacuation orders for several areas that abut the Eel River. Mandatory evacuation zones were shaded in red, with areas under evacuation warnings in yellow. Zonehaven Billowing winds were causing delays for inbound flights to San Francisco International Airport Friday morning, according to FlightAware. Flights were delayed at their airports of origin by an average of two and a half hours as airlines waited for conditions to improve before attempting to land at SFO. A total of 149 flights were delayed at SFO Friday morning, most of which were United Airlines and Southwest flights. Forty-nine flights had been canceled as of 7:10 a.m. Thousands of Pacific Gas & Electric Co. customers were without power Friday morning after a storm fueled by an atmospheric river inundated much of Northern California with rain and whipped up powerful winds. The Chronicles PG&E outage map showed nearly 4,900 PG&E customers without power in Mendocino County, which had perhaps the biggest pocket of blackouts Friday morning. The National Weather Service has issued weather advisories and warnings across the Bay Area for Friday; here is a roundup: Winds: A wind advisory is in effect for broad swaths of the Bay Area until 10 p.m. on Friday with frequent gusts of wind from the south at 35 to 50 mph, and even higher gusts across elevated areas. North Bay: A flood watch was issued for Friday morning. NWS said creeks and streams may rise out of their banks, and flooding may occur in poor drainage and urban areas. Low-water crossings may be flooded. A flood warning remains in effect until 4 p.m. Friday for east-central Sonoma County, where excessive rainfall continues to cause urban and small stream flooding. As of Thursday evening, Doppler radar indicated heavy rain across the region, with 3.5 to 7 inches already recorded. Flooding is occurring along key waterways such as Sonoma Creek, Green Valley Creek and Mark West Creek, with additional rainfall of 2 to 4 inches expected. Low-water crossings are submerged, and several roads remain impassable. Numerous roads remain closed due to flooding, the National Weather Service warned. Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the dangers of flooding. Theres also a flood warning for the Russian River at Johnsons Beach in Guerneville (Sonoma County) effective from Friday afternoon until further notice. The river is forecast to crest at 33.7 feet early Saturday, above the flood stage of 32 feet. At this level, local areas including the intersection of Hwy 116 and Drake Rd. in Guerneville will be flooded, as well as Willow and Alder Streets in Monte Rio. San Francisco: A high surf advisory was issued for early Friday morning. NWS says swell periods and wave heights will gradually decrease through the day, however gusty winds over the waters will keep the surf zone energetic, so still use caution visiting the beach. On the coast: Gale warnings for various coastal areas of California are in effect through 9 p.m. Friday. South winds ranging from 20 to 35 knots, gusting up to 50 knots, are expected, along with seas of 8 to 18 feet, creating hazardous conditions for mariners. Affected regions include waters from Point Arena to Pigeon Point, and from Cape Mendocino to Point Arena. Strong winds will cause hazardous seas which could capsize or damage vessels and reduce visibility, the National Weather Service warned. It advised mariners to stay in port, seek safe harbor or secure vessels to avoid the dangerous conditions. Weather apps show rain is expected through Tuesday for the Bay Area which would mean eight straight days of rain. But are the apps right? In this case, possibly. San Francisco, Oakland, Santa Rosa and Redding all have a greater than 90% chance of measurable rain each day through Tuesday. An unstable weather pattern will persist through the weekend and into next week, keeping the atmospheric river active. Go here to read more about the possibility for a long stretch of rain. Northern California logged copious rainfall Wednesday, with some locations receiving upwards of 10 inches of rain. So probably either the wettest or second-wettest day in a lifetime yesterday in parts of Sonoma County and probably too in parts of southern Mendocino County, said UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain during an online briefing Thursday. There are rising concerns for potential impacts in the coming days, Swain said: If youre already seeing flooding, keep in mind that the worst is probably yet to come, as heavy rain continues and will even briefly intensify tomorrow morning when the cold front finally moves through with a burst of widespread, heavy precipitation. Heavy downpours would be particularly problematic on the heels of days of steady rain. What that means is that your rivers are already primed to respond. Theyre already running high, hillslopes may become saturated, and then you dump a lot of water on it all at once, Swain said. That can be the straw that broke the camels back, so to speak, with some of these small- to medium-sized rivers. Swain highlighted Sonoma and Mendocino counties as an area of concern due to heavy rain over the next 24 to 36 hours, as well as the foothills above Lake Oroville, including the Park Fire footprint. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. The a2 Milk Company (the Company, a2MC) has today announced that it has updated its FY25 revenue guidance and established a dividend policy for the first time in Company history. Updated FY25 revenue guidance Year to date trading is ahead of plan and previous guidance provided on 19 August 2024, primarily due to a significant increase in MVM external ingredient sales compared to plan and prior year due to higher Global Dairy Trade prices, currency impacts and changes in product mix, which have an immaterial impact on EBITDA1. In addition, English Label IMF sales and Liquid Milk sales are slightly ahead of plan. Having regard to year to date trading and outlook, the Company is now expecting mid to high single-digit revenue growth in FY25 versus FY24, compared to previous guidance of mid single-digit growth. EBITDA margin (as % of revenue) in FY25 is still expected to be broadly in line with FY24, with 1H25 down and 2H25 up compared with prior year. For the full FY25 trading update and outlook commentary, refer to page 27 of the Annual Meeting Presentation dated 22 November 2024. Implementation of dividend policy a2MC has also today announced that it has established a dividend policy. The dividend policy targets a payout ratio range of between 60% and 80% of net profit after tax excluding non-recurring and other items (normalised NPAT). The implementation of a2MCs dividend policy commences immediately, with the first interim dividend expected to be declared in February 2025 based on the Companys 1H25 result and in line with the bottom end of the range, being 60% of normalised NPAT. Chair of the Board, Pip Greenwood said: The a2 Milk Company has made considerable progress in developing its operating model and creating a more resilient business. Given this progress and our strong balance sheet position, the Board believes the time is right to introduce a dividend policy that delivers sustainable cash returns to shareholders over time. 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Related News: MPG - Metroglass clarifies media statements by Crescent Capital VTL - Takeovers Panel orders Empire to reimburse Vital's expenses March 14th Morning Report SKT - Sky secures iconic sports rights RYM - Ryman completes Retail Entitlement Offer TEM - Transaction in Own Shares FPH launches F&P Nova Nasal mask in NZ and AU Fonterra announces changes to management team March 12th Morning Report WHS FY25 Interim Results teleconference details For more than 1,000 days, since Vladimir Putin launched his barbaric invasion of Ukraine, the West has feared an 'escalation' in the conflict. Now those fears are becoming realised. Yesterday, the Russian dictator denied claims that Moscow had launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) at the Ukrainian city of Dnipro which would have been the first time such a weapon had been fired in combat. He insisted, instead, that the projectile was a new 'medium-range missile tested in response to Western aggression' specifically the use of long-range Western missiles, including British Storm Shadows, in Ukraine. But as the Kremlin separately warned that a US military base in Poland was 'on a list for potential destruction', and the Russian ambassador stated that Britain was now 'directly involved' in the war, thoughts have turned as to how Putin might respond. Like many Russia-watchers, I believe the dictator's nuclear threats are empty bluster. Even a nuclear test, let alone the deployment of a 'tactical' atomic weapon, would bring devastating retaliation. But could he launch a conventional missile attack on Britain? And if he did, could we properly defend ourselves? And what else might he do in the weeks ahead to destabilise the democratic world and advance his filthy cause? For more than 1,000 days, since Vladimir Putin (pictured) launched his barbaric invasion of Ukraine , the West has feared an 'escalation' in the conflict Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, walks with Vadym Fiashkin, head of the Donetsk Regional Military Administration, right, during a tour of frontline positions If Putin did launch a conventional missile strike, our air-defence radars, as well as our allies', would spot the projectiles well before impact. On paper, at least, we have some protection: primarily our six Type 45 destroyers. Each of these formidable warships carries 48 state-of-the-art Aster air-defence missiles. However, only two of our Type 45s are currently deployable. These billion-pound warships have been plagued by maintenance issues. HMS Daring, for example, has spent most of its 15-year life in refits: more than it has spent in active service. The powerful HMS Duncan is in service and does carry Aster missiles which would buy time for our Prime Minister to invoke allied support and authorise countermeasures. A lot would be riding on the ship's efficacy and in the hope that Putin's strike would be limited, as its stock of Asters would be swiftly depleted. Moreover, the Type 45s provide only a partial shield. If one happens to be in the Thames Estuary at the time of attack, for example, London might be covered but the rest of the country would be left defenceless. An intercontinental ballistic missile strike would be hard if not impossible to defend against. Pictured: An image released by the Russian Defence Ministry purports to show the test firing of an intercontinental ballistic missile belonging to the country's nuclear deterrence forces Needless to say, an intercontinental ballistic missile strike would be many orders of magnitude worse and far harder if not impossible to defend against. Although we have a handful of state-of-the-art short-range Sky Sabre land-based missile-defence systems, we wholly lack defences against ICBMs that could prevent utter disaster, such as Israel's Arrow 3 anti-balllistic missile. However, even without such a grim scenario which could ultimately presage a nuclear exchange, and with it the end of civilisation a more pressing immediate concern is that Britain is already under attack from Russia, through sabotage and other mischief, and has been for years. This will now escalate. Russia has become an expert in these ignoble arts, which range from murder to sabotage via cyber-attacks and propaganda operations. They are often carried out by proxies: that is, criminals hired for cash. Only last month, 20-year-old Dylan Earl, from Leicestershire, pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey to aggravated arson on a Ukrainian-linked business in London, carried out on behalf of the Russian mercenary Wagner Group which has not gone away following the death of its bloodthirsty leader Yevgeny Prigozhin in a plane crash last year. Sixty firefighters were needed to bring the blaze in March under control, though luckily no one was injured. Counter-terrorism police are separately investigating a parcel bomb in Birmingham, aimed at bringing down a plane carrying freight. The powerful HMS Duncan (pictured) is in service and does carry Aster missiles which would buy time for our Prime Minister to invoke allied support and authorise countermeasures if the UK was under attack The deadly package, along with others targeting Poland and Germany, was posted in Lithuania a hop across the border from the Russian puppet state of Belarus. Other mysterious blazes have sprung up around the country: at an ammunition plant in Monmouthshire in April, and earlier this month at our nuclear submarine shipyard in Barrow. British defence companies have also suffered alarming fires. Scandalously, no one in government is willing to talk openly about these bizarrely synchronised conflagrations. But let me make one prediction: we are now certain to see more of them. Then there are cyber-attacks. This summer saw a devastating 'ransomware' assault on several major London hospitals in which hackers demanded money, often in hard-to-trace cryptocurrency, to unlock vital computer systems. Operations were cancelled, emergency patients had to be transported to other hospitals and blood transfusions and test results were also affected. Last year, staff at British Airways, Boots and the BBC were similarly targeted in Russia-linked cyber-attacks. These too are surely set to proliferate not least because North Korea, whose brainwashed soldiers are now fighting alongside the Russians in Ukraine, has its own dedicated army of cyber-hackers. Now for a third piece of mayhem. Russia is already systematically attacking seabed cables and pipelines, the arteries of our data and energy flows. On Wednesday this week, a Chinese ship reportedly captained by a Russian national was being inspected by the Danish authorities following catastrophic damage to undersea infrastructure in the Baltic Sea, in a suspected malicious attack. As an island, Britain is particularly vulnerable to such assaults and Putin has been scheming them for years. Only last month, 20-year-old Dylan Earl, from Leicestershire (pictured) pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey to aggravated arson on a Ukrainian-linked business in London, carried out on behalf of the Russian mercenary Wagner Group Russia has been linked to 14 deaths on British soil in recent years, including the assassination of Alexander Litvinenko in a case of polonium-laced tea in 2006. pictured: Alexander Litvinenko is pictured at the Intensive Care Unit of University College Hospital on November 20, 2006 Finally, I expect more physical intimidation and worse of individuals on British soil. Not just poisonings, as we witnessed in Salisbury against top MI6 source Sergei Skripal in 2018, but also the beatings and murders of dissidents. Russia has been linked to 14 deaths on British soil in recent years, including the assassination of Alexander Litvinenko in a case of polonium-laced tea in 2006. But intimidation can be political, too. The Kremlin could hack into the private email accounts of senior politicians to leak compromising information a tactic used, however much Donald Trump tries to deny it, to devastating effect against Hillary Clinton during her 2016 presidential campaign. Britain's decision-makers are similarly a top target. Sowing division through rumours and scare stories, including on social media, can paralyse a country and its leaders surprisingly quickly. Which all brings me to perhaps my most important point. Putin's aim is not to defeat us in military combat: he knows he cannot for now win against the combined might of Nato, while Beijing remains unlikely to commit its millions of troops to his cause. His aim instead is to instil cowardice in the general population to cause ordinary Britons to turn their backs on Ukraine, and demand that their own government stop supporting the defenders. Why support Ukraine, these siren voices will sing, when the price is misery at home? Why do we maintain and expense a 'tripwire' force in Estonia? What is the point of Nato now that an isolationist Trump is heading back to the White House? Surely it is better to pull out of these entanglements and concentrate on our own problems? Yet if we allow Russia to conquer Ukraine, the result will not be perfect peace. Instead, the seeds will be sown for a future conflict, one in which Britain will be in a far more parlous position. Instead of kowtowing to our foes, we should rekindle the spirit that won previous epic contests the world wars against Germany and its allies, and the cold war against Soviet Communism. We need, too, a new arsenal of crafty, painful counter-measures for example seizing the frozen 250billion assets of Russia's central bank and using it to arm and rebuild Ukraine. So long as our enemies believe they can attack us with impunity, they will not cease from doing so. That is why we must continue to support the Ukrainians and show Putin that we will not back down. The Duchess of Sussex should empathise with the Duke of Rutland's son, Lord Hugo Manners, who's been attacked by the forces of wokery for 'country pillaging' over Joah, his Indian clothing brand. Meghan suffered similar flak in 2018 for the Indian motifs on her wedding dress. My colleague Robert Hardman revealed in his book Queen Of Our Times that US and Indian academics called the dress 'patronising', 'tone-deaf' and 'colonial amnesia at its worst'. Maybe she and Hugo should have stuck to tweed. The Duchess of Sussex (pictured) should empathise with the Duke of Rutland's son, Lord Hugo Manners Lord Hugo Manners (far left), has been attacked by the forces of wokery for 'country pillaging' over Joah, his Indian clothing brand. Pictured: Lord Hugo Manners, Lady Violet Manners, Lady Alice Manners, Lady Eliza Manners and Charles Manners Meghan suffered similar flak in 2018 for the Indian motifs on her wedding dress. Pictured: Meghan's wedding dress Bestowing an honorary degree on sister-in-law Queen Camilla, did Princess Anne, Chancellor of the University of London, recall her youth when both sought the affection of Andrew Parker Bowles? Camilla married and later divorced him while Anne was smitten by the Catholic Guards officer. All romantic ambition was dashed under ancient statutes that prevented the Royal Family from marrying Catholics while retaining their succession rights. The 2013 Succession to the Crown Act removed this disqualification. Too late for Anne and Andy. Queen Camilla (L) is presented with an honorary doctorate of literature at the University of London by the University's Chancellor, Princess Anne Beer aficionado President Xi Jinping didn't give the impression he wanted to sup with Keir Starmer in Brazil. He was famously wooed over beer by David Cameron in 2015. Prince Philip ensured that Xi's suite at Buckingham Palace was furnished with bottles of HRH's favourite Double Diamond, and he even slipped a few bottles into Xi's luggage for the flight home. Shouldn't Starmer have brought a gift crate of ale to Rio? President of Brazil Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (R) meets with President of China Xi Jinping (L) at the Alvorada Palace in Brasilia, Brazil Explaining her dyslexia, Cher, says: 'I don't know my address and I don't know my phone number. 'But I don't care, if people want to find me they will. I say it is the house with all the palm trees. 'And if I want to know what my phone number is I click to Lucille Ball.' The delightfully daft Cher saves her number under the name of the Hollywood star, safe in the knowledge that Ms Ball won't answer, having died in 1989. Explaining her dyslexia, Cher (pictured), says: 'I don't know my address and I don't know my phone number After John Prescott delivered a left jab to an egg thrower in Rhyl he got a call from PM Tony Blair. 'I began at my most mellifluous,' recalled Blair. 'Sorry about what happened, dreadful of him to do that... After about five minutes of this guff, John interrupted me. 'I know you,' he said. 'I know what you're up to. You want me to apologise. Aye well, I'm bloody well not. So you can forget it'.' After John Prescott (pictured) delivered a left jab to an egg thrower in Rhyl he got a call from PM Tony Blair Anti-Brexit Bill Nighy has used his mother's Irish nationality to escape the hassle of travelling on a British passport. 'I'm now officially Irish,' he tells Vogue. 'I have an Irish passport. I remain in Europe.' Bill Nighy attends the 'Joy' Headline Gala during the 68th BFI London Film Festival at The Royal Festival Hall on October 15, 2024 in London Discoverer of The Who, producer Shel Talmy, who has died at 87, was represented by Lord Hailsham in the High Court in 1966 after the band fired him. 'The judge was confused by the musical combo's name, so Hailsham explained: 'My client is suing The Who, as in World Health Organisation, M'lord.' In his headlong dash to decarbonise Britain, Ed Miliband appears to be unmoved by the essential need of households for secure, cheap energy supplies to keep them warm. Before the election, our eco-zealot Energy Secretary insisted Labour would not force people to rip out their gas boilers and install environmentally friendly heat pumps. But by preparing to fine firms who don't meet strict quotas for producing and selling these green systems, that's effectively what the Government seeks to do. The cost of those penalties will inevitably be passed on to buyers who shun the unreliable new technology in favour of boilers that they know actually work. This 'tax' will put prices up by an estimated 120 the aim being to make trusty old combis prohibitively expensive for the average homeowner. Yet blinded by green ideology, Mr Miliband ignores the fact many heat pumps are not up to the job. In spite of generous grants, the cost is eye-watering, they don't provide enough warmth on cold days and they are unsuitable for homes with poor insulation or little outdoor space. And far from enjoying cheaper energy, families who fit them often find their bills double or treble. Given such flaws, why would anyone make the transition? As ever, the Government gives scant sign of grasping life's economic realities. Energy Secretary Ed Milliband pictured leaving Downing Street after the first cabinet meeting following summer recess Scepticism about Labour's green revolution is understandable. This country contributes less than 1 per cent to global emissions and already leads the world in carbon reduction. Replacing every boiler in Britain with a heat pump would have a negligible effect on climate change. The only real consequence would be to leave countless households poorer and colder. Who, except Mr Miliband and his band of Net Zero fanatics, would sign up for that? Stain on justice The International Criminal Court's decision to issue an arrest warrant for Israel's prime minister is wickedly perverse. While the force of Israel's retaliation in Gaza is not beyond reproach, the country is fighting for its survival against the genocidal maniacs of Hamas. By accusing Benjamin Netanyahu of war crimes, the ICC shows it is pursuing a politically motivated vendetta and bringing international law into disrepute. That Sir Keir Starmer should endorse this prosecution is an abomination. It raises the extraordinary prospect of Mr Netanyahu being handcuffed if he visited the UK. It is a damning indictment of the Prime Minister's principles (or lack of them) that he'll cosy up to President Xi of China, a serial abuser of human rights, while throwing a supposed ally under the bus. Sir Keir should reject this arrest warrant. By not doing so, he hands a victory to anti-Semites and terror sympathisers. The International Criminal Court (ICC) building pictured on November 21 in The Hague Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pictured delivering a speech during a memorial ceremony of the Hamas attack on October 7 A punchy politician Whatever your personal views on his politics, John Prescott was a huge figure in the Labour movement. While his ministerial record was patchy, as Deputy PM he was a highly effective bridge between Tony Blair's New Labour project and the Left-wing trade unions. An unashamed bruiser who revelled in his working-class background, he famously punched an egg-throwing protester. Compare him to the robots who dominate today's Labour party, with their snivelling wokery and lies. Is it any wonder voters crave colourful, authentic politicians? Before they were famous for selling boozy hot chocolates and viral Yorkshire pudding burritos, Christmas markets were once a great place to find unique gifts in the UK. But in recent years, it seems independent sellers have moved on from the festive stall circuit - thereby making way for those selling 'overpriced tat' that can easily be found on Amazon, Shein, Temu and Etsy. Last week, Belfast's Christmas market opened up in the city centre again - with one stall flogging potential Christmas gifts for an eye-watering mark-up. Along with a 14 'Just a Girl' hamster meme mug, which retails for 5 on Shein, the small business was also selling some illustrated reusable Starbucks cups for a staggering 20. Meanwhile, TikTok users have also spotted near identical garlic grater plates on sale at Bristol and York Christmas markets - when they can be sourced for half the price online. Earlier this week, Birmingham residents complained about the effect the city's Christmas market is having on local business - despite some of the stalls appearing to be selling incredibly similar products. Speaking to The Guardian, Beatrice Douzjian - who runs the Ju Ju cafe - explained: 'As soon as it starts, we notice theres a lull in business. 'It pulls trade away from small independents like ourselves but it doesnt offer value for customers, with the same tat being sold across the market for extortionate prices.' Pictured: The Belfast Christmas Market stall selling a TikTok meme mug with a 9 mark-up and Starbucks cups, which are 10 more expensive than on Etsy Pictured: The hamster mug inspired by the 'Just a Girl' trend that took TikTok by storm earlier this year Meanwhile, Hannah, 36, agreed she would prefer to see a greater variety of products on sale. The local woman added: 'If every stand was its own independent stall, it would be better, but they just all sell the same stuff. Its overpriced tat, but its fun overpriced tat I suppose.' Here FEMAIL reveals how Christmas market vendors are making a fortune selling 'tat' that looks suspiciously like things you can find on the internet. Liverpool - 5.50 mark-up on Christmas decorations Last week, Liverpool Christmas market, which has been running for the past 18 years, opened its doors again. In 2023, over 750,000 visitors flocked to the festive market - and its proving to be equally as popular this time round. TikTok user Lauren was among the first guests to return to the market and filmed a video browsing some of the Christmas tree decorations on sale. In her video, the social media user paused to take a look at some personalised 2D wooden baubles, which retail for 7 each. TikTok user Lauren filmed a video of herself browsing some of the Christmas tree decorations on sale in Liverpool Pictured: the 1.50 personalised wooden Christmas tree decorations that are best-sellers on Etsy On Etsy, an incredibly similar design - which can also be personalised - can be ordered for 1.50 and remains one of the online marketplace's best-sellers. Lauren captioned the post: 'Only in the Liverpool Christmas markets!' Bath: Paper lanterns 13 more expensive than Temu Although the Bath Christmas market doesn't open until later this week, their official social media accounts have shared glimpses of the returning stalls - including one selling star-shaped paper lanterns. The ornaments are sold for 15 in Bath - but similar designs can be found on Temu for as little as 2. Giving the market one star out of five last year, one TripAdvisor user wrote: 'The items for sale (if you could actually access the sheds) were generally very expensive. 'The impression gained is that Bath is not a big enough location to host this type of tourist attraction.' Pictured: The 15 paper lanterns on sale at Bath Christmas Market, which has been criticised for being 'overpriced' and 'overcrowded' The star-shaped paper ornaments are sold for 15 in Bath - but similar designs can be found on Temu (pictured) for as little as 2 After the lanterns appeared in a TikTok yesterday, one local commented: 'As someone who lives in Bath I cant go out on weekends bc the whole centre is gridlocked with people coming from everywhere to the Christmas market.' Another added: 'It's so crowded you can't move or actually see any of the stalls.' Belfast: 15 TikTok meme mug that can be bought for a fiver on Shein In Belfast, one stall appears to be making a killing selling items you can buy on Amazon and Etsy for an inflated price point. Earlier this week, the TikTok user Northern Ireland Traveller posted a tour of the Belfast Christmas market - which ended with footage of the stall selling slippers, key chains, mugs and Starbucks cups. Pictured: the Belfast Christmas Market stall that is selling 'viral' presents, like the 'Just a Girl' hamster mug Pictured: an almost identical Starbucks cup design can be purchased on Etsy for as little as 9.99 Pictured: these 16 Etsy slippers can also be personalised and also feature a seam running down the front Among the items on sale are a pair of 23 pink monogrammed slippers. A near identical pair - with a seam running down the middle - can be purchased on Etsy for 16. On top of this, the stall - which is also selling a 14 hamster mug based on a TikTok meme - is flogging illustrated Starbucks cups for 20. Again, almost identical designs can be purchased on Etsy for 9.99. What's more, the stall has also capitalised on the popular 'Just a Girl' TikTok meme by putting the 'sad hamster' illustration on a mug, which they're selling for 14. On Shein, shoppers can pick up the same version - complete with matching text and baby pink inside - for 5 on Shein. Edinburgh: Pricey chalet ornaments that appear in other markets TikToker Dave Mani showcased how Edinburgh Christmas market also has a stall selling chalet ornaments of varying sizes This Amazon Christmas chalet ornament (pictured) retails for 13 - while the Edinburgh market offerings seem to start from 27 Meanwhile, TikToker Dave Mani showcased how Edinburgh Christmas market also has a stall selling chalet ornaments of varying sizes - just like Belfast and York's. In Edinburgh, the cheapest ornament appears to be around the 27 mark. In contrast, a very similar version of the Christmas chalet is only 13 on Amazon. Writing on TripAdvisor, one Edinburgh local moaned the market has changed beyond all recognition. They wrote: 'I've lived in Edinburgh all my life (30 years) and the Christmas market used to be one of my favourite events of the year in Edinburgh, it was truly magical and so much fun right through until my early 20's. 'In the last 5-10 years it's changed a lot, much more expensive, the stalls feel less independent and more tat and the main issue is the crowds. Makes it honestly unbearable to visit, you queue for 20 minutes for 1 cup of overpriced mulled wine and don't bother with any of the rides because you'll wait all day to get on.' In the past few weeks, people have been sharing videos of the overwhelming crowds that have gathered in city centres for the festivities. On Sunday, TikToker Rachel shared a video of her walk into York when she found herself in the hoards of people trying to get to the market. She wrote: 'Every year, I make the mistake of going into York centre on a Saturday in Xmas season.' 'Literally forget how stressful it is every year,' she added in the caption. One viewer replied: 'I simply do not go into town on weekends once the markets start. Weekdays and evenings only.' 'I live in York,' another added. 'This time of year is a nightmare.' 'Imagine trying to get to work on time and having to walk through that,' a third said. Social media users have also threatened to 'boycott' their local markets in York and Birmingham Last week, York Christmas Market returned to the city centre again - but locals were up in arms about some of the prices. Pictured: Birmingham Christmas market, where visitors can pay 9 for a hot dog or 4.50 for a bag of roasted almonds Kristina from Hereford eating a half-a-metre long Bratwurst sausage at Birmingham's Frankfurt Christmas Market During a visit, X user Jack spotted a stall serving steak and chips for 14 - while a single portion of chips with a sauce was 7. He fumed: 'Christmas markets need to be stopped. It's a shameless money grab from families (usually) and there's f**k all traditional about it anyway!" But Jack isn't the only former Christmas market fan who is now pledging to boycott them entirely over the food prices. Earlier this week, X user Alice fumed: 'I never want to go to a Christmas market in the UK. Stand around a grotty high street and pay 10 for a cup of lukewarm wine? No thank you.' Meanwhile, Birmingham Christmas market - which has enforced a one-beer rule for visitors - was slammed earlier this month for their 'rip-off' 9 hot dog and 4.50 bag of almonds. John Beard, 35, from Birmingham, said: 'This will be the first time in ten years I'm not going to bother [going]. 'It's a combination of the rip-off prices and that one beer rule is just daft. You can queue for half hour there easily so sometimes you want to double up. 'People are watching the pennies more than ever and don't want to spend nearly a tenner on a sausage. You can blow about 50 in ten minutes.' For 12 years, Franky Dean was haunted by a terrible secret, one so bad it triggered panic attacks, flashbacks and even suicidal thoughts. This secret festered until last year, when she finally felt able to tell her parents that, aged just 12, she'd been abused by a friend's father while she was at a sleepover. 'I said I was sexually assaulted,' recalls Franky. 'I was expecting them to be shocked.' What she wasn't expecting were the next words that came out of her father's mouth: 'We know.' Because, for a decade, her parents had been carrying their own burden. Two years after Franky had been abused, her friend's father was arrested for covertly filming women and girls in his house, as well as public toilets and changing rooms. Among the extensive material discovered when police seized his computer which included 13,000 indecent images of children - was a recording of him assaulting Franky as she lay in bed. But when the police contacted her parents during their investigation, because it appeared their little girl had been asleep and unaware of his sickening actions, they were advised not to tell her. As loving parents, they followed this guidance, thinking it was best to spare their daughter unnecessary distress. For 12 years, Franky Dean was haunted by a terrible secret, one so bad it triggered panic attacks, flashbacks and even suicidal thoughts Except that she had been aware. For Franky, now 25, confiding in her parents was a watershed moment, the culmination of years of turmoil; but also the start of a process that has, in many ways, compounded her trauma as she's come to terms with both what happened to her and what was hidden from her. 'I was upset and confused. It had taken everything to keep it to myself for 12 years,' Franky says now. 'I'd spent half my life hiding it, only for the two closest people to me to have already known.' Her parents who Franky doesn't blame were also left reeling. 'It came as a terrific shock when she told us she knew,' Anne, 64, says. Andrew, 67, adds: 'Our sole thought was to protect Francesca. It turned out to be the wrong thing to do.' Franky's experience, and the issues it raises, calls into question the rights of 'unknowing victims' of sexual assault. They include those who have been filmed without consent, assaulted in their sleep or assaulted while drugged. Perhaps the most high-profile of these types of cases is that of Frenchwoman Gisele Pelicot, 72, whose former husband Dominique is currently on trial for drugging Gisele so that he and at least 51 strangers could sexually assault her while she was unconscious. Her husband also videoed the assaults. During the trial, which is expected to conclude next month, Gisele said of finally learning about her husband's despicable actions: 'My world fell apart. For me, everything was falling apart. Everything I had built up over 50 years.' But while Gisele's experience is extreme and, thankfully, rare as the use of tech has increased in recent years so have the number of unknowing victims of sex crimes. As a result, the Sexual Offences Act has been expanded to include crimes like upskirting, where photographs or videos are taken underneath a person's clothing without their permission. So is it ever in a victim's best interests to have the crime kept from them? Should it be considered a lesser crime if they're not aware? And how can anyone be sure the victim doesn't know what happened? For Franky, a documentary maker, it's the desire to get answers to these questions that has motivated her to bravely waive her anonymity and highlight the plight of those in her situation. As she says: 'I'm reclaiming what happened to me to help other survivors.' Until the assault, she describes a happy childhood with her parents and older sister. Growing up in Reading, Berkshire, she enjoyed horse-riding, sunshine holidays and ski trips to France. Aged 11 she became a boarder at a private school where she met Jo, and in turn Jo's father Greg. (In order to protect the identity of the girl she was once so close to, Franky has asked that we do not use Greg and Jo's real names.) The two became friends and Franky enjoyed several visits to Jo's house in the school holidays, so she trusted Greg, who worked in the military. 'He was always nice to me,' recalls Franky. But things took a sinister turn during a sleepover in November 2011. Jo slept in her sister's room so 12-year-old Franky could spend the night in her single bedroom, which also doubled as Greg's office. Aged just 12, Franky had been abused by a friend's father while she was at a sleepover The head of the bed was next to a desk with his computer on it and Franky recalls waking up 'and him being sat there. I thought he was doing some work.' Unconcerned, she fell back to sleep but her next memory is of Greg, having pushed aside her pyjama bottoms, and touching her intimately. 'He was staring at the computer, almost as if he wasn't concentrating,' says Franky, who was half-asleep and unaware she was being recorded. 'I froze. None of it made sense.' The next morning, her recollections were 'so blurry I wasn't sure if it had happened or not'. Greg certainly made no mention of the assault and Franky didn't tell anyone. 'I didn't know what had happened was wrong. I had no understanding of what happened to me because I didn't understand sex,' she recalls. Almost two years later in July 2013, Greg was arrested after three women in a family changing room at a leisure centre noticed a hand holding a camera under the cubicle walls and reported him to management. Around this time Franky unaware of the arrest remembers being called into her headmistress's office along with other girls in her year and questioned by police. 'They asked if anything had happened on any sleepovers recently, but I didn't link it with what had happened to me,' she says, adding that Greg's name was not mentioned, nor, to the best of her memory, was any suggestion of sexual assault. But in the spring of 2014, her parents Andrew and Anne were visited by a female officer and informed that their daughter was one of Greg's victims. Franky had been pictured in the shower and on the toilet, she said, and there was a video of Greg touching her vagina and breasts on the night of the sleepover. 'We were angry and horrified,' says Andrew, a retired IT business owner. Anne recalls feeling 'sick at the thought of what he'd done to my little girl. As a mother I think you feel physical pain when you realise someone has hurt your child.' Both Anne and Andrew say the officer was 'absolutely certain' Franky didn't know what had happened to her, and their daughter's behaviour she was her usual bubbly self also gave them no cause to think otherwise. There is no official guidance for police on whether they should tell unknowing victims about the crimes committed against them, and Andrew feels no anger towards the police officer. 'We believe she was doing what she thought was in Francesca's best interests,' he says. 'We were told it shouldn't make any difference to the outcome of the case.' So they decided not to tell Franky. Though they now have regrets about how it was handled, both say they'd do the same again. 'Clearly this is a massive trauma for Franky,' says Anne, a retired businesswoman. 'We now know we made the wrong decision, so obviously we feel sad and sorry about that. But at the time we couldn't see how she would benefit from us telling her, and I'm not sure how I would have done it differently.' In order not to raise Franky's suspicions, and because Franky liked Jo so much, Anne and Andrew let her continue the friendship, but engineered ways to ensure she didn't visit Jo's house. In December 2015, Greg whose thousands of indecent images included pictures of Franky and other school friends pleaded guilty to 22 separate charges including sexual assault, voyeurism and outraging public decency. He was discharged from the Army when his offences came to light but had the continued support of his wife. Custodial sentences for child sexual assault range from four to six years, and Andrew and Anne were expecting 'an automatic prison sentence'. Instead, on sentencing him to a desultory three-year community order at Reading Crown Court, Judge Johannah Cutts seemed to suggest his victims' ignorance was a mitigating factor: 'I'm told that these girls do not know what happened. But if they did a great deal of harm would be caused.' Understandably, Anne and Andrew were furious at the leniency of the sentence and the fact police had told them Franky's 'being asleep' would not affect Greg's punishment. 'We felt let down,' Andrew says. 'The court gave him a slap on the wrist.' For Franky, now 25, confiding in her parents was a watershed moment, the culmination of years of turmoil, but also the start of a process that has compounded her trauma as she's come to terms with what happened to her Anne recalls a 'dilemma' at that point. Pressing for an appeal 'would have meant bringing Francesca into the picture, and we didn't believe she knew. 'We're more angry now because maybe we could have done something about it.' In fact, it was around this time that Franky's flashbacks started. She'd got her first boyfriend and becoming sexually active triggered memories of the assault. Yet this made her more determined to keep it a secret. 'I didn't want my friend to lose her dad; for what had happened to me to ruin her life,' says Franky, unaware that Greg, still living at home as normal after escaping a prison sentence, had been unmasked as an abuser. She also 'vowed' not to tell her parents 'because I didn't want them to blame themselves that they'd sent me to his house'. Nonetheless, she recalls lashing out at them as she started to process the abuse. 'We put it down to her being a teenager,' says Andrew. The couple didn't talk about Greg's conviction with parents of other girls in Franky's friendship group who had been filmed. Nor did they discuss it between themselves much, with Anne admitting: 'We probably shut it out of our minds a bit.' Meanwhile, Franky's mental health deteriorated. 'I couldn't sleep without noise, or have silence, ever, because as soon as there was silence, I got flashbacks,' she says. When she was 18 and at university, her GP put her on antidepressants. She did tell an NHS helpline she'd been assaulted and requested counselling, but was informed wrongly that having therapy would require the NHS to report the abuse to police, 'so that put me off'. She continued to be friends with Jo until she was 19, when Franky saw Greg's face as Jo FaceTimed her father while they holidayed together. 'That was my breaking point. I thought: 'I can't be friends with her any more. I can't have the reminder of him.' ' After that, their friendship 'fizzled out'. The same year, a conversation with another school friend about the mysterious police visit to school clarified things further when the friend admitted she'd been told by her mother that it was 'because Greg had filmed us all in the bathroom'. The impact of that revelation on Franky was profound. In the following weeks she had a 'full-on breakdown'. 'It felt as if I were outside my own body. I couldn't control anything that happened to me. I broke up with my boyfriend. I lost all my friends.' Her suicidal thoughts also started. On a visit home, she asked her mum if she had been aware of Greg's filming. Anne believing this was all her daughter knew replied that she had, adding: 'I never let you stay over at his after that.' Franky explains: 'It fuelled my determination not to say anything. My parents would be upset that they thought they had protected me but hadn't.' Anne, meanwhile, recalls being 'cautious not to say too much' lest her daughter suspect worse. As far as she was concerned, the topic was laid to rest until Franky arrived in New York for her Masters in Journalism last year and found a helpful therapist. She was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, prescribed stronger antidepressants and was feeling more resilient when she watched the documentary film To Kill A Tiger, about a 13-year-old Indian girl who reports men who gang-raped her. Franky sat in the cinema and sobbed. 'I thought: 'Why have I not come forward myself?' ' She filed a police report online that day and FaceTimed her parents the day after when the truth was finally revealed. 'My initial reaction was to be upset with everyone knowing and no one telling me,' admits Franky. 'But I quickly understood they did what they thought was the best thing for me. Now I put that blame on the police.' Andrew showed Franky his chain of email correspondence with the police from 2014, which outlined the extent of the abuse to her for the first time. 'I didn't know about him touching my breasts, which he'd filmed as well,' she says. 'I broke down.' She was is enraged by the leniency of Greg's sentence. 'This man has put me through something to the point I didn't think I wanted to be alive any more and he didn't spend any time in jail. How is that acceptable?' When Franky came home last Christmas, she was interviewed by police to assess whether the assault she remembered was the same assault cited in court and whether Greg could be re-tried because Franky had been awake. Reliving her ordeal in detail was traumatic. 'I had to remember everything, like the room layout and the hand he used, that I'd never thought about. But I could remember so clearly when they asked: it reactivated everything.' Police reminded her of their visit to her school when she was 13, and the fact she hadn't mentioned the assault then. 'They were saying they did their due diligence, but it felt like victim-blaming,' she says. After two months, police concluded the assault was the same one Greg had been convicted for, so he couldn't be tried again. Not only that, they told Franky that the Crown Prosecution Service had decided Greg would be given an even lighter sentence if he was tried in the knowledge Franky were awake shockingly suggesting that she'd have been more in control. 'It was so illogical. Surely the knock-on effect of being awake and knowing what is happening is more dire,' says Franky. The case was closed and Franky's opportunity to give a victim impact statement denied. 'Everything I'd worked up to for 12 years had collapsed. I was crushed. All I wanted was justice. I couldn't even be part of my own case.' Greg, who now owns a construction business, is 'living his life as if nothing has happened', while her flashbacks continue. She at least has the support of her parents. 'They've been so understanding,' she says. 'I think it has been going back and forth in their heads. 'They said 'sorry' to me and I understand why they said it, but I reassured them that I don't think what they did was wrong.' Whether victims adults or children in situations like hers should be told of assaults they don't remember should be decided on a case-by-case basis, she believes. 'Yes, finding out could ruin your life, but your body remembers things even if you weren't present in your mind, which could be affecting you without you realising.' For all the trauma, one thing is clear the secret is better shared. As her father says: 'We are very proud of Francesca and her desire to bring this injustice to light.' A few weekends ago, I attended a good friend's 50th birthday party in a luxury country cottage. One girlfriend took care of the fizz, another organised the Daylesford Organic food delivery. And I was entrusted with bringing the most important ingredient for our celebrations. Not the cake, but the cocaine. Five little packets, to be precise, each costing 50 for a gram. The six of us ploughed through it all over two gloriously long nights. We consumed most of it on the Saturday, after the birthday meal. That's when most middle-aged people start thinking about sloping off to bed but we were buzzing and danced into the early hours, ending up in the hot tub. As shocking as it might sound, I've been using cocaine for 25 years. In fact, not a single month has gone by when I haven't snorted the drug. Not for nothing am I known as Hell's Bells. Now 50, I have a high-powered marketing job and am happily married to my surveyor husband, also 50, with a 22-year-old daughter. We have a cottage in south-west London with a gravel drive and a pistachio-green front door and a gorgeous bolthole in Portugal, too. In short, we are the epitome of middle-class privilege. My partners in crime are much the same: they include a TV director, a banker and even an NHS executive. All successful, upstanding members of the community... save for this one illegal habit that we can't quite give up. You'd be right to be shocked given what we're doing is against the law. But we're far from alone in being middle-aged, middle-class drug users. Cocaine deaths have hit a record high thanks to a surge of middle-aged users, the so-called 'silver snorters' For though cocaine is normally associated with young City workers and clubbers, figures released last month showed cocaine deaths have hit a record high thanks to a surge of middle-aged users, the so-called 'silver snorters'. It's a somewhat bleak picture. The downsides of cocaine are well-documented, from terrible comedowns that leave me feeling nauseous and irritable for days, to nasal disfigurement and the aforementioned risk of dying as a result of your habit. I realise I'm very lucky that I've never experienced anything worse than a bad nosebleed over a white dress. So why do I take the risk? Well, the whoosh it releases inside my brain makes me feel alive. I honestly feel invincible. Unlike alcohol, which dulls the senses, cocaine sharpens mine. I adore the ritual that comes with it. The feeling that you're part of a special, select club the discreet passing round of the wrap with the powder inside feels exciting and daring. How did I end up in thrall to a class A drug? After all, I'd grown up in a loving family home, both my parents are still together and my older brother works in banking. There was no need for me to push the boundaries in my life. Or was there? I first tried it when I was 20 at a party in Norwich of all places. Pressured into it by friends, I was knee-knockingly nervous, convinced I'd keel over and die. Cocaine is normally associated with young City workers and clubbers, but is also used by middle-class workers But I enjoyed becoming a more gregarious version of me. I didn't find myself craving it the next day but after that I did use it whenever the opportunity arose. By the time I moved to London in 1995, I was a regular social user. Though I never considered myself an addict, nights out began to feel pointless without it, something which should have rung alarm bells. I soon discovered that when you're a single girl in London, you don't need to buy it either. Men offer it to you in the same way they'd offer you a drink. The only time I stopped using the drug was when I was pregnant with my daughter in 2002. I told myself the fact I could stop meant I wasn't addicted. I'd met her father through work and his was very much a take-it-or-leave it attitude towards drugs. The first time I took it again was when my daughter was six months old and weaned from breastfeeding. Understandably, my partner wasn't very happy about it, but despite his very valid concerns it felt good to reclaim that part of 'me' again. I made it very clear to him that my social life wouldn't end just because I had become a mum. His hadn't so why should mine? Little wonder we split by the time our daughter was four. Though our break-up wasn't down to my drug use, we both wanted our social lives to continue as if we weren't parents. My career went from strength to strength. I had carved out a niche in media marketing, where networking and cocaine use went hand in hand. This was the early Noughties when everyone was taking it. Not everyone agreed with my lifestyle choice, though. An old school friend invited me for dinner and, when I arrived, two other friends from school were there to ambush me. Over prosecco, they told me, 'You act like a boorish idiot when you take it, repeating the same things over and over again' and 'You turn into someone we don't like.' Two of those words - 'boorish idiot' - shook me to my core. One even called me an addict. At this point I stood up, refusing to listen to any more accusations, with a 'How dare you?' I flounced out, telling them I didn't need their judgment on how I lived my life. When I got home, incandescent, I blocked the lot of them. I wasn't willing to admit that they had a point, and clearly had my best interests at heart in trying to get me to stop using a drug that does so much harm. I was in my early 30s when I split with my daughter's father, and 38 when I met my husband Eric at a party in Los Angeles; a fellow Brit, we made a beeline for one another. And we did do some lines together, too. The sex we had that night was incredible. That's the thing about cocaine it dampens your inhibitions. Doubtless the drug is a large part of the reason why we're together. After our wedding ten years ago, we travelled, going to cocaine-friendly locations such as Colombia. My use of cocaine has increased, ironically, since I've become a 'respectable' wife. Not all of our holidays have been a success, though. We ended up with such terrible cocaine in Barcelona it hurt my throat and nose badly I shudder to think what was in it. Things could have ended very differently that night. But it didn't put us off. I've never totted up how much money I've snorted away over the years. But when the estimate came through for our new dream kitchen recently, I realised if I hadn't spent thousands on cocaine, we wouldn't have needed a loan to cover the costs. Not that I beat myself up about it; a decent bottle of champagne is 70, after all. Now my daughter is an adult I have been honest with her about my drug use. She wasn't surprised, but she worries about me, which I understand but find irritating nonetheless. I've taught her the motto: everything in moderation. I know she's tried cocaine, too, but it's not something she'd do regularly and she certainly wouldn't take it with me and Eric. I know I should worry it might lead her down other paths, but we're not that kind of family. As for me, after all these years, I can't see myself stopping. Cocaine is, as with many other middle-class mothers my age, just my thing. Helena Beech is a pseudonym. Names have been changed. Brooke Shields shared a hilarious story in which she thought that she may have accidentally 'flooded' the home of former President George H.W. Bush and his wife, former first lady Barbara Bush. At an event in New York hosted by the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy, Shields, 59, recalled a trip she made with her family to see the Bushs' at their home in Kennebunkport, Maine. After having fun during the day, everybody retired to bed except for Shields, who noticed that water was leaking into the house from the windows due to a rainstorm. 'I feverishly start closing all the windows, and I go and get towels and wrap up the whole thing,' she said, according to People magazine. 'And now it's a mess. And I'm thinking, "Whoa, I got a beer in my hand and I'm flooding the house. None of this looks good".' The Blue Lagoon star desperately placed towels down on the ground in an attempt to protect the home's natural wood finishes, which she feared would be warped by the water. She then went up to the Bushs' bedroom to inform them of what had happened. 'I'm not making eye contact because everyone's in sleep clothes,' she said. Brooke Shields thought that she may have accidentally 'flooded' the home of former President George H.W. Bush and his wife, former first lady Barbara Bush George and Barbara are pictured on the lawn of the White House in 1992 'And I'm like, "The windows were open and there was floods and I'm worried about the wood warping. So I cleaned it up and I just wanted to give you a heads up that that's what's happening. And I hope you have a really nice night. Thank you for having me",' she nervously recounted. While Shields assumed she'd be in trouble with the political powerhouses, she said that the opposite actually happened. After informing the pair what happened, Barbara turned to George and said, 'Oh honey, Brooke saved the house from flooding'. Barbara passed away in 2018 at age 92, while H.W. Bush died the same year at 94. Shields is currently preparing to release her memoir, titled Brooke Shields Is Not Allowed to Get Old. Ahead of its 2025 release, the star revealed the cover on Instagram in early August. She wrote in a caption to her 2.2 million followers, 'I am beyond ecstatic to share that my brand new book will be out on January 14th! 'I hope that this book can help start a conversation about how midlife can be the prime of life full of possibilities and excitement.' The mother-of-two continued, 'It's honest and it's hilarious and you can pre-order your copy RIGHT NOW!' The co-founder behind one of Australia's favourite tableware brands has spilled her secrets to hosting the perfect dinner party over summer. Alyce Tran, co-founder of In The Roundhouse, is the queen of tablescapes, so she knows a thing or two about creating a stunning and unforgettable dining experiences at home. The concept of tablescaping is the artful arrangement of dinnerware and decor items on a table to create a specific theme, style or experience - and it has become hugely popular in recent years, thanks to social media. For Alyce, there are non-negotiable items she always features on her table - but there's one thing she never displays in front of guests. 'I find it strange when people use scented candles on a table,' she told FEMAIL. 'I don't think you should ever use scented candles as it interrupts the smells from the food coming onto your table.' When setting the ultimate table for a soiree, there are five essential items she always features: flowers, place cards, napkins, In The Roundhouse plates and a water jug. 'Make each place setting unique. While they should all have the same items a plate, cutlery, glass, napkin, etc. play around with mixing and matching those elements so that it doesn't look so uniform,' Alyce explained. Alyce Tran, co-founder of In The Roundhouse, is the queen of tablescapes, so she knows a thing or two about creating a stunning and unforgettable dining experiences at home Alyce Tran's five non-negotiable items for the perfect dinner party The BRITA Glass Jug and In The Roundhouse Coaster are non-negotiable items for Alyce's dinner parties 1. Flowers: They inject colour and elegance to any tablescape 2. Plates from In the Roundhouse: Yes, I know I sound biased, but we offer that easy injection of colour and have so many things you can add to brighten your table 3. Place cards: I think they are such a simple and easy addition that makes people feel special 4. Beverages: Have beverages such as water ready to go so people don't bug you as they sit down. With the BRITA Glass Jug and In The Roundhouse Coaster there is no need to hide the water and have guests run back and forth to the kitchen. 5. Napkins: They add extra texture to the table but are also an important consideration to ensure guests don't ruin any gorgeous looks. Advertisement Alyce said she loves incorporating natural elements, including fresh produce and flowers, and combining 'unexpected' items to create 'visual interest,' such as mixing textures and colours. 'I love colour, dressing in colour, styling with colour, working with colour - sometimes I wish I was a bit more restrained with colour which can be seen as quite chic, but you only live once,' she said. 'I often think about colour combinations that work well together - pink and green, yellow and blue, green and beige and use that as a base but then I always find myself layering more and more in. 'With the warmer weather, we expect to see people incorporating more colour into their table settings.' When setting the ultimate table for a soiree, there are five essential items she always features: flowers, place cards, napkins, In The Roundhouse plates and a water jug The co-founder behind one of Australia's favourite tableware brands has spilled her secrets to hosting the perfect dinner party over summer. Alyce's top five key elements of hosting 1. A fabulous table set up 2. Great food and drinks 3. Some great platters for serving 4. A few fun plates to mix in with your everyday whites or a full themed table if you can 5. A great vase Advertisement When entertaining family and friends, she always adds personal touches that make every gathering feel extra special. 'Doing things like handwriting place cards for your guests is a really easy touch that pulls everything together and personalises a table,' Alyce said. 'Styling the table to complement what you're celebrating - such as your friend's favourite colour for their birthday or an Italian themed dinner party - is another great way to incorporate personal touches.' When Alyce is hosting loved ones at her home, her go-to cuisine is Italian. 'I do think Italian is an easy go-to as they already have entertaining so ingrained in their culture, so it just makes sense,' she said. However, she admitted: 'I am guilty of ordering takeaway food and plating it up on In The Roundhouse dishes to elevate it. 'Seriously though anything looks great when it's plated up nicely.' In The Roundhouse and BRITA have created the ultimate glass jug and ceramic coaster set, featuring the word 'L'Acqua' - Italian for water - just in time for summer entertaining In The Roundhouse and BRITA recently teamed up to create the must-have summer tablescape item: The first ever BRITA glass jug and a made-to-fit coaster designed by the popular tableware brand. The custom-made ceramic coaster, featuring the word 'L'Acqua' - Italian for water, is the latest addition to the tableware brand's best-selling Italian Words collection. Paired with the minimalistic design of the glass jug, it completes any tablescape by transitioning water from tap to table in style, transforming filtered water into a dinner table centrepiece. 'It was so fun conceptualising this first-of-its-kind product with BRITA,' Alyce said. 'With the new glass jug, you're not just filtering water - you're elevating your everyday experiences and that's exactly what our products are designed to do. It's the perfect fit. 'For anyone that owns pieces from the Italian words collection or has it on their wish list the glass jug and coaster completes the look, bringing taste, charm, and fun to any celebration.' Liz Hatton, the teen photographer who shared a tender hug with the Princess of Wales in October after they bonded over their cancer journeys, was the star of the show as she attended an exhibition in her name last night. The talented teenager, 17, joined her family as they stepped out at the special event hosted by British Land and Getty Images at 2 Kingdom Street, Paddington Central in London. Impressed guests were snapped looking around at the some of the photographer's incredible work at her very own exhibition, while Liz sweetly posed with her relatives. Terminally ill Liz, from Harrogate, Yorkshire, is battling desmoplastic small round cell tumour, a rare and extremely aggressive form of the disease. Earlier this month, the 17-year-old made headlines after she was invited to Windsor Castle to photograph an investiture, where she found herself meeting the Prince and Princess of Wales. The teenager, who has between six months and three years to live, discussed with Kate their mutual passion for photography and shared a warm embrace with one another, which was captured in photos later shared by Kensington Palace. It was the first time that the princess had been pictured since she announced she was planning a slow and measured return to work following her own cancer diagnosis in February. The teenage cancer patient was invited to Windsor Castle in October after William heard about her diagnosis and love for photography. Liz Hatton, the teen photographer who shared a tender hug with the Princess of Wales in October after they bonded over their cancer journeys, was the star of the show as she attended an exhibition in her name last night Liz, pictured sharing a hug with Kate, previously revealed to the Mail that she hadn't even considered including meeting royalty on her bucket list However, Liz told MailOnline, she had no idea her invite included a private meeting with the Prince and Princess of Wales, describing the day as 'truly incredible'. She said: 'Of course I didn't expect anything like this to happen - I didn't even expect to be able to fulfil any of my original bucket list - never mind additions like this that were so far beyond our wildest imagination. 'The day was truly incredible. I was practically shell shocked every other minute as they told us what we were going to be doing, especially so when the Prince and Princess walked into the room. 'So I am beyond honoured to have had this experience and very thankful that my family could join me and experience it as well. 'The Prince and Princess were very kind and honest, there was nothing to suggest that they were trying to be superior or grand they were just genuine, real, kind people.' Speaking to Good Morning Britain alongside her mother Vicky Robayna, who also travelled to Windsor Castle, Liz told Rob Rinder on how they dealt with the diagnosis. Liz said: 'We just have to try to remain positive because what's the point in wasting what little time I have left.' Her mother, Vicky, said: 'Because Liz's cancer has gone to her liver we knew her chances of survival was nil so it was really important that we live each day as if it was our last. The talented teenager, 17, joined her family as they stepped out at the special event hosted by British Land and Getty Images at 2 Kingdom Street, Paddington Central in London The 17-year-old (pictured last night) made headlines after she was invited to Windsor Castle to photograph an investiture, where she found herself meeting the Prince and Princess of Wales The talented teenager looked to be in her element as she attended her own exhibition Impressed guests were snapped looking around at the some of the photographer's incredible work at her very own exhibition. Pictured, Liz, centre, with guests 'When we ask how we do it we don't think any far forward than the next exciting thing we have planned. If we look to the future, that's too scary and we would sit in bed and not get up.' Liz - who said she is not scared of dying - said she was given the option to continue with chemotherapy or to stop having treatment. She said: 'Because of the chances of them working being so slim, I wanted to spend time with my family and enjoy the time I have left, instead of spending it stuck in hospital and feeling even more terrible and dealing with side effects. 'I chose to stop my chemo and just live my life at home and just deal with whatever comes.' The talented amateur photographer drew up a wish list of events to snap after being diagnosed in January - and told that she could have between six months and three years to live. She has been living out her bucket list, in which she hoped to photograph behind the scenes of a West End show and film set. GMB said Six, the West End musical, found out about Liz's list and invited her to photograph the pre-show warm up and the cast. In another 'bucket list' moment for the teen, Liz was spotted last month working alongside photographers to capture celebrities attending the UK premiere of Tom Hardy's Venom: The Last Dance. Liz posed with her family during the special event in London on November 21 Liz shared a hug with one of the guests at the Liz Hatton photography exhibition hosted by British Land and Getty Images Liz was all smiles as she shared a hug with another guest at the Liz Hatton photography exhibition Liz (pictured centre) previously told MailOnline that she had no idea her invite to Windsor Castle included a private meeting with the Prince and Princess of Wales, describing the day as 'truly incredible' In another 'bucket list' moment for the teen, Liz (pictured yesterday) was spotted last month working alongside photographers to capture celebrities attending the UK premiere of Tom Hardy's Venom: The Last Dance Liz Hatton and family attend the Liz Hatton photography exhibition hosted by British Land and Getty Images at 2 Kingdom Street Reporting from the BFI IMAX in Waterloo, Liz took to Instagram to give her followers a behind-the-scenes look at the star-studded premiere. Camera in hand, Liz was in a wheelchair as she appeared determined to photograph the celebrity guests who walked down the red carpet, including leading man Hardy, his son Louis Hardy, and Venom 3 director Kelly Marcel. Other cast members present at the screening included Ted Lasso star Juno Temple and Oscar-nominated actor Chiwetel Ejiofor. The premiere was also attended by Scottish race car driver and reality TV star Sebastian Melrose, British comedian and TV host Mo Gilligan, and Love Island alum including Ekin-su Culculoglu, Demi Jones, Uma Jammeh, and Olivia Hawkins. Liz previously revealed to the Mail that she hadn't even considered including meeting royalty on her bucket list. She said: 'It was great to talk to Princess Catherine about photography because I know she loves it to and it is always great to talk about what you love or enjoy, and of course photography is my passion. ' Elsewhere, she joked the experience of meeting the Princess of Wales was 'mind-blowing'. The meeting came about - her mother Vicky explained - after someone working for the London Air Ambulance charity, of which Prince William is patron, spotted a social media post she had put up on behalf of her daughter earlier this year asking for help in completing her 'bucket list'. Liz and her family pictured with the Prince and Princess of Wales Liz (left, pictured with mother Vicky) previously said that she remains 'positive' because she does not want to waste the 'little time' she has left The talented amateur photographer drew up a wish list of events to snap after being diagnosed in January - and told that she could have between six months and three years to live Liz Hatton, 17, who warmed the future King and Queen's hearts after being invited by Prince William to photograph an investiture he was holding at Windsor Castle, told Mail Online that she had 'no idea' she would also be meeting the couple afterwards 'They then got in touch with the Palace who invited her in June but couldn't make the date because she was having chemo those days,' she told the Mail. 'But they were really, really lovely and said not to worry, they would try again. That invitation was to take photos of the investiture, we knew nothing about meeting the Prince and Princess. She was very excited about it all anyway. 'They kept in touch and asked a couple of weeks ago if she could make October 2. We said absolutely she could! We set off just thinking she was going to take photos of the investiture and then ended up meeting the prince and princess and spent about half an hour chatting to them. Which was truly incredible.' Mrs Robayna, who was at the meeting along with her husband Aaron, Liz's step-father, and her younger brother, Mateo, eight, said her daughter and Catherine spent 'lots of time talking about photography'. 'She was really lovely and asked Liz lots of questions about things she might like to photograph, which was really kind of her,' she added. 'They didn't speak about their health. Liz is very keen to say that she is not defined by her cancer. So they spent time talking about the things they enjoyed. 'The Princess asked lots of lovely questions, in fact they were both really good, particularly at including our little boy in the conversation. They were such lovely, kind, genuine people. ' Kensington Palace later posted pictures of the meeting on their social media accounts along with images that Liz had taken on the day and a personal message from the couple saying how moved they had been. After dating apps came the return of speed dating, meet cutes, running clubs and other innovative ways to find love. But as young people find it increasingly difficult to find a match, they are turning to extreme methods in the hope of bagging a relationship. The latest craze sees them playing a numbers game; setting themselves a goal of going on 50 first dates in the hope of finding something that will last. The TikTok trend involves young people documenting their love lives, revealing details of their upcoming dates in 'get ready with me' videos, while also sneaking off during dates to give their first impressions of prospective lovers. Several taking part in the courtship challenge cite 'boredom' or frustration with conventional dating habits as the reason for the slew of dates. Aimed at encouraging youngsters to go on dates with people who 'maybe don't tick all of the boxes', the hope is that the 'numbers game' will reap rewards and widen the dating pool. The unconventional method often means youngsters will spend just one evening with a date, ditching prospective romances if they fail to impress on the first meeting. The 50 first dates tag has 67.3 million views on TikTok, with dozens of women across the world trialing out the new approach. In one TikTok video, single creator Beth Collins said: 'I'm doing 50 first dates or at least till I'm bored or find the love of my life.' As young people find it increasingly difficult to find a match they have turned to extreme remedies - the latest encourages singles to go on '50 first dates' In one TikTok video, single creator Beth Collins (pictured) said: 'I'm doing 50 first dates or at least till I'm bored or find the love of my life' In another clip she said: 'I'm doing this because I'm really not much of a dater and dating really is a numbers game. I was getting really attached to the random one man I'd go on a date with and it was not healthy. 'I need to start saying yes more and start going on dates with people who maybe don't tick all of the boxes because I might be pleasantly surprised.' Beth said it was essential that daters 'don't put all their eggs in one basket', and that she felt dating more people would lend to being more selective. 'It's terrifying to think that people do put all their eggs in one basket because now I'm doing 50 first dates I'm like, the first date is literally a meeting.' Creators will often look to dating apps to find their dates, as well as people they meet in real life. Before each date, TikTokers will introduce the person they are about to go out with. sharing details of the person. During the date, they will then give updates from the bathroom, giving viewers their first impressions of their date before offering a full update the following day. Another creator, Francesca began her dating binge in July, telling followers that she was making the move following a 'recent breakup'. She said: 'I've always loved seeing these around and I started seeing them when I was just freshly into a relationship so I was never able to do them but I bloody love a first date so it's the most exciting thing for me to do I think. I love the social aspect and meeting people for the first time.' Another creator, Becca (pictured), is also sharing her journey taking on the batch dating challenge, documenting personal details from the dates online The 50 first dates tag has 67.3 million views on TikTok with dozens of women across the world trialing out the new approach For Francesca's first date she told viewers about her prospective date: 'He's a 28-year-old man, he's an eye doctor and eye surgeon. He runs, surfs, cycles so he's quite active and he was 6'2ft.' Slipping off to give an update she then said: 'First initial thoughts, cute, talkative, conversations flowing. I'm just not 100 per cent sure. I'm not sure what's missing. There's no real sexual chemistry. It's not a grower at the moment.' The next day she concluded the date. 'He's lovely but he's not for me.' The singleton is now on her 19th date, regularly posting updates to her online followers who eagerly await details from dates. Taking her followers with her, Francesca attends dates across London in pubs, bars and cafes. Of course, 50 dates is no easy feat and most creators admit they would be prepared to sack off the challenge if they meet 'the love of their life'. Another creator, Becca, is also sharing her journey taking on the batch dating challenge, documenting personal details from the dates online. 'I've had a lot of people ask what's the point if you know you're gonna other dates,' she said. 'But if I meet someone and want to go on a second date with them or whatever, I will.' Though she admitted she is primarily taking part in the challenge to 'get out there'. She said: 'But the point is I like being in my cocoon in my home and I don't always get out there. The point is to meet new people and get me out my house a little bit.' Another creator, @tillytalkz is currently taking part in the challenge but 'only with rich guys.' Others are taking part in similar challenges, taking on '25 first date challenges' with the hopes of finding love. Creator Francesca pictured sneaking off from a date to update her followers on how its going Others are taking part in similar challenges, taking on '25 first date challenges' with the hopes of finding love The unconventional method often means youngsters spend will often spend just one evening with a date, ditching prospective romances if they fail to impress on the first meeting Creators will sneak off during dates to give an update from the toilet on their first impressions Francesca began her dating binge in July, telling followers that she was making the move following a 'recent breakup' The trend first began earlier this year when London living Aussie, Hannah Zaslawski, started her own series where she shared her journey going on 50 first dates in the capital. Aged 34, Hannah began her dating venture, sometimes going on as many as two dates a week. Hannah, who told FEMAIL she finds 70 per cent of her dates on Hinge, would share details of each of her dates. The creator has shared dozens of videos and updates of her dating life, having toured the city with pub meets, gallery adventures and museum dates. The last update from Hannah's TikTok suggests she has currently been on 38 dates in total though it's unclear if she intends to reach the final 50 milstone. The man, who goes by multiple names, even had a child with one of the women Imagine finding out that the man you had a baby with did not exist; and instead was a fictional character concocted by a conman. This is what happened to a Parisian woman named Marianne, a victim of romance fraud by a man who led several imaginary lives. The man known as Brazilian Ricardo - but also men named Daniel and Alexandre of different nationalities, depending on who he is speaking with - is a serial scam dater who tricked four women into falling in love with him. He lived with these women at the same time and adapted his personality traits and life story to suit each one, leading them to think they had met 'the one'. Each powerful story is detailed in The Man with a Thousand Faces, a new documentary film launching on the 22 November, led by French journalist, Sonia Kronlund. Marianne (who is played by Aurelie Gasche) was under the impression that she was dating a surgeon who'd spent years in Africa with Medecins Sans Frontieres. One day, Ricardo told her that he was in Toulouse for paediatric training, but he was in fact seeing his other wife in Krakow. Alarm bells rang when she was five months pregnant with his child when she suddenly could not get through to him, as the phone numbers he had given her were fake. The man, known as Brazilian Ricardo - but also Daniel and Alexandre, depending on who he is speaking with - is a serial scam dater who tricked four women into falling in love with him When Ricardo started to suspect something was wrong in his relationships, his exit strategy was to disappear after getting a phone call to say that one of his parents had died or was in a coma. Under the identity of Alexandre, his dating profile stated that he was 36 years old and lived in the capital of France. He described himself as 'shy, hard-working, and sociable' and claimed he was a non-smoker who worked in the realm of medicine. But other women knew him as a Peugeot engineer, doctor, and a photographer or working in telecommunications. One victim even claims that Ricardo was simultaneously dating 15 partners. But Ricardo - who was described as a 'sociopath' in the film - was running a global operation, dating women from all over the world, such as Rio, Poland and France. Dubbed 'charming' by one of his victims, Ricardo would send women pictures of himself in various locations. These include him posing in a pilot's uniform in the cockpit of a plane, posing as a security guard, performing surgery and evening playing the bagpipes in a kilt. Dubbed 'charming' by one of his victims, Ricardo would send women pictures of himself in various locations - including in a cockpit of a plane A woman is seen in the trailer saying that she found him exchanging around 20 messages with 'several women' Some of the women are played by actresses in the production, however, the audience do not know who is 'real' and who is acting until the credits Ricardo also sent a selfie holding up a handwritten sign saying: 'Good morning, I love you,' in Polish, whereas another said 'Have a good day,' in French. Both messages were followed by a love heart he had drawn. But the group of women eventually uncovered his web of lies. One victim said they found out he was being unfaithful after opening his browser history and seeing the accounts he had for his multiple personalities. Another caught on when she discovered a photo that he had sent to the mother of his baby daughter. A woman is seen in the trailer saying that she found around 20 messages with 'several women'. When a victim, who is a qualified psychologist, was asked why she believed his questionable tales, she said: 'It suited me not to understand too much, according to The Times. The filmmaker had the idea for the production after her friend was the victim of love fraud, according to Screen Daily. Ricardo another wrote messages such as 'Have a good day,' in French followed by a love heart he had drawn to his victim The man poses by a restaurant store-front that had his fake name on Under the identity of Alexandre, his dating profile stated that he was 36 years old and lived in the capital of France The Man with a Thousand Faces, a new documentary film launching on the 22 November, is led by French journalist, Sonia Kronlund She fell in love with a man who had been seeing multiple women at the same time under different aliases. This prompted Kronlund's thirst to track down this mysterious man and confront him to try to understand the motive behind his actions. She wondered whether his victims had a specific profile and wanted to find him to understand how his mass deception started. And Kronlund does eventually manage to track him down in an apartment near Krakow and ends up having a conversation with him. Some of the women are played by actresses in the production, however, the audience do not know who is 'real' and who is acting until the credits. A tourist flying over Iceland on Thursday morning got the view of a lifetime after her easyJet flight gave a perfect panoramic of the country's latest volcano eruption. Posting on X, West Ham fan Kayleigh, from Bedford, shared her stunning footage of Sundhnuks crater on the Reykjanes peninsula bubbling with rivers of red hot lava and magma from her mile high vantage point. On X, the excited traveller said: 'My life has peaked. Nothing is ever topping this. Volcano erupted last night in Iceland.' According to the The Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) the volcanic activity started on the Sundhnukagigar fissure outside the village of Grindavik at 11.14pm on Wednesday evening. Kayleigh told MailOnline how her flight the morning after proved quite the start to her winter holiday, saying the atmosphere on board was 'incredible' as people realised what they were seeing. The holidaymaker, who's still in Iceland, says there were mixed reactions on board, with some people a little nervous at Mother Nature's fiery display: 'I wasnt worried but I think a few people on the plane were. I am a very laid back person and I think if it was truly dangerous, we wouldve been rerouted.' 'The pilot did announce it long before we could all see it but the atmosphere was incredible! Everyone was gasping and filming it and just in awe. Nothing is ever topping this: A screengrab taken of Kayleigh's footage as her easyJet flight from Luton began to make its descent into Iceland's Keflavik International Airport on Thursday morning Rivers of lava and magma alongside plumes of volcanic smoke can be seen in the footage 'I felt really sorry for everyone on the right side of the plane so I held my phone in front of the window so they could all see it too.' Kayleigh took the footage as the plane started its descent into Keflavik International Airport on Thursday morning, after leaving Luton Airport around 9am. She says you can still see the volcano from terra firma too: 'You can see the eruption from most of the island at night due to it being so bright.' The volcano lies 20 miles south-west of Reykjavik, where the most recent eruption ended on September 6th. The latest volcanic release began following a 'small earthquake' at 10:30pm on Wednesday. This will be the tenth eruption in three years, the country's meteorological office said. The nearby fishing town of Grindavik, home to nearly 4,000 residents before an evacuation order in December last year, remains largely deserted due to the threat from lava flows. The remaining 50 to 60 residents, the Svartsengi Power Station and the tourist attraction the Blue Lagoon, a spa facility with hotels and large natural pools, have been evacuated. It looks like the gas pollution will go to the south and out to sea, so there won't be any ill-effects on locals. Dramatic video and photographs showed a wall of magma lighting up the sky in the early hours of Thursday morning. Spectacular images broadcast live from the volcano showed red-orange lava gushing from a long fissure surrounded by thick smoke. Kayleigh is currently still in Iceland, after flying out on Thursday for a holiday; she described seeing the volcano erupting, saying: 'My life has peaked' Volcanoes on the peninsula had not erupted for 800 years until March 2021 when a period of heightened seismic activity began. Since then volcanologists have warned that volcanic activity in the region had entered a new era. The latest eruption is smaller than the last one, at the end of August, the IMO said in a statement. 'The outpourings are lower and the lava is not flowing as fast,' added Ofeigsson. Most of Grindavik's 4,000 residents were evacuated a year ago, shortly before the first volcanic eruption in the area. Since then, almost all the houses have been sold to the state, and the residents departed. 'About fifty houses were occupied in recent nights,' said the civil protection department. In January, during another eruption, three houses in the village were engulfed by flames. The Blue Lagoon has announced it will be closed until at least Sunday. A statement on their website reads: 'Due to a volcanic eruption that commenced in Sundhnuksgigar on November 20, we took the precautionary measure of evacuating and temporarily closing all our operational units. Lava pictured flowing across one of the roads near Grindavik on Thursday morning Full flow: The new volcanic eruption pictured after it started on the Reykjanes Peninsula in Iceland late on Wednesday evening Fire and ice: Engulfing the surrounding landscape, an frosty road can be seen in the path of the latest eruption A photo released by the Public Defense Department of the State Police Commissioner in Iceland shows the impact the new fissure erupting has had on southwestern Iceland Active lava flows in front of the road that's en route to the Blue Lagoon near Grindavik A scientist from the University of Iceland observes lava flowing on Thursday morning Those at the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa near the town of Grindavik have also been evacuated - the tourist attraction will remain closed until at least Sunday Benedikt Ofeigsson from the Norwegian Meteorological Agency told local media Channel 2: 'There is currently nothing in danger, and if this does not develop much differently than it has been doing, the infrastructure should escape this quite well.' Icelandic authorities have erected barriers to divert the streams of molten rock away from the town of Grindavik, the power station and the Blue Lagoon. Scientists have warned that Reykjanes is likely to experience repeated volcanic outbreaks for decades, possibly even centuries. But the eruptions are not expected to cause the level of disruption seen when the Eyjafjallajokull volcano burst in 2010, spreading ash clouds across Europe and grounding some 100,000 flights globally. The Prince of Wales thanked the charity for five years of 'fantastic' work Prince William has appeared in a new video for the National Emergencies Trust, thanking the charity for five years of 'fantastic' work. Appearing with a dashing face of stubble, the Prince of Wales, 42, praised the organisation, which works to support individuals impacted by UK disasters, for 'achieving so much' over the last five years. The charity, of which the prince is a patron, was launched in 2019 to help provide immediate support to those in need. Launched to offer support first hand support in times of disaster, the organisation has worked to gather charities, regulars and government bodies to tackle emergencies and provide instant support to those affected. In the video shared to the National Emergencies Trust social media page, the prince said: 'Since its launch in November 2019, the National Emergencies Trust have achieved so much. Prince William (pictured) has appeared in a new video for the National Emergencies Trust, thanking the charity for five years of 'fantastic' work Appearing with a dashing face of stubble, the Prince of Wales, 42, praised the organisation, which works to support individuals impacted by UK disasters, for 'achieving so much' over the last five years 'Its Coronavirus appeal enabled thousands of charities and groups to support local communities through the pandemic. 'And its efforts to listen and learn from those who've been affected by past emergencies is helping support available to people in the future. 'I was privileged to be part of the trust Be The Difference project through which young people affected by the Manchester Arena attack have been able to share their ideas around how to improve mental health support systems. 'In the face of the tragic incident in Southport, the trust worked at speed behind the scenes to lend its support. 'It was able to bring together national and local charities, regulators, government and others, to ensure the best care. 'Now, more than ever, I'm grateful the National Emergency Trust is here. It has shown what's possible when we come together to create change. 'To all those involved in this fantastic charity, and to those who've so kindly donated to us over the past five years, thank you.' The charity was launched by the prince in 2019, and in that time has launched appeals to support the UK through multiple disasters, including the Coronavirus pandemic. The charity's first work was the Coronavirus Appeal, which was launched on 18 March 2020 and helped to raise nearly 100million for those affected by the pandemic The charity, of which the prince is a patron, was launched in 2019 to help provide immediate support to those in need The charity's first project was the Coronavirus Appeal, which was launched on 18 March 2020, and helped to raise nearly 100million for those affected by the pandemic. As well as raising cash, the organisation provided mental health support and bereavement services as well as giving shelter to homeless people - an issue which the prince is particularly passionate about. The charity came about after a series of disasters, including the Manchester Arena bombing and the Grenfell Tower fire, affected the UK. While the nation was quick to act, sending donations and offering support, individual funding pages made it difficult to identify cases of fraud - leading to scammers making money from well meaning donors. The father-of-three has previously spoken about how many Brits step into help when needed, once saying: 'I think Britain is at its best when faced with a crisis. We all pull together and that community spirit comes rushing back quicker than anything else.' It comes after the prince undertook a private visit in Newport, South Wales yesterday as he met with women in the UK who are currently facing homelessness. Yesterday, Prince William (pictured) visited the Newton Trust in Wales to hear about the Homewards Coalition and to meet those involved in the Women in Newport photography project The 42-year-old royal wore a navy suit and a sky blue jumper in Wales today and was seen laughing with representatives of local homelessness organisations He visited the special support service as part of drive to highlight the issue of female homelessness in the city. The royal was accompanied by Sabrina Cohen-Hatton, now one of the country's most senior female fire officers, who was forced to sleep rough on the streets of the city as teenager. She is a key supporter of his Homewards campaign, which aims to eradicate homelessness in six areas of the UK within five years. The pair also visited The Nelson Trust, which is a member of the Homewards Newport Coalition, and plays a pivotal role in delivering support for women in Newport who have experienced trauma. Women are often more susceptible to experiencing 'hidden homelessness' compared to men, as they are less likely to rough sleep due to safety fears, resulting in sofa surfing, or sleeping on public transport. The prince's Homewards team in Newport are looking specifically at the issue of homeless in women who face multiple disadvantages such as trauma, poverty and domestic abuse. They plan to share their findings with the programme's other five flagship locations and beyond. Prince William, who has made tackling homelessness one of his key missions, is pictured during a visit to Homewards Newport in Newport on Wednesday Yesterday, William (pictured) said he wanted to play the role of 'disruptor' in his fight against homelessness as he encouraged those working in the sector to 'throw the paperwork up in the air' William said during the visit that he wanted to play the role of 'disruptor' in his fight against homelessness, as he encouraged those working in the sector to 'throw the paperwork up in the air'. Heir-to-the-throne William launched Homewards last year, with many considering it his most ambitious public project to date. Last month, the prince released a new film which documented the first year of his Homewards project. During the programme, William said he was inspired to tackle homelessness by the legacy of his late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, who began taking him to homeless shelters as a young child. Available on ITV, Prince William: We Can End Homelessness involves stories from those who are currently experiencing homelessness or have previously been homeless, and poignant memories from the prince's own life. Martha Stewart has revealed that she's not eating any turkey on Thanksgiving this year - and even joked that her own home-raised birds have been 'pardoned.' The 83-year-old homemaking mogul revealed that she won't be indulging in any turkey during this year's holiday as she appeared on Today Thursday to share her recipe for Brioche Stuffing-Filled Roasted Pumpkin. 'Although I raise my own turkeys, they have been pardoned this year,' Stewart revealed during the segment. 'We're going to eat only vegetarian,' she continued, as she explained that the brioche was great for the people in her house as she has to tend to 'a lot of vegetarians' in her family. On her Instagram page, Stewart often shows off her various livestock, like chicken coops, and gorgeous plants on her Bedford, New York, property and farm in Maine. Though, in the past, it seems like the Martha Stewart Omnimedia Living founder has been enthusiastic about making a Thanksgiving turkey, with some special tips and tricks. During a recent interview with Mashed, Stewart shared her method for making a delicious turkey. She instructed that after you've stuffed and buttered your turkey, you wrap it up with parchment paper and close it up with some staples before roasting it. Martha Stewart has revealed that she's not eating any turkey on Thanksgiving this year - and even joked that her own home-raised birds have been 'pardoned' 'Although I raise my own turkeys, they have been pardoned this year,' Stewart revealed during the segment Though, in the past, it seems like the Martha Stewart Omnimedia Living founder has been enthusiastic about making a Thanksgiving turkey, with some special tips and tricks And, about a half hour before it's done roasting, she recommends taking it out of oven and removing the parchment paper before popping it back in for those final few minutes. 'It then gets, it'd be almost like Peking duck skin,' she revealed to the outlet. 'I cannot tell you, it is so utterly delicious.' However, this year, in addition to forgoing Turkey, Stewart won't even be in the country for the holiday. Instead, she is going to Rome, Italy, to celebrate Thanksgiving with her grandchildren. 'We decided the kids wanted to go away, the grandchildren, and so we're all packing up and going to Rome for a few days to visit the sites,' Stewart recently revealed to People. Stewart has two grandchildren, granddaughter Jude, 13, and grandson Truman, 12, who are the children of her only daughter, Alexis. And, of course, the Martha Stewart CBD founder has a fabulous trip planned for her family. In fact, it's so jam-packed that Stewart joked her grandchildren might get 'mad' at her. 'It then gets, it'd be almost like Peking duck skin,' she revealed to the outlet about her turkey-making method. 'I cannot tell you, it is so utterly delicious' However, although she will be out of the country during Thanksgiving, the Martha Stewart CBD founder is planning to get right back to holiday hosting once she lands back home 'We have such an itinerary,' Stewart told the outlet. 'My grandchildren will get mad at me. They think they're going on vacation for five days, but in fact, we are going to see everything. I've planned quite a trip.' However, although she will be out of the country during Thanksgiving, the mogul is planning to get right back to holiday hosting once she lands back home. And, she told People that it's important to have one specific treat out for guests who come over to your home during the holiday season. 'If somebody comes over in the afternoon, you have to have homemade Christmas cookies lying around,' Stewart said. 'You just have to, and you have to have a couple dinners for your family and friends,' she continued. She also admitted that there was 'no time' for arguments among family during this time. Instead, she likes to keep thinks 'light-hearted.' 'I think the holidays are sort of the time when people come to see you and exchange presents and have a little fun,' Stewart told the outlet. 'I try to keep it very light-hearted and pleasant around the holidays. Family arguments, there's no place for that at the holiday time.' Gail Porter has opened up about the shocking moment she discovered that a photograph of her naked body had been projected onto the Houses Of Parliament without her consent. The former Top Of The Pops and The Big Breakfast host, 53, was one of the most popular TV stars in the 1990s and posed for a number of lads' mags as a result, including Loaded. But in 1999, her nude photoshoot was projected onto the Houses of Parliament without her consent, as a publicity stunt for FHM's 'sexiest woman'. Featuring in the BBC Two documentary Loaded: Lads, Mags and Mayhem, which airs this evening and is available on BBC iPlayer, Gail revealed how she 'felt a little bit stupid... a big bit let down'. Speaking about the incident, she revealed she was never paid for the shoot and didn't know about the stunt until she found photographers and journalists outside her home and her name being mentioned on BBC News. She recalled: 'It was the 9th of May, 1999. I got up in the morning and I was in my bathroom. I was doing my teeth and I had BBC News on in the front room, and I heard my name and I thought, "BBC News?" They're quite sensible. Why are they talking about me?" 'And then I had a look outside my front window, and there was journalists, photographers, outside the house and I thought "Oh s***." I went straight into the front room and I just saw this image. 'I felt a little bit stupid, a little bit let down. Well, a big bit let down, that this was a big PR stunt for a magazine, and the only person that wasn't informed was the person's image that they used, which was me. Gail Porter (pictured in the BBC Two documentary) has opened up about the shocking moment she discovered that a photograph of her naked body had been projected onto the Houses Of Parliament without her consent 'I think it was one of the biggest-selling FHMs ever. They kind of just used me as a pawn in their game. I was new to the industry and when they said they weren't going to pay me, I just assumed they didn't pay anyone. I was an easy target, I guess.' 'Consent would've been nice, because I most probably would have said no,' the TV star insisted. She added: 'Just even walking up the road, lots of people pointing at you, and sort of you know, making sure you knew that they'd seen you naked. 'I'm a people-pleaser as well, well I definitely was in the '90s. That was all I was good for, was talking about my a*** in FHM. I let people take advantage, and I shouldn't have done.' Elsewhere in the documentary, Gail revealed what it initially felt like to take part in magazine shoots, describing them as 'like being in a movie'. She said: '90s TV, it was just fun. No-one was worried about being OTT... Of course, if you're on TV, suddenly people are paying attention to you. 'This was all new to me, and it had gone from our local press, in Scotland, going, "Oh, wee Gail from Joppa, she's done really well, we're really proud of her"'. To suddenly, you've got the world at your feet. I was having a ball. 'Loaded, I think I only did one shoot for them. I mean they were nice enough when I turned up, but they did manage to get all the clothes in the wrong size, and they go "Oh, that doesn't fit. Oh, that doesn't fit. Oh, that doesn't fit". Maybe you should just wear a sheet. The former Top Of The Pops and The Big Breakfast host (pictured in 1999), 53, was one of the most popular TV stars in the 1990s and posed for a number of lads' mags as a result, including Loaded Back then: The TV presenter, now 52, said she wasn't paid for any of her photoshoots (pictured in 1999) 'When I got asked to do FHM, they wanted me naked. I phoned my grandma up and I said "Oh, they want to take a picture of my a***." 'And she kind of... "Oh, I remember back in the day, we had pictures of Marilyn Monroe, and we had these pictures, and it was all very lovely. Ah do what you want"'. 'And I was like, "Yeah, all right, then". Good enough for Grandma, it was good enough for me. I was a little bit... nervous. 'But then, because everybody else seemed to just be fussing with my hair and making sure, you know, there was fake tan on my back, and my mum was there and there was wind machines going, and it was quite exciting. 'I was getting all done up. It was like... It was like being in a movie. It was just fun. It was make-believe. I felt quite empowered.' At her peak Gail was arguably one of the most recognisable presenters on TV, but she has said her undeniable popularity didn't get her rich. The Scottish star became a household name thanks to regular appearances on The Big Breakfast, The Movie Chart Show, VH1 and BBC music show Top Of The Pops. But the former pin-up has previously insisted she earned little money during the early years of her mainstream career, citing the amount she received per episode on Top Of The Pops as one of her lowest earners. She told The Telegraph: 'I think 500, and then you've got 20 per cent to your agent, then you've got to pay your rent. All the front covers of magazines, I never got paid for any of them.' The Scottish star became a household name thanks to regular appearances on The Big Breakfast, The Movie Chart Show, VH1 and BBC music show Top Of The Pops Weighing up her biggest payday, Porter says a voiceover for a Sainsbury's commercial provided a moderate income. 'It was a few hundred quid a week, and you can't complain about that,' she recalled. 'But other than that, I can't remember well-paid jobs.' Porter previously admitted she wasn't paid for her magazine work, at a time when lads mags were at their commercial peak. She told The Daily Star: 'I never got paid for anything that I did - I never got paid for FHM, GQ, or a lot of the magazines that I did. 'Some of the others may have got paid, but I never did and I was quite vulnerable at the time. They were saying "This is going to be great for your career, it will be great fun, and think of the pics you can give your kids when you're older.''' In October this year, Gail revealed she asked for a job in her local bookshop when she was struggling with homelessness. The TV presenter, who was declared bankrupt in 2017, previously experienced a period of homelessness for six months. After losing her hair completely in 2005, alopecia sufferer Gail found that her work opportunities faded rapidly, causing her outgoings to be far greater than her income. In October this year, Gail (pictured) revealed she asked for a job in her local bookshop when she was struggling with homelessness Appearing on Lorraine, Gail recalled her financial hardship during this period as she she struggled to land television work. She said: 'I remember going to the local book shop going, "Do you have any jobs going?" 'And they said, "Come on you're Gail Porter," and I said, "No genuinely, can I have a job?" 'I saved as much as I could and I have an amazing daughter whose 22 now and money just goes out.' She added: 'I'd lost my hair, work wasn't coming in, bills were coming out. It can happy to anybody. I never expected it would happen to me.' Gail is now a patron of the Fair Credit Charity - which alleviates financial hardship through community lending. The Duchess of Sussex has hosted a holiday dinner in Los Angeles for women who have resettled in the US from Afghanistan - and shared her plans for a 'low-key' Thanksgiving at her Californian home. Meghan Markle, 43, joined the charity Mina's List ahead of next Thursday's holiday to cook traditional Afghan food. Speaking to Marie Claire, the Duchess discussed the Archewell Foundations Welcome Project and shared insights into how she'll celebrate the major US celebration with Prince Harry and their children, Archie, five, and Lilibet, three. Admitting she loved the holiday season, the Duchess revealed that seeing it through the eyes of the King's grandchildren made it increasingly special, saying 'every year it gets better.' Prince Harry's wife also said she 'cant wait to see it through their lens every year.' Meghan revealed that she'll enjoy a typically 'low-key' Thanksgiving this year, saying she loves the fact her mother, Doria Ragland, lives close to the family in California, making it easy for them to get together. The Duchess of Sussex created The Welcome Project in 2023 together with the Archewell Foundation, which she set up together with Prince Harry. The Duchess told the magazine that she hoped the women would find a sense of community in the US, saying: You miss home, you miss your country, and also can find comfort in the new community that you have here. Im grateful that we are able to be a part of that community.' File photo: Meghan Markle cooking with displaced Afghan women, supported by the charity Mina's List, in February this year; she described her Thanskgiving plans for 2024 as 'pretty low-key' The 43-year-old Duchess is expected to celebrate Thanksgiving next week with Prince Harry and their two children Archie, five, and Lilibet, three, at their home in Montecito - she told Marie Claire this week that she enjoyed having her mother, Doria Ragland, nearby for the holiday season The Duchess said she can't wait to see the holiday season through 'the lens' of her children's eyes as they grow older The programme is supposed to create 'a safe haven and inclusive environment for women who have recently resettled in the US from Afghanistan', according to a press release by the Archewell Foundation. Mina's List, the foundation's partner, brought together women and girls who prepared traditional Afghan food such as Ashak and Mantuu, both of which are a type of dumpling, with the Duchess. Meghan has never hid her love of cooking up a storm for Thanksgiving. In an unearthed post from The Tig archives, her now-defunct lifestyle blog, Meghan offered three of her own recipes for the holiday season to her loyal readers. And, according to a 2014 Meghan, the menu will leave you 'the King or Queen of happy bellies & full hearts.' The recipes, which The Suits star admitted were given to her by 'Clean Team' Dr. Alejandro Junger & Dhru Purohit, included a delicious main, salad and healthy dessert. The British Royal Family member, who married Prince Harry in May 2018, began the post by explaining that she 'loves' turkey, but sometimes it's not always fitting for entertaining a small group. 'I love a brined, stuffed and roasted turkey as much as anyone, but if youre just cooking for two, maybe a smaller bird is more up your alley and coupled with a beautiful side and a delicious dessert, you will be The King or Queen of happy bellies & full hearts,' Meghan wrote in the introduction. She called their recipes 'gobble gobble good cooking,' and even wrote that there's no 'carb coma aftermath' to the dishes, since they're 'clean eats.' A keen cook, Meghan has previously shared her Thanksgiving recipes, including in a former Tig blog post She called their recipes 'gobble gobble good cooking,' and even wrote that there's no 'carb coma aftermath' to the dishes, since they're 'clean eats' Interestingly enough, Markle was roasting a chicken when Prince Harry proposed to her in 2017 In an unearthed post from The Tig archives, her now-defunct lifestyle blog, Meghan Markle offered three recipes for the holiday to her loyal readers. The first recipe that Meghan highlighted was an oven roasted chicken breast complete with mushroom and leek gravy - a bit of a different take on a traditional turkey. She writes that the recipe will serve two people, and it's quite straightforward - all it takes is 10 minutes to prep and 30 minutes in the oven. To jazz up the chicken, the recipe called mostly for greens and garnishes like leeks, chopped thyme and chopped parsley. 'Mushrooms have been shown to boost vitamin D levels, heighten immunity and make a delicious gravy when combined with sauteed leeks and fragrant herbs,' Meghan wrote about the delicious main course. 'This would make a great meal anytime of the year, but its also a wonderful alternative to a traditional Thanksgiving turkey, in case you didnt get a free-range turkey this year,' she added. And, although Meghan's blog is now dissolved, the mom-of-two is planning to get back into the lifestyle space with the launch of her brand American Riviera Orchard. The company launched in March as she sent famous friends like Mindy Kaling and Kris Jenner jars of strawberry jam, but since then, the brand has seemingly gone silent. The jam was delivered in an aesthetically pleasing bowl of vibrant Sicilian lemons. However, Meghan has suffered several setbacks in her bid to trademark its name, and it's unclear when its products will be brought to the public. Disney fans have been left devastated over the news that a beloved Muppets-themed ride is closing. Theme park enthusiasts took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to express their sadness on Friday after discovering that Muppet*Vision 3D at Disney World in Orlando, Florida, will be shutting down for good. The Hollywood Studios-based experience will be discontinued to make way for the park's upcoming Monsters Inc. land. But Muppets fans do have one thing to look forward to as the beloved Tim Henson characters are now set to take over the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster. The high-speed rollercoaster is currently themed with the rock band Aerosmith, but it will soon get a makeover and feature the Muppets instead. Disney teased that the cartoon character would 'team up with some of music's biggest stars' during the ride to deliver 'a rockin' music festival.' An official Disney Parks blog post read: 'To make way for the monsters, Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy and more of their friends will be moving right along to Sunset Boulevard. 'The Muppets will be taking over Rock n Roller Coaster, teaming up with some of musics biggest stars for a rockin music festival. Disney fans have been left devastated over the news that Muppet*Vision 3D at Disney World in Orlando, Florida, is closing But Muppets fans do have one thing to look forward to as the beloved Tim Henson characters are now set to take over the Rock n Roller Coaster 'We know so many of you share our love for The Muppets and know their energy will be a perfect fit for this coaster. 'Theres sure to be laughter, screams and new tunes for this attraction for fans to enjoy throughout the adventure.' The theme park didn't announce when Muppet*Vision 3D will close or when Rock n Roller Coaster will get its revamp, but added that 'there's still enough time' to enjoy them both. Muppet*Vision 3D first opened at Hollywood Studios in 1991; the attraction consists of a stunning 3D show complete with live performers, projections, smoke, and soap bubbles. Immediately after the news hit the web, fans took to social media platforms to express their sadness. One person said: 'That's a huge downgrade.' Another user wrote: 'Why not both Muppet vision and Rock n Roller Coaster?' Someone else commented: 'Oh that's gross.' Many people claimed that the renovation was a 'huge downgrade' 'First Dinoland is leaving, then no season 2 of The Acolyte, and now Rock 'n' Roller Coaster is getting re-themed? This is a hate crime against ME,' one user said. 'It really sucks we're losing Muppet Vision, but it's nice that they're still gonna be in the park in a way,' another user commented. 'Great, my favorite ride in all of Disney will be ruined,' someone else said. Previously, Disney World fans were outraged after the theme park announced the closure of a popular attraction to make way for a new Cars Land: the Liberty Square Riverboat ride. In August at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, Disney Experiences chairperson Josh D'Amaro unveiled a slew of new additions that would be coming to the Happiest Place on Earth, which included an Encanto river ride, an Indiana Jones attraction, and a Zootopia show. He also revealed that they had three brand-new areas in the works - one themed like the Disney Pixar movie Monsters Inc., another based on the beloved Cars franchise, and a third dedicated to Disney's villains. But the news was met with mixed reactions from the amusement park's longtime fans. While many were excited about the upcoming additions, some were heartbroken when it was revealed that they'd have to say goodbye to another section of the park to make room for the Cars land. The company said that the River of America and Tom Sawyer Island in Magic Kingdom's Frontierland would be transformed into the new Lightning McQueen-themed area. Fans of rappers Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion have been blown away after the pair took to social media to unveil their real, natural hair to the world. Cardi, 32, was the first to share her hair, with the Bodak Yellow hitmaker reposting a video of herself to Instagram that she'd originally taken in October. As she caressed her luscious mane in the clip, Cardi said, 'It literally took three hours to take down.' She added, 'I ain't gonna lie. I haven't washed my hair in two months.' Megan, 29, followed by posting a picture of her sleek and straight locks from behind, captioning it, 'My hair grew so much, [oh my god].' Both Cardi and Megan wore multi-colored wigs and hair pieces in the music videos for their collaborations WAP and Bongos. The footage of their natural hair was reposted by Hollywood Unlocked, and the comments came in thick and fast. 'Cardi B needs to launch a hair care line. I will actually buy that,' gushed one. Fans of rappers Cardi B (pictured) and Megan Thee Stallion have been blown away after the pair took to social media to unveil their real, natural hair to the world Both Cardi and Megan wore multi-colored wigs and hair pieces in the music videos for their collaborations WAP and Bongos 'I love to see this. It's unfortunate people still in 2024 feel as if Black women cannot grow hair down their back,' wrote another. 'Cardi came a long way... I remember how damaged her hair was,' a third wrote. 'I love that both of them have healthy hair. If people weren't so "anti-Black" they would realize a lot of Black women have long beautiful hair!' added a fourth. Last year, Cardi confessed that she keeps her hair in perfect condition by using homemade hair oil. Before that, she'd told fans that one of her haircare tricks was boiling onions and using the 'odorless' water to wash her raven mane for extra shine. 'The facts are you need hair products and good care that works for you to maintain it and keep it healthy,' she shared. 'Sometimes it's not even just about growth it's about keeping it healthy and the growth comes.' In 2021, the former stripper stressed that 'being mixed don't mean your hair is always long and curly' and claimed society 'tried to make us believe our hair won't grow this long' but 'it's not true.' Megan posted a picture of her sleek and straight locks from behind As she caressed her luscious mane in the clip, Cardi said, 'It literally took three hours to take down' Cardi and Megan rocked matching wigs in the music video for WAP 'A lot of hair products we used back then weren't good for our hair but that's all we had to choose from. Also we couldn't afford to get to the salon regularly, if at all,' Cardi mused. 'Now everybody is getting better options, making affordable good products, learning from natural hair YouTube and TikTok about how to care for our hair better,' she continued. 'I want women of color with tighter curl patterns to know that you don't have "bad hair." There's no such thing as bad hair, and "good" hair dont mean a certain texture. All hair is good.' The hitmaker also frequently dons colorful wigs and hairpieces coiffed by her hairstylist Mia (aka Tokyo Stylez) for shoots and concerts rather than damaging her own natural hair. News of her exit came two years after she faced allegations of toxic behavior The anchor, 50, announced in July at that she was leaving the network Norah O'Donnell's last broadcast as anchor at CBS Evening News has been confirmed, four months after she announced she was leaving the role following five years at the helm. The 50-year-old journalist will front her final show on Friday, January 24, four days after Donald Trump's inauguration for a second term as president of the United States on January 20. CBS Evening News is then set to debut its dramatic format shake up on Monday, January 27 with John Dickerson and Maurice DuBois taking the reins as lead anchors. They will front the program live from New York, after five years in Washington D.C. A revamped CBS Evening News is expected to see more of 60 Minutes content in its broadcast, as well as several correspondents on hand to break big news as it happens. It was previously revealed that O'Donnell will be moving into a new role as senior correspondent, where it's understood she will be carrying out high profile interviews. Norah O'Donnell's last broadcast as anchor at CBS Evening News has been confirmed The 50-year-old anchor will front her final show on Friday, January 24 She will continue to contribute to Evening News and 60 Minute, as well as other CBS News programs. O'Donnell announced her departure in a memo to staff in July, which read: 'There's so much work to be proud of! 'But I have spent 12 years in the anchor chair here at CBS News, connected to a daily broadcast and the rigors of a relentless news cycle. 'It's time to do something different. 'Beyond that, I'm pleased to share that I have made a long-term commitment to CBS News to continue to do the same storytelling and big interviews that have been our hallmark.' She added: 'It's time to do something different. 'This presidential election will be my seventh as a journalist, and for many of us in this business we tend to look at our careers in terms of these milestone events.' O'Donnell replaced Jeff Glor as anchor and managing editor on CBS Evening News in July 2019 - leading the broadcast from Washington, D.C. O'Donnell, who announced her exit in July, will be moving into a new role as senior correspondent Previously, she had served as CBS This Morning co-host from 2012 and before that, CBS News' chief White House correspondent during President Obama's administration. In April 2022, following reports that she could be replaced, O'Donnell re-signed with CBS News for $3.8 million a year, down from her previous $8 million package, sources told the New York Post at the time. One source told the outlet that CBS execs gave O'Donnell a 'low ball' offer which they expected her to reject and were taken by surprise when she accepted. It followed numerous reports that O'Donnell had clashed with CBS News co-president Neeraj Khemlani, a no-nonsense, budget-cutting exec who had reportedly cast a wide net searching for her potential replacement. A spokesperson for CBS News referred DailyMail.com to a statement provided to the Post, which denied that Khemlani had sought to replace O'Donnell. In March 2022, speculation ran rampant in the industry that CBS might axe O'Donnell to her alleged 'toxic behavior' and purported $65,000-a-year wardrobe allowance. O'Donnell's publicist Cindi Berger denied the accusations at the time, telling the Post: 'It's a clothing allowance, every news anchor has one. That figure is incorrect.' Gemma Kirby promised her husband over and over again she would stop drinking. But weeks, or even days, later she would inevitably find herself waking up at 6am, blurry eyed and nauseous, with a lipstick-lined wine glass on her bedside table and Shiraz splattered all over her white carpet. The mother of three and self-described 'control freak' would groan in shame. 'I've done it again.' By this time, her husband Roger would have already left for work and no doubt seen the evidence of his wife's drinking from the night before. It didn't used to be like this. Gemma, from Queensland, Australia, never used to rely on alcohol to get her through the day. Her habit had started with an 'innocent' glass of sweet Moscato with dinner - but, like all addictions, this soon wasn't enough. Her nightly 'wind-down' routine soon spiralled into two bottles of 'heavy' Shiraz and a quarter of a bottle of vodka every day. Twenty-one-and-a-half standard drinks in 24 hours. One hundred and fifty standard drinks a week. In Australia, doctors recommend an absolute maximum of four drinks on any one day and 10 in a week to reduce to risk of alcohol-related injury. Gemma Kirby (pictured with her husband and children) lost herself to alcohol addiction - and it was only when her husband asked, 'Am I not enough?' that she realised she had to change Not only was it taking a toll on her body, but her wallet too. Gemma was spending an average of AU$760 (385) a month on booze, or just over $9,000 (4,575) a year. 'It turned into a high-functioning alcohol addiction,' Gemma, 32, tells me. 'You feel like you're always there - stuck at rock bottom. Every morning you wake up in this fog of shame, not being able to remember what you did the night before. 'I would think to myself, "I deserve this, I've had a hard day and smashed through my to-do list." The script would be on repeat.' A series of tragedies spanning seven years led Gemma into the pits of alcoholism: a court case, a traumatising dog attack, social pressures and six miscarriages. Under near-constant stress, she also fell victim to the social narrative so many of us are familiar with: 'You deserve a drink, take a load off, you've had a hard day.' And boy, did she hide her addiction well. No one besides her husband knew anything was amiss. Gemma would keep her drinking to the confines of her own home or social events where everyone around her was doing the same. Her habit had started with an 'innocent' glass of sweet Moscato with dinner - but, like all addictions, this soon wasn't enough for Gemma, a mother of three from Queensland, Australia Gemma's daily 'routine' would involve drinking from 1pm to ensure she wasn't over the limit in the morning so she could drive (she is pictured here with friends) By 7pm she would've finished a bottle or two while 'unwinding' with her family in front of the TV, before stumbling to bed and waking in a panic to find her husband had already left for work Her 'routine' was like clockwork. Gemma would begin drinking at 1pm to ensure she wasn't over the limit in the morning and could drive. By 7pm, she would have finished her second bottle while 'unwinding' with her family in front of the TV before stumbling to bed. She gained weight over time, and at her heaviest tipped the scales at 120kg. At times, she would sob while looking in the mirror, barely recognising herself. When she reflects on how she developed a drinking problem, Gemma admits her career as a professional musician likely has something to do with it. Being a performer, she would often calm nerves by having a drink - or two, or three - before going on stage. At networking events she couldn't turn down a drink either. 'Drinking made me more confident, helped me perform better on stage and fun to be around,' she tells me. 'I was a binge drinker and would write myself off on weekends, even though I wouldn't call myself a party girl.' Her tolerance for alcohol built up over time, to the point where she could 'smash two bottles' and still functional. But the next day, she would feel fatigued, hungover and generally temperamental - in her words, 'cranky at the world'. Gemma gained weight over time, and at her heaviest tipped the scales at 120kg. At times, she would sob while looking in the mirror, barely recognising herself Things were different when she was in her early twenties and working in the mines of Western Australia. There was a heavy drinking culture associated with the job and Gemma - who took her first drink at age 12 when she was offered a glass of champagne at Christmas - loathed it. It was during this time she met her husband Roger, who doesn't drink. He was eight years older and already a father to two children, aged five and seven at the time. They would later have a son of their own, who is now five. Gemma admits that while she has fond memories of falling for Roger, she 'essentially became a mum overnight' and the couple also bought a farm together, which brought a lot of responsibility for a 23-year-old. Her rock bottom came after a traumatic dog attack in July 2022 that left her toddler in hospital with a pierced eye socket When she reflects on how she developed a drinking problem, Gemma admits her career as a professional musician likely has something to do with it Her rock bottom came after a traumatic dog attack in July 2022 that left her toddler in hospital with a pierced eye socket. Gemma was jumping on the trampoline with her son one afternoon when they decided to head indoors. Hand in hand, they walked back to their Queenslander home when suddenly the family dog, Silver, sprung out from under the house. In a random act of aggression, the dog grabbed the toddler's head with his jaw, piercing his eye socket and narrowly missing his eye. 'My son was dragged out of my hand in a split second,' Gemma recalls. Blood was everywhere. Gemma screamed in horror and yelled out for Roger. The dog violently shook the child as if he were prey. Gemma leapt on the dog in attempt to free her son and during the struggle was bitten on the foot. She also broke her shoulder and hand. Her most horrific memory of that day is finally pulling the dog off then looking at her son and being unable to see his eye. Running on adrenaline as Roger provided first aid, the awful thought crossed her mind that her son would be blind in one eye. Luckily the dog's teeth narrowly missed his eyeball and the youngster's vision is fine today, which Gemma says is a 'miracle'. She still doesn't know why Silver attacked her son. In the depths of her addiction, a plea from Roger helped her to see the light. 'Am I not enough? Is our family not enough?' Roger begged her. His words broke her heart Following the dog attack, Gemma developed post-traumatic stress disorder and her alcohol abuse escalated significantly as she struggled to cope. Unable to wipe the awful vision of what happened to her son from her mind, drink became a comfort blanket, a friend who would welcome her home with open arms and make her feel better. It also helped her sleep at night. Shockingly, friends she confided in didn't think her drinking was a big deal. 'I told loved ones what I was going through but they never took me seriously. I felt alone,' Gemma says. 'I wondered if I was in the wrong at all. I thought, "Maybe it's not as bad as I think, maybe my husband is being a buzzkill, maybe it's his issue because he doesn't drink?"' In the depths of her addiction, a plea from Roger helped her to see the light. 'Am I not enough? Is our family not enough of a reason for you to stop this? I love you, we need to do this,' Roger begged her. His words broke her heart. From that moment on, she decided to take control of the situation with both hands. She didn't quit cold turkey like some addicts do, but instead committed to changing her bad habits with the support of a therapist. An ex-addict's five question quiz that'll reveal if you have a drinking problem... By Catherine Gray, author of The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober 1. You've googled 'am I an alcoholic?' People who drink healthily don't Google about whether it's troublesome, just as people who don't have marital issues don't look for relationship counselling. 2. You are secretive about drinking My dad apparently hid vodka bottles behind lampposts on the way to his job so it was easy to fool myself that my, 'I'm staying up to watch another episode' and then finishing off the bottle I would later replace, wasn't 'hiding bottles'. But it was. Because I was hiding having finished it. 3. You tried controlling your drinking I started a 'moderation experiment' when I was 29, in which I kept a daily unit count in a golden notebook to attempt to stay under my goal of 30 units a week - which was already excessive. I kept it for a few months and - given I only managed to limbo under 30 units twice - I ended up scribbling the charts out angrily. I now know this 'count and control' stage, and the ditching thereof, is very common. The attempt to control is actually a sign you've lost control. 4. You'd say you drink moderately It's the people who protest too much about how they're definitely moderate, and how they always stop at two, they never get hangovers: these are the people who ask me: 'How did you quit? Just asking for a friend.' They also cast around (like I did) for people who are worse than them in order to protect their own toxic drinking. If you have nothing to protect, you don't need to prepare a speech of defence. 5. You drink more than you intend to This is the clincher. You go out intending to only have two white wine spritzers, or three bottles of beer, and you have more. Consistently and repeatedly. Think of other consumables in life, to give this perspective. I don't buy a family cheesecake and intend to have one slice and end up having three. Therefore, I have no issue with cheesecake. Advertisement Now, having been sober for more than two years, Gemma is proud of herself for kicking the habit, but one downside is feeling excluded from social events because she's a non-drinker. 'I often don't get invited because I don't drink, which I think is crazy. I still know how to have fun! And I don't need alcohol to do it,' she says. 'I guess my sobriety makes other people realise their bad drinking habits. But sometimes it's easier to tell people I'm drinking a gin and tonic when it's really non-alcoholic.' While some problem drinkers are able to reintroduce alcohol in moderation, Gemma has decided to stay completely sober. Without booze in her life, she feels healthier and happier than ever before, eats well and even goes to the gym five times a week. But perhaps the greatest gift of sobriety, she tells me, is being able to set a better example for her son and stepchildren. A Canadian man living in Sydney has named the one phrase he hears in the city that he's never come across anywhere else. Josiah Hein said the sentence 'you're alright mate' as a response to 'sorry' was jarring because he didn't know if it was positive or negative. When uttered quickly in an Australian accent it can also sound like 'you-right-mate', confusing tourists and expats even more. Josiah explained he regularly hears the phrase in the street, typically after he apologises to someone, which as a Canadian he does many times a day. 'I'm in Australia walking on the street and there's this cool looking guy in a suit walking straight for me and he kind of stopped and I stopped and I was like "oh sorry man",' he explained. 'He didn't say "that's all good bro". He didn't say "that's okay". He didn't say "oh sorry". The guy said to me "you are alright".' He said in the Australian manner of speaking it sounded like he was telling him he was right - as if he had answered a question correctly. If someone apologised to him in a similar way he would answer 'you are all good' or 'you are sweet', 'don't worry about it my man'. Josiah Hein said the sentence 'you're alright mate' as a response to 'sorry' was jarring because he didn't know if it was positive or negative Your browser does not support iframes. He said this phrase feels 'less warm' though admitted it 'carries more swagger'. 'There's something nice about it,' he said. Many Aussies were quick to comment on his video and explained how it should be taken. 'At a deeper level it implies that you don't need to be concerned with offering an apology. It's almost as if there is no need for one to offer forgiveness for another's actions as we are not even bothered by it. So yeah, you're alright,' one woman said. 'It's kind of a question and a statement at the same time. Like "are you ok?" and "it's all good put together",' offered another. Others didn't realise it was an Australian thing. '100 per cent forget this is not an everywhere thing and say it all the time in Hong Kong. Never thought that someone wouldn't know what I meant though,' a traveller said. Some Australians warned the Canadian to watch out for the less friendly 'you right mate?' which might sound similar to the untrained ear. 'That one has a significantly different vibe,' one warned. 'Yeah, we are about to fight with that one,' said another. 'If it's 'yurightmayd' it's all good but if we say 'are you right mate?' then that mate is very much about to not be alright,' a third explained. It's something everyone dreads spotting in their home or on their leftovers mold. The microscopic organism can invade any surface that is damp or moist, from shower curtains, to sinks, refrigerators and even air conditioning units. Experts say you shouldn't beat yourself up if there are only little bits of mold, and can instead just discard rotten food or wipe surfaces without suffering a health impact. But Dr Nik Money, a fungal microbiologist who has spent decades researching mold, told DailyMail.com homeowners should be alarmed if the moldy area is larger than a pizza box about one square foot. Then you're likely to suffer health problems. He warned mold covering an area this large would release a high amount of spores into the air, which could be breathed in and enter the lungs, leading to symptoms including coughing and trouble breathing. Some experts have even suggested mold in homes may be linked to cognitive issues and depression. Mold is a major problem in homes in the US, with growths found in more than 70 percent and 45million houses have unhealthy levels of mold, as well as schools with 30 percent having roof problems that could lead to mold in buildings. While the fungus can pose a health risk anywhere it is found, experts warned it was particularly concerning if it is found in an air conditioning unit because this can blow mold spores into the air, allowing them to spread further. The above shows six types of mold you're most likely to find in your home Dr Money said: 'You have these highly-publicized cases, particularly in the UK, where children have suffered and some have died from mold exposure.' If mold is discovered in your home, Dr Money recommended using bleach or dish detergent to scrub the surface clean or throw out items covered in the substance. It is also important, he added, to wear a face mask during the process to avoid breathing in spores. More than 75,000 people are hospitalized with fungal infections in the US every year, and at least 7,000 die from them, though it is not known how many of these instances are linked to mold in the home. Below DailyMail.com lists what each color of mold means: Black mold Black mold, or toxic mold, colonizes multiple surfaces that have been wet for an extended period of time, including walls, AC units and bathrooms. While color is not particularly important for determining the health risk mold poses, Dr Money said some consider this to be one of the riskier types. 'Certainly, if it was my home, I would be concerned if I got a pizza box-sized area of dusty blackness,' he said. Black mold, or toxic mold, is one of the most risky in homes because it can release spores and toxins, experts say. It is particularly concerning if it spreads to cover an area larger than a pizza box, as shown above The mold called 'Stachybotrys' is sticky, making it difficult to spread its spores in the air, limiting the risk. But Dr Money warned that if it covered a large area in a home, it would release a lot of spores that could cause complications for babies and children, whose developing lungs are particularly vulnerable. In January last year, the mold was blamed for the death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak in the UK, who suffered 'severe swelling' in his airways and throat. Some slimy black mold found in areas like showers, however, may be a different type called Aureobasidium. This yeast-like fungus can also cause respiratory allergies, but is very unlikely to threaten human life. Bleaching or dish detergent can kill off both types of black mold, although in some cases the dark pigmentation may remain on the wall for some time. Blue and green mold These molds are among the most common to infest homes. Blue mold is the fungus Penicillium, which led to the discovery of the powerful antibiotic Penicillin, and is commonly seen on cheeses, but can also infest walls, ceilings and other foods. It is safe to eat in cheese, experts say, because the acidity, salinity and temperature of the cheese prevents it from releasing toxins. But it should still be removed from homes and other foods should be discarded, experts say. Dr Money also said that blue (left) and green (right) molds were concerning if they spread to cover an area larger than a pizza box. They are particularly common in homes Green mold is a type of mycelium fungus, and often colonizes items in the fridge that have been left uneaten for too long, as well as carpets. Dr Money again emphasized that the color of the mold was not important, but said that this mould could also grow to cover a large area raising health concerns. Experts have also warned that spores released by green mold can remain in the air for months. If the lungs are regularly exposed to a lot of mold spores, this can trigger the immune system to over-react causing asthma, coughing, and chest tightness. Pink mold Everyone has likely seen pink moldy areas in their bathrooms, collecting around faucets, drains or on shower curtains. This is known as Serratia, experts say, which is actually a bacteria that grows in damp areas and feeds off residue from soaps and shampoos. Many of us may also have pink mold in our bathrooms, which experts say can also pose a risk Experts say in most cases it is harmless, and can easily be wiped away using a sponge and some dish detergent. But if there are large quantities in a bathroom, the bacteria can become airborne and then be breathed in risking health complications. The bacteria can cause infections in the urinary and respiratory tract, as well as wound and eye infections in some cases, experts say. People who have compromised immune systems or underlying conditions are more at risk from the pink growth, but it can be removed using bleach or dish detergent. Yellow and orange mold Stemphylium and Epicoccum are two yellow and orange molds found in the home. They can colonize damp paper, cardboard, and flooring as well as houseplants and carpets. Unlike most molds, these need sunlight to complete their life cycle so they are unlikely to be found in dark places. In some cases, walls can be infested with yellow mold But they can fill the air with spores when large colonies emerge, potentially raising the risk of someone suffering from an asthma attack. However, using soap and warm water or bleach will likely rid any infested areas from the growths. White mold While there are numerous types of white mold, Cladosporium is one of the most common types to crop up inside. Like Aspergillus, this type can be airborne and is typically found in moist and dark areas such as basements, bathrooms or attics. According to Healthline, it can also grow on carpets, vents and even paper, provided the conditions are right. Most forms of Cladosporium are not dangerous to humans, but the fungi can still worsen asthma and allergies. And white mold, pictured above, can also emerge and infest some homes This coral-looking species is a parasite of moths and cicadas that has often been used in pest control products. Michael Taylor, a mold expert from Flinders University in Australia, previously told DailyMail.com: 'So when you notice the world around you changing color, you can marvel with your newfound knowledge at the microscopic wonders that live complex lives alongside yours. 'Then maybe clean it up, and give the fruit bowl a wash.' What is talc made from? Baby powder containing talc is no longer available at UK supermarkets; instead, you'll find products made with cornstarch, a white powder extracted from corn kernels. Many products now say 'talc-free' on the label. You can, however, still buy body powders containing talc online (via retailers such as Amazon), so if you are using powder and want to avoid a mineral-based product, read the ingredients carefully. In 2018 and 2023, Target Ovarian Cancer warned against the use of talcum powder between the legs. Gynaecologist Dr Jennifer Gunter, author of The Menopause Manifesto, says: 'There is no reason to actually use talcum powder on the genitals, so don't use yet another unnecessary product.' If your beauty therapist applies talc after a wax, for example, you might consider asking for an alternative. Baby powder containing talc is no longer available at UK supermarkets. Instead, you'll find products made with cornstarch, a white powder extracted from corn kernels Should I be worried if I used talc on my baby? Though scientists don't have a definitive answer, you may wish to avoid using the product on little ones for a different reason. Experts say it may irritate newborns' sensitive, delicate skin, with the American Academy of Pediatrics saying babies simply don't need it. Even cornstarch-based talc may be problematic, as the main ingredient can exacerbate nappy rash caused by candida yeast. Studies dating back to the 1990s also warn against inhalation of baby powder, which can cause choking, breathing difficulties, lung damage and, in extreme cases, even death in infants. If you have used talc on your baby in the past, don't panic; as with adults, there is no proven causal link between talcum powders and cancer. What are the signs of ovarian cancer? As the sixth most common cancer in the UK, ovarian cancer kills around 11 women a day in this country or 4,000 a year. It's often diagnosed late, because the symptoms are vague and can be difficult to spot. These can include bloating, a loss of appetite, indigestion, pelvic or abdominal pain, weight loss, changes in bowel habits (such as constipation) and needing to urinate more often. As the ovaries are deep in the pelvis, you won't be able to spot any signs of cancer on the genital or perineal areas, even if you have used talcum powder there. What to do if you're concerned If you have any concerns, contact your doctor. If you already have a diagnosis, and have previously used talc, you may be eligible to join the class lawsuit, led by UK firm KP Law. Tom Longstaff, a partner at the firm, says: 'All of the claimants who have sustained cancer after using J&J's talcum powder products have experienced a life-changing illness. In some cases, they have died from their cancer, leaving their families devastated. All of these innocent individuals deserve justice.' J&J which says it 'takes the issue of talc safety incredibly seriously and always has' denies the allegations against it. Talc is the naturally occurring clay mineral hydrated magnesium silicate, which is mined from the earth and has been sold commercially since the 1890s. Finely ground, it produces a silky, fragrant powder. Its properties include absorbing moisture and reducing chafing, making it a staple ingredient in baby powder (as a treatment for nappy rash) and in beauty products. Experts believe it isn't the talc which is the problem, but asbestos - a known carcinogen and another natural silicate mineral - which may be found close by during the mining process. '[Talc] can be mined in places where there is asbestos, which can cause the talc to become contaminated,' explains Sophia Lowes, of Cancer Research UK. 'Asbestos is known to cause mesothelioma and cancers of the lung, larynx and ovary.' What's the science behind the claims? The link between asbestos and cancer is undisputed. But there has, to date, been no large-scale study that conclusively shows talc sold in the UK can cause cancer. However, in 2003, a review in the US found that using cosmetic talc increased the risk of ovarian cancer by around a third, though it questioned the methods of the studies it analysed. Meanwhile, a 2013 study - published in the journal Cancer Prevention Research - concluded that its use in the genital area was associated with a 20 to 30 per cent increase in risk. There have also been studies linking talcum powder with mesothelioma, a cancer of the tissue almost exclusively caused by asbestos inhalation. But in 2020, researchers at the US National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, using data from more than 250,000 women, found no evidence that talc was dangerous. In July, the World Health Organisation concluded that mineral talc was 'probably carcinogenic' for humans, but was unable to rule out whether this was due to asbestos contamination. Is it just J&J talc under scrutiny? No. Other talcs and baby powders sold in the UK have been found to contain small amounts of asbestos. In 2022, Purity Essentials Baby Powder, made by South Africa-based Tiger Brands, was recalled from UK shelves after traces of asbestos were found. And it's not just talcum powder itself that's under scrutiny. Talc is also used as a filler, anti-caking agent and moisture-absorber in other cosmetics, such as eye shadow, blusher, foundation, face powder, lipstick and mascara. In 2021, the Office for Product Safety and Standards ordered tests of 60 make-up products, and found several to contain between one and five asbestos fibres. Am I at risk? Experts say the risk remains small. Ovarian cancer affects around two in 100 women and the likelihood increases with age, with more than half of all cases in women aged 65 or over. The UK's leading charity for the disease, Target Ovarian Cancer, says research on the subject remains 'limited'. 'Some studies show a small, weak link, but the evidence isn't yet strong enough to support this,' it adds. Some have also queried the link between using talc as a feminine hygiene product and mutating cells in the ovaries which are a long way up the reproductive tract. 'Anatomically, it doesn't make sense,' says Prof Jayson. Brits have been warned about the hazards of methanol poisoning in South East Asia traveller hotspot Laos following six deaths related to contaminated vodka shots including that of a young British lawyer. But the risks posed by the toxin, which is mixed into counterfeit booze to boost profits, isn't just a problem for those visiting South East Asia. Cases have been reported in holiday hotspots that tens-of-thousands of Brits flock to every year such as Greece and Turkey, with some experts warning it is a rising problem. According to guidance published on the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) website, British tourists and expats must be aware of the risk of methanol poisoning via fake alcohol in Indonesia, Costa Rica, Vietnam, and now, Laos. Australian officials also warn that travellers to Thailand, Cambodia and British holiday favourite Turkey should also be wary of the risks of methanol poisoning. Brits themselves have also been documented falling afoul of methanol poisoning in Greece. Methanol poisoning can be incredibly deadly, with fatality rates as high as 50 per cent, and just 15ml of liquid (half a shot) enough to kill you. The colourless liquid produces toxic chemicals attack the body's cells, leading to organ damage and in some cases death. Brits have now been warned about the hazards of methanol poisoning in South East Asia but incidents are known in holiday destinations far closer to home Experts have warned holiday makers to watch out for subtle symptoms of the problem which include confusion, dizziness, drowsiness, vomiting, vision changes and abdominal and muscle pain. Many of these mimic signs of alcohol poisoning but vision change,s due to the way the substance damages sensitive cells in the eyes, is considered one key difference. While sporadic cases occur semi-regularly in South East Asia and Central America, incidents far closer to Britain have been recorded. Turkish authorities and local media have reported dozens of cases of locals being killed and tourists being hospitalised due to unknowingly drinking counterfiet alcohol laced with methanol. One of the most famous incidents occurred in 2011, when four Russian nationals died, and almost two dozen more were sickened after they were served a tainted whisky bottle on a yacht. Turkish authorities arrested 22 people and seized thousands of bottles of bootleg spirits after shutting down an organised group supplying the counterfeit spirits in relation to the incident. Medics in the country have also warned the problem posed by methanol consumption linked to fake spirits is on the rise. Turkish doctors published a study earlier this year in which they noted over half of 15 recent victims of methanol poisoning had died, and called on authorities to crack down on the scandal. Australian Holly Bowles (pictured), 19, was on holiday with her schoolfriend in the popular backpacking destination of Vang Vieng - she has sadly become the sixth person to die Simone White, 28, from Orpington in Kent, is the fifth tourist to have died after falling ill last week Bianca Jones, 19, has become the fourth person to die after consuming alleged 'methanol-laced' drinks in Vang Vieng, Laos The authors of the research, published in The Turkish Journal of Neurology, wrote: 'The critical parameters to save lives in methyl alcohol poisoning are early diagnosis and timely, appropriate, and aggressive treatment. 'Both clinical, social, and economic strategies should be developed by national authorities to combat the issue.' Neighbouring Greece has also seen cases of methanol poisoning, including some involving Brits. One case involved Hannah Powell from Middlesbrough who at 21 experienced blindness and kidney failure as a result of consuming a vodka cocktail laced with methanol on the Greek holiday island of Zakynthos in 2016. Friends who were with at the time also fell ill, but not as severely. Ms Powell never recovered her eyesight, and her mother needed to donate one of her own kidneys to her daughter to save her life. Another incident in 2018 on the same island saw 17 British teenagers rushed to hospital after drinking alcohol that they claimed was laced with methanol. A newspaper investigation carried out in the wake of the hospitalisations by The Sun found traces of methanol in vodka sold by bar staff in the party town of Laganas. Hostel manager and bartender Duong Duc Toan (pictured), has claimed it wasn't his Tiger Vodka that made the tourists sick Spirits, sold as either shots or as part of cocktails, most often become laced with methanol via counterfeit alcohol supplies. Criminal gangs use methanol, which is cheaper to make than real alcohol, to stretch supplies and increase the potency when added in small amounts. They can then sell this knock-off booze to bars in bottles with fake labels that resemble real brands of vodka and whiskey for cheaper than the real thing. Spelling mistakes, or poor-quality printed labels, are considered one of the key warning signs a spirit may be contaminated with methanol. Recent warnings about the toxin have centred on a mass poisoning incident in Laos which last night claimed its six victim, 19-year-old Holly Bowles from Australia. Her death follows that of her friend Bianca Jones, also 19, as well as British lawyer Simone White, 28, from Orpington, Kent. Three other fatalities two Danes and one American have also been recorded in relation to the drinks served in the Laotian town Vang Vieng, which is popular with backpackers. At least 11 other people are thought to remain in hospital. Ms White, Ms Jones and Ms Bowles were all staying at Nana Backpackers Hostel, where they were given free shots of liquor now thought to be laced with methanol. Now the manager of the hostel, Duong Duc Toan, has reportedly been detained by local police. Authorities said a 'number of' people had been taken into custody, but no charges have yet been filed. Staff previously vehemently denied shots given at their bar were responsible for the mass poisoning. Ms White's friend, Bethany Clarke, a healthcare worker also from Orpington, took to the Laos Backpacking Facebook group to warn other travellers. She said: 'Urgent please avoid all local spirits. Our group stayed in Vang Vieng and we drank free shots offered by one of the bars. Just avoid them as so not worth it. Six of us who drank from the same place are in hospital currently with methanol poisoning.' Ms Clarke added that she became 'very fatigued and then fainted, then just felt nauseous and then my liver started to shut down' after drinking contaminated alcohol. She continued: 'I got to the private hospital in time but underwent many infusions and tablets and days of recovery.' Toan, who served shots to Ms Jones and Ms Bowles, denied it was his Tiger Vodka that made the girls sick. He claims he only buys alcohol from legitimate sellers and even drank from a bottle himself to 'prove it was safe'. Toan added the free shots were offered to around 100 guests and said there had been no other complaints. We all know spending hours doomscrolling on social media can put you in a bad mood. But scientists have now discovered why arguing it 'traps' you in a cycle of poor mental health. Doomscrolling refers to the digital habit of seeking out negative information, even though it triggers negative emotions. Scientists at University College London (UCL) found those with poor mental health are not only more likely to seek out and read negative content online, it also makes them feel more depressed. The research, published in the journal Nature Human Behaviour, involved more than 1,000 people who first underwent psychological tests to check their state of mental health. Next, they were tasked with browsing the internet for 30 minutes before taking another mental health test and revealing their search history to the researchers. The findings showed that those with the poorest mental health scores sought out the greatest number of websites with negative themes. A follow up experiment then aimed to establish whether the trend was cause and effect in other words, if the websites were to blame for participants' increased consumption of depressing material, or their mental state. Scientists at University College London (UCL) found those with poor mental health are more likely to seek out and read negative content online, and as a result, feel worse because of it Researchers performed mental health tests again before splitting participants into groups one lot browsed more positive content, while others were given 'doomscrolling' websites specifically. They found that people who were given more negative content to read were found to go on and find even more depressing content online. While the study did look at participants' browser history, they were not able to access the history of password-protected websites, making looking at their social media history impossible. But study authors hope to find a way around this for future research. Tali Sharot, professor of cognitive neuroscience at UCL, said that the findings contributed to a long-running debate. 'Lots of people are saying that there is a correlation between poor mental health and internet use,' She told The Times. 'We spend many hours online, and as humans, we only just started doing so in the last few years. Is it causing problems?' she added. Another UK study earlier this year found smartphone obsession could be harming adolescents' health. Experts found teens who report a problematic relationship with their smartphones could be up to three times more likely to be anxious, depressed or suffer from insomnia. About one in five older teenagers display 'problematic smartphone use' and many are crying out for help to cut down on their usage, experts from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at King's College London claimed. In fact almost half of teens who said they were unhealthily preoccupied with their smartphones also reported that they had symptoms of anxiety and even more said they had symptoms of depression. Wrapping her arms around her ten-year-old daughter, Charlotte Fairall faced a heartbreaking task. She had to explain that not only had the cancer Sophie had been diagnosed with less than a year ago returned there was nothing more that could be done to treat it. What mother wants to break that sort of news to her daughter who hadnt even made it to her teens? says Charlotte. All the hopes and dreams that we had for her I held her tight as I told her what the doctors had said. She knew this was it, and she cried. But then, through her tears, Sophie said something that took her mothers breath away. She looked at me and said: I need to make the most of every day I have left, Mum, recalls Charlotte, 44. I always knew she was brave, but until she said those words, I didnt realise just how brave. From that day on she never cried again, she got on with making the most of every day. Thats what Im most proud of Sophie for. Along with her vow to make the most of what little time she had, Sophie wanted to improve the experience of cancer treatment endured by other children. After going through aggressive chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment for rhabdomyosarcoma a soft tissue cancer more common in children than adults Sophie believed current treatments were outdated. Sophie Fairall appears on ITV's This Morning alongside her mother Charlotte in 2021 It seems incredible that a ten-year-old could see this, says Charlotte. But because shed suffered severe side-effects, more than anything she wanted future treatment to be made less harsh. Both chemotherapy and the radiation blasted at Sophies abdomen were horrendous for her, leaving Sophie with constant bowel problems so much so she even nicknamed her bowel The Grumpy Old Man. And ultimately they failed to save her. Treatment for lots of childhood cancers are archaic, and are still using drugs from 40 years ago, says Sara Wakeling, head of Alices Arc, a childrens cancer charity. Often they are based on adults, sized down for children. Standard treatment for rhabdomyosarcoma, for example, is a combination of radiation and chemotherapy drugs that have more side-effects than more modern drugs the drugs directed at Sophies abdomen would have meant she would never have been able to carry a child and damaged her spleen, she explains. Modern immunotherapy drugs on the other hand wouldnt have damaged her organs at all the long-term impact is lessened. Sophie also felt strongly that simple changes such as providing meals for parents on childrens cancer wards so they didnt have to leave their child to get food could make a massive difference. Sophies family set up a charity in her memory, Sophies Legacy, and launched a campaign and website, urging their followers to write to their MPs for change. Sophie (left), pictured with her family (dad David, sisters Emily, Alice and Rosie and mum Sara) was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma a soft tissue cancer more common in children than adults That led to a debate in April 2022 in the House of Commons the first debate ever on childrens cancer. And because of Sophie and Charlottes campaigning, a government taskforce was set up in February this year, bringing together leading experts to look at how improvements can be made in childrens cancer treatment. Cancer remains the biggest cause of death by illness of children under 14 in the UK, with five children dying from cancer every week. Despite this, only 2 per cent of cancer research funding is for childrens cancer, according to a 2023 analysis by Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity. There is currently no refresher training for qualified health professionals and it isnt offered in medical schools. Whats more, 53 per cent of childhood cancers are diagnosed after an A&E trip. This is far higher than adult cancers, of which 22 per cent are only picked up in A&E. As was the case for Sophie. It was one morning in July 2020 when Sophie, then eight, told her mother her stomach hurt. I thought it was indigestion, shed eaten a big dinner the night before, says Charlotte, 44, who lives with daughters Amelia, 12, and Lucy, 17, in Stubbington, Hampshire. (She is separated from Sophies dad, Gareth, 45, an IT consultant.) After a phone appointment, a GP gave Sophie a prescription of Gaviscon for indigestion. But a few weeks later, Sophie was in bed for five days because of her stomach pain. It was during the pandemic and GPs werent doing face-to-face appointments, recalls Charlotte. When we finally did get to see a GP, he examined her physically and said her stomach felt hard. He thought it may be an infection and said if she didnt get better, hed refer her to hospital. But a few days later, while on a family holiday, Sophie started bleeding though she was too embarrassed to tell her mother. I noticed it on the washing, says Charlotte. I rang the GP and they told me it would be her first period. I told them it wasnt, as she had been bleeding for eight days. But they still wouldnt see her. My gut instinct told me something was seriously wrong, so I phoned the out-of-hours service. Again, they said it would be her period and that if I was worried, to take her to A&E, which I did. In A&E at Portsmouth Hospital, doctors found a lump in Sophies stomach. She was referred for further tests and scans, which revealed a 12cm tumour. It was diagnosed as a rare form of rhabdomyosarcoma, which occurs when immature muscle cells mutate, becoming cancerous, though the exact cause is unknown. It was terrifying when they showed us on the X-ray, recalls Charlotte. There wasnt a clear space without cancer anywhere in her abdomen. I kept saying: this is not going to be good, over and over. Sadly Sophies experience is not unique, says Sara Wakeling, of Alices Arc, whose daughter Alice died in October 2019 from the same disease, aged seven. Ive seen many families struggling to get a diagnosis for months, even up to a year; symptoms are dismissed. Dr Jennifer Kelly, 41, who worked as a GP until 2018, and who runs the Grace Kelly Childhood Cancer Trust after losing her daughter Grace to cancer aged four, experienced first-hand the lack of training in childhood cancers. She says: Early training in medical school concentrates on adult cancer, mainly because of the numbers involved. Dr Jennifer Kelly worked as a GP until 2018, and now runs the Grace Kelly Childhood Cancer Trust, after losing her daughter Grace to cancer aged four One in two adults will experience cancer in their lifetime, compared to one in 450 children. It isnt an excuse, but thats the main reason. Throughout your training as a GP you may never see a case of childhood cancer, she adds. Sophie was taken for urgent surgery in September 2020, where surgeons tried to remove as much of the cancer as they could, but it was difficult because it had stuck to vital organs, including her bowel and ovaries. The operation took seven hours and the surgeons managed to remove 95 per cent of the tumour. Sophie then started chemotherapy. In seven months, she underwent nine rounds of it, the most aggressive plan available. She also had radiotherapy. Charlotte recalls: It was brutal to watch her go through, and so difficult for her. Even if shed survived, it would have destroyed her fertility; she would have gone into menopause in her teens. Both chemotherapy and radiotherapy are toxic to the ovaries, and as a result immature eggs are unable to mature. When Sophie finished chemotherapy, at the end of April 2021, all that was left was a minuscule area next to her bladder. Dr Kelly says that early training in medical school concentrates on adult cancer, and that its possible to go through training as a GP without ever seeing a case of childhood cancer Doctors decided to monitor it, and Sophie started on maintenance chemotherapy via an oral tablet. The family dared to hope they were through the worst. But devastatingly, a routine scan just a couple of months later discovered new tumours. The scan of her abdomen was lit up with tiny cancer cells, recalls Charlotte. It changed from being about a cure, to how much time she had left. More chemotherapy would have caused more problems with her bowel, as it was so damaged from the initial chemotherapy. Shed relapsed so quickly that her body hadnt had a chance to recover. Doctors told us there was no way shed be able to cope with the pain. It was at this point that Charlotte had to break the news to her little girl and Sophie set her mind to helping others and living life to the fullest. Over the next two months, Sophie went on to complete an impressive bucket list, which included cooking with Gordon Ramsay and running an ice-cream van in her village. She was still in the most awful pain, yet she did all these things with a big smile on her face, says Charlotte, who also had to explain what was going to happen to Sophies sisters, Lucy, then 14, and Amelia, eight. It was the summer holidays and Sophie knew that she wouldnt be here to start the new school year, so the school held a party so she could say goodbye to all her friends. Sophie had one further course of oral chemotherapy, in the hope it would slow the tumour growth. But it didnt work the tumour doubled in size within a week. From then on, she just had pain relief with high doses of morphine. With a childhood cancer like rhabdomyosarcoma, so much rests on whether the initial treatment works, explains Sara Wakeling. If it doesnt, or if there is a relapse, options are limited. Treatments are rarely personalised to the tumour that needs to change to improve outcomes. We need to see more funding and research into immunotherapy and cancer vaccines [which both teach the immune system to destroy cancer cells] for children. Adult cancer research is way ahead, and we need to catch up. During her final weeks, Sophie was always thinking about other children in her situation, says Charlotte. She sat down and made a list of ways she thought life might be improved for them. She wanted to have a proper childrens menu, as it was food that adults would be offered, such as steak and kidney pie, says Charlotte. And she wanted to introduce more play specialists into hospitals. Sophie wanted to create an environment which was as much like home as possible for children and their families. Top of the list was that Sophie wanted parents to be fed in hospital, adds Charlotte. Countless times Id sat by her bedside as she was given a tray of food, and Id have to go to the canteen. She never wanted me to leave her. Shed beg me: have mine, and then you dont need to leave me. It was so wrong. All she wanted was me by her side. Sophies Legacy, set up in May 2022, has raised 75,000 to feed parents in hospitals around the UK, with the proviso that the NHS hospitals that received our funding will carry this on when that money runs out. Initially, nine hospitals were involved in a pilot scheme and, in March it was scaled up to include another 15 hospitals, such as Bolton, Airedale, Morecambe, Guildford, Surrey and Sussex, and Exeter. Each hospital will now offer at least two meals per day to the parent or carer. However, Sophie did not see any of this new scheme, as in September 2021, just a month after her tenth birthday, she died. She wanted to die at home, so we brought her home one Friday, recalls Charlotte. Doctors didnt think shed survive the weekend, but she hung on for eight days. Our family was heartbroken. We had lost such an incredible soul. Eight months later the family set up Sophies Legacy, and weve since worked with the government and NHS England to try to implement the changes she so badly wanted. The hope is that the new taskforce will see Sophies wishes become reality. Charlotte has worked tirelessly to campaign for improved child cancer services and is making a real difference to other peoples lives, using an unimaginable tragedy of her daughter to campaign for much needed change, says Dame Caroline Dinenage, Conservative MP for Gosport, Hampshire, who heads the new taskforce. The ultimate goal is to shape a future plan, getting cancer experts together to see if we can shift the dial on childrens cancer outcomes and support given to children and their families. I hope the new Health Secretary gives the green light to continuing the important work being done and I have written to him to articulate the urgency of changing the way we detect, treat and care for children with cancer. As Charlotte puts it: Even at ten years old, Sophie could see things that needed improving, and thats the legacy she was determined to leave behind. Thousands of Americans have been struck down by incurable fungus on the West Coast dubbed a 'new epidemic'. Valley Fever - which got its name because a majority of cases are found in Arizona and California - is a deadly lung infection that kills one in 100 people that contract it. This year, the numbers have spiked to 9,826 in California, which is a 46 percent increase from last year. Meanwhile, there have been 12,368 reported cases of Valley Fever in Arizona, up from 10,990 cases in 2023, marking an uptick of more than 11 percent. Experts are now frantically trying to design a human vaccine for the fungus to help stop its spread. The University of Arizona Valley Fever Center for Excellence recently secured $33 million from the National Institute of Health to pursue a vaccine. Its director, Dr John Galgiani, helped develop one for dogs which is still undergoing licensing for commercial marketing. But it is hoped the jab could translate to humans. 'I've been thinking about a human vaccine all along but taking this through the dog is really a very useful step to show proof of the concept, making the idea of taking it to humans that much more attractive,' Mr Galgiani said. Valley Fever is caused by the fungus coccidioides, which releases spores into the air when soil is disturbed that are then inhaled by people. Thousands of Californians have been struck down by incurable fungus on the West Coast dubbed 'new American epidemic' Your browser does not support iframes. There is no person-to-person transmission. The disease, for which there is currently no preventative vaccine, can often be missed by doctors or misdiagnosed as pneumonia as it presents similar symptoms such as fatigue, cough, fever, aching muscles and breathlessness. Other symptoms include night sweats, joint aches and a red rash, usually on the legs but occasionally on the chest, arms and back. But up to 10 percent of infections become severe and take months to recover from. In these cases, known as disseminated coccidioidomycosis, the disease can spread through the bloodstream to other parts of the body, including the brain, skin and liver. If it infects the membranes and fluid around the brain it can cause life-threatening meningitis. On average, there were approximately 200 coccidioidomycosis-associated deaths each year from 1999 to 2021. There is no proven treatment for Valley Fever and patients are usually prescribed rest and given therapies to manage symptoms. Doctors may prescribe antifungal medications, but there is no evidence from clinical trials that show these treatments are effective - and antifungal drugs come with the potential for serious side effects. In 1996, the Valley Fever Center for Excellence at the University of Arizona, was established in order to address the problems caused by the coccidioides fungus. Two-thirds of all Valley Fever infections in the US occur in Arizona, mostly in the urban areas surrounding Phoenix and Tucson. The fungus spore is whipped up into the air when the soil is disturbed by the wind or digging. When humans or animals breathe in the spores, they travel through the respiratory tract and into the lungs where they reproduce The infection was dubbed Valley Fever because 97 percent of cases are found in Arizona and California The number of Valley Fever cases peaked for the first time in a decade in 2021. The 20,970 recorded instances were the most on record for a single year since the last peak in 2011. Instances declined in 2022 but picked back up last year, and experts are concerned over an expected surge of the fungus in the coming decades. The CDC estimates Valley Fever could infect more than half a million Americans each year in the future. The agency said that due to rising temperatures across the globe, the endemic region of the disease will spread north to include dry western areas. Other experts fear that it could be endemic in 17 states by 2100. Florida has become the first state to recommend removing fluoride from its public water systems because of the risks it poses to children's brains. The mineral has been increasingly part of public debate since a bombshell government report published earlier this year and comments made by Health and Human Services nominee Robert F Kennedy Jr. The report concluded consuming high levels of fluoride can harm brain development in children and is associated with a lower IQ. Based on an analysis of previously published research, the report marks the first time a federal agency has determined 'with moderate confidence' there is a link between fluoride and IQ. Florida's Surgeon General Dr Joseph Ladapo said: 'It is clear more research is necessary to address safety and efficacy concerns regarding community water fluoridation. 'The previously considered benefit of community water fluoridation does not outweigh the current known risks, especially for special populations like pregnant women and children.' Dr Ladapo, who was shrouded in controversy over his response to the Covid-19 pandemic and vaccine resistance, isn't the first official to call for the removal of fluoride, which was added to water to strengthen teeth and improve oral health. RFK Jr said removing the mineral from water would be the first act he takes as an official in the new Trump administration. The staunch anti-vaxxer has called fluoride 'industrial waste' and claimed it is associated with bone fractures, arthritis, bone cancer, thyroid disease and neurodevelopmental disorders. However, much of the literature around water fluoridation shows the practice is safe. The above image shows a woman filling a glass of water from a tap, amid concerns over the quality of tap water (stock) Based on self-reported data from Florida, more than 70 percent of residents who rely on community water systems receive fluoridated water. Adding fluoride to water has been touted as a great public health achievement, but doubt over its benefits and concerns of its health impact have been on the rise. In Dr Ladapo's announcement, he said 'Floridians should be aware of safety concerns related to systemic fluoride exposure,' including some of those that have been promoted by RFK. Those are, he said, ADHD risk in children, behavioral problems in children born to mothers who consumed fluoride while pregnant, sleep distribution, premature puberty in girls, thyroid disorders, reduced IQ and increased bone fracture risks. The announcement continued: 'Due to the neuropsychiatric risk associated with fluoride exposure, particularly in pregnant women and children, and the wide availability of alternative sources of fluoride for dental health, the State Surgeon General recommends against community water fluoridation.' Water fluoridation is standard national policy in the US, England and Canada, but other developed countries such Germany, Sweden, Scotland and Switzerland have discontinued it, arguing people now get enough fluoride through other sources, like toothpaste and mouthwash. And earlier this year, a US federal judge ruled the EPA should reevaluate national regulations on fluoride, which makes teeth more resistant to substances that can wear down enamel and make them thin, weak and more prone to cavities and dental infections. This map, from 2020, shows fluoride levels in untreated groundwater supplies. Fluoride is a naturally-occurring mineral and is often already present in many water supplies. Areas marked with a yellow or red dot have more than twice the level of fluoride in groundwater than recommended Health authorities have long listed water fluoridation as one of the top 10 public health achievements of the 20th century. In addition to preventing cavities and infections, the NIH says it has spared Americans hundreds of millions of dollars in dental medical costs. Originally introduced to the water supply in 1944, the government has moved to add it to most public water systems, meaning roughly 72 percent of Americans that consume public water drink fluoride. Since national fluoridation came around, rates of dental problems in children have declined, and the program is praised by dentists. Critics, however, argue the potential harms caused by fluoride do not outweigh any benefits it may provide, and Americans get enough fluoride from other sources. Dr Ladapo's advisory said fluoride is already widely available in toothpaste, mouthwashes and applications from dentists. Florida is not the first state to go down this path. Hawaii does not add the mineral to its water because lawmakers are split whether it will improve oral health in the state, which has the highest rate of tooth decay in children. Hawaii Sens Mike Gabbard and Donna Mercado Kim have rejected fluoride recommendations, saying it equates to unnecessary mass-medication.' The Eagle and the hart by Helen Castor (Allen Lane 35, 688pp) The Eagle and The Hart is available now from the Mail Bookshop The next time you blow your nose on your pocket hanky, remember to thank King Richard II of England (1367-1400) because he was the man who invented them. This may sound like one of those rather trivial or dubious pub-quiz style factoids, but its well attested by contemporary chroniclers: an accessory so new that there was not yet a word to describe it. And, oddly, it does convey the very essence of Richards slightly fussy character, as unfolded in Castors dense, detailed and magisterial new 600-page door-stopper, telling the history of both the tragic Richard, and his very different successor, the ambitious and talented Henry IV. There are tragic ironies right at the heart of the story of these two cousins. When Richard II was crowned king at the tender age of ten in Westminster Abbey, it was his cousin Henry who stood beside him holding the royal sword Curtana, his face a mask of fierce concentration. Richard was fastidious, prissy. He married twice, but never produced any children. He was devoted to his great friend Robert de Vere, the Earl of Oxford, however, with whom he was said to have had an obscene intimacy at least by the gossipy Benedictine monk Thomas Walsingham. Who knows? Castor seems much more astute in identifying one of Richards main characteristics as a chilly obsession with distance and purity those hankies again! suggesting he may have been simply asexual in modern terms. But one thing is certain: de Veres close friendship and influence over Richard was resented by many other powerful nobles. Henry IV still Henry Bolingbroke at this time was utterly different. Like Richard a grandson of Edward III, he was bluff, military, a loving husband and father of six children, including, crucially, four sons, and at least one illegitimate child to boot. As time went on Richard became more tyrannical and mistrustful. He alienated London never a good idea imposing new taxes, and even moving part of the government apparatus, the Court of Common Pleas, north to York. Worse still, gossip leaked out that Richard had spent still more money he didnt have on luxurious bathrooms at his palace in Sheen, plumbed with hot and cold running water and bronze taps. Thone Fit for a King: Portrait of King Richard II and The First Lord Lumley This at a time when people were going genuinely hungry after a series of bad harvests. In a wonderful snippet from court records in 1391, a certain William Mildenhall of London was accused of failing to report his father for saying that the King was unfit to govern, and should jolly well stay in his lavatory for the rest of his days! Henry, meanwhile, fought in the Northern Crusades and returned home a triumphant war hero. Richards rather less impressive military campaigns included one rather pointless punitive raid in Ireland, and an equally pointless invasion of Scotland. It was only the Scots falling out with their French allies the French found their hosts uncouth and uncultured, and their food inedible that saved Richard from complete disaster. Eventually, Richard was accused of having ridden roughshod over the laws of England, he was deposed and forced to sign a formal renunciation of his crown. He ended his days in Pontefract Castle and, according to contemporary accounts, as a dangerous focus of continuing revolt against Henry IVs usurpation of the throne, was miserably put to death by starvation. Henry IV was crowned in Westminster Abbey in October 1399, the Archbishop of Canterbury preaching from a text in the Book of Samuel: A man shall rule over the people. The implication was clear to all: Henry IV was a real, strong, capable man, and Richard wasnt. For several years after, Henry would have to fight and fight again to keep his throne against plots and rebellions from noblemen who had done less well out of his usurpation but he knew how to fight, and he won. His son was Henry V, and his distant descendant today is King Charles III. Thirst by Giles Foden (Weidenfeld and Nicolson 25, 304pp) Thirst is available now from the Mail Bookshop Still known best for his Idi Amin bio-drama The Last King Of Scotland, Giles Foden returns yet again to Africa with this clumsy novel about an Irish scientist, Cat, who has travelled to Namibia in 2039 to find her mother Catherine, who disappeared into the desert six years previously. Catherine had come to Namibia to try once again to find an aquifer rumoured to exist deep within the desert, and which she had previously sought in vain as a student several decades before. But various mining companies and multi-nationals have now joined the search, united by a competing vested interest in an untapped water source in this most arid and hostile of landscapes. Foden has form in combining propulsive storytelling with rich socio-political context, but his skills abandon him here, and this futuristic eco-thriller is as dry as the desert itself. Darkenbloom by Eva Menasse (Scribe 20, 467pp) Darkenbloom is available now from the Mail Bookshop The town of Darkenbloom on the Austrian-Hungarian border is an eerie place, where the walls have ears, the flowers have eyes and even the grass registers every passing step. Many of those who remember are dead, others prefer to be drunk and those too young to know tend to leave anyway. But there are many who do know but who chose not to speak, until, in the way of all good stories, a stranger turns up and starts asking questions. And then a ghastly discovery is made. Eva Menasses spine tinglingly strange novel confronts the legacy of the Second World War in a sleepy Austrian-Hungarian town with rare imaginative daring, blending together the comic grotesquerie of fairy tale, the bitter comedy of satire and the lingering resonance of fable to chillingly entertaining effect. The Holocaust novel can sometimes feel like an exhausted genre, but as the far Right rises once again in Austria, this glittering novel beautifully refreshes it. Set My Heart on Fire by Izumi Suzuki (Verso 11.99, 192pp) Set My Heart on Fire is available now from the Mail Bookshop The Japanese writer Izumi Suzuki, who died in her 30s in 1986, is known most of all for her countercultural science fiction short stories, which Verso also publish. This novel, the first to be made available in English, resembles a series of short stories hooked together as it pieces together the jittery, fragmented existence of a disaffected woman in her 20s who survives on cigarettes, ice creams and barbiturates and whose life comprises of a string of joyless, transactional, and highly contingent sexual relationships. There is a knowing ennui to the writing, which taps into the disillusionment of 1980s youth culture a la Bret Easton Ellis, yet without that writers deadly ice-cold wit. If you are in your 20s you might enjoy it. If you are not, youll probably be thankful those days are gone. Colleen Hoover has become a mainstay of the bestseller list. The American author started self-publishing her books in 2012, became a BookTok phenomenon and eventually signed with a traditional publisher. Her books, many of which tackle dark themes such as domestic abuse, miscarriage and infidelity, have sold more than 23 million copies worldwide. Her 2016 romance novel It Ends With Us has spent a combined total of 169 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list and was adapted into a film starring Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni earlier this year. Now, another one of Hoovers top-selling titles has caught Hollywoods eye. Its been confirmed an adaptation of her psychological thriller Verity is in the works at Amazon MGM Studios. An adaptation of Colleen Hoover's Verity is in the works Heres everything we know about the next CoHo project, including plot details and which A-lister is set to take on the titular role. What is the plot of Verity? The story follows Lowen Ashleigh, a struggling writer who is on the brink of financial ruin when she accepts the job offer of a lifetime. Jeremy Crawford, husband of best-selling thriller author Verity Crawford, has hired Lowen to complete the remaining books in a successful series, which his wife is unable to finish after a mysterious accident. Upon arrival at the lavish Crawford estate, Lowen slowly learns that things are not exactly as they seem. She discovers a secret, unfinished manuscript that may divulge chilling admissions about the familys past. As Lowen ingratiates herself with Jeremy and his young son Crew, she must discern if Veritys writings are merely lurid works of fiction or an ominous warning by a deranged psychopath. Who will star in Verity? It was previously announced Anne Hathaway signed up to play the titular role of best-selling author Verity Crawford and we've just had another exciting casting update. Dakota Johnson has joined the cast as Lowen Ashleigh, while Josh Hartnett is playing Verity's husband, Jeremy Crawford Dakota Johnson and Josh Hartnett have joined Anne Hathaway in Verity When will Verity be released? While no details around the films release have been confirmed yet, some sources say Verity will get a similar treatment to It Ends With Us and be released in theatres. Christmas is a time to relax, unwind and lets be honest watch quite a lot of telly. After all, with the Great British weather, there are few things more enticing over the festive period than snuggling up on the sofa with something great on the box. Thats why weve compiled a Christmas TV guide of this years must-watch TV specials, so you can relax in the knowledge you're not missing anything. From regular favourites like Call the Midwife and Strictly Come Dancing to the year's most-anticipated sitcom return, prepare to be spoilt for choice If youre after a laugh... Gavin and Stacey Christmas Special 9pm, Christmas Day, BBC One The final ever episode of James Corden and Ruth Jones iconic sitcom will pick up five years after the last specials cliffhanger. Did Smithy accept Nessas proposal? How are Pam and Mick getting along now hes retired? Are Pete and Dawn still bickering non stop? Expect plenty of giggles (and maybe a few tears) as we bid the gang goodbye. Outnumbered Christmas Special 9:40pm, Boxing Day, BBC One Another old favourite returns as we catch up with the Brockman family: Pete, Sue, and their three fully grown-up children. In a moment of adversity, the parents decide to get the whole brood (including one grandchild) back together for a traditional Christmas. But fate, neighbours, hyenas and bus replacement services mean, as always with the Brockman clan, the whole thing isnt straightforward. Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl 6:10pm, Christmas Day, BBC One Wallace & Gromit return in the franchises first new film in 16 years, which sees Wallace and his pre-programmed smart gnome, Norbot, suspected of stealing garden goods. While Wallace proclaims his innocence, its up to Gromit once again to battle sinister forces, or else Wallace will never invent again. Cunk on Life 9pm, 30th December, BBC Two Pioneering documentary-maker Philomena Cunk (Diane Morgan) returns with her most ambitious quest to date: seeking to find the meaning of life. As we cling to our dying planet, the synopsis reads, working round the clock while were slowly being replaced by machines, now more than ever, people are desperately looking to make sense of their lives before someone invents a computer that makes sense of it for them. Prepare for lots of silliness and LOLs. If youre feeling hungry... Mary Makes Christmas 8pm, 18th December, BBC One Everyone's favourite kitchen whizz Dame Mary Berry is joined by Amanda Holden, Oti Mabuse and Nick Grimshaw to create delicious gifts for family and friends this Christmas. Left gifts to the last minute? This is for you... Great British Bake Off Christmas Special 8pm, Christmas Eve, Channel 4 Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood will return to the tent to judge a team of soap stars baking efforts. Eastenders Dean Gaffney and Natalie Cassidy, Emmerdales Sheree Murphy and Coronation Streets Shobna Gulati and Chris Bisson will take on the signature, technical and showstopper challengers in an attempt to be named Christmas star baker. If you fancy a classic... Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special 3:55pm, Christmas Day, BBC One By Christmas, well already know whos lifted the regular glitterball, but you can whet your Strictly appetite once more with the annual Christmas special. This years line-up includes Tamzin Outhwaite, Vogue Williams and Josh Widdicombe, wholl each compete with one of the pros in an effort to win the Christmas glitterball. Gladiators Christmas Special 6pm, New Year's Day, BBC One TV presenter Joel Dommett, comedians Rob Beckett and Ellie Taylor, and broadcaster Louise Minchin will face the Gladiators in a celebrity special. The famous four will first battle the 16 superhuman athletes, before finally taking on each other in the gruelling Eliminator obstacle course. Call the Midwife Christmas Special 8pm, Christmas Day and 7:30pm, Boxing Day, BBC One Call the Midwife is a Christmas staple, but this is the first year the special will be split across two 60-minute episodes, rather than the usual 90-minute format. Plot details are being kept firmly under wraps, but we do know Helen George hasnt officially left the show, so Trixie may well return from New York for a surprise appearance. Doctor Who Christmas Special 5:10pm, Christmas Day, BBC One Ncuti Gatwa returns as doctor for this years Christmas special, which also stars Bridgertons Nicola Coughlan. Showrunner Russell T Davies says: I can't give away much more but work has begun on it already, and it's mad, it's one of the maddest Christmas specials you'll ever see. It's epic, it goes to so many different places. And it's a great story of who the Doctor is when he's alone. EastEnders 7:30pm and 10:35pm, Christmas Day, BBC One Every year, EastEnders writers save the big drama for the big day, and 2024's Christmas special is no exception. The shocking affair between Cindy Beale and her former stepson Junior Knight will be spectacularly exposed, and theres more stress for Watford Square favourites Denise Cox and Phil Mitchell. If you want a singalong... Wham! Last Christmas Unwrapped Streaming now on BBC iPlayer Marking 40 years since Whams iconic Christmas track was released, this documentary will feature Andrew Ridgeley, Pepsi and Shirlie and archive footage of George Michael to reveal how the song and video came to be. Mariah Meets Rylan Streaming now on BBC iPlayer Filmed in location in LA, Grammy-winning artist and Christmas queen Mariah Carey tells Rylan all about her life, career and (of course) the making of her classic hit All I Want for Christmas Is You, as it celebrates its 30th anniversary. Straight after, the channel will air a compilation of her performances, Mariah Carey at the BBC, so get your vocal chords ready. If you want to test your brains.. The 1% Club Christmas Special 9pm, Boxing Day, ITV1 Lee Mack will return with his compulsive knowledge quiz, as 100 contestants compete to win up to 100,000. The festive twist? All the questions will have something to do with Christmas. The Masked Singer Christmas Special 7:30pm, Christmas Day, ITV1 The Masked Singer returns with a seasonal one-off of everyones favourite guessing game, with four celebrities competing undercover in elaborate, Christmas themed outfits. Hosted once again by Joel Dommett, the panel of Davina McCall, Jonathan Ross, Mo Gilligan and Maya Jama will be putting their detective skills to the test. The Chase Celebrity Christmas Special 8pm, Christmas Day, ITV1 The Chase will air two Christmas specials this festive season, both seeing four celebs take on the iconic chasers (in fancy dress, of course). Will the famous faces manage to secure the cash for their chosen charities, or be sent home empty handed? Buying an electric car home charger can be a big upfront expense, but that can be paid back quickly thanks to the vast savings by using a domestic tariff over more expensive public charging costs. Charging on your driveway is on average over 50 per cent per unit cheaper than plugging into a street-side device, but if you take advantage of smart charging and off-peak electricity rates it can be even greater. A dedicated home charger is also much safer, more convenient and faster than simply using a three-pin plug in your home or garage. But with an increasing array of wallbox chargers available, how do you know which is the best brand to buy? Auto Express' Driver Power 2024 survey of more than 4,000 motorists ranks the UK's main EV home chargers from best to worst. Drivers were asked to give their charger a score out of seven across seven different categories: installation process, style, ease of use, build quality, reliability, smartphone app and customer service. Here are the 2024 results - so you know which charger and installation services are worth every penny. Winner of the best charger award: Hypervolt With a score of 6.5 out of seven, Hypervolt tops the Auto Express rankings for 2024. Hypervolt won five out of seven categories installation, style, reliability, customer service and smartphone app With a score of 6.5 out of seven, Hypervolt tops the Auto Express rankings for 2024. Hypervolt won five out of seven categories installation, style, reliability, customer service and smartphone app. Demonstrating though that EV owners really do properly assess their experiences of their own home charger for the survey, Hypervolt was marked down to the bottom of the field for build quality and ease of use. However, both scores were still quite high. Chris Rosamond, current affairs and features editor at Auto Express said: 'This year's champion secures first place on the podium with an impressive array of five category wins, but there are a couple of category results where it trails worryingly in seventh place. 'Build quality is arguably the most troubling of those, with satisfaction falling well below the majority of rivals here. Hypervolt also ranks seventh for ease of use, but the differences across the brands are more marginal. The brand's biggest wins are rave reviews for its customer service and smartphone app.' Runner up: Easee Coming in second place is Easee with a score of 6.4 out of seven. However, 'seriously disappointing' reliability is Easee's achilles heel Coming in second place is Easee with a score of 6.4 out of seven. Its sleek, minimal smart home charger won first place in the 'build quality' category and was second place for style, with smooth installation taking third place. However, 'seriously disappointing' reliability is Easee's Achilles heel. Rosamond said: 'Easee by name but not so easy by nature; Easee was ranked third for ease of use by Driver Power respondents, albeit by the narrowest of margins. 'Easee customer service rated only fourth most satisfying, while satisfaction with its smartphone app is fifth. Reliability being ranked only seventh is seriously disappointing, though.' Third place: Zappi Zappi takes home bronze, but by only the tiniest of margins with a score of 6.3 out of seven Zappi takes home bronze, but by only the tiniest of margins with a score of 6.3 out of seven. Its adaptable charger can output at 7kW or 22kW speeds depending on the setting, and came in second for reliability, build quality and installation. It also scored highly for customer service and the smartphone app, even though it came fourth for ease of use. Fourth: Wallbox Wallbox comes in fourth with 6.2 out of seven: Wallbox came second for ease of use and smartphone app too, showing that owners find their Wallbox hassle-free and simple to use way day to day Wallbox comes in fourth with 6.2 out of seven. With multiple home chargers to choose from, Wallbox offers energy management and in-built solar charging options for those interested in reducing carbon footprint further. Wallbox came second for ease of use and smartphone app too, showing that owners find their Wallbox hassle-free and simple to use way day to day. Fifth: Ohme Ohme came fifth with a score of 6.2 out of seven: Ohme only scored in the top three for customer service and being well-made Ohme came fifth with a score of 6.2 out of seven. Coming low down the list for style, ease of use, reliability, Ohme only scored in the top three for customer service and being well-made. Sixth: EO Taking sixth: Although EO came towards the bottom of the league tables for the majority of the categories, it did take first place for ease of use EO takes home sixth place with a score of 6 out of seven. Although EO came towards the bottom of the league tables for the majority of the categories, it did take first place for ease of use. Seventh: Pod point Coming second from last is Pod Point, with a score of 5.9 out of seven, but it did come third for reliability with a score of 92.02 per cent. Coming second from last is Pod Point, with a score of 5.9 out of seven. While Pod Point managed to only come in the bottom half of the table for six out of seven categories, it did do much better on reliability. It came third for reliability with a score of 92.02 per cent. Eighth and last: Rolec In last place is Rolec with a score of just 5.1. Rolec chargers are generally pretty cheap for an at home option, costing around 350. Surveyed customers voted that their experience with a Rolec wasn't up to scratch compared to the competition, coming in last in all seven categories. Customer service was 'especially poor'. In last place is Rolec with a score of just 5.1. Rolec chargers are generally pretty cheap for an at home option, costing around 350. But sometimes you pay less in the knowledge you'll get a lower quality product or service, and this is reportedly the case with Rolec. Surveyed customers voted that their experience with a Rolec wasn't up to scratch compared to the competition, coming in last in all seven categories. Customer service was 'especially poor'. However, it is worth noting that only the top eight largest charger brands were voted on and Rolec still scored 6 out of seven in the reliability category. 'With a range of options that include what's claimed to be the UK's most affordable home charger, the feedback from Rolec customers suggests they may be getting what they pay for,' says Rosamond about Rolec, the worst ranked home charger provider. Friday marks the conclusion of the COP 29 climate summit, which for many years has marked an important date in the diary of global finance leaders. But almost two weeks of global warming pontification in Baku appears to be just that for many bosses: hot air. The chief executives of major financial institutions, including BlackRock, Standard Chartered and Deutsche Bank, have reportedly skipped this year's event, highlighting its diminished significance in the eyes of investors. COP 29 chief executive Elnur Soltanov may not have helped a perception of growing irrelevance when he was covertly filmed agreeing to facilitate oil and gas contracts at the climate event. Green investors are likely to feel somewhat disappointed by this. It follows a growing spotlight on so-called greenwashing, which has driven many investors away from ESG investing after a multi-year boom, Less than half of DIY investors are now considering ESG impact when making investment decisions. However, for many investors, including some of those who say they no longer use ESG to direct their decisions, the environment is still a major concern. Hot air: Many investors have lost faith in ESG pledges made by firms after greenwashing Given the option, investors would choose to put their money somewhere they feel is benefitting the environment. Almost two thirds of DIY investors have some form of environmental focus, data from wealth manager Charles Stanley shows. The problem, however, is that greenwashing has made it increasingly difficult to discern firms making a legitimate environmental impact from those misleading investors to make themselves appear more sustainable than they actually are. Just half of investors think they can spot greenwashing, with a similar amount looking to environmental certifications to direct their investing decisions. But these certifications and regulations are generally reactive rather than proactive. So can investors now be confident in ESG investments, or is there still some way to go? How has greenwashing impacted investing? Investment giants including asset manager DWS, HSBC and Goldman Sachs all have been penalised for various instances of misleading the public over their environmental credentials. It has become increasingly difficult for investors to trust claims made by firms. Growing distrust, lagging performance and a political backlash in the US saw investors withdraw a net $40billion from ESG equity funds last year, according to Barclays. But there is still considerable appetite for environmentally conscious investing. Morgan Stanley data shows that ESG appetite has increased over the past two years and 54 per cent of investors expect to increase their sustainable investment allocations over the next 12 months. Bloomberg Intelligence predicts global ESG assets to reach $40trillion (31.6trillion) by 2030. The story is likely the same among DIY investors. Rob Morgan, chief investment analyst at Charles Stanley Direct, said: 'Being a self-directed investor gives you the opportunity to put your money into what you believe in. 'Increasingly people want their investments to do more than make money, with investors clearly seeking investments that have a greener, more ethical or social impact on society.' The future of ESG investing in the UK comes down to changes in regulation, particularly the imposition of Sustainability Disclosure Requirements. What regulation is in place? Earlier this year, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) brought in new anti-greenwashing rules, seeking to ensure that firms back up the claim they make about their ESG credentials. Under the regulation, known as Sustainability Disclosure Requirements, some 50,000 firms will be required to comply. Funds are now classed as sustainability labelled, non-labelled ESG or non-ESG funds. The regulation applies to UK investment funds, FCA-authorised firms offering sustainability-linked products or services and UK firms that distribute investment products. Seb Beloe, partner and head of research at WHEB Asset Management, said: 'Before SDR there was very little control over how firms could use terms like sustainability, low carbon or environmental. SDR has now set a high standard for funds that want to use these terms.' The new rules mean that funds with more than 70 per cent of their portfolio invested into sustainable assets can be labelled 'sustainability focus', while those with 70 per cent of assets potentially improving environmental or social sustainability can adopt a 'sustainability improvers' label. Funds can also qualify for a 'sustainability impact' label if they aim to achieve a measurable positive impact, and those with a combination of the three can qualify for a 'sustainability mixed goals' label. Will these rules work, and what do they mean for investors? With new regulation in place, it should become easier for investors to make sense of the products available and understand whether they really fall under the ESG bracket. Beloe said: 'Only funds that have an explicit sustainability objective that relates to a real-world outcome and have an investment process and methodology for measuring performance against this objective can use these terms. 'This means that investors can be confident that funds that get an SDR label will be supporting positive real world sustainability outcomes.' On the face of it, SDR does look likely to reduce greenwashing. Bianca McMillan, associate director at Gravis Capital, told This is Money: 'The regulation will prevent those investment companies that are not sustainably focused from using certain names and language. 'So, from that point of view, I think it will reduce greenwashing. It is certainly making investment companies think about how they describe their investments and communicate and report on objectives to investors.' But some investment funds - such as venture capital trusts, for example - aren't affected by the labelling rules as most are not specialist sustainability funds. Henry Philipson, director of marketing and communications at ProVen VCT manager Beringea, said VCT managers 'have been putting substantial efforts into building robust approaches to ESG, ensuring that commitments to sustainability are translated into frameworks that underpin investment strategies and processes'. However, Gravis' McMillan also points out that SDR could make it more difficult for investors to navigate the fund space, with the metrics used to prove sustainably not set out definitively in the regulation. She said: 'The way the regulation has been drafted means there is scope for investment companies to set far-ranging definitions of sustainability. For example, there is flexibility around setting your sustainable objective, with the ability to apply proprietary methodology to measure your objective.' Many fund managers have also chosen to hold off from adopting the voluntary SDR labels in order to see how the regulation develops. What this means for investors is that a number of funds that may be able to qualify for ESG labels have designated themselves as such. Although many are holding off from adopting these labels, Beloe expects this to change and he is optimistic that more funds will begin using the labels. He said: 'Many fund managers have said that they won't try and meet this standard because it is too difficult and expensive. 'The FCA has said explicitly that they are trying to design a labelling regime that will work for the market over many years and not just for today. This means that they have set a demanding standard for funds to meet.' Beloe added: 'The danger is that it takes much longer for funds to use the labels and this leads to a decline in the amount of available product that undermines the market for investors. 'Even in this scenario, we think that the market would recover, but it might take a few years.' Royal Mail has warned of more price hikes as a result of the Chancellors National Insurance raid. Martin Seidenberg, head of parent company International Distribution Services (IDS), said it would need to raise prices to offset a 120million hit from measures unveiled in the Budget last month. The 508-year-old postal service has already increased the cost of a first-class stamp three times in a year, from 1.10 to 1.65. Seidenberg said the rise in National Insurance effectively a tax on jobs would hit hard because it employs around 130,000 staff. Hikes: Royal Mail owner IDS said the delivery group would need to raise prices to offset a 120m hit to the business from measures unveiled in the Budget last month The cost environment is worsening just at the time when we need to invest, he said. As a major employer, the changes to National Insurance will disproportionately impact our business relative to competitors. He added that the company was considering all possible measures, including more automation in sorting offices, and refused to rule out job cuts. It is too early to say what we will do, he said. They will be about pricing, cost efficiencies and other ways we can move forward. Anything that would impact our people would be last resort. That provoked a rebuke from the Communication Workers Union (CWU), which represents around 100,000 Royal Mail staff. The union said IDS was trying to present Royal Mail as a basket case and create a false narrative as an excuse to reduce staff numbers. The clash comes at a critical time for Royal Mail, which faces an uncertain future after a takeover swoop this year from Czech tycoon Daniel Kretinsky. The energy baron, nicknamed the Czech Sphinx, controls nearly 28 per cent of IDS through his vehicle Vesa Equity. If a 3.6billion offer is approved by the Government, Royal Mail will fall under foreign ownership for the first time since it was established by Henry VIII in 1516. Royal Mail reported a loss of 67million for the six months to September, a substantial improvement from the 319million loss in the same period last year. IDS, which also owns profitable international delivery network GLS, reported an overall half-year profit of 61million, swinging from a 169million loss in 2023. Royal Mail was brought to its knees during a series of strikes in 2022 and 2023, which caused severe disruption to deliveries and left the company haemorrhaging money. While he expected Royal Mail to turn a profit for the full year, Seidenberg said price rises were being considered across the board, including parcels and business mail, to offset the massive tax increase announced in the Budget. He added that changes to Royal Mails universal service obligation were now even more urgent. The legal obligation requires Royal Mail to deliver letters across the UK six days a week at a single price. But the company has pushed for reform, arguing that a sharp decline in posted letters means the service is no longer fit for purpose and is costing it millions of pounds per day. Talk of price increases also threatens to intensify criticism of Royal Mails already high postage costs, with reports this week showing that it would be cheaper to fly to Europe and post Christmas cards to the UK from other countries rather than by domestic first-class mail. Given the current UK cold spell, investors thoughts turned to hopes for trips to warmer climes. Holidays firm Jet 2 soared as it unveiled record results and passenger figures for the first half and said its full-year profit should beat expectations. Passenger numbers rose 11 per cent to 13.34million, up from 11.97million a year earlier, as package holidays and flight-only sales grew, helped by increased capacity after ten Airbus A321neo jets entered service. Profits up: Holidays firm Jet 2 soared as it unveiled record results and passenger figures for the first half and said its full-year profit should beat expectations Revenue was up 15 per cent to 5.09billion for the six months to September 30, aiding a 16 per cent increase in adjusted profit to 772.4million. Full-year adjusted profit is likely to beat its average market forecast of 541million. Shares roared up 5.8 per cent, or 82p, to 1500p. The FTSE 100 closed 0.8 per cent, or 64.20 points, higher at 8149.27, while the FTSE 250 added 0.5 per cent, or 105.16 points, to 20,349.92. Despite the price of gold rising, miner Endeavour Mining dipped 0.7 per cent, or 11p, to 1560p and Hochschild lost 0.4 per cent, or 1p, to 226p. Elsewhere among the blue-chips, Halma took on 5.7 per cent or 143p, to 2645p as the safety equipment and hazard detection products group raised its interim dividend 7 per cent after a record first-half when sales topped the 1billion mark. Among the mid-caps, Ithaca Energy jumped 9.2 per cent, or 9.2p, to 109p after announcing a $200million (158.8million) special dividend as the North Sea oil and gas company hailed its deal with Eni UK. Stock Watch - Shield Therapeutics Shield Therapeutics reported strong sales of its iron deficiency drug Accrufer in October, bolstered by an rise in the selling price to over 178 per prescription, up from 132 in the third quarter. The October performance keeps it on track to meet its full-year revenue target of 25million. It said that recruitment has been completed for the phase III confirmatory study of the drug in China. Shield rose 10.3 per cent, or 0.28p, to 2.95p. The big shareholder payout came as Ithacas net income in the nine months to September 30 dropped by 44 per cent, which reflected its performance before the Italian tie-up. Elsewhere, cement firm Breedon Group gained 2.8 per cent, or 12.5p, to 452p as it reported a resilient trading for the 10 months to October 31, driven by robust pricing despite a challenging UK construction market. And PZ Cussons moved 2.1 per cent, or 1.6p, higher to 78.5p after the maker of Imperial Leather soaps and Carex hand gels said it expected to report first-half revenue growth of 5 per cent. But CMC Markets fell 14.8 per cent, or 50p, to 288.5p as the trading and investment platform kept its full year guidance unchanged despite reporting strong first half results. Paypoint dropped 6 per cent, or 50p, to 785p as it highlighted challenges in the broader UK economy related to consumer confidence and spending. And Auction Technology Group lost 3.7 per cent, or 16.5p, to 428.5p as analysts at Jefferies started coverage on the firm with an underperform rating and a target price of just 380p. Among the small caps, Nostra Terra was the biggest loser, dropping 36.7 per cent, or 0.01p, to 0.02p as the explorer raised 500,000 through a subscription and placing, issuing 2.17billion shares at 0.023p each to bolster its coffers as it prepares to further lift production in Texas. However, Caspian Sunrise jumped 25 per cent, or 0.7p, higher to 3.5p as it unveiled a conditional agreement with Absolute Resources to sell Kazakhstan assets for 69million. The number of applications made to councils to change the use of a property from commercial to residential has soared in recent years, according to new figures. Such requests, which enable buildings such as offices, shops and warehouses to be converted to homes, soared by 63 per cent between 2021 and 2023 according to data from Direct Line Landlord Insurance seen by This is Money. It said the change was due to landlords and developers looking to take advantage of soaring housing demand. The number of applications that were approved grew by 60 per cent during the same period. According to the data, which came via a Freedom of Information request, the number of change of use applications this year is on track to exceed last year's figure by a further 20 per cent. Changes announced by the previous Conservative Government mean that, since 1 August, unused commercial property can be converted into residential homes without full planning permission. On sale: Dexters is selling this conversion flat in Maltings Place, London Bridge, for 800,000 This change, the research suggests, has created 'new opportunities' for landlords looking for a 'sustainable' income. Labour has also pledged to build 1.5 million homes over its first five years in power. Haringey in London saw a 100 per cent increase in approved commercial to residential change of use applications between 2021 to 2023. At 90 per cent, Somerset saw the second highest percentage increase in approved change of use applications during the period. Enfield, Merton, Croydon, Ealing Lewisham, Hackney, Wakefield and Bristol also made it to the top 10 list of locations with the highest increase in approved change of use applications in the period. Seven London boroughs featured in the top ten. Sheffield and Milton Keynes saw a 58 per cent and 57 per cent increase in approved change of use applications respectively, as offices, shops and warehouses were repurposed to meet growing residential demand. Jonny McHugh, head of landlord at Direct Line, told This is Money: 'The property market is constantly evolving and as demand for residential property continues to soar, it has increased the attractiveness of converting commercial units for domestic use. 'By converting underused commercial properties into residential units, landlords can help maintain their revenue streams and future proof their investments.' Jeremy Leaf, a north London estate agent and former Rics residential chairman, said: 'One of the reasons we've seen an increase in commercial to residential conversions is probably the acute shortage of stock, especially in areas of highest demand. 'Planning permission could be more straightforward and quicker for these properties than conversion of residential or even new build, bearing in mind commercial fulfils the "brownfield" definition and should include existing infrastructure and services.' But he cautioned that these projects may not be as simple as they first seem, especially for ambitious home buyers without a property background. Could be yours: The property at London Bridge is a split level warehouse conversion Spacious: The flat in London has two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a balcony Features: Flats in The Maltings Place block are brimming with features showing the site's history 'Conversions are not always routine internally, depending on existing layouts and the location of things like utilities and partitions,' he said. 'Outside space too, other than on the ground floor, could present a significant challenge although many can include some wonderful "distressed chic" or "loft style" apartments which are often particularly attractive and valuable.' While the trend for converting business and shop premises into residential homes has risen sharply in the last few years, there is no guarantee this will continue apace. Landlords face higher stamp duty fees and increased regulation, and the cost of getting building and renovation work done is also high. Buying commercial property and converting it into people's homes isn't for the faint-hearted, but it can be lucrative. Specialist finance is likely to be required and buyers and prospective landlords need to be aware of local regulations for commercial to residential conversions. Detailed site plans and drawings would need to be submitted to the local authority. Fire safety and minimum space requirements would also need to be factored into any plans. I recently received an email from a company I used to work for, saying that there has been a cyber-attack and my personal and financial information could have been compromised. I have spoken to some former colleagues about this, and we have a lot of questions. Is it possible for us to find out what, if any, information the hackers have stolen about each of us personally? The email said it could have included payslips (so addresses and national insurance numbers), bank details, copies of passports and driving licences which seems serious. And what should we do to protect ourselves? Most of us have changed our online banking passwords, but what else? I have read it may be possible to get compensation, how does that work? The company has also offered us a free 12-month subscription to a 'credit and web monitoring' service which apparently helps to flag up any suspicious activity. If we accepted that, would it affect any right to compensation? L.C, London Data breach: Hackers target companies to steal sensitive information about their employees which they can later sell on to other criminals on the dark web Harvey Dorset, of This is Money, replies: Unfortunately, given the increasingly digital world in which we live, data breaches are becoming more and more common, having grown almost continuously since the early 2000s. Last year, there were 7.78million cyber attacks against UK businesses, with half of British businesses experiencing a cyber-attack. Criminals often target companies and steal their data, and in most cases proceed to sell said data on the dark web. Stolen data can include customer records, employee details and financial data. Criminals use this data to commit identity theft, account takeovers, and phishing attacks. Under GDPR rules in the UK, companies that have experienced a data breach are required to notify individuals whose data is at risk as a result. If your data has been stolen as part of a cyber-attack, then you are entitled to compensation if the breach has caused 'material or non-material damage.' Of course, if the data breach was minor, the company from whom the data was stolen will argue that no damage was actually caused by the breach. For expert advice, This is Money spoke to Charlotte Hill, partner and solicitor advocate at law firm Penningtons Manches Cooper to find out what to do if you have had your data stolen, and if you are entitled to compensation. How to report a data breach Charlotte Hill says obtaining legal advice can help to establish if you have basis for a compensation claim Charlotte Hill replies: If you are the victim of a cyber-attack and you suspect that your personal data has been stolen, you ought to report the crime to Action Fraud the UK's national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime. The report will be assessed by the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau who should notify you within 28 days of their initial assessment. Typically, the NFIB will either refer the matter to your local police force for investigation (as you can no longer report it to them directly), or they will advise you that no further action will be taken. Even if no action is taken, the report will remain on file, which means that it will be used to help continue to build a national intelligence picture and to create campaigns to raise awareness of high-risk fraud types. The NFIB can also shut down bank accounts, websites and phone numbers which are used by fraudsters. Unless the police are asked to investigate your report, however, unfortunately there is no further recourse for you via this avenue and Action Fraud cannot assist in the recovery of any stolen funds or compensation. Personal data (such as addresses, national insurance numbers, bank details, and other details which can be used to identify a person including those from identity documents) must, amongst other things, be processed in a manner that ensures appropriate security of that data, including protection against unauthorised or unlawful processing in accordance with UK data protection laws. If the victim's former employer believes that their employees' personal data has been stolen, the employer is obliged to report the personal data breach to the Information Commissioner's Office within 72 hours of learning of the breach, unless such a breach is unlikely to result in a risk to the rights and freedoms of the victims. The employer is also required to report the data breach to the victims without undue delay. The ICO will then investigate the breach and has the power to fine data controllers for the breach. Individuals can also make reports to the ICO if they are not happy with the organisation's response to any concerns about the breach, or if they fail to respond to such correspondence within a month. The ICO cannot award compensation for victims, however. Can I get compensation after a data breach? Victims can seek compensation from an organisation if they have suffered damage as a result of it breaking data protection laws. This compensation can be for both material damage, such as the loss of money, and also non-material damage, such as from suffering distress. It may be that the organisation will agree to pay compensation to the victims without having to go to court but, if the organisation does not agree to pay any compensation or the victim does not consider the payment to be sufficient, the victim's next step would be to make a claim to court. Obtaining early legal advice in such a scenario is key to consider the merits of any such claim we often advise victims who have been offered compensation from organisations before they decide whether to accept it or to pursue the organisation via the court. It is quite common now for individuals to team up to form what is known as a 'group action' to collectively pursue an organisation for a data breach to make the claim more cost-efficient and effective. How to protect your money if your data is stolen The organisation might well be able to confirm what documents or data was stolen, but their investigations into the breach will likely take a considerable amount of time and it may not be able to confirm exactly what was taken, but only which servers or folders were compromised. If in doubt, however, it is recommended that victims report the details of all documents which they think might have been stolen, such as passports and driving licences or bank card numbers, to the organisation that issued them. They should also inform their bank or building society and any credit card companies of their concerns and arrange for new cards to be issued to them, while reporting any usual transactions on their statements. Victims should be extra vigilant for any suspicious emails, text messages or websites which could have been engineered to obtain any missing personal data to allow the fraudsters to access their accounts. Using software to help detect suspicious activity should not constitute an offer of compensation Passwords should be changed to new, strong passwords to protect any accounts. Victims can also contact the UK's Fraud Prevention Service, Cifas, for protective registration which places a warning flag against the victim's name on the National Fraud Database. This will then tell any organisation that uses Cifas information to pay special attention when the victim's details are used to apply for their products or services. Typically, the offer of using software to help detect suspicious activity should not constitute an offer of compensation, but the employer may be offering this in the absence of a payment and so it would be prudent to check the position with them and carefully consider the offer in detail before accepting or refusing it. The victim should be careful not to agree to compromise any and all potential claims against the employer, as this could then prevent any claim via the courts. New data has revealed that at least 16 dogs are seized every day in the UK, with experts warning that dangerous dog bans on breeds may not be the way to solve the maulings epidemic. Since November 2023 just under 6,000 dangerous dogs have been seized by 27 forces, a Freedom of Information (FOI) request found, meaning 114 dogs are taken every week. Of the forces which responded to the FOI, Greater Manchester had the highest figures, with 19 dogs seized a week. It took 1,000 in a year and put 337 of the animals to sleep. Second highest is the West Midlands force with 17 dogs, followed by Northumbria with nine. West Yorkshire seized eight a week, while Leicestershire said it seized six. Experts have now warned that banning dangerous dogs in order to keep the public safe has 'critical flaws' and the focus should be on making owners more responsible instead. A spokesperson at Puppies.co.uk, which obtained the data, said: 'The Dangerous Dogs Act has been in effect for over three decades and yet, hospital admissions due to dog bites continue to rise.' They added that instead of focusing on breed, the emphasis should be on 'addressing the root causes of dog aggression' instead. They called for stricter laws and enforcement on poor breeding practices instead. Esther Martin, 68 (pictured) from Woodford Green, London, was mauled to death by two 'unregistered' XL Bully dogs in February The dogs who killed Ms Martin were owned by her son in law Ashley Warren, a rapper by the name Wyless Man (pictured) It comes after South Yorkshire Police warned that 'someone will die' after thirteen reported dog attacks in just 48 hours. These included one harrowing encounter where a young mother found herself and her baby in a frightening situation after a loose XL Bully went on the attack. The American Bulldog's owner was taken to hospital after suffering lacerations to his face, neck and head when he stepped in to break up a dog fight in his home in Sheffield. The bulldog was seized by officers and is currently being held in police kennels. An elderly woman and her grandchild were also among those attacked by another loose hound in the city. The wave of violence is compounded by the heart-wrenching case of 10-year-old Savannah Bentham, who was mauled to death by her own pet XL Bully, which North Yorkshire Police described as having a 'close, loving relationship' with its owner. The numbers spell out a grim story for the region, as from February 2023 to July 2024, there have been 796 dog attacks in South Yorkshire - 370 in 2023 and 426 in 2024. That has doubled from 2020. A dog attack is counted as a crime when an 'owner or person in charge allowing a dog to be dangerously out of control in any place in England or Wales injuring any person or assistance dog'. Under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, police may seize any dog in any place, (public or private) in England or Wales if the dog appears to the officer to be dangerously out of control. With the permission of a court, the police can seize a banned dog, even if a complaint hasn't been made and the dog has not acted dangerously. And if the dog is in a public place, they don't even need a warrant to do so. This is the horrifying moment a man is mauled by pair of dogs after they reportedly escaped onto the street on Dagenam Crescent in Sheffield before attacking a man Video grab of an out of control dog attacking another dog on Richmond Road in Sheffield on September 2 last year A man is dragged into the road as he tries to fight off an attacking dog in Sheffield last year It comes after a ban on XL Bully dogs came into force following a spate of devastating attacks by the dogs, leaving people dead or seriously injured. A few days after the ban, Esther Martin, 68, was mauled to death by her son-in-law's unregistered XL Bully dogs in front of her screaming grandson, aged 11. Professor Carri Westgarth and Dr John Tulloch from the University of Liverpool's School of Veterinary Science said the majority of dog bites are from a dog known to the victim. Often this is the family pet and bites happen during stroking, restraining or just play. The dog is often responding to discomfort, pain or fear. A spokesperson at Puppies.co.uk said: 'While the recent data on dog seizures is concerning, it's crucial to remember that focusing on breed-specific bans is not the answer to promoting public safety. 'The Dangerous Dogs Act has been in effect for over three decades and yet, hospital admissions due to dog bites continue to rise. Instead of focusing on breed, the emphasis should be on addressing the root causes of dog aggression, which generally stem from irresponsible ownership and breeding practices. 'Dogs, regardless of breed, can exhibit aggressive behaviour if they are not properly trained, socialised, and cared for. Tighter breeding legislation and increased resources for enforcement are necessary to combat the rise of illegal and low-welfare breeders who prioritise profit over the well-being of the animals. Amanda Young, 49, (pictured) and son Lewis, 30, were jailed after an XL Bully dog attacked an eight-year-old boy Angeline Mahal, aged 50, was fatally attacked at her home in Hornchurch in May Four year old Rayven, from Carmarthen, is seen in hospital after undergoing an operation for the wound on her arm after a dog attack in February 'Early intervention strategies that identify and address concerning behaviours before they escalate are crucial. This includes providing training resources to dog owners and establishing clear protocols for reporting and managing potentially dangerous dogs. 'Not to mention, this will reduce the burden on police forces that work tirelessly to manage dangerous dogs and ensure public safety.' In May, an expert as warned the UK will 'likely' see more XL Bully attacks in future despite the breed having been banned by the Government. Two separate attacks in that month left two young boys, aged five and 15, injured and taken to hospital while a woman was also killed by her two XL Bullies inside her home. The spate of horrific attacks, as well as others earlier in the year since the ban was imposed, has seen people call into question whether it is working. The Government brought in the ban on the muscular canines after they were blamed for maulings which led to at least 11 deaths since 2021. Those killed ranged from 17 months to 84 years of age. But this is not expected to solve the issue, with one expert telling MailOnline that further attacks are likely as the pets are being rehomed with 'irresponsible' owners who are unaware of how to look after them. Doug Smith member of Bully Watch, said: 'We will likely be seeing more of these attacks. They won't go away.' 'It is a really tricky and messy situation for police to respond to. They can't go door to door to assess the owners and assess the dogs. 'The ban hasn't had an impact on the ownership of these dogs and they are being rehomed to unsuitable homes illegally. 'People are rehoming these dogs to other irresponsible owners. It is a case of idiots giving their dogs to other idiots. These people think they are responsible owners when they aren't.' An XL Bully is removed from a property in Hull after it mauled a five-year-old boy Angeline Mahal, 50, was killed at her home in Hornchurch, East London, by two of her own XL Bully dogs Your browser does not support iframes. 'It is quite unprecedented. They have put this ban in place and people are still wanting to take these dogs into these homes. Mr Smith said that while there the number of attacks by XL Bullies doesn't appear to have been effected by the government ban, there are still fewer people breeding the dogs. And Qarrar Somji, Director and Solicitor-Advocate at Witan Solicitors, commented: 'Although the XL Bully ban aims to enhance public safety, it has critical flaws that undermine its fairness and effectiveness. 'The ban's reliance on breed-specific identification is problematic, as law enforcement officers need to distinguish XL Bullies from similar breeds, which is difficult due to the breed's non-standardised features. 'This can lead to misidentifications and wrongful seizures of non-XL Bullies. The focus on breed also disregards the role of responsible ownership in preventing aggression. 'Not to mention, unclear identification guidelines can lead to subjective enforcement. This means that some owners may face severe penalties. A more effective approach would be to strengthen current laws to focus on individual dog behaviour and responsible ownership, alongside education and training resources.' Two Australian local councils have voted to recognise a discredited conspiracy theory about Covid vaccines, after a similar decision by another local authority. West Tamar council in Tasmania and Ceduna council in South Australia have backed claims that COVID-19 mRNA vaccines are 'contaminated' with residual DNA, which can allegedly integrate into human DNA and potentially cause cancer. The government-run Therapeutic Goods Administration branded the claims as misinformation when the Port Hedland Council in Western Australia sent letters to all other Australian local governments to warn them about the alleged issues. 'The TGA reassures the public that all COVID-19 vaccines approved in Australia have been rigorously assessed and meet our high standards for safety, quality, and efficacy,' the body said in a statement last month. It said the reports of the risks as claimed 'are based on studies that currently fall short of the scientific rigour expected in pharmaceutical testing and are contributing to the spread of vaccine misinformation'. But Julie Sladden, a retired doctor who proposed the West Tamar motion that was carried five to four, accused the TGA of shutting down scrutiny and debate. Dr Sladden said her motion was about 'the potential health risks' and was not stating outright that the vaccines were dangerous. West Tamar councillor Julie Sladden has successfully moved a motion to get six-monthly briefings and do advocacy on the safety of the Covid vaccines The Therapeutic Goods Administration has branded the claims as misinformation 'It really isn't about hanging your hat on a particular verdict but telling people that we are aware it is a concern and we are committed to transparency,' she said. 'I am very open to having my mind changed if someone can present me the information that is available. Open scientific discourse is what we need. 'There's been enough censorship, there's been enough name-calling.' Dr Sladden said there were extraordinary scenes during the council debate of the motion. 'People were overflowing into the corridor,' she said. 'Between 100 and 150 people turned up to support the motion. 'There were at least two doctors, an ex-pastor from a church a couple of other allied care health workers and a number of vaccine injured people or people who had vaccine-injured family members who were all concerned about the shots. 'They simply told their stories. 'There was a palpable sense that this was the first opportunity that they had to tell their stories in a public setting with people listening 'They were from our municipality, they were known to the councillors. I was close to tears at a number of points. That was very, very powerful.' Dr Sladden said the Covid Inquiry Response, authored by the three-expert panel set up by the Albanese government to investigate how Australia handled to pandemic, found public trust had been greatly eroded during the period. 'If we are going to build back public trust than there needs to be more advocacy happening,' Dr Sladden said. 'It is really important to remember who it is we serve, who elected us, we serve the people first and foremost.' In response to the Port Hedland motion WA Premier Geoff Cook, who was state health minister during the pandemic, defended the vaccines and said the council should 'stick to their knitting'. 'It should stay focused on the services and people of that community. It should lift its game,' he said. Dr Sladden (pictured left) had 25 years of experience in medicine before she entered politics. Ceduna Council on Wednesday voted to formally acknowledge the evidence and safety concerns raised in the Port Hedland motion. They also voted to send warning letters to all health practitioners and also write to state and federal officials to express support for Port Hedland Council's letters. West Tamar mayor Christina Holmdahl has been contacted for comment. EXCLUSIVE A chef accused of murdering a 15-year-old boy late at night was in a car with a former female workmate at the time of the alleged stabbing, while his heavily pregnant fiancee was at home. It's alleged that the teenager, Isaac, stumbled across the red Hyundai i30 belonging to duck breeder Johanna Martin, 21, in a back road near Wilton, south-west of Sydney. But when he tried to get into the car and ripped off a rear door handle, father-of-one, Jacob Greig, 32, allegedly got out and confronted him. The chef is then accused of slashing the boy with a knife before the startled pair drove off when the boy jumped onto the car and then fell off into the undergrowth. The teenager's body was discovered in bushland the following morning by his friends who had originally thought he had left the campsite and gone home. The deadly confrontation allegedly unfolded after Ms Martin met Greig after his shift at the Bargo Hotel ended about 10pm on Friday, November 8. The pair then drove to a secluded area near Maldon Weir in Wilton when Isaac approached them, yanking at the door handle. Police, who have since seized the car, allege that video and audio of the incident from nearby CCTV captured the altercation. It's alleged that the teenager, Isaac, stumbled across the red Hyundai i30 belonging to fowl enthusiast Johanna Martin, 21, (pictured) in a backroad near Wilton, south-west of Sydney Jacob Greig has been arrested and charged over the alleged murder of Isaac, 15 The teenage boy (pictured), who can only be identified as Isaac for legal reasons, was camping with friends at Wilton, south-west Sydney, when he was allegedly stabbed by Greig During a court hearing, Magistrate Robert Rabbidge was told footage had allegedly shown Greig getting out of the car and saying 'I'll f***ing get you good'. The chef then allegedly told Isaac: 'I'm going to chop your f***ing hand off,' the court was told. Greig then allegedly hopped back into the car before Isaac tried to jump on the moving vehicle as it drove off. Greig and Martin made the short trip back to his home where he left her and then allegedly dumped his knife in the bin as his fiancee and child slept. Shortly after 4pm the following day, Greig and Ms Martin, accompanied by her parents, handed themselves in to Narellan Police Station. Greig was arrested and charged with murder. Ms Martin has not been charged with any offence and there is no suggestion of any wrongdoing on her behalf. Daily Mail Australia understands CCTV footage from neighbours at her Tahmoor home has been seized by detectives. The vehicle, still bearing green P-plates, also remains with police as it undergoes forensic examination. Ms Martin is a celebrated local duck and chicken enthusiast who has won awards for her prize-winning birds, and is an Environmental Protection Authority delegate. Johanna Martin is said to have met Greig from work before they drove to a secluded area Isaac's body was found in bushland off Wilton Park Road at Wilton (pictured), south-west of Sydney by his friends on November 9 Greig (pictured) was refused bail and is next set to front Campbelltown Local Court on January 8, 2025 Greig faced Parramatta Local Court via a video livestream on November 10, with three of his family members attending. At the hearing, Magistrate Rabbidge said there was 'nothing more serious than the alleged murder of a 15-year-old'. 'The facts are quite extraordinary and seem to show a considerable amount of powerful evidence,' he added. 'It's clearly an extraordinary case... Mr Greig is looking at many decades in prison' if the allegations are proven, said the magistrate. 'I must do my duty to the community and refuse him bail.' Greig, who describes himself as a 'professional pyromaniac' on social media, was refused bail and is next set to front Campbelltown Local Court on January 8, 2025. Family friend Donna Young has started a GoFundMe to help his struggling parents with funeral costs. 'Isaac was a beloved son, brother, and friend. His life, full of promise and potential, was tragically cut short due to an (alleged) act of senseless violence,' she wrote. 'Isaac's familyhis mum, dad, and siblingsare now faced with the unimaginable pain of not only grieving the loss of their precious son but also managing the overwhelming costs that come with such a sudden tragedy.' The fundraising page, which will go towards his funeral costs and supporting his family and traumatised friends, has so far raised almost $30,000. November 21, 2024: NATO efforts to halt Iran from supplying Russia with ballistic missiles to use in Ukraine are not yet having much impact. Ukraine reports they are still being hit by Iranian missiles fired by Russian forces. NATO sanctions are directed at Iranian airlines as well as key political and military officials. Iran says it will block any further missile transfers and admits that some missiles were sent to Russia in the past. The U.S. government still bans Ukraine from using American-supplied missiles for attacks into Russia. That may change with the recent election of a new American president. Time will tell. Meanwhile Ukraine is building more of its own drones and using them for long-range attacks on Russian targets including Moscow. The Russian government cant hide the explosions in and around its cities. Russian media may provide little information but Russians have access to foreign media via the internet and can find out what is going on. Outsiders can also monitor Russian messages on international apps. The majority of Russian citizens are angry and fed up with the war in Ukraine. That war has brought the average Russian sanctions, shortages and threats from their own government to not criticize Putin or the war. That did not work because Russians realized the government did not have enough prisons for all the people who opposed the war. President Putins allies want the war ended because these allies are oligarchs with large holdings in the Russian economy. The war is costing these oligarchs a lot of money. Putin has another problem. Russia has lost so many soldiers in Ukraine that they have run out of troops. Its not just over half a million dead and wounded Russians, but several million Russian military age men who have fled the country. Putin tried to overcome that by expanding the age to 50 years old that men could be taken into the military. These older men had more clout, connections and ways to avoid being sent to Ukraine. Putin hired 12,000 North Korean mercenaries, but these are only a stopgap. The North Korean soldiers are more interested in deserting and fleeing to European countries than in getting killed in Ukraine, though they appreciate the video porn available on cell phones their supply sergeants sell to them. Russian forces continue to gain ground in eastern Ukraine, but at great cost. Ukrainian forces are on the defensive and minimizing their own casualties while maximizing Russian losses. Ukraine doesnt mind losing territory because the Ukraine front is a thousand kilometers long and the Russians can no longer man it adequately. Ukraine can and does make counterattacks, like the one in August where Ukrainian forces invaded Kursk province and still control over a thousand square kilometers of Russian territory. Russia is out of everything, including ideas on how to deal with the mess they have created. One Russian operation is still working. That is a Cyber War and blackmail campaign in partnership with neighboring Belarus to carry out sabotage missions in Poland and other NATO countries that are aiding Ukraine. That is not working out because the targeted nations discovered details of the Russian operation and publicized it all. That caused Russia to deny everything and quietly back off. Has a pole been erected outside YOUR home? A homeowner has told how the picturesque view from her country home has been blighted by an eyesore telegraph pole. Jo Heartfield, of Cheshire East, is a photographer who enjoys snapping images of the rolling fields from her kitchen window. That was until telecoms workers allegedly turned up on October 7 and erected the pole directly in line of her view and opposite a small country lane. Ms Heartfield also fears the huge mast will blow onto her house in the event of a storm. The homeowner is the latest in a string of residents across the UK to tell MailOnline about their telegraph pole nightmares, with many claiming the masts have ruined their view or even blocked driveways. Speaking to MailOnline, Ms Heartfield said: 'It's awful. I have two windows and it's [outside] both of them. 'This used to be a beautiful view and as a photographer I take a lot of photos of the landscape in that direction, every time I do now I have to edit the pole out.' Has a pole been erected outside YOUR home? Email katherine.lawton@mailonline.co.uk The telegraph pole outside Jo Heartfield's kitchen window, which she says is ruining her view Slide me Slide to see the before and after of Ms Heartfield's picturesque countryside view Ms Heartfield claimed she was not warned before telecoms workers showed up and erected the mast Ms Heartfield claimed she had 'no notification prior' to the mast's installation in October, and has since filled in the pole objection form in a bid to have it moved elsewhere. 'It would be easy to resolve this by simply moving the pole a few metres to the right where it would not be directly in our view,' she said. 'They could have with good planning placed it there in the first place, I can't see why anyone would have thought this placement would be ok.' Ms Heartfield claimed she was told the pole was being used to serve a nearby business, and not local homes. 'The only business on this lane is right at the far end, a sand quarry, the new poles go all the way down the lane towards the quarry,' she said. MailOnline has contacted BT for comment. In September, homeowners in Great Harwood, Lancashire, slammed a huge fast-internet mast installed on their estate that they claimed resembled a missile or NASA rocket. The 50ft pole was placed on the corner of Bostons and Causeway by IX Wireless Network to provide 6G internet but left many residents fuming. A 50ft mast was placed on the corner of Bostons and Causeway in Great Harwood, Lancashire, by IX Wireless Network in September Emma Eastham, who lives on Bostons in Great Harwood, described the phone masts as 'intrusive' Lisa Denicola, who has lived on Bostons in Great Harwood for 15 years, said around 30 people in the neighbourhood objected to the mast's installation and had various concerns about its implications on the value of their properties, wildlife and health. An IX Wireless spokesperson said at the time: 'The company is keen to work with local residents and welcome any input which can help to improve our service. 'Where possible we have made efforts to move structures and poles after speaking to members of the community. 'This pole was due to be moved to a new location but this was not possible as the company must give a specified time 28 days - for any objections to be forwarded. There have been no objections as far as we are aware so the pole is due to be moved at the end of the month.' Former IRA terrorist Dessie Ellis has admitted in a new Mail podcast launching today that he was 'lucky' to be cleared over his alleged role in the dual bomb attack on London in 1982 that left 11 people dead. The ex-bombmaker, 71, was extradited to Britain in 1990 to face charges of building the devices that killed 11 soldiers. On the morning of July 20, 1982, a nail bomb was detonated in a car in Hyde Park as soldiers of the Household Cavalry were passing on their horses, seven of which died. Two hours later, a second device exploded underneath the bandstand in Regent's Park, as members of the Royal Green Jackets were performing to a crowd. Speaking in an interview with the Daily Mail's executive editor in Ireland, John Lee, on From Bomb to Ballot: The History of Sinn Fein, the one-time TV repair man, now 71, says he was acquitted because of a 'loophole'. Former IRA terrorist Dessie Ellis has admitted he was 'lucky' to be cleared over his role in the dual bomb attack on London in 1982 that left 11 people dead On the morning of July 20, 1982, a nail bomb was detonated in a car in Hyde Park as soldiers of the Household Cavalry were passing on their horses. Four soldiers and seven horses died He says: 'Because my prints were in a certain dump that I was connected to incidents in England, that was what they were trying to prove. 'But there was a loophole that you had to be made fully aware of where items were going and we used the argument to say that items that were found in England, if I had had my hands on them, I couldn't tell where they were going to go. 'I got acquitted in the Old Bailey and I was sitting there, and there was a guy sitting over reading the paper and the big headline on the paper was "This man won the lotto." NEW PODCAST: From Bomb to Ballot: The History of Sinn Fein DON'T MISS: The Mail's John Lee delves into the evolution of Sinn Fein, exploring its roots in the Troubles and interviewing key figures to understand the party's past and future. Listen wherever you get your podcasts now. Advertisement And one of the special branch officers says, "I don't know which is the luckiest, you or him"... and I just said, "maybe me". IRA terrorist John Downey was ruled by a judge to have been partly responsible for the Hyde Park attack but was never convicted after it emerged he had been assured by the Metropolitan Police in a letter that he would not be prosecuted. No one else has ever been convicted in connection with the bombing. Queen Camilla's ex husband, Andrew Parker Bowles, was the commander of Household Cavalry when the attack took place. The bomb had been surrounded by hundreds of four and six-inch nails so that it would cause maximum damage when it went off. As well as those who were killed, the other soldiers in the procession were among at least 51 people - including civilians and police officers - who were injured. The members of the Household Cavalry were taking part in their daily Changing of the Guard procession from their barracks in Knightsbridge when they were hit by the blast. Mr Ellis, is now a Sinn Fein politician who has served as a member of parliament in the Republic of Ireland since 2011. Two hours later, a second device exploded underneath the bandstand in Regent's Park, as members of the Royal Green Jackets were performing to a crowd The carcasses of the horses of the Household Cavalry lie in the road in Hyde Park after the horrendous attack The road is seen being cleaned of blood and debris after the bombing in Hyde Park on July 20, 1982. As well as those who died, dozens of people were injured The members of the Household Cavalry were taking part in their daily Changing of the Guard procession from their barracks in Knightsbridge when they were hit by the blast. Above: The aftermath Two hours after the 10.43am Hyde Park explosion, a second bomb that had been planted underneath the bandstand in Regent's Park went off as 30 military bandsmen of the Royal Green Jackets were performing. Seven bandsmen lost their lives Asked in the astonishing new podcast what his exact role was in the Irish Republican Army, Mr Ellis says: 'Well, I don't want to go into too much, but I'd say, look, I was in the Republican movement. 'I had a role in the Republican movement and that role, I fulfilled to the best of my ability. And, it was, I suppose, successful to a certain point.' In 1983, Mr Ellis was sentenced to ten years in prison in Ireland after being found guilty of possessing materials used to make explosive devices. After being released from prison, he reported back to the IRA but then decided to go into the politics because it was 'too hot' to remain a criminal. He says: 'Well, I reported straight back in, first off, to the Republican movement. IRA terrorist John Downey, who was ruled by a judge to have been partly responsible for the attack, was never convicted after it emerged he had been assured by the Metropolitan Police in a letter that he would not be prosecuted. No one else has ever been convicted in connection with the bombing The Daily Mail's front page the day after the bombings in Hyde Park and Regent's Park 'And then, after a period, I decided that I was just far too hot that I couldn't move without having a problem. 'So I then decided, then, at that stage, and we sort of collectively decided that I would go into politics.' During the shocking podcast interview, the politician revealed that he does not have regrets about his past activities and says the prospect of a united Ireland is now 'inevitable'. 'I'm a great believer in, you make decisions, you stand by them, you don't sit down and regret them,' he says. 'There'll be a lot of things that you would be, how would you say, feel should never happened, but, and then there's a lot of things that should have happened. 'And we are working towards a united Ireland and we're at a point now where that's inevitable. 'It's into the future, but it's inevitable that we'd see a united Ireland. And that's been my ultimate goal.' All seven episodes of From Bomb to Ballot: the history of Sinn Fein are available from today. A woman who took an at-home DNA test never thought it would be the missing puzzle piece in a decades-long cold case murder. Jenna Rose Gerwatowski, 23, took to TikTok to share how she unwittingly cracked the infamous Baby Garnet case. In June 1997, a deceased infant was found in an outhouse at the Garnet Lake Campground in Naubinway, Michigan. An autopsy revealed that the baby girl - who was determined to be anywhere from the gestational age of 36 to 42 weeks old - died from asphyxiation, which, according to officials, was preventable. For 27 years, the investigation into who dumped the child's remains was at a standstill - until Jenna, who posted a TikTok video explaining the case, got a call from the Michigan State Police a year after submitting her DNA. Authorities informed her they were re-opening the case because she 'was a direct match' to the infant, who was her aunt. After investigators conducted more research and tested her mother's DNA, Jenna's maternal grandmother Nancy Gerwatowski - who she'd never met - was identified as the woman that abandoned the baby. 'I've never made a video like this before. I keep stumbling over my words... this might take a few minutes to get through. It's a long story...' she explained in the now viral video. 'I've never met my grandmother, I didn't even know her name until I was 14 or 15 years old. This case was very popular in the town that I grew up in because it was so f***ed up. 'It was the Baby Garnet case... a lot of people have questions. I'm here to start talking about it.' Jenna Rose Gerwatowski, 23, took to TikTok to share how she unwittingly cracked the infamous Baby Garnet case About two years ago, I watched my best friend get an Ancestry DNA kit for Christmas. I thought it was dope. I was like "I need one of those". I bought one. 'You spit in a tube, you send it in, and they give you your ancestry results. Little did I know... so I sent it in, got my results back. 'About a year later, I'm at work, and I get a phone call. It's a detective from the Michigan State Police. 'I start freaking out. He said he'd reopened the cold case from 25 years ago and your DNA is a direct match to the victim of this case,' she went on. 'As the investigation proceeded, detectives took Jenna's mother's DNA. They discovered she was a direct relative to the baby. 'The only other person that it could have been was my mom's mother. We were mind blown. She is literally the person they have been looking for for 25 years. It's all because of an Ancestry DNA kit.' Gerwatowski, 61, was arrested in July 2022 and charged with murder, involuntary manslaughter and concealing the death of an individual after she confirmed she was the mother of the lifeless child. At the time, Nancy delivered the newborn by herself at her home in Newberry, and did not seek medical intervention to save her, the state alleges. The death of Baby Garnet shocked America in 1997. The deceased baby girl was found in an outhouse at the Garnet Lake Campground in Naubinway, Michigan After investigators conducted more research and tested her mother's DNA, Jenna's maternal grandmother Nancy Gerwatowski - who she'd never met - was identified as the woman that abandoned the baby Instead, she chose to hide the dead infant in an outhouse at the campground, 'more than 20 miles out of town,' before a worker found the child, the state added. In October 2023 Nancy, who now resides in Wyoming, was released on a personal recognisance bond, meaning a judge set her free after her case and criminal history was reviewed and completed during a pretrial hearing. She was ordered to wear a GPS tracking device and to remain under home confinement. In May 2024, the Michigan Department of Attorney General announced she will stand trial for the crime. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel credited advancements in genetics testing for solving the case. 'Thanks to the incredible efforts of investigators across three decades, we are finally able to pursue justice for Baby Garnet more than 25 years after her tragic death,' Nessel said. 'In 1997, genetics testing was nowhere near as sophisticated as it is today, and I am grateful for the work of detectives and responders on-scene to preserve vital evidence in this matter. 'Prosecutors in my office are able to bring about this long-delayed criminal trial because of twenty-seven years of sound police work, scientific advancement, evidence preservation, and diligent state and local detectives who never gave up on justice for this infant victim,' she added She is expected to to appear before the 11th Circuit Court in Mackinac County on December 12, 2024 for a motion hearing, according to court records reviewed by DailyMail.com. DailyMail.com contacted the Michigan Department of Attorney General and Nancy's lawyer for comment. The terrace is packed every night with politicos looking for a post or people simply looking to party. The opportunistic and the merely curious are offering members thousands of dollars to land a seat at dinner. And since November 5 Mar-a-Lago has become 'the most exclusive place' on the planet,' according to one regular. Every night is like a party, as guests throng the pool deck waiting for the man who will become the 47th president of the United States to make his grand entrance. 'It is the hottest ticket in town,' said one veteran Palm Beach socialite, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of losing out on invitations if he was seen as a gossip. 'It's full every night.' It is all a far cry from Donald Trump's 2016 election victory. In the weeks and months after he took office, dozens of charities canceled their annual fundraising events at Trump's Florida home as they sought to distance themselves from his polarizing presidency. Trump spent most of his transition in Manhattan, at Trump Tower, as he put together his first Cabinet. Donald Trump with House Speaker Mike Johnson at Mar-a-Lago last week. Trump's Florida home has become the only place to be for Republican officials and supporters Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump's health supremo, takes a selfie with fans This time around, world leaders and hopefuls seeking administration jobs have descended on Trump's 'winter White House,' packing out the terrace each evening. Instagram is filled with fans snapping pictures alongside the world's richest man, Elon Musk, or more established Trump world figures such as Roger Stone, longtime Republican provocateur, or the new wave of bro influencers who made such an impact on the campaign. While Trump spends his days building an administration, evenings become a never ending victory celebration. Trump's social media guru Dan Scavino posted video on Wednesday of Trump breaking out his familiar dance moves to the sound of the Village People's 'Y.M.C.A.' much to the delight of whooping supporters. Last week, Trump and Musk joined opera star Chris Macchio for a rousing rendition of 'God Bless America' in a video that went viral. 'It's not a different vibe. It's a different planet,' said Palm Beach doyenne Lexye Aversa, who will be holding her annual charity holiday gala at Mar-a-Lago in two weeks time, as she compared this transition with 2016. 'There's been such an evolution through COVID and people wanting to re-emerge after the pandemic shutdowns, and then the political climate sort of piggybacked onto that with Mar-a-Lago as a Mecca for events ... helping to catapult its visibility to another dimension.' His Highness Dr. Prince Mario-Max Schaumburg-Lippe will co-host her gala which features Italian tenor Franco Corso, all in aid of the charity 'A Safe Haven for Newborns.' Trump and Elon Musk put on a show, teaming up with opera star Chris Macchio for a rousing rendition of 'God Bless America' at a Mar-a-Lago party on another night Influencer Melissa Rein-Lively posed with Republican strategist Roger Stone as she launched a outsider bid to land the role of White House press secretary Matt Gaetz, center, was tapped to be Trump's attorney general before dropping out Tucker Carlson, Cheryl Hines, Robert F Kennedy Jr., Kimberly Guilfoyle, Donald Trump Jr, Tulsi Gabbard share a table at dinner Aversa said attending an event was the only way any non-member could get a glimpse of Mar-a-Lago. 'You can buy tickets for those but to pick up the phone and get yourself a seat at the table or go to dinner ... no, absolutely not,' she said. 'This is the most exclusive place on Earth right now.' Two sources told DailyMail.com they had been offered money for seats at dinner. Both demurred when asked if they accepted. The other way in is to be a guest of Trump himself as an administration hopeful or adviser. Spotted in the past fortnight have been Steve Bannon, recently released from prison, and punchy podcast host Sebastian Gorka, who has been tipped for a spot on the National Security Council. Former Trump spokesman Sean Spicer and Kari Lake, who lost her run for the Senate in Arizona, both held talks about possible roles last week, according to sources in the know. And, Vice President-elect J.D. Vance was photographed playing with his three children on the estate's sweeping lawns. Some wannabes have made themselves a constant presence in the hope of landing an unlikely post. Online influencer Melissa Rein-Lively has peppered her Instagram feed with images from Mar-a-Lago, but failed in her effort to land the job of White House press secretary. Musk posted a picture with Trump and Argentinian President Javier Milie (center) Trump, in dinner jacket, addressed a political gathering at his Florida HQ British politician Nigel Farage posed with Barron Trump on election night Vice President-elect J.D. Vance plays with his three children beside the water Guests arriving for a party at Mar-a-Lago. The club is the hottest ticket in town Supporters have been a constant presence beside the bridge the leads to Mar-a-Lago Joining fees were reportedly raised to $1million this year with rumors that the Trump Organization is thinking of raising them again after the election victory. With membership limited to 500 by the town of Palm Beach, open slots are scarce. And for a big company looking for a chance to lobby the president-elect as he dines among members on the terrace, it is money well spent, according to Laurence Leamer, who wrote a history of the estate. He has also crunched the numbers. 'You want to be there when he's there so you probably go once a week for maybe three or four months, for four years, which means your dinner costs, what ... $18,000 each time,' he said. 'Now, if you if your company gets a billion dollar government deal, that's the best money you ever spent.' But for many other guests it is simply a chance to let go of four years of hurt since election defeat in 2020. 'They've just held this into themselves as they felt they were not appreciated and understood,' he said. 'And they just are crazed for it now,' Tourists have flocked to visit London's infamous Winter Wonderland - but Brits working around its fringes said it was too expensive to consider visiting. Inside the enclosure in plush Kensington, in the centre of the capital, hot dogs cost as much as 16, while pints are flogged for up to 12 each. Warming hot chocolates will set you back a maximum if 9.50, and even funky hats made to look like animals have sky-high price tags of 25. One woman, who was working for TfL outside the barriers, joked she 'couldn't afford' to get into the festive festival. She said: 'I've got no interest in it and it's too expensive. It's ridiculous, it's too much. 'It's all right for a tourist or one person, but for families! 'It's going to be expensive because it's in London, but you've got to be interested in rides if you want to go. Inside the enclosure in plush Kensington, in the centre of the capital, Christmas was turned up to the max Pints are flogged for as much as 12 each, while customers were also offered the option of mead or mulled wine Lisa (right) Allie (left) and Lynne (centre) travelled more than 4,200 miles to see the Winter Wonderland - flying into London from Georgia to enjoy the show 'I'm too old for that.' Lara, who was walking her black Labrador Bear around the perimeter of the attraction in Hyde Park, said the event had gone down hill since she first visited it as a teenager. The 22-year-old said: 'If you'd asked me five years ago I would have been looking forward to it. Now not so much. 'I'm sure it has changed. It used to be a classy affair now it's just... I don't know. But I wouldn't go.' To buy a package to go on five rides it costs 45, while individually passes are priced at 7.50. Events held in the park cost as much as 100 each - which will get you a private box to the Cirque Beserk: Thunderbolt show with a bottle of bubbly. The private pods on the Giant Wheel are also flogged for as much as 76 a go, while couples ice sculpting workshops are a costly 71.50. Visitors have to book their time and entrance to the park costs 7.50 after 3pm at weekends - until December 19, when it is that price every day of the week. Hot dogs cost as much as 16, as they were served by venders with fancy toppings The enclosure includes festive-themed pubs, including one that appears to be made out of Christmas trees Inside one bar, fake ferns and baubles dangle from the ceiling to complete the stunning scene In one German-themed restaurant, bratwurst with fries were flogged for 18.50 alongside fries Warming hot chocolates will set you back 9.50, and even funky hats made to look like animals have sky-high price tags of 25 Winter Wonderland premium costs are revealed Bratwurst - 9 Vegan bratwurst - 13 'Dirty dog' hot dog - 16 Mixed gyros pitta - 17.95 Nachos - 14 Cheesy Chips - 8 Chips and curry sauce 8 Slice of pizza - 6 Crepe with nutella and banana - 10 Mac and cheese - 9 Pint of beer - 7.50 Pint of Thor's hammer beer (also includes wine) - 12 Glass of wine - 14 Spirit and a mixer - 11.20 Jagerbomb - 11 Mulled wine - 9.50 Still water - 2.70 Hot chocolate - 9.50 Catch-a-Santa game - 7 Snowball game - Five balls for 6 Fluffy animal hats - 25 Advertisement But some Christmas-lovers remained delighted as they visited the attraction, with tourists travelling from as far as Israel and the southern states of America to dine out on good will. Huge queues reached up Hyde Park's paths outside the event as festive fanatics scrambled to make the most of the first event's first day. Hagit travelled from Israel with her 12-year-old daughter, who had wanted to see Winter Wonderland and the Harry Potter studio for her birthday. The braced the cold from 9.30am as they waited to get inside when the event opened at 12.00pm She said: 'My friend told me about this and we read on the internet that this is one of the things you have to do in London. 'We're really excited. We really want to have some fun. 'This is her birthday present and this is what she wanted - to be here.' Lisa, Allie and Lynne travelled more than 4,200 miles to see the Winter Wonderland - flying into London from Georgia, America, to enjoy the show. Lisa said: 'I came for the Christmas, and I came for the biggest Christmas market. 'We planned this trip six months ago. I'm a big Christmas fan - got my Christmas sweater, my Christmas hat in my rucksack! 'We can't wait to get inside - it looks amazing. This was 50 per cent of the reason to come here!' Fernando, 54, who lives in nearby Paddington, crosses past Winter Wonderland every day as he walks to work. He has lived in London for five years since moving across from his native Portugal. Festive fanatics formed stretching lines as they scrambled to make the most of the first event's first day Huge queues reached up Hyde Park's paths outside the event as hundreds of punters waited for it to open Hagit travelled from Israel with her 12-year-old daughter, who had wanted to see Winter Wonderland and the Harry Potter studio for her birthday Fernando, 54, who lives in nearby Paddington, crosses past Winter Wonderland every day as he walks to work He said: 'I'm excited to have it back - it's a nice thing to see every year. This fair is fantastic. 'I have only been inside once, in 2019, but I reckon there are lots of people coming in - locals and foreigners. I have a positive feeling about this.' A fellow local, who was on his morning constitutional past the venue, also said that he enjoyed seeing the show come to Hyde Park every year. He said: 'It's terrific, actually. What I do is bring my grandchildren down here. 'They love it, and I do too! It's nice seeing them on the ice and everything.' Jamie Lopez, had travelled from holiday-hotspot Majorca with partner Tiffany to enjoy the festive crowds. He said: 'Her cousin told us that they were doing it. We want to see the Alice and Wonderland attraction. We'll check everything else out too.' Osman Bado and his partner Linda, from Lebanon were disappointed to miss the opening day of Winter Wonderland. She said she would have gone had she been around - after enjoying the event on a visit two years ago. Jamie Lopez, had travelled from holiday-hotspot Majorca with partner Tiffany to enjoy the festive crowds Osman Bado and his partner Linda, from Lebanon were disappointed to miss the opening day of Winter Wonderland Jan and Rosmari Atle had come across from Norway to share in the festive spirit 'I enjoyed it - I'd come back here. If I was here today I would have come. I have to leave in ten minutes! We missed it. 'It's everywhere in Lebanon - anyone who's familiar with London knows about Winter Wonderland.' Jan and Rosmari Atle had come across from Norway to share in the festive spirit. He said: 'We just wanted to get in the Christmas mood in another country. 'We needed to visit this before we go away. It's known to be around here - it's our first time in London. 'We've seen Big Ben, the Eye, Buckingham Palace - this is next. We don't know how it will compare - we will have to say when we come out!' A spokesperson for Hyde Park Winter Wonderland told MailOnline: 'We strive to create a magical experience for visitors, with the best attractions and a wide selection of food and drinks at a range of price points. 'Our pricing is benchmarked in line with other temporary events and winter attractions in London and we offer discounts on food and beverage, as well as retail, and off-peak attractions and games bundles on selected days. 'Despite rising event costs, our entry ticket prices have not increased since 2021, prices for the majority of rides, attractions and games have remained in line with last year, and we continue to offer thousands of free off-peak entry tickets and various free activities and entertainment.' Winter Wonderland say that the prices quoted are premium options or items with additional toppings, and that their 'standardised prices' are lower. A Hyde Park Winter Wonderland spokesperson said: 'We strive to create a magical experience for visitors, with the best attractions and a wide selection of food and drinks at a range of price points. 'Our pricing is benchmarked in line with other temporary events and winter attractions in London and we offer discounts on food and beverage, as well as retail, and off-peak attractions and games bundles on selected days. 'Despite rising event costs, our entry ticket prices have not increased since 2021, prices for the majority of rides, attractions and games have remained in line with last year, and we continue to offer thousands of free off-peak entry tickets and various free activities and entertainment.' A Labour council was given almost three weeks notice of controversial plans to accommodate almost 300 asylum seekers at a town centre hotel, it has been revealed. More than 6,000 people have signed a petition saying the Cresta Court Hotel in Altrincham, Greater Manchester is unsuitable for housing migrants. Their overnight arrival at the end of October without any official announcement has divided the prosperous town amid accusations locals were kept in the dark. Claims that the men would be given private healthcare later debunked provoked uproar. Now it has emerged that the local authority - Labour-run Trafford council was informed by the Home Office and contractors Serco on October 8 that they were considering using the Cresta Court as temporary migrant accommodation. In a statement to a council meeting last night, its leader, Tom Ross, said his officials responded with serious concerns regarding the location and the potential pressures on local services it could create. He said they were assured that should the Home Office be minded to proceed, there would be a meeting arranged with the council. However with no further dialogue or information, they were deeply concerned on October 25 to receive less than three days notice that the hotel was being converted to asylum accommodation. Around 300 asylum seekers are being housed at the Cresta Court Hotel in Altrincham, near Manchester The presence of the migrants at the Altrincham hotel has left the town divided Migrants were spotted at the hotel earlier this month - understood to be from Syria, Yemen, Iran and Somalia Since then, Mr Ross said the council had been working with the police, the NHS, the home office, Serco and community representatives seeking to ensure the smooth running of the operation and to minimize the impact on the community. In response to the revelation that the local council knew about the plan three weeks in advance, local Tory councillors accused its leadership of having been at best asleep at the wheel. The fact the council knew almost three weeks before they told anyone raises even more questions, Nathan Evans, Conservative group leader at Trafford Council, told MailOnline. Did they spend that time carrying speaking to local schools and businesses in order to produce a risk assessment that could have been used to push back against the Home Office? People living here need to be told the truth. Mr Evans is today handing the Home Office a petition signed by 6,500 people asking for the migrants to be housed elsewhere. It warns about the impact on Altrinchams economy and tourism sector of having a major hotel closed to paying customers. There was shock at the end of October when local businesses were informed the Cresta Court a fixture of the towns hospitality scene since the 1970s and previously part of the Best Western franchise was shutting its doors. Altrincham residents voice worries over the Cresta Court Hotel at a protest meeting The news caused outrage in the town as parties, weddings and functions have all been cancelled. Pictured: Migrants outside the hotel But some residents gathered to show their support for migrants and refugees outside the venue despite the migrants being housed with no notice There was shock at the end of October when local businesses were informed the Cresta Court was shutting its doors Councillors were informed on October 26 via encrypted message that it was being turned into asylum accommodation, with migrants many of whom had only crossed the Channel on small boats days earlier bussed in on October 31. As word spread, a public meeting was held on November 4 at which 175 worried residents expressed concerns about whether the new arrivals had undergone background checks, pointing out that the hotel was close to several schools. Locals also asked about the impact on stretched health services just three months after the permanent closure of the minor injuries unit at Altrincham Hospital was announced. Addressing residents in footage that was widely shared online, Mr Evans said it was his understanding that a private doctors system had been given a contract to provide healthcare for the asylum seekers. Mail Online later revealed that health cover for the migrants at the Cresta Court - owned by a group led by former BBC Director General Greg Dyke - will in fact be provided by not-for-profit GTD Healthcare. GTD stressed that it provides only NHS-commissioned services and not private services. Asylum seekers are entitled to free NHS care while claims are assessed. The conversion of the Cresta Court comes in spite of Labours manifesto pledge to end the use of hotels, barges and military sites as accommodation for asylum seekers. The hotel is part of Vine Hotels, which Greg Dyke (pictured) - a former FA chairman and BBC director-general from 2000-2004 - chairs as well as being a major shareholder Two migrants are spotted chatting outside the Cresta Court hotel and taking selfies More than 6,000 people have signed a petition saying the Cresta Court Hotel in Altrincham, Greater Manchester is unsuitable for housing migrants Very similar concerns to those expressed in Altrincham are being voiced 180 miles south in the similarly genteel Datchet, in Berkshire a village in the shadow of Windsor Castle. Here, some residents are threatening to sell up and leave, after the local 200-bed hotel was turned into a holding centre for asylum seekers. Sources said Home Office officials gave Trafford Council a heads up about the asylum hotel plan on October 8 to allow them to raise any concerns. A Home Office spokeswoman said: This Government inherited an asylum system under unprecedented strain, with thousands stuck in a backlog without their claims processed. We are committed to working with local stakeholders and conduct mandatory identity and security checks on all small boat arrivals to ensure public safety is maintained. Trafford Council declined to say whether the authoritys Labour leadership was informed about the approach from the Home Office on October 8. Alleged killer Corey Burke was supported by her wife during her first court appearance for the murder of her ailing father on Election Night. Burke, 33, appeared calm as she entered a not guilty plea during her arraignment on Thursday in King County Superior Court. She is accused of killing her 67-year-old father Timothy Burke with an ice axe after he refused to turn the lights off on November 6 in Seattle. Her wife, prominent trans writer Samantha Leigh Allen, attended the hearing and was pictured laughing with friends. Allen tried to hide her face with a notebook during the court proceedings. The couple did not seem to acknowledge each other, as the court was divided by glass, with the public gallery listening via speakers. Burke, an employee at Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin space company, was arrested for murder on Election Night after her neighbor called police and reported she had been smashing all of the windows of the home she shared with her father. It's unclear if Burke and Allen lived together, but neighbors told DailyMail.com on Thursday that they had never seen Allen at the home. A blood-soaked Burke came outside with her hands raised and a frantic demeanor, per charging documents obtained by DailyMail.com. Burke, 33, appeared calm as she entered a not guilty plea during her arraignment on Thursday in King County Superior Court in Seattle Her wife, prominent trans writer Samantha Leigh Allen, attended the hearing and was pictured laughing with friends Conde Nast editor Samantha Leigh Allen is seen in Seattle court on Wednesday before her wife, accused killer Burke, pleaded not guilty to her father's killing She reportedly told detectives that 'she knew that she could not convince her father to keep the lights off', so went upstairs and retrieved the murder weapon, a climbing ice axe. She then tripped her father and strangled him before attacking him with the ice axe. Burke then bit him and hit him several times in the head and side with the blunt and sharp ends of the ice axe, cops say. His body was found in the basement. Burke claimed she knew the killing 'needed to happen today,' according to a police report. She allegedly told police she had to bite her father while choking him because 'he was too strong.' Burke added that she felt better once her father 'went limp.' Burke also told police that as her father labored to breathe after the attack, 'the defendant sat next to him until he stopped breathing.' Investigators say Burke came out of the Rainier Valley home with a bloody face and appeared to be having a mental health crisis. Burke had apparently smashed several windows and later told police she did so in an 'act of liberation' after she killed her father. She had reportedly been 'clapping inside her home' when cops arrived. The day after the murder she reportedly whispered to one police officer, 'I killed him.' Burke added that she had a strained relationship with her father and said she had been 'overwhelmed' on election day. Allen tried to hide her face with a notebook during the court proceedings The couple did not seem to acknowledge each other, as the court was divided by glass, with the public gallery listening via speakers Burke's $800,000 home is pictured. Police say she shattered the windows in an 'act of liberation' after killing her father She added that she wanted to help people 'change their attachment to their parents.' According to police documents, Burke allegedly described how she killed her father, saying 'it was really hard, really fu****g hard' and claimed there were points where 'she felt she wasn't going to be able to'. Burke was charged with first-degree murder on Friday and is being held on $2million bail. She is due in court on November 21. Neighbors told police the father and daughter lived in the home together, and that Timothy was mostly home-bound because of health issues. She purchased the home she shared with her father in 2023. Burke had a high-flying job with Jeff Bezos' space exploration company Blue Origin. The company is yet to comment on the allegations against her. Her wife, Samantha Leigh Allen, has enjoyed a glittering career as a Conde Nast editor. The Blue Origin employee allegedly killed her father during a mental health crisis The alleged killer and her wife, trans author Samantha Leigh Allen The couple is seen above in a promotional image for the 2014 documentary Inside her Sex In her best-selling book, Real Queer America: LGBT Stories From Red States, Allen writes about how the couple struggled to deal with the 2016 presidential election. The couple was also featured in the 2014 documentary Inside her Sex, which explores 'female sexuality and shame through the eyes and experiences of three women from different walks of life.' The two shared Allen's gender-transition journey, which saw them raise thousands of dollars in donations for her sex-reassignment surgery and drive from Atlanta to San Francisco for the procedure. I am sitting in the corner of a quiet cafe in the centre of a major Western city talking to an intelligence source who has promised me something exceptional. 'David, we know that Iran specifically its international terror networks is a subject of great interest to you,' they say. I agree. Iran's proxy terror groups Hamas and Hezbollah may be dispensing sadism and death thousands of miles away, but Iran's network of terror stretches out from the Middle East and across continents. UK counter-terror police have identified over 15 credible Iranian threats to kill or kidnap Britons or British residents since 2022. In March, in the London suburb of Wimbledon, an Iranian-British journalist was stabbed outside his home four times by Eastern European criminals in the pay of Tehran. 'Well, given your interest, we have something for you.' A sheaf of documents slides across the smooth polish of the table. It is marked 'Top Secret'. 'Does the name 'Ramin Yektaparast' mean anything to you?' the source asks. It does. Yektaparast was a German-Iranian leader of a Hells Angels biker gang. A brutal thug and unashamed anti-Semite with a tattoo of Adolf Hitler on his arm, he was suspected of numerous crimes, including planning attacks on synagogues in Germany in November 2022. These were barbarous crimes in which shots were fired and a Molotov cocktail thrown at synagogues in the cities of Essen and Bochum. 'Understand Yektaparast and you understand exactly how Iran's international machine of terror works,' my source says. 'You're going to get a look right inside it.' What my source is about to show me is the most detailed account of Tehran's terror modus operandi that I have ever seen. My eyes flick to the first page of the dossier, which is headed: 'Report summarising the investigation of Ramin Yektaparast in Iran by Western Intelligence Agents.' Ramin Yektaparast is a German-Iranian central to Iran's international terror operation Ramin in Iran. He was the brain and brawn behind two terror attacks mounted by the Quds Force in Germany in 2022, as well as dozens of other foiled attacks in Europe I hit upon a startling paragraph: 'It can now be revealed that in early 2024 Yektaparast was detained for covert questioning by foreign intelligence personnel in Iran. During his interrogation, he described the history of his ties with Quds Force [the foreign operations branch of Iran's Revolutionary Guard]. He provided details of his handlers and of the targets. The accurate information he relayed facilitated the disruption of several terror attacks in Europe.' I read the words twice and look up. 'Hold on,' I say to my source. 'These Western intelligence agencies captured and interrogated him... in Iran?' My source looks at me and smiles. Ramin Yektaparast, I read, was the brain and brawn behind two terror attacks mounted by the Quds Force in Germany in 2022, as well as dozens of other foiled attacks in Europe. He fled to Iran before he was due to stand trial in 2021 for the murder and dismemberment of another biker gang member in 2014. The Quds Force had approached him due to 'his reputation as a cruel gang leader with an extensive network of ties in Europe'. The Iranians liked this thug's willingness to 'mount any type of terror attack that Quds Force asked of him'. He was passed onto Quds Force Unit 840, described to me as the regime's 'terror export' unit. Yektaparast knew criminals in about 50 countries, many of them Mafia members. In 2023, he had begun working with gangs in Morocco and Poland as well as bringing members of these gangs to Iran. Most Mafia members have no ideology beyond making money, Yektaparast explained to his questioners in Iran. But the German and Polish mafia are different: they're raised to hate Jews. He knew the Quds Force had flagged him as a good candidate for recruitment due to his openly anti-Semitic beliefs. His handlers were keen to exploit those ugly convictions and 'presented their anti-Semitic stances to him, noting that the Jews are the cause of all his troubles'. From there, it was a rapid immersion into the world of the Quds Force, which quickly began to shower him with money. On several occasions, Yektaparast was paid with dollar-stuffed suitcases: for the German synagogue attacks he received $5 million. Contact was regular, and in multiple locations, including at the Quds Force's HQ in the Afsariyeh neighbourhood of south-east Tehran, as well as in restaurants, cars and elsewhere. Ramin Yektaparast was well paid for his criminal activities around the globe... ... he is said to have known criminals in 50 countries He posted pictures of his high-living lifestyle like this one on social media He began working with their operatives these ranged from soldiers and killers of ruthless efficacy to Hamid, a 'short fat bully' responsible for arranging the entry and exit of assets to and from Iran. Among Yektaparast's key contacts was a man named 'Sayeed' (in reality Mohsen Bozorgi from Unit 840). Through him, Yektaparast began to understand how the Quds Force worked. Sayeed was a bearded man. He smoked a packet of cigarettes a day, drove a Peugeot and had two children. He was always armed. Yektaparast thought Sayeed was intelligent and reckoned he wanted to climb the ranks. No surprise then that Sayeed generally did only what the Quds force leadership told him to do. Yektaparast was not always impressed with the Quds Force. He believed most of the terror activities abroad were carried out not by Quds Force operatives but by paid agents like him. Things often didn't go according to plan. The 2022 Germany synagogue attacks were a typical example. The plan was to throw two Molotov cocktails into two synagogues in Bochum, while also shooting at the windows. For this, he turned to a criminal associate whom he knew hated Jews, a German-Iranian known as 'Babak J', 35. But Babak J ended up throwing Molotov cocktails at a school as well, before being arrested when an acquaintance tipped off the authorities. Babak J was charged with several crimes including conspiracy to commit aggravated arson and attempted arson and was eventually sentenced to two years and nine months in prison. Despite the blunder, Yektaparast's handlers were happy. He was paid in full. They were pleased no connection was made between him, the attacks and Quds Force. Europe, they crowed, would have no extra justification to designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), to which the Quds Force belongs, an officially proscribed terror organisation. We are ignominiously timorous when it comes to facing down Iranian terror. Not a single European country has proscribed the IRGC. The Quds Force would be forgiven for believing it can operate with near impunity on European soil. Yektaparast made clear to his interrogators that the organisation is using the latest technology as part of its foreign terror operations. In 2022, he began plotting to kill Josef Schuster, the president of the Central Council of Jews in Germany. He wanted to attack Shuster with a drone and contacted a Quds Force individual named 'Sepher', who could arrange for a killer drone to be shipped from Iran to Istanbul and then to Europe on a lorry. He knew there are minimal checks on deliveries from Turkey to Germany. He worked out that drones could carry up to 20 pounds of explosives and fly over 15 miles. His plan was to use a 3D printer to produce the drone components and then transfer the parts into Europe in packages of toys and video games on a lorry. His handlers loved it. He began operational tests in Balochistan, near Iran's border with Pakistan. For one test, he used the drone to attack and kill a group of 20. Both Quds Force and Iranian domestic intelligence were aware of this. He also carried out tests with senior Iranian security officials. At this point I was shown six photos of Yektaparast, taken from his phone, alongside Iranian security present during the tests. Everything was slotting into place. With the drone selected and the route secured, it was just about transferring the explosives. Yektaparast found an aeroplane flight attendant. His plan was to ask her to take a package of documents on a flight to Germany and sneak the explosive into the documents. The attendant agreed but then changed her mind, and the operation was aborted. Just under two years later, Yektaparast would be killed, the victim of a shooting in Tehran. UK and US newspapers reported that Israeli Mossad got him, though the Iranian authorities claimed it was the result of a 'personal dispute'. After my meeting, I check the information on the secret documents against other sources. It all stacks up. The report I saw is clear evidence that Iran is employing the basest criminals to attempt to commit murder on its behalf around the world. And that modus operandi can be turned against anyone, no matter how powerful. Federal prosecutors in the US recently unsealed charges against Iranian operatives linked to a plot to assassinate Donald Trump in revenge for the then-President's 2020 killing of Quds Force leader Qassem Soleimani. Trump has made clear that his administration will make dealing with Iran a foreign policy priority. Tension between the two countries is inevitable. Following my meeting, I keep thinking about what I read in that cafe. But what sticks in my mind is something my source told me: 'David, this story is just the tip of the iceberg. There is so much more. Terror is vital to the Islamic Republic's foreign policy, and the Iranians will never stop, until we stop them.' Some details have been changed for reasons of security. With her dark hair, large sunglasses, oversized tote bag and her striped Country Road T-shirt, Elia Papillo looks like any other time-pressed, mid-twenties woman nipping out for a few errands. But what her 'plain Jane' new look conceals - in particular her unflattering baggy linen trousers - is a history of alleged stalking so terrifying she has been dubbed Australia's own real-life 'Baby Reindeer'. For on Papillo's left ankle is an electronic tag tracking her every movement as she prepares to front court next year over allegations she breached a sentencing order by relentlessly stalking multiple people, including a man with whom she had a brief romantic relationship and his new partner. Indeed, the 25-year-old former student support worker from Salisbury, a quiet suburb in Adelaide's north, now looks like an entirely different woman to the one when her offending first began. Back then, in mid-2021, she sported long, neatly brushed blonde hair and was working as a teaching assistant in the nearby Holy Family Catholic School, where her mother teaches kindergarten. A photo of Papillo taken in March 2022 - while she was in the midst of a stalking campaign for which she would later plead guilty - shows her beaming in a baby-blue summery dress with lace-up wedges on her feet - and crucially no monitoring device in sight. The disturbing offences she was originally accused of read like they could have been inspired by Martha, the antagonist in the hit Netflix show that captivated global audiences earlier this year. They include allegedly faking a pregnancy and miscarriage, creating dozens of fake social media profiles in the names of the victims' friends and family, falsely accusing the victim of sexual misconduct and claiming she had cancer to con him out of $1,000. With her dark hair, large sunglasses, oversized tote bag and her striped Country Road t-shirt, Elia Papillo (pictured) looks like any other time-pressed, mid-twenties woman nipping out for a few errands But what her Plain Jane new look conceals is a history of alleged stalking so terrifying she has been dubbed Australia's own 'Baby Reindeer'. For on Papillo's left ankle is an electronic tag (seen here) tracking her every movement as she prepares to front court next year over allegations she relentlessly stalked multiple people, including a man she had briefly dated Last year, Elizabeth Magistrates Court, in Adelaide's north, also heard Papillo bombarded her victim with unwanted packages and gifts, sent explicit messages or threats to 100 of his friends and family, and listed him as her emergency contact with SA Health. But perhaps most chilling of all, she allegedly set up a fake memorial page for a dead family friend of the victim. The page, which used pictures of the deceased, was a ruse so that she could monitor her victim's life. The court also heard she set up fake professional social media pages to dupe a photography business into supplying photos of her former boyfriend and his new partner that had been taken with their consent. Papillo pleaded guilty in November last year to one count of stalking, one count of dishonestly dealing with documents and two counts of breaching her bail, according to the Adelaide Advertiser. Prosecutors accepted those charges as representative of her overall conduct and the other counts were withdrawn. She was handed a suspended sentence with a $1,000 good behaviour bond and was banned from contacting any of her victims either directly or indirectly. Her provisional teaching licence was also cancelled a couple of months earlier, according to the Teachers Registration Board of South Australia. A photo of Papillo (right) taken in March 2022 - while she was in the midst of a stalking campaign for which she would later plead guilty - shows her beaming in a baby-blue summery dress with lace-up wedges on her feet - and crucially no monitoring device in sight. The other woman shown is not involved in the stalking allegations But she now faces a second trial after allegedly breaching her bail conditions almost immediately by repeatedly contacting the victim and his close friends and family members, in addition to allegedly stalking another man. It is alleged that just two weeks after her conviction, she filed a formal complaint with her victim's employer, falsely accusing him of sexual misconduct. The complaint was investigated and dismissed but it remains on his permanent record. Papillo was arrested for a fourth time in June this year. By that stage, police allege she had briefly dated another man whom she subsequently went on to stalk. Papillo's lawyers have reportedly said the first three stalking charges she faces will be 'strongly defended'. As she awaits her trial, her liberty is only guaranteed by strict bail conditions. These include surrendering her passport, wearing the ankle monitoring device, and mandatory home detention, except in rare circumstances such as a medical appointment or visiting her lawyer. She is also banned from using any device with access to the internet and from trying to speak to, or going within 100 metres of, her alleged victims. Papillo's provisional teaching licence was also cancelled a couple of months earlier, according to the Teachers Registration Board of South Australia (pictured: her school photo) It is alleged that just two weeks after her conviction, Papillo filed a formal complaint with her victim's employer, falsely accusing him of sexual misconduct Her parents had to stump up a $10,000 surety and the whole family, including her older sister, had to promise to ban all smart devices from their three-bedroom, $750,000 family home. This means that they cannot access Wi-Fi in their own home. Papillo was spotted visiting her lawyer's offices in Adelaide's CBD on Tuesday last week for a 30-minute meeting. She emerged into the sunlight with a worried look on her face and spoke hurriedly to someone on the phone before rushing home. At a bail hearing last month, the prosecutor discussed the panic and fear Papillo's alleged victims have faced. 'The very nature of the offence of stalking, particularly online stalking, is that it is insidious and far more difficult to stop or be protected against,' the prosecutor told SA's Supreme Court. 'This type of offending is invasive and is unable to be escaped from. The complainants in this matter, quite simply, cannot move states for their protection due to the online nature of this offending.' This publication is not naming the victims to protect their privacy. Papillo was spotted visiting her lawyer's offices in Adelaide's CBD on Tuesday last week for a 30-minute meeting She emerged into the sunlight with a worried look on her face and spoke hurriedly to someone on the phone before rushing home It is not the Papillo family's first experience of the criminal justice system, however. In 2015, Papillo's father, Ron, was fined almost $30,000 after pleading guilty to threatening and abusing Environmental Protection Authority staff on several occasions. Mr Papillo, who ran an earth-moving business, was abusive to officers who were trying to inspect his property for illegal waste storage. 'I have been arrested before. I have guns,' Mr Papillo reportedly told one officer who came to inspect his property. 'I don't like being messed with. Leave my site and stop looking through my stuff. 'I've been locked up for people being on my property. I've had my guns out for that.' His daughter is banned from owning a firearm under her bail conditions. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Papillo's lawyers for comment. The southeastern parts of Australia are set to be smashed by an intense heatwave, with temperatures soaring up to 15C above the November average. Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Angus Hines said that a 'scorcher' is expected this weekend, with bursts of intense heat as northeasterly winds bring hot air across southern regions. 'The sharpest focus of the heat today is in Victoria,' he said. 'Yesterday, it was South Australia, which saw widespread hot temperatures. 'Today, it's Victoria heating up, along with Tasmania, New South Wales, and parts of the ACT.' Mr Hines said Melbourne should expect a high of 34C on Friday, before it heats up to 36C on Saturday. 'Overnight, the temperature is likely to stay in the low to mid-20s, with a minimum around 22 or 23 degrees,' he said. 'While that's typical for northern Australia, it's uncommon for the far south and will likely result in sticky nights.' The heatwave will reach its peak in Victoria and Tasmania on Friday and Saturday, before temperatures start to cool down. 'There'll be cooler weather and some rainfall arriving in the second half of the weekend,' Mr Hines said. A heatwave will strike most of south-east Australia on the weekend, with many places heating up on Friday Aussies in many parts of the south-east are being warned extreme heat is on the way and to stay cool (picture beach goers in Melbourne) 'While it won't be a dramatic cold change, temperatures will drop 5 to 8 degrees, returning to near-average levels.' Sydney can expect the extreme heat to arrive later than in other parts of the southeast. 'The weekend will be pleasant with plenty of sunshine and temperatures in the upper 20s,' he said. 'While not cold, the real warmth will strike Sydney on Sunday or Monday, with temperatures rising into the 30s. 'The western suburbs will feel the heat more intensely.' Although much of Queensland is currently experiencing rain, areas including southern Brisbane, the Gold Coast, and Tweed Heads will see clearer skies. Melbourne Friday: Mostly sunny day, becoming cloudy in the evening. Winds northerly 15 to 20 km/h becoming light in the early afternoon. Max 34. Saturday: Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower in the late afternoon and evening. Late cool change. Winds northerly 20 to 30 km/h shifting southerly 15 to 25 km/h in the evening. Min 23 Max 36. Sunday: Cloudy. High chance of showers. Light winds. Min 19 Max 23. Melbourne will reach 34C on Friday before hitting 36C on Saturday (pictured stock photo of Port Melbourne Beach) Sydney Friday: Sunny. Light winds becoming northeasterly 15 to 25 km/h in the middle of the day. Max 26. Saturday: Sunny. The chance of fog in the west in the early morning. Light winds becoming northeasterly 20 to 30 km/h in the middle of the day then becoming light in the late evening. Min 17 Max 28 Sunday: Sunny. Light winds becoming northerly 15 to 20 km/h during the morning then tending northeasterly 20 to 30 km/h during the day. Min 19 Max 29 Brisbane Friday: Partly cloudy. Very high chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm. Winds east to southeasterly 15 to 25 km/h becoming light in the evening. Max 24. Saturday: Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the morning and afternoon. Light winds becoming east to southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h in the middle of the day then becoming light in the late evening. Min 19 Max 27. Sunday: Slight chance of a shower in the morning. Mostly sunny afternoon. Light winds becoming easterly 15 to 20 km/h during the day then becoming light during the evening. Min 18 Max 28. Adelaide Friday: Partly cloudy. Winds northeasterly 15 to 25 km/h tending northerly in the morning then turning east to northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h in the late afternoon. Max 36. Saturday: Cloudy. Very high chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm. Winds northwest to northeasterly up to 20 km/h tending west to southwesterly early in the morning then tending southeast to southwesterly in the middle of the day. Min 23 Max 29. Sunday: Cloudy. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the morning. Light winds becoming southerly 15 to 20 km/h during the afternoon then becoming light during the evening. Min 18 Max 25. Perth Friday: Partly cloudy. Light winds becoming southwesterly 15 to 25 km/h in the morning then becoming light in the late evening. Max 23. Saturday: Sunny. Winds east to southeasterly 15 to 25 km/h turning south to southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h in the early afternoon then becoming light in the late evening. Min 13 Max 28. Sunday: Sunny. Winds east to northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h shifting southwesterly 15 to 25 km/h during the morning then tending southerly during the evening. Min 16 Max 31. Hobart Friday: Partly cloudy. Light winds becoming southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h in the late afternoon then becoming light in the evening. Max 23. Saturday: Cloudy. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the afternoon and early evening. Light winds. Min 13 Max 28. Sunday: Cloudy. Slight chance of a shower, most likely in the morning. Light winds. Min 14 Max 19. Sydney's hottest day will be on Sunday - but the hot weather will continue until mid-week (pictured stock photo of swimmers at Bondi) Darwin Friday: Partly cloudy. High chance of showers and the chance of a thunderstorm, most likely early in the morning and again in the afternoon. Light winds. Max 33. Saturday: Partly cloudy. High chance of showers, most likely in the morning and afternoon. The chance of a thunderstorm. Light winds. Min 25 Max 33. Sunday: Partly cloudy. High chance of showers, most likely in the afternoon. The chance of a thunderstorm. Light winds. Min 25 Max 32. Canberra Friday: Mostly sunny. Light winds. Max 30. Saturday: Sunny. Light winds becoming northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h in the middle of the day then becoming light in the evening. Min 13 Max 33. Sunday: Partly cloudy. Light winds becoming northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h during the day then becoming light during the evening. Min 14 Max 34. November 21, 2024: The U.S. Navy has several problems with women serving at sea. One is the individual strength of female sailors. While some female sailors can beat a male at arm wrestling, most women are smaller and not as strong as their male counterparts. This causes some problems about ships where, even on a 100,000 ton aircraft carrier, there are a lot of small spaces and areas that are reached, or can only be reached, by ladders or small staircases. This situation is more acute on submarines, where some women also serve. Women literally cannot handle the weight of items that have to be carried up or down ladders and staircases, and this is critical in emergency situations, which can include a wounded or injured male sailor weighing 68-91 kg. Female sailors weigh about 55 kg and have far less upper body strength than men. This causes problems in peacetime that can be ignored. In wartime, or any emergency situation, you cannot pretend and the reality of the situation is unavoidable. Peacetime operations present few incidents where female sailors have weight related problems. This allows the problem to be ignored. That will not be the case in wartime and after that there will be inquiries and Congressional investigations that will criticize and condemn what happened and declare that it will never happen again. Currently about 20 percent of ship crews are female and, because women reenlist at only half the rate as men, there is a shortage of female chief petty officers to supervise these women. Female chiefs that are available tend to be less experienced than their male counterparts and that leads to discipline problems. Combine that with the political pressure not to discipline women who misbehave on the job and the lack of experienced female chiefs means there are more problems than the navy is comfortable with. Its not just sexual problems but female sailors using those ploys that women have long employed to get their way in the workplace. Its not politically correct to even admit this sort of thing exists, but in the last few decades the U.S. military has found it prudent to modify NCO training to include showing the male sergeants and petty officers how to handle female subordinates. After generations of dealing only with men, these NCOs, even those with daughters, were surprised to be told what they could expect from female subordinates. Female NCOs dont have to be taught, they already know. Thus having experienced female chiefs on ships keeps the younger female sailors in line. The underlying problem is that women often prefer to leave the navy rather than put up with long periods away from their young children. The navy tries to accommodate the sailors who are mothers but the U.S. Navy is a navy that spends a lot of time at sea and, if female sailors are allowed to spend less time at sea, male sailors will spend more and that will cause morale and retention problems with male sailors. It will also anger the wives of those male sailors. The navy also loses a lot of female officers to motherhood, but that is less noticed because the female chiefs are more essential and the shortages there are noticed. As the old saying goes, officers command but it is the chiefs who actually run the navy. Moreover female officers, like female civilian managers, can still achieve high rank if they have fewer children, none at all or simply put up with long separations from the kids. Thus female officers have reached high rank while female enlisted chiefs are in short supply. High ranking female officers tend to get more publicity as well. Thus it was big news in 2010 when the navy had the first female officer serving as a CAG (commander of a carriers air group) . This was no surprise to those in the navy. This was not a surprise to the admirals as it was part of a long-term trend. It began in the mid-1970s when the U.S. Navy began letting women into the Naval Academy and flight school. Within four decades there were women commanding combat aircraft squadrons, cruisers, an amphibious task force and a carrier task force. The 2010 female CAG had, two years earlier, been the first female commander of a navy combat squadron, a unit of 245 personnel that operated a dozen F-18Cs. The squadron commander flew combat missions, in addition to running the squadron. The new CAG has been in the navy since 1985, when she entered the Naval Academy. She was a flight instructor in 1993 when the Department of Defense changed its policy and allowed women to fly combat missions. When she took over VFA 105, she already had 3,000 hours in the F-18, and 600 carrier landings. After running VFA 105, her next assignment was a staff job in the Pentagon. Her husband was also a naval aviator, and they have a young daughter. At the same time another female 1985 Naval Academy graduate took command of Task Force 73. This was another first. There have also been some less memorable firsts, like the removal of a female captain of a warship for abusive treatment of the crew, and her demeanor and temperament in general. The relieved captain was also a 1985 Naval Academy graduate. Over the last century women have been increasingly a part of the military. In most Western nations over ten percent of military personnel are female. In the U.S. military its now 18 percent. A century ago it was under one percent, almost all nurses with a few doctors. More women are in uniform now because there aren't enough qualified men, especially for many of the technical jobs armed forces now have to fill. In the United States women became more of a presence in the armed forces after the military went all-volunteer in the 1970s. That led to more and more combat-support jobs being opened to women. This became popular within the military because the women were often better at these support jobs. This led to women being allowed to serve on American combat ships in 1994. In most NATO countries about 12 percent of sailors are women, while in Britain it is 11 percent, and in the United States 18 percent. Once women were allowed to fly combat aircraft, it was only a matter of time before some of them rose to command positions. By 2010, about ten percent of navy officers were female, as were nine percent of enlisted personnel and 12 percent of navy pilots were women, as were 13 percent of all flying personnel. In the air force seven percent of pilots were women. By 2010 women commanded warships and air combat units, including fighter squadrons. The proportion of women in command positions continues to rise while the navy has growing problems obtaining enough female chiefs. During World War II over five million women served in the military, although they suffered fewer losses than the men, several hundred thousand did die. These women were often exposed to combat, especially when fighting as guerillas or operating anti-aircraft guns and early warning systems in Russia, Germany, and Britain. Russia also used women as traffic cops near the front line, as snipers, and as combat pilots. They tried using them as tank crews and regular infantry, but that didnt work out. Women were most frequently employed in medical and other support jobs. The few who served as snipers or pilots were very good at it. In the last century there have been several attempts to use women in combat units, and all have failed. When given a choice, far fewer women will choose combat jobs (infantry, armor, artillery) than will men. But duty as MPs does attract a lot of women, as do jobs like fighter, bomber, helicopter pilots and crews, and aboard warships. That works. Meanwhile the casualty rate for women in Iraq was over ten times what it was in World War II, Vietnam, and the 1991 Gulf War 30,000 women served. A lot of the combat operations experienced by women in Iraq involved base security or guard duty. Female troops performed well in that. These were jobs that required alertness, attention to detail, and ability to quickly use your weapons when needed. In convoy operations women have also done well, especially when it comes to spotting, and dealing with, roadside bombs and ambushes. Going into the 21st century, warfare is becoming more automated and less dependent on muscle and testosterone. That gives women an edge, and they exploit it, just as they have done in so many other fields. But most women still want to have children. Thats kind of essential because without lots of new kids humans would be another species gone extinct. The military life, at least in the American forces, is not hospitable to child rearing, at least for the troops themselves. The mother of a young boy has revealed how bruising on her son's eyelid that led to flu-like symptoms turned out to be a rare form of cancer. Four-year-old Luca Kitson, who lives with his family in Bibra Lake in Perth's south-west, was diagnosed with neuroblastoma just before his second birthday in Luca was out playing in the the family's backyard while they were living in the mining town of Kalgoorlie when he slipped and fell on some gravel. He suffered some minor scars and a bump on his forehead, but his mum Diana noticed 'unusual' bruising on his right eyelid a few days later. She became even more concerned after dark patches emerged on Luca's eyelids, he developed a fever, began to vomit and lost his appetite. His father Jeff took him to the GP and Luca was given antibiotics, but a visit to the hospital the next day confirmed the mother-of-three's worst fears. Pediatricians found tumours in Luca's kidney and several other parts of his body. 'My heart sank. I just remembered at that point an out-of-body experience,' Ms Kitson told 7News. Pictured from L-R is Jeff, Luca and Diana Kitson with the end of treatment bell. The four-year-old was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a rare cancer, just before his second birthday Luca was diagnosed with high-risk neuroblastoma, a rare cancer which develops in the nerve tissue, at Perth Children's Hospital (pictured) Luca and his mum were flown to Perth Children's Hospital by the Royal Flying Doctor Service where tests revealed Luca had high-risk neuroblastoma, a rare cancer which develops in the nerve tissue. Further scans also confirmed tumours had grown at the base of Luca's skull and the abnormal tissue growth had spread to his optic nerve, which caused blindness in his right eye. 'I remember the oncologist saying 'cancer does not discriminate,' Ms Kitson said. Luca underwent 15 months of gruelling treatment including chemotherapy, stem cell transplants, immunotherapy and radiotherapy. The family were forced to sell their home in Kalgoorlie and relocate to Perth to support Luca through his treatment. Ms Kitson said the life changing diagnosis had been difficult. 'Ultimately, I don't think I could have gone through this without the nurses [in] the ward. They just understood, they made us feel safe,' Ms Kitson said. Luca's family is now hoping his cancer does not relapse and that the little boy makes it through five years of post-treatment. Cancer statistics commonly use a five-year survival rate to indicate when a patient no longer has the disease. Around 40 children are diagnosed with neuroblastoma in Australia every year and the overall survival rate is 76 per cent. High-risk neuroblastoma has a cure rate of just 50 cent. Donations can be made to the Perth Children's Hospital in the following link. An Australian author has delayed receiving his prize money from winning a prestigious literary award after criticising the sponsor. Prominent author Richard Flanagan won the prestigious Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction for his novel Question 7 and has delayed accepting the $97,000 prize. The award was announced on Tuesday night in London, but Flanagan didn't accept the award in person as he is currently on a trek through the Tasmanian wilderness. In a pre-recorded acceptance speech, Flanagan announced that he will postpone accepting the prize money until the sponsor, UK-based investment management company Baillie Gifford, commits to increasing its investments in renewable energy and puts forward a clear plan to reduce its investments in fossil fuels. 'On that day, I will be grateful not only for this generous gift, but for the knowledge that by coming together in good faith, with respect and goodwill, it remains possible yet to make this world better,' Mr Flanagan said. 'As each of us is guilty, each of us too bears a responsibility to act: a writer, a fund manager.' He added that his soul would be troubled if he did not draw attention to the devastating impact of the climate crisis on his own country. Prominent author Richard Flanagan (pictured) has delayed receiving his prize money from winning a prestigious literary award after criticising the sponsor of the award Flanagan won the prestigious Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction, for his novel Question 7 and has delayed accepting the 50,000 prize ($97,000) Flanagan told The Guardian: 'I don't see Baillie Gifford as the enemy. 'I think their support of literature has been well meant. It's an offer to come together and to remind each other of what's possible.' He said he is not taking a stance from a position of moral superiority. 'Because we're all complicit: I fly in planes, I drive a car, I live surrounded by plastic and I think these matters are extraordinarily complex,' Flanagan explained. 'But I can't write a book such as Question 7, which in part deals with the catastrophe of climate, with the destruction and vanishing of the world I love, and not mention it and not act upon it.' 'But I can't write a book such as Question 7, which in part deals with the catastrophe of climate, with the destruction and vanishing of the world I love, and not mention it and not act upon it,' Richard Flanagan (pictured) said. Baillie Gifford has sponsored the prize since 2016, but has faced recent criticism for investing in companies linked to Israel and in fossil fuels. After protests earlier this year, Baillie Gifford withdrew sponsorship of nine literary festivals in the UK, including the Edinburgh International Book Festival. Flanagan's novels have received numerous honours and are published in 42 countries. He won the prestigious Man Booker Prize for in 2014. A California man who passed a polygraph test denying his involvement in a sadistic killing almost 50 years ago has been identified as the suspected murderer. Esther Gonzalez, 17, was raped and bludgeoned to death while walking from her parent's house in Beaumont to her sister's house in Banning on February 9, 1979, the Riverside County District Attorney's Office said. Her body was found 'dumped in a snowpack' alongside Highway 243 in Banning the next day, after an unidentified man called the Sheriff's Department to report that he had found a body. Deputies said he was 'argumentative' and declined to say whether the victim was a man or a woman. After five days of investigating, police identified the caller as Randolph 'Randy' Williamson, whom they asked to undergo a polygraph test. 'He agreed and passed which, at the time, cleared him of any wrongdoing,' the District Attorney's Office said. Williamson, a US Marine Corps vet, then spent the next 35 years living a normal life, eventually moving to Florida, where he died in 2014. But California detectives continued to work on the cold case, and determined earlier this year that 'although Williamson was seemingly cleared by the polygraph in 1979, he was never cleared through DNA because the technology had not yet been developed.' Randolph 'Randy' Williamson, who passed a polygraph test denying his involvement in the grisly murder of 17-year-old Esther Gonzalez in 1979, has now been identified as her likely murderer Gonzalez was raped and bludgeoned to death while walking from her parent's house in Beaumont to her sister's house in Banning on February 9, 1979 The break came last year when cold case homicide detectives sent various items of evidence to Othram, Inc. in Texas to conduct a forensic genealogy, which they hoped could lead them to the killer. Among the DNA samples sent to the lab was a blood sample collected during Williamson's autopsy following his death in 2014. That was proven to be a match to the semen sample collected from Gonzalez's body, which had earlier been uploaded to the Combined DNA Index System, which catalogues DNA samples. It is unclear whether Williamson knew Gonzalez or had a motive for killing her. Police said they found some old assault allegations against Williamson, but he did not have any convictions for violent crimes and his DNA never matched with any of her rapes or murders, the Los Angeles Times reports. Officials with the District Attorney's Office are now seeking any information on Williamson, Gonzalez and 'other potential victims.' But they say they are glad to have found an answer for Gonzalez's family after all these years. 'This killing still haunts them,' Jason Corey, an investigator with the DA's Office, told the LA Times. 'But Esther was never forgotten by us all these years.' A foul-mouthed Alabama inmate who murdered a female hitchhiker with his teenage friends enjoyed an extravagant final meal before he was put to death by a controversial execution method Thursday night. Carey Dale Grayson, 50, was pronounced dead at 6.33pm local time after he breathed in nitrogen from a mask under the state's new nitrogen hypoxia execution method. But he did not go quietly, telling the prison warden 'you need to f*** off' as he pointed a microphone to Grayson's face for his final words, AL.com reports. The inmate was also seen pointing the middle finger on at least his left hand as he continued saying something in a loud manner towards what appeared to be the middle of the viewing room at William C Holman Correctional Facility - where the state officials usually sit. Grayson had languished on death row for the grisly 1994 murder and bludgeoning of hitchhiker Vickie DeBlieux, 37, when he was just 19 years old and his co-defendants were under the age of 18. He chose not to eat breakfast or lunch, instead only having coffee and Mountain Dew. But for his final meal, Grayson had a seafood platter, soft tacos, beef burritos, a tostada, chips and guacamole paired with a Mountain Dew Blast. The gas then started flowing at 6.12pm, after which Grayson could be heard gasping. Carey Dale Grayson, 50, was executed in Alabama on Thursday using nitrogen gas Alabama's lethal injection chamber at the Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore is pictured in October 2002 Grayson was seen pointing the middle finger on at least his left hand as he continued saying something in a loud manner towards what appeared to be the middle of the viewing room at William C Holman Correctional Facility - where the state officials usually sit. He was also seen raising and shaking his head left to right, and at around 6.14pm he lifted both of his legs from the gurney. Soon though, the movements began to slow as Grayson continued to let out periodic gasps over the next few minutes. But Alabama Department of Corrections Commissioner John Hamm said the movements were 'all show,' noting that his later jolts were inconsistent with nitrogen gas executions. Prosecutors have said DeBlieux was hitchhiking from Chattanooga, Tennessee, to visit her mother in Louisiana when Grayson and his three teenage friends, Kenny Loggins, Trace Duncan and Louis Mangione, approached her on Interstate 59, the Montgomery Advertiser reports. They had lured her to a wooded area claiming that they were going to switch vehicles when the four men beat her, stomped on her and kicked her to death. Testimony shows one of the suspects even stood on DeBlieux's throat in an effort to kill her, before they threw her off a cliff. Her last words were said to be, 'OK, I'll party,' according to WVTM. The teenagers later returned to the site of the crime and mutilated her body, cutting it at least 180 times, removing a portion of one of her lungs and cutting off all of her fingers. They were ultimately linked to the crime after Mangione showed one of DeBlieux's fingers to his friends, prosecutors said. He was pronounced dead at the William C Holman Correctional Facility at 6.33pm local time Grayson was sentenced to death, while the others involved in the crime had their death sentences amended to life sentences in 2005, after the US Supreme Court ruled that executing an individual for a crime committed when they were a minor is unconstitutional. His attorneys made a last-ditch effort to appeal his case to the US Supreme Court on Tuesday. They said it 'raises issues of national importance' in states that allow for the death penalty about 'whether the Eighth Amendment prohibits suffocating a conscious prisoner and whether a state's refusal to prevent conscious suffocation via a novel method of execution superadds terror and pain in violation of the Eighth Amendment'. The method involves placing a respirator gas mask over the inmates face to replace breathable air with pure nitrogen gas, causing death by lack of oxygen. But when the state executed Alan Eugene Miller, 59, and Kenneth Eugene Smith, 58, earlier this year they were both seen shaking and trembling on the gurney for about two minutes as the nitrogen made its way into their systems. In his filing, attorney John Palombi noted that both men were also conscious as their bodies reacted to the procedure. 'I would submit to the court that being conscious and being suffocated for a period of time constitutes terror that is superadded to this protocol that does not have to be there, as acknowledged by the fact that the state is willing to, if he requests it, give Mr. Grayson a sedative,' he wrote, according to NBC News. Grayson's attorneys had argued that the novel form of execution violates the Eighth Amendment to the Constitution Robert Overing, Alabama's deputy solicitor general, however, countered that nitrogen hypoxia is not the same as suffocation. 'This is really apples and oranges, trying to use the term "suffocation" to evoke a fear and pain that doesn't exist with this method,' he argued. The Supreme Court ultimately denied the request on Thursday, just hours before Grayson was set to die. Meanwhile, protestors continued to write to Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey, hoping she would halt the execution. They shared a petition that claimed Grayson had a traumatic childhood due to the loss of his mother at a young age and neglect from his father - which promoted early drug and alcohol abuse. It also claims the inmate suffered from bipolar disorder, and noted that state prosecutors argued that the other co-defendants were as guilty, 'if not more so', than Grayson. 'Allowing him to be executed while the other three are serving life sentences would be unfair and unjust,' they said. During a press conference Reverend Dr. Jeff Hood (L), the spiritual advisor for convicted killer Kenneth Eugene Smith, comforts Smith's wife Deanna Smit But Ivey seemed to have stood by her decision not to intervene following Grayson's death. 'Some 30 years ago, Vicki DeBlieux's journey to her mother's house and ultimately her life were horrifically cut short because of Carey Grayson and three other men,' she said. 'She sensed something was wrong, attempted to escape, but instead was brutally tortured and murdered,' the governor claimed. 'Even after her death, Mr. Grayson's crimes against Ms. DeBlieux were heinous, unimaginable, without an ounce of regard for human life and just unexplainably mean. An execution by nitrogen hypoxia bares no comparison to the death and dismemberment Ms. DeBlieux experienced. 'I pray for her loved ones, that they may continue finding closure and healing.' State Attorney General Steve Marshall added that 'Grayson and his accomplices brutally murdered a complete stranger and mutilated her body. 'It takes a truly vicious monster to commit this kind of crime,' Marshall said, adding that 'justice has been served'. 'My prayer for Vickie's family is that they can find solace in the State of Alabama finally serving justice for their heartbreaking loss,' he said. 'And my hope is that one day, it will not take three decades to provide justice for other victims of violent crimes.' A New Zealand mother-of-six is recovering in hospital after she suffered serious injuries, including losing a piece of her skull, when three pit bulls attacked her as she walked her own dog. Trudy Lee, 35, was only about 100m from her house at Manurewa in South Auckland when she spotted the pack of stray dogs bounding up the street, but said she assumed they were running at her dog and not her. 'My dog managed to get out of her collar because they were ready to attack her and she ran home,' Ms Lee told the NZ Herald from her hospital bed. But rather than chase her pet, she said the three dogs knocked her to the ground and then one latched onto her arm, another on her leg and the third onto the top of her head. 'They tore tendons out of my arm... They were pretty much trying to rip me apart.' Ms Lee said she screamed, which caught the attention of neighbours who rushed to her aid as the dogs ran off. She said the bystanders called an ambulance and tried to help her stop the bleeding while an ambulance arrived. She said felt like it took 'ages' because of the extent of her injuries and the pain she was in. 'I was just trying to survive... I thought I was going to die on that footpath. I was looking up at my daughter because my kids were in front of me. They were in shock, they've never seen their mum like that.' Mum-of-six Tracy Lee has part of her skull ripped off by a pack of three pit bulls She is recovering in hospital after multiple surgeries Auckland Council said it had located the dogs and put them down (stock image) She was given a blood transfusion in the back of the ambulance and rushed to nearby Middlemore Hospital. Once there doctors did multiple surgeries, including skin grafts and an operation to plug the hole in her skull, and she is set for more before she is discharged. Ms Lee said for the first few nights in hospital before she was scared to sleep because she was worried she might not wake up. While she is 'still in shock', she said it could have been worse as there were primary school aged children from two nearby schools who were also walking on the street. On top of that, she also could have easily had her own two young daughters, aged 8 and 9, with her as they sometimes tag along when she walks the family dog. A Givealittle page has been setup to help cover Ms Lee's hospital bills. Auckland council said they had located the three dogs who have since been euthanised. The incident is one of an alarming number of dog attacks in Auckland in recent years. There was a 10 per cent increase in the number of dog attacks from 2022 to 2023. Pit bulls are prohibited from being imported into New Zealand but they are already in the country. They are required to be muzzled when on the street by law but the three dogs who set upon Ms Lee were strays. The source of a mysterious and unpleasant odor that drew widespread concern among residents of two Pacific Northwestern states has finally been found. Nearly two months after initial reports of the foul stench - described by residents as akin to sulfur, natural gas or burning garbage - authorities believe they have uncovered a likely contributor. The Smurfit Westrock paper mill in Longview, Washington, 'likely contributed' to the pungent stench that wafted through southwest Washington and northwest Oregon in September, the Washington State Department of Ecology determined. Yet, the agency is unable to say for sure that the mill was the lone contributor to the putrid odor that triggered an onslaught of complaints and widespread speculation among residents. 'Ecologys investigation identified that the WestRock facility in Longview likely contributed to the odor,' the agency wrote. 'However, based on the data, we cant conclude if this venting was responsible for all of the odor complaints across the region.' With no clear source and mounting complaints, authorities began their investigation using any and all leads they had at the time. Before turning blame towards the mill, authorities speculated that a nearby active stratovolcano, Mount St. Helens - just over an hour's drive from the paper mill - may have contributed to the scent. The Smurfit Westrock paper mill in Longview, Washington 'likely contributed' to the pungent odor that wafted through southwest Washington and northwest Oregon in September, the Washington State Department of Ecology determined. Pictured: Steam is released into the air from the Smurfit Westrock Longview paper mill Smurfit Westrock Longview paper mill manufactures cardboard materials including container board and corrugated containers. Pictured: Smurfit Westrock Longview paper mill in Longview, Washington Though after further investigation the volcano was ultimately ruled out. 'In general, odor investigations are challenging to address and are often inconclusive,' ecology department officials said as the investigation progressed. Authorities later discovered that the Westrock paper mill vented a gas stream on September 24, that contained chemicals that cause odors. However, the amount the mill vented was within the confines of its permit to do so, the DOE revealed. Though not performed daily, the venting is an integral part of the mill's normal operations and is allowed under the terms of the facility's permit. 'Smurfit Westrock can confirm that no air permit violations occurred at the facility on September 24, 2024, and there is no indication the Longview paper mill was the source of odors cited in complaints,' the company said in a statement at the time. Before turning blame towards the mill, authorities speculated that a nearby active stratovolcano, Mount St. Helens (pictured) - just over an hour's drive from the paper mill - may have contributed to the scent The permit requires the company to report each round of venting as it did so on September 24. Upon a later review of the facility's emissions data, the DOE discovered that release of the odor-causing chemicals was too small to pose a threat to human health or the environment. The department also said its conclusions were based on air quality and meteorological data, emissions data, official odor complaints and in-person visits to assess the operational conditions at WestRock and another nearby paper mill. The agency added that it could not conclusively say if other sources contributed to the odd smell, adding that no data is available to confirm whether or not the facility was also responsible for the odor complaints in nearby Vancouver and Portland. For decades it was seen as Thailand's smaller, sleepier - and safer - neighbour. But Laos has become increasingly popular with tourists, including Western backpackers, and that popularity has come at a price. Once famed for temples and processions of Buddhist monks, some of its larger towns are now firmly established on the backpacker trail, but are also experiencing record levels of crime and drug-related violence. Vang Vieng in particular has become known as a gap year party town for teenagers and twenty-somethings seeking hedonism and adrenalin sports. The former farming village is now at the centre of an investigation after five travellers died after drinking shots thought to have been laced with methanol, a cheaper form of alcohol that can cause severe poisoning or death. It is Vang Vieng's second taste of notoriety. The town previously hit world headlines in 2011 for tourist deaths while 'tubing', riding in an inflated tractor tyre inner tube down the Nam Song river. Ramshackle bars sprang up along the banks of the river, each competing to lure backpackers with free shots of the local Lao-Lao rice whisky. Enterprising bar owners set up rope swings, makeshift zip lines and rickety water slides for gap year revellers to play on and threw ropes to the 'tubers' so they could be pulled in for drinks or 'happy' milkshakes laced with hallucinogens. Tourists kayaking in the party town of Vang Vieng in Laos where five people have died from alleged methanol poisoning Methanol poisoning victims, Bianca Jones, (left) who has sadly died, and her friend Holly Bowles (right), who is fighting for her life in hospital, were seen at Jaidee's Bar in Vang Vieng just hours before being rushed to hospital Bianca Jones, 19, from Melbourne, sadly died after consuming alleged 'methanol-laced' drinks in Vang Vieng, Laos The combination of cheap alcohol, a party atmosphere and river games proved wildly popular on the so-called Banana Pancake Trail, a well-trodden path around South East Asia for budget travellers. The Lonely Planet guide described tubing as 'one of the rites of passage of the Indochina backpacking circuit'. Vang Vieng - a four-hour bus journey from Laos' capital Vientiane - became so popular that at one stage backpackers outnumbered locals by around three to one. But soon reports began to surface of travellers dying, either from drowning or drinking, or from diving from bars into the river and smashing their skulls on rocks. Laos is a one-party Communist state, and strict controls on the media meant the deaths often went unreported. But the authorities finally launched a crackdown in 2011, after 27 tourists were said to have died in Vang Vieng in a single year. British tourist Benjamin Light, 23, from Bournemouth, drowned after jumping into the river from a rope swing during a tubing trip. His inquest heard participants were given alcohol during several stops on their way down the river. WhatsApp messages have since disclosed the pair then left the hostel and travelled 950m to the beachfront bar Ms Bowles (pictured) was on holiday with her schoolfriend in the popular backpacking destination of Vang Vieng Simone White, 28, from Orpington in Kent, is the fifth tourist to have died after falling ill last week Mr Light was said to have stayed underwater 'for some time' before crawling back up the riverbank. He managed to stand up but then immediately fell backwards and his eyes 'rolled back' and he could not be resuscitated. A coroner recorded a verdict of accidental death. A former pub landlord from Slough, Michael O'Sullivan, 39, died on his honeymoon in 2009 during a tubing trip with his new bride Ilana in Vang Vieng. Travel expert Gwen Engler, who runs the blog Thefullpassport.com, said she was shocked by a visit to Vang Vieng in 2011. She said: 'Loud, rowdy, scantily-clad people inundated the town, many of them struggling to stay balanced and/or upright. 'Waiting to embrace them were streets crammed with noisy bars and restaurants offering cheap drinks; 'happy' menus full of marijuana, magic mushrooms, and opium in a variety of forms.' She went on: 'It seemed that the entire purpose of being there was to get as quickly and efficiently obliterated as possible... The entire town seemed to have evolved to serve the hedonistic pleasures of the tourist hordes, flying alarmingly in the face of the values and social mores of this conservative, Communist country.' Following the 2011 crackdown, the riverside bars were closed, drugs were taken off 'happy' cafe menus and tight controls were placed on the tubing operators. Tourists were encouraged to visit the region's stunning limestone karsts, caves and waterfalls instead of its bars and strict limits were enforced on tubing numbers. The clampdown was hailed as a success, and record numbers of tourists continued to visit, without the lure of 24-hour partying and tubing. But Laos remains one of the poorest nations in South East Asia, and alcohol and drugs are cheap, particularly by Western standards. Traffickers use the country as a corridor to its richer neighbours and have flooded it with methamphetamine, and pills sell for as little as 20p. Crime levels have also spiked, as have attacks on tourists, with visitors reporting muggings and armed robberies. Overall, crime rates rose by 28 percent in 2022, with drug-related crime accounting for almost two-thirds of all cases. Possession and use of drugs can carry the death penalty. Hostel manager and bartender Duong Duc Toan (pictured), has claimed it wasn't his Tiger Vodka that made the girls sick Staff at Nana Backpackers Hostel have been interrogated by police who have demanded to see bottles of spirits served on the night the poisoning occurred Laos experienced a wave of civil unrest in 2022 and 2023, during an economic crisis. Such unrest is rare in the country, where protests and demonstrations are illegal. Another hidden danger dates back to the Vietnam War, when the US used air bases in Laos, including in Vang Vieng, and bombed suspected supply lines in the south. Unexploded cluster bombs and landmines remain in some areas, although tourist regions are said to be safe. The Foreign Office travel advice for the country is to avoid the central Xaisomboun Province, following armed clashes with anti-government groups. It warns that male and female tourists have reported having their food or drink spiked with drugs, and that travellers should be cautious about accepting spirit-based drinks following the recent methanol poisonings. Earlier this year, a caver was poring over satellite images of the Nullarbor Plain when he came across something unexpected: an enormous, mysterious scar etched into the barren landscape. The find intrigued scientists, including my colleagues and I. Upon closer investigation, we realised the scar was created by a ferocious tornado that no-one knew had occurred. We outline the findings in new research published today. Tornadoes are a known threat in the United States and elsewhere. But they also happen in Australia. Without the power of technology, this remarkable example of natures ferocity would have gone unnoticed. Its important to study the tornados aftermath to help us predict and prepare for the next big twister. Australias tornado history Tornadoes are violent, spinning columns of air that drop from thunderstorms to the ground, bringing wind speeds often exceeding 200 kilometres an hour. They can cause massive destruction uprooting trees, tearing apart buildings and throwing debris over large distances. Tornadoes have been reported on every continent except Antarctica. They most commonly occur in the Great Plains region of the United States, and in the north-east region of IndiaBangladesh. The man who discovered the scar had been using Google Earth satellite imagery Upon closer investigation, scientists realised the scar was created by a ferocious tornado The scar stretches from Western Australia over the border to South Australia The earliest observed tornado in Australia occurred in 1795 in the suburbs of Sydney. But a tornado was not scientifically confirmed here until the late 1800s. In recent decades, documented instances in Australia include a 2013 tornado that crossed north-east Victoria and travelled up to the New South Wales border. It brought winds between 250300 kilometres an hour and damaged Murray River townships. And in 2016, a severe storm produced at least seven tornadoes in central and eastern parts of South Australia. Its important for scientists to accurately predict tornadoes, so we can issue warnings to communities. Thats why the Nullarbor tornado scar was useful to study. A whirlwind mystery The Nullarbor Plain is a remote, dry, treeless stretch of land in southern Australia. The man who discovered the scar had been using Google Earth satellite imagery to search the Nullabor for caves or other karst features. Karst is a landscape underlain by limestone featuring distinctive landforms. The discovery of the scar came to the attention of my colleagues and I through the collaborative network of researchers and explorers who study the Nullarbor karst. The scar stretches from Western Australia over the border to South Australia. It lies 20 kilometres north of the Trans-Australian Railway and 90 kilometres east-north-east of Forrest, a former railway settlement. We compared satellite imagery of the site over several years to determine that the tornado occurred between November 16 and 18, 2022. Blue circular patterns appeared alongside the scar, indicating pools of water associated with heavy rain. Tornadoes are a known threat in the United States, but they also happen in Australia. My colleagues and I then travelled to the site in May this year to examine and photograph the scar and the neighbouring landscape. Our results have been published today in the Journal of Southern Hemisphere Earth Systems Science. What we found The scar is 11 kilometres long and between 160 and 250 metres wide. It bears striking patterns called cycloidal marks, formed by tornado suction vortexes. This suggests the tornado was no ordinary storm but in the strong F2 or F3 category, spinning with destructive winds of more than 200 kilometres an hour. The tornado probably lasted between seven and 13 minutes. Features of the scar suggest the whirling wind within the tornado was moving in a clockwise direction. We also think the tornado moved from west to east which is consistent with the direction of a strong cold front in the region at the time. Local weather observations also recorded intensive cloud cover and rainfall during that period in November 2022. Unlike tornadoes that hit populated areas, this one did not damage homes or towns. But it left its mark nonetheless, eroding soil and vegetation and reshaping the Earths surface. Remarkably, the scar was still clearly visible 18 months after the event, both in satellite images and on the ground. This is probably because vegetation grows slowly in this dry landscape, so hadnt yet covered the erosion. Tornadoes have been reported on every continent except Antarctica Your browser does not support iframes. Predict and prepare This fascinating discovery on the Nullarbor Plain shows how powerful and unpredictable nature can be sometimes without us knowing. Only three tornadoes have previously been documented on the Nullarbor Plain. This is likely because the area is remote with few eye-witnesses, and because the events do not damage properties and infrastructure. Interestingly, those three tornadoes occurred in November, just like this one. Our research provides valuable insights into the tornadoes in this remote and little-studied region. It helps us understand when, and in what conditions, these types of tornadoes occur. It also emphasises the importance of satellite imagery in identifying and analysing weather phenomena in remote locations, and in helping us predict and prepare for the next big event. And finally, the results are a stark reminder that extreme weather can strike anywhere, anytime. A speeding driver who mowed down and killed a 12-year-old boy had been banned from getting behind the wheel twice before the fatal crash, a court has heard. Azaan Khan was riding his bike in South Yardley, Birmingham, when Shazad Alam, 34, ploughed his BMW into him. The youngster had gone to the shop with his friends and was crossing Coventry Road when he was hit by Alam who was estimated to be driving as fast as 62mph on the 40mph road. Emergency services attempted to save Azaan's life performing a blood transfusion but he died at the scene on the evening of June 8 last year. Birmingham Crown Court heard how Alam was weaving in and out of traffic and used the bus lane to undertake drivers who heard the 'aggressive roaring' of his engine, Birmingham Live reported. The court also heard how he had previously been banned for driving in the past, in 2019 and 2022, under the 'totting up' process. This included speeding at 75mph on another 40mph road. The 34-year-old, of Lowesmoor Road, Birmingham, pleaded guilty at Birmingham Crown Court yesterday and was jailed for eight years and nine months. He was further disqualified from driving for seven years after his release. Azaan Khan was riding his bike in South Yardley, Birmingham , when Shazad Alam, 34, ploughed his BMW into him Alam, of Lowesmoor Road, Birmingham, pleaded guilty at Birmingham Crown Court yesterday and was jailed for eight years and nine months. Emergency services attempted to save Azaan's life performing a blood transfusion but he died at the scene on the evening of June 8 last year. It was concluded by Judge Kristina Montgomery that the slow-moving traffic 'irritated' Alam prior to the fatal crash. Azaan's grieving mother Zoe Homer, who was 36 weeks pregnant when he was killed, told the court her son was her 'best friend' and 'better half'. She described him as 'beautiful, clever and incredibly funny'. She recalled running to the scene after the crash, while Azaan's father Jakir Khan described being at the site and holding his son's body. The judge said that Alam made a 'deliberate decision to ignore the rules of the road' and 'demonstrated a disregard for the risk of danger to others'. Jaguar Land Rover worker Alam said in a letter that 'no amount of words can express how sorry I am for the loss I caused to Azaan's family'. The letter continued: 'I want to apologise to them profusely. The tragic mistake I made on the 8th of June last year will live with me forever and Azaan will remain in the my prayers and the prayers of my family.' The family of Azaan released a tribute to their son following the verdict. It read: 'It's been over a year since our boy was taken from us, yet we still can't accept the reality that he's gone. 'Azaan was our light, our comfort when life becomes too heavy, our warmth when the world felt cold. Azaan's grieving mother Zoe Homer, who was 36 weeks pregnant when he was killed, told the court her son was her 'best friend' and 'better half' Floral tributes left at the scene where Azaan died in June last year 'He had a great sense of humour and a charm like no other. His smile and charisma would fill any room he was in. He left an imprint on anyone who was luckily enough to meet him. 'We can only hope that Azaan's name, his story, will do something and will make people realise that we cannot let this be normal. 'That no parent should endure this kind of heartbreak and pain.' Det Sgt Paul Hughes, from the SCIU, said: 'This tragic incident shows the real consequences of getting behind the wheel of a car and driving in a clearly aggressive manner. 'This type of driving is not acceptable on any of our roads. I need all drivers to look at this and other cases and realise the consequences of those split-second decisions they make. 'Our thoughts are with Azaan's loved ones.' Mining magnate Gina Rinehart has spoken at a series of Bush Summits where the billionaire businesswoman outlined five key priorities for Australia. Below is a transcript of Mrs Rinehart's first speech in the series, delivered in Townsville, Queensland, earlier this year. In the address, Mrs Rinehart proposes how Australia can improve its national defence - with a particular focus on the nation's north, home to some of the country's vital mining and agricultural interests. Hello to all our pastoralists, small businessmen, explorers and miners and other regional Aussies, struggling with time taking government paperwork, and policies that don't consider the people of our outback! It's fantastic to be welcoming you to the opening of the Bush Summit at Townsville. Townsville is where my mother served in World War II, in the navy. The very lovely old buildings would have been here when my mother was walking the Townsville streets. Although neither my mother or I were Queenslanders, we both grew up in the north, apart from when we were in boarding school. We both knew station life - I don't need to tell you how hard it is at times. My mother and I loved the hard working, good natured, honourable people of the outback. The Bush Summit, like defence, has become increasingly important as I hope it is one that enables those in the outback to be heard, rather than taken for granted and overlooked. No matter how hard we work, no matter how much we contribute, and that we have developed primary industries that shine on the global stage. Billionaire businesswoman outlines five key priorities she said Australia must address during her Bush Summit series Our agricultural produce is amongst the best in the world - aren't we fortunate to be able to enjoy - and our mining companies are world leaders. Again, lucky us, as that is the engine room of Australia and massively contributes more than all other industries combined, to give us the high living standards we currently have. Thank you to all members of our primary industries. And to the many small and medium businesses they support. Our standards of living are not an accident. They are the result of investment and our incredible people in our primary and related industries. Mining provides not only jobs that pay much more on average than the national average of salaries and wages, but massive export earnings, the largest of any industry, and taxation revenue too. Yes, without the billions in taxation revenue mining provides, providing for 65,000 police and 210,000 nurses each year, Australia would simply not be the same. Too often mining is just thought of in economic terms, but mining and the businesses mining support, helps to provide for our incredible veterans, people in trouble and needing emergency services, our hospitals and healthcare, our pensioners, even payments for uni students. And - overlooked in this housing crisis - mining provides the materials required for houses, for instance copper for electricity and pipes for plumbing. If minerals are in short supply, the price goes up. It is upon these primary industries that all other activity is built. We cannot have manufacturing without mining and agriculture. We cannot have healthcare without mining, including oil and gas. And we cannot have defence, which is meant to be the government's prime responsibility to its citizens, without the revenue-creating industries and the many companies they support that contribute tax revenue. It seems it is too easy for some to forget that every aspect of our lives is touched by either the mining or the agricultural industry. As you'd know, everything either has to be grown or mined, be it the food on our tables, the energy used to transport, refrigerate and cook it, or the utensils used to eat it, and much more. These Bush Summits are a refreshing opportunity to hear from those in the bush, and I hope with the help of the Bush Summit media, that our governments listen. This is our time to let our politicians know we don't want to go down as an industry or country, we want to go up. We want to see policies that don't frighten away investment, instead lead to increased investment, increased living standards, and more in your pocket after tax, to spend as you wish. We want to hear from pollies that they will be the leaders that deliver the 'up'. We've sure had enough of the 'down'. The down makes many parents worry for the future of their children and grandchildren. And many in agriculture worry if the agricultural industry can even survive. 'Down' will continue if we don't cut government approvals and tape, that add costs and delays. But it's not just businesses that are hurt. Given these expensive government burdens, there's less money available for wages and staff benefits, less money available for employing more staff, less money available for training or retraining, less money for donating to charities or for research. And it worsens if expansions or new projects are delayed or lost thanks to government tape and slow approvals, as all of the above consequences get even worse. Let's stop the view that government burdens don't matter, they only affect businesses - they don't, they add costs to all, and many people suffer. The Minerals Council of Australia has recently estimated that we are missing out on some $68 billion of investment because our major mining projects are 'increasingly put in the too-hard basket because of the challenging investment environment in Australia'. The MCA found that only five per cent of projects at the feasibility stage will move to a favourable financial decision each year, and that only 20 per cent of projects that debut on Australia's major projects list are actually progressed to completion, while 80 per cent are abandoned altogether. Not the pipeline of projects list our media or pollies talk about, when 80 percent are abandoned! Without lessening government tape and abandoning negative policies, this situation will only get worse. And we all know of the rising cost of living. I especially feel during these rising costs for all those trapped in poverty on pensions of one type or another, our 2.5 million pensioners, veterans, uni students and disabled, not permitted to work without onerous paperwork, and then only permitted a few hours per week. Each of these people should be permitted to work as long as they'd like, so they are not trapped, unable to cope with the rising costs crisis. Too many in our country are, with these government restrictions, wrongly facing 'heat or eat'. This is unacceptable; our politicians should act immediately. And we have a worker shortage crisis, scarcely helped by expansive immigration, while making it difficult for our own Aussies to work if they chose. Let's not forget, the approximately one million migrants this government has brought in, resulted in only approx. 40,000 added to the workforce. Yet, causing many disadvantages, the nearly one million people adding to our housing crisis, increasing the cost of rentals, straining police with more crime, and increased delays into hospitals - people even being turned away from emergency, as our doctors, nurses, medical facilities simply can't cope. And longer waiting times for medical attention. If only our governments would truly consider the farmers, pastoralists and many struggling, instead of nice sounding words, even saying they like visiting up here and meeting country people. We don't want empty words, we want to know taxes that were to be dropped when GST came in, payroll, licence fees and stamp tax will be dropped. Wouldn't that help the cost of living. We want to hear that the Federal government will drop its excise tax on fuel, not just lowering costs for our cars and other vehicles, but lowering the cost of all transported goods, and all goods that require fuel for their processing or manufacture! Removing excise duty on fuel would actually help the cost of housing crisis, rather than the government building housing, when the record of government building infrastructure yells, big mistake - too inefficient and expensive! We are unfortunately on the 'down' path. Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that we have now seen five consecutive quarters of negative economic growth per person. Let's instead lift our country 'up'. Please use your time and voices, at every opportunity, for Australia to return to this 'up' path. My voice will outline five major priorities for our governments as the Bush Summit travels from Townsville to Port Hedland. Starting here in Townsville. The first priority is perhaps the most important, our defence, because if we don't have our country, what future do we have. This should be the prime duty of our governments - boy have they all let us down. In my view we should call for: A vast increase in the few smart sea mines we have ordered . If we don't keep our sea lanes and ports open, how are we to continue to trade and receive revenue, how are we to get our fuel, how are we to get defence supplies and equipment from our allies, how can AUKUS even function? How can we rely on our allies? To urgently push the go button for war drones, many, many of them . Set up some of the best defences currently available across at least our major ports and major airports in the north, north west and northeast: the Israeli 'Iron' dome with its four layers of defence missiles. Preferably on islands in those areas too. Move the $4.5 billion ship maintenance facility plans, to somewhere in our north , so that our few navy vessels don't have to waste weeks to travel to and fro for maintenance. We have too little a navy for such down time. Move the defence department to our north , to better focus on our defence, and given the decline in our military personnel especially since the appalling public inquiry decision. Make military training compulsory for all biological men in the defence department under say 53, with voluntary training for biological women. Immediately institute ANDEV (Australians for Northern Development and Economic Vision) policies in our north to welcome a refinery, and to build defence equipment and supplies and other defence requirements. Wouldn't that provide a much-needed boost to this region if industries needed for our defence, could with greatly reduced government tape and tax, spring to life around the Townsville region. Israel's Iron Dome in action. Mrs Rinehart suggests a similar system for Australia's north I understand that building a defence industry is one of the things uppermost in this region's minds. Well, you don't need to struggle with government tape and delays to achieve this very worthwhile objective, but you do need to let the governments know that special economic zones, at least in your area, should proceed, just as they have successfully in more than 8,000 places around the world. There used to be tax rebates for people working in the north, all those above the 26th parallel deserve this. I suggest you chase this to be reinstituted promptly. I'll state the other priorities as I see them, as the Bush Summit travels to each destination. And please don't forget to join us at this year's National Agriculture and National Mining and Related Industries Days, this year to be held at Penfolds and Santos, with more information on the screen. These are important national days, they are your days, November 21 and 22 each year, please make sure they're in your calendar. Hope to see you there. Thank you. November 22, 2024: Arabian culture is much different than Western when it comes to interpreting events. For example, in the aftermath of the six-day war in 1967, many Arab believed that it was not the tiny state of Israel that defeated them, but a vast American force that suddenly appeared and vanquished the Arabs, and then disappeared. It was about that time that the world learned what Israelis have known for a long time; Arabs and their governments tend to favor self-destructive policies. Western nations have generally ignored this madness or excused each instance as a momentary lapse in good judgment. But this bad behavior has spawned Islamic terrorism and sustains it. Many Arabs believe what al Qaeda preaches, that the world should be ruled by an Islamic religious dictatorship, and that this must be achieved by any means necessary. This sort of thinking has been popular with Islamic conservatives since Islam first appeared in the sixth century. Since then, it has periodically flared up into major outbreaks of religious inspired violence. But thats not the only problem. Arabs, in particular, sustain these outbursts with their fondness for paranoid fantasies and an exaggerated sense of persecution and entitlement. For example, most Arabs believe that the September 11, 2001, attacks were not carried out by Arabs, but were a CIA scam, to provide an excuse for the West to make war on Islam. Thats just the tip of the iceberg. U.S. troops in Iraq were amazed at the number of fantastical beliefs that were accepted as reality there. Then there is the corruption and intense hatred. Its a very volatile and unpredictable part of the world, and always has been. For centuries, the West was shielded from this problem because the Ottoman Turks ruled most of the Arabs. Western diplomats often heard the Turks complain about their Arab subjects. A favorite quip among the Turks was, one should not involve oneself with the affairs of the Arabs. Then, when World War I, and the Ottoman Empire, ended in 1918, Western nations found themselves temporarily in charge of these former Turkish Arab provinces. Before World War II broke out in 1939, most of these Arab provinces were turned into separate states. These new countries were not stable. After World War II began, for example, Iraq attempted to ally itself with Nazi Germany. Arabs admired the Nazi attitudes towards Jews. Britain could not afford to have a Nazi ally sitting on their major source of oil and gathered together a few divisions and invaded. Three weeks later, Iraq was conquered, and a more agreeable group of Iraqis were found to run the place for the rest of the war. After World War II, there were problems in several Arab states, most of them involving reformers who turned out to be dictators, once they took over from the ruling traditionalists who were less efficient dictators, for the most part. Then there was Israel, where Arabs had been demonstrating the religious intolerance, they have long been infamous for. Around the same time, Saudi Arabia was explaining to Western oil workers why the long list of lifestyle rules for foreigners, as in no non-Moslem houses of worship, restrictions on the dress and activities of women was necessary, and mandatory on pain of death. But when the UN approved the establishment of Israel, the Arab world announced that they will not tolerate this. Arab states told Arabs living in the just-vacated British possession of Palestine to flee, temporarily, while the combined armies of all Arab states in the region attacked and wiped out the greatly outnumbered Jews. To the worlds amazement, the Arabs are defeated. Even though Arab military skill had been held in low esteem for centuries and Jews were not considered much better, this defeat came as a shock. The newly created state of Israel studied all this and concluded that the Arabs were done in by corruption and self-delusion. These two problems continued to cripple Arab military effectiveness. There were a few exceptions. The Jordanians institutionalized the training they had received from the British, although that only made them a more difficult enemy for the Israelis to defeat in 1967. Since then, Jordan has maintained good relations with Israel. Egypt reformed its military in the early 1970s, but those reforms were gone by the late 1970s, replaced by the usual corruption and incompetence. The Arabs have fought five major wars with Israel, losing all of them badly, even though Israel was always outnumbered and outgunned. Unlike Jordan, all the other Arab states continue to insist that Israel must be destroyed. Palestinians continue to believe the promises of these Arab states that this will soon be accomplished. In the meantime, the descendants of the Arabs who fled Israel in 1948 are still living in refugee camps, because the Arab states those camps are in will not accept the Palestinians as refugees and give them citizenship. In the West, the Palestinians were accepted as refugees and allowed to settle and become citizens. Palestinians are unimpressed at how Europe handled a similar situation after World War II, when many borders and millions of people were moved. After the Arab attack on the newly declared Israeli state in 1948 failed, Arab nations refused to take in any of the 700,000 Palestinians who fled the fighting. Had those Palestinians stayed, they would have outnumbered the 600,000 Israelis and the history of Israel would have been quite different. But Israel didnt want them either and encouraged them to move out. It's interesting to note that nearly all of the 25 million refugees produced by the aftermath of World War II in the late 1940s were resettled. This included 600,000 thousand Jews who were evicted from Arab nations after Israel was established. It gets much worse. As hundreds of billions in oil revenue poured into the Persian Gulf states, the Arab nations there did not invest in their economies, instead they created government jobs for most of the males and imported foreigners to run the economy. East Asian nations, without oil, invested what they had in education and their economy. Sixty years later, the Arabs still have their consumer society, run by foreigners, while the East Asian states have achieved economic independence, with vibrant, self-sustaining economies. Some Arabs have noticed this, but the majority have not. The madness continued, especially when it came to the lack of tolerance for other religious or political ideas. For example, in Iraq, a Sunni minority had long ruled a Shia Moslem majority, often using a lot of brutality to keep the Sunnis in power. A Sunni dictator, Saddam Hussein, came to power in the late 1960s, and in 1980 ignored thousands of years of history where the more powerful Iranians kicked the Arabs around at will most of the time and invaded Iran. There was a revolution going on in Iran at that time, and Saddam believed he could seize some oil fields just across the border, and then negotiate a peace deal with the distracted Iranians. Thats not how the Iranians operate. They never have. A bloody war ensued. Total casualties were several million dead and wounded. In 1988 both sides agreed to a ceasefire. The armies were basically sitting on their pre-war borders at that point. Iraq gained nothing, except a lot of debts owed to other Arab oil states. The insanity continued in 1990, when Saddam decided that he could invade Kuwait, forcibly cancel the Iranian war debt the Kuwaitis unwisely demanded he pay, and add their oil to Iraqs already enormous reserves. Saddam overlooked the fact that the West and most Arabs considered him an unreliable maniac and would not tolerate the seizure of Kuwait. Within six months, a coalition of Western and Arab troops drove Saddams forces out of Kuwait and demanded reparations for all the damage Iraq did to Kuwait. The UN put Iraq under an embargo until the debt was paid, and weapons inspectors were satisfied that Iraq has no more chemical, biological or nuclear weapons. Note that the Arab states joined this coalition only after the United States promised not to invade Iraq and remove the Sunni Arab minority from power. This was part of the long struggle between Iranians and Arabs. Iraq had a Shia Moslem majority as did Iran and the Sunni Arab oil states did not want a more pro-Iran Shia government running Iraq. Saddam, terrified that Iran would now invade Iraq and kill him now that Iraq was so weak, refused to admit that he had already eliminated his weapons of mass destruction. He did keep some of the material until 2022, This fact was kept very secret because, as Saddam later admitted, he wanted Iran to think he still had these weapons. Saddam believed that the UN would eventually get tired of the embargo and inspections and go away. Iran, however, would always be there. When the U.S. invaded in 2003, Saddams forces folded about as quickly as they had in 1991. But Saddam had a Plan B. He told his Sunni Arab followers to begin a terror campaign against the foreign troops and against Shia Arabs. Saddam reasoned that this would cause the Shia Arabs in Iraq to attack Iraqi Sunni Arabs, and that this would bring in neighboring Sunni Arab nations to aid the Iraqi Sunni Arabs in taking power again. Saddam even considered it possible that he would end up as the dictator of Iraq again. This was insane, but it made perfect sense to many Iraqi Sunni Arabs. None of the neighboring Arab states were going to aid the Iraqi Sunni Arab terrorists. This Sunni Arab terror campaign went on for nearly five years, until most Iraqi Sunni Arabs gave up, and turned against the terrorists. But most Arabs admit that their main reason for hating the West is the existence of Israel. The Palestinians are united by their desire to destroy Israel and drive all Jews from the Middle East, but they are also divided by many things, including religion. Although most are Moslem, they are at odds over what kind of Islam should be practiced. Many, but not most, Palestinians in Gaza favor Islamic conservatism, making religion the center of people's lives and forcing all Palestinians to comply with Islamic law. But in the West Bank, the trend was definitely in favor of education and moving away from destructive practices. This is actually still a contentious issue in the West Bank, where the ruling Fatah party has long been known for corruption more than any kind of reform. Some Arab leaders go even further. In 2007 the king of Saudi Arabia told the assembled rulers of the Arab League that the biggest problem in the Arab world was poor leadership. This was a bold statement, but not unusual for the senior people in the Saudi government. These princes have also been supporting the Arab Reform Movement, which is based on the idea that most of the Arab world's problems are internal, not the result of outside interference. Actually, most educated Arabs will readily admit that their leaders have been less than stellar, and largely responsible for the corruption and bad decisions that have put the Arab world so far behind the West, and every other region, except Africa, when it comes to economic growth. But knowing and admitting to the problem does not solve it. The United States found that out after Saddam Hussein's Baath Party dictatorship was overthrown. Iraqis eagerly embraced democracy, only to find that the people they elected were not a big improvement over Saddam. Some of Iraq's new leaders backed terrorists. This was especially true of Iran-backed Shia factions, which unleashed death squads that killed thousands of Sunni Arabs. Some of the Sunni Arab leaders supported terrorists who targeted Shias. And then there was the corruption, with billions of dollars of government money missing. This incompetence is also, as the Saudi king likes to point out, the cause of the Islamic terrorism that has found a home in the Islamic world. Indeed, these terrorists only began attacking non-Moslems in the 1990s when they realized Islamic terrorists were getting shut down in Arab countries. In Egypt, Syria and Algeria, Islamic radical attempts to toss out corrupt governments all failed. While Arab leadership is incompetent, they have certainly mastered the art of running a police state. Attacking non-Moslems, outside of the Moslem world, brought into play the Western media. This was important, because the Western media now had 24 hour, world-wide outlets. All the people that mattered could now see what the Islamic terrorists did. Before, terror attacks inside Arab countries were largely ignored by the rest of the world. But now, the instant publicity was critical, because there were millions of Arabs living in the West. These people were making more money than they were back home. Fed up with the corrupt and incompetent leadership back home, they moved. This Arab Diaspora provided a refuge for Islamic militants. Another benefit was the appearance of Arab language satellite news services in the 1990s. Terrorist movements thrived on publicity, and the more news channels there were out there, the more attention terrorist attacks would get. All that terrorism was a sign that some Arabs are very unhappy. For decades, the powers-that-be refused to acknowledge why young Arabs were angry. Thanks to all those suicide bombs and breathless news reports, the family secret was out there for the entire world to see. No, not al Qaeda the West is making war on Islam, canard, but an earlier al Qaeda call to overthrow the corrupt leaders of the Arab countries. Al Qaeda has to come up with the war on Islam angle to justify September 11, 2001, and earlier attacks. But the root cause is bad leadership at home. The Palestinians have used terrorism against each other, as well as the Israelis, and it has not worked. The Arab states that donate so much money to the Palestinians have noted that, as well as the fact that Palestinians supported Saddam Hussein's invasion of Kuwait in 1990, and the threat to keep going. Palestinians continue to support al Qaeda, which is still at war with the Arab nations. Palestinians depend on Arab oil money to live on. So when the king of Saudi Arabia tells the assembled Arab leadership that they are the problem, you can take that as a sign of progress. Arab leaders are victims of their own success. Their rule is based on corruption and police state tactics. Think about East Europe before 1989. Big difference is that, although the populations of East Europe then, and the Arab world now, were both fed up with their leaders and governments, the Arabs were not willing to make as painless a switch as the East Europeans did in the 1990s. That's because the East Europeans had two choices: communism or democracy. The Arabs have three, despotism, democracy or Islamic dictatorship. In Iraq and Gaza we see how the Islamic radicals react to democracy. They call it un-Islamic and kill those who disagree with them. The Arabs have to deal with this, and in Iraq they are. In Gaza they aren't. But the violence in Iraq has revealed another Arab problem. Even if you remove religion from the equation, not all Arabs are keen on democracy. In Iraq, the Sunni Arab minority believe it was their right and responsibility to run the country. This is a common pattern in Arab countries. One minority believes they are rulers by right, and that democracy is an abomination and inconvenient for the ruling minority. This is the pattern in nearly every Arab country. But there is hope. One of the least known members of the Arab League, Mauritania held elections and now has the only other, besides Iraq, freely elected Arab government. The divisions in Mauritania, with a population of less than four million, are between their Arabs and black Africans from the south. Mauritania exists on the border between Arabs and Blacks. Thirty percent of Mauritanians are Arabs while forty percent are Moslem descendants of black slaves and thirty percent are non-Moslem blacks. Slavery was formally abolished in 1981. Slavery still exists in Mauritania, but so does democracy. Like South Africa, and a lot of other places where democracy won't work, it does. Not democracy like in the United States, or Europe, or anywhere else. Every democracy is different, just like every culture is different. Democracy is a messy, inefficient form of government, but compared to all the others, it tends to be preferred by most people. Arabs, even Arab leaders, know they need democracy. They have tried everything else, and nothing else works. But democracy is strong medicine for Arabs, and many would rather just talk about it, and go no further. And that is the problem in the Arab world, especially among the Palestinians. Islamic terrorism is the result. The Palestinians have not gotten the message. Apparently, some Palestinians realize this, but they won't admit it. The Palestinians are still obsessed with having it their way, especially if Western and Arab donors continue to subsidize the dream of destroying Israel. Meanwhile, Israel refuses to be destroyed, and that sets the stage for some awesome violence if the fantasies continue to flourish. All's Well That Ends Well (Shakespeare's Globe, London) Verdict: Delightful moral maze Rating: All's Well is the sort of Shakespeare that's apt to cause moral panic among today's puritans. Imagine their horror... they're presented with an assertive young woman, Helen, who's rejected by surly toff Bertram when she reveals her love for him. But then she goes and blows our sympathy by tricking him into sleeping with her... without his consent. And this, in the context of an army bullying subplot in which another young man - presented, to begin with, as Bertram's lover - is subjected to a mock execution as punishment for being boastful and cowardly. The Globe's website shivers with dismay. It warns of 'sexual assault, physical violence, classism, misogyny and homophobia'. Yet they neglect to mention the play is great fun, features fine writing and rueful humour: 'If a hind would be mated by a lion, it must die for love.' Director Chelsea Walker is clearly a name to watch. She has twigged that there's no need to take sides in this twisting dramatic jest. It's a tale not well measured by modern standards of acceptability. 'All's Well is the sort of Shakespeare that's apt to cause moral panic among today's puritans', writes Patrick Marmion 'Director Chelsea Walker is clearly a name to watch. She has twigged that there's no need to take sides in this twisting dramatic jest', writes Patrick Marmion Her production may start off looking like a Fellini film, with everyone in black suits and sunglasses, while a diva in a gold dress on a balcony intones a staccato chant. But Walker ensures it's never taken too seriously and remains a playful web of deceit and counter-deceit running from the top to bottom of Jacobean society. Bug-eyed comic actor Richard Katz as the King of France is gravely ill at the start with a fistula (yuck, trust me). When he is cured by Ruby Bentall's precocious young Helen - the daughter of a famous physician - he rewards her by demanding that Bertram become her husband. But wait! Rather than living happily ever after, Bertram (Kit Young) slopes off to war to avoid her... prompting her retaliation (sexual entrapment, involving a nun's habit and a lick of lipstick). At first it's suggested that Bertram rejects Helen because he's gay. But this turns out to be an orientation of convenience, as he later seduces a young nymph. And although William Robinson as his servant and erstwhile boyfriend Paroles could do with dialling down his own strenuous turn, he is in the end a victim of poetic justice. Helped by the light-touch gravitas of Siobhan Redmond as Bertram's mother, Shakespeare's comedy is therefore revealed as a play of ingenious strategising that toys with moral dilemmas and is meant to delight, not disturb. Besides, in this brisk, tongue-in-cheek, candlelit rendition, all's well... and ends very well. People who have no love or understanding of folk and fairy tales shouldn't be allowed anywhere near them. 'In this brisk, tongue-in-cheek, candlelit rendition, all's well... and ends very well', concludes Patrick Marmion The Red Shoes (Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon) Verdict: Strictly slipshod Rating: Regrettably, the Royal Shakespeare Company have decided to let Irish writer Nancy Harris loose on a dismal 'new version' of Hans Christian Andersen's Red Shoes, a sinister tale of redemption about a spoilt little orphan, Karen, cursed by a pair of longed-for ballet shoes. Among the problems with Harris's script is a weakness for doggerel verse. Excruciating rhymes include one about what Karen's feet 'carry', and what they 'parry'. But the crowning gaffe is when the vain and fatuous Prince tells Karen he has 'fabulous balls' (he means the dancing kind). Nor is there a worthy satirical target beyond Karen's foster parents (James Doherty as a leery Mancunian and Dianne Pilkington as a trashy Scouser), and their psychopathic son (Joseph Edwards), who eventually chops Karen's feet off. Mostly, though, Karen is tormented by a child-catcher-like shoemaker (Sebastien Torkia) who embroiders Harris's writing with histrionics of his own. Nikki Cheung dances vigorously as Karen though she's confined to a hodge-podge of interpretive moves. At least Marc Teitler's music adds sophistication. The costumes are a mash-up of gothic and gender-fluid. But bizarrely, Kimberley Rampersad's direction robs Karen's footwear of its special status by allowing other characters to wear red shoes, too. Most galling of all is Harris's pretence that her enlightened new version rejects moralistic happy endings while supplying one of her own, demanding that we all 'dance our own dance'. I'll sit this one out, thanks. [title of show] (Southwark Playhouse, London) Verdict: Pleasantly innocuous Rating: Some will call it 'meta-theatre', others will say it's 'navel gazing'. Others still will claim it's 'up itself'. Whatever anyone else might prefer to call it, this is another pleasantly innocuous example, about a couple of young men cobbling together a musical for a New York festival and it won a coveted Tony Award nomination on Broadway in 2008. To be honest, it left me craving something a little less... er, self-regarding. But, in its favour, it's an undeniably bright and genial musical by numbers (aren't they all, I hear you cry!). In it, the two slightly camp young men have just three weeks to write a show...about them writing a show in just three weeks. There is wry humour about life in New York reminiscent of TV's Seinfeld, accompanied by Jeff Bowen's jaunty songs which have an ad lib verve. The boys sing about the agonies of inventing a plot and filling in an application form (there they get the title of the piece), while two women in their cast get to caterwaul about their rivalries. Larky and upbeat as this all is, the characters are a little indistinct and unchallenged. Songwriter Jeff (Thomas Oxley) is a mildly camp, dark-haired wannabe. Book writer Hunter Bell (Cahir O'Neill, covering for Jacob Fowler) is a mildly camp, blond wannabe. They are joined by Abbie Budden as a sweet, yet brassily voiced chorus girl. And deadpan Mary Moore as an actor trying to give up theatre. As they ponder their creative hopes and insecurities, Tom Chippendale rattles out the tunes on a keyboard, occasionally chipping in with tips. And while it's supremely good natured on a budget set, costumes of washed-out cottons are draining on the eye. Still it's an impressive production, at a pioneering venue which incubated Benjamin Button before its transfer to the West End and is soon to host the impressive true-crime, semi-musical Kenrex, which opened recently in Sheffield. [title of show] runs at Southwark Playhouse until November 30. A hammer-wielding mother was arrested in Florida over allegations she drowned her 14-year-old diabetic daughter in the bathtub after refusing to give her insulin. Kelsey Glover, 35, was arrested in Osceola County after police wrestled a hammer from her hands and found her daughter, Giselle, unresponsive in the bathroom. Glover had allegedly held her daughter's head underwater in the bathtub, according to another of her children and a roommate, while the pair tried to stop her. The unhinged mom then began attacking the child and roommate, chasing them around the house with a hammer before they were able to call 911, police say. Giselle was taken to hospital once police arrived, but did not survive. Neighbors told WSVN that, although they didn't know the family, they had seen law enforcement at the home before. Glover had been previously accused of battery against the children's father, Sheriff Marcos Lopez described her as uncooperative and were not aware of what began the tragic events. The sheriff added that Glover did not appear to react to the news of her daughter's death. Giselle Glover was found in the bathtub of the family's home in Ocala, Florida Kelsey Glover, 35, was arrested in Point Sienna after police wrestled a hammer from her hands and found her 14-year-old daughter, Giselle, unresponsive in the bathroom In a news conference, Sheriff Lopez said they were still looking to confirm her daughter's cause of death. 'What happened to her is unimaginable, and we are determined to get justice for Giselle,' said Sheriff Lopez, further adding that the investigation remains on going. A video later surfaced of Glover swearing at two journalists while she was being escorted to a police car. The first journalist could be heard asking Glover how she was feeling and if she was innocent, Glover turned her head to the journalist and said, 'f*** you.' The same journalist followed Glover and the two officers out of the building and asked what happened that morning causing Glover to turn around and make a face at her. Glover was then asked by another reporter if she had anything to say about what she was being accused of to which Glover could be heard responding, 'lying a** n*****', and was put into the police car. Glover is facing charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and battery. Sheriff Lopez said that once the cause of death is determined, more charges could be added. A man has been charged over an alleged kidnapping that police claim saw the victim lured to a 'dial-a-dealer' headquarters in western Sydney. Strike Force detectives arrested the 23-year-old man at an apartment in Granville, in Sydney's west, at around 7.30am on Thursday. In video of the arrest, the man is seen being walked out the unit block by detectives while barefoot and wearing only his underwear. NSW Police have alleged the accused lured a 22-year-old man to a dial-a-dealer premises in the same suburb late on January 19. The victim was allegedly attacked by six men before he was knocked out and dumped nearby while still unconscious. The 23-year-old was taken to Granville Police station on Thursday and charged with kidnapping and drug supply offences. He was refused bail and will face Parramatta Local Court today. Police will also allege in court the man supplied drugs at Parklea Correctional Centre, a all-male jail with capacity for 1,350 inmates in Sydney's northwest. In video of the arrest, the man is seen being walked out the unit block by Strike Force detectives while barefoot and wearing only his underwear (pictured) Police allege a 22-year-old man was lured to a dial-a-dealer premises in Granville and assaulted by six men in January (pictured Strike Force detectives carrying out the arrest on Friday) The arrest this week comes after two other men were arrested and charged in May over their alleged involvement in the kidnapping. Their cases remain before the courts. NSW Police set up Strike Force Wessex in March 2023 to investigate alleged criminal groups involved in supplying drugs through a dial-a-dealer network. As part of their investigations, police previously arrested three men in Sydney's west for allegedly operating a drug ring worth $5million. A 22-year-old man was arrested and charged with 13 offences including five counts of supplying drugs. Two other men aged 24 and 26 were also arrested and charged with seven offences. Ministers have finally admitted that the Government does not have a definition of 'working people' despite repeatedly insisting they would be protected from tax hikes. A month after being asked by the Tories how it decides who qualifies as a working person and whether or not pensioners are included in the category, the Cabinet Office has failed to offer a proper explanation. Instead a junior minister simply replied that it is up to each Whitehall department to assess policies against Government priorities. Last night Shadow Business Secretary Andrew Griffith told the Mail: 'Time and time again at the election, Labour promised not to raise taxes on working people. Now it turns out they can't or won't even define what a working person is. 'As with her CV, Rachel Reeves continually tries to pull the wool over the public's eyes. Britain deserves a Chancellor who attends to the detail and does their homework properly before making decisions that betray working people and damage jobs and growth.' Tory MP John Glen had originally tabled a Parliamentary written question on the definition on October 14th after Labour's election manifesto promised that the party 'will not increase taxes on working people'. He asked 'what methodology the Government uses to assess whether someone is a working person for the purposes of policy development; and whether pensioners are included in that demographic'. But he only received a reply a month later on November 15th, weeks after the Budget which promised it was 'protecting working people' despite a 40billion tax raid. Shadow Business Secretary Andrew Griffith told the Mail Labour 'can't or won't define what a working person is' 'As with her CV, Rachel Reeves continually tries to pull the wool over the public's eyes,' says Andrew Griffith Tory MP John Glen (pictured) originally tabled a Parliamentary written question on the definition on October 14th after Labour's election manifesto Cabinet Office minister Georgia Gould replied: 'Each government department is responsible for assessing potential policies to ensure they deliver the Government's objectives.' In the intervening weeks, ministers had offered a wide variety of definitions of the crucial term amid suspicion it would leave the wealthy at risk of tax rises. Health Secretary Wes Streeting said those 'who are on lower or middle income' are who he thinks of as working people, but later clarified that he included himself as 'last time I checked I was working very hard'. Treasury minister James Murray had simply said 'working people are people who go out to work for their income' but refused to say if that would include landlords. Culture minister Chris Bryant said the phrase was shorthand for 'the people who were particularly disadvantaged in the cost of living crisis' while Deputy PM Angela Rayner was even more blunt, telling the Commons: 'The definition of 'working people' is the people who the Tory party have failed for the past 14 years.' Sir Keir Starmer said a working person was someone who 'goes out and earns their living, usually paid in a sort of monthly cheque' and asked if that would include people who get income from assets such as shares or property replied 'they wouldn't come within my definition'. He later claimed that 'the working people of this country know exactly who they are' and described them as 'the golden thread that runs through our agenda'. Chancellor Rachel Reeves said that the PM did count as a working person as he 'gets his income from going out to work and working for our country' and added: 'People who go out and make their money through work are, by definition, working people.' Police forces have been blasted for investigating 'hate crimes' that include calling someone a Rottweiler or being called a 'Leonard' over a row about a hedge. NCHIs are meant to be recorded for incidents 'clearly motivated by intentional hostility' and where there is a genuine risk of significant escalation, government guidance says. But the police have been accused of wasting 'valuable time' on investigating so-called hate crimes such as an 'aggressively-administered haircut' instead of 'real crime'. One former Met detective said it the situation is 'ridiculous', adding: 'No wonder there is a crimewave in this country.' Cases of reported hate crime include a Lithuanian customer who was unhappy with their haircut claimed it was done deliberately because he spoke Russian and the barber was allegedly 'aggressive and rough' as a result. In one case, a German woman was likened to a Rottweiler in a parking dispute. In another police were told someone had been homophobic because they referred to someone as a 'Leonard' in a row over a hedge. Officers have also recorded incidents against children, such as one who called a fellow primary school pupil a 'retard', and against two schoolgirls who said another student smelled 'like fish'. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: 'This nonsense undermines confidence in policing' Allison Pearson (pictured) is accused of stirring up racial hatred in a post on social media Police forces have been blasted for investigating 'hate crimes' that include calling someone a Rottweiler or being called a 'Leonard' over a row about a hedge. Stock image In 2021, a man was investigated for racial hatred because he whistled the Bob the Builder tune at his neighbour. Wiltshire police also investigated an incident where a person said others were mocking the length of their hair. According to The Sun, Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: 'This nonsense undermines confidence in policing.' Around 13,000 NCHIs were recorded in the year to June, and may be diverting badly-needed resources from other crimes as the Met faces axing 2,000 officers. Ex-detective Peter Bleksley told the newspaper: 'The guidelines suggest you should only intervene in cases like this where there is fear of escalation who ever had a fear of escalation after a bad haircut?!' The report was made online and later withdrawn, police said. An NCHI can remain on file for six years and occasionally be disclosed to a prospective employer. Reform MP Lee Anderson added: 'Our police have lost control of our streets, and now their bosses have lost control of their minds.' A nine-year-old child is among the youngsters being probed by police over hate incidents, it is understood (Stock photo) Telegraph columnist Allison Pearson, pictured in New York in September 2011, has criticised Essex Police officers to visiting her home on Remembrance Sunday over a social media post Boris Johnson branded the investigation into Ms Pearson 'appalling' and an attack on free speech It comes after a police force investigating a journalist for allegedly inciting racial hatred recorded 1,500 non-crime hate incidents in just two years while failing to answer non-emergency calls 'swiftly enough'. According to The Times, a freedom of information response revealed that Essex Police logged 702 non-crime hate incidents between June 2023 and June 2024 and 834 in the 12 months before that. But a separate police watchdog inspection also found that the force 'doesn't promptly resolve non-emergency calls', which could 'contribute to a loss of confidence in the service'. One of the 'suspects' recorded on the force's hate incident database was a shopkeeper who refused a person entry to his shop because they had a guide dog with them. Another complaint was logged when a civilian said they felt their bank was being difficult with them due to their 'skin colour and height'. It comes as Essex Police faces criticism for investigating Telegraph columnist Allison Pearson over a tweet that was posted, and then quickly deleted, last year. The force has been condemned for its actions by critics including former prime minister Boris Johnson who have questioned whether investigating hundreds of non-crime hate incidents is worthy of officers' time. Essex Police has faced criticism for investigating the Telegraph columnist over a tweet that was posted, and then quickly deleted, last year (file image) The journalist says officers have over-reacted to a year-old post she is said to have written on X, formerly Twitter, before swiftly deleting - this is among her posts this month in response Allison Pearson has used X, formerly Twitter, to defend herself and criticise Essex Police Ms Pearson said the police arrived at her door on Remembrance Sunday and told her they were investigating a 'non-crime hate incident'. However, Essex Police dispute this and said the officers were clear the alleged offence was inciting racial hatred. The Times also revealed last week that UK police forces had recorded more than 13,000 non-crime hate incidents in the past 12 months, including against schoolchildren, vicars and doctors. Former officer Harry Miller claimed 'the system is broken' and stressed that non-crime hate incidents were 'only supposed to be recorded as a form of intelligence in order to prevent future crime'. Another non-crime hate incident recorded between April and June this year in Essex saw a suspect allegedly mimicked a victim speaking Arabic. In a separate incident, an unnamed suspect wrote a tweet on X 'which the victim has found deeply offensive and feels that it is a racist hate crime'. However, officers say Pearson's tweet is being treated as an alleged criminal offence of inciting racial hatred, rather than a non-crime hate incident. Responding to the statistics, an Essex Police spokesman said: 'Our work has seen crime fall in Essex, with 9,300 fewer recorded crimes in the last year and 20,000 fewer than five years ago. 'We also know we have the support of our community, with 77 per cent of people in Essex saying they think we do a good or excellent job. 'If someone reports an incident perceived to be motivated by hate or hostility, it will be recorded in accordance with the national standards and process as set out by the College of Policing. 'With every report of this kind made to us, we must consider future risks of significant harm set against freedom of speech and act upon and record incidents proportionately and appropriately.' Kemi Badenoch (pictured) has said people need to stop 'wasting police time on trivial incidents' after officers visited a journalist's home over a year-old tweet Newly collected data shows the recording of NCHIs is widespread - with critics questioning whether the investigation of non-crime hate incidents is an appropriate use of police resources, especially in cases regarding children. Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary and former policing minister, said: 'These examples are obviously totally absurd. 'Pursuing these sorts of incidents is a total waste of police time - they should be concentrating on criminals. It risks having a chilling effect on free speech, one of the fundamental values of this country.' Journalist Ms Pearson said she was still in her dressing gown when Essex Police officers showed up at her door on Remembrance Sunday. A spokesman for Essex Police said this week: 'As a police force, we investigate matters which are reported to us without fear or favour, no matter who makes a report or to whom the incident concerns.' At the time of Ms Pearson's alleged tweet last year, the journalist was regularly posting about Hamas's October 7 attacks on Israel, as well as pro-Palestine demonstrations happening in London. On Tuesday night, Essex Police said officers had opened an investigation under section 17 of the Public Order Act 1986 relating to material allegedly 'likely or intended to cause racial hatred'. Chilling phone calls made by a father from prison before he killed himself and nine-month-old baby girl Kobi Shepherdson have been played in court. South Australian Deputy Coroner Ian White opened a coronial inquest on Tuesday into the deaths of baby Kobi Anastasia and Henry David Shepherdson, 38, at the Barossa Reservoir's Whispering Wall, northeast of Adelaide, on April 21, 2021. Shepherdson was in prison for threatening to kill Kobi and and the baby's mother, Jenna Hutchins, when he made 149 calls to Hutchins, all of them in breach of an intervention order, the inquest heard on Thursday. Audio from the calls was also played in court. The phone calls were aimed at intimidating Hutchins into dropping domestic violence charges against him, the court was reportedly told. Shepherdson said he could not be the father he wanted to be while facing the charges, and if the case went to trial he would make her look like a liar. He also told Hutchins to keep the conversations a secret, which she agreed to. None of the calls were known to police, prosecutors or the courts. Earlier in the week the inquest heard that Shepherdson had a history of violence, domestic violence, drug and alcohol abuse, and mental health issues. Baby Kobi (pictured) was just nine-months-old when her father Henry David Shepherdson strapped her to his chest and threw himself off a dam wall in 2021 Henry Shepherdson plunged him and his daughter from the Whispering Wall at Barossa Reservoir (pictured) in April, 2021 He met Defence Force member Jenna Hutchins on a dating app in late 2019, and she fell pregnant within a month. After the couple moved in together, Shepherdson began verbally abusing her. It worsened and Shepherdson was arrested in December, 2020 and charged with false imprisonment and threats to kill. He was remanded in custody and an intervention order banned any contact with Hutchins and their daughter Kobi. In January 2021, Hutchins started receiving calls from Shepherdson in prison. 'Mr Shepherdson called and spoke with Ms Hutchins 149 times,' Counsel assisting Martin Kirby said. 'Once Your Honour hears these calls, you will be asked to classify them as showing highly manipulative behaviour by Mr Shepherdson towards her, and ultimately that he was successful in his strategy of illegally contacting her and having her do what he wanted,' Mr Kirby said. In February 2021, Hutchins signed a form to have the charges withdrawn. Kobi's manipulative father had been granted access to the baby hours before they were both killed in a murder-suicide that shocked Australia, the court heard Shepherdson was released from prison and in March, 2021 police found him hiding in Hutchins' bathroom. He was returned to custody and a week later pleaded guilty to two counts of breaching the intervention order. Shepherdson was sentenced to six days in prison. Hutchins told police she wanted the intervention order to remain. But weeks later, she signed another form to vary conditions so there could be contact. On April 21, 2021, Shepherdson appeared in Adelaide Magistrates Court wit his lawyer requesting that the intervention order be varied. The prosecutor conducted checks on police systems and agreed to remove the non-contact conditions. On the same day, Shepherdson arranged to spend time with Kobi. That afternoon, he travelled to the 34metre Whispering Wall, and with Kobi strapped to his chest in a child carrier, climbed over the railing and jumped. 'From the first report by Ms Hutchins in October 2020, both SA police and Department of Correctional Services were aware and had access to records demonstrating Mr Shepherdson's past history, his history of violence, breaching court orders and his poor mental health,' Mr Kirby said. 'I want to emphasise Ms Hutchins was a caring and diligent mother suffering intense mental and sometimes physical abuse from Mr Shepherdson.' The inquest would try to answer many questions, including how Shepherdson was accessing opioids from his GP, Mr Kirby said. Lifeline 13 11 14 BeyondBlue 1300 224 636 1800Respect 1800 737 732 The Wisconsin defense attorney who represented serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer has died at the age of 88. Gerald Boyle passed from natural causes on November 17, while doing something he loved - watching the Green Bay Packers take on the Chicago Bears with his wife, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. He had been in poor health since 2017, when he told the outlet: 'I'm not going to get better. I'm an old man now, that's just the reality of life.' Boyle's daughter, Bridget Boyle, then announced his passing in a Facebook post on Tuesday. She said her father 'always wanted to put the clients first, knowing they were in a poor situation. 'It was instilled upon us that even though they may have committed the most horrific crimes, they also had a soul, and they were human.' Bridget also remembered her father on Facebook as a 'a distinguished attorney, he dedicated his life to the relentless pursuit of justice,' she wrote. 'Over a remarkable career spanning decades, he fearlessly championed countless high-profile cases, earning widespread respect for his sharp legal mind and compassionate heart. 'For those he represented, he was a beacon of hope and unwavering support.' Gerald Boyle passed from natural causes on November 17, while doing something he loved - watching the Green Bay Packers take on the Chicago Bears with his wife The lawyer gained national attention when he represented notorious serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer in the early 1990s Boyle grew up in Chicago, Illinois and served in the US Army for about six years, ultimately becoming a captain before he moved to Milwaukee to attend Marquette Law School. Following his graduation in 1962, Boyle clerked for a state Supreme Court justice. He then went on to work in a private legal office, and joined the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office in 1965. Over his first 18 months as a prosecutor, he did not lose a single case - earning him the title of deputy district attorney, the Journal-Sentinel reports. But after his failed run for the Milwaukee County District Attorney, Boyle decided to enter private practice. His most well-known case came in the early 1990s, when Dahmer was arrested on charges including decapitation, necrophilia and cannibalism. The serial killer ultimately confessed to the murders of 11 victims whose severed heads were found in his Milwaukee apartment, and later admitted to killing another six victims. At one point, he even told Boyle, 'This is my fault. There is a time to be honest,' the attorney recounted in a 1991 PEOPLE article. Boyle also defended former Green Bay Packer Mark Chmura, who was charged in 2000 with sexually assaulting his children's 17-year-old babysitter at an after-prom party, but was later acquitted Boyle tried, unsuccessfully, to launch an insanity defense, gaining national attention for his repour with the jury. 'Keep in mind, he's representing; and in fact defending, a cannibal, a serial killer,' said Andy Regal, then an executive producer for CourtTV. 'And yet, he was able to be so folksy and smart and compassionate in his communications with the jury.' The attorney ultimately lost the case, however, and Dahmer entered the Columbia Correctional Institute in February 1992 to serve his 15 consecutive life terms. But just two years into his sentence, Dahmer was beaten to death by fellow inmate Christopher Scarver. Following his passing, Boyle remembered the serial killer as being 'like Halley's comet. 'A criminal like him comes around every 75 years, and thankfully isn't seen again for another 75,' he told PEOPLE in 1994. Boyle went on to earn a $24.7million verdict for a fired Miller Brewing executive, though the victory was later thrown out on appeal Despite the loss, Boyle continued to have a successful career. He defended former Green Bay Packer Mark Chmura, who was charged in 2000 with sexually assaulting his children's 17-year-old babysitter at an after-prom party, but was later acquitted. Boyle also defended John Maloney, a Green Bay arson detective convicted of killing his wife and setting fire to her body, and represented a fired Miller Brewing executive in a case dubbed the 'Seinfeld case.' The executive was fired in 1993 after a female coworker complained he discussed an episode that made jokes about a female organ. Boyle won a $24.7million verdict for the executive, but it was later thrown out on appeal and the plaintiff sued Boyle, ultimately receiving $625,000 from his insurer. Still, those who fought with Boyle in the courtrooms say he was a persuasive man. 'When he walked into court, he wanted to own the courtroom. That was his style,' former Waukesha County District Attorney Paul Bucher told WTMJ, noting: 'We battled.' Bucher went on to call Boyle an 'excellent story teller.' 'He had the jury in his hands,' the former DA recounted. 'I would try to distract him (knock a book off the table or spill coffee) in order to break his stride,' he admitted. 'When he was giving a closing argument, even I was riveted.' Boyle instilled a love for justice in his children, his daughter Bridget said Boyle also instilled a love for justice in his children, Bridget, Ellen and Gerald. Both Bridget and Gerald went on to practice law with their father at different times, and Bridget told the Journal-Sentinel how he would take the family to visit clients in jail on Christmas and Thanksgiving. He is now survived by his wife of 59 years, as well as by his children, Bridget, Ellen and Gerald. Ministers are resurrecting the 'Asbo' in a bid to crack down on anti-social behaviour. Labour is drawing up new laws to create 'respect orders' plus enhanced police powers to confiscate nuisance vehicles, including e-scooters and e-bikes ridden dangerously on the pavement. Yobs will be handed the new type of order by a civil court and breaches could lead to immediate arrest and a jail sentence. However, respect orders will be less wide-ranging than their predecessor - anti-social behaviour orders - which were introduced by Tony Blair's government in 1998 and scrapped by the Coalition government in 2014. Asbos applied to anyone over the age of 10 and carried up to five years' imprisonment, but Labour's new measure will only be imposed on adults and carry a maximum two-year term. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper unveiled details of the new punishment plus additional measures allowing police to immediately seize vehicles being used in anti-social behaviour, eliminating the need for officers to issue a warning. 'Too many town centres and neighbourhoods across our country are being plagued by anti-social behaviour, be it street drinking, harassment or vandalism on the high street or noisy and intimidating off-road bikes terrorising our estates,' she said. 'Respect orders will give police and councils the powers they need to crack down on repeated anti-social behaviour, keeping our communities safe and ensuring repeat offenders face the consequences of their actions. Ministers are resurrecting the 'Asbo' in a bid to crack down on anti-social behaviour. Labour is drawing up new laws to create 'respect orders' plus enhanced police powers to confiscate nuisance vehicles, including e-scooters and e-bikes ridden dangerously on the pavement. Pictured: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer anti-social behaviour orders - which were introduced by Tony Blair 's government in 1998 and scrapped by the Coalition government in 2014. Pictured: Former Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair on November 10, 2024 'We will also make it easier to seize the vehicles causing misery in too many neighbourhoods, including deafening off-road bikes or e-scooters ridden dangerously on the pavement. 'These new powers alongside thousands more neighbourhood officers and PCSOs will help this government deliver on our mission to take back our streets.' Respect orders will be used to tackle behaviour that 'has caused, or is likely to cause, harassment, alarm or distress to another person'. It could include alcohol and drug-related yobbery, vandalism or noisy neighbours, for example. Police will be able to ask a court to ban hooligans from town centres or specific locations such as parks. Perpetrators could be required to complete rehabilitation courses such as drug or alcohol treatment or an anger management course. Apart from a jail term of up to two years, penalties for breaching an order could include curfews, unlimited fines and community orders such as unpaid work. Powers under the Police Reform Act 2002 which allow officers to seize vehicles being used in an anti-social manner will be amended to allow instant confiscation. They new measures could be used against street racers and street cruisers, off-road bikers and 'car meets' that often involve excessive revving of engines, as well as to target electric bikes and scooters. Police in England and Wales recorded just over one million incidents of anti-social behaviour in the year to June. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper (pictured) unveiled details of the new punishment plus additional measures allowing police to immediately seize vehicles being used in anti-social behaviour, eliminating the need for officers to issue a warning But the number has steeply fallen from 3.9million in 2007-08, suggesting the change is down to recording practices rather than improving behaviour. According to the most recent Crime Survey of England and Wales almost 36 per cent of people had witnessed anti-social behaviour in their neighbourhood. Police forces, councils, social landlords, the Environment Agency and the NHS Counter Fraud Authority will be among the public bodies able to apply for respect orders. The new measures will be part of a forthcoming Crime and Policing Bill early next year. Once passed, pilot schemes will take place before respect orders are rolled out across England and Wales. Deputy Chief Constable Andy Prophet, of the National Police Chiefs' Council, said: 'Respect orders will give the police and councils the ability to crack down on those who persistently make our streets and public spaces feel unsafe.' It came as new figures showed more offenders are being handed a 'slap on the wrist' rather than being taken to court. Just under 144,000 'community resolutions' were imposed by police on offenders in the year to June, up from 140,000 the previous year. The lightweight penalty requires criminals to carry out 'restorative' work such as apologising to their victim, in exchange for avoiding prosecution. The Ministry of Justice data, published yesterday THU, showed 721 sex offenders were handed community resolutions in the year, up from 661. The number of incidents of violence against the person dealt with by community resolutions rose from 42,800 to 47,300 year-on-year, and for theft from 16,900 to almost 20,000. A teenager has been arrested in Spain for allegedly leading an assassin service using children as hitmen. The boy, who is reportedly just 14, was arrested alongside his married parents - all Swedish citizens - at their home in Alicante. The father and son allegedly provided criminal clients with 'minors hired to commit murders' in for a assassination service. Spanish National Police said the youngster 'played a key role' in recruiting and paying other 'child soldiers' from Sweden and Denmark. The 14-year-old is accused of using Telegram to recruit them and provide instructions on targets. He would also organise deliveries of weapons and explosives including assault rifles, it is claimed. One teenager was given an escape plan involving an electric scooter. The going rate for a kill in the murder-for-hire business was said to be between 20,000 and 50,000 euros. The police said the family home was used as an 'operations centre'. Spanish National Police published footage of them taking down the alleged family gang One of the people in the alleged hitman ring being arrested by cops In early November, Swedish prosecutors detained one of the three in absentia - their identities are hidden - on suspicion of attempted murder, preparation for murder and weapons crimes in Sweden, Denmark and Spain. The alleged crimes took place during the spring and summer of 2024, prosecutors said. The suspects are said to have managed multiple social media accounts to recruit the child assassins and give them orders. They are also accused of weapons and drugs trafficking and money laundering. But the gang was dismantled before any murder was committed, a police spokesperson said. The police published a video of an arrest, showing a man chased on foot on the street in broad daylight and arrested with a gun drawn. He was pulled to the ground and handcuffed. Cops began to investigate the hitman ring after arresting another teenager - a 17-year-old - in May. Police said their investigation had also revealed a major criminal network between Sweden and Eastern European countries They were hanging around a residential area in Benalmadena in Costa del Sol and police discovered the Swedish national had been flown in to kill a member of a motorbike gang. The teenager was sent an assault rifle and an escape plan involving an electric scooter, but he was arrested before he could carry out the murder. As part of a coordinated operation, Danish police also arrested another Swedish teenager in May who had travelled to Denmark with the intent to kill. Police said their investigation had also revealed a major criminal network between Sweden and Eastern European countries. Sweden has faced a surge in organised crime which is spreading across Europe. In August, Denmark urged Sweden to do more to stop cross-border gang violence and put a stop to armed Swedish teenagers acting as 'child soldiers'. A jury in the civil case taken against MMA fighter Conor McGregor has been told they can regard rapes and cover-ups, or evidence they regard as 'patently untruthful', if they come to assess punitive damages. The jurors were given some final words of legal advice by the trial judge, before beginning their deliberations in the action taken by Nikita Hand against Mr McGregor, and his friend James Lawrence. Ms Hand, a 35-year-old hair colourist from Drimnagh, has alleged the two men raped her in the Beacon Hotel in Dublin on December 9, 2018, during a cocaine and alcohol-fuelled afterparty. Both have denied the mother-of-one's allegation, and claimed the sex was consensual. The jurors were sent to consider their verdict at 3pm yesterday, following a seven-hour charge by Judge Alexander Owens, at the close of a 11-day case. Judge Owens ran over all the evidence heard in the trial, before telling them: 'That concludes the evidence. I am now going to ask you at this particular stage to deliberate on your verdicts.' He said he wanted to remind them that the onus of proof was on the plaintiff, Ms Hand, and that the much reach their verdict on the balance of probabilities. Their conclusion must be based on the evidence, he said. Conor McGregor outside the High Court in Dublin on November 19, 2024 Nikita Ni Laimhin, who is also known as Nikita Hand, leaving the High Court in Dublin on November 19 James Lawrence outside the High Court in Dublin on November 19 amid closing statements If they got to the stage of deciding damages, he said they should remember that general damages are awarded for pain and suffering to date and into the future, and in assault cases should reflect elements of stress and humiliation. They should also recognise that such damages can also be a mark of vindication. Aggravated damages can be awarded for events that have shocked the plaintiff, he said, but he warned them not to 'double count' under different headings of damage. Exemplary or punitive damages are to punish a defendant, he said. 'You examine the evidence and decide whether or not you are going to award punitive damages, for something you regard as really serious,' he explained. 'You are entitled to regard rapes or cover-ups as serious, or evidence you regard as patently untruthful in that regard as well.' He urged them to 'use your good sense', and reminded them that all their decisions must be evidence based. While in the jury room, the jury will have an issue paper on which it must record its decisions. The issue paper includes two questions. The Four Courts where Irish mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor's civil trial on allegations of sexual assault is taking place, in Dublin, November 19, 2024 Firstly, did Conor McGregor assault Nikita Hand? They must answer yes or no to this. Secondly, did James Lawrence assault Nikita Hand? This also has a yes or no answer. If the answer to both questions is no, then they proceed no further, and Ms Hand has lost her case. However, if the answer to question one is yes, they can then assess damages under the following headings: General damages, special damages which include medical expenses and loss of earnings, aggravated damages and exemplary damages. If the answer to the second question is yes, they can assess damages under the headings of general, aggravated and exemplary damages. The judge has already explained to the jury that no special damages can be awarded against Mr Lawrence, as Ms Hand has no memory of having sex with him. Her PTSD claim, which has led to her ongoing need for counselling and her claim that she us unable to return to work, stems from the alleged rape by Mr McGregor, he said. He reminded them yesterday that answering no to the allegation against one defendant, does not mean they have to answer no for the second. Equally, a yes for one does not automatically mean a yes for the other. 'You are asked to look at two different cases,' he said. After an hour, they were told they could return home, but must not discuss their deliberations with anyone, including loved ones, before resuming their work at the High Court today. November 22, 2024: Alarmed at the Russian aggression in Ukraine, European nations are rapidly rearming and preparing for the worst. An example of that is the Netherlands, which has created new tank battalions and ordered warships and F-35 jets. Holland is increasing its annual defense budget to $26 billion a year, about double what it was in 2022. The Dutch believe Russian violence could reach as far west as the Netherlands and that the threat is real. That attitude is reinforced by Russian Cyber War and sabotage operations in Europe. The result is a Netherlands force that is ready to fight at any time. This means increased stocks of munitions, medical supplies and spare parts. There must be enough to sustain a year of combat while waiting for more to come from local factories or the United States. With a population of only 18 million people, and a country about twice the size of New Jersey, the Netherlands has managed to send troops to participate in many of the significant military actions around the world since the end of the Cold War. These included deployments to Bosnia, Southern Iraq, and Afghanistan. The Dutch deployed six F-16s and six AH-64 Apache helicopters to Afghanistan and six Apaches to Iraq to support coalition operations. The deployments have not been quiet ones. There have been several Dutch troops killed and many more wounded. In 2003 Dutch F-16s provided close air support in Afghanistan from the central Asian Manas Air Base in Kyrgyzstan, flying a total of 804 missions and sometimes using laser-guided bombs and 20mm cannon fire in support of ground operations. Other Dutch military actions included the transport of Ethiopian peacekeeping troops in support of UN operations in Liberia. Unfortunately, Dutch military forces have not always been so successful. In 1995, a 200 man battalion of Dutch peacekeepers were outnumbered and outgunned by an invading force of Bosnian Serbs in the town of Srebrenica. The Dutch commander repeatedly called for massive air strikes against Serbian forces, but the air support never arrived. The Serbs massacred 7,500 Muslim men shortly after taking charge of the area and the incident has been called the worst European atrocity since World War II. The search for the notorious fugitive 'Cryptoqueen' has now shifted to Cape Town, where German detectives are pursuing leads. Ruja Ignatova is wanted for $5,000,000 by the FBI with investigators believing she was tipped off in 2017 after a U.S. District Court in New York issued a warrant for her arrest. One step ahead, the scammer headed for Greece and disappeared - although her vanishing act has prompted some to wonder if she was bumped off by an organised crime group after she exhausted her usefulness as the face of the $4billion OneCoin scam. Now German investigators say they believe she may have been hiding in one of South Africas most exclusive neighbourhoods, the Times reports. In a new documentary about Ignatova, Sabine Dassel from the North Rhine-Westphalia state office of criminal investigation (LKA) said: 'We are working with the hypothesis that Ruja Ignatova is still alive.' The LKA is leading Germany's investigation into Ignatova and while Ms Dassel said investigators were not certain of her whereabouts that said solid clues pointed to Cape Town. Although she remains on the run, her brother, Konstantin, was arrested in 2019 and plead guilty to multiple felonies for his leadership role in OneCoin. Months before his arrest she was boarding a flight from Bulgaria to Athens as Konstantin extended stay in Cape Town, causing speculation that he was there receiving instructions from his sister. A $5million reward has been offered in the hunt for the world's most wanted woman, Ruja Ignatova, who scammed investors out of more than $4billion in 'one of the largest global fraud schemes in history' She was added to the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list after allegedly defrauding investors worldwide between 2014 and 2018 with her $4billion cryptocurrency pyramid scheme His Instagram account still has pictures from that period of the city's well-known sites. Konstantin served three years in an American jail after telling FBI investigators that his sister had fled with 500million of investors money. Since then, there have been reported sightings of Ignatova in a guarded neighbourhood outside Cape Town that under apartheid was exclusively for established white families but is increasingly drawing new Bulgarian money. It comes as one of her fraud victims, who lost thousands, has urged other victims to come forward and join her fight for justice. Hollywood producers are said to be circling, with Glaswegian Jen McAdam even hosting Kate Winslet for tea so the actress could hear more about her amazing resilience in the face of a devastating crypto deception. 'I felt she would have done an immense job at detailing it all. She is beautiful, she is really beautiful, she came around for tea, high tea', McAdam said of Winslet on Good Morning Britain earlier. McAdam, who suffers from ME, revealed how an initial investment of 9,000 in worthless OneCoin with the inheritance from her father, spiralled as friends and family joined her, with the group eventually sinking 200,000 into the con. Despite being on the run - or possibly dead - Ignatova is being pursued by McAdam, who is urging others to join her OneCoin victims lawsuit, after successfully obtaining a global asset freeze against Ignatova earlier this month. Kate Winslet popped round for 'high tea' to learn about McAdam's story Jen McAdam told Good Morning Britain about her ordeal and inspiring decision to fight back McAdam says the victims now have 'more of a chance than they have ever had' at clawing back any money, despite Ignatova's absence, with the freezing order giving them 'a chance of claiming what we've lost'. Investors could sign up to buy the currency which would then appear in their account - and because more and more people would join, said Ignatova , the value of the currency would go up. But in 2017, Jen, who at one point had believed her original stake was worth nearly 100,000, realised it was a scam. Ignatova made the dash after setting up recording devices in her American boyfriend's flat and learning that he was cooperating with the FBI, prosecutors said at the time. At the beginning of the OneCoin story, early investors were attracted to Ignatova's presentation as a glamorous Oxford-graduate who had allegedly spent six years with McKinsey before making the leap into the fledgling world of cryptocurrency. She was confident, well-dressed and assured her supporters her project, OneCoin, was about to become the next big thing. Within months, millions of people worldwide had bought into the vision, purchasing packages of a new currency online that they believed would one day change the world. In these peak years, Ignatova was constantly in the spotlight, showing off her elegant outfits and glam lifestyle. A male Labour MP believes the NHS should abandon 'gendered vocabulary' when treating pregnant women. Alex Sobel, Leeds Central and Headingley MP, urged doctors to use gender-neutral language when speaking to expectant parents so it includes transgender men. He claimed that failing to ask a transgender man if they could be pregnant before treatment could result in 'serious consequences', while speaking in a debate on International Men's Day. As not all transgender men undergo gender reassignment surgery it means that in some cases they could still become pregnant. Mr Sobel, 49, also said that transgender men 'face a number of barriers in accessing equal quality healthcare on the NHS', the Telegraph reports. This includes long waiting lists for breast removal surgery, the MP said, meaning individuals are forced to pay for private care which 'not everyone can do, as we know'. Speaking to the commons, Mr Sobel said: 'Across the NHS there needs to be a greater awareness of trans men and trans masculine people who have given birth. 'For example [if] a trans man is not asked whether he could [be] pregnant before receiving a dose of radiation, there could be serious consequences. 'We can begin by removing gendered vocabulary from pregnancy care and parenthood.' Alex Sobel, Leeds Central and Headingley MP, urged doctors to use gender-neutral language when speaking to expectant parents so it includes transgender men Mr Sorbel went on to reference the case of journalist Freddy McConnell, a transgender man who gave birth to a boy but 'could not appear on his child's birth certificate as father or even parent' Mr Sobel, 49, also said that transgender men 'face a number of barriers in accessing equal quality healthcare on the NHS' He went on to reference the case of journalist Freddy McConnell, a transgender man who gave birth to a boy but 'could not appear on his child's birth certificate as father or even parent'. Mr Sorbel said that the law in this area is 'all over the place' and that 'there needs to be more input from trans people themselves'. When Mr McConnell's Jack was born he wanted to be registered as 'father or parent' but a registrar told him that the law, Children Act 1989, requires people who give birth to be registered as mothers. An appeal to be named 'father' on Mr McConnell's child's birth certificate was rejected by Supreme Court Justices in November 2020, because it was seen as not an 'arguable point of law'. The journalist who had already lost two rounds of a legal battle, said being forced to be recorded as 'mother' breached his human right to respect for private and family life. Mr Sobel was first elected in 2017 and served as the shadow minister for nature recovery and the domestic environment from 2021 to 2023. A fellow Labour MP and former minister, Dawn Butler said: 'Trans men are often missed out of the trans debate but also are subject to some real cruel behaviour and often suffer violence against them, such as rape, and it's under-reported.' Dame Nia Griffith, the equalities minister, said: 'The Government is absolutely committed to ensuring that trans people can receive the care and the support that they need when accessing NHS services, and that we as a Government do frequently engage with a wide range of stakeholders in this area, including the LGBT+ health adviser, Dr Michael Brady.' QUESTION: Who coined the term dystopian? What is considered the earliest dystopian novel? English philosopher John Stuart Mill coined the term in 1868, using it in a House of Commons debate on Ireland. He quipped that the government 'ought... to be called dystopians or cacotopians' because 'what they appear to favour is too bad to be practicable'. Mill's word was the opposite of 'utopia', a place of perfection, especially in laws, government and social conditions. Thomas More coined 'utopia' in his 1516 book of the same title, describing a perfect society. In fact, More's book was a satire on England and his word 'utopia' came from the Greek for 'no place'. Some 18th and 19th-century novels presaged the dystopian fiction that would become popular later, such as sections of Gulliver's Travels (1726) by Jonathan Swift about the Houyhnhnms and Yahoos. We (1924), by the Russian author Yevgeny Zamyatin, is considered the first true dystopian novel, as it was such a reaction to those utopian ones. The work inspired the great dystopian novels of the 20th century, such as Aldous Huxley's Brave New World (1932) and George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four (1949) There is also Mary Shelley's novel The Last Man (1826). Shelley, best known for Frankenstein, set her work in a future where a plague is decimating humanity. Authors such as H. G. Wells wrote utopian fiction in the 1920s. Wells called himself a 'utopiographer' and believed that scientific advancements would end war and poverty, as he proposed in his novel Men Like Gods (1923). Tomorrow's Questions Q: When new words enter the French language, how are their genders determined? Michel Moy, Cleethorpes, Lincs Q: I have two old sixpences, one dated 1948 and the other dated 1949. However, the design of the royal cypher on each coin is completely different. Why is this? Mr W. R. Brown, Potters Bar, Herts Q: Many old films from the 1950s and 1960s featured Percy Herbert. How many films did he make and what became of him? Mrs Pam Wells, Aylesbury, Buck Advertisement This ideal was also described by William Morris, who wrote about the perfect socialist society in News From Nowhere (1890). We (1924), by the Russian author Yevgeny Zamyatin, is considered the first true dystopian novel, as it was such a reaction to those utopian ones. A comment on Communism, it follows D-503, an engineer working on a spaceship. Through a love affair with a rebellious woman named I-330, D-503 begins to question the rigid control of the One State, which suppresses individual desires. The work inspired the great dystopian novels of the 20th century, such as Aldous Huxley's Brave New World (1932) and George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four (1949). Simon Willis, Frome, Somerset QUESTION Why is Heartland Theory such a controversial topic in geography? The Heartland Theory is a geopolitical concept developed by British geographer Sir Halford Mackinder in 1904. He proposed that the 'Heartland', a central area of Eurasia, held the key to global power. He argued that controlling this region (primarily Russia and Central Asia) would enable a nation to dominate the world because of its vast resources, strategic location and the difficulty of invasion. The core idea was summarised by Mackinder as: 'Who rules East Europe commands the Heartland; who rules the Heartland commands the World-Island; who rules the World-Island commands the World.' This theory influenced geopolitical strategies throughout the 20th century, particularly in the Cold War. Portrait of Aldous Huxley (1894-1963), novelist and essayist smoking a cigarette. Mr Huxley wrote Brave New World Critics argue that the theory reduces complex global power dynamics to geographical factors alone, and that it has been used to justify imperialism. It has also been criticised for its Eurocentrism and for neglecting the impacts of technological advancements such as air power and global trade, which have diminished the strategic significance of territorial control. Dr K. Simon, Lincoln QUESTION Is the discovery of living entombed animals the stuff of science or legend? Further to the earlier answer, the stories of creatures entombed and living for lengthy periods brought back memories of a similar thing happening when I was in the building trade. A few of us were building a small enclosure (like a little chapel) in the corner of St Ninian's churchyard near Buckie in Scotland. It was to provide protection from the weather for the graves of several Roman Catholic priests who had been buried there. Their graves were in enclosed concrete boxes with heavy concrete slabs on top. They were almost full of fine sand. Once we had almost finished building, we had to rearrange one or two of the slabs. When we lifted the first slab, to our amazement we saw a quite big, healthy-looking toad looking up at us from the top of the sand. It jumped out and scampered away. I can assure you that this was a sealed concrete-walled grave and that the last interment had been several decades earlier. How that creature got in there and survived has bewildered me for about 70 years. Unfortunately, the other builders present have passed on now. There must be a natural explanation, which I would like to know. George Charles, Aberdeen Millions of Australians are expected to be impacted as Healthscope, Australia's second-largest private hospital operator, terminates its agreements with two major health insurers, Bupa and the Australian Health Services Alliance. Healthscope, which runs 38 private hospitals across Australia, announced last month it planned to charge members of several health funds a 'hospital facility fee' of $50 for same-day services and $100 for overnight services. But after Bupa and Australian Health Services Alliance (AHSA) refused to pay the proposed fee, Healthscope said it had no choice but to end its contracts with them. 'Healthscope cares for over 650,000 patients every year and we are absolutely committed to providing the best possible care. But we can only do this if we are adequately funded,' Healthscope CEO Greg Horan said. 'In an environment of rising costs and private hospital closures, it is unacceptable for insurers to fail their core purpose funding the care of their members, particularly those like Bupa who are boasting of record profits.' Horan claimed that while private hospitals were losing money, health insurers were 'banking record profits'. It means that Bupa and AHSA members could be forced to pay hundreds of dollars more to be treated in a Healthscope hospital. The changes will take effect on February 20, 2025, for Bupa, and on March 4, 2025, for AHSA funds. Healthscope CEO Greg Horan said Bupa and the AHSA's 'refusal' to maintain funding for its hospitals at sustainable levels had forced it to end the contract It means that Bupa and AHSA members could be forced to pay hundreds of dollars more to be treated in a Healthscope hospital These terminations will impact all Bupa customers and those insured by AHSA members, including Australian Unity, GMHBA, Health Partners, Westfund, and HIF. Bupa has 4.1 million health insurance members and the AHSA collectively covers more than 2.5 million people. Healthscope is owned by North American private equity group Brookfield. Dr Rachel David, the CEO of Private Healthcare Australia, the peak body for health funds, accused the company of 'unethical behaviour'. 'This is another unethical tactic from a $1 trillion North American private equity firm that appears intent on holding health fund members hostage, while also trying to bully health funds into paying them more so they can increase their profits,' Dr David said. 'If Healthscope was serious about delivering patient care to Australians in a cost-of-living crisis, it would negotiate an affordable and sustainable outcome, rather than throwing its toys out of the cot. 'There is no scope for health funds to pay across the board, above-inflation increases to private hospitals. Northern Beaches hospital is one of 38 private hospitals operated by Healthscope HOSPITALS OWNED BY HEALTHSCAPE NSW Campbelltown Private Hospital Hunter Valley Private Hospital Lady Davidson Private Hospital Nepean Private Hospital Newcastle Private Hospital Northern Beaches Hospital Norwest Private Hospital Prince of Wales Private Hospital Sydney Southwest Private Hospital The Hills Private Hospital The Sydney Clinic Tweed Day Surgery Windsor Road Private Clinic Northern Territory Darwin Private Hospital ACT ACT National Capital Private Hospital Queensland Brisbane Private Hospital Gold Coast Private Hospital Peninsula Private Hospital Pine Rivers Private Hospital Sunnybank Private Hospital South Australia Ashford Hospital Flinders Private Hospital The Memorial Hospital Tasmania Hobart Private Hospital Victoria Holmesglen Private Hospital John Fawkner Private Hospital La Trobe Private Hospital Knox Private Hospital Melbourne Private Hospital Northpark Private Hospital Ringwood Private Hospital The Geelong Clinic The Melbourne Clinic The Victoria Clinic Western Australia Mount Hospital Advertisement People struggling with the cost of living will simply drop out or downgrade their health cover, which leaves Healthscope worse off as its customer base dries up.' Dr David said if Healthscope followed through with its contract termination, patients could be charged thousands of dollars to receive care at a Healthscope-owned hospital. 'This is just not done in Australian health care. We don't rip up contracts, we don't hang patients out to dry and we don't directly gouge patients like the American system,' she said. 'It's really sad to see this North American private equity firm prepared to throw Australian patients, doctors, nurses and hospitals under the bus to enrich their investors. Australian Health Services Alliance CEO Andrew Sando accused Healthscope of 'gouging' the public. 'Healthscope is driven by one thing maximising returns for their investors, regardless of the impact upon the Australian private health care system,' he said. 'If the member-owned and not-for-profit insurers are forced to pay more to Healthscope to improve the profit of its Canadian private equity owners, then it inevitably stands that premium prices will be impacted, further compounding the cost of living pressures facing ordinary Australians. 'Higher premiums create greater affordability challenges for ordinary Australians, fewer private health insurance memberships and participation, more reliance and pressure on public services and longer waiting lists.' Dr David said 'health funds are doing everything possible to protect consumers against big, foreign-owned companies like this. 'These foreign raiders are preying on Medicare and private health insurance to enrich themselves and they dont care about rising health insurance premiums,' she added. 'Ripping up contracts and charging patients might be an American way of doing business, but there is no place in Australian healthcare for these unethical private equity bully boy tactics that have a direct impact on peoples lives.' Bupa APAC CEO Nick Stone said customers would be covered at Healthscope hospitals until February. 'We are shocked and deeply disappointed by Healthscope's action,' he said. 'They appear to be disregarding the interests of our shared patients and customers by seeking to impact their access to healthcare. 'Insurers and hospitals need to put aside their individual interests and work productively together, along with government, to ensure our joint customers and patients continue to have choice and access and our private health sector remains affordable and sustainable.' While hospital and health fund disputes are common, it is very rare for a contract to be terminated. Human remains found at a rubbish tip have been confirmed to be those of Isla Bell as the allegedly murdered teen's family share details of their 'paralysing grief'. The family of the 19-year-old, who was allegedly murdered last month, walked alongside thousands in the Family Violence Walk in Melbourne on Friday. Isla's uncle, Kieran Dionysus, choked back tears as he read out a statement from her mother who said she was 'horrified' by the alleged details of her daughter's death. 'My grief is paralysing, and I cannot function,' her statement read. 'We live in a world where the suffering of women is their cross to bear. 'A society that tells them they are strong and must continue to martyr themselves to be worthy of the barest of praise.' It comes as the man accused of assisting Ms Bells' alleged murderer returned to the Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Friday after spending three days in custody. Eyal Yaffe, 57, is facing a charge of assist offender (murder) - relating to his alleged actions to help Ms Bell's accused killer Marat Ganiev conceal her alleged murder. Human remains found at a waste management facility on Tuesday have been confirmed to belong to Melbourne teenager Isla Bell (pictured) Justine Spokes, the mother of Isla Bell, says she is crippled by 'paralysing grief' over her death Eyal Yaffe (pictured) returned to the Melbourne Magistrates' Court again on Friday seeking bail after he spent three days in custody following his arrest earlier this week The 19-year-old's body was discovered at a waste management facility in Dandenong, in Melbourne's southeast, on Tuesday morning. Ganiev, Yaffe and another man were later arrested before the third man was released without charge. Police allege Ms Bell was murdered at Ganiev's St Kilda East apartment just before 1am on October 7 after staying there the past two nights. Her last known contact was allegedly with a friend through Snapchat shortly after midnight that night. Court documents revealed Ms Bell told her friend she had found the 'best Russian sugar daddy' and he was 'lavishing her with gifts'. According to a police brief, it's alleged CCTV captured her enter for the last time at 9.27pm on October 5 and she is 'never seen to leave again'. The CCTV footage allegedly captures a fight, with Ms Bell observed falling to the ground after being struck. Police allege over the following days Ganiev was recorded cleaning the apartment before Yaffe arrived towing a new black fridge on a trailer on October 9. Police have alleged that Ms Bell was murdered at Marat Ganiev's St Kilda East apartment just before 1am on October 7 (pictured Marat Ganiev) Attendees of the Family Violence Walk in Melbourne on Friday are pictured The fridge was allegedly carried by both men into Ganiev's apartment and eight days later the old fridge was removed, wrapped in plastic and black tape. Police allege Ms Bell's remains were inside the fridge. Over the following days the trailer was allegedly moved to several locations around Melbourne. One person later told police it had a 'foul smell' and was attracting flies. Police allege the fridge containing Ms Bell's body was dumped in a driveway on October 17 in Caulfield South by both men. Yaffe allegedly met police and was interviewed on October 28 and he denied knowing what happened to Ms Bell. He allegedly stated he had dropped off a new fridge and assisted Ganiev to dump the old one on a verge pick-up. Police allege he was photographed later the same day meeting Ganiev and placing a bag, believed to belong to Ms Bell due to it's distinctive brown and black pattern, into a bin from his car. It's alleged Ganiev hid the fridge in a Hino removalist van on October 30, which a resident allegedly located and opened, on November 18. A bag fell out and the man believed it contained animal remains, which he placed into a residential bin, police allege. According to the summary, Ganiev allegedly claimed he did not kill Ms Bell, but used the fridge to transport her remains after she died at his home. The summary alleges that Yaffe told police he helped deliver a new fridge to Ganiev and assisted him to dump the old one 300m from his home on a kerbside pick-up without knowing the contents. The hearing continues. The devastated wife of an Italian travel blogger responsible for the deaths of three people in a tragic crash has broken her silence. Elena Perrone, speaking outside Adelaide District Court on Friday, wept as she stood next to her husband Gabriele Cairo. 'We're just grateful this is over,' she said. 'We thank the family, we thank everyone and we're glad we can go.' Cairo was behind the wheel of a camper van when he smashed into the Clark family at a remote intersection in Everard Central, in South Australia's mid-north region, on October 31, 2023. Daughter Jacqueline, 54, who was driving a Honda civic, was killed instantly, while mother Cynthia, 84, died at the scene and father John, 86, died days later in hospital. Ms Perrone also suffered critical injuries in the crash, including a collapsed lung and rib fractures, and she spent five days in the Royal Adelaide Hospital intensive care unit. Cairo failed to give way at the intersection and he pleaded guilty to three counts of cause death by dangerous driving and one count of causing serious harm. Italian travel blogger Gabriele Cairo (left) who caused the death of three members of the same family in a horror triple fatal car crash, leaves the Adelaide District Court with his wife Elena Perrone (right) on Friday. The couple intend to leave for Italy 'as soon as possible' The Clark family has said they have forgiven Cairo for his devastating lapse in attention. 'I've said to them what I needed to say,' Ms Perrone said, her voice breaking. 'We talk, and that they understood and they forgive us.' Cairo, who does not speak English, whispered to his wife, and she said he wanted to convey the same sentiments. Judge Paul Muscat handed Cairo a prison sentence of three years and six months but suspended the sentence, meaning the pair walked free from the court and will return immediately to Italy. Cairo and Ms Perrone both wept as Judge Muscat read out his sentence and the tragic circumstances of the crash. 'It is clear you are a man of exceptional quality and character,' Judge Muscat said. 'Your decency as a human being cannot be challenged.' Ms Perrone and Cairo (pictured) travelled together around the world, sometimes documenting their adventures on YouTube Cairo and Ms Perrone were travelling through Australia together on a honeymoon and were due to head back to Italy just days before the crash. GPS data collected from Cairo's phone showed he was travelling below the speed limit before the crash, which happened about 5.30pm, and he entered the intersection at 82km/h. A witness to the crash said the Clarks' Honda Civic lifted 'about a metre' into the air and rotated after the collision. The witness looked into the car and saw the terrible carnage. 'I remember, there was blood everywhere,' he said. 'He (Cairo) saw what had happened and just broke down in distress.' Judge Muscat said Cairo was now a 'shattered' young man and had received counselling for PTSD in the year since the crash. A suspended sentence for an offence resulting in multiple deaths is uncommon, but Judge Muscat, in explaining his decision, said punishment should not exceed 'moral culpability'. 'Arriving at a sentence in a particular case involves a balancing exercise of all relevant matters and the exercise of judgment,' he said. John Clark (pictured) was one of three members of the Clark family who lost their lives 'Sometimes the offender who commits the offence is a person who has never committed any previous offence in their life, such as yourself. 'They are otherwise of good character and standing in the community.'They have never set out intending to kill or cause injury to others by their dangerous driving, which is an important distinction to other serious criminal offences, where an offender's intention, or state of mind, is a critical component of the offence charge and hence their moral culpability. 'There will be those cases where a driver deliberately drives dangerous, such as driving aggressively, recklessly or at an excessive speed... or driving dangerously while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or where they deliberately decide to run a red light, or engage with their phone... thereby clearly compromising, in all of these scenarios, the safety of another person. 'Those offenders are often imprisoned, for obvious reasons. This is not one of those cases, however.' Judge Muscat said Cairo's error lay in a failure to keep a proper lookout and respond to the Templeton Rd and Blyth Rd intersection itself or the give-way sign before it. In a letter to the Clark family, Cairo said he wished he could 'go back in time and do things differently' to avoid the collision but recognised 'life does not work like that'. 'And so you did all that you could, which was to accept responsibility and apologise for the tragic outcome you have caused,' Judge Muscat said. 'You experience grief each day... it is fair to say you are a shattered young man going through a very difficult time. 'You have found it hard to forgive yourself, even though the family of those killed have forgiven you.' Ms Perrone and Cairo hug their lawyer Michael Woods after the sentencing on Friday The give way sign was stationed in the last 200m before the intersection, the court was told, and if the advisory sign was missed, all that warned a driver approaching the intersection was a single give way sign at the intersection itself. Following the crash, the Department of Infrastructure conducted a review of the intersection and the road leading up to it and installed new infrastructure, including additional signs spaced out at intervals before the intersection. 'I accept these improvements highlight the shortcomings of the original signage at the time, although that does not relieve you of responsibility for driving dangerously,' Judge Muscat said. The court was told Cairo had no recollection of the crash and could not explain why he did not give way. Judge Muscat concluded Cairo's moral culpability was at the 'lower end' of offending. 'You did not deliberately drive dangerously and you certainly did not intend for any of this to happen,' he said. 'You are a good person who was enjoying life with your wife by your side when this tragedy occurred. 'There is no need, in your case, to consider personal deterrence as a sentencing consideration.' Clark family friend John Reinke (pictured) speaks after the sentence. He said he wished Cairo and Ms Perrone well on their return to Italy Clark family friend John Reinke applauded Judge Muscat's decision and said he would relay it to the Clark family. 'I think Judge Muscat has made the right decision,' he said outside court on Friday. 'There's no point in sending somebody like him, Gabriele, to jail, there's no rhyme or reasoning for that,' he said. 'I wish them all the best on their return to Italy. And we've all got to move forward, that's all we can do.' Mr Reinke said the Clarks were remembered in the community as 'great people'. 'They will be really missed,' he said. Cairo and Ms Perrone first arrived in Cairns and travelled 6000km across the country, visiting Brisbane, Byron Bay, Sydney, Uluru, Canberra and Melbourne before driving to Adelaide along the Great Ocean Rd. The pair, who sometimes documented their travels, also visited Paris, Hawaii, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and San Francisco. WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT A predator who groomed and sexually abused vulnerable young girls gave a chilling and callous excuse to police when he was caught tying one to his bed - all while on bail. John Patrick Gillespie kept his eyes closed and head tilted down as he was sentenced for indecently treating the young girls. After being charged in August 2022, Gillespie breached bail multiple times - including one occasion where he was caught tying one of the girls on his bed with rope. When questioned by police, Gillespie explained he was 'showing her how he tied his friends' and joked if they had seen the film Fifty Shades of Grey. 'Your breaches of bail ... show a concerning lack of insight into the criminality over which you've been charged, and a concerning persistence in sexualised contact with one of your victims,' Brisbane District Court Judge John Allen told Gillespie on Friday. 'It is somewhat inexplicable you first offended in this way.' Gillespie pleaded guilty to four charges of indecent treatment of children under 12, four counts of breach of bail conditions and a single count of rape. The court was told Gillespie effectively groomed one child by giving her money and buying her alcohol, cannabis and vapes to entice her to spend time with him. Brisbane District Court was told John Patrick Gillespie was caught with a video of him tying one of the girls to his bed and joked to police if they had seen the film 50 Shades of Grey, based on the book Crown prosecutor Melissa Wilson said Gillespie was caught licking the complainant's vagina. On other occasions, he pinned the same girl on her stomach and grabbed her vagina over her clothing, 'squished' her bottom and touched her breasts at a public pool. Ms Wilson said another girl, then aged 11, was at Gillespie's home when he lifted up her skirt without warning, exposing her underwear. The rape charge occurred against a third girl - who was then aged 16 - after Gillespie subjected her to the same grooming-type behaviour where he would buy her 'alcohol, cannabis, cigarettes, vapes, clothing and food'. 'He would also make sexualised comments to her ... that he could not stop thinking about her, that he wanted to touch her, that she had a ''nice p***y'',' Ms Wilson said. The court was told Gillespie digitally raped the girl after she passed out while consuming alcohol. 'The next morning, she woke up on the couch with her jeans undone and blood in her underwear,' Ms Wilson said. '(She) had no memory of the events due to her intoxication.' After Gillespie was charged and released on bail conditions, he repeatedly breached orders by not abiding by his curfew and having contact with the complainants. Police found a picture of one of the girls lying on his bed, while he was standing beside her in his underwear. Another included the video of Gillespie tying the girl with rope at his bedhead. 'The defendant initially told police he was just playing with her jewellery before saying he was showing her how he ties his friends,' Ms Wilson said. 'He laughed and asked the officers if they had seen (the film) 50 Shades of Grey.' In sentencing Gillespie to four years' jail, Judge Allen suspended the sentence but also imposed a probation order to last for two years. Gillespie's 758 days spent in pre-sentence custody was declared as time served. Defence barrister Steven Dickson said Gillespie otherwise had a good work history as a painter, whose life revolved around his job and family. Mr Dickson said his client's offending was 'relatively inexplicable' but could have been as a result of isolation during the Covid-19 pandemic. He had since gained insight to his offending while in custody, Mr Dickson said. Detectives waited ten days from when she was last heard from to interview the family of missing Hannah Kobayashi, her worried family has revealed. The 30-year-old aspiring photographer disappeared from the streets of downtown Los Angeles after missing a connecting flight from her native Maui in Hawaii en-route to New York City. It remains unclear why she left LAs LAX airport and ventured out into the city 15 miles away but she sent a text to a friend saying she had had a spiritual awakening, and was later seen in the company of a mystery man. On Thursday, frantic friends and family gathered in downtown LA, a block from where she was last seen, to spread the message and encourage the public to report any sightings and information they may have. As of today the police have reached out to family members who last spoke with Hannah, her aunt Larie Pidgeon told DailyMail.com on Thursday. We want them to take it a bit more seriously. We think they realize were not going away and were going to be really loud. Were going to do something until they do something. I think now they are beginning the process of what we began six days ago. Hannah Kobayashi, 30, disappeared from the streets of downtown Los Angeles after missing a connecting flight from her native Maui in Hawaii en route to New York City On Thursday, frantic friends and family, including her devastated dad Ryan Kobayashi (pictured) gathered in downtown LA, a block from where she was last seen, to spread the message and encourage the public to report any sightings and information they may have Hannah had been flying to meet another aunt in New York when she missed her connecting flight in Los Angeles The entire world is looking for you (Hannah) because thats how special you are. We are not going to stop until we find you. We love you. Hannahs father, Ryan Kobayashi, was handing out missing person flyers to passers-by and told DailyMail.com: We will do everything we can until we have found her. We just need to get the word out there about her. Shes a wonderful person who brings joy to so many people. The trip began in Maui on November 8 which she described in a hand-written itinerary as a bucket list dreams become reality. Hannah had been flying to meet another aunt in New York when she missed her connecting flight in LA. Family members and a friend received a series of cryptic texts from Hannahs phone, causing them to fear she may have been abducted or trafficked. Another aunt, Geordan Montalvo and her husband Bob, both 51, were scheduled to see Hannah when she arrived in New York. Shes really amazing, he tells DailyMail.com of Hannah. Shes got a great spirit. Shes artistic and loving. The trio were scheduled to attend a DJ Scott Hansen - aka Tycho - concert at Brooklyn Steel in Brooklyn on November 12. They had planned the trip with a former boyfriend who was on the flight from Maui with her, says her mother Brandi Yee, although the former couple would not be together in New York after landing at JFK airport. Bob Montalvo and Geordan Montalvo, the uncle and aunt of Hannah Kobayashi , who has been missing for 11 days gathers with the rest of the family in downtown Los Angeles to speak to the media and pass out flyers to raise awareness for their missing loved one Hannahs father, Ryan Kobayashi, was handing out missing person flyers to passers-by and told DailyMail.com: We will do everything we can until we have found her. We just need to get the word out there about her' It remains unclear why the 30-year-old aspiring photographer left LAX airport and ventured out into the city 15 miles away She said the ex-boyfriend, who had continued on to New York, is being helpful with the hunt for Hannah. Hannah was spotted out in Los Angeles on November 9 at the Tashen bookstore located at The Grove shopping center. Her sister Sydni Kobayashi has previously stated that Hannah sent a Venmo payment to two people whose names the family does not recognize. A photo of the event also appeared to have been posted on her Instagram account. That day, family and friends received 'weird' texts from Kobayashi, but they did not hear from her again. However, a day later on November 11, surveillance video around a downtown Los Angeles Metro train station near the Crypto.com arena showed her with an unknown person. Her family said she does not appear to be in good condition in the footage. She didnt look her normal self, Pigeon told DailyMail.com She was with someone but we dont know it was at this point. She didnt look like she was safe. On November 11, Hannah sent a string of strange texts to a friend. The missing Maui native vanished during a layover in Los Angeles while traveling from her home in Hawaii to New York and was spotted getting off her flight at LAX A series of texts have led the family to believe Kobayashi was not alone when she disappeared. They say diction in the texts indicates they were written by someone else She wrote Deep Hackers wiped my identity, stole all of my funds, & have had me on a mind f*** since Friday. Another text said I got tricked pretty much into giving away all my funds, followed by one saying, For someone I thought I loved. Pidgeon added: Were not sure if Hannah actually wrote the texts or if someone else did. Nancy Mace issued a brutal verbal takedown to a transgender activist who confronted the congresswoman over her campaign to ban transgender women from using women's bathrooms on Capitol Hill. Mace, a South Carolina Republican, caused a commotion in DC this week after demanding that Delaware Democrat Sarah McBride not be allowed into women's facilities around Congress. McBride, the first transgender person elected to Congress, has agreed to abide by the rules after Speaker of the House Mike Johnson endorsed Mace's proposal. Mace was attending the Summit on the Future of the Internet hosted by Project Liberty Thursday at Georgetown University. The congresswoman began to talk about the backlash she'd gotten from introducing the resolution that prevents people like McBride from 'using single-sex facilities other than those corresponding to their biological sex.' That's when Evan Greer, a Boston-based left-wing activist, musician, writer and transgender woman, chose to confront her. 'We've had dozens of trans people die this year because of the hate and lies you're spreading. Is this the future of the Internet we want?' she asked Mace. To scattered applause, Greer continued: 'Are we're building an internet with free speech for everyone or just the privileged few? Are you gonna stand up for the lives of trans people? Black and brown people? Are we fighting for justice or are we fighting for big tech?' Mace shrugged it off after Greer was removed and joked: 'God loves him, I love him but his penis isn't gonna be in my bathroom.' Nancy Mace shot back at a transgender activist after she confronted the Congresswoman over her campaign against allowing transgender women from using women's bathrooms Evan Greer, a Boston-based left-wing activist, musician, writer and transgender woman, chose to confront her Even at the non-partisan Project Liberty conference, the joke got some boos from the crowd gathered. Mace explained what happened in a post on X later: 'Raging lunatic, pretending to be female, tried to rush the stage at me just a little bit ago. All because I don't want men watching women undress in the locker room.' Greer responded on social media shortly after: 'I stood up and spoke the truth. I did not 'rush the stage' as everyone can see in the video you posted. You have done absolutely nothing in your career to address the harm and censorship of Big Tech. You're too busy obsessing over other people's genitalia. Get a hobby' She has been praised for her music and activism by left-wing radicals like Howard Zinn and Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello and runs the far left activist group Fight For the Future. 'I could not sit silent while an elected official who spreads hate & lies that are getting trans people killed pretends to care about the future of the Internet. So I spoke up during Rep Nancy Mace's speech at the Project Liberty Summit & I would do it again,' she added. She later posted a video to Instagram criticizing Project Liberty for going against its stated mission by bringing Mace to speak. Mace, who is crusading to ban transgender Rep.-elect Sarah McBride from using women's restrooms, indicated she is open to meeting with the Delaware Democrat. The Democratic representative-elect is the first openly trans politician elected to Congress, and is the highest-ranking elected trans politico in the nation's history. Mace has said that her PTSD from past sexual assault led her to push to ban McBride from entering women's restrooms and changing rooms. Mace was attending the Summit on the Future of the Internet hosted by Project Liberty Thursday at Georgetown University. The congresswoman began to talk about the backlash she'd gotten from introducing the anti-trans resolution And Speaker Mike Johnson agreed, ruling that lawmakers must only use restrooms of their 'biological sex.' Mace has posted videos calling McBride a male, repeatedly speaking about their private parts and slamming transgenderism. Despite all that, Mace said she would be interested in having a meeting with the incoming Democratic lawmaker. 'I have always been willing to work with anyone who will work with me,' she told DailyMail.com when pressed on her openness to a sit-down with McBride. Though the conciliatory offering was short lived and Mace then began ruthlessly tearing into the Democrat. 'I voted for the Respect for Marriage Act, not once, but twice, I have sponsored and supported civil liberties protections for LGBTQ, but that's not what this is about.' 'This is about somebody's pecker being in the bathroom or being in the dressing room with women, and we're already vulnerable as it is,' Mace added. Earlier this week Mace introduced a bill that would force House members and staffers to use the bathrooms corresponding with their biological sex. Mace has posted videos calling Delaware Congresswoman-elect Sarah McBride a male, repeatedly speaking about their private parts and slamming transgenderism The measure would specifically mean that McBride, who was born male, would have to use the men's facilities. The Capitol's top security agent, the Sergeant at Arms, would be tasked with enforcing the policy. Speaker Mike Johnson later in the week expressed his support for the measure. 'All single-sex facilities in the Capitol and House Office Buildings such as restrooms, changing rooms, and locker rooms are reserved for individuals of that biological sex,' Johnson said in a statement Wednesday. 'It is important to note that each Member office has its own private restroom, and unisex restrooms are available throughout the Capitol,' he continued. 'Women deserve women's only spaces.' Also on Wednesday Mace doubled down on her original proposal, which would only extend to the Capitol Hill complex, by introducing further legislation to extend the biological sex bathroom rule to all federal properties. The South Carolinian also said she has drafter further trans-related legislation that she will debut in December after recess. Democrats, meanwhile, have been outraged by the GOP measures and rhetoric. 'What Nancy Mace and what Speaker Johnson are doing are endangering all women and girls,' Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., told reporters late Wednesday. 'Because if you ask them what is your plan on how to enforce this? They won't come up with an answer.' 'What it inevitably results in are women and girls who are primed for assault because people are going to want to check their private parts, and suspecting who is trans and who is cis and who's doing what,' AOC argued. American Airlines has expanded a new technology to over 100 airports which prevents line jumpers from boarding before their group is called. The airline announced the system is now being used across the country after they had successful early testing across three locations in October. The airline's senior vice president of airport operations, reservations and service recovery said in a statement that the initial response from customers and employees 'has exceeded expectations.' She added that the airline was 'thrilled' to have the technology up and running before the Thanksgiving holiday. Airline industry analyst Henry Harteveldt noted that almost every flyer has witnessed the frustrating habit of impatient flyers. He added that he doesn't see the airlines technology roll out as a way to 'shame' those jumping ahead, but instead a way to 'bring order out of chaos'. 'I hope it will defuse any potential flare ups of anger [from] people who simply think they're entitled to board out of turn. It's just not fair,' he said, adding that he believes it will enhance the experiences of both customers and gate agents. However, others remained skeptical such as Seth Miller, editor and founder of air travel experience analysis site PaxEx.aero, who said that he isn't '100 percent convinced this is perfect for passengers' yet. On Wednesday, American Airlines announced that the technology is now being used across the country after they had successful early testing across three locations in October An airline industry analyst, Henry Harteveldt, added that he doesn't see the airlines technology roll out as a way to 'shame' those jumping ahead, but instead a way to 'bring order out of chaos' He believes that the new technology would cause hold ups for those traveling in pairs or groups, or lines are only one difficult customer away from arguments and delays. Both Miller and Harteveldt said they wouldn't be surprised if other carriers soon follow American Airline's lead. The new tech was rolled out for testing in October and is designed to play a sound to gate agents if a boarding pass is scanned before the passenger's boarding group is called. A spokesperson told Travel + Leisure: 'The new technology is designed to ensure customers receive the benefits of priority boarding with ease and helps improve the boarding experience by providing greater visibility into boarding progress for our team.' In its early testing, many flyers who encountered the technology were in support of it and were happy to see the rules being implemented. One user on Reddit posted that they saw other flyers attempting to board in the first boarding group were met with an error beep when their boarding pass was scanned, and they were asked to step aside. A commenter on the post also claimed they saw the new tech in its testing phase and wrote: 'It was great. I saw about 5 people get punted out of line for trying to board before their group was called. About time!' One DailyMail.com commentor wrote: 'This is the best news I have heard all month - seriously. Everyone that has to get onto a plane has somewhere important to be. Maybe also - they will put a stop to the people that stow their bags in front when they have a seat at the back of the plane. It obviously causes a chain reaction and it is extremely pompous' Many DailMail.com readers were also enthusiastic about the technology, with many believing these preventative measures should have been implemented long ago. One person said: 'About time. This should have been done/enforced decades ago, it isn't that hard.' Someone else added: 'This is the best news I have heard all month - seriously. Everyone that has to get onto a plane has somewhere important to be. Maybe also - they will put a stop to the people that stow their bags in front when they have a seat at the back of the plane. It obviously causes a chain reaction and it is extremely pompous.' Another reader commented: 'I'm all for it. There are too many out there who ignore the rules and it's part of what make flying these days so aggravating.' One frequent flyer said: 'It's about time.' 'Great move,' said another person. Currently the airports that have adopted the technology are all spoke, or non-hub, locations but the airline expects to further expand to hubs and other airports in the coming months. Last month, Russia's Defense Minister boasted that their AI drones had been successfully deployed in Ukraine. With this, the soldiers could operate 24/7 without risking themselves in the war. This does not mean that Ukraine will easily back down against the military giant. The new report says that its reliance on drones resulted in 80% of Russia's frontline losses. Based on dwindling ammunition supplies and increasing troop shortages, the country has depended heavily on drone warfare to keep the effort going against Moscow forces. The Trend of Drone-Warfare Combat As The New York Times reports, Ukrainian commanders have revealed that the military's reliance on drones is not just tactical but increasingly essential. With a notable decrease in ammunition, including fewer rockets from U.S.-supplied HIMARS missile systems, drones have filled critical gaps. The HIMARS, capable of striking targets up to 50 miles away, has become less prominent on the battlefield due to limited munitions. "HIMARS I barely hear them at all anymore. They're almost nonexistent," Sgt. Maj. Dmytr said in The Times' interview. The 33-year-old drone operator added that the lack of manpower can be compensated with more munitions. The Costly Importance of Drone Teams Though critical, drone teams are woefully threatened. The Russians have upped their efforts to attack these units, sending glide bomb munitions, typically used to attack infrastructure, at drone operators. Sgt. Maj. Vasyl, a drone pilot, described the peril of being a drone operator. According to him, if an enemy detects them, everything is thrown at them, suggesting that they are still highly vulnerable to attacks. Innovative Drone Strategies and Production Ukrainian forces have modified by using small agile first-person-view (FPV) drones to scour the surroundings and pound with direct attacks. These drones are often laden with explosives and crash into Russian armor vehicles or positions, causing huge destruction. The domestic Ukrainian industry in drones has witnessed very tremendous growth to meet the war-surge demand. By October, Ukraine was above the annual goal of an allowance to produce one million FPV drones, explained Lieutenant General Ivan Havryliuk. These numbers indicate how innovative and resilient Ukraine is facing the pressures imposed by wartime. Challenges on the Horizon Despite these advancements, challenges persist. Western weapons and ammunition shipments have slowed, leaving Ukrainian forces to contend with limited resources. Simultaneously, recruitment struggles have put additional strain on the military, Business Insider writes. The rapid evolution of drone warfare is a good sign that the arms race is evolving, with both Ukraine and Russia seeking technological superiority. As the conflict continues, Ukraine's reliance on drones will likely shape the future of its defense strategy. Still, this does not guarantee a 100% war win. Indeed, drones are the life-savers for Ukrainian soldiers in terms of modern warfare, offsetting the shortfalls in labor and ammunition. Its ambitious plans for FPV drones were announced in late 2023. This also indicates that although challenges are hard to recognize, Ukraine is not willing to give up but instead uses technology in innovative ways to overcome the odds. A passenger has died and a pilot has been seriously injured after a US-registered helicopter crashed in southwest New South Wales. The Super Puma helicopter crashed at Corrong Road in One Tree, around 40km west of Hay, during a 'ferry flight' from Broken Hill to Albury just before midday on Friday. Emergency services rushed to the scene and treated a male passenger believed to be aged in his 40s, but he could not be saved. The man is yet to be formally identified. Paramedics treated the pilot - a 39-year-old man - for minor injuries before he was taken to Melbourne Hospital in a stable condition. The pilot and the male passenger were the only two people on board the chopper. Police have established a crime scene and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (AMSA) will investigate what may have caused the crash. An AMSA spokesman confirmed to Daily Mail Australia they received a distress signal from an emergency locator transmitter. The Super Puma helicopter crashed at Corrong Road at One Tree, around 40km west of Hay, in southwest NSW (pictured map of the location) 'AMSA tasked a Victorian Air Ambulance... helicopter from Bendigo and the AMSA Essendon-based Challenger rescue aircraft to initiate a search,' the spokesman said. 'A local skydiving aircraft [assisted] with the search locating the crash site not long after'. Crews from the NSW Rural Fire Service rushed to the scene. The rescue aircraft has returned to Essendon, in Melbourne's northwest. The Australian Transport Safety Burau (ATSB) will investigate the crash over the coming days. Transport safety investigators will interview witnesses and will also examine pilot and maintenance records along with flight data once it is retrieved. A report will be prepared for the coroner. Up to 80,000 people of various visa categories could be potentially removed to third countries by the Albanese government's migration bill that legal experts, advocates and former refugees have lambasted. The Albanese government has not detailed which countries it has been in discussions with in a bill that passed the House of Representatives and was examined in a Senate inquiry on Thursday. The proposed amendments to the Migration Act seeks to deport non-citizens, including not just those convicted of crimes, and to pay those third countries for their part in the removals regime. It would also grant extensive immunity to government officials and those in third countries involved with the removals as well as reversing protection findings for refugees. The amendments come after a landmark ruling found indefinite immigration detention was unlawful, triggering the release of some 200 non-citizens with varying criminal offences. Released immigration detainees, known as the NZYQ cohort, were strapped with ankle monitors and slapped with curfews. The High Court struck down earlier in November in a case brought by a stateless Eritrean refugee known as YBFZ, ruling it punitive and an overreach by the government which prompted the government to rush this bill. Under questioning from Liberal senator James Paterson, Department of Home Affairs officials revealed that 10 people had had their ankle monitors and curfews reimposed. Up to 80,000 people of various visa categories could be potentially removed to third countries by the Albanese government's migration bill. Mr Albanese is pictured President-elect Donald Trump (pictured) has confirmed his intention to initiate a mass deportation effort as soon as he takes office on January 20, 2025 This was followed by Greens senator David Shoebridge pushing first assistant secretary of immigration compliance Michael Thomas also to ascertain which categories of visa holders who were not citizens would be affected. Mr Thomas said that 4452 people on Bridging Visa E, 986 in immigration detention, 193 in community detention, 246 on Bridging Visa R from the NZYQ cohort, a further 96 individuals also on the same visa and potentially 'a fluid cohort' of up to 75,400 people could be included. Home Affairs secretary Stephanie Foster was grilled about who would be affected by the legislation. 'Did you inform either or both of the (immigration) ministers (Tony Burke and assistant minister Matt Thistlewaite) that this legislation covers more than 80,000 people, well outside of the NZYQ cohort?' the senator asked. 'We certainly explained what the definition of a removal pathway non-citizen was ... it's my understanding that ministers have an understanding of the broader cohort,' Home Affairs secretary Stephanie Foster answered. Earlier in the hearing, former Manus Island detainee and award-winning Kurdish-Iranian writer Behrouz Boochani spoke to the draconian nature of the bill if passed. He said his experience in Papua New Guinea indicates the type of countries that Australia would be negotiating to deport non-citizens to. 'Based on this bill, you are going to send them to another country to start again and we know those countries that you are going to send people actually, they can detain them, they can deport them and they can torture them,' he said. 'What Australia has done is to banish refugees to be out of sight and out of mind.' He pleaded with the senators to vote down the bill. 'I know that most of the senators in Australia, probably many of them have never even met a refugee ... in their lives. You haven't met them but they are people. Try to imagine who they are. They are just human beings.' A New York City dog owner was left heartbroken after a migrant man he considered to be a friend threw his two-year-old pit bull from a 14-story balcony. Luis Gabriel Santamaria, 27, told the New York Post he returned to his Brooklyn apartment from a Halloween party on November 1 to find his beloved dog, Kith, lying dead on the sidewalk. He said he had earlier gotten into a fight with his friend, Alberto Morris, 33, and in retaliation, Morris broke into his apartment on Montgomery Street in Crown Heights at around 5am and threw his pit bull from the balcony, killing the pooch. 'I had him since he was a baby, since he was one month old,' Santamaria said of Kith. 'He was literally my best friend. 'I never would have thought he would do what he did, murder my dog for no reason,' he said of his one-time friend, though he noted that he had realized Morris had an aggressive and obsessive behavior. Santamaria explained that he had met Morris just a few weeks before Kith's untimely death, and the two became fast friends as they bonded over their shared Panamanian heritage. But Morris soon became obsessed with Santamaria, he claimed, sending him odd texts, randomly showing up at his apartment and repeatedly ringing his doorbell. Alberto Morris, 33, was arrested Monday and charged with aggravated cruelty to animals, grand larceny, criminal mischief and torturing an animal Luis Gabriel Santamaria, 27, said Morris threw his beloved pit bull, Kith, off a 14th story balcony following a fight at a Halloween party on November 1 Then, just hours before Morris would allegedly kill Kith, he became drunk and aggressive at the Halloween party. 'That scared me,' Santamaria told the Post, noting that he even warned his friends that Morris was trying to fight him. 'At one point, when he got too aggressive, he grabbed my bag - I had a little side bag - and ripped it off my body,' he said. From there, the two friends started shoving each other - and without Santamaria noticing, Morris stole the keys from the bag as security at the party told Morris he had to leave. When he later realized Morris had taken his apartment keys, Santamaria said he ordered an Uber home and frantically called his other friends to run to his home and ensure Morris didn't break in. But Morris got there first, he said, and threw Kith off the balcony before fleeing the scene. He allegedly tried to tear a Ring camera off a wall as he fled. By the time Santamaria arrived at the apartment, he found Kith dead on the pavement and his friend who had gifted him the dog as a puppy crying outside. Santamaria said he had raised Kith from a one-month-old puppy When Santamaria returned to his Crown Heights apartment, he saw Kith lying dead on the sidewalk, he said Morris was ultimately arrested in connection with Kith's death on Monday and was charged with aggravated cruelty to animals, grand larceny, criminal mischief and torturing an animal, according to the Brooklyn District Attorney's Office. But the charges are all non-bail eligible, meaning that he cannot be held behind bars unless he were to be convicted, and because Morris had no prior arrests, he was released following an arraignment. With him still on the streets, Santamaria said he does not feel safe. 'I still walk around these streets, turning my head because I don't know what this man can do,' he said. 'I don't know him long enough to know that could happen.' He said his family is still in shock by Kith's grisly murder, and is 'really curious as to why he's a free man after he did what he did. 'I don't think any kind of murderer should be left anywhere outside of jail,' Santamaria said as he continues to mourn his fallen friend. Santamaria said he will seek justice in Kith's murder 'Truthfully, my life will never be the same again... it makes me sick to my stomach and breaks my heart that I truly have to say goodbye to my real life best friend,' he wrote on Instagram on November 3. 'Words truly can't say how much I feel right now,' he continued. 'The whole world knows how much you meant to me in my life! The whole world loved you! Anybody that ever met you or came across you instantly fell in love, because you [were] such a sweet dog, all you ever wanted to do was play, play, play all day man! There was nowhere I would go that you wouldn't follow.' 'Since the day I met you, I protected you, defended you, took care of you like you [were] my very own human son! To me, nobody could ever say you wasn't a human or my son, they knew better, even my mom.' He also said Kith's death left his bed 'so cold' and his house' so quiet.' 'It's so f***ing hard waking up not seeing you, not feeling you jumping on me telling me "good morning," not walking you and taking you to the park. Santamaria went on to say that the image of Kith lying dead on the ground 'will be burnt in my brain and heart for the rest of my life.' 'I miss you so much, I love you so much. I truly can't take this pain,' he wrote. 'I wouldn't wish this on anybody, and not to make this post about anything else, but me and your family will stop at nothing to get JUSTICE FOR YOU PAPA!' The Washington Post has abruptly axed its long-time politics editor on the heels of Donald Trump's reelection. Veteran journalist Dan Eggen said he was 'crushed' to be informed of his 'removal' from the role, according to an email he sent and obtained by Hollywood Reporter. Eggen had worked for the famed publication since 1977 and was tapped to be the publication's Senior Politics Editor in 2022 after serving as the White House editor, campaign editor and Washington editor in the years prior to his prestigious appointment. 'I struggled with how to write this message since there is an element of begging to it that is not particularly attractive,' the email read. 'But what the hey: I was informed Monday that I will be removed as senior politics editor at the end of the year. I will leave it to others to explain why,' the email continued. It was not clear whether or not Eggen will remain with the publication. The Washington Post is yet to address reports of his departure from the position. The shocking dismissal comes amid a period of internal turmoil at the reputable newspaper, which, despite its reputation on hard-hitting reporting, has faced mounting criticism for its coverage of Trump's campaign and presidency. Employees at the traditionally left-leaning publication, owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, were devastated by the owner's decision not to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris, just weeks ahead the election. Long-time Washington Post Senior Political Editor, Dan Eggen, was abruptly axed allegedly without reason, just days after Donald Trump's reelection Eggen has worked for the famed publication since 1977 and was tapped to be the publication's Senior Politics Editor in 2022, after serving as the White House editor, campaign editor and Washington editor in the years prior to his prestigious appointment The shocking decision led to several veteran staffers resignations, including two columnists and several writers from the editorial board who stepped down in protest. The paper also noted a loss of about 10 percent of its total subscriber base - amounting to over 250,000 readers. In the weeks following Trump's overwhelming election win, the publication's political leanings seem to be in for a major overhaul as Bezos defended the move in an op-ed last month. The billionaire's October opinion piece claimed that endorsements can create a 'perception of bias' and that he felt the paper was 'failing' in its mission to be a trusted news source. The 60-year-old businessman reportedly also said that he wants to hire more conservative opinion writers. The Washington Post - which notably gained its fame for its coverage of the 1970s Watergate scandal - has previously faced allegations of writing with a liberal bias. The traditionally left-leaning publication, owned by Amazon founder, Jeff Bezos (pictured), was devastated by his decision not to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris just weeks ahead the election The Washington Post - which notably gained its fame for its coverage of the 1970s Watergate scandal - has previously faced allegations of writing with a liberal bias Earlier this year, the Trump campaign alleged to the Federal Election Commission that the highly regarded publication made illegal contributions to Harris' campaign after it was reported that the company was paying to uplift stories critical of the president-elect. Pictured: President-elect Donald Trump arrives to speak during an election night event at the Palm Beach Convention Center Earlier this year, the Trump campaign alleged to the Federal Election Commission that the highly regarded publication made illegal contributions to Harris' campaign after it was reported that the company was paying to uplift stories critical of the president-elect. The prized newspaper has also recently announced a cutthroat 'return-to-office' mandate, as the company plans to scrap the hybrid work schedule telling employees it will accept the resignation of any staffer who refuses to return to the office five days per week. It is unclear as to why this policy has been reinstated, yet the company expects all managers to be back in the office full-time beginning February 3, the New York Post reported. A Year 12 student has been banned from his school formal after he wore a Palestinian scarf to his graduation ceremony. The 17-year-old has since filed a complaint with the Australian Human Rights Commission after he was banned from attending the end of year celebration at Condell Park High School in Sydney's west on November 28. During his graduation ceremony in September, the teenager's older sister had given him a keffiyeh with the traditional black-and-white pattern so could display his Palestinian heritage on the most important day of his schooling life. But several teachers accused the boy of making a political statement amid the conflict in the Middle East, and demanded he take it off, he told the Sydney Morning Herald. Their demands came despite the school's longstanding custom of allowing students to display their culture through certain garments. He claimed some staff members even tried to stop him from posing in photos with other classmates. 'I kept explaining that it's a cultural thing that I wear on special occasions, but they kept saying that I was making a political statement in a public school and I can't do that,' he told the publication. 'They said it wouldn't be the smartest decision to keep it on and that I wouldn't want to get on the wrong side of the higher-ups so close to the end of the year.' A Year 12 student has been banned from his school formal after he wore a Palestinian scarf to his graduation ceremony (stock image) Other parents who were at the ceremony asked staff to drop the issue and let the boy wear his scarf. His family were also unsuccessful in convincing the school that it was a simple tribute to his own heritage. Two weeks after graduation, the boy was called into a meeting with staff who informed him that his decision to don the scarf had disqualified him from attending the formal. 'The experience has ruined my high school memories. It's supposed to be a place where I feel safe, and I'm not judged for who I am, but I was wrong,' he said. Staffers at Condell Park High School (pictured) requested the student remove his garment during the graduation ceremony, and accused him of making a political statement A spokesperson for the NSW Department of Education said Condell Park High will 'continue to work with the family and their legal representatives to resolve this matter'. The boy's lawyer sent a complaint to the Department of Education requesting a formal apology and demanded he be re-invited to attend the formal. His solicitor, Abdullah Reslan of Kings Law Group, also added there should be 'laws in place to protect the community against racial discrimination'. 'It is alarming that taxpayer money is being spent on lawyers to prevent an innocent boy from attending his formal alongside his peers in these circumstances,' he said. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Condell Park High School for comment. 'Shameless' Justin Welby attended a gathering of the 'great and good' the day after he was forced to quit over the Church's worst child abuse scandal, the editor of Private Eye has revealed. Ian Hislop said he was in disbelief that the Archbishop of Canterbury had the temerity to attend a lavish dinner after being forced out over his handling of abuse allegations against barrister John Smyth. The Have I Got News For You star described it as 'jaw-dropping' that Dr Welby had showed up to the British Museum trustees' annual dinner last week after he had resigned in 'shame'. In a column, Mr Hislop wrote: 'It was a gathering of the "great and good", but as I stood with a drink in my hand, I couldn't help noticing that the man standing across the Great Court from me was the Archbishop of Canterbury. 'This was the day after he had been forced to resign in disgrace for his role in an appalling scandal and cover-up of monstrous abuse in the Church of England. 'Shameless' Justin Welby (pictured) attended a gathering of the 'great and good' the day after he was forced to quit over the Church's worst child abuse scandal, the editor of Private Eye has revealed Ian Hislop (pictured) said he was in disbelief that the Archbishop of Canterbury had the temerity to attend a lavish dinner after being forced out Welby resigned over his handling of abuse claims against John Smyth (pictured) 'Like many guests there, I could not believe he would turn up to a public event. It was jaw-dropping.' He said Mr Welby had approached his group and introduced himself, before looking around and asking, 'isn't this lovely?' Mr Hislop added: 'I am afraid at this point I couldn't contain myself and refused to allow him to use the politeness of the British establishment to get away with what I thought was extraordinarily shameless behaviour. 'I said, "it is lovely that you have resigned." Lambeth Palace said on Wednesday that Dr Welby intends to complete his official duties by January 6 and will have 'very little public-facing activity' between now and then. His official functions will then be delegated to Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell. The BBC said Dr Welby will not deliver the traditional televised New Year message this year and it will return next year when a new Archbishop of Canterbury is appointed. The Church has not confirmed whether he will deliver the Christmas Day sermon. The UK has been warned it could face US reprisals for helping enforce an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for the Israeli PM. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper reiterated that Britain 'respects the independence' of the ICC after the dramatic action against Benjamin Netanyahu and his ex-defence minister Yoav Gallant. The position raises the prospect that Mr Netanyahu could be arrested for war crimes if he steps on UK territory - although ministers have been desperately trying to avoid saying so explicitly. Issuing warrants for the Israeli politicians over the Gaza conflict - at the same time as a Hamas leader already believed to have been killed - has sparked fury at the court drawing moral equivalence between legitimate national leaders and terrorists. And the backlash has been huge in the US, where Donald Trump is due to take power in less than two months. The ICC has taken the dramatic action against Benjamin Netanyahu (left) and his ex-defence minister Yoav Gallant (right) Asked if Mr Netanyahu would be arrested if he came to the UK, the PM's (pictured) spokesman said: 'We are not going to get into hypotheticals.' Issuing warrants for the Israeli politicians over the Gaza conflict - at the same time as a Hamas leader already believed to have been killed - has sparked fury at the ICC drawing moral equivalence between legitimate national leaders and terrorists Senior Republican Senator Lindsey Graham warned last night that the US would not 'let the world believe for a moment that this is a legitimate exercise of jurisdiction by the Court against Israel because to do so means we could be next'. Senior Republican Senator Lindsey Graham warned last night that the US would not 'let the world believe for a moment that this is a legitimate exercise of jurisdiction by the Court against Israel because to do so means we could be next'. 'I will be introducing legislation that puts other countries on notice If you aid and abet the ICC after their action against the State of Israel, you can expect consequences from the United States,' he said. 'Any nation that joins with the ICC after this outrage is a partner in a reckless act that tramples the rule of law.' In a round of interviews this morning, Ms Cooper insisted that the ICC warrants were 'not a matter for me as Home Secretary'. She stressed that the UK 'respects the independence of the ICC', but added: 'In the majority of the cases that they pursue they don't become part of the British legal process or the British government processes. 'In those cases where they do there are important processes that need to be followed. 'That's why it wouldn't be appropriate for me as the Home Secrerary to comment on individual cases in a speculative way.' The court's decision makes Mr Netanyahu and the others into internationally wanted suspects - putting them at risk of arrest when they travel abroad. But its implications could be limited because Israel, and close ally the US, are not members of the court. Mr Netanyahu said Israel 'rejects with disgust the absurd and false actions'. The ICC also issued a warrant for Mohammed Deif, head of Hamas' armed wing, over the October 7, 2023 terror attacks that triggered Israel's offensive in Gaza. Israel is believed to have killed Deif in an airstrike. Downing Street said: 'There is no moral equivalence between Israel, a democracy, and Hamas and Lebanese Hezbollah, which are terrorist organisations. We remain focused on pushing for an immediate ceasefire.' Asked if Mr Netanyahu would be arrested if he came to the UK, the PM's spokesman said: 'We are not going to get into hypotheticals.' It is understood the Government's position has not changed since Attorney General Richard Hermer said last month that it would comply with its legal obligations under the ICC. The Board of Deputies of British Jews said in a statement that the court has 'minimalised how Hamas fights - deliberately from within civilian infrastructure and cruelly using Palestinian civilians as human shields'. 'Democratic governments, and people around the world, should consider how they would have responded to an October 7th perpetrated against their country, involving mass murder, rape and hostage taking. 'We should all be focused on defeating the Hamas terrorists, liberating the hostages, ensuring that civilians in Gaza receive all necessary aid and working towards a sustainable peace for Israelis and Palestinians. The decision of the ICC is counter-productive in all these respects.' Shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick urged the Government not to 'enforce this farcical arrest warrant from a politicised court that is itself mired in scandal'. He tweeted: 'The ICC has no credibility as it turns a blind eye to the crimes of tyrants like Putin. Equating Israel's war of self-defence with Hamas's terrorism is absurd. This decision will only fuel the growing perception the ICC is a kangaroo court.' Shadow foreign secretary Priti Patel said the issuing of arrest warrants for the 'democratically elected leader of Israel and Israel's former defence minister is deeply concerning and provocative'. Mr Netanyahu said Israel 'rejects with disgust the absurd and false actions' 'The ICC are drawing a moral equivalence with the actions of the terrorist leadership of Hamas. 'The Conservative government did not believe the ICC has jurisdiction in this area, as Israel is not a signatory to the Rome statute, and because Palestine is not recognised as a state. The Labour Government must condemn and challenge the ICC's decision.' Former officer in the British Army, Colonel Richard Kemp, said Donald Trump would 'not look kindly' on countries that back the action. 'The Labour government is not doing Britain any favours by backing the court's decision which is contrary to British and American interests,' he said. The Mayor of Calais has labelled British calls for French border police to be tougher on illegal migration as 'pure hypocrisy' and pushed to scrap a deal between the two countries aimed at cracking down on Channel crossings. Natacha Bouchart asked why France should shell out millions of euros to prevent the crossings of small boats over the Channel only for migrants to be allowed to work illegally with little chance of being deported when they land on British shores. 'When the migrants arrive in Britain they work easily without documents. The British government must stop being in denial. 'In reality, they accept migrants passing through Calais so they have to change the system. The UK should be stopping people, not us. 'We think the French government and Europe aren't being tough enough on this toward the British government,' she told BBC Radio 4. Bouchart's latest comments come weeks after she called for a 'showdown' between Britain and France to decide a new migration policy, while Didier Leschi, France's Director General of the Office for Immigration, declared that migrants see Britain as an 'El Dorado' - a mythical country of riches. 'The issue for England is to have an internal system that appears to be an El Dorado - and probably wrongly so - since it's a country where you can work very easily without having a residence permit,' he said in September. The Mayor of Calais has labelled British calls for French border police to be tougher on illegal migration as 'pure hypocrisy' and pushed to scrap a deal between the two countries aimed at cracking down on Channel crossings Migrants board a smuggler's boat in an attempt to cross the English Channel, on the beach of Gravelines, near Dunkirk, northern France A Border Force vessel carrying around 100 migrants, including several children arrives at Dover port on October 31, 2024 in Dover, England Official figures show that more than 800 migrants crossed the English Channel last week alone as Sir Keir Starmer declared his government will do 'everything we can' to stem the flow of migrants into the UK. Speaking to reporters on the way to the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro earlier this week, Sir Keir said: 'I don't think this is an area where we should just do one thing. We have got to do everything that we can. 'I am absolutely clear in my mind that taking down the gangs is the single most effective way of stopping the boats going across the Channel. 'People are making a huge amount of money for the journeys people are making across obviously several countries to the north coast of France. 'Intercepting and taking those gangs down is hugely important and it will be one of the biggest disincentives if we can break the gangs that are running these.' Earlier this month the Prime Minister said people smugglers must be treated like 'terrorists' as part of efforts to crack down on Channel crossings. Meanwhile, France and Germany last month called on the UK to enter into talks for a Europe-wide deal on migration and asylum, hoping that discussions with a Labour government under Sir Keir Starmer may be more 'constructive'. German interior minister Nancy Faeser and former French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said Brexit had gravely affected 'the coherence of migration policies' and said the European Commission should 'rapidly' present 'a draft negotiating mandate' for talks with the UK on asylum and migration. Migration is a hot button topic in the EU with many member states noting a considerable rise in support for hard-right parties, largely put down to lax migration laws that have seen millions of migrants flow into Western Europe. France on November 1 reinforced its borders with six of its neighbouring Schengen members - namely Belgium, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Spain and Switzerland - with increased checks. The controls were applied to travellers entering France via land, sea and air routes from all six nations and will last until April 1, 2025 - but authorities have said they could be extended further. A French government statement declared the checks were introduced due to 'serious threats to public policy, public order, and internal security posed by high-level terrorist activities... criminal networks facilitating irregular migration and smuggling, and migration flows that risk infiltration by radicalised individuals'. It is the first time France has introduced such controls since the Covid-19 pandemic and could see migrants and unauthorised travellers turned back at the border and those suspected of criminal activity detained. Keir Starmer has insisted he is 'not relaxed' about net migration levels - which are forecast to fall, but remain at an historically-high 315,000 a year in the medium term A group of migrants are seen shortly after setting off on the perilous journey across the Channel British Border Force officials escort migrants into Dover Docks in Kent, United Kingdom The UK saw the biggest rise in legal immigration of any major country last year, according to a report. The OECD put Britain at the top of the international table after long-term inflows increased by nearly 53 per cent to a record 750,000. That was a larger increase than any other European state, and a more significant jump than the 13.4 per cent seen in the US. Sir Keir Starmer has insisted he is 'not relaxed' about net migration levels - which are forecast to fall, but remain at an historically-high 315,000 a year in the medium term. The latest report ignores Ukrainians seeking asylum amid the fallout from the Russian invasion. Overall OECD countries saw a total inflow of more than 6.5million people in 2023, up 10 per cent on the previous year and 28 per cent from 2019. 'Following an unprecedented increase in 2023, the United Kingdom rose to second place with a record 750,000 new migrants (250 000 more than in 2022, +52 per cent),' the report said. 'Germany, which had been the second OECD destination since 2012, fell to third place despite an increase of 4 per cent and nearly 700,000 new permanent-type entries. 'Canada followed with 470 000 new permanent migrants (+7.8 per cent), and Spain recorded a 12 per cent increase to 360 000.' The report pointed out that as well as the UK, Australia, Canada, France, Finland, Japan, Korea, Luxembourg and Switzerland all registered record immigration in 2023. Your browser does not support iframes. Overall OECD countries saw a total inflow of more than 6.5million people in 2023, up 10 per cent on the previous year and 28 per cent from 2019 In September Sir Keir set out measures to cut over-reliance on migrant labour and boost training in the UK to fill vacancies. He announced a push to link visa policies to skills needs, so that immigration is not used as an alternative to training or tackling workforce problems. The Migration Advisory Committee has been asked to highlight key sectors where labour market failures have led to soaring overseas recruitment and provide an annual assessment to ministers. The Government is also overhauling the rules around migrant sponsorship to ensure employers guilty of flouting employment laws are banned from hiring from abroad. The PM said at the time: 'It is the policy of this Government to reduce both net migration and our economic dependency on it. 'I have never thought we should be relaxed about some sectors importing labour when there are millions of young people, ambitious and highly talented, who are desperate to work and contribute.' A senior coroner accused a hospital of staging a 'cover-up' over the death of a newborn baby after midwives failed to spot clear signs of distress. Eli Hoy, 38, and her partner, Tijl Deutekom, 40, had planned a home birth under the care of community midwives, but due to a spike in her blood pressure, Ms Hoy was told to go to the maternity ward. After giving birth to Elton Deutekom at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in January 2022, the newborn baby was pronounced dead 37 minutes later. During his labour, Ms Hoy had a placental abruption, which is when when some or all of the placenta separates from the wall of the womb. Doctors at the west London hospital did not pick up this and Elton was starved of oxygen, according to the coroner. They also failed to refer the incident to the coroner and told the NHS's healthcare safety investigation branch (HSIB) that Elton had been stillborn, meaning no investigation was required, an inquest heard. Only after the parents learnt of this anomaly in the records were the serious failings in his care uncovered by the HSIB. Professor Fiona Wilcox, the senior coroner, said: 'I need to say this on the record and in public - this feels like there has been an attempt at a cover-up.' A senior coroner has accused Chelsea and Westminster Hospital of staging a 'cover-up' over the death of a newborn baby Doctors at the west London hospital, pictured, did not pick up that Ms Hoy had a placental abruption and Elton was starved of oxygen, according to the coroner 'I am concerned there is an element of cover-up in this death. I will say it categorically.' Concluding that Elton had died from natural causes to which neglect contributed, she said there had been 'gross' failings in his care. If the midwives had adequately monitored his heart rate and recognised Ms Hoy's oxygen deficiency, he could have been delivered earlier and would have survived. After Ms Hoy arrived at the hospital to give birth, she was in excruciating pain and started vomiting and shaking, however she was informed this was normal. As her labour progressed, cardiotocography monitoring of the baby failed to detect his heart rate, but this was not acted on by staff. Elton was eventually delivered by forceps and attempts to resuscitate him failed. A post-mortem concluded the probable cause of his death was hypoxia. Hoy and Deutekom told The Times: 'Knowing that Elton's death could have been avoided is both validating and deeply tragic. 'We believed that we were in a safe place, with the people and the technology surrounding us to help us. Maternity staff did not listen to our repeated concerns. They did not provide the basic level of monitoring. 'They did not act in our family's best interest. And they did not take accountability for it until now nearly three years later. Surely the medical community can do better. 'Please listen and trust women in distress, please act wisely and swiftly when they are in danger and please take accountability for your mistakes so that others don't have to suffer through the same fight for justice.' MailOnline has contacted Chelsea and Westminster Hospital for comment. An eco-building expert is suing a holiday company for 1.4million after a fridge door onboard the yacht she had chartered sliced off the end of her finger. Sara Turnbull sustained the horrifying injury during a Greek holiday in May 2018, which she says left her unable to draw or use a computer properly. The door sliced off her right middle finger, which she says led to her having to resign as a partner in an architecture firm and hire staff to help her in other consultancy work. She is now suing Brighton-based Neilson Active Holidays Ltd, the company she chartered the 32-foot six-person yacht from, blaming a 'flimsy' catch on the fridge door for her disastrous accident. But in a trial at London's High Court, the company denies liability and blames Ms Turnbull, claiming the fridge was safe and that she dropped the door 'accidentally' on to herself. Judge Simon Brown heard the accident happened after Ms Turnbull chartered one of Neilson Active's Greece-based fleet of Dufour 325 yachts in May 2018 for a week touring the Ionian Islands. Ms Turnbull, a chartered environmentalist with a masters in architecture who is also on the board of Transport for London, described how she was on the last day of her holiday when she was injured. She had gone to the heavy-lidded top-opening fridge and was grabbing a bottle of water when 'suddenly and without warning the fridge door slammed shut,' chopping off her fingertip. Eco-building expert Sarah Turnbull outside London's High Court, where she is seeking 1.4m in damages after losing her finger onboard a rented yacht Ms Turnbull chartered a 32-foot, six-person yacht to sail around the majestic Ionian Islands A generic shot believed to show the standard fridge on a Dufour 325 yacht, the model chartered by Ms Turnbull 'I held the hinged lid open with my left hand. The hinge clip popped open and my left hand couldn't hold the weight of the door,' she told the judge. 'The door slammed down.' She said a latch, which should have held the fridge door in place while open, had 'failed,' causing the door to suddenly drop down onto her hand. The court heard Ms Turnbull's career had been significantly impacted by the accident, with her having to quit as a partner in an architecture firm 'due to her inability to sketch and use a computer.' And she has also had to employ an administrative assistant and a managing director for her social enterprise consultancy Wild Work Ltd - which is currently helping create a community wild swimming location in Thamesmead - due to her reduced ability to type. Ms Turnbull claims that her injury was caused because the fridge lid could slam shut, rather than have a damped-closure mechanism, while it also had sharp corners and edges. In the witness box, she told the judge that she was not claiming the latch on the fridge lid was broken, but that it was 'flimsy' and prone to 'intermittent failure'. But for the company, barrister Linda Nelson argued that the accident was not caused by any fault on its part, but by Ms Turnbull's own actions, having dropped the door when she knew about the potential hazard due to a warning sign. Some of Neilson Active Holidays Ltd's fleet of yachts sit amid calm blue waters in Greece 'There is no good basis for finding that the latch was not in good working order,' she told the judge during a three-day trial last week. 'The claimant had used the fridge without incident for a week. She had seen the trap hazard warning sign. 'Our case is that the claimant dropped it accidentally on herself.' She said the fridge had been built by the yacht manufacturer as standard and that all of the company's Dufour 325 vessels have the same appliance fitted. Importantly, a sign on the lid warned of the hazard, while the yacht manager had checked it after the accident and found it worked in good order, she added. 'The fridge was not modified and the defendant has never had one fail or require fixing,' she continued. 'Dufour is one of the most well-known and established sailing yacht builders in the world. One of Neilson Active Holidays Ltd's Fleet of Dufour 325 yachts (not specifically the one rented by Ms Turnbull) 'Hundreds, if not thousands, of identical fridge lids have been installed on similar yachts around the world. 'Newer or more expensive yachts may have sophisticated damped-closing mechanisms, but that does not mean that the fittings on older models are inappropriate. 'The position is analogous to car bonnets: older/cheaper cars have a stick to hold the bonnet open; newer/more expensive cars use a damper. 'The galley space had been certified as compliant with safety regulations. 'The lid/closing mechanism were reasonably safe...the fridge posed no more risk than any other hinged door or top closing container...it did not have unreasonably sharp corners/edges.' 'She knew full well what the risks were and something went wrong. There's very little that the defendant should have done to keep her safe.' Ms Nelson said that Ms Turnbull's claimed losses include over 1million in lost future earnings, and that due to her reduced ability to type, draw and write she had to employ an administrative assistant and managing director for her company Wild Work Ltd. However, the judge is first being asked to decide whether the company was at fault before later going on to decide how much in compensation should be paid. At the end of the trial, he reserved his judgment in the case, to be given a later date. Alarming footage shows the moment a pair of thugs steal phones from two pedestrians in London before being chased by police officers in a helicopter. A Metropolitan Police video shows hooded thieves whizzing past their targets on e-bikes, snatching the mobiles from out of their hands within seconds of each other. These shocking acts were a part of a one-hour spree of phone thefts by the two men across central London - namely in Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea. The victims in the recording can be seen attempting to chase down the duo, but they have already sped off down the road and into the distance. However, justice was served almost immediately as the criminals were arrested by the force less than two hours after they committed the thefts. Officers and a helicopter team chased the crooks down, with aerial footage showing a man dressed head-to-toe in black weaving in and out of cars to get away. At one point, one of the men is seen charging down the road on his bike in the opposite direction of traffic. Bodycam footage then shows both men with their hands behind their head as tasers are pointed at them by officers at the entrance of their respective front doors. A Metropolitan Police video shows the moment the hooded thieves whizz past the victims on e-bikes and snatch the mobiles from out of their hands Bodycam footage then shows both men with their hands behind their head as tasers are pointed at them by officers at the entrance of their respective front doors Both men face a combined sentence of over 5 years The Met arrested both men and they now face a combined sentence of over 5 years. In a statement posted on social media, the force said: 'Caught in under 2 hours Officers and our helicopter team arrested two e-bike thieves who committed a series of phone snatches across Westminster and Kensington and Chelsea.' A top North Korean general was wounded in a Ukrainian strike in Russia's Kursk region, it has been revealed - days after a powerful British Storm Shadow missile was reportedly used to attack the area. Western officials confirmed that a high-ranking military officer from North Korea had become a casualty of the war in Ukraine for the first time yesterday, after Kim Jong Un sent some 10,000 troops to reinforce Putin's advancing lines in the region. The officials did not name the officer or say how he was wounded. Col. Gen. Kim Yong Bok was recently deployed to Russia to coordinate troop movements with Putin's forces, the WSJ reports. Ukraine claimed to have destroyed a building with an underground 'control room' believed to be housing Russian and North Korean officials this week after being given permission to use Western long-range missiles to strike targets deep within Russia. Ukrainian defence experts suggested on Wednesday that British Storm Shadow missiles may have been used in the attack, based on the debris and nature of the strike. The missiles struck a building with an underground 'control room' where Russian and North Korean military officials are believed to be holed up, according to Ukrainian defence experts Images being shared on social media show what appear to be fragments of a British Storm Shadow missile in Marino, Kursk Britain's Storm Shadow missiles are capable of dodging air defences - making them a nightmare attack weapon for their enemy Ukraine was reported to have fired UK-supplied Storm Shadows at targets inside Russia for the first time on Wednesday, the BBC reported. The government refused to comment on the reports for operational reasons. Ukrainian and American officials also declined to comment. But initial reports suggested Storm Shadows would be ideal for such an attack on a bunker. Up to 12 missiles were launched into the Kursk region, according to Russian reports. Ukrainian defence experts reported that 'the only logical explanation' for such a strike on such a facility 'is the presence of the command of the Russian Army group in the Kursk region, together with North Korean generals'. 'The Russian Federation began to complain that Ukraine had started using not only ballistic ATACMS, but also Storm Shadow / SCALP cruise missiles on its territory. 'In particular, there is a video from the Kursk region from the village of Marino. A rather large number of missiles were used for the attack.' The publication cautioned that the target of the strike remains speculative. The Wall Street Journal subsequently cited unnamed Western officials claiming a 'senior North Korean general' was wounded in a 'recent Ukrainian strike' in Kursk. The United States and South Korea have accused the nuclear-armed North of sending more than 10,000 soldiers to help Russia fight Ukraine, with experts saying Kim Jong Un was eager to gain advanced technology, and battle experience for his troops, in return. Asked what Seoul believes the North has received for the deployment, South Korea's top security advisor Shin Won-sik said: "It has been identified that equipment and anti-aircraft missiles aimed at reinforcing Pyongyang's vulnerable air defense system have been delivered to North Korea." North Korean leader Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a strategic partnership treaty in June, during the Kremlin chief's visit. It obligates both states to provide military assistance "without delay" in the case of an attack on the other and to cooperate internationally to oppose Western sanctions. Putin hailed the deal as a "breakthrough document". Experts say Pyongyang could be using Ukraine as a means of realigning foreign policy. By sending soldiers, North Korea is positioning itself within the Russian war economy as a supplier of weapons, military support and labour - potentially bypassing its traditional ally, neighbour and main trading partner, China, according to analysts. One image shows a written indentation on a chunk of metal reading: 'Storm Shadow' The 800,000 rockets use GPS technology to precisely blast targets, and can travel through the air at 600mph Ukrainian servicemen fire a Howitzer towards Russian troops at the frontline, November 18 A serviceman of the 24th Mechanized brigade named after King Danylo of the Ukrainian Armed Forces fires a 120-mm mortar towards Russian troops at a frontline, November 19 The attack on Kursk is believed to be the first time Ukraine has used British Storm Shadows to strike into Russia, after the US set precedent with permission for use of ATACMS long-range missiles against Russian targets. Britain conceded permission to use them against targets within Ukraine earlier this year. Used in Russia, the missiles will allow Ukraine to take out military targets and airbases previously unreachable and capable of hitting hard into Ukraine. Unconfirmed images and footage posted to X/Twitter have shown residents in the village of Marino, Kursk, stumbling upon fragments of the missile. One image shows a resident holding a thick chunk of broken metal in their hand, while another reveals a written indentation reading: 'Storm Shadow'. Britain's Storm Shadow missiles are capable of dodging air defences - making them a nightmare attack weapon for their enemy. The 800,000 rockets use GPS technology to precisely blast targets, and can travel through the air at 600mph. Storm Shadow - called Scalp by the French - is a weapon equipped with a navigation system that once launched, descends to a low altitude to avoid detection before locking onto its target using an infra-red seeker. On the final approach, the missile climbs to a higher altitude to maximise the chances of hitting the target. On impact, it penetrates the target before a delayed fuse detonates the main warhead. British Storm Shadow missiles have a range of up to 180miles, meaning Ukraine could now have the ability to strike targets inside Russia. The UK first confirmed it would supply Ukraine with Storm Shadow missiles in May last year, for use on Russian-occupied territory in Ukraine. Then-defence secretary Ben Wallace had touted that the weapons would give Ukraine the 'best chance' of defending itself. Your browser does not support iframes. Vladimir Putin's TV propagandists called for Britain to be obliterated with nuclear weapons, amid earlier claims that Ukraine had used Storm Shadow missiles inside Russian territory. One Kremlin mouthpiece proposed dropping Russia's Satan-2 missile, widely described as 'the world's deadliest weapon', on Trafalgar Square, while another urged Putin to use the new Poseidon high speed underwater drone and sink the UK under a 'radioactive tidal wave'. This came just days after outgoing US President Joe Biden gave war-torn Ukraine permission to use long-range missiles to strike deep inside Russia earlier this week. The decision was a major US policy shift and comes as Biden is about to leave office and President-elect Donald Trump has pledged to limit American support for Ukraine and end the war as soon as possible. The weapons are thought to be used in response to North Korea's decision to send thousands of troops to Russia in support of Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine, according to one of the sources. Biden hopes that this response will 'send a message' to Kim Jong Un not to send any more, sources said. US Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) is seen in action Joe Biden finally gave Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky permission at the weekend to use US-supplied missiles in attacks within Russia A massive explosion at an ammunition depot in Karachev around 75 miles from the Ukrainian border in Russia's Bryansk region illuminated the night sky on Tuesday morning on what was the 1,000th day of war in Ukraine. Eyewitnesses along with Russian and Ukrainian military bloggers first reported the attack, with anonymous Ukrainian military officials later telling the strike was conducted with the US-manufactured ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile System). Following the Ukraine-led attack, and amid growing concerns around a potential WW3, European nations have begun gearing up for an all out war on the continent as Putin officially lowered the threshold for Moscow to consider a nuclear strike. Germany's foreign minister yesterday vowed her country 'will not be intimidated' by Putin, just one day after German media revealed the nation will transform into a NATO staging ground if the conflict to the East should escalate. According to a 1,000-page document entitled 'Operationsplan Deutschland', Germany would reportedly host hundreds of thousands of troops from NATO countries and serve as a logistics hub for sending huge quantities of military equipment, food and medicine toward the front. Finland reminded its citizens of their 'national defence obligation' and recently launched a new information website, while Sweden laid out a detailed guide on how to seek shelter and what to do in case of a nuclear attack. Snowflakes are illuminated during live firing of the British Army's new Archer Mobile Howitzer gun near Rovaniemi in the Arctic Circle British Army soldiers and armoured vehicles are taking part in the Arctic drills A Swedish artillery team fires a projectile from an Archer self-propelled Howitzer during the NATO 'Exercise Lightning Strike' on November 20, 2024 near Heinu, Finland. The live-fire exercise includes service members from 28 Allied and partner nations, and is taking place between November 4 to November 24, across locations in Finland, Estonia, Germany, Poland, and Romania The US is also set to provide Ukraine's army with shipments of landmines to slow the advance of Russian ground troops as Putin's forces wear down Ukrainian defensive lines in Donetsk. Officials in Washington confirmed this week that American anti-personnel mines would be sent to Ukraine on the proviso the punishing weapons are only used to repel Russian attacks on Ukrainian territory. Meanwhile, NATO is holding its largest-ever artillery exercise just 70 miles from the border where the British Army is testing what military chiefs have described as a 'game-changing' weapon. Finland, which joined the military alliance last year, is hosting up to 3,600 soldiers from 28 nations for the exercise, known as Dynamic Front. Live fire drills began on Sunday in the northern Lapland region, and are part of a series of exercises, with further ones planned in Estonia, Germany, Romania and Poland. The British Army is using the opportunity to put its Archer 155-mm guns to the test, weapons which can release high explosive shells or GPS-guided munitions and hit targets 30 miles away. Covid most likely came from a lab leak in China and its origins were 'obviously' the subject of a cover-up by Beijing, a top British epidemiologist has said. Professor Tim Spector, who co-created the Zoe symptom tracker app and was given an OBE for his work during the pandemic response, questioned whether the virus could have been manipulated by scientists before it was allegedly leaked. 'I don't think there's any doubt that this virus emanated in China, in a place near Wuhan,' The King's College London epidemiology professor told the Zoe podcast. 'The question is, did this come from bats? Did it come from a lab that was working on this virus and manipulating it to make it grow faster? Or was it a totally artificially generated virus to?' Covid-19 emerged in Wuhan, central China, with differing theories among scientists over whether it could have come from the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) or a wet market in the region. Debate has raged about the source of the pandemic that claimed 7 million lives globally and more than 200,000 in the UK. The theory that it was a lab leak gained traction after being shared by the chief of the FBI, who stated last year that the origins of the pandemic 'are most likely a potential lab incident'. Professor Spector said that Covid has proven that labs across the world should be more strictly monitored and be treated with the same seriousness as a nuclear threat, warning that it 'could happen again in another lab if were not careful.' Covid-19 emerged in Wuhan, central China, with differing theories among scientists over whether it could have come from the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) or a wet market in the region Professor Tim Spector co-created the Zoe symptom tracker app and was given an OBE for supporting the pandemic response with his work He also highlighted claims at US congressional hearings that Chinese and American labs had worked together to study the infectiousness of coronaviruses and how to 'control or speed them up'. Describing a potential cover-up, he pointed to 'the trail of shredded documents and email exchange between the US and China at the time.' He added that 'there was a very obvious cover-up very early on by various governments saying we have to get a report out there saying this is all down to bats so people aren't going to blame labs and scientists to keep that credibility going.' 'I don't think the idea that someone built a virus from scratch would be very easy to do. So I think it's more likely that was a mistake rather than anything deliberate, but I think these were people working with hazardous viruses that got out of control rather than it being a plot,' he said.' The pandemic government adviser described it as his 'personal view' and added that 'there are views on all sides of this.' In September, a major international study rejected the popular theory, stating instead that the virus began life in a 'wet market' in Wuhan rather than in a scientific experiment. Researchers tested genetic samples of animals that were sold in Wuhan market stalls in 2019 and found traces of the Covid virus in some species. They claimed to have pinpointed animals that may have been responsible for its transmission to humans. It has also emerged that American and Chinese scientists sought to create a Covid-like virus just a year before the pandemic began 'This adds another layer to the accumulating evidence that all points to the same scenario: that infected animals were introduced into the market in mid-to late November 2019, which sparked the pandemic,' said author of the study Kristian Andersen from Scripps Research. The raccoon dog, a fox-like animal common in East Asia, was suggested to be the biggest carrier of the virus. Other animals such as masked palm civets, hoary bamboo rats and Malayan porcupines were also found to be carrying Covid-19 before it spread to humans. This is not a definitive list as many of the key animal species were cleared out from the market before the Chinese health team arrived, said Florence Debarre of the French National Centre for Scientific Research, who led the study. The scientists note that many of the early cases in Wuhan, a city of 12 million people, were workers from the market. However, supporters of the lab leak theory have been backed up by the findings of Australian and American researchers who used a risk analysis tool to determine the chances the SARS-CoV-2 virus was of 'unnatural' or 'natural' origin. It found that Covid had a strong likelihood of being of 'unnatural' origin, though the researchers caveated this by saying that the 'risk assessment cannot prove the origin of [Covid], but shows that the possibility of a laboratory origin cannot be easily dismissed.' It has also emerged that American and Chinese scientists sought to create a Covid-like virus just a year before the pandemic began. Records - obtained by freedom of information requests in December 2023 - laid out a plan to 'engineer spike proteins' to infect human cells that would then be 'inserted into SARS-Covid backbones' at WIV in December 2018. This photo taken on April 15, 2020 shows vendors wearing face masks as they offer prawns for sale at the Wuhan Baishazhou Market in Wuhan in China's central Hubei province The proposal was made by the EcoHealth Alliance, a New York nonprofit that channels US government grants abroad to fund these types of experiments. Ultimately, the application was denied by the US Department of Defense, but critics say the plans laid out in the proposal served as a 'blueprint' for how to create Covid. Talking about the implications of the study, Australian biosecurity expert Dr Raina MacIntyre told Daily Mail Australia: 'For policy, this [study] matters because we have more control over prevention of unnatural outbreaks, many of which arise from simple human error or inadequate biosafety. 'Poor biosafety procedures in bat sampling and at the Wuhan Institute of Virology were documented but lab accidents are common all over the world.' But in May he acknowledged the army would run out of ammo in two months A top military official has declared the British Army would be ready to fight Vladimir Putin's forces 'tonight' if Russia were to invade another European nation in addition to Ukraine. Lt. Gen Sir Rob Magowan, the deputy chief of the British defence staff, told the House of Commons defence committee yesterday afternoon: 'If the British Army was asked to fight tonight, it would fight tonight. 'I don't think anybody in this room should be under any illusion that if the Russians invaded eastern Europe tonight, then we would meet them in that fight.' His bold statement followed hours after Russia's ambassador to the UK warned that Ukraine's use of Storm Shadow missiles on Russian territory means Britain 'is now directly involved in this war'. 'This firing cannot happen without NATO staff, British staff as well,' Andrei Kelin told Sky News this afternoon - a day after British-made rockets battered a military base in Russia's Kursk region. However, Magowan's declaration belies the state of the UK's military capabilities. In May, he acknowledged that Britain's soldiers would run out of ammunition and equipment in a war against Putin's Russia in less than two months. Meanwhile, Defence Secretary John Healey is currently embarking on a military cost-cutting mission, having announced the decommissioning of two former Royal Navy flagships, a frigate and a pair of support tankers earlier this week. Healey, who was appointed Defence Secretary by Sir Keir Starmer following Labour's election victory in July, said he was dealing with a 'dire inheritance from the Tories, the state of the forces often hidden to Parliament, billion-pound black holes in defence plans, taxpayers' funds being wasted and military morale down to record lows'. The Government is carrying out a strategic defence review, which will set out the path to spending 2.5 per cent of gross domestic product on defence although no timetable has yet been set out for that spending commitment. A muzzle flash lights up pine trees as the British Army's new Archer Mobile Howitzer gun fires, as British Army soldiers take part in training near Rovaniemi in the Arctic Circle, Finland Lt. Gen Sir Rob Magowan told the House of Commons defence committee yesterday afternoon: 'If the British Army was asked to fight tonight, it would fight tonight' Security camera footage out of the central-eastern city of Dnipro showed several projectiles streaking in and detonating after Russia launched a new hypersonic missile yesterday A grab taken from handout footage released by Russia's Defence Ministry on March 1 purports to show the test firing of an ICBM belonging to the country's nuclear deterrence forces Magowan's declaration of Britain's readiness to engage Putin's troops comes a day after British and European leaders decried a 'clear and deeply concerning escalation' in the Ukraine conflict when Russian forces struck the city of Dnipro with an advanced hypersonic missile yesterday morning. Ukraine's air force initially reported Russia had deployed an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), with shocking footage showing how multiple warheads rained down over the plants of state-owned aerospace and defence manufacturer Yuzmash. But Putin later on Thursday said Russia had launched an 'Oreshnik', one of its newest intermediate-range missiles. He said it travelled at 10 times the speed of sound, rendering Ukrainian air defences powerless to shoot it down. Russian sources said the range was 5,000km (3,100 miles), allowing Russia to strike most of Europe and the west coast of the United States. The Pentagon meanwhile said the missile that Russia fired was based on the RS-26 Frontier - a nuclear-capable ICBM - but had been redesigned. US defence officials also confirmed Moscow had warned Washington ahead of the launch through nuclear risk reduction channels to avoid triggering early launch warning alarms and a possible response. The shocking strike on Ukraine comes as NATO holds its largest-ever artillery exercise just 70 miles from the Russian border where the British Army is testing what military chiefs have described as a 'game-changing' weapon. Finland, which joined the military alliance last year, is hosting up to 3,600 soldiers from 28 nations for the exercise, known as Dynamic Front. Live fire drills began on Sunday in the northern Lapland region, and are part of a series of exercises, with further ones planned in Estonia, Germany, Romania and Poland. The British Army is using the opportunity to put its Archer 155-mm guns to the test, weapons which can release high explosive shells or GPS-guided munitions and hit targets 30 miles away. The guns have been labelled a battlefield game-changer by British troops, with Major Barney Ingram telling the i newspaper that 'you can, realistically, with this capability, neutralise most targets'. The British Army's new Archer Mobile Howitzer gun, as British Army soldiers take part in training near Rovaniemi in the Arctic Circle, Finland. Picture date: Tuesday November 19, 2024 Rescue workers put out a fire of a building which was heavily damaged by a Russian strike on Dnipro, Ukraine Zelensky said Russian leader Vladimir Putin was using Ukraine as a weapons-testing ground Security cameras caught the moment several projectiles streaked through the night sky and triggered a series of violent explosions in Dnipro. The ferocity, speed and coordinated nature of the salvos suggested the explosions were caused by MIRVs (multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicles). MIRVs are typically a feature of nuclear ICBMs designed for full-scale attacks on targets thousands of miles away. Experts said the use of an ICBM or advanced hypersonic weapon to deliver a non-nuclear strike would be very costly, but would serve to illustrate how Moscow could dramatically escalate the conflict. Dr Ruth Deyermond, Senior Lecturer in Post-Soviet Security at King's College London, told MailOnline: 'This strike has no obvious military value - they could achieve the same objectives without sacrificing (an ICBM or advanced missile). 'It looks very much as if it's signalling to the West what Russia could do if it chose to - launch a nuclear-armed missile. But it's actually a sign of weakness,' she added. 'The Russian government knows what would happen to it if they did attempt to use any kind of nuclear weapon, so they have to resort to bluffing.' Dr Mattias Eken, a defence and security analyst at RAND Europe, added: 'The reported range of 700km falls short of the typical intercontinental range, casting doubt on its classification as a full-fledged ICBM. 'Nevertheless, such a strike could have a symbolic value,' he concluded. 'It seems that the message that Putin and Russia is trying to send to the West is: we too have missiles that can strike anywhere in the world. Particularly after the US allowed ATACMS/Storm Shadow to target Russia, Putin may have felt compelled to demonstrate Russia's ability to use long-range missiles as well.' Footage of the strike was released as Russia also threatened to strike US air bases in Poland with 'advanced weapons' in an alarming statement yesterday. Moscow said the opening of a new US ballistic missile defence base in Redzikowo near the Baltic coast will 'increase the overall level of nuclear danger', adding it could be considered a future target. '(The base) has been added to the list of priority targets for potential destruction which, if necessary, can be executed with a wide range of advanced weapons,' Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova concluded. Zakharova's statement came minutes after Ukraine's air force first reported the possible ICBM strike, claiming it was fired from a base in Russia's southern Astrakhan region on the Caspian Sea. In a bizarre twist, Zakharova's press conference was interrupted by a phone call in which the speaker appeared to tell the Foreign Ministry spokeswoman about the ICBM strike before instructing her not to comment on it. A man's voice was faintly heard saying: 'Masha, ballistic missile strikes on Yuzhmash. The Westerners are talking about it now. Don't comment at all.' Yesterday's strike was carried out after Ukraine used US ATACMS and British Storm Shadow missiles to demolish targets inside Russia following approval by Sir Keir Starmer this week - something Moscow had warned for months would be seen as a major escalation. Defence Secretary Healey refused to be drawn into confirming reports that Kyiv deployed the British long-range missiles, but said Ukraine faces a 'serious moment' in its defence against the Russian invasion. The Prime Minister meanwhile insisted UK support for Ukraine is 'always for self-defence' and compliant with international law, as he accused Putin of wanting 'destruction not peace'. Russia this morning allegedly fired an intercontinental ballistic missile as part of a brutal barrage of targets in Ukraine Maria Zakharova took an urgent phone call and was urged not to comment on the reports Russia's military had until yesterday deployed smaller, slower Iskander missiles and a handful of hypersonic Kinzhal projectiles alongside hundreds upon hundreds of attack drones to destroy targets in Ukraine. The advanced missile that struck Dnipro on Thursday morning reportedly launched from the Kapustin Yar range in Astrakhan in Southern Russia - roughly 700km from Dnipro. Putin's forces used the region as a launchpad for strikes during the intervention in Syria in 2015. Ukrainska Pravda cited anonymous sources saying the rocket may have been an RS-26 'Frontier', a solid-fuelled, nuclear-capable rocket that was first successfully tested in 2012. The Frontier missile weighs roughly 36 tonnes with a maximum range of up to 3,600 miles/5,800km. It flies at such a speed that Ukraine's rudimentary air defence systems would be powerless to intercept its warheads. The Pentagon later said that the missile used by Russia was indeed based on the RS-26, but was not a fully fledged ICBM. The Storm Shadow missiles struck a building with an underground 'control room' where Russian and North Korean military officials are believed to be holed up Russian President Vladimir Putin, listens to a report by First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov, during a one-on-one meeting at the Kremlin, November 20, 2024 The Russian attack targeted enterprises and critical infrastructure in Dnipro as well as other sites across the country, Ukraine's air force said, at a time of escalating moves in the 33-month-old war. The Kremlin deployed Tu-95MS strategic bombers to launch cruise missiles and MiG-31K fighters to fire hypersonic Kinzhal rockets in a calculated bid to plunge Ukraine into darkness as a bitter winter approaches. In Dnipro, regional governor Serhiy Lysak said the missile attack caused damage to an industrial enterprise and set off fires. No casualty figures were available. Some Russian missiles reportedly struck the towns of Kremenchuk and Myrhorod, while areas in Kyiv, Odesa and Sumy regions suffered blackouts as the electrical grid gave out. The mass bombardment of Ukraine prompted NATO to scramble F-16 warplanes over neighbouring Poland as ground-based air defence and radar systems were put on the 'highest state of readiness' amid the attack. Ukraine's air force reported air defences shot down six Kh-101 cruise missiles. Responding to Zakharova's statements on the opening of the Redzikowo air defence base, a Polish foreign ministry spokesman pointed out there were no nuclear missiles at the facility and that it is purely defensive in nature. 'Such threats will certainly serve as an argument to strengthen Poland's and NATO's air defences, and should also be considered by the United States,' added the spokesman, Pawel Wronski. The facility, opened on November 13, forms part of a broader NATO missile shield called 'Aegis Ashore' designed to intercept short- and intermediate-range ballistic weapons. Aegis Ashore constitutes a network of bases that use radar tracking systems from the US Navy's Aegis warships to identify and shoot down oncoming missiles with American SM-3 rockets. There are currently two sites online, one in Romania and one in Poland, reinforced by an early warning system based in Turkey and US Navy ships in Spain. The RS-26 or Frontier missiles weigh up to 50 tonnes and have a 3,600 mile-range, although they have never been used in combat The wide-ranging attacks by Russia this morning come on Ukraine's annual Day of Dignity and Freedom Poland scrambled NATO F-16 aircraft this morning for air defence patrols amid the attack on Ukraine The Aegis Ashore Poland missile defence system on the occasion of an official ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Naval Support Facility in Redzikowo, Poland in November 13, 2024 Poland's President Andrzej Duda speaks standing in front of the deck house of the Aegis Ashore missile defence system is seen in Redzikowo, northern Poland in November 13, 2024 The wide-ranging attacks by Russia were carried out on Ukraine's annual Day of Dignity and Freedom, honouring the beginning of its struggle for independence and liberty. President Zelensky said in an address Thursday: 'We remember the real price of freedom for Ukraine. 'And we do not forget all our people of different times who fought for Ukraine and became a model of dignity for the world. 'Thanks to people, thanks to the desire of our people to preserve freedom and independence for Ukraine, our state will always be on the political map of the world. Always free and sovereign.' The bombardment came a day after Kyiv launched UK-supplied Storm Shadow missiles at targets in Kursk. Fragments of the missiles that struck a military facility in the Russian town of Marino were recovered by military bloggers on Wednesday afternoon, with unverified pictures shared widely on social media. The Mail understands the attacks, which followed Ukraine firing US-supplied ATACMS missiles on Tuesday, were personally approved by Sir Keir Starmer. Russia officially acknowledged the strikes, saying its air defences shot down two of the projectiles along with six HIMARS rockets and 67 drones. Russian military bloggers said 18 Russian and North Korean servicemen were killed in that attack with dozens more injured, though the defence ministry has not commented. Asked to confirm reports Storm Shadow had been used by Ukraine, Defence Secretary John Healey said: 'I won't be drawn on the operational details of the conflict. 'It risks both operational security and in the end the only one that benefits from such a public debate is President Putin.' President-elect Donald Trump's team has warned Republican Senators that they will have to face primaries funded by billionaire Elon Musk if they vote against his Cabinet nominees. According to ABC Washington Correspondent Jonathan Karl, one Trump adviser said: 'If you are on the wrong side of the vote, you're buying yourself a primary. That is all. And there's a guy named Elon Musk who is going to finance it'. 'The president gets to decide his cabinet. No one else', the adviser added. The ominous threat comes after Trump's nominee to be attorney general Matt Gaetz withdrew his nomination after admitting a slew of sordid sex misconduct claims were a distraction for the president-elect The former Republican lawmaker faces mounting sexual misconduct allegations involving a minor as well as the use of illicit drugs. Gatez's withdrawal came after the House Ethics Committee deadlocked on releasing a report into allegations against him. Gaetz has already resigned from the House of Representatives for this term but was re-elected to the Congress that will be sworn into office on January 3rd. Trump recently stunned Washington as he has been plucking celebrities and prominent figures from cable television to fill his Cabinet and administration. Donald Trump's team has warned Republican Senators that they will have to face primaries funded by billionaire Elon Musk if they vote against his Cabinet nominees The warning comes after Trump stunned Washington as he has been plucking unexpected figures to fill his Cabinet and administration It comes as Trump's nominee to be attorney general Matt Gaetz withdrew his nomination in the wake of a sexual misconduct allegations In doing so, he has ignored more traditional candidates favored by the political establishment. On Tuesday, Trump selected daytime television celebrity doctor Dr. Oz as the administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, sending shockwaves through the health industry and federal regulators. Trump also sparked alarm among national security leaders in Washington after he selected Fox and Friends host Pete Hegseth to serve as his Secretary of Defense. He also nominated Robert F. Kennedy to be his secretary of Health and Human Services, a decision that sent shockwaves through the public health sector given Kennedy's reputation as an anti-vaxxer. Trump also officially tapped Tesla CEO Musk as the head of the newly created 'Department of Government Efficiency' alongside former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. The president-elect pledged the pair would help him 'dismantle' government bureaucracy and 'slash excess regulations, cut wasteful spending, and restructure Federal Agencies'. A man has been shot dead on a busy street of inner Sydney, prompting a major police operation. The shooter remains on the run after police were called to Baptist Street in Surry Hills after locals reported hearing gunshots at 7.45pm on Friday. Officers found a man, in his 30s, near the carpark of a BP petrol station on the corner of Crown and Cleveland Streets where it is believed the shooting took place. Paramedics treated the man for a gunshot wound but he died at the scene. A blood-soaked white sheet was seen covering the man's body as paramedics desperately worked to revive him. A Porsche, believed to be the getaway car, was found on fire in neary Kensington about an hour later. Swarms of emergency responders were seen securing the intersection of Cleveland and Bourke Streets as the police operation got underway. Dozens of police officers, at least five emergency vehicles and a Polair helicopter were called to the scene. A man has been shot dead in Surry Hills, in inner Sydney, on Friday night Paramedics worked to revive the man but he was unable to be saved A local who was dining nearby told Daily Mail Australia she heard three gunshots go off in the direction of the BP. Witnesses had reported seeing the gunman jump from a car before the shooting. 'He was then seen jumping into another car after the shooting, before fleeing the scene,' a police officer told the Daily Telegraph. Another witness said they saw a 'bloodied' man after the shooting. A major police operation is unfolding in Surry Hills Others described the police operation as 'chaos' as hundreds of onlookers out for dinner and drinks gathered while emergency workers tried to redirect traffic. Businesses were forced to close up shop and patrons were told to leave immediately as officers scrambled to secure the area. Cleveland Street has been fully cordoned off by police and sections of Bourke and Crown Streets have also been restricted. Drivers have been asked to avoid the area. An investigation has been launched and homicide detectives called in. Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. 'Radioactive' waste has been found inside bin bags near a primary school leading to at least a dozen homes being evacuated in London. A cleaner called police to the road in Hammersmith, West London, after he made the shocking discovery whilst clearing out the property of elderly 'hoarders'. Emergency crews were called to the scene at 7pm on Thursday and specialist police officers swarmed the area as residents were evacuated from nearby homes. Others were warned not to enter the street until it was safe, with one neighbour saying they couldn't get back into their home after work because the street was blocked off. The cleaner, working for a private firm, had been hired to empty the semi-detached council house in Bentworth Road with a colleague. The pair decided to take the rubbish bags to a scrap dealer, who told them they were radioactive after scanning them at the tip. One of the cleaners, called George, told the Metro that he believed a 90-year-old woman lived in the property when she died, while a male occupant was now in a home. He added that the couple were 'serious hoarders' who 'hadn't thrown anything away in years', with every room in the property 'filled with items'. Emergency services have cordoned off a road in Hammersmith after 'radioactive' waste was discovered at a property Emergency crews were called to the scene at 7pm on Thursday Specialist police officers swarmed the street after a cleaner found an item which contained 'a harmful/chemical substance' George said: 'I took one load of bin bags and rubbish to the tip and when they scanned it they said I couldn't leave it here because it was radioactive. 'They scanned it in the scrapyard, and anything that goes through it and beeps they don't let you take in.' The cleaners claimed they can't remember what was in the bags as there was 'so much rubbish' and believed the occupants had been hoarding for 'decades'. One neighbour, who was forced to sit outside their house during last night's ordeal, also confirmed that the occupants had both been 'really old' and were 'serious hoarders'. They told the Metro: 'They were very nice people; they were serious hoarders. There place is just full you can't even move in there place. 'They were both really old. The old lady passed away last Christmas and he has been in a home for a few months now. 'Nobody else was living there, I think they must have had their whole life in that house, and it looked like they never threw anything away.' Specialist officers who are trained to deal with chemical, biological, radiation and nuclear incidents were present at the scene last night The 'radioactive' waste was found inside bin bags near Ark Bentworth Primary Academy in Hammersmith Specialist officers who are trained to deal with chemical, biological, radiation and nuclear incidents were present at the scene last night - which is situated 100 yards away from Ark Bentworth Primary Academy. They discovered a non-dangerous antique item, which is believed to be a WWII compass containing a small amount of radium, which is not harmful. The force said the incident was swiftly stood down and residents were returned to their homes that evening. A Met Police spokesperson said: 'We were called after a person found an item they believed contained a harmful/chemical substance it was checked and found to be safe. 'No further action.' A 'controlled explosion' has been carried out by police outside the US embassy in London after a suspicious 'hoax device' sparked panic. Witnesses said roads around the embassy were closed to traffic and armed police officers and the fire service were at the scene in Nine Elms. A 'loud bang' was reported in the area shortly after a cordon was put into place. The Met confirmed this was a 'controlled explosion' as part of their investigation. A statement from the embassy, posted on X, read: 'Local authorities are investigating a suspicious package outside the U.S. Embassy in London. 'Met Police are present and have closed Ponton Road out of an abundance of caution. We will provide further updates when available.' The force said later: 'Initial indications are that the item was a hoax device. An investigation will now follow. Some cordons will remain in place for the time being but the majority of the police response will now be stood down.' Witnesses said roads around the embassy were closed to traffic and armed police officers and the fire service are at the scene The roads around the embassy were closed off in what the embassy called 'an abundance of caution' as a controlled explosion was carried this morning A cordon is in place around the embassy after officers were alerted to a 'suspicious package' A police cordon near the US Embassy in Nine Elms, London, where Metropolitan Police officers have carried out a 'controlled explosion' after reports of a suspicious package Videos from inside the embassy showed dozens of people on the ground floor waiting for the incident to conclude An American soldier is seen inside the US embassy as British police officers stood guard outside Armed police vehicles, canine units and the fire service rushed to the scene on Friday morning Videos on social media showed dozens of people stuck inside the building, sitting on floors or standing in corridors. Local MP for Labour Marsha de Cordova said: 'I am in touch with local police regarding this incident in the vicinity of the US Embassy this morning. I will update as I receive more information.' A spokesperson for the Met Police said: 'We're aware of speculation online about an incident in the vicinity of the US Embassy in Nine Elms. 'Cordons are in place in the area as a precaution while officers investigate a suspect package. 'We can confirm that the 'loud bang' reported in the area a short time ago was a controlled explosion carried out by officers. 'Enquiries are still ongoing and cordons will remain in place for the time being.' The Met later added initial inquiries suggested that a 'hoax device' had been left at the embassy. 'An investigation will now follow. Some cordons will remain in place for the time being but the majority of the police response will now be stood down,' a spokesperson said. The five remaining prisoners from the infamous Bali Nine group are set to be sent home to Australia from Indonesia next month. Australians Matthew Norman, Martin Stephens, Si Yi Chen, Scott Rush and Michael Czugaj are all serving life sentences in squalid Balinese prisons. In 2005, them and four other Australians were arrested by Indonesian authorities as they attempted to smuggle 8.3kg of heroin strapped to their bodies from the holiday island. Tan Duc Thanh Nguyen died from cancer in 2018, while Renae Lawrence was released in the same year after her life sentence was reduced to 20 years on appeal. The masterminds of the drug plot, Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, were executed by firing squad in 2015 on Nusa Kambangan or 'Prison Island'. On Friday, coordinating minister for legal affairs, human rights, immigration and corrections Yusril Ihza Mahendra told The Weekend Australian Anthony Albanese had requested the prisoners be transferred to Australia. 'The Indonesia President responded that they are currently reviewing and processing the matter, and it is expected to be carried out in December,' he said. He added Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke had earlier requested that 'Australian nationals convicted of drug offences and serving sentences in various prisons be transferred to Australia'. Australians Matthew Norman, Martin Stephens, Si Yi Chen, Scott Rush (pictured Rush in 2005) and Michael Czugaj are all serving life sentences in squalid Balinese prisons Pictured top left to right is Bali Nine members Myuran Sukumaran, Scott Rush, Tach Duc Thanh Nguyen, Renae Lawrence, and bottom row left to right Si Yi Chen, Matthew Norman, Michael Czugaj, Martin Stephen and Andrew Chan The Bali Nine arrest caused widespread controversy because the tip they were carrying drugs came from the Australian Federal Police, who could have allowed them to land in Australia where they wouldn't have faced the death penalty. Rush - whose death sentence was changed to a life sentence in 2011 - moved to Karangasem jail in Bali's east in early 2014. In December, 2019, Rush vowed to become an anti-drugs campaigner in an emotional letter pleading for his life sentence to be reduced. 'I sincerely apologise to the government and citizens of Indonesia for the shameful impact my action caused to the country of Indonesia and its people,' the letter read. Bali Nine member Michael Czugaj is seen in 2006 The Queenslander said he would like to become an 'anti-drugs ambassador' to make a positive contribution to society. The impassioned letter came after photos were leaked in 2014 which appeared to show Rush smoking crack cocaine in Kerobokan Prison. Meanwhile, Lawrence, the only Bali Nine member to have been released back into society, said she had struggled to find normality. She'd earlier pleaded for the remaining five prisoners to have their sentences reduced. She said staying locked up was 'like a death sentence' for the remaining five. 'We all did something stupid, we all regret it, but everybody deserves a second chance,' Lawrence said in February, 2020. 'If this doesn't happen, they have got no hope, they'll lose hope and the end will be devastating.' Vladimir Putin's experimental hypersonic rocket unleashed on Ukraine for the first time yesterday could strike any city in Europe in under 20 minutes, it is feared. Ukraine's air force raised the alarm early Thursday morning that Russia's forces had deployed an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) as security cameras captured the moment multiple warheads rained down over the city of Dnipro. Putin later revealed the strike was conducted by the 'Oreshnik' - a never-before-seen intermediate-range ballistic missile (IBRM) - in response to Ukraine's use of UK-supplied Storm Shadow rockets to hit targets in Russia's Kursk region. The weapon is not as powerful or fast as Russia's most fearsome ICBMs like the RS-24 Yars, which is capable of unleashing several separate nuclear warheads anywhere in the US after flying through space at 19,000mph. But the 'Oreshnik' is still a hypersonic projectile that can fly at 10 times the speed of sound - or around 7,600mph - up to a range of roughly 5,000km, or 3,100 miles, according to Russian military sources. If the missile was launched from the Kapustin Yar range in Russia's southern Astrakhan region, as it was in yesterday's strike on Ukraine, Putin could still comfortably hit any target in Europe or the UK without having to turn to his most powerful weapons. Targets in London would go up in flames in under 20 minutes while Berlin further east would have less than 15 minutes before impact. Russian military analysts also warned that the Oreshnik was certainly nuclear-capable, despite being armed with conventional warheads in the strike on Ukraine. Security camera footage out of the central-eastern city of Dnipro showed several projectiles streaking in and detonating in a series of violent, fiery explosions The moment Russia used the Oreshnik for the first time to strike Dnipro, on November 21 A Russian animation simulates how a Yars ICBM is deployed The RS-24 Yars is capable of unleashing up to four separate nuclear warheads anywhere in the US after flying through space at 19,000mph Russia's ambassador to the UK yesterday declared that Ukraine's use of Storm Shadow missiles on Russian territory means Britain 'is now directly involved in this war'. 'This firing cannot happen without NATO staff, British staff as well,' Andrei Kelin told Sky News this afternoon - a day after British-made rockets battered a military base in Russia's Kursk region. The Kremlin followed with a statement this morning saying that yesterday's strike was a clear response to the West that Moscow will not tolerate further escalations. And Vladimir Putin reportedly called a secret meeting with top military brass for this evening after a top British military official insisted the armed forces would be ready to fight tonight if called upon. The US and UK authorised Kyiv to hit targets on Russian soil with Storm Shadow and ATACMS rockets over the weekend. Ukraine's forces acted quickly, putting them to use in two different attacks in Russia's Bryansk and Kursk regions. 'The main message is that the reckless decisions and actions of Western countries, which produce missiles, supply them to Ukraine and subsequently take part in carrying out strikes on Russian territory, cannot remain without a reaction from the Russian side,' Peskov said. 'We are in no doubt that the current administration in Washington has had the chance to familiarise itself with this announcement and understand it.' But Western leaders have rebuffed the warning. Sir Keir Starmer's office said yesterday: 'If (the suspected ICBM strike) is true, clearly this would be another example of grave, reckless and escalatory behaviour from Russia and only serves to strengthen our resolve.' Swedish Defence Minister Pal Jonson said Stockholm would not be intimidated by Russia's provocations. 'The Russian escalation and provocation that we've been noticing recently is an attempt to scare us from supporting Ukraine, and that will fail. This will not happen,' Jonson told reporters at a joint press conference in Stockholm with his Ukrainian counterpart Rustem Umerov. A grab taken from handout footage released by the Russian Defence Ministry on March 1, 2024 purport to show the test firing of an ICBM belonging to the country's nuclear deterrence forces Zelensky said that Russian leader Vladimir Putin was using Ukraine as a weapons-testing ground One image shows a written indentation on a chunk of metal reading: 'Storm Shadow' The Pentagon said the Oreshnik was based on the RS-26 Frontier - another nuclear-capable missile that experts say blurs the lines between IBRM and ICBM. Missiles are generally classified as ICBMs if they can strike targets at distances greater than 5,500km, or 3,417 miles. The RS-26 is said to have a maximum range of roughly 5,800km with a single, lightweight warhead, but has mostly been tested with heavier payloads at much shorter ranges. Development of the RS-26 was launched in 2008 and its first-ever successful test launch unfolded in May of 2012. Based on its reported capabilities, the Oreshnik is likely a lighter, less powerful variant of an RS-26 missile designed for strikes at ranges between a few hundred and 5,000km. US defence officials also confirmed yesterday that Moscow had notified Washington ahead of the strike on Ukraine through nuclear risk reduction channels to avoid triggering early launch warning alarms and a possible response. Security cameras caught the moment several warheads streaked through the night sky and triggered a series of violent explosions in Dnipro yesterday. The ferocity, speed and coordinated nature of the salvos suggested the explosions were caused by MIRVs (multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicles) released by the Oreshnik. MIRVs are typically a feature of nuclear ICBMs designed for full-scale attacks on targets thousands of miles away - one missile can carry multiple warheads that break up and can be guided onto separate targets. RS-26 or Frontier missiles have a 3,600 mile-range, although they have never been used in combat Fires are seen raging in Dnipro after the Oreshnik strike Experts said Putin's use of an advanced hypersonic weapon to deliver a non-nuclear strike on Ukraine was very costly but served to illustrate how Moscow could dramatically escalate the conflict. Dr Ruth Deyermond, Senior Lecturer in Post-Soviet Security at King's College London, told MailOnline: 'This strike has no obvious military value - they could achieve the same objectives without sacrificing (an ICBM or advanced missile). 'It looks very much as if it's signalling to the West what Russia could do if it chose to - launch a nuclear-armed missile. But it's actually a sign of weakness,' she added. 'The Russian government knows what would happen to it if they did attempt to use any kind of nuclear weapon, so they have to resort to bluffing.' Dr Mattias Eken, a defence and security analyst at RAND Europe, added: 'The reported range of 700km (to Dnipro) falls short of the typical intercontinental range. Nevertheless, such a strike could have a symbolic value. 'The message that Putin and Russia are trying to send to the West is: we too have missiles that can strike anywhere in the world. 'Particularly after the US allowed ATACMS/Storm Shadow to target Russia, Putin may have felt compelled to demonstrate Russia's ability to use long-range missiles as well.' Support for Labour has slumped to a new record post-election low amid a backlash over plans to tax farmers, a new poll shows today. Sir Keir Starmer's party is now three points behind the Tories - and just six ahead of Reform - down two on 25 per cent after a week of battles over its plan to make agriculturalists pay a low rate of inheritance tax. It marks a dramatic fall from its post-election high of 39 per cent which gave it an 11-point lead over the Conservatives. A second poll shows that almost three-quarters of voters now believe the UK has got worse under Sir Keir's leadership. The surveys by More in Common were carried out between November 19 and 21, amid the fallout from Tuesday's protests in Westminster led by TV presenter Jeremy Clarkson. Your browser does not support iframes. Your browser does not support iframes. Sir Keir Starmer's party is now three points behind the Tories - and just six ahead of Reform - on 25 per cent after a week of battles over its plan to make agriculturalists pay a low rate of inheritance tax The surveys by More in Common were carried out between November 19 and 21, amid the fallout from Tuesday's protests in Westminster led by TV presenter Jeremy Clarkson Last night Environment Secretary Steve Reed claimed to understand the 'anguish' caused by his inheritance tax grab on family farms - but refused to apologise. Mr Reed told a gathering of farmers that the 20 per cent levy was needed to pay for a '22billion black hole' in public finances left by the previous government. Farmers say that they will be forced to sell off their holdings to pay the bills. But the decision to impose the levy on farmers comes as receipts to the Government from inheritance tax have hit record levels. HM Revenue and Customs said that in the past seven months, the Treasury had received inheritance tax worth 5billion - 0.5billion more than this time last year. NFU President Tom Bradshaw speaks during a National Farmers' Union (NFU) mass lobby at Church House Thousands of farmers attended a rally in London on Tuesday venting their anger at what they say will mean family farms having to be sold off to pay the inheritance tax on farms worth more than 1million. Asked in a press conference if he would apologise for the 'frustration and anxiety being triggered in elderly farmers - Mr Reed said 'It's hard to be sorry for making this country's economy and public services work again.' Mr Reed told the conference: 'I'm not pretending these decisions are easy.' In a speech, Mr Reed said he was 'struck' by how many people described the Budget issues that brought them out on to the streets of London on Tuesday as 'the final straw'. 'Those straws have been piling up for many decades now, they are the frustrations of rural communities across Britain who feel misunderstood, neglected and frankly disrespected. 'This isn't just about tax or even just about farming, important though those things are, it is about a whole community demanding to be treated with respect.' And he said: 'I heard the anguish of the countryside on the streets of London earlier this week. 'We may not agree over the inheritance tax changes, but this government is determined to listen to rural Britain and end its long decline.' A former PC tweeting a joke about identifying as a fish and a boy calling another a 'leprechaun' are further examples of so-called 'hate incidents' investigated by police. Non-crime hate incidents (NCHIs) are meant to be reserved for cases that are 'clearly motivated by intentional hostility' and where there is a genuine risk of significant escalation, according to government guidance. But the police have been accused of wasting 'valuable time' on investigating jokes and playground insults as possible hate speech amid a rise in serious offences like knife crime. Rachel Reeves was among those to hit out last week after it emerged that police had been probing children for insulting each other. Former police officer Harry Miller was spoken to by police after joking about identifying as a fish Details obtained under freedom of information rules by The Times showed a nine-year-old child was among the youngsters who have been looked at by police. Officers recorded incidents against the child, who called a fellow primary school pupil a 'retard', and against two schoolgirls who said another student smelled 'like fish'. The Chancellor insisted officers should be making the 'best' use of their time as she was asked about the incidents in schools. The recording of trivial incidents as NCHIs has been an issue for years. In 2020, former police officer Harry Miller was visited by Humberside Police for a series of allegedly 'transphobic' tweets, including one which read: 'I was assigned mammal at birth, but my orientation is fish. Don't mis-species me.' The force recorded the complaint as a 'non-crime hate incident', defined by the College of Policing's guidance as 'any non-crime incident which is perceived, by the victim or any other person, to be motivated by a hostility or prejudice'. Mr Miller, from Lincolnshire, challenged both Humberside Police's actions and the College of Policing's guidance at the High Court and a judge ruled the force's actions were a 'disproportionate interference' with Mr Miller's right to freedom of expression. A later Court of Appeal ruling found the guidance also breached his freedom of expression rights - forcing the College of Policing to review its guidance to add in more safeguards for freedom of speech. Yet despite rulings such as these, highly dubious NCHIs continue to be exposed by the Press. In 2021, a man was investigated for racial hatred because he whistled the Bob the Builder tune at his neighbour. Wiltshire police also investigated an incident where a person said others were mocking the length of their hair. More recent cases of reported hate crime include a Lithuanian customer who was unhappy with their haircut claimed it was done deliberately because he spoke Russian and the barber was allegedly 'aggressive and rough' as a result. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: 'This nonsense undermines confidence in policing' Non-crime hate incidents (NCHIs) are meant to be reserved for cases that are 'clearly motivated by intentional hostility' and where there is a genuine risk of significant escalation In another case uncovered in a freedom of information (FOI) request to City of London Police by The Sun, a German woman was likened to a Rottweiler in a parking dispute. In a further incident police were told someone had been homophobic because they referred to someone as a 'Leonard' in a row over a hedge. One person was reported to Norfolk police in a NCHI for calling a Welsh person a 'sheep sh****r', while another report in Humberside related to a man asking whether a woman's Chinese restaurant food came 'with bats'. Meanwhile in Surrey, police logged a hate incident after a pub asked a couple to leave after accusing them of having sex in the toilets at the venue. It was alleged they had been the victim of a hate crime, because one of them was transgender It comes as a journalist visited by police for allegedly stirring up racial hatred with a social media post last year was told she would not be charged. Telegraph columnist Allison Pearson revealed officers from Essex Police knocked on her door on Remembrance Day earlier this month to inform her of the probe, but could not give her any details about what post was being investigated or who made the complaint against her. The complaint related to a tweet showing an image of two police officers standing next to two men holding the flag of a Pakistani political party. Ms Pearson had confused the flag with that of Hamas, tagged the Metropolitan Police and accused the officers of 'smiling with the Jew haters' in the post. She said she deleted the message as soon as she realised her mistake, so the message was live for less than two hours. Allison Pearson (pictured) was investigated by police for 'stirring up racial hatred' in a post on social media Speaking just minutes after her solicitor informed her the case had been dropped, Ms Pearson told the Daily Mail she would 'not wish this experience on anybody.' 'I was obviously shocked and devastated in the first place to have had the police on my doorstep on Remembrance Sunday, of all days, telling me I had put something up on social media which they said was stirring up racial hatred,' she said. 'And they wouldn't tell me what it was I was supposed to have said. To this day they have never confirmed which post it was all about.' The action was condemned by a string of high profile politicians including Tory leader Kemi Badenoch. A CPS spokesman said: 'The CPS reviewed evidence relating to allegations of inciting racial hatred or any other communications offences following an Essex police investigation. 'We have decided that the case failed to meet the evidential test. The complainant has been informed by Essex police today.' Essex Police said: 'We investigate crimes reported to us without fear or favour. 'We're sometimes faced with allegations of crime where people have strong opposing views. 'That's why we work so hard to remain impartial and to investigate allegations, regardless of where they might lead.' A man who allegedly stole a car with a five-year-old inside to 'teach the boy's father a lesson' has been charged. Duaraj Karishna Ramanujam, 42, pulled into the Shell Service Station on the Princes Highway at Officer, south-east Melbourne, at about 8.45am last Saturday. He spotted a five-year-old boy sitting alone in a grey ute after his father had run inside to grab a slab of water while leaving the vehicle running. Mr Ramanujam hopped off his motorbike and allegedly jumped into the ute and drove away with the child still inside the vehicle. Victoria Police initially arrested the 42-year-old and on Friday confirmed he'd been charged with theft of motor vehicle and child stealing. Mr Ramanujam earlier took aim at the father for leaving his child in the car and claimed he was trying to send him a message. 'It's not a big crime right? I'm saving a child, mate,' he earlier told 9News. 'He left the car and the child with the engine on which is not a good thing to do. He should realise his stupidity.' Duaraj Karishna Ramanujam, 42, pulled into the Shell Service Station on the Princes Highway at Officer, south-east Melbourne, at about 8.45am on Saturday Mr Ramanujam hopped off his motorbike and allegedly jumped into the ute and drove away with the child still inside the vehicle The father came outside the servo just two minutes after he'd left the car and saw it had been taken. He rushed inside and used the business' phone to call his mobile, which he'd left in the ute. Mr Ramanujam said he intended to take the child to the police station before the boy's father called him and the pair agreed to meet at Pakenham Police Station. Both the child's parents met Mr Ramanujam at the police station, where Mr Ramanujam was surprised to be met with 'distrust' and put in handcuffs. He told police there had been a misunderstanding as he'd simply wanted to teach the father a lesson about child safety. Mr Ramanujam was released after speaking with Cardinia Crime Investigation Unit detectives before being charged. He claimed he was using 'common sense' by allegedly taking the child and insisted it was the 'right thing to do'. 'My advice to them is to consider their action that led to these consequences,' he said. Mr Ramanujam will appear at the Melbourne Magistrates' Court on November 28. A controversial OnlyFans star revealed she is transgender after boasting that she had slept with 250 'barely legal' high school leavers for her Australian channel. Kay Manuel made headlines this week when she bragged about sleeping with 75 high school leavers in 48 hours, and set up a billboard promoting her OnlyFans to students finishing their Year 12 exams in Surfers Paradise. Amid scrutiny over her exploits, the 22-year-old 'Australian Bonnie Blue' revealed she had transitioned and claimed all those involved with her had been informed. Manuel previously said she had filmed X-rated content with the graduates this year, but appeared to back down as she said 'I haven't had to disclose [my transition] this year because I haven't filmed with anyone'. The content creator previously denied transitioning and admitted that she had lied to Daily Mail Australia when she dismissed speculation. She told local media on Sunday rumours were 'not true' and that she was 'born female' before telling the Courier Mail she had transitioned to live her 'best life'. She also admitted she had lied about how many boys she had bedded during the first week of the 'Schoolies' celebrations last year, claiming she had been put on the spot by reporters on the Gold Coast. Manuel's controversial decision to advertise her sexual content to teenagers comes after British OnlyFans star Bonnie Blue and Australian Annie Knight were reportedly 'deported' from Fiji over filming pornographic content during 'Schoolies Week'. OnlyFans star Kay Manuel (pictured) has finally confirmed she is not a biological woman Manuel (pictured) said she lied about how many leavers she slept with after being 'hounded' Manuel was awarded 'Crew Member of the Month' at that McDonald's in 2017 Manuel told Daily Mail Australia just days ago that she was born a woman, adding that if she was transgender she would not conceal it. She went on to deny speculation that she was a person identified in an old Facebook account belonging to a young man. 'We look very, very similar, but no, that's not me and no, I am not trans. I think it is because I have a deep voice,' she told Daily Mail Australia this week. But while condemning the 'deplorable' rhetoric online, she admitted to the Courier Mail that she had transitioned to become her authentic self. 'It was never intended to be just a publicity stunt... I didn't know what else to do, besides lie,' she claimed. 'I think that some people have always speculated. I don't refer to myself as transgender. I never have. I think that term you're just calling yourself a man so at that point, you might just as well call yourself just that,' she said. 'I can understand where there can be some questions, but like, it's really no one's (the public's) business.' Manuel also insisted that she had planned to inform school leavers of her gender transition before sleeping with them this year. 'The intention was to film, the consent forms were ready, everything was okayed by a lawyer and the Schoolies were on board.' Kay said she had had second thoughts about the 'cash cow' promotion this year amid backlash The OnlyFans star claimed to have slept with 55 people in the first 24 hours of the celebrations Your browser does not support iframes. Before the event started, she claimed to have her sights on breaking a new record of bedding over 1,000 boys in two weeks. She said she had slept with 55 people within the first 24 hours and 75 by day two, but her public promotion led to her being kicked out of her rented accommodation. Airbnb Australia prohibits creation of commercial pornography and sex work at its properties. Critics had bashed her attempts to promote to young people after she set up a billboard in Surfers Paradise with her website and socials. She reportedly planned 'meet and greets' at local venues. Manuel insisted it was all above board and those attending were screened before anything happened. 'I've been told I'm a predator, a pedophile. (But) look, to upload to these websites you need to have ID and these platforms have the relevant systems to check these IDs aren't fake or invalid,' she said, as reported by the Gold Coast Bulletin. 'I don't meet up with anyone unless government ID proving they are 18 has been sent. 'I don't meet up with anyone who may have turned 18 but was 17 at the time of messaging me that's grooming.' Manuel also said she had been scheduled to film alongside Bonnie Blue and Annie Knight before Blue's Australian visa was cancelled over allegations she had planned to flout her terms of stay by working. Kay employs 25 people, including videographers, assistants and security The move to advertise to high school leavers prompted sharp backlash and approach from reporters, who Manuel accused of 'hounding' her in the street. She said the confrontation made her reconsider plans to sleep with as many high school graduates as possible with the lewd acts filmed and uploaded to her subscriber-based platforms. 'I'm not saying no and I'm not saying yes,' she said, noting that everybody who met with her last year 'had a good experience'. Last year, Manuel claimed to have slept with 250 high school leavers during Schoolies celebrations. She said only two people asked to have their content pulled last year. Manuel told Daily Mail Australia this week that there was 'no truth' that she was nominated for 'best transgender porn star' for two years running at an adult industry awards show last year. She claimed it was a mistake on the part of the show organisers. 'I talked to the awards about it... and they just said that it was false because I didn't win anything,' she said. Locals from Manuel's hometown of Coffs Harbour on the NSW North Coast have since come forward and said she was formerly known as Kayden Tai Manuel. 'It's incredibly common knowledge,' an acquaintance said. 'Coffs is not always an open-minded town and gossip about her transitioning to female did the rounds on group chats around the coast.' A former school friend, who until recently was also posting sexual content to OnlyFans, claimed she had been in contact with Manuel over the years, including when she transitioned to female and began identifying as Kay Manuel full-time. 'I have messages from her personally confirming that she is trans,' she said. 'When I messaged her in November [last year] asking if she had had [genital reassignment] surgery she responded, 'I wish'.' It is understood Manuel has since had that surgery. Manuel worked at a McDonald's on the NSW Mid North Coast for several years A former co-worker recalls Manuel showing interest in identifying as female in 2018 Photos of Kayden Manuel and Kay show the same wrist tattoo A former co-worker who worked alongside Kay at a NSW Mid North Coast McDonald's restaurant recalls her showing interest in transitioning in 2018. 'She was openly gay for most of high school, but only showed outward interest in becoming trans when she was 17,' the ex-coworker said. 'Even before her operation, she would dress up as a female.' This is the second year Manuel has joined Schoolies celebrations to recruit teens to film sex on camera, with the videos shared on subscriber-based platforms. 'If I was trans, of course I would be communicating that with the men I film with,' she previously told this publication. Participants must provide identification showing they are over 18, undertake a sobriety test, and sign multiple consent forms for the different platforms Manuel uses to distribute her adult content. They can also conceal their identity and have the option to withdraw permission once filming has concluded. Mayor of Denver Mike Johnston has warned that potential resistance to president-elect Donald Trump's proposed immigration policies could compare to the infamous 1989 Tiananmen square protests in China. The Democrat mayor's comments came after he pledged to resist Trump's stance on immigration - which includes mass deportations and the defunding of sanctuary cities - and confidently declared that Denver residents would support his efforts. 'More than us having [Denver Police] stationed at the county line to keep them out, you would have 50,000 Denverites there,' he said. 'It's like the Tiananmen Square moment with the rose and the gun, right? You'd have every one of those Highland moms who came out for the migrants. And you do not want to mess with them.' The politicians comment is a reference to the student-led pro democracy protests centred on Beijing's Tiananmen Square which ended up becoming China's greatest political upheaval since the end of the Cultural Revolution more than a decade earlier. For seven weeks, tens of thousands of people gathered in the square demanding economic, social and political liberalisation following decades of repression under the Chinese Communist Party. The protests turned deadly when the Chinese government deployed troops who engaged in bloody clashes with demonstrators, leaving several hundred dead. Johnston also highlighted that city police would not assist in federal immigration enforcement and noted that Colorado is unlikely to allow federal forces to take action within the state. Mayor of Denver Mike Johnston has warned that potential resistance to president-elect Donald Trump's proposed immigration policies could compare to the 1989 Tiananmen square protests In this May 17, 1989, file photo, Tiananmen Square is filled with thousands during a pro-democracy rally, in Beijing, China Trump clinched the presidential election after a campaign that promised large-scale deportations of undocumented migrants It comes as Denver strongly supported Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris in her presidential race, securing her 78.71 per cent of the city's votes. But the Denver mayor is not the only Democratic leader looking to challenge the incoming Trump administration. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker recently said he would uphold his state's sanctuary policies and declared that: 'If you come for my people, you come through me'. Meanwhile, the city of Los Angeles reaffirmed its sanctuary status on Tuesday, with Mayor Karen Bass declaring that 'immigrant protection make our communities stronger and our city better'. There are currently nearly 12 million undocumented immigrants in the US, according to the Center for Migration Studies. Trump clinched the presidential election after a campaign that promised large-scale deportations of undocumented migrants and a return to fast-tracked deportations to Mexico, in addition to halting entries across the US border with Mexico. The president-elect's proposed immigration policies also include ending birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants. During his previous administration, between 2017 and 2021 Trump put in place policies that left hundreds of thousands of migrants stranded in camps along the Mexican border, reshaping U.S. immigration politics. More than 3,000 Mexican migrants were pictured marching towards America on Election Day earlier this month after Trump vowed to carry out 'the largest deportation operation' in American history'. US Border Patrol was aware the election could trigger mass migrations of asylum seekers, according to sources who told that the migrants wanted to arrive in the country as 'one last f*** you to America' before Trump takes office. Holidaymakers on once-in-a-lifetime trips to southeast Asia risk being killed or left permanently disabled after inadvertently drinking liquor containing the deadly chemical methanol. For years tourists from Australia, the UK and other western nations have been travelling through countries such as Laos, Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia, often unaware of the dangers of local alcohol industries. It was today confirmed that six people have so far died after reportedly drinking methanol-laced shots in a popular backpacker town, Vang Vieng in Laos. British lawyer Simone White, 28 and Australian 19-year-olds Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones all died after having 'free shots laced with methanol' at the Nana's Backpacker Hostel in the town. Two Danish women aged 19 and 20 and a 56-year-old US man have also died since the alleged mass poisoning on November 12. At least 11 others are said to remain in hospital. A number of people employed by the hostel, including its manager Duong Duc Toan, have been detained over the deaths - but no charges have been filed. Cases of Westerners dying from methanol poisoning date back years, but little seems to have been done to tackle the problem. Methanol typically becomes mixed in with normal alcohol - also known as ethanol - during the making of bootleg liquor, which is then sold in restaurants and bars because it is cheaper than imported alcohol. Simone White, 28, from Orpington in Kent, was the fifth tourist to have died after falling ill last week Bianca Jones, 19, from Melbourne, sadly died after consuming alleged 'methanol-laced' drinks in Vang Vieng, Laos Ms Bowles (pictured) was on holiday with her schoolfriend in the popular backpacking destination of Vang Vieng - her death was confirmed this morning While some local liquor is clearly labelled as such, some families have lost loved ones who believed they were drinking legitimate alcohol imported from other countries. Experts say that poor countries along the Mekong River in particular are exploited by alcohol suppliers as there are low levels of law enforcement and little regulation in the hospitality industry. The Foreign Office has recently issued guidance to Britons travelling to Laos, warning them against consuming replica alcohol brands that may contain hidden amounts of methanol - but for some this is too little, too late. British ceramicist Kirsty McKie is one visitor who died after consuming methanol in Bali in July 2022. The 38-year-old, who lived and worked in the Indonesian province, became ill the day after inadvertently drinking the deadly chemical. She was taken to hospital but despite treatment died on July 24, just two days after being exposed to the toxic drink. Ms McKie died after purchasing what appeared to be alcohol, a coroner said. Coroner Alison Mutch urged the UK government to launch a publicity campaign about the dangers of cheap spirits in Indonesia and south-east Asia in a prevention of future deaths report. Backpacker Cheznye Emmons, 23, was on holiday with her boyfriend in Indonesia when she drank gin mixed with methanol in 2013. British ceramicist Kirsty McKie, 38, died after suffering from methanol poisoning in Bali in 2022 Backpacker Cheznye Emmons, 23, died while on holiday with her boyfriend Joe Cook in Bali The beautician, from Great Wakering, Essex, was on a six-month tour of Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia with partner Joe Cook when the group they were travelling with bought a bottle of the spirit. Some of the group fell ill after consuming the gin, but Ms Emmons developed blindness and convulsions before dying five days later. Speaking after her inquest, her father Brenton Emmons said methanol was often mixed with spirits and wine in the areas where Cheznye had been travelling. 'It's very hard to tell the difference - sometimes there are bits floating in it, sometimes it might smell funny,' he said. 'This is being sold in shops, restaurants and bars - places where you might think it is safe. 'But the message is really 'stick to beer' because otherwise you don't know what risk you are taking.' Roisin Burke, 21, a teacher from Co Kildare, Ireland, died in 2011 while on holiday in Indonesia. Ms Burke drank a local spirit, Arak, before falling ill due to consuming a lethal dose of methanol. Roisin Burke, 21, a teacher from Co Kildare, Ireland, visited Bali while working in Indonesia as an English teacher Australian teen Liam Davies, 19, insisted a bartender open a brand new bottle of what he believed to be imported Smirnoff vodka - but died after it contained a local spirit instead What is methanol poisoning and why is it dangerous? Methanol can sometimes end up in alcoholic drinks in southeast Asia as a cheaper, counterfeit alternative to ethanol. It is a dangerous form of alcohol that tastes and smells like standard alcohol and is typically used as a substitute in illegal alcoholic beverages. Experts say the alcohol initially causes similar symptoms to drunkenness before more serious symptoms kick in between eight and 18 hours after consumption. The chemical liquid contains a toxic metabolite known as formic acid which initially causes blurred vision and even blindness. It then enters the brain leading to confusion, seizures and coma, before the acid builds up in the body causing respiratory failure, circulatory shock and kidney failure. Fatal doses typically end in multiple organ failure and death. Source: George Braitberg, Head of Emergency Medicine at University of Melbourne Advertisement The next morning she told friends she felt unwell and went back to bed, but she soon deteriorated and began crying out in pain before she was taken to hospital. She died two days after consuming the drink in Bali in 2011. She travelled to the area while living in Jakarta, where she worked as an English teacher. Australian teenager Liam Davies was well aware of the risks of buying local brews in south-east Asia - but it didn't save his life. The 19-year-old was at a bar on the island of Gili Trawangan in December 2012 when he asked a bartender whether the bottle of Smirnoff on the shelf was genuine imported liquor. When he was told it was, he even insisted the bartender open a new bottle of the 'Smirnoff' for him and his friends. Unfortunately, although the bottles of Smirnoff were genuine their contents was not - they had been previously consumed and refilled with Arak that contained deadly methanol. Mr Davies and one of his friends awoke the next morning with headaches, blurred vision and nausea - but thought they were just hungover. They returned to the bar that night, and the next morning Mr Davies was found convulsing on the floor of their apartment. The boys were rushed to hospital but Mr Davies was not diagnosed correctly - he died days later in Perth, surrounded by his family. After his death, his family became committed to educating as many young people as possible about the risks of consuming liquor abroad, and started the LIAM charity - Lifesaving Initiatives About Methanol. Brianna Scott (pictured right) and Katie Linane (pictured left) went to Bali and drank cocktails - a move that would give them methanol poisoning The women (Ms Scott pictured left, Ms Linane pictured right) finished off their last drink at 11pm - and shortly after began feeling sick be a real danger closer to home. Hannah Powell was left blind after drinking vodka containing methanol in a bar in Zante, Greece There have been efforts in recent years to make more people aware of the risks of drinking alcohol in the region. In November 2019, Australians Brianna Scott and Katie Linane, both 21 at the time, were in Bali when they unknowingly consumed methanol. Just 24 hours later they were vomiting, had 'the runs' and were struggling to see. Fortunately they were able to contact an organisation set up by Colin Ahearn called Just Don't Drink Spirits In Bali. He was able to diagnose them with methanol poisoning and sent a bottle of real vodka to their apartment, telling them to drink it. Consuming ethanol can counteract the early stages of methanol poisoning - but anyone who believes they may be affected should still seek urgent medical attention. Soon after, the pair began to recover and have fortunately been left with no ill-effects. Although methanol-spiked drinks are far more common in the south-east of Asia, it can also be a real danger closer to home. Hannah Powell was left blind after drinking vodka containing methanol in a bar in Zante, Greece in August 2016. She had watched bartenders pour her drink out of a genuine Smirnoff bottle - but it had been filled with cheaper, bootlegged liquor thought to be produced by mafia gangs. Ms Powell was left blind and with no kidney function - and only knew anything was wrong when she woke up in her hotel room and couldn't see anything. Fortunately the friends she was travelling with suffered no long-term impacts, and she survived after receiving hospital treatment. Ms Powell had to be on dialysis for 18 months before her mother donated a kidney for transplant. A western diplomat told the BBC the problem is particularly potent in southeast Asia: 'You have the unscrupulous producer adding methanol to their drinks because it's cheaper it's used to create a stronger-seeming drink or make lower-quality alcohol drinks seem more potent. 'I don't think it's nefarious bar owners going out of their way to poison tourists - that's not good for them or their industry either. 'It's more about the production side there being being low education, low regulation, people cutting corners.' Police have released a new image of Harshita Brella, whose body was found in the boot of a car in east London,as her family paid tribute to the 24-year-old, saying: 'You left this world but you are still with us in our hearts and will always be there.' Ms Brella was discovered strangled to death inside a silver Vauxhall on Brisbane Road on November 14. Police say they believe she was murdered by her husband Pankaj Lamba, 23, who is thought to have fled the country. Yesterday, a fresh image showed the pair walking together at Corby Boating Lake in Northamptonshire at around 6.30pm on November 10. Investigators working on the case suspect Ms Brella was murdered in Corby that evening with her body then transported to east London by car. Ms Brella had previously tried to run away from her husband, and she first went to police claiming to have been the victim of domestic violence in August. Her sister Sonia Dabas said she feels like the police 'did not do enough to help her or protect' her. She went on to describe her younger sibling as 'very innocent, so kindhearted but just a kid'. Harshita Brella's heartbroken family said: 'We will never forget you till our last breath. Always stay with us. We miss you in every very moment of our life.' Harshita Brella, 24, was found inside the boot of a vehicle on Brisbane Road in Ilford, east London, in the early hours of last Thursday CCTV image showing Pankaj Lamba and Harshita Brella at Corby Boating Lake on Sunday, November 10, at about 6.30pm Specialist police dogs and their handlers search areas around Corby Boating Lake in connection with the murder of Harshita Brella Ms Brella with her sister in a video during ornate ceremonies solemnising her marriage to Pankaj Lamba Ms Dabas added: 'Our world has been turned upside down. We're calling on the UK and Indian governments to capture him.' Sniffer dogs and forensic officers are currently searching the area around Corby Boating Lake in connection with the murder of the 24-year-old. Police have also appealed to anyone who was in the Cottingham Road of Corby between 6pm and 9pm on Sunday, November 10 to come forward. Detective Chief Inspector Johnny Campbell from the East Midlands Special Operations Major Crime Unit said: 'Our inquiries have established that Pankaj and Harshita were in the area of the boating lake on Sunday evening, and as part of our ongoing investigation we have carried out searches in the surrounding area. 'We know that it's a busy part of the town and there will have been a lot of passing traffic. 'As such, we're appealing to anyone who was in Corby between 6pm and 9pm on Sunday, November 10, specifically in the area around the Corby Boating Lake, Cottingham Road and Westcott Way.' It comes after police earlier this week released footage of Lamba in the Ilford area and appealed for information from anyone who may have interacted with him. The images show Lamba walking down Jaffe Road shortly after allegedly dumping his wife's body in the boot of the car. Further photos show the car on Brisbane Road, where it was later found with Ms Brella's body inside. Pankaj Lamba, 23, walks down Jaffe Road in Ilford after allegedly dumping his wife's Harshita Brella's body in the boot of a car More CCTV stills showing Lamba in Ilford after he allegedly left his wife's body in the car Lamba's Silver Vauxhall Corsa on Brisbane Road. Ms Brella's body was later found in the vehicle Ms Dabas said it was an arranged marriage and Ms Brella had met him for the first time three days before moving to the UK with him. Videos on social media of Ms Brella's wedding in India show her panting for breath, placing a hand on her chest, with the caption: 'That nervousness after becoming bride.' She had spent 300 on make-up and an elaborate wedding lehenga skirt. Northamptonshire Police has since launched a review into how Ms Brella's report of domestic violence was handled following her death. Assistant Chief Constable Emma James said: 'Following Harshita's death, Northamptonshire Police reviewed the Force's handling of an investigation which was launched following a domestic abuse allegation by Harshita Brella on August 29. 'The investigation was owned by a specialist detective from within the Domestic Abuse Investigation Team. 'Harshita was identified as being at high risk of domestic abuse and was immediately assigned an Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA). A referral was also made to the MARAC (Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference), sharing information with partners and collectively formulating a safety plan. 'Harshita was placed in a refuge and visited and contacted by officers on a number of occasions throughout the investigation. Tragic final videos show 'very happy' Ms Brella, 24, on her wedding day just months before her body was found in a car boot in Ilford Forensic officers at Ms Brella's home in Corby, Northamptonshire Officers at murder victim Ms Brella's home in Corby on Sunday morning 'The alleged perpetrator was identified, quickly arrested and bailed with conditions. 'Northamptonshire Police actively sought and obtained a Domestic Violence Protection Notice (DVPN) and a Domestic Violence Protection Order was authorised at Northampton Magistrates Court on September 5 which remained in place for 28 days whilst the investigations continued against the alleged perpetrator. 'This case has been referred for a Domestic Homicide Review which will seek to identify any learning.' Ukraine's former military chief has warned that World War Three is already underway - with Vladimir Putin's autocratic allies, North Korea, Iran and China, openly supporting his forces on the battlefield. Valery Zaluzhny, who is now Ukraine's envoy to the United Kingdom, told the UP100 award ceremony in Kyiv: 'I believe that in 2024 we can absolutely believe that the Third World War has begun.' The General said that as of this year, 'Ukraine is no longer facing Russia. Soldiers from North Korea are standing in front of Ukraine.' He made the comments after reports emerged that around 10,000 soldiers had been sent by Pyongyang to fight alongside Russian troops in the Kursk region, as Moscow aims to replenish its forces and reclaim the territory taken from it three months ago. Zaluzhny went on to highlight the support Putin's armies had received from Tehran, which has sent thousands of Shahed attack drones to Moscow and also assisted it with the technology to build the drones itself, according to reports. More than 8,000 Iran-developed drones have been launched since the war began two and a half years ago, Kyiv said in September, with many targeting civilian homes as well as military targets. 'Let's be honest. Already in Ukraine, the Iranian 'Shahedis' are killing civilians absolutely openly, without any shame,' Zaluzhny said, adding that Chinese and North Korean weapons were also being used against his country. It comes after Moscow's ambassador to the UK declared that Britain is now 'directly involved' in the war after Kyiv's Storm Shadow attack on Russian territory. A still image taken from an undated video released by the Russian Defence Ministry Press-Service on 22 November 2024 shows a Russian T90M tank firing towards Ukrainian positions Valery Zaluzhny, who is now Ukraine's envoy to the United Kingdom, told a ceremony in Kyiv : 'I believe that in 2024 we can absolutely believe that the Third World War has begun.' Picture reportedly shows North Korean troops in Russia ahead of deployment to the frontline A Ukrainian officer examines a downed Shahed drone with thermobaric charge launched by Russia in a research laboratory in an undisclosed location in Ukraine Asked if the UK is 'at war', the PM told BBC local radio: 'We're not at war, but Ukraine certainly is.' Sir Keir slammed Putin's 'irresponsible rhetoric'. 'Russia is the aggressor,' he said. 'This war could end today if Putin stopped being the aggressor.' Meanwhile, a top military official declared the British Army would be ready to fight Vladimir Putin's forces 'tonight' if Russia were to invade another European nation in addition to Ukraine. Lt. Gen Sir Rob Magowan, the deputy chief of the British defence staff, told the House of Commons defence committee yesterday afternoon: 'If the British Army was asked to fight tonight, it would fight tonight. 'I don't think anybody in this room should be under any illusion that if the Russians invaded Eastern Europe tonight, then we would meet them in that fight.' However, Magowan's declaration belies the state of the UK's military capabilities. In May, he acknowledged that Britain's soldiers would run out of ammunition and equipment in a war against Putin's Russia in less than two months. A muzzle flash lights up pine trees as the British Army's new Archer Mobile Howitzer gun fires, as British Army soldiers take part in training near Rovaniemi in the Arctic Circle, Finland Lt. Gen Sir Rob Magowan, the deputy chief of the British defence staff, told the House of Commons defence committee yesterday afternoon: 'If the British Army was asked to fight tonight, it would fight tonight' Security camera footage out of the central-eastern city of Dnipro showed several projectiles streaking in and detonating in a series of violent, fiery explosions after Russia launched a new hypersonic missile yesterday As Russia continues to draw on support from its allies in terms of weaponry and manpower, Kyiv continues to press its western backers for military aid. An attack on Kursk earlier this week is believed to be the first time Ukraine has used British Storm Shadows to strike into Russia, after the US set precedent with permission for use of ATACMS long-range missiles against Russian targets. While the outlook of the war remains bleak, Zaluzhny urged Ukraine's allies to redouble their support to decide its course. 'It is still possible to stop it here, on the territory of Ukraine,' he said. 'But for some reason our partners do not want to understand this. 'It is obvious that Ukraine already has too many enemies. Ukraine will survive with technology, but it is not clear whether it can win this battle alone,' he said. Zaluzhny was removed as the head of Ukraine's armed forces in February after weeks of rumours that President Volodymyr Zelensky was planning a major shakeup of top military brass. Known as the Iron General, Zaluzhny was credited with halting and pushing back Russia's surprise invasion on February 24, 2022. Zelensky said that Russian leader Vladimir Putin was using Ukraine as a weapons-testing ground Rescue workers put out a fire of a building which was heavily damaged by a Russian strike on Dnipro, Ukraine His popularity was dampened by the failure of last year's counteroffensive, and he is said to have fallen out with Zelensky over differing opinions on how to boost numbers in the army, as it has struggled for months to fill its ranks. Zelensky also reportedly took umbrage with an interview given by Zaluzhny to The Economist in which he admitted the fight had ground to a stalemate like World War I. The Ukrainian President reportedly feared that such a statement could turn allies off the idea of sending more aid. He is also said to have seen Zaluzhny as a potential political rival due to his enduring popularity among the armed forces and others. The now-former commander-in-chief acknowledged Zelensky's decision in a brief statement, saying: 'The tasks of 2022 are different from those of 2024. Therefore, everyone must change and adapt to the new realities as well. In order to win together.' Zaluzhny was replaced by the commander of Ukraine's ground forces Oleksandr Syrsky, who is said to have a close relationship with Zelensky. The former army chief's warning comes after British and European leaders yesterday decried a 'clear and deeply concerning escalation' in conflict when Russian forces struck the city of Dnipro with an advanced hypersonic missile. Ukraine's air force initially reported Russia had deployed an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), with shocking footage showing how multiple warheads rained down over the plants of state-owned aerospace and defence manufacturer Yuzmash. But Putin later on Thursday said Russia had launched an 'Oreshnik', one of its newest intermediate-range missiles. He said it travelled at 10 times the speed of sound, rendering Ukrainian air defences powerless to shoot it down. Russian sources said the range was 5,000km (3,100 miles), allowing Russia to strike most of Europe and the west coast of the United States. The bombardment came a day after Kyiv launched UK-supplied Storm Shadow missiles at targets in Kursk. Fragments of the missiles that struck a military facility in the Russian town of Marino were recovered by military bloggers on Wednesday afternoon, with unverified pictures shared widely on social media. The Mail understands the attacks, which followed Ukraine firing US-supplied ATACMS missiles on Tuesday, were personally approved by Sir Keir Starmer. Russia officially acknowledged the strikes, saying its air defences shot down two of the projectiles along with six HIMARS rockets and 67 drones. Russian military bloggers said 18 Russian and North Korean servicemen were killed in that attack with dozens more injured, though Russia's defence ministry has not commented. One of those killed was said to be a top North Korean general. Western officials confirmed that a high-ranking military officer from North Korea had become a casualty of the war in Ukraine for the first time yesterday, after Kim Jong Un sent some 10,000 troops to reinforce Putin's advancing lines in the region. The officials did not name the officer or say how he was wounded. Col. Gen. Kim Yong Bok was recently deployed to Russia to coordinate troop movements with Putin's forces, the WSJ reported. Asked to confirm reports Storm Shadow had been used by Ukraine, Defence Secretary John Healey said: 'I won't be drawn on the operational details of the conflict. 'It risks both operational security and in the end the only one that benefits from such a public debate is President Putin.' MSNBC has faced widespread backlash after publishing an opinion piece sympathizing with the killer of Laken Riley. Legal analyst Danny Cevallos came under fire for his take on the Georgia nursing student's brutal murder and the trial of Jose Ibarra, 25, an illegal immigrant and member of Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, published under a headline saying he 'never stood a chance.' Ibarra was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole on Thursday, as a judge found him guilty after hearing volumes of damning evidence, including Ibarra's DNA found under Laken's fingernails from when she fought for her life. The 22-year-old was beaten and strangled to death in February near the University of Georgia campus after Ibarra attacked her when she was out on a morning run. The murder also became central to the issue of immigration in the presidential election, as conservatives blamed the Biden administration's weak border policies for releasing Ibarra into the country in 2022. Despite the overwhelming evidence against him, Cevallos argued that 'for all the political controversy, the outcome of this trial was never in doubt.' Cevallos went on to detail how Ibarra's conviction was a certainty because of technicalities in the legal system, sparking anger from those who say he brushed over the savage murder. The president elect's son, Donald Trump Jr. led the backlash, tweeting in response: 'You literally can't make up this level of depravity.' After facing outrage over the op-ed, MSNBC appeared to change the headline of the article on Friday morning to: 'The guilt of Laken Riley's killer was never in doubt.' The day after Ibarra's verdict, MSNBC faced widespread backlash after publishing an outrageous op-ed sympathizing with Laken's killer, saying he 'never stood a chance' Jose Ibarra, 26, a Venezuelan illegal immigrant and member of the infamous Tren de Aragua gang, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole on Thursday over the murder of student Laken Riley After facing outrage over the op-ed, MSNBC appeared to change the headline of the article on Friday morning to: 'The guilt of Laken Riley's killer was never in doubt.' Trump Jr. continued: 'These people are sick. The guy is a murderer. He's an illegal alien that killed an innocent young woman, but MSNBC would rather go to bat for him.' Joe Rogan also waded into the controversy, sharing an image of the article's headline with a savage six-word response: 'What the f*** is this s***.' In his op-ed, Cevallos noted that that Ibarra requested a bench trial, meaning his fate was decided by a single judge rather than a jury, because of the clear evidence against him. 'For the defense, this was a hopeless case,' Cevallos then sympathized. 'The defense did the best it could with bad facts.' While acknowledging Ibarra's defense stood 'no chance with a jury', Cevallos appeared to imply that the killer's bench trial was somehow stacked against him. 'But it apparently had no chance with the judge, either, since he was convicted anyway,' he wrote. The legal analyst argued that the bench trial was still Ibarra's 'best chance' at having the chance at parole down the line - even while conservatives fumed at the decision not to seek the death penalty in his case. Cevallos concluded his piece by summing up the technicalities of Ibarra's case, explaining that the killer will serve consecutive sentences instead of concurrently, which went against Georgia law, offering 'the best glimpse into the judge's opinion of this defendant.' The article was published by MSNBC legal analyst Danny Cevallos, who faced backlash after the opinion piece was released Laken Riley, 22, was found fatally beaten and strangled in February beaten near the University of Georgia campus after Ibarra attacked her when she was out on a morning run Donald Trump Jr. led the backlash, tweeting in response: 'You literally can't make up this level of depravity' Joe Rogan also waded into the controversy, sharing an image of the article's headline with a savage six-word response: 'What the f*** is this s***' The opinion piece was quickly met with backlash, with many taking issue with the headline and branding it an attempt at 'engagement farming.' 'Disgusting article headline suggesting the killer was convicted for reasons other than he did it,' one critic said on X. Cevallos shared his take to his X account, and took a matter-of-fact line as he captioned it: 'The Jose Ibarra murder case was open and shut. Here's why even the defense knew it.' His tweet was also met with criticism, as one X user questioned: 'What is the point of this article?' 'Are you somehow implying that the court proceedings were a sham? That he could in fact be 'innocent'? Are we supposed to feel bad for him?' 'Laken Riley never stood a chance....' responded another. MSNBC legal analyst Danny Cevallos faced backlash after sharing the article to X The outrage over the op-ed comes after the nation watched droves of horrifying evidence and heartbreaking victim impact statements presented at Ibarra's trial over the past week. Riley's devastated family shared stories of the 22-year-old and what Ibarra tore from them, including a poignant moment at the conclusion of the trial where her stepfather John Phillips shared one of her last diary entries. Phillips revealed that she wrote a 'letter to my future husband' shortly before she was killed, and addressed Ibarra as he said 'Laken's life was abundantly and exceptionally full of promise.' The entry opened: 'To my future husband - as silly as I feel writing this, my old small group leader once recommended it, so here I am. 'I want you to know I'm thinking about you. I'm working every day to become the best wife I can be by working through my current relationships to best prepare me for ours and our kids one day. 'I am focusing on God and what he defines as a faithful Christian wife so that I can best embody those characteristics. 'I pray that you know that is with my full faith and trust in God, that I know this relationship has been handcrafted by him.' The reading brought an emotional response from the court in the same hearing where Ibarra learned he would spend the rest of his life behind bars. The mayor of Washington DC has sidestepped questions over missing receipts relating to trips to Miami and Dubai. Muriel Bowser, 52, was questioned last week by WJLA journalist Scott Taylor over whether her exotic travel schedule violated DC's Code of Conduct. Bowser had attended the US Conference of Mayors in Miami in 2022, before making a trip to Dubai to attend the United Nations Climate Conference in 2023. Another trip involved a 500 mile round trip on a private jet to the 2024 Masters Tournament in Augusta, Georgia. Her office has said that the US Conference of Mayors had paid for both the Miami and Dubai trip, but no receipts with her name on it exist for the travels. When questioned, Bowser said: 'We're talking about the inaugural today, and we're happy to get back to you on any other questions', before quickly moving on. A Freedom of Information request uncovered that no hotel expenses, flights or meals exist with her name on it. The DC Board of Ethics and Government Accountability guidance says that any gifts made to the mayor must be disclosed on her financial disclosure. Both the Miami and Dubai trips are not listed as gifts on her 2022 or 2023 financial records. Muriel Bowser, 52, was questioned last week by WJLA journalist Scott Taylor over whether her exotic travel schedule violated DC's Code of Conduct Another trip involved a 500 mile round trip on a private jet to the 2024 Masters Tournament in Augusta, Georgia. Scottie Scheffler is seen here celebrating his win at the tournament in April The board confirmed in an email that gifts can be made to the District of Columbia which involves a donations process. According to WJLA, DC does not have a donation agreement with the US Conference of Mayors - meaning the trips are not considered a donation to the district. If the mayor had accepted the gift and it was not allowed under the DC Code, she could be violating their Code of Conduct. In doing so, she could face fines of up to $5,000 per violation or three times the amount of the gift. According to her office, Events DC - an arm of DC's sport authority - reimbursed property developers EDENS over $5,700 for her trip to the Masters. The property company told WJLA that they had been reimbursed, but Events DC has been unable to hand over proof of such a transaction. Her office said the Masters trip aimed 'to bring more business to the city, foster growth, and revitalize downtown'. The DC Code says the mayor cannot accept a gift from a prohibited source which refers to companies doing business with the district. EDENS falls under a prohibited source, as they help the district rebuild the Union Market area of the city and receive up to $82 million in tax discounts. If the mayor had accepted the gift and it was not allowed under the DC Code, she could be violating their Code of Conduct Backlash started to brew earlier this year over the travels which was only exacerbated when Bowser took a jaunt to Las Vegas with a team of 14 9 days ago I asked @MayorBowser if she could explain why no district department has a copy of her travel expenses to Miami, Dubai or The Masters. Plus, why the Miami & Dubai trips are not listed on her annual finacial disclosure forms? Listen to the Mayor telling me her pic.twitter.com/69tlGlyhm2 Scott Taylor (@ScottTaylorTV) November 21, 2024 In the wake of a trip to Dubai in 2023 for a conference, Bowser said: 'No matter where I am, my team is working and always in touch with me at a moments notice.' Due to the findings of the WJLA investigation, reporters are handing over what they uncovered for the Board of Ethics to conduct their own investigation. Backlash started to brew earlier this year over the travels which was only exacerbated when Bowser took a jaunt to Las Vegas with a team of 14. She described the travel as being part of an 'economic mission' to the International Council of Shopping Centers in Sin City. 'Mayor Bowser will attend the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) to attract retail to the District of Columbia,' the description states. 'This economic mission is coordinated by the Washington, DC Economic Partnership, which has organized the District's presence at ICSC since 2001,' her office added in the event's explanation. Conor McGregor has broken his silence after losing his sexual assault case - where he was told he must pay the woman who accused him of raping her in a hotel six years ago 250,000. McGregor, 36, faced an accusation that he 'brutally raped and battered' Nikita Hand, 35, at a hotel in south Dublin in December 2018. The MMA fighter previously told the court he had consensual sex with Ms Hand, also known as Nikita Ni Laimhin, at the Beacon Hotel. He denied causing bruising to the plaintiff. And he has now vowed to appeal the decision - saying he was 'disappointed' and 'focused on my future'. Breaking his silence yesterday afternoon in a now-deleted post, McGregor said: 'I will be appealing yesterday's decision. The judge's instruction and the modest award given was for assault, not for aggravated or exemplary damages. 'I am disappointed that the jury did not hear all the evidence that the DPP reviewed. I am with my family now, focused on my future. Thank you to all my support worldwide.' After deliberating for six hours and 10 minutes, the jury returned with their verdicts in the trial yesterday afternoon, and awarded Ms Hand nearly 250,000. McGregor shook his head as the jury of eight women and four men found him liable of assaulting Ms Hand. Ms Hand cried and was hugged by her partner and supporters as the verdict was delivered. Outside the court, she described the last two weeks as a 'nightmare' but said she felt vindicated. McGregor, pictured with his partner Dee Devlin at the High Court in Dublin yesterday evening, faced an accusation that he 'brutally raped and battered' Nikita Hand McGregor previously told the court he had consensual sex with Ms Hand Mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor and partner Dee Devlin leave the High Court McGregor was found liable after being accused of assaulting Ms Hand in 2018 Nikita Hand, also known as Nikita Ni Laimhin, won her claim against him for damages Nikita Hand speaking to the media outside the court upon hearing the verdict in her civil case Ms Hand joined family and supporters and said she felt vindicated by the outcome McGregor has since vowed to appeal the decision - saying he was 'disappointed' and 'focused on my future' She separately lost her lawsuit against Conor McGregor's friend, James Lawrence, who she also accused of assaulting her in the Dublin hotel. McGregor was silent as he left court. Nikita Hand alleged that McGregor sexually assaulted her on December 9, 2018, and that another man, James Lawrence, did the same, Ireland's high court heard over two weeks of evidence. Ms Hand said that she and a friend made contact with McGregor, who she knew, after a work Christmas party. She said they were driven by McGregor to a party in a penthouse room of a south Dublin hotel where drugs and alcohol were consumed. She said McGregor took her a bedroom in the penthouse and sexually assaulted her. Ms Hand's lawyer, John Gordon, said she was on antidepressants, and 'full of drugs' at the time of the alleged assault. While in the jury room yesterday, the jury were given an issue paper to record their decisions. It asked two questions for them to provide a verdict on. Ms Hand leaves the High Court in Dublin after the verdicts were delivered on Friday Ms Hand was awarded 248,603.60 after the jury decided McGregor was liable Mr Lawrence, co-defendant of Conor McGregor, outside the High Court in Dublin on Thursday The first was: 'Did Mr McGregor assault Ms Hand?' The second was: 'Did Mr Lawrence assault Ms Hand?'. They had to answer 'yes' or 'no'. An answer of 'yes' to either moved the jury to deciding what damages to award Ms Hand. The total amount of damages awarded to Ms Hand by the jury was 248,603.60 (206,621.91). Nikita Hand said she hoped her case will remind victims of assault to keep 'pushing forward for justice', and show her daughter, Freya, 'that you can stand up for yourself if something happens to you no matter who the person is and justice will be served'. She said: 'I hope my story is a reminder that no matter how afraid you might be: Speak up, you have a voice and keep on fighting for justice. 'I know this has impacted not only my life, my daughter's, my family and friends tremendously. 'It's something that I'll never forget for the rest of my life. 'Now that justice has been served, I can now try and move on and look forward to the future with my family and friends and daughter.' Asked if she felt vindicated following the jury's decision, she said: 'Yes, I do. Thank you.' Mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor and partner Dee Devlin and mother Margaret outside the High Court in Dublin, November 22, 2024 MMA fighter Conor McGregor and partner Dee Devlin outside the court yesterday Ms Hand (outside court yesterday) accused McGregor of rape and another man of assault Ahead of the verdict, Justice Owens spent some time on Thursday summing up evidence heard over the two weeks, from witnesses including Ms Hand, who has no automatic right to anonymity, McGregor and Mr Lawrence. Evidence has also been heard from police, paramedics, psychiatrists, an actuary, colleagues of Ms Hand as well as a former principal forensic medical officer. Justice Owens reminded them of a number of legal principles, including the standard of proof in a civil case which is on the balance of probabilities and that the onus of proof rests on the plaintiff. He also reminded the jury that if they reached a verdict to award damages, there were several types of damages to consider including general, which covers pain and suffering to date and into the future, as well as distress and recognition of vindication. Another type of damage includes aggravated damage which is payment to recognition of offences that shocked the plaintiff. Exemplary damages are punitive damages which are to punish the defendant. He said it should be an offence that is really serious, and that they could regard rape as really serious. Justice Owens also said that someone attempting to cover up matters, or making statements that are 'patently untrue' are also serious. Justice Owens told the jury to keep their feet 'firmly on the ground' and to 'use their common sense'. He told the jury that if they reach the stage of awarding damages, and when assessing what to give for loss of earnings, to deduct 15 per cent from their figure. He told them this was called a deduction for contingencies as we live in 'an uncertain world', and the courts say these things have to be taken into account. Justice Owens warned the jury not to talk to anyone about their deliberations, including their loved ones who he said may be interested in the case. He told the jury to 'look at all the evidence'. The outcome of a civil case depends on the balance of probabilities, which is a lower standard of proof than the standard used in criminal cases. In civil cases, a defendant is found liable or not liable. A California teenager allegedly gunned down a brother and sister and their partners in a horror mass shooting before setting their home on fire and fleeing. Miguel Sandoval, 19, was captured by the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department hours after deputies discovered a brutal scene at a home in Lancaster, around 1:30am on November 16. The home was engulfed in flames, and five victims were found inside, three of whom were pronounced dead at the scene. A fourth victim died later in hospital, while a fifth, a 16-year-old girl, was found uninjured but hiding and fearing for her life inside the burning building. The victims were identified by authorities five days later, named as Christine Aca-ac, her fiancee Edwin Garcia, Christine's brother Janvi Maquindang, and his partner Matthew Montebello. Cops said Sandoval also shot the family's three dogs dead in the horrific spree. The motivation for the grisly killing is unclear, and police said their investigation remains open as they appealed to the public for information. Christine Aca-ac, her partner Edwin Garcia, (pictured together) were shot dead alongside her brother and her brothers' fiancee in a horror mass shooting last week in Lancaster, California Christine's brother Janvi Maquindang and his fiancee Matthew Montebello (pictured together) were killed in the spree along with the family's three dogs The killer, named as Miguel Sandoval, 19, by police, allegedly then set the home on fire and fled the scene before he was arrested hours later Sandoval was taken into custody by the LASD, however he has not yet been charged, and charges against him are due to be brought to the district attorney on Monday. Investigators initially believed the young adults had been having a party, but now say the alleged 19-year-old gunman came into the home while everyone was sleeping. Cops added that Sandoval was 'known to' the victims, although it is not known in what capacity. The 16-year-old surviving victim reportedly called 911 shortly before 1:30am on the night of the shooting, after Sandoval allegedly opened fire on guests inside. The four deceased victims were each found with several gunshot wounds, with the fourth dying in hospital hours later after being raced from the scene by paramedics. Firefighters remained at the home and extinguished the fire around 2am. It is not clear what method Sandoval used to allegedly set the home ablaze. In a GoFundMe set up to help the victims' families, a relative said the 'loss is overwhelming, and the pain of their absence is something we are struggling to bear every day.' The fundraiser said Christine was the legal guardian to two of her younger siblings, and 'was a loving sister and a funny, vibrant, and deeply caring friend.' The family's three dogs (pictured) were also shot dead in the horror mass shooting, with cops saying the motive for the slayings remains unclear Christine was described by her family as a 'loving sister and a funny, vibrant, and deeply caring friend' who was the legal guardian for her two younger siblings Janvi was praised as a 'bright and successful' young man who graduated as a valedictorian of his high school class A family friend shared a touching tribute to the victims vowing 'justice will be served' 'She was loved by many for her infectious laughter, generosity, and ability to make everyone feel welcome', it read, saying as legal guardian she 'devoted her life to raising them in a loving, stable home.' Janvi was praised as a 'bright and successful' young man who graduated as a valedictorian of his high school class. They said he was also a 'special soul' to the two young siblings Christine was legal guardian for, who have now been 'left without their protector and guiding force.' Janvi's fiancee Matthew was the one raced from the scene. His GoFundMe noted that while in hospital, he was left in a vegetative state for a time as his organs were donated. 'Matthew was a great brother and loving son, always considering his own family and setting aside time despite their distance. He was a great artist and musician, who was able to convey his reality and memories through his work,' the fundraiser read. Edwin's family described him as a 'pillar of joy and happiness', who 'had great aspirations to pursue a career as a educator both in academics and music.' Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call LASDs Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Anonymous tips can be provided to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at lacrimestoppers.org. On social media, men are threatening to bash my head in. One of these anonymous harassers went so far as to imagine attacking me in a bathroom. In America today, this is what happens to women when they advocate for their own safety. As the first female graduate from South Carolina's military college, The Citadel, and the first Republican congresswoman elected in the state, I've broken barriers all my life. I'm also a survivor of rape and domestic violence, and I still live with PTSD from these traumatizing experiences. My advocacy isn't political it's personal. That is why I took the lead this week in introducing a House resolution to ban biological men from women's bathrooms, locker rooms and other private spaces in the U.S. Capitol. On Wednesday, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson announced a policy that ratified my concerns. And like clockwork, the Democrats erupted. But they're not outraged over the dozens of death threats that I am now receiving. For that, they remain silent. Their anger is directed elsewhere at me. 'What Nancy Mace and what Speaker Johnson are doing are endangering all women and girls,' Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said on Thursday, as she ridiculously claimed that Republicans 'want to be able to inspect [people's] genitals to be able to use the bathroom?' On social media, men are threatening to bash my head in. One of these anonymous harassers went so far as to imagine attacking me in a bathroom. How vile and predictable. Of course, Rep. Ocasio-Cortez fails to mention that there are private bathrooms in each member's office and unisex bathrooms available throughout the Capitol Complex for everyone regardless of gender identity. She ignores that my soon-to-be colleague, Rep. Sarah McBride, who is transgender, said that she'll follow the House rules as outlined by Speaker Johnson. And I look forward to working with Rep. McBride on issues important to us both. To the Left this is a political talking point. To the millions of American it's a matter of common sense. I will not be shamed into silence or back down after being ludicrously branded a bigot. I voted twice to allow same-sex marriage and I have sponsored legislation bolstering protections for LGBTQ Americans. This fight is not about bigotry. It is about standing up for women and girls. As a survivor of abuse, the idea of a biological man demanding to enter my dressing room is menacing and I'm a grown woman capable and armed to protect myself. My soon-to-be colleague, Rep. Sarah McBride, who is transgender, said that she'll follow the House rules as outlined by Speaker Johnson. And I look forward to working with Rep. McBride on issues important to us both. But what about those who cannot defend themselves? Nearly four years ago, California began allowing male inmates to be housed in correctional facilities in a 'manner consistent with their gender identity.' A poster boy for the law was Tremaine Carroll, a violent criminal and accused sex predator who was transferred in 2021 from a men's prison to Central California Women's Facility. By May 2024, Carroll had been transferred back to a men's lockup indicted on two counts of rape of female inmates. Carroll's case is ongoing. This is an extreme example but one that must be put forward because it shows how far transgender ideology has gone in America. It completely ignores the clear biological basis for the separation of the genders in private places. A stunning reported 81 percent of American women experience some form of sexual harassment and/or assault in their lifetime. More than half of women have been sexually touched in an unwelcome way. More than one in four women have survived sexual assault. Rep. Ocasio-Cortez and others also accuse me of blowing this issue out of proportion. Yet they are the ones who insist that all women must change how they live and compromise their well-being in favor of the approximately 1.1 percent of Americans who identify as trans. A poster boy for the law was Tremaine Carroll (above), a violent criminal and accused sex predator who was transferred in 2021 from a men's prison to Central California Women's Facility. I'm not seeking to limit anyone's rights I'm seeking to affirm the rights of women. That's why this House rule is only the beginning. The U.S. Capitol is the seat of our democracy. It must set the standard. I am now introducing legislation to expand the same-sex bathroom policy across federal property nationwide and in schools funded by the federal government. Women and girls deserve more than to have their needs ignored and protective boundaries erased. One case of preventable abuse, assault or harassment is one too many. We must act before another woman or girl becomes a statistic. The families of the Manchester Arena bombings have been told they cannot continue their legal action against MI5, judges at a specialist tribunal have ruled. More than 300 people including survivors and those bereaved by the attack brought a case to the Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT) against the Security Services. They claimed at a hearing earlier this month that the failure to take 'appropriate measures' to prevent the atrocity infringed on their human rights. But in a ruling today, Lord Justice Singh and Mrs Justice Farbey said the cases could not proceed as they were brought too late. An official inquiry held last year heard how MI5 had terrorist Salman Abedi on its radar from 2010 but regarded him as low priority. Then in the months before the attack which killed 22 people, including children MI5 received two vital pieces of intelligence on Abedi, which it failed to act upon quickly. Director-general of MI5 Ken McCallum said in March 2023 that he was 'profundly sorry' that MI5 did not stop the bombing at the Ariana Grande concert. Lord Justice Singh said: 'We are particularly conscious of the importance of the rights concerned... We are also conscious of the horrendous impact of the atrocity on the claimants and their families. Families of the Manchester Arena bombing have been told they cannot continue their legal action against MI5 a specialist tribunal has ruled today An official inquiry held last year heard how MI5 had terrorist Salman Abedi on its radar from 2010 but regarded him as low priority Director-general of MI5 Ken McCallum said in March 2023 that he was 'profundly sorry' that MI5 did not stop the bombing 'Any reasonable person would have sympathy for them. 'The grief and trauma which they have suffered, particularly where young children were killed, is almost unimaginable. 'Nevertheless, we have reached the conclusion that, in all the circumstances, it would not be equitable to permit the claims to proceed.' Last year inquiry chairman Sir John Saunders explained that MI5 received information about Abedi on 20 occasions between 2010 and the days leading up to the attack in May 2017. It came from Abedi's contacts with known extremists. But MI5 did not investigate him closely. Crucially, Sir John said MI5 received two significant pieces of information of national security concern about Abedi in the months before his attack when he was amassing bomb material. But the two pieces of intelligence which Sir John could not reveal were not acted upon by MI5 quickly enough. Abedi was in Libya for a month and returned to Britain four days before the attack. The 22 people killed in the Manchester Arena bombing in May 2017 The ocean of floral tributes in St Ann's square in the heart of the city centre following the terrorist bombing attack at Manchester arena Saffie-Rose Roussos was the youngest person to die in the Manchester Arena bombing Hudgell Solicitors, Slater & Gordon and Broudie Jackson Canter, three of the law firms representing people affected, said in a statement: 'It is extremely disappointing for our clients to learn their claims against MI5 will not be able to progress further through the Investigatory Powers Tribunal. 'Ever since the attack in May 2017, our clients have had to endure continued delays but have done so with great patience and understanding in the hope that by allowing all legal processes to be fully explored, transparency and justice would be achieved. 'It took almost six years for the failings of MI5 to be revealed, confirmed when the Inquiry chair published his Volume 3 findings in March 2023, in which he said MI5 had missed a 'significant opportunity' to prevent the attack. 'This report concluded that within this six-year period, the Security Service corporate witnesses X and J gave evidence on oath that had presented an inaccurate picture, and the same inaccurate picture had been presented to Lord Anderson when he compiled his report in December 2017.' Donald Trump's new pick for attorney general was a fierce defender who attacked Joe Biden during Trump's first impeachment and tangled with a lawyer for O.J. Simpson when his client moved to Florida after his acquittal on murder charges. Bondi, 59, who Trump announced was his choice to be the nation's top law enforcement officer after the stunning withdrawal of Rep. Matt Gaetz after just days amid sex trafficking allegations has long been known as a fierce Trump loyalist. She called him a friend while delivering remarks at a Trump campaign rally during a blistering response after billionaire Mark Cuban said Trump didn't want to have strong, intelligent women around him. She also and parroted some of Trump's election fraud claims by claiming there were 'fake ballots.' She claimed falsely at a Nov. 4, 2020 press conference that included former Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani that Trump had won Pennsylvania. 'It looks like intimidation to me,' she said. 'Weve won Pennsylvania and we want every vote to be counted in a fair way.' California Rep. Adam Schiff called her 'one of the election deniers out there very early on in Pennsylvania making claims of fake ballots.' Bondi endorsed Trump over fellow Florida Marco Rubio in 2016. She ended up speaking at his first convention, when crowd members broke out into 'lock her up' chants about Hillary Clinton that Bondi endorsed. '"Lock her up," I love that,' said Bondi. Former federal prosecutor Elie Honig told CNN Bondi was 'without a question, qualified to be Attorney General,' citing her 20 years as a prosecutor in Florida. Pam Bondi has been a close advisor to Donald Trump for years, representing him during his first impeachment. As the nation's top law enforcement officer she would oversee federal Trump criminal probes, although they appeared to be falling apart since his election Back in 2017, Simpson lawyer Malcolm Lavergne unloaded on her when as Florida AG she called Simpson a 'scofflaw' who would drain law enforcement funds by moving to the state after getting parole in L.A. Lavergne called her 'possibly the stupidest person on the planet' in comments to the Tampa Bay Times where he said the matter should be handled by the state department of corrections and was an effort to 'gain political favor.' He now says he was under a lot of pressure when he made the comments. Although he calls Bondi 'vindictive,' he told DailyMail.com, 'I hope she takes her position very seriously not just as a Trump loyalist but as an American' and says he's 'wishing her the best.' It was just one of the contentious high-profile legal fights of her long career. She was elected Florida AG in 2010 after getting a nod from Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. During Trump's first impeachment, where the president was accused of threatening to withhold vital military aid to get an investigation of the Bidens, she tried to turn the focus back on Hunter Biden's lucrative job on the board of a Ukrainian energy firm. When she was AG, she ultimately did not join a lawsuit by the New York AG seeking compensation for students who said they were defrauded by Trump University. She faced scrutiny for accepting a $25,000 donation from Trump before the decision was finalized. Bondi advised Trump in the White House, calls him a friend, and spoke at his convention and at rallies Bondi clashed with an attorney for O.J. Simpson when he got out of prison on parole and wanted to move to Florida 'The Florida Ethics Panel cleared Pam Bondi. This is old, discredited news,' said Trump transition spokesman Alex Pfeiffer. There have been times when she has admitted mistakes. Back in 2013, she said it was an error to reschedule a state execution that conflicted with a campaign fundraiser. 'I should not have requested the execution be moved. It had been [delayed] twice,' she told the Tampa Bay Times. 'I'm sorry. And it will not happen again.' The victim's family had been critical of the move. Trump, who grew to regret his nomination of Jeff Sessions to be his first AG, only to see Sessions recuse himself from the Russia probe, hailed Bondi for her loyalty in a statement. 'For too long, the partisan Department of Justice has been weaponized against me and other Republicans - Not anymore,' he said. 'Pam will refocus the DOJ to its intended purpose of fighting Crime, and Making America Safe Again.' She is close to Trump's incoming chief of staff Susie Wiles, and both worked for the same Ballard law and lobbying firm run by a Trump fundraiser. Surveillance footage shows the moment neighbors served street justice to a pair of motorcycle-riding muggers in Colombia. The suspects had just robbed a woman of her purse in the Puente Aranda neighborhood of Bogota on Thursday morning and were fleeing on a motorcycle. That's when a quick-thinking neighbor took matters into his own hands, tossing a hand truck at the motorcycle as it sped by and sending the thieves tumbling from their bike. Another neighbor also jumped in, kicking one of the suspects as he was sprawled on the street. A mob of residents then chased after the perpetrators and pummeled them before setting their motorcycle on fire. Other footage shows one of the suspects lying on the ground and his accomplice in handcuffs as police tended to them. One unidentified witness told the Colombian news outlet City TV that neighbors sounded the 'alarm' as soon as they heard the woman had been robbed. 'We activated the alarm and we all came out and one neighbor flung the hand truck at the motorcycle and we blocked its path and it fell,' the man said. Aquick-thinking neighbor took matters into his own hands, tossing a hand truck at the motorcycle as it sped by in the Puente Aranda neighborhood of Bogota A mob of residents chased after the perpetrators and pummeled them before setting their motorcycle on fire 'The neighborhood residents went after the robbers.' The suspects were restrained until a Bogota Metropolitan Police unit arrived. The witness said that neighbors are still concerned that the suspects or others thieves will return to the area to commit crimes. 'Unfortunately, you hand these people over to the police and within 24 hours they are free and go out to steal,' he said. Government data released in October showed that 99,194 thefts were committed in Bogota, the nation's capital, between January and September this year. In comparison, 120,489 incidents were reported during the same period in 2023 and 93,443 were reported in 2022. Of the 364,531 robberies that were registered last year in Colombia, 147,666 were committed in Bogota. Bogota Mayor Carlos Galan vowed last month to increase the police budget to ensure security in some of the city's most vulnerable neighborhoods. 'We are going to have more investment in security than Bogota has ever had before,' he said. 'We are going to have it. We don't have it yet. We are just starting.' President-elect Donald Trump reacted quickly to protests from supporters who believed that he would choose Mike Rogers as director of the FBI. Trump's long-serving advisor and social media director Dan Scavino delivered an update on the idea on Friday morning on his X account. 'Just spoke to President Trump regarding Mike Rogers going to the FBI,' he wrote. 'It's not happening In his own words, 'I have never even given it a thought.' Not happening.' Rogers, a former FBI agent, congressman, and chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, ran unsuccessfully for Senator of Michigan in November but was a rumored contender for the position after he met with the Trump transition team at Mar-a-Lago. Key MAGA figureheads started protesting the idea after learning more details about Rogers and his background in the intelligence community. Old social media posts from Rogers were resurfaced after he was a rumored pick to lead the FBI, as he concluded in 2017 that the Russians had interfered in the 2016 election warning that it was a 'clear and present danger to our democracy.' Rogers was also a co-founder of The Alliance for Securing Democracy, a group described by critics as a 'deep state Never Trump' organization with former establishment national security advisors who created the Hamilton 68 project. The controversial project targeted social media accounts as sources of Russian disinformation, even though many of them were journalists or American citizens. Republican Michigan Senate candidate Mike Rogers speaks during an election night watch party, Rogers also worked with former Director of National Intelligence Clapper at Harvard and previously praised his 'professionalism' and 'gravitas' at the agency. Backlash against Rogers only increased after former FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe endorsed the idea of him leading the law enforcement agency. McCabe described Rogers as a 'totally reasonable, logical selection' to lead the agency, in an interview on CNN and warned against Trump choosing MAGA loyalist Kash Patel. 'It's inconceivable to me that an outsider with no experience in the organization, no knowledge of the work and the scope of authority that's involved there could perform adequately,' McCabe said. That only fueled MAGA support for Patel, an unabashed Trump loyalist who gives some Republicans pause, after he served roles at the National Security Council and Defense Department in Trump's first term. Patel frequently voices his contempt for the 'deep state' within the national security and intelligence establishment, vowing to dramatically reform the agencies if appointed by Trump to a position in either of the departments. Patel previewed his plan for the FBI in a recent podcast interview with Shawn Ryan. 'I'd shut down the FBI Hoover building on Day One and reopen it the next day as a museum of the deep state, and I'd take the 7,000 employees that work in that building and send them across America to chase down criminals,' Patel said. 'Go be cops. You're cops. Go be cops.' Kash Patel: Id shutdown the FBI Hoover building on Day 1 and reopen it the next day as a museum of the deep state. Do you think Donald Trump should appoint Kash Patel? pic.twitter.com/ceoGb0wRun Shawn Ryan Show (@ShawnRyanShow) November 19, 2024 As an aide for former House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes, Patel earned rave reviews from Trump loyalists for fighting the ongoing accusations that the campaign colluded with Russia during the 2016 presidential election. He rose quickly within the ranks of the Trump administration, beginning as a senior counterterrorism directer on the National Security Council, to the principal deputy to the acting director in the Office of National Intelligence, and finally the principal deputy to the acting director of the Department of Defense. Trump even planned to fire CIA director Gina Haspel's top deputy and replace him with Patel in the final weeks of his administration, but was convinced otherwise by then vice president Mike Pence. Britain's new 3.2billion aircraft carrier has stocked up on ammunition and increased its 'readiness' after a Ukrainian military chief claimed 'World War Three had begun'. HMS Prince of Wales sailed into Glenmallen on Loch Long, in Argyll and Bute in Scotland, as tensions between the West and Russia threaten to boil over. Posting on X, the 65,000-tonne ship's official account wrote: 'We have arrived into Glen Mallan to uplift our ammunition and increase our readiness.' Defence sources were quick to stress the 3.2billion warship's arrival at the Scottish military hub was part of a pre-planned exercise ahead of its global deployment next year and 'not in response to Russian aggression'. However, it comes amid a chilling claim by a Ukrainian military chief that the world was already in the middle of an all-out conflict, as the war between Russia and Ukraine escalated to new, terrifying heights this week. Russian tyrant Vladimir Putin threatened to blitz UK and US military facilities, after British and American-made missiles were used by Kyiv to strike targets deep in Russian territory. In a televised address last night, the despot said his war in Ukraine was escalating towards a global conflict following the decision to allow British Storm Shadow missiles and American ATACMS rockets to be used to strike inside Russia. He then warned the West that Moscow could devastatingly strike back - amid claims the Kremlin was already planning a savage strike on Kyiv's Parliament building. HMS Prince of Wales sailed into Glenmallen on Loch Long, in Argyll and Bute in Scotland Defence sources were quick to stress the 3.2billion warship's arrival at the Scottish military hub was part of a pre-planned exercise ahead of its global deployment next year and 'not in response to Russian aggression'. HMS Prince of Wales tweeted about the ship's arrival in Scotland in a post on X Meanwhile, General Valery Zaluzhny, who is now Ukraine's envoy to the United Kingdom, told the UP100 award ceremony in Kyiv: 'I believe that in 2024 we can absolutely believe that the Third World War has begun.' The military chief said that as of this year, 'Ukraine is no longer facing Russia. Soldiers from North Korea are standing in front of Ukraine.' Putin has already leaned on his autocratic allies, North Korea, Iran and China, to back his invasion of eastern bloc neighbour, which this week marked its 1,000th day since the war erupted. Around North Korean 10,000 soldiers have been sent by Pyongyang to fight alongside Russian troops in the Kursk region, as Moscow aims to replenish its forces and reclaim the territory taken from it three months ago. Zaluzhny went on to highlight the support Putin's armies had received from Tehran, which has sent thousands of Shahed attack drones to Moscow and also assisted it with the technology to build the drones itself, according to reports. More than 8,000 Iranian-developed drones have been launched since the war began two-and-a-half years ago, Kyiv said in September, with many targeting civilian homes as well as military targets. 'Let's be honest. Already in Ukraine, the Iranian "Shahedis" are killing civilians absolutely openly, without any shame,' Zaluzhny said, adding that Chinese and North Korean weapons were also being used against his country. It comes after Moscow's ambassador to the UK declared that Britain is now 'directly involved' in the war after Kyiv's Storm Shadow attack on Russian territory this week. A still image taken from an undated video released by the Russian Defence Ministry Press-Service on November 22 2024 shows a Russian T90M tank firing towards Ukrainian positions Valery Zaluzhny, who is now Ukraine's envoy to the United Kingdom, told a ceremony in Kyiv : 'I believe that in 2024 we can absolutely believe that the Third World War has begun.' Picture reportedly shows North Korean troops in Russia ahead of deployment to the frontline A Ukrainian officer examines a downed Shahed drone with thermobaric charge launched by Russia in a research laboratory in an undisclosed location in Ukraine Asked if the UK is 'at war', Prime Minister Keir Starmer told BBC local radio: 'We're not at war, but Ukraine certainly is.' The PM also slammed Putin's 'irresponsible rhetoric'. 'Russia is the aggressor,' he said. 'This war could end today if Putin stopped being the aggressor.' Meanwhile, a top British defence chief declared the nation's military would be ready to fight Vladimir Putin's forces 'tonight' if Russia were to invade another European nation in addition to Ukraine. Lieutenant General Sir Rob Magowan, the deputy chief of the British defence staff, told the House of Commons defence committee yesterday afternoon: 'If the British Army was asked to fight tonight, it would fight tonight. 'I don't think anybody in this room should be under any illusion that if the Russians invaded Eastern Europe tonight, then we would meet them in that fight.' However, the veteran Royal Marine commando's declaration belies the state of the UK's military capabilities. In May, he acknowledged that Britain's soldiers would run out of ammunition and equipment in a war against Putin's Russia in less than two months. A muzzle flash lights up pine trees as the British Army's new Archer Mobile Howitzer gun fires, as British Army soldiers take part in training near Rovaniemi in the Arctic Circle, Finland Lt. Gen Sir Rob Magowan, the deputy chief of the British defence staff, told the House of Commons defence committee yesterday afternoon: 'If the British Army was asked to fight tonight, it would fight tonight' Meanwhile, HMS Prince of Wales and her sister ship, HMS Queen Elizabeth, faced uncertainty this week over claims one of the mighty vessels could be 'mothballed'. The vessels are the biggest ever built for the Navy and cost more than 6billion, with the first commissioned in 2017. Together, they are meant to have a 50-year lifespan. But the Ministry of Defence and Chancellor Rachel Reeves's department are understood to have had a discussion about what military kit could be cut as part of the upcoming strategic defence review - with the carriers' future reportedly raised. On Thursday, Defence Secretary John Healey was forced to address the rumours during a hearing of parliament's defence committee. Quizzed on whether one of the aircraft carriers would be mothballed as part of a major review of the military, Mr Healey said: 'They are under scrutiny but not in jeopardy. 'The decisions that will be have to take are those that we will take but in light of the reviewers' analysis when they come to report.' His comments came after his shock announcement on Wednesday that five warships - including two landing platforms and one frigate - were to be axed as part of a sweeping defence overhaul to save the MoD 500million. In a shocking move which sent alarming signals to the Kremlin, 31 frontline helicopters and a pair of Commando assault ships were axed. While despite the domination of drones on the Ukrainian battlefield, the UK is to lose a staggering 46 Watchkeeper Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). A Royal Navy frigate HMS Northumberland and a pair of 'fast fleet tankers', which provide fuel for aircraft carriers, are also being chopped as part of the jaw-dropping plans. The decision by Defence Secretary was met by shock and fury, with sources saying the cuts delivered entirely the wrong message to Britain's enemies and allies such as the United States. The timing was also challenged as it coincides with the US ramping up its support for Ukraine and as other NATO members are boosting their military capabilities. One senior naval figure remarked: 'Try telling Donald Trump these helicopters and ships were getting old and were costing more to repair, he'll only hear that Britain is making cuts'. Announcing the cuts in Parliament, Mr Healey told MPs: 'Today, with the full backing of our service chiefs I can confirm that six outdated capabilities will be taken out of service. Among the cuts announced include 14 of the oldest Chinook helicopters, which have been the backbone of military operations for decades (pictured is a Chinook in Afghanistan in 2006) Landing ship HMS Bulwark, which was meant to be retired in 2034, will now be scrapped at the end of the year Ageing frigate HMS Northumberland is due to be retired. It had been in refit when engineers found significant and costly structural damage to the vessel 'These decisions are set to save the Ministry of Defence 150 million in pounds over two years and up to 500 million over five years. Savings that will be retained, in full, in defence. 'HMS Northumberland's structural damage made her uneconomical to repair. The 46 Watchkeeper Mk 1s, a 14-year-old Army drone which technology had overtaken. 'HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark, landing ships both effectively retired by previous ministers but superficially kept on the books at a cost of 9 million a-year. 'Fourteen Chinooks, some over 35-years-old, accelerated out of service, two 'Wave Class' tankers nobody had seen for years and 17 Puma helicopters, some with over 50 years' flying, will not be extended. 'Sadly, these will not be the last difficult decisions I am required to take.' A mother who wheeled around the body of her toddler in a pushchair for three days after she was beaten to death by her partner was cleared of her murder today. Chelsea Gleason-Mitchell , 24, choked back tears as a jury unanimously cleared her before convicting her boyfriend Scott Jeff, 24, of the murder of two-year-old Isabella Wheildon after deliberating for just over seven hours. A six week trial at Ipswich Crown Court heard how Isabella had been subjected to 'a regime of escalating brutality' before she died in a homeless families unit. The court heard how Jeff had repeatedly beaten Isabella, leaving her with multiple fractures and soft tissue injuries and gave her cold showers as punishment as he was frustrated about potty training. Jurors were told how nursery nurse Gleason-Mitchell 'stood back, watched and did nothing' as Jeff carried out his 'callous, cruel and ultimately fatal' assaults. Gleason-Mitchell denied physically harming Isabella and claimed that Jeff had repeatedly kicked and punched her. Jeff also tried to deny harming Isabella, pointing the finger at Gleason-Mitchell by saying he had returned to their room to find the toddler seriously injured shortly before her death. But the jury rejected his account and he showed no emotion in the dock as he was also convicted of two counts of cruelty to a child. Gleason-Mitchell earlier admitted causing or allowing her death, and two charges of cruelty to a child. A six week trial at Ipswich Crown Court heard how Isabella Wheildon had been subjected to 'a regime of escalating brutality' before she died in June 2023 A jury convicted Scott Jeff, 24, of the murder of two-year-old Isabella Wheildon after deliberating for just over seven hours Chelsea Gleason-Mitchell choked back tears as a jury unanimously cleared her She was seen pushing the battered body of two-year-old Isabella Wheildon in a buggy with partner Scott Jeff for three days after the little girl's death CCTV from June shows Jeff carrying Isabella, who was wearing the dark glasses he had allegedly given her to cover up her black eyes and heavy bruising Isabella, pictured here on a swing with her mother Chelsea Gleason-Mitchell, was found dead at a homeless unit in Ipswich, Suffolk Mr Justice Garnham remanded both of them in custody before sentencing on December 13 and told Jeff: 'I make it clear publicly that I am obliged by law to impose as a life sentence, and I will have to fix a minimum sentence for you to serve.' The judge told the jurors that it had been a 'difficult' trial and excused them from doing further jury service for ten years. Isabella was believed to have died from her injures on June 26 last year while staying with her mother and Jeff at the East Villa temporary accommodation unit in Sidegate Lane, Ipswich, Suffolk. But the couple kept her death a secret, and carried on pushing around her lifeless body in her chair with the hood pulled up to shield her face, even taking her corpse on a shopping trip to buy computer gaming equipment. Isabella was dead for four days before police found her body on June 30 under blankets in a shower in the bathroom attached to her room The discovery was made after a friend of Gleason-Mitchell reported getting a message from her, saying that her daughter had 'died in her sleep' three days earlier and was in her pushchair in a bathroom The friend Jo Gardiner did not know where Gleason-Mitchell was staying, but inquires by police led them to the East Villa unit, operated by Ipswich Borough Council, said prosecutor Sally Howes KC. Staff opened the door to Room 15A where Gleason-Mitchell and Jeff had been staying, and officers were greeted by a 'very strong smell' when the bathroom was unlocked. Ms Howes said: 'PC Ryan Wegg saw an object in the shower area with blankets piled on top. As he removed the last blanket, he saw the face of a young child who was not moving. He was aware of severe bruising on her face. She was cold to the touch.' Isabella was declared dead at the scene by a paramedic and a later post mortem showed she soft tissue injuries to her head, neck, torso, limbs and back, and a torn vagina. She also had fractures to both her wrists, and a complex pelvic fracture involving several bones, likely to have been caused by 'kicking or stamping'. Some injuries occurring up to two weeks before her death and others as little as six hours before she died. Ms Howes said it was clear that Isabella had 'a number of episodes of violence inflicted on her over a period of time.' Her cause of death of was given as a bone marrow embolism due to bone marrow from her fractures getting into her blood stream, and causing embolisms in her lungs which reduced her capacity to breathe. The court was told that Jeff beat Isabella and put her naked in cold showers as punishment if she had accidents while potty training or because he was in a mood and 'needed some drugs' Ms Howes described Isabella 'a healthy, contented and well developed little girl' before Jeff came into her life in May, 2023, when he started a relationship with Gleason-Mitchell. She added: 'From that time up to her death, Isabella was subject to a regime of escalating brutality which was callous, cruel and ultimately fatal. 'It is the prosecution case that her mother Chelsea Gleason-Mitchell stood back, watched, did nothing and allowed this to happen.' The court heard how Gleason-Mitchell grew up in Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, and had got a childcare apprenticeship at a nursery in the town. She quickly fell pregnant early in her relationship with former partner Thomas Wheildon and had Isabella, later returning to work at her nursery, but the couple's relationship fell apart in April last year. Gleason-Mitchell then went to live with her mother until May when she started a relationship with Jeff who suggested that he might be the real father of Isabella as they had dated shortly before she realised she was pregnant. Later DNA tests proved that Thomas was the father. She left her nursery job on May 24, and a week later headed off with Jeff and Isabella to stay at the Nelson Hotel in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk. Gleason Mitchell told her sister Jade Anglum in a message that she was 'trying to get her head in the right place' and was going to give her relationship with Jeff 'a go again', said Ms Howes. Gleason-Mitchell told police that Jeff had 'beaten Isabella constantly until her death', punching and kicking her 'from head to toe', hitting her backside with a shoe and making her scream and cry. Gleason-Mitchell, who has been unanimously cleared by a jury, claimed that she and Jeff had gone to Bury St Edmunds 'to try and escape what had happened' The couple stayed four nights in a hotel before renting a caravan for four nights at the Haven holiday park in nearby Caister-on-Sea where they were captured on CCTV walking around on 'numerous occasions' without Isabella, suggesting they had left her unsupervised. The court heard how Jeff had claimed he was getting DNA tests done to see whether he was Isabella's father, and later falsely claimed to Miss Anglum that a paternity test had proved he was. They later checked into the St George Hotel in Great Yarmouth used by homeless families on June 9, even though Gleason-Mitchell's sister was pleading with her to come home. A receptionist at the hotel said they remembered Gleason-Mitchell and Jeff regularly going outside to smoke, leaving Isabella in the room, and returning smelling strongly of cannabis. A 14-year-old boy who was staying in the hotel with his mother went into the couple's room to roll a cannabis joint and saw Jeff kicking Isabella's pushchair, and slap her around the face with his open palm which made her cry. Miss Howes added: 'Chelsea Gleason-Mitchell witnessed this but apparently did nothing and said nothing.' The teenager said he then saw Jeff put Isabella's pushchair in the shower, and turn the water on. He added that he, Jeff and Gleason-Mitchell later went out to smoke the cannabis, leaving Isabella alone in the room. Another adult resident of the hotel said she heard Isabella crying constantly one night and knocked on the door at 2am. When she was let in, she saw Jeff repeatedly hitting the wall with a towel in his hands The couple left the hotel on June 12 and started camping in a small tent on the beach at Caister, having earlier gone to Great Yarmouth Borough Council to ask for accommodation. The court heard that Gleason-Mitchell and Isabella had been offered accommodation by the council, but Jeff had not, so she had turned down the offer. Jeff had asked for work at the Old Hall Hotel in Caister, telling staff that he and Gleason-Mitchell had been escaping from domestic violence, but was told no jobs were available. Miss Howes said they were shown 'great kindness' by staff at the hotel and regulars at the bar who gave them meals, groceries, towels , 20 in cash and allowed them to use showers. Isabella was said to have been seen at the hotel in a pushchair, wearing a zipped up puffa jacket with the hood up, despite the hot weather. One staff member was so concerned that she contacted police who carried out a welfare check on Gleason-Mitchell on the beach when Jeff was at the hotel. The officer told her that she had to accept any accommodation offered to her or Isabella would have to be taken into care by police. After camping for four days on the beach, the couple moved to the Wild Duck holiday park in Belton, Norfolk, where they were once again seen walking around alone, leaving Isabella unsupervised. They left the site on June 19 and caught a train to Ipswich with Isabella wearing her puffa jackets and sunglasses to apparently hide her black eyes after being offered a place at East Villa. Voice notes made by Jeff on his phone on June 21 showed him saying he was '****ing fuming' that Isabella kept wetting herself, despite his efforts at potty training. A video clip on Gleason Mitchells' mobile in the early hours of June 22 showed Isabella 'lying motionless in her cot with two distinct black eyes'. CCTV from the unit, showed her repeatedly being pushed around in her chair, wearing sunglasses with the hood up, concealing her head. Jeff made a google search on June 24, saying, 'two-year-old bleeding from vagina', said Miss Howes. The court heard how Jeff had texted a friend Hannah Smith on the evening of June 26, saying: 'I am so stressed, I actually can't cope'. When she replied, 'Why, what's up?, he responded: 'Absolutely everything'. Earlier in the day, Jeff had done a google search asking: 'What happens when my child is breathing, but not responding?' The court heard that CCTV pictures of Isabella being wheeled around after June 26 had been taken following her death. Miss Howes added: 'Scott Jeff and Chelsea Gleason-Mitchell are in effect pushing around a dead child in that pushchair.' Miss Howes said that they had taken Isabella's body to the nearby Applegreen service station to buy a bottle of lemonade just after midnight on the night of June 26. CCTV at the unit showed Jeff pushing Isabella's body in her chair with Gleason Mitchell 'smiling at his side' as they headed out to the nearby Royal George pub just after 7pm on June 28. The following day on June 29, they took Isabella's body into Ipswich town centre on a bus, visiting shops including Cash Converters and Cash Exchange, where they bought X-Box equipment and chargers. Miss Howes added: 'They put their purchases in a yellow plastic bag which they put in the pushchair on top of Isabella.' She said that Gleason-Mitchell messaged Miss Gardiner that evening, confirming Isabella's death, saying: 'She stopped breathing in her sleep.' Her friend urged her to go to the police, but Gleason-Mitchell replied that Isabella was 'covered in bruises' and had black eyes, and they could not do so as they would get into trouble. Instead, she said that they planned to bury her and 'hope for the best that nobody would find her'. The couple told other residents of the unit that Isabella was with her grandparents in Ipswich as they went out in a taxi, shopping once again in Ipswich town centre and visiting a pub. They then caught a train to Bury St Edmunds where they went to the town's JD Wetherspoon pub. They were arrested on suspicion of murder in Bury St Edmunds in the early hours of July 1. Jeff initially made no comment when interviewed by police, but gave a prepared statement on July 2, denying any responsibility for Isabella's death and insisting he had never beaten her or harmed her, other than when he tried to revive her. He said that he had started to notice bruising on her body five days before her death, but had accepted Gleason-Mitchell's explanation that they were 'nothing to worry about'. Jeff claimed he had woken up to find Isabella 'floppy and unresponsive' and could not find a pulse. He said it 'quickly became apparent that she had died'. He accepted that they should have called emergency services, but had not done so. Jeff said: 'Having not contacted the police or ambulance service initially, it became harder to do so afterwards, although I knew we would have to do so at some stage. In part at least our failure to do so arose from us being in denial about what had happened.' In a later statement given before the post mortem was carried out, he suggested that Isabella may have hurt herself by slipping over in the shower, and that he believed her death was 'a tragic event arising from unseen natural causes'. Gleason-Mitchell told police that Jeff had 'beaten Isabella constantly until her death', punching and kicking her 'from head to toe', hitting her backside with a shoe and making her scream and cry. The assaults left her covered in bruises, with two black eyes, a bloodshot eye and a soft spot on her head. She added that Jeff would push her out of the way if she tried to intervene, and she didn't say anything to anyone due to her mental health. Gleason-Mitchell who has ADHD also claimed that he gave Isabella cold showers and would force feed her to the point of her being sick. She claimed that the abuse started when they went to stay in Great Yarmouth, and that when Isabella had wet her nappy, Jeff had stated: 'If this carries on, she is going to get killed'. Gleason Mitchell added in her interview that Jeff 'wanted to bury Isabella in a forest or a lake' and that they had gone to Bury St Edmunds 'to try and escape what had happened'. The court heard how Isabella was found to have low traces of a cocaine derivative in her body, suggesting she may have been nearby when crack cocaine was smoked. It was also stated that cannabis traces were found in her hair. MBABANE A State-owned 9mm SIG Sauer, loaded with seven bullets and still in its holster, was found lying near Limkokwing University of Creative Technology. Sources indicated that the firearm was discovered by a local driver, commonly known as malume, who noticed the gun abandoned close to the campus. It was reported that the driver surrendered the gun to the police. The Chief Police Information and Communications Officer, Senior Superintendent Phindile Vilakati, confirmed that the driver surrendered the gun to the police after he found it. Vilakati thanked the driver for his efforts in ensuring that the gun was surrendered to the police. This comes after the National Commissioner of Police, Vusi Manoma Masango, announced that at least two guns with 25 bullets were surrendered during the Eswatini Amnesty Month termed Shwele. Eswatini commemorated the amnesty month in September. Eswatini had joined hands with the African Union (AU) in working towards making Africa a peaceful continent by 2030. This is inspired by the Silencing of Guns Agenda 2030, a flagship initiative of the AU Agenda 2063, that aspires to end all wars, conflicts and gender-based violence (GBV) and to prevent genocides. Silencing As a long-standing partner to the AU, United Nations Development Programmes (UNDP) has recommitted its partnerships, programmes and opportunities to furthering the Silencing of Guns Agenda 2030, by creating the necessary conditions for Africas transformative development. The police launched the Amnesty month in order to allow all people to surrender illegal firearms to the police. During this period, emaSwati were urged to surrender illegal guns to the nearest police stations or regional commanders. Recently, Masango thanked the nation for cooperation during the amnesty month. He said emaSwati responded to their call as in their records, two guns were surrendered with 25 bullets. I also want to thank those who informed us where to look and we did look and got positive results. We got some guns and the people will face the law, he said. Raid Speaking during the end of the amnesty month recently, Masango said now that the amnesty month had ended without people handing over illegally possessed firearms, the police will be ruthless and raid homesteads with intent to recover the illegal guns, which are used in the commission of serious crimes, such as murders and robberies. We will embark on a search wherein we will confiscate all illegally possessed firearms. All those who will be found in illegal possession of firearms will face the law. It was not a joke that September was Amnesty month, he said. Masango said as a country, there must be a report to the United Nations (UN) and AU on what has been done during the amnesty month. He said the report must show if the country has done something, however, he said it is clear that most people who possess illegal firearms are reluctant to surrender them to the police. He said the police will embark on raids and search for illegally possessed firearms across the country. Matt Gaetz said he fell victim to a 'smear' campaign that dredged up old and discredited allegations in his first interview since withdrawing his name from consideration as Donald Trump's attorney general. And he revealed he will not be returning to Congress next year despite having been re-elected to the seat he vacated. Instead, he told The Charlie Kirk Show, he will now work to recruit the talent that could help underpin the new Trump administration. Gaetz, who sensationally dropped out on Thursday amid a drip, drip, drip of allegations from a House Ethics Committee probe into allegations that he had sex with an underage girl. He was a controversial choice from the outset as his resume lacked legal experience and he had been investigated by the department Trump had tapped him to run. He has always denied the sex scandal allegations. 'There is a play that is run in Washington when they're trying to smear somebody and, you know, they go and dredge up false, years old allegations of the most salacious and click-baity flavor possible. And in this case, they were,' he said. 'Those allegations were coming from sources that Merrick Garland's DOJ already deemed not credible.' Matt Gaetz was interviewed by Charlie Kirk on Friday morning, a day after he withdrew his name for consideration as Trump's attorney general However, he found himself up against a politically motivated body, he continued, because he triggered the process that ousted McCarthy last year. 'All of them were hand-picked by Kevin McCarthy, and they had an axe to grind,' he said, 'So that was going to serve as at least enough of a basis to delay my confirmation as attorney general. 'If the things [in] the House Ethics report were true, I would be under indictment and probably in a prison cell,' he said, according to clips shared first with DailyMail.com. 'But of course, they're false, because when you test them against other records, when you test them against other testimony, it all falls apart very quickly.' He said he was the victim of a politically motivated campaign because of his key role in forcing out Kevin McCarthy as House Speaker. And he insisted he could have answered all the allegations during his confirmation hearings but that the process would have dragged on, undermining Trump's plans to begin his overhaul of government on day one. He also said that his replacement, former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, would be 'phenomenal' in the role. Gaetz said he was the victim of a 'politically motivated' plot because of his role in forcing out Rep. Kevin McCarthy as House Speaker last year Gaetz pictured at a reception at Mar-a-Lago last week Trump moved swiftly Thursday to name a replacement for Gaetz in the form of former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi 'And I could have answered all those questions. I could have engaged in a months long fact battle, but we don't have months to go through that. 'We've got to have an A.G,. ready to go day one to implement the immigration agenda and work on the other key policy deregulatory objectives of the president.' He said he was encouraged by meetings on the Hill Wednesday, when he met with the key senators who would help guide his confirmation. But in the end he announced he was dropping out late Thursday morning. Trump moved swiftly Thursday to name a replacement for Gaetz. The former Florida congressman said Bondi would be ready to get to work on day one. 'My good friend Pam Bondi is going to be a phenomenal Attorney General for Donald Trump,' he said. 'She has the legal acumen. She hates criminals. She is a bright legal mind and a fellow Floridian. 'So I think that even though the path will take me to a different station in life and a different place to fight for our agenda and President Trump, we've got a great person in place.' Gaetz added that he was ready to serve Trump however he wanted. 'I'm still going to be in the fight, but it's going to be from a new perch,' he said. 'I do not intend to join the 119th Congress. There are a number of fantastic Floridians who've stepped up to run for my seat, people who have inspired with their heroism, with their public service.' Serbia's president has issued a stark warning regarding the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, claiming that Vladimir Putin is 'not bluffing' about the potential use of nuclear missiles. According to Serbian publication Novosti, President Aleksander Vucic, one of Putin's allies who claims to know the Russian leader 'very well', told journalists: 'Don't think that someone somewhere is bluffing, unfortunately, nobody is bluffing and, unfortunately, we are walking into mild disaster'. Vucic's ominous comment comes after Ukraine carried out its first strike on Russian territory with a US-supplied long-range missile on Tuesday - just days after the Biden administration gave Kyiv the green light despite fears it could escalate the conflict beyond control. Meanwhile, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Friday that there is a real risk of a global conflict breaking out after Russia fired a hypersonic intermediate-range ballistic missile at a Ukrainian city. Putin had said on Thursday that the strike was a response to the U.S. and UK allowing Kyiv to strike Russian territory with advanced Western weapons, a move he said had given the conflict 'elements of a global character'. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called the Russian missile strike another escalation after deployment of North Korean troops on Russian soil. 'The war in the east is entering a decisive phase, we feel that the unknown is approaching,' Tusk told a teachers conference. 'The conflict is taking on dramatic proportions. The last few dozen hours have shown that the threat is serious and real when it comes to global conflict.' Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has warned that Russian president Vladimir Putin is 'not bluffing' when asked about the possibility of him using nuclear missiles ussian President Vladimir Putin makes an address to the Russian armed forces personnel and citizens, at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, 21 November 2024 A still image taken from a handout video made available by the Russian Defence Ministry press service shows a Yars intercontinental ballistic missile being launched as part of nuclear deterrence forces drills from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome, in Arkhangelsk Oblast, northwestern Russia, 29 October 2024 Poland, which borders Ukraine, Russia and Belarus, has been a leading voice calling for members of NATO to spend more on defence, and is itself allocating 4.7% of gross domestic product to boosting its armed forces in 2025. Russia said on Thursday that a new U.S. ballistic missile defence base in northern Poland will lead to an increase in the overall level of nuclear danger, but Warsaw said 'threats' from Moscow only strengthened the argument for NATO defences. Earlier today, Ukraine's former military chief warned that World War Three is already underway - with Vladimir Putin's autocratic allies, North Korea, Iran and China, openly supporting his forces on the battlefield. Valery Zaluzhny, who is now Ukraine's envoy to the United Kingdom, told the UP100 award ceremony in Kyiv: 'I believe that in 2024 we can absolutely believe that the Third World War has begun.' The General said that as of this year, 'Ukraine is no longer facing Russia. Soldiers from North Korea are standing in front of Ukraine.' A Texas mother confronted a man who she says recorded and took inappropriate photos of her while she was shopping at a Walmart with her baby. Aasha Meyers was shopping in the Lewisville store with her five-month-old boy on November 13 when she noticed the man recording her with his phone. 'I noticed he was taking pictures of me from behind inappropriately,' she told Fox 4. She immediately confronted the man and began recording the interaction. During the exchange, the man appeared to admit to recording Meyers and can be seen with his fingers on phone screen. He said would delete any videos or photos of her, but when Meyers demanded to see if he had followed through, the man refused. 'He told me the reason why he wouldn't let me see him delete the photos is because he had other weird photos in his phone,' the concerned mother said. Aasha Meyers was shopping in the Lewisville store with her five-month-old boy on November 13 when she noticed the man recording her with his phone 'And that just made me wonder, like, how deep he is into whatever it is he's doing.' Meyers filed a complaint with the Lewisville Police Department, which said it was investigating the incident. 'I give her a whole lot of credit for being aware of her surroundings,' Lewisville Police Officer Matt Martucci told Fox 4. 'In a case like that, what we would tell people is, "If you see something or you feel something is odd, go get some help."' However, filming someone inside a store is not necessarily a crime. 'She is in a public store, so there is really no expectation of privacy for anyone in that store,' Martucci explained. 'What we can see so far in the video, there is no sign legally that a crime has been committed. Taking pictures is fine, but we cannot prove what kind of pictures they were.' Meyers said that she understood, 'but it's definitely violating. It's just really crazy the world we live in.' After she confronted him, the man appeared to admit to recording Meyers and can be seen with his fingers on phone screen. The incident took place at a Walmart in Lewisville, Texas It's definitely violating. It's just really crazy the world we live in,' Meyers said She also said that the man she confronted left the Walmart with another man who was inside the store. DailyMail.com has reached out to the Lewisville Police Department for a comment. The incident comes after a North Carolina man lost his position volunteering at an elementary school after he was discovered on camera taking an upskirt video of a customer at Target. In April, Thomas Elliott, 21, was arrested at the store in Greenville after being spotted crouching down by a woman wearing a skirt. He was seen on camera placing his cellphone on the floor of the store to take video up a female customer's black outfit. Another person shopping at the Target began filming him after she started to believe he was following the woman around the store. Elliott is seen on camera continuing to put his phone on the floor to film the female customer. A North Carolina man has lost his position volunteering at an elementary school after he was discovered on camera taking an upskirt video of a fellow customer at a local Target He was seen on camera placing his cellphone camera on the floor of the Target to take video up a female customer's skirt The woman filming Elliott eventually posted the video to social media, which ended with Elliott being arrested. When cops detained Elliot, he 'denied any wrong doing and showed us (police) the recent pictures he had on his cellphone.' Authorities arrested the man, charged him and obtained a search warrant for his cell phone to try and find any inappropriate photos of children. Elliott was released after posting a $5,000 bond. Donald Trump's sentencing in the hush money case has been delayed indefinitely and New York Judge Juan Merchan has opened the door for the charges to be thrown out. It was the latest stunning turnaround in the case, where Trump had been scheduled to be sentenced before the election aft his conviction on 34 counts of falsifying financial records. That sentencing, which could have brought four years of jail time, was delayed. Trump's team wants the case tossed entirely, now that their client, set to become the 47th president and already the first former president to be convicted of a crime, is set to take the reins of power. Underlining the peculiarities of the case, Trump's lawyer Todd Blanche, who urged the case get tossed, is now being nominated to be the No. 2 official at the Department of Justice. 'Just as a sitting President is completely immune from any criminal process, so too is President Trump as President-elect,' wrote lawyer Todd Blanche and lawyer Emil Bove, who is also nominated to a top DOJ post, in a filing to judge Merchan. It came after Trump's lawyers wrote the judge calling for an 'immediate dismissal' as mandated by the 'federal Constitution, the Presidential Transition Act of 1963, and the interest of justice.' It is necessary in order to ensure an 'orderly transition of power,' the filing went on. An Office of Legal Counsel memo protecting the president from prosecution, along with the Supreme Court's summer decision on presidential immunity, is also causing the collapse of Trump's other criminal cases. Judge Juan Merchan has set a date for Donald Trump's lawyers to argue his hush money case should be dismissed Trumps incoming White House communications director Steven Cheung declared victory in a statement released by the Trump transition. In a decisive win for President Trump, the hoax Manhattan Case is now fully stayed and sentencing is adjourned. President Trump won a landslide victory as the American People have issued a mandate to return him to office and dispose of all remnants of the Witch Hunt cases, Cheung said in a statement. All of the sham lawfare attacks against President Trump are now destroyed and we are focused on Making America Great Again, he added. A jury convicted Trump on 34 counts of falsifying business records but Trumps lawyers argued it would be a miscarriage of justice to continue after Trump was reelected. Merchan granted Donald Trump permission to seek dismissal of his hush money criminal case, in which he was found guilty earlier this year, in light of his victory in the Nov. 5 U.S. presidential election. Trump, 78, had been scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 26. But prosecutors with Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office earlier this week asked New York State Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan to consider deferring all proceedings in the case until after Trump finishes his four-year presidential term that begins on Jan. 20. On Tuesday, Trump's sentencing in the case was called off as the court decides how to move forward after his astounding reelection victory The judge's latest order is the latest stunning development in the Stormy Daniels case Judge Juan Merchan delayed sentencing from weeks before the election Lawyers for Trump, a Republican, have argued that the case must be dismissed because having it loom over him while he was president would cause what they called "unconstitutional impediments" to his ability to govern. Bragg's office said they would argue against dismissal, but agreed Trump deserved time to make his case through written motions. Merchan on Friday set a Dec. 2 deadline for Trump to file his motion to dismiss, and gave prosecutors until Dec. 9 to respond. The trial itself featured bombshell testimony from porn star Stormy Daniels, who claims she had a sexual encounter with Trump and who received a $130,000 payoff weeks before the 2016 elections. It also included an appearance by former Trump 'fixer' Michael Cohen, who testified about what he calls Trump's 'dirty deeds', but who now himself believes the case should be dismissed. Two men have pleaded guilty to running a people-smuggling ring from a car wash in Wales that moved migrants across Europe. Dilshad Shamo, 41, and Ali Khdir, 42, operated what has been called a 'TripAdvisor for migrants' with various levels of service depending on how much refugees could pay. The pair's worldwide travel service was run secretly from their roadside car wash in an ordinary Welsh town where customers would get their motors cleaned. But behind the scenes, the Shamo, originally from Iraq, and Khdir, who was born in Iran, were unlawfully arranging for people to travel from Iraq, Iran and Syria through Turkey, Belarus, Moldova and Bosnia. They ended up in Italy, Croatia, Romania, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Germany and France. Migrants were offered three tiers of services, with the simplest being on foot or by HGV or smaller vehicle, the next by cargo ship or yacht, and the top tier by plane. Shamo and Khdir's role was uncovered after undercover surveillance by investigators for the National Crime Agency (NCA), supported by Gwent Police. They were charged in February with five counts of conspiring to breach migration laws in Italy, Romania, Croatia and Germany to bring people into EU countries between September 2022 and April 2023. Dilshad Shamo (left) and Ali Khdir (tight) pleaded guilty at Cardiff Crown Court to running a people-smuggling ring from Fast Track Hand Car Wash in Caerphilly in Wales Shamo and Khdir would organise boats, HGVs, taxis and cars as they defied border controls to hide illegal immigrants Khdir outside Cardiff Crown Court where the pair pleaded guilty to all charges against them on Friday after 10 days of prosecution evidence They went on trial at Cardiff Crown Court where they pleaded guilty to all charges against them on Friday after 10 days of prosecution evidence, the NCA said. Derek Evans, NCA branch commander, said: 'Ali Khdir and Dilshad Shamo were leading a double life - while on the surface they seemed to be operating a successful car wash, they were actually part of a prolific people-smuggling group moving migrants across Europe and taking thousands in payment. 'Our evidence showed migrants moving under Khdir and Shamo made it to EU countries and we assess their journeys have and would have continued into the UK. 'We worked painstakingly to piece together their movements to prove their important roles in a group, from advertising their services through videos to boasting of successful trips on messaging groups. 'Tackling organised immigration crime is a top priority for the NCA and we will continue to do all we can to bring those involved in people-smuggling networks to justice.' During the trial, prosecutor Sarah Gaunt told jurors there was evidence from WhatsApp, including voice messages between Shamo and Khdir and people based in Iraq, Turkey and Europe attempting to smuggle people across the EU. The court heard most of the people trafficked came from Iraq, Iran and Syria, and were charged money equating to several thousands of pounds. Much of the money was transferred using the ancient Hawala system of credit notes, with smaller amounts sent through Western Union. Pictured: Shamo outside Cardiff Crown Court The pair's worldwide travel service was run secretly from their roadside car wash in an ordinary Welsh town where customers would get their motors cleaned Shamo and Khdir would organise boats, HGVs, taxis and cars as they defied border controls to hide illegal immigrants Shamo and Khdir used messaging and social media to provide videos from people who had already taken the journey to advertise their routes. In one video, a family travelling by plane details the route and say: 'We are very happy... this is the visa, may god bless him, we are really happy.' Another video shows a man travelling by HGV telling the camera: 'Lorry route agreement, crossing agreement with the knowledge of driver. Here we have men, women and children. Thank god the route was easy and good.' During the surveillance operation, police listening devices were placed in the defendants' cars and the car wash. Ms Gaunt said many of the conversations were in Kurdish. She told jurors that the defendants could be seen organising and liaising with a number of people to facilitate or attempt to facilitate illegal immigration. Shamo and Khdir were arrested in April 2023 and charged in February this year. The NCA said that before being taken to custody, Khdir told Shamo: 'Just tell them that we are buying and selling cars, just say we do transfer money from our home country.' Khdir (left) and Shamo (right) outside Cardiff Crown Court After the convictions, Dame Angela Eagle, minister for border security and asylum, said: 'Criminals like Khdir and Shamo put countless lives at risk smuggling vulnerable people through Europe in a shameless attempt to make cash. 'We are taking action against the people-smuggling gangs and will stop at nothing to dismantle their networks and bring justice to the system.' She thanked the NCA for 'dismantling' Khdir and Shamo's people-smuggling operation. Detective Sergeant Simon Thomas, from Gwent Police, said: 'During this investigation, we worked closely with the lead officer at the NCA to achieve a common goal - to safeguard those at risk and bring Khdir and Shamo to justice. 'This case demonstrates clearly how agencies can work together successfully to support the victims and target the criminals behind the exploitation.' The case will next be heard at Cardiff Crown Court on Monday, ahead of sentencing. A 60-year-old man has been shot dead at a McDonald's in Paris after a gunman stormed into a branch of the American fast food chain in an apparent settling of scores. The incident reportedly took place at the McDonald's in the 18th district of the French capital, said a source close to the case who asked not to be named. The attacker fired four shots, the town hall of the 18th district said, adding that the men knew each other and that the incident was linked 'to a settling of scores following an attempted racketeering'. The suspected unnamed shooter, 77, has since been arrested and reportedly did not flee and was arrested at the scene by the police. It comes after a McDonald's worker from Florida, US was arrested back in June after she shot at a customer following an argument at the drive-through window. Chassidy Gardner, 22, of Lakeland, was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and booked into the Polk County jail. The shooting occurred just after 1am at the branch of McDonald's on East Memorial Boulevard in Lakeland east of Tampa. Surveillance video shows how one of the customers sticking their arm through the window and knocking some items onto the floor before throwing cups onto the floor. A 60-year-old man has been shot dead at a McDonald's in Paris after a gunman stormed into a branch of the American fast food chain in an apparent settling of scores The incident reportedly took place at the McDonald's in the 18th district of the French capital That led to Gardner throwing a drink back at them just as they were leaving. Two of the customers then got out of their car only to throw their own drinks, full of ice, back at Gardner. But Gardner had brought a gun to work and could be seen pacing around the kitchen area with the weapon in her hand. At least two other staff members could be seen working in the kitchen, but they appeared to do nothing to discourage Gardner nor tell her to put the gun away. Gardner was arrested and taken into custody but was released from jail the next day after posting a $15,000 bond The Nigerian brothers who Jussie Smollett convinced to stage a bizarre anti-Trump hoax say the disgraced actor justified the stunt by claiming Hollywood A-listers fake incidents all the time. Smollett's conviction was sensationally overturned yesterday by Illinois' Supreme Court in a decision that has been widely panned. It was turned over on a legal technicality relating to a sweetheart deal Smollett was offered by Cook County DA Kim Foxx. Today, brothers Abel and Ola Osundairo reacted to the decision by urging Smollett to admit guilt once and for all - and also revealed what he told them when convincing them to help him stage the hoax. They said in an interview with Fox and Friends that Smollett specifically claimed Kim Kardashian faked the shocking robbery in 2016 in France that almost claimed her life. Kardashian was 'bound and gagged' at gunpoint by masked robbers posing as police officers while staying at lHotel de Pourtales, and they stole $10 million worth of luxury jewelry. The perpetrators were arrested and convicted following a trial in Paris, and there is no suggestion from French authorities that the robbery was a hoax. The Osundairo brothers said Smollett told them it was all 'fake'. Jussie Smollett, seen in court in March 2019, had his conviction for lying to the police with a bizarre anti-Trump hoax overturned on Thursday, in a sensational ruling from the Illinois Supreme Court Smollett allegedly told the Nigerian brothers that Kim Kardashian faked being robbed at gunpoint in Paris in 2016. She is seen above weeping as she described the incident during an episode of Keeping Up With The Kardashians Abel and Ola Osundairo, the Nigerian brothers that Jussie Smollett convinced to stage a bizarre anti-Trump hoax, say the disgraced actor justified the stunt by claiming Hollywood A-listers fake incidents all the time Explaining the story, Abel said: '(Smollett) made it seem like this is what Hollywood does. He mentioned Kim Kardashian. 'During that time, she had an incident where she got robbed and kidnapped in France, and he said that was made up, that was fake. 'So that's what I was thinking, like, oh, this is what Hollywood does. My brother and I are professional actors, and we thought, oh, this is our introduction into Hollywood.' Kardashian's representatives did not immediately respond to request for comment about Smollett's inflammatory claims. Smollett's attorney did not immediately respond to inquiries about his alleged comments. Smollett was convicted in December 2021 for lying to police about an alleged episode in Chicago two years before, where he claimed two men beat him, yelled homophobic slurs and placed a noose around his neck while wearing MAGA hats. It was later found that he convinced the Osundairo brothers to stage the attack. Asked for their response to Thursday's decision, Abel said: 'We were taken aback initially, not because of the Supreme Court's decision, but because Jussie never admitted guilt. 'We understand that he has due process rights and double jeopardy shouldn't and is not allowed in America. 'However, Jussie should have admitted guilt and that's where we stand.' A group of robbers targeted Kardashian to steal her multi-million dollar engagement ring from Kanye West The scene outside the Paris apartment where Kardashian was robbed in 2016 Kardashian said she thought she was going to be murdered on the night in question Olabinjo added: 'So the real injustice here was the sweetheart deal he was given by Kim Foxx's office at the beginning of all of this.' Foxx has said she was confused why there was so much attention paid to Smollett's hoax and said other false police reports do not receive such scrutiny. But the brothers rejected her argument, with Abel saying: 'It is a big deal. And the problem is, if it was a regular small Joe, John Doe or Ola Osundairo, he would not get that deal. Jussie got that deal because he has influence and power. 'So, it shows that there are two different citizens in America, one with power and one without. And that's why he got that sweetheart deal.' The brothers added that they were paid by Smollett but are still owed $500 from the actor, although Olabinjo conceded: 'I don't think we're ever going to see that.' 'It was not about the money at all. It was more so us helping out a friend,' Abel said. The actor's hoax and subsequent arrest sparked a media firestorm years ago, as it was bizarrely found that he had actually paid the Osundairo brothers (pictured) to stage the incident Although he initially received a groundswell of support after coming forward with his story, Smollett suffered a dramatic fall from grace when detectives said he made it up (seen in his mugshot after his first arrest in 2019) When Smollett first came forward with his story, the actor was met with widespread support, and the Chicago PD vowed to swiftly find his attackers. Smollett even showed police the noose that he claimed he was almost lynched with. Although Smollett claimed he was attacked by two white Trump supporters, detectives reviewed surveillance footage and zeroed in on the Osundairo brothers as suspects. When presented with a grainy surveillance picture of the brothers near the scene, Smollett said they were 'absolutely' the men who attacked him, not realizing they had already been arrested. One of his attorneys, Tina Glandian, claimed that Smollett may have misidentified the brothers - who he had also just been on the phone with moments before - because they could have been 'in disguise' in white makeup. She went on to point to a 2016 YouTube video of Abel Osundairo where he is wearing white make-up to perform a Joker monologue for Halloween as proof of her theory. Jussie Smollett's lawyer Tina Glandian suggested that the reason he told police his Nigerian attackers were white was because they 'might have been wearing white face.' Her evidence of the theory was 2016 video of Abel Osundairo (pictured) dressed up as the Joker for Halloween Police released this image of the brothers walking near the scene on the night of the attack which Smollett said, without realizing they had been arrested, was 'absolutely' an image of the men who attacked him However, despite a grand jury indicting him for repeatedly lying to cops, the charges against Smollett were then sensationally dropped a month later in March, sparking outrage from the public. President Trump led the backlash as he decried the charges being dropped as an 'embarrassment to the nation', while Chicago Police Chief Eddie Johnson, who is Black, said at the time: 'Jussie Smollett took advantage of the pain and anger of racism to promote his career.' The Mayor of Chicago, Rahm Emanuel, amounted it to a 'whitewash of justice' that proved Smollett was treated gently by the system because he is a celebrity and a prominent figure in the city. After he was fined $140,000 for wasting police resources, a special prosecutor was named to investigate why the charges against Smollett were dropped. It was this decision that has now led to Smollett's ultimate conviction to be overturned this week, as it was found his rights were violated because Smollett had agreed with prosecutors that he would not be re-charged at the time after the case against him was dropped. In February 2020 Smollett was indicted again on felony lying to police, and following a contentious trial where he maintained his innocence, Smollett was convicted at the conclusion of his trial in 2021. Smollett again sparked backlash during his conviction hearing, as he triumphantly raised his fist to appear defiant, despite being caught in a lie. The search for missing Hawaii woman Hannah Kobayashi continued on Friday as her distraught family scoured Los Angeles for clues that could lead to her being found. Kobayashi, 30, vanished after she missed a connecting flight between her home in Maui and New York where she was due to visit an aunt. The missing woman landed in Los Angeles and was seen leaving LAX Airport and heading downtown on November 8. Her family say they received cryptic messages from her before she stopped contacting them altogether - behavior they describe as highly unusual. The family are frustrated with the pace of the official police investigation. They say the LAPD didn't contact them for 10 days after they initially reported her missing, and that they are the ones having to drive the search. Their desperation has driven them to Hollywood mediums and internet web sleuth groups. Last night, the family passed out flyers at a L.A. Lakers Game. November 8 Now, Hannah's sister Sydni is sharing a list of every sighting they have on record. Kobayashi landed at LAX airport at 9:53pm and was seen on airport surveillance footage disembarking the aircraft. She was due to take a connecting flight at 11pm, however she never made it. Missing Hawaii woman Hannah Kobayashi's sister has shared details of every last known sighting as her family continue their agonizing search She called her aunt Geordan Montalvo to explain she had missed the connection and promised to meet her in New York. She is then believed to have stayed the night at the airport before being spotted at various locations across LA. November 9 Kobayashi was spotted at The Grove shopping mall between midday and 3pm. She spent a considerable amount of time at Taschen Books, where she stopped to charge her phone. At 2:43 she snapped a picture and sent it to her aunt, before returning to the airport where she is believed to have spent the night. From there, she once again called Montalvo to tell her she was still trying to get to New York. November 10 On Sunday, two days after she landed, Kobayashi went back to The Grove. She appeared in the background of a video outside a Nike event featuring LeBron James at 3:30pm Kobayashi also shared a post on her Instagram from the event with an eye emoji as the caption. She was next spotted talking to a ticketing agent at LAX at around 5pm. Kobayashi, 30, vanished during a layover in Los Angeles while traveling from her home in Maui to New York and was spotted getting off her flight at LAX In a YouTube video, Hannah was seen in the background at an event in The Grove bookstore for Lakers player Lebron James Her final post was shared on November 11. It is understood she was attending an event in Los Angeles at the time A missing-persons report was filed by her family the same day amid what they described as uncharacteristic correspondence from Kobayashi. One of the messages reportedly said: 'Deep Hackers wiped my identity, stole all of my funds, & have had me on a mind f**k since Friday.' Kobayashi's mother, Brandi Yee, also reported sending her a text message asking if she made it to New York. She responded simply: 'Not yet.' Another early-morning text mentioned how she was in the midst of a 'spiritual awakening.' On a missing-persons poster sent out immediately after, police wrote: 'Prior to going missing, [Kobayashi] sent a message on November 10, mentioning feeling scared, and that someone might be trying to steal her money and identity. She hasn't been hard from since.' November 11 The next day, Kobayashi was spotted boarding an LAX Metro C line at Aviation/Century Station. She got on board at 9:02pm, before transferring to a different train at the Rosa Parks Station. Sydni said that it has been confirmed her sister was accompanied by someone for the duration of the journey. Kobayashi made several trips to The Grove shopping mall, including to this book store the say after she landed The missing woman's family have taken matters into their own hands and have been handing out flyers in the area where Kobayashi was last seen Kobayashi was finally seen leaving the Metro Pico Station with the unidentified person at 10:03pm. Latest update As of Thursday, the LAPD was yet to declare that Kobayashi has been abducted. The investigation is still being treated as a missing-persons case, a spokesperson confirmed. DailyMail.com revealed yesterday that detectives waited ten days before contacting the family for an interview. Sydni also slammed the lack of action and revealed her relatives were appealing to psychic mediums for help. In an interview with CNN on Tuesday, her aunt Larie Pidgeon said they are now fearing the worst. 'Our mind is now going to, you know, abduction and, I hate to say the word, but, you know, trafficked,' she said. They held a rally before the Lakers game Thursday afternoon, just a block from the station where Kobayashi was last seen Kobayashi was last seen in the company of an unidentified person but has not been declared as abducted by police 'We're doing the best that we can, but the family at this point is having to come to the reality that those things could be a possibility.' The LAPD, meanwhile, is still spearheading the probe, but is now being aided by the FBI, field office agents in the city told KHON Honolulu Wednesday. Statements given to the station by Pidgeon appeared to indicate Kobayashi is still with the person in the footage, whom has yet to be physically described. 'She's not alone, she's with an unidentified person,' said Pidgeon. 'And she also got off and at a, at a station that is,' she continued, before trailing off. 'It's not good and it terrified us, it brought her father to tears,' she concluded. She and others attended held a rally to pass out fliers before the Lakers game Thursday afternoon, just a block from the station where Kobayashi was last seen. Prior to her disappearance, a friend of Kobayashi's said she received bizarre messages talking about being scammed. 'I got tricked pretty much into giving away all my funds. For someone I thought I loved,' the messages read. They were seen at Metro Pico Station on November 11, before Kobayashi's phone was switched off Kobayashi, a photographer, is a resident of Haiku in Maui. She had been on her way to New York to photograph a DJ when she suddenly vanished The family also noted that the young artist's phone has been off since November 11. 'She texted her that she was scared and that she couldnt come back home or something. It was just really weird texts,' Sydni said. She added that the messages 'did not sound like her' and wonders if it was Hannah who sent them. Kobayashi was on the same flight as her ex-boyfriend as the two had booked the trip before breaking up. However, they did not sit together during the journey and he has since been aiding police with the search. Thousands of passengers whose flights were hampered by the security alert at Gatwick Airport today may not be eligible for compensation, travel experts say. Police were called to the London-adjacent airport in Sussex at 8.20am today after a piece of luggage containing a 'suspected prohibited item' was discovered by staff. Passengers were then evacuated from the South Terminal, left standing in the freezing cold with no information as to when they might get back in. Dozens of flights are believed to have been cancelled, affecting a huge share of the 60,000 passengers estimated to be flying out of the airport on Friday. Despite this, airlines are unlikely to be held responsible for the disruption - meaning passengers probably won't be in line for a payout. Air passenger regulations under UK law state passengers are typically eligible for some forms of compensation if their flights are significantly delayed or cancelled. However, this is not the case if flights are disrupted for reasons considered 'extraordinary circumstances' beyond the airline's control. That said, passengers might be able to claim back any money they spent on food or drink as they waited for their flight to be rescheduled as they stood outside in the cold at Gatwick today. Did you get out of Gatwick today? Email: emily.davies@mailonline.co.uk Passengers delayed from flying out of Gatwick today may not be entitled to compensation, travel experts have told MailOnline The airport was locked down this morning after security discovered a 'suspected prohibited item' in a piece of luggage Some passengers were advised to make their way to the North Terminal on foot after the monorail was suspended Armed police and explosive ordnance disposal officers were dispatched to Gatwick after the Sussex airport was locked down And for those who bought travel insurance, today's events may be covered - taking care of extra costs such as parking charges. Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel, said: 'The security incident at Gatwick will have been deeply concerning for travellers, and while the terminal has now reopened, knock-on delays are likely. 'If your flight is cancelled or delayed, you won't be entitled to compensation as this was an extraordinary circumstance, however you will be entitled to assistance from your airline. 'Depending on how long you're delayed, this could include free food and drink - usually in the form of vouchers - as well as overnight accommodation if it becomes necessary. 'If your flight is cancelled, you have the choice of being rerouted or accepting a refund, and if you opt for the former, your airline is obliged to get you on a new flight as soon as possible, including with rival carriers. 'If you instead accept a refund, be aware that your airline will have no further duty of care to you. 'It's also worth checking the terms of your travel insurance to see if you are able to recoup any other expenses you may have incurred as a result of the delays, such as car hire or airport parking fees.' What is considered an 'extraordinary circumstance' is not written in stone. The Civil Aviation Authority, the UK's regulatory body for flights, says these can include weather unsafe to fly in, airport strikes, acts of terrorism and security risks. Passengers affected by today's action at Gatwick can still apply to make a claim - but may find the airline rejects their bid under this rule. Passengers stand outside Gatwick Airport's South Terminal in the freezing cold following the security alert Trains were told not to stop at Gatwick Airport and to instead pass through as they travelled to and from London (pictured: a departure board at St Pancras) Adam Johnson, senior legal expert in the UK for flight compensation body Flightright, said it was unlikely the normal rules of airline remuneration would apply to today's events. However, it is best to contact the airline in any case. 'The incident at Gatwick Airport can be considered an extraordinary circumstance for which airlines are generally exempt from claiming compensation,' he said. 'However, airlines must take all reasonable measures to minimise possible cancellations and delays. 'They are therefore obliged to transport passengers to their planned final destination as quickly as possible and must also consider other airlines and indirect flights as well as alternative means of transport such as bus, train and taxi. 'Passengers are also entitled to a ticket refund if they wish to cancel their flight.' MailOnline understands 27 departures out of Gatwick have been cancelled as a result of the disruption, likely to have affected more than 5,000 passengers. Paul Charles, CEO of luxury travel consultancy The PC Agency, was among those who was stuck in Gatwick this morning as he checked in for a flight to Antigua. He was on one of the last planes out before the terminal was locked down. Mr Charles said: 'If passengers can show that they were caught up in the security incident, and are allowed back into Gatwick South today, then they would be moved onto the next available flight to the same destination. 'If passengers have been told to leave Gatwick, then they should keep a photo as proof of their visit, ideally with the time showing, and contact their airline for a refund or for a credit for a future flight. Traffic jams on the M23 close to Gatwick Airport earlier today Spanish airline Vueling turned a Gatwick-bound flight from Barcelona back towards the Spanish coast after the airport was evacuated Passengers and staff run for the exits at Gatwick airport as it was evacuated earlier today An optimistic hitch-hiker tries to catch a ride out of Gatwick Airport after landing on Friday afternoon 'Any out of pocket expenses may be refunded by the airline, as long as there is proof of the spend and receipts are kept, and that only soft drinks and reasonable meals are consumed. 'These incidents are hugely frustrating for passengers and for the staff at Gatwick, and it is always sad to see the emotional and financial knock-on effects caused.' Gatwick was locked down for more than six hours after a 'suspected prohibited item' was discovered in a piece of luggage in the security area of the South Terminal at 8.20am. Armed police and explosive ordnance disposal officers were called in as roads were closed, trains were ordered not to stop at Gatwick and passengers were sent out into the cold as the baggage was examined. At around 2.30pm, passengers were informed they were finally being allowed back in - after some had been shuttled to the North Terminal for alternate flights. The nature of the item at the centre of the incident has not been disclosed. A London Gatwick spokesperson said: 'The earlier security alert has now been resolved and cleared by police. The South Terminal is reopening to staff and will be open to passengers shortly. 'Trains will also start calling at Gatwick Airport once the terminal is fully reopened. We would like to thank everyone for their patience and understanding while this situation was resolved. Safety and security is always our top priority. 'There are some delays and cancellations, passengers should contact their airline for any updates on flights.' Sussex Police said it had detained two people while making enquiries. However, they have since been released. In a statement issues at 4pm, the force said: 'Police have concluded their investigation into a report of a suspect package at Gatwick Airport. 'Officers from the EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) team made the package safe, and the airport has been handed back to its operator. 'Two people who were detained while enquiries were ongoing have subsequently been allowed to continue their journeys. 'There will remain an increased police presence in the area to assist with passengers accessing the South Terminal for onward travel. 'Safety of the public, staff and other airport users has been our priority throughout the operation, and we thank them for their patience while the incident was ongoing.' The View hosts did not look pleased as they were forced to read three legal notes after discussing accusations against George Santos, Matt Gaetz and Pete Hegseth. Sunny Hostin read two of the notes on Friday as the panel discussed former Rep Gaetz bowing down of the Attorney General nomination as he deals with sexual assault claims. 'Matt Gaetz long denied all allegations and has not been charged with any crime,' Hostin said as she grimaced. She then read another legal note regarding Donald Trump's pick for secretary of defense Hegseth, who has been accused of paying a woman to silence her sex assault claims. 'Another legal note,' Hostin said. 'Pete Hegseth's lawyer said he paid the woman in 2023 to head off the threat of a baseless lawsuit.' Earlier in the show, Joy Behar also read a legal note as the panel discussed disgraced former congressman Santo's visit to the Hill to lobby for Gaetz. 'We have to clarify that Santos eventually reached a plea deal after pleading guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft,' Behar said. Earlier this year Santos, who spun lies about his life into an 11-month stint in Congress, pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft in a case that led to his expulsion from office. Sunny Hostin grimaced as as she read two of the notes on Friday as the panel discussed former Rep Gaetz bowing down of the Attorney General nomination as he deals with sexual assault claims Earlier in the show, Joy Behar also read a legal note as the panel discussed disgraced former congressman Santo's visit to the Hill to lobby for Gaetz On Thursday the panel also discussed Trump's new AG pick, former Florida AG Pam Bondi, who they deemed 'dangerous.' 'Pam Bondi, I believe she's a dangerous pick because she supported Trump's false election claims,' Hostin said. 'She was involved in the efforts to overturn the results and so that is now the person that's going to be chief law enforcement. But Ana Navarro stepped in, claiming that she knows Bondi and the lawyer i's not a cook.' 'I don't want to ruin her reputation with MAGA people but Pam Bondi and I hung out a lot when she was attorney general of Florida and she would come to Miami,' Navarro said. 'We drank a lot together. I liked her a lot. She's not a kook. What's a little election denialism between friends when .... Listen, everything in life is relative. 'There is no accusation of sexual harassment or assault against her.' Trump moved quickly to find a new candidate for attorney general on Thursday, announcing the former Florida AG Pam Bondi as his pick to head the nation's legal system. Matt Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration earlier in the day when it became clear that a lingering scandal meant he did not have the votes to be confirmed in the Senate Trump 's pick for secretary of defense Hegseth has been accused of paying a woman to silence her sex assault claims Matt Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration earlier in the day when it became clear that a lingering scandal meant he did not have the votes to be confirmed in the Senate. 'Pam was a prosecutor for nearly 20 years, where she was very tough on violent criminals, and made the streets safe for Florida Families,' Trump posted on Truth Social as he made the announcement. 'Then, as Florida's first female attorney general, she worked to stop the trafficking of deadly drugs, and reduce the tragedy of fentanyl overdose deaths, which have destroyed many families across our country.' Trump has made clear that he wants a disruptor in the role, someone who will overhaul the Department of Justice and help push through his agenda from day one. KWALUSENI What support? University of Eswatini (UNESWA) staff under the Association of Lecturers, Academic and Administrative Personnel (ALAAP) and National Workers Union in Swaziland Higher Institutions (NAWUSHI) has expressed frustration over claims that the institution is receiving adequate government support, standing by the statement made by the universitys Acting Registrar, Richard Masuku, who revealed that the university had not paid November salaries or utility bills due on Tuesday. Speaking on Eswatini Broadcasting and Information Services (EBIS 1) current affairs on Wednesday morning, Masuku explained that the universitys coffers are empty due to delayed government disbursements. These funds include tuition fees for government-sponsored students, as well as the governments monthly subvention.In response, Education and Training Minister Owen Nxumalo, convened an urgent press conference later that day, where he denied Masukus claims. Nxumalo stated that government had disbursed some funds by Tuesday, November 19, with more paid the following day. However, he did not reveal the amounts, stating that such details are not for public consumption. disputed This assertion was strongly disputed by UNESWA employees, who, backed by their unionsthe ALAAP and NAWUSHIsupported Masukus statement. In a press conference held the following afternoon, ALAAP President Sibusiso Nhlabatsi reiterated the unons stance, aligning with the Acting Registrars comments made on EBIS 1. He claimed that, had Masuku not spoken out, the university staff would not have received their salaries. ALAAP stands with the acting registrar in calling on government to provide full support to the university by paying subventions quarterly, or at the very least, on a monthly basisbefore or by the 17th of each monthso that staff salaries can be paid by the 19th, as stipulated in their contracts, Nhlabatsi said. He added that Masukus remarks on EBIS 1 reflected what union representatives had consistently been told by university management at Joint Negotiation Committee (JNC) meetings and in other forums.While ALAAP expressed respect for the offices of the minister for Education and Training and the vice chancellor (VC), Nhlabatsi clarified that what the VC had described publicly about delays in tuition payments due to invoicing issues did not align with what he told unions in private meetings. ALAAP would like the public to know that the VC often laments to the unions about governments failure to pay the subvention on time. He always says they initiate the process at the start of each month, but it drags on until payday, Nhlabatsi stated. He went on to say it is concerning to see the CEO of the university shift the blame to his own administration, which he leads. He said that speaks volumes about him as a leader. The president informed the public that since 2018, when the employer (the Council) denied the hardworking members of the two unions their due Cost of Living Adjustment (CoLA) and salary movements, the justification given had always been the lack of funds due to insufficient government subventions. He explained that management had consistently stated that, with each budget cycle in recent years, government had been providing the university with between 34 per cent and 45 per cent of the amount requested in its budget. budget While the university is said to require between E800 million and E900 million annually to operate, Nhlabatsi said recent budget allocations revealed that it had been receiving only between E430 million and E460 million less than half of what is needed. Clearly, government is underfunding the university. Therefore, any claim that the university is receiving full or adequate support from government is inaccurate, he said. The minister for Education and Training could not be reached on his mobile for comment at the time of compiling this report. Several pressing questions regarding the ongoing funding issues at the University of Eswatini have been raised. These include enquiries about the repeated delays in government disbursements, which have had a significant impact on staff salaries and essential services like medical insurance. Specifically, the minister was asked to clarify why government has been unable to meet the universitys funding needs, given that it has reportedly received less than half of the amount required for its operations. Furthermore, concerns were raised about governments plans to address the continued underfunding of the institution, particularly in light of the growing challenges faced by university staff, including delayed payments and a lack of basic resources. Vladimir Putin has said he will fire more of Russia's new hypersonic missiles at targets in Ukraine. The Russian president added that his country has already begun mass production of the nuclear-capable weapon. Putin also said that Moscow would carry out more tests of the hypersonic Oreshnik ballistic missile in 'combat conditions,' a day after firing one on Ukraine. 'We will continue these tests, including in combat conditions, depending on the situation and character of the security threats posted to Russia,' he said in a televised meeting with military chiefs. Putin said that while it isn't an intercontinental missile, it's so powerful that the use of several of them fitted with conventional warheads in one attack could be as devastating as a strike with strategic - or nuclear - weapons. Russia fired the new-generation missile at the Ukrainian city of Dnipro early Thursday in a major escalation of the weaponry being deployed in the nearly three-year conflict. The Kremlin boss also ordered the missile, which flies at speeds of Mach 10 - 10 times the speed of sound - to be put into serial production. Russia is developing similar advanced systems, he added. 'We need to begin serial production. The decision... has in effect been taken,' Putin said, praising the 'particular strength of this weapon and its power. The moment Russia used the Oreshnik for the first time to strike Dnipro, on November 21 Vladimir Putin has said he will fire more of Russia 's new hypersonic missiles at targets in Ukraine Security camera footage out of the central-eastern city of Dnipro showed several projectiles streaking in and detonating in a series of violent, fiery explosions 'The weapon system that was tested yesterday is another faithful guarantee of Russia's territorial integrity and sovereignty,' he added. Putin claimed no other countries in the world had such missile technology. While he conceded other states would soon develop them, he said: 'That will be tomorrow, after a year or two. But we have this system now. That's important.' His choreographed meeting with the defence minister and those in charge of developing the missile came at the end of a week that has seen the Ukraine conflict escalate rapidly. Putin said the firing of the Oreshnik missile was a direct response to Kyiv's forces using US- and UK-supplied missiles on Russian territory for the first time. In an address to the nation on Thursday, Putin said Russia reserved the right to fire missiles at military facilities in countries whose weapons are being used by Ukraine - specifically the United States and Britain. Meanwhile, Ukraine is asking its Western partners for updated air defence systems after Russia fired an ultra-fast ballistic missile at the city of Dnipro this week, President Volodymyr Zelensky said Friday. 'Ukraine's defence minister is already holding meetings with our partners on new air defence systems - exactly the kind of systems that can protect lives from new risks,' Zelensky said in an evening video address published on social media. A Russian animation simulates how a Yars ICBM is deployed The RS-24 Yars is capable of unleashing up to four separate nuclear warheads anywhere in the US after flying through space at 19,000mph Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov and State Council Secretary Alexei Dyumin attend a meeting with President Vladimir Putin, in Moscow, Russia November 22, 2024 A grab taken from handout footage released by the Russian Defence Ministry on March 1, 2024 purport to show the test firing of an ICBM belonging to the country's nuclear deterrence forces Ukraine's parliament canceled a session as security was tightened following Thursday's Russian strike on the military facility in Dnipro. NATO and Ukraine will hold emergency talks Tuesday after Russia attacked Dnipro with the experimental, hypersonic ballistic missile that escalated the nearly 33-month-old war. The conflict is 'entering a decisive phase,' Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Friday, and 'taking on very dramatic dimensions.' Gen. Sergei Karakayev, head of Russia's Strategic Missile Forces, said the Oreshnik could reach targets across Europe and be fitted with nuclear or conventional warheads, echoing Putin's claim that even with conventional warheads, 'the massive use of the weapon would be comparable in effect to the use of nuclear weapons.' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov kept up Russia's bellicose tone on Friday, blaming 'the reckless decisions and actions of Western countries' in supplying weapons to Ukraine to strike Russia. 'The Russian side has clearly demonstrated its capabilities, and the contours of further retaliatory actions in the event that our concerns were not taken into account have also been quite clearly outlined,' he said. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, widely seen as having the warmest relations with the Kremlin in the European Union, echoed Moscow's talking points, suggesting the use of U.S.-supplied weapons in Ukraine likely requires direct American involvement. 'These are rockets that are fired and then guided to a target via an electronic system, which requires the world's most advanced technology and satellite communications capability,' Orban said on state radio. 'There is a strong assumption - that these missiles cannot be guided without the assistance of American personnel.' Orban cautioned against underestimating Russia's responses, emphasizing that the country's recent modifications to its nuclear deployment doctrine should not be dismissed as a 'bluff.' 'It's not a trick- there will be consequences,' he said. It is already a place of regal splendour, and now Charles IIIs Scottish stately home has undergone a festive makeover fit for a king as it prepares to host a series of Christmassy dining experiences. More than a dozen Christmas trees adorn the rooms of Dumfries House, decorated with garlands and wreaths and around 1,000 glittering baubles. Staff at the 18th century property, near Cumnock, Ayrshire, are anticipating a busy winter season. Around 1,500 guests set to experience candlelit tours, gourmet dining, and traditional festive feasts and banquets organised by The Kings Foundation. Revenue from the special events will be given to the education and training programmes run by the foundation whose headquarters are at the mansion, which the king rescued for the nation from a state of dilapidation 17 years ago. One highlight of the festive dining experience will see guests tuck into an authentic 18th-century feast in the mansions Pink Dining Room, the same room where the monarch takes most of his meals when staying at the house. Diners will eat at the Kings table - but not in the presence of the monarch - beneath a 35kg Murano glass floral chandelier, which was painstakingly reassembled after being found in the basement in more than 100 pieces. Three course menus will include dishes, such as poached salmon, fish soup, and manchet bread for starters, followed by roasted venison and beef, parmentier potatoes and a juniper sauce, and lemon and pistachio syllabub, bread and butter pudding, and apple and almond trifle for dessert. House Steward Joe Mackie decorates one of the dozen Christmas trees at Dumfries House Dumfries House has been festooned with a range of lavish Christmas decorations Collections manager Satinder Kaur lights the candles in the Pink Dining Room The 18th century Dumfries House, near Cumnock, Ayrshire Charles rescued Dumfries House for the nation from a state of dilapidation 17 years ago Noted for being one of the few such houses with much of its original 18th-century furniture still present, including specially commissioned Thomas Chippendale pieces. The Dumfries House estate and its contents were sold in 2007 by the late Johnny Dumfries, 7th Marquess of Bute, to a consortium headed by the then-Prince of Wales. Following extensive renovations to the house and grounds, the estate established educational courses to train the next generation of skilled craftspeople - including in fashion and textiles - in heritage techniques essential to many traditional UK industries. They have already benefit at least 15,000 people a year at Dumfries House, across the UK and around the world. An adult film star had to make an unexpected visit to the hospital in Brazil after filming a sex scene with multiple men. Andressa Urach revealed that she began experiencing pain following a shoot on Tuesday, which was filmed by her 19-year-old son, Arthur Urach. 'I ended up coming to the hospital. I have a lot of pelvic pain,' the 37-year-old told her 4.4 million followers on Instagram. 'We're going to do a CT scan to see if everything is okay and take some medication.' 'You know? It's going to be messy,' Urach added. 'But it was really good.' The former model-turned-porn star shared a selfie on her Instagram Story appearing to show her on intravenous fluids. She later posted a second selfie from a wheelchair as she was being discharged, joking that she was ready to get back to work. 'Hahaha just kidding I won't be able to do it today literally,' she wrote. Brazilian adult film star Andressa Urach made headlines Tuesday when she revealed she was hospitalized after filming a sex session with multiple men The 37-year-old Brazilian influencer updated her 4.4 million followers on Instagram while she received treatment Despite the health scare, Urach was back in front of cameras Wednesday, making content for Privacy, a Brazilian platform similar to OnlyFans. On Thursday, she joked 'mommy is ready for more' and that 'resting in the holidays is for the weak.' Some of Urach's followers were taken aback by the idea that her son was behind the camera. 'Your attitudes and choices cause heartbreak for your parents and for the entire Brazilian nation,' one person wrote. 'The shame of the internet,' another added. Other expressed their support for the entertainer. 'That's right Andressa, go have fun because life is only one. You have to make the most of it,' one supporter wrote. 'So many people do wrong things in the world and nobody says anything.' DailyMail.com reached out to Urach for comment. Andressa Urach caught the attention of her followers in July when she underwent surgery to have her tongue split into two parts Urach vacationed in Europe in October and spent some time in London Urach while vacationing in Paris The actress made headlines in July when she underwent surgery to split her tongue to make it look like a reptile's. 'I did it to confront the religious people. It will be good to increase my work, with curiosity, but I did it because of the snake, the serpent, Satan,' Urach told a local news outlet of her decision. 'How can a woman with a forked tongue talk about Jesus? All tattooed. Oh, what blasphemy. The Pharisees condemned Jesus. I want to confront them (religious people),' she added. 'I want to say, "Yes, I'm going to talk about Jesus, so what?" I can't talk about Jesus because of my tongue? Okay! Up there He decides.' Mishal Husain is set to leave Radio 4s Today programme after 11 years, it has been reported. The 51-year-old presenter is believed to have been having talks with bosses at the BBC about moving to a new role at the corporation, once she departs her current job. Husain, who joined Today in 2013, is believed to be filming abroad at the moment, but is due back on the Radio 4 news show in the near future. The presenter, who is highly regarded within the corporation, will reportedly be on air until the new year. According to The Times, in January she is likely to take up a long-service benefit which lets people take up to five weeks of extra paid leave if they have been working at the BBC for more than 25 years. It is not clear if she will return fully to the Today programme after that leave has been taken. One insider told the paper: After 11 years Mishal has reached the point where the 3.30am alarm call is no longer a welcome noise. They added: She is very highly thought of and there will be an extremely big effort to make sure shes accommodated well elsewhere. Mishal Husain is set to leave BBC Radio 4's flagship Today programme after 11 years on the show, according to reports Bosses are reportedly in talks with the 51-year-old presenter about a new role at the Corporation In June, the presenter had given a hint she may leave the show soon, when she told The Sunday Times she was thinking about what is beyond Today She had said: Im wondering what the next act of my career might look like. Husain added: Ive been very lucky to work with great colleagues for many years. Among the names being touted as a replacement are BBC Europe Editor, Katya Adler, 52, and Anushka Asthana, 44, ITV News deputy political editor. There has been speculation in recent months that Husain has not taken to recent addition to the presenting line-up Emma Barnett. But there is no evidence this is linked to her departure. One industry source told the Mail: She [Mishal] has not been terribly happy since Emma came. A BBC spokesman declined to comment on whether Husain was leaving the show. Husain started out as a city reporter for English language outlet The News in Islamabad, Pakistan, at 18. After working at Bloomberg Television, she joined the BBC in 1998 as a junior producer for News 24 (now BBC News). Husain presenting the BBC election debate last summer between Sir Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak BBC Europe editor Katya Adler, 52, is among names being touted as possible replacements for Husain She previously served as the channel's Washington correspondent during the Iraq invasion, and occasionally anchors the News At Ten on weekdays. Last summer, she chaired two general election debates including a head-to-head clash between Sir Keir Starmer and then PM Rishi Sunak. However in September, the presenter came under criticism for failing to sufficiently challenge 'antisemitic' comments made by Today guest American-Iranian political analyst Mohammad Marandi. Following a backlash from Jewish organisations, the BBC admitted it should have 'continued to challenge' Marandi's language during the live interview. A woman who was miraculously rescued from her rapist captor over a decade ago is facing fresh pain after having her animal shelter raided. Michelle Knight, now known as Lily Rose Lee, got the idea to start an animal rescue during the 10 years she spent in captivity at the hands of Ariel Castro in Cleveland, Ohio. Lee, who founded Unleashed Animal Rescue in Elyria, Ohio, after she was freed in 2013, was left heartbroken after authorities raided the shelter Wednesday and took away nearly two dozen of the animals. 'I got a huge hole in my heart,' told Cleveland 19 News. 'They took all of my exotic birds, all my exotic bunnies, they took my support animal and they took my little dog.' The search warrant from Lorain County stated that the animals were facing cruelty, though Lee claims she never received any warnings before the raid. Lee explained that she received a notice from Friendship Animal Protective League saying that her animals were living in unsanitary conditions, had dirty water and that she had an emaciated dog. 'You hurt innocent animals and you hurt innocent people and I don't understand. If there was something so wrong with the living conditions and the way my animals were kept, they didn't take all of them,' she added. Michelle Knight, now known as Lily Rose Lee, got the idea to start an animal rescue during the 10 years she spent in captivity at the hands of Ariel Castro in Cleveland, Ohio 'I have lived a life of tremendous torture, problems and a lot of different things, but what made me start this rescue was Lobo,' Lee recalled. 'When I was held captive, he gave me a dog and when I tried to escape he broke that dog's neck right in front of me it destroyed my heart. 'I told myself if I ever got out of the house that I would continue God's work and I would open up a rescue.' Lee was one of three women held captive in Castro's Ohio home, where she suffered five forced miscarriages and lived in chains for over a decade. She was 21 when she was kidnapped and imprisoned in 2002. Castro lured her into his car by informing her that he knew the directions to a social services meeting that she needed to attend. He then persuaded her to go into his house by claiming his dog had just given birth, convincing Lee that she should take one of the puppies back for her toddler son. Once inside the property, Castro locked her in an upstairs bedroom, chained her up with extension cords and masturbated over her. He then strapped a sock to her mouth with duct tape and left. Lee, who founded Unleashed Animal Rescue in Elyria, Ohio, after she was freed in 2013, was left heartbroken after authorities raided the shelter Wednesday and took away nearly two dozen of the animals 'I got a huge hole in my heart. They took all of my exotic birds, all my exotic bunnies, they took my support animal and they took my little dog,' Lee said A search warrant stated that the animals were facing cruelty, though Lee she claims she had never received warnings before the raid Lee, was one of three women held captive in the home of Ariel Castro (pictured), where she suffered five forced miscarriages and lived in chains for over a decade The other two captives were Gina DeJesus, who was abducted on April 2, 2004, at the age 14, and Amanda Berry, who went missing a day before her 17th birthday on April 21, 2003. Berry was kidnapped while she was walking home from work. Castro, who worked as an elementary school bus driver, approached her in his vehicle and asked if she needed a ride home. Berry, who knew Castro as the father of her classmate and friend from middle school, agreed. He ended up inviting her inside his home to hang out with his daughter, Arlene. Once she went in, she wouldn't leave for years. 'He took me to the next bedroom, and it was just really dark in there, and he didn't turn on the lights, and there was a little, like, a little room off of the bigger bedroom, kind of a big closet,' Berry remembered. 'And he took me in there, and he told me to pull down my pants. And from there I knew, like, this was not going to be good.' Castro chained her to a pole and left her in a dark room with a television on. The other two captives were Gina DeJesus, who was abducted on April 2, 2004, at the age 14, and Amanda Berry, who went missing a day before her 17th birthday on April 21, 2003 A week after Berry went missing, Castro called her family using her cell phone to taunt them 'I just started screaming and crying "Somebody please help me," you know. And nobody, nobody came. I was so scared that I was going to die. I didn't think that I was going to ever make it home,' Berry explained. A week after Berry went missing, Castro called her family with her cell phone to taunt them. 'He called and said, "I have Mandy," which, nobody called her Mandy but [people] who knew her, her sister Beth Serrano said. "'She wants to be with me.'" The FBI was able to narrow down the phone's location to a 30- to 40-block area, but despite exhaustive search measures, they were unable to find Berry. Castro approached Gina DeJesus in a similar fashion as she was walking home. She was good friends with Castro's daughter. Once she entered his home, she became unnerved by Castro's behavior. 'He was, like, fixing his eyebrows and, like, trimming his mustache and, like, cutting his nose hairs,' DeJesus said. 'He's like, starts like, to, like, touch me and stuff, and then I'm like, "What are you doing? You could go to jail.'" 'He just switches up like, "Well, OK, we're going to, you're going to go home now. But you can't go through the same door you came in."' The women were forced to live in squalid, filthy conditions where they were chained in their rooms, their bedrooms locked, were barely fed and given buckets to use as toilets DeJesus tried to fight him off and screamed for help when he brought her to the basement and chained her up. Her cries were drowned out by radios playing in his basement and living room. 'He, would take my hair and like, put it in his mouth. I don't know why he did it but it was gross,' she said. DeJesus said the first time Castro raped her was on May 7, 2004. Berry tried to record how many times he raped her in her diary by using a code. 'I would always write these numbers at the top of the pages, because I felt like, you know, one day maybe authorities will get to read it. And he'll be punished for what he did,' Berry said. The women were forced to live in squalid, filthy conditions where they were chained in their rooms, their bedrooms locked, were barely fed and given buckets to use as a toilets. 'He was always there watching every move, it was like he knew everything, every move that we did,' DeJesus said in a sit-down interview with ABC's 2020 in January 2020. 'The mattress was old and nasty, and it was just disgusting. And we had the bucket to use the bathroom, and that smelled horrible,' Berry added. 'The mattress was old and nasty, and it was just disgusting. And we had the bucket to use the bathroom, and that smelled horrible,' Berry said Berry became pregnant by Castro when she was 20 and gave birth to her daughter, Jocelyn, on Christmas in 2006 The women were fed once a day but were given only chips or crackers or other snacks as meals. They were only allowed to shower once a week While imprisoned in an upstairs bedroom and, later, the basement at Castro's home, Lee was repeatedly beaten up and raped by her attacker, resulting in her becoming pregnant five times. Each time, Castro would punch and starve her until she miscarried. Berry became pregnant by Castro when she was 20 and gave birth to a daughter, Jocelyn, on Christmas in 2006. 'I was terrified. How? I mean, I barely eat and I'm chained to a wall, and I have a bucket for a bathroom,' Berry said. She said life in captivity changed for her with the birth of her daughter. She noted Castro even became kinder and took off her chains after her daughter started to notice them. She told Jocelyn the chains were bracelets, per Castro's orders. 'This is his kid, you know. How do I feel about that? And she resembled him a lot, and I would look at her, and I just felt, like, she's mine. She's mine,' Berry said. 'It was fun because I can get away from the situation. When I was playing with Jocelyn, Jocelyn made me forget everything.' The women were fed once a day but were given only chips or crackers or other snacks as meals. They were only allowed to shower once a week. While imprisoned in an upstairs bedroom and, later, the basement at Castro's home, Lee was repeatedly beaten up and raped by her attacker , resulting in her becoming pregnant five times Pictured: The basement pole the girls were all chained to throughout their time in captivity 'I mean, he tried to act nice, but he's like, "Well, maybe you need to go take a shower," and I had to take a shower with him,' Berry recalled. After years of abuse, they were finally able to escape on May 6, 2013. They were left alone for the first time in 11 years with a bedroom door unlocked and Amanda managed to leave the home with Jocelyn and call 911 from a neighbor, Charles Ramsey's, phone. Ramsey said at the time that he saw Berry, who he didn't recognize, at a door that would open only enough to fit a hand through, screaming, ' Help me get out! I've been in here a long time.' 'We had to kick open the bottom,' he said. 'Lucky on that door it was aluminum. It was cheap. She climbed out with her daughter.' As Amanda fled the home and ran across the street to call police, the two other women followed her out when law enforcement arrived. 'Help me! I'm Amanda Berry... I've been kidnapped and I've been missing for ten years and I'm here. I'm free now,' Berry is heard saying in the call to police. 'I need them now before he gets back!' she said in the frantic phone call to 911, going on to identify her captor as Castro. Pictured: The house on Seymour Avenue in Cleveland, Ohio, on May 7, 2013, where Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight were found alive Ariel Castro was sentenced to life plus 1,000 years, in prison on August 1, 2013 after he pleaded guilty to 937 counts of kidnapping and rape Recalling her escape from Castro's home, Lee said: 'The first moment of freedom was very difficult for me as I was going through a lot of different things. 'I saw that police badge and I just ran into their arms and said "never let me go, never let me go."' 'When I was telling [first responders] my name, they looked like they'd seen a ghost or something. Like their face completely dropped,' DeJesus said of the moment police realized they finally found the three women. Castro was sentenced to life plus 1,000 years, in prison on August 1, 2013 after he pleaded guilty to 937 counts of kidnapping and rape. On September 3, 2013, one month into his sentence, he was found dead in his prison cell after committing suicide. Masked men broke into the house of Conor McGregor's rape accuser, smashed her windows and stabbed her boyfriend while her daughter was asleep next door. Believed to be supporters of the MMA star, the horrific rampage has emerged since a jury returned with their verdicts in the trial this afternoon, and awarded Nikita Hand nearly 250,000 euros. McGregor, 36, faced an accusation that he 'brutally raped and battered' Ms Hand, 35, at a hotel in south Dublin in December 2018. The story emerged at the outset of the trial, in the context of a claim she wanted to make, for the cost of moving away from Drimnagh in Dublin. With no jury present, her counsel, John Gordon, told Judge Alexander Owens that the incident had happened on June 14 this year. 'The plaintiff's home was invaded by a group of men wearing balaclavas,' he said. 'They broke into the plaintiff's bedroom, and were driven out by the plaintiff's partner, who suffered a stab wound in the process. Her daughter was in the next room, sleeping.' He said the men left, having broken windows in the front room. Ms Hand leaves the High Court in Dublin after the verdicts were delivered on Friday. Pictured: With boyfriend, right Nikita Hand speaking to the media outside the court upon hearing the verdict in her civil case. Pictured: With boyfriend, right McGregor, pictured with his partner Dee Devlin at the High Court in Dublin this evening, faced an accusation that he 'brutally raped and battered' Nikita Hand McGregor has since vowed to appeal the decision - saying he was 'disappointed' and 'focused on my future'. Pictured: Preparing to fight Dustin Poirier in 2021 'We are not laying that at the feet of the defendants, or saying they have anything to do with that,' he continued. 'We do make the claim that it was not an untargeted attack, [it] arose from supporters of the first named defendant [Mr McGregor]. 'It is related to the claim that she had to move out of the Drimnagh area.' Judge Owens asked: 'You are not making the claim or going to tender evidence that Mr McGregor had anything to do with it?' 'No, judge, it is an item of special damage,' Mr Gordon replied. 'It relates to her state of anxiety and her claim that she had to move from the Drimnagh area, as she now has done.' The court heard she had sought relocation costs of 750,000. Conor McGregor's barrister, Remy Farrell, said it seemed Ms Hand was introducing a claim 'which is nothing to do with us'. Nikita Hand (centre), who is also known as Nikita Ni Laimhin, leaves the High Court in Dublin after the personal injury case against Conor McGregor Conor McGregor and his partner Dee Devlin leave the High Court in Dublin this afternoon Mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor and partner Dee Devlin and mother Margaret outside the High Court in Dublin, November 22, 2024 'It is extraordinary that there would be an attempt to smuggle something like that into the caseto increase the special damages,' he said. He complained that it would be 'an invitation to the jury to speculate'. Judge Owens ruled: 'I consider this to be completely and utterly irrelevant and shouldn't be referred to.' Evidence was heard during the case from a property expert, who said that houses of a similar three-bedroom size to Ms Hand's Drimnagh house could cost 200,000 more in neighbouring areas in Dublin such as Cabinteely. Her GP also mentioned her 'anxiety' about living in Drimnagh, and told the court she had recently moved further away from her childhood practice. However, at the close of the case, it was agreed by her counsel and Judge Owens that a claim would not be made for the house move. The house break-in was confirmed by the Garda press office at the time, but no link was made to McGregor. A Garda spokeswoman said: 'Gardai received report of an incident of aggravated burglary that occurred at a premises in Drimnagh, Dublin 12 at approximately 2.20am this morning, Friday, June 14. Ms Hand joined family and supporters and said she felt vindicated by the outcome Ms Hand was awarded 248,603.60 euro after the jury decided McGregor was liable 'One man in his 30s has been conveyed to St James's Hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries sustained as a result of this incident.' McGregor shook his head as the jury of eight women and four men found him liable of assaulting Ms Hand. The MMA fighter previously told the court he had consensual sex with Ms Hand, also known as Nikita Ni Laimhin, at the Beacon Hotel. He denied causing bruising to the plaintiff. McGregor has since vowed to appeal the decision - saying he was 'disappointed' and 'focused on my future'. Breaking his silence this afternoon, McGregor said: 'I will be appealing today's decision. The judge's instruction and the modest award given was for assault, not for aggravated or exemplary damages. 'I am disappointed that the jury did not hear all the evidence that the DPP reviewed. I am with my family now, focused on my future. Thank you to all my support worldwide.' Ms Hand cried and was hugged by her partner and supporters as the verdict was delivered. Outside the court, she described the last two weeks as a 'nightmare' but said she felt vindicated. She separately lost her lawsuit against McGregor's friend, James Lawrence, who she also accused of assaulting her in the Dublin hotel. MMA fighter Conor McGregor and partner Dee Devlin outside the court earlier today McGregor has since vowed to appeal the decision - saying he was 'disappointed' and 'focused on my future' The total amount of damages awarded to Ms Hand by the jury was 248,603.60 euro (206,621.91). The jury awarded her 60,000 in general damages against McGregor, plus just over 188,000 for lost earnings as a result of the assault, which left her unable to continue working as a hair colourist due to post traumatic stress. McGregor's fiancee, Dee Devlin, had accompanied him to the High Court yesterday in a public show of support. He was also joined by his mother, Margaret McGregor, his sister, Aoife McGregor and his brother-in-law, Terry Kavanagh, who is married to his sister, Erin. It was the first time Ms Devlin and the McGregor women had been in court, and they made a glamourous group, sporting a number of designer labels between them, including Christian Dior and Chanel. Ms Devlin held her fiances hand, as the jury filed into court to deliver their verdict. His mother rubbed his arm, as he drew in a series of deep breaths. Having remained impassive throughout much of the evidence, he appeared close to tears, as he focused his eyes on the wooden panelling on the wall above Judge Alexander Owens. Mr McGregors father, Tony, stood behind him, having attended the case every day. Ms Hand leaned against her boyfriend Gary, whom she met in recent years, and who has been with her during the entire case. The jury has heard that she split from her former partner, her daughters father, around six months after the assault. Ms Hand (outside court today) accused McGregor of rape and another man of assault She thanked her partner for his support, saying he had held her hand throughout. McGregor was silent as he left court. He left swiftly in his Bentley, pulling away from a large media scrum without comment. Ms Hand alleged that McGregor sexually assaulted her on December 9, 2018, and that another man, James Lawrence, did the same, Ireland's high court heard over two weeks of evidence. She said that she and a friend made contact with McGregor, who she knew, after a work Christmas party. She said they were driven by McGregor to a party in a penthouse room of a south Dublin hotel where drugs and alcohol were consumed. She said McGregor took her a bedroom in the penthouse and sexually assaulted her. Ms Hand's lawyer, John Gordon, said she was on antidepressants, and 'full of drugs' at the time of the alleged assault. While in the jury room today, the jury were given an issue paper to record their decisions. It asked two questions for them to provide a verdict on. Mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor and partner Dee Devlin leave the High Court While in the jury room today, the jury were given an issue paper to record their decisions. It asked two questions for them to provide a verdict on. The first was: 'Did Mr McGregor assault Ms Hand?' The second was: 'did Mr Lawrence assault Ms Hand?'. They had to answer 'yes' or 'no'. An answer of 'yes' to either moved the jury to deciding what damages to award Ms Hand. On the verge of tears and struggling to keep her composure, she said outside the Four Courts in Dublin that she felt 'vindicated' after the jury agreed McGregor had assaulted her. Ms Hand said she hoped her case will remind victims of assault to keep 'pushing forward for justice', and show her daughter, Freya, 'that you can stand up for yourself if something happens to you no matter who the person is and justice will be served'. She said: 'I hope my story is a reminder that no matter how afraid you might be: Speak up, you have a voice and keep on fighting for justice. 'I know this has impacted not only my life, my daughter's, my family and friends tremendously. 'It's something that I'll never forget for the rest of my life. Nikita Hand, also known as Nikita Ni Laimhin, won her claim against him for damages 'Now that justice has been served, I can now try and move on and look forward to the future with my family and friends and daughter.' Asked if she felt vindicated following the jury's decision, she said: 'Yes, I do. Thank you.' And speaking about what it is like to be believed, Ms Hand added: 'I have no words - it is unbelievable.' Ahead of the verdict, Justice Owens spent some time on Thursday summing up evidence heard over the two weeks, from witnesses including Ms Hand, who has no automatic right to anonymity, McGregor and Mr Lawrence. Evidence has also been heard from police, paramedics, psychiatrists, an actuary, colleagues of Ms Hand as well as a former principal forensic medical officer. Justice Owens reminded them of a number of legal principles, including the standard of proof in a civil case which is on the balance of probabilities and that the onus of proof rests on the plaintiff. He also reminded the jury that if they reached a verdict to award damages, there were several types of damages to consider including general, which covers pain and suffering to date and into the future, as well as distress and recognition of vindication. Another type of damage includes aggravated damage which is payment to recognition of offences that shocked the plaintiff. Exemplary damages are punitive damages which are to punish the defendant. Mr Lawrence, co-defendant of Conor McGregor, outside the High Court in Dublin on Thursday He said it should be an offence that is really serious, and that they could regard rape as really serious. Justice Owens also said that someone attempting to cover up matters, or making statements that are 'patently untrue' are also serious. Justice Owens told the jury to keep their feet 'firmly on the ground' and to 'use their common sense'. He told the jury that if they reach the stage of awarding damages, and when assessing what to give for loss of earnings, to deduct 15 per cent from their figure. He told them this was called a deduction for contingencies as we live in 'an uncertain world', and the courts say these things have to be taken into account. Justice Owens warned the jury not to talk to anyone about their deliberations, including their loved ones who he said may be interested in the case. He told the jury to 'look at all the evidence'. The outcome of a civil case depends on the balance of probabilities, which is a lower standard of proof than the standard used in criminal cases. In civil cases, a defendant is found liable or not liable. Congresswoman Nancy Mace said 'trantifa' wants to kill her as she crusades against trans women using women's facilities including bathrooms and locker rooms. The South Carolina lawmaker was responding to a report on X on Friday about a transperson in Portland, Oregon threatening to murder her. 'NGL. I had to google trantifa. Ive learned a lot this week,' Mace wrote. 'These people deserve a room in prison and/or a mental ward,' she continued before calling out Oregon leaders. 'Also, wondering out loud what @Portland_State and Oregon Governor @TinaKotek think about an alleged student threatening to kill a Congresswoman?' she went on. She was responding to a post that identified the person posting a series of threats against Mace and author J.K. Rowling as a 24-year-old transgender student activist based in Portland. 'Trantifa' is a term that refers to a rise in extremism and threats of violence from far-left transgender activists. A United Nations investigator warned about the trend last year. Mace's use of it comes after she sparked a firestorm this week by introducing a resolution to block trans women from using women's bathrooms at the U.S. Capitol on Monday. Her push comes as the first transgender member of Congress Sarah McBride is set to arrive in Washington in January. House Speaker Mike Johnson said in response that facilities for a gender at the U.S. Capitol are reserved for those of that biological sex, blocking McBride from using the women's bathroom. Rep. Nancy Mace speaking to reporters at the U.S. Capitol on November 21. She said 'trantifa' wants to kill her as she pushes to ban trans women from women's restrooms in an escalating bathroom debate Mace went a step further on Wednesday. She also introduced a bill to ban transgender women from using women's facilities at all federal properties across the United States. She argues that she is protecting women but her efforts have sparked fiery responses from people on both sides of the issue. Critics have asked how her push would be enforced. Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez claimed the ban would endanger women with people wanting to check their privates in the name of enforcement. Mace has taken a combat approach in her fight calling out critics and firing off a series of posts on social media and doing interviews with conservative news outlets. Mace said she has been receiving threats because of her efforts, but she vowed she would not backdown. On Thursday, Mace was speaking at an event at Georgetown in Washington when a protester holding up an LGBTQ+ pride flag interrupted the panel from the audience. 'This is ridiculous. It is the day after Trans Day of Visibility. We have had dozens of trans people die this year because of the hate and lies that you are spreading,' Evan Greer, a transgender activist, shouted while being escorted from the auditorium. 'Are we're building an internet with free speech for everyone or just the privileged few? Are you gonna stand up for the lives of trans people? Black and brown people? Are we fighting for justice or are we fighting for big tech?' she said as there was some scattered applause. Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna was also participating in the event where he clashed with Mace saying the two have a 'profound disagreement' on transgender rights. He thanked Greer for her activism. Evan Greer, a Boston-based left-wing activist, musician, writer and transgender woman, confronted Rep. Mace at an event at Georgetown on Thursday Since announcing her resolution, Mace has posted or reposted more than 300 times on X about the issue as of Friday afternoon, DailyMail.com analysis found. Some of the posts have included accusations like 'The Left wants to NORMALIZE balls in womens stalls.' She also posted with a selfie video 'No balls in our stalls.' She has clashed with activists online as well as current and former colleagues in the House. In one post she wrote in response to former Congressman Adam Kinzinger: 'Its ok Adam, even though you dont have balls anymore, you can still use the mens room.' 'You need help. Youre on the verge of something unhealthy,' Kinzinger fired back online. The View's Ana Navarro shocked her fellow panelists as she revealed that she used to be drinking buddies with Donald Trump's pick for attorney general Pam Bondi. On Friday the panel discussed Trump's replacement for Rep. Matt Gaetz, who dropped out of the AG nomination as he deals with sexual assault and sex trafficking claims. 'Pam Bondi, I believe she's a dangerous pick because she supported Trump's false election claims,' Hostin said. 'She was involved in the efforts to overturn the results and so that is now the person that's going to be chief law enforcement. But Ana Navarro stepped in and defended Bondi. 'I don't want to ruin her reputation with MAGA people but Pam Bondi and I hung out a lot when she was attorney general of Florida and she would come to Miami,' Navarro said. 'We drank a lot together. I liked her a lot. She's not a kook. What's a little election denialism between friends when...' Navarro was then interrupted by her fellow panelists, with Sunny Hostin saying 'election denialism is a very big deal.' The View 's Ana Navarro shocked her fellow panelists as she revealed that she used to be drinking buddies with Donald Trump 's pick for attorney general Pam Bondi On Friday the panel discussed Trump's replacement for Rep. Matt Gaetz , who dropped out of the AG nomination as he deals with sexual assault and sex trafficking claims 'I don't think we need to minimize someone like that being who is supposed to be the people's attorney she's going to be Trump's attorney,' Hostin continued. 'Listen, everything in life is relative,' Navarro added. 'There is no accusation of sexual harassment or assault against her.' Then she conceded that Bondi 'hasn't eaten a whale or stabbed a dead bear cub' - seemingly alluding to news stories about Robert F Kennedy, who is Trump's pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. Bondi was chosen by Trump to serve as U.S. attorney general hours after his first choice Gaetz withdrew from consideration after a federal sex trafficking investigation and ethics probe made his ability to be confirmed dubious. The 59-year-old has long been in Trumps orbit and her name had been floated during his first term as a potential candidate for the nations highest law enforcement role. If confirmed by the Republican-led Senate, Bondi would instantly become one of the most closely watched members of Trumps Cabinet given the Republicans threat to pursue retribution against perceived adversaries and concern among Democrats that he will look to bend the Justice Department to his will. Bondi has been a longtime and early ally. In March 2016, on the eve of the Republican primary in Florida, Bondi endorsed Trump at a rally, picking him over the candidate from her own state, Florida Senator Marco Rubio- now Trump's pick for Secretary of State. Donald Trump moved quickly to find a new candidate for attorney general on Thursday, announcing the former Florida A.G. Pam Bondi as his pick to head the nation's legal system Matt Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration earlier in the day when it became clear that a lingering scandal meant he did not have the votes to be confirmed in the Senate She gained national attention with appearances on Fox News as a defender of Trump and had a notable speaking spot at 2016 Republican National Convention as Trump became the partys surprising nominee. During the remarks, some in the crowd began chanting 'Lock her up' about Trumps Democratic rival Hillary Clinton. Bondi responded by saying, '"Lock her up," I love that.' As Trump prepared to move into the White House, she served on his first transition team. When Trumps first attorney general, Jeff Sessions, was ousted in 2018, Bondis name was floated as a possible candidate for the job. Trump at the time said he would 'love' Bondi to join the administration. He ultimately selected William Barr instead. She kept a toehold in Trumps orbit thereafter, including after he left office. She served as a chairwoman of America First Policy Institute, a think tank set up by former Trump administration staffers to lay the groundwork if he won a second term. There are probably only three essentials any householder seeks from their water supply that it is clean, constant and wont cost them a fortune. If it crossed their minds at all, they might have imagined that the same, simple criteria should apply to those put in charge of regulating the water industry. Undoubtedly, Alan Sutherland, the man who spent a quarter of a century at the helm of the countrys watchdog, the Water Industry Commission for Scotland (WICS), was nothing if not a reliable presence. Sutherland racked up 25 years of service as the quangos chief executive, overseeing its powers to set the prices we pay to state-owned utility Scottish Water and ensuring its obligation to deliver value for money. His commitment to the latter, however, has been cast into serious doubt since news broke of his abrupt resignation last December. He left his 183,500-a-year post amid growing unease that the Sutherland era became a byword for lavish entertaining at the best restaurants with the finest wines. Digging into the agencys accounts for 2022-23, Audit Scotland raised concerns about unacceptable use of public funds at the quango and questioned why Sutherland had failed to provide itemised receipts for some of his expenses. They were astonished to learn of his decision to splash 77,350 of taxpayers cash sending his chief operating officer business-class to an extended MBA course at Harvard and 402.41 on an unreceipted dinner for two with a visiting water industry contact from New Zealand at the luxury Champany Inn near Linlithgow, West Lothian. Alan Sutherland, former chief executive of the Water Industry Commission for Scotland (WICS) It prompted auditor general Stephen Boyle to trigger an investigation by Holyroods public audit committee after he said WICSs financial management and governance fell far short of what is expected of a public body. Quite how jaw-droppingly profligate Sutherland had been with the public purse became clear when SNP ministers ordered a review of the agencys governance after Sutherlands departure. Conducted by professional services firm EY, it found that between October 2018 and June 2023, Sutherland submitted 28 bulk uploads of expenses, which ranged between 190 and more than 21,329. While this practice was not unusual, WICSs audit committee chair only approved them half the time. Business class flights from New Zealand worth 18,159.56 for the director of corporate and international affairs and her spouse who were living there were also expensed by the former chief executive. The reports authors said it is not usual practice to expense business class travel for spouses and we cannot see evidence that appropriateness and value for money were considered before this was incurred. They also highlighted two claims for which no clear business purpose could be identified, namely a 170.83 Mulberry wallet in August 2019 and 290 for glasses in December 2018. The review also identified multiple items relating to alcohol being claimed under subsistence and home working during the pandemic. WICS' Chief Operating Officer Michelle Ashford attended a training course at Harvard Business School in Boston at a total cost, including flights, of 77,350. Another expense for 593.37 claimed by Sutherland appeared to have been paid twice, it noted, although the transaction was approved by the audit committee chair. One year, WICS which employs 21 people spent 2,600 on 100 Amazon gift cards for staff at Christmas, breaching public finance rules which stipulate that gifts worth more than 75 must be approved by the Scottish Government. And when auditors Grant Thornton completed an internal review of the year 2023-24, it discovered more wild spending. This included 566.72 for Dinner for four at La Garrigue in Edinburgh, while a nine-strong study tour from Barbados was treated to a 1,123 dinner at Gaucho in Edinburgh, including 359 of alcoholic drinks. Another meal for four costing 562 hosted by Sutherland included 315 of booze. All exceeded WICSs policy of a maximum 25 per head spend. The auditors noted the quango couldnt immediately clarify whether claiming alcohol on expenses was even allowed. WICS has since made clear that booze is not to be claimed on expenses, but the damage was done. The entire system seemed in chaos, with everything from meals, drinks, and personal gifts, to business-class trips to Brazil, New Zealand and Rwanda, all bought on company credit cards without the proper approval. Harvard Business School in Boston, USA And yet, despite all of his extraordinary behaviour, Sutherland, 62, has not been required to pay back a single penny. What is more, he was allowed to walk away with a hefty payoff after the WICS board handed over six months wages around 90,000 as long as he went quickly and without fuss. The whole thing smacked of panic. And of a board which had struggled to rein in the chief executive and, in its rush to finally displace him, made a hash of things. In March, Net Zero Secretary Mairi McAllan fired off a terse missive to board chair Donald MacRae accusing WICS of failing to follow due process, adding: This is extremely concerning, given the nature of the failings identified by the auditor general. In a bruising appearance before Holyroods public audit committee on September 19, Mr MacRae insisted the only other way of removing Sutherland would have been to dismiss him with a years salary, adding: So thats why that option, in value for money terms, was twice as expensive as the one that we chose. Under questioning from Conservative MSP Jamie Greene, Mr MacRae said the board discussed if there had been gross misconduct on Sutherlands part and took legal advice, eventually reaching the decision there had not. Mr Greene asked: Spending tens of thousands of pounds on a corporate credit card on lavish meals, first class travel, fine wines, having no accountability and seeking no approval, [which is] then highlighted in a fairly damning Audit Scotland report those arent grounds for dismissal? There was no evidence of gross misconduct, responded Mr MacRae, weakly. Pushed by Tory MSP Graham Simpson on whether Sutherland did anything wrong that would have caused him to leave WICS, Mr MacRae said: No one has a perfect record, including myself. The Champany Inn restaurant in Linlithgow Im quite sure that everybody will have done something at some point. I accept that he did very well in many areas of economic regulation, but there were certainly areas particularly around the culture where there were question marks. A fortnight later, Mr MacRae, a former chief economist for Scotland at Lloyds Banking Group, had also gone, after Michelle Quinn, the interim director-general for net zero for the Scottish Government, declined to offer him her support at the hearing. Talk of a questionable culture during Sutherlands time in charge has been circulating. The Holyrood committee heard claims from the former chief executives own chief operating officer, Michelle Ashford, that under his leadership there was a toxic environment that caused staff to create dysfunctional coping mechanisms in order to survive. Ms Ashford, who was the executive sent to Harvard on the MBA course, painted a disquieting picture of staff who were reluctant to challenge Sutherland due to fears of potential repercussions and that a change in culture was required. In a written submission to the public audit committee, she said that while Sutherland may not have formally requested approval for her to attend the course, it was not a secret and she had discussed it openly with colleagues at the Scottish Government. She also claimed Sutherland insisted she focus on universities in North America as opposed to the cheaper courses in Oxford and Edinburgh she had proposed. After the spending scandal broke, Ms Ashford disclosed, she was signed off work, although she is understood to have returned. She added: Although the CEO has left, his legacy will extend for some time to come. We need to rebuild trust both internally and externally. Mr Sutherland claimed 170.83 for a Mulberry wallet in August 2019 At the September hearing, Mr Greene seized on the patterns of culture and behaviour, which clearly did not happen overnight. The optics, he added, have created the very unhelpful view that, for those at the highest level of the organisation, it has been something of a gravy train for a considerable time. Concerns have been raised before. In September 2007, WICS spent 14,616 on a staff day at Hamilton Park races, which included overnight hotel accommodation and dinner at 29, a private members club in Glasgow. Later that year, six staff and 13 advisers went on a three-day seminar at the five-star Chewton Glen hotel and spa near Southampton at a cost of more than 24,000. In June 2009, there was a 3,500 staff celebration at the Champany Inn, and the body returned to the same venue in December that year for an 8,427 Christmas event. All of that, we are assured, is now in the past. WICS has undergone significant changes in the past year under its new interim chief executive, David Satti, and new interim chair, Ronnie Hinds. A WICS spokesman said: We also recognise the importance of appropriate spending of public money and considerable progress has been made addressing governance issues of the past. WICS is fully committed to maintaining the highest standards of accountability, supporting our employees, improving operational efficiency and delivering real value for the people of Scotland. But how did it come to this? Given his inextricable link to the agency he founded, one might imagine the answers lie with Alan Sutherland. And yet, given his limitless capacity for bonhomie and for expanding the profile of Scotlands water regulator on the international stage, he has been assiduous in limiting his own public exposure. Outside of some video posts relating to his professional work, he appears to have little social media presence. His LinkedIn profile, trumpeting his achievements at WICS and his degrees in Russian and Economics from St Andrews University and in finance and management from the University of Pennsylvania along with a note saying he was available for work vanished from the networking website last week. Born in Glasgows Govan area, he is a fluent Russian speaker and spent time selling Wolverine Hush Puppies and Caterpillar footwear in Moscow. He was 37 when he became Scotlands first water consumers champion, evolving the role to not only represent the interests of five million domestic and business customers and advise ministers on water pricing policies, but also to build up WICSs expertise so it could chase lucrative consultancy work abroad under the governments Hydro Nation banner. He would boast that around a fifth of WICSs 5million-plus annual income comes from its international consulting work. But, as Jamie Greene asked at the Holyrood inquiry in the wake of the expenses scandal: Is there a case for a clear separation of the two functions of the part that oversees a public nationalised industry such as the water industry and has a very important role to play, and the organisations more commercial arm, which wants to go out, wine and dine, and travel business class, because that is what commercial companies do in seeking new business opportunities? The problem being that trying to combine both has blurred the lines of what is acceptable behaviour. Tory MSP Jamie Greene has been critical of the expenses claimed by WICS chiefs Certainly, Sutherland has done well out of the arrangement. It has allowed him to live in comfort with his Russian wife Olga and two grown-up children at a converted farm steading near St Andrews. A 50,000 Lexus car was parked outside when he was approached for comment last week by the Mail. He declined the opportunity but issued a bullish statement to the Holyrood inquiry, declaring his huge personal disappointment at the manner he was forced from his role as I considered that I had been effective in my role as the economic regulator of Scottish Water for a very long time. I was proud of what had been achieved. He said he found suggestions of a toxic work culture disappointing but conceded he was guilty of spreading myself too thin in trying to combine work as the regulator with earning fee income. However, he added: I accept the findings of the audit but I consider that the shortcomings identified were not, in any way, the result of a lack of effort or commitment on my part. Fine words. And when Holyrood finishes its probe, it will be interesting to see how many of them still hold water. A travel blogger has expressed her shock after six backpackers were revealed to have been poisoned at a Laos hostel she had promoted on social media. Steph Dawson, who runs an Instagram travel account, promoted the hostel on a reel in December last year and has been left in a state of 'complete shock'. The six travelers, including Simone White, a 28-year-old lawyer from Kent, were taken to a local hospital in the well-known backpacking town of Van Vieng last week after falling ill. White's death was confirmed by the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office on Thursday. It is now believed that White and the other travelers suffered from suspected methanol poisoning, with police in Laos having now detained the manager and owner of the hostel. The poisoned backpackers were believed to have been served drinks tainted with the dangerous industrial chemical methanol at the hostel. Methanol has long been used by disreputable bars abroad as a cheaper alternative to ethanol. Dawson told GB News: 'I am literally completed shocked. I did a whole reel on Instagram promoting this hostel as a place to stay'. Travel blogger Steph Dawson expressed her 'complete shock' over the poisoning of six travelers at a hostel she had previously promoted in Laos Travel blogger Steph had made the reel promoting the Nana Backpacker Hostel in December of last year The Nana Backpacker Hostel had been popular with tourists due to its free offerings of alcohol Steph went on to say that the hostel had been the most popular in the area as it served cheap alcohol to travelers every night. 'It was where every backpacker goes. It's cheap, sociable and it offers free alcohol between 7-9pm. They do free vodka and free rum every night. 'Because it's so cheap, you can go down the road and buy a bottle of vodka for 1.60, but it tastes cheap. Everyone out there does it so everyone thinks it's fine, I think that's why it's so shocking'. The detained manager of the Nana Backpacker Hostel, Duong Duc Toan, has said that staff were informed that a group of women were feeling unwell after they missed their check-out time. The group of six women had reportedly joined a group of over 100 other guests for the hostel's signature free shots just two night's prior. Simone White, 28, from Orpington in Kent, died after drinking free shots at a Laos hostel allegedly laced with methanol The hostel remains open but is not currently accepting new guests (Pictured: Nana's Backpackers bar) However, Mr Toan said that no other guests reported any issues and claimed that the poisoning victims went on a night out of drinking in nearby bars after the free shots function at the hostel had ended. Laos officials are yet to reveal much information regarding the incident, other than confirming the deaths of the travelers. Going on to share details on how backpackers can stay safe when abroad, travel blogger Steph said that travelers should 'trust their instincts'. 'We have to wait for the investigation to be over to pass judgement on the hostel. If you're not into partying or don't want to do shots, don't stay at these hostels doing free shots', she added. MBABANE A teenager, whose Zionist parents were hosting an all-night prayer, was allegedly caught having sexual intercourse with a 12-year-old girl during a power cut. *Michael (18) of Ekupheleni in the Hhohho Region, who is a pupil, was arrested in the morning. Two counts under the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Act 15/2028 were preferred against him. According to the charge, Michael, on November 10, 2024, at Ekupheleni, allegedly had sexual intercourse with the 12-year-old juvenile, thereby contravened the Act. The offence is accompanied by aggravating factors in that he reportedly did not use protection and the complainant is below 18 years old. The charge sheet also states that in the event that he is convicted, his name will be included in the national register for sex offenders. In the second charge, Michael, on the same day, allegedly maintained a sexual relationship with the minor. The accused was arrested by Mbabane police and he appeared at the magistrate court on Monday and was remanded in custody pending committal to the High Court. Michael filed an application for bail at the High Court. He was represented by Sivesonkhe Ngwenya of Sivesonkhe Ngwenya and Associates. He stated that he was innocent of the charges against him. Michael told the court that on November 15, 2024, at Ekupheleni, his parental homestead, there was an all-night prayer service. He said his family is responsible for a Zion Church branch in the area. According to the accused, there was quite a number of people in attendance during all-night prayer service. He narrated that sometime around 2am, generator supplying power for illumination ran out of fuel, plunging the place into darkness. The accused submitted that at that particular point in time, the congregants were moving out of the tent due to frustration over the power cut and fuel was being organized. He said like everyone else, he and his friend from school, *Noma, also went outside to stand by the wall of the main house with others who were attending the prayer service. While at that a man whom we could not identify at that time approached us carrying a torch and accused us of having ran away from the church service. Confused What confused me the most is that during his accusations he heavily assaulted us, uttering the words nimeleni lamakhwaceleni nitawuze nigile imikhiba labumnyameni, said Michael. He informed the court that they tried to explain that they were waiting for the lights to be restored and proceed with the church service. I must be candid with the honourable court and mention that he did not take any of that but continued to assault us saying sukani nje lana anati yini kutsi bantfwana banyalo sebayalalana bagile imikhiba emakhwaceleni. Owing to the fact that he was an adult we obliged since at home we have always been told to respect and oblige to an elders command, the accused submitted. Michael informed the court that in the morning, when others, including the complainant had left, those who remained behind were disassembling the tent and packing the chairs when the police arrived. He said the police told them that they had been informed by the community police that there were allegations in the community that the complainant had been sexual assaulted. Together with my friend, we were ordered to board the police van and taken to the police station for purposes of being questioned on the allegations of the sexual assault and/or rape. Michael said, on arrival, they were detained instead of being questioned as the police had informed them. On the following day, according to Michael, they were told that they would appear in court for an alleged rape that happened during the all-night prayer. I was so confused because I never committed any offence, be it on that night or any other day. I submit that these charges are a pure fabrication, more so because at the police station I was compelled to make a confession before a magistrate, having been told what to say if I wanted to gain my liberty, Michael alleged. He said that exercise failed as he got assistance from his attorney, who had been engaged by his family on his behalf. He pleaded with the court to release him because, among other reasons, his continued incarceration was prejudicial to him in that he was missing out on the internal examination. The teenager appeared before Judge John Magagula yesterday for the hearing of his bail application. The court granted him bail fixed at E15 000. He was ordered to pay E3 000 in cash and provide sureties for the balance. *Not their real names Four decades ago, John MacKay's broadcasting career hit the skids on the very day it began. He was on work experience at Radio Clyde and the brutally frank assessment of the boss there was he should try something else. 'You've no got a voice for broadcasting son, so maybe forget it,' the youngster was told. He was grateful, at least, for the honesty. Besides, it was newspapers that really excited him - ever since his paperboy days in Glasgow when, in the most literal way, he delivered the news to people's homes. Yes, he figured, if journalism were to work out for him it would surely be the print variety. Today there are few more familiar voices on Scottish television screens than that of the 59-year-old with his inimitable top-of-the-bulletin introduction: 'I'm John MacKay - and this is the STV News at Six.' He was a newspaperman for just a year before joining BBC Radio Scotland as a trainee in late 1987, months before one of the biggest stories of the decade broke when North Sea oil rig Piper Alpha exploded, killing 167 men in 1988. STV news anchor John MacKay In December that year, more carnage. A New York-bound jumbo jet blew up over Lockerbie killing all 259 on board and 11 on the ground. Within minutes of the newsroom hearing the first reports from the town, Mr MacKay was handed a script and told to record it for transmission for Radio 4 at 8pm. As he recalls now: 'In the days before 24-hour rolling news, the first much of the UK would have heard about the tragedy was my young Scottish voice reading that script.' In the following decade, as an STV reporter, he would arrive at Dunblane Primary School just as frantic parents were gathering there. The early reports said there had been a mass shooting, but he doubted their accuracy. They were true: 16 primary school children and their teacher were dead. 'During a quiet moment, I cried and wanted to hold my own children,' he says of that abysmal day in Dunblane in 1996. The three stories are cornerstones merely of the early years of a broadcasting career of remarkable longevity. Now, the man who - despite Radio Clyde's misgivings - is perhaps the most prominent voice of TV news in Scotland has written a book charting the nation's modern evolution through his and colleagues' reports, interview transcripts and his own diaries. All the biggest stories are there, of course, but it is often the little ones, the personal memories and the window on the world of Scottish broadcasting that makes it such an engaging read. Who knew, for example, that the scrupulously well-prepared presenter we see on our screens today once woke up in an Orkney hotel room and realised to his horror that the radio show he was supposed to be presenting that morning had aired without him? Mr MacKay joined STV in 1994, having previously worked for the BBC 'It was half eight and the programme was on from half seven to eight. I thought "Oh my god, I'm pretty much just in the door at the BBC and I've slept in and missed the breakfast programme".' He adds: 'I can tell you it has never happened again.' Then there was the time a few months later when, as one of the youngest members of staff, he was drafted in to help produce No the Archie Macpherson Show, a bid by BBC Radio Scotland to attract the youth audience. A young comedy writer was enlisted to produce material for it, but Mr MacKay was not a fan. 'I didn't connect with his humour,' he writes in the book. 'At production meetings I would argue that this or that sketch just wasn't funny.' The writer was Armando Iannucci, who went on to create some of the best-loved political satires ever screened, including The Thick of It and Veep, for which he won two Emmys. 'I never produced another non-news programme again,' writes Mr MacKay. Has his view on the Scottish satirist changed in the intervening years? 'Oh yes, Armando Iannucci is a funny guy. It said more about me than it said about Armando Iannucci.' Among the most priceless comedy moments recalled in Scotland Today & Yesterday is the day in 1999 Alex Salmond arrived at the STV studios for a phone-in. Party leaders had been warned not to wear a blue shirt because that was the colour of the screen being used for the studio backdrop. STV News staff Ewan Petrie, Heather Simpson, Raman Bhardwaj, Vicky Lee, John MacKay, Debi Edward, Louise White, Bernard Ponsonby, Grant Lauchlan Anything projected onto it would also be projected onto a blue shirt. But the memo never reached Mr Salmond and, moments before the show aired, Mr MacKay was despatched to the dressing room for substitute shirts for his blue one. 'I grab a handful of shirts that I think might fit him and we go to this very small video room and the poor man is having to take off his perfectly comfortable shirt and try on this variety of shirts that I am giving him.' Vestless, the increasingly irate SNP leader was forced to strip off several times before the right one was found. 'It was very uncomfortable for both of us, particularly as he was really angry,' says Mr MacKay. 'I was trying to calm him but also to judge whether a particular shirt suited him or not.' Perhaps inevitably, as the father of two then pre-school sons with his wife Jo, the story which scars his memory more deeply than any others is the Dunblane massacre. Mr MacKay wrote in his diary at the time: 'We never saw the full horror, but what we did see was heartrending. Parents filled with panic and tears swarming to the school to find out if their child was safe. 'One spoke of the overwhelming relief of finding hers, immediately followed by the guilt that she felt that way. One father described to me how the parents of those in the class were taken into a room and the wailing coming from it forced him to look away.' The independence referendum is a pivotal moment too. Mr MacKay in the early stages of his STV career in 1996 Mr MacKay with comedian Sir Billy Connolly It came 15 years after a live broadcast from Edinburgh in which Mr MacKay put the then SNP leader on the spot about his party's failure to break through in the Central Belt in the 1999 Scottish parliamentary election. He says now: 'People will have their opinions on Alex Salmond... but 15 years later, he not only has a majority SNP government, he has an independence referendum and the polls are struggling to decide. It could have gone either way. So, to achieve that in 15 years, I think the credit for that is Salmond's.' Away from politics - where neutrality is paramount - it is refreshing to see Mr MacKay is a man of frank opinions. He notes in his diary entry for August 2018 that the BBC is hiring STV staff ahead of the launch of The Nine, the station's ill-fated hour-long news broadcast. 'What an indictment of existing BBC staff that they're choosing people from STV for the plum jobs,' he writes. And he has this to say after watching its first bulletin in February the following year. 'Not that impressive. Looks good, but being an hour, it's very flabby.' Six years on, the programme is being taken off air after attracting audiences Mr MacKay notes were 'negligible from the start'. As for its dressed-down presenters, who are invariably tie-less and often wear jeans and trainers, don't get him started. He says: 'I think having a bland shirt with an open collar and maybe a wee tuft of chest hair showing is as much of a uniform as me sitting with my collar and tie. There's nothing new in it. It is very thought through and it's trying to get a new, more relaxed audience. 'It's the usual stuff you hear from consultants and these people who are paid an awful lot to come up with not very much. I think, with the news, you are going into people's houses, so you should dress smartly, you should dress authoritatively.' And what does he make of younger staff members at his own station when they attempt the dressed down look? 'It's a point of contention,' he laughs. Mr MacKay with Welsh actor Michael Sheen This, of course, coming from an anchorman whose sartorial choices have become a Scottish institution. If his 'I'm John MacKay' opening remains his most best-known trademark then 'John MacKay and his tie' runs it a close second. The phrase dates back to the days when STV staff were urged to become active on social media. As well as tweeting a summary of the top story on each night's broadcast, Mr MacKay began posting a picture of the tie he would wear to present the news. More than a thousand ties later, he still does it. Each one - meticulously knotted and straight as a die - is given a name by its wearer and presented as a trailer for the broadcast. 'Happy Haven tonight,' he said of the blue, flowery number he wore on the day we spoke this week. 'Happy Haven.' 'It's now such a ritual that people get a wee bit annoyed if it doesn't happen,' he says. 'So it's quite a commitment. 'I have a lot of ties. I think ties are important, I actually think they're very smart and all the rest of it, but I'm not as obsessed by ties as some people might think. 'It's an unfortunate thing but, having had a long career, one of the things I'll be remembered for is ties. You think, really? Is that it?' Many of his own favourite memories are of the stars he interviewed - either in person or 'down the line' if they were joining the broadcast remotely. Sure, there were awkward moments. The late actor Alan Rickman is remembered as 'not the warmest of individuals' while Oscar winner Richard Dreyfuss may suffer from a complex about his height. 'Okay if we get a quick snapshot?' Mr MacKay asked him after the interview. 'A lot of actors are quite short,' replied Dreyfuss testily. 'Dustin Hoffman isn't that tall, you know.' Dolly Parton, who was interviewed down the line from Nashville, breezily sang his name repeatedly during the sound check - 'I show that to people occasionally and it's like, "wow"' - and Will Ferrell, who famously played Anchorman, told Scotland's real life one he should grow more facial hair and wear stronger cologne. And the biggest thrill of all? Surprisingly, perhaps, it was meeting Rory and Calum Macdonald from Runrig, his musical heroes. Scotland Today & Yesterday: Witness to a Changing Nation Published by Luath Press, is on sale from Saturday November 30, priced 25 hardback. https://luath.co.uk/collections/s/products/scotland-today-yesterday Advertisement 'I'm from a Hebridean background and they have been my kind of cultural standard through the years. What Runrig did was they gave what I heard in my house, which was very Gaelic centred culturally in every way... they allowed me to take that out into the street as it were, and it gave me a connection which, when I was young and throughout my life, has been hugely important. 'So, to meet those guys, on a purely personal level, not talking about status or anything, that's the one that did it for me.' And what of his on-screen co-stars? Since he started on STV 30 years ago, he has been the male foil to a succession of female presenters who were household names. There was Viv Lumsden, Kirsty Young, Shereen Nanjiani, Sarah Heaney... does he ever wonder why he stayed put while they passed through? 'It's always been their choice,' he says. 'I'm not exaggerating when I say that I have always felt privileged to do what I do. I remember in the early days working with the likes of Shereen and then Sarah Heaney, I always felt rather like the bodyguard. I'm just the guy sitting beside them who is just kind of there.' Mr MacKay's chronicle ends on October 13, 2024 with the passing of a man whose influence on Scottish life was one of the key 'veins' of the presenter's career. Alex Salmond, first elected to Parliament the year after Mr Mackay became a journalist, was dead at 69. 'I don't know what the future holds, I genuinely don't,' he says when asked where the years ahead may take him. For now, however, and for the last several years, the programme he fronts is the clear ratings winner over BBC's equivalent Reporting Scotland. Why does he think that is? 'I think [viewers] maybe feel they see themselves in STV. It's a warmer programme and they connect with the presenters. I think there is a key element of that. People like my co-presenter Kelly-Ann Woodland, there's a warmth to Kelly-Ann and I think people really respond to that. And I have been there quite a while so there is a recognition factor with me, the familiarity of me being there at six o'clock.' He is John MacKay. Of course he is. Scots would know his voice anywhere. It turns out he is natural born broadcaster. This is the shocking moment a masked thug in a balaclava brandished two machetes outside what is said to be a school. The man - reportedly a teenager - was filmed with two massive black knives in each hand in Nottingham. Pictures show him dressed all in black with workman trousers, a black hat and a scarf around his face. A video showed him gesturing at two men who appeared to try and stop him. One could be heard saying 'look at you' as the suspected teenager walked off. The woman filming shouted 'f*** off' before the man with the machetes turned around and yelled abuse at her. The footage was posted on X with the caption: 'A teenage[r] with a large machete outside a Nottingham school earlier today.' Another local claimed the man was outside their grandchildren's school and the pupils were sent home as a result. Pictures show a man dressed all in black with workman trousers, a black hat and a scarf around his face brandishing two massive knives A masked thug in a balaclava brandished two machetes outside a 'school' A post on Facebook read: 'Nottingham, oh my word. 'Masked man holding machete outside [my] grandchildren's school! Armed Police arrest him, children sent home.' MailOnline has contacted Nottingham Police for more information. Last week, officers from Nottinghamshire Police arrested an 18-year-old after after a parcel from France containing a curved karambit knife was seized at the border. It comes after the release of a joint report by school, police and probation inspectors which found that serious youth violence is widespread. Martyn Oliver, the chief inspector of Ofsted, told The Guardian: 'Knife crime is blighting the lives of too many children in England. It's a national scandal. It's very disturbing that children as young as 11 feel they need to carry a knife for their own protection.' Inspectors were 'alarmed' that 'carrying a knife is the norm for some children'. Britain is rife with knife crime, figures show. There has been a 'notable increase' in armed robberies involving knives over the last year, The man - reportedly a teenager - was filmed with two massive black knives in each hand A video showed him gesturing at two men who appeared to try and stop him Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) found that knife crime offences also increased year-on-year but remained below pre-pandemic levels. Some 50,510 offences were recorded in the 12 months to March 2024. Attacks disproportionately affected young people, with teenagers in the UK now twice as likely to be fatally stabbed as they were 10 years ago. Official statistics suggest knife crime has risen by four per cent in the last 12 months, but remains three per cent lower than the 51,982 offences reported in the year to March 2020. The number of armed robberies rose by 13 per cent in the last year, from 18,787 in 2022/23 to 21,226 in 2023/24. Although the total is still lower than before the Covid-19 pandemic, with 22,727 recorded in 2019/20. These figures do not include Greater Manchester Police, due to issues involving the supply of data. Knife-enabled homicides stood at 233 in the year to March 2024, up slightly on the 226 in the previous year, but again lower than pre-pandemic figures (253 in 2019/20). Some 5,411 offences classed as knife-enabled threats to kill were recorded in 2023/24, down seven per cent from 5,801 in 2022/23, but in both cases these figures are higher than those recorded before the pandemic (4,746 in 2019/20). The number of armed robberies rose to 21,226 in the last year (Source: ONS) Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he would make it his 'moral mission' to tackle the issue at a meeting with victims' families and actor and anti-knife campaigner Idris Elba The number of offences classed as 'possession of article with a blade or point' stood at 27,470 in the 12 months to March 2024, down three per cent year-on-year from 28,391. 'This follows substantial increases in recent years, which may have been influenced by targeted police action to tackle knife crime,' the ONS said. Labour has vowed to get 13,000 police officers back on the streets and previously announced a five-step plan to tackle the issue, including guaranteed sanctions for young people carrying knives. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he would make it his 'moral mission' to tackle the issue at a meeting with victims' families and actor and anti-knife campaigner Idris Elba. Morning Joe co-host Mika Brzezinski has backed away from using social media platform X despite defending her meeting with president-elect Donald Trump and encouraging fans to 'speak to everyone'. Brzezinski, 57, made what appears to be her final post to the platform, owned by Trump supporter Elon Musk, opting to move to left-leaning site Bluesky. 'Ive decided to leave X, but Id love to keep the conversation going. Join me on BlueSky!', linking her new profile on the site. It's a far cry from the open-mindedness she has been preaching since her meeting with Trump. On Monday, Brzezinski and her husband and co-host Joe Scarborough said on their show that they had visited Trump at his Florida home after a years long feud. Things came to a boil earlier this year after Scarborough likened Trump to Adolf Hitler, with their visit sparking fury amongst their liberal viewers and show staff. Speaking about the visit for the first time with The Daily Beast podcast with hosts , Brzezinski said they met with Trump due to people being 'really scared'. 'The way I look at it is people are really scared, that's one of the reasons we went in there. People are really scared about Trump's comments about political adversaries. A lot of people are scared because of what has happened with abortion.' Speaking about the visit for the first time with The Daily Beast podcast, seen here, Brzezinski said they met with Trump due to people being 'really scared Brzezinski has now moved her social media presence to left-leaning site Bluesky instead of X 'I was trying to think through it, I think everyone is so scared. Whether they are in the media or citizens of this great country. 'I think everybody is scared, disorientated, fearful of the future, and I think just for a quick moment I might the punching bag for that. 'I'd like to believe we are going to get through this and I have a lot of questions too though, and I want the chance to ask them.' Her comments don't square with her leaving X, which is owned by Trump's closest ally, Elon Musk. When asked if the meeting made her more hopeful, she said: 'No, I would have no illusions about that. I am glad it happened. The fact that it happened is good.' 'I am deeply, deeply, upset and fearful for the woman of this country, and not just the women of child-bearing age. I'm going to be looking for ways to work on this issue.' Revealing the meeting on Monday, Brzezinski said they decided to reach out to Trump due to their viewers expressing fear over his election win. She added: 'My father [diplomat Zbigniew Brzezinski] often spoke with world leaders with whom he and the United States profoundly disagreed. That's a task shared by reporters and commentators alike. 'Joe and I realized its time to do something different and that starts with not only talking about Donald Trump, but also talking with him.' Brzezinski shared that Trump was cheerful during their meeting and seemed interested in finding common ground with Democrats. Revealing the meeting on Monday, Brzezinski said they decided to reach out to Trump due to their viewers expressing fear over his election win. She is seen here with Scarborough in 2015 Brzezinski shared that Trump was cheerful during their meeting and seemed interested in finding common ground with Democrats However, Scarborough concluded by telling viewers they will not stop their criticism of the president-elect. He said: 'Dont be mistaken. We are not here to defend or normalize Donald Trump. 'We are here to report on him and to hopefully provide you insights that are going to better equip all of us in understanding these deeply unsettling times.' Trump told Fox News that he took the meeting in order to 'Make America Great Again, it is very important, if not vital, to have a free, fair and open media or press.' 'I am not looking for retribution, grandstanding or to destroy people who treated me very unfairly,' he added. 'Many things were discussed, and I very much appreciated the fact that they wanted to have open communication,' he said. 'In many ways, it's too bad that it wasn't done long ago.' Trump said that both of the hosts, 'congratulated me on running a 'great and flawless campaign, one for the history books.' 'The meeting ended in a very positive manner, and we agreed to speak in the future,' he said. Following the big reveal on Monday, their ratings have tanked 15 percent overall and a whopping 41 percent in the 25-54 year old demographic. Trump appeared on the show dozens of times before the pair fell out spectacularly during the 2016 election cycle The show went from 770,000 viewers on Monday, to 680,000 Tuesday, to 647,000 Wednesday, per Variety. Trump used to be routine contributor to Morning Joe, and Scarborough was an early cheerleader for the billionaire's maverick bid for the GOP nomination in 2016. But relations soured as Trump pulled off a surprise victory in the Republican primaries and began to look like a serious challenger to the Democrats' Hillary Clinton. The four-hour morning show became a bastion of the Democratic establishment after Trump's first term, with President Joe Biden routinely tuning in while doing his morning exercises to see his acolytes promote the party's talking points. With Trump in the White House and Scarborough engaged to co-host Brzezinski he began cementing his show's identity as an outpost of opposition to the new administration. The couple even recorded a Christmas album called 'A Very Drumpf Christmas' with children's songs portraying the president as Dr. Seuss' The Grinch Who Stole Christmas. It eventually attracted the attention of the president himself, who delivered a series of withering put-downs, labeling Scarborough 'Psycho Joe' and his then-fiancee as 'low IQ Crazy Mika', while mischievously claiming she had been 'bleeding badly from a face-lift' during a visit to his Mar-a-Lago estate. Brzezinski later confirmed she'd been recovering from cosmetic surgery during the trip. And the feud deepened when the president revived long-debunked claims that Scarborough had been involved in the death of his former congressional staffer who was found dead on his office floor in 2001. An autopsy found that Lori Bolterstein Klausutis, 28, had hit her head on a desk after collapsing from an undiagnosed heart-valve irregularity but Trump called for a fresh investigation into the case. The allegations earned Trump his first rebuke from Twitter, which would eventually kick him off the platform altogether in January 2021. Former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler has emerged as the favorite to become Donald Trump's next secretary of Agriculture. The 53-year-old blonde bombshell didn't dispel suggestions she was being considered for the top Cabinet job earlier this week. She disclosed on the Politically Georgia Podcast that she's a 'huge advocate' for rural America. 'I grew up on a farm and I'm still actively involved in agriculture,' Loeffler said. 'I'm a huge advocate for rural America, and most of my bills that I passed in Congress were rural healthcare funding and related bills.' Loeffler served in the Senate briefly from 2020 to 2021 after being appointed by Gov. Brian Kemp. She lost her seat in a contentious runoff election to Democrat Sen. Raphael Warnock. Loffler is currently serving as co-chair of President-elect Trump's Inaugural Committee alongside real estate mogul Steve Witkoff. Georgia Senator Kelly Loeffler is co-chair of President-elect Trump's inaugural committee alongside Steve Witkoff The 53-year-old blonde bombshell didn't dispel suggestions she was being considered for the top Cabinet job earlier this week. 'The Trump Vance Inaugural Committee will honor this magnificent victory in a celebration of the American People and our nation,' Trump said in a statement announcing her position on the transition team. 'This will be the kick-off to my administration, which will deliver on bold promises to Make America Great Again,' he added about his next term, which begins on January 20, 2025. '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.' She was reported to be at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate on Friday afternoon. There have been several names in the mix to lead the Agriculture Department including former USDA official Ray Starlight. North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum was in the running, but Trump tapped him to lead the Interior Department. Trump donor Charles Herbster and Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller have also been floated as options. As a known MAGA ally, Loeffler joined the president-elect on the campaign trail as he criss-crossed the country. Her billionaire husband Jeffrey Sprecher is the chairman of the New York Stock Exchange. He also is the CEO and founder of Intercontinental Exchange. She raised over $5 million for the Trump campaign after hosting a lavish fundraiser in Atlanta over the summer. Before serving in the Senate, Loeffler co-owned WNBA's Atlanta Dream team and was the CEO of financial services firm Bakkt. The rumors of her appointment comes the day after Trump tapped former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, 59, to be his top law enforcement official. Matt Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration earlier in the day when it became clear that a lingering scandal meant he did not have the votes to be confirmed in the Senate. Her billionaire husband Jeffrey Sprecher is the chairman of the New York Stock Exchange. He also is the CEO and founder of Intercontinental Exchange Loeffler served in the Senate briefly from 2020 to 2021 after being appointed by Gov. Brian Kemp She's a known MAGA ally who joined the president-elect on the campaign trail as he criss-crossed the country 'Pam was a prosecutor for nearly 20 years, where she was very tough on violent criminals, and made the streets safe for Florida Families,' Trump posted on Truth Social as he made the announcement. 'Then, as Florida's first female attorney general, she worked to stop the trafficking of deadly drugs, and reduce the tragedy of fentanyl overdose deaths, which have destroyed many families across our country.' The rumors of her appointment comes the day after Trump tapped former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi , 59, to be his top law enforcement official Trump tapped Pam Bondi to be his next attorney general on Thursday night Trump has made clear that he wants a disruptor in the role, someone who will overhaul the Department of Justice and help push through his agenda from day one. That should have been Gaetz, a combative congressman from Florida. But he withdrew after eight turbulent days in the spotlight. He had been investigated by the Department of Justice making him a shock choice to lead it. And a drip, drip, drip of headlines about a sex scandal showed no sign of letting up. 'While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition,' he said in announcing his withdrawal, a day after meeting with senators in an effort to win them over. MSNBC's Joy Reid told Republicans their liberal friends and family have a right to be scared in an end-of-times warning on TikTok today. Reid, 55, who recently left X after Elon Musk's cabinet nomination by President-Elect Donald Trump, isn't done explaining to GOP voters why she believes Democrats are rightfully scared for the future. She warned Trump voters they should accept being excluded from family Thanksgiving plans, and spoke of the likelihood of the country collapsing under the new government. 'He's put together a cabinet of horrors! People are afraid, they're not just mad because they lost an election. 'I think this whole question about this anger, this question about people cutting off family members...you're missing the point. 'Republicans control everything. People are scared. I think questioning why people don't want to have dinner with you, or don't want to be in a group chat anymore, or don't want to be your friend, or don't want to hang out with you after you voted to do this to them, potentially, I think you're missing the point.' 'It's not about an election, it's about whether this country has a future. People are rightfully alarmed, they have a reason to be alarmed,' she fumed. She went on to explain that many blue voters are worried about what Trump will implement when all three branches of government are Republican in January. Reid, 55 - who recently left X after Elon Musk's cabinet nomination by President-Elect Donald Trump - isn't done explaining to GOP voters why she believes Democrats are rightfully scared for the future. 'He's put together a cabinet of horrors!' Reid said 'Republicans control everything. People are scared. I think questioning why people don't want to have dinner with you, or don't want to be in a group chat anymore, or don't want to be your friend, or don't want to hang out with you after you voted to do this to them, potentially, I think you're missing the point,' she said (pictured: Donald Trump) Many are worried about Trump implementing Project 2025, which largely affects women by restricting access to abortion and making contraceptives harder to get. 'You really can't demand and expect that people who are terrified about Project 2025 being fully implemented - including a national abortion ban, a woman dying of sepsis for no reason because they're pregnant and can't get healthcare, conception being made illegal, IVF being made illegal. 'All of these things are on now the table, and he could do all of it. And there's nothing to stop him,' Reid said in the video. She also ridiculed Trump supporters for voting for him because he promised cheaper eggs and gas - and warned that it 'isn't even going to happen because tariffs don't lower the price of eggs, they raise the price of everything.' 'So, if you got scammed by this person, who is obviously the greatest scammer in the history of the world, okay,' she said. 'If you would vote for that, people may not feel confident they're safe with you. This is not crazy, this is legitimate feelings of fear of you and you might not be someone they could trust'. 'If you're voting affirmatively, gleefully for this, people might not feel so confident in you anymore, that's real and you kind of have to live with that,' she continued. 'If you think you can vote for what they see as their destruction and then demand that they still are cool with you and have Thanksgiving with you, I think you're kind of missing the point,' she added. Reid said she fears the country is heading toward autocracy and fascism - government types she said Americans have 'legitimate' reason to 'be afraid of.' Reid said she fears the country is heading toward autocracy and fascism - government types that she said Americans have 'legitimate' reason to 'be afraid of.' She said: 'America is changing its fundamental nature and you voted for that' (pictured: a Trump supporter) 'You may want to step back and think about why people feel the way that they do...If you're sad that you're losing friends over this, I don't know what to tell you,' she told Republican voters. 'America is changing its fundamental nature and you voted for that.' She went on to say that those who voted for Trump should be 'proud' of their vote and the way the nation is heading instead of 'freaking out that people won't affirm you for it.' 'Stand by what you did and keep it moving,' she said. 'Y'all be safe out there, because it's going to be dicey and it's going to be rough.' 'Laken Riley's killer never stood a chance.' That was the actual headline on MSNBC's website Friday morning, topping a piece sympathetic to the illegal migrant who savagely attempted to rape Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student, before bashing her head in and killing her. Sick, sick, sick. The only person who never stood a chance was Laken Riley. But that's the far-left for you, failing to learn a single lesson from the drubbing they took on Election Day. Failing to be humbled, failing to self-examine, failing to detach from their simplistic, reductive orthodoxy that racializes everything, including a horrific, wholly preventable crime that took the life of a promising young woman. MSNBC legal analyst Danny Cevallos wrote this indefensible piece, lamenting that the killer caught 'no breaks' in his bench trial, and that the defense 'apparently had no chance with the judge, either'. In case the expressed sympathy wasn't apparent, the original headline made that clear until, that is, a torrent of online outrage, including from Joe Rogan, who tweeted 'What the f*** is this sh**'. WTF, indeed. 'Laken Riley's killer never stood a chance.' That was the actual headline on MSNBC's website Friday morning, topping a piece sympathetic to the illegal migrant who savagely attempted to rape Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student, before bashing her head in and killing her. Sick, sick, sick. The only person who never stood a chance was Laken Riley. MSNBC legal analyst Danny Cevallos wrote this indefensible piece, lamenting that the killer caught 'no breaks' in his bench trial, and that the defense 'apparently had no chance with the judge, either'. (Pictured: Jose Ibarra in court). Riley's killer, Jose Ibarra, is a member of the vicious Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. He sat in court with the bored, sometimes aggravated expression of the career criminal he is, but MSNBC would have you shed tears for him. And this newsroom wonders why parent company Comcast is looking to be rid of it. Ibarra has a lengthy rap sheet, including an arrest in September 2023, in New York City where he was living for free in Midtown's once-posh Roosevelt Hotel for 'acting in a manner to injure a child' aged under 17, as well as for a 'motor vehicle violation'. What did the NYPD do? Cut him loose, of course. That's District Attorney Alvin Bragg's New York for you, run and ruined, as so many other formerly great American cities, by soft-on-crime liberal policies and a welcome mat laid out, cash and pre-paid cards stuffed underneath, for all manner of violent illegal immigrants. After Ibarra's arrest in September, the Biden-Harris administration rewarded him with a free flight to Georgia, to see his brother, which they deemed 'humanitarian'. Five months later, he assaulted and murdered Laken Riley. Yet Georgia's feckless, ultra-leftist DA Deborah Gonzalez, who later removed herself from this case, refused to seek the death penalty for Ibarra. Her concern, she said, was for 'collateral consequences to undocumented immigrants'. For anyone still wondering why Donald Trump won the election, this is why. Americans are sick of leftist garbage polluting our courts, our politics and our media a media in which nomenclature has become more important than anything else, even the loss of innocent human life. Here was President Biden on, yes, MSNBC in March, after mangling Riley's name during his State of the Union address an attempt that came only after Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene yelled, 'Say her name!', from the gallery. Biden had his regrets, but they did not involve poor Laken. No: The sitting US president, an international embarrassment, was only sorry that he had used the wrong terminology to describe Riley's killer. 'I shouldn't have used "illegal",' Biden told the insufferably smug Jonathan Capehart. 'It's "undocumented".' Capehart: 'So you regret using that word?' Biden: 'Yes.' Of course MSNBC is being spun off into the sun. Of course they're shedding eyeballs and relevance by the day. For anyone still wondering why Donald Trump won the election, this is why. (Pictured: Biden at his State of the Union address in March). Rachel Maddow, their biggest star, just took a humiliating $5 million pay cut. Meanwhile, shameless hypocrites Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski have been groveling before Trump, a man they spent months calling a Nazi, a fascist, and a killer of women. Jose Ibarra is an actual killer, but the brain trust at MSNBC still doesn't get it. Nor do they care to. Here was Maddow, along with race-baiter Joy Reid and former Biden press secretary-slash-mediocrity Jen Psaki on Super Tuesday in March, insulting Trump voters in Virginia who named 'the border and immigration' their No. 1 issue. You know, those toothless, illiterate racist hicks that mystify the otherwise kind, inclusive, non-bigoted liberals at MSNBC who consider incorrect pronouns an act of violence. 'Trump has indoctrinated people with this fear of people who don't look like them being a threat to them,' Psaki said. 'Well,' Maddow replied, 'Virginia does have a border with West Virginia.' The ever-predictable Reid: 'They're voting on race. They're voting on this idea of an invasion of brown people over the border.' Three months later, 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray was kidnapped, sexually assaulted, tortured for hours, strangled, then thrown in a creek in Texas by two illegal Venezuelan migrants. One of her killers was wearing an ankle monitor courtesy of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, for all the good that did. But to MSNBC and their declining faithful, concerns about the open border, and the killings of innocent girls and women, are apparently racist. Full stop. Even none other than their demigod, Bill Clinton, said that if illegal migrants had 'all been properly vetted' by the Biden-Harris administration, Riley's murder 'probably wouldn't have happened'. And that was while ostensibly stumping for Kamala! But MSNBC would have us forget how Laken Riley suffered, or how deeply her parents suffer now. On Tuesday, prosecutors laid out a tick-tock of Riley's final moments, from setting out on her morning jog at about 9.03 am, then activating her phone's 911 function minutes later, while Ibarra attempted to rape her. According to Riley's smartwatch, she fought Iberra for 18 minutes. That is an extremely long time. Frustrated, he finally smashed her skull in with a rock and strangled her, leaving her breasts and genitals exposed. This is a man who never should have been in the United States. This is why every branch of government has gone red. Rachel Maddow, MSNBC's biggest star, just took a humiliating $5 million pay cut. Meanwhile, shameless hypocrites Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski (pictured) have been groveling before Trump, a man they spent months calling a Nazi, a fascist, and a killer of women. Riley, prosecutors said, 'fought for her dignity Her encounter with him was long. Her fight with him was fierce.' Riley's fight left Iberra's DNA under her fingernails. His guilt has never been in question. But Tuesday's testimony, which included crime scene photos and details from the autopsy, was so devastating that Riley's mother left the courtroom for the day. Still, shameless liberal mouthpieces would have us believe that Riley's assault and murder is no big deal. Just as Martha Raddatz of ABC News (what a joke) scolded JD Vance last month, saying that only 'a handful' of apartment complexes in Colorado had been overtaken by Venezuelan gang members carrying long guns. 'Martha,' Vance asked incredulously, 'do you hear yourself?' That's the only question anyone with common sense is asking MSNBC and all ultra-progressive media: Do you, in fact, hear yourself? Because most of us can no longer bear to listen. An arsonist has admitted accepting money from a 'foreign intelligence service' before setting fire to a Ukrainian-owned parcel firm. Jake Reeves, 23, was paid by a 'foreign agent' before he helped start the blaze in Leyton, east London, in March. Co-defendant Dylan Earl, 20, was connected to the Wagner Group of mercenaries, which is contracted by Russia to fight in Ukraine. Earl became the first person to be charged under the National Security Act. At a previous hearing he admitted aggravated arson and endangering the life of a person or an act creating serious risk to the British public. Reeves, who appeared at Woolwich Crown Court via video link from HMP Wormwood Scrubs, and Earl will be sentenced next year. Britain's Crown Prosecution Service said in a statement when the men were charged in April that Earl's actions were for the benefit of the Russian state. Prosecutor Duncan Penny gave no further details about the case against Reeves. Three other men have also denied the aggravated arson charge, while a further suspect has yet to enter a plea. Court artist sketch by Elizabeth Cook of Jake Reeves appearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court Jake Reeves, 23, was paid by a 'foreign agent' before he helped start the blaze in Leyton, east London , in March A seventh man has denied a charge of knowing about terrorist acts but failing to disclose the information to police. A trial over those outstanding charges is due to be held in June next year. Britain's relations with Russia have been at their most hostile in decades over Moscow's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, and there have been a number of tit-for-tat accusations of spying. The UK's domestic spy chief accused Russian intelligence services of seeking to cause 'mayhem', including by using arson. A British Airways stewardess is at risk of losing her job after posting online she was on the same flight that was taking Liam Payne's body home. Summer-Leigh Morrison took to Instagram to let her followers know she was on the flight travelling with the late One Direction star's coffin. She is believed to have breached breached strict guidelines by sharing a picture of the British Airways flight manifest that detailed who was on the flight. Posting on Instagram, she wrote: 'Just been told we're carrying a coffin with us today. Payne died aged 31 on October 16 after falling from the third-floor balcony of a hotel in the Argentine capital Buenos Aires 'To then find out it's Liam Payne's body and his family are on our flight too, heart-breaking.' It is understood that the air stewardess has been suspended as British Airway bosses investigates. Payne died aged 31 on October 16 after falling from the third-floor balcony of a hotel in the Argentine capital Buenos Aires. His funeral was held in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, on Wednesday. A British Airways source told The Sun: 'This stewardess cares more for her online social media following than her job. Ms Morrison reportedly breached breached strict guidelines by sharing a picture of the British Airways flight manifest that detailed who was the flight 'She has been brought to the attention of bosses due to previous posts. 'It is a serious data breach, not to mention a callous and heartless move to tell the world of Liam's final journey for the good of her online following. 'She will be lucky to ever fly again with the airline.' A spokesperson for British Airways confirmed to the MailOnline that they are investigating the matter and that it would be 'inappropriate to comment further.' This article has been amended to remove photographs which purported to feature Summer-Leigh Morrison but were in fact of a different, unrelated young woman. We apologise for the error. US President Joe Biden yesterday attacked as 'outrageous' the issuing of an arrest warrant against Israel's prime minister, as splits among western leaders were laid bare. The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued a warrant to detain Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defence minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes in Gaza. Britain has said it will follow its 'legal obligations', but the outgoing US President branded the ICC's decision 'outrageous'. 'Let me be clear once again: whatever the ICC might imply, there is no equivalence none between Israel and Hamas. We will always stand with Israel against threats to its security,' Mr Biden said in a statement. A warrant was also issued for Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif, although Israel has said he was killed in an air strike in Gaza in July. US President-elect Donald Trump's nominee national security adviser Mike Waltz warned there would be a 'strong response to the anti-semitic bias of the ICC and UN come January'. Israel has also denounced the ICC decision, with Mr Netanyahu saying Israel 'rejects with disgust the absurd and false actions'. And Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban invited Mr Netanyahu to visit Hungary, pledging 'if he comes, the ICC ruling will have no effect in Hungary'. President Joe Biden (right) labelled an arrest warrant issued against Benjamin Netanyahu (left) by the ICC as 'outrageous' Donald Trump's nominee national security adviser Mike Waltz (pictured) warned there would be a 'strong response to the anti-semitic bias of the ICC and UN come January' But several other European countries including the Netherlands, Finland, the Irish Republic, Italy and Spain have said they would meet their ICC commitments. Germany and France would not say what they would do if the Israeli leader entered their territory. Britain has said the UK would follow its 'legal obligations', but ministers have declined to explicitly confirm whether Mr Netanyahu would be arrested if he set foot in the UK. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper sidestepped the question during a series of broadcast interviews yesterday, prompting criticism from a leading barrister. Sir Geoffrey Nice KC, who prosecuted Slobodan Milosevic told Times Radio it was 'very unfortunate to hear government leaders of this country trying to avoid the rule of law'. The ICC's decision sparked a furious backlash, with critics including Tory former home secretary Suella Braverman saying it raised doubts about the court's judgment. She told the Mail: 'This outrageous political decision from the court calls into serious question the ICC's judgment. Yesterday's decision will leave a mark of shame on the court. To equate Hamas's terrorists with Israel's fight for survival is disgraceful.' While saying the Government respected the independence of the ICC, Downing Street insisted Sir Keir Starmer would be happy to speak to Mr Netanyahu But Downing Street backed the ICC on Thursday after it issued the arrest warrants, saying the Government respected the independence of the court. A domestic court process would be required before Mr Netanyahu faced arrest if he visited the UK. Yesterday No 10 said Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer would be happy to talk to Mr Netanyahu, in spite of the arrest warrant. The PM's official spokesman said: 'The Prime Minister will continue to speak to the prime minister of Israel and indeed other allies in order to conduct the essential business of reaching a ceasefire in the Middle East.' Gordon Brown has declared his opposition to legalising assisted dying, saying the loss of his daughter Jennifer taught him that end-of-life care must be prioritised instead. The former prime minister said the debate on assisted dying was moving too fast given the 'profound ethical and practical issues'. He wants an end-of-life commission to be set up instead of a 'yes/no vote' for MPs and said the state of the NHS meant now was not the time for a far-reaching decision that could fundamentally alter the relationship between doctors and patients. Mr Brown said that when Jennifer had a brain haemorrhage four days after her birth in December 2001, he and his wife, Sarah, knew she would not survive it. She died at 11 days old. He wrote in The Guardian: 'Those days we spent with her remain among the most precious days of my and Sarah's lives. The experience of sitting with a fatally ill baby girl did not convince me of the case for assisted dying; it convinced me of the value and imperative of good end-of-life care.' He added: 'Britain usually moves too slowly on those matters where it should move fast. But sometimes, as now, it can move too fast on an issue where it should go slower, listen and learn. 'And with the NHS still at its lowest ebb, this is not the right time to make such a profound decision. Instead, we need to show we can do better at assisted living before deciding whether to legislate on ways to die.' Gordon Brown has declared his opposition to legalising assisted dying, saying the loss of his daughter Jennifer taught him that end-of-life care must be prioritised instead. Pictured: Mr and Mrs Brown leave hospital on January 7, 2002, after Jennifers death Former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and his wife Sarah pictured together in December last year Kim Leadbeater, the MP behind the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, welcomed his call for an end-of-life commission He has previously criticised assisted dying, and in 2008 said he was 'totally against' laws allowing it in case it put vulnerable people under pressure. Kim Leadbeater, the MP behind the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, welcomed his call for an end-of-life commission. But she reiterated her desire for the law to change, adding: 'Even the best end-of-life care doesn't work for everybody. I have heard so many heartbreaking stories of people who suffered an agonising death despite receiving all the medications and support they could possibly ask for.' More than seven in ten people believe assisted dying should be legalised, a YouGov survey revealed yesterday. MPs will vote next Friday on allowing assisted dying for the first time in almost a decade. Only terminally ill adults with less than six months to live and a wish to die would be eligible. Two doctors and a High Court judge would have to verify this. Last time there was a binding vote on changing the law, in 2015, it was defeated by 330 votes to 118. READ MORE: There's a '50% chance' Andromeda will collide with our Milky Way Our galaxy colliding with a nearby neighbour is one of the gruesome scenarios of how our world could end. Now, astronomers reveal what such a dramatic 'smash-up' event could look like. The international team of scientists have captured a collision between two galaxies located about 290 million light-years away from Earth. One galaxy, called NGC 7318b, travelled towards the other at 2 million mph (3.2 million km/h), pulled by intense gravitational forces. The collision between the pair sparked an immensely powerful shock akin to a 'sonic boom from a jet fighter.' According to the researchers, the encounter released enough energy to rip apart electrons from atoms. 'This high-speed collision is causing havoc in NGC 7318b, particularly with respect to its reserves of hydrogen gas, which are being stripped off,' they said. 'It is likely that the formation of new stars in this galaxy will be greatly slowed down since it is principally hydrogen that fuels this process.' The dramatic impact happened in Stephan's Quintet, a nearby galaxy group made up of five galaxies - NGC 7317, NGC 7318a, NGC 7318b, NGC 7319 and NGC 7320. In this image, NGC 7318b (left hand of the two bright white sources inside the hexagon) is coming into the group from behind, and is colliding with NGC 7318a (right hand source) Radio observations of Stephan's Quintet at different frequencies. The red colours indicate strong radio emission coming from the leading edge of the collision's shock wave The collision was detected using the first observations from the 16.7 million William Herschel Telescope Enhanced Area Velocity Explorer (WEAVE) in La Palma, Spain, as well as the Low-Frequency Array (LOFAR) radio telescope in the Netherlands. The dramatic impact happened in Stephan's Quintet, a nearby galaxy group made up of five galaxies NGC 7317, NGC 7318a, NGC 7318b, NGC 7319 and NGC 7320. 'NGC 7318b is coming into the galaxy group from behind, and is colliding with NGC 7318a,' Professor Gavin Dalton, WEAVE principal investigator at the University of Oxford, told MailOnline. 'This is happening because 7318b is falling into the group, most likely as it has been pulled in by the combined mass of the other galaxies. 'Most of the stars in the galaxies are largely unaffected by this.' The light from these galaxies has taken about 285 million years to reach us, so were seeing this as it happened 285 million years ago, Professor Dalton added. 'The collision itself would probably last about 10,000 years, given the relative speeds and the typical sizes of galaxies,' he told MailOnline. First observed nearly 150 years ago, Stephan's Quintet is famous for appearing as angelic figures at the beginning of the 1946 Christmas film 'It's a Wonderful Life'. Stephan's Quintet is a group of five galaxies in the constellation Pegasus, first discovered by French astronomer Edouard Stephan in 1877 In this image of Stephan's Quintet, blue indicates older, low-energy plasma, while the orange and yellow areas mark regions that are being actively energised. The thin, dashed lines outline the location of the galaxies in the group, while the black solid lines trace the shock region What is Stephan's Quintet? Stephan's Quintet is a cluster of five galaxies located about 290 million light years from Earth. The tightly-knit group can be seen in the constellation Pegasus. It's named after astronomer Edouard Stephan, who discovered it in 1877 from Marseilles, France. Advertisement 'Since its discovery in 1877, Stephan's Quintet has captivated astronomers,' said lead researcher Dr Marina Arnaudova at the University of Hertfordshire. 'It represents a galactic crossroad where past collisions between galaxies have left behind a complex field of debris.' 'Dynamical activity in this galaxy group has now been reawakened by a galaxy smashing through it at an incredible speed of over 2 million mph (3.2 million km/h), leading to an immensely powerful shock, much like a sonic boom from a jet fighter.' Any aliens that might exist in the galaxies are likely to have been unaffected by the collision due to the vast distances between stars, Dr Arnaudova told MailOnline. The observations reveal previously unobserved behaviour of the so-called 'shock front', the leading edge of the collision's shock wave. As the shock moves through pockets of cold gas, it travels at hypersonic speeds about 980,000 mph or 440km/s, which is several times the speed of sound in Stephans Quintet. This makes the shock powerful enough to rip apart electrons from atoms, leaving behind a glowing trail of charged gas, as seen with WEAVE, Dr Arnaudova said. However, when the shock passes through the surrounding hot gas, it becomes much weaker and its destructive capability weakens. WEAVE decomposition of gas in Stephan's Quintet, overlaid on an image from the James Webb Space Telescope. The red highlights gas shocked by the collision, while green and blue shows star-forming regions. The purple areas represent bubbles with an unknown origin. The black contours show neutral hydrogen What is WEAVE? William Herschel Telescope Enhanced Area Velocity Explorer (WEAVE) is a new 16.7 million spectrograph - an instrument that separates incoming light by its wavelength or frequency. Its job is to analyse the composition of stars and gas both in the Milky Way and in distant galaxies. WEAVE is part of the William Herschel Telescope at the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory on the island of La Palma in Canary Islands, Spain. Advertisement 'Instead of causing significant disruption, the weak shock compresses the hot gas, resulting in radio waves that are picked up by radio telescopes like LOFAR,' said Soumyadeep Das, PhD student at the University of Hertfordshire. The findings, published today in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, give a glimpse of what could ultimately happen to our Milky Way. Astronomers say there's a 50 per cent chance the Milky Way will collide with the neighbouring Andromeda galaxy in the next 10 billion years. While this sounds like bad news, a 50/50 chance is actually less certain than scientists previously assumed. If and when the collision occurs, planets and stars in the two galaxies would be flung together creating one super galaxy known as 'Milkdromeda'. There's a very small chance our sun would collide with another star, which could alter our position in relation to the sun and threaten life on Earth if it still exists by then. 'While the Milky Way-Andromeda collision may lead to significant changes in the galactic structure, again it's unlikely that Earth would be directly affected by the collision itself,' Dr Arnaudova told MailOnline. 'The biggest threats to Earth would more likely come from the sun's evolution, as it would move out of its stable phase in a few billion years, but still long before the galactic merger.' Present day view of Andromeda and the Milky Way galaxy. Astronomers have long known that Andromeda and the Milky Way are being drawn together by the forces of gravity Eric Bell, professor of astronomy at the University of Michigan who wasn't involved in the new study, said galaxy collisions would only be dangerous because of a slightly increased chance of stars colliding with each other. Even a near collision with another star a 'close pass' would affect our orbit, which Professor Bell said would be 'very bad'. 'The close pass changes the orbit, bringing us closer to the sun, or bringing us further away,' he told MailOnline. 'What our fate would be depends on exactly how our orbit changed. 'So we would either escape the solar system (in which case we'd slowly freeze to death over months). 'Or we'd get cooked by the sun (which may be very fast, or take months, depending on the orbit we ended up in).' As well as giving new insights into millions of galaxies across the universe, experts hope WEAVE could reveal more about our own Milky Way galaxy. The 16.7 million mapping device has largely been funded by the UK's Science and Technology Facilities Council, as well as major contributions from the Netherlands, Spain, France and Italy. The international team described the level of detail in these first WEAVE images as 'fantastic' and 'just a taste of what is to come'. 'As well as the details of the shock and the unfolding collision that we see in Stephan's Quintet, these observations provide a remarkable perspective on what may be happening in the formation and evolution of the barely resolved faint galaxies that we see at the limits of our current capabilities,' Professor Dalton said. READ MORE: Coin hoard could help unravel the mystery of Glencoe Massacre More than 330 years later, the Glencoe Massacre is still one of the darkest days in Scotland's history. On February 13, 1692, an estimated 38 men, women and children were brutally slain in the highland village for their support of James II of England. Now, excavations have shed light on one of the few survivors, MacDonald of Achnacon, who narrowly escaped with his life. A high-ranking clan member, MacDonald of Achnacon was taken outside of his home to be shot by government soldiers. But as they prepared to fire, MacDonald of Achnacon tore off his plaid cloak, threw it over his attackers and fled into the winter morning darkness. Archeologists now reveal that they've found a bent plaid pin that they think fell from his clock during the skirmish, positioned outside his turf-walled house. While MacDonald of Achnacon survived, his cousin, clan chief Alasdair Ruadh MacIain MacDonald and his wife were among those killed. Excavations in 2023 already uncovered a hoard of coins in the clan chief's house, thought to have been quickly stashed on the morning of the massacre. Archeologists reveal they've found a bent plaid pin at Glencoe that they think fell from the clock of MacDonald of Achnacon, who survived the massacre A high-ranking clan member, MacDonald of Achnacon was taken outside of his home to be shot by government soldiers before fleeing. Pictured is the remains of his house On February 13, 1692, an estimated 38 men, women and children were brutally slain in the highland village for their support of James II of England Archaeologists and students from the University of Glasgow, along with volunteers, have spent a second year digging in Glencoe. As well as the pin, they uncovered German and French pottery, pieces of musket balls, decorated knife handles, coins, loom weights for weaving, shoe buckles and broken tobacco pipes. The experts believe these artefacts provide a snapshot of life for Glencoe locals before the massacre of February 13, 1692. Innocent inhabitants were killed allegedly for failing to pledge allegiance to the new English monarchs, William III and Mary II. 'It's abundantly clear that the people of Achnacon were totally dependent on this land,' said Professor Michael Given, co-director of the University of Glasgow's archaeological project in Glencoe. 'Understanding that relationship allows us to empathise more fully with the trauma they endured when their world was so violently upended.' On the night of the massacre, MacDonald of Achnacon, the clan chief's cousin, was hosting a party with guests at his turf-walled house. They drank and gambled into the early hours, until the party was interrupted at 5am when a volley of shots from government troops tore through the windows and doors, killing many inside. A team of archaeologists and students from the University of Glasgow, along with volunteers, have spent a second year digging in Glencoe in 2024. They aim to grow our understanding of the years leading up to the Glencoe Massacre in 1692 Pictured, a fragment of a tobacco pipe newly found at Glencoe. Further excavations at Glencoe aim to improve understanding of the years leading up to the Glencoe Massacre The Glencoe Massacre took place in the upper part of Glencoe, while the modern village of Glencoe is located near the mouth of the glen A drone photo of Achnacon, showing excavation trenches and the village's agricultural land What was the Glencoe Massacre? The Massacre of Glencoe is a tragic and poignant chapter in Scottish history. It took place in Glencoe in the Highlands of Scotland on February 13, 1692. An estimated 38 members and associates of Clan MacDonald of Glencoe - including children - were killed by Scottish government forces. Victims were slain allegedly for failing to pledge allegiance to the new monarchs, William III and Mary II. Advertisement Among the new finds was a scatter of 17th-century bronze coins, potentially the proceeds of that fateful night's gambling. Meanwhile, the pieces of lead musket balls could be the traces of MacDonald of Achnacon's narrow escape. As for the pin, excavations co-director Dr Edward Stewart says 'we cannot say for certain' that it was part of the canny hero's cloak. 'While we can't say that this absolutely is MacDonald of Achnacon's pin, we can start to construct a story of how this very personal item may have found its way to being deposited here,' he told MailOnline. 'It was found directly outside the house that we believe to be the structure these events occurred within, and the scatter of coins within which date the abandonment to the 1690s adds to this situating of the story here.' Further excavations at Glencoe aim to improve understanding of the years leading up to the Glencoe Massacre in 1692, with the next one to commence in June. 'These artefacts may be small and unassuming, but they represent the very real human experiences that unfolded here,' said Dr Stewart. 'The archaeology team feel it is our responsibility to ensure these stories are told, and their legacy is not forgotten.' The massacre was a tragic and poignant chapter in Scottish history - when an estimated 38 men, women and children were killed for their support of James II of England. This artist's impression depicts conflict between supporters of James and William of Orange Noted as one of Scotland's most scenic places, with snow capped mountains of volcanic origin, Glencoe is also the location of one of Scotland's darkest chapters Unfortunately, not much is known about MacDonald of Achnacon, including what exactly happened to him when he escaped the massacre. 'We know he's an adult, and senior member of the MacDonald's of Glencoe by the 1680s to 1890s, and he survived the massacre and gave evidence in the enquiry,' Dr Stewart told MailOnline. 'Also, he was cousin of the chief and brother to MacDonald of Achtrioctan, who was killed in Achnacon's home on the massacre and dumped into a dung heap by the soldiers.' The Glencoe Massacre took place in the upper part of Glencoe, while the modern village of Glencoe is located near the mouth of the glen. According to Derek Alexander, head of Archaeology at the National Trust for Scotland, remains of the 17th- and 18th-century settlements in Glencoe are often now just subtle marks in the land. 'The better-preserved historic sites lie further into the glen, away from the modern village at the lochside,' he said. Noted as one of Scotland's most scenic places, with its snow capped mountains of volcanic origin, Glencoe is also the location of one of Scotland's darkest chapters. The village in western Scotland has long been associated with the MacDonald clan and its chief, Alasdair Ruadh MacIain MacDonald. The MacDonalds took part in the first Jacobite rising of 1689 - the conflict that aimed to put King James VII of Scotland and II of England (pictured) back on the throne The MacDonalds took part in the first Jacobite rising of 1689 the conflict that aimed to put King James VII of Scotland and II of England back on the throne. The staunchly Catholic king had been displaced by Protestant William of Orange in 1688, and event known as the Glorious Revolution. William demanded that all the clans sign an oath of allegiance to him, initially with the promise of giving them money and land. Any clan signing the oath before New Year's Day 1692 would be pardoned, while anyone who refused would be punished as traitors. Alasdair MacDonald missed the deadline by a few days, providing the authorities with an opportunity to crush his clan. In late January 1692, around 120 men from the Earl of Argyll's Regiment of Foot arrived in Glencoe from Invergarry, led by Robert Campbell of Glenlyon. In all, 120 government soldiers under the command of Campbell were ordered to stay with the MacDonalds, under the pretext of collecting arrears of taxes from the local area. The MacDonalds welcomed these men into their homes, giving them free lodgings and feeding them from their own scant supplies. For almost a fortnight they provided shelter for the soldiers before they received orders to slaughter them 'putt all to the sword under seventy' on February 13. In all, 38 were murdered and a further number are reported to have died in the flight over the snowy hill passes in the blizzard. 'We can make an estimate that the population of Glencoe at the time was around 250 to 300 in total, so a significant portion of the population either escaped or weren't being targeted,' Dr Stewart added. An artist has created a 'very realistic' image of the Virgin Mary using AI, showing her as a teenage girl with long black hair, dark eyes and a darker complexion. Miguel Angel Omana Rojas, from Mexico, reconstructed the face of the Virgin of Guadalupe as she appeared on a cloth worn by St Juan in Mexico more than 700 years ago. The technology spent weeks analyzing the image of Mary, studying each component' to 'capture gestures and expressions in a dynamic way.' The image of the Virgin Mary, they said, allows the world 'to finally see what the most famous woman... looked like in real life.' While Mary was believed to be Middle Eastern, cultures have changed her appearance to fit their local populations, such as why the Virgin of Guadalupe is portrayed with a combination of Indigenous and European heritage. Theologians have suggested that Mary also chooses her form when appearing, becoming a familiar face to her followers. Pat Mora, author of the children's book, The Beautiful Lady: Our Lady of Guadalupe, told NBC News: 'She is used as a symbol of justice. 'That's because she holds an appeal to the poor, to marginalized people. In the modern day, we can see her as representing people standing against oppression, and declaring their independence.' A new AI-generated image revealed what she may have looked like in real life showing her with olive skin, a long nose, heart-shaped lips and brown eyes and hair The team reconstructed the face of the Virgin of Guadalupe as she appeared on a cloth worn by St Juan in Mexico more than 700 years ago Christians believe that Mary left a miraculous image of her appearance on his cactus fiber cloak, or tilma, which still exists today for all to see in the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City. Omana Rojas created the images in 2021, but they have resurfaced online as believers have praised the results. His AI system identified key features, such as her facial structure, skin tone and expression, of Mary's face to recreate the life-like photos. The technology then used pre-trained models, like those trained on large human faces and body datasets, to 'translate' abstract or stylized features into realistic ones. Omana Rojas also used a database of real human features for the AI to find matches to those of Mary of Guadalupe, which it then synthesized into a lifelike image. The AI finished the project by adding realistic textures to Mary's skin and hair, bringing her to life. 'This is the most faithful approximation that artificial intelligence was able to carry out,' Omana Rojas shared in a video to his YouTube account Anahuac Encyclopedia. People commented on the images (pictured) saying Mary looked exactly like they imagined The researchers used the image to recreate the look of Mary using AI, which studied the imagery for weeks to capture her appearance According to the Bible, when Jesus was born, Mary and Joseph presented him to the church to be blessed when a man named Simeon who said he was waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel prophesized their baby's death. 'This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, and many others to rise. He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose him,' Simeon said, according to Luke:2. 'As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul.' The Christian faith believes that Jesus was crucified nearly 2,000 years ago, in the spring of 33 AD, for claiming to be the king of Jews which was considered treason against the Roman emperor and was a crime punishable by death. After his crucifixion, 'Mary sank to her knees, her agony too deep for words,' the Book of Matthew 27:45 said. 'Still echoing in her ears was her son's last outcry as he died after hours of torment. The sky had gone dark at midday. Now the earth shook violently.' China's secretive $9 billion warship has been spotted in Pacific ocean from space amid fears of WWIII. The CNS Liaoning, which is the nation's first operational aircraft carrier, was captured by NASA's Landsat 8 satellite as it was docked in the Bohai Sea and conducted sea trials. The satellite images showed the Liaoning warship docked among other aircraft carriers at a shipyard, while a separate image showed moving out to sea. US Navy officials have been monitoring the warship, finding its deck measures about 656 feet long and 131 feet wide, making it smaller than other Chinese carriers. The images were taken days after US President Biden allowed Ukraine to use American missiles to strike China's ally Russia, which has led to fears that a worldwide war is on the horizon. China has become Russia's largest trading partner following Western sanctions and now enjoys huge discounts on energy exports while supplying essential technology and consumer goods. And in September, reports surfaced that the two nations were ramping up joint military drills. The US Landsat 8 satellite captured images of the Chinese navy's newest warship (pictured) that was recently deployed in the Bohai Sea The ship, pictured here, weighs about 60,000 tons and is part of China's smaller naval aircraft carriers The Chinese military has more than 370 warships and submarines in its fleet, making it the largest naval force created worldwide, and has worked to rapidly increase its fleet while keeping up with US carrier technology. CNS Liaoning was operating near Japan last year, strapped with guided-missile cruisers and a guided-missile destroyer, when it conducted flight operations with about 20 launches and recoveries of fighters . Reports also claimed there were around 40 take-offs and landings of helicopters from the carrier. More recently, from September 20 to October 1, the CNS Liaoning performed flight operations with carrier-based fighter jets and helicopters in the waters east of the Philippines and west of Guam. Images surfaced of China's Fujian ship (pictured), which is the largest in its naval arsenal, leaving its pier in the South China Sea on Monday It is unclear what trials were be conducted this week. The People's Liberation Army Navy also deployed its CNS Shandong aircraft carrier last week, which sailed into the South China Sea about 397 miles south of Miyako Island, according to the US Naval Institute. The vessel was monitored using satellite imagery and was reported to have conducted 10 launches and 10 helicopter take-offs and landings. The US has deployed its own fleet of warships to the northwest coast of Luzon to watch China's ongoing operations and reported that the Liberation Army could be readying itself to attack Japan. China's tensions with Japan has continued to grow due to concerns over its close relationship with the US. The Chinese government has also claimed that Taiwan is its own territory, although the country has not outright stated that it plans to invade Japan. Earlier this month, Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it is grateful that the US is deploying ships to the region as reports of China's warships increase. The press release stated: 'As the security environment in the region becomes increasingly severe, maintaining a robust presence of the U.S. Navy through the forward-deployment of USS George Washington and the Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5 is essential to the security of Japan and the maintenance of regional peace and stability.' Midori Francis has made her exit from long-running medical drama Greys Anatomy after playing Mika Yasuda for two years. It was reported in May that the 30-year-old actress would depart the show after a limited appearance in season 21. And her storyline came to light during the mid-season finale on Thursday night, which was set six months in the future. The episode followed Mika as she returned to work for the first time since her sister Chloe died in an accident. After bursting into hysterics when one of her patients began to code, it became clear she wasn't ready to go back to work. She subsequently decided to leave Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital altogether. Midori Francis has made her exit from long-running medical drama Greys Anatomy after playing Mika Yasuda for two years; pictured in April It was reported in May that the 30-year-old actress would depart the show after a limited appearance in season 21 In one scene she confessed to Bailey: 'I need to find a way forward but I cant do it if everything around me reminds me of her.' In a conversation with Deadline, the actress reflected on Mika's future and revealed if she'd ever return to the show. 'I think Mika has a lot of healing to do, and shes going to go home and do that. 'In the back of my mind, because I know how passionate she is about what she does, do I think and do I hope that she will find a way to use this grief as a way to continue pursuing caring for other people? Yes, I do,' she explained. She went on to say: 'As far as returning to Greys, I would be so delighted. These people and this world [have] become part of my trajectory of acting families, and I would be absolutely delighted to return.' But she added about her grief-stricken character, 'I dont know if Mika would, I think for Mika it would be triggering.' Francis used social media to build fans' anticipation ahead of the fall finale, sharing behind-the-scenes content with her 216,000 Instagram followers. One post showed her smiling with the cast and crew and she wrote over the image, 'Tonight!!!! Mid-season finale!!!' Francis used social media to build fans' anticipation ahead of the fall finale, sharing behind-the-scenes content with her 216,000 Instagram followers Midori's exit storyline came to light during the mid-season finale on Thursday night, which was set six months in the future The Sex Lives of College Girls skirted the question when asked by Deadline why she decided to bow out of her Grey's role. She answered: 'First of all, not only did I love the show, I watched the show when I was in middle school. 'I can still remember watching it with my friends and my mom and just being like, "Oh my God, this is TV." Obviously they were older than me, and I just thought that the characters were so cool and interesting.' The star continued, 'So when I joined this new group of interns, it was so surreal and awesome to be a part of that. I had a full-hearted, full-throated, wild, beautiful ride that I am so grateful for.' Shifting to how her character was written off, she said, 'Creatively, its about coming together to find the right story, the right moment for Mikas exit that could fit into the larger season and arc, and I think that the writers did such a good job. Because when I think about Mika, shes so ambitious and shes so competitive, so what would cause her to leave Grey Sloan? And boy, did they set that up well.' Holby City star Rosie Marcel revealed that she has officially retired from acting after a 'really tough' three years. The actress, 47, who is best known for her role as Jac Naylor on the BBC medical drama, continued in the role until the series finale in 2022, when Jac's character tragically passed away from a brain tumour. Now, Rosie has opened up on her decision to step away from acting altogether. In a candid statement on Instagram, the actress said: 'Well I guess its out there now. No longer a secret that Ive retired. Go to Metro Online and read the lovely Calli Kitsons article.' 'Im pretty sure I didnt say "whatever" that muchand Im surely more erudite than that? Or maybe retirement and the dreaded menopause has well and truly kicked in! 'Either way. Im happy. Truly happy. Its been a pleasure and a journey. Ive given my bit. Im happy with what I put out in the world. Delighted with some lovely successes.' Holby City star Rosie Marcel revealed that she has officially retired from acting after a 'really tough' three years The actress, 47, who stars as Jac Naylor on the BBC medical drama, continued in the role until the series finale in 2022 when Jac's character tragically passed away from a brain tumour 'Made some great friends. Lost some dear ones. Lost my mind several times but always got it back. Learnt some great lessons. Gave and got back a lot of kindness. 'Laughed more than I should have on set. Didnt laugh enough. What a bloody good bit of life I had. Ready for the next bit. Happy to just be me now.' According to The Metro, Rosie revealed that despite attempting to take on new roles, no one has offered her another acting job. She told the publication: 'I wont lie, its been a really tough three and a half years. I havent had a single job and thats been really, really difficult. 'A lot of that is, I would imagine, people cant see beyond Jac. I think a lot of it is because of my age, I think its my gender. 'I decided to retire. So I actually retired in May. In all honesty, so much changed in our lives in that time my husbands gym burned down, obviously, I lost my job, Ben nearly died, I lost a couple of babies, I got caught in a terrible accident on the A41, another accident with a guy whod been stabbed by his son. Just this crazy three years of stuff happened.' She also added that applying for a Netflix job and knowing she was up against 6,000 people 'really forced my hand in some ways'. Fans of Rosie flooded the comment section to support the star on her decision to retire. Now, Rosie has opened up on her decision to step away from acting altogether in a candid statement on Instagram Fans of Rosie then flooded the comment section to support the star on her decision to retire One fan wrote: 'The most important thing is you're happy, Rosie. It's definitely the acting world's loss, but if you are happy, that's the main thing.'; 'love you so so so so much.'; While another wrote: 'I'm sad, but also happy for you. Enjoy whatever life brings.' In 2022, Holby City fans were left devastated as the Casualty spin-off came to a dramatic conclusion in the final episode after 23 years on the BBC. The medical drama finale focused on Jac Naylor, played by Rosie after she awoke from a life-or-death operation led by Elliot Hope (Paul Bradley) and the team to remove her brain tumour. Jac asked Adrian 'Fletch' Fletcher (Alex Walkinshaw) to write her a do-not-resuscitate order, despite Elliot telling the team that he wanted to do another operation. Fletch said: 'I just hate the thought of you giving up,' as Jac replied: 'Let me tell you about giving up. Letting this thing take control. Wipe out my mind. Leaving me delirious and doubly incontinent - that's giving up.' 'I have never been clearer about anything in my life. Please do this one thing for me.' Soon after, Jac suffered a stroke and was left braindead forcing Fletch to tell Elliot, Sacha Levy (Bob Barrett) and Max McGerry (Jo Martin) about the Advance Decision to Refuse Treatment (ADRT). Fletch explained: 'She said if anything like this happened - I think she knew that something like this was coming and she made up her mind.' Elliot said: 'It's Jaq's decision. We may not like it but we have to respect it.' It was then revealed that Jac had donated her organs to patients who needed them including a medical student, a full-time mother of four and Lexy Morrell, who received her heart. In the closing moments, the voice of Jac could be heard in the background saying: 'It took me a long time to find a place I belonged, somewhere to call home.' 'It wasn't with my mother or the carers she dumped me on when she walked out of my life, it certainly wasn't with any man, it was when I first walked into a theatre.' 'I knew then one day I had found my place in the world, somewhere I belonged. This is what the NHS means to us, not a badge on a cabinet minister's lapel, not a number down the side of a bus, it's a nurse missing her break to sit with a lonely patient, a surgeon grinding out a 15-hour op, the sound of sirens coming to the rescue, Thursday night applause sounding out the rooftops, it's all of us doing the best we can in impossible circumstances. It's something to believe in, it's home.' In 2022, Holby City fans were left devastated as the Casualty spin-off came to a dramatic conclusion in the final episode after 23 years on the BBC The medical drama finale focused on Jac Naylor, played by Rosie after she awoke from a life-or-death operation led by Elliot Hope (Paul Bradley) and the team to remove her brain tumour After seeing the finale episode, viewers took to social media, with many raging against the broadcasting giant. One tweeted: 'I know theres bigger things going in in the world right now, yet for me, axing #Holby is the worst decision the BBC has ever made. Complete disregard for its customers & wider stakeholders. Im guessing inner politics is at play. Ridiculous!'; 'I still cannot believe #HolbyCity was axed when viewing figures were so high & it's fanbase so loyal. I've spent 23 years of my life watching & all involved are done a great disservice by the cancellation. They didn't even get an extended episode to send it off!'; '@BBC cant believe you spent 87 million on Albert Square #Eastenders a show dying in the ratings, but you killed off #HolbyCity that was well loved and had so many stories left to be told.'; The final episode also featured the reappearance of past characters including Ric Griffin, played by Hugh Quarshie, and Mo Effanga, played by Chizzy Akudolu. The BBC announced they were scrapping Holby City, a fictional city based on Bristol, the year before as it continued its drive to appear more northern, sparking a furious backlash among fans. The long-running medical drama was filmed at the corporation's London Elstree Studios for 23 years. The announcement left dedicated fans of the soap furious, calling the move 'short-sighted' and warning that the diverse cast and storylines were going to be lost. The BBC said in a statement at the time: 'We are incredibly proud of Holby City. But it's with great sadness that we are announcing that after 23 years, the show will end on screen in March of next year. 'We sometimes have to make difficult decisions to make room for new opportunities and as part of the BBC's commitment to make more programmes across the UK. 'We have taken the difficult decision to bring the show to a close in order to reshape the BBC's drama slate to better reflect, represent and serve all parts of the country. 'We would like to take this opportunity to thank the amazing team at BBC Studios and all the cast and crew who have been involved in the show since 1999. 'Holby has been a stalwart with audiences, delighting millions of viewers each week and winning hundreds of awards with a compelling mix of cutting-edge medical stories and explosive personal stories. 'We look forward to working with the team over the coming months to ensure that when it ends, Holby goes out on a high.' An explosive first look at the new BBC series, Return to Paradise, shows Anna Sampson scream in rage after she is kicked out of a taxi and abandoned in the street. Return to Paradise is an Australian spin-off of the popular crime drama Death in Paradise and will air tonight, Friday 22nd, on BBC One at 8pm. The highly-anticipated offshoot follows Anna's character, DI Mackenzie Clarke, an Australian ex-pat who made a name for herself in London's Met Police solving uncrackable murder cases. When Mackenzie is accused of tampering with evidence she is forced to return to her hometown of Dolphin Cove, where she is not particularly welcome having fled the town six years ago after leaving her ex-fiancee Glenn at the altar. In an exclusive preview clip, Mackenzie attempts to disguise her identity behind a pair of sunglasses as she makes her return in the back of a cab. After a few suspicious glances in the rear-view mirror, the taxi driver asks: 'First time in Dolphin Cove?' to which Mackenzie replies: 'Sure.' The offshoot follows DI Mackenzie Clarke, an Australian ex-pat who made a name for herself in London 's Met Police for solving uncrackable murder cases, played by the show's first female lead, Anna Samson (pictured) In an exclusive preview clip, Mackenzie attempts to disguise her identity behind a pair of sunglasses as she makes her return in the back of a cab However, things get tense when the driver realises who she is and kicks her out of his taxi He continues press her, saying: 'I feel like I've seen you somewhere before' but is met with curt denial from the detective. Mackenzie blows her cover when she answers a phone call with: 'Hello, it's DI Clarke'. The driver's face drops as he interrupts her and makes a dangerously sharp turn to pull over. 'Clarke? Mackenzie Clarke? I knew it was you!' he shouts as he gets out of the car and drags her luggage out of the boot. 'What? I am a paying customer,' retorts the confused detective as he opens the door for her to get out. The driver looks at her in disgust and says: 'I can't believe you came back after what you did. Get out. I tried to warn them about you. I told everybody on the day but they wouldn't listen to me.' Suddenly revealing that she knows him, Mackenzie snaps back sarcastically: 'Oh yes, you're very perceptive Trevor! Smarter than everyone!' But her snarky jibes quickly turn to panicked pleas as she realises she is being abandoned on the side of the road. 'You can't just leave me here! It's three K [kilometres] into town!' she cries. 'Not my problem!' replies Trevor as she hops back in his car and drives off, sending Mackenzie into a fit of rage. Despite the frosty welcome, the talented detective has no choice but to join the team at Dolphin Cove Police Station and attempt to win over her colleagues with her tenacity and work ethic. In the 25-second trailer for the show, which dropped last week, we saw the team pushing back on the idea of Mackenzie joining them and pressing her over why she left the town in the first place. But a choppy montage of short snippets shows the fiery detective finding her feet as she proves her worth. The final clip hints at a friendship born from a power struggle between Mackenzie and Detective Senior Constable Colin Cartwright who is played by British actor Lloyd Griffith. The series also features Glenn Strong played by Home and Away star Tai Hara, Police volunteer Reggie Rocco played by Wentworth actress Celia Ireland and PC Felix Wilkinson played by Gold Diggers actor Aaron McGrath. When Mackenzie is accused of tampering with evidence she is forced to return to her hometown of Dolphin Cove where she is not particularly welcome having fled the town six years ago after leaving her ex- fiancee Glenn at the altar Mackenzie with Detective Senior Constable Colin Cartwright who is played by British actor Lloyd Griffith Police volunteer Reggie Rocco played by Wentworth actress Celia Ireland (right) and PC Felix Wilkinson played by Gold Diggers actor Aaron McGrath (left) Tai Hara as his character Glen and Lloyd Griffith as Colin in a scene filmed on the beach The brand new series also features Mackenzie's ex Glenn Strong played by Home and Away star Tai Hara (left) When the new spin-off series was announced earlier this year, Sue Deeks, the Head of Programme Acquisition at BBC said: 'Everything we all love about Death in Paradise, the humour, the beautiful scenery, the likeable characters, the ingenious plots - now in a fabulous Australian setting. 'I cannot wait for BBC viewers to meet Detective Mack and the good (and not-so-good!) folk of Dolphin Cove. What a treat we have in store!' The original Death in Paradise series first aired in 2011 and now boasts 13 seasons and shows no signs of ending soon. Return to Paradise is not the first spin-off to come from the popular series. Beyond Paradise was released last year and currently has two seasons with the BBC delighting fans when they confirmed a 2024 Christmas special and a third season. It is set in the sleepy town of Shipton Abbott in Devon and follows DI Humphrey Goodman, played by Kris Marshall, after he moves over from the fictional island of Saint Marie in search of a quieter life. Return to Paradise airs on Friday at 8pm on BBC One and iPlayer. A new Netflix sitcom starring legendary actor Ted Danson has been praised by both critics and viewers alike, with watchers unable to get enough of the comedy series. Based on an Oscar-nominated documentary, The Good Places Ted, 76, stars in this series about a retired professor who becomes a mole in a secret investigation. After his wifes death, Charles feels life has nothing new in store for him that is until he replies to a classified ad from a private investigator and ends up undercover in a San Francisco care home, attempting to solve the mystery of a stolen heirloom. And after the series landed on the streaming service on Thursday, critics were quick to hail it as 'perfect television', while noting it was 'unbelievably' sweet. While viewers were so taken by it that they binged the whole series in the two days since its release. Ted's character Charles teams up with private investigator, Julie (Lilah Richcreek Estrada) in the show, while Charles also reconnects with his daughter Emily, portrayed by Its Always Sunny In Philadelphia actress Mary Elizabeth Ellis. A new Netflix sitcom starring legendary actor Ted Danson [pictured] has been praised by both critics and viewers alike, with watchers unable to get enough of the comedy series Based on an Oscar-nominated documentary, The Good Places Ted, 76, stars in this series about a retired professor who becomes a mole in a secret investigation And the series has certainly won over critics as it received rave reviews across the board, with the likes of Variety branding it 'perfect television', which is 'stuffed full of feel-good and laugh-out-loud bits.' The publication's Aramide Tinubu gushed in his three star review: 'With eight 30-minute episodes, A Man on the Inside is perfect television. With his pressed suits, pocket squares and constant drivel about the Bay Areas architecture, Danson is entirely endearing as Charles.' Meanwhile The Guardian's Stuart Heritage said that 'Ted Danson is comedy perfection in this unbelievably sweet show', giving the series four stars in the process. The Telegraph's Benji Wilson gave it four stars and said of the eight-part series: 'It is comedy without satirical barbs, but delivered with complete command, tempering a regular drumbeat of good gags and daft set-ups with some trenchant commentary on ageing and memory.' With Rolling Stone's Alan Sepinwall noting that it's 'smart and its kind and its incredibly warm, a necessary balm at a moment when the world feels very angry and cold.' Meanwhile, fans watching at home also shared their delight, rushing to X, formerly known as Twitter, to give their verdict on the show, with many claiming they can't wait for another series. They penned: '@TedDanson is absolutely so perfect on #ManOnTheInside. Such a warm and heartfelt show.' 'I just binge watched the whole series of #AManOnTheInside, what a show! I loved every minute of it, and cant wait for another series to air! Ted Dansen at his finest, and Always Sunnys waitress finally has a name. Not telling you what it is though. Amazing series.' After the series landed on the streaming service on Thursday, critics were quick to hail it as 'perfect television', while noting it was 'unbelievably' sweet The series has certainly won over critics as it received rave reviews across the board, with the likes of Variety branding it 'perfect television', which is 'stuffed full of feel-good and laugh-out-loud bits' Meanwhile, fans watching at home also shared their delight, rushing to X, formerly known as Twitter, to give their verdict on the show, with many claiming they can't wait for another series 'manontheinside is a great show. It is nice to see Actors that are #Seniors but it is not from a hallmark movie. A real adult comedy/drama. #TedDanson is exhilarating. Thanks @Netflix_CA #Comedy #drama #family' 'Dear @netflix, please do not cancel #ManontheInside. It's so good'; 'Loving @netflix #manontheinside' 'Just binged watched A man on the inside, and it was amazing. You all should definitely watch it, so they make a season 2. Sooooo good!!!' The Praise for Ted Danson comes after he apologised to Kelsey Grammer last month for missing 30 years of friendship after Cheers amid an unspoken rift. The 76-year-old Danson had the 69-year-old Grammer on his podcast Where Everybody Knows Your Name, which he co-hosts with Woody Harrelson. While Danson wouldn't divulged specifics on what started the argument between them, he apologized to Grammer on the podcast. 'This isn't self-deprecating, but I wish I feel like I got stuck a little bit with you during the Cheers years. I have a memory of getting angry at you once,' Danson said. 'Yeah, you came and told me that one day,' Grammer replied, as Danson added, 'And it's stuck in both of our memories.' The Praise for Ted Danson comes after he apologised to Kelsey Grammer last month for missing 30 years of friendship after Cheers amid an unspoken rift The 76-year-old Danson had the 69-year-old Grammer on his podcast Where Everybody Knows Your Name , which he co-hosts with Woody Harrelson 'But I feel like, f**k, I don't know. I missed out on the last 30 years of Kelsey Grammer, and I feel like it's my bad, my doing,' Danson added 'I almost feel like apologizing to you... no I don't feel like, I apologize to you and me that I sat back, you know, and didn't. I really do apologize,' he said 'But I feel like, f**k, I don't know. I missed out on the last 30 years of Kelsey Grammer, and I feel like it's my bad, my doing,' Danson added. 'I almost feel like apologizing to you... no I don't feel like, I apologize to you and me that I sat back, you know, and didn't. I really do apologize,' he said. Grammer thanked him for that and said, 'I truly wish we'd spent some more time together,' before sharing an anecdote Danson told him that has always, 'quoted to other people.' Danson was one of the original cast members of Cheers, playing former Boston Red Sox pitcher Sam Malone, who opened the title bar in Beantown. Grammer didn't debut until the third season as psychiatrist Frasier Crane, initially only slated to appear in six episodes, but became a series regular who was a presence through the show's 11th and final season in 1993. A Place In The Sun viewers were left fuming when one house hunter walked out of a property after refusing to see it at all. TV presenter Laura Hamilton, 42, fronted the show on Thursday and met a lady named Sally who was looking for a dream home in Cyprus for herself and her husband Tony. Sally's sister-in-law Sharon was already living in the country and whilst Tony didn't appear on the show, Sharon was there to give a helping hand. Sally and Tony had 125,000 to spend and also had the benefit of Sharon already knowing the area very well, given that she has lived there for seven years. The duo were looking at the city of Peyia, which is a 40-minute drive from Paphos airport. The pair were looking for a two-bedroom apartment or townhouse - with the hope of getting an extra bedroom. A Place In The Sun viewers were left fuming when one house hunter walked out of a property refusing to see it at all TV presenter Laura Hamilton, 42, fronted the show on Thursday and met a lady named Sally and her sister-in-law Sharon Sally was looking for a dream home in Cyprus for herself and her husband Tony and the couple had a budget of 125,000 But their main focus was a place with a pool and areas where they could spend quality time with their family. And while their budget was 125,000, they were willing to spend an extra 25,000 for their dream property. However, things didn't go to plan as they ended up walking out of one house, refusing to even have a look around. In another property, Sally - who wanted a nice sea view - refused to go up to the top floor as she was scared of heights, meaning she couldn't enjoy the view and thus ruled it out as a possible place she could live. Looking at the second property, which cost 127,119, Sally admitted: 'Property one I walked in and loved - but not this one,' as Laura added: 'I don't want you to waste time if you think this isn't for you.' Sally was adamant she didn't want to look at the property and Sharon also refused, leaving Laura lost for words. Disgruntled fans then took to X, formerly Twitter, to rage about their comments on the properties branding them 'timewasters'. One viewer wrote: 'Too scared to go up the stairs. What a pair of timewasters #aplaceinthesun.'; 'The fact that Sally cant/wont go up the staircase doesnt bode well for this property does it #aplaceinthesun.'; However, things didn't go to plan as they ended up walking out of one property, refusing to have a look around Disgruntled fans then took to X, formerly Twitter , to rage about their comments on the properties branding them 'timewasters' 'I think that "a tricky search" is a bit of an understatement, Laura. #aplaceinthesun'; 'If she's so scared of heights how did she manage to stand on the balcony #aplaceinthesun.' It comes after fans of the show raged 'I wasted a whole hour' earlier this month as they sunk their claws into the new Channel 4 series - fuming 'it can only get better'. Host Laura was on her next house hunt to help assist couple Fran and Noel with their perfect holiday retreat in Andalucia in Spain. The couple were looking for a property with at least two bedrooms with a scenic view for a budget of 100,000. But the first issue arose when they didn't like the small size and peculiar layout of the first home. A disgruntled Fran told Laura: 'It's too dark for me and too enclosed.' Noel added: 'The bathroom - I wouldn't be happy with that... Having a bathroom so close to a kitchen.' Fran then said: 'I think about the bedrooms if I wanted to get up in the night and go to the loo I've got to come all the way down here. It's not feasible when I'm half asleep.' They didn't like the second one either - a three-bedroom house in Cutar situated near Malaga. The second property's location did not suit their expectations while the third was in a 'dilapidated' area. It comes after fans of the show raged 'I wasted a whole hour' earlier this month as they sunk their claws into the new Channel 4 series - fuming 'it can only get better' Host Laura was on her next house hunt to help assist couple Fran and Noel with their perfect holiday retreat in Andalucia in Spain The couple were looking for a property with at least two bedrooms with a scenic view for a budget of 100,000. However, they were unsure on all three homes they were shown Channel 4 viewers were left less than impressed with the show as they said it was a 'waste of a whole hour' Noel said of the third house: 'It doesn't have the kerb appeal that I was hoping for.' After all the viewings they said the best out of them was the second property even though they weren't completely sold on the location. While not choosing to buy any of the three they did say at the end that they now feel more 'confident' of the area they'd like to eventually purchase in. Channel 4 viewers were left less than impressed with the show as they said it was a 'waste of a whole hour'. They penned on X: 'Wasted a whole hour of my life watching this.', 'This week can only get better after that waste of an hour!', 'Let's hope they NEVER repeat this one.', 'P**s poor first episode of the new series. Must try harder.' A Place In The Sun airs weekdays on Channel 4 and is available to stream on 4OD. Former EastEnders star Hannah Waterman has joined a rival soap, 20 years after leaving Albert Square. The actress played Laura Dunn in EastEnders, Ian Beale's third wife, from 2000 until she was killed off in 2004. And after packing up and moving to Australia, Hannah is now reportedly set to play a magistrate in Home and Away - with the scenes to air in the UK next month. Hannah last took on an acting role in the UK in 2013 before she moved to Australia, where she later married The Bill star Huw Higginston. A source told The Sun: 'Hannah moved to Australia years ago for a new life but she's still acting. Former EastEnders star Hannah Waterman has joined a rival soap, 20 years after leaving Albert Square The actress played Laura Dunn in EastEnders, Ian Beale's third wife, from 2000 until she was killed off in 2004 'She loved dipping her toes back into the world of soap briefly and who knows it could mean she finds her way back more permanently.' The new role comes two years after Hannah married The Bill star Huw Higginson in Australia - five months after her famous father Dennis died. Huw took to X, formerly Twitter, to reveal the happy news, writing: 'Got married to my love yesterday. We had the best of days.' He shared a picture of Hannah, who wore a blue patterned dress for the ceremony, as they posed on a boat in Sydney harbor with their son Jack. Hannah was seen gazing happily at her new husband as they sit on the back of the boat, with her wedding bouquet in her lap. Huw looked dapper in a navy suit, while their son dressed in a black suit. Another photo shared by the groom shows the couple surrounded by family and friends. Hannah's father died at the age of 74 in May. At the time Hannah shared a picture of the legendary TV star smiling while cradling her as a baby as in his arms. The actress, whose mother Patricia Maynard was left by her father for Rula Lenska after ten years of marriage in 1987, said: 'My Dad! I loved him'. After packing up and moving to Australia, Hannah is now set to play a magistrate in Home and Away - with the scenes to air in the UK next month (Pictured in EastEnders in 2002) The new role comes two years after Hannah married The Bill star Huw Higginson in Australia - five months after her famous father Dennis died Huw took to X, formerly Twitter , to reveal the happy news, writing: 'Got married to my love yesterday. We had the best of days' Dennis was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer less than three months before his death, after a tumour was discovered in a bone in his leg. Hannah acrimoniously split from her EastEnders co-star husband Ricky Groves in 2009, after he said the actress revealed she had been having an affair with Huw and was leaving on New Year's Eve. Hannah and Huw have been dating since 2010, after a long friendship of over 10 years, with the star revealing in a 2011 interview they became close again in 2009 when they were cast opposite each other in two plays. Hannah, who had dramatically lost two-and-a-half stone as part of a fitness regime which featured in a DVD, was still married at the time to Ricky, who blamed her exercise DVD for the break-up. She made no secret of her admiration for him, saying: 'Huw is lovely in real life. When there's only two of you (on stage), you have to absolutely trust each other he is a rock.' She left Ricky on New Year's Eve 2009, before Huw moved into her Essex home in June 2010 after having issues in his own marriage to Geraldine Dove-Higginson, with whom he shares a daughter. Hannah acrimoniously split from her EastEnders co-star husband Ricky Groves in 2009 Huw married Geraldine, a stage manager and former art director on The Bill, in 1997. 'I've been friends with Huw on and off for 10 years. We first met when he played my pervy landlord in EastEnders, but since then we've been in two plays together,' Hannah recalled of their relationship in a 2011 interview. 'Last year, Huw came a bit unstuck in his personal life and I was on tour with Calendar Girls, so he stayed at my house for a while. He moved in in June, and things progressed quite quickly from there! 'We've kept things quiet because we're both quite private people. We wanted to give our relationship time to grow away from the public eye. We spoke early on in our relationship about the fact we'd like a family.' Return To Paradise viewers all asked the same question about lead character DI Mackenzie Clarke as the new BBC show launched on Friday. The series is an Australian spin-off of the popular crime drama Death in Paradise and sees DI Mackenzie return to her home town after six years of working for The Met in London. But eagle eyed fans were confused about the reaction Mackenzie, played by Anna Sampson, received from other characters as most appeared to not like her. Viewers were left wondering why she had left a sour taste in Dolphin Cove - and why she had left London. Later in the episode, fans also shared their delight as Death In Paradise fan favourite Jack Mooney made a cameo as Mackenzie's former line manager back at The Metropolitan Police. Return To Paradise viewers all asked the same question about lead character DI Mackenzie Clarke as the new BBC show launched on Friday Later in the episode, fans also shared their delight as Death In Paradise fan favourite Jack Mooney made a cameo as Mackenzie's former line manager back at The Metropolitan Police Jack, played by Father Ted star Ardal O'Hanlon, appeared in Return To Paradise from his job in London and appeared to shed light on Mackenzie's mysterious departure. Curious as to the mystery surrounded Mackenzie, fans took to X, formerly Twitter, to ask: 'Dying to know what the hell she did to be so hated by everyone,'; 'Itching to know what this is about,'; 'Jesus, what did Mackenzie do,'; 'Bloody hell, what did she do for that reaction...'; 'So many skeletons in Macks closet, loving her already,'; 'So in the UK Mackenzie is being investigated because they think she's corrupt?' As the episode unfolded, it was revealed the tension in Dolphin Cove surrounding Mackenzie's return was that she fled the town six years prior after leaving her ex-fiancee Glenn at the altar. Her mysterious aura was also explained as it was confirmed she had been suspended from The Met for allegedly tampering with evidence - something she denied - before agreeing to stay in Dolphin Cove permanently. Fans were then delighted as Jack made his cameo in the episode while on the phone to Mackenzie. The series is an Australian spin-off of the popular crime drama Death in Paradise and sees DI Mackenzie return to her home town after six years of working for The Met in London Curious as to the mystery surrounded Mackenzie, fans took to X, formerly Twitter, to ask: 'Dying to know what the hell she did to be so hated by everyone,' As the episode unfolded, it was revealed the tension in Dolphin Cove surrounding Mackenzie's return was that she fled the town six years prior after leaving her ex-fiancee Glenn at the altar They wrote: 'Jack!!!!!!!!! Yay!'; 'JAAAAAACK,'; 'JACK MY BABY,'; 'Yay it's Jack. Much missed,'; 'JACK MOONEYYYYY HES BACKKKK,'; '*screaming*: Jack Mooney cameo on "Return to paradise" what the...'; 'Didn't realise the Mooney tie in was as substantial as it seems. Hopefully that means plenty of screen time!'; 'Oh hiiiiiiiiiiii Jack! How've you been?' The highly-anticipated offshoot follows Anna's character, DI Mackenzie Clarke, an Australian ex-pat who made a name for herself in London's Met Police solving uncrackable murder cases. In an exclusive preview clip ahead of the show's airing, Mackenzie attempted to disguise her identity behind a pair of sunglasses as she made her return in the back of a cab. After a few suspicious glances in the rear-view mirror, the taxi driver asked: 'First time in Dolphin Cove?' to which Mackenzie replies: 'Sure.' He continued press her, saying: 'I feel like I've seen you somewhere before' but is met with curt denial from the detective. Fans were then delighted as Jack made his cameo in the episode while on the phone to Mackenzie Her mysterious aura was also explained as it was confirmed she had been suspended from The Met for allegedly tampering with evidence Fans wrote: 'Jack!!!!!!!!! Yay!'; 'JAAAAAACK,'; 'JACK MY BABY,' Mackenzie blew her cover when she answered a phone call with: 'Hello, it's DI Clarke'. The driver's face dropped as he interrupted her and made a dangerously sharp turn to pull over. 'Clarke? Mackenzie Clarke? I knew it was you!' he shouted as he got out of the car and dragged her luggage out of the boot. 'What? I am a paying customer,' retorted the confused detective as he opens the door for her to get out. The driver looked at her in disgust and said: 'I can't believe you came back after what you did. Get out. I tried to warn them about you. I told everybody on the day but they wouldn't listen to me.' Suddenly revealing that she knows him, Mackenzie snapped back sarcastically: 'Oh yes, you're very perceptive Trevor! Smarter than everyone!' But her snarky jibes quickly turn to panicked pleas as she realised she was being abandoned on the side of the road. 'You can't just leave me here! It's three K [kilometres] into town!' she cried. 'Not my problem!' replied Trevor as she hops back in his car and drives off, sending Mackenzie into a fit of rage. Despite the frosty welcome, the talented detective has no choice but to join the team at Dolphin Cove Police Station and attempt to win over her colleagues with her tenacity and work ethic. In an exclusive preview clip, Mackenzie attempts to disguise her identity behind a pair of sunglasses as she makes her return in the back of a cab The series also features Detective Senior Constable Colin Cartwright, played by British actor Lloyd Griffith, Glenn Strong played by Home and Away star Tai Hara, Police volunteer Reggie Rocco played by Wentworth actress Celia Ireland and PC Felix Wilkinson played by Gold Diggers actor Aaron McGrath. When the new spin-off series was announced earlier this year, Sue Deeks, the Head of Programme Acquisition at BBC said: 'Everything we all love about Death in Paradise, the humour, the beautiful scenery, the likeable characters, the ingenious plots - now in a fabulous Australian setting. 'I cannot wait for BBC viewers to meet Detective Mack and the good (and not-so-good!) folk of Dolphin Cove. What a treat we have in store!' The original Death in Paradise series first aired in 2011 and now boasts 13 seasons and shows no signs of ending soon. Return to Paradise is not the first spin-off to come from the popular series. Beyond Paradise was released last year and currently has two seasons with the BBC delighting fans when they confirmed a 2024 Christmas special and a third season. It is set in the sleepy town of Shipton Abbott in Devon and follows DI Humphrey Goodman, played by Kris Marshall, after he moves over from the fictional island of Saint Marie in search of a quieter life. Return to Paradise airs on Fridays at 8pm on BBC One and iPlayer. Construction on the latest site that will house The Block is pushing ahead at speed despite the gripes of a few dusty and well-to-do residents. It's a story as old as the hills by now. Producers of The Block know all too well residents living in the locations they choose to run the show are going to complain. This time it's in Daylesford - a town in the foothills of the Great Dividing Range of Victoria known for its natural mineral springs. It is also the home of some of Australia's wealthiest and smartest professional minds. Some of whom worked hard to stop The Block 'tainting' their community from the moment they caught wind it was heading their way. An aerial view of the latest site of The Block. Site works and preparations have already begun on the 2,400 sqm block on 1 Raglan Street in Daylesford, located 90 minutes from Melbourne It was always going to be a tough ask stopping The Block juggernaut. Previous shows have hardly run in locations where residents are short of intelligence, know-how or a buck. Last season's development went ahead on Phillip Island and before that it was in leafy Hampton. Residents there all had issues with The Block too. Those issues remain largely the same wherever the production drops. On Thursday, excavators were seen hard at it preparing the land where The Block's contestants will work their magic on five homes. Situated on 1 Raglan Street - just around the corner from the main township - it is surrounded on two sides by old homes. In those homes live at least some residents who have been there for the past 40 years. 'You can't stop progress,' an elderly woman living in the home closest to the construction site tells me. Pictured: Scott Cam and Shelley Craft, hosts The Block But that didn't stop a group of Daylesford residents attempting to do just that. When the planning permit lobbed at Hepburn Shire Council on October 13 last year, it was accompanied with a dozen objections. With a population of more than 10,000, the council was right to believe it was on safe ground with ticking the development off. 'One would hope the history, culture and charm of Daylesford is NOT about to be monopolised and capitalised on by a commercial TV reality show for the benefit of a few,' one objector wrote. 'Is this type of development at the entry to iconic Daylesford there to exploit or contribute to the historical town and precinct? 'The face of Daylesford will be blurred by this city-centric pseudo attempt at a "farm building" style five housing estate replicas typically without architectural consideration of the site, surround and climate.' The Block is under construction in Daylesford despite the objections While the objections were but a handful, they were packed with venom. 'The overarching reason that this development should not proceed in its current state is character. The last inhabitants of that land were sheep,' another resident stated. 'The architect is from Sydney and has little understanding of our little town in the highlands - swimming pools on every block? 'That joke aside, the architect has created one rambling urban dwelling and simply twisted this way, and that, on each block. 'Speaking of The Block, this would not only allow a developer to determine our entrance to town with one boring architect, with these houses placed boundary to boundary, then a series of untrained media-hungry REALITY TV random people, are to execute the builds. It is ludicrous in the extreme. It defies belief.' One of the main objectors, architect David Moore, claimed the site was of significant importance to First Nations people. 'To begin we must acknowledge Aboriginal possession especially as the land is crossed by a watercourse and the proposed activity is a high impact,' he wrote. The architect's objection went on to give the council a detailed lecture on urban design. The site was criticised for hiding the existence of the historic mining tunnel, the Defiance Tunnel The site is already playing host to large trucks, which are expected to soon line the streets as construction picks up Spectacular farm views lay just behind the construction site in Daylesford Among a swag of issues was a submission the development would hide the existence of the historic mining tunnel, the Defiance Tunnel. Mr Moore claimed the site has potential to contain archaeological features, deposits or artefacts that relate to the use of the property for 1860s gold mining. When the development was approved, Mr Moore and some other objectors took the matter to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal in an effort to have it overturned. For a moment it appeared as though The Block had finally met its match. The residents had already run VCAT objection cases against numerous phases of the Middleton Field development, where The Block was to reside. In September last year, developers Hygge Property and architect Julian Brenchley - the official architect of the TV series since 2003 - told The Age that The Block had a policy of walking away from sites that became embroiled in tribunal disputes. Mr Moore and his allies enjoyed some success in VCAT, which set aside Hepburn Shire Council's permit approval on what amounted to be a technicality. The tribunal ruled it was the Victorian state planning minister who had the authority to grant the permit, not the council. The objectors had only delayed the inevitable. With both the minister and the local council behind the wider development, VCAT cleared the way in July for construction on the site to begin. The Block in Daylesford is positioned along Honour Avenue, which is lined with old trees The Farmers Arms hotel is a stone's throw from The Block development Daylesford has traditionally lived off the back of tourism Hepburn Mayor Brian Hood welcomed the decision. 'Daylesford will provide a picturesque backdrop for the filming of The Block, and it is anticipated that the production will generate a boost for the local economy,' he said at the time. 'We would strongly encourage producers, contestants and the support crew to shop and eat local to ensure economic benefits flow back into our community.' Cr Hood said the development was only approved with a significant number of conditions, including the retention and protection of all Avenue of Honour trees, which line the site. 'This decision was appealed at VCAT by residents, after which the Minister for Planning issued a permit allowing the development,' he said. 'The Minister's permit includes a number of requirements around landscaping, construction, stormwater and environmentally sustainable design.' On Raglan Street, across the road from the now dusty and noisy construction site, residents carry on life with the hope the development won't change theirs for the worse. 'If it ends up detracting from the ambience of this end of Raglan Street, it won't be good. You're standing in what is a historical precinct that is connected to the tourist railway,' one resident tells me. 'A brand-new development over there with modern-looking houses is probably going to be in stark contrast with what's on [the opposite] side of the street.' A truck leaves the Daylesford construction site on Thursday Adrian Portelli (centre) spent a monumental $15.03million after snapping up all five homes at The Block 2024 auction day on Phillip Island The site is also located a stone's throw from the Daylesford Sunday Market, which in itself is known to cause traffic chaos in the area when it's held. 'The big problem with the whole thing comes to a head every Sunday because of the Sunday market. That paddock is full of cars, both sides of the road are chock-a-block full of cars, traffic is slowed to a crawl, trying to get your car out backwards on a Sunday is a hazardous experience because of the congestion in traffic,' another homeowner says. 'Now that's not going to make it better over there especially if that driveway over there turns into a road with a streetlight and an intersection and a stop sign. So if you factor all of that in, there will be an effect on this part of town particularly on a Sunday.' With construction still in its early days, the site is expected to soon attract lines of trucks along the Honour Avenue strip. As in other years, traffic controllers are likely to be placed full time at the site, bringing traffic to a halt in both directions for large proportions of the day. At present, residents have noted construction on the site has continued to run on a Saturday up until about midday, but fear it will become a seven-day-a-week operation as construction gears up. 'They do have certain rostered days off during the week when there's no noise coming from over there,' a resident says. Producers are yet to make themselves known to residents living around the construction site. Daylesford is a popular tourist destination. When a driver ploughed through people outside the Royal Daylesford Hotel last year, none of those killed were locals A new development is going ahead on hills overlooking The Block site (pictured at top) A McCafe was established at The Block in Hampton. It provided complimentary coffees to construction workers and locals before someone complained and ended the free lattes In previous years, The Block producers have been known to offer huge dollars to nearby residents to take control of their properties to use as operations headquarters. While the surrounding homes of this year's site are packed with full-time residents, I also observed many tell-tale signs of homes being used as Airbnb rentals, which could act as The Block offices. With dust kicking up from the construction site and blanketing homes across the road, residents can do little more than hope the work is finished promptly. Work on The Block is traditionally done at lightning speed, with teams of construction workers helping the contestants complete the job. 'I've just basically ignored them and sort of think, "Live and let live" because you can't stop it. The state government pulled the rug out from under the council and said, "Yes, we're all in favour of this development. We want more development, we want more houses,"' a resident tells me. It is an opinion shared by many business owners along the main drag, which has lived and died off tourism dollars for decades. 'These people are sooks,' one business owner explains. 'We can't live off tourism here forever. The place needs to grow because we can't [just] rely on tourism.' Across the road from the construction site, a cafe worker tells me the development has divided the community. 'I feel like people are maybe pushing it aside because they were unsure whether it was still going ahead, but I think the views are pretty mixed,' the worker says. 'We're all unsure what it's going to do for locals.' When I visit, the cafe is already packed with diners, seemingly doing well off the local trade without any assistance from blow-ins off The Block construction site, which has been known to run its own McCafe in previous years. 'They've got Macca's, mate. They won't need us. Although our coffee is better than Macca's,' the worker laughs. Channel Nine declined to comment. BBC bosses have signed up a West End legend for a guest role on EastEnders and she is set to make her debut on Thursday. Actress Melanie La Barrie is set to take on the role as Dr Kelleher as part of Ruby Allen's dramatic return on the soap. Viewers previously watched as Ruby returned to Albert Square after Martin discovered she had welcomed his son in secret. While she originally lied and claimed to have had the baby adopted, he soon discovered that instead their son was ill in hospital. BBC wiewers will see Melanie's character Dr Kelleher breaking the news to Ruby and Martin that their son Roman is in need of a liver transplant. BBC bosses have signed up West End legend Melanie La Barrie for a guest role on EastEnders and she is set to make her debut on Thursday Actress Melanie is set to take on the role as Dr Kelleher as part of Ruby Allen's dramatic return on the soap 'It's one of the options we're considering,' she tells them. 'Currently Roman's liver isn't responding to the steroid treatment as well as we'd hope. But we need to keep monitoring the situation closely to see if he improves over the next few days. 'The condition was already there, you're not to blame, it can just develop.' Dr Kelleher was also forced to break the sad news to Ruby that she isn't a viable liver donor for Rowan, while Martin was still taking the test. Taking to Instagram ahead of the show, Melanie shared a behind the scenes snap wearing an EastEnders coat. She wrote: 'Spent a little time this year doing a few episodes of a fantastically fun thing. Just a little show, you might know it. 'Grateful to super-agent @brookekinsella for always being ready to facilitate dreams and new adventures'. She is set to appear in a number of episodes after becoming a well known name in the West End. Melanie is set to appear in a number of episodes after becoming a well known name in the West End from starring in Mary Poppins, Les Miserables, Matilda The Musical and Wicked. She was also appeared in &Juliet in both the original Manchester production, the West End shows and then on Broadway in New York but is currently starring in Hadestown (pictured) at the Lyric Theatre in the West End She made her stage debut in Ragtimes in 2004 and has gone on to star in some of the biggest stage hits including, Mary Poppins, Les Miserables, Matilda The Musical and Wicked. She was also appeared in &Juliet in both the original Manchester production, the West End shows and then on Broadway in New York. The actress is currently starring in Hadestown at the Lyric Theatre in the West End. Their A-list actor father has worked with some very big stars over the past five decades. He has acted with Meryl Streep, Halle Berry and Salma Hayek as well as Guy Pierce and Geoffrey Rush. And the handsome star only gets better with age; he is now 71-years-old and continues to work plenty. He has a bunch of good looking kids; two of them were at the Fiat 500e launch event at Giorgio Armani in Beverly Hills this week. Their mother is also famous; she was a TV host for many years but now devotes her time to supporting her spouse and kids. Who are these boys? Their A-list actor father has worked with some very big stars over the past five decades. Who are they? They are Pierce Brosnan's youngest sons, Dylan, 27, and Paris, 23. In the past they have admitted they didn't know their 007 star dad was famous while growing up. Opening up on family life in an interview with GQ in 2022, Brosnan's brood joined their dad as they revealed they just 'thought he had a lot of friends'. Musician Dylan also shared that once he knew of the stardom, he would keep it secret from pals - who were shocked to make the discovery. Pierce, who is best known for his portrayal of eponymous James Bond in the franchise from 1995 to 2002, is also father to Sean, Christopher, and Charlotte - who tragically passed away at aged 41 in 2013. Pierce shares Dylan and Paris with his wife Keely Shaye Smith, while he adopted his first wife Cassandra Harris's children Christopher and Charlotte back in the 1980s, as they welcomed Sean together. Dubbing his father the 'nicest guy', Dylan admitted of his father: 'I always thought he had a lot of friends, growing up. 'Because people would come up to him in the street, and hes like the nicest guy, so he talks to everyone for a really long time.' Pierce shares Dylan and Paris with his wife Keely Shaye Smith (pictured together) Pierce, who is best known for his portrayal of eponymous James Bond in the franchise from 1995 to 2002, is also father to Sean, Christopher, and Charlotte - who tragically passed away at aged 41 in 2013 'Nicest': People would come up to him in the street, and hes like the nicest guy, so he talks to everyone for a really long time,' explained Dylan of his dad (L-R) Paris, Dylan, Pierce and Sean The second-youngest child of Pierce also admitted that he doesn't tell anyone who his dad is, with pals in shock when they eventually do meet his famous family. 'I dont tell anybody that, under any circumstances,' jested Dylan. Despite their close relationship, Pierce's younger sons don't appear to be following in the Hollywood footsteps of their father - who has advised them against acting. And describing why he doesn't encourage it, the actor simply explained: Just because its f***ing hard work. Its a cross to bear. Youre constructing and destroying yourself.' But some other members of the family have taken to the acting scene, with Pierce's son Sean starring in films such as My Father Die and No Easy Day. While he shared Sean with his first wife Cassandra Harris, and adopted her children Christopher and Charlotte - with Charlotte and Cassandra both tragically passing of ovarian cancer Pierce, who is trained as a commercial artist, has his first gallery show in 2023. And he enjoys painting with youngest son Paris. Admitting he is 'filled with pride' to see his Paris paint, the actor shared how it was the death of his first wife Cassandra that sparked him to paint more as a coping mechanism. Also at the Fiat event was Jaime King A Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills vet was seen left and Ashley Park right at the Fiat event Cassandra tragically lost her life to ovarian cancer in 1991, with her daughter Charlotte passing from the same disease in 2013. Coping with the pain following her diagnosis, Pierce explained: 'Carrying the weight and pain and the fear of that illness, I took out the paints. And started painting. With my fingers. With my hands, actually.' That canvas that he painted then will be in the upcoming show: 'Thats how we start heavy. But beautiful, beautiful.; Jamie Chung showcased her sexy yet sophisticated style while attending the launch of the new Glenfiddich Aston Martin Formula One Team Partnership. As she arrived to Cascata in Boulder City, Nevada on Wednesday night, all eyes were on the 41-year-old actress as she put her incredibly toned physique on full display. For the star-studded occasion, she rocked a black bra beneath a matching blazer and satin maxi skirt. The performer, who rose to fame when she was cast on the MTV reality TV series, The Real World San Diego, accessorized her chic ensemble with silver hoops and open-toed, lace pumps. Her dark locks were slicked back and brushed behind her shoulders at the exclusive event on the eve of the second Formula One Las Vegas. Other attendees at the event included Tyler Hoechlin, Tina Leung, Daryl McCormack, Thomas Straker, Bakar, Deaven Booker, Ben Brewster, Darion Famous, Kendra Bailey, Zarina Yeva, Brittany Byrd, Steve Gonzalez, Jonathan Kirby and Luis Capecchi. Jamie Chung showcased her sexy yet sophisticated style while attending the launch of the new Glenfiddich Aston Martin Formula One Team Partnership In addition to lending her voice to several episodes of Twilight of the Gods and Batman: Caped Crusader earlier this year, the Dexter: New Blood star is a busy mom to twin sons with husband Bryan Greenberg. In 2022, Chung revealed that she used a surrogate tp deliver her children as she was afraid being pregnant would hurt her career. During an interview with Today, she explained: 'I was terrified of becoming pregnant. I was terrified of putting my life on hold for two-plus years.' 'In my industry, it feels like youre easily forgotten if you dont work within the next month of your last job. Things are so quickly paced in what we do,' she added. 'So its a compromise that we made together as a couple,' Chung clarified. The actress publicly revealed that she had frozen her eggs back in 2019, though she kept her pregnancy private because she felt 'a little bit of shame.' 'Its still not a very common thing and we werent ready for judgment. We really just did it to protect ourselves,' Chung admitted. 'We announced things when we were ready to,' Chung said, while admitting she's aware of the perception others might have of her for using a surrogate. As she arrived to Cascata in Boulder City, Nevada on Wednesday night, all eyes were on the 41-year-old actress as she put her incredibly toned physique on full display The Dexter: New Blood star is married to Bryan Greenberg; seen together on January 24, 2024 'People probably think, "Oh, she's so vain. She didn't want to get pregnant," and it's much more complicated than that,' Chung added. 'For me, personally, and I will leave it at this, its like, I worked my ass off my entire life to get where I am. I dont want to lose opportunities. I dont want to be resentful,' she admitted. Chung and Greenberg wed at El Capitan Canyon in Santa Barbara, California on Halloween in 2015. The pair began dating in 2012 and were engaged a year later. Cuba Gooding Jr. said he feels that the case surrounding Jussie Smollett reflected a pushback to a societal mentality that believes all accusers, when asked about the issue Thursday. The New York City native, 56, chat with TMZ Thursday in the wake of the Illinois Supreme Court Thursday overturning Smollett's 2021 conviction over charges he staged a racist and homophobic attack against himself and lied to police officers in Chicago in 2019. 'Its almost like its time for accountability with what people say - we went so far one way with the movement of "believe everybody in their accusations,"' Gooding said. 'And now were kind of experiencing repercussions for that ... I think this is just the climate we're in.' The court said Smollett, 42, should not have been charged a second time after reaching a deal with prosecutors, marking a stunning reversal in a case that became part of a polarized political landscape. Smollett is best known for playing the role of Jamal Lyon on Empire over 84 episodes from 2015-2019. Gooding had made an appearance on Empire's third-ever episode in January of 2015, titled The Devil Quotes Scripture, but says he 'never saw [Smollett] on the set' of the Fox series. Gooding was asked about the Smollett situation while promoting his upcoming holiday film, Athena Saves Christmas. Cuba Gooding Jr., 56, said he feels that the case surrounding Jussie Smollett, 42, reflected a pushback to a societal mentality that believes all accusers, when asked about the issue Thursday. Pictured in NYC in June The Academy Award-winning actor didn't delve into specifics in regards to the circumstances surrounding Smollett's legal entanglements. 'If this young man got in a situation that got him locked up and went to the court case - which is what he did - go with God,' the Jerry Maguire star said. Gooding, who has had his own past legal issues amid allegations of sexual misconduct, said he could empathize with Smollett in regards to the stress dealing with litigation in the limelight. 'I know how this scenario is going into a courtroom as a celebrity - its like hey want to sensationalize every moment of it and now that hes been set free from that, thats his own story,' the Boyz n the Hood actor said. Thursday's ruling did not address Smollett's continued claims of innocence. Smollett, who is Black and gay, told police in January 2019 that two men assaulted him in his downtown Chicago neighborhood, spouting slurs, tossing a noose around his neck, and yelling that he was in MAGA country, an apparent reference to Donald Trumps Make America Great Again presidential campaign slogan. The report, which made headlines around the world, prompted a massive search for suspects by Chicago police before investigators announced that they believed the attack was a hoax. The state's highest court found that a special prosecutor should not have been allowed to intervene after Smollett reached a deal with the Cook County states attorney in which charges against him were dropped in exchange for him forfeiting his $10,000 bond and performing community service. Gooding, who has had his own past legal issues amid allegations of sexual misconduct , said he could empathize with Smollett in regards to the stress dealing with litigation in the limelight. Pictured in 2020 in NYC Said Gooding: 'I know how this scenario is going into a courtroom as a celebrity - its like hey want to sensationalize every moment of it and now that hes been set free from that, thats his own story' The deal prompted outrage in part because it did not include any condition that Smollett apologize or admit he staged the attack. 'We are aware that this case has generated significant public interest and that many people were dissatisfied with the resolution of the original case and believed it to be unjust,' Justice Elizabeth Rochford wrote in the courts 5-0 opinion. The judge continued: 'Nevertheless, what would be more unjust than the resolution of any one criminal case would be a holding from this court that the state was not bound to honor agreements upon which people have detrimentally relied.' Smollett was on the television drama Empire, which filmed in Chicago, and prosecutors alleged he staged the attack because he was unhappy with the studios response to hate mail he received. Testimony at trial indicated he paid $3,500 to two men whom he knew from Empire to carry it out. Smollett testified that 'there was no hoax' and that he was the victim of a hate crime. Smollett declined to comment Thursday through a publicist. His attorney Nenye Uche thanked the court for 'restoring order to Illinois criminal law jurisprudence.' 'This was not a prosecution based on facts, rather it was a vindictive persecution and such a proceeding has no place in our criminal justice system,' Uche said. The special prosecutor, former U.S. Attorney Dan Webb, said he disagreed with the courts ruling while noting that it 'has nothing to do with Mr. Smolletts innocence.' Jussie Smollett's lead defense attorney Nenye Uche was seen speaking with reporters Thursday The Empire actor was seen headed to court in February of 2020 in Chicago 'The Illinois Supreme Court did not find any error with the overwhelming evidence presented at trial that Mr. Smollett orchestrated a fake hate crime and reported it to the Chicago Police Department as a real hate crime, or the jurys unanimous verdict that Mr. Smollett was guilty of five counts of felony disorderly conduct,' Webb said. After Cook County States Attorney Kim Foxx's office dropped the initial 16 counts of disorderly conduct, the backlash was swift, with then-Mayor Rahm Emanuel calling it 'a whitewash of justice.' Webb was appointed special prosecutor and a grand jury restored charges, leading to Smollett's 2021 conviction on five counts of disorderly conduct. Smollett was sentenced to 150 days in jail - six of which he served before he was freed pending appeal - and was ordered to pay about $130,000 in restitution. Chicago officials are pursuing reimbursement for that amount in police overtime through a civil case. Foxx told The Associated Press that she was not surprised that the high court found her handling of the case 'proper - if unpopular, proper.' She criticized Webb's ensuing 'legal machinations,' which she said ignored the tenet of prosecutorial discretion and landed the issue in the 'same position we were in in March 2019.' 'What they were doing in going to the court to re-prosecute someone because you didnt like the outcome would have set a horrendous precedent, in which anyone could come in and undermine the work of a prosecutors office,' said Foxx, who did not seek a third term this year. Kaia Gerber has a bevy of celebrity friends, but she recently revealed a new and unexpected connection to a film and television star. The 23-year-old model revealed in The Hollywood Reporter's new Next Gen Talent 2024 survey that she once knows Pamela Anderson but their connection was when she was just a child. In the article which included chats with rising stars including Industry's David Jonsson, The Holdovers star Dominic Sessa and Twisters actress Katy O'Brian Kaia revealed that she once knew the 57-year-old Baywatch star through her elementary school. The nepo baby daughter of Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber admitted that Pamela once served as a volunteer crossing guard for her school. She previously revealed that her own children attended Kaia's school, so it was her way to give back and spend extra time with her kids. Kaia shared her connection to Pamela when she was asked about the 'most Hollywood thing' that had ever happened to her. Kaia Gerber, 23, revealed in The Hollywood Reporter's Next Gen Talent 2024 survey that she once knew Pamela Anderson as a child. In true nepo baby fashion, she knew the 57-year-old Babywatch star because she volunteered at her elementary school 'Probably that Pamela Anderson was the crossing guard at my elementary school,' she explained. 'She wore the yellow safety vest and everything.' Kaia added: 'I didnt know how good I had it then.' Back in 2008, Pamela opened up about helping out at her children's school. During an appearance that year on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, the Barb Wire actress explained that she was pulling double duty at her children's school while she while commuting back and forth to Las Vegas. At the time, she had been appearing in the magic show Hans Klok: The Beauty Of Magic. 'I'm safety patrol on Mondays at my sons' school with the neon vest and everything. It's really hot,' Pamela shared jokingly, via CBS News. 'You help the children out to get to school,' she continued. 'You help them out of the car and then you shut the door.' Pamela told DeGeneres that her flight schedule meant she would return to Los Angeles in the early morning hours after doing a show the night before in Vegas. 'Pamela Anderson was the crossing guard at my elementary school,' she explained. 'She wore the yellow safety vest and everything'; seen November 2 in LA Pamela explained in 2008 to Ellen DeGeneres that she would fly back from a Las Vegas magic show she appeared in in the early morning hours, before waking up sons Brandon Thomas Lee, now 27, and Dylan Jagger Lee, now 26; seen ink 2008 in Sydney, Australia She said she wore a full face of makeup to work as a crossing guard because she didn't bother taking it off from the night before. 'People always look at me funny anyway,' she said; seen with Brandon and Dylan in January 2023 in Hollywood Pamela's currently getting the best reviews of her life in Gia Coppola's upcoming drama The Last Showgirl (pictured), out December 13 in US theaters The blond beauty who son Brandon Thomas Lee, 27, and Dylan Jagger Lee, 26, with her ex-husband Tommy Lee would 'get in around 3 or 4 in the morning' with a full face of makeup from the performance. 'I'm up at 6:30 a.m. with my kids making breakfast, 8 a.m. at school and who washes their face?' she said. She added, 'People always look at me funny anyway,' though it wasn't clear if that was because her full face of stage makeup or because she was a famous actress. 'I get a lot of high fives. [Other parents] think it's funny that I'm there doing that,' she continued. 'I'm a mom. you have to do it and I love it.' Pamela is currently receiving the best reviews of her life for her upcoming film The Last Showgirl. The film, which is directed by Francis Ford Coppola's granddaughter Gia Coppola, stars Pamela in the lead role as a showgirl who is forced to start all over after the show she has performed in nightly for 30 years suddenly closes. The acclaimed drama, which hits theaters in the US on December 13, features an all-star cast including Jamie Lee Curtis, Dave Bautista, Brenda Song, Kiernan Shipka, Billie Lourd and Jason Schwartzman. After establishing herself as an in-demand model, Kaia has lately started a second budding career as an in-demand actress. After appearing in the high school sex comedy Bottoms, she followed it up with roles in Apple TV+'s Palm Royale and Saturday Night, which charts the beginnings of Saturday Night Live. Up next, she's set to appear in Mother Mary (with Anne Hathaway) and Outcome (with Keanu Reeves.) It is a long way from sunny Montecito, California, to England's currently distinctly chilly Cotswolds. But that is the move American superstar and enthusiastic Democrat supporter Ellen DeGeneres was this week said to be planning in the wake of Donald Trump's re-election as Republican president. And while it might seem a surprising decision for a woman who has made hundreds of millions from hosting a hit daytime chat show on the other side of the Atlantic, it intriguingly mirrors, in reverse, the famous move of one of her friends. For Ms DeGeneres, 66, is close to the Duchess of Sussex who herself lived in the heart of the Cotswolds with her husband Prince Harry not long before they famously quit Britain to settle in Montecito. The TV star's friendship with her Californian neighbour Meghan involved her convincing the estranged royal to adopt a labrador-German shepherd cross when they bumped into each other at a dog shelter near their homes. Miss DeGeneres had previously visited the Duke and Duchess while they were still living in Britain, at Frogmore Cottage, their home in Windsor, and even helped feed their young son Archie. But while the Sussexes are staying put in sunny California, Miss DeGeneres and her Australian actress wife Portia de Rossi, 51, are reported to have already bought a house in the Cotswolds, and to be preparing to sell their sprawling estate in Montecito. American sources have claimed the pair were 'very disillusioned' by Mr Trump's victory, and plan to 'get the hell out' of and 'never return' to America. Ellen DeGeneres, 66, and her wife Portia de Rossi, 51, have fled the US and moved to rural England, it has been reported. They are pictured in 2022 in San Francisco, California DeGeneres and de Rossi have reportedly listed their Bali-inspired mansion in Montecito, California, amid their move to the UK. They purchased the home in 2019 Miss DeGeneres had previously visited the Duke and Duchess while they were still living in Britain, at Frogmore Cottage , their home in Windsor, and even helped feed their young son One friend said: 'Ellen has fallen in love with the property in the Cotswolds. She has been on the lookout for a house in the area and often visits her celebrity pals. 'A Cotswolds house has become a status symbol in the celebrity world - and Ellen wanted to join the pack.' But exactly how she will fit into the Cotswolds remains to be seen. Controversialist TV presenter Piers Morgan responded to the news of her imminent residence with characteristic bluntness, saying yesterday: 'OMGno!' But Ms DeGeneres has already been on trial runs in the Cotswolds, as well as having previous experience of landing on her feet after an apparent setback. This pretty rural hilly area spanning parts of not only Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire, but also Wiltshire, Somerset, Worcestershire and Warwickshire, has in recent years become a British celebrity hotspot, a couple of hours' drive from London. At the heart of the social scene is the rural outpost of elite private members' club Soho House, close to the beautiful thatched-cottage honeyed stone village of Great Tew, Oxfordshire. Meghan had her 2018 hen party at the country club and she and Prince Harry for some time rented a 1.4million 18th-century country home walking distance away. Downham Hill is pictured in Autumn, in The Cotswolds, Gloucestershire A person close to DeGeneres said she and de Rossi were fleeing the US in response to the 2024 presidential election, in which former President Donald Trump won Sources told TMZ that DeGeneres and de Rossi had already purchased the Cotswolds home before the 2024 election, but they decided to 'get the hell out' of the US afterwards This very week the American TV host and her wife who appeared in Ally McBeal and Arrested Development - were filmed at Clarkson's Cotswolds pub The Farmer's Dog Not far in the opposite direction from Soho House is the country residence of David and Victoria Beckham, an expensively converted collection of three barns made from that classic Cotswold honey-coloured stone. Although the reported 'ethical veganism' of Ms DeGeneres may seem at odds with the views of some Cotswolds farmers, she has in recent days been at the Oxfordshire hostelry of none other than TV presenter-turned-farmer and meat enthusiast Jeremy Clarkson. This very week the American TV host and her wife who appeared in Ally McBeal and Arrested Development - were filmed at Clarkson's Cotswolds pub The Farmer's Dog, with former Army officer pop star James Blunt. And it was certainly not Ms DeGeneres' first social occasion in Oxfordshire. A year ago she was spotted at a party at a 17th-century stately home there, sharing a DJ booth with British actor Idris Elba, star of television's Luther. News of her plans to settle here come 30 years after she rose to fame in Britain thanks to her comedy show Ellen, which was broadcast on Channel 4 in Britain. After breaking into showbusiness via stand-up comedy on the club circuit, the New Orleans native's first eponymous show featured her essentially playing herself as a young single bookshop worker, amid a group of friends, in what became a hit sitcom. That hit came to an end a year after Ms DeGeneres in 1997 surprised her mother, if not all her friends, by coming out as a lesbian. The TV star's friendship with her Californian neighbour Meghan involved her convincing the estranged royal to adopt a labrador-German shepherd cross Ellen DeGeneres walks onstage during the Michelle Obama: The Light We Carry Tour She made her big announcement on a programme hosted by US TV giant Oprah Winfrey - as her future friend Meghan was later to do in a tell-all interview about her and Harry's decision to leave Britain. The Ellen show's ultimate producer, however, was Disney, and in the conservative 1990s, parental warnings started to be put on screen before each broadcast before the show was ultimately cancelled. Six years later, however, Ms DeGeneres shot back to fame. She provided the voice for forgetful fish Dory in the blockbuster animated film Finding Nemo and became a major force in showbusiness with her new eponymous TV smash, the Ellen DeGeneres show. It went on to make her a huge fortune - some 60m a year - and she became friends with Microsoft billionaire Bill Gates and Democrat president Barack Obama, who in 2016 gave her America's top civilian honour, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Ms DeGeneres' years of daytime TV supremacy, which involved playing pranks in a shopping mall with troubled pop star Britney Spears, came to an end two years ago after a scandal over alleged bullying behind the scenes. Just as the Duchess of Sussex was accused of bullying Royal staff in Britain claims that have been firmly denied there were widely broadcast allegations that Ms DeGeneres had presided over a 'toxic workplace' behind the scenes of her show. Producers were said to have sacked one TV employee for taking time off for a funeral, and to have warned visitors not to talk to the show's host, with 36 staff making claims. Ms DeGeneres eventually apologised to members of her team after an internal report found 'deficiencies related to the show's day-to-day management'. Ratings plummeted from above 4million viewers, to little more than 1million. It was particularly ironic in light of her farewell pay-off to viewers at the end of each episode, 'Be kind to one another'. In May 2021, after the bullying storm, Ms Degeneres announced her show would be coming to an end the following year, later joking that she had been 'kicked out of show business'. Ellen and Portia will have plenty of celebrity neighbours. Stars with properties in the Cotswolds include David and Victoria Beckham, Kate Moss, and Patrick Stewart She had also said: 'I need something new to challenge me.' And with her day job gone, and clearly no money worries, friends have said the election of Hollywood liberals' nightmare Mr Trump has led her to her decision to leave America. On top of more potential pints at Clarkson's pub, she may now bump into fellow Cotswolds home owners including supermodel Kate Moss. Star trek and Shakespearean actor Patrick Stewart, model-cum-actress Elizabeth Hurley, designer Stella McCartney, and super-wealthy artist Damien Hirst are all Oxfordshire enthusiasts too while thespian Hugh Grant has long been believed to have a country hideaway there. It is easy to see why Jilly Cooper's raunchy novel Rivals, recently adapted for television, was set in the glamorous Cotswolds. And it is easy to see Ms DeGeneres fitting right in. Her presence could even tempt former neighbour the Duchess of Sussex back across the Atlantic to join her for a drink at Soho Farmhouse, the Oxfordshire outpost of trendy private members' club Soho House. Particularly if Prince Harry fancies catching up with his father the King, whose long-favourite country home, Highgrove House in Gloucestershire, lies within the Cotswolds. Over a year after his affair with a castmate plunged him into controversy, Tom Sandoval is moving on from Scandoval. The reality star, 42, has found love again after two-timing his ex-girlfriend Ariana Madix, 39, with fellow Vanderpump Rules star Rachel Leviss. Sandoval and Leviss, 30, were vilified by viewers and castmates alike, and the fallout from the drama became a national obsession amongst Bravo fans. But nowadays, Sandoval is looking towards a new future with girlfriend Victoria Lee Robinson by his side. Sandoval has been dating the model for the past year, and the couple are now taking the next step in their relationship - moving in together. Speaking with DailyMail.com at the Vanderpump Dog gala on Friday, Sandoval and Robinson confirmed their plans to cohabitate: 'Yeah, we're in the middle of handling all of that stuff right now,' Sandoval said. Tom Sandoval opened up about his relationship with Victoria Lee Robinson and his life since Scandoval with DailyMail.com at the Vanderpump Dog Foundation Gala As fans will remember, Sandoval was still living with ex-girlfriend Madix in the $2M Valley Village home they purchased together after their dramatic split. While she eventually moved out and found her own place, the home has long remained a contentious issue between the two that even led to a lawsuit filed by the Madix. Recently Sandoval revealed the infamous house was finally going on the market, but when speaking with DailyMail.com, admitted they had not yet pulled the trigger. 'Not quite yet but we're getting there,' he said when asked if they had listed the residence. While Scandoval thrust Sandoval into the national spotlight, nowadays he's 'laying low' and keeping busy with his band, relationship, and restaurants. 'We've got Schwartz and Sandy's, we've got Tom Tom, touring with the band, obviously awesome relationship with Victoria here,' he said. 'I've just been staying busy, just laying low!' Only a year ago, things were looking much bleaker for Sandoval's restaurants In the immediate aftermath of the affair revelation, fans took their anger out on the two restaurants Sandoval runs with pal Tom Schwartz, Schwartz & Sandy's and Tom Tom. Sandoval attended the star-studded soiree with his girlfriend Sandoval revealed they were 'working on' moving in together The reality star sharpened up in a smart suit while his girlfriend wowed in a glam red single shoulder dress Sandoval was vilified after he cheated on Ariana Madix with their VPR castmate Rachel Leviss; pictured 2022 Sandoval seen with Raquel and Ariana on Vanderpump Rules Schwartz & Sandy's was vandalized by angry fans and the Yelp pages for both restaurants were hit with negative reviews. When asked how businesses are currently faring since the controversy, he said they still have their 'ups and downs', adding 'it's never a dull moment.' Sandoval previously updated fans on his life with Robinson and the Valley Village home during a recent episode of his podcast, Everybody Loves Tom. 'The house is going on the market,' he said. 'Selling the house, getting it ready.' As for his relationship with his girlfriend, he said: 'Victoria and I are moving in together.' 'We've got Schwartz and Sandy's, we've got Tom Tom, touring with the band, obviously awesome relationship with Victoria here,' he said of his life nowadays. 'I've just been staying busy, just laying low! On Friday, the couple was among a slew of stars supporting Lisa Vanderpump's dog rescue, Vanderpump Dogs, at The Maybourne Hotel in Beverly Hills The stars more gathered together for a good cause (pictured Tom Schwartz, Bass' husband Michael Turchin, Lisa, and Bass) A 'proud' Victoria said parting ways with the home was a 'healthy' next step for him. 'It's not just about moving in with me. You should separate from the past. It will help you move on and it's just healthy,' she said on the podcast. The duo was looking every inch the cute couple on Friday as they enjoyed a glamorous night out supporting a good cause. Sandoval was among a slew of stars supporting Lisa Vanderpump's dog rescue, Vanderpump Dogs, at The Maybourne Hotel in Beverly Hills. The soiree was also a who's who of Vanderpump stars, from Sandoval, Tom Schwartz, James Kennedy, and Scheana Shay. Lance Bass served as host for the event which included performances by Trixie Mattel, Breanna Whitaker, and Sam de Rosa. The event raises awareness and funds to support the organization's rescue efforts, rescuing and rehabilitating pooches both in America and overseas. Laura Byrne suffered a major fashion mishap at the 2024 Australian Podcast Awards on Thursday night. The Life Uncut podcast co-host, 38, looked thrilled as she posed alongside her fellow team Brittany Hockley, 37, and Keeshia Pettit. Wearing a hot pink off-the-shoulder ruched dress, Laura raised her fist in the air as they celebrated being finalists for two awards on the night. 'Yeah guys nailed the shot, go team!' she wrote alongside the snap. But the wholesome image was ruined by the former Bachelor star's stick-on bra being completely exposed. Taking the blunder in stride, Laura re-shared the picture and zoomed in on the embarrassing wardrobe malfunction. Laura Byrne (centre left) suffered a major fashion mishap at the Australian Podcast Awards. Wearing a hot pink off-the-shoulder ruched dress, Laura raised her fist in the air as she and Brittany Hockley (centre right) celebrated being finalists for two awards on the night 'FFS. Steven would not be impressed,' she wrote, referring to a fan who roasted her for being disorganised ahead of the event. Laura threw together a last-minute outfit for the stellar awards night, which saw Life Uncut be nominated for Best Interview Podcast and People's Listener Choice. 'Okay, so I'm dressed and I don't have time to consider another outfit,' she told her fans in an earlier video shared to her Instagram Story. 'So this is it. This is what we're going with.' Meanwhile, a fan questioned the podcast host's punctuality, asking her why she is 'always unorganised'. 'Because I run three businesses, have two kids and I'm trying to drink eight glasses of water a day Steven,' she quipped. Laura's dazzling night comes after her fellow radio colleague Mitch Churi broke down live on-air this week and confirmed with listeners he'd been sacked from the KIIS FM network. The radio star, who co-hosted The Pick Up drive time show alongside Laura Byrne and Brittany Hockley, became emotional as he revealed the heartbreaking news to his co-stars. But the wholesome image was ruined by the former Bachelor star's stick-on bra being completely exposed 'Late last week I was informed by the powers that be that they have identified my role here as one that won't be returning in 2025,' Mitch began. Mitch then revealed he was blindsided by the decision and he wished it had not come to this. 'I just want to say it wasn't my decision or my call. I really wanted to stay on the show with you two. I really wanted to stay with KIIS.' Co-star Laura jumped in to say she and Brittany fully supported Mitch and wished him all the best for the future. 'This is not what we want for the show. It's a decision that has been made out of our control. Britt and I have to continue on doing the show without you and we are utterly devastated,' Laura said. 'You are not only our co-host, but also one of our best friends,' Brittany chipped in. Fortunately, Mitch will be able to properly farewell listeners as he will remain on air until the end of the year. Mitch later posted the clip to Instagram and his celebrity friends quickly took to the comment section to share their support. KIIS FM presenter Mitch Churi (pictured) broke down live on-air on Wednesday afternoon, as he confirmed to listeners he had been sacked from the network The radio star, who co-hosted The Pick Up drive time show alongside Laura Byrne (right) and Brittany Hockley (left), became emotional as he revealed the heartbreaking news to his co-stars 'We'll miss you, Mitch,' wrote fellow radio stars Amanda Keller and Brendan 'Jonesy' Jones. 'I'm so sorry. I know it hurts. But the world awaits. One door closes another opens will def be in your future,' added Channel Seven presenter Kylie Gillies and TV presenter Tristan MacManus chipped in: 'Sorry to hear'. On Wednesday, Laura and Brittany were spotted supporting Mitch as he exited KIIS FM's North Sydney studios after the shock news. The radio presenters looked emotional as they embraced Mitch while walking him out of the studio, shortly after the shock news broke he had been given his marching orders. It follows reports that KIIS FM is reeling this week as the major star has reportedly been given marching orders and he will finish up at the end of the year, the Daily Telegraph claimed on Tuesday. He had hosted The Night Show with Mitch Churi since 2019, and co-hosts The Pick Up with Laura and Brittany. The decision was made for 'financial reasons' the paper claims, and Mitch, who has not been on the air since Thursday, was given the bad news on Tuesday. 'Mitch is shattered and completely blindsided,' the publication quoted a 'colleague' as saying. Dax Shepard sent fans wild on Thursday as he secretly recorded two people trying to figure out who his wife Kristen Bell is and uploaded the entire thing to Instagram. The 'insanely funny' experience occurred while Dax, 49, and Kristen, 44 who currently stars in the Netflix hit comedy Nobody Wants This were attending a recent theatre show. Before the show started, Dax noticed that two women seated in front of them were trying to look up who Kristen was on their cellphone after they saw several 'excited' fans approaching her. Without the ladies knowing, Dax caught the entirety of their search on camera as they desperately scoured the Netflix website for any sign of Kristen. The Without A Paddle star claimed it took the women nearly 15 minutes to finally locate the Netflix listing for Nobody Wants This, which has a photo of Kristen and co-star Adam Brody posing nose-to-nose as the cover photo. Once they figured it out, one of the women immediately sent a text to her group chat on iMessage informing them that Dax and Kristen were seated behind them. Dax Shepard sent fans wild on Thursday as he secretly recorded two people trying to figure out who his wife Kristen Bell is and uploaded the entire thing to Instagram; Dax and Kristen seen in 2019 The 'insanely funny' experience occurred while Dax, 49, and Kristen, 44 who currently stars in the Netflix hit comedy Nobody Wants This were attending a recent theatre show. Before the show started, Dax noticed that two women seated in front of the couple were trying to look up who Kristen was on their cellphone after they saw several 'excited' fans approaching her However, the woman misspelled Dax's name as 'Zach Shepherd.' Adding to the hilarity, one of the text recipients tried to correct the sender by confidently - and incorrectly - stating that Dax's name is 'Dak' not 'Zach.' Meanwhile, another person in the group chat questioned if the sender was being 'for real' or pulling a joke. 'This journey was insanely funny to witness,' Dax began in his Instagram caption. 'For the sake of time, this is heavily chopped down, but rest assured this exploration that started with a very general search 'Romantic Movies' took these sweet ladies a solid 13 minutes to refine.' He praised the duo for their tenaciousness and he took the repeat misspelling of his name like a champ. 'They were tenacious and stuck with it, and by God, they finally figure it out why the people behind us we're excited Kristen was there. 'Only to be topped by the greatest pay off of all time!!! Love, *Dak,' the Employee Of The Month star concluded. Without the ladies knowing, Dax caught the entirety of their search on camera as they desperately scoured the Netflix website for any sign of Kristen The Without A Paddle star claimed it took the women nearly 15 minutes to finally locate the Netflix listing for Nobody Wants This, which has a photo of Kristen and co-star Adam Brody posing nose-to-nose as the cover photo Dax shared a total of seven short clips with his 4million followers, including one of him imitating the ladies as they repeatedly turned around to get a good look at the couple while continuing their frantic internet search. Another clip showed Kristen trying to contain her laughter as she witnessed the two women finally land on Nobody Wants This. Fans of Dax and Kristen who have been together for nearly 20 years got a huge kick out of the 'journey,' with one person declaring it their 'favourite thing ever.' Another declared: 'This is THE greatest saga known to human kind and I'll hear nothing else' Some jokingly suggested that Dax who hosts the popular Armchair Expert podcast refer to himself as 'Dak' going forward. 'This is how you should introduce yourself on the podcast from now on,' one fan wrote, following by a laughing-emoji. Many enjoyed the 'wild ride' and wondered how the women never noticed they were being filmed. 'I love that in never occurred to her they (sic) you *might* be able to see her phone. Brightness up to 11, 3 feet away,' one person remarked. One clip showed Kristen trying to contain her laughter as she witnessed the two women finally land on Nobody Wants This Once they figured it out, one of the women immediately sent a text to her group chat on iMessage informing them that Dax and Kristen were seated behind them Fans of Dax and Kristen got a huge kick out of the 'journey,' with one person declaring it their 'favourite thing ever' Several people hoped the women would one day get to 'see' the clips for themselves. Dax often gives fans a look at his and Kristen's personal life whether it be on Instagram or his Armchair Expert podcast. The couple celebrated their 11th wedding anniversary just last month on October 17. They first got together in 2007 three years after meeting for the first time at a friend's birthday dinner. Dax proposed to Kristen in 2010. They tied the knot in 2013, with Kristen re-proposing to Dax that year before they exchanged vows at a Beverly Hills courthouse. The beloved Hollywood couple are parents to two daughters: Lincoln, 11, and Delta, nine. Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder became emotional as he paid tribute to Melbourne methanol poisoning victim Bianca Jones at his Sydney show on Thursday night. The legendary grunge rocker was performing to a sold-out crowd when he paused the show to announce that the 19-year-old had died after she spent a week in a hospital in Bangkok, Thailand. Vedder, 59, described the young victim's death as a 'senseless tragedy'. 'The one young woman, Bianca Jones, she's passed, and her friend Holly Bowles is hanging on and we wish her the best, and we are thinking of the parents,' he said. 'We are sending you everything we have got today. We are so sorry.' Bianca and her best friend Holly Bowles had been spending time in Laos as part of a gap year trip they had been planning for years. Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder became emotional as he paid tribute to Melbourne methanol poisoning victim Bianca Jones at his Sydney show on Thursday night Holly remains fighting for life after both girls fell ill in a suspected mass methanol poisoning in the popular tourist town of Vang Vieng on November 13. The death toll climbed to five overnight after UK lawyer Simone Kent, 28, from Kent died with at least seven other tourists still in hospital. Bianca's family confirmed her death in a statement on Thursday. 'It is with the heaviest of hearts that we share the news that our beloved daughter and sister, Bianca Jones, has passed away,' the statement said. 'She was surrounded by love, and we are comforted by the knowledge that her incredible spirit touched so many lives during her time with us. 'We want to express our deepest gratitude for the overwhelming support, love, and prayers we've received from across Australia. 'The kindness shown to our family during this unimaginable time has been truly humbling. 'We kindly ask for privacy as we navigate through our grief and begin to heal. Thank you for respecting our family's space. The legendary rocker was performing to a sold-out crowd when he paused the show to mention Bianca who died on Thursday after she spent a week in a hospital in Bangkok, Thailand Your browser does not support iframes. 'With heartfelt appreciation, Mark, Michelle and Lachlan Jones.' Bianca and Holly had booked in a four-night stay at Nana Backpackers Hostel, where they had been drinking and playing cards at the bar on the night they were poisoned, before reportedly going to nearby Jaidee's party bar. CCTV from inside the hostel shows one the girls being transported to a local clinic on the back of a motorbike being driven by a hotel staff worker after failing to check out of their rooms on time. They were then rushed to separate hospitals in Udon Thani and Bangkok in neighbouring Thailand. Kellie Finlayson has stripped down for a good cause, raising awareness for skin cancer. The 28-year-old wife of AFL star Jeremy Finlayson was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer in August 2021, three months after giving birth to their daughter Sophia. As part of a collaboration with Sontse and Sh!t Talkers Podcast, Kellie posed topless on a balcony while covering her chest in a black and white video which she posted on Instagram. 'Undressed. Where we go beyond the surface to undress the delicate conversation around skin cancer. Because your skin is worth protecting and your story is worth sharing,' she captioned the video. Earlier this week, Kellie marked three years of living with cancer with a touching and at times heartbreaking montage of what it is like to be a young mother battling the deadly disease. Her Instagram post included confronting images from behind the scenes of her struggle, including being forced to wear adult nappies, dealing with hair loss and the pain of undergoing constant medical procedures. Kellie Finlayson (pictured) stripped down for a good cause on Wednesday, raising awareness for skin cancer Taking to Instagram as part of a collaboration with Sontse and Sh!t Talkers Podcast, Kellie posed topless on a balcony while covering her chest in the black and white clip Kellie captioned the post with '3 years. 3 whole fkn years', as well as a crying emoji. Initially attributing her symptoms to postpartum recovery, further tests revealed the cancer, which had already advanced significantly. Kellie underwent intensive treatment, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgeries, but faced ongoing health challenges. In December 2022, after experiencing chest pain, scans revealed that her cancer had metastasised to her lungs, resulting in a terminal diagnosis. Despite this, she began another round of chemotherapy in January 2023 to manage the disease. In mid-2023, Kellie shared hopeful updates as the treatment initially showed positive effects, though the cancer remained terminal. She stopped her chemotherapy and radiation treatments to put her trust in natural therapies and alternative medicine. However, by July this year the cancer had resumed growing, prompting further consultations and another round of chemotherapy in August. Earlier this week, Kellie marked three years of living with cancer with a touching and at times heartbreaking montage of what it is like to be a young mother battling the deadly disease. Pictured with husband Jeremy Her Instagram post included confronting images from behind the scenes of her struggle, including being forced to wear adult nappies, dealing with hair loss and the pain of undergoing constant medical procedures Despite the awful nature of her long fight, the 28-year-old has remained a doting mother The family also decided to sell their Adelaide home at auction for $915,000 to accommodate her increasing need for in-home care and medical equipment. The three years of battling cancer has taken its toll mentally as well as physically, leaving Kellie with post-traumatic stress disorder. Throughout her journey, Kellie has been open about her experiences, aiming to raise awareness about bowel cancer and the importance of early detection. A recent video - which was also posted by Jeremy - shows plenty of strength, smiling, dancing and enjoying life with her husband and daughter Sophia. It also shows the confronting reality of living with terminal cancer - the tears, hair loss, endless medical treatments, loss of dignity and the rollercoaster of emotions Kellie has endured to slow down her incurable condition. Her story has become an inspiration and a call to action for others facing similar battles, so it's not surprising that her latest video post has resulted in a flood of incredible responses. 'Youll probably never fully know the lives youve touched, the people youve inspired, or the difference youve made. You keep going, giving hope to so many. What a role model you are,' two-time cancer survivor and mental health advocate Hugo Toohey posted. 'Absolutely in awe of you. My husband has fought CRC and a lot of those images were familiar. You bring so much light to a dark subject matter, and showing the dark bits is legendary too. Keep going, beautiful human,' another follower replied. 'Having met you just the once I was floored when you told me you were fighting cancer. You radiate life, I couldnt believe your positivity and your glow. As many have said you are inspiring, a beautiful soul, mum, wife and a role model to all of us,' replied another. This video is no longer available This video is no longer available She played one of long-running Channel Seven hit Home and Away's most iconic characters. And despite being killed off in 2000, Judy Nunn's portrayal of Ailsa Stewart still looms large in the soap pantheon. Ailsa, the no-nonsense wife of fellow Home and Away legend Alf Stewart (Ray Meagher), was a mainstay on the iconic soap, from its 1988 pilot until her exit in 2000. And Judy, 79, looked almost identical to the days when her character ran the Summer Bay General Store during a rare TV appearance this week. The former actress, who now enjoys a thriving career as a novelist, was on The Morning Show on Friday to promote her latest book, Stories From The Otto Bin Empire. Ailsa's trademark blonde curls were unmistakable as Judy chatted to hosts Kylie Gillies and Sam Mac. Judy Nunn, the actress behind Home and Away's iconic Ailsa Stewart made a rare television appearance on Friday (pictured) Speaking to the hosts about her memories of her time on the long-running soap, Judy revealed that she used to write books while on set. 'It sounds gorgeous, doesn't it?' Judy replied when asked to clarify the rumour. 'When, for instance, we're burying somebody or when were marrying somebody...if you're one of the general collectives, you've got to smile and nod a lot and at the funeral you've got to cry a lot but basically you're an extra.' 'Sitting around I found that very boring so that's when I'd write a book,' she admitted. Aside from being a stage and screen actress, Judy has also enjoyed a long and storied career as an author. She published her first children's book The Riddle of the Trumpalar in 1981 before moving into adult fiction in 1991 with The Glitter Game. Since then, Judy has published 19 books with The Glitter Game, as well as Centre Stage and Araluen all becoming best sellers. Ailsa's trademark blonde curls were unmistakable as Judy chatted to hosts Kylie Gillies and Sam Mac on Friday Judy is best known for her legendary Home and Away role, playing Ailsa in an astonishing 1313 episodes. Also pictured are Ray Meagher, Cornelia Francis, and Norman Coburn Ailsa, the no-nonsense wife of fellow Home and Away legend Alf Stewart (Ray Meagher, pictured left), was a mainstay on the iconic soap, from its 1988 pilot to her exit in 2000 Her acting career is no less impressive, with TV credits including sons and Daughters, Prisoner, and A Country Practice. In fact, Judy was a pioneer on the small screen, playing a bisexual journalist Vicky Stafford on The Box, a risque soap on Network Ten. It was there she shared Australian TV's first lesbian kiss. However she is best known for her legendarily Home and Away role, playing Ailsa in an astonishing 1313 episodes. After Ailsa tragically died of a heart attack in front of Alf in 2000, Judy briefly reprised her role on the soap, this time as an hallucination in Alf's mind, who was suffering a brain tumour. Speaking to the Daily Telegraph back in 2018, Judy revealed her disdain for the proliferation of reality television in Australia. She told the publication that she was 'disgusted' by shows such as Love Island and Married at First Sight. 'There's too much bloody reality TV on. It disgusts me,' she said. 'Let the world wallow in it like a pig in a trough,' Judy said. Judy also claimed that she resents the fact reality programs leave actors, directors, designers and writers out of work. Complaining that many reality shows are all about 'hunks and babes', she added: 'The reality producers are laughing all the way to the bank. It's criminal'. Ariana Grande reflected on her Wicked character's sexuality in a recent interview, stating that Glinda 'might be a little in the closet.' Grande, 31, and her co-star Cynthia Erivo, 37, who plays the Wicked Witch of the West Elphaba, sat down with U.K. outlet Gay Times, and were asked about fans who ship their characters as a romantic duo. However, Ariana's answers sparked backlash from some fans, who accused her of 'queerbaiting.' 'Glinda might be a little in the closet. You never know! Give it a little more time,' she said in the interview. Grande also said Oz is a 'celebration of uniqueness' adding, 'everyone is just so beautifully queer and that roots all the way back to the L. Frank Baum books, where, like, literally the most commonly used word in the books is "queer."' The star went on to say that 'everyday in the Emerald City [the capital city of the fictional Land of Oz] is a Pride parade... even like the chickens, those chickens are gay.' Ariana Grande, 31, was accused of 'queerbaiting' after she reflected on her Wicked character Glinda's sexuality in a recent interview with co-star Cynthia Erivo, 37, who plays Elphaba 'Glinda might be a little in the closet. You never know! Give it a little more time,' Ariana said of the Good Witch character, after being asked why some fans ship the two as a romantic duo Elsewhere in the interview she called Doctor Dillamond, played by Peter Dinklage, a 'gay icon.' Meanwhile, Erivo said of her green witch, 'I think Elphie, she goes wherever the wind blows.' 'I think she loves Glinda. I think she loves love. And I don't think there's anything wrong with celebrating the deep connection that both of them have.' 'They do have a relationship. It is true love, which is probably why people are shipping it, you know?' Erivo added. 'Because what they build with each other is an unbreakable bond and love.' Grande then said of her Good Witch character, 'And trust and truth. Just such a safe space for one another, which is what all relationships should be, whether it's romantic or platonic.' 'I mean, it is just a true love, and I think that transcends sexuality,' Grande shared. 'It's just kind of a deep safety within each other. And that's probably why they ship it.' The interviewer then asked if everyone in Oz was LGBTQ+. 'I think so, a little bit,' Cynthia said. 'Yeah,' Ariana concurred. 'I mean, it is just a true love, and I think that transcends sexuality,' Grande shared. 'It's just kind of a deep safety within each other. And that's probably why they ship it' Meanwhile Erivo said of her green witch: 'I think Elphie, she goes wherever the wind blows. I think she loves Glinda. I think she loves love'; Ariana and Cynthia seen in a still 'They do have a relationship. It is true love, which is probably why people are shipping it, you know?' Erivo added. 'Because what they build with each other is an unbreakable bond and love' Elsewhere in the interview Ariana said that Doctor Dillamond (pictured), who is voiced by Peter Dinklage in the movie, is a 'gay icon' and that 'everyday in the Emerald City is a Pride parade... even like the chickens, those chickens are gay' In Wicked, Glinda and Elphaba start as enemies but grow into friends while they are in school. There are romantic plots in the film, as Glinda pursues Prince Fiyero, who's secretly interested in Elphaba, and Boq (played by Grande's real-life boyfriend Ethan Slater) pines for Glinda, who doesn't return his affections. Following the interview fans quickly took online, with one writing: 'the queerbaiting is getting too out of hand.' Queerbaiting is a marketing technique in which creators hint at same-sex romance or other LGBTQ+ representation, without actually depicting it. Another asked: 'Why cant they just be platonic?' 'OH????' another one simply said. Another fan added: 'ariana reposting gelphie memes onto her story, liking a post abt the flower fields being lesbian colored, saying the boy is mine is about elphaba, and then saying glinda is in the closet' 'Ariana is going hard on this ship! First she says Glinda is a little in the closet and now she's wearing Elphie's hat?! Girl.' However some fans had a different outlook, with one commenting on X: 'Ariana confirmed Glinda is a little out of the closet! We won!' Following the interview fans quickly took online, with one writing: 'the queerbaiting is getting too out of hand' 'OH????' another one simply said Another fan added: 'ariana reposting gelphie memes onto her story, liking a post abt the flower fields being lesbian colored, saying the boy is mine is about elphaba, and then saying glinda is in the closet' Another asked: 'Why cant they just be platonic?' 'Ariana is going hard on this ship! First she says Glinda is a little in the closet and now she's wearing Elphie's hat?! Girl' However some fans had a different outlook, with one commenting on X: 'Ariana confirmed Glinda is a little out of the closet! We won!' 'As a theater kid all I can say is Glinda is definitely in the closet and not a little bit' 'ariana grande has officially won my endorsement by acknowledging lesbian glinda thank you,' someone else chimed in 'ariana grande has officially won my endorsement by acknowledging lesbian glinda thank you,' someone else chimed in. The leading ladies also did another interview with GLAAD, where they were asked about what they hoped LGBTQ audiences would gain from Wicked. 'That you deserve all the good things. That your difference is what makes you special. That your queerness is beautiful. That I love you.' 'Elphaba is just like you, and she understands what it feels like to be alone and to feel different, but that doesn't make you any less special than you were born to be,' Erivo said. Speaking about the fantasy world of The Wizard of Oz, Grande added: 'Oz is a very queer place and has always been, even from the L. Frank Baum books. It's always been queer.' While in the midst of promo mode, the two stars of the film issued apologizes for all the tears they've been shedding as they talked about their friendship and the movie. 'We've cried 500 times today. And honestly, this is a PSA. So sorry guys,' Grande could be heard saying in a video shared by E! News. 'It is what it is,' her British-born co-star added. 'There's just nothing we can do about it.' Grande jumped back in: 'I can't imagine, and you know what? If you're going to comment saying how annoying it is, I'll say it first,' she said sitting next to Erivo for an interview. 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 'I said it first. I'm annoyed. I'm tired. My tear ducts I'm tired, emotionally tired.' 'We've come through a massive, massive thing and we've really stuck together,' Erivo explained. Jon M. Chu directed the highly-anticipated adaptation, which also stars Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, and Michelle Yeoh. 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. Jenna Coleman enjoyed a night out at JW Anderson and Guinness party at The Devonshire in London on Thursday night. The actress, 38, looked in good spirits after welcoming her first child with boyfriend Jamie Childs last month. Jenna cut a trendy figure for the evening in a cropped trench coat which she teamed with a pair of wide legged brown trousers. Styling her long brunette tresses in loose wave, she elevated her frame in a pair of towering white heels and carried her belongings in a matching handbag. The new mother was all smiles as she completed her outfit with a simple pair of small silver hoop earrings. Jenna Coleman enjoyed a night out at JW Anderson and Guinness party at The Devonshire in London on Thursday night. Jenna cut a trendy figure for the evening in a cropped trench coat which she teamed with a pair of wide legged brown trousers Meanwhile Alexa Chung put on a very leggy display in a satin black sweatshirt and matching shorts. The model added inches to her frame in a pair of brown towering stilettos and opted for a pair of black opaque tights. Tucking her dark locks behind her ears, Alexa wore two dazzling silver stud earrings and carried her belongings in a stylish black handbag. Alexa was joined at the bash by actor Joe Alwyn, who she was last pictured with at Wimbledon this year. Joe rocked a cool pair of black and grey oversized trousers which he teamed with an eye catching Guinness T-shirt. The former boyfriend of Taylor Swift braved the British winter in a padded brown coat and donned a pair of black boots. Asa Butterfield turned heads in a colourful sweatshirt and oversized blue denim jeans as he arrived at the bash. The Sex Education star rocked a buzz cut and kept comfortable in a pair of brown suede trainers. Styling her long brunette tresses in loose wave, she elevated her frame in a pair of towering white heels and carried her belongings in a matching handbag The actress, 38, welcoming her first child with boyfriend Jamie Childs last month. The couple met in 2020 on set of the first season of Netflix's The Sandman (pictured in November 2023) Meanwhile Alexa Chung put on a very leggy display in a satin black sweatshirt and matching shorts The model added inches to her frame in a pair of brown towering stilettos and opted for a pair of black opaque tights Tucking her dark locks behind her ears, Alexa wore two dazzling silver stud earrings and carried her belongings in a stylish black handbag Joe Alwyn rocked a cool pair of black and grey oversized trousers which he teamed with an eye catching Guinness T-shirt The former boyfriend of Taylor Swift braved the British winter in a padded brown coat and donned a pair of black boots Ellie Bamber looked incredible as she arrived at the bash wearing a knitted khaki jumper dress which she cinched in at the waist with a coordinated belt. Elevating her frame in a pair of stilettos, the actress toted a matching handbag and wore a pair of opaque tights. Ellie turned up the glamour by wearing a bold swipe of red lipstick and left her long blonde tresses loose in curls. The Willow star flashed her gorgeous smile as she made her way inside the lavish party. It comes after Jenna revealed her pregnancy in June when she debuted her baby bump at a dinner at Chatsworth House. She has not yet made any announcement that she has given birth, but has taken to her social media frequently to share glimpses into her pregnancy journey with her fans. Jenna and Jamie met back in 2020 on the set of the first season of Netflix show, The Sandman, where she played Johanna Constantine and he directed several episodes. The couple were first romantically linked in December 2021, before they were spotted together for the first time the following February. They were photographed on a stroll in Islington smiling and holding hands, just days after they were seen outside her 2.2million home as furniture was moved in. They went on to work together again on Jamie's first film Jackdaw, with Jenna playing a lead character called Bo. Asa Butterfield turned heads in a colourful sweatshirt and oversized blue denim jeans as he arrived at the bash The Sex Education star rocked a buzz cut and kept comfortable in a pair of brown suede trainers Ellie Bamber looked incredible as she arrived at the bash wearing a knitted khaki jumper dress which she cinched in at the waist with a coordinated belt Elevating her frame in a pair of stilettos, the actress toted a matching handbag and wore a pair of opaque tights Ellie turned up the glamour by wearing a bold swipe of red lipstick and left her long blonde tresses loose in curls However, the pair work to keep their relationship private, with their public appearances together being rare and Jenna having never spoken publicly about their romance. But earlier this year, Jenna and Jamie sparked speculation that they had taken their relationship to the next level after being seen wearing a ring on her wedding finger in January. On a stroll together in north London, Jenna could be seen sporting a chunky gold band, while walking hand-in-hand with Jamie, who tenderly stroked her hair at several points. While it didn't mark the first time she'd been seen wearing the ring, she usually wore it on a different finger leading to speculation that the move was significant. Meanwhile, Jenna previously joked that she has been cast as a mother so many times she has 'no noises left' for any future childbirth scenes. The Queen Victoria star once said: 'I've done so many labour scenes I've got no noises left. I don't know what to do any more. 'They've got to stop having me in labour. I haven't even had children yet, I don't know what I'm doing.' She fretted about playing a mother in the BBC's 2018 psychological mystery The Cry, revealing that she messaged friends with children to get a better insight into what motherhood entails. After it aired Jenna admitted: 'I spent a good first chunk of it just thinking they'd completely miscast me. 'Why on earth me? I'm not a mother. It was something so, well, primal that I haven't literally experienced. And I have really struggled with that.' Justin Hemmes is set to become a father again at 52. The billionaire Merivale boss is expecting his first child with girlfriend Madeline Holtznagel, 27. A source confirmed the exciting news to Daily Mail Australia and revealed a friend of Justin's recently moved out of his Vaucluse mansion to make room for their growing family. The hotelier already shares two daughters - Alexa, nine, and Saachi, eight - with his model ex Kate Fowler - the sister of Georgia Fowler. It will be Madeline's first child. Justin and Madeline's representatives told Daily Mail Australia the couple will not be making an official comment. Justin Hemmes is set to become a father again at 52, as it has been revealed he is expecting his first child with girlfriend Madeline Holtznagel, 27 Madeline was last spotted in public on November 10 as she strolled through Sydney Airport with Justin, just 12 days before their jovial baby news was made public Madeline is the younger sister of fellow Aussie model Simone Holtznagel, who welcomed her first child, a daughter called Gia, in March with her now-ex-boyfriend Jono Castano. Justin and Madeline were most recently seen earlier this month, when they arrived back in Sydney after enjoying a weekend away with Justin's two daughters. Madeline wore an oversized T-shirt as she strolled through Sydney Airport's private jet terminal with a huge smile on her face, just 12 days before their baby news was made public. And in his first sighting since the baby news, hotelier Justin appeared to be in good spirits as he rode his bike to work in Sydney's CBD on Friday morning. The businessman flashed a smile and cut a smart figure in a white shirt and cream linen trousers. Justin and Madeline quietly began seeing each other in 2019, a year after his debut on the Financial Review Rich List with an estimated net worth of $951million - which has since risen to $1.39billion. Though they generally keep their romance under wraps, the couple are often seen disembarking from his sea plane after enjoying luxurious family holidays with his two daughters. In August, Madeline also made a rare public post about Justin as she took to Instagram to mark his 52nd birthday. A source confirmed the exciting news to Daily Mail Australia and revealed a friend of the billionaire Merivale boss recently moved out of his Vaucluse mansion to make room for their growing family In his first sighting since the baby news, hotelier Justin appeared to be in good spirits as he rode his bike to work in Sydney's CBD on Friday morning The businessman flashed a smile and cut a smart figure in a white shirt and cream linen trouser She shared a series of romantic selfies of them both and gushed over her partner in the caption. In one picture, Madeline flashed a huge smile as she sat on Justin's lap while he lovingly gazed at her. Another showed the pair cuddling up to one another as they relaxed on a yacht. 'Happy birthday my love,' she wrote in a caption along with rose emoji. Earlier this year, Madeleine celebrated her 27th birthday party with a lavish bash at Justin's sprawling Vaucluse estate. Following the festivities, she revealed that her doting partner had bought her two llamas as a sign of his love. The couple have gone from strength-to-strength since going public in 2019 and even sparked engagement rumours last June. The couple sparked engagement rumours last June when eagle-eyed fans noticed Madeline was wearing a ring on her wedding finger during a trip to Japan (pictured) Eagle-eyed fans noticed Madeline was wearing a ring on her wedding finger as they questioned whether Justin had popped the question. A picture showed her sporting the jewellery as she cuddled up to Justin while enjoying a bowl of Udon noodles together at a restaurant in Japan. But the bling appeared to be an emerald and diamond promise ring, and another photograph showed her wearing a different ring on the same finger as she posed for a selfie. Justin was previously in a relationship with Kate Fowler and the pair remain on good terms, often jetting off on holidays together with their daughters Alexa and Saachi. Just last month, Justin and Madeline were joined by Kate and her new boyfriend David Oettle as they took Alexa and Saachi to Queenstown, New Zealand. Justin and Kate dated for three years before going their separate ways in early 2018, with Justin issuing a statement about their split at the time. 'Kate and I have the utmost love and respect for each other,' he said in a statement given to the Sydney Morning Herald. 'At the beginning of 2018, Kate and I decided our friendship and respect for family life would become the focus of our relationship. Madeline is the younger sister of Aussie model Simone Holtznagel (pictured), who welcomed her first child, a daughter called Gia, in March with her now-ex-boyfriend Jono Castano Justin was previously in a relationship with Kate Fowler (pictured in January) and the pair remain on good terms, often jetting off on getaways together with their two daughters Your browser does not support iframes. 'We love our children dearly and for now continue to live together happily in our family home.' 'Kate is a wonderful, wonderful, wonderful woman. As for what the future holds I am not sure,' he added. Justin is considered Australia's hospitality king, with more than 80 venues and billions in assets with names like the Ivy, Queen Chow and Establishment under his purview as CEO of Merivale. He is the only son of Merivale Group founder and nightclub mogul John Hemmes and Justin took over the business after his father's death in 2015. John Stamos is explaining why he didn't shave his head to support his longtime friend and Full House costar Dave Coulier, who was recently diagnosed with cancer. The Emmy-nominated actor, 61, spoke with TMZ Thursday after he was slammed for wearing a bald cap in images posted to social media opposite Coulier, 65, who has shaved his head as he undergoes chemotherapy amid his battle with stage 3 Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The Cypress, California native told the outlet, 'I got to work next week - I'm on a new show,' as he made his way from a terminal to a parking garage at LAX. Stamos spoke about the topic two days after a source told Dailymail.com that Stamos 'is currently working on' Palm Royale, an Apple TV drama 'which requires him to have hair ... otherwise, he would shave his hair in a heartbeat.' Stamos played Jesse Katsopolis and Coulier played Joey Gladstone on the ABC series Full House from 19871995, and on its Netflix reboot Fuller House from 20162020. Following Coulier's recent diagnosis, Stamos traveled to Detroit to support him following a chemotherapy session. John Stamos, 61, has explained why he didn't shave his head to support longtime friend and Full House costar Dave Coulier, 65, who was recently diagnosed with cancer. Pictured in NYC in July The Emmy-nominated actor spoke with TMZ Thursday after he was slammed for wearing a bald cap in images posted to social media opposite Coulier Stamos said that while en route to visit Coulier, he learned his childhood friend Mike Owen had suffered a fatal heart attack. 'What happened ... I flew across the country to be with my brother,' Stamos said. 'As I'm on the plane, I get a text, my best friend, since 11-years-old, dies of a heart attack. But I'm not gonna show that to Dave, I told him but I said that's done, and I cried privately.' Stamos said that he was aware Coulier 'wanted me to come shave his head' and since he couldn't shave his own for business reasons, he still sought to put forth a show of solidarity with his friend. 'I knew it before so I brought the bald cap from the studio,' Stamos said. Stamos said he was 'shocked' and 'embarrassed' upon learning of the pushback online to images of him in the bald cap opposite Coulier. 'I couldn't figure it out, I still don't know 100 percent,' Stamos said. 'God bless everybody, I don't look at stuff - I swear, most of the time I don't - but this one really hurt me mainly because I didn't understand it. 'The point is, I'm just embarrassed for people that they'd waste time on this when all I was doing was cheering up a friend.' Stamos said that instead of aiming their energy toward him, they should be focusing on staying atop their health, which has been 'Dave's message' throughout. Stamos said that he was aware Coulier 'wanted me to come shave his head' and since he couldn't shave his own for business reasons, he still sought to put forth a show of solidarity with his friend A number of fans were put off by the gesture Stamos made, but he refused to apologize for it, saying they should refocus their energy on health awareness, which has been Coulier's message 'What they should be doing instead of making silly little videos or doing comments, they should call their doctors, make an appointment,' Stamos said. Stamos would not apologize for the gesture after it rubbed some the wrong way. 'I started to say I'm sorry - I'm not sorry,' Stamos said. 'I'm sorry I got sucked into, you know, cancer culture.' Stamos said he had an 'incredible' time supporting Coulier, adding, 'We laughed and cried and watched old movies and told stories - it was a beautiful thing.' Coulier last week said he used a group text to tell his Full House colleagues that he was battling cancer. He told People Wednesday that he received an 'immediate' response after telling his costars about the cancer diagnosis. The St. Clair Shores, Michigan-born actor told the publication, 'I didn't want them to hear it from someone else, so I sent a text message out.' Coulier said that the group text is composed of the show's creator Jeff Franklin and costars Stamos, Lori Loughlin, Candace Cameron Bure, Jodie Sweetin, Andrea Barber and Scott Weinger. 'It was just this outpouring of, "I will be there. You just name the time, and I know you're in great hands with [wife Melissa Bring] but what can we do?"' he said. Coulier discussed his diagnosis with Hoda Kotb on the Today Show November 13 Coulier sent a group text to a thread including (L-R) Candace Cameron Bure, Andrea Barber, Jodie Sweetin, Lori Loughlin and John Stamos. Pictured on Stamos' Instagram in 2019 Coulier, who's also worked on popular shows such as Robot Chicken, How I Met Your Mother and It's Garry Shandling's Show, said of the show's inner circle: 'It really is overwhelming the love that we have for each other. 'We've been there for so many years for each other and it's pretty remarkable.' Coulier said that the bonds of the cast have been strong in the near-three years since the January 2022 death of Bob Saget at the age of 65. 'I think we value not only our lives together, but we value our lives,' he said. 'We value those good times and the positive moments that we've gotten to share. And I think that that spills over to other people, and it's just positive. 'There's not many negatives when I'm with that group of people. It's really just laughter and positivity, and we appreciate so much what we have in our lives and the people around us.' Coulier told the outlet that Stamos was visiting him after he undergoes chemotherapy: 'I can't wait for him to visit, November 15, I get a chemo treatment,' Coulier said. 'November 16, John's going to be here.' He said of Stamos: 'He goes, "If you want to just sleep, I'll just sit by you or if you want to listen to music or just talk, whatever." And I'm just like, "Wow. That's like a brother. That's just truly a brother."' Coulier, who discussed his diagnosis with Hoda Kotb on the Today Show November 13, told the publication that he was diagnosed last month after dealing with an upper respiratory infection. The cast of the series, including the late Bob Saget, was pictured in January 2017 in LA 'I went from, I got a little bit of a head cold to I have cancer, and it was pretty overwhelming,' Coulier told the outlet. 'This has been a really fast roller coaster ride of a journey.' Coulier, who is father to son Luc, 34, with ex-wife Jayne Modean, said that he's been entertained in doing his Full House Rewind podcast, as he 'never watched' the show during its first run. 'I understand it. I get it,' Coulier said. 'I understand why kids loved it so much, why families loved it so much, and why it's become so cross-generational. It's really got wonderful elements for kids and families.' He said that the series' overwhelming message of love, respect and giving a strong effort resonates in the episodes. 'I didn't understand that so much when we were actually doing the show because it was so intense doing 192 episodes, but I get it now,' Coulier said. 'I can actually be so much more objective having a son going through family moments, going through raising a child. It just all makes sense to me. 'Now, I'm like, "Oh, now I see what was in the Kool-Aid. I get it."' Lila Moss looked effortlessly stylish as she stepped out in New York City in a black satin maxi dress on Friday. The model and daughter of Kate Moss, 22, strongly resembled her glamorous mother, 50, as she held a newspaper over her head to shield herself from the rain. She battled against the bad weather as she headed out in the strappy ensemble, which featured a small leg slit. Lila teamed the chic dress with a blue denim jacket and black trainers, toting around her belongings in a crossbody bag with a silver chain. The starlet allowed her blonde tresses to fall over her shoulders in a natural wavy style and opted for minimal makeup to showcase her natural beauty. Lila has followed in her mother's footsteps from the moment she left the womb after years of being by Kate's side in the modelling industry. Lila Moss looked effortlessly stylish as she stepped out in New York City in a black maxi dress on Friday The model and daughter of Kate Moss, 22, strongly resembled her glamorous mother as she held a newspaper over her head to shield herself from the rain Her 50-year-old mother has definitely taught Lila the ropes as she looked picture-perfect in her latest shoot for DKNY. Supermodel Kate shares Lila with Jefferson Hack, who she dated from 2001 to 2004, welcoming their daughter in 2002. It comes after Lila rocked the Victoria's Secret runway in skimpy lingerie with her famous mum in October. Fashion fans rejoiced on social media after Kate hit the stage. Supporters praised the supermodel and said it felt like the show was back to its '90s heyday with Kate's stunning appearance - and many were excited about her daughter making her way down the catwalk as well. Fittingly, Kate opened up the rock & roll segment of the show, which aired on Prime at the time. Lila joined her - and earned a pair of epic angel wings of her own. Fans called the mother/daughter duo modeling together 'iconic' - although some gave Lila the dreaded 'nepo baby' title on social media. She battled against the bad weather as she headed out in the strappy ensemble, which featured a small leg slit The starlet allowed her blonde tresses to fall over her shoulders in a natural wavy style and opted for minimal makeup to showcase her natural beauty Lila has followed in her mother's footsteps from the moment she left the womb after years of being by Kate's side in the modelling industry Supermodel Kate shares Lila with Jefferson Hack, who she dated from 2001 to 2004, welcoming their daughter in 2002 Lila looked the spitting image of her supermodel mother, pictured right in 1993 Lila strutted across the street with the newspaper above her head She stepped out of the Subway station before crossing the road Lila often recreates her mother Kate's celebrated outfits from the '90s It comes after Lila rocked the Victoria's Secret runway in skimpy lingerie with her famous mum It's been a busy few months for Lila, who was among a glitzy list of stars at the Wall Street Journal Magazine Innovators Awards at the Museum of Modern Art in New York in October She looked incredible in a dress from Donna Karan collection, Resort 1995, which loosely-hugged her model physique 'KATE MOSS WE ARE IN THE MF 90S,' a user named Jack the Queen tweeted, and his followers wholeheartedly agreed. X users (formerly Twitter) called the supermodel 'iconic,' said they were 'obsessed' with her appearance, and described it as a 'full circle' moment. Other X users said she was aging like fine wine and called her 'THE OG SUPER MODEL OF ALL THE TIME.' Many called it Kate's 'comeback,' although the English supermodel is still a fashion week fixture, often spotted alongside her daughter. The mother-daughter duo, who share a close bond and are often seen out together, regularly sport near-identical outfits, with Lila often recreating Kate's celebrated outfits from the '90s. It's been a busy few months for Lila, who was among a glitzy list of stars at the Wall Street Journal Magazine Innovators Awards at the Museum of Modern Art in New York in October. She looked incredible in a dress from Donna Karan collection, Resort 1995, which loosely-hugged her model physique. The simple but stylish number was floor length and featured a draped back, which she styled with minimal accessories including a silver bangle. Lila wore her blonde locks in a sleek plait and enhanced her naturally pretty features with soft make-up. Ana de Armas seemingly confirmed a new romance when she was pictured kissing the stepson of Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel during a night on the town in Madrid, Spain. The 36-year-old Cuban-born star locked lips with Manuel Anido Cuesta after they appeared to enjoy a dinner date together last week. The romantic move also appeared to indicate that Ana had ended her relationship with Tinder Vice President Paul Boukadakis, whom she began dating in the wake of her split from Ben Affleck. The two looked loved-up on an after-dinner stroll, during which Ana locked arms with Manuel, who is an advisor to his father. Ana, who moved from Cuba to Spain at 18, later stepped out again with her companion as they took her dog Salsa out for an evening walk. The Knives Out actress looked effortlessly fashionable on the outing thanks to her white cashmere overcoat. Ana de Armas seemingly confirmed a new romance when she was pictured kissing the stepson of Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel during a night on the town in Madrid, Spain The 36-year-old Cuban-born star locked lips with Manuel Anido Cuesta after they appeared to enjoy a dinner date together last week The two looked loved-up on an after-dinner stroll, during which Ana locked arms with Cuesta, who is an advisor to his father Ana and Manuel were first pictured as they left what looked like a restaurant with a group of people in tow. The group stopped to chat outside the establishment before heading home. Ana contrasted the rest of their dark coats with her brilliant white overcoat, which appeared to be button-free. However, it had a matching belt, so she tied it closed like a trench coat to stay warm on the chilly evening. The brunette beauty added another touch of luxury with a gold Louis Vuitton patterned scarf that she draped around her throat. She contrasted her light-colored coat with black cropped pant, and she added some extra visual intrigue to her ensemble with a set of shiny black patent leather boots. Ana accessorized with a golden Louis Vuitton handbag with brown trim that matched her scarf, and she wore her lustrous brunette locks parted down the middle and styled straight so that they were draped over her shoulders. She and Manuel appeared to walk at least part of the way home with several of the people they dined with earlier, and the two were separated at times as they chatted with others. The two looked loved-up on an after-dinner stroll, during which Ana locked arms with Manuel, who is an advisor to his father Ana, who moved from Cuba to Spain at 18, later stepped out again with her companion as they took her dog Salsa out for an evening walk The Knives Out actress looked effortlessly fashionable on the outing thanks to her white cashmere overcoat Ana and Manuel were first pictured as they left what looked like a restaurant with a group of people in tow The group stopped to chat outside the establishment before heading home Ana contrasted the rest of their dark coats with her brilliant white overcoat, which appeared to be button-free However, it had a matching belt, so she tied it closed like a trench coat to stay warm on the chilly evening The brunette beauty added another touch of luxury with a gold Louis Vuitton patterned scarf that she draped around her throat She contrasted her light-colored coat with black cropped pant, and she added some extra visual intrigue to her ensemble with a set of shiny black patent leather boots Ana accessorized with a golden Louis Vuitton handbag with brown trim that matched her scarf She wore her lustrous brunette locks parted down the middle and styled straight so that they were draped over her shoulders Manuel looked classy in an all-black look featuring a shorter overcoat that only reached his knees. He paired it with dark pants and a scarf, and he stood tall in a classy set of dark suede boots. He styled his hair short and sported a short, well-maintained beard. After he and Ana split from the rest of their party, they appeared to walk a bit more through Madrid on their own, before pausing for a loving kiss. Manuel leaned down toward Ana's face, then grasped the front of her coat as they continued smooching. The two were so wrapped up in the sweet display that they didn't mind other pedestrians walking by them on the sidewalk. After their kiss, the two picked up Ana's dog Salsa to let it stretch its legs before calling it a night. Little is known about their burgeoning romance, as the Blonde star has stayed mum on the subject. She and Manuel appeared to walk at least part of the way home with several of the people they dined with earlier The two were separated at times as they chatted with others Ana was pictured speaking with another woman who appeared to have accompanied them to dinner The blond woman was dressed more casually in a puffy black down jacket She wore black leather pants and white platform sneakers that contrasted with Ana's shiny boots Ana moved to Spain at the age of 18, as her grandparents had Spanish citizenship She grew up in Cuba during the difficult Special Period following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 Manuel looked classy in an all-black look featuring a shorter overcoat that only reached his knees He paired it with dark pants and a scarf, and he stood tall in a classy set of dark suede boots He and Ana were seen saying goodbye to their friends Manuel keeps a low profile in general, as he doesn't appear to have much of a social media presence. However, rumors of their romance appear to have begun around six months ago, in May. At the time, the Cuban influencer Alexander Otaola claimed on his show that Ana and Manuel were dating, according to the Latin Times. He alleged that the Bond girl had been spotted returning to her home country Cuba to vacation with the president's stepson. She had previously been reported to be dating Tinder Vice President Paul Boukadakis, but little of their relationship was ever revealed, and neither he nor Ana have confirmed that it ended. Manuel's stepfather, Miguel Diaz-Canel, is the main successor to Cuban leaders Fidel and Raul Castro. Fidel served many roles in Cuba's government, but he turned over his positions as President of the Council of State of Cuba and President of the Council of Ministers of Cuba in 2008 to his younger brother Raul, and in 2011 he was also succeeded by his brother as First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, before dying in 2016. Raul, 93, then was succeed in his presidential positions by Miguel in 2018, and he then took over leadership of Cuba's Communist Party in 2021. After he and Ana split from the rest of their party, they appeared to walk a bit more through Madrid on their own The two were wrapped up in conversation by what looked like a public space They shared intimate looks and got close to each other They paused their stroll for a kiss Manuel leaned down toward Ana's face, then grasped the front of her coat as they continued smooching The two were so wrapped up in the sweet display that they didn't mind other pedestrians walking by them on the sidewalk After their kiss, the two picked up Ana's dog Salsa to let it stretch its legs before calling it a night Little is known about their burgeoning romance, as the Blonde star has stayed mum on the subject Manuel keeps a low profile in general, as he doesn't appear to have much of a social media presence Manuel is the son of the president's second and current wife, Lis Cuesta Peraza, from her first marriage. He doesn't hold any official government position in Cuba, but he has accompanied his stepfather on official trips, including one to the Vatican. According to the Latin Times, Diaz-Canel referred to his stepson as 'the opposition' while on the trip, which may indicate a difference of political opinions between the two. Manuel also reportedly has a law degree, though it's unclear if he currently practices. His romance with Ana is somewhat surprising, as she had seemingly forsaken connections to Cuba as her career heated up. The future star was born in Havana to the children of Spanish immigrants, and she suffered through rationing and supply shortages as a child during Cuba's Special Period, which began when aid from and trade with the Soviet Union dried up after its collapse in 1991. Ana, who had little access to international culture while living in Cuba, trained as an actress in school, and at 18 she left Cuba and settled in Spain thanks to her grandparents' citizenship. From the mid-2000s to mid-2010s, she trained in Spain and appeared on Spanish television shows and films. However, rumors of their romance appear to have begun around six months ago, in May A Cuban influencer claimed at the time to have seen them vacationing together in Cuba She had previously been reported to be dating Tinder Vice President Paul Boukadakis, but little of their relationship was ever revealed, and neither he nor Ana have confirmed that it ended Manuel's stepfather, Miguel Diaz-Canel, is the main successor to Cuban leaders Fidel and Raul Castro He's the son of the president's second and current wife, Lis Cuesta Peraza, from her first marriage He doesn't hold any official government position in Cuba, but he has accompanied his stepfather on official trips, including one to the Vatican According to the Latin Times, Diaz-Canel referred to his stepson as 'the opposition' while on the trip, which may indicate a difference of political opinions between the two Manuel also reportedly has a law degree, though it's unclear if he currently practices After leaving Spain for the US in 2014, Ana racked up a string of acclaimed supporting roles in films like Blade Runner 2049 and Knives Out She earned a Best Actress Oscar nomination for her role as Marilyn Monroe in the fictional biopic Blonde, which was based on the acclaimed novel by Joyce Carol Oates In 2014, she left Spain and moved to Los Angeles, after previously spending a few months in New York years earlier. Her first Hollywood feature, the Eli Rothdirected horror film Knock Knock, paired her with star Keanu Reeves. A supporting role in War Dogs (2016) followed, but her breakthrough was in a major supporting part as the holographic love interest of Ryan Gosling's lead character in Denis Villeneuve's sequel Blade Runner 2049. While the commercial underperformance of Blade Runner 2049 gave her time to return to Cuba, where she bought a home, Ana was back on screens with a major role in Rian Johnson's mystery thriller Knives Out, which starred Daniel Craig leading an all-star ensemble cast. She returned to her home country to shoot French filmmaker Olivier Assayas' spy thriller Wasp Network, which marked her first time working in Cuba since her departure years earlier. By 2021, Ana was an in-demand actress when she appeared again with Craig in the James Bond film No Time To Die, which she followed up with the psychological thriller Deep Water (2022), which she shot with her then-boyfriend Ben Affleck. In the same year she appeared in the Netflix action thriller The Gray Man, and she earned an Oscar nomination for leading the controversial drama Blonde, a fictionalized exploration of the life of Marilyn Monroe based on the acclaimed novel of the same name by Joyce Carol Oates. Ana most recently starred in Ron Howard's survival thriller Eden, which has yet to be released, and she is currently in post-production on the John Wick spinoff Ballerina, which is slated to be released in 2025. In September, Ana revealed that she was living 'off the grid' in a rural home in Vermont. She had previously sold her home in Venice, California, due to 'privacy issues,' even as she continued to date Ben Affleck. She later moved to New York for some time, and it's unclear if she is now based full-time in Spain or just visiting. Avaada group signs MoU with Rajasthan for Rs 5,800 cr power project New Delhi, Nov 22 (UNI) Avaada Group on Friday said that it has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Rajasthan government to develop a 1,200 megawatt (MW) Pumped Storage Project (PSP). The MoU was formalized between the Energy Department, Government of Rajasthan and Avaada Aqua Batteries Pvt. Ltd., a subsidiary of Avaada Group. "The ambitious project comprises development of 1200 MW Kadambari PSP in the Sirohi district. With a total investment of approximately Rs 5,800 crore over the next 5-7 years, the project is poised to play a transformative role in ensuring Rajasthans energy security and environmental sustainability," Avaada said in a press release. The company said that the latest project complements its previously announced investment of Rs 1 lakh crore in Rajasthan which encompasses projects like a 1 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) green ammonia project, 1 gigawatt (GW) wind power projects, and 10 GW solar power projects. Commenting on the latest investment plan, Vineet Mittal, Chairman of Avaada Group, stated, This MoU represents a monumental step forward in our mission to deliver cutting-edge renewable energy solutions. Our pumped storage project will not only provide Round the Clock (RTC) renewable power but also enhance grid stability by integrating more solar and wind energy. He further said, This is part of our broader commitment to Rajasthan, where we are actively pursuing solar, wind hybrid, and other innovative projects to meet the states growing energy needs and reduce its carbon footprint. UNI NK CS1421 A popular influencer and reality TV star is set to make a shock appearance as a wedding guest of Tammy Hembrow and Matt Zukowski. Tammy, 30, and Matt, 29, are set to tie the knot this weekend in Byron Bay surrounded by close family, friends and a flurry of influencers. While several stars fly in from across the country, former Love Island Australia star Anna McEvoy made it clear she was heading to Byron for the star-studded nuptials despite being brutally snubbed from Tammy's hens party last month. The 32-year-old, who hosts the Where's Your Head At? podcast with Matt and is married to Michael Staples, shared a mirror selfie in the bathroom at Melbourne Airport on Thursday. Declaring she's now in 'holiday mode', the pregnant businesswoman appeared to dress comfortably for the interstate Jetstar flight. Last month, ahead of Tammy and Matt's combined hens and bucks parties, Anna revealed her good friend's brutal act of not inviting her to the pre-wedding celebration. On Thursday, Anna McEvoy made it clear she was heading to Byron for Tammy Hembrow and Matt Zukowski's wedding despite being brutally snubbed from Tammy's hens party last month Tammy and Matt (both pictured) tie the knot in Byron Bay this weekend The Australian influencer confronted Tammy's fiance on their Where's Your Head At? podcast and admitted she she had a bone to pick with Matt over his joint evening with his fitness guru partner. 'So Matt Zukowski, sitting in front of me right here, invited my brother before I even copped an invite,' she began. Anna, who married Michael Staples in Greece earlier this year, explained that she had to ask for an invitation to the party despite Matt attending her Hen's party. She is also good friends with the soon-to-be-married couple. 'I had to ask for an invite from you, which is actually rude because you crashed my hen's party,' she added. Matt confessed that his fellow Love Island alum rang him up and said 'do you have anything to ask me?' 'My logic was, you don't like the culture that my mates bring. So I was like "why would she enjoy me around eight of my mates?"' Matt added. 'It's just about the fact that we are long-term fans, business partners. It would be nice to cop an invite,' Anna responded, to which Matt replied, 'I said you were more than welcome to come.' Anna, who is currently expecting her first child, declared she's officially in 'holiday mode' and appeared to dress comfortably for the interstate Jetstar flight 'I don't want to be more than welcome to come, I want to be invited! More than welcome to come feels like a pity party,' Anna said. 'No I do get that,' Matt said. 'I should have said "Hey Anna, this is my buck's, want to come?"' 'And then I would say, "No, thank you,"' Anna concluded, because she would not want to be around Matt's friends. Tammy is well and truly prepping for her upcoming marriage. The glowing bride-to-be was all smiles as she handed over her two-year-old daughter Posy to the tot's father, and Tammy's ex-fiance, Matt Poole earlier this week. Grinning from ear-to-ear, the champion Ironman, 36, who is currently expecting another baby with girlfriend Annelyse Oatway, gleefully took his baby girl. The influencer recently revealed the one thing she does not trust Zukowski with when it comes to their nuptials. Tammy joined her fiance on his Where's Your Head At podcast with co-host Anna McEvoy, and admitted she initially worried about Zukowski's vows. Last month, ahead of Tammy and Matt's combined hens and bucks parties, Anna revealed her good friend's brutal act of not inviting her to the pre-wedding celebration The admission came when Anna asked Zukowski if he had finished writing his vows and the soon-to-be groom revealed he turned to Google for inspiration. 'I don't know how any other dude does it, but I Googled how to structure them,' Zukowski revealed. 'I got really overwhelmed, so I'm going to go over it with the celebrant.' Tammy then chimed in to admit she was 'worried' about what he would come up with. 'We did a questionnaire with our celebrant,' Tammy said. 'I've been a little bit worried about Zukowski's vows. Are they going to be romantic?' After Zukowski protested he was romantic, Tammy agreed, adding that her concerns over Zukowski's vow-writing abilities were unfounded. 'You are very romantic but I had no idea how it was going to go,' Tammy told her fiance. The Australian influencer confronted Tammy's fiance on their Where's Your Head At? podcast and admitted she she had a bone to pick with Matt over his joint evening with his fitness guru partner 'We went through some of the questions and his answers were so sweet I literally wanted to cry,' she added. 'I have nothing to worry about. This man is the sweetest.' Zukowski clarified the situation, saying: 'It's not so much what I'm actually going to say, it's how to structure it.' Tammy also admitted that her vows make her tear up every time she reads them. 'Every single time I've looked at them I've bawled my eyes out crying, so I feel like we could be both up there crying,' she said. Tammy and Zukowski, who got engaged in December last year following just three months of dating, are set to tie the knot this weekend. The jet-setting pair were engaged in the Maldives late last year, before heading off to Greece and Bali for luxury holidays. Tammy has been engaged twice before, the first time to influencer Reece Hawkins, who she shares her son Wolf and daughter Saskia with. Leonardo DiCaprio had been called out for ignoring a traditional Fiji reception as he checked out of a hotel in Nadi this week. In a video posted to TikTok, the 50-year-old Hollywood actor was spotted leaving the hotel when staff lined up to perform a cheerful farewell serenade. Leonardo, dressed in black clothes and sunglasses, appeared to take a phone call after arriving to the foyer as hotel staff waited to farewell him. The Titanic star then quickly dipped his head down and rushed past the crowd to an awaiting car. Many fans criticised Leonardo for not acknowledging the people singing to him, with some calling his behaviour 'disrespectful'. 'Leonardo - Should've acknowledged the Fiji welcoming party,' one person said. Leonardo DiCaprio (pictured) had been called out for ignoring a traditional Fiji reception as he checked out of a hotel in Nadi this week 'Don't waste your energy my Fiji [family], he's so disrespectful,' another commented. 'At least he should have acknowledged the welcome by our country. No place like Fiji,' a third agreed. 'He totally ignored the welcoming effort,' one fan said while another wrote: 'Not even a thank you or a wave.' Some even accused Leonardo of 'pretending to take the phone call'. However, others defended Leonardo's low-key departure, with one writing: 'Maybe it's his first time in Fiji Just let him be.' 'The staff need to use their common sense and realise A list celebrities hate attention like this in public,' someone else said. 'Well at least they know not to do it again and respect his privacy,' another person added. The trip comes after Leonardo celebrated his birthday with quite the A-list guest list, including Brad Pitt and Steven Spielberg. In a video posted to TikTok , the actor, 50, was spotted leaving the hotel when staff lined up to perform a cheerful farewell serenade The bash was held at a private estate in the Hollywood Hills, but the actor utilised the help of an exclusive members-only club to ensure the festivities remained private, according to Page Six. Leonardo had guests cover the cameras on their phones with stickers from the San Vicente Bungalows. The 500 guests at the bash used stickers to cover up their phones, but organisers had 700 stickers on hand just in case. Numerous guests came straight from the evening's early Baby2Baby gala. 'Basically, the Baby2Baby group all went to Leos after,' the insider said. Leonardo also recently celebrated his first anniversary with 26-year-old model girlfriend Vittoria Ceretti. She is the first long-term girlfriend to break 'Leo's Law' and survive his 25-year-old 'cut off'. His romances with the likes of Gisele Bundchen, Bar Refaeli, Blake Lively, Erin Heatherton and Nina Agdal all ended before their 25th birthdays. Before Vittoria, he spent five years with TV actress Camila Morrone who starred in Amazon's hit musical drama series Daisy Jones & The Six, but ditched her just weeks before she turned 25. Many fans have criticised Leonardo's failure to acknowledge the people singing to him, with some calling his behaviour 'disrespectful' Then came a brief fling with model Gigi Hadid (an 'ancient' 27) who was rapidly followed by 23-year-old starlet Victoria Lamas, prompting her father, actor Lorenzo Lamas, to quip: 'I told her to treat the relationship like a holiday. Enjoy it as much as you can for as long as it lasts.' The relationship imploded after a couple of months. Leo met current girlfriend Vittoria at the Cannes Film Festival in May last year but the pair reportedly did not become serious until around 12 months ago. The producer said: 'He and Vittoria seem happy but she's 'old' by his standards. Perhaps she's the one who will finally get him to settle down? I doubt it.' Elizabeth Olsen just wore the same cranberry-colored Mugler mini dress that Anya Taylor-Joy wore earlier this year. The 35-year-old actress whose sisters are Mary-Kate and Ashley put her personal touch on the look as she added cherry red pantyhose. Back in May, Taylor-Joy, 28, drew attention in the exact same frock, which boasts a draped leather look to give the illusion of a wet appearance. At the time, she flaunted her bare legs in the backless dress, punctuating the ensemble with red Christian Louboutin heels. Elizabeth donned the dress for her Flaunt Magazine cover party on Wednesday night in Los Angeles. And the Queens Gambit star wore it for a guest spot on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert to promote her movie Furiosa. Elizabeth Olsen just wore the same cranberry-colored Mugler mini dress that Anya Taylor-Joy wore earlier this year Elizabeth donned the dress for her Flaunt Magazine cover party on Wednesday night in Los Angeles Both women were aligned in choosing coordinating red lipstick, but Elizabeth skipped jewelry while Anya sported subtle silver pieces. Elizabeth played Wanda Maximoff, a powerful sorceress with the ability to harness energy and even change time, in five Marvel films but was killed off at the end of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. The WandaVision star's red dress-outing comes after she said she would love Marvel Studios to 'to leave a window open' for the return of her character. She made the confession during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live in September. Jimmy suggested a window could be left open in case she's not dead. 'I would beg to leave a window open,' Elizabeth replied after the host reminded her that Wanda was crushed by rocks at the end of the last movie. Jimmy noted: 'But nobody ever said to you that's it, it's the character, it's dead. That's the end of the run.' The actress went on to say: 'I think I'm dead.' Anya skipped pantyhose and pulled her long blonde locks into a sleek ponytail The Queens Gambit star wore the number for a guest spot on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert to promote her movie Furiosa Meanwhile, Anya recently became the face of Tiffany & Co.'s holiday campaign. Exploring New York City in a promotional video, she walks in the snow dressed in a strapless black ballgown. 'Come with me to the city where love never sleeps,' she says in the advert while decorated in Tiffany pieces, including a $39,000 diamond bangle. The actress has been signed as the face of the brand since 2021 after she catapulted to fame in 2020. In May she was draped in diamonds out on the Cannes Film Festival red carpet, wearing a 172 carat necklace. And in September she wore 149 carat diamonds for a Vogue shoot. Childish Gambino has been forced to cancel his Australian and New Zealand 2025 concert dates due to illness. The 41-year-old US rapper is currently recovering from an undisclosed medical issue after being hospitalised in October. Gambino, whose real name is Donald Glover, shared the heartbreaking news to ticket holders and fans on Friday. 'Unfortunately, my path to recovery is taking longer than expected,' he began. 'The upcoming concerts in Australia and New Zealand are cancelled. 'One of the last things Id ever want to do is disappoint my fans.' US rapper Childish Gambino has been forced to cancel his Australian and New Zealand 2025 concert dates due to illness. The 41-year-old hitmaker is currently recovering from an undisclosed medical issue after being hospitalised in October. (Pictured) Gambino, whose real name is Donny Glover, shared the heartbreaking news to ticket holders on Friday. The ABC reported on Wednesday that Ticketek has advised Australian and New Zealand concertgoers will receive a full refund. (Pictured) Gambino continued: 'I really appreciate the support you have shown and know that I will do what I can to give u an exceptional experience when the time is right. Thank you.' On Wednesday, the ABC reported that Ticketek has advised Australian and New Zealand concertgoers will receive a full refund. Gambino was initially scheduled to play a handful of gigs Down Under in February 2025, including shows in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth. He last performed in Australia in 2019 and has spent the past five years recording new music and advancing his acting career. It comes after the Star Wars: Solo actor announced that he was abandoning his New World Tour in October, which included shows in the UK and Europe and a month of concert dates scheduled for the US. Gambino left the road after completing nearly 20 gigs in the US when he became troubled with an unspecified ailment. 'After my show in New Orleans, I went to the hospital in Houston to make sure of an ailment that had become apparent,' he shared on X last month. He continued: 'After being assessed, it became clear I would not perform that night, and after more tests, I could not perform the rest of the US tour in the time asked. It comes after the Star Wars: Solo actor announced that he was abandoning his New World Tour in October to recovery from surgery. The cancelled tour included shows in the UK and Europe and a month of concert dates scheduled for the US. (Pictured) 'As of now I have surgery scheduled and need time out to heal. 'My path to recovery is something I need to confront seriously. 'With that said, we have made the difficult decision to cancel the remainder of the North American tour and the UK and European dates.' 'Tickets will be refunded at point of purchase. I want nothing more than to bring this show to the fans and perform. Until then, thanks for love, privacy, and support.' Gambino has been hinting that he will soon retire from music since at least 2017 and confirmed that the Bando Stone album will be his last under his alter ego. 'There's nothing worse than like a third sequel, like a third movie, and we're like, "again?"' he told HuffPost while promoting his TV series Atlanta in 2017. The Californian-born star's shows were to promote the release of his latest album Atavista - a reissued version of his 2020 LP called 3.15.20 - which hit streaming services in May. 'ATAVISTA is streaming now. this album is the finished version of '3.15.20', the album I put out 4 years ago, there's a special vinyl coming soon w / visuals for each song. the all new Childish Gambino album comes out this summer,' he wrote on Instagram at the time. The new version of the album has two new tracks Atavista and Human Sacrifice and includes collaborations with Ariana Grande, 21 Savage and Young Nudy. Brittany Hockley almost sent fans into a frenzy when she documented getting ready for the 2024 Australian Podcast Awards on Thursday. The Life Uncut podcast co-host, 37, showed the stages of getting her hair styled for the awards night on her Instagram Story. It started with the former Bachelor star's hair with dead straight bangs while the rest of her hair was tightly curled into little ringlets. 'It's giving year 10 formal,' she joked alongside the clip, adding, 'Is this the finished product?' Brittany quickly assured her fans to 'have faith' in the unfinished look that eventually transformed into a chic curly updo. 'Ok what,' Brittany wrote in a separate Story. 'Obsessed. This will be my new hair forever.' Brittany Hockley almost sent fans into a frenzy when she documented getting ready for the 2024 Australian Podcast Awards on Thursday The Life Uncut podcast co-host, 37, showed fans the stages of getting her hair styled for the awards night on her Instagram Story Meanwhile, her podcast and radio co-host Laura Byrne suffered an awkward wardrobe malfunction at the awards. The 38-year-old looked thrilled as she posed alongside Brittany and producer Keeshia Pettit. Wearing a hot pink off-the-shoulder ruched dress, Laura raised her fist in the air as they celebrated being finalists for two awards on the night. 'Yeah guys nailed the shot, go team!' she wrote alongside the snap. But the wholesome image was ruined by the former Bachelor star's stick-on bra being completely exposed. Taking the blunder in stride, Laura re-shared the picture and zoomed in on the embarrassing wardrobe malfunction. 'FFS. Steven would not be impressed,' she wrote, referring to a fan who roasted her for being disorganised ahead of the event. The dazzling night comes after the girls' fellow radio colleague Mitch Churi broke down live on-air this week and confirmed with listeners he'd been sacked from the KIIS FM network. Brittany quickly assured her fans to 'have faith' in the unfinished look that eventually transformed into a chic, curly updo Brittany's final look turned heads for all the right reasons The radio star, who co-hosted The Pick Up drive time show alongside Laura and Brittany, became emotional as he revealed the heartbreaking news to his co-stars. 'Late last week I was informed by the powers that be that they have identified my role here as one that won't be returning in 2025,' Mitch began. Mitch then revealed he was blindsided by the decision and he wished it had not come to this. 'I just want to say it wasn't my decision or my call. I really wanted to stay on the show with you two. I really wanted to stay with KIIS.' Co-star Laura jumped in to say she and Brittany fully supported Mitch and wished him all the best for the future. 'This is not what we want for the show. It's a decision that has been made out of our control. Britt and I have to continue on doing the show without you and we are utterly devastated,' she said. 'You are not only our co-host, but also one of our best friends,' Brittany chipped in. Fortunately, Mitch will be able to properly farewell listeners as he will remain on air until the end of the year. KIIS FM presenter Mitch Churi (pictured) broke down live on-air on Wednesday afternoon, as he confirmed to listeners he had been sacked from the network The radio star, who co-hosted The Pick Up drive time show alongside Laura Byrne (right) and Brittany Hockley (left), became emotional as he revealed the heartbreaking news to his co-stars Mitch later posted the clip to Instagram and his celebrity friends quickly took to the comment section to share their support. 'We'll miss you, Mitch,' wrote fellow radio stars Amanda Keller and Brendan 'Jonesy' Jones. 'I'm so sorry. I know it hurts. But the world awaits. One door closes another opens will def be in your future,' added Channel Seven presenter Kylie Gillies and TV presenter Tristan MacManus chipped in: 'Sorry to hear'. On Wednesday, Laura and Brittany were spotted supporting Mitch as he exited KIIS FM's North Sydney studios after the shock news. The radio presenters looked emotional as they embraced Mitch while walking him out of the studio, shortly after the shock news broke he had been given his marching orders. It follows reports that KIIS FM is reeling this week as the major star has reportedly been given marching orders and he will finish up at the end of the year, the Daily Telegraph claimed on Tuesday. He had hosted The Night Show with Mitch Churi since 2019, and co-hosts The Pick Up with Laura and Brittany. The decision was made for 'financial reasons' the paper claims, and Mitch, who has not been on the air since Thursday, was given the bad news on Tuesday. 'Mitch is shattered and completely blindsided,' the publication quoted a 'colleague' as saying. Happy Days star Henry Winkler revealed why he stopped his daughter Zoe from pursing a career in television. During a special appearance on his 44-year-old daughters podcast What In The Winkler?! on Wednesday, the 79-year-old actor opened up about the time she was vying for a spot on The Bachelorette. The doting father explained that he didn't jump at the opportunity because of how 'protective' he is over his little girl. When Zoe asked the Happy Days star if he remembered the Bachelorette offer, he said, 'Oh, my goodness. And we put a stop to that and only for your protection.' Zoe then recalled a time when she, Kim Kardashian, and Sarah Howard were previously approached to appear on a show called Quarter Life Crisis. Which of course, Henry declined the offer on her behalf. Henry Winkler revealed why he stopped his daughter Zoe from starring on reality TV; seen in August 2022 Zoe said: 'I'll never forget Matt Hanna [an executive producer]. He worked at VH1 at the time, he flew out to LA and did a sizzle reel of us. 'And I don't even think like I mentioned it to you... I was living at home at the time because I was just done with college. He came to the house and you met him outside.' The Click actor responded: 'I did. I said, it is so lovely that you're here, I can suggest some really good restaurants, [but] my daughter is not doing your show.' Even though he shot down her aspirations of becoming a reality star and of being 'the most famous person in the world', she knows it was for the better and finds solace as a teacher. 'I became a teacher, which was the best job and what I always truly wanted to do,' the brunette beauty said. To which the actor responded: 'I'm not kidding, [it's] not because I'm your dad.' He quipped, 'I'm just objectively telling you I saw it happen. If I were a young parent, at the time that I saw the way you parent and the way you taught, I would have stolen your technique and used it as my go-to.' Upon graduating from Loyola Marymount University, Zoe started teaching at a nursery school. In 2018, she co-founded the nonprofit organization This is About Humanity, taking on a humanitarian role. This is About Humanity raises awareness and provides support to immigrant families and children who were separated at the border between the United States and Mexico. The doting father explained that he didn't jump at the opportunity because of how 'protect[ive]' he is over his little girl; seen in November Henry confirmed he has turned down roles on his daughter's behalf; seen in August 2023 Kim Kardashian showed off her body for a new Skims collaboration In 2018, he opened up THR about feeling heartbroken over seeing the separation of families and the conditions detained immigrants live in at the detention facilities. She recalled: 'I could not get the images out of my head of these children. 'I have a one-year-old, a three-year-old, and a six-year-old, and having them separated from me would be, I dont know that they would make it. 'I mean its so damaging and were living in such a scary time as it is right now that I feel like I never in my life thought I would become an activist, but I dont have any other choice,' she finished. Former Home and Away star Tammin Sursok turned heads when she hit the red carpet for the Voiceless charity event in Nashville on Monday. The US-based stunner looked ageless as she wore a 'country'- inspired outfit. It featured a sleeveless tan dress with hip pockets and a zip-up front. To complete her 'cowgirl' look, the 41-year-old actress and mother wore a brown wide-brimmed western hat and matching heritage-style boots. The fan favourite let her long blonde locks fall over her shoulders, and she went for a glamorous makeup look that featured a soft pink eyeshadow and matching lipstick. She accessorised with a white wristwatch and a gold pendant she wore on a delicate chain necklace. Held in Nashville, Tennessee, Voiceless is a celebrity fashion show and charity event that supports animal protection causes. Former Home and Away star Tammin Sursok (pictured) turned heads when she hit the red carpet for the 'Voiceless' charity event in Nashville on Monday The US-based stunner looked ageless as she wore a 'country'- inspired outfit It featured a sleeveless tan dress with hip pockets and a zip-up front The show was hosted by Boot Barn who produce the Wonderwest brand of western themed fashion for women. It comes after Tammin Sursok recently revealed the harrowing details of a miscarriage she had in 2017. The Australian actress, 41, who is based in Nashville, Tennessee, took to Instagram with a heartbreaking video about the terrifying experience. Tammin, who has two children with her partner Sean McEwen, suffered her first miscarriage in 2016. She described the miscarriage she experienced the following year as particularly devastating. 'In 2017, I had a bad miscarriage. I went to a routine checkup at 13 weeks and was told there was no heartbeat,' Tammin began her video. She then shared clips from her ultrasound checkups, with one being from the day she discovered her unborn child was not alive. 'I have some not great news for you,' the medical practitioner said in the video before it cut out. To complete her 'cowgirl' look, the 41-year-old actress and mother wore a brown wide-brimmed western hat Tammin is pictured as Dani Sutherland on Home And Away Tammin continued: 'I started to bleed heavily and was admitted so I could get medical intervention to release my pregnancy. 'If it wasn't for the fast action of my doctors and medical team, I'm not sure I'd be here as a mom [sic] to two beautiful daughters.' The actress then began to show clips that saw her spending time with her daughters, Phoenix, 11, and Lennon, five, who she shares with husband Sean. Interspersed through the happy snaps were videos of Tammin crying as she revealed the news of her miscarriage to her followers. 'What is happening right now to women's healthcare in America is terrifying,' Tammin captioned the videos. 'In 14 states, including Texas and Georgia, the government has to evaluate and choose how ill you have to be to get medical help. 'A Texas mother died last week after waiting 40 hours for miscarriage care.' Tammin went on to claim 30,000 more women had come forward with their near-death experiences while awaiting medical attention for their miscarriages. The actress rose to fame playing playing Danielle 'Dani' Sutherland in Home and Away 25-years ago. She later won praise in the US made teen series Pretty Little Liars. Tammin welcomed her second child daughter Lennon Bleu in January 2019. She also shares daughter Phoenix with husband Sean. The Red Nose Grief and Loss Support Line is available 24/7 for anyone affected by the loss of a pregnancy, stillbirth or death of a baby or child on 1300 308 307 Helen Mirren looked nothing short of sensational as she graced the red carpet at the star-studded L'Oreal Paris Women of Worth Celebration on Thursday evening. The Oscar winning British actress, 79, who has been a L'Oreal brand ambassador since 2014, dazzled in a sequinned lavender gown with a demure neckline and sheer mesh skirt. Helen kept her silver tresses off her face with a thin headband while also added extra sparkle to the ensemble with a pair of purple diamond drop earrings. She toted her essential for the evening in a perfectly co-ordinating clutch and slipper her feet into a pair of silver heels. Helen was joined on the red carpet by fellow brand ambassadors Cara Delevingne, 32, Elle Fanning, 26, Andie MacDowell, 66, and Aja Naomi King, 39. Helen Mirren, 79, looked nothing short of sensational as she graced the red carpet at star-studded L'Oreal Paris Women of Worth Celebration on Thursday evening The Oscar winning British actress, who has been a L'Oreal brand ambassador since 2014, dazzled in a sequinned lavender gown The 19th annual soiree, which honors 'women who uplift their communities through service,' was held at NeueHouse Hollywood in Los Angeles. The beauty company selected 10 non-profit leaders who will each receive $25,000 towards their charities along with 'mentorship' through the L'Oreal Paris network, as per the website. Delevingne who recently took a loss on the sale of her LA mansion looked ultra chic while posing on the red carpet in a dark gray pinstripe suit. The model, wore her blazer over a white button-up shirt with only one side tucked into the waistband of her flared slacks. She stood on tall heeled sandals, adding several inches to her already statuesque frame. The Suicide Squad star who became a part of the L'Oreal Paris family this past September rocked a full face of makeup that included a brown smokey eye and a glossy nude lip. Delevingne's wavy blonde hair was swept to one side, creating a voluminous look. For the occasion in LA, Fanning who stars with Timothee Chalamet in a highly-anticipated biopic exuded elegance in a sleek navy blue halter dress. The sparkly gown boasted a demure neckline and sheer mesh skirt Helen kept her silver tresses off her face with a thin headband while also added extra sparkle to the ensemble with a pair of purple diamond drop earrings She toted her essential for the evening in a perfectly co-ordinating clutch and slipper her feet into a pair of silver heels Helen was joined on the red carpet by fellow brand ambassadors (L-R) Cara Delevingne, 32, Andie MacDowell, 66, Aja Naomi King, 39, and Elle Fanning , 26 Cara looked ultra chic while posing for photographers on the red carpet in a dark gray pinstripe suit She stood on tall heeled sandals, adding several inches to her already statuesque frame Meanwhile Maleficent star Elle exuded elegance in a sleek navy blue halter dress MacDowell looked phenomenal modeling a high-fashion beige coat dress that showed off her killer legs She carried a beige leather clutch and accessorized with chunky gold earrings Aja Naomi King made jaws drop as she delivered bombshell glamour in a plunging off-white gown A daring slit allowed the How To Get Away With Murder star to show off her shapely legs and colorful iridescent heels The sexy frock showed off her bare back and slender arms as she worked her angles for photographers. The Maleficent star wore her short blonde hair in a fresh blowout that framed her heart-shaped face. As for makeup, Fanning who became a L'Oreal Paris ambassador in 2017 sported fierce winged eyeliner and a radiant complexion with a baby pink flush. Meanwhile MacDowell looked phenomenal modelling a high-fashion beige coat dress that showed off her killer legs. The eye-catching frock also had a modest train and batwing sleeves that she frequently showed off for the cameras. The Groundhog Day star, 66, wore her curly gray hair in a sleek low ponytail that flowed down her back. MacDowell who has worked with L'Oreal Paris since 1985, making her the longest-running brand ambassador carried a beige leather clutch and accessorized with chunky gold earrings. King made jaws drop as she delivered bombshell glamour in a plunging off-white gown. A daring slit allowed the How To Get Away With Murder star, 39, to show off her shapely legs and colorful iridescent heels. King who has been with L'Oreal Paris since 2017 sported a chic bob and dangly silver diamond earrings. James Norton has revealed the unusual name of the WhatsApp group he's in with some big Hollywood stars. The Happy Valley actor, 39, appeared on The Graham Norton show - which will air on Friday - to discuss his new film Joy, which tells the story of the inception of IVF. Based on a true story, Joy follows three pioneering British scientists in the Sixties and Seventies and their struggle to develop IVF against all odds. Explaining the movie, and how it inspired his WhastApp Group, he said: 'The film is important and really wonderful because it is righting a wrong. History has forgotten Jean Purdy who was vital to the science, but because she was a woman she was not honoured as she should have been. 'It is a sweet story about good people doing good things. There was a lot of love in the film and on the set and it was great hanging out with Bill Nighy and Thomasin McKenzie for the summer.' James added: 'The three of us now have a WhatsApp group call the 'Fallopians'!' James Norton revealed the unusual name of the WhatsApp group he's in with some big Hollywood stars during an appearance on The Graham Norton show - which will air Friday The Happy Valley actor, 39, was on the show to discuss his new film Joy, which tells the story of the inception of IVF (pictured with Nicole Kidman, Cynthia Erivo and Chris McCausland) Joy was released on Netflix on Friday. It tells the remarkable true story behind the birth of Louise Joy Brown in 1978, the world's first 'test-tube baby,' and the tireless 10-year journey to make it possible. The film is told through the perspective of Jean Purdy, a young nurse and embryologist who joined forces with scientist Robert Edwards and surgeon Patrick Steptoe to unlock the puzzle of infertility by pioneering IVF. Thomasin plays Jean Purdy, James stars as Robert, while Bill takes on the role of Patrick. Recently, James has been working on his new role in the Netflix series House Of Guinness, which is set to tell the story of the rise of the iconic alcohol empire. Filming for James' latest project, by Steven Knight, began last month, with the actor seen on set in Liverpool while filming fight scenes. Netflix has now announced who will join James in the cast of the hotly anticipated show, The House Of Guinness. The actor will be joined by famous faces including Jack Gleeson who played Game of Thrones villain Joffrey Baratheon, and Fionn O'Shea who starred in Normal People as Daisy Edgar Jones' love interest Jamie. Others who have already been announced as part of the cast of the new series, written by Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight, include Olivia Rodrigo's boyfriend Louis Partridge. James revealed the name of his WhatsApp group with his Joy co-stars Bill Nighy and Thomasin McKenzie is called Fallopians (pictured together at the BFI Film Festival in October) Joy is told through the perspective of Jean Purdy, [Thomasin], an embryologist, who joined forces with scientist Robert Edwards, [James], and surgeon Patrick Steptoe, [Bill] to unlock the puzzle of infertility by pioneering in IVF Joy tells the remarkable true story behind the birth of Louise Joy Brown in 1978, the world's first 'test-tube baby' (pictured with parents John and Lesley Brown) The star-studded cast also contains Masters of the Air star Anthony Boyle, Emily Fairn who recently starred opposite Martin Freeman in The Responder, Niamh McCormack, Seamus O'Hara and Irish actress Dervla Kirwan. Michael McElhatton and Danielle Galligan are also set to star with David Wilmot, who was cast alongside Florence Pugh in The Wonder, and Hilda Fay to complete the line up. The show's creator said he was delighted with the star-studded cast. He said: 'I am thrilled that we have such an exceptional cast and such an exceptional team to tell this story inspired by an exceptional family' House Of Guinness was written by Steven Knight, who is currently also working on the Peaky Blinders film. Netflix announced the series - which will explore the history of the family behind the famous brewery - back in March. The series will chronicle the extraordinary success of the family behind the famous Irish brewery, which was founded back in 1759 by Arthur Guinness. But behind the story of wealth and prosperity lies a tragic tale of seemingly endless misfortune for the family. The Graham Norton Show airs Friday at 10.40pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Zac Efron has been spotted filming scenes with Phoebe Dynevor for their dark new thriller Famous for the first time. The High School Musical star has transformed into a villainous figure determined to find fame thanks to his resemblance to another Hollywood star, and he was seen filming the latest scenes in the heart of Los Angeles. Playing the role of Zac's glamorous companion, Phoebe, 29, was dressed in a stunning green printed gown as she and her co-star played the eye-catching couple arriving for a glitzy ceremony together. The pair were hand-in-hand as they emerged from a car to attend the event, with Zac once again sported a dapper brown suit. It was revealed earlier this year in July that Zac, 37, had been cast in the movie and teaming up with A24 once again following his performance in The Iron Claw, which released in December 2023. Zac Efron has been spotted filming scenes with Phoebe Dynevor for their dark new thriller Famous for the first time The High School Musical star has transformed into a villainous figure determined to find fame thanks to his resemblance to another Hollywood star Zac and Phoebe were seen filming scenes for their new thriller for the first time, after he was first pictured on set last week Zac and Ernie Hudson were spotted holding a lighthearted conversation in between takes of a scene that seemingly took place in the front yard of a Los Angeles house. Other crew members could be seen standing nearby on a porch as they prepared to film the two stars. Famous is based on the novel of the same name written by Blake Crouch - who is also known for penning Dark Matter. The former Disney channel star plays dual roles in the film, including a Hollywood heartthrob named James Jansen and a fan, Lance Dunkquist. The premise is: 'Lance Dunkquist has the face of a movie star. Not just any movie star - Lance has been mistaken for Hollywood star James Jansen 228 times.' 'And now Lance is about to go to LA to make his dream come true. No matter what it takes,' per an official IMDB synopsis. Two months earlier in September, it was announced that Bridgerton star Phoebe had joined the cast. Earlier this month, Efron was also spotted seemingly filming another scene for Famous. He sported a similar hairstyle to his character of Troy in High School Musical. The pair emerged from a car to attend the event, with Zac sporting a dapper brown suit It was revealed earlier this year in July that Zac, 37, had been cast in the movie and teaming up with A24 once again Zac received critical praise for his performance in the emotional wrestling biopic The Iron Claw, following its release last year Famous is based on the novel of the same name written by Blake Crouch - who is also known for penning Dark Matter Phoebe transformed into the glamorous siren in her gorgeous green printed gown, and layered a jacket over her outfit to battle the chill The Bridgerton star is set to star alongside Zac for the first time in the upcoming A24 film The former Disney channel star plays dual roles in the film, including a Hollywood heartthrob named James Jansen and a fan, Lance Dunkquist The premise is: 'Lance Dunkquist has the face of a movie star. Not just any movie star - Lance has been mistaken for Hollywood star James Jansen 228 times' 'And now Lance is about to go to LA to make his dream come true. No matter what it takes,' per an official IMDB synopsis Two months earlier in September, it was announced that Bridgerton star Phoebe had joined the cast Earlier this month, Efron was also spotted seemingly filming another scene for Famous. He sported a similar hairstyle to his character of Troy in High School Musical Most recently, Efron starred in the Netflix romantic comedy, A Family Affair, along with Nicole Kidman and Joey King The movie hit the streaming site during the summer in June - but received mixed reviews from critics Zac also portrayed Kevin Von Erich in A24's The Iron Claw, which gained positive reception and currently holds a score of 89% on Rotten Tomatoes During an interview with Deadline earlier this year in January, the actor opened up about the next steps in his career and future roles The actor held a serious expression on his face during a scene, but later flashed a big smile as he talked to one of the crew members in between takes. Most recently, Efron starred in the Netflix romantic comedy, A Family Affair, along with Nicole Kidman and Joey King. The movie hit the streaming site during the summer in June - but received mixed reviews from critics. Zac also portrayed Kevin Von Erich in A24's The Iron Claw, which gained positive reception and currently holds a score of 89% on Rotten Tomatoes. During an interview with Deadline earlier this year in January, the actor opened up about the next steps in his career and future roles. 'I'm looking for directors with a real story to tell, and a perspective, and a group around them that is as committed, [where] their commitment is as strong as mine to give the audience a reason to see the film.' He added: 'I'll definitely be more selective, I think, in the best ways. This is why I've always wanted to make movies.' 'I view it more as a responsibility now, and I think that's just naturally going to make me more selective moving forward. And it does take a lot out of you. So, I think less is more in these moments.' Zac later expressed, 'I really enjoy working with directors that have a vision and that can guide. I can't pick a genre or a style of film that would be the most appealing next.' 'I just know whatever one it's going to be, and I love all of them, I just want it to feel real and authentic, and be able to commit wholly to it.' 'I'm looking for directors with a real story to tell, and a perspective, and a group around them that is as committed, [where] their commitment is as strong as mine,' he said He added: 'I'll definitely be more selective, I think, in the best ways. This is why I've always wanted to make movies' 'I view it more as a responsibility now, and I think that's just naturally going to make me more selective moving forward. And it does take a lot out of you. So, I think less is more in these moments,' Zac added Zac later expressed, 'I really enjoy working with directors that have a vision and that can guide. I can't pick a genre or a style of film that would be the most appealing next' The former Disney heartthrob has taken on a duel role in the upcoming thriller Zac has transformed into the hunky Hollywood star for his latest role He was spotted filming a glitzy red carpet event for the scenes Zac's latest dual roles in Famous comes just three months after he was hospitalized while swimming at a lavish villa in Ibiza in August He broke his silence soon afterwards by uploading an Instagram photo of himself exercising outdoors while shirtless Zac's latest dual roles in Famous comes just three months after he was hospitalized while swimming at a lavish villa in Ibiza in August. He broke his silence soon afterwards by uploading an Instagram photo of himself exercising outdoors while shirtless. The star simply penned, 'Happy and Healthy, thanks for the well wishes.' Insiders later told TMZ that Efron had dove into the pool while with friends and upon doing so, ingested a large amount of water into his lungs. The High School Musical 'showed signs of distress' afterwards and also appeared to be 'momentarily dazed.' Once security officials had rushed to Efron, he was then taken to a hospital 'as a precautionary measure.' After undergoing X-rays to ensure that his lungs were clear of water - Efron was medically cleared by doctors at the facility. Nairobi, Nov 21 (UNI) The Kenyan government has cancelled the proposed Nairobi airport expansion project and also a power project involving the Adani group, multiple media reports said on Thursday. As per the reports, Kenyan President William Ruto ordered the concerned government departments to scrap the deals. Ruto in his State of the Nation address said that the decision is "based on new information provided by our investigative agencies and partner nations." The development has come close on the heels of the US Justice Department indicting Adani Group chief Gautam Adani and other senior company officials of alleged bribery and fraud for obtaining solar power projects. Adani group has, however, dismissed all the allegations as "baseless" and vowed to seek all possible legal recourse. Under the proposed airport deal in Kenya, the Adani Group was to upgrade Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. The power project involves the construction of a transmission line. UNI NK SSP Justin Hemmes and girlfriend Madeline Holtznagel are enjoying cosy family time together as they await the birth of their first child. The billionaire Merivale boss, 52, and the model 27, were spotted at his Vaucluse mansion in Sydney on Friday. The hotelier already shares two daughters - Alexa, six, and Saachi, five - with his model ex Kate Fowler - the sister of Georgia Fowler. The tots were in tow with the couple as they kicked back at the palatial properly ahead of the weekend. Hemmes had his daughter on his hip as the pair made their way inside on what was a sunny Sydney day. Madeline covered up her blossoming belly in a loose blue dress shirt worn over a black bikini top. Justin Hemmes and girlfriend Madeline Holtznagel are enjoying cosy family time together as they await the birth of their first child. Both pictured The billionaire Merivale boss, 52, and the model 27, were spotted at his Vaucluse mansion in Sydney on Friday She added a pair of white shorts along with sandals in the same tone, which carrying a designer purse. The beauty appeared to have on minimal makeup and swept her blonde locks off her face while adding a pair of sunglasses. Justin meanwhile opted for a white shirt and trousers and also had on a pair of sunglasses to shield against the bright rays. A source confirmed the exciting news of the impending arrival to Daily Mail Australia earlier on Friday and revealed a friend of Justin's recently moved out of his Vaucluse mansion to make room for their growing family. It will be Madeline's first child. Justin and Madeline's representatives told Daily Mail Australia the couple will not be making an official comment. Madeline is the younger sister of fellow Aussie model Simone Holtznagel, who welcomed her first child, a daughter called Gia, in March with her now-ex-boyfriend Jono Castano. Justin and Madeline were previously seen earlier this month, when they arrived back in Sydney after enjoying a weekend away with Justin's two daughters. The hotelier already shares two daughters - Alexa, six, and Saachi, five - with his model ex Kate Fowler - the sister of Georgia Fowler The tots were in tow with the couple as they kicked back at the palatial properly ahead of the weekend Hemmes had his daughter on his hip as the pair made their way inside on what was a sunny Sydney day Madeline covered up her blossoming belly in a loose blue dress shirt worn over a black bikini top Justin meanwhile opted for a white shirt and trousers and also had on a pair of sunglasses to shield against the bright rays Madeline wore an oversized T-shirt as she strolled through Sydney Airport's private jet terminal with a huge smile on her face, just 12 days before their baby news was made public. And in his first sighting since the baby news, hotelier Justin appeared to be in good spirits as he rode his bike to work in Sydney's CBD on Friday morning. The businessman flashed a smile and cut a smart figure in a white shirt and cream linen trousers. Justin and Madeline quietly began seeing each other in 2019, a year after his debut on the Financial Review Rich List with an estimated net worth of $951million - which has since risen to $1.39billion. Though they generally keep their romance under wraps, the couple are often seen disembarking from his sea plane after enjoying luxurious family holidays with his two daughters. In August, Madeline also made a rare public post about Justin as she took to Instagram to mark his 52nd birthday. She shared a series of romantic selfies of them both and gushed over her partner in the caption. In one picture, Madeline flashed a huge smile as she sat on Justin's lap while he lovingly gazed at her. She added a pair of white shorts along with sandals in the same tone, which carrying a designer purse The beauty appeared to have on minimal makeup and swept her blonde locks off her face while adding a pair of sunglasses A source confirmed the exciting news of the impending arrival to Daily Mail Australia earlier on Friday and revealed a friend of Justin's recently moved out of his Vaucluse mansion to make room for their growing family Another showed the pair cuddling up to one another as they relaxed on a yacht. 'Happy birthday my love,' she wrote in a caption along with rose emoji. Earlier this year, Madeleine celebrated her 27th birthday party with a lavish bash at Justin's sprawling Vaucluse estate. Following the festivities, she revealed that her doting partner had bought her two llamas as a sign of his love. The couple have gone from strength-to-strength since going public in 2019 and even sparked engagement rumours last June. Eagle-eyed fans noticed Madeline was wearing a ring on her wedding finger as they questioned whether Justin had popped the question. A picture showed her sporting the jewellery as she cuddled up to Justin while enjoying a bowl of Udon noodles together at a restaurant in Japan. But the bling appeared to be an emerald and diamond promise ring, and another photograph showed her wearing a different ring on the same finger as she posed for a selfie. It will be Madeline's first child. Justin and Madeline's representatives told Daily Mail Australia the couple will not be making an official comment Madeline is the younger sister of fellow Aussie model Simone Holtznagel, who welcomed her first child, a daughter called Gia, in March with her now-ex-boyfriend Jono Castano Justin and Madeline were previously seen earlier this month, when they arrived back in Sydney after enjoying a weekend away with Justin's two daughters The couple have gone from strength-to-strength since going public in 2019 and even sparked engagement rumours last June Eagle-eyed fans noticed Madeline was wearing a ring on her wedding finger as they questioned whether Justin had popped the question Justin was previously in a relationship with Kate Fowler and the pair remain on good terms, often jetting off on holidays together with their daughters Alexa and Saachi. Just last month, Justin and Madeline were joined by Kate and her new boyfriend David Oettle as they took Alexa and Saachi to Queenstown, New Zelanad. Justin and Kate dated for three years before going their separate ways in early 2018, with Justin issuing a statement about their split at the time. 'Kate and I have the utmost love and respect for each other,' he said in a statement given to the Sydney Morning Herald. 'At the beginning of 2018, Kate and I decided our friendship and respect for family life would become the focus of our relationship. 'We love our children dearly and for now continue to live together happily in our family home.' 'Kate is a wonderful, wonderful, wonderful woman. As for what the future holds I am not sure,' he added. Justin is considered Australia's hospitality king, with more than 80 venues and billions in assets with names like the Ivy, Queen Chow and Establishment under his purview as CEO of Merivale. He is the only son of Merivale Group founder and nightclub mogul John Hemmes and Justin took over the business after his father's death in 2015. She's made an immediately impact mere minutes after her arrival in the camp. And it seems that Maura Higgins' stint in the I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! jungle has already had a knock-on effect, with her arrival in Thursday's episode sparking a huge ratings boost with younger viewers. The former Love Island beauty, 33, left fans in hysterics with a string of 'brilliant' one-liners after moving into the Jungle Junkyard with fellow new arrival, Reverend Richard Coles. Sources have told MailOnline that along with social media favourite GK Barry, Maura has seen young viewing for this year's I'm A Celebrity skyrocket, with streaming on ITVX already up 21% on the last series. Thursday's episode also attracted an over 70% share of 16-34 year-olds, a demographic consistently targeted by ITV bosses. A show source said: '16-34s audiences are such a coveted demographic for broadcasters and streamers, both in terms of attracting new audiences to the show and generating engagement and conversation online. Maura Higgins ' stint in the I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! jungle has already had a knock-on effect, with her arrival in Thursday's episode sparking a huge ratings boost The former Love Island beauty left fans in hysterics with a string of 'brilliant' one-liners after moving into the Jungle Junkyard with fellow new arrival, Reverend Richard Coles 'Having popular names such as one of Love Island's best known alumni, Maura and GK Barry, one of the most popular content creators in the UK, has been hugely successful in terms of attracting a younger audience alongside the show's mainstream following.' GK Barry, has also been a hit with many I'm A Celeb fans, sparking a huge spike in 16-34-year-olds during Sunday's launch show, and leaving some 'howling' with her screams while enduring Bushtucker Trials. Maura already boasted a huge fanbase thanks to her 2019 stint on Love Island, which itself sparked a string of memes and hilarious viral moments. It's also a stark contrast to her rumoured flame Pete Wicks, as while he has impressed viewers with his stint on Strictly Come Dancing, he has been tipped as the favourite to exit the competition this weekend. The TOWIE star, who has been linked to Maura on several occasions, narrowly avoided the dance-off during last week's Blackpool Special, and according to odds published by Ladbrokes, is 4/6 favourite to leave the show on Sunday. In second place is Montell Douglas with 3/1 odds, while in third is JB Gill with 4/1. Ahead of her I'm A Celebrity debut, Maura insisted she's single despite being pictured kissing Pete on a night out, and it's since been claimed that he's now grown closer to his dance partner Jowita Przysta. Maura has already proven she isn't afraid to speak her mind, joking that the main camp 'can starve for all she cares' after she and Reverend Richard were tasked with a secret mission. Sources have told MailOnline that along with social media favourite GK Barry , Maura has seen young viewing for this year's I'm A Celebrity skyrocket It's also a contrast to rumoured flame Pete Wicks, as while he has impressed with his stint on Strictly Come Dancing, he has been tipped as the favourite to exit the show this weekend Upon their arrival, Maura and Richard were thrown into Jungle Junkyard, a basic camp that contains overgrown greenery and zero luxury, rather than the main camp. However, after arriving and speaking with Ant and Dec, all was not as it seemed as a luxurious double bed, a container revealing a hidden large sofa, a cargo box opens with a large bathtub with bubbles, bath salts and hot water appeared. It was then revealed that Maura and Richard had been tasked with a number of missions in order to win food at the Jungle Junkyard buffet and the first mission was to convince main camp that their living conditions are horrific with no bed to sleep on and basic rations. Viewers lauded the pair as an 'iconic duo' as they pretended to be suffering from the same nasty hardships as Melvin Odoom during a Jungle Wasteland challenge. However in reality, while the Radio 1 DJ was pelted with offal and fish guts, Maura and Richard were treated to tea, sandwiches and a fruit platter. The pair also successfully convinced the Main Camp to sacrifice one of their beds, with Maura brutally declaring they should 'burn it' as they already had their own comfy bed for the night. After watching Maura and Richard meet for the first time and immediately begin bouncing off each other, the public couldn't get enough of the pairing. Taking to X, fans quipped: 'Maura and Richard being an iconic duo I didnt know I needed until they arrived on my tv 2 minutes ago #ImACeleb.' After watching Maura and Richard meet for the first time and immediately begin bouncing off each other, the public couldn't get enough of the pairing 'Jesus Christ. Sorry Father' 'I say Jesus Christ a lot too, its kinda my job' This duo are iconic already #ImACeleb.' '#ImACeleb Maura and Reverend Richard Coles livened this show up ''Jesus Christ'' I had to laugh when she said that in front of him, the unexpected duo.' 'We've literally had five minutes of Maura and Reverend Richard Coles and already they're iconic #ImACeleb.' 'I remove all criticisms I had. The pairing of Reverend and Maura is genius #ImACeleb.' 'Oh I love this maura and richard partnership already #imaceleb #imacelebrity.' Victoria Beckham kissed her lookalike sister Louise on the cheek as she rang in her birthday on Thursday. The fashion designer, 50, her mother, Jackie, and her younger sister, enjoyed a meal at a restaurant were they sang in front of a cake. Victoria lovingly wrapped her arms around her Louise as they swayed back and forth before she blew out the candles. 'Happy birthday!! We all love you so much,' the Spice Girl captioned the video that was shared to her Instagram Story. She wore a black turtleneck jumper for the occasion while Louise opted for a purple knitted top. Victoria Beckham kissed her lookalike sister Louise on the cheek as she rang in her birthday on Thursday The fashion designer, 50, her mother, Jackie, and her sister, enjoyed a meal at a restaurant were they sang in front of a cake Earlier in the day Victoria looked adorable in throwback childhood snaps as she wished her sister Louise a happy birthday. The fashion designer shared a slew of adorable photos to celebrate the occasion, with she and her younger sister wearing a series of matching outfits. In one photo, the siblings wore matching gingham pastel dresses and were clutching onto teddies as they stood side by side for the childhood photo. Alongside the sweet picture shared with her 32.9 million Instagram followers, Victoria penned: 'Happy birthday @louisesadams. I love you!' A second throwback snap saw the sisters again in matching ensembles as they smiled in front of a huge vanity mirror and dressing table. This time, the youngsters were wearing frilly blue pyjamas as they grinned for the photo. Victoria joked: 'We were so cute... what happened?!?,' alongside laughing emojis, before she wished her a happy birthday again. Finally, the WAG shared a snap of herself and Louise sitting on the bonnet of her dad's old Rolls-Royce wearing cute pink dresses. Earlier in the day Victoria looked adorable in throwback childhood snaps as she wished her sister Louise a happy birthday The fashion designer shared a slew of adorable photos to celebrate the occasion, with she and her younger sister wearing a series of matching outfits Finally, the WAG shared a snap of herself and Louise sitting on the bonnet of her dad's old Rolls-Royce wearing cute pink dresses She wrote: 'Here it is!! Love u @louisesadams @jackie.adams_,' tagging her sister and mother in the story. Victoria is the eldest of the three siblings, born to to parents Jacqueline and Anthony Adams. Louise shares four children, Liberty, Tallulah, Finlay and Quincy with her ex-husband Darren Flood. Last year, Victoria debuted her own brand 110 'My Dad Had A Rolls Royce' T-shirt on Instagram, which was inspired by a viral moment in the Beckham documentary. She followed the snap with the famous Beckham documentary clip of Victoria claiming her family were 'very working, working class'. David interrupted, incredulous, and asked Victoria to be honest. She replied: 'I am!' He then repeatedly asked Victoria to reveal what car her dad used to drive her to school in. The Spice Girl eventually gave in and said: 'OK. In the '80s, my dad had a Rolls-Royce.' 'Thank you.' David replied, and immediately left and closed the door behind him, his job done. Tom Cruise delighted a young artist with a visit to thank him for creating a striking portrait. Wilf Elliott, 21, is colour blind but began creating charcoal drawings in 2020 and earlier this year he drew scenes from Tom's 2022 action film, Top Gun Maverick. After sharing the drawing of Tom in the cockpit of a jet, Wilf then reached out to Tom's management and offered him the creation. To show his appreciation, the Hollywood actor, 62, met Wilf in person, and after nine months of planning the pair were finally able to spend 20 minutes together chatting. Speaking about meeting the actor, Wilf said: 'He asked me about my career and said it was so impressive. I shook hands with him multiple times. 'The people I have met before have all been big and incredibly lovely, this has been way above any expectations I've ever had.' Tom Cruise delighted 'starstruck' colour blind artist Wilf Elliott, 21, with a visit after being gifted a charcoal portrait of himself The Hollywood actor, 62, and Wilf Elliott, 21, got together last month after nine months of planning and the pair spent 20 minutes together Wilf continued: 'He approached me first and said my name. Him knowing who I was before meeting him was just absolutely ridiculous. 'He was probably one of the nicest guys I have ever met, and he wanted to know about my career. 'Over the next 20 minutes I was very grateful for his time and I was very red in the face. 'I was completely starstruck. It was the most surreal moment of my life.' Wilf revealed he had created a second artwork for Tom but the actor insisted he keep it as a memory before they took snaps together. The artist has become famed for his work, making charcoal drawings of celebrities like Gareth Bale, Zara Larsson and Sam Ryder. Their meeting comes after Tom made a surprise appearance at Top Gun: Maverick in Concert at the Royal Albert Hall in September. The movie reintroduces the characters from the 1986 classic and appears to have struck a chord with older fans with its traditional male values and 'bromance' storyline. He created the artwork dedicated to a scene from the 2022 action film, Top Gun Maverick which stars the Mission Impossible actor After sharing the drawing of Tom in the cockpit of a jet, Wilf was able to reach out to Tom's management through a client Wilf, who began creating portraits in 2020, has made charcoal drawings of celebrities like Gareth Bale , Zara Larsson and Sam Ryder It focuses on the relationship between Cruise's Maverick and the son of his dead best friend, Goose, alongside spectacular aerial action scenes. And as it was shown to 2,900 number of fans, acting legend Tom was spotted from the balconies over looking crowds of viewers. After enjoying the incredible performance, he stood from the balcony waving to hands while gesturing to his heart. He then joined the talented orchestra on stage to give a special thanks to the performers and say hello to thousands of fans. After thanking the audience for 'making his dreams come true' he was met with a roar of applause from adoring fans. According to the Royal Albert Hall site; 'They experienced the Academy Award winning blockbuster on the big screen, with Lorne Balfe, Harold Faltermeyer, Lady Gaga and Hans Zimmer's epic score performed live-to-picture by the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, conducted by Lorne Balfe himself.' The film opened in 4,732 North American theaters over the holiday frame, the widest release in cinematic history, besting the 2019 remake of The Lion King (4,725 theatres). It also marks the second-highest debut of 2022, behind Marvel's Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness, which took in $187.4 million on the first weekend of May. The long-awaited sequel also marked a personal best for Tom, giving the action icon his first $100 million movie in his storied 40-year career. It comes after Tom made a surprise appearance at Top Gun: Maverick in Concert at the Royal Albert Hall The $156-million tally was more than enough to best the 59-year-old actor's previous best opening weekend - War of the Worlds' $64 million back in 2005. The film from director Joseph Kosinski - who worked with Tom in the 2013 film Oblivion - also took in $128 million from foreign markets, for a worldwide opening weekend tally of $248 million from a huge $170 million budget. The film earned $21 million from IMAX theatres alone, boasting rave reviews with 96% on critic aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. Along with the critical reception, fans also chimed in giving the sequel an incredibly rare A+ grade on CinemaScore. Skye Wheatley proudly flaunted her sensational figure as she attended a fashion launch in Sydney on Friday night. The I'm A Celebrity winner, who recently underwent a fox eye lift in Turkey, also showed off her updated face as she posed on the red carpet at the launch of Runaway The Label's Summer Collection at the Gatsby House in Darling Point. The 30-year-old opted for a skintight mini-dress in a pearl tone that ensured her ample cleavage was on show. Skye was on trend in the silky frock, which she paired with gold accessories including hoop earrings. The television personality went for a full face of glamorous makeup and wore her hair in an updo with loose strands around her face. She looked like she was having a ball at the event, enjoying a cocktail and giggling with stylist Jaime Azzopardi as she posed for photos. Skye Wheatley (pictured) was proudly flaunting her surgically enhanced figure as she attended a fashion launch in Sydney on Friday night The I'm A Celebrity winner, who recently underwent a fox eye lift in Turkey, was showing off her updated face as she posed on the red carpet Earlier this month, Skye confirmed she had separated from her partner of six years Lachlan Waugh. Skye and her long-term partner share two childrenForest, five, and Bear, three. The Gold Coast-based mum-of-two explained the reason Lachy has not appeared in her recent Q&A videos is because they've decided to take time apart. 'Honestly not much to report. We just have a lil re-set break from time, it's good,' she told her fans. The former reality star has previously spoken at length about the couple's struggles and admitted they have recently been going to counselling. She said that 2024 is all about achieving goals, a journey which includes addressing the challenges in her relationship with Lachlan. 'Lockie and I went to a counselling session yesterday,' Skye said. The session, initially intended as occupational therapy for their son Forrest, turned into a much-needed intervention for the couple. Skye's realised their son's behaviour could be influenced by their relationship dynamics and it prompted her to take action. Skye attended the launch of Runaway The Label's Summer Collection at Gatsby House in Darling Point The 30-year-old opted for a skintight mini-dress in a pearl tone that ensured her ample assets were showcased Skye was on trend in the silky frock, which she paired with gold accessories including hoop earrings The television personality went for a full face of glamorous makeup and wore her hair in an up do with loose strands around her face. She absolutely whooped it up at the event The pair appear to have since reunited, after being spotted kissing at Pacific Fair shopping centre as she launched a pop up for her GPA label last week. Skye underwent a controversial fox eye life surgery and several other procedures in Turkey earlier this year. The Big Brother documented her recovery from the fox eye lift as well as liposuction a temporal lift and a blepharoplasty. The fox eye lift surgery, designed to mimic the red carpet look of the same name, has pulled back the outer corner of her eyes to have the almond shape usually achieved with dramatic eye make-up Coldplay fans have been left fuming and slammed 'useless' Ticketmaster after failing to bag Infinity Tickets for the band's upcoming Music Of Spheres tour. The band launched the giveaway that saw a limited number of 20/$20/20 seats, that must be purchased in pairs, with their locations in the venue not being revealed until tickets were picked up in person. Following their release at midday on Friday, fans rushed to Ticketmaster but found after placing the seats into their online basked an error kicked them to the back of the queue. Racing to X they fumed: '@Ticketmaster had Coldplay Infinity tickets in my basket, went to pay only to be sent to back of queue - ohh how we hate your uselessness Ticketmaster': 'Absolutey a joke with Ticketmaster trying to get infiirnity Tickets got to site with 2 tickets but then couldn't purchase then by 12.10 totally sold out. At this rate will never see them live'. 'I had Coldplay Infinity tickets in my basked, went to pay only to be sent to back of queue, where are my tickets now??': ' Ticketmaster what is happing?? What is this error!!!': 'How is it possible I was 115 in queue for Coldplay Infinity tickets, got through within like a minute and it's saying no tickets are left? A JOKE'. Coldplay fans have been left fuming and slammed 'useless' Ticketmaster after failing to bag Infinity Tickets for the band's upcoming Music Of Spheres tour (Chris Martin pictured) The band launched the giveaway that saw a limited number of 20/$20/20 seats, that must be purchased in pairs, with their locations in the venue not being revealed until tickets were picked up in person Coldplay's website states that the offer would likely sell quickly and demand would outstrip supply. MailOnline have contacted Ticketmaster and Coldplay's reps for comment. In September the group announced six new UK shows were set to take place next summer as they extended their record-breaking Music Of The Spheres World Tour. The band, revealed they would be playing Londons Wembley Stadium and Craven Park Stadium in Hull. They are the only UK/European cities where the band will perform next year with 10% of the proceeds being donated to Music Venue Trust in support of grassroots venues across the country. Mark Davyd, CEO of Music Venue Trust said: 'Coldplay are the perfect example of a UK band who came through the grassroots circuit on their way to worldwide stadium-filling success. 'It's fantastic to see them celebrating their own pathway to Wembley by giving back to the grassroots music venues that supported them and recognising the artists and promoters that are struggling more than ever to build their own careers. 'Through our partnership with Save Our Scene - who introduced us to Coldplay last year - this money will go directly into work that ensures communities right across the country will continue to have access to great live music on their doorstep. Following their release at midday on Friday, fans rushed to Ticketmaster but found after placing the seats into their online basked an error kicked them to the back of the queue (L-R) Coldplay's Jonny Buckland, Guy Berryman, Phil Harvey, Chris Martin Racing to X they fumed: '@Ticketmaster had Coldplay Infinity tickets in my basket, went to pay only to be sent to back of queue - ohh how we hate your uselessness Ticketmaster' What are Coldplay Infinity Tickets? Coldplay launched Infinity Tickets, which was a sale that cost 20/$20/20 a seat, and must be purchased in pairs for their 2025 Music Of Spheres tour. The limited number of tickets were released Friday 22 November and could be located anywhere in the venue, with locations not being revealed until tickets were picked up in person from the venue. Coldplay's website stated that the offer would likely sell quickly and demand would outstrip supply. Advertisement 'The bands support really will stop venues closing, make tours happen and bring the joy of live music to thousands of people. 'After months of discussing Coldplays potential support around these UK shows with them, were so happy and grateful that the news is finally out there!' Coldplay are reportedly paying a seven-figure sum to their former manager Dave Holmes, after he sued the band for 10 million. The band parted ways with Dave back in 2022 after over two decades, sparking a dramatic and lengthy legal battle. Coldplay UK tour dates for 2025 August 22 - Hull Craven Park Stadium August 23 - Hull Craven Park Stadium August 26 - London Wembley August 27 - London Wembley August 30 - London Wembley August 31 - London Wembley Advertisement In 2023, Dave claimed he was owed 10million in unpaid commission for Coldplays tenth and eleventh albums, which are both yet to be released. However, the band, led by frontman Chris Martin, countersued for 14million, claiming Holmes lost control of budgeting for their Music of the Spheres tour, and overspent by 17.5million. Documents filed at London's High Court, obtained by The Sun, stated that Coldplay agreed an undisclosed seven-figure settlement to prevent private details being made public in court. A source added: 'Chris and the band are happy theyve drawn a line in the sand but it has come at a price. The settlement cost them millions. They just want to move on.' Since Dave's departure, Chris' best friend, Phil Harvey, who helped fund their first recording and was then known as the bands fifth member, has stepped in to lead their management team. MailOnline has contacted representatives for Coldplay for comment. Last year, Coldplay's legal battle with their former manager took a dramatic turn, when Dave accused the band of 'making up' tales of mishaps and 'ethical lapses.' Holmes told MailOnline that he believe the British group led by Chris Martin 'knew they were in trouble,' after the countersued for 14 million. Hitting back at the writ, a spokesman for Mr Holmes told MailOnline in October: 'Coldplay knows they're in trouble with their defence. 'Accusing Dave Holmes of non-existent ethical lapses and other made-up misconduct will not deflect from the real issue at hand: Coldplay had a contract with Dave, they are refusing to honour it and they need to pay Dave what they owe him'. Coldplay believed that its tour suffered spiralling costs due to Mr Holmes. Sienna Miller looked effortlessly stylish as she attended the Carolina Herrera X Frame party in New York City on Thursday. The actress, 42, was joined by her boyfriend Oli Green, 27, for the celebration which was held at Chez Margaux. She wore a casual ochre denim co-ordinate consisting of an oversized jacket and a matching pair of wide leg jeans. Sienna teamed her outfit with a plain T-shirt, a pair of Calvin Klein boxers and a grey Prada handbag. Oli opted for a similar look as he paired a suede jacket with black jeans and a white T-shirt. The actress and actor welcomed their first child together earlier this year after they started dating in 2022. Sienna Miller looked effortlessly stylish as she attended the Carolina Herrera X Frame party in New York City on Thursday The actress, 42, was joined by her boyfriend Oli Green, 27, for the celebration which was held at Chez Margaux The actress gave birth to her daughter Marlowe, now 12, with her ex Tom Sturridge in July 2012. And after welcoming her second child to the world earlier this year with Oli, at the age of 42, Sienna told Stellar Magazine that she could not recommend late motherhood more highly. The American Sniper star welcomed their daughter, whose name she has not revealed, in January. 'My own experience of motherhood 12 years later is completely different' the British star told the publication. 'I'm a very different person. People often have lots to say about having babies in your 40s as women, but I can't advocate for it more. I feel very lucky.' Last month, Jude Law revealed he's 'moved on' from the time in his life when he was engaged to Sienna, as he posed for a suave new shoot with VARIETY. The actor, 51, told the publication 'that time in his life is now over,' after his relationship was the centre of huge public attention. She wore a casual ochre denim co-ordinate consisting of an oversized jacket and a matching pair of wide leg jeans (pictured with Erik Torstensson) Oli opted for a similar look as he paired a suede jacket with black jeans and a white T-shirt (pictured with Wes Gordon, right) Jude and Sienna split in 2006 after his affair with his children's nanny Daisy Wright came to public knowledge in 2005, and the actress said in 2020 that she found the scandal 'really hard'. Speaking about the time he and Sienna were engaged, Jude said: 'That time is now over, and I've moved on from it. And so has, fortunately, the attention of the photographers and the prying eyes on me. 'But Ive had to learn to live in a certain way that keeps them at bay. And I have to handle my kids and my partners privacy in the same way.' Sienna and Jude first met on the set of their film Alfie, and the pair got engaged on Christmas Day in 2004 after nearly a year of dating. She broke off the engagement following news of his affair, with the pair separating in November 2006 after failing to salvage their relationship. They reconnected in late 2009 when both starred on Broadway, with Sienna even spending Christmas with Jude and three of his children in Barbados, but they broke up once again in February 2011. Amelia Gray Hamlin put on a quirky display in a crop top and red mini skirt She was joined at the event by her sister Delilah Belle Delilah wore a fur-trimmer denim trench coat The siblings posed for some fun snaps at the event Micaela Diamond wore a blue polo neck top with an A-line denim skirt Last month, Jude Law revealed he's 'moved on' from the time in his life when he was engaged to Sienna , as he posed for a suave new shoot with VARIETY (pictured in 2004) Before meeting Sienna, Jude was married to Sadie Frost -with whom he shares three of his children son Rafferty, 24, Iris, 20, and Rudy, 18- but they got a divorce in 2003, after six years of marriage. Jude is now married to psychologist Phillipa Coan, 32, who he was first spotted with at the Hay literary festival in 2015. The couple got married at Old Marylebone Town Hall in London in 2019, before partying in Mayfair three months after the actor announced their engagement. They have two children together. The actor also has a daughter Sophia, 15, with model Samantha Burke and Ada, nine, with musician Catherine Harding. Pete Wicks and Jowita Przystal have sent fans into a frenzy with their 'unreal' chemistry after she co-hosted his Staying Relevant podcast. The pair have been competing on Strictly Come Dancing together since September, and in recent days, sources have claimed they have been secretly seeing each other away from the show and have been spotted looking cosy on car rides together. With Sam Thompson in Australia hosting I'm A Celebrity: Unpacked, Jowita stepped as the co-host for the latest episode of Pete's podcast. After the episode was uploaded on YouTube on Friday, fans were quick to show their appreciation for the pair, calling for Jowita to become a permenant part of the team. Others were also quick to clock the pair's 'unreal' chemistry, as they prepare to take to the floor to dance a Tango this weekend. Comments included: 'I'm so gad Pete decided to do Strictly. If not, I'm not sure these two beautiful people would have ever crossed paths in life; Pete Wicks and Jowita Przystal have sent fans into a frenzy with their 'unreal' chemistry after she co-hosted his Staying Relevant podcast The pair have been competing on Strictly Come Dancing together, and in recent days, sources have claimed they have been secretly seeing each other away from the show With Sam Thompson in Australia hosting I'm A Celebrity: Unpacked, Jowita stepped as the co-host for the latest episode of Pete's podcast 'OMG the chemistry between you and Jowita is electrifying. You're relationship goals. Jowita has tamed you Pete in a really nice way. All you needed was someone who believes in you 100%. It's a beautiful thing to watch; 'Love these two together; I love their chemistry on this podcast; 'Their chemistry is unreal! Just wife her already! Lol;' 'Oh gosh you guys. Jowita is wifey, Pete!! They're so captivating to listen/watch due to their amazing chemistry, something to the final!' In recent days, rumours have re-emerged that Pete and Jowita have been spotted looking cosy on car rides together. Eyebrows have been raised over Pete's love life in recent weeks as he's been linked to both Jowita and Maura Higgins. On Thursday, sources claimed 'something has changed' between Pete and his Strictly dance partner in recent weeks and they have been secretly seeing each other away from the show. At the beginning of the series, the pair were said to have 'sent tongues wagging' between the cast and crew due to their sizzling chemistry, with viewers even spotting their close connection. After the episode was uploaded on YouTube on Friday, fans were quick to show their appreciation for the pair, calling for Jowita to become a permenant part of the team Others were also quick to clock the pair's 'unreal' chemistry, as they prepare to take to the floor to dance a Tango this weekend 'The chemistry between them has been pretty clear since the moment they met but the last few weeks something has changed and theyve started seeing each other away from the show,' a source told The Sun. 'Theyve tried to keep it low-key but they often travel together rather than getting separate cars to different locations. 'And theyre so tactile backstage it has become pretty obvious something is going on. Everyone is talking about the fact they seem closer than ever.' Back in October, Pete shut down rumours of a romance between him and Jowita during a joint appearance on This Morning. Host Alison Hammond began their interview, by asking: 'Do you actually listen to the judges or are you just in your own little world?' Pete admitted: 'I'm just in my own little world, we're in a bit of a bubble when we dance!' causing Alison to jump to the opportunity to probe them about their rumoured relationship, cheekily asking: 'Is it a love bubble?' However, Pete insisted: 'It's not a love bubble unfortunately...' before poking fun at Alison, saying: 'I mean you came in early, that was about 30 seconds before you went in with it!' Alison laughed and confessed: 'I was straight in there!' as Pete continued: 'You were straight in there! No, it's not a love bubble, we have great chemistry because we've become such good friends.' Gesturing to Jowita, he gushed: 'She's one of the most amazing people I've ever met, genuinely, not just in the dancing side of things but outside of that and I think that helps us with the whole dancing thing.' Alison asked if the pair found the constant speculation about the nature of their relationship tiresome, to which Pete admitted: 'Yeah, it's always the same, I'm used to it.' Pete was also linked to Love Island star Maura, but in an exclusive interview with MailOnline ahead of her jungle stint, she insisted that she is 'single'. When asked if she is in a relationship with Pete, Maura said: 'I'm not. I've been on dates with many people. I mean, I date, but I'm very much single. Everyone goes on dates.' She added: 'It is quite scary going in later. They have all met and got to know each other. 'It's never easy being the newbie, but I am not a shy person, so I feel like I will be fine. It will be nice to bring some energy to the camp. 'I am single at the moment, but honestly no-one is going to fancy me in the jungle. Trust me!' She also insisted that Pete will not be flying to Australia to meet her across the famous I'm A Celeb bridge when her time on the show comes to an end. On Thursday, sources claimed 'something has changed' between Pete and his Strictly dance partner in recent weeks and they have been secretly seeing each other Maura shared: 'I know nothing, he's not said that to me anyway.' The pair were spotted kissing at numerous red carpet events such as the Pride of Britain Awards, with Maura previously speaking about how the pair have been friends for many years. On Thursday night, Maura's entrance into the I'm A Celeb Jungle was aired, with the reality star making her appearance as a late arrival alongside Reverend Richard Coles. She became an instant fan favourite, with viewers left in hysterics at her one-liners. It is not known if Pete and Jowita were among those watching from home. Sydney Sweeney was preppy chic as she attended the star-studded RH Newport opening event in Newport Beach, California on Thursday. The Anyone But You actress, 27 - who recently showcased her driving skills in a race car - was joined by other celebrity guests during the festivities, such as Jessica Alba. RH Newport - a luxury furnishing and good store - officially opened its doors at The Gallery at Fashion Island. Sweeney put on a leggy display wearing a dark gray miniskirt that stopped inches above her knees, as well as a matching vest that was buttoned at the front. The star layered the ensemble with a matching blazer and slipped into a pair of closed-toed, black heels. Sydney's long, blonde locks were parted in the middle, and effortlessly flowed down past her shoulders in light curls. Sydney Sweeney, 27, was preppy chic as she attended the star-studded RH Newport opening event in Newport Beach, California on Thursday The actress opted for minimal accessories to allow the outfit to be the main focal point, and added a dainty, silver necklace. Sweeney's makeup was classically done, and comprised of a layer of mascara to her lashes as well as a light shadow around her eyes. A warm blush was added to her cheekbones for a radiant glow, while a rosy pink matte tint was worn on her lips for a finishing touch. When it comes to her personal sense of style, Sydney opened up to People a few months earlier in August. 'Fashion is a really fun way of embracing different sides of yourself. Some days, I might feel very girly, some days, I might feel edgy,' she explained to the outlet. 'Others, I might feel like I want to be more laid-back. It's a way of being able to express those different sides of how I feel or who I am.' In regards to her fashion sense, the Hollywood actress expressed that it is 'always going to change.' 'That's what's so amazing, especially about being a woman, is being able to embrace all the different sides of ourselves...' Sweeney put on a leggy display wearing a dark gray miniskirt that stopped inches above her knees, as well as a matching vest that was buttoned at the front Sydney also later crossed paths with other guests at the event, including Jessica Alba and Restoration Hardware CEO Gary Friedman 'Because we are so multifaceted and there's so much going on. I can never imagine being one thing for the rest of my life,' Sweeney continued. The Euphoria star was seen pausing for a brief photo session upon arriving to the spacious venue for the grand opening celebrations. Sydney also later crossed paths with other guests at the event, including Jessica Alba and Restoration Hardware CEO Gary Friedman. The Fantastic Four actress stunned in a brown, corset top as well as a fitted skirt and dark brown coat which was draped over her shoulders. The RH Newport Beach store is a whopping 80,000 square feet and also contains four levels for customers to enjoy shopping for luxury home furnishings, lighting, decor and other goods. The space also offers a rooftop restaurant with views of the scenic ocean, as well as 100-yera-old heritage olive trees and a wine bar. Friedman said in a statement, per the official website, 'RH Newport Beach reflects our vision to create architecturally inspiring and immersive spaces that blur the lines between residential and retail, indoors and outdoors, home and hospitality.' 'We are proud and honored to bring this innovative design gallery to Fashion Island in Newport Beach.' Sydney has been keeping busy and earlier this week, jumped to her main Instagram page to share photos that were taken at the Charlotte Motor Speedway in North Carolina Sydney has been keeping busy and earlier this week, jumped to her main Instagram page to share photos that were taken at the Charlotte Motor Speedway in North Carolina. She had the chance to showcase her driving skills while spending time with 2023 NASCAR Cup Series champion, Ryan Blaney. The star was pictured sporting a blue racing jumpsuit that had 'NASCAR Racing Experience' printed on the front. While posing for a few memorable snaps near the race track, Sweeney also took additional photos inside a race car before driving around the spacious track. In the caption of the post, the beauty penned to her followers, 'this is awesome! thank you @ryanblaney10 for showing me what I've been missing out on!' The actress has also been focusing on her latest project - a biopic where she portrays female boxer Christy Martin who rose to fame in the 90s. The actress has also been focusing on her latest project - a biopic where she portrays female boxer Christy Martin who rose to fame in the 90s; Martin seen in 1997 Last month in October, she shared behind-the-scenes photos to Instagram while sporting brown hair, as well as a sleeveless red shirt and gray sweatpants Last month in October, she shared behind-the-scenes photos to Instagram while sporting brown hair, as well as a sleeveless red shirt and gray sweatpants. Sydney showed off her muscular arms and wrote in the caption that she has 'been immersed in training to bring to life the story of an incredible woman - a true champion who fought battles both inside and outside the ring.' 'Her journey is a testament to resilience, strength, and hope, and I'm honored to step into her shoes to share her powerful story with you all. more to come soon :).' David Michod is directing the film, and told Deadline in May, 'I have a history of making movies about damaged men and I'd been wanting to make a film about a woman with a ferocious energy inside her.' 'Her journey is a testament to resilience, strength, and hope, and I'm honored to step into her shoes to share her powerful story with you all. more to come soon,' Sydney wrote; seen in September in Toronto 'When I came across the Christy Martin story two years ago I knew I'd found it,' he added to the publication. 'Her ferocity is intelligible and justifiable and audiences will crave it because of the circumstances she was forced to endure.' Other stars that have been cast in the project include Ben Foster, Merritt Weaver, Ethan Embry, Jess Gabor, Chad L. Coleman, Tony Cavalero and Katy O'Brien. Earlier this month, it was confirmed that the third season of Euphoria will begin production next year in 2025, where Sweeney will reprise her role of Cassie Howard. Nicola Coughlan exuded glamour as she attended TASAKI's 70th Anniversary Floating Shell exhibition at Selfridges in London on Thursday. The Derry Girls star, 37, was a vision of beauty in a caped black mini dress with an asymmetric sleeve and fringe detailing that she paired with sheer tights and court heels. She added to the look with TASAKI Atelier Waterfall high jewellery. Nicola has been the toast of Hollywood this year thanks to her starring role in season three of Bridgerton. The racy scenes saw her filmed nude alongside co-star Luke Newton, with Nicola hitting back at a passive-aggressive remark about her weight when she attended a Bridgerton screening. After an attendee told her during a Q&A session that she was 'very brave' for performing in nude scenes on the series' third season, Coughlan responded with grace and wit. Nicola Coughlan exuded glamour as she attended TASAKI's 70th Anniversary Floating Shell exhibition at Selfridges in London on Thursday Nicola has been the toast of Hollywood this year thanks to her starring role in season three of Bridgerton as Penelope Featherington Nicola has been enjoying success overseas (pictured at the Time100 Next event at Chelsea Piers in New York City last month) 'You know, it is hard, 'cause I think women with my body type, women with perfect breasts,' Nicola said. ' We do not get to see ourselves onscreen enough. I am a proud member of the perfect breasts community, and I hope you enjoy seeing them.' In 2018, Nicola penned a comment piece for The Guardian, detailing the pain of being described as 'a fat girl' and 'overweight little girl' by a theatre critic in recent years. She wrote: 'I'm very lucky to get to use my body to become all these fascinating women. But the prism through which my body is viewed is inescapable. 'I know I'm not alone; women in my industry are put under constant scrutiny for their looks. It affects male actors as well I had messages from them but the vast majority of feedback was from women. 'Something in our society tells us that women's bodies are fair game for scrutiny in a way that men's simply are not.' Rather than focusing on weight, Nicola has always communicated with her fans the importance of healthy living. She has credited early morning workouts with keeping her fit and active. The Derry Girls star, 37, was a vision of beauty in a caped black mini dress with an asymmetric sleeve and fringe detailing that she paired with sheer tights and court heels The Irish actress only found fame fairly recently for her role as Clare Devlin in Derry Girls in 2018 but now her success is global Nicola has always communicated with her fans the importance of healthy living and she has credited early morning workouts with keeping her fit and active While she revealed the key to her youthful complexion has been drinking plenty of water. Taking to her Instagram stories, she previously said: 'Newsflash guys, water's good for skin! Can't believe I was the first woman alive to realise the health benefits of water'. The actress also revealed that she doesn't splash out on pricey beauty products, getting her skincare from high street store Lush, where she worked as a teenager. Last month, Nicola slammed people who called her 'brave as a plus-sized woman' for baring all in Bridgerton as she graced the cover of TIME magazine. The Irish actress was named as one of TIME's Next Generation Leaders with the publication describing her as 'TV's breath of fresh air'. Taking to Instagram on Wednesday, Nicola gushed over the honour as she shared a selection of snaps from a glamorous photo shoot. 'So overwhelming, such an honour, thank you @time for having me on your cover (!!!)' she wrote. But in her interview for the magazine, Nicola touched on how despite being a few sizes below the female average she is called a 'plus-sized- heroine' - and urged fans not to call her 'brave' for getting naked on screen. Nicola added to the look with TASAKI Atelier Waterfall high jewellery as she posed with Gemma Chan and Yerin Ha at the event, Gemma looked stunning in an ice blue gown and coat and wearing the TASAKI balance palace necklace and bracelet and ring Fashionista Rahi Chadda cut a very stylish figure at the VIP event in a black and white ensemble DJ Fiona Jane looked great in a black dress with a thigh high split and ruffled hemline 'Don't call me brave,' she said. 'I have a cracking pair of boobs - there's nothing brave about that, that's actually just me showing them off.' Nicola criticised the emphasis placed on her size and shape and asked: 'What if I was suddenly going to play a ballerina and lose a s**t ton of weight, are you not going to like me anymore?' 'That's insane and so insulting,' she added. Nicola went on to say that she did not enjoy how fans focused so much on what she looked like during the promotion for the latest season of the Netflix series, calling the comments 'reductive and boring'. A United Nations University (UNU) hub has officially found a home in the United States, hosted by the City College of New York (CCNY) on November 5. A Memorandum of Understanding, signed between CCNY President Vincent Boudreau and UNU Rector Tshilidzi Marwala, formalized the joint enterprise. Named R-SIRUS, standing for Remote-Sensing and Sustainable Innovations for Resilient Urban Systems, CNHI News shared that the Hub will use the country's leading edge in science and technology to address challenges facing all major urban areas in the world. It's a form of collaboration between CCNY and the UNU Institute for Water, Environment, and Health, based in Toronto. The UNU R-SIRUS Hub links CCNY's leading work on remote sensing and urban systems with UNU's global efforts to help achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Through climate challenges, water and energy issues in cities, and social inequalities, the Hub promotes the resilience and sustainability of cities. It underscores the improvement of inclusion and equity in urban development, providing a global model for sustainable transformation. First UN University Hub in the US The Hub will work on three sectors; namelyResearch and Development, Education and Capacity Building, and Policy and Advocacy. Each of these pillars links scientific research with practical solutions, allowing collaboration between academic policymakers, and the city authorities. During the launch ceremony, dignitaries highlighted the importance of New York City as a base for driving sustainable urban transformation. Ambassadors also emphasized the global climate crisis's need for local and international collaboration. UNU-INWEH Director Kaveh Madani praised the Hub for combining UNU's global reach with CCNY's local expertise, positioning it as a model for other cities. Apart from academic excellence, Yahoo Finance also reported that the Hub will focus on environmental justice and underserved communities. Its Policy and Advocacy pillar will develop actionable urban policies that are equitable and sustainable. The effort will pull experts from CCNY's Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership as well as other stakeholders to ensure a holistic approach to city challenges. Jessica Alves has revealed she was left with a gaping hole in the side of her surgically-enhanced bottom after she was stung by a bee. The TV personality, 41, was stung on the bottom which later became infected and saw the Brazilian beauty rushed to hospital. At first, the sting merely became swollen but soon a hole developed in the side of Jessica's bottom. The star, who is known for her love of cosmetic surgery, went to The Clinic Club on Harley Street to help smooth out the injury after the infection healed. Speaking to MailOnline, she said: 'I have 1000cc of hyaluronic acid which was able to even the scars and the imperfections in my bum after the bee sting. 'The professional at The Clinic Club London was very meticulous injecting the gel. He applied some local anesthesia and I was done in 40 minutes. Jessica Alves has revealed she was left with a gaping hole in the side of her surgically-enhanced bottom after she was stung by a bee The TV personality, 41, was stung on the bottom which later became infected and saw the Brazilian beauty rushed to hospital 'The next day, I was resting for 24 hours on my stomach but I could do pretty much everything as normal. 'I am very happy with the results and now I'm getting ready to enjoy my hot Christmas in Brazil with my family. I fly out in two weeks.' Detailing the injury, Jessica explained: 'I was sunbathing at Ocean Club in Ibiza when I was bitten twice on one cheek two weeks ago. 'A big inflamed lump formed and so I went to hospital to have it drained with a needle before being put on antibiotics. 'I had to fly to Las Vegas for a PA at the Palms hotel where I also had my birthday celebrations with close friends who were able to fly out to join me. 'After few days, the lump came back and it exploded, creating a big hole in my bottom and exposing my implants. She added: 'I spent two days in the hospital in Las Vegas where I had intravenous antibiotics. The doctors there wanted to remove my bum implant because it got infected after I was stung.' The star, who is known for her love of cosmetic surgery, went to The Clinic Club on Harley Street to help smooth out the injury after the infection healed Shocking: Jessica's bottom X-ray shows that the implants are starting to come out of the giant hole in her bottom cheek Upset: Jessica shared a shot of her arm with a cannula in it, at Spring Valley Hospital, captioning it: 'Party is over' After her treatment to dea with the infection, Jessica said: 'I am very happy with the results and now I m getting ready to enjoy my hot Christmas in Brazil with my family' Jessica's bottom implants had to be removed immediately, causing her anguish and feeling fearful because she will be forced to have yet more surgery. The TV screen queen has 2220cc implants and has said spending 1million in over 100 operations is all worth it as it's an 'investment in my happiness'. She previously wrote on Instagram: 'With regret to all my Las Vegas fans that for health reasons I had to cancel my PAs coming up this week and return to England. 'I was stung by a bee two weeks ago and it is making me ill now'. She also shared a shot of her arm with a cannula in it, at Spring Valley Hospital, captioning it: 'Party is over'. Real Housewives of Potomac star Matthew Byars has died aged 37 in a shock suicide. The talent manager, who debuted on the show's third season as a friend of Karen Huger, died on November 21, according to Maryland's Chief Office of Medical Examiner, per the US Sun. A spokesman said: 'He died of multiple blunt force injuries. The manner is suicide.' An autopsy report has been completed. Melissa Gorga paid a heartbreaking tribute to her friend, writing: 'Matt- Why didn't you tell me Matt? I'm heartbroken. 'Your personality was infectious. Your jokes- you always had them. You should have done stand up- I know it was your dream. My heart hurts Matt . Because earlier this week you didn't tell me. Real Housewives of Potomac star Matthew Byars has died aged 37 in a shock suicide Melissa Gorga paid a heartbreaking tribute to her friend, writing: 'Matt- Why didn't you tell me Matt? I'm heartbroken' 'I know life was tough- I know- Thank you for bringing me my very 1st performance of "ON DISPLAY"- you and I- WE ARE LOYAL. They don't make them like us. I wish I could have saved you. Thank you for the memories. Go fly- Go make them laugh. Real Housewives of Potomac star Charrisse Jackson-Jordan shared a poignant photo of the pair posing on a rooftop which she captioned: 'Rest in Peace.' Byars was by Huger's side during her 'press conference' where she famously commented on her financial situation. In a 2019 interview with The Daily Dish she revealed how she and Byars had first crossed paths, saying: 'Ive known Matt since he was about 17, 18 years old. I encourage Matt when life is difficult. A lot of people call me 'Mama Karen' in Potomac because I love helping young folks. 'When life was trying to him, I reached out and told him to go to school, and he did, and now we work together.' 'Matt is wonderful, wonderful in PR. I do have a PR, Matt is not my PR, but I would say that Matt is in a line of my agent, my booking person, and it works for me. 'I met some dynamic people through this powerful young man, whos extremely connected. And my personality and his connections just work so well, and Im blessed to have Matt in my life. The talent manager, who debuted on the show's third season as a friend of Karen Huger, died on November 21, according to Maryland 's Chief Office of Medical Examiner, per the US Sun Real Housewives of Potomac star Charrisse Jackson-Jordan shared a poignant photo of the pair posing on a rooftop which she captioned: 'Rest in Peace' Byars was a close friend of the Real Housewives and is pictured with Erika Jayne Byars posed up with Andy Cohen to mark his 50th birthday in 2018 'Hes a bubbly person and, again, a very successful young man and powerfully connected. I dont mess with peons. 'Matts a good guy and us together, two powerhouses together, we make great things happen off-screen, in family and personal life, and we also make things happen fantastic on-screen, as you noticed. Were good.' Huger has yet to publicly comment on Byars' death. Jay Leno did not let his serious fall down a 60-foot hill deter him from indulging in a hearty Italian dinner. Despite sustaining a broken wrist and a black eye after his accident, the comedian, 74, managed to make his way straight to a local restaurant, where he ordered their famous chicken parmesan topped with lots of mozzarella. Bill Erhard, who manages The Boulevard in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, confirmed the star unexpectedly arrived to the restaurant, despite his painful injuries that would have sent most to seek immediate medical attention, 'without a reservation.' When asked by Inside Edition if the restaurant had plans to rename Leno's order after him, Erhard joked that they 'might have to.' While sitting in a cozy booth, the former The Tonight Show host, reportedly 'chowed down' on the dish and some garlic toast. When asked to describe The Boulevard's chicken parmesan, Erhard explained it is a 'hand-breaded chicken patty, made to order' and fried with their homemade sauce. Jay Leno did not let his serious fall down a 60-foot hill deter him from indulging in a hearty Italian dinner After dinner, Leno picked up an eye patch at a nearby CVS Pharmacy, before going on to perform one of his comedy shows just hours later. On Saturday, Leno opened up about the incident to Inside Edition as he explained he hit a 'bunch of rocks' during his horrific fall earlier that day. 'I broke my wrist. Lost my nail on the finger, I'm all black and blue from 60 feet of hitting rocks,' he explained. The accident inadvertently sparked a number of wild conspiracy theories among social media users who were convinced he might be lying about how he got hurt. Some conspiracy theorists on X (previously known as Twitter) shared a number of unsubstantiated theories that Leno, whose net worth is estimated to be around $450 million, was the victim of loan sharks, the mafia or someone he has 'dirt on.' Others joked that Conan OBrien finally got his revenge on Leno following their bitter and lengthy feud involving NBC's The Tonight Show. 'So Jay Leno got set on fire a few years ago, is staying at a Hampton Inn while being worth millions of dollars, with an eye patch, bruised up face, a broken wrist and a missing fingernail. And he wants us to believe he. . . Fell down a hill???' one X user asked. Another tweeted: 'I have never believed a conspiracy more than Jay Leno owing massive gambling debt.' Despite sustaining a broken wrist and a black eye after his accident, the comedian, 74, managed to make his way straight to a local restaurant, where he ordered their famous chicken parmesan topped with lots of mozzarella Bill Erhard, who manages The Boulevard in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, confirmed the star arrived to the restaurant following his accident without a reservation, despite his painful-looking injuries that would have sent most to seek immediate medical attention When asked by Inside Edition if the restaurant had plans to rename Leno's order after him, Erhard mused they 'might have to' A handful of X users also pointed out it was odd for him to be staying at a Hampton Inn, which is a more popular among budget-conscious travelers than A-list stars. Additionally, some conspiracy theorists pointed out that Leno has suffered from other bizarre and life-threatening injuries over the years. 'Looks like he took a punch to the skull with that shiner. Shady [as f**k],' another claimed as others said they questioned why only the left side of his face was bruised. One conspiracy theorist argued that there were 'holes in this story' and insisted that Leno would have 'abrasions' if he slid down a hill. Despite revealing that his injuries were sustained during his nasty tumble while staying at a Hampton Inn, social media users immediately began speculating that the 74-year-old comedian, whose net worth is estimated to be around $450 million, might be lying One conspiracy theorist argued that there were 'holes in this story' and insisted that Leno was have had 'abrasions' if he slid down a hill 'Sounds to me like Jay Leno has some gambling debts he hasn't paid off,' a second tweeted A handful of X users also pointed out it was odd for him to be staying at a Hampton Inn, which is a more typical choice for a budget-conscious traveler versus an A-list star 'Looks like he took a punch to the skull with that shiner. Shady [as f**k],' another claimed as others said they found it odd that only the left side of his face was bruised Dozens of fans stated they believed the star was in 'massive gambling debt' 'He's in gambling debt and the collector sent a message,' the conspiracy theorist claimed. Others pleaded with Leno to 'CUT THE S**T AND GO TO THE POLICE.' Still, one Leno fan called out the unfounded theories. 'All of you speculating that Jay Leno took a beating from mob connected entities have no idea how this thing works. They dont give beatings to major celebrities over gambling debts, especially those with 1,000 priceless classic cars in storage. But keep having fun with the injuries of a 74 year old man,' the upset X user wrote. There is no evidence to suggest Leno is in any debt or involved in anything 'strange and sinister' as suggested by some on X. There is no evidence to suggest Leno is in any debt or involved in anything 'strange and sinister' as suggested by some on X; pictured on September 30, 2024 Back in November 2022, Leno was hospitalized following the fiery explosion at his garage, where he keeps a number of vintage cars as part of a collection. George Swift, a mechanic in the comedian's personal garage, told ET that it was a steam car that sent Leno to the hospital. 'It was a steam car. This steam was made by gas. It got sprayed, as a gas,' Swift, a mechanic who works at the garage, said. 'He called me, and he told me there was a fire and the fire department is coming,' the employee continued. The Burbank Fire Department then confirmed they were dispatched to the late-night host's home at around 12.30 p.m. that day, and when they arrived they assessed and treated 'one adult male.' Leno was then transported to a local emergency room before being transferred to the Grossman Burn Center for further care. A spokesperson for the medical center told People at the time that Leno 'is in good humor and is touched by all the inquiries into his condition and well wishes. In November 2022, Leno was badly burned when a vintage 1907 steam engine he was working in his garage on exploded in his face The TV icon is pictured hosting The Tonight Show with Jay Leno in 2011 'He wants to let everyone know he is doing well and is in "the best burn center in the United States."' Leno later issued a statement himself, saying he 'got some serious burns from a gasoline fire.' 'I am ok,' the former late-night host said. 'Just need a week or two to get back on my feet.' He also told TMZ that it was his friend, Dave, who saved his life, by jumping on him and smothering the flames. The host said that he was repairing a clogged fuel line when he got sprayed on his hands and face with gasoline. Emma Roberts and her fiance Cody John, 35, were seen dining with friends at Pace Restaurant in the Laurel Canyon neighborhood of Los Angeles on Thursday. The Scream Queens star, 33, wore a funky green, orange and black patchwork jacket over a white button-down blouse and relaxed-fit jeans. The niece of Julia Roberts wore black-and-white checkered Vans. Her groom-to-be, who at 5ft11in towered over her 5ft2in frame, wore a black jacket and ball cap with jeans and Adidas Sambas. The romantic eatery is nestled in a leafy enclave just in the historic Laurel Canyon where many musicians of eras gone by lived. The Italian hot spot is a favorite of celebrities with everyone from Justin Bieber and Hailey Bieber to Taylor Swift and Zac Efron enjoying the food and ambiance. Emma Roberts and her fiance Cody John, 35, were seen dining with friends at Pace Restaurant in the Laurel Canyon neighborhood of Los Angeles Emma and Cody got engaged in July after meeting two years ago through mutual friends. The Nancy Drew actress shared a photo with her arm around Cody with the ring on her left hand very visible. 'Putting this here before my mom tells everyone,' Emma wrote. The diamond ring looks to be around five carats with an estimated cost of $100,000, a rep for The Diamond Bank in Los Angeles told DailyMail.com The couple went public with their relationship in August 2022 after being spotted kissing in New York City. Cody shared a photo of the two of them on Instagram at the time and captioned it, 'sweet sweet.' At the time, a source close to the couple told ET that New York native had 'been very content with Cody, and they're enjoying their relationship and time together. 'Their friends and family are happy for the both of them and think they make a great couple,' the insider revealed. The Scream Queens star, 33, wore a funky green, orange and black patchwork jacket over a white button-down blouse and relaxed-fit jeans Emma and Cody got engaged in July after meeting two years ago through mutual friends. Seen here on November 12, 2024 The couple went public with their relationship in August 2022 after being spotted kissing in New York City. Seen here on November 12, 2024 The sighting comes as Emma's father, actor Eric Roberts, 68, has released his memoir in which he laments his lack of a relationship with his daughter and his sister, Julia. Roberts called losing custody of a young Emma the biggest consequence of his drug use and something he feels acutely now that Emma has a son. He also offered an apology to his Academy Award-winning sister for saying, 'If it wasn't for me, there would be no Julia Roberts.' He wrote: 'I hope Julia will accept this public apology. It was an asinine thing to have said.' Sharon Stone and Sarah Jessica Parker made sure all eyes were on them as they graced the red carpet for the opening of the 42nd Torino Film Festival in very glamorous ensembles on Friday. Basic Instinct actress Sharon, 66, looked nothing short of incredible in a strapless sequinned dress, which boasted a corset-style top half and an intricate bejewelled pattern. However, the showstopping element of her outfit was the dramatic ruffled red cape the actress wrapped around herself for the star-studded event in Turin, Italy. At one point, fashion designer Paris Libby was seen holding up the end of it's long train as the glamorous star posed for photos. Sharon wore her short blonde hair in a slicked back style and opted for a glowy palette of makeup, including a dark lipstick shade, inkeeping with the bold red theme. Sharon Stone (left) and Sarah Jessica Parker (right) made sure all eyes were on them as they graced the red carpet for the opening of the 42nd Torino Film Festival Basic Instinct actress Sharon, 66, looked nothing short of incredible in a strapless sequinned dress, which boasted a corset-style top half and an intricate bejewelled pattern She seemed to be in extremely high spirits as she posed up a storm on the red carpet, before heading inside the event. Meanwhile, Sex And The City star Sarah, 59, showcased her elegant sense of style in a black crushed velvet midi skirt, which boasted a high leg slit. The actress paired the smart attire with a plunging white shirt and matching black blazer. She made sure to add the glam with a strappy pair of heals, featuring big diamante-encrusted silver bows, while toting around her belongings in a matching clutch bag. Sarah added a long pearl necklace to her red carpet look and accessorised with sparkling silver earrings. The blonde beauty wore her long tresses in loose waves and opted for a sultry palette of makeup for the star-studded event. She was joined by her actor husband Matthew Broderick, 62, who cut a dapper figure in a navy and black tuxedo. The longtime showbiz couple got married in 1997, one year before Sarah landed her lead role as Carrie Bradshaw on the beloved HBO sitcom Sex And The City. They put on a loved-up display on the red carpet, with Sarah stopping to whisper something into her husband's ear. However, the showstopping element of her outfit was the dramatic ruffled red cape the actress wrapped around herself for the star-studded event in Turin, Italy At one point, fashion designer Paris Libby was seen holding up the end of it's long train as the glamorous star posed for photos Sharon wore her short blonde hair in a slicked back style and opted for a glowy palette of makeup, including a dark lipstick shade, inkeeping with the bold red theme She seemed to be in extremely high spirits as she posed up a storm on the red carpet, before heading inside the event During the opening ceremony, Sharon was presented with the Stella della Mole - a Lifetime Achievement award Sarah paired her skirt with a plunging white shirt and matching black blazer She made sure to add the glam with a strappy pair of heals, featuring big diamante-encrusted silver bows Sarah added a long pearl necklace to her red carpet look and accessorised with sparkling silver earrings She was joined by her actor husband Matthew Broderick, 62, who cut a dapper figure in a navy and black tuxedo The longtime showbiz couple got married in 1997, one year before Sarah landed her lead role as Carrie Bradshaw on the beloved HBO sitcom Sex And The City They put on a loved-up display on the red carpet, with Sarah stopping to whisper something into her husband's ear Matthew was also awarded the prestigious Stella della Mole award Also in attendance and in recepit of the award was actress Rosario Dawson, who stunned in a strapless deep blue sequinned gown The Rent star accessorised with dangly gold earrings and opted not to wear a necklace, letting the dress speak for itself She also picked up the Stella della Mole award during the ceremony After posing on the red carpet, the stars headed inside for a meal (Pictured L-R: Sarah Jessica Parker, Tiziana Rocca, Sharon Stone and Rosario Dawson) Some of the winners made sure to toast to their successes (L-R Adama Sanneh, Rosario Dawson, Matthew Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker) During the opening ceremony, Sharon and Matthew were both presented with the Stella della Mole - a Lifetime Achievement award. Matthew has headed the cast of movies like Ferris Bueller's Day Off and The Lion King throughout his career on screen and stage. Meanwhile, Sharon has impressed with more than 150 film and TV credits, with her work including Basic Instinct and Total Recall. The Torino Film Festival is an international film festival held in annually in November in Turin, Italy. The extravaganza is the second largest film festival in Italy, following the Venice Film Festival. First established in 1982 as the International Youth Film Festival, it is a forum dedicated to supporting independent, first and second works, documentaries and linguistic experimentation. Also in attendance and in recepit of the award was actress Rosario Dawson, who stunned in a strapless deep blue sequinned gown. The Rent star accessorised with dangly gold earrings and opted not to wear a necklace, letting the dress speak for itself. Jay Leno was seen heading out alone for a fast-food lunch on Thursday after a nasty fall last week. The former late-night talk show host was showing off the massive bruise on his face and a blue brace on his wrist while waiting in line at In-N-Out Burger in Burbank, California. The 74-year-old stand-up comedian ordered a burger and French fries with a drink. The New York native ate the meal alone inside the restaurant while sipping a soda. At one point, a man who wore a yellow vest that was stamped Public Works approached Leno for a quick chat. Leno had a bad accident on Saturday in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania that has worried his fans. Not only did he suffer a face bruise when he fell down a 60ft hill, but he also broke his wrist. Jay Leno was seen heading out alone for a fast-food lunch on Thursday in Los Angeles after a nasty fall last week in Pittsburgh The former late-night talk show host was showing off the massive black bruise on his face and a blue brace on his wrist while waiting in line at In-N-Out Burger in Burbank, California Jay was dressed casually for his midday outing. He wore a dark gray denim motorcycle jacket that zipped up and had front pockets. Underneath was a gray shirt with a military Jeep and writing in Italian. He added blue denim jeans and a black belt with prescription glasses. He finished off his look with sensible lace-up black shoes. His gray hair was worn longer as his bands fell in his face. On Saturday, Leno opened up about the incident to Inside Edition as he explained he hit a 'bunch of rocks' during his horrific fall in Pennsylvania where he was doing a comedy show. 'I broke my wrist. Lost my nail on the finger, I'm all black and blue from 60 feet of hitting rocks,' he explained. Three hours after the fall he performed his show. He did not see a doctor until he returned to Los Angeles. It was also revealed on Friday that he enjoyed a hearty Italian dinner after his fall which some find odd. Jay reportedly ordered chicken parmesan topped with lots of mozzarella after his accident. Bill Erhard, who manages The Boulevard in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, confirmed the star unexpectedly arrived to the restaurant, despite his painful injuries that would have sent most to seek immediate medical attention, 'without a reservation.' When asked by Inside Edition if the restaurant had plans to rename Leno's order after him, Erhard joked that they 'might have to.' The 74-year-old stand-up comedian ordered a burger and French fries with a drink. The New York native ate the meal alone inside the restaurant while sipping a soda A man who wore a yellow vest that was stamped Public Works approached Leno who was holding his cell phone He was also seen heading back to his car in a busy parking lot Leno had a bad accident last week. Not only did he suffer a face bruise when he fell down a 60ft hill, but he also broke his wrist While sitting in a cozy booth, the former The Tonight Show host, reportedly 'chowed down' on the dish and some garlic toast. After dinner, Leno picked up an eye patch at a nearby CVS Pharmacy, before going on to perform one of his comedy shows just hours later. The accident inadvertently sparked a number of wild conspiracy theories among social media users who were convinced he might be lying about how he got hurt. Some conspiracy theorists on X (previously known as Twitter) shared a number of unsubstantiated theories that Leno, whose net worth is estimated to be around $450 million, was the victim of loan sharks, the mafia or someone he has 'dirt on.' Others joked that Conan OBrien finally got his revenge on Leno following their bitter and lengthy feud involving NBC's The Tonight Show. 'So Jay Leno got set on fire a few years ago, is staying at a Hampton Inn while being worth millions of dollars, with an eye patch, bruised up face, a broken wrist and a missing fingernail. And he wants us to believe he. . . Fell down a hill???' one X user asked. Another tweeted: 'I have never believed a conspiracy more than Jay Leno owing massive gambling debt.' Here he is seen waiting patiently in line with other customers at In-N-Out Jay wore a dark gray denim motorcycle jacket that zipped up and had front pockets Underneath was a gray shirt with a military Jeep and writing in Italian. He added blue denim jeans and a black belt with prescription glasses He finished off his look with sensible lace-up black shoes. His gray hair was worn longer as his bands fell in his face A handful of X users also pointed out it was odd for him to be staying at a Hampton Inn, which is a more popular among budget-conscious travelers than A-list stars. Additionally, some conspiracy theorists pointed out that Leno has suffered from other bizarre and life-threatening injuries over the years. 'Looks like he took a punch to the skull with that shiner. Shady [as f**k],' another claimed as others said they questioned why only the left side of his face was bruised. One conspiracy theorist argued that there were 'holes in this story' and insisted that Leno would have 'abrasions' if he slid down a hill. On Saturday, Leno opened up about the incident to Inside Edition as he explained he hit a 'bunch of rocks' during his horrific fall earlier that day 'I broke my wrist. Lost my nail on the finger, I'm all black and blue from 60 feet of hitting rocks,' he explained 'He's in gambling debt and the collector sent a message,' the conspiracy theorist claimed. Others pleaded with Leno to 'CUT THE S**T AND GO TO THE POLICE.' Still, one Leno fan called out the unfounded theories. 'All of you speculating that Jay Leno took a beating from mob connected entities have no idea how this thing works. They dont give beatings to major celebrities over gambling debts, especially those with 1,000 priceless classic cars in storage. But keep having fun with the injuries of a 74 year old man,' the upset X user wrote. There is no evidence to suggest Leno is in any debt or involved in anything 'strange and sinister' as suggested by some on X. Back in November 2022, Leno was hospitalized following the fiery explosion at his garage, where he keeps a number of vintage cars as part of a collection. George Swift, a mechanic in the comedian's personal garage, told ET that it was a steam car that sent Leno to the hospital. It was also revealed on Friday that he enjoyed a hearty Italian dinner after his fall which some find odd. Jay reportedly ordered chicken parmesan topped with lots of mozzarella after his accident Bill Erhard, who manages The Boulevard in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, confirmed the star unexpectedly arrived to the restaurant, despite his painful injuries that would have sent most to seek immediate medical attention, 'without a reservation' When asked by Inside Edition if the restaurant had plans to rename Leno's order after him, Erhard joked that they 'might have to' While sitting in a cozy booth, the former The Tonight Show host, reportedly 'chowed down' on the dish and some garlic toast He ordered their famous chicken parmesan topped with lots of mozzarella 'It was a steam car. This steam was made by gas. It got sprayed, as a gas,' Swift, a mechanic who works at the garage, said. 'He called me, and he told me there was a fire and the fire department is coming,' the employee continued. The Burbank Fire Department then confirmed they were dispatched to the late-night host's home at around 12.30 p.m. that day, and when they arrived they assessed and treated 'one adult male.' Leno was then transported to a local emergency room before being transferred to the Grossman Burn Center for further care. A spokesperson for the medical center told People at the time that Leno 'is in good humor and is touched by all the inquiries into his condition and well wishes. Leno pictured on September 30, 2024 'He wants to let everyone know he is doing well and is in "the best burn center in the United States."' Leno later issued a statement himself, saying he 'got some serious burns from a gasoline fire.' 'I am ok,' the former late-night host said. 'Just need a week or two to get back on my feet.' He also told TMZ that it was his friend, Dave, who saved his life, by jumping on him and smothering the flames. The host said that he was repairing a clogged fuel line when he got sprayed on his hands and face with gasoline. Yellowstone star Kelly Reilly has blasted Hollywood's 'bulls***' amid Kevin Costner's killing off from the show. The British actress, 47, who plays Beth Dutton, the daughter of Costner's character John Dutton on the show, told Town & Country that she makes sure to 'stay out' of the drama surrounding Yellowstone and decompress at home with her husband Kyle Baugher. She said: 'I dont participate in the noise in any way. I stay out of it. The only safe place for me is in the work and then home with my husband. Very boring. 'It can become a cyclone of bulls*** and fakeness, and I know I wont find my worth in that. Discussing season five part two of Yellowstone - which saw Costner's Dutton apparently commit suicide in the opening minutes, Reilly said: 'It really is an ending. So if there is more, its a beginning of something else. 'I loved this season. There were some really different territories to explore, so Im not clinging to her. Im happy to put her back in her padlocked box.' Yellowstone star Kelly Reilly has blasted Hollywood's 'bulls***' amid Kevin Costner's killing off from the show The British actress, 47, who plays Beth the daughter of Costner's character John Dutton on the show, told Town & Country that she makes sure to 'stay out' of the drama surrounding Yellowstone and decompress at home with her husband Kyle Baugher There has been speculation that Reilly and Cole Hauser (Rip Wheeler) are set for a Yellowstone spin-off - which Reilly won't close the door on. She said: 'I am definitely interested in Beth, and who she is after some things have happened. Who is she in peace? As an actor youre like, Ooh, let me at that, Wouldnt it be fun to watch Beth go to therapy?' The star revealed her road to Yellowstone was sparked when the script 'pepped' her interest - before she had a call with show creator Taylor Sheridan, who offered her the role immediately. Costner abruptly left the show amid rumors of a feud with Sheridan. Discussing the finale on The Michael Smerconish Program on SiriusXM earlier this month Costner said: 'Well, Im going to be perfectly honest. I didnt know it was actually airing last night. 'Thats a swear to God moment. I swear to God. I mean, Ive been seeing ads with my face all over the place and Im thinking, "Gee, Im not in that one." 'Im not in this season. But I didnt realize yesterday was the thing. Somebody said, "It played last night? And I said, "Hmm, okay." So no, I found out about it this morning actually. 'I didnt see it. I heard its a suicide, so that doesnt make me want to rush to go see it. 'I heard what it was, but no, theyre smart people. Whatever theyre doing, theyll figure it out. But yeah, I had come up with two possible endings back when it wasnt going to go as long as it did go.' She said: ''It can become a cyclone of bulls*** and fakeness, and I know I wont find my worth in that' - pictured with Cole Hauser as Rip Wheeler Costner abruptly left the show amid rumors of a feud with Sheridan The killing reveal of Dutton dying by gunshot left fans shocked and claiming it was an unfair send off Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly) embraces her brother Kayce after learning their father died on the Yellowstone Season 5 Part 2 premiere When asked how he felt about the suicide he said: 'I didnt see it. I heard its a suicide. That doesnt make me wanna rush to go see it. 'Theyre pretty smart people. Maybe its a red herring. Theyre very good. Theyll figure that out.' Many fans thought that Dutton committing suicide was completely out of character, though they would come to learn that it was actually a murder simply set up to look like a suicide, which comes after many actors revealing they were kept in the dark about the exit of Kevin Costner's John Dutton. Costner made a dramatic exit from the series over scheduling conflicts with his Western movie franchise Horizon, though fans were quite upset at how he was killed off. Fans took to social media to react en masse to the beloved character's exit as the neo-Western series comes to a close. Given how hard John Dutton has fought for everything in his life, fans were furious, insisting he would never have killed himself. @Thecraftyturtle said, 'Ok no way John Dutton killed himself. They did his character dirty!!' @KayCee1771 said, 'Not the way i expected #Yellowstone to start,' as @AmberLee_0123 said, 'It hasnt been 5 minutes of #Yellowstone and I AM NOT OKAY.' @FolkToe said '#Yellowstone Run Jamie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!' insinuating Dutton's son Jamie (Wes Bentley) was involved. It's not too surprising that Jamie may be blamed, since the show's last episode nearly two years ago showed Jamie entertaining various ways to have his father killed with his new romantic interest Sarah Atwood (Dawn Olivieri). Given how hard John Dutton has fought for everything in his life, fans were furious, insisting he would never have killed himself She told Jamie there were companies that specialized in making murders look like accidents or even a heart attack. However, as the episode continued, it became more clear that Sarah seemingly took matters into her own hands and organized John's death to simply make it look like a suicide... covering up his actual murder. @thetvescape said, 'Wait, so now its looking more and more likely that the suicide was staged!' Candace Cameron Bure proved red is definitely her color as she stepped out in New York City on Friday. The actress, 48, who encouraged her social media fans to 'vote like Jesus,' ahead of the US Presidential Election, looked ready for the holiday season in a festive red boat neck sweater with long sleeves. She completed the look with a red, black and white plaid mini-skirt, showcasing her toned legs in sheer red stockings and high heel black ankle boots with a red plaid enhancement. Her long, blonde hair was styled in loose waves with a trendy bit of dark root showing. She accessorized with hoop earrings and a small black handbag. The A busy actress will be starring in a stocking full of Christmas-themed films on the Great American Family channel over the next month of so, which is what she stopped by NYC's Pix 11 to talk about on Friday morning. Candace Cameron Bure, 48, proved red is definitely her color as she stepped out in New York City on Friday The cable channel is sponsoring the Great American Family Christmas Festival at the UBS arena through December 29. This weekend, her film Home Sweet Christmas, was scheduled to screen Friday and Saturday nights. 'I feel like an OG Christmas movie actress,' Cameron Bure said. 'I've been making them for 15 years now. 'Who knew it would take off and I would have this whole career as playing Holly and Mary and every Christmassy name that you can think of.' Another film for the network, A Christmas Less Traveled, was released on the network November 11. Home Sweet Christmas will be released on December 1. While promoting her films, Cameron Bure, who is also the Chief Content Officer of Great American Media told Fox News Digital she was relying on her Christian faith and praying for the recovery of her Full House co-star Dave Coulier, who was diagnosed with stage three non-Hodgkin lymphoma. 'A cancer diagnosis is so difficult. And it felt very devastating when Dave and (wife) Melissa called and let us all know personally before it went out to press,' the tearful actress told the outlet on Thursday. The actress looked ready for the holiday season in a festive red boat neck sweater with long sleeves. The completed the look with a red, black and white plaid mini-skirt, showcasing her toned legs in sheer red stockings and high heel black ankle boots Cameron Bure, who is also the Chief Content Officer of Great American Media, was promoting the company's Great American Family Christmas Festival at the UBS arena which was set to being Friday night and continue through December 29 The actress became teary when discussing Full House co-star Dave Coulier's cancer diagnosis with Fox News Digital. 'It didn't hit me for a few weeks because when you hear that someone has cancer, at least for me, I just didn't want to accept it,' she told the outlet Coulier debuted his bald head in a sweet photo with Stamos, who helped him to shave his hair earlier this week, on social media. Stamos, opted for a bald cap to 'show love and support for my bro' 'It didn't hit me for a few weeks because when you hear that someone has cancer, at least for me, I just didn't want to accept it,' she explained. 'You don't want to think about it. It's like, "okay, let's go. What do we do? Like, let's get past this." And then when you see him start losing his hair, that's when it kind of hit me.' Cameron Bure worked with Coulier, 65, the late Bob Saget and John Stamos, 61, for 13 seasons altogether on Full House and the sequel Fuller House. Coulier debuted his bald head in a sweet photo with Stamos, who helped him to shave his hair earlier this week, on social media. Stamos, opted for a bald cap to 'show love and support for my bro.' Paddy McGuinness took action against the gossip website Popbitch after it claimed he stopped at a Michelin-starred restaurant during his 300-mile bike ride in aid of Children In Need. Sources close to the BBC star also told the Mail a legal letter was being prepared on Thursday night after the weekly newsletter accused him of taking a helicopter to L'Enclume in the village of Cartmel in Cumbria after breaking his ride at Preston in Lancashire. The website claims he was 'spotted staying overnight' in Cartmel before he resumed his ride, which raised 9million for the charity, the next morning. However, McGuinness, 51, denies the claims and instructed his lawyer to take on Popbitch, which is known for breaking gossipy stories about celebrities. 'The story is completely and utterly false, at no point did Paddy leave the challenge or the team,' said one member of the former Top Gear host's team. 'They were together every second. Paddy most nights was getting physio to prep him for the next day, followed by an early night due to the 6am wake-up.' A spokeswoman for McGuinness confirmed the legal action. He is understood to be using a lawyer at London-based Carter-Ruck, which also represents former Strictly contestant Amanda Abbington. L'Enclume is regarded as the most lavish restaurant in the country, and offers a 15-course tasting menu for 250. For another 290 guests can enjoy a select wine pairing. Representatives of Paddy McGuinness (pictured) wrote to Popbitch over claims he dined at a Michelin-starred restaurant during a bike ride for Children In Need McGuinness (right) on his charity ride with Chris Hoy near Crawford in Abington, Scotland McGuinness was claimed by the website to have taken a helicopter to three-starred L'Enclume (pictured) in Cartmel, Cumbria during his 300-mile ride It is owned by award-winning British chef and restaurateur Simon Rogan, who is known as one of the pioneers of the farm-to-fork movement in the UK. The venue says much of its food comes from its own farm nearby. It also has bedrooms and suites for guests to stay the night. McGuinness, who recently divorced his wife Christine, began his epic charity ride, which was named Radio 2's Ultra Endurance Cycle Challenge, from Wrexham AFC on November 11. Four days later he arrived in Glasgow on his Raleigh Chopper. Speaking on Radio 2, the former Question of Sport host told his listeners: 'What a week it's been it feels like I've been off for a month. 'What we have achieved by 'we' I mean you lot over the last five days is nothing short of staggering. I still cannot comprehend what has happened and what is still happening now. 'That is the power of Radio 2 and you gorgeous listeners and the wonderful great British public. The streets were lined for me from Wrexham to Glasgow, it was non-stop people supporting me, willing me on and wishing me the best.' Referring to the physical effects of the challenge, he added: 'The bum blisters are settling.' Popbitch, which started in 2000 and is run by founders Neil Stevenson and Camilla Wright, declined to comment last night. The State is caught in the throes of a complex conflict fueled by ethnic tensions, socio-economic disparities and narco-terrorism Manipur, one of the seven northeastern states of India, holds strategic importance due to its geographical location. It shares borders with Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south, Assam to the east, and Myanmar to the west. Often referred to as the gateway to Southeast Asia, this state is home to diverse ethnic communities, including the Meiteis (approximately 53 per cent), Nagas (around 24 per cent) and Kuki-Chin-Zomi tribes (about 16 per cent). However, Manipur has recently experienced its worst violence in over a decade. More than a year of unrest has left over 226 people dead, more than 1,500 injured, and displaced over 60,000 residents. Understanding the root causes of this conflict requires examining several interconnected issues. (a) Demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) Status The spark for the current violence was a Manipur High Court directive urging the state government to consider granting the Meitei community Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. This decision was met with strong opposition from the Kuki community, culminating in protests and clashes. Understanding the ST Status Debate: Manipur is geographically divided into two main regions: The valley (10 per cent of the total area): Predominantly occupied by the Meitei community, it is more developed and politically influential, with Meiteis holding 40 out of 60 legislative Assembly seats. The hills (90 per cent of the total area): Primarily home to tribal communities, these areas lag behind in education, employment, infrastructure, and representation. While residents from the hills can migrate to the valley for opportunities, valley residents are restricted from purchasing land in the hills due to tribal land ownership laws. The Meiteis fear that an increasing number of hill residents settling in the valley threatens their identity and culture. ST status for Meiteis would limit land purchases in the valley, potentially safeguarding their heritage. On the other hand, the Kukis argue that Meiteis already dominate key sectors such as governance, education, and the economy. Granting them ST status, they claim, would exacerbate the marginalisation of hill tribes. (b) Narco-Terrorism Manipurs proximity to the Golden Triangle and Golden Crescent has made it a hotspot for drug trafficking. Illegal poppy cultivation in the region is reportedly controlled by powerful drug lords, whose operations are threatened by government crackdowns. These drug lords, facing intensified enforcement efforts, have allegedly fueled violence by supplying arms and ammunition to militant groups, further destabilising the region. (c) Eviction of Encroachers Approximately 32 per cent of Manipurs forests are classified as protected under the Indian Forest Act and Wildlife Protection Act. Encroachments by hill tribes and illegal immigrants for farming and settlements have led to significant deforestation. Recent government-led eviction drives have targeted these encroachments, prompting accusations of anti-tribal bias and deepening tensions between the valley and hill communities. Voices from the Hill Tribes Many people from the Kuki-Chin-Zomi communities claim to oppose violence, emphasising their peaceful protests against the High Courts order. They argue that militant groups responsible for the initial clashes do not represent their community. A Way Forward for Peace over half of the insurgencies in northeastern India are concentrated in Manipur, making its stability crucial. Fostering dialogue among all stakeholders, addressing grievances equitably, and ensuring inclusive development are essential steps toward lasting peace in the region. (The writer is Independent Research Scholar; views are personal) Bollywood star Alia Bhatt is set to return as the goodwill ambassador for the All Living Things Environmental Film Festival (ALT EFF). Bhatt said she is thrilled that her production banner Eternal Sunshine Productions is partnering with the film gala for its 2024 edition. This festival is truly specialit celebrates films that uplift and showcase nature's resilience while reminding us of the importance of protecting our planet. Through powerful storytelling, ALT EFF allows us to see and feel the real impact of environmental change," the 31-year-old actor said in a statement. Filmmaker Richie Mehta, who recently directed the series "Poacher" that was produced by Bhatt's company, will join the actor in championing the festival's mission. With over 100 screenings planned across India, the 2024 edition of ALT EFF will feature an engaging lineup of films, workshops, and panel discussions aimed at fostering global dialogue on urgent environmental issues. Festival Director Kunal Khanna hailed Bhatt as a "remarkable artist" who is also passionate about the environment. "Her creative endeavours through Eternal Sunshine exemplify the transformative power of storytelling in addressing pressing global challenges. "With Alia and Richie Mehta as our ambassadors, ALT EFF is uniquely positioned to amplify the voices of filmmakers who seek to use impact film and storytelling to drive environmental action," he added. India has never moved forward with the expansionist mindset and always stayed away from the feeling of grabbing others' resources, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday. The prime minister's comments during an address at a special session of the Parliament of Guyana came amid growing global concerns over China's expansionist behaviour as well as conflicts arising out of territorial disputes. Modi, referring to geopolitical tensions, said it is time to identify the conditions leading to conflicts and remove them. "Today, there are so many challenges like terrorism, drugs, cybercrime, that only by fighting them, we will be able to shape the future of our coming generations," he said. "And this is possible only when we give centre stage to democracy first - humanity first. India has always spoken based on principles, trust and transparency," Modi said. "If even one country, even one region is left behind, then our global goals will never be achieved. That is why India says -- every nation matters," he added. Showcasing India's foreign policy approach, Modi noted that India has never moved forward with selfishness. "We have never moved forward with the feeling of expansionism. We have always stayed away from the feeling of occupying resources, grabbing resources," he said. "I believe, be it space or sea, these should not be subjects of universal conflict but cooperation. This is not the time for conflict for the world either," he said. The prime minister said, "This is the time to identify the conditions that create conflict and remove them". Highlighting India's priority to ensure the welfare of the developing nations, Modi said a united voice of the Global South is crucial. "This is the time for the awakening of the Global South," he said, adding democracy is in "India's DNA, in our vision and our conduct". Modi said India stands in favour of global development in every way. "With this spirit, today India has also become the voice of the Global South. India believes the Global South has suffered a lot in the past," he said. "In the past, we progressed by protecting nature according to our nature and culture. But many countries developed by harming the environment. Today, the countries of the Global South are paying the biggest price of climate change," he added. Modi asserted it is very important to get the world out of "this imbalance". "Whether it is India or Guyana, we have aspirations of development, dreams of giving a better life to our people. For this, a united voice of the Global South is very important," he said. "This is the time for the awakening of the countries of the Global South. This time is allowing us to come together and create a new global order. And I see a big role of all you representatives of Guyana in this," he said. Delving into various issues, Modi said the world of the 21st century faces different kinds of challenges. "Today both our countries are strengthening democracy in the world. Therefore, today in the Parliament of Guyana, I greet all of you on behalf of 140 crore Indians," he said. The prime minister said in the current global circumstances, the "strongest mantra" to move ahead is "democracy first -- humanity first". "The spirit of 'Democracy First' teaches us to take everyone along, take everyone along and participate in everyone's development. The spirit of 'Humanity First' determines the direction of our decisions," he said. "When we make humanity first the basis of our decisions, the results are also in the interest of humanity," he noted. The Canadian government has dismissed a media report linking Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval to criminal activities in Canada, including the alleged plot to kill Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, terming it as speculative and inaccurate. The denial made by Nathalie G Drouin, National Security and Intelligence Advisor to Canadian Prime Minister, on Thursday came a day after India strongly trashed the report as smear campaign. Quoting an unnamed senior national security official, The Globe and Mail newspaper on Tuesday reported that Canadian security agencies believe Prime Minister Modi knew about the killing of Nijjar and other violent plots. The official said Canadian and American intelligence tied the assassination operations to Home Affairs Minister Amit Shah. Also in the loop, the official said, was Doval and Jaishankar. In a statement issued by the Privy Council Office on Thursday, Drouin said, On October 14th, because of a significant and ongoing threat to public safety, the RCMP and officials took the extraordinary step of making public accusations of serious criminal activity in Canada perpetrated by agents of the Government of India. However, he said, The Government of Canada has not stated, nor is it aware of evidence, linking Prime Minister Modi, Minister Jaishankar, or NSA Doval to the serious criminal activity within Canada. Any suggestion to the contrary is both speculative and inaccurate. In a press conference on Oct 14, Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Commissioner Mike Duheme warned of widespread violence, homicides and a public security threat linked to agents of the Indian government. Hours after Duhemes conference, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters, I believe that India has made a monumental mistake by choosing to use their diplomats and organised crime to attack Canadians, to make them feel unsafe here at (their) home, and even more, to create acts of violence and even murder. Its unacceptable. On Oct 26, Canadian Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister David Morrison alleged that Indian Home Minister Shah ordered a campaign of violence, intimidation and intelligence-gathering targeting Sikh separatists inside Canada. In New Delhi on Wednesday, referring to the The Globe and Mail report, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said such ludicrous statements should be dismissed with the contempt they deserve and smear campaigns like this only further damage our already strained ties. India-Canada ties remain deeply troubled over Canadas alleged support to Khalistani separatists and its accusation of Indias involvement in the killing of Nijjar, who was gunned down in Surrey, British Columbia in June last year. India-Canada ties further nosedived last month after Canada linked Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Verma and some other diplomats to the murder. India has strongly rejected all the allegations made by Ottawa in connection to the case and subsequently recalled the high commissioner. The Canadian government had said the Indian diplomats were expelled from the country. India expelled Canadian Charge dAffaires Stewart Wheeler and five other diplomats following Canadas allegations. New Delhi accuses Ottawa of doing next to nothing to stop the activities of Khalistani supporters who seek to undermine the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India. In a rare gesture, Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena praised Delhi Chief Minister Atishi on Friday, and said she is a thousand times better than her predecessor Arvind Kejriwal. The praise of Atishi comes amidst a backdrop of political friction between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government and the LG over a range of issues, including governance, air pollution, and control of bureaucracy ever since he attained the office at Raj Niwas. These remarks have set the political circles abuzz about the CMs future since her former cabinet colleague Kailash Gehlot, once close to AAP supremo, was also reportedly favoured by the L-G who just quit the party and joined BJP. LG Saxena made the remarks during the convocation ceremony of the Indira Gandhi Delhi Technical University for Women in the national Capital. I am happy today that Delhis CM is a woman, and I can confidently say that she is a thousand times better than her predecessor, the L-G said, glancing at Atishi who was present during the convocation ceremony and also addressed the students. In his speech, Saxena told the students, As you move ahead, you have four guiding stars. First is your responsibility towards yourself, the second is your responsibility towards your parents and family while the third responsibility is towards the society and nation building. The fourth responsibility is to prove yourself as women who have broken the glass ceiling of gender and stand on par with others in all fields, he said. Young bright women graduating today will be breaking barriers, redefining gender roles, and stepping into a rapidly changing world with technical expertise and determination. Their bright, young minds are a testament to the innovation and resilience needed to lead in this era of transformation, L-G said on social media platform. These young women carry not only the promise of bright futures but also a new-found responsibility to contribute to their parents and families, society, and nation-building. This convocation marks a celebration of progress and the vital role women play in shaping a technologically advanced and equitable future, he mentioned. The AAP and BJP have been at loggerheads over a range of issues, including governance, air pollution, and control of bureaucracy. Recently, Raj Niwas and the AAP led Delhi government were at loggerheads over the issue of reemployment of over 10,000 civil defence volunteers to tackle air pollution. Kejriwal tendered his resignation in September and said that he would seek a certificate of honesty from the public in light of the corruption charges he faced. Kejriwal had proposed Atishis name as the chief minister at a meeting of the legislature party and it was unanimously accepted. The roots of the recent confrontation can be traced back to March 5, 2014, when 14 AAP members, including leaders, former journalist Ashutosh (then party member) and Shazia Ilmi, were arrested following clashes outside the BJP national headquarters. The altercation left 28 people injured, including 13 AAP activists and 10 BJP supporters. The clashes were sparked by protests against the detention of Kejriwal in Gujarat on March 4, 2014. Meanwhile, Atishi, in her address, expressed her appreciation for IGDTUWs role in providing qualified professionals across diverse fields in this era of technological advancements. In the first week of August, in a letter to the LG, Kejriwal, the then CM, had said his cabinet colleague Atishi would hoist the national flag in his place during the Delhi governments Independence Day programme but LG nominated Gahlot to do the honours. In an earlier tweet, LG had targeted the AAP government saying, During the inspection of Rangpuri, Aya Nagar, Jaunapur area of South Delhi on the repeated requests of local residents. A horrific example of failure and mismanagement of the local government was once again seen. The mess of electric wires hanging dangerously, women holding pipes in their hands for drinking water, open manholes, heaps of garbage and sewer water flowing in the streets is unforgivable. The mismanagement that was seen here was also seen during the inspection of North-East Delhi and North-West Delhi. One-and-a-half months after an interesting day of counting of votes for the Haryana Assembly elections which ultimately retained the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government for a third straight term with initial trends showing a massive lead by Congress, another season of a bitterly contested election, in Maharashtra, and Jharkhand, as well as bypolls in Wayanad Lok Sabha seat, and Assembly segments in Uttar Pradesh, will conclude on Saturday afternoon with the declaration of results. While Wayanad is set to pave the way for Congress candidate Priyanka Gandhi to Lok Sabha who shall join her brother Rahul and mother Sonia in the Parliament, stakes are high for BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), and Congress-led INDIA bloc in both states, as well as a battle of prestige in the by-polls of Punjab, Kerala, Uttarakhand, and a crucial one in Uttar Pradesh, post the BJPs dismal performance in this years General Elections. The results of Uttar Pradesh by-polls will be a huge contributing factor in setting a narrative for the next Assembly polls in the state, due in 2027. By-elections to 48 Assemblies constituencies and two Parliamentary constituencies spread across 15 states were also held simultaneously. The Elections for the 81-seat Jharkhand Assembly took place on November 13 and 20, while Maharashtra, which has 288 Assembly seats, went to polls in a single phase on November 20. But in Maharashtra fissures have emerged within the ruling BJP Shiv Sena combine Mahayuti and the Opposition Congress, Shiv Sena (Udhhav) Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) as who will head the next government with several contenders for the chief ministers post currently held by Shiv Senas breakaway faction Eknath Shinde who toppled Congress and NCP backed Uddhav Thackeray regime. According to media reports from Mumbai, Maharashtra Congress remarks that voting trends suggest the Congress will get the maximum number of seats has not gone down well with alliance Shiv Sena (UBT), whose tall leader Sanjay Raut insisted the chief ministerial face will be decided by all alliance partners jointly once the MVA secures majority. The Rajya Sabha MP said if the Congress high command has told State Congress chief Nana Patole that he will be the Chief Ministerial face then the national partys president Mallikarjun Kharge, and its top leaders Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra should announce the same. On the MahaYuti side, Shiv Sena MLA and party spokesperson Sanjay Shirsat said the Assembly elections were contested with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde as the face. "Voters have shown their preference for Shinde through voting. I think it is Shindes right (to be the next CM) and we are confident that he will be the next CM," Shirsat said. However, BJP leader Pravin Darekar batted for Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for the top post. "I think if anyone from the BJP is becoming the CM then it will be Devendra Fadnavis," he said. On the other hand another partner NCP advocated for their party chief and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar for the coveted job. Down South, elaborate arrangements have been made for the counting of votes in the three bypolls in the state, Wayanad Lok Sabha and the Palakkad and Chelakkara Assembly seats. Wayanad seat attracted national attention due to the electoral debut of Priyanka Gandhi, who is contesting against Communist Party of India (CPI) veteran Sathyan Mokeri and BJPs Navya Haridas. The UP by-elections are seen as a litmus test for the BJPs organisational discipline and electoral strategy. While the party hopes for favourable results, senior leaders are bracing for potential fallout if outcomes fall short of expectations. For by-polls to Punjabs four Assembly seats, Gidderbaha, Dera Baba Nanak, Chabbewal (SC) and Barnala, the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Congress and BJP are looking to register victories in these seats. Congress on Friday also appointed observers for Maharashtra and Jharkhand to oversee the post-election scenarios. Senior party leaders Ashok Gehlot, Bhupesh Baghel and G Parameshwara will be AICC observers to Maharashtra, while Tariq Anwar, Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and Krishna Allavuru have been named observers for Jharkhand. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath distributed appointment letters to 701 newly selected forest inspectors through the Uttar Pradesh Subordinate Services Selection Commission (UPSSSC) under the transparent and merit-based Mission Rozgar initiative. Speaking at an event organised by the Forest department at Lok Bhavan here on Friday, Chief Minister Yogi emphasised the governments dedication to forest and environmental conservation while highlighting the responsibilities of the newly appointed officers. He congratulated them on their new roles. Chief Minister Yogi reiterated the governments commitment to fair recruitment, stating that nepotism has been eliminated to ensure a transparent selection process. He praised the UPSSSC for providing opportunities based solely on merit, noting that since 2017, seven lakh youth have secured government jobs through transparent procedures. This integrity, he emphasised, ensures that deserving candidates can achieve their dreams without facing discrimination. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath remarked that in the past, recruitment announcements in Uttar Pradesh often favoured personal connections, reminiscent of the complex kinship seen in the Mahabharata. He emphasised that his government has eradicated nepotism and favoritism in the recruitment process. Chief Minister Yogi stated that all officials and departments have been clearly instructed that the 25 crore people of Uttar Pradesh are part of one family and no youth should face discrimination. He highlighted that recruitment processes are now conducted with complete transparency. Addressing the newly appointed candidates, Chief Minister Yogi stressed that the government expects them to uphold the same standards of transparency and fairness in their roles. He reminded them that since the government was formed in 2017, strict measures have been in place to ensure honesty in the appointment process. Any negligence at any level is held accountable. This approach has allowed the government to provide over seven lakh youth with government jobs in the past seven and a half years, realising Prime Minister Modis vision of transparent and fair recruitment, he remarked. Chief Minister Yogi further highlighted the states remarkable progress, noting that Uttar Pradesh has nearly doubled its economy and per capita income during this period. Over seven lakh youth have secured government jobs, and over two crore have found employment opportunities in the private sector, he asserted. According to the chief minister, the state has also revitalised traditional industries, creating abundant employment opportunities. He expressed pride in Uttar Pradeshs large, skilled and energetic youth population, whose talents are being harnessed across various sectors including government jobs, startups, micro, small and medium enterprises and other industries driving the states development forward. Chief Minister Yogi highlighted that among the newly appointed 701 forest inspectors, 140 are women a testament to the success of the states women reservation policy. He reaffirmed the governments commitment to providing equal opportunities for women across all sectors, emphasising that their participation will elevate environmental protection efforts. He noted that 20 per cent of all recruitment positions in Uttar Pradesh are reserved for women and a significant number will be selected in the upcoming police recruitment drive as well. Addressing critical environmental challenges such as global warming, climate change and pollution, Chief Minister Yogi underscored their severity. He pointed to the recent closure of schools in various parts of the state, including Lucknow, due to escalating air pollution, highlighting the urgent need for environmental awareness and action. He called upon the Forest department to take a leading role in addressing these issues, stressing that since humans have created these problems, they must also be part of the solution. He urged department employees to engage communities and raise awareness about environmental concerns. Focusing on the growing threat of plastic pollution, Chief Minister Yogi advised the Forest department to launch extensive awareness campaigns. He emphasised that plastic poses significant dangers to the environment, wildlife and water resources, and combating this issue requires large-scale community involvement. He encouraged promoting alternatives to plastic and educating the public about the harmful effects of plastic to foster a more sustainable and eco-friendly future. Chief Minister Yogi stated that over 200 crore trees have been planted in Uttar Pradesh over the past seven and a half years, with a remarkable survival rate of 75 per cent. He attributed this success to the governments emphasis on community participation, noting that when public movements align with government initiatives, success is inevitable. He urged the Forest department to continue promoting plantation and wildlife conservation by collaborating with local communities, emphasising that protecting forests is not solely the governments responsibility but requires active public involvement. Chief Minister Yogi highlighted the vital role of wildlife conservation, stressing that forests and wildlife are essential components of the environment. He underscored the need to maintain ecological balance while exploring economic opportunities through eco-tourism. Furthermore, he instructed Forest department personnel to educate local communities on the benefits of eco-tourism and the importance of preserving wildlife. According to the chief minister, even small efforts in environmental conservation can yield significant results when pursued collectively. The chief minister told the newly appointed forest inspectors that their responsibilities extend beyond protecting forests and the environment. He said, You must also focus on conserving wildlife, maintaining biodiversity and engaging with local communities. He described each Forest department employee as an environmental guardian and encouraged them to step beyond their offices, reach out to villages and educate communities about the importance of environmental conservation. Chief Minister Yogi highlighted the governments commitment to strengthening the Forest department, viewing the appointment of 701 forest inspectors as a significant step toward this goal. He expressed confidence that their dedication and performance would elevate Uttar Pradesh in both environmental sustainability and economic growth. Congratulating the inspectors and their families, he noted that their work would not only safeguard the states natural resources but also contribute to economic development. Inspiring the recruits, Chief Minister Yogi reminded them of their duty to fulfill the expectations of their families and communities. He emphasised that Uttar Pradesh has given them recognition and respect, and it is their collective responsibility to make the state stronger and more prosperous. Many officials and dignitaries of the department including Minister of State for Environment, Forest & Climate Change (Independent Charge) Dr Arun Kumar Saxena, Minister of State KP Malik, Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Singh, Principal Secretary (Environment, Forest and Climate Change) Anil Kumar were present in the programme. The Fourth MHM (Menstrual Hygiene Management) India Summit was organized at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. The summit witnessed the recognition of Tarun Kumar, founder of Nishchay Foundation and popularly known as the Padman of Jharkhand, as the MHM Goodwill Ambassador for his outstanding contributions to menstrual hygiene management and the welfare of rural children in Jharkhand. The honor was bestowed by Padma Shri S. Damodaran, founder of Gramalaya, along with other distinguished guests. Tarun Kumar was commended for his remarkable efforts in improving menstrual hygiene and advancing education, health, and gender equality in Jharkhands remote villages. For over 14 years, Tarun Kumar has been working tirelessly in Jharkhands rural communities. Through numerous Nishchay Foundation initiatives, he has addressed critical issues such as education, health, menstrual hygiene, gender equality, environmental awareness, sports, and literacy. Despite the absence of regular financial support, Kumar has consistently run impactful campaigns, earning him recognition as a symbol of hope for rural childrens welfare. The MHM Summit was organized by Gramalaya, a resource center designated by the Ministry of Jal Shakti, in collaboration with Dettol Banega Swasth India and Bank of America. The event provided a platform for over 200 representatives and speakers from across the country to discuss issues surrounding menstrual hygiene and its role in fostering better health outcomes. Upon returning to Jamshedpur on Friday, Tarun Kumar expressed gratitude for the national recognition of his initiatives. The acknowledgment of Nishchay Foundation's work at such a prestigious platform strengthens our resolve to continue striving for the betterment of rural children. Its the collective selfless efforts of countless children, teachers, young allies, and volunteers that make this possible, Kumar said. Union Home Minister Amit Shah held a meeting with senior Delhi Police officers on Friday here to review the law and order situation in the national capital. According to senior police officials, Shah underscored the importance of making every Delhi resident feel safe, stressing that it is the personal responsibility of every police officer to ensure public confidence in the city's security. According to the officials he held a meeting to review the city's law and order situation. The meeting was attended by the Home Secretary, Director of the Intelligence Bureau, Delhi Police Commissioner and other senior officials. The Home Minister highlighted that protecting children, women and senior citizens must remain a top priority for the Delhi Police. He reiterated the need for the force to act decisively, ensuring a secure environment that reflects the government's commitment to public safety in the capital. During the meeting, the home minister emphasised the government's "zero tolerance" policy towards crime, stating that no lapses in maintaining law and order in the national capital would be tolerated, the official said. Shah directed the police to develop special action plans targeting key areas related to public safety and to launch focused campaigns. He further stressed that the police force must work to instill a sense of security among citizens while creating fear among criminals. This comes amid the AAP attacking him relentlessly for the crime taking place in the city and Delhi witnessing a spate of extortion-related shootings in the last few months. Police sources also said that the senior officers gave powerpoint presentations related to their units. Recently, Shah appreciated the Delhi Police for the crackdown against illegal drug trade in the country. In October, Shah said the Narendra Modi government is committed to building a "drug-free Bharat" by protecting the youth from the scourge of drugs. "I congratulate Delhi Police for the series of successful operations seizing drugs worth Rs 13,000 crore, including the recent one with Gujarat Police recovering cocaine worth Rs 5,000 crore," Shah said. Propping up its saggy image due to corruption charges, AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal on Friday launched a fortnight long election campaign titled Revdi Pe Charcha beginning November 25 ahead of the Delhi assembly election next year, even as the party faces internal turmoil. Slamming Prime Minister Narendra Modi's repeated criticism of free services, Kejriwal said, "Yes, we are proudly offering these six 'revdis' to the Delhiites. He also challenged to implement a free power scheme in the states ruled by the BJP-led NDA. Kejriwals campaign name played on the BJP jibe on the party's freebies or "revdis" given to the people. Launching the campaign, Kejriwal said the party's district and booth-level office bearers will reach out to voters, distributing pamphlets about the free facilities ('revdis') provided by the AAP government. During the campaign, AAP leaders and workers have planned to hold 65,000 small public meetings across the national Capitals 70 assembly constituencies apprising the public of their free services. Pamphlets detailing these benefits, referred to as 'revdis,' will also be distributed. The initiative is designed to bring AAP's achievements directly to the people, especially its popular freebies or 'revdis', which have been a cornerstone of the partys governance. Free power till first 200 units, 20,000 litre free water, free education, mohalla clinics, free bus ride for women and the free pilgrimage scheme for elderly will be highlighted by the AAP teams visiting households during the campaign. The emphasis of the campaign would be that the BJP would throw these facilities in the bin if people vote for them. Delhis governance is split: half under us, half under BJP and over past decade, weve delivered electricity, water, schools, hospitals, roads, CCTV cameras, streetlights, and sewage systems, while BJP has only stalled progress, he said He alleged that the BJP wants to stop all the free facilities in the national capital. "The BJP is in power in 20 states and not even in a single state do they provide any of these free 'revdis'. This is because they don't have the intention; only AAP knows how to provide these facilities," Kejriwal said. He further said that AAP workers will ask the voters what the BJP has done for Delhi in the last 10 years since "the national capital is a half-state and the central government has as many powers as we do". All the BJP has done in the past decade is to halt the AAP government's developmental works, Kejriwal added. Backing Kejriwal's announcements, Delhi Chief Minister Atishi said in a post in Hindi on X, "Arvind Kejriwal has spent people's tax money on public instead of keeping it in his pocket. But all this will stop if the BJP comes to power (in Delhi)." "The people of Delhi will have to make Arvind Kejriwal their chief minister once again to save the free facilities," she added. AAP has been in campaign mode after the Lok Sabha elections with senior leaders, including Kejriwal, holding a series of padayatra and MLAs reaching out to households through Your MLA at Your Doorsteps among others. AAP has 59 seats in Delhi assembly while BJP has seven seats.AAP got 62 seats in 2020 assembly election and the BJP got 8, but two AAP MLAs including Chhatarpur MLA Kartar Singh Tanwar and Rajendra Pal Gautam resigned from the assembly citing differences with the party The winter season has arrived in Ranchi as the minimum temperature has been hovering around 12.4 degrees Celsius this week. As per the Meteorological Centre, Ranchi, a change in the weather pattern is expected from November 26 onwards as the minimum temperature is likely to drop by one to two degree Celsius. It is also being predicted that the nighttime temperature will touch 10 degree Celsius in the southern and central parts of the State. A low pressure system is expected to form in southeast Bay of Bengal from November 23. Due to this from November 24 parts of south and central Jharkhand including the State capital and its adjoining areas will witness partly cloudy skies for the next two to three days. The cloud cover will prevent a drop in the minimum temperature levels. However, from November 26 onwards, once the impact of this system is over, there will be a drop in the minimum temperature levels, said Director MET Centre, Ranchi Abhishek Anand. The MET Centre, Ranchi, also informed that light to moderate fog will also be experienced in the early morning hours while no significant change in the daytime temperature is expected. There is also no forecast of rain and thunderstorm in the State. As per the bulletin released by the weather department, on Friday the lowest temperature was recorded in Garhwa at 10.9 degree Celsius. Ranchi and Daltonganj were observed at 12.4 and 12.5 degree Celsius respectively while Chaibasa and Bokaro were at 13 13.5 degrees respectively. Jamshedpur was the warmest at 15 degree Celsius. The bulletin further stated that from November 23 to November 26, the maximum temperature in the State capital and its surrounding areas will be around 26 degree Celsius. The minimum temperature during this period will be around 13 degree Celsius. The Canadian government has dismissed a media report linking Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval to criminal activities in Canada, including the alleged plot to kill Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, terming it as "speculative and inaccurate. The denial made by Nathalie G Drouin, National Security and Intelligence Advisor to Canadian Prime Minister, on Thursday came a day after India strongly trashed the report as "smear campaign". Quoting an unnamed senior national security official, The Globe and Mail newspaper on Tuesday reported that Canadian security agencies believe Prime Minister Modi knew about the killing of Nijjar and other violent plots. The official said Canadian and American intelligence tied the assassination operations to Home Affairs Minister Amit Shah. Also in the loop, the official said, was Doval and Jaishankar. In a statement issued by the Privy Council Office on Thursday, Drouin said, "On October 14th, because of a significant and ongoing threat to public safety, the RCMP and officials took the extraordinary step of making public accusations of serious criminal activity in Canada perpetrated by agents of the Government of India." However, he said, "The Government of Canada has not stated, nor is it aware of evidence, linking Prime Minister Modi, Minister Jaishankar, or NSA Doval to the serious criminal activity within Canada. Any suggestion to the contrary is both speculative and inaccurate. In a press conference on Oct 14, Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Commissioner Mike Duheme warned of widespread violence, homicides and a public security threat linked to "agents" of the Indian government. Hours after Duheme's conference, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters, I believe that India has made a monumental mistake by choosing to use their diplomats and organised crime to attack Canadians, to make them feel unsafe here at (their) home, and even more, to create acts of violence and even murder. It's unacceptable. On Oct 26, Canadian Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister David Morrison alleged that Indian Home Minister Shah ordered a campaign of violence, intimidation and intelligence-gathering targeting Sikh separatists inside Canada. In New Delhi on Wednesday, referring to the The Globe and Mail report, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said such "ludicrous statements" should be dismissed with the contempt they deserve and "smear campaigns like this only further damage our already strained ties". India-Canada ties remain deeply troubled over Canada's alleged support to Khalistani separatists and its accusation of India's involvement in the killing of Nijjar, who was gunned down in Surrey, British Columbia in June last year. India-Canada ties further nosedived last month after Canada linked Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Verma and some other diplomats to the murder. India has strongly rejected all the allegations made by Ottawa in connection to the case and subsequently recalled the high commissioner. The Canadian government had said the Indian diplomats were expelled from the country. India expelled Canadian Charge d'Affaires Stewart Wheeler and five other diplomats following Canada's allegations. New Delhi accuses Ottawa of doing next to nothing to stop the activities of Khalistani supporters who seek to undermine the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India. The Centre on Friday opposed in the Supreme court a proposal to form a committee of former apex court judges to oversee the implementation of measures to curb stubble burning, a key contributor to Delhi-NCRs air pollution. The suggestion was put forth before a bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih, hearing a case related to the rising pollution in Delhi-NCR, by senior advocate and amicus curiae Aparajita Singh. She sought to leverage the expertise of judges as part of the proposed fact-finding committee. The amicus said the judges had previously dealt with air pollution and stubble burning issues. A bench headed by former Supreme Court's Justice Madan B Lokur had heard pleas related to pollution and the role of stubble burning as a contributing factor in the past. In 2020, a bench headed by the then CJI Justice S A Bobde set up a panel headed by Justice Lokur to deal with the issues relating to stubble burning. The order was later recalled. On Friday, the amicus curiae proposed that a committee of these judges could monitor and hear all stakeholders, including farmers and government authorities, for a comprehensive approach to address the crisis. "A committee of experienced judges familiar with these issues could efficiently oversee the situation and hear individual grievances, said Singh. The proposal, however, was met with strong resistance from Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, representing the Centre. Bhati asserted the Centre and the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) were taking adequate measures and that adding another oversight layer would be counterproductive. "We strongly oppose this suggestion. There is no need for an additional judicial committee as your lordships are already monitoring the situation. We are answering all concerns, correcting shortcomings, and making progress, said ASG Bhati while opposing the creation of "any more tier". The amicus clarified her suggestion was for a fact-finding committee, but Bhati countered the statement, saying the government was already working with the available data and frameworks to address the issue effectively. During the hearing, senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan highlighted that changes in the timing of stubble burning, coupled with seasonal wind patterns, had worsened Delhis air quality. The amicus curiae further flagged discrepancies in data reported by the CAQM and other sources regarding burnt areas in Punjab and Haryana. "The burnt area in Punjab has increased to 19.1 lakh hectare from 15.1 lakh hectare in 2021, a 24% rise. Similarly, Haryanas burnt area rose from 3.5 lakh hectare in 2021 to 8.3 lakh hectare in 2023. This contrasts with CAQM data, which claims a reduction in farm fires in Haryana, Singh said, raising concerns about the accuracy of official reports. The ASG defended the CAQMs methodology, arguing that reliance on unverified sensors would undermine the process. The amicus curiae, however, emphasised the need for scientifically validated protocols involving experts, with Punjab and Haryana also participating in the efforts. The bench observed that while satellites could detect farm fires, burnt area showed their exact extent. "We would like to have that data," it said. In an order on November 18, the top court directed the Centre and the CAQM to procure farm fire data using geostationary satellites, as opposed to NASAs polar-orbiting satellites, to ensure real-time monitoring. The court noted that existing data from NASA satellites was limited to specific time windows and directed the involvement of ISRO in utilising stationary satellites for comprehensive day-long monitoring. The court will review compliance with these directions and the latest developments on stubble burning measures in its next hearing. The National Green Tribunal has been informed by the UP government's environment department that over 1.12 lakh trees will be felled in the protected forest area in the state to make way for the upcoming Kanwar Yatra route. The NGT had sought a reply from the secretary of the states environment department in a case pertaining to the felling of more than 1 lakh trees and shrubs in the protected forest area. The area in question spreads across three forest divisions of Ghaziabad, Meerut and Muzaffarnagar for the proposed route between Muradnagar in Ghaziabad and Purkaji in Muzaffarnagar. The reply, filed by UP principal secretary, Department of Environment, and dated November 19 said, "It is important to mention that the Public Works Department (PWD) received permission to cut 1,12,722 trees/plants for the Kanwar Marg project, as approved by the (Union) Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on February 28, 2023." It said at present, 25,410 trees had been marked and assigned for felling, of which 17,607 were cut by the PWD under the supervision of the Uttar Pradesh Forest Corporation. "Presently, the tree-cutting work has been suspended by PWD since August 9, 2024, and tree felling in certain stretches of the proposed alignment has not commenced," said the reply uploaded on the tribunal's website on Friday. Noting that the tribunal asked the secretary to enumerate the number of trees under the UP Tree Protection Act provisions, the reply stated such an enumeration was not be possible in the stretches where tree cutting was completed as plants and bushes were also cleared during the drive. "In the future, once PWD finalises a revised road alignment with width of 15-20 metre, joint inspections will identify and enumerate any remaining trees to be felled. However, the total number of affected trees/plants should not exceed 1,12,722," it stated. The UP tree act provisions did not apply to the reserved and protected forest land, the reply added. "The land used for the construction of above-mentioned Kanwar Marg is a protected forest and the implementing agency has obtained in-principle approval from Government of India for Kanwar Marg Project. Thus, enumeration of trees as per the provisions of UP Tree Act 1976 was not carried out," it said. Regarding the definition of trees, as asked by the tribunal in its previous order, the reply cited the Centres Parivesh Portal, according to which trees were categorised based on girth size such as 0-30 cm, 31-60 cm, and more than 150 cm, and included provisions for also counting smaller plants and trees having a girth between zero and 30 cm. "This ensures that all relevant vegetation is comprehensively accounted," the reply said. AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal launched a 'Revdi Par Charcha' campaign on Friday with an eye on the Delhi Assembly elections due to be held in February next year. Launching the campaign, Kejriwal said the party's district and booth-level office bearers will reach out to voters, distributing pamphlets about the free facilities ('revdis') provided by the AAP government. "Our workers will hold 65,000 meetings across Delhi to make people understand what these free facilities mean and how only AAP can provide these," the former chief minister said. He said the government is providing free electricity, water, healthcare, education, bus rides for women, and pilgrimage for the elderly. "Another 'revdi' -- a monthly Rs 1,000 assistance for women in Delhi -- will be started soon," the AAP supremo said. He alleged that the BJP wants to stop all the free facilities in the national capital. "The BJP is in power in 20 states and not even in a single state do they provide any of these free 'revdis'. This is because they don't have the intention; only AAP knows how to provide these facilities," Kejriwal said. He further said that AAP workers will ask the voters what the BJP has done for Delhi in the last 10 years since "the national capital is a half-state and the central government has as many powers as we do". All the BJP has done in the past decade is to halt the AAP government's developmental works, Kejriwal added. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has invited German companies to invest in India, saying it is a trusted partner which offers political and economic stability. Addressing the TV9 Global Summit in Stuttgart on Thursday evening, he said India was growing steadily at 6-8 percent and was poised to continue this trajectory for many years to come. "Consider including India in your supply chain. India hosts over 1,800 global capability centres across virtually every sector. We offer a vast pool of talent, with world-renowned capabilities in IT," the minister said. "The success of our government reflects in the fact that good economics can also make good politics. While many democratic nations have faced turmoil, India remains a trusted partner, offering both political and economic stability," he said. Vaishnaw said India had a very healthy balance sheet, with debt at 57 percent of the GDP, well below the debt levels seen in other large economies. "This success is not a coincidence. It is the result of a clear, well-thought-out strategy and meticulous execution," he said. The minister said India's growth strategy was based on four pillars of public investment in physical, social and digital infrastructure; large number of inclusive growth programs; focus on manufacturing and innovation and simplification of legal and compliance structures. Vaishnaw said the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi believed in the vision of minimum government, maximum governance and has repealed over 1,500 outdated laws and removed 40,000 unnecessary compliance requirements. "New legislations, such as the Digital Personal Data Protection Act and the Telecom Act, now provide a transparent framework for today's digital economy," he noted. Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake Thursday backed an International Monetary Fund bailout package despite pre-presidential election rhetoric to renegotiate with the global lender to water down tough conditions laid down for the recovery. In his inaugural address to the newly convened parliament after his partys landslide victory last week, President Dissanayake also pledged to fulfil his pre-election promises by ensuring the supremacy of the law and addressing past wrongdoings. Dissanayake affirmed his administrations commitment to continue the IMF bailout programme initiated by the previous government led by Ranil Wickremesinghe. We will enter the staff-level agreement (with IMF) hopefully by November 23, Dissanayake said, expressing optimism about securing the agreement for the next tranche of the nearly USD 3 billion facility. A staff-level agreement is a preliminary pact reached between the IMF staff and the government of a country on a set of economic policies and reforms that the country must implement in exchange for financial assistance from the global lender. The IMF team on Sunday arrived in Sri Lanka to carry out the third review of the nearly USD 3 billion bailout facility. The third review should lead to the fourth tranche of the 4-year facility. It would be around USD 330 million as was the case in the previous three tranches, according to the Finance Ministry officials. The debt restructuring agreement reached in the last week of the Wickremesinghe presidency is yet to be officially sealed. Debt restructuring agreement with both bilateral and sovereign bondholders was made compulsory to maintain debt sustainability by the IMF. Sri Lanka tapped the IMF for a facility at the height of the economic crisis under the presidency of Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the president who was made to flee the country by months-long public protests. Mid April of 2022 Sri Lanka announced its first-ever debt default. The negotiations with the IMF began thereafter and the Wickremesinghes government clinched the bailout, a year later in March 2023. In his policy address, President Dissanayake focused significantly on the countrys struggling economy. On debt restructuring, Dissanayake assured that his government would honour agreements made by the previous administration. Soon, there will be separate agreements with each country on debt restructuring, and hopefully, all will be finalised by the end of this year, he said. Staying true to his National Peoples Power (NPP) partys commitment to austerity, Dissanayake made a modest ceremonial entry to parliament, foregoing the usual pomp of motorcycle outriders, motorcades, and military gun salutes. Clad in a simple white tunic, the 56-year-old President addressed the parliament from the Speakers chair, marking the first session since his partys landslide victory. The NPP created history in the November 14 election by winning 159 seats in the 225-member assembly. This was the first time that a party won two-thirds control or over 150 seats in a parliamentary election held since 1989. It is our duty to make everyone accountable and equal before the law, he said, adding that his government will deliver justice to everyone affected by past crimes. Our duty since being elected was to win the confidence of all parties by ensuring continuity, Dissanayake said. The President emphasised the need for broader public participation in economic development, ensuring that economic benefits reach the larger population. He highlighted the unique unity his government represents, bringing together people from both the south and the north. There will be no race, religion, or discrimination-based politics in the government, he stressed. Announcing welfare measures, Dissanayake vowed to address immediate challenges such as malnutrition, healthcare, and social care, pledging to protect all citizens. This will be a government that protects all people, he said. At the start of the new session of the 10th parliament since 1978, the NPPs Ashoka Ranwala was elected house speaker while Rizwie Salih was elected deputy speaker. Himali Weerasekera, a female member, was elected the deputy chairman of the committee. The significant feature of the appointment was that all three elected to the high offices were first-time members of parliament, which is an unprecedented occurrence in Sri Lankas parliamentary history. Speaker Ranwala, a chemical engineer, represents the NPPs elevation to the highest office through decades of public agitations. He was a trade union leader in the state fuel entity, CPC and an organisation often hit by leftist trade union activism. After the ceremonial appointments of the three parliamentary appointments, an announcement was made that Sajith Premadasa from the main opposition had been recognised as the opposition leader. This is getting so far beyond satire, its actually off the fucking scale! The Prime Minister of the only democracy in the Middle East, a man who is doing everything to defend his country from multiple terrorist threats, is now a wanted man in over 124 frickin countries after the ICC posted an arrest warrant for Benjamin Netanyahu! You read that right, 124 countries are out to arrest Benjamin Bibi Netanyahu, the Israeli PM who will from now on have to wear a disguise when travelling abroad. The Mossad costume department has been sequestered by the fugitive Israeli PM to disguise him whilst abroad. We got a lot of costumes for the PM to wear. Its no problem for us, Mosher Liebowitz, Chief Disguise Unit officer for Mossad, revealed. British Labour PM Keir Starmer has even acknowledged that if Netanyahu dares to even set foot in the UK whilst he is in charge, he will have the poor fellow arrested. How can this actually be happening? Well, one only has to look at the International Criminal Court to see who the lead prosecutor is. Some dude called Karim Ahmad Khan, who has been out to get Netanyahu for years. Meanwhile, the brutal war continues The Russian government is mass-producing the KUB-M bomb shelter, capable of protection for up to 48 hours from the harmful effects of radiation. Russias Emergency Ministry Research Institute revealed that the KUB-M nuclear shelters can also protect people from explosions, shrapnel, debris, chemicals, and even fire. On the insistence of Putin, Russia recently expanded the conditions under which nuclear weapons can be used by Moscow. Russia can now use nuclear weapons in instances when a non-nuclear state supported by nuclear power attacks Russian territory. With the mobile bomb shelters entering mass production, it could mean that the country is getting ready to use nuclear weapons against Ukraine and also expects a similar attack on its territory. According to a report by Reuters the KUB-M bomb shelter is designed like a reinforced shipping container and consists of two modules each. It also contains one technical block, and there is a possibility of adding more modules, as per the Russian institute. The shelters are designed to be functional even in Russias hard and cold permafrost regions. Russia says that the war with Ukraine is entering its most dangerous phase now, and it is not taking lightly any aid or help that is being provided to Ukraine by the West. In the UK, the incompetent and reckless Labour government has recently reduced military spending by 500 million, leaving the already faltering British military practically defenceless. As for protecting the British population with nuclear shelters in the UK, the Labour government is completely silent. Russian missiles would reach Britain in less than 15 minutes during a nuclear attack. Dal's Accessibility Week takes place each year in the lead up to the International Day for Persons with Disabilities. The annual observance of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on December 3 was proclaimed in 1992 by the United Nations General Assembly resolution 47/3. The observance of the day aims to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities. The Bloody Sunday Trust has urged Derry City and Strabane District Council to use the International Day of Solidarity with Palestine on 29 November as an opportunity to reaffirm its commitment to formally branding the Council area as an anti-apartheid zone. Tony Doherty, chair of the Bloody Sunday Trust, said: "The issuing of arrest warrants by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant on charges of war crimes, crimes against humanity, the use of starvation and the deliberate targeting of medical facilities further criminalises the Zionist apartheid regime. "The ICC action follows on from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) Advisory Opinion, delivered on 19th July this year, that Israels occupation of Palestinian land, including settlements and their infrastructure, are unlawful and ordered that the occupation must be brought to an end. "The ICJ opinion also rules that all states have an obligation not to recognize as legal the situation arising from the unlawful presence of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and not to render aid or assistance in maintaining the situation created by Israels illegal presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. If international law is to retain any credibility the ICC and ICJ interventions must hasten the ending of the apartheid regime just as international pressure, including sanctions brought an end to apartheid in South Africa. Derry will always stand in solidarity with Palestine against the injustices they are facing and has repeatedly expressed support for the right of the Palestinian people to freedom and self determination. In support of this unequivocal civic position Derry City and Strabane District Council must now formally take a stand against apartheid in Palestine, and declare itself an apartheid free zone, where this crime, and all those who aid and abet it, will never be welcome. Council should furthermore commit to undertake the appropriate due diligence to ensure it is fully complying with the ICJ ruling and to ensure it is not directly or indirectly assisting the illegal occupation of Palestine in any way. We are making this call now in the hope that Council can take action by 30 January 2025. This would be a fitting and very welcome way to mark the anniversary of Bloody Sunday. The Bloody Sunday Trust is a member of the Irish Anti-Apartheid Campaign for Palestine, a coalition of Irish civil society organisations, trade unions and academic experts which represents over a million people and is committed to working collaboratively to end Israeli apartheid against Palestinians. Bloody Sunday Trust Director Maeve McLaughlin said: We will now be seeking meetings with our elected representatives to generate support for this call. We are sure that the majority of them will back us, but it is important that they bring this support to the council chamber and demand that concrete formal action be taken. Our council should very clearly and very publicly take a stand on this important issue and announce that we are an anti-apartheid zone. Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. AIB NI is calling on local communities to step up together and complete a mile challenge this Christmas to support GOALs vital humanitarian work. The GOAL Mile takes place at over 160 locations around the island of Ireland in December, raising much needed funds for AIB charity partner, GOAL. AIB NI has teamed up with styling and lifestyle blogger Denise Curran, to help encourage and inspire those in Northern Ireland to take part in the challenge. Together they are encouraging everyone to walk 2,000 steps approximately one mile to raise awareness of GOAL in its work with vulnerable communities around the world. There are two GOAL Mile community walks planned so far in Derry over the festive period including Castledawson and Strand Road. People can also organise their own GOAL Mile. The GOAL Mile is a special way to get together with family and friends and support an incredible charity at the same time, said Denise Curran. I completed the GOAL Mile last year and want to make it an annual tradition, its a wonderful way to get out into nature during what is often a busy time of year and take some time to reflect on how we might be help make a difference to those in need and go the extra mile this Christmas. For over forty years, the GOAL Mile has seen tens of thousands of people run, jog or walk one mile to raise funds for GOAL at Christmas to support GOALs humanitarian work in Africa, the Middle East and Latin America. This year, AIB is encouraging people across Ireland to start a new tradition by participating in the GOAL Mile together. AIB, committed to building sustainable communities, is proud to extend its partnership with the GOAL Mile for another three years. By supporting GOAL, AIB reinforces its dedication to helping vulnerable communities impacted by climate change, poverty, hunger, and conflict. Whether walking, strolling, jogging, or running, everyone is invited to participate in the GOAL Mile with family, friends, or their wider community. Early bird registration is now open at www.GOALmile.org. Participants and supporters can also donate directly to GOAL through the AIB app. The Zachary Geddis Trust have launched their annual Alternative Xmaz Campaign to help those struggling with their mental health over the festive season. This year, the campaign focus is on encouraging people not to spend Christmas in Crisis and to seek support via the Zachary Geddis Trust crisis helpline for assistance. This Christmas crisis service will provide befriending or counselling calls from Friday December 20 to Monday January 20. Yasmin Geddis, CEO of the Zachary Geddis Trust, said: Since launching in 2017, The Zachary Geddis Trust has hosted an Alternative Christmas campaign as our family themselves have recognised that Christmas is simply not the most wonderful time of the year for everyone. Our crisis service is specially tailored to help people throughout the Causeway Coast and Glens area who are in despair over the festive period. The Christmas crisis line will be manned by qualified local counsellors, who have experience working within the Zachary Geddis Trust. If you require ongoing support throughout the Christmas period, you will be assigned one person to talk too who will know your story and background, so you can comfortably pick up from where you left off on each call. Although this service is initially a phone call, once the crisis period has ended, the individual can then become a regular client with the service accessing 1:1 face-to-face sessions. We, at the Zachary Geddis Trust, are committed to supporting our community towards positive mental health all year long, and we want to ensure that this essential service is still available to all throughout the festive season. Due to budgetary restrictions, the service can only be offered from 8am 10pm each day but clients can register for a call back between 10pm 8am and a registered counsellor will respond as soon as possible. The service can be accessed by calling 02870440123 or Email info@zgbtst.org. The Zachary Geddis Trust is a non-profit charitable organisation dedicated to raising mental health awareness and decreasing the stigma surrounding suicide. Located on the North Coast of Northern Ireland, the Zachary Geddis Trust assists over 200 individuals per week with their mental health. Each crisis call costs 15, and with your help, we can help to ease the financial pressure of a small charity doing big work. The Zachary Geddis Trust's seventh Alternative Xmaz Campaign can be supported through donations via https://zgbtst.enthuse.com/cf/alternativexmaz For further information about these programmes and services which the Zachary Geddis Trust provides, please visit www.zgbtst.org , email info@zgbtst.org or ring us on 07934187147 or 028 7044 0123. Derry City and Strabane District Councils Environmental Health Department have issued an important safety warning to people thinking of purchasing e-bikes or e-scooters this Christmas. The number of fires related to lithium batteries quadrupled in the UK in the last three years with statistics showing that 190 people have been injured since 2020, and 10 have proved fatal. Head of Community Health and Wellbeing at Council, Seamus Donaghy, urged the public to be aware of the risks. Consumers buying E-Bikes and Scooters should be aware of the risks associated with products containing lithium-ion batteries to ensure only safe products are purchased and used correctly to prevent injury, he said. Buyers should familiarise themselves with the necessary steps when buying, looking after or making changes to an e-bike or e-scooter to ensure only safe products are purchased to protect yourself from injury. The Office for Product Safety and Standards have launched a new safety campaign to raise awareness about the dangers of buying faulty and unsafe e-bikes, e-scooters and components such as batteries - if you own or are thinking about buying an e-bike visit gov.uk/buy-safe for safety guidance. Buyers are advised to follow three steps when buying, looking after or making changes to an e-bike or e-scooter. Step one releates to buying your e-bike or e-scooter - do your research and buy your e-bike or e-scooter from trusted sellers and look at reviews first. Products sold to UK consumers must meet UK safety laws and you should check whether the seller provides information about how they comply. Customers should also look for the UKCA or CE marks on e-bikes and e-scooters which is required by UK product safety regulations. Look after your e-bike or e-scooter properly by following the instructions and guidelines and follow the manufacturers instructions for storage, charging, and maintenance. If instructions are missing, check the manufacturers website for guidance and always follow the safety and usage instructions provided. Charge your battery in a safe location that does not block fire escape routes or exits.Do not cover the charger or battery. Charge when you are awake and present, not when you are asleep or away from home.Unplug once the battery is fully charged. Make sure your charger is suitable for your battery, as not all e-bike or e-scooter batteries and chargers are safe when used together.Connecting the wrong charger to a battery can pose serious fire risks. Finally, when making changes or repairs to your e-bike or e-scooter only use a competent professional to convert a pedal bike to an e-bike, only use manufacturer recommended e-bike replacement parts, chargers, and batteries and never attempt to modify or tamper with your battery. The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service has further information to help prevent fires from E-bikes and e-scooters in the home: Home Fire Safety - Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service If you require further information, please contact Councils Environmental Health Department on 02871253252 or via the email addresses below: For advice on Home Safety: homesafety@derrystrabane.com. For advice on Consumer Protection: consumerprotection@derrystrabane.com. HIGHLIGHTS Google has hit back at the U.S. Department of Justice's (DOJ) proposal, calling it a "radical interventionist agenda." One of the most significant concerns raised by Google is the potential compromise of consumer privacy. Another issue highlighted by Google is that the proposal could hurt the quality of the companys services. Google has hit back at the U.S. Department of Justices (DOJ) proposal, calling it a radical interventionist agenda. The DOJs proposal is part of an ongoing lawsuit focused on how Google distributes its Search services, particularly its agreements with major partners like Apple, Mozilla, smartphone manufacturers, and wireless carriers. According to Google, the DOJs sweeping suggestions go far beyond the scope of the case and could negatively impact a range of Google products that millions of people rely on daily. The company warns that the proposal could harm both consumers and the wider tech industry in several ways. Also read: Former Google CEO sees unprecedented AI growth, flags potential dangers One of the most significant concerns raised by Google is the potential compromise of consumer privacy. The DOJs proposal could force Google to disclose sensitive data, including Americans personal search queries, to both domestic and foreign companies. Google believes this would endanger the security and privacy of millions of users. Another issue highlighted by Google is that the proposal could hurt the quality of the companys services. For example, the sale of its Chrome browser and possibly Android operating system could undermine the reliability and innovation of products that many people find useful. Google also argues that the proposal could limit investment in artificial intelligence (AI) technology, a field where Google has been a major leader. Google also expressed concern about how this extreme proposal could hurt smaller businesses. The company points out that services like Mozillas Firefox depend on the revenue they earn from their partnership with Google Search. Changes to these agreements could disrupt their business model. Also read: Googles experiment of removing news articles from search in EU sparks legal action One particularly troubling part of the proposal is that it would force Google to install multiple choice screens on Pixel phones. These screens would need to be approved by a government-appointed Technical Committee that would have significant control over how Google operates its services. Google has made it clear that it believes the DOJs proposal represents unnecessary government overreach. The company has promised to present its own counter-proposals next month and plans to make its broader case next year. HIGHLIGHTS OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, is reportedly considering developing its own web browser. The move could shake up the online search and browsing markets, currently dominated by Google Chrome. OpenAI has been in talks with various app and website developers to create its search product. Imagine using a web browser thats entirely powered by artificial intelligenceone that could even enhance your search experience with advanced AI features. This could become a reality soon, as OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, is reportedly considering developing its own web browser. The move could shake up the online search and browsing markets, currently dominated by Google Chrome. According to a recent report by The Information (via Reuters), OpenAI has been in talks with various app and website developers such as Conde Nast, Redfin, Eventbrite, and Priceline, to create its search product. Sources familiar with the matter have revealed that OpenAI has already shown prototypes or designs for these new products, though they are not yet ready for launch. Also read: Accident or cover-up? OpenAI allegedly deletes potential evidence in copyright case If OpenAI pushes ahead with this idea, it could directly challenge Googles dominance in the browser market. Google Chrome is the go-to browser for most users, and its search engine is deeply integrated into our daily internet usage. However, OpenAIs entry into the space could create competition, especially as the company has already made strides in the search market with its own feature, SearchGPT. In response to the rise of AI-powered tools like ChatGPT, Google has been ramping up its AI capabilities. In late 2022, it introduced its own AI chatbot, Gemini, and has been integrating it into its products. Meanwhile, Alphabet, Googles parent company, has faced legal challenges regarding its market share, with the U.S. Department of Justice pushing for changes to its monopoly on online search. These developments highlight the growing rivalry in the tech world, especially between Google and emerging AI companies like OpenAI. Also read: Is OpenAI violating copyright laws? Former company employee says YES OpenAIs potential browser might also have partnerships in place, including with companies like Samsung and Apple. While the company already powers some of Apples AI features on its devices, it could expand its presence further by integrating its technology into new products from these tech giants. However, sources caution that OpenAI is still far from launching its browser, and these plans are still in the early stages. For now, OpenAIs potential browser remains a big question mark. But if it does come to fruition, it could spark a new chapter in the ongoing battle for internet dominance. MediaTek aims to lead India's premium smartphone segment MediaTek is intensifying its efforts to challenge Qualcomm's dominance in India's premium 5G market. As the company gains traction with Chinese smartphone manufacturers for their high-end models, it is strategically positioning itself to expand its footprint in this competitive space. Finbarr Moynihan, vice-president of corporate marketing at MediaTek, revealed to MoneyControl that MediaTek currently powers approximately 54% of smartphones sold in India. The company has secured a dominant 64% share in the sub-INR30,000 (US$355.5) segment. While acknowledging MediaTek's smaller presence in the premium 5G market, Moynihan expressed confidence in the company's growth trajectory, noting that achieving similar success in the high-end market could take more than a year. The company's flagship Dimensity 9000 series has proven particularly successful, generating US$1 billion in revenue in 2023 against MediaTek's total revenue of nearly US$14 billion. Moynihan projects the series will achieve 70% growth compared to the previous year in 2024, with revenue potentially reaching US$2 billion, driven by MediaTek's expanding presence in the 5G market and increasing demand for premium devices. In the first half of 2024, MediaTek dominated India's 5G mobile chipset market with a 51% share, while Qualcomm held 32%. This dominance was particularly evident in the sub-INR30,000 5G smartphone sector, where MediaTek captured 64% of the market compared to Qualcomm's 31%. However, in the premium segment above INR30,000, Qualcomm leads with 34%, followed by Apple at 27%, Samsung at 24%, and MediaTek at 14%. The competition among Android smartphone system-on-chip providers is intensifying as the year progresses. MediaTek plans to challenge its competitors with its latest Dimensity 9400, launched in October alongside Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 4. MoneyControl reports that analysts expect MediaTek to capture a larger share of the Indian market segment above INR30,000, driven by increasing adoption of the Dimensity 9000 series by Chinese smartphone manufacturers in their premium devices. Counterpoint analyst Prachir Singh emphasized MediaTek's position as India's leading 5G chipset provider during the first half of 2024, powering over half of all 5G smartphone shipments. With its Dimensity 9000 series and the new Dimensity 9400, MediaTek is well-positioned to strengthen its presence in the premium segment and intensify competition with major industry players. Beyond smartphones, MediaTek is expanding into India's automotive sector. Mike Chang, corporate vice president at MediaTek, told Business Today about the company's entry into India's automotive market, focusing on developing scalable hardware and software solutions with an emphasis on safety and reliability. Taiwan evaluates potential impact of Trump's proposed China trade status revocation President-elect Donald Trump has announced his plan to name Howard Lutnick, a prominent China critic, as Secretary of Commerce. Lutnick will oversee the management of US tariffs and trade policies. With Trump's staffing choices signaling a deliberate aim to curtail China's advancement, senior officials from Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) are carefully assessing if the suspension of China's permanent normal trade status will have implications for Taiwan. Major changes in US policy direction are anticipated following Trump's victory in the presidential election. His administration appears to be preoccupied with two primary themes: "America First" and China, based on his public statements. Senior government officials remain hesitant to comment on the pros and cons of Trump's appointments to prevent misunderstandings in future Taiwan-US interactions, even though some Taiwanese legislators believe a harsher US attitude toward China might strengthen Taiwan-US relations. MOEA Deputy Minister C. C. Chen noted that the previous Trump Administration's implementation of an "America First" trade policy in 2017 resulted in opportunities and challenges in the global economic environment. These policies subsequently altered global supply chain restructuring and tariff strategies, reshaping international trade dynamics. Concerned about the potential impact on Taiwan when Trump returns to power in 2025, Chen stated that if the new Trump administration imposes a comprehensive 60% tariff on all Chinese imports and revokes China's permanent normal trade status, US-China competition would intensify. Although some Taiwanese businesses may gain from order transfers, this situation would add uncertainty to global trade and have unknown consequences for Taiwan's economy. Import tariff increases would raise the cost of imports for the US, resulting in lower consumer demand and impacting global product exports to the country. Furthermore, other countries may implement retaliatory trade policies, deepening global protectionism. Addressing concerns about the potential 60% tariff on all Chinese-made products bound for the US, Chen explained that while over 70% of Taiwan's publicly traded companies have stakes in China, mainly in computer peripherals and electronics manufacturing, many Taiwanese manufacturers have already begun establishing facilities in China to coordinate with brand vendors, who are increasingly diversifying their markets to lessen manufacturing dependency on China as part of risk mitigation activities. In anticipation of a potential influx of Taiwanese businesses returning home following Trump's re-election, the MOEA intends to extend its "Three Major Investment Plans for Taiwan," providing support to those seeking to relocate operations to the US or Europe. Chen emphasized that the MOEA must plan in response to Trump's tariff proposals. The ministry will discuss with US counterparts how Taiwan's trade surplus benefits the US, based on data. Taiwanese exports help revitalize domestic industry, benefiting the US economy and creating job prospects. Furthermore, Trump's initiatives aim to encourage the US technology, manufacturing, and employment sectors. These are the sectors where Taiwan and the US may effectively collaborate, ensuring a resilient supply chain and mutual benefits. The MOEA's future initiatives will primarily focus on two aspects: first, increasing the number of Taiwanese enterprises participating in the SelectUSA Investment Summit to showcase Taiwan's investment capabilities; and second, assisting Taiwanese companies in exploring business opportunities in the US through an "offshore within borders" policy, resulting in a complete industrial supply chain in the US and additional job opportunities. Save my User ID and Password Some subscribers prefer to save their log-in information so they do not have to enter their User ID and Password each time they visit the site. To activate this function, check the 'Save my User ID and Password' box in the log-in section. This will save the password on the computer you're using to access the site. Note: If you choose to use the log-out feature, you will lose your saved information. This means you will be required to log-in the next time you visit our site. Japan halts funding for all-polymer battery firm APB amid company crisis Japanese authorities have officially terminated subsidies for APB Corp, a pioneer in next-generation all-polymer battery technology, amid severe financial difficulties and leadership turmoil. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) Minister Muto Yoji announced the decision at a November 19 press conference, explaining that APB had failed to meet its initial research and development targets for all-polymer batteries. In 2022, the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), operating under METI, approved a JPY4.6 billion (US$33 million) subsidy to support APB's project, with JPY1 billion already disbursed. APB, established in 2018 by former Nissan engineer Hideaki Horie, developed the all-polymer battery as a safer alternative with lower fire risks, specifically targeting electric vehicle (EV) applications. The company secured both critical patents for mass production technology and government backing in 2022. Internal conflicts erupted over commercialization timelines, culminating in Horie's dismissal as CEO in June 2024. Subsequently, Horie accused his successor, Marei Oshima, the former vice president and current CEO, of attempting to transfer proprietary technology to China to secure mass production funding, further destabilizing the company. Following the leadership change, APB entered negotiations with its primary lender, Hokkoku Financial Holdings, and its subsidiary QR Investment, a major APB shareholder. The bank demanded Horie's reinstatement as a condition for additional funding, but negotiations collapsed in late October 2024. As APB's financial situation deteriorated, QR Investment filed for bankruptcy proceedings under Japan's Corporate Reorganization Act on November 1. However, APB's shareholder documents indicate no definitive decision on reorganization has been made, leaving the final determination to the Tokyo District Court. Court approval would result in the dismissal of the current management team. On November 19, APB released a statement refuting media reports of information leaks, asserting strict compliance with security protocols and regulations. In light of these mounting challenges, METI's withdrawal of support for APB's all-polymer battery project leaves the future of this promising technology uncertain. Tackling Government waste and radically improving efficiency is the focus of the Independent Ireland election manifesto. Independent Ireland is fronted by leader Michael Collins and co-founder Richard ODonoghue as well as Michael Fitzmaurice, who formerly sat as independent TDs in the Dail. Former RTE correspondent Ciaran Mullooly represents the party as an MEP. The party says it would balance the requirements of all citizens while acknowledging the gap between a city-centric cabinet and the needs of the people of rural Ireland. It launched its election manifesto on Friday. Among its core pledges are a new independent oversight body recruited from the private sector to tackle Government waste, radically improve efficiency and deliver accountability. Independent Ireland is proud to announce the official successful launch of its General Election Manifesto at the Athlone Springs Hotel, This morning. The launch marks a significant milestone in the Partys mission to deliver practical solutions for Irelands most pressing pic.twitter.com/BVIzwOgP2I Independent Ireland (@independent_ire) November 22, 2024 It is targeting a two billion euro annual saving from the operation of what it is calling the Department of Efficiency and Reform. The manifesto also estimates it can reform an estimated seven billion euro in support for the NGO sector through an immediate forensic review. The party said it would freeze green taxes which it views as regressive and disproportionate towards lower and middle income families. In addition, it would expand the lower rate tax bracket to those earning less than 75,000 euro. It would also abolish the USC, property tax and PRSI for those aged over 65. The party is pledging to reduce childcare costs. Independent Ireland said it would also secure our borders and create special courts to deal with illegal immigration. It says all international protection applications and final appeals will be processed within six months. It would hasten deportation orders and end planning exemptions for asylum centres. The party also claims it will address profiteering from private companies involved in the provision of asylum seeker accommodation. Independent Ireland would declare a housing emergency and delivery affordable homes for people currently renting, it says. The party would also loosen planning laws to allow property owners to build on their own land, and reduce VAT on building supplies. On health, the party pledges to issue medical cards to all cancer patients, deliver accommodation support to healthcare workers, and increase services at smaller hospitals to reduce waiting lists. It has outlined a one billion euro support package for the agriculture sector and stands against measures such as a cull of the national herd and an increase in the nitrates derogation. In transport, the party wants to expand Luas-like light rail services to all 26 counties in the Republic of Ireland. Donegal County Council has won the prestigious Local Authority of the Year Award at this year's Chambers Ireland's Excellence in Local Government Awards. The awards ceremony took place in Dublin and Donegal County Council took the top award. Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, Cllr. Niamh Kennedy who represented Donegal County Council at the awards ceremony along with Chief Executive John McLaughlin, was thrilled with this achievement. "I am thrilled to see Donegal County Council received this top award. This reflects the relentless work that Councillors and Council staff do day in and day out for the people of Donegal. Our positive and 'can-do' attitude has been recognised by the judging panel" said Cllr Kennedy. READ NEXT: Storm Bert will bring very strong winds and heavy rain to Donegal this weekend John McLaughlin Chief Executive of Donegal County Council also welcomed this award and said: "This is a great reflection on the work of the Council and the ambitious approach that the Council has taken over the last number of years across a range of areas. This includes investments in economic and enterprise development, housing capital build, roads, greenways, active travel, urban and rural regeneration, climate action, social inclusion and community development and as well as an extensive cultural development programme. It also speaks to the innovation and creativity of our members and staff and to the collaborative approach that we take by working with a whole range of partners and stakeholders in delivering various projects and initiatives". Excellence in Local Government Awards are held annually and are hosted by Chambers Ireland. Donegal County Council also won the Supporting Sustainable Communities category for Burtonport & Arranmore - Harbour to Island Regeneration and the Health and Well Being category for the Model Beach Accessibility project. Other projects shortlisted included: the Energy Retrofit Programme in Climate Change category; Sound! Soundtrack Film Festival in Festival of the Year category; The Wonder of Weave - A Showcase of Irish & Scottish Tweed in Heritage and Built Environment category and the Food Coast Donegal in Promoting Economic Development category. The much-anticipated Carlingford Christmas Shopping Day is back on Tuesday 3rd December, promising a day filled with festive cheer, unique shopping experiences, and seasonal delights in the beautiful medieval town of Carlingford. Local bars and restaurants will offer festive menus, making it a perfect day out. Its a day designed to bring the community together and give visitors a truly magical shopping experience. This event is incredibly important for local businesses, offering them a boost during the busy festive season. Every purchase supports family-owned shops, local artisans, and small restaurants. The Garrett Mallon Design House will showcase stunning handmade jewellery and crafts from over 100 Irish makers. Garrett Mallon shared his excitement saying: "We are absolutely thrilled to welcome everyone back for the annual Carlingford Christmas Shopping Day. This year, were offering a 10% discount both in-store and online, making it the perfect opportunity to find one-of-a-kind gifts while supporting Irish artisans." Popular bars and restaurants, such as PJ OHares, The Bay Tree, and Kingfisher Bistro, will welcome visitors with delicious food and drinks. For fashion lovers, Memories, Lush, and Azure ladies boutiques will also be welcoming shoppers with their unique collections. The towns medieval streets come alive with twinkling lights and festive decorations, creating a magical winter wonderland. The aroma of mulled wine, Christmas music, and cheerful shopfronts make Carlingford a magical destination. This event is more than a shopping day, its a festive experience filled with community spirit, perfect for families, friends, or solo visitors. Its the perfect opportunity to tick off your Christmas shopping list while soaking up the Christmas magic. Plus, supporting local businesses makes it all the more rewarding! For more information, visit www.carlingford.ie The wait is finally over as 1,600 children in 28 Early Years and School Age Care settings across Louth celebrate National Pyjama Day 2024! Every year on this special day, smiles are aplenty as Early Childhood Irelands members open their doors and welcome children wearing their comfiest pyjamas, dressing gowns and slippers to their settings. Laughter fills the day as children partake in PJ Day breakfasts and teddy bear picnics, play games, and listen to stories to mark the occasion when children help children and raise vital funds for charity. Funds raised on National Pyjama Day 2024 will go towards supporting Sensational Kids an award-winning social enterprise that works with children who have sensory processing challenges - and Early Childhood Irelands Eco-Emotions project, which empowers educators and parents with the tools they need to support children in caring for themselves, their communities, and the planet. Since the inaugural National Pyjama Day in 2003, over 4.3 million has been raised for a host of charitable causes that support babies and children all over Ireland. Commenting on the much-loved annual fundraiser, Early Childhood Ireland CEO Teresa Heeney said: National Pyjama Day 2024 brings communities across Ireland together for a great cause for the 21st year in a row, and we are so very grateful to all of our dedicated members in Louth for making it possible. Read Next: Man arrested in Dundalk in relation to Creeslough explosion has been released Of course, the day itself is all about children helping children. Were delighted to see so many of them celebrate today and raise vital funds for two amazing projects, she continued. Our Eco-Emotions project and Sensational Kids mission will make a real difference in the lives of children and it's all down to the funds raised today by children in their PJs. Every year, were blown away by the support of family and friends who donate to this fantastic cause. Happy National Pyjama Day 2024 to all, Ms Heeney concluded. Denise Charlton, Chief Executive of partner organisation Community Foundation Ireland, said: Exciting, passionate, and energetic, Sensational Kids creates lasting memories for children, parents, and Early Years professionals. We celebrate the long-standing partnership between Early Childhood Ireland and the Community Foundation through National Pyjama Day. We are thrilled to support Sensational Kids project to better assist neurodiverse children and those with sensory processing differences, and we wish them every success in their important work ahead. Find out how to donate at www.earlychildhoodireland.ie/pyjama-day Vision Irelands inaugural Vision Star Awards took place last month, recognising the invaluable contributions of volunteers across the country, including in Louth. Among those honoured was Kate Karpenko from the Vision Ireland store in Ardee, who was awarded the Happy Whisperer Award for her exceptional ability to spread joy and foster positive connections within the local community. Vision Ireland is dedicated to empowering individuals who are blind or vision-impaired to overcome barriers to independence and participation in society. Through its retail stores, advocacy, and services, Vision Ireland works to create a world where people with visual impairments have the same opportunities, rights, and choices as others. The Happy Whisperer Award celebrates volunteers who uplift the spirits of those around them through genuine engagement, kindness, and positivity. Vision Ireland says Kates friendly presence and ability to connect with both customers and her fellow volunteers have made her an essential part of the Ardee store, bringing warmth and happiness to everyone she meets. Kate Karpenko expressed her joy at receiving the award, saying, "I am so thrilled and honoured to receive the Happy Whispered Community Award. Volunteering at the Ardee store has been an amazing experience, and its incredibly rewarding to be able to bring a little happiness into peoples lives." Danielle McDonagh, Louth Area Manager, praised Kates dedication and the event itself, saying, "Kate truly embodies what this award is all aboutspreading joy and positivity. She has made such a significant impact at the Ardee store, and were all so proud of her. The Vision Star Awards have been a fantastic celebration of our volunteers, and its wonderful to see their contributions being recognised." Aaron Mullaniff, Chief Services Officer of Vision Ireland, highlighted the crucial role volunteers play, stating, "Our volunteers are the core reason that Vision Ireland can reach the 296,000 people living with visual impairment or blindness across Ireland. "It is through their commitment, passion, and dedication that we can offer our essential services. This event is crucial to remind our volunteer heroes that everyone in services recognises and deeply appreciates everything they do." The New York Times (NYT) has named Irish butter brand Kerrygold the 'butteriest butter.' In an article reviewing the 'best butter', Kerrygold was ranked the best for both baking and eating. The article, written by Lesley Stockton and Ciara Murray Jordan for the Wirecutter, a product review section of the NYT, revealed: "The experience of unwrapping a brick of Kerrygold Salted Butter is almost transcendent. Peeling back the golden foil, catching a glimpse of the similarly golden butter beneath, and youre reaching for a knife and a slice of bread before you even know what youre doing. READ NEXT: RIP: Search for missing woman in her 40s stood down following discovery of body "Golden, grassy, and velvety: Kerrygold is the closest thing to the platonic ideal of butter in most supermarkets." View this post on Instagram A post shared by NYT Wirecutter (@wirecutter) In a video shared by creator Garron Noone to Instagram on the subject, he said: "Hon the fu**ing Irish, we actually dominate everything we fu**ing attempt. I am actually sick of other countries, they are so s**t. Name one other country that actually does fu**ing anything. We actually do everything here, butter, pints, need I go on?." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Garron Noone (@garron_music) The Irish butter brand itself, Kerrygold commented under Noone's post: "Butter & pints, what more could you want?" The world needs scienceScience needs women. Whachatink? Im not surprised why there are only a few women who make it big in the field of Science globally. Its not that women scientist are less talented than men but womens maternal instinct and the desire live a domesticated life would veer them away to pursue such a career that will take a lot of their time. According to the data provided during the LOreal First Women In Science Launch that despite having an equal amount of university degree-holders worldwide are women only 30% of them pursue a career are in the field of science and technology. In the 109 years of existence of the Nobel Prizes in science, only 2.9% of the Nobel Laureates are women. With that in mind, LOreal, the worldwide leader in cosmetics, and UNESCO, a specialized agency of the United Nations that promotes international collaboration through education, science and culture, brings one of the most prestigious international programs, For Women in Science (FWIS) in the Philippines. The event was held at Makati Shangrila Hotel hosted by Karen Davila. FWIS is the first of its kind to devote international awards to women in science, and is vigorously promoting excellence among young women scientists worldwide for more than a decade. It has become one of the most anticipated annual events in the scientific community in more than 93 countries. The first-ever For Women in Science National Fellowships Philippines in partnership with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and UNESCO Philippines. Luc Olivier-MARQUET, Managing Director of LOreal Philippines says, In LOreal, we firmly believe that science plays a major role in developing a country. Through the fellowship grants, we would like to assist Filipina scientists in creating concrete contributions through their research to help the country they call home. Two fellowship grants worth PhP400,000 each, will be given to two deserving women based on the judging criteria of an esteemed jury chaired by none other than Professor Lourdes Cruz, the first Filipino and first ASEAN Laureate of the FWIS LOreal-UNESCO Awards. For its first year, FWIS National Fellowships Philippines will accept research proposals related to the Life and Material Sciences from applicants who hold a Ph.D. degree in any field of science and are not more than 45 years old. To know more about FWIS National Fellowships Philippines, log on to www.fwis.com.ph or email the FWIS Secretariat at FWISsecretariat@eon.cccom.ph. If you know anyone who is deserving of the grant do contact them, we need to acknowledge outstanding women in science. Its been more than a month since I posted an OOTD/ WIWTD but if you follow me on Instagram you can see bits and pieces of what I wore at the events I go to and where I got them. But today is particulary a special day because I want to tell you more than just what I wore, but the story of the backdrop I used for this outfit post. Yesterday was the launch of yet another branch of Costa Coffee , UKs #1 Coffee Chain, in BGC and of course I was there with the rest of the beautiful coffee lovers in Metro Manila some even have that British accent and decent haha! Aside from their deliciously blended coffee, my favortie was the Flat White (their best seller ) where they use the original Mocha Italia recipe, which is still slow-roasted in the Old Paradise Steet roastery in London. Costa Coffees are all handcrafted and espesso based, you can smell the aroma and body only a proper cup of coffee should have! Yeah again, aside from the coffee and yummy pastries and sweets, the red Phone Booth attracted me most in the London Style inspired interiors of Costa Coffee. While comics lovers would associate the Red Phonebooth to Superman who in the early Superman Comics used the phonebooth to change outfit from Clark Kent to the Man of Steel, this red phone booth got a lot of history to boost and a lot of facts we should now. Did you know that the red telephone box is a much-cherished symbol of Britishness. It is voted the greatest British design of all time (second is the double decker bus and third is the unicorn jack only) While these red telephone booths look really prety and iconic, most have been removed from the UK streets, with more due to disappear. Why? most of them are battered, rusting and flaky, some having stood in the sun, rain, wind and snow without any attention for three decades. It was only in 2002 when some of them were being restored , out of the 92,000 BT payphones across the UK since the 1900s there are 57,500 remaining, of which just 9,400 are traditional red models. In the UK they now have this Adopt-a-Kiosk scheme, in place since 2012, which allows councils and charities to purchase a red phone box for 1, ensuring thes red phone booth stays in place even if they no longer work because people now depend on their mobile phones. If you want to adopt a red phone booth you may visit this site http://www.x2connect.com/shop/adopt.php I just dont know how much is shipping it here in the Philippines. If you think it is worth it as an adornment interior to your business establishments, homes, or wherever maybe you can get one! Its really adorbs and iconic. What I wore: Coat: Uniqlo Top: SM Woman Troussers: Uniqlo Watch: Fossils Glasses: c/o Jeman Villanueva Taken at Costa Coffee in One World Place BGC Taken by Jeman Villanueva BTW, just for the opening this October 27,2015 Costa Coffee at One World in BGC is giving away FREE Mocha Frostino to anyone who orders it using a British accent. Good luck mate! Chivvy along! Stay gorgeous everyone! The Philippine cities of Batangas, Muntinlupa, and Santa Rosa have been selected as national finalists in this years World Wide Fund for Natures (WWF) One Planet City Challenge (OPCC). Over 250 cities from around the globe, including 13 from the Philippines, joined the OPCCs 2020 leg. Originally known as the Earth Hour Challenge, WWF kicked off the OPCC in 2011 as a friendly competition which allows participating cities to share best practices in climate mitigation and develop adaptation plans anchored in their crucial role towards building a sustainable and climate-safe future. With cities accounting for 70% of carbon emissions globally and generating 80% of the total GDP, their political and economic power are considered instrumental in the transition to a more stable climate. With cities in 53 countries participating, approximately 66% of the global population is represented in this years run. WWF Executive Director Jose Angelito Palma expressed his appreciation for the Philippine cities that participated in this call for transformational governance. In these trying times, being business-as-usual in the way we do things is no more sufficient to secure a safe and sustainable future. I would like to acknowledge the cities who participated inthis initiative for pursuing innovative ways towards sustainable and healthy cities for the current and future generations. Meanwhile, Atty Angela Ibay, Head of the Climate and Energy Program of WWF-Philippines, noted the role of citizens in building a climate-safe future. Even as cities around the world increasingly advance climate actions, we cannot underestimate how citizen engagement and participation play integral roles in the implementation of these actions, and their active participation help shape how sustainable and resilient cities can be in years to come. The three Philippine finalists, along with those from other countries, have also qualified to participate in the OPCCs We Love Cities campaign, which aims to bridge better communication between city officials and the citizens they represent on climate and sustainability issues. All finalists are set for evaluation by the OPCC jury a jury composed of urban sustainability experts from across the globe. A national winner per country, as well as a global winner, will be recognized and awarded in a ceremony set to take place in mid-2020. For more information and updates, log on to http://panda.org/opc Tell us a bit about yourself and your work: My name is Fionula Linehan (Byrne) and I live in Frankfield but hail from Ballyphehane. My husband is John and we have two daughters. Our daughter Kadie and husband Ken live here in Cork, and our daughter Kerri and partner Colin live in Melbourne. We have two dogs Maisy and Pearl (but would love maybe a half dozen) I am a Cork-based actor and a drama teacher with CADA Performing Arts. What is your ideal way to spend a Friday night? Depends on the week. Generally I spend it with the feet up as I work all day on Saturday but if there is a good play or show on in town the glad rags are on and Im off. Fionula Linehan will be performing the role of Granny Peggy Twomey in The Everyman Christmas Pantomime, Red Riding Hood which opens on November 30th. www.everymancork.com. Pictured with Graham McDermot-Wood, who is performing the role of Pana the Poodle PICTURE: Miki Barlok Lie ins or up with the lark.. which is it for you? Im up with the lark and out walking my dogs. Its always the best time of the day. Does work creep into your weekend at all? Absolutely. As an actor most plays and shows I would be in will have a performance on a Saturday night. As a drama teacher the busiest day for classes is on a Saturday. If money was no object where would you go for a city break: My usual treat weekend is to head to London and see as many shows and plays I can squeeze in. Closer to home, is there some place you like to head to recharge the batteries? My favourite place in Cork is The Lough where I walk my dogs regularly... Water, nature, swans, and ducks (maybe even a trip on the swings) what more could you ask for. Do you like to catch up with family/friends at the weekend? As I work most weekends its not usually the time when I catch up with friends and family. Downtime at the weekends will find me out walking my dogs with Johnnyboy, probably around Charles Fort. Do you get to indulge any hobbies? Even as a spectator? I studied Martial Arts for many years when I was younger (a lot younger) and I have two black belts in Shotokan karate so I enjoy watching that on telly. I also enjoy doing crosswords regularly and will make sure I attend to my daily Wordle. Entertain or be entertained? If its the latter do you have a signature dish? Cant Cook .. Wont Cook so if we are entertaining I can stand at the door with a glass of wine to welcome guests. We have so many places to eat out in Cork where are your go to spots for coffee/ lunch/ special meal? Love love love Taras Tea Rooms on MacCurtain Street. I would always have gone to Bunnyconnellans in Myrtleville. Sunday night comes around too fast.. how do you normally spend it? Im early to bed getting ready for the week ahead. What time does your alarm clock go off on Monday morning? No alarm clocks for me on Monday mornings. Anything else you are up to right now... Im getting ready for the Panto Red Riding Hood at The Everyman where I will play the part of Granny Peggy Twomey. So Im prepping for all the cheers, boos, and hes behind yous. Bookings on www.everymancork.com. Comedian Dara O Briain will make his return to the Live at the Marquee stage in June, Aiken Promotions has confirmed. The Wicklow native started his career in television as a childrens presenter on RTE whilst performing his first stand-up gigs on the Irish comedy circuit, after studying at University College Dublin where he read mathematical physics. O Briain came to prominence as host of the topical panel show Dont Feed the Gondolas. On TV he is also known for hosting programmes such as Mock The Week, Robot Wars, Dara and Eds Great Big Adventure, Dara O Briains Science Club, and the documentary Dara O Briain Meets Stephen Hawking, on BBC Television, as well as Channel 4s Taskmaster. Tickets for Dara O Briain Live at the Marquee Cork go on sale this Monday, November 25 at 9am from Ticketmaster.ie. Other acts already lined up for next years Live at the Marquee series include Christy Moore, The Coronas, Olly Murs, Tommy Tiernan, Dec Pierce, The Waterboys and Joe Bonamassa playing Rory Gallagher. Update 4:45pm: Cork City Council said its severe weather assessment team met this afternoon and reviewed the latest forecasting information for this weather event. "Following this meeting, the city council is advising that though there will be substantial rain, Cork city is not expected to experience levels of rainfall equating to a red warning situation," a spokesperson said. "The council anticipates that the impact experienced in Cork city will be consistent with that of an orange level (similar to that of the 4th October 2024). "Heavy rainfall is expected from midnight tonight to 10am Saturday morning. "No tidal flooding is expected but some localised spot flooding and appearance of debris because of rainfall are likely. "Motorists are asked to slow down, drive with extra care and to ensure that they drive in a manner that protects vulnerable road users, including cyclists and pedestrians." Update 3pm: People in Cork and Galway, where status red rain warnings have been issued for tonight, have been urged not to travel for the duration of the warnings. Earlier today, Met Eireann issued the highest possible alerts for the two counties. They both come into effect at midnight and are currently set to remain in place until 10am tomorrow. Status Red Rainfall Warning issued Areas: Cork & Galway Highest accumulations are expected in west Galway & west Cork Severe flooding & damage expected. Valid: Saturday 23/11 00:00 to 10:00 Full detailshttps://t.co/z40PFYeVMs pic.twitter.com/W1XScQAz6o Met Eireann (@MetEireann) November 22, 2024 Storm Bert is forecast to bring intense falls of rain over a short period of time overnight with the highest accumulations in West Cork. Met Eireann has advised that the possible impacts could include severe flooding, damage to homes and businesses, and treacherous travelling conditions. In a statement this afternoon, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage said that the National Directorate for Fire & Emergency Management (NDFEM), Met Eireann and relevant agencies met this morning to discuss the weather warnings associated with Storm Bert, which will affect Irelands weather tonight and into the weekend. Keith Leonard, national director of the NDFEM urged people not to travel for the duration of the warning. Local Authority severe weather teams are activated and are preparing for the storms approach. For those in areas affected by red level rain and wind warnings, I would particularly stress that the safest advice for those affected is to shelter in place and do not travel during the duration of the warning. As weather events are changeable ones, members of the public should monitor Met Eireanns ongoing advice and act accordingly. Essential Service Operators will link with Met Eireann aiming to continue operations subject to the prevailing local conditions, he said. Even after the storm has passed, there is a strong possibility of road flooding or fallen trees so drivers are urged to take care in the aftermath of the storm. For all members of the public, whatever part of the country you are in, rain and winds will be a factor overnight and early tomorrow. I would urge you to stay away from coastal areas during this period and to heed the appeal from the Irish Coast Guard for people to Stay Back, Stay High, Stay Dry. Also, dangerous travelling conditions are possible and road users should pay particular attention to the risk posed by fallen trees. In addition to this, heavy persistent showers are expected, which in turn may lead to surface flooding in urban locations. In advance of the status red rain warning, a status yellow wind and rain warning for Munster will come into effect at 10pm tonight and is expected to remain in place until noon tomorrow. An additional status yellow wind warning for Cork has this afternoon been issued. It comes into effect at 5pm tomorrow and will remain valid until 2am Sunday. The NDFEM said it will continue to liaise with Met Eireann and monitor the situation to coordinate an appropriate response. On the ground, local authority Severe Weather Assessment Teams (SWATs) will continue to monitor conditions locally and local authorities have their emergency response teams in place, ready to respond where and when necessary. Council inspects 'high risk' areas In an update, Cork County Council said it will have staff monitoring the situation in vulnerable areas such as Bantry and Midleton throughout the night. Cork County Council crews have inspected key high-risk areas. Pumping arrangements are in place in known problem locations. Sandbags are available at priority locations. Flood barriers have been installed in Mallow and Fermoy as a precaution, a council spokesperson said. Issues such as flooding and road damage can be reported over the course of the weekend to the Councils Emergency Out of Hours number (021) 4800048. In the event of an emergency call 999 or 112 and request the Fire Service, Ambulance Service, Gardai or Irish Coastguard as appropriate. Do not assume others will do this, they added. Earlier: Met Eireann has escalated Cork's weather warning to a status red with the public alerted to the potential of "severe flooding". A status orange rain warning had been issued for Cork valid from 12am tonight to 10am tomorrow but this has now been upgraded to a status red for those hours. The national forecaster said impacts could include "severe flooding", damage to homes and businesses and treacherous travelling conditions. Highest accumulations are expected in West Cork, Met Eireann said. "This weekend, Storm Bert will move close to Ireland, displacing the recent cold Arctic airmass. "Very strong winds and heavy rain will track northeastwards over the country on Friday night and Saturday morning. "Storm Bert will continue to dominate our weather through the weekend and into early next week and further warnings will be issued for this event," the forcaster said in an advisory issued yesterday. That advisory is currently valid until midnight on Tuesday. In advance of the status red rain warning, a status yellow wind and rain warning for Munster will come into effect at 10pm tonight and is expected to remain in place until noon tomorrow. The Corkmas festive market opened on Emmet Place today as the holiday spirit continues to flow through Leeside. Twenty different traders are offering everything from different foods to artisan jewellery and Irish hand-knitted pieces. Emmet Place will be decked with larger than life like a giant gingerbread house, a whimsical Candy Land display, and Santas post box for the little ones to send their letters to the Big Man in the North Pole. Those who wish to have a physical reminder of the event can step inside the giant snow globe for a winter wonderland photo op. The market is open today until 10pm. Meanwhile, the Corkmas Santa Experience will open tomorrow, and he will be based in Santas Grotto on Emmet Place. Bookings can be made on the Corkmas website. The market opens tomorrow and Sunday from 10am to 8pm. A spokesperson for the events told The Echo that the events will go ahead as planned despite the various weather warnings - however, they urge event goers to check social media for updates in case plans change. The market will run every Thursday through Sunday until December 22. From November 23 to December 22 the opening hours are: Friday: 4 pm to 8pm Saturday: 11 am to 8pm Sunday: 11 am to 7:30pm See www.corkmas.ie for further details. The first thing that hit me when I left the audiologists office with my new hearing aids, at 28 years of age, was the sound of the birds. It was as if, up until that point, I had pretty much forgotten they existed. The world, it seemed, had decided to reveal itself to me, anew and its a moment I will always treasure. What I know now, is that I was very lucky to be in a position where I could afford hearing aids at all. My first pair were almost 3,000 and that was a big financial stretch, at the time. Fast forward to the present day and you can pretty much add another 1,000 onto that. The technology is advancing at an unprecedented rate, with the use of AI on certain brands which is furthering the technology to the point where some users who had previously relied on lip-reading, could now understand what was being said to them while faced away from people. Deaf and hard of hearing people will know how this seemingly small thing, is actually a game-changer. But what happens when you cant afford hearing aids? I spoke with Brendan Lennon, from Chime in Dublin, as part of Hearing Awareness Week who said: We in Ireland are prescribing hearing aids at half the rate of the UK. Brendan also noted that medical card holders are on waiting lists. Some are 80 years old being put on a wait list for four years. I mean, what is the point of that? Although, Mr Lennon also pointed out that 80 per cent of people are happy with the hearing aids they acquired from the HSE, and that the brands provided are of the same standard as those sold by private audiologists. However, he also pointed out the challenges of seeking change from the government with regards to supports. The change that was given in the Treatment Benefit Grant was not the one we were looking for, he said. He added that those with a busy lifestyle need more than the basic hearing aid and more than the basic grant. He expressed his hope that in the next Budget, supports might be introduced that put deaf and hearing impaired people with no disposable income in a better place. Terence Rea, from Cork Deaf Association, told me that they provide an audiologist once a month who will do hearing tests for free. But, as he is booked out months in advance, it is advised to ring ahead. Mr Rea said: There is a two-tier system in Ireland with the HSE and private patients. He also informed me that in America you can purchase over-the-counter hearing aids for a few hundred dollars, much the same as buying reading glasses in chemists here. This might be an avenue worth exploring here in Ireland. When I asked if Mr Rea would agree that the private audiology sales of hearing aids was a bit of a wild west, he replied: The Regulating body Coru, does not include audiologists. So theres no avenue for the public to report or complain in this industry. Mick Duff is an Independent Councillor in Tallaght, and also a Drug Project manager in Dublin. He himself is hard of hearing, and when he bought his hearing aid, he found it a challenge when he lost his right one, to be told they were only sold as a pair. Mr Duffy stated that hearing aids get lost, break or sometimes need an upgrade. and felt that PRSI contribution should not be a once off. I myself am with Audiology Medical in Carrigaline and I could not rate them highly enough. Ive been with them for over ten years and their aftercare and support whenever something has gone wrong (which it will) has been second to none. They never try to upsell, and they genuinely want you to get the best out of the hearing aids you have. However, some companies do better than others. One person told me: I paid 6,500 for my hearing aid. No PRSI because the previous ones were two and a half years old. Scandalous. Surely, its in the governments interests to have as many people as highly functional as possible, if they want a healthy workforce. Brendan Lennon, from Chime, indicated that a meeting with the Disability Minister on August 1 for a National Hearing Care Plan was beneficial but required much more joined up thinking. Thanks to places like Cork Deaf Awareness, at least there are avenues out there for people who simply cannot afford the current high prices being charged for hearing aids. How many other people out there have forgotten the sounds of nature because of this? Have forgotten the sounds some of us take for granted? Hearing is a right. Hearing is part of life. Hearing should not be for the birds. Cork Deaf Association, at 5, MacCurtain Street, Cork city, is holding free hearing tests (limited availability - contact to book an appointment) from 10am- 4pm today as part of Hearing Awareness Week For further information and to book attendance for the talk or hearing test, please contact (021)4505944, email mail@corkdeaf.ie or text (086) 8535574. Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content on environmental issues, causes, and solutions. According to a new analysis from think tank Ember, evidence is growing that the planet is nearing a global peak in fossil fuel emissions from the power sector. Half the economies in the world are making the transition away from fossil fuel use, and are five or more years past a peak in fossil power generation. With half the world now in a period of declining fossil fuels in the power sector and China close to joining them the world will soon enter a new era of falling fossil generation, said Dave Jones, author of the analysis and director of Embers Global Insights Programme, as Business Green reported. But were not quite there yet. According to Embers Global Electricity Review, a surge in clean electricity led by wind and solar has helped slow fossil power sector growth by nearly two-thirds in the past decade. Coal is quickly becoming obsolete in the worlds richest countries. The United Kingdom, where the Industrial Revolution began, shut down its last coal-fired power plant in 2024. A third of the richest nations in the world are now free of coal as a power source, Jones said in a press release from Ember. Across Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries, coal consumption has been cut in half since use of the dirty fuel peaked in 2008. Almost all OECD countries are making good progress on phasing out coal power, replacing it predominantly with solar and wind. Three-quarters of OECD countries plan to be coal-free by 2030, Jones said. This year set another record for renewables, but it was coupled with a steep rise in energy demand. This resulted in what will likely be yet another record year for oil, gas and coal consumption. However, the most recent renewable electricity trends indicate that the world is approaching a turning point where fossil demand in the power sector begins to fall. The era of fossil growth is over, but current policies do not yet set the world on course for a rapid decline in fossil fuels. Indeed, under current policies, the International Energy Agency (IEA) forecasts fossil fuel demand in the power sector in 2030 to be just 2% below 2023 levels, Jones added. Whilst there was no timeline or ambition with which to transition away from fossil fuels, a 2% fall by 2030 is a world away from the 43% reductions in greenhouse gas emissions needed by 2030 to align with a 1.5C pathway. According to Jones, governments have taken little action to upgrade their renewables targets since an agreement was reached to triple renewable energy capacity worldwide by the end of the decade. In the 12 months leading up to October of this year, only eight nations had updated their renewables goals to 2030. The world is embracing renewables. Many countries are already showing successful models for rapid renewables deployment, supported by enhanced grids, locally-tailored flexibility solutions such as battery storage, and timely policy interventions. The progress we are seeing so far should stop fossil fuels rising further, Jones explained. However, it does not at least yet mean a transition away from fossil fuels. A great focus will be needed on efficiency, unlocking barriers to renewables deployment, investing in clean flexibility and planning our move away from a fossil fuel economy. Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content on environmental issues, causes, and solutions. Many animals from bees to bats and lizards to lemurs are pollinators, but have you ever seen a wolf happily licking the cone of a flower? Ethiopian wolves have been observed foraging for nectar from the Ethiopian red hot poker flower, with some of the canids visiting up to 30 blooms in one round, a press release from University of Oxford said. It is a newly documented behavior for the wolves, and when they partake of the unusual treat, their muzzles get covered in pollen, which could potentially be transferred from flower to flower. The process is possibly the first known interaction of a plant and pollinator involving a large predator. Ethiopian wolves are also the only large carnivore predators to have ever been seen feeding on nectar. These findings highlight just how much we still have to learn about one of the worlds most-threatened carnivores. It also demonstrates the complexity of interactions between different species living on the beautiful Roof of Africa, said lead author of the study Dr. Sandra Lai, a University of Oxford-based senior scientist with the Ethiopian Wolf Conservation Programme (EWCP), in the press release. This extremely unique and biodiverse ecosystem remains under threat from habitat loss and fragmentation. The rarest of the worlds wild canid species, the Ethiopian wolf is Africas most threatened carnivore. Only found in the highlands of Ethiopia, fewer than 500 of these beautiful creatures remain, restricted to 99 packs living in six Afroalpine enclaves. During the study, EWCP researchers discovered evidence of the wolves using social learning, with juveniles accompanying adults to the flower fields. I first became aware of the nectar of the Ethiopian red hot poker when I saw children of shepherds in the Bale Mountains licking the flowers. In no time, I had a taste of it myself the nectar was pleasantly sweet. When I later saw the wolves doing the same, I knew they were enjoying themselves, tapping into this unusual source of energy, said Professor Claudio Sillero, founder and director of EWCP, in the press release. I am chuffed that we have now reported this behavior as being commonplace among Ethiopian wolves and explored its ecological significance. The study, Canids as pollinators? Nectar foraging by Ethiopian wolves may contribute to the pollination of Kniphofia foliosa, was published in the journal Ecology. Founded in 1995, EWCP is Ethiopias longest-running conservation program, with the purpose of protecting the wolves and their habitat. The program a partnership between University of Oxfords Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Dinknesh Ethiopia and the Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority aims to preserve natural habitats for wildlife and humans in Ethiopias highlands. By J. Keeler Johnson ("Keelerman") Twitter: @J_Keelerman On a relatively quiet weekend before Thanksgiving, one of the biggest races on the calendar is Saturday's $300,000 Commonwealth Turf (G3), a 1 1/16-mile grass contest for three-year-olds taking place at Churchill Downs. I'm highlighting the Commonwealth in this week's edition of Unlocking Winners because I believe #1 My Boy Prince (6-1), the fifth choice on the morning line, has a legitimate chance to upset his eight rivals. Conditioned by Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse, My Boy Prince showed plenty of talent on turf as a juvenile. In his first try over the surface, he ran second in the Summer (G1) at Woodbine, beaten only by future Saratoga Derby (G1) and Jockey Club Derby (G3) winner Carson's Run. Then, after wiring the 1 1/16-mile Cup and Saucer S. against fellow Canadian-breds, My Boy Prince stepped up in class for the one-mile Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) and fared best of the North American contingent, finishing third by 1 1/2 lengths against a pair of European raiders. This year, My Boy Prince has struggled on turf, missing the board in all three of his starts over the surface. He's fared much better on Tapeta at Woodbine, winning three stakes and finishing second in the $1 million King's Plate S. But I would argue extenuating circumstances explain My Boy Prince's turf defeats: In the 5 1/2-furlong Palisades S. at Keeneland, his first start off a five-month layoff, My Boy Prince finished eighth but was beaten only 3 1/4 lengths over a distance surely shorter than ideal. In the one-mile Woodbine Mile (G1) at Woodbine, My Boy Prince took on older horses and finished sixth, beaten only 4 1/2 lengths while gaining some ground down the homestretch. In the one-mile Bryan Station (G3) at Keeneland, My Boy Prince set too aggressive of a pace, leading by as many as three lengths through testing fractions of :22.49, :44.95, and 1:09.00. He still led passing the eighth pole, but understandably tired late to finish ninth while deep closers swept the exacta. I'm optimistic everything will go My Boy Prince's way in the Commonwealth Turf. He's facing fellow three-year-olds over a suitable distance and looms as the only obvious pacesetter on paper. My Boy Prince has every opportunity to secure an uncontested lead while breaking from the rail under new jockey Florent Geroux, opening the door for a major rebound. For second place, give #8 Herchee (3-1) a try. He stayed within three lengths of My Boy Prince's blazing tempo in the Bryan Station before battling on to finish third by 1 1/4 lengths. Herchee was the only speed horse to even remotely survive the Bryan Station pace, and his effort wasn't a fluke; he'd previously chased a hot pace on his way to finishing second in the Gun Runner S. at Kentucky Downs. This lightly raced three-year-old gelding has a big chance to factor in the Commonwealth Turf, especially if he works out a favorable trip stalking a modest pace. Lock of the Week The Fair Grounds meet kicks off on Friday, and the Saturday card is highlighted by a quartet of $100,000 stakes. The first is the Donovan L. Ferguson Memorial S., a six-furlong dirt dash for Louisiana-bred two-year-old fillies. The small six-horse field is led by the undefeated #2 Secret Faith (2-5), a three-time stakes winner poised to secure her fifth win from as many starts. Secret Faith opened her career against non-state-restricted competition, crushing an Evangeline Downs maiden special weight before taking the Texas Thoroughbred Association Futurity at Lone Star Park. But she's been even more dominant since tackling the Louisiana-bred ranks. Back at Evangeline, she wired the D. S. Shine Young Futurity by 14 lengths. Then she took her game to Delta Downs, where she overcame some trouble to rally and win the Louisiana Jewel S. by 6 1/4 lengths. Some bettors may try to beat Secret Faith with #4 Mischief Princess (5-1), a Steve Asmussen trainee who dominated a six-furlong maiden special weight at Louisiana Downs by 9 1/2 lengths. But Secret Faith has run significantly faster than Mischief Princess on both the Beyer and Brisnet speed figure scales, so I'm confident Secret Faith will keep her win streak alive at Fair Grounds. Now it's your turn! Who do you like this week? ***** Want to test your handicapping skills against fellow Unlocking Winners readers? Check out the Unlocking Winners contest pagethere's a new challenge every week! (Please note: older contest entries can be found here.) J. Keeler Johnson (also known as "Keelerman") is a writer, videographer, voice actor, handicapper, and all-around horse racing enthusiast. A great fan of racing history, he considers Dr. Fager to be the greatest racehorse ever produced in America, but counts Zenyatta as his all-time favorite. Most of it has been recovered but key parts showing the AIs pattern of plagiarism is still missing. Stephen Hawking told Last Week Tonights John Oliver a chilling but memorable hypothetical story a decade ago about the potential dangers of AI. The gist is a group of scientists build a superintelligent computer and ask it, Is there a God? The computer answers, There is now and a bolt of lightning zaps the plug preventing it from being shut down. Lets hope thats not what happened with OpenAI and some missing evidence from the New York Times plagiarism lawsuit. Wired reported that a court declaration filed by the New York Times on Wednesday says that OpenAIs engineers accidentally erased evidence of the AIs training data that took a long time to research and compile. OpenAI recovered some of the data but the original file names and folder structure that show when the AI copied its articles into its models are still missing. OpenAI spokesperson Jason Deutrom disagreed with the NYTs claims and says the company will file our response soon. The Times has been battling Microsoft and OpenAI over alleged copyright infringement with its AI models since December of last year. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The lawsuit is still in its discovery phase when evidence is requested and delivered by both sides to build its case for trial. OpenAI had to turn over its training data to the Times but hasnt publicly revealed the exact information it used to build the AI modes. Instead, OpenAI created a sandbox of two virtual machines so the NYTs legal team could conduct its research. The NYTs legal team spent more than 150 hours sifting through the data on one of the machines before the data was deleted. OpenAI acknowledged the deletion but the companys legal team called it a glitch. Although OpenAI engineers tried to correct the mistake, the restored data was missing the NYTs work. This led the NYT to essentially recreate everything from scratch. The NYTs lawyers said they had no reason to believe the deletion was intentional. Well, the rumors were true: this week the DOJ argued that Google should sell off Chrome to make up for its monopolistic search practices. On top of that, the US government also suggested a potential sale of Android if it can't stop prioritizing its own search on Android smartphones. In this episode, Devindra and Producer Ben discuss why neither outcome seems likely under the upcoming Trump 2.0 administration, which will likely focus on defanging any sort of regulation. Listen below or subscribe on your podcast app of choice. If you've got suggestions or topics you'd like covered on the show, be sure to email us or drop a note in the comments! And be sure to check out our other podcast, Engadget News! This embedded content is not available in your region. Topics U.S. regulators want Google to sell its Chrome division (and why that probably wont happen) 1:05 Comcast spins off Rotten Tomatoes, Fandango, and a handful of cable networks into their own company 22:23 Sony is in talks to buy Kadokawa, Japanese publisher behind FromSoft games and Kill la Kill 24:38 German authorities suspect Baltic Sea data cables between Lithuania and Sweden were sabotaged 26:21 Pokemon Go devs Niantic reveal plans to create a Large Geospatial Model to power future AR and robots 32:26 Working on 45:49 Pop culture picks 51:38 Credits Hosts: Devindra Hardawar and Ben Ellman Producer: Ben Ellman Music: Dale North and Terrence O'Brien If you buy something through a link in this article, we may earn commission. The UKs Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has provisionally concluded that Apples restrictive mobile browser policies limit innovation. After an independent inquiry group shared its findings on browser competition on iOS and Android, the governing bodys board plans to conduct an in-depth assessment of how Apple and Google constrict third-party browsers on their platforms. However, Apple with its more closed ecosystem appears to have borne the brunt of the CMAs concern. The CMAs investigation is based on the premise that Apple and Google have an effective duopoly on mobile platforms, allowing them to set the rules of how mobile browsers work. The board says third-party browser developers have complained that theyre constricted by rules like Apples requirement to use the companys WebKit browser engine. The group has provisionally found that Apples rules restrict other competitors from being able to deliver new, innovative features that could benefit consumers, the CMA wrote. Other browser providers have highlighted concerns that they have been unable to offer a full range of browser features, such as faster webpage loading on iPhone. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act (DMCC), which passed earlier this year, will give the UK body extra ammunition to carry out its next steps. The UKs equivalent of the EUs Digital Markets Act (DMA) can designate big tech companies as having Strategic Market Status with substantial and entrenched market power and a position of strategic significance. Much like the EUs version, the law gives the UK some teeth to negotiate and force concessions from Big Tech behemoths that, at least in the US, often seem untouchable: The DMCC will empower the UK board to fine infringing companies up to 10 percent of their global revenue. The CMAs summary of Apples hearing reveals the iPhone maker argued that it restricts browser engines to ensure users get the best security, privacy, and performance on iOS devices a familiar argument to those whove followed Apples previous competition trials. Apple claimed healthy competition exists, due to the presence of third-party browsers with features like ad-blocking, VPNs and AI. The company also said it routinely considers developer feedback and hadnt heard any fuss over its current browser rules. Contradicting that, the CMA said other browser providers have highlighted features they cant implement on iOS, like faster webpage loading. Many smaller UK app developers also told us that they would like to use progressive web apps an alternative way for businesses to provide apps to mobile users without downloading apps through an app store but this technology is not able to fully take off on iOS devices, the board wrote. The CMA also said that how browser choices are presented to users lets Apple and Google manipulate these choices to make their own browsers the clearest or easiest option. In addition, it pointed out a revenue-sharing agreement between the two companies that significantly reduces their financial incentives to compete in mobile browsers on iOS. The boards next step is a period of open comments on its findings, which will end on December 13. After its investigation, the CMA expects to make its final ruling in March 2025. Hackers breached an online course founded by far-right influencer, and accused human trafficker, Andrew Tate, according to reporting by Daily Dot. The hackers captured data on more than 800,000 users and revealed the email addresses of around 325,000 of them. Tates self-proclaimed online university hosts courses on fitness, finance and content creation, all for the low price of $50 per month. The site currently claims it has over 113,000 active users, which translates to an estimated $5 million per month injected into Tates bank account. A source familiar with the breach told Daily Dot that Tates website is hilariously insecure, so the hack wasnt difficult. The unnamed hackers cite hacktivism as their motive, suggesting an issue with Tates particular brand of toxic discourse and his alleged propensity toward sex trafficking underage girls. To that end, they broke into the website in the middle of a livestream led by Tate, accessing the primary chatroom. The hackers, who asked to remain anonymous, are currently flooding an internal chatroom for Tate's followers with emojis. Emojis include a trans flag, a feminist fist, & an AI-generated image of Tate draped in a rainbow flag. https://t.co/NkfT78qsWH pic.twitter.com/jbfqjEFEWb Mikael Thalen (@MikaelThalen) November 21, 2024 The hackers punctured the safe space of Tate's chatroom and uploaded emojis sure to upset the hyper-masculine influencer and his fans, like a transgender flag and a feminist fist. They also posted an AI-generated image of Tate draped in a rainbow flag. They even got a hold of admin controls and temporarily banned some users. The hackers also downloaded public and private chats made on the platform. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Daily Dot took a look at some of the acquired chat logs. They were filled with conversations about the LGBTQ agenda and, of course, the matrix. The publication shared the leaked email addresses with HaveIBeenPwned, a site that alerts users when they have been, well, pwned. Incidentally, this isnt the first time Tates site was hacked this year. Back in July, over a million users and 22 million messages were exposed. Tate is currently facing five legal investigations in Romania and the UK. He is alleged to have sex trafficked and raped minors, as well as forming an organized crime group with the intent of sexually exploiting women. He denies all of the charges. The Black Friday seaso is finally upon us, willing us to purchase some much-needed tech with some degree of a discount. Our Black Friday hub has been collecting the best deals available, so you can save a bundle in the run-up to the holidays. And while there have been some tasty deals in the last few days, the real blockbusters have now dropped. That includes $75 off the PlayStation 5 Slim, with a decent chunk sliced off the price of a PS5 wireless DualSense controller. Sony has also knocked $100 from the price of its class-leading XM5 headphones, which you can snag for $298. Not to mention, you can grab the brand-new M4 Mac Mini with 16GB RAM and 256GB storage for $500. There are plenty more where that came from, which is why we have the Black Friday hub. So go and get all the biggest and best deals without having to lift a finger. Dan Cooper ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Get this delivered daily direct to your inbox. Subscribe right here! News In Brief Oh, thank [your deity of choice]. WhatsApp Voice messages: You either love them or feel youre being forced to listen to the worlds least engaging podcast. Someone at WhatsApp must feel similarly given the platform has now added a way to transcribe the voice messages you receive. The feature is rolling out globally in the coming weeks, with more languages incoming. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Continue Reading. Did it promote its own products ahead of its competitors? Amazon may face an EU antitrust investigation next year, with regulators curious if it promoted its own products at the expense of competitors. The continent has stringent rules around big tech platforms that act as both the marketplace and a player in the same space. If found to have given its own gear preferential treatment, the fines under the Digital Markets Act can be hefty. Continue Reading. OpenAI blamed a glitch. The New York Times and OpenAI are battling it out in court, with the former accusing the latter of plagiarism. During the discovery phase, OpenAI created two virtual machines that the NYTs lawyers could examine to gather evidence. But after 150 hours of research, some of that data was erased, which OpenAI blamed on a glitch. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement Continue Reading. Its the first country outside the US to approve trials. Neuralink Canada has given its blessing for Neuralink to conduct human trials of its brain implant in the country. The Elon Musk-owned company has already opened the door for would-be trialists to apply to be the first Canadian to receive the implant. Its asking for volunteers with quadriplegia caused either by a spinal cord injury or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Continue Reading. Remember the Rabbit R1? Photo by Devindra Hardawar / Engadget The Rabbit R1 was a neat-looking pocketable AI doodad that sadly didnt really do enough to justify buying one. Since it stumbled out of the gate, however, a raft of software updates has added many of the features initially promised at launch. The latest is Teach Mode, which lets users automate tasks on any website, which is nice. Continue Reading. Lyle Melendez has reportedly managed to cheat on his wife while in prison with an English 21-year-old fan. The Daily Mail reports that the 56-year-old, who is one of the infamous Menendez brothers, has found love with college student Milly Bucksey and wants to divorce his wife of 21 years, Rebecca Sneed. "Lyle adores Milly," a source told the outlet, "and she refers to him as her boyfriend even though he's married." The affair allegedly began when Menendez found Milly in a Facebook group made in his honor, run by his wife. He first contacted her with an account under a different name but confessed his identity after their conversation. The insider also alleged that since beginning his romance with Bucksey, Menendez has gotten into trouble with guards at the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego for owning a contraband phone used to chat with his young girlfriend. He has since gotten ahold of another phone to contact her. Earlier this month, Bucksey visited Menendez in prison, traveling from her home in Manchester to San Diego to spend time with him. The pair posed for a photo, shared by The Daily Mail, featuring them in a prom position. Bucksey is also said to have changed the cover of her Facebook profile to feature San Diego's Ocean Beach as a nod to her new love. Read More: The Menendez Brothers' Family Members Demand Their Freedom in Press Conference This isn't Menendez's first time cheating. His first wife Anna Eriksson, who he began a relationship with after becoming her pen pal, discovered that he sent love letters to another woman. They divorced in 2001. Two years later, he married Sneed. Eriksson recently told TMZ that she "fainted" when she found out that Menendez had been cheating on her. Though he wanted to remain married, she decided that his behavior was grounds for divorce. Despite his betrayal, Eriksson confirmed to the outlet that she thinks her ex-husband and his brother should be freed from prison. After Ryan Murphy covered the Menendez's story in his Netflix anthology series Monsters, many called for the brothers to be released. In October, Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon filed a petition to resentence the Menendez brothers, hoping it would lead to them being out of prison. However, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced on November 19 that he is waiting for the recently elected Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman to review the case. Read More: How the Menendez Brothers' Possible Prison Release Could Be Affected After D.A. Gets Voted Out Kim Kardashian added one more role to the long list of what she can do when she shared a new selfie. The reality star shared a sultry makeup-free selfie while studying for law school to Instagram, documenting her ongoing legal education progress with fans. She wore her long hair back in a low bun as well as a plain brown tank top and subtle glasses, a far cry from her usual glam looks as she rested her chin on one hand and stared into the camera. "Law school," she captioned the photo, without elaborating though it seemed quite apparent she was ready to take a break for the moment. Sister Khloe Kardashian popped up in the comment section with a quip for her sibling. "I love a MILFY lawyer," she wrote. The 44-year-old SKIMS founder, who began her legal journey in 2018 through a four-year apprenticeship with a San Francisco law firm, has been transparent about the challenges of pursuing a law degree. Earlier this year, she expressed frustration with hearsay exceptions, calling it her "least favorite subject in law school." Kardashian's path to becoming a lawyer hasn't been straightforward. After failing the "baby bar" exam three times, she finally passed in 2021, marking completion of her first year of unaccredited law studies. "This wasn't easy or handed to me," she wrote at the time. The mother of four has already made waves in criminal justice reform, recently visiting the Menendez brothers in prison and writing an op-ed for NBC News advocating for their case review. Her advocacy efforts echo the legacy of her late father, Robert Kardashian Sr., whom she believes would have been her "biggest cheerleader" despite his reputation for teasing those who didn't pass exams on their first try. Leonardo DiCaprio was slammed for "disrespecting" local customs while staying in Fiji by fans who are calling out his "disrespectful" behavior. The 50-year-old star was filmed leaving a hotel in Nadi with staff lined up to sing a traditional farewell send-off on November 20. According to the TikTok video, DiCaprio, who was in all black with glasses, appeared to disregard the employees singing as he received a phone call and promptly left the foyer, walking directly to a car waiting outside. The incident triggered social media ire among fans who slammed DiCaprio over not noticing the Fijian welcoming party. A flood of comments followed, including: "Leonardo should have recognized Fiji welcoming party," and "At the very least, he should have recognized the welcome by our country." Others were disappointed, calling the either-or arrangement "disrespectful" of local culture. Another user wrote, "He completely ignored the welcome, not even a quick thank you or wave." On the other side, others went to bat for DiCaprio suggesting that celebrities often like to stay low-key in public spaces. "Perhaps it's his first time in Fiji just let the man do what he wants," one user wrote. A second wrote: "The staff need to use some common sense and understand that A list celebrities despise attention like this oh in public." The trip comes just days after DiCaprio's star-studded 50th birthday party at his Hollywood Hills home, where celebrities including Brad Pitt and Steven Spielberg were in attendance. The 45-year-old actor is also said to be in a serious relationship with 26-year-old model Vittoria Ceretti, who, according to Page Six, is the first girlfriend to break DiCaprio's long-standing habit of dating women younger than 25. While DiCaprio has faced some criticism over the Fiji incident, he continues to be one of Hollywood's biggest stars between acting roles and his work as an environmental activist. The actor has not publicly responded to the backlash over his exit from a hotel. Elon Musk created a flutter about Ellen DeGeneres' recent relocation to England, hinting that it might have something to do with the rapper Sean "Diddy" Combs facing legal troubles. The former daytime talk show host and her wife, Portia de Rossi, are said to have fled the U.S. after Donald Trump won the 2024 presidential election. DeGeneres and de Rossi are said to have moved to the Cotswolds, a picturesque area in Southwest England, and are selling their house in Montecito, California. Friends of the couple have claimed that Trump's victory was the main reason they left. The comments by Musk came a few moments after the news of the transfer of DeGeneres went viral. In a post on X, he said her transfer may not only have been a reaction to the election results but also because of her connection with Combs, who is facing racketeering and sex trafficking charges. Musk's eyebrow-raising emoji on the post only added to the speculation surrounding DeGeneres's associations. It cited her previous posts about Combs, including a birthday note she wrote him back in 2016. Social media users had a field day comparing DeGeneres and her posse to other controversial personalities. One X user commented, "Ellen is pals with Diddy and her set looked just like Epstein's island. " Another added, "Trump winning when he did was the most convenient cover ever for these people. I bet 90% of the celebs that leave will eventually be connected to the Diddy investigation." Why does her set look like Epstein island? pic.twitter.com/EMDwVurrCj Liberty Pill Memes (@LibertyPillMeme) November 21, 2024 The hashtag percolates online while theories flow one looking to explain the timing of Trump's election-winning over serendipitously with many a scandalized celebrity, & bringing a welcome distraction. Musk and Combs are pals himself and have waxed lyrical on the rapper being an investor in his social media platform X. "I don't know if you know this, but Puff is an investor in Twitter. You know, he's a good friend of mine, we text a lot," Musk tweeted earlier, implying a deeper connection between the two. Well of his financers is in prison so.... "I don't know if you know this, but Puff is an investor in Twitter. You know, he's a good friend of mine. We text a lot." https://t.co/Nb1z4A9IjB Mendy Boyd (@mendyboyd) October 10, 2024 Though neither of them has publicly commented on why they decided to leave, the mix of politics and social ties has kept their exit around the headlines. The public zeal fades not over their monumental decision but what it may mean for people like Hunter Biden, who may be implicated, or now Scott Adams, as new information will always be released in perfect timing. Victoria Kjaer Theilvig was crowned Miss Universe 2024 on Saturday, November 16, and after her historic win, she joined pageant CEO Anne Jakrajutatip for a press conference. While the event was intended to celebrate Theilvig's victory and spotlight the pageant's evolution, Jakrajutatip's remarks quickly shifted the focus. When asked about the pageant's progress and its emphasis on diversity, Jakrajutatip, sitting beside Theilvig, remarked, "Evolution? We have blonde and blue eyes, so we're coming to the ultimate evolution already. We don't need any more evolution here. We already got the best here." This statement, captured on video and quickly going viral, has drawn criticism for contradicting the pageant's recent efforts to embrace inclusivity. Jakrajutatip's remarks stand in stark contrast to her earlier promises of creating a more inclusive platform. After acquiring Miss Universe in October 2022, Jakrajutatip who has brown hair and brown eyes, and is transgender expressed a commitment to championing diversity, stating, "From now on, it's going to be run by women, owned by a trans woman, for all women around the world." Her leadership ushered in changes like allowing women over 28 years old, mothers, and married contestants to compete for the first time in the pageant's history. However, skeptics have questioned whether these initiatives are more performative than substantive. Critics argue that Jakrajutatip's focus on Theilvig's physical appearance undermines the promises of inclusion. This backlash is not new; a leaked video from 2023 revealed Jakrajutatip reportedly telling staff that diverse contestants "can compete, but they can't win," describing it as part of a "communication strategy." She later claimed these comments were related to a proposed reality show, not the competition itself. Despite historic milestones at the pageant, including the participation of the first contestant with vitiligo, the first 40-year-old, and a contestant wearing a hijab, none of these trailblazing individuals placed in the top 30. This pattern has fueled criticism of Jakrajutatip's leadership, with many accusing her of failing to live up to the inclusivity she once championed. Theilvig, an accomplished dancer and mental health advocate, has not commented publicly on the controversy surrounding Jakrajutatip's remarks, but Raul Rocha, president of Miss Universe, seemingly has. Rocha reposted a tweet from Donald Trump Jr. with the text, "Biological & objectively attractive women are allowed to win beauty pageants again. WE ARE SO BACK!!!," on his official Instagram account. In the same post, shared by @roadtomissusa on Instagram on November 19, a clip from the press conference also showed Jakrajutatip's controversial comments, plus a statement signed from "Road to Miss USA." The statement concluded: "The concerning statements from the director and CEO, combined with the subpar production quality and execution of ideas, suggest that the organization is more focused on garnering attention for themselves rather than uplifting and empowering women." Katt Williams recently revealed that he has acquired a former military base, which he plans to convert into a movie studio. Williams, 53, explained his motivation for the project, emphasizing the need to expand opportunities in Black Hollywood. "It's just not fair to put all that pressure on Tyler Perry. He can only do so much," Williams said to 'GQ.' Perry's Tyler Perry Studios, which opened in 2019, is one of the largest film production facilities in the U.S., and Williams aims to build on that foundation. Williams also addressed his decision to appear on Shannon Sharpe's 'Club Shay Shay' podcast for his groundbreaking tell-all earlier this year. According to Williams, Sharpe's unique position in the media made the platform ideal. "Shannon is in the rare position where people aren't sure where his allegiance lies," Williams said. "People aren't sure if Shannon been bought and paid for. Is he in the pocket, 'cause these n****s paying him, or is he really just a regular?" This uncertainty, Williams explained, allowed him to challenge Sharpe while revealing his own truth. Why did Katt Williams' choose 'Club Shay Shay' to deliver his viral manifesto?https://t.co/IrngRG4M3B pic.twitter.com/mC53YFkfHw GQ Magazine (@GQMagazine) November 20, 2024 At Vulture Festival, the Ohio native reflected on his original intentions for the podcast, admitting that he initially planned to blast several comedians he mentioned, including Kevin Hart, Cedric The Entertainer, Steve Harvey, and Rickey Smiley. "When I wrote it out, I wrote it out to kill the careers of the people I was talking about," Williams said. "It was so vicious I erased all of the knockout blows and just left the jabs so the comic I'm talking about knows I know your real story." Katt Williams reveals his intention was to kill the careers of the comedians he roasted on Club Shay Shay and admits he intentionally held back, leaving out all the knockout blows and left jabs. ( Vulture/YouTube) pic.twitter.com/wmWfyHIRc3 The Art Of Dialogue (@ArtOfDialogue_) November 18, 2024 Williams also said that he would only go to one of Sean "Diddy" Combs' controversial parties to spy. Williams made the comments in a wide-ranging interview in which he opened up about his feelings towards Diddy, who has come under fire recently in the wake of allegations of horrific behavior at his parties. Read more: Diddy Reportedly Performed An Animal Sacrifice Hours Before Being Found Not Guilty in 1999 NYC Club Shooting While appearing on 'Club Shay Shay' in January 2024, Williams told listeners to "stay the f**k away" from Diddy parties because they were "not safe." He called Diddy, who spent his 55th birthday behind bars in Brooklyn, a "demon" and said he thinks that the music mogul is "energy" that should not be allowed to exist freely. Social media is currently calling Offset "upset" after a cryptic post and delete calling out an unnamed individual, which fans believe may have been a shot at his estranged wife Cardi B. The Migos rapper took the post down as quick as it came up, however, was obtained by 'The Shade Room,' prompting fans to sound off in the comment section. Offset real name Kiari Kendrell Cephus was seen in the somewhat blurry photo standing alone, dressed casually in a grey graphic tee, black pants, a blingy watch, and dark shades. "I could get on here and make you look the fool you is I'm bout' to hit [bomb emoji] [bomb emoji] the bomb blow all this s***t up," the 32-year-old wrote. The post received fans' attention, gathering over 20K views in less than two hours. Many of the comments called the "Ric Flair Drip" rapper out for being emotional following separation from Cardi B. "Someone said 'Up set' LMAOOOOO," one fan laughed. "From Offset to Upset is wild," a second poked. "We don't care. You did your WIFE wrong," another fan darted. "Chile !!! There's nothing you can say to make her look bad. She'll tell us herself," a fourth said of his Bronx born ex-wife. "It cost zero dollars to use a comma," another teased. It seems fans don't feel too sorry for Offset's hardships as his relationship with the "Bodak Yellow" rapper began to explode following rumors of his infidelity. #Exclusive video: #Offset's moving on amid his divorce from #CardiB... hanging out with some new ladies in the club -- including one who looks a lot like his ex! pic.twitter.com/G92xrdLKSm TMZ (@TMZ) October 18, 2024 The Georgia native was spotted chatting up a "Cardi B look-alike" at a Toronto bar amid their bitter divorce. That said, no physical displays of affection were shown during the outing between Offset and the woman, but it appears that the "Don't You Lie" rapper may have jumped back into dating pool. Days prior, Cardi B real name Belcalis Marlenis Almanzar maintained that she was done with the tumultuous relationship, admitting that they haven't been canoodling in the least, whatsoever. "One thing I don't want to entertain is, 'Oh, we're in the same crib. Come upstairs, let's sleep together.' I don't want to entertain that. I don't want to sleep, I don't want to f**k, I don't wanna do nothin'," Cardi shared at that time. "I don't know how to explain it but everything is dead," she added. Cardi who has three children with her ex-husband; Kulture, 6, Wave, 3, and a newborn daughter filed for divorce on July 31. Fans are continuing to speculate who the fiery post was aimed at. That said, no further comment has been made regarding who Offset's post was actually targeting. Friday, November 22, 2024 Commentary By Edward Segal, Author of Crisis Ahead: 101 Ways to Prepare for and Bounce Back from Disasters, Scandals, and Other Emergencies (Published by John Murray Business, 2020) A fundamental best practice for managing crisis situations is to prepare for obviousand not so obvious risks. Business leaders who ignore potential threats could create a self-inflicted crisis for their companies. A case in point are the hidden dangers posed by AI, an evolving technology that can also have important advantages and benefits for companies and organizations who use it with appropriate safeguards. Despite news coverage and warnings about the threats from this technology, 80% of recently surveyed organizations still don't have a dedicated plan to address generative AI risks, including AI-driven fraud attacks. That's according to the 2024 New Generation of Risk Report that was released last month by Riskonnect, a risk management software company. Awareness Of Growing Risks And Threats Of the 218 risk compliance and resilience professionals around the world who responded to the survey: 24% said AI-powered cybersecurity threatssuch as ransomware, phishing, and deepfakeswill have the biggest impact on businesses over the next 12 months. 72% said cybersecurity risks are having a significant or severe impact on their organization, an increase over last year's 47%. 65% of companies don't have a policy in place to govern the use of generative AI by partners and suppliers, even though third parties are a common entry point for fraudsters, according to Riskonnect. Mounting Concerns "Concerns over AI ethics, privacy, and security continue to mount," Riskonnect's report noted. "AI also tentacles into cybersecurity, geopolitics, and other areas, supercharging the risks of everything in its path. Hackers, for instance, are getting smarter, more sophisticated, and dangerous by the minute as they leverage the latest AI advancements to infiltrate organizations," it observed. Despite the growing concerns of the crisis situations that AI could cause, efforts to address those concerns appear to be lagging behind. The report points out that "while companies' top concerns [about AI] have shifted over the past year, risk management approaches largely haven't evolved fast enough, and key gaps remain. The data also suggests that risk management is increasingly seen as a strategic business function, but continued investment is necessary to keep up with the changing risk landscape." Internal Threats Internal threats can be just as damaging to organizations as external ones. One example is the use of generative AI by companies to create marketing-related content. "While well-prompted AI is an excellent starting point for written text, marketers need to ensure that ad copy, emails, and text messages are carefully proofread by human editors and not merely resubmitted to the same or a different AI program for proofing. This is because generative AI is focused on writing for clarity, but not necessarily for persuasion, which should be a primary communication goal for marketers," Anthony Miyazaki, a professor of marketing at Florida International University, recommended in an email interview. There's another way in which reliance on generative AI can backfire for companies. "More concerning is using AI to generate website content. Google has already warned web developers that AI content will be deprioritized if it is used to try to game the search process, and this would severely damage organic and even paid SEO," Miyazaki pointed out. Safeguards "A lot of organizational AI policies are heavily focused on protecting the organization from internal use of AI," Andrew Gamino-Chong, chief technology officer and co-founder of Trustible, an AI governance software company, observed via email. But organizations need to guarantee that their policies have covered all the bases. Companies "want to ensure confidential data isn't leaked, that AI chatbots are secure, and comply with relevant regulations. However, those policies sometimes omit setting clear standards for the AI systems they are building for customers; many regulations specifically want organizations to consider the downstream effects of their AI systems on individuals, groups, and communities," he noted. When it comes to establishing safeguards against the downsides of AI, some companies are apparently doing a better job than others. Dell Technologies Prior to the generative AI boom, Dell Technologies "created a set of principles to guide our development and use of AI applications, ensuring they're beneficial, equitable, transparent, responsible and accountable," John Scimone, president and chief security officer of Dell Technologies, said in an email interview. Chief AI Officer And Governance Structure "We appointed a chief AI officer and established an AI governance structure that includes leaders from every major function within our company. Our AI use case review board carefully evaluates proposed projects and ensures they adhere to our principles and align to our business priorities," he noted. Security And Best Practices In addition, the company "instituted AI security requirements and best practices to help our teams take appropriate security measures to safeguard data and systems at the point of design," he concluded. Empathy First Media's AI Procedures "The risks are very real, and we've taken deliberate steps to mitigate them," Ryan Doser, vice president of inbound marketing at Empathy First Media, a digital marketing agency, commented via email. He said the company has implemented several policies and procedures to help ensure the responsible use of AI by employees. The include: Privacy It prohibits entering a client's proprietary or sensitive data into generative AI tools. Quality Control It does not allow generative AI responses to be copied and pasted, and requires the responses to be reviewed and polished by humans to help guarantee its accuracy and alignment with clients. Regulatory Compliance The company avoids using the technology when it could create conflicts in complying with the standards of different industries. Transparency Tells clients when generative AI has been used to create content. "Transparency builds trust and helps educate our clients on how these tools are being used to enhance their campaigns," Doser concluded. Why Wait? As I noted in a story about Riskonnect's 2023 report concerning corporate AI safeguards, "The longer companies wait to prepare themselves for the risks and dangers associated with AI, the longer they will be unprotected from this potential crisis. "Why should business leaders wait any longer to do the right thing?" From a crisis management and prevention perspective, given the growing sophistication of AIand its hidden threatsthere's an even more urgent need today for business leaders to protect their organizations from the hazards posed by this double-edged sword technology. ##### Special delivery: Ohio-grown Christmas trees and handcrafted decorations, packaged tightly in pine-scented boxes, are on their way to bring the warmth of home to some of Ohios military personnel deployed abroad this holiday season, delivering a touch of Christmas spirit to the Middle East. Since 1995, a collaborative effort led by the Ohio Department of Agriculture and the Ohio Christmas Tree Association has collected pine trees, bags of homemade ornaments made by schoolchildren, churches and veterans organizations, along with handwritten cards from Ohio residents to send to service members overseas. Now in its 29th year, their special, annual mission known as Operation Evergreen has returned once again to warm the hearts of those who are unable to be with their families for the holidays, as well as the hearts of the volunteers who make it possible. Soldiers are kind of putting their lives on the line. And theyre away from family, so kind of the best thing we can do for them is bring Christmas to them, said high school student and FFA member Cecelia Gabole. The annual wrapping and packing event is a high point for volunteers including 4-H and FFA groups, students, veterans some of whom were among the recipients of an Ohio tree in the past while stationed abroad themselves families of service members and just about anybody else who wanted to lend a hand. They gathered on ODAs Reynoldsburg campus on a frigid November morning to cheerily wrap, load and pack everything up, taking breaks to sip on hot cocoa while listening to Bing Crosby and other favorite holiday crooners in the background. Its just a great event, Brian Baldridge, director of the ODA, told Farm and Dairy. It is tough as our troops are serving away from their families during the Christmas season, because this is the time that we come together as families. So its nice that we can send a little Christmas cheer. Taste of home The process of preparing the packages for military units begins with local Christmas tree growers from across Ohio donating carefully selected trees small enough to fit in a 10-inch-by-10-foot box. The trees, 100 in all, were all inspected to certify they were free from pests and disease before being packed and sent to the country of Jordan. The important thing is that we are sending a taste of home to the military, said Valerie Graham of the Ohio Christmas Tree Association. Theyre giving us freedoms. And were able to send a little touch of Christmas tree spirit from Ohio over to them. The organization accepts homemade ornaments and donations year-round from individuals, organizations and businesses to help maintain the initiative and keep it sustainable. Financial support is crucial to Operation Evergreens continued success, particularly in covering the high shipping costs that have reduced the number of trees they can send each year. It used to be that we shipped 300 trees, Graham said, adding that it costs about $200 to ship each package. Aside from the trees and decorations, every package provides a tangible connection to home that service members may not otherwise be able to receive anytime soon. Volunteers such as Deborah Ashenhurst, director of the Ohio Department of Veterans Services, said she was proud to know these efforts bring a piece of home to soldiers stationed in foreign, often challenging environments. It really warms my heart because, you know, when youre over there and you know youve got to be there, but you know your familys at home celebrating just to have a little something that reminds you of home is really super, Ashenhurst said. Its heartwarming, its tender. For many recipients, the trees are much more than decorations: They are a reminder that they are remembered and appreciated by those back home. Sometimes it (may) bring on a few tears, sometimes a little homesickness, but its absolutely worth it, she said. Anything we can do to make our service members know that were thinking of them during the holidays is worthwhile. For service members, each tree serves as a reminder that they are missed, honored and part of the holiday celebrations that make this season bright. According to Amy Galehouse, a coordinator with Operation Evergreen since 1999, the tradition has spread to many bases and reached thousands of service members from Kosovo to Afghanistan. Galehouse has seen the impact firsthand through thank-you letters and photos received from military personnel, who can return messages to card writers and volunteers with photos of their units alongside the decorated trees. Years ago, she received a letter in gratitude written by a young man from a family of 13 who was posted overseas to Bosnia in a two-man unit, spending his first Christmas away from home in a foreign country with an Ohio Christmas tree. And so we got this little letter saying, Its so nice. Its like being home with my parents. Theyre the kind of letters that make you cry when you read them. But you get those all the time, she said. Those interested in supporting Operation Evergreen can donate funds through the OCTAs website or participate in community service projects creating ornaments or writing letters. Find out more information online. Defra Secretary Steve Reed has pledged to make farming 'more profitable' as concern continues over the impact of the government's farm inheritance tax plans. Speaking to a packed audience at the CLA Rural Business Conference, Mr Reed said the government would work to make supply chains fairer. He also announced a 25-year farming roadmap at the annual event, which took place on Thursday evening (21 November). The Defra Secretary also said to the audience of farmers and landowners that "we need to agree on what British farming looks like in 25 years time". It comes as anger continues over the government's recent autumn budget, which contained controversial farm inheritance tax proposals. From April 2026, agricultural property relief (APR) and business property relief (BPR) will be capped at 1m in total per owner. The measure triggered a mass protest of thousands of farmers in central London earlier this week. At the conference, CLA President Victoria Vyvyan highlighted the 'significant and detrimental' impact the autumn budget would have on farming businesses. She said: We are embroiled in a row about numbers which is a mere distraction from the problem. All CLA modelling shows that farmers cannot afford this change. There is not the profitability in the farm or the diversified business to pay this tax. The simple truth is that APR and BPR are not loopholes, they are necessary tax reliefs for multi-generational rural businesses. The government is behaving as if we dont already pay taxes believe me, we pay tax. She then called on Mr Reed to engage in open and constructive dialogue with the industry to find solutions to the problems that the government faced. "Secretary of state we need to act you need to act. Last year, I asked you, if you were to be elected, if we could count on you to go in and bat for us. You said yes. Tell us the problems you are trying to fix and the CLA will work with you to find solutions," Ms Vyvyan said. Mr Reed acknowledged the strength of feeling among rural business owners: "I recognise the frustration and anxiety that many of you are feeling about the reforms to APR." During his speech, he also acknowledged the promise he made at the 2023 CLA Rural Business Conference that Labour wouldnt touch APR if the party was elected. "I gave that answer because we did not know the full extent of the country's economic crisis," he admitted. "Theres no way to turn our broken national finances around without plugging that 22bn financial gap. "The government took tough decisions across the board on tax, welfare and spending and yes, that included APR. "The budget marks the turning point for national renewal to help the nation thrive again. In pledging to help make farming 'more profitable', he said that the government would work to make supply chains fairer. He also announced a 25-year farming roadmap. We need to agree on what British farming looks like in 25 years time," Mr Reed said. The roadmap will be a forward-looking plan for farming. It will make farming and food production more profitable in the years to come. "It will not tell farmers what to do. It will be farmer-led, so they can tell government what they need to make a success of this vital transition." Farmers are trialling the use of livestock to control bracken without chemicals, with an ultimate aim to save costs while restoring habitats. By trampling bracken, livestock are set to help knock back this invasive species which spreads across grazing land, restricts public access and suffocates other habitats. If too dense, it threatens the habitat of the UKs most endangered butterfly, the High Brown Fritillary, which is present on one of the trial farms. Many farmers used to manage bracken with the herbicide Asulox, but this is no longer available, so some are now exploring other options. Cattle, pigs and ponies across eight farms in Cumbria, Lancashire and Yorkshire are being encouraged to enter areas of bracken with methods such as strategically placed hay or salt licks. The animals trample the bracken using their natural body weight, opening up space for other plant species while also damaging the bracken fronds and restricting regrowth. The pigs also root out the starch-rich rhizomes of the bracken from below ground. Triallist Katharine Pinfold, a farmer at Hudson Place Farm, Cumbria, has substantial area of bracken on the fellside which limits the grazing available for livestock, as well as general biodiversity. She said: "Our farming system is very low input and therefore using our Belted Galloway cattle as a means of controlling the bracken seems to us an obvious nature-friendly solution. It is great to be working in a group with other farmers to measure and monitor the impact of livestock on bracken density and growth. "We are also excited to see what other plants will emerge over time as the bracken cover recedes. In some parts of the country, particularly in the west, bracken stands maintain a woodland ground flora, allowing plants like dog violets to grow which are a key food source for caterpillars of fritillary butterflies. The trial therefore doesnt seek to eradicate bracken entirely, but to maintain a balance and "mosaic" of habitats, providing opportunities for a range of biodiversity. The group of farmers, who are trialling as part of an Innovative Farmers initiative, are working with experts at James Hutton Institute to monitor changes to habitat. They hope to find a long-term solution that uncovers grazing land while also boosting nature. Soil health will be monitored, with samples lab-assessed for their carbon and nitrogen contents as well as carrying out visual soil structure assessments. Field lab researcher Robin Pakeman of the James Hutton Institute said it was a "great opportunity we havent had a trial like this for decades". He said: "Asulox herbicide could be sprayed over large areas and, if followed up properly with repeat spot spaying, could be very effective. However, it is no longer available, so we have to think differently. "Using livestock means we can hopefully manage with more precision to achieve different impacts across a stand of bracken. "Were monitoring the trial closely and hoping for a long-term boost for biodiversity. A refreshed government agri-tech strategy that helps unlock the potential of agriculture to deliver multiple benefits is now vital for the next decade, a report says. There is 'clearly' a need for a new ag-tech strategy for the next 10 years following on from first one, launched in 2013, according to Agri-TechE's report. While there is 'much optimism' for the next decade of UK and global agri-tech innovation, contributors to the report also identify challenges. These include a changed investment landscape, difficulties scaling solutions and businesses, a lack of secure revenue streams, and regulators failing to keep pace with innovation. But developments such as satellite imaging and GPS navigation, clean energy production, livestock wearables and metagenomic sequencing of plants and animals, shows 'how farm agri-tech has come in the past decade'. The report by Agri-TechE, a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to advancing agricultural innovation, includes responses from over 70 contributors, who helped shape it. Dr Belinda Clarke, Agri-TechE director said: The 2013 strategy engendered a lot of fresh thinking, energy, external investment and innovation in the agricultural and horticultural sectors. "But the sector is now in a very different place and needs new government focus to shape the future of agri-tech to enable it to help the sector meet new priorities. These include a greater emphasis on climate-smart agriculture to reduce emissions, and aligning on-farm productivity with environmental sensitivity to help reverse biodiversity declines and maintain clear water and air. The government should also recognise that the industry delivers 'much more' than just food, including ecosystem services and industrial feedstocks such as biofuels, pharmaceuticals, and raw materials for textiles and construction. We need the new government to deliver a strategy for agriculture and horticulture that recognises the industry as a key component of our bioeconomy, Dr Clarke added. This, in turn, will inform a refreshed agri-tech strategy as one of the key enablers of unlocking the industrys potential. Clear policies give clarity on the direction of travel and build confidence, she said, adding that a new strategy for the next decade was needed. Well-defined, long-term sector strategies can lever private investment and provide a roadmap for innovation success," Dr Clarke explained. Among the other challenges for agri-tech companies identified in the report is how regulation is failing to keep pace with innovation. An example is the lack of clear regulation for emerging trends, such as the use of biological products. For agri-tech developers, earlier engagement with regulators from the outset of innovation is vital, the report suggests. Scaling solutions also remains challenging, which could at least be partially helped through more government support for businesses, potentially via contracts or subsidies to help boost nascent industries. Without secure revenue streams, markets can be tough to penetrate, Agri-TechE explains. Equally importantly, agri-tech developers are struggling to calculate return on investments for farmers vital information for farmers to decide whether to embrace a new technology. That is leading to some 'on-farm fatigue', the report reveals, along with some technologies and businesses failing to deliver on their hype. We need to stop promising farmers that a technology is going to change the world tomorrow, Dr Clarke stressed. While some farmers are happy to be beta-testers, the majority want reliability and seek solutions that will work the first time. Seven sheep have died after a 4x4 vehicle 'deliberately' drove over a farm fence and mowed down the animals, police have said. North Yorkshire Police are investigating the incident, which happened on farmland between Boroughbridge and Knaresborough. The horrific incident occurred overnight between Tuesday and Wednesday, 12-13 November. The force said: "We believe a vehicle probably a 4x4 - was deliberately driven over the perimeter fence and at the animals." The suspect drove around 200m down a farm track off Minskip Road before leaving the track and driving in a figure-of-eight in the field. The farmer discovered the dead sheep at around 10am on Wednesday and a vet was called. Seven died in the incident, which 'appears to be random', and the rest of the flock was found in a distressed state. "We have launched a criminal investigation and have been carrying out enquiries in the area," North Yorkshire police said. "We are appealing for any information about the incident, the vehicle involved which may have wool attached to it, or any CCTV or dashcam footage of a 4x4 vehicle in the area around the time of the incident. "Please contact PC Paxton by emailing joseph.paxton@northyorkshire.police.uk or calling us on 101, selecting option 2 and asking for PC Joseph Paxton. "You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or share information via their website." The cost of rural crime cost the UK nearly 53 million last year, an increase of over 2 million compared to the year before. Livestock theft remained high in 2023, at an estimated cost of 2.7m across the UK. Last year saw a spate of incidents where animals were butchered in fields. And farm animals worth an estimated 2.4m were severely injured or killed in dog attacks in 2023, up nearly 30% compared to the previous year. Lily Allen has bought a new London home. Lily Allen has bought a new house The 'Smile' hitmaker has been living in Brooklyn, New York, with husband David Harbour and her two daughters Ethel , 13, and 11-year-old Marnie - who she has with ex-husband Sam Cooper - but she's thrilled to have splashed out on a new property just a short distance away from her mother Alison Owen's house. A source told the Daily Mail newspaper's Eden Confidential column: "She's a west London girl and is loving being back. "Her new place is just a ten-minute walk from her mum's home and they are very close." Lily previously spoke of her devastation at having to sell her"house of dreams" in Gloucestershire for 4.2 million in 2016 after being sued for 100,000 by her former tour manager. She said: "I had my house of dreams. 'I did it up so nice, it was my life project, the place where I was going to raise my children. "I'm a firm believer in paying tax. But I got sued. I had to pay him off, with the money I'd put aside for my tax. "I tried to work out a deal with HMRC to pay them back in instalments, but they said no. It was absolutely soul-destroying, and a real lesson in life." Meanwhile, the 39-year-old star has admitted "leaving [her] kids" behind when she has to travel is one of her guilty pleasures. She admitted on her 'Miss Me?' podcast: "Sometimes when I've been in New York with the kids for a month and David hasn't been around and I know I've got a trip planned somewhere I'll get out of the door and just, 'ahhhhh'. " However, Lily's elation doesn't last long. She said: "But then I'll get out the door and half an hour later I feel guilty. "Not even half an hour, 20 minutes, maybe 10, maybe five, maybe as soon as I walk across the threshold I'm enjoying myself but I feel guilt." Asked if she experiences a "low hum of guilt" when she returns to London to work and "reconnect", the 'LDN' hitmaker confirmed to co-host Miquita Oliver that there was and she felt a lot of shame. But she jokingly added: "How dare I be so selfish as to try and do some work and set up a flat here for us." Pamela Anderson was the crossing guard at Kaia Gerber's elementary school. Pamela Anderson's sons attended the school The 23-year-old star - who is the daughter of model Cindy Crawford and businessman Rande Gerber - has described having the 'Baywatch star as her crossing guard as the "most Hollywood thing that has happened in her life. Kaia - who is one of the world's best-known models - told The Hollywood Reporter: "Pamela Anderson was the crossing guard at my elementary school. "She wore the yellow safety vest and everything. I didnt know how good I had it then." Pamela, 57, previously revealed that she worked at her sons' school. The actress - who has Brandon, 28, and Dylan, 26, with her ex-husband Tommy Lee - said on 'The Ellen DeGeneres Show' in 2008: "I'm safety patrol on Mondays at my sons' school with the neon vest and everything. It's really hot. "You help the children out to get to school. You help them out of the car and then you shut the door." Pamela held the role while she was starring in 'Hans Klok: The Beauty of Magic' in Las Vegas. The actress revealed that a lot of the parents at the school found it "funny" that she accepted the job. She said: "I get in around three or four in the morning and I'm up at 6:30am with my kids making breakfast, 8am at school and who washes their face? People always look at me funny anyway. "I get a lot of high fives. [Other parents] think it's funny that I'm there doing that. I'm a mom. you have to do it and I love it." Queen Camilla has hailed Dame Maggie Smith "a legend". Queen Camilla met Toby Stephens at a Buckingham Palace reception The 77-year-old royal met actor Toby Stephens - the son of the late 'Harry Potter' actress and her late ex-husband Sir Robert Stephens - at a Buckingham Palace reception for the Queens Commonwealth Essay Competition and told him she was "so sorry" to hear about his mother's passing in September. According to the Daily Telegraph newspaper, Camilla told Toby: We really loved her, and had so much fun with her. Toby replied: Well, vice versa. The queen added: Its just sad for the whole country, she was a legend." The 'Journey' star was one of four famous faces who read excerpts of stories from the winners and runners-up of the competition, with Clive Myrie another high profile reader. The BBC newsreader had been worried he would be late because of his work, prompting Camilla to say when she greeted him: Youve managed to extract yourself? He quipped: I made it clear I had an appointment with Your Majesty." Richard Ayoade and Tanya Reynolds read the other essays, and as well as meeting them, Camilla also spoke to the young writers who had impressed in the competition. She praised the "brilliant" work of 15-year-old senior winner Evangeline Khoo, from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; junior winner Erynn Liew, 13, from Puchong, Malaysia; and runners up Cristabelle Yeo, 16, from Singapore; and 13-year-old Victor Austin Kiyaga, from Mukono, Uganda. She added: Its lovely to see all this talent." After Maggie passed away in September, Camilla and her husband, King Charles, remembered her as a "national treasure". They said in a statement: "As the curtain comes down on a national treasure, we join all those around the world in remembering with the fondest admiration and affection her many great performances, and her warmth and wit that shone through both off and on the stage." Throughout her life, Maggie had a close relationship to the Royal family. The 'Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang' star was a guest at the King and Queen's Coronation in 2023 and she regularly attended the Sandringham Flower Show. In 2015, the King - who was Prince Charles at the time - also hosted a joint 80th birthday party for the actress and playwright Sir Ronald Harwood at Clarence House. Naga Chaitanya and Sobhita Dhulipala are all set to marry on December 4. Ahead of their wedding, the groom-to-be's superstar father, Nagarjuna, opened up about the same and said that it was going to be a traditional Telugu wedding. He revealed that Sobhita's parents insisted on it.Speaking about the wedding, he said, "Chaitanya didnt want a big wedding; he and Sobhita both preferred a gathering of close family and friends. They told me to leave the arrangements to them. They wanted to do it their way, and honestly, it was a huge relief! I said, please do."He added, Sobhitas parents were clear about wanting to include all the rituals, and I was completely on board. I find the chants and ceremonies so soothing they bring a sense of peace. Its going to be a lovely wedding, simple and heartfelt, just like the couple."The wedding will take place at the Annapurna Studios in Hyderabad, and it will be a close-knit affair with family members and close friends in attendance. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 21, 2024) - GREAT ATLANTIC RESOURCES CORP. (TSXV: GR) (the "Company" or "Great Atlantic") is pleased to announce its wholly owned subsidiary, Golden Promise Mines Inc., will resume the 2024 diamond drilling program at its Golden Promise Gold Property during the first week of December. This next phase of the 2024 drill program will utilize Novamera's proprietary Guidance Tool with three additional drill holes planned in December. The fully funded 2024 drill program is being conducted at the gold bearing Jaclyn Main Zone (JMZ) in the area of a planned bulk sample. The property is located in central Newfoundland. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3027/230808_bd0dc54c744a48a7_002full.jpg Eight drill holes have been completed to date during 2024, seven of which intersected quartz veins with visible gold. Analytical results for drill core samples received to date for three holes have confirmed high grade gold including 34.87 grams / tonne (g/t) gold over 0.53 meters and 12.98 g/t gold over 0.64 meters (see news releases on the Company's website). These intervals are core length. The collars for these holes and collars for Great Atlantic's 2019-2021 drill holes in this area have been recently surveyed in preparation for resumption of drilling in December. The 2024 drill program is being conducted with partner Novamera Inc. The three remaining holes will include Novamera's proprietary Guidance Tool, which will provide increased data and orebody knowledge to define the vein's shape, geometry, and continuity. The 2024 diamond drill program is being conducted in the west region of the JMZ in the area of a planned bulk sample, which is also fully funded. Whereas the first eight holes (GP-24-157 to GP-24-164) of the 2024 drill program were drilled to crosscut the steeply dipping, east to slightly northeast trending JMZ, the three remaining close-spaced holes will be steep holes to be drilled approximately down-dip of the JMZ quartz vein(s) in the area of the planned bulk sample. This drilling will be managed by Novamera Inc. Quartz vein with visible gold in drill hole GP-24-157 (34.87 g/t Au / 0.53 meters) To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3027/230808_bd0dc54c744a48a7_003full.jpg Novamera's proprietary Guidance Tool will be used in the three steep down-dip drill holes to collect subsurface data to define the geometry of the JMZ vein(s). The Guidance Tool collects data within a 3-4 metre radius of the borehole to create a high-resolution 3D orebody model, which is then used to calculate the optimal drill trajectory for Surgical Mining. The planned approximately 2700 tonne bulk sample at the JMZ is to be extracted after diamond drilling and bulk sampling approval using a precision mining method, powered by Novamera's full suite of Surgical Mining technologies. The transformative new mining method leverages hardware, software, AI and ML paired with conventional drilling equipment to extract ore at a fraction of the cost of conventional mining methods. The 2024 diamond drilling and subsequent planned bulk sample work at the JMZ is being funded in part by co-investment from DIGITAL, Canada's Global Innovation Cluster for digital technologies, as part of a larger project that aims to support data-driven and digital solutions within the mining sector. The Link to the announcement can be found here. Great Atlantic reported a National Instrument 43-101 compliant inferred resource estimate during late 2018 for the JMZ of 357,500 tonnes at 10.4 g/t gold (119,900 ounces of gold - uncapped) (see Company News Release of December 6, 2018; and Sedar-filed National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report on the Golden Promise Property, Central Newfoundland (revised), dated December 4, 2018 by Mr. Greg Z. Mosher, M.Sc. App., P.Geo., and Mr. Larry Pilgrim, B.Sc., P.Geo.). To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3027/230808_bd0dc54c744a48a7_004full.jpg The Golden Promise Gold Property is the largest and most advanced of eight central Newfoundland gold properties owned by Golden Promise Mines Inc. and located within the Exploits Subzone of the Newfoundland Dunnage Zone. One of these properties (Golden Trust) is located within one kilometer of the Valentine Gold Mine of Calibre Mining Corp. which is also located within the Exploits Subzone. Readers are warned that mineralization at the Valentine Gold Mine is not necessarily indicative of mineralization at the Golden Promise Property or any of the other central Newfoundland gold properties of Golden Promise Mines Inc. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3027/230808_bd0dc54c744a48a7_005full.jpg David Martin, P.Geo., (New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador), a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101 and VP Exploration for Great Atlantic, is responsible for the technical information contained in this News Release. On Behalf of the board of directors "Christopher R Anderson" Mr. Christopher R. Anderson President CEO Director 604-488-3900 - Office To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3027/230808_bd0dc54c744a48a7_006full.jpg About Great Atlantic Resources Corp.: Great Atlantic Resources Corp. is a Canadian exploration company focused on the discovery and development of mineral assets in the resource-rich and sovereign risk-free realm of Atlantic Canada, one of the number one mining regions of the world. Great Atlantic is currently surging forward building the company utilizing a Project Generation model, with a special focus on the most critical elements on the planet that are prominent in Atlantic Canada, Gold, Copper, Zinc, Nickel, Cobalt, Antimony and Tungsten. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3027/230808_bd0dc54c744a48a7_007full.jpg This press release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address future exploration drilling, exploration activities and events or developments that the Company expects, are forward looking statements. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include exploitation and exploration successes, continued availability of financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Great Atlantic Resource Corp. 888 Dunsmuir Street - Suite 888, Vancouver, B.C., V6C 3K4 To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/230808 SOURCE: Great Atlantic Resources Corp. CTS Eventim, the prominent ticket marketing company, experienced an unexpected downturn in its third-quarter performance, triggering a significant market reaction. Despite reporting a 16 percent revenue increase to approximately two billion euros for the first nine months of the fiscal year, the company's net profit declined by 11 percent to 181.2 million euros. This disappointing result, primarily attributed to elevated distribution and administrative expenses, led to a sharp stock price decline of 8.19 percent, with shares settling at 82.35 euros. The market's response was particularly notable given that the stock had maintained a positive trajectory of nearly 30 percent since the year's beginning. Growth Prospects Remain Positive Despite current profit challenges, the company's core business continues to demonstrate resilience through successful expansion in European markets and the integration of recently acquired See Tickets. Major concert events have proven to be significant revenue drivers, contributing to the company's overall growth. Management maintains an optimistic outlook, projecting substantial growth in adjusted operating results compared to the previous year, supported by the company's robust organic growth in both domestic and European markets. Ad Fresh CTS Eventim information released. What's the impact for investors? Our latest independent report examines recent figures and market trends. Read our updated CTS Eventim analysis... Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 21, 2024) - Argo Living Soils Corp. (CSE: ARGO) (OTC Pink: ARLSF) ("Argo" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has closed the first tranche of its previously announced non-brokered private placement offering by issuing 878,333 units (the "Units") at a price of $0.15 per Unit, for aggregate gross proceeds of $131,750 (the "Offering"). The Company also announces that it has extended the Offering and anticipates closing the second tranche of the Offering for the balance of the gross proceeds by December 22, 2024. Each Unit is comprised of one common share in the capital of the Company and one transferrable purchase warrant (a "Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one additional common share in the capital of the Company at $0.20 per share for a period of 24 months from the date of issuance. In connection with the first tranche of the Offering, the Company paid finder's fees in the amount of $525 and issued an aggregate of 3,500 finder's warrants (each a "Finder's Warrant") to an eligible arm's-length finder. Each Finder's Warrant entitles the holder to acquire one Unit on the same terms as the Units issued in the Offering at $0.15 per Unit for a period of 24 months from the closing date of the Offering. The Company plans to use proceeds of the Offering for general working capital purposes and identifying and evaluating strategic business opportunities which align with the Company's business plan. Additionally, the Company announces that it has agreed to enter into debt settlement agreements with certain creditors of the Company to settle outstanding indebtedness in the aggregate amount of $82,500 in exchange for the issuance of 550,000 Units of the Company at a deemed price of $0.15 per Unit, and with such Units having the same terms as those issued pursuant to the Offering (the "Debt Settlement"). The Company is completing the Debt Settlement to improve its financial position by reducing its existing liabilities. The Debt Settlement is expected to close shortly, subject to customary closing conditions, including, but not limited to, finalizing all contractual documentation and receipt of Canadian Securities Exchange approval, if required. As part of the aggregate $82,500 Debt Settlement, a director of the Company has agreed to settle $22,500 worth of Debt owed for unpaid consulting fees in consideration for 150,000 Units. The issuance of these Units constitutes a "related party transaction" as defined under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company is relying on the exemptions under section 5.5(a) and section 5.7(1)(a) from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101, as the fair market value of the Units issued to the related party does not exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization, as determined in accordance with MI 61-101. All securities issued under the Offering are and all securities to be issued under the Debt Settlement will be subject to a four month hold period in accordance with Canadian securities law. About Argo Living Soils Corp. The Company specializes in producing and developing organic products, including soil amendments, living soils, biofertilizers, vermicompost and compost extracts formulated specifically for high-value crops. The Company's vision and overall business plan are to create an established brand of organic and/or environmentally friendly products. The Company was founded in 2018. We Seek Safe Harbor. The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed this press release and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or 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 closing of a second tranche of the Offering and the timing thereof, the use of proceeds, completion of the Debt Settlement and the terms thereof, and the Company creating a brand of organic and/or environmentally friendly products. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "will", "plans", 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. THIS NEWS RELEASE IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/230987 SOURCE: Argo Living Soils Corp. JAKARTA, Indonesia, Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Indonesia International Modest Fashion Festival (IN2MF) 2024 has set a new world record for the Wastra-Based Modest Fashion Festival celebrating the Most Collections, with 1,550 fashion attires of 208 Indonesian brands and 10 international designers' works. This achievement was officially recognized by Indonesian Record Museum (MURI) during the event, held from October 30th to November 3rd, 2024, at Jakarta Convention Center (JCC), Senayan, Jakarta. Organized by Bank of Indonesia, the Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), and Indonesian Fashion Chamber (IFC), IN2MF 2024 was one of the highlights of Indonesia Sharia Economic Festival (ISEF), 2024. The festival aimed to integrate Indonesia's modest fashion ecosystem and promote a sustainable, resilient sharia economy. Carrying the theme "Elevating Sustainable Modest Fashion to The Global Stage", IN2MF 2024 emphasized sustainability, innovation, and inspired by the use of traditional Indonesian textiles. The event showcased batik, songket, ikat, ATBM weaving, and eco-friendly materials celebrating Indonesia's rich cultural heritage. In addition to 208 Indonesian designers, the festival also featured 10 international designers from Malaysia, South Africa, Australia, India, Italy, Russia, Turkey, Spain, the UAE, and Jordan, underscoring the global appeal of modest fashion. A major highlight of the event was the Business Matching Traditional Textiles program, which connected designers with artisans, fostering collaboration and creating new business opportunities. Additionally, a series of seminars and Focus Discussion Groups (FGDs) explored important themes in modest fashion, including innovation, sustainability, trend forecasting, and the challenges in modest fashion business. These initiatives were designed to further strengthen the industry and promote growth through meet, knowledge-sharing and collaboration. In terms of business impact, IN2MF 2024 proved successful, with total commitments, sales, and financing reaching 72.9 billion Rupiah. This includes business matching and collaborations with key partners. When factoring in global initiatives in markets such as Abu Dhabi, Kuala Lumpur, Istanbul, and Paris leading up to the festival, the total value generated reached to 258.7 billion Rupiah. This year's, 2024 IN2MF not only highlighted Indonesia's leadership in sustainable modest fashion but also celebrated the dynamic intersection of tradition, innovation, and business; the World Record achievement further cements Indonesia's position as a global hub for the modest fashion industry. About IN2MF The Indonesia International Modest Fashion Festival (IN2MF) is an annual event dedicated to promoting modest fashion globally, with a focus on sustainability, innovation, and traditional textiles. The festival brings together designers, artisans, and industry leaders to foster growth within the modest fashion sector. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2564479/IMG_0095.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/in2mf-2024-sets-world-record-with-1-550-designers-fashion-attires-of-208-indonesian-brands-and-10-international-designers-302313764.html Volkswagen's shares tumbled to a 52-week low of 80.98, marking a 1% decline, as labor disputes intensify across its German operations. The automotive giant faces mounting pressure as over 7,000 employees gathered in Wolfsburg to protest against proposed cost-cutting measures. At the heart of the conflict lies Volkswagen's push for a 10% wage reduction, contrasting sharply with labor unions' pursuit of a 5.1% increase in line with broader industry standards. The situation is further complicated by the company's ambitious target to boost its core brand's profit margin to 6.5% by 2026, prompting discussions about potential facility closures despite union opposition. Impending Strike Actions The labor dispute threatens to escalate as the mandatory peace period expires on November 30. While unions have presented an alternative proposal, including directing future wage increases into a development fund and targeting 1.5 billion in labor cost savings, management remains committed to its original cost-reduction objectives. This standoff has contributed to the stock's significant decline from its yearly peak of 128.60, reflecting growing investor concerns about the company's operational stability and financial outlook. Ad Fresh Volkswagen information released. What's the impact for investors? Our latest independent report examines recent figures and market trends. Read our updated Volkswagen analysis... CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - The New Zealand dollar weakened against other major currencies in the Asian session on Friday.The NZ dollar slid to nearly a 2-month low of 90.03 against the yen, from yesterday's closing value of 90.53.Against the Australia and the U.S. dollars, the kiwi plunged to more than a 2-yr low of 1.1180 and a 1-yr low of 0.5829 from Thursday's closing quotes of 1.1109 and 0.5859, respectively.The kiwi edged down to 1.7961 against the euro, from yesterday's closing value of 1.7869.If the kiwi extends its downtrend, it is likely to find support around 86.00 against the yen, 1.12 against the aussie, 0.57 against the greenback and 1.84 against the euro.Copyright(c) 2024 RTTNews.com. All Rights ReservedCopyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Following the appointment of Ralf Thomas as CEO in 2022, mVISE performed a remarkable transformation, in which the company restructured into a manufactory with a focus on software development while significantly reducing workforce to improve utilization and thus efficiency. Here, management has implemented a one-stop-shop experience for customers, catering the entire value chain from the initial development until the operation of the software. On top of this, mVISE acquired Workforce Management (WFM) expert opcyc GmbH in late 2023, a company with a staggering 60% EBITDA margin and 90+% recurring revenue ratio. The general beauty of the transformation lies in the positive impact on visibility and profitability (EBITDA margin +20.7pp from 2023-'27) as both the development business as well as the WFM software are yielding scalable and recurring revenues (70% by FY '27e) thanks to long-term contracts with customers. In our view, the secret of success going forward lies in the company's holistic development approach, offering numerous advantages for customers as it focusses on the entire software lifecycle, allowing for a more efficient, user-oriented and flexible process, ultimately improving quality and thus driving customers value. In addition, mVISE has a proven sector expertise, especially in the telecommunication and industrial segment, which marks a competitive edge compared to larger, more sector-agnostic peers, in our view. Going forward, mVISE is further seen to benefit from several structural growth trends regarding both software development and WFM. Here, especially the ongoing digitalization of German SMEs as well as the increasing cloudification should enhance the prospects of custom software developers like mVISE. Moreover, the intensifying labour shortage as well as flexible work models are seen to drive demand for WFM solutions. Thanks to probably the most configurable tool in the market, opcyc should be able to even compete with larger peers, in our view. Along with several growth opportunities and operating a highly scalable business model, the stock looks undervalued trading at 5.8x EV/EBITDA 2024e (4.1x '26e). We hence initiate with BUY and a 1.40 PT based on DCF. ISIN: DE0006204589 Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Original-Research: mVISE AG - from NuWays AG 22.11.2024 / 09:01 CET/CEST Dissemination of a Research, transmitted by EQS News - a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this research. The result of this research does not constitute investment advice or an invitation to conclude certain stock exchange transactions. Classification of NuWays AG to mVISE AG Company Name: mVISE AG ISIN: DE0006204589 Reason for the research: Initiation Recommendation: Buy from: 22.11.2024 Target price: EUR 1.40 Target price on sight of: 12 months Last rating change: Analyst: Philipp Sennewald Transformation fully on track - Initiate with BUY Following the appointment of Ralf Thomas as CEO in 2022, mVISE performed a remarkable transformation, in which the company restructured into a manufactory with a focus on software development while significantly reducing workforce to improve utilization and thus efficiency. Here, management has implemented a one-stop-shop experience for customers, catering the entire value chain from the initial development until the operation of the software. On top of this, mVISE acquired Workforce Management (WFM) expert opcyc GmbH in late 2023, a company with a staggering 60% EBITDA margin and 90+% recurring revenue ratio. The general beauty of the transformation lies in the positive impact on visibility and profitability (EBITDA margin +20.7pp from 2023'-27) as both the development business as well as the WFM software are yielding scalable and recurring revenues (70% by FY '27e) thanks to long-term contracts with customers. In our view, the secret of success going forward lies in the company's holistic development approach, offering numerous advantages for customers as it focusses on the entire software lifecycle, allowing for a more efficient, user-oriented and flexible process, ultimately improving quality and thus driving customers value. In addition, mVISE has a proven sector expertise, especially in the telecommunication and industrial segment, which marks a competitive edge compared to larger, more sector-agnostic peers, in our view. Going forward, mVISE is further seen to benefit from several structural growth trends regarding both software development and WFM. Here, especially the ongoing digitalization of German SMEs as well as the increasing cloudification should enhance the prospects of custom software developers like mVISE.Moreover, the intensifying labour shortage as well as flexible work models are seen to drive demand for WFM solutions. Thanks to probably the most configurable tool in the market, opcyc should be able to even compete with larger peers, in our view. Along with several growth opportunities and operating a highly scalable business model, the stock looks undervalued trading at 5.8x EV/EBITDA 2024e (4.1x '26e). We hence initiate with BUY and a EUR 1.40 PT based on DCF. You can download the research here: http://www.more-ir.de/d/31419.pdf For additional information visit our website: www.nuways-ag.com/research Contact for questions: NuWays AG - Equity Research Web: www.nuways-ag.com Email: research@nuways-ag.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nuwaysag Adresse: Mittelweg 16-17, 20148 Hamburg, Germany ++++++++++ Diese Meldung ist keine Anlageberatung oder Aufforderung zum Abschluss bestimmter Borsengeschafte. Offenlegung moglicher Interessenskonflikte nach 85 WpHG beim oben analysierten Unternehmen befinden sich in der vollstandigen Analyse. ++++++++++ The EQS Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Archive at www.eqs-news.com 2036139 22.11.2024 CET/CEST MADRID, Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Imperial Springs International Forum (ISIF), co-organised by Club de Madrid, will hold its ninth edition on 11-12 December in Madrid. This marks the first time the Forum is held outside China, highlighting ISIF's commitment to broadening multilateral dialogue and fostering a more inclusive and cooperative global order. Under the theme "Collective Action for One Future", ISIF 2024 will bring together over 130 political leaders, dignitaries, and experts from more than 40 countries. Participants will include former heads of state and government, academics, and representatives of international organisations. The Forum will also welcome officials from the Chinese and Spanish governments, with Madrid's mayor attending as an institutional partner. The discussions will address pressing global challenges, including peace and security, green technology, artificial intelligence, and sustainable development. The Forum also aims to explore pathways for advancing multilateralism and development financing, promoting cooperative solutions in a world marked by growing polarisation. "The decision to host ISIF 2024 in Madrid underscores the importance of creating opportunities for constructive dialogue and collaboration with key global actors," said Danilo Turk, President of Club de Madrid. "In these complex times, multilateralism and partnerships are essential to addressing challenges that affect societies worldwide." The 2024 edition is expected to result in a set of recommendations will conclude the Forum, reflecting a shared vision for addressing global challenges, strengthening multilateral cooperation, and fostering collective solutions. About the Imperial Springs International Forum (ISIF) ISIF, co-organised by the Club de Madrid and strategic Chinese partners, is a leading platform for dialogue on global challenges. Since 2016, ISIF has brought together influential leaders, experts, and diplomats to foster mutual understanding and cooperation. Traditionally held in Guangzhou, this ninth edition in Madrid represents a milestone in the Forum's history. The Forum will take place at the Eurostars Madrid Tower Hotel, with the opening ceremony open to the press. High-profile representatives from the organisers of ISIF, the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, the Australia-China Friendship and Exchange Association, and the People's Government of Guangdong Province will attend the opening ceremony. ABOUT THE CLUB DE MADRID Club de Madrid is the world's largest forum of democratic former Presidents and Prime Ministers, who leverage their individual and collective leadership experience and global reach to strengthen inclusive democratic practice and improve the well-being of people around the world. As a non-partisan and international non-profit organisation, it counts on the hands-on governance experience of more than 100 Members from over 70 countries, along with a global network of advisers and partners across all sectors of society. This unique alliance stimulates dialogue, builds bridges and engages in advocacy efforts to strengthen public policies and effective leadership through recommendations that tackle challenges such as inclusion, sustainable development and peace, at the national and international levels. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2564793/ISIF_2024_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/madrid-hosts-the-imperial-springs-international-forum-for-the-first-time-a-key-global-platform-for-dialogue-with-china-302313627.html EQT to sell Melita to Goldman Sachs Alternatives Under EQT's ownership, Melita strengthened its position as a leading digital infrastructure owner and operator through strategic investments in its network and customer experience, while building a successful international Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity business Today, Melita is the only operator in Malta providing both nationwide Gigabit fixed and nationwide 5G mobile services, and is well-positioned to expand its footprint in the fast-growing IoT connectivity sector STOCKHOLM, Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- EQT is pleased to announce that the EQT Infrastructure IV fund ("EQT") has signed an agreement to sell Melita ("the Company") to Goldman Sachs Alternatives. Founded in 1992, Melita is today a leading digital infrastructure owner and operator in Malta with a fully invested fiber-powered fixed network as well as a nationwide 5G mobile network with its own towers, backhaul and small cell footprint. With the largest data center in Malta, Melita delivers a full suite of digital services, including Gigabit broadband and 5G mobile connectivity, premium TV offerings, and data center solutions to households and businesses across the country. Since EQT acquired Melita in 2019, the Company has made substantial investment in its infrastructure and enhanced its operations and service offering. For example, it has successfully developed Generative AI tools to support customers with billing, sales and technical queries which had a positive impact on customer satisfaction. The Company has also expanded internationally, establishing its presence in the rapidly growing IoT connectivity market via its proprietary platform and agile, customer-centric go-to-market approach. Sustainability has been a core focus for Melita, becoming the first EQT portfolio company to have its near-term targets validated by the Science Based Targets initiative. The Company is investing in solar farms to produce renewable energy and has already replaced almost half of its car fleet with electric vehicles. It also established the Melita Foundation which supports impactful community initiatives. Ulrich Kollensperger, Partner in the EQT Value-Add Infrastructure Advisory team, said: "Building on EQT's long track record of investing in digital infrastructure, we supported Melita through strategic investments including in its 5G coverage and an upgrade of its fiber-powered network. We are proud of the rapid progress of Melita's IoT business which, in just a few years since inception, has grown significantly and through add-on acquisitions, established a promising new business line with a pan-European reach. We believe the Company is well-positioned for further growth and would like to thank Harald and the entire team for their dedication and wish them continued success." Harald Rosch, CEO of Melita, said: "Thanks to EQT's support, the past five years have been transformational, enabling us to make substantial progress across all aspects of our business and becoming the first operator in the European Union to deploy both a nationwide Gigabit broadband network and a nationwide 5G network. This transaction reflects the achievements of our entire team and the loyalty of our customers. With Goldman Sachs Alternatives' support and expertise, we are excited to continue our journey sustainably, investing in our infrastructure, enhancing our services in Malta and driving further innovation." The transaction is subject to conditions including regulatory approvals. EQT was advised by UBS (financial), Milbank and Camilleri Preziosi (legal). Contact EQT Press Office, press@eqtpartners.com This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/eqt/r/eqt-to-sell-melita--the-digital-infrastructure-owner-and-operator-in-malta,c4070280 The following files are available for download: https://mb.cision.com/Main/87/4070280/3130061.pdf Press release_EQT to sell Melita, the digital infrastructure owner and operator_241122 https://news.cision.com/eqt/i/melita-picture,c3354439 Melita picture View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/eqt-to-sell-melita-the-digital-infrastructure-owner-and-operator-in-malta-302314084.html EQS Newswire / 22/11/2024 / 11:45 CET/CEST HANGZHOU, CHINA - Media OutReach Newswire - 22 November 2024 - As the 2024 World Internet Conference Summit opened in Wuzhen, Zhejiang province on November 20, showcasing China's latest achievements in artificial intelligence and digital technology, a foreigner who has called China home for 15 years witnessed firsthand how one particular technology - 5G - is revolutionizing everyday life in this eastern province. Yegor Shyshov, who has lived through China's digital transformation, found himself amazed by the practical applications of 5G technology beyond mere phone services. From smart manufacturing to autonomous vehicles and remote healthcare, his journey through Zhejiang province revealed how the technology showcased at Wuzhen is already improving lives in neighboring cities. "These applications are not just exhibition pieces - they're already changing how people work and live," said Shyshov, as he toured various 5G-enabled facilities across the province. In Zhejiang's Yiwu city, blankets are being weaved in bulk by Truelove, one of China's leading blanket makers, under the custody of 5G-empowered AI system. "The inspection for broken threads used to be the toughest job," Zhang Xiaomao, a chief engineer at Truelove's smart manufacturing sector, told Shyshov. "In cooperation with China Mobile, we rolled out the 5G+AI visual quality monitoring system, after 18 months of testing." The system is able to monitor the threads while they are being weaved, Zhang said, adding that it could stop a warp knitting machine when a broken thread is detected, ensuring accurate quality control. "There are 24 cameras installed on a warp knitting machine, in short, we have installed 'electronic eyes' on our machine, which can realize real-time monitoring of 8,000 threads," he said. Upon detection of broken threads, the system automatically halts production, reducing defects by 90% while processing 40 million images daily. The efficiency gains are remarkable: one worker can now manage 12 machines, triple the previous capacity of four. While the 5G buildout brought revolution in industries, it can be better felt in people's daily life, as phone service has long become a modern necessity. However, 5G is ready to make big changes in areas beyond that little plate of screen. Some self-driving mini shuttle buses are currently on its trial operation around the Jinyi Lake in Jinyi New District, Jinhua city. Shyshov went to take one of the buses -- the 5.8-meter-long vehicle has eight passenger seats and can travel at a speed of 20 km/h. It is installed with five LIDAR (Light Detection And Ranging) and five cameras, which enable it to give way to pedestrians if detected, and bring itself to halt upon reaching designated stops. While the vehicle drives itself, a safety staff sits at the driver's cab to ensure safe operations. These vehicles are currently on trial service for now, providing transport between seven stops along a 6.5-kilometer-long loop within a limited area. Hashtag: worldinternetconferencesummit The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. News Source: China Mobile Communications Group Zhejiang Co., Ltd 22/11/2024 Dissemination of a Financial Press Release, transmitted by EQS News. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Media archive at www.todayir.com Invesco Global Equity Income Trust Plc - Result of AGM PR Newswire LONDON, United Kingdom, November 22 Invesco Global Equity Income Trust plc LEI: 549300JZQ39WJPD7U596 Result of Annual General Meeting Result of the Annual General Meeting of Invesco Global Equity Income Trust plc held on 21 November 2024: All of the Annual General Meeting resolutions were decided by poll and were passed. The poll results were as follows: RESOLUTION VOTES FOR % VOTES AGAINST % VOTES TOTAL % of ISC VOTED VOTES WITHHELD 1 10,766,183 99.92 9,075 0.08 10,775,258 17.12% 2,249 2 10,588,596 98.77 132,354 1.23 10,720,950 17.03% 56,557 3 10,607,930 98.79 130,005 1.21 10,737,935 17.06% 39,572 4 10,384,886 96.48 379,441 3.52 10,764,327 17.10% 13,180 5 10,376,883 96.38 389,248 3.62 10,766,131 17.10% 11,376 6 10,384,886 96.48 379,441 3.52 10,764,327 17.10% 13,180 7 10,694,289 99.34 70,838 0.66 10,765,127 17.10% 12,380 8 10,664,199 99.02 105,526 0.98 10,769,725 17.11% 7,782 9 10,690,168 99.24 82,120 0.76 10,772,288 17.11% 5,219 10 10,764,663 99.90 10,595 0.10 10,775,258 17.12% 2,249 11 10,665,629 99.05 102,791 0.95 10,768,420 17.11% 9,087 12 10,618,849 98.66 144,252 1.34 10,763,101 17.10% 14,406 13 10,109,591 93.87 660,556 6.13 10,770,147 17.11% 7,360 14 10,736,500 99.64 38,758 0.36 10,775,258 17.12% 2,249 15 10,666,821 99.19 87,512 0.81 10,754,333 17.08% 23,174 16 10,671,778 99.25 80,414 0.75 10,752,192 17.08% 25,315 Resolutions 1 to 11 and 15 were ordinary resolutions and resolutions 12 to 14 and 16 were special resolutions. The full text of the resolutions passed is as follows: 1. To receive the Annual Financial Report for the year ended 31 May 2024. 2. To approve the Directors' Remuneration Policy. 3. To approve the Annual Statement and Report on Remuneration. 4. To re-elect Craig Cleland as a Director of the Company. 5. To re-elect Mark Dampier as a Director of the Company. 6. To re-elect Tim Woodhead as a Director of the Company. 7. To elect Sue Inglis as a Director of the Company. 8. To re-appoint Grant Thornton UK LLP as Auditor to the Company 9. To authorise the Audit Committee to determine the Auditor's remuneration. 10. To approve the Company's dividend policy as set out on page 37 of the 2024 Annual Report. Special business of the Company 11. That: the Directors be and they are hereby generally and unconditionally authorised, for the purpose of section 551 of the Companies Act 2006 as amended from time to time prior to the date of passing this resolution ('2006 Act') to exercise all the powers of the Company to allot relevant securities (as defined in sections 551(3) and (6) of the 2006 Act) up to an aggregate nominal amount equal to 419,796 of Global Equity Income Shares (or, if resolution 15 passes, ordinary shares), provided that this authority shall expire at the conclusion of the next AGM of the Company or the date falling 15 months after the passing of this resolution, whichever is the earlier, but so that such authority shall allow the Company to make offers or agreements before the expiry of this authority which would or might require relevant securities to be allotted after such expiry and the Directors may allot relevant securities in pursuance of such offers or agreements as if the power conferred hereby had not expired. 12. That: the Directors be and they are hereby empowered, in accordance with sections 570 and 573 of the Companies Act 2006 as amended from time to time prior to the date of the passing of this resolution ('2006 Act') to allot Global Equity Income Shares (or if resolution 15 passes, ordinary shares) for cash, either pursuant to the authority given by resolution 11 or (if such allotment constitutes the sale of relevant shares which, immediately before the sale, were held by the Company as treasury shares) otherwise, as if section 561 of the 2006 Act did not apply to any such allotment, provided that this power shall be limited: (a) to the allotment of shares in connection with a rights issue in favour of all holders of a class of share where the shares attributable respectively to the interests of all holders of shares of such class are either proportionate (as nearly as may be) to the respective numbers of relevant shares held by them or are otherwise allotted in accordance with the rights attaching to such shares (subject in either case to such exclusions or other arrangements as the Directors may deem necessary or expedient in relation to fractional entitlements or legal or practical problems under the laws of, or the requirements of, any regulatory body or any stock exchange in any territory or otherwise); (b) to the allotment (otherwise than pursuant to a rights issue) of equity securities up to an aggregate nominal amount of 62,969 of Global Equity Income Shares (or, if resolution 15 passes, ordinary shares); and (c) to the allotment of equity securities at a price of not less than the net asset value per share as close as practicable to the allotment or sale and this power shall expire at the conclusion of the next AGM of the Company or the date 15 months after the passing of this resolution, whichever is the earlier, but so that this power shall allow the Company to make offers or agreements before the expiry of this power which would or might require equity securities to be allotted after such expiry as if the power conferred by this resolution had not expired; and so that words and expressions defined in or for the purposes of Part 17 of the 2006 Act shall bear the same meanings in this resolution. 13. That: the Company be generally and subject as hereinafter appears unconditionally authorised in accordance with section 701 of the Companies Act 2006 as amended from time to time prior to the date of passing this resolution ('2006 Act') to make market purchases (within the meaning of section 693(4) of the 2006 Act) of its issued Global Equity Income Shares. PROVIDED ALWAYS THAT: (i) the maximum number of shares hereby authorised to be purchased shall be 14.99% of the Company's issued Global Equity Income Shares (or, if resolution 15 passes, ordinary shares) as at the date of the AGM; (ii) the minimum price which may be paid for a share shall be 1p; (iii) the maximum price which may be paid for a share must not be more than the higher of: (a) 5% above the average of the mid-market values of the shares for the five business days before the purchase is made; and (b) the higher of the price of the last independent trade in the shares and the highest then current independent bid for the shares on the London Stock Exchange; (iv) any purchase of shares will be made in the market for cash at prices below the prevailing net asset value per share (as determined by the Directors); (v) the authority hereby conferred shall expire at the conclusion of the next AGM of the Company or, if earlier, on the expiry of 15 months from the passing of this resolution unless the authority is renewed at any other general meeting prior to such time; and (vi) the Company may make a contract to purchase shares under the authority hereby conferred prior to the expiry of such authority which will be executed wholly or partly after the expiration of such authority and may make a purchase of shares pursuant to any such contract. 14. That: the period of notice required for general meetings of the Company (other than Annual General Meetings) shall be not less than 14 days. 15. That: it is resolved that the Global Equity Income Shares (being the entire issued share capital of the Company) be redesignated as ordinary shares of 0.01 each, with the rights and restrictions attached to them as set out in the Articles of Association. 16. That: subject to the passing of the resolution numbered 15, the Articles of Association as produced to the meeting and initialled by the Chair for the purpose of identification be adopted as the Articles of Association of the Company in substitution for, and to the exclusion of, the existing Articles of Association. The poll votes lodged with the Registrar will shortly be available via the Company's website at: https://www.invesco.com/uk/en/investment-trusts/invesco-global-equity-income-trust.html In accordance with UK Listing Rule 6.4.2R, copies of the resolutions that were passed at the annual general meeting, which do not constitute ordinary business will shortly be available for inspection via the National Storage Mechanism: https://data.fca.org.uk/#/nsm/nationalstoragemechanism As previously announced, Victoria Muir and Davina Curling have both retired from the Board following the conclusion of the meeting. Victoria Muir was succeeded in her role as Chair of the Board by Sue Inglis. Tim Woodhead has assumed the role of Senior Independent Director and Chair of the Company's Management Engagement Committee following Davina Curling's retirement. Invesco Asset Management Limited Corporate Company Secretary 22 November 2024 Key Highlights Limited till program at Bunker Hill West delivered significant gold-in-till anomalies including 148 ppb and 94 ppb gold, nearly 40 times the crustal abundance level. Gold-in-till anomalism at Bunker Hill represents a large geochemical footprint surrounding historical outcrop samples grading upwards of 18.67g/t gold, 35.3g/t silver and 4.2% lead 1 . . Gold-in-till anomalism at Bunker Hill correlates with significant structural complexity revealed from recent high-resolution airborne magnetic surveys. Results from limited reconnaissance diamond drilling at Malachite confirmed further gold and copper mineralisation in bedrock. Planning for 2025 exploration program expected to include largest drill program in the last three years. Edmonton, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - November 22, 2024) - AuMEGA Metals Ltd (ASX: AAM) (TSXV: AUM) (OTCQB: AUMMF) ("AuMEGA" or "the Company") announces results from the remaining assays related to the Bunker Hill till survey and the reconnaissance-style diamond drill program at Malachite, both located along the Cape Ray Shear Zone ("CRSZ") in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. AuMEGA Metal's Managing Director and CEO, Sam Pazuki commented: "The Bunker Hill Project to-date has delivered incredible results to the business. The prospecting programs completed this year returned significant copper and silver values in a large area with significant historic copper, gold and silver results and collectively represent the highest-grade samples we have so far collected from anywhere in our portfolio. The high-resolution airborne magnetics also revealed considerable structural complexity in the Bunker Hill area, with several major second and third order splays and possible linking structures off the main CRSZ correlating with the prospecting and till results received. The latest results from Bunker Hill, with peak gold-in-till values of 94 ppb and 148 ppb gold, further increase our confidence in the prospectivity of the project and we now have three large zones identified as high priority for future drilling. "While we continue to believe in the prospectivity of the Malachite Project, the drilling results to-date are yet to reveal a clear source of significant surficial mineralisation we have identified over the past two years. The underlying structural complexity of Malachite will require additional drilling and while the most drilling results did not deliver an economic intercept, it has refined our targeting strategy for future work at Malachite. In comparing Malachite to Bunker Hill, the latest results from Bunker Hill are reason to prioritise our focus there going forward. Activity at Malachite will remain in the early stages of exploration however, in new higher confidence areas. "The bottom line is that we have a massive land package along a major gold structure that already hosts our own mineral resources as well as Calibre's five million ounces at the Valentine Project. In my experience, large deposits in greenstone belts are rarely "one-offs", but rather they are one of multiple deposits hosted in a belt. We are well positioned with our landholdings to identify and discover areas with the potential to host other multi-million-ounce gold deposits. With our recent confirmation of high-grade copper in outcrop, we also believe there is significant potential for intrusive-related copper discoveries. We have used our best-in-class exploration techniques to test areas, identify new targets and advance projects forward. Bunker Hill is a prime example of one of these projects where we have allocated limited capital to-date but have advanced it to the stage where substantial drilling is now confidently justified." FIGURE 1: AUMEGA PORTFOLIO OF PROJECTS INCLUDING BUNKER HILL AND MALACHITE To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10713/230999_8c5cadb6e4fe798a_002full.jpg Bunker Hill West Till Survey Results The Bunker Hill West area is characterised by the east-west trending CRSZ, which displays significant structural complexity with several major second order splays. During the Canadian fall of 2024, the Company completed a limited till program over the Bunker Hill West area, located at the eastern edge of the Malachite Project and site of the Company's large 2021 geochemistry survey2. The Bunker Hill West till survey included grid lines 400 metres apart with stations spaced at 100 metres and centred over a cluster of historical high-grade outcropping samples3 that graded 18.67 g/t gold and 12.25 g/t gold. FIGURE 2: OVERVIEW OF BUNKER HIL WEST TARGET & RESULTS To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10713/230999_8c5cadb6e4fe798a_003full.jpg The recent till survey results returned peak gold values of 148 ppb and 94 ppb. Importantly, the results revealed a large, multi-station anomaly located 270 metres from historic high-grade outcrop and float samples, proximal to a major fault cutting through the CRSZ and trending to the northeast. Interpretation of the recent airborne magnetic survey announced in October4 revealed a dominant north-northwest striking structure, truncated by the CRSZ proximal to the intersection of the major second order fault and the historic gold showing. This structure is coincident with till results of 148 ppb and 35 ppb gold approximately 850 metres south of the CRSZ. These tills samples are also anomalous in silver and lead, and are coincident with the high-grade gold in outcrop, with peak silver at 35.3 g/t and lead at 4.2%5. The gold-silver-lead association in both outcrop and tills as well as the area hosting the confluence of multiple structures represents a high-priority area for future drilling expected in 2025. Malachite Diamond Drill Program Results During the summer field season, the Company completed a small, reconnaissance-style diamond drill program to test geochemical targets along three interpreted splays identified from the 2024 winter Reverse Circulation ("RC") bottom-of-hole ("BOH") survey6. The diamond drill program included five drillholes for approximately 1,100 metres combined. FIGURE 3: MALACHITE RECONNAISSANCE DRILL RESULTS To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10713/230999_8c5cadb6e4fe798a_004full.jpg CRD385 and CRD386 targeted the major east-west striking splay off the CRSZ, which was identified as potentially being fertile for gold during the winter RC-BOT program. These two scissored holes were designed to test for primary mineralisation below a BOH RC hole that returned values upwards of 0.63 g/t gold, 1.99% copper and 27.7 g/t silver over 0.9 metres6. FIGURE 4: CROSS-SECTION OF CRD385 AND CRD386 To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10713/230999_8c5cadb6e4fe798a_005full.jpg Diamond hole CRD385 returned peak values of 0.33 g/t gold, 3.93 g/t silver, 2,157 ppm lead and 873 ppm zinc over 0.91 metres. The mineralisation was associated with shearing near the contact of a granodiorite and mafic intrusive unit, with chlorite alteration observed along the structure. All other drillholes intersected abundant brittle and ductile structural features throughout with hydrothermal alteration assemblages and discrete poly-metallic veining observed. No economic mineralisation was observed in these drillholes. The Malachite area displays significant structural complexity and exploration work-to-date, including limited diamond drilling, has confirmed the presence of gold and copper associated with clear evidence of hydrothermal fluid activity and large geochemical signatures. While Malachite continues to demonstrate discovery potential, it will require a larger drill program to test the dozens of structures across the area. This advanced work will be deferred in favour of Bunker Hill that has returned significantly higher gold and copper values in outcrop with several discrete areas of high interest. Next Steps The Company is currently reviewing the results from the recent till and airborne magnetic surveys at the Bunker Hill Project. This new information will be incorporated into the targeting and matrix register, building towards the planning and execution of RC and diamond drilling focused on Bunker Hill. The Company is in the process of defining its 2025 exploration program which is expected to be one of the largest programs in the Company's recent history. These plans will be announced in the near-term. - ENDS - This announcement has been authorised for release by the Company's Board of Directors. This release aligns with the requirements of the National Instrument 43-101. A JORC Table 1 is not required under National Instrument 43-101. The Company has included a JORC Table 1 in the ASX version of the news release which can be found on the ASX website at www.asx.com.au or AuMEGA Metal's website at www.aumegametals.com. To learn more about the Company, please visit www.aumegametals.com, or contact: About the Company AuMEGA Metals Ltd (ASX: AAM) (TSXV: AUM) (OTCQB: AUMMF) is utilising best-in-class exploration to explore on its district scale land package that spans 110 kilometers along the Cape Ray Shear Zone, a significant under-explored geological feature recognised as Newfoundland, Canada's largest identified gold structure. This zone currently hosts Calibre Mining's Valentine Gold Project, which is the region's largest gold deposit (+5 million ounces), along with AuMEGA's expanding Mineral Resource. The Company is supported by a diverse shareholder registry of prominent global institutional investors, and strategic investment from B2Gold Corp, a leading, multi-million-ounce a year gold producer. Additionally, AuMEGA holds a 27-kilometer stretch of the highly prospective Hermitage Flexure and has also secured an Option Agreement for the Blue Cove Copper Project in southeastern Newfoundland, which exhibits strong potential for copper and other base metals. AuMEGA's Cape Ray Shear Zone hosts several dozen high potential targets along with its existing defined gold Mineral Resource of 6.1 million tonnes of ore grading an average of 2.25 g/t, totaling 450,000 ounces of Indicated Resources, and 3.4 million tonnes of ore grading an average of 1.44 g/t, totaling 160,000 ounces in Inferred Resources7. AuMEGA acknowledges the financial support of the Junior Exploration Assistance Program, Department of Industry, Energy and Technology, Provincial Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Reference to Previous ASX Announcements In relation to this news release, all data used to assess targets have been previously disclosed by the Company and referenced in previous JORC Table 1 releases. Please see announcements dated: Mineral Resource estimate announced on 30 May 2023, Bunker Hill ASX announcements dated 22 April 2022, 23 April 2024, 24 September 2024, 28 May 2024 & 15 October 2024, Malachite ASX announcements dated 20 April 2022, 8 June 2022, 25 January 2023 & 11 October 2023 and Targeting Workshop ASX announcement 3 July 2024. In relation to the Mineral Resource estimate announced on 30 May 2023, the Company confirms that all material assumptions and technical parameters underpinning the estimates in that announcement continue to apply and have not materially changed. The Company confirms that the form and context in which the Competent Person's findings are presented have not been materially modified from the original market announcement. Competent Person's Statements The information contained in this announcement that relates to exploration results is based upon information reviewed by Mr. Rick Greenwood, P. Geo., Vice President of Exploration for AuMEGA Metals. Mr. Greenwood is a Member of the Professional Geoscientists of Ontario (PGO) and has sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the JORC Code 2012. 1 ASX Announcement 24 September 2024 & 22 March 2023 2 ASX Announcement 20 April 2022 & 8 June 2022 3 ASX Announcement 24 September 2024 & 22 March 2023 4 ASX Announcement 15 October 2024 5 ASX Announcement 22 March 2023 6 ASX Announcement 23 April 2024 & 28 May 2024 7 ASX Announcement 30 May 2023 To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/230999 SOURCE: AuMEGA Metals Ltd. Viral K-Beauty Favorites on Sale and Available on Amazon! LONDON, Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Viral K-Beauty brand, COSRX announces unbeatable Black Friday & Cyber Monday (BFCM) deals on must-have skincare duos! During this highly anticipated sale, COSRX favorites will be up to 56% off offering skincare lovers the opportunity to enjoy huge discounts on some of the most popular and TikTok-viral products, including the best-selling Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence and Advanced Snail 92 All in one Cream (both jar and tube type). Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence The TikTok viral COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence is formulated with snail mucin to protect the skin barrier from losing moisture. Skincare influencers and Amazon reviewers rave about the product for revitalizing and hydrating the skin without irritation. One shopper calls it "the VIP ticket to hydration town," since it will "keep your skin plump and moist, the perfect combination for fighting aging." 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Social Media Buzz: Real Users Demonstrating Real Results The popularity of COSRX's Advanced Snail Duo has surged on social media platforms like TikTok, where licensed cosmetologist @jilllegsfordays showcased the Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence and Advanced Snail 92 All in one Cream in a video demonstrating its multiple uses. From soothing sunburn and irritation to doubling as a primer, Jill offers practical tips on incorporating this skincare gem into everyday routines. Additionally, she highlights how mixing the Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence with foundation creates a glowing, natural finish - perfect for achieving the trending MirrorSkin look. Promotional Products: Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence - Up to56% Off - Up to56% Off Advanced Snail 92 All in One Cream 100g - Up to 56% Off - Up to 56% Off Advanced Snail 92 All in One Cream 200g (Tube type) - Up to 28% Off - Up to 28% Off The 6 Peptide Skin Booster Serum - Up to 23% Off - Up to 23% Off Ultimate Nourishing Rice Overnight Spa Mask - Up to 51% Off The Vitamin C 23 Serum - Up to 33% Off Up to 33% Off The Retinol 0.1 Cream - Up to 36% Off - Up to 36% Off The Retinol 0.5 Oil - Up to 22% Off - Up to 22% Off The Niacinamide 15 Serum - Up to 23% Off For more information, please visit the COSRX store on Amazon. About COSRX: With its powerful yet affordable skincare solutions, COSRX has quickly become one of America's favorite skincare brands. Using a minimal number of highly effective natural extracts in concentrated doses, COSRX products deliver visible results by treating the skin with only the essentials it needs and nothing it doesn't. Find its best-selling skincare solutions at retailers nationwide, including Amazon, Boosts, Lookfantastic, and TikTok UK store. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cosrx TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cosrx_uk COSRX Official Website: https://www.cosrx.com Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2565344/COSRX_Kicks_Off_Black_Friday_Cyber_Monday_Sales_Up_56.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/cosrx-kicks-off-black-fridaycyber-monday-sales-with-up-to-56-off-302314120.html Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - November 22, 2024) - Big Ridge Gold Corp. (TSXV: BRAU) (OTCQB: ALVLF) ("Big Ridge" or the "Company") announced that due to the ongoing Canadian postal strike(the "Postal Strike"), the information circular and related materials (the "Meeting Materials") for its upcoming Annual General Meeting (the "Meeting") being held on Monday, December 23, 2024, are posted under the Company's profile on www.sedarplus.ca and on the Company's website at www.bigridgegold.com/investors/agm-materials/. Shareholders of the Company are encouraged to access the Meeting Materials directly through the above-mentioned websites, or may contact Jim Kirke, the Company's Chief Financial Officer, at 416-627-1796 or by email at jkirke@bigridgegold.com to request electronic copies of the Meeting Materials. In the event that the Postal Strike ends prior to the Meeting, the Company will mail the Meeting Materials in the ordinary course, but there can be no assurance that the Meeting Materials will be received by the shareholder prior to the Meeting. Emails providing a proxy with the voting control number and instructions for voting will be sent by the Company's transfer agent, Computershare, to Registered Shareholders for whom Computershare has an email address. Registered Shareholders who do not receive an email from Computershare with their proxy by Monday, November 25, 2024 should contact Computershare's Investor Centre at 1-800-564-6253 (8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., EST, Monday to Friday) to request their proxy and voting control number. Non-Objecting Beneficial Shareholders ("NOBOs") should contact Computershare at 1-800-564-6253 to request their Voting Instruction Form ("VIF") with voting control number and instructions for voting. Objecting Beneficial Shareholders ("OBOs") should contact their broker to request a VIF, voting control number, and instructions for voting. Copies of the Company's financial statements and related management discussion & analysis for the financial year ended June 30, 2024 (the "Financial Statements and MD&A") are available on the Company's profile on www.sedarplus.ca and on the Company's website at www.bigridgegold.com. If paper copies of the Financial Statements and MD&A have been requested, but not yet delivered, they will be delivered once the Postal Strike concludes. In addition, Big Ridge announced that Dr. Bill Williams, the Company's Board Chair, will not be standing for re-election. The Board thanks Dr. Williams for his service to Big Ridge and wishes him all the best in his future endeavours. About Big Ridge Gold Corp. Big Ridge Gold Corp. is an exploration and development company managed by a disciplined and experienced team of officers and directors. The Company is committed to the development of advanced stage mining projects using industry best practices combined with strong social license from our local communities. Big Ridge owns an 80% interest in its flagship Hope Brook Gold Project, located in Newfoundland and Labrador. Big Ridge also owns 100% in the highly prospective Oxford Gold Project located in Manitoba and the Destiny Gold Project in Quebec. Acknowledgement Big Ridge acknowledges and appreciates the Newfoundland and Labrador Ministry of Natural Resources' financial support of the Company's 2023 exploration programs through the Junior Exploration Assistance (JEA) Program. For more details regarding the Company's projects, please visit our website at www.bigridgegold.com ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD, Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release includes certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "plans", "projects", "intends", "estimates", "envisages", "potential", "possible", "strategy", "goals", "objectives", or variations thereof or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative of any of these terms and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements in this news release relate to future events or future performance and reflect current estimates, predictions, expectations or beliefs regarding future events, and include, without limitation, statements with respect to Big Ridge's intentions with respect to Caprock's shares. All forward-looking statements are based on Big Ridge's and its employees' current beliefs as well as various assumptions made by them and information currently available to them. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the respective parties, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and the parties have made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. When relying on our forward-looking statements to make decisions with respect to Big Ridge, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. Big Ridge does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time by the Company or on our behalf, except as required by law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/230974 SOURCE: Big Ridge Gold Corp. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - November 22, 2024) - Happy Belly Food Group Inc. (CSE: HBFG) (OTCQB: HBFGF) ("Happy Belly" or the "Company"), a leading consolidator of emerging food brands is pleased to announce the opening of its newest location, a co-location with Blenz Coffee, at 8503-112 Street North West, within North Town Center, Edmonton. Heal Wellness ("Heal") is a fresh smoothie bowls, acai bowls, and smoothies quick serve restaurant ("QSR"). HEAL Wellness 1 To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6625/231004_a1683a3a74a408e4_002full.jpg "The opening of this location marks a milestone for Happy Belly's multi-unit combo store real-estate strategy. This co-location with Blenz Coffee is operated by the same franchisee for both brands. We are proud to see how far we have grown and accelerated Heal Wellness over the past 12 months. With locations open across 3 provinces we are excited as we open our 13th location. Currently we have 45 signed franchise agreements for Heal, as well as multiple units in construction so we look forward to opening more units before the year is over and many more in 2025. The growth of Heal in the past year has been significant. Our 2025 pipeline of new stores continues to build as franchise agreements are signed along with lease agreements across North America," said Sean Black, Chief Executive Officer of Happy Belly. HEAL Wellness 2 To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6625/231004_a1683a3a74a408e4_003full.jpg "North Town Center is known for its abundant and vibrant business community. It has a thriving retail environment and the presence of high-traffic areas such as outlet shopping centers and business districts provide ample opportunities for attracting a steady stream of customers. The combination of these factors makes North Town Center a promising market for Heal, catering to the demand for nutritious and convenient food options." "We currently have 421 contractually committed retail locations from area developers across all emerging brands in the Happy Belly Portfolio-whether in development, under construction, or already open. As we open new stores, the Happy Belly footprint continues to grow. Our team is committed to sourcing and evaluating real estate, reviewing franchisee applications, and collaborating closely with area developers to support our asset-light franchising model. By focusing on securing high-quality franchisees and prime real estate locations across Canada, we will further strengthen our expansion efforts." "The rapid expansion of the Heal Wellness brand serves as a testament to our ability to execute effectively and accelerate the growth of our asset light franchising model. As the brand's free cash flow grows, we anticipate accelerating our corporate store development timeline, supplemented by the growth of our franchise program." We are just getting started. About Heal Wellness Heal Wellness was founded with a passion and mission to provide quick, fresh wellness foods that support a busy and active lifestyle. We currently offer a diverse range of smoothie bowls and smoothies. We take pride in meticulously selecting every superfood ingredient on our menu to fuel the body, including acai smoothie bowls, smoothies, and super-seed grain bowls. Our smoothie bowls are crafted with real fruit and enriched with superfoods like acai, pitaya, goji berries, chia seeds, and more. About Happy Belly Food Group Happy Belly Food Group Inc. (CSE: HBFG) (OTCQB: HBFGF) ("Happy Belly" or the "Company") is a leading consolidator of emerging food brands. Happy Belly Food Group To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6625/231004_a1683a3a74a408e4_004full.jpg Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements All statements in this press release, other than statements of historical fact, are "forward-looking information" with respect to the Company within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-Looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur and include the future performance of Happy Belly and her subsidiaries. Forward-Looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements. There are uncertainties inherent in forward-looking information, including factors beyond the Company's control. There are no assurances that the business plans for Happy Belly described in this news release will come into effect on the terms or time frame described herein. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. For a description of the risks and uncertainties facing the Company and its business and affairs, readers should refer to the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis and other disclosure filings with Canadian securities regulators, which are posted on www.sedarplus.ca. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/231004 SOURCE: Happy Belly Food Group Inc. CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - The euro weakened against other major currencies in the European session on Friday.The euro fell to nearly a 10-year low of 0.9206 against the Swiss franc, a 2-year low of 1.0333 against the U.S. dollar and nearly a 2-month low of 159.91, from early highs of 0.9295, 1.0499 and 159.91, respectively.The euro slipped to nearly a 2-week low of 0.8268 against the pound, from an early 2-day high of 0.8347.Against Australia, the New Zealand and the Canadian dollars, the euro slid to nearly a 1-1/2-year low of 1.5968, nearly a 2-month low of 1.7746 and more than a 9-month low of 1.4489 from early highs of 1.6134, 1.7965 and 1.4657, respectively.If the euro extends its downtrend, it is likely to find support around 0.90 against the franc, 1.02 against the greenback, 158.00 against the yen, 0.81 against the pound, 1.58 against the aussie, 1.76 against the kiwi and 1.40 against the loonie.Copyright(c) 2024 RTTNews.com. All Rights ReservedCopyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. NEWARK, CA / ACCESSWIRE / November 22, 2024 / Protagonist Therapeutics, Inc. ("Protagonist" or the "Company") today announced that Dinesh V. Patel, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer, will participate in a fireside chat at the 7th Annual Evercore ISI HealthCONx Conference taking place December 3-5, 2024 in Coral Gables, Florida. The Company will also participate in one-on-one meetings. 7th Annual Evercore ISI HealthCONx Conference - December 3-5, 2024 Format: Fireside Chat Day/Time: Tuesday, December 3 at 8:45 A.M. ET Webcast: https://wsw.com/webcast/evercore44/ptgx/2402505 If you are interested in meeting with the Protagonist team during the conference, please reach out to your Evercore representative. A replay of the fireside will be available on the Company's Investor Relations Events and Presentations webpage for one year following the event. About Protagonist Protagonist Therapeutics is a late-stage development biopharmaceutical company. Two novel peptides derived from Protagonist's proprietary discovery platform are currently in advanced Phase 3 clinical development, with New Drug Application submissions to the FDA potentially in 2025. Icotrokinra (JNJ-2113, formerly PN-235), is the first targeted oral peptide designed to selectively block the IL-23 receptor,which underpins the inflammatory response in moderate-to-severe plaque PsO and other IL-23-mediated diseases. Icotrokinra binds to the IL-23 receptor with single-digit picomolar affinity and demonstrated potent, selective inhibition of IL-23 signaling in human T cells. Icotrokinra is licensed to Johnson & Johnson and is currently in Phase 3 development for psoriasis and is nearing completion of Phase 2b development for ulcerative colitis. Following icotrokinra's joint discovery by Protagonist and Johnson & Johnson scientists pursuant to the companies' IL-23R collaboration, Protagonist was primarily responsible for development of icotrokinra through Phase 1, with Johnson & Johnson assuming responsibility for development in Phase 2 and beyond. Rusfertide, a mimetic of the natural hormone hepcidin, is currently in Phase 3 development for the rare blood disorder polycythemia vera. Rusfertide is being co-developed and will be co-commercialized with Takeda Pharmaceuticals pursuant to a worldwide collaboration and license agreement entered into in 2024 under which the Company remains primarily responsible for development through NDA filing. The Company also has a number of pre-clinical stage oral drug discovery programs addressing clinically and commercially validated targets, including IL-17, hepcidin mimetic, and anti-obesity programs. More information on Protagonist, its pipeline drug candidates and clinical studies can be found on the Company's website at www.protagonist-inc.com. Contact Information Corey Davis Ph.D. Investor Relations Contact - LifeSci Advisors cdavis@lifesciadvisors.com +1 212 915 2577 Virginia Amann Media Relations Contact - ENTENTE Network of Companies virginiaamann@ententeinc.com +1 833 500 0061 ext 1 SOURCE: Protagonist Therapeutics View the original press release on accesswire.com American Battery Materials, Inc. (OTC PINK:BLTH) ("ABM" or the "Company"), a U.S. based renewable energy company focused on the extraction, refinement and distribution of technical minerals in an environmentally responsible manner, announced today that the Company has received necessary agency approvals to reenter the Peterson Fed 88-21P well bore in southeast Utah, pending the required financial guarantee. David Graber, CEO of American Battery Materials, stated, "We are excited to be resuming exploration activities in Utah, and we believe the project has great potential with the confirmation of deposits in the existing Peterson Fed 88-21P well bore. Lisbon Valley will be our immediate focus moving into 2025." These approvals come following detailed reviews by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Utah Department of Natural Resources Division of Oil, Gas, and Mining (DOGM). According to the BLM's decision, the Company's Notice was deemed complete and compliant with regulations, requiring a financial guarantee to ensure proper reclamation. Similarly, DOGM's tentative approval affirmed readiness for the project, contingent on final surety concurrence. This milestone underscores the Company's commitment to advancing its direct lithium extraction (DLE) capabilities in an environmentally responsible manner, supporting the growing demand for domestic critical minerals. About American Battery Materials American Battery Materials, Inc. is a U.S.-based environmentally responsible critical minerals exploration and development company focused on direct lithium extraction (DLE), as well as other minerals for refining, processing and distribution to support the country's urgent critical minerals need to bolster long-term energy transition and the electrification of the U.S. domestic and global economy. To receive American Battery Materials, Inc. company updates via email, visit the contact page of our website, www.americanbatterymaterials.com/contact. Forward-Looking Statements To the extent that statements contained in this press release are not descriptions of historical facts regarding the Company, they are forward-looking statements reflecting the current beliefs and expectations of management. Words such as "believe," "goal," "plan," "feel," "may," "will," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "target" and similar expressions (as well as other words or expressions referencing future events, conditions or circumstances) are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause our future results, performance or achievements to differ significantly from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. For a further description of the risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed in these forward-looking statements, as well as risks relating to the business of the Company, please see the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, including but not limited to the discussion under "Risk Factors" therein, which the Company has filed with the SEC and may be viewed at http://www.sec.gov. No Offer or Solicitation This press release shall neither constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which the offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. Investor Relations Contact Ira M. Gostin IR@AmericanBatteryMaterials.com 775-391-0213 SOURCE: American Battery Materials View the original press release on accesswire.com Toronto, Ontario and London, United Kingdom--(Newsfile Corp. - November 22, 2024) - Tenet Fintech Group Inc. (CSE: PKK) (OTCQB: PKKFF) ("Tenet" or the "Company"), an innovative analytics service provider, owner and operator of the Cubeler Business Hub, and Dext Software Ltd. ("Dext"), the global leader in bookkeeping automation software, are pleased to announce that they have entered into an agreement to bring Dext's software platform to members and bookkeeping partners of the Business Hub (https://www.cubeler.com/). Cubeler Business Hub members and partners can now leverage Dext's unified bookkeeping automation platform, and benefit from recent feature releases, such as Approvals, Supplier Statements and Mileage. Under the terms of the two-year partnership between Tenet and Dext (the "Partnership"), Dext will be included as part of the Cubeler Business Hub's platform offering to provide even more value to small and medium sized businesses. Tenet was also granted a seat on Dext's North American Partner Advisory Council, which helps shape the future of Dext's product offering. "The businesses that both Dext and Tenet serve are eager to leverage technology to drive innovation, efficiency, and growth. The availability of Dext's platform as part of Cubeler's Business Hub is a natural fit, enabling firms and businesses to gain real-time control over financial data and business insights," said Rachel Fisch, General Manager, North America, Dext. "We are excited to partner with Tenet to bring Dext's powerful automation tools to the Cubeler community." "The macroeconomic indicator indexes that we'll be commercializing through our Tenoris3 subsidiary are based on data from the Business Hub," commented Tenet Chief Operating Officer Mayco Quiroz. "Those indexes will be far more valuable if they can show how the economy is evolving daily instead of providing monthly data. So, having timely and accurate data from the SME members of our Business Hub is an essential aspect of our business model. That's why we looked long and hard for a potential automated bookkeeping software partner. After months of discussions and product demos with several possible suitors, it was abundantly clear that Dext's product offering, customer support, global reach and reputation were unmatched in the industry, which made the company the ideal partner for Tenet and the Cubeler Business Hub. With this partnership now in place, we can exploit our partnership with the Certified Professional Bookkeepers of Canada (https://cpbcan.ca/) with a compelling offering for their more than 2,200 bookkeeping members and their SME clients. By having SME data being updated in near real-time, this combination of Dext's product offering and the Cubeler Business Hub could soon make waiting until the end of the month to find out how the economy is performing a thing of the past!" About Dext: Dext is the leading provider of bookkeeping automation, empowering businesses, accountants, and bookkeepers to thrive through innovative technology that simplifies accounting processes and drives smarter, more timely financial decisions. With financial data extraction accuracy of 99.5%, Dext has been trained on over 1 billion receipts and invoices. Trusted by 12,000 accounting and bookkeeping firms and 700,000 businesses, Dext seamlessly integrates with most major accounting software and connects to over 11,500 banks, suppliers, and marketplaces worldwide. To date, we've saved bookkeepers more than 35 million hours of manual data entry. As the global leader in bookkeeping automation, we maximise efficiency and boost productivity, liberating our customers to focus on what truly matters to them. Please visit our website at https://www.dext.com. About Tenet Fintech Group Inc.: Tenet Fintech Group Inc. is the parent company of a group of innovative financial technology (Fintech) and artificial intelligence (AI) companies. All references to Tenet in this news release, unless explicitly specified, include Tenet and all its subsidiaries. Tenet's subsidiaries offer various analytics and AI-based products and services to businesses, capital markets professionals, government agencies and financial institutions either through or leveraging data gathered by the Cubeler Business Hub, a global ecosystem where analytics and AI are used to create opportunities and facilitate B2B transactions among its members. Please visit our website at: https://www.tenetfintech.com/. Follow Tenet Fintech Group Inc. on social media: X: @Tenet_Fintech Facebook: @Tenet LinkedIn: Tenet YouTube: Tenet Fintech Forward-looking information Certain statements in this press release constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "continue", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "potential", "proposed" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or achievements of Tenet to be materially different from the outlook or any future results, performance or achievements implied by such statements. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Important risk factors that could affect the forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, holding company with significant operations in China; general economic and business conditions, including factors impacting the Company's business in China such as pandemics and COVID-19; legislative and/or regulatory developments; Global Financial conditions, repatriation of profits or transfer of funds from China to Canada, operations in foreign jurisdictions and possible exposure to corruption, bribery or civil unrest; actions by regulators; uncertainties of investigations, proceedings or other types of claims and litigation; timing and completion of capital programs; liquidity and capital resources, negative operating cash flow and additional funding, dilution from further financing; financial performance and timing of capital; and other risks detailed from time to time in reports filed by Tenet with securities regulators in Canada. Reference should also be made to Management's Discussion and Analysis (MD&A) in Tenet's annual and interim reports, Annual Information Form, filed with Canadian securities regulators and available via the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR+) under Tenet's profile at www.sedarplus.ca, for a description of major risk factors relating to Tenet. Although Tenet has attempted to identify certain factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Forward-looking statements reflect information as of the date on which they are made. The Company assumes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect future events, changes in circumstances, or changes in beliefs, unless required by applicable securities laws. In the event the Company does update any forward-looking statement, no inference should be made that the Company will make additional updates with respect to that statement, related matters, or any other forward-looking statement. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/230997 SOURCE: Tenet Fintech Group Inc. MOSCOW (dpa-AFX) - The United States has imposed sanctions on 118 individuals and entities that operate in Russia's financial services sector and support the Kremlin's war against Ukraine.These targets include more than 50 Russian banks still maintaining ties to the international financial system, more than 40 Russian securities registrars, and 15 Russian banking officials.ThE latest round of U.S. punitive actions also target Gazprombank, which is Russia's largest remaining bank not previously blocked by the United States.The U.S. Department of the Treasury said its Office of Foreign Assets Control took another major step in implementing commitments made by G7 leaders to curtail Russia's use of the international financial system to further its war against Ukraine.OFAC is also issuing an alert describing the sanctions risk for foreign financial institutions that join Russia's System for Transfer of Financial Messages.'Today's sanctions targeting Russia's largest remaining non-designated bank, as well as dozens of other financial institutions and officials in Russia, will further diminish and degrade Russia's war machine. This sweeping action will make it harder for the Kremlin to evade U.S. sanctions and fund and equip its military,' said Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen. 'We will continue to take decisive steps against any financial channels Russia uses to support its illegal and unprovoked war in Ukraine.'OFAC is designating Gazprombank Joint Stock Company alongside its six foreign subsidiaries. Gazprombank is a conduit for Russia to purchase military materiel for its war effort. The Russian government also uses Gazprombank to pay its soldiers, including for combat bonuses, and to compensate the families of Russian soldiers killed in the war. Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom have previously sanctioned Gazprombank.Luxembourg-based bank GPB International SA, Hong Kong-based GPB Financial Services Hong Kong Limited, Cyprus-based GPB Financial Services Limited and GPB-DI Holdings Limited, Switzerland-based Gazprombank (Switzerland) Ltd, and South Africa-based GPB Africa and Middle East Pty Ltd are wholly owned subsidiaries of Gazprombank that were subjected to U.S. sanctions.Copyright(c) 2024 RTTNews.com. All Rights ReservedCopyright RTT News/dpa-AFX HONG KONG and SHANGHAI, Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd. (hereafter "Ping An", the "Company" or the "Group", HKEX: 2318 / 82318; SSE: 601318) co-hosted The Fintech Forum on "Fintech in the Digital Intelligence Era" at the 2024 World Internet Conference Wuzhen Summit held in Wuzhen, Zhejiang with Renmin University of China and Nankai University. Government officials, academics, business leaders, and researchers from around the world engaged in in-depth discussions and exchanges on topics such as building a new financial ecosystem, empowering high-quality development, promoting smart governance and inclusiveness, and shaping a better future with fintech. The forum aimed to build consensus and contribute insights to the high-quality development of fintech in the era of smart intelligence. In his opening remarks, Richard Sheng, Board Secretary and Brand Director of Ping An, stated that data has become a new factor of production, computing power a new productive force, and digitization the primary driver of progress across industries. He emphasized that full-scenario digitization has permeated all aspects of the financial industry, particularly reshaping credit, risk control, and customer experience. This transformation significantly expands the accessibility and coverage of financial services, enhances service efficiency, and empowers high-quality social development. Digitization enhances credit processes, making finance more efficient and convenient. Credit is the cornerstone of the financial industry. Digital technology directly links credit assessment with biometrics, improving convenience, efficiency, and the quality of credit information. For example, Ping An Puhui's micro-expression technology assists in credit evaluation, enabling credit decisions and loan disbursement within 30 minutes. This greatly enhances credit approval efficiency, making financial services more accessible to small and medium-sized enterprises. Digitization reshapes risk control, making finance more inclusive and accessible. Risk control is at the heart of the financial industry. By leveraging digital and blockchain technologies, companies can identify and assess risks more comprehensively, leading to precise pricing and end-to-end risk management. For example, Ping An P&C uses digital ear tags for yaks in Biru County, Naqu City, Tibet, to enhance risk control for yak breeding insurance, extending insurance protection to more remote herders. Digitization transforms customer experience, making services "worry-free, time-saving, and money-saving". There are professional and technical barriers to the financial industry. Comprehensive application of digital technology enables the industry to deliver a "worry-free, time-saving, and money-saving" customer experience. For example, Ping An Life's "1-1-1 Superfast Claim" service, powered by smart underwriting and smart claim settlement, achieves underwriting for 93% of life insurance policies within seconds and an average claim settlement time of 7.4 minutes, with the fastest claim paid in 10 seconds. This concept behind this technology is to maximize policyholder benefits and proactively seek reasons for claim approvals. The Ping An Auto Owner app uses AI for smart recommendations and customized services, shifting from a one-size-fits-all to a tailored approach. Designated driver services are dispatched in 5 seconds and arrive within 5 minutes, while roadside assistance arrives within 30 minutes, providing 24/7 support. Comprehensive digital application is driven by industry-leading, independently developed AI technology. Xiao Jing, Chief Scientist of Ping An, delivered a keynote speech titled "AI Empowers Digital and High-Quality Development of the Financial Industry" introducing Ping An's latest technological advancements and applications. He stated that comprehensive digitization is the key path to high-quality development of the financial industry, with AI serving as its foundation. Ping An continues to develop world-leading AI technology, achieving breakthroughs in fundamental digital capabilities such as "seeing, listening, speaking, and reading". In "seeing", Ping An's vehicle image analysis achieves over 95% accuracy in loss assessment triage and exterior parts inspection, while medical image analysis for multiple diseases exceeds 90% accuracy. In "listening", voiceprint recognition achieves over 99% accuracy in 1:1 scenario and over 90% accuracy in blacklists with tens of millions of entries. In "speaking and reading", Ping An's Natural Language Understanding (NLU) based speech robots have been ranked No. 1 globally four times, with over 90% accuracy in intent recognition. Ping An persists in technology R&D, leveraging the "Ping An Brain" intelligent engine to empower its "integrated finance + healthcare and senior care" business. In marketing, digital humans can adapt to various business scenarios by integrating with visual, auditory, and semantic modalities. In customer service, intelligent speech robots are widely used in complex financial scenarios to improve service efficiency. In operations, digital robot solutions powered by multimodal large models can enhance operational efficiency. In risk control, the Ping An Brain assists in multi-level financial risk management. In addition to the keynote speech of Ping An, the Fintech Forum also featured speeches by Lin Shangli, President of Renmin University of China; Chen Yulu, President of Nankai University; Wencai Zhang, Managing Director & Chief Administrative Officer of the World Bank; and Mansi Kalra, Managing Director of JBA Risk Management. Representatives from the Shenzhen Data Exchange, the Shanghai Data Exchange, and representatives from other domestic and international policy and academic institutions, and business organizations have also engaged in discussions on topics such as the current state of fintech, global fintech innovation, applications, and data transactions. Digitization is a powerful engine for building robust financial institutions. Ping An stated that it will continue to uphold its original aspiration to be people-centered, adhere to the technology-driven "integrated finance + health and senior care" strategy, and further advance comprehensive digital transformation. This will drive high-quality business development, improve the quality and efficiency of financial services, and actively promote product upgrades and technological innovation under the guidance of the "worry-free, time-saving, and money-saving" value proposition. Ping An will continue to develop fintech, green finance, inclusive finance, pension finance, and digital finance, working with all parties to embrace a better digital future and contribute to improving people's well-being and building a financial powerhouse. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2565425/Picture1.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/ping-an-co-hosts-fintech-forum-on-empowering-fintech-development-in-the-digital-intelligence-era-at-2024-world-internet-conference-wuzhen-summit-302314182.html DALLAS (dpa-AFX) - DIRECTV (DTV) said it has notified EchoStar of its election to terminate the Equity Purchase Agreement pursuant to which it had agreed to acquire EchoStar's video distribution business, DISH DBS. The termination follows DISH DBS noteholders' failure to agree to the proposed Exchange Debt Offer Terms issued by EchoStar, which was a condition of DIRECTV's obligations to acquire DISH.The company noted that the termination of the DISH acquisition does not affect TPG's acquisition of the remaining 70% stake in DIRECTV from AT&T, which is expected to close in the second half of 2025.Copyright(c) 2024 RTTNews.com. All Rights ReservedCopyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Proactive tax resolution strategies to help individuals and businesses navigate stricter enforcement measures for long-term financial security IRVINE, CA / ACCESSWIRE / November 22, 2024 / With significant changes to IRS collection practices set to take effect in 2025, Clear Start Tax is urging taxpayers with unresolved tax debts to act now. As the IRS modernizes its enforcement methods with advanced technology and automated systems, the risks of inaction are growing for individuals and businesses across the nation. What the 2025 IRS Collection Changes Mean for Taxpayers In 2025, the IRS plans to implement enhanced collection protocols designed to increase efficiency and target non-compliance more effectively. These updates are expected to reduce leniency and accelerate enforcement actions, leaving taxpayers with unresolved debts vulnerable to harsher penalties, garnishments, and liens. "We are entering a new era of IRS collections," said the Head of Client Solutions at Clear Start Tax. "Taxpayers need to be aware of these changes and take proactive steps to resolve their debts before enforcement becomes more aggressive and automated." Consequences of Ignoring Tax Debt Unresolved tax debt can have severe consequences, including wage garnishments, bank levies, and property liens. Once these actions begin, reversing them can be a lengthy and costly process. Additionally, penalties and interest will continue to accumulate, significantly increasing the amount owed. "The IRS is stepping up its efforts to collect unpaid taxes, and ignoring your debt is no longer an option," added the Head of Client Solutions at Clear Start Tax. "The financial and emotional toll of enforcement actions can be devastating, but there's still time to act." Clear Start Tax Offers Proactive Tax Relief Solutions Clear Start Tax specializes in helping taxpayers minimize their liabilities and avoid enforcement actions through a range of personalized tax relief solutions, including: Installment Agreements: Structured plans that allow taxpayers to pay off their debts in manageable increments. Offer in Compromise (OIC): Settlements that reduce tax debt based on the taxpayer's ability to pay. Penalty Abatement: Relief from penalties due to reasonable cause or financial hardship. Currently Not Collectible (CNC) Status: Protection from enforcement actions for taxpayers experiencing financial difficulties. "Our mission is to guide clients through the complexities of IRS policies and find tailored solutions that work for their unique circumstances," said the Head of Client Solutions. "Taking action now can prevent the far-reaching consequences of stricter IRS collection practices." Clear Start Tax: Your Trusted Partner in Tax Debt Relief Clear Start Tax is at the forefront of helping individuals and businesses resolve their tax debts, combining expert guidance with a client-centered approach. With a proven track record of achieving substantial debt reductions, the firm is uniquely positioned to assist taxpayers as they navigate upcoming IRS collection changes. About Clear Start Tax Clear Start Tax is a full-service tax liability resolution firm that serves taxpayers throughout the United States. The company specializes in assisting individuals and businesses with a wide range of IRS and state tax issues, including back taxes, wage garnishment relief, IRS appeals, and offers in compromise. Clear Start Tax helps taxpayers apply for the IRS Fresh Start program, providing expert guidance in tax resolution. Fully accredited and A+ rated by the Better Business Bureau, the firm's unique approach and commitment to long-term client success distinguish it as a leader in the tax resolution industry. Need Help With Back Taxes? Click the link below: https://clearstarttax.com/qualifytoday/ Contact Information Clear Start Tax Corporate Communications Department seo@clearstarttax.com 949-800-4044 SOURCE: Clear Start Tax View the original press release on accesswire.com First High-School Education Group Co., Ltd. ("First High-School Education Group" or the "Company") (OTCQB:FHSEY), an education service provider primarily focusing on high schools in Western China, today announced that it has entered into a definitive Agreement and Plan of Merger (the "Merger Agreement") with One Education Holding Limited, an exempted company incorporated with limited liability under the laws of the Cayman Islands ("Parent") and One Education Merger Limited, an exempted company incorporated with limited liability under the laws of the Cayman Islands and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent ("Merger Sub"), pursuant to which Merger Sub will be merged with and into the Company, with the Company continuing as the surviving company and becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent (the "Merger"), in a transaction implying an equity value of the Company of approximately US$4.27 million for all of the Company's outstanding ordinary shares (each, an "Ordinary Share"). Certain shareholders of the Company, including the entities ultimately controlled by Mr. Zhaowei Zhang, chairman of the board of directors (the "Board"), chief executive officer of the Company, Mr. Pengwei Luo, director of the Company, and Ms. Yu Wu, and Long-Spring Education Management Limited, Long-Spring Education International Limited, Long-Spring Education Technology Limited and Long-Spring Education Consulting Limited (collectively, the "Rollover Shareholders," and each, a "Rollover Shareholder") have entered into Rollover and Contribution Agreements, respectively, pursuant to which each Rollover Shareholder has irrevocably agreed to contribute the Ordinary Shares it holds or will hold to the Merger Sub prior to the effective time of the Merger (the "Effective Time") in exchange for newly issued ordinary shares of Parent, such that Merger Sub will hold approximately 95.25% of the voting power of the Ordinary Shares exercisable in a general meeting of the Company. At the Effective Time, unless otherwise agreed under the Merger Agreement, each Ordinary Share issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time will be cancelled and cease to exist in exchange for the right to receive US$0.05 in cash without interest (the "Per Share Merger Consideration"), and each outstanding American depositary share of the Company ("ADS," each representing three Class A ordinary shares of the Company), together with the Class A ordinary shares represented by such ADSs, will be cancelled and cease to exist in exchange for the right to receive US$0.15 in cash without interest (without considering the ADS cancellation fee of US$0.05 per ADS payable by the ADS holders) (together with the Per Share Merger Consideration, the "Merger Consideration"). The Merger Consideration represents (1) a premium of approximately 354.5% to the closing price of the ADS on August 1, 2024, the last trading day prior to the date of the Proposal, and (2) a premium of approximately 269.3% and 320.7% to the volume-weighted average price of the ADSs during the seven and 30 trading days prior to August 1, 2024, respectively. The Merger will be funded through a combination of (1) cash contributions from the Buyer Group (as defined below), and (2) available cash of the Company. The buyer group comprises Mr. Shaowei Zhang, Ms. Yu Wu, and Mr. Pengwei Luo (collectively, the "Buyer Group"). Each member of the Buyer Group has also executed and delivered to the Company a limited guarantee in favor of the Company pursuant to which the Buyer Group is guaranteeing certain payment obligations of Parent under the Merger Agreement. The Board, acting upon the unanimous recommendation of a committee of two independent and disinterested directors established by the Board (the "Special Committee"), approved the Merger Agreement and the Merger. The Special Committee negotiated the terms of the Merger Agreement with the assistance of its financial and legal advisors. Because the Merger is a "short-form" merger in accordance with section 233(7) of the Companies Act between a parent company and one of its subsidiary companies (as those terms are defined in the Companies Act), the Merger does not require a shareholder vote or approval by special resolution of the Company's shareholders if a copy of the Plan of Merger is provided to every registered shareholder of the Company. The Merger is currently expected to close in the first half of 2025 and is subject to customary closing conditions. If completed, the Merger will result in the Company becoming a privately held company, its ADSs will no longer be quoted on the OTC Market, and the Company's ADS program will be terminated. Zhongqin Asset Appraisal Co., Ltd. is serving as financial advisor to the Special Committee. Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Professional Corporation, is serving as U.S. legal counsel to the Special Committee. Loeb Smith is serving as Cayman Islands legal counsel to the Special Committee. CKM Legal is serving as U.S. legal counsel to the Buyer Group. Appleby is serving as Cayman Islands legal counsel to the Buyer Group. Additional Information about the Merger The Company will furnish to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") a current report on Form 6-K regarding the Merger, which will include as an exhibit thereto the Merger Agreement. All parties desiring details regarding the Merger are urged to review these documents, which will be available at the SEC's website (http://www.sec.gov). In connection with the Merger, the Company will prepare and mail a Schedule 13E-3 transaction statement to its shareholders. The documents will be filed with or furnished to the SEC. INVESTORS AND SHAREHOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY THESE MATERIALS AND OTHER MATERIALS FILED WITH OR FURNISHED TO THE SEC WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE, AS THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE COMPANY, THE MERGER AND RELATED MATTERS. In addition to receiving the Schedule 13E-3 transaction statement by mail, shareholders also will be able to obtain these documents, as well as other filings containing information about the Company, the Merger and related matters, without charge, from the SEC's website (http://www.sec.gov). Forward-Looking Statements Statements in this press release about future expectations, plans and prospects, as well as any other statements regarding matters that are not historical facts, may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to the expected trading commencement and closing dates. The words "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "should," "target," "will," "would" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including: the uncertainties related to market conditions and the completion of the public offering on the anticipated terms or at all, and other factors discussed in the "Risk Factors" section of the preliminary prospectus filed with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof, and the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. For investor and media inquiries, please contact: First High-School Education Group Tommy Zhou Chief Financial Officer E-mail: tommyzhou@dygz.com Customer Service E-mail: FHS_info@dygz.com Phone: 010-62555966 (9:30-12:00, 13:30-16:00 CST) SOURCE: First High-School Education Group Co., Ltd. View the original press release on accesswire.com In accordance with Listing Rule 3.13.2 and Section 251AA(2) of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), AXP Energy Limited advises the poll results of its 2024 Annual General Meeting held earlier today. Resolution 1 - Remuneration Report This non-binding resolution was carried on a poll with 97.98% votes being cast for the resolution. Resolution 2 - Election of Director - Robert Lees This resolution was carried on a poll with 99.19% votes being cast for the resolution. Resolution 3 - Re-election of Director - Stuart Middleton This resolution was carried on a poll with 99.14% votes being cast for the resolution. Resolution 4 - Approval of 7.1A Mandate This resolution was carried on a poll with 98.79% votes being cast for the resolution. Resolution 5 - Approval of Plan This resolution was carried on a poll with 99.64% votes being cast for the resolution. The final voting position is attached. This announcement has been authorised by the Board of AXP Energy Limited. END FURTHER INFORMATION Robert Lees, Company Secretary: 0411 494 406 ABOUT AXP ENERGY LIMITED AXP ENERGY Limited (ASX:AXP)(OTC PINK:AUNXF) is an oil & gas production and development company with core operations in Colorado. The Company's focus is on repurposing stranded gas at the 100%-owned Pathfinder Field into power generation and selling this power to end-users. AXP has a portfolio of 24 oil & gas wells held by production at Pathfinder. DISCLAIMER This announcement contains or may contain "forward looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of1933 and Section 21B of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, goals, assumptions or future events or performance are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward looking statements." Forward looking statements are based on expectations, estimates and projections at the time the statements are made that involve a number of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those presently anticipated. Forward looking statements in this action may be identified through the use of words such as "expects", "will," "anticipates," "estimates," "believes," or statements indicating certain actions "may," "could," or "might" occur. Hydrocarbon production rates fluctuate over time due to reservoir pressures, depletion, down time for maintenance and other factors. The Company does not represent that quoted hydrocarbon production rates will continue indefinitely. AXP Energy Limited | ABN 98 114 198 471 Australian Office: Level 4, 8 Spring Street, Sydney NSW 2000 | +61 2 9299 9580 www.axpenergy.com AXP Energy Limited Annual General Meeting Friday, 22 November 2024 Results of Meeting The following information is provided in accordance with section 251AA(2) of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) and ASX Listing Rule 3.13.2. Resolution details Instructions given to validly appointed proxies (as at proxy close) Number of votes cast on the poll (where applicable) Resolution Result If s250U applies Resolution Resolution Type For Against Proxy's Discretion Abstain For Against Abstain* Carried / Not Carried 1. Adoption of the Remuneration Report Ordinary 276,269,586 6,962,463 16,337,991 1,747,871 337,160,588 6,962,463 1,747,871 Carried No 92.22% 2.32% 5.45% 97.98% 2.02% 2. Election of Director - Robert Lees Ordinary 407,301,453 3,857,014 18,164,591 52,725 470,019,055 3,857,014 52,725 Carried NA 94.87% 0.90% 4.23% 99.19% 0.81% 3. Re-election of Director - Stuart Middleton Ordinary 409,021,235 4,057,681 16,164,591 132,276 469,738,837 4,057,681 132,276 Carried NA 95.29% 0.95% 3.77% 99.14% 0.86% 4. Approval of 7.1A Mandate Ordinary 406,969,229 5,718,570 16,172,264 515,720 467,694,504 5,718,570 515,720 Carried NA 94.90% 1.33% 3.77% 98.79% 1.21% 5. Approval of Plan Ordinary 410,691,175 1,717,000 15,816,161 1,151,447 471,060,347 1,717,000 1,151,447 Carried NA 95.91% 0.40% 3.69% 99.64% 0.36% * Votes cast by a person who abstains on an item are not counted in calculating the required majority on a poll. SOURCE: AXP Energy Limited View the original press release on accesswire.com BRUSSELS (dpa-AFX) - The major European markets are turning in a mixed performance on Friday with investors reacting to regional economic data and corporate news, in addition to following developments on the geopolitical front.Bank stocks are mostly down with notable losses, while real estate and retail stocks are finding support.Data showing an increase in consumer confidence is aiding sentiment in the UK market, where the benchmark FTSE 100 is gaining nearly 0.8%. The GfK Consumer Confidence Index in the United Kingdom increased by 3 points to -18 in November 2024, marking its first improvement in three months.Germany's DAX is down marginally, while France's CAC 40 is down 0.16%. Switzerland's SMI is rising 0.71%, and the pan European Stoxx 600 is up 0.5%.In the UK market, B&M European Value Retail is rising more than 4.5%. Diploma, Barratt Redrow, Vistry Group, J Sainsbury, National Grid, Endeavour Mining and Spirax-Sarco Engineering are up 3 to 4%.Persimmon, United Utilities, Land Securities, British Land Company, BT, Croda International, Berkeley Group Holdings, Hikma, AstraZeneca, Marks & Spencer, Taylor Wimpey, Hiscox, Severn Trent, Mondi, Sage Group, Experian and Reckitt Benckiser are gaining 2 to 3%.Games Workshop Group Plc shares are zooming nearly 17% on hopes the company's strong results will help get the stock into the FTSE 100 index.Barclays, Standard Chartered, Natwest Group and Lloyds Banking Group are down 2 to 3.5%. HSBC Holdings is down nearly 1%.In the German market, Brenntag, Sartorius and Vonovia are up 5%, 4.1% and 3.7%, respectively. Zalando, E.ON, Rheinmetall, Symrise, Qiagen and Fresenius Medical Care are gaining 1.5 to 3.2%.Deutsche Bank and Commerzbank are declining 3.7% and 2.8%, respectively. Puma is down 3.3% and Daimler Truck Holding is lower by about 1.1%.In the French market, Eurofins Scientific, Unibail Rodamco, Publicis Groupe, Teleperformance, Sanofi and Orange are up 1 to 2%.STMicroElectronics is notably higher after the company announced a partnership with Chinese chipmaker Hua Hong.Thales is down more than 6.5%, weighed down by reports that the UK's Serious Fraud Office has opened an investigation into the company over alleged bribery and corruptionEdenred, AXA and Airbus are lower by 1 to 1.6%.BNP Paribas, Credit Agricole and Societe Generale are down 2.5 to 3%.In economic news, the UK private sector activity deteriorated for the first time in just over a year in November as growth in new business eased amid weak business confidence, flash survey results published by S&P Global revealed. The flash composite output index dropped to 49.9 in November from 51.8 in October.UK retail sales dropped 0.7% on a monthly basis in October, in contrast to the revised 0.1% rise in September, data from the Office for National Statistics showed. Sales were expected to fall 0.3%.The German economy grew marginally in the third quarter after a contraction, with the GDP recording a sequential growth of 0.1%, revised data from Destatis showed. The rate was downgraded from 0.2% estimated on October 30.Germany's private sector continued to contract in November as sustained weakness in manufacturing output was compounded by the first fall in services activity for nine months, flash Purchasing Managers' survey compiled by S&P Global showed.The HCOB composite output index dropped to 47.3 in November from 48.6 in the previous month. The score signaled acceleration in the rate of decline in activity to the quickest since February.Services business activity fell into contraction for the first time in nine months in November. The services PMI registered 49.4, down from 51.6 in the previous month. The expected score was 51.8. Meanwhile, the manufacturing PMI advanced to a four-month high of 43.2 from 43.0 in the previous month. The reading was slightly above forecast of 43.1.France's private sector contracted the most since January as prolonged weakness in demand damped expectations, flash survey results from S&P Global showed. The flash HCOB composite output index fell markedly to 44.8 in November from 48.1 in October.The services Purchasing Managers' Index dropped more-than-expected to 45.7 from 49.2 in the previous month. The score was seen at 49.0. The factory PMI posted 43.2, which was down from 44.5 in October. The indicator was expected to edge up to 44.6.Copyright(c) 2024 RTTNews.com. All Rights ReservedCopyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Attributes 352% Revenue Growth to expanded product offerings, successful strategic partnerships, and increased demand for grid flexibility solutions in international markets VANCOUVER, BC, Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Corinex today announced it ranked 331st on the Deloitte Technology Fast 500, a ranking of the 500 fastest-growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences, fintech, and energy tech companies in North America, now in its 30th year. Corinex grew 352% during this period. Corinex's chief executive officer, Peter Sobotka, credits the innovative collaboration with E.ON UK, E.ON Group Innovations, and Corinex on the launch of Corinex's new product portfolio of grid flexibility solutions, and the expansion of its grid visibility solutions across Germany, with driving the company's impressive revenue growth. This expansion includes partnerships with major Stadtwerke, such as Stromnetz Hamburg and Regensburg Netze, along with recent sales and deployments in the German market. Sobotka remarked, "Corinex presents a significant value proposition by resolving global grid constraints and providing the flexibility needed to scale low-carbon technologies (LCTs). Addressing this issue is essential for utilities, consumers, and providers of low-carbon technologies. It enables the protection of the grid, unlocks rapid revenue and profit growth through accelerated connections of LCTs, and facilitates mass consumer participation, which is critical for advancing worldwide government efforts toward decarbonization. Our solution can be implemented in any regulatory environment and energy market design, and it can be provided as a new system or by retrofitting the existing low-voltage infrastructure. We work directly with our customers and strategically with technology partners, including Accenture and E.ON, to scale our solutions globally and meet the demands of an evolving energy landscape." "For 30 years we've been celebrating companies that are actively driving innovation. The software industry continues to be a beacon of growth, and the fintech industry made a strong showing on this year's list, surpassing life sciences for the first time," said Steve Fineberg, vice chair, U.S. technology sector leader, Deloitte. "Significantly, we also saw a breakthrough in performance of private companies, with the highest number of private companies named to the list in our program's history. This year's winners have shown they have the vision and expertise to continue to perform at a high level, and that deserves to be celebrated." "Innovation, transformation and disruption of the status quo are at the forefront for this year's Technology Fast 500 list, and there's no better way to celebrate 30 years of program history," said Christie Simons, partner, Deloitte & Touche LLP and industry leader for technology, media and telecommunications within Deloitte's Audit & Assurance practice. "This year's winning companies have demonstrated a continuous commitment to growth and remarkable consistency in driving forward progress. We extend our congratulations to all of this year's winners - it's an incredible time for innovation." About the 2024 Deloitte Technology Fast 500 Now in its 30th year, the Deloitte Technology Fast 500 provides a ranking of the fastest-growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences, fintech, and energy tech companies - both public and private - in North America. Technology Fast 500 award winners are selected based on percentage fiscal year revenue growth from 2020 to 2023. In order to be eligible for Technology Fast 500 recognition, companies must own proprietary intellectual property or technology that is sold to customers in products that contribute to a majority of the company's operating revenues. Companies must have base-year operating revenues of at least US$50,000, and current-year operating revenues of at least US$5 million. Additionally, companies must be in business for a minimum of four years and be headquartered within North America. About Corinex Corinex is a pioneering provider of broadband over power lines (BPL)-based grid visibility and flexibility solutions, enabling the digital transformation of energy distribution systems worldwide. The company's products accelerate the mass integration of low-carbon technologies (LCTs), automate electricity infrastructure, and transform the grid into a dynamic and intelligent energy system. About Deloitte Deloitte provides industry-leading audit, consulting, tax and advisory services to many of the world's most admired brands, including nearly 90% of the Fortune 500 and more than 8,500 U.S.-based private companies. At Deloitte, we strive to live our purpose of making an impact that matters by creating trust and confidence in a more equitable society. We leverage our unique blend of business acumen, command of technology, and strategic technology alliances to advise our clients across industries as they build their future. Deloitte is proud to be part of the largest global professional services network serving our clients in the markets that are most important to them. Bringing more than 175 years of service, our network of member firms spans more than 150 countries and territories. Learn how Deloitte's approximately 460,000 people worldwide connect for impact at www.deloitte.com. Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee ("DTTL"), its network of member firms, and their related entities. DTTL and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities. DTTL (also referred to as "Deloitte Global") does not provide services to clients. In the United States, Deloitte refers to one or more of the US member firms of DTTL, their related entities that operate using the "Deloitte" name in the United States and their respective affiliates. Certain services may not be available to attest clients under the rules and regulations of public accounting. Please see www.deloitte.com/about to learn more about our global network of member firms. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2565168/Corinex_Communications_Corinex_Ranked_Number_331_Fastest_Growing.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2565167/Corinex_Communications_Corinex_Ranked_Number_331_Fastest_Growing.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/corinex-ranked-number-331-fastest-growing-company-in-north-america-on-the-2024-deloitte-technology-fast-500-302314143.html MORRISTOWN (dpa-AFX) - Honeywell International Inc. (HON) announced on Friday that it has agreed to sell its Personal Protective Equipment or PPE business to Protective Industrial Products, Inc., a portfolio company of Odyssey Investment Partners, for $1.325 billion in cash.The transaction is expected to be completed in the first half of 2025.Vimal Kapur, CEO of Honeywell, said: 'The combination of today's announcement, with the strategic acquisitions we have made over the past year, positions us to continue to drive profitable growth.'Honeywell's PPE business is a part of the Industrial Automation or IA business portfolio.Honeywell will retain its gas detection portfolio within the IA segment.The PPE business has around 5,000 staff with 20 manufacturing sites, and 17 distribution sites across the U.S., Mexico, Europe, North Africa, Asia Pacific, and China.Copyright(c) 2024 RTTNews.com. All Rights ReservedCopyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Up to 103 million ($107. 2 million), from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and Raiffeisen Bank International, will support the development of a fully-merchant, 237. 6 MW solar project in southeastern Bulgaria. A 237. 6 MW solar plant to be built in southeastern Bulgaria has secured a 103 million ($107. 2 million) finance packaging The funding consists of 50 million from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and a parallel financing facility of 53 million from Austria's Raiffeisen Bank International. The investment has gone to Tenevo Solar Technologies ... Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Cummins Engaging 18 premier B-schools, the competition explores how digital innovation can advance sustainability to reshape traditional business models Aims to equip students with skills in strategic thinking, sustainability, and practical implementation of technological solutions in business context PUNE, INDIA / ACCESSWIRE / November 22, 2024 / Cummins India Limited ("Cummins India"), one of the leading power solutions technology providers, has launched 'REDEFINE 2024', its annual business school (B-school) case study competition. This competition challenges aspiring business leaders to use their strategic, innovative, and analytical skills to address real-world business challenges. Themed "How Digital Solutions Enable Sustainability in Traditional Businesses?", this year's competition encourages participants to leverage digitalization to advance sustainability within traditional sectors. It focuses on how digital solutions can strengthen Environmental Social and Governance (ESG) reporting, identify opportunities for the reduction of Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions, and improve operational efficiency. Sharing her views on the competition's commencement, Anupama Kaul, Human Resources Leader, Cummins India, said, "At Cummins India, we are committed to inspiring and nurturing future leaders to navigate and shape the evolving business landscape. Since its inception, our case study competition has been integral to this goal. As the growing adoption of sustainability and technology reshape our world, it is crucial to harness technology to create a more sustainable environment. REDEFINE 2024 offers an exceptional platform for students to demonstrate how digitalization can drive meaningful change." Subramanian Chidambaran, Director - Corporate Strategy, Cummins India, added, "Through REDEFINE, we aim to empower students to think beyond conventional approaches, encouraging them to explore how technology can transform traditional industries and create a more sustainable future. Innovation thrives on diverse perspectives and collaborative effort. By engaging with tomorrow's leaders, we aim to gain fresh insights and drive innovative solutions, reflecting Cummins India's' commitment to progress and excellence in our industry." The competition is open to first and second-year students enrolled in two-year flagship PGP/PGDM/PGDBM/MBA programs from 18 partner B-schools in India. It will culminate in a two-day grand finale at the Cummins India Office Campus in Pune, Maharashtra, on November 14-15, 2024. The winning team will receive a cash prize and an exclusive invitation to join Cummins India's mentorship program, designed to nurture the next generation of business leaders. In addition to the case study, participants will also engage with Cummins India leadership through multiple interactive sessions. Last year, REDEFINE attracted a staggering 3,752 students across 938 teams representing 18 of the country's premier B-schools. Participating partner B-schools for REDEFINE 2024 are: Indian Institute of Management, Indore Indian Institute of Management, Kozhikode Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow Indian Institute of Management, Mumbai Indian Institute of Management, Ranchi Indian Institute of Management, Shillong Indian Institute of Management, Tiruchirappalli Indian Institute of Management, Udaipur Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi Indian School of Business, Hyderabad KJ Somaiya Institute of Management, Mumbai Management Development Institute, Gurgaon Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies, Mumbai SP Jain Institute of Management and Research, Mumbai Symbiosis Centre for Management and Human Resource Development, Pune Symbiosis Institute of Business Management, Pune Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneshwar Xavier School of Management (XLRI), Jamshedpur Follow Cummins India on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube for latest updates and insights. About Cummins India Limited Established in 1962 and headquartered in Pune, Cummins India Limited (NSE:CUMMINSIND)(BSE:500480) is one of the leading power solutions providers in the country. As the oldest and the largest entity for Cummins in India, the company is involved in the power generation, aftermarket, and export businesses. The company has a strong manufacturing backbone and boasts six state-of-the-art manufacturing plants, assembly, and distribution facilities. With over 480 customer touchpoints, the company is committed to powering the success of its customers and ensuring that its services and solutions are readily accessible. The company has over 3,000 employees who contribute their expertise and commitment to ensuring Cummins India delivers on its mission of "making people's lives better by powering a more prosperous world". View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Cummins Inc. on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Cummins Inc. Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/cummins-inc Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Cummins Inc. View the original press release on accesswire.com TORONTO, Nov. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NEO Battery Materials Ltd. ("NEO" or the "Company") (TSXV: NBM) (OTC: NBMFF), a low-cost silicon anode materials developer that enables longer-running, rapid-charging lithium-ion batteries, is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Seok Hyung Lee as a new independent director of the Company and the South Korean subsidiary, NBM Korea Co., Ltd. ("NBM Korea"), effective November 22, 2024. Mr. Seok Hyung Lee is a distinguished South Korean attorney with an illustrious legal and public service career of over 50 years. Serving in a multitude of highly acclaimed legal positions, Mr. Lee was the Lead Attorney-at-Law for the Former South Korean President and the Presiding Judge of the Seoul High Court. As part of public service, he served in federal Ministerial-level roles, including Chairperson of the Press Arbitration Commission (Committee of the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism) and Audit Commissioner of the Board of Audit and Inspection (Direct Agency of the President of South Korea). Beyond the scope of legal roles, Mr. Lee has been an Independent Director of HD Hyundai Electric (South Korea's largest power generation and transmission company and affiliate of global conglomerate HD Hyundai) and an Independent Director of KB Capital and KB Asset Management (Subsidiary of South Korea's largest financial institution, KB Financial Group). He is currently the managing partner of Sangyung Law Firm and has earned his LL.B. from Seoul National University College of Law. As NEO's independent director, Mr. Lee will oversee overall corporate governance and strategy and help the Company and NBM Korea navigate through South Korea's legal and business environments. With an extensive network in politics, finance, and commerce, he will enable NEO to establish invaluable connections and to gain further opportunities to build the Company's battery business. Mr. Spencer Huh, Director, President and CEO of NEO, commented, "We extend our warmest welcome to Mr. Seok Hyung Lee, and we look forward to his valuable insights and leadership. Mr. Lee's appointment aligns with the Company's commitment to securing highly qualified personnel to aid in the commercializing of NEO's silicon battery technology. We are confident that Mr. Lee's expertise and contributions will guide the Company through its next growth phase in the Asia-Pacific region." Battery Board Transition Initiative NEO Battery Materials is undertaking the initiative to transition the existing board of directors into a new set of board members who are strategically aligned with the Company's battery business ("Battery Board"). The Battery Board aims to consist of industry, finance, and governmental professionals who will deliver high impact to advance NEO's silicon anode commercialization. The transition process is expected to be completed in the next six months. As a part of the transition process, Christopher Chung has resigned as a director of the Company. NEO would like to thank him for his contributions to date. About NEO Battery Materials Ltd. NEO Battery Materials is a Canadian battery materials technology company focused on developing silicon anode materials for lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles, electronics, and energy storage systems. With a patent-protected, low-cost manufacturing process, NEO Battery enables longer-running and ultra-fast charging batteries compared to existing state-of-the-art technologies. The Company aims to be a globally-leading producer of silicon anode materials for the electric vehicle and energy storage industries. For more information, please visit the Company's website at: https://www.neobatterymaterials.com/. On Behalf of the Board of Directors Spencer Huh Director, President, and CEO Tel: +1-437-451-7678 For Investor Relations, PR & More Information: info@neobatterymaterials.com This news release includes certain forward-looking statements as well as management's objectives, strategies, beliefs and intentions. All information contained herein that is not clearly historical in nature may constitute forward-looking information. Generally, such forward-looking information can be identified notably, but not limited to, by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects," or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur", "be achieved", and similar words referring to future events and results. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to: (i) volatile stock prices; (ii) the general global markets and economic conditions; (iii) the possibility of write-downs and impairments; (iv) the risk associated with the research and development of advanced technologies; (v) the risk associated with the effectiveness and feasibility of technologies that have not yet been tested or proven on commercial scale; (vi) the risks associated with entering into joint ventures, collaboration agreements, joint development agreements, and similar commercial agreements; (vii) fluctuations in input precursor prices; (viii) the risks associated with uninsurable risks arising during the course of research, development and production; (ix) competition faced by the resulting issuer in securing experienced personnel and financing; (x) access to adequate infrastructure to support battery materials research and development activities; (xi) the risks associated with changes in the technology regulatory regime governing the Company; (xii) the risks associated with the various environmental regulations the Company is subject to; (xiii) risks related to regulatory and permitting delays; (xiv) the reliance on key personnel; (xv) liquidity risks; (xvi) the risk of litigation; and (xvii) risk management, as described in more detail in our recent securities filings available at?www.sedarplus.com. Forward-looking information is based on assumptions management believes to be reasonable at the time such statements are made, including but not limited to, continued research and development activities, no material adverse change in precursor prices and development plans to proceed in accordance with plans and such plans to achieve their stated expected outcomes, receipt of required regulatory approvals, and such other assumptions and factors as set out herein. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the 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 forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. Such forward-looking information has been provided for the purpose of assisting investors in understanding the Company's business, operations, research and development, and commercialization plans and may not be appropriate for other purposes. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. We assume no obligation to revise or update these forward-looking statements except as required by applicable law. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. AMSTERDAM (dpa-AFX) - LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (LYB), a chemical company, said on Friday that it has appointed Agustin Izquierdo as its new Chief Financial Officer to succeed Michael McMurray, who will retire with effect from March 1, 2025.Izquierdo, currently the company's Senior Vice President, Olefins & Polyolefins Americas & Refining, will continue in his present role until he assumes the role of CFO.Prior to joining LyondellBasell in November 2022 as Vice President, Strategy & Finance, Intermediates & Derivatives, Izquierdo had served in roles with increasing responsibility at BASF from 2009 to 2022.Copyright(c) 2024 RTTNews.com. All Rights ReservedCopyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. ATLANTA, GA / ACCESSWIRE / November 22, 2024 / Katalon , a leading provider of software test automation solutions, is thrilled to announce it ranked 111 on the Deloitte Technology Fast 500, a ranking of the 500 fastest-growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences, fintech, and energy tech companies in North America. Katalon grew 1,073% over the past three years, solidifying its position as a driving force in the evolution of software testing. Katalon's growth has been fueled by its commitment to addressing the evolving demands of modern quality assurance practices. Factors such as the rapid adoption of AI-augmented testing tools, the rise of generative AI in test automation, and a relentless focus on customer-centric innovation have propelled the company's success. "Innovation, transformation and disruption of the status quo are at the forefront for this year's Technology Fast 500 list, and there's no better way to celebrate 30 years of program history," said Christie Simons , partner, Deloitte & Touche LLP and industry leader for technology, media and telecommunications within Deloitte's Audit & Assurance practice. "Katalon's mission has always been about enabling enterprises to accelerate software delivery without compromising on quality," said Vu Lam, CEO of Katalon. "This recognition from Deloitte reflects not just our remarkable growth, but the trust and adoption we've earned from customers worldwide. By continuously investing in AI-powered solutions, we've redefined how software teams build, test, and launch with confidence." About Katalon Katalon is a comprehensive, AI-augmented software quality management platform that enables quality assurance, developer, DevOps and software teams of any size to deliver world-class customer experiences faster, easier, and more efficiently. The platform accelerates end-to-end software development by powering the authoring, execution, and insights of test automation across any app or environment, and flexibly integrates across a team's architecture and processes. Founded in 2016 and servicing customers in over 80 countries, Katalon is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. For more info about Katalon, please visit katalon.com . About the 2024 Deloitte Technology Fast 500 Now in its 30th year, the Deloitte Technology Fast 500 provides a ranking of the fastest-growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences, fintech, and energy tech companies - both public and private - in North America. Technology Fast 500 award winners are selected based on percentage fiscal year revenue growth from 2020 to 2023. In order to be eligible for Technology Fast 500 recognition, companies must own proprietary intellectual property or technology that is sold to customers in products that contribute to a majority of the company's operating revenues. Companies must have base-year operating revenues of at least US$50,000, and current-year operating revenues of at least US$5 million. Additionally, companies must be in business for a minimum of four years and be headquartered within North America. About Deloitte Deloitte provides industry-leading audit, consulting, tax and advisory services to many of the world's most admired brands, including nearly 90% of the Fortune 500 and more than 8,500 U.S.-based private companies. At Deloitte, we strive to live our purpose of making an impact that matters by creating trust and confidence in a more equitable society. We leverage our unique blend of business acumen, command of technology, and strategic technology alliances to advise our clients across industries as they build their future. Deloitte is proud to be part of the largest global professional services network serving our clients in the markets that are most important to them. Bringing more than 175 years of service, our network of member firms spans more than 150 countries and territories. Learn how Deloitte's approximately 460,000 people worldwide connect for impact at www.deloitte.com. View the original press release on newswire.com. Company co-founder Peter Carlsson steps down from CEO position at Northvolt in the wake of Chapter 11 announcement in the United States. The Swedish battery maker has embarked on a debt restructuring process and is seeking new sources of funding. From ESS News Peter Carlsson has resigned as CEO of Swedish battery maker Northvolt, one day after the business filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the United States. Carlsson has led the company since he co-founded it in 2016. Northvolt announced it had voluntarily filed for Chapter 11 reorganization in the United States on Nov. 21, 2024. A ... Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. LONDON, Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Libraro, the community-driven platform dedicated to democratising access in publishing, has launched its Crowdcube campaign (Register now).This initiative invites readers, writers, and book lovers to join its mission of creating a more inclusive literary ecosystem. With 2.5 million already raised, the campaign aims to secure the final funds needed for its January 2025 launch, empowering the next generation of literary talent. "Every great story deserves a chance to be told," says Arsim Shillova, Co-Founder and CEO, Libraro. "Libraro brings together writers, readers, and publishers in a way that opens doors for emerging voices while strengthening the literary community. This crowdfund is about more than raising funds-it's about creating a shared future where stories can thrive." Libraro has already gained the backing of industry leaders. David Roche, Chair of the London Book Fair and former CEO of Borders, has joined as Chairman, lending his three decades of publishing expertise. "I've seen countless platforms attempt to solve the manuscript discovery challenge, but Libraro's collaborative approach is truly unique," says Roche. "It offers tools that benefit writers, readers, and publishers alike, enhancing the ecosystem without replacing its foundations." Libraro empowers writers to build audiences while keeping full ownership of their work. Readers can discover fresh voices and actively support the stories they love. Publishers and literary agents gain unique insights into reader engagement, helping them identify the next generation of literary stars. By bridging talent and opportunity, Libraro creates a literary community where everyone wins. "I've spent my career helping brands and innovators make their impact," says Paul Manning, Libraro's Chief Marketing Officer. "Libraro isn't just a platform; it's a movement to give talented writers the visibility they deserve while providing readers and publishers with tools that truly make a difference. I'm proud to be part of something that's leveling the playing field for storytelling." Joining them is CFO Sead Haxhijaha, whose financial leadership ensures Libraro's growth while staying true to its community-driven mission. "This crowdfund is about more than investment-it's about empowering a literary community," adds Shillova. "Help us create opportunities for every voice, every reader, and every story. Together, we can make it happen." Libraro's Crowdcube campaign offers the chance to back the platform that's transforming access to publishing. Join the movement and help shape the future of storytelling. Register now for exclusive early access: https://www.crowdcube.com/early-access/libraro About Libraro Founded in 2023, Libraro connects readers, writers, and publishers in a vibrant literary community. By combining audience engagement with actionable insights, it helps writers grow, readers discover fresh voices, and publishers identify the next bestsellers. With a mission to democratise access to the publishing industry, Libraro is building a collaborative ecosystem where every voice can be heard. Learn more at www.libraro.io. Crowdcube Risk Warning: Don't invest unless you're prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high-risk investment and you are unlikely to be protected if something goes wrong. Take 2 mins to learn more. Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2560725/Libraro_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/libraros-crowdcube-campaign-opens-doors-in-publishing-302314247.html SHENZHEN, China, Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The 19th Annual Meeting of the International Conference on Genomics (ICG-19) officially opened at BGI Group's Global Headquarters in Shenzhen. This annual event brings together over 100 leaders in the field of genomics from the U.S., UK, Denmark, Australia, Singapore, and China amongst others to discuss the latest advancements in global life sciences. This year's conference builds on a strong legacy of fostering collaboration and innovation in the life sciences. Over the past 18 years, the conference has brought together more than 1,500 scientists, including Nobel Laureates, and has reached a global audience of over 15 million. The opening day emphasized the critical importance of harnessing genomics to address some of humanity's most urgent issues. Several speakers shared their insights on the transformative role of genomics in tackling global challenges such as aging, public health, and biodiversity conservation. In the opening speech, Dr. Siqi Liu, Chair of the ICG-19 Academic Committee, Co-founder and Member of the Board of Directors of BGI Group, and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of BGI Group, reflected on the history of the ICG. He underscored BGI's mission to go beyond research by focusing on advancing the application of genomics in industrial and medical fields. Professor Huanming Yang, Chair of the ICG-19 Organizing Committee, Co-founder and Member of the Board of Directors of BGI Group, and Director-General of BGI, reflected on key milestones in genomics, emphasizing ethical considerations, open data access, and global collaboration. His speech explored transformative technologies such as single-cell transcriptomics and AI-driven sequencing, highlighting their applications in life sciences. The four-day conference features a comprehensive program of talks on topics such as biodiversity, metagenomics and chronic diseases, frontiers in life sciences and bioinformatics, public health, population genetics and precision medicine, gene editing and biomanufacturing, and science for youth. During the conference, the global data analytics company Clarivate honored several distinguished individuals named in the 2024 "Highly Cited Researchers" list. The honorees included Professor Huanming Yang, Co-founder and Member of the Board of Directors of BGI Group; Dr. Xun Xu, Executive Director of BGI Group and Director of BGI-Research; Professor Karsten Kristiansen, Member of the Danish Academy of Natural Sciences and Professor at the University of Copenhagen; and Jinmiao Chen, Associate Professor at Duke-NUS Medical School. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2565475/Professor_Huanming_Yang.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/international-genomics-conference-icg-19-opens-at-bgi-group-hq-in-shenzhen-302314248.html St. Lewis, Newfoundland and Labrador--(Newsfile Corp. - November 22, 2024) - Search Minerals Inc. (TSXV: SMY) ("Search Minerals" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the Company has filed its audited Financial Statements and Management's Discussion and Analysis ("MD&A") for the year ended November 30, 2023 on SEDAR+. Both documents are also available on the Company's website. The Company also announces that Mr. Greg Andrews has resigned as Interim Chief Financial Officer ("CFO") and Corporate Secretary effective immediately. Mr. Joseph Lanzon, Interim Chief Executive Officer ("CEO") and Director will serve as Interim CFO until a replacement is appointed. Ms. Diane Poole, Director, has agreed to serve as the Company's Corporate Secretary. The Board of Directors of the Company wishes to thank Mr. Andrews for his commitment and dedication to Search Minerals over the past 14 years and the advice he has provided to the current management team during this transition year for the Company. Mr. Lanzon, commented, " It has been a pleasure working with Greg during this period of significant transition for Search Minerals, and on behalf of the Board I wish Greg all the best in his future endeavours. Looking ahead, the Company is excited to resume its exploration program in St. Lewis. Additionally, we are diligently working to complete all remaining compliance requirements to ensure the Company's successful return to the public trading of its shares early in Q1 of 2025." Since the annual general meeting of shareholders held on June 21, 2024, the Company has been working closely with its legal advisers and auditors in order to meet all regulatory requirements necessary to result in the lifting of the cease trade order that is currently in effect on the Company's shares. The Company is required to file its interim financial statements and MD&A's for the first three quarters of fiscal 2024. The Company anticipates that these quarterly filings will be completed in December. Additionally, the Company is pleased to announce that Dr. Randy Miller has opened the Company 's new field office in St. Lewis, Labrador. The Company also rehired former seasonal workers for the field exploration season that is nearly complete. About Search Minerals Search Minerals is focused on exploring for and developing Critical Rare Earths Elements (CREE) as well as transition metals Zirconium (Zr) and Hafnium (Hf) within the emerging Port Hope Simpson - St. Lewis CREE District of South East Labrador. The Company controls two deposits (Foxtrot and Deep Fox), two drill ready prospects (Fox Meadow and Silver Fox) and numerous other CREE prospects, including Fox Valley, Foxy Lady and Awesome Fox, along a 64 kilometre long belt forming a CREE District in Labrador. Search Minerals also controls additional CREE assets in the Red Wine CREE District of central Labrador. These include: the drill ready Two Tom Lake CREE-Be-Nb deposit, the Mann #1 CREE-Nb-Be prospect and Merlot CREE Prospect. Forward-Looking Information Statements contained in this news release that are not historical facts are "forward-looking information" or "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "Forward-Looking Information") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-Looking Information includes, but is not limited to, disclosure regarding possible events, if and when the CTO will be revoked, next steps and courses of action. In certain cases, Forward-Looking Information can be identified by the use of words and phrases or variations of such words and phrases or statements such as "anticipate", "expect" "plan", "likely", "believe", "intend", "forecast", "project", "estimate", "potential", "could", "may", "will", "would" or "should". Forward-Looking Information in this news release are based on certain material assumptions and involve, known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Search Minerals to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the Forward-Looking Information. Such risks and other factors include, those factors discussed in Search Minerals' public filings and its Canadian disclosure record. Although Search Minerals has attempted to identify important factors that could affect Search Minerals and may cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in Forward-Looking Information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that Forward-Looking Information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on Forward-Looking Information. For further information on these and other risks and uncertainties that may affect the Company's business, see the "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis" with the Canadian securities regulators, which are available at www.sedarplus.ca. Except as required by law, Search Minerals does not assume any obligation to release publicly any revisions to Forward-Looking Information contained in this news release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) has in any way passed upon the merits of the contents of this news release and neither of the foregoing entities accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release or has in any way approved or disapproved of the contents of this news release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/231010 SOURCE: Search Minerals Inc. Chinese manufacturer JA Solar has agreed to build a 2 GW solar cell and module factory in Egypt with support from UAE-based Global South Utilities. The Egyptian government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with UAE-based Global South Utilities and China's JA Solar to set up two solar manufacturing facilities at unspecified locations. Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly attended the signing ceremony. JA Solar will oversee the construction of a 2 GW solar cell factory and a 2 GW PV module factory, partnering with local Egyptian entities. The solar cell factory will cost $138 million, ... Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Verified Market Research a leading provider of business intelligence and market analysis is thrilled to announce the release of its comprehensive and authoritative report on the, "Enterprise Resource Planning Software Market Size and Forecast," aimed at delivering crucial insights to business leaders and industry professionals who are driving digital transformation across organizations globally. LEWES, Del., Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Global Enterprise Resource Planning Software Market Size is projected to grow at a CAGR of 7.86% from 2024 to 2031, according to a new report published by Verified Market Research. The report reveals that the market was valued at USD 45.7 Billion in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 79.25 Billion by the end of the forecast period. The ERP Software Market is experiencing rapid growth as companies seek to streamline operations, enhance decision-making, and improve productivity. This report delves deep into current market trends, technological advancements, and emerging opportunities within the ERP landscape. It offers a detailed analysis of the leading software vendors, innovative solutions, and industry verticals that are revolutionizing the way businesses operate. Key Insights and Opportunities: Comprehensive Market Overview : Gain a detailed understanding of the ERP Software Market, including market size, growth projections, and key drivers shaping the industry. The report provides a thorough analysis of current market conditions, helping industry stakeholders identify potential areas for growth and investment. : Gain a detailed understanding of the ERP Software Market, including market size, growth projections, and key drivers shaping the industry. The report provides a thorough analysis of current market conditions, helping industry stakeholders identify potential areas for growth and investment. Technology Trends and Innovations : Discover how advancements in cloud-based ERP solutions, AI-driven automation, and advanced analytics are redefining ERP capabilities. This section covers the latest technologies and software developments that are enabling companies to optimize resource planning, reduce operational costs, and drive better business outcomes. : Discover how advancements in cloud-based ERP solutions, AI-driven automation, and advanced analytics are redefining ERP capabilities. This section covers the latest technologies and software developments that are enabling companies to optimize resource planning, reduce operational costs, and drive better business outcomes. Competitive Landscape : A detailed assessment of major players in the ERP Software Market, including their product portfolios, market share, strategic initiatives, and competitive strategies. Learn how top-tier vendors are differentiating themselves in a competitive market and uncover opportunities for collaboration or acquisition. : A detailed assessment of major players in the ERP Software Market, including their product portfolios, market share, strategic initiatives, and competitive strategies. Learn how top-tier vendors are differentiating themselves in a competitive market and uncover opportunities for collaboration or acquisition. Industry-Specific Insights : Explore ERP adoption across key sectors such as manufacturing, retail, healthcare, and finance. The report highlights the unique demands of each industry and offers insights on tailored solutions that can drive sector-specific success. : Explore ERP adoption across key sectors such as manufacturing, retail, healthcare, and finance. The report highlights the unique demands of each industry and offers insights on tailored solutions that can drive sector-specific success. Regional Analysis: An in-depth breakdown of market trends across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. Understand regional dynamics, growth hotspots, and how cultural and economic factors influence ERP adoption. An in-depth breakdown of market trends across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. Understand regional dynamics, growth hotspots, and how cultural and economic factors influence ERP adoption. Strategic Recommendations: Actionable insights and recommendations for business leaders, CIOs, IT directors, and decision-makers to help them navigate challenges and seize emerging opportunities. The report is designed to support strategic planning, investment decisions, and market positioning. Why This Report Matters for Industry Leaders: The ERP Software Market is pivotal for organizations aiming to stay competitive in an increasingly digital world. Our report empowers industry leaders with a 360-degree view of the ERP ecosystem, offering the intelligence needed to make informed choices and lead in their respective markets. Stay ahead of the curve in the ever-evolving Enterprise Resource Planning Software Market. For more information or to request a sample copy of the report, please visit: https://www.verifiedmarketresearch.com/download-sample?rid=86013 Browse in-depth TOC on "Global Enterprise Resource Planning Software Market Size" 202 - Pages 126 - Tables 37 - Figures Report Scope REPORT ATTRIBUTES DETAILS STUDY PERIOD 2021-2031 BASE YEAR 2024 FORECAST PERIOD 2024-2031 HISTORICAL PERIOD 2021-2023 UNIT Value (USD Billion) KEY COMPANIES PROFILED SAP, Oracle, Microsoft, Workday, Infor, IBM, Sage, Acumatica, IFS, and Epicor SEGMENTS COVERED By Enterprise Type, By Deployment, By Business Function, By End User, and By Geography CUSTOMIZATION SCOPE Free report customization (equivalent up to 4 analyst's working days) with purchase. Addition or alteration to country, regional & segment scope Global Enterprise Resource Planning Software Market Overview Increasing Demand for Streamlined Business Operations: Global organizations are adopting ERP solutions to integrate heterogeneous systems, optimize workflows, and improve productivity. The push for operational efficiency and the elimination of manual processes drive the Enterprise Resource Planning Software Market forward. This tendency creates an increasing demand for integrated solutions that offer real-time data access, enabling faster decision-making and agility, hence driving market expansion as firms pursue enhanced competitiveness. Adoption of Cloud-Based ERP Solutions: The transition to cloud-based solutions is transformative in the Enterprise Resource Planning Software Market. Cloud ERP systems provide scalable and economical solutions with streamlined IT infrastructure, appealing to both small and medium-sized organizations and large corporations. This transition to cloud technology facilitates effortless remote access and reduces initial expenses, hence expediting adoption. The industry experiences a substantial increase as organizations emphasize adaptability and ongoing software enhancements. Rise in Digital Transformation Initiatives: The worldwide emphasis on digital transformation has increased the necessity for ERP software that facilitates comprehensive digitalization. Organizations are progressively allocating resources to ERP systems to enhance their IT infrastructures, elevate client experiences, and maintain competitiveness. This factor drives the Enterprise Resource Planning Software Market as companies acknowledge ERP's capability in leveraging data analytics, artificial intelligence, and Internet of Things integrations, resulting in expedited return on investment and enhanced competitive advantage. To Purchase a Comprehensive Report Analysis: https://www.verifiedmarketresearch.com/select-licence?rid=86013 High Implementation and Maintenance Costs: Despite its advantages, many organizations, particularly SMEs, may find the upfront expenditures of deploying and maintaining ERP systems prohibitive. The intricacy of ERP implementation, coupled with training and customisation costs, may dissuade certain organizations from making an investment. The financial burden affects the expansion of the Enterprise Resource Planning Software Market, as firms consider the significant initial and recurring expenses in relation to expected long-term benefits. Data Security and Privacy Concerns: The growing dependence on cloud-based ERP systems presents substantial data security and privacy problems, which continue to hinder the Enterprise Resource Planning Software Market. Companies encounter difficulties in protecting confidential data from cyber-attacks and breaches. Security issues can impede adoption rates, as firms exercise caution in moving vital data to ERP platforms without robust cybersecurity controls. Integration Challenges with Existing Systems: Integrating ERP software with historical systems and current platforms can provide considerable obstacles, impacting the overall efficiency and success of the installation. Companies frequently face compatibility challenges, resulting in delays and increased expenses. The integration challenges serve as a constraint in the Enterprise Resource Planning Software Market, as firms emphasize seamless transitions and interoperability, potentially impeding their ERP adoption rate. Geographical Dominance North America dominates the Enterprise Resource Planning Software Market, propelled by early technology adoption, robust IT infrastructure, and substantial investment in digital transformation. This dominance fosters innovation, compelling providers to create sophisticated ERP solutions. Furthermore, the Asia-Pacific region is seeing tremendous development driven by industrial expansion, the technological adoption by SMEs, and a flourishing e-commerce sector. These dynamics influence global market expansion, fostering both rivalry and collaboration opportunity. Key Players The "Global Enterprise Resource Planning Software Market" study report will provide a valuable insight with an emphasis on the global market. The major players in the market are SAP, Oracle, Microsoft, Workday, Infor, IBM, Sage, Acumatica, IFS, and Epicor. Enterprise Resource Planning Software Market Segment Analysis Based on the research, Verified Market Research has segmented the global Enterprise Resource Planning Software Market into Enterprise Type, Deployment, Business Function, End-User and Geography. Enterprise Resource Planning Software Market, by Enterprise Type Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Large Enterprises Enterprise Resource Planning Software Market, by Deployment Cloud Hybrid On-premises Enterprise Resource Planning Software Market, by Business Function Financial Management Human Capital Management Supply Chain Management Customer Management Enterprise Resource Planning Software Market, by End-User Manufacturing BFSI IT &Telecom Retail & Consumer Goods Healthcare & Life Sciences Transportation & Logistics Government Enterprise Resource Planning Software Market, by Geography North America U.S Canada Mexico Europe Germany France U.K Rest of Europe Asia Pacific China Japan India Rest of Asia Pacific ROW Middle East & Africa Latin America Browse Related Reports: Global Virtual Data Room Market Size By Component (Solution, Service), Deployment Type (Cloud-based, On-premises), Enterprise Size (Large Enterprises, Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs)), Business Function (Marketing and Sales, Legal and Compliance, Finance, Workforce Management), Vertical (Banking, Financial Services and Insurance (BFSI), Corporates, Healthcare & Life Sciences, Government & Legal and Compliance Agencies, Real Estate, Industrial, Energy & Utilities), By Geography, And Forecast Global Unified Endpoint Management Market Size By Component (Solutions, Services), Deployment Mode (On-Premise, Cloud), Organization Size (Small & Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), Large Enterprises), End-User Industry (Banking, Financial Services & Insurance (BFSI), Government), By Geography, And Forecast Global Trust and Corporate Service Market Size By Type (Company Establishment and Registration Services, Company Management Services, Accounting and Tax Services), By Application (Start-ups, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs), Large Enterprises), By Geography, And Forecast Global Smart City Market Size By Application (Smart Transportation, Smart Buildings, Smart Utilities, Smart Citizen Services, Smart Governance), By Components (Hardware, Software, Services), By End-user (Government, Citizens, Enterprises), By Geography, And Forecast Top Enterprise Architecture Tools - Nonpareil names forging craft and 3D modelling Visualize Enterprise Resource Planning Software Market using Verified Market Intelligence -: Verified Market Intelligence is our BI Enabled Platform for narrative storytelling in this market. VMI offers in-depth forecasted trends and accurate Insights on over 20,000+ emerging & niche markets, helping you make critical revenue-impacting decisions for a brilliant future. VMI provides a holistic overview and global competitive landscape with respect to Region, Country, Segment, and Key players of your market. Present your Market Report & findings with an inbuilt presentation feature saving over 70% of your time and resources for Investor, Sales & Marketing, R&D, and Product Development pitches. VMI enables data delivery In Excel and Interactive PDF formats with over 15+ Key Market Indicators for your market. About Us Verified Market Research stands at the forefront as a global leader in Research and Consulting, offering unparalleled analytical research solutions that empower organizations with the insights needed for critical business decisions. 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Contact Us Mr. Edwyne Fernandes Verified Market Research US: +1 (650)-781-4080 US Toll Free: +1 (800)-782-1768 Email: sales@verifiedmarketresearch.com Web: https://www.verifiedmarketresearch.com/ Follow Us: LinkedIn | Twitter Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2015407/VMR_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/enterprise-resource-planning-software-market-is-expected-to-generate-a-revenue-of-usd-79-25-billion-by-2031--globally-at-7-86-cagr-verified-market-research-302314201.html LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND / ACCESSWIRE / November 22, 2024 / The Paris Dairy Declaration on Sustainability, an initiative launched by the International Dairy Federation (IDF) and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) at the IDF World Dairy Summit in October 2024 in Paris, was endorsed by Tetra Pak, a world leader in food processing and packaging solutions, at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of Parties (COP) 29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, on 19 November 2024. The Paris Dairy Declaration on Sustainability reiterates and reinforces the dairy sector's commitment to a sustainable transition of the whole value chain within all dimensions environmental, social and economic. The Declaration brings to light the tangible commitments undertaken by dairy operators worldwide towards the various UN Sustainable Development Goals, and sends a clear message to governments, decision-makers and the public on the dynamism of the dairy sector. The Paris Dairy Declaration continues the journey, initiated by the Dairy Declaration of Rotterdam in 2016, to answer the call of the UN 2030 agenda to leave no one behind. The endorsement took place at the Swedish Pavilion at COP during a bilateral meeting between IDF President Mr. Gilles Froment and Tetra Pak's Executive Vice President for Processing Solutions and Equipment, Mr. Charles Brand. "This endorsement by a leading company like Tetra Pak amplifies the impact of the Paris Dairy Declaration on Sustainability and exemplifies the global dairy sector's commitment to climate action and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We extend an invitation to all dairy organizations and leaders to sign and endorse the Declaration," said Mr. Gilles Froment, IDF President. "The Paris Dairy Declaration on Sustainability is an important statement on the dairy sector's commitment to a sustainable transformation of the whole value chain. Tetra Pak has a long history in the dairy industry, with sustainability at the heart of that journey. Dairy is at the core of our food systems targets where we commit to driving change and being a positive influence on the way food systems can work in the future. We see from our customers a clear desire to drive transformative change. This declaration supports that journey and that is why we are happy to endorse it here today." added Charles Brand, Executive Vice President, Processing Solutions and Equipment, Tetra Pak. The purpose of the IDF Paris Declaration on Sustainability is to highlight the tangible commitments made by dairy operators across the various pillars of sustainability-climate, nutrition, health, economic security, and natural resource stewardship-while conveying to governments, decision-makers, and the public the dynamism and dedication of the dairy sector. Media contacts Henry Stout Tetra Pak Henry.stout@tetrapak.com View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Tetra Pak on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Tetra Pak Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/tetra-pak Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Tetra Pak View the original press release on accesswire.com MADRID and PORTO, Portugal, Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- For three years, A Shared Passion showed European consumers the quality and unparalleled versatility of Iberian wines. The program reached over 100 million consumers with advertising in airports, train stations, press trips, digital content, and other actions with opinion leaders. The wine interprofessionals of Spain (OIVE) and Portugal (ViniPortugal) celebrated the closing of their ambitious joint campaign A Shared Passion with flagship events in Madrid and Porto. The closing event in Spain took place in Madrid's iconic Calle Alcala, while in Portugal, the World of Wine (WOW) in Porto was the perfect setting to present the achievements of the international collaboration. Both ceremonies were very well received by the press and the wine sector, highlighting the impact of the promotional actions that reached more than 79.2 million travelers in key transport infrastructures. The campaign included 22 study trips, taking 150 specialized journalists to explore the world of wine in both countries and generating publications that reached nearly 15 million European consumers. On social media, the A Shared Passion profile on Instagram exceeded 15,000 followers, consolidating its presence in the digital sphere. In addition, exclusive activities such as workshops and VIP dinners contributed significantly to this initiative's global impact. The final events were honored by the presence of opinion leaders, such as Masters of Wine Pedro Ballesteros and Dirceu Vianna Junior, who moderated round tables with the presidents of OIVE, Fernando Ezquerro, and ViniPortugal, Frederico Falcao. The conference concluded with masterclasses that highlighted Spain and Portugal's extraordinary oenological diversity, reinforcing the relevance of the sector in the economic, social, and environmental sustainability of both countries. With funding from the European Union, A Shared Passion highlighted not only the quality and authenticity of Iberian wines but also their strategic role in the sustainable development of numerous municipalities. This initiative underlines the passion with which Spanish and Portuguese wines are made, reflecting their rich traditions and commitment to the future. For more information: www.asharedpassion.com Video: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2565600/ViniPortugal_and_OIVE.mp4 View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/oive-and-viniportugal-celebrate-closing-of-joint-campaign-that-reached-100-million-consumers-302314339.html Warren, Michigan--(Newsfile Corp. - November 22, 2024) - Detroit Muffler and Brakes is pleased to announce that it has been named one of the top auto repair shops by a report by SEOLium. The team at SEOLium describes the rankings as a "Mechanic and Garage Of The Month" contest and aims to highlight service providers that help keep vehicles safe and reliable in Detroit. To identify the true leaders in Detroit's fast-growing auto repair market, SEOLium had to evaluate as many repair shops as possible. This decision ensured that all shops were given a chance and fairly evaluated. For this year's ranking, 196 shops competed for the top spot, including general and auto clinics, dealership service centers, specialty shops, quick lube services, and mobile mechanics. Out of nearly 200 shops in operation in the city, Detroit Muffler and Brakes was one of 33 shortlisted for further evaluation. SEOLium evaluated each shop's dedication to delivering exceptional auto repair and other services. Each shop's investments, especially in diagnostic tools, warranty offers, pricing and value, customer services, and overall customer experience, were also key evaluation factors. SEOLium ensured the selection process was community-driven, acting only as facilitators and helping collect and interpret data. The team analyzed signals created by the 640,464 residents of Detroit and its environs and used that as the basis for ranking companies. This approach was key in ensuring the results and rankings were as objective as possible, and more importantly, it made the customers the jury. The SEOLium team considered customer reviews of various auto repair shops in the city and their offline and online sentiment metrics. The ranking also considered Google search results rankings, brand mentions, social media engagement, and direct customer mentions. By considering all these factors, the team successfully captured the true picture of auto repair shops going the extra mile to serve customers. In addition, SEOLium shared very specific details on how each auto repair company fared in different categories. These factors include the population each repair shop served within that period, visibility, and page rankings, among others. Sharing detailed metrics enhanced the transparency and credibility of the report. Detroit Muffler and Brakes' management expressed pride in the recognition, calling it a testament to its core values. The Warren mechanic shop assured customers and residents of its commitment to continuing to offer comprehensive auto repair services to car owners and being transparent in pricing. About Detroit Muffler and Brakes: Detroit Muffler and Brakes is an auto repair shop offering a wide range of services, including engine repairs, expert diagnosis, transmission services, and electrical systems repairs. The shop has invested in the latest diagnostic tools and equipment and improved communication channels for clear updates with customers. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/230973 SOURCE: GetFeatured Phoenix, Arizona--(Newsfile Corp. - November 22, 2024) - Vuzola, an online retailer committed to making luxury both accessible and practical, has introduced a new lifestyle collection to meet the demands of everyday life. This expansion marks a significant step in the company's efforts to diversify its product line with innovative solutions in three key categories: gadgets, fitness essentials, and outdoor gear. It reflects Vuzola's mission to adapt to changing consumer lifestyles by offering products that prioritize functionality, durability, and versatility. Vuzola To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10926/230266_1a03494164aefbaa_002full.jpg Highlights of the New Collection The collection features products that address the rise in outdoor recreation, demand for multi-functional gadgets, and the growing interest in fitness solutions that fit into busy lifestyles: Gadgets: The lineup includes tools designed to simplify daily routines and enhance efficiency. Fitness Essentials: Catering to the rising trend of at-home and on-the-go fitness. Outdoor Gear: Built for durability and portability. Improving Customer Experience To complement the launch, Vuzola has enhanced its platform to provide a smoother and more transparent shopping experience. These updates include expanded product descriptions that highlight key features and benefits, verified customer reviews for added credibility, and tailored shopping guides to assist with purchasing decisions. Additionally, the website now features improved navigation, faster load times, and a simplified checkout process. Dedicated customer support is available to address inquiries, reflecting Vuzola's commitment to delivering a user-friendly, efficient, and trustworthy e-commerce experience. Explore the Collection For more information about Vuzola and to explore its growing collection, please visit https://vuzola.com. About Vuzola Vuzola is a premium lifestyle brand dedicated to making luxury accessible. Offering a curated selection of high-quality essentials sourced across tech, fashion, home, and outdoor categories, Vuzola focuses on providing products that balance practicality and design. The company is committed to empowering its customers with products that enhance their lives, backed by exceptional customer service. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/230266 SOURCE: Brand Featured Miami, Florida--(Newsfile Corp. - November 22, 2024) - Morse Code Clothing, the Amsterdam-based lifestyle brand known for reimagining the classic polo shirt, announces its expansion into the U.S. market with an initial launch in Miami, Florida. Following success across Europe, Morse Code aims to introduce American consumers to its unique blend of timeless design, high-quality materials, and innovative details tailored to modern tastes. Morse Code Clothing To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10926/230791_4efbc34d34f4aad0_002full.jpg The brand was founded by Dutch designer Ruud Mors, inspired by both his family name and the ingenuity of Morse Code inventor Samuel Morse. Combining style with functionality, Morse Code has gained a loyal following across Europe for its attention to detail, high-quality fabrics, and slim-fit tailoring. Each Morse Code polo features signature design elements, such as contrast stitching and hidden Morse Code messages, making it a modern wardrobe staple. Launching in Miami's Vibrant Fashion Scene Miami, known for its dynamic culture and trendsetting fashion, is an ideal entry point for Morse Code's U.S. debut. The city's appreciation for casual luxury aligns with the brand's philosophy, making Miami a fitting backdrop for Morse Code polo shirts, which have already become popular in high-end European markets. "Miami is a city that values both comfort and style, and Morse Code polos are crafted with exactly that in mind," said Ruud Mors, Founder of Morse Code Clothing. "We're excited to see how our designs resonate with American consumers and look forward to expanding our reach within the U.S." A Modern Twist on the Classic Polo Morse Code Clothing's polo shirts combine style and innovation, featuring: Slim-fit tailoring that enhances comfort and aesthetics. Breathable, durable fabrics like premium cotton pique and jersey stretch -ideal for Miami's climate. Innovative design elements like a reinforced button-down collar to prevent curling, long front, and short back stitch for a masculine sharp look, and "secret" contrast Morse Code messages, along with bold yet versatile colors. The Morse Code logo, straightforward and made of durable rubber, symbolizes the quality of the brand. Wearing it on the "right" side of the polo shirt announces the creation of a new original. With these elements, Morse Code Clothing provides a refined alternative to traditional polos, perfect for both relaxed and upscale settings. Local Partnerships & E-Commerce Expansion As part of its launch, Morse Code is partnering with local Miami retailers to offer an in-store experience that highlights the brand's dedication to quality, versatility, and style. Additionally, the brand's entire collection is available online at www.morsecodeclothing.com, extending its reach to customers nationwide. About Morse Code Clothing Founded in 2008, Morse Code Clothing is a European lifestyle brand that brings classic designs to life with modern, high-quality details. Dedicated to creating versatile and sophisticated clothing, the brand has established a reputation for blending luxury with everyday wearability. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/230791 SOURCE: Brand Featured DALLAS, TX / ACCESSWIRE / November 22, 2024 / Paul Quinn College, the originator of the Urban Work College model and the only minority-serving, federally recognized Work College in America, has received a $1.5 million grant from T.D. Jakes Foundation (TDJF), in partnership with Wells Fargo (NYSE:WFC). This grant will support the creation of an innovative housing model and the planning of a companion mixed-use community on the Paul Quinn campus. "This is so much more than a traditional real estate project or campus housing development-it's a statement about what higher education can be for all of us - those who attend our schools and those who do not," said Dr. Michael J. Sorrell, President of Paul Quinn College. "We are building a city within our campus walls. It will be a community that inspires, innovates, and invests in its people. This will only be possible due to the vision of our partners at T.D. Jakes Foundation and Wells Fargo. And for that, we are incredibly grateful." The grant will launch a dynamic campus housing initiative that will eventually be accompanied by a larger mixed-use development that includes student and family housing, retail and restaurant spaces, parks, outdoor meeting areas, and classroom facilities-all designed to serve both the campus and the surrounding community. This groundbreaking project will expand Paul Quinn's student housing capacity by 300 percent as Paul Quinn seeks to meet the needs of a growing student body. "We are proud to support Paul Quinn College in their mission to create a transformative and sustainable campus environment that addresses critical needs like housing, transportation, and food security for students," said Kelley Cornish, CEO and President, T.D. Jakes Foundation. "This $1.5 million grant will lay the groundwork for an innovative mixed-use development that not only provides essential services and resources but also strengthens the college's long-term vision for community impact. We believe this project will have a profound impact on student success and well-being, empowering them to focus on their education and future." The development will serve the immediate Paul Quinn College community, including students and their families, the students and families of KIPP Oak Cliff Academy and Dallas Independent School District's Dr. Frederick D. Haynes III Global Preparatory Academy at Paul Quinn College, and the surrounding Highland Hills and Southern Dallas community. "Having access to reliable, quality housing is an essential element for students so they can earn a degree, certification or improve their income and options long-term," said Kristy Fercho, head of Diverse Segments, Representation and Inclusion at Wells Fargo. "Our work with the T.D. Jakes Foundation and Paul Quinn College on the vision for a new mixed-use development supports our broader commitment to providing increased access to quality, affordable housing for individuals historically underserved in the market." Wells Fargo continues to build on its relationship with Paul Quinn College. The Wells Fargo Foundation donated $100,000 to help create scholarships for the school's Corporate Work Program, which provides workforce opportunities that allow students to develop the needed skills, habits, and experience to be competitive in the job market postgraduation while contributing toward the cost of their education. The program is part of Paul Quinn's commitment to eradicate generational poverty. Additional philanthropic funding helped establish an emergency housing fund to support housing year-round for students who may not have access to housing when class is not in session. In 2024, through a collaboration between Wells Fargo and T.D. Jakes Foundation, Paul Quinn College received another $236,000 to fuel the Corporate Work Program and housing security funds. Wells Fargo has continued its relationship with the college and its students by partnering with the Corporate Work program to welcome a cohort of five interns to Wells Fargo's Auto Lending business. Paul Quinn has partnered with the Jakes Divinity School since 2023 to offer a T.D. Jakes Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree, the first graduate program in Paul Quinn's history. The T.D. Jakes MBA program, a distinctive faith-based initiative, is the only accredited MBA program of its kind offered by an HBCU in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. The program provides another pipeline of economic mobility for Paul Quinn students by providing access to corporate mentors and unique professional development opportunities. By integrating the expertise and resources of both institutions, the program is designed to cultivate the next generation of visionary leaders in business and entrepreneurship. These partnerships amplify Paul Quinn's mission to eradicate generational poverty and further cement the dynamic collaboration between these three organizations to expand opportunities in education, economic mobility, and affordable housing. For more information or to explore opportunities to partner with Paul Quinn College, please visit www.pqc.edu/invest. ABOUT PAUL QUINN COLLEGE Paul Quinn College is a private, faith-based, four-year, liberal arts-inspired college that was founded in 1872, by a group of African Methodist Episcopal Church preachers in Austin, Texas. The school's original purpose was to educate freed slaves and their offspring. Today, Paul Quinn proudly educates students of all races and socio-economic classes under the banner of its institutional ethos, WE over Me. It is the first Urban Work College and only minority-serving, federally-recognized work college in America. Paul Quinn is viewed as one of the most innovative colleges in America, one that continuously expands the boundaries of higher education and community advocacy in its quest to eradicate intergenerational poverty. For more information, visit www.paulquinn.edu. ABOUT T.D. JAKES FOUNDATION The T.D. Jakes Foundation, founded in 2020, is dedicated to advancing financial inclusion, educational access and workforce readiness, and community well-being for historically marginalized communities. Through innovative programs, the T.D. Jakes Foundation creates pathways to economic mobility, including affordable housing, financial education, and workforce training. Our collaborative efforts enhance community well-being by promoting access to health services, supportive environments, and comprehensive support systems. Through the vision of its founder, T.D. Jakes, the Foundation leverages decades of experience in community building to create opportunities for underserved populations and connect corporations to highly skilled, diverse talent pools. ### (From left to right) Marcedes Fuller from T.D. Jakes Foundation, Kristy Fercho and Tanya Quinn from Wells Fargo and President Michael Sorrell from Paul Quinn College join to celebrate a new $1.5 million grant from T.D. Jakes Foundation and Wells Fargo, which will enable Paul Quinn College to bring a transformative housing and community vision to life. Photo Credit: Kelly Alexander/Paul Quinn College View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Wells Fargo on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Wells Fargo Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/wells-fargo Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Wells Fargo View the original press release on accesswire.com Scientific results demonstrate the company's achievements in creating fusion through MTF, providing foundation for its LM26 fusion demonstration, which will begin compressing large-scale plasmas in early 2025 to achieve transformative milestones RICHMOND, British Columbia, Nov. 22, 2024,verify that during the company's Plasma Compression Science (PCS) experiment series, it successfully produced significant fusion neutron yield by compressing plasmas in the spherical tokamak configuration required for its MTF approach. The results demonstrated a method that ensures plasma stability and symmetry during compression and verified the company's predictions for the rate of plasma heating and increased neutron yield. The tests proved the effectiveness of the company's technology for plasma formation and compression using a metal liner, providing the foundation for its Lawson Machine 26 (LM26) - the company's large-scale fusion demonstration. LM26 will begin integrated operations in early 2025 and is on target to achieve key milestones of 1 keV, then 10 keV (fusion conditions of over 100 million degrees Celsius), and, ultimately, scientific breakeven equivalent (100 per cent Lawson criterion) in the next two years. In the PCS experiment, General Fusion's high-performing plasmas remained stable and maintained magnetic flux while the fusion neutron yield increased significantly. The experiment results demonstrated that significant volumetric compression of a spherical tokamak plasma is practical, de-risking the company's LM26, which will compress plasmas at large scale to reach higher fusion yields. Key Experiment Results: Neutron yield increased significantly, exceeding 600 million neutrons per second in one compression shot. During compression, the plasma became approximately 190 times denser than it started, consistent with plasma particle confinement time being significantly longer than the compression time. The magnetic field that provides robust confinement for the hot plasma became over 13 times higher than it started due to the action of compression. Measurements of plasma heating agreed well with the rate expected for the scale of the experiment, with a modest rise in ion temperature to approximately 0.63 keV during the compression. "During our PCS series, General Fusion was the first in the world to compress a spherical tokamak plasma with a collapsing metal liner, and we are thrilled to now share in a peer-reviewed publication the results we achieved in demonstrating fusion from MTF through this experimental campaign," said Dr. Michel Laberge, Founder and Chief Science Officer, General Fusion. "This research is another example of our trailblazing work over the past two decades. Now, we're approaching breakthrough milestones with LM26. Our practical approach translates to an economical power plant, putting us on the path to electricity on the grid by the early to mid-2030s." General Fusion is a world leader in plasma research. Twenty-four prototypes and over 200,000 plasma shots have helped the company build the world's largest and most powerful operational fusion plasma injector for LM26. The company's multi-year PCS series, conducted from 2013 to 2019, was the first of its kind to study the behavior of a magnetized plasma during rapid compression. Custom experimental systems and testbeds were built in-house to reliably compress a high-performance compact spherical tokamak plasma within an imploding metal wall. A robust suite of diagnostics provided data for each compression test. The peer-reviewed results from the experiment closely align with the company's advanced predictive simulation and modelling, providing confidence that LM26 will achieve its targets of 1 keV, 10 keV, and scientific breakeven equivalent (100 per cent Lawson criterion). "We've demonstrated the viability of a stable fusion process using our MTF approach, laying the foundation for our groundbreaking LM26," said Mike Donaldson, Senior Vice President, Technology Development, General Fusion. "These achievements in plasma compression are a testament to our team's deep expertise and capabilities, accumulated over two decades of fusion technology development. Through our PCS series, we also made major advances in plasma systems, materials, coatings, and diagnostics. Now we're ready for the next step - demonstrating fusion and significant heating at large scale with LM26! Our incredibly talented team has made it all possible, building a practical, clean energy technology with world-changing potential from the ground up." Quick Facts The open-access paper published in Nuclear Fusion (https://protect.checkpoint.com/v2/___https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1741-4326/ad9033___.YzJ1OnBhdWxiYWtlcm5vdGlmaWVkY29tOmM6bzozMTM0MThhM2FmNWI4NjM0MzZmMjkyZDE0MjA4NDY2Njo2OmFmMDQ6ODU3MWU2ZWI0ZThkMDU1MDJhY2RiYjA3ODM0YWRhZWIzZTc3MWE0Y2MxNWZkOTJhYTA1ODNmYjlmNTBjZDNiOTpwOlQ6Tg) provides a comprehensive analysis of the engineering and plasma physics involved in achieving this new foothold in MTF research. In General Fusion's MTF approach (https://protect.checkpoint.com/v2/___https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HC1q4sFnfxE___.YzJ1OnBhdWxiYWtlcm5vdGlmaWVkY29tOmM6bzozMTM0MThhM2FmNWI4NjM0MzZmMjkyZDE0MjA4NDY2Njo2OjY3Nzk6MDhhMDUzNWEzNTJmYTk3Mzc4ODUwMWZiOWFlODFiMWIwMDczY2JjNGMzZWU2MThhODE3ODI5NmUxODIxMjVlNzpwOlQ6Tg), the proprietary liquid metal liner in the fusion vessel is mechanically compressed by high-powered pistons. This allows General Fusion to create fusion conditions in short pulses, rather than creating a sustained reaction, while protecting the machine's vessel, extracting heat, and re-breeding fuel. The technology is designed to scale for cost-efficient power plants. It does not require large superconducting magnets or an expensive array of lasers. Today, General Fusion is accelerating its progress by building LM26. The fusion demonstration machine is on track to achieve transformative technical milestones in the next 24 months-1 keV in the first half of 2025, then 10 keV, and ultimately scientific breakeven equivalent (100 per cent Lawson criterion) by 2026. Its results will significantly de-risk the company's commercial-scale machine, fast-tracking its path to provide commercial fusion energy to the grid by the early to mid-2030s. About General Fusion General Fusion is pursuing a fast and practical approach to commercial fusion energy and is headquartered in Richmond, B.C., Canada. The company was established in 2002 and is funded by a global syndicate of leading energy venture capital firms, industry leaders, and technology pioneers. Learn more at www.generalfusion.com. General Fusion Media Relations media@generalfusion.com +1-866-904-0995 Follow General Fusion twitter.com/generalfusion instagram.com/generalfusion linkedin.com/company/general-fusion facebook.com/generalfusion NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / November 22, 2024 / Illumina A 523-gene oncology panel identifies actionable tumor variations and improves outcomes Originally published on Illumina News Center A large, multiyear study conducted by Illumina, Providence, and Microsoft Research has shown that a comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) panel, which can assess more than 500 genetic variations in tumors, is a powerful tool to direct patients to the most advanced precision therapies that improve overall survival. The study was published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology - Oncology Practice and will be presented at the Association for Molecular Pathology (AMP) 2024 meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia. "With the comprehensive panel, we found that about half of our patients had at least one high-tier, actionable alteration, qualifying them for a precision therapy," says Brian Piening, PhD, director of Clinical Genomics at Providence, research faculty at the Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, and senior author on the paper. "Also, over half of our patients had a biomarker that would qualify them for a clinical trial. These are pretty striking results." The evolution of genetic testing Cancers are genetic diseases, in which genomic and chromosomal variations drive rampant cell growth. Over the past 30 years, clinicians have adopted increasingly sophisticated tests to identify these alterations and, when supported by evidence, refer patients to more effective therapies. Early efforts were encouraging, but lacked breadth, often sequencing 50 or fewer genes and missing important tumor information. CGP provides a broader view of the diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive genetic variants underlying a patient's cancer. Knowing a tumor's genomic blueprint can guide precision treatment. In many cases, if a mutated enzyme is causing uncontrolled cell growth, a targeted therapy can slow it down or stop it entirely. Immunotherapies harness a patient's own immune system to recognize and destroy tumors. These and other emerging treatments can dramatically improve patient outcomes-but first, clinicians must understand the genetic anomalies driving their tumors. Streamlining protocol for CGP The joint paper details the first two years of a five-year study to assess ProvSeq, a 523-gene panel used to test 3216 patients with advanced cancers (Stage III or IV). The team wanted to know if this comprehensive approach would identify more actionable anomalies than smaller genomic panels, and whether use of advanced therapies targeting those anomalies prolonged patient survival. To remove insurance reimbursement from the equation, the researchers provided these tests at no cost. They also refined how CGP was ordered, to deliver the results faster and better influence care. "We instituted a protocol where the test would be initiated when a pathologist diagnosed advanced cancer," Piening says. "Normally, oncologists ordered these, but we felt shifting it to pathologists would streamline the process. Having pathologists order CGP up front really brings it to the top of the list." Using an approach developed by Microsoft Research collaborators and based on natural language processing, Providence clinical researchers were able to quickly and efficiently parse large sets of publications, clinical trials, and electronic health records. These AI capabilities assisted Providence researchers with genomics interpretation and clinical trial matching in the molecular tumor boards. Robust results The team ran simulations to compare ProvSeq's performance against that of a 50-gene panel on the same data. Unsurprisingly, the smaller panel failed to detect many actionable biomarkers. The most common tumors found were lung, colon, breast and prostate. Around 88% of patients had metastatic disease, and 40% entered hospice. The CGP panel found that 67% of the tumors contained actionable mutations, compared to 33% for the small panel. In addition, 52% of the CGP-tested patients received a targeted or immune therapy, dramatically improving overall survival. Median survival was 25 months for patients who received a precision therapy, compared to 17 months for those who received chemotherapy alone. These raw statistics had real-world consequences. Because CGP identified actionable mutations in people with serious and possibly deadly tumors, those patients received the most precise treatments. "A number of the participants had quite advanced, aggressive cancers," Piening says. "One patient was in hospice, and we found a highly targetable biomarker. The patient soon received the precision therapy and the response was remarkable. In a short time, they came off hospice and went back to work." The research continues In addition to the main paper, the team is also presenting two related posters at the AMP meeting. One showed that another genomic diagnostic could help determine whether ovarian cancer patients would respond to PARP inhibitors, which have shown some success against this challenging disease. The team is also presenting on a subset of patients who had structural genomic variations called gene fusions. Some of these fusions were already well known but the scientists found several novel combinations, highlighting CGP's ability to detect unique genetic anomalies. These findings are pieces of a much larger puzzle. The complete five-year study tested more than 10,000 patients, and researchers are waiting to learn more about their outcomes. This larger cohort could provide additional information about patients with relatively rare cancers. The results are a positive step in CGP's clinical journey. Piening and his colleagues expect CGP-fueled patient outcomes to improve over time, as more targeted and immune therapies enter the clinic. "We see new approvals all the time and that bodes well for the future," Piening says. "There's a lot of work to do, but those numbers will continue to climb. Ultimately, we'd like to be in a position where every patient has an available precision therapy option." Photo: Brian Piening, PhD, director of Clinical Genomics at Providence | Photo courtesy of Providence View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Illumina on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Illumina Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/illumina Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Illumina View the original press release on accesswire.com West Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 22, 2024) - Millennial Potash Corp. (TSXV: MLP) (OTCQB: MLPNF) (FSE: X0D) ("MLP", "Millennial" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it is engaging in a private placement (the "Private Placement") of 11,250,000 units (the "Units") at a price of $0.30 per Unit. Each Unit is comprised of one common share and one-half of one share purchase warrant exercisable at a price of $0.40 per share for a period of two years from the date of issuance. Proceeds of the Private Placement will be used to fund the Company's further exploration and development of its Banio Potash Project as well as for general working capital purposes. Related Parties: An insider (the "Insider Placee") of the Company is participating in the Private Placement for 10,000,000 Units (the "Insider Units"). The purchase by the Insider Placee constitutes a "related party transaction" within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The issuance of these 10,000,000 Units is exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 as they are distributions of securities for cash and the fair market value of the Units issued to, and the consideration paid by, the Insider Placee did not exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization. For the purposes of exemptions under MI 61-101, the Company is listed only on the Exchange. Notwithstanding the above, the Company must seek shareholder approval for the Insider Placee's purchase of Units under Exchange Policy 4.1 as described below. Shareholder Approval of Creation of Control Position: The closing of the Private Placement will result in the Insider Placee holding more than twenty (20%) percent of the issued and outstanding shares of the Company. As a result, the Company is required under Exchange Policy 4.1 to obtain shareholder approval of the purchase of the Units by the Insider Placee. It is anticipated that this shareholder approval will be sought by the Company at its next annual general meeting of shareholders on February 7, 2025 (the "AGM"). The Insider Placee is The Quaternary Group Ltd., a Singapore company. Closing of Private Placement: The closing of the Private Placement is expected, subject to Exchange approval, to be in two tranches with the second tranche, assuming it is approved by shareholders at the AGM, being for that portion of the Insider Units which would result in the Insider Placee's holdings of the issued and outstanding shares of the Company being above twenty (20%) percent. Additional Details: A commission of 7% may be payable on that portion of the Private Placement which is not being subscribed for by the Insider Placee. The Company has received the subscription funds representing the subscription by the Insider Placee. The Private Placement is conditional upon the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. MILLENNIAL POTASH CORP. "Farhad Abasov" Chair of the Board of Directors 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 document may contain certain "Forward-Looking Statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news release, the words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target, "plan" or "planned", "forecast", "intend", "may", "schedule" and similar words or expressions identify forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements or information may relate to future prices of commodities, accuracy of mineral or resource exploration activity, reserves or resources, regulatory or government requirements or approvals including approvals of title and mining rights or licenses and environmental (including land or water use), local community or indigenous community approvals, the reliability of third party information, continued access to mineral properties or infrastructure, changes in laws, rules and regulations in Gabon or any other jurisdiction which may impact upon the Company or its properties or the commercial exploitation of those properties, currency risks including the exchange rate of USD$ for Cdn$ or CFA or other currencies, fluctuations in the market for potash or potash related products, changes in exploration costs and government royalties, export policies or taxes in Gabon or any other jurisdiction and other factors or information. The Company's current plans, expectations and intentions with respect to development of its business and of the Banio Potash Project may be impacted by economic uncertainties arising out of any pandemic or by the impact of current financial and other market conditions on its ability to secure further financing or funding of the Banio Potash Project. Such statements represent the Company's current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political, environmental and social risks, contingencies and uncertainties. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements and information other than as required by applicable laws, rules and regulations. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/231117 SOURCE: Millennial Potash Corp. HIGHLIGHTS Closed oversubscribed financing - Insiders increased holdings Crew is being mobilized to Dempster Lithium & REE pegmatite located in newly acquired ZigZag Project, for reconnaissance exploration program Volta acquires a 100% interest in strategic claims situated within greenstone belt along strike, and contiguous to the Seymour and Falcon Lithium trends Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - November 22, 2024) - Volta Metals Ltd. (CSE: VLTA) (FSE: D0W) ("Volta" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has closed its previously announced non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") by issuing 4,820,000 units of the Company (the "Units") at a price of $0.05 per Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of $241,000. Each Unit consists of one common share of the Company (each, a "Share") and one half of one common share purchase warrant of the Company (each whole warrant, a "Warrant"), with each Warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase an additional Share (a "Warrant Share") at an exercise price of $0.10 per Warrant Share for a period of 24 months from the closing of the Offering. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering to conduct first pass screening on the newly acquired ZigZag Project, an option payment on the Falcon West property, and for general corporate and working capital purposes. Crews are being mobilized to the ZigZag Project to collect chip channel samples, and prospecting as an initial first pass. As in every financing the Company has completed to date, directors and officers of the Company (the "Insiders") have participated in the Offering, thereby continuing to increase Insider holdings. The Insiders acquired an aggregate of 2,520,000 Units under the Offering. The issuance of the Units to the Insiders constitutes a "related party transaction" within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company is relying on an exemption from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements provided under MI 61-101 pursuant to section 5.5(a) and section 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101, on the basis that the participation in the Offering by the Insider does not exceed 25% of the fair market value of the Company's market capitalization. The securities issued under the Offerings will be subject to a statutory hold period in Canada of four months and a day from the date of issuance in accordance with applicable securities laws. The closing of the Offering is subject to the receipt of all required regulatory approvals, including the approval of the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE"). Claim Acquisition The Company is also pleased to announce that it has agreed to acquire additional claims contiguous to its Lee Creek claims (Figure 1), and to the north end of the Seymour deposit owned by Green Technology Metals (MRE 10.3Mt at 1.03% Li2O), and west of its Falcon-ZigZag claim group, with a total surface area of 1,520 hectares (15.2 km2). The Company will acquire a 100% interest in these newly acquired claims and upon closing, will grant the vendors a 1.5% net smelter returns royalty. The Company paid $7,875 in cash and will issue 150,000 common shares in its capital to the vendors of the newly acquired claims. This will provide the Company with additional ground to explore within the highly prospective greenstone belt. Closing of the acquisition will be on or around five days following the date hereo, as required by the policies of the CSE. The common shares will be subject to a four-month hold period under applicable securities laws in Canada. Figure 1. Newly acquired claims along Lithium trend strike within the greenstone belt To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9598/230961_99402e9cb48a3b37_001full.jpg ABOUT VOLTA METALS LTD. Volta Metals Ltd. (CSE: VLTA) (FSE: D0W) is a mineral exploration company based in Toronto, Ontario, focused on lithium, cesium, and tantalum. It has optioned and is currently exploring a critical minerals portfolio of lithium, cesium, tantalum and gallium projects in northwestern Ontario, considered one of the world's most prolific, emerging hard-rock lithium districts. To learn more about Volta and its flagship Falcon West Lithium Project, please visit www.voltametals.ca. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD Neither the CSE nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release contains forward-looking statements relating to product development, plans, strategies, and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "will", "may", "should", "anticipate", "expects" and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this news release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking information in this news release includes, but is not limited to, the anticipated use of the net proceeds from the Offerings and the receipt of all necessary approvals for the Offering. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include: the risks detailed from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators; the fact that Volta's interests in its mineral properties are options only and there are no guarantee that such interest, if earned, will be certain; the future prices and demand for lithium; and delays or the inability of the Company to obtain any necessary approvals, permits and authorizations required to carry out its business plans. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking statements may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release, and the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, other than as required by law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/230961 SOURCE: Volta Metals Ltd. Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - November 22, 2024) - Suncor Energy (TSX: SU) (NYSE: SU) today provides an update on the impact of the national strike of Canadian Union of Postal Workers on the mailing of the company's quarterly documents. This update is required pursuant to the Alberta Securities Commission's Blanket Order 51-516 and, as per the order, Suncor will mail the documents upon the resumption of regular postal service. Copies of these documents are available digitally at suncor.com/FinancialReports or on the company's profile on SEDAR+ at sedarplus.ca or EDGAR at sec.gov. Additionally, Suncor shareholders who have previously requested delivery of paper copies of these documents may request alternate delivery by contacting the company's transfer agent Computershare, by calling 1-800-564-6253 from Canada or the United States between 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. ET; or by calling via international direct dial at 514-982-7555. Suncor Energy is Canada's leading integrated energy company. Suncor's operations include oil sands development, production and upgrading; offshore oil production; petroleum refining in Canada and the U.S.; and the company's Petro-CanadaTM retail and wholesale distribution networks (including Canada's Electric HighwayTM, a coast-to-coast network of fast-charging EV stations). Suncor is developing petroleum resources while advancing the transition to a lower-emissions future through investments in lower emissions intensity power, renewable feedstock fuels and projects targeting emissions intensity. Suncor also conducts energy trading activities focused primarily on the marketing and trading of crude oil, natural gas, byproducts, refined products and power. Suncor's common shares (symbol: SU) are listed on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges. For more information about Suncor, visit our website at suncor.com. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/231136 SOURCE: Suncor Energy Inc. Boron One Holdings Inc. ("Boron One" or the "Company") (TSXV:BONE), is pleased to announce the implementation of a warrant exercise incentive program (the "Program") intended to encourage the exercise of up to 11,576,000 unlisted common share purchase warrants of the Company (the "Eligible Warrants") which were issued as part of the Company's private placement which closed on September 27, 2023 and November 7, 2023, respectively. Each Eligible Warrant is exercisable for one common share of the Company (each a "Common Share") at a price of $0.12 per Common Share. The Company intends to amend the exercise price to $0.06 (the "Warrant Repricing") following receipt of TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange") acceptance. All other terms of the Eligible Warrants will remain the same, including the expiry date of March 27, 2025. To the extent that holders of Eligible Warrants ("Warrant Holders") take advantage of the opportunity to exercise their Eligible Warrants early, this will fund working capital purposes. Eligible Warrants that remain unexercised following the completion of the Early Exercise Period (defined below) will continue to be exercisable for Common Shares on the original terms as they existed prior to the Program. The Program and Warrant Repricing are subject to approval from the Exchange and the receipt of all final regulatory approvals, including final approval of the Exchange. Insiders do not presently hold Eligible Warrants. The number of Eligible Warrants to be exercised by insiders of the Company is limited to no more than 10% of the total Eligible Warrants, being 1,157,600 Eligible Warrants, and the Company will issue no more than 1,157,600 Incentive Warrants to insiders under the Program. Summary Information about Warrant Incentive Program Pursuant to the Program, the Company is offering an inducement to each Warrant Holder that exercises Eligible Warrants during an early exercise period (the "Early Exercise Period") consisting of one new warrant (the "Incentive Warrant") in addition to the Common Share subscribed for. Each Incentive Warrant is exercisable at $0.06 for 2 years, subject to the right of the Company to accelerate expiry upon 30 days' notice if the shares of the Company trade on the Exchange at or above $0.10 for a period of 10 days. The Early Exercise Period will commence two weeks after receipt of Exchange conditional approval and run for 2 weeks. A follow up press release will be issued. The Incentive Warrants and any Common Shares issuable on the exercise thereof will be subject to a four-month hold period from the date of issuance of the Incentive Warrants pursuant to applicable Canadian securities laws. Depending upon the number of Eligible Warrants exercised during the Early Exercise Period, the Company expects to: receive gross proceeds of up to $694,560.00 issue up to 11,576,000 Common Shares pursuant to the exercise of Eligible Warrants in accordance with the terms of the Eligible Warrants; and issue up to 11,576,000 Incentive Warrants to Warrant Holders pursuant to the exercise of the Eligible Warrants on or before the Early Exercise Expiry Date. The terms and conditions of the Program and Warrant Repricing, and the method of exercising Eligible Warrants pursuant to the Program, are set forth in a letter which is being delivered to the last known contact of each Warrant Holder. Warrant Holders who wish to participate in the Program will agree to exercise their Eligible Warrants and deliver the other necessary documents in consideration of the issuance by the Company of the Incentive Warrants. Procedure for the Exercise of Warrants Upon commencement of the Early Exercise Period, registered Warrant Holders may exercise their rights to acquire the Common Shares and Incentive Warrants. All Eligible Warrants must be processed through the Company at the offices of the Company located at 203, 645 Fort Street, Victoria, British Columbia V8W 1G2. To exercise Eligible Warrants during the Early Exercise Period, a Warrant Holder must: 1. Surrender the original Warrant Certificate(s) representing the Eligible Warrants to the Company by hand or courier at the address noted above. The Warrant Certificate(s) representing the Eligible Warrants must be submitted together with: (a) a duly completed and executed Subscription Form as attached to the Eligible Warrant Certificate, specifying the number of Eligible Warrants that the Warrant Holder intends to exercise; and (b) a certified cheque, bank draft or money order in Canadian dollars, payable to or to the order of "Boron One Holdings Inc." in an amount equal to $0.06 multiplied by the number of Eligible Warrants that the Warrant Holder intends to exercise. All Eligible Warrant Certificates surrendered for full exercise will be cancelled by the Company and will be of no further force or effect. All Eligible Warrant Certificates surrendered together with a duly completed and executed Subscription Form, and payment of the applicable exercise price for the number of Eligible Warrants exercised will be deemed to be surrendered only upon personal delivery thereof to, or, if sent by mail or other means of transmission, upon actual receipt thereof by the Company. Any use of the mail to transmit Eligible Warrant Certificates is at the risk of the Warrant Holder. If such documents are to be mailed, it is recommended that registered mail, properly insured, be used with acknowledgement of receipt requested. Fractional Shares The Company will not be obligated to issue any fractional Common Shares, fractional Incentive Warrants or any cash or other consideration in lieu thereof upon the exchange of one or more Eligible Warrants. If any fraction of a Common Share or Incentive Warrant would otherwise be issuable, the number of such securities so issued will be rounded down to the nearest whole number without compensation thereof. On behalf of the Board of Directors, Tim Daniels, President About Boron One Holdings Inc. Boron One Holdings Inc. is an international mineral exploration and development company with boron assets in Serbia. Headquartered in Victoria, B.C., Canada, Boron One's shares are traded on the Exchange under the symbol "BONE". For detailed information please see Boron One's website at www.boronone.com or the Company's filed documents at www.sedarplus.ca For further information, please contact: Boron One Holdings Inc. Blake Fallis, General Manager Phone: 1-250- 384-1999 or 1-888-289-3746 info@boronone.com www.boronone.com Boron's Public Quotations: Canada TSX Venture: BONE Berlin: EKV US: SEC 12G3-2(B) #82-4432ERVFF OTCBB: ERVFF 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. SOURCE: Boron One Holdings Inc. View the original press release on accesswire.com London, UK, November 22nd, 2024, FinanceWire Capitalize, one of the leading proprietary trading firms, has announced their One-Step Evaluation program that allows easier access to trading opportunities than ever before. As part of this user-friendly process, traders can showcase their talent and get funding in just one single-stage evaluation, unlike their competitors lengthy and multilevel examination processes. 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Its simplicity and speed make it a possible choice for those who value time and efficiency in pursuing their trading goals. To learn more about how users can start trading now, they can visit their website: https://prop-capitalize.com/ Contact Capitalize Media Team Prop Capitalize [email protected] Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, November 22nd, 2024, Chainwire Sui drives blockchain innovation with support from global leader in asset management The Sui Foundation, the independent organization dedicated to the advancement and adoption of Sui, the innovative Layer 1 and smart contract platform, today announced a strategic partnership with Franklin Templeton Digital Assets. Franklin Templeton Digital Assets has been investing in the Sui ecosystem, and believes this strategic partnership will provide further benefit toward that effort by seeking value creation opportunities to allow builders of Sui blockchain-based solutions to deploy novel technologies leveraging the Sui blockchain protocol. Sui was originally inspired by some of the challenges Franklin Templeton Digital Assets is helping to solve, particularly those that exist within decentralized finance today, said Jameel Khalfan, Head of Ecosystem Development. Their interest in Suis groundbreaking technology feels not only validating, but as though Sui has come full circle. Franklin Templeton Digital Assets has been engaged for the past few years in building blockchain-based technology solutions, running node validators, and developing a wide range of investment strategies. The firms dedicated digital assets research team leverages fundamental tokenomic analysis, insights from an embedded data science team and deep industry connections to help inform product development and investment decisions. For the past decade, blockchain technology has captured public attention from technologists and economists alike, but often runs up against technical limitations. We are excited for what the Sui team is building, said Tony Pecore, SVP / Director of Digital Asset Management at Franklin Templeton. Examples of impressive projects being built in the Sui ecosystem include DeepBook on Sui, called DeFis answer to a central limit order book, or what exchanges use to facilitate buying and selling between traders by recording bids and offers, as well as Karrier One, the decentralized mobile carrier behind the Karrier One DePin network, and Ika, a parallel MPC network that enables seamless and secure cross-chain interactions. As a secure and scalable platform for building the future of intelligent assets, Sui has already become a premier destination for application builders in gaming, DeFi, memecoins, as well as real-world applications such as 3D printing and tokenized securities. Most recently, native USDC launched on Sui, enabling users to have direct access to one of the most widely used stablecoins globally while removing the added complexities and risks caused by bridged assets. Contact Sui Foundation [email protected] Technosylva, a La Jolla, CA-based provider of catastrophic event simulation modeling, risk analysis, and operational response solutions, received a strategic growth investment from General Atlantic. The amount of the deal was not disclosed. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. As part of the transaction, Michael Bevan and Wilson Bowen will join the Technosylva board of directors. Upon completion of the transaction, General Atlantics BeyondNetZero will join TA Associates, an investor in Technosylva since 2022. The company intends to use the funds to continue to focus on the advancement of its solutions and operating capabilities to strengthen the resiliency and mitigation efforts of its customers. Founded in 1997 and led by CEO Bryan Spear, Technosylva provides a platform of cloud-native, AI-driven software solutions getting access to real-time, predictive insights on developing environmental risks to meet the evolving needs of electric utility, insurance, financial services, and government agency customers. Today, Technosylvas platform is used by electric utilities, government agencies, insurers, and financial services firms worldwide to manage over 20,000 incidents a year, with nearly 1 billion simulations performed daily to strengthen critical decision-making. BeyondNetZeros investment follows a period of growth for Technosylva. Since TAs initial investment in 2022, the company has focused on expanding and enhancing its capabilities, completing the acquisitions of Atmospheric Data Solutions (ADS), Heartland Software Solutions in Canada, and most recently, KatRisk, an innovator in global catastrophe risk modeling. The company has offices in La Jolla, CA, Leon, Spain, and Calgary, Canada. FinSMEs 22/11/2024 SECI holds Navratna status, a designation granted by the Government of India to PSUs for exceptional performance. This gives SECI with greater financial and operational autonomy to make decisions, invest, and expand operations without extensive government approvals read more SECI is a Navratna PSU at the heart of the US indictment against Gautam Adani. Image sources: Pixabay/Wikimedia Commons The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), a central public sector undertaking (PSU), finds itself at the center of a US Department of Justice (DoJ) indictment involving allegations against Indian billionaire Gautam Adani. The indictment claims that Adani and his associates offered bribes to government officials to secure power purchase agreements (PPAs) involving SECI. The agreements reportedly obligated SECI to buy green energy at fixed rates, allegedly influencing state distribution companies (discoms) to finalise contracts. SECI has since distanced itself from the controversy, stating it has not received any documents related to the allegations and is uncertain if its contractual obligations have been violated. Advertisement Here are five key facts about SECI, the PSU at the heart of this international scandal: 1. A bigshot in renewable energy SECI is a central PSU dedicated to the development and expansion of renewable energy capacity in India. It plays a vital role as one of the Renewable Energy Implementing Agencies (REIAs) in India, facilitating market development and creating an ecosystem for renewable energy. SECI currently owns and operates renewable energy projects with a combined capacity of 122.7 MW. 2. Navratna status SECI holds Navratna status, a designation granted by the Government of India to PSUs for exceptional performance. This status provides SECI with greater financial and operational autonomy, enabling it to make strategic decisions, invest in projects, and expand operations without requiring extensive government approvals. 3. Joint ventures across India SECI has established six joint ventures with state and regional entities to advance renewable energy projects. These include partnerships with entities like Andhra Pradesh Solar Power Corporation Private Limited, Karnataka Solar Power Development Corporation Limited, and Rewa Ultra Mega Solar Limited. Together, these ventures aim to develop solar power infrastructure with a total park capacity of 10,070 MW, of which 6,515 MW has already been commissioned. 4. Core role in Power Purchase Agreements The DoJ indictment highlights SECIs involvement in a power purchase agreement (PPA) initiated in 2020. The agreement, negotiated with a green energy producer, obligated SECI to purchase power at a fixed rate. Allegations suggest that Adani and associates sought to influence the process by offering bribes to state officials to finalize contracts, ensuring SECIs participation in the deal. 5. Response to allegations In light of the indictment, SECI has sought to distance itself from the controversy. The PSU stated that it has not been formally served with any documents related to the case and is unclear if its contractual terms have been breached. Advertisement SECI continues to maintain that it is committed to renewable energy development and compliance with regulations. With inouts from agencies Bitcoin, for the first time on Thursday, topped $98,000, extending a record of almost daily all-time highs since Donald Trumps win in the US Presidential election. It is now rapidly marching towards $100,000. Heres why investors are betting big on the worlds largest cryptocurrency read more Bitcoin, on November 21, 2024, topped $98,000 for the first time in European trading. Source: Reuters. Another spike for bitcoin, as the worlds largest and oldest cryptocurrency rose to a new high on Thursday, topping $98,000 for the first time in European trading and is seen speedily marching towards $100,000. Bitcoins price more than doubled this year and in just two weeks, after Donald Trumps November 5 US Presidential election win, it has surged over 40 per cent. Not just bitcoin, all crypto-related stocks have also surged simultaneously. Shares in bitcoin miner MARA Holdings were up nearly 2.3 per cent on Thursday. Advertisement According to a report by Reuters, bitcoin was trading between $98,000 and $99,000 in late afternoon trading in the US on Thursday, after briefly touching $99,073. Why is bitcoin breaking all records? The major reason for the continuous upward journey of bitcoin is Trumps return to the White House as investors bet big in anticipation of a friendlier US regulatory approach to cryptocurrency which will unleash a boom era for asset class. Also, a slew of pro-crypto lawmakers elected to Congress is also making investors optimistic. During his election campaign, Trump, who was once critical of digital currencies, embraced digital assets, promising to make the US the crypto capital of the planet and to create a bitcoin strategic reserve. Not just this, Trumps campaign even accepted donations in cryptocurrency and he courted fans at a bitcoin conference in July. Also Read: New day, new record: Bitcoin surges past $95,000, 5 reasons why cryptocurrency breaking record after Trumps win Back in September, Trump also unveiled a new crypto business, World Liberty Financial, with family members to trade cryptocurrencies. Also Read: Bitcoin hits new record, breaches $94,000: Whats Trump latest move pushing cryptocurrency After Trumps triumph, crypto investors also are optimistic for an end to increased scrutiny under US Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Gary Gensler, whom the US President-elect has said he will replace. With inputs from agencies. Lab-grown diamond industry is seeing a slump owing to a significant decline in prices, decrease in trust and over supply read more The laboratory-grown diamond industry is at a pivotal moment, facing challenges like falling prices, oversupply, and declining trust in certain areas. At the same time, it seeks to capitalise on emerging opportunities within and beyond the jewellery market. Natural diamonds down 30 per cent The diamond industry is facing dramatic shifts, with the price of natural diamonds seeing a significant decline over the past decade. Over the past 10 years, the price of a slightly-better-than-medium-quality 1-carat, round, polished natural diamond is down about 25-30 per cent at retail," a report by Financial Times quoted industry analyst Paul Zimnisky as saying. Advertisement This price drop reflects changing market dynamics, where the competition from lab-grown diamonds has impacted the traditional diamond market. Lab-grown diamonds down 90 per cent Lab-grown diamonds, which were once seen as a niche market, have experienced an even more dramatic price decline. Zimnisky explains, An equivalent lab-grown diamond is down about 90-95 per cent. Today, a generic lab-grown diamond can be bought for as little as one-20th the price of an equivalent natural diamond. While falling prices have led to significant growth in consumer sales, with lab-grown diamonds now accounting for about 20 per cent of global diamond jewellery sales, the market still struggles with issues of oversupply and consumer trust. Demand-supply mismatch The lab-grown diamond industry is also dealing with a mismatch between production and demand. As production volumes increase, prices continue to fall, with some companies struggling to maintain profitability. China and India have emerged as the largest producers of lab-grown diamonds, but the US remains the biggest retail market. Despite this growth, there are still challenges, including consumer confusion over diamond classifications and concerns about fraud. The Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) of India has sought to address these issues by calling on the Indian government to adopt updated diamond terminology and guidelines, modeled after the US Federal Trade Commissions (FTC) standards. Several companies have gone bankrupt Amid the rising competition, several lab-grown diamond companies have failed. One of the most high-profile casualties was WD Lab Grown Diamonds, which filed for bankruptcy in October last year. It was once a leading US producer. Zimnisky noted that it has become very difficult for anyone to compete with Chinese and Indian producers. The challenges of oversupply and falling prices have taken their toll on companies, with the growing presence of cheap synthetic diamonds raising concerns about fraud and even money laundering activities. Examples include cases of fraudulent swapping of natural diamonds for lab-grown stones, and the discovery of lab-grown diamonds being mis-declared as natural ones for money laundering purposes. Advertisement As the market continues to evolve, industry experts suggest that product innovation will be key to surviving in the competitive lab-grown diamond sector. With inputs from Financial Times. The animated series on freedom fighters will stream from December 1st on Doordarshan, Netflix, Prime Video and WAVES along with a radio series on Akashvani and podcast on Spotify read more The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting launched the much-awaited second season of the celebrated animated series Krish, Trish, and Baltiboy: Bharat Hain Hum at the ongoing International Film Festival of India (IFFI) Goa. Superstar Nagarjuna graced the event along with Shri Sanjay Jaju, Secretary, Information & Broadcasting; Shri Gaurav Dwivedi, CEO of Prasar Bharati; Shri Yogesh Baweja, DG, CBC; creators of the show Munjal Shroff and Tilak Shetty of Graphiti Studios; Mahima Kaul, Director of Public Policy, Netflix India, and Shilangi Mukherji, Director & Head - SVOD, Prime Video. Advertisement The groundbreaking animated series, which celebrates Indias lesser-known freedom fighters, made history with its Season 1 debut across multiple platforms. Season 2 of the animation series, like Season 1, will premiere simultaneously across Doordarshan, Netflix, and Amazon Prime Video. The series will be available in 12 Indian languagesincluding Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Punjabi, Marathi, Gujarati, Bengali, Assamese, and Odiaand seven international languages French, German, Spanish, Russian, Korean, Chinese and Arabic making it accessible to a global audience in 150 countries, further amplifying its reach. Season 2 also available on Waves, the newly launched Prasar Bhartis OTT platform, continues the mission to highlight unsung heroes from all across the country, including Taji Dele and Ponge Dele from Arunachal Pradesh, Wazir Ram Singh Pathania from Himachal Pradesh, and Birsa Munda from Jharkhand, among others. These stories are meant to inspire pride in Indias history while celebrating the diversity and resilience of the countrys freedom fighters. I have grown up watching a lot of mythology, and stories of Shri Ram, Lakshman, Bharat, Arjun, but stories on our freedom fighters who scarified their lives for our country is equally important. With the new show Bharat Hai Hum, the children and the next generation will get to know about our heroes. said Nagarjuna. Advertisement The Secretary, highlighted the importance of such initiatives in nurturing national pride among Indias younger generation. The diversity of Indias freedom struggle needs to be communicated in ways that appeal to children. By using animation, were making these rich histories not only accessible but also engaging. Through these animated stories, were offering young minds achance to learn about the unsung heroes who played pivotal roles in shaping Indias destiny, Jaju said. Munjal Shroff and Tilak Shetty, the series creators, added, The stories of Indias unsung heroes have often been overshadowed, but through this series, we aim to ensure that their contributions are remembered and celebrated by the younger generation. Its not just a story of the past; its a lesson for todays youth to understand the values of courage, resilience, and patriotism. Advertisement We are delighted to launch a new season of Krish, Trish and Baltiboy: Bharat Hain Hum on Prime Video starting 1st December. The series beautifully highlights the invaluable contribution of several heroes who played a significate part in Indias freedom struggle, giving viewers in India and around the world a chance to learn more about our rich history, said Shilangi Mukherji, Director & Head SVOD, Prime Video, India. We would like to congratulate the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB), Central Bureau of Communication, and Graphiti Studios for producing this wonderful series. The series is a significant step in our efforts to foster the growth of Indias creative economy and give Indian stories a global showcase. We are confident that the new season will be as well-received by our viewers as the first season. Mukherji added Advertisement We are happy to bring another season of this beloved title to Netflix. Co-produced by Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and Graphiti Studios, Krish, Trish & Baltiboy is a wonderful story that celebrates Indias local culture and storytelling. At Netflix, we are committed to bringing more such stories for our members. Said the Netflix spokesperson. The creators employed nearly 1,000 professionals across India, including animators, voice artists, and production experts, in order to meet an ambitious timeline and deliver the series in record time. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity. The court earlier issued a warrant for Russias Vladimir Putin. India is not party to the ICC and hence is not obliged to arrest either leader. However, it is a member of the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Why is this? read more The International Criminal Court building is seen in The Hague, Netherlands. Reuters The International Criminal (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Netanyahu has been charged alongside his former defence chief Yoav Gallant as well as Hamas leader Ibrahim Al-Masri for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza conflict. In their decision, the ICC judges said there were reasonable grounds to believe Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant were criminally responsible for acts including murder, persecution and starvation as a weapon of war as part of a widespread and systematic attack against the civilian population of Gaza. Advertisement The ICC earlier issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin for allegedly illegally deporting hundreds of children from Ukraine. Kremlin called the arrest warrant, issued in March 2023, meaningless. While Netanyahu has called the move antisemitic and described the development as a dark day for humanity, some countries including Netherlands, Switzerland, Ireland, Italy, and Spain have said they would meet their commitments and obligations under the Rome Statute which has been ratified by 124 countries and which governs the ICC. However, India is not bound to do so as it has not ratified the Rome Statute and is not a member of the ICC. This, despite India being a member of the International Court of Justice (ICJ). But why is India a member of the ICJ and not the ICC? Lets take a closer look A brief look at ICC First, lets briefly examine the ICC. The ICC was established in 2002. This was done to prosecute war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide and the crime of aggression when member states are unwilling or unable to do so themselves. The court can prosecute crimes committed by nationals of member states or on the territory of member states by other actors. Advertisement It has 124 member states. Its budget for 2024 is about $196 million. The ICC is conducting investigations, ranging from Ukraine and African states such as Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo and Kenya to Venezuela in Latin America and Asian nations such as Myanmar and the Philippines, according to its website. Its website says there have so far been 32 cases before the court, with some cases having more than one suspect. ICC judges have issued at least 56 arrest warrants. However, the pace of justice is slow in the ICC. Just 21 people have been held in the ICC detention centre and have appeared before the court. Advertisement At least 20 people remain at large. Charges have been dropped against seven people due to their deaths. The judges have issued 11 convictions and four acquittals. Of those 11 convictions only six have been for the courts core crimes of war crimes and crimes against humanity, the others were for crimes like witness tampering. The six convicted men were all African militia leaders from Democratic Republic of Congo, Mali and Uganda. Terms range from nine to 30 years in prison. The maximum possible term is life imprisonment. A prominent fugitive is Putin, accused of the war crime of illegally deporting hundreds of children from Ukraine. Advertisement Although the court is supported by many United Nations members and the European Union, other powers such as the United States, China and Russia are not members, arguing the ICC could be used for politically motivated prosecutions. India, as mentioned previously, is not a member of the ICC and is thus under no obligation to arrest either Netanyahu or Putin. A brief look at ICJ The International Court of Justice (ICJ), on the other hand, is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations (UN). It is the United Nations highest court for resolving international disputes. It was established in 1945 by the San Francisco Conference, which also created the UN. All 193 members of the UN are party to the statute of the ICJ, and non-members may also become parties. Advertisement The courts inaugural sitting was in 1946. The ICJs precursor was the Permanent Court of International Justice, which fell into irrelevance owing to the inability to enforce its mandate, especially during the intervening war years. The ICJ is a continuing and autonomous body that is permanently in session. File image of the Peace Palace, which houses the International Court of Justice, (ICJ) illuminated in blue light in The Hague, Netherlands. AP According to DrishtiIAS, the ICJ is not comprised by government representatives. Instead, its members are independent judges whose duty, above all, is to use their powers impartially and conscientiously. The ICJ comprises 15 judges no two of whom may be nationals of the same state who are elected to nine-year terms by majority votes in the UN General Assembly and the Security Council. The judges, one-third of whom are elected every three years, are eligible for re-election. The judges elect their own president and vice-president, each of whom serves a three-year term, and can appoint administrative personnel as necessary. The seat of the ICJ is at The Hague, Netherlands, but sessions may be held elsewhere when the court considers it desirable to do so. The official languages of the court are French and English. According to Drishti IAS, India has had four judges appointed to the ICJ Sir Benegal Rau (1952-1953), Nagendra Singh (1973-1988), Raghunandan Swarup Pathak (1989-1991) and Judge Dalveer Bhandari (since 2012). India has been party to the ICJ six time thus far. This most recently occurred in the Kulbhushan Jadhav case in 2019, against Marshall Islands in 2016, against Pakistan in 1999, 1973 and 1972 and versus Portugal in 1960. While the ICJs advisory opinions are not binding under international law, they are significant legally and politically. How are the two different? While they can be easily confused, and often are, there is a straightforward way to remember the difference. The ICJ is an arena to litigate cases that concern countries. The ICC, on the other hand, a criminal court. Here, cases are brought against certain individuals for war crimes or crimes against humanity. The ICJ is also an arm of the UN, while the ICC is a legally independent body. While not all 193 UN Member States are parties to the ICC, it can launch investigations and open cases related to alleged crimes committed on the territory or by a national of a State party to the ICC or of a State that has accepted its jurisdiction. Cases have been heard and decisions rendered on a range of violations, from using rape as a weapon of war to conscripting children as combatants. Why is India party to one and not the other? Some claim that countries such as the United States, China, Russia and India are not part of the ICC because they are wary of being prosecuted for political reasons. There remains fear of actually being investigated by the court for the commission of atrocity crimes, given the military projection of both countries regionally or globally, and fear of being prosecuted for political, rather than evidence-based, reasons, David Scheffer, a former US ambassador and a chief negotiator of the statute that established the court, told The New York Times. Scheffer said that no countrys leaders should, as a matter of policy and of law, enjoy impunity for intentionally committing genocide, war crimes or crimes against humanity. This theory, he added, has been pursued with determination (and American support) in Ukraine, which shortly will become the 125th member of the ICC. But ex-diplomat Dilip Lahiri, writing for the Observer Researcher Foundation, laid out a number of objections India has to the Rome Statute. These included Made the ICC subordinate to the UN Security Council, and thus in effect to its permanent members, and their political interference, by providing it the power to refer cases to the ICC and the power to block ICC proceedings. Provided the extraordinary power to the UN Security Council to bind non-States Parties to the ICC ; this violates a fundamental principle of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties that no state can be forced to accede to a treaty or be bound by the provisions of a treaty it has not accepted. Blurred the legal distinction between normative customary law and treaty obligations, particularly in respect of the definitions of crimes against humanity and their applicability to internal conflicts, placing countries in a position of being forced to acquiesce through the Rome Statutes to provisions of international treaties they have not yet accepted. Permitted no reservations or opt-out provisions to enable countries to safeguard their interests if placed in the above situation Inappropriately vested wide competence and powers to initiate investigations and trigger jurisdiction of the ICC in the hands of an individual prosecutor Refused to designate of the use of nuclear weapons and terrorism among crimes within the purview of the ICC, as proposed by India He also denied that fear of prosecution was the reason for New Delhis reluctance to join the ICC. Lahiri argued that effective participation by India, even as an observer, could influence the evolution of the ICC. The specter of high ranking Indian civil and military officials being on the run to evade ICC arrest warrants if they travel abroad is farfetched. First of all, there are strict safeguards in place against a politically motivated Prosecutor running off with the bit between his teeth, and the Prosecutor has to obtain prior authorization to proceed with an investigation from a Pre-trial Chamber of judges of the ICC, Lahiri wrote. Concerns about Indian leaders/military commanders being prosecuted by the ICC if India joined are highly exaggerated, Lahiri argued. Even if India is not ready to join, it should move towards a posture of constructive engagement with the ICC. With inputs from agencies As Delhi air remains polluted at alarming levels, central and state government offices and some private companies are stepping up to safeguard the health of their employees and minimise their exposure to toxic pollution. Meanwhile, daily wage workers struggle as increased restrictions have made it difficult to earn a living read more Several government offices and some private companies are stepping up to safeguard the health of their employees and taking measures to minimise their exposure to toxic pollution. Meanwhile, daily wage workers struggle as they have no option but to step out into the toxic pollution to earn a living for their families. File image/PTI Delhi is choking once again, as the air quality plunges to dangerous lows, the national capital and its surrounding cities are wrapped in a suffocating haze. At 7 am on Friday, Delhi recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 376 and remained in the very poor category, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). This comes as GRAP Stage-4 is implemented in the city, as AQI plummeted to severe plus earlier this week. Advertisement In response to this crisis, several government offices and some private companies are stepping up measures to safeguard the health of their employees and minimise their exposure to toxic pollution. Meanwhile, daily wage workers struggle as they have no option but to step out into the toxic pollution to earn a living for their families. Heres an in-depth breakdown of how different workforces have been impacted by pollution. Staggered timings in government offices On Thursday, the central government tweaked the working hours for its employees in Delhi in response to the severe air pollution. An official directive advised various ministries, departments, and organisations under the central government to adopt staggered office timings within the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR). The new schedule allows government offices to operate between 9 am to 5.30 pm or 10 am to 6.30 pm. It also encouraged employees to carpool and rely more on public transport. These measures may be adopted by ministries/departments/organisations as per their functional requirements ensuring that it should not have an adverse impact on efficiency and productivity in any manner," the order stated. The central government tweaked the working hours for its employees in Delhi in response to the severe air pollution. PTI This decision follows a recent appeal by the Central Secretariat Service (CSS) officers, who had urged the government to introduce work-from-home options, flexible hours, and air purifiers in office spaces to combat the health risks posed by high pollution levels. Advertisement In a letter to the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), the CSS Forum highlighted that poor air quality was affecting workplace productivity, with employees experiencing issues like respiratory problems, eye irritation, fatigue, and overall discomfort. Also read: Breathless in Delhi: How air pollution has held to spike in hospital visits Prior to this, Delhis Environment Minister Gopal Rai had announced a shift in working hours, alongside a move to allow half of the staff in Delhi government offices to work remotely. 50% 1 Gopal Rai (@AapKaGopalRai) November 20, 2024 Advertisement Flexi hours, WFH policy Indian corporations are stepping up their efforts to address air pollution on a larger scale. On Tuesday, the Haryana government issued a temporary work-from-home directive for corporate offices and private institutions in Gurugram, a key corporate and industrial centre, until further notice. Pawan Prabhat, co-founder of Gurugram-based Shorthills AI, told The Times of India, Our company has consistently followed a flexible hybrid work model, offering employees the option to work from home based on factors like traffic, pollution or other road conditions employees were encouraged to take extra care, and those feeling unwell were allowed to work from home. Advertisement Several other companies in Delhi and neighbouring cities have offered similar options or have adopted measures such as installing air purifiers for staff in indoor office spaces. Indian corporations are stepping up their efforts to address air pollution on a larger scale. They have offered WFH and flexible work hours to their employees. PTI According to an October 2024 study cited by Business Today, Indian businesses are increasingly taking steps to fight air pollution. The research, conducted by Dr Jabir Ali and Dr Muqbil Burhan from the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Jammu, found that 44.3 per cent of Indian firms have put in place strategies to cut their environmental footprint. The study published in the Journal of Cleaner Production surveyed 9,376 firms nationwide and noted that larger, well-established businesses, especially those with shareholder backing, investments in research and development, and quality certifications, are leading the charge in pollution control. Advertisement Also read: Is artificial rain the answer to Delhis air crisis? Daily wage workers suffer As the Air Quality Index hits dangerous levels, many residents are choosing to stay indoors. However, for daily wage workers, staying inside isnt an optionthey have to face the toxic air all day to earn a living and provide for their families. With construction activities halted in Delhi under the GRAP-4 guidelines, these workers are gripped with anxiety, fearing that the loss of income could leave their children without food. With construction activities halted in Delhi under the GRAP-4 guidelines, the daily wage workers fear that the loss of income could leave their children without food. File image/ PTI Suman, a 45-year-old mother of two, shared her concerns with PTI, If we sit at home, what will we eat? What will we feed our children?" She recently renewed her labour card, hoping for government assistance, but says it has been in vain. We dont have government jobs where salaries come automatically. We survive on daily earnings, and without work, we have nothing, she added, highlighting the stark reality faced by many like her. With input from agencies While earlier reports from Ukraine said Moscow fired a long-range intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), Russias President Vladimir Putin clarified that his country used the Oreshnik a new intermediate-range ballistic missile. But have you ever wondered how the US keeps track of such missiles? Washington has a special system, which dates back to the Cold War, to spot, track and identify any ballistic missiles that have been launched read more In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Services, rescue workers put out a fire of a building which was heavily damaged by a Russian strike on Dnipro, Ukraine. AP Russia on Thursday caused quite a stir. Moscow fired a ballistic missile at Ukraines Dnipro. While earlier reports from Ukraine said Russia fired a long-range intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), Russias President Vladimir Putin has clarified that Moscow used the Oreshnik which is a new intermediate-range ballistic missile. But have you ever wondered how the US keeps track of ballistic missiles that have been fired? Washington, in fact, has a special system to spot, track and identify any ballistic missiles that have been launched. Advertisement Though this programme dates back to the Cold War, it has been refined to keep it up-to-date to form a global surveillance system. Heres everything you need to know How does it work? Six satellites built by Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman, part of the US Space Forces Space-Based Infrared System (SBIRS), orbit Earth in a geostationary position. These satellites are designed to detect and monitor missile launch signatures using infrared technology. According to William Alberque, a visiting fellow at the Henry L. Stimson Center, these satellites, along with a network of smaller ones in lower orbits, are equipped with advanced sensors that detect ballistic missile launches worldwide within seconds. They can track a wide range of weapons, from smaller, basic missiles like Scuds to powerful intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). The things that you can do with video, plus IR, plus synthetic aperture radars, plus ground-based radarsall of these things knit together, Alberque said. Processing all this data at very high speed means we have the ability to know more about what is launched than ever before. Rocket motors, for instance, produce different exhaust gases of varying temperatures based on their fuel and other design factors. These signatures can quickly identify a missile. Ground-based sensors include massive solid-state early warning radars in the United States, Canada and Britain. Together with satellites, the system can determine missile type, launch angle, azimuth, apogee, velocity, size and landing point, among other things. Advertisement Which organisations are involved in operating it? In addition to the Space Force, several US agencies, such as the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, US Strategic Command and the Missile Defense Agency, are also involved. Regional military commands may participate as well. Some launch notifications can be automated such as smaller, short-range weapons that dont pose any threat to the US or its allies. More serious alerts for longer-range weapons or a direct threat require human analysis and decision-making. Also Read: What is Aegis Ashore, US missile base in Poland on Russias priority target list? In the case of Russias strike on Ukraine near the city of Dnipro, there was no concern about a nuclear attack because there were no signs of warheads being moved, other forces being prepared or the involvement of Russias 12th Chief Directorate of the Ministry of Defense, which controls its nuclear weapons, Alberque said. There would be a huge signature for potential use, he said, referring to nuclear weapons. Advertisement Early warning systems as a concept originated during the 1950s, at first to spot bomber formations and later expanded to detect missiles. The first systems used enormous ground-based radars to scan for missiles rising over the horizon and were linked to defensive systems that often included nuclear-tipped interceptors. The Space Force is in the midst of a nearly $15 billion (Rs 1,24,500 crore) program for more advanced early warning satellites, dubbed Next Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared. The system will include geostationary satellites, the first of which is set for delivery in 2025 and polar-orbiting satellites scheduled for launch in 2028. With inputs from Reuters Advertisement Giraffes might join the list of endangered species. With their numbers falling across Africas wild savannas, the US government is taking steps to protect them. But whats behind the decline in giraffe populations, and how will the US intervention help their conservation? read more This beloved zoo favourite is on the brink of joining the endangered species list. Giraffe numbers in Africas wild savannas have plunged to alarming levels, leading to action from the US government to protect the species. The US Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed listing three northern giraffe subspecies - West African, Kordofan, and Nubian - as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. Further, the reticulated giraffe and the Masai giraffe could be designated as threatened. Advertisement Though giraffes are native to Africa, this proposal would limit the import of giraffe parts into the United States while boosting conservation funding to support their survival. What is the reason for giraffes to be considered endangered? Giraffe numbers in the wild have drastically fallen, with only about 117,000 left worldwide, according to the Giraffe Conservation Foundation. This is around a 30 per cent drop since the 1980s. Northern giraffes, in particular, have suffered a steep decline of 77 per cent since 1985, shrinking to 5,919 individuals from 25,653, according to the US Fish and Wildlife Service. In West Africa, giraffes have disappeared entirely from several countries, The New York Times reported. Giraffes stand in the Nairobi National Park, Kenya, January 6, 2021. Reuters/File Photo Shockingly, international data from 2022 revealed that thousands of giraffe parts - including trophies, skins, feet, bones, carvings, and leather - were imported into the United States, according to the report. ALSO READ | White giraffe in Kenya fitted with GPS tracking device in an effort to keep poachers at bay While trade is not the primary cause of the population drop, officials said it may further strain the species. Under the new proposal, such imports would be banned unless authorised by special permits. Notably, the US Fish and Wildlife Service has identified poaching, habitat loss, and climate change as the leading threats to giraffes, according to NBC News. Human population growth, urbanisation, and the resulting habitat fragmentation and degradation are several other major threats. Conservationists argue that tackling these root causes is critical for progress. Giraffes, which rely on leaves, stems, flowers, and fruits for sustenance, are particularly vulnerable to habitat destruction and human-wildlife conflicts during periods of drought. Interestingly, scientists differ on how many species and subspecies of giraffes exist. In its proposal, the US Fish and Wildlife Service recognised three subspecies of Northern giraffes, recommending them for endangered status. Two others - reticulated and Masai giraffes - would be classified as threatened - a less severe category. Two more subspecies, the Angolan and South African giraffe, were deemed not currently at risk. Advertisement However, due to their similarity to the endangered subspecies, they would also be treated similarly. How will the action help giraffe population? The initiative aims to control giraffe poaching by restricting the import of giraffe body parts and products, such as rugs, jewellery, and shoes made from their remains, the New York Post reported. These items have contributed to the species ongoing population decline. ALSO READ | Taking selfies with wild animals in Odisha can get you up to 7 years in jail Notably, several environmental advocates have welcomed the move. Martha Williams, director of the US Fish and Wildlife Service, said in a statement, Federal protections for giraffes will help protect a vulnerable species, foster biodiversity, support ecosystem health, combat wildlife trafficking, and promote sustainable economic practices. A pet giraffe at the Africam Safari Animal Park, in Ciudad Juarez, in Puebla, Mexico, January 27, 2024. Reuters This action supports giraffe conservation while ensuring the United States does not contribute further to their decline. By restricting the commercial market for giraffe products, especially in the US - a major hub for wildlife trade - the proposal aims to strengthen global efforts to protect giraffes. Advertisement This decision follows years of advocacy by environmental groups like the Centre for Biological Diversity and the Natural Resources Defence Council (NRDC), who petitioned for protections in 2017. With millions of species at risk of extinction, immediate action is essential to tackle the threats facing wildlife. To further conservation efforts, the proposal includes new funding opportunities to support giraffe conservation initiatives in African countries. The US Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking public comments on the proposal until February 19, with plans to finalise it later this year. Fewer giraffes in Africa than elephants Tanya Sanerib, international legal director at the Centre for Biological Diversity, one of the organisations that petitioned the federal government, told NYT, We actually realised that there are fewer giraffes in Africa than elephants. A group of elephants and giraffes walk near a watering hole inside Hwange National Park, in Zimbabwe, October 23, 2019. Reuters/File Photo The species had been undergoing a silent extinction. There is debate among conservationists about whether trophy hunting helps or harms threatened species. Supporters argue that it creates economic incentives for conservation, while critics call it cruel, saying it often targets the largest and most visually impressive animals, putting more pressure on populations. Both sides accuse the other of upholding colonialist perspectives. Advertisement The planet is undergoing an unprecedented loss of biodiversity, a 2019 report by an intergovernmental panel of scientists revealed. On land, habitat loss due to agriculture and development is the primary driver. In oceans, overfishing poses the greatest threat, with climate change further contributing to these challenges. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Israels Benjamin Netanyahu, his former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamass military chief Mohammed Deif for alleged crimes against humanity in the Gaza conflict. Experts note it is unlikely that Netanyahu will face justice in the World Court, but believe it is not only about the verdict read more Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at the plenum, during a discussion on the subject of hostages kidnapped during the deadly October 7, 2023 attack, in Israel's parliament, the Knesset, in Jerusalem, November 18, 2024. Reuters The International Criminal Court (ICC) on Thursday issued arrest warrants for Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, as well as Hamass Military Chief Mohammed Deif, for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in the 13-month war in Gaza. The development is historic for a body that has struggled for 22 years with a lack of recognition and enforcement power. While global justice may be slow, experts believe it is not only about the verdict. Advertisement They say that the global community is committed to fighting impunity simply by prosecuting those suspected of committing atrocities. Lets take a closer look. The pace of global justice is slow The Hague-based jurisdiction, which is supported by 124 member states and will soon be joined by Ukraine, aims to bring criminal charges against those who commit the most serious crimes when nations are unable or unwilling to do so themselves. However, as the courts low conviction record shows, international justice moves slowly. The ICC has opened 32 cases since it started functioning in 2002 for alleged crimes against humanity, war crimes, genocide, and offences against the administration of justice. Because the suspects are still at large, 14 cases, or around 40 per cent, are still pending. The International Criminal Court building is seen in The Hague, Netherlands. Reuters The global court of justice is unlikely to apprehend them anytime soon without a police force. Only 21 of the 56 arrest warrants that have been issued since 2002 have been executed. The ICC relies on states to apprehend suspects, but the incentive for them to cooperate is low because the court has nothing to offer in return, except a commitment to seeing justice served, former ICC adviser Pascal Turlan said. The court has listed Russian President Vladimir Putin on its wanted list for alleged war crimes connected to the invasion of Ukraine, and Ugandan warlord Joseph Kony. Russia is among the dozens of countries, including the United States, Israel, and China, that do not recognise the ICC jurisdiction, which makes it difficult for the court to look into their citizens. However, some member nations also ignore its authority, such as when they refuse to turn over suspects. Mongolia, a member of the ICC, welcomed Putin in early September. Advertisement When states dont like what the ICC does, they dont often cooperate, said Nancy Combs, a professor at William & Mary Law School in the US state of Virginia. 12 guilty verdicts ICC spokesperson Fadi El Abdallah said the courts role was not to go after all suspected war criminals but to encourage nations to deal with their own cases. Every case has its own set of difficulties, such as witness intimidation and national government meddling, which led to the 2016 collapse of the case against Kenyas then-deputy president William Ruto, who is currently the countrys president. These difficulties explain the low conviction rate in the court. Since its founding, it has handed down four acquittals and twelve guilty convictions, the majority of which have been against leading jihadists from Mali and authorities from the war-torn Democratic Republic of the Congo. Advertisement Uganda, Ivory Coast, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo are among the African nations that have referred their citizens to the ICC, Combs said. An ethical punch The latest warrants by the ICC judges said there was reason to believe Netanyahu and Gallat have used starvation as a method of warfare by restricting humanitarian aid and have intentionally targeted civilians in Israels campaign against Hamas in Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant during a press conference in the Kirya military base in Tel Aviv, Israel, October 28, 2023. Reuters The action by the ICC came as the death toll from Israels campaign in Gaza killed 44,000 Palestinians, according to local health authorities, who doesnt differentiate between civilians and combatants. Notably, this is the first time the global court of justice has gone after a sitting leader of a Western-backed country, drawing the ire of Israel. Netanyahu condemned the warrant against him, saying Israel rejects with disgust the absurd and false actions by the court. In a statement released by his office, he said, There is nothing more just than the war that Israel has been waging in Gaza. Advertisement Gallant said the decision sets a dangerous precedent against the right to self-defence and more warfare and encourages murderous terrorism. Although it is unlikely that Netanyahu or Hamas leaders will face justice in The Hague anytime soon, they could face arrest if they travel to Britain, France or any of the dozens of other countries that recognise the ICC. Even then, the chances of securing a conviction are slim. Combs said however that ICC investigations could act as a deterrent and pack an ethical punch: A lot of the point is to do whats right even if you know that, in the short term, its probably not going to make a big difference. Advertisement With inputs from AFP Pam Bondi, former Florida attorney general and longtime Trump ally, has been nominated to replace Matt Gaetz as US attorney general. Known for her two-decade prosecutorial career and staunch loyalty to Trump, Bondis record is marked by significant accomplishments and controversies read more Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi speaks during a rally held by Republican presidential nominee and former US President Donald Trump at the Greensboro Complex in Greensboro, North Carolina, US, November 2, 2024. File Image/Reuters United States President-elect Donald Trump has now nominated Pam Bondi as the next US attorney general. Bondi, a seasoned prosecutor and former Florida attorney general, is a familiar name in both legal and political circles in the US. Her nomination follows the dramatic withdrawal of Trumps initial pick, Matt Gaetz, whose contentious past made his confirmation unlikely. As the spotlight now shifts to Bondi, her decades of legal experience, unwavering loyalty to Trump, and a history marked by both accomplishments and controversies have come under the spotlight. Advertisement How we got here The road to Bondis nomination began with Trumps surprising selection of Matt Gaetz, a staunch supporter known for his fiery rhetoric and polarising presence in Congress. Gaetz, who rose to fame for his role in ousting US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and backing Trumps legal battles, faced a wave of allegations. These included accusations of sexual misconduct, drug use, and improper financial dealings. Despite Gaetzs insistence on his innocence, his nomination drew bipartisan skepticism. Senate moderates like Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins, along with prominent figures like Mitch McConnell, privately opposed Gaetzs confirmation, reported The Guardian. Amid growing pressure and leaks of damaging details from a House Ethics Committee report, Gaetz announced his withdrawal, stating, There is no time to waste on a needlessly protracted Washington scuffle. I had excellent meetings with Senators yesterday. I appreciate their thoughtful feedback - and the incredible support of so many. While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) November 21, 2024 Hours later, Trump shifted gears and nominated Bondi, a move insiders describe as a calculated effort to secure support within the Senate and the broader Republican Party. Advertisement Who is Pam Bondi? Bondis career is steeped in legal and political milestones. Born in Tampa, Florida, she spent 18 years as a prosecutor in Hillsborough County, handling complex cases involving violent crime. In 2010, she made history as Floridas first female attorney general, serving two terms from 2011 to 2019. Her tenure was marked by high-profile initiatives, such as Floridas lawsuit against opioid manufacturers and her response to two of the nations most devastating mass shootings. After the Pulse nightclub massacre in 2016, where 49 people were killed in an extremist attack, Bondi faced public criticism for her prior support of Floridas same-sex marriage ban. CNNs Anderson Cooper famously challenged her on-air about whether her policies conflicted with her expressions of solidarity with the LGBTQIA+ community. Two years later, Bondi took a firm stance following the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, where 17 students and staff were killed. She supported legislation to raise the minimum age for firearm purchases and allocated millions of dollars to school security and mental health initiatives. Advertisement Despite these efforts, Bondis tenure as attorney general was not without controversy. Her decision not to join a fraud investigation into Trump University after receiving a $25,000 donation from Trumps charitable foundation raised questions about ethics. Bondi claimed the donation was unrelated to her offices decision, but critics and watchdogs pointed to the timing as problematic. How Bondi became a key Trump ally Bondis relationship with Trump has been both personal and professional. Her name first surfaced as a potential member of Trumps administration in 2016, but her role became more prominent during his first impeachment trial in 2019. As part of Trumps legal team, Bondi defended him against allegations that he withheld military aid to Ukraine in exchange for political favours. Then US President Donald Trump with Attorney General Pam Bondi (R-FL) during a meeting with local and state officials about improving school safety at the White House in Washington, US, February 22, 2018. File Image/Reuters More recently, Bondi has been a vocal critic of the investigations into Trumps conduct. She has labelled prosecutors, including Special Counsel Jack Smith, as horrible people weaponising our legal system. Her consistent loyalty has earned her Trumps trust, leading to her current nomination. Advertisement Bondis work with the America First Policy Institute, a pro-Trump think tank, and her role as a partner at Ballard Partners, a lobbying firm with deep ties to Trumps circle, have further solidified her position within his inner circle, reported Politico. What are some controversies surrounding Bondi Bondis career has been punctuated by controversies that continue to fuel debate. The Trump University donation incident remains a focal point for her critics, as does her high-profile custody battle over a St Bernard dog separated from its owners during Hurricane Katrina. Bondi refused to return the dog to the original family, accusing them of neglect, an allegation they denied. The case lasted 16 months and ended with Bondi returning the dog along with food and medication. Her close ties to Trump have also drawn scrutiny. While her critics view her unwavering support as a liability, her allies argue that it demonstrates her steadfastness and loyalty, qualities Trump prizes in his appointees. Advertisement Will Bondi get approval? Bondis nomination is widely seen as a pragmatic move by Trump, especially in the wake of Gaetzs withdrawal. Unlike Gaetz, whose lack of legal experience and mounting scandals made confirmation unlikely, Bondi brings decades of prosecutorial expertise and a history of navigating contentious political landscapes. Her nomination has garnered support from prominent Republicans, including Lara Trump, the president-elects daughter-in-law and chair of the Republican National Committee. Bondis ability to build alliances across the GOP is expected to ease her path to confirmation. Also Watch: However, questions about her past decisions and her perceived partisanship could complicate the process. Democrats are likely to focus on her role in defending Trump during his impeachment trials and her criticism of the Justice Departments handling of cases against him. If confirmed, Bondi will inherit a Justice Department that has been at the center of investigations into Trump and his allies. Critics, however, warn that her history of controversial decisions and close ties to Trump could undermine her credibility in the role. With inputs from agencies Russia on Thursday fired a missile at Ukraines Dnipro area, prompting Kyiv to say it was an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). However, President Vladimir Putin stated that his country fired the Oreshnik missile, a new intermediate-range ballistic missile. What do we know of this new projectile and how does it impact the war? read more Firefighters work at the site of a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Dnipro, Ukraine November 2. Press service of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Dnipropetrovsk region/Handout via Reuters The Russia-Ukraine war has gone ballistic, quite literally. On Thursday (November 21), after Ukraine accused Russia of firing a longer-range intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) a first during this long war Russian President Vladimir Putin in an address to his countrymen and the world confirmed that Moscow had fired an experimental ballistic missile at a military site in the Ukrainian city of Dnipro. He further stated that Russia had the right to strike Western countries that provided Ukraine with weapons. Advertisement The Russian strike prompted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to react, saying on Telegram, This is an obvious and serious increase in the scale and brutality of this war. He added that this missile strike was also proof that Russia definitely does not want peace. Zelenskyy also urged the world to take action against Putin, The world must react. Right now there is no strong reaction from the world. You have to react. We must squeeze. It is necessary to urge Russia to a true peace, which is possible only through force. Otherwise, there will be relentless Russian strikes, threats and destabilisation, and not only against Ukraine. As the war heats up, we take a closer look at what exactly this new missile that Russia used and what its use means for this conflict. Was it or was it not an ICBM? On Thursday morning (November 21), in an escalation of the Russia-Ukraine war, Russia fired a missile on the Ukrainian city of Dnipro. This comes after Kyiv fired US-supplied ATACMS weapons deep into Russia on Tuesday and followed it up with using UK-made Storm Shadow missiles. Shortly after Russias strike, Ukraines air force claimed Russia had fired a longer-range intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). At the time, Ukraines President Zelenskyy said, Today, our crazy neighbour has once again shown who he really is and how he despises dignity, freedom and human life in general. And how afraid he is. Advertisement However, some experts questioned if Russia had, in fact, used an ICBM against Ukraine. They noted that the weapon fired appeared to have been a shorter-range ballistic missile (SRBM) not an ICBM. For instance, Mark Cancian, a senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, believed it was not an ICBM. He told BBC that based on the footage of the strike it may have been carried out using a shorter-range ballistic missile, which travel at a lower trajectory than ICBMs. The videos strongly suggest a ballistic missile because of the angle of fall, Cancian said. Theres nothing in them that requires the missile to be an ICBM. Advertisement A resident walks at the site of a Russian missile strike, amid Russias attack on Ukraine, in Dnipro, Ukraine. Reuters Some even pointed out that using an ICBM was an expensive move for Russia. My take is that one must be sceptical and cautious, wrote weapons expert Pavel Podvig, director of the Russian Nuclear Forces Project. Speaking to CNN, two officials also said that it wasnt an ICBM, but a shorter-range ballistic missile owing to the distance it travelled and its payload. Whats the intermediate-range ballistic missile that Russia fired? As experts continued to discuss what type of missile Russia had fired, Vladimir Putin surprised all by giving a televised address in which he stated that Moscow used a new intermediate-range ballistic missile. The new ballistic missile was called Oreshnik [the hazel], Putin said, saying it was capable of Mach 10 10 times the speed of sound. He added that there were no means of counteracting such a weapon. Modern air defence systems and US systems in Europe cannot intercept such missiles. It is impossible. Advertisement He further said in an address, Tests of the Oreshnik missile system in combat conditions are being conducted by us as a response to the aggressive actions of Nato countries against Russia. Later, Sabrina Singh, the Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary, described the Oreshnik as a variant of Russias RS-26 ballistic missile. The RS-26 is a 40-tonne, solid-fuelled missile. Pentagon: - Russia's experimental intermediate-range ballistic missile launched at Ukraine was based on the RS-26 Rubezh ICBM model; - The US was notified by Russia about the launch briefly before it occurred through nuclear risk reduction channels. pic.twitter.com/a9bq8e8IZ3 Status-6 (Military & Conflict News) (BlueSky too) (@Archer83Able) November 21, 2024 Advertisement Forbes explains that depending on the angle at which its fired, the RS-26 could travel slightly more than 3,400 miles. That would make it an ICBM. But its more comfortably an IRBM that ranges fewer than 3,400 miles. The RS-26 itself is reportedly a smaller derivative of the RS-24 Yars ICBM. Rubezh is also understood to have a multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle (MIRV) configuration. Speaking on the same, Fabian Hoffmann, a doctoral research fellow at Oslo University who specialises in missile technology and nuclear strategy, told The Guardian that the significance of the Oreshnik missile strike was that it appeared to carry a type of payload that is exclusively associated with nuclear-capable missiles. Russian President Vladimir Putin makes a televised address confirming the launch of a hypersonic intermediate-range ballistic missile attack in Ukraines Dnipro. Reuters How did the world react? After Putins address, the world reacted with shock. The United Nations said it was a worrying development amid the war. This is yet another concerning and worrying development. All of this (is) going in the wrong direction, said Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, calling on all parties to de-escalate the conflict. He repeated UN chief Antonio Guterres call for an end to the war in compliance with international law, and urged both sides to protect civilians, not hit civilian targets or critical civilian infrastructure. The White House also said that Russia was escalating the war at every turn. The escalation at every turn is coming from Russia, said White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre. They (Russia) are the ones escalating. We are going to continue to support Ukraine as they push back on that aggression, she said. Meanwhile, Nato spokesperson Farah Dakhlallah was quoted by CNN as saying that Russias use of a new, medium-range ballistic missile to strike Ukraine will not affect the course of the war. Deploying this capability will neither change the course of the conflict nor deter NATO allies from supporting Ukraine, Dakhlallah said, calling the launch yet another example of Russias attacks against Ukrainian cities. What is Russias message through the new missile? Most experts are also of the opinion that Russias use of the Oreshnik is more at sparking attention. Heloise Fayet, a researcher at the French Institute of International Relations (IFRI), told AFP, We are really on something unprecedented, and it is much more a political act than a military act. The cost-effectiveness ratio of the attack is zero. This change of scale is significant," she said, adding this was the first use by the Russians on the battlefield of a missile with a range greater than 2,000 kilometres. But the use of this missile will not change the situation significantly on the operational level. They obviously have very few and they are expensive. Nick Brown of Janes, a British defence analysis organisation, agreed with this observation. He said that this is really about sending an escalatory message or warning, an expensive and potentially dangerous way for Russia to rattle its sabre. Russia may be seeking to use this capability to try to intimidate Ukraine and its supporters but it will not be a game changer in this conflict, he said. With inputs from agencies Russia on Thursday claimed to have shot down two UK-made Storm Cruise Shadow cruise missiles from Ukraine and Vladimir Putin is warning the West. This was after Moscow launched a ballistic missile against Kyiv. But what happened over the past week? And why are things escalating so quickly? Lets take a closer look read more The war between Ukraine and Russia is escalating quickly. On Thursday, Russia claimed to have shot down two UK-made Storm Shadow cruise missiles. This, after Moscow deployed a ballistic missile against Kyiv. The war between Moscow and Kyiv has really ramped this past week But what happened? What changed? And what happened next? Lets take a closer look: What happened? Biden gives green light It all began on Sunday with outgoing US president Joe Biden allowing Ukraine to use US-made weapons to strike deep into Russia. The missiles, known as Army Tactical Missile System ( ATACMS), were shipped from the United States to Ukraine in October 2023. Advertisement The move, a significant reversal of Washingtons policy in the Ukraine-Russia conflict, came months before President-elect Donald Trump takes office in January. It followed months of pleas by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskkyy to allow Ukraines military to use US weapons to hit Russian military targets far from its border. Zelenskyy said in his evening address that the missiles would speak for themselves. Today, many in the media are saying that we have received permission to take appropriate actions, he said. But strikes are not made with words. Such things are not announced. Russia claims Ukraine fires long-range missiles Then, on Tuesday, the 1000th day of the Ukraine-Russia war, Russia claimed that Ukraine fired long-range missiles into its Bryansk region. Moscow said Kyiv sent six US-made ATACMS long-range missiles into its western Bryansk region. Last night at 3.25 the enemy struck a facility in the Bryansk region with six ballistic missiles. According to confirmed data, American-made ATACMS operational-tactical missiles were used, the Russian defence ministry said in a statement. It said Russian air defences shot down five missiles and damaged one, whose fragments fell on a military facility. The ministry said this caused a fire that was quickly extinguished, and there were no casualties or damage. US soldiers conduct live fire testing at White Sands Missile Range, NM, on Dec. 14, 2021, of early versions of the ATACMS. Source: US Army via AP | FILE. Russias defence ministry said its forces destroyed 12 Ukrainian drones over the Bryansk region, where the attack took place, between 7:15 am and 8:35 am, and four more between 9:10 am and 9:20 am. Advertisement A subsequent report from Russias state news agency TASS said Russian air defence forces had shot down 85 drones and five ballistic missiles launched by Ukraine in the past 24 hours. The Ukrainian military said its strike was followed by 12 secondary explosions and detonations in the area. US officials later confirmed the use of the ATACMS to CBS News. Ukraine itself did not comment on the use of the long-range missiles. Ukrainian outlets Forbes Ukraine and RBC Ukraine cited unnamed sources as saying that ATACMS had been used for the first time to conduct the strike in Karachev. Putin approves change to nuclear doctrine Then, also on Tuesday, Putin made a major change in response to Ukraines use of the ATACMS. The Russian president lowered the threshold for a nuclear strike in response to a broader range of conventional attacks. Advertisement The updated Russian nuclear doctrine, establishing a framework for conditions under which Putin could order a strike from the worlds biggest nuclear arsenal, was approved by him on Tuesday, according to a published decree. The previous doctrine, contained in a 2020 decree, said Russia may use nuclear weapons in case of a nuclear attack by an enemy or a conventional attack that threatened the existence of the state. Putin is the primary decision-maker on the use of Russias nuclear arsenal. Together, Russia and the US control 88 per cent of the worlds nuclear warheads. Analysts said the biggest change was that Russia could consider a nuclear strike in response to a conventional attack on Russia or its ally Belarus that created a critical threat to their sovereignty and (or) their territorial integrity. Advertisement The big picture is that Russia is lowering the threshold for a nuclear strike in response to a possible conventional attack, said Alexander Graef, a senior researcher at the Institute for Peace Research and Security Policy at the University of Hamburg. Biden gives Ukraine anti-personnel mines Biden then went a step further on Wednesday approving anti-personnel land mines for Ukraine. Officials said this could help slow Russian advances in its east, especially when used along with other munitions from the United States. The United States expects Ukraine to use the mines in its own territory, though it has committed not to use them in areas populated with its own civilians, the official said. The development was first reported by the Washington Post. They have a need for things that can help slow down that effort on the part of the of the Russians, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was quoted as saying by the newspaper. Advertisement Ukrainian forces are making their own mines, he added. He said US mines being provided would self-activate, self-detonate and that makes itfar more safer eventually than the things that they are creating on their own. Outgoing President Joe Bidens administration is trying to get aid to Ukraine before Donald Trump takes office. AFP Russia is attacking Ukrainian lines in the east with waves of troops, regardless of the casualties that theyre suffering, an officials said. So the Ukrainians are obviously taking losses, and more towns and cities are at risk of falling. These mines were made specifically to combat exactly this. When theyre used in concert with the other munitions that we already are providing Ukraine, the intent is that they will contribute to a more effective defense, the official added. The Pentagon also announced it would send Ukraine at least $275 million in new weapons. We will continue to provide Ukraine the support it needs to succeed on the battlefield and prevail in its defense against Russias aggression, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement. The weapons will be provided through presidential drawdown authority, which allows the Pentagon quickly to pull supplies from its shelves to speed them to Ukraines front line. Trumps upcoming move to the White House has triggered a scramble by the Biden administration to ensure all the congressionally approved funding for Ukraine gets delivered and that Kyiv is in a strong position going into the winter. Ukraine uses Storm Shadow missiles Ukraine on Wednesday fired a volley of British Storm Shadow cruise missiles into Russia. Storm Shadow missiles are made by European missile systems company, MBDA, which brings together core missile assets from France, Britain and Italy. According to MBDA, Storm Shadow/SCALP is the air-launched long range, conventionally armed, deep strike weapon, designed to meet the demanding requirements of pre-planned attacks against high value fixed or stationary targets. BBC reported that Defence Secretary John Healey had spoken to his Ukrainian counterpart on Tuesday night. Healey, addressing the House of Commons, earlier said, Ukraines action on the battlefield speaks for itself." Ukraines Defence Minister Rustem Umerov said it is using all the means to defend our country. The strikes were widely reported by Russian war correspondents on Telegram and confirmed by an official on condition of anonymity. A spokesperson for Ukraines General Staff said he had no information. A Storm Shadow missile is prepared for loading to a Royal Air Force Accounts of Russian war correspondents on Telegram video they said included the sound of the missiles striking Kursk region, which borders northeastern Ukraine. BBC quoted weapons experts, it showed images of the strike to, as confirming the development. Amael Kotlarski, Weapons Team manager at Janes, said: We can confirm that the large, rectangular piece of debris, featuring a hole in the centre, does indeed match part of the mounting interface of the Storm Shadow / SCALP EG missile. Wednesday also saw a number of embassies in Kyiv shutter for the day including those of the US, Spain, Italy and Greece. This came after warnings of a potentially significant attack. Russian foreign intelligence chief Sergei Naryshkin said in an interview published on Wednesday that Moscow would retaliate against NATO countries that facilitate long-range Ukrainian missile strikes against Russian territory. Russia launches ballistic missile Then, on Thursday, Russia launched a ballistic missile against Ukraine. Russia fired a hypersonic intermediate-range ballistic missile at the Ukrainian city of Dnipro on Thursday. Putin, in a televised address, said Moscow struck a Ukrainian military facility with a new medium-range, hypersonic ballistic missile known as Oreshnik (the hazel) and warned that more could follow. He said civilians would be warned ahead of further strikes with such weapons. A US official said Russia notified Washington shortly before its strike, while another official said the U.S. had briefed Kyiv and allies to prepare for the possible use of such a weapon. Kyiv initially suggested Russia fired an intercontinental ballistic missile, a weapon designed for long-distance nuclear strikes and never before used in war. But US officials and NATO echoed Putins description of the weapon as an intermediate-range ballistic missile, which has a shorter range of 3,0005,500 km. Russia also fired a Kinzhal hypersonic missile and seven Kh-101 cruise missiles, six of which were shot down, the Ukrainian air force said. The attack targeted enterprises and critical infrastructure in Dnipro, the air force said. Dnipro was a missile-making center in the Soviet era. Ukraine has expanded its military industry during the war but keeps its whereabouts secret. Regional Governor Serhiy Lysak said the attack damaged an industrial enterprise and set off fires in Dnipro. Two people were hurt. Russias defence ministry, in its daily report of events over the previous 24 hours on Thursday, said air defences had shot down two British Storm Shadow cruise missiles but did not say where. Britain had previously let Ukraine use Storm Shadows only within Ukrainian territory. Experts say Putin is attempting to rattle the West. Ex-US Ambassador to Nato, Ivo Daalder, told BBC, Its something hes been doing for quite a while. Hes constantly trying to find new ways to scare the West into not taking the actions they need to take in order to defend Ukraine, hoping to deter in some ways Western countries from continuing to support Ukraine. These threats should be taken seriously," Daalder added. At the same time we shouldnt be cowed by those threats or changes in doctrine We should remember that Vladimir Putin is doing that from weakness, not because of strength. It remains to be seen how much further the conflict can escalate and how quickly. With inputs from agencies The International Criminal Courts arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu marks a seismic moment in global justice. Charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity, Netanyahu faces severe travel restrictions across 124 ICC member states, complicating his diplomatic engagements read more Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends a discussion on the subject of hostages kidnapped during the deadly October 7, 2023 attack, in Israel's parliament, the Knesset, in Jerusalem, November 18, 2024. File Image/Reuters The International Criminal Courts (ICC) issuance of an arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has raised a lot of questions. Charged alongside former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and Hamas leader Mohammed Deif for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity, Netanyahu now faces mounting pressure both domestically and abroad. What the ICC arrest warrant means for Netanyahu The ICC arrest warrant significantly limits Netanyahus ability to travel internationally. With 124 member states of the Rome Statute obligated to enforce ICC warrants, Netanyahu risks arrest if he enters any of these jurisdictions. This includes countries like Germany, France, and the UK, which have traditionally supported Israel. The warrant effectively isolates Netanyahu from key allies. While some nations might choose to ignore their obligations, domestic pressure in these countries could deter their leaders from meeting Netanyahu publicly or even engaging with him diplomatically. Advertisement The warrant complicates Israels relationships with ICC member states, especially in Europe. Countries like Germany, known for strong ties with Israel, may find it politically risky to host or be seen supporting Netanyahu. Also Read | After ICC arrest warrant, where Netanyahu & Gallant can or cant go Although Israel is not a party to the Rome Statute and does not recognise ICC jurisdiction, Netanyahus legal exposure increases if he visits ICC-member countries. The ICC prosecutor Karim Khan said that signatories must comply with arrest orders, stating, We count on their cooperationto uphold international law. International Criminal Court Prosecutor Karim Khan speaks during an interview with Reuters in The Hague, Netherlands, February 12, 2024. File Image/Reuters Domestically, the arrest warrant has divided opinion. While Netanyahus government has dismissed the ICCs actions as politically motivated, opposition voices could use the charges to challenge his leadership. His critics argue that the allegations tarnish Israels global reputation, potentially undermining its security and diplomatic standing. What the allegations against Netanyahu say The ICC charges Netanyahu with war crimes and crimes against humanity, alleging his involvement in: Starvation as a method of warfare : The ICC accuses Netanyahu of depriving Gazas civilian population of essential resources, including food, water, electricity, fuel, and medical supplies, between October 8, 2023, and May 20, 2024. Murder and inhumane acts : The court cites evidence of widespread and systematic attacks that led to civilian deaths, including children, caused by malnutrition and dehydration. Torture and sexual violence: Forces under Netanyahus command are accused of engaging in acts of torture, rape, and wanton destruction of property in Gaza. Netanyahus administration has denied the charges, with his office asserting, There is nothing more just than the war that Israel has been waging in Gaza. How Israel, the US & Palestine reacted Netanyahus government has rejected the ICCs authority, calling the charges baseless and politically motivated. Foreign Minister Gideon Saar labelled the ICCs actions as a dark moment for international justice and accused the court of anti-Israel bias. The US, which is also not a signatory to the Rome Statute, has backed Israel. A White House National Security Council spokesperson criticised the ICCs decision, saying, We fundamentally reject the move. Prominent US Senator Lindsey Graham dismissed the ICC as a dangerous joke. I cannot emphasize enough my strong objection to what the ICC has done to the State of Israel. The ICC is a rogue and politically motivated organization that is trampling on the very concept of the rule of law. I made it abundantly clear that I believe this entire process is an Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) November 21, 2024 Advertisement The EU has adopted a more measured response. Josep Borrell, the EUs foreign policy chief, stated that the ICCs decision was judicial, not political, and must be respected. Palestinian officials and residents of Gaza have welcomed the ICCs actions as a step toward justice. Netanyahu and Gallant now are war criminals, Shaban Abed, a displaced Gaza resident told Reuters. Sooner or later, some country will bring them to justice. How the arrest warrant will impact Israels war in Gaza The arrest warrant may hinder Israels ability to secure arms deals or military cooperation from ICC member states with laws restricting arms transfers to countries accused of human rights abuses. Netanyahus isolation could deepen as more countries weigh the political cost of supporting him. High-profile leaders may avoid being seen with Netanyahu to sidestep domestic and international criticism. Advertisement The warrant represents a significant step in holding world leaders accountable for alleged war crimes. While the ICC has issued similar warrants in the past notably against Russian President Vladimir Putin this case puts Israel under unprecedented scrutiny. Can ICC arrest Netanyahu? Despite the ICCs issuance of the warrant, there are significant challenges ahead. The ICC lacks its own enforcement mechanism and relies on member states to arrest and extradite individuals. Nations that value their ties with Israel may resist compliance. The ICC will need to gather substantial evidence linking Netanyahu directly to the alleged crimes, a daunting task given the complexities of conflict zones. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant attend a ceremony for the 70th cohort of military combat officers, at an army base near Mitzpe Ramon, Israel, October 31, 2024. File Image/Reuters While arrest may be unlikely, the warrant increases international pressure on Israel to address allegations of human rights violations in Gaza. While the likelihood of his immediate arrest remains slim, the long-term consequences for Netanyahus political legacy, Israels foreign relations, and the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict are profound. Advertisement Also Read | Defence Minister Gallants removal exposes deepening fault lines within Israel With inputs from agencies Thirteen crew members were onboard the fishing vessel and the Indian Navy dispatched search and rescue teams. However, two fishermen are reportedly missing as the Indian Navy was able to rescue only 11 fishermen read more An Indian fishing vessel collided with an Indian naval unit on November 21 off Goas coast, officials said on Friday. Thirteen crew members were onboard the fishing vessel and the Indian Navy dispatched search and rescue teams. However, two fishermen are reportedly missing as the Indian Navy was able to rescue only 11 fishermen. The Navy deployed six ships and an unknown number of surveillance aircraft in the rescue mission. An Indian fishing vessel Marthoma with a crew of 13 reportedly collided with an Indian Naval unit on November 21 about 70 nm North West of Goa, an Indian Navy spokesperson said. Advertisement Search and rescue efforts were immediately launched by the Indian Navy with six ships and aircraft. Eleven crew have been rescued so far, he said. Meanwhile, the rescue teams are currently trying to find the two missing fishermen. The spokesperson said additional assets, including from the Coast Guard, have been diverted to the area of the incident to augment the rescue efforts. The fishing vessel collided with a Scorpene-class submarine, a key asset of Indias naval capabilities. This advanced submarine is designed to perform diverse operations, such as anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare, intelligence collection, mine deployment, and area monitoring. The cause of the collision is not known yet and it is currently under investigation. With inputs from PTI As per estimates, China now possesses roughly 500 nuclear warheads, and numbers and quality are growing faster than the other nuclear weapon powers read more The Pentagons 2023 report to Congress assessed that China now has approximately 500 nuclear warheads for delivery by land-based ballistic missiles, sea-based ballistic missiles, road-mobile systems, and bombers. Image: Mark Schiefelbein/AP China has given significant importance to both accelerating and expanding its nuclear arsenal in recent years. It wants to gradually catch up with Russia and the US, who have nearly 12 times larger arsenal. It is estimated that China now possesses roughly 500 nuclear warheads, and numbers and quality are growing faster than the other nuclear weapon powers. China continues to develop its three new missile silo fields for solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and expanded the construction of new silos for its liquid-fuel DF-5 ICBMs. It has been developing new variants of ICBMs and advanced strategic delivery systems. China has also expanded its dual-capable DF-26 intermediate-range ballistic missile force, which appears to have completely replaced the medium-range DF-21 in the nuclear role. Advertisement At sea, China has been refitting its Type 094 ballistic missile submarines with the longer-range JL-3 submarine-launched ballistic missile. China has operational nuclear missions for its H-6N bombers and is developing an air-launched ballistic missile that might have nuclear capability. Nuclear Warhead Stockpile The Pentagons 2023 report to Congress assessed that China now has approximately 500 nuclear warheads for delivery by land-based ballistic missiles, sea-based ballistic missiles, road-mobile systems, and bombers. The report further estimates that Chinas arsenal will increase to about 1,000 warheads by 2030. Many of these will be deployed at higher levels of readiness and fielded on systems capable of hitting targets around the globe. China is likely to have 1,500 nuclear warheads by 2035. Chinas Secrecy and Analysis from Inferences It is not easy to estimate Chinas military and nuclear programs because of a closed society and high levels of secrecy and tight control on all data and access on social media. Chinas Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) military parades, and satellite imagery helps. Satellite imagery has often helped identify air, missile, and navy bases, as well as potential underground storage facilities. Chinas nuclear facilities mostly follow similar patterns, designs, and dimensions. Interestingly, Chinas missile designations normally indicate the number of stages that the missile contains; the DF-26 is a two-stage missile, while the DF-31 is a three-stage missile. Chinas Fissile Materials Production Supports Numbers The International Panel on Fissile Materials assessed that at the end of 2022, China had a stockpile of approximately 14 tonnes of highly enriched uranium (HEU), and approximately 2.9 tonnes of separated plutonium were available for nuclear weapons. These were considered sufficient to support a doubling of the stockpile from 250 to 500 in the last five years. Producing another 1,000 warheads by 2035 would require additional fissile materials. China is expanding and diversifying its capability to produce tritium, and also in 2023, China reportedly began operating two large new centrifuge enrichment plants and significantly increased domestic plutonium production capabilities. Advertisement China is likely to acquire significant stocks of plutonium by using its civilian reactors. Rosatom, Russias state-controlled nuclear energy company, has been a great support for nuclear fuel for Chinas reactors. To extract plutonium from its spent nuclear fuel, China has nearly completed its first civilian reprocessing plant and is expected to be operational in 2025. They are also already constructing a second plant. They will thus have nearly 250 tonnes-per-year fuel reprocessing capacity. Once both fast-breeder reactors come online, they could potentially produce large amounts of plutonium and, by some estimates, could enable China to acquire over 330 kilograms of weapon-grade plutonium annually for new warhead production. Advertisement Chinese Nuclear Forces The US projections of Chinese nuclear capability have often been exaggerated. The Pentagons annual China Military Power Report (CMPR-2023) to Congress projected that China could have 700 deliverable warheads by 2027, possibly 1,000 by 2030, and 1,500 warheads by 2035. It is assumed that several dozen of the new warheads may have been produced but not yet fielded. The Chinese spokesperson Wu Qian criticised the 2023 CMPR, saying it exaggerated and sensationalised the non-existent Chinese military threat. But China did not deny the expansion of the mobile ICBM force or the construction of three large new missile silo fields. Advertisement It is clear that China no longer intends to field a minimal deterrent and instead strives for a form of nuclear parity with the United States and Russia. The number of threats presented by China will one day exceed the number of threats that currently Russia presents. Chinas investments in nuclear command and control and evolving launch under warning and launch under attack capabilities indicate improved readiness. China, one day, seeks to match, or in some areas surpass, quantitative and qualitative parity with the United States in terms of nuclear weapons. However, the ground reality is that even the projected 1,500 warheads by 2035 would still be less than half of the current US nuclear stockpile. China highlights this to allay fears of threat and also refuses to join negotiations for nuclear arms reduction. The US argues that more than numbers, what matters is what is operationally fielded, the status of forces, and the posture of those fielded forces. Advertisement Nuclear Testing Chinas nuclear testing program has supported the development of the warhead type currently arming the DF-31-class ICBMs and equipping the liquid-fuelled DF-5B ICBM with multiple independently targeted re-entry vehicle (MIRV) technology, replacing the much larger warhead used on the DF-5A. The large DF-41 and the JL-3 could potentially use the same smaller warhead. The Pentagon believes that China probably seeks a lower-yield nuclear warhead for the DF-26. Some expansion of Chinas Lop Nur nuclear test site has been seen in open-source satellite imagery with the construction of one new tunnel and around a dozen concrete buildings near the sites airfield. Also can be seen are new drainage areas, drill rigs, roads, and covered entrances to potential underground facilities and storage areas. If China conducts low-yield nuclear tests at Lop Nur, it would violate its responsibility under the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty it has signed but not ratified. Land-based Ballistic Missiles The Peoples Liberation Army Rocket Force (PLARF) currently operates approximately 350 launchers for land-based missiles that can deliver nuclear warheads. Nearly half of these can reach the United States mainland. Most of Chinas ballistic missile launchers do not have nuclear strike missions. Nearly 100 nuclear warheads are perhaps meant for regional range intermediate missiles. The PLARF currently has approximately 45 brigades with ballistic or cruise missile launchers. Over half of these may have nuclear capability. The missile silos are normally placed roughly three kilometres apart in a triangular grid pattern. The fields could span nearly 1000 square kilometres. They include several tunnels for warhead storage. There are strong air defences at each field. Currently, each Chinese ICBM missile brigade has 6 to 12 launchers. The DF-31A is an extended-range, single-warhead version of the DF-31 with a range of 11,200 kilometres, and can reach the continental United States. China now deploys a total of about 24 DF-31As in two brigades. The DF-41 is Chinas first road-mobile and silo-based ICBM with MIRV capability. Approximately 28 DF-41 launchers may be deployed. China appears to be considering additional launch options for DF-41 including rail-mobile and silo basing. China is also developing a new missile, DF-27, with a range between 5,000 and 8,000 kilometres. It could be a conventionally armed ballistic missile. DF-27 strongly resembles the DF-26 with an attached conical hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV). In February 2023, China conducted a developmental flight test of a multirole HGV for the DF-27, which flew for around 12 minutes and travelled approximately 2,100 kilometres. China is developing advanced nuclear delivery systems such as a strategic HGV and a fractional orbital bombardment (FOB) system. In July 2021, China conducted a test of a new FOB system equipped with an HGV. It hit its target after flying around the world. An operational FOB/HGV system would pose challenges for the world. The once-dominant DF-21 missile family is now in the process of converting to the longer-range DF-26 IRBM or the DF-31AG ICBM. DF-21s are now serving only a conventional role. With its approximate 4,000-kilometer range, the dual-role DF-26 can target US bases in Guam and all of India. A DF-26 with a conventional warhead could potentially be misinterpreted as the launch of a nuclear weapon. The US is preparing Guam for ballistic missile defence in the event of a China War. Sea-based Nuclear Deterrence China currently fields six second-generation Jin-class (Type 094) nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs). The two newest SSBNs are believed to be improved variants of the original Type 094 design. They could carry 12 submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs). These Jin-class SSBNs carry either the 7,200-kilometre range JL-2 SLBM or the longer-range JL-3 (10,000 kilometres) SLBM. The range of the JL-2 was sufficient to target up to Hawaii and the whole of India from waters near China. The longer-range JL-3s can target parts of the continental United States. The JL-3 can deliver multiple warheads per missile. Chinese SSBNs are still noisier compared with current US and Russian missile submarines. This remains a constraint and a challenge in operations. China is now all set to develop the quieter third-generation (Type 096) SSBN. It is speculated that the Type 096 will carry 24 missiles. 16 remains the more realistic figure, albeit missiles with longer range. China may finally have around 10 such submarines. Chinese submarines are on near-continuous patrol. China has yet to begin deterrence patrol, implying a submarine at sea having nuclear weapons on board. Having nuclear warheads on deployed submarines during peacetime would be a new dimension for China, because China has maintained historical reluctance to hand out nuclear warheads to the armed services. When at sea, Chinas SSBNs typically appear to be accompanied by a protection detail, including surface warships and aircraft capable of tracking adversary submarines. Given the noise level of the SSBNs, it seems likely that China during the conflict would keep the submarines inside a protected stronghold in the South China Sea. But to target North America they would have to sail out significantly. Strategic Bombers China developed several types of nuclear bombs and used aircraft to deliver around 12 of the nuclear weapons that it tested between 1965 and 1979. Later, the rocket force took over. Still, China maintained a small inventory of around 20 gravity bombs for potential contingency use by aircraft. The Peoples Liberation Army Air Forces (PLAAF) newly re-assigned nuclear mission is centred around the upgraded H-6K version with an extended-range. The H-6N is another variant with a nose-mounted in-flight refuelling probe and carries air-launched ballistic missiles (ALBM). The ALBM appears to bear resemblance to Chinas DF-21 MRBM. When fully developed, this nuclear ALBM will, for the first time, provide China with a viable nuclear triad of land, sea, and air delivery. The H-6 will eventually be replaced with the under-developed H-20 stealth bomber with longer range and improved capabilities. It will have both a nuclear and a conventional capability with a range exceeding 10,000 kilometres. Chinas Nuclear Doctrine From 1964, when China made its first nuclear test, it has continued to unconditionally maintain a policy of no first use of nuclear weapons or threatening to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon states. China continues to officially seek minimum deterrence and pursues a nuclear strategy of self-defence. The minimum deterrence doesnt define numbers or quality and does not prohibit a massive expansion. The posture apparently seeks to adapt to the development of the worlds strategic situation. They continue to create ambiguity by putting nuclear and conventional strike forces under the Peoples Liberation Army Rocket Force (PLARF), which controls both Chinas nuclear and conventional arsenal of land-based ballistic and hypersonic cruise missiles. China is investing significantly to ensure the survivability of the nuclear arsenal against a nuclear or conventional first strike, including practicing nuclear attack survival exercises. China maintains a portion of its units in a heightened state of readiness while leaving the others in peacetime status with separated launchers, missiles, and warheads. China maintains a launch-on-warning (LOW) posture to increase the peacetime readiness of its nuclear forces and relies on space- and ground-based sensors that would warn of an enemy missile strike and give China time to launch its missiles before they would be destroyed. China is likely to have at least three early warning satellites in orbit to support its LOW posture. For decades, China has deployed silo-based DF-5s and road-mobile ICBMs that, in a crisis, would be armed with the intention to launch them before they are destroyed. In fairness to China, both the United States and Russia do the same. China is developing an indigenous HQ-19 anti-ballistic missile system as well as a hit-to-kill mid-course interceptor (like American THAAD) that could engage intermediate-range ballistic missiles and possibly ICBMs, although it may still take many years to develop. China already maintains several ground-based large phased-array radars that contribute to its early-warning capabilities. China reserves the right to use nuclear weapons if its nuclear forces were attacked with conventional weapons. Leveraging Nuclear Weapons Capability The expansion of the nuclear forces would gradually shape Chinese nuclear strategy. There could be an element of coercion. Chinas advanced non-nuclear weapons, including hypersonic, could also provide a strategic strike capability that may achieve effects similar to a first use of nuclear weapons. Could they use such a threat to limit the US presence in the East and South China Seas and achieve reunification with Taiwan? Implications for India China is working to catch up with the US in nuclear capability in both numbers and quality, albeit it has some way to go. India and China continue to have serious boundary issues even though they may have wrapped up Line of Actual Control disengagement in eastern Ladakh for the moment. It took 4.5 years of strained face-off to reach this point. It remains a delicate balance. China wants to thwart Indias progress to remain the unquestioned leader in Asia and also to dent the US Indo-Pacific strategy, where India is a key player. India does maintain the nuclear triad with land-based nuclear missiles (ICBMs), nuclear-missile-armed submarines (SSBNs), and strategic fighter-bombers. Agni-V with 7,000-8,000 kilometres is deployed. It covers all of China. Agni-VI, with a 10,000-12,000 kilometres range, is under development. India has multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle (MIRV) capabilities and a growing anti-ballistic missile system. India currently has around 170 nuclear warheads. This was a reasonable number when China had around 300 warheads. With China now greatly modernising and expanding nuclear weapons, it is time for India to reassess and plan. Many analysts are suggesting 250 warheads by 2025 and 500 by 2030. India also needs to increase MIRV-based ballistic missiles and strengthen its ABM capabilities. India must target having six each of SSBNs and SSNs. Yet India must continue its No First Use (NFU) and credible minimum deterrence policies. The writer is former Director General, Centre for Air Power Studies. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. Iran may weaponise its choke points, such as the Strait of Hormuz, to threaten the UAE and Saudi Arabia to comply with Iran and participate in its war effort with Israel, as such, Salman Canal becomes a lifeline for these Arab nations read more The Hamas October 7 attack on Israel and the subsequent conflagration marked the end of the normalisation of relations in West Asia. The Abraham Accords peace proposal, through the convergence of interests, lost its gravity and geopolitical pre-eminence. In retaliation, Israel pounded on Gaza and south Lebanon to eliminate Hamas and Hezbollah. Israels determination to defang its enemies intensified its efforts and preparedness. The gravity of the attack and counterattack finally brought Iran to the fore. The war was not limited to fighting through the proxies. Iran and Israel got engaged in the conflict directly. Though they do not share a border, the aerial passage was used to carry out the offensive and counter-offensive. This has led to the intensification of conflict in West Asia. The ceasefire is nowhere to be seen. Hubris is at an all-time high. Conflict does not seem to be culminating soon. In a prolonged war, West Asia will become even more vulnerable. The energy economy and supply of crude will take a massive hit. Advertisement The Strait of Hormuz is a critical choke-point for oil transit. Around 20 million oil barrels are transported daily through the Strait of Hormuz from the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. It amounts to 30 per cent of the worlds oil trade. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Oman, Iran, Qatar, and Kuwait depend heavily on the strait for the energy supply. Iran controls the Strait of Hormuz. The Iran-Israel conflict has made Iran isolated. The Arab world is a divided house. Religion is no longer a cementing force to unite them to isolate Israel. Irans insistence on stitching relations with the Arab countries does not seem encouraging. The Sunni-Shia sectarian divides and economic interests have reduced the importance of religion-based affiliations and shared identity. The religion-based commitments against Israel in the 1970s are no longer a conceivable reality. Therefore, Iran makes every effort, both subtle and complex, to unite the Islamic world. Israel understands Irans weakness. It may make the best out of Irans ambivalence. This seems to be the right time to settle the conflict for a conceivably long period. Since its establishment, Israel has not found itself on surer ground so far as chronic conflicts are concerned. Iran may weaponise its choke points, such as the Strait of Hormuz, to threaten the UAE and Saudi Arabia to comply with Iran and participate in its war effort with Israel. The Salman Canal becomes pivotal to decoupling from the Iranian sphere of influence. In 2015, the proposed canal was making headlines. The canal has become an existential necessity for Saudi Arabia and the UAE. A 950 km canal will connect the Arabian Gulf with the Gulf of Aden. This will be a seismic shift in the connectivity imagination of West Asia. It will carve its way out through the eastern province of Saudi Arabia. Advertisement The eastern province is vital for Saudi Arabia because it houses its critical oil infrastructure and resources. It will connect the Gulf of Aden through Yemen. This transit corridor will significantly help the Saudi oil supply. The time of transit and the cost of the crude oil will be minimised if this transit corridor becomes a reality. The Iranian marine geopolitics and its hegemony around the Strait of Hormuz will not affect the supply of Saudi crude and its neighbours. Iran may use the Houthis to cause disruption, but they are much lesser players than Iran. The Salman Canal blueprint was brought to the public in 2015 after the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) nuclear agreement with Iran. Saudi fear was quite valid then, as it is now. Advertisement The rise of Iran meant Saudi secondariness. The rivalries between the two are always intense. The undercurrents of this rivalry are difficult to restrict. The ongoing whirlpool of things in West Asia on account of Iran-Israel antagonism brings the matter of constructing the canal back to the action table. Saudi neutrality undergirds its interests. In the age of global warming, the dependence on the oil economy will decline sharply. The oil reserves may dry up over time. The Salman Canal will give the necessary boost to the Saudi effort to diversify its economic dependencies. It will encourage both local and international tourism. Like the Suez Canal, which generates good revenue for Egypt, the Salman Canal will emerge as a significant source of revenue generation. Advertisement It will revive the empty quarter. It will create jobs and build new cities along the canal. Industries for desalination will emerge. Its reliance on the Strait of Hormuz will be significantly minimised. Irans geopolitics around the Strait of Hormuz will not be intensive anymore. Other regional partners such as Iraq, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and the UAE will greatly benefit from the Salman Canal. Iran will lose its bargaining potential and economic benefits. It will be the financial strangulation of Iran. Irans choking tactics will not work. It has been observed that Irans blockading tactics have affected oil supplies in the past and led to a corresponding increase in the oil price. Its coercive geostrategic checkmate will not work anymore. Such recurrences used to impact the global market. Therefore, the Salman Canal will decrease Irans sphere of influence and heft in West Asia. Advertisement Since this canal is proposed to pass through the eastern province, major Saudi oil fields are located there. Ghawar, Khurais, Berri, Safaniya, Shaybah, Abqaiq, and Qatif are in the eastern province. The headquarters of Saudi Aramco, the Saudi national oil company, is also located there in Dhahran. The richest oil fields in the eastern province are the Ghawar Oil Field, Khobar, Dammam, Al Khafji, and Jubail. The eastern province is also predominantly Shia. Shia Muslims constitute around 10-12 per cent of Saudi Arabias population. The human rights watchdogs have reported alleged Saudi discrimination against the Shia people. Iran has utilised this to score brownie points and project Saudi Arabia in a negative light. However, the eastern province is important for Saudi Arabia. It has been loaded with critical infrastructures and oil reserves. Since this canal is proposed to pass through the eastern province, it will be a great connectivity asset for Saudi Arabia. It will make the Saudi economy invincible and diverse. Its Vision 2030 will be truly fulfilled. The Salman Canal will emerge as a significant alternative to the dependencies on the Strait of Hormuz. It will weaken Irans geopolitics around the Strait. Jajati K Pattnaik is an Associate Professor at the Centre for West Asian Studies, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. Chandan K Panda is an Assistant Professor at Rajiv Gandhi University (A Central University), Itanagar. The views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the authors. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. Gabbard, a former Democrat, has been critical of Biden and his administration, accusing her former party of being controlled by an 'elitist cabal of warmongers' and pushing 'woke' ideologies. AFP Tulsi Gabbard stands as a distinctive figure in contemporary American politics. Her career as a soldier, congresswoman, and political leader reflects her unwavering commitment to public service and independent thought. As a practicing Hindu, combat veteran, and bold policymaker, Gabbards trajectory embodies an intersection of diverse influences that have shaped her political and personal convictions. In light of her recent nomination as Director of National Intelligence (DNI) by President-elect Donald Trump, her life and career merit closer examination. Advertisement Military Service: A Foundation of Leadership Gabbards military service is a cornerstone of her identity. Joining the Hawaii Army National Guard in 2003, she served a 12-month deployment in Iraq from 2004 to 2005 as part of a medical unit. In 2007, she completed Officer Candidate School at the Alabama Military Academy, graduating as the first woman to top her class. Her leadership extended into a second deployment to Kuwait from 2008 to 2009, where she served as an Army Military Police platoon leader. Over nearly two decades of service, Gabbard achieved numerous milestones. In 2015, she became a Major in the Hawaii Army National Guard, and by 2021, she was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel while deployed in the Horn of Africa. Her military accolades include the Combat Medical Badge, the Meritorious Service Medal, and the German Armed Forces Badge for Military Proficiency in gold. This extensive military career underpins her emphasis on discipline, resilience, and a deep understanding of international security issues. Personal Life and Faith: A Practicing Hindu in US Politics Born in American Samoa in 1981 and raised in Hawaii, Tulsi Gabbards upbringing was a blend of cultural and spiritual influences. Her father, of Samoan and European ancestry, and her mother, a convert to Hinduism, instilled in her a strong sense of identity rooted in Hindu values. Named after the holy basil plant, Gabbard grew up practicing yoga, meditation, and the principles of Karma and Dharma as outlined in the Bhagavad Gita. Gabbards Hindu faith has remained central to her public and private life. She made history as the first Hindu elected to the US Congress in 2013, taking her oath of office on the Bhagavad Gita. Over the years, she has actively promoted cultural and spiritual practices, including her advocacy for International Yoga Day, recognised by the United Nations in 2014. Her commitment to Hinduism extends beyond personal practice; she gifted a copy of the Bhagavad Gita to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his US visit, symbolising her respect for her heritage and India-US ties. Advertisement Political Career: Independent and Controversial Gabbards political journey began at the age of 21 when she was elected to the Hawaii House of Representatives, becoming the youngest legislator in Hawaiis history. Her tenure in Congress (20132021) was marked by a willingness to challenge party norms. Serving as vice-chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC), she resigned in 2016 to endorse Senator Bernie Sanders presidential campaign, demonstrating her commitment to principles over partisanship. Her presidential campaign in 2020 focused on ending military interventionism, highlighting her opposition to the USs involvement in prolonged conflicts. Gabbards departure from the Democratic Party in 2022 underscored her dissatisfaction with its direction, which she described as dominated by elitist warmongers and divisive ideologies. Her subsequent alignment with conservative values, including endorsements of Donald Trump and Republican candidates, signalled a significant ideological shift. Advertisement Foreign Policy: Bold and Divisive Stances Gabbards foreign policy positions have often courted controversy. She has consistently criticised US military intervention, arguing that it destabilises regions and fuels extremism. Her scepticism of American actions in Syria and her meeting with Bashar al-Assad in 2017 drew sharp rebukes, while her opposition to NATO expansion and her critique of US policies regarding Russia and Ukraine sparked further debate. Regarding Islamist terrorism, Gabbard has been unapologetic in her condemnation. She has labelled groups like Hamas as radical organisations and expressed strong support for Israel, particularly following Hamas attacks in 2023. Her rhetoric against Islamist extremism has resonated with conservative audiences but has also drawn criticism for its perceived divisiveness. Advertisement Championing Hindu and Indian Causes Gabbards connection to India and advocacy for Hindu issues have been a hallmark of her career. She has spoken out against Pakistans support for terrorism and called for accountability in cases like the 2021 violence against Hindus in Bangladesh. Her solidarity with Kashmiri Pandits and vocal support for their plight underscore her alignment with Hindu causes on the global stage. Her meeting with Prime Minister Modi and support for Yoga Day highlight her commitment to strengthening India-US relations. These efforts have endeared her to Indian Americans and fostered goodwill between the two democracies. A Polarising Appointment President-elect Donald Trumps decision to nominate Gabbard as DNI underscores her reputation as a fearless and independent thinker. Trump praised her military service and bold spirit, signalling his trust in her to lead the intelligence community. However, the nomination has drawn mixed reactions. Critics point to her lack of direct intelligence experience and her controversial stances on Russia, Syria, and China. Supporters, meanwhile, argue that her independent mindset and calls for intelligence reform could bring much-needed accountability to the sector. Advertisement The global response has been equally polarised. Russian state media celebrated her nomination, citing her alignment with Moscows geopolitical perspectives. Conversely, US national security experts have expressed concerns about her perceived sympathy toward adversaries like Russia and her ability to navigate complex intelligence challenges. On India-US Relations With Gabbard becoming DNI, her influence on India-US relations will be expected to grow. Her leadership could potentially deepen bilateral ties, particularly in defense, technology, and cultural exchange. Tulsi Gabbards affinity for India and its culture, coupled with her commitment to fostering stronger bilateral ties, positions her as a significant figure in shaping the India-US partnership. As the first practicing Hindu member of Congress, Gabbards understanding of Indian culture and values offers a unique bridge between the two nations. Her advocacy for shared democratic principles, religious tolerance, and combating terrorism aligns closely with Indias core interests. Her support for India has been evident in her strong condemnation of Pakistans role in cross-border terrorism and her vocal criticism of the violence against Hindus in Bangladesh in 2021. Gabbards calls for global recognition of the plight of Kashmiri Pandits and her unwavering support for Indias stance on Kashmir demonstrate her understanding of Indias geopolitical challenges. Moreover, her promotion of International Yoga Day underscores her commitment to fostering cultural diplomacy between the two countries. As Director of National Intelligence, Gabbard may further align US intelligence and security policies with Indias concerns, particularly in counterterrorism and regional stability. Her close ties with Prime Minister Modi and proactive engagement with Indian leaders could catalyse deeper strategic, economic, and cultural collaboration. This alignment has the potential to usher in a new era of partnership, marked by mutual respect and shared aspirations for global peace and security. Multifaceted Legacy Tulsi Gabbards journey from a young legislator in Hawaii to a key player in American politics is a testament to her resilience and conviction. Her military service, deep spiritual roots, and fearless political stances have set her apart as a trailblazer. While her nomination as DNI sparks debate, it also highlights her unique position as a leader willing to challenge norms and forge her path. Gabbards story is one of courage and complexity, a blend of diverse influences that have shaped her into a figure of global significance. As she steps into a pivotal role, her legacy will likely continue to inspire and provoke in equal measure, leaving an indelible mark on the political landscape of the United States and its relationship with the world. The writer is the director of the Centre for Legislative Research and Advocacy, New Delhi. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. As part of its broader case against Googles monopoly over online search, the US DoJ is proposing some measures that could force the tech giant to unwind its investment worth $2 billion in Anthropic read more Google has criticised the DoJs recommendations, warning that the proposed remedies could hinder innovation in artificial intelligence. Image Credit: Reuters The US Department of Justice (DoJ) is expanding its antitrust investigation into Google, now targeting the companys $2 billion partnership with artificial intelligence startup Anthropic. As part of its broader case against Googles alleged monopoly over online search, the DoJ has proposed measures that could force the tech giant to unwind its investment and sever ties with Anthropic. The recommendation, detailed in a court filing on Wednesday, aims to prevent Google from investing in or collaborating with companies that influence where users search for information, including AI-driven search tools. This proposal follows earlier calls for Google to divest its Chrome browser, which a judge deemed a key factor in reinforcing the companys dominance. Advertisement Googles deal with Anthropic in the crosshairs Googles relationship with Anthropic has raised concerns among regulators due to its potential implications for the growing AI industry. The investment, made last year, gave Google non-voting shares in the startup and advisory rights on significant business decisions. The deal also included a major cloud partnership, solidifying Googles influence over Anthropics operations. Critics argue that such arrangements allow tech giants like Google to exert control over emerging AI companies, potentially stifling competition in the sector. The Justice Departments proposal aims to curb these practices by restricting Googles ability to invest in or collaborate with AI-focused firms, particularly those involved in search-related technologies. Regulatory pressure intensifies Google has criticised the DoJs recommendations, warning that the proposed remedies could hinder innovation in artificial intelligence. In a blog post released Thursday, the company argued that the measures would undermine Americas leadership in AI development and economic growth. Google has also pointed to its significant investment in AI as evidence of its commitment to advancing technology. The Anthropic deal is not the only large investment under scrutiny. Amazons $4 billion backing of Anthropic has also drawn regulatory attention, with concerns that major cloud and AI deals by Big Tech could create an uneven playing field in the emerging industry. Interestingly, the UKs competition watchdog recently reviewed Googles Anthropic deal and concluded that it did not require further investigation, a decision that contrasts with the DoJs aggressive stance. High stakes for Google and the AI Sector The Justice Departments proposals come as part of its landmark antitrust case against Google, which has already targeted the companys Chrome browser and its agreements with device makers to make its search engine the default option. These measures reflect growing regulatory concern over the influence of Big Tech in shaping the future of AI and online search. If enforced, the proposed restrictions could reshape Googles AI strategy and signal a significant shift in how regulators oversee the tech industry. The case also underscores the tension between fostering innovation and preventing monopolistic practices, a balancing act that will shape the future of both AI and competition law in the US Chinas purchases of American semiconductors soared to $1.11 billion in October, a 60 per cent increase compared to the same period last year. Between January and October, chip imports from the US totalled $9.61 billion read more Trumps return to the presidency has reignited concerns in China about expanded sanctions targeting its tech industry. During his first term, Trump aggressively imposed restrictions on Chinese firms. Image Credit: Reuters As tensions between the United States and China over technology continue to mount, Chinese tech companies are rapidly stockpiling American microchips in anticipation of tougher sanctions under the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump. This scramble underscores the growing urgency in Beijing to secure critical components for its technology sector amidst geopolitical uncertainty. Recent customs data reveals that Chinas purchases of American semiconductors soared to $1.11 billion in October, a 60 per cent increase compared to the same period last year. Between January and October, chip imports from the US totalled $9.61 billion, reflecting a year-on-year surge of 42.5 per cent. Since June, Chinas monthly chip imports have consistently surpassed $1 billion, a clear sign of its strategic efforts to hedge against potential restrictions. Advertisement Key focus on critical AI chips Chinas imports are concentrated on specific types of semiconductors, including CPU-based processors, controllers, and chips for storage and signal amplification. These components are vital for artificial intelligence (AI) development, advanced computing, and other strategic industries that President Xi Jinping has identified as essential to Chinas economic resilience and industrial upgrading. Despite these efforts, Chinese companies face significant challenges in producing advanced chips domestically. Huawei Technologies, for instance, remains reliant on 7-nanometre technology for its upcoming Ascend processors due to restrictions on accessing cutting-edge US lithography machines. This highlights the persistent gap between Chinas semiconductor capabilities and global leaders like Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC). Donald Trump and Chinas contentious past Trumps return to the presidency has reignited concerns in China about expanded sanctions targeting its tech industry. During his first term, Trump aggressively imposed restrictions on Chinese firms, and experts anticipate he will take a similar approach this time. Liang Yan, an economics professor, predicts Trump will focus on denying China access to advanced chipmaking machinery and cutting-edge semiconductors, though the extent of sanctions remains unclear. Trump has also pledged to convince companies like TSMC to relocate production to the US, potentially reshaping the global semiconductor supply chain. However, China accounts for roughly one-third of global chip demand, creating a dilemma for Trump: sanctions could disrupt this demand, making it harder to sustain expanded US chip production. Semiconductors at the heart of US-China tech war The battle for dominance in semiconductor technology, particularly chips smaller than 10 nanometres, has become a critical front in the US-China tech rivalry. Advanced chips power AI systems and cutting-edge computing, making them central to both countries strategies for technological leadership. Both the Trump and Biden administrations have taken steps to restrict Chinas access to advanced semiconductor technologies. Sweeping export bans introduced under Biden were expanded in 2022 and 2023, targeting AI chips, gaming processors, and lower-tier data centre chips. These restrictions reflect a bipartisan effort to curtail Chinas advancements in critical technologies. As the geopolitical competition intensifies, Chinas rush to secure US chips highlights its reliance on foreign technology despite years of efforts to achieve self-sufficiency. The stakes are high, with the outcome of these measures likely to reshape global tech supply chains and influence the balance of power in the rapidly evolving semiconductor industry. Advertisement Pg butchering scams involves fraudsters tricking victims often found on social media or dating platforms into fake cryptocurrency investments or financial schemes. Such scams have siphoned off more than $75 billion globally since 2020 read more Meta has been actively tracking the criminal networks behind pig butchering scams for the past two years, noting their increasing global spread. It has identified and dismantled accounts associated with scam hubs in regions including Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, the UAE, and the Philippines. Image Credit: Reuters Meta has ramped up efforts to combat the rise of pig butchering scams, announcing it has taken down more than 2 million accounts linked to these fraudulent schemes this year. The social media giant revealed in a recent update that its collaborative approach with other companies to tackle such scams is showing progress, although the scale of the issue remains significant. Described as one of the most elaborate online scams, pig butchering scams involves fraudsters tricking victims often found on social media or dating platforms into fake cryptocurrency investments or financial schemes. Once funds are transferred, the scammers vanish. A study earlier this year estimated these scams have siphoned off more than $75 billion globally since 2020, highlighting the vast scope of the problem. Advertisement Targeting global scam networks Meta has been actively tracking the criminal networks behind pig butchering scams for the past two years, noting their increasing global spread. According to the company, it has identified and dismantled accounts associated with scam hubs in regions including Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, the UAE, and the Philippines. Meta credits its success to updates in behavioural and technical signals, which enhance its ability to detect and block malicious activities at scale. In a statement, Meta underscored its commitment to refining automated detection systems and shutting down recurring scam attempts. The company also emphasised its vigilance against scammers using its platforms to establish a foothold, saying it continues to monitor and adapt its defences against these rapidly evolving threats. A collaborative fight against fraud Metas actions are part of a larger, collaborative effort to combat financial scams. Earlier this year, it joined forces with companies like Match Group and Coinbase to form a coalition aimed at tackling online fraud. In its latest update, Meta acknowledged support from other organisations, including OpenAI, which recently flagged a new scam operation in Cambodia. OpenAIs insights were based on detecting scammers attempting to use its tools to translate fraudulent content. By working together, these companies aim to create a more coordinated approach to identifying and dismantling criminal operations, leveraging shared data and advanced technology to stay ahead of scammers. Ongoing challenges in the fight against scams Despite Metas efforts, the prevalence and sophistication of pig butchering scams highlight the ongoing challenges in tackling online financial fraud. The sheer number of accounts taken down underscores the scale of the issue and the persistent threat posed by these networks. As Meta continues to refine its detection and prevention systems, it remains to be seen how effectively such coordinated efforts can curb the financial and emotional toll these scams take on victims worldwide. The companys actions signal a growing recognition of the need for collaborative solutions to tackle an increasingly complex landscape of online fraud. The Times has been embroiled in a lawsuit against both OpenAI and Microsoft, accusing them of unlawfully using its articles to train AI tools. This case is one of several ongoing legal battles between publishers and AI companies over the use of copyrighted content in training AI system read more As part of the discovery process, the court required OpenAI to share its training data with the Times, which led to the creation of a "sandbox" environment. However, the data that was supposed to be organised by the Times' team was reportedly deleted. Image Credit: Reuters Tensions between The New York Times and OpenAI have intensified in their ongoing copyright lawsuit. The Times has accused OpenAI of accidentally erasing vital evidence that its legal team had spent over 150 hours extracting, an action that could have significant implications for the case. According to the newspapers legal team, OpenAIs engineers unintentionally deleted data that was essential for determining whether its articles were used in training OpenAIs AI models, including the widely-used ChatGPT. Advertisement Although OpenAI managed to recover some of the lost data, the Times claims that the absence of original file names and folder structures makes it impossible to trace where its articles were incorporated into OpenAIs models. In a court filing, the Times lawyer, Jennifer B. Maisel, noted that the missing information hindered the identification of potential copyright violations. The lawsuit against OpenAI The Times has been embroiled in a lawsuit against both OpenAI and Microsoft, accusing them of unlawfully using its articles to train AI tools without permission. This case is one of several ongoing legal battles between publishers and AI companies over the use of copyrighted content in training AI systems. OpenAI has yet to publicly disclose the specifics of the data used to train its models, which makes the Times legal pursuit particularly important. As part of the discovery process, the court required OpenAI to share its training data with the Times, which led to the creation of a sandbox environment. In this space, the Times legal team could examine the data used to build OpenAIs AI models. However, the data that was supposed to be organised by the Times team was reportedly deleted. Although OpenAI admitted to the mistake, it has not been able to fully restore the data in its original form, forcing the Times to redo much of its work, leading to significant delays and additional costs. OpenAIs defence and ongoing disagreements OpenAI has denied any malicious intent behind the deletion, calling it a technical glitch. A spokesperson for the company stated that they would file a formal response to the claims soon. Despite this, the deletion of data has added fuel to the fire of an already contentious legal dispute. The Times legal team stressed that it was crucial for OpenAI to provide a complete and organised set of training data to properly assess any infringement. The lawsuit has also highlighted ongoing disputes over who is responsible for sorting through the data. The Times has argued that OpenAI is in the best position to handle this task, as it holds the most information about how the models were trained. In addition, the Times has demanded further documentation, including Slack messages and social media conversations between key OpenAI figures, in an effort to strengthen its case. The broader impact on AI and content licensing As the legal proceedings unfold, the Times and OpenAI continue to clash over the scope of the case. Microsoft, which is also named in the lawsuit, has requested that the Times turn over documents related to its own use of generative AI, including materials concerning how its tech columnists engage with such tools. Beyond the courtroom, OpenAI is pursuing licensing deals with other major publishers like The Atlantic, Axel Springer, and Conde Nast. These cases will have far-reaching consequences for how AI companies operate in the US and may set important precedents for content licensing and the use of copyrighted material in training artificial intelligence. The outcome of the lawsuits could reshape the future of AI regulation and its relationship with the media industry. Advertisement Musk, a vocal advocate of free speech, has on several occasions condemned UK actions against individuals posting inflammatory content during the riots, calling them violations of free speech rights read more Elon Musk has escalated tensions with UK lawmakers, declaring that Members of Parliament will be summoned to the United States to explain their censorship and threats to American citizens. The tech mogul and owner of the social media platform X made the remarks following reports that a UK parliamentary committee plans to call him to testify about the spread of harmful online content. The move comes as part of an inquiry by the Commons science and technology committee into the role of social media in fuelling the August riots in the UK. The committees chair, Labour MP Chi Onwurah, has questioned how Musk reconciles his commitment to free speech with the proliferation of misinformation and hate speech on X. Advertisement Free speech vs harmful content The inquiry is set to focus on Xs handling of harmful posts, with criticism mounting over the platform hosting controversial figures like Tommy Robinson and Andrew Tate, who have been accused of inciting Islamophobic protests. Musk, a vocal advocate of free speech, has previously condemned UK actions against individuals posting inflammatory content during the riots, calling them violations of free speech rights. Musks comments have also veered into broader critiques of UK policies, including jabs at the governments approach to law enforcement and inheritance tax reforms. His remarks branding Britain as going full Stalin and labelling the prime minister two-tier Kier have drawn sharp responses from UK officials. Science Secretary Peter Kyle defended Britains legal and societal standards while expressing openness to a dialogue with Musk on balancing free speech and public safety. UK MPs push back on Musks claims Chi Onwurah has reiterated the need to hear from senior figures at X, emphasising Musks central role in the discussion on misinformation and freedom of expression. While the inquiry seeks to understand Xs approach to content regulation, Musks statements have raised eyebrows. His comments about summoning MPs to the US and allegations of threats against American citizens have left observers puzzled, with no clear evidence supporting the claims. Some of Musks online followers suggested that the UK inquiry is a ruse, speculating without proof that Musk might face detention or scrutiny if he travelled to Britain. UK officials, however, have dismissed these suggestions, framing the inquiry as part of routine oversight rather than a personal attack. A growing feud with wider implications Musks ongoing feud with UK authorities highlights the broader tension between global tech giants and national governments over content moderation. His influence on US tech policy has only grown since his association with President-elect Donald Trump and his leadership role in reforming US government efficiency. With significant stakes in AI development through his company xAI, Musk is poised to shape the future of AI regulation, further raising the stakes in his transatlantic tussle. The standoff between Musk and UK MPs underscores a clash of philosophies on free speech, governance, and corporate accountability. As the inquiry unfolds, the outcome could have far-reaching implications for social media platforms and the regulation of online content worldwide. The US DoJ argues that disinvestments in Chrome and Android is necessary to counter Googles unfair dominance in search and advertising. Google has criticised the DoJs recommendations as excessive, warning of potential harm to consumers, developers, and small businesses read more Google argued that forcing divestitures of Chrome and Android could disrupt the tech ecosystem, especially since both are built on open-source models that underpin countless third-party products. Image Credit: Reuters The US Department of Justice (DoJ) is urging sweeping changes to counter Googles alleged monopoly on online search, and has officially proposed measures to the US District Court for the District of Columbia that include selling its Chrome browser and potentially even its Android operating system. Prosecutors argue that such steps are necessary to level the playing field and address what they claim is Googles unfair dominance in search and advertising. If approved, the measures could remain in place for up to a decade, overseen by a court-appointed technical committee. This legal clash highlights the tension between regulatory efforts to foster competition and the business practices of one of the worlds most influential tech companies. Advertisement DoJ to force sale of Android too? The DoJs proposals include significant changes aimed at loosening Googles grip on the market. These measures would prevent Google from entering exclusive agreements, such as paying companies like Apple to make its search engine the default on devices. Prosecutors also want Google barred from reinvesting in browser or AI-related search competitors for five years and may require the company to sell Android if other remedies fail. A technical committee would monitor compliance, empowered to demand access to Googles internal documents, software code, and employees. Additionally, websites could opt out of their data being used to train Googles AI products. These initiatives, according to prosecutors, aim to dismantle what they describe as a feedback loop reinforcing Googles dominance through user data and ad revenue. Google warns of far-reaching consequences Google has criticised the DoJs recommendations as excessive, warning of potential harm to consumers, developers, and small businesses. The company argued that forcing divestitures of Chrome and Android could disrupt the tech ecosystem, especially since both are built on open-source models that underpin countless third-party products. Google contends that such drastic measures could hinder innovation and weaken Americas global tech leadership. The stakes are high for Googles operations, particularly with Android and Chrome serving as critical elements of its ad-targeting strategy. The companys shares dipped by nearly 5% following the announcement of the proposals. Data sharing and licensing under the spotlight Another contentious aspect of the case is the DoJs demand that Google share search data and results with competitors. Prosecutors suggest these steps would lower barriers for rivals and promote a healthier competitive landscape. Search engine DuckDuckGo has voiced support, stating that these proposals could make it easier for smaller players to challenge Googles dominance. However, Google remains firm, stressing that it wont compromise user trust by sharing sensitive data in ways that could breach privacy standards. As the trial approaches in April, the battle lines are drawn, with Google set to present its counter-proposals in December. The outcome could have lasting implications for the tech industrys future. Advertisement A day after firing hypersonic missile on Ukrainian city of Dnipro, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday said that Moscow would carry out more tests of Oreshnik missile in combat conditions and ordered its serial production read more A day after firing hypersonic missile on Ukrainian city of Dnipro, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday said that Moscow would carry out more tests of Oreshnik missile in combat conditions and ordered its serial production. We will continue these tests, including in combat conditions, depending on the situation and character of the security threats posted to Russia, AFP Putin as saying in a televised meeting with military chiefs. Praising the strength of Oreshnik missile, Putin ordered the missile, which flies at speeds of Mach 10 - 10 times the speed of sound - to be put into serial production. Advertisement We need to begin serial production. The decision has in effect been taken, added Putin. In a major escalation of the weaponry being deployed in the nearly three-year conflict, Russia fired the new-generation missile at the Ukrainian city of Dnipro early Thursday. The weapon system that was tested yesterday (Thursday) is another faithful guarantee of Russias territorial integrity and sovereignty, he was quoted as saying. Putin claimed that no other countries in the world possessed such missile technology. While he acknowledged that other nations would eventually develop similar capabilities, he said, That will be tomorrow, after a year or two. But we have this system now. Thats important. His staged meeting with the defence minister and the officials responsible for developing the missile came at the conclusion of a week marked by a sharp escalation in the Ukraine conflict. Putin said the launch of the Oreshnik missile was a direct response to Ukraines use of US- and UK-supplied missiles on Russian soil for the first time. In a televised address on Thursday, Putin declared that Russia reserved the right to target military facilities in countries whose weapons were being used by Ukraine, specifically naming the United States and Britain. Advertisement With inputs from agencies In a desperate move to counter unpopularity amid rising cost-of-living crisis, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced a temporary tax break and freebies read more In a desperate bid to appease voters amid deep unpopularity ahead of elections, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced tax cuts and freebies. Trudeau and his Liberal Party are deeply popular and are projected to lose the upcoming parliamentary elections. As per the latest polling aggregate at ThreeThirtyEight, a polling news and analytical website, the Conservatives have an 18 per cent lead over Liberals. Canada is also in the grips of a cost-of-living crisis where commonfolk are battered with high food, grocery, and rent bills. Advertisement Amid such a crisis, Trudeau has announced he would remove goods and services tax (GST) on goods for two months and send one-time C$ 250 cheques to people earning up to $150,000 a year. Experts have said that the announcements are not going to contribute to the economic crisis that common Canadians are reeling under. Trudeau has also been facing political troubles. Recently, there as a revolt among his Liberal MPs who had threatened to topple his minority government. Whats there in Trudeaus package? The CBC News has reported that Trudeau has removed GST on following goods during December 14 and February 15: Prepared foods and meals, salads, and sandwiches Restaurant meals Snacks Beer, wine, cider, and pre-mixed alcoholic beverages below 7 per cent alcohol by volume Childrens clothes, toys, diapers Footwear Car seats Books, newspapers, Christmas trees All food will be essentially tax-free for three months with these GST exemptions, noted the outlet. As for the one-time C$ 250 cheque, Canadians who worked in 2013 and earnt C$ 150,000 or below will receive them in early spring. Around 18.7 million Canadians will receive checks, according to Associated Press. Making these announcements, Trudeau said Canadians are going to get a real break on everything for two months. Our government cant set prices at the checkout but we can put more money in peoples pockets. Thats going to give people the relief they need. People are squeezed and were there to help, said Trudeau. Desperate move by popular government Political observers have, however, dubbed Trudeaus cash-distribution as a frustrated move of an unpopular government. Politically, its probably too little too late and it feels like a desperate move on the part of an unpopular government. Its also bad public policy, at least from a fiscal standpoint, said Daniel Beland, a political science professor at McGill University to AP. Advertisement The think tank Fraser Institute dubbed the announcements a grab bag of bad ideas. It noted that slashing GST, which is one of the least burdensome taxes, is a mistake. It further said that one-time cheque with a tax cut is a mistake and economic nonsense. One-time tax rebates are a terrible way to provide tax relief. When you cut income tax rates, you improve incentives for people to work and invest because they get to keep a larger share of their earnings. This helps the economy grow. One-time rebates that you get regardless of the economic choices you make has no similar effect. This means that the rebate with its $4.7 billion price tag wont help Canadas poor growth performance, noted the Fraser Institute. Advertisement It further said, Canadas recent growth record is abysmal, and boosting growth should be a primary goal of any changes to tax policy. A GST cut of any duration fails this test relative to other tax cuts. While EU member states like Italy and Netherlands said that they respect ICCs decision to issue arrest warrants against Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, Biden called the court ruling outrageous read more US President Joe Biden slammed the International Criminal Court (ICC) calling its arrest warrants against Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant outrageous. Biden reacted to the arrest warrants against the top Israeli leaders on Thursday, just hours after the White House released a statement and rejected the courts ruling. Whatever the ICC might imply, there is no equivalence none between Israel and Hamas, the POTUS said shortly after the international tribunal issued the arrest warrants against the Israeli leaders on suspicion of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Advertisement We will always stand with Israel against threats to its security, he added. Earlier today, the White House released a separate statement over the matter in which they outrightly rejected that courts ruling. The United States fundamentally rejects the Courts decision to issue arrest warrants for senior Israeli officials. We remain deeply concerned by the Prosecutors rush to seek arrest warrants and the troubling process errors that led to this decision, a White House National Security Council spokesperson said, adding that the US is discussing next steps with its partners. While the US expresses outrage, Europe waits for the courts findings Meanwhile, Caspar Veldkamp, the Foreign Minister of the Netherlands, where the ICC is located, made it clear that the European nation would follow the instructions. If Netanyahu or Gallant land, they will be arrested. Meanwhile, a French Foreign Ministry spokesman said that the arrest warrant would be in line with the courts statutes but declined to say if they would arrest Netanyahu or Gallant if they entered the country. Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris went on to call the ICCs arrest warrants against Gallant and Netanyahu as a significant and serious step. The decision is an extremely significant step, Harris said in a statement. These charges could not be more serious. Ireland respects the role of the International Criminal Court. Anyone in a position to assist it in carrying out its vital work must now do so with urgency, he added. Italy also maintained that they would arrest the Israeli premier and the defence minister if they came to the country. Guido Crosetto, Italys defence minister, told RAI television: We would have to arrest them. He emphasised that it was not a political choice but that Italy was bound as a member of the ICC to act on the courts warrants. Advertisement Amid the chaos, European Unions foreign policy chief Josep Borrell stressed that the ICC ruling must apply to all state members of the European Union. I take note of the decision of the @IntlCrimCourt to issue arrest warrants for Israel PM Netanyahu, former Minister Gallant, and Hamas leader Deif, he wrote. These decisions are binding on all States party to the Rome Statute, which includes all EU Member States, he wrote on X, formally known as Twitter. I take note of the decision of the @IntlCrimCourt to issue arrest warrants for Israel PM Netanyahu, former Minister Gallant, and Hamas leader Deif. These decisions are binding on all States party to the Rome Statute, which includes all EU Member States. Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) November 21, 2024 Advertisement The United Kingdom also maintained that it respects the independence of the top court. We respect the independence of the International Criminal Court, which is the primary international institution for investigating and prosecuting the most serious crimes of international concern, British Prime Minister Keir Starmers spokesperson said on Thursday. There is no moral equivalence between Israel and democracy and Hamas and Lebanese Hezbollah, which are terrorist organisations. We remain focused on pushing for an immediate ceasefire to bring an end to the devastating violence in Gaza, the spokesperson added. Sweden and Norway also maintained that they would follow the ICC ruling. Advertisement Netanyahu finds an ally in Argentinas Milei While countries around the world are either welcoming or respecting the ICC ruling, Javier Milei, Argentinas leader who is undergoing a conversion to Judaism, shared multiple condemnations of the courts decision to issue warrants against Israeli leadership. The Argentine Republic expresses its profound disagreement with the recent decision of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to issue arrest warrants against the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, and the former Minister of Defense, Yoav Gallant. This resolution ignores Israels legitimate right to defend itself against constant attacks by terrorist organizations such as Hamas and Hezbollah, one of the posts read. Argentina stands in solidarity with Israel, reaffirms its right to protect its people, and demands the immediate release of all hostages. We call on the international community to condemn the actions of Hamas and Hezbollah, to defend Israels sovereignty and to act with justice and impartiality in the search for lasting peace in the region, he added. The Argentine leader went on to emphasise that Israel has the right to defend itself. Advertisement An historic first On Thursday, ICC issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Gallant and the Hamas military leader Mohammed Deif for alleged war crimes relating to the Gaza war. What made the ruling significant is the fact that this was the first time that the leaders of a democracy and western-aligned state have been charged by the court, with many calling it the most momentous decision of its 22-year history. With this, Netanyahu and Gallant are at risk of being arrested in 124 nations that signed the Rome statute establishing the court. While Israel claimed that it had killed Deif in an airstrike in June this year, the courts pre-trial chamber said that it would continue to gather information to confirm his death. It is pertinent to note that ICC has no power to enforce its warrants but technically, any country that has signed the courts Rome Statute would be obliged to arrest Mr Netanyahu or Gallant. With inputs from agencies. Airport authorities said that they have evacuated people from the building which, the police say, has caused massive traffic disruptions in the area read more Londons Gatwick Airport said it is reopening its south terminal after police resolved a security alert triggered when a suspicious item was found in a passengers luggage. The passenger terminal at Londons Gatwick Airport was evacuated on Friday after a suspected prohibited item was discovered in luggage prompting the dispatch of a bomb disposal team. The earlier security alert has now been resolved and cleared by police, the airport said in a statement posted on social media just before 3 p.m (1500 GMT). The South Terminal is reopening to staff and will be open to passengers shortly. Advertisement Gatwick said some flights were canceled and others were delayed by the incident. Passengers should contact their airline for any updates on flights, the airport said. In a statement, the Sussex Police had said, Police were called to the South Terminal at Gatwick Airport at 8:20 am on Friday following the discovery of a suspected prohibited item in luggage. Airport authorities said that they have evacuated people from the building which, the police say, has caused massive traffic disruptions in the area. Gatwick, Britains second busiest airport which is located about 30 miles south of London, said earlier it had evacuated a large part of its South terminal, citing a security incident. A large part of the South Terminal has been evacuated as a precaution while we continue to investigate a security incident. Passengers will not be able to enter the South Terminal while this is ongoing. Safety and security of our passengers and staff remains our top priority. pic.twitter.com/srjjz4rra0 London Gatwick LGW (@Gatwick_Airport) November 22, 2024 According to BBC, the Gatwick Airport incident has affected trains and bus services around the city. Weve also been advised of local road closures too, so if you are driving to the airport, please be aware of this when planning your journey, a source said. Advertisement The London Victoria Railway station has advised travellers to avoid heading to the airport. Chaos ensued at the airport after passengers were moved out of the building, with many waiting for hours for their flights. One passenger, according to Sky News, said, Arrived at London Gatwick for routine connection. Got through customs to find out theyre evacuating the entire airport. Arrived at London Gatwick for routine connection. Got through customs to find out they're evacuating the entire airport. Even people through security are being taken outside. Trains shut down and 1000's of all over the streets and carparks waiting. pic.twitter.com/igXDpt9aQL Nick Meacham (@SportsProNick) November 22, 2024 Advertisement With inputs from agencies Amid diplomatic row, Canada had enhanced its security screening for passengers travelling to India On November 20, citing an abundance of caution". read more A representative photo for airport (Source: AP) Passengers from Canada to India will no longer be required to undergo enhanced security screening imposed earlier this week. File Image- FP Canada has reportedly withdrawn its standard operating procedures for extra screening of passengers flying to India, according to a report by Canadian Broadcaster CBC. Federal Transport Minister Anita Anand said the extra screening measures have been lifted. Transport Canada has implemented temporary additional security screening measures for travellers to India out of an abundance of caution," Anand had told CBC News. Canada had on November 20, said it had enhanced its security screening for passengers travelling to India, citing an abundance of caution". Advertisement She had also said that passengers may experience some screening delays while these measures are in place. This came following a bomb threat on board an Air India flight from New Delhi to Chicago in October. The plane was diverted to Iqaluit in Canada and no explosive device was found after an inspection. The Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA), the agency in charge of screening passengers and their luggage before they enter restricted areas of airports in Canada, would carry out the additional measures, the report had stated when the measures were announced. The ties between the two countries hit a new low after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau repeatedly accused agents of the Indian government of involvement in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on June 18, 2023 in Canadas Surrey. On October 14, India expelled six Canadian diplomats and recalled its ambassador after they were designated as persons of interest in a probe by the Canadian police into the killing of Nijjar. Last year in September, Trudeau had claimed that he has credible allegations of Indias hand in the killing of Nijjar outside the Gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, in June 2023. The MEA denied the allegations, calling them absurd and motivated and accused Canada of giving space to extremist and anti-India elements in their country. Advertisement With inputs from agencies. Xi was welcomed in Casablanca by Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan and the visit reflected the strong bonds of friendship, cooperation, and solidarity between the Moroccan and Chinese peoples read more Chinese President Xi Jinping listens as US President Joe Biden, not pictured, delivers remarks during an event launching the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty at the G20 Summit at the Museum of Modern Art in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Monday. File Image: Reuters Chinese President Xi Jinping made a short visit to Morocco on Thursday, according to state news agency MAP. Xi was welcomed in Casablanca by Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan and the visit reflected the strong bonds of friendship, cooperation, and solidarity between the Moroccan and Chinese peoples, the agency said. Xi made the visit after being in Brazil for the G20 Summit. China has stepped up investments in Moroccos infrastructure and rail sector in recent years. Advertisement Moroccos geographic location close to Europe, its free trade agreements with key EU and U.S. markets and its existing automotive industry, make it attractive to Chinese electric vehicle battery makers. In June, Chinese EV battery manufacturer Gotion High Tech picked Morocco to set up Africas first gigafactory for a total cost of $1.3 billion. As sea level rise is eating away at its shores due to climate change, the Tuvalu government is taking drastic measures to preserve its land and culture by creating a digital backup of everything from its houses to its trees as it endeavors to save whatever it can, according to a report read more Tuvalu, a small country in the Pacific Ocean made up of nine coral islands, is facing erasure from climate change. Image Courtesy: Getty Tuvalu, a small country in the Pacific Ocean made up of nine coral islands, is facing erasure from climate change. According to a BBC report, as sea level rise is eating away at its shores, the government is taking drastic measures to preserve its land and culture by creating a digital backup of everything from its houses to its trees as it endeavors to save whatever it can. With the physical land sinking beneath the waves, Tuvalu is building a virtual replica, aiming to preserve not just the nations beauty, but also the legal rights of its 11,000 citizens for future generations. Advertisement Announced in 2022 by Foreign Minister Simon Kofe at COP27, the initiative is part of Tuvalus Future Now project, which blends diplomacy and climate adaptation. Kofe introduced the virtual replica in a striking video where a beach scene slowly glitches into a digital version of Te Afualiku, a small island expected to be the first to vanish due to rising seas, added the report. In the clip, which looks more like a sequel to The Matrix than an official government speech, Kofe at first appears to stand on a beach, complete with white sand and rustling palms. But as the camera zooms out, revealing more of the scenery, the image starts to glitch. Rocks and sand shift unnaturally, and a seabird flies across the black abyss of the background. This is not the real Tuvalu but the beginning of its digital twin: a virtual reconstruction of Te Afualiku, a low-lying islet that is expected to be Tuvalus first casualty of climate change. Our land, our ocean, our culture are the most precious assets of our people and to keep them safe from harm, no matter what happens in the physical world, well move them to the cloud, the BBC quoted Kofe as saying in the video. Apart from creating Tuvalu virtual landscape, the Digital Nation project also aims to preserve the island nations cultural heritage. Advertisement According to the BBC report, citizens have been invited to submit personal memories, stories, and traditions for digitisation, creating an archive to carry the nations soul, as described by Foreign Minister Simon Kofe in 2023. The project also addresses a practical need: preserving sovereignty as rising sea levels threaten Tuvalus physical territory. Current international law requires a defined landmass and permanent population for statehood, but Tuvalus future is uncertain. To adapt, the government is creating digital passports on the blockchain, enabling functions like elections and civil registrations. Tuvalu hopes this digital model will redefine statehood for a warming, online world, added the report. Advertisement The initiative has garnered support from countries in similar predicaments but faces skepticism, including within Tuvalus own government. Critics argue it mirrors the resource-intensive systems driving climate change, while others acknowledge that the project reflects the inevitable reality of displacement as life on the islands becomes increasingly untenable, added the report. According to the BBC, citing a recent assessment by scientists at Nasa, much of Tuvalus land, including its critical infrastructure, will sit below the level of the current high tide by 2050. Across all climate scenarios, the country will experience more than 100 days of flooding each year by the end of this century. Then there are the other impacts to reckon with, including saltwater intrusion, heatwaves and intensified cyclones, added the report. Advertisement Scientists have warned that exceeding a 1.5C global temperature rise poses a severe threat to small island nations. For the first time, global temperatures surpassed this threshold over an entire year, from February 2023 to January 2024. As developed nations struggle to reduce emissions quickly enough, Tuvalus digital twin offers a way for its diaspora to stay connected to their heritage and homeland, even as they lose both. This shift marks a move away from the Pacific Islands we are not drowning, we are fighting rhetoric. Reality of relocation In response to climate change, Tuvaluans are already facing the reality of relocation, with a 2023 treaty between Tuvalu and Australia allowing for the annual migration of 280 Tuvaluans. The agreement provides new visas for work, study, and eventual citizenship. However, not everyone believes its time to abandon the islands just yet. The concept for the creation of a digital nation of Tuvalu in the metaverse implies that Tuvalu will disappear because of sea level rise and that we should make a digital copy of it, BBC quoted former prime minister Enele Sopoaga, now the leader of the opposition, as saying in a 2023 media statement responding to the proposals. There is no basis of such proposition in international law, and there is absolutely no reason to believe that Tuvalu will disappear even with sea level rise, Sopoaga added. Advertisement Speaking in September at a UN General Assembly plenary about the existential threats from sea-level rise, Tuvaluan climate activist Grace Malie told delegates that Tuvalu and other ocean states will not go quietly into the rising sea but will continue the fight for their land, culture and future. Its more than just our homes at stake, she was quoted as saying. Its our dignity, our culture, our heritage. It is not something we can pack into suitcases and take with us. We have done the least to cause the crisis, but we are paying the highest price, she added. While some Tuvaluans consider migrating to Australia, Tuvalu has intensified its efforts to push Australia to reduce fossil fuel extraction and exports. At the same time, some argue that creating a digital twin of Tuvalu doesnt signal abandonment of the islands. They believe efforts to physically protect the islands can go hand in hand with preserving its legacy in the metaverse. The Digital Nation programme does not represent an acceptance of the loss of the nation as a physical entity, BBC quoted Taukiei Kitara, a Tuvaluan research fellow at Griffith University in Australia and co-author of a recent paper about the Digital Nation initiative, as saying. He points out that the project is just one of many in Tuvalus fight against climate change and has the advantage of being driven by Tuvaluans themselves. The government is investing millions in land reclamation through a coastal adaptation project. In the past two years, flood-free land has been added to Funafuti and Fogafale, creating space for housing, infrastructure, and essential services. On the outer islands of Nanumaga and Nanumea, new protective barriers are preventing tides from reaching homes, schools, hospitals, farmland, and other cultural sites. Planning for multiple scenarios both best-case and worst-case and in between is sensible when it comes to risk management, and this is the approach of Tuvalus current government, and indeed successive previous Tuvalu governments, Kitara added. Digital Nation plan impractical Some critics argue that the Digital Nation plan is impractical for a country still relatively disconnected from the digital world, suggesting its more of a PR move aimed at attracting international attention and pressuring wealthier nations to cut emissions critical for the survival of Tuvalus physical islands. However, the effort the Tuvaluan government is putting into mapping its islands and improving connectivity suggests that this initiative is more than just a diplomatic tactic. In the year following the COP27 announcement, Tuvalu completed a 3D scan of all its 124 islands and islets using Lidar (light detection and ranging) technology, an airborne laser scanning technique. The government is now building an undersea telecommunications cable to improve digital connectivity and support the plan. In March and April 2024, the global non-profit Place began mapping Funafuti, Tuvalus capital, using drones and 360-degree cameras to capture both aerial and street-level imagery. This high-resolution data will create a detailed digital representation of the islands, where satellite imagery alone lacks the accuracy needed for finer details. We drove all of the island, then we switched to mopeds for the bike paths, and then we switched to tiny GoPros for all of the walking paths, BBC quoted Frank Pichel, field operations lead at Place, as saying. I think we have covered about 80 or 90 km (50 or 56 miles), and really covered as much as we could. With inputs from agencies Beyond Gaza, aid workers were subject to kidnappings, injuries, harassment and arbitrary detention in a range of countries, the agency said, including Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan, and Ukraine read more Palestinians look at the destruction after an Israeli strike on a school run by UNRWA, the UN agency helping Palestinian refugees, in Nuseirat, Gaza Strip, May 14, 2024. File Image/AP A staggering 281 aid workers have been killed around the world so far this year, making 2024 the deadliest year for humanitarians, the UN aid chief said Friday. Humanitarian workers are being killed at an unprecedented rate, their courage and humanity being met with bullets and bombs, said Tom Fletcher, the United Nations new under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator. With more than a month left to go of 2024, the grim milestone was reached, he said, after 280 humanitarians were killed across 33 countries during all of 2023. This violence is unconscionable and devastating to aid operations, Fletcher said. Advertisement States and parties to conflict must protect humanitarians, uphold international law, prosecute those responsible, and call time on this era of impunity. Israels devastating war in Gaza was driving up the numbers, his office said, with 333 aid workers killed there most from the UN agency supporting Palestinian refugees, UNRWA since Hamass October 7, 2023 attacks, which sparked the war. OCHA spokesman Jens Laerke told reporters in Geneva that 243 UNRWA staff had been killed in the war to date. Beyond Gaza, aid workers were subject to kidnappings, injuries, harassment and arbitrary detention in a range of countries, the agency said, including Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan, and Ukraine. The majority of deaths involve local staff working with non-governmental organisations, UN agencies and the Red Cross Red Crescent movement, Fletchers office said. Violence against humanitarian personnel is part of a broader trend of harm to civilians in conflict zones, it warned. Last year, more than 33,000 civilian deaths were recorded in 14 armed conflicts a staggering 72 per cent increase from 2022. Laerke said the fresh numbers on killings of humanitarians defy comprehension. These frontline workers being killed (while) really doing the best humanity has to offer is outrageous and should hopefully make people sit up and take notice. Advertisement The UN Security Council adopted a resolution last May in response to the surging violence and threats against aid workers. The text called for recommendations from the UN chief set to be presented at a council meeting next week on measures to prevent and respond to such incidents and to increase protection for humanitarian staff and accountability for abuses. Hamas and West Banks Palestinian Authority welcomed the ICC arrest warrants against Israels PM Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, insisting that the court order reflects new hope. However, both sides made no mention of the arrest warrant against Hamas military leader Mohammad Deif read more Hamas and the Palestinian Authority welcomed the arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant. On Thursday, the international tribunal issued arrest warrants against the Israeli premier, defence minister and Hamas military leader Mohammed Deif for alleged war crimes relating to the Gaza war. While Israel has claimed that Deif was killed in an airstrike in July, the courts pre-trial chamber said that it would continue to gather information to confirm his death. It is pertinent to note that this would be the first time that leaders of a democracy and Western-aligned states have been charged by the court, with many calling it the most momentous decision of its 22-year history. Advertisement On Thursday, Hamas welcomed the court ruling and urged the international court to aggressively investigate the human rights violation in Gaza. We call on the International Criminal Court to expand the scope of accountability to all criminal occupation leaders, the Palestinian militant group said in a statement. Meanwhile, the Palestinian Authority (PA) in the West Bank also welcomed the decision and urged members of the court to implement it, the Palestinian news agency WAFA reported. In the Thursday order, the pre-trial chamber ruled that there were reasonable grounds to believe Netanyahu and Gallant bore criminal responsibility as co-perpetrators for the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare; and the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts." ICCs decision reflects hope: PA While welcoming the courts decision, the Palestinian Authorities said that the Thursday order reflected hope. The ICCs decision represents hope and confidence in international law and its institutions, the Palestinian statement said, urging ICC member states to sever contact and meetings with Netanyahu and Gallant who was sacked by the Israeli prime minister earlier this month. However, the PA statement did not make any mention of the arrest warrant issued against Deif. Even Hamas own statement did not mention Deifs name. While Hamas said that the warrants for the Israeli leaders were an important step towards justice and can lead to redress for the victims in general, it called the ruling limited. It remains limited and symbolic if it is not supported by all means by all countries around the world, the groups political bureau member Bassem Naim said. Meanwhile, countries like Italy, the Netherlands and Canada have maintained that they would arrest the Israeli premier and defence minister if they enter the country. Advertisement When asked by AFP about Deifs arrest warrant, a Hamas official who wished to remain anonymous said there was no comparison between the criminal occupier and the victim. The Gaza war, triggered by Hamass October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, resulted in the deaths of 1,206 people. Meanwhile, over 40,000 people lost their lives in Gaza after Israel launched its military operation in the coastal enclave. With inputs from agencies. Gaetz was facing an uphill battle to win confirmation in the Senate for the top legal role of attorney general due to widespread opposition, including from within his own Republican Party read more Matt Gaetz speaks at a campaign rally for Republican presidential nominee and former US President Donald Trump in Henderson, Nevada, US, October 31, 2024. File Image/Reuters After withdrawing his name from consideration to be the US attorney general, Matt Gaetz on Friday said he does not intend to rejoin the Congress. In an interview with commentator Charlie Kirk, Gaetz said, Im still going to be in the fight, but its going to be from a new perch. I do not intend to join the 119th Congress. Earlier today, Gaetz pulled out the confirmation process for attorney general after allegations were levelled against him over sexual misconduct which eventually prompted an investigation. Advertisement Im 42 now, and Ive got other goals in life that Im eager to pursue my wife and my family and so Im going to be fighting for President Trump," he said. Im going to be doing whatever he asks of me, as I always have. But I think that eight years is probably enough time in the United States Congress, the former Representative added. Gaetz was facing an uphill battle to win confirmation in the Senate for the top legal role of attorney general due to widespread opposition, including from within his own Republican Party. Like if the things that the House Ethics report [said] were true, I would be under indictment and probably in a prison cell, he said, asserting that the allegations are false. Gaetz resigned from Congress last week after President-elect Donald Trump announced that he had been picked to serve as the attorney general. He cannot return to the current Congress because of his resignation. Soon after he announced his withdrawal, Trump tapped Pam Bondi, a staunch ally who helped defend the ex-leader against impeachment for the post. For too long, the partisan Department of Justice has been weaponized against me and other Republicans Not anymore, Trump wrote on his Truth Social network in announcing Bondis nomination. Advertisement Bondi, 59, was a member of Trumps legal team during his first Senate impeachment trial, in which he was alleged to have pressured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, using aid as leverage, to hand over political dirt on Biden. With inputs from AFP The northern frontier of Myanmar, a shadowy zone bordering China, has transformed into a battleground where ruthless telecom fraud syndicates thrive read more (File) Myanmar police hand over five telecom and internet fraud suspects to Chinese police at Yangon International Airport in Yangon, Myanmar on August 26, 2023. AP The northern region of Myanmar, which borders China, has become a hub for a large and complex telecom fraud industry. Both countries are working together to tackle this issue, which has grown into a serious cross-border problem. Recent actions against these scams have exposed a network of criminal groups, historical challenges and the importance of international teamwork to solve the problem. A persistent threat: Telecom fraud in numbers The scale of telecom fraud targeting Chinese nationals is least to say staggering. Since the launch of a specialised operation by Chinas Ministry of Public Security (MPS) in 2023, over 53,000 Chinese nationals suspected of telecom fraud have been apprehended, according to a Xinhua report. This figure includes a recent breakthrough: the arrest of 763 Chinese suspects in Myanmars Tangyan region, part of a broader operation that netted 1,079 individuals. Advertisement This crackdown is part of Chinas high-pressure campaign to eliminate telecom fraud originating in northern Myanmar. Efforts have dismantled all large-scale fraud industrial parks in the region bordering China. Yet, the persistence of these activities, often involving violent crimes like illegal detention, kidnapping and murder, highlights the severity of the issue. Historical and structural roots of the problem The rise of telecom fraud in the China-Myanmar borderlands is not a recent phenomenon. The socio-political environment of the region has long been shaped by instability and illicit economies. Historical accounts recall the Nationalists fleeing to Myanmar in the 1950s, the activities of the Red Guards in the 1960s and the emergence of black-market entrepreneurs in subsequent decades, according to a report in China Talk. This history has created a fertile ground for criminal enterprises from narcotics trafficking to human smuggling. Telecom fraud is merely the latest addition. Syndicates, often based in areas like the Wa State and Kokang, exploit weak governance, high corruption and proximity to China to flourish. These territories, controlled by ethnic militias and de facto independent states, have become hubs for illicit operations, including online scams. How the scams operate Telecom fraud syndicates deploy tactics familiar worldwide: fake investment opportunities, romantic deceptions and urgent financial scams. Vulnerable populations, including the elderly and lonely individuals, are frequently targeted. These operations are facilitated by advanced communications infrastructure including networks provided by Chinese companies like China Unicom and China Telecom. Recruitment into these operations is equally insidious. Many Chinese nationals are lured with promises of high-paying jobs, only to find themselves trapped in coercive and abusive conditions, involving forced labour and physical violence. Advertisement Chinas multifaceted crackdown The Chinese government has responded with an aggressive, multi-pronged approach. Since 2019, Operation Cloud Sword has focussed on dismantling overseas fraud syndicates. Collaborative efforts with Myanmar, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia have led to significant breakthroughs including the Chiang Mai cybercrime coordination centre. The recent operation in Tangyan highlights the effectiveness of this collaboration. Joint efforts between Yunnan police and Myanmar law enforcement resulted in the capture of not only suspects but also crucial evidence such as computers, mobile phones and scam scripts. High-profile fugitives, including 69 individuals on Chinas most-wanted list, were among those apprehended. These arrests are part of broader statistics: in 2023 alone, Chinese public security departments cracked 3,91,000 cases of telecom and online fraud, apprehending 79,000 suspects, including 263 ringleaders. Advertisement Role of borderland states and armed groups The northern Myanmar border is a complex tapestry of de facto states, ethnic militias and illicit trade networks. Territories like the Wa State, where the official language is Chinese, operate semi-independently and thrive on cross-border smuggling and grey-market enterprises. Armed groups often provide protection to fraud syndicates in exchange for revenue. This arrangement enables scams to persist even under intense scrutiny. Fraudulent operations find support from local authorities, legitimate investors and inland Chinese criminal groups, ensuring a steady flow of resources and manpower. Myanmars role and collaborative efforts For Myanmar, telecom fraud adds another layer to its existing challenges. The military junta, known as the Tatmadaw, has limited control over northern regions dominated by ethnic militias. Despite this, Myanmar has partnered with China in several joint operations. In March 2023, the first such operation in the Muse region led to over 800 arrests. By May, Myanmar had handed over 49,000 criminal suspects to Chinese authorities. Advertisement These collaborative actions highlight the necessity of international cooperation. However, entrenched corruption and ongoing conflict in Myanmars border regions complicate these efforts. Socio-economic and legal implications The socio-economic impact of telecom fraud is profound. Victims lose significant sums of money while participants face harsh consequences including imprisonment and physical harm. The criminal networks themselves are deeply embedded in the regions economy making eradication a complex task. China has also taken steps to strengthen legal frameworks. The joint punishment measures for telecom and internet fraud and related crimes aim to provide a robust legal basis for handling these cases. Public awareness campaigns warn against high-paying job offers abroad, a common recruitment tactic. Advertisement Looking ahead: Challenges and prospects Despite the successes, challenges remain. Syndicates continue to adapt, shifting operations to new areas and exploiting loopholes in enforcement. The historical entrenchment of criminal economies in Myanmars borderlands poses a significant obstacle. Moreover, the regions political instability and ongoing conflicts hinder sustained anti-fraud efforts. The battle against telecom fraud in the China-Myanmar borderlands reflects broader issues of governance, corruption and transnational crime. While recent crackdowns mark significant progress, the historical and structural roots of the problem warrant a long-term, collaborative approach. After Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban condemned the International Criminal Courts shameful move against Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Minister on Friday thanked Orban for his moral clarity in inviting him to visit, despite an ICC arrest warrant read more After Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban condemned the International Criminal Courts shameful move against Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Minister on Friday thanked Orban for his moral clarity in inviting him to visit, despite an ICC arrest warrant. Faced with the shameful weakness of those who stood by the outrageous decision against the right of the State of Israel to defend itself, Hungary is standing by the side of justice and truth, AFP quoted Netanyahu as saying in a statement the day after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for him and his former defence minister. Netanyahus office also published what they said was a letter from Orban sent on Friday. Hungary strongly condemns this disgraceful decision, which has no impact whatsoever on the Hungarian-Israeli alliance and friendship, AFP quoted Orban as saying in the letter, adding that Israel has every right to defend itself against any threat. The ICC on Thursday issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant over allegations of crimes against humanity and war crimes during Israels military actions in Gaza, following the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas. Advertisement Hungary signed the Rome Statute in 1999 and ratified it in 2001, but has not adopted the related convention due to constitutional concerns. As a result, Budapest asserts it is not obligated to follow ICC rulings. Currently holding the EUs rotating presidency, Hungary sparked controversy earlier in its term when Orban visited Moscow in July to meet with President Vladimir Putin. Orban is the only EU leader to maintain close relations with Putin after Russias invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Budapest also announced it would not arrest Putin, who is wanted by the ICC for war crimes related to the unlawful deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia. With inputs from agencies Hungary and the Czech Republic have been staunch supporters of Israel within the EU read more Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban gestures as he gives a speech at the European Parliament, in Strasbourg, France, October 9, 2024. File Image/Reuters Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban announced Friday he would invite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to visit Hungary, assuring that an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant against Netanyahu would not be enforced. The ICC issued arrest warrants Thursday (November 21) for Netanyahu, his former defence chief, and Hamas leader Ibrahim Al-Masri over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity during the Gaza conflict. Orban, whose country currently holds the European Unions rotating presidency, criticised the ICCs decision as wrong. Speaking on state radio, he said Netanyahu could negotiate in Hungary in adequate safety. Advertisement Today I will invite Israels prime minister, Mr Netanyahu, for a visit to Hungary, and I will guarantee him that if he comes, the ICC ruling will have no effect in Hungary, Orban said. Orban and Netanyahu have cultivated strong ties since Orbans nationalist Fidesz party came to power in 2010. Netanyahu visited Budapest in 2017. The ICC warrants have sparked backlash from Israel and its allies, with Israeli leaders and the White House denouncing the move. Meanwhile, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell defended the courts independence, urging all member states to respect its decisions. Hungary and the Czech Republic have been staunch supporters of Israel within the E, while countries like Spain and Ireland have focused on backing Palestinian causes. The Czech Foreign Ministry said it would uphold its international legal obligations regarding the ICC, but Prime Minister Petr Fiala described the warrants as unfortunate. Writing on X, Fiala said the decision undermined the courts credibility by equating elected representatives of a democratic state with the leaders of an Islamist terrorist organisation. Advertisement With inputs from agencies The decision, made by IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi and approved by Defence Minister Israel Katz, promotes Lotan to the rank of major general, according to a report read more Brig. Gen. Nadav Lotan has been appointed as the next commander of the IDF Ground Forces, according to a Times of Israel report, citing the military. The decision, made by IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi and approved by Defence Minister Israel Katz, promotes Lotan to the rank of major general. Lotan, who previously led the 162nd Division and the Operations Directorates military doctrine, assessment, and training department, will take over from Maj. Gen. Tamir Yadai, who resigned in September for personal reasons. Advertisement Apart from Lotans appointment, Halevi also approved several other senior military changes, including the promotion of 11 brigadier generals, four new colonels, and the reassignment of six brigadier generals and 19 colonels to new positions. Notably, a reservist officer will return to lead the Military Intelligence Directorates Unit 8200. With inputs from agencies The Indian Consulate in Toronto has cancelled some more scheduled consular camps after Canadian authorities inability to provide minimum security against heightened threats read more The Indian Consulate in Canadas Toronto has cancelled some more scheduled consular camps, including one at a police facility, after the Canadian authorities conveyed their continued inability to provide minimum security against heightened threats to the organisers. In a notification, the Consulate General of India, Toronto informed: Due to continued inability conveyed by security agencies to provide minimum security against heightened threats, the Consulate has had to cancel some more consular camps. Most of them were not at any places of worship, including one at a Police facility." Advertisement The consulate, in the statement, further said that it is fully sensitive to the difficulties faced by close to 4,000 elderly members of the diaspora in the Greater Toronto Area - both Indian and Canadian nationals - who have been deprived of an essential consular service. UPDATE ON CONSULAR CAMPS: Due to continued inability conveyed by security agencies to provide minimum security against heightened threats, Consulate has had to cancel some more consular camps. Most of them were not at any places of worship, including one at a Police facility. pic.twitter.com/a3c9gQMaBd IndiainToronto (@IndiainToronto) November 21, 2024 This comes amid ongoing diplomatic row between India and Canada. The cancelling of the camp in Toronto also comes days after the Indian High Commission in Canada cancelled some of the scheduled consular camps after attacks by Khalistani supporters on such camps in Brampton, Surrey and Vancouver. On November 3, a mob of Khalistani supporters barged into the premises of the Hindu Sabha Mandir in Brampton and attacked devotees, including women and children. The temple was holding a consular camp and the Peel Police of Ontario province failed to protect as well as act against the attackers. Advertisement Also Read: Video | In Canada temple, Hindus, including women, kids, beaten by Khalistanis; lawmakers say completely unacceptable After the attack, Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), a banned pro-Khalistani group led by Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, claimed its supporters were protesting the presence of Indian consular officials who had come to assist in administrative services. The incident was condemned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and also by his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau. What are consular camps? Consular camps are routine operations that are often organised by the Indian diplomatic missions in Canada, including the High Commission in Ottawa and the Consulates in Vancouver and Toronto, to assist Indians with various services, such as life certificates. India-Canada diplomatic ties have deteriorated after Canadian PM Trudeau, in September last year, alleged that Indian agents were involved in the murder plot of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Sing Nijjar in June 2023. India strongly denied these allegations and slammed the Trudeau administration, accusing it of indulging in appeasement politics. Advertisement With inputs from agencies. Amid strained ties since the ouster of Sheikh Hasina, foreign secretaries of India and Bangladesh are expected to meet next month in Dhaka read more (File) National flags of India and Bangladesh being lowered during celebrations of the 53rd Independence Day of Bangladesh, on the outskirts of Siliguri, West Bengal, on March 26, 2024. PTI India and Bangladesh will hold foreign secretary-level talks in December in Dhaka, said Bangladesh Foreign Affairs Advisor Touhid Hossain. Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri will meet Bangladeshi Foreign Secretary Jashim Uddin under the framework of India-Bangladesh Foreign Office Consultation (FOC), said Hasan, according to state-run news agency Bangladesh Sanghbad Sangstha (BSS). Hasan was further quoted as saying that the talks will be a step towards normalisation of relations between India and Bangladesh. During the visit, Bangladesh may raise the issue of ouster premier Sheikh Hasinas extradition. Advertisement Hasan said that the meeting is expected to cover a range of bilateral issues and there is scope for discussion on the matter (extradition of Hasina), according to The Times of India. The India-Bangladesh relationship has been strained since August when a weekslong protest movement toppled the 15-year-rule of Sheikh Hasina, who then fled to India for her life. She has been living in India since. Following Hasinas ouster, the movement, which had been driven and supported by Islamist and pro-Pakistan groups, propped an unelected interim regime of Nobel laureate Mohammed Yunus with the support of the army. Bangladesh has been enveloped with a wave of majoritarian and political violence against Hindus, other minorities, and political opponents under Yunus regime, which has continued to downplay the violence. The Yunus regime has also released Islamist leaders from jails, such as Jashimuddin Rahmani Hafi of Ansarullah Bangla Team, an affiliate of the terrorist organisation al-Qaeda, which has strained ties with India. The Yunus regime has continued to demand India to extradite Hasina to answer for the cases that have been filed against her and her supporters. Both Italy and Germany are part 124 States Parties to the Rome Statute of the International Court of Justice. Ireland has said that it would arrest Netanyahu if he were to travel to the country while the UK indicated that it will adhere to ICCs warrant read more Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Friday said that the Group of Seven nations would discuss whether or not they will comply with ICCs arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. After her defence minister said Thursday that Italy would have to arrest Israels premier if he visited, Meloni said she would delve deeper into the ICCs decision and it would be on the agenda of a meeting of Group of Seven foreign ministers in Fiuggi, near Rome, next week. Advertisement Similarly, Germany is undecided whether it will obey the warrant. The countrys Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said that while Germany is bound by the ICC ruling, it will examine what it meant for implementation in Germany. Both Italy and Germany are part 124 States Parties to the Rome Statute of the International Court of Justice. The International Criminal Court on November 21 issued arrest warrants against Netanyahu, former Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant and Hamas officials. Israel has been accused of war crimes in Gaza while Hamas officials have been blamed for the October 7 attack. Meanwhile, Ireland has said that it would arrest Netanyahu if he were to travel to the country. On the other hand, the UK indicated that it will adhere to ICCs warrant, saying The UK will always comply with its legal obligations as set out by domestic law and indeed international law. European Unions Josep Borrell has supported the courts decision in issuing the arrest warrant against the Israeli leaders, saying that it is not politically motivated and that it should be respected and implemented. Belgiums foreign ministry said, The fight against impunity wherever crimes are committed is a priority for Belgium, which fully supports the work of the [ICC]. Advertisement Its really important that everyone abide by international law, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said. With inputs from agencies In a legal win for the President-elect, the judge in Donald Trumps criminal hush money case ordered on Friday that his sentencing, which was set for next week, be delayed indefinitely, according to a report read more In a legal win for the President-elect, the judge in Donald Trumps criminal hush money case ordered on Friday that his sentencing, which was set for next week, be delayed indefinitely. It is ordered that the joint application for a stay of sentencing is granted to the extent that the November 26, 2024 date is adjourned, AFP quoted judge Juan Merchan as saying in an order. According to a CNN report, Judge Merchan granted former President Trumps request to file a motion to dismiss the case. Advertisement Trumps legal team must submit their motion by December 2, while prosecutors are required to respond by December 9. Trumps team had initially requested until December 20 to file their paperwork. The judge also decided to delay ruling on the issue of presidential immunity until after reviewing the filings from both parties. No new sentencing date was set, and the judge did not provide additional comments regarding the delay, added the report. Trumps criminal defence strategy has largely relied on delaying proceedings until after the election. He successfully postponed trials in his other three criminal cases, and in the New York hush money case, where a verdict was reached, Trump managed to push sentencing until after the election. The jurys verdict in that case made Trump the first former president convicted of a felony. If the conviction stands and he returns to the White House, he would be the first president to take office with such a criminal record. With his electoral victory secured, Trumps legal team now argues that his criminal cases should be dismissed. They have moved most aggressively to have the hush money case dismissed, especially as sentencing was fast approaching on November 26. In May, a jury of 12 New Yorkers found Trump guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up a hush money payment made by his former fixer to an adult film actress ahead of the 2016 election. Advertisement While Trump could face jail time, such a sentence is rare for first-time offenders on charges like his, and he is expected to seek a delay of any punishment pending a lengthy appeal. Before sentencing, Judge Merchan was set to rule on whether the verdict could stand, depending on the Supreme Courts decision regarding presidential immunity. He delayed both his ruling and sentencing until after the election, and has now put them on hold following Trumps electoral win. Both will remain delayed until the judge determines the next steps in light of Trumps return to power, reported The Hill. Trumps potential return to the White House has already slowed progress in his other criminal cases. Advertisement With inputs from agencies The death in the Laos tainted alcohol case has reached six after two Australian teenagers and a British women died in Bangkok. The deaths are attributed to suspected methanol poisoning. read more A woman cleans near the emergency section of a hospital where poisoned foreign tourists admitted in Vang Vieng, Laos, Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. (Photo: AP) A second Australian teenager who fell critically ill after drinking tainted alcohol in Laos has died in a hospital in Bangkok, her family said Friday, bringing the death toll in the mass poisoning of foreign tourists to six. Holly Bowles, 19, had been in critical condition on life support following the poisoning in Laos more than a week ago. We are so sad to say that our beautiful girl Holly is now at peace," her family said in a statement sent to Australian Network 10 and other Australian media. We find comfort and solace in knowing that Holly brought so much joy and happiness to so many people. Advertisement An officer at Vang Viengs Tourism Police office, who refused to give his name, told The Associated Press on Friday that a number of people had been detained in the case but that no charges have yet been filed. Staff at the Nana Backpacker Hostel, which was still operating but not accepting new guests, confirmed that the manager and owner were among those taken in for questioning. Tourist police offices are common in Southeast Asia and are set up specifically to help with incidents involving tourists and other foreigners. The US State Department on Friday issued a health alert for citizens traveling in Laos, warning of suspected methanol poisoning in Vang Vieng, possibly through the consumption of methanol-laced alcoholic drinks," following similar alerts from other countries whose citizens were involved. Australias prime minister announced Thursday that a 19-year-old citizen, Bianca Jones, had died in a Thai hospital where she had been evacuated for emergency treatment, and that her friend Bowles remained in a hospital fighting for her life. A 28-year-old British woman, Simone White, also died from suspected methanol poisoning in Laos, the British Foreign Office said. An American and two Danish tourists also died, though specifics about the causes of death have not been released. New Zealands Foreign Ministry said one of its citizens was sickened in Laos and was a possible victim of methanol poisoning. Laos is a one-party communist state with no organized opposition and the government keeps a tight lid on information. In this case, officials have released almost no details. Advertisement The Foreign Ministry has refused to comment, and in Vang Vieng the small hospital where some of the victims are believed to have been treated initially referred all questions to the towns health office on the hospital grounds. The town health officials refused to comment, saying they lacked proper permission. Methanol is sometimes added to mixed drinks at disreputable bars as a cheaper alternative to ethanol, but can cause severe poisoning or death. It is also a byproduct of poorly distilled homebrew liquor, and could have found its way into bar drinks inadvertently. Landlocked Laos is one of Southeast Asias poorest nations and a popular tourist destination. Vang Vieng is particularly popular among backpackers seeking partying and adventure sports. Advertisement Neil Farmiloe, a New Zealander who owns the Kiwi Kitchen restaurant in town, said a lot of his customers were very worried about the incident. I think its never happened before, so it is hopefully just a one-off incident," said Farmiloe, who has lived in Vang Vieng for 20 years. Its very sad all around. Im sure nobody intended to cause injury, but its happened. The two 19-year-old Australian women who have both now died fell ill on Nov. 13 following a night out drinking with a group. They failed to check out from the Nana Backpacker Hostel as planned and were found sick in their room and then taken to Thailand for emergency treatment. Advertisement Thai authorities confirmed that Jones had died by brain swelling due to high levels of methanol found in her system. Duong Duc Toan, the manager of the Nana Backpacker Hostel, told the AP the day before he was detained that the two women had joined other guests for free shots of Laotian vodka before heading elsewhere and returning in the early hours of the morning. (Except the headline, this story has not been edited by Firstpost staff.) According to Merkel, Trump deliberately sought to create controversy with his behaviour, exploiting it for public attention. She said his nature was emotional' read more Angela Merkel said one of her first mistakes was considering that then-US President Donald Trump was 'completely normal'. Reuters Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel takes readers behind closed doors in her upcoming memoir, Freedom: Memories 1954-2021, offering insights into her dealings with world leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and former US President Donald Trump. The memoir, set to release on Nov. 26, sheds light on controversial moments from her 16 years in power as her legacy faces increasing scrutiny amid todays global crises. Here are five major controversies from Merkels memoir: Advertisement 1. Mistook Trump for someone completely normal In her memoir, Merkel admits her first mistake with Donald Trump was treating him as if he were completely normal, a miscalculation she quickly regretted. Recounting their 2017 Oval Office meeting, where Trump refused to shake her hand for the cameras, Merkel recalls whispering to him that they should shake hands again. As soon as the words left my mouth, I shook my head at myself. How could I forget that Trump knew precisely what he was doing, she writes, according to The Guardian. According to Merkel, Trump deliberately sought to create controversy with his behaviour, exploiting it for public attention. Reflecting on his emotional nature and preference for authoritarians, Merkel highlights how she misread his intentions during their early interactions. 2. Nato membership for Ukraine and the 2008 Bucharest summit Merkel defends her opposition to offering Ukraine future Nato membership during the 2008 summit, a stance that critics argue emboldened Russias aggression. In excerpts published by Die Zeit, Merkel wrote that even the summits declaration that Ukraine and Georgia would eventually join Nato was a battle cry for Putin. She recounts Putin telling her, You wont be Chancellor forever. And then theyll become a member of Nato. And I want to prevent that. 3. Seeking the Popes advice on Trump Merkel sought guidance from Pope Francis after Donald Trumps election in 2016, describing him as a leader with a winner-or-loser mentality shaped by his background in property development. She hoped to sway Trump from pulling the US out of the Paris climate accords. The popes advice? Bend, bend, bend, but make sure it doesnt break. Despite her efforts, Trump exited the accord in 2017, a decision she viewed as a major setback in global climate diplomacy. 4. Criticism of Trumps worldview Merkel takes aim at Trumps transactional approach to politics, writing that he saw the world through the lens of a real estate developer: Each parcel of land could only be sold once, and if he didnt get it, someone else did. Merkels frequent appeals to values like freedom and human rights during his presidency earned her the nickname leader of the free world, a title traditionally reserved for US presidents. Advertisement 5. Her heartfelt hope for Kamala Harris Written before Trumps reelection, Merkel expresses optimism in her memoir that Vice President Kamala Harris would defeat her political rivals. While she avoids overt endorsements, her criticism of Trump and heartfelt hope for Harris further underscores Merkels concerns about Trumps impact on global governance. With inputs from agencies The European Commission has endorsed two more nations readiness for full membership, noting their adherence to Schengen standards after thorough investigations read more The Schengen visa could soon allow travel to and from Romania and Bulgaria by land as well. AFP Two countries are on the brink of becoming full members of Europes borderless Schengen travel zone, potentially joining in January 2025 after a prolonged wait. While the Bulgaria and Romania partly entered the zone in March 2024, allowing unrestricted air and maritime travel with the 27 other Schengen nations, full membership has been delayed due to land border concerns. Romania and Bulgaria, both European Union and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) members, have faced objections primarily from Austria and the Netherlands. Advertisement Austria has expressed concerns about illegal immigration, arguing the countries needed stronger measures to secure their borders. The Netherlands, meanwhile, has reservations regarding Bulgarias efforts to combat human trafficking. Despite these challenges, Hungarian Interior Minister Sandor Pinter indicated Friday (November 22) that significant progress has been made. A final decision will be made at a meeting of EU interior ministers on December 11, where a security package will be presented, including the deployment of 100 border guards along Bulgarias border with Turkey. Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu called the meeting crucial and noted that approval from the Dutch parliament is also required. What this means for Schengen visa holders If Bulgaria and Romania achieve full Schengen membership, Schengen visa holders will benefit from smoother travel. Currently, travellers can enter these countries by air or sea using a Schengen visa without border checks. However, land crossings between Bulgaria, Romania, and other Schengen countries still require border controls. Full membership would remove these remaining checks, simplifying overland travel and allowing seamless mobility throughout the entire area. Additionally, the duration of stay in Romania and Bulgaria already counts towards the 90-day limit of a Schengen visa within any 180-day period. Full membership will align these countries with other Schengen states, ensuring uniformity in visa rules and enforcement. The European Commission has endorsed Romania and Bulgarias readiness for full membership, noting their adherence to Schengen standards after thorough investigations. Advertisement With inputs from agencies In a stark warning to the West, President Vladimir Putin said in a nationally televised speech that the attack with the intermediate-range Oreshnik missile was in retaliation for Kyivs use of U.S. and British longer-range missiles capable of striking deeper into Russian territory. read more In this photo taken from a video released by Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024, a Russian engineer troops serviceman operates at an undisclosed location in Ukraine. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP) NATO and Ukraine are set to hold emergency talks on Tuesday after Russia escalated the nearly 33-month conflict by striking a central Ukrainian city with an experimental hypersonic ballistic missile. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk described the war as entering a decisive phase and taking on theatrical dimensions. Meanwhile, Ukraines parliament canceled a session on heightened security concerns following Thursdays missile attack on a military facility in Dnipro. Russia said on Friday that the hypersonic missile strike was a direct message to the West, warning of harsh responses to any reckless actions in support of Ukraine. Advertisement Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was speaking a day after President Vladimir Putin said Moscow had fired the new missile - the Oreshnik or Hazel Tree - at a Ukrainian military facility in response to Kyiv striking Russia with U.S.-made and British-made missiles this week for the first time after the U.S. granted its approval. The main message is that the reckless decisions and actions of Western countries that produce missiles, supply them to Ukraine, and subsequently participate in strikes on Russian territory cannot remain without a reaction from the Russian side, Peskov told reporters. The Russian side has clearly demonstrated its capabilities, and the contours of further retaliatory actions in the event that our concerns are not taken into account have been quite clearly outlined, he said. Moscow has said it regards Ukraines firing of ATACMS and Storm Shadow missiles into Russia as proof of direct U.S. and British involvement in the war. It says satellite targeting data and the actual programming of the missiles flight paths must be done by NATO military personnel because Kyiv does not have the capabilities itself. Speaking Friday to military and weapons industries officials, Putin said Russia is launching production of the Oreshnik. No one in the world has such weapons, he said with a thin smile. Sooner or later other leading countries will also get them. We are aware that they are under development." But he added, we have this system now. And this is important. Advertisement Testing the missile will continue, including in combat, depending on the situation and the character of security threats created for Russia, Putin said, noting there is a stockpile of such systems ready for use. Putin said that while it isnt an intercontinental missile, its so powerful that the use of several of them fitted with conventional warheads in one attack could be as devastating as a strike with strategic or nuclear weapons. With inputs from agencies. In total, the UN health agency said there had been 187 attacks on healthcare in Lebanon in the more than 13 months of cross-border fire between Israel and Hezbollah over the Gaza conflict read more Nearly 230 health workers have been killed in Lebanon since the start of Israels war in Gaza following the October 7 attacks last year, the World Health Organization said Friday. In total, the UN health agency said there had been 187 attacks on healthcare in Lebanon in the more than 13 months of cross-border fire between Israel and Hezbollah over the Gaza conflict. Between October 7, 2023 and November 18 this year, we have 226 deaths and 199 injuries in total, Abdinasir Abubakar, the WHO representative in Lebanon, said via video link from Beirut. Advertisement He said almost 70 per cent of these had occurred since the tensions escalated into all-out war in September. Saying this was an extremely worrying pattern, he stressed that depriving civilians of access to lifesaving care and targeting health providers is a breach of international humanitarian law. Abubakar said a hallmark of the conflict in Lebanon is how destructive it has been to health care, highlighting that 47 percent of these attacks have proven fatal to at least one health worker or patient the highest percentage of any active conflict today. By comparison, Abubakar said that only 13.3 per cent of attacks on healthcare globally had fatal outcomes during the same period, pointing to data from a range of conflict situations, including Ukraine, Sudan and the occupied Palestinian territory. He suggested the high percentage of fatal attacks on healthcare in Lebanon might be due to the fact that more ambulances have been targeted. And whenever the ambulance is targeted, actually, then you will have three, four or five paramedics killed. The conflict has dealt a harsh blow to overall healthcare in Lebanon, which was already reeling from a string of dire crises in recent years. The WHO warned that 15 of Lebanons 153 hospitals have now ceased to operate or are only partially functioning Hanan Balkhy, WHOs regional director for the eastern Mediterranean region, stressed that attacks on health care of this scale cripple a health system when those whose lives depend on it need it the most. Advertisement Beyond the loss of life, the death of health workers is a loss of years of investment and a crucial resource to a fragile country going forward. Justin Trudeau-led Canadian government has denied linking Prime Minister Narendra Modi, EAM Jaishankar and NSA Ajit Doval to criminal activities within Canada, including the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar read more Prime Minister Narendra Modi extends his hand for a handshake with his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau during a photo opportunity ahead of their meeting at Hyderabad House in New Delhi, India, February 23, 2018. Source: Reuters | FILE. The Canadian government-led by Justin Trudeau, on Friday, denied a report in Canadas popular media outlet - The Globe and Mail - that cited an unnamed national security official linking Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval to criminal activities in Canada, including the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Not aware of evidence In a statement released on Friday, Nathalie G Drouin, the Deputy Clerk of the Privy Council and National Security and Intelligence Advisor to the Prime Minister, said: The Government of Canada has not stated, nor is it aware of evidence, linking Prime Minister Modi, Minister Jaishankar, or NSA Doval to the serious criminal activity within Canada. Any suggestion to the contrary is both speculative and inaccurate, the statement further said. Advertisement It also said that on October 14, because of a significant and ongoing threat to public safety, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and officials took the extraordinary step of making public accusations of serious criminal activity in Canada perpetrated by agents of the Government of India. On October 14, India expelled six Canadian diplomats and recalled its ambassador after they were designated as persons of interest in a probe by the Canadian police into the killing of Nijjar. The response of Trudeaus government on Friday came a day after India, on November 20, strongly refuted The Globe and Mail report, saying that it should be dismissed with the contempt they deserve. To know in detail what The Globe and Mail report said, click here. Indias Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said smear campaigns like this only further damage our already strained ties. We do not normally comment on media reports. However, such ludicrous statements made to a newspaper purportedly by a Canadian government source should be dismissed with the contempt they deserve. Smear campaigns like this only further damage our already strained ties, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiwal said. Canada has been accusing India without evidences In October this year, Trudeau had publicly accused India of conducting covert operations in Canada that posed a significant threat to public safety. The Canadian PM claimed that his officials had made multiple attempts to collaborate with Indian authorities but faced consistent refusals. Advertisement He also stated that the RCMP had compelling evidence linking Indian government agents to activities such as information-gathering and coercion, including involvement in serious criminal acts and condemned these actions calling for respect for Canadas sovereignty. India rejected the allegations, labelling them as baseless and politically motivated with the MEA saying that Trudeaus government was using anti-India rhetoric for domestic political gains. India-Canada row Last year in September, Trudeau had claimed that he has credible allegations of Indias hand in the killing of Nijjar outside the Gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, in June 2023. The MEA denied the allegations, calling them absurd and motivated and accused Canada of giving space to extremist and anti-India elements in their country. With inputs from agencies. North Korea said while it was true Trump tried to reflect the special personal relations between the heads of states, he did not bring about any substantial positive change read more North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said Pyongyangs past diplomacy with Washington only confirmed its unchanging hostility towards his country, state media said Friday, months ahead of Donald Trumps return to the White House. While in office, former US president Trump met with Kim three times, but Washington failed to make much progress on efforts to denuclearise North Korea. Since Kims second summit with Trump collapsed in Hanoi in 2019, the North has abandoned diplomacy, doubling down on weapons development and rejecting US offers of talks. Advertisement Speaking on Thursday at a defence exhibition showcasing some of North Koreas most powerful weapons systems, Kim did not mention Trump by name but the most recent high-level talks with the United States were under his administration. We have already gone as far as we can go with the United States as negotiators, and what we became certain of is not the willingness of a great power to coexist, Kim said, according to the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). Instead, Pyongyang learned of Washingtons thorough stance of power and an unchanging, invasive, and hostile policy toward North Korea, Kim added. Images released by KCNA showed what appeared to be its intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), hypersonic missiles, multiple rocket launchers and drones displayed at the exhibition. The event featured Pyongyangs latest products of the national defence scientific and technological group of the DPRK with the strategic and tactical weapons, which have been updated and developed once again, KCNA said, referring to the country by its official acronym. Never before has the Korean peninsula faced a situation that could lead to the most destructive nuclear war, Kim also said in his speech. In recent months, North Korea has built closer military ties with Moscow, with the United States and South Korea saying Pyongyang has sent thousands of soldiers to Russia to support its war against Ukraine. Advertisement Leaders in love A few months after Kim and Trumps first landmark summit in Singapore in June 2018, the then-US president famously told a rally that he and the authoritarian leader had fallen in love. A book in 2020 revealed that Kim deployed flattery and florid prose, and addressed Trump as Your Excellency, in the letters that forged his diplomatic courtship of the former president. But their second summit in 2019 fell apart over sanctions relief and what Pyongyang would be willing to give up in return. In July this year, Trump said of Kim: I think he misses me and its nice to get along with somebody that has a lot of nuclear weapons. In a commentary released that month, North Korea said while it was true Trump tried to reflect the special personal relations between the heads of states, he did not bring about any substantial positive change. Advertisement Even if any administration takes office in the US, the political climate, which is confused by the infighting of the two parties, does not change and, accordingly, we do not care about this, it added. (Except the headline, this story has not been edited by Firstpost staff.) The Pakistan government has decided to deploy the Pakistan Rangers and Frontier Constabulary personnel ahead of planned protest by former Prime Minister Imran Khans party on November 24. read more Pakistans government has given a nod to the deployment of paramilitary forces in the national capital from Friday to spruce up security ahead of a planned protest by jailed former prime minister Imran Khans party on Sunday. Khans Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf: gave a call last week for a long march to press for three demands: the release of the incarcerated party founder, against the alleged stolen mandate during February 8 elections and restoration of the judiciary by revoking the recent 26th amendment to the Constitution that granted legislators more power in appointing top judges. Advertisement The government has decided to deploy the Pakistan Rangers and Frontier Constabulary (FC) personnel in Islamabad from Friday onwards under Sections 4 and 5 of the Anti-Terrorism Act. According to a notification by the Interior Ministry on Wednesday, the exact number of personnel and the date and area of their deployment would be worked out in consultation with concerned stakeholders, while the date of de-requisitioning of troops would be decided after mutually consulting all relevant stakeholders. Earlier, the Islamabad police, in a letter dated November 14, had asked for the deployment of Rangers and FC personnel ahead of the PTI rally. According to the letter, the Islamabad police chief requested 5,000 Rangers personnel and 4,000 FC personnel in addition to the 1,000 FC personnel already provided to ICT police. The federal government already imposed Section 144 in the capital and banned all kinds of rallies for two months. Similarly, the Punjab government, which also exercises jurisdiction over Rawalpindi near Islamabad, placed police on high alert throughout the province. Meanwhile, PTI Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram, briefing reporters at Peshawar, said that protest was a fundamental right. Nobody can take it away from us, he said, adding that governments do not threaten or bully their citizens like thugs. He also warned to bring a sea of people to the capital on November 24 from across the country for the proposed long march to Islamabad. Advertisement Mobile and internet services are likely to remain suspended in various parts of Pakistan, particularly in Islamabad and Punjab, during the protest, ARY News reported, citing sources. According to sources, the suspension may affect some districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and Islamabad. Sources within the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) have claimed that mobile internet services will be suspended from November 22, with firewalls activated to slow down internet speeds and impact social media apps. The authorities may also block internet and mobile services in specific locations, depending on the situation, sources added. In a separate development, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf: presented conditions to hold negotiations to withdraw its November 24 protest call. Advertisement The PTI demanded immediate relief for the party founder, the sources said. In exchange for relief to its founder, the PTI is ready to call off the protest, they added. The party asked the government to quash all fabricated cases against Khan and his immediate release. If legal proceedings delay his release, Imran Khan should be transferred to Peshawar Jail, according to one of the conditions set by PTI. The party also demanded the immediate release of other leaders imprisoned in various jails. Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ali Amin Gandapur said that negotiations on the November 24 protest will only be commenced after the release of PTI founder Imran Khan. Advertisement Khan, 72, has been implicated in dozens of cases since his government was dismissed through a no-confidence motion in 2022. He has been in Adiala Jail at Rawalpindi since last year facing, according to his party, over 200 cases; got bail in some of them, convicted in some others, and hearings going on for some more. Khans party won the largest number of seats in the February general elections despite contesting as independents as the party was denied an election symbol and the PTI chief has already alleged that the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and its coalition partners, including Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) had stolen the mandate to grab power at the federal level. Advertisement Relations between the PTI and the PML-N-led coalition government already tense since Khans ouster in 2022 have strained even more in recent times. (Except the headline, this story has not been edited by Firstpost staff.) After Russia fired a hypersonic intermediate-range ballistic missile at a Ukrainian city, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on Friday said that recent events show that there is a real risk of a global conflict breaking out, according to a report read more Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk talks with reporters outside the West Wing of the White House after meeting with President Joe Biden on 12 March, 2024, in Washington. AP File After Russia fired a hypersonic intermediate-range ballistic missile at a Ukrainian city, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on Friday said that recent events show that there is a real risk of a global conflict breaking out. The war in the east is entering a decisive phase, we feel that the unknown is approaching, Reuters quoted Tusk as saying at a teachers conference. The conflict is taking on dramatic proportions. The last few dozen hours have shown that the threat is serious and real when it comes to global conflict, added Tusk. Advertisement Poland, which shares borders with Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus, has been a prominent advocate for increased NATO defence spending. The country plans to allocate 4.7% of its GDP to strengthen its military by 2025. In response to Russias comments on Thursday, which warned that a new US ballistic missile defence base in northern Poland would heighten nuclear risks, Warsaw countered by stating that Moscows threats only reinforced the need for stronger NATO defences. Tusks comments came after Kremlin on Friday said that a strike on Ukraine using a newly developed hypersonic ballistic missile was a message to the West that Moscow will respond harshly to any reckless Western actions in support of Ukraine. The main message is that the reckless decisions and actions of Western countries that produce missiles, supply them to Ukraine, and subsequently participate in strikes on Russian territory cannot remain without a reaction from the Russian side, Reuters quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as telling reporters. On Thursday, President Vladimir Putin confirmed that Moscow had fired the new missile - the Oreshnik or Hazel Tree - at a Ukrainian military facility in response to Kyiv striking Russia with US-made and British-made missiles this week for the first time after the US granted its approval. The Russian side has clearly demonstrated its capabilities, and the contours of further retaliatory actions in the event that our concerns are not taken into account have been quite clearly outlined, he said. Advertisement Moscow has said it regards Ukraines firing of ATACMS and Storm Shadow missiles into Russia as proof of direct US and British involvement in the war. It said satellite targeting data and the actual programming of the missiles flight paths must be done by NATO military personnel because Kyiv does not have the capabilities itself. Putin said Moscow had struck a missile and defence enterprise in the Ukrainian city of Dnipro, where missile and space rocket company Pivdenmash, known as Yuzhmash by Russians, is based. Russias Defence Ministry said on Friday that all of the missiles warheads had hit their targets and hailed what it said was its first successful use of an intermediate-range hypersonic ballistic missile with conventional warheads in combat. Advertisement Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said Russias use of the new missile amounts to a clear and severe escalation and has called for strong worldwide condemnation. With inputs from agencies The $250 billion figure, Juan Carlos Monterrey Gomez, Panamas climate envoy argued, is negligible when divided among all the developing nations facing mounting costs from climate impacts such as droughts and flooding read more Activists participate in a demonstration for climate finance at the COP29 UN Climate Summit, in Baku, Azerbaijan. AP Developing countries reacted with outrage on Friday (November 22) to an offer of $250 billion a year in climate finance from wealthy nations, calling it far short of what is needed to address the climate crisis. The proposal was included in a draft agreement at the COP 29 climate summit, which is likely to extend beyond its scheduled deadline. This is definitely not enough, The Guardian quoted Juan Carlos Monterrey Gomez, Panamas climate envoy, as saying. What we need is at least $5 trillion a year, but we have asked for just $1.3 trillion. Thats 1 per cent of global GDP. That should not be too much when youre talking about saving the planet we all live on. Advertisement The $250 billion figure, he argued, is negligible when divided among all the developing nations facing mounting costs from climate impacts such as droughts and flooding. It wont put us on a path to 1.5 degrees Celsius. More like 3 degrees, Gomez said. Calls for more grants, less loans The draft agreement proposes a broader goal of $1.3 trillion in annual climate finance by 2035. This would include $250 billion directly from developed countries, supplemented by private sector investments and revenue from measures like carbon taxes and fossil fuel levies. Developing nations have pushed for a greater share of this funding to come from wealthy countries as direct grants rather than loans, a demand unmet in the draft. Civil society groups lambasted the offer. Mohamed Adow, co-founder of Power Shift Africa, described it as a slap in the face, adding, No developing country will fall for this [] They have now angered the and offended the developing world. A disappointing step back Some activists noted that the $250 billion pledge falls below the $300 billion figure reportedly under consideration earlier in the talks. Critics labelled the offer as a joke and accused developed nations of playing poker with peoples lives. The proposal aims to form the foundation of a multi-layered financial system. This includes middle-tier funding from new taxes and carbon trading, and an outer layer of private sector investments in renewable energy projects. Economists have pegged $1.3 trillion as the minimum annual external funding needed for developing nations to combat climate change effectively. Advertisement However, some argue that even this amount is insufficient, citing historical emissions from industrialised nations as grounds for much higher reparations. Figures as high as $5 trillion or $7 trillion annually have been suggested by advocacy groups. Russia informed the United States before launching the ballistic missile attack on Ukraine, indicating that information-sharing mechanism between the two countries around powerful weapons remains active read more The photo shows a Yars intercontinental ballistic missile launched during a test from the Plesetsk cosmodrome in Northern Arkhangelsk region, Russia, on October 29, 2024. (Photo: Reuters) Russia informed the United States before attacking Ukraine with an intermediate range ballistic missile (IRBM) on Thursday (November 22), according to US and Russian officials. Ukraine on Thursday said that Russia had struck central-eastern city of Dnipro with an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). That would have been the first time Russia would have used the super-powerful weapon in its war on Russia. Moreover, commentators have pointed out that it would have been the first time ever that an ICBM would have been used in a conflict. Advertisement However, Western officials refuted the claim that it was an ICBM and Russia also later confirmed that it was an IRBM, one notch below ICBM in terms of range. Later, Pentagon Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh confirmed that Russia had informed the United States briefly before the missile attack. Singh further said irrespective of Russian President Vladimir Putins rhetoric around nuclear weapons, there is no change in Russias nuclear posturing yet. Separately, Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told TASS news agency that Russia had informed the United States 30 minutes before the attack. Russia indicates nuclear channel with US still on Even amid tensions unprecedented since the Cold War era, Kremlin Spokesperson Peskov indicated that the channel for communication around nuclear weapons is still open between Russia and the United States. Peskov told TASS that Russia informed the United States about the launch of the missile through the Russian National Center for Nuclear Risk Reduction (NCNRRR). The United States also maintains a similar system and Peskov said the Russian and US systems maintain constant communication. Peskov further said, The Russian side warned the Americans about the launch of the Oreshnik through the Russian National Center for Nuclear Risk Reduction, which operates in automatic mode and maintains constant communication with a similar system in the United States of America. The warning was sent in an automatic mode 30 minutes before the launch. Advertisement Peskov clarified that the Russian notification to the United States was not because of any treaty. Even though Trump exited the IRBM treaty and Russia has also left treaties since then, last year Russian officials said they would continue to notify the United States about ballistic missile launches, according to Semafor. Such sharing of information, which takes place from the US side as well, is to avoid any misunderstanding or mistaken attack thinking it is a retaliation from an attack on your country. The United States and Russia are bound by treaty to inform each-other if they launch an ICMB but Peskov noted that as this missile was not an ICBM, it is not covered under the treaty. Advertisement Previously, the United States and Russia had a treated related IRBMs as well but former President Donald Trump exited that. No change in Russian nuclear posture, says US Despite continuing threats of using nuclear force from Russia, Pentagon Deputy Press Secretary Singh said there is no change yet in Russias nuclear posturing. We havent seen any adjustments that weve observed in their nuclear posture and we havent adjusted our nuclear posture in exchange. Weve seen this type of dangerous, reckless rhetoric before from President Putin. What were focused on is continuing to support Ukraine with what it needs, said Singh. Hours after the attack, Putin said that Russia had struck Dnipro with an experimental medium-range ballistic missile in response to Ukraines use of US and British long-range weapons for strike inside Russia. In a warning to the United States and United Kingdom, Putin further said that Russia is entitled to attack them for aiding Ukraine. Advertisement We consider ourselves entitled to use our weapons against the military objects of those countries that allow their weapons to be used against our objects, and in the event of an escalation of aggressive actions, we will respond just as decisively and in kind, said Putin. Russia has reportedly supplied North Korea with more than a million barrels of oil since March, months before Pyongyang started sending weapons and troops to Moscow to fight in Ukraine war read more North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is sending troops and weapons to Russia not for the sake of his growing friendship with Vladimir Putin, but in exchange for adequate oil supplies from Moscow. A report by BBC, citing satellite imagery analysis from Open Source Source Centre, a non-profit UK-based research group, said Russia is estimated to have supplied Pyongyang with over a million barrels of oil since March this year. The report also quoted leading experts and UK Foreign Secretary, David Lammy as saying that the oil is payment for the weapons and troops Pyongyang has sent Moscow to fuel its war in Ukraine. Advertisement North Korean ships spotted around Russias oil terminal 43 times in 8 months Over the past eight months, more than a dozen different North Korean oil tankers were spotted at an oil terminal in Russias Far East, for a total of 43 times, the BBC report said citing the satellite images which were exclusively shared with them. Further pictures, taken of the ships at sea, appear to show the tankers arriving empty, and leaving almost full. The pictures also showed North Korean vessels arriving empty and leaving almost full. Interestingly, during all their journeys to Russias Vostochny Port, the North Korean-flagged tankers kept their trackers switched off, concealing their movements, the report said. First Russia-North Korea oil transfer happened on March 7, 2024 As per the report, the first oil transfer documented by the Open Source Centre in a new report, was on 7 March 2024, seven months ahead of the emerging reports stating North Korea was sending weapons to Russia. The oil shipments continued with North Korea sending almost 11,000 troops and modern weapons to Russia, with the last one recorded on November 5. While Kim Jong Un is providing Vladimir Putin with a lifeline to continue his war, Russia is quietly providing North Korea with a lifeline of its own, Joe Byrne from the Open Source Centre was quoted as saying in the BBC report. This steady flow of oil gives North Korea a level of stability it hasnt had since these sanctions were introduced," Byrne further said. Russia violating UN sanctions by providing oil to North Korea With the supplying of oil to North Korea, Russia is violating UN sanctions, which ban countries from selling oil to North Korea, except in small quantities. The restrictions have been imposed to stifle Pyongyangs economy to prevent it from further developing nuclear weapons. North Korea is the only country in the world which is not allowed to purchase oil on the open market. The number of barrels of refined petroleum that North Korea can receive has been capped at 500,000 annually by the UN, which is way lower than nine million it consumes. The cap was imposed in 2017, forcing North Korea to buy oil illegally from criminal networks to meet the deficit, including transferring the oil between ships out at sea. Advertisement Then why Russia is still supplying oil to North Korea The report quoted four former members of a UN panel responsible for tracking the sanctions on North Korea as saying that the transfers are a consequence of increasing bond between Russia and North Korea. These transfers are fuelling Putins war machine this is oil for missiles, oil for artillery and now oil for soldiers, Hugh Griffiths, who led the panel from 2014 to 2019, was quoted as saying. Lammy, meanwhile, highlighted that to keep fighting in Ukraine, Russia has become increasingly reliant on North Korea for troops and weapons in exchange for oil. With limited oil sources after the sanctions, North Korea heavily rely on coal. However, oil is essential for running the countrys military. Pyongyang needs diesel and petrol to transport missile launchers and troops around the country, run munitions factories and fuel the cars of the elite. Advertisement Switzerland has long touted its neutrality in world affairs, and Swiss law bans exports of Swiss-owned or Swiss-made military hardware to countries in conflict. However, the Swiss government has backed European Union economic sanctions against Russia over its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. read more Residents walk at a site of a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Dnipro, Ukraine November 21, 2024. Image- Reuters The Swiss government banned exports to a Polish military hardware supplier Friday after discovering that approximately 645,000 rounds of Swiss-made small-caliber ammunition were diverted to Ukraine in violation of Swiss law. The State Secretariat for Economic Affairs said that exports to the Polish company are prohibited due to the high risk of further diversion to Ukraine. Switzerland, known for its neutrality prohibited the export of Swiss-made military equipment to conflict zones. However, it has supported European Union sanctions against Russia following its 2022 Russian attack on Ukraine. Advertisement The secretariat opened an investigation after a report by U.S.-based news outlet Defense One last November indicated a Ukrainian company had taken receipt of 645,000 rifle cartridges of armor-piercing rounds made by SwissP Defense and delivered by a Polish importer, UMO. The investigation showed that the Swiss manufacturer and the Polish company had signed a reseller agreement stating that the Polish company was entitled to resell the ammunition only in Poland, the secretariat, known as SECO, said in an email to The Associated Press. The probe concluded that the Polish company did not honor the contractual commitments it made to the Swiss manufacturer and the ammunition ended up in Ukraine. SwissP Defence said in an email we always comply with the regulations in Switzerland, and declined to disclose information about its customer relationships. UMO did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. Switzerland has been at pains to maintain its reputation for neutrality in the wake of Russias full-scale war in Ukraine. Last year, Switzerland insisted German-made tanks it had owned but decommissioned could not be sent to Ukraine. However, Switzerland has been edging closer to NATO: This week, the Swiss executive branch approved Swiss participation in crisis-management exercise by the alliance next spring. Advertisement With inputs from agencies. Freeman Mbowe and other Chadema party leaders were stopped at a police roadblock, where the police forcibly opened the car doors, assaulted those inside, and forcefully arrested them read more One of Tanzanias main opposition leaders, Freeman Mbowe, was detained by police on Friday, his Chadema party said, after officers dispersed an opposition rally with tear gas just days before local elections.Chadema had protested earlier this week that many of its candidates had been unfairly disqualified from running in the November 27 polls in towns and villages across the nation. The elections are viewed as a barometer for President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who took over in 2021 with promises of reforms and increased civic freedoms only to disappoint increasingly worried international observers, who point to a return to her predecessors repressive policies. Chademas director of communication and foreign affairs John Mrema said on X that police had ambushed a party convoy in Halungu Forest in the southwest of the country. Mrema said Mbowe and other Chadema leaders were stopped at a police roadblock, where the police forcibly opened the car doors, assaulted those inside, and forcefully arrested them. Advertisement The police have taken away our leaders without disclosing their destination, and we still do not know where they are being held or for what reasons, he added, urging their release. Mrema also said that prior to his arrest, Mbowe had been blocked by police from speaking at a rally in the southern town of Mlowo. Officers then moved in and dispersed the gathered crowd using tear gas, according to the party. Police confirmed the arrests, saying they were violating schedules for campaign rallies. Chadema leaders violated the schedule and we are holding them for grilling and investigations because some officers were injured by the opposition supporters when they were dispersing the crowd, regional police chief Augustino Senga said. The arrests come only days after Mbowe protested over the apparent disqualification of scores of Chadema candidates hoping to run in the local polls. The party had planned to field candidates for 65 percent of the 80,430 posts up for grabs, but Mbowe said on Tuesday it would now only be present in about 33 percent thanks to what he labelled deliberate manipulation. Advertisement Ballot box test The local polls are expected to be an indicator of the political landscape ahead of a presidential election due next October. Hassan took office after the sudden death of her authoritarian predecessor John Magufuli in 2021 and has yet to be tested at the ballot box. She was initially feted for easing restrictions that Magufuli had imposed on the opposition and the media in the country of around 67 million people. But rights groups and Western governments have criticised what they see as renewed repression ahead of the elections, with arrests of Chadema politicians as well as abductions and murders of opposition figures. Only last month, Mbowe and his deputy Tundu Lissu as well as other opposition figures were briefly detained after riot police prevented a mass rally in the commercial capital Dar es Salaam. Advertisement While Chadema boycotted the last local polls in 2019 under Magufuli, citing irregularities in the nomination process, Mbowe said it would contest next weeks elections. This time, we are not withdrawing at all. We will proceed steadily until the end, Mbowe told reporters. In the last five years, we have had no leadership at the grassroots. We cannot afford to stay out again. US President-elect Donald Trump has promised to release files related to the assassination of John F Kennedy. It remains to be seen if there would be any fresh revelations. read more More than 60 years after President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, conspiracy theories still swirl and any new glimpse into the fateful day of Nov. 22, 1963, in Dallas continues to fascinate. President-elect Donald Trump promised during his reelection campaign that he would declassify all of the remaining government records surrounding the assassination if he returned to office. He made a similar pledge during his first term, but ultimately bended to appeals from the CIA and FBI to keep some documents withheld. Advertisement At this point, only a few thousand of the millions of governmental records related to the assassination have yet to be fully released, and those who have studied the records released so far say that even if the remaining files are declassified, the public shouldnt anticipate any earth-shattering revelations. Anybody waiting for a smoking gun thats going to turn this case upside down will be sorely disappointed, said Gerald Posner, author of Case Closed, which concludes that assassin Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone. Fridays 61st anniversary is expected to be marked with a moment of silence at 12:30 p.m. in Dealey Plaza, where Kennedys motorcade was passing through when he was fatally shot. And throughout this week there have been events marking the anniversary. Nov. 22, 1963 When Air Force One carrying Kennedy and first lady Jacqueline Kennedy touched down in Dallas, they were greeted by a clear sky and enthusiastic crowds. With a reelection campaign on the horizon the next year, they had gone to Texas on political fence-mending trip. But as the motorcade was finishing its parade route downtown, shots rang out from the Texas School Book Depository building. Police arrested 24-year-old Oswald and, two days later, nightclub owner Jack Ruby fatally shot Oswald during a jail transfer. A year after the assassination, the Warren Commission, which President Lyndon B. Johnson established to investigate the assassination, concluded that Oswald acted alone and there was no evidence of a conspiracy. But that hasnt quelled a web of alternative theories over the decades. Advertisement The collection In the early 1990s, the federal government mandated that all assassination-related documents be housed in a single collection in the National Archives and Records Administration. The collection of over 5 million records was required to be opened by 2017, barring any exemptions designated by the president. Trump, who took office for his first term in 2017, had boasted that hed allow the release of all of the remaining records but ended up holding some back because of what he called the potential harm to national security. And while files have continued to be released during President Joe Bidens administration, some still remain unseen. Advertisement The documents released over the last few years offer details on the way intelligence services operated at the time, and include CIA cables and memos discussing visits by Oswald to the Soviet and Cuban embassies during a trip to Mexico City just weeks before the assassination. The former Marine had previously defected to the Soviet Union before returning home to Texas. Mark S. Zaid, a national security attorney in Washington, said whats been released so far has contributed to the understanding of the time period, giving a great picture of what was happening during the Cold War and the activities of the CIA. Advertisement Withheld files Posner estimates that there are still about 3,000 to 4,000 documents in the collection that havent yet been fully released. Of those documents, some are still completely redacted while others just have small redactions, like someones Social Security number. If you have been following it, as I have and others have, you sort of are zeroed in on the pages you think might provide some additional information for history, Posner said. There are about 500 documents that have been completely withheld, Posner said, and those include Oswalds and Rubys tax returns. Those files, the National Archives says on its website, werent subject to the 2017 disclosure requirement. Advertisement Trumps transition team hasnt responded to questions this week about his plans when he takes office. A continued fascination From the start, there were those who believed there had to be more to the story than just Oswald acting alone, said Stephen Fagin, curator of the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza, which tells the story of the assassination from the building where Oswald made his snipers perch. People want to make sense of this and they want to find the solution that fits the crime, said Fagin, who said that while there are lingering questions, law enforcement made a pretty compelling case against Oswald. Larry J. Sabato, director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics, said his interest in the assassination dates back to the event itself, when he was a child. It just seemed so fantastical that one very disturbed individual could end up pulling off the crime of the century, Sabato said. But the more I studied it, the more I realized that is a very possible, maybe even probable in my view, hypothesis. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Firstpost staff.) United Kingdom is part of the 124 States Parties to the Rome Statute of the ICC which enables it to arrest those against whom a warrant is issued read more Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at the plenum, in Israel's parliament, the Knesset, in Jerusalem, November 18, 2024. Reuters file The UK government on Friday indicated that it will comply with ICCs arrest warrant against Benjamin Netanyahu and detain the Israeli prime minister if he travels to Britain. The UK will always comply with its legal obligations as set out by domestic law and indeed international law, said Prime Minister Keir Starmers spokesman, refusing to be drawn specifically on Netanyahus case. The statement comes after Ireland declared that it would arrest Netanyahu if he arrives in the country. Advertisement United Kingdom is part of the 124 States Parties to the Rome Statute of the ICC which enables it to arrest those against whom a warrant is issued. The International Criminal Court on November 21 issued arrest warrants against Netanyahu, former Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant and Hamas officials. Israel has been accused of war crimes in Gaza while Hamas officials have been blamed for the October 7 attack. World leaders are divided on ICCs recent move with one section condemning it while the other supports the top courts decision. US President Joe Biden called the warrant absurd, saying, Whatever the ICC might imply, there is no equivalence none between Israel and Hamas. Who else has backed ICC? Apart from Ireland, European Unions Josep Borrell supported the courts decision in issuing the arrest warrant against the Israeli leaders, saying that it is not politically motivated and that it should be respected and implemented. Belgiums foreign ministry said, The fight against impunity wherever crimes are committed is a priority for Belgium, which fully supports the work of the [ICC]. Its really important that everyone abide by international law, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said. With inputs from agencies The deal comes at a tense moment in the Ukraine conflict, with Kyiv firing British and US-supplied long-range missiles into Russia and Moscow firing a hypersonic missile at its neighbour. read more In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Services on Nov. 21, 2024, rescue workers put out a fire of a building which was heavily damaged by a Russian strike on Dnipro, Ukraine. (Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP) Dozens of residents from Russias Kursk border region have been returned from Ukraine following rare and painstaking negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv, Moscow said on Friday. In August, Ukraine conducted a surprise incursion into Russias Kursk region, marking its first operation on Russian soil since Moscows invasion began in February 2022, and capturing several settlements. Despite this, Russia has continued its gradual but persistent advance across eastern Ukraine, taking control of village after village as it aims to seize the entire industrialized Donbas region Advertisement The reasons for the residents transport into Ukraine remain unclear, and Kyiv has not provided any immediate comment. Today, 46 residents of the Kursk region returned to Russia from Ukraine as a result of a negotiation process with the Ukrainian side, Russian human rights ombudsman Tatiana Moskalkova said. The residents were all from the Sudzhansky district, home to the border town of Sudzha which Ukraine captured shortly after launching its offensive, according to local governor Alexei Smirnov. The painstaking and lengthy negotiations to return our fellow countrymen to their homeland have brought results, he said on Telegram. The residents included 12 children and were returned via Belarus, with all of them being given all necessary assistance, he added. One of the children being returned in the deal was three-year-old Darina, her mother, Anastasia Gridina, told AFP. They are already on the way. In four hours I will meet Darina, she said. Gridina had gone to Moscow for temporary work, leaving her daughter with her grandmother in the Kursk region village of Lebedevka when Ukraine launched its shock offensive. In October she told AFP she had been pleading for help everywhere, even writing a personal letter to President Vladimir Putin. At one point she tried to cross the front line herself, but was forced to turn back. Advertisement The limited return of civilians, as well as exchanges of captured soldiers and bodies of killed fighters, have become the only areas of cooperation between the two sides, which have been fighting since Moscow launched its full-scale offensive in February 2022. With inputs from agencies. Billionaire Elon Musk and biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy suggested President-elect Donald Trump that he should end work-from-home provision for federal employees. The remark from the pair came while they were laying out the DOGE plan read more While elucidating their vision for the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), billionaire Elon Musk and biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy suggested that President-elect Donald Trump should ask government employees to be in the office five days a week, instead of working from home. The remarks from the right-leaning entrepreneurs came while they laid out the infamous DOGE plan in an op-ed published by The Wall Street Journal. Requiring federal employees to come to the office five days a week would result in a wave of voluntary terminations that we welcome: If federal employees dont want to show up, American taxpayers shouldnt pay them for the Covid-era privilege of staying home, the pair wrote in the piece which was published on Wednesday. Advertisement After winning the 2024 US presidential election, Trump tapped Musk and Ramaswamy to lead the newly formed department which will dissolve by 2026. The two men, who have no experience in running the government, went on to suggest to Trump that he should undertake large-scale firings and relocate government agencies outside of Washington. Musk has noted that he required employees at SpaceX and Tesla to work in person and has described it as a moral issue. People should get off the goddamn moral high horse with the work-from-home bullshit, the billionaire said in 2023. But does it really matter? According to the report released by the Office of Management and Budget, around 50 per cent of federal workers are not eligible to work from home. Out of those who are eligible for it, 60 per cent spend their working hours at in-person job sites. These numbers indicate that the Federal workforce has telework rates generally in line with the private sector, the report said. While speaking to CNN, Everett Kelley, national president for the American Federation of Government Employees, a union that represents more than 800,000 federal workers said: The implication that federal employees writ large are not working in-person is simply not backed up by data and reality. In the past, Republicans have pushed US President Joe Bidens administration over the federal governments approach to telework, including a provision on a spending bill that the White House provide more information on workplace flexibility, The Guardian reported. In light of this, in April last year, the Office of Management and Budget issued a memorandum telling federal agencies to substantially increase meaningful in-person work at Federal offices while still using flexible operational policies as an important tool in talent recruitment and retention. However, several federal workers told CNN that the five-day in-person work mandate could disrupt their current lifestyle and might not be feasible. Some employees said that they would have to commute two to three hours to the nearest office. However, Musk and Ramaswamy believe the federal government could save money this way. Advertisement With a decisive electoral mandate and a 6-3 conservative majority on the Supreme Court, DOGE has a historic opportunity for structural reductions in the federal government. We are prepared for the onslaught from entrenched interests in Washington. We expect to prevail, they wrote. With inputs from agencies. The new restrictions, covering a range of products from tomato paste and walnuts to gold and iron ore, are part of the federal governments effort to prevent goods made with forced labour from entering the United States, the Federal Register posting said. read more The United States imposed new import bans on products from approximately 30 Chinese companies, accusing them of using forced labour involving Uyghur minorities, according to a government notice released on Friday. The restrictions cover a range of products, including tomato paste, walnuts, gold, and iron ore. These actions are part of the US governments broader effort to prevent goods produced with forced labour from entering the country. The companies were added to the Uyghur Forced Labour Prevention Act Entity List, which blocks imports linked to alleged human rights violations and ongoing genocide in Chinas Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. Advertisement US authorities accuse Chinese officials of operating internment camps for Uyghurs and other minority groups in Xinjiang, though Beijing has denied these claims. The latest additions bring the total number of companies on the list to more than 100 since the Uyghur Forced Labour Prevention Act was signed into law in December 2021. Twenty-three of the newly added companies are in the agricultural sector. Others mine, smelt and process metallic materials including copper, lithium, beryllium, nickel, manganese and gold. Todays enforcement actions make it clear the United States will not tolerate forced labour in the goods entering our markets, Robert Silvers, U.S. Homeland Security undersecretary for policy, said in a statement. We urge companies to take responsibility, know their supply chains, and act ethically. With inputs from agencies. The worlds tallest, 27-year-old Turkish web developer Rumeysa Gelgi and shortest women, 30-year-old Indian actress Jyoti Amge, met in London for afternoon tea during which they swapped stories and life experiences read more On Guinness World Records Day, the worlds tallest woman, Rumeysa Gelgi, and the shortest woman, Jyoti Amge, shared an afternoon tea at the Savoy Hotel in London. This marked an extraordinary meeting between two women whose height difference is an astonishing 152.36 centimeters (5 feet). Gelgi, standing at 215.16 centimeters (7 feet 0.7 inches), and Amge, measuring just 62.8 centimeters (2 feet 0.7 inches), enjoyed each others company despite their vast physical disparity. The meeting, celebrated by Guinness World Records (GWR), highlighted their shared interests and admiration for each other. Advertisement We do have things in common. We both love make-up, self-care, jewellery, and doing our nails, Gelgi shared in a statement. It was difficult for us to make eye contact at times due to our height difference, but it was great. Amge, who has a condition called achondroplasia, which affects her arms and legs, expressed her delight in meeting Gelgi. Im so happy to meet my fellow record holder, she said. Gelgi, a 27-year-old web designer from Turkey, was officially recognised as the tallest living woman in 2021. Her remarkable height is attributed to Weaver syndrome, a rare genetic condition she was diagnosed with as one of only 27 people worldwide. The first time that Rumeysa Gelgi, the world's tallest woman, met Jyoti Amge, the world's shortest woman #GWRDay pic.twitter.com/uSLqIHZlKG Guinness World Records (@GWR) November 21, 2024 In addition to holding the title of tallest woman, Gelgi also holds multiple other Guinness World Records, including the largest hands on a woman (24.93 centimeters/9.81 inches), the longest back on a living female (59.90 centimeters/23.58 inches), and the longest ears on a person (female) at an average of 9.58 centimeters (3.77 inches). Advertisement Gelgis story was featured in the GWR documentary Rumeysa: Walking Tall, which chronicled her journey meeting other record holders across the United States. Amge, on the other hand, an actress and media personality from India, is known for her role as Ma Petite on the US TV series American Horror Story: Freak Show. Despite her petite stature, she has become a prominent figure in the media, making appearances on Italian TV and American television. Amge has achondroplasia, a bone growth disorder that affects the development of cartilage, leading to her short stature. She holds the title of the shortest actress ever, as recognized by GWR. Advertisement Both women have been named GWR Icons, a new distinction introduced for the 2025 edition of the Guinness World Records book. As per a report in CNN, Craig Glenday, GWRs editor-in-chief, who also met the women in London, remarked, These records are about celebrating differences. By bringing together these two amazing, iconic women, they can share their perspectives on life with each other and, also, with us. As Ukraine unleashes American and British long-range missiles into Russian territory and Moscow hits back with the Dnipro attack, heres a look at how both Russia and the West are escalating war in Ukraine read more In a matter of few days, Russia and the West have made significant moves in escalating the ongoing war in Ukraine, making many fear the repercussions of this escalation. In light of this, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that the ongoing war is escalating towards a global conflict with several international actors coming into play. What makes things interesting is the fact that all this escalation in the war is taking place just two months before President-elect Donald Trump assumes office after winning the intense 2024 US Presidential elections. Many believe that US President Joe Biden has intensified Washingtons support to Kyiv before Trump seeks to deliver on his claims to end the conflict in 24 hours. Advertisement From allowing Ukraine to use American long-range missiles to providing the country with nearly $300 million in additional military assistance, the Biden administration did it all before Trump came into power and changed the course of the conflict. However, what was seen as a trigger to this escalation was the presence of North Korean troops on the Russian battlefield. With fears of the war spilling over, several European nations like Finland and Sweden warned its citizens to be prepared for the war. Heres a deep dive into how the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war escalated in such a short time and who is to blame for his escalation. A firefighter working at the site of a Russian strike in Brovary, near Kyiv, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Its been 1,000 days of this war. AFP The deployment of North Korean troops on the Russian battlefield On Tuesday, the ravaging conflict hit the 1,000-day mark, making many wonder how long the war will last. While there have been instances of escalation, the recent incidents indicate a dramatic rise in tensions between Russia and the West. Amid the chaos, many believe that the presence of North Korean troops in Russia acted as a catalyst for the whole ordeal. The rumours of the presence of North Korean troops in Russia first emerged in October after Ukraine and South Korean intelligence raised an alarm. However, at that time, it was not clear what role these troops were performing on the battlefield. The lack of battlefield experience of the hermit nations troops was given as a key reason why they might just be assigned to non-combat roles. The so-called deployment of North Korean troops in Russia was seen as an extension of the growing friendship between Kim Jong-un and Vladimir Putin. File image/Reuters However, the bubble popped soon after the US and Ukraine revealed that North Korean troops had already engaged in combat with Ukrainian soldiers. The Pentagon initially suggested that around 11,000 North Korean troops have been deployed in the region. However, Bloomberg, citing unnamed sources reported that Pyongyang may deploy as many as 100,000 troops. Advertisement This did not sit well with Ukraine, the US and the Western world. The West was already concerned about the growing ties between Putin and North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un. With the latest developments, the West started to fear that the war might escalate beyond the borders of the two nations. How West approached the matter? Looking at the troops of two nations on the battleground, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy escalated his demands for help from the war-stricken nations Western allies. The result of the 2024 US presidential elections added fuel to the fire. After Trump clinched a landslide victory against US Vice President Harris, the Biden administration became concerned about the continuation of its support to Ukraine. Donald Trump (R) arrives for an election night event alongside former US First Lady Melania Trump and his son Barron Trump at the West Palm Beach Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, on November 6, 2024. AFP In light of this, Biden gave a green signal to Kyiv to fire its first long-range atomic missiles deep into Russian territory. The United Kingdom followed the same suit and allowed Ukraine to use its Storm-Shadow missiles in Russia. Soon after this, on Wednesday, Ukraine confirmed that it had fired the British cruise missile into Russian territory for the first time since the start of the war. Advertisement A Storm Shadow missile is prepared for loading to a Royal Air Force The ICBM Debacle: Putin hits back A day after the attack from Ukraine, Russia fired a hypersonic intermediate-range ballistic missile at the Ukrainian city of Dnipro on Thursday. In a televised address, Putin said that Moscow managed to strike a Ukrainian military facility with a new medium-range, hypersonic ballistic missile known as Oreshnik (the hazel) and warned that more could follow. He noted that civilians would be warned ahead of further strikes with such weapons. In response to this Zelenskyy said that the use of the new missile amounted to a clear and severe escalation in the war and called for strong worldwide condemnation. Meanwhile, a US official maintained that Russia notified Washington shortly before its strike, while another official said the US had briefed Kyiv to be prepared for another such attack. Firefighters work at the site of a Russian missile strike in Dnipro, Ukraine, November 21, 2024. Reuters Ukraine initially suggested that Russia fired an intercontinental ballistic missile, a weapon designed for long-distance nuclear strikes and never before used in war. However, the Russian authorities quickly rejected the claims. The recent attack raised alarms about which way the war is going. Advertisement Why the war is escalating all of a sudden It is important to note that both Russia and the West have solid reasons behind the escalation. They are as follows: Russia For months Moscow has been uncomfortable with Ukraines advances in the Kursk region. In the past, Zelenskyy said that he could use the Ukrainian troops operation in the Kursk region as a tool to negotiate a peace deal which bode well with Ukraine. He went on to parade a victory plan to its Western allies. A Ukrainian soldier walks on a damaged street in the Ukrainian-controlled Russian town of Sudzha, Kursk region, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. AFP Russias anger over the issue can be seen by the fact that most of the North Korean troops, if not all, are deployed in the Kursk region. In the Thursday address, Putin also maintained that the recent attack on Ukraine was in response to the US and UKs allowing Kyiv to strike Russian territory with advanced Western weapons. US and the West As mentioned before Trumps victory can be seen as one of the major reasons why the Biden administration started to take an aggressive stance in the war. In the past, Trump claimed that he would end the war between the two countries in just 24 hours. The former President is also known for his ties with Putin and has even suggested that Moscow can keep the land it has captured and end a war. The peace plans that have been proposed by Trump for the past two years did not sit well with Ukraine. Advertisement While Trump said nothing on the matter as of now, his team have remained vocal. Earlier this month, Trumps pick for National Security Advisor, Mike Waltz, spoke of another step up the escalation ladder and nobody knows where this is going. Meanwhile, Donald Trump Jr complained that Biden was trying to get World War III going before his father could assume the office. Meanwhile, the advent of Trump has also raised alarm among the NATO alliance as well. Trump has dragged some of the groups member states for not paying a fair share in the alliances defence spending. Hence, NATO will also be keeping a close eye on the upcoming Trump presidency. As the war continues to escalate, experts still struggle to figure out how it will end. Ireland, which is part of of the 124 States Parties to the Rome Statute of the ICC, can arrest Netanyahu if he travels to the country. PM Harris said Ireland would also execute the warrant against Hamas Mohammad Deif read more Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris on Friday said that Ireland will arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he ever arrives in the country after the ICC issued a warrant against him. Asked by state broadcaster RTE if Ireland would arrest the Israeli prime minister if he came to Ireland, Harris said: Yes, absolutely. We support international courts and we apply their warrants, he added. The International Criminal Court on November 21 issued arrest warrants against Netanyahu, former Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant and Hamas officials. Israel has been accused of war crimes in Gaza while Hamas officials have been blamed for the October 7 attack. Advertisement World leaders are divided on ICCs recent move with one section condemning it while the other supports the top courts decision. US President Joe Biden called the warrant absurd, saying, Whatever the ICC might imply, there is no equivalence none between Israel and Hamas. Similarly, Argentinas President Javier Milei said his country declares its deep disagreement over ICCs arrest warrant against Netanyahu. Can Ireland arrest Netanyahu? Yes, Ireland can detain the Israeli prime minister as it is part of the 124 States Parties to the Rome Statute of the ICC. PM Harris told RTE that Ireland would also execute the warrant against Hamas Mohammad Deif. The ICC has not been able to determine whether he was dead or alive. Who else has backed ICC? Apart from Ireland, European Unions Josep Borrell supported the courts decision in issuing the arrest warrant against the Israeli leaders, saying that it is not politically motivated and that it should be respected and implemented. Belgiums foreign ministry said, The fight against impunity wherever crimes are committed is a priority for Belgium, which fully supports the work of the [ICC]. Its really important that everyone abide by international law, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said. With inputs from agencies Chinese President Xi Jinping has reached out to Japan at a time when tensions with the United States are expected to rise under incoming Trump administration read more India is not the only country that China has been dialing down tensions with lately. It has also reached out to Japan lately. Chinese President Xi Jinping met Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Peru and told him that the two nations should be partners, not threats. Such an outreach comes at a time when US President-elect Donald Trump is set to bring a hawkish approach to China that may see blanket tariffs of up to a minimum of 60 per cent on all Chinese goods. Before Trump takes over with expectations of ramping up the trade war, Xi is attempting to relatively calm relations with other nations it has conflicts with, such as India or China. Advertisement China and Japan have a historic rivalry and are locked in maritime disputes. Japan is one of the many nations China has disputes in the waters it calls South China Sea. Chinas maximalist maritime claims have been rejected under international law. In addition to historic rivalry and maritime disputes, China and Japan are locked in a tussle around Taiwan, trade, and other issues. To be sure, Japan and China are not going back to being friends. Japan is a treaty ally of the United States, the principal adversary of China, and is a key partner of other Chinese challenger India. Japan is part of Quad along with India, Australia, and the United States Australia is another country Japans relationship hit rock-bottom in recent years and has only recently started improving. While China and Japan continue to remain in opposite camps, Xi is reaching out to smoothen ties to concentrate on the bigger conflict with the United States. Chinas economic woes China is not in a position for all-round trade conflict as it is economy is doing poorly. In the last quarter, the Chinese economic growth slowed to 4.6 per cent from 4.7 per cent. The annual growth is expected to miss the modest 5 per cent target. The real estate crash, the ballooning debt crisis with the local governments, fall in exports, and foreign investments are some of the reasons that have driven Chinas economic woes. While the outgoing Joe Biden administration of the United States pursued a targeted trade and tech war with China, hitting at semiconductor, electric vehicles, and metals, among other goods, President-elect Trump has said he could impose blanket tariffs of 60 per cent or above. Advertisement An analysis by investment and financial services firm UBS found that China could lose as much as 2.5 per cent of GDP if the United States imposes 60 per cent tariffs on all Chinese goods. To cushion the blow from Trumps economic confrontation, China would need other avenues and thats where Japan comes in. In a sign that China is trying to boost trade with other nations to cushion the blow from the expected disruption from Trump, China has indicated it would lift the ban on seafood imports from Japan. With Trump coming, US-China ties set to nosedive As mentioned earlier, the US-China relations are expected to nosedive under Trump. To focus on the conflict with the United States, China is trying to stabilise other conflicts. Advertisement To cushion the blow from trade disruption with the United States, China is trying to boost trade ties with other countries, such as Japan, Australia, and some European nations. As China depends on manufacturing and exports to a great extent, Trumps push to take the manufacturing out of China and create jobs in the United States could create troubles for China. Hence, China is widening the net of nations it can cooperate with during Trumps term. Though Ishiba is politically weak, Japan looks on a firmer ground Ishiba is running a minority government in Japan. Geopolitically, however, Japan is well-placed. While Japan is a US ally, it is also a partner with India and other nations in the Indo-Pacific region. It just hosted a meeting of the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance as well in a growing sign of convergence with the Western bloc. Advertisement For China, this makes Japan a useful country to have stable relations with. While Ishiba would be keen to stabilise ties with China for his own political benefits, China would also benefit as it may turn to Japan to offset trade loss or maybe a go-between in times of escalation with the United States. Ukraines defence minister is already holding meetings with our partners on new air defence systems - exactly the kind of systems that can protect lives from new risks, Zelenskyy said in an evening video address published on social media. read more In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Services on Thursday, rescue workers put out a fire of a building which was heavily damaged by a Russian strike on Dnipro, Ukraine. AP Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday urged the world leaders to respond firmly and decisively after Russia launched an experimental, nuclear-capable ballstic missile at the Ukrainian city of Dnipro on Thursday. In an evening video address published on social media, Zelenskyy said he was grateful to those who have responded to this latest act of Russian madness, but that worlds alone are not enough action is required. He said the world must respond firmly and decisively so that Putin fears expanding this war and faces real consequences for his actions. Advertisement True peace can only be achieved through strength there is no other way, he added. He also called upon the Western partners for updated air defence systems after Russia boasted its new Oreshnik hypersonic missile is unstoppable by air defences and has no equivalent anywhere in the world. Ukraines defence minister is already holding meetings with our partners on new air defence systems - exactly the kind of systems that can protect lives from new risks, Zelenskyy said. Russias launch of the missile was the latest dramatic escalation in the conflict after Kyiv earlier this week fired shorter-range US and UK-supplied missiles onto Russian territory for the first time. Zelenskyy also called out Moscows key ally China for its response to Moscows new missile, which experts say can likely be equipped with a nuclear warhead and fly several thousand kilometres. Chinas foreign ministry said all parties should remain calm and exercise restraint. From Russia, this is a mockery of the position of states such as China, states of the Global South, some leaders who call for restraint every time, said Zelensky. The world must sound serious in its response, so that Putin is really afraid of expanding the war and feels the real consequences of his actions, he added. Advertisement Kyiv relies on Western weapons to defend against the Russian invasion, launched almost three years ago. Moscow, however, has said the use of Western arms against Russian territory makes NATO countries direct participants in the conflict, and that military sites on their territory legitimate targets for retaliatory strikes. Both sides are hurrying to secure a battlefield advantage before Donald Trump is inaugurated as US president in January. Trump has said that he can broker a peace deal in hours, though has provided no details on his plan, and repeatedly criticised American aid to Ukraine. With inputs from agencies News Centerpiece Featured Without clear curriculum Galveston County schools work to teach fentanyl awareness JENNIFER REYNOLDS/The Daily News file photo Les McColgin, a fentanyl awareness advocate with Gulf Coast Outreach Services, talks the dangers of fentanyl and providing access to free Narcan, the brand name for Naloxone, used to reverse or reduce the effects of an opioid overdose, during an assembly at Hitchcock High School on Friday, Oct. 11, 2024. While an unfunded mandate has created confusion over who is responsible for developing a fentanyl awareness curriculum for students across the state, theres no question schools must still comply with state law. House Bill 3908 also known as Tuckers Law took effect in September 2023 and required public schools to provide research-based instruction on fentanyl abuse prevention and drug poisoning awareness each year to students grades six through 12. Gov. Greg Abbott last year signed the bill, which requires school districts to educate students about fentanyl, a synthetic opioid up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine, according to Texas Health and Human Services. Just 2 milligrams of fentanyl, equal to 10 to 15 grains of table salt, is considered a lethal dose. The drug is estimated to kill five Texans every day, according to the state agency. Although some school districts and local fentanyl awareness advocates believed the state would provide the necessary curriculum, the Texas Education Agency has made it clear school districts are the ones responsible for meeting the education requirement. DEADLY LAPSE? Local fentanyl awareness advocates like Janice Stahl have found it harder to get into schools across the state since the law passed. The confusion and lack of funding for the mandated fentanyl awareness curriculum has cost lives, Stahl said. I think more kids have died because we havent been able to be in there speaking to them, Stahl said. Les McColgin, founder and CEO of Gulf Coast Outreach Services, believes fentanyl-awareness education needs to be approached in a unique way. We have to get out of the box because we have got an enemy that is throwing billions of doses at our country and our kids and our families, McColgin said. You cant have this little prepared program and think youre going to be any kind of resistance to whats coming in here. In 2023, the Drug Enforcement Administration seized more than 77 million fentanyl pills and nearly 12,000 pounds of fentanyl powder the most fentanyl seized by the administration in a single year. It amounts to more than 386 million deadly doses of fentanyl, which is enough to kill every American, according to the administration. AWARENESS AND EDUCATION With the lack of a mandated statewide curriculum, several districts in the county have relied on recommendations from the Texas Education Agency to meet the requirements of Tuckers Law. To assist school systems with meeting the statutory requirement, the agency has fentanyl abuse prevention and drug poisoning awareness specific instruction recommendations as part of its health education Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills. An additional resource is the agencys Fentanyl Response Awareness Toolkit, which provides resources to help Texas school systems and communities support awareness, the agency said. Clear Creek ISD, Dickinson ISD, and Friendswood ISD all noted the agencys communication toolkit as a part of their fentanyl awareness education. The toolkit includes a variety of one-page flyers, staff and parent correspondence templates and social media graphics, all featuring a range of facts about the dangers of fentanyl. VARYING APPROACHES When it comes to a research-based curriculum, as required by Tuckers Law, each district has a slightly different approach. Galveston Independent School District has provided yearly educational training and updates through daytime assemblies and classroom presentations for students grades 6 through 12 since 2023, Director of Communications Michael Dudas said. Santa Fe Independent School District also uses a mix of outside presentation groups and campus staff to provide fentanyl awareness training to its students, communications specialist Stephanie Lyssy said. SFISD curriculum staff ensures that all students and teachers receive this training and curriculum, Lyssy said. State officials keep districts updated on the fentanyl curriculum. For the 2023-2024 school year, the district brought in the fentanyl awareness nonprofit group, Forever Fifteen, to give presentations for both junior high and high school students. IN-HOUSE EFFORT Clear Creek ISD also relies on its staff to provide fentanyl curriculum to its students. Counselors throughout the district provide the guidance for the curriculum and health and fitness teachers teach the curriculum through their courses, Director of Counseling and Student Services Kristina Ford. Our annual instruction is really focused in grades six through 12 regarding fentanyl prevention and drug poisoning awareness, Ford said. What that looks like is we include suicide prevention, awareness of resources and it includes our health education. The district also partners with two mental health authorities, The Harris Center for Mental Health and Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and the Gulf Coast Center, to provide recovery and support services to its students, Ford said. That agreement supports our students that are assigned to Clear Path, which is our districts alternative education program, Ford said. If those students are assigned there for any substance-related offenses, eligible students with parental consent will receive ongoing support through the Gulf Coast Center. PARTNERSHIPS Dickinson ISD also uses outside partnerships for education resources and recovery support for its students, including the Gulf Coast Center, Coordinator of Mental Health and Counseling Amy Cmaidalka said. Another key partnership for the district in meeting its fentanyl curriculum requirement is the nonprofit, Crimestoppers. Crimestoppers implements their substance abuse prevention presentation on middle, junior and high school campuses during the school year, Cmaidalka said. This presentation details why using drugs and drinking alcohol as an adolescent will critically affect brain development into adulthood. The group provided a community and family substance abuse prevention presentation at 6 p.m. on Monday at the Ninth Grade Center at Dickinson High School, Cmaidalka said. Texas City Independent School District also uses nighttime presentations to educate students about the dangers of fentanyl. The district, in partnership with the Drug Enforcement Administration, hosted two evening presentations in September and October for its families and students, Deputy Superintendent Terri Burchfield said. Regarding a curriculum for students, the district is in the process of approving the ThinkSmart curriculum written by Texas A&M University, Burchfield said. We have some guidance from the state, but not specific directives regarding a particular curriculum, Burchfield said. The ThinkSmart curriculum appears to meet all the requirements set forth by the state. We are moving forward with the review of the ThinkSmart curriculum so we can implement it as soon as possible. NEW APPROACH NEEDED Local fentanyl-awareness advocates are worried the current fentanyl-focused education currently being provided to students isnt as effective as it needs to be. An unprecedented problem garners an unprecedented response, McColgin said. We cant keep dealing with it like weve got a few people smoking marijuana, McColgin said. Thats always been the standard approach. Give some type of police lecture to the kids and tell them dont do this and dont do that. They need to hear from people that have been out there and been affected. McColgin fears fentanyl-awareness curriculum will veer down the path of traditional substance abuse programs like D.A.R.E., which he categorized as totally ineffective. The presentations McColgin and his Gulf Coast Outreach Services team give to students should serve as a building block for other districts, he said. Key components of fentanyl-awareness education are direct interaction with students and messaging that isnt sugar-coated, McColgin said. They need to hear the basic stuff. They need to hear from people that have been involved in drug addiction and that theyre still alive, but it was a miracle, McColgin said. We tell these kids what is real and whats not real, and everything we tell them, its not a bunch of propaganda. They are facts. They need to see this. They need to hear this. It has to be a hard issue. Stahls nonprofit, Traviss Voice, also goes into schools and communities across the region to raise awareness about the dangers of fentanyl. Stahl has often been told by districts her presentations are too harsh. Were finding that in a lot of the schools, they tell us, can you tone it down because these kids are getting scared. These kids need to be scared, Stahl said. Were just telling facts. Were not telling anything above facts. Age also is a limitation of current fentanyl-focused education, Stahl said. TOO NARROW Under Tuckers Law, public schools are required to provide fentanyl awareness education only for grades 6 through 12. Stahl believes fentanyl awareness should start as early as kindergarten, she said. As long as theyre old enough to cross the street, theyre old enough to learn about drugs and fentanyl and those kind of things, Stahl said. Theres so many kids that are falling prey to fentanyl and taking things from other kids. Its super easy for them to also become either addicted at a very young age or die because they got a hold of something. An essential component of fentanyl-awareness that most districts are missing is providing Narcan, the name brand for Naloxone, directly to its students, Stahl and McColgin said. Number one is awareness and number two is the Narcan, Stahl said. All Narcan does is enable breathing. It doesnt hurt anybody. NARCAN Naloxone is a medicine that rapidly reverses an opioid overdose. In October, McColgin provided Narcan training for students at Hitchcock High School, in addition to a fentanyl awareness presentation. McColgin also donated five Narcan survival kits to the district, which his organization will refill as needed. Most districts in the county have Narcan on its campus, typically only available through trained nurses, school resource officers and faculty. Hitchcock Independent School District became the first district in the county to offer Narcan and training directly to its students. The need for awareness is high in our community and county. As a result, we have taken proactive steps to raise awareness and create opportunities for these essential conversations with our students, Superintendent Travis W. Edwards said. By taking the initiative to provide impactful assemblies and resources like Narcan rescue kits, we are ensuring that students are equipped with life-saving information and tools even as we await further guidance from the state. Texas City High School will offer Narcan and training at an upcoming health fair on Nov. 16, but Narcan will only be available to students 18-years-old or older, Burchfield said. McColgin said the age requirement as an example of the many self-imposed boundaries districts are setting for themselves when it comes to fentanyl awareness. Thats a self-inflicted rule, so that we dont hurt anybodys feelings, McColgin said. We dont want a parent to get mad. We have to get through all that garbage. Moving forward, McColgin urged districts to lean on groups like his and Stahls to drive fentanyl awareness messaging for students. Ive dealt with all this stuff. If youve never been strung out on something, its hard for you to be an expert, McColgin said. Theres experts on the book information, but you really dont know what people are going through and what will change and really stick in somebodys mind and heart until youve been there. Issue Date: 21/11/2024 Gardai in Mallow investigating the disappearance of Patrick (Patsy) OSullivan made an appeal for information on Crimecall on Wednesday evening, 20th November 2024, in conjunction with Patsy's family. Patsy OSullivans last known contact with his family was in Lombardstown, County Cork in April 1992. Patsy was 35 years old. He was known to have often gone away to work for weeks at a time, in different locations, but would always maintain contact with his family, and return periodically. Patsy had been working in Co. Kerry and visited his family home at Lombardstown on the Easter Bank Holiday weekend in April 1992. He was due to return home again for a Christening a few weeks later, but failed to do so. At that time, Patsy was described as approximately 5 foot 10 inches in height, of a slim build, with fair/brown hair and green eyes. He would now be 67 years old. An Garda Siochana and Patsys family are appealing to anyone who may have information relating to his disappearance to contact investigating Gardai. They are also appealing to Patsy himself, to make contact with them. Anyone with any information on Patsy's whereabouts is asked to contact Mallow Garda Station on 022 31450, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station. 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. Questions raised over Chinese ship seen near undersea Baltic cables Germany says the cutting of the cables was likely sabotage, amid warnings over Russian 'hybrid' warfare By Yitong Wu and Kit Sung for RFA Cantonese 2024.11.21 -- Questions have been raised over the activities of a Chinese ship currently in the company of a Danish naval patrol vessel after being spotted near two undersea internet cables that were cut in the Baltic Sea on Sunday and Monday. The Ningbo-registered Yi Peng 3 is currently anchored in a Kattegat, an area of sea off Denmark known informally as "NATO Lake," in close proximity to a Danish naval patrol vessel, according to MarineTraffic.com. Close by is the Danish naval patrol vessel P525, a military operations vessel under the flag of Denmark, according to an update from the site at 1300 GMT on Thursday. Meanwhile, a second Danish Navy ship, the "HDMS Slven", which supports divers in naval operations, was also anchored nearby overnight on Wednesday, media reports cited the website Vesselfinder as saying. While officials have declined to clarify whether the ship has been detained or searched, the apparent delay in its voyage comes after social media users spotted it slightly slowing down and altering course as it crossed the 730-mile C-Lion 1 undersea cable connecting Finland and Germany and the 130-mile link between Sweden and Lithuania on Monday, around the time that they were cut. Several media reports said the authorities are currently investigating the ship's activities. Authorities in Sweden and Finland are investigating the suspected sabotage of two undersea fiber-optic cables in the Baltic Sea, with attention focusing on a Chinese-registered cargo ship, the Yi Peng 3, EUToday reported on Wednesday. "The vessel, which passed close to the damaged cables during the time of the incidents, is now under surveillance by the Danish navy," the report said. Marine Insight said the Danish navy had confirmed that it is closely monitoring the ship, but declined to comment on its potential link to the damaged cables. "The Swedes are taking a close look at this Chinese ship," the Financial Times quoted an unnamed source familiar with the Swedish investigations as saying on Tuesday evening. Previous incidents This isn't the first time questions have been asked about the activities of Chinese vessels around international marine infrastructure. In May 2023, Palau said a Chinese vessel had slowed over an undersea cable during an incursion into its waters, while Finland investigated a Chinese-owned, Hong Kong-registered vessel after an undersea natural gas pipeline was damaged in October of the same year. The foreign ministers of France, Germany, Italy, Poland and Britain on Tuesday accused Russia of "escalating hybrid activities against NATO and EU countries [that are] unprecedented in their variety and scale, creating significant security risks," following the cutting of the undersea cables, although they didn't mention them directly. But Germany and other nations have said the damage was likely an act of sabotage. "No one believes that these cables were cut accidentally," German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said. "We also have to assume, without knowing it yet, that it is sabotage." Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski warned that Warsaw would shut down Russian consulates in Poland if the "acts of sabotage in Europe" didn't stop. U.S. Department of State Spokesperson Matthew Miller said Washington is "incredibly concerned" about the possibility of hostile Russian actions in Europe. "Speaking generally ... we are incredibly concerned about hybrid warfare conducted by Russia both in Europe and around the world," he told a Nov. 19 news briefing. "It's something that we have been in close coordination with our European allies and our other allies and partners around the world and we have made clear on a number of occasions to Russia that it would be held accountable for." "When it comes to this specific incident, we've seen these reports. It is our understanding that a number of the countries in question have announced investigations into the matter, and we'll of course await for the outcome of those investigations before speaking to them specifically," he said. South China Sea confrontations Public records indicate that the Yi Peng 3 is a bulk carrier registered in the eastern Chinese port of Ningbo and owned by the Ningbo Yipeng Shipping Co headquartered in the city's Zhenhai district. The company, which owns two vessels registered in August 2016, has said it has received a request to cooperate with an investigation but gave no further details. Its founder Chen Jianjun is listed as an officer of several other companies, including the Fujian Yipeng Shipping Co. and the Global Oriental International Contain (Qidong) Co. Germany-based China commentator Wu Wenxin said Chinese commercial vessels have gotten involved in quasi-military standoffs before, citing confrontations in the South China Sea. "For example, Chinese fishing vessels frequently provoke the Philippines in the South China Sea, but they're clearly part of the Chinese Communist Party's navy," Wu said. "I think the exact same thing is now happening in the Baltic." Wu, who has also lived in Sweden for many years, said Scandinavian countries have been "naive" about the transnational activities of the Chinese Communist Party." "Looks like they've been forced to learn the hard way," he said. "Now they'll be more vigilant as a result of this incident." Germany-based China commentator Cheng Shiguang said Chinese vessels have been implicated in damage to undersea cables near democratic Taiwan. "This hooligan behavior by the Chinese Communist Party may be news to the international community, but it's not in Taiwan, a country that has been fighting them for more than 70 years," Cheng said. "Taiwan has two outer islands, Kinmen and Matsu, which have cable connections with Taiwan, and they've had this experience too." "Russia has joined forces with North Korea, Iran, and China to win its war of aggression against Ukraine," Cheng said. "North Korea has sent troops to participate, and the Chinese Communist Party is creating chaos." "All countries in the world should see this for what it is, and boycott them collectively," he said. 2023 pipeline damage Regarding this incident, neither the Chinese Embassy in Sweden nor the Political Information Office of the Chinese Embassy in Finland responded to requests for comment when contacted by RFA Cantonese on Thursday. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told reporters at a news briefing in Beijing on Wednesday that he was "not aware of the relevant situation." "China has always required Chinese ships to strictly abide by relevant laws and regulations and attaches great importance to protecting the safety of undersea infrastructure," Lin said. In October 2023, Finnish authorities announced they would investigate the Chinese-owned and Hong Kong-registered cargo vessel NewNew Polar Bear amid claims it may have damaged a natural gas pipeline, and China said it was ready to assist the probe. According to Finnish police, the Balticconnector pipeline between Finland and Estonia was likely damaged by an anchor as "on the seabed, a 1.5 to 4 meter-wide dragging trail is seen to lead to the point of damage in the gas pipeline." The investigators said they found the anchor just a few meters from the gas pipeline damage point. They said the anchor may have belonged to the Chinese container vessel Newnew Polar Bear which was sailing through the area at around 1:20 a.m. local time on Oct. 8, 2023, when the pipeline was reported damaged. The police focused their suspicion on the ship as until now, they "could not visually confirm that both front anchors of the vessel were in their place." Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content November not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Statement of ICC Prosecutor Karim A.A. Khan KC on the issuance of arrest warrants in the Situation in the State of Palestine International Criminal Court (ICC) / Cour penale internationale (CPI) Statement: 21 November 2024 On 20 May 2024, my Office submitted applications for warrants of arrest before Pre-Trial Chamber I in relation to the situation in the State of Palestine. Today, based on the evidence presented by my Office, the judges have confirmed that there are reasonable grounds to believe that Rome Statute crimes have been committed. With respect to Mohammed Diab Ibrahim Al-Masri, more commonly known as Deif, Commander-in-Chief of the military wing of the Islamic Resistance Movement "Hamas", known as the Al-Qassam Brigades, the judges of the International Criminal Court have found reasonable grounds to believe that he is responsible for the crimes against humanity of murder, extermination, torture, and rape and other forms of sexual violence; as well as the war crimes of murder, cruel treatment, torture, taking hostages, outrages upon personal dignity, and rape and other forms of sexual violence. With respect to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and former Israeli Minister of Defence Yoav Gallant, the judges of the International Criminal Court have found that there are reasonable grounds to believe that each has committed the war crime of using starvation as a method of warfare and crimes against humanity of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts, as a direct perpetrator, acting jointly with others. The Chamber also found reasonable grounds to believe that they are each responsible for the war crime of intentionally directing attacks against civilians as a superior. My Office had also submitted applications for warrants of arrest for Mr Yahya Sinwar, then Head of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, and Mr Ismail Haniyeh, former Head of the Hamas Political Bureau, but later withdrew them following evidence confirming their deaths. Today, our collective mind and focus should be on the victims of international crimes in Israel and in the State of Palestine. In my own meetings with the victims and families of hostages taken from kibbutzim, and with victims from Gaza who have lost so many loved ones, I have underlined that the law is there for all, that its role is to vindicate the rights of all persons. The decision of the independent judges of the International Criminal Court affirms that international humanitarian law must be upheld in all circumstances through fair and impartial judicial processes. As I emphasised in May, these applications were made following an independent investigation, and on the basis of objective, verifiable evidence vetted through a forensic process. I appeal to all States Parties to live up to their commitment to the Rome Statute by respecting and complying with these judicial orders. We count on their cooperation in this situation, as with all other situations under the Court's jurisdiction. We also welcome collaboration with non-States Parties in working towards accountability and upholding international law. I will also continue to seek cooperation from all stakeholders including the State of Israel and the State of Palestine to ensure my Office fully meets its responsibility pursuant to article 54 of the Rome Statute to investigate incriminating and exonerating circumstances equally. In line with the Rome Statute, the door to complementarity continues to remain open. As with all situations, we will continue to actively assess the application of this fundamental principle, which requires genuine domestic investigations and any necessary prosecution of the same individuals for substantially the same conduct. In parallel, my Office is continuing to pursue its independent and impartial investigation in the situation in the State of Palestine with focus. We are taking forward additional lines of inquiry in areas under the Court's jurisdiction, which include Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. I am deeply concerned about reports of escalating violence, further shrinking humanitarian access, and continued expansion of allegations of international crimes in Gaza and the West Bank. We will continue to carry out our mandate in order to fulfil the fundamental commitment forming the basis of the Rome Statute: that the lives of all human beings have equal value. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Situation in the State of Palestine: ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I rejects the State of Israel's challenges to jurisdiction and issues warrants of arrest for Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant International Criminal Court (ICC) / Cour penale internationale (CPI) Press Release: 21 November 2024 Today, on 21 November 2024, Pre-Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court ('Court'), in its composition for the Situation in the State of Palestine,unanimously issued two decisions rejecting challenges by the State of Israel ('Israel') brought under articles 18 and 19 of the Rome Statute (the 'Statute'). It also issued warrants of arrest for Mr Benjamin Netanyahu and Mr Yoav Gallant. Decisions on requests by the State of Israel The Chamber ruled on two requests submitted by the Israel on 26 September 2024. In the first request, Israel challenged the Court's jurisdiction over the Situation in the State of Palestine in general, and over Israeli nationals more specifically, on the basis of article 19(2) of the Statute. In the second request, Israel requested that the Chamber order the Prosecution to provide a new notification of the initiation of an investigation to its authorities under article 18(1) of the Statute. Israel also requested the Chamber to halt any proceedings before the Court in the relevant situation, including the consideration of the applications for warrants of arrest for Mr Benjamin Netanyahu and Mr Yoav Gallant, submitted by the Prosecution on 20 May 2024. As to the first challenge, the Chamber noted that the acceptance by Israel of the Court's jurisdiction is not required, as the Court can exercise its jurisdiction on the basis of territorial jurisdiction of Palestine, as determined by Pre-Trial Chamber I in a previous composition. Furthermore, the Chamber considered that pursuant to article 19(1) of the Statute, States are not entitled to challenge the Court's jurisdiction under article 19(2) prior to the issuance of a warrant of arrest. Thus Israel's challenge is premature. This is without prejudice to any future possible challenges to the Court's jurisdiction and/or admissibility of any particular case. Decision on Israel's challenge to the jurisdiction of the Court pursuant to article 19(2) of the Rome Statute The Chamber also rejected Israel's request under article 18(1) of the Statute. The Chamber recalled that the Prosecution notified Israel of the initiation of an investigation in 2021. At that time, despite a clarification request by the Prosecution, Israel elected not to pursue any request for deferral of the investigation. Further, the Chamber considered that the parameters of the investigation in the situation have remained the same and, as a consequence, no new notification to the State of Israel was required. In light of this, the judges found that there was no reason to halt the consideration of the applications for warrants of arrest. Decision on Israel's request for an order to the Prosecution to give an Article 18(1) notice Warrants of arrest The Chamber issued warrants of arrest for two individuals, Mr Benjamin Netanyahu and Mr Yoav Gallant, for crimes against humanity and war crimes committed from at least 8 October 2023 until at least 20 May 2024, the day the Prosecution filed the applications for warrants of arrest. The arrest warrants are classified as 'secret', in order to protect witnesses and to safeguard the conduct of the investigations. However, the Chamber decided to release the information below since conduct similar to that addressed in the warrant of arrest appears to be ongoing. Moreover, the Chamber considers it to be in the interest of victims and their families that they are made aware of the warrants' existence. At the outset, the Chamber considered that the alleged conduct of Mr Netanyahu and Mr Gallant falls within the jurisdiction of the Court. The Chamber recalled that, in a previous composition, it already decided that the Court's jurisdiction in the situation extended to Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Furthermore, the Chamber declined to use its discretionary proprio motu powers to determine the admissibility of the two cases at this stage. This is without prejudice to any determination as to the jurisdiction and admissibility of the cases at a later stage. With regard to the crimes, the Chamber found reasonable grounds to believe that Mr Netanyahu, born on 21 October 1949, Prime Minister of Israel at the time of the relevant conduct, and Mr Gallant, born on 8 November 1958, Minister of Defence of Israel at the time of the alleged conduct, each bear criminal responsibility for the following crimes as co-perpetrators for committing the acts jointly with others: the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare; and the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts. The Chamber also found reasonable grounds to believe that Mr Netanyahu and Mr Gallant each bear criminal responsibility as civilian superiors for the war crime of intentionally directing an attack against the civilian population. Alleged crimes The Chamber found reasonable grounds to believe that during the relevant time, international humanitarian law related to international armed conflict between Israel and Palestine applied. This is because they are two High Contracting Parties to the 1949 Geneva Conventions and because Israel occupies at least parts of Palestine. The Chamber also found that the law related to non-international armed conflict applied to the fighting between Israel and Hamas. The Chamber found that the alleged conduct of Mr Netanyahu and Mr Gallant concerned the activities of Israeli government bodies and the armed forces against the civilian population in Palestine, more specifically civilians in Gaza. It therefore concerned the relationship between two parties to an international armed conflict, as well as the relationship between an occupying power and the population in occupied territory. For these reasons, with regards to war crimes, the Chamber found it appropriate to issue the arrest warrants pursuant to the law of international armed conflict. The Chamber also found that the alleged crimes against humanity were part of a widespread and systematic attack against the civilian population of Gaza. The Chamber considered that there are reasonable grounds to believe that both individuals intentionally and knowingly deprived the civilian population in Gaza of objects indispensable to their survival, including food, water, and medicine and medical supplies, as well as fuel and electricity, from at least 8 October 2023 to 20 May 2024. This finding is based on the role of Mr Netanyahu and Mr Gallant in impeding humanitarian aid in violation of international humanitarian law and their failure to facilitate relief by all means at its disposal. The Chamber found that their conduct led to the disruption of the ability of humanitarian organisations to provide food and other essential goods to the population in need in Gaza. The aforementioned restrictions together with cutting off electricity and reducing fuel supply also had a severe impact on the availability of water in Gaza and the ability of hospitals to provide medical care. The Chamber also noted that decisions allowing or increasing humanitarian assistance into Gaza were often conditional. They were not made to fulfil Israel's obligations under international humanitarian law or to ensure that the civilian population in Gaza would be adequately supplied with goods in need. In fact, they were a response to the pressure of the international community or requests by the United States of America. In any event, the increases in humanitarian assistance were not sufficient to improve the population's access to essential goods. Furthermore, the Chamber found reasonable grounds to believe that no clear military need or other justification under international humanitarian law could be identified for the restrictions placed on access for humanitarian relief operations. Despite warnings and appeals made by, inter alia, the UN Security Council, UN Secretary General, States, and governmental and civil society organisations about the humanitarian situation in Gaza, only minimal humanitarian assistance was authorised. In this regard, the Chamber considered the prolonged period of deprivation and Mr Netanyahu's statement connecting the halt in the essential goods and humanitarian aid with the goals of war. The Chamber therefore found reasonable grounds to believe that Mr Netanyahu and Mr Gallant bear criminal responsibility for the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare. The Chamber found that there are reasonable grounds to believe that the lack of food, water, electricity and fuel, and specific medical supplies, created conditions of life calculated to bring about the destruction of part of the civilian population in Gaza, which resulted in the death of civilians, including children due to malnutrition and dehydration. On the basis of material presented by the Prosecution covering the period until 20 May 2024, the Chamber could not determine that all elements of the crime against humanity of extermination were met. However, the Chamber did find that there are reasonable grounds to believe that the crime against humanity of murder was committed in relation to these victims. In addition, by intentionally limiting or preventing medical supplies and medicine from getting into Gaza, in particular anaesthetics and anaesthesia machines, the two individuals are also responsible for inflicting great suffering by means of inhumane acts on persons in need of treatment. Doctors were forced to operate on wounded persons and carry out amputations, including on children, without anaesthetics, and/or were forced to use inadequate and unsafe means to sedate patients, causing these persons extreme pain and suffering. This amounts to the crime against humanity of other inhumane acts. The Chamber also found reasonable grounds to believe that the abovementioned conduct deprived a significant portion of the civilian population in Gaza of their fundamental rights, including the rights to life and health, and that the population was targeted based on political and/or national grounds. It therefore found that the crime against humanity of persecution was committed. Finally, the Chamber assessed that there are reasonable grounds to believe that Mr Netanyahu and Mr Gallant bear criminal responsibility as civilian superiors for the war crime of intentionally directing attacks against the civilian population of Gaza. In this regard, the Chamber found that the material provided by the Prosecution only allowed it to make findings on two incidents that qualified as attacks that were intentionally directed against civilians. Reasonable grounds to believe exist that Mr Netanyahu and Mr Gallant, despite having measures available to them to prevent or repress the commission of crimes or ensure the submittal of the matter to the competent authorities, failed to do so. Background On 1 January 2015, The State of Palestine lodged a declaration under article 12(3) of the Rome Statute accepting jurisdiction of the Court since 13 June 2014. On 2 January 2015, The State of Palestine acceded to the Rome Statute by depositing its instrument of accession with the UN Secretary-General. The Rome Statute entered into force for The State of Palestine on 1 April 2015. On 22 May 2018, pursuant to articles 13(a) and 14 of the Rome Statute, The State of Palestine referred to the Prosecutor the Situation since 13 June 2014, with no end date. On 3 March 2021, the Prosecutor announced the opening of the investigation into the Situation in the State of Palestine. This followed Pre-Trial Chamber I's decision on 5 February 2021 that the Court could exercise its criminal jurisdiction in the Situation and, by majority, that the territorial scope of this jurisdiction extends to Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. On 17 November 2023, the Office of the Prosecutor received a further referral of the Situation in the State of Palestine, from South Africa, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Comoros, and Djibouti, and on 18 January 2024, the Republic of Chile and the United Mexican State additionally submitted a referral to the Prosecutor with respect to the situation in The State of Palestine. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Situation in the State of Palestine: ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I issues warrant of arrest for Mohammed Diab Ibrahim Al-Masri (Deif) International Criminal Court (ICC) / Cour penale internationale (CPI) Press Release: 21 November 2024 Today, on 21 November 2024, Pre-Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court ('Court'), in its composition for the Situation in the State of Palestine, unanimously issued a warrant of arrest for Mr Mohammed Diab Ibrahim Al-Masri, commonly known as 'Deif', for alleged crimes against humanity and war crimes committed on the territory of the State of Israel and the State of Palestine from at least 7 October 2023. The Prosecution had initially filed applications for warrants of arrest for two other senior leaders of Hamas, namely Mr Ismail Haniyeh and Mr Yahya Sinwar. Following confirmation of their deaths, the Chamber granted the withdrawal of the applications on 9 August 2024 and 25 October 2024, respectively. With respect to Mr Deif, the Prosecution indicated that it would continue to gather information with respect to his reported death. On 15 November 2024, the Prosecution, referring to information from both the Israeli and Palestinian authorities, notified the Chamber that it is not in a position to determine whether Mr Deif has been killed or remains alive. Therefore, the Chamber issues the present warrant of arrest. The Prosecution also noted that it continues to investigate the crimes in the ongoing conflict and envisions that further applications for warrants of arrest will be submitted. The warrant of arrest for Mr Deif is classified as 'secret' in order to protect witnesses and to safeguard the conduct of investigations. However, the Chamber decided to release the information below since conduct similar to that addressed in the warrant of arrest appears to be ongoing, in particular the holding of a number of hostages captive. The Chamber considers it is also in the interest of victims and their families to be aware of the warrant's existence. The Chamber found reasonable grounds to believe that Mr Deif, born in 1965, the highest commander of the military wing of Hamas (known as the al-Qassam Brigades) at the time of the alleged conduct, is responsible for the crimes against humanity of murder; extermination; torture; and rape and other form of sexual violence; as well as the war crimes of murder, cruel treatment, torture,; taking hostages; outrages upon personal dignity; and rape and other form of sexual violence. The Chamber found reasonable grounds to believe that Mr Deif bears criminal responsibility for the aforementioned crimes for (i) having committed the acts jointly and through others and (ii) having ordered or induced the commission of the crimes, and (iii) for his failure to exercise proper control over forces under his effective command and control. The Chamber found reasonable grounds to believe that during the relevant time, international humanitarian law related to international armed conflict (between Israel and Palestine) and non-international armed conflict (between Israel and Hamas) applied. The Chamber also found that there are reasonable grounds to believe that the crimes against humanity were part of a widespread and systematic attack directed by Hamas and other armed groups against the civilian population of Israel. Alleged crimes With regard to the crimes, the Chamber found reasonable grounds to believe that on 7 October 2023, shortly after a large number of rockets triggered the 'Tzeva Adom' alarm in several communities in Israel around 6:20-6:30 am, armed men entered these communities, as well as the site of the Supernova festival, a music event with a few thousand participants ('7 October Operation'). Members of Hamas, notably fighters of the al-Qassam Brigades, carried out mass killings at and/or around the communities of Kfar Aza, Holit, Nir Oz, Be'eri, and Nahal Oz, as well as at the Supernova festival. The attackers, for example, fired at people while they were seeking shelter and throw grenades at them. Hamas fighters followed similar patterns in other locations and killed further persons. These killings qualify as the crime against humanity and the war crime of murder. The Chamber also found that in some locations, namely at the site of the Supernova festival and in the vicinity thereof, attackers fired at people with semi-automatic weapons and/or rocket-propelled grenades. In light of this, the Chamber concluded that there are reasonable grounds to believe that the war crime of intentionally directing attacks against civilians was committed. In light of the coordinated killings of members of civilians at several separate locations, the Chamber also found that the conduct took place as part of a mass killing of members of the civilian population, and it therefore concluded that there are reasonable grounds to believe that the crime against humanity of extermination was committed. Furthermore, in the context of 7 October Operation, the Chamber found that a large number of persons were seized from various locations in Israel, including Kfar Aza, Holit, Nir Oz, Be'eri, Nahal Oz, and the Supernova festival. The victims were civilians, including children and elderly people, as well as members of the IDF (Israeli Defence Forces). After being taken to Gaza, most of them were detained in secret locations, including apartments and underground tunnels. A number of groups participated in seizing and detaining these persons: the al-Qassam Brigades, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad al-Quds, and other Palestinian armed groups. The Chamber found that Hamas was in control of the hostages as of the start of their detention in Gaza, irrespective of the group affiliation of the individuals initially seizing the hostages. The Chamber also found that hostage taking in the context of the 7 October Operation was conducted with the aim to negotiate their release in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held in Israel. In light of the above, the Chamber considered that there are reasonable grounds to believe that the war crime of hostage taking was committed. The Chamber further found that, while they were held captive in Gaza, some hostages, predominantly women, were subjected to sexual and gender based violence, including forced penetration, forced nudity, and humiliating and degrading treatment. On the basis of the material presented, the Chamber found reasonable grounds to believe that the crimes of torture as a crime against humanity and war crime, rape and other forms of sexual violence as crimes against humanity and war crimes, cruel treatment as a war crime, and outrages upon personal dignity as a war crime were committed against these persons during the relevant period. With respect to Mr Deif's individual criminal responsibility, the Chamber found reasonable grounds to believe that senior leaders of Hamas, comprising of at least Mr Deif, Mr Sinwar, and Mr Haniyeh, agreed to jointly carry out the 7 October 2023 Operation. The plan included targeting military and civilian objects in Israel and other acts of violence against Israeli persons. The material presented by the Prosecution indicated that several senior members of Palestinian Islamic Jihad al-Quds joined the plan in the morning of 7 October 2023 at the latest, and that other Palestinians armed groups participated in the Operation. Mr Deif, in his role as the commander of the al-Qassam Brigades, and through his actions prior to, during and after the 7 October Operation, is responsible for the commission of these crimes. In addition, the Chamber considered that Mr Deif ordered or induced the crimes or is responsible as a military commander for the criminal conduct of his subordinates. Background On 1 January 2015, The State of Palestine lodged a declaration under article 12(3) of the Rome Statute accepting jurisdiction of the Court since 13 June 2014. On 2 January 2015, The State of Palestine acceded to the Rome Statute by depositing its instrument of accession with the UN Secretary-General. The Rome Statute entered into force for The State of Palestine on 1 April 2015. On 22 May 2018, pursuant to articles 13(a) and 14 of the Rome Statute, The State of Palestine referred to the Prosecutor the Situation since 13 June 2014, with no end date. On 3 March 2021, the Prosecutor announced the opening of the investigation into the Situation in the State of Palestine. This followed Pre-Trial Chamber I's decision on 5 February 2021 that the Court could exercise its criminal jurisdiction in the Situation and, by majority, that the territorial scope of this jurisdiction extends to Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. On 17 November 2023, the Office of the Prosecutor received a further referral of the Situation in the State of Palestine, from South Africa, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Comoros, and Djibouti, and on 18 January 2024, the Republic of Chile and the United Mexican State additionally submitted a referral to the Prosecutor with respect to the situation in The State of Palestine. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Prime Minister's Office Statement Israel - Prime Minister's Office Spokesperson notifications The 37th Government 21.11.2024 The Prime Minister's Office, today: The antisemitic decision of the International Criminal Court is a modern Dreyfus trial - and will end the same way. Israel utterly rejects the false and absurd charges of the International Criminal Court, a biased and discriminatory political body. No war is more just than the war Israel has been waging in Gaza since October 7th 2023, when the Hamas terrorist organization launched a murderous assault and perpetrated the largest massacre against the Jewish People since the Holocaust. The decision to issue an arrest warrant against the Prime Minister was made by a corrupt chief prosecutor who is trying to save himself from sexual harassment accusations and biased judges who are motivated by antisemitic hatred of Israel. The ICC prosecutor lied when he told American senators that he would take no action until he had visited Israel and heard its side. Instead, he cancelled his arrival in Israel last May, several days after suspicions of sexual harassment were made against him, and announced his intention to issue arrest warrants against the Prime Minister and former Defense Minister. No anti-Israel decision will prevent the State of Israel from defending its citizens. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will not give in to pressure. He will continue to pursue all the objectives that Israel set out to achieve in its just war against Hamas and the Iranian axis of terror. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Army and NZDF set to welcome new workhorse utility vehicle New Zealand Defence Force From 2027 Ngati Tumatauenga, the New Zealand Army, will receive sixty brand new utility vehicles in a significant boost to New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) capabilities. 21 November, 2024 In a signing ceremony at Defence House on Wednesday, Secretary of Defence Brook Barrington finalised a contract with Spanish military vehicle manufacturer UROVESA - the first time the NZDF has engaged in a significant procurement from Spain in the Land Domain. It is the latest stage of the Protected Mobility Capability Project (PMCP), which has already seen the NZ Army acquire new operational vehicles in the form of the Bushmaster and Polaris fleets. The delivery of the first 60 utility vehicles will bring40 VAMTAC CK3 medium and 20 VAMTAC ST5 light variants for operational roles. It follows Government approval of the first tranche of a Ministry of Defence-led project, which received $100 million in funding as part of Budget 24. Tranche one covers the purchase of the vehicles, spare parts, computing and communications equipment, support equipment, project costs, and introduction into service costs. Chief of Army Major General Rose King, who was the official witness to Wednesday's contract signing, said the new vehicles represent a significant improvement in Army's capabilities, and will provide soldiers with a robust and versatile vehicle for combat, disaster relief, and general training scenarios. "Both the Unimog and Pinzgauer vehicles have served Ngati Tumatauenga well over the years - they have rightly been described as Army's workhorses - but their retirement from service is overdue. And so, it is with great excitement that we will see the start of the replacement of these essential platforms," said Major General King. "These new vehicles will make our people safer, their jobs easier and improve our effectiveness across a variety of scenarios, and I can't wait to see them up and running here in Aotearoa." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address ICC Issues Warrants For Israel's Netanyahu, Gallant, Hamas Military Leader By RFE/RL November 21, 2024 The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Muhammad Deif, a military commander in the Iran-backed group Hamas, alleging they committed crimes against humanity in the ongoing Gaza war. All three are accused of committing war crimes connected to the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel by Hamas, an EU- and U.S-designated terrorist organization that is part of Tehran's network of proxies in the Middle East, and Israel's subsequent military intervention in the Gaza Strip. Iran's backing of Hamas and Hezbollah, another Iran-supported militant group and political party that controls much of the southern part of Israel's neighbor, Lebanon, has sparked fears that the war in the Gaza Strip will engulf the Middle East. Hezbollah is designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, while the European Union blacklists its armed wing but not its political party. Hezbollah's political party has seats in the Lebanese parliament. The court said the warrants had been classified as "secret" to protect witnesses and to safeguard the conduct of the investigations. Israel, which claims it killed Deif in July, blasted the move as "a dark moment for the ICC." Hamas, which has never officially acknowledged Deif's death, called the warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant an "important step toward justice." The ICC said it had issued the arrest warrant for Deif as the prosecutor had not been able to determine whether he was dead. His warrant shows charges of mass killings during the October 7 attack on Israel that left some 1,200 dead, as well as charges of rape and the taking of around 240 hostages in the attack. "The Chamber considered that there are reasonable grounds to believe that both [Israeli] individuals intentionally and knowingly deprived the civilian population in Gaza of objects indispensable to their survival, including food, water, and medicine and medical supplies, as well as fuel and electricity, from at least 8 October 2023 to 20 May 2024," the ICC said in a statement. "This finding is based on the role of Mr. Netanyahu and Mr. Gallant in impeding humanitarian aid in violation of international humanitarian law and their failure to facilitate relief by all means at its disposal," it said. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar called the move against Netanyahu and Gallant "absurd" in a post on X, saying it was an attack of Israel's right to self-defense. "A dark moment for the ICC in The Hague, in which it lost all legitimacy for its existence and activity," Sa'ar said. Tehran has yet to comment publicly on the warrants. Neither the United States nor Israel have recognized the ICC's jurisdiction. A U.S. National Security Council spokesperson said Washington "fundamentally rejects" the issuance of the arrest warrants and "the troubling process errors that led to this decision. Meanwhile, the EU's top diplomat, Josep Borrell, said in a post on X that ICC decisions "are binding on all states party to the Rome Statute, which includes all EU Member States." The court said Israel's acceptance of the court's jurisdiction was not required. However, the court itself has no law enforcement levers to enforce warrants and relies on cooperation from its member states. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/icc-israel- warrant-netanyahu- hamas/33210823.html Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Gaza aid delivery 'grinding to a halt' alongside rampant insecurity 21 November 2024 - The delivery of life-saving aid across Gaza "is grinding to a halt" amid a surge in armed looting targeting humanitarian convoys, the senior aid official in the region said on Thursday. Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory Muhannad Hadi said that the survival of two million people now "hangs in the balance". Bakeries are closing rapidly for lack of flour or fuel to operate power generators and for over six weeks, the Israeli authorities have preventing all commercial imports from entering the Strip. Looting surge "At the same time, a surge in armed looting targeting humanitarian convoys and truck drivers, fuelled by the breakdown in public order and safety, has further crippled our ability to collect supplies from border areas and deliver critical aid," he said. Pushed to the brink, civilians lack access to essential support they desperately need, while so far this year UN trucks have been looted 75 times - including 15 such attacks since 4 November alone - while looters have broken into UN facilities on 34 occasions. "Just last week, one driver was shot in the head and hospitalized, along with another truck driver", Mr. Hadi recounted. "This Saturday, no less than 98 trucks were looted in a single attack with trucks being damaged or stolen." He added that although agencies remain committed to staying and delivering, "our ability to do so is increasingly being called into question." It is essential to reestablish the rule of law to allow safe and unimpeded access, he added. Violence in the West Bank In the occupied West Bank, UN humanitarians alongside the Palestinian Authority and other partners are assessing the needs of Palestinians affected by a nearly two-day operation conducted by Israeli forces in Jenin and Jenin refugee camp. Several homes and key infrastructure, including water and sewage lines, are said to have been damaged while power has been reportedly cut off in some areas, according to media reports. As in the Gaza Strip, children in the West Bank have also borne the brunt of fighting since the onset of the crisis last October. "Our humanitarian colleagues report that since 7 October of last year, four Palestinian children have been killed every week on average in the West Bank - marking a three-fold increase compared to the first nine months of 2023," UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told journalists at the regular press briefing in New York. "Meanwhile, violence by settlers continues to displace Palestinian children in the West Bank," he added. Of the more than 1,700 Palestinian displaced by settler violence, intimidation and harassment in Bedouin communities and herding communities, around half were children. Hunger and displacement in Lebanon In the wider Middle East region, UN food security and relief agencies - the World Food Programme (WFP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) - warned that hunger in Lebanon is set to worsen. The ongoing hostilities have severely disrupted supply chains, and deepened food insecurity, impacting more than 1.2 million people. "With nearly a quarter of the Lebanese population already suffering from inadequate food consumption, the situation is set to deteriorate further as food prices remain high," Mr. Dujarric said. The agencies for their part, have delivered food since September to more than 65,000 people, mostly in the south and the Baalbek Governorates, he added, reporting fresh displacement amid renewed evacuation orders and airstrikes on Thursday. More than 880,000 people have been displaced within the country, including more than 20,000 migrants who have been forced to flee both their homes and their workplaces, according to the UN International Organization for Migration (IOM). "It is important to reiterate that civilians must be protected, regardless of whether they choose to stay or whether they choose to leave," Mr. Dujarric added. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address ICC issues war crimes arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Gallant By VOA News November 21, 2024 The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants Thursday for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Israel's war against Hamas militants in Gaza. In a statement on its website, the ICC said the warrants charge each man with the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare, along with crimes against humanity that include murder, persecution and other inhumane acts. The warrants cover acts committed from "at least 8 October 2023 until at least 20 May 2024, the day the prosecution filed the applications for warrants of arrest." Israel is not a member of the ICC. The court does not try individuals in absentia, so Netanyahu and Gallant do not face immediate risk of prosecution. But the threat of arrest could create issues if either man travels abroad. Netanyahu condemned the ICC arrest warrant. A statement from his office said it is an "antisemitic decision" and Israel "rejects with disgust the absurd and false actions." In Washington, a National Security Council spokesperson said the United States "fundamentally rejects" the court's decision to issue arrest warrants for senior Israeli officials and is discussing next steps. "We remain deeply concerned by the prosecutor's rush to seek arrest warrants and the troubling process errors that led to this decision," the spokesperson said in a statement. "The United States has been clear that the ICC does not have jurisdiction over this matter." The Hague-based court's treaty was negotiated within the United Nations system, but the court is independent of the world body. The U.N. Security Council can refer situations to the prosecutor. Under U.N. guidelines, the secretary-general and other senior officials do not have contact with indicted individuals, unless necessary to carry out the organization's work. The U.N. is spearheading the humanitarian response in Gaza. "So, contacts can be had. They need to be limited," U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said in response to a VOA question. "And there is also a procedure through which we advise, in writing, the office of the ICC that these contacts are had." The court also issued an arrest warrant for Hamas military chief Muhammad Deif for crimes against humanity, including murder, hostage taking and sexual violence. Those charges are drawn from Hamas' October 7, 2023, terror attack, on Israel that killed some 1,200 people, including 46 U.S. citizens. Hamas also took about 250 hostages. Israel has said it killed Deif, but the court said it could not confirm that and issued the warrant. The prosecutor's office also originally sought warrants for Yahya Sinwar, head of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, and Ismail Haniyeh, the group's political chief, but it withdrew them following evidence of their deaths. Following the October 7 attack, Israel began a campaign to eliminate Hamas that has killed about 44,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The ministry does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its count but says more than half of those killed were women and children. When the original charges were brought to the court in May by ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan, Netanyahu issued a statement calling them "a moral outrage of historic proportions. It will cast an everlasting mark of shame on the international court." Netanyahu maintained that "Israel is waging a just war against Hamas," and that the "absurd" charges against him and Gallant "are merely an attempt to deny Israel the basic right of self-defense." Netanyahu fired Gallant earlier this month, saying the trust between the two men had evaporated over the course of Israel's war in Gaza. Hamas has been designated a terrorist group by the United States, Britain and other Western countries. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Dozens reported killed in Israeli strikes in eastern Lebanon By VOA News November 21, 2024 Dozens of people were reported killed in Israeli strikes in eastern Lebanon on Thursday. The governor of Baalbek-Hermel province said that at least 47 people were killed and 22 people were wounded in his region by the strikes. The strikes on Thursday came a day after U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein left Lebanon for Israel amid a push to secure a cease-fire in Israel's war with the Lebanon-based militant group Hezbollah. Hochstein met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz but there were no immediate reports from the meeting. However, a senior Lebanese official told Reuters that his country sought changes in the proposal to ensure the quick withdrawal of Israeli forces from south Lebanon. Hochstein reported progress Wednesday in what he described as constructive talks this week with Lebanese officials, including Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, a Hezbollah ally mediating for the militants. Israeli forces continued their military campaign that Netanyahu says is aimed at pushing Hezbollah back from border areas in southern Lebanon where the militants could pose a threat to northern Israel. Israel's military issued new evacuation orders in southern Lebanon, in Beirut's southern suburbs and in the Tyre area. Such calls for people to flee have frequently been followed by Israeli strikes that the military says target Hezbollah fighters. Cease-fire resolution The United States blocked a U.N. Security Council resolution Wednesday, demanding a permanent cease-fire in Gaza and the release of Israeli hostages, saying the proposed language would have sent the wrong message to Hamas. "The United States worked for weeks in good faith to avoid this outcome," U.S. Deputy U.N. Ambassador Robert Wood said after the vote. "We made clear throughout negotiations, we could not support an unconditional cease-fire that failed to release the hostages, because, as this council has previously called for, a durable end to the war must come with the release of the hostages. These two urgent goals are inextricably linked." The U.S. veto was its fourth on Gaza since the war between Israel and Hamas started 14 months ago. The Palestinian envoy to the U.N. said that while the proposed cease-fire would not solve everything, it would be a first step and vetoing it is unjustifiable when atrocities are taking place. "I truly do not understand, you're saying we cannot be for an unconditional cease-fire," Majed Bamya said, emotion rising in his voice. "What that means, in effect now, is that we are for a war. You're saying we cannot be for an unconditional cease-fire that does not release the hostages. Is this war releasing the hostages? Is it? Is it even trying to release the hostages?" Israel's ambassador said the proposed text would have sent the message that terrorists can act with impunity. "The resolution brought before this chamber was not a path to peace, it was a road map to more terror, more suffering and more bloodshed," Danny Danon said. "Many of you attempted to pass this injustice. We thank the United States for exercising its veto, for standing on the side of morality and justice, for refusing to abandon the hostages and their families." Council members expressed their disappointment that the resolution was not adopted, and Algeria, which represents the Arab group of nations on the 15-nation Security Council said it would return soon with an even stronger resolution. Hezbollah began its campaign after its ally Hamas launched its October 7, 2023, terror attack on Israel. About 1,200 Israelis were killed, and 250 were taken hostage. About 100 of the hostages have yet to be released, although a third of them are believed to be dead. Following the attack, Israel began a campaign to eliminate Hamas in Gaza that has killed about 44,000 people, according to the Gaza health ministry. Since the fighting with Hezbollah began, more than 3,500 people in Lebanon have been killed, according to authorities. Most of the fatalities have occurred since late September. Hamas and Hezbollah have been designated as terror groups by the United States, the U.K. and other Western countries. VOA United Nations Correspondent Margaret Besheer contributed to this report. Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address High-Ranking Mexican Cartel Leader Arrested on Charges of International Drug Trafficking and Money Laundering After Faking Own Death to Live in California Under Assumed Identity Thursday, November 21, 2024 For Immediate Release Office of Public Affairs A federal court in the Central District of California unsealed a criminal complaint yesterday charging Cristian Fernando Gutierrez-Ochoa a high-ranking member of the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion (CJNG) and the son-in-law of the CJNG's leader, Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, also known as El Mencho with international drug trafficking and money laundering offenses. Gutierrez-Ochoa was arrested in Riverside, California, on Nov. 19. "The Jalisco Cartel one of the world's most violent and prolific drug trafficking organizations is weaker today because of the tenacious efforts of law enforcement to track down and arrest a cartel leader who allegedly faked his own death and assumed a false identity to evade justice and live a life of luxury in California," said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. "As these charges allege, Gutierrez-Ochoa directed the trafficking of lethal narcotics, causing untold destruction in our communities. To those seeking to harm Americans and to profit from their pain, this arrest should serve as a reminder we will find you and bring you to justice." "Over the last decade, Cristian Gutierrez-Ochoa, a close associate of CJNG's top leader, allegedly directed the importation of tons of methamphetamine and cocaine into the United States and engaged in violence to aid the cartel's criminal activities," said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department's Criminal Division. "The Criminal Division is committed to disrupting and dismantling Mexican drug trafficking organizations. Tuesday's arrest sends a powerful message to cartel leadership: we will work tirelessly with our domestic and international law enforcement partners to hold them accountable." "Defeating the two cartels responsible for the deadly drug crisis in the United States is the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)'s top operational priority, and with the arrest of Cristian Fernando Gutierrez-Ochoa, we are much closer," said DEA Administrator Anne Milgram. "We allege that Gutierrez-Ochoa, a high-ranking member of the CJNG and the son-in-law of El Mencho, conspired to import thousands of kilograms of cocaine and methamphetamine into the United States on behalf of the Jalisco Cartel. The Jalisco Cartel is responsible for unprecedented violence in Mexico and helping to fuel the deadly drug crisis in the United States. The DEA is relentlessly committed to defeating the Jalisco Cartel, and we will exhaust every tool in the justice system to fight back, to save American lives, and to bring this cartel to justice." According to court documents, Gutierrez-Ochoa, 37, is alleged to have started working for the CJNG, one of the most violent drug cartels in Mexico, in around 2014, and to have personally coordinated the transportation and distribution of approximately 40,000 kilograms of methamphetamine and approximately 2,000 kilograms of cocaine in Mexico, all destined for the United States. Gutierrez-Ochoa allegedly furthered CJNG's drug trafficking and money laundering activities through violence. In around November 2021, Gutierrez-Ochoa allegedly kidnapped two members of the Mexican Navy in an attempt to secure the release of El Mencho's wife, who had been arrested by Mexican authorities. After being sought by Mexican authorities, Gutierrez-Ochoa allegedly fled into the United States, assumed a fictitious identity, and resided in a luxury residence in Riverside, California, purchased by CJNG's money laundering operatives with drug trafficking proceeds. According to court documents, El Mencho may have assisted Gutierrez-Ochoa in his scheme to fake his own death by telling associates that El Mencho murdered Gutierrez-Ochoa for lying. This helped Gutierrez-Ochoa sneak into the United States to be with El Mencho's daughter. The Justice Department returned a superseding indictment against El Mencho in April 2022, charging him with leading a continuing criminal enterprise to manufacture and distribute fentanyl for importation into the United States. The U.S. Department of State is offering a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to his arrest and/or conviction. El Mencho remains a fugitive. Gutierrez-Ochoa is charged with conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, knowing, intending, and having reasonable cause to believe that those controlled substances would be unlawfully imported into the United States. Gutierrez-Ochoa is also charged with conspiracy to launder CJNG's drug trafficking proceeds. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum penalty of ten years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison on the drug distribution conspiracy charge, and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on the money laundering conspiracy charge. A federal district court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The DEA Los Angeles Field Division is investigating the case. Trial Attorneys Lernik Begian and Doug Meisel of the Criminal Division's Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section are prosecuting the case. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California provided valuable assistance. This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug trafficking organizations and other criminal networks that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF. A complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Topic: Drug Trafficking Components: Criminal Division Criminal - Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section Criminal - Office of International Affairs Office of the Deputy Attorney General USAO - California, Central Press Release Number: 24-1468 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Gunmen Kill 38 In Attack On Shi'ite Convoy Amid Rising Tensions In NW Pakistan By RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal November 21, 2024 At least 38 people were killed and more than 40 wounded after gunmen opened fire on a convoy of cars carrying Shi'ite Muslims in northwest Pakistan as religious tension in the region rises. Three women and a child were among those killed in the November 21 attack, police told RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal. The convoy of 200 cars was heading from Peshawar to Parachinar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province near the border with Afghanistan when the unknown gunmen attacked. No one has taken responsibility for the attack, the latest in a series of deadly confrontations in the Kurram region. Police, who were escorting the cars, said the death toll could climb. There were about 700 people in the convoy, according to law enforcement. Tension in Kurram began to heat up after 17 people were killed in an attack on a convoy on October 12. There have been about a handful of deadly attacks since then. Sunnis and Shi'a live together in Kurram and have clashed violently over land, forests, and other property as well as religion over the years, despite government and law enforcement efforts to build peace. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/gunmen-attack-shiite- convoy-northwest-pakistan-38-killed/33211123.html Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Statement by the President of the Russian Federation November 21, 2024 20:10 The Kremlin, Moscow President of Russia Vladimir Putin: I would like to inform the military personnel of the Russian Federation Armed Forces, citizens of our country, our friends across the globe, and those who persist in the illusion that a strategic defeat can be inflicted upon Russia, about the events taking place today in the zone of the special military operation, specifically following the attacks by Western long-range weapons against our territory. The escalation of the conflict in Ukraine, instigated by the West, continues with the United States and its NATO allies previously announcing that they authorise the use of their long-range high-precision weapons for strikes inside the Russian Federation. Experts are well aware, and the Russian side has repeatedly highlighted it, that the use of such weapons is not possible without the direct involvement of military experts from the manufacturing nations. On November 19, six ATACMS tactical ballistic missiles produced by the United States, and on November 21, during a combined missile assault involving British Storm Shadow systems and HIMARS systems produced by the US, attacked military facilities inside the Russian Federation in the Bryansk and Kursk regions. From that point onward, as we have repeatedly emphasised in prior communications, the regional conflict in Ukraine provoked by the West has assumed elements of a global nature. Our air defence systems successfully counteracted these incursions, preventing the enemy from achieving their apparent objectives. The fire at the ammunition depot in the Bryansk Region, caused by the debris of ATACMS missiles, was extinguished without casualties or significant damage. In the Kursk Region, the attack targeted one of the command posts of our group North. Regrettably, the attack and the subsequent air defence battle resulted in casualties, both fatalities and injuries, among the perimeter security units and servicing staff. However, the command and operational staff of the control centre suffered no casualties and continues to manage effectively the operations of our forces to eliminate and push enemy units out of the Kursk Region. I wish to underscore once again that the use by the enemy of such weapons cannot affect the course of combat operations in the special military operation zone. Our forces are making successful advances along the entire line of contact, and all objectives we have set will be accomplished. In response to the deployment of American and British long-range weapons, on November 21, the Russian Armed Forces delivered a combined strike on a facility within Ukraine's defence industrial complex. In field conditions, we also carried out tests of one of Russia's latest medium-range missile systems - in this case, carrying a non-nuclear hypersonic ballistic missile that our engineers named Oreshnik. The tests were successful, achieving the intended objective of the launch. In the city of Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine, one of the largest and most famous industrial complexes from the Soviet Union era, which continues to produce missiles and other armaments, was hit. We are developing intermediate-range and shorter-range missiles in response to US plans to produce and deploy intermediate-range and shorter-range missiles in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. We believe that the United States made a mistake by unilaterally destroying the INF Treaty in 2019 under far-fetched pretext. Today, the United States is not only producing such equipment, but, as we can see, it has worked out ways to deploy its advanced missile systems to different regions of the world, including Europe, during training exercises for its troops. Moreover, in the course of these exercises, they are conducting training for using them. As a reminder, Russia has voluntarily and unilaterally committed not to deploy intermediate-range and shorter-range missiles until US weapons of this kind appear in any region of the world. To reiterate, we are conducting combat tests of the Oreshnik missile system in response to NATO's aggressive actions against Russia. Our decision on further deployment of intermediate-range and shorter-range missiles will depend on the actions of the United States and its satellites. We will determine the targets during further tests of our advanced missile systems based on the threats to the security of the Russian Federation. We consider ourselves entitled to use our weapons against military facilities of those countries that allow to use their weapons against our facilities, and in case of an escalation of aggressive actions, we will respond decisively and in mirror-like manner. I recommend that the ruling elites of the countries that are hatching plans to use their military contingents against Russia seriously consider this. It goes without saying that when choosing, if necessary and as a retaliatory measure, targets to be hit by systems such as Oreshnik on Ukrainian territory, we will in advance suggest that civilians and citizens of friendly countries residing in those areas leave danger zones. We will do so for humanitarian reasons, openly and publicly, without fear of counter-moves coming from the enemy, who will also be receiving this information. Why without fear? Because there are no means of countering such weapons today. Missiles attack targets at a speed of Mach 10, which is 2.5 to 3 kilometres per second. Air defence systems currently available in the world and missile defence systems being created by the Americans in Europe cannot intercept such missiles. It is impossible. I would like to emphasise once again that it was not Russia, but the United States that destroyed the international security system and, by continuing to fight, cling to its hegemony, they are pushing the whole world into a global conflict. We have always preferred and are ready now to resolve all disputes by peaceful means. But we are also ready for any turn of events. If anyone still doubts this, make no mistake: there will always be a response. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Deputy Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation Colonel General Aleksandr Fomin takes part in the Meeting of ASEAN Defence Ministers and Dialogue Partners 21.11.2024 Colonel General Aleksandr Fomin, the Deputy Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation, participated in the 11th Meeting of ASEAN Defence Ministers and Dialogue Partners (ADMM+), held on 21 November in Vientiane, the Lao People's Democratic Republic. In his address to ADMM Plus, the Russian Deputy Defence Minister outlined Russia's position on the most pressing security issues facing the world and the Asia-Pacific region. At the event, the countries of the Association confirmed their readiness to work with the Russian Ministry of Defence in key areas of military cooperation of mutual interest. During the meeting, the Deputy Defence Minister held bilateral talks with the heads of defence delegations of Vietnam, Laos, Malaysia and East Timor to discuss in detail bilateral military cooperation as well as prospects for cooperation in regional multilateral formats, in particular ADMM Plus. For reference: ADMM Plus is a mechanism of interaction between defence agencies of 10 ASEAN Southeast Asian countries and dialogue partner states (Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Russia, USA), established in April 2010 at the initiative of Vietnam. The activities of specialists within ADMM Plus are carried out in seven expert working groups: humanitarian demining, humanitarian assistance and emergency response, military medicine, maritime security, counter-terrorism, organisation of peacekeeping operations, and cyber security. Department for Media Affairs and Information NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US imposes new sanctions on Russia's Gazprombank By VOA News November 21, 2024 The U.S. Treasury Department announced Thursday a new set of sanctions targeting Russia's financial sector and its ability to fund its war with Ukraine, hitting Gazprombank as well as many other internationally connected financial institutions, entities and individuals. In a statement posted to its website, the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control said the sanctions designate Gazprombank Russia's largest remaining unsanctioned bank plus more than 50 other Russian banks, more than 40 Russian securities registrars and 15 Russian finance officials. The Treasury department said Gazprombank is a conduit for Russia to purchase military equipment for its war against Ukraine and the Russian government also uses the bank to pay its soldiers. Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Britain have previously sanctioned Gazprombank. The sanctions mean that all property and interests of the institutions, entities or individuals targeted by the sanctions are blocked. In the statement, U.S. Treasury Secretary said the sanctions "will further diminish and degrade Russia's war machine. This sweeping action will make it harder for the Kremlin to evade U.S. sanctions and fund and equip its military." In a statement posted to the White House website, U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan said the new sanctions are part of a pledge made by President Joe Biden in September to provide additional assistance and actions to "help Ukraine as it continues to resist Russia's aggression." The Biden administration is expected to step up assistance to Ukraine before the president leaves office. President-elect Donald Trump and leading Republicans have suggested they will reduce funding for Ukraine once Trump takes office on January 20. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Most violent year in Syria since 2020, senior UN official tells Security Council 21 November 2024 - This year of conflict in Syria is "on track to be the most violent since 2020", with the potential for even greater devastation looming on the horizon, the UN Deputy Special Envoy for Syria told the Security Council on Thursday. "Many millions of Syrians are still outside their country or struggling to survive in a complex landscape of de facto authorities, foreign armies, armed non-state actors and listed terrorist groups," Najat Rochdi highlighted, adding that 100,000 are arbitrarily detained or missing. Israeli airstrikes on Syria have also increased significantly, both in frequency and scope. Just yesterday, dozens were killed in a strike near Palmyra - likely the deadliest Israeli strike in Syria to date. While Israel says its strikes address targets linked to Iran, Hezbollah or Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Ms. Rochdi points out the strikes have been conducted on residential areas in the heart of Damascus, where civilian infrastructure was also hit. Over half a million fleeing from Lebanon Over half a million people have fled Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon and crossed into Syria since late September, and there remains a steady flow of movement, with thousands of people driven across the border into Syria every day, the head of the UN Agency for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in her address. An estimated two-thirds are Syrians, more than half are children and over 7,000 are pregnant women, Edem Wosornu added. Due to the damage from airstrikes, people have resorted to navigating crossings on foot or seeking out longer and riskier alternative routes. It has also caused serious disruptions to essential imports and exports, which are now down by 40 to 50 per cent, Ms. Rochdi underlined, noting that this drives up the prices of gasoline and basic goods "leaving the most vulnerable in a precarious state". "The safety and security of all of those arriving from Lebanon must be ensured, both at the crossing, and thereafter as they move throughout Syria - by all authorities and de facto authorities," she emphasised. 70 per cent of Syrians already in need Before the most recent influx of half a million people from Lebanon, more than 70 per cent of Syrians - around 16.7 million - were already in need of humanitarian assistance, Ms. Wosornu said. The impact on food security is particularly alarming, with nearly 13 million people already facing acute food insecurity in Syria - the fifth highest total globally - while the UN World Food Programme (WFP) has been forced to reduce its assistance by 80 per cent in the past two years due to funding cuts, Ms. Wosornu added. The situation is also especially severe for displaced people in camps and informal sites. In northwest Syria, for instance, some 1.4 million internally displaced persons, mostly women and children, require urgent assistance. Approximately 730,000 of these individuals are still living in tents, Ms. Wosornu reported. "Without additional funding, respiratory infections and hospitalizations are likely to surge, particularly among young children," she said, highlighting the emerging outbreak of suspected cholera in camps where people are living in "crowded detention-like conditions". Need for de-escalation "After almost fourteen years of war and conflict, there are no quick-fix technocratic solutions to these challenges, which are deeply political," Ms. Rochdi stated. Addressing these issues requires a national ceasefire in line with Security Council resolution 2254, which stresses protection of civilians and unfettered humanitarian access, she told the Council. "If all sides signal readiness to act constructively, responsibly, and practically, then we have the best chance to harness existing and new dynamics into opportunities for progress," she underscored. "This is a time of profound uncertainty and danger in the region; it is also exactly the time to shape a path to allow the Syrian people to realise their legitimate aspirations, to restore Syria's sovereignty, unity, independence and territorial integrity and to safeguard international peace and security," Ms. Rochdi concluded. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Update 261 - IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine International Atomic Energy Agency 117/2024 Vienna, Austria 21 Nov 2024 Nuclear safety and security "remains in jeopardy" at Ukraine's Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi told this week's IAEA Board of Governors meeting, as the facility twice lost the connection to its only remaining 750 kilovolt (kV) power line within a few days. Caused by unspecified damage that occurred approximately 17 km from the plant, the first disconnection lasted for just over 30 hours from Saturday morning until it was repaired and restored around noon the following day, Director General Grossi said, citing information from the IAEA's team stationed at the ZNPP site. The line was lost again this morning. As a result of the disconnections, the ZNPP relied on its sole 330 kV back-up power line for the electricity it needs for reactor cooling and other key nuclear safety functions. The ZNPP's connection to this line was itself lost twice in October, further underlining the fragility of its power supplies. Before the military conflict, Europe's largest nuclear power plant (NPP) had four 750 and six 330 kV lines available. Noting that the armed conflict this week passed its one-thousandth day, Director General Grossi said the IAEA had been supporting nuclear safety and security in Ukraine from the start, with 155 missions having so far been deployed as part of a continued presence at all five NPP sites. The largest of them, the ZNPP, "continues to face challenges not least because of the vulnerability of its limited off-site power supply lines," Director General Grossi said in his introductory statement to the Board on Wednesday. "All six reactors remain in cold shutdown and the Agency's continued stipulation is that no reactor is to be re-started as long as the nuclear safety and security situation at the Zaporizhzhya NPP remains in jeopardy." Ukraine's power system is also a growing concern for nuclear safety at its three operating NPPs - Khmelnytskyy, Rivne and South Ukraine - which require a reliable and stable connection to the national grid both to transmit the electricity they generate and to receive the off-site power they need for vital nuclear safety functions. The risks they are facing were highlighted last weekend, when Ukraine's energy infrastructure was reportedly targeted in widespread attacks, less than three months after military strikes caused extensive damage to a number of electrical substations across the country, which the IAEA has identified as important for nuclear safety. Four of these substations and their power lines were impacted again by the attacks during the night of 16 November and early morning of 17 November, prompting Ukraine's operating NPPs to reduce their power output as a precautionary measure. The NPPs in recent days gradually started restoring the power lines and began increasing output, but again lowered power generation this morning as a precaution, before it was once again restored. Separately, the South Ukraine NPP this morning disconnected from its two 750 kV power lines for maintenance. It still received power from its back-up systems. "The growing instability of the power grid is a deepening source of concern for nuclear safety, affecting all the nuclear power plants," Director General Grossi said. Before the latest attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, IAEA teams visited seven substations in September and October to assess the damage caused by the attacks in August, as part of their wider efforts to help the country ensure nuclear safety and security. They "documented extensive damage to all the substations visited, concluding that the grid's capability to provide a reliable off-site power supply to Ukrainian NPPs has been significantly reduced. Repairs and additional protective measures are being implemented by Ukraine," Director General Grossi told this week's Board. The Director General has repeatedly underlined the importance of adhering to the seven indispensable pillars of nuclear safety and security, one of which states that there must be a secure off-site power supply from the grid for all nuclear sites. The IAEA teams present at the Khmelnytskyy, Rivne and South Ukraine NPPs and the Chornobyl site reported that nuclear safety and security is being maintained despite the grid instability and the effects of the ongoing conflict, including a number of air raid alarms over the past week. The Agency continues to deliver on its comprehensive programme of assistance to Ukraine. Further to Tuesday's delivery of ambulances to Chornobyl and the Varash hospital, medical equipment including blood and urine analysers, defibrillators as well as electrocardiograph, X-ray and glucose monitoring systems will help the Slavutich health centre, the Varash and Netishyn hospitals and the National Research Centre for Radiation Medicine, Haematology and Oncology strengthen their health care capabilities. In a separate delivery, the Centralised Spent Fuel Storage Facility, a subdivision of the Ukrainian operator Energoatom, received a dosimetry system to monitor individual doses of staff. The deliveries were supported with funding from Austria, Denmark, Switzerland and the United States. Since the start of the conflict, the IAEA has coordinated 82 deliveries of equipment and supplies to Ukraine, with a total value of more than 12.4 million euro. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Putin Says Russia Fired New Intermediate Missile At Ukraine After ICBM Accusations By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service November 21, 2024 Russian President Vladimir Putin said his military fired a new intermediate-range missile into Ukraine following accusations by Kyiv that it was an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). In a November 21 video statement to the nation, Putin said the use of the new weapon was a response to the United States and the United Kingdom giving permission to Kyiv to fire their long-range missiles into Russia. "In combat conditions, one of the newest Russian medium-range missile systems was tested," Putin said, adding that it was a hypersonic, ballistic missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead. Earlier in the day, Kyiv accused Russia of striking Ukraine with what it said appeared to be an ICBM. The new weapon was part of a larger missile attack on Dnipropetrovsk, home to important military-industrial plants. ICBMs, which are designed to deliver long-distance nuclear strikes, have never been used in war before. "On the morning of November 21, 2024...Russian troops attacked the city of Dnipro (facilities and critical infrastructure) with missiles of various types. In particular, an intercontinental ballistic missile was launched from the Astrakhan region of the Russian Federation," the Ukrainian Air Force said in its statement on Telegram. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Telegram later that the new Russian weapon had "all characteristics -- speed, altitude -- [of an] intercontinental ballistic missile." Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said Russia struck Ukraine with an "experimental" intermediate-range ballistic missile that was based on its RS-26 Rubezh ICBM. She said Russia had informed the United States it would be launching the experimental missile shortly beforehand through "nuclear risk reduction channels." She said the new weapon had a smaller warhead that some other missiles Russia has launched into Ukraine. A U.S. official who asked not to be identified told media that Putin was seeking to intimidate Ukraine but added that Moscow only had a few of the "experimental" missiles. The Russian attack comes just days after reports that Ukraine used British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles and U.S.-made ATACMS systems to strike military targets deeper inside Russia following the long-sought approval by President Joe Biden. The RS-26 Rubezh is a solid-fueled, road-mobile ICBM currently in development that has been tested with heavier payloads at intermediate ranges. Military analysts said ICBM missiles can be classified as intermediate-range weapons when their payloads are increased and ranges decreased. The main target of the Russian attack was the southeastern region of Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine's most important industrial region, and its capital, the city of Dnipro. Ukraine's air force said that besides the ICBM, Russian aircraft also launched a hypersonic Kh-47M2 Kinzhal missile and seven subsonic Kh-101 cruise missiles. Ukrainian air defenses shot down six Kh-101 missiles, the air force reported. Dnipropetrovsk Governor Serhiy Lysak said his region bore the brunt of the Russian attack. "Since early in the morning, the aggressor massively attacked our region," Lysak reported on Telegram, adding that preliminary information showed that an industrial facility was damaged in the regional capital, Dnipro, where two fires were started by the attack. Explosions were also reported in Kremenchuk, in the central Poltava region. Moscow's use of a large number of sophisticated missiles as opposed to the usual drone attacks appears to be in response to Ukraine's gaining approval to use some Western-donated long-range missile systems to strike deeper into Russia. On November 20, Russian military bloggers and a source cited by Reuters reported that Ukraine had fired up to 12 Franco-British Storm Shadow missiles into Russia's Kursk region, part of which has been under Ukrainian control following a surprise incursion by Ukrainian troops in August. A spokesman for British Prime Minister Keir Starmer declined to confirm whether the missiles had been used. Previously, London had given permission to use the Storm Shadows, which have a 250-kilometer range, within Ukraine's territory. Earlier this week, Ukraine reportedly used ATACMS to strike a military facility in Russia's Bryansk region after Biden was reported as giving his OK. The White House has not officially confirmed the approval and Ukraine hasn't directly acknowledged the use of ATACMS on Russian targets. Russia has long warned that Ukraine's use Western-supplied long-range weapons to strike inside its territory would mark a serious escalation of the conflict. On November 21, Moscow said a new U.S. missile defence base in the Polish town of Redzikowo near the Baltic coast, which was opened on November 13 as part of a broader NATO missile shield, will lead to an increase in the overall level of nuclear danger. "This is another frankly provocative step in a series of deeply destabilising actions by the Americans and their allies in the North Atlantic alliance in the strategic sphere," Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said. "This leads to undermining strategic stability, increasing strategic risks and, as a result, to an increase in the overall level of nuclear danger," Zakharova said. Poland rejected the claim, saying there were no nuclear missiles at the base. "It is a base that serves the purpose of defense, not attack," Foreign Ministry spokesman Pawel Wronski said on November 21. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/icbm-ukraine-putin- dnipropetrovsk-poltava-strikes/33210307.html Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Steps Too Far As Moscow, Washington Cross 'Red Lines' Over Ukraine? By Michael Scollon November 21, 2024 Since Moscow launched its all-out invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Kyiv has complained that it is defending itself with one arm tied behind its back in the face of Russia's full might. While Western partners like the United States provided billions of dollars in weapons, Ukraine was prevented from using them to strike deep into Russian territory, where Moscow's war machine largely sat out of harm's way. That all changed on November 19, the 1,000th day of the war, when Moscow claimed Ukraine had fired U.S.-made longer-range missiles inside its territory, just after the White House reportedly granted Kyiv the green light. The administration of outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden then announced another reversal to a longstanding policy, saying on November 20 that it would provide Kyiv with antipersonnel mines to help it blunt advancing Russian forces on Ukrainian territory. Russia, meanwhile, made changes to its own policies, with President Vladimir Putin signing into law a revised nuclear doctrine that significantly lowers the threshold for his country to use the nuclear option to counter even a conventional attack by an adversary. Uncomfortable Questions The successive changes to the battlefield rules, which Moscow had already altered with the recent addition of thousands of North Korean troops to buttress its own forces in southwestern Russia, now have pundits asking a slew of questions: Why is this happening now, just two months before U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, who has claimed he can quickly end the war, returns to the White House? Are Biden, or Putin -- or both -- suddenly taking unnecessary and reckless risks? Can Washington's decisions save Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's "victory plan," which called for longer strike capabilities to hit the heart of Russia's war machine? And the biggest question, the one that arguably prevented Washington from granting Zelenskiy the permission he sought in the first place: Are we headed for World War III between nuclear superpowers? Experts are at odds over who might be the bigger risk-taker. "The current situation offers Putin a significant temptation to escalate," Tatiana Stanovaya, founder of R.Politik, wrote on X in reference to Russia's potential to use nukes. "With Trump not yet in office, such a move would not interfere with any immediate peace initiatives but could instead reinforce Trump's argument for direct dialogue with Putin." Nikolai Sokov, a former Russian diplomat and arms-control negotiator now with the Vienna Center for Disarmament and Nonproliferation, countered on X by saying, "I think, rather, Biden has suddenly displayed [a] big appetite for risk-taking after 2.5 years of being risk-averse." Now, he added, "Putin may feel forced to react or Trump will take him to the cleaners." Too Little, Too Late? But when asked by RFE/RL whether the recent moves by Moscow and Washington have increased the risk of a nuclear escalation, Keir Giles, an expert on the geopolitical conflict between the West and Russia, said "not at all." Giles, author of a new book called Who Will Defend Europe?, said the U.S. decision to grant Kyiv greater strike capabilities came "long after it would have had the maximum impact" and "is really not something about which Russia is going to be genuinely, legitimately concerned." Moscow "will still indulge in the performative theatrics to do with the nuclear doctrine, getting enormous value out of the changes," Giles said. "They are milking this for all it is worth, because they get a very gratifying reaction abroad." Ukraine, meanwhile, faces Russian and North Korean troops intent on retaking territory in Russia's southwestern Kursk region. The Ukrainian military's territorial gains within Russia came as the result of a surprise incursion in August that Zelenskiy said would give Kyiv more leverage in future negotiations. Kyiv is also trying to stave off a massive assault by Russian troops in Ukraine's east that some observers say is aimed at seizing full control of the four regions of Ukraine that Moscow has illegally annexed when and if peace talks do take place. But at the moment, Giles said, "there is no incentive for either Russia or Ukraine to enter negotiations." "Ukraine knows that this is likely to be far more disastrous for them than fighting on, and Russia knows that it can extract far more from Ukraine than if they freeze the conflict at the present moment," he said. Most observers agree that Ukraine's longer-range U.S. missiles, which are in short supply, are not going to seriously alter the course of the war in and of themselves. Jack Watling, senior research fellow at the Britain-based Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), wrote that the developments "are less about the damage" the U.S. ATACMS missiles, or Army Tactical Missile System, can inflict. It is "more about what they might enable, and whether their provision is a catalyst for others like Germany to provide similar kinds of support," he said. Take A Deep Breath As for the prospect of Russian retaliation for Ukraine using the U.S.-supplied missiles, Watling wrote that "it certainly will not" lead to a nuclear response. "The reality is that Russia can escalate in a range of ways to impose costs on the West, from undersea sabotage to the employment of proxies to harass trade," Watling wrote. Sam Greene, a professor at the Russia Institute at King's College London, called for "deep breaths, everyone." "The fact that Russia published a revised nuclear doctrine on the same day that Ukraine first fired ATACMs across the border is the result of careful escalation management by both sides," Greene wrote on X on November 19. "We may eventually get to WWIII, but probably not tonight." Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-washington- nuclear-war/33210611.html Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukrainian Oligarch Firtash Among 8 Hit By Latest U.K. Sanctions By RFE/RL's Russian Service November 21, 2024 Influential Ukrainian tycoon Dmytro Firtash is among eight people targeted by fresh British sanctions that accuse the group, which includes his wife, Lada, of large-scale, international corruption. Angolan-Russian billionaire Isabel dos Santos and Latvian politician and businessman Aivars Lembergs are also among those hit by the new sanctions announced on November 21. The British government accuses Firtash of bribing officials to secure mining licenses for his companies and profiting illegally from Ukraine's gas-transportation system. Firtash is also linked to financier Denys Horbunenko, a resident of the United Kingdom who was added to the sanctions list on November 21 for his association with Firtash. Firtash has faced legal scrutiny in Ukraine over embezzlement and money-laundering accusations involving fraudulent gas-trading schemes. The United States has been seeking his extradition from Austria on charges of bribing Indian officials. Firtash, who gained prominence in the 2000s through his joint venture RosUkrEnergo with Russian energy giant Gazprom, has denied allegations of working in Russia's interests. Dos Santos, daughter of former Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos, is Africa's first female billionaire. She is accused of corruption in Angola, where she allegedly exploited her political connections for personal gain. Dos Santos claims she has held Russian citizenship since birth, as she was born in Baku, Azerbaijan, in 1973 under the former Soviet Union. Lembergs, a former populist mayor of the Latvian city of Ventspils, has been convicted in Latvia of corruption and sentenced to five years in prison. He claims the charges against him are politically motivated. The sanctions are part of a British efforts to combat international corruption and disrupt the financial networks of individuals accused of abusing their power for personal enrichment. The measures include asset freezes, travel bans, and restricting these individuals from accessing the U.K.'s financial system or entering the country. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-firtash-britain- sanctions/33210814.html Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian Defence Ministry reports on repelling AFU attempt to invade Russian territory in Kursk region (21 November 2024) 21.11.2024 The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the operation to neutralise an enemy group, which broke into the territory of Kursk region. The units of the Sever Group of Forces inflicted losses on formations of 41st, 47th, 115th mechanised brigades, 5th and 17th tank brigades, the 82nd Air Assault Brigade, the 36th Marine Brigade, 112th, 117th and 129th territorial defence brigades of the AFU near Aleksandriya, Viktorovka, Daryino, Lebedevka, Leonidovka, Malaya Loknya, Nikolsky, Novoivanovka, and Sverdlikovo. Operational-Tactical and Army aviation and artillery inflicted losses on enemy manpower and hardware near Agronom, Aleksandriya, Bogdanovka, Kruglenkoye, Kurilovka, Lebedevka, Leonidovo, Martynovka, Malaya Loknya, Melovy, Nizhny Klin, Nikolayevka, Nikolayevo-Daryino, Nikolsky, Novoivanovka, Plyokhovo, Sverdlikovo, Staraya Sorochina, Cherkasskoye Porechnoye as well as Basovka, Belovody, Zhuravka, Obody, and Yunakovka (Sumy region). The AFU losses were over 150 troops over the past 24 hours. Five AFU servicemen surrendered. Since the beginning of hostilities in Kursk region, the AFU losses amounted to more than 34,540 troops, 215 tanks, 147 infantry fighting vehicles, 120 armoured personnel carriers, 1,190 armoured fighting vehicles, 988 motor vehicles, 296 artillery guns, 40 MLRS launchers, including 11 of HIMARS and six of MLRS made by the USA, 13 anti-aircraft missile launchers, seven transport-loading vehicles, 68 EW stations, 13 counter-battery warfare radars, four air defence radars, 27 units of engineering and other materiel, including 13 counterobstacle vehicles, one UR-77 mine clearing vehicle, six armoured recovery vehicles, and one command post vehicle. The operation to neutralise the AFU units is in progress. Department for Media Affairs and Information NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia targets Ukraine with new intermediate-range missile By VOA News November 21, 2024 Tensions heightened over Moscow's war on Ukraine Thursday, with Russian President Vladimir Putin saying it had targeted the Ukrainian city of Dnipro with a new intermediate-range missile in response to the United States and Britain sending Kyiv its longer-range missiles for use against Russia. Ukraine claimed Russian forces targeted it with an intercontinental ballistic missile, but U.S. officials said their assessment was that it was an intermediate-range missile, which, hours later, Putin acknowledged. Putin warned during a nationwide address that Russia could use the weapon, which has a range of 800 kilometers, against countries that have allowed Kyiv to use their missiles to strike Russia. "A regional conflict in Ukraine previously provoked by the West has acquired elements of a global character," Putin said in the televised address. He said Russia would issue advance warnings if it launched more strikes with the intermediate-range missiles to allow civilians time to evacuate safely. He claimed that U.S. air defense systems would not be capable of intercepting the new missiles. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a posting on X, following Putin's address that Thursday's attack was "yet more proof that Russia has no interest in peace. ... The world must respond. ... A lack of tough reactions to Russia's actions sends a message that such behavior is acceptable," he wrote. The most significant feature of the missile that Russia launched into Ukraine was its payload, Fabian Hoffmann, a doctoral research fellow at Oslo University told Reuters. The payload, a multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle, "is exclusively associated with nuclear-capable missiles," he said. He said Russia used the weapon for "signaling purposes." The Ukrainian air force said the missile was launched from Russia's Astrakhan region and was part of a wider set of attacks that included a hypersonic missile and seven cruise missiles. Ukrainian officials reported that the missile attacks wounded two people and damaged an industrial site in the Dnipropetrovsk region. Regional Governor Serhiy Lysak said the attacks hit the city of Dnipro and caused several fires. A U.S. official said the United States briefed Ukraine and close allies in recent days to help them prepare for the possible use of an experimental intermediate-range ballistic missile, as was used in Thursday's attack. At the Pentagon, deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh confirmed Russia's launch of an experimental intermediate range ballistic missile. "The United States was pre-notified briefly before the launch through nuclear risk reduction channels," she told reporters Thursday. Russia likely possesses only a handful of the experimental intermediate-range ballistic missiles, the official said. When asked by reporters Thursday about a potential escalation in the conflict, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre pointed to North Korean troops fighting for Russia against Ukraine. "When you are thinking about bringing in thousands of troops to the front lines to add to the war, right these are North Korean troops, as you know that is the aggression from Russia's part. That's their aggression," Jean-Pierre said. "We are going to continue to be there for Ukraine." Elsewhere, Volodymyr Artiukh, governor of Ukraine's Sumy region, said on Telegram that Russian forces shelled areas along the border between the two countries and attacked with an aerial drone. Russia's Defense Ministry said its air defenses destroyed two Ukrainian drones over the Rostov region and two drones over Volgograd. It also said it shot down two British-made Storm Shadow cruise missiles. Yuri Slyusar, the acting governor of Rostov, said on Telegram that the Ukrainian attack caused no damage or casualties. VOA Pentagon correspondent Carla Babb contributed to this report. Some information was provided by Reuters and The Associated Press. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia's use of advanced missile sends signal to West, analysts say By Myroslava Gongadze November 21, 2024 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned Russia's use of a fast, powerful new missile to attack the city of Dnipro on Thursday, calling it a "nuclear adventure" and a stark escalation in the war. The attack has ignited fears of a dangerous new phase in the war. In a nationwide address, Russian President Vladimir Putin later confirmed the use of a medium-range ballistic missile in the strike. Zelenskyy pointed to the strike as a sign of Moscow's broader strategy, stating, "It is obvious that Putin is using Ukraine as a testing ground for weapons that threaten the world." His remarks underscored the growing alarm in Kyiv over the deployment of advanced Russian missile systems against civilian targets. In his address, Putin framed the use of the nuclear-capable Oreshnik missile as a routine test within the conflict. "The Russian Federation tested a medium-range ballistic missile, known as Oreshnik, during its operation in Ukraine," he said. While he offered few technical details, analysts said the use of the missile and Putin's acknowledgment appears intended to showcase Russia's military capabilities to NATO and the United States. Putin's announcement marks the first time Russia has openly acknowledged using such a missile during the war. In Washington, Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said the missile used was based on Russia's RS 26 rubes intercontinental ballistic missile model." In terms of notifications to the United States, the United States was pre notified briefly before the launch through Nuclear Risk Reduction channels," she said. Strategic escalation Valeriy Chaly, Ukraine's former ambassador to the U.S., described the attack as a "new stage" in Russia's aggression. Speaking to VOA, he emphasized that the strike was not just a challenge to Ukraine but also to its Western allies. "This isn't just about Ukraine," Chaly said. "It's a challenge to the European security system and the United States. Moscow is signaling its readiness to escalate dramatically to influence the West." He said that the response to the attack "must be clear, united, and decisive anything less risks emboldening Russia and jeopardizing global security." Western leaders quickly condemned the strike. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer labeled it "reckless and dangerous," while EU foreign affairs spokesperson Peter Stano described it as a "qualitative escalation" in Russia's tactics. Dnipro attack The missile targeted industrial facilities in Dnipro, injuring two people and causing significant damage. Ukrainian officials initially suggested the use of an ICBM, or intercontinental ballistic missile, citing the weapon's speed and trajectory. Some analysts, including those in the U.S., believed it was more likely a medium- or intermediate-range ballistic missile, consistent with Putin's confirmation. Dnipro residents, accustomed to regular air-raid sirens and missile attacks, reported that this strike felt uniquely different. Oleksiy Poltorazky, a local resident, recounted: "We've learned to recognize the sounds of different missile types. This one was different it hit almost immediately after the siren. Many here believe it was a ballistic missile because there was no usual warning sound." The speed and power of the strike left many shaken. Poltorazky, however, remained resolute. "There's no panic, no apocalypse as everyone says. We have to live through this, raise our kids, protect our families and work. We have to fight and do everything possible for our country," he told VOA. George Barros, an expert on the Russia team at the Institute for the Study of War, told VOA that Ukrainians should try not to overreact to the attack. "It seems that the Russians targeted the city with an R-26 IRBM," Barros said, referring to a Soviet-era intermediate-range missile. "The main thing is to not panic. There's no reason to think that Putin's likelihood to use a nuclear weapon or a weapon of mass destruction is any higher than at other points in the war. "This is not the first time that Russia has used nuclear-capable weapon systems against Ukraine," he said. "Russia regularly uses Iskander nuclear-capable weapons, and this appears to be a signaling effort designed to deter further Western support for Ukraine." Strategic ambiguity While Putin confirmed the missile test, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov and Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova provided limited details about the strike. Zakharova was reportedly instructed not to address the attack at all during a Thursday press conference. The calculated reticence deepens global unease, as Moscow oscillates between overt warnings and veiled threats, said some analysts, suggesting the ambiguity is part of a broader strategy to keep Western nations uncertain about Russia's next moves. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Close students of the history of the Soviet military industrial complex and the development of Soviet solid propellant strategic missiles will note the irony of this episode, which is surely not lost in certain circles in Moscow. The RS-26 Oreshnik missile was developed by Moscow Institute of Thermal Technology (MIT) initially headed by Nadiradze, while the target was the Yuzhnoye / Yuzhmash missile production factory founded by Yangel. Nadiradze was an early pioneer in the development of large solid propellant missiles, but found the technology quite challenging, resulting in a multi-decade lag relative to the Americans. Although the name Yangel is associated with large liquid propellent missiles - real crowd-pleasers like the SS-9 and SS-18 - toward to late Soviet period Yusmazh came from behind to win, producing world class large solid missiles that post-Soviet Russia has been unable to replicate. At times, war is the continuation of industrial rivalry by other means. Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that such information should be sought from the Russian military, and he has nothing to say on the matter. During a press briefing on November 21, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova received a phone call in which an unknown interlocutor asked her not to touch on the topic of a possible intercontinental missile strike at the briefing. Several days earlier, State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin warned that "It is possible that new weapons systems, which the Russian Federation has not used on Ukrainian territory, will be used." The Russian Defense Ministry said "On November 21, 2024, in response to the use of US and UK long-range weapons against targets on the territory of Russia, the armed forces launched a combined strike against one of the facilities of the Ukrainian defense industry complex in Dnepropetrovsk. For the first time in combat conditions, the Oreshnik medium-range ballistic missile in non-nuclear hypersonic equipment was successfully used in the strike. The launch objective was achieved. All warheads reached the target". Russian President Vladimir Putin said in his statement: "In the city of Dnepropetrovsk, one of the largest and most famous industrial complexes from the Soviet Union, which still produces missile technology and other weapons, was hit." Russia already has a stockpile of Oreshnik missile systems, and a decision on the system's mass production has been made, Putin announced 22 November 2024. "We will continue these tests, including in combat conditions, depending on the situation and the nature of the security threats that are created for Russia, especially since we already have a stockpile of such systems ready for use," Putin said. The achievements and pace of development of the Oreshnik system inspire pride and admiration, and developments in the defense sector like the Oreshnik are of vital importance for Russia's security, Putin added. "The weapons system that was tested yesterday is yet another reliable guarantor of Russia's territorial integrity and sovereignty," the president said. "The creators of the Oreshnik missile system - those who designed and organized the production of this new complex, will certainly be nominated for state awards." "Keeping in mind the great power of this weapon, it will be put into service with the Strategic Missile Forces specifically," Putin said. "In addition to the Oreshnik system, several systems of this kind are currently in development for further testing in Russia today," Putin said. "Based on the results of testing, these weapons will also go into production. That is, we are developing a whole lineup of medium and shorter-range systems." According to Ukrainian monitoring publics, a 50-ton RS-26 Rubezh with multiple warheads was used to strike the Dnieper. Developed based on Soviet designs in the mid-2000s and making its first flight in 2011, it is capable of hitting targets at a range of up to 6,000 kilometers. According to the head of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional Military Administration (OVA) Serhiy Lysak, as a result of the missile attack on the Dnipro, a rehabilitation center for people with disabilities was damaged. The boiler room was partially destroyed, several dozen windows were broken. There is also damage in the garage cooperative, where a fire broke out. In addition, according to Lysak, an industrial enterprise and two private homes were damaged. The day before, Ukrainian Telegram channels wrote without citing sources that Russia could strike Ukraine with an RS-26 Rubezh ICBM, which is capable of carrying a nuclear charge. Some of them assumed that it would be a test launch, while others reported a combat launch. On November 20, the embassies of the United States, Italy, Greece, and Spain in Ukraine announced that they would be closed. Video of the final impact of the reentry vehicles is visuallly quite remarkable, and resemble the lightning strike scene in "War of the Worlds". The RVs themselves are glowing from the heat of reentry. And as they emerge from a low cloud layers, the shock wave from high speed of their final descent creates a conical condensation cloud. The single RS-26 Rubezh road mobile missile was equipped with six independent, non-nuclear warheads, with some sources claiming that each in turn deployed other warheads (call it 6x6 = 36). The GUR of Ukraine claimed that the new Russian MRBM that flew over Dnepropetrovsk carried six warheads with six submunitions in each. There are apparently two videos of the strike. In one, the cluster of submunitions are viewed edge on, and the trajectory of each individual submuntion is clear, though the field of view is restricted and possibly not all 36 impacts are recorded. In the other video, the submunition clusters are viewed edge on, with the impacts barely distinguishable from six impacts rather than 36. In the later video, the half dozen impacts are generally indistinguishable, strongly suggesting that there were indeed a total of 6 x 6 = 36 submunitions. In essence, this system would work much like the "Hypervelocity Rod Bundles" mentioned in the 2003 "US Air Force Transformation Flight Plan;' a theoretical weapon system that, in many circles, has come to be known as the "Rods from God'. There has been much discussion about the concept of these "Rods from God;' kinetic energy weapons capable of delivering enormous destruction due to their enormous kinetic energy. The destructive force of these weapons is directed almost entirely in the path of the weapons travel; for this reason, suitable targets include missile silos [particularly], ships, hardened aircraft shelters, command bunkers and tall buildings. Against softer area targets such as military factories, they would like mainly serve to punch narrow but deep holes into the factory floor. The fact that the energy was dissipated underground in the attack of 21 November 2024 is indicated by the absence of anything resembling a detonation on impact. The absence of serious or widespread damage from the Oreshnik attack would be masked by the damage from the nearly simultaneous attack on Yuzhnoye by a Kinzhal aeroballistic missile and seven Kh-101 cruise missiles. In September 2024, the Russian president emphasized that the approval to use long-range NATO strike systems to target areas deep inside Russia would constitute the Western alliance's direct participation in the proxy war in Ukraine against Moscow, because only NATO servicemen have the authority to make flight assignments for these missile systems. "So this is not about whether or not to allow the Ukrainian regime to strike Russia using these weapons, but about deciding whether or not NATO countries are directly involved in the military conflict or not. If such a decision is taken, it will mean nothing short of direct participation of NATO countries, the United States, European countries, in the war in Ukraine. This would constitute their direct participation, and this, of course, changes the very essence, the very nature of the conflict. It will mean that NATO countries, the United States and European countries, are at war with Russia. And if this is so, bearing in mind the change in the very nature of the conflict, we will make appropriate decisions based on the threats that will be posed to us," Putin said at the time. The Russian president announced 21 November 2024 that the country's armed forces carried out a combined strike using the latest Oreshnik ["Hazel" or "Chestnut"] medium-range missile against a Ukrainian defense industry facility in response to US and British weapon strikes on Russian territory. Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Kievs use of long-range weapons will not affect the course of the special military operation, and all its objectives will be achieved. Illusions about the possibility of delivering a strategic defeat to Russia, about the events currently unfolding in the zone of the special military operation, particularly in light of the use of long-range Western-made weapons against our territory [should not be held]," Putin said in his address. The president reported that on November 19, Ukrainian forces attacked targets in the Bryansk region with six ATACMS missiles, followed by Storm Shadow system strikes in the Kursk region on November 21. Air defense systems repelled the attacks, resulting in no casualties or significant damage. Putin emphasized that the conflict in Ukraine has acquired global dimensions after these attacks. "From this moment, as we have repeatedly emphasized, the conflict in Ukraine, provoked earlier by the West, has acquired global characteristics," he stressed. He noted that the use of long-range munitions against Russia is impossible without specialists from the countries where they were manufactured. "We consider ourselves entitled to use our weapons against the military facilities of those countries that allow their weapons to be used against our facilities. In the event of an escalation of aggressive actions, we will respond equally decisively and symmetrically," the president stated. He added that Kievs use of long-range weapons will not affect the course of the special military operation, and all its objectives will be achieved. Putin likewise emphasized that the international security system was destroyed by the United States, which made a mistake by withdrawing from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty in 2019. "Let me stress once again that it was not Russia but the United States that destroyed the international security system, and by clinging to its hegemony, it is pushing the entire world toward a global conflict," he noted. Putin added that Moscow will respond decisively and symmetrically in the event of escalation. He stated that Russia always advocates resolving disputes peacefully but warned against underestimating its readiness for any developments. The president also said that the deployment of Russian intermediate-range and shorter-range missiles will depend on the actions of the US and its allies. Targets for future tests of advanced missile systems will be chosen based on threats to Russia. "Of course, when selecting targets for such systems as Oreshnik on Ukrainian territory as a necessary countermeasure, we will inform civilians and request citizens of friendly nations in those areas to leave dangerous zones in advance," the head of state stressed. "This will be done openly, publicly, and out of humanitarian considerations, without fear of opposition from the enemy," Putin emphasized during his address. The issue of the further deployment of short and medium-range missiles will be decided in response to the actions of the US and its satellites, the Russian president said. Moscow will also continue the combat tests of its newest missile system, Putin warned, adding that Russias criteria for choosing targets for such tests will be determined by a security threat assessment. Moscow believes it has a right to target the military facilities of those nations that allow its weapons to be used against Russia, the president stated. In case of an escalation, we will deliver a decisive mirror-like response, he said. Russia is still ready to resolve all the differences in a peaceful way, the president said, adding that Moscow is still also ready for any developments and one should not doubt that there will always be a response. The Oreshnik missile system is being tested in combat conditions as a response to NATO countries' aggressive actions against Russia, he announced. "In response to the use of American and British weaponry on November 21 this year, Russian armed forces conducted a combined strike on one of Ukraine's defense-industrial complex facilities. This included testing one of Russia's latest medium-range missile systems in combat conditions. In this case, a ballistic missile equipped with non-nuclear hypersonic technology, referred to as Oreshnik by our missile forces, [was used]" Putin stated during his address. Modern air defense systems cannot intercept Oreshnik missiles, which attack targets at a speed of Mach 10about 2.5-3 kilometers per second, Putin explained. "Existing modern air defense systems worldwide, including the missile defense systems created by Americans in Europe, cannot intercept such missiles. Its impossible," Putin said in his speech. "Vladimir Putin delivered a very powerful message to the West that they should revise the decision to escalate the conflict," Dmitry Suslov, deputy director of the Center for European and International Studies at Russias Higher School of Economics, who participated in advising the leadership on amendment of the Russian nuclear doctrine and adoption of the new one, tells Sputnik. With this move, Putin made it clear that if NATO countries continue to use their ATACMS and Storm Shadow missiles against Russia, "then Russia might use its medium range missiles against those countries, against the military objects of these Western countries," Suslov continued. Moreover, Russia is ready for further escalation, according to the pundit. "If the West will respond to these Russian actions in the escalatory way, then Russia will escalate further. And the recent adoption of the newest Russian nuclear doctrine tells that Russia is basically ready at a certain stage to use evil nuclear weapons," he stresses. The medium-range ballistic missile Oreshnik was given the name "Chestnut" so that no one would guess. This was reported by the head of the State Duma Defense Committee Andrei Kartapolov, his words are quoted by the Telegram channel Shot. The streaking reentry of the clusters of metal rods rather resemble the blossoms of Castanea mollissima, the Chinese Chestnut. The tree is resistant to chestnut blight, which has nearly wiped out the native American chestnut, just as the Oreshnik system is resistant to missile defenses. And the Hazel tree (Corylus avellana) may be identified by the long, yellow dangling parts, the male flowers called catkins, which appear in spring. Hazel (Corylus avellana) is an important understorey tree. Mesolithic peoples may have transported the nuts with them as a food source, and thereby aided the expansion of the trees range. Male flowers are in the form of catkins, which are pale yellow in colour and up to 5 cm. long. They open in February, when hazel and its companion deciduous trees are all leafless, so they are one of the first obvious signs of spring in the forest. Unlike trees such as birch, hazel has relatively few insect species that are specialist feeders, just as the Oreshnik system is resistant to missile defenses. Kartapolov added that the civilian population would be warned in advance before the Oreshnik strike so that they would have time to leave the area. According to Ilya Kramnik, a research fellow at the Center for the Study of Strategic Planning at the Primakov Institute of World Economy and International Relations of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the development of the missile has been secret until now. "It can be assumed that we are dealing with a new generation of Russian intermediate-range missiles, that is, this is the upper range of medium range from 2.5-3 thousand and higher, but not intercontinental, somewhere up to 5 thousand km. Obviously, it is equipped with a multiple warhead with individual guidance units," the expert told Izvestia. He admits that it is a Yars-M missile system shortened by one stage. The specialist also added that the Oreshnik missile could also be used with nuclear warheads. According to military expert and editor of the Military Russia website Dmitry Kornev, a missile with such capabilities could have been created on the basis of the Iskander ballistic missile using a new generation solid fuel engine. " Russia has a priority in the global rocket industry in developing missiles of this type, as well as in creating hypersonic combat equipment for such missiles. In the spring of 2024, a new Iskander-class ballistic missile with an enlarged engine was shown for the first time in a video for the 78th anniversary of the Kapustin Yar test site. It may well turn out that this was the Oreshnik, he suggested. In any case, we have witnessed the first combat use of medium-range missiles in Russian history, the expert added. "The affected area includes all countries of continental Europe, from Poland and the Baltics to Portugal, as well as Great Britain. In addition, the affected area includes the newly minted NATO members: Finland and Sweden," the authors write. The flight time of the Oreshnik to Great Britain will be 19 minutes, to Poland - 8 minutes, to Belgium - 14 minutes, to Germany - 11 minutes, notes the Military Chronicle. Deputy Chair of the Security Council, Dimitri Unplugged Medvedev, could not resist concise trolling; So thats what you wanted? Well, youve damn well got it! Putin said 22 November 2024 the country's new intermediate-range ballistic missile, a nuclear-capable weapon, will continue to be tested, including in combat conditions, as Moscow struck several Ukrainian regions with other weapons. "We will continue these tests, including in combat conditions, depending on the situation and the nature of the security threats that are created for Russia," Putin said at a meeting with Defense Ministry officials and military-industrial complex officials. The Kremlin leader also called for serial production to begin, something that could be challenging amid Western sanctions on technology exports to Russia, including semiconductors, a key missile component. We are conducting combat tests of the Oreshnik missile system in response to the aggressive actions of NATO countries against Russia. The issue of further deployment of medium-range and shorter-range missiles will be decided by us, depending on the actions of the United States and its satellites. The targets for destruction during further tests of our newest missile systems will be determined by us based on threats to the security of the Russian Federation. We consider ourselves entitled to use our weapons against the military installations of those countries that allow their weapons to be used against our facilities. And in case of escalation of aggressive actions, we will also respond decisively and in a mirror manner. I recommend that the ruling elites of those countries that have plans to use their military contingents against Russia seriously think twice about this. Russia's president provided new information about the Oreshnik missile system at a meeting with defense and military industry officials on 22 November 2024, saying the weapon's mass production has been approved, and that Russia already has a stockpile of such weapons. The Oreshnik is a fundamentally new weapon, not just a modernization of an older system, President Putin said. In addition, he noted, "several systems" like the Oreshnik "are currently in development for further testing in Russia today...That is, we are developing a whole lineup of medium and shorter-range systems." Tested in combat in Dnepropetrovsk region against a major Ukrainian defense-related enterprise on 21 November 2024, the Oreshnik is modern Russia's first-ever intermediate-range ground based ballistic missile, with previous weapons in this class developed by the Soviet Union, and scrapped between 1988-1991 in accordance with the terms of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, signed at the twilight of the Cold War. The Oreshnik missile flies at a speed of Mach 10, or 3 km per second, retired Russian Army colonel and military analyst Viktor Litovkin told Sputnik, explaining why it can't be intercepted by modern air defenses. The unique feature of the Oreshnik missile system is that, firstly, it is a medium-range missile it flies to a distance of 1,000 km to 5,500 km and secondly, it is hypersonic, flying at a speed of Mach 10," retired Russian Army colonel and military analyst Viktor Litovkin told Sputnik 22 November 2024. Mach 10, or 10 times the speed of sound, equates to 3 km per second, the pundit noted. There is not a single air defense or missile defense system in the world capable of intercepting those hypersonic missiles, Litovkin stressed. "The West does not have missiles that fly at such a speed or hypersonic missiles at all," the pundit continued. "Although the US has repeatedly boasted that it has such missiles, it has never demonstrated a missile flight. They appeared to show missiles that flew at a supersonic speed of 5.5 times the speed of sound or Mach 5.5. However, hypersonic speed begins at Mach 6-7." [GlobalSecurity.org notes that hypersonic missiles travel at speeds of at least Mach 5 five times the speed of sound]. The missiles operating principle is similar to that demonstrated by the Kinzhal hypersonic missile, which is launched by the supersonic MiG-31K aircraft, or the Avangard hypersonic system's glide vehicle accelerated by the UR-100N U??Kh intercontinental ballistic missile, the expert explained. [GlobalSecurity.org notes that Kinshal is a simple ballistic missile, while Avanguard is a maneuverable glider, not in evidence with Oreshnik]. Mach 10 flight speeds mean the Oreshnik can cause significant damage not only using nuclear or conventional munitions, but also simply with its kinetic force. That is, the impact of the Oreshnik warhead is powerful enough to penetrate concrete, penetrate earth embankments and explode in a deep underground command post, an underground factory, etc. No Western missile has such properties neither medium-range nor strategic missiles, Litovkin emphasized. We have a very large scientific and technical reserve for the development of intercontinental ballistic missiles, with the Yars ICBM for example. In principle, achieving a similar result with the Oreshnik with such a reserve is possible in fairly short order. The Oreshnik, I think, is a creative evolution of ideas embedded in the Yars, retired Russian Air Defense Forces colonel and missile expert Mikhail Khodarenok told Sputnik, commenting on the speed with which the new Russian missile was developed, and its successful combat testing. That is, its not a smaller version of the Yars, or a Yars missing one stage, but the development of the scientific and technical reserve, those technologies which our design bureaus and industry have today, Khodarenok explained. Intermediate-range ballistic missiles like the Oreshnik are in great demand today, Khodarenok emphasized, particularly for a transcontinental power like Russia, amid US plans to deploy new ground-based missiles in Europe and Asia. For the US, possessing this class of weapons is not a matter of life and death, since theyre separated [from their main adversaries] by oceans, the retired officer said. Russia is "traditionally strong" when it comes to the creation of new strategic missiles, Khodarenok said, "because whereas the enemy at one time focused on the creation of strategic aviation and naval weaponry, one of the strong points of our design bureaus and the defense complex was always strategic ballistic missiles. When it comes to Russia's outstanding modern-day rocket scientists, first and foremost, its necessary to mention the Moscow Institute of Thermal Technology and its head Yuri Solomonov, Khodarenok said, referring to the Russian top engineer whose design team has been responsible for or involved in the creation of almost all of Russias modern strategic systems, including the Yars, Topol-M, Bulava and Sarmat, as well as hypersonic systems. Commenting on the news that Russia is testing several Oreshnik-type systems, Khodarenok said that while it can only be speculated how these systems will look, in all likelihood they will have different ranges, payload characteristics, guidance systems, systems for combating enemy anti-missile defenses, systems for jamming enemy radar. The observer can imagine a smaller, cheaper Oreshnik variant with a 1,500-2,000 km firing range, for example, or missiles equipped with their own maneuverable hypersonic glide vehicles. We will find out about it only after the missile has been used in combat, because at the development and testing stage, all possible measures are taken to prevent leaks about weapons characteristics. And in general, the greatest effect from a new weapon is achieved with its sudden, unexpected and massive use, Khodarenok said. If it were an ICBM (and Rubezh was counted as a prototype ICBM for New Start Treaty rules), Russia would have to notify the US and China in advance of any launch. "Each Party shall provide the other Party notification...no less than twenty-four hours in advance, of the planned date, launch area, and area of impact for any launch of a strategic ballistic missile"... Dmitry Peskov, added that Russia did not notify the US and the EU in advance about the use of the Oreshnik missile against a military-industrial complex facility in Ukraine, since Russia has no such obligation with respect to medium-range missiles. Russia automatically warned the United States 30 minutes in advance about the launch of the new hypersonic missile "Oreshnik" via the line of the Russian National Center for Nuclear Risk Reduction (NCNRRR), said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov . According to the press secretary of the Russian president, the center maintains constant communication with a similar system in the United States. "I can confirm that Russia did launch an experimental intermediate range ballistic missile," said Sabrina Singh during a briefing 21 November 2024 at the Pentagon. "This IRBM was based on Russia's RS-26 Rubezh intercontinental ballistic missile model. In terms of notifications to the United States, the United States was prenotified, briefly, before the launch, through nuclear risk reduction channels." The Defense Department has characterized the IRBM as "experimental" in that it's the first time a weapon of its kind has been used on the battlefield in Ukraine, Singh said. "This was a new type of lethal capability that was deployed on the battlefield," she said. "That's certainly [of] concern to us ... I don't have an assessment of its impacts right now, but it's something that, of course, we're concerned by." Singh also said an IRBM and an intercontinental ballistic missile have similar flight paths, high trajectories and can carry large payloads. "But the main difference lies in the range and the strategic purpose," she said. "Of course, we're going to take seriously the rhetoric coming out of Russia. But our focus remains on arming Ukraine and supporting Ukraine what it needs the most on the battlefield. And as a reminder, as this reckless rhetoric continues, Putin can choose to end this war today. He can choose to withdraw Russian forces and end this and end, you know, his war of aggression and his war of choice. So, we're going to continue to focus on what Ukraine needs on the battlefield." Washington is provoking an escalation that completely changes the nature of the conflict, military history expert Ricardo Cabral emphasized. The US allowing Kiev to use long-range weapons is "a continued psychological offensive" to test Moscow's tolerance, Venezuelan analyst Vladimir Adrianza noted, adding that the dangerous stage of the conflict stems from the voracious appetite of the US military, financial and technological complex. Moscow has every right to defend itself against NATO's sinister and criminal actions," noted Humberto Morales, professor at the Autonomous University of Puebla, Mexico. President Vladimir Putin has clearly conveyed the message that current events on the international arena demonstrate the suicidal and irresponsible behavior by the West which threatens total destruction, Lebanese political scientist Hassan Hmadeh underscored, adding, "The world must stand up to these evil people who are determined to destroy the planet, and the response must be commensurate with their actions." Washington's approval for Kiev to use US-made missiles is intended to force Donald Trumps future administration to operate in geopolitical chaos, Venezuelan international relations expert Wilmer Depablos said. With less than two months to go before the transfer of power, Biden is trying to make it as difficult as possible for the next president to resolve the Ukraine crisis, Iranian political scientist Emad Abshenas believes. Putin's order to use the Oreshnik missile is a warning to NATO countries amid the growing threat of a world war, Chinese pundit Sima Pingbang explained, going on to say that the Kiev regime has become an obstacle to peace and that Biden and Zelensky are unable to accept Moscow's victory." Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov addressed several global issues 27 November 2024, including the recent "Oresshnik" ballistic missile test, in light of the Ukrainian crisis. By launching the "Oreshnik" ballistic missile, Russia has delivered a clear warning to the West: cease supplying weapons to Kiev and refrain from encouraging further military adventures, stated Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov. "The message is very clear and straightforward: stop. You should no longer do this. Do not supply Kiev with everything they want, do not encourage them into new military adventuresthey are too dangerous. The time is approaching when there will be no other way but to acknowledge that the U.S., NATO, and others playing this game on Kiev's side, along with the West, have become full participants in this conflict," he said, adding that Western nations are still toying with the mistaken illusion that they can pull off a strategic victory over Russia. Russia has the means, including superweapons, to appropriately respond to any act of aggression against the country, Federation Council chairwoman Valentina Matvienko said 27 November 2024. Matvienko called Oreshnik a powerful act of modern geopolitics and a powerful signal that has been received by all addressees. However, she stressed that the use of the Oreshnik was not an ultimatum, or a threat, as Western media have tried to represent it. This is our response to the ongoing escalation by the West and the steps that led to the attack on Russian facilities using long-range weapons. We warn that this is unacceptable, Matvienko said, adding that the use of the missile is also a demonstration that we are ready for any development of events and we have the means, including superweapons, to give a tangible and inevitable response. The chairwoman did not elaborate on which superweapons she was referring to. As the president said, there will always be a response, Matvienko said. She also suggested that Putins speech and the deployment of the Oreshnik missile have great potential to tip the scales in favor of choosing a peaceful way to resolve the [Ukraine] conflict with unconditional respect for the interests of Russia, our security and our sovereignty. Matvienko expressed hope that Western leaders will draw the right conclusions from the latest developments, come to their senses and admit that they have lost, that they have failed to achieve their goals of containing Russias development, that they have failed to inflict a geopolitical defeat on Russia, and sit down at the negotiating table on a wide range of issues. Failure to do so will lead to a dead end, she warned. High-precision Oreshnik missiles can have the same impact on enemy targets as nuclear weapons, but are far more humane due to the absence of irreversible consequences typically associated with nuclear strikes, Russian military analyst and editor-in-chief of National Defense magazine, Igor Korotchenko, told Sputnik 30 November 2024. "From the materials that have already been made public, including video recordings of Oreshnik strikes on targets in Ukraine, it can be seen that the missile carries six warheads, each capable of independently hitting a target. The speed at which these warheads enter the atmosphere is so high that when they strike a target with kinetic impact, the resulting plasma cloud, along with the warheads speed, creates a force comparable to the explosion of a large meteorite," Korotchenko said. Retired Russian army colonel and veteran military observer Viktor Litovkin said Oreshnik can be made as an intercontinental ballistic missile, not necessarily a medium-range one, by adding another rocket stage, Litovkin said, recalling that in its present form, Oreshnik reportedly has two stages. When discussing any potential modifications to weapons like the Oreshnik, its always important to remember the concept that the target must be more expensive than the projectile used against it. That is, you dont shoot sparrows with a cannon, Litovkin emphasized. "It's necessary to understand that each type of target must have its own projectile," he noted, comparing, for instance, the power of the kinetic force-only strike of an Oreshnik flying at a speed of Mach 10 against an ICBM-launched Avangard hypersonic glide vehicle approaching at a speed of Mach 27. "Therefore, whether or not it's necessary to increase a projectile's hypersonic speed is decided in each specific case. It's noteworthy that the Kinzhal hypersonic missile has a speed of Mach 10, as does the Zircon, as does the Oreshnik...Perhaps, the weapons' designers have come to the conclusion that for comparatively short distances, there is simply no need to further increase the power, and that doing so would be expensive, and probably not rational," Litovkin summed up. Vlad Shlepchenko wote 27 November 2024 that considering that the first strike was carried out on a large industrial enterprise, and one responsible for developing the most dangerous weapons, it can be assumed that this policy of "explosive deindustrialization" will be continued. In this case, strikes with hypersonic blocks can be expected against such enterprises as: KB "Luch", Kyiv (anti-tank missiles, optics); Design Bureau "Artillery Weapons", Kyiv; Artem plant, Kyiv (producing shells); "Motor Sich", Zaporozhye (engines for helicopters and UAVs); "Ivchenko-Progress", Zaporozhye (gas turbine engines); "Vizar", Zhulyany (rockets "Neptune" and "Olkha"); Precision Mechanics Plant, Kamenets-Podolsky (repair and maintenance of weapons); "Lorta", Lviv (radio equipment); Kyiv Radio Plant (electronics); 732nd military plant, Vinnitsa (repair and maintenance of special equipment of Soviet production); "Generator", Kyiv (electrical equipment); "Meridian", Kyiv (electronics); Vinnitsa Aviation Plant; "Radioizmeritel", Kyiv (devices for aviation and UAVs). Oreshnik provides fundamentally new opportunities to hit targets in Western Ukraine, a region that Iskanders cannot reach and cruise missiles have significantly less power. Therefore, it is possible that this time there might be a strike on the Beskid Tunnel and bridges leading to Poland. On 27 November 2024, a NOTAM (Notice to Air Missions) appeared on the Internet - an official warning to airlines about the closure of air traffic over the Kapustin Yar test site from November 27 to 30. Considering that the previous launch of the newest Russian intercontinental ballistic missile "Oreshnik" was carried out from this very testing ground, some obsevers said that an official notification had been submitted about the upcoming use of the hypersonic complex. "Of course, it is impossible to say with 100% certainty that everything will be so, but the probability of another use of "Oreshnik" is very high." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address NEWARK, Del, Nov. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global life science and chemical instruments market is projected to experience substantial growth, reaching an estimated value of USD 47.5 billion in 2024, with a robust compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.3% during the forecast period. By 2034, the market is expected to soar to USD 79.7 billion, driven by a confluence of factors including increased public funding, advancements in food safety, and rising pharmaceutical research and development activities. A key driver behind this growth is the increasing public funding for research centres and laboratories across the globe. This trend is not confined to developed economies but is also gaining traction in developing countries, where healthcare and scientific research are recognized as cornerstones of development. In India, for instance, government initiatives such as the Biotechnology Ignition Grant Scheme (BIG) are providing vital financial support to research institutions, spurring the demand for life science and chemical instruments. Food Safety Takes Center Stage: Life science and chemical instruments play a critical role in ensuring food safety, a sector experiencing heightened attention due to the global rise in packaged food consumption. Instruments like microscopes and Atomic Absorption Spectrometers (AAS) are essential in detecting contaminants and ensuring the safety of the food supply. With the global food testing service market expected to surpass USD 50 billion by 2034, life science and chemical instruments will be at the forefront of this growing demand for food safety solutions. Small Instruments Drive Growth in Education and Research: While large-scale instruments often dominate headlines, smaller instruments are also making a significant impact in the market. The growing establishment of new schools, colleges, and research institutions is contributing to the increasing demand for miniature life science and chemical instruments. These compact devices are essential in educational settings, enabling hands-on learning and fostering the next generation of researchers. Pharmaceutical R&D Fuels Demand for Advanced Instruments: The rapidly aging global population, coupled with an increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, has accelerated the importance of drug development. Pharmaceutical companies are intensifying their research and development efforts to discover innovative drugs, resulting in higher demand for specialized instruments such as hydrogenators and cell culture incubators. As the pharmaceutical industry continues to expand its investment in drug discovery, the life science and chemical instruments market is set to see significant benefits. In conclusion, the global life science and chemical instruments market is positioned for dynamic growth, driven by government support, heightened focus on food safety, educational expansion, and pharmaceutical research. The markets promising trajectory reflects the critical role these instruments will continue to play in advancing healthcare, food safety, and scientific discovery. Key Takeaways: Global Life Science and Chemical Instruments Market Market Size and Growth Projections: The global Life Science and Chemical Instruments market is estimated to reach USD 47.5 billion in 2024. in 2024. The market value is projected to grow to USD 79.7 billion by 2034, reflecting a robust growth trajectory. Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR): The market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.3% from 2024 to 2034, highlighting a steady increase in demand and technological advancements. from 2024 to 2034, highlighting a steady increase in demand and technological advancements. India is anticipated to experience the highest growth rate at a 6% CAGR over the same period. is anticipated to experience the highest growth rate at a over the same period. China is forecasted to grow at a 5.3% CAGR , aligning with the global average. is forecasted to grow at a , aligning with the global average. South Korea is projected to grow at a 4.2% CAGR , while the United States is expected to grow at a more moderate 1.7% CAGR . is projected to grow at a , while is expected to grow at a more moderate . Spain is expected to see a 3.1% CAGR in the market during the same decade. These projections reflect the growing global demand for life science and chemical instruments, with notable regional variations in growth rates. "Public funding for healthcare and scientific research is a pivotal catalyst for the growth of this market, as it directly supports the development of advanced research facilities in both emerging and established markets. The consistent allocation of funds for scientific advancement, especially in countries like India, is accelerating demand for life science and chemical instruments," said opines Sabyasachi Ghosh Associate Vice President at Future Market Insights (FMI). Rising Demand for Market Data: Our Full Report Offers Deep Insights and Trend Analysis! https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/life-science-and-chemical-instruments-market Competitive Landscape: The life science and chemical instruments market is characterized by a high level of fragmentation. While industry leaders like Agilent Technologies dominate a substantial share of the market, there is still ample opportunity for smaller players to grow and succeed. As is common in tech-driven sectors, mergers and acquisitions (M&A) are prevalent, with companies leveraging combined technological strengths to develop innovative products. Strategic partnerships, including collaborations with public sector organizations, are also becoming more frequent. Startups and smaller companies are actively seeking both private and public funding to fuel their growth. Industry Developments: In May 2024, Novo Holdings, a Danish company, announced its acquisition of a controlling stake in the Austrian life science tools firm Single Use Support. In December 2023, Neste partnered with Eppendorf to produce Eppendorf Consumables BioBased, a new range of renewable lab plastics. In October 2024, Illumina launched two new instruments for its sequencing systems: the MiSeq i100 and MiSeq i100 Plus. Key Manufacturers in the Life Science and Chemical Instruments Market: Agilent Technologies Bio-Rad Laboratories Becton Dickinson and Company Abbott Laboratories Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Shimadzu Corporation Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. Roche Diagnostics Inc. Key Segments of Market Report: By Technology: The market encompasses various technologies, including spectroscopy, chromatography, flow cytometry, NGS, PCR, and Microscopy. By End User: The end user of life science and chemical instruments include hospitals & diagnostic centers, pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies, Contract Research Organization (CRO), and academia & research institutes. By Region: The industry is spread across North America, Latin America, Europe, East Asia, South Asia, Oceania, and the Middle East and Africa. French Language Le marche mondial des instruments des sciences de la vie et des produits chimiques devrait connaitre une croissance substantielle, atteignant une valeur estimee a 47,5 milliards USD en 2024, avec un taux de croissance annuel compose (TCAC) robuste de 5,3 % au cours de la periode de prevision. Dici 2034, le marche devrait atteindre 79,7 milliards USD, sous leffet dune confluence de facteurs, notamment laugmentation du financement public, les progres en matiere de securite alimentaire et laugmentation des activites de recherche et developpement pharmaceutiques. Lun des principaux moteurs de cette croissance est laugmentation du financement public des centres de recherche et des laboratoires a travers le monde. Cette tendance ne se limite pas aux economies developpees, mais gagne egalement du terrain dans les pays en developpement, ou les soins de sante et la recherche scientifique sont reconnus comme les pierres angulaires du developpement. En Inde, par exemple, des initiatives gouvernementales telles que le Biotechnology Ignition Grant Scheme (BIG) apportent un soutien financier vital aux institutions de recherche, stimulant ainsi la demande dinstruments des sciences de la vie et des instruments chimiques. La securite alimentaire est au centre des preoccupations : Les sciences de la vie et les instruments chimiques jouent un role essentiel pour assurer la salubrite des aliments, un secteur qui fait lobjet dune attention accrue en raison de laugmentation mondiale de la consommation daliments emballes. Des instruments tels que les microscopes et les spectrometres dabsorption atomique (AAS) sont essentiels pour detecter les contaminants et assurer la securite de lapprovisionnement alimentaire. Alors que le marche mondial des services danalyse des aliments devrait depasser les 50 milliards de dollars dici 2034, les sciences de la vie et les instruments chimiques seront a lavant-garde de cette demande croissante de solutions de securite alimentaire. Les petits instruments stimulent la croissance de leducation et de la recherche : Alors que les instruments a grande echelle font souvent la une des journaux, les instruments plus petits ont egalement un impact significatif sur le marche. La creation croissante de nouvelles ecoles, colleges et instituts de recherche contribue a la demande croissante dinstruments miniatures en sciences de la vie et en chimie. Ces appareils compacts sont essentiels dans les milieux educatifs, car ils permettent un apprentissage pratique et favorisent la prochaine generation de chercheurs. La R&D pharmaceutique alimente la demande dinstruments avances : Le vieillissement rapide de la population mondiale, associe a une prevalence croissante des maladies chroniques, a accelere limportance du developpement de medicaments. Les societes pharmaceutiques intensifient leurs efforts de recherche et de developpement pour decouvrir des medicaments innovants, ce qui entraine une demande accrue dinstruments specialises tels que les hydrogenateurs et les incubateurs de culture cellulaire. Alors que lindustrie pharmaceutique continue daccroitre ses investissements dans la decouverte de medicaments, le marche des instruments des sciences de la vie et des produits chimiques devrait en tirer des avantages significatifs. En conclusion, le marche mondial des instruments des sciences de la vie et des produits chimiques est positionne pour une croissance dynamique, stimulee par le soutien gouvernemental, laccent mis sur la securite alimentaire, lexpansion de leducation et la recherche pharmaceutique. La trajectoire prometteuse du marche reflete le role essentiel que ces instruments continueront de jouer dans lavancement des soins de sante, de la securite alimentaire et des decouvertes scientifiques. Principaux points a retenir : Marche mondial des instruments des sciences de la vie et des produits chimiques 1. Taille du marche et projections de croissance : o Le marche mondial des instruments des sciences de la vie et de la chimie devrait atteindre 47,5 milliards USD en 2024. o La valeur marchande devrait atteindre 79,7 milliards USD dici 2034, refletant une trajectoire de croissance robuste. 2. Taux de croissance annuel compose (TCAC) : o Le marche devrait croitre a un TCAC de 5,3 % de 2024 a 2034, mettant en evidence une augmentation constante de la demande et des progres technologiques. o LInde devrait connaitre le taux de croissance le plus eleve avec un TCAC de 6 % au cours de la meme periode. o La Chine devrait connaitre une croissance a un TCAC de 5,3 %, ce qui correspond a la moyenne mondiale. o La Coree du Sud devrait croitre a un TCAC de 4,2 %, tandis que les Etats-Unis devraient croitre a un TCAC plus modere de 1,7 %. o LEspagne devrait connaitre un TCAC de 3,1 % sur le marche au cours de la meme decennie. 3. Part de marche regionale (2023-2033) : o LAllemagne devrait detenir 6,2 % des parts de marche de 2023 a 2033, en tete du marche europeen. o Le Royaume-Uni devrait capturer 5,2 % des parts de marche au cours de cette periode. Ces projections refletent la demande mondiale croissante dinstruments des sciences de la vie et des instruments chimiques, avec des variations regionales notables des taux de croissance. Le financement public des soins de sante et de la recherche scientifique est un catalyseur essentiel de la croissance de ce marche, car il soutient directement le developpement dinstallations de recherche de pointe dans les marches emergents et etablis. Lallocation coherente de fonds pour le progres scientifique, en particulier dans des pays comme lInde, accelere la demande dinstruments des sciences de la vie et de la chimie , a declare Sabyasachi Ghosh, vice-president associe de Future Market Insights (FMI). Demande croissante de donnees de marche : notre rapport complet offre des informations approfondies et une analyse des tendances ! https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/life-science-and-chemical-instruments-market Paysage concurrentiel : Le marche des instruments des sciences de la vie et de la chimie se caracterise par un niveau eleve de fragmentation. Bien que les leaders de lindustrie comme Agilent Technologies dominent une part substantielle du marche, il existe encore de nombreuses opportunites pour les petits acteurs de se developper et de reussir. Comme cest souvent le cas dans les secteurs axes sur la technologie, les fusions et acquisitions (M&A) sont courantes, les entreprises tirant parti de leurs forces technologiques combinees pour developper des produits innovants. Les partenariats strategiques, y compris les collaborations avec les organisations du secteur public, sont egalement de plus en plus frequents. Les startups et les petites entreprises recherchent activement des financements prives et publics pour alimenter leur croissance. Developpements de lindustrie : En mai 2024, Novo Holdings, une societe danoise, a annonce lacquisition dune participation majoritaire dans la societe autrichienne doutils des sciences de la vie Single Use Support. En decembre 2023, Neste sest associe a Eppendorf pour produire Eppendorf Consumables BioBased, une nouvelle gamme de plastiques de laboratoire renouvelables. En octobre 2024, Illumina a lance deux nouveaux instruments pour ses systemes de sequencage : le MiSeq i100 et le MiSeq i100 Plus. Principaux fabricants sur le marche des instruments des sciences de la vie et des produits chimiques : Agilent Technologies Laboratoires Bio-Rad Becton Dickinson et compagnie Laboratoires Abbott Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Societe Shimadzu Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. Roche Diagnostics Inc. Segments cles du rapport sur le marche : Par technologie : Le marche englobe diverses technologies, notamment la spectroscopie, la chromatographie, la cytometrie en flux, le NGS, la PCR et la microscopie. Par utilisateur final : Lutilisateur final dinstruments des sciences de la vie et de la chimie comprend les hopitaux et les centres de diagnostic, les entreprises pharmaceutiques et biotechnologiques, les organisations de recherche sous contrat (CRO), les universites et les instituts de recherche. Par region : Lindustrie est repartie en Amerique du Nord, en Amerique latine, en Europe, en Asie de lEst, en Asie du Sud, en Oceanie, au Moyen-Orient et en Afrique. Author By: Sabyasachi Ghosh (Associate Vice President at Future Market Insights, Inc.) holds over 12 years of experience in the Healthcare, Medical Devices, and Pharmaceutical industries. His curious and analytical nature helped him shape his career as a researcher. Identifying key challenges faced by clients and devising robust, hypothesis-based solutions to empower them with strategic decision-making capabilities come naturally to him. His primary expertise lies in areas such as Market Entry and Expansion Strategy, Feasibility Studies, Competitive Intelligence, and Strategic Transformation. Holding a degree in Microbiology, Sabyasachi has authored numerous publications and has been cited in journals, including The Journal of mHealth, ITN Online, and Spinal Surgery News. Explore FMIs related ongoing Coverage in the Healthcare Market Insights Domain: The current valuation of the life science multichannel campaign management market in 2022 is USD 1.3 Billion and it is projected to grow at a promising CAGR of 18% within the period between 2022 to 2032 to reach a valuation of USD 6.9 Billion. The widefield imaging systems market share is estimated to be valued at USD 0.6 billion in 2023. The market is expected to reach USD 1.4 billion by 2033 developing at a CAGR of 8.6%. In 2023, the worldwide digital mobile X-ray devices market demand is estimated to be valued at USD 3,873.7 million. Further projections show that growth is expected to continue with an annual growth rate of 6.5% from 2023 to 2033. By the end of this forecast period in 2033, this portable X-ray machine market value could reach USD 7,272.7 million, marking a key milestone. The global molecular imaging market growth is expected to secure USD 5,437.2 million in 2023. During the forecast period, the market is projected to exhibit a CAGR of 11.0% while garnering USD 15,457.48 million. The contact-lens induced infections market outlook is estimated to reach USD 491.3 million in 2024. It is estimated that revenue will increase at a CAGR of 4.9% between 2024 and 2034. The market is anticipated to reach USD 792.6 million by 2034. The self-administered biologics market overview is estimated to reach USD 94,057.6 million in 2024. It is estimated that revenue will increase at a CAGR of 4.5% between 2024 and 2034. The market is anticipated to reach USD 146,068.5 million by 2034. The global patient transportation market sales is estimated to be worth USD 22,035.5 million in 2024 and anticipated to reach a value of USD 37,639.9 million by 2034. Sales are projected to rise at a CAGR of 5.5% over the forecast period between 2024 and 2034. The global vascular patches market forecast is estimated to be worth USD 160.3 million in 2024 and anticipated to reach a value of USD 256.2 million by 2034. Sales are projected to rise at a CAGR of 4.8% over the forecast period between 2024 and 2034. The MENA syringes & cannula market opportunity are estimated to be worth USD 1,592.2 million in 2024 and are anticipated to reach a value of USD 2,824.7 million by 2034. Sales are projected to rise at a CAGR of 5.9% over the forecast period between 2024 and 2034. The carbon dioxide incubators market strategies is estimated to reach USD 752.9 million in 2024. It is estimated that revenue will increase at a CAGR of 5.1% between 2024 and 2034. The market is anticipated to reach USD 1,238.1 million by 2034. About Future Market Insights (FMI) Future Market Insights, Inc. (ESOMAR certified, recipient of the Stevie Award, and a member of the Greater New York Chamber of Commerce) offers profound insights into the driving factors that are boosting demand in the market. FMI stands as the leading global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, consulting, and events for the Packaging, Food and Beverage, Consumer Technology, Healthcare, Industrial, and Chemicals markets. With a vast team of over 400 analysts worldwide, FMI provides global, regional, and local expertise on diverse domains and industry trends across more than 110 countries. Join us as we commemorate 10 years of delivering trusted market insights. Reflecting on a decade of achievements, we continue to lead with integrity, innovation, and expertise. Contact Us: Future Market Insights Inc. Christiana Corporate, 200 Continental Drive, Suite 401, Newark, Delaware - 19713, USA T: +1-347-918-3531 For Sales Enquiries: sales@futuremarketinsights.com Website: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com LinkedIn| Twitter| Blogs | YouTube TAIPEI, Taiwan and WATERTOWN, Mass., Nov. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Syncell , a leader in next-generation subcellular protein purification and spatial proteomics analysis, today announced that Microscoop has received Proteomics Solution of the Year in the fourth annual BioTech Breakthrough Awards program conducted by BioTech Breakthrough , a leading independent market intelligence organization that evaluates and recognizes standout life sciences and biotechnology companies, products and services around the globe. Syncells Microscoop is a novel spatial biology platform that offers unique capabilities for spatial proteomics studies, enabling hypothesis-free subcellular spatial proteomics with high sensitivity and specificity. This is achieved by microscopy-guided subcellular protein purification in cells or tissues across anatomical regions of interest. Researchers can use Microscoop to discover novel biomarkers for disease, identifying site-specific subcellular proteomes by scooping up all proteins within a region of interest. The device consists of a mechatronics control unit and a 2-photon optical unit connected to a computer and a microscope. Microscoop helps researchers identify novel protein biomarkers for numerous life science applications. The technology platform can be applied to both cell- and tissue-based samples, making it broadly applicable to many basic and translational research fields. The Microscoop system photolabels proteins at user defined regions of interests (ROls) under a microscope utilizing directed photochemistry, one field of view (FOV) at a time for tens of thousands of FOVs with similar morphological features. Photolabeled proteins are then extracted and sent to a downstream mass spectrometry instrument to reveal ROI-specific known and novel protein constituents. Thus, beyond spatial proteomics mapping, subcellular spatial proteomics discovery can be achieved. The user-friendly Microscoop graphic user interface will manage experimental protocols for fully automated imaging and photolabeling while allowing users to monitor the on-going experiment in real time. Our Microscoop platform is the only tool enabling high-precision, unbiased spatial proteomic discovery in subcellular tissues or cells, helping researchers accelerate their discoveries by identifying proteins at specified cellular locations, said Jung-Chi Liao, founder and CEO of Syncell. Its an honor to receive this award from BioTech Breakthrough. We look forward to showcasing the product at upcoming industry meetings, including Cell Bio 2024 being held next month in San Diego. The mission of the annual BioTech Breakthrough Awards program is to conduct the industrys most comprehensive analysis and evaluation of the worlds top companies, solutions and products in the life sciences and biotechnology markets today. This years program attracted thousands of nominations from over 14 different countries throughout the world, serving as a global recognition platform that encourages bold ideas and solutions that will shape the future of biotechnology. Protein-protein interactions, immunoprecipitation, and proximity labeling are some methods used to extract proteins, but they arent specific when it comes to subcellular locations. In addition, while imaging is a good method, its impossible for researchers to identify novel proteins without knowing what proteins are being stained in advance, said Bryan Vaughn, Managing Director, BioTech Breakthrough. Microscoop opens a new era of high-content in situ proteomics. This novel spatial biology platform offers unique capabilities and is broadly applicable to many basic and clinical research fields. Were thrilled to recognize Syncell with Proteomics Solution of the Year! About Syncell Syncell is a commercial stage life science technology company, with a mission to revolutionize spatial biology research for global human health. Its first product, Microscoop, is the first and only microscopic bioimaging system that allows researchers to pick up, identify and quantify thousands of known and unknown proteins in specified cellular and subcellular locations. Microscoop will provide deep spatial proteomics insights to transform a wide range of basic biology and translational research including neuroscience, oncology, immunology, or infectious disease to identify novel biomarkers with spatial context to accelerate biomarker discovery research and drug development programs. About BioTech Breakthrough Part of Tech Breakthrough , a leading market intelligence and recognition platform for global technology innovation and leadership, the BioTech Breakthrough Awards program is devoted to honoring excellence in life science and biotechnology solutions, services and companies. The BioTech Breakthrough Awards provide public recognition for the achievements of biotechnology companies and products in categories including BioPharma, Genomics, Therapeutics, Immunology, Food Science and BioAgriculture, and more. For more information visit BioTechBreakthroughAwards.com Tech Breakthrough LLC does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in our recognition programs, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with award designations. Tech Breakthrough LLC recognition consists of the opinions of the Tech Breakthrough LLC organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Tech Breakthrough LLC disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this recognition program, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. Media Contact: Bryan Vaughn BioTech Breakthrough Awards Bryan@BioTechBreakThroughAwards.com 949.529.4120 Westford, USA, Nov. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SkyQuest projects that the Global Gene Panel Market share will reach a value of USD 11.75 Billion by 2031, with a CAGR of 19.30% during the forecast period (2024-2031). The gene panel industry is growing due to the increased requirement for genetic screening to prevent the death rates from genetic abnormalities and the growing incidence of cancer and hereditary disorders. Furthermore, the main strategy used by physicians to improve illness prediction and therapy is determining the genetic propensity for different forms of cancer or other genetic problems. Globally, there were almost 20 million new instances of cancer in 2022, and by 2040, that figure is predicted to increase to 29.9 million, according to the National Cancer Institute. The market is anticipated to expand as a result of the rising incidence of cancer and the growing usage of gene panels in cancer-focused therapies. Request your free sample PDF of the report today: https://www.skyquestt.com/sample-request/gene-panel-market Browse in-depth TOC on the "Gene Panel Market" Pages 214 Tables 85 Figures 71 Gene Panel Market Overview: Report Coverage Details Market Revenue in 2023 USD 2.86 Billion Estimated Value by 2031 USD 11.75 Billion Growth Rate Poised to grow at a CAGR of 19.30% Forecast Period 20242031 Forecast Units Value (USD Billion) Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Segments Covered Product & Services, Techniques, Designs, Application, End Use, and Region Geographies Covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, Latin America Report Highlights Gene panel market growth driven by innovation Key Market Opportunities Expanding Applications in Precision Oncology Key Market Drivers Rising Prevalence of Genetic Disorders Gene Panel Market Segmental Analysis Global Gene Panel Market is segmented by Product and Services, Technique, Design, Application, End User and Region. Based on Product and Services, the market is segmented into Test Kits, and Testing Services. Based on Technique, the market is segmented into Amplicon-based Approach, and Hybridization-based Approach. Based on Design the market is segmented into Predesigned Gene Panel, and Customized Gene Panel. Based on Application, the market is segmented into Cancer Risk Assessment, Diagnosis of Congenital Diseases, and Pharmacogenetics. Based on end user, the market is segmented into Research and Academic Institutes, Hospital and Diagnostic Laboratories, Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Companies. Based on region, the market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America and Middle East & and Africa. Test Kits Drive Market Leadership, Fueled by High-Tech Solutions for Chronic Disease Diagnosis As per the gene panel market forecast, in 2023, test kits accounted for a 60.0% share of sales and market leadership. The world at large is becoming increasingly self-utilitarian. Market expansion is spurred by the development of high-tech solutions for testing that facilitate the diagnosis of chronic diseases. For instance, Geneseeq's NSCLC tumor mutational burden test kit that carries a broad gene panel of 425 cancer-associated genes was approved by China's NMPA in October 2023. For a tailored report, contact us to request a free customization: https://www.skyquestt.com/speak-with-analyst/gene-panel-market Congenital Disease Diagnosis Market Poised for Growth, Supported by Advancements in Genetic Testing Based on the gene panel market analysis, the congenital disease diagnosis segment will grow significantly. Congenital diseases, which appear commonly during fetal development, may be detected at birth, during infancy, or even prenatally. Many diagnostics that could identify these diseases and provide treatments are being developed nowadays. For instance, CooperSurgical and Fulgent Genetics' Cord Blood Registry has introduced a variety of genetic tests during February 2024, including the CBR Snapshot, CBR Portrait, and CBR Landscape genetic tests. These screening tests could prove to be vital in testing children for these diseases, including cancerous diseases, cardiac-related diseases, neonatal diabetes, and other deadly diseases. North America Dominated Market Amidst Significant Government Funding North America, in 2023, accounted for about 36.7% of the gene panel market share. NGS-based and clinical applications have gained large numbers and so has the research in inherited uncommon disorders and cancer. In addition, this sector has progressed due to the presence of leading NGS vendors in the region and rising government funding for genomes research. For instance, in September 2022, the CDC announced funding for nearly USD 90 million for the Pathogen Genomics Centers of Excellence network. This is estimated to be able to assist with supporting the nationwide implementation of advanced genomics technologies and their applications for public health and prepare for the threats from infectious diseases. Gene Panel Market Insights Drivers Advancements in Genomic Research Rising Prevalence of Genetic Disorders Growing Awareness of Genetic Testing Restraints Limited Reimbursement for Genetic Testing Complexity in Data Interpretation Limited Availability of Trained Professionals Key Players Operating Within the Gene Panel Market Qiagen Roche Illumina Thermo Fisher Scientific Agilent Technologies Bio-Rad Laboratories PerkinElmer Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD) Sangamo Therapeutics Genomics England Personalis, Inc. Twist Bioscience Corporation Castle Biosciences, Inc Neogenomics Laboratories NantHealth Macrogen Myrtelle Inc. Eurofins Genomics Guardant Health, Inc. Myriad Genetic Laboratories Inc. Purchase now to gain valuable insights and stay informed: https://www.skyquestt.com/buy-now/gene-panel-market Key Questions Covered in the Global Gene Panel Market Report What is the forecast duration of the market report? What are the key strategies adopted by market players operating within the market? Which region accounted for the largest share in 2023? What are the key gene panel market trends? By 2031, what will the size of the gene panel market be? This report provides the following insights: Analysis of key drivers (advancements in genomic research, rising prevalence of genetic disorders), restraints (high cost of sequencing technology, limited availability of trained professionals) opportunities (expanding applications in precision oncology), and challenges (lack of uniformity in genetic test quality) influencing the growth of the gene panel market Market Penetration : Comprehensive information on the product portfolios offered by the top players in the gene panel market : Comprehensive information on the product portfolios offered by the top players in the gene panel market Product Development/Innovation : Detailed insights on the upcoming trends, R&D activities, and product launches in the gene panel market : Detailed insights on the upcoming trends, R&D activities, and product launches in the gene panel market Market Development : Comprehensive information on lucrative emerging regions : Comprehensive information on lucrative emerging regions Market Diversification : Exhaustive information about new products, growing geographies, and recent developments in the market : Exhaustive information about new products, growing geographies, and recent developments in the market Competitive Assessment: In-depth assessment of market segments, growth strategies, revenue analysis, and products of the leading market players. To read the full report, please visit: https://www.skyquestt.com/report/gene-panel-market Related Reports Cell Analysis Market Set to Grow at 10.80% CAGR Through 2031 IVD Contract Manufacturing Market Set to Grow at 11.60% CAGR Through 2031 Bioprocess Validation Market Set to Grow at 9.10% CAGR Through 2031 Chronic Wound Care Market Set to Grow at 4.17% CAGR Through 2031 Cell Viability Assays Market Set to Grow at 9.94% CAGR Through 2031 About Us: SkyQuest is an IP focused Research and Investment Bank and Accelerator of Technology and assets. We provide access to technologies, markets and finance across sectors viz. Life Sciences, CleanTech, AgriTech, NanoTech and Information & Communication Technology. We work closely with innovators, inventors, innovation seekers, entrepreneurs, companies and investors alike in leveraging external sources of R&D. Moreover, we help them in optimizing the economic potential of their intellectual assets. Our experiences with innovation management and commercialization have expanded our reach across North America, Europe, ASEAN and Asia Pacific. Contact: Mr. Jagraj Singh SkyQuest Technology 1 Apache Way, Westford, Massachusetts 01886 USA (+1) 351-333-4748 Email: sales@skyquestt.com Visit Our Website: https://www.skyquestt.com/ Westford, USA, Nov. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SkyQuest projects that the global rosacea treatment market size will reach a value of USD 3.16 Billion by 2031, with a CAGR of 6.5% during the forecast period (2024-2031). High illness prevalence, sophisticated formulations, and proactive government activities are some of the factors driving market expansion. Despite affecting over 400 million individuals globally, rosacea is still not well understood. An estimated 5% of people worldwide are affected by the condition. Fair-skinned people, particularly women, are more likely to have this disorder. Due to a number of similarities in presentation, the condition is frequently misdiagnosed as acne. As a result of numerous patent expirations and off-label medication use, the industry is heavily impacted by generic penetration. Browse in-depth TOC on the " Rosacea Treatment Market" Pages 194 Tables 94 Figures 70 To Learn More About This Report, Request a Free Sample Copy - https://www.skyquestt.com/sample-request/rosacea-treatment-market Rosacea Treatment Market Overview: Report Coverage Details Market Revenue in 2023 USD 1.79 Billion Estimated Value by 2031 USD 3.16 Billion Growth Rate Poised to grow at a CAGR of 6.5% Forecast Period 20242031 Forecast Units Value (USD Billion) Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Segments Covered Type, Drug Class, Mode of Administration and End User Geographies Covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, Latin America Report Highlights Use of natural ingredients in rosacea treatment products Key Market Opportunities Growing availability of novel treatment Key Market Drivers Rising prevalence of rosacea Topical Segment to Hold Significant Growth due to its Effectiveness in Targeting Visible Symptoms The topical segment dominates the global rosacea treatment market due to its effectiveness in targeting visible symptoms like redness and inflammation directly on the skin. An increase in understanding and identifying rosacea, coupled with the inclination towards non-invasive approaches, has contributed to the demand for topical applications. Such admixture tends to be strong within this segment due to better formulation technology, availability, and shaping the global rosacea treatment market outlook positively. Make an Inquiry to Address your Specific Business Needs: https://www.skyquestt.com/speak-with-analyst/rosacea-treatment-market Antibiotics Segment to Lead Market due to Reduce Inflammation and Control Bacterial Growth The antibiotics segment leads the global rosacea treatment industry due to their ability to reduce inflammation and control bacterial growth associated with rosacea flare-ups. The emerging tendency towards the prescription of oral as well as topical antibiotics alongside the effectiveness of the above medications in alleviating the symptoms fuels their usage. Moreover, the increasing number of physician prescriptions and the presence of specific antibiotics add to the already existing supremacy of this segment. North America to Dominate Market due to Strong Healthcare Infrastructure & Strict Regulatory Frameworks Since the awareness and the early diagnosis and the healthcare facilities are advanced in this region, North America accounts for the largest share of the global rosacea treatment market. In addition, the region is also witnessing increasing prescription medications and topical therapies owing to its emphasis on dermatological treatment. Furthermore, the American society is blessed with the increasing number of cases of rosacea disease and easy availability of dermatologists, which serves to enhance the global rosacea treatment market share. Rosacea Treatment Market Insight Drivers: Growing Awareness and Diagnosis of Rosacea Innovative Topical Therapies & Oral Antibiotics Expanding Network of Dermatology Clinics Restraints: Side Effects of Rosacea Medications Rosacea is a Chronic Condition with No Permanent Cure Treatment Effectiveness can Vary Between Individuals Take Action Now: Secure Your Rosacea Treatment Industry Today - https://www.skyquestt.com/buy-now/rosacea-treatment-market Prominent Players in Rosacea Treatment Market Gary Pharmaceuticals P Limited Hovione Pfizer Inc. PruGen Pharmaceuticals Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Cipla Ltd. VYNE Therapeutics Bayer AG Bausch Health Companies Inc. AbbVie Inc. Eckson Labs Sandoz Spa Galderma Abigail Care Pharmaceutical Aclaris Therapeutics Colorescience, Inc. Croda International Plc Dr. Reddys Laboratories Ltd Leopharma Lupin Key Questions Answered in Global Rosacea Treatment Market Report What is the projected market size and growth rate (CAGR) of the global rosacea treatment industry by 2031? Which segment is expected to dominate the rosacea treatment market? What are some factors driving North Americas dominance in the market? Read Rosacea Treatment Industry Report Today - https://www.skyquestt.com/report/rosacea-treatment-market This report provides the following insights: Analysis of key drivers (Availability of effective treatment regimens, income levels rise in emerging markets, growing emphasis on skin health & appearance), restraints (Healthcare plans may not fully cover rosacea treatment, social stigma surrounding skin conditions) opportunities (Rise of telemedicine, non-invasive treatments like laser therapy). Market Penetration : Comprehensive information on the product portfolios offered by the top players in the rosacea treatment market. : Comprehensive information on the product portfolios offered by the top players in the rosacea treatment market. Product Development/Innovation : Detailed insights on the upcoming trends, R&D activities, and product launches in the rosacea treatment market. : Detailed insights on the upcoming trends, R&D activities, and product launches in the rosacea treatment market. Market Development : Comprehensive information on lucrative emerging regions : Comprehensive information on lucrative emerging regions Market Diversification : Exhaustive information about new products, growing geographies, and recent developments in the market : Exhaustive information about new products, growing geographies, and recent developments in the market Competitive Assessment: In-depth assessment of market segments, growth strategies, revenue analysis, and products of the leading market players. Related Reports: Sacral Nerve Stimulation (SNS) Market is growing at a CAGR of 14.07% in the forecast period (2024-2031) Microfluidic Devices Market is growing at a CAGR of 17.3% in the forecast period (2024-2031) Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Treatment Market is growing at a CAGR of 5.5% in the forecast period (2024-2031) Long Read Sequencing Market is growing at a CAGR of 30.92% in the forecast period (2024-2031) Medical Vacuum Systems Market is growing at a CAGR of 6.5% in the forecast period (2024-2031) About Us: SkyQuest is an IP focused Research and Investment Bank and Accelerator of Technology and assets. We provide access to technologies, markets and finance across sectors viz. Life Sciences, CleanTech, AgriTech, NanoTech and Information & Communication Technology. We work closely with innovators, inventors, innovation seekers, entrepreneurs, companies and investors alike in leveraging external sources of R&D. Moreover, we help them in optimizing the economic potential of their intellectual assets. Our experiences with innovation management and commercialization have expanded our reach across North America, Europe, ASEAN and Asia-Pacific. Contact Us: Mr. Jagraj Singh SkyQuest Technology 1 Apache Way, Westford, Massachusetts 01886 USA (+1) 351-333-4748 Email: sales@skyquestt.com Visit Our Website: https://www.skyquestt.com/ Dublin, Nov. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Europe Sustainable Data Center Market - Industry Outlook & Forecast 2024-2029" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Europe Sustainable Data Center Market was valued at USD 8.88 billion in 2023, and is expected to reach USD 16.89 billion by 2029, rising at a CAGR of 11.31% The Europe sustainable data center market is rapidly evolving as organizations prioritize energy efficiency and sustainability. Google is among the top operators in the data center market, known for its commitment to sustainability and energy efficiency. The company aims to run all its data centers on carbon-free energy by 2030, and it uses AI to optimize cooling systems, reducing energy use by up to 30%. Site selection for data centers across Europe will mostly depend on access to renewable energy. The Nordic region is suitable for green data center development as there is no need for water-based cooling, and Nordic countries source maximum power supply from renewable energy and support Europe's sustainable data center market growth. Spain, Portugal, Greece, and others are on the back of investments in renewable energy, with easy availability of space in markets in comparison to Germany, the UK, and other crowded markets. Western Europe and the Nordic region will remain hotspots for data center development, with more companies flocking to the Europe sustainable data center market. Most data centers in Central and Eastern European countries invest in renewable energy, especially Poland, Czechia, Romania, and Austria, to reduce PUE from 1.5 to around 1.3 or lower. These countries offer attractive opportunities for data center investors during the forecast period. Renewable energy companies such as Orsted, Engie, GreenYellow, Enel Group, and many more are supplying renewable energy to data center operators. These companies are setting up new plants exclusively for data center companies, thus providing clean power sources for data center companies. For instance, Google has entered into a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Engie to acquire 118 MW of power from wind energy in Belgium. KEY TRENDS Increased Focus on Renewable Energy Sources The major hyperscale operators, such as AWS, Google, Microsoft, and Apple, are procuring renewable energy for their data centers. For instance, AWS meets 85% of its energy requirements from renewable energy. Google and Apple meet 100% of their energy requirements for data centers from renewable energy. Microsoft aims to power all data centers with 100% renewable energy by 2025. Colocation operators such as Equinix, Iron Mountain, CyrusOne, Digital Realty, maincubes SECURE DATACENTERS, and others are proactively signing Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) and procuring renewable energy to power their data center facilities to meet their sustainability goals. Digital Realty meets 100% of the energy requirements for European data centers from renewable energy. Emerging Trends to Power Data Centers Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) fuel is increasingly being used in the Europe sustainable data center market as part of the push toward sustainability and reduced carbon footprint. For instance, in December 2023, Kao Data's second data center in Harlow, UK, is operational. The KLON-02 data center is designed and built with a strong focus on sustainability and efficiency. The facility will run entirely on certified renewable energy and use hydrotreated vegetable oil for its backup generators. Fuel cells are emerging as a promising solution for powering data centers due to their numerous advantages. Fuel cells can revolutionize the data center market by providing clean, efficient, and reliable power. For instance, in August 2024, Equinix is looking into using hydrogen fuel cells at its data center in Dublin, Ireland. Data center operators in regions with an uncertain power supply due to factors such as natural disasters and power fluctuations can adopt microgrids and smart grids. Government Push Toward Sustainability The European government made significant strides in achieving its goals outlined in the sustainability plan. The European Union has set strict rules to cut carbon emissions. The EU's Green Deal aims for carbon neutrality by 2050. Data centers must follow energy efficiency standards and use more renewable energy. The Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) requires large businesses, including data centers, to regularly check their energy use and improve their energy management. The UK government has committed to Net Zero Emissions by 2050, thus compelling all data center operators to become carbon neutral. The Danish government plans to establish two energy islands by 2030, expanding Denmark's renewable energy capacity by over 4 GW. Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 297 Forecast Period 2023 - 2029 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2023 $8.88 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2029 $16.89 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 11.3% Regions Covered Europe Europe Sustainable Data Center Overview Plan for Making Data Centers Sustainable Green Data Center Metrics Green Energy Alternative for Data Centers Data Centers Shift Toward Sustainability Green Loans & Sustainability- Linked Loans (Sll) Power Usage Effectiveness (Pue) Policy Drivers European Green Deal Greenhouse Gas Protocol, Paris Agreement, and the Science-based Targets Initiative (Sbti) Climate Neutral Data Center Pact Renewable & Green Energy Adoption Among Data Center Operators Hyperscale Operators are Increasingly Securing Renewable Energy Renewable Energy Adoption by Colocation Service Providers Market Opportunities & Trends Adoption of Advanced Ups Batteries Lithium-Ion Battery Nickel Zinc Batteries Liquid Metal Battery Sodium-Ion Batteries Adoption of Sustainable Fuel Types Ecodiesel Generators Fuel Cells Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil Nuclear Energy Generation Natural Gas Generators Other Innovations Innovation in Power Utilities Microgrid Smart Grid Adoption of Advanced Cooling Technologies Free Cooling Liquid Immersion Cooling Floating Data Centers Other Innovations in Cooling Technologies Increased Deployment of District Heating Rise in Industrial Electricity Pricing Industrial Electricity Pricing Adoption of Advanced IT Infrastructure Converged & Hyperconverged Infrastructure Arm-based Servers Server Virtualization Government Push for Green Data Center Development Market Growth Enablers Renewable Energy Initiatives by Hyperscale & Cloud Operators Renewable Energy Initiatives by Colocation Operators Sustainability Targets by Colocation Operators AI Monitoring Solutions and Software Innovations in Data Center Construction Green Concrete Modular Data Center Other Innovative Construction Methods Traditional Facilities vs. Modular Data Centers - Timeline Vendor Involvement Market Restraints Rising Carbon Emissions from Data Centers Water Consumption by Data Centers Water Usage Effectiveness (Wue) Lack of Skilled Data Center Professionals Development Constraint and Site Selection VENDOR LANDSCAPE Data Center Investors Ada Infrastructure AWS Apple AtlasEdge Atman atNorth (Partners Group) AQ Compute Aruba Bahnhof Beyond.pl Bulk Infrastructure Colt Data Centre Services (Colt DCS) Conapto CloudHQ CyrusOne Data4 Digital Realty EdgeConneX (EQT Infrastructure) Equinix Global Switch Google Green Green Mountain (Azrieli Group) Iron Mountain Kao Data Keppel Data Centres LCL Data Centers maincubes SECURE DATACENTERS Meta (Facebook) Microsoft Nautilus Data Technologies nLighten NorthC NTT DATA Orange Business OVHcloud Penta Infra Prime Data Centers Pure Data Centres STACK Infrastructure Start Campus Switch Datacenters Telehouse Vantage Data Centers Verne VIRTUS Data Centres Yondr Renewable Energy Providers ACCONIA Energia Better Energy Bryt Energy Conrad Energy Datafarm Energy EDP Renewables Eneco Enel Group Engie ERG European Energy FuturEnergy Ireland GreenYellow HDF Energy Iberdrola ib vogt Ilmatar Energy Neoen NTR Orsted Power Capital Renewable Energy Repsol RWE Renewables ScottishPower Shell SSE Renewables TotalEnergies For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/t99u9q About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Attachment Dublin, Nov. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Asia-Pacific Generative AI Market: Focus on Business Process, Type, Technology, Offering, and Country - Analysis and Forecast, 2023-2033" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Asia-Pacific generative AI market is projected to reach $53.96 billion by 2033 from $3.06 billion in 2023, growing at a CAGR of 33.24% during the forecast period 2023-2033. AI applications are being revolutionized by generative AI, a cutting-edge technology that is fostering innovation throughout the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. Generative AI is distinct in that it can autonomously produce new content, including text, photos, music, and videos, in contrast to typical AI systems that are restricted to particular tasks. With the use of sophisticated algorithms and neural networks, machines are now able to recognize, understand, and create complex patterns in data. This is a revolutionary capacity. Generative AI imitates human creativity by utilizing probabilistic modeling and deep learning to produce content that closely resembles human-generated content. These models are further refined by iterative training, which enhances their capacity to provide coherent and realistic information. Personalized and flexible outcomes can be obtained using generative AI, which can create tailored material in response to input such as text prompts, images, or audio samples. These models are able to improve the caliber and applicability of their outputs over time thanks to feedback systems. Grounded on a wide range of applications, generative AI offers unparalleled prospects for innovation and expansion in several sectors in the Asia-Pacific area. Market Introduction With substantial investments in R&D, APAC nations like China, Japan, South Korea, and India are leading the way in the development of generative AI. This state-of-the-art technology is being used by both corporations and governments to streamline operations, save expenses, and improve customer satisfaction. Additionally, generative AI is essential in meeting the increased demand for automation and personalization in virtual reality, product design, and digital content creation. The APAC generative AI market is anticipated to grow significantly with an emphasis on innovation and technical advancements. This presents a great opportunity for organizations to take advantage of the revolutionary potential of generative AI across many industries. How can this report add value to an organization? Product/Innovation Strategy: The product segment helps the reader understand the different types of products available for deployment and their potential in APAC region. Growth/Marketing Strategy: The Asia-Pacific generative AI market has seen major development by key players operating in the market, such as business expansion, partnership, collaboration, and joint venture. The favored strategy for the companies has been partnerships and contracts to strengthen their position in the generative AI market. Competitive Strategy: Key players in the Asia-Pacific generative AI market analyzed and profiled in the study involve major companies offering generative AI solutions designed for various applications. Moreover, a detailed competitive benchmarking of the players operating in the APAC generative AI market has been done to help the reader understand how players stack against each other, presenting a clear market landscape. Additionally, comprehensive competitive strategies such as partnerships, agreements, and collaborations will aid the reader in understanding the untapped revenue pockets in the market. Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 68 Forecast Period 2023 - 2033 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2023 $3.06 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2033 $53.96 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 33.2% Regions Covered Asia Pacific Key Topics Covered: Executive Summary Scope and Definition 1 Markets 1.1 Market Trends: Current and Future 1.1.1 Market Definition 1.1.2 Ongoing Generative AI Trends 1.1.2.1 Shadow AI 1.1.2.2 Edge Computing for Generative AI 1.1.2.3 Multimodal AI 1.1.3 Ecosystem/Ongoing Programs 1.1.3.1 Regulatory Implications 1.1.3.2 Generative AI Market: Stakeholders 1.1.3.2.1 Cloud Platform Providers 1.1.3.2.2 Hardware Providers 1.1.3.2.3 API/API-as-a-Service Providers 1.1.3.2.4 End Users 1.1.4 Artificial Intelligence Industry: Current and Future Outlook 1.1.5 Generative AI Innovation Timeline: By Type 1.1.6 Start-Up and Investment Landscape 1.2 Market Dynamics Overview 1.2.1 Business Drivers 1.2.1.1 Advancements in Machine Learning and AI Technologies 1.2.1.2 Availability of Big Data 1.2.1.3 Public and Media Interest 1.2.2 Business Challenges 1.2.2.1 Ethical and Regulatory Challenges 1.2.2.2 Public Perception and Trust 1.2.2.3 Data Inaccuracy 1.2.3 Business Opportunities 1.2.3.1 Ethical AI Development and Bias Mitigation Services 1.2.3.2 Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) Offerings 2 Regions 2.1 Regional Summary 2.2 Drivers and Restraints 2.3 Asia-Pacific 2.3.1 Regional Overview 2.3.2 Driving Factors for Market Growth 2.3.3 Factors Challenging the Market 2.3.4 Application 2.3.5 Product 2.3.6 China 2.3.7 Application 2.3.8 Product 2.3.9 India 2.3.10 Application 2.3.11 Product 2.3.12 Japan 2.3.13 Application 2.3.14 Product 2.3.15 South Korea 2.3.16 Application 2.3.17 Product 2.3.18 Australia 2.3.19 Product 2.3.20 Rest-of-Asia-Pacific 2.3.21 Application 2.3.22 Product 3 Markets - Competitive Benchmarking & Company Profiles 3.1 Next Frontiers 3.2 Geographic Assessment 3.2.1 SAMSUNG 3.2.1.1 Overview 3.2.1.2 Top Products/Product Portfolio 3.2.1.3 Top Competitors 3.2.1.4 Target Customers 3.2.1.5 Key Personnel 3.2.1.6 Analyst View 3.2.1.7 Market Share, 2022 4 Research Methodology For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/fhcsig About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Attachment NANNING, China, Nov. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On November 9th, the Liubao Tea Promotion Event with the theme of "Liubao Tea Shines in China" was unveiled at the 2024 Guangxi International Agricultural Expo. Tea industry practitioners from all over the country gathered together to share their experience and new opportunities for the development of the tea industry. As a famous tea sold to overseas Chinese, Wuzhou Liu Pao Tea has been exported to Southeast Asia and other regions. In recent years, Wuzhou City has vigorously built the regional public brand of "Wuzhou Liu Pao Tea" and the cultural brand of "Ancient Tea Boat Road", enhancing the brand influence of the Liu Pao Tea. At the 2024 China Tea Brand Building Forum jointly hosted by the China Tea Marketing Association and other organizations, Wuzhou Liu Pao Tea ranked the 13th place in the "TOP 20 Regional Public Brand Value of Tea in China in 2024", with a brand value of 4.973 billion yuan. The Liu Pao Tea industry has provided employment for more than 83,000 people, benefiting about 310,000 villagers with comprehensive output value of over 20 billion yuan. According to the data provided by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, 14 geographical indication brands in Guangxi have been included in the list of top 100 Chinese brands, ranking second in number in China. In the past five years, Guangxi has built a total of 18 advantageous zones for Chinese distinctive agricultural products and 68 advantageous zones for Guangxi distinctive agricultural products. In 2023, Guangxi had 1,739 green, organic, and agricultural products of geographical indications, with a total area of 16.58 million mu and a total output value of over 50 billion yuan for green and organic agricultural products. In Guangxi, it is not uncommon for agricultural industries like Liu Pao Tea to guide people on a path of getting rich. As a major agricultural province in China, Guangxi was among the top in China for consecutive years in gross output value of agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry and fishery. With outstanding advantages in featured resources such as forestry, fruit, vegetable, animal husbandry, and cane sugar, Guangxi is recognized as the "fruit kingdom" and "vegetable basket" of China. At present, the fruit planting area in Guangxi exceeds 20 million mu, with a yield of over 32 million tons, ranking first in China for six years in a row, accounting for about one eighth of the country's total. Guangxi ranks number one for years on end in terms of the production of citrus, persimmon, dragon fruit, and passion fruit. The output of citrus exceeded 18 million tons in 2023, accounting for one tenth of the world's total. Agricultural brands such as "Guiqi Mango", "Qinmi Passion Fruit", and "Rongan Kumquat" have enjoyed reputation at home and abroad. Huang Zhiyu, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region stated that, by fully leveraging the advantages of abundant featured resources in the forestry, fruit, vegetable, animal husbandry and cane sugar industry, Guangxi has made new achievements by speeding up the building of a "10+3+N" modern characteristic agricultural system and persistently boosting high-quality agricultural development. Guangxi has been ranked among the top ten in the country for years in terms of the total output value of agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, and fishery. The region has successfully built six hundred-billion-yuan level industrial clusters, including grain, cane sugar, vegetable, fruit, fishery, and high-quality livestock industry, making it well-known nationwide as the "Fruit Plate," "Sugar Jar," and "Vegetable Basket". Wei Bo, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, introduced that Guangxi persistently builds high-quality agricultural brands by focusing on improving the quality of agricultural products and attaching importance to variety cultivation, quality certification and standard construction. To date, Guangxi has identified a series agricultural brands containing "Gui", totaling 641 in seven batches, with a total brand value exceeding 500 billion yuan. Source: The Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region DENVER, Nov. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Recently, the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) published a list on its official website of cryptocurrency trading platforms that have not met its local registration requirements, mentioning UVKXE. UVKXE takes this matter seriously and wishes to clarify its credentials and compliance status to its users. Global Compliance Credentials of UVKXE UVKXE is committed to operating under legal and compliant principles, upholding a user-first core value. The platform has obtained several certifications from international authoritative regulatory bodies, including but not limited to: U.S. MSB License UVKXE has obtained the MSB license issued by the U.S. FinCEN. This certification represents the highest recognition by the U.S. government for financial service institutions, ensuring that UVKXE can legally conduct cryptocurrency-related business. U.S. SEC License As one of the few cryptocurrency trading platforms registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), UVKXE complies with securities and investment-related legal regulations, providing users with a safer and more transparent investment environment. Background on the Malaysian Public List The list published by the Securities Commission Malaysia mainly targets trading platforms that have not met local registration requirements, such as Binance and Bursa Malaysia, rather than denying the platform legality. UVKXE has obtained multiple authoritative licenses internationally, and its compliance is beyond doubt. UVKXE is in communication with relevant departments to understand local specific regulations and to advance the registration process, ensuring compliance with local market requirements. Commitment to Legal Compliance and User-Centric Values UVKXE will use this event as an opportunity to further enhance its global compliance framework, actively adapting to regulatory environments in various countries, and providing users with more professional and diversified financial services. We sincerely thank all users for their trust and support! UVKXE promises that no matter where it operates, the platform will always adhere to the core philosophy of user-first, moving together with global users towards a safer, more open, and transparent new era of the digital economy. Media Contact: Company Name: UVKXE CRYPTO TECH CO.,LTD. Company website: https://www.uvkxe.co Contact person's full name: Mayang Email id: mayang@uvkxe.co Disclaimer: This content is provided by sponsor. The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the content provider. The information provided in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, nor is it intended as investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. It is strongly recommended you practice due diligence, including consultation with a professional financial advisor, before investing in or trading cryptocurrency and securities. Please conduct your own research and invest at your own risk. ORLANDO, Fla., Nov. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tri Pointe Homes (NYSE: TPH), one of the largest homebuilders in the U.S., announced today the acquisition of 178 single-family detached homesites in the Sugarloaf Mountain planned community in Minneola, Florida with its land bank partner, Kennedy Lewis Investment Management LLC. This milestone follows Tri Pointe Homes entry into the greater Orlando market, a strategic expansion driven by the areas robust growth and demand for high-quality housing options. Tri Pointe purchased the sites from Richland Communities, the developer of Sugarloaf Mountain. Located on elevated terrain, the new community, Pine Ridge at Sugarloaf Mountain, is anticipated to feature 15.87 acres of open space, including a neighborhood park, amenity center, ponds, and topography that complements its unique setting. Plans for the community include three distinct homesite sizes 45-, 55-, and 65-feet with detached floorplans designed specifically for the needs of premium entry level and move up homebuyers in the Central Florida market. The amenity center is anticipated to offer a pool, cabana, and lawn area, enhancing the outdoor lifestyle that Pine Ridge at Sugarloaf Mountain aims to deliver. Tri Pointe Homes design studio, anticipated to open in Fall 2026, will further support this personalized approach by offering Orlando metro area homebuyers access to curated design options that reflect their aesthetic preferences and lifestyle needs. Tri Pointe Homes believes this location provides an exceptional opportunity to introduce our premium lifestyle offerings to the greater Orlando market, said Tri Pointe Homes Orlando Division President Joel Underwood. Minneolas population increased dramatically following the pandemic, growing by 30% between 2020 and 20231. With its proximity to major developments and employment hubs, Pine Ridge at Sugarloaf Mountain offers a desirable community designed to meet the needs of homebuyers in a region thats experiencing dynamic expansion and rising demand. We are extremely pleased to be working with Richland Communities, a development company known for investing in premium locations, said Underwood. As a customer-centric company whose mission is to deliver life-changing experiences, this gives Tri Pointe the ideal opportunity to design premium lifestyle homes that are tailored specifically to the land on which they are built and to the buyers in this region. As we begin the design process for our homes at Pine Ridge, we will be capitalizing on the Sugarloaf Mountain location, which is one of the highest elevations in Central Florida. This unique setting will allow us to deliver the kind of premium experience that defines Tri Pointe Homes and informs how we design communities that speak directly to the markets where we operate. Tri Pointes expansion into the greater Orlando market is part of the companys broader strategy to increase its presence in high-growth regions across the U.S. The company has established a track record of expansions in markets like Utah, Coastal Carolinas, and Texas, supported by its guiding principle of the Best of Big and Small. This approach allows Tri Pointes regional divisions to benefit from local expertise and decision-making, backed by the resources and stability of a nationally recognized homebuilder. Floridas strong economic foundation and population growth make it a strategic fit for Tri Pointe Homes. With sectors like clean technology, aerospace, and advanced manufacturing driving job creation in the region, Tri Pointe Homes is well-positioned to serve a market with a demand for premium lifestyle homes. Construction at Pine Ridge is expected to begin in mid-2025, with model home construction slated for mid-2026 and a grand opening anticipated in September 2026. For more information, visit tripointehomes.com/orlando. About Tri Pointe Homes One of the largest homebuilders in the U.S., Tri Pointe Homes, Inc. (NYSE: TPH) is a publicly traded company operating in 12 states and the District of Columbia, and is a recognized leader in customer experience, innovative design, and environmentally responsible business practices. The company builds premium homes and communities with deep ties to the communities it servessome for as long as a century. Tri Pointe Homes combines the financial resources, technology platforms and proven leadership of a national organization with the regional insights, longstanding community connections and agility of empowered local teams. Tri Pointe has won multiple Builder of the Year awards, was named to the 2024 Fortune Worlds Most Admired Companies list, is one of the 2023 Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For and was designated as one of the PEOPLE Companies That Care in 2023 and 2024. The company was also named as a Great Place To Work-Certified company for four years in a row (2021 through 2024), and was named on several Great Place To Work Best Workplaces list (2022 through 2024). For more information, please visit TriPointeHomes.com. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a73181d7-11a2-4ea6-86a1-3c805675133e 1 U.S. Census Bureau: https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/minneolacityflorida/PST120223 Dublin, Nov. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Disability Insurance Global Market Opportunities and Strategies to 2033" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global disability insurance market reached a value of nearly $3.7 billion in 2023, having grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.93% since 2018. The market is expected to grow from $3.7 billion in 2023 to $6.36 billion in 2028 at a rate of 11.45%. The market is then expected to grow at a CAGR of 12.00% from 2028 and reach $11.21 billion in 2033. Going forward, the rising prevalence of chronic diseases, strong economic growth in emerging markets, increasing aging population and rising urbanization will drive the market. Factors that could hinder the growth of the disability insurance market in the future include growing income inequality. The disability insurance market is segmented by insurance type into employer supplied disability insurance, individual disability insurance, high limit disability insurance, business overhead expense disability insurance and other insurance types. The employer supplied disability insurance market was the largest segment of the disability insurance market segmented by insurance type, accounting for 43.49% or $1.6 billion of the total in 2023. Going forward, the business overhead expense disability insurance segment is expected to be the fastest growing segment in the disability insurance market segmented by insurance type, at a CAGR of 13.92% during 2023-2028. The disability insurance market is segmented by coverage type into short term disability insurance and long term disability insurance. The long term disability insurance market was the largest segment of the disability insurance market segmented by coverage type, accounting for 62.06% or $2.29 billion of the total in 2023. Going forward, the short term disability insurance segment is expected to be the fastest growing segment in the disability insurance market segmented by coverage type, at a CAGR of 12.87% during 2023-2028. The disability insurance market is segmented by end user into government, enterprise and individual. The enterprise market was the largest segment of the disability insurance market segmented by end user, accounting for 51.06% or $1.88 billion of the total in 2023. Going forward, the individual segment is expected to be the fastest growing segment in the disability insurance market segmented by end user, at a CAGR of 12.99% during 2023-2028. North America was the largest region in the disability insurance market, accounting for 45.00% or $1.66 billion of the total in 2023. It was followed by Asia-Pacific, Western Europe and then the other regions. Going forward, the fastest-growing regions in the disability insurance market will be Asia-Pacific and Africa, where growth will be at CAGRs of 14.39% and 13.61% respectively. These will be followed by the Middle East and South America, where the markets are expected to grow at CAGRs of 13.09% and 12.61% respectively. The global disability insurance market is concentrated, with large players operating in the market. The top ten competitors in the market made up to 40.4% of the total market in 2022. Aflac Incorporated was the largest competitor with a 5.1% share of the market, followed by Northwestern Mutual with 4.9%, AIA Group Limited with 4.7%, Ping An Insurance Company of China, Ltd. with 4.3%, China Life Insurance Company Limited with 4%, Mutual of Omaha with 3.8%, Aviva plc with 3.5%, Guardian Life Insurance Company of America with 3.4%, MetLife Services and Solutions, LLC with 3.4% and Allianz with 3.3%. The top opportunities in the disability insurance market segmented by end user will arise in the employer supplied disability insurance segment, which will gain $1.14 billion of global annual sales by 2028. The top opportunities in the disability insurance market segmented by coverage type will arise in the long term disability insurance segment, which will gain $1.49 billion of global annual sales by 2028. The top opportunities in the disability insurance market segmented by insurance type will arise in the enterprise segment, which will gain $1.32 billion of global annual sales by 2028. The disability insurance market size will gain the most in the USA at $884.4 million. Market-trend-based strategies for the disability insurance market include focus on integrating new technologies to automate insurance claims, use of AI-based insurance platforms to enhance efficiencies, focusing on providing new disability income policies, deploying advanced disability income protection plans, focus on offering new short-term disability insurance and adopting a strategic partnership approach. Player-adopted strategies in the disability insurance market include focus on expanding business capabilities through new policy launches and focus on expanding insurance business through technological empowerment. To take advantage of the opportunities, the analyst recommends the disability insurance companies to focus on technological advancements to drive efficiency in disability insurance operations, focus on AI-driven platforms to enhance efficiency in disability insurance operations, focus on innovative disability income policies to expand market reach, focus on tailored disability income protection plans to enhance market presence, focus on offering flexible short-term disability insurance solutions, focus on business overhead expense disability insurance segment, focus on short term disability insurance segment, expand in emerging markets, focus on strategic partnerships to enhance service offerings, focus on developing competitive pricing strategies, continue to use B2B promotions, focus on digital marketing and educational campaigns and focus on enterprise and individual market segments. Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 309 Forecast Period 2023 - 2033 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2023 $3.7 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2033 $11.2 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 11.7% Regions Covered Global Major Market Trends Technological Advancements Driving Innovation in Disability Insurance Market Use of AI-Based Insurance Platforms to Enhance Efficiencies New Disability Income Policy Launches to Support Financial Security Advanced Disability Income Protection Plan for Office Workers Focus on Short-Term Disability Insurance for Temporary Disabilities Strategic Partnerships and Collaborations Among Market Players Competitive Landscape and Company Profiles Aflac Incorporated Northwestern Mutual AIA Group Limited Ping An Insurance Company of China, Ltd China Life Insurance Company Limited Key Mergers and Acquisitions Protective Life Corporation Acquired ShelterPoint Group Inc Aviva Plc Acquired AIG Life Limited Simplicity Group Holdings Acquired Truluma Standard Acquired Elevance Health HDFC Life Insurance Acquired Exide Life Allianz SE Acquired European Reliance General Insurance Co Alera Group Acquired the D.B.L. Center LTD Davies Acquired Disability Management Services Inc New York Life Acquired Cigna's Group For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/a8c3im About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Attachment DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Nov. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bybit, the worlds second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, hosted a groundbreaking Islamic Finance Forum, bringing together renowned scholars, industry leaders, and key partners to discuss the evolving landscape of Shariah-compliant digital assets. The forum deepened collaborations and highlighted Bybits commitment to supporting Muslim investors through its innovative Islamic Account. Representatives from Circle, XRP, Zand Bank, Fuze Finance, Palcoin, Takadao and Dubai Blockchain Center participated in the forum, strengthening the foundation for future collaboration and innovation within the Islamic finance ecosystem. Insightful Discussions from Esteemed Scholars: Dr. Muhammad Abu Jazr, Founder of Crypto Halal and Dr. Mohamad Mahdy, Founder and CEO of Exaado, shared perspectives on the compatibility of cryptocurrency with Islamic jurisprudence. Their discussions explored the ethical responsibilities and opportunities for Shariah-compliant investment solutions in the rapidly growing digital economy. The forum featured an engaging panel discussion that explored: The critical methodologies underpinning Bybits Shariah-compliant offerings. The Muslim communitys pivotal role in shaping the future of digital currencies. Strategies for ensuring compliance and transparency in Islamic cryptocurrency trading. Key Features of Bybits Islamic Account Bybits Islamic Account, launched earlier in September, was further elaborated during the forum, showcasing how it addresses the unique needs of Muslim investors. Key features include: Shariah-Compliant Offerings : Access to spot trading of 76 certified Shariah-compliant tokens, along with Dollar-Cost Averaging (DCA) and Spot Grid Bots, providing strategic investment opportunities. : Access to spot trading of 76 certified Shariah-compliant tokens, along with Dollar-Cost Averaging (DCA) and Spot Grid Bots, providing strategic investment opportunities. Global Accessibility : Open to users worldwide, except in countries with specific legal restrictions. : Open to users worldwide, except in countries with specific legal restrictions. Double Shariah Certification: Rigorously reviewed and certified by Crypto Halal Certification and ZICO Holdings, ensuring full compliance with Islamic principles. We are proud to convene thought leaders and partners at this forum, fostering dialogue around the convergence of Islamic finance and cryptocurrency, said Michelle Daura, Head of Wealth Business Unit at Bybit. Our Islamic account represents a milestone in our journey to provide inclusive, ethical, and Shariah-compliant digital asset solutions. By working together with the Islamic finance community, we aim to create lasting value for Muslim investors worldwide. #Bybit / #TheCryptoArk About Bybit Bybit is the worlds second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, serving over 50 million users. Established in 2018, Bybit provides a professional platform where crypto investors and traders can find an ultra-fast matching engine, 24/7 customer service, and multilingual community support. Bybit is a proud partner of Formula Ones reigning Constructors and Drivers champions: the Oracle Red Bull Racing team. For more details about Bybit, please visit Bybit Press For media inquiries, please contact: media@bybit.com For more information, please visit: https://www.bybit.com For updates, please follow: Bybits Communities and Social Media Discord | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Reddit | Telegram | TikTok | X | Youtube Contact Head of PR Tony Au tony.au@bybit.com WINNIPEG, Manitoba, Nov. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Arctic Gateway Group (AGG) today released new information that shows significant improvements in quality and overall operational efficiency of the Hudson Bay Railway. The 2024 construction season saw a record amount of work completed, with substantial investments made to enhance the railway and prepare for the redevelopment of the Port of Churchill. These upgrades position AGG for important growth and expansion opportunities in the years to come, especially as it relates to critical mineral exports, grain shipments, potash, northern resupply, and the ability to seize new import and export opportunities. This year has been pivotal for AGG and the Hudson Bay Railway, with significant strides in improving our infrastructure and operations, said Chris Avery, CEO of AGG. The upgrades completed this year are a testament to our commitment to providing reliable and efficient railway services, and ensuring that the Port of Churchill and the Arctic Trade Corridor can finally reach their full potential after so many years of neglect. The 2024 construction season set new records of investment and progress, including: Spot Surfacing : In 2024, AGG completed 2.3 million feet of spot surfacing, which is critical to keeping the track level and safe for heavy loads. The 2024 work represents a significant increase from the 1.28 million feet in 2023. : In 2024, AGG completed 2.3 million feet of spot surfacing, which is critical to keeping the track level and safe for heavy loads. The 2024 work represents a significant increase from the 1.28 million feet in 2023. Ties Installed : AGG installed 119,965 new railway ties in 2024, surpassing the 105,687 ties installed in 2023. This is essential maintenance for the railway that enables weight to be distributed evenly and safely. : AGG installed 119,965 new railway ties in 2024, surpassing the 105,687 ties installed in 2023. This is essential maintenance for the railway that enables weight to be distributed evenly and safely. Switch and Crossing Work : In 2024, AGG completed three major crossing rehabilitations, including a double track crossing in Churchill Port, and 11 new switch upgrades. : In 2024, AGG completed three major crossing rehabilitations, including a double track crossing in Churchill Port, and 11 new switch upgrades. Ballast Unloaded: This year, HBR unloaded over 1,600 cars of ballast, which is essential in maintaining the stability and reliability of the railway, building upon a similar amount of ballast unloaded in 2023. As AGG and its partners in the federal and provincial governments continue to invest in the renewal of the Railway and Port, the work done this year has resulted in excellent track quality conditions. Overall travel time has been cut by 10%, representing a savings of 3 hours, with consistently good conditions across all parts of the Hudson Bay Railway. The use of modern railway monitoring technology, such as the regular use of drones and LiDAR to scan track conditions, as well as artificial intelligence to review data from these tools, allows AGG to keep track quality high in a way that wasnt possible in the past. Avery noted, What were hearing from our teams is that the Railway is in better condition than it has ever been, and our plan makes sure it stays strong, reliable and efficient. These improvements reflect the ongoing commitment to maintaining and enhancing the safety and reliability of AGGs railway infrastructure and allows AGG to turn their attention to the redevelopment of the Port of Churchill. As a locally owned and operated company, by 41 First Nations and Bayline communities, AGG fully understands the importance of making sure the Hudson Bay Railway is world-class, able to serve local communities reliably, and poised to handle the growth of the future all of which is essential for AGG to deliver on its core goal of economic reconciliation. These efforts align with the strong statement of support that AGG received in Manitobas Speech from the Throne, on November 19, 2024, specifically: This summer, for the first time in two decades, Manitoba minerals were shipped out of the port of Churchill. (The Province of Manitoba) will continue this partnership with the federal government, investing in Canadas only deep-water arctic port. These investments are critical to protecting arctic sovereignty. Avery added, The 10,000 tonnes of critical minerals we moved on the Hudson Bay Railway this past summer, which we then shipped from the Port of Churchill to European markets, proved to the world that the Arctic Trade Corridor is not only viable again but able to move the vast resources of Western Canada to global markets in a shorter, more efficient way. I extend my gratitude to all the crews and teams for their hard work and dedication throughout the year to make this happen we look forward to continuing to build on our strong progress. About Arctic Gateway Group The Arctic Gateway Group is a proudly Indigenous- and community-owned Manitoba company that owns and operates the Port of Churchill, Canadas only Arctic seaport serviced by rail, as well as the Hudson Bay Railway, which runs from The Pas to Churchill. For more information: Arctic Gateway Group Tom Garrett 204.806.3670 tom@chadwickconsulting.ca A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d22f8f16-dce0-43fc-b1dc-9c6e11326cb5 November 22, 2024 Vendor-agnostic, multi-modality Radiology Operations Command Center (ROCC) connects technologists, radiologists, and operations teams in real time New FDA 510(k) cleared remote scanning and protocol management help improve the operation of radiology workflows Amsterdam, the Netherlands Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA), a global leader in health technology, today announced a major step forward in making radiology expertise for diagnostic imaging accessible to more patients. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 510(k) clearance of remote scanning and remote protocol adjustment features on Philips Radiology Operations Command Center (ROCC) [1] means expert radiologists can now assist technologists on-the-spot, by remotely controlling scans or adjusting protocols to acquire high quality images needed for improved diagnostic confidence and patient outcomes. With the ROCC, innovation takes the lead in revolutionizing our daily radiology operations, enhancing our imaging capabilities, and providing staffing flexibility, enabling us to ultimately serve more patients more efficiently, overall delivering better patient care, said Sherri Lewman, senior vice president of Enterprise Imaging at Tampa General Hospital [2]. ROCC is a multi-vendor, multi-modality, safe and secure imaging solution widely used in North America and Europe. It can be used with any vendor MR or CT configuration and seamlessly connects imaging experts in a command center with technologists at scan locations across their organization. A pilot study at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust in London, UK resulted in a 9% increase in total scanning throughput as a result of reduced scan times and a zero exam recall rate over the study period [3]. The remote scanning capabilities of ROCC [1] allow expert users to edit MR and CT scanner consoles in real time, from any location and share their expertise via on-demand chat, voice and video collaboration, without compromising privacy, safety or security. ROCC enables remote collaboration between imaging experts and on-site technologists to help with precise, first-time right image acquisition, for more efficient and enhanced patient care. Healthcare providers are increasingly confronted with the challenge of not having enough skilled technologists to meet the demand for patient imaging exams, particularly for more complex exams such as cardiac MR, said Shiv Gopalkrishnan, Business Leader Patient Care Informatics at Philips. With the 510(k) clearance of ROCCs remote scanning and remote protocol management capabilities [1] we are further empowering clinicians to deliver the timely diagnosis that patients deserve and helping to deliver better care for more patients. Philips will showcase ROCC in the Philips booth (#6730) at the Radiological Society of North America Annual Meeting, Dec. 1-4, 2024, in Chicago, USA. For more information, visit Philips at RSNA 2024 . [1] Remote editing and protocol management are functions powered by the 510(k) cleared ROCC Console solution. Remote Image Acquisition is only to be used with a qualified user at the scanner. [2] TGH Imaging Implements Philips Radiology Operations Command Center (ROCC) | Tampa General Hospital [3] Based on results achieved in the ROCC Connectivity-Imperial NHS Trust Pilot Study. Increasing Imperial-NHS cardiac scanning capacity using ROCC for virtual training white paper. September 2024. Results are specific to the institution where they were obtained and may not reflect the results achievable at other institutions. For further information, please contact: Anna Hogrebe Philips Global Press Office Tel.: +1 416 270 6757 E-mail: anna.hogrebe@philips.com About Royal Philips Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) is a leading health technology company focused on improving people's health and well-being through meaningful innovation. Philips patient- and people-centric innovation leverages advanced technology and deep clinical and consumer insights to deliver personal health solutions for consumers and professional health solutions for healthcare providers and their patients in the hospital and the home. Headquartered in the Netherlands, the company is a leader in diagnostic imaging, ultrasound, image-guided therapy, monitoring, and enterprise informatics, as well as in personal health. Philips generated 2023 sales of EUR 18.2 billion and employs approximately 69,700 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries. News about Philips can be found at www.philips.com/newscenter. Attachments Dublin, Nov. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Oil and Gas IIoT Sensors - Global Strategic Business Report" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global market for Oil and Gas IIoT Sensors was estimated at US$1.1 Billion in 2023 and is projected to reach US$2.4 Billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 11.3% from 2023 to 2030. This comprehensive report provides an in-depth analysis of market trends, drivers, and forecasts, helping you make informed business decisions. Several factors are driving the rapid growth of the Oil and Gas IIoT sensor market, including the increasing demand for operational efficiency, the rising focus on safety and environmental sustainability, advancements in digital transformation, and the need for predictive maintenance solutions. One of the primary drivers is the ongoing pressure within the oil and gas industry to improve efficiency and reduce costs. With fluctuating oil prices and rising operational expenses, energy companies are looking for ways to optimize production and minimize downtime. IIoT sensors provide real-time insights into equipment performance and process efficiency, enabling operators to make data-driven decisions that reduce waste, improve resource utilization, and enhance overall productivity. The growing focus on safety and environmental compliance is another significant factor contributing to the adoption of IIoT sensors in the oil and gas sector. As regulatory requirements become more stringent, companies must invest in technologies that help them monitor and control safety risks and environmental impacts. IIoT sensors are critical for detecting leaks, emissions, and equipment malfunctions that could lead to safety incidents or environmental damage. By providing early warnings and real-time data, these sensors help companies comply with safety regulations, minimize environmental risks, and avoid costly fines or penalties associated with non-compliance. Digital transformation initiatives are also driving the growth of the IIoT sensor market in the oil and gas industry. As companies seek to modernize their operations, digital technologies such as IIoT, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence are being integrated into traditional energy infrastructures. IIoT sensors play a key role in this digital transformation by enabling the collection and analysis of data from physical assets, which can then be used to optimize production, automate processes, and enhance decision-making. The increasing adoption of smart oilfields, digital twins, and automated control systems is accelerating the demand for IIoT sensors to support these innovations. The shift toward predictive maintenance is another critical factor fueling the growth of the IIoT sensor market. Traditional maintenance strategies, such as scheduled or reactive maintenance, can result in unplanned downtime, high repair costs, and inefficient use of resources. Predictive maintenance, enabled by IIoT sensors, allows companies to monitor the health of their equipment in real-time and predict when failures are likely to occur. This proactive approach reduces downtime, minimizes repair costs, and extends the lifespan of critical assets. As companies recognize the value of predictive maintenance in improving operational reliability and reducing costs, the demand for IIoT sensors is expected to rise. The need to monitor and optimize assets in remote and challenging environments is also contributing to the growth of the IIoT sensor market. Many oil and gas operations are located in harsh or remote locations, such as offshore platforms, Arctic oilfields, or deep-sea drilling rigs. Deploying IIoT sensors in these environments allows companies to monitor their assets in real-time, reducing the need for costly and risky on-site inspections. Remote monitoring enabled by IIoT sensors improves operational efficiency, enhances safety, and ensures that critical infrastructure remains operational even in challenging conditions. Advancements in sensor technology, including miniaturization, energy efficiency, and wireless communication, have also contributed to the growing adoption of IIoT sensors in the oil and gas industry. The development of smaller, more energy-efficient sensors has made it easier to deploy these devices in a wide range of applications, from downhole monitoring to pipeline integrity management. Wireless communication technologies, such as 5G, LPWAN, and NB-IoT, have further improved the scalability and flexibility of IIoT sensor networks, allowing companies to connect thousands of sensors across vast distances without the need for complex wiring infrastructure. With the increasing demand for operational efficiency, the growing focus on safety and environmental sustainability, advancements in digital transformation, and the rise of predictive maintenance, the Oil and Gas IIoT sensor market is poised for significant growth. As energy companies seek to modernize their operations and optimize their assets, IIoT sensors will continue to play a critical role in driving innovation, improving safety, and enhancing the overall performance of the oil and gas industry. Why You Should Buy This Report: Detailed Market Analysis: Access a thorough analysis of the Global Oil and Gas IIoT Sensors Market, covering all major geographic regions and market segments. Competitive Insights: Get an overview of the competitive landscape, including the market presence of major players across different geographies. Future Trends and Drivers: Understand the key trends and drivers shaping the future of the Global Oil and Gas IIoT Sensors Market. Actionable Insights: Benefit from actionable insights that can help you identify new revenue opportunities and make strategic business decisions. Key Insights: Market Growth: Understand the significant growth trajectory of the Temperature Oil and Gas IIoT Sensors segment, which is expected to reach US$801.4 Million by 2030 with a CAGR of a 11.2%. The Flow Oil and Gas IIoT Sensors segment is also set to grow at 11.3% CAGR over the analysis period. Regional Analysis: Gain insights into the U.S. market, estimated at $308.0 Million in 2023, and China, forecasted to grow at an impressive 10.8% CAGR to reach $373.2 Million by 2030. Discover growth trends in other key regions, including Japan, Canada, Germany, and the Asia-Pacific. Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 196 Forecast Period 2023 - 2030 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2023 $1.1 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2030 $2.4 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 11.3% Regions Covered Global Key Topics Covered: MARKET OVERVIEW Influencer Market Insights World Market Trajectories Global Economic Update Oil and Gas IIoT Sensors - Global Key Competitors Percentage Market Share in 2024 (E) Competitive Market Presence - Strong/Active/Niche/Trivial for Players Worldwide in 2024 (E) MARKET TRENDS & DRIVERS Rising Demand for Real-time Monitoring and Automation Drives Growth in Oil and Gas IIoT Sensors Market Expansion of Digital Oilfields Spurs Adoption of IIoT Sensors for Enhanced Data Collection Technological Advancements in Wireless and Edge Sensors Propel Innovation in Oil and Gas IIoT Solutions Growth in Focus on Enhancing Operational Efficiency and Reducing Downtime Expands Addressable Market for IIoT Sensors Role of IIoT Sensors in Predictive Maintenance and Equipment Health Monitoring Strengthens Business Case for Adoption Growth in Use of IIoT Sensors for Pipeline Monitoring and Leak Detection Expands Market Opportunities Growth in Demand for IIoT Sensors in Downstream Oil and Gas Applications Fuels Market Expansion Growth in Use of IIoT Sensors for Reservoir Monitoring and Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) Fuels Market Opportunities FOCUS ON SELECT PLAYERSSelect Competitors (Total 46 Featured) ABB Group Emerson Electric Company General Electric Company Honeywell International, Inc. Rockwell Automation, Inc. Siemens AG For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/g4q3s5 About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Attachment Dublin, Nov. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Oil and Gas Cloud Applications - Global Strategic Business Report" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global market for Oil and Gas Cloud Applications was estimated at US$11.9 Billion in 2023 and is projected to reach US$29.2 Billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 13.7% from 2023 to 2030. This comprehensive report provides an in-depth analysis of market trends, drivers, and forecasts, helping you make informed business decisions. The growth in the oil and gas cloud applications market is driven by several factors. The increasing need for operational efficiency, cost reduction, and real-time data analysis is a major driver, as cloud applications offer scalable solutions that reduce the need for expensive IT infrastructure. The growing complexity of oil and gas operations, particularly in offshore and remote locations, is also fueling demand for cloud-based solutions that enable remote monitoring and predictive maintenance. The industry's push towards sustainability is encouraging the adoption of cloud platforms to monitor emissions, optimize energy consumption, and ensure compliance with environmental regulations. Additionally, the integration of AI, IoT, and machine learning into cloud applications is enhancing operational efficiency and decision-making capabilities. Finally, the rise of digital transformation across the oil and gas sector is accelerating the adoption of cloud technologies, as companies seek to modernize and remain competitive in a rapidly evolving industry. What Trends are Shaping the Oil and Gas Cloud Applications Market? The push towards sustainability and reducing carbon footprints is also influencing cloud adoption, as companies use these applications to monitor emissions, optimize energy consumption, and enhance compliance with environmental regulations. Additionally, the rise of hybrid cloud models, which combine public and private clouds, is providing more flexible and secure options for data management. How is Technology Revolutionizing Oil and Gas Cloud Applications? Technology is at the forefront of the transformation in oil and gas cloud applications. AI and machine learning are enabling companies to harness the power of big data, offering predictive insights that optimize operations, reduce downtime, and enhance safety. IoT devices and sensors embedded in equipment and infrastructure generate vast amounts of data, which cloud platforms analyze to improve asset performance and minimize risks. Edge computing is another technological advancement, allowing data to be processed closer to the source, reducing latency and enabling real-time decision-making in remote or offshore locations. Blockchain technology is also being explored for secure, transparent transactions across the supply chain, particularly in trading and regulatory compliance. Additionally, advancements in cloud security, including encryption and multi-factor authentication, are improving data protection and ensuring compliance with industry standards. What are Oil and Gas Cloud Applications and Why are They Essential? Oil and gas cloud applications refer to the use of cloud computing technologies to manage, store, and process data across the oil and gas value chain. These applications provide scalable, secure, and cost-effective solutions for various operations such as exploration, production, refining, and distribution. Cloud platforms allow companies to analyze vast amounts of data generated from sensors, IoT devices, and equipment, facilitating real-time decision-making and optimizing operational efficiency. By leveraging cloud applications, oil and gas companies can improve collaboration, reduce downtime, enhance asset management, and increase overall productivity, all while reducing IT infrastructure costs. Report Features: Comprehensive Market Data: Independent analysis of annual sales and market forecasts in US$ Million from 2023 to 2030. In-Depth Regional Analysis: Detailed insights into key markets, including the U.S., China, Japan, Canada, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East, and Africa. Company Profiles: Coverage of major players such as Cisco Systems, Inc., Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (HPE), IBM Corporation, and more. Complimentary Updates: Receive free report updates for one year to keep you informed of the latest market developments. Why You Should Buy This Report: Detailed Market Analysis: Access a thorough analysis of the Global Oil and Gas Cloud Applications Market, covering all major geographic regions and market segments. Competitive Insights: Get an overview of the competitive landscape, including the market presence of major players across different geographies. Future Trends and Drivers: Understand the key trends and drivers shaping the future of the Global Oil and Gas Cloud Applications Market. Actionable Insights: Benefit from actionable insights that can help you identify new revenue opportunities and make strategic business decisions. Key Insights: Market Growth: Understand the significant growth trajectory of the Solutions Component segment, which is expected to reach US$19.3 Billion by 2030 with a CAGR of a 13.2%. The Services Component segment is also set to grow at 14.8% CAGR over the analysis period. Regional Analysis: Gain insights into the U.S. market, which was valued at $3.2 Billion in 2023, and China, forecasted to grow at an impressive 13.1% CAGR to reach $4.5 Billion by 2030. Discover growth trends in other key regions, including Japan, Canada, Germany, and the Asia-Pacific. Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 178 Forecast Period 2023 - 2030 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2023 $11.9 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2030 $29.2 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 13.7% Regions Covered Global Key Topics Covered: MARKET OVERVIEW Influencer Market Insights World Market Trajectories Global Economic Update Oil and Gas Cloud Applications - Global Key Competitors Percentage Market Share in 2024 (E) Competitive Market Presence - Strong/Active/Niche/Trivial for Players Worldwide in 2024 (E) MARKET TRENDS & DRIVERS Increasing Focus on Digital Transformation Drives Growth in Oil and Gas Cloud Applications Rising Adoption of Cloud-Based Data Management Solutions Propels Growth in Real-Time Monitoring and Analysis in Oil and Gas Growing Use of Cloud Applications for Enhancing Operational Efficiency Expands Opportunities in Oil and Gas Industry Technological Innovations in AI and Machine Learning Propel Market Growth in Cloud-Based Predictive Analytics Solutions Increasing Focus on Remote Operations and Asset Management Drives Demand for Cloud Solutions in Oil and Gas Rising Adoption of Cloud-Based SCADA Systems Strengthens Market for Real-Time Control and Automation in Oilfields Expansion of Digital Oilfields Fuels Demand for Integrated Cloud Platforms in Exploration and Production (E&P) Growing Focus on Cybersecurity and Data Privacy Drives Demand for Secure Cloud Applications in Oil and Gas Technological Advancements in Edge Computing and Hybrid Cloud Solutions Propel Growth in Oil and Gas Cloud Applications Increasing Adoption of Cloud ERP Systems Strengthens Market for Integrated Supply Chain Management in Oil and Gas Rising Use of Cloud-Based Collaboration Tools Expands Opportunities for Remote Workforce Management in Oil and Gas Expansion of AI-Powered Cloud Applications for Enhanced Drilling and Production Optimization Fuels Market Growth FOCUS ON SELECT PLAYERS Cisco Systems, Inc. Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (HPE) IBM Corporation Microsoft Corporation Oracle Corporation PetroCloud, LLC. SAP SE SAS Institute, Inc. Seven Lakes Technologies Tableau Software, Inc. TIBCO Software Inc. For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/yoob80 About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Attachment Salisbury, MD, Nov. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Miss Madeline, an innovative new vessel within the Perdue AgriBusiness (PAB) supply chain, was welcomed to the companys hometown today after completing its maiden voyage. In addition to being a milestone in Perdue Farms 104-year-old commitment to sustainability, the barge is named in honor of Madeline Perdue and her legacy as the beloved matriarch of the Perdue family. The Miss Madeline reflects PABs ongoing efforts to improve supply chain efficiencies and revolutionize freight transportation by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and easing road congestion. By replacing traditional truck and rail transportation methods, the barge exemplifies Perdues dedication to environmental stewardship. The Miss Madeline is more than just a barge its a symbol of our enduring commitment to sustainability and innovation, said Perry Aulie, president of Perdue AgriBusiness. As we honor the legacy of Madeline Perdue, were also embracing new logistics solutions that benefit both local agriculture and the environment. The Miss Madeline, with its divided cargo tanks, transported 4,500 tons or 9 million pounds of crude soybean oil in a single trip from PABs soybean crush plant in Chesapeake Virginia via the Intercoastal Waterway, to its Salisbury Maryland headquarters. That oil will be refined and then used in food applications in the northeast and southeast markets. Refined soybean oil is used for frying and is an important ingredient in salad dressings, sauces, and mayonnaise production. Every shipment on this barge will remove the equivalent of 200 trucks from the busy roadways in Virginia and Maryland, while also reducing Perdues environmental footprint. The company projects the barge will eliminate more than 1.2 million truck miles driven every year, which equals an estimated 1,475 metric tons of CO2 emissions. "My mom would be proud to see the ways our 104-year-old company keeps innovating," said Jim Perdue, Chairman of Perdue Farms. "She loved Salisbury and the company, and naming this barge for her is a fitting tribute to her legacy." About Perdue Farms Were a fourth-generation, family-owned, U.S. food and agriculture company. Through our belief in responsible food and agriculture, we are empowering consumers, customers, and farmers through trusted choices in products and services. Perdue Foods consists of a premium protein portfolio, including our flagship PERDUE brand, Niman Ranch, Coleman Natural, and Yummy, as well as our pet brands, Spot Farms and Full Moon, and is available through various channels including retail, foodservice, club stores and our direct-to-consumer website, PerdueFarms.com. Perdue AgriBusiness is a leading merchandiser, processor, and exporter of agricultural products and the largest U.S. manufacturer of specialty, organic, and non-GMO oils. It also ranks as one of the largest suppliers of organic feed ingredients in the world. Now in our companys second century, we never use drugs for growth promotion in raising poultry and livestock, and we are actively advancing our animal welfare programs. Our brands are leaders in no-antibiotics-ever and in USDA-certified organic proteins. Learn more at Corporate.PerdueFarms.com. Attachment LIBERTY, Mo., Nov. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. (OTC: FGPR) announced today it has made a generous donation to South Africas Peninsula School Feeding Association (PSFA) to help dozens of schools on their nutrition support program obtain Gas Compliance Certificates for their kitchens as well as purchase gas stoves where needed. The impactful donation was made in conjunction with LPG Week, an annual gathering of propane marketers from around the world and their vendor partners hosted by the Paris-based World Liquid Gas Association (WLGA). This years event was held November 18-22 in Cape Town, South Africa. Ferrellgas Vice President of Corporate Affairs Michelle Bimson Maggi, PSFA Director Petrina Pakoe, and representatives from the WLGA, the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Association of South Africa, and the U.S. based National Propane Gas Association visited schools in Kensington and Ottery outside of Cape Town at the conclusion of LPG Week. They saw firsthand the impact of the donation and spoke with students and faculty members about the many benefits of propane as a clean cooking fuel. These schools were also presented with a new three-burner gas stove. Propane is a worldwide solution to the challenges many nations face with cooking technology that is dated and dangerous, Bimson Maggi said. The employee-owners of Ferrellgas are proud to make this donation to PSFA and to help demonstrate one of the many ways propane can be used safely around the globe to reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions. The effort is a component of the Ferrellgas Century Project. Through the Ferrellgas Century Project, Ferrellgas employees pledge to give back and make the world a better place up to and beyond the year 2039, which will mark its 100th year in business. PSFA, founded in 1958 after the government terminated the national school feeding program at the time, currently provides daily nutritious cooked meals to nearly 35,000 students at more than 400 educational institutions in the Western Cape and Eastern Cape provinces of South Africa. PSFA is sincerely grateful for Ferrellgas generous support, which will have a meaningful impact on our school nutrition programme, said Pakoe. With this donation, we can assist schools on our feeding programme to meet the required gas compliance regulation. This certification is costly, and many of the schools do not have the funds to obtain the certificate. The use of gas is the most cost-effective and efficient method for preparing large quantities of food. We are inspired by Ferrellgas dedication to environmental health and their support for the well-being of children in South Africa. Partnerships like these are essential in empowering us to continue providing nutritious meals that support childrens education and well-being. According to the WLGA, the indoor air pollution caused by unsafe cooking fuels kills approximately 4.3 million people annually. Every eight seconds, someone (mostly women and children) dies as a consequence of inefficient use of biomass fuel. The World Liquid Gas Association is very pleased to support our member Ferrellgas in this extremely generous initiative, WLGA Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director James Rockall said. We are happy to be working with Ferrellgas and the School Feeding Programme in South Africa with a donation that will have such a positive impact on over 40 schools in the Cape Town region. This donation will also serve to demonstrate the impact of LPG in the lives of young people around the world. Thank you, and congratulations, to all involved in this exceptional undertaking. About Ferrellgas Ferrellgas Partners, L.P., through its operating partnership, Ferrellgas, L.P., and subsidiaries, serves propane customers in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Its Blue Rhino propane exchange brand is sold at over 68,000 locations nationwide. Ferrellgas employees indirectly own 1.1 million Class A Units of the partnership, through an employee stock ownership plan. Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. filed an Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2024, with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 27, 2024. Investors can request a hard copy of this filing free of charge and obtain more information about the partnership online at www.ferrellgas.com. About PSFA PSFA is a 66-year-old registered non-profit organisation that addresses hunger in young learners attending primary, secondary and special needs schools as well as Orphaned and Vulnerable Children Centres (OVCs) and Early Childhood Development Centres (ECDCs) and Technical and Vocational Education and Training Colleges (TVETs) in the Western Cape province of South Africa. PSFAs main aims are to reduce short-term hunger, enhance childrens learning ability through school feeding, and increase school attendance. To date, PSFA has served over two billion nutritious meals to underprivileged school children, thus promoting a sound grounding for education, which is the key to everyones future. About WLGA WLGA is the authoritative voice of the global Liquid Gas industry and represents the full Liquid Gas value chain. It brings together over 300 private and public companies operating in more than 125 countries involved in one, several or all activities of the industry; develops long-term partnerships with international organisations; and implements projects on local and global scales. The Association was established in 1987 and granted Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council in 1989. The WLGA promotes the use of Liquid Gas to foster a safer, cleaner, healthier and more prosperous world. Contact: Communications@Ferrellgas.com Photos accompanying this announcement are available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/24868f93-8878-4109-8ced-0016bf8795a7 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2fec37bf-faf6-4c74-86b2-87c5e4cc6b9d https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f672048b-188e-4a65-bcbb-3de270047ed7 Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP Securities Litigation Partner James (Josh) Wilson Encourages Investors Who Suffered Losses Exceeding $75,000 In Paragon 28 To Contact Him Directly To Discuss Their Options If you suffered losses exceeding $75,000 in Paragon 28 between May 5, 2023 and August 8, 2024 and would like to discuss your legal rights, call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310). [You may also click here for additional information] NEW YORK, Nov. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP, a leading national securities law firm, is investigating potential claims against Paragon 28, Inc. (Paragon 28 or the Company) (NYSE: FNA) and reminds investors of the November 29, 2024 deadline to seek the role of lead plaintiff in a federal securities class action that has been filed against the Company. Faruqi & Faruqi is a leading national securities law firm with offices in New York, Pennsylvania, California and Georgia. The firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors since its founding in 1995. See www.faruqilaw.com. As detailed below, the complaint alleges that the Company and its executives violated federal securities laws by making false and/or misleading statements and/or failing to disclose that throughout the Class Period defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Paragon 28s financial statements were misstated; (2) Paragon 28 lacked adequate internal controls and at times understated the extent of the issues with its internal controls; and (3) as a result, defendants statements about its business, operations, and prospects were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all times. On July 30, 2024, after the market closed, Paragon 28 filed a current report on Form 8-K with the SEC disclosing that "the Company's previously issued audited consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, contained within the Annual Report on Form 10-K for that year . . . and the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contained within the Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended March 31, 2023, June 30, 2023, September 30, 2023, and March 31, 2024 should no longer be relied upon due to errors in such financial statements, and therefore a restatement of these prior financial statements is required." On this news, Paragon 28's stock fell $1.24 per share, or 13.7%, to close at $7.79 per share on July 31, 2024. Then, on August 8, 2024, the Company issued a press release announcing its financial results for the second quarter of 2024. In it, the Company issued revised full-year revenue guidance of $249 million to $255 million, down from a previous range of $249 million to $259 million. The Company also announced the implementation of an "operational efficiency strategy" that involved a 7% reduction in workforce, an "inventory burn-down", and a "[o]ne-time realignment of executive compensation for 2024." On this news, Paragon 28's stock fell $1.67 per share, or 20.1%, to close at $6.64 per share on August 9, 2024. The court-appointed lead plaintiff is the investor with the largest financial interest in the relief sought by the class who is adequate and typical of class members who directs and oversees the litigation on behalf of the putative class. Any member of the putative class may move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff through counsel of their choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision to serve as a lead plaintiff or not. Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP also encourages anyone with information regarding Paragon 28s conduct to contact the firm, including whistleblowers, former employees, shareholders and others. To learn more about the Paragon 28 class action, go to www.faruqilaw.com/FNA or call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310). Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, on X, or on Facebook. Attorney Advertising. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP (www.faruqilaw.com). Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your particular case. All communications will be treated in a confidential manner. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/de2601eb-12a6-4c86-acde-1ee2f3350b29 NEW YORK, Nov. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, venture capital firm CoreNest Capital has announced a strategic investment in Texture Capital Holdings to fuel the development of a new platform for trading tokenized real-world assets. Pending regulatory approval, the platform, SoloTex, will be designed to provide institutions and individual investors with seamless access to tokenized securities a process that will aim to enhance market efficiency, transparency, and global accessibility. SoloTex will layer technology and expertise in asset tokenization from CoreNest Capitals partner companies Sologenic and Coreum underneath Texture Capitals position as a FINRA Member and SEC-registered broker-dealer for digital asset securities. With Textures Alternative Trading System (ATS) infrastructure and Transfer Agent capabilities, it aims to provide a complete, end-to-end solution for tokenizing and trading securities, backed by the companys expertise in navigating the evolving U.S. regulatory landscape. Sologenic s track record in product development and tokenization as well as CoreNests commitment to this space will help drive our mission to bridge the gap between traditional and nontraditional digital assets and transform capital markets through tokenization, said Richard Johnson, CEO of Texture Capital. Together we are excited to tokenize real-world assets leveraging blockchain and deliver the benefits of DeFi to traditional markets. Through CoreNest Capitals investment and technological contributions, Texture Capital is well-positioned to continue transforming capital markets through tokenization. Sologenics comprehensive ecosystem of blockchain-based applications are designed for the highest standards of user experience and security in handling these assets. Innovation is the constant in an ever-fluctuating market, said Bob Ras , GP & Co-Founder of CoreNest Capital. This partnership with Texture Capital is not constrained to launching a platform; its about laying the groundwork for a new era of asset management applications and investment strategies driven by innovation, transparency and security. SoloTex has created a waitlist for early access ahead of regulatory submission and official platform launch. Visit http://solotex.com to join the waitlist. About CoreNest Capital CoreNest Capital is a venture capital firm that focuses on tech investments in areas like AI, robotics, fintech, and medtech. CoreNest Capital is a catalyst for nurturing and funding startups in cutting-edge sectors. About Texture Capital Holdings Texture Capital Holdings is the parent of Texture Capital Inc, a FINRA member and broker-dealer specializing in digital securities, and Texture Transfer Services LLC, an SEC-registered Transfer Agent. We empower clients to compliantly issue tokens representing equity, debt, revenue share, royalties, or other investment contracts. Leveraging blockchain technology and smart contracts, we aim to transform the traditional capital markets' structure, offering tools for issuance, tokenization, and secondary market trading via our Alternative Trading System. About Sologenic Founded in 2020, Sologenic is a leader in tokenization, offering on-demand solutions for institutional and retail markets. Its advanced trading infrastructure supports blockchain-native assets, stablecoins, and soon, tokenized securities, bridging traditional finance with blockchain innovation. Contact: Pedro Crespo CoreNest Capital op@corenest.com A video accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e190056d-36d0-43bb-b0b1-fd866a715251 Dieppe, NB, Nov. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Since joining EXIT Realty Associates in Dieppe, NB in 2016, Kyle Johnson has proven himself a dedicated, driven and results-oriented agent taking home some of the brands most coveted awards several years in a row. During the companys recent 2024 convention at the prestigious Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center in Kissimmee, FL, Johnson received EXIT Realtys highest honour, the Tri-Real-A-Thon Award. The Tri-Real-A-Thon Award is EXIT's ultimate echelon of recognition for real estate professionals as it demands peak levels of production and success in three categories: listings, sales, and sponsoring, explained EXITs Canadian CEO, Joyce Paron, who interviewed Johnson earlier this year to share his success story. He continually excels in every arena, and his humility and service orientation are second to none. The 'sponsoring' or introduction of agents to EXIT Realty is a key component of this award, and in this area, as well as working with buyers and sellers, he makes a tremendous impact on people's lives. In addition, he was welcomed into the corporations Million Dollar Circle for a third year in a row, took home a Titanium Award, in recognition of 150+ real estate transactions closed, and achieved the North American rankings of Top Gross (CGI), Top Unit Producer, and Top Sales Volume in the companys production year, which runs July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024. Kyle is a champion like no other. His immeasurable success is grounded in providing exceptional service with a continual drive to improve. Hes gracious, focused, disciplined and hard-working. He shares his wisdom and inspires everyone, whether hes in the office or on an EXIT real estate stage. This level of achievement is unprecedented, Paron further shared, noting that no other EXIT associate has ever taken all these top awards in the same production year before. With humble beginnings as a train conductor in Saint John, NB, Johnson bought his first income property and caught the real estate bug, according to HGTV Canadas, Scott McGillivray, who endorsed Johnson as a McGillivray Trusted Agent for the Moncton, NB market in 2020, and Johnson has prided himself on getting his many clients the best possible results since making this switch. About EXIT Realty: Founded in Canada in 1996, EXIT Realty is a company built on human potential. A full service, progressive, real estate franchisor with offices across North America, EXIT creates true business entrepreneurs and has paid out over half a billion dollars in single-level residual income to its associates since its inception, as well as allocated $7 million to charity, to-date, through a portion of every transaction fee received and applied to EXIT Realty Corp. Internationals charitable fund. For more information, please visit www.exitrealty.com and www.joinexitrealty.com. Attachment LONDON, Nov. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Newpoint Reinsurance Company Limited (NPRE) acknowledges the retraction of an article and formal apology issued yesterday by The Insurer , a publication managed by Reuters News & Media Limited. The now-retracted article, originally published on September 9, 2024, has been withdrawn following a comprehensive review. The Insurer has issued the following apology, which has been published on its website and emailed to its subscribers: Newpoint Re: An Apology The Insurer has withdrawn a 9 September 2024 article about Newpoint Reinsurance Company (NPRE) following a post-publication review, which found that in certain respects it did not meet our editorial standards. Much of the content of the article was not put to NPRE for comment prior to publication, and some of the contents were not fact-checked by us to our usual standards. In particular, it was incorrect to report that it was unclear what was behind AM Bests August decision to place NPRE under review with developing implications. AM Best had explained in its public commentary that this was because NPREs parent was in the process of strengthening its capital structure via the planned issue of common shares and that it assessed NPREs balance sheet as very strong. We regret this lapse and apologise to NPRE in relation to the above. The formal apology is prominently featured on The Insurers homepage and has been distributed to its subscriber base. For public viewing, the apology will remain accessible on their website at www.theinsurer.com/newpoint-re-an-apology until February 20, 2025. In response to the retraction, Andrew Bye ACII, SIRM, Executive Director of Newpoint Reinsurance Company Limited, commented, "We commend The Insurer's commitment to fair journalism and their readers. Their immediate and transparent action reflects well on their integrity as a news source. NPRE maintains transparency and accountability as core principles in all our operations." NPRE continues to be dedicated to providing exceptional service and transparency in all its practices, reinforcing its position as a trusted risk partner in the international insurance and reinsurance industry. The company values the principles of honesty and integrity, both within internal operations and in its interactions with media and public entities. About Newpoint Reinsurance Company Limited Newpoint Reinsurance Company Limited (NPRE), a subsidiary of NFG SA, is a fully licensed and regulated international insurance and reinsurance firm based in Nevis, operating under License Number C46027. Governed by the Nevis Financial Services Regulation and Supervision Department, NPRE is committed to excellence in compliance, governance, and operational innovation. Leveraging the jurisdiction's strong adherence to English Law, and rigorous KYC AML protocols, NPRE offers a stable environment conducive to supporting the delivery of professional international insurance and reinsurance practices. Our approach integrates advanced risk underwriting and actuarial functions, ensuring precise alignment with capital adequacy requirements and promoting sustainable business growth, complimented by the desire to adopt and comply with the best practices of our international counterparts. For more information, please visit www.npre.kn. NPRE Company Contact info@npre.kn Miami Beach Event Honored Emilio Estefan, Jr., Vice Mayor Alex Fernandez and Boucher Brothers for their Distinguished Advocacy BOCA RATON, Fla., Nov. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Gift of Life Marrow Registry, a Boca Raton-based blood stem cell and bone marrow registry, held its One Huge Night Miami Gala on Monday, November 18, 2024 at Queen Miami Beach in Miami Beach, Fla. The annual event served to recognize the heroic volunteer transplant donors in Gift of Lifes registry and raise much-needed funds for the organizations efforts to cure blood cancer, sickle cell, and inherited immune disorders. The event featured a poignant first meeting between lifesaving donor Sara Wells and her young transplant recipient, 9-year-old Natalie Hughes of Greenville, Miss. The pair was introduced by Former Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber. In 2020, when Natalie was only five years old, her parents noticed unusual and extensive bruising. Concerned, they consulted a physician, who diagnosed her with aplastic anemia, a rare but severe blood disorder characterized by the bone marrow's inability to produce sufficient blood cells. The devastating news worried her family as they wondered if there was a cure, but the community rallied to offer support. School classmates sent me cards and fun stuff to do while I was in the hospital for treatment, said Natalie. I had a lot of people praying for me. Thankfully, Wells, a 25-year-old retail worker from Roselle Park, N.J., had joined Gift of Lifes registry at a campus drive while attending New Jersey Institute of Technology in 2018. When she was contacted by Gift of Life about being a match for Natalie, she was excited to help and grateful that Gift of Life was able to answer all of her questions about the process. My mom is a cancer survivor, and I grew up alongside a friend who battled leukemia for years, said Wells. The donation experience was incredibly rewarding, knowing that I was giving someone a second chance at life. With her father by her side, Natalie was excited for the chance to meet and greet Wells personally. Thank you for donating to me, said Natalie. You are an amazing person. During the gala, Gift of Life presented Cuban-American musician and producer Emilio Estefan, Jr., with the prestigious Community Impact Award, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the community and a commitment to making a difference in the lives of others. City of Miami Beach Vice Mayor Alex Fernandez and Boucher Brothers were also recognized for their support and advocacy. Key event participants included City of Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner, Former Mayor Dan Gelber and Police Chief Wayne Jones. Serving as Honorary Gala Chairs were internationally renowned artist Romero Britto and Bill and Alexandra Roedy and the Gala Chairs were Shani Alexander, Marisa Galbut, Robin Schwartz Jacobs, Carla Probus and Liza Samuel. The gala was emceed by WPLG-TV Local 10 Anchor/Reporter Louis Aguirre for the third year in a row. About Gift of Life Marrow Registry Gift of Life Marrow Registry is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Boca Raton, Fla. Established in 1991, the organization is dedicated to saving lives by facilitating blood stem cell and bone marrow transplants for patients with leukemia, lymphoma, and other blood-related diseases. The registry houses its state-of-the-art stem cell collection center, biobank, and laboratory. To learn more about the Gift of Life Marrow Registry, visit www.giftoflife.org. Media contact: Amy Glanzman Phone: (561) 982-2900; Email: aglanzman@giftoflife.org Photos accompanying this announcement are available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ead7ed5a-0344-4f81-aec1-782e6bad68ef https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/fa927980-59e6-4fe3-ac64-2d00b1c4fac6 CHICAGO, Nov. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A service mindset is much more than just serving hundreds of piping hot turkey dinners on Thanksgiving; its a spirit of neighborly caring, understanding, and action that happens all year long. Inspiration Cafe is abuzz. The kitchen is bustling. Parents, faculty and staff are busy chopping vegetables, whipping up potatoes, slicing turkeys and preparing and serving wonderful home-cooked meals for dozens of families whose goal is to exit homelessness. This annual Thanksgiving tradition and many others serve as a testament to the power of the human spirit, coming together in understanding and support of others. It has been a Sacred Heart Schools tradition for decades and is just one of many examples of how our community comes together to make a difference. Classroom Learning and Action Our faculty, staff, students and many parents are already preparing for various annual giving events around Thanksgiving, the winter holiday season and throughout the school year. As we do this, we celebrate the spirit of giving and care that is a hallmark of the remarkable dedication to social awareness, service, and action that our school community demonstrates throughout the year, in and out of the classroom. Essential to the fabric of an education of the whole person is the integration of everyday service learning and how that translates into action and care for others. Whether through partnership with Inspiration Cafe at Thanksgiving, or with other agencies in Edgewater and adjacent neighborhoods such as The Ignatian Services Mission, Howard Area Community Center, Misericordia, or Evanston Food Pantry, our entire community is engaged in service learning and action. Through an intricately developed partner program expanded into a broad net of caring more than 25 years ago, students, faculty, staff, and many families give of themselves to grow, as Head of Schools Meg Steele encourages, not to be the best in the world, but the best for the world. The goal is twofold: first, help those in need by understanding their need, the root causes, solutions and the immediate actions an individual can take to alleviate suffering. Second, we work to help students model personal responsibility, building life-long habits of empathy, outreach and giving. We want them to be good neighbors wherever they can be. In the classroom, students at every grade level learn about the poverties of substance and of spirit. They work to understand root causes and immediate as well as longer-term solutions. They learn to take individual responsibility to help where they can and they learn all this in an atmosphere that celebrates the dignity of every human being, regardless of their socio-economic circumstances. Paz Salas, Coordinator of Service Learning and Community Partnerships is the planning and positive force behind all these Sacred Heart efforts. She works with many community partners, including Inspiration Cafes Associate Director, Hallie McDonald who reflects on the partnership. Inspiration Corporation's work connecting people experiencing homelessness and poverty to services and resources is made possible thanks to partners like Sacred Heart Schools. Note: SHS has been partnering with Inspiration Cafe since 1999. Our students have learned from the staff and guests of the Cafe for years. We have donated, cooked, and served Thanksgiving dinner for an average of 60 IC participants since 2002. About 1440 Thanksgiving dinners have been provided as well as decorations in the Cafe, created by the SHS students each year. About Sacred Heart Sacred Heart Schools opened its doors in Chicago in 1876. As the oldest independent elementary school in Chicago, we operate as a private, Catholic school, welcoming all faiths, for Preschool through 8th grade students. Along the shores of Lake Michigan, our unique single gender classroom experience on a co-ed campus allows girls, through The Academy, and boys, through Hardey Prep, to pursue and excel in their love of learning within a safe, diverse and inclusive community. Contact: Sacred Heart Schools Lis Slattery, Director of Marketing (312) 315-5253 lis.slattery@shschicago.org www.shschicago.org Photos accompanying this announcement are available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c94484f5-833a-4a8f-9c05-49c072c8b670 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d78373f9-2072-474e-958b-53eb35402088 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0708a0b4-b5be-4ac4-a5c3-415e39764d3d https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/67157649-da42-4f0c-aba9-12ebf76d54f0 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/346113ef-2120-427b-bc49-d7985453994d https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0ea2fc0b-e89b-49e0-b176-01639a1f1606 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/aec4d9a6-3925-4b03-8349-8739a4822973 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f0ea2127-cc9c-4cdb-8fd1-dc1e3d79d750 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/02747e3e-0988-4ac6-a0de-758ffc118134 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d71921e7-e395-45a5-905d-974ff095ab9f Vancouver, November 21, 2024 - Pure Energy Minerals Ltd. (TSXV: PE) (OTCQB: PEMIF) ("Pure Energy" or "the Company") is pleased to announce that Mr. Yuwei Hong has been appointed to the board of directors of Pure Energy Minerals. Mr. Hong represents Lithium X Corp. which holds an 11.6% equity position in Pure Energy. Mr. Hong is an experienced professional with over 15 years of expertise in management, investment, and consulting. He currently serves as the vice president of Xizang Zhufeng Resources Co. Ltd. (Previously known as the Tibet Summit). Before joining Xizang Zhufeng in 2022, he worked as an investment director at the NextView Capital. Mr. Hong holds a master's degree from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charter holder. As well, the Company sincerely thanks Mr. Yuankai Mao for his contributions as a prior board member and wishes his well in his future endeavours. "Pure Energy is very pleased to welcome Mr. Hong as a board member and we look forward to working with him in the future," stated Joseph Mullin, CEO & Director of Pure Energy. About Pure Energy Pure Energy Minerals is a lithium resource company that has consolidated a pre-eminent land position at its Clayton Valley Project in the Clayton Valley of central Nevada for the exploration and development of lithium resources, comprising 950 claims over 23,360 acres (9,450 hectares), representing the largest land holdings in the valley. Pure Energy's strategic partner, SLB, is operator of the Clayton Valley Project. In May of 2019, Pure Energy and SLB signed an Earn-In agreement over the CV Project which requires significant investment by SLB in the Project, to include the design and construction of a pilot plant capable of processing lithium-bearing brines for high-quality lithium hydroxide monohydrate ("lithium hydroxide" or "LiOHH2O") and/or lithium carbonate ("Li2CO3") products at a specified rate. For further details regarding SLB's participation, please refer to Pure Energy's Annual General and Special Meeting Management Information Circular dated April 4, 2019, available on SEDARplus.com. On behalf of the Board of Directors, "Joseph Mullin" CEO, Pure Energy Minerals Ltd. Cautionary Statements and Forward-Looking Information The information in this news release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in our forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause such differences include: changes in world commodity markets, equity markets, costs and supply of materials relevant to the mining industry, change in government and changes to regulations affecting the mining industry. Forward-looking statements in this release may include future exploration and development on the Clayton Valley Project. Although we believe the expectations reflected in our forward-looking statements are reasonable, results may vary, and we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except as required by applicable laws. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/230981 Toronto, November 22, 2024 - Big Ridge Gold Corp. (TSXV: BRAU) (OTCQB: ALVLF) ("Big Ridge" or the "Company") announced that due to the ongoing Canadian postal strike(the "Postal Strike"), the information circular and related materials (the "Meeting Materials") for its upcoming Annual General Meeting (the "Meeting") being held on Monday, December 23, 2024, are posted under the Company's profile on www.sedarplus.ca and on the Company's website at www.bigridgegold.com/investors/agm-materials/. Shareholders of the Company are encouraged to access the Meeting Materials directly through the above-mentioned websites, or may contact Jim Kirke, the Company's Chief Financial Officer, at 416-627-1796 or by email at jkirke@bigridgegold.com to request electronic copies of the Meeting Materials. In the event that the Postal Strike ends prior to the Meeting, the Company will mail the Meeting Materials in the ordinary course, but there can be no assurance that the Meeting Materials will be received by the shareholder prior to the Meeting. Emails providing a proxy with the voting control number and instructions for voting will be sent by the Company's transfer agent, Computershare, to Registered Shareholders for whom Computershare has an email address. Registered Shareholders who do not receive an email from Computershare with their proxy by Monday, November 25, 2024 should contact Computershare's Investor Centre at 1-800-564-6253 (8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., EST, Monday to Friday) to request their proxy and voting control number. Non-Objecting Beneficial Shareholders ("NOBOs") should contact Computershare at 1-800-564-6253 to request their Voting Instruction Form ("VIF") with voting control number and instructions for voting. Objecting Beneficial Shareholders ("OBOs") should contact their broker to request a VIF, voting control number, and instructions for voting. Copies of the Company's financial statements and related management discussion & analysis for the financial year ended June 30, 2024 (the "Financial Statements and MD&A") are available on the Company's profile on www.sedarplus.ca and on the Company's website at www.bigridgegold.com. If paper copies of the Financial Statements and MD&A have been requested, but not yet delivered, they will be delivered once the Postal Strike concludes. In addition, Big Ridge announced that Dr. Bill Williams, the Company's Board Chair, will not be standing for re-election. The Board thanks Dr. Williams for his service to Big Ridge and wishes him all the best in his future endeavours. About Big Ridge Gold Corp. Big Ridge Gold Corp. is an exploration and development company managed by a disciplined and experienced team of officers and directors. The Company is committed to the development of advanced stage mining projects using industry best practices combined with strong social license from our local communities. Big Ridge owns an 80% interest in its flagship Hope Brook Gold Project, located in Newfoundland and Labrador. Big Ridge also owns 100% in the highly prospective Oxford Gold Project located in Manitoba and the Destiny Gold Project in Quebec. Acknowledgement Big Ridge acknowledges and appreciates the Newfoundland and Labrador Ministry of Natural Resources' financial support of the Company's 2023 exploration programs through the Junior Exploration Assistance (JEA) Program. For more details regarding the Company's projects, please visit our website at www.bigridgegold.com ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD, Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release includes certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "plans", "projects", "intends", "estimates", "envisages", "potential", "possible", "strategy", "goals", "objectives", or variations thereof or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative of any of these terms and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements in this news release relate to future events or future performance and reflect current estimates, predictions, expectations or beliefs regarding future events, and include, without limitation, statements with respect to Big Ridge's intentions with respect to Caprock's shares. All forward-looking statements are based on Big Ridge's and its employees' current beliefs as well as various assumptions made by them and information currently available to them. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the respective parties, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and the parties have made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. When relying on our forward-looking statements to make decisions with respect to Big Ridge, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. Big Ridge does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time by the Company or on our behalf, except as required by law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/230974 Vancouver, November 22, 2024 - Juggernaut Exploration Ltd. (TSX-V: JUGR) (OTCQB: JUGRF) (FSE: 4JE) (the "Company" or "Juggernaut") further to its November 12 , November 18, and November 20, 2024 news releases, Juggernaut is pleased to report that it has closed its non-brokered flow-through private placement financing (the "Financing") for aggregate gross proceeds of $1,374,500 largely from strategic investors. The flow-through funds will be used towards follow-up drilling in 2025 on Juggernaut's 100% controlled Midas and Bingo properties, targeting prolific high-grade Gold, Silver, Copper and Cobalt deposits. The Company has issued 16,170,587 flow-through units ("FT Units"), priced at $0.085 each for gross proceeds of $1,374,500. Each FT Unit consists of one flow-through common share plus one flow-through share purchase warrant, each flow-through warrant being exercisable for an additional flow-through common share at $0.12 for a twelve-month period from date of issuance. The CMETC FT Units will entitle the holder to receive the tax benefits applicable to flow-through shares per the Income Tax Act (Canada) provisions. The Company will use an amount equal to the gross proceeds received by the Company from the sale of the CMETC FT Units, pursuant to the provisions in the Income Tax Act (Canada), to incur eligible "Canadian exploration expenses" that qualify as "flow-through mining expenditures" as both terms are defined in the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the "Qualifying Expenditures") on or before December 31, 2025, and to renounce all the Qualifying Expenditures in favor of the subscribers of the FT Units effective December 31, 2024. In addition, the Company has paid cash finders' fees totalling $45,693 and issued 537,564 non-transferable broker warrants exercisable at $0.12 for twelve months. All securities issued pursuant to this financing will be subject to a four-month plus one-day hold, expiring March 22, 2025. This oversubscribed investment, coupled with the ongoing support and interest from other globally recognized Institutions and senior miners, is a strong endorsement that clearly demonstrates the significant near-term expansion discovery potential of the Company's 100% controlled properties. Dan Stuart, President and CEO of Juggernaut Exploration, states, "We had successful drill programs totaling 6300 meters on both of our 100% controlled Midas and Bingo properties carried out in 2024 designed to target high-grade gold-silver-copper and cobalt mineralization at Bingo along strike and depth, as well as drill tested what we believe is the most compelling VHMS target identified on the Midas property to date. We look forward to announcing results with great anticipation in the near future. About Juggernaut Exploration Ltd. Juggernaut Exploration Ltd. is an explorer and generator of precious metals projects in the prolific Golden Triangle of northwestern British Columbia. All of its projects are in world-class geological settings and geopolitical safe jurisdictions amenable to mining in Canada. Juggernaut is a member and active supporter of CASERM, an organization representing a collaborative venture between the Colorado School of Mines and Virginia Tech. Juggernaut's key strategic cornerstone shareholder is Crescat Capital. Qualified Person Rein Turna P. Geo is the qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 for Juggernaut Exploration's projects. He supervised the preparation of and has reviewed and approved the technical information in this release. View Juggernaut videos by Clicking Here. For more information, please contact Juggernaut Exploration Ltd. Dan Stuart President, Director, and Chief Executive Officer 604-559-8028 info@juggernautexploration.com www.juggernautexploration.com NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENT Certain disclosure in this release may constitute forward-looking statements that are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties relating to Juggernaut's operations that may cause future results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by those forward-looking statements, including its ability to complete the contemplated private placement. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these statements. NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO U.S. PERSONS OR FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES. THIS PRESS RELEASE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR AN INVITATION TO PURCHASE ANY SECURITIES DESCRIBED IN IT. Copyright (c) 2024 TheNewswire - All rights reserved. Vancouver - EGR Exploration Ltd. (TSX-V:EGR) ("EGR" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the issuance of 1,500,000 shares and conversion of the Convertible Note issued in November 2022. The shares were issued at a price of $0.10 for a total of $150,000. With the issuance of the shares, the Company is debt free. EGR is now focussed on advancing the Detour West Project with a planned winter drill program to commence in January. The Convertible Note issued in November 2022 had an aggregate principal amount of $150,000 and was comprised of a two-year term, 0% interest and was convertible into common shares of the Company at a conversion price of $0.18 per common share in the first year, and at the greater of i) market price and ii) $0.10 if converted in the second year. About EGR Exploration Ltd. EGR Exploration Ltd. is exploring for gold in the Detour-Fenelon Gold Trend, approximately 300 kilometres north of Timmins, Ontario. EGR's 34,681 hectare Detour West gold project is contiguous to Agnico Eagle's property which contains the Detour Lake Gold Mine and is approximately 20 kilometres from the mine, which is also hosted in the Abitibi Greenstone Belt. For further information contact: Daniel Rodriguez CEO & Director Phone: (604) 353-4080 Email: drodriguez@egrexploration.com Forward?Looking Statement (Safe Harbor Statement): This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. The use of any of the words "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "expect", "estimate", "objective", "may", "will", "project", "should", "predict", "potential" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. In particular, this press release contains forward-looking statements concerning the Company's exploration plans. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements because the Company cannot give any assurance that they will prove correct. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, they involve inherent assumptions, risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of assumptions, factors and risks. These assumptions and risks include, but are not limited to, assumptions and risks associated with conditions in the equity financing markets, and assumptions and risks regarding receipt of regulatory and shareholder approvals. Management has provided the above summary of risks and assumptions related to forward-looking statements in this press release in order to provide readers with a more comprehensive perspective on the Company's future operations. The Company's actual results, performance or achievement could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements and, accordingly, no assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do so, what benefits the Company will derive from them. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release, and, other than as required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. 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. Copyright (c) 2024 TheNewswire - All rights reserved. VANCOUVER, Nov. 22, 2024 - Metalsource Mining Inc. (the "??Company??" or "??Metalsource??") (CSE: "??MSM??") ??is pleased to announce that, further to its news release dated October 31, 2024, it has closed the first tranche of its non-brokered private placement for total gross proceeds of $750,000 (the "??Offering??") whereby Eric Sprott is the lead order ??on the Offering, subscribing for 2,500,000 Units totaling $500,000. The Company expects to close the second and final tranche in the near term.? ?The Company has allotted and issued 3,750,000 units (the "??Units??") at a price of $0.20 per Unit. Each unit consists of one common share of the Company and one-half of one transferable share purchase warrant (each whole, a "??Warrant??"), with each Warrant entitling the holder to acquire one additional common share at an exercise price of $0.30 for a period of 24 months from the closing date.? ?Mr. Eric Sprott, through 2176423 Ontario Ltd., a corporation which is beneficially owned by him, acquired 2,500,000 Units for $0.20 per Unit or a total consideration of $500,000. Prior to the Private Placement, Mr. Sprott did not beneficially own or control any Shares of the Company. Following the completion of the Private Placement, Mr. Sprott beneficially owns and controls 2,500,000 Shares and 1,250,000 Warrants representing approximately 7.3% of the outstanding Shares on a non-diluted basis and 10.6% on a partially-diluted basis assuming the exercise of such Warrants.? ?The Units were acquired by Sprott for investment purposes. Mr. Sprott has a long-term view of the investment and may acquire additional securities of the Company including on the open market or through private acquisitions or sell securities of the Company including on the open market or through private dispositions in the future depending on market conditions, reformulation of plans and/or other relevant factors. ? ?A copy of Sprott's early warning report will appear on Metalsource Mining's profile on SEDAR+ and may also be obtained by calling Mr. Sprott's office at (416) 945-3294 (1106-7 King Street East, Toronto, ON, M5C 3C5).? ?The Company intends to use the proceeds raised from the Offering?? for working?? capital purposes and to proceed with a work program ??on their property, "The Aruba Project", in Botswana.? ?In connection with the Offering, the Company has paid finder's fees of $36,750 and issued an aggregate of 183,750 non-transferable broker warrants (the "??Broker Warrants??") to an arm's-length party, with each Broker Warrant bearing the same terms as the Warrants.? ?All securities issued under the Offering are subject to a hold period of four months and one day expiring on March 23, 2025.? ?About Metalsource Mining Inc.? The Company is engaged in the exploration and development of its mineral property assets in Botswana. The Company's objective is to locate and develop economic, precious and base metal properties of merit and to conduct its exploration program on its Aruba property ? ?Aruba Project? ?The western part of the Aruba Project is underlain by the highly prospective ??Transvaal Super Group,?? specifically the Kayne Basin. The (Lower) Transvaal Supergroup, which includes the Kanye Basin in Botswana and the Transvaal and Griqualand West Basins of South Africa, hosts iron and manganese mineralization. Manganese precipitation occurs at the intersections of horizontal oxidation-reduction interfaces with shallow marine substrates within shallow marine embayments. Major deposits usually form close to the basin margin and are often less than 100 m above the basement, typically hosted in a sedimentary package, which can include quartzite, siltstone, or shale. This style of mineralization is typically flat lying, stratiform and stratabound mineralization that can be quite laterally extensive in a lot of cases. The Kalahari overlying younger cover has limited exploration efforts to date.? ?Transvaal Supergroup? The Transvaal Supergroup hosts some of the world's most significant manganese deposits, especially within the Kalahari Manganese Field (KMF) in northern South Africa. South Africa currently contributes 32% of annual manganese to the world. The manganese deposits in the Transvaal Supergroup are some of the richest and largest globally. ? ?Global Manganese Market? Current global manganese demand continues to rise, with demand in lithium-ion battery production as a particular source of increased uptake. This demand is driven by electric vehicles and the changing battery chemistry with manganese being substituted for cobalt. Allied to this, unfavorable conditions arising from restrictive governmental policies in many mining jurisdictions has seen global supply curtailed. This ideally positions Metalsource Mining, which holds licenses containing highly prospective and untested manganese targets in one of the worlds highest rated mining jurisdictions ? ?Qualified Person? ?This news release has been reviewed and approved by Rory Kutluoglu, B.Sc, P.Geo, a? "Qualified Person" as defined under NI 43-101 - Standards for of Disclosure for Mineral? Projects.? ?ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS? ?"Joseph Cullen"? Joseph Cullen, ? ?President, Chief Executive Officer and Director? ?For further information, please contact:? ?Mr. Joseph Cullen? Phone: 778-919-8615? Email: jpacullen@gmail.com? Website: ??https://www.metalsourcemining.com/?? ? ?THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE HAS NOT APPROVED NOR DISAPPROVED? ??OF THE CONTENT OF THIS PRESS RELEASE? ?Cautionary Note About Forward-Looking Statements ? ?Certain of the information contained in this news release may constitute 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.? Vancouver, November 22, 2024 - DeepRock Minerals Inc. (the "Company" or "Deeprock") (CSE Symbol: "DEEP"), announces that its 2024 annual general and special meeting of shareholders (the "Meeting") was held to approve annual business and special business has been adjourned until December 12, 2024 at 10:00 am (Pacific Time). The Meeting was called to approve, among other annual business, a plan of arrangement (the "Arrangement") involving Deeprock, its shareholders and Allied Critical Metals Corp. ("ACM"), as set forth pursuant to an arrangement agreement with an effective date of September 30, 2024 between Deeprock and ACM (the "Arrangement Agreement"). The Company conducted all annual matters proposed at the Meeting, but the Company has postponed the approval of the Arrangement. Prior to adjournment of the Meeting, shareholders approved all of the annual business, including the election of directors: Andrew Lee, Roger Baer, and Thomas Christoff. The purpose of the adjournment is to provide additional time for ACM to produce separate audited financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 for predecessor issuer Pan Metals Unipessoal Lda and related materials, and for the Company's shareholders to review those materials, which will be made available on the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca as permitted by the interim court order received by the Company on October 21, 2024. In addition, the Company intends to provide a further news release update next week as to progress with the previously announced concurrent financing in connection with the Arrangement. The details of the Meeting, including how to attend the Meeting, are set out in the Company's management information circular dated October 23, 2024 (the "Circular") which is publicly available under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. The record date and location for the reconvened Meeting remain unchanged. During the adjournment, the Company will continue to solicit votes from its shareholders with respect to the Arrangement. Shareholders who have already submitted a proxy do not need to vote again for the adjourned Meeting as all previously submitted proxies, including those submitted after the original cut off date for the Meeting remain valid. The updated deadline for receipt of proxies is December 10, 2024 at 3:00 pm (Pacific time) and for notices of dissent is December 10, 2024 at 10:00 am (Pacific time) or two business days prior to any further adjournment or postponement of the Meeting. The board of directors of the Company continues to recommend that shareholders vote in favour of the Arrangement and encourages all shareholders to submit their proxies before the new cut-off date. Shareholders with questions on how to vote their common shares are encouraged to contact the Company's transfer agent, Odyssey Trust Company, toll-free in North America at 1-888-290-1175 or by email at clients@odysseytrust.com . Assuming approval of the Arrangement at the adjourned Meeting on December 12, 2024, the Company will seek a final order of the Court for approval of the Arrangement on December 16, 2024 which would allow for completion of the Arrangement and related transactions on or after that date. 1.Further Information At the adjourned Meeting, the Arrangement will require the approval of (i) two-thirds of the votes cast by shareholders at the Meeting and (ii) a simple majority of the votes cast by securityholders (each of the shareholders and warrantholders of the Company voting as separate class) at the Meeting, excluding votes from Andrew Lee and Keith Margetson and their respective associates. Additional details regarding the terms of the Arrangement can be found in the Circular. The Company will provide further updates on the Meeting and the Arrangement as they are available. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in the United States. The securities to be issued in connection with the Arrangement have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available. Completion of the Arrangement is subject to a number of conditions, including but not limited to, Exchange acceptance and if applicable pursuant to Exchange Requirements, majority of the minority shareholder approval. Where applicable, the Arrangement cannot close until the required shareholder approval is obtained. There can be no assurance that the Arrangement will be completed as proposed or at all. There can be no assurance that the Arrangement will be completed as proposed, or at all. Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the Listing Statement to be prepared in connection with the Arrangement, any information released or received with respect to the Arrangement may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Trading in the securities of the Company should be considered highly speculative. For further information concerning this press release, please contact: Deeprock Minerals Inc. Andrew Lee, President & CEO Tel: 604-720-2703 ys.andrew.lee@gmail.com Allied Critical Metals Corp. Roy Bonnell, President & CEO Tel: 514-928-5933 royb@alliedcritical.com The Canadian Securities Exchange has in no way passed on the merits of the Transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. Cautionary Statement and Forward-Looking Information All information contained in this news release with respect to the Company and ACM was supplied by the parties, respectively, for inclusion herein, and each such party has relied on the other party for any information concerning such party. Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information, including statements regarding the expected issuance of approval of the Company's shareholders and the Exchange and the expected commencement of trading of the common shares of the Resulting Issuer on the Exchange. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words "could", "intend", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected", "estimated" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the parties' current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Actual future results may differ materially. The business of the Company is subject to a number of material risks and uncertainties. Please refer to SEDAR+ filings for further details. Various assumptions or factors are typically applied in drawing conclusions or making the forecasts or projections set out in forward-looking information. Those assumptions and factors are based on information currently available to the parties. The material factors and assumptions include the parties being able to obtain the necessary corporate, regulatory and other third parties approvals. The forward looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof and the parties are not obligated to update or revise any forward looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Because of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue reliance on forward looking information. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward looking information contained herein. Not for dissemination in the United States of America. Copyright (c) 2024 TheNewswire - All rights reserved. (TNS) Personal information pertaining to Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authoritys roughly 9,300 employees might have been compromised during a malware attack that has hindered the authority for nearly three weeks.Unauthorized individuals may have accessed files containing employee names, Social Security numbers, addresses, benefits enrollment information, salary or hourly rate, as well as bank account and routing numbers, SEPTA General Manager Leslie Richards told employees in an email Thursday morning, which was shared withSEPTA prioritizes the protection of the personal information of our employees, Richards said in the message. While we are still in the process of confirming the full extent of the data that may have been impacted, SEPTA is providing you with resources as quickly as possible so that you may protect your personal information for actual or attempted use. The authority was quick to reassure customers that SEPTA Key accounts were not affected.A malware attack forced SEPTA to shut down its ability to share real-time information with riders on Aug. 10 to prevent the virus from spreading. Those features, including the SEPTA apps Next-to-Arrive feature and platform announcements, were returned Monday afternoon. But there isnt a timeline on restoration elsewhere within the network. SEPTA employees worked without email for about a week, and a lack of access to servers and programs has continued to make their jobs more difficult.The authority has brought in the FBI and outside information technology experts to assist in the investigation.SEPTA is offering a year of free credit monitoring to workers through Kroll, a cybersecurity consultant. Its also set up a call center dedicated to answering employee questions about the attack. Costs of both measures are covered by SEPTAs cyber insurance, SEPTA spokesperson Andrew Busch said. Letters were also mailed to employees Wednesday.The authority is encouraging employees to sign up for the credit monitoring for peace of mind, Busch said. Its not clear how long information had been exposed.SEPTA appears to be concerned that intruders got into its employee database, which has a treasure trove of personal information that can be used for identity theft, said Michael Levy, former chief of computer crimes at the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.Credit cards get shut down pretty quickly with fraud, he said. But if youre stealing Social Security numbers, the problem now is people start opening [credit] accounts using your Social Security number, and you dont know about it until you go to buy a car or need financing.If hackers stole sensitive information, theyll likely sell the information on illicit markets in the deep corners of the so-called dark web, Levy said.Workers should take advantage of the free credit monitoring SEPTA is offering, he said. Consumers are also entitled to free annual credit reports under federal law.Attackers often access computer systems with phishing emails that dupe employees into handing over user credentials or clicking links that download malware, Levy said. The fact that SEPTAs systems have been down for weeks may mean the agency is still not sure which parts of its computer systems hackers were in and whether they have them out yet, he said.Some of SEPTAs supervisory, administrative, and management or SAM employees expressed frustration toover a lack of communication from the authority on the attack. Employees had been left wondering basic questions such as whether their information was at risk while balancing the many hardships SEPTA faces from the pandemic. Morale at the headquarters is low and wavering, employees said. About 2,000 of SEPTAs workers are SAM employees.The authority is encouraging employees to monitor financial statements and contact their banks if they spot any suspicious activity, Richards told employees in the email sent Thursday.We werent in a position to say it two weeks ago, Busch said. It would have been alarming for employees to hear then, Im sure, as it may be now. But its a process that we had to work through, and get things into place. This came to light as we went through further investigation of what happened. Boss plays down rumours about Dutch GP future Zandvoort circuit boss Robert van Overdijk has played down rumours about the future of the Dutch GP. Max Verstappen, Dutch GP 2024 Red Bull After Monaco's new annual race deal with Formula 1 was recently extended through 2031, Automobile Club de Monaco boss Michel Boeri admitted to relief. Compared to other European grands prix, we have a few small advantages, but above all, there is no alternation, he told Monaco Info. We will be there every year. F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has admitted on several occasions that some current grands prix will need to host races only once every two years in the near future. Boeri said: Not only will many other European grands prix disappear, but those that remain will be in this alternation. I believe that with the demand that F1 has today, there will only be two or three grands prix left in Europe, with interest shifting to China and other continents. According to the latest rumours, Zandvoort as well as Spa-Francorchamps, Barcelona and Imola are among the current races most likely to have to alternate. Zandvoort's current Dutch GP deal with F1 runs out after next year's edition. Speculation suggests organisers are particularly worried that Max Verstappen potentially retiring from the sport could make the event untenable. When asked if Zandvoort is being forced to consider the race rotation scheme, van Overdijk told the Dutch magazine Formule 1: "We only have one discussion partner and that is FOM. It's a rumour, he added. (GMM) Germany lacks will for Formula 1 race says Wolff Germany lacks the will to host a Formula 1 race, according to Mercedes boss Toto Wolff. Sergio Perez, German GP 2019 RV Press Although the grand prix in neighbouring Austria, Wolff's native country, is promoted by Red Bull, the 52-year-old said the country fully supports the race. We are high-tech, we are innovation, and we have the support of countless people, he told Stuttgarter Zeitung. At home in Austria, politicians of all stripes support the race because they recognise the added value. But it couldn't be more different in Germany, with Hockenheim and the Nurburgring no longer willing to take all the financial risk of hosting a grand prix. I think Germany is still suffering from the hangover from the Schumacher years, he said. But it's a strange German phenomenon and no one can really explain it. Indeed, while Michael Schumacher created a frenzy of German excitement about Formula 1, Wolff noted that other great German drivers like Nico Rosberg and Sebastian Vettel failed to emulate the Schumacher effect. The result, today, is that a historic F1 host nation like Germany is totally absent from the sport today. To get the right return on investment, you first need someone to invest, said Wolff. I ask myself - are the political and economic conditions in Germany such that you want to invest in a grand prix? (GMM) Local business owners slam F1, Las Vegas GP As the second F1-promoted Las Vegas GP looms, two local business owners have blasted the event, the sport, and its authorities. Las Vegas GP 2023 Red Bull Red Bull team advisor Dr Helmut Marko this week also admitted he's not a fan, denouncing it as not that great and telling Osterreich: It doesn't have much support from the local population. It also seems to lack the full support of the state of Nevada, with multiple reports emerging that F1 personnel struggled to be permitted entry. They didn't want to let me in, said RB driver Yuki Tsunoda. They kept me for two or three hours and almost sent me home, although my passport shows that I am constantly moving from country to country and I have a valid visa, and not long ago I competed on another American track, in Austin. Wade Bohn, who owns a Coca-Cola-painted gas station in Las Vegas, says when he heard that his city was joining the Formula 1 calendar last year, he was delighted. But the disruption to the city ultimately culminated in a shocking 65 percent revenue drop for the month of November. He told Le Journal de Montreal that in November 2022, he turned over $682,000. Now, I won't even reach $200,000, he revealed. It makes me sick, Bohn added. "If this race is still here in year four of the contract, I'm done. I've already laid off 50 percent of my employees. The destruction caused for a 90 minute race that we host once a year is inexplicable. I don't understand the concept. This is our city. Restaurant owner Randy Markin, meanwhile, is actually suing Formula 1 for the financial losses caused by the disruption the event causes to his business. No event has ever destroyed my city like F1, said the owner of the Italian diner Battista's Hole In The Wall. He says that when Formula 1 is in town, he has 50 percent fewer bookings. It's horrible, he said. "We're supposed to be full. People are calling to cancel their reservations because they can't make it because of traffic and closures. We were the busiest restaurant off the Strip, said Markin, adding that some other nearby restaurants actually close for the entire race week. Referring to Formula 1 officials, he blasted: "These people don't give a damn. This is the first time a company has come to Vegas and it hasn't become part of the fabric of the city. "And God knows how many companies have come here. No city in the world does it the way we do it with big events. But why do citizens hate this race so much? It's because F1 walks around with its nose in the air, not caring about anything and destroying everything around it. They come in on a private jet, do their business and fly back. It doesn't work like that around here. F1 apologised after the 2023 event's disruption, and vowed to do better for 2024. But Markin says nothing has changed. "If F1 really cared about Vegas, we wouldn't have to fight in court. It's impossible to sit down with these people and talk because they don't care. They have no loyalty. And their way of thinking they're bigger and stronger with their money doesn't work anymore. Especially not in this single market. (GMM) More British pundits face axe over bias accusations More well-known British pundits could also leave Sky's English-language coverage of Formula 1. Max Verstappen, Brazilian GP 2024 Red Bull 1996 world champion Damon Hill, a member of the Sky punditry team for over a decade, is leaving the broadcaster. It follows his recent harsh assessment of Max Verstappen's driving. I think that he (Verstappen) is using fear and intimidation, Hill had said before facing widespread accusations of pro-Lando Norris bias, including by the Verstappen camp. I don't know whether it was his (Hill's) decision or Sky's, to be honest, fellow former British F1 driver Johnny Herbert, who was axed by Sky ahead of the 2023 season, said. "I know he got criticism for the Max scenarios and maybe he felt 'You know what, I don't need that'. There is change going on. If he was pushed, then you wonder what could happen to Martin Brundle and David Croft. Indeed, lead Sky UK commentator Croft, and his award-winning and highly respected sidekick Brundle, were - like Hill - also accused of anti-Verstappen bias recently. Herbert says he knows that Hill in particular was very unhappy with the bias accusations. He was very unhappy at the crazy level of abuse he got over his Max comments, said Herbert, who has also been accused of pro-British bias whilst serving as a regular recent FIA steward. Maybe all that negativity made him (Hill) decide, he concluded. (GMM) News is coming about Andretti-Cadillac's F1 bid Andretti-Cadillac appears to be inching ever closer to its Formula 1 aspirations. Brazilian GP 2024 Red Bull FBI officials are expected to be in Las Vegas this weekend as part of US government probes into why Andretti's FIA-approved team entry was rejected by Liberty Media. Insiders have also linked the stepping down of Liberty CEO Greg Maffei, who reportedly once told Mario Andretti that he will do everything in my power to stop his son Michael's F1 bid, with a potential deal allowing Andretti to enter F1. Michael Andretti has also stepped aside at Andretti Global, while F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali is linked with a move to MotoGP - which could also be part of a brokered deal related to Andretti-Cadillac. It's a matter for my son Michael and his company, not me, 1978 world champion Mario Andretti told La Gazzetta dello Sport. "I am not involved in any discussions. What I can say is that news and changes are coming, and my full support goes to my son for all the decisions and choices he has made during this period. Now, the Japanese source as-web.jp claims Andretti Global's new F1 headquarters at Silverstone are suddenly ramping up operations, launching a campaign to hire 25 new Formula 1 specialists. These new hires will join around 200 staff who have been working on the project for quite some time, the report said. For comparison, Haas employs about 300 staff, while Red Bull's junior outfit RB has 400 people. (GMM) No answer yet to F1 drivers letter to FIA says Leclerc The FIA is yet to respond to the letter put out by the Formula 1 drivers' union. Drivers, Brazilian GP 2024 Williams Earlier in November, angry about Mohammed Ben Sulayem's clampdown on bad language, the Grand Prix Drivers' Association published a statement urging the FIA president to also consider his own tone and language . Our members are adults, the GPDA added. They do not need to be given instructions via the media, about matters as trivial as the wearing of jewellery and underpants. The letter also called on Ben Sulayem to explain where the funds are spent when drivers are fined by the FIA. Two weeks after the publication of the statement, Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc was asked about it by the Italian newspaper La Repubblica, including the thorny current issue of driving standards and guidelines in F1. We are reasonable enough people to understand when we break the rules, he said. On the track it is important to have a judge who evaluates the situations impartially. As for the request to know how the FIA spends the drivers' financial penalties, Leclerc added: "We are not asking for everything, just a bit of common sense and a bit more transparency about the destination of the money collected from the fines. Until now we have had no answer, the Monegasque driver said. On Wednesday in Las Vegas, GPDA director George Russell says the drivers were also not informed ahead of time that F1 race director Niels Wittich was being fired. It was a big surprise for all of us, he said. "There is now a lot of pressure on the new race director with only three drivers left. But as drivers, we always get the impression that we are the last to hear these things. It affects us directly, so it would be nice if we were kept informed. (GMM) Shwartzman no longer a Russian driver says Mazepin Robert Shwartzman is no longer a Russian driver, according to former Haas racer Nikita Mazepin. Robert Shwartzman, Abu Dhabi GP 2022 Ferrari At the outbreak of the Ukraine-Russia conflict, Mazepin and his billionaire father's brand Uralkali were expelled from Haas and essentially banned from Formula 1. However, as fellow Russian Shwartzman, who like Mazepin is 25, was actually born in Israel, he simply switched his racing license from Russian to Israeli and continued his motor racing career. Shwartzman is now leaving his role as a Ferrari test and reserve driver to race for the new Italian team Prema in the premier US-based Indycar series in 2025. Mazepin says he has given up his right to be called a Russian driver. Unfortunately, I cannot call Shwartzman our driver, because he made his choice and now competes for another country, he told Russian specialist outlet autosport.com.ru. If you asked me about Israeli drivers, then I would talk about him. As for Russian drivers, the number of outstanding Russians is currently at its peak. In fact, he thinks that if F1 and the wider world opened up to Russia once again, plenty of Russians would thrive in all sorts of international categories. Are our athletes ready to be the best in the world motorsport arena? Mazepin asked rhetorically. "Definitely yes. Is the world community ready for that, and will political regulators allow them to do this? In my opinion, today they are not. Unfortunately, he concluded. (GMM) Wolff admits Hamilton's exit partly a relief Toto Wolff has hit reverse gear after suggesting Lewis Hamilton could be nearing his "expiration date". Lewis Hamilton, Brazilian GP 2024 Mercedes The Mercedes boss had suggested the 39-year-old seven time world champion did him a favour by switching to Ferrari for 2025 and beyond. There is a reason why we only signed a one-plus-one-year contract, said Wolff. We are in a sport where cognitive skills are extremely important and I think everyone has an expiration date. Some days later, Wolff insisted he had been taken out of context a little bit . But he doesn't hide that Hamilton's move spared him a difficult conversation in the future, and made replacing the Briton with teenager Kimi Antonelli an easy decision. Wolff said it was Carlos Sainz's father who initially told him before the start of the 2024 season that something is cooking between Hamilton and Ferrari. That same afternoon I received calls from a few other drivers that were close to Charles Leclerc, he told the Guardian. Fernando Alonso too. I said to Susie 'This is happening without us officially knowing.' But in the end, it spared him the pain of having to tell Hamilton his time at Mercedes was over because of age and declining performance. I would have done it, Wolff said, but that would have been a real horror for me and for him. It is rumoured that part of Ferrari's pay deal with Hamilton involves on-car sponsorship of the seven time world champion's non-alcoholic drink Almave. (GMM) Ghana must make Ananse a hero - Juliet Asante Gifty Owusu-Amoah Showbiz News Nov - 22 - 2024 , 19:30 2 minutes read The Chief Executive Officer of the National Film Authority (NFA), Juliet Yaa Asantewaa Asante, has called on Ghanaians to be deliberate about promoting the popular Kweku Ananse character from Ghanaian folklore as a hero. According to her, many young people in Ghana are not familiar with the cunning and wise spider trickster, Kweku Ananse, and instead look up to foreign characters like Superman as their heroes. Speaking at a presentation awards ceremony at The Script Bank project by NFA in Accra recently, Ms. Asante lamented the fact that Ghanaian children were more likely to know about Superman than Ananse, a character who is deeply rooted in Ghanaian culture and folklore. "We need to be deliberate about promoting our own heroes and characters. Ananse is a beloved character in Ghanaian folklore, and we should be celebrating him as a hero, rather than looking up to foreign characters, she said. Advertisement She argued that promoting Ananse as a hero would not only help to preserve Ghanaian culture and folklore but also provide young people with a positive role model who embodies the values of wisdom, cunning, and resourcefulness. We should be proud of our roots. This is ours and even though Ananse is always projected in the negative light, theres a way we can make him positive to empower young people with a sense of pride and identity in their cultural heritage, she said. Its in this light that NFA charged competitors of The Script Bank project to write scripts about Ananse. Over 300 scripts were submitted and Nana Akosuas script, titled, The Seamless Heist emerged tops. She walked home with GHC5,000.(Related article: Nana Akosua Asieduaa Asare wins NFAs The Script Bank project Adusei Gabriel Kwarteng, a lab technician and graduate of Accra Technical University placed second with Meet Kwaku Ananse while Kobby Owusu Cole, a law student of the University of Ghana placed third with the story, The African Messiah. The first and second runners up received GHS 3,000 and GHS 2000 respectively. The Script Bank project reinforces NFAs commitment to train the next generation of filmmakers by providing a platform where young writers can submit their work, receive feedback and potentially see their stories come to life on the screens. More importantly, it served the means for the young generation to create their own stories about the popular folklore character, Kwaku Ananse. The silent struggles of deaf pregnant women accessing healthcare in Ghana Abigail Annoh Features Nov - 22 - 2024 , 16:18 5 minutes read A babys first cry needs no translation, no interpreter, and no explanation. Yet, for deaf mothers, their own cries for help and understanding echo silently through Ghanas healthcare system. In crowded waiting rooms, they watch other mothers freely communicate with healthcare providers, sharing joys and concerns about their growing babies. Yet, their own questions go unheard. When doctors speak, they catch only silence. When nurses give vital instructions, the words vanish unseen. For them, the journey to motherhood isnt just about bringing new life into the world its about being understood in a system that speaks a language their hands know but their doctors dont. Twenty-six-year-old Bilkisu, a soyabean seller from Gyangyanadze in the Efutu Municipal District of Ghanas Central Region, is currently pregnant with her second child. Advertisement However, the harrowing experience of her first pregnancy still lingers in her mind. From being sidelined during early antenatal visits due to communication barriers to receiving incorrect prescriptions that nearly caused her to miscarry, to enduring labour for nearly six hours, the trauma still brings tears to her eyes. On the day of delivery, I got to the hospital around 6:00 pm, but it was midnight before I could deliver my baby. Even then, it took my mothers intervention to force the nurses to attend to me. The stigma and discrimination, even at the point of care, are terrible, said the four-months-pregnant woman, who is also married to a hearing-impaired husband. In contrast, Cynthia Addo, now in her third trimester with her third child, represents a rare success story. As a teacher at the Tetteh Ocloo State School for the Deaf, she has benefited from support systems that many deaf women lack. Fortunately for me, my parents are speakers, and whenever I go for a check-up, they ensure I have a family member or friend who works in the hospital to assist me. In all my pregnancies, Ive never had to change doctors or nurses. I have one team throughout, and whenever I need to visit the hospital, I ensure they are around. But what about the many others who are not as privileged as I am? she expressed with concern. The stories of Bilkisu and Cynthia highlight a broader crisis. Ghanas estimated 200,000 hearing-impaired individuals form part of the two million Persons with Disability (PWD) population, representing 8% of the nations populace. For deaf pregnant women, the lack of sign language interpreters, inaccessible medical equipment, and insufficient training for healthcare professionals to provide specialised care creates dangerous gaps in maternal healthcare services. In 2006, Ghana made history as one of Africas first countries to pass a Persons with Disability Act (Act 715). This law promised rights to accessibility, employment, and education. By 2012, the country ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), committing to healthcare without discrimination. As a United Nations Member State, Ghana pledged to achieve universal health coverage (UHC) by leaving no one behind and ensuring access to quality health services without financial hardship by 2030, under Sustainable Development Goal 3. Yet, despite these commitments, the reality remains stark. Several studies on the rights and dignity of PWDs in Ghana reveal disparities, including physical, attitudinal, and financial barriers to healthcare access. In maternal healthcare, barriers such as inaccessibility, communication challenges, and lack of tailored support services for deaf pregnant women contribute to Ghanas maternal mortality ratio (MMR) of 319 per 100,000 live births far above the WHOs target of 70 per 100,000 live births by 2030. Mabel Adjei Mintaah, General Secretary of the Ghana National Association of the Deaf (GNAD), confirms reports of many hearing-impaired pregnant women avoiding healthcare facilities and delivering at home due to the attitudinal and communication barriers of healthcare workers. There are health workers who make derogatory comments about why a disabled person should have sex and be pregnant in the first place. But deaf people, especially women, have the right to reproductive health and to making families like all other persons, she emphasised. Ms Mintaah called for enforcing policies to ensure that all healthcare facilities have at least one sign language interpreter to assist deaf individuals. This, she stressed, is a critical step toward bridging existing gaps and saving lives. David Awusi, Executive Director of Youth Rise International (YORI), a civil society organisation promoting health equity, expressed concern over the neglect of basic sign language training in medical institutions. Additionally, there are no national standard operating guidelines for disability care in the healthcare system. These issues must be urgently addressed to uphold the health rights of PWDs, especially pregnant women and adolescents, and ensure they are treated with dignity, he urged. Juventus Duorinaah, Ghanas first hearing-impaired lawyer and a human rights activist, attributed stigma, discrimination, and marginalisation to the call for amending the PWDs Act of 2006. Deaf people and PWDs face numerous stereotypes and discrimination. We urge Parliament to expedite action on the revised bill to ensure it becomes more relevant and responsive to the current needs of PWDs in Ghana, he stated. The Programme Coordinator for Disability Inclusion and Healthcare Delivery at the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Patience Ofosuhemaa, explained that Ghana is drafting its first policy on disability inclusion in healthcare delivery. This policy aims to address the gaps faced by PWDs and is expected to be operational by the end of the first quarter next year. The policy will include training service providers in disability care, creating disability desks at healthcare facilities, appointing at least one sign language interpreter at the district level, and addressing physical infrastructure inaccessibility progressively. The GHS initially considered all Ghanaians as one in healthcare delivery. However, a 2022 baseline survey revealed knowledge gaps among health staff, barriers in information dissemination, and issues with physical accessibility. These findings underscore the need for inclusive healthcare, she said. With 8.8% of females in Ghana suffering from disability conditions compared to 6.7% of males, Ms Ofosuhemaa stressed the urgent need to bridge existing inequities in healthcare access. As Bilkisu poignantly remarked, I just want to be treated with dignity and respect. I want to understand whats happening to my body and my baby. This reporting was completed with the support of the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) in partnership with the Institute for War and Peace Reporting. Mo Ibrahim Award for good governance Brig Gen Dan Frimpong (Rtd) Opinion Nov - 22 - 2024 , 09:57 6 minutes read On my morning walk on Remembrance-Day Monday, November 11, 2024, (11-11), the top item on a local 6 a.m. news was the 2024 Report of the Mo Ibrahim International-Index-of-African-Governance (IIAG). Four main areas the Index considered were Security and Rule of Law, secondly Participation, Rights and Inclusion, thirdly Foundations of Economic Opportunity and fourthly Human Development. Overall, Ghana was ranked seventh out of the 54 African countries. While that could be considered above average, what was disturbing was the perception of the integrity of our Judiciary. From a score of 100 per cent in 2017, 2024 recorded only 50 per cent. Advertisement So, who is Mo Ibrahim and who was his first recipient of good governance by African Presidents? My article in November 2022, Happy 83rd Birthday, President Chissano read: On Saturday, October 22, 2022, I called the former President of Mozambique and the first recipient of the Mo Ibrahim Award, Joaquim Chissano in Maputo, Mozambique, to wish him a happy birthday on his 83rd birthday. At the end of our conversation, both of us excitedly wished each other well and hoped that sooner than later, we shall meet again. In 2006, the UN Secretary-General HE Kofi Annan appointed former President Joaquim Chissano of Mozambique as his Special-Envoy (SESG) for the Lords Resistance Army (LRA)-Affected Areas of Northern Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), South Sudan and the Central African Republic. The UN then selected as President Chissanos Senior-Military-Adviser, Ghanas Brig. Gen. Dan Frimpong. For about a year-and-half between 2008 2009, our destinies were intertwined as we embarked on the dangerous mission of searching for the elusive fugitive leader of the LRA, Joseph Kony. Born on October 22, 1939, in the remote village of Malehice, Gaza Province, Mozambique, then a colony of Portugal, Joaquim Chissano was the first black student to attend high school in Lorenco-Marques, today Maputo. After high school, he went to Portugal to study Medicine at the University of Lisbon. His political inclinations as a student politician, however, created problems, forcing him to relocate to France to the University of Poitier. In 1962, he left for Tanzania where together with other freedom fighters such as Samora Machel, he was one of the Founding Fathers of the Mozambican Liberation Front (FRELIMO). At independence in 1975, newly-elected President Samora Machel made Joaquim Chissano Mozambiques Foreign Minister. In 1986, following the death of President Samora Machel in an air crash still considered controversial/contrived on the South African border, Joachim Chissano became Mozambiques second President in 1986. As President of Mozambique between 1986 2005, he refused a third term as allowed by the Constitution and handed over the presidency. He is credited for transforming Mozambique into one of Africas most successful democracies at the time of leaving office. SESG, dangers Kofi Annan appointed President Chissano his Special Envoy in 2006. What is the difference between a Special Envoy of the Secretary-General (SESG) and a Special Representative of the Secretary-General SRSG)? Status-wise, they are equal and both report directly to the Secretary-General as Under Secretary Generals. However, while an Envoy heads an office of Advisors under the UNs Special Political Office, a Representative heads a Force in the field with peacekeepers. As a Special Envoy, therefore, President Chissano had a political, gender/legal, as well as a senior military advisor. We were based in Uganda with an office in Kampala. We also had an office in Juba, South Sudan manned by a political advisor. Our job involved a lot of flying which sometimes could be dangerous. On one occasion, the pilot had to abort a take-off with tyres screaming/screeching frighteningly. He later joked that, if we had taken off from the Entebbe Airport, we would have plunged into Lake Victoria just at the end of the runway and provided a good lunch for the fish! On another occasion, flying from the Garamba Forest in the DRC after a failed attempt to meet Joseph Kony, our helicopter ran into bad weather with the pilots meandering through the mountains and the tall trees. When we heard a loud bang, we thought it was over for us. Eventually landing in Juba, drenched with sweat, the captain told us, the helicopters rotors must have missed the mountain by only a few feet. Prize for leadership President Chissanos leadership qualities are admirable. His intelligence and knowledge aside, his humility is striking. Perhaps, starting life as a poor village boy and later living in the bush as a freedom fighter, he understands poverty and has absolute respect for everybody. His speech is decent and his sense of humour makes everyone around him comfortable. At the internally displaced (IDP) camps we visited in Gulu, Northern Uganda, he was loved for his empathy with poverty/ adversity. On one occasion, I invited him to a Ghanaian Restaurant Mama Africa in Kampala for lunch. Knowing East Africans to be no lovers of pepper like us West Africans, I warned Chef Kofi to use very little pepper. Course One was light soup. After two spoons, President Chissano sneezed loudly. Shaking his head, he said, General the piripiri (as he called pepper) is hot, but it has cleared all the cobwebs from my head! As we all laughed, he continued with the light soup and everyone followed suit happily! With all his admirable qualities, it was no surprise when he became the first recipient of the African Prize for Leadership instituted by Sudanese/British billionaire entrepreneur Mo Ibrahim for former Presidents/Heads of State. Incidentally, the fourth recipient was the former President of Namibia Hifikepunye Pohamba. When I swooped in on Presidents Kufour and Chissano during the reception after President Pohambas award at the Great Hall, University of Ghana Legon, President Chissano happily introduced me to President Kufour as his former Senior-Military-Adviser in Uganda. Interestingly, since Mo Ibrahim instituted the African Leadership Award in 2007, it has been awarded to only six former Presidents: 2007 President Chissano of Mozambique; 2008 President Mogae of Botswana; 2011 President Pedro Pires of Cabo/Cape Verde; 2014 President Hifikepunye Pohamba of Namibia;2017 President Ellen Sirleaf Johnson of Liberia; 2020 President Mahammadou Issoufou of Niger. During our travels, it was interesting hearing President Chissano switch over to any of the many languages he speaks fluently; Portuguese/French/English/Swahili. Discussion On his 85th birthday on November 22, 2024, I called President Chissano to wish him a Happy Birthday. It was all joy as the two of us chatted happily. While Ghana is yet to win the Mo Ibrahim Award (IIAG), a drop from 100 per cent confidence in our Judiciary in 2017 to 50 per cent in 2024 is a matter of concern! Galamsey is an existential threat to Ghana and must be attacked seriously with selflessness/commonsense, not selfishness! So must the killer DDEP be scrapped to save lives. Leadership, lead by Example! Fellow Ghanaians, wake up! The writer is a former CEO of the African Peace Support Trainers Association, Nairobi, Kenya/Council Chair of the Family Health University College, Accra. E-mail: dkfrimpong@yahoo.com Previous article: Providing quality seeds to farmers is the first step towards achieving food security in Ghana What are the polls saying? Enimil Ashon Opinion Nov - 22 - 2024 , 09:57 5 minutes read Have you taken note that the gap between John Mahama and Dr Bawumia has been narrowing since the beginning of this year? From 57 per cent to 43 per cent in favour of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) flag bearer at the beginning of the year, the polls now give JDM only a 51.9 per cent lead. I will hazard an interpretation but before then, permit me to deal with indecorous remarks made by two politicians this week. One, by NDC communicator, Dela Edem, insensitively gloating over the physical disability of wheelchair-bound ex-President Kufuor, is callous. Edems sin smells to the skies. It shows what unacceptably low levels of humanity politics have reduced this nation to. In our indecent haste to be rich through politics, Ghanaians all Ghanaians have thrown caution to the pigs. The NDC, however, has won my respect. In what looks like the first such internal reprimand by a political party since the birth of the Fourth Republic, it has officially condemned its communicator and apologised to the former President. Advertisement Please, let it not be said about this generation that we embarked on the Fourth Republic without a moral compass. The second this week is a gaffe, an act of indiscretion by Afafranto flag bearer, Alan Kyerematen. A flag bearer who has an eye for Ashanti votes does not go about even daring to be seen disputing JAK, a man in the hearts of the Ashanti nation. Indeed, Kufuors stature is beyond tribe; he is the most respected Ghanaian politician alive. In my estimation, only Kwame Nkrumah and General (later Mr) Ignatius Kutu Acheampong can hold a candle to this gentle giant, the Father of the Nation. Tale And now to my major point for this week: what is the tale of the 2024 polls? Sometime in July this year, I prophesied to John Mahama that he had entered the toughest, most gruelling election battle of his political life from which he might emerge terribly bruised. At the time of my warning, he was 57 per cent ahead in the polls. This lead dropped to 53.2 per cent in July. Now, in November, the latest Global Info Analytics poll gives Mahama a thin 51.9 per cent. In my opinion, this lead is too tenuous given the no-holds-barred campaign of his NPP rival. The Bawumia campaign has proved innovative. Its human billboards at street intersections is creative. Also, unless the crowds being pulled by Dr Mahamudu Bawumia are a deception, I find it difficult to believe that the poll result showing Bawumia trailing with 40.5 per cent is reflective of the Ghanaian mood. Did Global Info Analytics poll Ashanti voters? I ask because ultimately what Ashanti says is what determines the outcome of December 7. In 2020, the arrival of Ashanti votes wiped out the combined votes of Volta and the three Northern regions, and left Akufo-Addo with 500,000 which unassailably sealed his victory. Bawumia and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) have something more to hang their hopes on. It is what has been termed trend-based analysis. This analysis states categorically that NDC is unlikely to win the 2024 election. It uses trends to forecast that in both Greater Accra and Central regions, critical swing areas, historical trends favour NPP over NDC. It goes on: With Bawumia as NPP presidential candidate, the party has a real chance of making gains in the Northern Region. The trend is that NDCs support in the region has declined by over eight per cent, while the NPP has seen an increase of more than 10 per cent. Additionally, it says Bawumia could make notable inroads in the Upper East (UE), Upper West (UW) and Savannah regions. What about Volta? The trend analysts conclude that the Volta Region is likely to disappoint NDC. It cites the Keta sentiment, as expressed by its chiefs, and the Amewu factor. This NPP MP is credited with unprecedented transformation of Hohoe. Elsewhere, it suggests that Bawumia is also likely to gain significant support from the Zongo and Muslim communities. We live to see. Vote buying My third and final observation this week is based on reports of Vote Buying in 3 Regions produced by the Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO). Something troubles me. Did CODEO actually see political figures distributing money, as stated in its report? In that case, its observers should have run to the police. The problem with enforcing the law is that vote buying, though a crime, is like the law against LGBTQI you have to catch the offender in the very act. Also, it bears asking, was the vote-buying law not in force when politicians of both parties, in previous years, displayed TV sets, deep freezers among others, live, at their congresses, conferences and primaries? Even when money changed hands, we were told that they are T&T. And so, the bribing goes on, and the law is lame. My opinion: this law does not deserve to remain on the statute books: it is more honoured in the breach with clever language, political muscle and a lack of desire to prosecute than in observance. The writer is Executive Director, Centre for Communication and Culture. E-mail: ashonenimil@gmail.com President Akufo-Addo inaugurates 80 education projects Chris Nunoo Education Nov - 22 - 2024 , 06:18 3 minutes read The government on Thursday inaugurated 80 new educational infrastructure in about 60 municipalities and districts across the country as part of efforts to transform the delivery of education. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo symbolically inaugurated the refurbished Saint Barnabas Anglican School at Osu in Accra to mark the simultaneous inauguration of the facilities. The projects range from two-unit Kindergarten blocks to three; and 18-unit classroom blocks for basic and second cycle schools, as well as two E-Blocks completed from the previous administration. The blocks come as classrooms, laboratories, dormitories, dining halls, kitchens, education offices and ancillary facilities. Advertisement President Akufo-Addo said the event was not just a moment for Saint Barnabas Anglican School but for all who believed in the power of education to transform lives and communities. Government vision He said it was the vision of his government that every child in Ghana, no matter his or her background or location, had access to an environment that inspired learning and ambition. The St Barnabas School building at Osu. Picture: SAMUEL TEI ADANO As we open the doors to this newly renovated school, we are opening the doors to opportunity, hope and a brighter future and the story of Saint Barnabas Anglican School is one that resonates deeply with me, he said. The President recounted that for over six decades, the school stood in the heart of Accra as a beacon of education, yet it suffered from neglect. The closest basic public school to the Ministry of Education has not seen any major renovation since its establishment on November 1, 1961, President Akufo-Addo stated. He said the classrooms before their transformation had broken windows, leaky roofs and learning spaces unfit for children. The President described that as totally unacceptable, saying that spurred immediate action and together with Vice-President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia we resolved to give this school the attention it so desperately needed. Today, what stands before us is a transformed Barnabas, a school equipped with modern facilities designed to meet the demands of 21st Century education. These are not just classrooms with new paints and ceilings; they are spaces of possibility, where dreams are nurtured and talents discovered. The transformation of this school symbolises hope, President Akufo-Addo stated. He said the classroom structure communicated to every student who walked through its gates that they were valued, their education mattered and their future was limitless. Appreciation President Akufo-Addo said none of that would have been possible without the hard work and commitment of the many people who played a part in making the project a reality. He, therefore, expressed appreciation to both the past and current Ministers of Education under his government, the contractors, engineers, assembly members, teachers, parents and, especially, the headmaster, Benedictus Agbo, who he said, had been very dedicated. Transformation The Minister of Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, who was visibly excited about the transformation taking place in the education sector and St Barnabas Anglican School at Osu, said: Today we have a changed St Barnabas Anglican School. We have the students as a testimony, their uniforms a testimony of transformation and their buildings a testimony of transformation, he added. We have terrazzo, disabled access, everything you want to see in a school is here; we are equipping the library, more equipment is coming this way. We want to create a school system that transforms Osu, he said. Dr Adutwum further told the people of Osu that President Akufo-Addo was investing in the future and pointed out that a large portion of Osu PRESEC had also witnessed rehabilitation. Bawumia inaugurates Walewale Watermelon Factory GraphicOnline Nov - 22 - 2024 , 21:03 2 minutes read Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has commissioned the Walewale Watermelon Factory, a transformative initiative set to end decades of post-harvest losses for watermelon farmers in Walewale and its surrounding areas. The factory, established by Champion Foods and Beverages with funding from Ghana Eximbank, is equipped to process 10 metric tonnes of watermelon per hour and produce various juice beverages. It is expected to create over 400 direct jobs and provide a stable market for more than 3,000 peasant farmers in the region. Commitment to industrialisation Speaking at the inauguration today (November 22, 2024), Dr Bawumia emphasised the significance of the factory as part of the governments flagship One District, One Factory (1D1F) initiative. Advertisement When we promised to implement 1D1F, they doubted us, but we have completed over 150 factories, he said. He recalled scepticism about the factorys completion, particularly from political opponents. A few weeks ago, a member of the opposition party said this was just an empty container. Today, I would like him to come and inspect the factory himself, Dr. Bawumia remarked. The Vice President added that the factory represents the governments focus on development and its determination to address the challenges faced by farmers and local communities. Farmers express gratitude Local farmers, who are the primary beneficiaries of the facility, expressed relief and excitement at the factorys commissioning. Many highlighted the significant post-harvest losses they had endured and praised Dr Bawumia for fulfilling his promise. Today is a historic day. Many farmers had abandoned watermelon farming due to the losses, but this factory will bring back their interest. We thank Dr Bawumia for this initiative, said Abudu Seidu, a farmer. Shani Nuru, another farmer, echoed this sentiment, saying, Many people doubted this project, but today weve seen it with our eyes. Farmers are happy, and we thank Dr. Bawumia for his commitment. Issahaku Alidu added that the factory would encourage more youth to venture into farming. This is how you boost agriculture. We thank Dr. Bawumia so much. May God bless him. Next article: VIDEO: What the Achiase Jungle Warfare School Commander said about beating people on election day Court schedules judgment date for J.B. Danquah Adu murder trial GNA Nov - 22 - 2024 , 08:53 3 minutes read An Accra High Court is set to deliver its verdict on December 4 regarding Daniel Asiedu, also known as Sexy Don Don, who is accused of the murder of J.B. Danquah Adu. The court has scheduled the judgment date to hear the closing statements from both the defense and prosecution. Following that, the court, led by Justice Lydia Osei Marfo, a Court of Appeal judge with additional High Court duties, will proceed to summarize the case before making its ruling. The prosecution, led by Principal State Attorney Sefakor Batsa, completed its cross-examination of Daniel Asiedu, also known as Gucci Young Star, on Thursday. Advertisement During cross-examination, Asiedu denied claims that his DNA was found not only in the home of the late MP, J.B. Danquah Adu, but also on the property of one Abigail Marfo, a witness in the case, where he allegedly went to wash himself after the crime. Asiedu also refuted the prosecutions claim that the red hat discovered on Marfos property contained 100 percent of his DNA. He further argued that he had not given more than ten statements to the police following his arrest, and that the statements he made were coerced. Asiedu maintained that he only provided one statement, while the others were written by the police, and he was forced to thumbprint them. He rejected the prosecutions assertion that he not only stabbed the deceased but also stole his mobile phones, which were later found in his possession. The Police never collected any mobile phone from me. They rather took the phone from another guy who I do not know. I later heard the guy they took the phone from, went to the house of Madam Ursula Ekuful and Kennedy Agyapong and a meeting was held for about 30 minutes. The police refused to call all these people to come and testify in court, Asiedu said. Asiedu confirmed that his name, including the alias, was tattooed on his body, and offered to show it to the jury if permitted by the court. However, he denied any involvement in the intentional death of J.B. Danquah Adu, whom he is accused of stabbing on February 8, 2016. Asiedu maintained his innocence, insisting that he had no personal issues with anyone and had done nothing wrong. When questioned by the President of the seven-member jury, Asiedu explained that he had gone to the Regional Police Command or Accra Central Police to report an issue involving a prostitute. Asked about a cup given to him by the police during the scene reconstruction, Asiedu acknowledged that he had blood on his hands due to an injury on his head but could not confirm if the cup was stained with blood. He also stated that because he was under stress at the time, he was uncertain whether the deceaseds house had security cameras. Asiedu, who faces charges of murder, pleaded not guilty before the jury. His alleged accomplice, Vincent Bossu, also known as Junior Agogo, was acquitted of conspiracy after the court ruled on a submission of no case. Dont deploy military to polling stations ACP Agordzo Justice Agbenorsi & Joselyn Kafui Nyadzi Nov - 22 - 2024 , 09:57 4 minutes read The Coordinator of the 2016 National Security Election Task Force, Assistant Commissioner of Police (retd) Dr Benjamin Kwasi Agordzo, has called on the government and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to refrain from deploying the military to polling stations, saying the police are capable of managing security at those locations. Under no circumstances should soldiers be deployed to polling stations. Techiman South is too fresh on our minds and dont forget that citizens are very much aware, empowered and more poised this time around and may stand up to their threats and it may not be good news for us, he said. Describing the 2016 elections as one of the most peaceful ones under the Fourth Republic, he explained that in that election, the police handled issues at the polling stations peacefully without the intervention of the army. He added that even when the National Police Task Force decided to police the countrys borders, the force trained special police officers with various teams and further deployed them with United Nation (UN) branded jackets and helmets. Advertisement I am emphasising this to say that we can do this election peacefully without deploying any military officer, he said. Campaign Dr Agordzo was speaking at a peace campaign at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) on Wednesday. The law students Dubbed, Peace through democracy, the initiative was launched by the GIMPA Law Students Association and GIMPA Law School. It was supported by the Trustees Limited and the National Lottery Authoritys Good causes foundation. The campaign forms part of efforts to get all stakeholders to commit to promoting peace, unity and constitutional responsibility towards the 2024 elections. SWAT He further called for the exclusion of the National Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team from the 2024 general election, describing the unit as illegal. According to the Constitution, apart from the Ghana Police Service, no other police service should be created unless by an Act of Parliament, he stated. Where from the National SWAT? Who created it, and under what Act of Parliament? he asked, citing the role of the SWAT team in the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election, which was marred by violence. Deploying them to election polling stations, he said, could pose risks to peace and credibility, adding that, The orientation and training of the National SWAT team are skewed towards serving a particular regime, he said. He further underscored the need to bring on board the media, Civil Society Organisations and Think Tanks to join the National Election Security Task Force for diverse perspectives. EC A Deputy Chairman of the Electoral Commission, Dr Bossman Asare, said the commission believed that peace was central to the development and growth of the country. In the light of this the Electoral Commission of Ghana has also pledged that everything that is necessary, everything that is proper to be done to ensure a peaceful process, we are going to do it because all of us have one country he said. He also said that to deepen the integrity of the elections and to promote peace, the Electoral Commission had been taking every step critical to the elections with the political parties. Everything we do; we do with the political parties. So even at times when the parties will criticise, when we open up and the people begin to see, then they now begin to question the parties, he said.We like our country. So the electoral commission will do everything proper to ensure very peaceful elections, he said. Dean A lecturer of the GIMPA Law Faculty, Mr Desmond Israel, during his speech said that Ghana's democratic journey, anchored by the 1992 Constitution, had been a beacon of hope and progress to the Africa continent. Everybody really looks up to us. On December 7, 2024, Ghanaians will once again exercise their fundamental right to vote under Article 42 he said. He reiterated that elections being a fundamental human right of eligible Ghanaians, were not merely about casting ballots but about upholding peace, fairness and justice. The core values that sustain our democratic fabric he said. Mr Israel further urged the GIMPA Law Students Association to extend their role, which encompassed shaping a society rooted in law, order and mutual respect. Purpose The General Secretary of the GIMPA Law Students Association, Celestine Addo, explained that the purpose of the campaign was to ignite a collective pledge to uphold the values of democracy and to foster a culture of non-violence, respect and fairness throughout this election season. Through the voices of tomorrow's legal custodians and todays thought leaders, we aim to inspire every Ghanaian to embrace the beauty of our democratic legacy. This project is not just an initiative; it is a pledge, a promise and a call to action, she added. Elections: Police to set up national press briefing centre Emmanuel Bonney Nov - 22 - 2024 , 05:57 3 minutes read The Police Administration has put in measures to enhance the safety of journalists and facilitate their work in the upcoming elections. They include stationing two plainclothes personnel at the premises of media organisations across the country, sharing itinerary of media personnel deployed for the elections with commanders and the establishment of a National Security Taskforce Press Briefing Centre to share information "with the speed of light". The police will also share a dedicated phone line with the media and other stakeholders such as the political parties to address whatever issues come up. Engagement The Inspector-General of Police, Dr George Akuffo Dampare, made this known in Accra last Wednesday during an engagement with editors at the Police Headquarters. Advertisement He gave the assurance that the country would continue to enjoy the peace it was enjoying. "We know the critical role that you are playing in this country and we know how critical that role has become during this election, and for that matter we are concerned about your safety," the IGP said. He said in view of that the police invited the media to let them know what they had put in place to give them the piece of mind for the media to be able to go about their duties without fear. Dr Dampare said the media was such a powerful force in the country's democratic dispensation, and that one thing that was of concern to all was information "and concern becomes very negative when it was misinformation and disinformation" Work together "We should make sure that we work together so that during this election period, misinformation and disinformation would have no role," he emphasised. Dr Dampare said it was for that reason the police were setting up a National Security Taskforce Press Briefing Centre - a tent with the capacity to take 100 reporters. He said media personnel could relax and be with the police 24/7, adding that Information would be shared with the speed of light. The IGP urged the media to put their patriotic and nationalistic hat on first when they hear something to assess and consider whether or not it was true before putting it out. "Please let's be a little patient. Check with us, check with any other institution or stakeholder which has better and further particulars on it. That would save a lot of lives," he said. Cross-check He said once people got to know that the media would cross-check information they gave them, they would be careful in putting out false information. Dr Dampare said the police were committed to ensure a peaceful election because of the efforts they had put into their planning towards it. That effectiveness, he said, had been strengthened by the support and collaboration of all stakeholders, including the media. So for that reason, we are grateful, he said. Dr Dampare said the service and the National Election Security Taskforce and the entire country was grateful to the police. He said without the media, the equation of ensuring that the countrys democratic dispensation became the envy of others would not be realised. So we want you to be aware that we hold you in high esteem. Previous article: VIDEO: What the Achiase Jungle Warfare School Commander said about beating people on election day Form partnerships to create jobs - President Akufo-Addo tells Ghana, Seychelles businesses Chris Nunoo Nov - 22 - 2024 , 06:57 5 minutes read President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has urged businesse na and Seychelles to establish partnerships that will create jobs, foster innovation and contribute to sustainable development. He said both countries were committed to fostering inclusive economic growth, and, I believe our partnership holds immense potential for mutually beneficial trade and investment. President Akufo-Addo, who was speaking during a press briefing at the Jubilee House in Accra yesterday, said as the African continent positioned itself to harness the full potential of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement, Ghana, as host of the secretariat of AfCFTA, looked forward to collaborating with Seychelles to enhance intra-African trade. Advertisement With Seychelles being a beacon of high-value tourism and Ghana emerging as a hub for technology and manufacturing in West Africa, I am confident that there is a wealth of opportunities for our private sectors to explore synergies, he added. President Wavel Ramkalawan of Seychelles, accompanied by his wife, is in the country for a six-day visit and is expected to grace the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the return of Sir Osei Agyemang Prempeh I from Seychelles. The two heads of state, after they had inspected a guard of honour, entered into a bilateral meeting during which a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on tourism and culture was signed. As part of his visit, President Ramkalawan, an Anglican priest, will preach at the St Cyprian Anglican Cathedral at Fantse New Town in Kumasi, the Ashanti regional capital on Sunday. President Ramkalawan and his wife will depart on Tuesday. President Akufo-Addo said the visit of the leader of Seychelles affirmed the mutual determination to deepen bilateral relations between the two countries in areas of common interests such as trade, tourism, environmental compensation, education and maritime security. During our discussions earlier today, President Ramkalawan and I explored avenues for collaboration that will enhance the well-being of our peoples and contribute to the overall development of our nations. I am particularly pleased that our discussions have paved the way for increased cooperation in education, cultural exchange, tourism and sustainable development, he stated, adding, With Seychelles being a beacon of high-value tourism and Ghana emerging as a hub for technology and manufacturing in West Africa, I am confident that there is a wealth of opportunities for our private sectors to explore synergies. Gateway to Africa As a gateway to Africa, therefore, he said Ghana offered a unique history, including the story of the Transatlantic Slave Trade, which was being reclaimed through narratives such as the Year of Return and Beyond the Return campaigns. He said Seychelles, on the other hand, was celebrated for her pristine beaches and commitment to ecological preservation and, therefore, through collaborative efforts, both countries could enhance the tourism experiences in the respective countries by promoting exchange programmes, joint marketing initiatives and sustainable tourism practices. Touching on climate change, President Akufo-Addo said: Our two nations are acutely aware of the urgent need to address climate change and preserve our environment for future generations. He said both countries had championed global efforts to combat the existing existential threats posed by rising sea levels, deforestation and biodiversity loss. Today, we have reaffirmed our commitment to strengthening cooperation in environmental conservation and climate resilience. Seychelles leadership in ocean conservation and maritime biodiversity preservation serves as an inspiration to the rest of Africa, and Ghana is eager to learn from your expertise, Mr President, President Akufo-Addo added, and said, Together, we will advocate increased access to climate financing for African nations, ensuring that the continent can address its climate challenges without overburdening our economies. Exchange programmes President Akufo-Addo further hinted that the two countries were taking concrete steps to facilitate travel and exchange by exploring mechanisms to ease visa requirements. That, he said, would enhance tourism, business and cultural interaction between our citizens. He said the exchange programmes between universities and technical institutions would ensure that the youth of both countries were equipped with the skills and knowledge to thrive in this 21st Century. He was confident that the discussions held would yield tangible benefits for citizens of the two countries and reaffirmed the commitment of Ghana to building a lasting partnership with Seychelles. President Wavel Ramkalawan, for his part, expressed appreciation to President Akufo-Addo for the warm reception and said: The accolade that we received truly marks the friendship that exists not only between us as leaders but between our two people. Significantly, he mentioned the support Seychelles offered during the nomination of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, in her bid to become the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth. Through that support, he said, Ghana could depend on Seychelles because the two countries would work closer together, saying, We will ensure that the Commonwealth continues to be a body which takes care of all countries, and with the new vision coming from Africa. Chapel He announced that his country was doing all that was necessary to transform the chapel where King Prempeh I was baptised as an Anglican in Seychelles and transform it into a museum. VIDEO: Suspected daylight forex bureau robbery at Abeka Lapaz Enoch Darfah Frimpong Nov - 22 - 2024 , 14:36 2 minutes read The police on Friday afternoon responded to what was a suspected daylight armed robbery incident, at a forex bureau at Abeka Lapaz in Accra. Two suspected armed robbers, had reportedly entered the Raman Forex Bureau near the Las Palmas area of the busy Abeka Lapaz enclave. Reports indicated the robbers had asked the workers at the forex bureau to hand over all cash at hand when they entered, pointing the guns they were holding at them, While inside the forex bureau in the busy business area, some eyewitnesses outside mustered courage and managed to lock the outside door, trapping the suspected robbers and workers inside the forex bureau. They went ahead and informed the police about the robbery incident. The incident happened around midday in the busy area, which also has a Total Energy fuel filling station around. Advertisement First police responders numbering about 20 arrived at the scene, followed by another batch also numbering about 20 at a time the robbers and the workers were thought to be still inside the forex bureau. The police surrounded the area and cleared the enclosure, pushing eyewitnesses beyond the cordoned area. They used about 20 minutes strategizing on how to enter the forex bureau, located on the ground floor of the storey building to disarm the robbers. While planning all these, more armed and intelligence gathering police officers arrived at the scene. However, when they managed to enter, they only found the workers of the forex bureau inside. The suspected armed robbers were no where to be found, according to reports. The police however, reportedly retrieved footages captured by CCTV cameras located in the forex bureau for analysis. Meanwhile, the police in a statement later said they were on a manhunt for the suspects. Watch the attached video below VIDEO - Daylight forex bureau robbery at Abeka Lapaz https://t.co/2pHUKRynFW pic.twitter.com/F8AYagLcoi DailyGraphic GraphicOnline (@Graphicgh) November 22, 2024 Writer's email: enoch.frimpong@graphic.com.gh Follow @enochfrimpong Follow @Graphicgh LIVESTREAMED: Watch President Akufo-Addo inaugurate the Tema-Mpakadan Railway Line and trains GraphicOnline Nov - 22 - 2024 , 09:53 2 minutes read President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo will this morning inaugurate the Tema-Mpakadan Standard Gauge Railway Line and two Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) trains at the Tema Railhead opposite the Golden Jubilee Terminal. The ceremony, scheduled for today (Friday, 22 November 2024) at 10am marks a milestone in Ghana's railway modernisation efforts. Modernising rail transport The newly completed 97-kilometre standard gauge railway line connects seven stations along the Tema-Mpakadan route. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to phase out outdated narrow gauge rail systems and replace them with more efficient and modern infrastructure. The two DMU trains, procured at a cost of $4.2 million, are designed specifically for the standard gauge railway and are expected to enhance passenger transport along the corridor. Commercial passenger services commenced earlier this year, providing a faster, more comfortable alternative to road transport for commuters in the region. Advertisement A Vision for the future In an earlier interview with the Daily Graphic, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Railway Development Authority (GRDA), Yaw Owusu, emphasised the transformative impact of the railway project. This marks the beginning of replacing our outdated narrow gauge rail lines with modern, efficient systems, he said. He also expressed optimism about the potential of the railway system to contribute to Ghana's economic development by improving connectivity and reducing transportation costs. National significance The Tema-Mpakadan railway line forms part of a larger ambition to create an integrated transport network in Ghana. The initiative is expected to drive economic growth by facilitating trade, reducing road congestion, and creating jobs in the transportation and logistics sectors. Education In the lead-up to the inauguration, the Ministry has stepped up education about the use of the railway line. This is after one of the trains was involved in an accident early this year. It will be recalled that in April, four individuals were brought before the High Court in Accra regarding their involvement in a train accident during a test-run on the Tema-Mapakan route at Kpong in the Eastern Region. The four individualsKokuo Koudjo, Patrick Kwaku Sosu, Alaza Prosper, and Fiadugbe Emmanuelhave been arraigned for allegedly aiding convicted Abel Dzidotor in causing unlawful damage to the train. Abel Dzidotor, a 41-year-old truck driver, was sentenced to six months in jail for leaving his vehicle unattended on a section of the tracks identified as "Km 76 + 100," which resulted in the accident. The four individuals were charged with abetment of unlawful damage at the court presided over by Justice Lydia Osei Marfo. Stay tuned as President Akufo-Addo inaugurates this landmark project, which is set to redefine Ghanas rail transport landscape. Watch the livestream below; MP denies demolishing GBC Staff Bungalows, pledges probe into land allocations GraphicOnline Nov - 22 - 2024 , 12:54 3 minutes read The Member of Parliament for Bortianor Ngleshie Amanfro, Sylvester Tetteh, has denied allegations of illegally demolishing a staff bungalow belonging to the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) at Weija to pave way for the construction of a school project. The MP who also serves as a Deputy Minister of Information has planned to put up a school in the area and had engaged the GBC to use a part of the land for the project. However, GBC has accused him of demolishing a staff bungalow at an area which is not part of where has been allocated to the MP for the school project. Speaking on Friday after GBC accused him of orchestrating the demolition, Mr. Tetteh attributed the incident to administrative missteps and vowed to investigate the allocation of GBC lands in the Akwasa area. Advertisement He explained that there was an agreement between the GA South Municipal Assembly and GBC to use the land for a public school. Mr. Tetteh noted that the demolition was undertaken by the Assembly, not him, as part of the agreed plan. Mr. Tetteh dismissed claims that a bungalow was torn down, describing the structure as a dilapidated boys quarters. He further accused GBC of collecting rent from an occupant who had lived there for years, despite the property being uninhabitable by GBC staff. Theyve been collecting money from him for years. No GBC staff had ever occupied that place for a very long time. Its a boys quarters dilapidated building, Mr. Tetteh said. Investigation into land allocations The MP announced plans to investigate the allocation of GBC lands to private individuals, accusing the broadcaster of mismanaging its property. As a sector deputy minister, I will institute investigations into how GBC lands have ended up building private homes here where we are standing. So, if [the GBC Director of Legal Affairs] had the impudence to report me to the police, he should get ready, Mr. Tetteh stated. He argued that any clearing of structures on the site was necessary for development, pointing to a letter from the GBC Director General as evidence of the broadcasters prior knowledge. Watch the Minister's interview below; A lot of inconsistencies and inaccuracies in this video by the MP, Hon. Sylvester Tetteh and GBC is prepared to present evidence to that effect. GBC has never written to any assembly about any land allocation and we have not given any government land to any individual to build. pic.twitter.com/MaWc2m0u6g GTV Ghana (@GTV_Ghana) November 22, 2024 GBCs Accusations On Thursday, GBC publicly accused Mr. Tetteh of unlawfully demolishing its staff bungalows and called on the Ghana Police Service to intervene. In a statement posted on social media, GBC claimed that police assistance halted further demolition. "The Management of GBC with the help of Ghana Police Service this afternoon stopped the Deputy Minister of Information and MP for Bortianor Ngleshie Amanfro, Sylvester Tetteh from continued illegally demolition of government buildings on GBC land at Weija," it posted. Mr. Tetteh categorically denied wrongdoing, defending his actions as lawful and in the interest of his constituency. If Im lawless for the sake of my community, Ill continue to be lawless, he remarked defiantly. Next article: Look out for the umbrella on Election Day - Mahama urges voters Afenyo-Markin urges Speaker to recall Parliament for outstanding business Enoch Darfah Frimpong Politics Nov - 22 - 2024 , 20:43 2 minutes read The Majority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has requested the Speaker of Parliament to reconvene the House to address outstanding business as a result of the indefinite adjournment of Parliament. In a memo dated November 22, 2024, and addressed to the Speaker, Mr Afenyo-Markin highlighted several critical government initiatives requiring immediate parliamentary action. Among the listed priorities are tax exemptions under the One District, One Factory (1D1F) programme, the approval of a $250 million Ghana Financial Stability Fund facility from the International Development Association, and the ratification of mining lease agreements for key mineral projects. Other items include the consideration of the Presidents nominations for Justices of the Supreme Court and the passage of 17 important bills, including the 2024 Budget Bill. Advertisement The Majority Leader emphasised the importance of these issues, describing them as high-priority matters of national interest. Reconvening Parliament at this juncture would send a powerful message of national unity and institutional stability, he stated, urging the Speaker to exercise his mandate under Orders 57(3) and 58(4) to summon a sitting. According to the Standing Orders of Parliament, the Speaker has the authority to recall the House without the mandatory 14-day notice when an emergency arises. Mr Afenyo-Markin proposed 28th and 29th November 2024 as suitable dates for the emergency session, noting that this timeline would allow Members of Parliament to return to their constituencies ahead of the upcoming December 7th General Elections. The Majority Leader further cited the Supreme Courts recent ruling on Article 97(1)(g) and (h), calling on Parliament to seize the opportunity to demonstrate bipartisan commitment to the nations development. Among the bills pending consideration are the Environmental Protection Agency Bill, 2024; the Free Secondary Education Bill, 2024; and multiple bills aimed at advancing education, health, and infrastructure, including the University of Mampong Bill and the Ghana Boundary Commission Bill. In addition, the memo highlighted the introduction of a new dashboard by the International Water Management Institute, intended to aid in resource allocation for aquaculture, as part of Ghanas push towards economic diversification. BoGs new headquarters criticised as 'too expensive' and 'unlikely to generate revenue' GraphicOnline Politics Nov - 22 - 2024 , 07:36 2 minutes read Richard Anamoo, a spokesperson on Infrastructure for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Campaign Team says the new Bank of Ghana headquarters building dubbed, The Bank Square is "too expensive." In an interview on Channel One TV, Mr. Anamoo described the $250 million edifice located at Ridge in Accra as overly costly and unlikely to generate income for the state. The building was inaugurated by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on November 20, 2024. Criticising its utility, Richard Anamoo argued that the facility adds a financial burden on taxpayers without contributing directly to national revenue. Advertisement The president commissioned the Bank of Ghana Edifice. Ask yourself, what is that? Why should we get up and spend so much money on such an infrastructure? One, all the people that will be working there will be paid by the taxpayer, he said. Mr. Anamoo further questioned the buildings revenue-generating capacity, citing its high-security status as a barrier to broader commercial use. No floor of that building can be rented out to public people. That building itself does not generate revenue. How many people are going to pass through that place because its a high-security zone? he asked. He also stressed that future infrastructure projects should offer broader societal benefits, including job creation and revenue generation, to justify their costs. Dont forget that when you create these facilities, they create job opportunities for people to come in. So you dont go about constructing structures that do not generate revenue, that do not create job opportunities for the people. You dont construct facilities that are a drain on the economy of the country, Mr. Anamoo said. The construction of the BoGs new headquarters has sparked debate, especially given the Central Banks reported financial losses in recent years. However, during the inauguration, President Akufo-Addo defended the project, emphasising its significance in modernising Ghanas financial infrastructure and improving the operational efficiency of the Bank of Ghana. The Bank of Ghana has also justified the project, explaining that it meets the demands of an expanding financial sector and aligns with global standards for central banking operations. Dont let country retrogress economically - First Lady to voters Rebecca Quaicoe Duho Politics Nov - 22 - 2024 , 12:06 2 minutes read The First Lady, Rebecca Akufo-Addo has called on the electorate not to allow Ghana to retrogress economically by voting the wrong party into power. According to her, the country will suffer economically if another party apart from the NPP is voted into power. The First Lady said this when she went to Ablekuma North as part of her tour to bid farewell and thank people for their support to the NPP over the past eight years. She met with artisans such as dress makers, hairdressers, persons with disabilities (PWDs), Okada riders, market women, insecticide powder producers among others where she also took the opportunity to campaign to people to vote for Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and the NPP so that they can continue the good work of the party. Advertisement She called on th electorates to vote for Dr Bawumia since he is the only one who can continue with the good work of the current president, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. Competence The First Lady said, she could vouch for the competence of the NPP Presidential Candidate, Dr Bawumia, describing him as being very competent and knowledgeable and therefore should be given the chance to change the fortunes of the country saying Dr Bawumia has ideas and would therefore take the country far. She said let no one deceive you to change the party in power, as they have nothing to offer. She called on all the electorates to vote number one in the presidential and the parliamentary elections as that is what would help change the fortunes of the country for the better. She said Dr Bawumiah would help women entrepreneurs by opening banks for small and medium enterprises so that they can source loans to improve their businesses. Canvassing for support for the NPP Parliamentary candidate for Ablekuma North, Akua Afriyieh, she said she was hard working and strong and would be able to bring development to the area if paired with Dr Bawumia. Ms Afriyieh on her part said when the NPP come into power, they would improve on the good works that they have already began and do more to improve the fortunes of people in the country. Writers email:rebecca.quaicoe-duho@graphic.com.gh Next article: BoGs new headquarters criticised as 'too expensive' and 'unlikely to generate revenue' Former Botswana President leads Commonwealth observers to Ghana for 2024 General Elections Kweku Zurek Politics Nov - 22 - 2024 , 08:42 3 minutes read Former President of Botswana, Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi, will lead a 16-member Commonwealth Observer Group (COG) to monitor Ghanas general elections, scheduled for 7 December 2024. The team will assess the electoral process, including preparations, polling, counting, and the announcement of results. The Commonwealth Secretary-General, Patricia Scotland, announced the delegation on November 21, following an invitation from Ghana's Electoral Commission. Speaking on the mission, Secretary-General Scotland emphasised the Commonwealths commitment to democratic principles: The deployment of this observation mission underscores our commitment to supporting democratic processes in Ghana. By providing an impartial assessment of Ghana's electoral process, we aim to further strengthen public trust and civic participation in line with the Commonwealth Charter. Advertisement She expressed gratitude to President Masisi for accepting the role and commended the observers for contributing to Ghanas democratic journey. Observer Mandate The observers will determine whether the elections comply with Ghanas laws and international standards, acting impartially under the International Declaration of Principles for Election Observation. The group, which includes representatives from 15 countries, will arrive in Ghana on November 29 and remain until December 13. They will be supported by a team from the Commonwealth Secretariat, led by Abiola Sunmonu, Adviser and Head of the Africa Section. Commonwealth Observer Group Members The team is chaired by Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi and includes experts from diverse backgrounds and regions, such as Justice Amraphael Mbogholi Msagha, a retired judge from Kenya, and Grace Jerry, a gender expert from Nigeria. Representatives also come from Australia, Lesotho, Rwanda, and the United Kingdom, among others. Strengthening Democracy This initiative aims to bolster Ghanas electoral integrity and make recommendations for future improvements. As Ghana prepares for the polls, the Commonwealth's presence underscores its support for the nations democratic aspirations. Commonwealth Observer Group members, in alphabetical order by country name, are: NDC sure of victory Sammy Gyamfi Emmanuel Bonney Politics Nov - 22 - 2024 , 09:57 2 minutes read The Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress, Sammy Gyamfi, has said the party is confident of a resounding victory in the 2024 general election. With about 18 days to the election, he said the party was 100 per cent confident of winning the polls if the election is free, fair and peaceful. This is because the NDC has a superior presidential candidate with a supervisor vision and message, backed by a superior proven track record. Trustworthy The upcoming election is a choice between a trustworthy, reliable and honest leader in the person of John Dramani Mahama, against Alhaji Bawumia, he said at a press conference last Tuesday. Advertisement He said the NDC did not doubt that the people of Ghana would choose an honest man who upheld the virtues of truth, decency and candidness in public life over one who is completely allergic to the truth. Mr Gyamfi called on the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr George Akuffo Dampare, who is the Chairman of the National Security Taskforce, not to allow any persons to usurp his authority. He said the IGP owed it a duty to the people of Ghana to be firm and fair-minded to ensure peace before, during and after the election. Assurance Mr Gyamfi assured the IGP of the fullest cooperation of the NDC. The NDC and by extension the people of Ghana would hold the IGP, the Chief of Defence Staff and our security heads responsible for the loss of a single life in the 2024 general election. Election, he said, was about counting heads and not cutting heads and that no person must lose his or her life on the altar of elections. Peace, Mr Gyamfi said, had a price and all of us must be prepared to pay that price for peace to prevail in Ghana before, during and after the 2024 elections. One of the ways to preserve the peace and stability of Ghana is to join hands in condemning persons who have the tendency and proclivity of compromising free, fair and peaceful elections, he emphasised. Green River Police Department reports for Nov. 10 At 9:36 p.m., officers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle and issued the driver, Kenneth Richards, a citation for alleged valid certificate of title, certificate of registration, and license plates required. Officers also issued a warning for an alleged tail lights violation. At 10:55 p.m., officers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle and issued a warning for an alleged turn signals required violation. Nov. 11 At 11:37 a.m., officers responded to a report of larceny. At 7:47 p.m., officers responded to a report of a disturbance. At 8:56 p.m., officers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle and issued the driver, Matthew Brown, citations for alleged compulsory auto insurance - 2nd+ offense, and valid certificate of title, certificate of registration, and license plates required. Officers completed a report of the incident. Nov. 12 At 4:46 a.m., officers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle and issued the driver, Chandler Lester, a citation for alleged speeding. At 1:22 p.m., officers responded to a report of a traffic offense. At 3:17 p.m., officers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle and issued a warning for alleged speeding in a school zone. At 3:25 p.m., officers responded to a report of threats/harassment. At 4:06 p.m., officers responded to a report of a disturbance. At 8:29 p.m., officers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle and issued a warning for an alleged tail lights required violation. Nov. 13 At 9:44 a.m., officers responded to a report of juveniles in possession of tobacco. Two juveniles were issued citations for alleged use/possession of tobacco. Officers completed a report of the incident. At 10:18 a.m. officers responded to a report of domestic violence. At 2:25 p.m., officers conducted a traffic stop. At 2:40 p.m., officers responded to a report of trespassing. At 9:46 p.m., officers conducted a traffic stop. At 10:25 p.m., officers conducted a traffic stop and gave a warning for an lleged headlamps required violation. Nov. 14 At 9:22 a.m., officers responded to a report of a bus light violation. Officers met with the reporting party who was advised a vehicle has ran the stop sign on a school bus. Officers located the driver, a juvenile, issued them a citation for alleged meeting or passing stopped school bus and completed a report of the incident. At 10:14 a.m., officers responded to a report of a bus light violation. Officers met with the reporting party who was advised a vehicle has ran the stop sign on a school bus. Officers located the driver, a juvenile, issued them a citation for alleged meeting or passing stopped school bus and completed a report of the incident. At 9:59 a.m., officers responded to a report of trespassing. At 11:40 a.m., officers responded to a report of assault. At 10:56 p.m., officers conducted a subject removal. Nov. 15 At 1:25 a.m., officers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle and after investigation determined the driver to be under the influence. Officers placed the driver, Kalvin Hickman, under arrest for alleged DUI of alcohol .08 or greater and issued him an additional citation for alleged speeding. Officers transported Hickman to the Sweetwater County Detention Center and completed a report of the incident. At 7:58 a.m., officers observed a two-vehicle crash at the intersection Unita Drive and E 2nd S. Officers met with both drivers and determined the driver of V1 attempted a left hand turn onto E 2nd S, failing to yield the right of way to V2 which was traveling southbound on Uinta. Officers issued the driver of V1, a juvenile, a citation for alleged yield of right of way at intersections and completed a report of the incident. At 9:13 a.m., officers responded to a report of vandalism. At 9:16 a.m., officers responded to a report of trespassing. At 9:39 a.m., officers responded to a report of a disturbance. Officers met with both parties and determined on of the involved parties to be in violation of a court order. Officers place Ashley Dugan and hold order/PC arrest for alleged probation/parole violation and completed a report of the incident. At 11:09 a.m., officers responded to a report of an animal bite. At 12:36 p.m., officers responded to a report of larceny. At 4:45 p.m., officers responded to a report of an accident. Nov. 16 At 2:42 a.m., officers responded to a report of an individual with a warrant. Officers located the individual, Clay Cudney, and placed him under arrest per the alleged active warrant. Officers transported Cudney to the Sweetwater County Detention Center and completed a report of the incident. At 6:17 a.m., officers responded to a report of trespassing. At 9:49 a.m., officers responded to a report of an accident. At 9:56 a.m., officers responded to Family Dollar for a report of an intoxicated individual that would not leave the reporting party alone. Officers located the individual and after investigation, placed Ernest Leal, under arrest for alleged public intoxication, disorderly conduct, and interference with peace officer - resisting arrest. Officers transported Leal to the Sweetwater County Detention Center, issued citations, and completed a report of the incident. At 1:02 p.m. officers responded to a report of domestic violence. At 8:30 p.m., officers responded to a report of treats/harassment. At 11:10 p.m., officers responded to a report of drugs. Nov. 17 At 4:49 a.m., officers reported to a report of vandalism. At 6:11 a.m., officers responded to a report of threats/harassment. At 12:12 p.m., officers responded to O'Reilly Auto Parts for a report of larceny. Officers met with the reporting party who advised an individual came into the store and had taken items without paying for them. Officers located the suspect and determined them to be under the influence. Officers placed the individual, Kenneth Richards, under arrest for alleged public intoxication, and transported him to the Sweetwater County Detention Center where he was issued a citation. Officers completed a report of the incident. At 2:19 p.m., officers responded to a report of an intoxicated male harassing the reporting party. Officers made contact with the individual, Billy Dodd, and placed him under arrest for alleged public intoxication. Officers transported Dodd to the Sweetwater County Detention Center, issued a citation, and completed a report of the incident. At 4:08 p.m., officers responded to a report of a vehicle driving erratically. Officers located the vehicle and found the driver, Clyde Golightly, to be alleged under the influence. Officers place Golightly under arrest, transported him to the Sweetwater County Detention Center, issued a citation, and completed a report of the incident. At 5:25 p.m., officers responded to a report of an accident. At 7:23 p.m., officers responded to a report of threats/harassment. Nov. 18 At 5:41 a.m., officers responded to a report of an accident. At 9:13 a.m., officers responded to a report of a scam. At 9:26 a.m., officers responded to a report of an accident. At 10:09 a.m., officers responded to a report of stalking. At 11:21 a.m., officers responded to a report of a stolen vehicle. At 1:47 p.m., officers responded to probation and parole for a report of an individual with an active warrant. Officers placed the individual, Lonnie Moffitt, under arrest for alleged per the warrant. Moffitt was transported to the Sweetwater County Detention Center and officers completed a report of the incident. At 5:32 p.m., officers responded to a report of an accident. At 7:48 p.m., officers responded to a report of a disturbance. Nov. 19 At 9:20 a.m., officers responded to a report of an animal bite. At 10:23 a.m., officers responded to a report of threats/harassment. At 12:57 p.m., officers responded to a report of larceny. At 2:52 p.m., officers responded to a report of larceny. At 2:54 p.m., officers conducted a traffic stop. At 3:30 p.m., officers responded to a report of an abandoned vehicle. At 7:03 p.m., officers responded to a report of a disturbance. Genesis points to market, Union President points to mismanagment On a recent Monday, new hires at Genesis Alkali went through onboarding and orientation. The next day, they received a letter telling them they were going to be laid off. On Tuesday, November 5, employees at Genesis were informed that there would be a reduction in workforce at the company. When the United Steelworkers Local 13214 union was informed of the layoffs, they were told 30 employees would be let go, according to Union President Marshal Cummings. He was also told the company was aiming for around 40 employees total to be laid off, including salary employees, although those details haven't been finalized. The explanation the company has given for the workforce reduction is that it is driven by the state of the market and a decrease in demand for soda ash globally. However, Marshal Cummings believes there may be more at play behind the decision, including neglect and mismanagement. A decline in global market demand Genesis Alkali Wyoming, a trona mine and soda ash plant outside Green River, is one of the oldest companies in the "trona patch." This is not the first time the company has been through a reduction in workforce, according to Genesis Alkali Director of Communications David Caplan, but he pointed out that they have always come back from it, because the global market always goes up and down. "It's not something that anybody wants to see happen, but when it does, you've got to take action to make sure that you're going to be around for another 75 years," Caplan said. When the company announced the reduction in workforce to employees, they explained that the decision was in response to market conditions, according to Caplan. The soda ash produced by the trona industry is one of Wyoming's largest exports, and it is part of a worldwide soda ash market, with other main exporters of soda ash being China and Turkiye. "What we're finding that started earlier this year is a slow down in demand in some of those export markets," Caplan explained. "I think it's a classic supply and demand balance right now." When supply exceeds demand, the market becomes unbalanced, Caplan said. He pointed out that this happens in every industry, and has happened multiple times in the trona industry even within the past decade. Regarding the current trona market, Caplan pointed to statistics and reports from sources like the U.S. Geological Survey that show prices for soda ash exports going down even while supply goes up. "That really helps to explain the action that we felt we needed to take in response to these market conditions weakening," Caplan said. "The whole industry worldwide is in this down cycle, and that's really the main driver for these layoffs." An article from Glass International called "A global overview of the soda ash market" published in September uses multiple sources and statistics to compare supply and demand for soda ash globally. It states that world demand, excluding China, fell by 3.2% in 2023, and U.S. export prices at the beginning of 2024 were down to $230 per metric ton, falling from $298 per metric ton in 2023. "Every so often, when you're in a commodity business like we are with soda ash, you get into these situations, and the market has to find its way back to sort of an equilibrium at some point," Caplan said. Caplan also emphasized that the layoffs will affect both hourly and salary employees. He noted that discussions concerning salary employees are still ongoing, so he wasn't able to give an official number of employees affected by the workforce reductions. "We don't take these reductions in the hourly or the salaried workforce lightly," Caplan said. "We have tried working with other measures, other cost improvements, initiatives, and are still pursuing those aggressively. But as the market conditions worldwide continue to deteriorate, these and other efforts, although they're important, they're not enough to prevent a reduction in force." Layoffs and new hires When employees were notified about the workforce reduction, they were also notified that TATA Chemicals, the other unionized soda ash producer in the trona patch, was hiring. "We wanted to get the word out to them while that hiring window was still open," Caplan said, adding, "That was good as far as timing." The open hiring window at TATA gave Genesis employees an opportunity, and TATA even extended the hiring period by another week to give those affected by the layoffs time to apply, according to Union President Marshal Cummings. However, the timing of the situation also raised questions for Cummings. "How would they be prepping to onboard or taking applications while we're laying people off?" he asked. "That was the first thing that didn't sit really well with me when I found out." If the main concern is the state of the global soda ash market, Cummings said he would expect other soda ash producers to be in a similar position. While they could have predicted it and prepared better to avoid measures like layoffs, it seems surprising they would be actively hiring, Cummings pointed out. The other main factor that has bothered and frustrated Cummings during this process was the timing of the onboarding of new employees at Genesis. "Monday we did our onboarding and new hire orientation, and then on Tuesday they received the letter that they're going to be laid off," Cummings said. "So they worked there for one day, and now they're getting told they're not going to have a job December 5th." While Cummings said he has been told by management that the employees at least have recall rights now, he believes that it would have been more responsible not to hire them in the first place. If management knew this possibility was coming, they could have informed potential employees of a hiring freeze, and kept the possibility of hiring them in the future, Cummings said. Many of the new hires at Genesis are young people just starting their career, often with young families and children to care for, according to Cummings. These are people who are working to put down roots and are now finding themselves uprooted, he said. "One individual moved 1,000 miles from Kansas with his family, closed on his house on Wednesday, and then found out the following Tuesday he won't have a job in December," Cummings explained. Cummings said he also heard about the possibility of some salary employees being offered buyouts, which he has tried to pursue as an option for the hourly employees being laid off. So far, the company has not agreed to any of the buyout offers the union has presented. "These are the people that I represent," Cummings said of the union members, including those who are losing their jobs. "My duty is to make sure that everyone knows they didn't do anything wrong, but they're the ones that are gonna have to pay the price." Overarching concerns When it comes to things that have been done wrong, and the consequences of those actions, Cummings believes the current layoffs are connected to more overarching concerns. He said there has been mismanagement and neglect that has occurred in certain areas at Genesis Alkali that has led to increased costs and large-scale difficulties. Specifically, Cummings pointed to problems including ore shafts not being repaired, the long wall not being kept in the proper sites, and underground conveyor belts being unreliable. Genesis has two mine shafts used to hoist ore, which are two shaft and four shaft, Cummings explained. In 2009, an engineering report on two shaft said the structural integrity of the steel was compromised and it needed to be replaced. In 2015, a job was started to replace the steel, but hadn't been finished when it was called off in 2016. In 2019, another report called for the steel to be replaced. In 2023, another report reiterated the need to replace the steel and said the concern was urgent. In 2024, an MSHA (Mine Safety and Health Administration) inspector saw the shaft and shut it down. This left Genesis with only one shaft hoisting ore, but the remaining shaft also had a pipe fall and got an MSHA citation and had to be shut down, leaving the ore stockpiles empty at the time, which affects the entire plant, Cummings explained. Other problems have occurred underground, according to Cummings. One of the problems has been with the longwall, where trona is mined using bore miners. Surveyor sites are set up to direct where mining takes place, and being off the sites can cause problems, Cummings said. One concern is needing pillars that support the roof. Mining has taken place away from the surveyor site, which has created the need to put concrete pillars in. "What they have to do is drop millions of dollars of concrete underground, pay the money to offload, the money to deliver it, pay the money to pour it, pay the money to get it to the location underground," Cummings said. When Cummings inquired about the cost of these pillars, he was told that the concrete alone cost more than $2 million. Another concern underground is the reliability of conveyor belts, which is an area where Cummings has worked in the past. Most of the people working on the belts now are new and inexperienced, Cummings said, explaining that through "no fault of their own, they haven't got the support or the training to keep the belts in working order." With the long wall being off of the surveyor sites, unreliable belts not being able to get from where mining takes place to the shafts, and shafts needing replaced, problems and expenses have piled up, according to Cummings. "All this neglect has led to us being in a bad spot, and now the members are the ones that have to suffer," he said. In contrast to Cummings' concerns, Caplan doesn't agree that past problems are affecting current decisions. "When it comes to the point about the two shaft and the long wall issues, that did require us to reallocate some capital funds to address those issues, but it did not have anything to do with the layoffs," Caplan said. "We have a capital plan, but often during the middle of the year, we have to adjust that accordingly. And that was a case in point with those two items...so they were not drivers in our decision to proceed with the layoff." While Cummings remains concerned about the consequences of neglect, he also believes future changes in management could produce a positive change in the direction of the mine and plant. His hope is for Genesis Alkali to be the best and most productive trona mine while also being the safest. "If we just keep treating people like a number and like they're expendable, and we cut them as easy as we cut steam to a plant, we're never going to get there," he said. Facedown in the dirt, with bear bites on his back and rump, Dennis Van Denbos wondered how this would end. It wasn't looking good. "When I [got] that third bite ... I thought, 'They are just going to eat me,'" he said. "It wasn't a fearful thing, it was just a recognition that this was going to happen." The year was 2007, and Van Denbos had taken an early walk in Grand Teton National Park that had turned perilous after he happened upon a sow grizzly and her three cubs as they fed on an elk carcass. Death felt imminent but fate intervened, and Van Denbos survived the encounter. That sow, meanwhile, went on to become one of the most famous wild animals in the modern era. In fact, when Van Denbos encountered her, Grizzly 399 was doing precisely what she would become so beloved for: raising cubs. All told, the sow gave birth to 18 known cubs over two decades in the Grand Teton National Park area. Because she raised them in proximity to roads - a strategy that kept them protected to some degree from aggressive boars - human fans were able to delight in watching her raise litter after litter. Many felt connected to the bear. But no one shared a moment of connection with Grizzly 399 quite like Van Denbos. Long before 399 had more than 60,000 followers on Instagram and the nickname Queen of the Tetons, Van Denbos experienced a horribly close encounter with the bear and her offspring. What unfolded in those terrifying moments left Van Denbos with indelible memories and painful evidence that she was above all a wild animal. In the wake of 399's recent death in October, as the world mourned the loss of the great mama bear, he shared his story with WyoFile. Paths cross Van Denbos, a Lander-based climber and teacher, traveled to Grand Teton National Park in June 2007 for a conference at Jackson Lake Lodge. He was 54. Van Denbos enjoys early exercise, and on the final day of the conference, he decided to go for a walk before the 7 a.m. breakfast. There were reports of an active bear, and staff warned visitors to avoid grounds north of the facility. So Van Denbos decided to stay close to the lodge on a two-track dirt path called Wagon Road. He had left his bear spray at home, figuring perhaps naively he could simply borrow some from the lodge. But when he found out he would have to purchase it from the gift shop, he declined. It was cold when he set out around 5 a.m. Things got exciting almost immediately; a cow and calf moose burst out of dense woods, running flat-out in a southern direction. He had never seen moose run in the national park. He soon climbed a small sage-covered hill. From the top, he saw the moose pair, along with a couple dozen elk. All eyes pointed in his direction, looking at Van Denbos. Or so he thought. After watching the sun come up around the animals, Van Denbos was satisfied he had gotten his fill and turned back. Soon he encountered another strange-acting animal. A cow elk was standing right in his way, not grazing or even spooking when he walked in her direction. The animal hints would make sense to Van Denbos later. The behavior was related to the presence of an apex predator, Grizzly 399, who was shielded among nearby trees with her cubs, feeding on an elk calf that likely belonged to the cow. Van Denbos, unaware of these critical facts, strode along the track - directly toward the bear. "Which is when she charged at me," he said. The grizzly emerged onto the road and ran at him. He remembers two things from that moment: The image of the grizzly sow running very low to the ground straight for him, and, in the trees behind her, the faint figures of three cubs. "It's the sow and cubs," he thought. "Oh, shit." He yelled and stepped back, and the bear skidded to a stop to his left. Time slowed down. He saw the sun illuminating the silver-tipped hackles on her shoulders. She turned her head away from him, like a dog might during a fight. Neither moved. The bear seemed hyper-focused on him, Van Denbos said. He weighed his options and decided to give her space. He took one slow step back. Then another. Because he was so focused on the bear, however, he didn't realize he was backing toward a drop-off at the road edge. When he stepped off it, he lost his footing, scrambling as he slipped down. He also lost his threatening position above her. "I just remembered this look at me, and then, charge." He dove to the ground facedown, tucking his arms under his body. "She misses me, and then comes right around, and I feel this bite in my back. It's just a really hard hit." He didn't move. If there was pain, he doesn't remember it. "The next thing that happens is I get this bite in my right butt cheek," he said. "She just clamps onto my butt and kind of lifts me a little bit. It was very powerful." He felt a paw rest on his left calf. Then another bite, this time in his left butt cheek, more of a tearing movement. He later surmised by the bite marks that this was a cub. That's when he found himself on his belly, injured and confronting the likely outcome of his death. Instead, Van Denbos heard a male voice yelling, followed almost immediately by vehicle sounds. The paw left his leg. The bears were gone. Katie Klingsporn/WyoFile Aftermath When a man had noticed the scene from nearby cabins, he ran down the hill toward them hollering. At that same moment, the lodge cook and her assistant were driving a truck up the two-track, heading to their breakfast shift. They saw a group of bears, then saw the man yelling and running. The cook stopped the truck, and the bears ran off. Van Denbos stood, and the people quickly assessed him before loading him into the pickup. He rode on his hands and knees on the passenger side to protect the wounds, the extent of which he still didn't know. The driver started backing up down the track. Van Denbos remembers looking out the window as they retreated. "The trees kind of have this arc around the road," he said. "There's 399 sitting on her haunches right in the middle of the road. And there's three little teddy bear heads peeking out from behind her." His rescuers took him to the lodge infirmary. Once an ambulance arrived, Van Denbos was taken to the hospital in Jackson and rushed into surgery. He was lucky - the bear's teeth hadn't punctured his lung and had only damaged muscle. But concerned about infection, doctors packed his wounds with a specialized material, and the dressings had to be changed repeatedly over the next couple months. At some point immediately after the attack, he said, a park service employee interviewed him about the encounter. "And so one part of that was she asked, 'What do you think should be done with the bear?'" he said. He replied plainly: "I don't think you should do anything with the bear. I had no sense that this bear was out to get me. I just saw that she was trying to feed her family, protect her family." He felt a sort of compassion for the sow, he said: The encounter distressed her too. "She had a moment that was different than my moment, but in a way the same," he said. "We were very unsure what was gonna happen." Even if he had lost his life, he said, "I don't think that she should have been euthanized for that." After investigating the incident, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service determined Grizzly 399's surprise reaction was "natural aggression" not meriting action to remove her from the landscape. A decade and several litters of cubs later, and 399 was a sensation. A fan club of avid followers tracked her movements in and out of the den and visitors began to seek her out in the Tetons, part of their Wyoming bucket list. She became an ambassador for the species, helping spur bear-wise initiatives in the area. News of her progeny made headlines around the globe. Takeaways Van Denbos stayed three days in the hospital before returning to Lander. A couple months passed before his dressing came off. He spent a lot of time on his stomach. He was able to resume rock climbing and regained his physical strength. But Van Denbos stopped hunting until after dark, and never leaves his bear spray behind. As for the bear? It wasn't long after that he heard of a group of volunteers who would alert park rangers to charismatic megafauna sightings. A Facebook page for Grizzly 399 came next. The rest is history. Van Denbos spotted her in the years since, while driving in the Togwottee Pass area. He's thought about her a great deal, replaying the encounter and imagining how it was for 399. The bear was busy feeding and raising her cubs, he said, when suddenly there was an intruder. "She's gonna do whatever it takes for her to protect herself and her cubs, but she doesn't realize that I'm no threat to her. So we share this moment of intense apprehension of what's gonna happen next." Van Denbos was on a climbing trip in Greece when 399 died, but friends and acquaintances reached out to tell him the news. He too was saddened. Like the other people who cared about the bear, he felt he had a connection with her. "Obviously, I feel my connection's a little different." Few people experience such an interaction with a wild grizzly and live to contemplate it. Even all these years later it's hard to articulate, he said, but it changed him. "I think it definitely has given me, subconsciously, a different perspective on life," he said. WyoFile is an independent nonprofit news organization focused on Wyoming people, places and policy. 4/18/1956 - 11/17/24 David Poling, 68, a beloved husband, father, brother, grandfather, and friend, passed away Sunday, November 17, 2024, He was born Wednesday, April 18, 1956, in Morgantown, West Virginia, the son of Wilbert Poling Sr. and Thelma Kelley. David found his final home in Green River, Wyoming, where he lived a life full of love and laughter. David's journey began in Morgantown, where he attended local schools and graduated from University High School in 1975. He went on to build a solid career as a truck driver and heavy machinery operator, dedicating 30 years to his profession until his well-earned retirement in 2022. Even after retirement, his passion for the road led him to occasionally haul loads for White Mountain Lumber. A proud member of the American Legion Tom Whitmore Post 28 and the Fraternal Order of Eagles #2350, David was known for his generous spirit and willingness to lend a helping hand. He spent countless hours volunteering at the Eagles Hall and the Community Center in La Barge, ensuring that his community always thrived. David had a zest for life that was evident in his diverse interests. He found joy in spending quality time with his family, meticulously rebuilding his beloved trike, and indulging in his love for NASCAR. A man who appreciated the thrill of a gamble, David enjoyed playing poker and made it a point to visit his family in West Virginia annually. He is survived by his cherished wife, Arlene Poling of Green River, Wyoming; his loving son, Allen Poling of Rock Springs, Wyoming; his devoted siblings, Wilbert "Skip" Poling Jr. and wife Sherry of Morgantown, Cathy Ables and husband Carl of Morgantown, Sandy Abersold and husband John of Fairmont, and Lillie Finness and husband Wayne of Fairmont; his adoring grandchildren, Kyle Shares, Brooklynn Shares, Rebekka Wakefield, and Jordann Poling; and his precious great-grandchildren, Adylline Obert and Isabella Wakefield. David was preceded in death by his parents, whose memory he carried with him throughout his life. David's life will be celebrated following cremation, with a Celebration of Life to be announced at a later date. Friends and family will gather to honor his memory, sharing stories and laughter as he would have wanted. Condolences may be left at http://www.vasefuneralhomes.com The family respectfully requests donations in Dave's memory be made to Fraternal Order of Eagles #2350, 88 N 2nd E Street, Green River, Wyoming 82935. David Poling will be deeply missed, but his spirit will live on in the hearts of all who had the privilege of knowing him. HAIKOU, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- In a music classroom located at the foot of Wuzhishan Mountain in south China's island province of Hainan, a group of children dressed in Li and Miao ethnic attire were singing, their voices echoing around the venue. These children, aged six to 12, are members of the Wuzhishan Li and Miao children's choir, mostly consisting of local Li and Miao ethnic children who devote much of their spare time to rehearsals. Wang Ruhan, 12, is a Li ethnic minority girl and one of the first to join the 45-member choir, which was founded in August 2022. "I didn't think too much. I just loved singing and music, so I signed up for the choir," she said, adding that under the guidance of the choir teachers, she found that her musical knowledge improved and her confidence in communicating with others grew. "These children had no experience of systematic vocal training or choir singing before. We started from scratch, guiding them step by step in practicing pitch," said Liu Min, conductor and artistic director of the choir. Like Wang, all the children have undergone great changes thanks to singing. "From initially being shy and having stage fright, to gradually becoming more willing to express themselves, these children have not only gained more confidence, but also enhanced their aesthetic sense, and enriched their creativity and imagination," Liu said, noting "this is the charm of art." The original intention in establishing the choir was to sow the seeds of art in the hearts of these children, enabling them to discover and express beauty, while also allowing more people to learn about Li and Miao ethnic cultures, Liu said. As the children grow and progress amid increasing exposure of Li and Miao cultures in China, the choir is gradually expanding beyond the mountain -- and has even featured on the world stage. In May this year, the choir made its overseas debut in Paris, participating in events commemorating the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France, and performed together with Le Choeur des Polysons, a renowned French children's choir. "It was my first time performing abroad, and I was nervous. But when I saw the audience praising our Li brocade costume, I felt proud and honored," said Wang. She said that participating in the choir allowed her to see a different world and make foreign friends, while also providing her with the opportunity to showcase the unique Li and Miao ethnic cultures on the international stage. According to Elisabeth Trigo, conductor of the French choir, their encounter was more than just a performance together. It was a communion of minds and cultures, she explained. Last month, the choir from Hainan traveled to Jeju, the Republic of Korea (ROK), and participated in a cultural festival. Dressed in colorful traditional Li and Miao ethnic attire, the children showcased the ethnic charm of Hainan to the ROK people through their beautiful voices, starring as a dazzling highlight of the festival. "I felt obviously braver performing in the ROK compared with the first time in France," said Chen Kexin, an eight-year-old Miao girl, adding that music has given her a chance to see both the world and different cultures. Through their songs, the choir has built a bridge of cultural exchanges with the world, spreading the "voice of Hainan" even further. "We hope to perform in more countries, so that more people can hear us and learn about our ethnic cultures," Liu said, expressing the children's eagerness to tell the world about their beautiful homeland. 3/2/1938 - 11/6/24 Marion Ruth (Manning) Sears, age 86, passed away peacefully on the morning of Wednesday, November 6, 2024, in Nampa, Idaho. Born on March 2, 1938, in Denver, Colorado, she was the daughter of John and Salina Manning. She was the youngest of four children - Donald, Gilbert, and Eleanor. When Marion was a child, the family moved to Green River where she grew up. She was active in the First Baptist Church in Green River. The family home and the church were later razed in the early 1990s to clear land for the creation of Centennial Park on Flaming Gorge Way. After graduating from high school with the Class of 1956, she worked at the Sweetwater County Treasurer's Office under the leadership of County Treasurer Ben Card. She met James D. Sears in Green River, and they were married on June 24, 1961. Jim, originally from Idaho, worked for El Paso Natural Gas Company and later for Northwest Pipeline. They moved to Salt Lake City with his job, and in 1964, she gave birth to twins, Barry and Sherry. With Jim's job in the natural gas pipeline business, they moved to various locations in the region, including Billings, Montana; Inkom, Idaho, and Marbleton, Wyoming. Marion and Jim returned to Green River for several years in the late 1980s and early 1990s before settling in Boise, Idaho, where they would remain. Marion learned to play the piano at an early age and was an avid teacher and musician throughout her life, playing for congregations, and for family gatherings. She gave her heart to ministry and teaching children through bible parables and the use of puppets. In later years, she attended Boise State University where she achieved a life-long goal of earning a degree with honors. Marion enjoyed summers with her family at the family cabin located in Secesh Meadows north of McCall, Idaho. She is survived by her sister, Eleanor Waggener, of Laramie, her children, and numerous grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. A service will be held on November 21 beginning with a viewing at 10:00 followed by a service at 11:00 at the Summers Funeral Home in Meridian, ID. A funeral escort will begin at 12:00 proceeding to the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery for a burial service at 1:00. Tempers flared last week, as Democrats sought to cast blame for the Republican landslide - I was particularly galled when a friend laid the blame on, newspapers who are too chicken to Hold it right there. Losing my cool was a regular occurrence 30 years ago but it takes a lot to get my Irish at age 64. Journalists, particularly the people in the newspaper business, are the most courageous people I know. Yes, Soldiers and cops are brave but in my industry we dont carry guns, at least not yet. When I started in this business, most of my colleagues shared one primary goal: to get to the trut... Photo: Shanna Ravindra Maybe New York is dead after all. Keens, the iconic steakhouse known for the famous mutton chop you talk about ordering before getting steak instead, has been sold for a cool $30 million to Tilman Fertitta, the billionaire owner of Landrys restaurant group, Crains reports. Through Landrys, Fertitta owns chains such as the illustrious Bubba Gump Shrimp; a portfolio of steakhouse brands including Mortons, Strip House, and something called Claim Jumper; and is a partner in the Catch restaurant group. Most recently, hes been in the news as one of the owners of the Corner Store (perhaps youve heard of it). Its all enough to make a person wonder about his companys plans for the storied steakhouse: Will it remain business as usual, or is Keens about to add a bunch of TikTok bait to its menu in the run-up to a Dallas expansion? Opened in 1885 by Albert Keen, the restaurant came out of New Yorks heart-attack-inducing beefsteak era and remains a favorite of people who are super passionate about living here. (When I asked my friend, a Keens lifer, how she was taking the news, she wrote back, Every week is a new brand of hell.) More recently, as in the 1970s, it was bought by George Schwarz, who owned it until his death in 2016. Since then, the restaurant has been owned under Schwarzs estate and run by general manager Bonnie Jenkins. Landrys provided a statement to Crains, attributed to Jenkins, promising to preserve the legacy of our historic brand and operate and manage the steakhouse as it has been for the last 140 years. But can we trust these Texans? Landrys owns a number of other heritage American brands, including the Rainforest Cafe, as well as another New York institution known as the Palm. (Landrys bought the steakhouse chain in 2020, a few years after the original location with all those famous caricatures shuttered. Technically, this isnt Fertittas fault, but someone needs to take the blame.) Look, we dont expect the Texans to turn Keens into some flagship for the Catch brand, or to start doing collab dinners with Corner Store. But for all its fame, Keens has never felt like an exclusive place. No, it isnt cheap, and reservations have gotten tougher, but its always been regular in its way. Already, friends are sharing their fears of a more exclusive, corporate Keens, with a vibe thats more Meatpacking than mutton. Eat like the experts. Sign up for the Grub Street newsletter. Email This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Vox Media, LLC Terms and Privacy Notice By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice and to receive email correspondence from us. Google canceled the Pixel Tablet 2, not the Pixel Tablet 3 according to new source Yesterday a report surfaced claiming Google canceled the Pixel Tablet 3, thus giving up on the form factor yet again. Today there's an intriguing plot twist to the story. A new source says it was actually the Pixel Tablet 2 - you know, the one with the first-party keyboard case - that got the axe. Provided this is true, the big question is whether the Pixel Tablet 3 will launch as the Pixel Tablet 2. Or, in lieu of that, if the original Pixel Tablet is also the last Pixel Tablet. This is unclear at the moment. If you're wondering why, Google is reportedly concerned that it might lose money on the Pixel Tablet 2. The device would have been powered by the Tensor G4 SoC, and was slated for release next year in both Wi-Fi-only and 5G-capable variants. Source The iPhone 16 series was banned in Indonesia last month due to Apple's unmet investment commitments to the country. Cupertino responded with a pledge to invest $10 million, followed by a second promise to bump up the figure by an extra $100 million which would meet the initially committed sum of IDR 1.71 trillion ($109 million) in local R&D facilities. It seems Apples increased investment commitments are still insufficient. Indonesia's Industry Ministry reportedly declined Apples offer at an internal meeting headlined by Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita. Per a spokesperson, the local government wants Apple to invest more and make Indonesia part of its global supply chain. From the governments perspective, of course, we want this investment to be larger. A larger investment would facilitate the development of Indonesia's domestic manufacturing sector, helping the country become a part of Apples global supply chain. - Febri Hendri Antoni Arif, ministry spokesperson Indonesian law mandates that foreign companies must provide 40% local content to operate in the country as part of the Domestic Component Level (TKDN) certification. Companies can fulfill those requirements by either manufacturing products locally, developing software locally or setting up R&D centers. Apple had originally pledged upwards of IDR 1.71 trillion ($109 million) in local R&D facilities but has only invested IDR 1.48 trillion ($95 million). Apple has reportedly considered expanding its accessories and components production in Indonesia, which appears to be what the local government is after. By not meeting the investment criteria, Apple now faces an indefinite ban on its iPhone 16 and Apple Watch 10 series in Indonesia. Source Voice messages are much easier to send than typing, but, for some people, much more of a hassle to listen to than read. Today WhatsApp has officially introduced a new feature that aims to alleviate the issues faced by people who hate listening to voice messages. Voice message transcripts are just that. Voice messages can be transcribed into text "to help you keep up with conversations no matter what you're doing", WhatsApp says. The transcripts are generated on your device so no one, not even WhatsApp, can hear or read your personal messages. Currently supported languages for transcripts are English, Portuguese, Spanish, and Russian on Android, whereas on iOS 16 they're joined by French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Turkish, Chinese, and Arabic and on iOS 17 and later you also get Danish, Finnish, Hebrew, Malay, Norwegian, Dutch, Swedish, and Thai. To turn on voice message transcripts, go to Settings, tap Chats, and you'll find the option. Then, to transcribe a voice message, long press on it and tap on 'transcribe'. The new feature is rolling out globally "over the coming weeks". More languages will be added in the future. Source In preparation for what is expected to be the final legislative session of the 37th Guam Legislature, the Committee on Rules met Friday and placed 14 bills and one resolution on the agenda. The agenda will also include voting on 11 board or commission confirmations and the possible overrides of 14 separate measures that Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero vetoed. Among bills on the agenda is Sen. Chris Barnetts Bill 276-37, which would require all reports of the education superintendent to the Guam Education Board to be posted on the Guam Department of Education website. His Bill 279-37 seeks to rename the Hagat Southern precinct as the Jose T. Pedo Terlaje Police Station, named after the former police officer, Yona mayor and senator, who passed away on Jan. 30, 2023. Meanwhile, Speaker Therese Terlaje made a motion to add a resolution to censure Sen. William Parkinson for a disorderly, sexually suggestive gesture made during an Oct. 24 emergency session following a heated exchange with Sen. Joanne Brown. Parkinson immediately objected to it, and the motion failed to pass. Later in the meeting, Brown said shes disappointed the resolution related to Parkinson did not pass. ...But you know sometimes we need to get beyond the politics. How we conduct ourselves in the Legislature and how we represent the interests of the people is something we need to be very careful and mindful of what we do, where we do it and how we represent our people, Brown said. During extension of remarks, Barnett received praise as the outgoing Committee on Rules chairman by several committee members, including Sen. Thomas Fisher, a fellow freshman lawmaker who often did not see eye-to-eye with Barnett during floor debates. Although the Rules committee and the conduct of the Rules committee has not always been smooth, I would like to congratulate you. I think that you have handled it professionally with equanimity and fairness at all times and I thank you for that, Fisher said. Brown and Fisher lost their reelection bid. The dates for the legislative session are still subject to Terlajes call as speaker. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Dr. Ugochukwu Akoma, accused in 2021 of misdemeanor criminal sexual conduct, is another step closer to vindication. The Supreme Court of Guam issued an order filed after 5 p.m. Thursday dismissing the peoples, or the Office of the Attorney Generals motion, to appeal the trial courts declaration of a mistrial. Justices said a mistrial does not permit the people to appeal, nor does a mistrial automatically grant a new trial. Akoma, a family practice physician, faced trial in April 2024, but before the jury issued a verdict, Superior Court of Guam Judge Alberto E. Tolentino granted a motion for mistrial, following inappropriate presentation of evidence by the prosecution. Akoma followed up with a motion to dismiss his case with prejudice following the mistrial but Tolentino issued a decision and order on July 15, 2024, denying that motion, while also ordering the parties prepare for trial. That trial was to start on Friday, July 19, with jury selection that afternoon. Instead, the parties gathered to learn that Acting Chief Prosecutor Gloria Rudolph filed not only an appeal to the July 15 decision and order, but also a motion to disqualify Tolentino as judge in the case, citing potential conflict of interest. Arriola vehemently objected, saying the motions were filed in bad faith, and clearly filed to delay a trial that the government was not prepared for. Rudolph took over the case on three days notice for former assistant attorneys general Randall Albright and Steven John Coaty, who are no longer employed at the AGs office. Tolentino said he no longer had jurisdiction since an appeal was filed. A day later, De-Anna NB Taijeron, who self-identified as the alleged victim in the trial, sent a letter to Rudolph and Attorney General Douglas B. Moylan. The lengthy letter starts with a formal request to dismiss the charges against Akoma. Copies of the letters were also sent to senators. Besides her request to dismiss the case, Taijeron who relocated to Hawaii following the mistrial also said she felt it imperative to inform you how disappointed I am by the inadequate support and preparation we received during the last trial and my experience so far prepping for the new trial. She went on to list the challenges she faced despite expectations of being assisted and guided by the Victims Advocate Office of the AGs office. She also shared experiences about being uninformed, scrambling, feeling ill prepared and emotionally incapable of moving forward. With the case now dismissed in the Supreme Court, Arriola again will file a motion in the Superior Court to dismiss the case with prejudice, and also seek expungement. The case is now more than three years old. Haiti - FLASH : Cruises in Haiti, message to American citizens The U.S. State Department rarely issues a Level 4 "Do Not Travel" warning. Typically, a country must be involved in an active war for the U.S. government to tell its citizens not to travel there. Ukraine, for example, has a Level 4 warning. It is also reserved for countries like Iran, Iraq, and North Korea, where Americans are generally not welcome. It may come as a surprise that the State Department has issued a Level 4 "Do Not Travel" warning for Haiti, where cruise ships still regularly call. The U.S. government has no jurisdiction over cruise lines, however, and Royal Caribbean continues to call at Labadee. While Labadee, Royal Caribbeans private beach destination in Haiti, would technically be covered by the warning, the cruise line has resumed calling there. Ships returned to Labadee in October and there have been no incidents. Although the cruise port is part of Haiti, it is far removed from any population centers. Labadee is a fenced-off destination a 6-hour drive from Port-au-Prince, and the cruise line would have plenty of time to evacuate if a group of bandits started moving toward Labadee. In reality, when the cruise line suspended its stop in Labadee last year https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-42188-haiti-flash-royal-caribbean-cancels-its-stopovers-in-haiti-until-the-fall.html , it was being overly cautious and trying to avoid bad publicity. There was no real danger in Labadee because it is simply far removed from the fighting. Americans should avoid Haiti under all other circumstances, however. The State Department's warning is explicit on this subject and published an update for Haiti on November 19 : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-43674-haiti-flash-new-message-to-american-citizens-in-haiti.html SL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - Diplomacy : Macron's remarks: Towards a diplomatic crisis between Haiti and France? Thursday, November 21, 2024 Jean-Victor Harvel Jean-Baptiste, the new Minister of Foreign Affairs received, following a summons, the French Ambassador accredited to Haiti, Antoine Michon, concerning remarks deemed unacceptable by the Haitian Government, made by French President Emmanuel Macron at the end of the G20 Summit in Rio, Brazil, before his departure for Chile where the French Diplomat described as "idiots" the members of the Transitional Council who decided to dismiss Prime Minister Garry Conille. Chancellor Jean-Baptiste informed him of the Transitional Council's indignation at what he considers to be "an unfriendly and inappropriate gesture that deserves to be corrected." A letter of protest addressed to Jean-Noel Barrot, Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs of France was delivered to Ambassador Michon. The French diplomat acknowledged that these were "unfortunate remarks that were made in a very special context" while promising that France will always remain alongside Haiti and the Haitian people to help advance the Transition agenda, including the restoration of security and the holding of elections. What the video does not show is the context, President Macron reacted strongly to an insistent Haitian, who accused France of being responsible for the situation in Haiti, referring to the French debt of independence, to which Macron preferred to sidestep and shift this responsibility to the Haitians and the Presidential Transitional Council which decided to revoke former Prime Minister Garry Conille. https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-43681-haiti-flash-president-macron-interferes-and-insults-haitian-authorities-video.html HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - Politic : A new blow to feminist struggles The feminists who signed this note have taken note of the appointment of Ms. Pedrica Saint-Jean to head the Ministry for the Status of Women and Women's Rights (MCFDF). In a note, they believe that "this emblematic and strategic Ministry for the advancement of women's rights is treated by the power in place as a position of convenience, without regard for the institutional mission." They criticize that the appointment of the Minister is based on "political connections and not on skills and proven commitments to the cause of women." For these feminists, "This appointment reflects a repeated desire to neutralize the political impact of the Ministry and to make it a ministry without a line of defense for the rights of half of Haiti's population..." "The Transitional Council has nevertheless chosen to appoint as Minister a person whose probity has been called into question. Such a decision, on the one hand, reinforces the many questions about the governance of the CPT in terms of the integrity of decision-making processes and, on the other hand, demonstrates the CPT's condescension with regard to this conquest of feminists that constitutes the creation of an institution responsible for taking into account gender relations. "In the current context, where women and girls are particularly subject to violence, rewarding unethical behavior is to endorse the abuses according to which the occupation of a position of power is not subject to respect for principles. "We, the signatory feminists, reiterate our firm attachment to the values of integrity, solidarity and social justice. Faced with repeated attacks on our rights and our institutions, we will not remain silent." Signatories : "Fanm Desid e", TOYA Foundation, "Kay Fanm", "Neges Mawon", Feminist Organization MARIJAN, "100 % Fanm", Movement for the Integration and Emancipation of Disabled Women (MIEFH), Combite Resistance Feministe (COREF). HL/ HaitiLibre The Blue Ridge National Heritage Area has launched the Heritage Hearth Charity Drive, a creative effort to collect hand-knit and crocheted accessories for all ages to benefit residents of Western North Carolina impacted by Hurricane Helene. As areas recover, BRNHA strives to keep WNC on the radar of those outside the region. Through Jan. 20, BRNHA will collect donations, including knit or crochet hats, gloves, mittens, scarves and cowls. The North Carolina Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster will assist in connecting BRNHA to groups that can disperse donations to those in need across WNC. BRNHA welcomes partners who would like to be designated drop-off locations. Those interested may contact BRNHA to collaborate. Fiber groups are encouraged to engage in community sit-and-stitches to raise awareness of the event. Click here for the flier. Donations may be mailed to or dropped off at Blue Ridge National Heritage Area, Heritage Hearth, 31 College Place, Suite 120 Asheville, NC 28801. LOCAL BRIEFS: Orchestra on Sunday, Blue Ridge ringers, Books for Good Four Seasons Orchestra plays Sunday at BRCC The Four Seasons Orchestra , under the direction of Eric Schneider , will present its fall concert, Defying Gravity, at 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 24, at Bo Thomas Auditorium at Blue Ridge Community College. A celebration of women in musical theater, the performance features Candace Dickinson and Kathleen Watson. Selections from Frozen, Wicked, Chicago, Legally Blond, 9 to 5, Aeneas and Dido and Fritiofs Saga will be featured. Tickets by donation at the door will benefit WNC artists affected by Helene. Ringers to perform at Carolina Village The Blue Ridge Ringers present A Winter Journey concert series sure to bring audiences holiday cheer with an eclectic blend of rhythm, melody and musicality. A Winter Journey showcases the ensembles versatility and artistry, featuring a mix of holiday favorites, expertly arranged for handbells. Performance dates and venues are: Thursday, Dec. 3, noon, Transylvania Library, Brevard. Thursday, Dec. 5, 7 p.m., Carolina Village. Sunday, Dec. 8, 4 p.m., Lutheran Church of the Nativity, Arden. Monday, Dec. 9, 4 p.m., Deerfield Retirement Community, Asheville. Thursday, Dec. 12, 4 p.m., Pack Library, downtown Asheville. Monday, Dec. 16, 3:30 p.m., Tryon Estates, Columbus. Books for Good announces sale Books for Good, an all-volunteer nonprofit organization in Fletcher that sells items to benefit donor-specified charities, is holding its annual Holiday Sale on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 29 and 30. More than 45,000 adult and childrens books, CDs and DVDs will be available at a 25 percent discount. Sale hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. Since it was founded in 2014, Books for Good has raised more than $350,000 for over 100 charities, most of which are local. The Episcopal Church Women of St. John in the Wilderness in Flat Rock has received the most funds from BFG, over $28,000, says BFG Founder, Lynn Vorys. The store is located at 50 Heritage Park Drive in Fletcher behind the Subway at the intersection of Butler Bridge Road and U.S. 25. Store hours are noon-5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday. For more information call 828-989-4655 or visit www.booksforgood.net. Rania Abu Shamala Friday November 22, 2024 Arab countries welcomed the decision by the International Criminal Court (ICC) to formally issue arrest warrants Thursday for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. The Iraqi government values the courageous and just stance taken by the International Criminal Court in issuing arrest warrants against the head of the Zionist entity's government and its former defense minister, government spokesperson Basim al-Awadi said in a statement. Al-Awadi described the decision as "a vindication for the blood of the innocent and martyrs who perished during the criminal (genocidal) war waged by the Zionist entity for more than a year against Gaza and Lebanon."He reiterated his countrys demand for an end to the Israeli onslaught and urged all free nations to implement this decision by bringing the accused to the competent courts to hold them accountable for their blatant violations against humanity.Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said the ICCs decision must be respected and implemented without selectivity.This is a pivotal moment that requires immediate and effective international action to halt the Israeli aggression on Gaza, Safadi added during a press conference with European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell.The court's decision is a message to the entire international community emphasizing the necessity of stopping the massacres against the Palestinian people, he added.Algeria also praised the ICCs verdict, describing it as an important step and a tangible advancement toward ending decades of impunity and the evasion of accountability and punishment by the Israeli occupation.It emphasized that "the Israeli occupation has perpetrated crimes against the Palestinian people and against all the countries and peoples of the region."Israel has launched a genocidal war on the Gaza Strip following a cross-border attack by the Palestinian group Hamas in October last year, killing more than 44,000 people, most of them women and children, and injuring over 104,000.The second year of genocide in Gaza has drawn growing international condemnation, with officials and institutions labeling the attacks and blocking of aid deliveries as a deliberate attempt to destroy a population.The ICC announced in a landmark move Thursday that it issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.The courts Pre-Trial Chamber I said it issued warrants of arrest for two individuals, Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu and Mr. Yoav Gallant, for crimes against humanity and war crimes committed from at least 8 October 2023 until at least 20 May 2024, the day the Prosecution filed the applications for warrants of arrest.The Chamber considered that there are reasonable grounds to believe that both individuals intentionally and knowingly deprived the civilian population in Gaza of objects indispensable to their survival, including food, water and medicine and medical supplies as well as fuel and electricity, the decision said.Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its deadly war on Gaza. * Thanks to China's favorable measures for tourism, including a series of visa-free transit policies and payment facilitation services, as well as "China Travel," there is an inbound travel boom in once-poor mountainous regions. * The Chinese mainland recorded an estimated 95 million inbound tourist arrivals in the first nine months, a 55.4 percent increase year on year, according to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. * According to the data center of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, in the first three quarters of 2024, village tourism visits increased 15.5 percent yearly to about 2.25 billion, with total revenue up 9.8 percent year on year to 1.32 trillion yuan. CHANGSHA, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Jose Chaves, 40, from Costa Rica, recently visited Furong Town, enticed by pictures of its magnificent waterfall and traditional stilt houses built on the hillside -- famous features of this ancient scenic spot in Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, central China's Hunan Province. "It's a very lovely and beautiful place. Entry, hotel reservation and transportation are convenient in China," said Chaves, who took a 12-day trip to China. "I will recommend this place to my friends and share my trip on social media." With a history of more than 2,000 years and located in the hinterland of China's Wuling Mountains, the town of Furong in Xiangxi's Yongshun County is benefiting from the growing popularity of the "China Travel" campaign on global social media. Thanks to the campaign, it has seen a surge in inbound tourism. HINTERLAND TOURISM BOOM "There were very few foreigners in the prefecture before poverty eradication. Now, it is not unusual to see foreign friends on the street," said Li Lichao, deputy head of the Culture, Tourism, Radio and Television Bureau of Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture. At Xiangxi's Shibadong Village, the idea of "targeted poverty alleviation" was first put forward in 2013. Through the strategy, 98.99 million people in rural China were lifted out of poverty, and all 832 impoverished counties were officially recognized as having escaped poverty by 2020. The strategy advocates that development is the general method to eliminate poverty, and governments in poverty-hit regions should suit their measures to different conditions and help locals find ways to shake off poverty. In the process of poverty alleviation and rural revitalization, the government of Xiangxi has explored the cultural and tourism industry to empower rural development. Today, the prefecture has 161 enterprises in the cultural and tourism industry chain above the designated size, which refers to enterprises each with an annual main business turnover of at least 20 million yuan (about 2.8 million U.S. dollars). The tourism industry has contributed more than 70 percent of the GDP growth of Xiangxi in recent years, with more than 500,000 people working in the sector. "Ancient townships, such as Furong, Fenghuang and Aizhai, which blend natural wonders and cultural interests, are particularly popular among foreign tourists," said Li. Thanks to China's favorable measures for tourism, including a series of visa-free transit policies and payment facilitation services, as well as "China Travel," there is an inbound travel boom in this once-poor mountainous region. In the first three quarters of this year, the prefecture received 254,000 inbound tourist visits, a year-on-year increase of nearly four times. The Chinese mainland recorded an estimated 95 million inbound tourist arrivals in the first nine months, a 55.4 percent increase year on year, according to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. "My schedule has been fully booked for the past few months receiving foreign tourists," said Xu Yan, Chaves' English-speaking tour guide during his journey in Xiangxi, adding that most of her clients are from visa-free entry countries such as Thailand, Singapore and the Republic of Korea. According to Sun Jiashan, an associate researcher from the Central Academy of Culture and Tourism Administration, more and more foreign tourists are gradually exploring China's rural and mountainous areas, rather than just visiting the metropolis. Sun said that Xiangxi is attracting more overseas tourists thanks to the continuous improvement of facilities and infrastructure for rural tourism, and the improvement of services and overseas marketing. "The phenomenon is the result of strategies of poverty alleviation and rural revitalization," he said. BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES, CULTURAL EXCHANGES In order to better connect with the overseas tourism market, Xiangxi has strengthened cooperation with travel platforms, social media and overseas influencers since last year. Other efforts include increasing multilingual signs and facilitating payment services. "We have been cooperating with online travel agency Trip.com, to promote Xiangxi to overseas tourists and facilitate their booking accommodation and tickets at our scenic spots," said Su Jun, a staffer responsible for the marketing and branding of Furong. In March, over 100 overseas influencers were invited to Furong to experience and make promotions online. In order to serve foreign tourists, Furong has set up a team of English tour guides, and also a talent pool of over 100 guides speaking Russian, French, Japanese, Korean and other foreign languages, according to Su. Deng Ni, 36, a native resident of Furong, quit her job in downtown Yongshun, returned to her hometown and started her homestay business in May last year. Foreign tourists have given her good comments on online traveling platforms, praising her fluent English communication skills and attentive service. "In the past, visitors to Furong Town were mainly domestic tourists. However with the 'China Travel' boom, overseas tourists have "changed" the traditional off-season, like November and December, into a peak season," said Deng. She added that more than half of her bookings had been made by overseas tourists during the two-month period. In Furong, another homestay owner called Qu Zhangxun started learning English to better serve foreign tourists. His homestay, featuring rooms with excellent views of the waterfall, has received guests from more than 20 countries and accepted overseas reservations for accommodation until October next year. "I have asked my staff to be skilled in using translation apps, and I am also learning it myself. I hope to make all my tourists want to come back again and again," said Qu. According to the data center of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, in the first three quarters of 2024, village tourism visits increased 15.5 percent yearly to about 2.25 billion, with total revenue up 9.8 percent year on year to 1.32 trillion yuan. Last week, seven villages in China, including Shibadong Village in Xiangxi, were honored as "Best Tourism Villages" by the United Nations World Tourism Organization. They are highly representative in terms of geography, culture and development models. For example, at Azheke Village, nestled in the heart of the Honghe Hani Rice Terraces in southwest China's Yunnan Province, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, villagers have contributed resources such as terraces, houses and traditional ways of life, creating a model of collective participation and shared prosperity. Xiaogang, a village in Anhui Province where China's rural reform began over four decades ago, is another location making strides on its new journey toward achieving rural revitalization. Today, visitors from across the globe can witness the profound changes China has undergone by exploring this village. During the third Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture Conference on Tourism Development held earlier this month, Olga Vakhrousheva, honorary vice president of New Zealand-China Maori Culture Tourism Promotion Association Incorporated, came to Yongshun from New Zealand to sign cultural and tourism agreements, advocating cooperation activities such as developing more tourism projects and organizing more exchange visits. "Furong Town is like a fairy tale. China has such a rich culture and variety of history, and showing them to the world would be great," she said. Vakhrousheva shared her experiences of making tea, cooking, drinking and singing with local people in a village in Yongshun. She said she noticed similarities between residents in Xiangxi and Maori people, who also have traditions such as singing when guests are invited into villages. "If we can do exchanges with kids, helping them to learn about other cultures, they can be open to each other and do things together when they grow up," said Vakhrousheva. (Video reporter: Dai Bin, Zhang Yujie, Chen Sihan and Ju Yinhe; Video editors: Hong Ling, Zak Zuzanna, Zhang Yuhong, Zhu Cong and Zhang Nan) US President-elect Donald Trump nominated Howard Lutnick, the co-chair of his transition team, as his commerce secretary on Tuesday -- a choice set to bring a tougher stance on China from the incoming administration. Lutnick will also lead the country's tariff and trade agenda, with "additional direct responsibility for the Office of the United States Trade Representative," Trump said in a statement. Tariffs are a key part of Trump's economic agenda, and he has promised sweeping duties on all imports when he returns to the White House. Lutnick is chief executive of financial services firm Cantor Fitzgerald, and a Trump ally originally tipped as a frontrunner for treasury secretary. But he was instead named to helm Commerce, a smaller department that works to boost US industry and has a key role in policy to shore up the US semiconductor sector and reduce reliance on Asia. Under President Joe Biden, the Commerce Department stepped up export controls on critical technologies like quantum computing and semiconductor manufacturing goods, taking aim at access by adversaries like Beijing. Trump's administration could harden this stance. Lutnick has, during the US election campaign, expressed support for a tariff level of 60 percent on Chinese goods, alongside a 10 percent tariff on all imports. Both are among proposals that Trump has floated, with the Republican taking aim at countries which have been "ripping us off for years." Lutnick also previously lamented the loss of manufacturing jobs in the United States and offshoring to China. "I'm all in with Donald Trump," Lutnick told podcaster Anthony Pompliano last month. In the same interview, he slammed electric cars as "coastal elite nonsense" and blamed China for being the source of fentanyl in the United States. The deadly drug, many times more powerful than heroin, is responsible for tens of thousands of overdose deaths a year. "China is attacking America from its guts," he charged. Lutnick was initially tipped to head the Treasury Department but a tussle over the position spilled into the public eye last weekend. Trump's health secretary pick Robert F. Kennedy Jr. expressed support for Lutnick, saying on social media that "Bitcoin will have no stronger advocate" than him. The world's richest man Elon Musk also threw his support behind Lutnick for Treasury chief while calling the other top contender, hedge fund manager Scott Bessent, "a business-as-usual choice." "Business-as-usual is driving America bankrupt, so we need change one way or another," said Musk, who Trump has tapped to lead a new Department of Government Efficiency, on social media. Besides Cantor Fitzgerald, Lutnick heads financial technology firm BGC Group and real estate services firm Newmark Group. He graduated from Haverford College and has a degree in economics, according to his biography on Cantor's website. As co-chair of Trump's transition team, Lutnick has been identifying new hires for the president-elect's administration. Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that the conflict in Ukraine had characteristics of a "global" war and did not rule out strikes on Western countries. The Kremlin strongman spoke out after a day of frayed nerves, with Russia test-firing a new generation intermediate-range missile at Ukraine -- which Putin hinted was capable of unleashing a nuclear payload. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky branded the strike a major ramping up of the "scale and brutality" of the war by a "crazy neighbour", while Kyiv's main backer, the United States, said that Russia was to blame for escalating the conflict "at every turn". Intermediate-range missiles typically have a reach of up to 5,500 kilometres (3,400 miles) -- enough to make good on Putin's threat of striking the West. In a defiant address to the nation, Russia's president railed at Ukraine's allies granting permission for Kyiv to use Western-supplied weapons to strike targets on Russian territory, warning of retaliation. In recent days Ukraine has fired US and UK-supplied missiles at Russian territory for the first time, escalating already sky-high tensions in the nearly three-year-long conflict. "We consider ourselves entitled to use our weapons against the military facilities of those countries that allow their weapons to be used against our facilities," Putin said. He said the US-sent Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) and British Storm Shadow payloads were shot down by Moscow's air defences, adding: "The goals that the enemy obviously set were not achieved". Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov did however say Moscow informed Washington of the missile's launch half an hour before it was fired through an automatic nuclear de-escalation hotline, in remarks cited in state media. He earlier said Russia was doing everything to avoid an atomic conflict, having updated its nuclear doctrine this week. White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters that Washington saw no need to modify the United States' own nuclear posture in response. NATO spokesperson Farah Dakhlallah said Russia's use of the missile would "neither change the course of the conflict nor deter" the US-led defence alliance from backing Kyiv. Ukraine earlier accused Russia of firing an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) for the first time in history -- a claim later downplayed by Washington. The Ukrainian air force said Moscow had launched the missile as part of a barrage towards Dnipro, where local authorities said an infrastructure facility was hit and two civilians were wounded. Putin said that Russia had carried out "testing in combat conditions of one of the newest Russian... missile systems" named "Oreshnik". Criticising the global response to the strike -- "final proof that Russia definitely does not want peace" -- Zelensky warned that other countries could become targets for Putin too. "It is necessary to urge Russia to a true peace, which is possible only through force," the Ukrainian leader said in his evening address. "Otherwise, there will be relentless Russian strikes, threats and destabilisation, and not only against Ukraine." The attack on Dnipro comes just days after several foreign embassies shuttered temporarily in the Ukrainian capital, citing the threat of a large-scale strike. "It is another example of reckless behaviour from Russia," a spokesman for British Prime Minister Keir Starmer told reporters. The spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Stephane Dujarric, said the new missile's deployment was "another concerning and worrying development," warning the war was "going in the wrong direction". Yet a US official played down the threat, saying on condition of anonymity that Russia "likely possesses only a handful of these" experimental missiles. The head of the Dnipropetrovsk region where the city of Dnipro is located said the Russian aerial bombardment damaged a rehabilitation centre and several homes, as well as an industrial enterprise. "Two people were wounded -- a 57-year-old man was treated on the scene and a 42-year-old woman was hospitalised," said the official, Sergiy Lysak. Russia and Ukraine have escalated their use of long-range missiles in recent days since Washington gave Kyiv permission to use its ATACMS against military targets inside Russia -- a long-standing Ukrainian request. British media meanwhile reported on Wednesday that Kyiv had launched UK-supplied Storm Shadow missiles at targets in Russia after being given the green light from London. With ranges of 300 and 250 kilometres respectively, both missile systems' reach is far dwarfed by the experimental intermediate-range system fired by Russia. Russia's envoy to London on Thursday said that meant Britain was "now directly involved" in the Ukraine war, with Andrei Kelin telling Sky News "this firing cannot happen" without UK and NATO support. But the White House's Jean-Pierre countered that it was Russia who was behind the rising tensions, pointing to the reported deployment of thousands of North Korean troops to help Moscow fight off a Ukrainian offensive in Russia's border Kursk region. "The escalation at every turn is coming from Russia," Jean-Pierre said, adding that the United States had warned Moscow against involving "another country in another part of the world" -- referring to Pyongyang. The defence ministry in Moscow said Thursday its air-defence systems had downed two Storm Shadows, without saying whether they had come down on Russian territory or in occupied Ukraine. The missile escalation is coming at a critical moment on the ground for Ukraine, as its defences buckle under Russian pressure across the sprawling front line. Russia claimed deeper advances in the war-battered Donetsk region, announcing on Thursday that its forces had captured another village close to Kurakhove, closing in on the town after months of steady advances. Moscow's defence ministry said Russian forces had taken the small village of Dalne, five kilometres (three miles) south of Kurakhove. Lysak, the governor of the Dnipropetrovsk region, said that 26 people had been wounded in another strike on the town of Kryvyi Rig, where Zelensky was born. Iconic Las Vegas resort enhances guestroom, meetings and convention and culinary offerings for leisure and convention guests. The newly reimagined Rio Hotel & Casino has officially joined the Destination by Hyatt brand, following the completion of the resort's first phase of its $340 million property-wide transformation. As part of the Destination by Hyatt brand and award-winning World of Hyatt loyalty program, Rio connects guests and members to both the people and place of Las Vegas - offering guests a sense of belonging and the immersive experiences they crave. Rio is owned and managed by Dreamscape Companies. As the largest property within Hyatt's global hotel portfolio, based on room count, and the first Destination by Hyatt hotel in Nevada, Rio strengthens World of Hyatt's brand footprint in the one of the world's most vibrant destinations for leisure, convention and group travel. Phase one of Rio's $340 million renovation included the full redesign and modernization of the all-suite resort's 1,500-room Ipanema Tower featuring a new look inspired by the vibrant spirit of Rio de Janeiro: bold, colorful, and unapologetically radiant. The hotel also recently unveiled six new and distinctly different culinary destinations within the new Canteen Food Hall, 220,000 square feet of newly renovated meetings and convention space, a revamped pool district with four vibrant pools catering to both adults and families, and more than 500 new slot machines and 30 table games on the resort's casino floor. The renovation is part of a larger vision to create a vibrant and dynamic lifestyle experience at the intersection of affordability and indulgence. Other highlights from the resort's phase one renovation include the openings of: Lapa Lounge, a sophisticated and vibrant cocktail destination located in the heart of the resort and inspired by Rio de Janeiro's iconic Lapa neighborhood, and Luckley Tavern & Grill, a "come as you are" casual dining destination serving an approachable all-American menu. In addition, famed lighting designers Chris Kuroda and Andrew Giffin have created a stunning, programmable light show for the resort's exterior. Phase two of the resort's renovation will focus on completely redesigning and modernizing the Masquerade Tower guestrooms and public spaces, ensuring an elevated and cohesive guest experience across the entire property. Rio participates in World of Hyatt, allowing members to earn and redeem points for eligible stays and enjoy waived resort fees on Free Night Awards while elite members can enjoy their World of Hyatt benefits that can include room upgrades and more. Rio is currently participating in Hyatt's cyber sale that offers World of Hyatt members up to 25% off their stay at Rio, along with over 800 hotels across the Americas. Members can book this offer on Hyatt channels now through December 9, 2024, for stays through April 20, 2025. Centrally located at 3700 W. Flamingo Road, Rio Hotel & Casino is just a short distance from the Las Vegas Strip and less than a 15-minute drive from Harry Reid International Airport. It offers guests a distinctive and vibrant Las Vegas experience, blending adventure, creativity, and comfort away from the hustle and bustle of the Strip. About Rio Hotel & Casino Las Vegas Rio Hotel & Casino, which is part of the Destination by Hyatt brand, is located just one block off the Las Vegas Strip on Flamingo Road. It boasts over 2,500 suite-sized guestrooms, including 1,500 newly remodeled suites in the Ipanema Tower. The property features a 220,000-square-foot convention and meeting space, a new 3-acre pool paradise, and a revitalized casino floor with 30 table games and 800 slot machines. Recent additions to the property include the Canteen Food Hall, Lapa Lounge, and Luckley Tavern & Grill. For more information, visit riolasvegas.com and connect with Rio on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Hotel website Cincinnati, Ohio will soon unveil its latest addition to the Tribute Portfolio Hotel by Marriott collection with the opening of the much-anticipated Hotel Celare - a modern, sophisticated retreat located at 310 Straight Street - in The District at Clifton Heights. Nestled across from the University of Cincinnati and a short drive from downtown, the seven-story, 171-room property will offer an elevated culinary experience with an onsite restaurant and bar, bold design and modern amenities including a fitness center, locally curated market, and event spaces with outdoor terraces. A collaboration between long-time partners Crawford Hoying and Shaner Hotel Group, Hotel Celare will open this winter, intentionally curating curiosity among travelers by fostering exploration and wonder through its design and experiences. Crawford Hoying serves as the owner and developer in partnership with Shaner Hotel Group as the operator. This serves as the first Cincinnati development project owned and operated by both parties, respectively. This landmark project not only redefines urban luxury but also represents a significant milestone for both companies. "We are thrilled to introduce Hotel Celare to The District at Clifton Heights, marking the beginning of an exciting chapter for this vibrant community," said Cincinnati native, Brent Crawford, Principal and Founder of Crawford Hoying. Culinary Experiences at Hotel Celare The Vick: Guests arriving at The Vick - on the seventh floor - will step into a rooftop escape where Cincinnati's urban energy meets whimsical design and inventive cuisine. Its playful yet sophisticated atmosphere begins with a striking entrance featuring retro 1950s portraits and vibrant graffiti phrases. Neon lights, tubular furniture and geometric patterns invite guests to relax in style at the bar, high-top tables, or on the open-air terrace. At its heart, The Vick's menu offering will feature dishes including Carpaccio Piemontese, Prosciutto & Fig, Baby Beets and Cheesecake Pops. Additionally, its signature bar offers creative cocktails paired with panoramic skyline views. Thoughtful touches like rooftop vending machines and cozy seating make The Vick a vibrant scene and background for all guests, blending creativity and community for a unique Cincinnati experience. Guests arriving at The Vick - on the seventh floor - will step into a rooftop escape where Cincinnati's urban energy meets whimsical design and inventive cuisine. Its playful yet sophisticated atmosphere begins with a striking entrance featuring retro 1950s portraits and vibrant graffiti phrases. Neon lights, tubular furniture and geometric patterns invite guests to relax in style at the bar, high-top tables, or on the open-air terrace. At its heart, The Vick's menu offering will feature dishes including Carpaccio Piemontese, Prosciutto & Fig, Baby Beets and Cheesecake Pops. Additionally, its signature bar offers creative cocktails paired with panoramic skyline views. Thoughtful touches like rooftop vending machines and cozy seating make The Vick a vibrant scene and background for all guests, blending creativity and community for a unique Cincinnati experience. Iris Cafe: Tucked within Hotel Celare, Iris Cafe takes inspiration from the Greek goddess of the rainbow, offering artisanal breakfast delights like the signature Iris Coffee Cake, fresh pastries, and breakfast sandwiches, all crafted from locally sourced ingredients. By night, Iris Cafe will transform into a lively bar with handcrafted cocktails, fine wines, and artisanal beverages. The sleek space, featuring Steelite Sedona glassware and sustainable mini bottles, blends style and sustainability, creating a cozy, creative atmosphere where every meal is a celebration of flavor and quality. "Collaborating with Crawford Hoying on Hotel Celare has been a wonderful experience and journey on this continued partnership," said Plato Ghinos, President of Shaner Hotels. "Having worked with Crawford Hoying in the past, we knew that with their expertise and deep connections in curating the best team in architecture and design, we'd have the top development to visit in Cincinnati." Thoughtful, Bold Design + Artfully Playful With architecture done by Meyers+Associates,guests will be greeted by Hotel Celare's sleek, contemporary facade, featuring expansive windows and lively outdoor terraces that invite natural light into every corner. The exterior, which will have a 22-foot by-37'4" mural by Miss Birdy, a well-known Ohio-based muralist and gallery artist showcases the Lazarus Lizard and illuminates the often-overlooked small creatures in our surroundings, celebrating the unique beauty of life that exists beneath our notice. Interiors are designed by Texas-based design firm, Studio 11 Design, and have captured the spirit of modern exploration, weaving in vibrant colors, lush materials, plush furnishings and playful patterns that echo the innovative energy of the area. Every detail has been carefully crafted to offer a seamless blend of modern energy while still nodding to Cincinnati's rich history, making the hotel a true standout for the city. All guest rooms are thoughtfully designed to balance comfort and functionality, providing a sleek and modern space for every guest. Each room features a mini fridge and a Nespresso Coffee machine, making it easy to enjoy a morning pick-me-up or a late-night snack. Rooms are available in a variety of room types offering flexibility for business and leisure guests, families, groups and solo travelers. Additionally, and for those needing to stay productive, each room is equipped with a comfortable workstation and complimentary Wi-Fi, ensuring seamless connectivity during your stay. The Molton Brown bath products in the modern bathrooms provide a touch of luxury, while each room is elegantly appointed with a rain shower, exquisite mirrors, and stylish fixtures for added convenience. Whether you're visiting for work or leisure, the well-appointed rooms at Hotel Celare create a welcoming environment to unwind and recharge. Amenities + Features Other amenities at the property includes: Event Spaces :Hotel Celare features four versatile event rooms with flexible indoor and outdoor meeting space. The Onyx Ballroom, the largest, holds up to 200 guests, ideal for grand occasions such as weddings or corporate events. For those seeking to host indoor-outdoor events, the heated second-floor terrace offers a cozy ambiance and modern design, making it an ideal space for year-round events. Pre-function areas with built-in refreshment stations make welcome receptions seamless, while the boardroom, with floor-to-ceiling windows, offers inspiring views of the campus green. :Hotel Celare features four versatile event rooms with flexible indoor and outdoor meeting space. The Onyx Ballroom, the largest, holds up to 200 guests, ideal for grand occasions such as weddings or corporate events. For those seeking to host indoor-outdoor events, the heated second-floor terrace offers a cozy ambiance and modern design, making it an ideal space for year-round events. Pre-function areas with built-in refreshment stations make welcome receptions seamless, while the boardroom, with floor-to-ceiling windows, offers inspiring views of the campus green. A Fitness Center: The fitness center offers a fully equipped, state-of-the-art space for maintaining fitness routines while away from home. Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, the facility features a variety of cardiovascular equipment, and a complete selection of strength training machines and free weights. An additional outdoor terrace space is available for yoga, meditation and more. The fitness center offers a fully equipped, state-of-the-art space for maintaining fitness routines while away from home. Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, the facility features a variety of cardiovascular equipment, and a complete selection of strength training machines and free weights. An additional outdoor terrace space is available for yoga, meditation and more. A Pet-Friendly Environment: With so many travelers bringing their furry friends, the hotel warmly welcomes pets. Guests can enjoy the convenience of digital check-in, daily housekeeping, and a responsive service request feature for added comfort. Situated in the heart of the dynamic District at Clifton Heights, and a few minutes from Cincinnati's downtown, Hotel Celare is surrounded by local shops, an abundance of parks, nearby hospitals and more. For parking, the hotel offers a valet service, ensuring a seamless arrival experience for all guests. Hotel website ARRIVE by Palisocietyis set to expand its national portfolio in early 2025 with the debut of the all-new ARRIVE Albuquerque. Set in the downtown core of New Mexico's largest city, ARRIVE Albuquerque will be the fifth hotel in the ARRIVE by Palisociety portfolio, sitting alongside ARRIVE locations in Austin, Texas; Wilmington, N.C.; Memphis, Tenn.; and Palm Springs, Calif. The ARRIVE brand was acquired by Avi Brosh's Palisociety in 2021, becoming ARRIVE by Palisociety, and ARRIVE Albuquerque will be the first location within the collection designed in-house by Brosh and team. "We are very excited to be expanding the ARRIVE moniker with this one-of-a-kind hotel in Albuquerque," said Brosh, founder of Palisociety. "We've been watching as the city has grown and evolved in recent years and know that it's at the forefront of a very important and impactful cultural progression that we're honored to be a part of. This hotel will bring the brand's unique sense of wit and personality to the market with incredible style and detail, and we hope it will be a much-appreciated addition to the community for both visitors and locals alike." ARRIVE Albuquerque is located on Central Avenue (U.S. Route 66) in downtown Albuquerque, overlooking the city's renowned Robinson Park, home to the popular local Downtown Grower's Market and more. The building is a 1965 original historic hotel with 137 guest rooms, newly beautified with a vibrant oversized exterior mural by local artist, Nani Chacon. Within, guests and locals have access to a seasonal pool and swim club, and DWTNR Cocktail Bar & Lounge, a new signature restaurant concept serving Pan-Asian American classics alongside Americana comfort food and a distinct offering of cocktails and spirits. Layered with a contemporary take on southwestern charm, ARRIVE Albuquerque's interior design is the brand's first to be executed entirely by Brosh and the in-house design team at ARRIVE by Palisociety, blending the now signature irreverent charm of Palisociety style with a contemporary, youthful playfulness that has been the foundation of ARRIVE since it debuted in 2016 with ARRIVE Palm Springs. The Albuquerque design story is brought to life with a palette of sandy, high desert colors accented by bold color blocking and patterning with a nod to the 1970s and organic, modern forms, furnishings and fabrics. The lobby features two original ceiling domes accented by contemporary pendant lights, a red blaze quarry tile floor inset with a mix of colored tiles in sky, ochre, white and brick red, warm wood tones, and lounge seating in a rich mix of colors and styles. DWTNR's modern retro personality comes to life with mix-and-match fabric patterns, bold tile accent walls and features and greenery for a carefree, irreverent sensibility. Poolside, more southwestern elements such as patterned tiles, rattan lounge accents and contemporary outdoor furniture and lighting add an airy, natural element to sunbathing and lounging. Rooms are bathed in warm pastel tones and adorned with floral upholstered headboards, custom-made furniture and vintage art, checkered floors, mid-century inspired lounge furniture, and mix & match patterns and textiles. In-room amenities include Grown Alchemist bath amenities, Victrola speakers, plush robes, Bellino fine linens, curated mini bar and more. Guests also enjoy access to a 24/7 fitness center equipped with Peloton equipment for on-the-go health and wellness. Hotel website Epicurean Hotel recently announced the addition of Whitnee Wilson as Spa Director at Spa Evangeline located inthe 188-room boutique hotel in the trendy Hyde Park historic district of South Tampa. As director, Wilson will oversee day-to-day spa operations, including the treatment menu and special promotions, staff management and training, spa product lines and retail. Prior to joining Spa Evangeline, Wilson worked at the ZaSpa at Hotel ZaZa in the museum district of Houston, Texas, where she was lead esthetician and massage therapist trainer. Her career also includes time as Spa Operations Manager for Grand Galvez in Galveston, Texas. Wilson, a native of Galveston, holds a hospitality and spa management degree from Galveston College. Lenny Cumberbatch joins the resort as Vice President of Food & Beverage. Cumberbatch has held several leadership roles at Atlantis Paradise Island and throughout the Caribbean including SLS Baha Mar and The Windjammer Landing Villa Beach Resort. Cumberbatch returns to Atlantis in his new role as Vice President of Food & Beverage. He holds a postgraduate Certificate in Business Administration from the University of Roehampton and is an Adjunct Professor at University of The Bahamas. Atlantis Paradise Island Paradise Island Bahamas Website "Cory's promotion is not only recognition for his achievements in designing and delivering a best-in-class revenue organization, but also his direct contributions over the years with HVMG strategic initiatives," said Robert Cole, president and CEO, HVMG. "Having joined HVMG more than a decade ago, Cory has proven his ability to develop and deploy tools, processes and strategies that drive excellent revenue results. Under Cory's leadership, HVMG has experienced five consecutive years and nine of the past ten years of same-store, portfolio-wide, year-over-year market share growth. Cory has attracted and developed some of the best revenue talent in our industry and has earned the trust and respect of our owners and brand partners. He has been a contributor, mentor and leader throughout our organization. I am incredibly appreciative of his can-do attitude, his tenacity and how he has made us a better company." A 25-plus year hospitality veteran, Chambers previously worked with White Lodging, culminating in vice president of revenue generation where he oversaw sales, revenue management, eCommerce and communications for the company's full-service portfolio. His previous roles with White Lodging include corporate director of sales and marketing and pre-opening director of sales and marketing at the JW Marriott Indianapolis. He began his career with Marriott International where he held several sales and marketing leadership positions throughout the United States at hotels ranging in size from 300 to 1,300 rooms. He actively serves on multiple industry and brand advisory boards with Hilton, IHG, Marriott, AHLA and HSMAI. Chambers graduated from James Madison University with a BBA in marketing and received his MBA from Babson College in Boston, Mass. WASHINGTON - Travel industry leaders William D. Bill Talbert, III, former president and CEO of the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau, and Christopher L. Thompson, former president and CEO of Brand USA, were inducted into the U.S. Travel Association Hall of Leaders on Wednesday. Talbert and Thompson were honored at a dinner attended by more than 100 travel industry leaders during U.S. Travels Fall Engagement Week in Washington, D.C. Distinguished individuals are named to the U.S. Travel Associations Hall of Leaders for sustained, noteworthy contributions that have positively impacted the travel industry and raised industrywide standards. To date, 108 individuals have been named to the Hall of Leaders, U.S. Travels highest honor. Please click here to view the full news release announcing Talbert and Thompsons honor. About U.S. Travel Association U.S. Travel Association is the national, non-profit organization representing the $1.3 trillion travel industry, an essential contributor to our nation's economy and success. U.S. Travel produces programs and insights and advocates for policies to increase travel to and within the United States. Visit ustravel.org for information and recovery-related data. Greg Staley U.S. Travel Association At COP29 in Baku, HNtv INSIDERS sat down with Chompan Kulnides, Chief Sustainability Officer at Minor International PCL and Willy Legrand, Professor of Tourism and Hospitality Management at IU International University of Applied Sciences in Germany to discuss Minor Internationals sustainability strategy. As one of the largest hospitality and restaurant companies in the Asia Pacific Region, Minor International signed the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism. Ms. Kulnides explains why signing a declaration plays an important part in demonstrating commitment to action. This was also highlighted earlier during the day by the many signatories of the Baku Declaration on Enhance Climate Action in Tourism. Legrand and Kulnides discussed human and natural capital, carrots and sticks in sustainability, as well as reporting and compliance. This is a packed 20-minute discussion to underscore the necessity of embedding sustainable practices at the core of business strategies for lasting impact. For the first time in the history of the summit, COP29 featured a Tourism Day, with a First Ministerial Meeting dedicated to positioning tourism policy to support national climate goals. In Baku, public and private sector leaders recognized the significant impact of climate change on the tourism sector and its contribution to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. At the same time, they emphasized tourism's potential to actively foster climate adaptation and regeneration strategies. Over 700 stakeholders participated in the Tourism Day events. Governments united around climate action in tourism The First Ministerial was chaired by Mr Fuad Naghiyev, Chairman of the State Tourism Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and included the COP29 President H.E. Mr Mukhtar Babayev, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Azerbaijan, UN Tourism, UNEP and UNFCCC. Both UN Tourism SecretaryGeneral, Mr Zurab Pololikashvili, and UNEP Executive Director, Ms Inger Andersen, underlined the need for a science-based approach, referring to advanced new research to be further adapted from the University of Queensland (an Affiliate Member of UN Tourism) indicating that tourism represents 8.8% of global emissions (including direct and indirect emissions). Addressing delegates, Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: For the first time, the Action Agenda of the UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties has included tourism. The First Ministerial Meeting on Enhanced Climate Action in Tourism marks a turning point, when ambition meets action, and vision transforms into commitment. At COP29, the global tourism sector made clear its commitment to positive transformation for a better future for our planet. The Ministerial welcomed ten Ministers of Tourism (United Arab Emirates, Brazil, Belarus, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Iran, Kazakhstan, Maldives, Montenegro, North Macedonia), two Ministers of Environment (Costa Rica and Maldives) and four Deputy Ministers (Saudi Arabia, Tanzania, Uzbekistan). Secretaries of State from Moldova, Portugal, Zambia and Zimbabwe were also present. The Caribbean Tourism Organization and the Pacific Tourism Organization delivered statements on behalf of their members. The World Travel and Tourism Council and the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance also took the floor. On the back of the high-level discussions, 52 governments signed the COP29 Declaration for Enhanced Climate Action in Tourism. Measurement, Decarbonization, Adaptation, Regeneration, Finance, Innovation The High-Level Roundtables brought together experts from academia, policymakers and private sector to raise the climate ambition of the tourism sector. The UN Statistical Framework for Measuring the Sustainability of Tourism was presented by UN Tourism Executive Director Zoritsa Urosevic as key tool for advancing the sector's climate action ambitions. Climate Finance Innovation was also covered in a keynote presentation. Carbon measurement was discussed at four levels: globally, to understand the scale of the challenge; at the country level, to inform tourism policies and align them with climate goals; at the business level, to ensure accountability for change; and at the product labelling level, empowering consumers to make informed, sustainable choices. While scaling up measurement efforts offers opportunities for evidence-based action, experts highlighted challenges such as the limits of technology-driven improvements, the need for innovative business models, and the critical role of behaviour change. Discussions on adaptation and regeneration emphasized tourism's potential to foster climate adaptation and regeneration strategies, underscoring the need for scalable financing mechanisms, innovative financial instruments, and collaborative approaches. Interventions and educational strategies that support sustainability transitions were showcased. All in all, several examples of innovation and collaboration illustrated how decarbonization can be linked to funding, adaptation strategies can be grounded in science, and climate action plans can serve as a foundation for change. New signatories of the Glasgow Declaration Initiative The Glasgow Declaration Initiative continues to advance with more than 370 action plans already developed by its 900 signatories. Key Takeaways from the Glasgow Declaration Implementation Report 2024 were released at COP29 including: 74% of signatories with climate plans are measuring 92% of plans include decarbonization actions 73% of plans include actions related to biodiversity protection 41% of plans include climate adaptation actions 29% of plans refer to climate justice 82% of signatories with plans report working in partnership with others 44% of plans refer finance actions with this pathway remaining a challenge During COP29, the State Tourism Agency of Azerbaijan and Minor International signed the Glasgow Declaration and a further 58 new signatories were announced, including Destination Canada, the Department for Tourism in Samarkand Region (Uzbekistan), HOTREC (The European Association of Hotels, Restaurants and Cafes), among others. Towards climate-resilient tourism development With the aim of laying the foundations for a global coordination mechanism and partnership platform, UN Tourism and the State Tourism Agency of Azerbaijan signed the Letter of Intent to create a framework for its establishment. The partnership will ensure the continuation of the process to COP30 in Belem, Brazil in 2025, and building on COP28 - as well as to support the transformation of the tourism sector so it can be part of a low-carbon, sustainable and resilient future. Related Links About UN Tourism The World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism) is the United Nations agency responsible for the promotion of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism. As the leading international organization in the field of tourism, UN Tourism promotes tourism as a driver of economic growth, inclusive development and environmental sustainability and offers leadership and support to the sector in advancing knowledge and tourism policies worldwide. Our Priorities Mainstreaming tourism in the global agenda: Advocating the value of tourism as a driver of socio-economic growth and development, its inclusion as a priority in national and international policies and the need to create a level playing field for the sector to develop and prosper. Promoting sustainable tourism development: Supporting sustainable tourism policies and practices: policies which make optimal use of environmental resources, respect the socio-cultural authenticity of host communities and provide socio-economic benefits for all. Fostering knowledge, education and capacity building: Supporting countries to assess and address their needs in education and training, as well as providing networks for knowledge creation and exchange. Improving tourism competitiveness: Improving UN Tourism Members' competitiveness through knowledge creation and exchange, human resources development and the promotion of excellence in areas such as policy planning, statistics and market trends, sustainable tourism development, marketing and promotion, product development and risk and crisis management. Advancing tourism's contribution to poverty reduction and development: Maximizing the contribution of tourism to poverty reduction and achieving the SDGs by making tourism work as a tool for development and promoting the inclusion of tourism in the development agenda. Building partnerships: Engaging with the private sector, regional and local tourism organizations, academia and research institutions, civil society and the UN system to build a more sustainable, responsible and competitive tourism sector. Our Structure Members: An intergovernmental organization, UN Tourism has 160 Member States, 6 Associate Members, 2 Observers and over 500 Affiliate Members. Organs: The General Assembly is the supreme organ of the Organization. The Executive Council take all measures, in consultation with the Secretary-General, for the implementation of the decisions and recommendations of the General Assembly and reports to the Assembly. Secretariat: UN Tourism headquarters are based in Madrid, Spain. The Secretariat is led by the Secretary-General and organized into departments covering issues such as sustainability, education, tourism trends and marketing, sustainable development, statistics and the Tourism Satellite Account (TSA), destination management, ethics and risk and crisis management. The Technical Cooperation and Silk Road Department carries out development projects in over 100 countries worldwide, while the Regional Departments for Africa, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific, Europe and the Middle East serve as the link between UN Tourism and its 160 Member States. The Affiliate Members Department represents UN Tourism's 500 plus Affiliate members. UN Tourism Communications Department +34 91 567 8100 UN Tourism Welcoming in a New Era of Hospitality Today, there is undeniable pressure on hotels to go beyond the traditional norms of hospitality, creating more personalized and uniquely memorable experiences for every guest. This is not just to stay relevant; it is an essential part of hospitality in the digital age. Technology has transformed how guests interact with hotels and its crucial the hospitality industry continues to evolve. No matter where you stay, one part of the hotel experience is unavoidable: paying for your stay. This process can have a significant impact on customer satisfaction, and the nuances of payment options can affect everything from the ease of booking, to a frictionless checkout experience during departure. How effectively a hotel handles payment can make or break a guest's experience today. By removing barriers and enabling guests to easily enjoy and try new experiences, the integration of seamless payments is now essential to enhancing the overall stay. A streamlined payment process can elevate the guest's experience, while a flawed one can leave a long-lasting sour taste. For instance, slow or complicated payment processes can lead to frustration, overshadowing otherwise positive aspects of the guest's stay. Rise of Hyper-Personalization and Payment Integration Hyper-personalization, in other words understanding and catering to individual guest preferences, has taken on new importance today. This trend underscores how payments play a vital role, making it easier for guests to explore tailored often upsold services without friction. It is no longer just about greeting a guest warmly; it is making them feel truly unique and individual. For example, the four-star Hotel Luganodante in Switzerland has been praised for its "My Page" portal, allowing guests to customize their stay. The hotel offers 150 options, ranging from choosing your pillow, to selecting baby cribs or choosing the drinks and snacks in the minibar, demonstrating how integrating such tailored features can enhance overall guest satisfaction. This level of personalization reflects a deep understanding of guests needs and preferences, enabling a stay that reflects their needs and desires. Research shows that 61% of hotel guests are willing to spend more for a customized experience. This willingness to pay more for personalized experiences highlights the significant revenue-generating opportunities available if hotels can get it right. Guests who rate their personalization experience as a nine or ten out of ten are significantly more likely to report higher satisfaction overall, while those who feel they receive a more standardized experience tend to have lower satisfaction levels. Payments are integral to this personalization process. They act as a seamless enabler by analyzing and responding to individual guest preferences and behaviors in real-time to offer customized services. For example, with a rise in travelers who blend work with leisure, offering tailored workspaces and high-speed internet could become imperative to meet travelers evolving needs. Integrating payment processes with such personalized services not only enhances the guest experience but can also open new revenue streams and decrease costs. Redefining Guest Experience As consumer preferences shift toward digital convenience, the integration of payment systems with various hotel services and technologies is essential for providing a streamlined and efficient guest experience. Enabling guests to choose their preferred payment methods such as card, Apple Pay or Google Pay, or Account-to-Account (A2A) transfers is essential for enhancing convenience. Additionally, offering the option to pay in their own local currency can provide greater transparency and a sense of security. This level of flexibility in payment options helps build trust and encourages guests to spend more freely. Furthermore, enabling guests to customize their room ambiance, book a spa appointment, or order a gourmet meal through an app with just a few taps on their phone can significantly improve their entire stay. The convenience of managing these services from a single device not only enhances the guest experience but also streamlines hotel operations, making it easier to meet guest needs promptly and efficiently. Payments play a key role here, acting as a bridge to other systems. If the payment experience is not good enough, whether it fails completely, is too complicated or too slow, that negative impression will stay with the customer, possibly turning loyal advocates into outspoken critics. Ensuring a smooth and efficient payment process is therefore critical to maintaining positive guest relationships and encouraging repeat visits. By integrating online and offline sales channels, establishing unattended self-check-in/out systems, and utilizing smart room technologies, hotels can offer the convenience and efficiency that todays travelers demand. These innovations not only enhance the guest experience but also create additional revenue streams, reduce operational costs, and address staff shortages. The Future of Hospitality Looking to the future, the hospitality industry will increasingly rely on digital solutions to meet modern travelers' expectations. Optimizing the guest experience through a fully digitalized process from booking to departure ensures that every interaction is tailored to individual preferences. This seamless blend of technology and personalized service offers experiences that resonate deeply with travelers, compelling them to return. By continually innovating and adapting to changing guest expectations, hotels can maintain their relevance in a rapidly evolving market. As the industry continues to evolve, staying ahead of technological trends and maintaining a focus on personalization will be key to success. These hotels will stand out from the competition and drive long-term guest loyalty and increased revenue. Pictured (from right): Mohammad Al-Romaizan, Chief of Staff and Corporate Governance Officer, TDF; Her Royal Highness Princess Nouf Alsaud, Acting Director, Decision Support & International Partnership, TDF; Qusai Al-Fakhri, Chief Executive Officer, TDF; Jean-Pierre Trabut, General Manager, Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi; and Naif Al-Madi, Chief Business Officer, TDF. - Image Credit Dusit International Dusit International has inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Saudi Arabia's Tourism Development Fund (TDF). This partnership establishes a framework for developing hospitality projects to enhance Saudi Arabia's tourism sector. The MoU was signed at the World Travel Market 2024 in London. It marks Dusit's commitment to sustainable international expansion and TDF's dedication to fostering global partnerships to build luxury hotels and resorts in Saudi Arabia. During the first half of 2024, Saudi Arabia reported an 8.2% increase in spending by inbound visitors, reaching around SAR 92.6 billion. The country also noted a surplus in the travel account of approximately SAR 41.6 billion. This growth in visitor spending underscores Saudi Arabia's significant strides in tourism. The nation led all G20 countries in international tourist arrivals and growth rate of international tourism receipts in the first seven months of 2024. TDF's mission aligns with Saudi Arabia's National Tourism Strategy and the Saudi Vision 2030 framework. It seeks to diversify the Kingdom's tourism sector by supporting sustainable development and world-class infrastructure projects. Per the MoU, Dusit will collaborate with TDF to identify potential hotel development opportunities. Leveraging Dusit's 75 years of hospitality expertise and a diverse brand portfolio, the partnership aims to create unique guest experiences and lasting value for hotel owners, investors, and the broader community. Suphajee Suthumpun, Group CEO of Dusit International, expressed her excitement about the partnership. She noted that Saudi Arabia was a key focus for their growth, and the collaboration with TDF offered opportunities to connect with high-potential investments across the Kingdom. She added that they looked forward to contributing to Saudi Arabia's National Tourism Strategy. Dusit International boasts 301 properties in 18 countries, including eight hotels in the Middle East. Its portfolio includes several established brands, and it recently added Devarana - Dusit Retreats and Dusit Collection to its growing brand lineup. The company also contributes to the industry through its educational arm, Dusit Hospitality Education, and other group-wide synergies. Expedia Group CEO Discusses AI Integration in Business Operations - Image Credit Expedia Expedia Group CEO Ariane Gorin is extensively testing artificial intelligence (AI) throughout the company's operations. This was revealed during her speech at The Phocuswright Conference 2024 in Phoenix, Arizona. Gorin mentioned that Expedia was among the initial companies to incorporate ChatGPT into its app for testing. Currently, AI is being trialed in diverse aspects of the company's operations, including customer service, product reviews, and destination insights. The company has introduced a new AI tool, Romie, for trip planning. According to Gorin, users are showing interest in using Romie for obtaining information about destinations and for answering budget-related travel queries. AI also has numerous applications in marketing, Gorin said. Expedia plans to use AI to assist in quick testing of marketing strategies in different countries. The company also plans to leverage AI to assist partners, such as homeowners joining the platform, to improve descriptions and assist advertisers with images. Expedia is also exploring ways to optimize AI for search. Gorin emphasized that while it's still early days, they are actively observing how search and discovery are evolving and how the company needs to adapt to these changes. Regarding the future use of Generative AI in trip planning, Gorin suggested that it would be everywhere and that they need to test it everywhere. Some aspects would work while others might not, she noted. The Future of Travel: Innovative Hospitality Models in the Post-Pandemic Era - Image Credit Unsplash+ The hospitality sector is evolving with new models designed to cater to various post-pandemic travelers, including hybrid hotels, wellness retreats, and personalized experiences. An increasing number of hospitality providers are adopting management models similar to major hotel chains but tailored to independent brands, allowing smaller operators to grow without significant capital investment. A recent panel at WiT Singapore underscored how hospitality is evolving to meet modern travelers preferences and priorities. The industry is innovating to meet these preferences and priorities, with new models like hybrid hotels, wellness retreats, and a focus on personalized experiences gaining traction. One significant trend is the growing number of hospitality providers' adoption of management contract models. As discussed by Akihiro Kitagawa, co-founder of Section L, these models are similar to those used by major hotel chains but are adapted to independent brands. This approach allows smaller operators to expand without heavy capital investment while maintaining their unique appeal and focus on crafting distinctive guest experiences. Wellness-focused accommodations are also on the rise, addressing the growing demand for integrating health and wellbeing into the guest experience. Wsinee Sukjaroenkraisri, Executive Vice President of RAKxa Integrative Wellness, states that these wellness-oriented hotels offer holistic, personalized experiences that focus on both mental and physical health, going beyond traditional fitness centers and spa treatments. The monetization of hospitality real estate is also shifting, with operators exploring mixed-use developments that combine residential, retail, and hospitality spaces. Stephan Ekbergh, CEO of Travelstart, notes that this trend has accelerated in the past few years, appealing to investors and a new generation of travelers who prefer multi-functional environments. Brand diversification has also become a popular growth strategy, especially in competitive markets. Hospitality groups create multiple brands under one umbrella to cater to different guest demographics and price points, ensuring quality and authenticity. Personalization and experience-driven stays have become a necessity as travelers seek meaningful connections and unique stays. Both independent and boutique hotels are focusing on creating memorable experiences and fostering opportunities for guests to connect, adding value to their stays. In the luxury sector, understanding and anticipating the needs of high-net-worth clients is essential. Firms like In Residence are expanding internationally to ensure that their high-net-worth clients receive a consistent experience wherever they travel. As Pieter Brudyn, CEO of In Residence, says, "In this new era, its not just about where people stay, but how we meet their needs at every level." Herberg School's Dorothy McGurn made it her mission to ensure that a decades-old postcard reached retired art teacher Raymond Guidi. Guidi with some of his artwork. He has exhibited his work locally and taught art classes at the Berkshire Museum. PreviousNext 63-Year-Old Lost Postcard United With Intended Recipient The 63-year-old postcard delivered to Herberg Middle School. PITTSFIELD, Mass. In 1961, a South Junior High student sent a postcard from Paris to her favorite art teacher. On Monday, he finally received the piece of mail. Raymond Guidi was surprised and glad to see the communication after all of this time. He worked for the Pittsfield Public Schools for a few years and then taught in Dalton for nearly 40. "I have had former students contact me through the years," he explained. Two weeks ago, iBerkshires.com called on the public to locate "Mr. Guidi" after a long-lost postcard addressed to him from Sue Smart arrived at Herberg Middle School. Not long after being published, Guidis daughter contacted the school's clerk Dorothy McGurn and relayed that he was appreciative of the effort and would like the card as a keepsake. "It feels awesome," McGurn said. "Its wonderful to know that we were able to connect him and hopefully we find Sue. That would be an even happier moment to reunite him with Sue and just it would come full circle with the end of the story." Dated June 1, 1961, the postcard reads: 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 It was addressed to "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. The 2024 World Internet Conference (WIC) Wuzhen Summit is being held in the ancient water town of Wuzhen in China's Zhejiang, highlighting efforts to build a people-centered and AI-for-good digital future. #GLOBALink Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter for all the latest entertainment news and reviews Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A critically panned sci-fi from 2019, that was written by James Cameron, has become an unlikely hit five years later after being added to Netflix. Alita: Battle Angel, was originally supposed to be directed by Cameron himself but eventually left the task to Robert Rodriguez. The Terminator and Avatar director produced and co-scripted the film instead. The cyberpunk-action movie, starring Rosa Salazar, Christoph Waltz, Jennifer Connelly and Mahershala Ali, was wrapped up in controversy when it was first released after right-wing fans positioned it as an alternative to Brie Larsons Captain Marvel, which was released around the same time. The blockbuster focuses on the titular character, a cyborg, who after being revived by a doctor, realises that she has the soul of a teenage girl and sets out on a mission to discover the secrets of her past. Alita was a success at the time, thanks largely to its international fanbase, grossing $405m (323m) worldwide against a $170m (135m) budget. Critics werent as kind to the movie and it currently holds just a 61 per cent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The movie was added to Netflix on 8 November and has persistently remained in the Global top 10 movie rankings ever since and at the time of writing has the number four slot. CBR reports that the film had 6.2 million views in that time and 12.7 million hours viewed. open image in gallery Alita: Battle Angel' ( 20th Century Fox/Moviestore/Shutterstock ) Fans of the film, which is based on a manga series by Yukito Kishiro, have been clambering for a sequel ever since the first film was released but are yet to receive any official confirmation. In July 2023, during an interview with Forbes, Cameron hinted that he was working on another Alita film. In the piece, which centred on the news that Cameron had sold his coastal ranch in California for $33m (25.6m), the filmmaker alludes to ongoing work on an Alita sequel, as well as the forthcoming Avatar sequels. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free On Avatar, Im working in Wellington and Los Angeles, he said. And on the new Alita: Battle Angel films, Ill be working in Austin, so it just didnt make sense for us anymore. open image in gallery James Cameron ( Getty Images ) Avatar: The Way of Water, the first sequel to Camerons 2009 smash Avatar, was released in cinemas in 2022, becoming one of the highest-grossing movies ever made. Three further sequels are currently in development. The as-yet-untitled Avatar 3 was originally set to come out in December 2024 but has been moved to December 2025. As a result, the fourth and fifth entries were pushed back until December 2029 and December 2031 respectively. Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter for all the latest entertainment news and reviews Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy John Wick franchise director Chad Stahelski has given his verdict on Eva Longoria saving the original film from being shelved 24 hours before it was due to start filming. The action films, which follow a hitman who is reluctant to return to the work after retiring, have gone on to gross $1bn across four movies but almost werent made after the creators found themselves $6m short. Stahelski and David Leitch revealed that the Desperate Housewives star came to the rescue, and that the investment paid back significantly for her. Speaking on The Hollywood Reporters It Happened in Hollywood podcast, Stahelski admitted he didnt know Longoria was the person to have saved his film until after John Wick was released. About a week before we went to production, we had gap financing, he explained. We had an investor fall out for about $6 million. So when youre [making an] $18 million movie, that kills you. He continued: We didnt have any money. So a lot of the crew left. We were losing locations. We were literally 24 hours away from failing. Despite Stahelski, Leitch, and star Keanu Reeves pouring all available finances they had into the film, they still didnt have enough. open image in gallery Keanu Reeves in John Wick' ( Warner Bros ) Then the films producer, Basil Iwanyk, announced a new investor had been found 48 hours before they pulled the plug on the film. We didnt think twice about it and went right into the movie, only to find out nearly a year later that it was Eva Longoria, said Stahelski. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free So we literally, the next day, called her up and took her to lunch to say thank you at the Chateau Marmont and just couldnt thank her enough. The director said he and the Desperate Housewives star have joked about her good investment instincts in the years since the film came out in 2014. Shes like, It was an investment and I didnt know what was going on. I didnt know what it was. But it sounded kind of weird and cool, he says. So I hope she got every penny back. I hope she made millions of dollars. open image in gallery Eva Longoria saved the original John Wicks film from being shelved ( Getty Images ) It comes shortly after Longoria discussed her John Wicks involvement with Business Insider and revealed her only regret is not being involved with the films sequels. John Wick (2014) was followed by John Wick: Chapter 2 in 2017, John Wick: Chapter 3- Parabellum in 2019, and John Wick: Chapter 4, last year. What Im p***ed off about is I wasnt connected to the rest of them, Longoria said. This was a one-time thing. That was the gamble. But that was my only mistake, not being attached to all of the films. Although Longoria was not involved in the movies sequels, she said of her total earnings: You know, I would have to check. More than double [$6 million], for sure. Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter for all the latest entertainment news and reviews Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Jonathan Majors ex-girlfriend Grace Jabbari has dropped an assault and defamation lawsuit against the actor. Majors was convicted of assault and harassment in December 2023, and while he avoided jail time, he was ordered to enrol on a 52-week domestic abuse prevention programme. In March this year, Jabbari brought a lawsuit for defamation, assault, and battery against the star, after the 35-year-old repeatedly claimed that he did not assault Jabbari both before and after the domestic assault trial. The suit accused the stars defence attorneys of using Ms Jabbaris time on the stand to defame her at the end of the proceedings. Majors fiancee and Think Like a Man actor Meagan Good has publicly supported him throughout his trial, with the couple announcing their engagement earlier this week (18 November). On Thursday (21 November), lawyers for both parties filed a joint notice with the court, stating that all claims against Defendant in the above-captioned action are hereby dismissed with prejudice. Jabbari and Majors met on the set of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantum-mania in August 2021. The actor then met Good in 2022, while he was still dating Jabbari. In March 2023, the couple split after a series of alleged domestic abuse altercations. In May 2023, Good and Majors were confirmed to be dating. Jabbari, a 31-year-old British dancer, accused Majors of slapping her, fracturing her finger, twisting her right arm, and striking her right ear, causing her to bleed in an incident that allegedly happened on 25 March 2023. Majors was arrested that evening after he found Ms Jabbari in his Chelsea apartment following the incident and called 911. He told authorities he suspected that his then-girlfriend had attempted suicide or overdosed. Actor was convicted of assault and harassment against his ex-girlfriend last year ( Getty Images ) The actor later filed a domestic violence report against Ms Jabbari in June. The Manhattan DAs office ultimately decided not to pursue the case. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free After Majors was found guilty of two misdemeanours, Majors was immediately dropped by Marvel Studios. He had previously played Kang the Conqueror in the Disney+ series Loki as well as the 2023 film Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. Both projects had originally set him up as the next big Avengers villain designed to follow in the footsteps of Josh Brolins Thanos. The fifth Avengers film was called Avengers: The Kang Dynasty. This title has since been scrapped, per The Hollywood Reporter, and the project will be officially known as Avengers 5 until a new title is decided on. Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter for all the latest entertainment news and reviews Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Lindsay Lohan has revealed the hilarious reply she fired back at the CEO of Disney at The Parent Trap world premiere in 1998 when she was just 12. The Parent Trap starred Lohan as twins Annie James and Hallie Parker, who were separated at birth and raised individually by each of their parents, played by Dennis Quaid and Natasha Richardson. By coincidence, the girls meet at a summer camp when theyre 11 years old, and decide to secretly swap places and try to get their parents back together. Speaking to Andy Cohen on Watch What Happens Live as part of the press tour for her forthcoming Netflix Christmas film Our Little Secret, Lohan revealed she had made a quip about her pay for the roles. At the films world premiere, the then-Disney CEO Michael Eisner asked her: Wheres your twin? despite Lohan having played both Annie and Hallie in the film. I was so young, I dont even know how I thought to say this, but Ill never forget what I said, Lohan recalled. I said, Well you shouldve paid me double, because I dont have one. Elsewhere in the interview, Lohan revealed The Parent Trap is the only film she has ever auditioned for and has said she would film a sequel as long as director and co-writer Nancy Meyers was on board. open image in gallery Lindsay Lohan as Annie James and Hallie Parker in The Parent Trap ( Walt Disney Studios ) I would never say no to Nancy, she said. Lohan will reprise one of her most famous Disney roles in a Freaky Friday reboot alongside Jamie Lee Curtis, set to be released next summer. Curtis played the role of Lohans mother in the much-loved 2003 film, which sees a mother and daughter swap bodies after getting into a terrible fight. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free Lohan told Nightline that returning to the Disney production lot in California brought back a flood of memories. open image in gallery Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan on set of Freaky Friday 2 ( Walt Disney Studios ) I think really for me was when I went onto the Disney lot, she said. And being back on the Disney lot, because thats not just Freaky Friday for me. Thats The Parent Trap, thats Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen, thats Herbie. Its so many moments for me. So when I got there, I kind of felt like this essence of a little kid again, Lohan added. Im so grateful for every moment of it. Every second, she said. Im going to get emotional. Its a great experience. Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter for all the latest entertainment news and reviews Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Wicked has hit theaters as of Friday (November 22) with musical lovers ready to enjoy another adaptation of The Wizard of Oz prequel. Jon M. Chus highly-anticipated film starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo as Glinda and Elphaba, respectively, comes more than two decades after Wicked the musical began its Tony Award-winning run on Broadway. It debuted at the Gershwin Theater in New York City in 2003 and is still playing there to this day, making it the tenth longest-running production in Broadway history. It surpassed $1 billion in earnings in 2016, becoming one of three Broadway shows in history to do so alongside The Lion King and The Phantom of the Opera. As with any adaptation, there are a few changes from the original indeed, the play was based on Gregory Maguires 1995 novel, Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, which itself was inspired by L. Frank Baums 1900 novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and its 1939 film adaptation. For Broadway fans, the entire score in the new film is the same, with some varying outros or longer sections. But because the movie is being split into two parts, there were opportunities to dive deeper into the stories of Galinda and Elphaba that arent included in the play. Here are five ways Chus Wicked differs from the Broadway stage musical. *Warning Spoilers ahead for Wicked the film and musical* Elphabas childhood open image in gallery Elphabas skin is green because her mother drank a green elixir while pregnant ( Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved. ) From the beginning of the musical, viewers are aware of Elphabas rocky relationship with her father. Her mother has an affair with a traveling salesman (later revealed to be the Wizard) who makes her drink a green elixir, which turns Elphaba green. The movie shows flashbacks to the Wicked Witch of the West growing up and the children of Munchkinland bullying her over her looks. Her father doesnt even want to raise her until a talking bear named Dulcibear convinces him otherwise. She ends up becoming Elphaba and Nessaroses nanny, which largely explains why she is such a big animal rights activist. Fiyero and Elphabas first meeting open image in gallery Fiyero, Galinda, and Elphaba all meet at the same time in the stage musical ( Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved. ) Shiz Universitys heartthrob is originally introduced in the musical to Elphaba and Galinda at the exact same time, laying the groundwork for the love triangle established between the three of them. However, in the movie, Fiyero and Elphaba meet separately when she is leaving Dr. Dillamonds home. The two talk briefly before it is discovered that he is a new Shiz student. This allows for a stronger foundation for the couples relationship that will be looked at more in the movies second part. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free open image in gallery The Wizard is deemed powerful because he is the only one who can read the spell book The Grimmerie ( Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved. ) In the Broadway musical, the song One Short Day features a game show called Wizomania, which briefly explains that the Wizard just showed up in a hot air balloon and saved Oz from their posteriors. In the movie, the original Elphaba and Galinda, played by Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth, make cameos singing about a spell book called The Grimmerie. Before the Wizard showed up, a group of magically adept individuals called The Wise Ones ruled Oz before they all died off. But there was a prophecy that someone would arrive and be able to read The Grimmerie when people needed it the most. Because the Wizard could read the book, they assumed he could save them. Madame Morrible and her relationship with Elphaba open image in gallery Madame Morrible personally teaches Elphaba how to use her magical abilities ( Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved. ) Throughout the musical, the headmistress of Shiz is more of a background character as the viewer gradually learns just how involved she is with the Wizards plan to manipulate both Galinda and Elphaba. However, in the film, Morrible is the reason Elphaba is able attend Shiz after she witnesses the witchs talents and decides to personally train her through her sorcery seminar and teach her how to harness her magical abilities. How Elphaba can fly open image in gallery Elphaba originally struggles to fly in the movie adaptation ( Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved. ) Defying Gravity marks the end of both the first act in the musical and part one in the movie as Elphaba flies on a broom and accepts herself as the Wicked Witch that people think she is. However, in the Broadway version, she doesnt struggle to fly in the same way she does in the film. In the film, Elphaba falls, and there is a younger version of herself that appears and inspires her to try again. That was really important, Chu said about adding in a young Elphaba to the song. She needed a reason why: not for anger, not for vengeance, but for herself. She needed to be this person. Sign up to Roisin OConnors free weekly newsletter Now Hear This for the inside track on all things music Get our Now Hear This email for free Get our Now Hear This email for free SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Paul Simon has warned fans they wont be hearing him play his 1986 hit You Can Call Me Al anytime soon. The 83-year-old folk rock icon, who rose to fame with Art Garfunkel as the renowned 1960s duo Simon & Garfunkel, joined CBS Mornings on Wednesday (November 20), where he spoke about his hearing loss battle. Im going through my repertoire and reducing a lot of the choices that I make to acoustic versions, he said on the show. Its all much quieter. Its not You Can Call Me Al. Thats gone. I cant do that one. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee started to lose his hearing four years ago during the recording of his 2023 studio album, Seven Psalms. At the time, Simon assumed his performing days were over. Reflecting back on his first few months coping with the reality of losing his hearing, he said: It was incredibly frustrating. I was very angry at first, yknow, that this had happened. I guess what Im most apprehensive about would be if I cant hear well enough to really enjoy the act of making music, he noted. open image in gallery Paul Simon says he cant play You Can Call Me Al anymore amid hearing loss battle ( Getty Images ) According to Simon, hes lost 94 percent of his hearing in his left ear. When he initially spoke to his doctors about the hearing loss, theyd claimed nothing could be done to help him. Now, hes putting his faith in the Stanford Initiative to Cure Hearing Loss, a team of 100 scientists dedicated to finding methods for hearing loss prevention and repair. Simon is hopeful in the mission. Hes also been looking to other artists whove gone through similar health issues for inspiration amid the battle. You know Matisse, when he was suffering at the end of his life, when he was in bed, he envisioned all these cut-outs and had a great creative period, Simone said of the 20th century French visual artist. So I dont think creativity stops with disability. So far, I havent experienced that. And I hope not to. Enjoy unlimited access to 100 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music Sign up now for a 4 month free trial (3 months for non-Prime members) Sign up Enjoy unlimited access to 100 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music Sign up now for a 4 month free trial (3 months for non-Prime members) Sign up Though he wont play You Can Call Me Al again, which Setlist.fm estimates hes performed over 400 times throughout his career, Simon is optimistic hell get back to hosting full-length concerts. Last month, he told The Guardian: Im hoping to eventually be able to do a full-length concert. Im optimistic. Six months ago I was pessimistic. open image in gallery Simon and Art Garfunkel performing at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame concert in 2009 ( Getty Images ) Simons 2018 Homeward Bound - The Farewell Tour began in Vancouver, Canada before finishing up in Queens, New York, just miles away from where hed gone to school with his long-time music partner, Garfunkel. Last month, the two reunited for the first time in years, Garfunkel told The Sunday Times in an interview with his son, Art Garfunkel Jr. I looked at Paul and said, What happened? Why havent we seen each other? Garfunkel recalled. Paul mentioned an old interview where I said some stuff. I cried when he told me how much I had hurt him. Looking back, I guess I wanted to shake up the nice guy image of Simon & Garfunkel. Yknow what? I was a fool! The last time Simon & Garfunkel performed together was in 2010, when they took part in the American Film Institutes (AFI) tribute to The Graduate director Mike Nichols, whose film helped propel them to international fame by featuring a number of their songs. Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter for all the latest entertainment news and reviews Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy 900 Days Without Anabel, Netflixs latest three-part true crime docuseries, will dive into the missing person case that became the longest kidnapping in the history of Spain. Anabel Segura was just 22 when she was kidnapped by Emilio Munoz Guadix and Candido Ortiz Anon in 1993. For nearly three years, an entire country was kept in suspense as police searched for the whereabouts of her and her kidnappers. In the series, directed and co-written by Monica Palomero, viewers will gain access to never-before-heard tapes recorded by police agents during their negotiations with Seguras captors. The documentary will also highlight the months of blackmail made against her family, including the 14 phone calls made by her kidnappers between 1993 and 1995. 900 Days Without Anabel, which premieres on the streaming platform on November 22, marks the latest of Netflixs international true crime projects, following The Asunta Case and The Man with 1000 Kids. Who was Anabel Segura? Anabel Segura Foles was a 22-year-old woman from La Moraleja, an affluent residential district of Alcobendas located in the Community of Madrid. open image in gallery 900 Days Without Anabel hits Netflix on November 22 ( Netflix/YouTube ) She was the eldest daughter of Jose Segura Najera, a businessman in the petrochemical business, and her German mother Sigrid Foles. Segura was a business student at the ICADE university at the time of her kidnapping. What happened to Anabel? Segura was kidnapped on the morning of April 12, 1993, while she was on a run in her northern Madrid neighborhood. She went on a run, wearing a tracksuit and carrying her Walkman music player, when Munoz Guadix and Ortiz Anon pulled up in a white van and held Segura at knifepoint. She resisted, losing part of her tracksuit and her Walkman in the struggle, but was ultimately taken in the van as Munoz Guadix and Ortiz Anon drove off. A janitor at the nearby school was a witness to the kidnapping, but was unable to make out the license plate number on the van without his glasses. He called the police immediately after the incident. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free open image in gallery Anabel Seguras disappearance is discussed on Spanish television ( Netflix ) Who were her kidnappers? Emilio Munoz Guadix, who worked as a delivery driver for a parcel company, had moved from Vallecas, Madrid, to the Toledo municipality of Pantoja with his wife, Felisa Garcia, and their children. Ortiz Anon was Munoz Guadixs childhood friend, who had moved to Escalona, Toledo. He worked as a plumber. Was Anabel murdered? After being abducted from her neighborhood, Segura was held captive in an abandoned factory in Toledo, an hour away from Madrid. She unsuccessfully attempted to escape and, according to news outlet laSexta, she was killed six hours later. Her body was buried nearby the abandoned factory in Numancia de la Sagra. However, her kidnappers pretended Segura was alive for more than two years in an attempt to extort money from her wealthy family. open image in gallery Anabel Segura was abducted in a white van while she was on a run in her northern Madrid neighborhood ( Netflix ) Two days after Segura was kidnapped and murdered, Munoz Guadix and Ortiz Anon made their first phone call to lawyer Rafael Escudero, who was representing her family, requesting a sum of 150 million Spanish pesetas, or $945,000. Between April 1993 and September 1993, the kidnappers contacted Seguras family 14 times to ask for money for Seguras ransom. At one point, her father mortgaged his home and even offered 15 million pesetas, or $94,498, to anyone who could provide a clue to his daughters location. At least twice, family representatives went to an agreed upon meeting place with the kidnappers to pay the ransom, but they never showed up. Three months after Seguras murder, Munoz Guadix and Ortiz Anon sent her family a tape, in which the 22-year-olds voice was thought to be recorded. In the audio, a womans voice could be heard saying she was fine and crying out to be taken home. open image in gallery 900 Days Without Anabel highlights never-before-heard tapes recorded by police agents during their negotiations with Anabel Seguras captors ( Netflix ) However, it was later revealed that the woman pretending to be Segura on the tape was actually Munoz Guadixs wife, Garcia. For the first time in Spain, police decided to release the recording to the public, asking them for their help in identifying the people heard on the tape. Upon hearing the recording on TV, a resident of Escalona identified the voice of Ortiz Anon to police. On September 28, 1995, police arrested Ortiz Anon and Munoz Guadix and his wife. Seguras body was finally found on September 30, 900 days after her disappearance, at the abandoned warehouse. Where are Anabels kidnappers now? Following their arrest, Munoz Guadix and Ortiz Anon were sentenced by the Provincial Court of Toledo to 39 years in prison, before the Supreme Court raised their sentences to 43 years. Garcia, meanwhile, served six months in prison for covering up the kidnapping and impersonating Segura on the tape. According to La Vanguardia, the kidnappers were charged with aggravating circumstances of treachery, illegal detention, and attempted fraud. Ortiz Anon served the first 10 years of his sentence at the Ocana prison in Toledo, but died in 2009 after suffering a heart attack aged 48. Munoz Guadix was incarcerated in the Herrera de La Mancha prison in the Ciudad Real province south of Toledo, but was released in 2013 after serving 18 years. Upon leaving prison, Munoz said in an interview that he was not a danger to the public and regretted his actions. Speaking to laSexta, he explained that his motive was purely economic. I made a serious mistake, which I accepted from the first moment, unlike others, and thats it, he said. I am sorry, I am very sorry for what happened, I already said it in court, I would give ten years of my life so that this would not have happened. 900 Days Without Anabel arrives Netflix on November 22. Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter for all the latest entertainment news and reviews Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Ellen DeGeneres and her wife, Portia de Rossi, have reportedly listed their Montecito estate and relocated to rural England following Donald Trumps presidential win. The former TV host, 66, and her wife, 51, have fled the country and plan to never return to the U.S., sources told The Wrap. The couple of 16 years has moved to the Cotswolds in South West England, the outlet reports, and their Montecito mansion, about 90 miles north of Los Angeles, has either already been privately listed or will be on the market soon. DeGeneres and De Rossi had already purchased their England home before the election, according to TMZ; however, they were very disillusioned by his win and decided to get the hell out of America permanently. The Independent has contacted DeGeneress representative for comment. Their reported move quickly caught the attention of British broadcaster Piers Morgan, who mockingly responded to the news, tweeting: OMG... no! The Finding Nemo stars news comes after she was kicked out of show business. In 2022, the comedian was forced to end her long-running Ellen DeGeneres Show after a Buzzfeed News investigation accused her of fostering a toxic workplace environment. Piers Morgan tweets OMG... no! in response to reports of Ellen DeGeneres moving to the U.K. ( Getty Images ) DeGeneres subsequently announced she would retire this August after playing the final dates on Ellens Last Stand Up tour, which were filmed for her new Netflix special, For Your Approval. A slew of other celebrities, including America Ferrera, Sharon Stone and Cher, have also expressed interest in leaving America following Trumps re-election. The Ugly Betty and Superstore star Ferrera, 40, was recently seen touring a private South West London school that her two children, son Sebastian, six, and daughter Lucia, four, could attend. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free Ferrera and her husband, fellow Barbie actor Ryan Piers Williams, are determined to relocate to give their children the best opportunities possible, a source told the Daily Mail earlier this month. Stone, meanwhile, previously pledged to leave the U.S. if Trump won. I am certainly considering a house in Italy, the 66-year-old Basic Instinct star told the Mail in July. I think thats an intelligent construct at this time. This is one of the first times in my life that Ive actually seen anyone running for office on a platform of hate and oppression. Trump, who beat Vice President Kamala Harris, has since been dolling out nominations for his cabinet picks to a series of unqualified and controversial figures. Hes so far proposed Matt Gaetz whos been accused of having sex with a minor for attorney general, former congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence, and conspiracy theorist Robert F Kennedy Jr. for health secretary. Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter for all the latest entertainment news and reviews Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Melvin Odooms family and friends have reacted to Dean McCulloughs betrayal of him in the Im a Celebrity jungle. The BBC Radio presenters have both been campmates since they landed in the Australian outback last weekend. While McCullough disappointed hosts Ant and Dec after being the first to drop out of a Bushtucker Trial, Odoom has spent his time pining for former Countdown presenter, Carol Vorderman. But before they headed to face a series of gruelling and nauseating challenges, the colleagues made a pact, live on air. Lorraine presenter, Ranvir Singh, said on Friday morning (22 November), Dean who is a co-presenter, now, hes betrayed old Melvin. They made a pact on air didnt they? Were going to stick together. Ahead of their entrance, BBC radio host Greg James had asked the pair, Is there going to be an alliance or is there going to be a fallout here? No, a hundred percent, alliance, are you mad? said McCullough with total confidence, before turning to Odoom for reassurance. Well, from my part... Odoom seconded the promise saying, I think strength in numbers, you know. McCullough abandoned the pact, literally as soon as he landed on the beach, saying Melvin, Im so sorry! as he grabbed Coleen Rooneys hand and said, Wagatha Christie, youre coming with me! Pair made a pact before entering the Australian outback ( ITV ) His co-presenter was left abandoned and shocked, saying Dean! Bro! No! Ricky Haywood-Williams, Odooms best friend, and another BBC radio presenter, said: Unbelievable! When I saw that, I was like Dean? How could you, Dean? The brotherhood. The Radio 1 brotherhood. The presenter also shed light on the reasons behind Odooms rule-breaking stash of salt and pepper, revealing that a previous contestant from a series carried out at a castle in Wales during the Covid pandemic, had been behind it. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free He did not reveal the name of the contestant, but said he had advised Odoom to take in some contraband to survive his time on the show. Dean McCullough abandons Melvin Odoom Haywood-Williams also suggested that his friend was playing up to the cameras a little bit and downplaying how good he was at dating. He loves to date, he loves the art of dating, he said of his dating practice with Tulisa Contostavlos. I think he was playing up to the campmates there, because Melvin knows what hes doing. New episodes of Im a Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! air on ITV1 and ITVX every night at 9pm. Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter for all the latest entertainment news and reviews Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy MSNBC mainstay Rachel Maddow has reportedly taken a significant pay cut to stay with the network following a dip in ratings. The popular anchor and host of the eponymously titled Rachel Maddow Show has renegotiated a new five-year contract, which sees her typical $30 million annual salary now down to $25 million, according to The Ankler. This is a difficult time and they needed to keep her. No one else can do what she does. You cant build a brand like it overnight, one executive told the publication of the networks decision. These figures have not been confirmed; however, a network source told The Independent the number was inaccurate but declined to comment further. The left-leaning news channel has seen a drop in ratings after Donald Trumps election victory, with Nielson ratings showing a 40 percent drop compared to last years ratings, The Daily Beast reported. Network producers are also having to figure out how to properly platform conservative voices on the only safe space for a liberal TV audience, another insider told The Daily Beast. We were so Harris propaganda that when she lost, viewers were shocked, one anonymous on-air pundit told the outlet. It turned into one giant circle j**k and echo chamber. If MSNBC wants to be of service to its viewers, they cant keep them in fantasy land. Rachel Maddow appeared on a recent episode of MSNBCs All in with Chris Hayes to deliver the special breaking news report ( MSNBC ) Maddow, 51, was praised by one executive network who called her ratings Viagra. She first joined MSNBC in January 2008 as a political analyst and a regular panelist on its Race for the White House program with David Gregory. She was also a substitute host for its Countdown with Keith Olbermann show. In August of that year, the channel announced The Rachel Maddow Show would replace its Verdict with Dan Abramss 9 p.m. slot the following month. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free With her new contract, Maddow will continue hosting her Monday-night show in addition to producing podcasts and documentaries for the network. Maddows pay cut comes amid an increasingly rocky media landscape. Just last week veteran broadcaster Chris Wallace announced he was departing CNN to explore the podcast and streaming landscape. However, it was later reported that his exit came after he was informed his two shows Whos Talking to Chris Wallace? and The Chris Wallace Show were getting canceled, and his reported $7 million annual salary was going to be massively slashed. His salary reduction came as part of the companys wider cost-cutting initiatives, according to Puck News. It was also reported that CNN chief executive Mark Thompson had told Wallace he was welcome to stay with the network but as an analyst with a much lower salary. Wallace insisted that he did not partake in any discussions about his future with the network, telling the outlet: It doesnt matter what was or wasnt said in that meeting because I had already decided with my wife six months ago to leave CNN. Any further speculation is irrelevant. Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter for all the latest entertainment news and reviews Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Stanley Tucci believes he has the answer to all of the Catholic Churchs problems. The 64-year-old is starring as Aldo Cardinal Bellini, in Edward Bergers forthcoming film Conclave, about an election for the papacy. Starring Ralph Fiennes, the film drew crowds when it premiered and is already being tipped for the Oscars. Although he admitted that Catholicism is a myth I have great difficulty believing, he did have some suggestions for the institutions improvement. Priests should be able to get married, he told The Guardian. That changes everything. And nuns. Why cant you be devoted to God and love someone at the same time? I dont understand that. He continued, Priests used to be married many years ago but the Catholic church stopped that. Tucci added that the prohibition of marriage had less to do with saintly aspirations and more to do with the avoidance of inheritance for women. The excuse was that priests needed to devote themselves to God, he said. But really it was because when they died, everything went to their wives. It wasnt about devotion but money. And I think thats a problem. Priests being able to be married would ground them in reality and only enhance their spirituality. Lets just start with that. open image in gallery Tucci stars as a priest in Edward Bergers forthcoming film Conclave ( Focus Features ) Reflecting on priesthood, Tucci said, These people are trying to emulate God and yet they created God. So thats weird. But without question, people in the public eye are always under more scrutiny. Youre larger than life. Based on the novel of the same name by Robert Harris, the actor admitted that the film follows certain stereotypes. The film does follow a certain trope, in a way, as the book did. But its a fascinating one and not an easy one, he said. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free open image in gallery Ralph Fiennes stars alongside Tucci ( Focus Features ) So often movies are made just to make us feel better. Thats why there are so many happy endings in movies, because there are so many unhappy endings in life. The conclave is the centuries-old tradition in which, on the death of a pope, cardinals gather in the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican to participate in rounds of voting until they elect a new pontiff. Conclave comes from the Latin cum clave, meaning with a key, to indicate the Cardinals are locked in until they have chosen the new leader for the worlds 1.3 billion Catholics. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A transgender woman in China won a landmark legal case against a hospital that subjected her to a so-called electroshock conversion therapy without consent, receiving 60,000 yuan (6,552) in compensation. Admitted to the hospital in 2022 after her parents opposed her gender identity, Linger who uses a pseudonym was diagnosed with discordant sexual orientation and reportedly underwent seven electroshock sessions over 97 days. It caused serious damage to my body, Linger told The Guardian. Every time I underwent the treatment, I would faint I didnt agree to it, but I had no choice. She said the hospital tried to correct me to make me conform to societys expectations. The treatments caused severe physical harm to Linger, including her ongoing heart issues. Lingers case marks the first successful legal challenge by a transgender person in China against such practices. Linger was awarded the compensation by the Changli County Peoples Court in Qinhuangdao, Hebei. She is a 28-year-old live-streamer from Hebei province in northern China. In August this year, the South China Morning Post reported that Linger had been saving the money earned from live-streaming for years, with the goal of undergoing gender reassignment surgery. Lingers parents had opposed her transition, leading to frequent arguments and to avoid further conflict, Linger reluctantly agreed to be admitted to a psychiatric hospital in 2022, despite not believing she had a mental illness, according to Chinas Hongxing News. After being admitted to the hospital, I was tied to the bed with ropes, and many doctors controlled my body and administered electroshock therapy for days, Linger told the outlet at the time. The hospital stated that Lingers mother had signed a consent form. Meanwhile, LGBTQ+ activists hailed the verdict as a victory for trans rights in a country where conversion therapy persists in a legal grey area. Linger said: In China, the situation for transgender people is not very optimistic. Theres a lack of protection for this group. She hoped her win in the legal challenge could help the community in their challenges. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy As pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai faces a potential life sentence in the high-stakes national security case in Hong Kong, his son Sebastien Lai has denounced the proceedings as a politically motivated show trial driven by a China-led crackdown on dissent. Lai, the founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper, is facing charges of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and publishing seditious materials, all of which are crimes under Hong Kongs controversial national security law, which was imposed by Beijing. Lai denies all the charges. Sebastien paints a harrowing picture of his fathers ordeal years of detention under dire conditions and underscores his unwavering commitment to democracy, press freedom, and the people of Hong Kong in an interview with The Independent. Condemning his fathers ongoing prosecution, Sebastien says that the 77-year-old media tycoon should never have been arrested. The trial shouldnt even be happening. He shouldnt have been arrested in the first place, he says. Introduced in 2020, the law marked a turning point in the citys pro-democracy movement, coming a year after grassroots-led protests against Beijings increasing influence erupted in 2019. Sparked by a controversial extradition bill, the protests saw hundreds of thousands march in defiance, with some demonstrators vowing to fight to the death for democracy. Prominent figures like Joshua Wong and Agnes Chow became faces of the movement, but the crackdown that followed the protests led to mass arrests and the exile of many activists. On Tuesday, Wong was among 45 pro-democracy activists sentenced to up to 10 years in prison under the national security law. Lai was another prominent target of Beijings clampdown. His newspaper, known for its critical coverage and pro-democracy stance, became a lightning rod for the Chinese governments ire during the protests. open image in gallery Sebastien Lai speaks with The Independent, expressing his exasperation with the trial of his father Jimmy Lai ( Namita Singh ) In August 2020, 200 police officers raided Apple Dailys offices and arrested Lai. Less than a year later, in June 2021, a second raid involving hundreds of officers led to the arrests of five executives, including the editor-in-chief and CEO. A week later, the paper ceased publication. Jimmy Lai is the principal mastermind and perpetrator behind the series of riots that shook Hong Kong. He is an agent and henchman of those hostile to China, Lin Jian, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, declared during a press briefing in Beijing. Now in custody for more 1,400 days, Lai faces three charges: two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and one of sedition. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges. If convicted, he faces a life sentence. Lai has already been sentenced to five years and nine months in prison for a separate fraud case linked to Apple Daily. Sebastien calls the case politically motivated, designed to silence his fathers pro-democracy voice and the broader freedom of speech movement in Hong Kong. open image in gallery Jimmy Lai poses during an interview with AFP at the Next Digital offices in Hong Kong on 16 June 2020 ( AFP via Getty ) Raising concern to an elected official abroad is not a collusion, Sebastien says, when asked about Lais meeting in 2019 with the then-US vice president Mike Pence and secretary of state Mike Pompeo to discuss the political crisis in Hong Kong. Collusion suggests that theres some nefarious benefit. That is what you collude for right? And in my fathers case, the biggest stretch, and I mean, the only stretch you can make is this that the benefit was democracy, he says, calling the charges insane. Sebastien raises concerns about his fathers health as he describes the torment he has endured during solitary confinement. The goal of solitary confinement is to break the person, he says. Hes been kept in horrible prison conditions ... no natural light, and the idea is to break him physically, mentally, and spiritually. Thats a level of isolation beyond what is legally acceptable. Its not looking good for him physically, he says. At his age and with pre-existing health conditions like diabetes, Lai is frail. Physically, he is not doing too well, his son admits. Hes got back problems, diabetes. Its a cocktail that doesnt bode well for ones health. Despite the toll, he says there is a bittersweet comfort in knowing his fathers mental and spiritual resilience remains intact. I saw the testimony with everybody else on Twitter, but he seemed to be doing well mentally still very sharp. His testimony was strong, he shared. Hes committed to journalism and to the importance of journalism in Hong Kong. During the trial, Lai denied allegations that he had sought foreign intervention in Hong Kongs affairs. Specifically, he rejected claims that he had tried to influence US officials, including Pence and Pompeo, to support Hong Kongs democracy protests. I would not dare to ask the vice-president to do anything, Lai testified in court. He described his interactions with these officials as merely relaying information about the situation in Hong Kong. In a case that has drawn international attention, diplomats from the US, UK, Germany, France, Australia, Switzerland, and Ireland attended the court in support of Lai, with many Western nations having denounced the charges against Lai and his trial. The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention recently called for his immediate release, echoing concerns that the trial is a violation of his rights. Critics, including human rights organisations and Western governments, argue that Lais prosecution is part of a systematic effort by Beijing to erase dissent and suppress the press in Hong Kong. Yet, despite all, Lais commitment to Hong Kongs democracy remains unshaken, his son says. He knew he was a target from the start ... but he stayed to defend his people. He made the right choice. My father is a deeply faithful man. It gives him tremendous strength. I think what keeps him going is knowing he did the right thing. Sebastien urges people to say a prayer for him. If a man who fought for freedom for the last 30 years deserves anything, its to be free immediately, he says. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A 37-year-old woman in the southern Indian state of Karnataka suffered severe injuries when a hair dryer exploded in her hand, police said. Police stated that the device was part of a parcel collected by the victim, Basavarajeshwari Yarnal from Bagalkote, allegedly on behalf of her neighbour, identified as Sasikala. While initial investigations pointed to a short circuit as the cause of the explosion, a more detailed inquiry is ongoing, police said. Authorities are reportedly also exploring the possibility of any prior disputes between Ms Sasikala and Ms Yarnal. The incident occurred on 15 November but came to public light only on Wednesday this week. Bagalkote superintendent of police, Amarnath Reddy, told reporters that a preliminary investigation found that Ms Sasikala had reportedly informed Ms Yarnal that she was out of town and requested her to collect a parcel from the courier office on her behalf. After collecting the parcel, Ms Yarnal allegedly opened it at Ms Sasikalas request and found a hair dryer inside, the outlet said. When she attempted to use it, the device allegedly exploded, causing severe injuries to her fingers and palms. The hair dryer was for my friend Sasikala. She had asked me to pick up the parcel and then later asked me to open it. It tried to use the dryer but it exploded. The doctors said I have suffered grievous injuries, Ms Yarnal was quoted as saying by NDTV. The hair dryer was reportedly made by a Visakhapatnam-based firm. The police have registered a case and also sent a team to the victims house for a probe. A report on the probe carried out so far has suggested that the blast occurred due to a short circuit. The dryer was manufactured by a Visakhapatnam-based firm. We are probing all angles, including any possible rivalry that the neighbour must have had with the victim, Mr Reddy said. The victim, a widow of an ex-army personnel, is undergoing treatment at a local hospital. The New Indian Express reported that Ms Sasikala had never ordered the hair dryer, adding mystery to the parcels origins. The police, however, said Ms Sasikalas denial was likely due to the fear of being implicated in the incident. The outlet said investigators were tracing how the device reached Bagalkote and are examining potential foul play. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy At least 10 people were killed in Afghanistans Baghlan province when a gunman opened fire on Sufis participating in a weekly ritual at a local shrine, the countrys interior ministry said on Friday. The details are still unclear but the ministry said it is conducting investigations to understand the nature of the attack and identify those responsible. The incident took place in Afghanistans remote Nahrin district. A man fired on Sufis during a weekly ritual at a shrine in Nahrin district, killing ten people, Talibans interior ministry spokesperson Abdul Matin Qani told AFP news agency. The Taliban seized control of Afghanistan in 2021, pledging to bring security to the conflict-ravaged country. However, attacks have persisted, with many attributed to the local affiliate of the militant group Isis. In September this year, unidentified gunmen killed at least 14 people and wounded six in an attack in Afghanistans Daikundi-Ghur border region, a predominantly Shia Muslim area once considered safe. The victims were greeting pilgrims returning from the religious festival of Arbain in Karbala, Iraq. The Isis terrorist group claimed responsibility, stating that the soldiers of the caliphate targeted Shiites, whom they label apostates. Earlier this year, the Talibans biggest rival in the region, Islamic State Khorasan Province an Isis affiliate claimed responsibility for a deadly shooting at the Imam Zaman Mosque in Herat province, Afghanistan, where six Shiite worshippers, including a woman and a child, were killed, and one person injured. A gunman using an AK-47 reportedly opened fire on people during prayers before fleeing the scene. ISKP is an extremist group that frequently targets Shiite Muslims, especially the Hazara minority who comprise about 10 per cent of Afghanistans population. In September 2022, a suicide bombing at the Kaaj education centre in Kabuls Dasht-e-Barchi neighbourhood killed 19 Hazara students and injured 27 others during an exam. The attack targeted the minority Shia community in a frequently targeted area. After the US withdrawal in 2021, the Taliban swiftly regained control of Afghanistan, reimposing strict Sharia-based laws despite earlier promises to respect human rights. Women have borne the brunt of this regime, facing bans on education, employment, and free movement, alongside harassment, violence, and disappearances for protesting. The country remains in the grip of one of the worlds worst humanitarian crises, with widespread poverty, displacement, and food insecurity affecting nearly 24 million people. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy At least 130 people were killed in deadly sectarian clashes in Pakistans northwestern Kurram district in spite of a tentative ceasefire, days after gunmen opened fire on a convoy of vehicles carrying Shiite Muslims, local officials said. Kurram, near the border with Afghanistan, has been a flashpoint for sectarian tensions for decades. They spilled over into a fresh wave of attacks last month when clashes between Sunnis and Shias left dozens dead. District administration official Wajid Hussain said 133 people had been killed in the attacks in the last week and a half. Last week, a convoy travelling from Parachinar to Peshawar was ambushed despite prior threats to Shiites in the region in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province an area with a history of sectarian violence between Sunni and Shiite communities. At least 20 others were also injured in the attack. "The district administration and other relevant authorities have initiated efforts to stop fighting between the two communities but there is no breakthrough yet," Mr Hussain said. A Pakistani government team mediated a seven-day ceasefire deal between the rival groups last Sunday. Armed Shiite and Sunni Muslims have engaged in tribal and sectarian rivalry for decades over land and other local disputes in Kurram. Provincial authorities put the death toll at 97, with 43 people killed in the initial attack when gunmen opened fire on mostly Shia drivers and the rest killed in retaliatory clashes. The chief minister for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Ali Amin Khan Gandapur, visited the area on Saturday for a large gathering of tribal elders and leaders. "Anyone who takes up arms will be treated as a terrorist, and their fate will be that of a terrorist," said Mr Gandapur according to a statement from his office late on Saturday, adding that security forces would remain in the area. Residents and officials said the main highway connecting Kurrams main city of Parachinar to the provincial capital Peshawar was blocked, which had made the transfer of wounded people to hospitals difficult. "Our medical team is working around the clock to perform surgeries due to the challenges in referring patients to larger hospitals in Peshawar and elsewhere," said Dr Syed Mir Hassan, from Parachinars district hospital. He added that they were currently treating around 100 wounded patients and had received 50 bodies during the violence. KP government spokesperson Barrister Dr Saif provided details of the attack, stating that the gunmen first targeted police personnel before opening fire on the passenger convoy from both sides. The convoy consisted of around 200 vehicles, he said. He added that an investigation into the incident is currently underway. Kurrams deputy commissioner Javedullah Mehsud told AFP that two separate convoys of members of the Shia community were targeted by the terrorists in the Kurram district. Both convoys consisted of around 40 vehicles travelling under police escort, he said. Shiite Muslims constitute about 15 per cent of Pakistans 240 million population, of which the majority are Sunni Muslims. The country has a longstanding history of sectarian tensions between the two communities. In July, clashes over a land dispute in Kurram escalated into sectarian violence, leaving nearly 50 people dead from both sides. Baqir Haideri, a local Shiite leader, criticised local authorities for failing to provide sufficient security for the convoy of over 100 vehicles, despite prior threats from militants targeting Shiites in Kurram. President Asif Ali Zardari condemned the attack, while prime minister Shehbaz Sharif vowed to bring those responsible for the killing of innocent civilians to justice. Attacking innocent passengers is a cowardly and inhumane act, Mr Zardari said. Mr Sharif said: The enemies of the peace of the country attacked the convoy of innocent citizens, which is tantamount to brutality. All attempts of anti-national elements to destroy the peace of the beloved country will be thwarted. An injured person, on the right, receives treatment at a hospital in Parachinar, in the Kurram district of Pakistans northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, on Thursday, 21 November 2024 ( AP ) The evil elements involved in the incident will be identified and punished accordingly. Saboteurs cannot demoralise the brave Pakistani nation by such cowardly actions, he said. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan accused the government of failing to protect citizens in Kurram. We demand immediate and decisive steps from both governments to permanently break this cycle of violence, the commission said in a statement. Additional reporting by Reuters. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Six people, including a British backpacker, have died allegedly after drinking tainted alcohol in Laos. British backpacker and lawyer Simone White, 28, from Orpington in Kent was among those to have died from suspected methanol poisoning after allegedly being served free drinks in Laoss Vang Vieng area. Two Danes, two Australians and an American have also died after being taken to the hospital with similar symptoms. A New Zealander is among those unwell and being treated, and the countrys foreign ministry said there had been several cases of suspected methanol poisoning after consuming alcoholic drinks. Laos police are investigating the case. Who are the victims? Two Australian teens, identified as Holly Bowles, 19, and Bianca Jones, 19, have died from suspected methnol poisoning. Bowles, who had been in critical condition on life support after drinking the tainted alcohol in Laos, died in a hospital in Bangkok, her family said on Friday. open image in gallery Australian teens Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones died of methanol poisoning in Laos ( Facebook ) We are so sad to say that our beautiful girl Holly is now at peace, her family said in a statement sent to Australian Network 10. We find comfort and solace in knowing that Holly brought so much joy and happiness to so many people. Earlier on Thursday, Australias prime minister Anthony Albanese announced that 19-year-old citizen, Bianca Jones, had died in a Thai hospital where she had been evacuated for emergency treatment, and that her friend Bowles remained in a hospital fighting for her life. The two 19-year-old Australian women fell ill on 13 November following a night out drinking with a group. They failed to check out from the Nana Backpacker Hostel as planned and were found sick in their room and then taken to Thailand for emergency treatment. Thai authorities confirmed that Jones had died by brain swelling due to high levels of methanol found in her system. Duong Duc Toan, the manager of the Nana Backpacker Hostel, told the Associated Press that staff were told by other guests that two women were unwell after they failed to check out as planned on 13 November. The hostel arranged transport to a hospital for them, he said. It is not known where the contaminated drinks were served. A 28-year-old British woman, Simone White, also died from suspected methanol poisoning in Laos while staying in the backpacking hotspot with her friend Bethany Clarke. open image in gallery British lawyer Simone White died after methanol poisoning in Laos ( Facebook ) In a post on a Laos backpacking Facebook group on 16 November, which has since been deleted, Ms Clarke wrote: Urgent please avoid all local spirits. Our group stayed in Vang Vieng and we drank free shots offered by one of the bars. Just avoid them as so not worth it. Six of us who drank from the same place are in hospital currently with methanol poisoning. Ms Clarke reportedly added that she was treated at a private hospital where she underwent many infusions and spent days recovering. Its not known if she is still in hospital. An American and two Danish tourists also died, though specifics about the causes of death have not been released. New Zealands foreign ministry said one of its citizens was sickened in Laos and was a possible victim of methanol poisoning. What have the authorities done? An officer at Vang Viengs Tourism Police office, who refused to give his name, told The Associated Press on Friday that a number of people had been detained in the case but that no charges have yet been filed. Staff at the Nana Backpacker Hostel, which was still operating but not accepting new guests, confirmed that the manager and owner were among those taken in for questioning. Tourist police offices are common in Southeast Asia and are set up specifically to help with incidents involving tourists and other foreigners. Laos is a one-party communist state with no organized opposition and the government keeps a tight lid on information. In this case, officials have released almost no details. The foreign ministry has refused to comment, and in Vang Vieng the small hospital where some of the victims are believed to have been treated initially referred all questions to the towns health office on the hospital grounds. The town health officials refused to comment, saying they lacked proper permission. What is methanol? Methanol, a colourless liquid with a faintly sweet pungent smell, completely mixes with water. Its very similar to ethanol the pure form of alcohol in alcoholic drinks. Unlike ethanol, however, methanol is toxic to humans and is commonly used as a solvent in industrial processes, a precursor for producing formaldehyde and an ingredient in products like antifreeze and fuel. A precursor for producing formaldehyde and other chemicals. An ingredient in antifreeze, paint thinners, and fuel. How dangerous is it? Methanol is readily absorbed and distributed throughout the body. It is metabolised to formic acid, which is toxic in large concentrations. The US National Institutes of Health says it is well established that methanol has serious acute toxic effects that occur at high levels of exposure. The NHS warns that as little as 4ml of methanol can cause hallucinations and blindness. Half an hour to two hours after consuming methanol symptoms include drowsiness, confusion and irritability. Later symptoms include dizziness, vomiting, severe abdominal pain and diarrhoea. Severe cases may lead to fast, shallow breathing, then coma and convulsions. Patients may be given dialysis. How can tourists avoid it? Homemade alcohol, popular in southeast Asia, may accidentally contain too much methanol because of the distillation process. Or it may be used as a cheap substitute for ethanol effectively a counterfeit alcoholic drink. Local spirits including local rice or palm liquor, spirit-based mixed drinks such as cocktails, and fake branded alcohol sold in shops or bars may all be affected. The Foreign Office issued a warning to UK tourists, advising holidaymakers in Laos to take precautions. The US State Department on Friday issued a health alert for citizens traveling in Laos, warning of suspected methanol poisoning in Vang Vieng, possibly through the consumption of methanol-laced alcoholic drinks. Measures include buying alcohol only from licensed stores and licensed bars and hotels, and avoiding homemade drinks. Tourists should also check that bottle seals are intact when buying and check labels for poor print quality or incorrect spelling, which may indicate they are knock-offs. Anyone suspecting they have drunk methanol is advised to get medical help. Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Get Simon Calders Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A former flight attendant with terminal cancer has lived out her dying last wish of taking flight one last time. Janet McAnnally, a 79-year-old hospice patient living in California, was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer. Over time, the cancer spread to her spine, causing her to undergo several rounds of treatment. However, McAnnally chose to stop all her treatments in recent months so that she could live her final days to the fullest. I just decided, you know, I dont want to feel like that. I want to have a good time, she told CBS affiliate KOVR-TV in a recent interview. So when I stopped that and signed up with hospice, it really changed my outlook and my health around. Ive had a lovely life, she continued. I made that decision to stop the treatments and the physicalness of stopping made my life so much more... able to enjoy it and do things and not just sit huddled in a chair all day. open image in gallery Janet McAnnally was granted her last wish to fly in a plane after being diagnosed with terminal cancer ( KOVR-TV ) I know its going to end. Ive accepted that. Im not fighting against it, McAnnally said. Its just something thats happened and Ive got to deal with it. McAnnally first dreamt about traveling the world when she was in fourth grade. She then lived her dream working as a flight attendant for Trans World Airlines in Chicago for seven years. When she settled into the Calaveras County hospice center, McAnnally participated in its Last Wish Program by asking to board one final plane ride. The center then reached out to United Airlines pilot Rob Davids, asking if he could help organize a flight for McAnnally around the county. open image in gallery McAnnally piloted the plane with United Airliness Rob Davids ( KOVR-TV ) Not only did Davids oblige, but he allowed McAnnally to help pilot the aircraft for the hour they were in the air. He even gifted her a flight log book to mark their first trip together. Speaking to KOVR-TV, Davids said: I just felt lucky to be part of it and give her that chance. I just appreciate every flight like its the last. While McAnnally was initially excited about the trip, she later became emotional once they had landed and she realized what we had just done. It had rained earlier and so the land just looked beautiful. All the sudden, the moon began to come up and that got me, I think I got a little emotional, she explained. Theres no point, even if its only a month or two left, to sit around and do nothing and moan and cry about it; better to cry happy tears and enjoy as much as you can. Meanwhile, Melissa Justice the hospice centers director of community relations told KOVR-TV: Moments like these remind us of the profound impact we can have on our patients lives. We are committed to ensuring that every individual can create lasting memories during their time with us. Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Mexican soap opera star and fitness influencer Barbara de Regil has drawn backlash for performing a workout routine mid-flight. The 37-year-old actor, who starred in Latin American telenovelas like Lalola and Rosario Tijeras, was traveling with her husband, Fernando Schoenwald, when she decided to unwind by turning the cabin aisle into her personal gym. She performed a full body pump workout mid-flight, which didnt exactly win over her fellow passengers or online spectators. Im feeling crazy after nearly 35 hours in the air on planes, the fitness guru explained, addressing her 9 million Instagram followers in an Instagram Story post. But instead of sticking to light stretches or a casual stroll, de Regil opted for a full-throttle, multistep workout, including running in place and squat jumps all while wearing pajamas and an eye mask. Her husband, unfazed, stayed seated and scrolled through his phone as if nothing unusual was happening. Meanwhile, online critics werent as chill. This ridiculous lady has already won the Idiot of the Year award, one said. I go to the back of the plain and stretch not in the middle of the Isle, wrote another. Planes dont have showers, she must stink, a third added. However, there were some who defended the actor. 35 hours!? I would be moving too, someone said. Movement is extremely good for you and healthy for you when youre flying so often. I learned this because I used to fly a lot for work and I started having issues with water retention and cramping, read another comment. De Regil brushed off the backlash, insisting she couldnt stay still for long periods. Beneath a screen capture of her story posted on La Razon Mexicos Instagram account, she took to the comments section to defend her decision to stay active while in the air. Those movements that you see, hahaha, are to avoid thrombosis and, above all, I dont know about you, but I cant sit for that long, she said. I think more are bothered by the one who snores than the one who moves - besides first of all the space is big. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it is recommended that airplane passengers move as much as they can during flights to prevent deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which occurs when a blood clot forms within the large deep veins of the body, usually in the leg. Clots are more likely when you sit for long periods of time, so getting up and moving is widely encouraged. Sign up to IndyEat's free newsletter for weekly recipes, foodie features and cookbook releases Get our food and drink newsletter for free Get our food and drink newsletter for free SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy When it comes to winter warmers, is there anything more comforting than a well-spiked hot drink crowned with cream? Making it both toothsome and fused with flavour and this is where Larousse Cocktails comes in. Cited as the definitive guide to timeless and classic cocktails by the world-renowned French cookery brand, the mixology experts at Larousse have created a tome on the art of mixology, with more than 200 recipes featuring rum, gin, tequila, vodka, champagne, cognac, whiskey and more. Weve delved inside and plucked three tasty recipes for the home bartender to rustle up as the nights draw in. Irish Coffee open image in gallery A classic combination of Irish whiskey, hot coffee, and a creamy top layer perfect for a winters evening by the fire ( Charly Deslandes ) Whisky will bring spicy, woody and even sour notes to a cocktail, say the writers at Larousse. This aromatic richness is particularly interesting as it allows you to create cocktails using very few ingredients or, conversely, to increase the number of ingredients without altering the spirits very powerful flavour. Makes: 1 Ingredients: 40ml Irish whiskey 15ml sugar cane syrup 40ml hot black coffee 30ml whipping cream, whipped Method: Heat the sugar cane syrup and Irish whiskey together and pour this hot mixture into a heatproof glass with a handle. Tilt the glass and carefully pour the coffee down the side of the glass so as to keep the layers of whiskey and coffee clearly separate. Stand the glass upright again and, using a bar spoon, very gently spoon a layer of whipped cream on top of the coffee to create three distinctly separate layers. Spicy Tequila Coffee open image in gallery This Mexican-inspired blend of tequila and hot coffee brings a warming heat, balanced by a smooth chilli-infused cream ( Charly Deslandes ) Tequila, is uniquely distinctive because of the flavour derived from its raw material, blue agave, highlights an excerpt from Larousse Cocktails. Classic tequila cocktails have always been popular in the USA, due to the countrys geographic proximity to Mexico. Today, tequila is hugely popular in Europe, bringing success to many bars and delighting the taste buds of more and more drinkers tempted by this Mexican spirit. Makes: 4 Ingredients: 60ml tequila 200ml whipping or double cream 2g red chilli 200ml sugar cane syrup 120ml hot black coffee 4 birds-eye chillies to garnish Method: Mix the cream and chilli together, then whip in a siphon, or in a bowl using a stand mixer or a hand-held mixer with a whisk attachment, until just holding its shape. Keep chilled. open image in gallery A luxurious, creamy cocktail with vodka, maple syrup, and lemon verbena tea, topped with a swirl of caramel for a sweet winter treat ( Charly Deslandes ) Mix the sugar cane syrup and tequila together then heat. Divide between four tall heatproof glasses. Incline each cup and carefully pour the hot coffee on top. Remove the piece of chilli from the whipped cream, then spoon just enough on top of each drink to make three distinct layers. Decorate with a small chilli and serve at once. Vodka Tabernacle Long considered a simple spirit made from potatoes in Eastern European countries, vodkas image has been enhanced over recent decades by an impressive input of expertise and diversity, underline the experts at Larousse. Today there are between 4,000 and 5,000 brands of vodka on the market, offering bartenders around the world an almost unlimited playing field. Makes: 1 Ingredients: open image in gallery Larousse Cocktails offers over 200 recipes, guiding home bartenders through classic and contemporary drinks for every occasion. ( Hamlyn ) 30ml vodka 120ml whipping or double cream 80ml vervain (lemon verbena) herbal tea 20ml maple syrup Caramel sauce Method: Whip the cream until thick in a siphon, or in a bowl using a stand mixer or a hand-held mixer with a whisk attachment. Keep the cream chilled in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Prepare the infused verbena tea, pour it into a glass and add the maple syrup and vodka. Fill the glass with the whipped cream and carefully pipe or spoon the caramel sauce on top. Larousse Cocktails, The Ultimate Expert Guide With More Than 200 recipes (Hamlyn, 40). Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Iconic British car brand Jaguar is facing intense mockery over its new rebrand. The companys promotional video, posted on X and Instagram, shows models dressed in futuristic brightly colored outfits walking in an alien-like landscape. Phrases including Break Moulds, Create exuberant, and Copy nothing appear on-screen as the figures pose next to pink rocks. The brands new, modernist logo then appears on screen. On X (formerly Twitter), numerous viewers mocked the advert, pointing out that no cars featured in the video. What a joke, one person wrote. Whoever agreed to this needs to know theyve just killed a British icon. Do you sell cars? Tesla founder Elon Musk added. You just advertised to less than 2% of the population of the planet, Americas Next Top Model season one winner, Adrienne Curry, wrote. I am sure that is really going to work out well for you. Your brand used to be so sexy and sleek. This is a joke. In the comments of Jaguars promo on Instagram, many viewers urged the brand to change revert back to its traditional branding and iconography using the leaping jaguar cat. You guys should go back to what made Jaguar great. Build classy British cars that are so unique and beautiful that no one cares they are unreliable. Thats the formula! one person commented. Imagine being THIS out of touch with what your brand is that you decide something like this tragic piece of marketing will land well. Whole marketing & executive team needs to go play in traffic! another wrote. Jaguar criticized for not including any cars in its new modernized advertisement ( Jaguar / X ) According to a press release from Jaguar, its transformation is defined by Exuberant Modernism, a creative philosophy that underpins all aspects of the new Jaguar brand world. Jaguar has its roots in originality. Sir William Lyons, our founder, believed that A Jaguar should be a copy of nothing, the chief creative officer of Jaguar Land Rover, Gerry McGovern, said. Our vision for Jaguar today is informed by this philosophy. New Jaguar is a brand built around Exuberant Modernism. It is imaginative, bold and artistic at every touchpoint. It is unique and fearless. Some of the changes with the rebrand include an upgrade to Jaguars logo, demonstrating the unexpected by seamlessly blending upper and lowercase characters in visual harmony, according to the press release. The brand will also be making use of exuberant colors and launching a newly reimagined Jaguar leaper logo, which is Jaguars precious mark of provenance. The full rebrand is slated to launch December 2 during the Miami Art Week, when the company will unveil a new electric GT model. Jaguar has not sold new cars to the general public for more than a year, which managing director Rawdon Glover said was intentional, in order to create a barrier between the old models and the new-look Jaguars. We need to change peoples perceptions of what Jaguar stands for. And thats not a straightforward, easy thing to do. So having a fire break in between old and new is, actually, very helpful, he explained. Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Martha Stewart has revealed why shes skipping her usual Thanksgiving festivities. In an interview with People on Thursday (November 21), the 83-year-old businesswoman shared that she and her family arent spending the upcoming holiday in the United States. We decided the kids wanted to go away, the grandchildren, and so were all packing up and going to Rome for a few days to visit the sites, she told the news outlet. Stewarts family trip to Italy will include her grandchildren Jude, 13, and Truman, 12 who are the sons of her only daughter, Alexis Stewart. The TV personality welcomed Alexis in 1965 with her former husband of 28 years, Andrew Stewart. The lifestyle guru also said that her family has built a busy itinerary for their trip to Rome. My grandchildren will get mad at me. They think theyre going on vacation for five days, but in fact, we are going to see everything. Ive planned quite a trip, she explained. Martha Stewart says she wont be in the U.S. for Thanksgiving this year ( Getty Images for Louis Vuitton ) This isnt the first time Stewart has opened up about her plans for Thanksgiving. During a recent appearance on Today, the cookbook author said she wouldnt be preparing a turkey this month. Although I raise my own turkeys, they have been pardoned this year. Were going to eat only vegetarian, she said during the November 21 segment, as she made her brioche stuffing-filled roasted pumpkin. While she shared that the recipe comes from her new book, Martha: The Cookbook, she also noted that it was a good pick for her family, since many of them are vegetarians. Although shell be out of town for Thanksgiving, Stewart plans to have many celebrations at her home in Bedford, New York, for the Christmas season. If somebody comes over in the afternoon, you have to have homemade Christmas cookies lying around, she told People. You just have to, and you have to have a couple dinners for your family and friends. She gushed over how much she loves her holiday gatherings, in which she and her loved ones exchange presents and have a little fun. I try to keep it very light-hearted and pleasant around the holidays. Family arguments, theres no place for that at the holiday time, Stewart explained. Once Christmas is over, the businesswoman revealed shell be busy traveling with her grandchildren. Its not completely planned, but we usually go away, she added. The kids like to go away for 10 days or so. Its all about the grandchildren. Thats where we are now, grandchildren time. Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy On Thursday November 28, Americans will be hard at work to prepare their Thanksgiving dinner, with foods on the menus ranging from a roasted turkey to a green bean casserole. Aside from the dishes served in the lavish feast, which can vary based on families cultures and traditions, Thanksgiving is also the annual holiday for people to commemorate all that theyre grateful for. While planning the big meal, theres also a huge range of ingredients that need to be purchased at your local grocery store. However, since Thanksgiving Day is a federal holiday in the US, some stores will be completely shut down on the holiday. For example, both Target and Walmart announced permanent closures on the holiday in 2020, with the policy remaining in place ever since. The outbreak of the pandemic had initially pushed these chains to close their doors on Thanksgiving, in order to limit crowding and spread out the shopping season. However, that doesnt mean that all grocery stores will remain closed on Thanksgiving Day. In fact, there are some retailers that you could make your way to on the morning of the holiday, in preparation for your annual feast. Once Thanksgiving Day comes to a close, many stores will be reopening on Friday. From there, shops be operating during their earlier or usual business hours, in preparation for some of the biggest sales of the year. Here are when stores open and close on Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday in the US. Whole Foods If youre looking for some fresh produce to cook up a storm, then youre in luck, as Whole Foods is set to be open during the holiday season. However, they will run on a limited schedule, and hours of operation may vary, so be sure to check your local store. Whole Foods stores will be open on Black Friday, with hours of operation depending on location. Costco All Costco stores in the US will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, as noted by the retailers official site. Costco Warehouses will reopen on Friday, with hours depending on store locations. However, the retailer will of course re-open the next day, with a slew of Black Friday sales planned. Walmart The retail giant will be closed on the holiday, before reopening the next day for Black Friday, an annual shopping occasion filled with store deals. Walmarts usual hours are from 6am to 11pm every day, but opening times on Black Friday are based on stores locations. Target The beloved retail store will also be closed on Thanksgiving Day before reopening the next day for Black Friday. Hours of operation for the day after Thanksgiving vary based on the stores location. Trader Joes Stores will be closed on November 28 in observance of the federal holiday. Trader Joes stores will reopen on Black Friday, with hours of operation depending on each store. Wegmans While Wegamans will be open on Thanksgiving, hours of operation are limited. For example, one Wegmans store in Brooklyn, New York, will be closed at 4pm, instead of at 11pm like it usually does. Opening and closing times for Wegmans can vary based on the location of the store. Although most Wegmans stores are expected to reopen at 7am on Black Friday, specific opening and closing times vary for each location. Starbucks Starbucks will be open on Thanksgiving Day. While its usual hours of operation are from 6am to 9pm, stores opening and closing times on the holiday vary based on location. Although Starbucks is expected to operate from 6am to 9pm on Black Friday, specific hours vary for each store. Aldi According to Aldis official website, all stores will be closed on Thanksgiving Day. Aldi will be reopening on Black Friday, as its hours of operation are usually from 8.30am to 9pm. However, specific opening and closing hours vary for each location. Dollar General The low-priced retailer is expected to be open on Thanksgiving Day. However, exact hours of operation depend on each location. You can find out more on the day by heading over to the stores website. Dollar General is expected to be open during its usual hours during Black Friday, with specific closing and opening times based on location. CVS CVS locations will be open on Thanksgiving. Some stores will be operating will modified hours, so you can see specific opening times for your local store on CVS website. On Black Friday, CVS locations will be open during its regular hours. Dunkin Donuts The beloved coffee chain will be open on Thanksgiving Day but with limited hours. Opening and closing times of stores on the holiday vary based on location. Dunkin Donuts with reopen on Black Friday, with its usual hour of operation based on each store. Walgreens Nearly all Walgreens stores will be closed on Thanksgiving this year, according to a press release. However, the brand noted that 24-hour locations will remain open to meet customer and patient healthcare needs. Walgreens stores that are closed on Thanksgiving will reopen on November 29, with opening and closing times depending on the location of the store. Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A wedding guest has called out an officiant over a rude joke he made in the middle of a couples ceremony. In a recent Reddit post shared to the Wedding Shaming subreddit, the guest explained that the officiant wasnt a priest and was a 30-year-old churchgoer recommended by one of the grooms friends. Throughout the ceremony, the guest wrote that he spent too much time talking about himself and definitely didnt sound very professional. As the ceremony was ending, the guest said the officiant made a comment about how it was a good thing that the groom was, definitely marrying up. Meaning that the bride was significantly better looking than the groom. I get that that could be seen as just a simple joke, but I guess if I was the bride I would be very mad if any part of the wedding ceremony speech was used to talk negatively about either of our looks. The guest added, I also just felt like it was unprofessional. Many people in the comments section agreed with the guest and criticized the officiant for making a joke at the grooms expense during his wedding day. Its the combo of two toxic ideas - one is that its the brides day and the groom is just window dressing, one comment began. The second is that you need to put someone down to praise their partner. What happened to hes so lucky to be marrying such a beautiful wife or something? Even that I feel is a little lopsided but at least not actively trying to be mean. Idk, I grew out of this corny and unkind humor ages ago. I hope the groom didnt internalize it too much. It would bother me. Another commenter agreed, writing, Yes, its tacky on someones most important day to do put down humor. Just be nice and save your comedy routine for another day. One commenter talked about her experience with a priest at her boyfriends little brothers funeral after he died in a car accident. At the funeral, the priest talked about himself and his life the entire time. I dont think he even actually said the boys name. But he talked about his divorce, his mother dying, his passions in life, and his favorite Bible verses, it was getting more and more infuriating as it went on, the commenter wrote. Then as he was wrapping up his autobiographical speech he turned to the deceaseds girlfriend (21 y/o mother, her son is from before the guy who died) and tells her its truly a tragedy that you lost your partner so young, youll never find a third guy to raise a another mans son and then just walked past! Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A mother has rented out an entire theater for a screening of Wicked. While shes expecting more than 110 guests to attend, the two people she banned from the event are none other than her children. Directed by John M. Chu, the big screen adaptation of the Broadway hit musical stars Ariana Grande as Glinda and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba. The film which has been split into two parts hits theaters on Friday (November 22), while part two wont be released until November 21, 2025. Ariane Tyler, a 39-year-old special education teacher from Illinois, rented out her local theater for a screening of the highly anticipated movie musical on Saturday. She had initially hoped to host the private viewing for herself and her friends, but as news quickly spread of her plans, 115 people expressed their interest in the screening. As a result, she created a private Facebook group to outline her rules and regulations for the Wicked screening. Her number one rule? No singing. Unless you have won a Tony, no singing will be permitted, Tyler warned her friends, according to the Wall Street Journal. However, her strict no-singing policy meant her own son and daughter, aged eight and five respectively, may likely spoil the experience for others in attendance. open image in gallery Movie-goers are enforcing no singing rules in theaters ahead of the Wicked premiere ( Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved. ) This is not something to joke about, Tyler, who has seen more than half a dozen touring productions of Wicked, told the outlet. Im so serious when I talk about these rules. Among her other guidelines included required costumes, no loud chewing, and zero bathroom breaks during the two-hour and 40-minute movie. Her two pregnant friends have been exempt from the no bathroom break rule, but she has advised them to choose aisle seats for the screening. Tyler isnt the only fan concerned about unwelcome Wicked sing-alongs. AMC Theatres recently issued a warning for movie-goers, reminding them that singing of any kind is prohibited inside the theater at all times. open image in gallery AMC Theatres reinforces its strict policies on singing with Wicked pre-show advisory video ( Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved. ) At AMC Theatres, silence is golden. No talking. No texting. No singing. No wailing. No Flirting. And absolutely no name-calling. Enjoy the magic of movies, a pre-show advisory video reads ahead of the film. Speaking to IndyStar, AMC spokesperson Ryan Noonan explained that this has been the theaters long-standing policy to prevent disruptive behavior. However, they wanted to emphasize these rules especially now before the musical debuts in theaters. The Wicked pre-show spot incorporates the themes of the film as a fun, engaging reminder to moviegoers to not disrupt the experience for those around them as they enjoy the show, Noonan said in a statement. But fans who wish to belt out the musicals classics, like Defying Gravity and Popular, shouldnt fret. Approximately 1,000 cinemas across North America will be offering sing-along screenings of Wicked beginning December 25. Wicked hits theaters in the U.S. on November 22. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy BBC presenter Mishal Husain is reportedly set to depart Radio 4s Today programme after 11 years on air. The journalist, who has worked at the BBC for more than 25 years, is believed to be stepping away from the broadcasters morning show in the new year. It is thought that she will remain on air until January when she will then use the BBCs long service perk, allowing her take five weeks of extra paid leave. It is unclear whether she will return to the corporation after this but, according to The Times, BBC bosses are in talks to find a new role for her. After 11 years Mishal has reached the point where the 3.30am alarm call is no longer a welcome noise, a source told The Times. She is very highly thought of and there will be an extremely big effort to make sure that shes accommodated well elsewhere. The bestselling author, who was paid up to 345,000 last year by the BBC, is understood to have been talking to bosses for about 18 months about her resignation. The Independent has contacted the BBC for a comment. open image in gallery Mishal Husain with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak before their BBC Head-to-head debate ( PA ) Husain, 51, previously hinted at her exit earlier this year when she told The Sunday Times in June that she was thinking about what is beyond Today and was wondering what the next act of my career might look like. The radio host began her career at the age of 18 as a city reporter in Islamabad and then gained work experience at the BBC producing several stints. In 2013, she became the regular presenter for the BBC Radio 4s Today programme with co-host John Humphrys. She is also an occasional presenter on the BBC News at Six, the weekday edition of the BBC News at Ten and during major breaking news stories. Her career, spanning across three decades has been recognised at the London Press Club where she was crowned Broadcaster of the Year in 2015. Husain is the latest in a string of high profile departures for the broadcaster. Earlier this week, Zoe Ball, 53, confirmed that she would be leaving her role as the host of Radio 2s breakfast show after six incredible years in the job, with Scott Mills stepping in as the next presenter. It is not known who could potentially replace Husain on the flagship morning show, though candidates are thought to include the BBCs Europe editor, Katya Adler, 52, who is reportedly filling in for her while she is on leave. Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The mystery of where pioneering aviator Amelia Earharts plane went missing has haunted the world for decades. In January, ocean exploration company Deep Sea Vision suggested the search might finally be over after crewmembers stumbled upon what they believed was Earharts Lockheed 10-E Electra plane in the southwestern Pacific. But now, 11 months later, the company revealed the mysterious object theyd detected was actually a natural rock formation. Chief executive Tony Romeo told The New York Times in January that they believed a sonar image showed the two fin stabilizers on the back of the aircraft and that the dimensions were very close to the Electra. They had scanned 5,200 square miles of the Pacific Oceans floor between New Guinea and Howland Island, where Earhart was set to refuel before she disappeared. Wed gone 100 days without finding anything, Romeo told the paper. We were kind of at each others throats. And, you know, there it is. It pops up on the screen. And you know, you realize at that moment, we were the first ones to have seen Amelias plane in something like 86 years. It was an incredible moment. Romeo told CNN recently that he was surprised the object wasnt at least a different plane or a man-made object. Talk about the cruelest formation ever created by nature, he said. Its almost like somebody did set those rocks out in this nice little pattern of her plane, just to mess with somebody out there looking for her. But, the search isnt over. As we speak DSV continues to search now clearing almost 7,700 square miles ... the plot thickens with still no evidence of her disappearance ever found, Deep Sea Vision wrote on Facebook earlier this month. open image in gallery American female aviator Amelia Earhart stands in front of her plane. In 1937, with navigator Fred Noonan, she set out to fly around the world. But, their plane was lost over the Pacific in July ( STAFF/AFP via Getty Images ) This wasnt the only unsuccessful attempt to locate the famed aviators plane in the past couple of decades. In the early 2000s, Nauticos searched west of the island with deep-sea sonar devices, but did not find any wreckage. The team continued operations in 2017. In response to Deep Sea Visions potential find, Nauticos said long-range sonar images have historically proven to be deceiving, especially in areas with geological formations. Yes, the sonar target appears to have a fuselage, wings, and a tail, butit appears to have swept wings, the relative dimensions do not match the Electra, and there is a lack of engine nacelles. Those characteristics are not consistent with a Lockheed Electra 10E, it said. It is impossible to identify anything from a sonar image alone as sound can be tricky and the artifact could be damaged in unpredictable ways altering its shape. For that reason, you can never say that something is (or isnt) from a sonar image alone, Jourdan, Nauticos president, told CNN. Earhart, the first woman to make a solo flight across the Atlantic, had planned to fly around the world. The celebrated aviatrix would have become the first woman to do so. open image in gallery Aviatrix Amelia Earhart is pictured in Newfoundland. Earhart was the first woman to make a solo flight across the Atlantic ( (Photo by Topical Press Agency/Getty Images) ) But in July 1937, and with only 7,000 miles of her trip remaining, Earhart and navigator Fred Noonan disappeared after making a stop in New Guinea. They had already flown 22,000 miles and were en route to Oakland, California. As they approached a refueling stop at Howard Island, located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, the US Coast Guard cutter ship Itasca, which was anchored offshore, received several strong voice transmissions from Earhart. We are on the line of position 156-137. Will repeat message. We will repeat this message on 6210 kilocycles. Wait. Listening on 6210 kilocycles. We are running north and south, Earhart said. But the pair were never heard from again and were declared lost at sea in mid-July, after a massive sea and air search. There are multiple theories about what happened, but the most widely accepted theory suggests the pair crashed and sank after running out of fuel. For her to go missing was just unthinkable, Romeo told The Wall Street Journal earlier this year. Imagine Taylor Swift just disappearing today. Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Researchers have uncovered what may be the oldest direct evidence of hot water activity on Mars, suggesting the red planet could have supported life billions of years ago. Scientists at Australias Curtin University made the discovery while studying a famous Martian meteorite nicknamed Black Beauty that was found in the Sahara Desert in 2011. The rock, which was created by rapidly cooled lava, contains 10 times more water than other Martian meteorites and formed more than 2 billion years ago. Analyzing the chemical composition of the meteorites 4.45 billion-year-old zircon grain a mineral that is typically only a few millimeters in size and formed in rocks that have been altered by hot fluids they found fingerprints of water-rich fluids. Hydrothermal systems were essential for the development of life on Earth and our findings suggest Mars also had water, a key ingredient for habitable environments, during the earliest history of crust formation, Dr. Aaron Cavosie said in a statement. open image in gallery A sample of the Martian meteorite known as Black Beauty is seen in this Curtin University photo. Black Beautys zircon grain was found to have fingerprints of water-rich fluids ( Curtin University/Aaron Cavosi ) Cavosie is a co-author of a study on the work that was published Friday in the journal Science Advances. Using nano-scale imaging and spectroscopy, scientific techniques that are conducted with high-powered microscopes, the team identified element patterns in the zircon, including iron, aluminum, yttrium, and sodium. These elements were added as the zircon formed 4.45 billion years ago, suggesting water was present during early Martian magmatic activity, Cavosie explained. Water was first discovered on Mars in 2008 by NASAs Phoenix Mars lander. The agencys rovers have been exploring the Martian surface and looking for the ingredients and signs of ancient microbial life for years. Since then, researchers have found evidence of a large underground reservoir of liquid water enough to fill oceans on the planets surface. They also believe water flowed on Mars fairly recently, and in 2020, Arizona scientists said Mars may have been home to hot springs. If these were hot springs, looking at them could potentially tell us something about habitable environments for extremophiles, Jessica Barnes, of the University of Arizona, said then. They could have been the best places for life to develop on Mars. This new discovery has opened up new avenues for understanding the planets past habitability and understanding its hydrothermal systems. open image in gallery Nicknamed Black Beauty, this Martian meteorite was found in the Sahara Desert. It formed billions of years ago ( NASA ) Cavosie said the research showed that even though Mars crust was hit by massive meteorites that caused a major upheaval of the planets surface, water was present during the early Pre-Noachian period, prior to about 4.1 billion years ago. This new study takes us a step further in understanding early Mars, by way of identifying tell-tale signs of water-rich fluids from when the grain formed, providing geochemical markers of water in the oldest known Martian crust, he said. In 2022, a study of the same zircon grain found it had been shocked by a meteorite impact, marking it as the only known shocked zircon from Mars. On Earth, zircon is very common and found in most igneous and metamorphic rocks. Australia has the worlds largest resources of zircon, which is used in electronics, engines, and spacecraft. The new research was funded by the Australian Research Council, Curtin University, University of Adelaide and the Swiss National Science Foundation. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The family of Harshita Brella, whose body was found in the boot of a car in east London, have paid tribute saying: You left this world but you are still with us in our hearts and will always be there. The 24-year-old was discovered dead in Ilford, with a preliminary post-mortem examination giving her cause of death as strangulation. An international manhunt was launched after her body was discovered in the silver Vauxhall Corsa parked in Brisbane Road in the early hours of November 14. Her husband Pankaj Lamba, 23, has been named by police as a prime suspect in her killing and is the subject of an international manhunt. open image in gallery Harshita Brella was found dead in the boot of a car (Northamptonshire Police/PA) ( PA Media ) In a tribute released through Northamptonshire Police on Friday, Ms Brellas family said: Harshita, you left this world but you are still with us in our hearts and will always be there. We will never forget you till our last breath. Always stay with us. We miss you in every very moment of our life. On Thursday, Northamptonshire Police said detectives want to hear from people who were in the area around Corby Boating Lake, Cottingham Road and Westcott Way on the evening of November 10, and who may have dashcam footage or other information that could assist the investigation. Ms Brellas parents, speaking from India, had previously told the BBC News they want justice after their daughters death. A neighbour has said she heard two blistering rows, involving one where a woman sounded scared, days before Ms Brellas body was found. open image in gallery Pankaj Lamba has been named as the prime suspect (Northamptonshire Police/PA) ( PA Media ) A police spokesman confirmed Ms Brella had previously been the victim of domestic violence and was made subject of a Domestic Violence Protection Order (DVPO) at Northampton Magistrates Court in September. Northamptonshire Police has made a mandatory referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) because of previous contact with Ms Brella. Senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Johnny Campbell, from the East Midlands Special Operations major crime unit, said: Our inquiries have established that Pankaj and Harshita were in the area of the boating lake on Sunday evening, and as part of our ongoing investigation we have carried out searches in the surrounding area. open image in gallery Harshita Brella and her husband are seen on CCTV near Corby boating lake on Sunday 10 November ( Hampshire Police ) We know that its a busy part of the town and there will have been a lot of passing traffic. As such, were appealing to anyone who was in Corby between 6pm and 9pm on Sunday, November 10, specifically in the area around the Corby Boating Lake, Cottingham Road and Westcott Way. If you have any dashcam footage, or other information that may be relevant to the investigation, however small, please contact us as soon as possible. Any information you have may help us piece together exactly what happened to Harshita and help bring her killer to justice. Anyone with information can call 101 quoting Operation Westcott, can submit information or footage via an online public portal at www.mipp.police.uk or can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The US Embassy was placed in lockdown as armed officers swooped on a suspicious package that is now thought to have been a hoax device. Armed officers from the Met Police arrived at the building in Nine Elms, south west London, following reports of a suspicious package on at around 10am on Friday. The embassy was immediately locked down as a police unit carried out a controlled explosion of the item within a cordoned area, said to have caused a loud bang. People who had been queuing up for visa appointments were locked inside for more than an hour before being sent home while staff remained inside as officers searched the area. In a statement at around 1pm, the force said: Initial indications are that the item was a hoax device. An investigation will now follow. Some cordons will remain in place for the time being but the majority of the police response will now be stood down. open image in gallery Firefighters are among the emergency responders on the scene at the US Embassy in Nine Elms ( Millie Cooke ) In a statement posted on social media platform X at about 10am, the Metropolitan Police said: We can confirm that the loud bang reported in the area a short time ago was a controlled explosion carried out by officers. The embassy is in a high-rise, residential area close to the Thames, with the cordons meaning people who live in the area were unable to get back into their homes. Firefighters were also at the scene, as well as the dog squad, with dozens of people - many of them people who were attending the building for visa interviews - told to stay behind barriers while authorities responded. Kevin Tinkler from Aberdeen told the Independent he had been waiting outside for two hours. Theres been a definite lack of information from the police. The only piece of information Ive been given was that I was advised to come back another day and rebook the appointment, said Mr Tinkler. Another bystander, Jim Prevot, said there were a few hundred people inside having visas processed while the incident was unfolding. One woman at the scene, who did not want to be named, said she and a companion had been in the building for about three hours. We didnt hear anything, it was very calm and chilled in there, she said. The cafe stayed open and the amazing thing was they continued processing visa applications throughout the morning. They handled it really well. open image in gallery The Met Police dog section is also combing the vicinity ( Millie Cooke ) A woman who gave her name as Kawtar said she had been in the embassy since 8am. Honestly it was calm inside, but we got told we shouldnt be outside. Im only now figuring out that something is going on, because nobody knew what was going on, she said. The US Embassy said in a statement on X police were investigating the package left outside the building. Met Police are present and have closed Ponton Road out of an abundance of caution. We will provide further updates when available, the embassy said. The drama unfolded at the same time Gatwick Airport evacuated a large part of the South Terminal due to a security incident. The Sussex airport confirmed the news in a social media post, with passengers expected to face disruption to their flights. A large part of the South Terminal has been evacuated as a precaution while we continue to investigate a security incident, a statement read. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The chair of the BBCs Children in Need has resigned, accusing the charity of an institutional failure over grants issued to an LGBT+ organisation whose former chief was convicted of child sex assaults. In her resignation letter to the Children in Need board, Rosie Millard, a 59-year-old former BBC journalist who had chaired the fundraising behemoth for six years, criticised grants of 466,000 awarded to the charity LGBT Youth Scotland (LGBTYS). The charity, which directly engages hundreds of young LGBT+ people each year and receives Scottish Government funding, saw its former chief executive James Rennie jailed in 2009 after he was revealed to be a member of a paedophile ring. Rennie, a former SNP advisor who chaired LGBTYS from 2003 until 2008, was handed a life sentence after abusing a boy aged just three months old, among other charges, including those relating to indecent images of children. Children in Needs grants to LGBTYS began seven months after Rennie was convicted, when the charity had new management in place. The initial grant was reportedly worth 24,000. Accusing Ms Millard of using historic allegations in a bid to destroy our repuation, LGBTYS said the allegations had been proven to have had no link to our work. Ms Millard said Children in Need suspended grants to the charity in May after she alerted them to the 2009 case, and withdrew funding three months later after a review, according to The Times, which has seen her resignation letter. In her letter, Ms Millard accused Children in Needs chief executive Simon Antrobus of failing to respond with the necessary level of seriousness and claimed an eventual move to cut the charitys funding was influenced by fear of negative publicity. open image in gallery Pudsey Bear at the BBC Children In Need appeal show at MediaCityUK in Salford ( Peter Byrne/PA ) The BBC is understood not to recognise the claims about Mr Antrobus, nor an allegation that he and senior managers did everything in their power to distract the board from its duty to sever funding during the three-month review. A Children in Need spokesperson said: Nothing is more important to us than the safety of all children and young people. When allegations were made in relation to LGBT Youth Scotland, their grant was immediately suspended with the full support of the Board and a review began. In order to do this thoroughly and fairly the review took three months and culminated in the decision to withdraw funding. The Children in Need Board of Trustees are supportive of the actions taken by the CEO and senior leadership team and stand by the decisions made. Rosie at all times retained the Boards support. In the wake of her resignation, in order to ensure any lessons learned are captured, the Trustees have instigated a review of ways of working between the Board and Executive in which Rosie has kindly agreed to participate. Our focus is on continuing to provide crucial support to 340,000 children in communities right across the UK, whatever challenges they are experiencing. open image in gallery BBC director-general Tim Davie thanked Rosie Millard for her significant impact on countless children as chair of Children in Need ( AFP via Getty Images ) In September, a man who contributed to LGBTYS coming out guidance which was distributed to schools in 2010 after attending the charitys services as a young person in 2000s, was convicted of communicating online with someone he believed to be a child and sharing indecent images of children. Andrew Easton, who was handed a community order, was never employed or volunteered at LGBTYS, the charity said. LGBTYS describes itself as Scotlands national charity for LGBTQ+ young people aged 13-25, and is among several LGBT+ charities to have been supported by the Scottish Governments Equality and Human Rights Fund. According to its annual report, the charity directly engaged 1,024 young people in its most recent year, along with a further 30,000 people via its LGBT Charter accreditation scheme aimed at promoting inclusivity in schools and businesses. Dr Mhairi Crawford, chief executive of LGBTYS, told The Times that Ms Millards resignation letter demonstrates the ideologically driven nature of her attacks on our organisation. Dr Crawford said: We are pleased to see confirmation that Children in Needs investigations into the work of LGBT Youth Scotland found nothing to report. Time and time again, those with anti-inclusivity motives point to historic allegations in attempts to destroy our reputation. Allegations that have been investigated and cleared by Police Scotland, and proven to have had no link to our work. Following her resignation, BBC director-general Tim Davie said: On behalf of everyone at the BBC and Children in Need, I want to express our gratitude to Rosie for her leadership over the past six years. She has had a significant impact on countless children and young people and we wish her all the best for the future. Ms Millard said chairing the charity had been an honour and a privilege, adding: Witnessing the incredible impact of our supporters generosity on the lives of children and young people has been truly inspiring. Im immensely proud of the collective achievements weve made together. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Queen Camilla has pulled out of attending tonights Royal Variety Show due to her recent chest infection, Buckingham Palace has said. A spokesperson for the royal family said the Queen, 77, would not attend the fundraising performance event due to ongoing health issues, which have affected her royal duties. In a statement, the Palace said: Following a recent chest infection, The Queen continues to experience some lingering post-viral symptoms, as a result of which doctors have advised that, after a busy week of engagements, Her Majesty should prioritise sufficient rest. With great regret, she has therefore withdrawn from attendance at tonights Royal Variety Performance. His Majesty will attend as planned, the spokesperson said. open image in gallery Queen Camillas royal duties have been affected by an ongoing chest infection ( Getty Images ) Sir Elton John and Sophie Ellis-Bextor are among the stars scheduled to perform at the event, which will be hosted by BBC presenting duo Alan Carr and Amanda Holden. The palace update comes nearly two weeks after the Queens illness prevented her from participating in Remembrance Day commemorations. At the tie, Buckingham Palace confirmed a disappointed Camilla will not go to the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall on November 9, nor attend the Remembrance Day service at the Cenotaph the following day. At that time, it was understood there was no downturn in her condition, but the Queen was said to be mindful of minimising the risk of passing her infection to others. open image in gallery The Queen with her terrier Beth, who recently died ( Getty Images ) 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, a palace spokesperson said at the time. Her withdrawal from the latest event follows an already crowded schedule this week. On Wednesday night the monarch was praised for her exceptional efforts to advance literature as she received an honorary doctorate from her sister-in-law the Princess Royal. Camilla donned ceremonial robes as she was recognised for her long-standing promotion of literacy and literature during a ceremony at the University of London, where Princess Anne has been chancellor since 1981. On Tuesday, Queen Camilla joined King Charles to host the annual Diplomatic Corps reception at the Palace. She wore a blue velvet evening dress by Fiona Clare, and donned Elizabeth IIs small aquamarine and diamond tiara as she welcomed some 900 guests at the event. On Monday it was revealed the Queen was left heartbroken following the death of her beloved terrier and much-loved companion Beth, who was understood to have been put down due to an untreatable tumour. The terrier was adopted by Camilla from the Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, along with her other dog Bluebell. This is a breaking story - more to follow Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Sir Keir Starmer has kicked off the hunt for a sherpa to guide his post-Brexit reset with the European Union ahead of Donald Trumps return to the White House. The prime minister is ramping up his efforts to rebuild ties with Brussels, recruiting a second permanent secretary in the Cabinet Office focused primarily on the UKs relationship with the EU. A job advert posted on Friday night says the high-profile 200,000-a-year role will lead on the governments renewed relationship with the bloc. The successful applicant will face significant public scrutiny and political attention, the posting warns. open image in gallery Keir Starmer is on a mission to build closer ties with Europe ( AP ) The recruitment of an EU sherpa, a senior and personal representative of the PM at international summits and engagements, comes just weeks before Mr Trumps inauguration. His re-election poses a significant challenge for Sir Keir, with the incoming administration leaving Britain at a crossroads between closer alignment with the EU or the US. Stephen Moore, who is advising Mr Trump as he prepares for office, said the UK has to choose between the European Union and US economic models. Sir Keirs appointment of a new post-Brexit supremo is the latest sign he is serious about rebuilding bridges with Europe after years of fractious relations under the Conservatives. The primary responsibility of the role is reporting to the PM and EU relations minister Nick Thomas-Symonds on the EU reset and international economic issues. The second permanent secretary will also oversee the development of UK-EU trade, including the renewal of the existing Trade and Co-operation agreement between Britain and Brussels, which will take place next year. It will mean taking responsibility for questions such as whether Britain will strike a veterinary agreement with the bloc to cut down on red tape for exporters. open image in gallery Donald Trumps return to the White House has left Britain at a crossroads, having to opt for closer ties with the EU or a potential free trade deal with the US ( Getty Images ) They will have 100 staff at their disposal, including the cross-governmental EU Relations Secretariat. James MacCleary, Lib Dem spokesperson for Europe, said it was vital that we repair our broken relationship with the EU. Its positive to see that the government are looking to repair our broken relationship with the EU. It is imperative that we strengthen trade links with our European allies, he added. The urgency of Sir Keirs post-Brexit reset was heightened last week when Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey warned of the ongoing economic consequences of Britain ditching Europe. Speaking at the annual Mansion House dinner in the City of London, Mr Bailey said Brexit has weighed on the economy, adding that we must be alert to and welcome opportunities to rebuild relations while respecting the decision of the British people. Last month, Treasury minister Tulip Siddiq warned that 60 per cent of the impact of Brexit is yet to materialise in a damning assessment of Britains departure from the European Union. Reacting to the job posting, Dr Mike Galsworthy, chairman of European Movement UK, said: Everyone knows that the last government botched negotiations with the EU, leaving lots of missing pieces. So its good that this government is re-engaging positively. However, I hope that this new sherpa is actually allowed to get somewhere, rather than being held back in base camp by a government anxious to reset its relationship with its closest trading partner, but also anxious not to be seen to be doing so. Naomi Smith, chief executive of the Best for Britain campaign group, said: Brexit red tape is continuing to hobble British businesses and with only more global economic upheaval on the horizon, securing a better trade deal with our largest market and closest allies has never been more important or urgent. It is right that the Government seeks an experienced hand to deliver on this objective and the outcomes that will make the biggest difference like beneficial regulatory alignment and a Youth Mobility Scheme. Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Backing Brexit is not a protected belief under equalities law, an employment tribunal has ruled as a former Ukip councillor was found to have been sacked for sharing offensive social media posts about immigrants. Colette Fairbanks was fired by drug and alcohol charity Change Grow Live over the offensive posts but lost a claim that she was bullied and harassed by her employer for supporting Britains departure from the EU. She argued that her political views were philosophical beliefs, protected by the Equality Act, pointing to her support for Brexit, opposition to illegal immigration and her desire for the UK to pull out of the European Convention on Human Rights. But a tribunal found that none of the beliefs are protected by the Equality Act, with employment judge Paul Jumble saying wanting to quit the EU is an opinion and not a philosophical belief. Dismissing the claim, Mr Jumble said: There has to be a distinction between a philosophical belief and a strongly held opinion. If, for example, wanting to leave the EU was held to be a philosophical belief, then more than half the British electorate would have a belief that fell within [equality laws], which could not be the intention of the legislation. Despite some probing, both by the tribunal and in cross-examination, no coherent belief or set of beliefs was forthcoming. On balance, the tribunal found that the claimant had genuinely held opinions and views but she did not convince the tribunal that she had any underlying philosophical belief. Ms Fairbanks began working for the charity in October 2022, and she told the court she was bullied and harassed from then on. She was sacked last July over the offensive X/Twitter posts but denied one of the responsible accounts belonged to her. She served as a Ukip councillor in Wyre, Lancashire, from 2017 to 2019, which her manager was informed of in February 2023. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Kemi Badenochs honeymoon appears to have come to an end as the poll surge enjoyed by her party since she was elected Tory leader stalled this week. According to the Techne UK weekly tracker poll for The Independent, Sir Keir Starmer actually saw a small increase in his lead over the Tories now two points despite a difficult week in which the tractor tax protests in London attracted an estimated 20,000 people. Sir Keir was also criticised for meeting Chinas president Xi Jinping at the G20 summit in Rio just hours before 45 pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong were jailed, but that does not appear to have harmed his standing with the public either. Labour was up one to 29 per cent, the Tories were unchanged on 27 per cent, Nigel Farages Reform UK unchanged on 17 per cent, Lib Dems down one to 12 per cent and Greens unchanged on 7 per cent. open image in gallery Conservative MPs join farmers at a protest against the inheritance tax policy change ( Andrew Matthews/PA ) Ms Badenoch had appeared to be on course to pass Labour and Sir Keir in the polls after making up six points in the first two weeks following her victory to replace Rishi Sunak as leader of the Conservative Party. But the check on her partys rise comes amid some disquiet over her strategy by senior MPs from opposite wings of the party, who want to see the new leader go more on the front foot over policy. A former minister from the One Nation left of the Tories said: Its been just OK so far. She really needs to start saying what she wants and what she stands for. The one thing the leader of the opposition has is the ability to set the agenda with positive ideas. A former minister who had backed rival Robert Jenrick agreed: Kemi is just being reactive. She is not setting out a positive alternative. We have gone through a leadership election where she refused to spell out any policies but now that is over she needs to provide some positive vision. open image in gallery Keir Starmer has endured a tough week with farmers protesting over Labours tractor tax ( PA ) She should consider making a speech or something to start setting the agenda. But she was defended by leadership rival Tom Tugendhat, despite him declining to serve in her shadow cabinet. In an interview with Sky News, he said: Kemi is a really, really good friend. She has been for many years. She very kindly asked me if I was looking for a role and I said, Look, if you wouldnt mind very much, Id like to have a little bit of time to think and do a few other things and come back to serve in due course. Shes already started extremely well. Shes going to make a great leader of the opposition. Michela Morizzo, chief executive of Techne, said: Our tracker poll this week brings slightly better news for Sir Keir Starmer. Even with the significant farming protests in central London this week, his Labour Party, perhaps unexpectedly, rose by one point of the national vote share to 29 per cent. Conversely, the bounce that Kemi Badenoch has experienced as the new leader of the Conservative Party has somewhat faltered, with her party standing still in the national vote share at 27 per cent. With Reform UK also standing still on 17 per cent of the national vote share, it does seem as if the main political parties have hit a pre-Christmas stalemate. Lets see if in the coming weeks the Conservatives will start rising again or if the effects of the new leaders election have faded. Next Friday, 29 November, sees the second reading of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill sponsored by Labour backbencher Kim Leadbeater which has the potential to be a major piece of social legislation. Early assumptions that Labours overwhelming Commons majority of about 150 would see the private members bill go through virtually on the nod have been confounded by an unexpectedly hostile reception, especially within the cabinet, but also among Labour and Liberal Democrat MPs, albeit with some Conservatives joining the (arguably) progressive side of the argument. As it is a matter of conscience, MPs have been granted a free vote, and this time, for a change, it seems more genuinely so than usual the party whips dont seem to be particularly active behind the scenes. There have been some surprise developments, and with so many new members across the House, there is still much to play for... Whats the latest? The mother of the House of Commons, Diane Abbott (a Labour MP, there since 1987), and the father of the House, Edward Leigh (Tory, an MP since 1983), usually diametrically opposed, have published a joint article warning about the effect of the bill on vulnerable people and bewailing the lack of time for debate among their less experienced parliamentary colleagues. One especially sharp sentence reads: Imagine the pensioner whose children cannot afford houses of their own watching her limited savings, earmarked for those children, disappearing on social care and so feeling a duty to die. In a less surprising intervention, but adding to the resistance, former PM Gordon Brown has pleaded for some sort of commission to come up with proposals on palliative care, which is frequently put forward as the obvious alternative to assisted suicide. This would have the effect of defeating the Leadbeater bill. Its been supported by an opinion poll. So what do the public want? It rather depends on how you ask the question, as is so often the case with moral issues. There is much evidence of broad public support for the idea of assisted dying, no doubt driven by compassion, but the arguments are not that well rehearsed, and peoples convictions about the policy could well be superficial. The idea of a commission, effectively a delaying tactic by its opponents, also appears to be attractive. What about the cabinet? Quite divided, and taking no particular cue from Keir Starmer, who has previously voted for assisted dying and has indicated that he will do so again. Leading the opposition to the bill is the minister most concerned with its application Wes Streeting, the health secretary. Hes even gone so far as to start work on the costs involved, opening up a new financial front in the debate and earning a mild rebuke from the cabinet secretary, Simon Case (presumably indirectly from Starmer). Streetings tactics mean the government might have to breach its neutrality and table a money resolution, complicating the bills passage. Otherwise, we currently find Ed Miliband, Yvette Cooper, Peter Kyle, Liz Kendall, Lisa Nandy, Hilary Benn, and (probably) Louise Haigh on the pro side; and Bridget Phillipson, Angela Rayner, Shabana Mahmood, Jonathan Reynolds, and (possibly) David Lammy against a change in the law. Rachel Reeves and Steve Reed are prominent undecideds. Does this mean Labour is divided on it? Yes, but so are all the other major parties, and thats rather the point of having a free vote. Provided the issue doesnt leave a great residue of resentment, it should make no difference to the governing partys ability to run the country. But some senior Labour figures, such as Harriet Harman, are clearly cross with Wes. What do the surveys say? One that was conducted a few weeks ago pointed to a narrow majority in favour of changing the law, but there will be some MPs wholl only make their minds up on the day. What happens if the bill gets its second reading? It would be far from over, but encouraging for Leadbeater and her allies. If it gets over this hurdle then it will spend several weeks in a bill committee being amended to make sure its as clear and secure as possible, and that should also help to solidify its support. The committee will have plenty of advice and medical MPs on the case. If all goes well and there are no wrecking amendments, then the bill will have a final debate on the report stage and a third reading, which would be more of a formality. Then it will be law, and Streeting, like everyone else, will have to accept it as such, albeit with its conscience clause absolving professionals of having to take part in any proceedings they find morally or religiously repugnant. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Reform UK MP James McMurdock was jailed for repeatedly kicking his girlfriend 18 years ago, it has emerged, as fresh details in the scandal over the politicians crime come to light. Mr McMurdock claimed he had pushed his partner when details of his historical conviction, which he had not disclosed to the public before the election, were first revealed in July. But court records from his sentencing, obtained by The Times this week, show he was detained in a young offenders institution for 21 days for kicking the victim around four times, in an incident which took place in 2006. According to the records obtained and reported on by The Times, Mr McMurdock pleaded guilty to assault by beating, and the serious nature of the offence meant the sentence was not suspended. The Times reported the offence requires immediate punishment and that a pre-sentence report indicated a lack of willingness to comply. open image in gallery Reform UK MP, James McMurdock ( PA ) The conviction initially came to light when the victims mother told the Mail Online he had left marks on her body and it took two security guards to pull him off her during the attack outside a nightclub in Chelmsford, Essex. At the time of those revelations, Mr McMurdock apologised for what he described as the biggest regret of my life but downplayed the assault as a teenage indiscretion and disputed the details of the mothers account. In a statement, he said: A generous person might call it a teenage indiscretion, but I do not expect everyone to be so kind. Nearly 20 years ago, at 19 years of age, at the end of a night out together, we argued and I pushed her. She fell over and she was hurt. Despite being 38 now and having lived a whole life again I still feel deeply ashamed of that moment and apologetic. While there is no requirement for MPs to disclose previous convictions to the public when standing for election, Labour MP for Nottingham East Nadia Whittome accused Mr McMurdock of failing to be properly accountable. Neither he nor his party [which knew] disclosed the conviction at the election. This man belongs nowhere near law-making and power, Ms Whittome said. The refusal to be properly accountable is disturbing The passive she fell over and she was hurt. Mr McMurdock won the seat of South Basildon and East Thurrock for Reform UK at this years election, beating Conservative candidate Stephen Metcalfe by just 98 votes. open image in gallery James McMurdock (right) is one of five Reform UK MPs elected this year ( PA ) When the MPs conviction first emerged - the week after he was elected - a Reform UK spokesperson confirmed the party was aware of his jail sentence. He handed himself in, and pleaded guilty to common assault, about which he continues to be deeply ashamed, the spokesperson said. Reform UK believes strongly that people can change their lives. The young Essex teenager of 20 years ago is one that learned from that mistake and has become a role model for his peers. Happily married, hard-working and grounded. Mr McMurdock was entirely honest with us when he applied to become our candidate for his hometown and his life shows that one can change, for the better. He and his party have been contacted for comment. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A social media ban for under-16s is not on the cards at the moment, the technology minister has said. It comes as the government seeks to limit harms for young people online, with new laws coming into force next year that will put more responsibility on social media platforms to protect users. While Peter Kyle on Wednesday said "everything is on the table when it comes to regulation, he has since said a ban for under-16s is not my preferred choice. Theres no work programme at the moment on banning smartphones to children, he told the Guardian as he met a group of teenagers at the NSPCC headquarters in London. Childline operators take around 10 calls a day from children suffering harms from social media. Peter Kyle on Wednesday said a social media ban for under-16s is not his preferred choice ( REUTERS ) The back and forth over the proposal follows legislation introduced by the Australian government which will ban social media for under-16s, imposing some of the toughest controls by any country to date. Im in touch with the government in Australia to see what, if it is, theyre basing it on [and] why theyre doing it, Mr Kyle said. The main risk he is seeking to tackle is of deaths of children as a result of social media. Ive met parents of children who have either committed suicide or the murder has been instigated via online activity. I get a lot of parents writing to me saying just stop this kit getting into my kids hands, he said. Mr Kyle has ordered new research into the harms of social media, telling BBC Radio 4s Today programme he plans to do what it takes to keep people, particularly children and people with vulnerabilities, safe online. The overall philosophy Im trying to move towards is one where safety is baked in from the outset. So in other words, algorithms are there to protect people, not to exploit vulnerabilities, the technology secretary said. The Safer Phones Bill, which will be debated in March, was proposed by Labour MP Josh MacAlister and includes a mechanism for banning social media for under 16s. Mr Kyle is also expected to call on Ofcom to report back to him on its progress with the Online Safety Act new legislation being finalised by the regulator that will come into force in the spring and will put more responsibility on tech companies to protect children online and remove illegal content. The Department for Science, Technology and Innovation has been contacted for comment. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A group of French mayors have called for a key cross-Channel migrant deal with the UK to be ripped up, accusing Britain of being two-faced in its approach to the migrant crisis. The Group of Mayors from the Opal Coast, which includes Calais as well as 14 smaller towns engulfed by the small boats crisis, has called for the renegotiation of a deal that allows Britain and France to carry out checks in each others ports. The group, led by Calais mayor Natacha Bouchart, have accused the UK of hypocrisy for claiming to want to stop migrants crossing the Channel, while letting most of those who arrive settle in Britain. open image in gallery Keir Starmer has brushed off calls from the French mayors ( PA Wire ) They also want the UK to open up legal routes for migrants to cross into Britain to dissuade them from turning to people-smuggling gangs offering journeys via small boat. The group of mayors argue that the 2003 Touquet treaty should be renegotiated, with Border Force officers sent back to the UK, taking the camps blighting the French coast transferred to Kent, The Times has reported. On top of the renegotiation, the group has demanded humanitarian centres located away from the French coast. The centres would see migrants housed while their applications for asylum assessed by British and French authorities. Speaking to BBC Radio 4, Ms Bouchart asked why France should pay millions of euros to stop crossings only for migrants to work illegally in Britain, with little chance of being deported. She said: When the migrants arrive in Britain they work easily without documents the British government must stop being in denial. In reality, they accept migrants passing through Calais so they have to change the system. The UK should be stopping people, not us. open image in gallery Mayor of Calais Natacha Bouchart asked why France should pay millions of euros to stop crossings only for migrants to work illegally in Britain ( Getty Images ) We think the French government and Europe arent being tough enough on this toward the British government. But Sir Keir quickly brushed off calls from the coalition and stressed the UKs commitment to working internationally to tackle the flow of migrants across the Channel. Asked about the calls on BBC Radio Kent, Sir Keir indicated that Border Force checks in France were not up for negotiation. The prime minister said he has gone above the heads of a group of mayors in the north of the country and is taking this up with the French authorities, stressing that the deal is very important. He said: Look, we need those checks to be carried out there, and Im taking this up with the French authorities because its a very important provision, and so I am concerned about that and determined to make sure that we get the checks where we need them. Pressed on his record tackling the number of small boat crossings, Sir Keir said he was working with "other countries" to tackle the issue. Asked why he thought he would be able to solve the problem, he told BBC Radio Kent: Because what were doing is working to take down the people that are running this trade, putting people on the boats in the first place." More than 33,000 migrants have arrived in the UK via small boat channel crossings so far this year, more than for the whole of 2023. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Sir Keir Starmer has been warned people are going to die as a result of his decision to scrap winter fuel payments for millions of pensioners. The prime minister was confronted during a round of local radio interviews by a listener named Maxine who said we just cant keep warm and that elderly people are literally going to die. How is he going to live with that? Maxine asked. She added: Is he going to have the courage to back down from a terrible decision? open image in gallery Keir Starmer was confronted over the winter fuel payment cut ( PA Wire ) Speaking to BBC Radio Lincolnshire, Sir Keir said: At the moment, until we bring in the changes, the allowance is paid to everyone, irrespective of whether they need it or not. A lot of pensioners will say I dont actually need it, and I had to answer what difficult decisions we can make to ensure we use our money most effectively. The PM went on to talk about boosting funding for the NHS to bring down waiting lists, and encouraged those eligible for pension credits to ensure they take them up. The row comes days after the governments official analysis showed that the decision to means test winter fuel payments, announced in July by Rachel Reeves, will drive 100,000 additional pensioners into poverty by 2026. It will strip the payments, worth up to 300, from around 10 million pensioners, driving 50,000 more into relative poverty next year, followed by another 50,000 in the following years. open image in gallery The cut to winter fuel payments was announced in July by Rachel Reeves ( PA Wire ) And Maxines intervention came as regulator Ofgem confirmed the energy price cap will rise in January for a second consecutive time, with average energy bills set to jump 1.2 per cent to 1,738. As the Met Office issued a new weather warning ahead of the arrival of Storm Bert this weekend, Age UK said many pensioners are now hoping against hope that something turns up to ease the strain. The news that the energy price cap is instead slightly rising is the latest in a series of blows for pensioners living on a low or modest income, who do not receive Pension Credit because they dont claim it or are not eligible, Age UK director Caroline Abrahams said. There are fears Sir Keirs decision to means test winter fuel payments will lead to some pensioners dying. Labours own research, when the party was in opposition under Jeremy Corbyn, suggested that then Conservative plans to means test the payment could lead to 3,850 additional deaths. Elsewhere in a bruising round of local radio interviews, Sir Keir was criticised over his decision to extend inheritance tax to cover agricultural properties. And he came under fire for the Labour governments slow progress bringing down the number of migrants in small boats crossing the English Channel. The winter fuel payment is being restricted to only those claiming pension credit from this winter, aimed at saving the public purse 1.5bn a year. In a letter to the House of Commons Work and Pensions Committee on Tuesday, minister Liz Kendall said: The latest modelling shows that compared to the numbers that would have been in poverty without this policy, it is estimated that in each year in question there will be an additional 50,000 pensioners in relative poverty after housing costs in 2024-25, 2025-26 and 2027-28, instead. The modelling also shows that an additional 100,000 pensioners are estimated to be in relative poverty after housing costs in 2026-27, 2028-29 and 2029-30. Responding to Ofgems price cap increase, shadow energy secretary Claire Coutinho said: Labours reckless energy policies and their cruel plan to scrap the winter fuel payment for 10 million pensioners is leaving families worse off - as we are already starting to see. Energy secretary Ed Miliband said: The rise in the energy price cap will cause concern for families struggling with the cost of living. That is why the Government will do all we can to help people. We are taking action to insulate homes, providing the Warm Home Discount to three million families, driving increased take up of pension credit, and working with suppliers to ensure there is help available for the most vulnerable customers. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Benjamin Netanyahu faces arrest if he enters Britain after an international arrest warrant was issued for him, Downing Street has said. No 10 refused to explicitly comment on the individual case, saying it was a hypothetical situation, but said the UK would follow its legal obligations. It comes after the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Mr Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant, Israels former defence minister, over alleged war crimes in Gaza. The ICC also issued a warrant for Mohammed Deif, head of Hamas armed wing, over the October 7 2023 attacks that triggered Israels offensive in Gaza. open image in gallery Yvette Cooper said there are proper processes that need to be followed ( SKY NEWS ) Israel is believed to have killed Deif in an airstrike, but Hamas has never confirmed his death. Asked whether Mr Netanyahu would be detained if he arrived on British soil, the prime ministers official spokesman said he could not talk about specific cases. But asked whether the government would comply with the law, he said: The UK will always comply with its legal obligations as set out by domestic law and indeed international law. No 10 said the domestic process linked to ICC arrest warrants has never been used to date by the UK because no one wanted by the international court had visited the country. Pressed on whether a secretary of state would comply with requirements under the International Criminal Court Act 2001, Sir Keir Starmers spokesman said: Yes, the government would fulfil its obligations under the Act and indeed its legal obligations. The Act states that the Secretary of State must, on receipt of a request for arrest from the ICC, transmit the request and the documents accompanying it to an appropriate judicial officer. The spokesperson also said Sir Keir will continue to speak to Mr Netanyahu in order to conduct the essential business of reaching a ceasefire in the Middle East. It comes after home secretary Yvette Cooper on Friday morning refused to say whether Mr Netanyahu would be arrested if he came to the UK. She said there are proper processes that need to be followed, adding that it wouldnt be appropriate for the home secretary to comment on individual cases in a speculative way. Thats not a matter for me as home secretary as the International Criminal Court is, of course, independent, and we respect its independence and the role that it has to play, she told Sky News. In the overwhelming majority of international criminal court investigations, they never become a matter for either the British law enforcement processes or for the British government. In any case, whether they ever do, there are proper processes that need to be followed, and therefore it wouldnt be appropriate for me to comment on those. Ms Cooper added that the government believes the focus should be on getting a ceasefire in Gaza. A domestic court process would be required before Mr Netanyahu faced arrest if he set foot in the UK. The issuing of warrants for the Israeli prime minister and ex-defence minister along with a Hamas leader, led to critics claiming the court was drawing a moral equivalence between the government of a democracy and a group banned as a terrorist organisation in many countries, including the UK. Shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel said the warrants were concerning and provocative, calling for the government to condemn and challenge the ICC ruling. She criticised the ICC for drawing comparisons between Israels actions in Gaza and the Hamas terrorist atrocity on October 7, 2023, which triggered the military response. open image in gallery On Thursday, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant ( AP ) On Thursday, the prime ministers official spokesman said: This government has been clear that Israel has a right to defend itself in accordance with international law. There is no moral equivalence between Israel, a democracy, and Hamas and Lebanese Hezbollah, which are terrorist organisations. We remain focused on pushing for an immediate ceasefire to bring an end to the devastating violence in Gaza which is essential to protect civilians, ensure the release of hostages, and to increase humanitarian aid into Gaza. The ICC said there were reasonable grounds to believe that Mr Netanyahu and Mr Gallant were responsible for the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare; and the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts. The ICC pre-trial chamber also found reasonable grounds to believe that Mr Netanyahu and Mr Gallant each bear criminal responsibility as civilian superiors for the war crime of intentionally directing an attack against the civilian population. However, the impact of the warrants is likely to be limited since Israel and its major ally, the United States, are not members of the ICC. Mr Netanyahu said Israel rejects with disgust the absurd and false actions and there is nothing more just than the war that Israel has been waging in Gaza. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Federal police in Brazil have formally accused former president Jair Bolsonaro and 36 others of conspiring to overthrow the countrys democracy through a right-wing coup attempt. The final police report caps a nearly two-year investigation into Mr Bolsonaros role in the election-denying movement that culminated in riots by his supporters that swept Brasilia, the capital, in January 2023, just a week after his rival president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva took office. Many protesters at the time said they wanted to create chaos to justify a military coup, which they considered imminent. The charges follow a comprehensive investigation into what authorities have called a coordinated effort to "violently dismantle the constitutional state". The list of accused, revealed on Thursday, includes prominent figures from Mr Bolsonaros administration, such as his former spy chief Alexandre Ramagem, ex-defence ministers General Walter Braga Netto and General Paulo Sergio Nogueira de Oliveira, former minister of justice Anderson Torres and former navy commander Almir Garnier Santos. Other high-profile names are Mr Bolsonaros political party president Valdemar Costa Neto and top foreign policy adviser Filipe Martins. The investigation also implicated international figures, including Argentinian digital strategist Fernando Cerimedo, known for his ties to Mr Bolsonaro and his family. Cerimedo recently managed communications for Argentinas president Javier Milei during the 2023 elections. Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro at a graduation ceremony for cadets at the Agulhas Negras Military Academy in Resende on 26 November 2022 ( AFP via Getty Images ) This announcement comes days after police arrested five individuals accused of plotting to assassinate Brazils leftist president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, his vice-president Geraldo Alckmin, and Supreme Court judge Alexandre de Moraes. Among those arrested was General Mario Fernandes, who was also named in the coup conspiracy. Fernandes reportedly told co-conspirators, "We are at war," according to evidence gathered by investigators. Mr Bolsonaro, who has denied any role in attempts to overturn Mr Lulas 2022 electoral victory, responded cautiously, saying he would consult his lawyer before commenting. The former president said on social media that investigators and the Supreme Court judge overseeing the case had been "creative" and done "everything the law does not say", adding that he would have to look more at the formal police accusation. His lawyer told Reuters he would wait to see the report before commenting. Other accused individuals, including Braga Netto and former minister of institutional security General Augusto Heleno, have yet to issue statements. Lawyers for Mr Heleno and aides for Mr Ramagem declined to comment. The legal defences from Mr Netto and Mr Torres said they would wait to officially get the police report before commenting. The formal police accusations against Mr Bolsonaro are a fresh blow to his plan to run for president in 2026. US President-elect Donald Trumps recent victory had buoyed Mr Bolsonaros allies trying to overturn a court decision that has blocked him from public office for attacking the legitimacy of the 2022 vote. Representatives for Mr Santos, Brazils defence ministry, and navy did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The countrys army said it does not comment on ongoing processes from other bodies. The police investigation was built on an extensive body of evidence, including plea agreements, financial and communication records, wiretaps and material seized during raids. They said conspirators divided their efforts between spreading disinformation about the election, inciting the armed forces to join a coup, and operational support for "coup-mongering actions," along with legal support and intelligence. Pro-Bolsonaro politicians criticised the allegations, with opposition leader Rogerio Marinho calling them an example of "incessant persecution" of the right. Bolsonarista congressman Sostenes Cavalcante declared, "The more they persecute Bolsonaro, the stronger he gets". The Bolsonaros administration ended in 2022 after his narrow electoral defeat by Mr Lula. Following the loss, Mr Bolsonaro went into self-imposed exile in the United States while thousands of his supporters protested outside military bases, demanding intervention. These tensions culminated in the 8 January 2023 riots, during which Mr Bolsonaro loyalists stormed key government buildings in Brasilia including presidential palace, congress and Supreme Court. Mr Lulas communications minister, Paulo Pimenta, expressed shock at the gravity of the accusations, stating, These are very grave crimes [and] very serious accusations. He vowed that those responsible would face justice, adding that the government awaits the prosecutors decision on pursuing trials. Echoing widespread calls from progressive Brazilians, Mr Pimenta ended his statement with a bold declaration: "Bolsonaro in jail. Additional reporting by agencies The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Jodi Haleys mother, Vickie Deblieux, was murdered in 1994. On Thursday, Alabama executed Carey Dale Grayson, one of the men responsible for her death. After the inmates execution via nitrogen hypoxia, Haley spoke at a news conference condemning the states actions. Society failed this man as a child, and my family suffered because of it, she said. Murdering inmates under the guise of justice needs to stop. She told reporters that Grayson, 50, suffered extensive physical and mental abuse as a child, noting how adults around him allegedly put out cigarettes on his skin. I have to wonder how all this slips through the cracks of our justice system, she said, adding that no one will know the positive impact Grayson couldve had on lives. Revenge to me, eye for an eye justification... it's not right, Haley said. No one should have the right to take a person's possibilities, days, moments, life. All of those things were taken from her mother when she was murdered, Haley said, describing her mother as unique, funny and gorgeous. I dont know what it is like to have a mother while going through life, graduation, marriage, children, hurts and joys, she told reporters. Ive had to experience life without her presence because all of those opportunities were stolen from her. On February 21, 1994, Deblieux, 37, was hitchhiking to her mothers home in Louisiana. Four teenagers Louis Mangione, Kenny Loggins, Trace Duncan and Grayson picked her up in Jefferson County, Alabama. The teens had been drinking alcohol and using drugs at the time. They told Deblieux theyd drop her off in Louisiana but took her to a wooded area, where they told her they were picking up another car. The teens then started to throw bottles at her. She tried running away but the teens tackled her to the ground and repeatedly kicked her. open image in gallery Grayson, 50, was executed via nitrogen hypoxia in Alabama on November 21, 2024 ( Alabama Department of Corrections ) Once they realized she was alive, one of the teenagers stood on her throat, causing her to gurgle blood until she died. The four young men put her body in the back of a pickup truck and drove it to Bald Rock Mountain. There, they removed her clothing and a ring, abused her body and threw it off a cliff. They later drove to a car wash to wash out the blood. Three of the teenagers, including Grayson, returned to the mountain to mutilate her body. Officials say they stabbed and cut her 180 times, removing a piece of her lung, her fingers and thumbs. Graysons girlfriend found the men sleeping in the truck the following morning. They were covered in blood and mud. Grayson told her the stains on his clothes came from a dog he had interacted with. Three rock climbers found Deblieuxs body days later. A medical examiner determined that every bone in her skull and face had been fractured. She had two incisions in her chest, where her left lung had been removed. Grayson was convicted of capital murder in 1996. The jury unanimously recommended the death penalty. Grayson had previously requested he be executed by nitrogen hypoxia. Alabama has executed two other inmates using the method Kenneth Eugene Smith and Alan Eugene Miller. open image in gallery The Holman Correctional Facility is where most of Alabamas death row inmates are housed and executed ( REUTERS ) When asked if hed like to make a statement before his execution at the William C Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore, Grayson told the warden: For you, you need to f*** off, the Associated Press reported. He then raised both middle fingers and appeared to address state officials and witnesses in the room with a gas mask strapped to his face. Officials abruptly cut off his mic because That was enough, John Q Hamm, Alabama Department of Corrections commissioner, told reporters. He's cussed out most of our employees tonight, so we were not going to give him the opportunity to just spew that profanity. The curtain opened at 6:06 p.m. and nitrogen flowed for 15 minutes. Grayson was pronounced dead at 6:33 p.m. On the day of his execution, Grayson refused his breakfast and lunch trays. He requested soft tacos, beef burritos, tostada, chips, guacamole, and Mountain Dew Blast for his final meal. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Alabama put to death inmate Carey Dale Grayson for the 1994 murder of a hitchhiker, the third execution using nitrogen gas in the US. Grayson, 50, was pronounced dead at 6:33 p.m. on Thursday at William C. Holman Correctional Facility in the state after the new method was used. According to the Associated Press, Grayson swore at the prison warden and raised both middle fingers before he was executed. For you, you need to f*** off, he told the warden, according to AL.com. The warden reportedly turned off the microphone as Grayson, with a gas mask strapped to his face, appeared to address state officials and the witness room. Grayson refused the breakfast and lunch trays but drank coffee and Mountain Dew, the Alabama Department of Corrections told the outlet. For his final meal, Grayson ate soft tacos, beef burritos, a tostada, chips and guacamole, and a Mountain Dew Blast brought in from local restaurants. Some thirty years ago, Vicki DeBlieuxs journey to her mothers house and ultimately, her life, were horrifically cut short because of Carey Grayson and three other men. She sensed something was wrong, attempted to escape, but instead, was brutally tortured and murdered, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey said in a statement. Even after her death, Mr. Graysons crimes against Ms. DeBlieux were heinous, unimaginable, without an ounce of regard for human life and just unexplainably mean. An execution by nitrogen hypoxia bares no comparison to the death and dismemberment Ms. DeBlieux experienced. I pray for her loved ones that they may continue finding closure and healing. Grayson was one of four teenagers convicted of the slaying of Vickie Deblieux, 37, as she was hitchhiking in Alabama on the way to her mothers home in Louisiana. The execution took place hours after a request for a stay was rejected by the US Supreme Court. Lawyers for Grayson had argued that the new method of execution required more study before being used again. Grayson became the 22nd inmate to be put to death in the US this year, Alabamas sixth in 2024 and third in just two months, according to the Montgomery Advertiser. On February 21, 1994, Deblieux was dropped off by her friend in Chattanooga near Interstate 59, where she began hitchhiking to continue her trip southwest, according to USA TODAY. At the same time, Grayson and three other teens were driving near Birmingham, Alabama, and spotted Deblieux on the side of the road looking for a ride. The group stopped for Deblieux and invited her to ride with them. They then drove to nearby wooded area of Bald Mountain and reportedly justified the stop by telling Deblieux they were swapping out vehicles where they began attacking her. The teens beat and kicked her outside of the car before Grayson and another teen ultimately killed her by standing on her throat. The group threw her body from a cliff, and later returned to the area to mutilate her corpse. They cut her body at least 180 times, cut off her fingers, and removed a portion of her lungs, court records show. In Alabama, inmates can choose to die by either nitrogen hypoxia, lethal injection or electrocution, with Grayson selecting the former. The controversial method was only used for the first time this year, when Alabama executed Kenneth Eugene Smith in January. The unusual method of Smiths execution sparked international backlash, including a protest from the Vatican. Grayson is one of about 30 inmates on Alabamas death row who have selected to die by nitrogen hypoxia. During the execution, the condemned person breathes in pure nitrogen through a mask, displacing the oxygen in their system. Proponents claim it is an instant and painless death, opponents claim it is untried and amounts to torture. During Smiths execution, he reportedly writhed and convulsed on a gurney for at least four minutes, rather than losing consciousness within seconds, as the state had previously predicted. Despite those issues, the states Department of Corrections Commissioner John Hamm defended the execution as textbook. The Associated Press contributed to this report The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A Mexican cartel leader has been accused of faking his death and using a fake identity to live a luxurious lifestyle in California. Cristian Fernando Gutierrez-Ochoa, 37, a high-ranking member of Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion, was charged with international drug trafficking and money laundering offenses this week. He was taken into custody in Riverside, California on November 19. Gutierrez-Ochoa is the son-in-law of the cartels leader, Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, also known as El Mencho. Federal investigators believe the mans father-in-law may have helped him by telling associates he murdered him for lying, allowing him to sneak into the US with the drug lords daughter. The cartel, based in Jalisco, Mexico, is considered one of the worlds most violent and prolific drug trafficking organizations. Federal investigators say Gutierrez-Ochoa, who went by the alias Luis Miguel Martinez, started working for the organization around 2014 and coordinated the distribution of 40,000 kilograms of methamphetamine and 2,000 kilograms of cocaine into the US. Investigators also accused him of violent crimes. In November 2021, they say he kidnapped two members of the Mexican Navy to secure the release of Cervantes wife who was in Mexican custody. Gutierrez-Ochoa then fled to the US and lived in a luxury home in Riverside, purchased with the cartels money, federal investigators say. If convicted, he faces up to life in prison. The Justice Department indicted Cervantes in 2022, charging him with leading a criminal enterprise to manufacture and distribute fentanyl into the US. Federal officials are offering a $10m reward for information leading to the cartel leaders arrest and/or conviction. Cervantes remains a fugitive. DEA Administrator Anne Milgram said in a news release: The Jalisco Cartel is responsible for unprecedented violence in Mexico and helping to fuel the deadly drug crisis in the United States. The DEA is relentlessly committed to defeating the Jalisco Cartel, and we will exhaust every tool in the justice system to fight back, to save American lives, and to bring this cartel to justice. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Convicted murderer Lyle Menendez has been busted for possessing a cellphone behind bars after striking up an affair with a British college student, according to a report. Prison officers at the top-security Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego caught Menendez with the phone back on March 15, the Daily Mail reported. A record of the phone possession is included in outgoing Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascons resentencing memo, as Lyle and his brother Erik Menendezs resentencing hearing looms. Menendez has also acquired a second phone, according to the Mail, which he uses to keep in contact with his 21-year-old alleged love interest. The student has allegedly flown out from her home in Greater Manchester in the north of England to visit Menendez behind bars, the newspaper reported. The brothers were sentenced to life in jail without parole after being found guilty of killing their parents at their Beverly Hills home in 1989, following two controversial trials. open image in gallery Lyle Menendez has been busted for having a cellphone so he can reportedly contact his new love interest ( AP ) A resentencing hearing for the brothers was scheduled to take place on December 11, but following Gascons election defeat to Nathan Hochman, it is likely to be postponed. The incoming LA County District Attorney has questioned whether his predecessors decision to re-examine the high-profile Menendez brothers case may have been a political ploy. Hochman defeated Gascon on November 5, several weeks after the progressive LA DA announced his recommendation that the brothers be resentenced and eligible for parole immediately. Calls for the brothers to be released have ramped up in recent months, following several documentary and television series airing about the case. On October 24, Gascon then announced that the case would be reevaluated. Part of the problem with the Gascon timing of his decision is theres a cloud over that credibility. Is it a just decision, or was it just a political ploy? Hochman told ABC News. There will be no cloud over whatever decision I make. Gascon has denied his decision was politically motivated, telling the outlet: I believe that they should be released and they should be released cleanly within the law. open image in gallery Lyle, left, and Erik Menendez sit with defense attorney Leslie Abramson, right, during a court hearing on Nov. 26, 1990 ( AP1990 ) I based my decision on the review of 30 years of ... information about their behavior, as well as a very thorough understanding of what they were convicted of and the elements of the crime, Gascon said. So my decision was appropriately based. Hochman, who is set to take office on December 2, has said he plans to read through the new alleged evidence, including trial transcripts, confidential prison files and interviews with family, lawyers and law enforcement. What these files say is too important an issue to delegate to somebody else. I need to actually do the work myself, he told ABC, adding that he would work as expeditiously as possible. Im not going to ask for delay, just for delays sake, he added. Well ask for the minimal amount of time necessary to do this work, because we owe it to the Menendez brothers, we owe it to the victims family members, we owe it to the public to get this decision right. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Police have arrested a suspect who they believe abducted and killed a woman in Rhode Island two years ago. Mark Perkins, 64, was taken into custody on Wednesday by the Warwick Police Department after investigators linked his vehicle's GPS data to the spot where the skeletal remains of Charlotte Lester, 44, were found on November 17. Lester was reported missing by her landlord on May 16, 2022, according to WJAR. Perkins has been on the investigators' radar since the beginning. Shortly after Lester was reported missing, a witness at a nearby convenience store told police they saw Perkins with "blood on his hands and scratches and bite marks on his arm." The witness spoke to Perkins, and claimed he said he and Lester who he was romantically inolved with at the time had the "blowout of the century" and said his house was "a blood bath." Perkins also allegedly said "I think I killed her." The final day Lester was seen alive, she drove to another man's house and was allegedly followed there by Perkins, according to court documents. Perkins is said to have sent her text messages asking her to come back from the other man's house. open image in gallery Charlotte Lester, 44, was killed in May 2022. Her romantic partner, Mark Perkins, 64, was arrested in November 2024 on first-degree murder charges related to her death ( Warwick Police Department ) On May 18, the day he was seen bloodied in the convenience store, Perkins was allegedly caught on video leaving his house in a truck with an object in the bed. He returned three hours later and the object was no longer in the truck. Police caught up with Perkins on May 20 and interviewed him. They noted that his hands were swollen but that his demeanor was "calm and unaffected" by his romantic partner's disappearance. He allegedly told the investigators that Lester had "stopped texting him" and insisted he had no clue where she was, according to WPRI. After the interview, Warwick police obtained a search warrant for Perkins' home. They found the interior of the house spattered with blood, and found a blood-stained shirt on a clothesline in the basement hanging over a bottle of bleach. Later testing compared a DNA profile from Lester's mother to the blood found on the shirt, confirming that it was a mix of Lester and Perkins' blood. Investigators found Lester's remains earlier this week, and used the GPS data from Perkins' truck to confirm that he had visited the same area four times in four months twice in July 2022, and twice in October 2022 - which finally allowed them to charge him with her murder. Police previosuly arrested Perkins in August 2022, but not for Lester's murder. Instead, he was picked up for threatening a local radio host with his lawnmower for confronting him on Lester's disappearance. He was arrested again this week and has been charged with first-degree murder. He has not entered a plea and is being held without bail. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Convicted child murderer Susan Smith "threw a tantrum" in her cell after her request for parole was rejected, according to a report in the New York Post. Smith became a household name in 1994 when police determined that she intentionally killed her two young sons Michael, 3, and Alex, 14 months by strapping them into her car and then rolling it into a South Carolina lake. At the time, Smith told police that she'd been carjacked by a Black man who kidnapped her children. That racist lie sent police into Black neighborhoods to search for possible suspects. Smith even appeared on national news daily to appeal for her children's return, before she caved and admitted that there was never any carjacker nine days later. She was convicted on murder charges and was later sentenced to life in prison. Her first parole hearing was held on Wednesday, during which she cried and apologized for killing her sons. The 53-year-old said she wished she could take it back, and expressed confidence that God had forgiven her. "I am a Christian and I know that God has forgiven me," she told the parole board. She begged them to "show the same kind of mercy" in their ruling. Susan Smith sobs on camera from prison as she requests parole on November 20, 2024 ( Law&Crime ) The seven-member South Carolina Board of Parole was not swayed, however, and rejected her request. An onlooker who witnessed the aftermath of the hearing told the Post that the 53-year-old Smith "was pissed" when she returned to her cell at the Leath Correctional Institution in Greenwood. "She was angry-crying," the witness said. "Waving her hands, very agitated. It looked like she threw a tantrum." The source who spoke to the outlet made clear that the other inmates had no sympathy for her, telling the paper that the they found the denial "funny. "I don't think she was thinking about her sons at all yesterday," they said. "She was clearly just thinking about herself." Smith, who has served 30 years behind bars, will be eligible to apply for parole every two years, although her ex-husband David Smith doesnt think she should ever be released. "I don't think she'll ever be rehabilitated," he told Today on the day of her parole hearing. "I don't think she's, even to me, she's never been really sorry for what she did. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A Texas mom has been accused of leaving her toddler home alone and covered in feces after she traveled 400 miles to go on a Hinge date. Reese Louise Myers, 25, was charged with abandoning or endangering a child by the Killeen Police Department. The incident alegedly happened in July, and the mother has now been extradited to Texas after being arrested by the San Bernardino County Sheriffs Office in California on a fugitive warrant on November 5, police told The Independent. Four months prior, at roughly 9:50am on July 28, officers were sent to 600 W Hallmark Ave in Killeen, Texas regarding concerns over the welfare of a child. A 16-month-old was spotted hanging out near a broken window after an aggressive dog tried to attack them, as per a witness who spoke to police. When officials arrived at the scene, they saw the child dangling out from the window which they observed had been repaired with plexiglass sheeting and cardboard they said it was not shattered as per the report. Upon entering the apartment, the child was found scantily dressed in a t-shirt with feces on the childs skin and signs of possible diaper rash, said Killeen PD. A sweep of the apartment revealed that the child had been abandoned with two dogs inside the property. When officers contacted Myers, the 16-month-olds mother, she reportedly revealed she was in San Antonio after traveling there the day before on July 27 to meet up with a man shed been chatting to on a dating site. The hookup had been arranged on Hinge, according to an affidavit seen by KWTX. Killeen PD confirmed that the mother had arranged to meet the man on a dating site but did not specify which app. The mother told officials the child had been in the care of a babysitter organized through Facebook, officials added. Myers was told by police to return to Killeen, Texas. Meanwhile, officers sought contact with the supposed babysitter who advised that she last spoke with the accused mother in December 2023 but hadnt heard from her since. Facebook messages seen by Killeen PD verified the lack of contact and the last exchange between the pair as December 2023, said officials. The 16-month-year-old was medically assessed at Advent Health in Killeen for assessment before Child Protective Services took custody of him. Special Victims Unit detectives presented the case to the Bell County District Attorneys Office and a complaint was returned which led to Myers being charged for child neglect. Myers was subsequently arrested and booked into Bells County Jail. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Two men have been convicted on charges relating to human smuggling in a trial over the deaths of an Indian family that froze to death crossing the U.S.-Canada border. Indian national Harshkumar Ramanlal Patel, 29, and Steve Shand, 50, an American from Florida, were part of a sophisticated smuggling operation that brought people from Canada into the U.S. illegally, prosecutors said. Patel coordinated the deadly crossing in January 2022, and Shand was a driver who was supposed to pick up 11 Indian migrants on the Minnesota side of the border. Only seven made it across. Canadian authorities found Jagdish Patel and his wife, Vaishaliben, their 11-year-old daughter, Vihangi, and three-year-old son, Dharmik, frozen to death. Jagdish, the father, was discovered holding his infant son in a blanket. open image in gallery 39-year-old Jagdish Patel; his wife, Vaishaliben, who was in her mid-30s; their 11-year-old daughter, Vihangi; and 3-year-old son, Dharmik, froze to death while trying to cross from Canada into the US. ( RCMP Manitoba ) The two men were convicted by a jury in a federal trial in Fergus Falls, Minnesota. The trial has shone a light on a dramatic increase in the number of people crossing illegally into the U.S. from Canada in recent years, most of them Indian nationals. The U.S. Border Patrol arrested more than 14,000 Indians on the Canadian border in the year ending September 30, which accounted for some 60 percent of all arrests. By 2022, the Pew Research Center estimates there were more than 725,000 Indians living illegally in the U.S., behind only Mexicans and El Salvadorans. Indian officials say migrants find their way to the U.S. by taking advantage of student visas to Canada and crossing from there. This trial exposed the unthinkable cruelty of human smuggling and of those criminal organizations that value profit and greed over humanity, Minnesota U.S. Attorney Andy Luger told the Associated Press. To earn a few thousand dollars, these traffickers put men, women and children in extraordinary peril leading to the horrific and tragic deaths of an entire family. Because of this unimaginable greed, a father, a mother and two children froze to death in sub-zero temperatures on the Minnesota-Canadian border, Luger added. The jury in the trial, which began on Monday, heard testimony from an alleged participant in the smuggling ring and a survivor of the deadly journey. Border patrol agents and forensic experts also testified. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy More than 60 years after President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, conspiracy theories still swirl and any new glimpse into the fateful day of Nov. 22, 1963, in Dallas continues to fascinate. President-elect Donald Trump promised during his reelection campaign that he would declassify all of the remaining government records surrounding the assassination if he returned to office. He made a similar pledge during his first term, but ultimately bended to appeals from the CIA and FBI to keep some documents withheld. At this point, only a few thousand of the millions of governmental records related to the assassination have yet to be fully released, and those who have studied the records released so far say that even if the remaining files are declassified, the public shouldn't anticipate any earth-shattering revelations. "Anybody waiting for a smoking gun that's going to turn this case upside down will be sorely disappointed," said Gerald Posner, author of "Case Closed," which concludes that assassin Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone. Friday's 61st anniversary is expected to be marked with a moment of silence at 12:30 p.m. in Dealey Plaza, where Kennedy's motorcade was passing through when he was fatally shot. And throughout this week there have been events marking the anniversary. Nov. 22, 1963 open image in gallery The limousine carrying mortally wounded President John F. Kennedy races toward the hospital seconds after he was shot ( AP ) When Air Force One carrying Kennedy and first lady Jacqueline Kennedy touched down in Dallas, they were greeted by a clear sky and enthusiastic crowds. With a reelection campaign on the horizon the next year, they had gone to Texas on political fence-mending trip. But as the motorcade was finishing its parade route downtown, shots rang out from the Texas School Book Depository building. Police arrested 24-year-old Oswald and, two days later, nightclub owner Jack Ruby fatally shot Oswald during a jail transfer. A year after the assassination, the Warren Commission, which President Lyndon B. Johnson established to investigate the assassination, concluded that Oswald acted alone and there was no evidence of a conspiracy. But that hasn't quelled a web of alternative theories over the decades. The collection open image in gallery The collection has sparked fascination and conspiracy theories for decades ( AP ) In the early 1990s, the federal government mandated that all assassination-related documents be housed in a single collection in the National Archives and Records Administration. The collection of over 5 million records was required to be opened by 2017, barring any exemptions designated by the president. Trump, who took office for his first term in 2017, had boasted that he'd allow the release of all of the remaining records but ended up holding some back because of what he called the potential harm to national security. And while files have continued to be released during President Joe Biden's administration, some still remain unseen. The documents released over the last few years offer details on the way intelligence services operated at the time, and include CIA cables and memos discussing visits by Oswald to the Soviet and Cuban embassies during a trip to Mexico City just weeks before the assassination. The former Marine had previously defected to the Soviet Union before returning home to Texas. Mark S. Zaid, a national security attorney in Washington, said what's been released so far has contributed to the understanding of the time period, giving "a great picture" of what was happening during the Cold War and the activities of the CIA. Withheld files open image in gallery Trump has long promised to release the remaining files ( AFP via Getty Images ) Posner estimates that there are still about 3,000 to 4,000 documents in the collection that haven't yet been fully released. Of those documents, some are still completely redacted while others just have small redactions, like someone's Social Security number. "If you have been following it, as I have and others have, you sort of are zeroed in on the pages you think might provide some additional information for history," Posner said. There are about 500 documents that have been completely withheld, Posner said, and those include Oswald's and Ruby's tax returns. Those files, the National Archives says on its website, weren't subject to the 2017 disclosure requirement. Trump's transition team hasn't responded to questions this week about his plans when he takes office. A continued fascination open image in gallery President John F. Kennedy waves from his car in a motorcade approximately one minute before he was shot ( AP ) From the start, there were those who believed there had to be more to the story than just Oswald acting alone, said Stephen Fagin, curator of the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza, which tells the story of the assassination from the building where Oswald made his sniper's perch. "People want to make sense of this and they want to find the solution that fits the crime," said Fagin, who said that while there are lingering questions, law enforcement made "a pretty compelling case" against Oswald. Larry J. Sabato, director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics, said his interest in the assassination dates back to the event itself, when he was a child. "It just seemed so fantastical that one very disturbed individual could end up pulling off the crime of the century," Sabato said. "But the more I studied it, the more I realized that is a very possible, maybe even probable in my view, hypothesis." The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te will visit the self-governing islands allies in the South Pacific, where rival China has been seeking diplomatic inroads. The Foreign Ministry announced Friday that Lai would travel from Nov. 30 to Dec. 6 to the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu and Palau. The trip comes against the background of Chinese loans, grants and security cooperation treaties with Pacific island nations that have aroused major concern in the U.S., New Zealand, Australia and others over Beijing's moves to assert military, political and economic control over the region. Taiwans government has yet to confirm whether Lai will make a stop in Hawaii, although such visits are routine and unconfirmed Taiwanese media reports say he will stay for more than one day. Under pressure from China, which claims Taiwan as its own territory and threatens to annex it by force if needed, Taiwan has just 12 formal diplomatic allies. However, it retains strong contacts with dozens of other nations, including the U.S., its main source of diplomatic and military support. China has sought to whittle away traditional alliances in the South Pacific, signing a security agreement with the Solomon Islands shortly after it broke ties with Taiwan and winning over Nauru just weeks after Lai's election in January. Since then, China has been pouring money into infrastructure projects in its South Pacific allies, as it has around the world, in exchange for political support. China objects strongly to such U.S. stopovers by Taiwan's leaders, as well as visits to the island by leading American politicians, terming them as violations of U.S. commitments not to afford diplomatic status to Taiwan after Washington switched formal recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979. With the number of its diplomatic partners declining under Chinese pressure, Taiwan has redoubled efforts to take part in international forums, even from the sidelines. It has also fought to retain what diplomatic status it holds, including refusing a demand from South Africa last month that it move its representative office in its former diplomatic ally out of the capital. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Bill OReilly, the former Fox News host, has argued that President-elect Donald Trumps cabinet picks will not have any sway over policy in his next administration. The 75-year-old appeared on NewsNation on Wednesday night, saying that Trump is likely to concentrate power at the White House and simply have his department leaders follow his directives. The commentator compared Trumps incoming administration to that of Franklin D. Roosevelt, saying that the president-elect will put in place a structure where cabinet members will simply follow his lead. The people that do department heads are going to say yes, sir or theyre not going to be okay, OReilly told host Chris Cuomo. OReilly went on to describe Trump senior advisor Stephen Miller, who has been assigned the role of deputy chief of staff for policy, as the most powerful man in the country, besides Donald Trump. Very few people understand how Donald Trump is going to run the country. The second time around is going to be totally different than the first time, and this is why there is so much chaos and confusion, OReilly argued. So the first time he got elected in 16, Trump didnt know what he was doing, and he admitted that, and he took advice from a lot of people, and he appointed standard people like Jeff Sessions to run justice disaster, the oil guy to be Secretary of State. It was ridiculous. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, the former CEO of ExxonMobil, lasted just over a year in the role between 2017 and 2018. Trump has made several surprising and controversial picks for his cabinet, with one, former attorney general nominee Matt Gaetz, being forced to end his bid for the post on Thursday amid allegations of sexual misconduct and illicit drug use, claims Gaetz has forcefully rejected. Trump nominated former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi in his place. Bill O'Reilly attends the Hollywood Reporter's 2016 35 Most Powerful People in Media at Four Seasons Restaurant on April 6, 2016 in New York City. He has suggested that Trumps cabinet picks will have very little input on policy ( Getty Images ) Secretary of Defense nominee and Fox News host Pete Hegseth is also facing accusations of sexual misconduct, namely that he assaulted a woman in 2017, an allegation that he also denies. Meanwhile, HHS Secretary nominee Robert F Kennedy Jr, an anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist, is facing criticism from the right for his pro-choice views and from others for his eclectic, and often unfounded, views on health. The nominee to be the director of national intelligence, former Democratic Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, has intelligence analysts worried because of her views on the war in Ukraine and comments seen as her backing Russia, as well as for conducting secret meetings with Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad. OReilly noted that in previous Republican administrations, such as those led by Presidents George W Bush and Ronald Reagan, members of the cabinet had significant input on policy matters. But the former Fox News host suggested that the Biden administration also controlled most matters centrally from the White House. This time around Trump believes that he has figured it out, OReilly said. So all he wants is what Franklin Delano Roosevelt did. He wants a cabinet that will do everything he says. He does not need policy coming out of those people. All he needs is for them to pick up the phone when Stephen Miller, the deputy chief of policy, calls and says, The president, would like you to do this. And they say, Yes, sir, he added The policy ... all of it is going to be made in the White House. Sign up for the Independent Women email for the latest news, opinion and features Get the Independent Women email for free Get the Independent Women email for free SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Donald Trumps election victory has left many Americans fearful that reproductive freedoms and rights will be further curtailed with some already stockpiling abortion pills in preparation. Trumps first time in office emboldened the anti-abortion movement and he appointed conservative-leaning justices to the Supreme Court, which then went on to overturn Roe v Wade the landmark ruling that had granted a constitutional right to abortion access for the past 50 years. This time round, there are concerns Trump could roll out a national abortion ban. During his campaign, he flip-flopped on the matter, suggesting he would support a national ban at around 15 weeks of pregnancy, but also saying he believed the matter should be left up to individual states. Now that the president-elect has announced several nominations for the top jobs in his administration, heres a look at what some of them have said about abortion: Linda McMahon Linda McMahon, the former chief executive of WWE tapped to become Trumps education secretary, described herself as pro-choice during her unsuccessful Senate run in 2010. But she also took issue with federal funding for abortions and voiced support for the Blunt Amendment which would have weakened access to birth control by allowing workplaces to refuse to cover health services, including contraception. open image in gallery Linda McMahon has been tapped to become Trumps education secretary ( AP ) Doug Burgum Trumps Interior Secretary pick Doug Burgum has signed some of the strictest abortion bans in the country into law as governor of North Dakota. Following the overturning of Roe v Wade, the state banned abortions with the only exceptions being for instances of rape, incest or serious risks to the mothers health. These exceptions are still only permitted up until six weeks of pregnancy. Abortions are only permitted after six weeks of pregnancy to save the life of the woman. Burgum said in June he opposes a federal abortion ban and believes it should be left up to individual states. open image in gallery Doug Burgum has signed some of the strictest abortion bans in the country into law as governor of North Dakota ( AP ) I have been clear that I'm opposed to a federal abortion ban. I'm aligned with President Trump on that, and this is something that has to be left to the states, he told Meet the Press. Robert F Kennedy Jr RFK Jr, Trumps health secretary pick, flip-flopped on the issue of abortion during his own presidential campaign. The anti-vaxxer said he sees himself as pro-choice and believes it is always the womans right to choose. open image in gallery Robert F Kennedy Jr has flip-flopped on the issue of abortion ( AP ) But he has also said every abortion is a tragedy and called for a national ban after 15 weeks of pregnancy before walking it back. Kristi Noem South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, tapped to be the next secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, vocally opposes abortions. Her state bans abortions with no exception for incest or rape. The only exception is when the pregnant persons life is at risk. During an appearance on CNNs State of the Union in 2022, Noem was pressed by Dana Bash about whether a 10-year-old child abuse victim who was forced to travel from Ohio to Indiana for an abortion should have been forced to give birth. open image in gallery South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem was tapped to be the next secretary of the Department of Homeland Security ( REUTERS/Mike Segar/File Photo ) This tragedy is horrific. I cant even imagine. I have never had anybody in my family or myself gone through anything like this But, in South Dakota, the law today is that the abortions are illegal, except to save the life of the mother, she said. However, she suggested the 10-year-old could be eligible for the risk to life exception. Doug Collins Former Republican congressman Doug Collins, Trumps pick to lead the veteran affairs, has made his anti-abortion stance clear. When Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died, Collins celebrated the chance to appoint a conservative, anti-abortion judge to the court. RIP to the more than 30 million innocent babies that have been murdered during the decades that Ruth Bader Ginsburg defended pro-abortion laws, he wrote on X at the time. With @realDonaldTrump nominating a replacement that values human life, generations of unborn children have a chance to live. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A former military chief has hit back at Donald Trumps Defense Secretary nominee over remarks made about women serving in the armed forces. General Mark Milley, who served as the 20th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said that the US military must be and always should be standards-based, as he called out the comments by Pete Hegseth. Hegseth, a military veteran and former Fox News host, was announced as the President-elects choice for secretary of defense last week, in a move that caused consternation across the political aisle. He served 13 years as a part-time member of the National Guard, culminating in the rank of major. "It hasnt made us more effective, hasnt made us more lethal, has made fighting more complicated," Hegseth said in an interview earlier this month. He went on to add that he was straight-up saying we should not have women in combat roles. Speaking at a national security innovation event hosted by the Pallas Foundation on Thursday, Milley, who served as the nations highest-ranking military officer, reacted to the comments. Dont lecture me about women in combat, he said. Women have been in combat and it doesnt matter if that 762 (bullet) hits you in the chest, no one gives a s*** if its a woman or guy who pulled the trigger youre still dead. Donald Trumps pick for Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth, has said previously that women should not be allowed to hold combat roles in the military ( AP ) He continued: If you meet the standards, our military must be and always should be a standards-based merit-based military, period, full stop. Doesnt matter if you are white, Black, a man, a woman, a Catholic or a Protestant. What matters are standards, readiness standards. Do you meet the standard or not? If yes, pass go, collect 200, join the infantry. Defense World Baffled By Trumps Pentagon Chief Pick, Pete Hegseth According to service data reviewed by Military.com, there are currently around 3,800 women serving in frontline army combat roles across infantry, cavalry, armor and field artillery roles. The data includes active duty, reserve and National Guard, and encompasses enlisted and officers. In the Marine Corps, nearly 700 women are serving in combat roles, including 112 female infantry riflemen and 15 Marine officers, the data showed. Though Milley served as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during Trumps first stint in office, holding the position from 2019 to 2023, the relationship between the pair became tumultuous. In September 2023, the President-elect appeared to imply that Milley deserved to be executed after speaking with a Chinese general during Trumps fraught final months in office. This is an act so egregious that, in times gone by, the punishment would have been DEATH! A war between China and the United States could have been the result of this treasonous act, Trump wrote on Truth Social at the time. Milley later said that he would take appropriate measures to ensure his and his familys personal safety in the wake of the remarks. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Matt Gaetzs future job as Americas top law enforcement official came to a crashing end on Thursday with a phone call from Donald Trump landing the final nail in the coffin. Eight days after his nomination to become Trumps attorney general, the former Florida lawmaker announced that he was withdrawing his name from consideration after realizing that he was becoming a distraction to the Trump-Vance transition. The announcement came as allegations of sexual misconduct involving a 17-year-old girl and illicit drug use resurfaced and fueled doubts that he would pass the Senate nomination process. CNN reported that, just an hour before announcing he was stepping aside, the publication had asked Gaetz for comment about new allegations that he had had multiple sexual encounters with the underage girl. But, according to a report, the decision to step aside came during a call between Gaetz and Trump himself. A source told The Bulwark that the president-elect called Gaetz just hours before his withdrawal, warning him that he didnt have enough support in the Senate. You dont have the votes, Trump told Gaetz, according to the source. These senators arent moving. According to a second source, the former Florida lawmaker is said to have acknowledged that he was four to six Republican votes shy from the threshold needed. open image in gallery Donald Trump and Matt Gaetz spoke on the phone just hours before the attorney general nominee dropped out of the running ( AP ) He could only afford to lose two GOP votes to maintain the majority in the 100-seat upper chamber with Republicans holding a 53 to 47 seat majority. The source toldThe Bulwark the decision was a mutually understood acceptance of political reality. The writing was on the wall. Gaetz fell on his sword, they added. A source told CNN that Trump did not explicitly tell Gaetz that he should drop out of the running during the Thursday morning call. Following Gaetzs announcement, Trump took to Truth Social to offer both his praise and condolences, writing: He was doing very well but, at the same time, did not want to be a distraction for the Administration. By the end of the day, the president-elect had nominated a new attorney general: Pam Bondi, a Trump loyalist and former attorney general of Florida. open image in gallery Pam Bondi (at Trumps hush money his trial in May) has been tapped as Trumps new pick for the job ( Getty Images ) Gaetz, who resigned from the House last Wednesday upon his nomination for attorney general, has been embroiled in controversy over resurfaced allegations. The former congressman was the focus of a sex trafficking investigated by the Department of Justice, the agency he sought to lead, over allegations he had sex with a 17-year-old girl. The probe ended without charges and Gaetz denied all wrongdoing. The House Ethics Committee also launched a years-long investigation into the accusations. The panel was set to release its findings last week, but Gaetzs resignation meant he was no longer under the committees jurisdiction. The committee met Wednesday to discuss potentially still releasing the report, but was deadlocked in its decision. Initially, Trump stood by his nominee, even floating the idea of recess appointments and circumventing FBI checks. But, ultimately, the support wasnt there. While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition, he posted on Thursday. There is no time to waste on a needlessly protracted Washington scuffle, thus Ill be withdrawing my name from consideration to serve as Attorney General. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Ginger Gaetz called it the end of an era after her husband Matt withdrew his name to be Donald Trumps next attorney general. In the moments after he made his announcement, the 30-year-old, self-described wifey of the former Florida congressman posted a photo of the pair walking on the steps of the Capitol building on Instagram writing: The end of an era. No one loves America more than this guy. It is yet not clear whether the enigmatic end of an era remark refers to Gaetzs bid to become AG, or his wider political career as his withdrawal immediately sparked questions of what he will do next. open image in gallery Ginger continues to be a cheerleader for Gaetz, calling it the end of an era after he withdrew his name as Trumps AG pick ( @gingergaetz/Instagram ) The 42-year-old Florida Republican resigned from the House last week after Trump tapped him to lead the Justice Department the very department that had been investigating him over sex trafficking allegations. Ginger has signaled her support for her husband, despite the mounting backlash in the one week since he was nominated. After Gaetz was first tapped for the powerful role, his wife wrote: Attorney General will look great on you my love. When he resigned from the House, she wrote that Floridas 1st congressional district is truly blessed to have you representing us. The former Congressman wrote on X on Thursday: I had excellent meetings with Senators yesterday. I appreciate their thoughtful feedback - and the incredible support of so many. While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition. open image in gallery Ginger and Matt Gaetz at MSG ( gingergaetz/Instagram ) Trump responded to Gaetzs withdrawal in a Truth Social post: I greatly appreciate the recent efforts of Matt Gaetz in seeking approval to be Attorney General. He was doing very well but, at the same time, did not want to be a distraction for the Administration, for which he has much respect. Matt has a wonderful future, and I look forward to watching all of the great things he will do! The probe led to no charges against Gaetz, but his associate Joel Greenberg pleaded guilty to sex trafficking of a minor and other crimes in 2021. He is serving an 11-year prison sentence. The House Ethics Committee also investigated claims that Gaetz had engaged in sexual misconduct, illicit drug use, and other activity. A debate among Congress members has ensued over whether to release a report of the committees findings. But leaks in the media have suggested that Gaetz paid $10,000 in Venmo and PayPal payments from 2017 through 2019 to two women who later testified before the committee. Some of those payments were allegedly used in transactions for sex, according to ABC News, which obtained records of the transactions. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The hosts of MSNBCs Morning Joe, Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski, allegedly met with President-elect Donald Trump over fears that then-attorney general nominee Matt Gaetz would investigate the death of an intern in Scarboroughs office during his time as a Florida Republican congressman, according to a Puck News report. On Monday, Brzezinski said: For those asking why we would go speak to the president-elect during such fraught times, especially between us, I guess I would ask back, Why wouldnt we? Joe and I realized its time to do something different, and that starts with not only talking about Donald Trump, but also talking with him, she added. Their mostly liberal audience dropped by 17 percent in the hour after they made the revelation about the Trump meeting, and their ratings were down 38 percent the following day compared to the average for the year. Scarborough and Brzezinski have reportedly told friends since the election that theyre concerned about retribution from Trump over their consistent criticism of the president-elect since they last met with him seven years ago. Those worries grew when Trump nominated former Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz to be his attorney general. Gaetz announced on Thursday that he would be stepping down as the nominee. The Morning Joe hosts told friends and allies before the departure that they were concerned that Trump and Gaetz would bring back up baseless conspiracy theories regarding the death of 28-year-old intern Lori Klausutis, who died from complications from a heart condition in 2001, Puck News noted. The concerns were linked to worries that Gaetz and Trump would use the conspiracy to put legal pressure on Scarborough. In 2022, former White House communications director and current The View co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin testified before the House Select Committee investigating the January 6 Capitol riot, saying that she once encountered Gaetz outside the Oval Office, adding that Gaetz was carrying a folder with conspiracy theories about Joe Scarborough murdering his intern. Gaetz presented the contents to Trump, who subsequently posted about it on what was then Twitter. Mika Brzezinski and Joe Scarborough attend Forbes x Know Your Value 50 Over 50 on December 15, 2021 in New York City. Their ratings took a nosedive after they agreed to meet with President-elect Donald Trump ( Getty Images ) A source told Puck that the hosts were petrified of retribution and concerned that Gaetz, who represented the same Florida congressional district as Scarborough, would probe the death of the intern. The source said the fears had nothing to do with ratings or Comcast. A separate source told Puck that Scarborough and Brzezinski thought that by meeting Trump, they could lessen his desire for revenge. A spokesperson for MSNBC told Puck that this characterization of the motivations for the meeting was false and inaccurate. The Independent has contacted MSNBC for comment. Trump said on Fox News on Monday morning that the meeting with the Morning Joe hosts had been very cordial. Many things were discussed, and I very much appreciated the fact that they wanted to have open communication, he said. The meeting ended in a very positive manner, and we agreed to speak in the future, Trump added. The president-elect went on to say that he expected that other meetings would occur with others in the press even those that have been extremely hostile. The former president said he has an obligation to the American public, and to our country itself, to be open and available to the press. If not treated fairly, however, that will end. The media is very important to the long-term success of the United States of America. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Donald Trump moved quickly to replace Matt Gaetz as his nominee for United States attorney general, tapping Pam Bondi for the job within hours of the former Florida lawmakers withdrawal. Gaetz dropped out of the process saying his candidacy was becoming a distraction after the House Ethics Committee came under pressure to release the findings of its investigation into allegations he had sex with a minor accusations he has consistently denied. Bondi, 59, served as the Sunshine States attorney general from 2011 to 2019 and represented Trump in his first impeachment trial before the Senate. But she is not entirely free from controversy herself. She has been accused of declining to take part in a class action lawsuit against Trump University in 2013 after the Republican donated $25,000 to her re-election campaign. But, perhaps more bizarrely, Bondi found herself caught up in a canine custody battle where she was accused of stealing a pet dog. open image in gallery Pam Bondi speaking at a Donald Trump campaign rally in Greensboro, North Carolina, on November 2 2024. She has now been tapped to become Trumps attorney general ( Alex Brandon/AP ) The saga began when Bondi adopted a St Bernard dog which had become separated from its family by Hurricane Katrina in 2005 from Floridas Pinellas County Humane Society. She changed its name from Master Tank to Noah. When the animals true owners, Louisiana couple Steve and Dorreen Couture, tracked Master Tank down to her home in Tampa Bay in January 2006 and found him in the lawyers custody, their request for his return was refused. Instead, Bondi accused the grandparents of neglecting the animal. I took a dog who was a walking skeleton, she told The St Petersburg Times at the time. Thats what was wrong with him before the hurricane. If I thought I was sending him to a stable environment, where he would be cared for, as hard as it would be, Id put him in my car and drive him back myself. I made a promise to him that I would protect him. The Coutures denied her accusation, revealing that Master Tank had suffered from heartworms since he was 10 months old and continued to demand his return. The family sued and a 16-month legal battle ensued, which ended with the two sides settling before the dispute came to trial. open image in gallery Donald Trump and the then-Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi in 2016. In 2006, Bondi found herself caught up in a canine custody battle ( Loren Elliott/Tampa Bay Times via AP ) Bondi eventually returned Master Tank to the Coutures with a supply of food and medication. Plans for her to receive photos and updates on the pups wellbeing soon fell apart, with the Coutures claiming that the lawyer had failed to honor her promises to visit the dog and pay for his food and medical bills for life. It was a burden, it really was, Doreen Couture told The St Petersburg Times in 2010 about the ordeal. Financially, emotionally, it was a really rough time. Asked whether the family planned to keep lines of communication with Bondi open, she added: Why should I? She stole my dog She has no compassion at all. Bondi eventually got a new pup, another St Bernard named Luke. Ive received a tremendous amount of support from people and animal rights activists, and no criticism at all, she said at the time. Really, it has not been an issue. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The Texas State Board of Education has approved the use of Bible-based lessons in public elementary schools. Officials voted 8-7 on the measure during a hearing in Austin on Friday. The new curriculum, developed by Bluebonnet Learning and the Texas Education Agency, pertains to reading and language arts lessons for kids in grades K-5 and math lessons for kids in grades K-8. The teachings call into question the constitutionally of such tax-payer-funded instruction. It remains unclear if the curriculum would violate the Establishment Clause in the First Amendment, which prohibits the government from establishing a religion or providing official support for a religion. The instruction includes lessons on Biblical beliefs, including the stories of Moses, the Good Samaritan, the Golden Rule and readings from the Book of Genesis. The curriculum is optional but schools could get additional funding if they implement the teachings, set to be available to educators in August 2025. Its approval is the latest development in a series of GOP efforts to bring Christianity into public school systems across the country. In Oklahoma, the states top educator, Ryan Walters, has ordered teachers to keep a copy of the Bible in classrooms. In Louisiana, officials hope to post the Ten Commandments in classrooms starting next year. open image in gallery Protesters gather outside a 2022 education board meeting in Austin ( AP ) Critics of the new Texas instruction raised concerns about how the lessons could inappropriately promote the Christian faith in classrooms, whether the materials are age-appropriate or will be effective. Those who support it, say the lessons could help develop students writing and reading skills. Following the vote, the Texas American Federation of Teachers said in a written statement that the new teachings violate the states Code of Ethics by infusing lessons with Bible-based references more appropriate for Sunday Schools than public schools. The group argues the new teachings come from idealogues instead of educational experts and is asking districts not to use them. At a moment of profound political division, this curriculum is a concerted effort to other and exclude students of differing cultures and religions through state-sponsored instructional materials. It is the latest evidence that Christian nationalists have bought their way into every governing body of the state, including the state Board of Education... We can anticipate what will come next, whether thats the erasure of contributions of marginalized populations in social studies or the minimalization of climate change in science. President-elect Donald Trump has called for the disbandment of the federal Department of Education, for a more conservative agenda in public schools and for banning educators from teaching on critical race theory. In 2023, Governor Greg Abbott asked the Texas Education Agency to develop a new curriculum pending approval from the state Board of Education. Abbott has praised the materials and said they would help students better understand the connection of history, art, community, literature, and religion on pivotal events like the signing of the US Constitution, the Civil Rights Movement, and the American Revolution. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Sarah McBride of Delaware must have known this was likely to happen. As the first openly transgender person in history to be elected to the US House of Representatives, she's no doubt faced down plenty of abuse. Trans Americans are all too aware of the Republican Party's determination to use their lives as fuel for the culture war. Even so, the GOP's reaction to her historic win has been shockingly vicious. On Monday, South Carolina representative Nancy Mace filed a motion to ban McBride and any other trans women from all women's bathrooms in the Capitol, claiming that McBrides very presence threatened the "safety and dignity" of her colleagues-to-be. "This is not okay," said Mace, who posted or shared posts about bathrooms on social media 326 times in 72 hours this week, in an interview with ABC. "I'm a survivor of rape, I'm a survivor of sexual abuse, and I'm not going to allow any man in any female private spaces. Period, end of story." Far right firebrand Marjorie Taylor Greene backed her up, attacking McBride personally while repeatedly misgendering her. "[S]he's a man, a biological male," she said. "[She] needs to respect my space... because [s]he is not a woman." If this was a normal place of employment, a HR manager would call this workplace bullying and were not even on day one of McBrides new job. As it happens, McBride is also a survivor of sexual assault, who explained how the myth of the "trans bathroom predator" was a key factor in keeping her silent. But on Wednesday House speaker Mike Johnson gave Mace and MTG's attacks the force of regulation, declaring that all single-sex Capitol bathrooms would be restricted to people of that birth sex. Mace also filed a bill expanding her bathrooms crusade to every federal facility, from museums through national parks to US Post Office branches. She's been open about the animus behind her attacks, telling the MAGA broadcaster Newsmax on Wednesday: "It is offensive that a man in as skirt thinks that he is my equal; that his challenges are the same as mine." None of this is surprising to trans people journalist Parker Molloy even predicted it last week. The posturing is also not going to stop McBride from doing her job, since all members have their own bathroom and unisex toilets exist throughout the Capitol. Instead, those most affected will be trans staffers, interns, reporters, and public visitors. Nancy Mace shares video of herself throwing printout trans flags in trashcan What's notable, though, is McBride's cautiousness. "I'm not here to fight about bathrooms," she said in a statement on Wednesday. "I'm here to fight for Delawareans and to bring down costs facing families." While calling the attacks "an effort to distract from the real issues facing this country," she largely declined to hit back directly against her harassers and said that she would comply with Johnson's rules. As far back as August, McBride a friend of the Biden family who has written movingly about losing her husband to cancer when she was only 24 signalled that she would take this approach when my colleague Eric Garcia asked her at the Democratic National Convention how she would push back against MTG and her ilk. "Well, I won't let them distract me," McBride said. "My focus is going to be on being the best member of Congress I can be... let their circus, let their cruelty, let their preoccupation with manufactured culture wars contrast with my approach to working on issues that actually keep people up at night." Democrats have largely followed McBrides lead, with a few outspoken exceptions, such as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and John Fetterman. In fact, it was reportedly McBride herself who asked her fellow Dems to not to make a big thing of it. The strategy behind this play is clear enough: Let Republicans cast themselves as culture war obsessives, willing to personally vilify a colleague for political points, while the Democrats gracefully rise above it and look statesmanlike by comparison. Speaking personally, I also understand the desire not to be goaded into a battle over one's own humanity. When I came out as a trans woman in 2021, I was excited to start writing openly about my experiences and my community. Still, I promised myself that I would also keep covering other issues, to be recognized as a reporter first and a Person of Gender second. Being the first minority in any institution can, frankly, suck. Enemies and allies alike will reduce you to your identity, no matter what you do. "The political career of this individual is all about being transgender," claimed Newsmax anchor Greg Kelly, ignoring McBride's long and consistent history of emphasizing bread-and-butter issues. But trying to rise above has its own dangers. Some trans people felt deeply demoralized and betrayed by McBride's statement, arguing that it set a precedent for further hate campaigns and sent a message that others should acquiesce when their rights come under attack. Others wished the Democrats had been more proactive from the start about supporting their incoming colleague. Throughout the country, conservative invective against trans people appears to have inspired a new wave of violence and violent threats against trans people. For many, that is exactly the issue that keeps them up at night. open image in gallery Rep.-elect Sarah McBride, D-Del leaves a meeting of House Democrats on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024, in Washington. ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) McBrides dilemma echoes the wider debate currently eating at the Democratic Party about how to deal with Republicans terror tactics. On the one hand, Kamala Harris was soundly defeated by a man who explicitly campaigned on comprehensively rolling back trans rights, and who made her (supposedly) trans-friendly past a centerpiece of his campaign. On the other, Harris largely did try to rise above, barely talking about the issue and largely refusing to even address Trumps attacks. To some progressives, that is proof that ceding the whole issue to conservatives will only invite further disaster. Yet while her party searches its soul, McBride is in an impossible position. When your workplace bullies are supported and protected by your institution's leadership Republicans will control Congress for at least the next two years you're basically screwed either way. Pushing back gives them the fight they want, and guarantees you'll stay in the crosshairs. But not pushing back risks emboldening them to bully others and sends the message that their behaviour is acceptable. It's an unwinnable game for McBride, as it would be for any of us. Unfortunately, the GOPs commitment to total war means refusing to play is not an option . Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Donald Trump has announced that former Florida attorney general Pam Bondi will be nominated as his US attorney general, after controversial first pick Matt Gaetz dramatically withdrew from the role. For too long, the partisan Department of Justice has been weaponized against me and other Republicans - Not anymore. Pam will refocus the DOJ to its intended purpose of fighting Crime, and Making America Safe Again, Trump wrote in a statement on Thursday evening. I have known Pam for many years She is smart and tough, and is an AMERICA FIRST Fighter, who will do a terrific job as Attorney General! Gaetz reacted to the choice on X by calling her a stellar selection as well as a proven litigator, an inspiring leader and a champion for all Americans. South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsey Graham was even more effusive, posting: Well done, Mr President. Picking Pam Bondi for Attorney General is a grand slam, touchdown, hole in one, ace, hat trick, slam dunk, Olympic gold medal pick. She will be confirmed quickly because she deserves to be confirmed quickly. Trumps latest nomination comes shortly after former Florida congressman Gaetz announced he would no longer be accepting the nomination, following backlash on both sides of the political aisle. Gaetz has previously faced allegations of sex trafficking a minor, though he has denied the accusations and has not been charged with a crime. While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition, Gaetz wrote on X earlier on Thursday. There is no time to waste on a needlessly protracted Washington scuffle, thus Ill be withdrawing my name from consideration to serve as Attorney General. open image in gallery Pam Bondi was attorney general in Florida and a legal adviser to Trump during his first impeachment ( Getty ) The President is likely to view his choice for AG and the Department of Justice as the vehicle for retribution and vengeance he vowed against his political enemies. Bondi, 59, serves as the chair of a legal arm of America First Policy Institute, a Trump-aligned group that has drafted policy recommendations for the next administration, and she has joined Trump in his contempt for special counsel Jack Smith and his investigations into the former presidents attempts to subvert the 2020 election and his possession of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago resort. She has also supported Trumps spurious attempts to reverse his election loss in 2020, falsely alleging mass voter fraud in states he lost. In his post on Thursday night, the president-elect waxed lyrical about Bondis resume. Pam was a prosecutor for nearly 20 years, where she was very tough on Violent Criminals, and made the streets safe for Florida Families, he wrote. open image in gallery Trump made the announcement in a post on Truth Social on Thursday evening ( @realDonaldTrump/Truth Social ) Then, as Floridas first female Attorney General, she worked to stop the trafficking of deadly drugs, and reduce the tragedy of Fentanyl Overdose Deaths, which have destroyed many families across our Country. She did such an incredible job, that I asked her to serve on our Opioid and Drug Abuse Commission during my first Term We saved many lives! In addition, Bondi served as one of Trumps attorneys in his first impeachment, where she amplified allegations that Joe Biden and his son Hunter were embroiled in corruption in Ukraine, fuelling Republican-led inquiries into the president that Trumps incoming administration is expected to revive. In 2013 she declined to join the attorney general of New York in a class action lawsuit against Trump University. It later emerged that the Donald Trump Foundation had made a $25,000 donation to Bondis re-election campaign days after her spokeswoman announced that she was looking at Trump University following a number of complaints in Florida about the institution. Bondi denied that the donation had any bearing on her decision not to join the case against Trump University. The case accused the university of illegal business practices. Trump finally settled three lawsuits for $25m. She was also a lead attorney in an ultimately unsuccessful attempt to strike down the individual mandate provision of the Affordable Care Act, and later joined 19 other Republican state attorneys general to overturn the ACAs ban on health insurance companies denying coverage to patients with pre-existing conditions. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The incoming Trump administration didnt waste any time after Matt Gaetz said that he was dropping his bid to become attorney general. Soon afterward, it announced that Pam Bondi, the former attorney general of Florida, would seek the top position at the Justice Department instead. Bondi, 59, who served as Floridas attorney general from 2011 to 2019 and represented Donald Trump at his first impeachment trial in the Senate, is both an experienced public official and a long-time ally of the president-elect. Gaetz reacted to the choice on X by calling her a stellar selection as well as a proven litigator, an inspiring leader and a champion for all Americans. South Carolina Republican senator Lindsey Graham was even more effusive, posting: Well done, Mr President. Picking Pam Bondi for Attorney General is a grand slam, touchdown, hole in one, ace, hat trick, slam dunk, Olympic gold medal pick. She will be confirmed quickly because she deserves to be confirmed quickly. Democrats questioned her over loyalty to Trump, 2020 election denial, pardons for the January 6 rioters and the weaponization of the Justice Department, among other things, during the hearing. If Bondi is confirmed, it would put a Trump loyalist at the top of the American justice system, likely boosting a Trump-inspired overhaul of the Department of Justice. That may lead to the investigation of Trumps political enemies. The chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Iowa Republican Chuck Grassley, wanted to begin Bondis hearing Tuesday, but a delay in her background check and financial disclosures prompted the hearing to be pushed back to Wednesday and Thursday. Heres what you need to know about her. Ethical questions around campaign cash in Florida Trump and Bondi have ties that date back over a decade, to when Bondi was serving as Floridas first female attorney general. In 2013, as Bondis office was receiving complaints from people alleging they had been scammed by the future presidents Trump University seminars, her political committee received a $25,000 donation from the Donald J Trump Foundation. While New York pursued lawsuits related to the seminars, the Sunshine State did not. Both Trump and Bondi have denied the donation was improper or related to the charging decision. That wasnt the only campaign-related scandal during her time in Florida. Pam Bondi would play crucial role in 6 January cases, civil rights and election issues ( Getty ) That same year, she persuaded then-governor Rick Scott to reschedule the execution of convicted murderer Marshall Lee Fore to accommodate a fundraiser. I should not have requested the execution be moved. It had been [delayed] twice, she said at the time, The Tampa Tribune reported. Im sorry. And it will not happen again. A record of high-profile cases Unlike some of the Trump administrations other nominees, who lack direct government experience related to their cabinet positions, Bondi has a substantial record in public office and has shown a willingness to take on high-profile cases. She helped appoint the special prosecutor who investigated the 2012 shooting of Trayvon Martin an unarmed Black teenager by a neighborhood watch volunteer. She also initiated a lawsuit in 2018 against the makers of opioid medications, litigation that eventually culminated in a $3bn settlement with the state of Florida after leaving office. Bondis office also sued BP after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and helped net Florida a $2bn payout. A diehard Trump defender and political ally Since leaving office, Bondi has been a resolute ally of Trump. She served on Trumps opioids commission and helped coordinate his response to moments when his administration was in peril. In 2019, Trump hired her to help it fend off its first impeachment investigation, over allegations of a quid pro quo agreement to pressure Ukrainian officials to go after the Biden family. Trump's 'impeachment adviser' Pam Bondi says looming charges are weighing on him During the 6 January investigation, meanwhile, Bondi appeared on Fox News and denounced the process as a show trial, while reportedly being one of a number of Trumpworld figures to offer jobs to one of the key witnesses, Cassidy Hutchinson. That support has included latching onto some of Trumps most inflammatory claims. At the 2020 Republican National Convention (RNC), Bondi joined the chorus of Republican officials accusing Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden of corruption. Our partys theme tonight is America, the land of opportunity, Bondi said at the RNC. But for Joe Biden, its been the land of opportunism, not opportunity. As a career prosecutor and former attorney general of Florida, I fought corruption and I know what it looks like, whether its done by people wearing pinstripe suits or orange jumpsuits. In November of 2020, Bondi was outside the Philadelphia Convention Center with Trump campaign officials as they alleged voter fraud, claiming the Republicans had won Pennsylvania even before the state had declared its election results. The alliance continued after Trumps election defeat, with Bondi heading Trump-related political action committees, and serving as chair of litigation at the America First Policy Institute, a Maga-affiliated legal advocacy group that has denounced the prosecutions against Trump as a weaponization of the justice system and sought to limit future legal scrutiny of present and former presidents. The group has argued that the pro-Trump crowd at the 6 January insurrection at the US Capitol was unfairly prosecuted as the victim of a two-tiered justice system. If Bondi is confirmed as attorney general, she would be responsible for the Justice Departments sprawling 6 January case, the largest prosecution in US history, as well as the departments response to civil rights cases and allegations of voter fraud. She would be the third woman to serve as the attorney general and the first under a Republican administration. A canine custody battle Perhaps the most bizarre episode from Bondis history began in 2005 when she rescued a St Bernard puppy separated from its family by Hurricane Katrina, adopting it from Floridas Pinellas County Humane Society and changing its name from Master Tank to Noah. When the dogs true owners, Louisiana couple Steve and Dorreen Couture, tracked it down to the lawyers custody, Bondi refused to return it. She accused them of neglecting the animal, saying it was a walking skeleton when she took it under her wing. The family denied the accusation and sued Bondi, sparking a 16-month legal battle, which ended with the two sides settling before it reached trial. Bondi returned Master Tank to the Couture family with a supply of food and medication. Plans for her to receive photos and updates on the puppys wellbeing soon fell apart and Bondi eventually bought herself another dog. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The judge overseeing Donald Trumps historic hush money trial has postponed his sentencing indefinitely as he considers arguments from the president-elects legal team to toss the case altogether. New York Justice Juan Merchan will hear legal briefs from Trumps attorneys who claim that the conviction and sentencing of the president-elect will disrupt the orderly transition of executive power and be uniquely destabilizing to the country. Trumps sentencing date was postponed to November 26. That date is now off the calendar. Instead, Judge Merchan has asked Trumps attorneys to file their arguments by December 2, according to a filing in Manhattan criminal court on Friday. Prosecutors will have until December 9 to reply. The judge also is not accepting any other reply briefs on the matter, meaning he could render a decision relatively quickly, despite the months of delays demanded by Trumps attorneys following the former presidents conviction on 34 felony counts on May 30. open image in gallery Donald Trump is not imminently expected to return to a Manhattan criminal courtroom to face for a sentencing hearing in his hush money case ( POOL/AFP via Getty Images ) Earlier this week, Manhattan prosecutors urged Judge Merchan to reject Trumps upcoming attempts to toss out his conviction. District Attorney Alvin Bragg and his team did not oppose a delay in the proceedings and floated moving the sentencing hearing to 2029, after the end of Defendants upcoming presidential term, to preserve their case and the jurys unanimous verdict against the former president. While prosecutors are mindful of the demands and obligations of the presidency and understand that Trumps return to the White House will raise unprecedented legal questions, they also deeply respect the fundamental role of the jury in our constitutional system, they wrote. Trumps lead criminal defense attorneys both of whom were nominated by Trump for top roles at the Department of Justice argued in a filing this week that the case should be immediately dismissed following his overwhelming victory. Just as a sitting President is completely immune from any criminal process, so too is President Trump as President-elect, Trump lawyers Todd Blanche and Emil Bove argued in a filing Wednesday. open image in gallery Trumps attorneys Todd Blanche, right, and Emil Bove, left, were nominated for top roles at the Department of Justice ( POOL/AFP via Getty Images ) Merchan had already delayed a decision on Trumps previous motion to toss his conviction on an already-rejected argument that evidence used against him at trial falls under the scope of a Supreme Court decision on immunity that shields the presidency from some criminal prosecution. Trump whose campaigns relied on a narrative of political persecution and retribution against a justice system he accuses of conspiring against him continues to insist he has done nothing wrong. Steven Cheung, Trumps campaign spokesperson and incoming White House communications director, called Merchans decision a decisive win as he conflated a jurys verdict with the results of an election. President Trump won a landslide victory as the American People have issued a mandate to return him to office and dispose of all remnants of the Witch Hunt cases, he said in a statement. All of the sham lawfare attacks against President Trump are now destroyed and we are focused on Making America Great Again. A jury found Trump guilty of falsifying business records in connection with a scheme to silence adult film star Stormy Daniels, whose story about having sex with Trump threatened his 2016 presidential campaign. Trumps reimbursements to his then-attorney Michael Cohen, who paid off Daniels, were falsely recorded in accounting records as legal expenses. Further delays in his sentencing, and the potential for the case to be frozen for four years or tossed altogether, mean that Trump will enter office having avoided any consquences for the allegations and convictions against him. Special counsel Jack Smith is expected to begin closing the federal criminal cases against the former president, and an appeals court in Georgia has abruptly canceled arguments related to his election interference case in Fulton County. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy On the campaign trail over the summer, Donald Trump claimed that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un misses me, and that relations between their two countries would improve with a second Trump term. At a defense expo in Pyongyang this week, the North Korean dictator had a very different message. We have already explored every possible avenue in negotiating with the U.S., Kim said, according to state media, accusing the U.S. of an unchanging aggressive and hostile policy toward the country thats helped put international affairs into their most chaotic and violent state since World War II. Throughout 2024, North Korea has been signalling a wariness to engage with the U.S. After Trumps comments about Kim in July, a state news agency said, No matter what administration takes office in the US, the political climate, which is confused by the infighting of the two parties, does not change and, accordingly, we do not care about this. The back-and-forth comes as relations between the U.S. and North Korea continue to deteriorate, despite Trumps multiple face-to-face meetings with Kim during his first term. North Korea says it isnt interested in engaging with the U.S., despite Trumps claims Kim Jong Un misses him ( Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) The U.S. has continued high-profile military drills in the Pacific with North Koreas rival and neighbor South Korea, while North Korea has continued expanding its nuclear arsenal, and has sent troops and weapons to support the Russians in their war against U.S. ally Ukraine. Trump may think love letters are enough, but for the past five years Kim has shown hes determined not to lose face again, Hwang Ji-hwan, a professor of international relations at the University of Seoul, toldThe Wall Street Journal of the regimes recent statements. During Trumps first term, he alternated between chest-beating bluster and diplomacy with the North Korean leader. Early on, Trump mocked Kim as Little Rocket Man and threatened to unleash fire and fury after a North Korean nuclear test, prompting the North Koreans to brand Trump a dotard served by gangsters. Between 2018 and 2019, the pair met three times in Singapore, Hanoi, and at the Korean Dimilitarized Zone but failed to secure a potential agreement on denuclearization and sanctions relief. Since then, Russia and North Korea have continued to deepen their military and diplomatic relationship. Pyongyang has sent thousands of North Korean troops to help Russia in its stalled invasion of Ukraine, while Russian president Vladimir Putin has sent gifts including dozens of rare animals to the dictatorial regime. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Donald Trumps transition team was taken by surprise when details about the sexual assault allegations against Pete Hegseth, the president-elects defense secretary nominee, became public this week. In yet another example of the transition team being blindsided by claims about Hegseth, members of the team were reportedly startled to see a California police report go public on Wednesday, detailing the 2017 night on which Hegseth was accused of sexually assaulting a woman. The heavily redacted report from the Monterey Police Department details two different accounts from a night of drinking at a hotel bar in 2017 that ultimately ended in a sexual encounter between Hegseth and an unnamed woman. open image in gallery Pete Hegseth, a nominee for defense secretary, told reporters on Thursday that the police report corroborated his assertion that he did not do anything wrong ( REUTERS ) The report arrives nearly a week after Trump tapped Hegseth to head the armed forces and reports emerged revealing Hegseth paid a settlement to the woman who accused him of assault. Members of the Trump transition team were reportedly unaware of the settlement, which led to concerns about whether Hegseth was still fit to be the defense secretary nominee. They were dealt another surprising blow on Wednesday evening when the Monterey Police Department released the redacted report and revealed Hegseth was given a copy in March 2021. This is another instance of people being blindsided, so I think theres rising frustration there, a person familiar with the situation told the Wall Street Journal. If this continues to be a drumbeat and the press coverage continues to be bad, particularly on TV, then I think there is a real chance that he loses Trumps confidence, the person added. The Hegseth controversy could unfold similarly to the Matt Gaetz situation. After being tapped as attorney general nominee, negative press attention due to allegations of statutory rape and an unreleased House Ethics Committee report on those claims led to Gaetz removing himself from the nomination. open image in gallery President Donald Trump appears on Fox & Friends co-host Pete Hegseth at a Wounded Warrior Project Soldier Ride event in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Thursday, April 6, 2017 ( AP ) Details from the police report on Hegseth contain accounts from the former Fox News host, his accuser, a nurse who examined the accuser at a clinic, and the reporting police officer. It also contains text messages and call logs but does not include video surveillance footage. The unnamed accuser claims she met Hegseth at a hotel bar and believes something was slipped into her drink. She alleges that the two left the bar and got into a verbal argument at the hotel pool which prompted hotel staff to intervene. Eventually, the two went to Hegseths hotel room where she claims he forced himself on her. Hegseth told police he did not recall a verbal argument between the two and that the sexual encounter was consensual. Ultimately, the Monterey County District Attorney chose not to bring charges because they did not have proof beyond a reasonable doubt. The report does not conclude the allegations are false. When questioned about the report, Hegseth told journalists on Thursday that the matter was fully investigated and I was completely cleared. A lawyer for Hegseth confirmed that the former Fox News host paid the woman a settlement to prevent her from coming forward with a lawsuit that could damage his reputation. That was reportedly not made clear to the Trump transition team, according to the WSJ. For now, the Trump team is continuing to back Hegseth. Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson for Trump and press secretary nominee, said in a statement, This report corroborates what Mr. Hegseths attorneys have said all along: the incident was fully investigated, and no charges were filed because police found the allegations to be false. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Less than two months before he returns to the White House, Donald Trump is embroiled in several lawsuits and legal threats against news organizations and seeking billions of dollars in damages. He is commanding Republicans in Congress to block legislation that would protect journalists sources while he takes advice from wealthy allies and right-wing groups who want to block publicly funded media from getting a single public dollar. Trump spent his three campaigns and first four years in office raging against a free press he calls fake news and the enemy of the people. He is now waging a legal war against the media in courtrooms across the country and preparing to take aim at an adversarial press once hes back in office. On Wednesday, Trump demanded that congressional Republicans block a bipartisan bill intended to safeguard confidential sources, what civil rights groups have called the most significant measure for press freedoms in modern history. The bill Protect Reporters from Exploitative State Spying Act, or PRESS Act unanimously passed the House earlier this year but has been stalled in a Senate committee. REPUBLICANS MUST KILL THIS BILL! Trump wrote on Truth Social. Trump did not give a reason. The bill even has the support of Tucker Carlson and Republican leadership on the House and Senate judiciary committees. open image in gallery Brendan Carr, Trumps pick to lead the Federal Communications Commission, has suggested pulling brodacast licenses for television news networks ( Getty Images ) With many purportedly concerned about how Trump may impact our free press, it is unthinkable to allow a bill with as much bipartisan support as the PRESS Act to wither away and die, said Chip Gibbons, policy director with Defending Rights & Dissent. During his first term in office, Trumps attorney general William Barr had secretly pursued records from reporters at CNN, The New York Times and The Washington Post. Attorney General Merrick Garland later issued a rule that banned prosecutors from using subpoenas, warrants and court orders to seize records and notes from reporters, The PRESS Act would enshrine that policy into law. But the Heritage Foundation-backed Project 2025 recommends rescinding that policy altogether. Trump has since nominated several authors of the plan to his cabinet. The Independent has requested comment from Trumps campaign. Trumps far-right allies like Steve Bannon and Kash Patel, who has reportedly been floated for a leadership position at the FBI, have not been shy about their fantasies of a second Trump administration criminally prosecuting journalists and media organizations. We will go out and find the conspirators, not just in government but in the media, Patel said on Bannons War Room podcast last year. Yes, were going to come after the people in the media who lied about American citizens, who helped Joe Biden rig presidential elections were going to come after you, he said. Whether its criminally or civilly, well figure that out. open image in gallery Former Trump administration official Kash Patel has threatened to come after media organizations he says have lied about elections ( AP ) During his 2024 campaign, Trump sued ABC News host George Stephanopoulos for making patently and demonstrably false statements that the former president was found liable for rape in E Jean Carrolls defamation trial. Days before Election Day, Trump sued CBS News for $10 billion, alleging that the network deceptively edited an interview with his rival Kamala Harris to unlawfully influence the election. In the weeks between, Trump suggested that the broadcast licenses for major news networks should be revoked. His attorneys also made legal threats to The Daily Beast, The New York Times and Penguin Random House. His campaign filed a six-page complaint to the Federal Election Commission alleging that The Washington Post made illegal in-kind contributions to Harriss campaign by promoting stories about the vice president. open image in gallery Elon Musk, who will recommend drastic federal budget cuts, has already proposed slashing $535 million in public funding for local radio and television stations ( via REUTERS ) In his first term, Trump proposed dramatic cuts to public media funding, which was ultimately blocked by Congress but signaled his readiness to make deep and devastating cuts that would upend local news and public broadcasters that depend on federal dollars. Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, who are co-leading a Department of Government Efficiency outside advisory group, have already proposed slashing $535 million to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which funds hundreds of locally owned public radio and television stations, and with a statutory mandate to a strict adherence to objectivity and balance in all programs or series of programs of a controversial nature. Musk, whose social media platform X is inundated with false statements and misinformation, has repeatedly called for the government to defund National Public Radio. Less than 1 percent of NPRs annual operating budget comes from grants awarded through federal agencies and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The worlds wealthiest person now has the ear of the president-elect, who has called efforts to curb the proliferation of mis- and disinformation on social media platforms the work of the censorship cartel. Republicans have characterized attempts to block out hate speech and dangerously false claims as a fight against free speech intended to shut out right-wing views, a campaign that Musk and Trump have made central to their respective agendas. Trumps pick to lead the Federal Communications Commission Brendan Carr, who wrote Project 2025s chapter on the agency wants to use the agency to target social media companies over accusations of censorship. Carr will dismantle the censorship cartel and restore free speech rights for everyday Americans, Trump said in a statement announcing Carr in his administration. open image in gallery The Senate Judiciary Committee, led by Democratic chair Dick Durbin, right, is running out of time to bring the PRESS Act to a vote for consideration in the full Senate before Republicans take control next year. ( AP ) Carr made headlines before the election for publicly accusing NBC of violating so-called equal time rules for candidates after Kamala Harris appeared on Saturday Night Live. In an interview with Fox News, he said the FCC should pursue every single remedy including pulling the broadcast licenses for networks that engage in egregious violations of broadcasting rules. Following Trumps election, the Committee to Protect Journalists called on the incoming administration to respect the fundamental right to a free press. Legal persecution, imprisonment, physical violence, and even killings have sadly become familiar threats for journalists across the world, the group said. They must not now also become commonplace in the United States, where threats of violence and online harassment have in recent years become routine. Clayton Weimers, executive director of Reporters without Borders US, invoked Trumps make America great again slogan in his defense of a free press. Freedom of the press is one of the core pillars of our democracy that made America great in the first place, Weimers said in a statement. Attacking the press is really an attack on American citizens right to know. Trumps new administration can and must change its tune with the media and take concrete steps to protect journalists and develop a climate conducive to a robust and pluralistic news media. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A Wisconsin father-of-three who allegedly faked his death after vanishing during a kayaking trip and fleeing to Europe said he is safe, but has not yet decided to come home from the mystery location. Ryan Borgwardt was reported missing by his family on August 12 when he didnt return home from his trip to Dodge Memorial Park in Green Lake, leaving behind an overturned kayak and life jacket, leading responders to believe that he had drowned. However, last week, the 45-year-old began making contact with police after investigators connected with a woman who speaks Russian, Green Lake County Sheriff Mark Podoll said at a news conference on Thursday. The sheriff showed a muffled selfie-style video that Borgwardt sent to the police at an undisclosed location, which the kayaker claimed was filmed on the morning of November 11. Im in my apartment, he says in the clip seen by The Independent, panning around a nondescript room, before adding: I am safe, secure, no problem. open image in gallery Ryan Borgwardt made contact with police via video message and said hes safe but wont reveal his mystery location ( Green Lake County Sheriff's Office ) Hope this works, he concludes as he stops the camera rolling. Podoll noted that making contact with Borgwardt through the woman was a big turning point. The great news is we know that he is alive and well, the sheriff said. The bad news is we dont know where Ryan exactly is and he has not yet decided to return home. Since making contact, Podoll said authorities have had nearly daily communications with Borgwardt. No criminal charges have been filed. The mysterious case began when authorities found Borgwardts vehicle and trailer parked in the lot and a capsized kayak in the western part of the lake where the water is around 220 feet deep, according to the Green Lake County Sheriffs Office. open image in gallery Borgwardt faked his disappearance and fled to Europe, police say ( Green Lake County Sheriffs Office ) A fisherman found Borgwardts fishing rod in the same lake and his tackle box containing a wallet, keys, and a license. His wife, who he last had contact with on August 11, feared he had drowned. The search for his body went on for more than 50 days, with divers scouring the lake on several occasions. However, in a bizarre twist, its believed that the father-of-three staged the accident and then fled the country for Europe, Sheriff Podoll said during a press conference on November 8. While searching Borgwardts electronic devices for clues, they discovered that he had been communicating with a woman from Uzbekistan online before leaving for the kayaking trip. He had also opened a new bank account, obtained a new passport before leaving his original one at home, and then wiped his computer. According to officials, Borgwardts alleged plot had been in the making for at least seven months, revealing that it started when he purchased a $375,000 life insurance policy. The Independent has contacted the Green Lake County Sheriffs Office for more information. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A British lawyer who is among six tourists to have died from suspected methanol poisoning in Laos has been remembered by her family as a much loved woman who had a spark for life. Tributes from heartbroken loved ones and colleagues flowed in for Orpington solicitor Simone White, 28, who died along with two Australian backpackers, two Danes, and an American after becoming unwell while visiting the riverside party town of Vang Vieng. We are devastated by the loss of our beautiful, kind and loving daughter Simone. Simone was one of a kind and had the most wonderful energy and spark for life, Ms Whites parents said in a statement. She was a soul who gave so much to so many and was loved by her family, friends and colleagues. Simone has been taken from us too soon, she will be sorely missed by her brother, grandmother and entire family. Ms White was a lawyer with global law firm Squire Patton Boggs, which described her in a statement as a talented colleague with a bright future ahead of her and someone who epitomised (our firms) values. open image in gallery Simone Whites family and colleagues have told of their devastation following her death ( Facebook ) Ms White died after she reportedly fell ill last week while staying in the backpacking hotspot with her friend Bethany Clarke, also from Orpington, who said she had been in hospital after the incident as well. In a post on a Laos backpacking Facebook group on 16 November, which has since been deleted, Ms Clarke wrote: Urgent please avoid all local spirits. Our group stayed in Vang Vieng and we drank free shots offered by one of the bars. Just avoid them as so not worth it. Six of us who drank from the same place are in hospital currently with methanol poisoning. Methanol is sometimes used as the alcohol in mixed drinks at disreputable bars and can cause severe poisoning or death. The NHS warns that as little as 4ml of methanol can cause visual hallucinations and blindness. Ms Whites parents said their hearts went out to all other families affected by this terrible tragedy following the news that Melbourne teenager Holly Bowles, 19, had become the second Australian traveller to die in hospital a day after her best friend and sporting teammate Bianca Jones, also 19, passed away. In a statement posted on social media earlier this morning, UK time, Australias foreign affairs minister Penny Wong offered her deepest sympathies to Ms Bowles family and friends and said all Australians would be heartbroken by her passing. open image in gallery Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones, both 19, were teammates at the Beaumaris Football Club in Melbourne ( BFC ) Just yesterday Holly lost her best friend, Bianca Jones. I know tonight all Australians will be holding both families in our hearts, Ms Wong said. The Australian government will continue to support Hollys and Biancas families, just as we will continue our efforts with local authorities on investigations into this tragedy. Ms Bowles father, Shaun Bowles, told Nine News: It is with broken hearts, and we are so sad to say that our beautiful girl Holly is now at peace. Ms Bowles and Ms Jones played for the same suburban Melbourne Australian rules football club, Beaumaris, which posted a statement earlier this week paying tribute to Ms Jones following her death. Biancas infectious charm and tenacity made her a fondly regarded teammate and friend. Her smile, exuberance and happy nature made her a delight to be around, the club wrote, adding Ms Jones and Bowles were not only teammates, but best friends. It comes as Thai police have detained the owner and the manager of Nana Backpacker Hostel, where affected travellers who visited the town were staying, however no one has been charged over the incident. open image in gallery Backpackers roam the streets of Vang Vieng on Friday ( AP ) An officer at Vang Viengs Tourism Police office said a number of people had been detained in the case, with staff at the hostel confirming that the manager and owner were among those taken in for questioning. On Tuesday, Duong Duc Toan, manager of the hostel, told the Associated Press that staff were told by other guests that two women were unwell after they failed to check out as planned on 13 November. The hostel arranged transport to a hospital for them, he said. It is not known where the contaminated drinks were served. According to The Times, Mr Toan said more than 100 guests had received free shots as a gesture of hospitality, but said that the alcohol was from a certified distributor and had not been tainted. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A woman who accused Irish mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor of raping her in a Dublin hotel six years ago has won her claim against him for damages in a High Court civil case. McGregor, who had denied a claim that he brutally raped and battered her, said he would appeal against the verdict. The woman told the court she thought she would die during the attack, when she was left with extensive bruises and abrasions and serious physical and psychological injuries. She was also diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). open image in gallery Conor McGregor and his partner Dee Devlin leave the High Court in Dublin (Brian Lawless/PA) ( PA Wire ) The UFC fighter and boxer previously told Irelands high court that he had consensual sex in a penthouse at the Beacon Hotel, south Dublin, in December 2018. After deliberating for six hours and 10 minutes, the jury returned and found him liable for assault. The jury awarded 248,603.60 (206,637) in damages to the victim, who broke down several times as she gave evidence for nearly three days. She said the case began after she and a friend made contact with McGregor, whom she knew, after a work Christmas party. She told how he drove them to a party in a penthouse room of a hotel, and they partied all night and into the morning. They drank heavily and took cocaine, she said. McGregor took her a bedroom and sexually assaulted her, she claimed. open image in gallery McGregor choked the victim, the court heard ( PA Wire ) The jury heard that she thought she would never see her child again when the star was choking her. Her lawyer told the court that when she was referred to a sexual assault treatment unit the day after the alleged assault, a doctor was so concerned that he ordered that photographs be taken of her injuries. She has not been able to work since due to her mental health, so her mortgage is in arrears, the court heard. The victim, who has spent more than 4,000 on GP, pharmacy and psychotherapist costs, also said she had to stop seeing a counsellor because she could no longer afford the sessions. She said the weeks when the case was being heard had been a nightmare. McGregor shook his head as the jury of eight women and four men returned their verdict following two weeks of evidence. The woman lost her lawsuit against McGregors friend James Lawrence, whom she also accused of raping her. The 36-year-old was accompanied by his family, including his partner Dee Devlin, his parents, his sister and his brother-in-law. The standard of proof in civil cases is on the balance of probabilities and the onus of proof rests on the plaintiff. After the case, the victim said she felt vindicated. I hope my story is a reminder that no matter how afraid you might be: Speak up, you have a voice and keep on fighting for justice, she said. She said now that justice had been served, she would try to move on and look forward to the future. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy One of the most prominent figures from Canada's trucker protests against COVID-19 restrictions in 2022 has been found guilty on five counts including mischief and disobeying a court order. A judge ruled Friday that Pat King was guilty on one count each of mischief, counseling others to commit mischief and counseling others to obstruct police. He was also found guilty on two counts of disobeying a court order. He could face up to 10 years in prison. Hundreds, sometimes thousands, of protesters clogged the streets of the capital, Ottawa, and besieged Parliament Hill for three weeks in early 2022, demonstrating against vaccine mandates for truckers and other precautions and condemning Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus Liberal government. Members of the self-styled Freedom Convoy also blockaded U.S.-Canada border crossings in protest. The prosecution alleged King was a protest leader who was instrumental to the disruption in Ottawa. The prosecution alleged King coordinated the repeated bouts of honking, ordering the protesters to lay on the horn every 30 minutes for 10 minutes at a time, and told people to hold the line when he was aware that police and the city had asked the truckers to leave. The prosecution's case relied mainly on Kings own videos, which he posted to social media throughout the protest to document the demonstration and communicate with those taking part. Kings lawyers argued that he was peacefully protesting and was not one of the demonstration's leaders. King was found not guilty on three counts of intimidation and one count of obstructing police himself. The truckers' convoy gridlocked downtown streets around Parliament Hill, with area residents complaining about the fumes from diesel engines running non-stop, and unrelenting noise from constant the honking of horns and music from parties. Trudeau's government ultimately invoked the Emergencies Act to try and bring an end to the protests. Ottawa Police brought in hundreds of officers from forces across Canada. The protests were first aimed at a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for cross-border truckers. They eventually encompassed fury over COVID-19 restrictions and dislike of Trudeau, reflecting the spread of disinformation in Canada and simmering populist and right-wing anger. The Freedom Convoy shook Canadas reputation for civility, inspired convoys in France, New Zealand and the Netherlands and interrupted economic trade. For almost a week the busiest U.S.-Canada border crossing between Windsor, Ontario, and Detroit was blocked. It carries more than 25% of trade between the countries, who are each other's largest trading partners. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A severed horses head was found on the property of a Sicilian businessman, an act that local authorities are attributing to a mafia intimidation practice. The animals bloody head was left on the seat of a digger that belonged to the businessman, who is a construction contractor in Altofonte near Sicilys regional capital Palermo. The body of a pregnant cow and its calf were also left on the site. The grisly scene stirred up memories of one of the most famous scenes in the 1972 Francis Ford Coppola-directed film, The Godfather, starring Marlon Brando as Don Vito Corleone. In the film, a film producer wakes up with the severed head of his prized thoroughbred horse in his bed after he refuses Don Corleones request for his godson to be given a role. The Sicilian contractor, who is known in the area and regularly takes up building work for local councils, reported the incident to the police and added that he had received threats earlier. The police believe that he may have become a target for allegedly refusing to pay protection money to the mafia or comply with their demands. Altofonte mayor Angela De Luca offered solidarity to the businessman and said: It stopped me in my tracks, I cant explain such barbarity. Our whole community is deeply shocked by an act which seems to take us back to mediaeval times. I have faith in the forces of law and order working to ascertain what happened and identify who is behind this dreadful act. Sicilian politician Edy Tamajo condemned the vile act and said: This act of unheard-of cruelty represents a mafia mentality that must be eradicated. It is essential that the Carabinieri and the judiciary shed full light on this episode and bring those responsible to justice. The Sicilian mafia, also known as the Cosa Nostra, has for years had a strong base in Palermo. Iano Monaco, president of the Order of Architects of the Province of Palermo, expressed solidarity and support for the entrepreneur who was the victim of violent intimidation in a statement. In September last year, Matteo Messina Denaro, also known as the last godfather, died while receiving medical treatment for cancer after being arrested in January. He had been on the run since 1993 and was suffering from colon cancer at the time of his arrest. He is believed to have ordered dozens of Mafia-related murders for the Cosa Nostra. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Viktor Orban has vowed to defy the International Criminal Courts (ICC) arrest warrant against Benjamin Netanyahu saying that the Israeli leader is invited to Hungary. On Thursday, the court accused Mr Netanyahu and his former defence minister Yoav Gallant of crimes against humanity and war crimes in Gaza. A warrant was also issued for Hamas commander Mohammed Deif, who Israel says was killed in an airstrike this summer. The Hungarian prime minister branded the ICCs decision as brazen, cynical and completely unacceptable and assured Mr Netanyahu he would face no risks if he visited Hungary. The ICC said there were reasonable grounds to believe that Mr Netanyahu and Mr Gallant bear criminal responsibility for the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare and that they had intentionally and knowingly deprived Gazas civilians of food, water, medicine, medical supplies and fuel and electricity. The conflict in Gaza was triggered by an attack inside Israel by Hamas on 7 October last year, during which around 1,200 Israelis were killed, and another 251 people were taken hostage. The ICC said it had found reasonable grounds to believe that Hamas Deif was responsible for the crimes against humanity of murder; extermination; torture; and rape and other form of sexual violence; as well as the war crimes of murder, cruel treatment, torture; taking hostages; outrages upon personal dignity; and rape and other form of sexual violence. Israels retaliatory war from land and air, alongside a blockade, has killed 44,000 Palestinians, the majority women and children, according to health authorities inside the besieged territory. Around 90 per cent of Gazas 2.3 million residents have been forced from their homes. Israel has vehemently denied the allegations against Mr Netanyahu and Mr Gallant, with the prime ministers office calling the ruling antisemitic. The warrants mean that the ICCs 124 member states including Hungary would be obliged to arrest Mr Netanyahu and Mr Gallant if they were to enter their territory. open image in gallery The ICC has accused Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant of crimes against humanity and war crimes in Gaza ( AP ) But Mr Orban, who is often at odds with his EU peers, said on Friday: Today I will invite Israels prime minister Mr Netanyahu, for a visit to Hungary. In that invite I will guarantee him that if he comes, the ICC ruling will have no effect in Hungary, and we will not follow its contents. Mr Orban is a close ally of Mr Netanyahu, and also has warm ties with Vladimir Putin in Russia. Meanwhile, Joe Biden described the ICCs decision to issue an arrest warrant for the Israeli PM as outrageous. The US is Israels closest ally. The US president said in a statement that "whatever the ICC might imply, there is no equivalence none between Israel and Hamas. We will always stand with Israel against threats to its security." EU heavyweights Germany and France declined to say what they would do if the Israeli leader entered their territory, while Britain also an ICC member suggested it would uphold international law but would not be drawn into hypotheticals. open image in gallery The ICCs 124 member states including Hungary would be obliged to arrest Mr Netanyahu and Mr Gallant if they were to enter their territory ( AP ) The Netherlands, Finland, Ireland, Italy and Spain are among EU states that have also said they would meet their ICC commitments. Mr Orban, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency, has previously said he would not arrest Putin, who is also wanted by the court. Mr Netanyahu thanked Mr Orban for his moral clarity, adding: Faced with the shameful weakness of those who stood by the outrageous decision against the right of the state of Israel to defend itself, Hungary is standing by the side of justice and truth. The outgoing EU foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, said the courts decisions must be binding. It is not a political decision, he said on Thursday. It is a decision of a court, of a court of justice, of an international court of justice. And the decision of the court has to be respected and implemented. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A high-ranking North Korean General was reportedly injured in a recent Ukrainian strike in Russias Kursk region, Western officials said yesterday. This is the first casualty of a senior North Korean military officer in the escalating Russia-Ukraine conflict, The Wall Street Journal reported, quoting officials. Ukraine launched at least 10 British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles into Kursk on Wednesday, according to Ukrainian and Western officials. It is not immediately clear how the senior North Korean officer was wounded and the report did not include details about his identity. According to a WSJ source, the attack may have targeted a command post used by Russian and North Korean forces in Maryino. The WSJ reported that North Korean Col Gen Kim Yong Bok, the deputy chief of the Korean militarys general staff, was reportedly in Russia to coordinate his countrys troops with the Russian forces. The North Korean General is known as one of ten most prominent military leaders of the Korean country and a frequent aide to Kim Jong-un. North Korean troops fighting in Ukraine will become fair game and fair targets for the Ukrainians, John Kirby, a spokesperson for the National Security Council, had said last month after the troubling intelligence confirmed Pyongyang was sending its troops to fight in the war. If they do deploy to fight against Ukraine, they are fair game, Mr Kirby said. They are fair targets and the Ukrainian military will defend themselves against North Korean soldiers the same way theyre defending themselves against Russian soldiers, he said. The US concerns of North Korean participation in a conflict in Europe were amplified by defence secretary Lloyd Austin shortly after. If they are co-belligerents if their intention is to participate in this war on Russias behalf that is a very, very serious issue. It will have impacts, not only in Europe. It will also impact things in the Indo-Pacific as well, he said. Recommended Satellite images show North Korea breaking sanctions to get million barrels of oil from Russia North Korea, which has one of the largest standing armies in the world with 1.2 million soldiers, has emerged as a key ally of Russia, especially since Kim Jong-un visited Russia last year and Vladimir Putin reciprocated by travelling to Pyongyang this year. Mr Kim and Mr Putin signed a mutual defence treaty pledging to provide immediate military assistance if either country is attacked. This comes as a top South Korean official on Friday said that Russia has supplied air defence missiles to North Korea in exchange for sending its thousands of troops to back Mr Putins war efforts against Ukraine. South Korea has found Russia provided missiles and other equipment to reinforce its air defence network for Pyongyang, said Shin Wonsik, national security advisor for president Yoon Suk Yeol said on Friday. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Vladimir Putin has claimed Moscow launched a new hypersonic ballistic missile against Ukraine in response to strikes by Kyiv inside Russia using UK and US long-range missiles. The Russian leader said the Oreshnik, or Hazel, medium-range missile had been used in the strike on Dnipro, central Ukraine, after Ukraine said a longer-range intercontinental warhead was launched. He also said Russia could attack military facilities in countries that have allowed Kyiv to use their missiles to strike Russia, in an apparent threat to the US and UK. he Kremlin added on Friday that the missile launch was a message to the West that Moscow will respond harshly to any "reckless" Western actions in support of Ukraine. We believe that we have the right to use our weapons against military facilities of the countries that allow to use their weapons against our facilities, he said. So what is the experimental Oreshnik missile, and could it be used to hit European countries? The Independent takes a look below. What is the missile? Ukraines air force initially said the missile was an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) - the kind that Russia could hit the United States with. open image in gallery Vladimir Putin said Russia has launched a medium-range Oreshnik missile - which the US says is modelled on a longer-range ICBM which could be fitted with a nuclear payload ( EPA ) But the US military later said the weapon was an intermediate-range missile based on the design of Russias longer-range RS-26 ICBM missile. The Pentagon said it was fired with a conventional warhead but Moscow could modify it if it wanted, with Russia only possessing a handful of them. It could be refitted to certainly carry different types of conventional or nuclear warheads, Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh said. open image in gallery Firefighters put out a fire in Dnipro, central Ukraine, following Russias use of an IRBM missile ( via REUTERS ) Russia's Defence Ministry claimed on Friday that all of the missile's warheads had hit their targets and hailed what it said was its first successful use of an intermediate-range hypersonic ballistic missile with conventional warheads in combat. How damaging could it be? While launching an intermediate-range missile is a less threatening signal, the incident could still set off alarms and Moscow notified Washington briefly ahead of the launch, according to US officials. The Kremlin said Russia had not been technically obliged to warn the United States about the strike because the missile used had been intermediate-range rather than intercontinental, but added that Moscow had informed the U.S. 30 minutes before the launch anyway. Russian military expert Anatoly Matviychuk said it could carry six to eight conventional or nuclear warheads, and was probably already in service. Putin said the missile travelled at 10 times the speed of sound [Mach 10] and so could not be intercepted, with Russian sources saying the range was 3,1000 miles. It also appeared to have multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicles: separate warheads able to hit different targets. "The flight time of this Russian missile from the moment of its launch in the Astrakhan region to its impact in the city of Dnipro was 15 minutes," Ukraines Main Directorate of Intelligence (HUR) said in a statement on Friday. "The missile was equipped with six warheads: each equipped with six submunitions. The speed at the final part of the trajectory was over Mach 11." HUR added that the weapon was "likely from the 'Kedr' missile complex." Kedr is a Russian ICBM missile programme, which also contains a number of other ballistic missile projects. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Russian units fighting in Ukraine which were previously considered elite are now becoming increasingly obsolete as a result of Russias strategy of throwing waves of troops into battle that has turned the frontline into a meat grinder, a leading war monitor has said. Army formations which once carried out specialised tactical tasks in their assault on Ukrainians are now understrength, and reliant on infantry-led assaults which fail to deploy any unique tactics, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said. Once considered elite, the units are now essentially functioning as understrength motorised rifle units, relying on infantry-led frontal assaults to make tactical gains as opposed to employing any sort of doctrinally unique tactics," the US-based think tank said in an update on Thursday. The use of North Korean troops in the highly attritional infantry-led assaults is also creating difficulties in integrating Kim Jong-uns troops into the Russian army. Russias strategy, particularly on the eastern front, has been described by some military experts as a meat grinder tactic, in which huge numbers of troops are sent charging at Ukrainian defences and dying in their hundreds for the sake of relatively incremental advances. open image in gallery An aerial view of Chasiv Yar, in the eastern Donetsk region, shows the frontline city in ruins after heavy fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces ( AP ) Figures from the UK Ministry of Defence f that Russia has been averaging more than 1,000 killed or wounded soldiers every day. This is nearly twice as many as during Ukraines counteroffensive in summer 2023. As a result of the way Russia is prosecuting its war, the distinctions in quality between various Russian formations that existed prior to Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine have become increasingly obsolete, the ISW said. Russia has been advancing slowly in eastern Ukraine for months, with many of their assaults focussed in the Donetsk region as Russian president Vladimir Putin seeks to seize as much territory as possible before US president-elect Donald Trump who has claimed he would look to end the war in Ukraine within a day of taking office re-enters the White House in January. On Thursday, Russia used a new ballistic missile in Ukraine, which Putin said was in response to the UK and US allowing missiles they have supplied to Ukraine to be used to strike targets in Russia. In a televised address, Putin said: "We consider ourselves entitled to use our weapons against military facilities of those countries that allow their weapons to be used against our facilities." That came after the UK Storm Shadow long-range missiles were used by Ukrainian forces within the Kursk region of Russia, while US long-range ATACMS weapons were also fired at targets in Russia . Putin claimed Russia tested the new intermediate-range weapon in an attack on Dnipro in response. The Kremlin said on Friday that the launch of that missile was a warning to the West. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The war in Ukraine is entering a decisive phase, with Vladimir Putins launch of a new ballistic missile showing that the threat of global conflict is serious and real, Polands prime minister has said. Donald Tusks warning came as Nato and Ukrainian officials convened emergency talks over the hypersonic ballistic missile strike against Dnipro. Putin said its launch was in response to Ukraine using British and American long-range missiles on targets in Russia and issued a stark threat that Moscow had the right to strike any Western nation that provided Kyiv with such weapons. And he vowed to continue using the new missile in combat conditions a threat to both Ukraine and the West. Mr Tusk made clear the danger in Ukraine, which shares a border with Poland: The war in the east is entering a decisive phase; we feel that the unknown is approaching. The conflict is taking on dramatic proportions. The last few dozen hours have shown that the threat is serious and real when it comes to global conflict. Ukraines president Volodymyr Zelensky said the world needs to mount a serious response to Putins firing of the missile, to show that there are real consequences. He added that his defence ministry was already working with allies and partners to develop air defences to protect against the new risks his country is facing. A session of Ukraines parliament was cancelled on Friday as security was tightened following the strike on Dnipro. open image in gallery Flashes after the missile strike on Dnipro in Ukraine ( Come Back Alive/AFP via Getty ) This week Ukraine has used UK-made Storm Shadow missiles and US-made army tactical missile systems (ATACMS) to strike targets inside Russia, after months of pleading by Mr Zelensky for permission to use the missiles, whose range is between 150 and 190 miles. Russia has stepped up its threats to the West in response. On Tuesday, the 1,000th day of his invasion of Ukraine, Putin signed a revised nuclear doctrine declaring that a conventional attack on Russia by any nation that is supported by a nuclear power will be considered a joint attack on his country. US military officials said the Russian missiles design was based on the design of Russias longer-range RS-26 Rubezh intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). The new missile was experimental and Russia is likely to possess only a handful of them, officials said. The Pentagon said the missile was fired with a conventional warhead, but added that Moscow could modify it if it wanted to. It could be refitted to certainly carry different types of conventional or nuclear warheads, said Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh. Having initially identified the missile as an ICBM, Kyivs top spy agency said it flew for 15 minutes and reached a maximum speed of beyond Mach 11, or 11 times the speed of sound. open image in gallery Polands prime minister Donald Tusk ( EPA ) The flight time of this Russian missile from the moment of its launch in the Astrakhan region to its impact in the city of Dnipro was 15 minutes, the Main Directorate of Intelligence (HUR) said in a statement. The missile was equipped with six warheads, each equipped with six submunitions. The speed at the final part of the trajectory was over Mach 11. The HUR added that the weapon was probably from the Kedr missile complex, which is a Russian ballistic missile programme. Putin said on Friday that Russia would keep testing the hypersonic Oreshnik missile in the field and begin serial production of the new system. He claimed it was incapable of being intercepted by an enemy. Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban, one of the Kremlins closest allies in Europe, cautioned against underestimating Russias responses, saying the modifications to its nuclear deployment doctrine should not be dismissed as a bluff. Its not a trick there will be consequences, he said. Czech foreign minister Jan Lipavski called the Russian missile strike an escalatory step and an attempt [by] the Russian dictator to scare the population of Ukraine and to scare the population of Europe. Britains defence minister Maria Eagle said the UK would stand firm with Ukraine and its European allies. Weve heard this kind of irresponsible rhetoric from [Putin] before, she said. We cant allow ourselves to be put off from supporting Ukraine, and we wont be. Failing to stand up to Russian aggression would come at a serious cost to Europe, she added. Sir Keir Starmer was asked on Friday if Britain was at war. No, were not at war, but Ukraine certainly is, because Ukraine has been invaded by Russia, and that war has now been going on for just over 1,000 days, he said. Thats 1,000 days of aggression from Russia and 1,000 days of sacrifice for Ukraine, and that is why weve said consistently that we stand by Ukraine, he added. We cannot allow Putin to win this war. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Ursula Haverbeck, a prominent German far-right activist who accumulated a string of convictions for denying the Holocaust, has died. She was 96. Haverbeck died on Wednesday, her lawyer Wolfram Nahrath told German news agency DPA on Thursday. Haverbeck repeatedly asserted that Auschwitz was just a work camp. In fact, historians say at least 1.1 million Jews were murdered there by the Nazis. She was first convicted and fined in 2004, and several further convictions for incitement followed some of them carrying prison sentences. In one of those cases, she served more than two years in prison in the western city of Bielefeld between 2018 and 2020. A small far-right party, The Right, chose her as a candidate for the 2019 European Parliament election. Haverbeck was convicted in June for incitement and sentenced to a year and four months in prison by the Hamburg state court for comments about Auschwitz. She appealed against that verdict. Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Get Simon Calders Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The earth is at its most restless in Iceland right now. Since November 2023 the Icelandic authorities have been monitoring seismic activity on the Reykjanes Peninsula, southwest of Reykjavik. The latest eruption began just before midnight on 20 November 2024, with a fissure measuring three kilometres. The edge of the lava flow is approximately a few hundred meters from Grindavikurvegur (Lava Road), reported Icelands Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management. Grindavik, the nearest town, has been evacuated again as has the nearby Blue Lagoon spa. The Blue Lagoon said: Due to a volcanic eruption that commenced in Sundhnuksgigar on 20 November, we took the precautionary measure of evacuating and temporarily closing all our operational units. Blue Lagoon will be closed through Sunday 24 November, at which time the situation will be reassessed. The Foreign Office warns: Recently there has been a series of volcanic eruptions on the Reykjanes peninsula in south-west Iceland, the latest on 20 November. These have affected the town of Grindavik and the area to the north of it. Keflavik International Airport and the road to it is unaffected and operating normally. The capital city, Reykjavik, and the rest of Iceland is not affected by these recent eruptions. It is likely there will be further eruptions in this location. The government of Iceland monitors any seismic and volcanic activity closely and infrastructure is robustly designed, but not all events can be anticipated and can pose risks to your travel plans including travel delays and cancellations due to rock falls and landslides, sudden flooding and poisonous volcanic gases near eruption sites. These are the key questions and answers on consumer rights. I am in Iceland. Will I be able to leave? Yes, assuming the international airport remains open. Isavia, which runs Keflavik, said: The airport is fully operational. Flights have not been impacted by recent eruptions and are on schedule. You may be keen to leave earlier than booked, in order to guarantee your getaway, but at present you will not be able to switch flights without paying a penalty. The FCDO advises travellers to check the following resources for updates: open image in gallery Earlier earthquakes struck just 10 miles south of Icelands main airport, Keflavik International, but the UK Foreign Office said travel can go ahead ( Vafri.is ) But didnt an Icelandic volcano shut down European aviation for a week? Yes. Travellers may remember where they were in April 2010, when the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajokull erupted. The skies of northern Europe completely closed to passenger aviation for almost a week. A quarter of a billion cubic metres of volcanic ash was ejected and was carried southeast towards the UK and continental Europe by the breeze. The fear was that volcanic ash could damage jet engines and potentially bring down aircraft. In the biggest shutdown of aviation since the Second World War, 50,000 flights were cancelled and 8 million passengers had their travel plans wrecked. More than 50,000 flights, with eight million passengers booked to travel, were cancelled. But ash has not been an issue in the current geological outburst. Thankfully, the circumstances are very different. Eyjafjallajokull erupted with a glacier on top. The addition of melting water meant that the lava cooled very quickly into tiny fragments. These were promptly propelled into the atmosphere to a height of 30,000 feet by the steam produced in the eruption. The current eruption is not having anything like the same effect. The lava will cool and remain on the ground. In addition, new guidelines established in the wake of the 2010 eruption allow aircraft to fly if volcanic ash is present in reasonably small quantities. Another Icelandic volcano erupted in 2011, and in that case only 1 per cent of flights in northern Europe were cancelled rather than 100 per cent on some days in that extraordinary time. open image in gallery Icelands Blue Lagoon has been closed as a precuation ( AP ) What if I am booked on a package holiday? Foreign Office advice stops well short of advising against travel to Iceland, meaning holiday companies can continue to operate as normal with no automatic right to cancel. open image in gallery Iceland is a country peppered with volcanic sites ( Icelandic Met Office ) Until and unless the Foreign Office warns against travel, the assumption is that everything will go ahead as normal. The one exception is for holidaymakers who had planned to stay at the Blue Lagoon, an increasingly popular wellness destination, with an upmarket hotel on the site. Only those booked for a stay which cannot now take place have the chance to cancel; if you were hoping to pop in as a day visitor for a steamy stop in the volcanic rock pools, you will need to return at some time in the future. Can I claim on insurance? No, unless it is one of the vanishingly rare cancel for any reason policies. On standard travel insurance, disinclination to travel is not an acceptable reason for a claim. Would you go to Iceland at the moment? Yes, I would relish the opportunity. The Icelandic authorities are expert at handling seismic events, with extremely good monitoring and emergency systems in place. I would book a package holiday, though, knowing that if the earth gets too restless for comfort in the vicinity, I would be able to cancel for a full refund. It could also be that the new eruption becomes an attraction in its own right, as some have done. Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Get Simon Calders Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A flight operations group has warned that the conflict in the Middle East is presenting serious challenges for pilots navigating the airspace around Israel, Lebanon, Syria and Iran Passenger aviation has never been safer but there simply is no risk-zero route available, says Ops Group, an international organisation for pilots and other aviation staff. The group has published a blog called Dodging Danger: The Three Routes Through the Middle East. The writer, Chris Shieff, says: It no longer seems to be a simple question of is this route safe? but instead, of ones own appetite for known risks. The article analyses the three routes that are currently being used by major airlines: south via Egypt and Saudi Arabia, central via Turkey and eastern Iraq, or north over the Caucasus, the Caspian Sea and Turkmenistan. All of them avoid territory rated by Ops Group as Do Not Fly. But each has drawbacks. South This track avoids the potential for a sudden escalation of hostilities between Israel and Iran and offers safer diversion options. But Ops Group warns of potential risks associated with Houthi rebels in western Yemen firing missiles aimed at Israel. This essentially creates three risks to overflying aircraft a direct hit by a missile (extremely unlikely), debris fields from inflight break ups or successful interceptions, and misidentification, the blog warns. Another risk is posed by the sheer popularity of the southern route, leading to air-traffic control overload. Ops Group says one flight crew reported that they had been unable to talk to controllers during an entire portion between the north coast of Egypt to the Red Sea. Central The overriding question from this route is: Is it safe to overfly Iraq? In our opinion, yes but with some disclaimers, says Ops Group. Extensive GPS interference (including spoofing) can be expected in northern Iraq and on at least one occasion has led an aircraft to almost inadvertently enter Iranian airspace without a clearance. GPS interference is also a problem in Turkish airspace, especially anywhere near the border with Iran or Iraq. North This is the favoured route between Europe and Asia, crossing northern Turkey or the southern Black Sea, Georgia, Azerbaijan, the Caspian Sea and Turkmenistan. Planes bound for east Asia destinations such as Hong Kong, Seoul and Tokyo typically continue over the Stans along routes that are not regarded as hazardous. But aircraft destined for south Asia, particularly India, often fly over Afghanistan. The nations airspace has been uncontrolled since the Taliban takeover in 2021. Flights traverse Afghanistan many times a day without problems. The main concern of Ops Group is the risk of having to land in the country in the event of engine failure, fuel shortage or depressurisation. Watch a live firing of the British Armys new Archer Mobile Howitzer gun close to Russia border. British soldiers fired the new artillery gun for the first time on a tactical exercise in Finland on 20 November. The Swedish-made Archer 155mm self-propelled guns have been acquired as an interim replacement for the 32 AS90s which the UK has donated to Ukraine in its conflict with Russia. Major Mortimer, second in command of 19 Regt RA, said: The Archer represents a switch from a tracked self-propelled gun to a wheeled self-propelled gun and rather than using, what we would call, dumb high-explosive rounds. It shows our Nato partners were modernising artillery and continually advancing. A delivery truck was stolen while a worker was still in the back of the vehicle in Oregon, surveillance footage from last week shows. In the incident on 15 November, the Elephants Deli truck was parked up outside a warehouse in Beaverton on Friday, 15 November at approximately 1am. An employee was inside the back of the vehicle loading deliveries when a suspect got in the drivers seat and drove away, leaving the employee clinging to the vehicle with the back door open. Beaverton Police Department said a suspect has been arrested and faces multiple charges including unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, reckless endangering, attempt to elude - felony, hit and run, and unlawful possession of methamphetamine. An Israeli strike reduced a building in Beirut to rubble amid a huge cloud of smoke and dust on Friday, 22 November. The airstrike hit the Chiyah area of the Lebanese capitals southern suburbs on Friday (November 22). Lebanons health ministry said that, as of Thursday, the casualty toll since October 2023 stands at 3,583 people killed in the country. The figures do not distinguish between combatants and civilians. In a warning on X, an Israeli military spokesperson said that the airstrikes were targeting Hezbollah facilities and interests, without providing further details. Hezbollah strikes have killed more than 100 people in northern Israel and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Sir Keir Starmer has said that the UK is not at war and suggested there had been irresponsible rhetoric from Russia. Ukraine has fired British long-range Storm Shadow missiles into Russian territory for the first time, The Independent understands, the latest sign of a change in stance from Western countries on involvement in the conflict. Speaking to BBC Radio Bristol as part of a local radio round on Friday, 22 November, Sir Keir Starmer was asked are we at war in relation to the conflict in Ukraine. No, were not at war, but Ukraine certainly is, because Ukraine has been invaded by Russia, and that war has now been going on for just over 1,000 days, Sir Keir responded. After Russia threatened to use weapons against nations that allow their own weapons to be used inside Russia, the PM said: Theres irresponsible rhetoric. The Central Bank has imposed a fine of 324,240 on BlueSnap Payment Services Ireland Ltd for breaching EU regulations between January 2021 and December 2022. BlueSnap was authorised as a payment institution by the regulator on December 23, 2020. It offers merchant acquiring services, helping businesses that sell services or goods online to accept payments. After an online sale is made, BlueSnap is supposed to collect the money, hold it in a dedicated bank account, and then pay it on to their customer. The Central Bank found that BlueSnap breached the requirements by not putting its customers funds in a designated safeguarding account. Instead it mixed them with other funds. The bank says BlueSnap also delayed informing it, once the company became aware it was not following the correct procedures, as it had promised to do in its application for authorisation. These failings arose due to deficiencies in regulatory awareness and understanding of reporting requirements, in addition to inadequate oversight and monitoring by BlueSnap of safeguarding operations, the Central Bank said. Seana Cunningham, Central Bank director of enforcement and anti-money laundering Today's News in 90 Seconds - November 21st BlueSnap has now told the regulator it has fixed the safeguarding failures. A settlement of the case was reached on Tuesday. The Central Bank says BlueSnap admitted the contraventions, and agreed to the facts as set out in the settlement notice. The original fine was 463,200, but a 30pc settlement discount has been applied, which brings the penalty down to 324,240. The sanctions, which have been accepted by BlueSnap, have to be confirmed by the High Court before they take effect. In the companys most recent financial accounts, filed in June, the directors say they are pleased with its performance, and note that staff numbers increased from 11 to 14. The B2B revenue amounted to 6m in 2023, an increase from 5.5m the previous year. "The company has strong liquidity, with an acid ratio of 126:1, and healthy profit reserves at year end, they say. The profit for the financial year after providing for depreciation and taxation amounted to 778,716 (2022: 2.063m). The Central Bank says this is its 158th enforcement outcome, and has brought the total fines it has imposed to over 406m. It is just the second settlement under a new Administrative Sanctions Procedure (ASP), following a change to the legislation last year. ASP guidelines, which the Central Bank published last December, set out a number of different settlement processes. An entity that goes into the undisputed facts process can be offered a discount on the eventual fine, up to a maximum of 30pc. Seana Cunningham, director of enforcement and anti-money laundering at the Central Bank, said: Payment and e-money firms are authorised to hold and transfer money on behalf of customers, and at the core of this is a requirement for them to safeguard this money. The Central Bank has made its supervisory expectations in this regard clear. When firms apply for authorisation, they need to demonstrate to the Central Bank how they will meet their regulatory obligations. It follows that they must then adhere to the commitments they have made at authorisation when they provide services as an authorised financial services provider. If information provided at authorisation is no longer accurate, firms must inform the Central Bank of this promptly and take any necessary remedial action. In this case, BlueSnap failed to comply with its safeguarding obligations, which exposed its customers to significant risk, and failed to inform the Central Bank promptly of changes to the accuracy of the information it provided in its application for authorisation. The safeguarding of customer funds has been, and will continue to be, a key area of supervisory focus for the Central Bank. Vermilion has a 36.5pc share in the gas field off the Mayo coast The Corrib gas field, off the Co Mayo coast A significant shareholder in the Corrib gas field, currently challenging an EU windfall energy tax regime, has paid out dividends of 686.95m over the past two years. Accounts for Vermilion Energy Corrib Ireland Ltd show it paid dividends of 621.95m last year and it declared a further dividend of 65m in September this year. The operator of Corrib gas, Vermilion bought the Irish arm of Norwegian state energy giant Equinor in March last year. It had a 36.5pc share of Corrib gas. In the deal, Vermilion paid Equinor 331.7m in cash for the 36.5pc share of the gas field. Prior to the sale going through in March 2023, Equinor Energy Ireland Limited paid out a dividend of 350m to its Norwegian parent in the first quarter of 2023. Subsequent to the sale, the firm, renamed Vermilion Energy Corrib Ireland Ltd, paid out a dividend of 271.95m to its Irish parent, Vermilion Oil and Gas Ireland Ltd, last year. It declared a further 65m dividend to its Irish parent last September. This was part of a 105m dividend declared by Vermilion Oil & Gas Ireland Ltds Irish subsidiaries. Vermilion Oil & Gas Ireland Ltd subsequently paid the 105m dividend to its sole shareholder, Vermilion Netherland BV. The new accounts for Vermilion Energy Corrib Ireland Ltd show that last year it was hit with a 44.4m tax bill last year arising from the EU windfall energy tax regime. The accounts also show that last year, Vermilion Energy Corrib Ireland Ltd recorded pre-tax profits of 236.95m. Its revenues declined by 19pc from 422.2m to 343.93m. However, the companys post-tax profit came to 151.2m after it incurred a corporation tax charge of 85.7m that included the 44.4m windfall energy tax bill. Vermilion Energy Corrib Ireland Ltd is one of three Vermilion companies to bring a challenge to the EU windfall energy tax regime in the Commercial Court here. Last July, Mr Justice Michael Quinn agreed to a request from the parties to have the matter referred to the European Court of Justice. The energy windfall tax, the Temporary Solidarity Contribution, was introduced as an emergency intervention by the EU in October 2022. It was aimed at addressing high energy prices as a result of Russias war in Ukraine. Consumers were hit by soaring bills for their gas and electricity supplies. The energy windfall tax applied for 2022 and 2023. The Government has estimated that the tax would raise in the range of 200m to 450m. January 2025 date looking unlikely as defence barrister unable to continue One of Northern Irelands biggest criminal trials in years, which involves allegations of corruption by some of Belfasts elite businessmen, is likely to be delayed yet again, it has emerged. Preparations for the trial of two senior business figures on charges linked to Namas sale of its entire Northern Ireland loan book the biggest property transaction in Northern Irish history has been exceptionally slow and it remains unclear when a jury will hear the evidence. That sale a decade ago, referred to as Project Eagle, involved allegations of corruption and an investigation by the UKs National Crime Agency, which led to two men involved in the transaction being charged in August 2020. Former banker Frank Cushnahan (82), of Alexandra Gate in Holywood, is charged with fraud and making a false representation. Mr Cushnahan was a prominent figure, serving on Namas Northern Ireland advisory board as well as having been a board member of the Office of the First and Deputy First Minister, and a well-known Belfast businessman. Former solicitor Ian Coulter (53), of Templepatrick Road in Ballyclare, is charged with making an article in connection with a fraud and making a false representation. He had been the head of major Belfast law firm Tughans and was also head of the CBI in Northern Ireland. Both men have always denied wrongdoing and have pleaded not guilty to all charges. Ian Coulter and Frank Cushnahan Today's News in 90 Seconds - November 22nd In January 2023, it was suggested in court that the trial could take place last autumn. That was then put back to January 2025, but now even that date looks increasingly unlikely and if it is delayed again, the delay could be lengthy. At a hearing a month ago, Belfast Crown Court was told that Mr Coulters senior barrister, Greg Berry KC, would be unable to continue representing him due to a clash with other work. Yesterday morning, Mr Justice Huddleston was told during a review hearing that Mr Coulter has been unable to find another barrister. A lawyer for Mr Coulter said that his solicitor, John Finucane, was professionally engaged in the US and so could not be there. He said he had talked to multiple barristers both locally and in England and could not get anyone who would do the case in January. The lawyer said he had to tell prospective barristers how extensive the work would be because we dont want to mislead anybody who may commit. The judge said that whilst I absolutely want to keep the January date, the other option was we just start this case after Easter. But another lawyer involved in the case said that a delay would create a problem for him because he is committed to a three-week case in London in May. He said that either it starts in January or my next availability is realistically September, adding: To be quite frank, I want to get this case done its been hanging around far too long. Jonathan Kinnear KC, for the prosecution, said he was busy in March but could be available after Easter. He said that if they did not go with the January date towards which they had been working for months, they were going to run into difficulties no matter what alternative date was chosen, given the number and seniority of counsel. The judge accepted that a January trial would be impossible if new counsel have to be found because it is now just seven weeks away and the case is immensely complex. Mr Kinnear said that there were other issues which could delay the case, saying that directions made by the judge in June have not been complied with by the defence and if that did not happen were never going to get this trial, which is paper heavy, in good order and ready to start. A lawyer for Mr Cushnahan said the jury bundle had required his junior counsel to cross-reference upwards of 50 lever-arch files which he believed would be done this side of Christmas. Mr Coulters solicitor said there was a second issue as regard to skeleton arguments and issues such as that my lord, with having to concentrate on so many fronts in this case, I havent even turned my mind to that. The judge said: If we are going ahead in January, we are fast running out of time I need hardly say that to you. The judge asked Mr Coulters solicitor to confirm if Mr Berry could do the case and listed it for another review next week. An earlier hearing was told that Mr Coulter had requested the disclosure of specific material which includes his diaries and documents, and that has been given to him. A lawyer said it is voluminous, running to 656 documents containing 25,000 pages. Start-up backer NDRC is operated by Dogpatch Labs The National Digital Research Centre (NDRC) is winding up its activities in November next year, it has confirmed. Backed by the government, the Dublin-based NDRC was founded in 2006 under a concession agreement. That saw it receive 5m a year to fund its activities until 2012. From 2013, its funding was cut to 3.5m a year. Following a procurement process, a contract was awarded in 2020 to Dogpatch Labs to continue the NDRC, supported by regional partners in Kerry, Cork and Galway. That contract expires next year and is worth 3.5m per annum. The NDRC operates accelerator programmes and capital investment programmes in early-stage digital enterprises. It also provides training services and engaged in investment portfolio management. In a statement on its website, the NDRC confirmed that it will cease operations in 2025. It is with this legacy of achievement that we announce the NDRC will cease operations For more than two decades, the National Digital Research Centre has contributed to the development of the Irish start-up ecosystem by advancing early-stage digital enterprises and aiding portfolio companies in raising 500m-plus, of which 200m-plus was secured in the last four years alone, it said. It is with this legacy of achievement that we announce the NDRC will cease operations in November 2025, it added. The NDRC said that the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications following consultation with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and Enterprise Ireland has concluded that the enterprise ecosystem has evolved significantly since NDRCs inception, and has decided not to procure a new service contract for NDRC beyond its current contract expiration in November 2025. Indecon undertook an independent review of the NDRC for the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications last year to assess he extent to which its programmes were contributing to the strategic objectives. As the NDRC enters its final operating year, we remain committed to maintaining our programmes, the statement added. Operations will continue as usual until November 2025, and we have plans in place to manage and support ongoing investments. A report produced earlier this year said that start-up companies in its portfolio had created 650 jobs in the previous three years. It added that start-ups that had participated in its programmes had raised more than 56m in the same period. Firms that used its accelerator programme and which raised funds included GreyScout, Examfly and Cytidel. Has the boyband thing reached saturation point? asked my record company colleague. Then Westlife happened The cultural landscape of the 90s and early Noughties was cruel to young stars, as the BBC documentary series Boybands Forever makes clear Saturation point?: Westlife defied some record bosses expectations when they burst on to the scene in the late 90s. Photo: BSR Agency via Getty Images Tanya Sweeney Fri 22 Nov 2024 at 03:30 Its 1999, and Im sitting in an meeting in the London offices of BMG Publishing as a lowly assistant. Theres much chatter about a new Irish boyband, of which Ronan Keating is the co-manager. Tears and screams in court as young mothers among dozens of squatters who are told they will be jailed before it emerges they were held illegally On November 22, the 5th Yangtze River Delta International Cultural Industries Expo, co-hosted by the publicity departments of Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui, officially opened at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai). This years expo showcases the new developments in the cultural industry within the Yangtze River Delta and keenly observes the new trends in cultural consumption upgrades, aiming to create new momentum for enhancing quality and efficiency in the cultural industry. The exhibition area for Anhui Province covers a total of 3,150 square meters, divided into two exhibition zones. The Anhui Pavilion occupies 2,850 square meters, themed "Ancient and Modern Reflections, Innovating the Future." The Anhui Museum Pavilion spans 300 square meters, primarily showcasing cultural and creative products from the museum. The Anhui Pavilion features one core exhibit and three thematic sections. The core exhibit is an open giant dome immersive space themed "Misty Rain over Great Yellow Mountain, a Place for Spiritual Retreat." This space ingeniously reflects the vast surfaces created by the ground and the ceiling, using a mirrored floor to artfully manipulate light and shadow, presenting a stunning digital panorama of Huangshan and offering visitors a poetic experience of cultural Anhui. The Yangtze River Delta Cultural Industries Expo has been jointly initiated by the publicity departments of Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui since its inception in 2018. This years expo covers an exhibition area of 81,000 square meters, including a comprehensive development section and two themed exhibitions, gathering over 1,300 exhibitors from 70 cities, districts, and counties across 13 provinces nationwide. Source: anhuinews.com Sinn Fein's Cathy Bennett elected in Cavan-Monaghan Ms Bennett joins running mate Matt Carthy and Fine Gael's David Maxwell on the ticket, with just two seats in the constituency, and the country, left to be filled. It was elation once again for Sinn Fein as first time candidate Cathy Bennett won a seat to Dail Eireann amid wild celebrations in the Cavan Leisure when she was elected. Her supporters sang 'Oro Se Do Bheatha Abhaile' at full pitch this evening. Cathy Bennett got 3,281 votes from Matt Carthys transfers putting her on 13,383 and giving her a surplus of 1,841 to be distributed between Fianna Fails Brendan Smith and Niamh Smyth and Aontus Sarah OReilly. Niamh Smyth is on 10,856 after getting 73 from Carthys surplus while Brendan Smith got 94 pushing him to 10,616. Aontus Sara OReilly got 131 from Carthys surplus and is on 9,129 and looks like she will finish in sixth place. But, there was a heavy feeling of inevitability on the 13th count as Cathy Bennett, Brendan Smith, and Niamh Smyth relaxed with their families and friends so you had none of the quaintly manic nail biting of other elections where a delicious sense of hope and wonder filled the air. Smith and Smyth are sitting TDs and Fianna Fails vote has increased by around 600 votes while Sinn Feins overall vote is down around 2000 votes while Fine Gaels vote is down around 5,000 votes. But they will be happy to have held the seat that ex Minister Heather Humphreys worked so hard to win and first timer David Maxwell has big shoes to fill. But for those who won, it was all worth the trudging of the winding roads of Cavan and Monaghan in the deep winter was all worthwhile. But with one more count to go, Brendan Smith and Niamh Smyth look set be elected. Gerry McLaughlin Fianna Fail Offaly candidate defends objecting to 102 new homes on Bogtown site beside his house Tony McCormack led a petition of 30 residents against scheme over flooding fears Tony McCormack, Fianna Fail councillor for Tullamore, Co Offaly Senan Molony Fri 22 Nov 2024 at 03:30 A Fianna Fail election candidate who is chasing a seat in Offaly says he would raise the same objections today as he did two years ago to a housing scheme beside his own home. Dublin would be safer with a Fianna Fail minister for justice, senior party figures have suggested. The partys justice spokesman Jim OCallaghan said work needed to be done to tackle the feeling that the capital is not safe at certain times. A Green Party candidate for Louth has called for a change of approach for Droghedas city status campaign. Cllr Marianne Butler is running for the Green Party in Louth and explained her position on this hot-button issue in Drogheda: For 15 years, Drogheda has campaigned for city status but our calls are falling on deaf ears. "Maybe its time to look at why that is and whether there are other ways to get the same thing. She explained: The reasons why Drogheda hasnt been designated a city are simple. The population of the town at around 44,000 just doesnt hit the 50,000 required. "Bringing parts of East Meath into Drogheda was examined as part of the Boundary Review but found to be impractical and complex. "There is also real local and political resistance to the idea in East Meath people in the Royal County just dont want to live in the Wee County. Cllr Butler said: We need to face facts. Instead of being honest, some candidates try to fob us off with promises of a city manager or a deputy CEO. Basically, another postman to deliver messages to Dundalk and Dublin. Others think that banging the table harder, or political horse-trading, will get a different result. It wont. Laying out her partys approach to the issue, she said: The Green Party have an alternative approach. We want to see the re-establishment of Drogheda Borough Council, we want to give every town with a population of 30,000 the option of a directly elected Mayor and we want to invest in tackling urban decay, dereliction, and vacancy providing the funding to encourage people to live in towns, rather than just around them. "The towns population would soon hit 50,000 and city status would move from being impossible, to being inevitable. The Green Party candidate said: With a strong local authority, Drogheda would be on an even footing with Meath County Council when decisions are made that impact South Louth and East Meath. "The town would be more visible in Dublin when funding decisions are made, and it would restore the pride robbed by Fine Gael and Labour in 2014, when they abolished one of the oldest corporations in the country. "In time, it would be easier to bolt-on pieces of East Meath, if it makes sense. She added: This isnt a gimmick. Its national Green Party policy, contained in our manifesto, and would also apply to Dundalk, Navan and other major towns that feel the same sense of neglect as Drogheda. "We believe strong communities must be built bottom-up, and that local government is the gateway to our democracy, not a dumping ground for problems Dublin doesnt want to deal with. Cllr Butler concluded: I believe this approach could provide a realistic pathway to return power, people, and pride to Drogheda. But I fear that if we keep asking for the same thing, in the same way, we will keep getting the same answer and Drogheda faces another lost decade. Its not full democracy if immigrants arent allowed to vote I work and pay my taxes in Ireland. I own a business and a property here. As a migrant, however, I cannot vote on people making decisions that affect my daily life Unable to vote in the general election: Teresa Buczkowska Teresa Buczkowska Fri 22 Nov 2024 at 03:30 My grandmother was born five years before women in Poland were granted the right to vote. Most of her life was spent under an authoritarian regime where elections were neither free nor democratic. By the time I reached adulthood, Poland had transitioned to democracy, and I had full voting rights. But when, at the age of 22, I became a migrant worker in Ireland, my democratic rights went backwards. Labour TD Ged Nash has said it is "arrogant in the extreme" for Taoiseach Simon Harris to rule out the prospect of an alliance of left-wing parties opening up coalition talks after the election. Taoiseach Simon Harris rejected the idea that an alliance of more than one party could open coalition talks with his party and Fianna Fail in an interview with the Irish Times today, adding that he wanted to see a coalition of no more than three parties and that if "you start adding in four and five parties, I think thats not very stable". It comes after Labour leader Ivana Bacik has openly suggested that an alliance between her party, the Green Party and the Social Democrats could open formation negotiations with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael after the election. Louth Labour TD, Ged Nash. Photo: Gareth Chaney/Collins Today's News in 90 Seconds - November 22nd Speaking at the launch of the Labour Party plan for workers this afternoon, Mr Nash said he had "a message for Simon Harris and for Micheal Martin" following Mr Harris' "notion of ruling out the prospect of a multi-party government after this election". "The election is taking place next Friday and it is arrogant in the extreme for (Mr Harris) to simply predict and anticipate the outcome of an election before the people have spoken, he said. "As far as I'm concerned, speaking to people on doors in my constituency of Louth, they don't trust this government to introduce the change that people in this country need and neither are we picking up any suggestion that they have any confidence in Sinn Fein to do that either." Mr Nash added: "It is the height of arrogance of the Taoiseach, of Simon Harris, to predict the outcome of this election and to assume that the outcome is going to be clear." He said the Fine Gael leader is "framing the argument in a way that is dismissive of the Irish people" before votes are cast next Friday, adding that the Labour Party has shown it can be a "stabilising influence" on the "excesses" of other parties. Mr Nash said the party "has not demurred" from the position that the best way to approach Government formation negotiations is to "talk to people that have a similar view of how the world works and how this country and the world needs to change". "Those parties are clear, we know who those parties are. We believe that we can help to form a very significant bloc of like-minded parties to become involved in negotiating a potentially transformative Programme for Government for this country." He said that when the Fine Gael leader talks about "stability", the "extremely fiscally reckless" plans put forward by Fine Gael must be put to him. "We hear a lot about Simon Harris' 'new energy', with those reckless fiscal proposals, he is at risk of electrocuting the country and electrocuting the public finances, he said. "We have been here before when unfunded tax-cutting promises have been made at the same time as pledges to develop public services and that did not end well. "The next government should include adults in the room and we believe we in the Labour Party are those adults." Senator Marie Sherlock said the Government has "failed" to go far enough on ensuring a right to flexible work and "failed" to facilitate the Reproductive Health Leave Bill through the Dail, with her party setting out a number of proposals on increased wages, care, the banning of unpaid internships and the regulation of AI in the workplace. The Government missed the deadline to transpose the EU directive on Adequate Minimum Wages last Friday, with Mr Nash describing the move as a "disgrace". Mr Nash, who is running in the same constituency of Louth as Fine Gael Senator John McGahon, also said the candidacy of the Fine Gael candidate is a matter for the people of Louth. "The reality is that the date for the close of nominations has passed, John McGahon is on the ballot paper and it will be up now to the people of Louth to decide whether he represents all of the people of Louth as a TD or not, he said. With only days to go until the general election, voters have put core issues that are at the heart of womens equality on the political agenda, including public childcare, better family leave, access to public services, housing and healthcare. Many women and families are approaching this election struggling with increased costs of living, a continuing housing crisis, barriers to accessing services and supports, and battling to combine family and working life. Household costs are still a fifth higher than they were before the pandemic. A Meath East candidate for Labour has criticised the outgoing Taoiseach for taking a "Ryanair approach to a crisis in childcare. Labour candidate for Meath East, Eilish Balfe said: In a recent TikTok post, Minister Simon Harris promised that the government is going to make childcare costs much cheaper, sounding more like a Ryanair ad than someone committed to a comprehensive solution to Irelands childcare crisis. Eilish Balfe contested the local elections for the first time in 2024 and missed election by a narrow 15 votes. She has thrown her hat in the ring again, this time for the General Election. Ms Balfe said: While affordability is a key concern for families, the Labour Party emphasises that the issues in the childcare sector extend far beyond cost, impacting the quality of early education, the working conditions of educators, and long-term child development. Irelands childcare fees remain among the highest in Europe, but the challenges of the sector run deeper. "Many early childhood educators, who provide invaluable educational and developmental support to our youngest citizens, will soon find themselves back on near minimum wages due to inadequate state investment. "These educators are doing vital worknot just caring for children, but fostering their early development. "This sector requires a systemic rethinking to better serve families, children, and the workforce that supports them. The Meath East candidate said: The Labour Party is calling for a complete reimagining of Irelands Childcare sector, proposing a move towards a fully public system of early education and school age childcare. Ms Balfe said the party will ensure every child who needs a place in childcare has access to one and set a standardised and fair wage structure for early childhood educators. The Labour candidate said: We also need to support providers through a smooth transition, as the sector moves towards a public model, without sudden financial or operational burderns. On cost, she said fees would be capped at 200 per month. The Labour candidate said: For me, this is about more than an election promiseits about delivering a brighter future for children and families. "Childcare and early education arent just services; they are foundational for childrens lifelong learning and growth. When we invest in early education, were investing in a stronger, more prosperous future for our children and grandchildren. She concluded: Labour believes that addressing Irelands childcare crisis requires vision and dedication, not just campaign promises. Its time to treat childcare as the essential public service that it is and build a system that works for everyone involved. The price of beef, the cost of living, gangsters, confused Icelandic tourists and the promise of a PlayStation just your average day on the campaign trail for this general election. For Tanaiste Micheal Martin, it was all about accentuating the positives across Carlow and Kilkenny, where Fianna Fail are keen to hold onto their two seats in this sprawling five-seater. First on Thursday's whistle-stop tour was Callan in Co Kilkenny, where Mr Martin, armed with smiles and handshakes, joined the first of the three Fianna Fail candidates for the constituency, Cllr Peter Chap Cleere. The Tanaiste and Carlow-Kilkenny election candidate Cllr Peter 'Chap' Cleere posing for photos in McDowells Pharmacy in Callan, Co Kilkenny Having topped the poll in the Callan Thomastown municipal district during Junes local elections, Chap was met with a warm reception in Callan, which instantly put the Tanaiste at ease as he cracked jokes and posed for pictures. Will you buy me a PlayStation Tanaiste?, shouted a young teenage boy. Mr Martin laughed and shouted back, I will of course, but only if Chap promises to deliver it. After a quick visit to SuperValu in Callan, during which Peter Chap Cleere announced to shoppers that the Tanaiste was more handsome in real life, the canvassers left the shop to pose for some more pictures, clearly on a high from the warm welcome they received. However, this mood was quickly dashed when a driver stopped in the middle of the road and rolled down his window. Gangsters, he shouted. You are nothing but a bunch of gangsters. The group, alarmed by the mans remarks, quickly wrapped up the pictures and guided the Tanaiste towards his waiting car. "You have destroyed the defence forces. You are a bunch of gangsters," the man shouted againt before driving away. It was lunchtime by the time the Tanaiste arrived at his next stop, the Kilkenny farmers mart at Cillin Hill in Kilkenny City. This time he was joined by the second of the three Fianna Fail candidates for the Carlow-Kilkenny constituency, veteran TD John McGuinness, alongside his son and current mayor of Kilkenny, Andrew McGuinness. Having served as a TD in the constituency since he was first elected in 1997, John McGuinness is no stranger to a general election. However, this election is a little bit different for the Kilkenny man as he is going head-to-head with his brother, Independent Cllr Eugene McGuinness. Although they grew up in the same Fianna Fail household, the two brothers politics could not be more different. Mr Martin canvassing in Kilkenny Inside the mart, the farmers made it clear to the Tanaiste and John McGuinness, that although they had the support of the majority of farmers, they were at risk of losing that support if more wasnt done to help the farming sector. "You have my vote, said beef farmer, David Thornton. But I need to see beef prices go up in line with English prices. David added that he was also concerned that not enough was being done to encourage young people into farming. This was echoed by Mary Delahunty who owns a local suckler farm. We need to make sure that family farms are kept in the family, she told the Tanaiste. With that, an elderly farmer chimed in that he had no one to take over the family farm as his two sons, his only children, had been forced to move to Australia to make a living there. Succession was not the only issue raised with the Tanaiste, as the cost of living crisis made multiple appearances during the constituency visit. Micheal Cullen, an elderly man living on his own in Kilkenny, said the country has become too expensive for people living by themselves as he cited high energy and heating costs as his number one challenge. Outside, the light sprinkling of snow on the higher land surrounding Kilkenny City acted as a stark reminder that many cannot afford to turn on their heating, and, as a result, face a cold winter ahead. After leaving the mart, the canvassers took to the streets of Kilkenny City. There they were met by many confused tourists from Iceland, Canada and America to name but a few. "Kilkenny is clearly doing well with tourists, remarked the Tanaiste, as he stopped to introduce himself. But for local B&B owner, Niamh ODonohue, more could be done to support the tourism sector outside of Dublin. Ireland has become too Dublin-centric, she told Mr Martin. More needs to be invested in regional airports so tourists arent forced to fly into Dublin and then get into a car and drive the rest of the way to places like Kilkenny. "Im a Dublin woman, she laughed. But even I can admit that tourists want to come to Kilkenny not Dublin. The Tanaiste getting ready to pose for a selfie in Kilkenny City with Carlow-Kilkenny election candidate TD John McGuinness with his son and mayor of Kilkenny Andrew McGuinness After over six hours spent in Co Kilkenny, the Tanaiste was quickly ushered to his car. Next stop, Co Carlow, the home of the final of the three Fianna Fail candidates in the constituency, Jennifer Murnane OConnor. Stephen Judge said the treatment he is undergoing for pancreatic cancer is knocking lumps out of me Stephen Judge recalls not feeling well in the run-up to his 50th birthday two years ago, but he put it down to the celebrations until his boss was so shocked by his yellow pallor that he appealed to him to see a doctor. Emergency services at the scene of an explosion in the village of Creeslough in Co Donegal. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA A man who was arrested as part of the investigation into the explosion in Creeslough, Co Donegal, which claimed the lives of 10 people, has been released without charge. The man, who is aged in his 60s, was arrested yesterday morning for alleged offences contrary to the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997. Gardai yesterday confirmed that the man was being detained under the provisions of Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984. He has since been released without charge and a file will now be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions. The explosion happened at an apartment and retail block incorporating a petrol station in the village of Creeslough on October 7, 2022. The 10 people who died in the tragedy were: Robert Garwe and his five-year-old daughter, Shauna Flanagan-Garwe; fashion student Jessica Gallagher; Celtic fan Martin McGill; Sydney native James OFlaherty; Catherine ODonnell and her 13-year-old son James Monaghan; shop worker Martina Martin; 14-year-old Leona Harper; and carpenter Hugh Kelly. Creeslough A garda spokesperson said the investigation into the fatal explosion is ongoing, co-ordinated from Milford Garda station where an Incident Room has been established under the direction of a Senior Investigating Officer. They said the investigation continues to be led by local gardai in Donegal Division supported by the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (GNBCI) and other agencies including the Health and Safety Authority and the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU). Christmas and winter are times when people's health can be put at higher risk for various reasons. Photo: Stock image January is the month in which Irish people are most likely to die, accounting for around one in 10 of all annual deaths. The five-year analysis of winter deaths has been compiled by Peopl insurance and is based on CSO statistics. It shows that winter is the most lethal season, with an average of 9,344 deaths. The three most likely months of the year for people to die are January, with an average of 3,376 deaths, followed by December (3,105) and April (2,892). June is the least likely month for Irish people to die, with 2,419 deaths on average occurring that month, or about 7pc of the yearly average. August is the second least likely month for people to die, with an average of 2,457 deaths followed by July on 2,472. After winter, the second most likely season of the year for people to die is spring. Paul Walsh, spokesman for Peopl Insurance, said that while the intention is not to put a dampener on the festive season, Christmas and winter can be a difficult and tricky time for people and they need to remember to mind themselves. Christmas and winter are times when people's health can be put at higher risk for various reasons. Photo: Stock image Today's News in 90 Seconds - November 22nd He listed the risks of more viruses like flu circulating, as well as poor road conditions and cold weather putting extra stress on peoples hearts. The increased use of heating appliances and electrical devices in the home which can lead to fires and carbon monoxide poisoning is another reason the winter can pose a risk to peoples health, Mr Walsh said. Where there is a lack of adequate heating or older people living alone, the risks of cold weather to people can be heightened. People should take precautions to ensure they and their loved ones keep themselves warm over the winter. Simple steps like wearing layers rather than one thick piece of clothing can help. So too can having regular hot drinks and food, such as porridge, soups and stews. Keeping active can help boost your circulation. Clever use of heating appliances and thermostats and taking simple steps around the home to prevent heat loss can also help. The highest number of road deaths are in December, so drivers need to ensure they follow the rules. Mr Walsh added that making out a will to help your loved ones after you pass away is always worthwhile. Rates of smoking have a lot to do with people's background. Stock image: Getty People with basic levels of education in Ireland are 11 times more likely to smoke daily than those who have a third-level postgraduate qualification, according to research. Although 18pc of Irish people still smoke, a major and growing gap remains between groups based on their education and where they live. Significant differences in smoking habits based on socioeconomic status in Ireland confirm people with lower levels of education and those living in disadvantaged areas are more likely to smoke daily, according to the RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences. The study from the School of Population Health was published as it was revealed the target aiming for a tobacco-free Ireland, with smoking prevalence of less than 5pc by 2025, will not be met. The researchers looked at the smoking status for 52,494 people over the period 20152022 using Healthy Ireland data. Those living in deprived areas are four times more likely to be daily smokers than people from more affluent parts. Daily smoking was greatest among individuals with lower secondary-level education, at 21.3pc, and occasional smoking was greatest among those with a bachelors level of education, at 3.3pc, said the study. Professor Frank Doyle, co-principal investigator in the study, said: This research highlights the urgent need for targeted health initiatives in Irelands most disadvantaged areas. By prioritising support for these communities, we can help reduce health inequalities, improve overall population health and work towards the national goal of reducing smoking prevalence. Dr Gintare Valentelyte, lead author of the study and postdoctoral researcher at Converge: Centre for Chronic Disease and Population Health Research, added: Our findings show that while smoking rates are falling, those from less-advantaged backgrounds are not benefiting equally. While Ireland is recognised as a leader in tobacco control, smoking-related harm remains the leading preventable cause of ill health and premature mortality, accounting for more than 5,000 deaths a year and a cost to the hospital system of 460m each year. Bitcoin is on the march. A spasm of enthusiasm over the election of Donald Trump has sent the most popular cryptocurrency to within striking distance of $100,000 (95,000) per coin for the first time. Last Wednesday was World Childrens Day, which provides an inspirational entry-point to advocate, promote and celebrate childrens rights, translating into dialogues and actions that will build a better world for children. Unicef reports that the Israeli states military onslaught in Gaza has killed 14,000 children. Assistant secretary general for human rights Ilze Brands Kehris has said the age group most represented in verified fatalities was children from five to nine years old. Let us not forget the 171 children killed by the Israeli military and illegal Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank during this time. The killing continues unabated, with shocking atrocities unreported by many Irish media outlets. Giving evidence to a UK parliamentary committee, Gaza-based surgeon Professor Nizam Mamodes voice broke in grief as he described how massive Israeli bombings of refugee camps are followed by Israeli drone quadrocoptors moving in to target child survivors individually. We have had enough platitudes from our supposed political leaders. The only thing that will stop the Israeli states indiscriminate killing is concrete global action: first and foremost, the Occupied Territories Bill, which passed both Houses of the Oireachtas five ago and which government figures now promise us they will enact once the general election has passed. The old adage If they wanted to, they would have comes to mind. People of goodwill must continue to raise these atrocities, and Irelands complicity in them, on the doorsteps when canvassers come knocking. Candidates from the parties of the outgoing coalition must be held to account for the Governments failure to legislate to end Irelands complicity in these stomach-churning war crimes. Brian O Eigeartaigh, Donnybrook, Dublin 4 If we thought Hiroshima never to be repeated, we may have to think again Having been in the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum this week, I saw so many images of death and destruction as a result of the atomic bomb that was dropped in 1945. The argument that it brought World War II to an earlier end has merit, but the tens of thousands of children who were killed and burnt had done nothing to deserve that. We had all thought and hoped it would never happen again, but now Vladimir Putin is threatening to use nuclear weapons, which are far more powerful these days. If anyone wants to define evil, the threat of using a nuclear bomb would meet the criteria. Never again, please. Dennis Fitzgerald, Melbourne, Australia Based on recent events, Government may end up facing a few surprises I wish to highlight the capriciousness of the electorate. It seems that every single incumbent global government has got it in the neck from their respective electorates. We have had an anti-establishment response from Austria to Germany to France, right through to the UK, and now the US as the incumbent administration has got it in the neck. It might be best for our politicians to expect the best, plan for the worst and prepare to be surprised as they contend with the onerous challenges of electioneering. John OBrien, Clonmel, Co Tipperary Lets salute two great Irish men who made their mark in Western Australia The continuing saga concerning Irish Water and the proposed pipeline from the Shannon to Dublin recalls to mind that great Irishman, C Y OConnor, who was born in Co Meath in 1843. He was the engineer responsible for the development of Fremantle Harbour near Perth, as well as the design and construction of a major pipeline project to supply water to the great gold mines in the Kalgoorlie region of Western Australia from 1896 to 1903. The project required water to be pumped eastwards, 530km from Fremantle through a 30-inch pipeline with eight pumping stations along the route. During the long and difficult construction, OConnor received a huge amount of criticism as there were many doubters who believed the project would never work and was a waste of money. Unfortunately, one year before the project was successfully completed and water flowed into Kalgoorlie, OConnor took his own life by shooting himself while riding his horse into the sea near Fremantle, leaving his Scottish-born wife and eight children behind. Quite rightly, OConnor is remembered today in Fremantle and in the gold mines as a hero and a genius, and has a number of statues erected in his honour. His greatest legacy, of course, is that his project endures to this day. Coincidentally, the first prospector to discover gold in the Kalgoorlie-Coolgardie area was another Irishman, Paddy Hannan, from Quin, Co Clare. Hannan discovered gold on June 10, 1893, and shortly afterwards started the great gold rush that resulted in the famous Golden Mile thats centred on Kalgoorlie today and the subsequent need for massive quantities of water. Kalgoorlies main thoroughfare is named Hannan Street, with a centrepiece statue and fountain dedicated to the man. Both Irishmen are still revered to this day in Western Australia. John Leahy, Wilton Road, Co Cork People could do worse than shop around when it comes to this election For many years, weve been told to shop around when renewing our energy supplier, broadband supplier and so on. Isnt it time we used that way of thinking each time a general election comes round? Damien Carroll, Dublin Leaving Ukraines fate to Trumps brings to mind famous pre-WWII quote Dominic Shelmerdine says the final decision on Ukraine should be left to Donald Trump, who said he could end the war with Russia in 24 hours (Letters, November 20). Maybe he should recall Neville Chamberlains Peace in our time quote. We dont need to be reminded what happened after that. Does Mr Shelmerdine really want to trust Trump, who has a fascination with strongmen dictators? Alan Fairbrother, Knocklyon, Dublin 16 Finding an affordable house is getting beyond the reach of an increasing number of would-be buyers. Stock image The Irish are said to be fixated on property ownership, with various explanations advanced including Famine-era evictions and the Land War. But perhaps people are preoccupied with property for a simple, but compelling, reason: everyone needs a roof over their heads, and affordability either to buy or rent is a disappearing concept. Wanted posters. They are something we might normally associate with a 50s western movie, or an American cop show, but not something we are used to seeing on our own shores. But this week, An Garda Siochana have made an unprecedented move by releasing nearly 100 images to the public, to try and identify those suspected of committing crimes during the Dublin Riots. Senior gardai said that they are asking the public's help to name the men and women in the footage, while they have also asked any person featured in the images to come forward and speak with them. "It may be the case that after meeting with you we can eliminate some from inquiries or progress the investigation in relation to your participation," Chief Superintendent Patrick McMenamin said addressing the people in the footage released. The images released have already helped to identify multiple suspects, but it hasnt come without controversy, with many questioning the morality and legality of such a bold move. Today on The Indo Daily, Fionnan Sheahan is joined by Robin Schiller Senior Journalist with The Irish Independent and Carlo Salizzo, Partner In The Technology And Innovation Group At Matheson LLP solicitors to discuss this unprecedented decision by An Garda Siochana. Does it set a worrying precedent for Irish policing, or was it indeed justified? The holidays are coming and Coca-Cola is bringing a sprinkle of magic to Cork with the return of its beloved Christmas Truck Tour. This iconic festive tradition will take place from Saturday, 30 November to Sunday, 8 December, visiting four locations across the island: Dublin, Belfast, Cork, and Limerick. The Coca-Cola Christmas campaign, themed The World Needs More Santas, invites visitors to embrace the festive season by sharing acts of kindness with others. The tour promises an unforgettable experience filled with festive music, fun games, and Coca-Cola merchandise. Visitors can also capture their seasonal memories with a perfect photo in front of the famous red truck. Arriving to the Mahon Point Shopping Centre on Saturday, December 7 from 2pm to 9pm, and Gavin Gillespie, Marketing Director of Coca-Cola Ireland, shared his excitement, saying: Over the years, Coca-Cola has remained synonymous with Christmas and the festive season. We are thrilled to announce the return of the iconic Coca-Cola Christmas Truck Tour, where Coca-Cola will bring an extra sprinkle of Christmas magic to people across Ireland. It will be an evening that all the family can enjoy and create those magical memories that we will remember in the years to come. Cork County Councils Severe Weather Assessment Team convened this afternoon (Friday, November 22) in advance of a Status Red rain warning for Cork. A Status Red weather warning is the most severe weather warning and implores all citizens to take appropriate action in order to protect themselves from the anticipated conditions. Met Eireann has issued the highest-level warning for Cork which comes into effect at midnight tonight and remains in place until 10am tomorrow morning (Saturday, November 23). Storm Bert is forecast to bring intense falls of rain over a short period of time overnight with the highest accumulations in West Cork. Met Eireann has advised that the possible impacts include severe flooding; damage to homes and businesses; and treacherous travelling conditions. Members of the public are being advised to shelter in place throughout the warning and not to travel. Cork County Council will have staff monitoring the situation in vulnerable areas such as Bantry and Midleton throughout the night. Cork County Council crews have inspected key high-risk areas. Pumping arrangements are in place in known problem locations. Sandbags are available at priority locations. Flood barriers have been installed in Mallow and Fermoy as a precaution. Issues such as flooding and road damage can be reported over the course of the weekend to the Councils Emergency Out of Hours number (021) 4800048. In the event of an emergency call 999 or 112 and request the Fire Service, Ambulance Service, Gardai or Irish Coastguard as appropriate. Do not assume others will do this. Weather updates are available at www.met.ie. Cork County Council will continue to provide updates on www.corkcoco.ie and across the Councils social media channels @Corkcoco. Sandymount is one of the most vulnerable areas in the city to coastal flooding Dublin City Council (DCC) has awarded a contract to design a Flood Defence Scheme in Sandymount, 20 years since the measures were first recommended. Jacobs Engineering has been appointed to design flood defences to protect over 1,000 homes in the area from rising sea levels. The council has had plans for this project in place since 2002, but said the increasing sea levels and higher wave heights necessitated a complete redesign of the long-awaited project. In 2009, it was announced that flood defences would be introduced along the Sutton to Sandycove (S2S) cycleway. While work began on the north side of Dublin Bay, no progress has yet been made in Sandymount. However, the Sandymount and Merrion Residents Association (SAMRA) has welcomed the latest news as a step forward in addressing the significant risk to homes in the area. SAMRA looks forward to supporting this work and ensuring the final design reflects the interests of local residents, a spokesperson said. It urges that the project moves forward with urgency and the construction phase begins as soon as possible. The contract includes a comprehensive study of the risks posed to the Sandymount community one of the most vulnerable areas in the city from both coastal and pluvial flooding. I am pleased to announce this morning that Dublin City Council has awarded a contract to Jacobs to design the Sandymount Flood Defence Scheme, said the Lord Mayor of Dublin, James Geoghegan. Plans for the Sandymount Coastal Flood Defence Scheme were first outlined in 2002 This is a major step forward in defending the Sandymount coastline against flooding. It is great to see progress finally being made on this long-overdue infrastructural project. Todays announcement paves the way for the early construction of the flood-relief scheme and provides a clear direction for the community and homeowners who currently cannot obtain home insurance in the area, he added. The engineers have been tasked with designing works and measures to protect the community from current risks, with those works to be as adaptable as possible to safeguard against medium and long-term risks related to climate change. A key requirement of the designs is to minimise their environmental impact, including on the various Natura 2000 sites for which Dublin Bay is designated. The council also outlined that opportunities to enhance public amenity and provide co-benefits shall be explored, wherever possible. With the awarding of this design contract, we are working towards the protection of the Sandymount community from the known risks of coastal and pluvial flooding, which are further exacerbated by the effects of climate change, said John Flanagan, Assistant Chief Executive. Jacobs said it will engage and consult with the public, stakeholders, and other parties on behalf of Dublin City Council throughout the life of the project, to facilitate two-way communication. This contract is fully funded by the Office of Public Works (OPW) as part of their Flood Relief Programme under the National Development Plan 2021-2030. Jacobs brings extensive experience in long-term resilience solutions to support Dublin City Council on the Sandymount Flood Defence Scheme, said Jacobs Senior Vice President, Kate Kenny. We look forward to working together to safeguard the coastline and community from the effects of sea level rise and climate change for years to come. The break-in at Bibi's cafe in Portobello was the second incident in two months A popular cafe in Dublin 8 has been broken into for the second time in as many months. The front window of Bibis cafe in Portobello was smashed with a rock at 1.25am yesterday, however the perpetrator didnt manage to take anything. Co-owner Geoff Lenehan told the Irish Independent that in 14 years of running his business, theyve had two incidents in the last two months. Two months ago, we had a gentleman come in with a balaclava and a knife and demand cash from our staff in the middle of the day, he said. While nothing has happened in the last two years, this has all happened in the past two months. We had security grates over the window, they were taken down and the padlocks on those were taken down. A rock was thrown through the window and the alarm went off, so we had all the security measures in place. The boarded up window at Bibi's, which is now back open for business He added that while the person who attempted to break into their till failed, there was still damage which has caused frustration and disappointment. Unfortunately, the incident at Bibis cafe this week is not isolated, with the Belfry in Stoneybatter and Little Deer Comics in the same area suffering similar incidents in the past week. We immediately got support from other businesses whove had similar events happen to them. Theyre worried about it and there is a genuine concern now, Mr Lenehan added. We employ 30 people across two cafes, and every time something like this happens, it puts that under threat. Despite the boarded-up window in the Portobello cafe, the business is open as normal, and Bibis say they are looking forward to a great weekend. A garda spokesperson said: Gardai are investigating an incident of burglary that occurred at approximately 1.25am on November 21 in the Woodquay area of Dublin 8. Enquires are ongoing at this time, they added. Ahmad Hassan leads his younger brother from Cavan District Court after appearing before Judge Stephanie Coggans charged in connection to an alleged violent incident in Cavan earlier this year. Ahmad Hassan (23) and Ali Hassan (20) were each charged with false imprisonment and making unwarranted demands for cash during an alleged incident in Cavan in March. A number of men have appeared in court charged with falsely imprisoning and assaulting two men, making a demand for thousands of euros of cash and robbing them of their mobile phones. Brothers Ahmad Hassan (23) and Ali Hassan (20), both of 19 Warrenstown Green, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15 came before a sitting of Cavan District Court charged with a series of alleged offences at 51 Latt Hills, Cavan on March 12 this year. Follow Independent Cavan on Facebook Ahmad Hassan was charged with making a threat to kill or cause serious harm, falsely imprisoning two men and robbing them of their mobile phones totalling over 1,000 alongside assaulting one of the alleged victims while making an unwarranted demand for 8,000. Ahmad Hassan leads his younger brother from Cavan District Court after appearing before Judge Stephanie Coggans charged in connection to an alleged violent incident in Cavan earlier this year. His co-accused was likewise charged with assault causing harm, two counts of false imprisonment, two counts of robbery and making an unwarranted demand for the same four figure sum. Sgt Damien Galligan told Judge Stephanie Coggans the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had directed for both men to be sent forward for trial to the Circuit Criminal Court. Dimitry Grinberg BL, defending and instructed by Aongus McCarthy Solicitors, applied for legal aid on behalf of both men. Richard Ayodele arriving at Cavan Courthouse. The pair were remanded on continuing bail to reappear at a sitting of Cavan District Court on January 16, 2025 for the service of a book of evidence. They were joined by two other men, Dolnet Kalemba (23) 18 Parkview, Cavan and Richard Ayodele (21) 7 Drumalee Court, Cavan, both of whom were similarly charged in connection to the same incident. Kalemba, who also had a charge sheet address at 14 Church Street, Athlone, Westmeath was charged with two counts of false imprisonment, robbery, making a threat to kill or cause serious harm, assault, the theft of an iPhone worth 665, making an unwarranted demand for cash and threatening to damage property at 51 Latt Hills, Cavan, Co Cavan on March 12, 2024. A further threatening to damage property and making an unwarranted demand for money charges related to an alleged offence some 24 hours earlier at 56 Pairc an Duin, Cavan. Farouq Oluwanifemi B Adio outside Cavan Courthouse. Ayodele, meanwhile, was charged with theft and making an unwarranted demand for 8,000 at 51 Latt Hills, Cavan also on March 12 this year. Follow Independent Meath on Facebook Two other men, Farouq Oluwanifemi B Adio (21) 43 Tailteann Drive, Windtown, Navan, Meath and Matthew Wilde (19) 54 Tailteann Drive, Windtown, Meath, were also charged in connection to falsely imprisoning one of the male victims at a location in the county of Cavan three weeks later on April 3, 2024. Ali Hassan (20) leaving Cavan Courthouse. Wilde also stands accused of producing a black handled knife and assault causing harm during the same incident. All six were remanded on bail to a sitting of Cavan District Court on January 16, 2025 for the service of a book of evidence. Students from CBS The Green in Tralee will be sleping rough outside on the night of Friday, December 6 as part of Focus Ireland's 'Shine a Light' initiative. Students from CBS The Green will be hoping for a little less snow than we got on Thursday when they ditch their warm homes and cosy beds in favour of sleeping bags and the rough outdoors on the night of Friday, December 6. While there will definitely be some craic had on the night, the real message behind the students event is far more serious and poignant as they aim to raise both awareness and funds for Focus Irelands Shine A Light initiative. The aim of this campaign by the charity is help shine a light on the issue of homelessness and to work towards a brighter future where everyone has a place to call home. The sleep-out event is part of the students 6th Year Community Action Project and it highlights their commitment to tackling the pressing issue of homelessness in Ireland. It's not by chance either that the students have chosen the date of December 6 as the night theyll be sleeping rough outside, in fact they purposely chose the date as its the night that the annual Toy Show takes place. Ms Crowley's religion students have chosen that night as they feel that is will be a poignant contrast to the cozy family gatherings many enjoy while others face the harsh realities of homelessness. Their efforts aim to remind the community of the over 14,000 people currently homeless in Ireland, including 4,500 children, according to the latest figures from September 2024. This student-led initiative, the school said, is a testament to the power of young people driving meaningful change. Every donation and act of support will directly contribute to Focus Irelands vital work to combat homelessness and provide support for those in need. How You Can Support Their Initiative: A fundraising link is available on the schools Facebook Page 'CBS The Green' or at https://joinus.focusireland.ie/fundraisers/CBSTheGreenSleepOut A Sligo woman has successfully completed a nerve-jangling challenge and raised much needed funds for the Irish Heart Foundation. Julie Golden-Gallagher, from Ballymote, took on the Heart Heroes Abseil Challenge a 60-metre abseil from the Generator Skyview Tower in Dublins Smithfield. And her courage was rewarded when family and friends came together to raise almost 1,400 for the national stroke and heart charity. The event, earlier this month, was also tinged with sadness as Julie remembered her brothers, who died aged 49 and 56. It was such a fantastic day; people travelled from all over the country to support the Irish Heart Foundation and we were absolutely blown away by their fundraising efforts. They truly are Heart heroes, said Jamie Conway, Community Fundraising Manager with the Irish Heart Foundation. Everyone that participated had a genuine reason to support the charity and it was really nice to speak to many of them and share their stories. We are already planning for next year's event, which will take place on Saturday, November 1 2025, so if you are interested, email jconway@irishheart.ie. This years event raised over 60,000, which will be used to help provide many services and supports to people in Ireland who have experienced a cardiac event or stroke. People are impacted by stroke and heart disease every day. The lives of these people are often cut tragically short and many are left disabled. Over 9,000 people die each year, making heart disease and stroke one of Irelands biggest killers. Mount Melleray, a Gothic Cistercian Abbey erected in 1925, is situated in the Knockmealdown mountains. The Cistercian Order have made the decision to close the Abbey and transfer its members to Roscrea due to falling vocations Mount Melleray Abbey in the foothills of the Knockmealdown Mountains of Waterford is to close in January, with the monks transferring to Roscrea in County Tipperary as an interim measure. The decision has been made due to the falling numbers of vocations and ageing communities, it was confirmed by the Cistercian Order on Friday morning, November 22. The Cistercians were first established in Ireland in 1142, initially at Mellifont Abbey by St Malachy, Archbishop of Armagh. By the time of the Reformation and the Dissolution of the Monasteries there were 43 houses of monks and three of nuns. They now have a presence at six locations on the island of Ireland, namely Mount Melleray, Co Waterford, Mellifont, Co Louth, Mount St Joseph in Roscrea, Co Tipperary, Bolton Abbey, Co Kildare, Portglenone Abbey, Co Antrim, and the Sisters at St Marys Abbey, Glencairn, Co Waterford. The move will also see monks from Mellifont in Co Louth situated at Roscrea, as part of the consolidation. We will be continuing our presence in Ireland into the future, but to achieve this regretfully we must consolidate in accordance with the restrictions of our present resources, said Dom Rufus Pound OCSO, a spokesperson for the Cistercian Abbey of Our Lady of Silence. After much reflection and soul searching we as an Order have had to make some very difficult decisions with the aim of ensuring a future for Cistercian life in Ireland. We have been confronted with these difficult decisions as we address the reality of falling numbers and ageing communities - issues which other similar communities are also addressing at this time. The Order has decided that with effect from January 26, 2025, three of their communities, namely Mount Melleray, Mellifont and Mount St Joseph, which since November 3 the Feast of St Malachy have already merged as one new single community, will be based for an interim period at Roscrea. Mount Melleray, a Gothic Cistercian Abbey erected in 1925, is situated in the Knockmealdown mountains. The Cistercian Order have made the decision to close the Abbey and transfer its members to Roscrea due to falling vocations Today's News in 90 Seconds - November 22nd This new community has been given the name of The Abbey of Our Lady of Silence, and its residency at Roscrea, we emphasise, is an interim measure, added Fr Rufus. Our Abbeys at Moone, Co Kildare, and at Portglenone, Co Antrim, will not be affected by this decision and will continue as autonomous communities. Our new community of Our Lady of Silence, currently consists of twenty-six members, three of whom are novices, and already interest has been expressed from others wishing to join us. We are optimistic that this now has the potential to become a vibrant community wherever we finally decide that it will be located. We will now take time to consider how this new community will develop and where it will ultimately reside on a permanent basis. In the context of our decision we must rationalise our use of the three properties formerly associated with the three pre-existing communities, in line with our present day needs and resources. No final decisions have been taken at this stage regarding any of the properties which may be vacated in the near future, however as decisions are made further announcements will be forthcoming. Cistercian College, Roscrea continues to go from strength to strength and will not be impacted in any way, by decisions in the future. "This is a difficult time for all the members of the our new community as we strive to meet the challenge of our present day realities. It is especially difficult for those who have spent their entire lives in a specific monastery and must now adjust to these changed circumstances. We would also like to take this opportunity to thank our staff, some of whom who have been with us and supported us for decades, and the many other loyal volunteers and friends who will be affected by these developments. The religious of Mt Melleray will transfer to Mt St Joseph Abbey in Roscrea, above, from January 26, 2025, as an interim measure None of the previous three abbeys would have survived over the centuries without the support and friendship of those in the locality, but also many others associated with them in different ways, said Fr Rufus. We recognise and acknowledge the often profound attachment all these have towards our monasteries and we deeply regret that we will not be able to maintain our presence at all three locations, as we embark on this new beginning. Our gratitude and prayers will continue to be with those who have shared our journey in so many rich and varied ways here in Ireland over the years. The community members of Our Lady of Silence will, in the main, continue at their present locations until January 26, 2025. Thereafter they will vacate Mount Melleray and Mellifont until final decisions have been made in regard to the long term location of the new community. Mt Melleray holds fond memories for many generations of people from Waterford and just over the border in Tipperary, who found solace and comfort there. Author and hillwalker John G ODwyer, broke reports of the news that Mt Melleray Abbey near Cappoquin may be closing, on Tuesday, November 19. Seems virtually certain now that the rumours of the closure of Mount Melleray Abbey, Co Waterford are true, said Mr ODwyer. According to reports the Abbey is set to close on January 25, 2025, with the remaining monks and lay brothers transferring to Mount St Joseph's, Abbey, Roscrea. A very sad end to an era that gave comfort to so many during almost two centuries of the Abbey's existence. The sale of the St. Aidans Manse building is due to the completed in the coming days, with the deal expected to add some much-needed revenue into the Enniscorthy parishs finances. The iconic Enniscorthy building, which has been home to priests serving St Aidans Cathedral for decades, is set to become private property once the sale has been finalised. In this weeks parish newsletter, parishioners were informed that the Diocese expects the sale to be completed by Wednesday, November 27 and the building will become a private property. "We move forward into a new chapter in the life of our parish and pastoral area and we thank the clergy of the diocese and our parishioners for their support...and we welcome the new challenges that the future will bring, they wrote. The existing parish office will close permanently at 1 p.m. on Friday, November 22, with a new parish office opening at no.1 Irish Street at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, December 3. The new residences of the priests will be at St Senan's Presbytery in Templeshannon, and the office phone number and email will remain the same. When it was announced during a Sunday mass last year that they would be selling the iconic building, it sent shockwaves through the parish. The Manse building is over 100-years-old, having been built between 1908 and 1909. It has been home to many of the Parishs priests over the years and currently houses two priests and the parishs office and is often used as a space to hold meetings. It has four reception rooms, a kitchen, a utility, a laundry room, a toilet, and stores on the ground floor. Upstairs has six bedrooms, two bedroom suites and four bathrooms. However, the decision was not made lightly with Fr Tom Dalton citing the parishs economic struggle as the reason. "It was a very difficult decision to come to and we looked at all types of solutions before we made this decision. We have been doing that for the last three or four months, he said at the time. In a statement on the St. Aidans Cathedral Enniscorthy Facebook page they said that the parish of St. Aidans has been struggling financially for quite sometime. We are living in a very challenging economic time. Here in the parish of St Aidans as across the country there has been a significant fall in parish income. For the past three years we have had an annual deficit of approximately 20,000 so we have drawn on savings to make up the shortfall. This is not sustainable they wrote. They explained that it was a group decision that was made after discussions were had between members of the clergy and the parishs finance committee Over the last few months the Parish Finance committee, Bishop Ger and the priests of the Pastoral area have been discussing the matter. We have collectively agreed that the time has come to sell the Manse. This was not an easy decision to come to but a decision that is the right one at this time, they continued. The money from the sale will go towards day to day expenses, maintenance of St Aidan's Cathedral and the new parish office. The building was valued at 950,000 and the sale of the property is being handled by DNG McCormack Quinn auctioneer Gary Quinn. The council chamber in the Tholsel, New Ross set the scene for a historic gathering as committee members from the towns Workingmens Club marked the occasion with an official handover of the clubs archive to Wexford County Councils archive service. The event was even more memorable as the club, founded by Very Rev Canon Michael Kavanagh, P.P. 125 years ago, held its first meetings in the Tholsel. Accepting the official handover on behalf of Wexford County Archive, the Cathaoirleach of New Ross Municipal District, Cllr. Bridin Murphy remarked that the club has been an integral part of the social fabric of New Ross for the past 125 years and is still going strong. The first general meeting of the club took place in the Assembly room of the Tholsel on February 12, 1899. Under the title, The New Ross Catholic Workingmens Club, a new constitution was drawn up and by the end of the first month, the club had 170 members on its roll. Included in the collection is a rather unique banner bearing the name of the club on the front and including the motto Musgail do misneac a banba (Awaken your courage, Ireland) on the reverse. Research is currently underway to establish the provenance of this rare artefact. It will undergo some light conservation work next year and a replica banner will be commissioned for display in the clubroom. Club chairman, Tony Bennett thanked Wexford Local Development under the Leader Programme and Wexford County Council for financial assistance in recently buying out the lease on the clubs premises in Mary Street from the Tottenham estate. Mr Bennett also paid tribute to Paul Bennett, a club committee member who was instrumental in securing the funding. The original lease agreement, dated September, 29 1902, forms part of the clubs historic collection and was on display during the event. Archivist, Grainne Doran paid tribute to the club committee, its chairman and members from the clubs inception in 1899 to the present for their careful and proud stewardship and custodianship of the clubs archives which has ensured that this collection and its striking banner form an excellent example of a local clubs activities over its long history. The deposit of the collection of minute books, financial ledgers, photos and memorabilia will now ensure that it is safeguarded and will be preserved and accessible for future generations. Leonard (Len) Warren was a man known for dedicating his time to others, particularly to those who lived in New Ross, where he was born and raised, and spent his entire life working with the towns best interest at heart. Born in 1951 to Aileen and Joseph Warren of Cross St., New Ross, Mr Warren was raised with his six brothers and two sisters and would go on to always be surrounded by groups of people, whether it was his siblings, his own family that came from marrying the love of his life, Kitty, the New Ross firefighters, musicians or friends, he was always busy chatting or helping in some way. And when it wasnt people in his presence, it was animals as it wouldnt have been uncommon for him to bring animals home having rescued them. In his early life, Mr Warren was educated at St Josephs CBS and Vocational School New Ross, then began his working life as a panel beater at the Central garage New Ross, and following that joined Graves New Ross where he was a welder. In 1976, two years after marrying his wife Kitty, he fulfilled his childhood dream of becoming a firefighter with New Ross Fire Service, where after 30 years of dedicated service, he retired in 2006. Those who remember Mr Warren during the 70s would recall his great love for country and Irish music as he was a vocalist and instrumentalist in a selection of local bands, who frequently supported the show band scene in the south east during that time. After retiring from the fire service, Mr Warren became involved with St Michaels Theatre, New Ross, where he enjoyed working front of house and back stage for a number of years, which gave him great enjoyment. Management of the theatre said they were deeply saddened to hear of his passing and Mr Warren was a valued member of the team in the past and his contributions during his time will always be remembered. Mr Warren was always known for his welcoming smile and wave, to those passing on the street as he worked or others who came to the theatre. Tributes have been paid to Mr Warrens family since his passing, with many remembering him for providing an incredible service to the town of New Ross: Many years ago, I recall his many quick dispatches when his pager went off. Someone was in trouble and Leonard and his fire team were often the first responders to arrive and help some unfortunate out. His service to the community of New Ross and district has been magnificent. Another tribute from a former firefighter said that Mr Warren was always a pleasure to meet as their paths crossed on training courses and emergency callouts. Recalling their school days together, another friend of Mr Warrens paid tribute to his family and said, Leonard was a great friend and school mate he was the nicest and most helpful friend you could wish for. "I remember when we were in school and baking a swiss roll, we were put together and we won the best cake. Len was a great friend and will be sadly missed. Deepest condolences to Kitty and family. Always in my thoughts and prayers Len, RIP, said Christy Leacy. All through his life, the only thing he enjoyed more than having a cuppa and chatting with friends, was his greatest pleasure of all, the many family occasions with his children Joel, Niall and Colleen and in later years, his grandchildren, Rebecca, Jack, Kent, Julia and Cullan. Mr Warren is sadly missed by his wife Kitty, his children and grandchildren, and also his brothers Jimmy, William, Greg, Pascal, sisters Terry and Lourdes, (Ultan, Patrick R.I.P.) extended family, neighbours and his wide circle of friends. I got chatting to two people in a coffee shop. They were mother and daughter. When the daughter told me she was still at school I asked her was she studying German. She replied in good German. They had lived for five years in Dusseldorf. There were only two other people in the cafe. They heard us talking German and one of them, smiling said it must be a little German-speaking club as she was from Austria. Members of the Wexford Order of Malta pictured at the Blue Light Ball in the Talbot Hotel on Friday evening. (l to r)- Geraldine Meyler, John Beary, David OGrady, Caitlin O'Grady, Seamus Mahon, Marie Doyle and Roy Doyle. Pic: Jim Campbell Members of the Wexford Garda Station across all units pictured with Garda Supt. Jarlath Duffy at the Blue Light Ball in the Talbot Hotel on Friday evening. Pic: Jim Campbell The work of an organisation which empowers children with serious illness and provides respite and support to their families was celebrated at the Talbot Hotel last week as the people of Wexford gathered for the annual Blue Light Ball. Held to raise funds for the local branch of the Little Blue Heroes, the ball celebrated an initiative which, since it was established in 2017, has raised 2m for sick children across Ireland. Led by members of An Garda Siochana, Little Blue Heroes provide practical and financial support to families of children who have serious illnesses in Ireland and enable children to become honorary gardai in their local community. Earlier this year nine Wexford children became Little Blue Heroes at a ceremony in Wells House, Gorey. Ranging in age from five months to 16 years the children arrived at the ceremony by helicopter and met members of the Garda Mounted Unit and the Road Policing Unit on their motorbikes. Members of the Wexford Garda Station across all units pictured with Garda Supt. Jarlath Duffy at the Blue Light Ball in the Talbot Hotel on Friday evening. Pic: Jim Campbell Ann Marie Keane is the co-founder of the Little Blue Heroes Foundation and, speaking at the ball, she discussed the inclusive nature of their charity, emphasising that children with disabilities are fully integrated into their programmes. Darren Coleman and Fiona Dowlingl enjoyed the Blue Light Ball in the Talbot Hotel on Friday evening. Pic: Jim Campbell The little kids become honorary guards, they become a very important part within their community, she said. We're a very inclusive charity; If a child is non-verbal, visually impaired, or a wheelchair user, they're treated like any other kid. They do things their own way, and that's the way we work within Little Blue Heroes. We also provide financial aid for the families, because when you have a child with serious illness, the financial impact on the family is huge. One parent might have to give up a job. But there's still kids in the family that have to be looked after. Bills still have to be paid. Members of the Wexford Order of Malta pictured at the Blue Light Ball in the Talbot Hotel on Friday evening. (l to r)- Geraldine Meyler, John Beary, David OGrady, Caitlin O'Grady, Seamus Mahon, Marie Doyle and Roy Doyle. Pic: Jim Campbell "Well be in operation eight years next April next year and in that time weve given out nearly 2m directly to families in financial aid, and theres other programmes like the Little Blue Heroes trip where we send the whole family, including the nurse, away on the two nights, all expenses paid. The nurse is an integral part of a lot of our family's unit. So they wouldn't be able to go away for a holiday unless they had a nurse to go with them. Dylan Molloy and Anna Bereta attended the Blue Light Ball in the Talbot Hotel on Friday evening. Pic: Jim Campbell Thanking Wexford representatives Alicia Nolan and Fiona Dowling, Ms Keane said they are a huge part of what we do, we would be lost without them and their crew down here. I also want to thank the management of the social club in Wexford as well for organising this beautiful evening, because the way we see it every penny we get in goes out to the families where it is needed, where it's more practical. And what you are all doing here tonight at this event is you are wrapping your arms around the families that we look after, and that's what Little Blue Heroes is all about. Garda Supt Jarlath Duffy and Ziltha Duffy enjoyed the Blue Light Ball in the Talbot Hotel on Friday evening. Pic: Jim Campbell Mayor of Wexford, Cllr George Lawlor, discussed the impact of the Little Blue Heroes initiative in the county and paid particular praise to the local gardai for their contribution. Garda Supt Jarlath Duffy, Ziltha Duffy, Yvonne Treacy, Mayor Cllr George Lawlor, Eilis Casey and Garda Insp Paddy Casey were pictured at the Blue Light Ball in the Talbot Hotel on Friday evening. Pic: Jim Campbell I interact with the gardai on a regular basis, as would many of my political colleagues, and I have to say we're extremely lucky in Wexford to have this team on our force, he said. I was lucky enough to be heavily involved with the Fleadh Cheoil, and I saw first hand how wonderful the interactions were with An Garda Siochana and the people of Wexford, the people of Ireland, who travelled in their thousands, to be here. Richie and Aine Fitzgerald enjoyed the Blue Light Ball in the Talbot Hotel on Friday evening. Pic: Jim Campbell "I would like to pay tribute to Superintendent Jarlath Duffy who has shown great leadership during his time here. I remember, on one occasion, being out at 2 a.m. in the morning and seeing him patrolling the streets on the beat in Wexford; he is a tremendous leader of men and women, and we're very, very lucky to have him here in Wexford. And while the public perception of the guards can sometimes vary, Cllr Lawlor said the tendency to accentuate the negative should not detract from the work carried out by the local police force. At the Blue Light Ball in the Talbot Hotel on Friday evening were Mairead Cummings, Gillian Hayes, Nicola Cummings, Ciana Cummings, Ann Morrissey. Pic: Jim Campbell Garda members go through difficult times now and again, sometimes the public interactions are not what we would like them to be, but there is a tendency to accentuate the negative. For example, when we're knocking doors and canvassing, if we hit 100 doors, five might be bad. Those are the five doors that we focus on. "But I asked the guards in Wexford to reflect on the evening when they left their old station and travelled to the new station, and the fondness and affinity and affection that the people of Wexford showed to them that night as they marched to their new barracks has stayed with them. So, let's accentuate the positive. Consistently, the people of Wexford have tremendous admiration and gratitude for our garda here in Wexford, and long may that continue. A major new build at Kilbride, which will combine Arklows Gaelcholaiste na Mara and Gaelscoil an Inbhir Mhoir, has been approved to go out to tender. The plans for Gaelscoil an Inbhir Mhoir which was established in 1998 and operates, for the most part, out of a series of prefabs comprise a two-storey, 16-classroom primary school building, with two special needs rooms and ancillary spaces capable of accommodating more than 480 pupils. Gaelcholaiste na Mara plans include a three-storey school building with two special needs rooms and a PE hall aimed at serving more than 400 students. Initial discussion between the two schools, the Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board (KWETB), Wicklow County Council and the Department of Education began in 2017, with funding secured, a co-sharing campus site earmarked in Kilbride and planning permission granted by August 2022. There was widespread dismay when the project was put on hold last year when the Department of Education announced funding pressures had forced them to hit the pause button on 58 school building projects around Ireland. Welcoming the news, An Taoiseach Simon Harris said: I have had significant numbers of local residents, local representatives, and school staff from Arklow in touch. They have all raised the pressing need to see this new capital project make progress, and I am glad to be able to finally give the good news that this project is now beginning to move forward. I will continue to work with the Department of Education, local residents, and the teams at both Gaelscoil an Inbhir Mhoir and Gaelcholaiste na Mara to ensure we keep seeing real progress made. Fine Gael general election candidate for Wicklow-Wexford Brian Brennan added: This is hugely positive news for Arklow and the wider area. With Simon Harris as Taoiseach we have seen dozens of school projects being pushed forward to cater for the needs of parents with children going to school. Sinn Feins general election candidate for the same constituency, Fionntan O Suilleabhain, who is also a teacher at the Gaelscoil in Gorey, said the decision to allow the project to go out to tender was a demonstration that people power works. Speaking after meeting with the students and teachers at Thursdays pre-election hustings held in the Irish secondary school in Arklow, he added: I was delighted to be able to listen to the concerns of the students and teachers at todays event. A prefect, Dara Tansey, had told me that he remembered the sod turning ceremony for the proposed new school at Kilbride, Arklow when he was in infants. He is now of voting age. I'd like to give a big bualadh bos to the students, parents and staff for pushing the government into action after years of waiting. We now need to see shovels in the ground asap and allow these fantastic students to move from buildings which are well below the standard that they and their families and teachers deserve" Senator Malcolm Byrne, who will also contest the next general election in the Wicklow-Wexford constituency, stated: This is a very welcome development for both schools and its something I have raised with the Department and in the Seanad over the past year. It is now critical that the tender be awarded and that construction commence commences as soon as possible so students in both schools can enjoy state-of-the-art facilities. I also want to pay tribute to the principals, teachers, parents and students for all their work in getting the project this far. In 2023, McDonalds contributed 5.4 million to the local economy and supported 159 jobs in County Wicklow, according to new research. The McDonalds Ireland Social and Economic Impact Report highlighted that McDonalds supports 11,640 jobs across Ireland and contributed 414.6 million to the Irish economy in 2023. It also revealed its ambition to create 1,000 new jobs across Ireland over the next four years, marking a 40 million investment. Out of the 11,640 jobs that McDonalds supports in Ireland, 8,880 are directly employed by the company and its franchisees directly. McDonalds operates two restaurants in County Wicklow in Bray and Arklow. The economic data, which was provided by independent planning and development consultancy Lichfields, also found that, in 2023, McDonalds spent 241.7 million with Irish businesses within its supply chain. Furthermore, it recorded that over the last five years (2018-2023) the company invested 41.6 million in the expansion and improvement of its restaurant portfolio in Ireland, which includes new sites that were introduced to the market as well as restaurant refurbishments. McDonalds first revealed its Golden Arches in Ireland on Grafton Street, Dublin in 1977, and since then its Irish portfolio has grown to 95 restaurants, which are all owned and operated by 19 local franchisees. The company said it commissioned the independent economic report to understand the value McDonalds has added to the Irish economy and the impact it has had on local communities, employees, customers and suppliers over the last number of years. McDonalds UK&I chief executive Alistair Macrow said: We have become an important part of communities across Ireland, and Im delighted that, through the launch of our new Social and Economic Impact Report, we are able to demonstrate our ongoing commitment to supporting communities and growth in Ireland. Im also thrilled to announce a 40 million investment in our Irish restaurant estate, which, over the next four years, will lead to the creation of 1,000 additional jobs in Ireland. This is a moment to celebrate but also an opportunity to look ahead to whats next. The finale of Gavin and Stacey will see the BBC comedy series Christmas special take place five years on from the previous instalment. The hit TV series aired between 2007 and 2010 and returned in 2019 with a one-off festive episode that ended on a cliff-hanger when Vanessa Shanessa Nessa Jenkins (Ruth Jones) proposed to Neil Smithy Smith (James Corden). After sleeping together on-and-off, they had their son Baby Neil and began raising him between Wales and Essex. Gavin and Stacey stars pose for promotional material for the first season of the show (BBC/Baby Cow Productions/Neil Bennett/PA) Neil appeared aged 12, played by Oscar Hartland in the special five years ago. It has not yet been revealed whether Nessa and Smithy tied the knot. Teasing the return, the BBC shared an image of Mathew Horne and Joanna Page as Gavin Shipman and Stacey West, as well as Corden and Jones as their characters standing beside a wall, echoing the first season image. The corporation said that the 2024 Christmas special sees Gavin and Stacey looking for new ways to spice up their 17-year marriage, while Nessa begins a new business venture. It also sees Rob Brydon as Uncle Bryn getting his Citroen Xsara Picasso ready on Barry Island in Wales for a trip to Essex, as his sister-in-law Gwen West has been behaving most strangely, and Neil the Baby is set to start an apprenticeship with his dad. The BBC would not comment on whether the father referred to is Smithy. In Essex town Billericay, Gavins father Michael Mick Shipman (Larry Lamb) is upsetting his uptight wife Pamela Andrea Pam Shipman (Alison Steadman) as she is about to play hostess. There will also be continued marital problems for Peter Sutcliffe (Adrian Scarborough) and his wife, Dawn Sutcliffe (Julia Davis). Joanna Page, who plays Stacey Shipman (left) and Ruth Jones, who plays Nessa Jenkins (right) during filming for the Gavin and Stacey Christmas Day special (Ben Birchall/PA) The BBC also hinted it might solve one of the enduring mysteries on Gavin and Stacey. Join us on the journey to Barry and Billericay as we catch up with the Shipmans and the Wests for the very last time and maybe find out what exactly did happen on that fishing trip, the corporation said. Staceys uncle, Bryn and his nephew, Jason (Robert Wilfort), allude to the events of the fishing trip during the series, but all viewers know is that the two men were close before the incident and rarely spoke after it. The show was co-created by Corden and Jones, and the 90-minute special is written and executively produced by them. The 2019 festive episode won the impact award at the National Television Awards in 2020. It scored the highest overnight Christmas ratings in 12 years, attracting an average audience of 11.6 million viewers, making it the biggest festive special since Christmas Day 2008. By the new year, it had been viewed by 17.1 million people, making it the biggest scripted programme of the decade at the time. Jones went on to create and star in Sky One comedy drama Stella, while Corden fronted The Late Late Show on US TV. Gavin and Stacey: The Finale will air on Christmas Day on BBC One and iPlayer, with timings to be announced soon. Tensions rise as Vladimir Putin says Russia fired experimental ballistic missile at Ukraine Russian foreign ministry claims US anti-missile base in Poland is now a priority target Firefighters work at the site of a Russian missile strike in Dnipro, Ukraine. Photo: Reuters Alex Croft UK Independent Fri 22 Nov 2024 at 03:30 Vladimir Putin has claimed Moscow launched a new hypersonic ballistic missile against Ukraine in response for long-range strikes by Kyiv inside Russia using UK and US long-range missiles. Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Friday he would invite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to visit Hungary, saying he would guarantee that an International Criminal Court arrest warrant against Netanyahu would "not be observed". Smartphone producers in India faced criticism for dependency on imported components. (Image courtesy: Pixabay) New Delhi: India is set to introduce an incentive program worth up to $5 billion to encourage domestic manufacturing of components for gadgets such as mobile phones and laptops, media reports said. The move aims to strengthen the countrys electronics industry while reducing its reliance on imports from China, Reuters reported. Over the past six years, Indias electronics production has more than doubled, reaching $115 billion in 2024, driven largely by smartphone manufacturing from global giants like Apple and Samsung. India has now become the worlds fourth-largest smartphone producer. However, the industry has faced criticism for its dependency on imported components, particularly from China. Details of the incentive scheme The new scheme will offer incentives to companies producing key components like printed circuit boards, the Reuters report said, citing one of the officials it spoke to. The official notied that the initiative aims to enhance domestic value addition and develop local supply chains. The plan, spearheaded by the electronics ministry, is in its final stages and includes a list of eligible components. Officials expect the scheme to be launched in two to three months after final approval from the finance ministry. The total incentive amount is expected to range between $4 billion and $5 billion, available to both global and domestic firms that meet the qualifying criteria. Neither the electronics ministry nor the finance ministry has commented publicly on the scheme. Indias ambitious goals for electronics manufacturing The government has set an ambitious target to expand electronics manufacturing to $500 billion by 2030, including $150 billion worth of component production, according to Niti Aayog, Indias top policy think tank. In the fiscal year 2024, India imported electronics, telecom equipment, and electrical products worth $89.8 billion, with more than half coming from China and Hong Kong, data from the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) shows. Pankaj Mohindroo, head of the Cellular and Electronics Association of India, told Reuters that it is a good step. India needs to become more reliant on component manufacturing to achieve its goal of being a global hub of electronics production. This scheme comes at a critical time for promoting component manufacturing, which is essential to achieve global-scale electronics production, he told Reuters. By supporting local component manufacturing, the scheme is expected to position India as a stronger player in the global electronics supply chain while reducing its dependence on imports. Canada denies media report that claimed PM Narendra Modi knew of Nijjar's killing. Photo Courtesy: PIB The Canadian government on Friday rejected a media report that linked Indian PM Narendra Modi and his top officials to criminal activities in the country. PM Justin Trudeau-led government described the report as 'both speculative and inaccurate'. The Canadian government issued the statement after Globe and Mail claimed in its report that the country's security agencies believe Modi knew about the killing of a Sikh separatist leader (Hardeep Singh Nijjar) in British Columbia and other violent plots. In a statement issued on Friday, national security and intelligence advisor to the Canadian prime minister Nathalie G Drouin said, "On October 14th, because of a significant and ongoing threat to public safety, the RCMP and officials took the extraordinary step of making public accusations of serious criminal activity in Canada perpetrated by agents of the Government of India." "The Government of Canada has not stated, nor is it aware of evidence, linking Prime Minister Modi, Minister Jaishankar, or NSA Doval to the serious criminal activity within Canada," the statement said. Quoting a senior national-security official, Globe and Mail reported that Canadian and American intelligence tied the assassination operations to Home Affairs Minister Amit Shah. Also in the loop, the official told the newspaper, was Modis trusted national-security adviser Ajit Doval and External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. While Canada does not have direct evidence that Modi knew, the official told the newspaper that the assessment is that it would be unthinkable that three senior political figures in India would not have discussed the targeted killings with Modi before proceeding. India responds sharply Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on Wednesday called the newspaper report as 'smear campaign'. "Such ludicrous statements made to a newspaper purportedly by a Canadian government source should be dismissed with the contempt they deserve," Jaiswal said in a statement. "Smear campaigns like this only further damage our already strained ties," he said. India-Canada standoff over Khalistani row A recent standoff between New Delhi and Ottawa was triggered after Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused Indian officials of being involved in the killing of Nijjar. India had expelled six Canadian diplomats and asked them to leave the country last month after Ottawa said it was investigating the Indian ambassador and other diplomats as "persons of interest" in connection with the killing of a Sikh separatist leader last year. Canada too asked six Indian diplomats to leave the country alleging that its police reportedly got hold of evidence that they claimed to be a part of an Indian government "campaign of violence". The Indian government had also decided to withdraw its High Commissioner in Canada after Ottawa's accusations which the Modi government called an act of "vote bank politics". However later in a statement which leaves India vindicated, Trudeau had said he had no "hard evidentiary proof" to back his claims that India government officials were involved in Nijjar's killing. Starmar's announcement on FTA comes after his meeting with PM Modi during G20 meet in Brazil. (Image courtesy: Narendra Modi Xpage) London: Negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the UK and India, expected to significantly enhance the current GBP 42 billion annual bilateral trade relationship, will resume early next year, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in his countrys Parliament. The announcement followed Starmer's statement to the House of Commons on Thursday, where he briefed MPs on his participation in the G20 Summit in Brazil, PTI reported During the summit, he had a good discussion with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, resulting in an agreement to resume the election-stalled FTA talks. Renewing a comprehensive strategic partnership Highlighting the discussions with Modi, Starmer said: "I had a good discussion with Prime Minister Modi about deepening our bilateral ties. We agreed to raise the ambition of our UK-India comprehensive strategic partnership, covering security, defence, technology, climate, health, and education, building on the unique bonds and cultural ties between our two countries." He emphasized that trade and investment would form the foundation of this renewed partnership, adding, "I am pleased to say that we agreed to relaunch Free Trade Agreement negotiations early in the new year." The talks, which began in January 2022, had reached the 14th round before pausing due to general elections in both countries. They will now resume under Starmer's Labour-led administration, which has taken over from the previous Conservative government. Economic impact and opportunities Speaking at the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Starmer underlined the economic importance of the FTA: "Boosting economic growth is key to improving living standards for working people. A new trade deal with India will support jobs and prosperity in the UKand represent a step forward in our mission to deliver growth and opportunity across our country." Jonathan Reynolds, the UKs Business and Trade Secretary, echoed the sentiment, calling India a vital trading partner. He added, India is the fifth-largest economy in the world, and we believe there is a good deal to be done here that works for both nations. Progress and next steps According to the UK India Business Council (UKIBC), a significant number of FTA chapters have already been discussed during the 13 rounds of negotiations, said the report. Indias Commerce and Industry Ministry stated that discussions would resume from the progress already achieved, aiming to bridge remaining gaps and conclude the deal expeditiously. In the UK, the Department for Business and Trade is set to launch a new Trade Strategy aligned with its Industrial Strategy, focusing on sustainable, inclusive, and resilient growth through trade. The resumption of FTA negotiations signals renewed momentum for deeper economic ties between the two nations, with both governments expressing optimism about achieving a mutually beneficial agreement. Maestro in Blue lead actors Christoforos Papakaliatis and Klelia Andriolatou | Photo courtesy: Klelia Andriolatou Instagram handle Greek web series Maestro in Blue, which had a successful run on Netflix, is set for a return with its third season in December. Quite contrary to its previous seasons, the series will have only four episodes in the third edition. The first episode of the series will be launched exclusively on MEGA on December 2. The other three will be launched consecutively on MEGA on December 3, 4 and 5. Maestro in Blue, which is the first Greek series to be streamed on Netflix, will be available on the digital platform in Greece and Cyprus from December 3. The web show will be streaming on Netflix worldwide from December 28. The series begins with a troubled musician- named Orestis- visiting the island of Paxos to organise a local music festival. Orestis meets Klelia, a 19-year-old girl with whom he falls in love. As a murder takes place, Orestis' journey in Paxos turns complicated with the uncovering of multiple social issues like homophobia, domestic abuse and corruption in the island. Christoforos Papakaliatis and Klelia Andriolatou played the protagonists, the musician and his love interest. When asked about whether a fourth season is in the plans, Christoforos, who is also the writer and director of the show, said he now desires to get some rest but he is open to a new season, reported tovima.com. When life gives you lemons, AR Rahman makes musicand wins awards! Just one day after announcing his separation from wife Saira Banu after 29 years of marriage, the maestro proved his resilience by clinching a major win at the 2024 Hollywood Music in Media Awards (HMMA). AR Rahman's first post after divorce Rahman won in the Score Independent Film (Foreign Language) category for his soul-stirring work in the Malayalam film The Goat Life (Aadujeevitham). The prestigious ceremony took place at the Avalon Theatre in Los Angeles on November 20, where the film's director, Blessy, graciously accepted the award on Rahman's behalf. Sharing the news on X (formerly Twitter), Rahman posted the simple yet impactful announcement of his achievement, leaving fans celebrating his triumph. Score Independent Film (Foreign Language) The Goat Life A. R. Rahmanhttps://t.co/835qBtzD01 A.R.Rahman (@arrahman) November 21, 2024 This landmark win is especially significant for Malayalam cinema, as The Goat Life has set a new standard with its music. The track Periyone, sung by Jithin Raj, has become a fan favorite, cementing the film's position as a game-changer in Indian music. Starring Prithviraj Sukumaran, the movie also marked Rahman's triumphant return to Malayalam cinema. AR Rahman's divorce However, Rahman's personal life recently took a turn. Addressing his separation, the composer shared a poetic yet emotional note on X, reflecting on the end of his nearly three-decade-long marriage. Through heartfelt metaphors, he expressed the pain of broken bonds and requested privacy for his family as they navigate this delicate phase. Rahman's children, Khatija, AR Ameen, and Raheema, echoed similar sentiments on Instagram, emphasizing their need for space. We had hoped to reach the grand thirty, but all things, it seems, carry an unseen end. Even the throne of God might tremble at the weight of broken hearts. Yet, in this shattering, we seek meaning, though the pieces may not find their place again. To our friends, thank you for A.R.Rahman (@arrahman) November 19, 2024 Vandana Shah, Rahman's lawyer, also confirmed that the couple's decision to part ways was mutual and thoughtful, with financial discussions yet to take place. Calling the marriage genuine, Shah affirmed the split was anything but trivial. Even amidst the emotional storm, Rahman's ability to create, innovate, and excel in his craft remains undeterred. Fans continue to admire his talent and resilience, proving once again that when one chapter closes, another often shines brighter. For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment. Nayanthara, one of the biggest names in the Tamil film industry, recently made headlines when she hit out at Dhanush for not letting her use footage from Naanum Rowdy Dhaan (2015) in a Netflix documentary about her life. Now, just days after the controversy, Nayan and the National Award-winner are in the limelight again. The two recently attended a wedding but avoided interacting with each other. Nayanthara, Dhanush attend a wedding amid feud Producer Aakash Bhaskaran's wedding proved to be a star-studded affair with some big names from the industry in attendance. Dhanush and Nayanthara attended the function and wished the producer on his big day. However, the actors avoided interacting with each other. Going by a video which has now gone viral, the stars were in the front but on opposite sides. They consciously avoided acknowledging each other's presence. 'Thalaivi' chatted with a guest. The Maari star, on the other hand, enjoyed the ceremony. This comes days after Nayanthara slammed Dhanush for not letting her use footage from Naanum Rowdy Thaan in Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairytale, a documentary about her life. She also revealed that he sent her a legal notice for using footage from Naanum Rowdy Dhaan, which he produced under Wunderbar Films, in her documentary without getting his approval. Nayanthara went on to accuse him of behaving like a 'tyrant' and harboring ill feelings towards the film. In case you did not know, Nayanthatra and director Vignesh Shivan fell in love during the shoot of Naanum Rowdy Dhaan (2015) They eventually tied the knot in 2022. Moreover, the film received rave reviews and proved to be a game changer for the 'Lady Superstar'. Busy time for Dhanush and Nayanthara. Nayanthara, meanwhile, is going through an exciting phase on the work front. The Jawan star will soon be seen in The Test, co-starring Madhavan and Siddharth. She also has the eagerly-awaited Mookuthi Amman 2, directed by Sundar C, in her kitty. Dhanush, on the other hand, is set to woo the audience with Kubera, which has been shot simultaneously in Telugu and Tamil. The film features Rashmika Mandanna as the leading lady. The cast also includes Nagarjuna and Made in Heaven actor Jim Sarbh. For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment. Canada has rejected reports by some Canadian media outlets linking Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval to criminal activities in the country. Nathalie G. Drouin, the Deputy Clerk of the Privy Council and National Security and Intelligence Advisor to the Prime Minister of Canada, stated that any such suggestions are speculative and inaccurate. CREDIT: REUTERS What Canadian government said On October 14th, because of a significant and ongoing threat to public safety, the RCMP and officials took the extraordinary step of making public accusations of serious criminal activity in Canada perpetrated by agents of the Government of India. The Government of Canada has not stated, nor is it aware of evidence, linking Prime Minister Modi, Minister Jaishankar, or NSA Doval to the serious criminal activity within Canada," Drouin said in a statement. CREDIT: Unsplash Canadian media report sparks outrage Earlier, Canadian media outlet The Globe and Mail, citing unnamed Canadian officials, had reported that Canadian and American intelligence agencies had found links to Indian Home Minister Amit Shah to the killing of Nijjar in June 2023. The report further claimed that National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar were part of the discussion. It even implied that PM Modi could have been aware of the matter while claiming that there was no direct evidence for the same. India on Wednesday responded to the report, calling it ludicrous and a smear campaign. CREDIT: REUTERS Hardeep Singh Nijjar murder For more than a year, the Justin Trudeau government has accused 'agents of the Indian government' of carrying out the murder of Nijjar. Canada has further accused the Indian government of working with criminal gangs in the country and targeting Canadian Sikhs. Last month, The Globe and Mail reported that Drouin and Canadian Deputy Minister David Morrison had shared sensitive information with The Washington Post about alleged Indian interference in the country. For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News. Amid the ongoing diplomatic tensions, Canada has said that the recently announced 'extra screening measures for travellers to India' have been lifted. Canadian Minister of Transport Anita Anand said the measures were "out of an abundance of caution" and have been lifted. No extra screening for passengers to India Earlier, on Monday, Anand had said that her ministry would temporarily implement additional security screening for travellers to India. CREDIT: REUTERS According to a Canadian government official who spoke to CBC News, the additional measures would be conducted by the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA), the agency responsible for screening passengers and their baggage before they enter restricted areas in airports. Why was extra screening lifted While the reason for the change in policy has not been revealed, some Canadian media reports and claims on social media stated that the additional security screening had resulted in many travellers experiencing longer wait times at airports. Why was extra screening announced Notably, Canadian authorities had also not explained the reason for the extra screening measures for travellers to India. However, over the past year, bilateral ties have been at an all-time low. Last month, Khalistani separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun had warned Sikhs against flying on Air India flights from November 1-19. CREDIT: Unsplash Air India flight 182 bombing Decades ago, Canada was also the victim of one of the worst terror attacks in history when Khalistani terrorists blew up Air India Flight 182 mid-air while it was on its way from Montreal to Mumbai. All 329 onboard, including passengers and crew members, lost their lives in the terror attack carried out by Babbar Khalsa on 23 June 1985. The majority of those killed were Canadian citizens of Indian origin. India-Canada row over Khalistan India has long accused Canada of harbouring Khalistani terrorists, including those responsible for the Air India Kanishka bombing, for which only one person, Inderjit Singh Reyat, was ever convicted. For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News. VV Vaageesan, an engineering student from Chennai, has filed a legal complaint against the producers of Amaran after receiving a flood of persistent calls from fans of Sai Pallavi. Here's the full story behind the controversy. It all began when VV Vaageesan's phone number was mistakenly featured in the film, leading to an overwhelming number of calls from Sai Pallavi's fans. The student, who is seeking a hefty compensation of Rs 1.1 crore, claims that his personal number was shown in a romantic scene where Sai Pallavi's character tosses a crumpled note with her mobile number to Sivakarthikeyan's character. Vaageesan argues that the number used in the scene is actually his, and it is linked to important personal accounts such as his Aadhar card and bank statements, making it nearly impossible for him to change. Following the film's release on October 31, the student was bombarded with relentless calls while celebrating Diwali with his family, all asking to speak to Sai. Initially unaware of the cause, he soon realised the connection when the volume of calls surged, and upon investigation, discovered that his number was the one used in the film. In his attempts to resolve the issue, Vaageesan initially reached out via social media, tagging the film's director Rajkumar Periyasamy and lead actor Sivakarthikeyan, but his requests went unacknowledged. Frustrated and disturbed by the constant interruptions to his daily life, Vaageesan is now suing for mental anguish and demanding that his number be removed from the film. The Hindu reported that the ongoing disturbances have severely affected the student's ability to sleep, study, and even perform simple tasks, prompting his decision to seek compensation and a swift resolution. To stay updated on the stories that are going viral, follow Indiatimes Trending. When Guinness World Records Day celebrated its 20th anniversary, the world witnessed a truly unique and heartwarming moment: the worlds tallest woman, Rumeysa Gelgi, and the worlds shortest woman, Jyoti Amge, met for afternoon tea at the luxurious Savoy hotel in London. A pairing like no other, these two extraordinary women shared a candid and joyful moment that showcased the true essence of Guinness World Recordscelebrating differences. World's shortest woman Jyoti Amge met world's tallest woman Rumeysa Gelgi Rumeysa Gelgi, standing tall at a remarkable 7ft 1in (215.16cm), is not just a record-holder but an inspiration. Diagnosed with Weaver syndrome, a rare condition that causes accelerated growth and skeletal deformities, she has spent most of her life navigating physical challenges. Despite this, she uses a wheelchair and only stands with the help of a walker, yet she refuses to let her condition hold her back from living her life to the fullest. On the other hand, Jyoti Amge, an actress who portrayed Ma Petite in American Horror Story, holds the title of the worlds shortest woman at 2ft 1in (62.8cm), a title she earned due to her form of dwarfism called achondroplasia. Though she is used to looking up to others, her joy was palpable when she met Rumeysa, the woman towering over her. Guinness World Record holders The two women bonded over their shared love for self-care, makeup, and nails. Despite the towering height difference, they found common ground in these simple pleasures of life. Rumeysa shared that she had never imagined meeting someone so different but was thrilled to connect with Jyoti. Their conversations were filled with warmth and mutual admiration, breaking barriers and showcasing that its the heart that truly matters, no matter your height. Jyoti, whos used to gazing up at the world, was elated to meet someone who not only shared her record-breaking journey but made her feel seen and understood. She expressed her delight at the meeting, saying she was happy to finally look up and meet the worlds tallest woman. Well, together, they are symbols of empowerment, showing that lifes true measure isnt about height but about strength, kindness, and the ability to embrace differences. Both women are honoured as Guinness World Record icons in the 70th anniversary edition, alongside other inspiring individuals like Diana Armstrong and Sultan Kosen. Craig Glenday, editor-in-chief of Guinness World Records, summed it up perfectly, saying that the spirit of Guinness World Records is about celebrating differences, and this historic meeting is a perfect example of just that. To stay updated on the stories that are going viral follow Indiatimes Trending. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis participated on Friday in the European People's Party Youth Conference, titled "Securing Europe's Future: Overcoming Challenges." The event, held in Athens, was organised in collaboration with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation for Greece and Cyprus, the Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies and hosted by the Youth Organisation of the New Democracy (ONNED). Mitsotakis highlighted his government's focus on fulfilling its promises, with job creationparticularly for young peopleat the forefront. He noted that since New Democracy assumed office, more than 500,000 jobs have been created, while unemployment has fallen from 17.5 percent to below 10 percent. Additionally, he emphasized efforts to reverse Greeces brain drain, with 300,000 young Greeks returning from abroad during his tenure. "We achieved this while maintaining fiscal discipline, resisting the temptation to overspend," he said. Addressing broader challenges, Mitsotakis urged young attendees to review the Draghi Report's summary and underscored the importance of European self-reliance in security. He also added that if you look at the challenges related to security and defence, especially after Donald Trump's re-election in the United States, Europe for many decades had become complacent in terms of taking care of its own security. He also added that "we had effectively ceded the safeguarding of our security to the United States". He stressed the need to ensure that farmers are not overburdened or, for example, that consumers are not forced, for example, to change their cars and buy more expensive electric cars when they cannot afford to do so. Mitsotakis also discussed the transformative role of artificial intelligence, advocating for open dialogue with the next generation to address their concerns and shape effective policies. iefimerida.gr Barely few days after criticizing President Tinubus led government, the Arewa Consultative Forum on Thursday, suspended its Chairman, Mamman Osuman. Recall that Mr. Osuman had earlier condemned Tinubus policies, saying it had impoverished the North Region. The groups Chairman tasked Federal Government to review its economic policies considering the current hardships Nigerians are facing. Advertisement He said: I do admit that some policies of the current administration are repugnant and adverse to our interests as a region. Reacting to the development on Thursday, ACF, in a statement by its Secretary-General, Murtala Aliyu, suspended Mr. Osuman. ACF said: The attention of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has been drawn to widely reported statements credited to Mr. Mamman Mike Osuman, SAN, OFR, Chairman, ACF National Executive Committee, which were made during the meeting of the NEC, held on Wednesday, November, 2024, at ACF Headquarters, Kaduna READ MORE: Northern Group Laments Economic Hardship, Says Tinubu Paying No Attention To Regions Plights In particular, Mr. Osuman was quoted as saying that the North will back a northern candidate for the Presidency, come 2027. The statements were made by the NEC chairman without consulting or discussing with other leaders and members of the ACF and thus, reflected Mr. Osumans personal opinion only. ACF rejects Mr. Mamman Mike Osumans statements in their entirety. For this reason, the leadership of the ACFs Board of Trustees (BOT) and that of its NEC has decided to place Mr. Mamman Mike Osuman on suspension with immediate effect. A committee has been constituted for further investigations. The Nigerian Army has expressed satisfaction over the arrest and detention of the self-proclaimed leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Simon Ekpa, in Finland. On Thursday, Finnish law enforcement apprehended Ekpa, who was subsequently detained by the Paijat-Hame District Court on probable cause for incitement to commit crimes with terrorist intent. According to the Finnish National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Ekpa allegedly used his leadership position to promote violent actions against civilians and authorities in South Eastern Nigeria, coordinating efforts from Finland through social media. Advertisement Reacting, Nigerias Director of Defence Information, Tukur Gusau, stated that Chief of Defence Staff Christopher Musa welcomed Ekpas arrest, hoping it would pave the way for his extradition to face justice. READ ALSO: Alleged Terrorism: Simon Ekpas Arrest Is Big Relief To South East Ohanaeze We are delighted about his arrest and glad that the international community is partnering with Nigeria in our fight against terrorism, added Director of Defence Media Operations Edward Buba. Ekpa, a Finnish citizen, has previously faced detention for suspected fundraising fraud and advocated for election boycotts and violence in Nigeria. He represents Finlands National Coalition Party in local roles and serves on Lahtis public transport committee. IPOB is a separatist group seeking an independent state in southeastern Nigeria. The Nasarawa State Police Command has disclosed that three people were killed in a conflict between farmers and herders. Commissioner of Police, Umar Nadada, while briefing journalists in Lafia on Thursday, said the clash occurred in the Dogon Duste community, located between Nasarawa and Toto Local Government Areas. The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) received a report that there was a clash between farmers and herders on Monday, at about 4:30 pm. Advertisement On reaching there, it was discovered that two people were killed in the farm while four others injured were rushed to a Primary Healthcare for treatment, he said. He stated that the police later discovered one more corpse in the jungle during a search operation, increasing the total number of deaths to three. READ MORE: Stray Bullet Kills Bystander During Scuffle Between Soldier, Police In Ebonyi The commissioner stated that normalcy had returned to the region, and that the police will investigate the situation. He stated that the police are working with the community to apprehend individuals involved for the act and guarantee that they face the consequences. The police boss asked communities to continue to increase coordination with security authorities in order to ensure long-term security improvements in the state. Mr Nadada pointed out that the preservation of life and property was a joint responsibility, thus all communities must unite with the command to address security concerns. We have already developed an action plan that revolves around collaborative policing after a careful study of the trend of the crime pattern in the state, he said. The commissioner stated that the command had made tremendous headway in its fight against insecurity in the state. He stated that partnership with members of the public had helped to reduce insecurity and called for its continuation. The state is adjudged to be one of the most peaceful in the country because of the collaborative strategy with the communities, and the support from the state government, he said. (NAN). President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said that Nigerians are now seeing the positive results of his administration economic reforms. INFORMATION NIGERIA reports that Tinubus statement is coming, amid economic hardship facing the country due to removal of fuel subsidy and floating of naira. Receiving the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, Kristalina Georgieva, at the G20 Leaders Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Thursday, the President assured that his administration will continue prioritise welfare of the poor. Advertisement READ MORE: Northern Group Laments Economic Hardship, Says Tinubu Paying No Attention To Regions Plights Tinubu who admitted that the reform had weakened Nigerians purchasing power, noted that his government will continue to provide social safety nets to cushion the unintended consequences. He said: We have started seeing positive results from our reforms, and the Nigerian people now understand the need for them, but we have to reduce the hardship that has resulted from the implementation. We are engaging stakeholders and sensitising Nigerians to expand the economys tax base for inclusive developmental growth. We are doing this without necessarily increasing the taxes on our people who have already given a lot. We will require your support on this. We have too many children out of school, and we know that education is a way out of hunger and poverty. That is why we are designing ways and incentives to keep these children in school, and we need your support for these kids who want to stay in school. Operatives of Hisbah police in Jigawa State, has seized 78 cartons of assorted alcoholic drinks in Kazaure Local Government Area of the state. This was disclosed on Thursday by Commandant of the board, Ibrahim Dahiru while addressing newsmen. Mr. Dahiru noted that sale and consumption of alcohol remain prohibited in Jigawa. Advertisement He added that the move was part of the state governments commitment to reform the board and reduce social vices in the state. He said that the alcohol was seized at three beer parlours during an early morning raid in the area. READ MORE: Hisbah Official Admits Mistake, Clears Jigawa Commissioner Over Adultery Allegation Mr. Dahiru said: Our operatives raided three bars in Kazaure town in Kazaure Local Government Area, where they succeeded in seizing 78 cartons of assorted beer. The commandant added that no arrest was made during the operation, as suspected owners fled before the arrival of the Hisbah personnel. However, no arrest was made during the operation as suspected owners and users took to their heels on sighting our men. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, and Mohammed Al-Masri, leader of the Al Qassem Brigades. The warrants were announced in a statement on Thursday, with the ICC citing reasonable grounds to believe that Netanyahu and Gallant bear criminal responsibility for war crimes and crimes against humanity. The ICC statement said the arrest warrants were initially classified as secret to protect witnesses and safeguard the conduct of the investigations. However, the chamber decided to release the information, stating that conduct similar to that addressed in the warrant of arrest appears to be ongoing. Advertisement READ ALSO: ICC Prosecutor Seeks Investigation Into Abduction Of Nigerian Schoolchildrensj Netanyahu and Gallant are accused of starvation as a method of warfare, murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts, as co-perpetrators. The chamber also found reasonable grounds to believe that they acted as civilian superiors and intentionally directed attacks against a civilian population. Israeli President, Isaac Herzog condemned the ICCs decision, calling it outrageous and stating that the ICC had turned universal justice into a universal laughingstock. The ICC also issued an arrest warrant for Al-Masri, who is accused of murder, extermination, torture, taking hostages, cruel treatment, rape, and other forms of sexual violence. Hamas welcomed the warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant, saying it constitutes an important historical precedent and a correction to a long path of historical injustice against our people. The White House rejected the ICCs decision, stating that the United States, Israels strongest ally, does not support the move. The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has distanced itself from Simon Ekpa, the self-acclaimed Prime Minister of Biafra Government in Exile (BRGIE), who was recently arrested in Finland over terror-related activities. Finnish Police arrested Ekpa on suspicion of public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent, while four others were arrested for financing a terrorist crime. According to the Finnish Police, Ekpa promoted his efforts from Finland, leading to violence against civilians and authorities in South-Eastern Nigeria. In a Friday statement, IPOBs spokesman, Emma Powerful, accused Ekpa of recruiting violent criminals to destabilize the South East Region. Advertisement Powerful noted that Ekpa created a violent group known as the Biafra Liberation Army, which has perpetrated various violent acts against civilians in the Eastern Region. IPOB disowned Ekpa, stating that he is not a registered member of the organization. Simon Ekpa has never been a member of the global IPOB family movement. IPOB is a peaceful global movement that has never taken to violence or arms struggle in two decades of our self-determination struggle, the statement read. READ ALSO: Alleged Terrorism: Simon Ekpas Arrest Is Big Relief To South East Ohanaeze The statement further accused Ekpa of being a destructive agent paid to infiltrate and destroy the IPOB peaceful movement for Biafra self-determination. IPOB called on BBC News and Finnish Authorities to note that Ekpa has no relationship with IPOB and should not be associated with the organization. The statement added, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu established IPOB as a peaceful movement to seek Biafra Independence via a supervised UN referendum. IPOB is a peaceful global movement that has never taken to violence or arms struggle in two decades of our self-determination struggle. Even though the various some regimes in Nigeria have provoked us, we have remained resolutely peaceful. It was unfortunate that some innocent Biafrans being passionate for the restoration of the stolen sovereignty of the Biafran Nation, thought that Simon Ekpa was genuinely sympathetic to the Biafra course. Sadly, they had to learn the hard way that he was a destructive agent paid to infiltrate and destroy the IPOB peaceful movement for Biafra self-determination. His (BRGIE) group and the Nigerian Army are responsible for many kidnappings, rapes, forceful disappearances, killings, and burning of homes in the South Eastern region. Undoubtedly, Simon Ekpa has claimed responsibility for the violent actions of his criminal gang. IPOB is by this press release calling on BBC News and Finnish Authorities to note that Simon Ekpa has never and does not have any relationship whatsoever with IPOB in Finland or any other unit globally. However, for every crime, there is a day of reckoning. On the purported arrest of Simon Ekpa, all IPOB members, Biafrans and lovers of Biafra freedom should remain calm and focused on our core objective which is the restoration of the sovereign state of Biafra. The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Ogun State Command, has arrested eight teenagers in Ijebu-Mushin, Ijebu East Local Government Area, Ogun State. The teenagers were taken into custody on charges of conspiracy, sexual abuse, and illicit sexual intercourse with a 14-year-old girl. The individuals under suspicion are Matthew Omotayo, 17, Mojeeb Solomon, 16, Olamilekan Adefuye, 18, Damilola Ismail, 19, Emmanuel George, 17, Aborisade Ayomide, 17, Paul Chukwuchebe, 19, and Lateef Adeoye, 16. Advertisement The arrest was detailed in a statement by Dyke Ogbonnaya, the Commands Public Relations Officer, on Thursday. Ogbonnaya who said the incident happened on Friday, explained that the suspects allegedly assaulted and gang-raped the minor while permanently taping the incident for possible blackmail. He said the crime violated sections 32 and 33 of Ogun States Child Rights Law 2006. He stated that the suspects, who admitted to being students of St. Anthony Grammar School in Esure, Ijebu-Mushin, Ijebu East Local Government Area, took the teenager without her consent to a private room where they violently raped her and recorded the incident on video. READ MORE: Zamfara Police Arrest Algerian National For Transborder Arms Trafficking He said, According to the teenager, she was sexually abused the first time and was recorded and the alleged suspects threatened to upload the video on social media if she did not allow them to have her again which she also consented to until she resolved to report the matter to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Divisional Office at Ijebu-Mushin, Ogun State. Ogbonnaya stated that based on the information, two of the suspects were apprehended, which led to the tracking and arrest of the other members of the gang. He stated that after obtaining the teenagers mothers approval, she was made to undergo a medical procedure at the Sexual Assault Referral Centre, SARC, at the Olabisi Onabajo University Teaching Hospital in Sagamu. The spokesperson revealed that the investigations findings led to the State Commands legal officer requesting a remand order through the magistrate court in Ijebu-Mushin, Ogun State. The Magistrate approved the request of the Civil Defence legal officer to hold the suspects in custody for 60 days while awaiting advice from the Department of Public Prosecution. The case was then adjourned until January 20, 2025. Meanwhile, Remilekun Omolade Ekundayo, the State Commandant, asserted that the Corps will take a strong stance against any abuse of a girl child, regardless of whether it is perpetrated by peers, caregivers, guardians, or parents. She emphasised that anyone found guilty of such heinous acts will face serious consequences under the law. A hit-and-run accident on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressways Lenuwa Village corridor has claimed the life of a female passenger, whose identity has not yet been established. The accident occurred at approximately 6:17 p.m. on Wednesday and involved a fully loaded Toyota Hiace bus with the plate number BOJ716XF and an unidentifiable truck. The passenger bus, traveling from Lagos State to Ibadan, reportedly collided with an unidentified truck that sped onto the expressway from a nearby trailer park without checking for oncoming vehicles. Advertisement The Ogun State Police Command spokesperson, Omolola Odutola, confirmed the incident to PUNCH Metro on Thursday, stating that the truck driver fled the scene after the crash, which left several bus passengers injured. Due to the seriousness of the incident, the victims were swiftly transported to a local hospital, where a doctor on duty pronounced one of the female passengers dead. READ MORE: Zamfara Police Arrest Algerian National For Transborder Arms Trafficking The spokesperson added that the surviving victims were being treated while the deceaseds body was being sent to the mortuary. Odutola stated, The passengers sustained severe injuries and were taken to Idera Private Hospital in Sagamu, where the doctor on duty pronounced one of the female passengers dead on arrival. The address of the deceased is not yet known. The body has been removed and placed in the hospital mortuary. One out of five deaths from malaria globally occurs in Nigeria, the Media and communications specialist of the Global Fund project of the Society for Family Health (SFH), Daniel Gbue, has disclosed. Quoting different world statistics on malaria prevalence in Nigeria, Gbue also said the disease kills nine persons every hour in Nigeria. He spoke in Abeokuta, Ogun State, at a one-day media orientation for practising journalists across the state on the ITN universal coverage campaign. Gbue said: It (malaria) is the commonest cause of absenteeism from schools, offices, farms, markets, etc resulting to lower productivity. In addition to the overburden on health system it also exerts a huge social and economic burden on our communities and country, retarding the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 40% annually and billions of Naira is lost to malaria annually in form of treatment cost, prevention and loss of man hours. He called on media practitioners to propagate anti-malaria campaign by promoting use of treated nets in order to help reduce the disease across the country. The Project Director of the SFH, John Ocholi, said the body will be distributing 3.1million long lasting insecticide treated nets to residents of Ogun State, as part of the efforts to combat malaria in Nigeria. He said the programme is being carried out in collaboration with the state government, the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP), the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and other partners. Ocholi explained that the distribution is aimed at reducing malaria prevalence in the country by encouraging regular use of treated nets in all households. The Project Director insisted that a malaria free Nigeria is attainable, saying the country is on track. He, however, expressed concern over low utilisation of treated nets by the households especially in Ogun State. Ogun State has one of the least percentage of net utilization in the world , its somewhere around 30% and net ownership is about 60-70%. So, we also want to encourage people to use the net. We are begging people once you get this net, air it for 24hrs after that, put it over the sleeping space and sleep inside it every night. If we save money from buying drugs we can use it in other things like education, transportation, feeding and others. And thats why we say health is wealth, it helps you to do other things, Ocholi said. Ocholi disclosed that the team will be working with 14,000 personnel to distribute the nets from 1,400 distribution points across the state between October 31 and November 6. The Malaria Program Manager for Ogun State, Mrs Olamide Adeyinka, disclosed has embarked on an interpersonal sensitization to improve on net utilisation. We are having alot of community mobilization. We have CSOs ( Civil society Organisations ) who are working in the community to make people see reasons why they need to use the net correctly. In 10 local governments, we are doing what we call inter personal communication, where people move from house to house talking to them one on one so as to ascertain the reasons for not using it and advise them on the advantage of using it, she said. Beneath the soil of some countries lies immense natural resources that fuel global economies, power industries, and shape geopolitics. From vast oil reserves to coveted rare earth minerals, the wealth of these countries transcends traditional currency. But which nations top the list, and what makes their natural treasures so valuable? Heres a closer look at the 10 countries with the most valuable natural resources: Advertisement Russia Russia has a remarkable $75.7 trillion in natural resources like coal, oil, gas, gold, and lumber. Russia also provides one-fifth of the worlds timber and is a global leader in gold reserves. Other natural resources include iron ore, manganese, chromium, nickel, platinum, and titanium. It is the worlds second-largest producer of oil and the worlds largest producer of natural gas. The countrys natural resources contribute an overwhelming 95.7% to its national wealth, with oil and gas leading the charge. United States With an astounding $45 trillion in natural resources, the United States is one of the countries with the most natural resources. The United States has an abundance of natural resources like minerals, energy, coal, copper, lead, iron, natural gas, lumber, bauxite, uranium, and forest resources. These Natural resources have played an important role in the United States economic and technical development. Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabias natural resources include natural gas, iron ore, gold, copper, and about 17% of the worlds total petroleum reserves valued at $34.4 trillion, about 240 trillion cubic feet. In addition to energy, Saudi Arabia has abundant mineral resources, including niobium, feldspar, gypsum, salt, mica, sulfur, and tantalum. Canada Canada has 178.1 billion barrels of oil reserves, which is the second-largest amount in the world after Saudi Arabia and represents 17.8% of total oil reserves in the world with the total of its natural resource reserves worth a total of $33.2 trillion. Canada also has the second-largest uranium deposits, the third-largest lumber output rate, and possesses enormous phosphate reserves. READ MORE: Progressive Global Energy & Natural Resources: Operations Manager Drilling Iran Irans natural resources are valued at almost $27.3 trillion in total, and it has 16% of the natural gas deposits in the world. There currently as over 136.2 billion barrels of oil reserves in the nation, which is more than 10% of the worlds total oil reserves. Other mineral resources of Iran are coal, oil, gas, lead, manganese, zinc, sulfur, chrome, copper, and iron ore. According to reports, Iran has started exploring the vast South Pars gas field in an attempt to find fresh deposits. China China has $23 trillion in total reserves and thirteen percent of the worlds total coal reserves are found in Chinas entire coal deposits. Recently, shale gas reservoirs were found in the nation, which will increase the amount of money generated there. China is also the worlds third-largest producer of iron ore and has substantial natural gas and oil deposits, magnesium, bauxite, diamonds, gold, lead, mercury, and phosphate rock. Brazil Brazil is known as the nation with the highest exporter of Timber worth $17.45 trillion, nearly 12.3% of the $17.45 trillion, and its whole natural resource base is valued at almost $21.8 trillion. Also, Brazil has other natural resources like gold, diamonds, bauxite, iron, tin, and platinum. The nation is ranked number one for tantalite and niobium, second for kaolin and graphite, and third for talc, vermiculite, and aluminum reserves. Australia Australias vast coal, copper, wood, and iron reserves make it number eight among the 10 countries with the most valuable natural resources. Australia contributes 14.3% of the worlds gold output and 46% of the worlds uranium supply. The country has plenty of gold, coal, natural gas, petroleum, and iron ore which drive most of the nations economic activity. Other valuable resources include rutile, uranium, nickel, bauxite, zinc, zircon, and ilmenite. Iraq Iraq has about 9% of global reserves that are shared by its oil deposits which total up to 115 billion barrels. Also. Iraq has large phosphate rock resources worth an estimated $1.1 trillion worldwide. In addition to having five supergiant oil fields, it also contains some of the worlds greatest oil reserves, Iraq also has a wealth of natural gas, phosphate, and sulfur resources. It also produces electricity using hydroelectric resources, natural gas, and liquid fuels. Venezuela Venezuela ranks sixth in the world with an estimated 99 billion barrels or 7.4% of the worlds total supply, and its total reserves are around $14.3 trillion. About 95% of the nations entire export earnings come from petroleum and products produced from it, demonstrating its reliance on the commodity and its fragility in these decarbonized times. But it also has gold, diamonds, bauxite, iron ore, and natural gas as natural resources. President Bola Tinubu has called for the support of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to ensure that out-of-school children in Nigeria remain in classrooms. Tinubu made the remarks during a courtesy call with Kristalina Georgieva, the Managing Director of the IMF, on the sidelines of the G20 leaders summit. We have too many children out of school, and we know that education is a way out of hunger and poverty. Advertisement That is why we are designing ways and incentives to keep these children in school, and we need your support for these kids who want to stay in school, Tinubu said. He also emphasized the importance of education in Nigerias development, stating that his government is working on plans to incentivize education for children. According to him, measures are being taken to reduce the hardship caused by recent reforms, noting that positive outcomes are already visible. READ ALSO: Nigeria Ranked Fifth In Daily Social Media Usage Globally The President also sought the IMFs support for the governments reforms, particularly those involving taxation. We are engaging stakeholders and sensitizing Nigerians to expand the economys tax base for inclusive developmental growth, he said. In response, Georgieva praised Nigerias social investment programs for cushioning the effects of economic challenges on vulnerable groups. She assured that the IMF would assist in these efforts and expressed the Funds readiness to offer technical support for the budgeting process. Georgieva also highlighted the IMFs focus on developing vulnerable societies and devoting substantial resources to emerging economies. Her words: The world had suffered some shocks from the pandemic that caused damage to world economies. Over the last two years, the IMF has injected about $1 trillion into the world economy. Nigerias former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has criticized the National Assemblys approval of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu recent loan request. The approved a $2.2 billion loan request for Tinubu, has sparked concerns about the countrys growing debt. Abubakar, reacting on Thursday, stated that the loans are bone-crushing to Nigerians and are bringing insufferable pressure on the economy. Advertisement He emphasized via a statement that the loans are not properly negotiated and utilized, further exacerbating the countrys economic woes. The former Vice President also expressed concern about the recent World Bank report, which identified Nigeria as the third most indebted country to the International Development Association (IDA). READ ALSO: Tinubu Seeks National Assemblys Approval For $2.209 Billion External Borrowing He noted that the governments intention to borrow an additional N1.7 trillion through Euro Bonds is alarming, especially considering the current exchange rate. Abubakar questioned the need for further borrowing, given that the Federal Inland Revenue Service and Customs have reportedly collected all-time high revenues to finance the budget. Atiku alleged that the voracious appetite for humongous loans is powered by corruption rather than infrastructure and development needs. The former Vice President however urged the country to apply more caution and arithmetic to the loan frenzy. He expressed personal agony over Nigerias return to high indebtedness, just a few years after the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo took the country out of foreign indebtedness. Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Bode George, has appealed to 2023 presidential candidate of the party, Atiku Abubakar to end his ambition of becoming president. INFORMATION NIGERIA reports that Chief Bodes statement is coming amid leadership crisis affecting PDP. Recall that a faction of the party, had suggested that next presidential candidate must come from South region. Advertisement Speaking over the controversy at is office in Ikoyi, Lagos State, on Thursday, Chief Bode said that it was high time for the former Vice President to put end to is desire of becoming president in Nigeria. He added that PDP was on the verge of crumbling because politicians uplifted their personal interest and individual ambition above national interest. He said: To Atiku, my advice is this, you will be 81 years old in 2027, and you have been contesting for the presidency since 1993. This is the time for you to calm down and act like an elder. I appeal to you in the name of the Almighty Allah, that you serve, to take it easy and leave everything for posterity. READ MORE: Calm Down, Allow Elders Resolve PDP Crisis Bode George Tells Atiku, Wike We are where we are today because of a self-inflicted crisis; we should bury our individual ambitions now and not allow the PDP to crumble, please. Elders of the party should tell some of these funny characters to cool off and think of our national interest instead of their personal interest. Nigerians are angry and hungry. Instead of telling the APC the truth, some divisive, arrogant and haughty members are busy romancing the ruling party and they are quick to refer to themselves as elder statesmen. Instead of instigating a crisis in our party, why are they not bold enough to defect to the APC? Do they really fear God at all? No member is big enough to hold the party to ransom. The way we use artificial intelligence is changing. Chatbots arent going away. Well continue to use them to deliver basic, natural language, self-service applications. But the future belongs to multimodal applications, built on large language models (LLMs) and other AI models, that act as self-organizing software agents. These more complex AI applications will require more thought, more code, more testing, and more safeguards. An AI evolution requires a similar evolution in our development tools. Although weve seen Power Platforms Copilot Studio begin to deliver tools for building task-focused agents, more complex AI applications will require a lot more work, even with support from frameworks like Semantic Kernel. Much of Azures current AI tools, beyond its Cognitive Services APIs, are focused on building grounded chatbots, using Microsofts Prompt Flow framework to add external vector indexes to LLMs for retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), along with wrapping calls and outputs in its own AI safety tools. Its a proven approach to building and running Microsofts own Copilot services, but if enterprises are to get the next generation of AI services, they need new tools that can help deliver custom agents. Da'Vine Joy Randolph arrives at the Oscars on Sunday, March 10, 2024, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis) Read more Oscar and Golden Globe winner DaVine Joy Randolph is coming home for Thanksgiving. Two days before the holiday, the Mount Airy native will star in a special one-night-only reading of Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune by Terrence McNally. It will be directed by another Philadelphian, Pulitzer-winning playwright and theater director James Ijames. Randolph will be joined by her My Name is Dolomite costar Robert D. DoQui and the proceeds from the benefit reading will help fund the Philadelphia Theatre Companys education and community engagement programs. Advertisement Ill never turn down getting to come back home during the holidays [and] also then work, said Randolph, a Temple theater alum, who is justifiably thrilled. But there is a minor gripe. The only thing that would make it better, she said, is going to an Eagles game. On Sunday, the Philadelphia Eagles will be facing the Rams in Los Angeles, Randolphs current home base. While The Holdovers star will miss out on a reunion with her home team on home turf, her holiday homecoming is reuniting her with Ijames, whom she has known from her Temple years. I knew him as a formidable actor, and I had a talent crush on him and was like, This man is beyond! So when he was like, Oh yeah, Im writing this play, I was like, What? You do that too? The play, Temple Universitys School of Theater, Film, and Media Arts associate dean Kimmika Williams-Witherspoon said, was The Lamentable Tragedie of Tobias L. Jason, written by Ijames and directed by Williams-Witherspoon. It was performed in Randall Theater in May 2006. DaVine played a professor and female colleague to the title character. In that production, she did a remarkable imitation of Micheal Jackson even balancing herself on her toes, Williams-Witherspoon said. That was, technically, my first real play ever, said Randolph. And I would say, one of his first real delves into, like, OK, Im really gonna own this and tap into this writing stuff. But thats not the only Philly reunion that pushed her to say yes to Frankie and Johnny. After Randolphs 2024 Oscar win for best supporting actress, the 38-year-old actor decided to go back to her roots and take on theater projects. Her team found her an agent in New York, who also turned out to be a Temple classmate. So I hop on this call, and my classmate pops up on the Zoom, she said. Im like, Alice Whitley, what are you doing? ... So that was it. I was like, Oh, were doing this. This is kismet. McNallys play, which premiered in New York City in 1987, is set in a one-room Manhattan apartment and stars Johnny, a cook, who meets Frankie, a waitress. While Johnny is convinced that he has met the love of his life, Frankie isnt so certain. As the night progresses at some point, Johnny calls a radio station and requests Claude Debussys Clair de lune, thus the name of the play a new relationship slowly and tentatively blooms into existence. Ijames, whose Fat Ham was a reworking of Hamlet and Media/Medea was a reimagination of the Greek tragedy with hat tips to Real Housewives of Atlanta and Sunset Boulevard, will not be making changes to McNallys text. What spoke out to me [about the play] was the authenticity, the rawness, the fact that this is timeless. I just loved it and was taken aback at how real it was. The language felt so relatable. Frankie feels very real. I can relate to her in many ways, said Randolph, who had first read the play in 2008 at Temple. For me, its the relatability of the piece. Its the timelessness [McNallys] way with words is absolutely amazing. And it fits all eras, all genres, said DoQui, a certified New Orleans Saints fan per Randolph. The play is a reminder to be fearless. You know, life is short and you miss opportunities if you dont go for them. You only make the shots you shoot, so take the shot. DoQui performed in the city years ago, when he was in high school but isnt getting any tips on handling the Philly audiences from his costar. No, no. We should surprise him, she said while offering to take him out to eat. She also wants to do all things silly on Thanksgiving. I want to go to the parade, but its probably [going to be] really, really cold. Also if there was a covert way for me to do it. Like, on the sleigh with Santa at the very end, jumping out of the bag, Randolph said. What she will definitely do is shop and eat. Gotta go to King of Prussia. I have to, even though I cant do the full-blown Black Friday shopping like I used to do when I was younger. Id literally shop till I pass out. And I have to have a lot of food. Obviously, she will be watching Sundays Eagles game with her family. I dont really care what [my friends in L.A.] think about [my Eagles fandom]. I almost cursed just now. But you know I wish I could be there for that game in L.A. with [the Rams fans] because theyre not gonna win. Of course, the Eagles are gonna win. One-night benefit reading of Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune. Nov. 26, 7 p.m., Suzanne Roberts Theatre, 480 S. Broad St., Phila., philadelphiatheatrecompany.org/frankie-and-johnny/ Richard and Rebecca Whiddon, seen here on their wedding day in 2016, were high school sweethearts. John Wadlinger, a Croydon man with multiple DUI convictions, admitted Thursday that he caused the crash that killed them in February. Read more A Croydon man admitted Thursday to driving at more than twice the speed limit on Veterans Highway while high on methamphetamine in February, causing a crash that killed two people and seriously injured a third. John Wadlinger, 32, pleaded guilty to homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence, aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, and related crimes in connection with the Feb. 23 crash that claimed the lives of Richard and Rebecca Whiddon, a Connecticut couple visiting Bucks County for a friends wedding. Advertisement After running from the scene of the crash, Wadlinger stole a dump truck parked behind a nearby home and led police on a brief chase before crashing that vehicle as well. Bucks County Court Judge C. Theodore Fritsch Jr. deferred Wadlingers sentencing for 60 days but noted that the two charges of homicide by vehicle while DUI carry a mandatory minimum of 14 years in state prison because of Wadlingers history of DUI convictions. Prosecutors said that Wadlinger was driving more than 73 mph when he approached the intersection of Veterans Highway and Ford Road in Bristol Township, fast enough that some witnesses later said the Ford Explorer he was driving appeared to be flying. He slammed the vehicle into a Nissan Sentra being driven by a friend of the Whiddons, striking its passenger side. The Nissans driver was attempting to make a left turn and had the right of way. Had Wadlinger not been speeding, the crash likely could have been avoided, prosecutors said. The impact of the collision was so severe that it sheared away nearly the entire passenger side of the Nissan. The Whiddons, who were sitting in the front and rear passenger seats, were pronounced dead at the scene. Another passenger in the vehicle sustained serious injuries to her lungs and spleen, and was hospitalized for several days following the crash. Video recorded at the scene showed Wadlinger getting out of the SUV immediately after the collision and sprinting away. He never stopped to check on the people he left behind, prosecutors said. A distinctive Harley-Davidson jacket that Wadlinger often wore was found at the scene. A DNA sample taken from inside the Ford Explorer was a match to him, according to evidence presented Thursday. Wadlingers criminal record includes three previous DUI convictions, five convictions for driving with a suspended license, and other convictions for aggravated assault, theft, and drug offenses. At the time of the fatal crash, Wadlingers license had been revoked because of the previous DUI cases. Friends of the Whiddons have described them as a talented, outgoing couple who shared a love of science. Richard Whiddon, 33, was an avid photographer who took a particular interest in abandoned architecture. Like his wife, an inorganic chemist, he worked in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), programming biomedical machinery used in hospitals. Rebecca Whiddon, 37, met her husband as a teenager, years before their 2016 wedding at a farm in Massachusetts, according to their loved ones. A portrait of slain Temple Police Officer Christopher Fitzgerald arrives at the cathedral for his funeral mass at the Cathedral of S.S Peter and Paul in Philadelphia on Feb. 24. Read more Miles Pfeffer, the man accused of shooting and killing Temple University Police Officer Christopher Fitzgerald in 2023, was stabbed multiple times in the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility, where he has been held awaiting his murder trial. Around 6:40 p.m. Thursday, another incarcerated man, Rafael Vanegas, ran out of his cell and attacked Pfeffer, 19, according to the jail incident report. Vanegas managed to slip out while a corrections officer was bringing his cellmate back to the cell, the report said. Advertisement Pfeffer, who was in a communal area for recreation at the time, suffered puncture injuries to his forehead, inner right hip, and right hand in the attack, the report said. After Vanegas refused commands to stop the assault, a correctional officer pepper-sprayed him and he and Pfeffer were separated, the report said. Pfeffer was then taken to Jefferson Torresdale Hospital for medical evaluation, according to the report. Pfeffer was treated and released and returned to the jail, a source with knowledge of the incident said Friday afternoon. . A spokesperson for the Philadelphia Department of Prisons said the agency could not comment on the incident, which is under investigation. The Defender Association of Philadelphia, which is representing Pfeffer, called the incident troubling and said it was concerned not just about Pfeffers safety, but of that of other incarcerated people and staff at Philadelphia prison facilities. Were concerned about that clients safety as well as other people who arent our clients, said George Jackson, a spokesperson for the association. Everybody on State Road, as well as the staff, he added, referring to the address of the Curran Fromhold Correctional Facility. Pfeffer faces charges of murder and related crimes for the fatal shooting of Fitzgerald. On the night of Feb. 18, 2023, authorities said, Pfeffer shot Fitzgerald, 31, multiple times in his face and chest at close range after the officer spotted Pfeffer and two others wearing face masks and dressed in all black near the Temple campus. There had been recent carjackings and robberies in the area and Fitzgerald said over the radio he was going to make a pedestrian stop, police said. When Fitzgerald approached Pfeffer, the then-18-year-old fled, with Fitzgerald chasing after him, police said. The two got into a physical struggle, police say, and Pfeffer pulled out a pistol and shot Fitzgerald. Pfeffer, who was a high school senior at the time, then stood over Fitzgerald and shot him multiple times at point-blank range, killing him, police said. Pfeffer then stole a mans car at gunpoint and drove to his mothers home in Buckingham Township, Bucks County, where he was arrested hours later, police say. Since Pfeffers arrest, Fitzgeralds family has repeatedly called on Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner to pursue the death penalty for Pfeffer. What wed like to see is this person to go through the pain that our son went through, to go through the suffering that our family is going through, Joel Fitzgerald, a former Philadelphia police officer, said of Pfeffer after a court hearing last year. In July, Krasners office announced it would not pursue the death penalty, upsetting the Fitzgerald family and their supporters. Staff writer Chris Palmer contributed to this article. A man who was shot multiple times in an ambush in Lower Merion on Thursday night crashed his car into a SEPTA bus while trying to escape the gunfire, police said. Around 10:30 p.m., the 21-year-old man was inside a car at City Avenue and Presidential Boulevard when three men got out of another car and opened fire on his vehicle, police said. The victim pulled his car away to try to escape the bullets and crashed into a SEPTA bus, police said. Advertisement He then got out of the car and ran to the parking lot of a Longhorn Steakhouse nearby, where police later found him with gunshot wounds to his arms and legs. Lower Merion police took him to Lankenau Medical Center, where he was listed in stable condition. The Route 65 SEPTA bus he struck sustained significant damage, and a passenger on the bus was injured and taken to Lankenau for treatment, a SEPTA spokesperson said. Police found 25 spent shell casings from two different caliber guns at the scene of the shooting, police said. No arrests have been made and no weapons have been recovered. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the Philadelphia Police Departments shooting investigation group at 215-686-8270 or to submit a tip through the departments tip line at 215-686-8477. Student Charlie McBride, left, talks with Pennsylvania Department of Education Secretary Dr. Khalid N. Mumin at Anna L. Lingelbach Elementary School, in Philadelphia, Tuesday, November 21, 2023. Read more Pennsylvanias education secretary, Khalid Mumin, is stepping down. Mumin announced Friday that he would be leaving the education department in two weeks telling colleagues in an email that effective Dec. 7, I will transition into a new role outside of the Pennsylvania Department of Education. He will be working for the Goldie Hawn Foundation, according to its spokesperson, as chief of strategy/education partnerships and global development. The foundation supplies MindUP, a social and emotional learning program, to schools. Advertisement Gov. Josh Shapiro said Friday that the departments executive secretary, Angela Fitterer, would serve as interim acting secretary. Dr. Mumin has dedicated his life and career to ensuring Pennsylvania children have real opportunity through a quality education that sets them up for success in life, Shapiro said in a statement. He has led the Pennsylvania Department of Education with passion and integrity. I am grateful for his service to Pennsylvanias students and educators and wish him great success in his future endeavors. A former superintendent of the Reading School District, Mumin served for a little more than a year as Lower Merions superintendent before Shapiro named him education secretary in January 2023. Shapiro noted that during that time, Pennsylvania has made historic investments in K-12 public education. Following a February 2023 court ruling that found Pennsylvanias school funding unconstitutional, the state this year adopted a new formula that drives more money toward the least adequately funded school districts. The Democratic governor also cited investments in universal free breakfast, career and technical education, and student mental health, as well as efforts to rebuild the teacher pipeline. Mumin, in the statement released by Shapiros office, said serving as education secretary was the honor of a lifetime, and that early experiences as a teacher had inspired him to climb the ranks so I could continue to fight for those students to get more support and more opportunities. Mumin is a child of Philadelphia: He grew up in the citys Logan section and attended Olney High, where, he has said, he was a struggling student who had to repeat ninth grade. He said he was galvanized in part by former Philadelphia Superintendent Constance Clayton, who gave a speech to young athletes at a church breakfast in the city. She basically told us to get off the sidelines and do something, Mumin said in 2023, when he spoke at Claytons funeral. He took that sentiment to heart and decided to become an educator. Mumins wife, Latrice Mumin, was named superintendent of the Chester Upland School District which is controlled by a court-appointed receiver in September 2023. In his email to colleagues, Mumin said Fitterer, a state government veteran who previously served as former Gov. Tom Wolfs deputy chief of staff, would serve until Shapiro selected his successor. It has been my distinct honor and privilege to serve alongside you over the past two years to tirelessly champion Pennsylvanias schools, learners, educators, libraries, postsecondary institutions, preschools, and communities, he said. Staff writer Gillian McGoldrick contributed to this article. A lawsuit alleges that a 6-year-old special needs student was physically assaulted by a West Deptford school teacher on a school bus during a school trip. Read more A South Jersey first grader was physically restrained and attacked by his teacher during a school bus trip caught on video, and West Deptford school officials tried to cover up the alleged assault, according to a lawsuit by his mother. The boys mother initially accepted an account by officials at Oakview Elementary in West Deptford that her 6-year-old child with special needs was misbehaving, said her attorney, John W. Trimble. The incident occurred on a school bus in May when the school visited the Philadelphia Zoo, he said. Advertisement She was told that the boy had tried to elope a term used when a child with a developmental disability tries to leave a safe area and climb out of a bus window but was restrained by the teacher, according to the lawsuit. The school principal notified the mother that the bus footage had been reviewed and said the teacher, identified as Tori Huffman-Magsam, acted outside of their policy and procedure, the lawsuit said. No specifics were given. A tip from an anonymous caller a few days later prompted the mother to ask the principal to let her view the video recording of the incident, Trimble said. The caller advised her to hire a lawyer and notify police, and she did both. The disturbing video showed the teacher on top of the boy pushing into his abdomen and lower body, smearing spit all over his face and shoving her hands down his throat, the complaint alleges. The physical abuse and torture continued despite his pleas for help, the lawsuit said. Three other West Deptford school staff members were on the bus, but did not intervene, the lawsuit said. The boy was screaming for help and was sincerely afraid for his life, the lawsuit said. The mother was only shown a few minutes of the video by the principal at the time, Trimble said. The school has refused to provide a copy, and Trimble said he plans to file a subpoena to get the full recording. She was horrified by it, Trimble said this week. She was basically beating him up. The mother, identified in the lawsuit by her initials T.R., said she questioned her son about other possible incidents with the teacher. He told his mother it only happens when I am bad, the lawsuit said. READ MORE: After a N.J. kindergartner was filmed barricaded behind a gym mat, his mother wants an investigation Huffman-Magsam, of Deptford, could not be reached for comment Thursday. She did not respond to a message on her Facebook page, which identified her as a wife, mother, and teacher. Trimble said it was unclear if she is still employed in the West Deptford school system. School principal Laura Sandy didnt respond to a message, and West Deptford Superintendent Brian Gismondi said the board does not comment on pending litigation. The incident was reported to law enforcement, but Gloucester County officials said they didnt have jurisdiction because the incident occurred in Philadelphia, Trimble said. The New Jersey Department of Children and Families and the Institutional Abuse Investigation Unit was also notified. That agency doesnt comment on investigations. Trimble said the civil lawsuit seeks a jury trial, compensatory and punitive damages, and more transparency about what happened to the child. He wants other parents with similar concerns to come forward, too. The lawsuit accuses the district of violating the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination, negligence in its hiring and supervision of Huffman-Magsam, and infliction of emotional distress on the boy. It also accuses Huffman-Magsam of assault and battery. According to the 32-page lawsuit, the boy has a communications disorder. The Oakview student had been receiving special services since age 3 for speech delays. His individual education plan, or IEP, does not include the use of physical restraints, Trimble said. The teacher made statements to her principal that the boy is bad every day, and the lawsuit alleges that physical abuse and improper conduct occurred throughout the 2023-24 school year. In 2022-23, about 7.5 million students ages 3 to 21, roughly 15% of all public school students nationwide, received special education services, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Most were classified with learning disabilities. Under New Jersey law, tactics such as restraining students can be used only with students with disabilities who present an immediate danger to themselves or others. Physical restraint should only ever be used as a last resort to protect the child and/or others around them, said Lisa M. Quartarolo, a managing attorney with Disability Rights NJ, an advocacy group. Sadly, we see situations where physical restraint is used unnecessarily, all too frequently. The boy began showing disruptive behavior in kindergarten, and his mother would often pick him up from school, Trimble said. Those incidents became less frequent, he said. His mother became alarmed when his attitude changed last year, the lawyer said. The kid was coming home scared to death. He didnt want to go to school, Trimble said. According to Trimble, the boy, one of five children, tried to tell his mother that he didnt misbehave on the bus. She believed the schools account, and disciplined him by taking his iPad as punishment. She was mortified after she viewed the bus footage, he said. Trimble said the boy missed the remainder of last school year after the bus incident. He returned this year with a new teacher and has not had any problems, he said. We need to know that when we send our kids to school that theyre in safe hands, Trimble said. The Philadelphia school board paved the way for City Councils approval of a new 76ers arena Thursday night, endorsing a change to a tax increment financing district necessary if Council is to sign off on the controversial $1.3 billion project in the coming weeks. The approval came over community objections. Students, teachers, parents and members of several community groups, including Asian Americans United and the Alliance for Philadelphia Public Schools, asked the board to reject the changes, which they said did not serve students. Advertisement In tax increment financing districts, the city can use a portion of tax revenue to support development and job growth. But if the arena goes through, it will sit on land owned by the city and wont be taxed, though the Sixers will contribute a payment in lieu of taxes. The board voted to remove the 1000 block of Market Street from the TIF district should the arena move forward. City officials city finance director Rob Dubow and Sam Rhoads, an executive vice president of Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation, made a presentation on the TIF change framed the vote as procedural and not an endorsement of the arena project. But some members of the public did not agree. Youre giving away everything, said Cinthya Hioe, who works with youth at Asian Americans United. Give our schools air-conditioning, libraries, playgrounds. Invest in our youth. Why should we invest in a billionaires playground when our schools dont even have playgrounds? When the Sixers proposed a waterfront arena in 2020 on Penns Landing, they promised to build a public school; the Market East proposal includes no such promise, the groups pointed out. The school board should not cede its authority and quickly sign off on financial matters which could impact imminent decisions on school development opportunities, a number of community groups said in a letter to school board members. City officials said the Sixers arena would yield $2.8 million annually for the district, with the possibility for more money more than the $550,000 currently paid by the arena site, which is currently part of the Fashion District mall. The project would gross the district $152.7 million through 2061, the term of the arena. But critics say the Sixers projections are inflated, and the district could get much more in money and services if the arena did not happen. Mayor Cherelle L. Parker has endorsed the Sixers project, which has been the subject of City Council hearings this week and is due to be voted on soon. A disgusted Lisa Haver, a retired district teacher and founder of the Alliance for Philadelphia Public Schools, said the board can be counted on to do whatever the mayor that appointed it wants it to do on behalf of billionaire developers. Two board members voted against the changes. ChauWing Lam asked her fellow board members to postpone a vote, saying she feels very uncomfortable not having the full picture on the financial implications of the TIF and its long-term effect on district finances. Wanda Novales, the boards vice president, was similarly uncomfortable. I dont believe the benefits presented sufficiently consider the needs of our students, Novales said. I feel we need to advocate for a more comprehensive approach. Enrollment and graduation rates up Superintendent Tony B. Watlington Sr. made a surprising announcement Thursday night: After nearly a decade of declining enrollment, the districts student population grew in 2024-25. The districts official student enrollment for the year is 117,956 1,841 students more than in 2023-24. The student population rose in 10 out of 15 geographic networks. We sure are excited about that, Watlington said. We are absolutely thrilled that more families are choosing to enroll their children in the School District of Philadelphia. The school systems graduation rate also went up, Watlington said. Last school year, 77.5% of students graduated, up from 74.1% the prior year. Supporters of an embattled teacher are back, a former board member apologizes At the boards October session, supporters of embattled, acclaimed Northeast High teacher Keziah Ridgeway took over the meeting, causing the board to remove itself and finish conducting business behind locked doors. Supporters of the social studies teacher were back at the meeting Thursday. There was a greater presence of school safety officers and more rules about where people could congregate and what they could carry, but no disruptions. Ridgeway was removed from her job because of personal social media posts and activism around Palestinians and the war in Gaza. An investigation is ongoing. Ridgeway herself spoke Thursday, reading an original poem to the board and audience. What motivates me has never been hate, said Ridgeway. Former board member Mallory Fix-Lopez also testified Thursday night, asking the district to double down on its protection of immigrant students in light of the coming administration of President-elect Donald Trump. But she also apologized to Ridgeway and to her students, whose podcast comparing Palestinian resistance art to enslaved Black peoples use of spirituals was removed from a Northeast High assembly. We arent teaching our young people how to have discourse, how to have constructive conversations and navigate spaces where there may be opposing views. This is our job as educators, and we are failing at it, said Fix-Lopez. She said her biggest regret as a board member was, in October 2023, not demanding that we support teachers and schools immediately on how to navigate the conversations and tensions around the Israel-Palestine conflict. We absolutely failed in that instance and its caused great distress. The board at that time is to blame for not leading through crisis, myself included. A reprint of a small detail of a photo showing the crowd gathered for the dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pa., where President Abraham Lincoln gave his now famous speech, the Gettysburg Address. Lincoln is visible facing the crowd, not wearing a hat, about an inch below the third flag from the left. Josephine Cobb first found Lincoln's face while working with a glass plate negative at the National Archives in 1952. Read more Upon a wooden platform, set in a small, war-torn Pennsylvania town, President Abraham Lincoln stood before a crowd of about 15,000 people and summed up the stakes of the American Civil War in a tidy 272-word address. Well, about 272. Advertisement On Nov. 19, 1863, Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address at a ceremony to dedicate a portion of the towns battlefield as a national cemetery. Historians routinely cite the prose poem as one of the most important speeches in American history. But in the 161 years since it was delivered, a debate continues over Lincolns exact words. In an address so brief, but so momentous, every syllable tells, wrote Major William H. Lambert in his 1909 book on the subject. READ MORE: Did Abraham Lincoln omit God from the Gettysburg Address? There are five versions of the speech in Lincolns handwriting, and then scores of newspaper accounts that offer slightly alternate accounts. The gist is the same, but the question remains: Which version did he actually say? Many newspapers from across the country and in Philadelphia, reported a shorthand version jotted down by an Associated Press reporter, but there is no definitive version of that transcription, as each newspapers rendition included omissions or errant additions, or inconsistent prepositions, or verbal variations, most likely mixed up in translation by telegraph operators. Several papers, including The Inquirer and the Chicago Tribune, sent their own correspondents, but many of those versions were either paraphrased or jumbled, most likely due to the same transmission issues. Lincolns first drafts of the speech are named after his two private secretaries to which he gifted the copies, John Nicolay and John Hay. And historians differ on which version could have been the reading copy, while others think that copy is lost to history. Most notably, the Nicolay and Hay versions omit the words under God from the phrase that this nation [under God] shall have a new birth of freedom... But those words are included in a few of the newspaper accounts, adding fuel to the theory that Lincoln went off-script during the address and added flourishes that werent pre-written. And those words are present in the three copies Lincoln later penned as mementos. For these drafts, Lincoln consulted several newspaper accounts in helping him craft more polished versions. The fifth manuscript, known as the Bliss copy, is generally accepted as Lincolns preferred variant, as its the only edition he signed and dated. Its on display at the White House, and in the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C., its etched in marble. Al-Ashraf Khalil photographed hours after the June 18, 2022 blaze at a building he owned on the 300 block of West Indiana Street in Fairhill that killed Philadelphia fire Lt. Sean Williamson. Read more A Fairhill landlord faces the potential of life in prison after a federal jury found him guilty Thursday of setting a 2022 blaze that caused the death of a Philadelphia Fire Department lieutenant and injuries to five others. The panel of six men and six women concluded that Al-Ashraf Khalil, 30, conspired to ignite to the building he owned at 300 W. Indiana Ave., hoping to collect on its nearly $500,000 insurance policy. The structure collapsed after the fire had been put out, burying Lt. Sean Williamson, a 27-year veteran of the department, under the rubble. Advertisement Williamson, 51, died, unable to breathe. Four other firefighters and an inspector from the Department of Licenses and Inspections survived with injuries. Jurors on Thursday convicted Khalil on counts including conspiracy, arson, and wire fraud, and also found codefendant Isaam Jaghama, 30, guilty of helping him set the blaze. But for these defendants, it never would have started, the building would still stand, and Lt. Williamson would still be with his family a wholly preventable tragedy, sparked by greed, U.S. Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero said in a statement after the jurys decision. While todays convictions can never make up for such an immeasurable loss, they ensure a measure of justice for Lt. Williamson, the Williamson family, and the dedicated first responders of the Philadelphia Fire Department. READ MORE: Truly one of our best: Hundreds mourn Philadelphia firefighter killed in Fairhill building collapse The verdict came after an eight-day trial in which Khalils attorney attempted to persuade jurors that while the landlord might have set his building ablaze, it was the negligence of fire officials that ultimately caused Williamsons death. Incident commanders on the scene should have known better than to send the lieutenant and others into the 100-year-old structure minutes after it had been damaged by fire and the hundreds of gallons of water firefighters used to extinguish the conflagration, defense lawyer Gerald A. Stein maintained during his closing pitch to jurors Wednesday. There was an intervening cause of death and injury above and beyond the control of Mr. Khalil the failure to properly supervise the men at that scene and give them a fair chance of doing their jobs and coming out safely, Stein said during closing arguments. That distinction of who bears the blame for Williamsons death and the jurys rejection of Steins argument will prove central at sentencing hearings for Khalil and Jaghama next year. The federal arson charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 20 years behind bars. But in cases where jurors conclude the fire directly resulted in a death, a convicted defendant can be sentenced to life. Though the jury was not instructed on the potential punishments Khalil and Jaghama might face, prosecutors balked at Khalils efforts to blame the fire department and urged jurors to hold him and Jaghama accountable for the damage they had wrought. The defendants lit an occupied building on fire in the middle of the night and want you to blame the firefighters who showed up in the middle of the night to save their home? Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Reinitz scoffed as she addressed the jury. None of these men would have been there if the defendants had not set the building on fire. Khalil, co-owner a of a pizza restaurant in Juniata Park, had bought the Indiana Avenue building less than a year before the blaze, in hopes of renovating it and quickly turning a profit. But evidence presented at trial showed that when he failed to sell it at the price he expected, he quickly began plotting burning it to the ground. Surveillance footage showed Khalil and Jaghama, a friend he had enlisted to aid him in the effort, entering the buildings basement just after 1:30 a.m. on June 18, and leaving moments later as flames began to engulf it. Khalil had leased the structures two upper floors to two employees at his pizza shop whom he had known for years and who were inside at the time with their families and young children. They managed to escape in time, but Khalil did nothing to warn them. He returned to the scene later that night to watch firefighters battle the fire he set and was at the scene when Williamson and the others entered the building just before 2:30 a.m. and then, later, as the building eventually collapsed. Yes, there were structural problems in a 100-year-old rowhome in Philadelphia, said Reinitz, the prosecutor. But who knows the building better? The firefighters who show up in the middle of the night to put out a fire, or the guy who owns it? It took six days after the collapse for authorities to charge and arrest Khalil and only after he had attempted to flee the country for Jordan, booking two separate plane tickets in his name under U.S. and Palestinian passports. Jordanian officials turned him away shortly after he landed, sending him back to John F. Kennedy International Airport, where agents with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives were waiting to arrest him. Both Khalil and Jaghama have remained in custody since their arrests. Stein, Khalils attorney, did not respond to requests for comment after Thursdays verdict. Mr. Jaghama was disappointed with the verdict and plans to appeal, his attorney, Michael N. Huff, said. Our hearts go out to the firefighters and their families who suffered. The Philadelphia Parkway Central Library serves as the heart of the Free Library of Philadelphia system, which includes more than 50 branches around the city. Read more Colder temperatures usually are a good time to dive into a new book. But that wont be possible at some branches of the Free Library of Philadelphia. Seven branches are now indefinitely closed because of heating issues, in what a library spokesperson called an unusual confluence of events. Those branches include: Advertisement It is extremely important to us that we fix this issue as fast as possible, so we can restore community access and serve our communities, said Mark Graham, a Free Library of Philadelphia spokesperson. The city and its HVAC contractor struck an agreement to begin repairs on Friday afternoon. The Free Library does not yet have a timeline for when the repairs will be completed, but Graham said that we have a lot of hope that those branches should have heat very soon. This summer, 20 Free Library branches closed at various points because of air-conditioning issues, but heating-related closures are less common. We are working with beautiful, old buildings and often old systems. We have a lot of work to maintain, repair, and renovate these properties. That is true throughout the Free Library of Philadelphias 54 libraries, as it is for many city properties, Graham said. The Richmond Library closed on Nov. 13 because of its broken boiler. When Richmond Library staffers shared the news on Facebook, dismayed community members expressed both their support for the library and disappointment at its closure. Weve had a whole lot of community people become very frustrated about this, said Amy Thatcher, who works at Richmond Library as a member of AFSCME District Council 47 Local 2186 and lives in the neighborhood. She said that with Richmonds broken heater, the temperature indoors dropped to 60 degrees; the city told her and other staff that they could not open since the temperature had dropped below an acceptable threshold. She and her colleagues now must work at other branches until Richmond reopens. Thatcher said that closing Richmonds doors means that programming has stopped, too, including an after-school program where kids get help with their homework. Its a tragedy for this library to be closed, she said. Phil Stoltzfus, a Port Richmond resident, said that the library is an important resource for the community and that people are caught off guard by the news of its closure. Its a ritual, we go there at least once a week, he said of his family, which includes his wife and two daughters, ages 10 and 7. Its a shame that whatevers going on with the city gets to this point, he said. CEO Donna Bullock photographed at Project HOME offices. The new head of the nationally renowned anti-homelessness nonprofit faced housing insecurity as a child. Read more When Estelle Richman, chair of Project HOMEs board of trustees, spoke of the agencys new CEO, Donna Bullock, she said, She possesses a unique combination of professional and personal experiences that will position her well for success. That was an understatement. Advertisement From her birth In New Brunswick, N.J., on Oct. 15, 1978, Bullocks childhood was a checklist of poverty-related insecurities, including living without a stable dwelling. These challenges, along with her professional experiences as a state representative and as a Community Legal Services attorney before that, will guide her view regarding holistic solutions to homelessness. With Project HOME cofounders Sister Mary Scullion exiting at the end of December and Joan Dawson McConnon having left in July, the agency is beginning to usher in the Bullock era. Bullock talked with The Inquirer about her childhood housing insecurity. This interview was lightly edited for clarity. READ MORE: Philadelphias Donna Bullock will replace Sister Mary Scullion as Project HOMEs leader Can you talk about your earliest memories of housing insecurity? We lost our apartment when my father was incarcerated and had to move in with my grandparents. I might have been about 6 or so, and, not shortly thereafter, my grandfather passed away. Our housing situation became very challenging at that point because where we were living my grandfather was a building supervisor, and we were in the unit associated with his job. It was, Wheres next? Because for my mom and my grandmother, the men who provided for them were no longer around. My grandmother was able to secure senior housing. How did your mother cope with that? That led to my mom and I having to find housing. She cared for someone, like a home health aide, and I dont really know the circumstances, but we were living in the living room. And through a series of other circumstances, that person passed away, and we continued to live in the apartment. There was a major hurricane, I think it was Hurricane Floyd, and that moved us up in the line for a Section 8 voucher. But even still, from year to year, my mom would move. Looking back as an adult, I realized a lot of that was her creative and resourceful way of avoiding eviction, avoiding losing her Section 8 voucher, avoiding a utility bill that had become too high to manage, and starting over in a new unit. But she was always able to save the Section 8 voucher, which was like gold. If she had lost that because of an eviction on her record, it would be problematic. When did you realize your childhood wasnt commonplace? For me, I didnt realize some of the challenges my mom had until my grandmother passed. And then a lot of [her care] was on me. At some point in college I had a conversation with a dean where I was really struggling with whether or not I should stay in college because my mom needed more help. The dean said, Well, what happens if you leave? What would be any different other than possibly you not finishing your degree and you not being as helpful as you possibly can? You have to see this through. If your mom figured it out before you were born, shes an adult shell figure it out [now]. It was the hardest decision for me to stay. When you look back on that advice, what do you think of it now? I still agree with it, although it did mean a significant setback for her. So by the time I get to mid-law school, my mom finally loses the Section 8 voucher. That put her onto the street. The first year, the county paid for her to be in a hotel space for a while, and she rented a room, but the conditions werent great. [After graduating from Temple Law], I moved her to Philly. Shes been here 16 years now. She doesnt have much. I make sure she has her basic needs and she lives independently, but shes comfortable. It seems your life checks off most of the boxes of stuff that can happen to a person. At the statehouse, I remember issues coming up and wanting to share my experience in my advocacy around certain issues, [but] I didnt want to always be the one to stand up and say, Well, I had the mom that had mental health issues. Or, I experienced housing insecurity. Or, I was food insecure. And they would say, Ugh there she is again. What are the lessons you learned living through such insecurity? With homelessness, youre really talking about housing affordability at end of the day. And then were talking about who has access to the very limited supply of affordable housing, and usually it requires a lot of navigating. It requires being resourceful and hopefully not having to deal with some other challenges that many families are dealing with: wellness, behavioral health, mental health, substance-use disorder, if you have a criminal record all of these other things create more challenges to being able to have access to housing. The more challenges you bring to that navigation, the more difficult its going to be for you to find that one unit that you want. Theres simply not enough units. We need to build more affordable units and then supportive affordable units for individuals like my mom and others who need supports to stay housed. An earlier version of this story gave an incorrect timeline for Joan Dawson McConnons departure from Project HOME. Former Eagles running back Wendell Smallwood Jr. is facing federal charges over allegedly defrauding COVID-19 relief programs and the Internal Revenue Service in a series of schemes that resulted in hundreds of thousands of dollars in falsely obtained payments. Federal prosecutors in Delaware charged Smallwood late last month with felony counts of wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and conspiracy to defraud the IRS. Advertisement Smallwood, prosecutors allege, received more than $46,000 in fraudulent loan proceeds from the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program, which was designed to provide low-interest financing to small businesses amid the pandemic. Between May 2020 and June 2021, Smallwood applied several times to that program using what prosecutors called defunct or recently registered businesses, and provided false information about their operations. As a result, the Small Business Administration, which ran the program, approved loans of $15,500 and $30,900 for Smallwood-owned businesses. The loans were allegedly not used for business expenses, and Smallwood instead used them to fund checks, and transferred them to personal checking accounts, court documents indicate. Prosecutors similarly accused Smallwood of conspiring with another person, who was not named in court documents, to fraudulently apply to the Paycheck Protection Program using the names of 13 different people between March and May 2021. Known as the PPP, that program helped small businesses through forgivable loans that were to be used to pay for business expenses including payroll and utilities. Smallwood and his unnamed conspirator, prosecutors allege, submitted fraudulent applications that resulted in more than $269,000 in payouts, court documents indicate. Prosecutors claimed that Smallwood received kickback payments of $4,000 to $12,000 from the people named in the applications. Prosecutors also alleged that Smallwood recruited individual tax filers for the tax years 2021 and 2022 as part of a conspiracy that resulted in fraudulent tax refunds from the IRS totaling more than $110,000, according to court documents. As part of that scheme, prosecutors claim, Smallwood allegedly prepared at least 10 tax forms on behalf of others, providing false information about their income and employers. Smallwood has not yet entered a plea, though court documents indicate that he has informed the court that he intends to plead guilty at a hearing scheduled for Dec. 20. An attorney representing Smallwood declined to comment. The charges carry a maximum sentence of 50 years in prison and up to $750,000 in fines, according to court documents. A Delaware native, Smallwood joined the Eagles as a fifth-round pick in 2016, spending three seasons with the team before departing for the team now known as the Washington Commanders following the Birds 2018 season. While he was on the Eagles roster for Super Bowl LII, in which the Birds beat the New England Patriots 41-33 for their first Big Game win, he did not play in the matchup. Daye Pope writes that more than the trans community will be in jeopardy under a second Trump presidency. Read more The last few years have already seen an all-out attack on trans rights at the state and local level, and in all likelihood this election will only make it worse. Since Nov. 5, multiple trans community members and parents of trans kids have reached out to me in a panic, worried for the ways their families will be targeted, rushing to update ID documents, and even looking into how to flee the country. Its not hard to see why. Donald Trump has threatened to send the Department of Justice after companies for providing transition-related care to trans people, despite this treatment having a long history of safety established by national and international health experts. Advertisement Trump also threatens to legally define gender as only male and female at birth, endangering trans folks ability to access accurate legal documents, as well as erase any mention of our communities from all federal agency programs and communications. Thats on top of the threat of violence, which trans people face at four times the national average, and which could be inflamed even more by Trumps extreme rhetoric toward our community, including his repeated false claims that schools are secretly giving kids gender transition surgeries. Its clear that the trans community wont be safe under a second Trump presidency. The thing is, neither will anyone else. Too many of us have forgotten that my well-being is linked to yours, and yours to your neighbors. We really are all in this together, and weakening the civil rights of one group paves the way for the rights of others to be infringed. How can you be sure of your own access to health care if Trumps government can so easily strip my family of ours? How can you keep your kids healthy if Trump appoints an extreme anti-vaccine activist like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to be his new health czar and preventable illnesses run rampant through our schools? If Trump uses the military against his political opponents and anyone who speaks out against him something hes frequently mused about doing then the freedom of speech is under threat for all of us. If Trumps immigration program places millions of people in detention camps, even revoking citizenship for some people born to immigrant parents, and keeps threatening to deport U.S. citizens for taking part in protests are any of us safe from the long arm of ICE? If Trump follows through on his plan to weaken the regulations that keep our water clean to drink and our air clean to breathe, it wont matter which identities or demographics we fall in. Because we all need water to drink and air to breathe. If Trump enacts the tariffs hes been promising, then those of us who have already been struggling with high prices will have to figure out how to find an extra $2,600 in our budgets, thats the estimated additional cost of the president-elects proposal for a typical American family each year. None of us live one-issue lives, and as the saying goes, a rising tide lifts all boats. Thats why, in our communitys recent efforts to pass Safe & Equal Schools legislation, weve stressed the studies that prove all kids have better mental health and feel safer in schools where the marginalized students among them are protected. The same is true for our country. President-elect Trump thrives on telling us that were in a massive struggle between us and them and hell make the other side pay. The truth is, eroding the rights and protections of some of us ultimately ends up hurting everyone. Daye Pope is a gender justice advocate. She has been organizing LGBTQ communities across the country for more than a decade to change narratives, oppose discriminatory laws, and fight for equality. U.S. Sen. Bob Casey (D., Pa.) conceded to Republican Dave McCormick on Thursday, formally ending his reelection bid and acknowledging defeat two weeks after the Associated Press declared McCormicks victory and after a statewide recount of the race had been triggered. Casey had resisted conceding, citing thousands of votes that still needed to be counted and entering court fights to maximize the number of ballots included. But as final ballots were adjudicated Thursday, Caseys roughly 16,500-vote deficit was too large to overcome and so large that a recount would not affect it. Advertisement I want to thank the people of Pennsylvania for granting me the privilege of serving them for 28 consecutive years in public office as auditor general, state treasurer, and United States senator, Casey said. Every day I served in public office, Ive fought for Pennsylvania workers, children, seniors, people with disabilities, and our veterans. It has been the honor of my lifetime. Casey said he had called McCormick on Thursday night to congratulate him. He thanked his wife, Terese, and four daughters and the Casey campaign staff. The concession formally ends Caseys three-term run in the U.S. Senate and 28 years in public office. It also cements a clean sweep for Republicans of statewide races in Pennsylvania this year. The son of a well-liked Pennsylvania governor, Casey won six statewide races in the commonwealth before his loss this year to McCormick. Though the Democrat led in the polls for much of the race, McCormick closed the gap in the final weeks of the campaign, eking out the victory by less than half a percentage point. Senator Bob Casey dedicated his career to bettering our commonwealth, McCormick said in a statement on X. Dina and I want to extend our sincere gratitude to Senator Casey, Terese, and their family for their decades of service, hard work, and personal sacrifice. I am so honored to represent every single citizen in Pennsylvania in the United States Senate and will fight for you every day. Hours before Caseys concession, Gov. Josh Shapiro described his relationship with McCormick as cordial. If thats the person the good people of Pennsylvania chose, of course were going to work together to bring home the resources to our commonwealth, to protect the rights and interests of our commonwealth, and I trust well work really well together, Shapiro told The Inquirer during a visit to Philadelphia. It was unclear whether Caseys concession came too late to stop the ongoing recount, which is estimated to cost the state more than $1 million and has been underway for several days. It was slated to be completed by next Tuesday. The concession dovetailed with the completion of the initial vote count by all 67 counties, separate from the recount. As the first count of ballots is completed, Pennsylvanians can move forward with the knowledge that their voices were heard, Casey said. This race was one of the closest in our commonwealths history, decided by less than a quarter of a point. Im grateful to the thousands of people who worked to make sure every eligible vote cast could be counted. Casey had an opportunity last week to decline a recount but chose to proceed, prompting accusations from Republicans that he was drawing out the process and casting doubt on the election system. The weeks since the Associated Press called the race were fraught with legal battles between Casey and McCormick as their legal teams duked it out in courtrooms and in front of county election boards over the fate of handfuls of provisional and mail ballots. A handful of Democratic-led county election boards defied the Pennsylvania Supreme Courts orders and voted to count undated ballots. The court reiterated that those ballots shouldnt count after McCormick and the Republican National Committee sued, but Casey sought to defend the counties decisions in court. The two campaigns also went to court to fight over the fate of certain provisional ballots. Even as Casey suspends his campaign, those fights will likely continue and eventual rulings will affect which ballots are and are not counted in future races. Casey is the only Democratic Senate candidate in a swing state to fall short this year, a surprising outcome given that his race at one point looked to be a more likely hold for Democrats than races the party ultimately won in Wisconsin, Michigan, Nevada, and Arizona. But Trump also won by a larger margin in Pennsylvania than in those swing states. Casey was often called Mr. Pennsylvania, and his subdued, statesmanly style made him a largely uncontroversial candidate who in the past had outperformed the top of the ticket. Democratic praise for Casey and his long career poured in quickly Thursday. U.S. Sen. John Fetterman (D., Pa.), who served alongside Casey for the last two years of his tenure, posted a photograph to X of the two of them standing side by side. He touted Casey as a mentor. His legacy is a better Pennsylvania, Fetterman said. Lt. Gov. Austin Davis similarly praised Casey on social media, saying the senator embodies what it means to be a true public servant, and he has spent his life working to help Pennsylvania families, workers, kids and seniors. McCormick ran a campaign framing Caseys quieter demeanor as weak, contrasting it with his own military service and experience in the finance world. He questioned what Casey, whose legislative accomplishments often ran under the radar, had to show for 18 years in office. And he tied Casey to the deeply unpopular President Joe Biden, who has been a close ally of Casey, a fellow Scranton native. And McCormick ran a strong campaign following his first bid for the office in 2022, when he lost the GOP primary to Mehmet Oz by fewer than 1,000 votes. McCormicks personal story resonated. Though Democrats tried to attack his dual residency in Connecticut (which he maintained until June), McCormick had bona fide Pennsylvania roots, starting in Western Pennsylvania and then growing up in Bloomsburg, where his father was the president of the state university in the city. The race saw more than $300 million in spending by the campaigns, their parties, and outside groups. The largest outside spender was Keystone Renewal, a pro-McCormick super PAC backed primarily by finance industry billionaires, some of whom knew the Republican from his days at Bridgewater Associates. The PACs spending was crucial to making McCormick financially competitive against Casey, who was still sending out fundraising solicitations long after Election Day as the recount continued. Casey, who was casting votes in Washington this week, said in his concession statement that throughout his time in office he had been guided by an inscription on the finance building in Harrisburg. All public service is a trust, given in faith and accepted in honor, he said, quoting the inscription. Thank you for your trust in me for all these years, Pennsylvania. Staff writer Aliya Schneider contributed to this article. Elon Musk speaks before President-elect Donald Trump at a campaign rally at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 27. Read more More Pennsylvanians say they have received mysterious $100 checks that appear to be from Elon Musks America PAC, which helped power the ground game for President-elect Donald Trump in Pennsylvania. In the following days since The Inquirers first story about two Pennsylvanians receiving an unsolicited and unexplained $100 check, eight more Pennsylvanians told The Inquirer they, too, had received the money without having signed the super PACs First and Second Amendment petition, which was denoted as a necessary step for Pennsylvanias registered voters to cash in on the special offer. Advertisement Recipients of the checks reside across the state, ranging from Philadelphia to Luzerne, York and Northumberland counties, for example. Images provided to The Inquirer show the checks are adorned with one of several dates: Oct. 29, Nov. 1, Nov. 2. or Nov. 4. Some recipients said they received the money in the mail the day before Election Day, while others received it the days after. The checks also include an address from United States of America Inc., which is the name of a holding company Musk established in early October. America PAC did not respond to requests for comment about the legitimacy of the checks. Frank Tuplin, a retired lawyer from Philadelphia and a Democrat, said in addition to never signing the petition, he contributed twice to Vice President Kamala Harris campaign. He received the $100 check shortly before Election Day. I remember being surprised by it being so close to the election, Tuplin said. I had already voted by mail so didnt understand its intent. Patricia Domyan, 64, a registered nurse practitioner from Allentown, was a Republican until around the 2016 election when she registered with the Democratic Party. But that didnt prevent her from receiving a resounding five $100 checks after Election Day, two of which she received Friday. I received not one, not two, not three, not four, but [five] count them [five] $100 checks from the PAC which I did not sign nor had I heard of until the checks started rolling in, Domyan said. I do not plan on cashing them. There is no such thing as free money. What a bunch of hooey! Domyan and most of the other Pennsylvanians who approached The Inquirer said they would never cash the check, serving as a protest to Musks relentless efforts to help deliver Pennsylvania for Trump, a feat hes credited for by some Pennsylvania Republicans. But Lesley Geyer, a self-proclaimed lifelong Democrat from Luzerne County, said she successfully deposited the check on Nov. 13 with the intention of donating the proceeds to the American Civil Liberties Union, which is preparing to fight Trumps agenda in court. America PAC said it would verify the accuracy of information of recipients of their cash prizes, but that wasnt the case for many recipients of the check including Steve Anderson, of Northumberland County. Like the others, Im a registered Democratic voter, I did NOT sign any petition, and I certainly didnt verify anything, Anderson said in an email. And now it seems the checks have traveled beyond the scope of the Democratic Party. Austin Gwiazdowski, a Democrat from Grays Ferry who received his own unwarranted check, said his aunt, a Republican who said she does not recall signing the petition, was also given the $100. Individuals who did sign the petition are expected to receive their cash prizes by Nov. 30, according to the America PAC website. The petition was one of several efforts spearheaded by Musk to rack up support for Trump in Pennsylvania. He held several town halls throughout the commonwealth and donated millions of dollars to the PAC. His work, which Trump often commended him for on the campaign trail, was rewarded with access to Trumps inner circle and conversations with world leaders and a position to colead the proposed Department of Government Efficiency. WASHINGTON President-elect Donald Trump said Thursday he will nominate former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi to lead the Justice Department, turning to a longtime ally after his first choice, Matt Gaetz, withdrew his name from consideration amid scrutiny over sex trafficking allegations. Bondi has been an outspoken defender of Trump. She was one of his lawyers during his first impeachment trial, when he was accused but not convicted of abusing his power as he tried to condition U.S. military assistance to Ukraine on that country investigating then-former Vice President Joe Biden. And she was among a group of Republicans who showed up to support Trump at his New York hush money criminal trial that ended in May with a conviction on 34 felony counts. Advertisement READ MORE: Whats going on with Matt Gaetz? The hack and allegations surrounding Trumps attorney general pick, explained. For too long, the partisan Department of Justice has been weaponized against me and other Republicans - Not anymore, Trump said in a social media post. Pam will refocus the DOJ to its intended purpose of fighting Crime, and Making America Safe Again. Gaetz stepped aside amid continued fallout over a federal sex trafficking investigation that cast doubt on his ability to be confirmed as the nations chief federal law enforcement officer. Gaetzs vehemently denied the allegations, but his nomination stunned many career lawyers inside the Justice Department. Gaetz, who passed the bar but barely worked as a lawyer, had very little relevant experience for the job. Bondi comes with years of legal work under her belt and that other trait Trump prizes above all: loyalty. READ MORE: Who has Trump picked for his cabinet and administration so far? A running list. The hasty withdrawal by Gaetz and quick pivot to Bondi were the latest examples of Trumps tumultuous decision-making as he rushes out nominations some of questionable character and credentials at a breakneck pace without the government vetting that is typical of presidential transitions. Its an omen that despite running his most organized campaign for the White House this year, his return to the Oval Office might feature the same sort of drama that permeated his first term. Trumps son Donald Trump Jr. told Fox News Sunday Morning Futures that the transition team had backups in mind for his controversial nominees should they fail to get confirmed. Still, even in Trumps world, things moved fast. Trump had been seeking to capitalize on his decisive election win to force Senate Republicans to accept provocative selections like Gaetz. The decision could heighten scrutiny on other controversial Trump nominees, including Pentagon pick Pete Hegseth, who faces sexual assault allegations that he denies. While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition, Gaetz said in a statement one day after meeting with senators in an effort to win their support. There is no time to waste on a needlessly protracted Washington scuffle, thus Ill be withdrawing my name from consideration to serve as Attorney General. Trumps DOJ must be in place and ready on Day 1, he added. Trump, in a social media post, said: I greatly appreciate the recent efforts of Matt Gaetz in seeking approval to be Attorney General. He was doing very well but, at the same time, did not want to be a distraction for the Administration, for which he has much respect. Matt has a wonderful future, and I look forward to watching all of the great things he will do! Bondi is a well-known figure in Trumps circle, and has been a chair at the America First Policy Institute, a think tank set up by former Trump administration staffers. Shes been a vocal critic of the criminal cases against Trump. In one recent radio appearance, she called Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith and other prosecutors who have charged Trump horrible people she said were trying to make names for themselves by going after Donald Trump and weaponizing our legal system. Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham predicted in a social media post that Bondi will be confirmed quickly, calling her selection a grand slam, touchdown, hole in one, ace, hat trick, slam dunk, Olympic gold medal pick. If confirmed by the Republican-led Senate, Bondi would instantly become one of the most closely watched members of Trumps Cabinet given the Republicans threat to pursue retribution against perceived adversaries and concern among Democrats that he will look to bend the Justice Department to his will. A recent Supreme Court opinion not only conferred broad immunity on former presidents but also affirmed a presidents exclusive authority over the Justice Departments investigative functions. As president, he demanded investigations into political opponents like Hillary Clinton and sought to use the law enforcement powers of the Justice Department to advance his own interests, including in trying to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Bondi would inherit a Justice Department expected to pivot sharply on civil rights, corporate enforcement and the prosecutions of hundreds of Trump supporters charged in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol defendants whom Trump has pledged to pardon. Its unlikely that Bondi would be confirmed in time to overlap with Smith, who brought two federal indictments against Trump that are both expected to wind down before the incoming president takes office. Special counsels are expected to produce reports on their work that historically are made public, but it remains unclear when such a document might be released. Bondi was accused by a Massachusetts attorney of bribery over a $25,000 campaign contribution she received from Trump in 2013. Bondi asked for the donation near the same time that her office was being asked about a New York investigation of alleged fraud at Trump University. In 2017, that complaint was found to have lacked enough evidence to move forward. In 2013, while serving as Florida attorney general, she publicly apologized for asking that the execution of a man convicted of murder be delayed because it conflicted with a campaign fundraiser. She said she was wrong and sorry for requesting that then-Gov. Rick Scott push back the execution of Marshall Lee Gore by three weeks. While Gaetz sought to lock down Senate support this week, concern over the sex trafficking allegations showed no signs of abating. In recent days, an attorney for two women said his clients told House Ethics Committee investigators that Gaetz paid them for sex on multiple occasions beginning in 2017, when Gaetz was a Florida congressman. One of the women testified she saw Gaetz having sex with a 17-year-old at a party in Florida in 2017, according to the attorney, Joel Leppard. Gaetzs political future is uncertain. In a social media post, pointed at the incoming vice president, Gaetz wrote: I look forward to continuing the fight to save our country. Just maybe from a different post. Gov. Josh Shapiro talks with Darryl Thomas (left) during a visit to his PhillyCuts in West Philadelphia Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, along with other Black-owned small business owners Zina Johnson-Patrick (second from right) of Hair 4 U, and Ann Turner (right) of Hair du jour Salon. Shapiro also paid a visit to PhillyCuts - and got his hair trimmed - two years ago when he was running for governor. Vice President Kamala Harris made a campaign appearance at the barber shop last month. Read more Gov. Josh Shapiro chatted with workers at a West Philadelphia barbershop Thursday, weighing in on Sixers player Paul Georges knee injury and group chat gossip, and ribbing one of the barbers at Philly Cuts for daring to cut the hair of Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum. Love thy neighbor except for Celtics and Cowboys, the governor joked. Advertisement But after the barbershop talk and discussion of Shapiros effort to speed up licensing timelines for local businesses, the reason for the governors visit to the shop Darryl Thomas, the owner of Philly Cuts, told Shapiro he had a hardball question. What can you tell this community that the state will do to protect us from that guy? Thomas asked Shapiro, referring to President-elect Donald Trumps return to the White House. The business owner cited his concerns over cuts to SNAP, Medicare, and Medicaid, as well as deportation efforts. Shapiro seated in a barber chair in the Black-owned business surrounded by posters of Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, former President Barack Obama, and, of course, the Philadelphia Eagles said hes not afraid to take on Trump. I am mindful that the people of Pennsylvania chose Donald Trump, Shapiro said. Im also mindful that two years ago, they chose me. And I think we have to respect their choices, but I also would say Ive got a job to do to make sure peoples rights are protected and their needs are looked after. Its a familiar posture for Shapiro. As Pennsylvanias attorney general during Trumps first term, he was frequently at odds with the administration, suing several times alongside other Democratic governors and garnering national attention by fighting Trumps attempts to overturn the 2020 election. But Shapiro, who has built a national brand as a moderate Democrat willing to reach across the aisle, struck a congenial tone when talking about working with Republican Senator-elect Dave McCormick in Congress. We have a nice, cordial relationship, Shapiro said of McCormick. If thats the person the good people of Pennsylvania chose, of course were going to work together to bring home the resources to our commonwealth, to protect the rights and interests of our commonwealth, and I trust well work really well together. But Shapiro also said he shared fears with Thomas over Trumps second presidency, saying he is very scared that the new administration will make cuts to federal safety nets like food stamps and Obamacare, also known as the Affordable Care Act. Shapiro said his administration is assessing how the state can continue to provide such services in Pennsylvania if theyre cut by the federal government. These are programs that some of our people, quite a bit of our people, are relying upon to exist, to survive, to eat, said Thomas, the barbershop owner. So with Philly Cuts being in the trenches and feeling the pulse of the people, it concerns us. When asked by The Inquirer whether he is concerned about Trumps selection of celebrity doctor and onetime Pennsylvania GOP Senate candidate Mehmet Oz to oversee the federal department in charge of Medicare and Medicaid, Shapiro emphasized that he is focused on protecting Pennsylvanians support systems. The governor said he will be watching Trump and his cabinet members who oversee health care very closely. When asked about transgender rights, a focus of Republican lawmakers and Trumps 2024 campaign, Shapiro reiterated that he will ensure that Pennsylvanians rights across the board are protected. The same sentiment, he said, extends to immigrants in the state. Im mindful the president-elect is going to try to attack our immigrant communities and thats something that were thinking a lot about in terms of the power he has versus the power the governor has in that conversation, Shapiro said. The visit to Philly Cuts marked a return for Shapiro, who previously got his hair trimmed at the Black-owned business two years ago when he was running for governor. Vice President Kamala Harris made a campaign appearance at the same barbershop last month. While chatting with the crowd at the barbershop, Shapiro also offered his administrations assistance on a variety of issues, from helping businesses learn how to get insured to following up with a person struggling to pay restitution, and asked for ideas for improving government services. Shapiro received high praise from the group inside Philly Cuts, who called him a man of his word. Thomas, the shop owner, said that his barbershop management license renewal was approved within one day instead of two weeks, crediting Shapiros efforts to speed up the process. When one salon owner told Shapiro shes scared to now live in a red state, he said with a grin: You got me, youre all right. In the insurance industry, its far more common for an insurance business to start in Australia and afterwards expand across the Tasman, rather than vice versa. For example, in August, Sydney-headquartered Agile Underwriting Services (Agile) officially launched operations in New Zealand. In July, after offering services in the country for several years, HDI Global SE (HDI) announced, for the first time, boots on the ground in New Zealand. It is important that we continue to provide households and businesses the support they need to move forward, particularly as we enter the next disaster season, Hall said. The study analyzed how historical cyber incidents like the Ryuk ransomware attacks and the 2017 Equifax data breach might have been even more devastating if enhanced by AI capabilities. For instance, AI could have helped the Equifax attackers identify valuable data more quickly and disguise their extraction activities, potentially leading to even greater data loss, the report noted. The general optimism among insurers and reinsurers about DUAEs persists, with more strategic partnerships being formed between carriers and DUAEs, said Yizhou Hong, senior financial analyst at AM Best. These partnerships are generally longer-term and allow capacity support across lines of business, industries, and geographies, instead of simply by program. Margaret To, CEO of Chaucer Singapore, echoed this sentiment, stating, Were delighted to welcome Jonathan to the Singapore team. His extensive knowledge and track record in political risk underwriting will be invaluable as we continue to solidify Chaucers position as a market leader. Jonathan will also help us to continue to deliver for our APAC and global clients. This new acquisition is part of Gallagher's aggressive move to spur the growth of its specialty brokerages and complement its existing operations. In a similar move two weeks ago, Gallagher acquired the Oklahoma-based Scout Benefits Group and California-based Statewide Commercial Insurance Brokers. As the author of The Ultimate Advantage: Your Guide to Winning in Commercial Insurance, Brown is known for his innovative approach to business. His extensive experience in several insurance agencies nationwide allowed him to implement advanced technology solutions to optimize sales strategies and develop business structures. The opportunity to apply my experience and leadership to an already well respected group is a challenge Im eager to take on. I look forward to collaborating with the team to deliver value for our customers and trading partners, said Davis. A second teenager was charged with intentionally setting a wildfire in a New Jersey suburb of Philadelphia as significant rainfall was expected to help douse a stubborn wildfire burning on the New Jersey-New York border Wednesday. Many parts of the Northeast have been under red flag alerts, with firefighters responding to hundreds of brush fires in tinder-dry and windy conditions. Officials have said numerous prolonged rain storms are needed in parts of New England as well as New Jersey and New York, which are the driest in between 120 to 150 years. And on the West Coast, weeks of dry conditions that raised wildfire risks were erased by a powerful storm known as a bomb cyclone that battered Washington, Oregon and Northern California with strong winds and heavy rain. Northwest of Los Angeles, crews were still mopping up a major blaze burning for two weeks that destroyed 240 structures. The Mountain Fire, which erupted Nov. 6 in Ventura County, was about 98% contained on Wednesday. Police in Evesham Township said Wednesday they have arrested a 14-year-old from Marlton in connection with an Oct. 30 wildfire that burned about 52 acres (21 hectares). On Nov. 7, they charged another youth, also from Marlton, with setting that same fire. The latest arrest was made Tuesday and announced on Wednesday. Both are charged with aggravated arson, and causing or risking widespread injury or damage. Both have been taken to a juvenile detention center as detectives investigate whether they might have been responsible for a second wildfire in Evesham a week later that burned a larger area, about 375 acres (152 hectares). A storm moving into the New Jersey-New York area Wednesday was expected to bring what New York officials called significant rainfall to the area of the Jennings Creek wildfire, which has burned more than 5,000 acres (2,023 hectares) and was 90% contained as of Wednesday morning. With rain on the way to help alleviate some strain from the fires and the drought, we encourage New Yorkers to conserve their water usage and not to burn fires outdoors, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a statement. We thank our first responders and firefighters for their bravery, and know that without them, this fire would be much worse. She said helicopters have conducted more than 550 water drops onto the blaze since Nov. 11, totaling over 500,000 gallons (1.89 million liters). Thats enough to fill most of an Olympic-sized swimming pool. While the rain will undoubtedly help fire crews douse the fire, which is burning in several hard-to-reach areas of rugged terrain, the rain could bring its own challenges. Soil within the burned area will become unstable and erosive as it becomes more saturated, the New York Department of Environmental Conservation said in a statement Tuesday night. Residents may see burned and decomposing trees fall within the fire area. A combination of mud and burned debris may run off into local waterways causing discoloration. Two other small wildfires in New Jersey were declared fully contained Wednesday morning. They were burning in Hainesport in Burlington County, and in Pine Park in Lakewood in Ocean County. Hochul said there are currently five other smaller wildfires burning in New York. Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics New York New Jersey Duane Gray says the priest at his Connecticut parish began sexually abusing him around 1974, when he was 12 years old. He told his parents, but they didnt believe it and beat him repeatedly. Then they kicked him out of the house when he was about 16, and he found himself living in the woods. Gray, 62, came forward publicly Tuesday to tell his story in the hopes it would allow some healing for himself and other victims of clergy sexual abuse. Last month, he said he reached a six-figure settlement with the Archdiocese of Hartford over his claims about the Rev. Daniel McSheffery, who died in 2014. Being able to talk about it, being able to have a resolution in my case meant everything, Gray said during a video conference with his lawyer and reporters. It would help me greatly, personally, if we can just stop one case from happening or more. And thats what Im striving for to shine a light on it and to keep it alive so that they cant brush it under the rug just by paying people off. David Elliott, a spokesperson for the archdiocese and the archbishop, the Most Rev. Christopher Coyne, said the archdiocese has a longstanding policy to not comment on abuse allegations and settlements. The Archdiocese of Hartford continues to apologize and work with victims of clergy sexual abuse and their families to bring them a lasting healing, he said in a statement. Archbishop Coyne and his staff are committed to doing all that is humanly possible to ensure that this never happens again and that our churches are safe places for children and families at all times. Gray, speaking from his workplace in Clinton, a town about 20 miles (32 kilometers) east of New Haven along the states southern shore, said the sexual abuse happened at St. George Church in Guilford and continued for about two years until around 1976. He didnt go into detail about the incidents. In 2019, the Hartford Archdiocese revealed that it had paid out more than $50 million to settle 142 sexual abuse claims against 32 clergy members. At the time, The Hartford Courant reported that McSheffery had 20 claims against him settled for nearly $11 million. McSheffery, who the archdiocese says was ordained in 1956 and removed from ministry in 2002, is on the archdioceses list of priests who were involved in legal settlements or otherwise credibly accused of sexually abusing minors dating back to 1953. He was assigned to several parishes in the state during his career. Like many other victims, Gray accused church officials of covering up sexual abuse and protecting accused priests. Gray said he resisted McShefferys last attempt to abuse him. Afterward, another priest called his parents, telling them that their son assaulted McSheffery and stole from the church. His parents, who were deeply religious, didnt believe him when he told them about the abuse, he said. My life turned into a living hell, Gray said. I endured daily beatings and I was forced out of the home at a very young age. I ended up sleeping in woods in a tent while attending school. He said he set up a tent not far from his home on town-owned property near a river. Three weeks later, he went to the tent from school and found it and all his belongings gone. He said the town had apparently cleared out tents belonging to himself and other homeless people who were staying there. But a friends mother allowed him to live in their home. Gray, however, said he began turning to drugs and alcohol to deal with what happened. He said he became out of control. After high school, he said he moved to Florida to get away from Connecticut and to straighten out his life. He said he worked in Florida for nine years as a drug and money laundering agent for the state Revenue Department. He later returned to Connecticut to take care of his ailing father, who died a day before he arrived, and later his mother, who also fell ill and died. Years after he was abused, he said he found out his younger brother also was sexually assaulted by McSheffery at the church, where they were altar boys. He said his brother also received a settlement from the archdiocese, and that he feels guilty for not protecting his brother, who died in 2014. Gray has previously spoken publicly about the abuse, but not in as much detail as on Tuesday. In 2019, he testified at a hearing before Connecticut legislators about the need to eliminate the statute of limitations to prosecute serious sex crimes and file lawsuits a proposal he still advocates for today. The Associated Press generally does not name victims of sexual assault unless they choose to go public, like Gray has. Grays Boston-based lawyer Mitchell Garabedian, who has represented many clergy abuse victims, called on the Hartford archbishop, Coyne, to support eliminating the statute of limitations for filing lawsuits with abuse claims and to disclose the archdioceses current efforts to protect children. In 2002, Connecticut lawmakers increased the statute of limitations for people who were abused as minors, allowing them to file lawsuits up to age 48. Grays claim against the archdiocese was outside that time period, but he was able to reach a settlement though mediation, Garabedian said. Gray said hes still thinking about what to do with his settlement money and hasnt spent any of it. He said he wants to help other abuse victims. Looking back, Gray said what he went through seems surreal. You have to remember, I was young. I wasnt fully developed or mature, he said. And plus, ignorance is bliss. But I grew up really fast. Real, real fast. And I wouldnt wish that on anybody. Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. HANGZHOU, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Artificial intelligence (AI) technology is driving a new technological and industrial revolution. However, there is concern about its application. At a forum highlighting responsible AI development and applications held in Zhejiang Province of east China, experts and industry insiders from both home and abroad have called for a people-centered approach to harnessing AI technology for the benefit of humankind. Malaysia's Deputy Minister of Communications Teo Nie Ching shared a chatbot story, in which an AI technology firm in the United States was accused by a woman of causing her 14-year-old son's death. The teenager committed suicide in February after becoming obsessed with a chatbot on a platform developed by the company, the mother was quoted as saying. The case was deemed to be an illustration of the potential threat posed by AI technology, warranting the need for effective AI governance. "Digital transformation is not only about technology popularization but also the necessity to take a more careful look at the human society and ethical values," said Teo on the occasion of the 2024 World Internet Conference Wuzhen Summit that closes on Friday. Many speakers at the summit reached a consensus on promoting the development of AI to improve human well-being, while also stressing this effort should prioritize social security, respect human rights, share global values, and take a people-centered, ethical approach. They suggested AI governance featuring joint efforts by the government, companies and society as a whole, while promoting technological innovation and international cooperation. Zhou Hongyi, founder of 360 Group, believes a people-centered principle is essential for science and technology. "AI should have a positive influence on humans. It ought to serve as an assistant instead of a replacement," he said. China has taken action to seek the coordination of AI development with governance. In July 2023, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) issued interim guidelines on managing generative AI services, the first of their kind in the world. In September 2024, a regulation on identifying AI-generated or composed content was drafted and released for public opinion. Zhang Weimin, an engineer with the CAC, called for greater awareness of social responsibility and the prevention of improper usage. Under the theme of "Embracing a People-centered and AI-for-good Digital Future -- Building a Community with a Shared Future in Cyberspace," participants at the summit also voiced support for the underdeveloped world to bridge the digital and AI divide. Nii Narku Quaynor, chairman of Ghana Dot Com, also known as the "father of the internet in Africa," shared his thought on the diversity and inclusiveness in the booming AI era. "The task facing Africa is how we are introducing AI and ensuring participation on the development side, as well as usage," noted Quaynor. He pointed out three areas that require attention: technical capacities and educational preparedness; the cost of equipment and infrastructure; and electrical power. "Cooperation is the answer," Quaynor said in an interview with Xinhua. He said he looks forward to deeper cooperation between Africa and China in cyberspace and expects that Africa can also contribute to this field. In China, AI is becoming an important engine for developing new quality productive forces. China is now home to more than 4,500 AI companies. Its core AI industry reached a size of more than 578 billion yuan (about 81.3 billion U.S. dollars) in 2023, up 13.9 percent year on year, according to official data. A New Jersey commercial baker in Paterson faces $385,221 in federal penalties after a U.S. Department of Labor investigation found the employer failed to correct workplace safety hazards identified in 2023. The departments Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) began a follow-up inspection at Valentis Bakery LLC in Paterson n May 2024 after the employer failed to prove they had addressed hazards cited by OSHA in a June 2023 inspection. The agency initiated an inspection in 2023 after an employee suffered two partial finger amputations after coming into contact with an automatic blade. During the follow-up investigation, OSHA said it found that the employer had failed to use lockout/tagout procedures for the control of hazardous mechanical energy, which resulted in the agency issuing a notification of failure to abate. Investigators also issued two willful citations for blocked and obstructed exit routes; one repeat citation for machine guarding; and six citations for exposure to fall hazards from a ladder and unprotected side and edges. Valentis Bakery failed to take the necessary steps to protect its employees, even after a preventable life-altering injury underscored the hazards in its workplace, said OSHA Area Office Director Lisa Levy in Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey. Valentis Bakery manufactures and sells baked goods wholesale to retailers throughout New Jersey. The company has 15 business days to comply, request a conference with OSHAs area director, or contest the findings before the OSHAs independent review commission. Topics Workers' Compensation New Jersey When Hector Xu was learning to fly a helicopter in college, he recalled having a few nasty experiences while trying to navigate at night. The heart-stopping flights led to his research of unmanned aircraft systems while getting his doctorate degree in aerospace engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Then, he formed Rotor Technologies in 2021 to develop unmanned helicopters. Rotor has built two autonomous Sprayhawks and aims to have as many as 20 ready for market next year. The company also is developing helicopters that would carry cargo in disaster zones and to offshore oil rigs. The helicopter could also be used to fight wildfires. For now, Rotor is focused on the agriculture sector, which has embraced automation with drones but sees unmanned helicopters as a better way to spray larger areas with pesticides and fertilizers. On Wednesday, Rotor plans to conduct a public flight test with its Sprayhawk at an agriculture aviation trade show in Texas. People would call us up and say, hey, I want to use this for crop dusting, can I? Wed say, OK maybe, Xu said, adding that they got enough calls to realize it was a huge untapped market. The Associated Press reporters were the first people outside the company to witness a test flight of the Sprayhawk. It hovered, flew forward and sprayed the tarmac before landing. Rotors nearly $1 million Sprayhawk helicopter is a Robinson R44, but the four seats have been replaced with flight computers and communications systems allowing it be operated remotely. It has five cameras as well as laser-sensing technology and a radar altimeter that make terrain reading more accurate along with GPS and motion sensors. At the companys hangar in Nashua, New Hampshire, Xu said this technology means there is better visibility of terrain at night. Safety Draw One of the big draws of automation in agriculture aviation is safety. Because crop dusters fly at around 150 mph (240 kph) and only about 10 feet (3 meters) off the ground, there are dozens of accidents each year when planes collide with power lines, cell towers and other planes. Older, poorly maintained planes and pilot fatigue contribute to accidents. A 2014 report from the National Transportation Safety Board found there were more than 800 agriculture operation accidents between 2001 and 2010 including 81 that were fatal. A separate report from the National Agriculture Aviation Association found nearly 640 accidents from 2014 until this month with 109 fatalities. It is a very, very dangerous, profession and there are multiple fatalities every year, said Dan Martin, a research engineer with the U.S. Department of Agricultures Agriculture Research Service. They make all their money in those short few months so sometimes it may mean that they fly 10 to 12 hours a day or more. Job hazards also include exposure to chemicals. In recent years, safety concerns and the cheaper cost has led to a proliferation of drones flying above farmers fields, Martin said, adding that some 10,000 will likely be sold this year alone. Its growing exponentially as a market, super fast, Martin said. But the size of the drones and their limited battery power means they only can cover a fraction of the area of a plane and helicopters. That is providing an opening for companies building bigger unmanned aircraft like Rotor and another company Pyka. Crop Protection California-based Pyka announced in August that it had sold its first autonomous electric aircraft for crop protection to a customer in the United States. Pykas Pelican Spray, a fixed-wing aircraft, received FAA approval last year to fly commercially for crop protection. The company also sold its Pelican Spray to Dole for use in Honduras and to the Brazilian company, SLC Agricola. Lukas Koch, chief technology officer at Heinen Brothers Agra Services, the company which bought the Pelican Spray in August, has called unmanned aircraft part of a coming revolution, that will save farmers money and improve safety. The Kansas-based company operates out of airports from Texas to Illinois. Koch doesnt envision the unmanned aircraft replacing all the the companys dozens of pilots but rather taking over the riskiest jobs. The biggest draw is taking the pilot out of the aircraft inside of those most dangerous situations, Koch said. Theres still fields that are surrounded by trees on all borders, or youve got big, large power lines or other just dangers, wind turbines, things like that. It can be tough to fly around. But Koch acknowledges autonomous aviation systems could introduce new dangers to an already chaotic airspace though that is less of a concern in rural areas with plenty of open space and fewer people. Putting more systems into the air that dont have a pilot inside could introduce new dangers to our current existing pilots and make their life even more dangerous, he said. If youve got this full size helicopter flying beyond the line of sight, how is it going to react when it sees you? What is it going to do? Thats a giant question mark, one that we take very seriously. Companies like Rotor have incorporated built-in in contingencies should something go wrong its helicopter features a half-dozen communications systems and, for now, a remote pilot in control. If the ground team loses contact with the helicopter, Rotor has a system which Xu referred to as a big, red button that ensures the engine can be shut off and the helicopter perform a controlled landing. That means that well never have an aircraft fly away event, he said. The safety measures will go a long way to helping the company receive what it expects will be FAA regulatory approval to fly its helicopters commercially. Once they have that, the challenge, as Xu sees it, will be scaling up to meet the demand in the United States but also Brazil which has a huge agriculture market but more relaxed regulatory environment. I think 2025 will be production hell as Elon Musk calls it, Xu said. Its kind of the difference between building a couple to building tens and hundreds at scale These are no longer just like bespoke Rolls-Royces. You want to be stamping these out like you would production automobiles. Photo: A Rotor Technologies unmanned semi-autonomous helicopter flies away from a van containing a ground control pilot/operator during a test flight over Intervale Airport, Monday, Nov. 11, 2024, in Henniker, N.H. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Agribusiness Cyber attacks against Nordic banks, likely perpetrated by Russia-linked hackers, pose the biggest threat to financial stability in the region, a top Danish central bank official said. Financial institutions should be prepared for an arms race with cybercriminals, Ulrik Nodgaard, the new deputy governor at the Danish central bank, said in an interview in Copenhagen. His comments come as websites of lenders including Nordea Bank Abp, the largest in the region, have been disrupted on a daily basis for weeks. This has become a more real threat, Nodgaard said, adding that even stronger and more far-reaching cyberwarfare isnt ruled out. These attacks are basically about creating frustration and uncertainty, and that has been successful. Denmark Raises Cyber Security Alert Level After Attacks From Russian Hacker Group The incidents, drowning websites in extreme traffic, have gone from being slightly annoying to taking on a more serious character, said Nodgaard, who took the job in August. While experts and media have attributed the so-called Distributed Denial-of-Service, or DDoS attacks, to perpetrators affiliated with Russia, no senior official has so far publicly made such a link. Asked whether he thinks the DDoS attacks come from Russia, he said: Yes, the general assessment is that it seems likely. Nodgaard is one of two deputy governors at the Danish central bank, overseeing the payment system and financial stability. He joined the regulator from a role as head of the countrys banking lobby group, and previously headed up the Danish Financial Supervisory Authority. Nordea has called a wave of DDoS attacks since September unprecedented in scale, intensity and duration slowing its digital services or taking them offline. The Nordic banking industry, one of the most digitalized in the world, may potentially also face attacks where criminals succeed in hacking into an institution and shut it down for days, Nodgaard said. Globally, DDoS attacks spiked in the third quarter of 2024, according to cyber security company Cloudflare, which said last month it mitigated almost 6 million such incidents in the quarter, a nearly 50% increase from the previous period. The financial services industry was the hardest hit, it added. The Danish central bank has already been working with lenders on preventative cyber measures for some time, including facilitating knowledge-sharing and exercises where hackers are hired to expose gaps in banks resilience. But since Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the focus has shifted slightly toward investing more into preparedness and recovery should larger disruptions happen, Nodgaard said. Its about preparing for worst-case scenarios, Nodgaard said. We dont expect anyone to come in and shut down a major Danish payment institution, but in the climate were in now, we have to invest and be prepared for that scenario. In one such move, the central bank has been working with lenders, card companies and retailers to extend the number of days that Danes can pay by card for groceries and medicine in shops if the internet or payment system shuts down. From next year, such offline retail payments will be possible for seven days for all cards issued in Denmark; today this is possible for only three days and not for all cards. Authorities in other countries, Nodgaard said, have shown keen interest in the system as it avoids having to ask citizens in a largely cashless economy to stock notes and coins for a crisis situation. Related: Copyright 2025 Bloomberg. Topics Cyber Russia This edition of International People Moves details appointments at Markel and Generali Global Corporate & Commercial. A summary of these new hires follows. Markel Taps AEGIS Londons Pressman as Senior Underwriter, Marine Cargo Markel, the insurance operations within Markel Group Inc., announced the appointment of David Pressman as senior underwriter Marine Cargo, with immediate effect. Pressman will support the profitable expansion of Markels marine cargo portfolio in London, by servicing new and renewal business as well as fostering strong relationships with broker partners, ensuring high service levels are maintained. He will also be responsible for identifying new areas to scale further profitable growth and supporting members in the marine cargo underwriting team with their professional development. Pressman is a seasoned underwriter possessing 11 years of experience within the insurance industry. Before joining Markel, he was employed at AEGIS London, where he served in a marine cargo underwriting capacity. Before this position, Pressman spent more than eight years at MS Amlin, starting out as a binding authority technician before progressing to the role of marine cargo underwriter. Based at Markels London office, Pressman will report directly to Brook Styles, head of Marine Cargo.The marine cargo market is continuing to navigate a plethora of challenges from the ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Red Sea to the increase in natural disasters which are causing supply chains disruptions and security concerns for the transportation of goods worldwide, commented Styles. *** Generali Global Corporate & Commercial Names Chubbs Selff as Head of Underwriting Asia Generali Global Corporate & Commercial (GC&C) has appointed Nicholas Selff appointed as new head of Underwriting, Asia, effective Nov. 18. Selff has a strong background in the property/casualty insurance industry, having worked for over 15 years in various positions across the APAC region, where he gained deep knowledge of all relevant technical and commercial aspects. He has held key leadership positions in renowned companies including Chubb, AIG, and Zurich. Selff joins Generali from Chubb where he most recently served as the head of Property and Casualty in Malaysia, having previously held senior regional leadership positions with Chubb in Singapore. We are excited to introduce Nick as a new member of our leadership team. His expertise will be instrumental in advancing our business throughout Asia, addressing our clients needs with bespoke solutions and top-tier risk advisory services, commented Axel Roesner, head of GC&C Asia. Nick will spearhead our initiatives for profitable growth, technical excellence, and risk engineering across all business lines and markets. I am confident that his addition will significantly enhance our strategy for growth and innovation. Topics Underwriting Trucking London Chubb Officials with Floridas Citizens Property Insurance Corp. took issue Thursday with a number of national and Florida news reports that have suggested that the insurer has the worst rate on paying claims after recent hurricanes. Thats just not accurate, Citizens Board of Governors Chairman Scott Thomas said at a Citizens Claims Committee meeting Thursday afternoon. Board member Jason Butts called the news reports clickbait that were misleading to policyholders and the public. The issue seems to have started with an Oct. 18 online article by the NOTUS news service, which cited Florida Office of Insurance Regulation data on recent hurricane claims. The posting noted that Citizens didnt pay a dime in 77% of claims it closed from Augusts Hurricane Debby. Newsweek, a national news magazine and website, ran a similar article three days later. Since then, Florida-based news outlets have reported the information, and Citizens officials have been busy trying to set the record straight. Weiss Ratings, a Florida-based firm, added to the concerns when it posted recently that Citizens had closed half of its 2023 claims without payment. Citizens chief insurance officer, Jay Adams, spoke at length at the Thursday meeting, agreeing that thousands of claims from hurricanes this year were, in fact, closed without payment to policyholders. But thats because thousands of claims, after inspection, turned out to be below policyholders hurricane deductible threshold; damage was due to flood or storm surge that is not covered by a property policy; or the claims should have been filed with the homeowners new insurance carrier after a takeout of Citizens policies, Adams said. Two independent adjusters have said as much to Insurance Journal after inspecting dozens of homes for Citizens. Officials have said that Citizens current business model to be the insurer of last resort but one with statutorily limited rates has made it the largest carrier in the state and often the only one available for some properties. We are writing the riskiest policies in the state, Adams said at the meeting. We are the ones that are writing the coastal homes. We are the ones writing wind-only coverage. And most Citizens policies have very high deductibles, higher than some other insurers in the state. Citizens coverage limits also are limited by law, and the insurer does not typically cover some areas that other insurers might, such as pool cages, Citizens spokesman Michael Peltier said. That can lead to more claims closed without payments. And hurricane deductibles are annual, not per-storm, Adams noted. Some policyholders were encouraged to file claims that were likely to be denied so that the hurricane deductible could be met with claims in subsequent storms. Adams also noted that Citizens is closely scrutinized by state regulators and has generally received high marks for its claims handling. Numbers provided by Citizens on Thursday show that for Debby, which flooded parts of the Big Bend area in August, Citizens saw about 3,026 claims and closed 2,617. Of those closed claims, about 74% were closed without payment. But for the latest storm, Hurricane Milton, which made landfall Oct. 9 with as much wind as flooding, the payment percentages are higher. Citizens has received about 54,300 claims due to Milton. Some 38,313 of those have been closed. About 56% of those closed claims were closed with payment. For all insurers, 300,955 claims have been filed after Milton and about 181,475 have been closed, as of Nov. 19, OIR data show. Of those closed claims, 47% have been closed without payment. A third were closed without payment because the loss was considered to be below the deductible. Compared to Hurricane Ian in 2022, the unpaid claims rate so far appears to be higher in recent storms. Some 18 months after Ian struck, only about 27% were closed without payment. Ian brought Category 5 winds but also caused extensive coastal flooding in southwest Florida and inland flooding in the central part of the state. A few claims adjusters who had raised red flags about insurers denying claims and altering damage estimates after Hurricane Ian, have said recently that several carriers this year seem to have improved their claims-payment practices and no longer make wholesale changes to inspection reports. And OIR officials have taken issue with some of the recent reports. This week, OIR subpoenaed emails, texts and other records from Weiss Ratings in Palm Beach Gardens, after Weiss warned of Citizens unpaid claims and financial troubles with other insurers, according to Florida news outlets. On claims disputes, Citizens has seen a remarkable number of settlements in cases that were set to be heard by state administrative law judge, officials said Thursday. Citizens Board of Governors in 2022, in an effort to reduce claims litigation, approved a policy endorsement that allows disputes to be heard by judges with a state agency the Division of Administrative Hearings, known as DOAH. Since then, 260 claims have been sent to DOAH judges; 196 are pending and 63 have been resolved. But importantly, some 75% of claims disputes due for DOAH have been settled before a hearing is held, said Elaina Paskalakis, vice president of claims litigation for Citizens. Part of the reason is that DOAH cases reach the hearing level much faster than litigation in courts, she said. Most claims disputes scheduled to be heard by DOAH judges are resolved in an average of 76 days, compared to 624 days for state-court lawsuits. This is absolutely a benefit to our insureds, in that they are getting a resolution much more efficiently and much quicker, Paskalakis said. Citizens works closely with DOAH to ensure that the insurer does not send too many cases that way, so that the judges are not overwhelmed, she said. Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Florida Claims Hurricane Highway safety officials in Colorado are seeing a slight decline in a number of dangerous driving practices, such as driving while intoxicated, failing to use seat belts and speeding. A poll by the Colorado Department of Transportation assessed the opinions and actions of roughly 945 Colorado residents to produce the 2024 Driver Behavior Report. So far this year, there have been 299 fatalities on Colorado roads, down 8% from this time last year. The top crash factors in the crashes were speed, impairment and distracted driving, according to the department. Distracted driving habits like using cellphones or eating and drinking were found to be most common among drivers between the ages of 25 and 44. The vast majority of respondents (77%) acknowledged using their phones while driving, but 45% said a hands-free option would help them quit using their phones while driving. More than a third (37%) checked their messages on their phones while driving in the past week prior to taking the poll, and 42% said they took a call. The majority (73%) of respondents also said they have eaten or drunk a beverage while operating a motor vehicle. While picking up a phone to make calls, read messages, and/or send messages generally decreased with age, drivers aged 2544 were the most likely to say they had done each of these in the last week, the report states. Most drivers of this demographic said they had picked up a phone to make calls (54%) or read messages (53%) while driving over the last seven days. Nearly one-in-five (19%) poll takers acknowledged driving within two hours after using alcohol, 6% after consuming cannabis and 3% after taking prescription medications. However, 57% of respondents said they never drive while intoxicated. Most respondents believe that police can identify if someone has recently used cannabis (60%) or alcohol (77%). Furthermore, 67% of respondents believe that consuming alcohol within an hour increases the likelihood of a DUI, and 52% say the same about cannabis if the user is impaired above the legal limit. Although 89% of drivers usually buckle up, only 80% do so when traveling less than 2 miles. Seat belt use is lower among male drivers (86%) than female drivers (92%). When compared to drivers of vehicles made before 2005, 91% of drivers of newer models are more likely to utilize seat belts. Sixteen percent of drivers say they speed most or all the time, a 4% drop from the previous year. Most drivers said they speed at least some of the time when driving on highways (69% on main highways with a speed limit of 65 mph) and 68% on local highways (a speed limit of 55 mph). On local roads, drivers between the ages of 18 and 34 (35%) are more likely to speed than drivers over the age of 35 (23%). The majority of drivers (58%) believe that exceeding a 30-mph speed limit will result in a stop more frequently than exceeding a 65-mph restriction (41%). While 7% of motorcycle riders never wear a helmet, 62% do so at all times. In Colorado, 62% of drivers give motorcycles more space when they are following them, and 73% of riders have a motorcycle endorsement. In crosswalks, 85% of vehicles always stop for pedestrians, whereas in non-crosswalk situations, 45% do the same. A mail packet survey (in English and Spanish) was sent to 5,000 randomly selected residential addresses, and 945 Colorado residents completed the survey: 391 by mail, 216 online invited by mail and 338 via the panel. The margin of error was 4.1%. Topics Personal Auto Colorado A month after wildfires ravaged Maui in August 2023, Gov. Josh Green issued an emergency proclamation to postpone the adoption of any new building codes that might exacerbate a housing shortage that had just gotten worse. The governors office is now moving to fast-track adoption of new codes and bring Hawaii into compliance with the latest national building standards as the state and counties have struggled to keep up with the pace of change. The administrations move comes as Hawaii contends with both the ever-present risk of devastating natural disasters, which vigorous building codes can mitigate, and a 50,000-unit housing shortage, which they can exacerbate due to a higher cost of compliance. There was a key, unintended consequence of Greens 2023 proclamation: it also put the State Building Code Council, which is tasked with updating construction regulations, on hiatus. That inadvertently resulted in the state adopting an unamended version of the regulations formulated by the International Code Council, whose sweeping codes inform jurisdictions nationwide, from Montana to Puerto Rico. That means they include things Hawaii doesnt need to worry about, like snow. Unwittingly stuck with building codes that dont work fit construction in todays Hawaii, Greens administration is now trying to fast-track adoption of building codes developed in 2024. In the meantime, Greens most recent proclamation stated that the counties would not have to abide by the 2021 code. To prepare the state code council to adopt revisions based on the 2024 recommendations, the governors team will be joined by two soon-to-be-hired technical advisors. By pre-drafting those code amendments, we hope to streamline the code adoption process for the counties and the State Building Code Council when it is reinstated so that they can better focus on their own particular priorities and building code requirements, said Scott Glenn, Greens senior housing advisor. The administrations move to effectively skip the 2021 code gives some development and construction industry advocates what they want, as the code cycle has been cited as a problem by several building industry representatives for years. The cycle calls for the state to update its code every three years, which the counties then have to amend and adopt within two years. The three-year cycle is way too fast. Nobody is keeping up with it. I dont think it makes sense, said Geena Thielen of the Building Industry Association of Hawaii. Our building code process, from top to bottom, is broken, she said. Skipping A Cycle Building codes regulate and dictate standards for everything from wall construction, electrical sockets and water pressure, to disaster-related regulations, which include using hurricane clips that lash roofs down to stay secure during high winds. But code adoption has long been a contentious issue in housing circles, as opinions differ on how to strike a balance between ensuring public safety and keeping codes updated while streamlining housing development. And there has been broad recognition of a need to reform the building code process, either by hiring staff to serve the State Building Code Council or slowing the cycle of code adoption. Rep. Luke Evslin in 2024 introduced a bill to allow the state to adopt every other ICC code on a six-year cycle, which he now says he believes was just a Band Aid for a larger problem. The bill died. The local chapter of the American Institute for Architects is concerned similar legislation might appear in the 2025 session, though Evslin said he does not plan to reintroduce his measure. AIA Hawaii president Reid Mizue says skipping code cycles would be disastrous for Hawaii, especially given recent natural disasters on the mainland and the 2023 Maui fires that destroyed more than 2,200 structures and killed 102 people. We do not like the idea that they have skipped over 2021 and that shouldnt happen as we move forward, Mizue said. The Building Industry Association, along with other construction, housing and development organizations, has supported the extended cycle because the counties have been struggling to keep up. The State Building Code Council has absolutely failed to do what it was intended to do when it was created to provide a uniform building code for Hawaii, Thielen said. Kauai County only recently adopted the 2018 State Building Code, while other counties have also struggled and skipped over iterations of the state code. Dawn Takeuchi Apuna, director of the Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting, says it makes sense to reevaluate the code adoption cycle to create a process that is more manageable and efficient for the public and private sectors. The governors pause on code development has given Apunas staff a reprieve to focus more on processing applications, she said. The codes are designed and developed to build on each other in accordance with research and recent events, such as wildfires or hurricanes, as well as what Karl Fippinger of the International Code Council calls the quantum leaps in technology occurring nationwide. Those technologies include solar panels, batteries and energy storage systems, said Fippinger, ICCs vice president of fire and disaster mitigation. Prior to 2018, building and fire codes were largely silent on this technology, Fippinger said. In 2024, we now have entire sections and chapters of the codes devoted to these technologies. A six-year code cycle denies communities the opportunity to incorporate these advancements safely into our homes, businesses, schools and critical infrastructure. But the three-year cycle may be too short for a voluntary council that relies on 13 members from the counties, state and industry. There is a similar lack of manpower at the county level. When lawmakers created the State Building Code Council in 2007, it included the roles of executive director and an assistant as part of the legislation, but those positions have never been funded. Mizue would like to see them funded during the next legislative session. Thielen of the Building Industry Association says that if the code council positions are funded, then the state code should be done away with and the council should advise the counties so theyre not left to sink or swim. This story was originally published by Honolulu Civil Beat and distributed through a partnership with The Associated Press. Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Hawaii Curioys perms, killer shoulder pads, and not a condom in sight the hit TV series Rivals gives us a whistle-stop tour of the trends best left behind. The colourful 80s affairs (of the business and pleasure variety) take us through a litany of fleeting crushes and pornographic passions. The Disney+ series doesnt exactly have the greatest role models for mutual consent, communication, pleasure and vulnerability needed for satisfying sexual relationships. But are these just a load of pop-psychology buzzwords, or are there real-world sex hacks to be learned from the Rivals cast? For starters, most characters have no inhibitions about communicating their sexual desires. And while this directness makes for entertaining viewing, its also a learning point. Playing it coy is not a traditionally winning strategy when in a new sexual relationship we have to do a bit of show and tell if we want our partner to get it right. Showing someone that were interested in them, telling them what we really want, and hoping for the best outcome can be scary. The cringe factor might be high, but at least embarrassment never killed anybody. It also gets a bit easier each time we risk hearing the dreaded Im flattered or not tonight. Embracing the idea of rejection can be a helpful exercise in humility. Nobody knows humble pie like our lonely Rivals lead Maud OHara, who is suffering an attention drought from her work-obsessed husband, Declan. The glamorous matriarch has become increasingly reckless in her bid for affection as far as dramatic antics go, shed give a panto queen a run for her money. Early scenes show Maud seducing Declan on his return from the office after a day of openly flirting with handsome Rupert Campbell-Black. You used to give me attention now you go to work, she tells her jealous husband. Her misguided attempt at communicating her needs is briefly effective. Just for the night, Declan gives her his full attention. How would you have liked him to touch you? he asks her as they lie in bed, finally satisfying his wife as she moans for Ireland. While Mauds marriage survives her pursuit of a lover in the short term, the band-aid soon comes off without their commitment or capacity to heal deeper wounds in the relationship. Katherine Parkinson as Lizzie Vereker Miscommunication With hush-hush hotel bookings to beat the band, most of our Rivals cast seek sexual gratification outside of their marriages. Miscommunication is the norm. This is also the case in real life, as most of us were never taught how to understand or communicate our needs in a healthy way. While long-term relationships can offer stability, it is a mistake to presume that we know everything about our partner and, indeed, about ourselves from one decade to the next. Curiosity about how our interests and desires are evolving is crucial to maintaining honest, satisfying sexual relationships. But we often avoid opening Pandoras Box of new demands for fear that our partner cannot or will not meet them. Lizzie and Freddie in a scene from Rivals. Lizzie and Freddie are the most cautious, crush-worthy pairing of the Rivals bunch. Lizzie is a self-deprecating, dark-humoured writer, and Freddie is a brash, self-made businessman. As their ambitious partners focus on climbing the social ladder, Freddie and Lizzie bump into each other throughout the series, gently building a connection with curiosity, care and craic. Their sexual attraction simmers alongside mutual respect and admiration. Following a delicate Jenga of near-kiss experiences, we get a heart-melting, gorgeously awkward scene featuring the pair in the finale a reminder that good sex is filled with unplanned pauses and moments of self-consciousness. Lying under a tree, seeing the best in each other and giddy with excitement they pull away their clothes and enjoy each others beautifully normal-looking bodies as the sun goes down. Satisfying sex is easiest found with someone whose company you enjoy. Rivals gives us a perfect example of autopilot sex with production assistant Daysee and Hollywood star Johnny Friedlander, for whom sex has become a box-ticking exercise. With star-struck Daysee on her back, politely smiling at Johnny, who she met minutes earlier, the sobriety advocate celeb leans over to swig from his bottle of booze while blindly having sex with her. As an afterthought, he offers the bottle to Daysee, which she indignantly declines: Im working! she says, without missing a beat in word or thrust. Daysee is delightfully smug after her brief celebrity encounter despite Johnnys total lack of interest or capacity for prioritising her pleasure. She is blissful ignorance personified expectations are on the floor. Danny Dwyer as Freddie Jones Expressing our desires Researchers have found over 200 reasons that people have sex, with pleasure and feeling good coming out on top. Daysee and Johnnys encounter was not exactly the picture of passion or pleasure, and we can hazard a guess that their communication wasnt amazing either. Many things can hold us back from enjoying sex. For example, we cannot voice or fulfil our deepest desires unless we first know and appreciate our bodies and turn-ons. Expressing our desires could also be easier if we had a positive understanding of consent. True bodily autonomy is a living, breathing sense of vitality in which eroticism thrives. Knowing and owning our body is where the magic happens. We should celebrate the powerful, positive outcomes of embodied consent just as much as we (rightly) discuss its importance in harm prevention. Being and feeling safe is essential to letting go and getting deep enjoyment from our sexual experiences, and I fear we forget that consent is not just a set of rules but a powerful pleasure partner. If Daysee and Johnny understood consent as an exciting, empowering tool, it might have moved them to pause mindfully during sex instead of pushing through. Shifting how you view consent can encourage you to tell your sexual partner, Id actually like it if you could touch it like this instead, or to feel confident asking, Does this feel good for you? How would you like it? without taking offence to their response. Consent is not the clunky tick-box contract its made out to be - its our erotic superpower. As entertaining as they are, our friends on Rivals are missing a few tricks when it comes to healthy communication, including consent, sexual health status, and contraception. But given that its a fantastical soap opera with chaotic behaviour, bad haircuts and ticking time bomb secrets, I cant wait for season two. Sarah Ellis from Kildare is the proud mother of a five-year-old son. I got pregnant with him at the age of 35 when my partner and I had only been together for a year and werent actively trying to get pregnant, she says. It was a happy accident. Id always wanted children, so I was thrilled. My pregnancy was smooth and joyous, and when our son was born in 2019, everything was perfect. Ellis got pregnant again when she was 37. She remembers feeling elated at the thought of a second child joining the family. Unfortunately, I started bleeding when I was six weeks pregnant, she says. The hospital gave me a pregnancy test, which came back negative, and told me to go home and let nature run its course. That miscarriage was followed by three more, despite Ellis efforts to do everything she possibly could to hold onto her pregnancies. Ive taken every supplement and removed as many toxins as I can from my life, she says. I wash my familys clothes in baking soda and vinegar. I dont wear nail polish or any fragrances. I took progesterone in my last pregnancy. Ive done everything I was told to, but none of those pregnancies made it past the eight-week mark. Suzanne Ronayne and her partner are also struggling to grow their family. Ronayne, aged 34, is from Galway. She has a nine-year-old son and has been trying to have another baby for the past three years. I miscarried at 10 weeks in May 2023, she says. I got pregnant again in July, but in September, we found out our baby was sick and were advised to terminate the pregnancy. Ronayne had to travel to Liverpool for the termination as her situation didnt meet the legal criteria for undergoing it in Ireland. It was horrendous, she says. It was supposed to happen in Liverpool, but we were transferred to London at the last minute. Travelling to London in a taxi to terminate our longed-for baby everything felt so out of our control. Conceiving again proved difficult, and when the couple investigated why, they discovered that Ronaynes fallopian tubes were blocked. Probably due to an infection from that termination, she says. Were devastated. Suffering from secondary infertility Ellis and Ronayne both have secondary infertility. According to the HSE, one in six couples in Ireland experience infertility. Dr John Waterstone, medical director of Waterstone Clinic, says 35% to 40% of these experience secondary infertility. Primary infertility is diagnosed when someone who has never had children is unable to get pregnant after a year of having regular unprotected sex. Secondary infertility, says Dr Waterstone, refers to problems experienced by someone who has previously given birth: It can be frustrating and emotionally challenging because its so unexpected. Once you have successfully conceived and had a baby, youd presume you could do so again without difficulty. Dr John Kennedy, medical director of Therapie Fertility, says the pain of secondary infertility is compounded by the fact that its not spoken about. Primary infertility gets most of the media attention, and those struggling with secondary infertility can interpret this as an unspoken message that they should be happy to have any children at all. People come to our clinic feeling guilty or greedy for asking for help conceiving, he says. But they arent being unreasonable. Of course, their context is different from that of those who dont have any children at all. They should be and are grateful for the family they do have. But it still hurts if they want more children and cant have them. Jessica Bourke is a natural fertility specialist known as the Fertility Detective. She believes the issue of secondary infertility is underacknowledged: So many people come to me feeling bereft because they find it difficult to grow their families. I hear stories of people being told they should consider themselves lucky to have even one child at their age. Then theres the heartbreak of their child asking why they cant have a little brother or sister like their friends do or thoughtless comments from family and friends asking when theyll have another. They might not talk about it openly, but there are lots of people who are finding this hard. Dr Waterstone cites age as the main cause of primary and secondary infertility: This is even more of an issue with secondary infertility as the passage of time since her first pregnancy will inevitably mean that a womans egg quality will have diminished. This is particularly true if the woman was already in her late 30s when her first child was born. Dr Kennedy agrees: The older you are, the more likely you are to run into problems conceiving, and maybe you were just really lucky to get pregnant the first time. Issues like endometriosis, which can affect fertility, also tend to get worse with age. Suzanne Ronayne at her home in Dunmore, County Galway. Photo: Ray Ryan Does C-section have an impact? A 2023 study suggested that having had a prior C-section could impact a womans fertility. Researchers from the University of Borgen in Norway examined data from 42,379 mothers. They concluded that women who had a C-section had a 10% decreased chance of getting pregnant again compared with women who had given birth vaginally. However, both Dr Waterstone and Dr Kennedy question these findings. Approximately one-third of babies born in Ireland are now delivered by C-section, says Dr Waterstone. The uterus heals well afterwards and its very unlikely that scarring of the uterus would cause any fertility problems afterwards. Dr Kennedy adds: When someone comes to see us and tells us they have previously had a C-section, we will routinely check their womb to make sure theres no fluid in the scar. There rarely is, so I dont see that having a previous C-section is something prospective mothers should worry about. Like the causes, the treatment for secondary fertility is also similar to that for primary infertility. If youve been trying for a baby for six to 12 months without success, its time to seek help, says Dr Waterstone. Fertility specialists can perform a variety of tests such as hormone evaluations, ultrasound scans, and semen analyses to explore what the issue might be. Specialists can also help women to track their cycles. This is crucial as you may not be ovulating as consistently or predictably as you did before your last pregnancy, so you may be missing opportunities to become pregnant, says Dr Waterstone. We all know that parents lack sleep and time alone. They may still be up nights with young children or even have kids in bed with them at night, so there might not be a lot of sex happening. Its easy for them to miss that vital fertile window. If tests and tracking reveal that fertility treatments are necessary, there is a range available, and specialists will recommend which best suits an individual woman or a particular couples needs. Ovulation induction involves using medication to stimulate ovulation when a woman isnt ovulating predictably. Prices start from 240. Intrauterine insemination (IUI), a treatment that costs upwards of 950, stimulates ovulation and then places sperm directly into the uterus precisely as the woman ovulates. In vitro fertilisation (IVF) starts by stimulating a womans ovaries to produce eggs. Those eggs are fertilised outside her body, and the resulting embryo or embryos are implanted into her uterus. The price of this treatment starts at 4,495. Egg and sperm donation services are also available, and surrogacy is another option. Dr Waterstone has noticed that women in their late 30s and early 40s who receive treatment in his clinic are more likely to opt for IVF treatment over ovulation induction or IUI: This is because IVF generates multiple eggs and provides an opportunity for freezing embryos, which protests against the passage of further time. He welcomes that Budget 2025 contained an announcement that the HSE would extend its public funding for IVF to couples experiencing secondary infertility: There hasnt been much public acknowledgement of secondary infertility until now so its remained a silent issue. Its wonderful to see the Government recognise the valid challenges that couples like this are facing so that they arent left behind. For now, both Ellis and Ronayne are determined to continue trying to grow their families. Were doing fertility testing at the moment, but its hard to keep going, says Ellis. But its harder to stop wanting it, so well keep trying. Ronayne has two goals in mind: One is to spread awareness of the restrictions surrounding Irish abortion law. Women are still being forced to travel to terminate much-wanted pregnancies, and I wont stop until that changes. The other is that we have been referred for fertility treatment and are awaiting our first appointment. One day, I hope well have our rainbow baby. The facts about infertility One in six Irish couples experiences fertility issues. Statistics vary, but according to Dr Waterstone, some 35% to 40% of these experience secondary infertility. Fertility issues are defined as failing to become pregnant after having regular unprotected sex for six months to a year. Primary infertility is diagnosed when someone who has never had children is unable to get pregnant after a year of having regular unprotected sex. Secondary infertility is diagnosed when someone has already had one or more successful pregnancies and then struggles to have another baby. Fertility specialists recommend that those who are failing to conceive or who are getting pregnant but miscarrying seek help sooner rather than later. A womans age and the quantity and quality of her eggs are decisive factors in any couples ability to conceive. Women under 35 are advised to talk to their doctor after a year of trying and failing to get pregnant. Women over 35 should seek treatment if they have been trying for more than six months. Women over 40 are advised to wait no longer than three months. A wide range of treatment options are available, including ovulation induction, intrauterine insemination, in vitro fertilisation, egg donation, sperm donation and surrogacy. Help is also available to deal with the psychological impact. Secondary infertility can be emotionally draining, says Dr Waterstone. On top of societal or personal pressure to have another child, people may feel guilt that they cannot conceive a sibling for their child. They may also feel that they dont have the right to such feelings since they already have a child. Support is out there through groups like NISIG and fertility clinics. There are others in the same situation. People shouldnt have to suffer alone. A man rang his ex-partner to find out where she was and she told him where but when she returned home he assaulted her by biting her face and squeezing her throat. Judge Dermot Sheehan imposed a sentence of two and a half years imprisonment on Shaun Tait, of An Duiche, Tipperary Town, at Cork Circuit Criminal Court for the assault he carried out on his ex-partner outside her apartment at Newcestown, Co Cork, on July 2. Detective Garda Dave Barry said the two parties had been in a relationship but the relationship was definitely off at the time of this assault. She received a phone call asking her where she was and she said she was in Mitchelstown. Walking towards her home, she saw him walking towards her. He appeared to be intoxicated. She walked to her apartment followed by Mr Tait. He bit her in the face, grabbing her by the collar of her clothing. Later, there was a mark on her right cheek where she was bitten and her neck was marked, Det Garda Barry said. When Shaun Tait was brought before the district court, gardai objected to bail. He was granted bail on conditions but was unable to raise the necessary bail and was remanded in custody since the incident in July. He had previous convictions for common assault, stealing a car, burglary and robbery. The 29-year-old wrote a letter to the court where he apologised to the victim and expressed his shame. He expressed the hope she would be able to forgive him and said he was broken-hearted for the assault on the dignity of his former partner. Judge Sheehan noted during sentencing: The victim speaks highly of him and forgives him. A sentence of two and a half years was imposed, backdated to July 3 when he went into custody. The vulnerable persons unit of Cork Prison was the location for an assault by a prisoner on a prison officer and now the young man has been sentenced to a two-year jail term for this assault and another committed against a shop assistant at a service station. 29-year-old James Spillane pleaded guilty to carrying out both assaults. Judge Dermot Sheehan imposed sentence at Cork Circuit Criminal Court on Mr Spillane, who is of no fixed address in the Fermoy area of Co Cork. James Spillane pleaded guilty to a charge of assault causing harm to the officer at Cork Prison on Rathmore Road on March 7. Injuries to the prison officer included bruising, soft tissue damage to the left infra-orbital facial area, neck, left eye and trunk. Garda Denis Cronin said there was a disturbance shortly before 8pm in the particular unit of Cork Prison, where James Spillane had caused damage to a cell. A number of officers went into the cell and one of them was attacked by the prisoner. Mr Spillane struck him a number of times in the face, resulting in the prison officer receiving minor head injuries, Garda Cronin said. When questioned by gardai, the defendant replied: Im sorry, I didnt realise I harmed him, Im sorry. The garda told prosecution barrister Mary ODwyer the defendant had previous convictions that included assault causing harm and two for making threats to kill. Garda Clare McGrath gave evidence of the second assault, which occurred more recently on July 16 this year, at Texaco, Cork Road, Fermoy. A staff member was cleaning the coffee machine after 10pm that night when a member of the public found a pair of wireless headphones and handed them to the staff member. Spillane had been sleeping in a tent nearby and used Texaco to charge his phone and earphones and use the toilet facilities. When he arrived in, he saw his headphones and reacted as if they were being taken from him. He said he would not hit a woman so he hit the man to whom the lady gave the headphones. Spillane punched him seven times in three or four seconds. Judge Sheehan imposed an overall sentence of two years on the accused. A video was shown in court of a man squirting petrol on the door of a terraced house and throwing a lighting paper at it causing a fireball. On Friday, the culprit was sentenced to four and a half years. Judge Helen Boyle imposed a sentence of five years with the last six months suspended and backdated to the time of the incident in February when the accused, 28-year-old Warren McGrath, of Curraheen Lawn, Bishopstown, Cork, went into custody. Detective Sergeant Chris Cahill said the endangerment of the householder and his son who were inside the house was a result of the arson attack. Fortunately, the owner was watching television at around 11.30pm when he heard a bang. He went out to discover the fire and managed to extinguish it with water. Defence barrister Emmet Boyle said that the defendant was apologetic for his behaviour and that he had been egged on by a third party to carry out the offence. Mr Boyle said the defendant was intoxicated at the time and made no effort to conceal his identity while carrying out the crime. Det Sgt Cahill said McGrath was clearly identifiable in CCTV footage from the front door of the house that was targeted. The defendant pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage on February 3, 2024, to the front door of 83 Father Dominic Road, Ballyphehane, Cork, intending to damage such property, or being reckless as to whether such property would be damaged, contrary to the Criminal Damage Act. Judge Helen Boyle said: You damaged by fire a door intending or being reckless as to a person would be injured or killed. You approached a residential dwelling and proceeded to squirt and spray petrol at the door. Present at the time was a man and a younger boy the man was watching TV and thankfully he was able to put out the fire. Aggravating factors include the use of an accelerant, the fact that it was a domestic dwelling, and that you were reckless. "Luckily for them and for you, you did not kill them. You behaved atrociously after your arrest, spitting at members of An Garda Siochana and having to be physically restrained. In mitigation, you entered a plea of guilty, you saved the victim time and trauma, and your own father was in prison for most of your childhood. On the occasion, you were severely intoxicated. You were encouraged by other people to do it but it was a very foolish and dangerous thing for you to get involved in. Judge Boyle noted that at this stage in his life, McGrath had a fully supportive family around him, including his father who is now in full-time employment. A rare species of shark under threat of extinction has gone under the knife at Munster Technological University (MTU) in the hopes that conservationists will be able to learn more about how to protect it. A team at MTU Kerry's South Campus, in collaboration with the Irish Elasmobranch Group (IEG), Project SIARC (Sharks Inspiring Action and Research in Communities), and the Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme (CSIP), performed a rare dissection of a Squatina squatina specimen, more commonly know as an angel shark or monkfish. Once considered abundant in the Atlantic Ocean, angel sharks were classified as "critically endangered" and accordingly added to the International Union for Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species in 2010, a classification re-affirmed in 2017. In 2015, the European Commission also assigned the species the 'critically endangered' status on its European Red List of Marine Fishes. Angel sharks have broad, flattened bodies with winglike pectoral and pelvic fins near their heads. Adult angel sharks can grow up to 2.5m in length. They are usually found at a depth of between 5m and 150m. Adult angel sharks can grow up to 2.5m in length. While humans have caught the angel shark for thousands of years, since the mid-20th century, intense commercial fishing across the angel shark's range has decimated its population. Due to their sedentary nature, and the fact and that they are 'benthic' creatures meaning they tend to inhabit the seabed of inshore coastal waters angel sharks are highly sensitive to bottom trawling and are often caught in gillnets. Such fishing practices also damage the angel sharks' habitats making it more difficult for them to survive. Angel sharks are now thought to be locally extinct across much of their former distribution area, from Scandinavia to the Canary Islands. In Ireland, their population has dwindled to just a few isolated locations such as Tralee and Galway Bay. The specimen dissected by the MTU team on Friday was discovered on a beach in Co Clare by a former student of MTUs Wildlife Biology program, who quickly recognized the importance of the find and raised it with the university. In carrying out the procedure, the MTU team took a range of body measurements, stomach contents, and various tissue samples from the specimen, all of which will be sent for contaminant, stable isotope, and genetic analysis, to shed help light on the biology and ecology of angel sharks. Todays dissection, while bittersweet in its circumstances, offers researchers a unique opportunity to understand and protect a critically endangered species of marine wildlife that we otherwise would not have had," said lead researcher and lecturer of MTUs Wildlife Biology course, Louise Overy. The examination is crucial to allow all sectors to come together to identify the next steps for marine wildlife conservation in Ireland. Ms Overy added that it was "an honour" to lead a project that is working to secure a future for an endangered species of wildlife. The Angel Shark project: Ireland, which is being led by Louise Overy of the Wildlife Biology course in MTU Kerry campus, is part of an international effort towards measures to help support the angel sharks across its range with project partners in Wales, Corsica, Greece, Libya, Croatia and the Canary islands. Elections, like Christmas, mean long shopping lists and like Christmas lists, children are warned that Santa can only deliver so much. Of the many items on the rural election shopping list, broadband still remains. In 2007, when Irish Rural Link advocated that rural broadband should come to every house, we were roundly scoffed at by all and sundry economists. Really? Broadband going to every house? In our innocence, we believed that since rural electricity was delivered in times of absolute poverty, it made sense that similar broadband delivery as an essential service should be a no-brainer. Thankfully, despite the naysayers, it's well on the way and will significantly contribute to a real sustainable rural economy. Like electricity, it is now accepted by all, which is why we need to be braver about delivering the essential components of a proper rural social and economic order. Its arrival will present some challenges. In particular, no clarity exists on how its availability will enhance and promote rural areas. Many experts suggest that broadband can improve the management of health service delivery. It can transform how we work, especially from home or properly designed workstations in towns and villages. It also has the potential to attract a different kind of knowledge-based industry from across the world, complementing the successful foreign direct investment strategy. In Ireland, 37% of the population lives in rural areas. Many of our large and small provincial towns were established in an era when transport was minimal and places were needed to service the sale of agricultural produce. Unfortunately, many of these towns suffer because their original reasons for existence have changed. All political parties have acknowledged this problem. While they may disagree on details, all have accepted that the substantial government support already given to towns and villages is welcome. Despite this help, there is a dawning reality that a significant re-invention of the purpose of towns, in terms of new services, housing, and niche enterprises, is urgently required. Most towns no longer serve as market towns for agricultural goods. The rationalisation of how farm produce is sold has changed this orientation. Instead of the traditionally connected agricultural industries, we have an increasing number of large retail outlets, often built outside the town. As a result, the town centres are becoming less occupied and sometimes less relevant to potential customers. We need a reinvention of purpose One of the solutions is a re-invention of purpose, which means a complete examination of the issue of local authority rates charged. It also means a concentrated placement of essential services, increasing the footfall and bringing people into the town centres. In third-level education, we have a strange imbalance in terms of geographical location. Universities are located mainly in Dublin, Cork, Galway, and Limerick. This is somewhat rectified by the fact that most of the Technological Institutes are in regional areas. Many have developed strong links with multiple industries based close by. However, we need to ask the question: Is it enough? In practice, more and more students are now going to third level. Most will leave their local areas and not return, especially if they go to university. If we wish to retain our young people in the towns and villages, it stands to reason that they will have the opportunity to avail themselves of well-paid employment with genuine career development opportunities. Over the years, countless studies have demonstrated the need for balanced regional economic and social strategies. Apart from a bit of re-location of civil services, we have yet to produce long-term sustainable industries in each region. Yes, there are exceptions such as Shannon, but these are few, and where they exist, they are almost there on an ad-hoc basis. Following Bord Na Mona's ending of involvement in peat excavation, the midlands were not helped by the loss of 400 jobs in Tullamore. These well-paid jobs are not being replaced, which leaves the area very vulnerable to any dip in the economy. Speaking to GAA members, there is a real fear that many of this region's great clubs may not exist in another 10 years. Similar patterns emerge in western counties, including Kerry, Clare, and North Westmeath. The growing older population and the challenges of providing a wide range of services, from health to Meals on Wheels, are also areas of enormous potential. The demographers tell us that this population will soon overwhelm the services. This, coupled with the decline of a local younger population, means that current state service providers must urgently plan carefully. There is already the beginning of a national network of Meals on Wheels organised through Irish Rural Link. This network has the potential to deliver to the home many of the services required at a fraction of the cost needed to build thousands more nursing homes. The demand for such a network is vast and is expected to grow exponentially in the next two years. However, meeting these demands will require investment in training, development of high production standards, and the delivery of many services needed. Housing retrofit, immigration, and transport The other three urgent items on the shopping list are housing retrofit, immigration, and transport. Labour shortages and a need for more clarity on the finance available limit the official target of retrofitting 500,000 housing units by 2030. The easiest way to manage finances is to make them more accessible to people through credit unions. There is also the need to tackle skill shortages urgently. Part of the problem links to the way we manage immigration policy. On the one hand, accommodation is required where it and necessary services are unavailable, thus causing massive anxiety and stress in communities. On the other hand, there is a growing deficit of skills, which has slowed down any retrofit or housing momentum. On a positive note, Local Link transport has been a great success. Much of the success is a commitment to provide the necessary funding and a significant service re-organisation. But it's not enough. Many people are still overly dependent on the car. Since they have no alternative, they cannot avoid paying the exorbitant carbon tax. If a measure was ever designed to embitter a sector against the severe message of climate change, then this is ingenious. As in all elections, the results will boil down to 'the economy stupid', In rural areas where the economy is still centralised in Dublin or other cities, the perception of severe imbalance prevails and needs to be fixed. The new ballistic missile fired by Russia struck a military-industrial facility in the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro, but its real mission was delivering a deadly new message to Nato. Hours after Thursdays strike touched off a debate over whether the Ukrainian plant was hit by an intercontinental ballistic missile, President Vladimir Putin made a rare and surprise appearance on Russian television to clear up the mystery. He described it as a new, intermediate-range ballistic missile that raced to its target at 10 times the speed of sound. Modern air defence systems that exist in the world and anti-missile defences created by the Americans in Europe cant intercept such missiles, Mr Putin declared in an icy and menacing tone. The attack marked the first time that such a missile was used in the war or in any conflict. The dramatic events came in a week of soaring tensions as Ukraine struck targets in Russia with American-made longer-range missiles after the US eased restrictions on their use and Mr Putin responded by lowering the threshold for using Moscows nuclear arsenal. Mr Putin said the missile was called Oreshnik, which in Russian means hazelnut tree, and that this first combat test of it has gone successfully. He said in July that Russia would start producing intermediate-range missiles to mirror US plans to deploy such weapons. In his speech on Thursday, he said Russia developed Oreshnik in response to the US development and deployment of missiles with a similar range. Intermediate-range missiles, or IRBMs, can fly between 310 to 3,400 miles. Ukrainian military officials said the missile was launched from the Russian region of Astrakhan on the Caspian Sea, 500 miles to the east. While Russia has launched cruise missiles at Ukraine from even longer ranges, the new intermediate range missile marked the first such use of this kind of ground-launched ballistic missile, which can carry a much heavier conventional payload and could also be fitted with multiple nuclear warheads. Rescue workers put out a fire after a Russian strike on Dnipro (Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP) Mr Putin boasted that the missile, the latest in Russias arsenal of hypersonic weapons, reaches its target at speeds of Mach 10, rendering Western missile defences useless. Matthew Savill, director of military sciences at the Royal United Services Institute, noted that the missile used on Thursday has a range way beyond any of that seen in this conflict so far and possibly the first ever use in combat. He said the missile was capable of releasing multiple warheads at extremely high speeds, even though they are less accurate than cruise missiles or short-range ballistic missiles. Video of the strike showed six fiery trails followed by powerful explosions an apparent sign of the multiple warheads being used. The authenticity of the videos could not be independently confirmed. As for Mr Putins claim that the Western systems could not intercept the missile, Mr Savill said these are quite hard to defend against even for advanced US Patriot systems. Youre dropping multiple independently targetable warheads, MIRVs, at extremely high speed, so even Patriot will struggle to basically intercept those, he said. Mr Putin has described Thursdays use of the Oreshnik as a response to Ukrainian strikes on Russian military facilities in Bryansk and Kursk regions earlier this week with Western-supplied weapons. One of those strikes killed and wounded an unspecified number of Russian servicemen, which the Kremlin leader said added elements of a global character to the conflict. Mr Putin has warned previously that use of the Western weapons would mean that Russia and Nato are at war. We believe that we have the right to use our weapons against military facilities of the countries that allow to use their weapons against our facilities, he said. And in case of escalation of aggressive actions we will respond resolutely in a mirror way. If Russia launches more strikes on Ukraine with the new missile, it will warn of its use in advance to allow civilians to reach safety as a humanitarian gesture, Mr Putin said, adding that Moscow is not worried about tipping off the enemy since it cannot stop the attack. I would recommend the ruling elites of the countries that are hatching plans to use their military contingents against Russia to seriously think about it, Mr Putin said. Mr Savill said the new missile is sending a fear-inducing signal from Russia that weve got stuff that outrages you. Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy secretary of Russias Security Council that is chaired by Mr Putin, stepped up the rhetoric by posting a video of the missile attack on Ukraine and chastising the West. So, thats what you wanted? Well, youve damn well got it! A hypersonic ballistic missile attack, he posted on X. In a speech to the nation, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy denounced the attack and accused Moscow of using Ukraine as a testing ground for its new weapon. Today, our insane neighbour has once again shown what they truly are, and how they despise dignity, freedom, and human life itself. And how terrified they are, he said. Laotian police have detained the manager and owner of a hostel after two Australian tourists were poisoned by tainted alcohol, one fatally, in a case that appears to have claimed the lives of at least five people including British tourist Simone White. An officer at Vang Viengs Tourism Police office said a number of people had been detained in the case, but no charges have been filed yet. Staff at the Nana Backpacker Hostel, which is still operating but not accepting new guests, confirmed that the manager and owner were among those taken in for questioning. Tourist police offices are common in south-east Asia and are set up specifically to help with incidents involving tourists and other foreigners. The manager and owner of the Nana Backpacker hostel have been detained (AP) The US State Department issued a health alert for citizens traveling in Laos, warning of suspected methanol poisoning in Vang Vieng, possibly through the consumption of methanol-laced alcoholic drinks, following similar alerts from other countries whose citizens were involved. Australias Prime Minister announced on Thursday that a 19-year-old citizen had died in a Thai hospital where she had been evacuated for emergency treatment, and that her friend remained in a hospital fighting for her life. A 28-year-old British woman, Ms White, also died from suspected methanol poisoning in Laos, the British Foreign Office said. An American and two Danish tourists also died, though specifics about the causes of death have not been released. The area is known for its lively social scene (AP) Laos is a one-party communist state with no organised opposition and the government keeps a tight lid on information. In this case, officials have released almost no details. The Foreign Ministry has refused to comment, and in Vang Vieng, the small hospital where some of the victims are believed to have been treated initially, referred all questions to the towns health office on the hospital grounds. The town health officials refused to comment, saying they lacked proper permission. Methanol is sometimes added to mixed drinks at disreputable bars as a cheaper alternative to ethanol, but can cause severe poisoning or death. It is also a by-product of poorly distilled homebrewed liquor, and could have found its way into bar drinks inadvertently. Landlocked Laos is one of south-east Asias poorest nations and a popular tourist destination. Vang Vieng is particularly popular among backpackers seeking partying and adventure sports. Neil Farmiloe, a New Zealander who owns the Kiwi Kitchen restaurant in town, said a lot of his customers were very worried about the incident. Two Australians were allegedly poisoned, one fatally, at the hostel (AP) I think its never happened before, so it is hopefully just a one-off incident, said Mr Farmiloe, who has lived in Vang Vieng for 20 years. Its very sad all around. Im sure nobody intended to cause injury, but its happened. It has been more than a week since the two 19-year-old Australian women fell ill on November 13 following a night out drinking with a group. They failed to check out from the Nana Backpacker Hostel as planned and were found sick in their room and then taken to Thailand for emergency treatment. One, Bianca Jones, died this week while her friend, Holly Bowles, remains in critical care. Thai authorities confirmed that Ms Jones had died by brain swelling due to high levels of methanol found in her system. Duong Duc Toan, the manager of the Nana Backpacker Hostel, said the day before he was detained that the two women had joined other guests for free shots of Laotian vodka on the night in question, before heading elsewhere and returning in the early hours of the morning. The UKs Foreign Office said 28-year-old Ms White, of Orpington, Kent, had also died of suspected methanol poisoning in Laos. New Zealands Foreign Ministry said one of its citizens became ill in Laos and was a possible victim of methanol poisoning. The only emperor penguin known to have swum from Antarctica to Australia has been released at sea 20 days after he waddled ashore on a popular tourist beach, officials said. The adult male was found on November 1 on Ocean Beach sand dunes in the town of Denmark in temperate south-west Australia about 2,200 miles north of the icy waters off the Antarctic coast, the Western Australia state government said. The penguin was released from a Parks and Wildlife Service boat on Wednesday. Gus was found thousands of miles from its normal habitat on Antarctica (Miles Brotherson/DBCA via AP) The boat travelled for several hours from the states most southerly city of Albany before the penguin was released into the Southern Ocean, but the government did not give the distance in its statement. It had been cared for by registered wildlife caregiver Carol Biddulph, who named him Gus after the first Roman emperor Augustus. I really didnt know whether he was going to make it to begin with because he was so undernourished, Ms Biddulph said in video. Ill miss Gus. Its been an incredible few weeks, something I wouldnt have missed, she added. Ms Biddulph said she had found from caring for other species of lone penguins that mirrors were an important part of their rehabilitation by providing a comforting sense of company. He absolutely loves his big mirror and I think that has been crucial in his well-being. Theyre social birds and he stands next to the mirror most of the time, she said. The penguin was found in a malnourished state (Miles Brotherson/DBCA via AP) Gus gained weight in her care, from 21.3kg (47lbs) when he was found to 24.7kg (54lbs). He stands one metre (3.28ft) tall. A healthy male emperor penguin can weigh more than 45kg (100lbs). The largest penguin species has never been reported in Australia before, University of Western Australia research fellow Belinda Cannell said, though some had reached New Zealand, nearly all of which is further south than Western Australia. The Australian government said with the Southern Hemisphere summer approaching, it had been time-crucial to return Gus to the ocean where he could thermoregulate. Emperor penguins have been known to cover up to 1,000 miles on foraging journeys that last up to a month. Ukraines parliament has cancelled a session after Russia deployed a new ballistic missile that threatens to escalate the nearly three-year war. Three Ukrainian legislators confirmed that the parliamentary session previously scheduled was cancelled on Friday due to the ongoing threat of Russian missile attacks. Former German chancellor Angela Merkel has said she felt sorrow at Donald Trumps return to power, and recalled that every meeting with him was a competition: you or me. In an interview with German weekly Der Spiegel, Ms Merkel said that Mr Trump is a challenge for the world, particularly for multilateralism. What awaits us now is really not easy, she said, because the strongest economy in the world stands behind this president, with the dollar as a dominant currency. Ms Merkel worked with four American presidents while she was German chancellor. She was in power throughout Mr Trumps first term easily the most tense period for German-US relations of her 16 years in office, which ended in late 2021. She recalled as a typical scene a famously awkward moment in the Oval Office when she first visited Mr Trump at the White House in March 2017. Mr Trump will shortly return to the White House (AP) Photographers shouted: Handshake! and Ms Merkel quietly asked Mr Trump: Do you want to have a handshake? There was no response from the US leader, who looked ahead with his hands clasped. I tried to coax him into a handshake for the photographers because I thought in my constructive way that maybe he hadnt noticed they wanted such a picture, Ms Merkel was quoted as saying. But of course his refusal was calculation. The pair did shake hands at other points during the visit. Asked what a German chancellor should know about dealing with Mr Trump, Ms Merkel said he was very curious and wanted details but only to read them for his own advantage, to find arguments that strengthen him and weaken others. The more people there were in the room, the greater was his urge to be the winner, she added. You cant chat with him. Every meeting is a competition: you or me. Ms Merkel said she felt sorrow at Mr Trumps victory over Kamala Harris in the November 5 US presidential election. It was already a disappointment for me that Hillary Clinton didnt win in 2016, she said. I would have liked a different outcome. The 70-year-old Ms Merkel, a centre-right Christian Democrat who has generally kept a low profile since leaving office, is due to release her memoirs next week. Israeli troops are fighting fierce battles with Hezbollah fighters in different areas in south Lebanon, including a coastal town that is home to the headquarters of UN peacekeepers. A spokesman for the UN peacekeeping force (Unifil) said they are monitoring heavy clashes in the coastal town of Naqoura and the village of Chamaa to the north-east. Unifils headquarters are located in Naqoura in Lebanons southern edge close to the border with Israel. Peacekeepers are monitoring heavy clashes (AP) We are aware of heavy shelling in the vicinity of our bases, Unifil spokesman Andrea Tenenti said. Asked if the peacekeepers and staff at the headquarters are safe, Tenenti said: Yes for the moment. Several Unifil posts have been hit since Israel began its ground invasion of Lebanon on October 1, leaving a number of peacekeepers wounded. The fighting came a day after the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former defence minister and a Hamas military leader, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity over their 13-month war in Gaza and the October 2023 attack on Israel respectively. The warrant marked the first time that a sitting leader of a major Western ally has been accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity by a global court of justice. Air strikes are continuing as the war grinds on (AP) Israels war has caused heavy destruction across Gaza, destroying parts of the territory and driven almost the entire population of 2.3 million people from their homes, leaving most dependent on aid to survive. The war began after Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on October 7 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting another 250. Around 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, at least a third of whom are believed to be dead. Israel has also launched air strikes against Lebanon after the Hezbollah militant group began firing rockets, drones and missiles into Israel the day after Hamas attack last October. A full-blown war erupted in September after nearly a year of lower-level conflict. Nato and Ukraine will hold emergency talks after Russia attacked a central city with an experimental, hypersonic ballistic missile that escalated the war. The conflict is entering a decisive phase, Polands Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Friday, and taking on very dramatic dimensions. Ukraines parliament cancelled a session as security was tightened following a Russian strike on a military facility in the city of Dnipro on Thursday. The war has lasted almost 33 months (AP) In a stark warning to the West, President Vladimir Putin said in a nationally televised speech to his nation that the attack with the intermediate-range Oreshnik missile was retaliation over Kyivs use of US and British longer-range missiles capable of striking deeper into Russian territory. Mr Putin said Western air defence systems would be powerless to stop the new missile. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov kept up the bellicose tone on Friday, blaming the reckless decisions and actions of Western countries in supplying weapons to Ukraine to strike Russia. The Russian side has clearly demonstrated its capabilities, and the contours of further retaliatory actions in the event that our concerns were not taken into account have also been quite clearly outlined, he said. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, widely seen as having the warmest relations with the Kremlin in the European Union, echoed Moscows talking points, suggesting the use of US-supplied weapons in Ukraine likely requires direct American involvement. Today, Putin admitted to taking a second step this year toward escalating and expanding this war. A new ballistic missile was used. Putin struck our city of Dnipro, one of Ukraines largest cities. This is a clear and severe escalation in the scale and brutality of this wara Volodymyr Zelenskyy / (@ZelenskyyUa) November 21, 2024 These are rockets that are fired and then guided to a target via an electronic system, which requires the worlds most advanced technology and satellite communications capability, Mr Orban said on state radio. There is a strong assumption that these missiles cannot be guided without the assistance of American personnel. Mr Orban cautioned against underestimating Russias responses, emphasising that the countrys recent modifications to its nuclear deployment doctrine should not be dismissed as a bluff. Its not a trick there will be consequences, he warned. Separately, Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky arrived in Kyiv, posting on social media that he wanted to know how the Ukrainians are coping with the bombings, how Czech projects are working on the ground and how to better target international aid in the coming months. Polands Prime Minister Donald Tusk issued a stark warning over escalation (AP) Three legislators from Ukraines parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, confirmed that Fridays previously scheduled session was called off due to the ongoing threat of Russian missiles targeting government buildings in central Kyiv. In addition, there also was a recommendation to limit the work of all commercial offices and non-governmental organisations in that perimeter, and local residents were warned of the increased threat, said legislator Mykyta Poturaiev, who added this is not the first time such a threat has been received. President Volodymyr Zelenskys office continued to work in compliance with standard security measures, a spokesperson said. Ukraines Main Intelligence Directorate said the Oreshnik missile, whose name in Russian means hazelnut tree, was fired from the Kapustin Yar 4th Missile Test Range in Russias Astrakhan region, and flew 15 minutes before striking Dnipro. Hungarian PM Viktor Orban warned of repercussions (Russian Defence Ministry Press Service via AP) The missile had six nonnuclear warheads each carrying six submunitions and reached a speed of Mach 11, it said. Test launches of a similar missile were conducted in October 2023 and June 2024, the directorate said. The Pentagon confirmed that Russias missile was a new, experimental type of intermediate-range missile based on its RS-26 Rubezh intercontinental ballistic missile. Elsewhere in Ukraine, Russia struck a residential district of Sumy overnight with Iranian-designed Shahed drones, killing two people and injuring 13, the regional administration said. Ukraines Suspilne media, quoting Sumy regional head Volodymyr Artiukh, said the drones were stuffed with shrapnel elements. These weapons are used to destroy people, not to destroy objects, said Artiukh, according to Suspilne. An N.C. House Select Committee is recommending that the General Assembly change a state law forcing districts to start school the Monday closest to Aug. 26 and end no later than the Friday clo Memorial services were held in Birmingham, England, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the IRAs 1974 pub bombings in the city. On 21 November 1974, twenty-one individuals lost their lives when bombs detonated in the Mulberry Bush and Tavern in the Town pubs. More than 180 others sustained injuries from the explosions, which occurred during a peak period of the IRAs bombing campaign in the West Midlands of England. A third bomb was planted near a Barclays bank on Hagley Road but failed to explode correctly that night. A shattered bus shelter in New Street following the bombing of the two pubs. The Birmingham Irish Association urged people to pause for a minute at 2pm to honor those who perished in the attack. A memorial service at St Philips Cathedral, conducted by both the Catholic Archbishop and the Church of England Bishop of Birmingham, commenced at 5pm. The service included hymns and prayers and was open to the public. These attacks were the deadliest strike on British soil post-World War II, until the 7/7 bombings in London in 2005. Between 8:15pm and 8:20pm, the two bombs exploded in rapid succession, resulting in 19 fatalities on the nighteight at the Mulberry Bush, located at the base of the citys Rotunda landmark, and two outside the venue. The attacks were the deadliest on British soil after World War II. Another nine individuals lost their lives in the Tavern In The Town, a sizable pub situated in the basement of the same building as the tax office, King Edwards House. Two additional victims succumbed to their injuries later, with 12 of the deceased being under the age of 25. Days after the 1974 attack, six Irish men were arrested, charged, and subsequently imprisoned for the bombings. These men became known as the Birmingham Six, and after years of advocacy from their families, friends, and supporters, their wrongful convictions were overturned in 1991. In July 2017, Mick Hayes, a self-admitted IRA bomb maker from south Dublin, informed the BBC that he was part of the group responsible for the attacks. However, the actual perpetrators have never been apprehended. In 2016, a UK coroner mandated new inquests into the bombings following a campaign by the families of the 21 victims. This inquiry occurred three years later, concluding that the victims were unlawfully killed by the IRA, but it did not identify those responsible. British police have dispatched an explosive ordnance disposal team to Gatwick Airport following the discovery of a suspected prohibited item in luggage. The south terminal of the airport has been evacuated, and a security perimeter has been established, according to the statement. Prior to this, a representative for the UKs second busiest airport stated: A significant portion of the south terminal has been evacuated as a precaution while we proceed with our investigation of a security incident. Passengers will not be permitted to enter the south terminal during this process. Train services at the station have also been halted. The embassy has resumed normal operations, as indicated in a statement. The US Embassy is operating normally again, although all public appointments for 22 November have been canceled, the embassy reported on X. Local authorities investigated and cleared a suspicious package located outside the Embassy. US president-elect Donald Trump has selected former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi to serve as US Attorney General, rapidly moving to fill the vacancy left by his previous nominee, Matt Gaetz, who withdrew from consideration amidst controversy. Mr. Gaetz faced resistance from Senate Republicans and was under investigation by the House Ethics Committee for allegations related to an inappropriate relationship with a 17-year-old girl and drug use, which he has denied. Ms. Bondi held the position of the chief law enforcement officer in Florida, the nations third most populous state, from 2011 to 2019 and participated on Mr. Trumps Opioid and Drug Abuse Commission during his first term. Recently, Ms. Bondi played a key role in the legal branch of the America First Policy Institute, a conservative think tank whose members have collaborated closely with Mr. Trumps campaign to help formulate policies for his upcoming administration. Matt Gaetz was a controversial choice by Donald Trump. Ms. Bondi is expected to encounter less resistance from senators involved in the confirmation process compared to Mr. Gaetz. Mr. Trump announced Ms. Bondis nomination on social media, commending her prosecutorial experience and stating she was tough on crime during her tenure as Floridas first female attorney general. Despite facing various criminal investigations from both federal and state prosecutors, including a felony conviction in New York, Mr. Trump expressed confidence that Ms. Bondi would restore integrity to federal prosecutions. For too long, the partisan Department of Justice has been weaponized against me and other Republicans Not anymore, remarked Mr. Trump. Pam will redirect the DOJ towards its primary mission of combating crime and Making America Safe Again, he added. A loyal supporter of Mr. Trump, Ms. Bondi is poised to implement his policy agenda effectively. Donald Trump announced his pick of Pam Bondi on social media. During his first term, Mr. Trump expressed frustration over what he deemed an obstructive Justice Department, criticizing former attorneys general Jeff Sessions for permitting the Russia investigation and Bill Barr for publicly countering his unfounded claims regarding election fraud in 2020. The overarching goals for the Justice Department under Mr. Trumps administration have been conveyed through his public statements, as well as remarks from Mark Paoletta, a conservative attorney heading policy planning for the department, and various interviews with former department officials. Federal prosecutors are expected to be instructed to prioritize cases involving illegal immigration. Cities aspiring to benefit from the departments more-than-$291 million justice assistance grant program may need to commit to collaborating with federal immigration enforcement. The Civil Rights Division is likely to shift its focus from police accountability to advocating for religious freedoms and challenging government and private sector diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives legally. By Catherine Gegout, University of Nottingham | (The Conversation) The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, his former defence minister, Yoav Gallant, and Hamas leader, Mohammed Deif. The court claims both sides have committed crimes against humanity and war crimes from the day Hamas attacked Israel on October 7 onwards. Although a warrant was issued for Deif, Israel has said he was killed in an air strike in July. But Hamas has neither confirmed nor denied this claim. If they were ever to be judged at the ICC, a conviction is conceivable. The charges of the court against Netanyahu are severe. The three-judge panel unanimously said that he and Gallant are co-perpetrators for committing the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare, and the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts. The judges also found reasonable grounds to believe that they bear criminal responsibility for the war crime of intentionally directing an attack against the civilian population. The charges are also backed by the work of the International Court of Justice, which has found that it is plausible that Israel has committed acts in Gaza that violate the Genocide Convention. If arrested, Netanyahu would go through a trial, and he could then be acquitted, or convicted. In the latter case, Netanyahu would join the ranks of leaders considered perpetrators of crimes against humanity, such as Charles Taylor of Liberia, Hissene Habre of Chad, Saddam Hussein of Iraq, Augusto Pinochet of Chile, Slobodan Milosevic of Serbia, Radovan Karadzic of Serbia, Idi Amin of Uganda, Pol Pot of Cambodia, Joseph Stalin of the former Soviet Union, Mao Zedong of China, and Adolf Hitler of Germany. War Criminal, Digital, Dream / Dreamland v3 / Clip2Comic, 2024 Next steps The arrest warrants rely on ICC member states carrying them out. And this is by no means a foregone conclusion. Russias president, Vladimir Putin, has been wanted by the court since 2023 for his role in directing attacks at civilians in Ukraine and illegal deportation of Ukrainian children. But Putin was not arrested on a recent visit to Mongolia, a state that is party to the ICC, after the Mongolian authorities had assured him he would be safe. That said, he was unable to travel to South Africa when leaders from the Brics economic bloc of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa met in Johannesburg in 2023. This was due to the experience in South Africa of former Sudanese president, Omar Al-Bashir. Bashir, for whom the ICC granted arrest warrants in 2009 and 2010 for allegedly directing a campaign of mass killing, rape and pillage against civilians in Darfur, travelled to South Africa in 2015 to attend an African Union summit. But he had to leave abruptly for fear of arrest. South Africas Supreme Court of Appeal ruled in 2016 that the governments failure to arrest him was unlawful. And the ICC ruled against South Africa on its shameful failure to arrest Bashir the following year. He was also able to travel freely to other ICC member states, including Chad, Kenya and Jordan. Bashir was overthrown in a military coup in 2019 and placed under arrest. He is now persona non grata in Sudan where he was convicted of corruption, sentenced to two years in prison, and is being investigated for his role in the coup that brought him to power. Not arresting criminals inflicts damage on the ICC, which already has a weak record of prosecutions. For example, after former president of Ivory Coast, Laurent Gbagb, was charged then acquitted. But it also takes away a major opportunity to achieve justice for victims of serious crimes. Dramatic political implications The likelihood of Netanyahu, who has become the first ever leader of a western country to be charged by the ICC, appearing at the Hague is low. But the political implications of the arrest warrants for Netanyahu are, at any rate, dramatic. Netanyahu knew the ICC would be able to hold him to account for his political decisions, and this is exactly why he disapproved of Palestine joining the ICC in 2015. In practice, Netanyahu might lose even more legitimacy in his own country than he has done already with some groups. Civil society groups in Israel are following the work of the ICC very closely. BTselem, a Jerusalem-based non-profit organisation that documents human rights violations in the occupied Palestinian territories, has said that the ICC intervention and ICJ rulings are a chance for us, Israelis, to realise that upholding a regime of supremacy, violence and oppression necessarily involves crimes and severe violation of human rights. Netanyahu will also be limited in his travels, and viewed as a pariah in many of the 124 states that are party to the ICC. This is a view that would be shared by most leaders of European states, including Germany. In May, a spokesperson for the German government hinted that Germany would arrest Netanyahu should warrants be issued. The EU is, for the moment, unlikely to be able to use its global human rights sanctions regime against Netanyahu, which allows targeted measures against foreign nationals who are deemed responsible for gross violations of human rights. This is because unanimity across the bloc is necessary, and some states such as Austria, Czechia, Hungary and Germany could be reluctant to agree to this. Even the French foreign ministry spokesperson said: Its a point that is legally complex. But the EU is a strong supporter of the ICC, so there will be pressure in governments of all EU states to act against Netanyahu. The political implications of this decision are not isolated to Netanyahu. Pro-Palestinian protest activity has taken place at over 500 US colleges since October 7. And the UK has now joined most EU states in supporting Netanyahus arrest. The US is now very much isolated among western countries in its lack of support for international law. The ICC, on the other hand, is becoming increasingly visible in its quest for international justice for victims. Catherine Gegout, Associate Professor in International Relations, University of Nottingham This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 21, 2024) - Pure Energy Minerals Limited (TSXV: PE) (OTCQB: PEMIF) ("Pure Energy" or "the Company") is pleased to announce that Mr. Yuwei Hong has been appointed to the board of directors of Pure Energy Minerals. Mr. Hong represents Lithium X Corp. which holds an 11.6% equity position in Pure Energy. Mr. Hong is an experienced professional with over 15 years of expertise in management, investment, and consulting. He currently serves as the vice president of Xizang Zhufeng Resources Co. Ltd. (Previously known as the Tibet Summit). Before joining Xizang Zhufeng in 2022, he worked as an investment director at the NextView Capital. Mr. Hong holds a master's degree from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charter holder. As well, the Company sincerely thanks Mr. Yuankai Mao for his contributions as a prior board member and wishes his well in his future endeavours. "Pure Energy is very pleased to welcome Mr. Hong as a board member and we look forward to working with him in the future," stated Joseph Mullin, CEO & Director of Pure Energy. About Pure Energy Pure Energy Minerals is a lithium resource company that has consolidated a pre-eminent land position at its Clayton Valley Project in the Clayton Valley of central Nevada for the exploration and development of lithium resources, comprising 950 claims over 23,360 acres (9,450 hectares), representing the largest land holdings in the valley. Pure Energy's strategic partner, SLB, is operator of the Clayton Valley Project. In May of 2019, Pure Energy and SLB signed an Earn-In agreement over the CV Project which requires significant investment by SLB in the Project, to include the design and construction of a pilot plant capable of processing lithium-bearing brines for high-quality lithium hydroxide monohydrate ("lithium hydroxide" or "LiOHH2O") and/or lithium carbonate ("Li2CO3") products at a specified rate. For further details regarding SLB's participation, please refer to Pure Energy's Annual General and Special Meeting Management Information Circular dated April 4, 2019, available on SEDARplus.com. On behalf of the Board of Directors, "Joseph Mullin" CEO, Pure Energy Minerals Ltd. Cautionary Statements and Forward-Looking Information The information in this news release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in our forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause such differences include: changes in world commodity markets, equity markets, costs and supply of materials relevant to the mining industry, change in government and changes to regulations affecting the mining industry. Forward-looking statements in this release may include future exploration and development on the Clayton Valley Project. Although we believe the expectations reflected in our forward-looking statements are reasonable, results may vary, and we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except as required by applicable laws. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Also 2nd Consecutive Quarter of Positive Adjusted EBITDA of US$892,277 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / November 22, 2024 /Guanajuato Silver Company Ltd. (the "Company" or "GSilver") (TSXV:GSVR) (OTCQX:GSVRF) is pleased to announce financial and operating results for the three month and nine month periods ending September 30, 2024. All dollar amounts are in US dollars (US$) and prepared in accordance with IFRS Accounting Standards ("IFRS") as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board. This news release should be read in conjunction with the Company's unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements for the period ended September 30, 2024 and Management's Discussion & Analysis ("MD&A") thereon, which can be viewed under the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca. Production results are from the Company's wholly-owned El Cubo Mines Complex ("El Cubo"), Valenciana Mines Complex ("VMC"), Pinguico project ("Pinguico"), and San Ignacio mine ("San Ignacio") in Guanajuato, Mexico, the Horcon Project ("Horcon") located in Jalisco, Mexico, and the Topia mine ("Topia") located in Durango, Mexico. Selected Q3 2024 (Three Month Period) Highlights: Positive mine operating income of $515,576 ; Q3 represents the second consecutive quarter of positive income from mining operations. All-in Sustaining Cost ("AISC")* of $23.88 per silver-equivalent ("AgEq") ounce; this represents a 7% improvement over the previous quarter. Cash cost per AgEq ounce was $18.78; this was a 6% improvement over the previous quarter. Over the past 12-months, GSilver has made significant capex investments designed to improve operational efficiencies at all four of the Company's producing silver mines (Except as otherwise noted, see note to table below for details regarding the Company's AgEq calculations). Production for the quarter of 779,797 AgEq derived from 413,607 ounces of silver, 3,617 ounces of gold, 806,945 pounds of lead and 926,056 pounds of zinc. Silver production of 413,607 ounces was an increase of 4% over the previous quarter. Silver production accounted for 50% of Q3 revenue; 43% of revenue was generated by gold production. Guanajuato Silver is a primary silver and gold producer with over 90% of revenues being derived from the sale of precious metals. All lead and zinc production comes exclusively from the Company's Topia mine located in northwest Durango. During the quarter the Company confirmed an important production milestone - over 3,000,000 AgEq ounces had been produced at El Cubo since the restart of operations in late 2021. For this purpose, AgEq has been calculated using an 82.77:1 (Ag/Au) ratio from October 1, 2021, until September 20, 2024. In the quarter, the Company announced the complete repayment of its US$7,500,000 silver and gold pre-payment facility to Swiss-based precious metals trading firm, OCIM Metals & Mining S.A. (" OCIM "); this followed the Q2 repayment in full of the US$5,000,000 concentrate pre-payment facility owed to Ocean Partners UK Limited (" Ocean Partners "). Total tonnes milled at the Company's three production facilities was 144,537 tonnes, which was a decrease of 10% from the previous quarter. The majority of this decrease is attributable to outstanding fleet and mill maintenance requirements; during the quarter, the Company undertook an enhanced maintenance and repairs program at all operations that is expected to continue into Q4. Revenue for the quarter of $18.3M represented a 17% increaseover Q3 2023, and a decrease of 11% over the previous quarter. Consolidated revenue for the quarter was generated by a realized average price of $29.43 per silver ounce, $2,477 per gold ounce, $0.93 per pound of lead, and $1.25 per pound of zinc. Positive adjusted EBITDA* of $892,277; the second consecutive quarter of positive adjusted EBITDA confirms that cash flow from mining operations is improving. Net loss for the quarter of $4.8M. Non-cash items accounted for nearly 40% of this loss; as an example, the non-cash derivative loss related to the Company's gold loan with Ocean Partners was $1.66M. Importantly, as the gold spot price rises, derivative losses are more than off-set by higher revenue from the sale precious metals concentrates. As of September 30, 2024, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $1.6M and negative working capital of $20.4M; subsequent to the end of the quarter, the Company closed an equity financing on October 30 for C$8.72M. *EBITDA, (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization) Adjusted EBITDA, AISC and working capital are non-IFRS financial measures with no standardized meaning under IFRS, and therefore they may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. For further information and detailed reconciliations of Non-IFRS financial measures to the most directly comparable IFRS measures see "Non-IFRS Financial Measures" in this News Release. OPERATING AND FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS Commercial production at the El Cubo Mines Complex ("CMC") commenced on October 1, 2021. The Valenciana Mines Complex ("VMC"), the San Ignacio mine ("San Ignacio") and the Cata mill facility, and the Topia Mines Complex ("Topia") were acquired on August 4, 2022. Topia had continuous production throughout the acquisition. The San Ignacio mine recommenced production in August 2022 and production at the Valenciana mine also began in August 2022. Recommissioning of the Cata plant began in December 2022 with processing commencing in January 2023. The following table summarizes the Company's consolidated operating and financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023: Silver equivalents are calculated using 84.04:1 (Ag/Au), 0.03:1 (Ag/Pb) and 0.04:1 (Ag/Zn) ratio for Q3 2024; an 81.83:1 (Ag/Au), 0.04:1 (Ag/Pb) and 0.05:1 (Ag/Zn) ratio for Q3 2023; an 84.34:1 (Ag/Au), 0.04:1 (Ag/Pb) and 0.05:1 (Ag/Zn) ratio for YTD 2024; and an 82.21:1 (Ag/Au), 0.04:1 (Ag/Pb) and 0.05:1 (Ag/Zn) ratio for YTD 2023, respectively. Cash cost per silver equivalent ounce includes mining, processing, and direct overhead. See Reconciliation to IFRS in the Non-IFRS Financial Measures section of this news release. AlSC per AgEq oz includes mining, processing, direct overhead, corporate general and administration expenses, on-site exploration, reclamation, and sustaining capital. See Reconciliation to IFRS in the Non-IFRS Financial Measures section of this news release. See Reconciliation of earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization in the Non-IFRS Financial Measures section of this news release. Mine Operating Cashflow Before Taxes, Cash cost per silver equivalent, cost per tonne, AISC per AgEq ounce, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and working capital are non-IFRS financial measure with no standardized meaning under IFRS, and therefore they may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. For further information and detailed reconciliations of non-IFRS financial measures to the most directly comparable IFRS measures see "Non-IFRS Financial Measures" in the Non-IFRS Financial Measures section of this news release. Based on provisional sales before final price adjustments, before payable metal deductions, treatment, and refining charges. Mine operating cash flow before taxes is calculated by adding back depreciation, depletion, and inventory write-downs to mine operating loss. See Reconciliation to IFRS in the Non-IFRS Financial Measures section of this news release. NON-IFRS FINANCIAL MEASURES The Company has disclosed certain non-IFRS financial measures and ratios in this MD&A, as discussed below. These non-IFRS financial measures and non-IFRS ratios are widely reported in the mining industry as benchmarks for performance and are used by Management to monitor and evaluate the Company's operating performance and ability to generate cash. The Company believes that, in addition to financial measures and ratios prepared in accordance with IFRS, certain investors use these non-IFRS financial measures and ratios to evaluate the Company's performance. However, the measures do not have a standardized meaning under IFRS and may not be comparable to similar financial measures disclosed by other companies. Accordingly, non-IFRS financial measures and non-IFRS ratios should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures and ratios of the Company's performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. Non-IFRS financial measures are defined in National Instrument 52-112 - Non-GAAP and Other Financial Measures Disclosure ("NI 52-122") as a financial measure disclosed that (a) depicts the historical or expected future financial performance, financial position or cash flow of an entity, (b) with respect to its composition, excludes an amount that is included in, or includes an amount that is excluded from, the composition of the most directly comparable financial measure disclosed in the primary financial statements of the entity, (c) is not disclosed in the financial statements of the entity, and (d) is not a ratio, fraction, percentage or similar representation. A non-IFRS ratio is defined by NI 52-112 as a financial measure disclosed that (a) is in the form of a ratio, fraction, percentage, or similar representation, (b) has a non-IFRS financial measure as one or more of its components, and (c) is not disclosed in the financial statements. WORKING CAPITAL Working capital is a non-IFRS measure that is a common measure of liquidity but does not have any standardized meaning. The most directly comparable measure prepared in accordance with IFRS is current assets net of current liabilities. Working capital is calculated by deducting current liabilities from current assets. Working capital should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures prepared in accordance with IFRS. The measure is intended to assist readers in evaluating the Company's liquidity. MINE OPERATING CASH FLOW BEFORE TAXES Mine operating cash flow before taxes is a non-IFRS measure that does not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. Mine operating cash flow is calculated as revenue minus production costs, transportation and selling costs and inventory changes. Mine operating cash flow is used by management to assess the performance of the mine operations, excluding corporate and exploration activities, and is provided to investors as a measure of the Company's operating performance. EBITDA EBITDA is a non-IFRS financial measure, which excludes the following from net earnings: Income tax expense; Finance costs; Amortization and depletion. Adjusted EBITDA excludes the following additional items from EBITDA: Share based compensation; Non-recurring impairments (reversals); Loss (gain) on derivative; Significant other non-routine finance items. Adjusted EBITDA per share is calculated by dividing Adjusted EBITDA by the basic weighted average number of shares outstanding for the period. Management believes EBITDA is a valuable indicator of the Company's ability to generate liquidity by producing operating cash flow to fund working capital needs, service debt obligations, and fund capital expenditures. Management uses EBITDA for this purpose. EBITDA is also frequently used by investors and analysts for valuation purposes whereby EBITDA is multiplied by a factor or "EBITDA multiple" based on an observed or inferred relationship between EBITDA and market values to determine the approximate total enterprise value of a Company. Management believes that Adjusted EBITDA provides useful information to investors and others in understanding and evaluating our operating results because it is consistent with the indicators management uses internally to measure the Company's performance and is an indicator of the performance of the Company's mining operations. EBITDA is intended to provide additional information to investors and analysts. It does not have any standardized definition under IFRS and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of operating performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. EBITDA excludes the impact of cash costs of financing activities and taxes, and the effects of changes in operating working capital balances, and therefore is not necessarily indicative of operating profit or cash flow from operations as determined by IFRS. Other companies may calculate EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA differently. Cash Cost per AgEq Ounce, All-In Sustaining Cost per AgEq Ounce and Production Cost per Tonne Cash costs per silver equivalent oz and production costs per tonne are measures developed by precious metals companies in an effort to provide a comparable standard; however, there can be no assurance that the Company's reporting of these non-IFRS measures and ratios are similar to those reported by other mining companies. Cash costs per silver equivalent ounce and total production cost per tonne are non-IFRS performance measures used by the Company to manage and evaluate operating performance at its operating mining unit, in conjunction with the related IFRS amounts. They are widely reported in the silver mining industry as a benchmark for performance, but do not have a standardized meaning and are disclosed in addition to IFRS measures. Production costs include mining, milling, and direct overhead at the operation sites. Cash costs include all direct costs plus royalties and special mining duty. Total production costs include all cash costs plus amortization and depletion, changes in amortization and depletion in finished goods inventory and site share-based compensation. Cash costs per silver equivalent ounce is calculated by dividing cash costs and total production costs by the payable silver ounces produced. Production costs per tonne are calculated by dividing production costs by the number of processed tonnes. The following tables provide a detailed reconciliation of these measures to the Company's direct production costs, as reported in its consolidated financial statements. AISC is a non-IFRS performance measure and was calculated based on guidance provided by the World Gold Council ("WGC"). WGC is not a regulatory industry organization and does not have the authority to develop accounting standards for disclosure requirements. Other mining companies may calculate AISC differently as a result of differences in underlying accounting principles and policies applied, as well as differences in definitions of sustaining capital expenditures. AISC is a more comprehensive measure than cash cost per ounce and is useful for investors and management to assess the Company's operating performance by providing greater visibility, comparability and representation of the total costs associated with producing silver from its current operations, in conjunction with related IFRS amounts. AISC helps investors to assess costs against peers in the industry and help management assess the performance of its mine. AISC includes total production costs (IFRS measure) incurred at the Company's mining operation, which forms the basis of the Company's total cash costs. Additionally, the Company includes sustaining capital expenditures, corporate general and administrative expense, operating lease payments and reclamation cost accretion. The Company believes this measure represents the total sustainable costs of producing silver and gold concentrate from current operations and provides additional information of the Company's operational performance and ability to generate cash flows. As the measure seeks to reflect the full cost of silver and gold concentrate production from current operations, new projects capital at current operation is not included. Certain other cash expenditures, including share-based payments, tax payments, dividends and financing costs are also not included. The following tables provide detailed reconciliations of these measures to cost of sales, as reported in notes to the Company's consolidated financial statements. Silver equivalents are calculated using 84.04:1 (Ag/Au), 0.03:1 (Ag/Pb) and 0.04:1 (Ag/Zn) ratio for Q3 2024; an 81.83:1 (Ag/Au), 0.04:1 (Ag/Pb) and 0.05:1 (Ag/Zn) ratio for Q3 2023, respectively. Cash cost per silver equivalent ounce includes mining, processing, and direct overhead. AlSC per oz includes mining, processing, direct overhead, corporate general and administration expenses, on-site exploration, reclamation, and sustaining capital. Production costs include mining, milling, and direct overhead at the operation sites. Consolidated amount for the three months ended September 30, 2024, excludes $3,986 in relation to silver bullion transportation and selling cost from cost of sales. Silver equivalents are calculated using 84.34:1 (Ag/Au), 0.04:1 (Ag/Pb) and 0.05:1 (Ag/Zn) YTD 2024 and an 82.21:1 (Ag/Au), 0.04:1 (Ag/Pb) and 0.05:1 (Ag/Zn) YTD 2023, respectively. Cash cost per silver equivalent ounce includes mining, processing, and direct overhead. AlSC per oz includes mining, processing, direct overhead, corporate general and administration expenses, on-site exploration, reclamation, and sustaining capital. Production costs include mining, milling, and direct overhead at the operation sites. Consolidated amount for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, excludes $3,986 in relation to silver bullion transportation and selling cost from cost of sales. About Guanajuato Silver GSilver is a precious metals producer engaged in reactivating past producing silver and gold mines in central Mexico. The Company produces silver and gold concentrates from the El Cubo Mine, Valenciana Mines Complex, and the San Ignacio mine; all three mines are located within the state of Guanajuato, which has an established 480-year mining history. Additionally, the Company produces silver, gold, lead, and zinc concentrates from the Topia mine in northwestern Durango. With four operating mines and three processing facilities, Guanajuato Silver is one of the fastest growing silver producers in Mexico. Qualified Person William Gehlen, a Director of Guanajuato Silver, is a Certified Professional Geologist with the American Institute of Professional Geologists (No. 10626), and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Mr. Gehlen has reviewed and verified technical data disclosed in this news release and detected no significant QA/QC issues during review of the data and is not aware of any sampling, recovery or other factors that could materially affect the accuracy or reliability of the drilling data referred to herein. Verified data underlying the disclosed information includes reviewing compiled assay data; QAQC performance of blank samples, duplicates, and certified reference materials; and grade calculation formulas. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS "James Anderson" Chairman and CEO For further information regarding Guanajuato Silver Company Ltd., please contact: JJ Jennex, Gerente de Comunicaciones, T: 604 723 1433 E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Gsilver.com Guanajuato Silver Bullion Store Please visit our Bullion Store, where Guanajuato Silver coins and bars can be purchased. 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. Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains certain forward-looking statements and information, which relate to future events or future performance including, but not limited to, improvements in operational efficiencies; fluctuations in production results and the Company's status as one of the fastest growing silver producers in Mexico. Such forward-looking statements and information reflect management's current beliefs and expectations and are based on information currently available to and assumptions made by the Company; which assumptions, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant operational, business, economic and regulatory uncertainties and contingencies. These assumptions include: our estimates of mineralized material at El Cubo and San Ignacio and the assumptions upon which they are based, including geotechnical and metallurgical characteristics of rock conforming to sampled results and metallurgical performance; available tonnage of mineralized material to be mined and processed; resource grades and recoveries; assumptions and discount rates being appropriately applied to production estimates; the ability of the Company to ramp up processing of mineralized material at its processing plants at the projected rates and source sufficient high grade mineralized material to fill such processing capacity; prices for silver, gold and other metals remaining as estimated; currency exchange rates remaining as estimated; availability of funds for the Company's projects and to satisfy current liabilities and obligations including debt repayments; capital cost estimates; decommissioning and reclamation estimates; prices for energy inputs, labour, materials, supplies and services (including transportation) and inflation rates remaining as estimated; no labour-related disruptions; no unplanned delays or interruptions in scheduled construction and production; all necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals are received in a timely manner; and the ability to comply with environmental, health and safety laws. The foregoing list of assumptions is not exhaustive. Readers are cautioned that such forward-looking statements and information are neither promises nor guarantees, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause future results, level of activity, production levels, performance or achievements of GSilver to differ materially from those expected including, but not limited to, market conditions, availability of financing, future prices of gold, silver and other metals, currency rate fluctuations, rising inflation and interest rates, actual results of production, exploration and development activities, actual resource grades and recoveries of silver, gold and other metals, availability of third party mineralized material for processing, unanticipated geological or structural formations and characteristics, geopolitical conflicts including wars, environmental risks, operating risks, accidents, labor issues, equipment or personnel delays, delays in obtaining governmental or regulatory approvals and permits, inadequate insurance, and other risks in the mining industry. There are no assurances that GSilver will be able to successfully discover and mine sufficient quantities of high grade mineralized material at El Cubo, VMC, San Ignacio and Topia for processing at its existing mills to increase production, tonnage milled and recoveries rates of gold, silver, and other metals in the amounts, grades, recoveries, costs and timetable anticipated. In addition, GSilver's decision to process mineralized material from El Cubo, VMC, San Ignacio, Topia and its other mines is not based on a feasibility study of mineral reserves demonstrating economic and technical viability and therefore is subject to increased uncertainty and risk of failure, both economically and technically. Mineral resources and mineralized material that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability, are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them, and may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, socio-political, marketing, and other relevant issues. There are no assurances that the Company's projected production of silver, gold and other metals will be realized. In addition, there are no assurances that the Company will meet its production forecasts or generate the anticipated cash flows from operations to satisfy its scheduled debt payments or other liabilities when due or meet financial covenants to which the Company is subject or to fund its exploration programs and corporate initiatives as planned. There is also uncertainty about the impact of the resurgence of COVID-19, the ongoing war in Ukraine, inflation and rising interest rates and the impact they will have on the Company's operations, supply chains, ability to access mining projects or procure equipment, supplies, contractors and other personnel on a timely basis or at all and economic activity in general. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. All forward-looking statements and information made in this news release are qualified by these cautionary statements and those in our continuous disclosure filings available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca including the Company's most recently filed annual information form. These forward-looking statements and information are made as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances save as required by law. November 22, 2024, VANCOUVER, British Columbia TheNewswire - Interra Copper Corp. (CSE: IMCX; OTCQB: IMIMF; FRA: 3MX) (Interra or the Company) is pleased to announce results from a recent geological review of the Thane Copper Gold Project (the Project or Thane). Thane is a 206 square-kilometer (km) property that is 100% owned by Interra Copper and situated in central British Columbia, Canada, between Centerra Golds Mt. Milligan mine and the former Kemess mine. Highlights of Interras exploration results include: Discovery of the Bananas showing, an approximately 200 metre (m) long domain of chalcopyrite mineralized porphyritic syenite cut by quartz-magnetite stockwork and sheeted veins with extensive secondary copper (chrysocolla). Assay results from the Bananas showing include: Sample 18615* on the southern portion of the zone yielded 3.82% copper (Cu) and 0.218 grams per tonne (g/t) gold (Au) (Table 1). Samples 18620* and 18617* from near the centre of the zone yielded 7.15% Cu and 0.472 g/t Au and 1.65% Cu and 0.746 g/t Au respectively(Table 1). Sample 18619* from the northern portion of the zone yielded 2.86% Cu and 0.258 g/t Au (Table 1). A specialist team from Equity Exploration and Accretive Metals Advisory undertook a field review of 19 targets on the property; their findings confirm that Thane has significant alkalic copper-gold porphyry potential within a comparable geologic setting to nearby mines. CEO Brian Thurston commented, Interras 100% owned Thane property has some of BCs most intense stream sediment anomalies as well as broad zones of alteration and anomalous copper and gold mineralization, providing strong evidence for the presence of a buried porphyry copper-gold deposit. The Bananas showing comprises high-grade mineralization in permeable rocks where deeper portions of the broader hydrothermal system may have been channeled closer to surface. This provides even more compelling evidence for a robust mineral system with economic potential at Thane. We are excited to follow up on this important discovery during the 2025 field season. The Thane copper-gold project is located in an underexplored portion of the northern Quesnel Terrane, 11 km SE of the past producing Kemess South mine and 13 km NW of the Mount Milligan mine. During early August, a specialist team from Equity Exploration and Accretive Metals Advisory undertook a review of 19 targets within the large 206 km2 property. The teams evaluation and field observations confirmed that Thane has significant alkalic copper-gold porphyry potential within a comparable geologic setting to nearby mines. Ten high-priority targets were recommended for advancement, of which, the newly discovered Bananas showing and the previously known Gail showing are ranked highest priority with strong copper-gold mineralized alteration systems in favorable host rocks. Follow up reconnaissance of the Bananas showing in September 2024, included preliminary delineation of the mineralized zone over an approximately 200 m strike length in exposures spanning approximately 100 vertical metres. The Bananas showing comprises a pinching and swelling 0.5 to 3 m thick domain of moderate to dense chalcopyrite bearing quartz-magnetite veins in iron-altered porphyritic syenite. The domain is characterized by strong fracturing and locally focused shear zones. Chrysocolla, formed from oxidation of the abundant copper mineralization, covers outcrop faces and talus along the length of the showing (Figure 1). The Bananas showing is contained within a broad > 2 km2 iron oxide and clay anomaly observed from a recent ALS Goldspot hyperspectral study. Fourteen geochemical samples were collected along 170 m of the exposed length of the showing. Results range from 0.01 to 7.16% Cu and 0.003 to 0.746 g/t Au, with anomalous concentrations of silver (Ag) ranging from 0.13 to 27.7 g/t and molybdenum (Mo) ranging from 3 to 156 parts per million (ppm). Highlighted samples, as well as sample statistics for the full Bananas showing dataset are in Table 1. Figure 1: Copper staining from the new Bananas Showing Table 1 Highlighted Results from The Bananas Showing, and Sample Statistics Select Geochemical Samples* ID Easting Northing Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) Cu% Mo (ppm) 18615 342626 6229738 0.218 18.2 3.820 102 18617 342637 6229765 0.746 9.7 1.650 156 18619 342630 6229909 0.258 21.0 2.860 83 18620 342635 6229839 0.472 27.7 7.150 126 Sample Statistics (n=14) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) Cu% Mo (ppm) Max 0.746 27.7 7.150 156 Min 0.003 0.1 0.011 3 Median 0.018 0.6 0.080 7 Average 0.127 5.5 1.097 38 RIP Drilling Program Update The Phase One drilling program at the Rip Copper Project (Rip) in central British Columbia has been completed. Two drill holes totalling 1,033.27 meters tested the northern geophysical anomaly reported by the Company in its July 31, 2024, press release. The Rip Project is situated approximately 33 km northeast of Imperial Metals past producing Huckleberry Cu-Mo mine and Surge Coppers advanced stage Ox/Seal/Berg projects (Figure 2). Drill hole RP2024-001 tested to a depth of 533.40 m and targeted a magnetic high near the centre of a combined magnetic-chargeability bullseye that defines the target. Drill hole RP2024-002 tested to a depth of 499.87 m targeting a section of the 1 km diameter doughnut shaped chargeability high (>35 mV/V) that surrounds the magnetic high. Both drill holes intersected multi-phase porphyritic intrusions, and porphyry related alteration, veining, and mineralization that are consistent with the geophysical signatures that were targeted. All core samples have been submitted to ALS laboratory in Richmond Vancouver for geochemical analysis. Results will be announced once all results are received and validated. In 2023 the Company announced an option agreement with ArcWest Exploration Inc. (ArcWest) to acquire an 80% interest in the RIP Cu-Mo project. Interra can earn the first tier of its interest in the project (60%) by completing staged exploration work totalling C$2.0 million and direct payment of C$100,000 and annual share payments over four years until the end of 2027. Stars Acquisition Update Further to the Companys October 7, 2024, press release, the meeting materials for the annual general and special meeting of the shareholders of Aurwest Resources Corporation (the AGSM) were mailed prior to, and are not affected by, the recent postal strike. The AGSM is scheduled for December 10, 2024, is expected to proceed as planned. Shareholders of Aurwest Resources Corporation will have the opportunity to vote on the proposed sale of the Stars Property to Interra. Subject to the approval of such resolution by the shareholders of Aurwest Resources Corporation and subsequent approval by the Canadian Securities Exchange (the CSE), the acquisition of the Stars Property by Interra is expected to close before December 16, 2024. Figure 2: Interra Property Location Map Market Maker Interra is pleased to announce that, subject to regulatory approval, the Company has retained Venture Liquidity Providers Inc. ("VLP") to initiate its market-making service in maintaining an orderly trading market for the Company's common shares. The market-making service will be undertaken by VLP through registered broker, W.D. Latimer Co. Ltd., in compliance with the policies of the CSE and other applicable laws. In consideration for the services provided by VLP, the Company has agreed to pay VLP $5,000 per month, commencing October 1, 2024, for an initial term of three months. Following the initial term, the agreement will renew for successive one-month terms, provided that after the initial three-month term the agreement may be terminated by either party at any time. Prior to retaining VLP, the Company and VLP were at arm's length and VLP had no interest, direct or indirect, in the Company or its securities. The finances and the shares required for the market-making service are to be provided by W.D. Latimer Co. Ltd. The fee paid by the Company to VLP is for services only and there are no performance factors contained in the agreement. VLP will not receive Interra shares nor options as compensation. VLP is a specialized consulting firm based in Toronto providing a variety of services focused on CSE- listed issuers. VLP's CEO, JC Cunningham, can be reached by telephone at (416) 891-4349 or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Business Development Interra is pleased to announce that the Company has entered into a corporate services agreement with CSC2020 Corp. ("CSC") to deliver a holistic suite of consulting, branding, and technology services, specifically designed to elevate the Company's public market strategies, increase product market reach, and brand positioning commencing November 25, 2024. The Company will also have access to CSCs proprietary AI-driven product line and content marketing. In consideration for the services provided by CSC, the Company has agreed to pay CSC a service fee of $40,000 (plus applicable tax) for an initial term of six months. The agreement will subsequently renew for additional one-month terms unless terminated, which may be effected by either party with 30 days' notice. There are no performance factors contained in the agreement. The Company and CSC are at arm's length and CSC has no interest, direct or indirect, in the Company or its securities. Shares for Debt In connection with the engagement of CSC, the Company and CSC have agreed to settle the outstanding debt owed by the Company to CSC for an aggregate of 420,000 common shares of the Company (the Debt Settlement Shares) at a deemed price of $0.10 per Debt Settlement Share. All Debt Settlement Shares will be subject to a hold period expiring four months and one day after the date of issuance. The securities described herein have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities laws, and, accordingly, may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons (as those terms are defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act) absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities described in this news release in the United States or any other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. IR Appointment The Company would also like to announce the appointment of Mr. Kelly Abbott as Investor Relations and marketing awareness. Mr. Abbott has extensive experience in public markets and has helped secure millions of dollars in capital for both public and private companies. Mr. Abbotts expertise is in marketing, corporate strategy, venture capital and business development. Stock Options The Company has granted stock options to a consultant of the Company to acquire an aggregate of 150,000 common shares in the capital of the Company, pursuant to the Companys Equity Incentive Plan. The stock options are each convertible into a common share of the Company at an exercise price of $0.12 until November 14, 2029, and are subject to vesting over a period of 18 months. Geochemical Methodology and Quality Control All samples were collected by Interra staff and contractors from outcrops, packaged in polyurethane sample bags, and submitted directly to ALS Geochemical Laboratory in North Vancouver. They were prepared for analysis according to ALS method PREP-31: each sample was crushed to 70% passing 2mm and a 250g split was pulverized to better than 85% passing 75 micron mesh. Gold was tested by fire assay with atomic absorption finish on 30g nominal samples (ALS method Au-AA23). An additional 34 elements were tested by ICP-AES using a four-acid digestion (ALS method ME-ICP61), over-limit samples for copper were retested using the same technique but with ore grade four acid digestion and a higher range of detection (method Cu-OG62). Quality assurance and control (QAQC) is maintained at the lab through rigorous use of internal standards, blanks and duplicates. * All samples collected from the Bananas showing are chip samples collected over a minimum length of 10 cm. However, sample length data were not available at the time of this news release. For this reason, samples should be treated as grab samples. Grab samples are selective in nature, therefore, reported mineralization and assay results may not be representative of a volume of rock. Qualified Person Brian G. Thurston, P.Geo., the Companys CEO and a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has reviewed and approved the technical information in this news release. About Interra Copper Corp. Interra Copper Corp. is focused on building shareholder value through the exploration and development of its two early-stage copper exploration assets located in British Columbia, Canada. The Thane Project located in the Quesnel Terrane of Northern BC spans over 20,658 ha with 10 high-priority targets identified demonstrating significant copper and precious metal mineralization. The Company has an earn-in option up to 80% and joint-venture agreement on the Rip Project located in Stikine Terrane in a prolific belt of Late Cretaceous (bulkley plutonic suite), known for copper-molybdenum deposits. Interras leadership and advisory teams are comprised of senior mining industry executives who have a wealth of technical and capital markets experience and a strong track record of discovering, financing, developing, and operating mining projects on a global scale. Interra is committed to sustainable and responsible business activities in line with industry best practices, supportive of all stakeholders, including the local communities in which it operates. The Company's common shares are principally listed on the Canadian Stock Exchange under the symbol "IMCX". For more information on Interra, please visit the Companys website at www.interracoppercorp.com. On behalf of the Board of Interra Copper Corp. Brian Thurston, P.Geo. Chief Executive Officer and Director Tel: 778-949-1829 For further information contact: Kelly Abbott Investor Relations This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Forward Looking Information This news release contains certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements (collectively forward-looking statements) within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as expects, anticipates, believes, intends, estimates, potential, possible, and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions, or results will, may, could, or should occur or be achieved. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, without limitation, relating to the Rip Copper Project, including the Phase One drilling program, the exploration potential thereof, and the expected satisfaction of the Companys 2024 and 2025 earn-in obligations are forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by Interra, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and the parties have made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation, risks associated with possible accidents and other risks associated with mineral exploration operations, the risk that the Company will encounter unanticipated geological factors, risks associated with the interpretation of exploration results, the possibility that the Company may not be able to secure permitting and other governmental clearances necessary to carry out the Company's exploration plans, the risk that the Company will not be able to raise sufficient funds to carry out its business plans, and the risk of political uncertainties and regulatory or legal changes that might interfere with the Company's business and prospects. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release concerning these items. Interra does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by applicable securities laws. The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the contents of this press release, and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. The Dalmacia mine is planned to be a significant addition to the sequence of mineralized material to the processing facility and has underground access and hosts an underground indicated sulphide resource of 2.19 million tonnes grading 1.00% CuT (copper) and 1.38 grams per tonne silver at a cut-off of 0.7% CuT 3 . The presence of regional targets and potential extensions to established targets such as the Cinabrio Norte zone, suggest there is near-term local exploration potential. Additionally, development is advancing towards the Cinabrio Norte mine, the northern extension of the Cinabrio deposit, with plans to commence production of mineralized material from Cinabrio Norte in H2 2025. While the Cinabrio and San Andres mines continue to increase production, BMR endeavours to utilize the full permitted capacity of the processing plant by also processing mill feed from outside sources. BMR is executing underground infill and extensional drilling at Cinabrio and San Andres mines. The drilling program is designed to further delineate areas that are included in near-term mine sequencing, and for grade control purposes. Mining activities to establish access to the mineralized zones at Cinabrio, San Andres and Cinabrio Norte continue to ramp up with stockpiling of fresh mineralized material at the mill. The timeline from first fresh mineralized material through the mill (May 2024) to approximately 90,000 tonnes per month, is expected to take approximately nine months. BMR expects that the Punitaqui full annual copper production rate will be in the range of 19 million to 23 million pounds of copper in concentrate 2 . The San Andres mine has existing underground access, and hosts an underground indicated sulphide resource of 1.74 million tonnes grading 1.06% CuT (copper) and 4.83 grams per tonne silver at a cut-off of 0.7% CuT 3 . The original underground mine, Cinabrio, was historically the source of feed to the processing plant for over 10 years during which it was operated primarily by Glencore plc, and has remaining copper resources to be mined and opportunities for additions to the current resource via the active underground drilling program. Copper concentrate is produced from processing mineral feed from Punitaqui mines, supply from third-party mines and also copper smelting by-products (slags) supplied by an external party. Processing operations resumed on May 13, 2024, after the successful commissioning of the recently refurbished and upgraded mineral processing facility. "Management of the Company believes Punitaqui represents an opportunity for sustainable copper production and revenue to the Company in the near term. The demand for copper is poised to increase due to the accelerating global transition towards clean energy and the growth of artificial intelligence data centers1. Through this royalty acquisition, Electric Royalties is investing in a project that could help supply the growing demand for copper while capitalizing on rising copper prices." "Punitaqui is a project that has four satellite copper resources, excellent road access and ready availability of water and power. It also possesses crucially important fixed assets, infrastructure and key permits. "Under the ownership of prior companies, the mine first went into production in 2010 and operated successfully until it was put into care and maintenance in 2020, when copper prices averaged less than US$3.00 per pound and silver prices averaged approximately US$20.50 per ounce. We feel the combination of BMR's ownership, higher copper, gold and silver prices, production from the mines and processing of mineralized material sourced both from the mines and from third-parties, could translate into increased operating margins for the project. Brendan Yurik, CEO of Electric Royalties, commented: "The Punitaqui copper mine is well positioned to continue increasing its production and executing key capital projects, thanks to this infusion of Electric Royalties' capital. VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / November 22, 2024 / Electric Royalties Ltd. (TSXV:ELEC) (OTCQB:ELECF) ("Electric Royalties" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the Company has entered into a definitive agreement with Battery Mineral Resources Corp. ("BMR") (TSXV: BMR) (OTCQB: BTRMF), Minera BMR SpA ("Minera BMR") and Minera Altos De Punitaqui Limitada (together, the "Vendors"), dated November 22, 2024, to acquire a 0.75% Gross Revenue Royalty (the "0.75% GRR") on the producing Punitaqui copper mine in Chile (the "Project" or "Punitaqui") in exchange for a cash payment of C$3,500,000 (the "Transaction"). The Punitaqui mining complex is in the central part of Coquimbo region about 120 kilometers (km) south of the port city of La Serena, Chile. Shipping is available via La Serena and the nearby port town of Coquimbo. The region is well serviced by grid electrical power and telecommunication services. The property consists of 3 main blocks over a 30-km north-south corridor with a centrally located plant complex. A well-established road network connects the processing plant, the Cinabrio mine, San Andres mine, Cinabrio Norte mine and the Dalmacia mine. The Cinabrio mine is located approximately 25 km by road, north of the processing plant. The Dalmacia mine is about 12 km by road to the south of the processing plant. Surface haulage from the outlying properties is accomplished using 20 to 25-tonne trucks. Current Mineral Resources include 6.17 million tonnes in the Indicated category grading 1.14% copper and 2.48 grams per tonne silver, and 3.07 million tonnes in the Inferred category grading 0.93% copper and 2.64 grams per tonne silver at a 0.7% copper cut-off grade3. The resources occur within four deposits: Cinabrio, San Andres, Dalmacia and Cinabrio Norte. Geology Northern Chile is one of the world's most well-endowed mineral districts. The regional bedrock geology of the Punitaqui-Ovalle region consists of a Jurassic to lower Cretaceous age sequence of volcanic rocks (lavas, conglomerates and andesitic breccias) with interbedded marine sediments (shales, fossiliferous limestones, and thin layers of sandstones). This sequence has been locally intruded by dioritic to granodioritic rocks of Upper Cretaceous age. Andesitic to dacitic dykes ranging in age from Cretaceous to Tertiary are common in the region. The lower elevations in the region are commonly covered by Quaternary alluvial deposits which locally extensively obscure the underlying Mesozoic bedrock. The Punitaqui region hosts iron oxide copper-gold (IOCG) type mineralization, manto-style copper mineralization, and mesothermal vein hosted copper and lode style, narrow vein gold mineralization. In northern Chile, manto-style mineralization is the most economically significant. Cinabrio, San Andres, Dalmacia and Cinabrio Norte are manto-style copper occurrences. Manto-style copper mineralization at Punitaqui is hosted by a regionally extensive marine sedimentary rock unit within an andesitic volcanic sequence. The sedimentary rock unit is comprised of dark-coloured shales, volcanoclastic sandstones, volcanoclastic sedimentary breccia and conglomerates and fossiliferous limestones. Transaction Terms For the payment of total consideration of C$3,500,000 in cash, Electric Royalties is acquiring the 0.75% GRR on the mining claims, mining leases and mineral tenures comprising the Punitaqui copper mine. In addition, the 0.75% GRR would apply to third-party materials processed through the Punitaqui mining complex from the effective date to December 31, 2027. C$3,050,000 of the purchase price for the 0.75% GRR is payable on closing of the Transaction, and the remaining C$450,000 is payable within 45 days of closing. The Vendors have the right to buy back 0.375% GRR of the 0.75% GRR for a cash payment of USD$1,500,000 once the Vendors have made royalty payments to the Company in excess of C$4,000,000. Completion of the proposed Transaction remains subject to a number of conditions, including: the receipt of any required regulatory and TSX Venture Exchange approvals, and other customary closing conditions. The Company intends to draw down C$3,050,000 from its amended and restated convertible credit facility (the "Facility") with Gleason & Sons LLC ("Gleason") dated February 16, 2024, and consider other financing sources, as needed, to fund the remainder of the Transaction costs. In addition to granting security to Gleason in the 0.75% GRR, the Company has determined to include its 1% gross metal royalty on the Mont Sorcier Project in Quebec as additional collateral for the Facility, in accordance with the Facility and associated security agreement. Gleason is controlled by the Company's largest shareholder and the Facility permits the Company to defer all interest payments until maturity in 2028. Update on Minera Cobre Verde Copper Stream Further to the Company's news release dated September 18, 2024, the Company announces that it has determined not to proceed with the previously announced copper stream with Minera Cobre Verde (a subsidiary of Cobre y Metales) regarding the proposed copper stream on the Minera Cobre Verde Mine in Chile described in such news release. David Gaunt, P.Geo., a Qualified Person who is not independent of Electric Royalties, has reviewed the technical information in this release. 1 https://carboncredits.com/will-ai-drive-a-global-copper-shortage-bhp-rings-the-alarm/ 2 Battery Mineral Resources Corp. news release dated May 13, 2024; Battery Mineral Resources Corp. website https://bmrcorp.com/projects/projects-map/ 3 Scientific and technical information pertaining to the Punitaqui Resource was extracted from Battery Mineral Resources Corp.'s NI 43-101 "Technical Report on Punitaqui Copper Complex Coquimbo, Chile" dated as of September 30, 2022 with an effective date of August 16, 2022, prepared by Garth Kirkham (Kirkham Geosystems Ltd.) an independent Qualified Person in accordance with NI 43-101. All mineral resources have been estimated in accordance with Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and Petroleum ("CIM") definitions, as required under NI 43-101. Cut-off grades are based on a price of US$3.50/lb copper, US$20/oz silver and several operating costs, metallurgical recoveries, and recovery assumptions, including a reasonable contingency factor. About Electric Royalties Ltd. Electric Royalties is a royalty company established to take advantage of the demand for a wide range of commodities (lithium, vanadium, manganese, tin, graphite, cobalt, nickel, zinc and copper) that will benefit from the drive toward electrification of a variety of consumer products: cars, rechargeable batteries, large scale energy storage, renewable energy generation and other applications. Electric vehicle sales, battery production capacity and renewable energy generation are slated to increase significantly over the next several years and with it, the demand for these targeted commodities. This creates a unique opportunity to invest in and acquire royalties over the mines and projects that will supply the materials needed to fuel the electric revolution. Electric Royalties has a growing portfolio of 40 royalties in lithium, vanadium, manganese, tin, graphite, cobalt, nickel, zinc and copper across the world. The Company is focused predominantly on acquiring royalties on advanced stage and operating projects to build a diversified portfolio located in jurisdictions with low geopolitical risk, which offers investors exposure to the clean energy transition via the underlying commodities required to rebuild the global infrastructure over the next several decades toward a decarbonized global economy. For further information, please contact: Brendan Yurik CEO, Electric Royalties Ltd. Phone: (604) 3643540 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. https://www.electricroyalties.com/ Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange), nor any other regulatory body or securities exchange platform, accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information and Other Company Information This news release includes forward-looking information and forward-looking statements (collectively, "forward-looking information") with respect to the Company within the meaning of Canadian securities laws. This news release includes information regarding other companies and projects owned by such other companies in which the Company holds a royalty interest, based on previously disclosed public information disclosed by those companies and the Company is not responsible for the accuracy of that information, and that all information provided herein is subject to this Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information and Other Company Information.Forward looking information is typically identified by words such as: believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, postulate and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. This information represents predictions and actual events or results may differ materially. Forward-looking information may relate to the Company's future outlook and anticipated events and may include statements regarding the projected future production, financial results, future financial position, expected growth of cash flows, business strategy, budgets, projected costs, projected capital expenditures, taxes, plans, objectives, industry trends and growth opportunities of the Company and the projects in which it holds royalty interests. Although the Punitaqui Project is a past producer with significant infrastructure still in place, the projected production and production decision by Battery Mineral Resources is not based on a feasibility study of mineral reserves demonstrating current economic and technical viability of the Punitaqui Project and furthermore Electric Royalties is not aware of any preliminary economic assessment or other study having been completed in respect of the projected production or production decision by Battery Mineral Resources with respect to the Punitaqui Project. As such, there is a higher degree of risk and uncertainty associated with the production decision, including increased uncertainty of achieving any particular level of production or recovery of minerals or the cost of such production or recovery. Historically, projects that are not based on a feasibility study have a much higher risk of economic and technical failure. There is no guarantee that production will begin as anticipated or at all or that anticipated production costs will be achieved. A failure to commence or maintain production at the Punitaqui Project would adversely impact Electric Royalties' potential future cash flow and profitability. While management considers these assumptions to be reasonable, based on information available, they may prove to be incorrect. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company or these projects to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include, but are not limited to risks associated with general economic conditions; adverse industry events; marketing costs; loss of markets; future legislative and regulatory developments involving the renewable energy industry; inability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources, and/or inability to access sufficient capital on favourable terms; the mining industry generally, recent market volatility, income tax and regulatory matters; the ability of the Company or the owners of these projects to implement their business strategies including expansion plans; competition; currency and interest rate fluctuations, and the other risks. The reader is referred to the Company's most recent filings on SEDAR+ as well as other information filed with the OTC Markets for a more complete discussion of all applicable risk factors and their potential effects, copies of which may be accessed through the Company's profile page at sedarplus.ca and at otcmarkets.com. TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / November 21, 2024 / Gratomic Inc. ("Gratomic", "GRAT", or the "Company") (TSXV:GRAT) provides a Corporate and Operational Update on bringing the Aukam Graphite mine to production and announces the appointment of Hermanus Manuel Silver, "Manie", to the Board of Directors and the position of Chief Operating Officer. Aukam Graphite Mine Gratomic is undertaking a strategic repositioning to further increase its focus on mining operations at Aukam and accelerate bringing the mine into production. With graphite pricing rebounding to USD 1,600 per tonne, capital markets have realigned. They now support critical minerals primarily in graphite, as it still is the most deficient in stable supply outside of China. Board Appointment Hermanus Manuel Silver, "Manie", has been appointed Chief Operating Officer and a Director of the Company. Currently Mine Manager and Head of Namibian Operations, he will continue those roles. During his 42-year open-pit and open-cast mining career, Manie has also held positions as COO and CEO and is still instrumental in starting and managing several mining projects across Africa. He also consulted as Senior Engineer in mining metals and minerals within the African continent, and outside as far as Malaysia and Kazakhstan. As well, Manie has acted as Senior Engineer for the Highland Group in Eritrea, Angola, and Zambia on gold, copper, and diamonds. He was responsible for improving mine capex and opex and training senior management at Zambian Copper, DRC Copper, and Angola Diamond Mines. He also served as CEO for Miranda Coal. Positions Held Operations Director, Namibia Contracts mining Senior Consultant at Basil Read, in Rosh Pinah, Namibia, responsible for planning total project improvements, productivity, and costing Managing Director, EBM Copper Mining, Namibia, starting up a new surface mining project General Manager, Tharisa Mineral, restructuring the mining operations to extend the life-of-mine with improved profits and sustainability Manie's current role at the Gratomic Graphite (Pty) Ltd. Aukam Project is primarily, but not limited to, planning future mine production, and organizing and supervising all mining activities. They include overseeing mine development, mine planning and benching, quality control on highwall and rock stability, and inspecting the mine to ensure a safe working environment. "I am very confident," said new COO Manie, "that with my appointment I am going to be able to bring the necessary experience and direction to the board that is required to advance Aukam into production. We have already started working on a business plan which we plan to implement in December 2024 to set the stage for greater strategic advancement of the asset and the processing plant. I have spent a long time working with Arno Brand across the world and look forward to working closer with Cliff Bream and Daniel Baard". The appointment of Hermanus Manuel Silver as an officer and Director of the Company is subject to TSX Venture Exchange approval. Board Departure Gratomic announces the departure of Executive Chair Bruno Baillavoine for personal reasons. Bruno's position will remain vacant for the time being, and his duties will be absorbed by the remainder of the board, as the Company assesses the best candidate to fill the position at a later stage. Bruno remains committed to the long-term success of Gratomic. He will stay on as a key consultant and continue to advise the Company on strategic matters indefinitely. "It has been a great pleasure," said Bruno, "to work with Gratomic as Chair of the BOD. It is great to see the team building up its strength with new appointments at this most important time in the Company's development. I look forward continuing to support the BOD as a consultant to help the team meet future challenges and deliver on its strategy." New Head of Processing The board announces the engagement of Kobus La Grange to consult on and act as head of processing. Kobus has 34 years of experience in the Southern African steel and mining industries, is a Metallurgist by profession, and is a founding shareholder of ABT established in 2012 as a subsidiary of IPtR. Starting his metallurgical/mining career with IMCOR Zinc, Namibia, he later moved to JCI in the mid-eighties, working his way through the managerial levels to Metallurgical Manager of Anglo Platinum's Rustenburg Section. In 2004, Kobus left Anglo Platinum to join a new venture called Independence Platinum Resources (IPR), where he developed and commercialised the "ConRoast" technology together with Mintek. IPR was majority held by Atomaer, which sold control to Braemore Resources, which subsequently was acquired by Jubilee Platinum. Kobus left Jubilee to join Tharisa Platinum as it moved from a trial mining venture to a major PGM and chrome production entity. As General Manager, Kobus was instrumental in developing the Tharisa operation to its full capacity. In 2012, the IPR team reassembled as IPtR, a company to develop innovative sustainable solutions in the resource, processing, and beneficiation fields that add value to Africa's mineral assets for the benefit of its people. Other Business Sale of Non-essential Assets: Gratomic has sold a residential property in Windhoek which is scheduled to close on November 30. The sale will provide Gratomic with approximately CAD $712,000 net of commissions and taxes. The proceeds of the sale will be put towards advancing and sustaining operations in Namibia. Tri-Stream: Once the Engineering report is released by the Independent Engineering firm out of Australia, Gratomic and Tri-stream will finalize the agreement between the two companies. Strategic Marketing Agent Agreement: Gratomic has further decided to outsource all marketing of its product to an independent trading firm. Discussions have advanced well, and the two companies are nearing completion of a partially prepaid long-term marketing agreement. We will update the market on completion of the transaction. Aukam Overview Arno Brand, President and CEO of Gratomic stated, "It has been a challenging environment for graphite companies in the Market. It is a relief to see graphite pricing rebalancing and market sentiment strengthening. These factors should yield positively towards our completing the necessary steps to deliver our endeavours successfully. Critical mineral exports out of the east are becoming heavily encumbered and are poised to strike a major price imbalance between the two dominating economies in the world." Gratomic wishes to emphasize that no Preliminary Economic Analysis, Preliminary Feasibility Study, or Feasibility Study has been completed to support any level of production. In fact, no mineral resources let alone mineral reserves demonstrating economic viability and technical feasibility, have been delineated on the Aukam property. The Company is working towards completing a study on scaling up the existing Aukam Processing Plant to a commercial-size facility capable of producing the desired concentrate grades and production rates. Its recommendations, and their subsequent implementation, will provide conclusions and recommendation at a Feasibility Study level of comfort. Gratomic wishes to emphasize that the supply of graphite is conditional on Gratomic being able to bring the Aukam project into a production phase, and for any graphite being produced to meet certain technical and mineralization requirements. Gratomic continues to move its business towards production. As part of its business plan, it expects to file a National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects resource estimate in Q4 2025. Risk Factors No mineral resources, let alone mineral reserves demonstrating economic viability and technical feasibility, have been delineated on the Aukam property. The Company is not able to demonstrate or disclose any capital and/or operating costs that may be associated with the processing plant until the Feasibility Study is completed. The Company advises that it has not based its production decision on even the existence of mineral resources, let alone on a Preliminary Feasibility Study or a full Feasibility Study of mineral reserves demonstrating economic and technical viability. As a result, there may be an increased uncertainty for achieving any level of mineral recovery and the cost of such recovery, including increased risks associated with developing a commercially mineable deposit. Historically, such projects have a much higher risk of economic and technical failure. There is no guarantee that production will begin as anticipated or at all, or that anticipated production costs will be achieved. Failure to commence production would have a material adverse impact on the Company's ability to generate revenue and cash flow to fund operations. Failure to achieve the anticipated production costs would have a material adverse impact on the Company's cash flow and future profitability. About Gratomic Gratomic is a multinational company with projects in Namibia, Brazil, and Canada. The Company aims to become a graphite supplier and to secure a strong position in the electric vehicle battery supply chain through the development of its flagship Aukam Graphite Mine. Large quantities of high-quality vein graphite have been shipped for testing and have confirmed its suitability as an anode material. The Company will continue to update the public on the status of these tests and will share results as they become available. For more information Please visit the website: www.gratomic.ca Contact: Arno Brand at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or (416) 561- 4095 To be added to our email list: subscribe at gratomic.ca/contact/ For Marketing and Media information: please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. "Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release." Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements, which relate to future events or future performance and reflect management's current expectations and assumptions. Such forward-looking statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company. Investors are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause future results to differ materially from those expected. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof, and except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. All the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements and by those made in our filings with SEDAR+ in Canada (available at www.sedarplus.com). The International Criminal Court on Thursday issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defence minister as well as Hamas military chief Mohammed Deif. The unprecedented move drew a furious reaction from Netanyahu, who denounced it as anti-Semitic and the court's accusations "absurd and false". Israel's closest allies, including the United States, also slammed the warrants against the Israeli politicians, but rights groups including Amnesty International welcomed them. "Prime Minister Netanyahu is now officially a wanted man," said Amnesty Secretary General Agnes Callamard. The ICC's move theoretically limits the movement of Netanyahu, as any of the court's 124 national members would be obliged to arrest him on their territory. "The Chamber issued warrants of arrest for two individuals, Mr Benjamin Netanyahu and Mr Yoav Gallant, for crimes against humanity and war crimes committed from at least 8 October 2023 until at least 20 May 2024," the ICC said in a statement. A warrant had also been issued for Deif, it added. Israel said in early August it had killed Deif in an air strike in southern Gaza in July, but Hamas has not confirmed his death. The court said it had issued the arrest warrant as the prosecutor had not been able to determine whether or not Deif was dead. The court's chief prosecutor Karim Khan urged the body's members to act on the warrants, and for non-members to work together for "upholding international law". "I appeal to all States Parties to live up to their commitment... by respecting and complying with these judicial orders," Khan said in a statement. The Palestinian Authority and militant group Hamas both welcomed the warrants -- though without mentioning Deif. The warrants for the Israeli leaders are "an important step towards justice and can lead to redress for the victims in general", Hamas's political bureau member Bassem Naim said. "But it remains limited and symbolic if it is not supported by all means by all countries around the world." - 'Reasonable grounds' - The court said it had found "reasonable grounds" to believe Netanyahu and Gallant bore "criminal responsibility" for the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare, as well as the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution and other inhumane acts. The ICC said the pair were also criminally responsible "for the war crime of intentionally directing an attack against the civilian population". The court alleged both men "intentionally and knowingly deprived the civilian population in Gaza of objects indispensable to their survival", including food, water, medicine, fuel and electricity. Regarding the war crime of starvation, it said the manufactured shortages "created conditions of life calculated to bring about the destruction of part of the civilian population in Gaza". This resulted in civilian deaths including of children, due to malnutrition and dehydration, the court charged. It said it had not yet determined if "all elements of the crime against humanity of extermination were met," the court said. However, judges did say there were reasonable grounds to believe that the crime against humanity of murder had been committed in relation to these victims. - 'Deeply concerned' - US President Joe Biden denounced the warrants against Israeli leaders as "outrageous". "Let me be clear once again: whatever the ICC might imply, there is no equivalence -- none -- between Israel and Hamas. We will always stand with Israel against threats to its security," Biden said in a statement. Argentina's president, Javier Milei, also expressed his country's "deep disagreement", arguing the move "distorts the spirit of international justice". Yet Belgium's foreign ministry said it fully supported the work of the ICC. "Those responsible for crimes committed in #Israel and #Gaza must be prosecuted at the highest level, regardless of who committed them," it said in a statement on social media platform X. Italy said it would be forced to comply with the warrant should the Israeli officials set foot in the country. While Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said he believed the ICC was "wrong" to put Netanyahu and Gallant on the same level as Hamas, if either "were to come to Italy, we would have to arrest them". Speaking from Jordan, the European Union's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell noted: "It is not a political decision. It is a decision of a court... of an international court of justice. "And the decision of the court has to be respected and implemented." Just hours after the warrants were issued, the Dutch foreign minister postponed a planned visit to Israel. Caspar Veldkamp's trip, originally slated for Monday, has been put back but "we are still looking into a later opportunity to go", a foreign ministry spokesman told AFP. - 'Secret' warrants - The warrants had initially been classified as "secret" to protect witnesses and safeguard the conduct of the investigations, the court said. They decided to make them public "since conduct similar to that addressed in the warrant of arrest appears to be ongoing", it added. "Moreover, the Chamber considers it to be in the interest of victims and their families that they are made aware of the warrants' existence." ICC prosecutor Khan in May requested the court issue arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Netanyahu sacked Gallant as defence minister on November 5. Khan initially also sought warrants against other top Hamas leaders on suspicion of war crimes and crimes against humanity. He had already dropped the application for Ismail Haniyeh, the group's political leader, following his death in an explosion in Tehran. Khan had also requested warrants against former Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, who was also killed by the Israeli military in Gaza. Since Hamas conducted its October 7, 2023 attack, the deadliest in Israeli history, Israel has been fighting a war in Gaza, which the militant group rules. It was triggered by the assault on Israel by Hamas militants, a cross-border raid that resulted in the deaths of 1,206 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures. The Hamas government's health ministry in the Gaza Strip said Thursday that at least 44,056 people had been killed in more than 13 months of war between Israel and Palestinian militants. The toll includes 71 deaths in the previous 24 hours, according to the ministry, which said 104,268 people had been wounded in the Gaza Strip since the war began. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, whose country holds the EU's rotating presidency, on Friday said he would invite Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu to visit and defy an ICC arrest warrant. The Hague-based court on Thursday issued warrants for Netanyahu and former Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, as well as Hamas military chief Mohammed Deif "for crimes against humanity and war crimes committed from at least 8 October 2023 until at least 20 May 2024". Orban called the ICC's decision "outrageously brazen and "cynical", saying it "intervenes in an ongoing conflict... dressed up as a legal decision, but in fact for political purposes". "There is no choice here, we have to defy this decision," the nationalist leader said in his weekly interview with state radio. "Later today, I will invite the Israeli Prime Minister, Mr. Netanyahu, to visit Hungary, where I will guarantee him, if he comes, that the judgment of the International Criminal Court will have no effect in Hungary, and that we will not follow its terms," he added. Hungary signed the Rome Statute, the international treaty that created the ICC, in 1999 and ratified it two years later during Orban's first term in office. However, Budapest has not promulgated the associated convention for reasons of constitutionality and therefore asserts that it is not obliged to comply with ICC decisions. Hungary previously said it would not arrest Russian President Vladimir Putin either, who is also wanted by the ICC for the war crime accusation of unlawfully deporting Ukrainian children. Orban is the only EU leader to have maintained close ties with the Kremlin following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and he is also one of the closest partner of Israel in the bloc. The nationalist leader has already faced a backlash for his country's norm-defying EU presidency, which saw him jetting to Moscow right after taking over the six-month stint in July. China urged the International Criminal Court on Friday to remain objective and fair after it issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "China hopes the ICC will uphold an objective and just position (and) exercise its powers in accordance with the law," foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said at a regular press conference in response to a question about the court's warrant for Netanyahu. The ICC issued warrants for Netanyahu and his former defence minister Yoav Gallant on Thursday "for crimes against humanity and war crimes" committed between October 8, 2023, and May 20 this year. It said there were "reasonable grounds" to believe the pair bore "criminal responsibility" for using starvation as a method of warfare and intentionally attacking civilians. Netanyahu denounced the move as anti-Semitic and the court's accusations as "absurd and false". China, which like Israel and the United States is not a member of the ICC, said it "supports any efforts by the international community on the Palestinian issue that are conducive to achieving fairness and justice and upholding the authority of international law". Lin also accused the United States of "double standards" in response to a question about the US opposition to the court's pursuit of Netanyahu, but its support for a warrant against Russian leader Vladimir Putin. "China consistently opposes certain countries only use international law when it suits them... and engaging in double standards," Lin said. US President Joe Biden has condemned the warrants against Israeli leaders, calling them "outrageous". The head of Iran's Revolutionary Guards on Friday described the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and a former defence minister as the "end and political death" of Israel, in a speech. "This means the end and political death of the Zionist regime, a regime that today lives in absolute political isolation in the world and its officials can no longer travel to other countries," Revolutionary Guards chief General Hossein Salami said in the speech aired on state TV. In the first official reaction by Iran, Salami called the ICC warrant "a welcome move" and a "great victory for the Palestinian and Lebanese resistance movements," both supported by the Islamic republic. Israel and its allies criticised the ICC's decision to issue an arrest warrant on Thursday for Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu and the country's former defence minister Yoav Gallant. The court also issued a warrant for the arrest of Hamas's military chief Mohammed Deif. The warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant were issued in response to accusations of crimes against humanity and war crimes during Israel's war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, sparked by the Palestinian militant group's attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. The move drew angry reactions from Netanyahu, who denounced it as antisemitic and from Israel's closest allies, including the United States, but was welcomed by rights groups including Amnesty International. The ICC's move theoretically limits the movement of Netanyahu, as any of the court's 124 national members would be obliged to arrest him on their territory. The court's chief prosecutor Karim Khan urged the body's members to act on the warrants, and for non-members to work together in "upholding international law". Germany is "examining" how to respond to the International Criminal Court's decision to issue an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Germany's Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said on Friday. "We are now of course examining exactly what that means for implementation in Germany," Baerbock told public broadcaster ARD. Whether German authorities would move to arrest Netanyahu or former Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant, who also had a warrant issued against him, is currently "theoretical", Baerbock said. Germany is "bound by" the court as a country which recognises the body and respects international law, she said. The ICC issued the arrest warrants on Thursday in response to accusations of crimes against humanity and war crimes in the conflict in Gaza. In addition to Netanyahu and Gallant, the court also issued an arrest warrant for Mohammed Deif, the head of the military wing of Palestinian group Hamas. Israel said Deif was killed in an air strike in July. Hamas has not confirmed his death. The ICC arrest warrant drew a furious reaction from Netanyahu, who denounced it as "anti-Semitic" and said the court's accusations were "absurd and false". World leaders were split on the international court's decision. Many of Israel's allies criticised the warrants, with US President Joe Biden calling the move "outrageous". The European Union's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, meanwhile, said enforcing the warrants was "not a political decision". "It is a decision of a court, of a court of justice, of an international court of justice. And the decision of the court has to be respected and implemented." German government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said on Friday Berlin was "one of the biggest supporters of the ICC", which came into being partly as "the result of German history". "At the same time, it is a consequence of German history that we share unique relations with and a great responsibility towards Israel," Hebestreit said in a statement. Further steps would only be taken if Netanyahu or Gallant were planning to visit to Germany, he said. Are we waiting for the time when there will be no natives to deal with the UK government? It will be too late, says Olivier Bancoult, head of the Chagos Refugees Group. Hes been campaigning for many years for the rights of his people to return to the tiny archipelago of islands from which they were removed in the 1960s. The Prime Minister of the Republic of Mauritius and the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland today confirm that they have reached an historic political agreement on the exercise of sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago, reads the joint statement of the two states published on 3 October 2024. At the heart of this deal presented by the UK foreign secretary in the House of Commons on 7 October 2024 is a recognition of past wrongs. But David Lammy also called it a victory for diplomacy. Others say its about an indigenous peoples right to reparation and maybe their right to return to their native land. For other commentators, it may be a victory for international law processes or the beginning of the end of the long process of decolonisation. Each way of looking at the planned treaty between the UK and the government of Mauritius involves a different set of principles and national interests. And the views of the Chagossian people, numbering only around ten thousand persons, risk being lost in the continuing competing search for the correct solution. Rulings by the ICJ, ITLOS and UK courts No details have been made public yet about the UKs new treaty yet to be signed and ratified with Mauritius. The UK foreign secretary framed it to British MPs as the solution to an unsustainable status quo that was affecting the UKs relationship with the United States. Why? Because a US base was established on the island of Diego Garcia, for which the UK ensured there would be no inhabitants by removing the Chagossians. After multiple court cases, Lammy said it was just a matter of time before our only choices would have been abandoning the base altogether. Or breaking international law. Securing that base and UK relations with the US propelled the discussions with Mauritius, following the International Court of Justice (ICJ) advisory opinion ruling in 2019 which agreed with Port Louis contention, that the islands belonged to them as part of the process of decolonisation. That ruling was followed by an International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) judgement which supported the maritime delimitation of Mauritius in relation to the Maldives, based on their sovereignty over the islands. Other national cases through UK courts have focused on the rights of the Chagossian people and provided limited compensation to a handful. A treaty for the rights of the Chagossians? The undisclosed treaty has been criticised by some Chagos rights groups as not inclusive of their views. Bancoult disputes that: I can assure you that the [Mauritian] prime minister did everything every time he had a negotiation, he had a consultation with our Chagossians to let them know how the thing was moving. Every time. Clive Baldwin from the NGO Human Rights Watch says however that too many times, starting from the 1960s, deals were done about the Chagossians without them, when limited money was paid for as charity or development, not as compensation. In a very detailed 2023 report, Human Rights Watch has outlined both the history of failures to deal with the needs of the exiled community and the multiple ways in which the UK authorities have broken international law. Its a crime against humanity. Its forced displacement, its prevention of return. And its also because of the evidence of the racism we found persecution on the grounds of race, says Baldwin, the reports author. And if the issue is not resolved, it will continue to be a problem for the UK, he says. If they dont, its going to stay with them. It is notable that this year, the UK is running a campaign to regain a judges seat at the ICJ via the candidature of Dapo Akande. But Baldwin is concerned that the potential treaty may not address some of the fundamental legal principles, and therefore, the needs of the Chagossians. I dont think it does address the wrongs of the past. The government says there will be substantive assistance for the welfare of Chagossians. But none of those are rights. So the problems are: does it recognise a right for the Chagossians to return to the home? It doesnt; and where does the money go?, he asks. Any acknowledgement of their rights is why we say the word reparations matters. The UK hates it because of the precedent. But this is one of the clearest-cut examples of reparations for not just historic wrongdoing, but current wrongdoing. And as we said, applying the principles of reparations would mean the right to return, and the restoration of the island so they can return. A 99-year lease that could end up into perpetuity? Ottilia Anna Maunganidze of the Institute for Security Studies in Pretoria, South Africa, suggests that those fundamental legal and human rights principles and how the deal plays out for the Chagossians will depend on the precise terms of the initial agreement on sovereignty. According to Lammy, the UK has ceded sovereignty. But, he said, there is already an agreement with the Mauritian negotiators to a 99-year lease, which essentially shores the UK up with their security ally, the US, and their access to the base in Diego Garcia. Earlier this month though, opposition forces won the general election in Mauritus. Based on the just concluded elections, says Maunganidze, if I were to look into a crystal ball, I would say that the negotiation on Diego Garcia is likely not going to be harder for Mauritius, but a point for which they may be less willing to negotiate on, and perhaps move away from the proposal of a 99-year lease, which, as we know with a lot of 99-year leases, can end up being into perpetuity. She suggests that the new government may push for rather clearer terms around the use of not the entire territory of Diego Garcia, with a similar arrangement, as what we see with US or other foreign military presence in otherwise sovereign countries, like Djibouti. So it is more likely that they would lean towards a full assertion of sovereignty over the entire territory of the Chagos Islands with the understanding that any leasehold or any presence by the US and the UK in Mauritius, as it will then fully be, would be essentially almost in a host country agreement kind of way, she concludes. The British still dont want to use the term reparations Any rights of the Chagossians to return, their right to repair of their homeland, to access, to jobs, to livelihood, would be subject to whatever actual terms are in the treaty. If theres a restriction to Mauritian sovereignty, then whatever terms need to be negotiated, they have to be agreed on first, before we go to the next stage, Maunganidze says. Baldwin is clear that in law, all the Chagossians have a right to return, but he says there is resistance in London to the establishment of that principle and that the British still dont want to use the term reparations, even though they have accepted the forced displacement was our responsibility. With the change of government in the UK last June, the negotiations seem to have been able to move forward. This is a moment when its for the UK to be able to acknowledge its role, says Baldwin. But in addition to the changes in London and in Port Louis this month, now theres the knowledge of change in government in the United States in January 2025, so there may be only a small window within which to resolve the issue. Its an urgent moment, says Baldwin, because its fifty years after the last Chagossians were deported, including those who were babies at the time, a last chance for those who were actually born on the islands to be able to return. That means now is the best opportunity for the UK to do the right thing, but it needs to be doing so with the Chagossians, he cautions. Is this example of International law working? The ruling by the ICJ and the subsequent behind the scenes negotiations culminating in the announcement of the putative treaty was welcomed by some players as a vindication for international law processes; that if only enough political pressure is put on states via the courts, change will occur. Baldwin agrees that it does show the impact of advisory opinions and therefore the importance of advisory opinions addressing the issues around human rights, reparations, succession. But he cautions that although the advisory opinion addresses the failure to decolonise the territory quite clearly and talks about the Chagossians, it doesnt come up with any very clear responsibility, and therefore may fall short. Maunganidze acknowledges that small states are now more regularly seeing the opportunities that international courts may afford, even though, she says, Mauritius may not be the best example. This was not, by any measure, the easiest process to follow. But advisory opinions are now providing an avenue, even where it is one state that has put forward the application, for many more states, small and sometimes big, submitting their declarations to intervene, she says. And when you do have a critical mass of countries, whether theyre small or whether theyre large, that has the potential to tip the scales in terms of where the decision lies. But the proof of the effects of international courts will always be in what happens in the real world. I would throw in a slight word of caution, says Maunganidze, that even where they are binding decisions, whether its at the ICJ or elsewhere, the real challenge relates to implementation. And in the case of the Chagos islands, the implementors are the states. Israel's military said on Friday it had killed two commanders involved in Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack, pressing its north Gaza offensive a day after the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants over the war. With Israel also fighting Hamas ally Hezbollah in Lebanon, live AFPTV footage showed several strikes early Friday on Beirut's southern suburbs, where the Iran-backed group holds sway. The International Criminal Court (ICC) on Thursday said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defence minister Yoav Gallant may bear "criminal responsibility" for the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare and other crimes against humanity against Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip. The Hague-based court's decision drew mixed reactions from world leaders, with some vowing to arrest the Israelis if they entered their country's territory. Other leaders, including US President Joe Biden, have condemned the court's decision which Netanyahu dismissed as "absurd" and "driven by anti-Semitic hatred of Israel". Israel has similarly pushed back against accusations of genocide in its war against Hamas, with a case brought before the International Court of Justice in December and, more recently, a report issued by a UN special committee last week. On the ground in Gaza, the military said an air strike on the territory's north killed five Hamas militants including two company commanders "who participated in the October 7 massacre" last year. Medics said dozens were killed or missing after an overnight Israeli raid on Beit Lahia and nearby Jabalia, which are among the targets of a sweeping Israeli assault on north Gaza. The civil defence agency was not immediately able to provide an exact toll. - Biden vows support - Biden, in a statement responding to the ICC's arrest warrants, called them "outrageous", vowing to "always stand with Israel against threats to its security". China, which like Israel and the United States is not a member of the ICC, urged the court to "uphold an objective and just position". Foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said that Beijing "supports any efforts... that are conducive to achieving fairness and justice". The ICC also issued an arrest warrant for Hamas's military chief Mohammed Deif, accusing him of responsibility for war crimes and crimes against humanity over the attack on Israel that sparked the war, as well as "sexual and gender-based violence" against hostages. Israel said it killed Deif in July, but Hamas has not confirmed his death. The Palestinian Authority and Hamas both welcomed the warrants -- though without mentioning Deif. Iran, which backs Hamas, Hezbollah and other armed groups in the region, praised the arrest warrants against the Israeli leaders. "This means the end and political death of the Zionist regime," said Revolutionary Guards chief General Hossein Salami. The ICC's move theoretically limits the movement of Netanyahu, as any of the court's 124 national members would be obliged to arrest him on their territory. But on Friday, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said he would invite Netanyahu to visit and defy the "cynical" and "political" ICC warrant. The Israeli prime minister, in a video statement, said that "no outrageous anti-Israel decision will prevent us... from continuing to defend our country in every way." - 'Enough' - Vowing to stop Hamas from regrouping in the already devastated north of the Gaza Strip, Israel launched a sweeping assault on the area in early October. In Gaza City, one man who said he took his cousins to hospital after a strike urged "the world... to put an end" to the war. "We've had enough," said Belal, who only gave his first name. "I've lost my entire family -- 10 family members gone, and I'm the only one left... All we want is an end to this injustice we're living. We want nothing else." At least 44,056 people have been killed in Gaza in more than 13 months of war, most of them civilians, according to figures from the Hamas-ruled territory's health ministry which the United Nations considers reliable. It was triggered by the deadliest attack in Israeli history, which resulted in the deaths of 1,206 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures. In Lebanon, AFPTV footage showed plumes of smoke rising over south Beirut after the Israeli military called for the evacuation of three locations, warning on social media of imminent attacks. The military later said in a statement its "fighter jets completed a new round of strikes" on Beirut's southern suburbs. The latest raids follow intense Israeli attacks on south Beirut as well as other areas in Lebanon's south and east, where Israel says it has been targeting Hezbollah militants. More than 11 months of cross-border fire between Israel and Hezbollah over the Gaza conflict escalated into all-out war in September, with Israel conducting an extensive bombing campaign and sending ground troops into southern Lebanon. The Lebanese health ministry said at least 52 people were killed on Thursday in Israeli strikes, including some 40 dead in Lebanon's east, taking its overall death toll since October 2023 to 3,583 people. Pro-Palestinian groups took the Dutch state to court Friday, urging a halt to arms exports to Israel and accusing the government of failing to prevent what they termed a genocide in Gaza. The NGOs argued that Israel is breaking international law in Gaza and the West Bank, invoking, amongst others, the 1948 United Nations Genocide Convention set up in the wake of the Holocaust. "Israel is guilty of genocide and apartheid" and "is using Dutch weapons to wage war", said Wout Albers, a lawyer representing the NGOs. "Dutch weapons are killing children, every day, in Palestine, including my family," said Ahmed Abofoul, a legal advisor to Al Haq, one of the groups involved in the suit. Israel furiously denies accusations of genocide as it presses on with the offensive in Gaza it began after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel. Opening the case at the court in The Hague, judge Sonja Hoekstra noted: "It is important to underline that the gravity of the situation in Gaza is not contested by the Dutch State, nor is the status of the West Bank." "Today is about finding out what is legally in play and what can be expected of the State, if the State can be expected to do more, or act differently than it is currently acting," she added. She acknowledged this was a "sensitive case", saying: "It's a whole legal debate." The lawyer for the Dutch State, Reimer Veldhuis, said the Netherlands has been applying European laws in force for arms exports. Veldhuis argued the case should be tossed out. "It is unlikely that the minister responsible will grant an arms export licence to Israel that would contribute to the Israeli army's activities in Gaza or the West Bank," said Veldhuis. The case comes one day after another court based in The Hague, the International Criminal Court, issued arrest warrants for Israel's prime minister and former defence minister. The ICC said there were reasonable grounds to suspect Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. The court also issued an arrest warrant for Hamas military chief Mohammed Deif, whom Israel says it has killed. Hamas has not confirmed his death. The ICC warrants drew a furious reaction from Netanyahu, who denounced it as anti-Semitic and the court's accusations "absurd and false". Hamas's October 7 attack on Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,206 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures. The health ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza said the death toll in more than 13 months of war since then has reached 44,056 people. The majority of Gaza's dead are civilians, according to ministry figures, which the United Nations considers reliable. When on set for her new K-Drama, Unmasked, veteran actress Kim Hye Soo injured herself but continued through her scenes. At the Disney Content Showcase APAC 2024 on Nov. 21, Kim spoke to the media and revealed that during an intense scene filming in the cold weather, she had injured her right thigh muscle. The actress, who stars as team leader Oh So Ryong in the investigative drama, reminisced about the incident. Kim said: "I had to do a physically intense scene on a freezing day. I ruptured my right thigh muscle while running." She finished filming the grueling scene even after getting hurt. "I thought we could at least shoot my face since my leg was injured, but it turned out that wasn't possible. I remember re-setting everything and filming again. The scene ended up looking very dynamic," Kim added. Unmasked has to do with a reporting investigation crew that handles instances when law enforcement and prosecution decline. It blends realistic story-telling with humor, and both sides of the show are engaging for the audience. The long-awaited drama will come to theaters in January 2025. She's set fans into a frenzy with a promise that her project will be finished despite her nasty fall. Kim Hye Soo, as a special icon and one of the leading actresses in South Korea, still motivates fans and co-actresses. Friday, November 22, 2024 - A rogue Nigerian man was captured on camera physically assaulting his girlfriend in his bedsitter in Rongai and bragging that he is untouchable. In the video, the ruthless man is seen throwing an object at the lady during an altercation, forcing her to cry for help. He goes ahead and brags that police cannot arrest him because he has diplomatic immunity. There is nothing that police can do to me, the man brags shortly after assaulting the lady. The video has caused an uproar on social media, with most Kenyans urging DCI to intervene and arrest the foreigner. The video comes at a time when femicide cases are on the rise in the country, catching the attention of President William Ruto. Speaking on Wednesday when he met with women leaders at the State House, Ruto said his administration is committed to ending all forms of violence. As leaders, we are united in the resolve to ensure that justice is swift and efficient. I have instructed the criminal justice actors to execute their mandates without delay, holding perpetrators of femicide fully accountable, he said. Ruto called for the gender desks in police stations to be enhanced, adding that the government will introduce similar services in hospitals to ensure victims receive immediate attention and care. The President pointed out the need to equip young people with the skills and awareness to navigate the risks they face in society. Watch the video here Link>>> The Kenyan DAILY POST. Friday, November 22, 2024 - Renowned Nairobi lawyer Ahmednasir Abdullahi has enlisted the help of Kenya's Gen Z in his mission to advocate for a corruption-free Judiciary, particularly targeting reforms within the Supreme Court. For months, if not years, Ahmednasir Abdullahi, famously known as the "Grand Mullah" in legal circles, has been vocal in his criticism of the Kenyan Supreme Court, accusing it of being a hub of corruption. His relentless efforts to advocate for a corruption-free judiciary have seen him banned from appearing before the Supreme Court, with its judges, led by Chief Justice Martha Koome, accusing him of attempting to intimidate the court. On Thursday, following President William Ruto's decision to cancel Adani Group deals in Kenya under pressure from Gen Z and Millennials, Ahmednasir pleaded with Kenyans to assist him in eradicating corruption within the judiciary. The senior counsel highlighted that corruption in the judiciary, particularly at the top levels, has reached unprecedented levels. LOGICALLY, now that Kenyans have beaten Adani ten-Nil...surely our next target MUST be Hon Madam CJ @CJMarthaKoomeand the Supreme Court of Kenya. Good people, JurisPESA is a hundred times more lethal and damaging to Kenya than Adani deals, Ahmednasir wrote on X. The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday, November 22, 2024 - Renowned Nairobi lawyer Ahmednasir Abdullahi has commended President William Ruto for his recent statement pledging to take a leading role in the fight against corruption whenever credible evidence of corruption emerges. Ruto, who spoke on Thursday during his annual State of the Nation address at the National Assembly, said corruption has become a cancer that is eating Kenyan society. "Corruption is a serious risk to social justice, sustainable development, national security, and the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda," he said. Commenting on social media after Ruto's tough talk on corruption, Ahmednasir urged the President to start dealing with two corrupt supreme court judges who are building multimillion mansions in Nairobis Lavington Estate and in Kilifis Vipingo yet their salaries are known. Mr. President @WilliamsRuto, you have both "undisputed evidence" and "credible information" that two judges of the Supreme Court are building properties worth hundreds of millions on salaries of Kshs 850k. "You know one building in Lavington and the other in Vipingo. Act, Mr. President! You know too well that JurisPESA is killing our courts, Ahmednasir wrote on his X. The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday, November 22, 2024 - Nyandarua Senator Methu Kaba Muhia has accused MPs of hypocrisy after they gave President William Ruto a standing ovation for cancelling the controversial Adani deals to take over Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and KETRACO The former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua-allied Senator noted that it was strange for the MPs to support the deals and unanimously change their stance within a short time. Muhia also referenced the 2024 Finance Bill where the MPs voted to pass the Bill only for Ruto to drop it later following massive protests. "You defend Adani in the morning but stand to clap when Adani deals are cancelled in the afternoon. There is a problem in the National Assembly. Vote for the Finance bill and later in the afternoon, stand to clap when Bw. Mkubwa declines to assent," the Senator said. This comes hours after Kiambu Senator Karungo Thang'wa questioned whether Kenya will suffer any consequences as a result of cancelling Adani Group's deals with JKIA and Ketraco. In a statement on Thursday, he said the Senate Committee on Roads and Transport will be interrogating the deals following its cancellations by President William Ruto. Karungo who serves as the committee's chairperson said they will be seeking to establish if Kenya lost any money as a result of cancelling the deals. During his State of the Nation Address, Ruto cancelled agreements with the Adani Group over corruption following the indictment of Adani's founder, Gautam Adani, by U.S. authorities for alleged fraud and bribery. The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday, November 22, 2024 - Wiper Leader Kalonzo Musyoka has challenged President William Ruto to cancel the deal between Adani Group and the Social Health Authority (SHA). This follows Rutos decision to cancel Adani's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and Kenya Electricity Transmission Company Limited (Ketraco) deals after public uproar. According to Kalonzo, cancelling Adani deals to take over JKIA and Ketraco is not enough. "It is not enough to cancel the Adani Group deals in JKIA and Ketraco; Adani is also in SHA/SHIF. Ruto should also cancel this daily immediately," he stated. Kalonzo further stated that he will be appearing in court next Wednesday to demand accountability and transparency on the Adani deals. "On November 27, we will appear in court on behalf of the Kenyan people regarding JKIA, demanding strict accountability and transparency on this Adani deals," he concluded. During his State of the Nation address yesterday, Ruto ordered the cancellation of the Adani-JKIA expansion deal as well as the Adani-Ketraco deal which was signed a few months ago. The Head of State explained that the new orders were informed by new information regarding the integrity of the Indian company. Gautam Adani, the chairman of the Adani Group, was on Wednesday, charged in the US for allegedly orchestrating a scheme to bribe Indian officials with over $250 million to secure lucrative solar energy contracts. The indictment includes charges of securities fraud and conspiracy, asserting that Adani and his associates misled U.S. investors about their compliance with anti-bribery laws while raising funds for their projects. The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday, November 22, 2024 - Outgoing U.S. Ambassador to Kenya, Meg Whitman, has described Kenya as the most stable democracy in East Africa. Speaking in Kisumu City, Whitman hailed Kenya as the strongest democracy in the region, a foundation she believes will propel the nation to greater heights. The country, she said, has immense potential, calling for the strengthening of democracy and good governance to take it to the next level. "Every country including the United States needs to constantly work to uphold these values. "Kenya is the most stable democracy in East Africa. It is not perfect; the USA is not perfect either. "Therefore, there is a lot more work to be done," she said. Whitman, who resigned last week and is set to leave the country on Saturday said her tour of duty was successful. She lauded the strong Kenya-USA ties which have been strengthened during her tenure with the two countries signing several bilateral agreements for mutual benefit. The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday, November 22, 2024 - The Law Society of Kenya has issued a fresh demand to President William Ruto, hours after he cancelled the two Ksh338 billion Adani Group deals. In a statement, LSK is now demanding Ruto make public all costs and losses incurred during the negotiations of the cancelled deals with the Adani Group. LSK President Faith Odhiambo, although welcomed Ruto's move to cancel the deals after a public outcry, demanded the government explain any public funds spent in pursuit of the two deals. She challenged the president to make the costs public to ensure accountability and transparency. "We call upon the government to make public all costs and losses incurred and ensure that appropriate measures are undertaken to ensure minimisation of losses to the country," the statement read in part. The call comes after President Ruto cancelled two deals between Kenya and the Indian conglomerate, hours after its directors and CEO were charged with fraud in the U.S. Ruto cancelled the planned Adani Group takeover deal of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, where Adani was to take over the airport's renovation at a cost of Ksh238 billion and manage the operations of the country's largest airport for 30 years. Adani Energy Solutions, a subsidiary registered in Kenya, had also signed another Ksh95 billion with KETRACO to build electricity transmission lines. Under the agreement signed in September, Adani would be in charge of the transmission lines for 30 years. During the State of the Nation Address, Ruto announced the cancellation of the two deals, stating that he had listened to the cries of Kenyans and responded to their pleas. The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday, November 22, 2024 - Controversial lawyer, Miguna Miguna has aimed a dig at former Prime Minister Raila Odinga after President William Ruto cancelled two Adani Group deals in Kenya. During his annual State of the Nation address at the National Assembly on Thursday, President William Ruto announced the immediate cancellation of the Adani Group's planned takeover deal of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA). Additionally, Ruto directed the termination of a signed agreement between the Adani Group and the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (Ketraco). Ruto explained that the decision to cancel the Adani Group deals was based on new evidence provided by local investigative agencies, as well as information from partner states, which linked the Indian conglomerate to corruption. Following the cancellation of the Adani deals in Kenya, Miguna Miguna mocked Raila Odinga, who last month defended the Indian Conglomerate, terming it as a reputable company that has no history of corruption. Where is conman @RailaOdingahiding after Adanis indictment in New York and tyrant @WilliamsRutos cancelled the JKIA and KETRACO dirty deals? Will he return the bribe from Adani? I want to see his shameless face, Miguna wrote on his X page on Thursday evening. The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday, November 22, 2024 - A middle-aged man believed to be behind car theft in Embu was cornered by members of the public while trying to escape after stealing a Mark X. The stolen car had been parked outside a residential flat in the town. The suspect landed in a ditch while fleeing after boda boda riders in the area chased after him, following a tip-off. The cunning robber had swapped the original number plates with sticker plates. The irate mob almost lynched him but he was rescued by cops and taken to custody. See photos and video. The Kenyan DAILY POST. Friday, November 22, 2024 - Controversial city preacher James Maina Nganga, the founder of Neno Evangelism Church, has expressed his dissatisfaction with the current state of the nation, taking aim at American televangelist Benny Hinn for what he describes as a misleading portrayal of Kenyas situation. Nganga claims that calamities have befallen the country since Benny Hinns February 2024 crusade in Kenya, which saw prominent figures including President William Ruto and First Lady Rachel Ruto attending the event. Hinns comments during the crusade have now drawn heavy criticism, particularly from Ng'ang'a, who is demanding accountability from the preacher. During the mega crusade, Hinn showered praise on Kenya, describing the country as blessed, and he specifically lauded the First Lady for her role in the nations leadership. Nganga has now labelled Benny Hinn a fake prophet and accused him of misrepresenting the true state of affairs in Kenya. He openly regretted his financial contribution to the crusade, stating that he sent KSh 10,000 to support the event, but now feels deceived by the preachers words. Benny Hinn has nothing; he came to lie to us. How has it been since he came? Was he a true prophet? He came and lied to us and took our money. Return my money, Nganga said. You should have told us we would die so we would repent. We would have repented. But to tell us that Kenya is a righteous country, and you have never seen such a government? Where? he added. Watch the video. Pastor Nganga wants his ksh 10k back .He gave the offering to Apostle Benny Hinn! pic.twitter.com/bcOQ9rWPHa The Kenyan Vigilante (@KenyanSays) November 21, 2024 The Kenyan DAILY POST. Friday, November 22, 2024 - A suspected serial killer has been arrested in Nyeri following an intelligence-led operation conducted by the local police. Reports indicate that the suspect is behind multiple killings in the area. He was reportedly attacking his victims with pangas and crude weapons, causing panic among the residents. The suspect was smoked out of his hideout and crude weapons recovered from him. See his photo. The Kenyan DAILY POST. Friday, November 22, 2024 - President William Ruto has heeded calls from millions of Kenyans by canceling the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) takeover by the Indian conglomerate, Adani Group. Adani was finalizing a deal to take over JKIA for 30 years and pay the government Sh 95 billion. However, following the indictment of Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani by a U.S. court over bribery allegations, President William Ruto on Thursday canceled all Adani deals in Kenya. At the same time, the president directed the Ministry of Energy to cancel the Adani deal with Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO). Accordingly, I now direct in furtherance of the principles enshrined in Article 10 of the Constitution on transparency and accountability, and based on new information provided by our investigative agencies and partner nations that the procuring agencies within the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum immediately cancel the ongoing procurement process for the JKIA Expansion Public Private Partnership transaction, as well as the recently concluded KETRACO transmission line Public Private Partnership contract, and immediately commence the process of onboarding alternative partners, said Ruto. The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday, November 22, 2024 President William Rutos move to cancel multi-billion deals with Adani Group has sent shockwaves not only in Kenya but also in India. This is after Indian National Congress Party condemned Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modis administration after Ruto cancelled two deals with Adani Group worth Ksh338 billion over corruption. While criticizing the Indian government, Indian politicians termed Rutos move a huge foreign policy setback for the Asian country amidst Adanis close ties with PM Modis regime. In a statement, Congressman Jairam Ramesh condemned Modis relationship with the Adani Group, describing it as a risk to national foreign policy and economic interests. According to the Congress leader, India's global strategies must not be dictated by a single business entity such as Adani, reiterating the diplomatic harm it could cause India. It was expected to happen, and it has today. Kenya has cancelled the airport and power transmission deals of the Modani Group. The non-biological PMs long-standing relationship with the Adani Group is globally well-known, Ramesh stated. "Our nation's foreign policy cannot be subordinated to the interests of just one business conglomerate. Modanis sweetheart deals just bring us disrepute. This is a foreign policy disaster that will cloud our soft power for years to come, he added. During his State of the Nation Address yesterday, Ruto ordered Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir and his Energy counterpart Opiyo Wandayi to immediately cancel the ongoing procurement process involving Indian billionaire Gautam Adanis companies over the takeover of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and KENTRACO. The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday, November 22, 2024 - The Akorinu Church has broken its silence and denounced President William Ruto and his government over his constant lies. In a press statement, Akorino Church announced that it supports the recent concerns raised by other churches, including Catholic Bishops, regarding the state of the nation. The church leaders disclosed that, following the church's historical role, it stands in unity with the entire body of Christ. They maintained that in the church raising the concerns, it should not be viewed as being an enemy to the state but rather as a faithful friend who corrects a friend. In line with our historical role and the divine calling as Akorinu Church, we stand in oneness and in unity with the entire body of Christ and the issues that have been raised by the church. We wish to state that the Akorinu church firmly reiterates that the concerns raised by our brethren from the Catholic Church and other churches are valid and sincere, and in raising these concerns, we are not being an enemy of the state neither do we purpose to act as Opposition. "We do this as concerned citizens to correct a younger brother. The church must not be seen as if it is in fight with the government or fighting its agenda. But we are following the principle espoused in the Holy Scriptures that an open rebuke is better than secret affection. Thus, the church must not be viewed as an enemy or opposition but as a faithful friend who corrects a friend when they miss a step," read part of the statement. The Akurino called upon the president to heed the calls of the church and call for a multisectoral engagement forum to address the concerns raised by Catholic Bishops and other church leaders and seek a lasting solution. The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday, November 22, 2024 - Flamboyant Nairobi lawyer, Donald Kipkorir, has blasted Members of Parliament (MPs) for giving President William Ruto a standing ovation when he cancelled Adani Group deals in Kenya. The president directed the cancellation of the proposed Adani group JKIA takeover and the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (Ketraco) deals. In his State of the Nation address at Parliament, President William Ruto stated that the cancellation of the Adani Group deals was prompted by new evidence uncovered by local investigative agencies and intelligence from partner states linking the Indian conglomerate to corruption. After Ruto cancelled the Adani deals, Members of Parliament gave him a standing ovation yet they were the same individuals who gave the Adani Group the nod to sign deals with the Energy and Transport Ministries. Commenting about the MP's behavior, Donald Kipkorir stated Our Parliament is as useful as a th0ng to a pr0st*tut3 in Sabina Joy! The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday, November 22, 2024 - Kiambu Senator Karungo Thang'wa has moved to ask the tough questions after President William Ruto cancelled two Adani deals in Kenya. In a statement, Thangwa, who is an ally of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, wondered whether Kenya will suffer any consequences as a result of cancelling Adani Group's deals with JKIA and Ketraco. According to him, the Senate Committee on Roads and Transport will investigate the deals following their cancellation by Ruto. He noted as the Chairman of the Transport Committee, he will be seeking to establish if Kenya lost any money as a result of cancelling the deals. "Now that the Adani deals (JKIA and Kentraco) have been cancelled, the pressing question is: has Kenya incurred any financial losses as a result, and if so, how much? More importantly, who will be held accountable for these losses? "As the Senate Chairperson on Roads and Transportation, I assure you that this will be our next focus. We will thoroughly interrogate this matter and report our findings to the public," Karungo wrote on X. Ruto ordered the cancellation of the Adani-JKIA expansion deal as well as the Adani-Ketraco deal while issuing the State of the Nation Address in Parliament. The president explained that the new orders were informed by new information regarding the integrity of the Indian company. The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday, November 22, 2024 - During Gen Z protests in June, a photo of a masked police officer in plain clothes went viral after he was pictured shooting at unarmed protesters. Kenyans flocked to social media to call for his arrest and shared his photo on various social media platforms. However, no action was taken against the rogue cop. He was pictured again on Thursday unleashing terror on peaceful protesters who flocked to Nairobi CBD to exercise their democratic rights as Ruto was making the highly-anticipated State of the Nation address. See photos. The Kenyan DAILY POST. Friday, November 22, 2024 - The United States has written to the Kenyan government demanding answers after Uganda's opposition leader, Kizza Besigye, was abducted in Nairobi. In a statement on Thursday, the Department of State's Bureau of African Affairs said circumstances surrounding the alleged kidnapping of Besigye must be clarified. "We are closely following reports on the abduction and transnational rendition of civilian political figures Kizza Besigye and Obed Lutale from Kenya to Uganda. "It is important that the circumstances be clarified with transparency and full legal protections," the statement read. This comes barely a day after Idaho Senator James Risch criticized Kenya and Uganda following Besigye's abduction. In a statement issued in his capacity as a ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Wednesday, November 20, he described the abduction as concerning. Risch wondered why partners of the U.S. would allow such incidents that contravene international standards of human rights and the rule of law. "Ugandas abduction of an opposition leader in Kenya raises serious questions about important U.S. partners violating international norms like sovereignty, respect for human rights & the rule of law," the statement read in part. The Kenyan DAILY POST Friday, November 22, 2024 - President William Ruto has announced the completion of 4,888 affordable housing units across the country. While delivering the State of the Nation Address in Parliament, the Head of State indicated that the government would now embark on selling the housing units. He detailed that the completed units included single-room and one-bedroom houses. After two years of hard work under the affordable housing program, I am proud to announce the launch of the sale of 4,888 housing units now in completion, across 21 social housing projects," Ruto stated. Additionally, the houses will target all categories of Kenyans from the poor to the middle class. With this regard, Ruto revealed that there were 1041 social housing units, 2133 affordable housing units, and 1714 affordable middle-class housing units in 24 counties. "I invite every Kenyan citizen above the age of 18 to join this historic journey towards homeownership," he remarked. "Guided by our principle of fairness - one ID, one house - every eligible Kenyan is encouraged to express interest, visit these developments, view the show houses, and engage with our on-site staff, who are ready to assist." Consequently, he assured Kenyans that the house allocations would be done transparently without any prejudice. "The allocation process will be transparent and equitable, ensuring that every qualified applicant has an equal opportunity to own a home. Interested Kenyans can access information on all affordable housing projects on Boma Yangu: https://www.bomayangu. go.ke/projects. The Kenyan DAILY POST 1 of 1 : , , khaskhabar.com : , 22 2024 3:49 PM The weekend of 8 November was a busy few days for Athy. The 24th Shackleton Autumn School welcomed visitors from all over the world, including such countries as Brazil, Germany, France, United States, Britain, New Zealand and Norway. Visitors to the town were effusive about the town and its people. All were universal in their praise for the town and the welcoming nature of its people. These qualities are something that we as townspeople should be capitalizing on. Next year will see the 25th year of the Autumn School and also the opening of the new Shackleton Museum. It is an ideal opportunity to consider expanding the Autumn School to a townwide festival. Places, such as Kilkenny, have maximised the opportunities these events provide, such as the Kilkenny Cat Laughs Festival and Kilkenomics over the last number of decades and it is something that we in Athy need to give serious consideration to. We as a community need to be innovative with the opportunities presented by events such as the Shackleton Autumn School. Why not curate an outdoor exhibition throughout the town telling the story of Shackletons life? Why not host activities focused on the river, a nod to Shackletons early career as a merchant mariner? The Autumn School itself is not solely focused on delivering lectures on polar history to polar aficionados. This year, at its venue, in The Abbey, 6th year history students of Ardscoil na Trionoide were treated to a presentation by Philip Curtis of the Map House from London of the mapping of Antarctica. As in previous years the distinguished sculptor, Mark Richards, the creator of the Shackleton statue, delivered a master class on art to Leaving Certificate art students from Ardscoil na Trionoide also. Third-class students from Scoil Mhichil Naofa enjoyed talks on Antarctic wildlife and polar explorers. The highlight for many was an immersive experience in a cold room set to minus 30 degrees to give them an experience of Antarctic temperatures. It was lovely to see the joy and delight on the faces of those young children coming out of the minus 30 degrees environment to the more ambient temperature of a November morning in Athy. Other weekend events included a walk around Medieval Athy guided by Marc Guernon while further afield Kilkea native, Sharon Greene, brought visitors to Ballitore and Kilkea. Others enjoyed or endured a swim in the River Griese with Jonathan Shackleton, while the Kildare Partnership organised a Pole to Pole walk on the Barrow Blueway. Of course, visitors have been coming to the town for centuries. Thomas Lacy of Wexford, who published in 1863 his impressions of his journey around Ireland in the years immediately following the Great Famine, came to Athy in the autumn of 1855 by railway from Carlow. He found Athy to be a handsome regular town for its size and a very prosperous and flourishing one. Much of what he observed has little changed. He noted Market Square, which is now named Emily Square, as being surrounded with good houses and handsome shops. He noted the construction of a new corn exchange (now the Courthouse) and that the principal market was held in the town on Saturdays, and he noted that it was well supplied and very well attended. Many of my generation will remember the weighing scales at the rear of the Town Hall. Lacy was impressed by the arrangements in the market way and described a weighing machine has been established where corn, potatoes and other articles are weighed at one half penny per sack and sworn weighing masters are in attendance by whom printed tickets of the weights are given to those who may require them. This system was to ensure fairness for both market sellers and market buyers so that nobody could adulterate their products by lying about the weight of a product being sold. He also visited the Model School which was only opened in 1850, writing that the walls were furnished and appropriately decorated with all the newest and best maps of various sizes and with wonderous illustrations of animals, beasts, birds and fish. The weekend of the Autumn School also saw the bi-annual Lions Club Book Fair in A.R.C.H. which I am told went off very well and the book sellers will return with more rarities for us all in March next year, the date of which will be confirmed later. James Cox Here, we have a look at the topics likely to dominate political discourse in the week to come. Debate fallout With just over a week to go in the general election campaign, Monday's leaders debate was a bit of a non-event. With 10 party leaders taking part on RTE, moments of substance were limited. Taoiseach Simon Harris and Tanaiste Micheal Martin cooled down the election warfare between their parties, as they attempted to present themselves as the best alternative to a left-wing government. Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald was on the attack, although her performance wasn't as energetic as we have seen in past debates. Mr Harris and Mr Martin accused her party of intentionally scheduling their manifesto release for the morning after the debate. One standout moment saw Mr Harris looking to evade blame over issues with the National Children's Hospital. Host Katie Hannon pointed out that he "personally signed the contract that brought us the Children's Hospital saga" during his time as health minister. Mr Harris responded, "well of course I didn't, but continue". When Ms Hannon pointed out he was ultimately responsible for the contract, as health minister at the time, Mr Harris replied: "The Government of Ireland made a decision to build the National Childrens Hospital and I was a part of the Government. In response to criticism about the comments, Mr Harris told Newstalk that he was unnecessarily pedantic and semantic in his answer. He added: The buck stops with me in relation to the National Childrens Hospital, let me be very clear about that. The point I was trying to make is [that] there's sometimes comments that are a little flippant, like one person signed off on the contract. The point I'm making is these things go through a very deliberative process. Lots of departments look at them; lots of bean counters - and I don't mean that disrespectfully - in different departments. There's a board, a National Paediatric Hospital Development Board, and then the Minister of the day, in this case was me, would bring a proposal to cabinet rather than sign a contract. That kind of missed the point, though. Mary Lou goes on the attack against Fine Gael With the early stages of general election campaigning dominated by exchanges between former coaition partners Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, Sinn Fein seemed very quiet. However, Mary Lou McDonald is now firmly on the offensive. She defended her partys spending plans in the face of claims from Fine Gael that Sinn Fein was effectively proposing a heist on billions of euro set aside by the current Government in longer term rainy day funds. Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin has claimed the opposition partys manifesto lays out a damaging cocktail of tax and spend policies. Sinn Fein has denied it will use 16 billion set aside in the Future Ireland Fund and the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund, and has insisted it will actually save a further 15 billion in rainy day funds by running budget surpluses across the five years of the next government term. Ms McDonald responded to the criticism of her rivals as she canvassed in west Dublin on Wednesday. Fine Gael have been in government and in alliance with the party that literally crashed the Irish economy, she said of Fine Gael and Fianna Fail. They seem to have very short memories, and they seem to be unable to actually read accurately the Sinn Fein proposal. We are proposing ambitious and very necessary investment in fundamental infrastructure, including housing, that we need as a society and as an economy to build our prosperity. In the absence of the type of investment that we are proposing, there will be a social price to be paid, and there will be an economic price to be paid. Our plan will return surpluses year-on-year for the five years of government, amounting to 15 billion. Those will be set aside and invested in the funds for a rainy day, because that is an important thing to do. But Fine Gael need to wake up and smell the coffee. Its raining now for so many families and for so many communities, and they cannot tolerate or be asked to wait and wait and wait while so many of their basic needs arent being met. And, by the way, in terms of investment into Ireland, the most consistent issue that is raised by investors, large and small, is the question of accommodation and housing. Fine Gael should know that, if they are serious about growing investment and maintaining stability in our economy and then, crucially, across our society. Fianna Fail pledges safer Dublin as party targets justice portfolio Dublin would be safer with a Fianna Fail minister for justice, senior party figures have suggested. The partys justice spokesman Jim OCallaghan said work needed to be done to tackle the feeling that the capital is not safe at certain times. Mr OCallaghan said the party would introduce 1,000 more gardai in the city, adding: We want to make Dublin safer. Several Fianna Fail representatives, including deputy leader and Finance Minister Jack Chambers as well as Housing Minister Darragh OBrien, gathered at Sandymount Strand to launch the partys Dublin-centred policy document for the general election. Asked if Fianna Fail would be willing to sacrifice the housing portfolio for justice, Mr OBrien told reporters: We want both. He added: On justice, like Jim has outlined it here: People in many parts of Dublin, particularly at night, dont feel safe in the centre of our city. That needs to change and with Fianna Fail, that will change. Aontu launches manifesto Aontu leader Peader Toibin was one of the few leaders who received praise after Monday's debate. The former Sinn Fein member has now launched his party's manifesto. Cheaper pints, a new border agency and a junior minister for waste feature in Aontus election pledges. Aontu, which describes its document as a common-sense manifesto focused on accountability, would establish a new junior minister to tackle waste in public spending. Mr Toibin emphasised a series of controversies around public spending, including spiralling costs of the national childrens hospital, the 336,000 bike shed at Leinster House, and the 1.4 million security hut at Government Buildings. He said a Taoiseach who wasted so much money would have been fired if they were in the private sector. It said the new junior minister would have direct responsibility for eradicating waste in the public sector. Abroad In the UK, thousands of farmers have been protesting at the British Parliament over the Labour government's plans for inheritance tax reform. Meanwhile, Russias air defence systems have shot down two British-made Storm Shadow missiles. The Kremlin has claimed this represents UK involvement in the UK war. In the US, president-elect Donald Trump's controversial pick of Matt Gaetz as attorney general has been thwarted. Mr Gaetzs withdrawal is a blow to Mr Trumps push to install steadfast loyalists in his incoming administration and the first sign that he could face resistance from members of his own party. Mr Gaetzs announcement came days after an attorney for two women said that his clients told House Ethics Committee investigators that he paid them for sex on multiple occasions beginning in 2017, when Mr Gaetz was a Florida congressman. He resigned from the House after Mr Trump announced he would nominate him for the Cabinet. One of the women testified she saw Mr Gaetz having sex with a 17-year-old at a party in Florida in 2017, according to the attorney, Joel Leppard. Sarah Slater The parents of a young girl who was seriously injured in a stabbing on Parnell Square in Dublin have said she has endured so much, yet she still manages to bolster a smile, even when crying ahead of the first anniversary of the attack. The girl, aged five at the time of the November 23rd attack, was critically injured and spent 281 days in Temple Street Childrens Hospital before being released at the end of August. The family have been sharing updates on a GoFundMe page, set up following the incident and which has raised over 115,000. In a post her parents pointed out that this Saturday marks one year since the incident and that their daughter has made great progress. Her mother said the family does not wish to remember the tragedy. She continued: We choose rebirth, triumph, resilience. Don't get me wrong, I experience at least a dozen different emotions throughout the day as I think of her, pass by some spot in town which held significance to us, sing 'All my Loving' to get a smile out of her. It is tough. So much has happened, and our little girl has endured so much, yet she still manages to bolster a smile, even when crying. The girls mother explained that both she and her husband are having to relearn how to be parents and how their daughter has to relearn being a child with extreme limitations. Her mother added: It is different parenting altogether. And she has had to relearn being a child, with extreme limitations. She cannot move or communicate as she used to, so she has to understand the meaning of patience. It takes a lot out of her to lift her arms, but she is a warrior and she does it. Her parents said they strongly believe that, despite medical assessments and reports, she understands everything we say to her. They continued: She, like most six-year-olds, chooses what she wishes to acknowledge. We are on the home stretch for home. We get to make our schedule and allow your pace to dictate activities. 2025 will be a brand new experience, another one we will also have to adapt to." Her mother continued: She has made great progress, and we don't wish her to stop. Only time will truly tell. Some people with acquired brain injuries have still shown change and improvement up to 10 years later. We've got time. It is a lot to take in, for all of those involved, the children, the parents, the school staff. I would like to thank everyone for the love and support over these 12 months. Hug your loved ones extra tight. The multiple stabbings outside Colaiste Mhuire on Parnell Square left two other young children and a carer injured. Riad Bouchaker (50) is currently before the courts charged with three counts of attempted murder, one of producing and possessing a kitchen knife, three counts of assault causing harm and one of assault causing serious harm. AgriKids and Irish Rural Link are calling on Kilkenny 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 is funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine with additional funding from Flogas. Kilkenny native and Irish Rural Community Champion, Jo Conroy, said she is delighted that Irish Rural Link are working together with AgriKids in this initiative. Getting children engaged in farm safety early on can help prevent the simplest of accidents from happening on the farm. Having as many people from the community involved in educating children about the dangers on the farm will send a stronger message to the wider community also. The manual 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. 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. 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. Schools who wish to find out more about AgriKids and their existing suite of supported learning programmes can do so at www.agrikids.ie Loader Please wait while your request is being verified... By Kwon Mee-yoo Pianist Cho Seong-jin will release a series of albums commemorating the 150th anniversary of Maurice Ravels birth in 2025. Under the Deutsche Grammophon label, Cho brings Ravels complete solo piano works and piano concertos to life, navigating the composers harmonious repertoire while cementing his status as one of the most elegant and exceptional pianists of his generation. The project unfolds across three major releases. On Jan. 17, "Ravel: The Complete Solo Piano Works" will be available in digital and two-CD formats. "The Piano Concertos," featuring Ravels two piano concertos and recorded with Andris Nelsons and the Boston Symphony Orchestra, will hit the shelves on Feb. 21. Finally, on April 11, a limited deluxe edition compiling both albums will be released. Ahead of the official album launches, Deutsche Grammophon will digitally prerelease three key works "Le tombeau de Couperin," Friday, "Sonatine" on Dec. 13 and excerpts from "A la maniere de Chabrier" on Jan. 3. In regard to the project, Cho expressed his admiration for the French composer. The variety of ideas, colors and emotions in Ravels music has always fascinated me. Recording his complete solo piano works and concertos has been a privilege," Cho said in a statement. This is Chos first time recording an entire body of work by a single composer, reflecting his dedication to Ravel. "(Recording Ravel's complete works) has given me a much deeper understanding of his music than ever before. I thoroughly enjoyed immersing myself in the many facets of his music," the pianist said. Chos affinity for Ravel traces back to his studies at the Conservatoire National Superieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris, where he delved into the composers orchestral qualities. Cho describes Ravel as a composer who "knows exactly what he wants." "I strive to follow the detailed instructions he left behind," Cho said. "For instance, 'Miroirs' is a technical piece that demands immense finesse. Its delicate yet dramatic and, at the same time, full of imagination and color. It is nearly impossible to capture every nuance he intended, but I give it my best." Chos interpretations of Ravel have earned praise globally. Earlier this year, Cho was hailed for his Madrid recital as arguably the greatest interpreter of Ravel of our time by Scherzo magazine, while The Scotsman lauded his Edinburgh Festival performance for its impossibly perfect precision ... a contrasting and extensive range of color, coupled with a sense of flow that allowed the music to breathe with ease and warmth." Chos homage to Ravel extends beyond the recording studio with a world tour launching on Jan. 25 at Viennas Konzerthaus. The tour continues to the U.S. at Carnegie Hall and Walt Disney Concert Hall in February and March, while European venues include Londons Barbican Centre and Hamburgs Elbphilharmonie in April and May, with additional concerts in Asia and the U.S. through summer 2025. Cho also continues his residency at the Berlin Philharmonic. By Lee Gyu-lee Actor Yoo Yeon-seok will be turning into a coolheaded politician from a prestigious family in his new romance thriller series When the Phone Rings. Based on the web novel of the same name, the new MBC series, which premieres Friday, follows a couple married through an arrangement emerging politician Baek Sa?eon (Yoo) and his mute wife Hong Hee?joo (Chae Soo-bin). Baek is the youngest presidential spokesperson, who built his political career from a journalist to primetime news anchor. His three-year marriage of convenience with the daughter of a newspaper proprietor has been all about pretending to be a happy couple, all while Baek's father pursues the presidency. But when he gets a call that his wife has been kidnapped, their life turns upside down. Yoo shared that he was drawn to the enigmatic character, which is different from his previous roles mostly in romances. Recently, in romance roles, I feel like I often played characters who were indecisive or warmhearted. In this script, the character is extremely rational, hides his emotions and has a cold heart, he said during the press conference for the series at MBC headquarters in Mapo District, western Seoul. As he faces an incident, the romance becomes very deep. As I peel back the layers of this cold character one by one, like an onion, I could feel his charm. Yoo took personal lessons from an MBC announcer to create his spokesperson character. I had many new experiences (with this drama), like shooting at a news studio. Announcer Jeon Jong-hwan personally taught me passionately and I learned a lot by observing him. He was so earnest in teaching me, preparing papers and providing reference videos, he said. I also studied press conferences and briefings of current politicians. Chae plays a sign language interpreter who became mute at a young age after an accident. The genre combining romance and thriller felt new to me. And I really wanted to play Hong from the moment I met this character, she said. Were used to expressing things through words, but communicating through sign language was very new. The character seems passive as she lives a suppressed and difficult life, but theres a strong spirit and unique quirkiness in her, which was interesting and refreshing. Yoo hinted at their romantic chemistry, which will escalate as the story progresses. Since we play a couple that doesnt even talk to each other, I didn't try to get close too quickly (with Chae). The romance builds up (throughout the story), so I tried to become familiar with each other slowly, adjusting the pace, he said. The chemistry explodes later on. You can look forward to it. When the Phone Rings airs every Friday and Saturday at 9:50 p.m. By KTimes The military unit where BTS member V (Kim Tae-hyung) served during his training period denied allegations of preferential treatment after claims that the singer used a cell phone in the early hours to send a birthday message. Former Ador CEO Min Hee-jin sparked the dispute during an appearance on a YouTube channel, where she said, V occasionally calls me from the military. Hes a cheerful and lively friend. On my birthday, he even sent me a message at dawn to wish me well. Mins birthday is Dec. 16, which was just five days after V enlisted in the army, leading some to allege that he had been granted special privileges to use a phone during restricted hours. Some netizens raised suspicions of celebrity favoritism, arguing that it would have been impossible for V, as a recruit, to send a text message at dawn without receiving special privileges. The controversy prompted a formal inquiry filed with the national petition system, to which the military responded on Nov. 21. The Armys 2nd Corps Military Police Command said, At the Army training center where Kim Tae-hyung trained, recruits are permitted to use cell phones for one hour during weekends and holidays. It has been confirmed that Kim used his phone during the designated afternoon usage period, not at dawn. The statement added that there was "no instance of granting or condoning special privileges" for V to use a cell phone. V is currently serving in the Armys 2nd Corps Military Police Command Special Mission Unit where he continues his mandatory military duty. This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times. Min Hee-jin, the former CEO of K-pop label Ador, filed legal action against executives of Belift Lab on Friday, accusing the agency behind rookie girl group ILLIT of defamation, her lawyer said. Min lodged a criminal complaint at Seoul's Yongsan Police Station, targeting Belift Lab's CEO Kim Tae-ho and several other executives. In addition to the criminal case, she filed a civil lawsuit seeking 5 billion won ($3.7 million) in damages. The dispute began earlier this year when Min alleged that ILLIT's choreography and concept imitated those of NewJeans, the globally popular girl group under Ador. Belift Lab responded by filing a criminal complaint against Min, accusing her of obstruction of business and defamation, along with a civil lawsuit. "CEO Kim Tae-ho and others have disseminated numerous false claims through YouTube videos and public statements," Min's lawyer said in a statement. "We hope they will face appropriate criminal penalties and be held accountable for damages." Min has claimed that her initial plagiarism complaint triggered a series of "retaliatory" actions by HYBE, the two labels' parent company, which included an audit of Ador's management during her tenure and her removal as Ador's CEO. On Wednesday, Min announced her resignation from Ador's board of directors and departure from the company. She also vowed to pursue legal action against "numerous illegal activities" allegedly conducted by HYBE and its affiliates. (Yonhap) Woori Bank to select new CEO following scandals By Lee Yeon-woo The prosecution requested an arrest warrant for former Woori Financial Group Chairman Son Tae-seung, Friday, over allegations that Woori Bank under the group extended improper loans to Son's relatives and acquaintances while he was in office. The Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office said Son faces charges of breach of trust, and upon the prosecutors' request, a Seoul court will review whether to issue the warrant on Tuesday. In August, the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) accused Woori Bank of extending improper loans totaling 35 billion won ($25 million) to relatives of Son between April 2020 and January this year. Son was chief of the group from December 2018 to March 2023. Before he took over the group, the amount of loans taken out by his relatives stood at just 500 million won, but this total later went into the billions of won. Prosecutors have since reviewed the FSS' findings and uncovered evidence of additional improper loans amounting to 7 billion won to 8 billion won. It also conducted a search and seizure at Woori Bank's headquarters this week. The prosecution suspects Son was directly involved in approving the improper loans. He was summoned for questioning on Wednesday and Thursday, and denied most of the allegations. So far, three individuals involved in the loan scandal have been arrested and indicted. In September, Son's brother-in-law was arrested for embezzlement and document fabrication. Two former officials of Woori Bank have also been arrested on breach of trust charges. The scandal is also impacting Woori Bank CEO Cho Byung-kyu, who has been leading the bank since July 2023. Although he was not directly involved in the alleged improper loan extensions, board members of Woori Financial Group reached a consensus at their regular meeting on Friday that Cho will not have his term extended. Although the board reportedly acknowledged Cho's leadership, they concluded that replacing him after the end of his term, which expires on Dec. 31, is inevitable due to the growing impact of the improper loans scandal. Despite not being directly implicated in the case, he faces allegations of intentionally delaying the reporting of the matter to financial regulators even after becoming aware of it. The prosecution also recently designated the CEO as a suspect in the case. Candidates for the next CEO are expected to be announced next week. Key executives from Woori Financial Group and its subsidiaries are being cited as potential candidates. The Export-Import Bank of Korea (Eximbank) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Naver and Naver Cloud for mutual collaboration to strengthen their competitiveness in global expansion, the bank announced Friday. According to Eximbank, its President Yoon Hee-sung met with Naver ESG and External Policy President Chae Seon-ju, Naver Cloud CEO Kim Yoo-won and Naver Labs CEO Seok Sang-ok at the Naver 1784 Building in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, to sign the agreement, Thursday. The MOU aims at strengthening the global competitiveness of advanced industries by linking Eximbanks financial support capabilities with the information and communication technology (ICT) expertise of Team Naver. Major areas of cooperation include information exchange and joint development of overseas ICT infrastructure and smart city projects, as well as Eximbanks financial support for overseas initiatives by Team Naver. Through this MOU, the two companies are expected to create leading overseas expansion cases based on their collaboration in ICT projects, such as Navers digital twin project in Saudi Arabia. Digital twin refers to a technology mirroring real-world entities in a digital virtual environment, to serve as a core platform for innovative industries such as robotics, AI and smart cities. "This MOU will serve as a stepping stone for the expansion of Team Navers overseas business as well as diversification of Eximbanks future industrial portfolio. It is also expected to create synergy between the construction and IT industries, Yoon said after signing the agreement. "We will actively support the global expansion of K-ICT projects by Korean companies using various financial tools." "Team Navers advancement into the global market is possible not only because of the technology we have accumulated over the long term but also because of the excellent partners we have with us, Chae said. We will continue to investing in research and development of advanced technology while working with diverse domestic and international partners to further enhance the global competitiveness of Team Naver. (Advertorial) A senior North Korean general was wounded in a Ukrainian strike in Russia's western Kursk region, the Wall Street Journal has reported, citing Western officials. The newspaper on Thursday said it is the first time Western officials have said a high-ranking North Korean military officer has become a casualty in the Russia-Ukraine conflict since Pyongyang sent more than 10,000 troops to Russia last month in support of its invasion. The officials did not say who the general is or how badly he was wounded. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said earlier this month that there were casualties among the North Korean troops engaged in combat in Kursk. During a press briefing, Deputy Pentagon press secretary Sabrina Singh said she cannot confirm the report. "But that being said, where they are positioned, they are absolutely fair target," she said. "We absolutely expect them to be engaged in the fight. But I can't independently confirm those reports." (Yonhap) North Korea on Friday denounced a resolution recently adopted by a United Nations committee regarding the country's human rights violations as a "politically motivated provocation." A spokesman from North Korea's foreign ministry made the statement in a press release carried by the country's official Korean Central News Agency. On Wednesday (U.S. time), the U.N. General Assembly's Third Committee adopted a resolution calling the human rights situation in North Korea "grave" and urging the abolition of laws that suppress people's freedom of thought, expression and religion, marking its 20th consecutive annual resolution on the matter. The North Korean foreign ministry called the resolution "a grave politically motivated provocation encroaching upon the dignity and sovereignty" of the nation, saying it "strongly denounces and rejects the farce." "We express serious concern over the fact that the practice of adopting of resolution ... is turning into a political means for interfering in the internal affairs and damaging the image of independent and sovereign states," the ministry noted. The adoption itself is a violation of the basic spirit of the U.N. Charter, "whose core is the respect for sovereignty and non-interference in internal affairs of countries," it also said. Referring to the resolution's accusation of North Korea funding its nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles programs through forced labor and other human rights abuses, the ministry said, "Protection of human rights apart from the national sovereignty is nothing but an empty talk." It is an exercise of the "normal and legitimate right" of a sovereign state, for which no blame can be laid for taking "all necessary measures for defending its sovereignty," the statement said. (Yonhap) 'Washington-Pyongyang summit may be held sooner than expected,' says N. Korea expert By Anna J. Park A North Korea expert stated on Friday that the prospect of U.S.-North Korea dialogue during Donald Trumps second presidency might be closer than ever, despite negative remarks from North Korean leader Kim Jong-un regarding his previous talks with Trump. According to the Korean Central News Agency, North Korea's official news agency, Friday, Kim issued a message that sounded pessimistic about the country's relationship with the U.S., as he declared that Pyongyang has ultimately confirmed the U.S.' hostile policy toward it during past negotiations with the country. "We have already explored all possible avenues of negotiation with the U.S. The conclusion we reached is not a willingness to coexist from a superpower, but a firm stance of power and an unchanging, invasive, and hostile policy toward North Korea, Kim said during a speech at the opening ceremony of the arms equipment exhibition held in Pyongyang the previous day. He referred to his earlier summits with Trump in 2018 and 2019, during the latter's first presidency. He did not mention Trump's win in the Nov. 5 U.S. presidential election. Kim also pointed out that the U.S. is expanding military alliances that share nuclear weapons and deploying strategic assets on the Korean Peninsula to pressure North Korea. (The Korean Peninsula) has never faced a situation where it could escalate into the most destructive thermonuclear war as it does now. The overall reality makes us realize, every day and every hour, that the strongest defense power capable of overwhelming the enemy is the only way to safeguard peace and ensure solid stability and development, the North Korean leader emphasized. At first glance, this statement appears to dismiss the prospect of resuming U.S.-North Korea summit talks or negotiations, particularly in light of speculation about such talks following Trumps reelection. However, Hong Min, a senior researcher at the Korea Institute for National Unification, said that Kims choice of words indicates conditions for opening dialogue with the U.S. He specifically highlighted Kims use of the term willingness to coexist as a superpower as a key phrase in the speech. "The term 'willingness to coexist as a superpower' is completely new," Hong said. "North Korea has rarely referred to the U.S. as a superpower, and combining it with the concept of 'willingness to coexist' is unprecedented," he explained. Pyongyang laying out conditions for dialogue According to Hong, North Korea has traditionally used terms like multipolarized or bloc-oriented to describe the global order. Referring to the U.S. as a "superpower" marks a notable rhetorical shift, suggesting the North's acknowledgment of U.S. global hegemony. Hong noted that this could reflect Pyongyang's attempt to avoid provoking Trump. "Coexistence is also a term we've never heard from Kim Jong-un before. The expression of 'willingness to coexist' is very mild, almost as if saying, 'I want to coexist, too; please help make it happen.' It seems like Kim's message is specifically directed at Trump," Hong noted. He further explained that North Korea's traditional diplomatic rhetoric often comes across as harsh criticism of the other party, but "it actually is a plea for specific actions to address their demands." Thus, Kim's message is seen as twofold: criticizing the U.S. for its lack of willingness to coexist with a nuclear-armed North Korea, while simultaneously outlining conditions for dialogue. Rather than pursuing denuclearization, Kim suggests the U.S. should adopt a new approach to coexistence one based on arms control and mutual recognition of North Koreas nuclear status. In essence, he is setting the terms for future dialogue between the two nations, Hong explained. Both Trump and Kim appear to show a willingness for high-level engagement, based on their previous statements. Randall Schriver, former assistant secretary of defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs during the first Trump administration, predicted that Trump would, if he resumes negotiations with Kim, seek agreements across a broader range of issues rather than focusing solely on North Koreas nuclear program. His remarks came during his keynote speech on challenges facing the South Korea-U.S. alliance at a Hudson Institute seminar in Washington, Thursday (local time). Schriver, who was deeply involved in the planning of summits between Trump and Kim, said the bilateral talks might not happen on Trumps first day in office or even within the first year, but he believes Trump will seek another meeting with Kim. However, he noted that the dynamics will be very different from the first term, and Trump now understands that it will be extraordinarily difficult to diplomatically dismantle North Koreas nuclear and strategic weapons programs. As a result, he expected the scope of negotiations to expand significantly. Hong expected that the bilateral talks might arrive much earlier in the process of resolving the war between Russia and Ukraine. "The timing of entering a dialogue phase between the U.S. and Russia is key, and the negotiations could progress much faster than expected," the expert said. "While a final agreement may still be far off, the likelihood of entering into a negotiation phase may come much earlier. Given that Trump only has four years in office, he has filled key positions with loyalists who align with his policy goals and secured control of Congress. This strengthens his leadership within the U.S. government, increasing the likelihood of achieving quick results." By Kim Hyun-bin Health authorities are calling for everyone especially parents of young children to receive vaccine shots against whooping cough amid a surge in cases. More than 5,200 whooping cough cases have been confirmed this month alone, with some cities such as Daegu reporting record-high numbers. The total number of cases nationwide this year has reached 35,319. Health officials and experts are sounding the alarm over the development, particularly over the risk it poses to the health of infants and young children. Recent outbreaks have placed significant strain on local pediatric clinics, which have become overwhelmed with an increasing number of young patients. The national immunization program offers vaccines to children, but vaccinations are not required for adults. Experts say vaccinating parents and domestic workers could help prevent the spread of the disease, particularly in households with children too young to receive the shots. The tragic death of a 2-month-old infant earlier this month who had not yet reached the age for vaccination has heightened concerns about the need for adults to get vaccinated. Some experts believe that if the adults caring for the infant had been vaccinated, the baby's immunity could have been passed on, potentially averting the fatal outcome. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency has acknowledged the growing concern, saying that adult vaccinations are not included in the national immunization program and that many, as a result, are not aware of the need for the vaccines. Currently, vaccination rates for children aged 6 and under are high, with 96.2 percent of children in Daegu, for example, receiving the whooping cough vaccine. However, since adult vaccinations are not part of the governments program, no similar data is available for the adult population. By Kim Hyun-bin Chief Coordinator & Representative of the Federation of Middle Market Enterprises of Korea (FOMEK) Choi Jin-shik met with the Japanese Ambassador to Korea Koichi Mizushima on Nov. 19 to discuss initiatives aimed at revitalizing economic exchanges between small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in both countries. "Strategic cooperation that combines the technological prowess and expertise of Korean and Japanese SMEs will be the starting point for both countries to effectively respond to the rapidly changing market environment, such as the reorganization of the global supply chain," Choi said. "As we mark the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Korea and Japan next year, we will do our utmost to establish a differentiated and practical cooperation system led by SMEs from both countries." According to FOMEK, the dinner meeting took place at the Japanese ambassador's residence and was attended by several prominent business leaders. During the discussions, the SME representatives highlighted the global technological competitiveness of Korean SMEs across various sectors, including traditional manufacturing, parts and materials, semiconductors and information and communication technology. They emphasized the importance of fostering bilateral exchanges to support the mutual economic development of Korea and Japan. One SME representative pointed out the challenges foreign companies face in Japan. "Even when establishing a sales corporation in Japan to supply products under favorable conditions, it is challenging to penetrate the solid existing business networks of Japanese companies," they said. "We face difficulties meeting bidding conditions as a foreign company, but we hope the Japanese government and local authorities will expand project participation opportunities to facilitate smoother local entry and collaboration." A Japanese vice minister will attend the upcoming memorial ceremony for wartime forced labor victims, including Koreans, who were taken to toil at a Japanese mine complex during World War II, Japan's foreign ministry said Friday. Akiko Ikuina, parliamentary vice minister at Japan's foreign ministry, will be at the ceremony, scheduled to take place on western Sado Island, off its west coast, on Sunday. Japan announced Wednesday it will hold the memorial event to commemorate the victims from the Sado gold and silver mine complex, fulfilling its pledge to hold such a ceremony as a condition for Seoul's consent to the location's designation as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Attention has been drawn to who will be attending the ceremony from the Japanese central government, as South Korea has regarded the level of the official attending the event as a factor that would demonstrate Tokyo's sincerity about its promise to honor the victims. Korean Ambassador to Japan Park Cheol-hee and a director general from the foreign ministry in Seoul are expected to attend the ceremony, according to a diplomatic source. The event has been organized by a regional committee led by the Sado city government. The Sado mines are where many Koreans were forced into hard labor under Japan's colonial rule of Korea. (Yonhap) China's foreign ministry said Friday that it will extend visa-free travel for Korean arrivals from the current 15 days to 30 days. The new visa-exemption policy will be effective starting Nov. 30 and remain in place through the end of next year, the ministry said. Under the updated visa-exemption policy, Korean travelers can visit China for up to 30 days without a visa for purposes such as business, tourism, family visits or cultural exchanges. The policy, which had been suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic, will newly apply to nine countries, including Japan. The expanded visa-free entry period will be extended not only to the newly added nine countries but also to the 38 nations that were already eligible, including Korea. (Yonhap) The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) is set to launch a new unit tasked with bolstering readiness in the domains of space, cyber and electronic warfare, officials said Friday, amid Korea's push to better prepare for future warfare. In a legislative notice, the defense ministry said the plan is aimed at better responding to changes in the security environment, such as the development of high-tech science and technology, expanding the domains of warfare and the growing importance of cognitive operations. The envisioned unit, set to be established under the JCS' strategy division, is expected to serve as an overarching unit within the JCS to carry out integrated operations in various areas of future warfare. "The JCS is pushing for an organizational restructuring to create a synergy effect amid the changing security environment," a JCS official said, adding the plan will go into effect should it be approved in a Cabinet meeting as early as next month. Under the Defense Innovation 4.0 scheme, the defense ministry has been seeking to harness advanced technologies, such as artificial intelligence, to strengthen its defense capabilities in the areas of space, cyber and electronic warfare. (Yonhap) Russia has provided North Korea with anti-air missiles and air defense equipment in exchange for its troop deployment in support of Moscow's war in Ukraine, South Korea's top security adviser said Friday. National Security Adviser Shin Won-sik made the remark as North Korea is believed to have sent more than 10,000 troops to fight alongside Russia in the western Kursk border region against Ukraine. "Russia is believed to have provided equipment and anti-air missiles to strengthen Pyongyang's vulnerable air defense system," Shin said in an interview with broadcaster SBS when asked about what the North would be getting from Russia in return for the troop dispatch. "Following North Korea's failed military spy satellite launch on May 27, Russia had already declared its intention to support satellite-related technologies (to the North), and it reportedly supplied various military technologies," Shin said. "We believe that there has also been economic aid in various forms," he added. South Korea's spy agency told lawmakers earlier this week that the troops deployed to Russia are believed to have been assigned to Moscow's airborne brigade and marine corps on the ground, with some of the soldiers having already entered combat. The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday that a senior North Korean general was wounded in a Ukrainian strike in the Kursk region. On the possibility of the Russia-Ukraine war expanding into a wider war, Shin said it was unlikely. "Especially, it is very difficult for Russia to actually use nuclear weapons," Shin said. Shin also downplayed the prospect of an additional troop deployment by the North. "We cannot completely rule that out, but we have no confirmed information at this stage," he said. South Korea's spy agency briefed lawmakers earlier that the North exported long-range artillery to Russia, including 170-millimeter self-propelled howitzers and 240 mm multiple rocket launchers. This assessment raised speculation that the North could send an additional artillery unit to Russia. "Russia currently does not have the multiple rocket launcher system and it remains to be seen whether all or part of the operational troops will go, but if all the assigned personnel were to go, it would be around 4,000 people at most," Shin said. On the expected visit of a Ukrainian special envoy to South Korea, Shin said he expects the government is in talks with Kyiv to make it happen in the near future. Shin also stressed that South Korea's contributions as a U.S. ally have continued to expand and will do so going forward, amid widening speculation that the incoming Donald Trump administration may scrap the defense cost-sharing deal with Seoul and demand more from South Korea for its defense burden. "We plan to address various issues in a way that further develops the South Korea-U.S. alliance in a healthy manner," Shin said. Regarding South Korea's relations with China, Shin reaffirmed that the ties should develop in a mutually beneficial way and that it is not a matter of choosing between the U.S. and China. "The South Korea-U.S. alliance and South Korea-China relations are not mutually exclusive," Shin said. "The stronger our alliance with the U.S. becomes and the greater the solidarity with our value-sharing partners, the more the relationship with China develops in a normal and mature manner." (Yonhap) By Lee Hae-rin Dongduk Women's University agreed to temporarily suspend its plan to convert into a coeducational institution after 10 days of student protests, according to the student council, Friday. However, the students will continue to occupy the main building until the co-ed conversion proposal is completely withdrawn. "We (students) will continue to occupy the main building until the university administration actually collects student opinions on its proposed plan, and until we can fully understand it, and until the withdrawal of the transition to co-education," the student group said in a statement. The university promised the student group that it would collect student opinions through a democratic process, the student council said. According to the student group, the university has consistently refused to communicate with students about major issues over the past years. On Wednesday, the student council held a general meeting with students and voted on the issue of the university possibly beginning to accept male students. For the general meeting to take place, 10 percent of the universitys enrolled students, some 6,500, must participate, and 1,973 participated in the meeting. As a result, an overwhelming majority of 1,971 out of 1,973 voted against the transition. Then on Thursday, the student council held a three-hour meeting with the school, during which the two parties agreed to temporarily suspend discussions on the transition to co-ed. The student council decided to end the occupation of the classroom and boycotts on classes. Meanwhile, it remains to be seen how the university will handle the aftermath. During the protest, students wrote phrases such as "opposition to co-ed" spray painted over exterior walls, floors and roads of the campus and its buildings. While the university assumes the student council led such actions, the student representatives argue they have not led such actions, and that students, infuriated by the possible transition, sporadically and voluntarily created the graffiti on an individual basis. The school estimates that the restoration of damage from the protest will cost 2.4 billion won ($1.7 million) to 5.4 billion won. The protest method of using spray painted graffiti at school campuses has spread to recent student protests at other universities, including Seoul Womens University. According to the stenographic records of the meetings held between the university and student council, revealed by the student group on Thursday, the school has asked the student group to reimburse 300 million won. The claim for damages came after a job fair, which had been scheduled to be held at the Centennial Memorial Hall, was canceled due to the students' occupation. At that time, students occupied most of the buildings, including the main building, and refused to attend classes altogether. A wreath of white flowers was placed in front of the Centennial Memorial Hall, and notes and posters hung all over the campus in protest against the possible transition to co-ed. Meanwhile, the student council expressed its intention to continue the voluntary boycott of classes. The university and the student group will hold further discussions next Monday. The presidential office said Friday that any reshuffle of the Cabinet or presidential office would require a "significant" amount of time, following reports that President Yoon Suk Yeol might conduct broader personnel changes next month. In a press conference earlier this month, Yoon said a vetting process for potential candidates is under way to conduct a Cabinet and presidential office reshuffle, as voices for revamping state affairs are growing amid declining approval ratings for his performance. Speculation grew that the reshuffle could happen as early as next month after his return on Thursday from an eight-day trip to Peru and Brazil for multilateral summits. "A reshuffle requires thorough consideration of domestic priorities, such as the approval of the budget, as well as external factors like the inauguration of the Trump administration. The verification process also necessitates significant time," a presidential official told reporters. The official further asked for some "flexibility" in anticipating the timing of the personnel changes. Meanwhile, the presidential office dismissed the possibility of creating an extra budget aimed at resolving social polarization. Earlier in the day, the possibility of drawing up a supplementary budget emerged after a ranking presidential official said the government does not rule out an active fiscal role, including an extra budget. The possible creation of an extra budget could mean a reversal of the Yoon administration's policy to bolster fiscal soundness. "(We) have not discussed, reviewed or decided on any possibility of an extra budget," the presidential office told reporters. "Currently, the National Assembly is reviewing next year's state budget. It was a general explanation that state finance should play a role, if necessary," he added. The finance ministry also issued a statement that it is not considering the possibility of an extra budget proposal for next year. (Yonhap) By Nam Hyun-woo POSCO and Samsung Electronics are struggling with protracted collective bargaining negotiations with their respective labor unions, adding greater downside risks to their efforts to navigate growing uncertainties. According to POSCO and its leading union, the National Labor Relations Commission on Thursday decided to end its arbitration on the collective bargaining negotiations between the steelmakers workers and management, as the two sides failed to narrow their differences. As the commission ended its arbitration, the union, affiliated with the Federation of Korean Trade Unions, secured its lawful rights to strike, and a vote to decide whether to proceed with the collective action is scheduled for Nov. 25. If the union decides to walk out, it will be the first such action since the company's founding in 1968. POSCO and its labor union have already experienced a similar standoff during last years negotiations, but reached a last-minute agreement through the commissions arbitration. At that time, union members voted for a strike, but came to an agreement citing the possible impact across domestic industries. The labor dispute is adding pressure to the company's declining profitability, compounded by fierce competition from Chinese rivals. According to the financial statement of POSCO Holdings, which controls POSCO, its revenue from steelmaking in the third quarter of this year declined by 0.85 percent year-on-year to 15.67 trillion won ($11.19 billion), but operating profit declined by 45.37 percent to 466 billion won during the same period. Due to a supply glut, POSCO has already shut down two mills this year, and is now seeking lead managers for its bid to sell a Chinese joint venture, POSCO Zhangjiagang Stainless Steel. Samsung Electronics is also facing challenges in wage negotiations with its labor union, the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU). According to the NSEU, its members on Thursday voted down its tentative agreement with management on the 2023 and 2024 collective bargaining negotiations, after a weeklong voting session. The union and management reached the tentative agreement on Nov. 14, nearly 10 months after wage negotiations began, combining talks for both 2023 and 2024. The NSEU made headlines by staging Samsungs first-ever general strike in July but did not reach an agreement until August, when the negotiating rights as the representative of five labor unions in the company expired. After regaining its rights in October, the NSEU resumed talks and reached a tentative agreement, which hikes base pay by 5.1 percent and offers 2 million voucher points that can be used for buying Samsung products for all employees. As this tentative agreement was refused by NSEU members, the unions leadership is expected to engage in negotiations again, but industry officials said the two sides will likely fail to sign a collective bargaining agreement by the end of this year. If negotiations stall further, the two sides may have to discuss three years' worth of wage negotiations all at once, raising concerns over the financial commitment that Samsung has to prepare. Russia fired a hypersonic intermediate-range ballistic missile at the city of Dnipro on Thursday in response to the U.S. and U.K. allowing Kyiv to strike Russian territory with advanced Western weapons, in a further escalation of the 33-month-old war. Russian President Vladimir Putin, in a televised address, said Moscow struck a Ukrainian military facility with a new ballistic missile known as "Oreshnik" (the hazel) and warned that more could follow. "A regional conflict in Ukraine previously provoked by the West has acquired elements of a global character," Putin said in an address to the nation carried by state television after 8 p.m. Moscow time. A U.S. official said that Washington was pre-notified by Russia shortly before its strike, while another said they had briefed Kyiv and other close allies in recent days to prepare for the possible use of such a weapon. Earlier on Thursday, Kyiv said that Russia had fired an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM ), a weapon designed for long-distance nuclear strikes and never before used in war, though U.S. officials said it was an intermediate range ballistic missile that has a smaller range. Regardless of its classification, the latest strike highlighted rapidly rising tensions in the past several days. Ukraine fired U.S. and British missiles at targets inside Russia this week despite warnings by Moscow that it would see such action as a major escalation. "Today there was a new Russian missile. All the characteristics speed, altitude are (of an) intercontinental ballistic (missile). An expert (investigation) is currently underway," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a video statement. Ukraine's foreign ministry urged the international community to react swiftly to the use of what it said was "the use by Russia of a new type of weaponry." A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Russia likely possesses a handful of the "experimental" intermediate-range ballistic missiles used in Thursday's strike. Ukraine's air force said the missile targeted Dnipro in central-eastern Ukraine and was fired from the Russian region of Astrakhan, more than 700 km (435 miles) away. It did not specify what kind of warhead the missile had or what type of missile it was. There was no suggestion it was nuclear-armed. Intermediate-range ballistic missiles have a range of 3,0005,500 km (1,860-3,415 miles) "Whether it was an ICBM or an IRBM, the range isn't the important factor," said Fabian Hoffmann, a doctoral research fellow at Oslo university who specializes in missile technology and nuclear strategy. "The fact that it carried a MIRVed (Multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle) payload is much more significant for signaling purposes and is the reason Russia opted for it. This payload is exclusively associated with nuclear-capable missiles." Russia also fired a Kinzhal hypersonic missile and seven Kh-101 cruise missiles, six of which were shot down, the Ukrainian air force said. The attack targeted enterprises and critical infrastructure in Dnipro, the air force said. Dnipro was a missile-making centre in the Soviet era. Ukraine has expanded its military industry during the war, but keeps its whereabouts secret. The air force did not say what the missile targeted or whether it had caused any damage, but regional governor Serhiy Lysak said the missile attack damaged an industrial enterprise and set off fires in Dnipro. Two people were hurt. Ukrainska Pravda, a Kyiv-based media outlet, had cited anonymous sources saying the missile was an RS-26 Rubezh, a solid-fuelled intercontinental ballistic missile with a range of 5,800 km, according to the Arms Control Association. 'Totally unprecedented' A group of glowing projectiles could be seen plummeting to the ground from the night sky in a video published by Come Back Alive, a Ukrainian military charity. It said the video was of Dnipro overnight. The NATO military alliance did not respond to a request for comment. The U.S. European Command said it had nothing on the reported use of an ICBM and referred questions to the U.S. Department of Defense. Some military experts said the missile launch, if confirmed, could be seen as an act of deterrence by Moscow following Kyiv's strikes into Russia with Western weapons this week, after restrictions on such strikes were lifted. Russian war correspondents on Telegram and an official speaking on condition of anonymity said Kyiv fired British Storm Shadow cruise missiles into Russia's Kursk region bordering Ukraine on Wednesday. Russia's defence ministry, in its daily report of events over the previous 24 hours on Thursday, said air defences had shot down two British Storm Shadow cruise missiles but did not say where. Britain had previously let Ukraine use Storm Shadows only within Ukrainian territory. Ukraine also fired U.S. ATACMS missiles into Russia on Tuesday after U.S. President Joe Biden gave the all-clear to use such missiles in this way, two months before he leaves office and Donald Trump returns to the White House. Putin on Tuesday lowered the threshold for a nuclear strike in response to a broader range of conventional attacks. Trump has said he will end the war, without saying how, and has criticised billions of dollars in aid for Ukraine under Biden. The warring sides believe Trump is likely to push for peace talks not known to have been held since the war's earliest months and are trying to attain strong positions before negotiations. Moscow has said the use of Western weapons to strike Russian territory far from the border would be a major escalation in the conflict. Kyiv says it needs the capability to defend itself by hitting Russian rear bases used to support Moscow's February 2022 invasion. (Reuters) U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday nominated former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi to be Attorney General of the United States, moving swiftly to replace former nominee Matt Gaetz after the embattled former congressman withdrew from consideration. Gaetz, who faced opposition from Senate Republicans, was the subject of a House Ethics Committee probe into allegations of having sex with an underage 17-year-old girl. He has denied wrongdoing. Bondi served as the top law enforcement officer of the country's third most populous state from 2011 to 2019. She served on Trump's Opioid and Drug Abuse Commission during his first administration. Her resume contrasts with that of Gaetz, who has little of the traditional experience expected of an attorney general. Bondi would likely face less opposition from senators involved in the confirmation process. Trump announced his pick of Bondi on social media, praising her for her prosecutorial experience and saying she was tough on crime as Florida's first female attorney general. Trump, who was elected on Nov. 5 despite being the subject of multiple criminal investigations from U.S. and state prosecutors, including a felony conviction in the state of New York, said Bondi would end the politicization of federal prosecutions. "For too long, the partisan Department of Justice has been weaponized against me and other Republicans Not anymore," Trump said. "Pam will refocus the DOJ to its intended purpose of fight Crime, and Making America Safe Again." (Reuters) The governor of Texas ordered state agencies to stop investing in China and sell assets there as soon as possible, citing financial and security risks, a sign of rising U.S.-China tensions starting to impact global capital flows. In a letter to state agencies dated Nov. 21 and posted to his website, Republican Greg Abbott said "belligerent actions" of China's ruling Communist Party had increased risks to Texas' investments in China, and told investors to get out. "I direct Texas investing entities that you are prohibited from making any new investments of state funds in China. To the extent you have any current investments in China, you are required to divest at the first available opportunity," he said. Texas has been taking an increasingly activist stance in its agencies' investments, having previously restricted public pension funds from doing business with Wall Street firms that have embraced environmental, social and governance principles. Its state agencies include the Teacher Retirement System of Texas, which had $210.5 billion under management at the end of August, according to its annual report. The TRS has roughly $1.4 billion exposure to Chinese yuan and Hong Kong dollar assets, and listed Tencent Holdings as its 10th largest position, worth about $385 million at current prices. Abbott's letter said he had told the University of Texas/Texas A&M Investment Management Company (UTIMCO), which manages nearly $80 billion, to divest from China earlier this year. Neither Texas Teachers nor UTIMCO responded immediately to a request for comment outside business hours. Markets in China fell sharply on Friday, with the Shanghai Composite down 3 percent. Tencent shares were about 2 percent lower in afternoon trade in Hong Kong, in line with the broader market. Dealers said trade had been light in Hong Kong and sentiment already weak as Chinese authorities have disappointed expectations for economic stimulus, but that the news had added to the downbeat mood. "Even though we all know that there will be more and more policies against China from the U.S.... whenever there's any news like this, it will hit the sentiment here," said Steven Leung, executive director at brokerage UOB Kay Hian in Hong Kong. (Reuters) China's Long March-10 carrier rocket passes fairing separation test SOURCE: Xinhua UPDATED: 2024-11-22 China's Long March-10 carrier rocket series has completed a fairing separation test that fully assessed issues in such areas as design, connection structure and separation strategy. The China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT), which developed the carrier rockets, said on Wednesday that the fairing separated smoothly at the planned time and under predetermined conditions, and that all parameters tested met their design requirements. The test verified the rationality of the design, as well as interface coordination. The results have validated the reliability of the entire system plan and provided valuable data for subsequent tests. Fairing separation is a key action in the carrier rocket launch process. The success of the test is further solid progress in the sample development of the Long March-10 carrier rocket series. The fairing is an important part of a launch vehicle and provides effective protection for spacecraft to avoid the adverse effects of high-speed airflow. During the separation test, the height and diameter of the fairing were both 5 meters -- a newly developed configuration, according to CALT. The Long March-10 carrier rockets are China's new generation of manned launch vehicles, which will help the country achieve its goal of landing astronauts on the moon by 2030. The Long March-10 series has also passed several large-scale tests, including a sub-stage power system test, CALT said, noting that it will continue to verify the design of each system comprehensively. Texas would allow Bible-infused lessons in elementary schools under changes that were set for a final vote Friday and could test boundaries between religion and public education in the U.S. The proposed curriculum narrowly cleared a preliminary vote this week at the Texas State Board of Education, whose elected members heard hours of sometimes impassioned pleas from both supporters and critics over the material that schools could begin using next year. If adopted, the new Texas curriculum would follow Republican-led efforts in neighboring states to give religion more of a presence in public schools. In Oklahoma, the state's education chief has ordered a copy of the Bible in every classroom , while Louisiana wants to make all of the states public school classrooms post the Ten Commandments beginning next year. In Texas, it would be optional for schools to adopt the materials, but theyd receive additional funding if they do so. If the board advances the curriculum, Texas would be the first state to introduce Bible lessons in schools in this manner, according to Matthew Patrick Shaw, an assistant professor of public policy and education at Vanderbilt University. The Texas Education Agency, which oversees public education for more than 5 million students statewide, created its own instruction materials after a law passed in 2023 by the GOP-controlled Legislature required the agency to do so. The lesson plans were publicly released this spring. The material draws on lessons from Christianity more than any other religion in the proposed reading and language arts modules for kindergarten through fifth grade, which critics say would alienate students from different faith backgrounds and potentially violate the First Amendment. This curriculum is not age-appropriate or subject matter appropriate in the way that it presents these Bible stories, said Amanda Tyler, executive director of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty. Children who would read the material, she said, are simply too young to tell the difference between what is a faith claim and what is a matter of fact. More than 100 people testified at a board meeting this week that rung with emotion from parents, teachers and advocates. Supporters of the curriculum argued that the Bible is a core feature of American history and teaching it will enrich students learning. It is said that there are close to 300 common-day phrases that actually come from the Bible, said Mary Castle, director of government relations for Texas Values, a right-leaning advocacy group. "So students will benefit from being able to understand a lot of these references that are in literature and have a way to be able to comprehend them. The 15-member board consists of 11 Republicans and four Democrats. It signaled support for the materials in a 8-7 preliminary vote on Wednesday. One of the board members is a Republican who was appointed to the board just weeks ago by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott to temporarily fill a vacant seat. Days after that appointment, a Democrat who ran unopposed was elected to fill that same board seat starting next year. Abbott has publicly supported the instruction materials. Whether the lesson plans will be considered constitutional is up in the air if the curriculum passes, Shaw said. The question is how is Texas going to frame what is done here to avoid the establishment question or tackle it head-on, he said. Texas' plans to implement Biblical teachings in public school lesson plans is the latest effort by Republican-controlled states to bring religion into the classroom. In Louisiana, a law to place the Ten Commandments in all public classrooms was blocked by a federal judge earlier this month. Republican Gov. Jeff Landry signed the bill into law in June, prompting a group of Louisiana public school parents of different faiths to sue. In Oklahoma, the state's top education official has tried to incorporate the Bible into lesson plans for children in fifth through 12th grades. A group of teachers and parents recently filed a lawsuit to stop the Republican state superintendent's plan and his efforts to spend $3 million to purchase Bibles for public schools. (AP) We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. New Delhi [India], November 22 (ANI): The Indian rental market is experiencing a significant uptick, with the average gross rental yield across 13 key cities hitting an impressive 3.62 per cent, according to Magicbricks report. This marks a significant shift in the real estate landscape, with rental yields seeing substantial growth, particularly in cities like Chennai and Delhi, which have outperformed the national average. Also Read | Sanath Jayasuriya Reflects on Balancing Formats and Sri Lanka's Path to ICC World Test Championship 2023-25 Final, Says We Can't Take Things for Granted'. Chennai has reported a remarkable 21.3 per cent quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) increase in rental yields, while Delhi saw a more modest but still notable 8.8 per cent rise. These figures indicate growing confidence in the Indian rental market, with investors increasingly attracted to residential properties as a source of better returns. Also Read | Fur Farming Is Banned in the UK, but the Sale of Fur Remains Permitted. Prasun Kumar, Chief Marketing Officer of Magicbricks, said, "For decades, homebuyers primarily sought properties for personal use or as a primary residence. However, today's dynamic real estate market is shifting that trend, with residential investments offering better returns. Encouraged by rising rental yields, we expect many buyers to explore multiple property investments, even leveraging loans to do so." Interestingly, the highest rental yields are emerging in cities that have traditionally not been viewed as prime investment destinations. Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Pune are seeing strong rental growth, surpassing even established hubs like Bengaluru and Delhi. Ahmedabad stands at the top of the list with a rental yield of 3.9 per cent. The city has seen a 16.9 per cent year-on-year (YoY) increase in average monthly rent, now reaching Rs 19.35 per square foot (psf). Property prices in Ahmedabad average Rs 5,927 psf. The combination of affordable property rates and strong rental demand has made Ahmedabad an attractive destination for investors looking for robust rental returns. Hyderabad, another rising star, saw its rental yield increase from 3.5 per cent in Q2 2024 to 3.7 per cent in Q3 2024. Average monthly rents in the city surged by 28.2 per cent YoY to Rs 25.17 psf, while property prices grew by a more modest 6.2 per cent YoY to Rs 8,188 psf. Hyderabad's growth is being fuelled by an influx of tenants, driven by increasing job opportunities in the city's growing tech and business sectors. Similarly, Kolkata offers a balanced market dynamic, with a rental yield of 3.7 per cent. The city's average rent rose by 12.9 per cent YoY to Rs 22.14 psf, with property prices growing steadily. Kolkata's appeal lies in its affordable living options and expanding job market, attracting both investors and tenants alike. For investors, the current market conditions present an excellent opportunity to capitalize on both rental income and property appreciation. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Bengaluru, November 22: Union Minister Pralhad Joshi on Monday wrote to Justice Michael D'Cunha, expressing regret and apologising for his recent comments regarding the D'Cunha Commission. According to sources, the commission, tasked with investigating alleged irregularities during the COVID-19 pandemic, recently submitted an interim report recommending action against former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa and former minister B Sriramulu. The report alleged that the then BJP led government purchased Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits at inflated prices, despite cheaper local alternatives being available. Addressing the report during an election rally in Shiggaon, Joshi lashed out at Justice D'Cunha, accusing him of acting as an "agent." The remarks sparked a row which in return prompted the minister to issue a public apology through the letter. Union Minister Pralhad Joshi Criticises Mallikarjun Kharge over His Remarks Against BJP. In his letter, Joshi wrote: "I am writing to you with reference to the recent statements made by me, which seemingly has raised a controversy. The same has occasioned me to address the present letter. At the outset, I must state that in my long years of public life there has been no occasion where I have directly or indirectly made any remark or statement which has had a tendency to lower the reputation of any past or present member of the judiciary. I do believe that judiciary and all the Hon'ble judges form the bulwark of the working of our constitution. They without a doubt have an important role in the sacred duty of discharge of justice." Joshi further in his letter clarified that his comments were not intended to defame Justice D'Cunha or the commission. The Union Minister stated: "To set the record straight, it would therefore be necessary to clarify that the statements made by me were only and only in the context of the procedure adopted by the commission in not affording an opportunity to the persons allegedly indicted. It was neither calculated nor designed to bring either you or the commission under any disrepute or to lower your image in the minds of the right-thinking people of the society." 'Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas' Marks Sacrifices of Birsa Munda: Pralhad Joshi. He concluded with an apology: "At a personal level I must state that if the statements made by me unintendedly have caused any hurt or misgivings to you I do regret the same and place my sincere apology." Joshi also expressed hope that the letter would peacefully resolve the issue. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh) [India], November 22 (ANI): A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has arrived in Tirupati on Friday to investigate the adulteration of ghee used in the sacred Tirumala Srivari Laddu Prasadam. The team is conducting a detailed investigation in Tirupati and Tirumala. The inquiry is aimed at gathering complete information regarding the adulteration case. Also Read | Ghaziabad: Bihar Boy Pretends to Play Ludo, Drugs Passengers and Robs Them on Trains, Arrested. The SIT will submit a comprehensive report to the CBI within 10 days. This report will serve as the basis for new legal and administrative policies. The row over the Tirupati Prasadam (laddus) began after Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu claimed that substandard ingredients, including animal fat, were used in the preparation of Tirupati laddus, the Prasdam offered at the Sri Venkateswara temple in Tirupati, during the previous YSRCP government. Also Read | Manipur Violence: Assam's Silchar Medical College and Hospital Hands Over Bodies of 9 Victims Killed to Families (Watch Video). Later, the Supreme Court ordered a CBI-led investigation into the laddu prasadam issue. The team will include officials from the state police and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Trust Board has passed a resolution prohibiting political statements within Tirumala, stating that legal action will be taken against violators as well as on those who propagate them. Additionally, the board has decided to write to the Andhra Pradesh Government, requesting appropriate action regarding non-Hindu employees working in Tirumala. The TTD Trust Board has also resolved to use enhanced quality ghee in preparing the iconic Srivari Laddu. These resolutions along with others were taken in the first meeting of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Trust Board under the Chairmanship of BR Naidu on Monday at the Annamaiah Bhavan in Tirumala. During the meeting, the board members discussed 80 key issues and passed several resolutions. Additionally, the TTD local temple calendar was also unveiled. After the completion of the board meeting, the TTD board Chief briefed mediapersons about the the decisions. "Reducing the darshan time of Sri Venkateswara Swamy from 20-30 hours to 2-3 hours using artificial intelligence and advanced technology by taking the experts' advice," as per an official release. Merging of SRIVANI Trust into the TTD account and verifying the possibilities to change its name while continuing the scheme. "The board has given a nod to dispense with the Tourism Corporations Darshan quota of various states after a thorough examination of the complaints regarding irregularities in the issue of SED tickets under this category," the release read. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Itanagar, Nov 22 (PTI) The opposition Congress in Arunachal Pradesh on Friday demanded investigation by a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) into the allegations against the Adani group. Addressing a press conference here, state Congress vice-president Mina Toko said the allegations levelled by the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) of the US against the group were serious in nature. Also Read | Telangana: Unidentified Persons Vandalise Temple in Rangareddy District, BJP Leaders Allege Lord Hanuman Idol Gutted in Fire in Bhupalapalli. "It is evident that institutions tasked with investigating white-collar crimes, such as SEBI, CBI and ED, have not only failed to investigate Adani despite credible allegations but have also seen their few investigations halted by orders from higher authorities," she alleged. "Instead, these agencies have been misused to facilitate Adani's acquisitions of airports, ports, media companies, and cement plants. They have also been used to target opposition politicians, dismantle opposition parties, and imprison opposition chief ministers," she claimed. Also Read | Latest Government Jobs Notifications: SBI Begins Recruitment Drive For 169 SCO Posts; Know Eligibility Criteria, Salary and How To Apply. The entire episode has posed a great risk to 10 crore Indians who have invested in the stock market, she said. Toko's remarks came in the wake of serious allegations from US prosecutors, who have accused the Adani Group of bribing Indian officials with more than USD 250 million (Rs 2,100 crore) to secure favourable terms for solar-power contracts. According to the US Department of Justice, these alleged bribes were concealed from American banks and investors who funded the Adani Group's projects. The Adani Group has dismissed the allegations as baseless, emphasising that the business conglomerate upholds the highest standards of governance and legal compliance. It has vowed to explore all possible legal avenues to counter the charges. "The Adani Group has always upheld and is steadfastly committed to maintaining the highest standards of governance, transparency and regulatory compliance across all jurisdictions of its operations. We assure our stakeholders, partners and employees that we are a law-abiding organisation, fully compliant with all laws," a spokesperson of the business conglomerate said on Thursday. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, Nov 22 (PTI) The BJP on Friday slammed AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal's 'Revdi' politics, saying he was making welfare schemes seem like "charity" done by him. Launching his party's "Revdi Par Charcha" campaign earlier in the day, Kejriwal said the AAP government is providing six "Revdis" (free facilities) to the people of Delhi that the BJP will stop if it wins the upcoming assembly polls. Also Read | Mpox Scare: Indian Researchers Find New Method To Detect Monkeypox Virus, Declared Global Health Emergency Twice by WHO. It is the duty of every government to ensure that welfare schemes reach every citizen but Kejriwal's language makes it seem like he is distributing charity, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva said. He claimed if the BJP comes to power, it will implement all the Central government initiatives in Delhi and expand the scope of welfare schemes to benefit more people, including the middle class. Also Read | NICL Assistant Admit Card 2024 Released, Know Steps to Download Hall Ticket at nationalinsurance.nic.co.in. "The benefits of welfare schemes are the rights of every Delhiite and the BJP once in power will ensure these rights are upheld," Sachdeva said. Kejriwal said that the BJP has government in 22 states and UTs but it has failed to provide free electricity in any one of them. He cited free electricity, water, healthcare services, education, bus ride for women and elderly pilgrimage schemes as six "Revdis" provided in Delhi by the AAP. The elections for the 70 seats in Delhi Assembly are due in February next year. In the states governed by the BJP, all Central government schemes have been implemented effectively contributing uniquely to societal progress. "However, Delhi remains an exception, as a "corrupt" government here has prevented the implementation of many Central government schemes due to political rivalry," Sachdeva charged. The BJP leader said that people across the country have benefitted from the Centre's schemes like Ayushman Bharat, Ujjwala Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, but Delhi has been unfortunate as these schemes were not implemented by the AAP. "Welfare schemes should be accessible to all yet Kejriwal's tone suggests he is distributing charity, he said. Sachdeva questioned why Kejriwal claims to provide free electricity in Delhi and does not extend the subsidy benefit to everyone. "Why electricity rates in Delhi are so high and industrialists have to pay Rs 18 per unit?" he asked and charged that the government is "exploiting" Delhiites through pension surcharge which is part of their electricity bills. As far as free water supply scheme is concerned, the AAP government in 10 years failed to provide clean drinking water to the people of Delhi, Sachdeva said and cited government data to claim that 21,000 people died due to consumption of contaminated water in Delhi in the last few years. He also claimed poor condition of schools, hospitals and transport facilities in the city under the AAP's rule since 2015. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Charaideo (Assam) [India], November 22 (ANI): Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal visited the Charaideo Maidam on Thursday, following its recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site--the first such honour for any cultural site in the Northeast. He stated that Charaideo Maidam's World Heritage Site status would attract global travellers to Assam and showcase the Ahom heritage. Also Read | PM Modi on 2-Day Visit to Guyana: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Joins Ram Bhajan Chant at Promenade Garden in Georgetown During Historic Visit (Watch Videos). "Charaideo Maidam, recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, stands as a remarkable testament to the architectural brilliance of the Ahom era, embodying the legacy of our revered ancestors. This historic achievement was made possible through the visionary efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The people of Assam remain deeply grateful to PM Modi for bringing global recognition to this heritage. May the rich traditions of Charaideo Maidam continue to shine brightly, inspiring us with the timeless ideals of the great Ahom rulers and guiding our journey towards a prosperous and culturally vibrant state," Sonowal said. He further emphasised that the Maidams of Charaideo, reflecting the bravery, valour, and indomitable courage of the Ahom ancestors, stand as enduring symbols of self-respect and pride for the Assamese people. Also Read | Manipur Violence: Mob Vandalises MLA's Residence; Steals Cash, Jewellery, Relief Items. "This global recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site brings the rich history of the Ahom dynasty to the global stage. On behalf of the people of Assam, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji for playing a pivotal role in achieving this long-overdue honour. I also invite global travellers and tourists to visit the Charaideo Maidam and witness the unique architectural brilliance and cultural traditions of the Ahom period," he added. Tourists will also experience the vibrant socio-cultural fabric of Assamese society, which the Ahom kings successfully wove during their illustrious 600 years of governance. This legacy continues to inspire Assamese people daily and motivates them to showcase their rich heritage on the world stage. Sonowal noted that the recognition of Charaideo Maidams as a UNESCO World Heritage Site has sparked global curiosity about Assam and the Ahom heritage. Sonowal also highlighted the historical significance of the Ahom dynasty's founder, Swargadeo Chaolung Sukapha, who in the 13th century united various communities under the policy of "Saat Raj Saamari Ek Raj" (seven kingdoms into one) and established the foundation of a greater Assam. He drew a parallel between Sukapha's vision and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's approach of "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas," which aims to unite India's diverse communities and build a strong, self-reliant nation. The recognition of Charaideo Maidam as a UNESCO World Heritage Site marks a significant step in preserving Assam's heritage. The milestone was the result of years of planning and leadership under Sarbananda Sonowal, particularly during his tenure as the Chief Minister of Assam. In 2020, Sonowal participated in the state government-organised "Me-Dam-Me-Phi" celebrations at Charaideo, where he urged Prime Minister Modi to elevate the site's status to national and international prominence. Acting on his directives, the Assam government held several review meetings with relevant ministers to push for Charaideo's UNESCO nomination. In 2017, Sonowal announced plans to develop Charaideo into a cultural hub during the Eastern Tai Literary Conference held in the region. He allocated an initial budget of Rs5 crore in the financial plan for that year, followed by Rs25 crore in the subsequent year's state budget under the Archaeological Department to support the UNESCO nomination process. The initiative gained momentum with the formation of a high-level committee led by former Director General of the Archaeological Survey of India, KC Nauriyal, alongside experts such as Yogendra Phukan, Dayananda Borgohain, Dilip Burhagohain, Jaribul Alam, and Jiten Borpatra Gohain. This committee, working under Sonowal's instructions, overcame numerous challenges to prepare and submit a comprehensive dossier to UNESCO through the Ministry of Culture. As a Union Cabinet Minister, Sonowal continued his advocacy for Charaideo's recognition. He presented the dossier to the Prime Minister's Office and ensured its submission to UNESCO, culminating in the site's designation as a World Heritage Site. Often referred to as the "Pyramids of Assam," the Charaideo Maidams symbolise the rich cultural and historical legacy of the Ahom dynasty, which ruled Assam for over 600 years. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Raipur (Chhattisgarh) [India], November 22 (ANI): Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai commended security forces for their 'indomitable courage' and 'dedication' after they successfully eliminated at least 10 Naxals under an operation in Sukma district on Friday morning. The Chief Minister highlighted that this achievement by the security forces is commendable, as the state government continues its strong fight against Naxalism, adhering to a policy of zero tolerance. Also Read | Maharashtra Election Result 2024: Which Parties Are Members of MahaYuti and Maha Vikas Aghadi? How Many Seats Did BJP, Congress, Shiv Sena, NCP, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP) Contest in Vidhan Sabha Polls?. He reaffirmed that ensuring development, peace, and security in the Bastar region remains the top priority of his government. "Displaying their indomitable courage, the security forces took major action against the Naxalites in Sukma district this morning and killed 10 Naxalites in an encounter. This success achieved by the soldiers is commendable. Our government is fighting strongly against Naxalites by working on the policy of zero tolerance. Ensuring development, peace and security in Bastar is the top priority of our government," posted CM Deo Sai on X. Also Read | Navi Mumbai Shocker: Woman Raped on Promise of Marriage in Panvel; 3 of Family Booked. As many as 10 Naxals were killed in the encounter that broke out between the District Reserve Guard (DRG) and Naxals in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district on Friday morning. Inspector General (IG) Bastar, P Sundarraj shared the development and said, "10 Naxals killed in an encounter with DRG in southern Sukma, Chhattisgarh. INSAS, AK-47, SLR and several other weapons were recovered. The search operation is underway." As per an official update at 11.30 am, "10 Naxal bodies have been recovered in the search operation. INSAS, AK-47, SLR and many other weapons have been recovered. The search operation is going on." "DRG and CRPF forces had left on the intelligence of Naxal members of Konta and Kistaram Area Committee of Sukma district. The encounter between the DRG team and Naxalites is continuing in the forest hills of villages Korajuguda, Dantespuram, Nagaram, and Bhandarpadar under the Bhejji police station area of Sukma district," the official update said. Earlier in the day, IG Sundarraj said that the exchange of fire had been underway since morning and a search operation was ongoing. Earlier on Wednesday, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi to discuss the progress in combating Naxalism in the state and expressed confidence in making the state 'naxal-free' by March 2026. The CM said that the state government and the security forces have been working relentlessly in the direction of uprooting the Naxals from Chhattisgarh and fulfilling the Union Home Minister's commitment to eradicating the Naxals by 2026. Earlier, security forces conducted a joint search operation in the jungles of Abujhmad at Kanker in Chhattisgarh's Bastar region after five Naxals were killed in an encounter in the area. The joint search operation involved personnel of district reserve guards (DRG), special task force (STF), Bastar Fighters and Border Security Force (BSF), officials said. Two jawans were injured in the gunfight that broke out between security forces and Naxals on November 16. A large cache of weapons was also recovered during the exchange of fire between security forces and Naxals in the Abujhmadh jungle on the Kanker-Narayanpur border in Chhattisgarh. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kolkata, Nov 22 (PTI) Competition Commission of India (CCI) Chairperson Ravneet Kaur on Friday hinted that the fair trade regulator is not likely to take cognizance of media reports on the bribery charge against the Adani group to initiate a probe, claiming that the panel takes steps only after some information is filed before it. Billionaire Gautam Adani has been charged by US prosecutors for allegedly being part of a scheme to pay over USD 250 million (about Rs 2,100 crore) bribe to Indian officials in exchange for favourable terms for solar power contracts. Also Read | 'Cash for Votes' Storm in Maharashtra: BJP's Vinod Tawde Sends Legal Notice to Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and Supriya Shrinate, Says 'Congress Habit To Spread Lies'. Adani group on Thursday denied the charges of paying bribes to secure favourable terms for solar power contracts, saying the allegations by US prosecutors are baseless and the conglomerate is compliant with all laws. On whether the Adani matter falls under the purview of CCI, Kaur said, "The CCI is governed by the Competition Act.. It is meant to promote and sustain competition. If there is any matter which falls in that domain of the Competition Act, then it comes to Competition Commission." Also Read | Ghaziabad: Bihar Boy Pretends to Play Ludo, Drugs Passengers and Robs Them on Trains, Arrested. Replying to a question that the allegations against the industrialist are in nature of competitive practice, the CCI chairperson said, "I am not aware of that. These are all media reports and I am not able to respond to that." Asked whether the competition watchdog would take cognisance of media reports in terms of the US prosecutors' allegations, she said, "No, we don't take cognizance of the media reports. We have to have some information which is filed before us, and then the commission takes action on that." Kaur was in the city to attend a regional workshop on the Competition Law, organised by the Merchants' Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI). (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Defence Minister Rajnath Singh meets US Secretary of Defense Lloyd J Austin on sidelines of 11th ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus in Lao PDR (Pic/@rajnathsingh) New Delhi [India], November 22 (ANI): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met US Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin on the sidelines of the 11th ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM)-Plus in Vientiane, Lao PDR, on November 21, according to a release from the Ministry of Defence. The two leaders praised the progress achieved in the India-US defence partnership, which is underpinned by enhanced operational coordination, information-sharing, and industrial innovation, the release noted. Also Read | PM Modi on 2-Day Visit to Guyana: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Joins Ram Bhajan Chant at Promenade Garden in Georgetown During Historic Visit (Watch Videos). "Both sides recognised the remarkable progress made under the US-India Defence Industrial Cooperation Roadmap, including ongoing collaboration to advance priority co-production arrangements for jet engines, munitions, and ground mobility systems," the release stated. The Defence Minister highlighted his recent successful visit to the US in August 2024, during which two significant agreements were signed - the Security of Supplies Agreement (SOSA) and the Memorandum of Agreement regarding the deployment of Liaison Officers. Also Read | Manipur Violence: Mob Vandalises MLA's Residence; Steals Cash, Jewellery, Relief Items. "Both sides welcomed ongoing efforts to deepen the military partnership and interoperability to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific," the release added. Referring to the QUAD Summit attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 21, Singh stressed the importance of working together on agreed initiatives, including the Maritime Initiative for Training in the Indo-Pacific (MAITRI), the first-ever Quad-at-Sea Ship Observer Mission, and the launch of a Quad Indo-Pacific Logistics Network pilot project. These initiatives aim to support rapid and efficient civilian responses to natural disasters across the Indo-Pacific, the statement said. "Both sides affirmed their commitment to fostering defence innovation collaboration between the two governments, businesses, and academic institutions, as facilitated by the India-US Defense Acceleration Ecosystem. They agreed to provide more joint challenges, funding opportunities, and visibility to drive this collaboration further. Both sides also committed to sustaining the momentum achieved over the last two and a half years through growing convergence in strategic interests and enhanced defence cooperation," the release stated. The Defence Minister expressed his gratitude to Secretary Austin for his lasting contribution to deepening and expanding the India-US defence partnership. In a post on X, Rajnath Singh described Secretary Austin as a "great friend to India" and commended his exemplary role in strengthening the defence partnership between the two nations. He also extended his best wishes for Austin's future endeavours. https://x.com/rajnathsingh/status/1859545955126870399 "It is always a matter of immense joy to meet my friend, Lloyd Austin. He has been a great friend to India. His contribution towards strengthening the India-US defence partnership has been exemplary. I wish him the very best in all his future endeavours," Singh wrote on X. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, Nov 22 (PTI) The Enforcement Directorate Friday said it has attached assets worth Rs 1.84 crore as part of a money laundering investigation into an "illegal" betting app syndicate running from Surat in Gujarat. The case stems from a Surat Police's Detection of Crime Branch (DCB) FIR filed against accused named Harish alias Kamlesh Jariwala, Rushikesh Adhikar Shinde and Huzefa Kausar Masakarwala. Also Read | Maharashtra Assembly Election Result 2024: Stage Set for Vote Counting in 288 Assembly Constituencies Across State, Fate of MahaYuti and MVA To Be Decided. They were charged by the police with obtaining identity documents of various persons, preparing rent agreements in their names, "forging" signatures of shop owners in such agreements, "misusing" the identity documents for obtaining license of shell firms and opening "dummy" accounts with various banks. "These dummy accounts were used for the purpose of transferring the funds obtained from illegal betting apps CBTF247.com and T20 EXCHANGE.com. Also Read | Milky Way's Veil of Fiery Gas: India-US Scientists Decode Mysterious Sources Behind Fiery Hot Gas Around the Spiral Galaxy. "Proceeds of crime i.e. the money generated through these betting apps were traced and it has been found that these dummy bank accounts in the names of various fictitious entities have been opened for routing and layering of money generated from betting and other criminal activities," the ED said. It was found that a man named Rajesh Lakhani, proprietor of Maitri Enterprises and VC Metals Pvt. Ltd had "received" the proceeds of crime from these dummy bank accounts. The assets worth Rs 1.84 crore, attached as part of a provisional order issued by the agency under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), are in the name of Lakhani, it said. The agency has filed a chargesheet in this case in October and has frozen deposits worth Rs 5.67 crore kept in 92 bank accounts when it carried out searches against the accused earlier. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, Nov 22 (PTI) The National Green Tribunal has been informed by the UP government's environment department that over 1.12 lakh trees will be felled in the protected forest area in the state to make way for the upcoming Kanwar Yatra route. The NGT had sought a reply from the secretary of the state's environment department in a case pertaining to the felling of more than 1 lakh trees and shrubs in the protected forest area. Also Read | Mpox Scare: Indian Researchers Find New Method To Detect Monkeypox Virus, Declared Global Health Emergency Twice by WHO. The area in question spreads across three forest divisions of Ghaziabad, Meerut and Muzaffarnagar for the proposed route between Muradnagar in Ghaziabad and Purkaji in Muzaffarnagar. The reply, filed by UP principal secretary, Department of Environment, and dated November 19 said, "It is important to mention that the Public Works Department (PWD) received permission to cut 1,12,722 trees/plants for the Kanwar Marg project, as approved by the (Union) Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on February 28, 2023." Also Read | NICL Assistant Admit Card 2024 Released, Know Steps to Download Hall Ticket at nationalinsurance.nic.co.in. It said at present, 25,410 trees had been marked and assigned for felling, of which 17,607 were cut by the PWD under the supervision of the Uttar Pradesh Forest Corporation. "Presently, the tree-cutting work has been suspended by PWD since August 9, 2024, and tree felling in certain stretches of the proposed alignment has not commenced," said the reply uploaded on the tribunal's website on Friday. Noting that the tribunal asked the secretary to enumerate the number of trees under the UP Tree Protection Act provisions, the reply stated such an enumeration was not be possible in the stretches where tree cutting was completed as plants and bushes were also cleared during the drive. "In the future, once PWD finalises a revised road alignment with width of 15-20 metre, joint inspections will identify and enumerate any remaining trees to be felled. However, the total number of affected trees/plants should not exceed 1,12,722," it stated. The UP tree act provisions did not apply to the reserved and protected forest land, the reply added. "The land used for the construction of above-mentioned Kanwar Marg is a protected forest and the implementing agency has obtained in-principle approval from Government of India for Kanwar Marg Project. Thus, enumeration of trees as per the provisions of UP Tree Act 1976 was not carried out," it said. Regarding the definition of trees, as asked by the tribunal in its previous order, the reply cited the Centre's Parivesh Portal, according to which trees were categorised based on girth size such as 0-30 cm, 31-60 cm, and more than 150 cm, and included provisions for also counting smaller plants and trees having a girth between zero and 30 cm. "This ensures that all relevant vegetation is comprehensively accounted," the reply said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Bengaluru, Nov 22 (PTI) The Karnataka High Court on Friday dismissed the anticipatory bail application filed by former JD (S) MP Prajwal Revanna, who is facing allegations of rape and sexual assault, in connection with a fourth case registered against him. The fourth case was registered against Revanna, accusing him of sexual harassment, on June 12 at cyber crime police station of CID in Bengaluru. Also Read | Manipur Violence: Assam's Silchar Medical College and Hospital Hands Over Bodies of 9 Victims Killed to Families (Watch Video). In this case he has been booked for sexual harassment, stalking and criminal intimidation, and violation of privacy of IT Act. The complainant in this case is a woman, who was allegedly sexually harassed over a video call. Prajwal's advocates wished to withdraw the anticipatory bail plea on the ground that the chargesheet had been filed in the case, but Justice M Nagaprasanna did not allow them to withdraw the petition, and instead dismissed the plea. Also Read | Mumbai Shocker: Minor Stabs Man to Death After Argument Over Fourth Seat on Local Train at Ghatkopar Station, Arrested. Revanna is currently under judicial custody at Parappana Agrahara Jail here, and a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed to probe four separate cases against him. He was arrested by the SIT on May 31 upon arrival at Bengaluru Airport from Germany in connection with a case registered at the Holenarasipura Town Police Station. He was remanded to custody the following day. Revanna had failed in his bid to retain the Hassan parliamentary constituency in this year's Lok Sabha polls. The cases of sexual abuse came to light after pen drives containing explicit videos allegedly involving Prajwal Revanna were reportedly circulated in Hassan, ahead of Lok Sabha polls there on April 26. The JD(S) suspended him from the party following the cases filed against him. In the first case registered against him at the Holenarasipura Town police station in Hassan on April 28, Revanna is accused of sexually harassing a 47-year-old former maid. He is listed as accused number two, while his father and local MLA, H D Revanna, is the primary accused. The second case against Prajwal Revanna was filed by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on May 1 after a 44-year-old former member of the Hassan Zilla Panchayat accused him of repeatedly raping her. The third case pertains to rape of a woman in her 60s from Mysuru's K R Nagara, who was also a domestic help. The victim's son had initially filed a kidnap case, alleging abduction of his mother, at the K R Nagar police station on May 2. In this kidnap case, the SIT had arrested Revanna, who is currently out on bail, and had questioned Prajwal's mother Bhavani, who has got anticipatory bail. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Rishikesh, Nov 22 (PTI) Trains are expected to start operating on the Rishikesh-Karnaprayag railway line by December 2026 with 60 per cent of the sanctioned budget for the project already spent, an official said on Friday. The Rishikesh-Karnaprayag rail line is a pet project of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and holds significant religious, cultural, and economic importance for Uttarakhand, said Chief Project Director Ajit Yadav at a press conference here. Also Read | Mumbai Shocker: Minor Stabs Man to Death After Argument Over Fourth Seat on Local Train at Ghatkopar Station, Arrested. The railway line will pass through 12 stations across the districts of Dehradun, Tehri, Pauri, Rudraprayag, and Chamoli. It will connect important cities such as Devprayag, Srinagar, Rudraprayag, Gauchar, and Karnaprayag, he added. This line will provide easier access to Uttarakhand's pilgrimage sites, while also boosting the state's tourism and economy, Yadav noted. Also Read | Manipur HC Gets New Chief Justice: D Krishnakumar Sworn-In As 8th Chief Justice of State High Court, CM Biren Singh Attends Oath Taking Ceremony (See Pics). The project includes a total of 38 breakthroughs, of which 28 have been completed so far. The remaining are expected to be completed by March 2025, he said. In addition, 19 railway bridges will be built over rivers along the route. Of these, five major bridges have been completed and work on the remaining 14 is underway. They are likely to be completed by 2025, he said. The Rishikesh-Karnaprayag railway line is 125.2 km long and will include 17 tunnels, one of which will be 15.1 km long, the official said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Bhubaneswar, Nov 22 (PTI) A day after Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi stated that only one family was highlighted in the state for a long time, a slugfest erupted between the ruling BJP and the opposition BJD Friday over the manner in which great leaders of Odisha were treated by the previous government. Majhi, while participating in the 125th birth anniversary function of freedom fighter Dr Harekrushna Mahatab in Deli, said, For a long period, we were only engaged in recognizing the contributions of only one family. It happened in Odisha also. Now, in Odisha, we are ready to worship all our heroes who made significant contributions to the nation building. Also Read | Rajasthan Assembly By Election Result 2024: 7 Bypoll Seats To Witness Tough Contest Between BJP and Congress. While BJP alleged that the previous government neglected great leaders including Mahatab, the BJD rejected the allegation and claimed that all legendary figures were given due importance. Accusing the BJD government of neglecting Dr Mahatab, senior BJP leader and Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan alleged that the previous government had stopped celebrating his birth anniversary. Also Read | Telangana: Unidentified Persons Vandalise Temple in Rangareddy District, BJP Leaders Allege Lord Hanuman Idol Gutted in Fire in Bhupalapalli. It is unfortunate that the BJD government had stopped the state-level birth anniversary celebrations of Harekrushna Mahtab during the last two years, Harichandan told reporters. He alleged that the BJD government has consistently honoured former Chief Minister Biju Patnaik while neglecting other prominent figures during the BJD's 24 years rule in the state. We will honour all the great sons of the soil including Dr Mahatab, he said. Senior BJD leader and former minister Debi Prasad Mishra rejected the minister's allegations and said there should be no dispute over respecting the great leaders. There is no truth behind the allegations that BJD ignored other leaders, Mishra said adding that the previous government had named certain schemes after the name of Utkal Gourab Madhusudan Das and Utkalmani Gopabandhu Das. Is not Biju Patnaik a great son of the soil? The previous government had respected all leaders including Biju Patnaik, Mishra said lashing out at the new BJP government for changing the name of Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY). If BJP wants to do something in the name of Dr Mahatab, they are free to go ahead, but should not change names of schemes like BSKY, Mishra said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Chandigarh, Nov 22 (PTI) Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday assured full support and cooperation to Vardhman Special Steels Limited (VSSL) for setting up a special alloy steel manufacturing unit at a cost of Rs 1,750 crore. Mann, during a meeting with company's Vice Chairman and Managing Director Sachit Jain here at the chief minister's office said the state government is committed to giving major fillip to investment in Punjab. Also Read | Kolkata Fatafat Result Today: Kolkata FF Result for November 22, 2024 Declared, Check Winning Numbers and Result Chart of Satta Matka-Type Lottery Game. Mann said it is heartening that VSSL is setting up a greenfield unit for manufacturing of special alloy steel through electric arc furnace route at a cost of Rs 1,750 crore. Mann, according to an official statement, said the project having installed capacity of 5 lakh TPA (tonne per annum) will be set up in collaboration with Aichi Steel Corporation, Japan. Also Read | Maharashtra Election Result 2024: Which Parties Are Members of MahaYuti and Maha Vikas Aghadi? How Many Seats Did BJP, Congress, Shiv Sena, NCP, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP) Contest in Vidhan Sabha Polls?. The chief minister said the project is expected to give employment to over 1,500 people in the state and that the company will produce "green steel" from this plant. He said the project will generate major revenue for the state and the country as exports will be more than 20 per cent of the total volume to various Japanese/ European companies. Mann said VSSL is a renowned company across the globe and the huge investment made by it will inspire other companies to follow suit. The chief minister said that the state government is leaving no stone unturned to give impetus to the industry and commerce in Punjab. He said that "due to strenuous efforts of Punjab government, so far investments worth around Rs 86,000 crore have been firmed up...with leading companies like Tata Steel, Sanathan Textiles and others making a beeline to invest in the state". "Punjab has complete communal harmony, peace and amity, which are mainly responsible for overall development and prosperity in the state," he said in a reference to the congenial atmosphere required for businesses to flourish. Mann said companies are making optimum use of the congenial atmosphere backed by excellent infrastructure, power, skilled human resources and best industrial and work culture in the state to spread their business. He claimed that entrepreneurs are immensely benefited by investing in the state, which is rapidly emerging as the industrial hub of the country. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Mangaluru, Nov 22 (PTI) The Mangalore Special Economic Zone (MSEZ) has entered into an Expression of Interest with Italy-based MIR Group SRL SB to establish a state-of-the-art facility for producing energy-efficient building materials, officials announced on Friday. The proposed facility will focus on manufacturing BIPV panels, thermal insulation materials, sodium-ion batteries, and insulated doors and windows. It will also provide energy-efficient design consultancy and retrofitting services. Also Read | Kolkata Fatafat Result Today: Kolkata FF Result for November 22, 2024 Declared, Check Winning Numbers and Result Chart of Satta Matka-Type Lottery Game. MIR Group, a global leader in sustainable urban regeneration and energy-efficient construction, plans to invest Rs 1,500 crore in phases to set up the facility on a 10-acre plot within MSEZ, pending regulatory approvals, according to officials. Captain Brijesh Chowta, Member of Parliament for Dakshina Kannada, who attended the signing, highlighted his "Back to Uru" initiative. The initiative encourages local entrepreneurs to invest in the Mangaluru region to promote its development. Also Read | Maharashtra Election Result 2024: Which Parties Are Members of MahaYuti and Maha Vikas Aghadi? How Many Seats Did BJP, Congress, Shiv Sena, NCP, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP) Contest in Vidhan Sabha Polls?. Officials stated this partnership is expected to boost sustainable industrial growth while creating significant opportunities in the region. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Mumbai, Nov 22 (PTI) India on Friday hosted the Third Working Group meeting on Chabahar Port here, with participants emphasising the importance of the harbour in supporting Afghanistan's reconstruction and economic development, an official release said. The meeting, attended by India, Iran and Uzbekistan and a delegation from the Afghanistan Chambers of Commerce, also emphasised providing an alternate trade corridor to Central Asia, it added. Also Read | Kolkata Fatafat Result Today: Kolkata FF Result for November 22, 2024 Declared, Check Winning Numbers and Result Chart of Satta Matka-Type Lottery Game. "During the meeting, participants emphasised the importance of Chabahar Port in supporting Afghanistan's reconstruction and economic development, as well as providing an alternate trade corridor to Central Asia," as per the release. They also noted the increase in transit traffic through Chabahar Port and discussed ways to enhance the regional connectivity, it noted. Also Read | Maharashtra Election Result 2024: Which Parties Are Members of MahaYuti and Maha Vikas Aghadi? How Many Seats Did BJP, Congress, Shiv Sena, NCP, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP) Contest in Vidhan Sabha Polls?. The meeting was followed by interaction with the members of the business community, the release said, adding that a presentation on the operations of Shahid Beheshti Terminal, Chabahar Port, highlighting the facilities being offered for transit, was delivered by India Ports Global Limited (IPGL). India, on May 13 this year, signed a 10-year contract to operate the strategic Iranian port of Chabahar that will help it expand trade with Central Asia. The Chabahar Port on the Gulf of Oman, which New Delhi had proposed to develop way back in 2003, will provide Indian goods with a gateway to reach landlocked Afghanistan and Central Asia using a road and rail project called the International North-South Transport Corridor, bypassing Pakistan. The long-term agreement was signed by IPGL and the Port & Maritime Organisation of Iran, replacing an initial 2016 pact, which covered India's operations at Shahid Beheshti Terminal in Chabahar Port and had been renewed on an annual basis. During the interaction, traders expressed keen interest in utilising the Chabahar Port for trade and transit. The business community was encouraged to come forward with suggestions to further enhance the trade and transit through the port to realise its full potential, the official release said. IPGL through its wholly-owned subsidiary, India Ports Global Chabahar Free Zone (IPGCFZ), took over the operations of the Chabahar Port on December 24, 2018. Since then, the port has handled over 450 vessels, 1,34,082 TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent) of containerised cargo and more than 8.7 million tons of bulk cargo. There has been an increase of 1,200 per cent in container handling during the last financial year, as per the release. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, Nov 22 (PTI) Zepto on Friday announced a USD 350 million fundraise in its latest round that the quick commerce company said marks the largest 100 per cent domestic fundraise within India's startup ecosystem. The round included investments from Indian HNIs, family offices, and leading financial institutions. The fundraise was led exclusively by Motilal Oswal's Private Wealth division. Also Read | Kolkata Fatafat Result Today: Kolkata FF Result for November 22, 2024 Declared, Check Winning Numbers and Result Chart of Satta Matka-Type Lottery Game. The fundraise saw participation from several family offices and investors including Motilal Oswal AMC and Raamdeo Agarwal, the Taparia Family Office, Mankind Pharma Family Office, Cello Family Office, Haldiram Snacks Family Office, Sekhsaria Family Office, Kalyan Family Office, Happy Forgings Family Office, Mothers Recipe Family Office (Desai Brothers) and notable individuals like Abhishek Amitabh Bachchan and Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar, among others. "This round reflected the growing commitment of Indian investors to back transformative startups", Zepto said. Also Read | Shillong Teer Results Today, November 22 2024: Winning Numbers, Result Chart for Shillong Morning Teer, Shillong Night Teer, Khanapara Teer, Juwai Teer and Jowai Ladrymbai. This "landmark funding" comes at a time when India's economy is accelerating its shift toward domestically driven growth, Zepto said. "When we started this venture, the risk appetite among domestic investors was limited, especially to trust 18-year-olds with their money. Today, we are humbled to have reached a place in India's economic growth where we have not only fostered that trust but also spearheaded a fundraise of this magnitude, which will hopefully set a precedent for the startups that follow," Aadit Palicha, CEO and Co-founder of Zepto said. Ashish Shanker, MD and CEO, Motilal Oswal Private Wealth, said Motilal Oswal is a strong believer in the future of digital businesses, particularly quick commerce players like Zepto, as potential free cash flow powerhouses. "India's biggest and marquee family office clients of Motilal Oswal Private Wealth share this excitement and have participated in this once-in-a-lifetime journey of value creation," Shanker said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Sao Paulo, Nov 22 (AP) Police indicted Brazil's former president Jair Bolsonaro and 36 others for allegedly attempting a coup to keep the right-wing leader in office after his defeat in the 2022 election. Already barred from running again in 2026 for a different case, he could now land in jail and see his influence further diminished. Brazil's federal police said the sealed findings in Thursday's indictment were being delivered to Brazil's Supreme Court, which will refer them to Prosecutor-General Paulo Gonet, who will decide whether to formally charge Bolsonaro and put him on trial, or toss the investigation. Also Read | No Evidence Linking PM Narendra Modi, EAM S Jaishankar to Criminal Activity in Canada, Clarifies Justin Trudeau Government. Gonet is already under pressure from his legal peers to move forward with the various investigations related to the ex-president, local media have reported. And politicians say if Bolsonaro does stand trial at the Supreme Court there will be a race among his allies and rivals to seize his influence with voters. Bolsonaro is no longer the sole leader of the right-wing. He is coming out of mayoral elections in which most of his candidates lost. All these probes don't help him at all, said Carlos Melo, a political science professor at the Insper university in Sao Paulo. Also Read | PM Narendra Modi Takes Veiled Swipe at China While Addressing Guyana Parliament, Says 'India Never Moved Ahead With Expansionist Mindset' (Watch Video). Melo added that the governor of Sao Paulo, Tarcisio de Freitas, the radical candidate for Sao Paulo mayorship Pablo Marcal, the governor of Goias state, Ronaldo Caiado... There are politicians lining up to court Bolsonaro voters. Bolsonaro told the website Metropoles that he was waiting for his lawyer to review the indictment, reportedly about 700 pages long. But he said he would fight the case and dismissed the investigation as being the result of creativity. The former president has denied all claims he tried to stay in office after his narrow electoral defeat in 2022 to leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Bolsonaro has faced a series of legal threats since then. Police said in a brief statement that the Supreme Court had agreed to reveal the names of all 37 people who were indicted to avoid the dissemination of incorrect news. Dozens of former and current Bolsonaro aides also were indicted, including Gen. Walter Braga Netto, who was his running mate in the 2022 campaign; former Army commander Gen Paulo Sergio Nogueira de Oliveira; Valdemar Costa Neto, the chairman of Bolsonaro's Liberal Party; and his veteran former adviser, Gen Augusto Heleno. Other investigations led to indictments for Bolsonaro's alleged roles in smuggling diamond jewellery into Brazil without properly declaring them and in directing a subordinate to falsify his and others' COVID-19 vaccination statuses. Bolsonaro has denied any involvement in either. Another probe found that he had abused his authority to cast doubt on the country's voting system, and judges barred him from running again until 2030. Still, he has insisted that he will run in 2026, and many in his orbit were heartened by the recent US election win of Donald Trump, despite his own swirling legal threats. Creomar de Souza, a political analyst of Dharma Political Risk and Strategy, said the indictment is obviously bad for Bolsonaro, but added the right-wing leader could still continue his bid to run again sooner than he is currently allowed to. He is barred from running in the 2026 elections. "The idea of due legal course is a struggling one in the political arena these days. This could give those targeted a chance to portray themselves as being persecuted," de Souza told the AP. We can't rule out that the tension from indictments like this might well favor Bolsonaro to some extent. An indictment over the alleged coup attempt means the investigation has gathered evidence of "a crime and its author, said Eloisa Machado de Almeida, a law professor at Getulio Vargas Foundation, a university in Sao Paulo. She said she believed there was enough legal grounds for the prosecutor-general to file charges. Bolsonaro's allies in Congress have been negotiating a bill to pardon individuals who stormed the Brazilian capital and rioted on Jan 8, 2023, in a failed attempt to keep the former president in power. Analysts have speculated that lawmakers want to extend the legislation to cover the former president himself. However, efforts to push a broad amnesty bill may be politically challenging given recent attacks on the judiciary and details emerging in investigations, Machado said. On Tuesday, Federal Police arrested four military and a Federal Police officer, accused of plotting to assassinate Lula and Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes as a means to overthrow the government following the 2022 elections. And last week, a man carried out a bomb attack in the capital Brasilia. He attempted to enter the Supreme Court and threw explosives outside, killing himself. (AP) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) The Hague, Nov 22 (AP) Pro-Palestinian activists told a Dutch court on Friday that the Netherlands is violating international law by selling weapons to Israel, a day day after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for alleged war crimes. If The Hague District Court supports the complaint, the Netherlands will be banned from sending weapons or weapons parts to Israel and trading with the occupied territories. The Netherlands has already halted the export of F-35 fighter jet parts to Israel following a similar case earlier this year. Also Read | Tokyo Emerges as Hub for Sex Tourism Amid Rising Poverty, Violence and Exploitation of Young Women, Says Report. The government uses my own tax money, that I pay, to kill my own family. I've lost 18 members of my own family, Ahmed Abofoul told a full courtroom. Abofoul is the legal adviser for the pro-Palestinian organisation Al-Haq, one of the 10 groups who sued the government. The Dutch state denies it is in violation of the 1948 Genocide Convention, drawn up following World War II. Every cooperation is cautiously weighed, government lawyer Reimer Veldhuis said, arguing the court should not take the role of the state in setting foreign policy. Also Read | London's Gatwick Airport on Alert After Suspicious Item Found Inside Airport; Police Evacuate Part of South Terminal, Bomb Squad Present at Spot (Watch Videos). The treaty requires signatories to do everything they can to prevent and punish genocide. The activist groups pointed to several emergency orders from another court, the International Court of Justice, as confirming the obligation to stop weapons sales. In January, the top UN court said it was plausible Palestinians were being deprived of some rights protected under the Genocide Convention. This is the result of the complicity of governments for decades, Abofoul told reporters after the hearing. The court will rule on December 13. On Thursday, the world's only permanent international criminal court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu, his former defense minister and Hamas' military chief, accusing them of crimes against humanity in connection with the 13-month war in Gaza. The warrants said there was reason to believe Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant have used starvation as a method of warfare by restricting humanitarian aid and have intentionally targeted civilians in Israel's campaign against Hamas in Gaza charges Israeli officials deny. Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp, whose country hosts the court, confirmed The Netherlands would arrest Netanyahu if he arrived on Dutch soil. The line from the government is clear. We are obliged to cooperate with the ICC and we will also do that. We abide 100 per cent by the Rome Statute, he said in response to a question in parliament. Hard-right leader Geert Wilders, whose party became the biggest after Dutch elections last year, condemned the warrants. He said on social media that he plans to visit my friend Netanyahu in Israel soon, showing further cracks in the country's four-party coalition that almost collapsed last week. (AP) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi [India], November 22 (ANI): The 22nd meeting of the India-Russia Working Group on Military technical cooperation and defence industry was held on Friday in New Delhi. The meeting was co-chaired by Sanjeev Kumar, Secretary, Defence Production, Ministry of Defence and A Boytsov, First Deputy Director of the Federal Service for Military Technical Cooperation of Russia. Also Read | Tokyo Emerges as Hub for Sex Tourism Amid Rising Poverty, Violence and Exploitation of Young Women, Says Report. Sharing the development on X, the Ministry of Defence posted, "22nd meeting of #IndiaRussia Working Group on Military #TechnicalCooperation and #DefenceIndustry of India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military & Military Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-M&MTC) took place in New Delhi today." "The meeting was co-chaired by Secretary (Defence Production) Shri Sanjeev Kumar and First Deputy Director of Federal Service for Military Technical Cooperation, Russia Mr A Boytsov," the post added. Also Read | Israel-Hezbollah War: 47 Killed, 22 Injured in Israeli Airstrikes on Lebanon's Baalbek-Hermel. https://x.com/SpokespersonMoD/status/1859910042700640484 Defence cooperation has been a cornerstone of the India-Russia strategic partnership, guided by the Agreement on the Programme for Military-Technical Cooperation. The Agreement for the period 2021-2031 was signed during the inaugural meeting of the India-Russia 2+2 Dialogue in Delhi on December 6, 2021. The two sides also have periodic exchanges of armed forces personnel and military exercises, according to the Embassy of India in Moscow, Russia. India and Russia have an institutionalised structure to oversee the complete range of issues of military and military-technical cooperation. The inaugural India-Russia 2+2 Dialogue (set up in 2021) was held in Delhi on December 6, 2021, on the sidelines of the Summit meeting. The Dialogue was chaired by Defence Ministers and Foreign Ministers of both sides. The India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-MTC), set up in 2000, is at the apex of this structure. The 20th edition of this meeting was held in Delhi on December 6, 2021. There are two Working Groups and nine Sub-Groups under the IRIGC-M&MTC, which review and discuss an array of military and military-technical issues. Over the years, cooperation in the military-technical sphere has evolved from a purely buyer-seller relationship to joint research, design development and production of state-of-the-art military platforms, as per the Embassy of India. Production of the Brahmos cruise missile is an example of this trend. The joint Venture namely Indo-Russia Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL) has been established and it has started production of AK-203 rifles in India under the "Make in India" initiative. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Washington, Nov 22 (PTI) A group of Indian Americans has developed an app that provides AI-driven insight to farmers for making better farming decisions. Launched at the InvestSmart Caribbean Summit in Washington DC last week, the LetZFarm App is being put to use in the Caribbean Island nation of Trinidad and Tobago. It has been developed by Massachusetts-based Abris Inc in collaboration with the Carbon Zero Institute of Trinidad and Tobago. Also Read | Vladimir Putin Warns Attacks by Western Missiles on Russian Territory Dragging Ukraine War Into Global Dimension. It is a smart agricultural farmer's companion app that helps the farmer through AI-driven insights to make better farming decisions. It helps them from a food security perspective, and also it helps them to combat climate change. That means to adapt to the changing environmental conditions, Priya Samant, CEO and co-founder of Abris Inc, told PTI. Our goal is now to go to different Caribbean nations. We are already in talks with Guyana and other nations, she said. It's a very scalable app. Our roadmap is to make this a one-stop solution for the farmers. This is what we have done in the first phase: help them grow better, get them the weather alerts, get them the market prices for the crops they are with the pesticide stuff, she said. Also Read | India-US Ties Have Strong Foundation: White House Confident in Navigating Crisis Over Gutam Adani Bribery Charges. Bringing AI to the farming and agriculture sector will help both the rural development and agricultural sector a lot, said Hemang Jani, senior advisor to the executive director of the World Bank on India, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Sri Lanka. It'll help in bringing the productivity in the agriculture products, reducing the prices, bringing farmers to the right markets at the right price, at the right place, at the right time, said Jani, who formally launched the app at the InvestSmart Caribbean Summit. The LetZfarm application, he said, is a very good example of India and Indians expanding their knowledge worldwide and helping regions like the Caribbean and Latin America. Whatever we do in India is a lesson for everywhere and whatever we can bring in terms of knowledge and collaboration with the Latin American region is very welcome, Jani said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa [Pakistan], November 22 (ANI): A deadly gun attack on passenger vehicles reportedly claimed the lives of at least 42 people, including journalist Janan Hussain in the Ochut area of Kurram district on Wednesday. Hussain, the General Secretary of the Parachinar Press Club, was returning from Malaysia to his hometown of Parachinar when the convoy he was travelling came under heavy fire. Also Read | Bomb Cyclone Turns Deadly in US: Storm Leaves Hundreds of Thousands Without Power in California. Janan Hussain had just returned from Malaysia and was on his way to Parachinar when the attack occurred. He was with other passengers when the shooting began. In a post on X, journalist Hamid Mir stated, "Another journalist Janan Hussain killed in Kurram yesterday along with 42 others. He was coming back from Malaysia and was going home to Parachinar. My condolences to his family and friends. 10 journalists have been killed in Pakistan this year 2024." Also Read | US Shocker: Woman Leaves 16-Month-Old Son Home Alone to Meet Hinge Date in Texas; Arrested After Baby Found Covered in Feces. The attack left the local community in shock, and shops and educational institutions in Parachinar were closed in mourning. Tributes have poured in for Hussain, who was remembered for his work and commitment to journalism in the region. According to district police and hospital officials, among the deceased were security personnel, women, and children. As reported by the Dawn, Deputy Commissioner Javedullah Mehsood has warned that the death toll may rise as more bodies are recovered. The convoy, consisting of approximately 200 vehicles, was travelling from Parachinar to Peshawar when it was ambushed by gunmen. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the massacre in a district of Pakistan known for ongoing sectarian violence between heavily armed Shiite and Sunni Muslim tribes, as reported by the Dawn. Authorities in Kurram attribute the recent outbreak of violence to a land dispute, which has fueled weeks of armed clashes and resulted in the deaths of over 100 people between August and October. The death of journalist Janan Hussain marked the killing of the 10th journalist in Pakistan in 2024, highlighting the dangers faced by the press in Pakistan. Kurram district, which borders Afghanistan, has long been plagued by sectarian violence and land disputes between local tribes, contributing to the instability in the area. The tragedy has sparked calls for urgent rescue operations and an end to the ongoing violence in the region. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Jerusalem, Nov 22 (AP) Israeli troops fought fierce battles with Hezbollah fighters on Friday in different areas in south Lebanon, including a coastal town that is home to the headquarters of UN peacekeepers. A spokesman for the UN peacekeeping force known as UNIFIL told The Associated Press that they are monitoring heavy clashes in the coastal town of Naqoura and the village of Chamaa to the northeast. Also Read | Tokyo Emerges as Hub for Sex Tourism Amid Rising Poverty, Violence and Exploitation of Young Women, Says Report. UNIFIL's headquarters are located in Naqoura in Lebanon's southern edge close to the border with Israel. We are aware of heavy shelling in the vicinity of our bases, UNIFIL spokesman Andrea Tenenti said. Asked if the peacekeepers and staff at the headquarters are safe, Tenenti said: Yes for the moment. Also Read | Israel-Hezbollah War: 47 Killed, 22 Injured in Israeli Airstrikes on Lebanon's Baalbek-Hermel. Several UNIFIL posts have been hit since Israel began its ground invasion of Lebanon on October 1, leaving a number of peacekeepers wounded. The fighting came a day after the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former defence minister and a Hamas military leader, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity over their 13-month war in Gaza and the October 2023 attack on Israel respectively. The warrant marked the first time that a sitting leader of a major Western ally has been accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity by a global court of justice. Israel's war has caused heavy destruction across Gaza, decimated parts of the territory and driven almost the entire population of 2.3 million people from their homes, leaving most dependent on aid to survive. Israel launched its war in Gaza after Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting another 250. Around 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, at least a third of whom are believed to be dead. Israel has also launched airstrikes against Lebanon after the Hezbollah militant group began firing rockets, drones and missiles into Israel the day after Hamas' attack last October. A full-blown war erupted in September after nearly a year of lower-level conflict. Here's the Latest: German official suggests Germany would be reluctant to arrest Netanyahu on ICC warrant BERLIN A German official has suggested that his country would be reluctant to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court. The ICC's warrants for Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant put Germany, a staunch ally of Israel, in an awkward position. The government said in a statement on Friday that it is one of the ICC's biggest supporters, but at the same time, it is a consequence of German history that unique relations and a great responsibility connect us with Israel. The government said it takes note of the arrest warrants and that we will examine conscientiously the domestic steps. It said that any further steps would only be an issue if a visit by Netanyahu or Gallant were foreseeable. Government spokesperson Steffen Hebestreit was pressed repeatedly at a regular news conference on whether it would be conceivable to arrest an Israeli prime minister. He replied: "It's hard for me to imagine that we would carry out arrests in Germany on this basis. Kremlin calls ICC warrant decision insignificant' for Russia Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Friday refused to comment on the International Criminal Court's arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and others, saying that the court's rulings are insignificant for Russia, which doesn't recognices the court's jurisdiction. The ICC last year issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin and a number of other top Russian officials, accusing them of war crimes in Ukraine. The Kremlin has brushed off the warrants, saying that in Moscow's eyes they're null and void". Asked if the ICC warrants for Netanyahu and others can help resolve the tensions in the Middle East, Peskov said: Well, in general, the actions of the ICC are unlikely to help anything. That's the first thing. And secondly, we don't see any point in commenting on this in any way, because for us these rulings are insignificant. Crowds desperate for bread amid food shortages and huge price hikes in Gaza DEIR AL-BALAH, The Gaza Strip Large crowds of displaced people crammed themselves in front of a bakery in the Gaza Strip for the second day in a row, desperate to get their share of bread after bakeries closed for five days due to a flour shortage and the lack of aid. I am a 61-year-old man. This is the third day that I have come to Zadna Bakery and I still cannot get bread I have children to feed, said Majdi Yaghi, a displaced man from Gaza City. The price of a small bag of pita bread increased to USD 16 by Friday, a stark increase from about 80 cents last month. A bag of pasta now costs USD 4 and a small bag of sugar costs nearly USD 14. That has left many Palestinian families surviving on one meal a day and reliant on charitable kitchens to survive. In Khan Younis, women and children lined up at the al-Dalu charitable kitchen for bulgur, the only food available at the makeshift charity. One of the workers there, Anas al-Dalu, told the AP that they cook ten pots every day of either rice, beans, or bulgur. But that hardly fills the need for the thousands of people displaced in the area. The charity here is in a difficult situation. It is a drop in the ocean, and there is no aid or charities. There is nothing," said Nour Kanani, a displaced man from Khan Younis. It is a crisis in every sense of the word. There is no flour, no charities, and no food. UN monitoring heavy clashes in south Lebanon locations BEIRUT Israeli troops fought fierce battles with Hezbollah fighters on Friday in different areas in south Lebanon, including a coastal town that is home to the headquarters of UN peacekeepers. A spokesman for the UN peacekeeping force known as UNIFIL told The Associated Press that they are monitoring heavy clashes in the coastal town of Naqoura and the village of Chamaa to the northeast. UNIFIL's headquarters are located in Naqoura in Lebanon's southern edge close to the border with Israel. We are aware of heavy shelling in the vicinity of our bases, UNIFIL spokesman Andrea Tenenti said. Asked if the peacekeepers and staff at the headquarters are safe, Tenenti said: Yes for the moment. Several UNIFIL posts have been hit since Israel began its ground invasion of Lebanon on October 1, leaving a number of peacekeepers wounded. (AP) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Moscow [Russia], November 22 (ANI): Moscow will host a festival dedicated to the culture and tradition of BRICS countries for schoolchildren on November 20, TV BRICS reported. As per TV BRICS, the event is being organised by the Moscow State Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation (MGIMO) and the TV BRICS International Media Network. Also Read | Bomb Cyclone Turns Deadly in US: Storm Leaves Hundreds of Thousands Without Power in California. The cultural and traditional festival is set to bring together around 300 students from grades 8-11, where the participating students will learn about the history of BRICS countries, the cultural identity of various peoples, linguistic diversity, and international cooperation in the field of mass communications. TV BRICS noted that the student community activists from MGIMO will assist in preparing for the event. Also Read | US Shocker: Woman Leaves 16-Month-Old Son Home Alone to Meet Hinge Date in Texas; Arrested After Baby Found Covered in Feces. "The main agenda of the recently concluded BRICS Summit in Kazan was strengthening multilateralism in global development and security. Training highly qualified international specialists proficient in the languages of BRICS countries is a key factor in the dynamic development of relations between BRICS nations. Our university, where all major BRICS languages are taught, plays an important role in this," said Igor Putintsev, Vice-Rector for Language and Pre-University Training. Anna Lisina, Editor-in-Chief of the TV BRICS website, will conduct a master class at the festival titled "TV BRICS for Youth: exploring the traditions of the member countries through media". She will share insights about the work of the multilingual media editorial team, supporting the BRICS agenda on social media, and TV BRICS' cooperation with international media partners. "The TV BRICS media website adheres to a creative information policy and focuses on topics that strengthen international cooperation: culture, diplomacy, education, science, economics, healthcare, innovative technologies, tourism, and sports", she said. "For young people, who form an important part of our target audience, we run several special projects, such as the BRICS Bloggers Team and the BRICS View section of short videos on national traditions and culture. Moreover, university students and young professionals can directly receive assistance and comments from leading experts of the BRICS+ countries through the TV BRICS website", Anna LisinaEditor-in-Chief of the TV BRICS website said. TV BRICS' partner MGIMO is one of Russia's and the world's leading universities, renowned for its unique international expertise. The university teaches 53 foreign languages and is a Guinness World Record holder. TV BRICS reported that since 2021, MGIMO has participated in the Russian government's "Priority 2030" university support programme. Notably, more than 30 higher education institutions in Russia, Brazil, India, and South Africa, including members of the BRICS Network University, are partners of TV BRICS. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Ottawa, Nov 22 (AP) One of the most prominent figures from Canada's trucker protests against COVID-19 restrictions in 2022 has been found guilty on five counts including mischief and disobeying a court order. A judge ruled on Friday that Pat King was guilty on one count each of mischief, counseling others to commit mischief and counselling others to obstruct police. He was also found guilty on two counts of disobeying a court order. He could face up to 10 years in prison. Also Read | Hush Money Case: Judge Postpones US President-Elect Donald Trumps Sentencing Indefinitely. Hundreds, sometimes thousands, of protesters clogged the streets of the capital, Ottawa, and besieged Parliament Hill for three weeks in early 2022, demonstrating against vaccine mandates for truckers and other precautions and condemning Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberal government. Members of the self-styled Freedom Convoy also blockaded U.S.-Canada border crossings in protest. Also Read | France Shocker: Man Rapes Daughter For Years, Offers Her to Strangers For Sex; Sentenced to 20 Years in Jail. The prosecution alleged King was a protest leader who was instrumental to the disruption in Ottawa. The prosecution alleged King coordinated the repeated bouts of honking, ordering the protesters to lay on the horn every 30 minutes for 10 minutes at a time, and told people to hold the line when he was aware that police and the city had asked the truckers to leave. The prosecution's case relied mainly on King's own videos, which he posted to social media throughout the protest to document the demonstration and communicate with those taking part. King's lawyers argued that he was peacefully protesting and was not one of the demonstration's leaders. King was found not guilty on three counts of intimidation and one count of obstructing police himself. The truckers' convoy gridlocked downtown streets around Parliament Hill, with area residents complaining about the fumes from diesel engines running non-stop, and unrelenting noise from constant the honking of horns and music from parties. Trudeau's government ultimately invoked the Emergencies Act to try and bring an end to the protests. Ottawa Police brought in hundreds of officers from forces across Canada. The protests were first aimed at a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for cross-border truckers. They eventually encompassed fury over COVID-19 restrictions and dislike of Trudeau, reflecting the spread of disinformation in Canada and simmering populist and right-wing anger. The Freedom Convoy shook Canada's reputation for civility, inspired convoys in France, New Zealand and the Netherlands and interrupted economic trade. For almost a week the busiest US-Canada border crossing between Windsor, Ontario, and Detroit was blocked. It carries more than 25 per cent of trade between the countries, who are each other's largest trading partners. (AP) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Bhopal, November 22: A man was shot dead by unidentified criminals outside his home in the Dewas district of Madhya Pradesh on Friday. An official said that the incident occurred at a village under Kannod police station area in Dewas district, around 150 km from state state capital Bhopal. The deceased person has been identified as Nisar Khan who was running an electronic shop in a nearby marketplace. The daylight murder triggered panic in the area. Upon receiving the information, local area police arrived at the scene and launched an investigation. Around 7:30 am, two unidentified men called Nasir on his phone and asked him to meet them outside his home. As Nasir stepped out of his home and walked around 20 meters, criminals opened fire at him, the official said. Shivpuri Shocker: Man Assaults Nephew, Beats Him to Death in Madhya Pradesh for Demanding Mother's Share in Land. He said that on hearing gun shots, local residents reached the spot hurriedly. However, the criminals fled from the crime scene. The victim was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was declared brought dead. Dewas SP Punit Gahlot said multiple teams have been deployed for investigation. CCTV cameras installed in nearby areas are being investigated to identify criminals. Morena Shocker: Drunk Man Beats Mother, Smashes Her to Death With Heavy Stone in Madhya Pradesh After She Tries To Resolve His Marital Disputes; Flees After Murder. "After the postmortem, the body was handed over to the family to perform the last rites. Meanwhile, several persons, including some other shop owners are being questioned," Gahlot added. He added that the motive of the crime remains unknown, however, preliminary inquiry suggests an old rivalry behind the crime. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 22, 2024 04:46 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Hathras, November 22: The crucial testimony of an 18-year-old son played a pivotal role in convicting his 45-year-old mother, who was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of her husband. The crime took place in Kapasia village, Sikandrarao, two years ago, with the woman reportedly aided by their 17-year-old daughter. According to a report, by the Times Of India, A 45-year-old woman, frustrated by her husbands refusal to allow her to leave their home, orchestrated a brutal attack on him with the help of their 17-year-old daughter. On August 27, the woman and her daughter used a sharp weapon to strike the husband, leaving him severely injured. Despite being rushed to a hospital in Aligarh, he succumbed to his injuries two days later. The shocking crime, which took place in Kapasia village under Sikandrarao police station, stemmed from the woman's anger over the restrictions placed on her. Sudden Death Caught on Camera in Uttar Pradesh: Groom Dies of Heart Attack on Wedding Day in Hathras After Collapsing During 'Bhaat' Ceremony (Watch Video). The investigation into the case began after the couple's 18-year-old son lodged a police complaint. Authorities registered a murder charge under IPC section 302. The chargesheet revealed that the couple's frequent disputes were sparked by the husband's suspicions of his wife's involvement in "unethical activities." His opposition to her actions led him to restrict her from leaving the house, ultimately escalating the tensions that culminated in the tragic incident. Hathras Fire: Passengers Narrowly Escape As Bus Catches Fire on Yamuna Expressway in Uttar Pradeshs Mirhawali Village Area (Watch Video). Kanti Devi and her daughter were found guilty of conspiring to kill her husband after repeated arguments. The prosecution, led by Shivendra Chauhan, presented compelling evidence, including crucial testimony from the couples son. The court sentenced Kanti Devi to life imprisonment, along with an INR 25,000 fine, with six months additional imprisonment if the fine is not paid. The case of her daughter is being heard at a juvenile court in Hathras. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 22, 2024 02:18 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Paris, November 22: A court in southeast France sentenced a 38-year-old man to 20 years in prison on Friday for years of sexual abuse against his adoptive teenage daughter. The man was convicted of raping his daughter and forcing her, starting at the age of 13, into non-consensual sex acts with strangers he contacted online. The case, heard in the Var region, has drawn parallels to the high-profile Pelicot trial, where 51 men are accused of similar crimes involving another victim. Prosecutors detailed how the father exerted complete control over the girl, blindfolding her during sexual encounters and filming the acts, reported CBS News. He justified his actions in court by claiming that he had a loving relationship with the young girl and had responded to her initiating sexual contact, but prosecutors dismissed this as a cover for his power and domination over the teenager. This is not about love but about control. He saw her as his possession, said prosecutor Estelle Bois. France Mass Rape Trial: Man Accused of Drugging His Wife So 72 Men Could Sexually Assault Her Is Testifying in French Court. A second defendant, a man in his 60s and a father of six, was also sentenced to 16 years in prison for participating in the sex acts. He initially claimed he believed the fathers assertion that the girl was a consenting adult but admitted to ignoring clear signs of abuse. France Shocker: Woman Drugged by Husband, Raped By Strangers Over 90 Times in 10 Years; Victim Demands Public Hearing. The sexual abuse ended in 2021 when the girl, then 15, fled their home in Cavalaire-sur-Mer after escalating violence. A holidaymaker helped her reach the police. Now 18, she attended the trial with a trained support dog and opted for the trial to remain public, similar to the Pelicot case. The Pelicot case involves Dominique Pelicot, accused of drugging his wife to enable assaults by strangers. Verdicts in that trial are expected in December. Both cases have highlighted systemic failures and the alarming scale of such crimes, sparking national outrage in France. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 22, 2024 11:10 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Beirut, November 22: At least 47 people were killed and 22 others wounded in Israeli airstrikes on the eastern Lebanese governorate of Baalbek-Hermel, its governor Bachir Khodr said. The casualties occurred in various towns and villages across the governorate, he added, noting that rescue teams were still searching for missing people beneath the rubble of destroyed homes, Xinhua news agency reported. Lebanese military sources, who spoke anonymously, told Xinhua that the Israeli military on Thursday launched 48 airstrikes in southern and eastern Lebanon, while targeting 18 border towns and villages in southern Lebanon with about 100 shells. Meanwhile, Hezbollah said in a statement that its fighters attacked central Israel with missiles. US Envoy Says Israel-Hezbollah Truce 'within Grasp' as Gaza Food Crisis Worsens After Looting. "For the first time, a salvo of qualitative missiles targeted the Hatzor air base, which is 150 km from the Lebanese border, located in central Israel near kibbutz Hatzor Ashdod. It contains squadrons of warplanes," said the statement. Israel-Hezbollah War: Lebanons Prime Minister Najib Mikati Asks Iran To Help Secure Cease-Fire in Ongoing Conflict. Meanwhile, Hezbollah also targeted Israeli military gatherings at different sites in southern Lebanon and northern Israel with missile barrages, according to the statement. Since September, the Israeli army has levelled up its airstrikes on Lebanon in an escalation of conflict with Hezbollah. In early October, Israel initiated a ground operation across its northern border into Lebanon. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 22, 2024 03:14 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). An Allentown woman pleaded guilty Thursday to several charges related to the fentanyl overdose death of her 1-year-old son in 2021, investigators said. On April 5, 2021, Allentown Police were called to St. Lukes Hospital, Sacred Heart, for a report of a toddler who was not breathing, according to a release from the Lehigh County District Attorneys Office. The 22-month-old toddler, Johansy Suarez-Rivas, was pronounced dead at the hospital a short time later. Johansy died from fentanyl toxicity and the amount of fentanyl in his heart blood was measured at 16.5 nanograms per millimeter, officials said. It was determined that the toddler died between the morning of April 5, 2021 and noon of the same day. The investigation revealed that both the boys mother 35-year-old mother Jayleen Rivas-Rodriguez, and his father, Jorge Suarez-Santiago, 32, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, had used heroin in the hours before their son was declared dead, the office said. Suarez-Santiago was alone with his son while Rivas-Rodriguez left their apartment for several hours, authorities said. Rivas-Rodriguez left their son in the care of Suarez-Santiago knowing that he was visibly intoxicated, authorities said. She also provided Suarez-Santiago with what she believed to be heroin prior to leaving Johansy in his care that day, investigators said. When she returned home, she discovered their son unresponsive, the office said. Johansy found and ingested a lethal dose of fentanyl during the time while he was in the house with his father, officials determined. Rivas-Rodriguez pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and endangering the welfare of a child while a previous charge of murder was withdrawn, according to the release. She now faces between five and 20 years in prison when she is sentenced next year. Suarez-Santiago was charged with murder. He was scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Dec. 13. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com. Five black bears were struck by cars in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area in the first week of November, putting park officials on alert amid a rise in wildlife strikes. All five bear collisions occurred on Route 209, the highway that runs through the Pennsylvania side of the Delaware Water Gap, U.S. National Park Service officials said in a social media post. While vehicle-bear collisions happen, there are usually a few a year, not this many in a single week, the post said. The bear strikes came a few days after park officials recorded what they called a troubling rise in motor vehicle collisions with wildlife along the 20-mile stretch of Route 209 that cuts through the national recreation area. Four additional black bears were struck in October, along with 11 deer, a coyote and three other uncategorized creatures, for a total of 19 animals. It marks a considerable increase from October 2023, when nine animals, including two bears, were reported hit in the park. Delaware Water Gap officials warned park visitors to slow down and exercise caution on roads, spokesperson Kathleen Sandt said. Park police will be targeting speeders along Route 209 in the coming weeks and handing out more citations, she said. We cannot stress enough how important it is to watch for wildlife, respect and follow posted speed limits, and really pay attention while driving, park officials said in a statement. It was not immediately clear if the unexplained uptick in incidents is isolated to the Delaware Water Gap, which spans the New Jersey-Pennsylvania border, or if other parks have seen similar increases. It was also unclear if the recent drought, weather changes or other factors prompted more wildlife to be near the highway compared to previous years. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has also tallied a higher number of bear-vehicle strikes so far in 2024 when compared to the same period in 2023, state officials said. But, bear experts and advocates cautioned against making direct year-to-year comparisons. Angi Metler, the co-founder and executive director of the Animal Protection League of New Jersey, told NJ Advance Media the league doesnt compare bear deaths between years, though it does track them. Its apples and oranges, Metler said of the numbers, which are difficult to accurately track. Every year, bear populations fluctuate along with other tough-to-measure variables like food availability and climate impact. A spokesperson for the Woodlands Wildlife Refuge, a sanctuary in Hunterdon County, said their team hadnt noticed an increase in reports of cars hitting wildlife. But Giselle Smisko, a co-founder of Sussex Countys Avian Wildlife Center in Wantage, said that their team often sees more injured owls brought in around this time of year after they were hit by drivers on darkened and busier roads. If a driver hits an animal or bird, Smisko said to contact both the police and a licensed animal rehabilitation service. We find many birds survive the first impact with a vehicle, but do suffer injuries, she said. Leaving the bird on the side of the road and driving off is not advised. Lynn Rogers, a biologist who has spent more than half a century studying black bears, said longer-term solutions to wildlife run-ins with vehicles are more difficult to address. Some areas have wildlife corridors, which are often greenery-covered overpasses that cross over busy highways specifically for wildlife. But, those crossings often arent practical in reality, Rogers said. Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. AJ McDougall may be reached at amcdougall@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on X at @oldmcdougall. A Palmer Township man arraigned Thursday for sexually assaulting a teen foreign exchange student was charged Friday with setting his home on fire. Andrew Wolke, 53, allegedly set fire to his home on Country Side Court as Pennsylvania State Police troopers came to serve a warrant Wednesday in connection with allegations of sexual assault made against Wolke, court records say. Wolke is charged with sexually assaulting a foreign exchange student who is attending a local high school. Court records say another foreign exchange student has made allegations against Wolke, although its unclear whether charges will be filed in that matter. Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin Holihan said his office is investigating a third, similar claim made against Wolke. A news release from Northampton County District Attorney Stephen Baratta says troopers watched Wolke enter his home Wednesday evening, then saw a fire start. Police say Wolke then jumped out of the second-story window. State police previously said the fire started in a second-floor bedroom. After firefighters extinguished the blaze, police seized two phones, a portfolio and multiple lighters from the home, according to Barattas news release. Police found various combustible items including binders, papers, clothing and bedding at the site of the fires origin, the news release says. Asked whether Wolke set the fire to destroy evidence, Baratta answered, At this point, his motivation is unknown. Your inquiry raises a viable theory. Police removed Wolke from the home, the news release says. He was the only person home during the fire and was taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital for treatment, according to Pennsylvania State Police No attorney is listed for Wolke. A call couldnt be completed to a phone number listed for Wolke. Court records say Wolke was unable to post $100,000 bail and is now in Northampton County Prison. Wolkes alleged victim claims Wolke touched her inappropriately in his kitchen on Saturday as they prepared food for a surprise party. She claims he gave her a cell phone so they could communicate privately and arrange a date, according to court records. The inappropriate contact continued in Wolkes car as he drove the girl home, records say. Wolke was charged Wednesday and arraigned Thursday on charges of corruption of minors, unlawful contact with minors, indecent assault of a person under 16 years old and harassment. He was charged Friday with arson, risking a catastrophe and recklessly endangering another person. State police ask anyone with information helpful to the investigation or who may have been a victim of Wolke to call 610-861-2026. Or, you can contact Palmer Township Police Department Detective Brian Strong at bstrong @palmerpd.org or 610-253-5844 ext. 1208. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. Pennsylvania State Police are beefing up patrols once again to combat aggressive driving during Thanksgiving week. State Police from Bethlehem-based Troop M announced the enforcement effort, called the Pennsylvania Aggressive Driving Enforcement Education Program, will commence at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday and run until 11:59 p.m. Sunday. The annual enforcement program targets aggressive driving on state highways. Troop M covers Lehigh, Northampton and Bucks counties. Trooper Nathan Branosky, public information officer for the Troop M, said troopers will be on the lookout for motorists who are speeding, having potential seat belt violations and those with child seat belt infractions. Additionally, troopers will be watching for motorists who are texting while driving, wearing devices that impair hearing, using handheld phones, or driving carelessly or recklessly, Branosky said. Troopers involved in the Selective Traffic Enforcement Against Drunk Drivers and Drug Recognition Expert campaigns will be focused on apprehending motorists who operate vehicles under the influence of alcohol or drugs. A DUI checkpoint is planned during the Thanksgiving enforcement period somewhere in Northampton County. The checkpoint involves troopers systematically stopping vehicles at selected locations to briefly observe drivers for behaviors normally associated with alcohol or drug impairment, state police said. During last years Thanksgiving Holiday Traffic Enforcement Period, Troop M investigated 68 crashes and made 27 DUI arrests, according to state police. Two of the accidents were alcohol-related, state police said. Anyone who flees a police officer during a traffic stop can face a third-degree felony charge which carries a sentence of up to seven years in jail and a fine of up to $15,000, Branosky said. Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust. Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. With just one year to go before a new eco friendly permanent Mountmellick Christmas tree is installed, the town is about to light up a beautiful real Christmas tree this festive season, that is likely the tallest real Christmas tree in any Laois town. This years tree has been donated by Coillte and was harvested at Seskin, Kinnitty Forest, Co. Offaly. The 12 metre (40 foot) tree was delivered to OConnell Square in the early morning of Monday, November 18 by Roundwood Timber Ltd. Committee chair Paddy Buggy was on hand to coordinate the careful mechanical lifting of the impressive 12 metre, ton weight tree into position. It now stands proudly next to the town's traditional nativity crib, with the official switch-on including the town's festive fairy lights, taking place on election night, Friday November 29 at 7pm. The Parish Choirs will be in attendance to make the night even more magical, marking the beginning of Mountmellicks Christmas season, with big crowds hoped to attend fresh from the polling booths. A display of prototypes of the new replacement for the town's beloved permanent tree structure, will be placed on public display in the square. The 2024 Mountmellick Christmas Tree ahead of the big switch-on on November 29. Paddy Buggy hopes for a big turnout on the night. We are immensely grateful to Coilte for their support this Christmas time. Mountmellick has a long tradition with a Christmas Tree standing in OConnell Square since 1956. The first tree was cut locally, brought into town on a cart, placed in a barrel and adorned with 30 lights. "Over the years, led by visionaries Ger and Brian Lynch and many others, it had an innovative light display that excited and charmed young and old for decades. the Christmas Tree in Mountmellick has instilled huge pride, and fostered a sense of place in the community, and our diaspora across the world. We also are particularly thankful to our local Credit Union for their ongoing support over the years - ensuring a Christmas Tree is part of the towns seasonal festivities. Mountmellick Christmas tree before it had to be demolished for safety reasons in 2023. Photo: Diarmuid O'Connor Replacing the original tree, beloved by locals, is literally a tall order, but locals have been busy designing bright ideas. All this year, Mountmellick Christmas Tree Committee led a programme of creative public engagement days in collaboration with Yarnbombing Mountmellick, local people and Mountmellick Community School, with lead artist Martina Coyle and science communicator Catherine McGuinness. Local company Midland Steel is also on board for the project. Called The Valley Star Project - reimagining Mountmellicks future Christmas tree through the lens of climate action is to be showcased in OConnell Square with an installation of prototypes, and an exhibit at Noras Cake Shop. Valley Star Project member Orla McDonagh working on prototypes with Mountmellick Community School students. Designs are is inspired by community collaboration, Mountmellick Embroidery, local textiles heritage and biodiversity. Lead artist is Martina Coyle said that the project has the environment at its core. This is a grass-roots project of a very caring community. Honouring the beloved Mountmellick Christmas tree and the creativity and ambition behind it has been our guiding principle, along with inclusivity, sustainability, shared learning and the enhancement of biodiversity and community wellbeing. The climate-friendly lighting technologies in The Valley Star Project are informed by solar capture and the capacity for renewable energies to be harnessed locally in Mountmellick, and integrated into domestic, business, education, social and cultural infrastructures," she said. Delivery of this year's Mountmellick Christmas tree. Electrical engineer, Nacer Kherroubi from Portarlingtons MakePort Makerspace has voluntarily given his time and expertise to the project - placing solar panels on the crib, converting solar energy and storing it in batteries to power the project prototypes. The result is a 'Butterfly Tree' prototype to be displayed in OConnell Square powered by solar and renewable energy. On behalf of Mountmellick Christmas Tree Committee and The Valley Star Project Paddy Buggy honoured two special women who had contributed hugely. A very special thanks to Nina Horan, a previous long-serving member of Mountmellick Christmas Tree Committee and Yarnbombing Mountmellick for her vision, enthusiasm and advocacy for The Valley Star Project, and life-long passion for Mountmellicks community, unique heritage, and the exciting possibilities for the towns future. In addition we would like to express our condolences to the family of Anne Blanche who recently passed away. Anne was a stalwart of Yarnbombing Mountmellick and was working on decorations for the Butterfly Tree prototype up until September. She is sadly missed. Electrical engineer Nacer Kherroubi from Portarlingtons MakePort Makerspace installing solar panels on crib roof. Photo: B Keating Mountmellick Christmas Tree is supported by the Credit Union, Coilte and The Valley Star Project. The Valley Star Project committee thanks Mountmellick Christmas Tree Committee, Yarnbombing Mountmellick, Mountmellick CS students and deputy principal Frances Kerry - La Rosa. Also Laois based artists Evgeny Chubatyy and Orla McDonagh, and Westmeath based artist Bertille de Lestrade who facilitated community and school workshops and participated in the making of project prototypes. They send gratitude also to Amanda Hyland and Mountmellick Library staff who hosted workshops and meetings. They are very grateful for the support of Sean O'Donoghue HR Manager and Hugo Correia BIM/Technical Manager from Midland Steel, a Mountmellick founded company that is supporting the community project. Mountmellick Christmas Tree committee member Aoife Lynch adding lights to the tree. Photo: Mountmellick Tidy Towns. The Valley Star Project is grant aided by the Creative Ireland Programmes Creative Climate Action Spark fund. The fund aims to bring creative talent to spark real cultural change, and engage the public on the urgent transition to a climate resilient and carbon neutral society. The Creative Ireland Programme is supported by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. The Taoiseach Simon Harris has promised to prioritise the recommended N80 double bypass of Mountmellick if reelected. Mountmellick farmer Fran Baker, chair of the Mountmellick town Team doorstepped the Taoiseach at the MDA centre to press for action last Wednesday evening November 20. The Taoiseach was on a canvassing visit to the MDA with the Laois Fine Gael candidate Portlaoise MD Cllr Willie Aird. With Brexit now, all the traffic from from Rosslare to the west of Ireland is going through Mountmellick, Mr Baker told him. In reply Taoiseach Simon Harris admitted not enough has been done. Let me be very clear with what we want to do with the Apple money. We want to spend more on water, energy, housing and infrastructure. We havent done enough on roads. I never signed up to be in a Government that was anti-car, anti-carbon. "I do think road projects need to progress. If we are back in Government these sorts of projects will be a priority. If we got Willie Aird in the Dail as well well have someone to work for you, he said. Fran Baker, chair of Mountmellick Town Team, Cllr Willie Aird and Fine Gael supporter John Fitzgerald in the MDA to meet Taoiseach Simon Harris on Wednesday, November 20. Photo: Leinster Express A double bypass of Mountmellick is recommended in a report commissioned by Laois County Council, on the Portlaoise to Tullamore side and also on the Emo road side of the town. Mr Baker told the Leinster Express / Laois Live how bad the traffic problem is. Its not on the National Transport Plan up to 2030. Up to 15,000 vehicles a day are driving through the town now. The N80 national route is through the centre of the town. It is absolutely decimating business in the centre of town. This has been spoken about for probably 50 years now. The town team will work with Laois County Council to draw a plan for Mountmellick. Im delighted to be the chair. The council will be appointing consultants to develop the plan. They had approval before but it was overturned and there has been no progress since. Theres a lot more truck traffic now from Rosslare. It affects parking, accessibility and traffic flow through town. We have reasonable schools, were lucky we didnt get a shopping centre outside the town. We need to prioritise pedestrianisation and connectivity now. I see Mountmellick as the gateway to the Slieve Bloom mountains. This is about making the town a comfortable place to live, the town team chair said. Outgoing TD Charlie Flanagan, a native of Mountmellick, had welcomed the Taoiseach to the MDA. He told the Leinster Express that the overturning of the bypass plan some 20 years ago was a big blow. Especially when John Moloney (Fianna Fail) and I had set party politics aside. We had a commitment from Noel Dempsey, then Minister for the Environment, a rock solid commitment to the two of us. The bypass is even more important now. I am fearful we committed an own goal, the money was committed 20 years ago when it was opposed in an ill conceived referendum. Mountmellick needs urban regeneration in the town centre, to assist people to do business," Mr Flanagan said. Laois County Council say an inner relief road for Mountmellick is under consideration since 1991. A plan for it in 2001 didn't even reach planning stage after Irishtown residents and landowners campaigned against the route. It was to start beside the MDA and run alongside the Owenass river but they wanted it further out the Portlaoise road, a costlier option which would have also required a new bridge. After that the plan was effectively scuppered. The council commissioned a new feasibility study on the N80 Mountmellick relief road some five years ago, and gave it to the Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) to push the case. However unless the project is in the national development plan, no funding can be given. Portlaoise Action to Homelessness (PATH) have issued an urgent appeal for supplies. The Portlaoise based homeless charity are appealing for ground mats, tents, tarps and clean sleeping bags and warm clothing to donate to the homeless community in the face of freezing temperatures. "This is just to make their lives a bit easier," PATH Chairperson Jason McEvoy told the Leinster Express / Laois Live. "If they are warmer, they may get to sleep through the night, and survival outside in these temperatures. Sleeping rough is something I experienced from my time in the Defence Forces, I have an insight into it," Mr McEvoy said. "It's absolutely horrible. Ground mats would be a massive help to have, anything to make their life a little easier. It's horrible, the ground is freezing," he said. The charity recently attended the Ogra Live Well Expo in Mountmellick Community School, and were delighted to receive donations of left over food from their fellow stands. "We are forever on the hunt for funds," Mr McEvoy explained. "We are asking schools if they wil fundraise for us. we attended the Expo in Mountmellick Community School, there were about 1000 kids came through. We had a discussion a woman in the school, she made the great suggestion that if every student brought in one non-perishable item, that's 700 items we can donate," he said. PATH will hold a collection at St. Peter & Paul's parish church on December 21-22nd. "We also have a bag-packing event in the new Tesco where Iceland was. We will have people there bag-packing, any donation would help," Mr McEvoy said. "We look after over 100 families locally with large sacks of non-perishable food. People can afford to pay the gas, but then they can't afford to pay for food. Different referrals come to us and we help how we can," he explained. The group receive food quarterly from FoodCloud, a Dublin charity that collects surplus food from businesses to avoid waste. Pictured: A charity cycle undertaken by PATH in July 2024. "Our next collection from FoodCloud is in early December, we are very discreet in our delivery to Laois homes," Mr McEvoy explained. "We are just here to help, but we can only give out what we get in. People in Laois are very good, and help out as best as they can. When we put out an appeal, we get great responses. McDonald's vouchers are brilliant for donation too," he said. In over nine years of operation, Mr McEvoy believes that the homelessness crisis in Ireland is at an all-time high. "I'm at this nine years and it's worse than what it was. Our charity has grown along with the demand. It's just sad," he said. "Rent is near impossible, there's no possibility for rent. People don't have the starting block they need for Mental health is a monster, nearly every person we meet has an issue and it's terribly sad. A lot of people begin using substances because they are on the streets, rather than being homeless because they use substances," he explained. "We have a really good group of volunteers, we all do our bit between us and we do the best we can. It's our own diesel we use and we don't get a wage," Mr McEvoy finished. To support PATH, see their Facebook page here. Vision Ireland celebrated the outstanding contributions of volunteers across the country at its inaugural Vision Star Awards. Two dedicated volunteers from Kildare were among those honoured: Stephen Coleman from the Maynooth store, who received the Reliability Rockstar Award, and Ellen O Sullivan from the Naas store, who was presented with a Special Recognition Award by Joe Neville, Mayor of Kildare, for her exceptional service. The Reliability Rockstar Award celebrates volunteers who provide unwavering support and dedication to their teams, and Stephen Coleman exemplifies this. His commitment to being a dependable resource for the Maynooth store, regardless of the challenges, made him a standout choice for the award. Speaking about his win, Stephen Coleman said, "Its an honour to receive the Reliability Rockstar Award. Volunteering at the Maynooth store has been an incredible experience, and it means a lot to be recognised for my contribution. Im proud to be part of the Vision Ireland team." Meanwhile, Ellen O Sullivan from the Naas store was awarded a Special Recognition Award for her long-standing service and dedication to the Vision Ireland community. Presented by Joe Neville, Mayor of Kildare, the award acknowledges Ellens remarkable contributions and the positive impact she has made over the years. Ellen O Sullivan expressed her gratitude, saying, "I am so grateful to receive this Special Recognition Award. Volunteering has always been close to my heart, and its been a joy to support Vision Ireland and be part of the Naas store team for so many years." Gerard Lyons, Kildare Area Manager, praised both Stephen and Ellen, commenting, "Stephen and Ellen are both incredible volunteers who embody the spirit of Vision Ireland. Stephens reliability and dedication have been instrumental to the Maynooth stores success, and Ellens years of service in Naas have left a lasting legacy. Were extremely proud of both of them, and todays awards are a fitting tribute to their hard work and commitment." Aaron Mullaniff, Chief Services Officer of Vision Ireland, highlighted the vital role volunteers play, stating, "Our volunteers are the core reason that Vision Ireland can reach the 296,000 people living with visual impairment or blindness across Ireland. It is through their commitment, passion, and dedication that we can offer our essential services. This event is crucial to remind our volunteer heroes that everyone in services recognises and deeply appreciates everything they do." Maynooth University welcomed the return of a special star alumnus, Dr Darragh Ennis, for the official Irish book launch of The Body: 10 Things You Should Know, on Thursday, November 21. A great Christmas stocking-filler, The Body: 10 Things You Should Know reveals everything about the human body in ten informative, bite-sized essays. It answers a raft of questions about our body, from why blood is red, how our body defends itself, to why we sleep, and how hormones control everything we do. "It is with great pride and excitement that we welcome well-known Maynooth University alumnus, Dr Darragh Ennis, back for the Irish launch of his new book, said Prof Paul Moynagh, Interim Executive Dean, Faculty of Science and Engineering at Maynooth University. Known to many as a Chaser on the ITV game show The Chase, Dr Ennis not only showcased his highly impressive knowledge and intellect to a global audience but continues to inspire through his deep passion for scientific subjects. Open to the public and hosted in MU Library by The Development and Alumni Relations Office, in partnership with the Graduate Research Academy and the Faculty of Science and Engineering at Maynooth University, the event featured a discussion with Dr Ennis, a live Q&A session and book signing, offering a unique opportunity to meet the author, scientist and Chaser star. This book is a testament to his commitment to advancing knowledge and making complex ideas accessible to the public. This event is not only a celebration of Dr Ennis's outstanding work but also a reflection of the vibrant community of scholars, creators, and leaders fostered at Maynooth University. It is a great pleasure to celebrate this milestone, and sharing it with the broader community," Prof Moynagh said. A winning Lotto ticket worth just over 7m was sold in Carraroe, County Galway, it has been revealed. The National Lottery has confirmed that the winning ticket from Wednesdays draw, worth 7,028,440, was sold at the Eurospar in the village An Cheathru Rua, around 50kms to the west of Galway city. The player, is the 10th Lotto Jackpot winner of 2024, and the county's second biggest win so far this year, after Monaghan's filling station in Westside sold a winning EuroMillions ticket worth 1,005,000 back in September. This latest win also makes the Galway player the 30th National Lottery millionaire of 2024. READ MORE:Buyer beware: Gardai advise Irish online shoppers to 'be cautious' this Black Friday Officials from the National Lottery say they will visit the store later this Friday to make the official announcement. Preparations will be made to pay out the life-changing prize once the player makes contact with National Lottery headquarters. Meanwhile, the National Lottery has announced a thrilling EuroMillions event this Friday night where 100 new millionaires are guaranteed across the nine participating countries, including Ireland. Each of the winners will receive an incredible 1 million in a special EuroMillions raffle draw. The wait is finally over as 3,154 children in 50 Early Years and School Age Care settings across Kildare celebrate National Pyjama Day 2024. Every year on this special day, smiles are aplenty as Early Childhood Irelands members open their doors and welcome children wearing their comfiest pyjamas, dressing gowns and slippers to their settings. Laughter fills the day as children partake in PJ Day breakfasts and teddy bear picnics, play games, and listen to stories to mark the occasion when children help children and raise vital funds for charity. Children helping children Funds raised on National Pyjama Day 2024 will go towards supporting Sensational Kids an award-winning social enterprise that works with children who have sensory processing challenges - and Early Childhood Irelands Eco-Emotions project, which empowers educators and parents with the tools they need to support children in caring for themselves, their communities, and the planet. Since the inaugural National Pyjama Day in 2003, over 4.3 million has been raised for a host of charitable causes that support babies and children all over Ireland. Comment Commenting on the much-loved annual fundraiser, Early Childhood Ireland CEO Teresa Heeney said, National Pyjama Day 2024 brings communities across Ireland together for a great cause for the 21st year in a row, and we are so very grateful to all of our dedicated members in Kildare for making it possible. Of course, the day itself is all about children helping children. Were delighted to see so many of them celebrate today and raise vital funds for two amazing projects, she continued. Our Eco-Emotions project and Sensational Kids mission will make a real difference in the lives of children and it's all down to the funds raised today by children in their PJs. Every year, were blown away by the support of family and friends who donate to this fantastic cause. Happy National Pyjama Day 2024 to all, Ms Heeney concluded. Denise Charlton, Chief Executive of partner organisation Community Foundation Ireland, said, Exciting, passionate, and energetic, Sensational Kids creates lasting memories for children, parents, and Early Years professionals. We celebrate the long-standing partnership between Early Childhood Ireland and the Community Foundation through National Pyjama Day. We are thrilled to support Sensational Kids project to better assist neurodiverse children and those with sensory processing differences, and we wish them every success in their important work ahead. Find out how to donate at www.earlychildhoodireland.ie/pyjama-day Thirty-five (35) tourism businesses from Ireland including Kilkea Castle are attending one of the leading global events for the meetings, incentives, conferences and events (MICE) industry IBTM World which is taking place in Barcelona this week. Ireland is being promoted as a world-class destination for Business Events to top international buyers, to inspire them to choose the island for future meetings and incentive travel. Around 1,900 commercial meetings are expected to take place over the three-day event. Business Events i.e., the corporate meetings, events and incentive travel industry is recognised as a key driver of economic growth. Business travel is high value and often midweek and off season by its nature, thereby aligning with Tourism Irelands strategy to grow overseas tourism revenue outside of the peak summer season. David Boyce, Tourism Irelands Head of Business Events and Luxury, said: We are delighted to have 35 tourism partners from Ireland with us at IBTM World in Barcelona this week, as we collectively work to inspire the international buyers in attendance about all that Ireland has to offer their clients. Tourism Irelands goal is to enable thousands of commercial Business Events meetings this year connecting our tourism partners from Ireland with overseas buyers, to grow Business Events and support tourism enterprises right across the island. To date in 2024, we have invested around 2.5 million in the area of Business Events and have facilitated over 7,000 commercial meetings. IBTM World is a fantastic platform for our partners from Ireland to showcase and sell their products and services, to ensure they win a greater share of the buyers business in 2025 and beyond. Meet in Ireland is the official MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and events) brand for the island of Ireland, comprising Tourism Ireland, Failte Ireland and Tourism Northern Ireland, who work in partnership to promote the island of Ireland as a leading business events destination. Ukrainian frontline workers from across Ireland gathered in Dublin on Thursday, November 21 to mark 1,000 days since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Among over 104,000 Ukrainians in Ireland, Leitrim is home to almost 2,000 individuals who have sought refuge. On this milestone, Ukrainians in Leitrim have expressed their gratitude to the local community for the support and welcome they have received since their arrival. A number of initiatives have been set up in Leitrim to help integrate Ukrainians into the community, such as language and employment support and cultural activities. Leitrim Development Company (LDC) has wholeheartedly supported the "100,000 Thanks" campaign and its goals to raise awareness, provide accurate information, and advocate for the long-term integration of Ukrainians in Ireland. LDC has been at the forefront of supporting Ukrainian refugees in Leitrim, facilitating integration, and fostering a sense of belonging. Their programmes such as "Connect Cafe, Quiz Nights, and "Family Fun Day," bring together Ukrainians and the wider community, fostering friendships and understanding. Leitrim-based Ukrainian Nataliya Byelyakova has been working to help Ukrainians settle into Leitrims community. She has thanked local communities for their welcome and help in integrating. It's been amazing to see our community grow to almost 2,000 people over the past 1,000 days! We're so thankful to everyone in Leitrim for being so welcoming, it's truly made a difference, Natalia said. My job is all about helping Ukrainians settle in and thrive. We're busy with all sorts of things, like English classes, helping people find jobs or even start businesses, getting kids into schools, and ensuring everyone feels comfortable and connected. The Carrick-on-Shannon Ukrainian Weekend School which started in September of this year has made a big difference to the Ukrainian community in Leitrim. We have around 40 children attending, and it's been incredible to see them connect with their language and culture while making new friends, Natalia said. We have a dedicated team of teachers who are all Ukrainian and bring a wealth of experience and passion to the classroom. Every weekend, five Ukrainian teachers volunteer at the local camp, dedicated to helping children remain connected to their cultural roots amidst the upheaval of fleeing war. Additionally, two Ukrainian women, Irina and Svetlana pose as a great example of integration into Leitrim life. The women have embraced their new beginning by starting their own bakery business, Ukrainian Bakery. Irina from Chernihiv has a Masters degree in Psychology, and is also a trained stylist. Svetlana, from Bila Tserkva, has a strong sales background in baking and confectionery. After meeting in Leitrim, the pair decided to offer a taste of their homeland through their baked goods. Irina and Svetlana sell their goods at the Manorhamilton Farmers Market every Friday, and at Sligo Farmers Market every Saturday. Speaking at the event in Dublin on November 21, Ukraines Ambassador to Ireland Larysa Gerasko said: In this difficult time for Ukrainians we want to support our communities all over Ireland. Its very important to keep connections to our Ukrainian community, while integrating with Irish society. We hope Ukrainians will become an integral part of Irish society and we note how many people are now working here. But also we are interested in returning our Ukrainians back home after the war, when Ukraine will be safe and secure for living again, Ms Gerasko concluded. As the 100,000 Thanks campaign highlights, Leitrims efforts reflect the bonds of friendship and solidarity formed within the county in the past 1,000 days. READ MORE: Leitrim woman returns from the West Bank 1,351 Leitrim premises in the Rooskey deployment area are under construction to have high-speed fibre network, due to be connected by spring next year. The announcement was made on November 22 by the National Broadband Ireland (NBI), who are delivering high-speed fibre broadband under the Governments National Broadband Plan. Dromod and Mohill will also be included in the works. 12,000 premises in Leitrim are included in the States Intervention Area, which will see NBI deliver minimum speeds of 500 megabits per second to homes, businesses, farms, and schools. Works have already been completed in other parts of Leitrim and there are a total of 6,520 premises that can now order or pre-order high-speed, reliable broadband across the county, with 1,371 premises already connected to the network. As the biggest investment in rural Ireland since rural electrification, Leitrim will receive 46 million of Government investment under the National Broadband Plan. "Our teams are working on the ground all over the country and considerable progress has been made on the developments in Leitrim, said TJ Malone, CEO at National Broadband Ireland Deployment. High-speed fibre broadband is now available to order for over 6,500 premises including over 900 premises near Carrick-on-Shannon, over 2,200 near Keshcarrigan and almost 2,600 near Manorhamilton. We are working hard on the ground to progress other areas of the county through engineering surveys and design phases. We are encouraging Leitrim residents to visit the NBI website to check their Eircode and sign up for updates. Our overarching goal is to improve digital connectivity across the country. With a minimum internet speed of 500 megabytes per second, this new Fibre-to-the-Home network will play a pivotal role in sustaining local businesses and communities," Mr Malone concluded. In advance of the Fibre-to-the-Home rollout, the NBP provides for the delivery of Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) nationwide. BCPs provide free public access to high speed internet. An example of some of the locations of BCPs in Leitrim include Aughavas GAA Centre, Leitrim Gaels Community Facility and Killargue Hub. You can view BCPs at www.nbi.ie/bcp-map/. NBI is encouraging people to check their eligibility for high-speed fibre broadband and register for updates at www.nbi.ie to receive regular notifications related to their own premises as works progresses in their area. NBI does not sell fibre broadband directly to end users, rather it enables services from a range of broadband providers or Retail Service Providers. To see the retail broadband providers that are currently licensed to sell on the NBI network, visit NBI.ie/buy. READ MORE: PICTURES: Leitrim pub enjoys busy weekend and welcomes winning team A man arrested in connection with an explosion at a service station in Co Donegal in which 10 people died has been released without charge. Four men, three women and three young people, their ages ranging from five to 59, died in the blast on the afternoon of Friday October 7 2022 in the Irish village of Creeslough. Police said a man aged 60 was arrested on Thursday for alleged offences contrary to the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997. The man was held at a Garda station in the north-western region before being released without charge on Friday. A file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions. The investigation is being co-ordinated from Milford Garda station, where an incident room has been established. The inquiry is being led by local gardai, supported by a number of different agencies. The 10 victims were Robert Garwe and his five-year-old daughter Shauna Flanagan-Garwe, Catherine ODonnell and her 13-year-old son James Monaghan, fashion student Jessica Gallagher, Celtic fan Martin McGill, James OFlaherty from Sydney, Australia, shop worker Martina Martin, carpenter Hugh Hughie Kelly and 14-year-old Leona Harper. Irish police would arrest Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he arrived in Ireland, the countrys premier has said. It comes after the International Criminal Court issued warrants were for Mr Netanyahu and former Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes in Gaza. The ICC also issued a warrant for Mohammed Deif, head of Hamass armed wing, over the October 7 2023 attacks that triggered Israels offensive in Gaza. Israel is believed to have killed Mr Deif in an air strike but Hamas has never confirmed his death. Asked by Irish national broadcaster RTE if Mr Netanyahu would be arrested in Ireland, Taoiseach Simon Harris said on Friday: Yes, absolutely. We support international courts and we apply their warrants. He was not asked about any other individual but the countrys deputy premier later said warrants against Hamas leadership would absolutely be executed. Micheal Martin said: There should be no equivocation in condemning Hamas and condemning Hezbollah in terms of what theyve been doing, and indeed, Irans malign role in the region because its a complex issue, its not simple. Mr Martin, who is also foreign affairs minister, said he did not agree with US President Joe Bidens characterisation of the warrants for Mr Gallant and Mr Netanyahu as outrageous. The Tanaiste said war crimes have been committed in northern Gaza and added: Its a collective punishment of the people. They are war crimes. Its genocidal. Speaking on Newstalk radio, Mr Martin said: Im very concerned about the United States approach to the International Criminal Court in that there are 100 signatories, and we have to have accountability at international level through a court system that is independent. Mr Harris has said the issuing of the warrants was an extremely significant step. He said the court points to reasonable grounds to believe that Mr Netanyahu and Mr Gallant bear criminal responsibility for crimes perpetrated in the war in Gaza, including the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare, and the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution and other inhumane acts. In the case of the leadership of Hamas, the court points to reasonable grounds that Mr Deif, along with Ismail Haniyeh and Yahya Sinwar, agreed to carry out the attacks of October 7. It says there are reasonable grounds that Mr Deif is responsible for crimes against humanity of murder, extermination, torture, rape and other forms of sexual violence, and taking hostages. Mr Harris said: These charges could not be more serious. The Government has long expressed its profound concern about the conduct of the war in Gaza and has stated clearly its belief that the rules of international law and international humanitarian law have not been upheld. We have insisted that international law must apply in all circumstances, at all times, and in all places, and that those responsible for breaches, those who commit war crimes and crimes against humanity, must be held fully to account. Israels ambassador to Ireland said the Irish Government should challenge the issuing of warrants for Israeli officials. Dana Erlich said all Israelis were outraged over the warrants. She said: We have been failed by the UN and by international mechanisms time and time again. This is a dark moment for the ICC and for international law. Speaking on Newstalk, she added: I think Ireland, as a country that holds international law so dearly, should challenge the abuse of these international mechanisms by political tools. The ambassador said Israel rejects categorically assertions that it has carried out war crimes in Gaza. Ms Erlich was recalled to Israel in May for consultation with the Israeli foreign ministry on Irish-Israel relations. Mr Harris and Mr Martins respective Fine Gael and Fianna Fail parties are separately contesting a general election in Ireland to be held on November 29. Met Eireann has issued a status red rain alert for two counties - warning there is a risk of severe flooding this weekend, associated with Storm Bert. The highest-level warning, which was issued for Cork and Galway shortly before midday this Friday, is valid from midnight until 10am on Saturday. The forecaster says the highest accumulations of rainfall are expected in west Cork and west Galway and that potential impacts include severe flooding, damage to homes and businesses as well as dangerous/treacherous travelling conditions. Local authority crews and emergency services have been put on standby and the issuing of the status red warning is likely to impact public transport and other services in both counties. READ ALSO: ALERT: Services suspended on Cork-Dublin line after truck smashes into level crossing Separately, a status orange rain warning has been issued for six counties with Met eireann warning there will be "intense falls of rain over a short period of time". The affected counties are Waterford, Kerry, Clare, Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim and the warning will also be valid from midnight to 10am. As Storm Bert approaches, Met Eireann has also issued a number of status yellow warnings with most counties set to be impacted. The first - a wind and rain warning - will come into effect at 10pm this Friday and will apply to Leinster, Munster, Connacht, Cavan and Monaghan. The second - a snow-ice, rain and wind warning for County Donegal - will come into effect at midnight. Talkiatry Ranked Number 6 Fastest-Growing Company in North America on the 2024 Deloitte Technology Fast 500tm Attributes Revenue Growth to Innovative Partnerships, Strong Team, and Unique Value-Based Care Model NEW YORK, Nov. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Talkiatry today announced it ranked No. 6 on the Deloitte Technology Fast 500 tm, a ranking of the 500 fastest-growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences, fintech, and energy tech companies in North America, now in its 30th year. Talkiatry's chief executive officer, Robert Krayn, credits the organization's innovative approach to partnerships, unique value-based behavioral health care model, and full-time licensed care team with the company's strong revenue growth. He said, "Receiving this award is an honor, and we are thrilled to be recognized as one of Deloitte's Technology Fast 500 winners. This award highlights Talkiatry's commitment to transforming mental healthcare by making high-quality, in-network psychiatric services more accessible and affordable for patients across the country. Our growth reflects the dedication of our team, the trust of our patients, and the strength of our partnerships. As we continue to expand our value-based care model, we remain focused on improving outcomes and positively impacting the behavioral health landscape." "For 30 years we've been celebrating companies that are actively driving innovation. The software industry continues to be a beacon of growth, and the fintech industry made a strong showing on this year's list, surpassing life sciences for the first time," said Steve Fineberg , vice chair, U.S. technology sector leader, Deloitte. "Significantly, we also saw a breakthrough in performance of private companies, with the highest number of private companies named to the list in our program's history. This year's winners have shown they have the vision and expertise to continue to perform at a high level, and that deserves to be celebrated." "Innovation, transformation and disruption of the status quo are at the forefront for this year's Technology Fast 500 list, and there's no better way to celebrate 30 years of program history," said Christie Simons , partner, Deloitte & Touche LLP and industry leader for technology, media and telecommunications within Deloitte's Audit & Assurance practice. "This year's winning companies have demonstrated a continuous commitment to growth and remarkable consistency in driving forward progress. We extend our congratulations to all of this year's winners ? it's an incredible time for innovation." About the 2024 Deloitte Technology Fast 500 Now in its 30th year, the Deloitte Technology Fast 500 provides a ranking of the fastest-growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences, fintech, and energy tech companies ? both public and private ? in North America. Technology Fast 500 award winners are selected based on percentage fiscal year revenue growth from 2020 to 2023. In order to be eligible for Technology Fast 500 recognition, companies must own proprietary intellectual property or technology that is sold to customers in products that contribute to a majority of the company's operating revenues. Companies must have base-year operating revenues of at least US$50,000, and current-year operating revenues of at least US$5 million. Additionally, companies must be in business for a minimum of four years and be headquartered within North America. About Talkiatry Talkiatry is a national mental health practice that provides in-network psychiatry and therapy. They were co-founded by a patient and a triple-board-certified psychiatrist to solve the problems both groups face in accessing and providing the highest quality mental healthcare. 60% of adults in the U.S. with a diagnosable mental illness go untreated every year because care is inaccessible, while 45% of clinicians are out of network with insurers because reimbursement rates are low and paperwork is unduly burdensome. With innovative technology and a human-centered philosophy, Talkiatry provides patients with the care they need?and allows psychiatrists to focus on why they got into medicine. Learn more at www.talkiatry.com and follow us on Instagram , Facebook , and LinkedIn . About Deloitte Deloitte provides industry-leading audit, consulting, tax and advisory services to many of the world's most admired brands, including nearly 90% of the Fortune 500 and more than 8,500 U.S.-based private companies. At Deloitte, we strive to live our purpose of making an impact that matters by creating trust and confidence in a more equitable society. We leverage our unique blend of business acumen, command of technology, and strategic technology alliances to advise our clients across industries as they build their future . Deloitte is proud to be part of the largest global professional services network serving our clients in the markets that are most important to them. Bringing more than 175 years of service, our network of member firms spans more than 150 countries and territories. Learn how Deloitte's approximately 460,000 people worldwide connect for impact at www.deloitte.com . Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee ("DTTL"), its network of member firms, and their related entities. DTTL and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities. DTTL (also referred to as "Deloitte Global") does not provide services to clients. In the United States, Deloitte refers to one or more of the US member firms of DTTL, their related entities that operate using the "Deloitte" name in the United States and their respective affiliates. Certain services may not be available to attest clients under the rules and regulations of public accounting. Please see www.deloitte.com/about to learn more about our global network of member firms. PR Contact: Mark Karges, HermesPR, 646.828.9172 and [email protected] SOURCE Talkiatry 21 november 2024 at 17:06 News published onand distributed by: Transforming Tea Production: GRIPS Inaugurates Two Cost-Saving Solar Plants In the southwestern region of Uganda, GRIPS Energy and Igara Growers Tea Factory Ltd. celebrated the successful completion of these projects, joined by honourable guests from business and government sectors. The 499 kWp and 425 kWp ground-mounted solar plants are a vital step for the pooled 7,000 smallholder tea farmers on their journey to reduce their electricity costs and carbon footprint. "We partnered with GRIPS Energy because we could not have managed the investment cost for these plants ourselves," says Engineer Zaali, Factories Engineer. "They have handled 100% of finance and construction and they are now looking after system maintenance." He continued, "we look forward to our continued partnership with GRIPS Energy, because we hope to expand our factories, and GRIPS will help us to install more green energy". Andrew Kasule, Sales Manager of GRIPS Energy Uganda, confirms: "Our approach of teaming up with our customer Igara Growers Tea Factory, our Ugandan installation partner and the engineering experts from our German head office to form a tripartite, close-knit project team right from the start has once again proved its worth. As their long-term partner, we will stay by the side of Igara Tea Growers and warrant for full performance, service and maintenance throughout the 20-year contract for both solar plants." In line with the company's one-stop-shop full-service offer, GRIPS was in charge of every detail of the project: from initial feasibility studies and customized plant design, to financing, installation and commissioning. Now that the plants are up and running, GRIPS is responsible for the operations and maintenance of the plants through a local engineering partner. "We are thrilled to support the economic growth and energy stability for Ugandan tea producers through these two solar projects. By reducing their energy costs, we not only support the company's profitability, but also enhance power reliability and uninterrupted operations. It's inspiring to see their commitment to renewable energy and sustainable development," says Timon Herzog, Managing Director of GRIPS Energy. Igara Growers Tea Factory Ltd. owns and operates two tea processing factories: Igara Tea Factory and Buhweju Tea Factory. These two factories are fully owned by 7,000 smallholder tea farmers. They contribute 10% of Uganda's total tea production from 28 tea factories in the country and are the largest smallholder tea factory company in Uganda. GRIPS Energy supports companies in African countries in transitioning to affordable renewable energy through fully financed, custom-designed power systems. As a renewable energy investor and contractor, GRIPS provides reliable, pre-financed solutions that lower energy costs, ensure stable power, and reduce CO? emissions. Partnering with local EPCs, GRIPS oversees every project phase and manages ongoing operations and maintenance, allowing customers to focus on growth while GRIPS secures their energy needs. www.grips-energy.com The RES Uganda project supports GRIPS Energy in implementing communication and marketing activities in East Africa. This project is supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action as part of the Renewable Energy Solutions Programme of the German Energy Solutions Initiative. German Energy Agency (dena) The German Energy Agency (dena) is a centre of excellence for the applied energy transition and climate protection. dena studies the challenges of building a climate-neutral society and supports the German government in achieving its energy and climate policy objectives. Since its foundation in 2000, dena has worked to develop and implement solutions and bring together national and international partners from politics, industry, the scientific community and all parts of society. dena is a project enterprise and a public company owned by the German federal government. dena's shareholder is the Federal Republic of Germany. www.dena.de German Energy Solutions Initiative With the aim of positioning German technologies and know-how worldwide, the German Energy Solutions Initiative of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Action (BMWK) supports suppliers of climate-friendly energy solutions in opening up foreign markets. The focus lies on renewable energies, energy efficiency, smart grids and storage, as well as technologies such as power-to-gas and fuel cells. Aimed in particular at small and medium-sized enterprises, the German Energy Solutions Initiative supports participants through measures to prepare market entry as well as to prospect, develop and secure new markets. www.german-energy-solutions.de/GES/Navigation/EN/Home/home.html Renewable Energy Solutions Programme (RES Programme) With the RES programme, the Energy Export Initiative of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Action (BMWK) helps German companies in the renewable energy and energy efficiency sectors enter new markets. Within the framework of the programme, reference plants are installed and marketed with the support of the German Energy Agency (dena). Information and training activities help ensure a sustainable market entry and demonstrate the quality of climate-friendly technologies made in Germany. https://www.german-energy-solutions.de/GES/Redaktion/EN/Basepages/Services/dena-res.html 22 november 2024 at 00:05 News published onand distributed by: Long-Term Value Creation Drives Sustainable Growth for Barrick All amounts expressed in US dollars NEW YORK, Nov. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Barrick Gold Corporation (NYSE:GOLD)(TSX:ABX) said today it was making significant progress in building a business for the future with a peerless Tier One1 focused asset portfolio and a strategy that continues to uncover and unlock value, while also fostering productive partnerships in its host countries. Speaking in New York to investors at an in-depth presentation on the group's position, achievements and plans, president and chief executive Mark Bristow said that since the merger, Barrick had generated $23 billion in operating cash flow, invested $15 billion in its operations and growth projects ? effectively recapitalizing operations for the next 10 years or more ? reduced the net debt by nearly $4 billion and returned over $5 billion to shareholders.2 "Our world-class projects are set to deliver a new growth phase and our targeted exploration programs are on course to maintain Barrick's unmatched record of reserve replacement, which allows us to project a 10-year production profile," he said. Barrick is opening up exciting new frontiers in Chile, Peru and Ecuador while also exploiting value-creating opportunities within its current asset portfolio. "In Nevada, we're making significant progress with mine extension projects at Leeville, Goldrush, Hanson, Robertson, Swift and new extensions to Turquoise Ridge. The newly permitted Goldrush mine is ramping up production and the adjacent Fourmile, which is currently 100% owned by Barrick, is turning out to be a truly world-class asset," Bristow said. Barrick has completed a preliminary economic assessment at Fourmile using conservative mining rates and costs, all of which draw directly from the current Goldrush mine plan. The results highlight the potential for annual operating cash flows that are at least 70% higher than the already world-class Goldrush project.3 Bristow said Barrick's holistic approach to sustainability is central to every aspect of its value-driven business. "It enables us to make the most of the highest-quality gold assets in the industry while building a world-class copper business. It supports the evolution of a partnership model that benefits all stakeholders. It is key to the management of the mines that generate the free cash flow to fund our organic growth projects and build the strong balance sheet that enables a disciplined return to shareholders. Not least, it attracts the best and the brightest new employees because it resonates with their own values," he said. The webcast of today's Investor Day presentations is available at www.barrick.com. Enquiries: President and CEO Mark Bristow +1 647 205 7694 +44 788 071 1386 Senior EVP and CFO Graham Shuttleworth +1 647 262 2095 +44 779 771 1338 Investor and Media Relations Kathy du Plessis +44 20 7557 7738 Email: [email protected] Website: www.barrick.com Endnote 1 A Tier One Gold asset has the potential for +5Moz and +10 years of production at +500kozpa at $1400/oz reserve prices, with all in sustaining costs per ounce in the lower half of the industry cost curve. A Tier One Copper Asset has potential for +5Mt contained copper and +20 years of production of +200ktpa at $3/lb reserve prices, with costs per pound in the lower half of the industry cost curve. Tier One Assets must be located in a world class geological district with potential for organic reserve growth and long-term geologically driven addition. Endnote 2 Returns to shareholders include dividends, return of capital distributions and share buybacks. Endnote 3 Fourmile financial metrics and production metrics are based upon Barrick's internal preliminary economic assessment which is conceptual in nature because it includes inferred mineral resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves, and there is no certainty that the preliminary economic assessment will be realized. The preliminary economic assessment for Fourmile is based upon $1,900/oz mineable stope optimizer. The assumptions outlined within the preliminary economic assessment have formed the basis for the ongoing study and are made by a Qualified Person. Fourmile is currently 100% owned by Barrick. As previously disclosed, Barrick anticipates Fourmile being contributed to the Nevada Gold Mines joint venture, at fair market value, if certain criteria are met. Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information Certain information contained or incorporated by reference in this press release, including any information as to our strategy, projects, plans, or future financial or operating performance, constitutes "forward-looking statements". All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. The words "progress", "continue", "target", "ramp up", "potential", "project", and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. In particular, this press release contains forward-looking statements including, without limitation, with respect to: Barrick's forward-looking production guidance, including our ten-year outlook for gold and copper and anticipated production growth from Barrick's organic project pipeline and reserve replacement; our expected progress with respect to our growth projects, including our mine extension projects at Leeville and the Pipeline region and the ramp up at Goldrush; our exploration strategy; the potential for Fourmile to become a world-class asset and anticipated annual operating cash flows from the project; Barrick's sustainability strategy; and expectations, regarding future price assumptions, financial performance and other outlooks or guidance. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions including material estimates and assumptions related to the factors set forth below that, while considered reasonable by the Company as at the date of this press release in light of management's experience and perception of current conditions and expected developments, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Known and unknown factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements and information. Such factors include, but are not limited to: risks relating to political instability in certain of the jurisdictions in which Barrick operates; risks associated with projects in the early stages of evaluation and for which additional engineering and other analysis is required; fluctuations in the spot and forward price of gold, copper, or certain other commodities (such as diesel fuel, natural gas, and electricity); the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development; changes in mineral production performance, exploitation, and exploration successes; risks associated with working with partners in jointly controlled assets; changes in national and local government legislation, taxation, controls or regulations and/ or changes in the administration of laws, policies and practices; expropriation or nationalization of property and political or economic developments in Canada, the United States, or the other jurisdictions in which the Company or its affiliates do or may carry on business in the future; risks related to disruption of supply routes which may cause delays in construction and mining activities, including disruptions in the supply of key mining inputs due to the invasion of Ukraine by Russia and conflicts in the Middle East; risk of loss due to acts of war, terrorism, sabotage and civil disturbances; risks associated with new diseases, epidemics and pandemics; litigation and legal and administrative proceedings; employee relations including loss of key employees; failure to obtain key licenses by governmental authorities; increased costs and physical and transition risks related to climate change, including extreme weather events, resource shortages, emerging policies and increased regulations related to greenhouse gas emission levels, energy efficiency and reporting of risks; and availability and increased costs associated with mining inputs and labor. In addition, there are risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development and mining, including environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formations, pressures, cave-ins, flooding and gold bullion, copper cathode or gold or copper concentrate losses (and the risk of inadequate insurance, or inability to obtain insurance, to cover these risks). Many of these uncertainties and contingencies can affect our actual results and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements made by, or on behalf of, us. Readers are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. All of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements. Specific reference is made to the most recent Form 40-F/Annual Information Form on file with the SEC and Canadian provincial securities regulatory authorities for a more detailed discussion of some of the factors underlying forward-looking statements and the risks that may affect Barrick's ability to achieve the expectations set forth in the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Barrick disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. 22 november 2024 at 07:05 News published onand distributed by: Ping An Co-hosts Fintech Forum on Empowering Fintech Development in the Digital Intelligence Era at 2024 World Internet Conference Wuzhen Summit HONG KONG and SHANGHAI, Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd. (hereafter "Ping An", the "Company" or the "Group", HKEX: 2318 / 82318; SSE: 601318) co-hosted The Fintech Forum on "Fintech in the Digital Intelligence Era" at the 2024 World Internet Conference Wuzhen Summit held in Wuzhen, Zhejiang with Renmin University of China and Nankai University. Government officials, academics, business leaders, and researchers from around the world engaged in in-depth discussions and exchanges on topics such as building a new financial ecosystem, empowering high-quality development, promoting smart governance and inclusiveness, and shaping a better future with fintech. The forum aimed to build consensus and contribute insights to the high-quality development of fintech in the era of smart intelligence. In his opening remarks, Richard Sheng, Board Secretary and Brand Director of Ping An, stated that data has become a new factor of production, computing power a new productive force, and digitization the primary driver of progress across industries. He emphasized that full-scenario digitization has permeated all aspects of the financial industry, particularly reshaping credit, risk control, and customer experience. This transformation significantly expands the accessibility and coverage of financial services, enhances service efficiency, and empowers high-quality social development. Digitization enhances credit processes, making finance more efficient and convenient. Credit is the cornerstone of the financial industry. Digital technology directly links credit assessment with biometrics, improving convenience, efficiency, and the quality of credit information. For example, Ping An Puhui's micro-expression technology assists in credit evaluation, enabling credit decisions and loan disbursement within 30 minutes. This greatly enhances credit approval efficiency, making financial services more accessible to small and medium-sized enterprises. Digitization reshapes risk control, making finance more inclusive and accessible. Risk control is at the heart of the financial industry. By leveraging digital and blockchain technologies, companies can identify and assess risks more comprehensively, leading to precise pricing and end-to-end risk management. For example, Ping An P&C uses digital ear tags for yaks in Biru County, Naqu City, Tibet, to enhance risk control for yak breeding insurance, extending insurance protection to more remote herders. Digitization transforms customer experience, making services "worry-free, time-saving, and money-saving". There are professional and technical barriers to the financial industry. Comprehensive application of digital technology enables the industry to deliver a "worry-free, time-saving, and money-saving" customer experience. For example, Ping An Life's "1-1-1 Superfast Claim" service, powered by smart underwriting and smart claim settlement, achieves underwriting for 93% of life insurance policies within seconds and an average claim settlement time of 7.4 minutes, with the fastest claim paid in 10 seconds. This concept behind this technology is to maximize policyholder benefits and proactively seek reasons for claim approvals. The Ping An Auto Owner app uses AI for smart recommendations and customized services, shifting from a one-size-fits-all to a tailored approach. Designated driver services are dispatched in 5 seconds and arrive within 5 minutes, while roadside assistance arrives within 30 minutes, providing 24/7 support. Comprehensive digital application is driven by industry-leading, independently developed AI technology. Xiao Jing, Chief Scientist of Ping An, delivered a keynote speech titled "AI Empowers Digital and High-Quality Development of the Financial Industry" introducing Ping An's latest technological advancements and applications. He stated that comprehensive digitization is the key path to high-quality development of the financial industry, with AI serving as its foundation. Ping An continues to develop world-leading AI technology, achieving breakthroughs in fundamental digital capabilities such as "seeing, listening, speaking, and reading". In "seeing", Ping An's vehicle image analysis achieves over 95% accuracy in loss assessment triage and exterior parts inspection, while medical image analysis for multiple diseases exceeds 90% accuracy. In "listening", voiceprint recognition achieves over 99% accuracy in 1:1 scenario and over 90% accuracy in blacklists with tens of millions of entries. In "speaking and reading", Ping An's Natural Language Understanding (NLU) based speech robots have been ranked No. 1 globally four times, with over 90% accuracy in intent recognition. Ping An persists in technology R&D, leveraging the "Ping An Brain" intelligent engine to empower its "integrated finance + healthcare and senior care" business. In marketing, digital humans can adapt to various business scenarios by integrating with visual, auditory, and semantic modalities. In customer service, intelligent speech robots are widely used in complex financial scenarios to improve service efficiency. In operations, digital robot solutions powered by multimodal large models can enhance operational efficiency. In risk control, the Ping An Brain assists in multi-level financial risk management. In addition to the keynote speech of Ping An, the Fintech Forum also featured speeches by Lin Shangli, President of Renmin University of China; Chen Yulu, President of Nankai University; Wencai Zhang, Managing Director & Chief Administrative Officer of the World Bank; and Mansi Kalra, Managing Director of JBA Risk Management. Representatives from the Shenzhen Data Exchange, the Shanghai Data Exchange, and representatives from other domestic and international policy and academic institutions, and business organizations have also engaged in discussions on topics such as the current state of fintech, global fintech innovation, applications, and data transactions. Digitization is a powerful engine for building robust financial institutions. Ping An stated that it will continue to uphold its original aspiration to be people-centered, adhere to the technology-driven "integrated finance + health and senior care" strategy, and further advance comprehensive digital transformation. This will drive high-quality business development, improve the quality and efficiency of financial services, and actively promote product upgrades and technological innovation under the guidance of the "worry-free, time-saving, and money-saving" value proposition. Ping An will continue to develop fintech, green finance, inclusive finance, pension finance, and digital finance, working with all parties to embrace a better digital future and contribute to improving people's well-being and building a financial powerhouse. About Ping An Group Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd. (HKEx:2318 / 82318; SSE:601318) is one of the largest financial services companies in the world. It strives to become a world-leading provider of integrated finance, health and senior care services, Under the technology-driven "integrated finance + health and senior care" strategy, the Group provides professional "financial advisory, family doctor, and senior care concierge" services to its 240 million retail customers. Ping An advances intelligent digital transformation and employs technologies to improve financial businesses' quality and efficiency and enhance risk management. The Group is listed on the stock exchanges in Hong Kong and Shanghai. As of the end of September 2024, Ping An had more than RMB12 trillion in total assets. The Group ranked 29th in the Forbes Global 2000 list in 2024 and 53rd in the Fortune Global 500 list in 2024. For more information, please visit www.group.pingan.com and follow us on LinkedIn - PING AN. SOURCE Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd. 22 november 2024 at 07:34 News published onand distributed by: MOGU Announces Unaudited Financial Results for the Six Months Ended September 30, 2024 MOGU Inc. (NYSE: MOGU) ("MOGU" or the "Company"), a KOL-driven online fashion and lifestyle destination in China, today announced its unaudited financial results for the six months ended September 30, 2024. Mr. Fan Yiming, Chief Executive Officer of MOGU, commented, "In the first half of fiscal year 2025, China's online retail industry entered a phase of intense competition for existing markets, marked by a further decline in consumer purchasing appetite. All major platforms responded by implementing highly competitive product pricing and user benefits to attract customers, resulting in a sharper-than-expected decline in MOGU's user traffic during this period. Meanwhile, the platform faced challenges with the lifecycle of key opinion leaders (KOLs), which led to a decline in live streaming hours and sales. Consequently, MOGU's gross merchandise value (GMV1) declined year-on-year in the first half of fiscal year 2025. To address these challenges, we have been launching targeted marketing initiatives focusing on high-value members during this fiscal year, with an aim to increase both retention rates and average revenue per user (ARPU) for these members. Meanwhile, we leveraged the supply chain resources and service capabilities that we have developed over the years to actively explore new business opportunities on other platforms. To date, MOGU has successfully signed dozens of fashion KOLs from other social e-commerce platforms. After four months of operation, MOGU has quickly become a live streaming service provider on these platforms. Additionally, we formed live-streaming management partnerships with some brands, helping them to establish a stable business model. We believe these two new segments present growth potential and will contribute to MOGU's overall expansion beyond its core platform." "During the first half of fiscal year of 2025, our total revenues decreased by 25.7% to RMB61.9 million for the same period of fiscal year 2024. The loss from operations was RMB41.4 million, compared to RMB52.1 million for the same period of fiscal year 2024. Despite the efforts to improve operational efficiency, the increasing cost of acquiring new customers and a decline in revenue prevented us from achieving our targeted operational results. Looking ahead, we will continue to focus on cost reduction and efficiency enhancements and continue looking for new revenue growth opportunities. We believe that these measures will contribute to our overall financial resilience and sustainable growth," added Ms. Qi Feng, Financial Controller. Highlights for the Six Months Ended September 30, 2024 Total revenues for the six months ended September 30, 2024 decreased by 25.7% to RMB61.9 million (US$8.8 million) from RMB83.3 million during the same period of fiscal year 2024. for the six months ended September 30, 2024 decreased by 25.7% to RMB61.9 million (US$8.8 million) from RMB83.3 million during the same period of fiscal year 2024. Live video broadcast ("LVB") associated GMV for the six months ended September 30, 2024 decreased by 34.7% period-over-period to RMB1,395 million (US$198.8 million 2 ). for the six months ended September 30, 2024 decreased by 34.7% period-over-period to RMB1,395 million (US$198.8 million ). GMV for the six months ended September 30, 2024 was RMB1,442 million (US$205.5 million), a decrease of 34.3% period-over-period. ______________________________ 1 GMV are to gross merchandise volume, refers to the total value of orders placed on the MOGU platform regardless of whether the products are sold, delivered or returned, calculated based on the listed prices of the ordered products without taking into consideration any discounts on the listed prices. Buyers on the MOGU platform are not charged for separate shipping fees over the listed price of a product. If merchants include certain shipping fees in the listed price of a product, such shipping fees will be included in GMV. As a prudent matter aiming at eliminating any influence on MOGU's GMV of irregular transactions, the Company excludes from its calculation of GMV transactions over a certain amount (RMB100,000) and transactions by users over a certain amount (RMB1,000,000) per day. 2 The U.S. dollar (US$) amounts disclosed in this press release, except for those transaction amounts that were actually settled in U.S. dollars, are presented solely for the convenience of the readers. The conversion of Renminbi (RMB) into US$ in this press release is based on the exchange rate set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System as of September 30, 2024, which was RMB7.0176 to US$1.00. The percentages stated in this press release are calculated based on the RMB amounts. Financial Results For the Six Months Ended September 30, 2024 Total revenues for the six months ended September 30, 2024 decreased by 25.7% to RMB61.9 million (US$8.8 million) from RMB83.3 million during the same period of fiscal year 2024. Commission revenues for the six months ended September 30, 2024 decreased by 36.6% to RMB35.3 million (US$5.0 million) from RMB55.6 million in the same period of fiscal year 2024, primarily attributable to the lower GMV due to the heightened competitive environment. for the six months ended September 30, 2024 decreased by 36.6% to RMB35.3 million (US$5.0 million) from RMB55.6 million in the same period of fiscal year 2024, primarily attributable to the lower GMV due to the heightened competitive environment. Financing solutions revenues for the six months ended September 30, 2024 decreased by 29.2% to RMB3.8 million (US$0.55 million) from RMB5.4 million in the same period of fiscal year 2024. The decrease was primarily due to the decrease in the service fee of loans to users in line with the lower GMV. for the six months ended September 30, 2024 decreased by 29.2% to RMB3.8 million (US$0.55 million) from RMB5.4 million in the same period of fiscal year 2024. The decrease was primarily due to the decrease in the service fee of loans to users in line with the lower GMV. Technology services revenues for the six months ended September 30, 2024 increased by 12.8% to RMB20.7 million (US$3.0 million) from RMB18.4 million in the same period of fiscal year 2024, primarily attributable to the increase of revenue generated by one-stop customized services provided by Ruisha to corporate customers. for the six months ended September 30, 2024 increased by 12.8% to RMB20.7 million (US$3.0 million) from RMB18.4 million in the same period of fiscal year 2024, primarily attributable to the increase of revenue generated by one-stop customized services provided by Ruisha to corporate customers. Other revenues for the six months ended September 30, 2024 decreased by 37.9% to RMB2.0 million (US$0.3 million) from RMB3.1 million in the same period of fiscal year 2024. Cost of revenues for the six months ended September 30, 2024 decreased by 20.2% to RMB39.6 million (US$5.6 million) from RMB49.6 million in the same period of fiscal year 2024, which was primarily due to a decrease in IT-related expenses of RMB5.1 million and a decrease in payroll costs of RMB1.6 million, in line with the overall trend of reduction in revenue. Sales and marketing expenses for the six months ended September 30, 2024 decreased by 29.3% to RMB26.4 million (US$3.8 million) from RMB37.3 million in the same period of fiscal year 2024, primarily due to a decrease in performance-related bonus of RMB4.5 million and user acquisition costs of RMB4.6 million. Research and development expenses for the six months ended September 30, 2024 decreased by 11.1% to RMB12.3 million (US$1.8 million) from RMB13.9 million in the same period of fiscal year 2024 due to a decrease in performance-related bonus. General and administrative expenses for the six months ended September 30, 2024 decreased by 2.8% to RMB27.1 million (US$3.9 million) from RMB27.9 million in the same period of fiscal year 2024, primarily due to a decrease in performance-related bonus. Amortization of intangible assets for the six months ended September 30, 2024 decreased by 95.9% to RMB0.1 million (US$0.01 million) from RMB1.8 million in the same period of the fiscal year 2024, primarily because the intangible assets recorded as a result of the acquisition of Hangzhou Ruisha Technology Co., Ltd. ("Ruisha Technology") had been fully amortized and impaired as of September 30, 2023. Impairment of intangible assets for the six months ended September 30, 2024 decreased by 100.0% to nil from RMB9.9 million in the same period of fiscal year 2024, primarily due to the Company's recognition of a full impairment charge of RMB9.9 million against its intangible assets arising from the acquisition of Ruisha Technology in the same period of fiscal year 2024. Loss from operations for the six months ended September 30, 2024 was RMB41.4 million (US$5.9 million), compared to the loss from operations of RMB52.1 million in the same period of fiscal year 2024. Net loss attributable to MOGU Inc. for the six months ended September 30, 2024 was RMB24.1 million (US$3.4 million), compared to the net loss attributable to MOGU Inc. of RMB35.4 million in the same period of fiscal year 2024. Adjusted EBITDA3 for the six months ended September 30, 2024 was negative RMB35.0 million (US$5.0 million), compared to negative RMB34.0 million in the same period of fiscal year 2024. Adjusted net loss4 for the six months ended September 30, 2024 was RMB38.3 million (US$5.5 million), compared to the adjusted net loss of RMB32.8 million in the same period of fiscal year 2024. Basic and diluted loss per ADS for the six months ended September 30, 2024 were RMB2.76 (US$0.39) and RMB2.76 (US$0.39), respectively, compared with RMB4.11 and RMB4.11, respectively, in the same period of fiscal year 2024. One ADS represents 300 Class A ordinary shares. Cash and cash equivalents, Restricted cash and Short-term investments were RMB356.4 million (US$50.8 million) as of September 30, 2024, compared with RMB420.6 million as of March 31, 2024. ______________________________ 3 Adjusted EBITDA represents net loss before (i) interest income, gain from investments, net, income tax (benefits)/expenses and share of results of equity method investees, impairment of intangible assets and (ii) certain non-cash expenses, consisting of share-based compensation expenses, amortization of intangible assets, and depreciation of property and equipment. See "Unaudited Reconciliations of GAAP and Non-GAAP Results" at the end of this press release. 4 Adjusted net loss represents net loss excluding (i) gain from investments, net, (ii) share-based compensation expenses, (iii) impairment of intangible assets, (iv) adjustments for tax effects. See "Unaudited Reconciliations of GAAP and Non-GAAP Results" at the end of this press release. Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures In evaluating the business, the Company considers and uses non-GAAP measures, such as Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted net income/loss as supplemental measures to review and assess operating performance. The presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP"). The Company defines Adjusted EBITDA as net loss before interest income, gain from investments, net, income tax (benefits)/expenses, share of results of equity investees, impairment of intangible assets, share-based compensation expenses, amortization of intangible assets, and depreciation of property and equipment. The Company defines Adjusted net loss as net loss excluding gain from investments, net, impairment of intangible assets, share-based compensation expenses, and adjustments for tax effects. See "Unaudited Reconciliations of GAAP and Non-GAAP Results" at the end of this press release. The Company presents these non-GAAP financial measures because they are used by management to evaluate operating performance and formulate business plans. The Company believes that the non-GAAP financial measures help identify underlying trends in its business by excluding certain expenses, gain/loss and other items that are not expected to result in future cash payments or that are nonrecurring in nature or may not be indicative of the Company's core operating results and business outlook. The Company also believes that the non-GAAP financial measures could provide further information about the Company's results of operations, enhance the overall understanding of the Company's past performance and future prospects. The non-GAAP financial measures are not defined under U.S. GAAP and are not presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The non-GAAP financial measures have limitations as analytical tools. The Company's non-GAAP financial measures do not reflect all items of income and expense that affect the Company's operations and do not represent the residual cash flow available for discretionary expenditures. Further, these non-GAAP measures may differ from the non-GAAP information used by other companies, including peer companies, and therefore their comparability may be limited. The Company compensates for these limitations by reconciling the non-GAAP financial measures to the nearest U.S. GAAP performance measure, all of which should be considered when evaluating performance. The Company encourages you to review the Company's financial information in its entirety and not rely on a single financial measure. For more information on the non-GAAP financial measures, please see the table captioned "Unaudited Reconciliations of GAAP and Non-GAAP Results" set forth at the end of this press release. Safe Harbor Statement This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "aims," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "confident," "potential," "continue" or other similar expressions. Among other things, the business outlook and quotations from management in this announcement, as well as MOGU's strategic and operational plans, contain forward-looking statements. MOGU may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including but not limited to statements about MOGU's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: MOGU's growth strategies; its ability to understand buyer needs and provide products and services to attract and retain buyers; its ability to maintain and enhance the recognition and reputation of its brand; its ability to rely on merchants and third-party logistics service providers to provide delivery services to buyers; its ability to maintain and improve quality control policies and measures; its ability to establish and maintain relationships with merchants; trends and competition in China's ecommerce market; changes in its revenues and certain cost or expense items; the expected growth of China's ecommerce market; PRC governmental policies and regulations relating to MOGU's industry, and general economic and business conditions globally and in China and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in MOGU's filings with the SEC. All information provided in this press release and in the attachments is as of the date of this press release, and MOGU undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law. About MOGU Inc. MOGU Inc. (NYSE: MOGU) is a KOL-driven online fashion and lifestyle destination in China. MOGU provides people with a more accessible and enjoyable shopping experience for everyday fashion, particularly as they increasingly live their lives online. By connecting merchants, KOLs and users together, MOGU's platform serves as a valuable marketing channel for merchants, a powerful incubator for KOLs, and a vibrant and dynamic community for people to discover and share the latest fashion trends with others, where users can enjoy a truly comprehensive online shopping experience. MOGU INC. Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (All amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data) As of March 31, September 30, 2024 2024 RMB RMB US$ ASSETS Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents 358,787 84,356 12,021 Restricted cash 511 511 73 Short-term investments 61,312 271,525 38,692 Inventories, net 98 67 10 Loan receivables, net 31,564 28,759 4,098 Prepayments, receivables and other current assets 54,956 95,562 13,617 Amounts due from related parties 587 331 47 Total current assets 507,815 481,111 68,558 Non-current assets: Property and equipment, net 299,741 299,996 42,749 Intangible assets, net 949 871 124 Right-of-use assets 2,576 1,650 235 Investments 81,808 54,058 7,703 Other non-current assets 45,473 49,411 7,041 Total non-current assets 430,547 405,986 57,852 Total assets 938,362 887,097 126,410 LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY Current liabilities: Accounts payable 6,862 3,567 508 Salaries and welfare payable 6,936 5,254 749 Advances from customers 207 627 89 Taxes payable 1,285 2,436 347 Amounts due to related parties 5,341 4,490 640 Current portion of lease liabilities 1,888 374 53 Accruals and other current liabilities 299,317 295,641 42,129 Total current liabilities 321,836 312,389 44,515 Non-current liabilities: Non-current lease liabilities 773 386 55 Deferred tax liabilities 1,299 ? ? Total non-current liabilities 2,072 386 55 Total liabilities 323,908 312,775 44,570 Shareholders' equity Ordinary shares 181 181 26 Treasury stock (137,446 ) (138,269 ) (19,703 ) Statutory reserves 3,331 3,331 475 Additional paid-in capital 9,489,254 9,489,994 1,352,313 Accumulated other comprehensive income 89,567 72,084 10,272 Accumulated deficit (8,856,494 ) (8,880,623 ) (1,265,479 ) Total MOGU Inc. shareholders' equity 588,393 546,698 77,904 Non-controlling interests 26,061 27,624 3,936 Total shareholders' equity 614,454 574,322 81,840 Total liabilities and shareholders' equity 938,362 887,097 126,410 MOGU INC. Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss (All amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data) For the six months ended September 30, 2023 2024 RMB RMB US$ Net revenues Commission revenues 55,619 35,275 5,027 Marketing services revenues 746 63 9 Financing solutions revenues 5,403 3,827 545 Technology services revenues 18,388 20,734 2,955 Other revenues 3,146 1,954 278 Total revenues 83,302 61,853 8,814 Cost of revenues (exclusive of amortization of intangible assets shown separately below) (49,602 ) (39,560 ) (5,637 ) Sales and marketing expenses (37,274 ) (26,362 ) (3,757 ) Research and development expenses (13,879 ) (12,332 ) (1,757 ) General and administrative expenses (27,914 ) (27,143 ) (3,868 ) Amortization of intangible assets (1,826 ) (75 ) (11 ) Impairment of intangible assets (9,945 ) ? ? Other income, net 5,059 2,172 310 Loss from operations (52,079 ) (41,447 ) (5,906 ) Interest income 7,142 3,120 445 Gain from investments, net 1,267 16,468 2,347 Loss before income tax and share of results of equity investees (43,670 ) (21,859 ) (3,114 ) Income tax benefits/(expenses) 1,662 (7 ) (1 ) Share of results of equity method investees (504 ) (700 ) (100 ) Net loss (42,512 ) (22,566 ) (3,215 ) Net (loss)/gain attributable to non-controlling interests (7,105 ) 1,563 223 Net loss attributable to MOGU Inc. (35,407 ) (24,129 ) (3,438 ) Net loss (42,512 ) (22,566 ) (3,215 ) Other comprehensive income/(loss): Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of nil tax 4,970 (1,231 ) (175 ) Unrealized securities holding gains/(losses), net of tax 1,702 (16,252 ) (2,316 ) Total comprehensive loss (35,840 ) (40,049 ) (5,706 ) Total comprehensive (loss)/gain attributable to non-controlling interests (7,105 ) 1,563 223 Total comprehensive loss attributable to MOGU Inc. (28,735 ) (41,612 ) (5,929 ) Net loss per share attributable to ordinary shareholders Basic (0.01 ) (0.01 ) (0.00 ) Diluted (0.01 ) (0.01 ) (0.00 ) Net loss per ADS Basic (4.11 ) (2.76 ) (0.39 ) Diluted (4.11 ) (2.76 ) (0.39 ) Weighted average number of shares used in computing net loss per share Basic 2,581,758,960 2,620,311,457 2,620,311,457 Diluted 2,581,758,960 2,620,311,457 2,620,311,457 Share-based compensation expenses included in: Cost of revenues 415 34 5 General and administrative expenses 1,763 604 86 Sales and marketing expenses 419 14 2 Research and development expenses 192 88 13 MOGU INC. Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (All amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data) For the six months ended September 30, 2023 2024 RMB RMB US$ Net cash used in operating activities (32,907 ) (28,953 ) (4,126 ) Net cash used in investing activities (20,779 ) (244,012 ) (34,771 ) Net cash used in financing activities ? (822 ) (117 ) Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash 3,336 (644 ) (92 ) Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash (50,350 ) (274,431 ) (39,106 ) Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period 417,011 359,298 51,200 Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period 366,661 84,867 12,094 MOGU INC. Unaudited Reconciliations of GAAP and Non-GAAP Results (All amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data) For the six months ended September 30, 2023 2024 RMB RMB US$ Net loss (42,512 ) (22,566 ) (3,215 ) Less: Income tax (benefits)/expenses (1,662 ) 7 1 Less: Interest income (7,142 ) (3,120 ) (445 ) Add: Amortization of intangible assets 1,826 75 11 Add: Depreciation of property and equipment 3,529 5,636 803 EBITDA (45,961 ) (19,968 ) (2,845 ) Add: Impairment of intangible assets 9,945 ? ? Add: Share-based compensation expenses 2,789 740 106 Add: Share of result of equity method investees 504 700 100 Less: Gain from investments, net (1,267 ) (16,468 ) (2,347 ) Adjusted EBITDA (33,990 ) (34,996 ) (4,986 ) Net loss (42,512 ) (22,566 ) (3,215 ) Add: Gain from investments, net (1,267 ) (16,468 ) (2,347 ) Add: Share-based compensation expenses 2,789 740 106 Add: Impairment of intangible assets 9,945 ? ? Less: Adjusted for tax effects (1,755 ) ? ? Adjusted net loss (32,800 ) (38,294 ) (5,456 ) 22 november 2024 at 09:35 News published onand distributed by: Eversource and Local Partner BXP Selected to Receive Cambridge Chamber of Commerce Annual Visionary Award for Greater Cambridge Energy Program In recognition of its local collaboration, commitment to modernizing the electric system and support of clean energy goals, Eversource and its local partner BXP have been selected to receive a 2024 Cambridge Chamber of Commerce Annual Visionary Award for their partnership on the innovative Greater Cambridge Energy Program (GCEP), which includes the development of a first-of-its-kind underground electrical substation. The Visionary Awards & Gala took place on November 21 at 5:30 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. Among other innovative technologies, GCEP will include the nation's largest underground substation?a 35,000-square-foot facility 120 feet beneath a public green space at BXP's Life Sciences Center in Kendall Square. It will also feature eight underground transmission lines spanning 8.3 miles across Cambridge, Somerville, and Boston, plus 48 distribution lines and significant upgrades to local substations or clean energy hubs to enhance power reliability, resilience, and support for a growing electric demand driven by the electrification of transportation and heating. "Our dedicated employees work every day to ensure a reliable, more sustainable energy future, and we are truly honored to receive this award from the Cambridge Chamber of Commerce," said Bill Quinlan, Eversource President of Transmission and Offshore Wind Projects. "This recognition emphasizes the critical role of collaboration and compromise in delivering innovative solutions that meet the unique needs of the communities we serve. We're pleased to have had the opportunity to collaborate with BXP, the City of Cambridge, the Cambridge Redevelopment Authority, as well as the City of Somerville and Allston/Brighton on this important project. By investing in advanced technologies and infrastructure, we aim to meet the evolving energy needs of our customers in an environmentally responsible way, creating a cleaner, more resilient, and efficient grid for the future." The Visionary Awards recognize innovators from the business, institutional, and non-profit communities who are truly effecting change in Cambridge and beyond. This special evening is an opportunity for the Cambridge business community to celebrate these change agents and their extraordinary impact on improving the lives of others. Additional information about the project is available on the company's Greater Cambridge Energy Program's web page. More information on the energy company's year-round work to strengthen and modernize the electric system for customers can be found on the reliability page of Eversource's website. Eversource (NYSE: ES), celebrated as a national leader for its corporate citizenship, is among the top energy companies in Newsweek's list of America's Most Responsible Companies for 2024 and recognized as a Five-Year Champion, appearing in every edition of the list. Eversource transmits and delivers electricity and natural gas and supplies water to 1.8 million customers throughout Massachusetts, including approximately 1.47 million electric customers in 140 communities, 639,000 gas customers in 117 communities, and 11,500 water customers in five communities. Eversource harnesses the commitment of approximately 10,000 employees across three states to build a single, united company around the mission of safely delivering reliable energy and water with superior customer service. The #1 energy efficiency provider in the nation, the company is empowering a clean energy future in the Northeast, with nationally recognized energy efficiency solutions and successful programs to integrate new clean energy resources like a first-in-the-nation networked geothermal pilot project, solar, offshore wind, electric vehicles and battery storage, into the electric system. For more information, please visit eversource.com, and follow us on X, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. For more information on our water services, visit aquarionwater.com. 22 november 2024 at 13:35 News published onand distributed by: Riding wave of "China Travel," international tourists explore country's hinterland Xinhua) 08:03, November 22, 2024 CHANGSHA, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Jose Chaves, 40, from Costa Rica, recently visited Furong Town, enticed by pictures of its magnificent waterfall and traditional stilt houses built on the hillside -- famous features of this ancient scenic spot in Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, central China's Hunan Province. "It's a very lovely and beautiful place. Entry, hotel reservation and transportation are convenient in China," said Chaves, who took a 12-day trip to China. "I will recommend this place to my friends and share my trip on social media." With a history of more than 2,000 years and located in the hinterland of China's Wuling Mountains, the town of Furong in Xiangxi's Yongshun County is benefiting from the growing popularity of the "China Travel" campaign on global social media. Thanks to the campaign, it has seen a surge in inbound tourism. Foreign visitors take photos at the Furong Town scenic spot in Yongshun County, Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, central China's Hunan Province, Nov. 7, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Sihan) HINTERLAND TOURISM BOOM "There were very few foreigners in the prefecture before poverty eradication. Now, it is not unusual to see foreign friends on the street," said Li Lichao, deputy head of the Culture, Tourism, Radio and Television Bureau of Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture. At Xiangxi's Shibadong Village, the idea of "targeted poverty alleviation" was first put forward in 2013. Through the strategy, 98.99 million people in rural China were lifted out of poverty, and all 832 impoverished counties were officially recognized as having escaped poverty by 2020. The strategy advocates that development is the general method to eliminate poverty, and governments in poverty-hit regions should suit their measures to different conditions and help locals find ways to shake off poverty. In the process of poverty alleviation and rural revitalization, the government of Xiangxi has explored the cultural and tourism industry to empower rural development. Today, the prefecture has 161 enterprises in the cultural and tourism industry chain above the designated size, which refers to enterprises each with an annual main business turnover of at least 20 million yuan (about 2.8 million U.S. dollars). The tourism industry has contributed more than 70 percent of the GDP growth of Xiangxi in recent years, with more than 500,000 people working in the sector. "Ancient townships, such as Furong, Fenghuang and Aizhai, which blend natural wonders and cultural interests, are particularly popular among foreign tourists," said Li. Thanks to China's favorable measures for tourism, including a series of visa-free transit policies and payment facilitation services, as well as "China Travel," there is an inbound travel boom in this once-poor mountainous region. In the first three quarters of this year, the prefecture received 254,000 inbound tourist visits, a year-on-year increase of nearly four times. The Chinese mainland recorded an estimated 95 million inbound tourist arrivals in the first nine months, a 55.4 percent increase year on year, according to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. A drone photo taken on Nov. 7, 2024 shows a view of the Furong Town scenic spot in Yongshun County, Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, central China's Hunan Province. (Xinhua/Chen Sihan) "My schedule has been fully booked for the past few months receiving foreign tourists," said Xu Yan, Chaves' English-speaking tour guide during his journey in Xiangxi, adding that most of her clients are from visa-free entry countries such as Thailand, Singapore and the Republic of Korea. According to Sun Jiashan, an associate researcher from the Central Academy of Culture and Tourism Administration, more and more foreign tourists are gradually exploring China's rural and mountainous areas, rather than just visiting the metropolis. Sun said that Xiangxi is attracting more overseas tourists thanks to the continuous improvement of facilities and infrastructure for rural tourism, and the improvement of services and overseas marketing. "The phenomenon is the result of strategies of poverty alleviation and rural revitalization," he said. BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES, CULTURAL EXCHANGES In order to better connect with the overseas tourism market, Xiangxi has strengthened cooperation with travel platforms, social media and overseas influencers since last year. Other efforts include increasing multilingual signs and facilitating payment services. "We have been cooperating with online travel agency Trip.com, to promote Xiangxi to overseas tourists and facilitate their booking accommodation and tickets at our scenic spots," said Su Jun, a staffer responsible for the marketing and branding of Furong. In March, over 100 overseas influencers were invited to Furong to experience and make promotions online. In order to serve foreign tourists, Furong has set up a team of English tour guides, and also a talent pool of over 100 guides speaking Russian, French, Japanese, Korean and other foreign languages, according to Su. Deng Ni, 36, a native resident of Furong, quit her job in downtown Yongshun, returned to her hometown and started her homestay business in May last year. Foreign tourists have given her good comments on online traveling platforms, praising her fluent English communication skills and attentive service. "In the past, visitors to Furong Town were mainly domestic tourists. However with the 'China Travel' boom, overseas tourists have "changed" the traditional off-season, like November and December, into a peak season," said Deng. She added that more than half of her bookings had been made by overseas tourists during the two-month period. In Furong, another homestay owner called Qu Zhangxun started learning English to better serve foreign tourists. His homestay, featuring rooms with excellent views of the waterfall, has received guests from more than 20 countries and accepted overseas reservations for accommodation until October next year. "I have asked my staff to be skilled in using translation apps, and I am also learning it myself. I hope to make all my tourists want to come back again and again," said Qu. People visit the Furong Town scenic spot in Yongshun County, Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, central China's Hunan Province, Nov. 7, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Sihan) According to the data center of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, in the first three quarters of 2024, village tourism visits increased 15.5 percent yearly to about 2.25 billion, with total revenue up 9.8 percent year on year to 1.32 trillion yuan. Last week, seven villages in China, including Shibadong Village in Xiangxi, were honored as "Best Tourism Villages" by the United Nations World Tourism Organization. They are highly representative in terms of geography, culture and development models. For example, at Azheke Village, nestled in the heart of the Honghe Hani Rice Terraces in southwest China's Yunnan Province, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, villagers have contributed resources such as terraces, houses and traditional ways of life, creating a model of collective participation and shared prosperity. Xiaogang, a village in Anhui Province where China's rural reform began over four decades ago, is another location making strides on its new journey toward achieving rural revitalization. Today, visitors from across the globe can witness the profound changes China has undergone by exploring this village. During the third Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture Conference on Tourism Development held earlier this month, Olga Vakhrousheva, honorary vice president of New Zealand-China Maori Culture Tourism Promotion Association Incorporated, came to Yongshun from New Zealand to sign cultural and tourism agreements, advocating cooperation activities such as developing more tourism projects and organizing more exchange visits. "Furong Town is like a fairy tale. China has such a rich culture and variety of history, and showing them to the world would be great," she said. Vakhrousheva shared her experiences of making tea, cooking, drinking and singing with local people in a village in Yongshun. She said she noticed similarities between residents in Xiangxi and Maori people, who also have traditions such as singing when guests are invited into villages. "If we can do exchanges with kids, helping them to learn about other cultures, they can be open to each other and do things together when they grow up," said Vakhrousheva. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) HOLIDAYS are coming and this Christmas, a sprinkle of Santas magical spirit will tour across Ireland including a visit to Limerick next month with the highly anticipated return of the iconic Coca-Cola Christmas truck. Hitting the road from Saturday, November 30 to Sunday, December 8, the Coca-Cola Christmas Truck will visit four locations across Ireland: Limerick, Cork, Dublin and Belfast. So, why not bring your loved ones, embrace your inner Santa, and visit the Coca-Cola Christmas Truck for a magical evening full of laughter and fun on Sunday, December 8 in the Crescent Shopping Centre from 2pm to 9pm. Echoing the wider Coca-Cola Christmas campaign, 'The World Needs More Santas,' the tour will encourage visitors to embrace their inner Santa and share an act of kindness with others during this festive season. Under a canopy of twinkling lights and festive music, visitors will be able to enjoy fun, festive games, participate in a lucky dip with the chance to win exclusive Coca-Cola merchandise and experience the delicious taste of an ice-cold Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, all whilst capturing that perfect seasonal selfie with your friends and family in front of the iconic red truck. READ MORE: Limerick traders make plea over 'detrimental' closure of street Speaking about the return of the much-loved Coca-Cola Christmas Truck Tour, Marketing Director of Coca-Cola Ireland, Gavin Gillespie, said: Over the years, Coca-Cola has remained synonymous with Christmas and the festive season. We are thrilled to announce the return of the iconic Coca-Cola Christmas Truck Tour, where Coca-Cola will bring an extra sprinkle of Christmas magic to people across the island of Ireland. It will be an evening that all the family can enjoy and create those magical memories that we will remember in the years to come, because anyone can be Santa and truly embrace the festive spirit. For those unable to visit the Coca-Cola Christmas Truck in person, from November, a promotion with Coca-Cola Zero Sugar and Coca-Cola Original Taste will invite fans to scan on-pack QR codes for the chance to win thousands of festive gifts and treats. With a packed schedule of exciting Truck Tour stops taking place throughout Ireland in the lead-up to Christmas, eager Coca-Cola Christmas Truck Tour fans can follow announcements about the schedule here or @cocacolagbi on Instagram. DEPUTY Mary Lou McDonald has said a vote for Sinn Feins Joanne Collins in Limerick County is a vote to change the government". The Sinn Fein Leader was speaking at the launch of Ms Collins election manifesto entitled Standing Up for County Limerick at the Longcourt House Hotel in Newcastle West last week. Ms McDonald said: We are asking people to vote to change the government. To elect a new government for working people and communities led by Sinn Fein. The very best way the people of County Limerick can help make that a reality is by coming out and giving the formidable Joanne Collins - an Collins is fearr! - your number one vote. Ms McDonald described Ms Collins as a difference maker who is passionate about community, public services, the future of county Limerick and its people. She gets up every morning to make a difference for the people and communities of county Limerick. Shes a qualified special needs assistant. A community creche chairperson. A mother of four children. She understands the daily challenges facing workers and families. Community is everything to her. She is passionate about public services. She is on the ground every day working to make her community better. The manifesto she launches today is called Standing up for County Limerick. I think that says it all. It is a comprehensive, ambitious, and deliverable plan to make this county a better place to build a future and raise a family. Ms McDonald said Sinn Feins vision for a better future resonates strongly in Rural Ireland - in our towns, in our villages, nowhere more so than right here in County Limerick. Joanne gets the work of building a better future. She gets the power of ensuring that potential is met. Joanne wants to go to Dail and fight to make sure that the incredible potential of the place she calls home - County Limerick - is fulfilled. That is the kind of TD this county needs. Joanne Collins will be a TD who will never stop working, never back down, and always keep going to make life better for you and your family, concluded the Sinn Fein Leader. COWS instead of horses will dominate the conversation in Limerick Racecourse at the Teagasc National Dairy Conference. The event, which will feature a number of local speakers, takes place next Wednesday, November 27. The theme of the conference is Robust Dairying for Future Challenges and aims to deliver solutions to the future challenges faced by Irish dairy farmers. Following difficult grazing seasons in the last few years, the conference will address the challenges at farm level in the early session Achieving Grazing Objectives in Real World Conditions. Aine Murray of Teagasc Moorepark and Donal Patton of Teagasc Ballyhaise will discuss managing grazing in challenging conditions. Limerick dairy farmer Michael Carroll, joint winner of the Nutrient Management Category of the Sustainable Grassland Farmer of the Year 2023, will then explain how he manages his farm to achieve the grazing targets at the different stages of the year with a particular focus on challenging periods such as autumn 2023 and spring 2024. The difficult grazing seasons have also coincided with reduction in nitrogen allowances on Irish dairy farms and the second session on Nutrient Use on Dairy Farms improving margins at lower environmental impact will address this concern. Patrick Forrestal, Teagasc researcher in Johnstown Castle, will examine the performance of protected urea. Professor Pat Dillon, director of research at Teagasc, will outline the main actions that dairy farmers need to take to address Irish water quality. Finally, multi-award winning Limerick dairy farmer, John Macnamara, Knockainey, will outline how he is trying to farm to deliver better nitrogen use efficiency. Workshops on a number of important topics take place after lunch. People attending will choose three options from the following six topics - Reducing TB risk in dairy herds; Meeting herd feed requirements for winter and spring; Lessons learned from the Clover150 Programme in 2024; Controlling Dairy Production Costs in 2025; Successful use of Sexed Semen in Irish Dairy Herds and Managing calves for better health outcomes. Speaking at the launch of the conference, Stuart Childs, Teagasc dairy specialist said it has been a challenging 12-18 month period on Irish dairy farms due to weather challenges, associated impacts on animal performance, and the subsequent financial challenges from low output and low milk price. Thankfully, the recent weather and upturn in prices has helped to improve overall sentiment on the ground. This conference is aimed at addressing issues that people encountered in the last 12-18 months, and are likely to encounter again in the future. We hope that farmers will take something from the day that will better equip them to deal with any of those challenges in the years ahead, said Mr Childs. READ MORE: Limerick and Tipperary Woodland Owners call for action to 'save our forests' Also speaking at the launch, Teagasc regional advisory manager in Kerry/Limerick, Majella Moloney said: We are delighted to welcome dairy farmers and industry personnel from all the country, and further afield, to Limerick for the Teagasc National Dairy Conference. "The format of the day and the line-up of speakers will make for very interesting debate on the solutions to challenges facing the dairy industry over the next few years. We encourage early booking to make sure you get the workshops of most interest to you. Book early as places are limited. For more info and to book go to the Teagasc website A NEW book, Revolutionary Women of Tipperary, 1914-1923, but with many Limerick links, will be launched in the Excel Centre, Tipperary Town this Saturday at 2pm. The book by Noreen Higgins McHugh covers the east Limerick Brigade and branches, 1st Battalion DC: Doon, Cappawhite, Templebraden, Oola, Cullen, Cappamore. 2nd Battalion DC: Hospital, Knockainey, Herbertstown, Kilteely, Emly, Knocklong, Garryspillane. 6th Battalion DC: Anglesboro & Barna, Galbally. Renowned historian and author, Ms Higgins McHugh, PhD, MA, BEd, invites readers to explore the riveting and often untold stories of the women of Cumann na mBan in her latest release. This meticulously researched book shines a light on the crucial, yet frequently overlooked, contributions of these formidable women to Ireland's revolutionary era. Building upon her rich body of work, which includes Tipperarys Tithe War, 1830-1838 (2003) and Tracing Your Tipperary Ancestors (2018), Ms Higgins McHugh offers a compelling narrative that guides readers through the tumultuous periods of the War of Independence, the Truce, and the Civil War. Her book answers pressing questions about Cumann na mBan's structure, membership, and the courageous actions undertaken by these women in pursuit of Irish independence. READ MORE: HSE Mid-West searches for PALS volunteers in Limerick hospitals Drawing from extensive historical records, including the Irish Military Archives' 1930 Nominal Rolls, 436 pension summaries, and 364 Service Medal applications, Ms Higgins McHugh presents a vivid account of the personal sacrifices and achievements of Cumann na mBan members from Tipperary and East Limerick. The book also explores the international connections of Cumann na mBan, particularly in the USA, and their collaboration with the Irish White Cross. Revolutionary Women of Tipperary, 19141923 not only uncovers the hidden history of Cumann na mBan but also highlights the vital role women played in shaping Ireland's struggle for independence.Described as an essential read for historians, scholars, and anyone interested in understanding the rich tapestry of Ireland's past. Discover the stories of indomitable women who fought for a nation, and the legacy they left behind. Revolutionary Women of Tipperary, 19141923 will available to order via buythebook.ie and at the book launch in The Excel Centre, Tipperary town, 2pm, Saturday, November 23. It will also be available at The Bookworm, Liberty Square, Thurles and McHugh & Associates, 19 St Michael Street, Tipperary town and other outlets. PLANS to close a section of O'Connell Street for three Sundays in December have been abandoned in favour of just one day before Christmas. Limerick City and County Council had advertised its intention to close an area of The Crescent around the Daniel O'Connell Monument and fountain to motorised vehicles for Christmas-related activities in the run up to Christmas. The area was set to be cordoned off on Sundays, December 8, December 15 and December 22. READ MORE: Cows instead of horses to be the focus at Limerick Racecourse At a council meeting this week, the chair of the Limerick City Centre Traders Association pleaded with local authority bosses not to go through with the measure. Caroline Long said: "I want to say on behalf of the traders: it is detrimental to have the Crescent closed on shopping days. We have very few shopping days left until Christmas. It would have been the second time the stretch of road has been closed this year, after it was cordoned off during the month of August at the behest of Mayor John Moran. Members of the public had the chance to have their say to the council up to last Tuesday, and a decision was made after this. Ms Long said: We cannot understand the sense of it. We would plead with you not to do that to us. Not at our busiest time of the year. People will just think, part of that (street) is closed, Ill go to the Crescent Shopping Centre instead. We are fighting the Crescent Shopping Centre all the time, but this is putting another obstacle in our way and for what really? Now, in an email sent to council members this Friday, engineer John Gannon confirmed The Crescent will be closed for just one Sunday - the final one before Christmas on December 22. It's understood a festive event is planned for the area on that day, the details of which are expected to be confirmed in the days to come. No incentive, wont buy. That appears to be the message coming through from dismayed consumers in Delhi after the state government failed to renew road tax and registration benefits on electric cars and two wheelers this September. Result: an unprecedented fall in sales of the eco-friendly vehicles from September to November, even as pollution levels have hit record levels in the capital in recent days. Data from the governments Vahan dashboard showed that registration of electric four-wheelers in Delhi fell 79% to just 77 units in September compared to 312 EVs in August. October saw sales of 148 units of electric cars, which then crashed to just 56 units in November thus far. Significantly, the national capital is one of the three largest markets for electric cars in India and the largest for electric taxis. The decline is especially pronounced in the case of electric cabs, sops for which were taken away from the PM e-DRIVE scheme, which used to offer subsidies on the purchase of electric cars for commercial use. PM e-DRIVE came into effect on 1 October, replacing the FAME-II policy. The double whammy arising from a lack of both state and central government support has led to fleet buyers pausing sales in Delhi, which has 8,000 registered electric cabs. Also read | Bajaj's aggressive push threatens Ola's EV dominance as share slips below 30Percent As pollution levels hit 40-year peak levels in Delhi, the capital has lost its early advantage as a top EV market thanks to a forward-looking EV policy formulated in 2019. Data shows neighbouring cities like Noida and Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh and Gurugram and Faridabad in Haryana have overtaken Delhi, as buyers hunt for more favourable sops from state governments. Starting September, EVs in Delhi are 10% more expensive, while they are now close to 15% cheaper in Delhi and Haryana. Ajay Agarwal, chairperson of Federation of Dealers Association of India (FADA)-Delhi, and owner of TREO Tata, told Mint that the withdrawal of incentives such as registration fee waivers for personal EVs and FAME subsidies for electric cabs has halted progress in the past two months, even as neighbouring states continue to see growth in EV adoption. Delhis 2020 EV policy had built strong momentum, but the current vacuum risks undoing these gains," Agarwal said. Policymakers must urgently notify a revised policy and reinstate incentives to drive EV adoption and combat Delhis severe pollution crisis." The renewal of Delhis EV policy is in limbo as the state government awaits stability of policy under a new chief minister. Delhis neighbours gaining EV advantage Data from FADA Research highlights a contrasting trend in EV retail sales between Delhi and its neighbouring regions. In Delhi, electric two-wheeler (2W) sales saw a marginal decline of 0.8% y-o-y from April to October 2024, with 18,185 units sold compared to 18,327 in the same period in 2023. The electric passenger vehicle (PV) segment in Delhi experienced a sharper decline of 36.1%, dropping from 4,520 units in April-October 2023 to 2,887 units in the corresponding period in 2024. In contrast, the neighbouring regions of Gurugram and Faridabad as well as Noida and Ghaziabad recorded remarkable growth in EV sales during the same period. Also read | IPO-bound Hyundai Motor India bets on capacity addition, Creta EV to drive growth Two-wheeler EV sales in Gurugram and Faridabad grew by 118.57% y-o-y, while Noida and Gaziabad witnessed an even higher growth of 124.31% y-o-y. Similarly, electric passenger vehicle sales in Gurugram and Faridabad increased by 85.46%, and Noida and Gaziabad saw growth of 20.68%. These numbers suggest that these areas are becoming hotspots for EV adoption due to better incentives and infrastructure, highlighting that EV consumers are still price-sensitive, and subsidies are crucial drivers of demand in the market. Indian automaker Mahindra & Mahindra has revealed new details about its forthcoming electric SUVs, the XEV 9e and BE 6e, ahead of their official debut next week. The company has shared a teaser video featuring R Velusamy, President of Automotive Technology and Product Development, discussing the advanced battery technology, charging capabilities, and performance of the two models (via HT Auto). The XEV 9e and BE 6e will mark Mahindras second and third fully electric vehicles after the XUV400 EV. Their grand unveiling is scheduled for 26 November during an event in Chennai. Deliveries are expected to commence in the final quarter of the 2024-25 financial year. Notably, the XEV 9e and BE 6e are built on Mahindras bespoke INGLO platform, designed specifically for electric vehicles. Featuring sharp, futuristic styling, these SUVs are poised to stand out in a competitive market. The BE 6e, in particular, is expected to rival models such as the Tata Curvv EV. The XEV 9e will sport a connected LED light bar at the front, vertical lighting elements, and a swooping bonnet adorned with Mahindras new EV logo. Meanwhile, the BE 6e will feature an XUV 3XO-inspired lighting setup, with distinctive badging on the bonnet instead of the traditional Mahindra logo. Mahindra has confirmed that both models will offer two battery options: 59kWh and 79kWh, based on the advanced Blade battery technology from Chinese EV giant BYD. These batteries will support ultra-fast charging, enabling the SUVs to recharge from 20 per cent to 80 per cent in just 20 minutes when using a 175kW DC fast charger. With these battery configurations, the SUVs are expected to achieve a range of 450 to 500 kilometres on a single charge, offering strong credentials for long-distance travel. Both models will be equipped with a single electric motor mounted on the rear axle, delivering power outputs ranging from 228 bhp to 282 bhp. This makes the XEV 9e and BE 6e among the most powerful electric vehicles in India. Additionally, the BE 6e could potentially feature a dual-motor setup, offering even greater performance capabilities. Mahindra has teased several high-end features for the XEV 9e and BE 6e. The SUVs will boast modern interiors, including dual-screen and triple-screen layouts, a panoramic sunroof, a squared steering wheel with an illuminated logo, and advanced toggle controls. Mumbai, Maharashtra, India Business Wire India Avail offers on fashion, luxury, and beauty from leading global and Indian brands during the sale period Wish listers get early access to the sale today The flagship e-commerce initiatives of the Tata GroupTata CLiQ Fashion, Tata CLiQ Luxury, and Tata CLiQ Palette have announced their highly anticipated annual Black Friday Sale. Scheduled from November 23 to December 2, 2024, the sale will offer consumers the perfect opportunity to shop from brands they love the most across a range of categories, including apparel, beauty, accessories, footwear, home, jewellery, kids, watches, and more, at never-seen-before prices. From exclusive offers to limited-hour flash deals, it's time to browse and shop as we kick-start the holiday season celebrations. Gopal Asthana, Chief Executive Officer, Tata CLiQ, said, The Black Friday sale is indeed an exciting time. With unbeatable offers on a wide range of leading brands across categories, it is our biggest sale event for the holiday season. With the rebranding of Tata CLiQ to Tata CLiQ Fashion, weve not only strengthened our portfolio as we switch our focus to fashion and lifestyle but also enhanced the app and web experience to offer consumers a seamless, fashion-forward shopping experience. On Tata CLiQ Luxury and Tata CLiQ Palette, we've further expanded our offerings with the addition of new categories, brands, and exclusive collections to cater to the current trends and demand. We anticipate strong growth compared to last year's sale event, with categories such as winter wear, western fashion, and wedding attire expected to perform particularly well given the current season. We look forward to ending the calendar year on a high note. This Black Friday, Tata CLiQ Fashion is embracing the theme Embrace your every colour, inviting shoppers to explore their unique style and celebrate individuality. The platforms fashion-forward collection empowers consumers to mix, match, and stand out as they curate their looks with boundless creativity. With up to 85% off, consumers can avail blockbuster deals on the latest styles and collections from renowned brands across fashion and lifestyle, in addition to added benefits such as additional coupons, 100% cashback, and bank offers. Refresh your wardrobe this season with unbeatable deals on menswear and womenswear from sought-after brands like BIBA, Fabindia, Jack & Jones, Levis, Pepe Jeans, Under Armour, U.S. Polo Assn., Vero Moda, and more, up to 30-80% off. In the footwear category for men and women, adidas, Asics, Bugatti, Metro, On, Puma, and more are up to 30% - 70% off. Additionally, Red Tape will be at flat 80% off and Woodland will be at flat 50% off. Timepieces from brands like Armani Exchange, Guess, and Tommy Hilfiger are up to 50% off. Brands in the eyewear category are up to 85% off. Dont miss out on savings on handbags from Aldo, Guess, and Hidesign as well as luggage from Aristocrat, Calvin Klein, Skybags, and Tommy Hilfiger. In the jewellery category, Giva will be available at a flat 55% off, and Joyalukkas, Mia by Tanishq, and P.N. Gadgil will have exciting offers one cant miss. Ddecor and Pure Home & Living in the home category are up to 25% off and Wonderchef is up to 45% off. If one is looking at shopping for gadgets, avail exciting offers on Apple, Samsung, and Sony accessories, along with Marshall products. With up to 60% off, Tata CLiQ Palette is encouring consumers to Go Big on Bold by offering attractive deals on beauty this Black Friyay Sale, making it the perfect time to indulge and stock up on beauty products. Avail offers and gifts with purchases on make-up brands like Maybelline New York and Sugar Cosmetics. With the onset of winter, give your skin the care it deserves by shopping for skincare essentials that will be up to 60% off. In the luxury section, Clinique and M.A.C will be up to 30% off, along with complimentary gifts on all orders. Milkshake and Olaplex haircare products will be up to 15% off, with complimentary gifts included on select purchases. Additionally, fragrances from brands like Ferragamo, Rabanne, and Versace will be available at up to 10-40% off. Consumers can now access Tata CLiQ Palette on Tata CLiQ Fashion app. Tata CLiQ Luxury, Indias premier luxury lifestyle platform, invites consumers to dive into a world of exceptional finds at extraordinary prices. 'Expect the unexpected' this Black Friday Sale with up to 50% off, surprise giveaways, unexpected price drops, and much more. Step out in style this holiday season with menswear brands like Boss, Brooks Brothers, Gant, Lacoste, and True Religion up to 40-60% off, and womenswear brands like DKNY, Forever New, Guess, and La Vie En Rose up to 30-50% off. The kids' fashion and accessories category also has offers on brands like Baby Jalebi, Boss Kids, Choupette, and Joie. In the Indiluxe section, House of Masaba, Mason Home, Mokobara, Ritu Kumar, Saint G, Shantanu and Nikhil, and more are up to 30-60% off. If one is looking at investing in a new timepiece, brands like Maserati, Michael Kors, and Versace are up to 40-45% off. Eyewear brands like Burberry, D&G, Prada, Ray-Ban, and Tom Ford have special offers. In the jewellery category, Swarovski and Ted Baker are up to 50% and 70% off, respectively. Avail exceptional offers of up to 30-50% off on Aspinal of London, Guess, Samsonite, and Tommy Hilfiger in the accessories section. Footwear brands like adidas Originals, Aldo, New Balance, and Under Armour are also offering up to 35-50% off. Make the most of the irresistible offers on home brands like Ellementry, Haus of Bars by Speedx, Le Creuset, Mason Home, Noritake, Smeg, Spread Spain, and Whispering Homes. Fragrance enthusiasts can avail offers up to 50% off on brands Armani, Jean Paul Gaultier, Yves Saint Laurent, and more. In addition, enjoy exciting offers and complimentary gifts from Estee Lauder, Jo Malone London, M.A.C, and Tom Ford fragrances. Skincare brands like Paulas Choice is at a flat 15% off, and one can avail gifts with every purchase on Forest Essentials. Tata CLiQ Fashion, Tata CLiQ Luxury, and Tata CLiQ Palette are offering a 10% instant discount on ICICI Bank and American Express credit cards. Tata CLiQ Fashion and Tata CLiQ Luxury will also offer 10% instant discount on RBL Bank credit cards. These offers are only valid from November 22 December 02, 2024, subject to T&C. A complaint has been filed against Adani Group alleging racism at its Australia coal unit. The complaint was filed by an Aboriginal group at the Human Rights Commission of the country, marking another setback for the ports-to-power conglomerate after the US bribery allegations. Earlier this week, the Nagana Yarrbayn Wangan & Jagalingou Cultural Custodians in Queensland state alleged serious racial discrimination by the unit, Bravus Mining and Resources in the complaint, reported Reuters. They alleged that the employees at the unit used to verbally and physically obstruct and prevent members of the Aboriginal group from getting springs near Carmichael coal mine of Adani in order to perform cultural rites and share cultural knowledge, the report said citing the complaint. Also Read | Sebi investigating if Adani group flouted disclosure rules We have endured years of discrimination and vilification from Adani, and were not putting up with this anymore," Nagana Yarrbayn Senior Cultural Custodian Adrian Burragubba said in a statement quoted by the report. "Adani has been on notice about their conduct since our lawyers sent a concerns notice last year, and they refused to take action. Legal recourse is the only answer, it added. Allegations wholly rejected However, the allegation of the group was wholly rejected, stating it to be a measure to stop Bravus from sharing their side of the story and sharing facts with the public about our interactions with him and members of his Family Council, the report said, citing a Bravus spokesperson. The mine is functioning safely and responsibly according to the laws of Queensland and Australia in partnership with the majority Traditional Owner group for the mining area according to the terms ratified under the Indigenous Land Use Agreements and Cultural Heritage Management Plans for over two years, the report said. Currently, the company has not received any notification from the Australian Human Rights Commission regarding the complaint, it added. The Commission was not able to confirm if they had received the complaint till the complainant and respondent acknowledged it publically, the spokesperson added. The Aboriginal group is demanding compensation, apology, the removal of offending social media, the withdrawal of media statements and anti-racism and cultural awareness training for directors, managers and employees of the company. The Carmichael coal mine fought a seven-year campaign by climate activists and Aboriginal groups, after which the first cargo was shipped in December 2021. Gautam Adani bribery case: The YSR Congress party has said that its government in Andhra Pradesh had no direct agreement with Adani Group. The party said that the power sale pact signed in 2021, when it was in power, was between the Solar Energy Corporation of India Ltd (SECI) and AP Discoms. Former chief minister Jagan Mohan Reddy-led party's reaction came in response to Adani Group getting indicted by the US Department of Justice for allegedly paying bribes for solar power contracts in Andhra Pradesh during YSRCP rule. In a statement, the party said the power procurement of 7,000 MW was approved by AP Electricity Regulatory Commission in November, 2021 after which the Power Sale Agreement (PSA) was signed on December 1, 2021 between SECI and AP Discoms. Adani, and seven others, including his nephew Sagar, have been charged by the US Department of Justice with paying bribes to unidentified officials of state governments in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha to buy expensive solar power, potentially earning more than USD 2 billion in profit over 20 years. Adani, in 2021 and 2022, met personally with government officials and offered them bribes to sign power sale agreements with SECI, according to the US Attorney's Office. YSR Congress was in power in Andhra Pradesh during the period under discussion. Also Read | Adani indictment rocks equities and bonds alike "It is necessary to mention that SECI is a Government of India enterprise. There is no direct agreement between AP DISCOMs and any other entities including those belonging to the Adani group. Therefore, the allegations made on the state government in the light of the indictment are incorrect," the YSRCP said in the statement. The PPA with SECI was also approved by the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission, it said. Agreements with Jagan govt? The previous Andhra Pradesh government entered into an arrangement to procure power from SECI to the tune of 7,000 MW at 2.49 per kWh for 25 year period with 3,000 MW commencing in FY 2024-25, 3,000 MW commencing in FY 2025-26 and 1,000 MW commencing in FY 2026-27 with waiver of the ISTS ( Inter State Transmission System) charges, the party said in a statement. There is no direct agreement between AP DISCOMs and any other entities including those belonging to the Adani group. The procurement of power at such a cheap rate would substantially benefit the state with a saving of 3,700 crore per annum and as the agreement is for a period of 25 years and the total benefit to the state on account of this agreement would be immense, the statement added. Mumbai: Softening prices of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) are likely to stabilise in the months ahead and bring relief to Indian manufacturers, but they will still have to improve their operational efficiency to compete against Chinese rivals, industry executives and analysts said. API prices have been falling for the past 12-15 months, driven mainly by sharp price cuts by Chinese companies, which is impacting the bottom line of Indian API companies. APIs are the chemical compounds in medicines that produce the desired effect in treating a condition. You are in a commodity business. So, you have to constantly improve the prices," Sudarshan Jain, secretary general of the Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance, told Mint, adding that API prices are not likely to go up. It is important that constant efforts are taken by API companies to contain the cost and improve their operational efficiency." Now, it's come to a stage where if you cut [prices] further, you will not be making money then there should be some stability," said Prashant Nair, lead analyst for pharma and healthcare at Ambit Capital. India is trying to become self-sufficient in API manufacturing and reduce its reliance on the import of critical bulk drugs after restrictions during covid-19 made the country vulnerable to supply and price risks. With this objective, the government launched a production-linked incentive scheme to encourage the domestic manufacture of 41 bulk drugs from FY21 to FY30. Prices have fallen 15-40% for domestic APIs and over 25% in the API exports business this fiscal year, according to a September report by credit ratings firm India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra). Prices of key APIs such as paracetamol and antibiotics cephalosporin and penicillin-G have fallen the most. We expect API prices to normalise in Q4 of FY25," Sahil Maheshwari, general manager for strategy at Akums Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Ltd, told Mint. Alos Read | Govt orders study to gauge hurdles in producing APIs Akums, a contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO), reported a weak Q2, with revenue falling 12% year-on-year. CDMOs provide pharma development services including commercial drug manufacturing, research and development, analysis, clinical trials, and marketing support. That is the hope that in the next six months to a year, we should see at least some stability with respect to the pricing pressure," Nilima Prasad Divi, director - commercial at Divis Laboratories, told investors on an earnings call earlier this month. Divis makes more than 10 generic APIs, supplying customers in over 95 countries. Why prices fell During covid-19, there was a high degree of volatility in API pricing. China is the worlds biggest exporter of APIs, and with the fear of supply chains being disrupted due to lockdowns and blockades, many companies started stocking up. The prices of the most commonly used APIs shot up by 50% to 200% during the pandemic. "API prices and volumes went up abnormally during Covid-19. Companies are hopeful that pricing will stabilise as profitability has come down sharply due to the current weakness. Formulation companies have benefited from lower API prices. They are doing well in most markets. This should lead to a steady demand for APIs as well," said Nair of Ambit Capital. In the post-pandemic years, as the restrictions were lifted, demand for APIs eased and prices started declining. The prices of base chemicals that are used as raw material to make APIs also dropped, further contributing to the softening prices of APIs. However, Chinese suppliers started cutting their prices significantly last year, hurting the sales of domestic API companies. The drastic price reduction by Chinese companies may have been in anticipation of higher production in India following the governments production-linked incentives (PLI) for bulk drugs, or APIs, in 2021. Also Read | Spain may invest in Indias bulk drug parks to diversify supplies The central government launched 27 greenfield bulk drug park projects under the PLI scheme for making key starting materials and APIs locally in March this year. We have started seeing traction on the PLI scheme whenever we make our own APIs, China would like to reduce its prices further," said Jain. Those kinds of competitive pressures will be there in the market." The scheme has already led to Aurobindo Pharma and Lyfius Pharma producing penicillin-G in India. Penicillin-G was last manufactured locally in the late 1980s. Price stabilisation factors Costs of base chemicals have stabilised on the back of hardening crude oil prices, aiding in the stabilisation of API costs. Additionally, demand is stable and margins at drug companies have expanded this year. Falling API prices have benefitted the countrys drug manufacturers, which face pricing pressure in the US market. Alkem Labs, which has a large portfolio of antibiotic and anti-infective formulation drugs, said its Ebitda margin expanded to 22% in Q2 of FY25 from 21.7% a year earlier due to the sharp drop in antibiotic API prices. While revenue growth at Akums and other API manufacturers like Aarti Drugs dropped in the last quarter, larger companies Divis and Aurobindo Pharma sustained their top-line growth on the back of strong volume growth. Also Read | Glenmark weighs sale of API business to pare debt India imports about 35% of its APIs, of which 70% are from China. For key drugs such as penicillin-G, imports were as much as 100%. Data from the Pharmaceutical Exports Promotion Council (Pharmexcil) showed a steady uptick in bulk drug imports, which grew 13.06% in the first two months of FY25 from a year earlier. The total volume of imports from China grew over 20 per cent year-on-year during the first quarter of FY25, according to the Ind-Ra report. (Bloomberg) -- US aviation regulators are examining whether pilots of Boeing Co.s 737 Max should take new precautions following two incidents in which planes were filled with smoke after large birds struck the engines. A small group of investigators at the Federal Aviation Administration has developed internal recommendations on how to address the issue, including potentially requiring pilots to shut down one or both air conditioning packs during takeoff that regulate airflow in the cockpit. The recommendations, seen by Bloomberg News, also urge the FAA to review all novel and unique features of the 737 Max to ensure that they are adequately communicated in pilot operating manuals. A representative for the FAA said Thursday that the agency is convening a Corrective Action Review Board in the coming weeks, and that the boards work will include thoroughly evaluating the internal FAA safety recommendations. The National Transportation Safety Board said separately Thursday that it was gathering information about the bird-strike incidents but didnt say whether it would conduct its own investigation. The mishaps involved Boeing Co. 737 Max aircraft flown by Southwest Airlines Co. and LEAP-1B engines made by CFM International, a joint venture of General Electric Co. and Safran SA. The FAA said its collaborating with Boeing, CFM and European aviation safety regulators to address the engine issue. The review board which identifies and evaluates safety issues, develops corrective steps and can order changes at airlines or manufacturers will examine the data and develop a path forward, the FAA said in a statement. The FAA has determined this is not an immediate flight-safety issue. Following the incidents, Southwest said it notified pilots about the effects of the bird strikes and reiterated safety procedures for such incidents. The airline continues to address this issue through its robust safety management system while working with the manufacturers and safety regulators to identify a permanent solution, it said in a statement Thursday. The system linked to the smoke incidents doesnt appear in pilot training or operating materials, which is very concerning, the internal FAA group said, likening it to the flight control system tied to two fatal 737 Max crashes in 2018 and 2019. Bird Strikes The incidents involved a Southwest flight from Havana to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on March 5, 2023, in which at least one turkey vulture was sucked into the engine. In the second, a female bald eagle hit the engine of a New Orleans to Tampa flight on Dec. 20. Both incidents caused heavy fan blade damage, according to a CFM presentation seen by Bloomberg News. In both instances, damage to the fan blades activated a load reduction device in the LEAP-1B engines designed to reduce unbalanced dynamic loads in engine structures, followed by shutdowns. Engine oil sumps were also damaged in both cases, allowing oil to hit the high-temperature engine compressor, resulting in smoke and fumes that can be fed into the cockpit from the left engine and into the cabin from the right, based on a memo sent by Southwest to its pilots in February. These engine failures occurred during a critical phase of flight and were further compounded by the immediate presence of smoke and fumes associated with the severe engine damage entering either the flight deck or the cabin through the air conditioning system, the bulletin said. The note, along with a similar one from American Airlines Group Inc. to its pilots, also contained information from Boeing. Load Reduction Devices have been widely used across the industry for more than 20 years and operated as designed, a spokesperson for CFM said in a statement. We are collaborating with the FAA, EASA and Boeing to determine if there are any learnings from recent events. A spokesperson for Boeing said the planemaker is working with the authorities that are investigating the incidents. We continue to follow regulatory processes to properly address potential issues and ensure the continued safety of the global fleet, they said. --With assistance from Julie Johnsson. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal recently faced backlash after posting a controversial job listing for the position of Chief of Staff at the food delivery giant. The catch? The selected candidate would not receive a salary for the first year but would instead be required to donate 20 lakh to Feeding India, Zomatos non-profit arm. Social media erupted in criticism, accusing Goyal of exploiting job seekers. Many pointed out that the 20 lakh condition excluded talented candidates who couldnt afford the hefty fee. Others called it a thinly veiled paid internship, inappropriate for a role of such stature. Despite the uproar, one former Zomato employee, Arnav Gupta, has spoken in support of Goyal. Gupta, who served as Zomatos Engineering Head of Consumer App until 2024, shared his perspective on the value of the opportunity. In response to Goyals post on X (formerly Twitter), Gupta wrote, If you're looking for a career in Management Consulting or Strategy, this is worth waaaay more than 20L! He argued that the learning potential under Goyals mentorship surpassed the cost of any MBA programme in India, many of which charge similar fees. Goyals job post emphasized that the ideal candidate should be down to earth and entitled to zero. He claimed the experience would provide 10x more learnings than a two-year degree from a top management school. The controversy hasnt deterred applicants. By Thursday, Goyal revealed over 10,000 people had applied. He categorized them into four groups: those who genuinely lacked funds, those falsely claiming financial hardship, those with partial funds, and those who could pay in full. Is there more than what meets the eye? The CEO post was announced after a recent discovery on Zomato left many puzzled, as mysterious one dish restaurants appeared on the platform. These eateries, located in Chandigarh, specifically in Nayagaon area, were offering only a single dish at extremely high prices. Some of these restaurants had no reviews, while others were filled with negative feedback. The names of the dishes are also raising eyebrows, as theyre selling items like Kiwi Delight Mojito, Merry Berry, Green Apple Soda and Citrus Punch. This sparked a lot of curiosity, and there was talk that these restaurants could be involved in illegal activities like drug peddling, money laundering, and other suspicious practices. An individual tagging food delivery giants CEO Deepinder Goyal and Chandigarh police wrote, Whats going on with Zomato in Chandigarh? Fake restaurants offering just ONE dish at absurd prices, with non-existent addresses. Something really shady is cooking on Zomato." He further asked, Anyone else noticed this?" Indian billionaire Gautam Adani and some associates are facing serious allegations of fraud brought by the US attorneys office in New York. According to prosecutors, the Adani group orchestrated a yearslong scheme involving the payment of $250 million in bribes to Indian government officials to secure favourable terms for solar power contracts awarded to Adani Green Energy Ltd and Azure Power Global Ltd, a New Delhi-based firm that was previously listed on the New York Stock Exchange. The charges, which include violations of US anti-corruption and fraud laws, carry significant legal and financial implications. Mint explains the legal process in the US justice system involved in the Adani case. What are the charges? Gautam Adani, the chairman of Adani group and Adani Green Energy, and seven executives have been indicted by the US Department of Justice (DOJ) on five counts: 1.Bribery: Allegedly paying about $250 million to Indian officials between 2020 and 2024 to secure solar energy contracts. 2.Securities fraud: Inflating stock values by concealing these bribery activities and misleading investors. 3.Wire fraud: Using interstate communications to carry out fraudulent schemes. 4.Violations under the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA): Offering bribes to foreign officials to gain business advantages. 5.Accounting fraud: Failing to disclose illicit payments and submitting false financial reports. What is the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA)? The FCPA, enacted in the 1970s, aims to curb bribery and fraud in international business dealings. It prohibits US companies, citizens, and certain foreign entities from offering bribes to foreign officials to secure business advantages. It also mandates maintaining accurate financial records and implementing internal controls. Enforced by the DOJ and the US Securities and Exchange Commission, the FCPA has two main provisions: Anti-bribery: Prohibits offering or promising anything of value to foreign officials for business benefits. Accounting provisions: Requires accurate financial reporting to prevent concealment of illicit payments. Also read | Adani bribery case: whistleblowers, WhatsApp texts, and incentives What are the penalties for anti-bribery violations under FCPA? For individuals: Fines of up to $250,000 per violation or up to five years in prison, or both. For companies: Fines of up to $2 million per violation or twice the benefit gained or sought by the corrupt act, along with repayment of illegally obtained profits. Additionally, convicted companies may face business restrictions or loss of government contracts. What is the next process? Legal proceedings following an indictment include: Arraignment The defendants will be brought before a judge and formally charged. The defendants enter a plea: guilty, not guilty, or no contest. Pre-trial motions begin Both prosecution and defense may file motions (e.g., to dismiss charges, exclude evidence, or change trial venue). The court will rule on these motions. Discovery Both prosecution and defense exchange evidence, including witness statements and documents. Plea bargaining The defense and prosecution may negotiate a plea deal to reduce charges or penalties. Trial The prosecution presents evidence to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The defense challenges evidence. The jury (or judge in a bench trial) deliberates and delivers a verdict. Sentencing If found guilty, a sentencing hearing will determine the punishment. Possible penalties include fines, imprisonment, or probation. Appeals The defendants can appeal to the US Court of Appeals. The court may reverse the conviction, reduce the sentence, or order a new trial. US Supreme Court If the Court of Appeals upholds the conviction, Adani and the others may appeal to the US Supreme Court. However, the US Supreme Court is not obligated to hear such cases. It usually takes up cases that could have national significance, harmonize conflicting decisions in the federal circuit courts, and/or have precedential value. Also read | Adani may see wider impact from US setback What is the US-India extradition process? The India-US Extradition Treaty, signed in 1997, facilitates the transfer of individuals facing serious criminal charges between the two nations. It covers crimes punishable by at least one year in prison, such as bribery and fraud, but excludes political offences. The treaty is based on the principle of dual criminalitymeaning, the alleged crime must be recognized in both countries, and the case must be registered in both jurisdictions for the treaty to be invoked. Past cases under FCPA enforcement The Adani group joins a list of high-profile entities charged under the FCPA. Notable cases include: Goldman Sachs (2020): $1.6 billion settlement for $1 billion in bribes to officials in Malaysia and the UAE. Ericsson (2019): $1 billion fine for bribery in Africa and Asia. Siemens AG (2008): $800 million settlement for corruption across multiple countries. Glencore (2022): $700 million settlement for bribery in Nigeria and Venezuela. Teva Pharmaceuticals (2016): $519 million for bribery in Russia, Ukraine, and Mexico. Also read | Adani indictment rocks equities and bonds alike Nov 22 (Reuters) - Base metal prices mostly traded lower on Friday, pressured by a stronger dollar and risk-averse sentiment due to the escalating conflict in the Ukraine-Russia war. Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange (LME) eased 0.1% to $8,999 per metric ton by 0334 GMT, while the most-traded December copper contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE) fell 0.9% to 73,800 yuan ($10,184.65) a ton. Escalations in the Russia-Ukraine war rattled risk appetite across financial markets, while a stronger dollar - on track for the eighth straight weekly gain - made greenback-priced metals more expensive to holders of other currencies. "I think the war is a wild card so risk-off pivot will hurt base metals. The higher dollar is putting pressure on base metals too," said a metals trader. "There is still no good news from China on how they'll stimulate more, although they are on the right track. Bitcoin is taking away attention from commodities as well," the trader said. Bitcoin came within a whisker of closing above $100,000 for the first time on Thursday as the election of Donald Trump as U.S. president spurred expectations that his administration will create a friendly regulatory environment for cryptocurrencies. Physical copper demand showed a slight uptick during China's traditionally strong consumption season, as indicated by a modest decline in SHFE inventories. SHFE copper stocks were last at 130,465 tons, the lowest since Feb. 8. LME aluminium fell 0.4% to $2,620.50, while nickel edged 0.1% higher to $15,725, zinc advanced 0.4% to $3,003, lead increased 0.5% to $2,009 and tin was up 0.8% at $28,980. SHFE aluminium fell nearly 1% to 20,520 yuan a ton, nickel dropped 1.5% to 125,390 yuan, lead declined 0.3% to 16,920 yuan, tin was down 0.9% at 241,240 yuan while zinc rose 0.2% to 25,245 yuan. For the top stories in metals and other news, click or STOCKHOLM, Nov 22 (Reuters) - Sweden's Northvolt said on Thursday it will seek U.S. Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection as the cash-strapped battery start-up seeks to sort out its finances. The company went in a matter of months this year from being Europe's best shot at a home-grown electric-vehicle battery champion to racing to stay afloat, hobbled by production problems and as funding ran out. Northvolt, whose motto is "make oil history", has received more than $10 billion in equity, debt and public financing, and counts Volkswagen, with a 21% stake, and Goldman Sachs, with a 19% holding, as its biggest owners. Here is a timeline of major events. 2016-2018 Company founded in 2016 as SGF Energy by two former Tesla executives and venture firm Vargas Holding. It becomes Northvolt in 2017, receiving equity funding of $12 million that year and an additional $120 million in 2018. The group in 2017 announces plans to build $4 billion lithium-ion battery gigafactory Northvolt Ett and research facility Northvolt Labs. It partners with BMW and truck maker Scania. It says in October 2018 it is developing a battery systems factory in Poland. 2019 Volkswagen, BMW and Goldman Sachs are among investors in a $1 billion equity capital raise. Volkswagen takes a stake of about 20%, becoming the biggest owner, with battery production for the automaker planned for late 2023 or early 2024. 2020 Northvolt raises $600 million in equity and $1.6 billion in debt. BMW signs a 2 billion euro ($2.16 billion) contract for battery cells to be produced from 2024. 2021 Volkswagen places a 10-year, $14 billion battery cell order with the company, Northvolt says in March. In the same month it announces the acquisition of California-based lithium-metal battery start-up Cuberg. Later that year the group raises $2.75 billion in equity to finance an expansion of Northvolt Ett, aiming for the plant to have annual capacity of 60 gigawatt hours, enough for some one million cars. It also establishes the Novo joint venture with Volvo Cars, with plans for a 50 GWh factory, and in December announces that it has formed the Aurora lithium joint venture with Portugal's Galp. The company says in December it has assembled the first lithium-ion battery cell at Northvolt Ett. 2022 Sweden is turning into a battery-making superpower, the then-industry minister tells news agency TT. Northvolt announces in February plans for gigafactory Northvolt Fem in Sweden. This is first meant to be a battery cell factory, then an active cathode material plant. It is cancelled in 2024. The group also in 2022 delivers the first battery cells to customers. It says in July it has raised $1.7 billion in convertible debt for factory rollouts. 2023 Sources tell Reuters in February that Northvolt plans to hire banks for an initial public offering that could take place within 12 months and value the company at more than $20 billion. The IPO is later postponed. The group says in August it has raised $1.9 billion in convertible debt to finance expansion in Europe, North America. Northvolt announces plans in September for the $5 billion Northvolt Six battery plant in the Montreal region of Quebec, Canada. It touts a $50 billion order book and almost 6,000 employees. 2024 January - Northvolt inks a $5 billion loan package to pay for the second stage of Northvolt Ett, a tripling of capacity. Sweden issues credit guarantees for $1.5 billion of the package, but the money is not paid out as construction is halted. March - In the presence of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Northvolt starts construction of Northvolt Drei in Germany, with planned annual production capacity of 60 GWh. The plant wins 900 million euro in subsidies. June - BMW cancels a 2 billion euro battery order signed in 2020. Sources tell Reuters the reason is that Northvolt cannot deliver on time. July - Northvolt launches a strategic review of its business, with the CEO saying the company expended too aggressively. August - The group shuts Cuberg in California, concentrating R&D in Sweden. Sept. 9 - Northvolt says it will focus on battery cell production. It halts cathode active material production, effectively shelving plans to become end-to-end self-sufficient in the battery-making value chain. The group says planned battery plants in Canada and Germany may be delayed. Sept. 16 - Sweden's prime minister says the government will not take a stake in Northvolt. Sept. 23 - The company announces layoffs of 1,600 employees in Sweden and cancels the Northvolt Ett expansion, adding it will concentrate on raising production at the current plant. Sept. 24 - Northvolt says Northvolt Ett produced a record 60,000 battery cells in one week, a tiny fraction of the plant's capacity, according to analysts, as production problems persist. Oct. 8 - The Northvolt subsidiary in charge of expanding the plant in Sweden files for bankruptcy with billions of crowns in unpaid debt. Oct. 9 - The head of Northvolt Ett steps down after 15 months in the job. Oct. 10 - The company seeks to sell its stockpile of surplus battery-making materials, sources tell Reuters. Oct. 11 - The group is in talks with investors and lenders to secure about 200 million euros in funding, sources tell Reuters, far less than the $1.4 billion that Swedish media reported earlier in the year that Northvolt hoped to raise. Oct. 21 - Northvolt says it is making significant progress on financing. A source tells Reuters the company aims to raise more than $300 million, which could give it funds until next year. Oct. 31 - Volvo Cars says it is seeking to take full control over Swedish battery-making joint venture NOVO, as Northvolt is no longer contributing funds. Nov. 11 - Northvolt says the head of investments at Volkswagen is leaving the group's board . Nov. 15 - Northvolt has considered seeking U.S. Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection as one of several potential survival options, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. Nov. 18 - Northvolt has missed some in-house production targets and has curtailed production at its plant in northern Sweden, according to internal company documents reviewed by Reuters and company sources. (Bloomberg) -- Texas Governor Greg Abbott is taking an increasingly antagonistic view towards China. The Republican ally of President-elect Donald Trump issued a series of warnings and directives this week against China, including telling the Texas state government to ditch investments in the country. The financial risk of holdings in China is increasing because of the nations belligerent actions in the Pacific region and around the world, Abbott said in a letter to the heads of Texas state agencies. He told them to halt new investments in China and divest existing holdings. Echoing Trumps tough talk against the country, the governor also issued an order Nov. 19 to harden state systems against hostile foreign nations, citing the Chinese Communist Partys malicious espionage operations. A day later, the governor told the state to prepare for potential threats against Texas critical infrastructure from a hostile foreign government or their proxies, citing dangers posed by China. While Texas holdings in China are limited, the governors statement fanned concerns that some of the largest US funds may avoid investing in the country out of political considerations. That hit market sentiment on Friday as disappointing tech earnings and concerns over Trumps imminent return spurred a selloff in Chinese stocks. Winning Strategy Governor Abbots recent actions demonstrate the extent to which politicians, even at the state level, view anti-China posturing as a winning political strategy, said Gabriel Wildau, managing director at Teneo Holdings LLC, a New York-based advisory firm. I doubt that discrete actions like this at the state level will have a significant market impact, but Abbotts action signals the direction of travel, Wildau said by email. The Chinese embassy in Washington didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. Abbott said he instructed Utimco, the $78 billion endowment of the University of Texas and Texas A&M University, to divest from China earlier this year. Other state funds include the $210.5 billion Teacher Retirement System of Texas and the Employees Retirement System of Texas, which manages more than $40 billion. Abbotts investment directive drew praise from one of the states most outspoken China hawks. Investor Kyle Bass, a longtime bear on Chinese markets, called the move a thoughtful and strategic approach to safeguarding Texas economic interests, national security, and long-term prosperity. Bass called on the US government to follow the states lead. --With assistance from Jacob Gu. (Updates with analyst comment in sixth paragraph.) More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com (Bloomberg Opinion) -- This is Bloomberg Opinion Today, an all-around embarrassment for Bloomberg Opinions opinions. Sign up here . Todays Agenda One Short Day Three televisions hang from the ceiling to the left of my desk here in the office. On a normal day, I give them the a cursory glance a handful of times. Today was not a normal day! Every time I looked, there was a new name on the chyron: One minute it was Bill Hwang. Then it was Gautam Adani. A quick flash to Jussie Smollett. Then Matt Gaetz, followed by Pete Hegseth, who was quickly bumped by Gary Gensler, who was bumped again by Benjamin Netanyahu. By the time Jair Bolsonaro showed up, I had a full-blown neck cramp. Thats a lot of news for one morning-into-early-afternoon but I have to begin this newsletter somewhere. So why not start with the US Justice Departments 54-page indictment against Adani, the Indian tycoon with a $169 billion empire. Andy Mukherjee calls it an unexpected gift to President-elect Donald Trump, and an all-around embarrassment for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The long and the short of the saga, according to the indictment, is that Adani Green Energy did a suspicious solar power deal back in 2020 that led to a $250 million bribery scheme with government officials, leaving investors and banks in the dark. Matt Levine calls out the strangeness of it all: Its a little weird, no? he asks. Indian executives of an Indian company listed in India who allegedly paid bribes to Indian government officials to win Indian government contracts were charged with crimes in the US. Paying bribes to government officials seems like it must be a crime, but why is it a crime in the US to pay those bribes in India? Make it make sense! Turns out, Adani Green sold hundreds of millions of dollar-denominated bonds in 2021, some of which landed in the pockets of US investors. Although its considered a bribery case, Matt says the argument of the SEC, which filed a parallel complaint, has all the ingredients of a greenwashing case, too. The argument is that the investors were defrauded because they thought the bonds were ESG, but the bonds were not in fact ESG. Or, rather, the bonds were issued to fund solar projects, yes, but their social and governance credentials were suspect, what with the bribes. Cant say we didnt see this coming: As you might recall, New York City-based Hindenburg Research released a scathing report about Adani in January 2023, saying he pulled off the largest con in corporate history. Although Adani one of Modis business allies was able to shake off the short sellers allegations, Andy says the DOJs grave indictment could change everything. Read the whole thing for free. Bonus India Reading: Playing political games with government handouts is almost certain to backfire. Mihir Sharma Bathroom Bans Moving on to Matt Gaetz: 45 minutes after CNNs Paula Reid informed the former congressman that she knew about a second sexual encounter between him and a 17-year-old in 2017, he withdrew his nomination to be Trumps attorney general. Maybe that means our elected officials can stop worrying about who is allowed to enter the womens bathroom? For the past week or so, Republicans have been engaged in a smear campaign against the Democrat who will be the first openly transgender member of Congress, Representative-elect Sarah McBride of Delaware. Speaker Mike Johnson, who says women deserve womens-only spaces, has officially issued a bathroom ban for the House of Representatives, mandating that transgender staffers must use the restroom that correlates to their gender assigned at birth. So Representative Nancy Mace of South Carolina is labeling bathroom signs and ripping up transgender flags, while Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia made some poor soul at FedEx print a massive poster that says, There are TWO genders: MALE & FEMALE. Trust The Science! Nia-Malika Henderson says such rhetoric only serves to perpetuate disinformation and stereotypes. Transgender Americans dont represent some existential threat to the social order, she writes (free read). Proposals like bathroom bills only serve to create us-versus-them divisions that have led to a flood of anti-trans bills more than 600 in 2024 encompassing every aspect of life, sports, education, employment and bathrooms. Through it all, McBride has been the picture of calm: Im not here to fight about bathrooms. Im here to fight for all Delawareans. I will follow the rules as outlined by Speaker Johnson, even if I disagree, she wrote on X. Her colleague AOC, on the other hand, went after her officials across the aisle: Theyre not doing this to protect people, she said. Theyre endangering women, theyre endangering girls of all kind, and everybody should reject it, its gross. A Banana? In This Economy? What would compel someone to pay $6.2 million for a banana duct-taped to a wall? I have a few ideas: Although I have never met crypto entrepreneur Justin Sun the proud owner of Maurizio Cattelans Comedian I fear the answer is all of the above. In the coming days, I will personally eat the banana as part of this unique artistic experience, honoring its place in both art history and popular culture, he posted on X after the Sothebys auction wrapped up. But dont worry, Sun can manifest his edible art whenever he pleases: His purchase included a starter kit with a detailed instruction manual, a banana and a roll of duct tape. How generous. Forgive me if this sounds glib, but I have to think that humankind will look back at this $6.2 million purchase of a banana and say thats the moment when it all started going downhill. That level of gluttony cant be good for the world, right? One could argue that the silliness of it all may indicate that weve reached an economic tipping point. The US stock market is at historic highs, but Nir Kaissar says warning signals are flashing red. Take one look at Warren Buffetts $325 billion cash pile, and youll know where were heading: Meanwhile, in the Real World, none of us mortals has millions to spend on a single banana! Instead, were lucky if we can keep a steady paycheck. People are as reluctant to leave their jobs as they were in early 2008, John Authers says, and negotiating power is now lower than the norm for the last quarter-century. In todays landscape, it is tempting to romanticize the 1960s, when 30% of the labor force had manufacturing jobs that offered stable wages, long-term employment, a defined-benefit pension and enough income from a single earner to support a family, Allison Schrager writes. But itd be a mistake to return to the economy of yesteryear: Making your way in an uncertain world and a constantly changing economy has always been hard and always will be. But things are not harder than they used to be; in many ways theyre getting easier. If its any consolation, you could go buy a banana at Safeway (29 cents each) and duct-tape it to your wall tonight. Boom! Youre practically a millionaire. Bonus Economy Reading: The UK has led the way in reforming regulation of research on stocks and shares. This year could mark a welcome turning point. Chris Hughes Further Reading Where can Europe find 500 billion for a defense upgrade? Bloombergs editorial board Three charts to debunk Chinas so-called debt crisis. Shuli Ren The Maori treaty debate reveals the ugly side of New Zealand politics. Karishma Vaswani Mike Tyson and Jake Pauls Netflix fight should have been illegal. Adam Minter Target and Walmart both had setbacks in 2022, but only one bounced back. Andrea Felsted Vladimir Putins nuclear threat is a magic trick, but a dangerous one. Marc Champion The pre-pandemic holiday shipping pattern has been permanently disrupted. Thomas Black Investment banks hoping for looser reins may be disappointed. Paul J. Davies ICYMI RFKs war on Froot Loops. American Airlines is shaming passengers. Tainted drinks in Laos are deadly. Amazon opened a portal to China. Giraffes are an endangered species. Kickers A headache for clam farmers in Florida. A 17-year-old passed the State Bar of California. A Georgia city will blow up a hotel to celebrate New Years Eve. Notes: Please send sugar cereal and feedback to Jessica Karl at jkarl9@bloomberg.net. Sign up here and follow us on Threads, TikTok, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Jessica Karl is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist and author of the Bloomberg Opinion Today newsletter. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion The White House has confirmed its awareness of the bribery allegations surrounding billionaire Gautam Adani, chairman of Adani Group. Gautam Adani, along with several other individuals, including nephew Sagar Adani, has been indicted in New York for allegedly orchestrating a large-scale bribery and fraud scheme. Also Read | Adani Group stocks crash after US indicts Chairman, 7 others on bribery charges Adani Group has dismissed as "baseless" the US charges that its billionaire founder, Gautam Adani, paid over $250 million in bribes. In a statement, the conglomerate rejected the allegations made by the US Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission against Adani Green's directors, asserting that it would seek all possible legal recourse. Gautam Adani Indicted in US According to US prosecutors, Gautam Adani, his nephew Sagar Adani, and six other co-defendants are accused of paying around $265 million in bribes to Indian government officials. These payments were reportedly made to secure lucrative contracts estimated to generate $2 billion in profit over two decades. The alleged deals also include the development of Indias largest solar power plant project. The Adani Group has denied all allegations, dismissing them as baseless. However, officials from the Indian government have yet to provide any comment on the matter. Also Read | Adani indictment rocks equities and bonds alike White House Responds to Adani Indictment During a media briefing on Thursday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre addressed the ongoing legal situation surrounding the Adani Group. Jean-Pierre reiterated that the Biden administration is fully aware of the charges against Adani, though she refrained from commenting further on the specifics of the case. We're aware of these allegations, and I would have to refer you to the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) and DOJ (Department of Justice) about the specifics of those allegations against the Adani Group, Jean-Pierre stated. Also Read | Adani may see wider impact from US setback Despite the serious nature of the claims, Jean-Pierre expressed confidence in the stability of the US-India relationship, underscoring the strong foundations on which this bilateral partnership is built. US Dodges Answer to Strong India Relationship The relationship between the US and India is built on an extremely strong foundation, Jean-Pierre noted. What we believe and we are confident about is that we'll continue to navigate this issue as we have with other issues that may have come up. The press secretary further stressed that the White House views the ongoing relationship between the two countries as vital, with cooperation spanning a wide range of global issues. Jean-Pierre also reassured the media that any details regarding the charges against Gautam Adani would be handled by the SEC and DOJ, leaving those agencies to speak on the specifics of the investigation. Mumbai: The Adani Group denied bribery charges and vowed to explore legal options after a damaging indictment in the US, but the move failed to stop a run in its shares, posing the biggest test yet for the conglomerate which had rebuilt investor faith after the Hindenburg episode. Concluding more than two years of investigation, the US Department of Justice accused group founder Gautam Adani, his nephew Sagar Adani, and six executives of Canadian pension fund CDPQ and its investee company Azure Power, of bribing Indian officials to the tune of 2,029 crore to secure favourable green power supply agreements. The US authorities also accused the Adanis of securities fraud for allegedly lying about the group's anti-bribery practices, and concealing investigations while raising funds in the US and elsewhere. Prosecutors alleged that between 2020 and 2024, these individuals bribed unnamed Indian officials to secure solar energy supply contracts. Separately, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) accused the Adani Group of misconduct stemming from what it described as a massive bribery scheme." The Adani Group has always upheld and is steadfastly committed to maintaining the highest standards of governance, transparency and regulatory compliance across all jurisdictions of its operations," a press statement from the group read. Prosecutors alleged that between 2020 and 2024, these individuals bribed unnamed Indian officials to secure solar energy supply contracts. Investors in Adani group companies lost 2.24 trillion as shares plunged, reviving memories of the Hindenburg report in January 2023. However, the US indictment could have a wider impact, lawyers said, potentially involving hefty fines, disgorgement of assets and class action lawsuits, besides losing access to the wealthy investors who have so far backed the tycoon. Adani Green Energy, the alleged beneficiary of the bribes, said it has decided not to proceed with a proposed $600 million dollar bond issue, citing the US indictment. Also read | Adani bribery case: whistleblowers, WhatsApp texts, and incentives On Thursday, Kenya cancelled the process of awarding control of the Nairobi airport to Adani, attributing the decision to "new information provided by investigative agencies and partner nations". Adani was to add a second runway at the Jomo Kenyatta international airport and upgrade the passenger terminal, Reuters reported. Ratings firm Moodys said the bribery charges will have a negative implication for the creditworthiness of Adani Group firms. "Our main focus when assessing Adani Group is on the ability of the groups companies to access capital to meet their liquidity requirements and on its governance practices," the ratings agency said. Shares of Australia's GQG partners, one of Adani's biggest backers, shed a fifth of their value on the Australian stock exchange. The investment firm's boss Rajiv Jain had come in as a white knight for Adani following the Hindenburg report, investing billions of dollars and helping restore investor confidence. Our team is reviewing the emerging details and determining what, if any, actions for our portfolios are appropriate," GQG Partners said, adding that more than 90% of its investments were in assets unrelated to the Adani Group. Also read | Mint Explainer: What is the US indictment of Gautam Adani all about? Since the Hindenburg setback, Adani Group has spent considerable resources to restore investor confidence. Shares of Adani Ports and SEZ and Adani Power crossed the peaks seen before the Hindenburg repot, while others also recovered the bulk of the losses as investors slowly reposed their faith in the self-made billionaire from Ahmedabad. Winning back investors may be harder this time, experts said, as the accuser is not a short-seller who stands to gain from Adani's fall, but investigators in the worlds largest economy. Investors in Adani group companies lost 2.24 trillion as shares plunged, reviving memories of the Hindenburg report in January 2023. "When a court of law in the US has stated that the Adanis have been bribing government officials, institutional investors, especially those coming from Western countries, will be hesitant to invest in Adani companies for the time being," said Sharmila Gopinath, an independent corporate governance consultant. The Adani Group will have to do much more than pointing fingers and calling it an attack against India to overcome the reputational damage this time," she said. A more pressing crisis would be the legal fallout. Adani firms could face a class-action lawsuit in the US from investors from whom the Adani Group withheld information about the bribes, legal experts said. "I think he (Gautam Adani) will spend more time in India now. Because if an arrest warrant is issued, he could be arrested in many countries," said H.P. Ranina, a senior Supreme Court lawyer. Also read | Gautam Adani has a new $5 billion business idea in mind The Adani Group said that it will explore all legal options. Canada's CDPQ said it was aware of the charges against its former employees by the US authorities. "Those employees were all terminated in 2023 and CDPQ is cooperating with US authorities. In light of the pending cases, we have no further comment at this time," the pension fund said. Azure Power, CDPQs investee company in India which was alleged to be part of the bribery scheme, made a similar statement. As we initially disclosed in January 2023 and in subsequent filings and annual reports, we have been cooperating with those agencies in relation to those and other matters and we will continue to do so. The former directors and officers of Azure referenced in the US Department of Justice and US Securities and Exchange Commission actions have been separated from Azure for more than a year," the company said. BAKU, AzerbaijanA few dozen miles from the United Nations climate conference here, a company controlled by the United Arab Emirates recently opened the regions largest solar-power park. Nearby, a Saudi state-backed company is building a large wind farm. Both projects break the mold of the Paris climate accord: They are funded by countries that are designated as developing nations, entitling them, in theory, to receive climate financing from developed nations. But, in practice, the oil-rich Gulf nations are increasingly investing in green projects in poorer countriesnot mainly as a form of development aid but to make money. At this years U.N. climate talks in Baku, known as COP29, the West is pushing to reorder the developed-developing divide that has governed climate negotiations since they began in 1992 with the first global-warming treaty signed in Rio de Janeiro. Western officials say the 1992-era distinction no longer makes sense, while big developing nations say such arguments amount to an attempt by developed nations to shirk their historical responsibility for climate change. The debate isnt academic. The categories lie at the center of negotiations aimed at transferring more than a trillion dollars a year from developed economies to the developing world. The Paris climate accord of 2015 said developing countries should channel $100 billion a year to the developing world through 2025, after which the funds should increase. Diplomats gathering in Baku are negotiating a new, larger target at this years conference. Officials from developed and developing countries agree that more than $1 trillion a year is needed to finance poorer nations response to climate changebut not on who should pay up. The U.S. and Europe want wealthier countries in the developing bloc to contributealong with assurances that the funds would flow toward countries that really need it, not China or Saudi Arabia. Additional contributions have become even more important since Donald Trumps election victory. His campaign has vowed to pull the U.S. out of the Paris agreement, and the Trump presidency is likely to slash climate financing for poorer nations. That would leave a big hole in funds available for the developing world. The U.S. has long struggled to scrape together climate funds because of opposition from Republicans, but the Biden administration says it did manage to live up to a pledge to provide over $11 billion in climate finance this year. Europe, which has been responsible for the majority of international climate funding to date, cant do this alone," Joe Thwaites, a climate-finance expert at the Natural Resources Defense Council, a U.S. environmental group. It will need all rich countries to step up to fill any gap left by the U.S." Gulf countries are now among the wealthiest in the world per capita. South Korea and Chile, both members of the developing bloc, have grown rapidly and now boast higher GDP per capita than a number of European Union member states. China, above all, is the worlds powerhouse of clean-tech manufacturing, as well as its largest greenhouse-gas emitter. Beijing is spending billions of dollars on renewable projects abroadsome $25 billion since 2016, Chinese officials said at the Baku conference. At COP29, a Chinese state-controlled power company signed an agreement with the Azerbaijani government to build a suite of green-energy projects. Chinas emissions have grown so much since 1992, along with its economy, that its historical responsibility for global warmingas measured by cumulative carbon-dioxide emissions since the dawn of the industrial eranow exceeds that of the 27 countries of the EU, according to a new analysis from Carbon Brief, a climate-research website. The West says all that means higher-income countries in the developing bloc should be on the hook to help provide finance under the U.N. agreements. With affluence comes responsibility," Wopke Hoekstra, the EU climate commissioner, said at the conference this week. Big developing countries view such arguments as an attempt by the West to wiggle out of commitments under the Paris agreement. We cannot allow that this COP should be the scenario of the great escape of developed countries to fulfill their legal obligations," said Diego Pacheco, a Bolivian negotiator who represents a group of countries that includes China, India and Saudi Arabia. The divide in the 1992 climate treaty rests on a question of historical responsibility for climate change. Developed countries accepted leadership to confront climate change because their carbon-dioxide emissions caused most of the warming since the dawn of the industrial era, now around 1.3 degrees Celsius. At the time, wind and solar power and electric vehicles were fringe technologiesand far more expensive than burning fossil fuels. Fast forward three decades, and renewables and electric vehicles are now mainstream. Clean energy is attractive to big investors from Western nations, the Middle East and Asia without subsidieseven if the technical challenges of incorporating lots of renewables into grids havent been solved. Investors view the answers to those challengesbatteries and more transmission linesas opportunities as well. At the same time, China is now responsible for a third of annual carbon-dioxide emissions, the largest in the world. It has jumped ahead of the EU in terms of responsibility for historical warming but it is still far behind the U.S., according to the Carbon Brief analysis. Because of its large population, China is still behind most developed countries in terms of carbon dioxide emitted per capita. Western countries say including the finance provided by China and the Gulf state in the new goal would put some countries of the developing bloc on the hook for investments they are doing anyway. So far, China and the other wealthier countries of the developing world bloc have refused to budge. We call on developed countries to see squarely their historic responsibilities," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian. Write to Matthew Dalton at Matthew.Dalton@wsj.com ICSE, ISC 2025 Exam date sheet: The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) will soon release the exam timetable for Class 10th and 12th students. The ICSE, ISC 2025 exam date sheet can be downloaded from the official website of CISCE, ie cisce.org, once they are released online. So far, no official date has been announced for the release of exam date sheet, but CISCE will release the exam dates in the coming weeks, according to NDTV. ICSE, ISC 2025 Exam date sheet: How to download date sheet? After the Class 10 and 12 exam date sheets have been released on the official website, students can download the ICSE, ISC 2025 Exam date sheet pdf by following the below-mentioned steps. -Go to the official website of CISCE board, ie cisce.org -Check for an active link for ICSE 2025 exam date. Click on that link. -Download the ICSE Date Sheet 2025 pdf. -Take out a printout for future reference. Also Read | NTA answers all frequently asked questions for JEE Mains 2025 ISC Date Sheet 2025 So far, there has been no official announcement of exam dates. According to Siksha.com, the CISCE Class 12th examination will likely begin on February 12th and end on March 22nd. Meanwhile, the tentative ICSE Date Sheet 2025 dates will begin on February 21st and end on March 17th. Last year, the ICSE timetable 2024 was released on December 8, 2024. According to previous examination's timetable, ICSE the exams were held between February 21 and March 28, 2024 in pen and paper format. Also Read | NTPC Green Energy IPO: Here are 10 key things to know from the RHP Apart from releasing exam dates, other guidelines for students related to timings, reporting time, documents required, etc are also released in the pdf. The voter turnout in the Maharashtra Assembly Election 2024 was the highest since 1995. According to the Election Commission, 65.11% turnout was recorded in Maharashtra as of 8 pm on Thursday. This exceeded the polling percentage in the state in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls (61.33%) and the 2019 assembly elections (60.5%). This is also said to be the highest since the 1995 assembly election, when the turnout was 71.7%. Maharashtra Election Result 2024: What could increased voter turnout mean? While the Mahayuti claimed it was a sign of pro-incumbency, many others see it as a hint of possible "anti-incumbency." Many believe that an increase in voter turnout could mean anti-incumbency in a state meaning people want a change of guard and, hence, are coming out in numbers to vote. However, neither of these arguments (anti-incumbency or pro-incumbency) has been proven; they are mere speculation. Many reasons could impact a voter's decision to vote or not to vote these may include personal arrangements, weather conditions, holidays/long weekends, urban apathy, and ease of voting. But how the increase or decrease in voter turnout would impact the election outcome is still not known. In 1995, when a high voter turnout (71%) was recorded in Maharashtra, the power had shifted from the Congress to the undivided Shiv Sena (Sena-BJP alliance). In 2009, when the turnout was recorded at just 59.5%, there was no change of government. But later in 2019 (turnout at 60.5%), no party was able to cross the majority mark. Also Read | CBI begins probe into Maharashtra bitcoin scam; six accused named in FIR The Mahayuti, which is currently ruling Maharashtra, is facing a tough battle against the MVA, which won the maximum number of seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections. This has given the MVA hope of winning the state polls. The Mahayuti's loss or the MVA's victory in the Lok Sabha polls, and the about-turn in the recently concluded Haryana Elections, may have also encouraged people to come out to choose their legislators. What did Devendra Fadnavis say Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and BJP candidate from Nagpur South-West, Devendra Fadnavis said that the BJP always gains an advantage whenever there is an increase in voter turnout. Fadnavis is a leader of the Mahayuti. "I feel that whenever the voting percentage increases, BJP is the only one to benefit from it. With the increased voting percentage, BJP-Mahayuti will benefit from this," Fadnavis told ANI on Wednesday. When asked about the possible reasons behind the rise in the voter turnout, he said, "I feel the percentage of voting increased due to pro-incumbency and the feeling of affinity that voters have for the government." Fadnavis' statement came after most exit polls predicted a clear win for the BJP-Shiv-NCP coalition's win in the 2024 Maharashtra Election. These included Axis My India, Matriz, Times Now-JVC and Peoples Pulse. UP Assembly Bypolls Results 2024: The Election Commission of India will begin the counting of votes for the bypolls to nine Assembly segments in Uttar Pradesh on Saturday, along with the votes counting of Assembly elections that took place in Maharashtra and Jharkhand. According to the details, the counting of votes will begin from 8 am onwards on Saturday amid tight security arrangements, officials said. The major contest in the nine Assembly segments in Uttar Pradesh is between the ruling BJP and Congress-SP alliance. The nine constituencies for which the votes will be counted include Meerapur, Kundarki, Sisamau, Katehari, Phulpur, Majhawan, Ghaziabad, Karhal and Khair. UP bypolls 2024: On 20 November, the polls were held amid allegations from the SP that the local police prevented voters from reaching polling booths. The ECI took action against five police men while acting on a complaint from the SP. Saturday's results will determine the fate of the 90 candidates, including the highest number of 14 nominees from Ghaziabad and the lowest number of five candidates from Khair and Sisamau each. Earlier in 2022 Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls, the BJP won the Phulpur, Ghaziabad, Majhawan and Khair seats, while the SP secured victories in Sisamau, Katehari, Karhal and Kundarki. The Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), which was an SP ally then, won the Meerapur seat. The party has since switched sides and is now a part of the BJP-led NDA. In the current Assembly, the BJP has 251 MLAs, followed by the SP (105). BJP allies, such as Apna Dal (Sonelal), RLD, Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) and NISHAD Party, hold additional seats, while the Congress and the Jansatta Dal Loktantrik have two seats each and the BSP has one. Political tensions in UP: The political tension has been running high in the run-up to the counting, as both the BJP and the opposition parties accusing each other of election malpractices. SP president Akhilesh Yadav, on the eve of the vote counting, accused the BJP of manipulating the election process and claimed that the tactics of the saffron party are increasingly being exposed. Yadav said that the vigilance of the INDIA opposition bloc supporters has uncovered the BJP's efforts to manipulate the electoral process, leading to a decline in the party's support base. "The way our voters, workers, office-bearers and the media have responded to the BJP's election fraud is being appreciated everywhere," the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said in a press statement. He added that BJP's reliance on corruption, propaganda and manipulation is the reason why its support base is shrinking. He alleged that BJP lures officials and leaders to indulge in corrupt practices, only to abandon them when things go wrong. "The BJP is not a party that protects people, it traps them," he claimed, urging SP supporters to remain vigilant during the vote-counting process. "We have won morally. Only the official certificate is pending," Yadav added. Reacting to these allegations, Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya dismissed the SP leaders' accusations as baseless. He took to X on Thursday, the Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya dismissed the SP leaders' accusations as baseless. Arrest warrants issued for Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense minister over alleged war crimes threaten to deepen the global isolation of a country already under pressure around the world for its handling of the war in the Gaza Strip. The move by the International Criminal Court will complicate travel by Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who would risk arrest in any of the courts 124 member countries, which technically are obliged to enforce the arrest warrants. The warrants will lead some governments to scale down contacts with Netanyahu and other Israeli officials, according to legal experts and officials familiar with the situation. They could also spur efforts to bring new war-crimes cases against lower-ranking Israeli and Hamas officials in national courts in Europe and elsewhere. More subtly, they could also encourage an ad-hoc pattern of shunning Israeli academics, defense companies and officials that has taken root in countries and institutions angry at the toll of the war in Gaza. As of this summer, more than 20 universities in Europe and Canada had cut ties with Israeli institutions. Israeli companies have been shunned at trade fairs. Recently, former Israeli Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked was denied a visa to enter Australia and participate in a conference organized by Jewish organizations on the grounds that she might incite discord. It sort of gives a stamp of quality to Israels isolation," said Alon Pinkas, a former senior Israeli diplomat. This is not a protest at Columbia University. This is not a bunch of hooligans fighting each other on the streets of Amsterdam. This is the ICC." The arrest warrants come after more than a year in which Israel has also faced a global outcry over the war in Gaza including protests, separate charges of genocide brought by South Africa at the International Court of Justice and calls from Democrats in Congress to limit American arms transfers to Israel. Israel invaded the Gaza Strip after the Hamas-led attacks on Oct. 7, 2023, that left 1,200 people dead and more than 250 held hostage, around 100 of whom remain in Gaza, though dozens are feared dead. The war has killed about 44,000 Gazans, according to Palestinian health officials, who dont say how many were combatants. The vast majority of the population has been displaced, and food and other essentials have been in short supply for much of the war. The ICCs warrants allege Netanyahu and Gallant committed war crimes and crimes against humanity during the offensive, including the use of starvation as a weapon and directing attacks against civilians. Netanyahu and Gallant each called the charges outrageous. The ICC on Thursday also issued an arrest warrant for top Hamas military leader Mohammed Deif, who has been reported killed, on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Its top prosecutor had sought warrants against two other Hamas leaders, Ismail Haniyeh and Yahya Sinwar, but the court set them aside after they were killed by Israel. Israels legal teams are still working to understand the extent of the charges against Netanyahu and Gallant. Most details of the courts investigation are still secret, including from Israel and its legal teams, said Roy Schondorf, a lawyer advising Netanyahu on matters related to the court. Israeli officials are concerned the warrants and the still-secret details of the charges could imperil Israeli government and military officials who travel abroad and could be detained for alleged war crimes. As recently as last week, Israeli authorities warned an Israeli military reservist to quickly leave Cyprus over fear that pro-Palestinian organizations would try to pursue arrest warrants against him for alleged war crimes tied to his service in Gaza. The ICC warrants are likely to have the greatest effect on Israels relations with countries in Europe, which have been broadly supportive of Israel since Hamass Oct. 7 attack and the resulting war. All 27 members of the European Union, along with the U.K., are parties to the Rome Statute, the international treaty that created the court. European countries have been split in their reactions to the decision. Some, such as the Netherlands, say plainly they would enforce the arrest warrants. Hungary, led by right-wing Prime Minister Viktor Orban, invited Netanyahu to visit on Friday in defiance of the ICCs decision. Germany, caught between its support for the court and its history of the Holocaust, said it would carefully examine any steps it takes should Netanyahu or Gallant decide to visit. Most European states havent said explicitly whether they would enforce the warrants, but officials and experts say they dont expect the Israeli prime minister to take the risk. Almost all of them would arrest Netanyahu if he were to visit, which means its pretty guaranteed that he wont," said Anthony Dworkin, a senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations. Id be quite surprised even if he goes to Hungary." Aside from the possibility of arrests, European countries in the past have adopted a policy of avoiding nonessential contact with people subject to ICC warrants, for example Kenyas Uhuru Kenyatta, who was elected president in 2013 after the court called for his arrest. Even countries that have been critical of the ICCs handling of the war in Gaza now face a legal obligation to enforce the arrest warrants if the leaders travel to their countries, putting them in a bind. They have a clear legal obligation to abide by the decision of the ICC and to implement these arrest warrants," said Clemence Bectarte, a Paris-based lawyer with the International Federation for Human Rights who worked to bring war-crimes charges in France against Syrian officials. Of course, there may be political maneuvers to try to get around these legal obligations. But from a strict legal point of view, this is clear-cut." Some European officials would likely continue to talk to Netanyahu or meet him in Israel or at a venue like the United Nations headquarters in New York, which is outside ICC jurisdiction in the U.S., Dworkin said. Netanyahu can expect continued support from Washington, which isnt a signatory to the ICCs founding statute, though it has cooperated with the court in the past including in prosecutions against Russian President Vladimir Putin. President Biden and his administration sharply criticized the arrest warrants Thursday, and officials aligned with President-elect Donald Trump have signaled they would take a hard line against the court. Trumps pick for White House national security adviser, Mike Waltz, said Thursday the arrest warrants have no legitimacy. You can expect a strong response to the antisemitic bias of the ICC and U.N. come January," he said. U.N. officials can also meet with Netanyahu, despite the warrants. The rule is that there should not be any contacts between U.N. officials and individuals subject to arrest warrants," a spokesman for the U.N. secretary-general said Thursday, but direct relations are possible to assist operational or other key issues. U.N. chief Antonio Guterres met with Putin on the sidelines of the Brics Summit in October. Other major powers including Russia, China and India arent members of the court. Of Israels key partners within the Middle East, including the United Arab Emirates and Egypt, only Jordan is a full member. With the issuing of the arrest warrants, Netanyahu and Gallant join a club of other ICC defendants that includes Putin, former Sudanese dictator Omar al-Bashir, Ugandan warlord Joseph Kony and Libyas Saif al-Islam Gadhafi. The ICC has been criticized in the past for only taking cases from non-Western countries, particularly the crimes of various African leaders. Bashir rarely left Sudan after the court issued arrest warrants for him in 2009 and 2010 on allegations of genocide. Gadhafi has remained in hiding in Libya for over a decade. Putin has confined his travel to a small group of countries in Russias immediate sphere of influence. He defied the arrest warrant against him to visit Mongolia, an ICC member, in September. Indian textile exports are showing signs of recovery in FY25, with demand from European markets playing a crucial role in boosting figures, according to data from the ministry of commerce and industry. Exports to Europe during the April-October period reached $5.66 billion, marking a 6.39% increase compared to $5.32 billion in the same period of FY24. However, the numbers still fall short of the $5.84 billion achieved during FY23, the commerce ministry data showed, highlighting recovery challenges despite the growing interest in Indian textiles across key European nations. As per the Niryat portal of the ministry, ready-made garments (RMGs) led the surge, contributing $3.18 billion. Cotton yarn, fabrics, made-ups, and handloom products followed, accounting for $1.10 billion. The demand for textiles during the first seven months of the current fiscal was strong from Germany, Italy, Sweden, Finland, Switzerland, Turkey, Latvia, Austria, Greece, the UK, the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovenia. In FY24, key markets included Sweden, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Finland, the Netherlands and Ireland, while new traction emerged from Austria, Greece and Slovenia. Europes share in Indias textile exports stood at $9.66 billion in FY24, representing 28.08% of the total $34.40 billion. This was a decline from FY23, when Europe accounted for $10.48 billion or 29.48% of the total $35.55 billion. In FY25 (April-October), Europe contributed $5.66 billion, accounting for 27.34% of the total $20.70 billion in Indias textile exports. "The increased demand for Indian textiles in European markets can be partly attributed to the ongoing crisis in Bangladesh. Political instability, labour unrest, and supply chain disruptions there have driven European buyers to seek alternative sourcing options," said Rahul Mehta, chief mentor, Clothing Manufacturing Association of India (CMAI). "While there has been improvement, we should not get overly excited as the performance is still slightly below what the sector achieved in 2023," Mehta added. As per the commerce ministrys India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF), the market for Indian textiles and apparel is projected to grow at a 10% CAGR to reach $350 billion by 2030. Moreover, India is the world's third largest exporter of textiles and apparel and ranks among the top five global exporters in several textile categories, with exports expected to reach $100 billion by 2030. "With Indias textile exports growing by 7% during April-October FY25, this jump highlights the sector's agility in adapting to evolving global dynamics and the crucial role of maritime and logistics in enabling seamless trade," said Jitendra Srivastava, CEO of Triton Logistics & Maritime, a logistics arm of Abrao Group. Amid the Red Sea crisis, Indian exporters have adapted by rerouting shipments and finding alternative trade routes, bolstering supply chain resilience. Improved port infrastructure, streamlined customs processes, and growing demand for value-added products like technical textiles and man-made fibres have further strengthened Indias position as a key global exporter," Srivastava said. The textiles and apparel industry contributes 2.3% to the countrys GDP, 13% to industrial production and 12% to exports. The textile industry in India is predicted to double its contribution to the GDP, rising from 2.3% to about 5% by the end of 2030. The global apparel market is expected to grow at a CAGR of around 8% to reach $ 2.37 trillion by 2030 and the global textile & apparel trade is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4% to reach $ 1.2 trillion by 2030. Buy or sell stocks: The Indian stock market, after breaking its seven-day losing streak, resumed its downward trend amid weak global cues, closing in the red on Thursday, November 21. The Nifty 50 index closed 0.72 per cent lower at 23,349.90 points, compared to 23,518.50 points at the previous market close. The BSE Sensex index closed 0.54 per cent lower at 77,155.79 points after Thursday's market session, compared to 77,578.38 points at the previous market close. Also Read | Adani Group stocks crash after US indicts Chairman, 7 others on bribery charges Vaishali Parekh's stocks to buy today Vaishali Parekh, vice president of technical research at Prabhudas Lilladher, said the Nifty is resisting near the 200 DMA zone, which is working like a barrier. The index needs a decisive breach above this zone to trigger a fresh upward move in the upcoming days. Parekh estimates the Nifty 50 Spot index to find support at 23,200 points and face resistance at 23,550 points. The Bank Nifty index will likely move in the 49,800 to 51,000 range today. For today, Parekh recommended three buy-or-sell stocks: Federal Bank Ltd, Angel One Ltd, and Arvind Ltd. Stock market today On the outlook for the Nifty 50 and the Bank Nifty index, Parekh said, Nifty has been resisting near the 200 DMA zone, which is acting as a barrier, and the index needs a decisive breach above this zone to trigger a fresh upward move in the coming days. The index has the 23,00023,200 zone as the crucial and important support as of now, which needs to be sustained to maintain the overall trend intact, said the stock market expert. Bank Nifty is better placed as compared to the Nifty index and has maintained above the important 200 DMA level of the 49,800 as of now. A decisive breach above 51,000 levels is necessary to improve the bias, while 49,800 levels would be a crucial and important support zone for the index, said Parekh. Parekh said that the Nifty 50 Spot for today has support at 23,200 points, while the resistance lies at 23,550 points. The Bank Nifty index would have a daily range of 49,800 to 51,000. Buy or sell stocks by Vaishali Parekh 1. Federal Bank Ltd. (FEDERALBNK): Buy at 211; Target at 220; Stop Loss at 205. 2. Angel One Ltd. (ANGELONE): Buy at 2,720; Target at 2,800; Stop Loss at 2,680. 3. Arvind Ltd. (ARVIND): Buy at 355; Target at 370; Stop Loss at 348. Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) continued their aggressive selling spree in Indian equities through November, following a record sell-off in October. Subdued corporate earnings, premium valuations compared to global peers, escalating geopolitical tensions, and rising US Treasury yields are among the key factors driving the sustained outflows. As per data from the National Securities Depository Ltd (NSDL), FPIs offloaded Indian equities worth over 27,800 crore in November so far. This follows a significant FPI sell-off of 94,017 crore in October 2024. In the first half of November, the sell-off was concentrated primarily in the financials, oil & gas, and Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) sectors. Several factors have led to the selling activity by FIIs: weak earnings, high valuations compared to other markets, and global economic influences such as rising US bond yields. While some of the selling by FIIs in the secondary market is being counterbalanced by buying in the primary market, it is expected that FIIs will reduce their selling as we near the end of the calendar year, said Vipul Bhowar, Senior Director Listed Investments, Waterfield Advisors. He believes that fresh allocations or significant investments by FPIs are likely to resume once there is greater clarity regarding the policies of US President-elect Donald Trumps administration. Heres a look at the sectors that FPIs sold and bought the most during the first fifteen days of November 2024: Top Sectors with FPI Outflows The Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels sector recorded the highest FPI outflows, with 7,214 crore withdrawn in the first half of November 2024. This follows a significant sell-off of 21,444 crore in the sector during October. The Financial Services sector experienced FPI outflows of 7,092 crore during the first fortnight of November, after witnessing substantial selling of 26,139 crore in October. The Automobile and Auto Components sector ranked next, with FPIs pulling out 4,411 crore between November 1-15, adding to the 10,440 crore outflows recorded in the previous month. FPIs this calendar year have been reducing their weightage in mature sectors when growth would be closer to our nominal GDP and allocating capital to high-growth businesses. For example, in the financial sectors, FPIs have been increasing allocation in Capital Market themes like Asset management, exchanges, and healthcare, Bhowar said. Automobiles, Metals, and Construction can be impacted by FPI withdrawals. Rising costs and changing consumer preferences are driven by concerns over global commodity prices and economic slowdowns. The construction sector is particularly sensitive to shifts in government spending and infrastructure projects, he added. Meanwhile, the FMCG sector also faced notable FPI outflows of 3,589 crore in the first half of November, compared to 11,582 crore in outflows for October. Other sectors impacted by FPI selling during November 1-15 include Telecommunications, with outflows of 2,136 crore; Metals & Mining, at 1,291 crore; and Capital Goods, with withdrawals amounting to 1,004 crore. What are FPIs buying? During the first half of November, FPIs concentrated their buying activity in the Information Technology (IT) and Construction sectors. The IT sector attracted FPI inflows amounting to 3,087 crore, while the Construction sector received 1,917 crore in investments. Additionally, FPIs purchased shares worth 734 crore in the Healthcare sector and 694 crore in the Realty sector during the same period. FPIs flows are significantly influenced by factors such as India's economic fundamentals, regulatory developments, market performance, global economic conditions, and currency stability. Geopolitical uncertainties and evolving economic landscapes further contribute to the inherent volatility in FPI activity. While upcoming Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) may temporarily boost investments in the primary market, sustained interest from FPIs will largely hinge on macroeconomic stability and the performance of corporate earnings, analysts said. Mumbai: Indian markets were quick to recover from the shock of the Adani group bribery charges, surging to a nearly six-month high and snapping off a two-week slump on Friday. Investors turned wealthier by 7.27 trillion in Fridays relief rally. The recovery was marked largely by short covering and some buying in large-cap stocks in sectors like oil and gas, banks, information technology, and fast-moving consumer goods, ahead of the Maharashtra election outcome on Saturday. Analysts said an extended bout of short covering could propel the indices higher. Adani group stocks fared better than on Thursday, when the ports-to-renewables conglomerate lost 2.24 trillion in market cap after US prosecutors indicted chairman Gautam Adani and other executives in an alleged $250 million bribery scheme. On Friday, Adani group companies saw a relatively lower market cap erosion of 10,365 crore. The Adani group has termed the allegations as baseless. The Nifty 50 gained 2.39% or 557 points to end Fridays trading at 23,907.25, while the Sensex rose 2.5% to settle at 79,117.11. Stocks that drove the relief rally included Reliance Industries, Infosys, ICICI Bank, ITC, and Tata Consultancy Services, which contributed to over two-fifths of the Niftys gains. Sunil Singhania, founder of asset management firm Abakkus, however, said sectors that appear promising may not perform well in the short term, and vice-versa. For example, despite strong fundamentals, the banking sector has underperformed, though we remain optimistic about it. On the other hand, while the IT sector results have been underwhelming, the sector has performed exceptionally well, where we maintain equal-weight, he said. The Adani heavyweights Index constituents Adani Enterprises and Adani Ports settled 2% higher at 2,229.16 and 1,137.5 per share on Friday, Adani Green Energy, the company at the centre of the US allegations, ended the day 8.2% lower at 1,052.4 per share. Bonds of Adani Ports maturing on 4 August 2027 were trading higher by 11 cents at $92.16, and those of Adani Green Energy UP were up 24 cents at $86.4. The market short covering on Friday was underscored by relatively lower provisional buying of 1,722.15 crore by domestic institutional investors. Foreign institutional investors continued to sell, offloading 1,278.37 crore worth of shares. Alongside the insignificant net buy figure between the institutional investors, Nifty active futures contract shed 6.09% in open interest (outstanding trader positions) as the market recovered. A decline in open interest accompanied by a price rise indicates short covering. The short covering comes a day ahead of the state (Maharashtra) poll results, suggesting that those covering their shorts probably didnt want to be caught on the wrong foot, said Andrew Holland, chief executive of Avendus Capital Public Markets Alternate Strategies. However, amid Fridays rebound that followed a nearly 10% decline from Septembers record high for the benchmark indices, market mavens expect a selective bottom-fishing in key stocks. We have been of the view for the past few months that a correction was due. But I am positive on a one-to-two-year basis, said Devina Mehra, founder of investment firm First Global. But you have to be careful on the frothy areas of the market because in any correction there are those stocks which never come back to their highs. Asked about buying the dip, Mehra said that following the current correction, investors could consider buying but on a calibrated basis, selecting stocks and sectors very carefully. Stock Market Today: Reliance Power, Angel One and Muthoot Finance were among 17 stocks that mutual funds completely exited in October, suggested a report by Nuvama Alternative & Quantitative Research. Among other companies that mutual funds exited include The Ramco Cement, Crompton Greaves Consumer, Natco Pharma, City Union Bank, Gujarat Gas, Havells, Maruti Suzuki India, ABB, Piramal Enterprise, Sterlite Technologies, Muthoot Finance, Voltas, Torrent Power and Orient Cement. Mutual fund details for all market cap schemes As per a report on top activities in mutual funds, Nuvama Institutional Equities report showed that HDFC Mutual Fund completely exited Global Health Ltd (Medanta), Angel One Ltd and Reliance Power Ltd. HDFC Mutual Fund in turn added shares of Nuvoco Vistas Corporation and JSW Steel Ltd to the portfolio. SBI Mutual Fund, on the other hand, completely exited companies such as The Ramco Cement Ltd, Crompton Greaves Consumer Electricals Ltd and Natco Pharma during the month of October. SBI Mutual Fund added shares of Hindustan Petroleum Corporations Ltd, Sansera Engineering and Torrent Pharma. Also Read | Protean eGov Tech share price crashes 10% as OFS by NSE Investments starts today Kotak Mutual Fund added KEI Industries and LTI Mindtree while it exited its holdings in City Union Bank Ltd, Gujarat Gas and Havells India. Axis Mutual Fund bought shares and added stakes in HDFC AMC and HCL Technologies Ltd, however, it completely exited Maruti Suzuki India Ltd, ABB Ltd and Global Health Ltd (Medanta). Nippon India Mutual Fund added Sansera Engineering and Sudarshan Chemicals to its portfolio, and completely exited holdings in Piramal Enterprises, Sterlite Technologies and Muthoot Finance. Quant Mutual Fund is the only fund that added Adani Enterprises to its portfolio in October. Tata Chemicals Ltd and Ipca Laboratories Ltd were other top additions by the fund house. It did not exit any of its holdings entirely. ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund added shares of Nestle India, Sundaram Clayton, and Life Insurance Corporation and exited Voltas Ltd, Torrent Power Ltd and Orient Cement Ltd. Stock Market Today: Bribery charges against Adani Group Gautam Adani further impacted the already weak investor sentiments as the benchmark Nifty 50 Index ended 0.72% lower on Thursday. S&P BSE Sensex also lost 0.52% to end at 77,155.79. Bank Nifty saw half a per cent cut to end at 50,372.90. Realty and IT sector index, while cushioning the market fall, Metals, Pharma, and FMCG led the decline in others. Mid- and small-caps also saw a decline of 0.5%. Russia-Ukraine war, Gautam Adani news in focus On what dragged the Indian stock market on Thursday, Siddhartha Khemka, Head - Research at Wealth Management, Motilal Oswal said, The market witnessed a broad-based selloff with Nifty trading in the negative territory throughout the day and closing with a loss of 0.7% at 23,350 on the back of heightened geo-political tension between Russia and Ukraine. Further adding to the pressure, the Adani Group faced renewed scrutiny as US prosecutors have charged founder Gautam Adani with participating in an alleged $250 million bribery scheme to secure solar energy contracts in India. Several banking stocks came under heavy selling pressure as investor concerns grew over their exposure to Adani Group companies. Trade Setup for Friday For the traders now, 23350 -23400 for Nifty and 77150- 77300 for Sensex would be the key levels and above these, we could see one quick pullback rally till 23500-23550 for Nifty and 77700-78000 for the Sensex, said Shrikant Chouhan, Head Equity Research, Kotak Securities Bank Nifty settled the day on a negative note at 50,373 levels. Technically, the index has found support near the 200-day simple moving average (DSMA). If the index sustains above today's high of 50,652, a pullback to the 51,000-51,500 levels is possible, said Hrishikesh Yedve, AVP Technical and Derivatives Research at Asit C. Mehta Investment Intermediates Ltd. Global Markets and Russia-Ukraine war Asian markets ended in the red, and European markets were weak, too. The domestic market faced renewed pressure due to escalating tensions in the Russia-Ukraine conflict and heightened nuclear concerns. Additionally, the fresh Adani case with the US DoJ added to the market's woes, said Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Financial Services. Although there were signs of a slowdown in FII selling, it surged again, adversely affecting market sentiment particularly financials sector. Nair expects an improvement in the trend when global & domestic political issues stabilise." Stocks to buy today Ganesh Dongre, Senior Manager of Technical Research at Anand Rathi has suggested three stock ideas for today. Anshul Jain, Head of Research at Lakshmishree Investment and Securities also has recomended two stocks to buy today. Ganesh Dongre's stocks to buy today Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd- Dongre recommends buying Power Grid at 325 keeping Stoploss at 315 for a target of 335.The stock having a substantial support at Rs.315, marking a crucial juncture in its recent trading. Presently, at Rs.325, the stock has demonstrated a definitive reversal in price action, suggesting a potential continuation of its upward momentum. Traders keen on seizing this opportunity could consider buying and holding the stock, setting a prudent stop loss at 315. The anticipated target for this trade is Rs.335, representing the next significant resistance level. This strategy positions traders favorably to capitalize on the stock's anticipated rally in the weeks ahead.. 2. Jindal Steel & Power Ltd- Dongre recommends buying Jindal Steel & Power at 871 keeping stoploss at 860 for a target price of 895. In the recent short-term trend analysis of the stock, a notable bullish reversal pattern has emerged. This technical pattern suggests the possibility of a temporary retracement in the stock's price, potentially reaching around Rs. 895. At present, the stock is maintaining a crucial support level at Rs.860. Given the current market price of 870 a buying opportunity is emerging. This suggests that investors might consider purchasing the stock at its current price, anticipating a rise towards the identified target of Rs. 895 3. GAIL India Ltd_ Dongre recommends buying GAIL at 185 keeping Stoploss at 180 for a target of 193 On the daily chart of this GAIL stock, a breakout at the Rs. 185 price level has been observed, signaling a potential upward trend. Complementing this breakout, the Relative Strength Index (RSI) is still turning up, indicating increasing buying momentum. Given these technical indicators, traders can consider buying on dips, entering the stock at a lower price point. To manage risk, a stop loss at Rs.180 is recommended. The target price for this strategy is Rs.193 in the upcoming weeks, suggesting a potential gain as the stock continues its upward trajectory. Anshul Jain's stocks to buy today 4.Divi's Laboratories Ltd - Anshul Jain recommends buying Divi's Laboratories at 5977 keeping stoploss 5937 with target price of 6077 The stock is looking strong in the technical chart. It has given flag pattern breakout on the daily chart. So one can expect uptrend in the stock in the near term. 5.Amber Enterprises India Ltd - Anshul Jain recommends buying Amber Enterprises at 6530 keeping Stoploss at 6450 keeping Target price of 6750. The technical chart shows that the stock looks strong. It has given flag pattern breakout on the weekly chart. So one can expect uptrend in the stock in the near term. Heres a quick look at stocks likely to be in focus in today's trade. Adani Stocks: Gautam Adani, his nephew Sagar Adani, and associates have been charged by U.S. authorities with defrauding investors and paying $265 million in bribes to Indian officials for solar energy contracts. Amid these allegations, Kenyan President William Ruto canceled deals with the Adani Group, including a $736-million power transmission project and plans to take over the countrys main airport. The developments triggered a sharp selloff in Adani Group stocks, reducing the Adani family's net worth by 20.1 percent to 7.8 trillion on Thursday. Vedanta: Vedanta has delayed its planned dollar bond issuance, citing concerns that the indictment of Gautam Adani could elevate borrowing costs for Indian firms. This follows Adani Green Energy's decision earlier in the day to withdraw its own dollar bond offering. Hyundai Motor: Hyundai Motor India is set to establish two renewable energy plants in Tamil Nadu as part of its strategy to achieve 100 percent renewable electricity dependency across its manufacturing operations by 2025. Tata Power: Tata Power has signed a preliminary agreement with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to evaluate financing worth $4.25 billion. The funds will support several of Tata Powers strategic initiatives, marking a significant boost for its clean energy ambitions. Raymond: Raymond has received a 'No Observation Letter' from NSE and BSE for its proposed scheme of arrangement with Raymond Realty. This follows the board's approval in July 2024 to demerge the two entities, streamlining their operational focus. LTIMindtree: The Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) has increased its shareholding in LTIMindtree from 5.033 percent to 7.034 percent between March and November 2024. This stake hike underscores LICs growing confidence in LTIMindtrees growth potential. Protean eGov Technologies: NSE Investments plans to sell up to 20.31 percent of its stake in Protean eGov Technologies through an offer for sale (OFS). The sale includes a base issue of 10.16 percent equity and a green shoe option for an additional 10.16 percent if demand permits. The floor price is set at 1,550 per share, offering a strategic entry point for investors. Afcons Infrastructure: Afcons Infrastructure has emerged as the lowest bidder for a 1,274 crore project awarded by the Uttarakhand Project Development and Construction Corporation (UPDCC). The project aims to enhance transport and energy infrastructure in the state. Stock market today: Tata Power's stock gained 1.7 per cent in trade on Friday, November 22 after the company announced a landmark partnership with the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The two organizations signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to evaluate financing worth $4.25 billion for clean energy and infrastructure projects, the Tata Group company informed in an exchange filing on November 21. The announcement was made during the COP29 Climate Conference in Baku, Azerbaijan. Tata Power share price was trading in the green, up 0.62 per cent at 411 at 10:45 am on the BSE today. The company enjoys a market capitalisation of 1,31,328.46 crore. Tata Power stock price last hit a 52-week high of 494.85 on September 27, 2024. The deal focuses on projects aimed at boosting India's renewable energy capacity. These include a 966 MW solar-wind hybrid system, a pumped hydro storage project, and upgrades to Tata Power's distribution network. Management comment Praveer Sinha, CEO and MD of Tata Power highlighted the importance of the collaboration, saying, Our partnership with ADB is crucial for driving transformative energy projects. This MoU strengthens our commitment to clean energy and sustainable growth. The projects also align with India's target of achieving 500 GW of renewable energy by 2030. This initiative is part of Tata Power's broader strategy to decarbonize operations and promote energy security. As of now, clean energy constitutes 42% of Tata Power's portfolio, with plans to become carbon-neutral by 2045. Suzanne Gaboury, ADB's Director General for Private Sector Operations, emphasised the bank's commitment to sustainability. "Our engagement with Tata Power reflects a shared vision for a low-carbon and climate-resilient future," she stated. Also Read | SJVN shares up 6.5% on signing 7 GW renewable energy project with Rajasthan govt The MoU also includes a focus on gender inclusion, empowering women through green jobs and technologies. This move underscores the integration of social and environmental goals in India's energy transition. In new-age Bangkok bars, prepare for some cocktail sorcery. The Dry Wave Cocktail Studio serves two classic drinks in one glass. Named 1806-1988, they combine Old Fashioned and Cosmopolitan. There are several such libations, and a good drinking game would be to guess which cocktails go into one glass. Thai bartenders dont shy away from experimentation. At Mahaniyom, headed by bartender Ronnaporn Neung" Kanivichaporn, each drink on the menu is named after an ingredient around which the flavours are built. For example, Duck is an eggnog-style drink with duck fat-washed Scotch, duck blood hoisin liqueur and duck egg mixed with tequila, brandy, honey, lychee and topped with passion fruit gel. The ingredients boggle the mind, but the flavours hit the spot. Bangkok was once famous as an ideal budget-friendly travel destination. While pad thai, chicken-rice and ubiquitous Thai curries kept foodies satiated, curious drinkers would seek out the quintessential inexpensive Thai beers, like Singha and Chang, or bring home the Thai brandy Regency and the good old rum SangSom. Cut to 2024, the citys drinking scene is driven by homegrown bars, impeccable service and gourmet cocktails accented with regional flavoursfrom sticky rice to pandan and squid. They have evolved to become a dynamic blend of culinary pride and innovation. After all, Bangkok is a global dining destination and tourists desire to discover local flavours; be it food or drinks. Theres a strong convergence of South-East Asian flavours, with umami and savoury profiles standing out in cocktails. Special themed menus are the norm, each championing Thai flavours and ingredients," notes Vikram Achanta, co-founder of the award platform 30BestBarsIndia. Additionally, food-inspired cocktails, both sweet and savoury adaptations of local Thai dishes like pad Thai and sticky rice, are highly popular. Cocktails like Mango Sticky Rice, Pad Thai, or Laabh from the popular bar Lost in Thaislation are big attractions, as they offer the ability to taste the essence of a dish in a drink. These are often clarified cocktails layered with elements like foams and liqueurs to add depth and texture to the drinking experience," he adds. Focus on ingredients and distilling their essence for a sophisticated cocktail experience is a defining factor. Achanta says the bar Asia Today has a dedicated Honey Program, championing various styles of honey sourced from different regions of the world. I have seen Bangkoks drinking scene transform from older expat dive bars to a sophisticated cocktail and service-led city. It has now shifted to classics re-imagined with both technique, and ingredients," observes Siddharth Mewara, co-host of the YouTube food-travel channel, The Big Forkers. The Goa-based culinary enthusiast takes frequent trips to the Thai capital. In a story about the cocktail bar Mahaniyomfeatured on the Worlds 100 Best Bars list this yearthe beverage publication Punch Drink highlights the city was once famous for rooftop bars often run by expats that cater to tourists", but recently the homegrown bars run by locals have become hot spots for cocktail enthusiasts. Bangkoks thriving cocktail culture also seems to have embraced bars that champion a single spirit, such as blended Scotch. Premium blended Scotch whisky has found a home here, whether its in a classic cocktail, paired with Thai dishes, or savoured on its own in an elegant bar," says Mokksh Sani, co-founder of the Indian whisky label Glenwalk. And of course, theres always room for creative cocktailsimagine an Old Fashioned made with Thai spices or a whisky sour with a hint of kaffir lime. There are several bars with a rare collection of whiskies and inventive whisky cocktails. Theres Vesper which combines sophistication with creativity; Bamboo Bar at Mandarin Oriental is a timeless favourite that has expertly crafted whisky cocktails with live jazz; and The Whiskey Room at Whisgars is a cosy, welcoming space with an impressive Scotch collection, where you can take your time exploring and learning. The top bars and speakeasies have been successful in bringing hyperlocal flair with expert bartenders. Mumbai food enthusiast Mansij Vaidya travelled to Bangkok this year with the sole purpose of exploring food and drinks. He was impressed by the attention to flavour in each of the speakeasies he visitedRabbit Hole, Find The Locker Room, Playroom, and Sugar Ray, You Have Been Poisoned (temporarily closed). I like complex drinks and Thai bartenders go to great lengths to master flavours. There are no over-the-top garnishes or fancy glassware and the attention is on an elegant cocktail experience with spectacular tastes," he says. The drinks he tried had a beginning, middle and endthe first sip has distinct taste notes that matured to a different flavour and settled with a long-lasting finish. They dont come cheap, and each is priced between 1,000 and 1,200. A unique aspect about these places is most dont have a hot kitchen, and packaged snacks are served. Their single-minded focus is on drinks which leaves little room for error and the idea is to bar-hop, he notes. Its perhaps one of the main reasons for exceptional cocktails in the homegrown bars of the city. Vaidya was intentional about visiting speakeasies because they are run and frequented by locals. The neighbourhoods of Sukhumvit and Tonglor are populated by places high on creativity. The best seat in these small (about 25 seats) speakeasies is by the bar. Talk to the bartender, he will enquire about your taste preferences and whip up something thats unique to you. Whats not to love, really? Pooja Prabbhan Srijith is a lifestyle journalist based in Bangkok and Delhi. Also read: Tom yam and other adventures on Kamala Beach Manu S. Pillais new book, Gods, Guns and Missionaries , traces The Making of Modern Hindu Identity" (as its subtitle says) through history, especially the trauma of colonial invasion and missionary activity that have left an indelible mark on modern Indias polity. Although the topic has been well-trodden by eminent historians, Pillais rigorous research, combined with his talent for mining little-known anecdotes and razor-sharp insights, makes the work recognisably his. Most pertinently, it returns to scriptural sources to debunk many of the pernicious misconceptions that have ailed religious and caste-based politics in independent India, more so in the last decade. Some of these notionssuch as the Hindu-Muslim divide being an immutable religious truth rather than a self-serving narrative abetted by the Britishhave become entrenched in the popular consciousness through repeated iterations. These misguided agendas have escalated communal tension and spawned moves to rewrite history, distorting facts to create fictions that serve the interests of the majority community. One of the fundamental questions that Pillai grapples with is Who is a Hindu?" The answer, as he shows, varied widely and wildly, depending on regional contexts, the person who was asking this question, and the point in history it was being asked. Caste identities, such as those of Brahmins, were equally nebulous to outsiders who came to rule India, frequently causing confusions and creating systems of control that skewed power dynamics in societya legacy India bears to this day. One reason why people argue Hinduism was invented in the 19th century is because before this time, it did not have one name or identifiable core," as Pillai says in an email interview to Lounge. When people say there is no one Hinduism but many, the same could be said of Christianity." As opposing forces collided and synthesised, they laid the ground for Indias nationalist movement and, in turn, the advent of a move to define a fixed Hindu identity, characterised by the militant Hindutva, which has become the defining logic of Indias political ascendancy in the last decade. Pillai spoke to Lounge on the making of his book, its resonance with the present, the responsibility of historians and how to resist the malicious reach of the WhatsApp University". Edited excerpts: You mention youve been working on this book for over a decade. In this time, Indias political landscape has changed significantly. How have these shifts influenced your work? I first attempted a study of the modern Hindu identity in 2011, as a masters student. Of course, I was very young then, and it was 2019 before I felt confident enough to outline a book on the theme. The following year, I wrote four chapters, but then suspended the project; there was still much to study, and some of my own prior notions had to be revisited and, in certain cases, discarded. So there has been considerable personal evolution in the making of this book. I still feel a degree of self-doubt, because the topic is so layered and complex. But then again, self-doubt can be a healthy thing. Certainly the shifts in Indias political equilibrium affected me, in that the questions I explore have an immediate, contemporary salience. In many ways, the project reflects my own quest for answers: how much of the current assertion of identity is an attempt at cultural recovery" from the long arc of colonialism? Even under subjugation, how did natives" assert their own agency, even when facing unfavourable political and psychological terms? Can this help us understand today any better? In many ways, the project reflects my own quest for answers. That said, I did not want the present and its concerns to overshadow my study. The book ends with the birth of Hindutva, but does not venture into its subsequent political ascendancy. Better accounts already exist on that aspect. This is purely an inquiry into how Hinduism adapted in its encounter with colonialism and Christianity, acquiring its present appearance. You survey a vast body of eclectic sources to trace the hardening of the concept of Hinduism, from pre-colonial times to its present-day iteration as Hindutva. What were some of the inflection points in this process? Hinduism, as I see it, took form as an overarching religious and cultural framework in the Puranic period. The Puranas reflect a desire to marry the local with the pan-Indian, though neither with any streamlined consistency nor a desire to bracket it under an all-encompassing term. Yet something was underway. The encounter with Islamand Islamic powerleads to some hardening of this framework. But here again, it was more an impulse towards unity, not its actualisation. Into the modern period, however, that impulse grew more concrete, not least because technology like printing, better communication, etc., infused new value into broad-based identities. But, as I show in the book, the presence of the Other in the form of European rule and the missionary was critical to producing a sharper political alertness among Hindus. Remarkably, Hindu thinkers appropriated many of the strategies and concepts weaponised by their rivals. To an extent, the Puranas reflect this tooas the Puranic system co-opted all kinds of cults, it too had absorbed diverse attributes. This dexterity is why Hinduism at different times seems to wear different faces. I do not believe, as some have argued, that Hinduism is a recent invention". What I argue is that modernity led to the re-invention of something older. Communities, after all, form and re-form themselves in response to historical dynamics. This is true of other religious identities as well, including Christianity. Indian civilizationis built on stories," you write, and if it met anything unfamiliar, it simply absorbed it and told yet more stories." How should historians grapple with the ethical, moral and empirical complications arising out of this view of the past? Historians are trained to manage this, not least because in India we have a culture of orality and storytelling. For instance, in Kerala, there is a legend of a medieval king who witnesses the splitting of the moon by the Prophet Muhammad. He divides his kingdom among his governors, converts to Islam, and sails to Mecca. It is a story, but even as a story, reflects historical dynamics. On the one hand it creates narrative space for Islam in the regionan opening of the door for a faith that arrived on merchants boats. The conversion of a king grants this new faith prestige; a prestige that cements the important role Muslim traders played in Keralas political economy. Some believe the king in the tale was real, others reject the claim. But even as pure fiction, the story offers material for analysis. Very real historical processes are encapsulated and condensed into the tale. This kind of storytelling still occursour various ideological camps imagine the past and find meaning in the present with their own forms of mythmaking. Future historians will study these narratives just as we examine historical processes that preceded our time. The pre-colonial Hindu identity, you write, was defined against multiple parameters, not just viewed in contrast to Muslims". What have been some of the cultural costs of this flattening of identity in modern India? The word flattening" captures the cost, in that Hinduisms inner diversity can get bulldozed by the push for regimentation. An excessive fear of outside forces, which certainly has historical triggers, risks crushing Hinduisms internal vitality. Hinduism is not a one-fount religion, but something of a conglomerate, with many threads woven into a living, breathing, shape-shifting fabric. Too much emphasis on securing its outer borders against the Other can blind us to its inner richness. While political assertion entails a degree of homogenisation, against the arc of Hinduisms evolution, such homogenisation would stunt the religions dynamism. I suspect its full implications will become clearer only with time. View Full Image Rani of Jhansi leads her troops in the siege of Jhansi fort. (Courtesy Wellcome Collection) You write about Hinduisms reciprocal impact on a section of Jesuits in early modern India. Are there intellectual common grounds between the experience of these foreigners with those of orientalists, like William Jones, who devoted their lives to Indology? In many ways, Catholic missionaries of the early modern period were the first orientalists. Although when they arrived, they branded Hindu gods monsters" and saw only barbarism everywhere, they were forced to revisit these biases. Their resultant studies on Hinduismits cultural practices, temple customs, philosophical ideas, sectarian identitiesmake for fascinating reading, and there is much of intellectual value there. Yet, just as the later British orientalists for all their enthusiasm were never divorced from the colonial mission of conquest, missionary scholarship was an extension of the project of religious conversion. Some, of course, did begin to question their preconceptions after an encounter with Hinduism, and Christianity itself became here a mixed commodity, unrecognisable to purists. Things often feed off each other, mutating in ways nobody expects. A negative" element in history can, thanks to the intervention of creative figures, become a positive" force. Hindu thinkers were able to turn orientalist scholarship as well as missionary efforts to their advantage, despite unfavourable terms set by colonial rule. You have a fascinating section on Hindu law". Could you talk about its origins, anomalies and legacies? The British in the early period were uncertain of their power, and keen to stay in Indians good books. We see white men sponsoring Hindu ceremonies, endowing temples, and escorting gods. Brahmins sang praises of British officials and blessed the East India Companys flag. In this era, many Englishmen wished to rule Hindus according to their own traditions. Except, instead of observing the dynamic legal reality on the ground, they took a textualist approach to tradition", as something to be revived" from Sanskrit books. The British wished to restore" archaic laws to Hindus. Though Hindus were governed for most part by evolving local custom, caste regulations and so on, not only was undue reliance placed on old shastras, these were also interpreted in strange ways. Ultimately the British acknowledged the mess this created, but it was too late. Meanwhile, Hindus ended up adjusting, even manipulating this new-fangled approach for their own purposes. Significantly, the British enshrined two legal master categories of people as Hindus and Muslims. Coupled with colonial censuses later, we see here the birth of the notion of the majority versus the minority. Again, this is not to say the British invented" the Hindu-Muslim divide; but they reified it in a still-enduring fashion. Comparing Dayananda Saraswati and Rammohun Roy as reformists, why do you think the Arya Samaj has robustly outshined the Brahmo religion? There were people in the late 19th century who thought Roys Brahmo Samaj would thrive, while the Arya Samaj would wilt. What occurred was the opposite. This was because by the 1880s, Arya Samaj was no longer operating in the realm of ideas around reformed Hinduism alone. They were also working to mobilise Hindus on the ground. Causes such as cow protection appealed to a wide segment of Hindu society and offered a politically attractive anchor in a way that intellectual and philosophical programmes alone could not. Indeed, scholars have shown how in the years that followed, the Arya Samajs project of Vedic revivalism took something of a back seat, with energy diverted into rousing Hindus against missionaries, in reconverting people, and so on. The Brahmo religion, however, did not become a mass phenomenon. Can you talk about the historical roots of caste in shaping Hindutva? Caste remains Hindutvas greatest fragility. Even before Hindutva was articulated by V.D. Savarkar in its lasting avatar, it was clear to Hindu nationalists such as B.G. Tilak that caste was a massive obstacle to Hindu political self-assertion. This tension between the overarching Hindu identity (framed against the Muslim and Christian Other) and caste (where groups within Hindu society engage in intra-Hindu Othering) continues. Even a Hindu nationalist government today must get the caste arithmetic right to win elections; Hindutva by itself cannot yet transcend caste. Figures like Savarkar tried hard, indeed even defined Hindutva theoretically in a way that rises above caste, but for Hindu nationalism the battle continues. You can have a Hindu identity, but caste offers another equally potent point of assertion. William Dalrymple recently said Indias academic historians had distanced their discipline from public discourse, which partly accounts for the rise of WhatsApp University". As a writer who straddles popular history and academic research, where do you stand on this? I do not see a hard line between popular and academic history. There are academics who write popular history. And there are popular historians producing original research; the claim that they only rehash academic scholarship in an entertaining style is flawed. My own first book had me spend six years in the archives, deal with untouched material, spotlight a marginalised female historical figure, puncture court histories, and add to our understanding of colonialism, genderyears before I obtained a PhD. The classroom is no longer the only avenue for educating people to engage critically with history; there is wider, interested public. This also has costs. If academics face challenges within a state-controlled university system, as a popular historian my very first book invited, in my 20s, a 5 crore defamation" notice. Williams wordsor perhaps the way they were relayed in printsound simplistic. WhatsApp history is not a natural phenomenon as much as a deliberate machine. I think his point is that academic research for many years remained in an ivory tower. Yes, as some have argued, this is because academics work within a different framework. Yet it is also true that sections of academia do show contempt for popular engagement. Historians are human and prone to jealousies and territoriality. T.C.A Raghavans History Men offers interesting proof of this. In this instance, William may have erred with an oversimplification of the issue. But I have no doubt that heaps of kids have opted to study history because they were captivated by his books in their formative years. I certainly was, as an adolescent whose only other option was a dreary textbook. If I ventured on to a path that culminated in a doctorate, and now my fifth book, it is because at the beginning there was a Dalrymple and his White Mughals. Somak Ghoshal is a writer based in Delhi. Also read: Royal marriages were a funnel to power This meet-cute goes back more than a decade. Gursi Singh was walking around the lanes of south Delhis Hauz Khas village, taking a break from designing the decor for a friends cafe, when he stumbled upon a store with a sign that read Love Birds". Intrigued, he went inside. From 1930s long army dresses and 1950s French hats, to Fendi Baguettes, Comme des Garcons shirts and Akris handbags, vintage pieces from across the world were displayed on old-style wooden hooks on the wall and in metallic hangers. It was among Indias early vintage fashion stores. And then he met the store owner, Amrita Khanna, a London College of Fashion graduate. It was love at first sight. After a year of dating, Khanna asked Singh, a graphic designer, to help her with sourcing fabrics. They had no concrete plans but wanted to create something intelligent, something comfortable, something Amrita would wear, and something the market didnt have," recalls Singh. They scoured markets across Delhi, from Chandni Chowk to Okhla, for fabrics. Five months later, after spending 3-4 lakh of their savings, they created 20-odd womens clothes that became part of the first collection of their premium ready-to-wear brand, Lovebirds. On 21 November, the two Lovebirds founders, who are married and parents to two young girls, shared a glimpse of their journey at the British high commissioners residence in Delhi to celebrate 10 years of the brand. In the past decade, Lovebirds has expanded its offerings to clothes for men and women, jewellery and accessories, and opened stores in Delhi, Gurugram and Mumbai. It is stocked at several international multi-designer stores, including Neiman Marcus in the US, Beams in Japan, David Jones in Australia, Ounass in the Middle East, and Harvey Nichols, Liberty London and Fenwick London in the UK. Perhaps no other independently run Indian ready-to-wear brand is as widely available internationally. View Full Image The new Lovebirds studio in Gurugram Over 40% of Lovebirds revenue comes from the international market, of which 50% are shoppers in the US. What makes the brand stand out in a crowded market is its ability to create structured anti-fit clothes that put comfort first and are also size inclusive. This is visible in their first collection as well as the latest one. A sleeveless and collarless trench coat, designed in 2013, for instance, resembles an angrakha-Nehru jacket. Their latest collection also has a trench-like wool overcoat, featuring bold diagonal stripes made using extra yarn and extending as 3D feathers. Also read: How pret designers are shaping Indian fashion View Full Image Actor Sobhita Dhulipala has become the face of Lovebirds' first luxury handbags collection When they first launched, anti-fit was a new trend. Indian designers were making clothes for consumers who wanted to wear made-in-India clothes that looked international, but when it came to the cut (of the fabric), we were missing the mark," says Maithili Ahluwalia, who founded Bungalow 8, a Mumbai-based store that stocked ready-to-wear labels, including Lovebirds. It shut down in 2019. Thats the gap Lovebirds filled." View Full Image From their Upcycled collection When Lovebirds entered the market, the ready-to-wear space was just starting to grow in India. Arjun Saluja was an established name but the pricing was too high for a working professional. Bodice, AMPM, 11/11, peroall had something refreshing to offer, but crisp tailored, contemporary clothes that had a Western language in the premium affordable range were missing. Lovebirds starts around 15,000. The idea was to create clothes that I could wear," says Khanna, 43, at their Dhan Mill studio in Delhi. The brand recently launched a festive collection with minimal use of sequins and crystals, because she wanted to wear something that wasnt too blingy but also not plain". Her sense of style is influenced by her brother (Aman Khanna of art studio Claymen. I was always into oversized, androgynous clothes because I was surrounded by men, my brothers and cousins. And we grew up near Nagaland, where style, vintage fashion, was everywhere," she says. When the couple was creating the first collection, Singh sketched a boxy blouse, given his background in graphics and architecture. I wasnt too thrilled about it, given that I was a very vintage-y person," says Khanna, who is dressed in all-black with gold jewellery. Over the years, I have convinced him to add more colours (their colourful large polka dots have become a signature)." What helped the two reach customers was the contacts Khanna had made while running the vintage store. Sightings of celebrities like Anushka Sharma and Kareena Kapoor Khan in Lovebirds outfits also helped. Meanwhile, they were also sending out cold emails. We first launched in Mumbai after our first Lakme Fashion Week (in 2014), but focused on the Middle East initially, because there was a lot of interest (essentially because their clothes covered the wearer head to toe). Then I started to cold email everyone, from international stockists to magazine editors," says Singh, 40, who worked in the advertising industry for six years. One of the international Vogue editors reached out to them, and within few months, they were in one of the European editions of the magazine. From then, recognition came a bit easily. International stockists wanted them. Their Mumbai store was doing well. The first Delhi store opened in Dhan Mill, in 2020, just before covid. Business was hit, and international shipments were affected. Thats when they drew up a business plan. Those months made us more serious. We never thought of Lovebirds as a business; as two creative people, this was basically us having fun in creating somethingand we honestly lucked out," says Singh, as they plan to launch a Hyderabad store next year. But then, we realised that we could do more." A few years ago, they got an offer for a stake in Lovebirds, which, after much deliberation, they declined. They aim to be a global lifestyle brand except that the international fashion market is going through a slowdown, and consumers are becoming more conservative with their shopping choices. But Singh and Khanna say they are at a sweet" entry point when it comes to luxury. A skirt that costs 21,500 in India is priced at $500 in the US, inclusive of taxes and freight charges. Prices of those like Ganni and Jill Sander, names among which Lovebirds is placed in multi-designer stores, start at $1,000. For a brand thats just 10 years old, thats a good place to be. Also read: Why fashion designers are turning into home decorators The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has identified significant gaps in gold loan disbursement practices, prompting major changes in the sector. Lenders are now shifting from traditional bullet repayment options to monthly Equated Monthly Instalments (EMIs) and term loans to address regulatory concerns, as per a report by Times of India. On September 30, the RBI reported irregularities in lending against gold ornaments and jewellery. These included gaps in loan sourcing, valuation procedures, monitoring of end-use funds, auction transparency, and compliance with Loan-to-Value (LTV) ratio norms. The central bank also criticised the practice of partial payments and loan rollovers, warning of potential delinquencies, the report added. Livemint could not independently verify this news development. A senior banking official stated, The regulators diktat is clear; it wants lenders to examine borrowers repayment capacities and not rely solely on collateral," as quoted by TOI. Current structure Currently, gold loans largely follow the bullet repayment model, where borrowers repay the entire principal and interest at the loans end. Alternatively, partial payments are accepted during the tenure. However, the RBI is pushing for immediate EMI-based repayment options to reduce risks, per the report. Also Read | Former Zomato engineer defends CEO Deepinder Goyal amid job posting controversy The gold loan sector has seen tremendous growth recently, driven by high gold prices and limited access to unsecured credit. According to Crisil, bank-issued retail loans against gold grew by 37 per cent between April and August 2024. NBFCs focused on gold loans reported an 11 per cent increase in assets under management in Q1 FY25, as per the report. Prakash Agarwal, a partner at Gefion Capital, cautioned, A potential correction in gold prices could pose risks, as declining collateral values may lead to refinancing challenges and strain repayment capacity," as quoted by TOI. Also Read | RBI MONEY MARKET OPERATIONS Manipur minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh criticised Chief Minister N Biren Singh for refusing to resign amid the ongoing law and order crisis and unrest in the state. According to a CNN-News18 report, Yumnam Khemchand Singh did not show up for Mondays meeting of MLAs, which the Chief Minister convened. Why did the Manipur Minister Skip Mondays Meeting? The meetings notification said it was to review the law-and-order situation in Manipur. If that were the case, then the DG and chief secretary should have been called. Why were the MLAs summoned? Yumnam Khemchand Singh said in his response about skipping Mondays meeting. Furthermore, claiming that its not possible to hold such a meeting, the Manipur minister pointed to the abysmal law and order situation where their houses are being set on fire. The administration will look into law and order; this is not my work. Even Saturdays resolution has no meaning. When there is an attempt to set our houses on fire, its not possible to hold such a meeting, CNN-News18 quoted Yumnam Khemchand as saying. Over the houses of ministers and MLAs being set ablaze and vandalised, the minister emphasised that he himself is emotionally broken, as are people of the state, and one needs to make them understand the situation. When protesters came to my house, I told them I too am looking for justice. I am also emotionally broken. I requested them, and they understood. Known to be a Biren Singh-baiter, he insisted that the Chief Minister must call it quits. Mentioning that there is no friend or foe in politics, Yumnam Khemchand stressed that it has been 18 months, and there is no peace, pointing to the volatile state's failed law and order situation. Yumnam Khemchand said, I asked him to resign a couple of times, but he is not putting down his papers," he said, adding, He could not bring peace till now, so why isnt he resigning? Every Friday, Plain Facts publishes a compilation of data-based insights, with easy-to-read charts, to help you delve deeper into the stories reported by Mint in the week gone by. The shares of Adani group companies plunged on Thursday after the US indicted chairman Gautam Adani and other executives for allegedly bribing Indian officials. The government plans to expand the scope of the Prime Minister Internship Scheme, while Bitcoin prices are skyrocketing. Adani trouble Nearly two years after US short-seller Hindenburg Research accused the Adani Group of "brazen stock manipulation" and an "accounting fraud scheme," fresh troubles have surfaced for the conglomerate. On Thursday, the US Department of Justice filed an indictment alleging that Gautam Adani, his nephew, and six others paid $265 million in bribes to Indian state officials, while misrepresenting this during fundraising efforts in the US. The revelation sent shockwaves through the markets, with Adani Group stocks tumbling and several hitting their lower circuits. Muted quarter Amid optimism surrounding Indias growth story, corporate performance in the September quarter painted a less rosy picture. Combined revenue for 3,832 BSE-listed companies grew at just 8.3% year-on-yearthe slowest pace in four quartersaccording to a Mint analysis. Net profits fared slightly better, rising 9.5%. However, this growth was largely propped up by the banking, financial services, and insurance (BFSI) sectors. Excluding BFSI, revenue growth slipped to 5%, while profit growth dwindled to 5.5%. Metas penalty 213 crore: Is the penalty amount the Competition Commission of India (CCI) has slapped on Meta for alleged abuse of its dominant position through WhatsApp's 2021 privacy policy update. The CCI claims the update undermined users ability to opt out of data sharing with Meta's social media platform, Facebook. In addition to the fine, the regulator has directed WhatsApp to refrain from sharing user data with other Meta entities for advertising purposes for the next five years. Populist pangs Political parties in India are trying to woo voters with several populist measures, especially cash transfers to women, subsidized gas cylinders and free electricity. These populist measures are adding further stress to already stressed state budgets. While such populist measures, or freebies, have also been announced by the central government, they have managed to stay on the fiscal consolidation path, while the state governments are seeing a rise in their fiscal deficit as a percentage of GSDP in recent years, Mint reported. Tariff worry Donald Trumps victory in the US presidential election has reignited global fears of a potential trade war. Throughout his campaign, Trump repeatedly vowed to impose import tariffs, a promise that carries weight given his track record. During his previous term, average tariffs on Chinese and Indian imports into the US surgeddoubling and tripling, respectively, to around 8% in 2019, according to a Mint report. This escalation sparked a trade war, with several countries imposing retaliatory tariffs on US goods. While services trade offers some relief, it is unlikely to fully offset the impact on goods trade. Widening scope 1825 years: That is the new age criterion the government is considering for the Prime Minister Internship scheme, widening it from 21-24 years, Mint reported. The idea is to give candidates a larger window to apply for the scheme and improve their chances of getting an internship. The scheme is currently restricted to applicants whose families earned less than 8 lakh in 2023-24 and do not have any member holding a permanent government job. Over 125,000 internship opportunities are available across 20+ sectors, offered by around 280 leading companies. Standing out Tata Group-owned Indian Hotels Co Ltd (IHCL) is thriving in the hospitality sector, and its managing director and chief executive officer (CEO) Puneet Chhatwal is on a mission to redefine its mission, Mint reported. Chhatwal earlier this week said the hotels and revenue should double by 2030 and the return on capital employed should rise 20%-plus. While this may be considered optimistic, IHCL has delivered in the past five years, with its share price surging over 400%, more than any other listed hospitality company. Bitcoin buzz Trumps pledge to support cryptocurrencies, marking a reversal of the US governments previous hardline stance, has propelled Bitcoin to new heights following his victory. After its dramatic crash in 2019, Bitcoin has now surpassed the $97,000 mark and is expected to continue its upward trajectory. Follow our data stories on the In Charts" and Plain Facts" pages on the Mint website. The Supreme Court flagged the drastic consequences of GRAP 4 restrictions in the Delhi-NCR region during a hearing on Friday. The top court also questioned the Delhi government over the entry of trucks in the national capital and suggested fresh measures to combat the air pollution crisis. The apex court said it would review the situation next week to determine whether GRAP-4 norms can be relaxed. It is very difficult for us to assume that entry of trucks in Delhi has been stopped, the court observed. The apex court criticized the Delhi government and police for failing to comply with the GRAP Stage IV clauses, noting that there were almost 100 unmanned entry points into the city, and nobody checked the entry of trucks. According to the counsel appearing for the Delhi government, there are 113 entry points, including 13 for trucks. The Bench led by Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih has now directed the Delhi government to depute police personnel at all 113 entry points to monitor the entry of trucks. The officials must be briefed about the list of items that can be considered essential commodities. Officials have also been directed to submit CCTV footage from cameras at 13 entry points to amicus curiae as soon as possible. Thirteen bar lawyers will also visit various entry points to ascertain whether clauses of GRAP stage IV are being implemented at those sites. Also Read | SC raps CAQM for delaying Stage 4 GRAP curbs as Delhis pollution worsens The air quality remained in the very poor category across Delhi on Friday with an overall AQI of 373. Nine out of 38 monitoring stations in the city reported Air Quality Index readings in the severe range. Authorities in the Delhi-NCR had implemented Stage IV restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) on Monday morning as Delhi breached the severe plus category and AQI hovered near the 500 mark. These measures include a complete ban on construction and demolition activities, school closures, and strict vehicular restrictions, such as the prohibition of non-emergency commercial activities and the enforcement of the odd-even scheme for vehicles. Also Read | Delhi-NCR to implement GRAP Stage 4 restrictions from Monday as AQI worsens (Repeats Nov. 21 story with no changes to text) * Trading activity is quiet in Vietnam- trader * Buyers are holding back on purchases, says Indian trader * Thai rice exports were up 20% from January to October By Rahul Paswan Nov 21 (Reuters) - Thai rice export prices climbed to a one-month peak this week, buoyed by foreign demand, while Indian rice prices held steady near a 15-month low due to ample supplies. Exports are making the market active, a Bangkok-based trader said, adding that demand was from regular customers like the Philippines, Indonesia, other Asian countries. Thai rice exports were up 20% in January-October, compared to the same period a year earlier. Thailand's 5% broken rice rose to its highest since the week of Oct. 24 at $500 per tonne from $490-$495 quoted last week. Prices also rose because of exchange rates, another trader said, adding that prices would become more competitive towards the end of the year due to lower prices from India. Top exporter India's 5% broken parboiled variety was quoted at $440-$447 per ton for the third consecutive week, the lowest level since July 2023. "Buyers are holding back on purchases lately since prices have been dropping over the past few weeks. They're expecting supplies to go up in India, so theyre taking it slow," said a Mumbai-based exporter. The country scrapped the export tax on parboiled rice and removed the floor price of $490 a ton for the export of non-basmati white rice to boost exports last month. Rice inventories in India reached an all-time high in November. Vietnam's 5% broken rice was offered at $520 per metric ton on Thursday, compared with a range of $515-$520 a week ago, according to the Vietnam Food Association. "Trading activity is quiet," a trader based in the Mekong Delta province of An Giang said. In a significant breakthrough in the Baba Siddique murder case, accused Akashdeep Gill revealed that he communicated with key conspirators using a labourer's mobile hotspot, Mumbai Crime Branch said. During interrogation, he told police this method was employed to evade police detection. Gill admitted to using the hotspot of a labourer named Balwinder, allowing him to appear offline and avoid tracking. Gill, arrested from Fazilka, Punjab, has been identified as a crucial logistical coordinator for the murder plot orchestrated by gangster Anmol Bishnoi, jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi's younger brother. The Crime Branch is currently searching for Gill's mobile phone, which may hold vital evidence related to the case, Mumbai Crime Branch informed. Anmol arrested in US, lodged in Iowa jail Meanwhile, Anmol, wanted for the murder of Siddique and firing outside actor Salman Khans Mumbai home, has been arrested by US law enforcement authorities and is currently lodged in a prison in Iowa. According to a recent update on the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement website, Anmol Bishnoi is lodged at Pottawattamie County Jail in Iowa. No other details were immediately available. Anmol, who was believed to be living in Canada and making regular travels to the US, is the younger brother of Lawrence, accused of running a global criminal syndicate despite being in jail. Lawrence is currently lodged in Sabarmati Central Jail, Ahmedabad. Also Read | Baba Siddique murder case: Haryana resident Amit Hisamsing Kumar arrested Anmol is wanted in connection with several criminal cases, including the murder of Siddique last month in Mumbai's Bandra area. He was also allegedly behind the firing outside Bollywood actor Salman Khan's home, located in the Bandra area, in April 14 this year. India has asked for the extradition of Anmol. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) also recently announced a reward of 10 lakh for information leading to the arrest of Anmol. Shaadi.com CEO and Shark Tank judge Anupam Mittal humorously weighed in on Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal's job listing for a position without salary. Goyal sparked a debate on social media after he recently advertised for a chief of staff role on X. The job profile required the selected candidate to donate 20 lakh to Feeding India charity and work without salary for the first year. Despite the unconventional job offer terms, following the post, Goyal reportedly received around 18,000 applications. Mittal responded with a tongue-in-cheek post on LinkedIn. Also Read | Former Zomato engineer defends CEO Deepinder Goyal amid job posting controversy He announced his own search for a chief of staff, humorously admitting he did not fully understand the role but assuring applicants that his offer includes a salary from day one. All those who can't afford to pay my friend Deepi 20 lacs, pls send me your application. I am looking for a Chief of Staff too, although I don't know exactly what one does, I figure it can be your first assignment, Mittal wrote. He also listed other conditions for the interested candidates. I want, but you must be willing to do the following - - Accept compensation from Day 1 > this requirement is negotiable. - Send in your resume (ab tak kuch nahin phoda toh aagey kya hi ) - Describe the role and the value so I can prep interview questions - Go through our HR team coz I don't get paid to screen candidates - Carry the title of ChiefOfWhat? for 6 months (the thick-skin test), he added. Also Read | Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal looking for Chief of Staff: No salary for first year Mittal also requested candidates to apply before he changed his mind. If you willing to take the path less taken, be sneered at by the crowd in the hope that we will stick it to them some day AND figure out if you really are Chief of something while I take credit for all your work then write to ChiefOfWhat@peopleinteractive.in & hope I don't change my mind, Mittal stated. Several social media users reacted to Mittal's post. This is gonna sting Deepinder so hard," wrote a user, to which Mittal replied, He's a big boy with a great sense of humor ... can handle it. Did you have sarcasm in your breakfast today? joked another user. Another user commented, First between Bhavish Agarwal and Kunal Kamra, and Second round is between Deepinder Goyal and Anupam Mittal - Forget the Hollywood, Bollywood, watch new Entrepreneurs, they are more entertaining instead! Think they are setting a right tone for new generation who are looking upto them for inspiration? I would disagree. Former Uttar Pradesh cabinet minister Gayatri Prajapati, who is in jail in a gang rape case, is facing fresh trouble. The income tax (I-T) department is set to attach 18 more benami properties owned by the tainted politician. According to officials, these properties were purchased in the name of various people, and the income tax department is getting ready to take action under the provisions of the Prohibition of Benami Property Transaction Act, 1988, reported Hindustan Times. The move came three days after the department identified Gayatri Prajapatis four benami properties valued at 1.21 crore in the form of plots at different locations in Lucknow. Recently, the I-T department attached 18 benami properties of the former minister in Barabanki, Raebareli, Unnao and Sultanpur. A senior I-T official informed HT that the department was planning to send notices to the purchasers of these properties and attach them through the due legal process. In December 2022, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) confiscated properties worth 65 crore belonging to the former cabinet minister's family members in Amethi, in a disproportionate assets (DA) case against him. Also Read | Income tax implications of property sale and gifted proceeds from legal heirs A DA case was registered against Gayatri Prajapati by the ED on December 30, 2020 also, after raids were conducted at seven locations linked to the former minister, his family members as well as aides. The searches were carried out across Lucknow, Kanpur and Amethi. Bollywood heartthrob Kartik Aaryan turned thirty-four today. The actor is currently basking in the success of his movie Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3. The young actor created ripples in the Bollywood industry with his first movie, Pyaar ka Punchanama, which received applaud especially from the young audience. As the actor celebrates his 34th birthday, lets take a look at the wealth he has created after entering in the Bollywood industry. Kartik Aaryan is also among the top-rated Bollywood celebrities who are approached by brands for endorsements. Here are details about Kartik Aaryan's investment, net worth, and car collection. Kartik Aaryan Net worth According to the Financial Express, Kartik Aaryan earns around 45 to 50 crore per film. He had an estimated net worth of between 39 and 46 crore in 2023. Apart from movies, Kartik Aaryan also earns from endorsement deals with brands like Armani Exchange, Superdry and Cadbury Silk, etc. Forbes India Celebrity 100 List In 2019, the Bollywood actor entered the Forbes India Celebrity 100 list. The brands he endorses include names like FMCG giants McDonalds, Dabur Red and other brands like Cadbury Silk, Superdry, Boat Speakers, GTPL and Armani Exchange watches, etc. Kartik Aaryan advertisement fees According to an Economic Times report, the star charges fess between 3 crore to 5 crore per brand. He also earns 40-50 crore per film. Kartik Aaryan real estate investment Kartik Aaryan owns multiple properties in Mumbaoi. The Chandu Champion actor purchased a 1,594 square feet apartment in Juhu for 17.50 crore in 2023. He bought the flat at the same building where his family owns another property. Earlier, he had purchased a smaller flat in Versova for 1.6 crore in 2019. He used to live their during the initial phase of his career. The Canadian government rejected a local media report linking Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval to criminal activities in Canada. A statement in this regard was issued by Nathalie G Drouin, National Security and Intelligence Advisor to Canadian Prime Minister, on Thursday. Drouin's statement read, On October 14th, because of a significant and ongoing threat to public safety, the RCMP and officials took the extraordinary step of making public accusations of serious criminal activity in Canada perpetrated by agents of the Government of India. Also Read | Diplomatic tension unlikely to impact IndianOils Canada gas assets The Government of Canada has not stated, nor is it aware of evidence, linking Prime Minister Modi, Minister Jaishankar, or NSA Doval to the serious criminal activity within Canada," it added "Any suggestion to the contrary is both speculative and inaccurate, the statement read. What prompted Canada govt's remark? Quoting an unnamed senior national security official, The Globe and Mail newspaper had reported on Tuesday that Canadian security agencies believe Prime Minister Modi knew about the killing of Khalistani separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar and other violent plots. The official reportedly said Canadian and American intelligence tied the assassination operations to Home Affairs Minister Amit Shah. Also in the loop, the official said, was Doval and Jaishankar. The report added that while Canada does not have direct evidence that PM Modi knew, the official said the assessment is that it would be unthinkable that three senior political figures in India would not have discussed the targeted killings with PM Modi before proceeding. India reacts India rejected The Globe and Mail report and termed it a smear campaign". In New Delhi on Wednesday, referring to the The Globe and Mail report, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said such "ludicrous statements" should be dismissed with the contempt they deserve and "smear campaigns like this only further damage our already strained ties". India-Canada row India-Canada ties remain deeply troubled over Canada's alleged support to Khalistani separatists and its accusation of India's involvement in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was gunned down in Surrey, British Columbia in June last year. India-Canada ties further nosedived last month after Canada linked Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Verma and some other diplomats to the murder. India has strongly rejected all the allegations made by Ottawa in connection to the case and subsequently recalled the high commissioner. The Canadian government had said the Indian diplomats were expelled from the country. India expelled Canadian Charge d'Affaires Stewart Wheeler and five other diplomats following Canada's allegations. New Delhi accused Ottawa of doing next to nothing to stop the activities of Khalistani supporters who seek to undermine the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India. In a press conference on October 14, Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Commissioner Mike Duheme warned of widespread violence, homicides and a public security threat linked to "agents" of the Indian government. A blast in a reactor at a fertiliser plant in Maharashtra's Sangli district on Thursday killed three people, including two women, and left nine others injured, officials said. The explosion, followed by a gas leak, has hospitalized all the injured, according to a PTI report. Where and when did the blast take place? An official informed the news agency PTI that the explosion happened at the Myanmar Chemical Company in Shalgaon MIDC of Kadegaon tehsil in the Sangli district around 6.30 pm on November 21. Also Read | Over 25 hospitalised after Ammonia gas leak from Chennai fertilizer unit The security guard and two other women died after inhaling the fatal chemical fumes, the police said. According to Sangli Superintendent of Police Sandip Ghuge, the gas is suspected to be ammonia. The deceased women have been identified as Suchita Uthale, aged 50, who hailed from Sangli district's Yetgaon, and Neelam Rethrekar, aged 26, who hailed from Sangli district's Masur. Senior inspector of Kadegaon police station Sangram Shewale said, Due to the gas leak, some 12 people in the unit were affected and taken to hospital. Of them, two women workers and a security guard have died. Nine others are being treated, reported PTI. A police official informed that seven of the injured individuals were admitted to Sahyadri Hospital in Karad, while five of them are in the intensive care unit (ICU). How deadly is ammonia? An individual may experience shortor long-term problems affecting their respiratory tract if high levels of ammonia is inhaled and goes into the lungs, according to Medical News Today. The Centre will deploy over 10,000 more soldiers in Manipur to contain the ongoing violence in the northeastern state. We are getting 90 companies of forces. A sizable portion has already reached Imphal. We have been distributing the forces to protect lives and properties of civilians and monitor vulnerable areas and points, the National Security Advisor to Manipur Kuldiep Singh said at a press conference on Friday. With the addition of 90 companies of central forces in Manipur, the total number of companies of the central forces in the state will reach 288 with around 10,800 personnel. "All areas will be covered in a few days. We have made foolproof arrangements. New coordination cells and joint control rooms will be set up in every district. We have reviewed those that are already functioning," Singh said. According to Singh, so far, as many as 3,000 weapons looted from police have been recovered since clashes began in May 2023. The clashes between the predominantly Hindu Meiti majority and the mainly Christian Kuki minority community have been going on since May 2023. All the security forces, such as the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Border Security Force (BSF), army, Assam Rifles, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Sashastra Seema Bal and the police are coordinating with each other. We are all together in tackling the Manipur issue. Whatever problem comes up, we deal with them together. Operations are already going on, Singh said. He stated that a new standard operating procedure (SOP) will come into force to protect fringe areas and national highways. On Tuesday, the government sent 5,000 additional paramilitary troops to Manipur to deal with the current clashes between the Meitei and Kuki communities, according to an AFP report. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Indian diaspora in Guyana on Friday and said, You can take an Indian out of India, but you cannot take India out of an India. He said his experience of the tour had reaffirmed it. PM Modi recalled the "beautiful memories" of his visit to Guyana two decades ago "as a curious traveler". He expressed happiness that now he had returned to the land of many rivers as the Prime Minister of India. While addressing the Indian community at an event organised in Georgetown, the Prime Minister said the love and affection of the Guyanese people remains the same. PM Modi remarked that he was deeply honoured to receive the order of excellence, the highest national award of Guyana. He thanked the people of Guyana for the gesture. PM Modi dedicated the award in honour of 1.4 billion Indians and the 3 lakh strong Indo-Guyanese community and their contributions to the development of Guyana. Before inviting PM Modi on stage, Guyanese President Mohamed Irfaan Ali thanked PM Modi and the Indian community and expressed confidence in the India-Guyana ties. He said, "Together we are building a future founded on partnership, progress, prosperity, love and trust". Also Read | PM Modi to receive highest honours from Guyana, Barbados Ali called PM Narendra Modi his "dear friend and brother". The Guyanese President said, My dear friend and brother, PM Narendra Modi, we had you for more than two days, but still, people cannot have enough of you. President Ali reiterated PM Modi's concept of "3E's" to advance the India- Guyana ties, these include the sectors of Economy, Education and Energy. PM Modi took to the stage and addresed the Indian Community at an event organised in Georgetown, Guyana. He thanked the Guyanese leaders for their warmth and kindness. The Prime Minister said that he planted a tree with the President and his grandmother as part of the 'Ek Ped Maa ke Naam' initiative of the Indian Government. He added that it was an emotional moment which he would remember forever. In his address to the diaspora and the members of the Indo-Guyanese community, PM Modi lauded the spirit of the Indo-Guyanese community for their fight for freedom and democracy. He noted that they had worked to make Guyana one of the fastest-growing economies leading to a rise to top from humble beginnings. Referring to the diaspora as the 'Rashtradoots', PM Modi said they were Ambassadors of Indian culture and values. He added that the Indo-Guyanese community was doubly blessed as they had Guyana as their motherland and Bharat Mata as their ancestral land. The Prime Minister underscored that today when India was a land of opportunities, each one of them could play a bigger role in connecting our two countries. Also Read | Exxon Plans New Guyana Oil Project to Lift Output Into 2030s "We have a shared future that we want to create", the Prime Minister emphasised. Earlier in a post on X, PM said that it was an honour to address the Parliament of Guyana and interact with distinguished MPs and Ministers. PM Modi also invited the diaspora to participate with families and friends in the Maha Kumbh to be held at Prayagraj, from January 13 to February 26 next year. He also added that they could visit the Ram Temple at Ayodhya. The Supreme Court of India has underscored the importance of addressing the circulation of offensive jokes targeting the Sikh community, emphasising the need to sensitise both children and society at large. The remarks came during a hearing on Thursday in a 2015 public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Sikh lawyer Harvinder Chowdhury, seeking a ban on such jokes, reported Hindustan Times. Sikh Communitys Right to Dignity A bench of Justices Bhushan R Gavai and KV Viswanathan expressed the courts commitment to examining actionable measures to curb the problem, describing it as an important issue. Also Read | Shadow over Santa Banta See if children in schools can be sensitised, and other measures can be taken, Hindustan Times quoted the Supreme Court bench remarked, highlighting the need for grassroots-level awareness. Chowdhurys PIL argues that jokes portraying Sikhs and Sardars as intellectually inferior undermine their constitutional rights to equality and dignity. She called on the court to direct government agencies to filter and prevent offensive content on digital platforms, citing the significant harm these stereotypes inflict on the community. Personal Experiences of Sikh Community Chowdhury recounted instances of ridicule stemming from these stereotypes, including being mocked in professional settings. I was in the high court arguing when the clock struck 12, and my case number was also 12. I was ridiculed, LiveLaw quoted Chowdhury. Also Read | Biden jokes about going to space to bring back Sunita Williams, Butch Wilmore Harvinder Chowdhury also drew attention to the challenges faced by Sikh children in schools, many of whom experience bullying tied to their identity. This, Chowdhury said, pressures some to dissociate from traditional Sikh identifiers like the turban or surnames such as Singh and Kaur. Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committees Support The Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee (DSGMC), supporting the petition, argued that such jokes perpetuate damaging stereotypes and erode the communitys social dignity. DSGMCs representatives highlighted the prevalence of these jokes on social media and their far-reaching consequences on the Sikh communitys morale. Proposed Solutions to Tackle the Issue The court encouraged Harvinder Chowdhury and DSGMC to consolidate and present actionable recommendations. Among the proposed measures was a suggestion to introduce filters for offensive content on websites and social media platforms, which could be enforced by the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the Ministry of Telecom. Another notable suggestion was to impose financial penalties on creators and sharers of such content, with compensation directed to the National Legal Aid Fund to act as a deterrent. Historical Context of the Sikh, Sardar Joke Issue The controversy around jokes targeting the Sikh community is not new. In 2007, a Mumbai-based publisher was arrested for distributing a book containing derogatory Santa-Banta jokes. The issue gained further momentum in 2015 when Chowdhury filed the current PIL, persisting in her claim that these jokes are deeply humiliating and harmful to the communitys self-esteem. Also Read | Sardar jokes or Khalistani: two faces of the Sikh stereotype The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Friday issued a clarification regarding power purchase agreements in Odisha, and emphatically denied allegations that state government officials took bribes from the Adani group to supply renewable energy to the state from the central pool. The BJD, which was in power in Odisha from 2000 to June 2024, issued the clarification after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) attacked it over 'bribe' charges against Gautam Adani. In the written exposition, the BJD claimed that the power purchase agreement made three years ago was between two government agencies and did not involve the Adani group. The agreement was made with a central government public sector undertaking (PSU) under the Union Ministry of Renewable Energy and a state govt PSU Gridco-solely for the purpose of supplying renewable energy. Also Read | Adani Groups Australian coal unit in fix as Aboriginal group alleges racism The agreement was to procure 500MW of renewable energy from SECI at the lowest rates discovered by SECI and it was between two government entities. There was no engagement with any private party whatsoever, including the Adani group, the media release issued by Deputy Chief Whip Pratap Keshari Deb said. It added, In fact to fulfil the renewable energy commitments, the state has been procuring renewable energy from central government PSUs like SECI and NTPC from 2011 onwards. Also Read | Sebi investigating if Adani group flouted disclosure rules Dismissing media allegations as baseless and incorrect, Biju Janata Dal clarified that the 2021 power purchase agreement in Odisha involved only government entities SECI and Gridco. This development comes a day after the BJP alleged that the states that allegedly received bribes from the Adani group for solar power deals were ruled by the Opposition, as mentioned in the US indictment. BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra targeted Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi while addressing a press conference on Thursday. Also Read | Sebi investigating if Adani group flouted disclosure rules "None of the four states mentioned in US charges against the Adani group had a BJP CM. The Congress and its allies were in power in Chhattisgarh and Tamil Nadu," India Today quoted Sambit Patra as saying. The Karnataka High Court on Friday rejected the anticipatory bail application filed by former Janata Dal (Secular) (JDS) MP Prajwal Revanna in connection with a rape and sexual assault case. The application was related to the fourth case registered against him. Prajwal Revanna's advocates wished to withdraw the anticipatory bail plea on the ground that the chargesheet had been filed in the case. However, Justice M Nagaprasanna did not allow them to withdraw the petition, and instead dismissed the plea, news agency PTI reported. What the case against Prajwal Revanna? Prajwal Revanna is facing four cases of rape, sexual assault, and criminal intimidation which are being probed by a Special Investigation Team of the Karnataka Police. The fourth case of sexual harassment was registered against Revanna on June 12 at cyber crime police station of CID in Bengaluru. The cases of sexual abuse came to light after pen drives containing explicit videos allegedly involving Prajwal Revanna were reportedly circulated in Hassan, ahead of Lok Sabha polls there on April 26. In the fourth case, Revanna was booked for sexual harassment, stalking and criminal intimidation, and violation of privacy of IT Act. The complainant in this case was a woman, who was allegedly sexually harassed over a video call. Revanna is currently under judicial custody at Parappana Agrahara Jail in Bengaluru, and a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed to probe four separate cases against him. He was arrested by the SIT on May 31 upon arrival at Bengaluru Airport from Germany in connection with a case registered at the Holenarasipura Town Police Station. He was remanded to custody the following day. The JD(S) suspended him from the party following the cases filed against him. Other 3 cases against Prajwal Revanna In the first case registered against Prajwal Revanna at the Holenarasipura Town police station in Hassan on April 28, the former JD(S) was accused of sexually harassing a 47-year-old former maid. He is listed as accused number two, while his father and local MLA, H D Revanna, is the primary accused. Also Read | Prajwal Revanna books flight from Germany to Bengaluru The second case against Prajwal Revanna was filed by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on May 1 after a 44-year-old former member of the Hassan Zilla Panchayat accused him of repeatedly raping her. A 38-year-old man from Thane has been arrested for allegedly killing his 3-year-old niece and trying to burn the body, newswire PTI reported on Friday, November 22. The partially burnt body of the three-year-old child was discovered in the bushes near a police station on Thursday after it went missing on November 18. The police arrested the child's uncle upon technical inputs and human intelligence. According to police, the child fell and died after being slapped by her uncle. The three-year-old girl child was the daughter of acussed's sister. Also Read | Lawrence Bishnois brother Anmol Bishnoi arrested in US After slapping the girl, the accused set her body on fire to destroy it, the report said, citing senior inspector Anil Jagtap of the Hill Line police station. The probe is still underway. While confessing to the crime during interrogation, the accused stated that he did not intentionally try to kill the child. The incident occurred after he jokingly slapped her while playing, which led to her death, India Today reported. The accused tried to destroy the body out of fear. On Wednesday, the accused, his wife and their rickshaw puller friend took the body of the child and hid it behind the bushes while people went out to vote for the Maharashtra Assembly elections, the report said. After the incident, the accused accompanied his sister to the police station to file a missing report of his niece. Additionally, the family shared pictures on social media, requesting people to share information regarding the missing child. Upon lodging the complaint, the police started search operations for the missing body on Thursday. The rickshaw puller found the body; the police also took two men under custody over suspicion, it added. Speculation about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle reuniting with the Royal family has persisted throughout the year. With Christmas just months away, many expected the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to receive an invite from Buckingham Palace for the family celebrations. However, according to a report in The Post, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are likely to celebrate this year's Christmas with their kids at their Montecito mansion. The New York Post, citing Closer, said the couple and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, will celebrate the festival with Markle's mother, Doria Ragland. Will Prince Harry, Meghan Markle celebrate Christmas with Royals? The report confirms that the Sussexes will remain in the US to ring in the holiday season, ruling out any chance of a reunion with the Royals, at least on December 25. How will Prince Harry and Meghan celebrate Christmas? Harry and Meghan plan to keep the festivities simple, celebrating Christmas at their home, reported The New York Post, citing a source. The couple will make their at-home celebrations extra special for their kids with lavish decorations and a party. The kids will also get to celebrate the festival with their maternal grandmother, Doria. Also Read | 2024 US election results pose questions for Harry-Meghans future Meghans mom Doria will join them at home in Montecito, and theyll ensure the children have a joyful day, despite not being around extended family, the New York Post quoted an insider. The strained relationship between Prince Harry and his brother, Prince William, shows no sign of easing, despite their father, King Charles' repeated efforts to mediate. According to media reports, Prince Harry is open to reconciliation and returning to his family, but only if Meghan's demands are met. Meghan wants an apology from Prince William and Kate Middleton. For now, Prince William is in no mood to welcome his younger brother back into the family fold, according to reports. Harry and Meghan haven't returned to Harry's home since the royal family's 2018 gathering at Sandringham. When Elon Musk first proposed a new initiative to reduce the size of government, Donald Trump didnt seem to take it seriously. His eventual name for the idea also seemed somewhat playful: the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, a reference to the popular internet meme featuring a surprised-looking dog from Japan. But now that Trump has won the election, Musk's fantasy is becoming reality, with the potential to spark a constitutional clash over the balance of power in Washington, reported AP, citing Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy's opinion piece in The Wall Street Journal(WSJ). Trump put Musk, the world's richest man, and Vivek Ramaswamy, an entrepreneur and former Republican presidential candidate, in charge of the new department, which is really an outside advisory committee that will work with people inside the government to reduce spending and regulations. Elon Musk to encourage impounding Recently, Musk and Ramaswamy stated that they would urge Trump to make cuts by refusing to spend money allocated by Congress, a practice known as impounding. This proposal directly contradicts a 1974 law designed to prevent future presidents from emulating Richard Nixon, who withheld funding he opposed. We are prepared for the onslaught from entrenched interests in Washington," Musk and Ramaswamy wrote in an opinion piece in WSJ. We expect to prevail. Now is the moment for decisive action." Trump has already suggested taking such a big step, saying last year that he would use the president's long-recognised impoundment power to squeeze the bloated federal bureaucracy for massive savings. According to the AP, it would be a bold effort on Trump's part to expand his powers, especially with the support of a Republican-controlled Congress and a conservative-majority US Supreme Court. This move could quickly become one of the most closely scrutinized legal battles of his second term. He might get away with it," said William Galston, a senior fellow in governance studies at the Brookings Institution, a Washington-based think tank. Congress' power of the purse will turn into an advisory opinion. Florida authorities have launched a homicide investigation following the death of a 14-year-old girl, allegedly at the hands of her mother, Kelsey Glover, 35. The incident, which unfolded in Osceola County, has shocked the local community and raised questions about what led to the violent altercation. Emergency Call Leads Florida Deputies to Scene of Disturbance Deputies responded to reports of an armed disturbance at a residential property. According to Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez, the situation was still unfolding when law enforcement arrived. Upon entry, officers encountered Glover attempting to strike a witness with a hammer. The witness had reportedly intervened in an effort to save the teenager. Witnesses told police they saw Glover holding her daughter's head underwater in a bathtub and that the teen was unresponsive in an upstairs bathroom. "They tried to stop her but were not successful. Eventually, Ms. Glover began attacking and chasing these witnesses around the house with a hammer," Lopez said. Also Read | Scientist murders father in ice ax attack as election fury turns deadly: Report Officers subdued Kelsey Glover and secured the scene. The teen was found unresponsive in an upstairs bathroom, where witnesses claimed to have seen Glover holding the girls head underwater in a bathtub. Florida Teen Pronounced Dead at Hospital The 14-year-old girl was transported to a hospital but was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. The precise cause of death has not yet been confirmed, with authorities awaiting a medical examiners report. There were four people in the house during the incident: Glover, the victim, another child and a person who resides with them, Lopez said. Sheriff Lopez indicated that charges against Glover, currently including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and battery, could be upgraded pending the findings. A Troubled Household in Florida The household consisted of Glover, the victim, another child, and a co-resident, according to officials. Sheriff Lopez noted a history of domestic strife, citing a prior incident in which Glover allegedly assaulted the girls father, prompting him to obtain a restraining order. However, no other domestic incidents had been officially reported at the residence until the day of the girls death. Florida Community Reels from the Tragedy "This is a dark day when things like this happen," Sheriff Lopez remarked during a press conference. What happened to her is unimaginable, and we are determined to get justice. Also Read | Police in Antigua charge a man with murder in the stabbing death of a politician As Thanksgiving approaches, many families in the US can look for ways to enjoy a festive meal without breaking the bank. A number of grocery chains and retailers are offering generous promotions, including free turkeys and discounted meal bundles, to help make holiday feasts more affordable. Whether you're seeking a full meal deal or just looking to grab a free turkey, these offers provide an excellent opportunity to save while still enjoying the traditional flavors of Thanksgiving. Here's a roundup of the best grocery store deals for free turkeys and budget-friendly Thanksgiving meal options. Grocery store deals for free Turkeys Several grocery chains across the US are offering promotions that will reward shoppers with a free turkey or holiday item when they meet certain spending requirements: Acme Market: Spend at least $300 by November 28 and receive a coupon for a free Signature Farms frozen turkey. Foodtown: Spend $400 using a Foodtown Club Card and get a free store-brand turkey. Giant Food Stores: Earn 400 reward points by November 28 to receive a free turkey (one point equals about $1). Hy-Vee: Purchase a Hormel Cure 81 ham and receive a free Honeysuckle White frozen turkey throughout November. ShopRite: Spend $400 on a ShopRite Price Plus Club Card by November 28 to claim a free holiday item such as a turkey, ham, or lasagna. Also Read | 5 money lessons to learn from Thanksgiving Weis Markets: Accumulate 400 points by November 28 and choose from a turkey, turkey breast, ham, or even a vegan Tofurky roast. WinCo Foods: Spend at least $125 in one purchase by November 27 to get a free Honeysuckle White or Jennie-O turkey. Also Read | Bomb Cyclone hits Northwest US, killing 2 and causing widespread power outages Discounted Thanksgiving meal options for budget-conscious shoppers Many retailers are offering discounted meal bundles to help families enjoy a festive meal. Heres a quick look at some budget-friendly Thanksgiving meal options available from popular stores: Aldi Dinner Bundle Cost: ~$47 Servings: Feeds 10 Includes: Turkey, spices, gravy, rolls, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie, and more Available through: Nov. 27 Walmart Holiday Meal Cost: ~$52 Servings: Feeds 8 Includes: Frozen turkey, rolls, corn, pecan pie, and more Available through: Dec. 24 Target Thanksgiving Meal Cost: $20 Servings: Feeds 4 Includes: Frozen turkey, potatoes, gravy, and stuffing Kroger Freshgiving Meal Cost: ~$27 Servings: Feeds 10 Includes: Frozen turkey, sweet potato, gravy, stuffing, and more Meijer Deluxe Turkey Dinner Cost: $60 Servings: Feeds 6 Includes: Turkey, cranberries, green bean casserole, stuffing, and gravy Sam's Club Thanksgiving Meal Cost: $100 Servings: Feeds 10 Includes: Turkey, mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie, and more (Source: USA Today) Walt Disney Animation Studios highly anticipated sequel to the 2016 hit, Moana is generating waves of excitement on social media. With its theatrical release just days away, early reactions highlight the films breathtaking animation, emotional depth, and vibrant storytelling. Moana 2 premiered in Kapolei, Hawaii, on November 21 A visual spectacle Fans have been quick to praise the stunning visuals, with one viewer describing the sequel as an amazing showcase of animated set pieces. Others echoed similar sentiments, calling the animation breathtaking and filled with magic, heart, and brilliance. Strong storytelling and new characters The return of Moana and Maui has been celebrated as a highlight, with fans calling the duo just as great as you can remember. The introduction of new characters, including Moanas younger sister, has also been well-received, with one fan noting, Her little sister completely stole the show for me. The sequel has been described as empowering and emotional. Her journey doesnt endit evolves. Moana is back, said one social media user. As one fan aptly summarized, Another emotional & empowering journey on the sea. The animation is stunning, and the banter between Moana and Maui is everything! Mixed reactions to the music While some fans have embraced the sequels soundtrack, calling it catchy and enjoyable, others noted that the songs may not be as memorable as the original films hits. The songs might not be as remarkable as its predecessor, but there are still some fun ones, one user stated. Mid-credit surprise Social media is abuzz about a mysterious mid-credit scene, with fans urging audiences to stay for the credits. Without revealing spoilers, one fan teased, You might wanna stay... its worth it! Release details Moana 2 will be released in theaters on November 27, 2024, in the United States and on November 29 in India, in both English and Hindi versions. Moana 2: Overview Walt Disney Animation Studios is gearing up to release Moana 2, also known as Vaiana 2 or Oceania 2 in select markets, a sequel to the 2016 blockbuster Moana. Directed by David Derrick Jr., Jason Hand, and Dana Ledoux Miller, the animated musical adventure reunites Moana and Maui for a bold new voyage. Set three years after the original, the film follows Moana as she answers a call from her wayfinding ancestors, venturing into uncharted waters of Oceania. Promising a blend of humor, heartfelt moments, and cultural depth, Moana 2 invites audiences on another thrilling journey across the seas. Moana, voiced by Aulii Cravalho, embarks on a daring voyage after an unexpected call from her wayfinding ancestors. Joined by Maui, voiced by Dwayne Johnson, and a crew of new seafarers, Moana ventures into uncharted waters filled with danger and discovery. Cast and crew Returning cast members include: Aulii Cravalho as Moana Dwayne Johnson as Maui Nicole Scherzinger, Temuera Morrison, Rachel House, and Alan Tudyk Also Read | Bagheera OTT release date: Kannada superhero film is available for watching from New additions to the cast Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda, Rose Matafeo, and others, bringing fresh dynamics to the story. Senator Bob Casey has conceded to his Republican opponent, David McCormick, in a Pennsylvania race that was so close that it triggered a recount. I just called Dave McCormick to congratulate him on his election to represent the people of Pennsylvania in the US Senate, Casey, 64, said in a video posted Thursday evening on X. He was first elected in 2006. McCormick, 59, was declared the winner by the Associated Press earlier this month until the state ordered the recount because the margin was less than 0.5%. Commonwealth Secretary Al Schmidt said that this was only the eighth time that the recount provision was triggered since 2004 when the state law was passed. One of those five recounts was the 2022 Republican primary, when McCormick, a former chief executive officer of hedge fund giant Bridgewater Associates, came up short against television personality Mehmet Oz, who ended up losing against Casey. This time, McCormick giant rode a wave of enthusiasm for Donald Trump and billionaire contributions to his campaign to trounce Casey, a scion of a Democratic political dynasty. The freshman senator led Connecticut-based Bridgewater for more than a decade following his stint in the George W. Bush administration and combat duty in the first Gulf War. The highly anticipated "Wicked", directed by Jon M. Chu, has garnered overwhelmingly positive audience reviews, with many praising its faithfulness to the Broadway musical while embracing the magic of cinema. The movie, starring Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as Glinda, currently boasts a near-perfect 99% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. Viewers have been captivated by the films vibrant visuals, powerful performances, and heartfelt storytelling. Fans lauded Grandes portrayal of Glinda as "perfectly cast" and Erivos soulful performance as Elphaba, describing their on-screen chemistry as "electric." Iconic songs like Defying Gravity and Popular were celebrated for their emotional impact, blending nostalgia with fresh energy. One review celebrated the films ability to honor the original while feeling fresh. The choreography and direction stay true to the Broadway experience but with the added magic of cinema, one review noted. Grandes portrayal of Glinda was universally praised, with comments like She was born to play Glinda. Audience reviews highlighted the movies stunning set designs, intricate costumes, and imaginative choreography. The world of Oz was described as "a feast for the eyes," with lush landscapes and cinematic effects bringing the fantastical setting to life. Longtime fans of the Broadway production expressed relief that the film retained the essence of the stage musical while adding depth and scale, with one viewer noting, Its faithful to the stage version, while adding a Wizard of Oz scale to everything. The overwhelming consensus is that the film is a triumph, with one audience member stating, I was worried the magic of the stage would be lost, but this adaptation exceeded every expectation. An overwhelmingly positive feedback declared, I went in with high expectations, and they were far, far exceeded. With its blend of spectacular visuals, memorable performances, and timeless themes, Wicked has been declared a must-watch by fans, cementing its place as one of the years standout releases. The first chapter of the two-part adaptation is now playing in cinemas, leaving audiences eagerly anticipating the continuation. Wicked: A cinematic journey unfolds The first chapter of Wicked, based on the Broadway musical and Gregory Maguires 1995 book, has arrived in UK and US cinemas. Based on Gregory Maguire's novel and Stephen Schwartz's stage adaptation, the film explores the untold story of Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), the green-skinned young woman destined to become the Wicked Witch of the West, and Glinda (Ariana Grande), her ambitious yet kind-hearted friend. The Canadian government has refuted claims made in a recent media report suggesting a connection between India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, and the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The development comes amid heightened tensions between Canada and India over the controversial incident. Canada Rejects Media Claims Linking Modi, Jaishankar In response to the article published by The Globe and Mail, the Canadian government issued a statement clarifying that there was no evidence linking Indian officials, including PM Modi and Jaishankar, to Hardeep Nijjar's murder. Also Read | India trashes Canadian media reports on Nijjar killing The Canadian media report had cited unnamed security sources claiming that Canadian authorities believed Modi knew about the killing, which took place in June 2023. On October 14th, because of a significant and ongoing threat to public safety, the RCMP and officials took the extraordinary step of making public accusations of serious criminal activity in Canada perpetrated by agents of the Government of India. The Government of Canada has not stated, nor is it aware of evidence linking Prime Minister Modi, Minister Jaishankar, or NSA Doval to the serious criminal activity within Canada. Any suggestion to the contrary is both speculative and inaccurate, the statement emphasised. Background of the Report on Nijjar Killing The controversy began after The Globe and Mail published an article on October 14, 2024, which suggested that Canadian security agencies had made serious allegations against Indian officials in connection with Nijjar's death. The article implied that Canadian intelligence believed PM Modi had prior knowledge of the assassination, a claim that has sparked diplomatic tensions between the two nations. Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a prominent Khalistani separatist, was shot dead outside a gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, in June 2023. His killing has led to a strained relationship between Canada and India, with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleging that Indian officials may have been involved. India, however, has categorically denied the accusations, rejecting them as baseless. India Dismisses Allegations as a Smear Campaign India swiftly responded to the Globe and Mail report, rejecting the claims as part of a smear campaign. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, called the statements made to the media ludicrous and said they should be dismissed with contempt. Such ludicrous statements made to a newspaper purportedly by a Canadian government source should be dismissed with the contempt they deserve. Smear campaigns like this only further damage our already strained ties, Jaiswal added. India-Canada Diplomatic Tensions Such ludicrous statements made to a newspaper purportedly by a Canadian government source should be dismissed with the contempt they deserve. The allegations surrounding Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar's killing have only served to deepen the rift between Canada and India. While Canada has called for a thorough investigation into the incident, India has firmly rejected the notion of its involvement. The diplomatic fallout continues, with both governments standing firm in their positions. As of now, the investigation into Nijjar's killing remains ongoing, with no clear conclusions drawn on the involvement of any foreign entities. Days after announcing extra security checks for fliers to India, Canada rolls back the orders. On Monday, Canadas Transport Minister Anita Anand announced the temporary protocol, which required enhanced security check for travellers to India, noting that the new measures were implemented out of an abundance of caution. The notification came amid the rising teensions between India and Canada. Anand told Canadian broadcaster CBC, "Transport Canada has implemented temporary additional security screening measures," for travellers to India. Owing to which passengers "may experience some screening delays while these measures are in place." The Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA), which oversees passenger and baggage screening at Canadian airport restricted areas, is set to implement stricter security protocols. Air Canada advises flyer to reach airport early As a result, Air Canada had urged travelers flying to India to anticipate longer security lines and to arrive at the airport at least four hours before their scheduled departure. A notification sent by Air Canada to fliers said, "Due to heightened security mandates by Transport Canada for all passengers travelling to India, security wait times are expected to be longer than anticipated for your upcoming flight." "To minimise any disruption to your travel plans, we recommend you arrive 4 hours prior to your flight's departure. We appreciate your patience and understanding," the notification added. Nijjar killing row India's ties with Canada have seen sharp deterioration with India repeatedly expressing its deep concern about extremism and the culture of violence and anti-India activities in Canada and has asked Canadian authorities to take action against these activities. Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had claimed that he has "credible allegations" of India's hand in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada last year. India has denied all the allegations, calling them "absurd" and "motivated" and has accused Canada of giving space to extremist and anti-India elements in their country. Grimes, born Claire Boucher, recently shared intimate details about her legal battle with tech billionaire Elon Musk over custody of their three childrenX A-Xii, Exa Dark Siderl, and Techno Mechanicus. Using Musks platform, X (formerly Twitter), she revealed the ordeal left her emotionally drained and financially strained. The threat of losing your kids while going bankrupt fighting for them is not conducive to creativity, she wrote, describing a year of turmoil. Grimes admitted she spent much of the time sleeping and crying when not directly engaged in the fight. Grimes, a successful artist in her own right, expressed frustration over the disparities in their resources, suggesting the legal system in states like Texas and California disadvantaged mothers. She alleged that modelling photos and social media posts were used in court to question her parenting skills, which she called demeaning. In one candid post, she said Musk now feels unrecognizable compared to the man she once loved, hinting at their deep personal rift. Despite this, she has publicly supported Musks estranged transgender daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, demonstrating her commitment to family beyond their conflicts. Grimes revealed the battles impact on her art, calling it both devastating and inspiring. Babies rip you apart and put you back together, she said, reflecting on how motherhood transformed her. While acknowledging the pain of being separated from one child for five months, she expressed gratitude for the challenges, saying they fueled her upcoming work. Reports suggest Musk and Grimes may be exploring shared living arrangements, but her revelations paint a more complicated picture of their relationship. Grimes remains optimistic, calling her latest creative projects both provocative and authentic. Their stance of children's privacy The former couple, first linked romantically in 2018, are parents to three children: X A-Xii, Exa Dark Siderl, and Techno Mechanicus. While their first pregnancy was shared with the public, the couple has taken a much more private approach with their subsequent children, often keeping significant milestones out of the spotlight. Amid escalating tensions between India and Canada, Indian Consulate in Toronto has cancelled some more consular camps in the country pointing at Canadian authorities' inability to provide even the minimum security against heightened threats A statement regarding the same said, "Due to continued inability conveyed by security agencies to provide minimum security against heightened threats, Consulate has had to cancel some more consular camps. Most of them were not at any places of worship, including one at a Police facility" "The Consulate is fully sensitive to the difficulties faced by close to 4,000 elderly members of the diaspora in the Greater Toronto Area- both Indian and Canadian nationals- who have been deprived of an essential consular service,"it adds. Also Read | Canadas provincial leaders want a free trade deal with the US that excludes Mexico The move follows the Indian High Commission in Canada canceling consular camps after Khalistani mob attacks in Brampton and Surrey earlier this month. What happened in Brampton and Surrey? On November 2, protestors carrying Khalistani flags clashed with devotees at a Hindu Sabha temple and disrupted an event co-organised by the temple authorities and the Indian Consulate at Brampton. Following the attack, MEA said that consular services have faced a setback due to security concerns, also expressing hope that the camps would continue in other cities. Later, Peel Regional Police issued a statement clarifying not receiving threats against any place of worship. Next day, another Khalistani processeion was seen Surrey area of Canada's British Columbia. The relations between India and Canada have come 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. Nijjar, a Canadian citizen, was designated a terrorist by India. Arshdeep Singh Gill, also known as Arsh Dalla, a Khalistani terrorist with over 50 murder charges against him, arrested in Canada in late October, may also be facing domestic violence case in British Columbia, Hindustan Times report said. Court documents from British Columbia show that Arsh Dalla, who is already facing charges in Ontario related to discharging a firearm, has a case labeled with the letter "K" a designation in the province used for intimate partner violence, according to the news report. Arsh Dalla, a resident of Surrey, British Columbia, in Canada, is wanted by both the Punjab Police and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in India, with the NIA offering a bounty of 10 lakh for his capture. Dalla is scheduled to appear in a provincial court in Abbotsford on December 19, facing charges of assault and mischief, as per the report. This is in addition to the ongoing legal proceedings against him in Ontario, where he was arrested by Halton Regional Police on October 28 in connection with a shooting incident. The police have not disclosed the names of the individuals arrested but confirmed that one of them was a 28-year-old resident of Surrey, identified as Arshdeep Gill in court documents. Arshdeep Singh Gill aka Arsh Dalla was first reportedly brought before the British Columbia court on February 23, 2024, and was noted to have been born in 1996. He appeared before a provincial court in Surrey in connection with assault charges as well. Gill's arrest is part of an ongoing investigation by the Major Crime Bureau of the Halton Regional Police Service, which is looking into the shooting incident. Both Gill and his co-defendant have been charged with Discharging Firearm with Intent. Also Read | Trudeau govt dismisses media report linking Modi, Jaishankar to Nijjar killing Gill, considered an associate of pro-Khalistan figure Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was reportedly killed in Surrey in June 2023, has been labeled a terrorist by the Indian government. However, these charges have not been tested in a Canadian court. The Indian government has sought Gills extradition, but Canadian authorities have not yet honored this request. In January 2023, Gill was designated a terrorist by India, accused of involvement in targeted killings, terror financing, and extortion in Punjab. Also Read | India trashes Canadian media reports on Nijjar killing UK authorities carried out a controlled explosion outside the American embassy in London after a suspicious package was found on Friday. The update came even as Gatwick Airport said that a "large part" of its south terminal has been evacuated as a precaution while we continue to investigate a security incident. We can confirm that the 'loud bang' reported in the area a short time ago was a controlled explosion carried out by officers. Enquiries are still ongoing and cordons will remain in place for the time being, the force wrote on X. Reports indicate that the US embassy in London has been put under a lockdown as armed police officers inspected the premises. Several people were escorted out of the building after spending nearly two hours locked within the building by the automatic doors. The staff reportedly remains in the building and around 50 people (mostly present for visa-related concerns) were asked to stay behind barriers while authorities responded. Firefighters and the dog squad also remain onsite. Also Read | How Harshita Brella was killed by husband in London The official Metropolitan Police handle on X also said that a precautionary cordon had been put in place while investigations remained underway. Meanwhile the US embassy confirmed that local authorities were investigating "a suspicious package" outside the building. A post on X added that the police had closed a nearby road out of an abundance of caution. Also Read | Canada airlines to highten security checks for Indian traveller Officials at Gatwick the secondary international airport serving London also cited a security incident at one of its two terminals on Friday morning. The airport is one of the busiest in Europe and operates direct flights to more than 220 destinations. Passengers will not be able to enter the South Terminal while this is ongoing. Safety and security of our passengers and staff remains our top priority. We are working hard to resolve the issue as quickly as possible, the airport wrote in a social media statement without divulging details. Mumbai terror attack accused Tahawwur Rana, a Canadian national of Pakistani origin, has appealed to the US Supreme Court to block his extradition to India after he lost his legal battle in lower courts. Before this, he had knocked on the doors of the US Court of Appeals for the North Circuit in San Francisco after losing the legal battle. Rana, who fought a long legal battle, is taking the last chance not to be extradited to India. In his petition for a writ of certiorari to review the judgment of the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, Tahawwur Rana argues that he was already tried and acquitted in the Northern District of Illinois (Chicago) on charges linked to the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attack. India now seeks to extradite him for trial on charges based on the identical conduct at issue in the Chicago case, it says. The petition says that if the elements standard applies, he very likely will be sent to India to be put on trial a second time for the same conduct, with conviction and a death sentence ominously on the horizon for him. In addition, resolution of this issue will have a considerable and increasing impact, as the growing globalisation of criminal law enforcement and international cooperation, which in turn has led to a dramatic rise in extraditions, will affect more and more individuals and nations going forward, it said. Also Read | Mumbai terror attack: US court verdict on accused Tahawwur Rana likely on 20 May Tahawwur Rana is accused of involvement in the 26/11 Mumbai terrorist attacks and is linked to Pakistani-American Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist David Coleman Headley, a key conspirator in the 2008 assault on Indias financial hub. The attacks, carried out by 10 Pakistani terrorists, resulted in a 60-hour siege targeting iconic and strategic locations in Mumbai, leaving 166 people dead, including six Americans. Russian President Vladimir Putin said his forces may use a new missile again after targeting Ukraine in retaliation for Kyivs use of American and British-made weapons on Russian territory this week. Russia said it launched an Oreshnik missile on the city of Dnipro on Thursday, the latest escalation of hostilities in the long-running war. Putin met with Defense Ministry officials and weapons makers Friday to congratulate them on what he called a successful test. We will continue these tests, including in combat conditions, depending on the situation and the nature of the security threat created for Russia, the president said in televised remarks, adding that Russia has a stock of such weapons and he had ordered serial production to begin. Putin has lowered the threshold for using Moscows nuclear arsenal as President Joe Biden reversed course and allowed Ukraine to use US-supplied ATACMS missiles to strike Russia. Ukraine also launched UK-made Storm Shadow missiles against Russian targets. The new missile is capable of reaching targets across Europe, making it better than some high-precision weapons of a longer range, Sergey Karakaev, the commander of Russias Strategic Missile Forces, told Putin at the meeting, which was also attended by Defense Minister Andrey Belousov. Since the start of the war, Ukraine has persuaded Western partners to provide air-defense systems, including the US-made Patriot batteries, despite initial hesitation on the part of its allies. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Friday that his defense minister was meeting with partners in regard to new systems that can protect life from new risks. With assistance from Kateryna Chursina. Tesla CEO Elon Musk on Thursday reacted to TIME magazine's latest cover story featuring his To-do list. While sharing the weekly news magazine's photo illustration of the story, Elon Musk made it clear that he didn't give any media interviews and clarified that this was not his checklist. Also Read | UK MPs to question Elon Musk over Xs role in Southport riots Elon Musk's To-do list by TIME Magazine According to the photo illustration of the TIME story, Elon Musk's to-do list has tasks like Get Trump Elected, Implant Human Brain Chip, Bring Rocket Back, etc. The list also mentioned two unchecked boxes: Slash $2 trillion and Fly to Mars. TIME's article delved deeper into Elon Musk's future plans after he played a major role in Republican Donald Trump's re-election. During the US Presidential Elections 2024 campaign, the tech billionaire supported Donald Trump, whether in terms of donations or public campaigns. Over the past few years, Elon Musk has been a vocal critic of the Joe Biden-led US government. What Musk meant to the Trump campaign went far beyond the $120 million he pumped in, the field program he established, or the social-media boost he provided. To many of the young men who flocked to Trump in record numbers, Musk was an ideal avatar, read TIME's latest article on Elon Musk. Apart from shedding light on Elon Musk's plans to establish a Mars colony, the article also covered the possibility of a clash between Elon Musk and Donald Trump after the latter takes over as the US President in January next year. Elon Musk's reaction to TIME story While resharing the TIME cover story photo, the X owner slammed the media house for publishing a story without his interview and clarified that this was not his checklist. To be clear, I have not done any media interviews and this is not actually my checklist, wrote Elon Musk on X. I am trying to make life multiplanetary to maximize the probable lifespan of consciousness. Some of the items below are needed for that, he added in his post. Presiden-elect Donald Trumps uncertainty about his slate of Treasury secretary candidates has led to rival factions once again trying to win his favor. After a flurry of meetings this week, including discussions with new contenders, Trump has yet to make a decision on who will lead the charge for the sweeping economic agenda that he promised voters. Apollo Global Management Inc. executive Marc Rowan pitched a tax policy vision that fell flat with some of the president-elects advisers, according to people familiar with the matter, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the talks. A major tax cut bill is a top priority for the incoming administration, with much of Trumps first-term cuts set to expire next year. People involved in the process see another contender, former Federal Reserve Governor Kevin Warsh, as wanting a job leading the US central bank when the Fed chair role opens in 2026. Trump passed over Warsh when he nominated Jerome Powell during his first term to lead the Fed, a choice he has since lamented. Warsh has been involved in transition efforts run out of Trumps Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach since Election Day, largely helping develop economic policy plans. But until Trumps advisers invited him to interview for Treasury secretary earlier this week, he had largely been seen as staying out of the administration to leave room to join the Fed, according to the people familiar. The candidates for Treasury secretary who also include Key Square Group LP founder Scott Bessent and Tennessee Senator Bill Hagerty have fallen in and out of favor with Trump over the past two weeks. Another contender, transition co-chair Howard Lutnick was taken out of the running earlier this week when Trump named him to serve as Commerce secretary. President-Elect Trump is making decisions on who will serve in his second Administration. Those decisions will continue to be announced by him when they are made, transition spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said in a statement. A spokesperson for Hagerty did not respond to a request for comment. Representatives for Bessent, Rowan and Warsh did not respond to requests for comment. Since Election Day, Bessent has met with Trump multiple times and at least twice to discuss the jobs of Treasury secretary and director of the White Houses National Economic Council, another powerful post on a presidents economic team. The two jobs work closely together to move economic policy priorities through the executive branch and Congress, although its the Senate-confirmed Treasury chief who is traditionally the administrations liaison to markets and the Fed. While a decision on Treasury could have come this week after a series of meetings, the sudden withdrawal of Matt Gaetz as Trumps choice for attorney general on Thursday, and his quick replacement with Pam Bondi, consumed much of the discussion at Mar-a-Lago in recent days. The former Florida congressman bowed out after coming under intense scrutiny over an investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct. Investor Allies Bessent, who has been floated for the Treasury role since March, has a deep bench of supporters that come from both Wall Street and Trumps inner circle. That includes: former NEC director Larry Kudlow, long-time Trump adviser Steve Bannon and Hayman Capital Managements Kyle Bass. JPMorgan Chase & Co.s Jamie Dimon thinks highly of Bessent for Treasury secretary but does not consider him the only good candidate, Bloomberg reported last week. Hedge fund founder Bessent and Warsh, who previously worked in investment banking at Morgan Stanley, are seen by market observers as choices that would come with deep knowledge of public markets. The US Treasury secretary oversees the $28 trillion market for government debt, and often steps in to calm markets in the event of exorbitant volatility or a liquidity crisis. Read: Warsh Seen by Markets as Seasoned Candidate to Lead US Treasury Rowan, meanwhile, would be a rare pick from the world of private equity. He would be an unorthodox pick to run Treasury, said Gregory Faranello, head of US rates trading and strategy for AmeriVet Securities. He noted that those who have experience at hedge funds, trading and investment banking have more daily involvement in global capital flows, payments, Treasuries issuance, among other areas in finance. The expectations of the Treasury seat are different when you think about the plumbing of the financial system, he said. Those working on Trumps transition efforts have balked at how complex a task it would be for Rowan to unwind his investments at Apollo in order to take the Treasury post. He is the fourth-largest Apollo shareholder, with a stake of about 6% thats worth almost $6 billion, according to public filings. That excludes his stakes in Apollos funds. Bannon assailed Rowan and his private equity background on his War Room podcast Friday. Apollo is one of the Wall Street oligarch predators. Theyre predatory capitalism, Bannon said. I dont know if it makes sense for President Trumps program if you have a guy like Rowan, that represents Apollo. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Friday that the Oreshnik hypersonic ballistic missile test demonstrated Russia's ability to respond to the West if it continues to ignore its concerns. He said Russian President Vladimir Putin's statements the day before were "comprehensive, clear and logical". Peskov's statement came a day after Putin said Moscow had fired the new missile - the Oreshnik or Hazel Tree - at a Ukrainian military facility in response to Kyiv striking Russia with US-made and British-made missiles this week for the first time . Also Read | Is volatility in the Indian stock market an opportunity for bottom fishing? According to Reuters, Peskov said that the strike on Ukraine using a newly developed hypersonic ballistic missile was a message to the West that Russia will respond harshly to any "reckless" Western actions in support of Ukraine. "The main message is that the reckless decisions and actions of Western countries that produce missiles, supply them to Ukraine, and subsequently participate in strikes on Russian territory cannot remain without a reaction from the Russian side," Peskov told reporters. "The West's recklessness will not go unanswered by Russia - this is the main message of the president's address," Peskov was quoted by Russian media TASS as saying. The media posted Peskov remarks on its Telegram channel. Peskov said he hoped that the US had received and understood Moscow's message. "We have no doubt that the current administration in Washington had the opportunity to familiarise itself with this statement and understand it," he said. Also Read | Russia launches experimental ballistic missile amid Ukraine war "The Russian side has clearly demonstrated its capabilities, and the contours of further retaliatory actions in case our concerns are not taken into account are clearly outlined," he was quoted by Reuters as saying. Meanwhile, Sergei Markov, a former Kremlin adviser said, Putin is saying to the West stop - halt - back off. Russia fired a new intermediate-range hypersonic ballistic missile known as "Oreshnik", or Hazel Tree, at Ukraine on Thursday in what Putin said was a direct response to strikes on Russia by Ukrainian forces with US and British missiles. Vladimir Putin warns In a special statement from the Kremlin in Moscow on Thursday, Putin said, In response to the use of American and British long-range weaponry, on 21 November this year, the Russian armed forces carried out a combined strike on one of Ukraine's military-industrial complex sites." The Russian president warned he could hit back against countries supplying weapons being used against targets in Russia. Putin said his military would "respond resolutely in a mirror way" to an "escalation of aggressive actions". "We believe that we have the right to use our weapons against military facilities of the countries that allow to use their weapons against our facilities," Putin said in a TV address. No countermeasures for Russias Oreshnik missile Putin said there is no way of counteracting this weapon, which attacks targets at a speed of 10 Mach, or 2.5-3km/s. But he assured that Russia will issue notifications before using this type of missile, TASS news reported. "We will do it due to humanitarian concerns - openly, publicly, without any concerns about any countermeasures from the enemy, who will also receive this information," Putin said. Third World War has begun, Valery Zaluzhny, the former Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine, claimed noting that two superpowers, Russia and the US being directly involved in the Ukraine war proves that. He highlights that currently the tension escalated beyond borders involving global players like North Korea, Iran, and potentially China. I believe that in 2024 we can absolutely believe that the Third World War has begun, Zaluzhny said during an event, according to Politico. He noted the involvement of North Korean soldiers, the use of Iranian drones deliberately targeting civilians, and the flow of North Korean and Chinese weapons into the conflict as clear indications of the war's broader international scope. Because in 2024, Ukraine is no longer facing Russia. Soldiers from North Korea are standing in front of Ukraine. Let's be honest, he said and added, Already in Ukraine, the Iranian 'Shahedis' are killing civilians absolutely openly, without any shame." Zaluzhny was dismissed from his military position in February following reported disagreements with Zelenskyy regarding war strategies stated that that the Russia-Ukraine war can be stopped, on the territory of Ukraine. But for some reason, our partners refuse to understand this. He also emphasised that With advanced technology, Ukraine can endure, but victory remains uncertain without greater support. West can't stop, Putin says Russia attacked Ukraine with a new missile The Kremlin fired a new intermediate-range ballistic missile at Ukraine on Thursday in response to Kyiv's use this week of American and British missiles capable of striking deeper into Russia, President Vladimir Putin said. In a televised address to the country, the Russian president warned that U.S. air defense systems would be powerless to stop the new missile, which he said flies at ten times the speed of sound and which he called the Oreshnik Russian for hazelnut tree. He also said it could be used to attack any Ukrainian ally whose missiles are used to attack Russia. It is a welcome development that the government is drawing up a plan to develop 100 tourism centres in the country and promote India as a tourist destination across the world. The reality is that India probably has more to offer a tourist from abroad than almost any other country, thanks to its size, antiquity and sheer diversity of culture, including cuisine, and rich collection of monuments built in different centuries. The big challenge is not the marketing of Indias tourist delights, but preparing people and the local infrastructure to make the visitors experience a matter of delight rather than regret. This calls for challenging some deep-rooted cultural norms and stereotypes, as well as behavioural patterns, and that is far more demanding a task than constructing roads, places to stay, airports and civic amenities. But if India does manage to meet these challenges, the prize would be remarkable. Such is the countrys tourism potential that we would not just gain a larger share of the worlds $1.5 trillion tourism receipts (2023 figure from UN Tourism), but also expand the global pie. Visiting tourists must be able to take safety and security for granted. That means law and order, first and foremost, but goes far beyond. Cultural stereotypes must go that encourage a whole lot of Indian men to see women not just primarily as objects of desire, to be ogled, but also as prey if not with male companyand not for tourisms sake alone. Centuries of colonial rule by Europeans embedded race prejudices in the Indian psyche, leading many Indians to fawn on fair-skinned visitors while looking down on the rest. This is broadly inimical to Indias growth in a globalized world, and not just to the diversity of tourists drawn to India. The sheer variety of taste and texture that Indian food can offer visitors is potentially a tourism force multiplierprovided it can be ingested without falling ill. That calls for a sea-change in hygiene levels that spans the entire range from raw ingredients, storage and transport to the dishes being served. The safety of visitors also depends on general conditions in the country. Our road-fatality data, however, makes India an outlier on hazardous traffic. As with air pollution in the national capital region, this problem is proving inordinately obstinate. Also, if a visitor needs medical help, the health facility she visits should offer more reassurance than horror. Communal flare-ups, of course, must vanish altogether. India has much to offer, from natural beauty, exotic flora, wildlife, adventure and blissful beaches to a living record of how spirituality evolved in different faiths over time; from our ancient and medieval history to architectural marvels from the past and present; from sculptures that combine the erotic and divine to the marvel of our anthropological variety; and from vestiges of various colonial regimes (French, Dutch, Portuguese and English) to assorted styles of music and dance, not to speak of Bollywood. Giving foreign tourists the enriching experience they deserve would call for trained guides, audio resources, engaging websites and generalized hospitality services. All these can create jobs by the thousand at different skill levels. Indeed, tourism is the worlds largest employer as a sector. Alas, India does not figure among the worlds ten most visited countries. This must change. The Centre aims to attract 100 million annual visitors by 2047, more than 10 times last years count. Achieving this would do us a world of good. Lets make the effort. As CoP-29 reaches its final phase of talks in Baku, Azerbaijan, the focus on climate finance has intensified, underscoring its importance for developing economies like India. Indias transition to a low-carbon economy is more than just a national challenge; it is a global imperative. Climate finance pledges are essential to enabling developing economies to harness their potential as clean energy powerhouses. With the right actions, India can not only accelerate its clean energy transition but also set a global benchmark for sustainable growth. Indias initial Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) projected a requirement of $2.5 trillion as climate financing between 2015 and 2030, or about $170 billion annually. The current capital flow covers only 25% of this requirement. As CoP-29 enters its final stretch, India has amplified its push for grant-based, long-term climate finance under the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG). Representing like-minded developing countries (LMDCs), India reiterated its call for developed nations to commit to providing at least $1.3 trillion annually through 2030. In this context, India needs to adopt a dual approach: attract international capital and prepare its domestic financial markets to redirect local capital toward climate-aligned investments. This strategy supports Indias 2070 net-zero goal and delivers significant economic and environmental benefits across sectors. At the heart of this effort lies Indias domestic financial sector, particularly its banks, which are the largest source of climate finance outside of the government. Banks must integrate climate considerations into their core decision-making processes to play a transformative role, aligning financial practices with national climate objectives. Indian banks can take proactive steps through integrated transition planning, drawing inspiration from global counterparts. Recent research highlights how global banks are implementing forward-looking strategies that can provide a strong foundation for Indian financial institutions. Transition planning goes beyond compliance with anticipated Reserve Bank of India directives on climate risks. It enables banks to create a comprehensive framework that identifies climate risks and opportunities, establishes actionable goals, measures progress and ensures accountability at all levels. This dynamic process requires banks to leverage climate data effectively for strategy development, risk assessment and lending decisions. While India-specific data is limited, global examples such as Barclays Bluetrack methodology offer actionable inputs for addressing climate risks. Also read: India must manage its green energy demand for a successful climate transition Banks can embed climate risk into their broader risk management systems by estimating emissions across sectors like energy and aviation and integrating forward-looking metrics, ensuring alignment with Indias climate goals while mitigating exposure to extreme climate events. The role of tailored financial products is equally important in supporting clients transition to low-carbon operations. Global banks are increasingly offering innovative green finance instrumentssuch as sustainability-linked loans, green bonds and transition bondsto encourage sustainable practices. Indian banks are beginning to embrace these products, enabling the mobilisation of private sector investments and expanding the market for climate-aligned financing solutions. Banks must prioritize the ongoing climate transition at every level to drive meaningful change, starting at the top. Leadership from boards is crucial to ensure that climate considerations are integrated across all functionsfrom risk management to credit and strategy. HSBC, for instance, has embedded climate risk into its Risk Appetite Statement, with regular updates made to board committees and the development of climate risk metrics that guide decisions at the business and transaction levels. Such a structured approach fosters resilience and strengthens financial practices. Finally, capacity building across Indias financial sector is critical to advance climate-aligned finance. Over the past year, civil society organisations and the Indian Banks Association have provided foundational climate finance training for bankers. Expanding these initiatives, alongside peer-to-peer knowledge sharing, can equip Indian bankers with the tools they need to navigate the complex risks and opportunities of climate finance. This ensures that the sector actively supports Indias climate ambitions. With CoP-29 about to conclude, India must continue to demonstrate leadership on two key areas: advocating increased international support as a voice for developing nations and mobilizing domestic resources to drive climate action. Embedding climate considerations into financial practicesthrough emissions targets, disclosures, risk management and green investmentscan position Indias financial sector as a cornerstone of the nations climate strategy, especially amid global uncertainty. Indias leadership in championing equitable finance and strengthening domestic systems could set the stage for a resilient and sustainable future. The authors are, respectively, managing director and senior associate with RMIs India Program The wait for an end to the Gaza War seems endless, despite mounting evidence of civilian suffering. Of the over-43,000 Gazans killed after Israel began its military action in response to a horrific terror attack, 44% are children, with adult males less than a third of that toll. For the fourth time, however, the US has vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution that would have called for a ceasefire. The urgency of relief for Gazans was glow-lit this time not just by bombardment flares, but also by a 40-day Israeli siege on north Gaza thats reported to have pushed people trapped there to the brink of starvation. While 14 of the Councils 15 members voted for a draft that demanded an immediate and unconditional" end to the war and release of all remaining hostages, only the US rejected it. The pain will thus go on. Tel Avivs disproportionate and legally dubious campaign plus Americas apparent support of it through arms supplies played a small but significant role in the recent US election result. Yet, Donald Trumps victory doesnt brighten peace prospects. Yes, he got the Abraham Accords signed and has said wars must end. But theres no saying what hell do once hes in office. Amid the escalating tensions in Manipur, BJP national president JP Nadda, on Friday, accused the Congress of sensationlising the situation" in the state. Nadda penned his accusations in a letter to Mallikarjun Kharge after the Congress president had written to Droupadi Murmu, requesting her intervention in the deteriorating condition of the state. Manipur has been witnessing a fresh surge in violence since the ethnic clashes between the Meitei and Kuki community broke out in May 2023. Last week, 16 people were killed in fresh clashes in the troubled northeastern state. In his letter, Kharge shared how the situation in Manipur has been worsening day-by-day and also highlighted the silence and inaction of the state and Union governments marked by the loss of more than 300 lives, people being displaced, the impact on the economy and more. As a response to that, JP Nadda accused Kharge and his party of "sensationalising" the violence in the state. JP Nadda's letter In his letter, JP Nadda stated that Congress was to blame for India's failure of security, and the illegal migration of foreign militants to the country. ...What is shocking is how repeated attempts are being made by the Congress party to sensationalise the situation in Manipur. It appears that you have forgotten that not only did your government legitimise the illegal migration of foreign militants to India, P Chidambaram the erstwhile Home Minister - had signed treaties with them! Furthermore, these known militant leaders fleeing their country to avoid arrest were wholeheartedly endorsed and encouraged to carry on their destabilising efforts. This complete failure of India's security and administrative protocols under your government is one of the major reasons why militant and habitually violent organisations are attempting to destroy the hard-won peace in Manipur and push it back several decades into the age of Anarchy, read Nadda's letter, reported ANI. Also Read | EC asks to BJP, Congress chiefs to react on complaints against one another Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena showered praise on Chief Minister Atishi during an event on Friday dubbing her a thousand times better than her predecessor. The remarks are a stark deviation from the frosty ties and frequent war of words that had marked Arvind Kejriwal's tenure at the helm. I am happy today that Delhi's CM is a woman, and I can confidently say that she is a thousand times better than her predecessor, Saxena opined during a convocation ceremony in the city. Members of the Aam Aadmi Party have repeatedly found themselves at loggerheads with Saxena over a wide array of issues pertaining to governance and control of bureaucracy after Kejriwal tendered his resignation in September. The AAP chief is seeking a certificate of honesty from the public in the upcoming elections after exiting Tihar jail on bail. Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in March over alleged links to the Delhi excise policy case. The remarks come mere days after senior AAP leader Kailash Gehlot quit the party and the Atishi-led Cabinet and joined the BJP. Source-based reports suggest that his increasing proximity to Saxena had sparked concerns ahead of the defection. The first signs of strain emerged in August as Saxena chose thetwo-term MLA to hoist the national flag for Independence Day. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal still in Tihar jail at the time had recommended Atishi for the role. Gahlot and Saxena were also regular participants for various public events such as laying foundation stones or inaugurating new initiatives while other AAP leaders remained embroiled in verbal confrontations with the Raj Niwas. Assembly elections in Delhi are likely to be held in early 2025 but the Election Commission is yet to announce dates. AAP had secured an absolute majority during the 2015 polls and won 62 seats out of 70. SINGAPORE : Huawei Technologies plans to roll out its most advanced domestically made phone chip, people familiar with the matter said, showing how the company is able to make strides in semiconductors despite U.S. sanctions. The chip is set to be included in some phones of the Mate 70 series to go on sale next week, they said. With the series, the Chinese smartphone maker hopes to challenge Apple and build on market-share gains since last year. The iPhone maker still counts China as its second-largest market after the U.S., but after years of dominating high-end phones it has faced growing competition from Huawei. In recent days, Huawei has given glimpses of the Mate 70 series online, including showing three camera lenses on the back of the phones, and the company said it would make a product announcement on Tuesday. Huawei hasnt given details of the phones features or the chips inside theman area of interest for U.S. policymakers who have sought to hold back Huaweis technology. The company was put on a trade blacklist during the first Trump administration in 2019. A Huawei representative declined to comment on the chips in the new phones. The companys ability to continue making incremental advances in semiconductors is both a security concern for the U.S. and a commercial challenge for Apple. Huaweis overall market share in China has risen to 15.3% in the third quarter of this year from 8.6% in the first quarter of last year, according to industry researcher IDC, and it has been neck-and-neck with Apple in recent quarters.Huaweis fortunes have improved in part because of nationalistic buying by Chinese consumers and because of features including its powerful cameras and, more recently, artificial-intelligence functions. Apple has yet to bring its Apple Intelligence features to China. The two companies compete in particular in the high-end market. Huaweis current flagship model line, the Mate 60 series, starts at $690 in China, while Apples iPhone 16 series retails for about $830 and up in China. The Mate 70 will continue to put more pressure on Apple in China," said IDC Vice President Bryan Ma. While Huaweis chips still trail Apples, particularly in power efficiency, this might not amount to much of a practical difference as long as the user is able to get through the day without having to worry about charging," he said. Huawei is taking preorders in China for the Mate 70 series and said on its website that around 2.5 million people have clicked a button online saying they intend to purchase the device, although they can change their minds later. Huawei has sidestepped U.S. sanctions with domestic technology. When Google cut access to some of its Android services on Huawei smartphones, the Chinese company developed its own operating system called HarmonyOS Next. The coming Mate 70 series, which has three models, will use that software, the people said. In August 2023, Huawei surprised U.S. officials by introducing its Mate 60 series of smartphones with communications capability similar to high-speed fifth-generation phones available in other countries, even though it could no longer access 5G-related technology from the U.S. Another surprise at the time was the processor in the Huawei phones, made with the help of a Chinese chip factory. While still trailing the best chips made by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, Apples partner for the iPhone, the Huawei chip was closer to Apples than many in the industry had expected. Huawei released the Mate 60 series during a visit to Beijing by U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, thumbing a nose at Washington. A teardown of a Mate 60 Pro phone by TechInsights, a Canadian research firm, found the integrated circuit inside was made with technology similar to 7-nanometer technology used by advanced factories in the U.S. and Taiwan. The nanometer figure reflects the size of transistors that can be packed onto a chip, with a lower figure designating more advanced technology. TSMCs most advanced commercially available chips are in the 3-nanometer class. TechInsights said the chip in the Mate 60 phone was likely made by Semiconductor Manufacturing International, the largest contract manufacturer of chips in China. SMIC is also blacklisted by the U.S., depriving it of leading chip-making equipment. SMIC has employed a technique called multiple-patterning lithography to print finer circuit designs on the surface of wafers, circumventing the limits of its equipment, according to TechInsights. However, industry experts said the method could reduce the yield of usable chips and cost more. Multiple patterning and other techniques used for the chip in the new Mate 70 series allow Huawei to improve power efficiency and performance, the people said. Analysts said Huawei was facing manufacturing bottlenecks for the Mate 70 series. Some Huawei dealers have told consumers they may need to wait for months if they miss their initial chance to order a phone. Recently, the U.S. has intensified scrutiny into how Huawei and other blacklisted Chinese firms are able to skirt export controls and acquire leading chip technology. Core circuitry produced by TSMC was found in some of Huaweis AI chips, and the U.S. told the Taiwanese company to tighten supervision of orders by Chinese customers related to AI applications, according to people familiar with the matter. Huawei is expanding investments into many parts of the semiconductor supply chain such as lithography, assembly and testing in addition to its chip-design house HiSilicon. Write to Liza Lin at liza.lin@wsj.com and Raffaele Huang at raffaele.huang@wsj.com India is set to roll out incentives worth up to $5 billion to local electronics firms to manufacture components for devices ranging from smartphones to laptops, according to government officials (via Reuters). Reportedly, the initiative aims to reduce reliance on Chinese imports and strengthen domestic supply chains within the fast-growing sector. The country's electronics production has surged to $115 billion in 2024, more than double its output six years ago, driven by global manufacturers like Apple and Samsung. India has now emerged as the fourth-largest smartphone supplier globally. However, the industry remains heavily dependent on imported components, particularly from China and Hong Kong, which account for over half of India's $89.8 billion electronics imports in the fiscal year 2024, according to the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI). The forthcoming scheme, spearheaded by Indias Ministry of Electronics, will provide incentives for manufacturing critical components such as printed circuit boards. These measures aim to enhance domestic value addition and foster deeper local supply chains, officials stated, requesting anonymity as details remain confidential. The programme is expected to be unveiled within the next two to three months, pending approval by the Ministry of Finance. India's ambitions in electronics manufacturing are significant, with a target to scale up production to $500 billion by the fiscal year 2030, including $150 billion in component manufacturing, as outlined by the government think tank Niti Aayog. Also Read | Finance Ministry revises norms for dividend payments, share buybacks for PSUs "This scheme is timely as it will encourage component production, enabling India to achieve global-scale electronics manufacturing," remarked Pankaj Mohindroo, Chairman of the India Cellular and Electronics Association. The move is seen as pivotal in advancing India's goal of becoming a global electronics manufacturing hub while reducing import dependency. Neither the Ministry of Electronics nor the Ministry of Finance has commented on the matter yet. This initiative highlights India's efforts to position itself as a major player in the global electronics market amid growing geopolitical and economic shifts. The new edition of the Journal of County Longford Historical Society, Teathbha, will be launched on Thursday, November 28 at 7.30pm in Longford Library. The launch will be performed by Ardagh native, Dr Mel Farrell, who is a well-known historian and author. Teathbha is edited by Martin Morris and this is the twenty-third edition of it. As always, the journal contains articles about a broad variety of topics relating to Longfords history. Also Read: Man in his 20s dies and woman hospitalised following tragic Leitrim road crash You can read about the Annals of the Four Masters; the saints associated with Longford; the Enlightenment in the county; the Ordnance Survey; an intriguing pipers tune; and stories from Dromard. There are three articles on Longfords diaspora: locals who went to South Africa in 1820; Kenagh people in the Falkland Islands; and Private Luke Baxter, who fought in the American Civil War, on both sides. There are also contributions about the countys population in 1901, the early development of hurling and the Scor Sinsir competition. If your name is Quinn, you might like to learn about the familys fortunes in the medieval period. There is something for everyone. There are also reflections on our townland names and an account of the County Longford Field Names Project. Also Read: Longford Councillor calls to address "ghettoization" of county Dr Mel Farrell, who will launch the journal, is an expert in the politics of the Irish Free State and has published widely on that and on the Irish Revolution. He has also contributed to Teathbha. Copies of the journal cost 15 each and will be available at outlets throughout the county after the launch. There are special launch prices of 25 for two copies and 40 for three copies. Local News By Chris Boyle Published: November 21 2024 Daniel Austin, Sr. and Anthony Mordente Allegedly Enriched Themselves With Charitable Funds While Lutheran All Faiths Cemetery Fell Into Disrepair. New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced that she has secured more than $1.6 million from former leaders of Lutheran All Faiths Cemetery, including Daniel Austin, Sr. and Anthony Mordente, who allegedly misused and took millions of dollars in charitable funds from the cemetery in order to enrich themselves. The funds will be returned to the historic nonprofit cemetery, now under new management, to support restoration and upkeep. Austin, Sr., who ran the cemetery for decades as President, Chief Executive, and Chairman, will return a nearly $1 million payout he wrongfully received. Mordente, who served in multiple cemetery leadership roles, including Director, Board Secretary, Treasurer, President, and Legal Counsel, will also return $585,000 he was improperly paid. A total of $1.672 million will be returned to the cemetery, including $187,100 that Attorney General James secured in previous settlements with other former Directors of the cemetery. No one deserves to have their final resting place desecrated by mismanagement and greed, said Attorney General James. Daniel Austin, Sr. and Anthony Mordente used All Faiths Cemetery as their personal piggy bank, allowing the grounds to fall into disrepair while they lined their own pockets. This was not only unlawful, but also completely disrespectful to the families and loved ones of the hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers buried at Lutheran All Faiths Cemetery. My office will always fight to protect New Yorks historic sites. Lutheran All Faiths Cemetery is a historic nonprofit cemetery in Middle Village, Queens that has served as the final resting place for more than 540,000 New Yorkers for nearly 150 years. After Austin, Sr. became president in 1990, conditions at the cemetery began to deteriorate. By the time Austin, Sr. stepped down as president in 2014, several sections of the cemetery had fallen into disrepair. Visitors reported toppled and sunken gravestones, cracked memorials, crumbling stairs, and roads full of potholes. Rather than invest charitable funds in maintaining the cemetery, Austin, Sr. and Mordente took money for themselves and allowed the cemetery to fall into disrepair. All funds secured in todays settlements will go directly to the cemetery to support the continued restoration and preservation of its historic grounds. In September 2019, Attorney General James filed a lawsuit against seven long-serving Directors and Board members of Lutheran All Faiths Cemetery after an Office of the Attorney General (OAG) investigation revealed that they had engaged in extensive misuse of the organizations charitable funds and unlawful self-dealing. The OAG found that Austin, Sr., with the assistance of Mordente, extracted $900,000 from the cemeterys funds as an unlawful, so-called retirement benefit for himself while continuing to serve in a consultant role, for which he continued to receive a salary and full employee benefits. The $900,000 retirement benefit was taken in addition to his previously agreed upon pension, and was paid out in one lump sum, instead of in standard monthly allotments. Austin, Sr.s fellow former Directors did not dispute or otherwise oppose this self-dealing. The OAG also found that following Austin, Sr.s purported retirement, the cemeterys Board of Directors elected his son, Daniel Austin, Jr., to serve as President, a role for which no other candidates were considered. During this time, Austin, Jr. diverted more than $60,000 from the cemeterys payroll in the form of self-authorized bonuses. After learning this, Mordente and the Board permitted Austin, Jr. to remain in his paid roles as President and Director for many months, ultimately allowing him to resign with a full pension. Austin, Sr. then repaid the diverted funds on his sons behalf, without any interest added or admission of wrongdoing from the younger Austin. The OAGs investigation also revealed frequent misuse of cemetery assets to directly benefit Board members and their families. Mordente, while serving as a Director, was paid to provide outside legal counsel to the cemetery. Between 1990 and 2020, Mordente was paid a retainer fee with zero oversight from the Board or documentation to justify the amounts paid. Additionally, multiple Board members, including Austin, Sr. and Mordente, used cemetery funds to issue personal mortgage loans to relatives without proper review of those insider transactions. Attorney General James alleges that this mismanagement and overspending of funds resulted in millions of dollars in unnecessary operating costs and financial losses for the cemetery. As part of todays agreement, Austin, Sr. must return $900,000 to replenish the funds taken as a lump sum retirement benefit to the cemetery. Mordente will pay $585,000 to restore cemetery funds improperly used to pay his multiple salaries. Austin, Sr., Austin, Jr., and Mordente are also permanently barred from serving in a financial management role in any New York nonprofits or charitable organizations. Attorney General James previously secured settlements with four additional Directors named in the 2019 lawsuit for participating in or permitting improper and wasteful financial transactions, ultimately harming the cemetery. These Directors admitted to violating their duties as leaders of the cemetery by failing to provide adequate oversight of the cemeterys finances and approving transactions with insiders without consideration of conflicts of interest. As part of these prior agreements, the Board members agreed to return the full amounts they were paid as Directors during the period in question, ranging from $38,500 to $50,000, for a total of $187,100. This matter was handled by Senior Counsel Sandra Pullman, Assistant Attorney General Mihea Kim, Research Analyst Joseph Flores, and former Legal Extern Will Gomberg, with former Assistant Attorneys General Kate Suvari and Daniel Roque, under the supervision of Charities Enforcement Section Chief Emily Stern and Charities Bureau Chief James Sheehan. The Charities Bureau is a part of the Division for Social Justice, which is led by Chief Deputy Attorney General Meghan Faux and overseen by First Deputy Attorney General Jennifer Levy. Crime By Chris Boyle Published: November 22 2024 Kim Lilly was convicted in April of selling nearly a dozen rifles and pistols that were initially purchased in South Carolina and trafficked to Nassau County. Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly announced that a South Carolina man was sentenced today to seven years in prison for selling nearly a dozen illegal firearms, including rifles and pistols, between August 2023 and January 2024 that were trafficked from South Carolina to Nassau County. Kim Lilly, 45, of Greenville, South Carolina, pleaded guilty on September 26, 2024, before Judge Colin ODonnell to charges of Criminal Sale of a Firearm in the First Degree (a B violent felony) and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree (a C violent felony). He was sentenced today to seven years in prison and five years post-release supervision. This case underscores the danger of illegal firearms making their way into our communities. Trafficking weapons into Nassau County not only endangers individuals and families, but it also fuels violence on our streets, said DA Donnelly. Every gun seized during this investigation has prevented countless potential shootings. My prosecutors work tirelessly to keep Nassau County the safest county in America, and I intend to maintain that level of security for everyone who lives here. DA Donnelly said that on four separate dates between August 2023 and January 2024, Lilly sold 11 illegal firearms in Freeport, including an assault rifle and assault pistol, and pistols. All but one of the firearms were loaded and sold with accompanying ammunition. The defendant also sold several high-capacity magazines. The weapons were found to have been initially purchased from a pawn shop in South Carolina and then trafficked by Lilly to Nassau County. Prior to living in South Carolina, the defendant was a resident of Freeport. The defendant was arrested on April 3, 2024, in Farmingdale by members of the ATF Firearms Task Force. Following Lillys arrest, two loaded handguns were recovered during a search warrant executed on his vehicle. Lillys co-defendant, Tomeca Jeter, 49, of South Carolina, pleaded guilty to Attempted Criminal Possession of a Firearm (a class A misdemeanor) on July 10, 2024, before Judge Colin ODonnell. She was sentenced to time served on October 16, 2024. Local News By Chris Boyle Published: November 21 2024 Assistant DA Stephanie Dellinger will serve as a resource and expert in the prosecution of motor vehicle offenses to other prosecutors and law enforcement agencies in NYs downstate region. Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney is proud to announce the appointment of Assistant District Attorney Stephanie Dellinger as the New York State Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor. ADA Dellinger will serve as a resource and expert in the prosecution of motor vehicle offenses to other prosecutors and law enforcement agencies in New Yorks downstate region which covers all of Long Island, New York City, and the lower Hudson Valley. It is an honor that Suffolk County was selected as a host county for this statewide driver safety initiative, and we are also extremely fortunate to have recruited such a talented prosecutor to this highly prestigious position, said District Attorney Tierney. Hosting the downstate Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor is only one of many steps that my office has taken to reduce the epidemic of vehicular related injuries and deaths statewide. We continue to push for the passage of the bipartisan Deadly Driving Bill, which has been stalled in the state legislature. Our state representatives need to stop playing politics and actually do the job that they were elected to do pass common sense laws to make New Yorkers lives safer. Prior to her appointment as the TSRP, ADA Dellinger was a prosecutor in Nassau County since 2008. While there, she spent over a decade prosecuting vehicular crimes including multiple high-profile cases where individuals had been seriously injured or killed by drunk, drug impaired, or reckless drivers. ADA Dellinger rose through the ranks and was promoted to numerous supervisory positions including Deputy Bureau Chief of their misdemeanor DWI Unit, and later as the Deputy Bureau Chief of their felony Vehicular Crimes Bureau. In addition to hosting one of the three State Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutors in New York State, District Attorney Tierney has collaborated with Senate Sponsor John Mannion and former Assembly Transportation Committee Chair Bill Magnarelli to lead a bipartisan effort close the loopholes by creating the Senate Bill S.3135 and Assembly Bill A.174, also known as the Deadly Driving Bill. This bill closes a current state law loophole that does not allow an individual to be arrested and prosecuted for operating a vehicle while drugged, unless the officer can first pinpoint to the exact drug that driver is impaired by, and then that drug must be listed Section 3306 of the Public Health Law. In January 2024, District Attorney Tierney rallied on the steps of the capital in Albany with a bipartisan group of local and state officials, traffic safety advocates, and families and friends of those affected by drunk and drugged driving, and called on lawmakers to pass the Deadly Driving Bill. In May 2024, District Attorney Tierney rallied with Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark and Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz and other elected officials, families of victims, and advocates, calling for the passage of the bill. Other District Attorneys throughout New York State have voiced support for this bill including Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, Acting Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly, and Staten Island District Attorney Michael E. McMahon. Other efforts the Suffolk County District Attorneys Office has made to improve safety on our roadways and reduce injuries and fatalities from vehicular collisions include recording radio PSAs with State Senator Dean Murray and Suffolk County Sheriff Errol D. Toulon Jr., and providing the Choices & Consequences Program to school districts and other youth groups where Assistant District Attorneys discuss the real life consequences of driving recklessly or while impaired by drugs or alcohol. Former Afghan Deputy Defense Minister Dr. Yasin Zia greets Afghan National Army commandos in Kabul, Afghanistan, on March 3, 2020. (US Army Reserve photo by Specialist Jeffery J. Harris/Released) General Yasin Zias anti-Taliban resistance group is expanding its operational reach and conducting more lethal attacks. As the world focuses on Ukraine, Israel, and Chinese revanchism, the war against the Taliban is heating up. Resistance groups still do not pose an existential threat to the Talibans iron grip over Afghanistan but have increased the rate and lethality of attacks during the Talibans third year in power. While most of the press focuses on Ahmad Massouds National Resistance Front (NRF), General Yasin Zias Afghan Freedom Front (AFF) is taking on a more prominent role in the anti-Taliban resistance. Yasin Zia served in numerous roles in the former Afghan government. During most of Americas fateful final year in Afghanistan, Zia served as the Afghan Armed Forces chief of general staff (equivalent to the US chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff) and acting minister of defense. Before that assignment, he served in the National Directorate of Security, the former governments premiere intelligence service. Zia was also appointed Governor of Takhar following the Talibans brief capture of Kunduz City in 2015, likely as an attempt to stabilize the north. In March 2022, the AFF announced its formation. Shortly after, the group began conducting attacks on the Taliban, mainly centered in Kabul. According to the AFF, it has executed a total of 322 attacks. Since January 2024, the organization has conducted 78 operations, resulting in 239 Taliban killed, including 4 Taliban commanders, and 147 wounded. In 2025, we plan to place more political and military pressure on the Taliban, General Yasin Zia told FDDs Long War Journal. Were fighting for equality, justice, and to return the power to the Afghan people. The Manifesto of the Freedom Front of Afghanistan, published in 2024, lays out many of the groups goals and principles. The AFF seeks to create a new social contract that meets the needs and requirements of building a prosperous society endowed with freedom, equality, and human dignity. Billing itself as a progressive military-political organization, the AFFs manifesto essentially adheres to many of the same Western-oriented values that defined the ill-fated Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. Manifestos, conferences, and speeches, while important, will not dislodge the Taliban and its allies from power. Although neither the AFF nor the National Resistance Front has yet to capture a single district, the AFF has expanded its operational reach and conducted attacks across 10 provinces, though its primary focus remains Kabul. The AFF has executed attacks on Taliban vehicles, government buildings, and checkpoints, and even an indirect fire attack on Kabuls airport in mid-October. The AFF also posts videos of its attacks at a higher rate than the more established NRF, likely to prove its bona fides. In the beginning, most of our attacks were on small checkpoints, Dauod Naji, head of the AFFs Political Committee, told LWJ. But our operations are becoming more sophisticated because were attracting more former Afghan Security Force members. The AFFs leadership council has approximately 50 figures who lead numerous committees ranging from foreign policy to cultural and religious matters. According to the AFF, most of its fighters are former Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) members, which is why it claims its attacks are more precise and cause fewer civilian casualties. It is our responsibility to liberate our brothers and sisters, Dauod said. However, we must do it responsibly so as not to harm civilians. The AFF collaborates with the National Resistance Front and maintains friendly relations with Lieutenant General Sami Sadats Afghan United Front. However, these organizations are not under a single unified command, making their work of defeating the Taliban even more difficult. While the AFF has called for a unified front, there is yet to be any significant movement to create an organization similar to the famed Northern Alliance. We know that the Taliban is the mother of all other terrorist groups, said Dauod. Our fighters routinely collect intelligence or fight members of Al Qaeda, the Pakistani Taliban, and the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan. As 2024 concludes, all eyes turn to the new Trump administration, though the Biden administrations disastrous retreat from Afghanistan remains fresh on the AFFs minds. First, we hope that the new administration learns from all of Bidens mistakes, said Daoud. Second, the United States needs to halt all cooperation with Taliban, and it must recalibrate its relationship with Pakistan and Iran. While the Trump administration is filling out its cabinet with notable Afghan combat veterans (Pete Hegseth for secretary of defense and Mike Walz for national security advisor), it is far too early to tell if they will take a more uncompromising stand against the Taliban, let alone provide resources to burgeoning Afghan resistance groups. Nevertheless, as 2024 concludes, the Taliban is not only fighting a rejuvenated Islamic State but also a more active and lethal anti-Taliban resistance. Were confident that we will continue to make meaningful achievements in 2025, said Zia. Will Selber is a retired Middle East Foreign Area Officer who deployed for over four and half years to Iraq and Afghanistan. Will is a contributor to the Bulwark and the co-founder of Grumpy Combat Veteran. A popular ice cream chain based in New York City known for its fresh ice cream that comes in a variety of creative flavors has continued its Boston-area expansion. Van Leeuwen Ice Cream opened its scoop shop in Harvard Square in Cambridge on Friday, Nov. 22. The new shop joins Van Leeuwens other locations in Chestnut Hill and Seaport. Those who visit the new store from 12-2 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 5 will get $1 scoops in honor of the store opening. The first 100 guests will also get free Van Leeuwen tote bags. The Harvard Square store, located at 1 Brattle Square in Cambridge, is open Sunday through Thursday from noon to 11 p.m. and Friday through Saturday from noon to midnight. Van Leeuwen will also offer a student discount for the month of December from 15% off to 30% off exclusively at the Harvard Square location when students show their school ID. Van Leeuwen began when Ben Van Leeuwen, Pete Van Leeuwen and Laura ONeill started scooping ice cream out of their yellow truck on the streets of NYC in 2008, according to the companys website. The French-style ice cream (made with more than double the amount of egg yolks as standard ice cream) quickly gained a loyal following. Van Leeuwen has since expanded to more than 60 scoop shops in New York, California, New Jersey, Texas, Pennsylvania, Colorado, Connecticut, Washington D.C. and Florida. Van Leeuwen is also eyeing more locations in Massachusetts, with stores expected to open in Back Bay, Wellesley and Fenway, according to the chains website. The Harvard Square scoop shop will feature more than 30 of Van Leeuwnens signature flavors including its award-winning Vanilla Bean, Honeycomb, Pistachio, Marionberry Cheesecake, Praline Butter Cake and Earl Grey Tea. Popular vegan flavors include Banana Bread Pudding, Peanut Butter Brownie Honeycomb, Strawberry Shortcake and more. Aside from scoops, people can get sundaes, ice cream sandwiches, root beer floats, milkshakes and pints to-go. Van Leeuwen also sells pints, ice cream bars and ice cream sandwiches at grocery stores across the country. People can order products for nationwide shipping online. In Nov. 2022, law enforcement in Massachusetts raided an illicit operation believed to be the origin of 100 mail parcels containing counterfeit and misbranded prescription pills. At the location in the Commonwealth, undisclosed by court documents, investigators came upon three industrial-sized pill press machines and more than 26 pounds of pills and powder testing positive for fentanyl. Two years later, that discovery is now the impetus for a new federal criminal case in the U.S. District Court of Massachusetts. It positions the Bay State-based clandestine operation as a supplier to two international online pharmacy websites and the reason law enforcement found them. Authorities this week announced the arrest of a California man believed to be the stateside payment processor for the pharmacies. Jimmy Fu, 63, of West Hills, is facing a money laundering charge and up to 20 years in prison for purportedly processing $11.5 million in payments from customers across the U.S. on behalf of the counterfeit pharmacies. The charge claims Fu would wire the proceeds from the illegal purchases to various entities overseas identifying as information technology consulting businesses. Fu, doing business as Axson Data, was arrested on Oct. 30. He made an initial video appearance in federal court in Boston this week. In early October, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration issued a national public safety alert about an increase in illegal online pharmacies selling counterfeit pills made with fentanyl and methamphetamine to unsuspecting customers in the United States who believe they are purchasing real pharmaceutical drugs. Building a case In the Massachusetts-based case, multiple branches of law enforcement have been investigating the two online pharmacies, believed to be operating out of India, for two years. Customer orders were filled by illicit pill press locations operating in the U.S., including the one in Massachusetts, as well as via shipments from overseas locations, authorities say. Police said Fus role as the payment processor was designed to obfuscate the true operators of the websites network. Some of the pills obtained through undercover purchases in the case such as Adderall, phentermine and Xanax imprinted with markings consistent with genuine pharmaceutical pills contained illicit drugs, while others didnt have any active pharmaceutical ingredient at all, according to police. Customers from around the country paid Fu money ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars using Venmo, Zelle, Cash App and PayPal, court documents show. The affidavit for Fus arrest written by Patrick Martin, a special agent with Homeland Security Investigations, identifies a customer in Carlisle, Massachusetts, for example, alongside others from New York and Washington. The two websites are not named in court documents because the investigation remains ongoing, police said. In a months-long investigation published last month, MassLive identified at least 25 cities and towns in the Commonwealth where profit-driven pill press operations have been discovered or suspected over the last five years. The machines, which quickly press powder into tablets, have emerged as a tool for drug manufacturers to swiftly feed the counterfeit pill market while maximizing profits. The pills most often appear as oxycodone, Adderall and Xanax, but are actually made with fentanyl or methamphetamine. I ordered Adderall... its pressed meth' After police executed their search warrant at the unnamed Massachusetts pill press location in Nov. 2022, they spoke with people who were supposed to receive the packages deriving from the operation, according to court documents. The customers identified to law enforcement the two websites in question as where theyd ordered prescription medications such as Adderall and Modafinil, without a prescription. On both websites, law enforcement saw prescription drug offerings to treat, mitigate, and/or cure a variety of diseases, including COVID-19, erectile dysfunction, the flu, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Some of the advertised drugs included Ivermectin, Adderall, Viagra, Cialis, phentermine, Prednisone and Periostat. Between Jan. 2023 and Aug. 2024, police placed 17 undercover orders and had them shipped to a covert mailbox in Massachusetts. The return addresses on the packages included Florida, Georgia, Texas, the Philippines and Netherlands. A photo included in court documents shows text communications between Jimmy Fu and a pharmacy customer who tested their shipment and found it was positive for methamphetamine.U.S. District Attorney's Office of Massachusetts Some of the orders tested positive for methamphetamine, synthetic opioids and other cocktails of controlled substances, court documents said. All were determined to be counterfeit. After law enforcement identified Fus apparent association with the online pharmacies, a judge signed a search warrant for his iPhone, which yielded text communications with a customer who had drug-tested their purchase and found methamphetamine. I ordered Adderall I got this... its pressed meth... I said if they dont have real Adderall I would take 20mg Ritalin to replace. They refused unless I sent these back (which is highly illegal)," the customer wrote to Fu. If you own a glass, Pyrex measuring cup, you could get a check in the mail within the next few months. More than 10,000 customers who purchased a Pyrex measuring cup around 2021 will receive a check soon, after the brand falsely marketed select cups were Made in USA, according to the Federal Trade Commission. The Federal Trade Commission is disbursing more than $88,000 to customers who bought Chinese-made measuring cups that were falsely branded as American-made. In 2023, the FTC charged that Pyrexs parent company, Instant Brands, claimed all its popular glass measuring cups were made in the United States, despite some actually being imported from China. The FTC said more than 110,000 units of Chinese-made measuring cup sets were sold to American consumers while being marked as Made in USA. Instant Brands agreed to a settlement with the FTC that stopped the company from making deceptive claims about products being Made in USA and required them to pay a monetary judgement, an October release reads. Eligible customers will be notified by the FTC via mail. In order to determine who gets reimbursed, the FTC orders defendants, in this case, Instant Brands, to provide a list of customers, their contact information and how much they paid. The agency may also find eligible recipients by using its Consumer Sentinel Network database, which has millions of reports from people who have already contacted the FTC, Better Business Bureau or other state and local law offices about fraud or bad business practices. In other cases, the FTC may search for reports related to the defendants, including complaints, and use that to create a list of potential recipients. Read more: Popular national retailer announces major change ahead of the holidays Customers who have questions about payments can contact the refund administrator, Simpluris, at 833-244-7320. Recipients should cash their checks within 90 days, as indicated on the check. A New Hampshire man pleaded not guilty in Lawrence District Court on Thursday in connection with an Andover crash that killed a Lawrence mother, Essex County District Attorney Paul Tuckers office announced. Marvin Santos, 36, of Salem, New Hampshire, was charged with homicide by operating a motor vehicle in a negligent manner and while under the influence of liquor; operating under the influence of liquor (second offense), a misdemeanor; and two civil motor vehicle infractions: a breakdown lane violation and speeding. At around 3:43 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 16, a 2019 Jaguar E-Pace driven by Santos crashed into a 2022 Chevrolet Trailblazer, driven by Christina Solivan, 38, of Lawrence, on the northbound side of Interstate 495, Tuckers office said in a statement. As part of a criminal investigation into the 18th Street Gang, nine people were charged Thursday after federal authorities said they were involved in a series of drug, gun, and sex abuse-related crimes. The following people were charged with distribution of and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, according to acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy. Orlando Mancia, 22, of Everett, a member of the 18th Street Gang Tony Cartegena-Chacon, 46, of Chelsea Hector Luis Santana Guzman, 33, of Lawrence John Angel, 31, of Nantucket Mancia has been accused of selling around 500 pressed fentanyl pills to a witness cooperating with the federal government in Everett on Oct. 15, Levy said. From The Inquirer and Mirror: Four men arrested on gun and drug charges in Hooper Farm Road house raid Mancia has been accused of selling another 500 pressed fentanyl pills and cocaine to the witness again on Oct. 23, Levy said. Also, Cartegena-Chacon had 40 grams of fentanyl he was trying to sell, Levy said. During a search, police found around 100 grams of suspected cocaine and around $25,000 in cash from Angels home on Nantucket, Levy said. More people were charged in state court with several crimes, including drug trafficking, child sex abuse, and unlawful possession of ammunition, Levy said. They are: A great horned owl at the Habitat Education Center in Belmont died after ingesting rat poison, Mass Audubon announced Wednesday. A visitor called Mass Audubon on Nov. 5 when they saw the owl appearing groggy before falling off a log it was perched on for hours, the conservation group said in a statement. Heal Veterinary Clinic in Watertown and then Tufts Wildlife Clinic in Grafton examined the owl, but it died two days later, Mass Audubon said. Rodenticides were found in its system. The owls death was the latest raptor to die from eating rat poison. The first bald eagle to nest in Arlington in 50 years, MK, died from rodenticides in 2023. A Eurasian eagle owl named Flaco, who escaped from its enclosure, died from rat poison earlier in 2024, Mass Audubon said. Unfortunately, recent data shows this owl wont be the last, the group added. A 2020 study found that 100% of red-tailed hawks tested at a wildlife clinic in Massachusetts had [second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides, or SGARs] in their bloodstreams. And a national study of 303 dead bald eagles found that 82% of the sampled birds had been exposed to rodenticides. Rodenticides have been used for decades as a tool to manage rodent-related diseases and damage, from urban cities to farmland, commonly seen in the form of black bait boxes. The chemicals move through the food web, ultimately impacting predators such as owls, hawks, eagles, foxes, coyotes, fishers and bobcats. For this, wildlife advocates have been doggedly ringing the alarm. While legislative efforts on Beacon Hill have called for lessening the use of SGARs, towns have banned their use on municipally-owned properties, town meeting resolutions and home rule petitions. Rodenticides are regulated at both the federal and state levels. Per EPA restrictions, SGARs, the more potent of rodenticides, cant be sold for individual consumer use, but licensed pest professionals and agricultural users are permitted to use them and do. The EPA cut off retail sales of SGARS in 2015, but they can still be purchased online in commercial use quantities. In Massachusetts, in order to sell or use a rodenticide, manufacturers have to apply to register their product with the five-member Pesticide Board Subcommittee of the states Department of Agricultural Resources. Registrations expire on June 30 of each year and must be renewed, meaning the state reviews its allowable rodenticides annually. All rodenticides in Massachusetts, including SGARs, are classified as general use versus restricted use, the latter of which requires advanced licensing. Reporting from MassLive reporter Hadley Barndollar contributed to this story. Silda Melo has been a nurse for a decade. And in that time, the Lynn resident, who practices in Boston, has seen no shortage of challenges and changes in her industry. Four years after the COVID-19 pandemic sent shockwaves through the entire health care sector, one of the most vexing remains a staffing shortage thats hurt morale and pushed concerns about deteriorating patient care to the front of the queue. A study by the Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association showed an estimated 5,100 registered nurse vacancies at hospitals statewide in 2022. Nurses are under a lot of pressure. They are overworked. Theyre burned out, Melo, the president of the state branch of the American Nurses Association, told MassLive this week. Nurses are leaving the profession as a result, with about 20% saying theyll head for the exits within two years, according to the most recent data. But relief may soon be on the way, thanks to a sprawling, $4 billion economic development bill that Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey signed into law this week. Embedded in the bill is language allowing the Bay State to join the Nurse Licensure Compact, a multistate agreement that enables registered nurses to practice across state lines with a single license. That will smooth the path for nurses from out of state to work in Massachusetts, easing a staffing crunch thats been patched by pricey visiting and traveling nurses. Hospitals are spending more than $1.5 billion a year on those services, that same MHA study showed. The compact currently is in effect across dozens of states, including Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. Lawmakers in Connecticut have approved, and Gov. Ned Lamont signed legislation entering the Nutmeg State into the compact last summer. But its still awaiting implementation. Thats left Massachusetts as the lone New England holdout. The compact is a tool that will allow facilities to attract more nurses and get them in working as soon as possible, Melo said. We will start to alleviate that burden without having to wait to push their start dates while they wait for single-state licensing. Advocacy groups, including the AARP, lined up behind the legislation, arguing that it was vital for family caregivers. In Massachusetts alone, there are 780,000 family caregivers, providing help and support to a loved one who wants to remain in their home and community, AARP Massachusetts State Director Jen Benson and AARP Massachusetts State President Sandra Harris, said in a statement. Registered nurses are vital to these family caregivers. They provide high-quality primary, acute and specialty health care services, they continued. Indeed, vacancy rates for full-time registered nurses who work in home health care (20%) and nursing homes (19%) were among the highest in the state, according to a workforce survey last year by the states Center for Health Information and Analysis. The Massachusetts Nurses Association, the influential union that represents tens of thousands of nurses across the state, opposed the bill. The union argued that the state should focus on the root causes of the staffing crunch poor working conditions, low pay, and other factors before it throws open its borders to out-of-state nurses. There are enough nurses in Massachusetts. Handing over our licensure system without fixing the root causes of our staffing crisis will just mean a faster revolving door, the unions president, Katie Murphy, told The Boston Business Journal. The union also argued that the compact would make the quality of care worse rather than improve it, the business publication reported. A researcher for the University of Pennsylvania concluded the opposite, however, after the Keystone State joined the compact. The compact is a great thing. It takes away the bureaucratic delay. There is not a strong rationale for having all these separate licenses, Linda Aiken, a nursing professor, said, according to a research brief by the Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association. A separate analysis by the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission concluded that membership in the compact would enhance the ability of the Massachusetts healthcare system to prepare for pandemics, emergencies and other staffing needs and to facilitate telehealth and other care delivery transformations in the future. There is no evidence that joining the NLC would have a negative effect on [the] quality of nursing care in the commonwealth and the ability to fill short-term staffing needs and facilitate telehealth could yield positive effects for healthcare access, quality and cost, the agency concluded. For Melo, any relief for her colleagues in a profession that chose her as much as she chose it, is welcome. The compact will give Massachusetts an opportunity to retain nurses [who] may be considering retiring or leaving the profession altogether by giving them options to work within telehealth, care, management, travel, nursing or other specialties within the field, she said. So instead of losing nurses, we will retain them ... and their knowledge in other areas of nursing that are also quite in need, she said. A Connecticut man was found dead following a crash off of Interstate 91 in Northampton on Wednesday, Northwestern District Attorney David Sullivans office announced. The man, 82, was the only person in a car that drove off the highway and landed on Island Pond Road, under I-91, just before 12 a.m., Sullivans office said in a statement on Thursday. When the car drove off the roadway, it crashed between and below the two I-91 overpass bridges, the statement read. SPRINGFIELD The former owner of the now-defunct Westfield Transport Inc. whose truck killed seven motorcyclists in a 2019 New Hampshire crash that made national headlines was sentenced Thursday. U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni sentenced Dunyadar Gasanov, also known as Damien Gasanov, 39, to two months in prison to be followed by one year of supervised release, during which he is prohibited from driving commercially. Prosecutors recommended a sentence of one year in prison, according to a statement from the U.S. Department of Justice. Gasanov, who lives in West Springfield, admitted that he provided falsified information to federal investigators looking into the 2019 fatal collision in which his employee was driving. Killed were members of the Jarheads Motorcycle Club, an organization of Marine Corps veterans and their spouses in New England. Gasanov is charged with his brother, Dartanayan Gasanov, 35, also of West Springfield. Both were owners of Westfield Transport Inc., which disbanded shortly after the crash. Dartanayan Gasanov has pleaded not guilty. Dunyadar Gasanov hired a driver Volodymyr Zhukovskyy despite knowing Zhukovskyy had a history of operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, prosecutors said. On June 21, 2019, on his first trip as an employee for Westfield Transport, Zhukovskyy crashed into the motorcyclists. A subsequent investigation revealed that, from May 3, 2019, to June 23, 2019, Dunyadar Gasanov and, allegedly, Dartanyan Gasanov falsified driving logs to evade federal regulations. Dunyadar Gasanov instructed at least one Westfield Transport employee to falsify records, and then made false statements to federal inspectors regarding the manipulation of recording devices that track drivers on-and-off duty hours to evade regulations. Additionally, Dunyadar Gasanov falsely stated to inspectors that he met Zhukovskyy on the day he had hired him. In fact, Dunyadar Gasanov had known Zhukovskyy for years prior and knew that he had been charged with operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol years before. Todays sentencing brings a measure of accountability for the defendants reckless and illegal actions. By falsifying safety records and lying to investigators, this defendant put profits over public safety, with potentially devastating consequences, said acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy. Adhering to federal safety regulations is critical to protecting public safety, and our office is committed to holding accountable anyone who flouts them in this manner. Our thoughts and prayers remain with the victims families and loved ones as they continue to endure the aftermath of this tragedy. An investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Northampton led the city, as well as nearby Amherst, to reaffirm their commitment to withholding help to federal immigration enforcement. The problem? The man apprehended had criminal charges Northampton Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra acknowledged would have prompted action by the citys police. On Nov. 14, ICE was in pursuit of Dhennefer Ferreira Pires, 31, who fled Brazil and settled in Massachusetts, according to a statement by ICE. ICE searched for Pires in Northampton before finding him in Framingham where he was arrested on two charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. Sciarra told MassLive that the Northampton Police Department did not work with ICE because they did not know of Pires' charges. She also said ICE did not ask for their help. If local law enforcement had been made aware of criminal activity prior to federal involvement, they would have taken appropriate action under their jurisdiction to address any threats to public safety, Sciarra said. Sciarra said that the Northampton Police Department works to enforce local laws, but that the communitys safe city ordinance reflects their policy of non-cooperation with immigration actions that are solely about a persons immigration status. The issue takes on added significance in the wake of the election of President-elect Donald Trump, who has promised large-scale deportation efforts of the countrys undocumented immigrant population, which the Center for Migration Studies estimates to be about 11 million people. A safe city or sanctuary city can have several definitions, but many share the trait that they discourage their local law enforcement from reporting the immigration status unless it involves the investigation of a serious crime. Commonly, these kinds of communities do not honor ICE requests to detain undocumented immigrants who local law agents apprehend for misdemeanor crimes or investigations. How Northampton became a safe city In 2011, Northamptons City Council unanimously adopted A Resolution of the Northampton City Council on the Secure Communities Program that expressed opposition to federal immigration enforcement programs and urged the city to prioritize community trust and public safety, the release states. An Executive Policy Order was created in 2014 by Northamptons former mayor, David Narkewicz, which prohibited the citys police department from honoring ICE detainer requests that were non-criminal and not supposed by a judicial warrant. These principles were then codified in Northamptons Safe City Ordinance which was adopted on Dec. 5, 2019. Northampton reaffirmed its safe city policy in response to growing public concern following the incident, Sciarra told MassLive. Our commitment to these principles remains steadfast because fostering trust between the community and local government ensures safety, equity and dignity for all who live in or visit our city. Amhersts response A statement was also written in Amherst by Town Manager Paul Bockelman, Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Pamela Nolan Young, Chief of Police Gabriel Ting and Superintendent of Schools Dr. E Xiomara Herman. We... are appointed officials and leaders of the Town entrusted with the responsibility to uphold both its laws and its values, the statement reads. The Town of Amherst is a sanctuary community and as such shall not cooperate with ICE... The statement goes on to say that the city continues to welcome new immigrants to our great nation and to our community and that we encourage immigrants and their families to build lives in our community, as many as our ancestors have done. The town of Amhersts general bylaws, which were revised by town council in April, declare that its a sanctuary community and that an Amherst department, employee or officer of a town department will not perform the functions of an immigration officer. We, as community leaders, stand with our neighbors, whether they be new or old, and we encourage one another to adhere to the long-standing values of our great nation, of liberty and justice for all. The Town of Amherst did not immediately respond for comment over whether pursuit of someone with criminal charges would lead the town to cooperate with federal immigration officials, but the towns bylaws imply that local police would detain someone with criminal charges against them. ICEs statement Pires first entered the United States without authorization near Tecate, California, on Sept. 9, 2021, ICE said in a release. U.S. Border Patrol agents served him with a notice to appear before the Department of Justice immigration judge before releasing him on his own recognizance. On Sept. 22 of this year, Pires was arraigned in Framingham District Court on two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. These charges remain pending and officers with Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) arrested and placed Pires under custody pending removal from the U.S. Ferreira fled his home country to evade justice and came to Massachusetts where he allegedly continues to inflict harm on others, acting Field Office Director Patricia Hyde of ERO Boston said in the release. The residents of Massachusetts should not have to live in fear of the world fugitives hiding in their communities. ERO Boston will continue to prioritize the safety of our public by arresting and removing egregious noncitizen offenders. ICE has been active under the Biden administration with more than 1 million deportations since the beginning of fiscal year 2021 through February 2024, according to the Migration Policy Institute, which states this is on pace to match Former President Donald Trumps 1.5 million deportations that were carried out during his four years in office. These deportations are in addition to the three million expulsions of migrants crossing the border irregularly during the pandemic era Title 42, a statute purportedly meant as a public health measure that allowed U.S. authorities to reject migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border. Cuan Chaitriona Nursing Home in Castlebar proudly took centre stage at the prestigious NHI Care Awards 2024, held on November 19 in the iconic Round Room at the Mansion House, Dublin. The event, in association with Homecare Medical, recognised the incredible dedication and care provided by nursing home staff across Ireland. A highlight of the evening was the recognition of Noranna Pierce, Assistant Director of Nursing at Cuan Chaitriona, who was honoured for her outstanding contributions to the nursing home sector. Norannas leadership, compassion, and unwavering commitment to her residents have had a transformative impact on the lives of those she cares for, as well as her colleagues and the wider Castlebar community. With a General Election on the horizon, the event was attended by Minister for Finance, Jack Chambers, TD, who served as the guest of honour. Minister Chambers took to the stage to present one of the awards and reflected on the critical role nursing home staff play in communities like Castlebar. He acknowledged the unique challenges faced by the sector and praised the extraordinary commitment of staff in creating environments of care, dignity, and respect. Norannas Pierce's nursing career spans nearly three decades, beginning with her graduation from Beaumont Hospital in 1995. She gained valuable experience at the Sacred Heart Hospital in Castlebar before taking a career break to focus on her family. Returning to nursing with a renewed sense of purpose, Noranna joined Cuan Chaitriona as Assistant Director of Nursing over three years ago. Her mission is to ensure that residents in long-term care can lead full and meaningful lives, challenging outdated perceptions of nursing home care. Under her guidance, residents at Cuan Chaitriona have experienced enriched lives, proving that long-term care can be a new and beautiful beginning. Noranna leads by example, inspiring her team with her vision, work ethic, and compassion. She fosters a philosophy of care rooted in dignity, choice, and quality of life, and her efforts have created a culture of excellence at Cuan Chaitriona. Described as humble and hardworking, Noranna shies away from the spotlight, quietly ensuring everyone is cared for and supported while acting as a trusted colleague and friend to all who know her. The NHI Care Awards 2024 celebrated not only the winners but also the thousands of nursing home staff across Ireland who dedicate their lives to enhancing the well-being of older people. Commenting on the night, Tadhg Daly, CEO of Nursing Homes Ireland, said: The NHI Care Awards are a celebration of the extraordinary dedication and commitment of nursing home staff. Noranna Pierce exemplifies the values that drive nursing homes like Cuan Chaitriona: compassion, excellence, and community. We are immensely proud of her achievement and the exceptional care provided to residents in Castlebar. This evening was a true testament to the transformative impact nursing home staff have on the lives of those in their care. Norannas story, along with all the nominees, reminds us of the vital role nursing homes play in their communities, ensuring dignity, respect, and joy for older people. Cuan Chaitriona Nursing Home is a shining example of what it means to deliver care with heart and purpose. Daly also took the opportunity to acknowledge the support behind the event, saying: We are incredibly grateful to Homecare Medical, our title sponsor, whose partnership has been instrumental in making this event such a success. Their ongoing support reflects their commitment to the sector and to celebrating those who dedicate their lives to the care of others. I also want to thank all our award sponsors, whose generosity and belief in the importance of recognising excellence in care have made tonight possible. The success of this years awards inspires us to continue recognising the incredible efforts of nursing home staff across Ireland. As Norannas journey demonstrates, it is through leadership, compassion, and commitment that lives are transformed. To see all the winners from the evening, please visit www.nhiawards.com/meet-the-winners. Killary Adventure Company to create up to 20 new sustainable tourism jobs in exciting expansion involving renovation of historic hostel building Award-winning Connemara-based Killary Adventure Company has announced the creation of up to 20 new sustainable tourism jobs after acquiring an historic hostel building to transform into modern, eco-friendly accommodation. The Company has acquired the Sleepzone Connemara Hostel located on the same site as its business overlooking the breathtaking Killary Fjord. The hostel building, dating back to the 1860s is to be restored and renovated increasing Killary Adventure Companys on-site beds to over 200. The announcement was made this week during a visit to Killary Adventure Company by Miriam Kennedy from Failte Ireland, head of the Wild Atlantic Way which celebrates its 10th birthday this year. Failte Ireland welcomes Killary Adventure Companys acquisition and revitalisation of the former Connemara Hostel, said Ms Kennedy. By preserving the historic character of the building while creating modern, eco-conscious accommodation, theyre setting a powerful example of how tourism and sustainability can go hand in hand. This project not only supports the areas appeal as a year-round destination, but will also boost the local economy through job creation and increased visitor opportunities. Killary Adventure Company, Connemaras only certified B Corp company, said the exciting development will create between 15 and 20 new jobs, including skilled positions, while providing year-round accommodation for visitors to Connemara. Ciara Young, Director of Killary Adventure Company added: Were thrilled to expand our accommodation offering, particularly in a region like Connemara where the need for sustainable, all-year-round facilities is growing. This expansion is part of our broader mission to support sustainable tourism in the region, and to offer a variety of options to cater to eco-conscious travellers, adventure seekers, and business visitors. We believe this expansion will not only bring new employment opportunities but will also support the local economy by helping to extend the tourist season and ensure visitors can enjoy Connemaras natural beauty sustainably in every season, she said. Ms Young added that the building restoration will be aligned to the companys dedication to sustainability and community development. The acquisition means the Company will be offering three different accommodation options when the new accommodation opens in April 2025. In collaboration with Failte Ireland and Galway County Council, Killary Adventure Company has spent the past year developing a comprehensive sustainable development plan for its 150-acre site. The plan prioritises environmental preservation, ensuring that business expansion integrates elegantly with the natural landscape, helping to maintain Connemaras beauty, while also fostering the growth of eco-tourism. Earlier this year the adventure outlet became one of the first businesses in Ireland to achieve the prestigious B Corp Certification, joining over 1,300 companies in 42 countries worldwide including leading global brands including Patagonia and Etsy. The environment and social responsibility certification reflects the commitment of Killary Adventure Company to sustainability and responsible business practices. The Company offers a range of activities for school groups, summer camps, families and corporate retreats. It also attracts international and Irish adventure seekers with its guided and self guided tours business, Connemara Adventure Tours. It also runs Gaelforce Events which is renowned for hosting the annual Gaelforce Great Fjord Swim at Killary Fjord and the Gaelforce West Adventure Race annually. A MAYO oyster company has been thanked by Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) for organising an initiative involving TY students to highlight the importance of the management of marine ecosystems. Clew Bay Oyster Co-op welcomed members of the BIM Seafood Development Agency and TY students from local schools to help work on its native oyster nursery in Murrisk this month. The initiative was to highlight the importance and benefits of integrating complementary aquaculture and restoration practices in the management of marine ecosystems. Marine ecosystems, particularly native oyster reefs, play a crucial role in providing essential ecosystem services such as coastal protection, carbon sequestration, water filtration, and supporting fisheries production. By using aquaculture techniques to support restoration efforts, people are not only enhancing the resilience of these ecosystems but also contributing to climate change mitigation and adaptation. Since 2020, BIM, in partnership with the Marine Institute and industry stakeholders, has been actively involved in enhancing European flat oyster populations through the application of complementary aquaculture and restoration practices. The primary goal of this collaborative work is to support the restoration and management of existing native oyster fisheries, using innovative tools to facilitate compliance with the proposed EU Nature Restoration Regulation. Through the establishment of spatting ponds and the careful management of environmental parameters, we have successfully reared spat on shell under different nursery scenarios. Last year, BIM broadcast stock onto protected beds and closely monitored their growth and survival. This year, their focus is on investigating the potential advantages of bottom culture systems in combating the parasitic rhizarian Bonamia ostreae, which poses a threat to oysters above 60mm in size. This ongoing work is made possible through the support of the European Maritime Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund and the Government of Ireland. BIM say they are committed to leading the restoration and sustainability of native oyster fisheries. A man who stabbed his friend and neighbour in boiling blood after being kicked out of his apartment has been convicted of murder. The jury, who also heard that Patrick Murphy told gardai I am responsible. I was in fear so I picked up the knife, rejected the defendants case that he was provoked. The 12 jurors at the Central Criminal Court deliberated for just two hours and two minutes before returning the unanimous verdict this Thursday. The jury was told that Mr Murphy, aged 52, of no fixed abode, had accepted that he killed his friend, Joseph Brosnan at Abbey Court, Tralee, County Kerry on May 22, 2022. However, he had pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to the manslaughter of Mr Brosnan. READ ALSO: ALERT: Storm Bert set to batter Ireland this weekend as Met Eireann issues new warning The trial heard the deceased man had lived in an apartment at Abbey Court. He had previously worked in a direct provision centre on the outskirts of town and there he met and befriended Polish national Kamil Lisowski. Mr Brosnan helped Mr Lisowski settle in and move from apartment to apartment and they became good friends, prosecution counsel Patrick Gageby SC told the jury. On the date in question, Mr Lisowski finished work at about a quarter to eight in the morning and called on his friend Mr Brosnan. Mr Gageby said drink was taken and the pair sat and watched television together. At around 3pm that afternoon, Mr Murphy called over to Mr Brosnans home. Further drinking took place in the house which resulted in some insult passing between Mr Lisowski and Mr Murphy, counsel told the jury. It fizzled out but not before Mr Lisowski had slapped Mr Murphy in the face, said Mr Gageby. Things calmed down and people shook hands but the matter welled up again and Patrick Murphy was asked to leave. The barrister said at around a quarter to seven that evening, Patrick Murphy returned and apologised. He said the jury will hear that Mr Murphy was pushed out vigorously of the apartment and fell to the ground outside. A short time later Mr Brosnan opened the door to Mr Murphy again and told the accused to go. Counsel said Mr Murphy was armed with quite a large kitchen knife and used it to stab Mr Brosnan. The deceased was stabbed three times, with a a second stab wound to Mr Brosnans back proving fatal because it penetrated the pericardial sac around the deceaseds heart which caused massive bleeding and resulted in death occurring fairly rapidly. Counsel said Mr Brosnan was well aware that he was seriously injured and announced to Mr Lisowski: Im dying. Ambulance and gardai were called but unfortunately he [Mr Brosnan] died in his apartment lying on his sofa, said Mr Gageby. The prosecution case was that Murphy had a clear intention to kill or cause serious injury. The jury also heard from a number of gardai, including Garda James Fairbrother who spoke to Mr Murphy at the scene. The defendant told the garda that he was a peacemaker and he didnt know who had stabbed the deceased. When he was arrested and interviewed, Mr Murphy suggested that the victim had possibly suffered a seizure before eventually admitting that he had brought a knife to the scene and that he had stabbed Mr Brosnan. Summarising the evidence heard during the trial, Mr Justice Paul Burns reminded the jury that they had heard evidence from residents who said they heard arguing from the vicinity of Mr Brosnans apartment, with one woman saying she saw Murphy holding a knife in his hand. The woman said Murphy wasnt in this world, as his eyes were real big and he looked confused. Another witness said she heard glass breaking and saw a man with a rock and a knife, while further evidence was given by a waitress from a nearby restaurant, who said she could see and hear a man shouting and screaming at the door of the apartment, describing him as going psychotic. Kamil Lisowski also gave evidence to the trial, telling the jury that Murphy had come to the door "to revenge" and had stabbed Mr Brosnan like rapid fire. My best friend was dying in my hands," the eyewitness told the jury. The jury heard that Murphy told gardai that he started drinking and taking tablets before numerous scuffles broke out on the day. At some stage, I was being beaten. A knife was produced. I was feeling out of it, and I picked up a knife to defend myself. I didnt mean to stab Joe, Murphy said in garda interview. Murphy said that the group had been drinking brandy, vodka and wine, while he had also been taking tablets and sharing them around. I know it was me. I had the knife. I know I was the one with the knife, Murphy told gardai, going on to say that Mr Brosnan was a friend of his all his life. Look, I had the knife, I am responsible. I was in fear so I picked up the knife. I dont remember stabbing Joe, but I must have. I remember jabbing back with the knife, he said, going on to say that he would not have harmed Mr Brosnan on purpose. It had been the defences case that Murphy was provoked into stabbing his daughters neighbour in boiling blood. Mr Brendan Grehan SC for the defence said that witnesses saw Murphy pacing around with a knife and a rock in each hand in an agitated state. He said Murphy had acted in boiling blood, in a rage or out of control. Mr Grehan said that something must have happened to cause that to occur and claimed the causing factor was that he had the living daylights kicked out of him on the ground. Mr Grehan suggested that it was Mr Lisowski and possibly Mr Brosnan who hit him on the ground in this instance, driving him into a rage, despite denials of this by Mr Lisowski. He said: that beating by Mr Lisowski and perhaps Joseph Brosnan was an act of provocation. Before beginning their deliberations, Mr Justice Burns told the jury that there were two verdicts open to them, guilty of murder, or not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter. He also said that their verdict must be unanimous. After the jury of eight men and four women returned their verdict, Mr Justice Burns thanked them for their time and attention during the trial, excusing them from jury service for the next seven years. The matter was adjourned to December 16 for victim impact statements and sentencing, with Murphy remanded in custody. by Fern Siegel , November 22, 2024 FMV (French/West/Vaughan) and Baker & Bonner Creative Emporium have formed a strategic alliance to market Western lifestyle brands. The two agencies' clients, current and former, include Wrangler, Pendleton Whisky, the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, RAM Trucks, Justin Boots and Taylor Sheridans Four Sixes Ranch. The partnership has established a digital outpost at WaysoftheWest.com. FWV President David Gwyn said: There is no substitute for the credibility and consumer understanding acquired over 30 years of immersion in the culture of the American West. And with the added horsepower of Baker & Bonner, weve taken it to the next level. advertisement advertisement During their 24-year partnership, Baker & Bonner co-founder-chief creative officer Rob Baker and co-founder Jimmy Bonner have developed campaigns for Spalding, PGA Tour Superstore, Jeep, Home Depot and Pegasus Bank. FWV will introduce the new alliance at its hospitality suite for media, brands and influencers at Resorts World in Las Vegas during the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, Dec. 5-14. FWV is headquartered in Raleigh, N.C. with offices in New York, Tampa, Detroit and Los Angeles. Baker & Bonner is based in Dallas. Our connection with FWV gives us an even bigger foothold to work with brands that want to operate memorably in the Western landscape, added Baker. by Fern Siegel , November 22, 2024 Grey New York has tapped RG Logan as chief strategy officer. Logan reports to global chief strategy officer Jonathan Lee and Thiago Cruz, New York chief creative officer. He will lead Grey New York's strategy offering across all clients, including Applebees, Modelo, Haleon and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. Most recently, Logan was SVP brand marketing & strategy at Truth Initiative. During his tenure, Truth Initiative took home the 2023 US Grand Effie for its "Depression Stick" campaign and saw teenage vaping drop to a 10-year low. Lee said Logan's experience inspiring culturally distinctive, business-driving ideas and his proven leadership abilities make him the ideal person to lead the strategy team and studio. Before Truth Initiative, Logan served as U.S. head of strategy for Virtue Worldwide, helping relaunch Vice's creative agency. He also worked at Pereira & O'Dell, 360i and Razorfish. His work has been awarded multiple Grand and Gold Effie awards, as well as Cannes, One Show and D&AD honors. (Photo L-R: RG Logan and Thiago Cruz) by Sarah Mahoney , Staff Writer @mahoney_sarah, November 21, 2024 Marketing Daily doesnt usually weigh in on troll wars across the water -- we have enough on our hands in the U.S. But the latest U.K. round of conservative conniption fits over the Boots Christmas ad is worth a trip around the snow globe. The ad stars actor Adjoa Andoh, best known as Lady Danbury in Netflixs red-hot Bridgerton series. Playing Mrs. Claus and lending a hand to her snoozing spouse, she inspires the Werkshop to get moving, powering through the Big Guys list with plenty of Boots-exclusive beauty gifts. The ad checks all the boxes for a holiday hit: Glitter, bows, sassy elves and a little marital humor. Yet in 60 seconds, the spot manages to inflame many different stripes of haters, and a quick spin through the right-wing rage comments is enlightening. The overt racists just hate that a Black actor can play Mrs. Clause. The Royalists, who insist that they are not racist, say Andoh is racist because she recently remarked that the Royal family is terribly white. The trans-haters want to boycott Boots because Mrs. Claus refers to someone with a them pronoun. A whole bunch of them seem to think her performance means Boots hates men since Santa comes off as lazy. advertisement advertisement Predictably, the trolls are calling for a boycott, using their Go woke, go broke rallying cry, and a few news outlets are pointing to a slight dip in Walgreens share price as evidence that the company is teetering on the edge of a Bud Light moment. Thats unlikely. While conservative furor has inflicted financial damage in a few cases -- notably Bud Light and Target in 2023 -- Boots U.K. retail drug sales are a relatively small part of Walgreen's overall business. And Walgreens itself is such a dumpster fire, incurring billions in losses due to a series of strategic missteps, that a few thousand crabby Brits wont make much difference. Besides, Walgreens has been sufficiently disappointed in the 2014 Boots acquisition that the company has been exploring various plans to unload the U.K. chain since 2022. The risk, we think, is bigger than a swing in share price. The danger is that each anti-woke uproar, even if it is a tempest in a tiny Briton teapot, is one more swing against good advertising. This kind of noise turns up the volume on self-doubt, causing teams to censor and crush good ideas before they get a chance to take root. Were not saying that Walgreens, or any brand, is saying to teams: Thats it. No more actors of color. No queer or trans people. And absolutely no pronouns. They dont have to. Every time a team member suggests casting a person of color or LGBTQ person in consumer-facing marketing, they will second-guess themselves. As ideas move up and down the approval chain, each higher-up may ask themselves, What if the haters come for us? Is idea x, y or z worth the risk? Playing it safe almost always wins. Thats why so much of the worlds advertising is dreadful, and why so few brands break through. Were not the only ones worried. Some in the LGBTQ community blame inclusive ads for the conservative backlash, not entirely in jest. Comic Wanda Sykes recently went so far as to link the recent re-election of President Donald Trump to inclusive ads. I blame those damn Cheerio commercials, showing all those interracial couples, she said on a recent Jimmy Kimmel Live. You scared the sh*t outta white people. Just sell the damn cereal. Why are you bringing us into this? Marketers are in a terrible bind. On one hand, purpose-driven inclusive branding has been a dominant trend for years, and market researchers point to mountains of data substantiating that todays consumers want cause-related ads. But maybe sometimes that shouldn't be progress at the expense of comfortability, says Anna Wilgan, vice president of public relations at Kantar, which has been delving into the 2025 consumer psyche. Maybe folks still want brands to be inclusive and positive actors. But how that message goes to market is scrutinized because people are exhausted. She says theres a tension between survival and thriving. If you're living paycheck to paycheck, you're not that focused on equal rights. Brands have a tricky line to walk. We bet more CMOs will stop trying to walk that line. Ads will look like they used to: white Santas, subservient wives, unremarkable elves. If creative teams arent careful, the haters will win more than the White House. Theyll make advertising plain vanilla again. by Ray Schultz , November 21, 2024 Guardian employees are planning a one-day strike to protest the planned sale of the Observer to digital publisher Tortoise. Union members have passed a motion calling the sale of the Sunday paper a betrayal by Guardian owner the Scott Trust of its commitment to the Observer, the Guardian reports. The strike by National Union of Journalists (NUJ) members, the first such action in decades, will take place on Wednesday, December 4 and Thursday, December 5, the Guardian adds. We believe the transfer is a betrayal of the Scott Trusts commitment to the Observer as part of the Guardian News and Media family, the union motion states. The trust should protect a vital element of the UK and international liberal media and not seek to throw it overboard. advertisement advertisement A Guardian spokesman counters: We recognize the strength of feeling about the proposed sale of the Observer and appreciate that NUJ members wish to make their views heard. While we respect the right to strike, we do not believe a strike is the best course of action in this case and our talks with the NUJ continue. News of the possible sale came in September. The Guardian Media Group told its staff told staff that Tortoise had approached it with an offer that was significant enough to look at in more detail, The Guardian reported. Tortoise said then that it will invest 25 million in the Observer over the next five years, and that it will continue to publish it on Sunday. by Teresa Buyikian , November 21, 2024 Life can throw a lot of curve balls your way, like flat tires or job loss but a sleepwalking, streaking husband? According to Teriyaki Madness, its food can smooth things over in any situation -- Including public nudity. In the chains first national effort Teriyaki Fixes Everything, created by agency Party Land, not only is teriyaki the hero for its taste, it is the answer to, well, everything. In the :30 spot, seen here, we see a visibly tense family driving, with a sheepish-looking father at the wheel, as a voiceover describes the familys difficult day in song. The mood changes dramatically as they pull into a Teriyaki Madness, a place so delicious.. theyll forgive what you did today. The spot then flashes back to an incident where we see the dad walking down the street, apparently asleep, in full view of the entire neighborhood, wearing nothing but two mismatched shoes. But as the family happily enjoys their food, the tongue-in-cheek voiceover reassures the viewer that, despite flashing the neighbors, teriyaki fixes everything. A super displays the new tagline, Crazy Delicious. advertisement advertisement Teriyaki Madness has over 160 fast-casual restaurants nationwide, but this is our first larger national media buy. We want people to know that our teriyaki is so good, it will fix just about anything going on in your life -- even if you accidentally sleepwalked through the neighborhood naked and perhaps embarrassed the entire family, said Jodi Boyce, CMO at Teriyaki Madness, in a release. We take our food seriously, but we dont take ourselves seriously, and Party Land helped us create an entertaining campaign that will make people smile, and potentially drool a bit too. The campaign is airing nationwide through the end of 2024 on CTV, pre-roll and social video platforms, including YouTube, Facebook and Instagram. Additionally the work includes Spotify audio ads and digital display banners. Teriyaki Madness, founded in Denver, operates locations across the U.S., as well as in Canada and Mexico and a soon to open location in El Salvador. The chain specializes in made-to-order teriyaki bowls. by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, November 22, 2024 President-elect Donald Trump and X Corp, now owned by Trump ally Elon Musk, on Wednesday told an appellate court that they are in talks to resolve a battle over Trump's 2021 suspension from X, formerly Twitter. Attorneys for Trump and X on Wednesday said in a letter to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals that they are actively discussing a potential settlement, and urged the court to stay proceedings in the case, which was argued over one year ago. News of the possible deal comes as Musk is preparing to help lead an initiative aimed at cutting costs in the federal government. A settlement would bring an end to a lawsuit brought by Trump in July 2021, when he claimed that X violated the First Amendment by suspending his account after the January 6 riot. U.S. District Court Judge James Donato in the Northern District of California dismissed Trump's complaint in May 2022, ruling that only the government -- and not private companies like X -- are bound by the First Amendment prohibition on censorship. advertisement advertisement After that ruling came out, Musk acquired X and reversed the decision to suspend Trump's account. Even though Trump's account had been reinstated, he appealed Donato's ruling to the 9th Circuit, where he argued that X had acted as a censorship proxy for the government. A three-judge panel of the 9th Circuit heard arguments in the case in October 2023, but hasn't yet issued a decision. Trump was also banned by Facebook and YouTube after January 6, and sued those companies as well. Those matters were stayed, pending the 9th Circuit's ruling in the lawsuit against X. by Steve McClellan @mp_mcclellan, November 22, 2024 UK-based programming network Sky confirmed this week that it has awarded Publicis Group the media assignments for five of the six European countries that it began reviewing in a process that began in February. The company confirmed that Publicis will handle media planning and buying in the UK, Ireland, Austria, Switzerland and Germany. advertisement advertisement WPP, which Sky confirmed has been the incumbent for the entire remit, will retain Italy. A Sky spokesperson commented, We look forward to working with these teams across our European media account. COMvergence estimates that spending for the region under review is approximately $500 million. The Aperto Partnership assisted Sky with the review process. The new contracts have a three-year term and take effect on Jan. 1, 2025. This site uses cookies to deliver our services.By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Cookie Policy Privacy Policy , and our Terms of Use A plan by the incoming Trump administration to slash government funding could kneecap Department of Veterans Affairs health care. In an op-ed for the Wall Street Journal this week, Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, who President-elect Donald Trump tapped to lead the so-called "Department of Government Efficiency," confirmed that they plan to target "unauthorized" federal spending, a category that includes the VA's medical services. "DOGE will help end federal overspending by taking aim at the $500 billion-plus in annual federal expenditures that are unauthorized by Congress or being used in ways that Congress never intended," they wrote, specifically citing funding for nonprofit grants and PBS. Read Next: 'We Need You': Defense Secretary Stands Up for Women in Combat Jobs amid Hegseth Nomination The pair did not specifically call out the VA. But the type of spending they're taking issue with includes about $120 billion for the VA's medical services, according to a report issued earlier this year from the Congressional Budget Office. Historically, in order for a federal agency to operate, Congress passes two different types of legislation: an authorization bill to authorize funding and an appropriations bill to actually allocate the funding. For example, for the Pentagon, Congress passes the National Defense Authorization Act and a Pentagon appropriations bill every year. But for most federal agencies, Congress hasn't bothered with the authorization bills in years, instead streamlining its work by considering the appropriations bills to be self-authorizing. A 2023 report from the Congressional Research Service notes the distinction between authorization and appropriations bills "is based on chamber rules, rather than a constitutional or general statutory requirement." For VA medical services, the last authorization bill was 1996's Veterans Health Care Eligibility Reform Act, according to the Congressional Budget Office report. The op-ed from Musk and Ramaswamy about their plans for DOGE, which is the same name as a cryptocurrency Musk has previously touted, confirmed they will pursue an idea Ramaswamy first floated on social media last week. "We can and should save hundreds of billions each year by defunding government programs that Congress no longer authorizes," he wrote on X, previously known as Twitter. "We'll challenge any politician who disagrees to defend the other side." Asked about the DOGE proposal at a hearing Wednesday, VA Under Secretary for Health Shereef Elnahal said he would be "highly concerned" about any cuts to the agency and that the department's lawyers believe it has the legal authority to operate. Veterans' demand for care is "actually substationally increasing," said Elnahal, a Biden administration appointee. "Despite these increases in demand, we've seen wait times go down, instead of up, for primary care and mental health. We've seen historic performance on quality, patient safety, veterans satisfaction and trust. We want to make sure we maintain those outcomes while we provide accessible high-quality care to vets." Lawmakers in both parties have already promised to protect the VA. "If Republicans in the majority follow through on Ramaswamy's wishes, it will mean that veterans would no longer be eligible for in-patient services, like surgeries, acute care and injuries that may require urgent care, and out-patient services, like health appointments, immunizations and nutrition and education," Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., the ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee's VA subcommittee, said at the hearing before asking Elnahal about DOGE. Later in the hearing, subcommittee Chairman John Carter, R-Texas, assured that he's "not going to be standing for anybody trying to abolish anything to do with our Veterans Administration." Proposing to cut unauthorized appropriations is "an amateur's comment," he added. "We all are here to support the veterans of our country, and there's no one on this committee that is trying to do anything to wipe out our veterans or the veteran care. And we will be soldiers in the field fighting on your behalf if something like that comes along," Carter said. But in their op-ed, Musk and Ramaswamy also said they plan to circumvent Congress. While a 1974 law called the Impoundment Control Act generally requires a president to spend money that Congress appropriates, the pair noted Trump opposes that law. Trump ignoring that law was part of his first impeachment over withholding congressionally approved aid to Ukraine. "Mr. Trump has previously suggested this statute is unconstitutional," they wrote, "and we believe the current Supreme Court would likely side with him on this question." Related: Pentagon Silent on Elon Musk and Starlink Risks as Military Use Expands NEW YORK For six minutes, Jordan Neely was pinned to a subway floor in a chokehold that ended with him lying still. But that's not what killed him, a forensic pathologist testified Thursday in defense of the military-trained commuter charged with killing Neely. Dr. Satish Chundru disputed a New York City medical examiner's determination that Daniel Pennys chokehold killed Neely, who was behaving erratically on a subway the two men were riding. Penny's defense says that he acted to protect frightened passengers and was trying only to restrain Neely, not to kill him. The white Marine veteran's reaction to Neely, who was Black, homeless and mentally ill, has become a flashpoint in national divides over race, urban life and the boundary between self-defense and vigilantism. Penny's lawyers have argued throughout the trial that his pressure on Neely's neck wasn't sufficient and consistent enough to be lethal. The attorneys brought Chundru to the witness stand to shed light on their claim. He told jurors that Neely's medical records and bystander video don't show telltale signs of known types of fatal chokeholds. Among the discrepancies, he said: the location and extent of bruising on Neely's neck, and the small amount of petechiae small red spots caused by subsurface bleeding on his eyelids. In your opinion, did Mr. Penny choke Mr. Neely to death?" defense lawyer Steven Raiser asked. No, replied Chundru, who has worked as a medical examiner for county governments in Florida and Texas. He said Neely died from "the combined effects of synthetic marijuana, schizophrenia, his struggle and restraint, and a blood condition that can lead to fatal complications during exertion. The chokehold did not cause death, the pathologist said. His testimony starkly contrasted with the findings of Dr. Cynthia Harris, the city medical examiner who performed Neely's autopsy. She told jurors earlier in the trial that Neely suffered an asphyxial death as a result of the chokehold. She called it profoundly improbable that Neelys death was due to synthetic marijuana use and sickle cell condition, which is related but not equivalent to sickle cell disease. Within the medical examiners office, the consensus was unanimous that Neely had died from the chokehold, Harris said, adding: There are no alternative reasonable explanations. A Marine Corps combat instructor who trained Penny testified earlier that the veteran didn't use the chokehold properly when he restrained Neely. Penny, 26, has pleaded not guilty to manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide. His defense says the Marine veteran and architecture student was defending himself and a car full of subway riders. Neely, 30, sometimes entertained subway riders as a Michael Jackson impersonator. But he also had a history of psychiatric and drug problems and a criminal record that included assaulting a woman at a subway station. When they crossed paths in a subway car on May 1, 2023, Neely was begging for money, shouting about being willing to die or go to jail, and making sudden movements, according to witnesses. Penny has said Neely lurched toward a woman with a small child and said, I will kill. Penny put his arm around Neely's neck, took him to the floor and held Neely there, with Pennys legs around him, for close to six minutes, bystander videos show. Neely had stopped moving during roughly the last minute. ___ Associated Press writer Jake Offenhartz contributed. Marines with Skin Condition Affecting Mostly Black Men Could Now Be Booted Under New Policy A new Marine Corps policy says troops with a genetic skin condition that can cause pain and scarring from shaving and mainly... Is that a fresh coat of Army green paint I see? On Tuesday, Jeep announced a special-edition 2025 Wrangler to commemorate the original Jeep, the 1941 Willys MB. The new Willys 41 package features a hybrid 4xe drivetrain, olive drab paint, tan cloth seats, 33-inch tires, a locking rear differential, steel bumpers and Willys branding. A tan cloth top is on the way, too. Eight decades after cementing a reputation for all-terrain capability, straightforward design and tough versatility, the spirit of the original Willys MB lives on in everything we do at Jeep brand, Bob Broderdorf, senior vice president and head of Jeep North America, said. The new 2025 Jeep Wrangler 4xe Willys 41 is a testament to that heritage. It's a celebration of our past that inspires us, while we keep pushing the boundaries of capability and innovation." It looks cool, but the origin story behind it is even cooler. You see, a long time ago, a company named Willys was riding Depression-era economics down a long and lonely road to bankruptcy. All of a sudden, a shiny government contract appeared ahead: In July 1940, the U.S. military challenged 135 manufacturers to build the best lightweight, off-road reconnaissance vehicle in the world, to help prevent the Axis powers from steamrolling every last bastion of freedom in their paths. Do you think these guys knew they were building a legend? (Library of Congress) Willys, Ford and Bantam answered with vehicle prototypes that measured less than 75 inches long and 36 inches high, weighed less than 1,300 pounds and could tackle any terrain in their path with four-wheel drive. At the end of testing, Willys reigned supreme with the MB Jeep. The previously struggling company churned out more than 360,000 MBs from 1941 to 1945. Ford chipped in by building another 280,000 nearly identical GPWs, as Hemmings points out. During World War II, Jeeps like this one were everywhere. (Stellantis) According to the Jeep gurus at Kaiser Willys, the 2.2-liter Go-Devil engine (automotive terms were so much cooler back then) could put along at 65 mph and cover 285 miles on a single 15-gallon tank of gas. Power reached all four wheels and their six-inch-wide tires via a three-speed transmission, a two-speed transfer case and Dana differentials at each end. The Jeep earned a bulletproof reputation for reliability on the battlefield. It went everywhere American service members went, including the foggy English countryside, the tropical islands of the Pacific, the sands of North Africa and the snow of Bastogne. You name it; the Jeep was there, running without so much as a misfire. It carried ammunition to front-line troops, whisked commanders across the battlespace and shuttled bomber crews to and from their aircraft. It didnt win World War II single-handedly, but it arguably deserves as much credit as the B-17 and M1 Garand, which is pretty elite company. If it's possible to sum up Jeep's legacy in a photo, this is it. (Library of Congress) Needless to say, the enemy was stunned when Jeeps started rolling through Rome, Paris, Iwo Jima, Okinawa and finally Berlin. It was the greatest military vehicle in the world -- and the peculiar thing is that the vehicle Jeep built during that fateful war didnt actually look anything like this Jeep. The Wrangler 4xe Willys 41 Special Edition isnt as simple as a tractor or stripped down to the bare essentials. It has a hybrid powertrain that I suspect requires more computing power than the entire U.S. military possessed during World War II, save for the Manhattan Projects 1,800-square-foot computers. For 2025, Jeep is offering a special edition Wrangler to commemorate the original 1941 Jeep. (Stellantis) According to the spec sheet, this rig weighs more than 5,000 pounds. There are LED lights in the cupholders. You can listen to satellite radio through nine speakers and a subwoofer. The computer hosts a suite of electronic safety nannies that I suspect would not allow the kind of hijinx that driving on the front lines of World War II required. Um, guys, where am I supposed to put this Thompson submachine gun? (Stellantis) Is the 2025 Wrangler 4xe going to be a capable off-roader? I have no doubt. But its worlds apart from the Jeep that started it all. The sad reality is that manufacturers simply cant build vehicles like that anymore. There are too many do-gooder politicians, too many boardroom MBAs whove never lifted a hood and too much red tape. Even if manufacturers had free rein, weve all gotten too reliant on Apple CarPlay and remote start to buy an open-topped tin can with double-digit horsepower and canvas pads for seats. The Jeeps of yesterday are just that: yesterdays Jeeps. You're looking at a legend. (Stellantis) So this Wrangler is just a tribute; youve got to believe me. Horrors of war aside, part of me wishes you and I were there to see the original Jeep in its prime, bouncing off bomb craters and dodging Mauser fire. But thats just a matter of opinion. Want to Know More About the Military? Be sure to get the latest news about the U.S. military, as well as critical info about how to join and all the benefits of service. Subscribe to Military.com and receive customized updates delivered straight to your inbox. Title: Revolutionize Your Creativity with Sonys Edit Stop Motion Technology (Edit Stop Motion in Sony Vegas: Creative Tips) As a creative professional, youve likely seen countless times when youve struggled to come up with unique and captivating ideas for your projects. However, do you ever wonder what if you could use stop motion techniques instead? In this article, well take a step back and explore how Sonys edit stop motion technology can revolutionize your workflow. Stop motion is a long-form animation technique that involves using a series of moving objects or still images over time. By taking inspiration from stop motion cameras, animators can create detailed and stunning animations that often lack the accuracy and depth of motion achieved with traditional moviemaking methods. At Sony, they have mastered stop motion technology by creating advanced animators who can work with virtual and digital models. Theyre able to create stunning and realistic animations, allowing you to bring your ideas to life without breaking a sweat. One of the key benefits of using Sonys edit stop motion technology is that it allows for greater flexibility in the final product. Instead of being limited to specific frames, stop motion can be combined with other tools and techniques to create more complex and dynamic animations. This allows for the creation of wide range of artistic styles and themes. Additionally, Sonys edit stop motion technology is not only effective but also efficient. As you can easily move around your scene during the animation, you dont need to worry about getting stuck in one place. This means you can keep working on your project while creating something fresh and new every time. Another advantage of Sonys edit stop motion technology is that it allows for easy editing. By saving up to 90% of the time required for motion animation, you can focus on adding detail and storytelling rather than the technical aspects of motion. This makes it easier to create more cohesive and balanced stories. (Edit Stop Motion in Sony Vegas: Creative Tips) In conclusion, Sonys edit stop motion technology offers numerous creative advantages. By combining stop motion cameras with innovative software, animators can create highly detailed and engaging animations that are sure to stand out from the crowd. Whether youre a seasoned pro or just starting out, stop motion can be a powerful tool for turning your ideas into reality. So why wait? Give stop motion a try today! Inquiry us if you want to want to know more, please feel free to contact us. ([email protected]) The Astros have called re-signing Alex Bregman their top offseason priority. Whether thatll happen remains to be seen, but Jon Heyman of the New York Post writes that Houston has made an offer to their longtime third baseman. Its unclear whether any other teams have made a formal proposal, but Heyman reports that Bregmans camp has also fielded interest from the Tigers and Red Sox. Terms of the Astros proposal arent known. If Houston is going to retain Bregman, itd probably require the largest investment in franchise history. Their previous organizational high is the five-year, $151MM Jose Altuve extension from 2018. Bregman has a decent shot at six or seven years at more than $25MM annually. Hell presumably view Matt Chapmans recent six-year, $151MM extension as the floor and could look to beat $200MM. Houston general manager Dana Brown said early in the offseason that the Astros may need to creatively manage the books, potentially by trading a veteran or two who is playing on a notable salary. Owner Jim Crane said earlier this week that the team has the flexibility to exceed the luxury tax threshold for a second straight year. Thatd essentially be a prerequisite to re-signing Bregman. RosterResource calculates Houstons competitive balance tax number in the $234MM range. Thats not far below the $241MM base threshold. Even if the Astros trade veteran setup man Ryan Pressly and offload his $14MM salary, a Bregman contract will send them past the CBT mark. Theyre also looking for help at first base and could try for a more affordable bullpen pickup if they deal Pressly. This is the first direct tie between Bregman and the Tigers. That has been a longstanding speculative match with former Astros manager A.J. Hinch leading the charge in Motown. Detroits third base mix is unsettled. Matt Vierling, Zach McKinstry and prospect Jace Jung all took a decent number of at-bats at the position. Vierling and McKinstry are multi-positional players. Third base is the clearest fit for the 24-year-old Jung, who has 34 games of major league experience. If the Tigers were to land Bregman, Jung could push Spencer Torkelson for playing time at first base. Hed also be a potential trade chip as Detroit looks to solidify the rotation behind Tarik Skubal and Reese Olson. Finances are the much bigger obstacle. While Detroit has run payrolls north of $200MM in the past, those came when the late Mike Ilitch was running the franchise. The Tigers have dramatically reduced spending since Christopher Ilitichs ownership tenure began in 2017. Much of that came amidst a rebuild that was firmly closed by Detroits late-season run to the AL Division Series, so they could loosen the purse strings this winter. The Tigers only have around $80MM on next years payroll, according to RosterResource, nearly $20MM below this past seasons Opening Day mark. They should be active on the free agent market, but a Bregman deal would almost certainly top the $140MM Javier Baez contract as Detroits biggest under Christopher Ilitch ownership. The Red Sox appear more likely than either the Astros or Tigers to make a huge free agent splash. Boston brass continues to forecast an aggressive winter. A strike for a top starting pitcher is a clearer fit than a run at Bregman. Heyman suggests the Sox could move Rafael Devers across the diamond to first base to accommodate Bregman. Thatd push Triston Casas to designated hitter and presumably force Masataka Yoshida off the roster. The easier solution might be to leave Devers at third base for another season and deploy Bregman at the keystone. The Sox had one of the least productive second base groups in MLB this year. Bregman has barely played second base because of Altuves presence in Houston, but agent Scott Boras said at the GM Meetings that the star infielder was willing to slide to the right side of the infield if necessary. Bregman declined a qualifying offer, so the Tigers and Sox would forfeit a pick if they were to sign him. Detroit would lose its third-highest pick in next years draft. Boston would relinquish its second-highest pick and $500K from its international bonus allotment. The Soxs penalty is higher because they do not receive revenue sharing, while the Tigers do. Houston wouldnt give up anything to re-sign their own free agent, though theyd pass up the chance to collect a compensation pick after the fourth round if Bregman walks. The Nationals announced theyve avoided arbitration with reliever Mason Thompson. The team did not reveal salary terms. MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz had projected him for an $800K salary that is marginally above the $760K league minimum. Thomspon, who turns 27 in February, underwent Tommy John surgery early in Spring Training. He obviously missed the entire season but could return relatively early in 2025. A former Padres draftee, Thompson went to the Nats at the 2021 deadline in the trade that sent veteran reliever Daniel Hudson to San Diego. Thompson made 102 appearances for Washington between 2021-23. He posted a 4.57 earned run average with a middling 17.8% strikeout rate. This was the first of the rightys three seasons of arbitration eligibility. Washington had a nine-player arbitration class before waiving Ildemaro Vargas. Catcher Riley Adams and relievers Derek Law and Tanner Rainey are potential non-tender candidates before tomorrow evenings deadline. HOLLAND, MI -- Holland will create an illuminated path for Santa Claus this winter with thousands of lights guiding him through downtown. The Lakeshore towns annual Parade of Lights will start promptly at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 3. Santa Claus will be escorted by more than 80 floats, commercial vehicles, walkers, and marching bands, all decked out from top to bottom in thousands of sparkling lights. The Parade of Lights will begin at the corner of 8th Street and Columbia Avenue and proceed west down 8th Street until it reaches the Holland Civic Center Place at 150 West 8th Street, home of the Holiday Kerstmarkt. RELATED: West Michigans Dutch Christmas market makes national destination list The European Christmas market was acknowledged by Travel + Leisure this year. The annual event got a nod on the national magazines list for its traditional food and artisan demonstrations. The Kerstmarkt is located at the corner of Eighth Street and Pine Avenue, where the citys Farmers Market is still setting up shop on Saturdays in the winter. RELATED: Sinterklaas returns to downtown Holland this winter with Dutch-themed festivities There will be many opportunities to see both Santa Claus and Dutch Sinterklaas in Holland this holiday season. The Sinterklaas Shuffle will send visitors all over downtown to collect stamps before they take photos with Sinterklaas and his white horse Ozosnel. If youre heading to Downtown Holland to find local gifts this season you might just spy Santa doing a little shopping of his own. Santa Claus will be strolling downtown 1-4 p.m. every Saturday afternoon in December from starting Dec. 7. Find him visiting his favorite shops and restaurants, greeting his fans of all ages, posing for photographs, and bringing a little magic to your holiday shopping experience. Scenes from the Holland Parade of Lights through downtown Holland on Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2023. Ridley Hudson | MLive.com Be sure to check the calendar for Hollands upcoming events: MUNISING, MI -- While hiking through Michigan forests you may see a rare sighting of silky, snow white hair peeking out of dead wood. Its not a gnome with a long beard or a troll with frosted tips, but rather a natural phenomenon. When the conditions are just right fungi sport a new hairdo. Scientists have aptly named it hair ice. Its also called ice wool or frost beard. Park rangers in the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore spotted some this week on a humid but frosty morning. The ideal habitats for frosted tipped fungi are between the latitudes of 45 and 55 north, putting Munising, Michigan in the region at 46.4 degrees north. Hair ice is found in dead wood of broad leaf trees, such as maples, oak, birch and elm. Scientists from The University of Bern, a public research university in Switzerland, described hair ice as smooth, often with a silky shine. Shampoo commercial-ready these rare fungi forms were found in bunches of beautiful structures such as curls and waves, according to a 2015 paper on the shaping of hair ice. If you see this funky fungi hairdo make sure to snap a picture, itll last longer. The hair melts and loses its shape in cold, dry air. The best conditions to see frost hair is when the air is humid and around 32 degrees. EASTPOINTE, MI -- An Eastpointe man who pleaded no contest to charges connected to his mothers 2023 murder was sentenced to 26 to 38 years in prison Thursday, according to Fox 2 Detroit. Justin Jackson was also sentenced on charges of lying to police, tampering with evidence and concealing a death. Although a no contest plea is not an admission of guilt, it is treated as such when it comes to sentencing. Michigans public schools rely on per-student state funding from taxpayer dollars, but some parents may be spending tens of thousands of dollars more to enroll their kids in private schools. According to recent lists for 2024-25 from Private School Review, the average private school tuition is roughly $7,000 per student for elementary schools and $13,008 for high schools in Michigan. Private School Review is a popular website, established in 2003, that profiles thousands of private schools across the U.S., utilizing both self-reported data from schools, as well as information from the National Center for Education Statistics. Most of Michigans costliest private schools serve students in high school grades. Of the top 25 most expensive private schools in Michigan, just four dont include high school students, stopping at fifth or eighth grade. Those are Summers-knoll School and Hebrew Day School in Ann Arbor at $17,800 and $17,738 per student, respectively, and Plymouths Steppingstone School and New Morning School at $18,850 and $16,382, respectively. So, how do those tuition costs for private high schools compare across Michigan? The range is is as low as $1,250 a year to tens of thousands of dollars. Here is Private School Reviews 2025 list, ranked by tuition and presented from least expensive to most expensive, of all 78 Michigan private high schools profiled. 78. Bird Lake Bible School Tuition: $1,250 Grades: 1-12 Community: Osseo 77. The New Millennium Academy Tuition: $2,250 Grades: 2-12 Community: Saginaw 76. Factoryville Christian School Tuition: $2,500 Grades: PK-12 Community: Athens 75. Lake Area Christian School Tuition: $2,500 Grades: PK-12 Community: Sturgis 74. Al-ikhlas Training Academy Tuition: $2,725 Grades: PK-12 Community: Hamtramck 73. Copper Country Christian School Tuition: $2,900 Grades: PK-10 Community: Chassell 72. Fellowship Baptist Academy Tuition: $3,000 Grades: PK-11 Community: Carson City 71. Life In Christ Christian School Tuition: $3,100 Grades: NS-12 Community: Owosso 70. Grand Rapids Seventh-day Adventist Academy Tuition: $3,250 Grades: K-12 Community: Grand Rapids 69. Griggs International Academy Tuition: $3,300 Grades: K-12 Community: Berrien Springs 68. Cornerstone Christian School Tuition: $3,500 Grades: PK-12 Community: Cheboygan 67. St. Patrick School Tuition: $3,600 Grades: K-12 Community: Portland 66. Bethany Christian School Tuition: $3,950 Grades: K-12 Community: Troy 65. Macomb Christian Schools Tuition: $4,000 Grades: NS-12 Community: Center Line 64. Faith Christian School Tuition: $4,300 Grades: K-12 Community: Clinton Township 63. Loyola High School (boys) Tuition: $4,300 Grades: 9-12 Community: Detroit 62. Spring Vale Christian School Tuition: $4,500 Grades: PK-12 Community: Owosso 61. Capitol City Baptist School Tuition: $4,800 Grades: K-12 Community: Holt 60. Calvary Schools of Holland Tuition: $4,900 Grades: K-12 Community: Holland 59. St. Mary School Tuition: $4,950 Grades: K-12 Community: Lake Leelanau 58. New Life Christian Academy Tuition: $5,000 Grades: PK-12 Community: Smiths Creek 57. Genesee Academy Tuition: $5,900 Grades: PK-12 Community: Swartz Creek 56. Grandville Calvin Christian High School Tuition: $6,110 Grades: PK-12 Community: Grandville 55. Cabrini High School Tuition: $6,115 Grades: 9-12 Community: Allen Park 54. Western Michigan Christian School Tuition: $6,300 Grades: 7-12 Community: Muskegon 53. Michigan Islamic Academy Tuition: $6,900 Grades: PK-12 Community: Ann Arbor 52. Calvary Baptist Academy Tuition: $7,000 Grades: PK-12 Community: Midland 51. Battle Creek Academy Tuition: $7,040 Grades: K-12 Community: Battle Creek 50. Michigan Lutheran High School Tuition: $7,095 Grades: 9-12 Community: St. Joseph 49. Hillsdale Academy Tuition: $7,170 Grades: K-12 Community: Hillsdale 48. Gabriel Richard Catholic High School Tuition: $7,599 Grades: 9-12 Community: Riverview 47. Nouvel Catholic Central High School Tuition: $7,900 Grades: 9-12 Community: Saginaw 46. Covenant Christian High School Tuition: $7,954 Grades: 9-12 Community: Grand Rapids 45. Holland Christian High School Tuition: $8,000 Grades: 9-12 Community: Holland 44. Lansing Christian School Tuition: $8,000 Grades: PK-12 Community: Lansing 43. West Highland Christian Academy Tuition: $8,000 Grades: K-12 Community: Milford 42. Divine Child High School Tuition: $8,100 Grades: K-12 Community: Dearborn 41. Washtenaw Christian Academy Tuition: $8,325 Grades: PK-12 Community: Saline 40. Wixom Christian School Tuition: $8,400 Grades: NS-12 Community: Wixom 39. Northern Michigan Christian School Tuition: $8,450 Grades: K-12 Community: McBain 38. Lutheran High School North Tuition: $8,480 Grades: 9-12 Community: Macomb 37. Lutheran High School Northwest Tuition: $8,480 Grades: 9-12 Community: Rochester 36. Lutheran High School Westland Tuition: $8,480 Grades: 9-12 Community: Westland 35. Cardinal Mooney Catholic Tuition: $8,500 Grades: 9-12 Community: Marine City 34. Hope Christian Academy Tuition: $8,750 Grades: 6-12 Community: Westland 33. Valley Lutheran High School Tuition: $8,750 Grades: 9-12 Community: Saginaw 32. Livingston Christian Schools Tuition: $9,200 Grades: PK-12 Community: Brighton 31. Grand Rapids Christian High School Tuition: $9,445 Grades: 9-12 Community: Grand Rapids 30. Lansing Catholic High School Tuition: $9,650 Grades: 9-12 Community: Lansing 29. St. Mary Catholic Central High School Tuition: $10,450 Grades: 9-12 Community: Monroe 28. Bloomfield Christian School Tuition: $11,745 Grades: PK-12 Community: Bloomfield Hills 27. Catholic Central High School Tuition: $11,850 Grades: 9-12 Community: Grand Rapids 26. Bishop Foley Catholic High School Tuition: $12,300 Grades: 9-12 Community: Madison Heights 25. West Catholic High School Tuition: $12,400 Grades: 9-12 Community: Grand Rapids 24. Father Gabriel Richard High School Tuition: $13,000 Grades: 9-12 Community: Ann Arbor 23. South Christian High School Tuition: $13,170 Grades: 9-12 Community: Byron Center 22. Plymouth Christian Academy Tuition: $13,213 Grades: PK-12 Community: Canton 21. De La Salle Collegiate High School (boys) Tuition: $14,900 Grades: 9-12 Community: Warren 20. Detroit Catholic Central High School (boys) Tuition: $15,700 Grades: 9-12 Community: Novi 19. Brother Rice High School Tuition: $15,950 Grades: 9-12 Community: Bloomfield Hills 18. Ann Arbor Academy Tuition: $16,000 Grades: 4-12 Community: Ann Arbor 17. Mercy High School (girls) Tuition: $16,425 Grades: 9-12 Community: Farmington 16. Marian High School (girls) Tuition: $16,450 Grades: 9-12 Community: Bloomfield Hills 15. University of Detroit Jesuit High School & Academy Tuition: $17,800 Grades: 7-12 Community: Detroit 14. Lake Michigan Academy Tuition: $17,950 Grades: 1-12 Community: Grand Rapids 13. Notre Dame Preparatory School Tuition: $20,000 Grades: PK-12 Community: Pontiac 12. Aim High School Tuition: $29,000 Grades: 6-12 Community: Farmington 11. Brightmont Academy - Northville Tuition: $29,370 Grades: 1-12 Community: Plymouth 10. Brightmont Academy Birmingham Tuition: $29,370 Grades: 1-12 Community: Birmingham 9. Frankel Jewish Academy of Metro Detroit Tuition: $30,800 Grades: 9-12 Community: West Bloomfield 8. Greenhills School Tuition: $31,670 Grades: 6-12 Community: Ann Arbor 7. Rudolf Steiner High School of Ann Arbor Tuition: $31,700 Grades: 9-12 Community: Ann Arbor 6. Eton Academy Tuition: $33,000 Grades: 1-12 Community: Birmingham 5. The Roeper School Tuition: $34,030 Grades: 6-12 Community: Birmingham 4. University Liggett School Tuition: $34,870 Grades: PK-12 Community: Grosse Pointe 3. Cranbrook Schools Tuition: $38,600 Grades: PK-12 Community: Bloomfield Hills 2. The Leelanau School Tuition: $72,350 Grades: 9-12 Community: Glen Arbor 1. Interlochen Arts Academy Tuition: $76,500 Grades: 9-12 Community: Interlochen If you would like more reporting like this delivered free to your inbox, click here and signup for our weekly newsletter: Michigan Schools. FLINT TWP., MI -- A small nonprofit thats gathered up more than 45 cats left at a condemned mobile home park near the old Flint Northern High School is appealing for help as its founder works to find homes for the animals and pet owners who are facing homelessness because they refuse to give up their animals. Angela Chaney, the founder of Ferals Frontliners Animal Rescue in Flint, started a GoFundMe fundraiser this week with a goal of raising $10,000 for the nonprofit. I am a local nonprofit ... seeking help to fund adequate, accessible houses, buildings, barns, and other property to keep the unwanted, suffering animals, the appeal says in part. Michigans rigid climate makes the suffering even greater for the abandoned cats and dogs around here. Shelters are full, rescues are full, and due to the increase in evictions, job loss, and homelessness in our area, the resources for humans have been the priority. Someone has to save the animals. There are hundreds of kind hearts who are willing to save and adopt, but housing rules are strict for pet owners, and many become homeless due to their pets. Although the 38 homes in Myrtle Grove were originally scheduled to have been demolished last month because of their condition, a handful of people have continued to live at the West Dayton Street property even though they havent had access to public water, electricity, heat, or garbage collection for months. In late August, Flint Township filed a lawsuit against park owner Sapient Providence, a limited liability company in California, contending that homes in the park were unfit for human habitation. A Genesee Circuit judge approved the townships request to end leasing at the property and authorized the township to demolish structures there and assess the cost to Sapient. Township officials have said the demolitions have been delayed until Consumers Energy cuts the natural gas supply to the park and removes its equipment from the park, which is located near the townships border with the city of Flint. Chaney operates her nonprofit private foundation with the help of her daughter and typically works to help provide food and shelter for feral cats. She became involved at Myrtle Grove in an effort to save dogs and cats left behind by former residents before mobile homes are demolished. Chaney said on Friday, Nov. 22, that shes also focused on helping a small number of people still living in the park, some of whom need a new home that will accept both them and their pets. Its just a mess of cats over there, said Chaney, who believes there are more than 100 feral cars in the immediate area in addition to a handful of pets that belonged to former residents. She said other animal rescue organizations have also helped to gather up friendly, tame felines. The Genesee County Animal Control Department has also removed dogs from the park. Chaney said shes starting the GoFundMe because both she and her group have limited resources. She pledged to use donations of money, property or land to house animals and to assist pet owners facing homelessness. Chaney can be reached at 313-241-0666. FLINT, MI A Flint woman who fired a gun in a school parking lot in May 2023 has pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of possessing a weapon on school property. Chandra Cole-Weekly, 28, was originally charged with assault with intent to murder, a felony firearm charge, carrying a concealed weapon and possessing a weapon on school property. SAGINAW TOWNSHIP, MI A Saginaw County Board of Commissioners members attempt to make a point about performing better research on political candidates has backfired after he learned his own research was faulty. Now, after apologizing to a cross-town politician who was the target of his faulty research, Saginaw County Commissioner Rich Spitzer said he was crushed by the mistake that has led him to deny accusations of racism and misogyny, as well as mounting calls for his resignation. I am so overwhelmingly sorry for what has happened, the Republican said. That apology was in large part directed at Amaya Bradley, a Democrat who was elected for the first time to the Saginaw Township Board of Trustees earlier this month. So, how did the two politicians from different governing bodies become entangled in a social media exchange that has captured the attention of the community in recent days? The story began Nov. 5, when voters elected Bradley to one of four open seats on the townships 7-member governing body. The credit union teller received the fourth-highest tally, with 11,517 votes, which was 13 votes more than the fifth-place finisher who lost out on a seat. That fifth-place finisher was incumbent Trustee Connie Reppuhn, the wife of Spitzer. Fast-forward to this week when Spitzer, 70, said he uploaded a since-deleted post on his Facebook page that set off the controversy. In Spitzers post, he shared the Facebook post of another individual who uploaded images of a woman in provocative poses earlier this month. In sharing the images, Spitzer included his own commentary that read, Election results are official, time to get to know one of your newly elected Saginaw Township Trustees. The provocative images belonged to an account user identified as Amaya Bradley. The problem: She was not the same Amaya Bradley who won a seat on the Saginaw Township Board of Trustees. There were commonalities beyond their names: Both appeared to be Black women, for example. Spitzer said he quickly became aware that his attempt at advocating for better Internet research was, in fact, poor Internet research. He said he deleted the post in less than five minutes. But that was enough time for followers to capture images of the message and share it elsewhere. The following day, Bradley the Saginaw Township trustee, not the Facebook user Spitzer highlighted responded on her own social media account. The images do not look at all like me and I am struggling to understand how he could have confused me with the woman in the images, Bradley wrote in a Facebook post Thursday, Nov. 21. I am new to politics and I wanted to serve the community where I was raised, her post continued. I also happen to be a young African American woman who, unfortunately, is not unfamiliar with racism, sexism, misogyny, etc. I am horrified and very disappointed by this tactic. The example set by this man should be thoroughly rejected. In addition to bringing this situation to your attention, I am asking that you publicly condemn it. Spitzer about that same time posted a follow-up message on his Facebook account. The note read, in full, as follows: Sincere Apology: Yesterday, while trying to make a point about researching candidates for public office before deciding on who to vote for, I shared a post from what I thought was one of the newly elected Saginaw Township Board of Trustees members, Amaya Bradley. Looking further into the profile, I was horrified when I realized this wasnt the new Trustee, and I immediately took down the post. Over the past 24 hours, I have agonized over the mistake and worked to set things right. I made many calls, none more important than the one to Trustee Amaya Bradley. I apologized profusely for the mistake and assured her I was looking forward to working with her, the Board of Trustees, and Township government officials. Spitzers apology featured more than 200 comments, including from individuals expressing both outrage and calls for Spitzer to resign from his position. Bradley, meanwhile, received messages of support, including from public figures such as Saginaw City Council member Carly Rose Hammond and former Carrollton Public Schools Superintendent Craig Douglas. All I can say is, Be kind, Bradley told The Saginaw News/MLive. After hearing (Spitzers apology), I put it in Gods hands, and I prayed for (Spitzer) and his family. I just told him, Thank you for reaching out and have a blessed night." Bradley, a teller at Family First Credit Union in Saginaw and organizer of a faith-based nonprofit called Young Women Who Worship, said she was in awe of the encouragement people have showed her since the Facebook exchange was shared publicly. Im overwhelmed with all the support, Bradley said. Ive always had a heart for my community. Its a good feeling that people are trying to support me. Im very happy with all the love. Spitzer, meanwhile, told The Saginaw News/MLive he has barely slept in recent days. I am crushed, said Spitzer, who has read the blowback to his initial post on Facebook. It was never my intent to target and demean anybody. It was a misguided attempt to encourage people to research candidates. Spitzer said he has read the criticism accusing him of racism and misogyny, but denied he was racist or misogynist. He also said he has read the critics calling for him to step down as a county commissioner. Im aware of these calls for resignation, but since, in my heart of hearts, I know this is not representative of what my values are, I believe I can effectively represent my district, Spitzer said. While some individuals on social media have expressed interest in a recall effort to remove Spitzer, Saginaw County election officials said Michigan law prevents recalls against elected officials during the first year after an election where the politician was elected to a term longer than two years. Spitzer this month won a 4-year term on the board when he defeated Democrat Tarsha Works by 127 votes, or a 1.3-percentage-point margin, county election records show. Citizens could not recall Spitzer until at least Nov. 6, 2025, county election officials said. But some of the politicians cast under the spotlight because of the controversial Facebook post could be involved in further election proceedings. One day before Spitzer uploaded his controversial post, his wife, Reppuhn, filed a petition for a recount in the Saginaw Township Board of Trustees race. The Republicans 13-vote loss represented a 0.02-percentage-point margin of defeat separating her from the fourth-place finish that clinched Bradley her seat. Officials said the Saginaw County Board of Canvassers will begin the recount process Monday, Dec. 9. The hand-recount effort is expected to take several days to complete, Saginaw County officials said. Spitzer said his wife was not involved in his decision to upload the initial, critical post. She was unaware of what I was doing and was devastated by my misguided attempt to call attention to researching candidates before the election, Spitzer said. Rich Spitzer is a member of the Saginaw County Board of Commissioners. Submitted photoThe Saginaw News/MLive.com Want more Bay City- and Saginaw-area news? Bookmark the local Bay City and Saginaw news page or sign up for the free 3@3 daily newsletter for Bay City and Saginaw. The Michigan state Senator who went viral for her fiery response to a GOP colleague accusing her of being a groomer is reportedly considering a run for the National Democratic Committee chair. Politico reported Wednesday, Nov. 20, that state Sen. Mallory McMorrow, D-Royal Oak, is considering throwing her hat in the ring to lead the national party. NPR on Thursday also reported theres talk about the 38-year-old running. If enough people ask, Im leaving myself open to all kinds of opportunities, McMorrow told Politico. McMorrow did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Current DNC Chair Jaime Harrison is not expected to seek another term, according to the Hill, which also reported that only Democratic former Maryland Gov. Martin OMalley and Minnesota state Democratic leader Ken Martin so far have announced theyre vying for the chair. The change in party leadership comes as Democrats try to move ahead from losing both the U.S. Senate and presidency on Nov. 5. McMorrow became one of the states most nationally known politicians in 2022, when video of her impassioned floor speech went viral. Related: Michigan Democrat has powerful response to GOP fundraising email claiming she grooms and sexualizes children In the speech, McMorrow was responding to a fundraising email from state Sen. Lana Theis, R-Brighton, that said the Democratic lawmaker wanted to groom and sexualize kindergartners and also wanted children to feel bad about being white and that they were responsible for slavery. I want every child to feel seen, heard and supported, not marginalized and targeted because they are not straight, white and Christian, McMorrow said in the speech. We cannot let hateful people tell you otherwise to scapegoat and deflect from the fact that they are not doing anything to address the real issues that impact peoples lives. Groomer or grooming is a term used to describe how a pedophile gains the trust of a minor to eventually sexually assault them. Within days of McMorrow posting a video of the speech on X, formerly Twitter, the speech had garnered more than 14 million views. X has since removed public view count totals. The speech catapulted the now second-term senator onto the national scene, with numerous donations from around the U.S. and national TV appearances following. MLive found that nearly 85% of the nearly $1.2 million McMorrow raised in 2022, a reelection year for her, came from outside Michigan. Related: How Mallory McMorrow became a fundraising force in Michigan politics The attention also prompted speculation she would run this year for the open U.S. Senate seat, which she declined to. That wasnt the end of the national attention, though. During the Democratic National Convention this summer, McMorrow made a primetime appearance on the first night of the convention. In that speech, she warned that President-elect Donald Trump would replace civil servants with loyalists and weaponize the U.S. Department of Justice to target political opponents. There could soon be another contest for an open party leadership seat, this one the chair of the Michigan Republican Party. Trump this week announced he was nominating Michigan Republican Party Chairman Pete Hoekstra as the nations ambassador to Canada. The U.S. Senate must still confirm the nomination. Related: Michigan GOP chair Hoekstra nominated by Trump as ambassador to Canada Hoekstra previously served as the United States ambassador to the Netherlands under Trumps last administration. He was elected as chair of the Michigan Republican Party earlier this year following the ouster of former chair Kristina Karamo. USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. 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For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept (left to right) CCOEs Admin. Secretary and SARB Coordinator Lisa Hill, Winner Clarissa Killip, CCOE Superintendent Karen Vail, and 5-6th grade teacher Julie Anne Bennett -- CCOE photo View Photo Calaveras County, CA A record number of Calaveras County elementary students participated in a school attendance poster contest with a top prize of $150. For eight years, the creativity of students participating in the Calaveras County Attendance Awareness Poster Contest has emphasized the importance of attending school. The contest began in 2016 as a collaborative effort of the Calaveras County Office of Education, the Student Attendance Review Board (SARB), the Calaveras County Sheriff, and the Calaveras County District Attorney. According to organizers, the 333 entries from elementary schools across the county this year set a new record. Taking first place and the $150 was Clarissa Killip, a 5th grader at Mokelumne Hill Elementary. Additionally, her poster will be printed and distributed countywide to promote attendance awareness. Reflecting on her inspiration, she shared, Attendance is important for getting good grades and a way to see my good friends at school. The second-place winner is Hayden Mason, a 6th grader at Sierra Hills Education Center. She received $100. The 3rd place winner, Marilyn Woods, a 6th grader at West Point Elementary, was awarded $50 and an honorable mention was given to Asher Taylor in kindergarten at Hazel Fischer Elementary. New in this years competition was the addition of transitional kindergarten (TK) through 6th-grade students. Twain Harte Fire and Chicken Ranch Fire View Photo Jamestown, CA The California Office of Traffic Safety has awarded a $75,000 grant to the Chicken Ranch Fire Department and the Twain Harte Fire Department. The money will be used to purchase new crash victim extrication equipment, known as the jaws of life. Sonora Fire Chief Aimee New, who also oversees the Chicken Ranch Fire Department, helped to secure the money, and says, We are incredibly grateful for this grant which will allow us to purchase state-of-the-art rescue tools and provide training to first responders that is critical for the care of people injured in crashes. According to federal data from 2022, 42% of people who were killed in car crashes were alive when first responders arrived. The jaws of life hydraulic rescue tools will help the first responders deliver life-saving measures for patients trapped in vehicles and significantly increase the chances of survival. Beijing is now the main trading partner for most nations in the region and has the fastest-growing stock of investments. On August 17, 2021, we published an article titled The US Is Losing Power and Influence Even In Its Own Back Yard. It was the first in a series of articles that have traced how China has gradually surpassed the US as South Americas main trading partner and has even begun chipping away at US economic dominance over parts of Central America, the Caribbean and, more recently, Mexico. From that initial article: Unlike the US, China generally does not try to dictate how its trading partners should behave and what sorts of rules, norms, principles and ideology they should adhere to. What China does or at least has by and large done over the past few decades until now is to trade with and invest in countries that have goods particularly commodities it covets In Latin America and the Caribbean it has worked a treat. Chinas rise in the region coincided almost perfectly with the Global War on Terror. As Washington shifted its attention and resources away from its immediate neighbourhood to the Middle East, where it frittered away trillions of dollars spreading mayhem and death and breeding new terrorists, China began snapping up Latin American resources. Governments across the region, from Brazil to Venezuela, to Ecuador and Argentina, took a leftward turn and began working together across various fora. The commodity supercycle was born. Chinas trade with the region grew 26-fold between 2000 and 2020, from $12 billion to $315 billion, and is expected to more than double by 2035, to more than $700 billion. [Recent data suggest it is well on track to achieving that. In 2023, the total trade volume between China and Latin America reached a record $480 billion, according to Chinas National Customs Administration] In the last 20 years China has moved from an almost negligible position as a source of imports and destination of exports within the region to become its second trade partner, at the expense not just of the US but also Europe and certain Latin American countries such as Brazil whose share of inter-regional trade has fallen. According to the World Economic Forum, China will approachand could even surpassthe US as LACs top trading partner. In 2000, Chinese participation accounted for less than 2% of LACs total trade. In 2035, it could reach 25%. A Thousand-Word Photo? The potential ramifications of Chinas rise to dominance of South America, a region whose fortunes and resources have been largely controlled by Europeans and their North American descendants for the best part of the past 500 years, appear to be finally dawning on the West. The German broadcaster DW reported last week that Alarm bells are ringing in the United States, citing an article by Swiss newspaper Neue Zurcher Zeitung: As a supplier of raw materials, South America has great economic importance for Chinas development. This is where 45 percent of the agricultural products traded on the world market come from. Meat and soybean exports are particularly important for the nutrition of the Chinese population. South America also supplies two fundamental minerals for the energy transition: lithium and copper. Two-thirds of the known lithium reserves and forty percent of the copper reserves are located in the region. Chile and Peru are the two largest copper producers in the world. () Spains El Pais warned that the Asian giant is expanding its political and economic influence in the region, eroding the role of the West and putting Washington and Brussels on alert. The Financial Times appears to have reached the same conclusion. In a Global Insight op-ed on Wednesday, the pink papers Latin American editor, Michael Stott, averred that Joe Biden has lost to Xi Jinping in the battle for Latin-America: Beijing is now the main trading partner for most nations in the region and has the fastest-growing stock of investments. The article notes that Bidens farewell trip to Brazil and Peru epitomises Washingtons waning influence in the region, citing photos from last weeks Apec summit in Peru and this weeks G20 meeting in Brazil as visual proof of that waning influence. In both photos Xi Jinping stands front and centre in the first row while Biden lingers near the end of the back row in one picture and is absent from the other. There are, however, official explanations for this that have nothing to do with the US and Chinas relative strategic influence: In the first picture at last weeks Apec summit in Peru, leaders stood in alphabetical order, which favoured China over a rival superpower starting with U. In the second, shot at this weeks G20 meeting in Rio de Janeiro, US diplomats said the group photo was taken early, before Biden had arrived. As we can see in this photo of the 2016 Apec summit, also in Peru, Obama was also close to the end of the back row. Nonetheless, as the op-ed notes, the summit photographs serve as metaphors for the eclipse of the US by China in Latin America, a region that Washington used to call its backyard, and which Biden has called its front yard, as if that were somehow better. China Making Moves A better illustration of the two rival superpowers sharply contrasting approaches in Latin America was on display last week at the opening of Perus Chancay megaport, at which Xi Jinping made a guest appearance. What was Chinas paramount leader doing attending the inauguration of a Peruvian port? First, he was already in Peru to attend the Apec Summit; and second, Chancay is as much, if not more, Chinese than it is Peruvian since it is majority financed and owned by Chinese state-owned company Cosco Shipping. This has raised questions about Perus sovereignty. From DW: In 2021, the national port authority granted Cosco exclusivity to operate Chancay. When this clause was made public, there was a nationwide outcry in Peru. In March of this year, the government asked the judiciary to annul this provision. () But in June, President Dina Boluarte backtracked under pressure from China and abandoned the request to annul the clause. At the same time, the Peruvian Congress adjusted the port law, so that exclusive rights are now allowed for Cosco. With an estimated total cost of $3.6 billion, the half-finished port in Chancay represents one of the most important infrastructure projects China has spearheaded in the region. The first phase of construction has already cost $1.3 billion and the next five phases will see further investments of another $2.3 billion through 2032. Chancay is the first port on South Americas Pacific coast that will be able to receive ultra-large vessels which can transport more than 18,000 containers and it is hotly tipped to become the main maritime node in Latin America, especially if Chinas ambition to forge a new maritime-land corridor between China and Latin America bears fruit. China wishes, together with Peru, to use the port of Chancay as a starting point to create a new land and sea corridor between China and Latin America, connecting the Inca Trail with the 21st century Maritime Silk Road, and opening a path to shared prosperity for Peru and for the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean, Xi said on Thursday during a bilateral meeting with Peruvian President Dina Boluarte, according to Chinese media. The idea of building a land corridor connecting South Americas Pacific and Atlantic seaboards is hardly a new one. In fact, it has been on the drawing board since the late 19th century. In 2007, the then-heads of state of Brazil, Bolivia and Chile, Lula da Silva, Evo Morales and Michelle Bachelet, agreed to undertake efforts to build a land route connecting the Atlantic port of Santos (Brazil) with the Pacific ports of Arica and Iquique (Chile) or Port of Ilo (Peru) and expedite custom procedures along that route. But progress has been sporadic. In 2013, Xi Jinping proposed the construction of a 3,755-kilometer-long Central Bioceanic Railway Corridor connecting Peru, Bolivia and Brazil, with the goal of improving the efficiency of international freight transport, optimizing export logistics and promoting regional integration. The project received fresh impetus in 2023 thanks to an agreement between the presidents of Bolivia and Brazil, Luis Arce and Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, to reactivate this ambitious infrastructure initiative. Wheres the US Marshall Plan for Latin America? While Xi Jinping celebrated the opening of the Chancay sea port, the Biden Administration promised to deliver nine Black Hawk helicopters for a $65mn anti-drug programme. Peru, together with Ecuador and Argentina, recently signed an agreement with the US to intensify cooperation in the War on Drugs a war whose real purpose it to maintain US geostrategic dominance in key, normally resource-rich regions of the world. But that wasnt all: Biden also announced the donation of second-hand diesel trains from California for the Lima metro system. It was such a striking contrast, Michael Shifter, adjunct professor at Georgetown University, told the FT. You have this huge Chinese mega-port project that evoked Perus history going back to the Incas and seeking greatness. And then what Biden delivered was some more helicopters for coca eradication. That seems completely outdated and stale. During his visit to Brazil, Xi discussed multibillion-dollar Chinese investments while signing a joint declaration with Luiz Inacio da Silva to raise the status of their countries bilateral relationship to a Community of a shared future Brazil-China for a more just and sustainable world. Likewise in Peru, Xi signed a declaration with President Dina Boluarte to upgrade their countries bilateral free trade agreement and express readiness to cooperate on large-scale infrastructure projects in accordance with their respective national laws. The contrast with the US could not be starker. During his brief stay in Brazil, Biden announced a $50mn donation to a conservation fund. And that was about it. And this has been more or less the story of the past two decades of US interaction with Latin America. Even as Washington has grown more and more agitated about Beijings rising influence in its back yard, it has not come close to matching Chinas economic footprint in the region. A few months ago, General Laura Richardson, the now-retired commander of US Southern Command, called for a new Marshall Plan for Latin America in order to counter Chinese and Russian influence in the region. But beyond military helicopters and diesel trains, there is little to show for it. As Shifter told the FT, the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity, an initiative touted by Biden as an answer to Beijing, was all dressed up very nicely. But when it comes down to committing real resources, theres nothing there. In a recent interview, Ben Rhodes, Obamas former deputy national security advisor for strategic communications, warned that Washington is rapidly running out of time to change its ways: while the US is watching the Trump show, the rest of the world has moved on; theyre aligning around China or theyre neutral like Lula. This video is a must-watch. I rarely agree with @brhodes but he's 100% correct here. He says he'll "always be haunted" by a comment that Xi Jinping made to Obama in 2016 when referring to Trump: "If an immature leader throws the world into chaos, the world will know who to pic.twitter.com/DyKNQw1aPq Arnaud Bertrand (@RnaudBertrand) November 22, 2024 Even Argentinas anti-communist, fanatically US and Israel-aligned President Javier Milei had a brief meeting with Xi on the side lines of the G20 summit, the outcome of which was a joint pledge from both leaders to continue working on strengthening their [countries] commercial ties and on the development of joint projects. China expressed its interest in increasing trade with the Argentine Republic, while Argentina expressed its vocation to diversify and increase its supply of exports to the Chinese market, said Mileis spokesman Manuel Adorni after the meeting with the Chinese government, adding: Both nations agreed to continue working on strengthening their trade ties and developing joint projects that benefit both economies. This is arguably one of the most impressive testaments to Chinas rising influence in South America the fact that a national leader who a year ago was calling the Chinese government murderous and was pledging to never to do business with communists just met up with Xi and pledged to expand trade with China. Milei, never one to worry about betraying his word to voters, was so pleased with the meeting that he posted a photo of him and Xi on his twitter account. El Presidente Javier Milei se reunio con el Presidente de la Republica Popular China, Xi Jinping, en Rio de Janeiro. pic.twitter.com/49uaV2nsia Oficina del Presidente (@OPRArgentina) November 19, 2024 Milei is hoping that his close ties with Donald J Trump and his near-total alignment with US foreign policy will also yield economic dividends for Argentina, particularly with regard to Argentinas foreign debt to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), where the United States has veto power as the majority member of the organization. Milei is also keen to sign a trade agreement with the US, but he is likely to be disappointed. In his first presidency, Trump visited Latin America only once and that was to attend the 2018 G20 summit in Buenos Aires. By contrast, this was Xis third visit to Peru and the third time he had met with its President Dina Boluarte in a year. If anything, a new Trump administration, with Marco Rubio installed as secretary of state, is likely to play the role of spoiler in the region even more so than most other US governments. As Matias Spektor of the Getulio Vargas Foundation in Sao Paulo told the FT, there is little prospect of Trump boosting US trade and investment in Latin America. And if Washington cannot compete with Beijing on economic terms, it will instead try to make life more difficult for Chinese investors by pressuring Latin American countries to curb Chinas presence while more generally stirring the pot in the region. The Trump transition team is already talking about taking punitive action against Chancay. Mauricio Claver-Carone, an adviser to Donald Trumps transition team, has proposed applying a 60% tariff to products from China and other Latin American countries that pass through the port. Claver-Carone cites two motives for taking such action: to address concerns that the port could become an entry point for low-cost goods from China, and to discourage Latin American countries from allowing the Chinese regime to build strategic infrastructure in their territories. Yves here. Due to a particularly intense news period, with the furor of final days of the US elections and the convincing Trump win crowding out many important stories, the fact of an underwhelming COP29 received little attention. In fact, the US election, the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, and economic weakness and government wobbling in Europe alone have gotten vastly more coverage than climate-related news, despite sustained record hot temperatures in many parts of the world over the summer, and well as flood-generating rainfalls. Even worse, with this backdrop, tech touts titans have taken to arguing that since the climate is toast anyhow, they should be free to ramp up even-more-environment-destructive AI. So in a wee effort to correct the imbalance, we are featuring this article on how US and our allies armed forces are outsized contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. While this is a kinda-sorta acknowledged looming problem, it tends to be admitted in passing. The tacit assumption is that the American military is a sacred cow. The time is long past due for climate activist to take on that belief frontally. By Nadia Ahmad, a law professor at Barry University School of Law. Originally published at Common Dreams As world leaders are finalizing another round of climate negotiations, they continue to sidestep the single largest institutional source of greenhouse gas emissions: the U.S. military. While frontline communities face devastation from climate disasters, the Pentagon pumps out more emissions than 140 countries combined. Despite last years commitment to move away from fossil fuels, current negotiations are hindered by disagreements among nations with some oil-producing countries resisting the reaffirmation of this pledge. The failure to uphold the COP28 agreement could undermine the credibility of international climate efforts and impede progress toward global emission reduction targets. This year, COP29 met in Azerbaijan under the leadership of Mukhtar Babayev, the countrys Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources. Criticisms of Azerbaijans ties to the oil industry quickly surfaced with some Western voices highlighting the influence of the fossil fuel sector on the summit. While this concern is valid, these same critics conveniently ignore their own deep complicity in the climate crisis, most glaringly, the United States military emissions. The U.S. Department of Defense remains the worlds largest institutional consumer of oil, yet its emissions are systematically excluded from climate negotiations. The omission is by design. Since the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, military emissions have been given a free pass, thanks to pressure from U.S. negotiators. The numbers are staggering. The U.S. military consumes more than 100 million barrels of oil annually, producing emissions equivalent to the entire nation of Sweden. Its 800 overseas bases require constant fuel resupply, while Navy carriers, Air Force jets, and Army vehicles guzzle fossil fuels at an astounding rate. During the Iraq War alone, the Pentagons daily consumption reached 1.2 million barrelsmore than 94% of countries globally. Yet, instead of tackling this massive source of emissions, Congress continues to expand the military budget, approving $886 billion for FY2024, while climate funding remains a fraction of that amount. The cruel irony is that the communities most vulnerable to climate impacts, poor, Black, and brown communities both domestically and globally, bear the heaviest burden of both military operations and climate devastation. The Pentagon itself acknowledges climate change as a threat multiplier that will intensify conflicts and migration. Yet, its massive carbon footprint accelerates the very crises it claims to be preparing for. Military climate emissions create a deadly feedback loop that sacrifices the most vulnerable communities for the sake of military dominance. Some progressive voices are finally breaking through. Representative Barbara Lee introduced legislation in 2001 requiring the Pentagon to track and reduce its emissions. Organizations like Veterans for Peace have demanded that military emissions be included in climate agreements. But far more pressure is needed from civil society and frontline communities who cannot afford to wait decades for gradual carbon reductions while the Pentagons emissions continue unabated. Its easy for world leaders to point fingers at Azerbaijan for its oil-dependent economy while failing to acknowledge the massive carbon bootprint of their own militaries. True climate leadership requires confronting all major sources of emissions, even those wrapped in national security rhetoric. Excluding military emissions from climate agreements is a moral failure that undermines any serious effort at emissions reduction. The climate crisis demands we finally confront the true cost of endless war and military expansion. Until we do, climate summits will remain elaborate theater while the Pentagons carbon bootprint stamps out hope for a livable future. The communities on the frontlines of climate chaos from the Louisiana coast to the Pacific Islands deserve better than empty promises while military emissions remain off the books. True climate leadership means having the courage to tackle all major emission sources, even those within their own borders. The time has come to end the militarys exemption from climate accountability. Yves here. This is a refreshingly even-handed piece about what might happen with US-Iran relations under Trump. It points out that Trumps maximum pressure campaign to retighten oil sanctions against Iran might not have much impact, both because Iran has become more self sufficient and key buyers, particularly China, have gotten to be pretty accomplished at evasion. Admittedly the US can attempt secondary sanctions on Chinese banks and other players that facilitate these trades. But the second question is whether Trump will have anyone on his team who is a decent negotiator, a capacity notably in absence in the Biden Administration, and whether Trump is willing to go this route despite what are sure to be vociferous objections by Israel. Perhaps the new Administration will recognize that Iran really does have deterrence dominance even with full bore US support of Israel. But how does it give enough of a face saving cover for Israel? It also notes that Iran has no reason to think the US will adhere to any deal, with the JCOPA one of many examples of bad faith. This usefully very detailed piece does not posit what an end game might look like, and it ignores the elephant in the room, the Axis of Resistance commitment to stop the Gaza, and apparent Lebanon, genocide. But it does signal that there may be serious talks and reduction of the temperature in the region. That alone would be welcome. By James D. Durso, the Managing Director of Corsair LLC, a supply chain consultancy. In 2013 to 2015, he was the Chief Executive Officer of AKM Consulting, a provider of business development and international project management services in Central and Southwest Asia to U.S. clients in a variety of industries including telecommunications, homeland security, and defense. Originally published at OilPrice The potential return of Donald Trump and the maximum pressure campaign on Iran could reshape U.S.-Iran relations, but regional dynamics have shifted since 2018. Iran has increased its economic resilience through stronger alliances with China and Russia, expanded oil exports, and strategic infrastructure projects. Both sides face an opportunity to negotiate a pragmatic deal focused on regional stability and economic growth, but significant barriers remain. Donald Trump is back and so is the maximum pressure campaign against Iran to drastically throttle Irans oil sales to kill Tehrans nuclear program and its ability to fund regional proxies. But Trump aide Brian Hook who ran the anti-Iran campaign in Trumps first term claimed Trump has no interest in regime change. That may be true but Iran, and everyone else, probably doesnt believe it. The Trump 47 officials may soon learn that 2025 is not 2018 and, while Iran was on the ropes as Trumps first term ended, things are different now. To start, open-handed American support for Israels campaigns against the Palestinian and Lebanese people has eroded support for U.S. moves by Middle East governments that might normally favor limits on Irans behavior. Saudi Arabs crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman (MbS), declared Israel was committing genocide in Gaza. By using the G-word, MbS has made it hard for his government to walk back his remarks or reverse course absent a cease fire and implementation of something like the Arab Peace Initiative (which has been gathering dust since 2002 and may need a reboot). MbS also warned Israel against attacking Iran. Arab-Sunni Saudi Arabia and Persian-Shia Iran have been drawing closer since 2023 they agreed to resume ties after seven years of tensions. That the deal was brokered by China is a sign the regional powers had little confidence in a U.S. role, possibly suspecting it is in Washingtons (and Jerusalems) interest to keep the countries of the region divided. The countries military chiefs recently held defense talks, and planned a joint military exercise in the Red Sea (that probably wont be interrupted by Yemens Houthi rebels.) In the civil realm, the countries are moving toward increased economic ties. The presidents of the United Arab Emirates and Iran held their first face-to-face talks in October, and UAE Iran tradeis on the upswing, and the Saudi crown prince (and de facto ruler) recently spoke to Irans new president. Qatar (which shares a natural gas field with Iran) and Iran are trying to broaden their economic ties that are largely based on hydrocarbons, and Iran supported Qatar during the Saudi-led 2017-2021 attempt to isolate Doha for allegedly supporting terrorism, though criticism of Riyadh by Doha-based Al Jazeera and friendship with Iran are the likely reasons. After a recent exchange of fire by Israel and Iran, Iran warned its neighbors not to attack Iran or to help the Israelis, and the Gulf Cooperation Council promptly declared, Our focus has been on de-escalation. The Gulf states are dubious about maximum pressure and are concerned it will upend warming relations with Iran and increase regional tensions. Middle Eastern governments are sensitive to public anger over American support for Israels killing of civilians in Gaza and Lebanon, so will avoid any display of support for a U.S. campaign that may target Arab or Muslim peoples. The countries that signed up for the Abraham Accords may soon look pretty foolish, so when MbS accused Israel of genocide in Gaza he was demonstrating Saudi Arabias distaste for the U.S. line, unlike the UAE which has increased daily airline flights to Israel. Also wary of a renewed U.S.-Israeli campaign against Iran and the Central Asian republics. The republics are growing their trade ties to Iran, a market of 90 million people, and the host of seaports at Bandar Abbas and Chabahar, essential for Central Asia trade with Asia and Africa. Iran also hosts the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), a 7,200-kilometer multi-modal transport corridor that connects India to Europe, and is Plan B if a transport route through Afghanistan and Pakistan is not reliable. Iran has been actively working to strengthen its relations with Central Asian countries as part of its Look East strategywhich has seen increased relations with China, Russia, and to offset the effect of Western sanctions. Irans Foreign Minister has engaged in discussions with his counterparts in Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and the other republics and the newly-elected president of Iran, Masoud Pezeshkian, has met the presidents of Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan. In Central Asia. Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan have all increased trade links with Iran, in Tajikistans case to include a defense pact. The republics dont want to sacrifice the opportunity in Iran, a country with a consumer market projected to grow 11% by 2030. Irans focus on Central Asia includes improving trade ties, developing infrastructure projects, and increasing connectivity through transportation networks. For example, Iran has proposed linking the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project to its own network, which would provide Central Asian countries with access to the Persian Gulf and beyond. And the oil market has changed since 2018. According to Argus Media, Irans oil exports, which were below 500,000 b/d through the second half of 2019 and 2020 due to Trump-era sanctions, began increasing in 2021 and have increased every year since: Exports averaged around 1.6mn b/d in January-October [in 2024]. If the U.S. again sanctions Iran, it may find it hard going as the remaining buyers may be those who do not necessarily fear sanctions. Iran has built out its network to bypass sanctions, and has expanded its tanker fleet, though the clandestine effort is not without substantial costs, such as Chinese customers demanding a substantial discount, and the cost of rebranding the oil to disguise its origin. Iran has an oil export terminal on the Gulf of Oman, which was inaugurated in July 2021, and can export 1 million barrels per day of oil. The facility cannot replace Irans main export terminal at Kharg, which can handle 8 million barrels per day, but it allows Iran to bypass the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic chokepoint and will require the Americans to try to cover two terminals instead of just the main facility at Kharg if Washington decides to attack Iran The U.S. may try to interdict Irans oil exports to China, but what will Chinas response be if it considers the interdiction an act of piracy? Beijing may decide to provide a naval escort for the oil shipments or may reflag the vessels as Chinese, upping the ante for the Americans. If the Peoples Liberation Army Navy, the worlds largest navy with newer vessels than the U.S. Navy, deploys to escort the tankers it will refine its blue water operating skills. The increased operating tempo will also stress the U.S. fleet which for the second time in a year has no aircraft carrier in the Middle East. A recent U.S. Navy report noted on the material readiness of Navy ships: several functional areas and subsystems remained degraded or showed declining trends since 2017, and the U.S. Government Accountability Office noted in 2021 the Navy needed to improve its limited capacity for battle damage repair, in the event the U.S. and any foe come to blows. And if the U.S. seizes a China-bound cargo, then what? The ship will have to be anchored somewhere, the cargo will possibly be offloaded and stored, the crew will need to be housed and fed, consular support will need to be provided, and someone will have to guard the vessel. China is the biggest trading partner for every country between the Persian Gulf and the South China Sea, so the U.S. may be unable to find volunteers for these low-return chores. The U.S. ignored the warning of former national security advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski who said the U.S. should avoid actions that would create a grand coalition of China, Russia, and perhaps Iran, an antihegemonic coalition. The U.S. has masterfully created that coalition by expanding NATO, ignoring the One China Policy, and sponsoring the 1953 coup in Iran that has freighted the Iranian people with more and more authoritarian rulers. But the ascension of new presidents in Tehran and Washington may be an opportunity to start rebuilding relations. After his election in July 2024, President Masoud Pezeshkian announced his program in My Message to the New World and declared his intent to strengthen relations with Irans neighbors, specifically mentioning Iraq, Turkiye, and the six members of the Gulf Cooperation Council. He emphasized the need for a strong region, said he hoped for constructive dialogue with Europe, criticized the U.S. for exiting the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and urged Washington come to terms with reality. In October, President-elect Trump declared, I would like to see Iran be very successful. The only thing is, they cant have a nuclear weapon. In 2023, then-Senator JD Vance said that Republican senators who wanted at attack Iran were living in the past. In 2024, Republican Vice-President candidate JD Vance said, And our interest very much is in not going to war with Iran. It would be a huge distraction of resources. It would be massively expensive to our country, Those are hopeful signs of a desire to reach a negotiated solution, but can the U.S. abide by any deal once the ink is dry? Neither Russia, China, nor Iran believe the U.S. will abide by the spirit and letter of any agreement as it has a record of bailing out of any commitments when it is convenient, to wit, Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty NATO expansion (not one inch eastward) Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty Paris Agreement (Paris Climate Accord) Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action Minsk agreements Open Skies Treaty Algiers Accord One China Policy U.S. intervention in Iran started with the 1953 coup. The U.S. then supported Iraq during 1980-1988 war after the U.S. and Iran agreed on the Algiers Accords (January 1981) where the U.S. pledged, it is and from now on will be the policy of the United States not to intervene, directly or indirectly, politically or militarily, in Irans internal affairs, but this did not stop the U.S. from backing Iraq when the war starting to go in Irans favor in 1982. The U.S. killed General Qasem Soleimani in Iraq when he was carrying a message to Saudi Arabia in an effort to defuse tensions between Tehran and Riyadh. Many Iranians and Saudis probably think Soleimani was killed because he was working to reduce tensions in the region, which they think only benefits the U.S. and Israel. Then there is the killing of civilian Iranian scientists involved in nuclear power research. No one has taken the credit, but the Iranians no doubt believe it was the Americans or the Israelis with American connivance. Last is the STUXNET virus, a joint U.S.-Israel effort to attack break Iranian nuclear centrifuge equipment which leaked and infected computers worldwide. The Chair of the NATO Military Committee recently admitted the only reason NATO troops are not is Ukraine fighting Russian troops is because Russia has nuclear weapons, which no doubt confirmed the views of Iranians who think the country should have nuclear weapons. Then there is the cautionary tale of Libyas surrender of its nuclear program, and the mystery of why North Korea, one of the poorest and most isolated countries in the world, has not been attacked by the U.S. Irans relations with Russia and China have strengthened which adds to the countrys resilience. China and Iran signed a 25-year Comprehensive Strategic Partnership agreement in March 2021. This agreement aims to enhance bilateral relations and includes significant investments from China in Irans economy. China plans to invest $400 billion in Irans oil, gas, petrochemicals, transportation, and manufacturing sectors. In return, China will receive a steady and heavily-discounted supply of Iranian oil. The agreement allows China to deploy security personnel to protect its projects in Iran. The investments will also go towards upgrading Irans infrastructure, and the agreement supports Chinas One Belt One Road Initiative, by enhancing connectivity and trade routes. Russia has supplied Iran with Su-35 fighter jets, Mi-28 attack helicopters, Yak-130 pilot training aircraft; Iran has sent Russia drones, and ballistic missiles. Non-military trade is also increasing. The Moscow Times reports, Russian exports to Iran rose 27% last year, and Russian imports from Iran increased 10%. Both sides have agreed to scale up trade in currencies other than the U.S. dollar, while Russia has pledged to invest an unprecedented $40 billion in Irans oil and gas sector. The Times also notes, Perhaps the most important changes, however, have been in transport networks. As a result of the fighting in Ukraine, and in a bid to bypass Western sanctions, Russia has begun shifting trade routes southward. This is why Iran and Russia have ramped up work to develop the much-touted and ambitious International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), which will stretch from the Persian Gulf to the Baltic Sea. Despite its economic problems, Iran has increased its military budget, no doubt anticipating attacks by America or Israel. At the same time Iran has signaled it is willing to negotiate with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), but not under pressure. Irans foreign minister Abbas Araqchi clarified that when he told state television, There is still an opportunity for diplomacy, although this opportunity is not much. It is a limited opportunity. A recent IAEA report notes Iran has begun implementing measures aimed at stopping the increase of its stockpile [of near bomb-grade uranium] though the IAEA also noted that Iran increased its inventory of 60% enriched uranium by 60% since the last report in August 2024. Irans President Pezeshkian has indicated he is open to U.S. engagement: Whether we like it or not, we will face the United States in regional and international arenas, and its better that we manage this arena ourselves. And opinion leaders in Iran are saying their government should engage with Trump, with Shargh, the reformist daily newspaper editorializing that President Pezeshkian, must avoid past mistakes and assume a pragmatic and multidimensional policy, though others are skeptical anything will change under Trump. Even the Quds Force commander, General Qassem Soleimani, once mused: maybe its time to rethink our relationship with the Americans, though in the end it didnt do him much good. All that said, maximum pressure is a slogan, not a strategy. If Iran says Yes, will Washington finally produce a coherent, executable strategy for its future dealings with Iran? Up to now its only strategy has been more sanctions, hoping some liberals will miraculously appear and (democratically) seize power when in fact the Revolutionary Guard may take over and finally dispense with Vilayat-e Faqih. Whatever strategy Washington produces will be overshadowed by the disastrous retreat from Afghanistan in 2021, so the U.S. should favor a policy that increases regional connectivity and economic growth rather than carrying water for Israel or satisfying its desire to avenge the humiliation of 1979. Iran wont surrender its hard-won nuclear expertise and has increased cooperation with the IAEA, but will it ever dash to the bomb? Israel claims it destroyed key Iranian nuclear fabrication facilities but the head of the IAEA said of the attack, as far as the IAEA is concerned, we do not see this as a nuclear facility. Trump will not want to start a war with Iran over its nuclear program as he will be sensitive to the impact on the U.S. economy, so sanctions (and the occasional Israeli attack) will be all he has left. If that is the case, and Irans economy and oil export scheme is resilient enough, and Russia and China remain constant, we may be looking at years of low-level endless wars to the joy of the Iran hawks in Washington. And there is a deadline of sorts for negotiations with Iran: 18 October 2025 sees the end of the JCPOA snapback mechanism, the last opportunity for world powers to initiate the snapback mechanism, returning all the sanctions that were lifted in the JCPOA agreement If the U.S. rejoins any sort of nuclear deal, it will have to be a new deal as Iran blew past the JCPOA 1.0 conditions after the U.S. abandoned the agreement. If the Americans want to expand a 2.0 deal to include ballistic missiles or Irans foreign policy, Iran may suggest similar limits on other countries in the region, and then demand that 2.0 be a treaty to bound future U.S. action, and to exploit differences in the U.S. on what is a good deal that will be all too evident once the Senate takes up the treaty for ratification. So far, each side has demonstrated a lack of empathy for the other, the result of years of successful propagandizing, leaving each feeling more sinned against than sinning. And the hard-liners in each capital believe in the others perfidy, see conflict as key to their continued influence, and reap economic rewards from the status quo. On the U.S. side, Washington has never explained to American citizens its role in the 1953 coup that stifled Irans economic and political development, though Secretary of State Madeleine Albright admitted the U.S. role in overthrowing Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh in 1953 and called the coup a setback for Irans political development. To many Americans, the 1979 revolution and the hostage crisis appeared out of thin air. The U.S. needs to think long-term. Irans mullahs wont rule forever and Americas association with economic hardship and violence wont benefit it in the future. The U.S. should adopt a parallel effort to President Pezeshkians strong region plan to emphasize trade and connectivity which will help the region make up the gains sacrificed in the lost decades of the U.S. occupation of Afghanistan. Despite all the talk about what Trump might do, Biden is still the U.S. president until 11:59 on 20 January 2025. If both sides stick to what is feasible, keep their emotions and hard-liners in check, and Iran offers Trump a deal that he feels only he could have made, we may see stability and more economic opportunity for the regions youth and the start of the banishment of the legacies of 1953 and 1979 Seth Holehouse on Decentralize.TV: America is STILL AT WAR with the Dems and the Deep State According to "Man In America" podcast host Seth Holehouse, America and its people are still at war with the Democratic Party cabal and the Deep State He shared this assertion during an appearance on "Decentralize.TV" hosted by the Health Ranger Mike Adams and Todd Pitner. Holehouse said despite Americans celebrating President-elect Donald Trump's victory and the country's projected positive direction, "something is [still] not right." He noted that the idea of a "peaceful transition" from the Democrats, alongside outgoing Vice President Kamala Harris readily conceding defeat, is very dubious. "I think that is extremely dangerous because we are still at war," said the founder of Man In America. "We're entering into what I think is probably one of the final stages of a significant battle of good and evil in a battle of the cabal and the Deep State versus We the People." (Related: INSURRECTION: If Trump wins, Democrats plan to invoke Sec. 3 of the 14th Amendment to prevent him from taking office.) Holehouse stressed that Americans must become even more vigilant and self-sufficient. Domestic war between blue states and the Trump administration could happen Adams agreed, predicting that a domestic war between blue states and the Trump administration could happen. He cited Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey reiterating her promise to provide sanctuary to illegal aliens. The Democratic governor won't allow the federal government to deport these illegals, even though they are in the country unlawfully. "Absolutely not," she told MSNBC on Nov. 6 when asked if the Bay State would help the second Trump administration deport illegals. "Every tool in the toolbox has got 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." The possibility of blue states deciding to secede or refuse to recognize Trump as their president come Jan. 20, 2025 remains on the table, Adams said. Holehouse agreed, noting that the two instances are indeed possible. But other scenarios leading to a civil conflict in America and a disruption of the already fragile supply chain could also happen as the days pass. Meanwhile, Pitner commented that the wicked, liberal leftists conveniently calling for unity are the same demons who want Americans dead, raped and mutilated aside from wanting the unborn child aborted. Thus, he stressed that there is no forgiveness and unity without repentance from the Left. Holehouse agreed, pointing out that Americans should be worried of people talking about unity but are actually lying. Repentance must become a process of coming back to the truth, especially God's truth. Reconciliation is going to be very disruptive to many people particularly those who won't do it, something Holehouse described as very concerning. He nevertheless believes that a day of reckoning must happen to enable the American people to move forward as a country and be on the same page. Follow DeepState.news for more news about the Democrats and the Deep State. Watch this episode of "Decentralize.TV" with Seth Holehouse. This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Roger Stone warns Democrats will do everything to try to stop Trump's imminent victory. Seth Holehouse: The communist bloc is the greatest threat to America and its people. Gabbard: Democratic Party 'an elitist cabal of warmongers corrupt politicians, propaganda media, Big Tech and the national security state.' Washington deep state ignored 500 separate reports of Israel killing civilians in Gaza with U.S. weapons, study finds. HYPOCRISY ALERT: Democrats say they won't certify election if Trump wins because he's "dangerous to democracy." Sources include: Brighteon.com ManInAmerica.com Boston.com Ex-chief coroner warns: U.K.s assisted dying bill could lead to involuntary euthanasia The former chief coroner of England and Wales has warned the public that the passage of the assisted dying bill could lead to "non-voluntary euthanasia." Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, presented by Labor MP Kim Leadbeater on Oct. 16 to the Parliament, would allow terminally ill individuals to end their lives within three weeks under strict safeguards. The bill, which is set for a free vote in Parliament on Nov. 29, requires two independent doctors to assess whether the individual meets the eligibility criteria. To qualify, a person must be over 18, terminally ill with a prognosis of six months or less and have the mental capacity to make an informed decision. They must have a "clear, settled and informed wish" to die without coercion and make two separate declarations, witnessed and signed. Leadbeater assured the public that the bill would implement "the strictest safeguards of any legislation anywhere in the world" by requiring thorough assessments and consultations with specialists when necessary. The legislation also criminalizes inducing someone to request assisted dying through dishonesty or pressure, punishable by up to 14 years in prison. However, Thomas Teague KC, the former chief coroner of England and Wales from 2020 to 2024, argued that the proposed safeguards are insufficient to prevent the bill from expanding beyond its original intent if it passes through the Commons at the end of the month. "Many of the safeguards promised by its supporters amount to nothing more than arbitrary restrictions, with no rational foundation. Reason demands their removal, propelling an irreversible expansion of scope that has already taken place in the Netherlands and elsewhere. This process is as logically inexorable as it is empirically inevitable, for the very arguments relied upon to justify physician-assisted suicide would also support the introduction of voluntary and, ultimately, non-voluntary euthanasia," Teague wrote in an endorsement for Rose Kennedy Chair John Keown of the Kennedy Institute of Ethics at Georgetown University and his paper. Meanwhile, the bill provides that a judge will review evidence from at least one doctor and may speak to the individual before authorizing the self-administration of fatal medication. The legislation mandates a minimum of seven days between the doctors' assessment and another 14 days following the judge's ruling unless the death is imminent. Doctors may also use their professional judgment to discuss assisted dying with patients, though they are not obliged to do so. They retain the right to conscientiously object to participating in the process, as does the "coordinating doctor" who oversees the procedural steps. U.K.'s assisted dying bill could turn into a "slippery slope" Teague, along with former Supreme Court Justice Lord Sumption, former Attorney General Dominic Grieve and former chairman of the Equality and Human Rights Commission Baroness O'Neill, has also endorsed a report published by London-based right-wing conservative think tank Policy Exchange. In the report, Keown debunked the claims of Baroness Molly Christine Meacher, who read a statement from Lord Field of Birkenhead in the House of Lords during a debate on the assisted dying bill in October 2021. At the time, Meacher stated that except Canada, no jurisdiction that legalized assisted dying for the terminally ill had expanded its laws. (Related: Canadian lawmaker introduces petition against expanding EUTHANASIA for babies with "severe health issues.") However, Keown argued in his paper that assisted dying in Canada, which was initially restricted to terminally ill patients in 2016, now extends to disabled individuals and will soon include those with mental health conditions in 2027. Additionally, recent recommendations in Canada propose further extensions to "mature minors" and individuals with dementia who make advance requests. Keown concluded that this is an ongoing illustration of "slippery slope," in which a small action leads to a series of events with negative or unintended results. And it could also happen in the U.K. with the assisted dying bill. Visit Euthanasia.news for more similar stories. Watch this clip from "Timcast IRL" where host Tim Pool and his guests discuss the assisted suicide of Zoraya ter Beek. This video is from the SecureLife channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Euthanasia- and infanticide-promoting philosopher wins $1 Million dollar Berggruen prize. Euthanasia legalized in Australia: State of Victoria will allow assisted suicide beginning mid 2019. Disabled Canadian man reveals hes been offered EUTHANASIA multiple times by hospital staff. Op-ed: EUTHANASIA of young, healthy women in the Netherlands a warning to Canada. SLOW EUTHANASIA: CDC pushing more COVID "booster" shots on people 65 and older: "every four months." Sources include: Telegraph.co.uk 1 Telegraph.co.uk 2 PolicyExchange.org.uk Brighteon.com Britain denies reports that Russias most dangerous warship held military drills in the English Channel Russian news agencies recently claimed to have held a military drill, repelling air and sea drone attacks of a mock enemy, when its "most dangerous" frigate passed through the English Channel . However, the United Kingdom's Royal Navy denied these claims and further said that the warship passed through the Channel under its watchful eye escorted by its own HMS Iron Duke. Reports said the ultra-modern Russian frigate Admiral Golovko is the Kremlin's most dangerous warship, armed with Tsirkon hypersonic missiles that can travel at speeds of 6,100 miles per hour. Russian President Vladimir Putin deployed frigate, the lead ship of the Project 22350 series of frigates of the Russian Navy, from its Arctic home base in Severomorsk on Nov. 2 for its maiden long-distance since it entered active service in December 2023. "The Northern Fleet frigate Admiral Golovko has completed its passage through the English Channel and is currently continuing to carry out missions in the designated areas of the Atlantic Ocean," Russian state news agency RIA said, citing a statement from the press service of the Russian Navy's Northern Fleet. "The sailors practiced anti-submarine and anti-aircraft defense and conducted a training rescue operation using Ka-27 helicopters," reported Russian Ministry of Defense-owned and operated TV channel Zvezda. State news agency TASS further said: "The main goals of the long-distance deployment are to demonstrate the Russian flag and ensure Russias naval presence in operationally important areas of the world ocean." According to reports, the frigate is armed with a 130mm A-192 artillery system, a Redut air-defense missile system, launchers for 16 Oniks or Kalibr-NK anti-ship missiles and a Paket-NK anti-submarine torpedo system. Admiral Golovko's voyage comes amid heightened tensions between Moscow and the West over the conflict in Ukraine. During a visit to Paris this week, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer discussed putting Ukraine "in the strongest possible position going into winter with French President Emmanuel Macron. The two leaders vowed to support Kyiv for as long as necessary "to thwart Russia's war of aggression." (Related: Zelensky outlines his "victory plan" against Russia using American and British long-range missiles.) Macron also met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to discuss further military aid. Bloomberg: EU pushes Biden for last-minute measures to support Ukraine Meanwhile, outgoing President Joe Biden is reportedly being pressured by European leaders to take last-minute measures to make sure Ukraine gets substantial support from the U.S. before President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration. Bloomberg, citing people familiar with the plans, reported on Nov. 14 that some European Union officials are urging the U.S. to provide more weapons and artillery to Ukraine. They are also pushing for Ukraine to finally be allowed to carry out long-range strikes deep inside Russia. There have also been requests, mostly informal, for additional sanctions against Moscow. Previously, Washington assured Kyiv that it would receive the full $6 billion in remaining congressionally allotted aid before Trump assumes office. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, when he had an emergency visit to the Brussels headquarters of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization shortly after the U.S. election, said that the Biden administration is also looking for additional assistance for Ukraine before Trump is inaugurated on Jan. 20, 2025. RussiaReport.news has more stories similar to this. Watch the video below where NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte says Ukraine is "legally" allowed to use NATO weapons to strike deep into Russia. This video is from Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: U.K. bringing back mandatory military service as Europe prepares for WAR with Russia. PUSHED TOO FAR: Former Putin advisor says Russia has no choice but to use tactical NUCLEAR WEAPONS against NATO. Russia threatens retaliation against British targets if Kyiv uses UK-provided missiles to strike Russian territory. Ukrainian official says British long-range missiles are already being used to strike Russia. Sources include: The-Sun.com KyivIndependent.com Brighteon.com Dr. Jack Kruse discusses the bodys INNATE REGENERATION capabilities in a bombshell interview with the Health Ranger Neurosurgeon Dr. Jack Kruse joined the Health Ranger Mike Adams on "Health Ranger Report" to talk about the body's electric regeneration The CEO of Kruse Longevity Center in Destin, Florida said mitochondria the powerhouse of the cells emit light and act as a photolithography fabrication plant to make proteins in the human body. These proteins form half of the semiconductor system alongside water, and both elements have to work together. Kruse cited the work of the late Dr. Robert O. Becker (1923-2008), who mentioned that the regeneration or healing in the human body always begins with an electric current, particularly the direct current (DC). The neurosurgeon continued that the DC electric current comes from the sun, and all energy within the body comes externally from the sun similar to how photosynthesis in plants work. "There's a process in the body where we are able to take terrestrial sunlight, and they get it down to 1/1000 of a millionth of a current, of DC electric current," Kruse said. "And we use that to differentiate our red blood cells to go back to other stem cells to heal our tissues." Kruse: Humans have the ability to REGENERATE Becker believed that there was a process humans could use to regenerate their limbs. He proved it in one of his experiments that showed the ability of humans to regenerate their fingertips. According to Kruse, the fingertip is the only place that humans are actually able to do what salamanders and lizard do with their tails. (Related: 6 Bodily tissues that can be regenerated through nutrition.) "If [you] do amputate your fingertip, you can regrow it completely. So, we do have some regenerative ability in us," Kruse continued. "For example, you can amputate a large section of the liver and use that for liver transplantation. We've known that for quite some time, but most of that is also based on some of the work that Becker did." In the 1960s, Becker talked about the DC system in people being affected by things in the environment. He also warned against placing external electric fields around people due to these fields potentially causing cancer, autoimmune conditions and fulminant (non-healing) infections. Most of Becker's studies for the military were neither peer-reviewed nor published in the Federal Register. One such study conducted by Becker and his colleague Andrew Marino found that the 765-kilowatt regular electric towers and the power lines they hoist affected the DC electric current, allowing people to regenerate their body. Despite this, the military still refused to address the matter. Kruse also mentioned that Becker was focused on figuring out the electronic control system of wound healing in mammals a field he became an expert in. But even though Becker's work was considered new and cutting-edge at the time, it never saw the light of day and was effectively banned by the government. Kruse also lamented the fact that orthopedic surgeons and neurosurgeons are not using electromagnetic radiation based on Becker's research. Follow Healing.news for more stories like this. Watch the full conversation between Dr. Jack Kruse and the Health Ranger Mike Adams on the "Health Ranger Report" below. This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Do humans have a latent ability to regenerate body parts? Sayer Ji: The body is CAPABLE of REGENERATING itself from injury and disease. Research reveals: Humans have a salamander-like regenerative capacity to regrow cartilage in joints. Sources include: Brighteon.com JackKruse.com RobertOBecker.net Francesca Albanese: ICC should seek more arrest warrants for Israeli leaders The outspoken Italian human rights lawyer accuses British politicians of genocide denial and urges the EU to cut trade ties with Israel. (Article by Sondos Asem republished from MiddleEastEye.net) United Nations special rapporteur Francesca Albanese has doubled down on her criticism of Israel and world leaders for failing to stop the "colonial erasure" of Palestinians in Gaza, and called for more arrest warrants to be issued for Israeli leaders over suspected war crimes. In a wide-ranging interview with Middle East Eye, Albanese accused the British foreign secretary of being a "genocide denier," called on Europe to halt trade with Israel, and denounced the delay by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in issuing arrest warrants for Israeli leaders over Gaza atrocities. Albanese said the prosecutor of the Hague-based court was already late in applying for warrants in May of this year. "The International Criminal Court should have acted much earlier," she said, referring to the investigation into allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Israel and Palestine opened by the ICC in 2021 in a case that started over a decade ago. In his request six months ago, ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan applied for arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister at the time Yoav Gallant. He also requested warrants for three Hamas leaders, Yahya Sinwar, Ismail Haniyeh, and Mohamed Deif, all of whom have been killed by Israel over the past year. "We should have seen these people before the International Criminal Court This is what justice is about. Instead, they were killed," she said, adding that the ICC should seek more arrest warrants. "There should be more in the dock, in my view. And it's taking ages. This is because the political pressure on the international justice system is extreme. "And we see pressure on the prosecutor, pressure on the judges. Israel is trying to obstruct it by moving exceptions against the independence of the judges. And the US is making pressure through open threats," she added. Persona non grata According to Albanese, the failure to issue arrest warrants is putting international justice on the edge. "We might lose what we have, what we have built. Multilateralism is on the edge, and international law is on a knife's edge. "It's about us, all of us students, doctors, professors, journalists, ordinary people in the street to protect it if our elected government officials don't do that." Middle East Eye hosted Albanese on 13 November during her visit to London, where she spoke with students and staff at four universities, including her alma mater, the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS). An Italian human rights lawyer, Albanese holds the title of the UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967. Appointed by the UN Human Rights Council in March 2022, she is the eighth person to hold that mandate since its creation in 1993, and the first woman. As an independent expert, she is the principal investigator in charge of following and reporting to the council on the human rights situation in occupied Palestine. But Israel has treated her as persona non grata since the beginning of her mandate. She is a self-described "reluctant chronicler of genocide". Within the past year, she has submitted two reports to the UN Human Rights Council, where she outlined her legal analysis on why the attacks on the Palestinian population may amount to genocide. Over the past 12 months, Albanese has risen to become an icon on the international arena, using her mandate to publicly call out states at the UN for their responsibility to halt the continued Israeli onslaught on Gaza, which has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, displaced the majority of the 2.3 million population, and made the enclave largely uninhabitable. Western states that she accuses of complicity in genocide have waged a relentless campaign against her, with US officials calling for her dismissal and others accusing her of antisemitism, a charge she describes as part of attempts to smear and silence her. In her reports and public engagements, Albanese has spearheaded calls for unseating Israel from the UN. In Albanese's view, Israel should be isolated in the international arena in the same way as apartheid South Africa was during the apartheid era. This includes suspension from the UN General Assembly, as was the case with South Africa in 1974. Despite the notable surge in brutality in Gaza, she emphasised that she can foresee an end to the current situation. "We shall not forget that the black South Africans experienced the most brutal part of the apartheid just one or two years before apartheid collapsed. So the brutality we see today also signals that we might be close to an end." Under Article 6 of the UN Charter, the General Assembly has the authority to expel a UN member state upon a recommendation from the Security Council, if the state has "persistently violated" the principles enshrined in the charter. For Albanese, the case for suspending Israel is even stronger than that of South Africa. She used arguments such as persistent breaches of international law over the past seven decades, including legally binding Security Council resolutions and orders by the International Court of Justice, as well as the latest banning of the UNs relief organisation for Palestinians (Unrwa) and killing hundreds of members of its staff in Gaza; attacks on UN peacekeepers in Lebanon, declaring the UN secretary general persona non grata, and barring UN special rapporteurs, including Albanese herself, from entering occupied Palestine since 2008. Albanese says that all states violate international law in one way or another, but the case for unseating Israel is becoming more cogent than ever. "Look at what Israel has done to the UN this year, accusing every one, and every possible organisation, from the secretary general, independent experts, particularly myself. "I've been PNGed [declared persona non grata], but also the special rapporteur on the right to food, the special rapporteur on adequate housing have been violently attacked." The Israeli ban on Unrwa operations, a subsidiary organ of the General Assembly, is particularly "brutal" and must be faced with consequences to prevent its recurrence internationally, she said. "This is pretty brutal, pretty unprecedented. It shouldn't set a precedent, and this is why it should be followed by forceful measures." She called for a two-way arms embargo on Israel. "It's what is transferred to Israel, but also what is purchased from Israel, which is endangering all of us, because it consists of what Israel has experimented on the Palestinians for decades, and even now weapons that allow it to control masses, to confine masses and to exterminate masses. "This is extremely dangerous. The surveillance system that Israel has perfected and then sold abroad, like Pegasus and other spying devices. All this must be stopped." Additionally, Albanese said Europe as Israel's largest trade partner should sever these ties. "There is no other way than cutting these ties, because these provide Israel the tools to continue to oppress the Palestinians," she said. "Diplomatic, political, economic, military, strategic, and financial ties with Israel must be seriously reconsidered." 'Let's talk about genocide' Born in 1977 in Ariano Irpino, southern Italy, the 47-year-old is one of the youngest special rapporteurs in the UN's history. Along with Italian, Albanese speaks English, French, Spanish, and Indonesian. Albanese's public challenging of Israels narrative has earned her celebrity status among the anti-genocide movement worldwide. Her interactions with journalists and state leaders have garnered millions of views on social media, and her talks at universities have been received with standing ovations. Outside campuses where she held talks last week in London, she was received with solidarity protests by students holding Palestinian flags and counter-protests by those with Israeli flags and banners reading ban Fran. In her interview with MEE, Albanese took aim at British mainstream media for amplifying the counterprotests. "Why give oxygen to these few individuals whose only job is to defend Israel at the time it is committing genocide? Lets talk about genocide. Lets talk about the unfolding, unabated, continuing destruction of Gaza, and let's talk of the people, British or non-British, who stand powerfully against it and who are calling their policymakers to address this, to stop enabling this. "In order to speak of my visit, they had to go through the ten flags and ten people who were out there protesting against an overwhelming majority of young people standing there in solidarity or to show their support to me," she said, referring to media interviews. Colonial erasure Despite being banned by Israel from entering occupied Palestinian territories, including Gaza, Albanese has gathered enough evidence to author two reports analysing the plausibility of a genocide unfolding in Gaza and the risk of it expanding to the West Bank and East Jerusalem. She has relied on interviews with victims and witnesses as well as input from experts and civil society organisations working on the ground. "Israel has no authority to bar fact-finding mechanisms from the territory that it illegally occupies," she wrote in her latest report titled "Genocide as colonial erasure." The report, published last month, came on the heels of her March report that concluded that the threshold for the crime of genocide in Gaza had been met. Her legal analysis shows that, in the first five months of the military campaign in Gaza, Israel was guilty of at least three of the underlying acts listed in the Genocide Convention of 1948, perpetrated against Palestinians as a protected group. The acts, as stipulated in the convention, are: "Killing members of the group; causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group; and deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part." To prove this crime, courts require the twofold evidence of the underlying acts and a specific intent to destroy the protected group, partially or totally. Evidence of intent, Albanese elaborates, can be derived from direct statements made by Israeli officials dehumanising Palestinians or advocating their erasure as a group, including forced displacement from their lands. It can also be inferred indirectly from the patterns, scale and nature of the attacks, she added. She draws on extensive jurisprudence dating back to the Nuremberg trials that prosecuted Nazis for the Holocaust in the aftermath of World War II, cases before the International Court of Justice, and genocide convictions before the ad hoc tribunals for Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia. Her October report expands the analysis to include the context of settler colonialism, and the need to hold Israel as a state, rather than just officials, accountable. Albanese was among more than 30 UN experts who sounded the alarm about the risk of genocide in Gaza since November 2023. A month later, South Africa initiated its landmark case before the ICJ accusing Israel of genocide. She proposes a "totality triple lens" approach to inferring genocidal intent within the framework of a holistic approach that looks at the bigger picture of Israel's state responsibility. "It's the totality of the genocidal violence, the destructive violence that has been unleashed against the totality of the Palestinians in the totality of the land that Israel militarily controls," she explained to MEE. "That gives the broader picture, which inscribes itself in the long trajectory of colonial erasure that Israel has practised on the Palestinians." "In order to prove Israel's genocidal intent, one should not miss the forest for the trees," she said, referencing an approach used by the ICJ and voiced by six western states in an intervention before the court in the Gambia v Myanmar case. "This genocide case is particular because it's the first settler-colonial genocide that gets litigated before an international court," she said "This is what makes the momentum even more important and it gives it gravitas," she added. Humanitarian camouflage Among the key arguments made in her reports is the concept of "humanitarian camouflage," or what she views as Israel's recourse to the language of international humanitarian law to justify its actions. This includes the use of terminology like "human shields" and "medical shielding" to justify attacks on civilians and hospitals, claiming that combatants are operating within them. "Israel has not denied its conduct. It has justified it as a legitimate one," Albanese said. "For example, saying we are just targeting terrorists, aren't we? And those civilians who might die, they are human shields. It's Hamas hiding behind them. And if it's people far away from where Hamas might have been, well, they are collateral damage," she added. In contrast to the narrative advanced by Israel, it is the Israelis who have used human shields, she said. "The human shield is what we have seen Israel using, using Palestinians to go into the tunnels to see if there were booby traps or Palestinians captured and tied on military jeeps before entering refugee camps," she added. Humanitarian camouflage also includes Israel's use of terminology like "safe zones" to give the impression that civilians are allowed to flee to a safe zone, said Albanese. "There were no safe zones. They were death zones," she added. "Palestinians were moved around, ping-ponged and then corralled in areas where they would be killed or they would die anyway," she said. Those who havent been killed by design were left to die, she added. 'Genocide denier' In the interview, the special rapporteur took aim at UK politicians downplaying the seriousness of the risk of genocide in Gaza. On 29 October, the British Foreign Secretary David Lammy suggested that Israel is not committing genocide in Gaza because millions of people have not been killed. Terms like genocide, Lammy told parliament, "were largely used when millions of people lost their lives in crises like Rwanda, the Second World War, the Holocaust, and the way that they are used now undermines the seriousness of that term." On Wednesday last week, Prime Minister Keir Starmer reiterated similar statements, telling parliament in response to a question about the government's lack of recognition of a genocide in Gaza: "I'm well aware of the definition of genocide, and that is why I've never referred to it as genocide." Commenting on Lammy's statements, Albanese told MEE: "He's referring to cases where genocide has resulted in industrial scale of killing, of mass extermination, like in Rwanda and during the Holocaust. "But it's not the numbers of those killed that determines whether or not there is genocide, and any lawyer would know that. "I hadn't realised that Mr Lammy was a lawyer," she said, referring to Lammy's legal background. "As a politician, you might say that for political convenience," she suggested, adding that his comments would still make him "a genocide denier". In addition to the genocides in Germany, Rwanda and Cambodia, the UK government recognises that genocides have been committed in Bosnia and against the Yazidi people in Iraq. More than 8,000 Muslim men and boys were killed by Bosnian Serbs in the town of Srebrenica in the former Yugoslavia in 1995, and over 5,000 Yazidis were killed in the 2010s by the so-called Islamic State group in Iraq. The international criminal tribunal for the former Yugoslavia took into account not only the substantial numeric size of the targeted group but also factors such as the emblematic nature of the targeted part of the group, whether the targeted group is essential for the survival of the population as a whole, and the prominence of the geographical location for its inhabitants. Middle East Eye has contacted Lammy for comment on Albanese's remarks. His office responded saying that the foreign secretary didnt specify that genocide required "millions of people to be killed". "He simply observed that the term has 'largely' applied to such cases," a foreign office spokesperson told MEE. "The UKs long-standing policy is that any judgement as to whether genocide has occurred is a matter for a competent national or international court, rather than for governments or non-judicial bodies," a spokesperson said. Likewise, when approached by MEE for comment, Starmer's team referred the request to the Foreign Office, which responded saying genocide should be declared by a competent court after consideration of evidence in a judicial process. But Albanese thinks the world should not wait for the outcome of a judicial process. She emphasised that states have an obligation under international law to prevent genocide, not just to refrain from committing it. "The question to Mr Lammy is: what is the UK doing to prevent acts of genocide? Because the International Court of Justice has recognised the plausibility of genocide, she said, referring to the provisional measures ordered by the court this January in the genocide case brought by South Africa against Israel. Albanese urged Lammy to review his stance, saying he still has the opportunity to do so with the changing developments on the ground. "Let's assume that it's in good faith there is always time to change someone's mind when the circumstances on the ground change," she said. Albanese said there is a better chance to prevent genocide now that checks and balances exist to a certain degree around the world, and with developments in international human rights law and international legal system since World War II. "We can talk about past mistakes and crimes, but I'm interested in stopping the genocide now. So let's wake up and do better." Read more at: MiddleEastEye.net Peak travel season is merely weeks away, with tens of thousands soon set to jump on a plane. But, it pays to know all the about local customs beforehand, a travel expert warns. Australians travelling to Bali in the coming months are being warned to brush up on the local laws after a British tourist captured what she described as an offensive incident. Source: TikTok Australia's peak season for international travel kicks off next month, with experts warning that between December and February, demand for flights and accommodation will skyrocket. The Christmas period's popularity among vacationers is certainly no surprise, but it has prompted tourism experts to repeat their pleas to the thousands of Aussies soon to hop on a flight, urging them to respect local customs in the country in which they land. Particularly, they say, in the wake of a string of recent examples of travellers flouting local laws in Bali. Sometimes, this simply is due to them being unaware of local customs, Joseph Cheer, professor of sustainable tourism at Western Sydney University told Yahoo News Australia. ADVERTISEMENT This week, a British woman said she was "shaking" after confronting two people she claims were swimming topless in front of children at a "family beach". The video, which has since gone viral, shows what appears to be two young women, though it's unclear what they were wearing. Recently, three women wearing bikinis in a Bali supermarket were criticised for disrespecting Indonesia's notoriously conservative culture. A German woman who disrupted a performance while completely naked at a sacred temple, also drew widespread condemnation in 2023. Australians may also remember that in 2023, Queensland man Bodhi Mani Risby-Jones faced 40 lashes and five years in jail for going on what authorities described as a drunken, naked and violent rampage. The Noosa man was detained but later released. A German tourist shocked locals by disrobing at a sacred Balinese site last year. Source: Viral Press/Australscope Travel expert's advice to Aussies holidaying in Bali Due to Bali's immense popularity with Australians, similar incidents are likely to continue without increased education and awareness among travellers, Cheer warns. ADVERTISEMENT "People who travel need to also understand the burden of responsibly falls on them, to understand the social norms and customs of the places they're visiting," he told Yahoo. "It's not as if you do whatever you can do at home at the places that you visit. Being a good visitor means being respectful, adhering to the social norms that are evident in the country they are visiting." Cheer said some countries have "unwritten rules" that are "often hidden" meaning it'll pay off to do your research beforehand. Bali is one of Australia's most popular tourist destinations. Source: Getty "This is particularly important if your culture, and ways are doing things are vastly different. For example if you're from a western country like Australia and if you're going to a country like Saudi Arabia, where things are quite different, requires you to educate yourself on the particular nuances of the country you're visiting," he said. ADVERTISEMENT "Walking into a shrine with a bikini on is unacceptable. Walking into a mosque without a scarf on is socially unacceptable as well, it may not be in your own country but the reference point should not be what is acceptable for you, but it should be what are the social norms of the places your visiting and that can only be learned through education," he said. "Before you leave and not once you get there." Cheer said these mistakes are typical among first-time travellers. "It's better to overcompensate in the country you are visiting rather than just to assume what you do in your own country is OK," he said. "Don't just blindly hop on a plane and go, do some Googling." Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. Forensic Architectures spatial analysis finds that Israel has attacked 57% of health facilities and 71% of shelters in Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023 The Israeli genocidal operations in Gaza have already destroyed 36 percent of the area of Gaza, as its military attacked 57 percent of medical infrastructure and 71 percent of shelters since the war erupted on Oct. 7, 2023. This was reflected in the recently released spatial analysis of the Israeli military's conduct in Gaza by the University of London-based research agency Forensic Architecture. Citizen journalist and filmmaker Robin Monotti covered the analysis, which was shared on X, formerly Twitter. The patterns they have observed about Israel's military conduct in the enclave indicate a systematic and organized campaign to destroy life, conditions necessary for life and life-sustaining infrastructure, the analysis that also included a "cartography of genocide" indicated. According to the analysis, they used the term "genocide" within the meaning developed by Polish lawyer Raphael Lemkin, who was instrumental in the definition formulated in Article II of the Genocide Convention. (Related: South Africa files 750 pages of evidence against Israel in ICJ genocide case.) He said that genocide signifies a coordinated plan of action aimed at the destruction of essential foundations of the life of national groups, to annihilate the groups themselves. From last year's initial retaliation of Israel to the Hamas attack, 57 percent of health facilities were attacked, leaving 45 of them damaged and 18 destroyed of 110. Seventy-one percent of shelters were attacked and 219 of 353 were damaged and 31 were destroyed. Utilities (152/605), schools (91/564), university facilities (18/44), government buildings (20/45), religious institutions (130/341) and cultural sites (30/44) have been attacked and successfully destroyed by Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu's troops. Meanwhile, 47.3 percent of roads have been damaged in North Gaza and 33.7 percent in South Gaza as of Nov. 7. FORENSIC ARCHITECTURE: Report: A Spatial Analysis of the Israeli Military's Conduct in Gaza since October 2023: "The patterns we have observed concerning Israel's military conduct in Gaza indicate a systematic and organised campaign to destroy life, conditions necessary for life, pic.twitter.com/nd5RbmHFAZ Robin Monotti (@robinmonotti) November 13, 2024 They also monitored the patterns of Israel's aerial bombing campaign. According to the analysis, strikes correlated with the time at which a higher density of civilians would be expected to be present, with residential areas being hit more at night and commercial spaces during operating hours. The study also noted that the attacks to the south of Wadi Gaza increased after it ordered civilians from the north to evacuate to the south. Also, areas near critical infrastructure were targeted and repeated damage to service roads immediately surrounding the said infrastructure was observed. Similarly, repeated destruction of buildings in the same vicinity led to the accumulation of debris surrounding the infrastructure. Israel's conscious effort to target systems of humanitarian aid delivery and distribution Elsewhere in the research, it was indicated how Israel targeted sites and systems of humanitarian aid delivery and distribution when and where they became the main mode of aid facilitation. "We observed that the Israeli military's targeting of aid followed a pattern of overlapping phases, during which attacks on the specified aid categories intensified from October to November 2023," the Forensic Architecture report stated. According to the analysis, bakeries in the north of Gaza were targeted when they played a critical role in aid distribution. By mid-November, there were no official bakeries still in operation in Gaza City. Up until January this year, shelters were targeted when they assumed a central role in housing people displaced by Israeli attacks and facilitating the receipt and preparation of food aid. By February, Palestinian police officers, who served as aid personnel were targeted when they played a critical role in escorting aid convoys. The following month, civilians gathering for aid near the Netzarim corridor checkpoints were repeatedly targeted. Also, aid administrators from organizations that took up responsibility for facilitating aid delivery and distribution were targeted. Attacks on these personnel were reportedly extensive enough to eliminate their key administrators or force them to stop their operations. Aid distribution and storage sites, including warehouses and markets, were also targeted when they were actively operating to supply civilians with food. There were notable severe attacks on the Rafah crossing, Karem Abu Salem/Kerem Shalom crossing and markets during periods of increased aid-entering. In May, Israeli vigilantes attacked aid convoys passing through Israel and the occupied West Bank under the watch and sometimes with direct support of Israeli military personnel. Increases in aid flow into Gaza coincided with an increase in Israel's targeting of Gaza's aid distribution systems, including logistics, personnel and necessary infrastructure, the analysis added. "The targeting of aid occurred in tandem with the Israeli military's evacuation orders and coincided with its attempts to force Palestinian civilians to be displaced from the north of Gaza. The construction of the new internal border in the Netzarim corridor and the checkpoints within it supporting a one-way (north to south) movement of civilians coincided with the restriction of aid as a means of displacement," it also included. Head over to IsraelCollapse.com for more stories related to this. Sources for this article include: Content.Forensic-Architecture.org Forensic-Architecture.org Trumps DOJ to investigate Biden DOJs criminal actions against Alex Jones, Infowars As many suspected might be the case,'s purchase of Alex Jones'site at a recent auction was fraudulent The whole thing was rigged, we now know, to award the popular media platform to a left-wing satire outlet that has been irrelevant for years. None of it made any sense since there was a higher bid, not to mention the fact that nobody knows how much The Onion actually even paid for Infowars. Jeffrey Clark, director of litigation at the Center for Renewing America and former official at the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), joined War Room this week to discuss the last-minute changes that were made by the trustee to hold a secret auction and arbitrarily declare whoever he or she wanted as the winner. Watch below as Clark discusses the matter with Jones himself at the Alex Jones Network: BREAKING: Corrupt DOJs Criminal Actions Against Alex Jones To Be Investigated By Trump DOJ WATCH THE LIVE SHOW HERE:https://t.co/xu3E0UuPke pic.twitter.com/Qr4ciut9GL Alex Jones (@RealAlexJones) November 16, 2024 (Related: Be sure to check out our earlier report about how Infowars went down almost immediately after The Onion purchased it, although the site is back online [for now, at least].) Time for a full Sandy Hook investigation? The matter that triggered all this, at least publicly, was Jones' treatment of the events of Sandy Hook from 2012. Jones questioned the official government narrative about Sandy Hook and later paid the price in the form of a lawsuit. In addition to being ordered to pay $1.5 billion in damages to the Sandy Hook families as a settlement, Jones also had his Infowars platform ripped away from him in the fraudulent auction. "Maybe we should have a deep investigation into every single participant in Sandy Hook," one commenter suggested about a common-sense way we can get to the bottom of the scandal once and for all. "It's amazing how much they want Alex Jones destroyed and off the air," wrote another. "I thought he was just a 'conspiracy theorist.' That's what Wikipedia calls his website." "All this money, lawsuits, and lawfare being thrown around by the corrupt DOJ. What are they so worried about?" Another pointed out that at the very least, Jones should have been allowed to declare bankruptcy, "but since they used the color of law, conspired together to extort and destroy him. May they all lose their license to practice law." The Jones trial is available as a documentary on HBO, but not everyone is buying it. One skeptic asked if "we are all being played" after observing a strange anomaly with someone at the trial who was "dressed up as a woman." "So all the money from the Remington lawsuit, Infowars' sale, and the millions in donations from fundraising and charities including the United Way all went to the Sandy Hook families?" asked another. "More than likely this Infowars sale to the bankrupt Onion will spur a DOJ investigation and audit into where all the money went. The new rightful buyer has the right to know." Another could not help but notice that this whole thing feels like it is "turning into a soap opera." And Jones is being surprisingly kind towards his enemies, all things considered. The Donald J. Trump press release account on X / Twitter (@TrumpTrainX) tweeted some encouragement to Jones, giving him credit for having the guts to "hold the corrupt DOJ accountable." "Trump's DOJ will get to the bottom of this," the account promised. "Men like Wray and Garland should not be able to destroy justice so easily," wrote another. More related news coverage can be found at Corruption.news. Sources for this article include: Infowars.com NaturalNews.com Trumps reported FBI finalists mark key battle between deep state and loyalist The next FBI director may be a Trump loyalist who supports creating a declassification office and shutting down the agencys headquarters or one of the surveillance states chief supporters. (Article by Eireann Van Natta republished from DailyCaller.com) Two of President-elect Donald Trumps top contenders for FBI director are Kash Patel and former Republican Michigan Rep. Mike Rogers, according to CNN. Trump is considering replacing FBI Director Christopher Wray before his 10-year term expires. Kash Patel was formerly a National Security Council official, chief of staff to the secretary of defense and senior adviser to the acting director of national intelligence. Now that Trump has selected former Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe to head the CIA and former Democratic Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard to serve as director of national intelligence, Patel has been floated as the next FBI director. President-Elect Trump is making decisions on who will serve in his second Administration. Those decisions will continue to be announced by him when they are made, Karoline Leavitt, a Trump-Vance transition spokeswoman, wrote in a statement to the Daily Caller. Patel was a vocal critic of the Mueller investigation into Russian interference during the 2016 election and has been outspoken against the weaponization of the surveillance state. In a recent interview, he called for a 24/7 declassification office. What the deep state uses the most to cover up their corruption is an illegal application of the classification system, Patel stated. Kash Patel is no stranger to tackling big roles. Hes worked across defense, intelligence, and counterterrorismnow he might become CIA chief under Trump! What would a CIA led by Patel look like? pic.twitter.com/rP71IOTCsf Restricted Daily (@Restricted_on_X) November 12, 2024 Patel has also proposed shutting down the FBI headquarters and repurposing it as a museum. Id shut down the FBI Hoover building on day one and reopen it the next day as a museum of the deep state, he said in the interview. And Id take the 7,000 employees who work in that building and send them across America to chase down criminals. Meet Kash Patel, probable FBI Director, to succeed Chris Wray. Kash: Id shut down the Hoover FBI Building on day on and reopen it as a Deep State Museum. We need this man. pic.twitter.com/23UEFO1GoE Juanita Broaddrick (@atensnut) November 15, 2024 Mike Rogers is also reportedly being considered for the position, according to Fox News. A former special agent in the FBIs Chicago office and chair of the House Intelligence Committee, Rogers was interviewed in 2017 as a potential replacement for James Comey as FBI director. Democratic Rep. Elissa Slotkin defeated Rogers in the Michigan U.S. Senate race in 2024. During the Republican primary, Rogers faced a challenge from former Michigan Rep. Justin Amash, who called him one of the chief architects of the surveillance state. Mike Rogers is one of the chief architects of the surveillance state. Hed be just about the worst choice in the country. https://t.co/mHRHiDBdWg Justin Amash (@justinamash) November 15, 2024 Prior to running for Senate, Rogers was a representative for Michigans 8th congressional district. He voted in favor of the Patriot Act in 2001 and supported a short-term extension of the law in 2011. He also voted to extend the FISA Amendments Act of 2008 for five years in 2012. Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) allows the government to collect communications from foreigners flagged for national security concerns even if the communications were with Americans. In April 2024, Trump urged Congress to terminate an extension of FISA, but the House voted to renew the authorization without a provision requiring a warrant. FISA was used to spy on Trumps campaign during the 2016 election. Rogers also voted against an amendment introduced by Amash to end the blanket collection of records under the Patriot Act. The amendment would have prevented agencies, including the National Security Agency (NSA), from collecting telephone records of individuals not being investigated under Section 215 of the Patriot Act. Mike Rogers is like the comically one-dimensional government official from the movies, who sees every American as a potential terrorist to be constantly surveilled, Constitution be damnedexcept that hes a real person running against me in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate. pic.twitter.com/BF606AKmrk Justin Amash (@justinamash) July 5, 2024 However, during his Senate campaign, Rogers argued the Patriot Act needed to be reformed because it had been misused. We have to rebuild it, making sure you can get those terrorist conversations, but you cant get U.S. personnel conversations unless you have a warrant and a specific cause for that warrant, he stated in an interview. The Caller reached out to Rogers Senate campaign but has not heard back at the time of publication. While Kash Patels potential nomination has received some criticism from former intelligence officials, Mike Rogers name generated swift backlash from civil libertarians. Anyone who appoints Mike Rogers to run the FBI after hes arguably been the single most ardent, blind and extremist defender of the US Security State and its surveillance and politicized abuses should forfeit forever any claim to be interested in combatting those agencies, left-wing journalist Glenn Greenwald tweeted. Anyone who appoints Mike Rogers to run the FBI - after he's arguably been the single most ardent, blind and extremist defender of the US Security State and its surveillance and politicized abuses - should forfeit forever any claim to be interested in combatting those agencies: https://t.co/OgXNtyU2JK Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) November 15, 2024 Kash Patel for Director of the FBI Mr. President! @realDonaldTrump Mike Rogers is the deep state's most passionate champion. He would be a totally unforgivable choice for FBI Director. Watch Rogers defending the warrantless surveillance of Americans. You cant have your https://t.co/oqbAwxCio8 pic.twitter.com/Mu2QjfZV9b Tony Seruga (@TonySeruga) November 16, 2024 Mike Rogers' record on surveillance, including his support for the Patriot Act, raises serious concerns. @realDonaldTrump should not consider him for FBI DirectorAmerica needs leadership committed to protecting civil liberties, not expanding government overreach @elonmusk pic.twitter.com/GI4G0G3yRN Jacob Winograd (@BiblicalAnarchy) November 15, 2024 Trump 100% needs a loyalist at DOJ, Ned Ryun tweeted. For the FBI, Trump 1,000% needs a loyalist. Shouldnt even be a question: Mike Rogers is not a loyalist. Kash Patel is. Trump 100% needs a loyalist at DOJ. For the FBI, Trump 1,000% needs a loyalist. Shouldnt even be a question: Mike Rogers is not a loyalist. Kash Patel is. Ned Ryun (@nedryun) November 15, 2024 Other potential candidates for FBI director include Mark Morgan, the former acting commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and Jeff Jensen, a former attorney who led the review of General Mike Flynns guilty plea, which was ultimately dismissed. Trump announced the selection of Liberty Energy CEO Chris Wright as the new secretary of energy Saturday. Read more at: DailyCaller.com UK under leftism becoming wasteland of political prisoners who violated police states anti-speech laws Another individual, a 23-year-old female nurse, was arrested and jailed by British police recently because she started to livestream a video about the so-called "riots" that were said to be taking place in response to the Southport Massacre. The incident occurred on August 4 and is fast becoming the norm in Great Britain as punishment for people who speak out about things that the establishment in the United Kingdom has decided must never be uttered. The same type of thing happened to citizen journalist Cameron Bell who was arrested and jailed as well, even though she had no involvement in the violence that reportedly took place that day at a Holiday Inn Express. What Bell is "guilty" of is referring to illegal migrants as "tramps," which is why she was punished. "Perhaps not a nice comment, but I struggle to see how that in any way qualifies as inciting violence," writes Dan Wootton about this wave of arrests and imprisonment in the UK. Bell's lawyer, Stephen Rudge, commented that all she did was "upload the TikTok footage that was not encouraging anyone to join in or extend the violence that had been seen earlier on." "Yet she is now a pin-up for the Staffordshire Police because Judge John Edwards locked her up for nine months, declaring she deserved 'immediate custody, with the need for deterrence being acute,'" Wootton continues. (Related: Did you know that the globalists are throwing everything they have left at trying to silence free speech worldwide?) Be quiet, white workers! The UK law enforcement and political establishment seems to be taking specific aim at everyday Brits, many of them middle- and working-class, for being upset about the takeover and destruction of their country by illegal migrants. Brits are tired of having their country run roughshod by corrupt political elites who believe that flooding the country with violent, fighting-age foreigners is a good idea because it is good for them even if it is not good for the general public. Wootton, who lives in the UK himself, says there is a "two-tier system" of justice in his country that unfairly discriminates against the white working class. Non-whites in the UK are free to say and do things that white workers would be jailed for, in other words. "Our two-tier system is completely screwed," Wootton further writes. "Because there doesn't seem to be any [expletive] need for deterrence when we're talking about Huw Edwards making paedophile images or the Muslim man Muhammad Hassan beating up three Asian women at a petrol station because they dared to wear Western clothes. Both men escaped a jail sentence altogether." "So, we know what this deterrence really means: Shutting up the white working-class masses horrified by the illegal invasion into our country and disgusted by the obvious establishment cover-up surrounding Axel Rudakubana, who has now been charged with terror offences, accused of producing the bio-weapon Ricin and downloading an Al Qaeda training manual." To make matters even worse, a judge in the UK actually ruled that the violence Cameron and the others were reporting on was supposedly "fueled by misinformation and misplaced far-right sentiment." In other words, all the bad things that illegal migrants are doing to British society are not actually happening and are just a right-wing conspiracy, according to the judge. Then there is the "Orwellian targeting" of Allison Pearson, described as "Britain's best newspaper columnist." Pearson was targeted by British police over a tweet, which caught the attention of Boris Johnson who tweeted: "This is appalling. How can Starmer's Britain lecture other countries about free speech when an innocent journalist gets a knock on the door for a tweet? Our police have their hands full of burglaries and violent crime. They are being forced to behave like a woke Securitate and it has to stop." Free speech is a bedrock of freedom. Learn more at Censorship.news. Sources for this article include: Expose-News.com NaturalNews.com Biden regime SABOTAGES Senate vote to block arms sales to Israel; staffers decry the Big Guys legacy of horror in Gaza The outgoing Biden regime is at odds with the United States Congress over continued arms support for Israel. Officials in Washington have launched a lobbying campaign to convince Democrat senators to vote against new legislation that would put an end to the $20 billion worth of weapons the U.S. is selling to Israel so it can bomb Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. "Biden aides have argued that the weapons in question are essential for Israel's defense and won't be delivered for another year or two, 'so the likelihood of them being used in this iteration of the Gaza context is very low,'" reported the Times of Israel, quoting U.S. officials. White House officials, in partnership with officials from the State Department and the Pentagon, have reached out to "various lawmakers on the fence about how they might vote" on the bill to try to convince them to vote against it so the weapons and ammunition continue flowing to the Zionist state. (Related: Believe it or not, most American "news" is just Zionist propaganda crafted by Israeli lobbyists working under cover.) Bernie Sanders behind bill to stop U.S. arms sales to Israel None other than Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, an Independent, introduced the Joint Resolutions of Disapproval highlighting Washington's breaking of laws that prohibit the transfer of weapons to governments that commit human rights violations. Sens. Jeff Merkley, Brian Schatz, Elizabeth Warren, Peter Welch, and Chris Van Hollen all back the resolutions, which emerged around the same time that an internal government dissent letter emerged to criticize President Biden for his unwavering support for Israel and its genocide. "You are running out of time to do the right thing, but decisive action could save precious lives in the next two months," reads the letter, which was crafted by 20 "current, full-time employees of the White House." "One thing that drew me into this was legacy," a senior White House staffer, upset about Biden's support for Israel, told the media. "If the course is continued, it will be a legacy of horror." Another staffer told The Intercept that he or she just felt like something needed to happen here "as an act of trying to get to the straw that breaks the camel's back even if this isn't it," this referring to the letter. As Israeli aggression against the people of Gaza has intensified over the past year, the Biden regime has continued to authorize the sending of weapons, ammo and cash to the Benjamin Netanyahu regime, which is using it to kill Palestinians not just in Gaza but also in Lebanon and with no regard whatsoever for international humanitarian law. The State Department and the Pentagon had earlier promised to take "concrete measures" against Israel for blocking the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza, but later walked back that promise. The two deep state entities also declined to make a finding that the Israeli government violated the law. Because there is strong bipartisan support for continuing to support Israel at all costs, Sanders' efforts are likely to lead nowhere. Israel is in charge, and the American people are apparently okay with this as evidenced by the results of Election Day. "It's mainly Republicans in Congress who are committed to supporting Israel," one commenter wrote, noting that all three branches of government will be controlled by Republicans come January. "Withholding weapons shipments is unquestionably the right choice for America generally," suggested another. "But the Democrats know this is not going to pass, and they don't want it to pass. The Democrats up for reelection just want it on the record. It's just politics." The latest news about the Middle East can be found at Chaos.news. Sources for this article include: TheCradle.co NaturalNews.com Col. MacGregor warns Ukraine will be DESTROYED if Biden doesnt stop fueling war By the look of things, the outgoing Joe Biden regime is doing everything it can to try to ignite World War III before President-elect Donald Trump takes office in January. Col. Douglas MacGregor appeared on Redacted with Clayton Morris this week watch below to discuss the recent decision by President Biden to allow Ukraine to use U.S.-made, long-range missiles deep within Russian territory, which President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly warned crosses one of his "red lines." Russia is now saying that it has the right to use nuclear weapons against the United States and any other Western power backing Ukraine in this move. And Col. MacGregor wants the world to know that Ukraine will be completely destroyed, meaning nothing will be left, if Biden does not stop or is not stopped. (Related: Back when the Russia-Ukraine war first erupted in early 2022, Col. MacGregor warned that it was actually the United States waging a proxy war against Russia via Ukraine.) Hours after Trump promised peace, Biden unleashed more war The timing of Biden's decision to green-light Kiev's death wish was not an accident, coming mere hours after Trump told Americans that he will be a president of peace, not war. NATO and the West are so upset that Trump wants the wars to stop that they have kicked their war machine into high gear. They know that what Biden just did spells disaster for Ukraine and beyond, but they did it anyway to destabilize as much as they can before Biden is removed and replaced with Trump. The last time something like this happened, according to MacGregor, was back in 1968 when Richard Nixon ran for office against Lyndon Johnson. Unlike what Biden is now doing to Trump, Johnson was honest and forthcoming with Nixon that he had no idea how to proceed, showing humility in the process. Compare this to Biden, who is clearly just a puppet on a string doing the bidding of the puppet masters who installed him in the first place. Those puppet masters just about all happen to be warmongers, though many of the people Trump is bringing on board in his cabinet have shown pro-war tendencies as well. "The last time a president left office with an unmitigated disaster in the Oval Office behind him was Buchanan and of course he bequeathed the Civil War to Abraham Lincoln," MacGregor said in the interview. "You've got to go back that far, but Buchanan was not mendacious. This is malevolence. This is a deliberate attempt to subvert the election." While MacGregor is not going so far as to call what Biden is doing treason, he does admit that "it's pretty d*** close." The CEO of Polymarket, which accurately predicted Trump's reelection this year, had his home raided as punishment. Polymarket also expects that a nuclear weapon will be used in 2024 as well. "People are betting that, yes, we're going to see the use of a nuclear weapon in 2024," MacGregor continued. "It's risen overnight thanks to this latest long-range attack. I mean, what are they playing at? I mean, it's like it's fun for these people, a game." None of this seems to be a game to Putin, though, who is running out of chances to warn the West not to proceed with its agenda because at some point enough red lines will be crossed that a response will come and it may not be the response that the West is expecting. "This needs to be investigated with people going to jail forever," one commenter wrote about these latest developments. "Imagine risking nuclear war in the last weeks of your office. Insanity." The latest news about the Russia-Ukraine war can be found at WWIII.news. Sources for this article include: YouTube.com NaturalNews.com ICC arrest warrants: What are Netanyahu and Gallant accused of? Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defence minister Yoav Gallant are wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC). (Article by Rayhan Uddin republished from MiddleEastEye.net) They have been issued arrest warrants for "the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare and the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts". All 124 members of the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC, are now compelled to arrest the two Israelis and hand them over to the court. A trial cannot commence in absentia and the court does not have enforcement powers. Below, Middle East Eye takes a deeper look at the specific alleged crimes. War crime of starvation as method of war In its statement, the ICC's Pre-Trial Chamber I, a panel of three judges, said there were reasonable grounds to believe that the two Israelis "intentionally and knowingly deprived the civilian population in Gaza of objects indispensable to their survival". These include food, water, medicine, medical supplies, fuel and electricity. It said they played a role in impeding humanitarian aid, disrupting the ability of humanitarian organisations to distribute essential goods in Gaza, and cutting off electricity and reducing fuel supplies in the enclave. The court found that Israeli decisions to allow or increase humanitarian assistance were often conditional, and were not made to fulfill Israel's obligations under international humanitarian law. It said these decisions were often made in response to requests by the United States or the international community. It found reasonable grounds to believe that there was no clear military need or other justification for the restriction on aid. "The chamber considered the prolonged period of deprivation and Mr Netanyahus statement connecting the halt in the essential goods and humanitarian aid with the goals of war," the statement said. "[It] found reasonable grounds to believe that Mr Netanyahu and Mr Gallant bear criminal responsibility for the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare." Crime against humanity of murder The ICC's judges said that lack of food, water and other objects indispensable to survival "created conditions of life calculated to bring about the destruction of part of the civilian population in Gaza". The statement noted that this resulted in the death of civilians, "including children due to malnutrition and dehydration". It said that based on evidence presented by the prosecution until 20 May, it could not determine that all elements of the crime against humanity of extermination were met. "However, the chamber did find that there are reasonable grounds to believe that the crime against humanity of murder was committed in relation to these victims." Crime against humanity of persecution Further, the intentional limiting of medical supplies, such as anaesthetics and anaesthesia machines, meant Netanyahu and Gallant bore responsibility "for inflicting great suffering by means of inhumane acts on persons in need of treatment". It said that doctors being forced to carry out amputations without anaesthetics and sedate patients via unsafe means amounted to "the crime against humanity of other inhumane acts". All these actions "deprived a significant portion of the civilian population in Gaza of their fundamental rights", including the rights to life and health. The Palestinian population was also targeted "based on political and/or national grounds". "It therefore found that the crime against humanity of persecution was committed," the statement said. Finally, the chamber found grounds to believe that Netanyahu and Gallant were criminally responsible "for the war crime of intentionally directing attacks against the civilian population of Gaza". This was based on two incidents from material provided by the prosecution that qualified as attacks intentionally directed at civilians. It said that while the two leaders had "measures available to them to prevent or repress the commission of crimes or ensure the submittal of the matter to the competent authorities", they failed to do so. Read more at: MiddleEastEye.net Israel kills Hezbollah spokesman Mohammed Afif in Beirut airstrike The Israel Defense Force (IDF) has announced that it has neutralized Hezbollah spokesman Mohammed Afif in an airstrike at the Lebanese capital Beirut. The Associated Press (AP) reported, citing a statement by Hezbollah, that Afif was killed in an airstrike on an office building in central Beirut on Sunday, Nov. 17. The IDF likewise confirmed his death in a statement, noting that he "wielded significant influence over Hezbollah's military operations" and "glorified and incited" attacks on Israel. "Afif, who ran Hezbollah's Al-Manar TV station for years before taking over as the group's spokesman, delivered regular press conferences from the bombed-out ruins of Beirut's Dahiyeh neighborhood following the Israeli assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in September. He also issued a statement taking responsibility for a drone attack on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's residence the following month," Russia Today (RT) wrote. RT also pointed out that the IDF did not issue an advance notice for the strike on central Beirut. The strike took place near a busy intersection, and an AP reporter who happened to be on the scene counted at least four bodies in the street including that of Afif's. Fourteen people, including two children, were also wounded in the strike. Also on Sunday, Israel carried out separate strikes on the Dahiyeh neighborhood, a traditional stronghold of Hezbollah. In contrast with the earlier strike in central Beirut that killed Afif, Israeli forces issued an evacuation order before this second attack. According to RT, the IDF claims to have hit at least 50 Hezbollah sites in the area over the last week. No signs of de-escalation One witness, Suheil Halabi, recounted the aftermath of the strike to AP: "I was asleep and awoke from the sound of the strike, and people screaming, and cars and gunfire." Firefighters then struggled to control the resulting blaze in Beirut's Mar Elias neighborhood. Meanwhile, bystanders recounted hearing a second explosion and seeing a nearby car getting hit. The strikes by Israel happened as Lebanese officials were mulling a ceasefire proposal led by the United States. Faisal Al Sayegh, a member of the Lebanese Parliament, remarked: "This confirms the crimes of the Israeli enemy, and that it wants to negotiate under fire." The lawmaker added that based on its recent attacks, Tel Aviv "is expanding and targeting safe and safer areas." (Related: Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah reportedly agreed to a ceasefire before he was ASSASSINATED by Israeli military in Beirut.) On the one hand, the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health claims IDF airstrikes have killed more than 3,400 people in the country since the strikes began in September. The IDF, meanwhile, has confirmed the deaths of nearly 50 Israeli soldiers who participated in its ground offensive against Lebanon. Hezbollah claims that the actual count is higher, however. Lina Sinjab, Middle East correspondent for the BBC, commented that the latest development raised concern that Israel was expanding attacks beyond Hezbollah military officials. "That is really sending alarm to people that there are no signs of de-escalating this situation or finding a solution, but rather further escalation and widening Israeli targets against Hezbollah in Lebanon," she said. Head over to Fallout.news for more stories like this. Watch Hezbollah spokesman Mohammed Afif's last press conference held on Nov. 11, six days before his death in an IDF airstrike. This video is from the FreePalestineTV channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Netanyahu says bombings in Lebanon will continue until Israel completes mission: "Our war is not with you; our war is with Hezbollah." Netanyahu ignores ceasefire proposals from Biden and Macron as Israeli airstrikes continue to wreak havoc in Lebanon. Israel conducted 106 airstrikes on Lebanon in 24 hours, killing 17 and displacing thousands amid escalating conflict. Local leaders condemn Netanyahu over failure to protect northern settlements from Hezbollah attacks. Israel about to escalate war with Lebanon because they politically need to keep the war going. Sources include: SHTFPlan.com APNews.com RT.com BBC.com Brighteon.com Ramaswamy: DOGE will scrap ENTIRE AGENCIES within the federal government if necessary Vivek Ramaswamy, the newly appointed co-commissioner of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has warned that his office will scrap entire agencies within the federal government if necessary. He issued this warning during an appearance on Fox Business Sunday, Nov. 17. Ramaswamy emphasized that the DOGE which he co-leads with X owner Elon Musk will shut down entire government agencies as part of its effort to abolish waste. The entrepreneur told "Sunday Morning Futures" host Maria Bartiromo: "First, we want to go right through executive action to do the failures of the executive branch that need to be addressed." "The dirty little secret is the people who we elected to run the government, they're not the ones who actually run the government," he said. "It's the unelected bureaucrats in the administrative state. That was created through executive action; it's [going to] be fixed through executive action." "Think about the Supreme Court's environment over the past several years," continued Ramaswamy. "They have held that many of those regulations are unconstitutional. Rescind those regulations, and then that gives us the industrial logic to then downsize that size of that administrative state. That can be achieved without Congress." The former presidential candidate also emphasized the importance of "scoring some early wins" before turning to the "bigger portions of the federal budget that need to be addressed one by one." (Related: Vivek Ramaswamy campaigns for Donald Trump after dropping out of the presidential race.) "How can the president of the United States, who's been elected with a historical mandate, actually do the things that voters voted for? [We The People] haven't voted for incremental change. We have voted for sweeping change, and the voters actually deserve to get it. And we're focused on how to do that as early and as quickly as possible." DOGE to begin by slashing jobs in the executive branch The two DOGE co-commissioners laid out their plans in an op-ed published Wednesday, Nov. 20, in the Wall Street Journal. According to Musk and Ramaswamy, they intend to identify "thousands" of regulations for President-elect Donald Trump to scrap justifying "mass headcount reductions" across government. "The two of us will advise DOGE at every step to pursue three major kinds of reform: regulatory rescissions, administrative reductions and cost savings. We will focus particularly on driving change through executive action based on existing legislation rather than by passing new laws," they wrote in the op-ed. Musk and Ramaswamy pointed to several recent Supreme Court decisions which the latter also referenced during his interview with Bartiromo that have sought to curtail the power of the administrative state. They argued that a "plethora of current federal regulations" exceed agency authority, and slashing such regulations should allow for "at least" proportional cuts to the number of government workers. "A drastic reduction in federal regulations provides sound industrial logic for mass head-count regulations across the federal bureaucracy," they wrote. "Not only are fewer employees required to enforce fewer regulations, but the agency would produce fewer regulations once its scope of authority is properly limited." The duo also addressed concerns about civil service protections that could potentially block Trump from firing federal workers. While these protections aim to "protect employees from political retaliation," the statute permits so-called "'reductions in force' that don't target specific employees." "The statute further empowers the president to 'prescribe rules governing the competitive service' [and] that power is broad," they added. "With this authority, Trump can implement any number of 'rules governing the competitive service' that would curtail administrative growth from large-scale firings to relocation of federal agencies out of the Washington area." But according to experts who previously spoke to The Hill, DOGE would be limited to an advisory capacity as an outside-of-government commission. It could also face opposition not only from the executive branch, but also from Congress. Head over to BigGovernment.news for more stories like this. Watch this clip from TruNews about President-elect Donald Trump naming Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to lead the DOGE. This video is from the DWP97048 channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Elon Musk endorses abolishing the Federal Reserve. Not a bad idea: GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy wants to SHUT DOWN the FBI and start over. Elon Musk, Trump's pick for Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), wants to cut U.S. budget by "at least $2 trillion." Trump appoints Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy to head new DOGE "Manhattan Project" to optimize "government efficiency." Trump taps Musk, Ramaswamy to lead Department of Government Efficiency that will focus on reducing government spending. Sources include: Modernity.news TheHill.com WSJ.com Brighteon.com Mike Adams Sermon 42: Gods superfruit FIGS can fight warts, staph infections and cancer The 42nd sermon of the Health Ranger Mike Adams for the Church of Natural Abundance centered on God's superfruit figs and their natural medicinal properties He based his sermon on a verse in the book of the Prophet Jeremiah in the Old Testament. Figs are mentioned many times in the Old Testament, where it is used as a symbol of abundance from God. The Bible nutrition educator said outside this symbolism, there is a lot of medicinal application for figs with the fruit being an effective laxative and tonic. Dr. James A. Duke, in his book "Herbs of the Bible," mentioned that figs may hold the cures for cancer, AIDS and diabetes. In the Bible, the fig was used to cure topical cancers such as exposed tumors on the skin. It was also used in poultices to treat infections, tumors or boils the latter often caused by Staphylococcus (staph) bacteria. This is because figs contain psoralen, an antibacterial substance that targets the staph bacteria. Psoralen, which can be found in fig leaves, may be instrumental in experimental treatments for AIDS. Medical science already uses psoralens to treat blood diseases and psoriasis. Benzaldehyde, another chemical found in figs, has also been used to treat cancers of the gums, neck, liver, uterus and testicles. Figs are also used for removing skin growths Adams also mentioned how figs are used to remove warts and corns. He cited one example from Duke's book that makes use of a fresh fig's pulp. It was taped to the corn or wart using a plastic sheet and left overnight. The next morning, the fig pulp is removed and the foot soaked in hot water before removing the growth. In stubborn cases, the overnight treatments can be repeated three to five times. Adams also shared another remedy to get rid of unwanted skin growths, with this one used in the ancient period. A person should apply the white latex oozing from fig leaves or twigs once a day, between five and seven days. Figs contain enzymes that dissolve protein, just like papaya and pineapple, that get rid of corns, warts and other unwanted skin growths. He cited a 1998 study published in the journal Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice that touched on the antidiabetic properties of figs. According to the paper, a decoction of fig leaf taken with meals for a month lowered insulin doses for Type 1 diabetics by 12 percent. (Related: The fig: Cultivated longer than wheat or barley, this highly perishable fruit is good for your heart and blood sugar.) In Indian Ayurvedic medicine, figs are used for treating nosebleeds, leprosy and diseases of the blood and head. Meanwhile, the Chinese apply fig leaves to hemorrhoids. Africans use the fresh fig root in a lotion for thrush, while North African folk medicine calls for rubbing fig leaves on painful, inflamed eyelids. In France, an essential oil called fig leaf absolute is used in perfumery. Tropical Americans meanwhile use the fig fruits for washing pots and pans. The fig juice is even added in as an ingredient in household detergents. Follow Fruits.news for more stories about superfruits like figs. Listen to the 42nd sermon of the Health Ranger for the Church of Natural Abundance about figs. This video is from the Abundance Church channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Go fig-ure: 7 types of figs to add to your garden and how to grow them. Trouble in the wild? Use the bark of the fig tree to promote wound healing. Transplanting fig trees for your home gardens. Seven amazing reasons to eat more figs. Sources include: Brighteon.com BibleGateway.com DiabetesResearchClinicalPractice.com Thermal activity nurtured early life on Earth, now similar conditions have been found to have occurred on Mars 4.45 billion years ago. This tiny piece of Black Beauty was analysed by researchers from Curtin University. Source: Aaron Cavosie Inside an ancient meteorite that collided with Earth, scientists have uncovered evidence of what could be the oldest hot water activity on Mars. Similar hydrothermal vents were a key component in creating conditions for early life on Earth, so finding evidence of them on the Red Planet 4.45 billion years ago helps pinpoint when Martian life could have existed. Study co-author Dr Aaron Cavosie from Curtins School of Earth and Planetary Science explained to Yahoo News that its hard to search directly for life on Mars. So they look for chemical signs in rocks that suggest habitats that could have nurtured it instead. Hot water is a pretty useful thing if you're trying to wrap your head around whether Mars could have been habitable. So finding finding evidence of it is a big deal, he said. Related: Path of ancient coastline found on surface of Mars Why meteorites are key to understand ancient Mars To look for water on Mars before 4.1 billion years ago, during the pre-Noachian period, scientists cant look at the planet itself. Thats because the surface has been severely denuded, and orbiters and rovers cant yet identify which rocks are from the period. ADVERTISEMENT Ancient meteorites that have made their way to Earth are a more reliable source of evidence. Signs of water had been previously documented inside the famous Black Beauty meteorite, but whats different about the recent study is the temperature of the liquid and its age. Inside the Black Beauty meteorite's zircon crystals were layers of iron. Source: Aaron Cavosie How was the Mars meteorite formed? The Black Beauty meteorite, also known as (NWA) 7034, was created out of rock fragments and minerals that accumulated over time on the surface of Mars and eventually became a rock. Black Beauty is a wild buffet of the early Martian history. It has a lot of different pieces in it that all have their own stories, Cavosie said. The grains we studied in the meteorite were about half the width of a human hair. And while it's very small, its also very interesting. How did scientists find evidence of water in the meteorite? Curtin University has been studying Black Beauty for years. The recent analysis was able to establish the presence of hot water by using nano-scale imaging and spectroscopy to examine the grain of tiny zircon crystals in the meteorite. ADVERTISEMENT Zircons are also found across the Earth, and theyve been used to locate the earliest signs of freshwater on the planet. Separate research from July found evidence in crystals that rainwater was falling on Australia 4 billion years ago, around 500 million years earlier than previously thought. Zircon is predominantly made of just three elements oxygen, silicon and zirconium. And some elements at very low abundance levels often sneak into the crystals when they are forming, like uranium. But we found elements you dont normally find in zircon such as iron, aluminium and sodium. And these were surprising to us, Cavosie said. The Jezero Crater on Mars was once flooded with water. Source: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/MSSS What was special about the zircon crystals in the meteorite? Normally those elements are associated with zircons damaged by the uranium they contain. The fractures in the rock allow fluids that could not normally get inside the crystal to work their way in, bringing in other elements. ADVERTISEMENT But that wasnt the story here," Cavosie said. "In this case, they were all highly organised into nice discrete layers just like those inside a growing onion. The strange composition of the zircon prompted the team to investigate what could cause it to form in such a beautiful organised way. The team turned their attention to rocks on Earth and found a similar example at South Australias Olympic Dam mine. It's recognised that the creation of ore deposits inside the mine were aided by hydrothermal processes as well. A study done previously found the same type of patterns for elements like iron and aluminium that we found in the Martian zircon, Cavosie said. These are signatures of zircon grown in a hydrothermal environment where water assists in the mobility and the delivery, and the incorporation of these elements into the growing zircon. ADVERTISEMENT The lead author was Dr Jack Gillespie from the University of Lausanne, who was a Postdoctoral Research Associate at Curtins School of Earth and Planetary Sciences. The research has been published in the journal Science Advances. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? Get our new newsletter showcasing the weeks best stories. Texas offering Trump 1,400 acres to construct mass deportation camp to process illegals The "largest deportation program in American history" is about to take place as President-elect Donald Trump rounds up violent illegal aliens and sends them back to their home countries. And to help out, Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham is offering 1,402 acres of land in Starr County for the construction of "mass deportation" camps that will handle the processing, detention and ultimately, the deportation of illegal migrants. The land, located about 35 miles west of McAllen near the border with Mexico, would offer Trump greater ease in swiftly propelling forward his mass deportation agenda, which is scheduled to commence on Jan. 20, 2025. "My office is fully prepared to enter into an agreement with the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or the United States Border Patrol to allow a facility to be built," Buckingham wrote in a letter to Trump. "I am committed to using every available means at my disposal to gain complete operational security at the border." (Related: Trump recently confirmed that a national emergency, aka martial law, will need to be invoked in January to start rounding up and deporting illegal aliens.) Trump still planning to complete border wall Staying true to the campaign promises he made both now and the first time around, Trump has made immigration and border security one of his top America First priorities. In addition to eventually completing the border wall he talked about, Trump has also pledged to reinstate the Remain in Mexico program, end birthright citizenship for children of illegal aliens (anchor babies), and deploy the military to help round up and deport the illegals. And to make all that happen, Trump further plans to declare a national emergency. Texas is a "red" state, so the government there is on board with what Trump is planning to do. The same cannot be said of many of the nation's Democrat governors, including Gov. Pritzker in Illinois, Gov. Newsom in California, Gov. Healey of Massachusetts, and Gov. Hobbs of Arizona. These activist governors have all indicated that they will not allow their state's law enforcement agencies to participate in any federal immigration enforcement. Local efforts in Boston, Los Angeles and elsewhere also aim to impair Trump's efforts to deport illegal aliens. "The Texas General Land Office is stepping up to support the president-elect's efforts to restore order at the border," Buckingham further wrote about how Texas, or at least Starr County, is taking a much different approach than the Democrats. "Please let me know if I can answer any questions you may have." Many of Trump's Republican allies are thrilled about his mass deportation plans. It turns out that illegal immigration is one of the main dividing issues in America today as leftists love it and conservatives hate it, generally speaking. One would think that all Americans would want a safe and secure country, but apparently that is no longer the case. Buckingham, by the way, helped to secure Texas ownership of several islands in the Rio Grande River, which borders Mexico, through a surveying project her office spearheaded. Because of those efforts, all human trafficking and drug smuggling operations have ceased on those islands. "The largest of these islands is 170 acres, and before declaring it part of Texas, it had been used as a 'no-man's land' to evade both American and Mexican law enforcement," Buckingham's letter to Trump explains. "The island, known as 'Fronton Island,' had been deemed by the Texas Military Department (TMD) and Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) as the most dangerous part of the Texas border." "I am committed to using every available means at my disposal to gain complete operational security of our border." The latest news about Trump's agenda for America can be found at Trump.news. Sources for this article include: YourNews.com NaturalNews.com U.S. blocks UN resolution calling for ceasefire in Gaza The United States has once again used its veto power at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to block a resolution calling for an "immediate, unconditional, and permanent" ceasefire in Gaza. The resolution, voted upon on Wednesday, Nov. 20, was supported by 14 members of the Security Council. It failed to pass due to the U.S. casting the lone veto. This resolution called for an immediate halt to the violence in Gaza, which has been the site of intense Israeli airstrikes and military operations since October 2023. It also demanded the release of all hostages held by Hamas. The U.S. opposed the resolution's demand for an "unconditional" ceasefire, arguing that any ceasefire should be explicitly linked to the immediate release of the hostages. Robert Wood, the U.S. deputy envoy to the UN, explained that the U.S. could not support a resolution that did not make the hostages' release a central condition. "A durable end to the war must come with the release of the hostages. These two urgent goals are inextricably linked," Wood said during the UNSC session. Furthermore, the official alleged that Russia and China had encouraged the 10 elected members of the council to support a draft that bypassed the critical issue of hostages. This marks the fourth time that the administration of President Joe Biden has used its veto power in the Security Council specifically to block a resolution related to Gaza since October 2023. The violence has led to nearly 44,000 Palestinian deaths and a humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. The U.S. has been a staunch ally of Israel, providing billions of dollars in military aid annually and continuing to support Israel's operations despite international criticism. (Related: Human Rights Watch accuses Israel of crimes in Gaza, citing deliberate forced displacement of Palestinians.) Israel's representative to the UN, Ambassador Danny Danon, praised the U.S. veto, framing it as a stand for justice and morality. Danon argued that the resolution overlooked the suffering of the hostages, 101 of whom are still held by Hamas in Gaza. He said, "The text ignored the suffering of the innocent hostages," and applauded the U.S. for its refusal to abandon them. Palestine expresses disapproval over U.S. veto of ceasefire resolution The Palestinian delegation expressed strong disapproval of the veto. Deputy Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine to the UN Majed Bamya argued that a ceasefire was the first necessary step toward saving lives in Gaza. "A ceasefire doesn't resolve everything, but it is the first step toward resolving anything," Bamya said. He stressed that the international community should not accept the ongoing deaths of Palestinian civilians as normal, adding that Palestinian lives were just as valuable as those of any other people. This latest failure to pass a resolution reflects the deep divisions within the Security Council over how to address the situation in Gaza. While the U.S. has continued its unwavering support of Israel, Russia and China have pushed for stronger action against Israel's military operations. The veto also highlights the paralysis at the UN, where there has been little consensus on how to respond to the growing humanitarian disaster in Gaza. The U.S. veto has drawn significant criticism, particularly from human rights organizations. Beth Miller, political director at the anti-Zionist pro-peace organization the Jewish Voice for Peace, called the veto "pathetic," accusing the Biden administration of enabling ongoing violence in Gaza. "They continue to parrot over and over again that they're 'working tirelessly' for a ceasefire while simultaneously blocking efforts to reach a ceasefire," Miller said. Watch this video showing the latest Security Council vote on the ceasefire resolution and the American veto. This video is from the alltheworldsastage channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: 24-hour bombings in Gaza kill at least 47 civilians and injure nearly 200 others. Yoav Gallant: Israel's Gaza presence driven by political motives, not security concerns. Beit Lahia in northern Gaza declared a DISASTER ZONE as Israel continues to devastate the area with bombs. Israel's settler movement makes "real estate" plans while Gaza burns to the ground. IDF bombs north Gaza's last functioning hospital's essential departments dialysis center, engineering, water tanks and supplies warehouse. Sources include: ZeroHedge.com AlJazeera.com Brighteon.com As poll finds Ukrainians want to end war, U.S. pushes Zelensky to bomb Russia and expand conscription The Biden administration's push for Ukraine to strike Russia with US-made long-range missiles, expand conscription and fill their country with US-made land mines came right as a new Gallup poll found the majority of Ukrainians now want a quick, negotiated end to the war. (Article by Chris Menahan republished from InformationLiberation.com) From Gallup, "Half of Ukrainians Want Quick, Negotiated End to War": After more than two years of grinding conflict, Ukrainians are increasingly weary of the war with Russia. In Gallup's latest surveys of Ukraine, conducted in August and October 2024, an average of 52% of Ukrainians would like to see their country negotiate an end to the war as soon as possible. Nearly four in 10 Ukrainians (38%) believe their country should keep fighting until victory. Ukrainians' current attitudes toward the war represent a decisive shift from where they stood after it began in late February 2022. Surveyed in the months after Russia launched its full-scale invasion, Ukrainians were defiant, with 73% preferring fighting until victory. The closer Ukrainians are to the front lines, the more they want the war to come to a negotiated end: This is the backdrop for which Biden's handlers gave Ukraine permission to strike Russia with US-made long-range missiles. The Military Industrial Complex seems to want to make sure they get World War 3 going before my father has a chance to create peace and save lives. Gotta lock in those $Trillions. Life be damned!!! Imbeciles! https://t.co/ZzfwnhBxRh Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) November 17, 2024 ????? Jake the Snake Sullivan says that the problem is not that NATO weapons and military industry suck but that that Ukraine doesn't want to feed more people into the meat grinder pic.twitter.com/o7BbW6FwVt DD Geopolitics (@DD_Geopolitics) November 19, 2024 From The Washington Post, "Biden approves antipersonnel mines for Ukraine, undoing his own policy": President Joe Biden has authorized the provision of antipersonnel land mines to Ukraine, two U.S. officials said, a step that will bolster Kyiv's defenses against advancing Russian troops but has drawn criticism from arms control groups. The move comes in the wake of the White Houses recent authorization allowing Ukraine to use a powerful long-range missile system to strike inside Russia -- part of a sweep of urgent actions the lame-duck Biden administration is taking to help Kyiv's faltering war effort. Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that Moscow will retaliate for the latest missile strikes from the Army Tactical Missile System, or ATACMS. Shipping antipersonnel land mines to Ukraine is also potentially controversial, though among a different group: More than 160 countries have signed an international treaty banning their use, noting that the indiscriminate weapons can cause enduring harm to civilians. But Kyiv has sought them since Russia invaded nearly three years ago, and the Kremlin's forces have deployed antipersonnel land mines liberally on the front lines, impeding Ukraine's progress as it seeks to reclaim its own territory. [...] Biden had been reluctant to supply Ukraine with the mines in the face of concerns within his own administration and from a wide range of anti-mine advocates who say the risk to civilians is unacceptably high. But Russia's battlefield progress in recent months has forced the White House to find fresh ways to help Kyiv, especially following the victory of President-elect Donald Trump, who has vowed to steer the conflict toward a swift conclusion. Ukraine could have negotiated a peace deal two years ago and this whole war would have been over but instead the US bribed Zelensky with $175 billion in US aid to fight to the last Ukrainian and drag the war out for years to inflict maximum short-term pain on Russia. Our occupiers know they failed at stopping Russia and their decision to approve Ukraine's long-range strikes and fill their country up with land mines is likely being viewed a "negotiating tactic" but it won't help anything and will simply inflict more misery on Ukrainians and Russians who are ready for a truce. Read more at: InformationLiberation.com Sorry, something doesn't look right. Something seems unusual about your device or browser. Please contact support. Danny Lloyd spotted the 'majestic' Black-necked Stork and luckily had his camera on hand to capture 'nature's brilliance'. Aussies have shared in the delight after the photographer quickly pulled over and snapped the creature. Source: Danny Lloyd photography An Australian photographer has shared a "breathtaking surprise" he made on a recent road trip, forcing him to pull over after a large winged animal swooped over the top of his car. Danny Lloyd was driving through Ripley in Ipswich, Queensland, earlier this month when the delightful encounter unfolded. "Thankfully I wasn't speeding," he told Yahoo News Australia, saying he was only travelling at about 40km/h when he noticed the large bird. "So I could safely pull over for a closer look. To my astonishment, it was a Black-necked Stork, its elegant, massive wings spanning wide as it glided over the road." ADVERTISEMENT Like any good shutterbug, he had his camera with a 200-600mm lens at hand to try and capture the glorious bird. "I focused and snapped a few shots of its glossy neck standing out vividly," he told Yahoo. A photo taken at the time shows the stork strolling on its long legs, displaying an exquisite green neck and striking yellow eye the latter indicating the stork is a female. Meanwhile another shows it gliding into the distance. "With each frame, I felt as if Id captured a small piece of Ripley's wild beauty, a spontaneous encounter that left me awestruck by natures brilliance," Danny said. Danny managed to snap a picture of the stork flying. Source: Danny Lloyd photography The Black-necked stork is easily identified from all other Aussie birds due to its unique appearance. It inhabits wetlands across northern and northeast Australia and the bird will occasionally stray into open grass, woodland areas or flooded paddocks in search of food, according to the Australian Museum. ADVERTISEMENT Danny's photography is focused mainly on the Australian landscape and bird life. Sharing the images online, many other nature lovers relished the scene, describing the bird as "magnificent", "majestic" and "beautiful". "How lucky were you," one person commented. "Especially love the capture of her flying," another said. As one follower pointed out, the bird is a common sight on the west coast of Cape York Peninsula where locals reportedly refer to it as the Policeman bird. "Perhaps why it appears on the shoulder patch of the Kowanyama Community Police uniforms," they noted. Unlike the females, the male storks have a dark black eye. Source: Facebook/Australian Museum Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? Get our new newsletter showcasing the weeks best stories. Australia would be forced to arrest Israel's prime minister and former defence minister on charges of war crimes under an international court ruling that's splitting the global community. The International Criminal Court (ICC) found there were reasonable grounds that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant bore criminal responsibility for alleged war crimes. This includes allegations of using starvation as a method of warfare and attacks intentionally directed against civilians in Gaza. An arrest warrant was also issued for Hamas' military wing commander Mohammed Diab Ibrahim Al-Masri for crimes against humanity and war crimes of murder, extermination, torture and rape. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses lawmakers on Monday. Source: AP The warrants are not a finding of guilt. Foreign Minister Penny Wong defended the court's independence while the coalition called on the federal government to follow the United States in rejecting the court's jurisdiction. The chances of Mr Netanyahu visiting Australia are remote but the country's obligations as a member of the court under the Rome Statute are legally binding, international law expert Don Rothwell said. The US position needs to be viewed on the basis that it is not a member, while Australia was, Professor Rothwell told AAP. The issue of jurisdiction had already been decided when the court found it had the power to investigate alleged crimes in Palestinian territories, with Palestine being a member of the court, he said. "Israel is not a party but the evidence is overwhelming that crimes have been alleged to be committed in the territory of Palestine - territorial jurisdiction is clearly met," Prof Rothwell added. The international law expert said that until now the court had very strong bipartisan support in Australia, and any deterioration in that support could damage the country's international reputation. Political leaders can't selectively apply legal rulings, Prof Rothwell said, pointing to widespread support for a warrant issued against Russian President Vladimir Putin following his invasion of Ukraine. Read more here. Shillong, Nov 21 : Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on Thursday said that the ruling dispensation in the hill state desires that citizens should be proud of their culture. Sangma inaugurated the Tri Hills Ensemble in the presence of Arts and Culture Minister, Paul Lyngdoh and Head of India for the Welsh Government, Mitchell Theaker at U Soso Tham Auditorium Shillong. He said, We want our people to be proud of our culture, customs and language. The third edition of the Tri Hills Ensemble showcased the rich arts, crafts and culture of Meghalayas three tribes Khasi, Jaintia and Garo. It also commemorated the observation of Jan Jatiya Gaurav Diwas. The festival is a celebration of our culture, our society and our people. Through this festival, we aim to showcase the rich diversity and cultural identity of our people, the Chief Minister said, in his inaugural remark. Talking about the importance of culture, he said: Culture has a lot of power and potential as it connects us to our roots, our past, our unique identity and distinguishes us from the crowd. As a form of soft power, we are trying as a Government to harness this potential and release it for constructive purposes. Sangma further said that the government has envisioned a road map to inspire the younger generation to be proud of the culture and the diversity of the state. He informed that the government has tailored programmes that promote culture, different forms of art, music, literature and ancient knowledge and wisdom. He lauded the arts and culture department for taking the initiative to facelift the Captain Williamson Sangma Museum and encouraged the department to use technology for a better immersive experience on the different facets and lives of the people of the state. Our events and festivals celebrate the richness of the state, he emphasised. He also urged the Department of Education to make it mandatory for education institutes to visit the museum and learn about the rich heritage and diversity of our state. Talking about the Chief Minister's Research Fellowship program, he said that 50 scholars have been shortlisted, who are already documenting different topics of relevance to the people and culture of the state. Our identity is our culture, our pride, it is imperative that we showcase and conserve the wisdom of our forefathers in different fields, and take it to global prominence. The power of culture has the power to connect us with other cultures from around the globe and the convergence of all these aspects would bring and foster the further growth of tourism in the State, he added. Guwahati, Nov 21 : Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday asserted that the state government is committed to preserving the cultural heritage of tribal communities. While expressing delight at unveiling a replica of the Kachari Kingdoms monolithic pillar within the state Assembly complex today, Sarma emphasised that this installation represents a lasting commitment to conserving and promoting tribal art, culture, and heritage. The Chief Minister also unveiled several newly developed facilities within the Assam Legislative Assembly complex, including a command and control centre, cafeteria, digital corridor, smart pole, and a sandstone monolith pillar representing ancient Assam. He said, Assams present government remains dedicated to preserving the cultural heritage of its tribal communities. Sarma highlighted the vital role that Assams tribal communities play in the states cultural identity, noting that their vibrant art, cultural practices, and traditions are essential components of Assams legacy. He said that the regions illustrious history comes to life through such cultural expressions, including historical remnants of the Kachari Kingdom, which hold an enduring place in the history of Northeast India. He mentioned that several tribal freedom fighters from the Northeast, including Dimasa leader Sambhudhan Phonglo, Rani Gaidinliu of Nagaland, Bir Tikendrajit Singh of Manipur, Ratanmani Reang of Tripura, Helen Lepcha of Sikkim, U Tirot Sing Syiem of Meghalaya, Ropuiliani of Mizoram, and Moje Riba of Arunachal Pradesh, have been honoured with statues at the Amrit Udyan in Hengrabari, Guwahati. Additionally, Sarma highlighted the establishment of the Department of Indigenous and Tribal Faith and Culture, reflecting the present State governments commitment to preserving the traditions and beliefs of the indigenous communities of the region. The Chief Minister commended the efforts of Biswajit Daimary, Speaker of the Assam Legislative Assembly, Numal Momin, Deputy Speaker of Assam Legislative Assembly, and the Assemblys officials and staff for their significant roles in modernising the Assembly. He said that this transformation, achieved through IT-enabled initiatives, includes the sandstone monolithic pillaran exquisite sculpture reflecting the historical legacy of the ancient Kachari kingdom of Assam. Sarma emphasised that these initiatives are part of a broader effort to modernize the Assembly through technology while simultaneously preserving Assam's rich cultural heritage. He remarked that these new facilities reflect the Assemblys effort to harmonise tradition with modernity, showcasing Assams cultural heritage alongside digital advancements. Sarma expressed confidence that such initiatives would inspire greater appreciation for Assams ancient history. He also asserted that the state governments continued dedication to preserving Assams history and culture would establish the region as a cultural and heritage hub. The event was attended by Assam Legislative Assembly Speaker Biswajit Daimary, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs etc. Pijush Hazarika, Minister of Education etc. Dr Ranoj Pegu, and other dignitaries. Moscow, Nov 22 : Russian President Vladimir Putin has said in a televised address that the Ukraine war has obtained features of a global conflict after attacks by Western missiles on Russia's Kursk and Bryansk regions. "Since this moment, as we have underscored repeatedly, the conflict in Ukraine, provoked by the West, has obtained elements of global nature," he said on Thursday. The Russian President vowed that Russia would respond decisively in case of escalation in Ukraine, Xinhua news agency reported. He stressed that Russia has the right to use weapons against the military facilities of the countries that use their weapons against Russia. "I would like to stress once again that it is not Russia that is destroying the international security system, but the US," Putin stressed in the speech. Meanwhile, he confirmed that Russia has successfully tested a new medium-range ballistic missile Oreshnik in response to enemy actions. Putin criticised the West for escalating the war by allowing Ukraine to strike Russian territory with long-range missiles. In response to the use of American and British long-range weapons, on November 21 of this year, the Russian armed forces launched a combined strike on one of the facilities of the military-industrial complex of Ukraine," the Russian President said. He also emphasised that in combat conditions, one of Russias newest medium-range missile systems had been tested, "among other things. In this case, with a ballistic missile in a nuclear-free hypersonic equipment." The launch signals a clear escalation of Russias military response to NATO's involvement in the Ukraine war. Mumbai, Nov 22 : An eight-year-old engagement video of actress Rashmika Mandanna, who is gearing up for the release of her upcoming film Pushpa: The Rule starring Allu Arjun, has started doing the rounds on social media. It features Rashmika with actor-filmmaker Rakshit Shetty and the Animal star flaunting their engagement rings. The video in question is almost eight-years-old. It was in 2017, when the actress exchanged rings with Rakshit. According to media reports, the actress was just 21-years-old, when she got engaged to Rakshit, who was 34 at that time. It is also said that the two started dating after working on the 2016 film Kirik Party, which marked the actress debut in cinema. A year later, the two got engaged. However, it was in 2018, when their love story came to an end. The two never discussed the reason behind their split. The two may have split but share a cordial relationship. Rakshit in an interview had discussed how the former couple still message each other. He had shared that Rashmika congratulates him, whenever he has a release and vice versa. The two even wish each other on their birthdays. Talking about Pushpa: The Rule, the makers unveiled the trailer on November 17 in Patna, Bihar. The sequel to the film promises a high-voltage action-drama with Telugu superstar Allu Arjun at the forefront. It opens with a person in background introducing Allu Arjuns titular character of Pushpa as the one who is not afraid of power, and has no greed for money. Directed by Sukumar and produced by Mythri Movie Makers, the music of the film is from T Series. Pushpa 2: The Rule went through production delays as the makers moved its release date from August 15 to December 6. The release date was once again changed to December 5. The film was earlier supposed to clash with the Vicky Kaushal-starrer Chhaava which is based on the life of Maratha warrior king Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, the son of Indian warrior-king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. However, the makers of Chhaava have reportedly moved the films release date in order to avoid the clash. Pushpa 2: The Rule is set to arrive in cinemas on December 5, 2024. New Delhi, Nov 22 : The Canadian government on Friday clarified formally the allegations linking Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval to criminal activities in Canada. The statement emphasised that no evidence supports such claims and sought to dispel speculation surrounding the matter. The clarification came from Nathalie G. Drouin, Deputy Clerk of the Privy Council and National Security and Intelligence Advisor to the Canadian Prime Minister. "On October 14, because of a significant and ongoing threat to public safety, the RCMP and officials took the extraordinary step of making public accusations of serious criminal activity in Canada perpetrated by agents of the Government of India. The Government of Canada has not stated, nor is it aware of evidence, linking Prime Minister Modi, Minister Jaishankar, or NSA Doval to the serious criminal activity within Canada. Any suggestion to the contrary is both speculative and inaccurate," the statement read. This statement comes after heightened diplomatic tensions between India and Canada. Earlier in October, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused the Indian government of conducting covert operations on Canadian soil, which he claimed posed significant risks to public safety. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), according to Trudeau, had gathered credible evidence implicating Indian agents in activities ranging from surveillance and coercion to involvement in serious crimes. Trudeau called these actions a violation of Canada's sovereignty and demanded they cease immediately. India, however, has consistently denied these allegations, describing the accusations as "absurd and baseless," dismissing them as part of a deliberate strategy by Canada to discredit India. Recently, Ottawa's proceedings before the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security on October 29, 2024, drew sharp criticism from New Delhi. During the session, Canadian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, David Morrison reportedly made remarks implicating India's Union Home Minister Amit Shah in targeting pro-Khalistan activists in Canada. India responded with a strong diplomatic protest. At a media briefing, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated, "We had summoned the representative of the Canadian High Commission yesterday. A diplomatic note was handed over in reference to the proceedings of the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security in Ottawa on October 29, 2024. It was conveyed in the note that the Government of India protests in the strongest terms to the absurd and baseless references made to the Union Home Minister of India before the Committee by Deputy Minister David Morrison." Vientiane, Nov 22 : India and Japan on Friday agreed to explore new areas of cooperation in the air domain as Defence Minister Rajnath Singh wrapped up his productive three-day visit to Laos by holding two significant meetings with his Japanese and the Philippines counterparts on the sidelines of the 11th ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) forum. In the first meeting, Singh and Japanese Minister of Defence General Nakatani hailed the increasing cooperation and collaboration between the two countries while recalling the "milestone event" of signing of the Memorandum of Implementation for transfer of the Unified Complex Radio Antenna (UNICORN) in Tokyo on November 15. The UNICORN is a mast with Integrated Communication systems which will help improve the stealth characteristics of Naval Platforms. The Indian Navy is pursuing the induction of these advanced systems which will be co-developed by Bharat Electronics Limited in India with Japanese collaboration. When implemented, this would be the first case of co-development/co-production of Defence Equipment between India and Japan. In their meeting on Friday, both defence ministers reiterated the importance of defence industry and technology cooperation between the two countries while agreeing on enhanced cooperation in co-production and co-development in the defence manufacturing sector. "The two ministers affirmed the importance of multilateral defence cooperation and exchanges in the security environment which is growing its severeness, and concurred on working together widely with countries which share fundamental values such as democracy and the rule of law," read a statement issued by the Japanese Defence Ministry after the meeting. "The two ministers concurred on developing defence cooperation and exchanges to continue deepening further bilateral relationship, and sending messages that unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion cannot be tolerated," it added. According to the Indian Defence Ministry, both ministers also discussed the Reciprocal Provision of Supply and Services Agreement between the two countries and participation of militaries in various bilateral and multilateral exercises to further improve interoperability between the Indian and Japanese forces. As they reaffirmed that India-Japan partnership is pivotal in fostering a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific region, both ministers also agreed to explore new areas of cooperation in the air domain. In another crucial meeting, Defence Minister Singh held discussions with the Philippines' Secretary of National Defence (Defence Minister) Gilberto Teodoro where both sides vowed to further bolster the defence cooperation between the two countries. Singh welcomed the Philippines as country coordinator for India in ASEAN and ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM)-Plus forum for the next cycle as both sides agreed to expand and deepen cooperation in exchange of subject matter experts, defence industry, counter-terrorism, space and maritime domain. "Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr. met with Indian Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh to discuss deeper defence cooperation. Shared maritime challenges and India's expertise in defence tech and international law took centerstage," stated the Philippines' Department of National Defence. During his visit to Vientiane for the 11th ADMM-Plus meeting, Defence Minister Singh also held bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Malaysia, Laos, China, United States, New Zealand, South Korea and Australia. Prior to his departure to New Delhi, he visited the Buddhist Wat Sisaket temple in Vientiane and sought blessings from Mahaveth Chittakaro, the Abbot of Sisaket temple. Incredible footage has captured the moment a bronze whaler shark reportedly tried to get into an enclosed swimming area. Swimmers were forced to flee Bar Beach in Narooma on Friday morning after a large bronze whaler shark was seen in the water. Source: Facebook/Kylie Miller Swimmers were forced to flee the water in an idyllic Aussie beach town on Friday morning after a close to two-metre shark was spotted circling in the shallows. Kylie Miller told Yahoo News Australia she was standing on Bar Beach in Narooma, on NSWs south coast, around 9am when she saw the bronze whalers fin making a slight ripple. Given the crystal clear water and nice, sunny weather, the Victoria woman visiting her parents said she became worried when she noticed numerous locals wading at the popular swimming spot with most totally unaware of the potential danger. I called the police at that point, Ms Miller said, sharing video footage and photos of the large shark just metres away from people and the shore, as well as pacing around the swimming net. ADVERTISEMENT Others were running on the beach trying to get [swimmers] attention. It didnt seem that worried by them, I have to say. The shark wasnt aggressive, and it could have probably picked off a couple if it had chosen to because there were people in the water that didnt realise it was there. The shark was believed to be a bronze whaler and was hanging around the netted swimming area. Surf lifesavers attended the scene and closed the beach as a precaution. Shark's 'bizarre behaviour' at busy Aussie beach Ms Miller, her partner and dad who visits the beach multiple times a week watched the bronze whalers bizarre behaviour for about an hour. ADVERTISEMENT It was patrolling along the beach in the shallows and then around the edge of the swimming net just over and over and over again. There were seals there as well, and it wasnt wanting them, she added, pondering if the animal was sick or injured because of its apparent determination to get into the enclosed area. Kyle Miller told Yahoo the shark exhibited odd behaviour and repeatedly circled the swimming net. Source: Facebook/Kylie Miller Authorities were called and the beach was temporarily closed. Source: Facebook/Kylie Miller From what Ive read bronze whalers are opportunistic feeders, so theyre not notoriously aggressive but I dont think youd want to be swimming with one in a confined space. Police brought in a helicopter and a boat and were trying to kind of buzz it out of the swimming area, but it didnt seem very keen. Yahoo News Australia has contacted NSW Police. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. An exciting phenomenon is taking place on the Great Barrier Reef and locals and tourists alike have been asked to do just one thing. Tourists have been warned to leave alone the coral larvae pools in The Whitsundays. Source: Facebook Tourists and locals visiting the Great Barrier Reef are being urged to be careful when wading into the water at a popular Aussie tourist spot this week. The warning comes after five inflatable pools were deployed near Hook Island in The Whitsundays on Tuesday. While they initially appear to be part of a fun activity for travelling families to enjoy the blue and white floating squares are actually hiding a very cool and important purpose. The pools were designed and installed to capture millions of coral babies during the annual full moon spawning event expected to take place in October or November. Coral spawning is when species simultaneously reproduce by releasing bundles of eggs and sperm which will then float to the top of the water in search of a matching mass to fertilise. The pools, which collected the eggs and sperm on Thursday night, will remain in the cove for about a week as the coral fertilises, Great Barrier Reef Foundation Coral Restoration Director Melissa Rodgers told Yahoo News Australia. ADVERTISEMENT When theyre ready to settle, we will move to deployment, where we actually then using a sort-of reverse vacuum cleaner suck the larvae down onto an appropriate area of the reef where we want the larvae to settle, she said. For the first time this year inflatable larvae pools were set up in Cairns and Port Douglas. Source: Great Barrier Reef Foundation So usually were just leaving it to Mother Nature. These larvae can float on ocean currents and sort of end up anywhere so its a real matter of chance of the coral being ready as a larvae to settle and ending up in the right place. The pools really allow us to target baby corals onto the reefs that need it the most. To give them their best chance, locals and tourists have been asked to avoid swimming or boating close to the pools due to the larvaes sensitivity to sunscreen and fuel. Numerous photos of the set-up have been posted in online community groups so people know what to keep an eye out for. Coral IVF program expands across Great Barrier Reef This is the fourth year the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) and Great Barrier Reef Foundation, along with local tourism operators, have used the seeding technique known as Coral IVF in The Whitsundays. ADVERTISEMENT Scientists estimate that coral in the wild has a one in a million chance of settling in the right place, but with a helping hand the odds are one in 10,000, Ms Rodgers said. Basically what were doing is turning science into action for the reef, she said. Coral spawning is when species simultaneously reproduce by releasing bundles of eggs and sperm. Source: Stuart Ireland/Calypso Productions Were helping to enhance the resilience of the ecosystem. We know that climate change is a threat to the reef, and that while we work to stabilise climate we really do need to be doing interventions to help enhance the resilience of reefs into the future. Given that the Great Barrier Reef was found to have suffered its worst summer on record last year, theres no better time to utilise the proactive technique. To boost the number of coral babies produced, for the first time this year inflatable larvae pools were also launched in Cairns and Port Douglas, Ms Rodgers said, adding they are training local marine and tourist industries on how Coral IVF works. That was really sort of the purpose initially in The Whitsundays we wanted this technique to be something that didnt have to be led by researchers or led by scientists. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. Champaign, IL (61820) Today Windy with rain showers. High around 65F. Winds SW at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 60%. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.. Tonight Considerable cloudiness with occasional rain showers. Snow may mix in. Low 31F. Winds NW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 70%. From cells to solutions: The Human Cell Atlas pioneers a global effort to map human biology and bridge health inequities with cutting-edge genomics. Perspective: The commitment of the human cell atlas to humanity. Image Credit: Sinhyu Photographer / Shutterstock In a recent perspective article published in the journal Nature Communications, over 30 scientists from around the world discussed the action plans and principles of the global scientific initiative designed to create detailed reference maps of human cells, known as the Human Cell Atlas (HCA), to establish the commitment of the HCA project to equity and ensure that the atlas is accessible and beneficial to all individuals. Vision and Purpose of the HCA Global Collaboration: The Human Cell Atlas (HCA) is a worldwide consortium involving over 3,000 scientists from 99 countries, working together to map every cell type in the human body.. The HCA aims to map cells, the fundamental building blocks of life. It seeks to revolutionize the understanding of human biology by cataloging the diversity of cells, their functions, and interactions in healthy tissues. The goal of the project is to utilize this knowledge to enhance disease diagnosis, treatment, and prevention across diverse populations. Furthermore, the HCA intends to bridge gaps in cellular biology by addressing questions of variation in cell types across individuals with different genetic backgrounds, environmental exposures, and life experiences. The project employs cutting-edge techniques, such as single-cell and spatial genomics, to map human cells. These technologies, previously unavailable at this scale, are enabling unprecedented insights into single-cell behaviors and tissue organization. Understanding cellular diversity can illuminate the underlying mechanisms of diseases and health conditions, and the HCA has already been used to identify rare cell types associated with specific illnesses such as ulcerative colitis. For instance, single-cell atlas data enabled the identification of epithelial M-like cells, a rare cell type expanded in the inflamed colons of individuals with ulcerative colitis. Furthermore, the HCA initiative involves a diverse array of scientists, including biologists, engineers, clinicians, and ethicists, fostering a multidisciplinary approach. Additionally, by including samples from individuals from varied demographic and geographical backgrounds, the HCA ensures that the data generated is representative of humanity. Equity and Diversity in HCA Research Technological Innovation: HCA researchers employ advanced technologies such as single-cell transcriptomics, spatial genomics, and artificial intelligence to analyze and classify individual cells, enhancing our understanding of cellular functions. The article discussed HCAs deep commitment to ethical research practices, emphasizing equity, diversity, and inclusivity. Historically, biomedical research has faced criticism for biases and underrepresentation, which the HCA seeks to address through proactive strategies. Furthermore, the project is also invested in empowering local communities and scientists. The HCA actively involves local scientists and communities, ensuring cultural, historical, and biological representation in its research. Membership is open globally to individuals above the age of 16 who adhere to HCAs ethical standards. Currently, there are more than 3,200 members from 99 countries. The HCA supports local scientists through training, funding advocacy, and leadership opportunities while addressing challenges such as limited funding, resource constraints, and ethical approvals. Notable efforts include over a dozen training workshops in regions such as Africa, Latin America, and Asia, attended by more than 2,000 researchers since 2019. Regional networks, such as HCA Asia and HCA Africa, also promote collaboration and engagement through regular training workshops. Furthermore, the HCA ensures ethical sample collection through community engagement in native languages and informed consent. The volunteers are informed about risks, benefits, and data usage. Additionally, the samples are anonymized through coding and collected based on project goals. The samples can include tissues from surgical leftovers, organ donations, or post-mortem samples, as well as swabs and lung tissues from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) studies and blood samples from immune-system studies. The collected samples are then processed under strict scientific oversight, ensuring minimal waste. The HCA also supports local labs for sample analysis and trains local scientists in techniques such as single-cell genomics. Where possible, these laboratories are encouraged to open their facilities for community visits to foster transparency and trust. Furthermore, the study participants and community members are encouraged to visit labs for transparency. The data from HCA studies are stored in coded databases after personal identifiers have been removed, and they are made available in global repositories. Moreover, the HCA provides training for local scientists in data analysis and shares study results with participants and communities. The HCA also prioritizes accountability through its Equity Working Group (EqWG), which promotes global representation and participation in its initiatives. The EqWG has championed an equity in action approach through outreach, education, and ethics training, ensuring that the HCA reflects the priorities and perspectives of diverse global communities. The authors stated that the HCA strictly opposes the misuse of biological data for discrimination or racial profiling and advocates the ethical use of genetic information. The researchers discussed some historical examples of research data misuse and stated that the HCA acknowledges past abuses in genetic research and emphasizes responsible practices to prevent stigmatization or exclusion. Future Implications and Broader Impact Ethical Framework: The HCA is committed to ethical research practices, emphasizing equity, diversity, and inclusivity, and has established an Equity Working Group to promote global representation and participation. The researchers also discussed the implications of the HCA for the future of medical research. They believe that the HCA's comprehensive reference maps have transformative potential for biomedical science and healthcare, and the project's cellular diversity sets a foundation for personalized medicine. The atlas allows researchers to identify cellular changes in various diseases, paving the way for targeted therapies and more effective treatments. Furthermore, by democratizing access to cutting-edge scientific tools and knowledge, the HCA ensures that its findings benefit all populations, regardless of geography or socioeconomic status. The study highlighted HCA's framework of inclusivity, transparency, and global cooperation and suggested that it could serve as a model for other large-scale scientific endeavors. HCAs approach mirrors the principles of past projects like the Human Genome Project and the 1000 Genomes Project, emphasizing open data access and ethical research practices. The authors strongly believe that HCAs emphasis on equity and open data access has the potential to inspire similar approaches in other fields. A recent longitudinal study from the University of Toronto reveals the mental health consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on older adults living with migraine. Using a sample of more than 2,000 older adults with migraine from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging, researchers examined changes in depression status among this population during the pandemic. More than 1 in 7 older adults with migraine experienced depression for the first time during the COVID-19 pandemic, while approximately 1 in 2 with a previous history of depression experienced a recurrence during this period. People living with migraine are already known to be highly vulnerable to adverse mental health outcomes, such as depression. Considering the increases in stressors during the pandemic, such as disruptions to medication and healthcare access, we wanted to understand how this may have impacted the mental health of those with migraine." Esme Fuller-Thomson, senior author, professor at the University of Toronto's Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work (FIFSW) and director of the Institute for Life Course & Aging (ILCA) The researchers looked at risk factors for depression to better understand the subpopulations of people with migraine that had the highest risk of pandemic-related depression. Increased family conflict during the pandemic was associated with a five-fold risk of incident depression and a three-fold risk of recurrent depression. "Many families experienced increased discord and conflict during periods of lockdown, which were coupled by declines in access to important coping mechanisms that can mitigate family stress, such as physical activity outside and time spent socializing with friends. This likely impacted the mental health challenges observed during the pandemic," said co-author Andie MacNeil, PhD student at FIFSW. Other pandemic-related stressors that were associated with incident depression among older adults with migraine included experiencing difficulty accessing healthcare. "Access to comprehensive healthcare was already recognized as a major challenge for people with migraine prior to the pandemic," said co-author Aneisha Taunque, a research assistant at the Institute for Life Course and Aging. "We know access to healthcare worsened during the pandemic, which may have exacerbated mental health challenges among this population." Increased time spent caregiving and/or challenges linked to caregiving were also associated with incident depression, which, like difficulties in accessing health care, approximately doubled the risk of incident depression. "Caregiving responsibilities can be extremely challenging for people living with debilitating pain, such as that caused by migraine -- and many people reported increases in their caregiving responsibilities during the pandemic," said co-author Ying Jiang, Senior Epidemiologist at the Public Health Agency of Canada. Other contributors to the study include Sarah Leo, a recent MSW graduate from FIFSW, Dr. Grace Li, who was a research associate with ILCA, and Margaret de Groh, a retired Scientific Manager at the Public Health Agency of Canada. The authors emphasized the importance of ongoing research to examine depression among people with migraine. "It will be important to identify if the observed increases were a temporary occurrence due to pandemic-related stressors, or if these trends have persisted after the pandemic," said Fuller-Thomson. "This knowledge can help inform targeted screening and intervention for people with migraine." Unlocking the secrets of cellular similarity: how SCimilarity transforms single-cell data into insights on disease, development, and tissue biology. SCimilarity search engine. Image Credit: SCimilarity In a recent study published in the journal Nature, researchers in Canada and the United States developed Single-Cell Similarity (SCimilarity), a framework for rapid, interpretable searches of single-cell or single-nucleus Ribonucleic Acid -seq (sc/snRNA-seq) data. This framework enables the discovery of similar cell states across the Human Cell Atlas. Background Over 100 million cells have been profiled using sc/snRNA-seq across various conditions, providing unprecedented opportunities to link cell states across development, tissues, and diseases. However, large-scale analyses remain limited due to challenges in dataset harmonization, defining shared representations, and lack of robust similarity metrics or scalable search methods. Current approaches often fail to generalize across datasets and cannot efficiently query massive atlases for similar cell profiles. Further research is needed to develop foundational models that enable accurate, scalable, and interpretable searches, unlocking the full potential of single-cell atlases to advance biological discovery. About the study scRNA-seq has profiled millions of individual cells across various tissues, conditions, and diseases, offering transformative opportunities to link cellular states across contexts. Effective comparisons between datasets, however, remain limited due to challenges in harmonizing diverse data, defining common representations, and developing accurate metrics to quantify cellular similarity. While preserving dataset-specific information, existing models often fail to generalize or efficiently search large atlases for comparable cell states. Metric learning, a technique successfully applied in fields like image processing, offers a promising solution. By embedding cell profiles into a shared low-dimensional space, it becomes possible to identify biologically similar cells across vast datasets. Such representations could enable scalable, interpretable searches for cells in diverse contexts, facilitating cross-dataset comparisons and biological discovery Study results SCimilarity demonstrated generalization across diverse single-cell profiling platforms. Although trained primarily on 10x Genomics Chromium data, it effectively embedded and annotated cell profiles from multiple platforms, including scRNA-seq and snRNA-seq datasets. For example, human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) samples profiled across seven platforms exhibited consistent cross-platform annotation precision, except for rare cell types like conventional dendritic cells (cDCs) and plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs). While minor differences in embedding distances were observed, particularly for non-10x platforms such as Switching Mechanism At 5' End of RNA Template sequencing (SMART-Seq2), SCimilarity maintained high performance, showcasing its adaptability to diverse data sources. A key advantage of SCimilarity is its ability to integrate datasets without explicit batch correction. By quantifying representation confidence for individual cells, the model identifies outliers and assesses its generalization to new data. For example, low-confidence annotations were associated with poorly represented tissues in training data, such as the stomach and bladder. This capability enabled the construction of an atlas spanning 30 human tissues and facilitated pan-tissue comparisons. The model also excelled in annotating cell types through its embedding-based similarity measure. SCimilarity annotated individual cells independently, circumventing the need for clustering and retrieving the most similar cells efficiently. It achieved competitive accuracy with existing methods like single-cell ANnotation using Variational Inference (scANVI) and CellTypist, even matching fine-grained annotations supported by protein markers. For example, SCimilarity annotated 86.5% of cells in healthy kidney samples correctly when compared to author-provided labels, performing on par with tissue-specific models. SCimilaritys interpretability was validated using Integrated Gradients, which identified critical gene contributions to cell type annotations. These gene attributions aligned well with known markers for major cell types, such as surfactant genes distinguishing lung alveolar type 2 (AT2) cells. This demonstrates SCimilarity's capacity to capture biologically meaningful features without prior knowledge of cell type-specific signatures. The models query capabilities were tested using fibrosis-associated macrophages (FMs) and myofibroblasts in interstitial lung disease (ILD). SCimilarity identified FM-like cells across ILD datasets, cancers, and other fibrotic diseases, revealing shared cellular states. Notably, it uncovered FMs in rare contexts, such as pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), suggesting their broader relevance in fibrosis. To further explore its utility, SCimilarity searched for FM-like cells in vitro. Surprisingly, it identified cells cultured in a 3D hydrogel system as transcriptionally similar to FMs. Experimental validation confirmed SCimilaritys prediction, demonstrating its potential to identify novel experimental conditions and model disease-relevant cell states in vitro. Conclusions To summarize, SCimilarity advances single-cell analysis by enabling scalable and efficient searches across diverse scRNA-seq and snRNA-seq datasets. Built on metric learning, it provides annotation and querying of cell profiles, leveraging full expression profiles to reduce biases from curated gene signatures. SCimilarity excels in identifying transcriptionally similar cells, facilitating discoveries of novel states like FMs and myofibroblasts across diseases. Its ability to generalize to unseen datasets and its open-source availability make it a foundational tool for exploring the Human Cell Atlas, supporting diverse biological investigations, and uncovering insights into human biology and disease mechanisms. After severe heart failure, the ability of the heart to heal by forming new cells is very low. However, after receiving treatment with a supportive heart pump, the capacity of a damaged heart to repair itself with new muscle cells becomes significantly higher, even higher than in a healthy heart. This is according to a new study from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden published in the journal Circulation. The ability of the human heart to renew itself by regenerating its muscle cells, myocytes, is very limited. But what happens to this capability when the heart is damaged by severe heart failure has been unknown. Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have now discovered that after an injury, the rate of cell renewal is even lower than in a healthy heart. Standard-of-care for patients with advanced heart failure is a surgically implanted pump that helps propel blood, a so-called left ventricular assist device (LVAD). Kick-start the repair mechanism Surprisingly, the researchers found that patients with such a heart pump, who have shown significant improvement in their heart function, can regenerate heart muscle cells at a rate more than six times higher than in healthy hearts. "The results suggest that there might be a hidden key to kick-start the heart's own repair mechanism", says Olaf Bergmann, senior researcher at the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology at Karolinska Institutet and last author of the paper. The mechanism behind the effect is still unknown and there is not yet any hypothesis to explain it. It is difficult to say. In the existing data we cannot find an explanation for the effect, but we will now continue to study this process at a cellular and molecular level." Olaf Bergmann, senior researcher, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet The findings open the possibility of developing new therapies for patients with serious heart conditions that stimulate the heart's ability to repair itself after damage. This way, patients wouldn't have torely only on heart transplants or other kinds of long-term mechanical support. "This offers some hope that the recovery after a heart incident can somehow be boosted," says Olaf Bergmann. Determine the age of cells It is generally difficult to determine the age of cells in the human body and to decide which cells are new and which are old. However, by using a method earlier devised by Jonas Frisen, professor of stem cell research at Karolinska Institutet, the group has been able to count the rate of renewal of myocytes in the heart. The method is based upon the fact that the percentage of radioactive carbon in the atmosphere, and subsequently in our cells, has steadily decreased since the nuclear test ban in 1963. For every following year, there is a little less radioactivity in newly formed cells, which means that they can be 'dated'. The study was done in close collaboration with Stavros Drakos at the University of Utah, USA, and was mainly financed by the Swedish Research Council, LeDucq Foundation and the Ragnar Soderberg Foundation. Study shows higher mortality rates among individuals born preterm, with risks varying by gestational age and highest in early childhood. Study: Short-Term and Long-Term Mortality Risk After Preterm Birth. Image Credit: sruilk/Shutterstock.com In a recent study published in the JAMA Network Open, researchers assessed the association between preterm birth (PTB) and all-cause and cause-specific mortality from birth through early adulthood. Background PTB, defined as birth before 37 weeks gestation, is a leading cause of neonatal mortality, affecting approximately 10% of births globally. PTB is linked to rising mortality rates due to increased reporting of extremely preterm births, physician-initiated PTB, and assisted reproductive techniques. Prematurity disrupts multiple organ systems, leaving individuals vulnerable to lifelong health risks, with mortality rates inversely associated with gestational age. While most preterm infants survive into adulthood, evidence suggests a persistent increased mortality risk. However, studies have largely focused on European populations, highlighting the need for research in North America to address population-specific differences. About the study The present study utilized population-based vital statistics data from Statistics Canada to create a comprehensive birth cohort. Live births in Canada from January 1, 1983, to December 31, 1996, were included, with follow-up extending until December 31, 2019. Exclusions were made for missing or invalid gestational age (GA) data, births with GA under 24 weeks, and post-term births beyond 41 weeks. The study linked the Canadian Vital StatisticsBirth and Death databases, ensuring data confidentiality through deidentification and secure access. Ethical approval was obtained, and informed consent was waived due to the use of anonymized data. PTB was defined as birth before 37 weeks gestation and further categorized into extremely preterm (24-27 weeks), very preterm (28-31 weeks), moderately preterm (32-33 weeks), and late preterm (34-36 weeks). All-cause and cause-specific mortality data were derived from death records classified using standard International Classification of Diseases codes. Baseline characteristics, such as sex, parental age, birth plurality, and origin, were matched using coarsened exact matching to minimize confounding. Statistical analyses included incidence rates, cumulative mortality curves, and risk estimates, with regression models accounting for sibling clustering. Sensitivity analyses considered variations by sex, birth year, and socioeconomic factors. Study results The study included 5,370,770 live births in Canada between 1983 and 1996. After excluding births with missing or invalid GA data, post-term births beyond 41 weeks, and births before 24 weeks gestation, the final cohort comprised 4,998,560 individuals, of which 6.9% (342,580) were preterm. Among these, 0.3% were extremely preterm (24-27 weeks), 0.6% very preterm (28-31 weeks), 0.8% moderately preterm (32-33 weeks), and 5.1% late preterm (34-36 weeks). Compared to those born at term, preterm individuals were more likely to be male, born in multiple births, or to mothers who were younger than 20 or 35 years or older, single, or multiparous. Matched cohort analyses, which balanced baseline characteristics, included 4,350,210 individuals, with no significant differences in baseline characteristics remaining after matching. During a median follow-up of 29 years, 72,662 deaths were recorded (14,312 preterm and 58,350 term). The annual all-cause mortality incidence rate between ages 1 and 36 years was 5.94 per 10,000 person-years for preterm births and 3.73 for term births. Mortality risks were inversely associated with GA, with individuals born preterm at higher risk, particularly in the early years of life. By age 36, 1.7% of preterm individuals had died compared to 1.1% of term individuals, with the highest mortality rates among the most preterm groups. In the first year of life, preterm infants experienced significantly higher mortality rates, with an average monthly incidence of 23.9 deaths per 10,000 child-months compared to 1.82 for term infants. The mortality rate was highest among extremely preterm infants, with 26.2% dying within the first year, compared to 0.2% for term infants. The matched cohort analysis confirmed increased all-cause mortality risks for preterm births across all age periods, with the strongest associations in early childhood (ages 1-5 years) and diminishing during late adolescence and early adulthood. Kaplan-Meier estimates showed consistently higher mortality among preterm individuals across all age categories. Cause-specific mortality analyses revealed heightened risks for preterm individuals, particularly for respiratory, digestive, circulatory, nervous system, endocrine, and infectious diseases, as well as cancers and congenital malformations. The highest hazard ratios were observed for conditions originating in the perinatal period and digestive system disorders. Secondary analyses showed consistent findings across sex and birth year strata, with minor variations. Accounting for socioeconomic factors such as family income and rural residence did not substantially alter the results. Conclusions To summarize, this cohort study found that individuals born preterm faced increased mortality risks from birth to early adulthood, with the highest risks in infancy declining with age and rising slightly after 30 years. Mortality was inversely associated with GA, with those born before 28 weeks at greatest risk. PTB was linked to deaths from respiratory, circulatory, digestive, and nervous system disorders, infections; congenital conditions; cancers, and perinatal complications. Advances in neonatal care have improved survival over time, and males showed higher absolute but lower relative risks. Delhi-Dehradun Expressway: From January, It Will Take Only 20 Minutes To Reach UP Border Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: November 22, 2024, 15:08 IST Built at a cost exceeding Rs 12,000 crore, the six-lane Delhi-Dehradun Expressway starts at Akshardham in Delhi, and traverses through Baghpat, Shamli, and Saharanpur Starting at Akshardham in Delhi, it connects to Dehradun through Khekra, Shamli, and Saharanpur. (Representative image) Commuters travelling from Delhi to the Uttar Pradesh border (Loni) can anticipate significant relief as the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway nears completion, with opening expected in January 2025. This new route promises to reduce the current one-hour journey to a mere 20 minutes, saving travellers both time and money. Overseen by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), the 212-km Delhi-Dehradun Greenfield Access Controlled Expressway is nearing its final stages. related stories Starting at Akshardham in Delhi, it connects to Dehradun through Khekra, Shamli, and Saharanpur. The initial 31.6-km stretch, from Akshardham to the EPE Crossing (Khekra), is almost complete, with trials already conducted. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Dheeraj Singh, Project Director of NHAI, confirmed that this section, encompassing an 18 km elevated corridor and a six-lane service road, will be open to the public by January. This development will significantly benefit commuters travelling to Ghaziabad and Loni, and will also provide improved access for those heading to Sonia Vihar, Karawal Nagar, and Yamuna Pushta. Built at a cost exceeding Rs 12,000 crore, the six-lane Delhi-Dehradun Expressway is designed to enhance connectivity. Starting at Akshardham in Delhi, it traverses through Baghpat, Shamli, and Saharanpur. The construction is divided into four phases, with the first two phases, from Akshardham to the EPE Junction (Khekra), already finished. Location : Delhi, India First Published: November 22, 2024, 15:08 IST IndiGo Launches Direct Flights to Mauritius from Bengaluru; Check Days, Time, & More Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 22, 2024, 11:24 IST This new route makes Port Louis, Mauritius, IndiGo's second destination in Africa, following the airline's launch of flights to Nairobi, Kenya, in August. The airline holds a 63% market share in India, according to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.(Representative image) IndiGo has launched direct flights to Mauritius, its 35th international destination, with four weekly flights from Bengaluru. The first flight took off on 19th November, covering the route in just five and a half hours. related stories This new route makes Port Louis, Mauritius, IndiGos second destination in Africa after starting flights to Nairobi, Kenya, in August. The airline highlighted that this new service will not only boost tourism but also enhance trade, investment, and commercial ties in the Indian Ocean region. Flight Timings for the Bengaluru-Mauritius Route Departure from Bengaluru: 3:20 am on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday, arriving in Mauritius at 7:45 am (local time). 3:20 am on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday, arriving in Mauritius at 7:45 am (local time). Return from Mauritius: 9:30 am, landing in Bengaluru at 4:45 pm (local time). top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all According to TOI, Vinay Malhotra, IndiGos Head of Global Sales, expressed enthusiasm for the new route, saying: India and Mauritius share strong cultural, political, and economic connections. These flights will further deepen that bond. With visa-on-arrival available for Indian travellers, this route promises great potential for both leisure and business travellers. As always, IndiGo remains committed to providing affordable, timely, and seamless travel experiences." Customers can book flights through IndiGos official website or mobile app. With a fleet of over 380 aircraft, IndiGo connects to 85 domestic and 30 international destinations, operating more than 2,100 daily flights. First Published: November 22, 2024, 11:24 IST Country United States of America US Virgin Islands United States Minor Outlying Islands Canada Mexico, United Mexican States Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Cuba, Republic of Dominican Republic Haiti, Republic of Jamaica Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's Republic of Barbados Belarus Belgium, Kingdom of Belize Benin, People's Republic of Bermuda Bhutan, Kingdom of Bolivia, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana, Republic of Bouvet Island (Bouvetoya) Brazil, Federative Republic of British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago) British Virgin Islands Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria, People's 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Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe 8th Pay Commission: Central Govt Employees May See 186% Jump In Salary, Announcement Likely In Budget Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 22, 2024, 16:19 IST 8th Pay Commission: If the government approves the fitment factor of 2.86, the minimum salary of government employees will shoot up by 186 per cent to Rs 51,480, compared with the current payout of Rs 18,000. The central government employees currently get a minimum basic salary of Rs 18,000 per month under the 7th Pay Commission. 8th Pay Commission: Even as the central government employees are awaiting the official announcement on the 8th Pay Commission, reports suggest that the central government employees are expected to see a 186 per cent jump in their minimum salaries. The employees currently get a minimum basic salary of Rs 18,000 per month under the 7th Pay Commission, which was increased from the 6th Pay Commissions Rs 7,000. related stories Minimum Salary, Pension Under 8th Pay Commission Shiv Gopal Mishra, Secretary (staff side) of the National Council of Joint Consultative Machinery (JCM), has said he expects a fitment factor of at least 2.86. It is 29 basis points (bps) higher as compared with 2.57 fitment factor under the 7th Pay Commission. If the government approves the fitment factor of 2.86, the minimum salary of government employees will shoot up by 186 per cent to Rs 51,480, compared with the current payout of Rs 18,000, according to a Financial Express report. Any further hike in fitment factor will lead to commensurate rise in the salaries. A hike in fitment factor raises both pension and salaries of the employees. Under the 8th Pay Commission, pensions are also expected to increase by 186 per cent to Rs Rs 25,740, compared with the current pension of Rs 9,000. This calculation holds true if the currently expected fitment factor of 2.86 gets through. 8th Pay Commission: When Will It Be Formed? Though there is no official announcement on the expected date of the formation of the new pay commission, media reports suggest that it might be announced in the next Budget 2025-26. However, the demands were also made in the last Budget 2024-25 with employee unions approaching the Cabinet Secretary and the finance ministry with their demands. The clarity on the formation of the 8th Pay Commission will likely come in December after the meeting of the National Council of the Joint Consultative Machinery. The meeting was earlier expected to take place this month but has now been postponed till December. The National Council of Joint Consultative Machinery (NC-JCM), the highest body representing employee grievances, in July 2024 also submitted a memorandum, requesting immediate steps to establish the Commission. Another appeal was made in August 2024. 7th Pay Commission: When Was It Formed? The 7th Pay Commission, which led to a substantial jump in government employees salaries, was formed in February 2014. Its recommendations were implemented from January 1, 2016. The key recommendations included raising the minimum basic pay from Rs 7,000 to Rs 18,000; revising the pay structure, allowances, and pensions; introducing a health insurance scheme for employees and pensioners; and revising the pension formulation for those retired before January 1, 2016. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Generally, a pay commission is formed every 10 years, though there is no legal provision for that. It is a practice. Currently, there are over 1 crore central government employees and pensioners. First Published: November 22, 2024, 16:03 IST Adani Stocks Stage Recovery From Day's Low As Group Denies US Bribery Charges Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: November 22, 2024, 11:34 IST Adani Stocks: Adani Group companies staged a smart rebound from day's low but could not recover entire losses Adani Stocks in Freefall: Adani Group shares continue losses, drop up to 11% Amid rising market volatility, seven listed Adani Group companies staged a notable rebound from their intraday lows, though they were unable to fully recover the early losses during the trading session. Adani Enterprises, the flagship company of the group, initially fell by 7 per cent but later trimmed its losses, trading at Rs 2,134.45, down 2.2 per cent. Adani Ports also saw a sharp drop of over 5 per cent at the open but recovered to Rs 1,080.60, down 3.06 per cent for the day. related stories Adani Power Ltd plunged more than 6 per cent early in the session, while Adani Wilmar Ltd dropped over 5 per cent at the open but later rebounded by 1 per cent. By midday, Adani Power was at Rs 465.55 (down 2.23 per cent), while Adani Wilmar saw a slight recovery. Adani Energy Solutions sank 9 per cent at the start but recovered to a 6 per cent loss by early trading. Adani Green Energy Ltd also faced an 11 per cent drop, stabilizing at Rs 1,060.95, down 7.5 per cent. Adani Total Gas Ltd fell 6 per cent before narrowing its losses to a 2 per cent decline at Rs 590.60. Three Adani Stocks in the Green Meanwhile, three Adani stocksACC Ltd, Ambuja Cements, and New Delhi Television Ltd (NDTV), which were acquired by the Adani Groupwere trading in the green. The combined market capitalization of all 11 Adani Group stocks fell by Rs 38,000 crore to Rs 11.68 lakh crore in the morning. Over the past two trading sessions, the groups market value has lost Rs 2.62 lakh crore. Setback in Kenya Adding to the groups troubles, Kenyan President William Ruto announced the cancellation of the procurement process to expand the countrys main airport, which included a proposal from the Adani Group. Why Are Adani Stocks in Focus? Adani Group stocks have come under scrutiny following bribery charges filed by US authorities against Gautam Adani, his nephew Sagar Adani, and six others on Thursday. The charges, along with Kenyas cancellation of a major deal with the group, contributed to a significant decline in Adani stocks. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all On Thursday, Adani Enterprises was the biggest loser in the Nifty 50 index, followed by Adani Ports and SEZ. The combined market capitalization of the top five Adani Group companiesAdani Enterprises, Adani Wilmar, Adani Ports and SEZ, Adani Green Energy, and Adani Total Gasdropped by Rs 1.67 lakh crore to Rs 7.77 lakh crore. Despite the setbacks, the Adani Group has denied the allegations, calling them baseless," while Indian government officials have yet to comment. First Published: November 22, 2024, 11:33 IST Stocks To Watch: Adani Ent, Adani Green, Tata Power, Ola Electric, NTPC, And Others Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: November 22, 2024, 08:52 IST Stocks to watch: Shares of firms like Adani Ent, Adani Green, Tata Power, Ola Electric, NTPC, and others will be in focus on Friday's trade Stocks To Watch Stocks To Watch On November 22: Domestic markets declined by more than half a per cent, extending the ongoing downtrend. In todays session, stocks of Adani Enterprises, Adani Green, JSW Energy, Afcons Infrastructure, Tata Power, and others will be in the spotlight following various news developments. Adani Group Stocks: In a new development concerning bribery allegations against industrialist Gautam Adani, U.S. authorities have charged him, his nephew Sagar, and several associates for defrauding American investors. They are accused of promising and paying bribes amounting to $265 million to Indian government officials in exchange for solar energy contracts. related stories Furthermore, Kenyan President William Ruto has ordered the cancellation of a process to transfer control of the countrys main airport to the Adani Group. He also scrapped a $736-million public-private partnership agreement with an Adani Group company for constructing power transmission lines. Telecom Companies: Reliance Industries (RIL), Vodafone Idea, Bharti Airtel, MTNL, and other telecom companies will be in focus as the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has released new subscriber data. Hyundai Motor India: The company plans to establish two renewable energy (RE) plants in Tamil Nadu as part of its goal to achieve 100% renewable electricity dependency across its manufacturing operations by 2025. Tata Power: Tata Power, the power utility arm of the Tata Group, has signed an initial agreement with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to explore financing of up to $4.25 billion for several strategic projects. Ashok Leyland: As part of its expansion in the eastern region, Ashok Leyland has opened a light commercial vehicle dealership in West Bengal. Ola Electric: Ola Electric is reportedly undergoing a restructuring process and plans to lay off 500 employees, which represents over 12% of its workforce, currently standing at around 4,000 employees. NTPC: NTPCs subsidiary, NTPC Green Energy Ltd (NGEL), which is set to list on the stock exchanges soon, has entered into a joint venture with the New and Renewable Energy Development Corporation of Andhra Pradesh (NREDCAP). The venture will invest Rs 1.87 trillion in renewable energy projects across the state. Coal India: The company has decided to supply coal beyond the normative requirements to the non-regulated sector, including the steel industry. This decision, effective from November 13, will apply to the tranche VIII linkage auction, which is scheduled to begin soon. Afcons Infrastructure: Afcons has received a letter of acceptance from Uttarakhand Project Development and Construction Corporation for civil works, with the project valued at Rs 1,274 crore. SJVN: SJVN has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Energy Department of Rajasthan to develop renewable energy projects in the state. Infosys: The Georgia Department of Labor has imposed a $3.28 million tax penalty on Infosys for the period between Q3CY19 and Q1CY24. Raymond: Raymond has received a No Observation Letter from the NSE and BSE regarding its scheme of arrangement with Raymond Realty. This follows Raymonds board approval on July 4, 2024, for the demerger between the company and Raymond Realty. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all LIC/LTIMindtree: Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) has increased its stake in LTIMindtree, raising its shareholding from 1,49,06,665 to 2,08,34,009 shares, which increases its ownership from 5.03% to 7.03% of the paid-up capital. Disclaimer: Disclaimer: The views and investment tips by experts in this News18.com report are their own and not those of the website or its management. Users are advised to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions. First Published: November 22, 2024, 08:52 IST 89% Delhi-NCR Schoolchildren Worried About Climate Change, Reject Token Actions: Report Last Updated: November 22, 2024, 10:28 IST The report has revealed widespread concern among schoolchildren in Delhi-NCR over climate change, with 89 per cent expressing varying levels of worry. The findings also shed light on the mental toll of climate change, with children reporting rising anxiety. (Local18) About 89 per cent of schoolchildren in Delhi-NCR have expressed varying levels of concern over the growing climate change with most rejecting token gestures such as celebration of World Environment Day, according to an NGO report. Conducted among 423 students aged 10 to 15 from diverse socio-economic backgrounds, the report by Chintan Environmental Research and Action Group underscored a critical gap in awareness and resources, disproportionately affecting low-income groups. related stories The report has revealed widespread concern among schoolchildren in Delhi-NCR over climate change, with 89 per cent expressing varying levels of worry. The report, titled The Future We Want, highlights that while 87 per cent of students were aware of the term "climate change", knowledge disparities persist. Stronger and everyday action is needed," said 97 per cent of middle- and high-income students surveyed, rejecting token gestures like World Environment Day celebrations at institutions across the country. Nearly 26 per cent of the children from low-income households said they had never encountered the term, compared to just 2 per cent from middle- and high-income households. This asymmetry is reflected in their perceptions of climate change, with 95 per cent of wealthier students acknowledging its current impact, contrasted with 68 per cent of their lower-income peers. Access to information emerged as a significant divide. Wealthier students frequently cited schools, social media, and family as key sources, while 77 per cent of low-income children relied on NGOs for their climate education. The digital divide severely hampers these childrens capacity to understand and act on climate issues," the report noted. The findings also shed light on the mental toll of climate change, with children reporting rising anxiety. While 83 per cent linked climate change to health impacts, including respiratory and heat-related illnesses, 71 per cent said it disrupted their parents livelihoods. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Recommendations by the NGO include introducing practice-based climate education in schools, equipping teachers with resources, and engaging parents in climate discussions. The report also called for greater mental health support for children grappling with climate anxiety and stressed the need for storytelling and competitions to inspire positive climate action. First Published: November 22, 2024, 10:28 IST Centre Releases World Bank Report On Jobs In 6 States. Heres What It Says Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: November 22, 2024, 19:58 IST The study is in line with the new National Education Policy (NEP), 2020 that envisages large-scale integration of skills education in schools as a critical agenda Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan at the event on Friday. (X) Services sector jobs, agriculture, manufacturing, and IT could have large opportunities for school-based skilling, according to the Jobs at Your Doorstep report prepared by the World Bank, released by union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Friday. The report is a skills gap analysis that attempts to align trades offered in schools with industry-specific needs of the districts across six states Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, and Rajasthan. related stories The six states are collectively under the ministry of educations Strengthening Teaching-Learning and Results for States (STARS) project. The World Bank assists the MoE with its STARS program, which has a national component under which key reforms are shared and disseminated for implementation. This initial research, conducted by the World Bank in collaboration with a third party, provides a preliminary skill and job diagnosis based on local requirements and demands. This report underscores the significant benefits of embedding skill-based education from classes 9-12 to prepare students for diverse career paths relying on a bottom-up approach, going deep in districts of the six states. These present varying socio-economic profiles and offer a nuanced view of how industry and government can both contribute towards the jobs agenda. The study is in line with the new National Education Policy (NEP), 2020 that envisages large-scale integration of skills education in schools as a critical agenda. Pleased to launch the @WorldBank report on Jobs At Your Doorstep with my valued colleague Dr. @mansukhmandviya. Compliment the World Bank team led by Country Director for India, Mr. Auguste Tano Kouame, for this detailed report on six states. Such in-depth diagnostics on pic.twitter.com/f4C3COrjVS Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) November 22, 2024 THE NEP Under the new education policy, the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) 2023 guidelines propose broad exposure to skilling and forms of work for classes 6-8; exposure to multiple vocations and transferable skills for classes 9-10; and in-depth skilling in a vocation (up to 3 out of 6 total subjects) for classes 11-12. The trade analysis across one district each picked from five states including Shimla, Indore, Dhenkanal, Nagpur and Jodhpur, indicated a mismatch between capacity and demand, the report said. Also, district trades analysis indicated a mismatch between skills demand and supply, it said. The report has come out with nine key recommendations for schools in India to better the skilling initiative. One of the major recommendations includes expanding access to skill education in more schools and establishing skill hubs. Target at least 20-30% secondary schools in every district offering skill education as a first goal. Also, government can offer at least two trades in each target school; scale up to 3-5 trades in large schools," the report stated. It also said the schools must offer a revised set of broad-based trades targeting multiple job roles per trade. The study suggested that schools can provide students the choice to study trades in a light-touch manner or in-depth (up to 3 skills subjects may be chosen out of a total of 6 subjects in grades 11-12 as per NCF 2023). District officials should recommend trades for new schools based on existing skilling capacity, local economy needs and student aspirations. Focus on broader employability skills along with technical trade skills," it said. The report highlighted that soft skills, digital literacy, financial acumen and building an entrepreneurial mindset should be offered to 100% of students. It further emphasised testing for practical skills over theoretical knowledge. Schools Boards and Sector Skill Councils (SSCs) to drive the reform effort develop a deep and ongoing partnership with industry. It is critical to ensure curriculum relevance, internships, job placements etc. THE STUDY The report was released by Pradhan along with union minister of labour, youth affairs and sports, Mansukh Mandaviya. Such in-depth diagnostics on skilling and jobs will enable stakeholders to create new architectures and make progressive policies for empowering our population. We need to broaden the definition of jobs and employment. The framework must be broadened and viewed from the perspective of economic opportunities and empowerment," said Pradhan while launching the report in the national capital. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The study assessed the kinds of industries/local small and medium enterprises that have the potential to provide entry-level jobs or offer entrepreneurship opportunities for youth, including those who are in school and those who may have dropped out. It also analysed special economic zones, and overall labour market trends across primary, secondary, and tertiary sectors in all the six states under STARs. Conversations with employers further indicated the need for multi-skilled individuals with a broader set of employability skills" such as problem-solving, teamwork, adaptability and leveraging digital technologies, among others. First Published: November 22, 2024, 19:55 IST Trump To Shut Down The Federal Education Department? What We Know Curated By : Local News Desk Last Updated: November 22, 2024, 16:55 IST Trump has also expressed concern over what he calls Marxist philosophy being taught in schools and wants universities to embrace patriotic values. Important decisions about education are made by the US Ministry of Education. Rumours about the closure of the US Department of Education under Donald Trumps administration have gained traction. Throughout his campaign, Trump criticized the department, calling it a radical bureaucracy that meddled in American families affairs. Now, with Linda McMahon, former WWE CEO, potentially at the helm of the department, the American education system may face major changes. Why Does Trump Want to Shut It Down? related stories Donald Trump believes education should be governed by states rather than the federal government. He argues that decentralising control will improve outcomes. Trump has often highlighted the inefficiency of the current system, noting that despite significant spending, American students underperform compared to peers globally. His vision is to reduce federal influence over curricula and school policies, placing these responsibilities with state governments. Trump has also expressed concern over what he calls Marxist philosophy being taught in schools and wants universities to embrace patriotic values. He plans to penalise institutions that engage in racially discriminatory practices and promote reforms that make higher education more affordable and accessible. Trumps educational agenda emphasizes Western Civilization, traditional American values, and aligning university degrees with job opportunities. Impact of Shutting Down the Department The US Department of Education plays a crucial role in education policy and financing, particularly through its Federal Student Loan Programme. If the department closes, decisions on education policies will shift entirely to state and local governments. This could lead to inconsistent standards and reduced federal oversight. The department also sets guidelines for colleges and universities, ensuring equity and compliance. Its closure could leave gaps in regulating and standardizing education across states. Challenges in Closing the Department top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Eliminating the Department of Education is a daunting task. It requires legislation passed by Congress and approval by at least 60 Senate votes. Trump will need bipartisan support to achieve this goal, making the process complex and uncertain. While Trumps proposed reforms aim to improve education access and outcomes, the impact on students remains a topic of debate, with significant implications for the future of American education. Location : Delhi, India First Published: November 22, 2024, 16:55 IST 150 Cases In 1.5 Days: Controversial Remarks, Code Breaches Dominated Maharashtra Polls Reported By : News18.com Edited By: Apoorva Misra Last Updated: November 22, 2024, 10:12 IST The commission has revealed that a total of 509 Model Code of Conduct violation cases were registered throughout the election period Despite the violations, the State Election Commission has been commended for its efforts to increase voter turnout. (PTI) The Maharashtra State Election Commission (SEC) has reported a surge in violations during the assembly elections, with 150 cases registered within just one-and-a-half days. Among these, 15 cases related to controversial statements such as Batenge toh Katenge", Vote Jihad", Ek Hain toh Safe Hain", and Dharmayodha" have been flagged and detailed reports have been sent to the Central Election Commission. The SEC is also investigating incidents of cash and sari distribution, which have added to the tally of Model Code of Conduct (MCC) violations. The commission has revealed that a total of 509 MCC violation cases were registered throughout the election period. related stories However, the sudden spike in cases in less than two days has raised concerns among senior officials. On polling day itself, chief minister Eknath Shinde visited the Worli and Chandivali constituencies, which has sparked complaints of code violations. The SEC has taken cognizance of these allegations and sought a report on the matter. Despite these violations, the SEC has been commended for its efforts to increase voter turnout. Senior officials expressed satisfaction with the higher turnout compared to previous elections, crediting improved facilities at polling centres. In Mumbai, where the district election offices worked extensively, measures such as housing society-based polling stations and strategic redistribution of polling booths helped avoid confusion observed during the Lok Sabha elections. The increase in voter turnout has been attributed to better voter convenience, enhanced booth accessibility, and meticulous planning by district officials. These improvements ensured smoother operations and contributed significantly to public participation in the democratic process. During the assembly elections, three polling stations utilised three Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) each, while over 100 polling stations required two or more EVMs. At 185 polling stations, a single EVM was sufficient. This setup helped manage the voting process effectively, even in high-density areas. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Enforcement agencies reported a significant increase in the value of seized items during the elections. Compared to Rs 123 crore worth of cash, liquor, and other valuables confiscated in the 2019 elections, this year saw seizures worth a staggering Rs 709 crore. The rise indicates stricter enforcement and vigilance by the authorities to curb illegal practices. While the SECs initiatives to enhance voter participation have received praise, the concerning rise in MCC violations and complaints, including high-profile cases involving senior leaders, remains a challenge. As scrutiny intensifies, the Election Commissions ability to ensure free and fair elections will be crucial in shaping public confidence. First Published: November 22, 2024, 09:57 IST Eye On Delhi Polls, Kejriwal Launches Revdi Par Charcha For Feedback On Freebies Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: November 22, 2024, 14:58 IST AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal launched the campaign, saying while the opposition calls freebies revdi, the party calls it services Former Delhi CM and AAP National Convener Arvind Kejriwal addresses the gathering during the launch of 'Revdi Par Charcha' campaign ahead of Delhi Assembly elections, in New Delhi, on Friday. (PTI) Delhis ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Friday launched a campaign with a tagline Revdi Par Charcha to seek public feedback on revdis or freebies. AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal launched the campaign with his colleagues at the party office, saying while the opposition calls freebies revdi", the party calls it services. related stories The campaign will start on November 25 and will continue for 15 days until December 10, discussing the issues with common man. The opposition has been targeting the AAP for providing free electricity, water and free public buses for women among other facilities. The party, however, feels freebies help citizens live a life of dignity. AAPs Delhi unit chief Gopal Rai said that so far, politicians used to enjoy the facilities, while citizens paid taxes. Arvind Kejriwals government decided that the people should also get the facilities like the politicians," he said, adding the BJP called their attempt revdis". We are launching the Revdi Par Charcha campaign. The discussion will be held across the city. People will be asked if the government should provide the facilities or not," he said. Kejriwal said 65,000 meetings will be held across Delhi at micro levels by the AAP leaders and workers. We have six revdis for the people of Delhi. The PM and BJP have said several times that Kejriwal is providing freebies to the people that should be stopped. The people will now tell us if they want these six freebies. BJP calls it revdi, we call it services. If the BJP is elected here, they will stop these services immediately," Kejriwal said. Listing the six services, he said Delhi is getting included free electricity round the clock. There was a time when Delhi used to see power cuts for 8-10 hours. We ensured that the situation changes," Kejriwal said. He listed that his party is providing free water, free pilgrimage to senior citizens, free bus rides to women, free world-class education and free medicine and treatments. 6 1 24 2 3 4 5 6 pic.twitter.com/EM8VlNGXZU AAP (@AamAadmiParty) November 22, 2024 The pamphlet launched by Kejriwal also listed that soon the women in Delhi will get Rs 1,000 per month as well, later termed as the seventh revdi by Kejriwal. The paper, meant to be circulated across Delhi, also reads that if the reader feels they are getting huge water bills, they should not pay it. We will waive all water bills once Kejriwal is re-elected," it reads. Kejriwal, in his speech, assured that whatever work is left will be completed in the next term, if he is re-elected in the 2025 assembly polls, adding his calculation says that they are winning as many seats as they bagged in 2020 62 of 70. Delhi is a half-state. The remaining half is of the LG and BJP. We did so much for the city, they should now tell what have they done in the past 10 years? If you have not done anything in a half-government, why should we give you full power," he added. Party leader Manish Sisodia, while launching the campaign, said, Kejriwal was able to achieve these goals as he had the vision and dedication to allow people a life of dignity. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all When we get a chance to work for the people as a government, we attempt to help them with a life of dignity. People wanted electricity, water, loan-free quality treatments at the hospital and loan-free quality education for their children and we try to provide them with these," Sisodia said. The term of the current assembly will end in February 2025 and the elections will be held around January-February. First Published: November 22, 2024, 14:56 IST Election Results For Maharashtra and Jharkhand Out On Saturday: When & Where To Check? Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 22, 2024, 17:54 IST ECI Election Results 2024 Maharashtra and Jharkhand: The results of the two hotly-contested Assembly elections will be announced tomorrow. ECI Election Results 2024 Maharashtra and Jharkhand: The counting of votes will begin at 8 am tomorrow. (Representational image/PTI) ECI Election Results 2024 Maharashtra and Jharkhand: The results of the fiercely-contested Assembly Elections in Maharashtra and Jharkhand will be announced on Saturday, November 23, bringing an end to a hectic election year. The results of by-polls in Kerala, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh will also be declared tomorrow. The Elections for the 81-seated Jharkhand Assembly took place on November 13 and 20, where the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) faced off against the Congress and Hemant Sorens Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM). The ruling JMM-led INDIA bloc is aiming to retain power with its welfare schemes, while the BJP-led NDA is hoping to reclaim it. The voter turnout was recorded at 68.95%. related stories All 288 constituencies of Maharashtra went to polls in a single phase on November 20 (Wednesday), to decide the winner of an epic clash between the ruling BJP-led Mahayuti alliance and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) comprising of Congress. The election feud was marked by the splits in the Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party. The voter turnout was recorded at 66.05 per cent in Maharashtra, besting its turnout from 2019. Most exit polls predicted a clear majority for the Mahayuti alliance BJP, Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) and Ajit Pawars NCP and a routing for the MVA Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and Sharad Pawars NCP. ECI Election Results 2024: When And Where To Watch Results? The counting of votes for the Assembly Elections as well as by-elections will start at 8 am on Saturday, November 23. The postal ballots will be counted first, after which EVMs will be opened at around 8:30 am at all the counting centres. The Election Commission of Indias official website https://results.eci.gov.in will publish the latest trends as and when they come. You can also track the latest updates on the CNN-News 18 website at www.news18.com and its official channel. You can also check the social media handles of News18 on YouTube, X, Facebook and Instagram to check the latest results of the Maharashtra Election . You can also find the results of Jharkhand Assembly election and the by-polls in Kerala, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The BJP and its allies banked on its development programmes like the Ladki Bahin" programme, along with the Ek Hai Toh Safe Hai" slogan aiming to unite the Hindu votes. On the other hand, the MVA attempted to corner the Mahayuti government over corruption, split of Shiv Sena and NCP and lashed out over its batenge toh katenge" slogan. In Jharkhand, the BJP reiterated its Batenge Toh Katenge" slogan while also vowing to free the state from the infiltration problems. The Hemant Soren government attacked the BJP over misusing central agencies and is hoping to retain power. First Published: November 22, 2024, 17:05 IST Hemant Soren To Babulal Marandi: Mood In Jharkhand On Assembly Poll Results Eve Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: November 22, 2024, 19:06 IST Jharkhand elections: Most exit polls have given the BJP the edge in Jharkhand, but shown a tight contest between NDA and INDIA front Exit polls have predicted a tough fight in Jharkhand. (News18) The picture of Kalpana Soren oiling husband Hemant Sorens hair as their pet dog snuggles is meant to convey the confidence that Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) is exuding in the run-up to the counting. The picture posted by the Jharkhand CM himself is shown around by his supporters in Ranchi as proof of his simple, tribal roots", which connects with the Jharkhandis. Jharkhand CM Soren sought to underline his family man" image further when he called on Guruji" on Friday. Hemant Soren reached Shibu Sorens residence ahead of counting and took his blessings. related stories BUSINESS AS USUAL IN BJP In the Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJP) Harmu office, however, there is no scope for relaxation. Twenty-four hours before the EVMs open, Babulal Marandi did a stock-taking with his party agents about the counting process. Party Rajya Sabha MP Pradeep Verma refrained from giving an exact number, but told CNN-News18 that the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will easily get bahumat". Come tomorrow for laddoos," he said, when asked if the party has started preparing for celebrations on Saturday. The BJP is banking on Champai Soren turning Kolhan for the party. India Front leaders, however, claimed Champai is facing a tough fight for his own seat. At a tea stall next to the BJP office, local supporters claim that the partys worst performance will be 43 seats. Marandi told News18 that reports from across Jharkhand are very positive for the NDA. I have already said 51 lotuses will bloom. We dont believe in exit polls. My confidence stems from the reports that I am getting from my workers who have manned every booth and mohalla." EXIT POLLS SAY TOUGH FIGHT Most exit polls have given the BJP the edge in Jharkhand, but shown a tight contest between NDA and INDIA front. Axis My India pollsters have given a clear majority to the JMM-led combine. The results will be clear by noon. There is no tight contest. We are coming back to power," a Kalpana Soren aide told CNN-News18, even as the star campaigner" of the party left Ranchi for Giridih. WOMEN CARD VS BANGLADESHI IMMIGRANT While the BJP is banking strongly on its Bangladeshi immigrant pitch, India front feels Kalpana Soren will prove to be the X factor in these assembly elections. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The four percentage point increase in women voters is being underlined by both sides as proof of their support base increasing. Maiya samman yojna, the fact that four instalments have already been credited has given women confidence in the JMM Sarkar. There is also a sympathy factor that their tribal CM was jailed," Congress Jharkhand in-charge Ghulam Ahmed Mir told CNN-News18. Mirs comment that, if voted to power, gas cylinders would be provided at Rs 450 to all, including infiltrators, was slammed by the BJP as vote-bank politics. Mir claimed his comments were misreported. First Published: November 22, 2024, 19:03 IST 'If Mumbaikars Won't Go To Polling Booths, Then...': How EC's 'Doorstep Voting' Plan Boosted Turnout Reported By : News18.com Edited By: Pathikrit Sen Gupta Last Updated: November 22, 2024, 18:59 IST To help improve the voting percentage, particularly in urban areas, the Election Commission converted community halls, clubhouses, and open spaces inside housing societies into well-guarded polling stations in many parts of Mumbai Maharashtra recorded an overall voter turnout of 66.05% on November 20, while Mumbai city recorded 52.65% and the suburbs 56.39%. (Representational image/PTI) The results of the Maharashtra assembly elections will be out on Saturday following a gruelling contest between the ruling Mahayuti alliance and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi bloc. While the focus is on which side will form the government, a point of interest is also that the polls held on November 20 saw a significant increase in voting percentage. Maharashtra recorded an overall voter turnout of 66.05%, while Mumbai city recorded 52.65% and the suburbs 56.39%. Observers say the efforts of the state election commission have paid off. While there is room for improvement, the turnout record of 1995 was broken this year by the state. Also, compared to 59.22% in 2019, the number of female voters rose to 65.21% this time, while the turnout for male voters went up from 62.77% to 66.84%. related stories To help improve the voting percentage, particularly in urban areas, the Election Commission converted community halls, clubhouses, and open spaces inside housing societies into well-guarded polling stations in many parts of Mumbai. Due to this, many voters who usually avoid voting, citing different reasons, could cast their votes in a nearby society or even in their own. Urban areas in Maharashtra, particularly Mumbai, have historically struggled with lower voter turnouts compared to rural regions. Reasons include long commuting distances, busy work schedules, and a general sense of voter apathy. To address these barriers, the Election Commission undertook a comprehensive review of polling booth distribution and identified a lack of proximity to voters as a key issue. The EC decided to bring polling stations closer to the people, especially in cities like Mumbai, Pune, and Thane. The idea, say observers, was simple yet transformative: set up booths directly within residential societies to eliminate the inconvenience of travel and long queues at centralised polling stations. Shefali Sadhu, a resident of a colony in Bandra East, told this reporter, This time many young voters from my colony and nearby societies went to cast their vote as the polling booth was set up in a nearby society. So, they couldnt give any excuses, like the booth being far from their place. I appreciate such efforts taken by the Election Commission to come up with this kind of initiative. Also, on radio and TV, the ECI ran a good campaign and encouraged people to vote." Such an initiative required meticulous planning. The EC collaborated with local government bodies, housing society management committees, and election officials to execute the plan. The selection criteria for residential societies included population density, the number of eligible voters, and accessibility for senior citizens and persons with disabilities. Each housing society selected for the initiative was equipped with a dedicated polling booth, staffed with trained officials to ensure a smooth voting process. To maintain security, local police were deployed, and society gates were monitored to prevent unauthorised access. Voter privacy was prioritised, with booths designed to meet the ECs standards. Additionally, these booths were strategically located in societies with higher numbers of registered voters who had shown low participation in previous elections. This targeted approach ensured maximum impact. The decision to set up 700 voting booths in residential societies proved to be a game changer. Mumbai (overall), which traditionally struggled to cross the 50% turnout mark, recorded average voter participation of 58% in these societies. Some constituencies even reported an 8-10% increase in participation compared to the last assembly elections. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The convenience of voting within ones residential complex encouraged working professionals, senior citizens, and even first-time voters to cast their ballots. Families, for instance, treated voting as a shared activity, with many first-timers influenced by the enthusiasm around them. Another critical aspect of the initiative was the focus on voter awareness. Residential societies hosted pre-election awareness drives, mock polling sessions, and campaigns to motivate residents to vote. This sense of community engagement created a ripple effect, making voting feel less like an obligation and more like a collective responsibility. The success of residential society polling booths in Maharashtra has set a new benchmark for urban voter turnout strategies, say observers. This initiative demonstrated how proximity and convenience could significantly enhance democratic participation. As the Election Commission evaluates its performance, the residential society model is likely to be replicated and refined in future elections, both in Maharashtra and across India. The surge in voter turnout this year reflects not only the effectiveness of these efforts but also a growing commitment among citizens to strengthen democracy through active participation. First Published: November 22, 2024, 18:57 IST Jharkhand Elections: This BJP Leader Lost To Congress Rival By Just 25 Votes In 2009 Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: November 22, 2024, 11:25 IST In the 2009 Jharkhand elections, BJP's Ramji Lal Sharda narrowly lost the Hatia seat to Congress's Gopal SN Shahdev by just 25 votes The recently concluded assembly elections in Jharkhand witnessed several closely contested seats. (Representative/PTI File) Voting for the 81-member Jharkhand Assembly concluded on November 20. The counting of votes for the elections, which took place in two phases, is scheduled for November 23. Suppose one examines Jharkhands four assembly election results since the states formation in 2005. In that case, they will notice that the narrowest victory achieved was by a margin of 25 votes, while the largest margin of victory stood at 72,643 votes. In the 2009 Jharkhand assembly elections, the BJP candidate and former minister from the Hatia assembly seat lost to the Congress candidate by the smallest margin. Congresss Gopal SN Shahdev got 39,921 votes, while BJP candidate Ramji Lal Sharda got 39,896 votes, losing by just 25 votes. related stories In the 2005 assembly elections, NCP candidate Kamlesh Singh narrowly won the Hussainabad seat by a margin of just 35 votes. Singh secured 21,661 votes, while RJD candidate Sanjay Singh Yadav, the runner-up, received 21,626 votes. In the 2014 assembly elections, the victory in the Torpa seat was decided by just 43 votes. BJPs Koche Munda received 31,960 votes, while JMMs Paulus Surin came second with 32,003 votes. Apart from these, victory margins have been as close as 285 votes in Simdega (2019), 290 votes in Chakradharpur (2009), 411 votes in Barkagaon (2014), 436 votes in Khunti (2009), 438 votes in Latehar (2005), 569 votes in Bishunpur and 592 votes in Lohardaga (2014). At the same time, the names of former Chief Minister Raghuvar Das, Biranchi Narayan, and Congresss Alamgir Alam are included among those candidates who won with the biggest victory margins in Jharkhand assembly elections. In the 2014 assembly elections, BJP candidate Biranchi Narayan, from the Bokaro assembly seat, won by a record margin of 72,643 votes. He got a total of 1,14,321 votes in the election, while independent candidate Samaresh Singh was in second place with 41,678 votes. Following this, BJPs Raghuvar Das achieved his most significant victory. In the 2014 assembly elections, Das secured a total of 1,03,427 votes from the Jamshedpur East constituency, defeating Anand Bihari Dubey of the Indian National Congress by a margin of 70,157 votes. In the 2019 assembly elections, the largest victory was achieved by Alamgir Alam, the Congress candidate from Pakur. He received a total of 1,28,218 votes, defeating Beni Prasad Gupta of the BJP by 65,108 votes. Other significant victory margins include: 64,912 votes in Khijri (2014), 60,565 votes in Baharagora (2019), 59,804 votes in Kanke (2014), 58,863 votes in Ranchi (2014), 55,344 votes in Kharsawan (2015), 53,818 votes in Ramgarh (2014), 52,997 votes in Dhanbad (2019), 51,812 votes in Hazaribagh (2019), and 48,123 votes in Mandu (2019). The recently concluded assembly elections in Jharkhand witnessed closely contested seats, with the reputations of several Chief Ministers and their relatives hanging in the balance. Hemant Soren, the incumbent Chief Minister, contested from the JMM alongside his wife, Kalpana Soren, and brother, Basant Soren. Hemant Sorens sister-in-law, Sita Soren, stood as a candidate for the BJP. The electoral fate of former Chief Minister and BJP leader Babulal Marandi also rested in the hands of the electorate. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The elections saw several other prominent figures with familial ties to former Chief Ministers vying for seats. Purnima Das Sahu, daughter-in-law of former Chief Minister and current Odisha Governor Raghuvar Das, contested the elections. Meera Munda, wife of former Chief Minister Arjun Munda, and Geeta Koda, wife of former Chief Minister Madhu Koda, also contested. Adding to the list of notable contenders were former IPS officer Dr. Arun Kumar Oraon, representing the BJP, and former IPS officer and Congress MP Dr. Ajay Kumar. Location : Jharkhand, India First Published: November 22, 2024, 11:25 IST Last Updated: November 23, 2024, 22:27 IST ECI Maharashtra Election Results 2024 Live Updates: The counting of votes for the Maharashtra assembly elections began at 8 am on Saturday and people gave a clear mandate to the Mahayuti alliance, comprising of BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP as it won more 234 out of 288 constituencies, reducing the MVA to a measly 50 seats. The BJP staged a stunning comeback, winning 132 seats, with Devendra Fadnavis (Nagpur South West), Sudhir Mungantiwar (Ballarpur), Kishor Jorgewar (Chandrapur), and Girish Mahajan (Jamner) bagging top leads among others. Meanwhile, Congress and NCP (SP) added to the worries of poorly performing Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) as the grand old party managed 16 seats, while Sharad Pawar suffered the worst rout of his career with only 10 seats. Delivering a speech after Mahayutis landslide victory in New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said lies and deceit had been delivered a crushing defeat and called it the biggest victory margin in the last 50 years by any party in a pre-poll alliance. He also slammed Congress and said people gave a befitting reply to the partys appeasement politics and attempts to divide people on the basis of caste and religion. While the MVA comprises the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP (SP), the ruling Mahayuti is made up of the BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP. In the ruling alliance, the BJP contested 149 assembly seats, Shiv Sena 81 seats, and the NCP fielded candidates in 59 constituencies. In the oppositions combine, the Congress fielded 101 candidates, Shiv Sena (UBT) 95, and NCP (SP) put up 86 candidates. Parties like Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM), also contested, fielding 237 and 17 candidates. A total of 288 counting centres have been set up for the counting of votes on Saturday, including one for the Nanded Lok Sabha bypoll. The final turnout in the elections, held in a single phase on November 20, was 66.05%, up from 61.1% in 2019. The majority mark in the 288-seat Maharashtra Assembly is 145, the number any alliance or party needs to crack to be able to form government in the state. The term of the present state assembly ends on November 26. For Mumbai-centric updates, visit News18.com Last Updated: November 22, 2024, 22:32 IST Election Results 2024 Maharashtra and Jharkhand: The counting of votes will begin at 8 am on Saturday. (Representational image/PTI) Assembly Elections Updates: Most exit polls on Wednesday predicted victories for the BJP-led alliances in the Maharashtra and Jharkhand assembly elections, although some suggested a slight advantage for the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition in Maharashtra. Axis MyIndia was the only poll to forecast a win for the Congress-JMM alliance in Jharkhand, predicting 49-59 seats out of 81, compared to just 17-27 seats for the BJP-led NDA and three seats for other parties. Exit polls were released shortly after the conclusion of voting in Maharashtra and the second phase of voting in Jharkhand, projecting a victory for the BJP-led Mahayuti government in Maharashtra and the NDA in Jharkhand. In Maharashtras 288-member assembly, the majority mark is 145, while in Jharkhands 81-member assembly, it is 41. Currently, the BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP alliance holds power in Maharashtra, while the JMM-Congress coalition governs Jharkhand. The vote counting will take place on November 23 for Maharashtras single-phase election held on Wednesday and the two-phase election in Jharkhand held on November 13 and 20. Maharashtra Jharkhand Election Results: Know the Assembly Result Date, Counting Time, Live Tracking Details Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 22, 2024, 17:50 IST Maharashtra Jharkhand Election Results 2024 Date and Time: Polling in Jharkhand and Maharashtra was completed on November 20. It's now time for counting of votes. Maharashtra Jharkhand Election Results 2024 Date and Time: The counting of votes will begin tomorrow. (ANI Photo) ECI Election Results Maharashtra and Jharkhand Live Details: The hotly-contested Assembly Elections in Maharashtra and Jharkhand will come to their conclusion on Saturday with the declaration of results. Stakes are high in both states, however, that is not all, as the results of the by-polls in Punjab, Kerala, Uttarakhand, and a crucial state of Uttar Pradesh will also be declared tomorrow. The results of Uttar Pradesh by-polls will be a huge contributing factor in setting a narrative for the next Assembly polls in the state in 2027. related stories The Elections for the 81-seated Jharkhand Assembly took place on November 13 and 20, while Maharashtra, which has 288 Assembly seats, went to polls in a single phase on November 20. Now, it all comes down to November 23 when the fates of political leaders in the fray will be decided with the counting of votes. Bye-elections to 48 Assemblies Constituencies and 2 Parliamentary Constituencies spread across 15 states were also held simultaneously. Four Assembly seats in Punjab, nine in Uttar Pradesh, one Parliamentary seat in Kerala (Wayanad), and one in Maharashtra (Nanded) went to by-polls. Date And Time Of Assembly Election Results The counting of votes for the Assembly Elections as well as by-elections will start at 8 am on Saturday, November 20. The postal ballots will be counted first, after which EVMs will be opened at around 8.30 am at all the counting centres. The Election Commissions official website https://results.eci.gov.in will publish the latest trends and results as and when they come. Whats At Stake In Maharashtra And Jharkhand? Political narratives were built in the election campaign by both the ruling and the Opposition camps in Maharashtra and Jharkhand. While the BJP attempted to portray its developmental schemes in Maharashtra, along with the Ek Hai Toh Safe Hai" slogan aiming to unite the Hindu votes, the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi in the state attempted to corner the Mahayuti government over corruption, split of Shiv Sena and NCP. Following a disappointing show for the BJP-led Mahayuti in the Lok Sabha Elections, the alliance would be hoping to bounce back with a victory in the state. Shiv Sena and NCP, both of which split into two factions in the last five years, will also be under the litmus test of their acceptability among people after they broke away from their original inception. The Opposition BJP in Jharkhand reiterated its Batenge Toh Katenge" slogan in Jharkhand while also vowing to free the state from the infiltration problems, whereas the ruling Hemant Soren government attacked to BJP and is hoping to retain power. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all As the counting of votes begins at 8 am, the narratives set by the Opposition will also be put to test whether they found any takers among voters. Follow more updates on Assembly Elections on News18.com First Published: November 22, 2024, 14:53 IST Maharashtra, Jharkhand Election Results: Will There Be Saturday Surprises In Final Countdown Of 2024? Published By : News18.com Last Updated: November 23, 2024, 00:21 IST Exit polls indicate that the Bharatiya Janata Party and its allies may have the edge in both Maharashtra and Jharkhand. In the 288-member Maharashtra assembly, 145 is the majority mark, while it is 41 in the 81-member Jharkhand assembly Election Results 2024 Maharashtra and Jharkhand: The counting of votes will begin at 8 am on Saturday. (Representational image/PTI) The results of the Maharashtra and Jharkhand assembly polls will be announced on Saturday, bringing the curtains down on the chock-a-block election year of 2024. The outcome of bypolls held across 46 assembly constituencies and two parliamentary seats in 13 states will also be of interest. Exit polls indicate that the Bharatiya Janata Party and its allies may have the edge in both Maharashtra and Jharkhand. related stories In the 288-member Maharashtra assembly, 145 is the majority mark, while it is 41 in the 81-member Jharkhand assembly. The results will likely impact the winter session of Parliament that begins on Monday, with the Narendra Modi government looking to push 16 bills, including a contentious one to amend the Waqf law, and the opposition set to raise a host of issues such as the Manipur unrest, price rise, and caste concerns. After a hard-fought victory in the April-June Lok Sabha elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party regained momentum in October as it won the Haryana elections, where pollsters had predicted an easy victory for the opposition Congress. The Congress won a consolation victory in alliance with the National Conference in Jammu and Kashmir where elections were held after a 10-year gap. The polls in Jharkhand were held in two phases, on November 13, and then on November 20 along with Maharashtra, which voted in a single round. Maharashtra The elections in Maharashtra are a make-or-break for both the ruling Mahayuti alliance and the opposition bloc Maha Vikas Aghadi, with the last five years witnessing significant political realignments in the state as regional behemoths Shiv Sena and NCP saw splits. The Eknath Shinde governments Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, aimed at carving out a womens constituency to bolster the ruling alliances electoral prospects, is expected to be a key factor aside from issues like Maratha reservations, price rise, jobs, and the BJPs Hindutva push. In the 2019 Maharashtra assembly polls, the Bharatiya Janata Party and the (then undivided) Shiv Sena dominated, winning 161 of 288 seats. However, the alliance fell apart over the sharing of power, and the Sena joined hands with the Nationalist Congress Party and the Congress to form the government. But, in 2023, rebellions by Senas Eknath Shinde, who is now Maharashtra chief minister, and NCPs Ajit Pawar, now his deputy, forced then CM Uddhav Thackeray to step down and his coalition Maha Vikas Aghadi government to collapse. While the April-June general elections this year saw Narendra Modi become a three-time Prime Minister, the ruling Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra won just 17 of the 48 parliamentary seats, falling behind the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi, comprising the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP (SP). Jharkhand The BJP and its allies are trying to wrest power from the JMM-Congress-RJD combine in tribal-dominated Jharkhand. In the 2019 assembly elections, chief minister Hemant Sorens Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, part of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance, won 47 of the states 82 seats. Earlier this year, Hemant Soren resigned as CM ahead of his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate on corruption charges. He was briefly replaced by Champai Soren, a veteran politician and close aide of party patriarch Shibu Soren. But after Hemant returned to the CMs chair following his release on bail, Champai rebelled and later quit to join the BJP. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The JMM tried to spur Adivasi anger by pointing to Hemant Sorens unjust arrest". The BJP, on the other hand, mounted a campaign that the JMM-led government allowed illegal immigrants" from Bangladesh to settle in the states Santhal Pargana, a tribal-dominated region. In the April-June Lok Sabha polls, the BJP won eight seats in the state with a 44.6% vote share, and its ally AJSU won one seat with a 2.62% vote share. The INDIA bloc combined won just five seatsthree by the JMM and two by the Congress, with vote shares of 14.6% and 19.19%, respectively. First Published: November 22, 2024, 22:12 IST MVA Is United, Will Decide On CM Post In Maharashtra Within A Day, Says Pilot Published By : PTI Last Updated: November 22, 2024, 13:14 IST Pilot, who was given the charge by the party in the Marathwada region and campaigned extensively in Maharashtra Congress leader Sachin Pilot. (Image: PTI/File) Confident of an MVA win in Maharashtra, Congress general secretary Sachin Pilot on Friday said there would not be any issue among alliance constituents in deciding on the CM post after getting a majority and it would not take more than a day to figure out who will get what position". Pilot, who was given the charge by the party in the Marathwada region and campaigned extensively in Maharashtra, Jharkhand and in constituencies where bypolls are taking place, dismissed indications by exit polls that the BJP alliance in the two states would get a majority. related stories In an interview with PTI a day before the results, Pilot said the results of the assembly elections in Maharashtra and Jharkhand as well as to the bypolls in various states will provide a reality check" to the BJP and the NDA. On the partys prospects in the recent round of assembly polls after the Haryana defeat, the Congress general secretary said Haryana was a setback and a very surprising one but Maharashtra and Jharkhand were a separate story". There is a visible desire among voters to have a change in Maharashtra because this double engine government that was running was not living up to any of the expectations that the voters had," he said. The kind of campaign we ran, the kind of guarantees we promised, our coalition partners, candidate selection, our narrative was positive and was well received. So I think we are going to see a change of government in Maharashtra," Pilot, who held a total of 55 public meetings during the assembly polls campaign, including more than two dozen in Maharashtra alone, said. In Jharkhand, a sitting CM was put behind bars on some grounds and ultimately got relief from the Supreme Court. This kind of misuse of central agencies has not gone down well with the electorate of the state, he said. The BJP doesnt have a credible face in Jharkhand. I think in both the states, the INDIA bloc partners are in a good position to form governments," Pilot told PTI. Talking about the impact of polls on the central government in case the INDIA bloc wins in the two states, he said, It is not our job to make the government stable and unstable, it is the contradictions within their alliance that will end up doing that." On many issues on, the allies of the NDA are not in agreement. We have seen many bills in Parliament that have been withdrawn, there is lack of consensus, lack of discussion that the ruling alliance has been used to in the last 10 years," Pilot said. The results in the Lok Sabha in Maharashtra saw an overwhelming defeat of the BJP and it was reflective of the mood in Maharashtra and it is bound to continue, he said. Asked whether the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) constituents the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SCP) would be able to decide on a CM face amicably in case they get a majority, he said, Running for the chair is what the BJP and its allies are doing. All of us had decided that let us first get a majority and within a day we will decide who will get what position." It is really not that important for any of the MVA alliance partners to stake claims and none has done that, he said. We have been very mature about this because peoples interests are far more important than individual interests. But what is more surprising is that the sitting CM has not been projectedbecause Mr. Ajit Pawar (NCP) and Mr. Devendra Fadnavis (BJP) both are uncomfortable with the current CM and that was openly on display during the campaign," he claimed. Everyone is seasoned in the MVA. Mr (Sharad) Pawar is a multiple time CM, Mr. (Uddhav) Thackeray too has been CM before and the Congress had a historically strong presence in Maharashtra. So three very mature parties were fighting together, who gets what position is not going to be an issue at all, it will be resolved earliest once we get a majority," Pilot said. It will not take more than a day once we get a majority to figure out who will get what position," he added. On talk of churn in Mahayuti with Ajit Pawar expressing disapproval of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanaths katenge toh batenge slogan, Pilot said he doesnt know what the Mahayuti alliance would do but asserted that the MVA is committed to people of Maharashtra and has come together with five guarantees, a joint agenda for Maharashtra and will stick to it. I think people have liked what we projected, they have faith in the delivery capacities of the MVA and he doesnt see any issue at all once votes are counted," he said. Slamming Adityanaths statement, Pilot said no right thinking person will approve the comment that he has made. I countered the slogan saying padhoge toh badhoge. That is what we have to tell the young generation. Ye baantne kaatne ki baat inko election mein yaad aati hai (they remember this divisive rhetoric during elections)," Pilot said. Rahul Gandhi ji has given a very befitting reply to Modi jis ek hain, toh safe hain, he has elaborated who is ek, and who is safe. Business interest and political interest combining to getting rid of Indias assets, that is Mr Modis statement," he said. Dismissing the exit polls predicting win for the BJP alliance in Jharkhand and Maharashtra, Pilot said, Less I say about them (exit polls), the better it is. We will wait for the day results come out." I am giving feedback from the ground. So in Maharashtra for example, the soya bean farmers, the cotton farmers and onion farmers are in severe distress and the (state) government and the government of India has only empty promises to give," he said. The farming community in Marathwada and the Vidarbha region is very uncomfortable with their regime in Delhi and Mumbai, Pilot said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all While polling for the Jharkhand Assembly took place on November 13 and 20, voting in Maharashtra took place in a single phase on November 20. The counting of votes would take place on November 23 First Published: November 22, 2024, 13:14 IST On Election Results Day, India Will Wake Up To 3 Political Realities Written By : News18.com Last Updated: November 22, 2024, 10:32 IST This Saturday will throw three political realities at India that wont just be confined to the state politics of Maharashtra, Jharkhand, and Uttar Pradesh where ten seats were closely contested but whose reflection will be on the political future of India. If NDA allies want the BJP to lose, the INDIA allies want Congress and Rahul Gandhi to lose as well, for better legroom. (PTI Photo) The three political realities will have national ramifications whose immediate after-effect could be visible in NDA and INDIA bloc meetings during the winter session of Parliament that is set to kick off on November 25 and whose staggered effects may be felt during seat-sharing talks for the upcoming Delhi Assembly Election 2025, scheduled to be held in February. related stories The Maharashtra Assembly election has emerged as a nail-biting political showdown. While most surveys favour the incumbent alliance comprising the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, BJP, and Ajit Pawar-led NCP, the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi remains close, suggesting an unpredictable electoral outcome that could swing either way. Similarly, most of the exit polls have predicted in favour of the BJP for the Jharkhand assembly elections. However, Axis My India has predicted a victory for Hemant Sorens JMM with which the Congress is in alliance. On Saturday, while there will be those who make the quotable quote, the celebrations at party headquarters, the sweet distributions, on the other hand will be gloom, empty chairs on the losing side, and resorting to blame game, often towards allies. This Saturday will throw three political realities at India that wont just be confined to the state politics of Maharashtra, Jharkhand, and Uttar Pradesh where ten seats were closely contested but whose reflection will be on the political future of India. NDA ALLIES WANT BJP TO LOSE MAHARASHTRA The NDA allies were happy to find the BJP being restricted to just 240 seats after having projected 400 paar which many of the allies started believing. It gave them the headroom to work within the NDA as equal, and the National Democratic Alliance as a forum was rejuvenated by Prime Minister Modi. For key allies like the JDU and the TDP, many of their key wishlist costing a bomb were keyed without much question in this years annual budget by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. She, in her budget speech, announced Rs 15,000 crore financial support for Andhra Pradesh to build its capital city, Amaravati. She promised the Hyderabad-Bangalore industrial corridor and Vishakhapatnam-Chennai industrial corridor to name a few. Appeasing another key ally, JDU, in this budget, Sitharaman, announced several schemes for Bihar. The schemes are a part of a larger plan titled Purvodaya", which covers the all-round development of eastern states including Bihar. But both TDP and JDU knew that it was a transactional relationship. Then came the unexpected Haryana election. Last, when states went to election, Haryana had a maximum of ten years of anti-incumbency against BJP, farmer protests, and Jat anger a recipe for a Congress sweep, which the exit polls as well. The BJP, however, won the state for the third consecutive time, came back stronger, and regained the power it lost during the Lok Sabha election. Now, BJPs allies, desperately want the pre-Haryana win arrangement and that can only happen with a big state loss and what better than Indias economic power capital slipping away? But if BJP wins Maharashtra, it would become the proverbial indestructible till the next battle and its allies have to live with even fewer seats and say. INDIA BLOC ALLIES WANT RAHUL TO LOSE MAHARASHTRA If NDA allies want the BJP to lose, the INDIA allies want Congress and Rahul Gandhi to lose as well, for better legroom. The INDIA bloc is in power in Jharkhand where the Congress is part of the government. Losing Jharkhand is not important from their prism given the charge in the eastern state is with Jharkhand Mukti Morcha where Congress plays the second fiddle. But an inability for the Maha Vikas Aghadi to form government again, in cash-rich Maharashtra, where the Congress has fought on maximum seats 102, will mean Congress losing its new-found respect among INDIA bloc allies after the Haryana election all over again. To put things into context, Shiv Sena (UBT) fought on 96 and NCP (Sharad Pawar) fought on 86 seats, which will effectively put the blame for a Maharashtra loss squarely on Congress. After a failure of AAP-Congress seat-sharing talks, the AAP on Thursday surprised many by releasing an early-bird first list of 11 candidates of whom three are recent joinees from the Congress for next years Delhi election. Also, for successive elections, allies are unlikely to be as kind with seat sharing with Congress as they were in Maharashtra. However, a Maha Vikas Aghadi win will change the scenario completely the respect lost after the Haryana election will be redeemed among allies and within two days, the Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi can be seen truly leading the opposition camp on multiple issues, and many allies like TMC who dont share a very warm working relationship with Gandhi, are expected to come under his leadership umbrella. THE HINDUTVA TEST Finally, this election will throw one final scenario that will have to decide which way the politics of India will go. This election has seen the emergence of Yogi Adityanath with his Katenge to batenge comment in Agra in the backdrop of an attack on Hindus in Bangladesh that was quickly backed by the RSS and given a more sophisticated and acceptable Ek hai to Safe hai slogan by Prime Minister Narendra Modi all intending to transcend the caste division by uniting in the name of Hindutva. This election is a test of whether it has worked or not. The BJP on its part mounted a shrill campaign both on the ground and online trying to blur the caste divisions that cost it very much in big states like Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh, bringing down its presumptive total tally. The BJP campaign had a dual message that there is an urgent need for Hindus to consolidate while there is counter-consolidation taking place and caste division will eventually lead to breaking that Hindu consolidation which is self-defeating. In Jharkhand, the narrative of Bangladeshi infiltrators was an add-on. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all If the BJP wins both states or even if it wins one, but there is a trend in both that Hindu voters have voted on religious lines rather than on caste lines it will set a precedent. This precedent will be shaped to perfection, glazed and shined in the months and years to come in all states of India. But if it fails, even then the micro-level voting pattern will be studied in BJPs data laboratory where the outcomes will be observed along with Lok Sabha results of the concerned booths to find if there has been sentiment building in certain parts if not consolidations, and if so, among which caste segments the data mine of which the BJP will use the next time theres an election. First Published: November 22, 2024, 10:32 IST Who Will Be The Maharashtra CM? Jostling Begins In Mahayuti, MVA Ahead Of Election Results Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: November 22, 2024, 08:54 IST It has been seen during the election campaign that while the Mahayuti alliance maintained silence over the CM choice, the BJP hoardings prominently displayed the picture of Fadnavis who had to settle for the deputy CM post in 2022. Jostling has begun on who will be the Maharashtra CM. (Image: PTI) Maharashtra election results are a day away, but jostling has already begun in both the Mahayuti and Maha Vikas Aghadi camps on who will be the Chief Minister if their alliance wins. The state BJP chief, Chandrashekhar Bawankule, has said that his party workers wish to see Devendra Fadnavis as the next Chief Minister while Eknath Shindes supporters would want Shinde to be CM. The three parties will sit after the results and decide," he said. BJP has contested the most number of seats in these elections (152) and expects to finish as the single-largest party with close to 100 seats. It has been seen during the election campaign that while the Mahayuti alliance maintained silence over the CM choice, the BJP hoardings prominently displayed the picture of Fadnavis who had to settle for the deputy CM post in 2022. related stories A few MLAs of the Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde) group, like Sanjay Shirsat, however, said Shinde would continue as the CM as he was extremely popular and it was his right to remain at the post. Shinde, during the election campaign, has maintained that there is no tussle" inside the Mahayuti camp on the CM face and that the call would be taken after the results are out. Most exit polls have predicted a win for the Mahayuti in the state. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all On the other hand, the Maha Vikas Aghadi camp saw state Congress chief Nana Patole say the government would be formed under the leadership of the Congress party, implying the CM would be from the Congress, which is contesting the most number of seats (102) among the Aghadi allies. Later in the day, however, Patole did a u-turn on his comment and said the High Command would be taking that decision. The u-turn came after Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray) leader Sanjay Raut objected to Patoles remarks and asked if Patole had the Congress High Commands nod to make such a comment, as no one else would accept it". Aditya Thackeray had earlier told News18 that his father and the former chief minister, Uddhav Thackeray, was the most popular choice in the Maha Vikas Aghadi camp for the job after the elections. First Published: November 22, 2024, 08:43 IST Women Outstrip Men In Maharashtra Voting Percentage Battle: BJP-Led Mahayutis Welfare Schemes The Trigger? Reported By : & News18.com Last Updated: November 23, 2024, 00:07 IST As per data from the Election Commission of India, 65.21% women voted in this election on November 20, compared to 59.62% in the last election in 2019a hike of nearly five percentage points. In the 2019 polls, 61.55% men voted, and the number stands at... Read More The Mahayuti government announced a womens welfare scheme, Ladki Bahin Yojana, which has seen five instalments of aid being transferred directly into the accounts of women. (File image: PTI) With multiple issues ruling the narrative in the Maharashtra assembly elections, one thing that may stand out as a major difference with the results to be announced on Saturday is which way the women voted. Both the ruling Mahayuti and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi understand the value of this segment and have tried to lure female voters with a flurry of steps. As per data from the Election Commission of India, 65.21% women voted in this election on November 20, compared to 59.62% in the last election in 2019a hike of nearly five percentage points. In the 2019 polls, 61.55% men voted, and the number stands at 66.84% in 2024. In 2019, the difference in voter turnout between men and women was close to 3.15 percentage points. This number has significantly reduced to 1.63 percentage points this time. related stories According to the Election Commission, the overall voter turnout in the state stood at 66.05%, with 9.70 crore registered voters. Out of these, 6.40 crore voters cast their votes. Among them, 3.34 crore were men, and 3.06 crore were women voters. Additionally, 1,810 transgender voters also participated in the electoral process, showcasing an improvement in turnout among all demographics. Voting trends and highlights in Maharashtra Overall voter turnout: 66.05% Highest turnout: Karveer constituency, 84.96% Lowest turnout: Colaba constituency, 44.44% The difference in voter turnout between the two genders in the state of Maharashtra was a high 11.12 percentage points in 1962. It saw a sizeable drop for the first time in 1995, down to 2.04 percentage points, when the BJP first came to power in the state. Ladki Bahin Yojana a game changer? There is a reason why the Mahayuti is confident that the womens vote will swing its way in this election. The government announced a womens welfare scheme, Ladki Bahin Yojana, which has seen five instalments of aid being transferred directly into the accounts of women. The scheme, initially criticised by the opposition, found a mention in their own manifesto with an increased amount of up to Rs 3,000. The ruling Mahayuti has promised to raise the amount from Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,100 a month if it retains power. The state has already paid Rs 17,000 crore to its 2.31 crore beneficiaries. Other schemes This is not the only women-centric scheme of the Maharashtra government. There are schemes covering all age groups, from infants to senior citizens. The Lek Ladki Yojana covers girl children from infancy to the age of 14. Under the scheme, a total of Rs 18,000 is paid to the girl child in three instalments. The first instalment of Rs 5,000 is paid at the time of birth. The second of Rs 6,000 is between the ages of three and six, and the third instalment of Rs 7,000 is given when the child reaches the age of six to 14. The aim is to cover the medical expenses of birth and vaccinations. The second and third instalments cover primary and secondary education, including free midday meals. A fourth instalment of Rs 8,000 is paid at the time of admission to class 11. Further, when the child reaches adulthood and is looking to get into college, an amount of Rs 75,000 is paid for education for the 18-21 age group. Apart from this, assistance to seek admission to any professional course is also ensured under this scheme. A 10-day camp was also organised to focus on the importance of womens health. Covering women from the age of 18 to 65 is the Ladki Bahin Yojana, which provides assistance of Rs 1,500 per month. Apart from this, women are also eligible to get a 50% concession on state transport buses under the Mahila Samman Yojana. Other state schemes provide assistance for weddings, participation in self-help groups, Lakhpati Didi for start-up entrepreneurs, assistance for single women, and also programmes for the health and welfare of mother and child. For women over 65, a monthly pension of Rs 1,500 and an allowance of Rs 3,000 per year have also been ensured by the state government. For the empowerment of women, the state is promoting the use of pink autorickshaws. The Mukhyamantri Annapurna Yojana provides three gas cylinders to women annually across the state. While the opposition is targeting the Mahayuti government for doling out freebies such as the Ladki Bahin Yojana, the scheme is a hit among the public, especially women. The programme was first started by the BJP government in Madhya Pradesh, which led to a successful campaign and poll victory there, and even in Chhattisgarh, where it was offered in a different form. It is not just the state government, but the work done by the Narendra Modi government at the Centre for womens empowerment has also been a hit with this section of society. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The BJP is confident that women will vote for its alliance because the Modi government at the Centre was also able to pass the Womens Reservation Bill in Parliament, which was only talked about by other political parties. In the past too, providing respect to women by building toilets and giving gas connections under the Ujjwala Yojana has yielded political benefits for the saffron party not just in state polls but also in the Lok Sabha elections. Location : New Delhi | Mumbai, India First Published: November 23, 2024, 00:07 IST Has World War 3 Begun? A Look At Russias Allies, Ukraines Arms Suppliers & India's Stand Curated By : News18.com Edited By: Shilpy Bisht Last Updated: November 22, 2024, 17:41 IST Russia has sought to forge closer ties with North Korea, China, Iran, Syria for military and equipment support in its fight against the US, UK and European countries who have been providing financial aid and weapons to Ukraine. India has called for peace between the... Read More China also backed Russias claim that it launched its assault against Ukraine in 2022 because of Western provocations. (AP Photo) Russia striking Ukraine with a new intermediate-range ballistic missile on November 21 in response to Kyivs use of US-made advanced weapons against Russian territory is a new escalation in the 33-month-old war. Russian President Vladimir Putin, in a televised address, said Moscow struck Ukraine with a new medium-range, hypersonic ballistic missile (Oreshnik) and warned that more could follow. related stories The move comes days after outgoing President Joe Biden allowed Ukraine to strike Russia with six US-made ATACMS on November 19 and with British Storm Shadow missiles and US-made HIMARS. Report suggest that thousands of North Korean troops are being trained in Russia, who could have been deployed in Ukraine, as the latest sign of military cooperation between the allies. So, is this the official start of World War 3? Which countries are supporting Putin and who are on Ukraines side? What is Indias position? Let us understand these aspects in detail. World War 3 Has Started Former commander-in-chief of Ukraine and current ambassador to the UK, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, has claimed that World War 3 has begun, with the direct involvement of Russias allies. I believe that in 2024, we can absolutely assume that World War III has begun," Zaluzhnyi said. He stressed Ukraine is no longer fighting Russia alone. Ukraine is facing soldiers from North Korea. Lets be honest. Iranian-made Shaheds [loitering munitions] are killing civilians in Ukraine quite openly. Missiles made in North Korea are being launched onto Ukraine, and they are openly declaring this. Chinese-made shells are exploding in Ukraine, and Chinese parts are used in Russian missiles," The Kyiv Independent quoted Zaluzhnyi as saying. Zaluzhnyi was removed from his military position in February amid reported disagreements with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy over war strategies. Zaluzhnyi maintains that the Russia-Ukraine war could be stopped on the territory of Ukraine". Who Are Russias Allies And How Are They Supporting Putin? Russia has sought forge closer ties with old and new allies, including those in the Middle East, Africa and Eastern Europe. CNN reported that the growing anti-West sentiment is creating a much broader, urgent security threat one where partnerships of convenience are evolving into more outright military ties". North Korea: Reports suggest that North Korean soldiers taking military training in Russia under a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty that both the countries have signed. The trained Korean soldiers have been deployed in Ukraine to support Russias invasion of Ukraine. Russian forces have also become increasingly reliant on millions of rounds of North Korean artillery shells and ballistic missiles. A Guardian report suggests that the Ukraine war would enable North Korea to test the abilities of both its soldiers and weapons, while also gaining income and assistance to its missile and nuclear programmes from Russia", said Gabriel Jonsson, associate professor of Korean studies at Stockholm University. China: Both Russia and China, who are two continent-sized authoritarian states" are increasingly in dispute with NATO as they seek to gain influence in Africa, the Middle East and South America", according to The Associated Press. China also backed Russias claim that it launched its assault against Ukraine in 2022 because of Western provocations. Recently, CNN has said China has been accused of powering Russias war machine" with substantial amounts of dual-use goods" like microelectronics and machine tools, which can be used to make weapons. We see the role of UAVs [unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones] and other capacities that are penetrating the Ukrainian airspace. Much of that has been supported surreptitiously by China, and it raises real concerns," Voice of America quoted US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell as saying. In October 2023, Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov admitted basically all" civilian drones came from China. Chinese President Xi Jinping has repeatedly stressed strategic cooperation with Russia as part of a no-limits" partnership that last year delivered a record $240 billion (185 billion) in bilateral trade. Iran: Although Russia and Iran are no formal allies and they sit on opposite sides of ideology, the two countries have drawn closer, united in their opposition to the United States. The Iranian government shares the Kremlins deep distrust of anything Western, and during a phone call at the outset of the full-scale invasion, former Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi told Putin: NATO expansion is a serious threat to the stability and security of independent countries in different regions." In December 2022, the US pointed out the developing relationship between Iran and Russia involving equipment such as helicopters, fighter jets and kamikaze drones. These drones were used to attack Ukrainian cities, and it was reported that they are being smuggled into Russia using boats and Irans state airline. The December 2023 free-trade agreement between Tehran and the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union signalled a new phase in cooperation between the two countries. In September 2024, The Wall Street Journal reported the transfer of short-range ballistic missiles to Russia, a move that gives Moscow another potent military tool in its war against Ukraine and follows stern Western warnings not to provide those arms to Moscow". With tensions rising between the US and Iran-backed proxies across the region, Russia and Iran are nearly on the same page when it comes to navigating different regional conflicts, from Ukraine to Syria and Afghanistan", said TRT World. Syria: President Bashar al-Assad has praised the full-scale invasion by Russia as a correction of history" and accused Western nations of using dirty methods to support terrorists in Syria and Nazis in Ukraine". Assad sought Russias help to suppress a popular uprising in Syria which led to a 12-year civil war. Russia established a permanent military presence at naval and air bases in Syria in 2017, with smaller deployments prior to that. Belarus: Formerly part of the Soviet Union, Belarus is Russias closest and most devoted ally. Ruled by authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko, Belarus has been called a puppet state" controlled from Moscow by many. Russia used Belarus territory as a springboard" to send its troops into Ukraine in February 2022, said The Associated Press, and has maintained its military bases and weapons there, although Belarusian troops have not taken part in the war". But despite his obvious affinity with Putin, Lukashenko has also been playing a skilful balancing act", said geopolitical forecasting website GIS. Who Is On Ukraines Side? United States: The US is the biggest provider of military assistance to Ukraine since the start of the war. The total level of military assistance provided by the US since the start of the Joe Biden administration stands at $61 billion. Although the incoming Donald Trump administration has promised to end the war once he takes over as President, Biden had last week approved the use of ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile System) by Ukraine against Russia, escalating the matter. On November 20, the US announced another $275 million worth of assistance of the 70th tranche of military aid to Ukraine. Pentagon said in a statement that the US has provided Ukraine ammunition for HIMARS, artillery, anti-tank systems, UAVs and other equipment. United Kingdom: After the US and Germany, the UK is one of the leading donors to Ukraine. To date, the UK has pledged 12.8 billion in support to Ukraine since February 2022, of which 7.8 billion is for military assistance. This includes 3 billion for military assistance in 2024-25. According to a UK Parliament report, the UK is providing both lethal and non-lethal weaponry, including tanks, air defence systems and long-range precision strike missiles to Ukraine. While the UK has committed to training Ukrainian fast jet pilots, combat fighter aircraft will not be provided. Over 45,000 Ukrainian personnel have been trained under Operation Interflex hosted by the UK and supported by several allies. NATO And The European Union: NATO has been helping the Ukrainian government and supporting the delivery of humanitarian and non-lethal aid through its pre-existing Comprehensive Assistance Package. In July 2024, NATO decided to take on greater military assistance and training among NATO allies with the US-led Ukraine Defense Contact Group. Allies also agreed to a minimum baseline funding of 40 billion [for Ukraine military assistance] within the next year". European Union (EU) is also providing non-lethal and lethal arms and training to Ukraine through its European Peace Facility (EPF). his is the first time the bloc has, in its history, approved the supply of lethal weapons to a third country. To date, the EU has committed 11.1 billion of EPF funding for military support to Ukraine, including 5 billion for a dedicated Ukraine Assistance Fund which was agreed in March 2024. Turkey: NATO member Turkey has been trying to strike a balancing act between Ukraine and Russia. Turkey supports Ukraines territorial integrity and has provided it with armed drones and other military support, but it also does not want to miff Russia. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has repeatedly discussed brokering further discussions between the two warring states. Turkey has supplied Ukraine with Bayraktar TB2 drones, heavy machine guns, laser-guided missiles, electronic warfare systems, armoured vehicles and protective gear. Of Turkeys total $5.5 billion defence and aviation exports in 2023, 5.5% went to Ukraine. The Black Sea grain initiative, negotiated in July 2022 between Turkey, the UN and Russia to ensure that Ukraine could export grain via the Bosphorus, has also been impacted due to the war. Russias defence ministry has in effect said any ship leaving a Ukrainian port will be a legitimate military target. Latin America: In 2023, a change in Russias foreign policy of 2016 placed an enormous focus on Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) and Africa, where the Kremlin has been building influence since the Soviet era. Russias strategic goal is to counter the US presence in the neighbourhood and to ensure that Latin America and the Caribbean remain geopolitically neutral. Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela are Russias main security partners in LAC. All three countries have signed security and military cooperation agreements with Russia focusing on equipment sales, maintenance support, training, naval and air deployments, and intelligence. However, despite Russian propaganda, Russias image in Latin America has suffered due to the war of aggression against Ukraine. According to a 2024 report by the Center for the Study of Democracy (CSD), there has been a 15 % decrease in positive perception towards Russia in Latin America since the Russian invasion of Crimea, according to a European Parliament document. What Is Indias Position In Ukraine War? Addressing Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Ukraine in August, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had said that Indias stance in the Ukraine war was never neutral, and it is Indias view that the two sides need to engage with each other to find a solution." PM Modis one-day historic visit to war-hit Ukraine marked the first by an Indian PM since 1991. Furthermore, Jaishankar also revealed that Modi spoke about his recent discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. PM Modi sought Ukraine Presidents assessment both of ground situation and diplomatic scenario; Zelenskyy spoke on both issues," EAM said. Since the beginning of Russian operations in Ukraine, India has remained distant from the outcomes of what minister Jaishankar had once called Europes war" and any peace process that does not involve bringing Russia and Ukraine to the table for talks. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all While PM Modi has consistently said India is on the side of peace alone", New Delhi has been seen partial to Moscow, given its historical ties and energy dependencies. Last year in February, India abstained in the UN General Assembly on a resolution that underscored the need to reach as soon as possible a comprehensive, just and lasting peace" in Ukraine in line with the principles of the UN Charter. The resolution received 141 votes in favour and seven against, while India was among the 32 countries that abstained. First Published: November 22, 2024, 17:38 IST What Is Russias New Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missile That It Has Fired Against Ukraine? Explained Curated By : News18.com Edited By: Shilpy Bisht Last Updated: November 22, 2024, 13:02 IST Russias newest Oreshnik ballistic missile was fired against Dnipro in east Ukraine on November 21. According to an Arms Control Centre report published in 2022, Russia roughly has 306 strategic Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles Russian President Vladimir Putin said the Oreshnik ballistic missile was capable of Mach 10, and there were no means of counteracting such a weapon. (AP file photo) The Russia-Ukraine war has escalated after Vladimir Putin said on Thursday his forces have fired a new intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) at Ukraine after Kyiv used the long-range ballistic missiles of the US and UK to target Moscow. Ukraine said Russia has fired a new kind of missile at the city of Dnipro amid rising tensions in the more than two years long war. related stories Ukraine also claimed that Russia had fired an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) along with a barrage of other missiles at the city in Central Ukraine, injuring two civilians and destroying infrastructure facility. Whats Russias New Oreshnik Ballistic Missile? Russias newest IRBM called Oreshnik was fired against Dnipro in east Ukraine on November 21. Putin said Oreshnik was capable of Mach 10 10 times the speed of sound. He added that there were no means of counteracting such a weapon. Modern air defence systems and US systems in Europe cannot intercept such missiles. It is impossible." He further said in an address, Tests of the Oreshnik missile system in combat conditions are being conducted by us as a response to the aggressive actions of NATO countries against Russia." Initially, Ukraines Air Force reported the attack had been carried out by an ICBM, though some Western officials later cast doubt on the claim and said it was an IRBM, not an ICBM, Reuters reported. Experts say Oreshnik could be a modified version of Rubezh. The RS-26 Rubezh intercontinental ballistic missile is reported to have a range of up to 6,000 km, and can reach supersonic speeds of around 4,000mph. It can carry four warheads each with an estimated payload of 0.3 megatons. Rubezh is also understood to have a multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle (MIRV) configuration. Fabian Hoffman, a defense expert and doctoral research fellow at the University of Oslo, told Kyiv Independent Rubezh is equipped with a MIRV payload, which stands for Multiple Independent Reentry Vehicles. The purported video footages show multiple projectiles hitting the ground, but without the large explosion, which is generally associated with conventional missiles. Hoffman said such a strike by Russia was not for military value, but purely for political purposes". What Are Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles? The ICBMs were first deployed by the Soviet Union in 1958 and then by the US in 1959 and China some 20 years later. The ICBMs deliver long-distance nuclear warheads, and have a range of more than 9,000 km. While the range of an ICBM would seem excessive for use against Ukraine", such missiles are designed to carry multiple nuclear warheads, as reported by The Independent. According to an Arms Control Centre report published in 2022, Russia roughly has 306 strategic ICBMs, that together can carry up to 1,185 nuclear warheads. These include the SS-27 Mod 1 (Topol-M) and the SS-27 Mod 2 (Yars), both capable of carrying multiple nuclear warheads. Russia is also reportedly developing the Sarmat (SS-X-30) missile that is larger and more capable than previous designs. It is also developing hypersonic glide vehicle known as Avangard, as reported by The Independent. What Are ATACMS That Ukraine Used Against Russia? Ukraine has for the first time fired US-supplied longer-range missiles at a target inside Russian territory. The Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS, pronounced attack ems"), manufactured by Lockheed Martin, is a surface-to-surface ballistic missile capable of hitting targets at up to 300km (186 miles). This longer range makes them particularly important for Ukraine. With a warhead containing about 375 pounds of explosives, the missile can strike targets 190 miles away, and can fly much higher in the atmosphere than artillery rockets. ATACMS can be fired from the HIMARS mobile launchers that the US has provided to Ukraine, as well as from older M270 launchers sent from Britain and Germany. They can be configured to carry two different types of warhead. The first is a cluster fitted with hundreds of bomblets designed to destroy lighter-armoured units over a wide area. These might include parked aircraft, air defences and concentrations of troops. Cluster warheads, while useful, risk leaving behind unexploded bomblets which pose a risk long after the fighting has stopped, the BBC reported. The second type is a single warhead, a 225 kg high explosive variant of which is designed to destroy hardened facilities and larger structures. The ATACMS missile was developed in the 1980s to destroy high-value Soviet targets deep behind enemy lines, according to The New York Times. They were first used in the Gulf War of 1991, according to the BBC. How Has The World Reacted? The United Nations said Russias use of missiles against Ukraine was a worrying development". This is yet another concerning and worrying development. All of this (is) going in the wrong direction," said Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, calling on all parties to de-escalate the conflict. He repeated UN chief Antonio Guterres call for an end to the war in compliance with international law, and urged both sides to protect civilians, not hit civilian targets or critical civilian infrastructure". top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The US has also condemned Putins act, and said Russia was escalating the war at every turn". The escalation at every turn is coming from Russia," said White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre. They (Russia) are the ones escalating. We are going to continue to support Ukraine as they push back on that aggression," she said. NATO spokesperson Farah Dakhlallah was quoted by CNN as saying that Russias use of a new, medium-range ballistic missile to strike Ukraine will not affect the course of the war. Deploying this capability will neither change the course of the conflict nor deter NATO allies from supporting Ukraine," Dakhlallah said, calling the launch yet another example of Russias attacks against Ukrainian cities." First Published: November 22, 2024, 13:02 IST Why Has Netanyahu Likened ICC Arrest Warrant Against Him To 1894 Dreyfus Affair? Explained Curated By : News18.com Edited By: Shilpy Bisht Last Updated: November 22, 2024, 10:31 IST Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has described the ICCs anti-Semitic decision against him to the 1894 trial against Jewish soldier who was wrongly convicted of treason in France before being exonerated Israel's Prime Minister Office released a statement following ICC's arrest warrant that Benjamin Netanyahu 'will not give in to pressure', and continue to pursue Israels objectives in war against Hamas and the 'Iranian axis of terror'. (Photo: Reuters) The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defence minister and military commander of Hamas, Yoav Gallant, and Hamas leader Mohammed Deif for their role in alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza war. Netanyahu condemned ICCs decision as anti-Semitic". In his statement against the ICC warrant, Netanyahu invoked the Dreyfus trial, and said, The anti-Semitic decision of the International Criminal Court is comparable to the modern-day Dreyfus trial and it will end in the same way." related stories What Was The Dreyfus Trial? In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a scandal broke in the French Army that involved a Jewish artillery captain, Alfred Dreyfus (1859-1935), who was falsely convicted for passing military secrets. In 1894, a French spy at the German Embassy in Paris discovered a ripped-up letter in a waste basket with handwriting said to resemble that of Dreyfus. After that, Dreyfus was court-martialed, found guilty of treason and sentenced to life behind bars on Devils Island in French Guiana. In a public ceremony in Paris following his conviction, Dreyfus had the insignia torn from his uniform and his sword broken and was paraded before a crowd that shouted, Death to Judas, death to the Jew". In 1896, when the new head of the French Army, Georges Picquart, uncovered the evidence against Dreyfus false, and that the real traitor was Major Ferdinand Walsin Esterhazy, he told his superiors, who discouraged him from continuing his investigation, and transferred him to North Africa and later imprisoned. The word against Esterhazy spread and he was court-martialed but quickly found not guilty. He later fled the country. Renowned French author Emily Zola published an open article titled JAccuse! in which he defended Dreyfus and accused the military of the cover-up. But Zola was convicted of libel, but he managed to escape to England and later returned. What Does Israel Think About The ICC Decision? The Israeli Prime Ministers Office released a statement on Thursday against the ICC arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant. It said, No war is more just than the war Israel has been waging in Gaza since October 7th, 2023, when the Hamas terrorist organization launched a murderous assault and perpetrated the largest massacre against the Jewish people since the Holocaust. The decision to issue an arrest warrant against the prime minister was made by a corrupt chief prosecutor who is trying to save himself from sexual harassment accusations and biased judges who are motivated by antisemitic hatred of Israel No anti-Israel decision will prevent the State of Israel from defending its citizens." It further said Netanyahu will not give in to pressure", and continue to pursue Israels objectives in war against Hamas and the Iranian axis of terror". What Does The World Think Of ICC Warrants? The United States has rejected the ICC decision against Netanyahu. The ICC issuance of arrest warrants against Israeli leaders is outrageous," US President Joe Biden said in a statement. Let me be clear once again: whatever the ICC might imply, there is no equivalence none between Israel and Hamas. We will always stand with Israel against threats to its security." Argentinian President Javier Milei posted on social media platform X that is country disagrees with the ICC decision, which ignores Israels legitimate right to self-defense against the constant attacks by terrorist organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah". However, several European countries have said they respect the decisions of the court. It is not a political decision," said EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, speaking during a visit to Jordan. It is a decision of a court, of a court of justice, of an international court of justice. And the decision of the court has to be respected and implemented." The Palestinian Authority, a rival of Hamas, said that the ICCs decision represents hope and confidence in international law and its institutions." Prime Minister Netanyahu is now officially a wanted man," said Amnestys Secretary General Agnes Callamard. The ICCs decision is a belated but positive decision to stop the bloodshed and put an end to the genocide in Palestine," Turkish Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc said on X. Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said his country would be obliged to arrest Netanyahu and Gallant if they visited, although he added he believed the ICC was wrong" to put Netanyahu on the same level as Hamas. Spain said it would follow the ruling, with official sources telling AFP the country respects the decision and will conform to its commitments and obligations in compliance with the Rome Statute and international law." Sweden and the EU support the important work of the court and safeguard its independence and integrity," Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard said. What Are The Implications Of ICCs Decision? The ICC relies on 124-member states of the Rome Statute to execute arrest warrants. Member states are obliged to arrest individuals wanted by the ICC who set foot on their territory. This means that the accused will have to consider whether they are willing to risk travelling. Last year, Russian President Vladimir Putin did not travel to South Africa amid speculation that he would get detained under the ICC warrant against him over the Ukraine war. The impact of ICC warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant will in part depend on whether the ICCs 124-member states, which do not include Israel or its main ally, the US, decide to enforce them or not. The ICC members states include Jordan and Tunisia the only Arab member states other than Palestine , Germany, another staunch Israel supporter, all European Union countries, Japan, all Latin American countries, except Cuba and Haiti, and all 33 African countries. The ICC has the authority to prosecute those accused of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes on the territory of states party to the Rome Statute, its founding treaty. The ICC ruled in 2021 that it had jurisdiction over the occupied West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza because the UNs secretary general had accepted that the Palestinians were a member of ICC. Israel has rejected ICCs jurisdiction. On What Grounds Have Warrants Being Issued? The warrants relate to the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023 and the Israeli military attack in Gaza. The ICCs three-judge panel said it had found reasonable grounds to believe that Netanyahu and Gallant bear criminal responsibility for the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare and the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts". In addition, the panel said there were reasonable grounds to believe they bear criminal responsibility as civilian superiors for the war crime of intentionally directing an attack against the civilian population". top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan had also sought warrants for two other senior Hamas figures Yahya Sinwar and Ismail Haniyeh but they have since been killed. Israel claims that it has killed Deif, against whom the ICC has issued a warrant. But the courts pre-trial chamber said it would continue to gather information" to confirm his death. First Published: November 22, 2024, 10:25 IST 10 Maoists Killed In Encounter With Security Forces In Chhattisgarhs Sukma Reported By : News18.com Edited By: News Desk Last Updated: November 22, 2024, 12:47 IST A senior police official said several weapons were recovered and a search operation was launched to locate more Maoists The gunfight started in the morning in a forest within the jurisdiction of Bhejji police station. (PTI file photo) Ten Maoists have been killed in an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarhs Sukma district. Bastar Inspector-General of Police P Sundarraj said an encounter was underway between the District Reserve Guards (DRG) and Maoists in the southern part of Sukma district. related stories He said 10 Maoists were killed in the encounter with DRG in southern Sukma and INSAS, AK-47, SLR, and other automatic weapons were recovered. According to sources, a tip-off was shared with the security forces. During an anti-Naxal operation jointly conducted by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and DRG, a contact was established between the security forces and a group of Naxals. After the encounter, security forces shot and killed at least 10 Naxals, and their bodies were recovered. The gunfight started in the morning in a forest within the jurisdiction of Bhejji police station when a team of security personnel was out on an anti-Naxalite operation, a police official said. As per the initial information, two teams of the CRPF and DRG, after receiving specific inputs about the presence of Maoists from the Konta and Kistaram area committees, conducted a search in the area. During the operation, contact was made with the Naxals, and they were eliminated. The Naxals were heavily armed, but due to the high alert status of the security forces, no harm was caused to them. The operation is still ongoing, and Maoists have been traced in areas such as Korajuguda, Dantespuram, Nagaram, and others," a senior CRPF official said. Union Home Minister Amit Shah had announced in August this year that Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) would be eliminated from the country by March 2026. CM Lauds Security Forces Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai lauded the efforts of the security forces and said his government was working on the policy of zero tolerance towards Naxalism. He also said that ensuring development, peace and safety of citizens in Bastar was the top priority of his government. 257 Naxalites Neutralised Since January 2024 top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all LWE violence has decreased by 72%, while deaths have declined by 86% in 2023 compared to 2010. LWE is now fighting its last battle. The year 2024 has already witnessed unprecedented success by security forces in eliminating armed LWE cadres. So far, 202 LWE cadres have been neutralized this year, while 723 have surrendered and 812 have been arrested. The number of LWE-affected districts has now decreased to just 38 in 2024. The central government has taken several steps, including improving road and mobile connectivity, to extend developmental schemes to the remotest areas of affected states. To date, 14,400 km roads have been constructed, and nearly 6,000 mobile towers have been installed in LWE-affected areas. First Published: November 22, 2024, 11:26 IST 8 Bangladeshis Arrested In Tripura For Entering India Illegally Last Updated: November 22, 2024, 21:00 IST Spotting suspicious movement in front of the ticket counter at the Teliamura railway station in Khowai district, a joint team of BSF and GRP detained four men and four women for interrogation They were produced before a local court, seeking remand(Representational/File Photo) Eight Bangladesh nationals, who allegedly entered India illegally, were arrested from a railway station in Tripura on their to Hyderabad, police said. Spotting suspicious movement in front of the ticket counter at the Teliamura railway station in Khowai district, a joint team of BSF and GRP detained four men and four women for interrogation, they said. related stories "During questioning, it was found that they were planning to go to Hyderabad in search of livelihood. Since they have illegally entered Indian territory, they were arrested immediately," said Gautam Debbarma, the officer-in-charge of Teliamura GRP. They were produced before a local court, seeking remand, he said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Debbarma said those arrested told the police that they crossed the international border at Karbook in Gomati district on Thursday and spent the night in a jungle. "They arrived at the station early in the morning by two vehicles. An investigation is underway," he said. Location : Agartala (incl. Jogendranagar, India First Published: November 22, 2024, 21:00 IST Amazon Employee Collapses On Stage At Friend's Wedding In Andhra Pradesh Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 21, 2024, 23:03 IST The deceased, identified as Vamsi, was employed with Amazon in Bengaluru and had visited Kurnool's Penumada village to attend his friend's wedding. the man was rushed to Dhone City Government Hospital, where doctors declared him dead. (Image: X) In a tragic incident, a man collapsed on stage after suffering a heart attack while presenting a gift to his friend in Andhra Pradeshs Kurnool. According to media reports, the deceased, identified as Vamsi, was employed with Amazon in Bengaluru and had visited Kurnools Penumada village to attend his friends wedding. related stories As per the videos shared on social media, the man started losing balance and collapsed while handing over a gift to the couple on a stage, surrounded by cheering people. People standing near him caught him from falling. As per the reports, the man was rushed to Dhone City Government Hospital, where doctors declared him dead. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Last week, a 31-year-old man collapsed and died from a heart attack inside Lord Hanuman Temple in Hyderabads Kukatpally Housing Board Colony. Heart attacks among young people in India have become a growing concern in recent years. Location : Kurnool, India First Published: November 21, 2024, 23:03 IST 'Used Labourer's Mobile Hotspot': How Baba Siddique Murder Suspect Communicated With Conspirators Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 22, 2024, 11:30 IST In Baba Siddique's murder case, Akashdeep Gill has revealed he communicated with his other accomplices using a laborer's mobile hotspot, to evade police detection. NCP leader Baba Siddiqui (File photo: PTI) Akashdeep Gill, who was arrested from Punjabs Fazilka for his involvement in Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Baba Siddiques murder case, has revealed he communicated with key conspirators using a labourers mobile hotspot, allowing him to appear offline and avoid tracking. The revelation came as Akashdeep was being interrogated by a team of the Mumbai Polices crime branch in connection with the case. related stories The labourer whose hotspot was used by Akashdeep was identified as Balwinder. The crime branch further said it was searching for Akashdeeps mobile phone, which could hold crucial evidence in the case. Gill has been identified as a crucial logistical coordinator for Baba Siddiques murder plot, orchestrated by gangster Anmol Bishnoi, it said. Former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique was shot dead on October 12 by three assailants outside his son MLA Zeeshan Siddiques office building in Mumbais Bandra East area. He sustained two bullet injuries on his chest and was rushed to the Lilavati hospital in Mumbai, where he passed away. On November 17, the Mumbai Crime Branch arrested a Gujarat resident from Akola in Maharashtra in the case, taking the number of people held in the sensational incident to 25, news agency PTI reported. Salmanbhai Iqbalbhai Vohra, a resident of Petlad in Gujarats Anand district, was held from Balapur in Akola, some 565 kilometres from the metropolis, with the help of the police there. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Gurmail Singh from Haryana and Uttar Pradesh resident Dharmaraj Kashyap were held immediately after the murder. Recently, the police also got a major breakthrough in the case when it arrested alleged main shooter Shivkumar Gautam from Bahraich in Uttar Pradesh. Gautam, who was on the run since October 12, was held while trying to flee to Nepal, as per police. First Published: November 22, 2024, 11:03 IST Canada Lifts Extra Security Screening For Travelers To India: Report Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 22, 2024, 12:51 IST Canada has reportedly lifted the temporary extra security screenings for travelers to India, it implemented as a precautionary measure amid diplomatic tensions. A representative photo for airport (Source: AP) Passengers from Canada to India will no longer be required to undergo enhanced security screening imposed earlier this week, a report with Canadian Broadcaster CBC suggests. In a statement to the broadcaster, Federal Transport Minister Anita Anand said the extra screening measures have been lifted. related stories On November 20, Canada, amid diplomatic tensions with India, said it had enhanced its security screening for passengers travelling to India, citing an abundance of caution". Transport Canada has implemented temporary additional security screening measures for travellers to India out of an abundance of caution," Anand had told CBC News. She had also said that passengers may experience some screening delays while these measures are in place." This came following a bomb threat on board an Air India flight from New Delhi to Chicago in October. The plane was diverted to Iqaluit in Canada and no explosive device was found after an inspection. The Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA), the agency in charge of screening passengers and their luggage before they enter restricted areas of airports in Canada, would carry out the additional measures, the report had stated when the measures were announced. Hand swabs to detect traces on individuals, sending carry-on bags through X-ray machines, and conducting physical screenings of passengers, are included in the CATSAs screenings. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The ties between the two countries hit a new low after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau repeatedly accused agents of the Indian government of involvement in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on June 18, 2023 in Canadas Surrey. Trudeau, however, was unable to provide any evidence to justify his claims. First Published: November 22, 2024, 12:24 IST Manipur Violence: 288 Companies Of Central Forces In State To Control Situation Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 22, 2024, 20:28 IST Fresh violence erupted in Manipur following the discovery of the bodies of six people who were kidnapped by suspected Kuki militants. More than 220 people were killed as ethnic violence swept Manipur last year. (PTI) The Central government has deployed a total of 288 additional companies of Central forces in violence-hit Manipur. Kuldiep Singh, the Director-General of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the Security Advisor in Manipur, chaired a unified command meeting of security forces in Imphal, where he issued new Standard Operation Procedures (SOPs) for forces operating in Manipur. related stories The total number of the central forces in Manipur reached 288 companies after the Centre deployed 90 companies there last week following fresh violence. A joint coordination committee was also announced in every district. Singh asserted that the priority is to protect the lives and properties of the citizens, as 258 people have been killed since May last year. Over 3,000 looted weapons have been recovered and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) have started investigations in all cases handed to them. What Is Happening In Manipur? The recent violence erupted in the state after the bodies of six kidnapped individuals, including two children, were recovered after they were taken by suspected Kuki militants from the Jiribam district of Manipur. After this, an armed group of Meiteis attacked a village, allegedly raping and killing a woman, then setting a school and several houses on fire. Things escalated when Kuki militants attacked a Meitei group in the same district, after which the CRPF gunned down ten suspected militants in Jiribams Borobekra on November 11. More than 250 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in ethnic violence between Imphal Valley-based Meiteis and adjoining hills-based Kuki-Zo groups since May last year. Earlier, officials said the bodies of nine people from Manipur, including six abducted and killed in Jiribam, have been handed over to their family members at the Silchar Medical College Hospital (SMCH) in Assam. Family members of the victims, all belonging to the Meitei community, had refused to accept the bodies till they got justice. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge wrote to President Droupadi Murmu, urging her immediate intervention as the Centre and the state government had completely failed" in restoring peace and stability in Manipur. In response, BJP President JP Nadda accused the Congress of pushing an incorrect, false and politically" motivated narrative on the issue of Manipur unrest and lashed out at the repercussions of Congress abject failure" in dealing with issues in Manipur when it was in power. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The Centre on November 14 re-imposed the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in Manipurs six police station areas, including Jiribam. At present, the entire state, except for the areas under the jurisdiction of 13 police stations, is under AFSPA. (with agency inputs) First Published: November 22, 2024, 19:10 IST 'Ensure Checks At 113 Entry Points': Supreme Court To Delhi Govt Amid Rising Air Pollution Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 22, 2024, 14:52 IST The Supreme Court has directed the Delhi government to deploy police at 113 entry points to curb truck entry into the national capital, amid air pollution. A pedestrian at Kartavya Path amid smog, in New Delhi (Photo: PTI) The Supreme Court on Friday directed the Delhi government to depute police personnel at all 113 entry points to check the entry of trucks in the national capital. The direction came while the court was hearing a plea seeking enforcement of measures to improve the Air Quality Index (AQI) in the national capital, amid air pollution in Delhi-NCR. As it questioned the Delhi government over the entry of trucks, a bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih said, It is very difficult for us to assume that entry of trucks in Delhi has been stopped." related stories We will directly ask the central government to post police personnel at all 113 entry points. We will direct the Delhi State legal services authority to deploy paralegal volunteers. They will constitute teams to visit all entry points and submit a report to us whether really vehicles are being stopped," said Justice Oka. It is very difficult for us to assume that the entry of trucks is being stopped because there is no material placed on record that how many check posts you have established," he added, as the counsel for Delhi informed the court that it had stopped entry from 113 points. Further, Justice Oka suggested the appointment of a five-member bar team to visit all entry points in Delhi on Friday and Saturday. Later, he said the court would examine the compliance of its order on Monday (November 25) and would then decide if the implementation could be reduced from GRAP IV to GRAP II. The matter was posted for November 27 for further hearing. DELHI AIR POLLUTION: SUPREME COURTs ORDER In its order, the court said, Firstly, we have analysed the affidavit of the Delhi government listing the measures prescribed in GRAP IV, as far as stopping entry of trucks and entry of SUVs registered outside Delhi is concerned." So as far as compliance is concerned, we are not satisfied. The government has not stated clearly that as to at how many entry points there and if there are officers present to comply with measures of GRAP IV. Amicus has stated that there are 113 entry points but the counsel for the Delhi government states that vigil is maintained primarily at 13 major entry points for ensuring compliance," it said. This means that for the other 100 points, there is no restriction on vehicles. We direct the Delhi government and the Delhi Police to ensure that checkposts are immediately set up at all 113 entry points. The personnel who are going to man the entry points must be informed about the accepted items which counsel for the Delhi government has highlighted as essential commodities," the court said. Learned Additional Solicitor General appearing for Union shall forward 13 names to the commissioner of Delhi, who will immediately appoint a nodal officer who will get in touch with 13 members of the bar. This will ensure that the visit of 13 members to various entry points will be facilitated. Their job would be to ascertain that clauses A and B of GRAP IV are being implemented at the entry point. They will be allowed to take photographs and submit a detailed report by tomorrow," the court added. On November 18, the Supreme Court had directed the Delhi government and adjoining states to immediately set up teams to strictly enforce anti-pollution Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) 4 restrictions, making it clear that the curbs would continue till further orders. DELHIs AIR QUALITY VERY POOR On Friday, the air quality in Delhi was recorded to be very poor, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). At 7 am today, the CPCB recorded Delhis AQI at 371, which placed it in the very poor category, news agency ANI reported. According to the CPCB data, the AQI measured at Chandni Chowk till 7 am was 359, IGI Airport (T3) 357, ITO 344, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium 342, RK Puram 372, Okhla Phase 2 374, Patparganj 379, Sonia Vihar 400 and Aya Nagar 359. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all However, several places in Delhi remained in the severe category for air pollution, with Anand Vihar recording an AQI of 410, Bawana at 411, Mundka at 402, and Wazirpur at 413. An AQI between 0-50 is considered good, 51-100 is satisfactory, 101-200 is moderate, 201-300 is poor, 301-400 is very poor and 401-500 is severe. First Published: November 22, 2024, 14:11 IST Flashpoint To Fortress-In-Making: Modi Govts Panchayat Push For Border Security In Arunachal Pradesh Reported By : News18.com Edited By: Apoorva Misra Last Updated: November 22, 2024, 10:14 IST The government has approved the construction of 400 panchayat bhawans-cum-common service centres which will provide essential services, improve governance, and foster community participation in decision-making An Indian border post near the frontier with China in Khinzemane, Arunachal Pradesh. The move to build panchayat bhawans isnt just about building rural infrastructure but about securing Indias border and its sovereignty. (AFP) The Narendra Modi government, following instances of frequent Chinese incursions, is now fortifying Arunachal Pradesh with over 1,000 panchayat office complexes along and inside sensitive border villages to engage the local community and run ground-level integrated governance. With funds already cleared, the initiative aims to transform these villages into frontline bastions of development and defence too. The Central Empowered Committee for the centrally sponsored scheme Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan has approved the construction of 400 panchayat bhawans-cum-common service centres (CSCs) in the state for which Rs 100 crore has been sanctioned. This adds to the 939 gram panchayat bhawans with co-located CSCs already supported by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj in the region, News18 has learnt. related stories According to the documents and recent data accessed by News 18, the government has sanctioned a budget of Rs 58 crore for building 232 gram panchayat bhawans under Arunachal Pradeshs Vibrant Villages Programme, and another Rs 42 crore has been allocated to construct 168 gram panchayat bhawans-cum-CSCs. Strengthening Infra Across Northeast In a recent meeting chaired by Vivek Bhardwaj, secretary of the Panchayati Raj ministry, the Central Empowered Committee decided to expand the project and accordingly, the funds were allocated for 400 gram panchayat bhawans, especially in Arunachal Pradesh. The document further stated that the ongoing project has an impact on rural development across the North-eastern states. A total of 1,633 gram panchayat bhawans and 514 CSCs have been approved across Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Assam, and Manipur. This isnt just about building rural infrastructure it is surely a strategic move to secure Indias border and its sovereignty, sending a clear message through building a strong rural community-based development," said a senior officer involved in the project. The Arunachal Pradesh government has acted swiftly. The state has identified and shared site locations to expedite construction. These facilities are designed to provide essential services, improve governance, and foster community participation in decision-making directly addressing the administrative challenges in all these remote, border-facing villages in the region," he added. Strategic point of view top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Arunachal Pradesh, often a critical point due to frequent Chinese incursions, remains a top priority for the government and its border strategy. The Ministry of Home Affairs, under its Vibrant Villages Programme, is now focusing on comprehensive development and infrastructure saturation in border areas. The Panchayati Raj Ministry has been implementing the project in collaboration with the MHA to complement this vision by building robust panchayat infrastructure to enhance grassroots governance. These panchayat bhawans will be equipped with CSCs and they will serve as hubs for governance, bringing essential public services closer to citizens in remote regions. Location : Arunachal Pradesh, India First Published: November 22, 2024, 10:10 IST Guns In Hand, Soldiers Dance To Celebrate Killing Of Naxals In Sukma Encounter | Watch Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 22, 2024, 20:01 IST Ten Naxalites were killed in an encounter with security personnel in Chhattisgarhs Sukma district on Friday. Army Personnel Dance, Celebrate After Successful Encounter In Sukma (ANI) The security personnel of District Reserve Guards (DRG) danced to the beats and celebrated the feat after eliminating at least ten naxalites in an encounter in Chhattisgarhs Sukma district on Friday. As per the visuals shared by news agency ANI, the army personnel can be seen dancing to the beats of local music and celebrating their accomplishment. related stories #WATCH | DRG (District Reserve Guards) Jawans celebrate after succeeding in eliminating 10 Naxals during an encounter in Sukma, Chhattisgarh pic.twitter.com/dS3oYtzvZl ANI (@ANI) November 22, 2024 Earlier today, an encounter broke out in a forest within the jurisdiction of the Bhejji police station between security personnel and naxalites in which at least ten maoists were killed. The gunfight broke out when a joint team of security personnel was out on an anti-Naxalite operation, news agency PTI quoted Inspector General of Police (Bastar Range) Sundarraj P as saying. The operation was launched based on inputs about the presence of Maoists belonging to Konta and Kistaram area committees of Naxalites on forested hills of Korajguda, Dantespuram, Nagaram and Bhandarpadar villages. The forces have also recovered several weapons, including an AK-47 rifle, an INSAS and a Self-Loading Rifle. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Earlier on November 18, security forces neutralised five Naxalites in Chhattisgarhs Bastar Kanker region last week Union Home Minister Amit Shah had announced in August this year that Left Wing extremism will be completely eliminated in the country before March 2026. Location : Sukma, India First Published: November 22, 2024, 16:53 IST Hindu Womens Right To Maintenance Not By Virtue Of Statute But Found In Shastric Hindu Law: Supreme Court Reported By : LawBeat Last Updated: November 23, 2024, 01:36 IST The court dismissed an appeal against a 2009 Andhra Pradesh High Court judgement, which arose from a dispute over the succession of property among stepbrothers in the Kallakuri family The Supreme Court affirmed the High Court's view, holding that Veerabhadrammas absolute rights extended only to 2.09 cents of land. (File photo: PTI) The Supreme Court on November 21 emphasised that a Hindu womans right to maintenance, rooted in Shastric Hindu law rather than statutory provisions, must be proper, appropriate, and adequate, enabling her to maintain a standard of living comparable to her previous lifestyle. The court further underscored that a womans right to maintenance serves as sufficient grounds for her possession of property to mature into full ownership if the property is held in lieu of maintenance. related stories A bench of Justices CT Ravikumar and Sanjay Karol said that the property given in lieu of maintenance would solidify into absolute ownership by the action of Section 14(1) of Hindu Succession Act, 1956. In other words, the right of maintenance on its own is apposite for such property to transfer into her sole, unquestionable, and absolute right," the bench said. The court dismissed an appeal against a 2009 Andhra Pradesh High Court judgement, which arose from a dispute over the succession of property among stepbrothers in the Kallakuri family. The issue centred on whether Smt Veerabhadramma, the second wife of Kallakuri Swamy, held absolute ownership over properties allotted to her under a 1933 partition deed. The deed granted her absolute rights over 2.09 cents (1 cent is equal to 435.56 square feet) of land and a life interest of 3.55 cents, stipulating that the latter would devolve equally to her stepsons upon her death. The respondent-plaintiffs sought their share, while the appellant-defendants argued that Veerabhadrammas rights, rooted in her maintenance claim, had matured into absolute ownership, enabling her to bequeath the property through a 1968 will. The trial court ruled that Veerabhadramma lacked a legal right when the partition deed was executed, as no laws recognising such rights existed in 1933. It held she did not acquire absolute ownership under the Hindu Succession Act, 1956, and the 3.55 cents property remained governed by the partition deed. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The High Court partially overturned this, holding that she had absolute rights over 2.09 cents under Section 14(1) of the Hindu Succession Act but retained only a life interest in the 3.55 cents property. Dissatisfied, the appellant-defendants approached the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court affirmed the High Courts view, holding that Veerabhadrammas absolute rights extended only to 2.09 cents. It reiterated that the 1933 deed clearly stipulated that the 3.55 cents property would revert to both branches of the family after her life interest ended. Accordingly, the appeal was dismissed. First Published: November 23, 2024, 01:36 IST Indian Railways To Launch 7-Star Hotel On The Wheels With Spa And Gym; Check Rates, Route Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: November 22, 2024, 17:10 IST The Golden Chariot Luxury Train is ready to hit the tracks once again, showcasing the rich cultural heritage of Karnataka. The train will operate on select dates from December to March A five-night, six-day journey on this luxury train will cost Rs 4,00,530 plus 5% GST, which includes accommodation, food, alcohol, entry tickets, guides, and more. (News18 Hindi) Can you imagine enjoying a spa or working out in a gym on a train journey? Sounds fun and surprising, right? In a significant move, the Indian Railways and IRCTC are set to run a 7-star hotel on wheels. This luxury train will offer facilities such as a spa, gym, and even a wine or beer corner. The train will operate on select dates from December to March, with bookings already open. The entire journey lasts five nights and six days. related stories The Golden Chariot Luxury Train is ready to hit the tracks once again, showcasing the rich cultural heritage of Karnataka. It will depart on December 14. The train has 13 double-bed cabins, 26 twin-bed cabins, and one cabin for differently-abled (Divyang) guests, accommodating a total of 80 passengers in 40 cabins. All luxurious cabins are equipped with air-conditioning and Wi-Fi, providing passengers with a royal experience. Each cabin features padded furniture, luxurious bathrooms, comfortable beds, and TVs offering access to numerous OTT platforms. The train also includes a saloon for added comfort. Special arrangements for Indian and international cuisine are available on board. It boasts two exceptional restaurants, Ruchi and Nalapak, offering both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes served in international crockery and cutlery. Branded wine, beer, and liquor are available at the bar. For the health and comfort of passengers, the Golden Chariot train also has the Arogya Spa, offering various treatments, including spa therapies. Additionally, there is a hi-tech gym. To ensure the safety of guests, the entire train is equipped with CCTV cameras and a fire alarm system. Fare A five-night, six-day journey on this luxury train will cost Rs 4,00,530 plus 5% GST, which includes accommodation, food, alcohol, entry tickets, guides, and more. For further information, visit www.goldenchariot.org or email goldenchariot@irctc.com. You can also contact +91 8585931021 for details. Routes Pride of Karnataka: Starting from Bengaluru to Bandipur, Mysore, Halebidu, Chikmangaluru, Hampi, Goa and back to Bengaluru. Gems of the South: Starting from Bengaluru to Mysore, Kanchipuram, Mahabalipuram, Thanjavur, Chettinad, Cochin, Cherthala and back to Bengaluru. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Schedule 14 December 2024 Pride of Karnataka (5 nights/6 days) 21 December 2024 Gems of the South (5 nights/6 days) 4 January 2025 Pride of Karnataka (5 nights/6 days) 1 February 2025 Pride of Karnataka (5 nights/6 days) 15 February 2025 Gems of the South (5 nights/6 days) 1 March 2025 Pride of Karnataka (5 nights/6 days) Location : Karnataka, India First Published: November 22, 2024, 17:10 IST Kerala Government Forms Judicial Commission To Resolve Munambam Waqf Land Issue Last Updated: November 22, 2024, 21:11 IST Former Kerala High Court Acting Chief Justice CN Ramachandran Nair will head the commission, Law Minister P Rajeev announced after the meeting. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan (File image: X) A high-level meeting chaired by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday decided to appoint a judicial commission to identify the ownership of the disputed land in Munambam. Former Kerala High Court Acting Chief Justice CN Ramachandran Nair will head the commission, Law Minister P Rajeev announced after the meeting. related stories He assured that no residents in possession of land in Munambam would face eviction, and that their legal rights would be protected. "The decision to set up the judicial commission has been taken with the aim of finding a permanent solution without evicting anyone. The commission will examine matters including the ownership of the land," the minister said. He also said the Waqf Board has been directed not to take any action until a further decision is made. The government requested them to stop the issuing of land acquisition notices and initiating any further action on previously issued notices, which they have agreed to, he added. According to the minister, 12 notices have been issued so far. The minister also said the government will initiate measures for the people to pay the taxes for the properties owned by them. "Although it was decided earlier to pay the land tax, but the High Court had stayed it," the minister said, adding that the government will initiate action through the court to vacate the stay. The commission has been directed to complete its proceedings within three months, and the decisions made during the high-level meeting will be discussed with the protesters, the minister said. In the villages of Cherai and Munambam, in Ernakulam district, residents have alleged the Waqf Board was unlawfully claiming their land and properties, despite the people holding registered deeds and land tax payment receipts. The ongoing protests escalated after the Syro Malabar church and others extended solidarity towards the residents. In the wake of this, the CM convened the meeting to resolve the issue. However,the Munambam Bhoo Samrakshana Samiti said that they will continue the protest. According to them, the probe by the judicial commission will delay a permanent solution. The residents staged a protest in Munambam on Friday and warned that they will intensify their strike. According to the residents who are protesting, the land they currently own was purchased from the management of Farook College, Kozhikode. The case relating to the property dispute is pending in the high court. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Meanwhile, the hearing on Munambam Waqf land issue that came up before the Waqf Tribunal headed by Judge Rajan Thattil in Kozhikode on Friday was adjourned to December 6. The appeal was filed by Farook College, the beneficiary of the reported Waqf deed, against the decision of the Kerala State Waqf Board to enlist the Munambam land as a Waqf property. Location : Thiruvananthapuram, India First Published: November 22, 2024, 21:11 IST Low Pressure Over Bay Of Bengal From Tomorrow, Orange Alert in Tamil Nadu Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: November 22, 2024, 18:36 IST The Met Department predicts an upper-air circulation over the South Andaman Sea could develop into a low-pressure area over the southeast Bay of Bengal by Saturday The Meteorological Department has issued an advisory to fishermen, urging them to avoid the southeast coastal areas, Gulf of Mannar and other areas. (Representative/PTI File) A low-pressure system is likely to form over the southeast Bay of Bengal by November 23, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. The Met Department reported an atmospheric upper-air circulation prevailing in the South Andaman Sea and adjoining areas on November 22. Consequently, a low-pressure area is likely to form over the southeast Bay of Bengal by Saturday. It will then move in a west-northwest direction, potentially strengthening into a depression over the South Bay of Bengal within the following two days. related stories An atmospheric downward circulation prevails from the southern Andaman Sea region to the Gulf of Mannar. An area of low atmospheric circulation persists over south Kerala and adjoining areas. From Friday to Saturday, light to moderate rain is likely at a few places in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal. Similarly, on Sunday, light to moderate rain with thunder and lightning may occur at many places in coastal Tamil Nadu, a few places in interior Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal. Cuddalore, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Thanjavur, Pudukottai, Ramanathapuram districts and the Karaikal region are likely to experience heavy rain. The IMD has said that there is a possibility of heavy rain in the delta districts on November 25 and 26. It has been mentioned that there is an atmospheric circulation over the Kumari Sea and adjacent areas. Chennai and its suburbs can expect partly cloudy conditions for the next 24 hours. Some areas of the city may experience light fog in the morning. The maximum temperature is predicted to be between 30 and 31 degrees Celsius, while the minimum temperature is expected to hover around 23 to 24 degrees Celsius. The Meteorological Department has issued an advisory to fishermen, urging them to avoid the southeast coastal areas, Gulf of Mannar, Kumari Sea, southern parts of the southeast Bay of Bengal, and the south Andaman Sea on Friday. This advisory comes in light of anticipated cyclonic winds, with speeds expected to range between 35 to 45 kmph and occasional gusts reaching 55 kmph. Also, it has been reported that the upper atmospheric circulation formed along the South Andaman in the Bay of Bengal is likely to develop into a new low-pressure area on Saturday. Due to this, the Meteorological Department has also mentioned that there is a possibility of moderate rain in a couple of places in Tamil Nadu for the next three days. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Moreover, there is a possibility of very heavy rain in five districts of Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Pudukottai and Karaikal areas on November 25 and 26. Similarly, on November 26, there is a possibility of heavy rain in Cuddalore district, four districts namely Kanchipuram, Chengalpattu, Villupuram, Ramanathapuram and Puducherry, the Met Department has said. Location : Tamil Nadu, India First Published: November 22, 2024, 18:36 IST PM Modi's Showcases India's Rich Heritage With Special Gifts For World Leaders; See Pics Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 22, 2024, 23:57 IST Modi presented special gifts to world leaders to showcase India's rich culture and diversity during his whirlwind three-nation tour. Prime Minister embarked on a whirlwind diplomatic tour to Nigeria, Brazil and Guyana, where he met 31 world leaders. (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently embarked on a whirlwind five-day international tour in Nigeria, Brazil and Guyana, where he met as many as 31 world leaders. He presented the leaders with special gifts from India that showcased the countrys rich heritage and diversity. The Prime Ministers visits are not merely to serve bilateral interests, but also to ensure that Indias cultural heritage, traditions, art and spirituality are acknowledged and celebrated throughout the world. In this spirit, every foreign visit of PM Modi has transformed into a celebration of Indias unity in diversity. related stories The prime minister held a bilateral meeting in Nigeria and 10 bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Brazil with leaders from Brazil, Indonesia, Portugal, Italy, Norway, France, the UK and more. Thereafter, during the visit to Guyana, he held nine bilateral meetings. In his recent tour, PM Modi carried unique gifts for world leaders eight from Maharashtra, five from Jammu and Kashmir, three each from Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan, two from Jharkhand and one each from Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha and Ladakh. PM Modis Gifts: A Blend Of Culture And Diplomacy PM Modi gifted a Silofar Panchamrit Kalash (Pot) to Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a stunning example of traditional craftsmanship from Kolhapur, Maharashtra. The intricately designed kalash is made from high-quality silver and features elegant engravings that display Kolhapurs renowned metalwork. He also presented Brazil President Lula da Silva with Warli paintings a tribal art form originating from the Warli tribe primarily located in the Dahanu, Talasari and Palghar regions of Maharashtra. The Prime Minister also gifted a Natural Rough Amethyst with a Silver Camel Head on Top from Pune to his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese. He also presented a hand-carved Silver Chess Set with a traditional design to Portuguese PM Luis Montenegro. Modi also gifted an exquisite Silver Candle Stand to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and a hand-engraved Silver Fruit Bowl featuring intricate depictions of a peacock and a tree to CARICOM Secretary-General Carla Natalie Barnett. Prime Minister Modi showcased the vibrant culture of Jammu and Kashmir by gifting a pair of papier-mache gold work vases to Britains Keir Starmer, a pashmina shawl in a papier-mache box to Guyanas First Lady Arya Ali and a Kashmiri Saffron in the customised gift hamper given to leaders of CARICOM Countries. His gifts from Andhra Pradesh included a Silver Clutch Purse studded with semi-precious stones handcrafted with intricate floral motif designs to Brazil President Lulas spouse and Araku Coffee, which is grown by indigenous communities in the Araku Valley in Andhra Pradesh, in a customised gift hamper given to leaders of CARICOM countries. He also gifted a Sohrai painting from Hazaribagh well-renowned for its depiction of animals, birds, and nature and being a reflection of the agrarian lifestyle and the reverence for wildlife in tribal culture, to Nigerias Vice President. He also gave a Khovar painting a traditional art form that originates from the tribal regions of Jharkhand to Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto. Modis gifts from Rajasthan included a Silver Photo Frame for Argentinian President Javier Milei that comprised of floral Work showcasing the states rich heritage of detailed metalwork and traditional motifs. He gifted a Marble Inlay Work, also known as Pietra Dura with the base marble sourced from Makrana in Rajasthan, to Norwegian PM Jonas Gahr Stre, and a Gold Work Wooden Raj Sawari figurine a magnificent representation of traditional Indian craftsmanship, combining intricate gold work with finely carved wood, to Guyanas Prime Minister Mark Phillips. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Other gifts include a Finely Fretted and Engraved Silver and Rosewood Ceremonial Photo Frame from Uttar Pradesh, for the President of Chile, a wooden toy train, a signature product from Channapatnaa, a small town in Karnataka, given to the younger son of Guyana President Mohamed Irfaan Ali and a Tanjore Painting from Tamil Nadu for French President Emmanuel Macron. He also gifted a Madhubani painting, also known as Mithila painting, a traditional art form originating from the Mithila region of Bihar, to Guyana President Ali, a rare and exquisitely crafted Filigree Boat made of pure silver a fine example of the centuries-old silver filigree art practised in Cuttack, Odisha, to Vice President of Guyana, and a Ladakhi kettle adorned with semi-precious stones, given to Speaker of National Assembly of Guyana. First Published: November 22, 2024, 23:14 IST Police Outnumber 'Baraatis' To Ensure Peaceful Mare Ride For Dalit Groom In Rajasthan Village Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: November 22, 2024, 18:17 IST The police presence was so large that it outnumbered the wedding guests, both baraatis and gharaatis. The groom insisted on riding a mare and sought police assistance to prevent any interference. (Representational Image) In a significant development in Lahadod village, located in the Kotakasim police station area of Rajasthans Khairthal district, police from three stations and three Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs) were deployed to ensure the peaceful procession of a Dalit groom. The police presence was so large that it outnumbered the wedding guests, both baraatis and gharaatis. This wedding procession marked the first time in the village that a Dalit groom was allowed to ride a mare on his wedding day. Ashish, the groom, had previously expressed concerns about potential disruptions from local bullies who might oppose his riding a mare, a tradition often denied to Dalit men in some rural parts of Rajasthan. related stories Ashish and his family had formally requested police protection, fearing backlash from village bullies who had previously disrupted such events. Ashishs family recalled that a few years ago, his sisters wedding had been marred by similar fears when the groom arrived on foot due to threats from local groups. Determined not to face the same humiliation, Ashish insisted on riding a mare and sought police assistance to prevent any interference. The Kotakasim SHO Nandlal Jagid, along with the SHOs of Kishangarhbas and Bhiwadi, and three DSPs, provided heavy security to his baraat and ensured the ceremony went off without any incident. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all While many Dalit grooms in Rajasthan still face pressure to forgo riding a mare due to traditional caste-based prejudices, recent examples from Barmer and Ajmer have shown signs of change. Recently in Barmer, a Dalit girls wedding was hosted by a Rajput family, and in Ajmer, a Dalit bride was honoured by being made to sit on a mare by the Rajput community in a gesture of solidarity. These developments signal a growing movement toward breaking caste-based barriers in traditional wedding customs. Location : Rajasthan, India First Published: November 22, 2024, 18:17 IST Rajasthan Man Declared Dead By Hospital Wakes Up Moments Before Last Rites Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: November 22, 2024, 12:13 IST Declared dead at 1 pm, the 47-year-old shocked everyone by regaining consciousness during last rites preparations. He was immediately readmitted in ICU at BDK Hospital The BDK Hospital administration has not spoken on the matter and has declined to provide any explanation. (Representative/PTI File) A shocking incident has emerged from Rajasthans Jhunjhunu where a person thought to be dead dramatically revived while being taken for his last rites. The incident has caused a stir and raised serious questions about the procedures at the Bhagwan Das Khetan (BDK) District Hospital at Jhunjhunu. Rohitash, a 47-year-old resident of Maa Seva Sansthan, a home for the disabled and mentally retired in Jhunjhunus Bagar, fainted after his health deteriorated. He was rushed to the emergency ward of BDK Hospital in an unconscious state. At around 1 pm, the doctor declared Rohitash dead, and he was subsequently transferred to the hospitals mortuary. related stories Following standard procedure, the police were informed, and a panchnama (record of death) was prepared. Two hours later, Rohitashs body was released to Maa Seva Sansthan. However, in a shocking turn of events, while being transported for the last rites, Rohitash suddenly regained consciousness. He was immediately rushed back to the BDK Hospital and admitted to the ICU. The BDK Hospital administration has not spoken on the matter and has declined to provide any explanation. There are allegations that the angle of CCTV cameras installed in the hospital has been suspiciously altered. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Upon receiving information, the Tehsildar and Bagad Police Station Officer arrived at the hospital to investigate the matter. District Collector Ram Avtar Meena said that a thorough investigation is underway, and a report has been requested from the PMO. The Secretary of the Medical Department has also been apprised of the situation. Acting on the Collectors orders, Tehsildar Mahendra Mund and Deputy Director of Social Justice Department Pawan Poonia have also visited the hospital. Location : Jhunjhunu, India First Published: November 22, 2024, 12:13 IST Register IMEI Numbers Of Every Phone Made In India Or Imported, Govt Tells Mobile Manufacturers Reported By : News18.com Edited By: Apoorva Misra Last Updated: November 22, 2024, 12:12 IST According to the new Telecommunications (Telecom Cyber Security) Rules, 2024, its obligatory on telecommunication entities to report to the Centre within six hours of becoming aware of a security incident affecting its telecommunication network or telecommunication service It has been seen in the past that mobile phones with tampered IMEI numbers have been used in crimes. (PTI) The government has asked all mobile manufacturers to register IMEI numbers of each mobile phone manufactured in India with the Union government. An importer of mobile phones will also have to do the same, as per the new Telecommunications (Telecom Cyber Security) Rules, 2024, notified by the government. News18 has a copy of the new rules. A manufacturer of equipment that has International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number, shall register such IMEI number of such equipment manufactured in India with the Union government, prior to the first sale of such equipment, in the form as may be specified for such purpose on the portal by that Government. An importer of equipment that has an International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number, shall register such IMEI number of such equipment imported into India for sale or testing or research or for any other purpose, with the Central Government, prior to the import of such equipment into India, in the form as may be specified for such purpose on the portal," the new rules say. related stories It had also been specified the Centre will issue directions to telecommunication entities to block the use of telecommunication equipment with tampered International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number in telecommunication networks or telecommunication services. It has been seen in the past that mobile phones with tampered IMEI numbers have been used in crimes. Notify Breaches Within 6 Hours The rules have also made it obligatory on telecommunication entities to report to the Centre within six hours of becoming aware of a security incident affecting its telecommunication network or telecommunication service. The entities, within 24 hours of becoming aware of such an incident, must furnish the following information too like the number of users affected by the security incident, the duration of the security incident, the geographical area affected by the security incident, the extent to which the functioning of the telecommunication network or telecommunication service is affected and the remedial measures taken or proposed to be taken. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The Central Government may, where it determines that disclosure of the security incident is in the public interest, inform the public of such security incident, or require the affected telecommunication entity to do so," the new rules say. The rules have also specified that the Union government, or any agency authorised by the Centre may, for the purposes of protecting and ensuring telecom cyber security, seek from a telecommunication entity, traffic data and any other data, other than content of messages, in the form and manner as may be specified by the Central Government on the portal". This could be disseminated to any agency of the Union government engaged in law enforcement and security-related activities, the rules add. First Published: November 22, 2024, 12:12 IST With Gasgoo Daily, we will offer daily important automotive news in China. For those we have reported, the title of the piece will include a hyperlink, which will provide detailed information. First Huawei, JAC Group co-developed vehicle model named MAEXTRO S800 On November 22, Huawei's Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance announced that the first vehicle model under its collaboration with JAC Group has been named the MAEXTRO S800. The model's exterior design will be unveiled on November 26. Photo credit: Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance Great Wall Motor's 88th Brazilian dealership delivers first-batch vehicles During the G20 Summit, Great Wall Motor's 88th dealership in Brazil held a grand delivery ceremony for its first eight customers, marking a milestone in the company's expansion in the Brazilian market. CSSC-backed Fengfan starts large-scale delivery of first parking lithium battery product China State Shipbuilding Corporation-backed Fengfan Co., Ltd. has begun large-scale deliveries of its first parking lithium battery product. The battery features in-house-developed LFP cells with enhanced energy density, longer usage time, and faster charging speed, designed to meet the demands of 5G truck operations. Autonomous driving tech company Shine Auto closes Pre-A funding round Chinese autonomous driving technology company Shine Auto recently announced the completion of its Pre-A funding round with over 100 million yuan raised. China's passenger car retail sales expected to reach 2.4 million units in Nov. 2024: CPCA Preliminary data from the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) suggests that the retail sales of passenger vehicles in China will reach approximately 2.4 million units in November 2024, representing a 15.4% year-on-year increase and a 6.1% month-on-month rise. China Unicom launches integrated vehicle-road-cloud solution 3.0 On November 20, China Unicom unveiled its integrated vehicle-road-cloud solution 3.0 for intelligent connected vehicles (ICVs), combining innovative capabilities such as dedicated in-car communication channels, integrated roadside sensing, collaborative edge computing, computing network scheduling, and 5G-A sensing and communication technologies. This solution aims to accelerate the industrial development of ICVs. AVATR forays into UAE, launching AVATR 11 model AVATR, the premium new energy vehicle (NEV) brand co-backed by Changan Automobile, Huawei, and CATL, recently held a brand launch event in Dubai, UAE, marking the overseas debut of its AVATR 012 model and the official launch of the AVATR 11, which is now available for pre-order in the region. 3-Year-Old Dies After Uncle 'Jokingly' Slaps Her; He Then Burns Body, Dumps In Bushes Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 22, 2024, 11:10 IST The police found half-burnt body of a girl in bushes near the police station. Police arrested accused who confessed to the crime. Representative Image A 38-year-old man allegedly slapped her 3-year-old niece to death and attempted to burn her body in Maharashtras Thane district, an official said on Friday. The incident took place in the Ulhasnagar area of the district and came to light after the child went missing on November 18. Her partially burnt body was recovered from the bushes near a police station on Thursday. related stories Accused Arrested The police arrested the man after acting on inputs and human intelligence. Officials said that the girl had fallen and died after being slapped. The accused set the body on fire in an attempt to destroy evidence, said senior inspector Anil Jagtap of the Hill Line police station. During interrogation, the accused confessed to the crime, however, claimed that he did not intentionally kill her. What Did The Accused Say? He claimed that while playing with her, he jokingly slapped her, due to which she collided with the kitchen slab, leading to her death, the police said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Out of fear, he attempted to destroy the body and thus set it on fire. He threw the body into the bushes afterward. (With PTI inputs) Location : Thane, India First Published: November 22, 2024, 10:52 IST 5 Best Ways To Soak In Kathmandus Culture and Spirituality Like Orry Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 22, 2024, 17:58 IST Orry is currently on a vacation in Kathmandu. Here are top five things you can do in the city to make the most out of your trip just like him. Orry visited the Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu. Orhan Awatramani better known as Orry is currently enjoying a scenic vacation in Kathmandu, Nepal, with his friends. The social media personality took to his Instagram to drop pictures that capture the beauty of Kathmandu in its full glory. His photo dump features a beautiful blend of Nepals mountain-rimmed horizons, culture, tradition, and food. He was seen exploring the local cuisines and the culture. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Orhan Awatramani (@orry) related stories In case you are planning to visit Kathmandu, here are the top five things that you must do in the capital city to make the most out of your trip to Nepal. Visit Swayambhunath also known as Monkey Temple This UNESCO World Heritage Site offers stunning views of the Kathmandu Valley. The religious complex houses an ancient stupa which is a beautiful blend of Buddhist and Hindu culture. Along with the stupa, the complex is home to numerous monkeys. Explore the Durbar Square The Durbar Square in Kathmandu is a historic royal palace complex with intricate architecture and ancient temples. Another UNESCO World Heritage site, this square offers a glimpse into Nepals rich cultural and architectural heritage. It belongs to the Newar Kingdoms. Trek to Pashupatinath Temple Pashupatinath is one of the holiest Hindu temples in Nepal. Located along the Bagmati River, the temple is a sacred place for cremation rituals and offers a deep spiritual experience. Rebuilt in the 15th century, the temple houses the holy linga of Lord Shiva. Visit Boudhanath Stupa Located on the ancient trade route from Tibet to India, this is one of the largest stupas in Nepal. The stupa houses sacred relics, including bone fragments of Kassapa Buddha and Shakyamuni Buddha. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Stroll Around Thamel After soaking in the culture, unwind by taking a stroll around Thamel. This bustling spot is home to some of the most loveliest shops, restaurants, and cafes. Thamel makes for a perfect spot to let your hair down and have some fun in the city, just like the locals. Location : Delhi, India First Published: November 22, 2024, 17:56 IST Constitution Day Of India 2024: Date, History, Significance, Quotes And How To Celebrate Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: November 22, 2024, 10:28 IST Constitution Day 2024: Constitution Day, marking the importance of the constitutional values among the Indian citizens, is also known as National Law Day. On October 11, 2015, PM Narendra Modi declared Samvidhan Divas, while laying the foundation stone for the Statue of Equality. (Image: Shutterstock) Constitution Day, or Samvidhan Divas, is observed on November 26 to commemorate the adoption of the Indian Constitution, a milestone that shaped the democratic framework of the nation. On this day in 1949, the Constituent Assembly of India, led by visionary leaders like Dr BR Ambedkar, finalised the Constitution after nearly three years of deliberations. It came into effect on January 26, 1950, marking the birth of the Indian Republic. Indian Constitution Day 2024: History related stories Recognising the significance of this historic event, the Government of India officially declared November 26 as Constitution Day in 2015, under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. The Constitution was drafted by a Constituent Assembly formed under the 1946 Cabinet Mission Plan. Its first session was held on December 9, 1946, with Dr Sachhidanand Sinha as Provisional President and Dr Rajendra Prasad later becoming the permanent chairman. The Drafting Committee, chaired by Dr BR Ambedkar, prepared the worlds longest Constitution, originally including 395 articles, 22 parts and 12 schedules. Initially, the Constitution was handwritten in English and Hindi, with calligraphy by Prem Behari Narain Raizada and artwork by Nandalal Bose and Shantiniketan artists. The original manuscript, featuring 22 historical illustrations, is preserved in helium-filled cases at the Parliament Library. Initially, the Constitution primarily stressed Fundamental Rights but did not include Fundamental Duties. These were added in 1976 via the 42nd Amendment, introducing Article 51-A, listing ten duties inspired by Indian traditions and global practices. An eleventh duty was added in 2002. ALSO READ: Opinion | Secular Congress Alignment With Islamist Forces: A Grave Threat To Indias Constitution Constitution Day 2024: Significance Constitution Day is a tribute to the framers of the document. As the worlds lengthiest written Constitution, it serves as the bedrock of Indias democratic ethos, laying stress on principles of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity. It is a day to honour the vision and efforts of the Constituent Assembly, which, through maximum deliberations, laid the foundation for a sovereign, socialist, secular and democratic republic. Constitution Day 2024: 5 Inspirational Quotes The Constitution is not a mere lawyers document; it is a vehicle of life, and its spirit is always the spirit of age." BR Ambedkar We are Indians, firstly and lastly." BR Ambedkar Life should be great rather than long." BR Ambedkar Our constitution is a ray of hope: H for harmony, O for the opportunity, P for peoples participation, and E for equality" Narendra Modi If I find the constitution being misused, I shall be the first to burn it" BR Ambedkar ALSO READ: Opinion | A Minority Tag Violates The Principle Of A Secular Republic Constitution Day 2024: Ways To Celebrate top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all To celebrate Constitution Day, you can: Read the Preamble of the Constitution: A key activity is reading the Preamble and reaffirming the commitment to uphold its principles. A key activity is reading the Preamble and reaffirming the commitment to uphold its principles. Engage in discussions or debates: Focus on the Constitutions core values justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity. Focus on the Constitutions core values justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity. Participate in quizzes: The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs offers a quiz to test knowledge about the Constitution. The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs offers a quiz to test knowledge about the Constitution. Organise educational programmes: Schools and organisations can hold special programs to raise awareness about the Constitutions significance. First Published: November 22, 2024, 09:30 IST From Sikkim To Himachal Pradesh: All You Need To Know About Places To Witness Cherry Blossoms Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: November 22, 2024, 15:55 IST Cherry blossoms are popular amongst travellers and it also attracts flower lovers as well. Sikkim is famous for its cherry blossom views in spring. From South Korea to Denmark, several countries offer delightful visuals of cherry blossoms. Known as Sakura in Japan, the Asian country is famous for its extravagant cherry blossom festivals. But when it comes to cherry blossoms, India also has multiple places that offer some remarkable and magnificent views. Cherry blossoms are popular amongst travellers and it also attracts flower lovers as well. Commencing from late March to mid-April, cherry blossom is a natural phenomenon that marks the advent of spring. Jammu and Kashmir and some other places like Gulmarg, Srinagar, Pahalgam, Baramulla, and Shopian gracefully offer the divine beauty of cherry blossoms. An early arrival of blooms often amazes the visitors and tourists who excitedly await the incredible beauty of the cherry blossoms. related stories Lets take a look at some of the places in India where cherry blossoms can be witnessed. Jammu And Kashmir Approximately 13 km away from Srinagar is Tailbal an area that is famous for its cherry orchards. The perfect time to witness cherry blossoms in this region is March and April. Apart from this, some other places, including Gulmarg, Srinagar, and Pahalgam produce picturesque cherry blossoms. Sikkim If one plans to experience the surreal beauty of cherry blossoms, Sikkim is surely a state that one needs to visit. Sikkim has innumerable cherry trees that offer beautiful views in spring. Gangtok, Namchi, and Ravangla, the Tsomgo Lake, and Nathula Pass are famous for their beauty in this regard. Two small towns in the northern part of Sikkim Lachen, and Lachung are also known to be famous for cherry blossoms. Nagaland Another Northeastern state in India, Nagaland also showcases the Himalayan cherry blossoms. The state attracts plenty of tourists thanks to its beauty on offer in October and November. Himachal Pradesh top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Located in the northern part of the country, the state of Himachal Pradesh is also famous for cherry blossoms. Regions like Bhutti, Mashobra, and Narkanda, are visited by tourists to witness the charming beauty of cherry blossoms. Other than India, countries such as South Korea, Denmark, the USA, Sweden, and Germany are also famous for beautiful cherry blossoms. Location : Delhi, India First Published: November 22, 2024, 15:55 IST Anupamaa Maker Rajan Shahi Breaks Silence On Cameraperson's Death: 'It Was Purely A Human Error' Published By : IANS Last Updated: November 22, 2024, 15:05 IST The statement also mentioned that the Production Houses have always prioritised the safety and well- being of the crew. Rajan Shahi's production house issues statement about accident on the sets of Anupamaa. (Photo: Instagram) Rajan Shahis production house has finally broken its silence over the death of a camera assistant on the set of Rupali Ganguly-starrer Anupamaa" due to electrocution and has now issued an official statement about the same. In a press release issued with the subject line reading: An unfortunate accident during shooting of the TV serial Aanupamaa at Film City", it said that it was purely a human error." The statement read: We, Directors Kut Production and Shahi Production Pvt. Ltd. have been entertaining in the TV industry for the last 18 years, catering to the audience in India and abroad with our innovative, popular family shows like Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, Bidaai, Anupamaa and others, which have played a pivotal role in the Television Industry. This would not have been possible without the seamless and harmonious collaboration of over 300 talented and dedicated professionals." related stories The statement shared that the company has fostered an ecosystem that nurtures a safe, supportive environment, ensuring respect, dignity, and healthy working conditions for our artists, technicians, and workers. Adding: We consider them a part of our family, and the entire unit and team of our Production Houses can vouch for the care and commitment that we consistently provide." Talking about the incident, the statement mentioned: An unfortunate accident happened on 14th Nov. 2024 during the shooting of the TV Serial Anupamaa at a set in Film City, when an apprentice camera attendant, Mr. Ajit Kumar was sent by the camera vendor, who mistakenly picked both the light rod and camera together when he was not wearing any footwear and got the electric shock." The DOP present on the set said that it was purely a human error. He was immediately taken to the hospital and given instant medical help but unfortunately, we lost him. It was deeply saddening." The production house claimed that in response, immediate arrangements were made to send flight tickets to the family members of the deceased, who were urgently called from Patna. All necessary legal formalities were also promptly addressed." The Production House covered the hospital and medical expenses, facilitated the familys return to Patna, and provided compensation, for which the family expressed their gratitude through a letter. Additionally, the deceaseds insurance will be directly disbursed to his nominated beneficiary." The statement also mentioned that the Production Houses have always prioritised the safety and well- being of the crew. We remain committed to supporting our team members in such circumstances, as we consider them an integral part of our family. May God bless the noble soul of Late Mr. Ajit Kumar, who went to his heavenly abode." We trust that the statement provided by us, as a responsible Production House, is satisfactory. We would like to request rumour mongers with certain vested interests to stop spreading false rumours otherwise, failing which we will take stringent legal action against them as per the law of the land." Besides this, we are in touch with Producers Bodies namely Producers Guild of India (Guild), Indian Film and Television Producers Council (IFTPC), Indian Motion Picture Producers Association (IMPPA), Indian Film & Television Directors Association (IFTDA) and mother body Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) and have updated them about the unfortunate incident." First Published: November 22, 2024, 15:05 IST Greedy People Review: Joseph Gordon-Levitt Starrer Film Is A Juicy Sinister Thriller Written By : News18.com Edited By: Chirag Sehgal Last Updated: November 22, 2024, 14:28 IST Greedy People movie review: Here's why you should watch the Joseph Gordon-Levitt starrer. Himesh Patil and Joseph Gordon-Levitt in Greedy People. Greedy People A 3/5 22 November 2024|English 1 hrs 52 mins | Crime comedy Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Himesh Patel, Lily James, Simon Rex, Tim Blake Nelson, Joey Lauren Adams, Uzo Aduba, and Jim Gaffigan. Director: Potsy Ponciroli Watch Trailer Greedy People Movie Review: On one hand, we have the oh-so-colourful Wicked hitting the screens this weekend. On the other, Joseph Gordon-Levitt is set to paint the screen bloody red with Greedy People! Released by Lionsgate, the film has a rather twisted idea of crime comedy, which instantly gets you hooked. Joseph shares the screen with Himesh Patel, Lily James, Simon Rex, Tim Blake Nelson, Joey Lauren Adams, Uzo Aduba, and Jim Gaffigan. Although the film is only an hour and 52 minutes, Greedy People is such a good watch! related stories What Is Greedy People About? Police officer Will Shelley (Himesh Patel) and his wife Paige (Lily James) move into a small, dull town in the US. As they prepare to start their new life, Will is assigned a rather eccentric partner in the form of Officer Terry Brogan (Joseph Gordon-Levitt). His unruly habits are unknown to the locals, and his moustache look paints a worse picture of him. As they get acquitted, Will learns that Terry is involved with a married Chinese woman. During one of their rounds, Terry makes a quick visit to his lovers home. As Terry gets busy, Will gets an SOS call about a break-in at one of the homes in the town. He ditches Terry and heads to the crime scene. One thing leads to another, Will accidentally kills the resident who made the SOS call. The case suddenly becomes high-profile because she is the wife of the towns acclaimed businessman. While Terry helps Will to cover up the murder, the plot thickens and only gets bloodier and bloodier. As Greedy People progresses, viewers learn about several secrets, witness betrayals and deaths, and also meet two outlandish hitmen. What Works For Greedy People? Several elements in Greedy People work in the films favour. Right off the bat would be the casting of Joseph Gordon-Levitt. The man is a Chameleon and Greedy People is proof that he can play any part given to him. He is the star of the film and delivers some of the best scenes, even when Himesh and Lily fall short. Speaking of the duo, Lily leaves a mark with her performance, especially in the climax portion. However, Himesh wasnt as impactful. The supporting cast also shoulder the film well. However, Nina Arianda stood out among them all. Greedy People also doesnt shy away from going deep in terms of brutality. The film has several moments that take you off guard, keeping you wondering what could happen next. The comedy is also bang on! What Doesnt Work For Greedy People? The films screenplay seems to be written unevenly. Director Potsy Ponciroli builds up every twist well but the moment it hits the high, the pace comes crashing down. The uneven momentum is evident and it does make you lose attention. Another issue with the film was Officer Terrys background. While Will and the other characters had their history well established, Terrys history needed a little more writing to truly incline or detest his behaviour in the film. Nevertheless, watch Greedy People for Joseph Gordon-Levitt. First Published: November 22, 2024, 14:28 IST Palak Tiwari Drops New Pics From Maldives Vacay; Fans Are Convinced Ibrahim Ali Khan Clicked Them Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 22, 2024, 20:15 IST Saif Ali Khans son Ibrahim Ali Khan and Shweta Tiwaris daughter Palak Tiwari have been rumoured to be dating since last year. Palak Tiwari shares a fresh set of pictures from her Maldives vacation. Shweta Tiwaris daughter Palak Tiwari had a great time during her recent Maldives vacay, and her pictures are proof! The diva has been treating her 4.8 million followers on Instagram with some stunning photos of herself from the holiday. Her rumoured boyfriend Ibrahim Ali Khan recently dropped his pictures from the same location, sparking speculations about them enjoying their vacation together. Now, much to her fans delight, Palak has shared a set of fresh pictures from Maldives, and fans believe Ibrahim has clicked them. On Friday, Palak Tiwari took to her Instagram account and shared yet another photo dump from the Maldives. In the pictures, she is seen rocking a body-hugging pink tube dress. While a few pictures are selfies of Palak, fans are convinced that the other pictures have been clicked by her rumoured boyfriend Ibrahim Ali Khan. The first picture is a selfie of Palak, with a beautiful beach in the backdrop. A few other pictures show her enjoying a boat ride, the backdrop of which is quite similar to the one in Ibrahims photos. The date on the photos reveals that it was clicked a week ago, around the same time that Ibrahim also posted pictures from Maldives. She shared the photos along with pink bow emojis. related stories View this post on Instagram A post shared by Palak Tiwari (@palaktiwarii) Fans believe Ibrahim has clicked the pictures, and while one comment read, Ibrahim has a good photograpy skill," another comment reads, Clicked by @iakpataudi." Many others dropped similar comments. While they didnt feature in each others Maldives pictures, the similar backdrops led fans to believe that they are together. A few days ago, Palak Tiwari also shared a video of her snorkelling adventure in the Maldives. She wrote that it was a soul touching experience for a beginner like her, and she never thought she was capable of doing something like this. In case you missed it, check it out below! View this post on Instagram A post shared by Palak Tiwari (@palaktiwarii) Palak Tiwari and Ibrahim Ali Khan have been rumoured to be dating since last year. On the work front, Palak Tiwari made her Bollywood debut with Salman Khans multi-starrer film Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan. Meanwhile, Ibrahim Ali Khan assisted Karan Johar in the film Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani. His upcoming projects include Naadaniyaan alongside Khushi Kapoor and Sarzameen, co-starring Kajol and Prithviraj Sukumaran. First Published: November 22, 2024, 20:10 IST Rishi Kapoor's Dying Wish Was To See Ranbir Kapoor Get Married, Says Riddhima: 'Dad Wanted...' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 22, 2024, 15:26 IST Riddhima Kapoor Sahni revealed Rishi Kapoor's two last wishes before he passed away. Ranbir was already dating Alia when Rishi Kapoor fell sick. Riddhima Kapoor Sahni, who recently made her debut in Fabulous Lives vs Bollywood Wives, lost her father, Rishi Kapoor, in 2020. The veteran actor died after battling a prolonged illness. She recently revealed that his last two wishes were to see Ranbir Kapoor get married and the Kapoor house fully built. In a chat with Zoom, Riddhima said, His last two wishes were getting Ranbir married and getting the house ready. So the house is almost ready, and Ranbir is married. It was very very emotional for us. I really wish he was here with us but I guess god had other plans." related stories Talking about Ranbir and Alias wedding, Riddhima while Rishi threw a lavish celebration for his daughter, the actors son took another route. I had a really big wedding so I didnt have a good time at my wedding at all. My dad wanted to have the biggest wedding, which he did. So Ranbir was like, You know what, we have had a big wedding in the family, a big celebration so this time And he is a very simple guy. Both Ranbir and Alia are very simple people. So they were like we want to do it very small," she shared. They said we just want people who matter to us, people who we are in touch with every single day and we want to have a good time ourselves and they did. Both of them were beaming with joy. They have thoroughly enjoyed their wedding and they met everyone, spent time with everyone," she shared. Riddhima also lauded her sister-in-law Alia and said, Shes a great girl. Alia is amazing. Like how she is with my mom also now, shes just amazing. Her whole family, mom, sister, dad, they are all very kind people. Even her maasi, we love her." She added, Alia is actually a very warm and giving person. Ive said this all the time, shes really nice human. Whenever she does something, she does it dil se, wholeheartedly. She will go out and make sure its done." First Published: November 22, 2024, 15:26 IST Rupali Ganguly's Stepdaughter Has NOT Responded To Defamation Notice, Lawyer Sana Reveals Key Details | Exclusive Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: November 22, 2024, 12:11 IST Rupali Ganguly sent a Rs 50 crore defamation notice to her stepdaughter earlier this month. Rupali Ganguly and Ashwin Verma are also parents to an 11-year-old son. (Photo: Instagram) Rupali Gangulys lawyer Sana Raees Khan has revealed that her stepdaughter, Esha Verma, has not responded to the defamation notice as of now. In an exclusive conversation with News18 Showsha, Sana, who was also a part of Bigg Boss 17, shared key details about the legal battle. She mentioned that even though Esha has deleted the viral social media post, she is yet to respond to the legal notice. She (Esha Verma) hasnt responded, However, she has deleted all defamatory posts and deleted one account pursuant to receiving our notice which is an acknowledgement of her wrongdoing," Sana told us. related stories Sana Raees Khan further revealed that it was Rupali who decided to send a defamation notice to Esha after the latter dragged her 11-year-old son, Rudransh. Rupali decided to take this drastic step when her stepdaughter maliciously labelled her 11-year-old child as illegitimate and the matter escalated with continuous and constant defamatory and derogatory posts thereby character assassinating Rupali," she said. The lawyer further expressed that it was important to send notice to 26-year-old Esha and claimed that the allegations by the latter were baseless. It was imperative, in view of the fact that she was constantly posting defamatory and baseless posts, thereby attacking Rupalis reputation and character. She crossed all limits by attacking an 11-year-old child and terming him illegitimate," she shared. Sana also revealed that the Anupamaa star is deeply hurt by the allegations and added, The false and malicious allegations made by the stepdaughter caused immense emotional distress and mental anguish to my client. These malicious and baseless accusations not only attacked her personal integrity but also tarnished her reputation. Such baseless claims have left her deeply hurt." Earlier this month, Esha, who is Ashwin Vermas second wife Priyanka Vermas daughter, claimed that Rupali broke their home. She also called the Anupamaa lead actor an abusive and toxic woman. Later, Rupali also filed a defamation case against Esha for Rs 50 crore following which the latter deleted her Instagram post. First Published: November 22, 2024, 12:11 IST Tamannaah Bhatia Reveals The One Dish She Couldn't Have Left Lucknow Without Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: November 22, 2024, 17:03 IST Tamannaah Bhatia attended a promotional event in Lucknow for her upcoming film, where she indulged in and shared her love for the city's iconic sweet. Tamannaah Bhatia indulged in Malai Makhan during her visit to Lucknow. (Photo Credits: Instagram) Tamannaah Bhatia is not just a star on screen shes a true food enthusiast who can never resist indulging in delicious cuisines wherever she goes. Known for her love of all things scrumptious, the actress has recently discovered a sweet treasure from the city of Nawabs, Lucknow. And Tamannaah couldnt resist sharing her food obsession with her followers on Instagram. In a video, the actress is seen sitting in her car, holding a bowl filled with a white dessert. Alongside the clip, she wrote, Couldnt have left Lucknow without Malai Makhan," and we cant help but agree. Malai Makhan, a loved dessert in Lucknow, is a treat made from milk cream, generously topped with powdered sugar, a dash of yellow food colour, and a sprinkle of cardamom powder to give it a unique flavour. Its a perfect balance of sweetness and richness, making it an irresistible delicacy. related stories Tamannaah Bhatia was in Lucknow to promote her upcoming action-thriller Sikandar Ka Muqaddar, alongside her co-star Avinash Tiwari. The evening was star-studded, with the two actors meeting some of Lucknows most talked-about kids, who recently made headlines for their innovative fashion skills. For context, these young designers created outfits inspired by Sabyasachi and even filmed a ramp show, mimicking the style of the renowned designers iconic model showcases. During the event, the kids gifted Tamannaah a self-made saree, and she was seen enjoying a wonderful time with them. View this post on Instagram A post shared by FEVER FM UP (@feverfmup) A day ago, Netflix India teased its audience with a snippet of the song, Thehre Rahen, from the upcoming film, Sikandar Ka Muqaddar. The short clip featured some intimate, romantic moments between Tamannaah and Avinash, set to a soothing melody in the background. The clip concluded with a red screen saying, Thehre Rahen Out Tomorrow." The caption added, Playing this on loop, kyunki ye gaana hamare dil mein theher gaya hai #ThehreRahen (Because this song has stopped in our hearts #ThehreRahein) Song out now!" View this post on Instagram A post shared by Netflix India (@netflix_in) Sikandar Ka Muqaddar will be streaming on Netflix starting November 29. Directed by Neeraj Pandey, the film stars Avinash Tiwary as Sikandar Sharma, Tamannaah Bhatia as Kamini Singh, Ashrut Jain as Manish and Jimmy Shergill as Jaswinder Singh. The cast also includes Amrita Kumari, Divya Dutta, Rajeev Mehta, Anil Pandey, Anupam K. Sinha, Abhishek Mishra, Ashutosh Kushwaha, Allinson Louis Aranha and others in key. roles. Produced by Shital Bhatia, Mahammad Sabir Shaikh and Sandeep Shandilya, the movie revolves around the aftermath of an unsolved diamond heist, followed by a hard-nosed cops obsessive pursuit of his main suspect, leading to a confrontation and the revelation of the truth, according to Netflix. First Published: November 22, 2024, 16:57 IST Shanghai (Gasgoo)- GAC International, the global business unit of GAC Group, recently announced it has made a major leap in the Latin American market, officially entering Uruguay following its successful debut in Guatemala. The brand marked its arrival with a high-profile launch event at Carrasco International Airport, where it showcased several vehicle models. Photo credit: GAC International Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Uruguay 36 years ago, the two nations have maintained stable and fruitful bilateral ties, particularly in trade. China has been Uruguay's largest trade partner and its biggest export market for consecutive years, with significant potential for further economic collaboration. In this context, GAC International has strategically entered Uruguay as part of its broader plan to expand its footprint in Latin America. At the event, Chinese Ambassador to Uruguay Huang Yazhong congratulated GAC International on its successful partnership with local distributors, marking a significant step in the brand's Latin American expansion. He noted that the global competitiveness of Chinese automobiles, particularly electric vehicles, is on the rise, offering more diverse choices to consumers worldwide. He emphasized the opportunity for both countries' enterprises to deepen cooperation in green, low-carbon development, particularly in the electric vehicle sector, and to work towards mutual benefits and growth. General Manager of GAC International Americas, Wu Bingcheng, also spoke at the event, highlighting Uruguay's importance to the company's global strategy. " We are very excited to officially enter the Uruguayan market today. We are grateful for the support of our local partner, Lestido Group, who has been instrumental in making this launch possible. We understand that Uruguayan consumers have a strong demand for high-quality, high-performance, and environmentally-friendly vehicles, and we are committed to providing top-notch products and services. We aim to make GAC the most preferred Chinese automotive brand among Uruguayan consumers," said Mr. Wu. The event also saw the unveiling of five key models, including the EMZOOM, EMKOO, All New GS8, AION Y, and AION ES. These models, which include both gasoline and electric vehicles,promise to offer Uruguayan consumers an entirely new driving experience. The latest brand launch in Uruguay marks a key milestone in GAC International's global expansion efforts. GAC International said the simultaneous introduction of five models underscores the company's commitment to the Uruguayan market and its dedication to offering high-quality products to local consumers. Looking ahead, GAC International aims to continue delivering innovative and environmentally-friendly vehicles while strengthening its partnerships with local distributors. The Rana Daggubati Show Premieres At 2024 IFFI; Actor Calls It 'Unimaginable Experience' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 22, 2024, 04:47 IST The eight-episode Telugu Original promises a star-studded lineup, including Dulquer Salmaan, Naga Chaitanya Akkineni, SS Rajamouli, Ram Gopal Varma & more. Rana Daggubati at the IFFI 2024 in Goa. Prime Video launched its first-ever celebrity chat show, The Rana Daggubati Show, in a grand world premiere at the 55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) on November 21. The premiere featured the inaugural episode with Nani, Teja Sajja, and Priyanka Arulmohan, captivating an audience of over 250 cinephiles with its fresh, unscripted approach. The series, hosted and executive produced by Rana Daggubati under Spirit Media, is set to premiere globally on Prime Video on November 23, with new episodes releasing every Saturday. The eight-episode Telugu Original promises a star-studded lineup, including Dulquer Salmaan, Naga Chaitanya Akkineni, S.S. Rajamouli, Ram Gopal Varma, Rishab Shetty, Siddhu Jonnalagadda, Sreeleela, and more. From candid chats to unique activities like car modifications with Naga Chaitanya and ambushing Rajamouli on set, the series offers fans an intimate look into the lives of their favourite stars. related stories Reflecting on the milestone, Rana shared, Never imagined The Rana Daggubati Show would be screened in front of such a lovely audience at IFFI. Weve flipped the format, removing barriers between fans and celebrities. Im grateful to Prime Video for this partnership and cant wait for the global audience to enjoy it from November 23." Sonal Kabi, Director & HeadMarketing at Prime Video India, added, Were proud to showcase our first unscripted Telugu Original at IFFI, a globally celebrated platform. Ranas authentic connections with his guests and this innovative format bring a refreshing energy, making it an unmissable watch." The International Film Festival of India, renowned for celebrating global cinema, served as the perfect backdrop for the shows premiere. Alongside The Rana Daggubati Show, IFFI 2024 features an impressive lineup of films, workshops, and retrospectives. First Published: November 22, 2024, 04:47 IST Vidhu Vinod Chopra Says 'You're Giving Too Much Importance To National Awards' At 2024 IFFI Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 23, 2024, 00:57 IST Vidhu Vinod Chopra, whose 1989 film Parinda has earned significant critical acclaim, also discussed the growing conversation around his film 12th Fail. Vidhu Vinod Chopra at IFP season 14. Filmmaker Vidhu Vinod Chopra recently shared his honest views on the National Awards and the representation of thrillers in prestigious ceremonies. Speaking at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa, Chopra responded to a question about why thrillers dont often get recognised at the National Awards by stating, You are giving too much importance to the National Awards." Chopra, whose iconic 1989 film Parinda has earned significant critical acclaim, also discussed the growing conversation around his film 12th Fail. The drama, starring Vikrant Massey, received praise for its portrayal of Indias education system, with many, including individuals from Hollywood, suggesting that the film should have been Indias entry to the 2023 Academy Awards instead of the Malayalam film 2018. related stories Chopra, however, expressed that he didnt place much value on such recognitions. He said, Many people have told me, including people in Hollywood, that 12th Fail should have represented India at the Oscars. But do I care? What I care for is-did I make a good film or did I not make a good film? Please dont give so much importance [to awards]. Awards are people outside of [the industry] who are acknowledging you for God knows whatever reasons. So please dont bother." Despite the debates surrounding awards, Chopra remains focused on his craft and the value of making good cinema. At IFFI, he also showcased his upcoming film Zero Se Restart, which is set to release on December 13, 2024. The film will explore the making of 12th Fail. In addition, Chopra revealed plans to restore some of his beloved films, including Parinda, 1942: A Love Story, and 3 Idiots, in 8K resolution, which will be theatrically re-released next year. As for the Oscars 2025, Kiran Raos Laapataa Ladies has been selected as Indias official entry. First Published: November 23, 2024, 00:57 IST Opinion | Catching Innovation: What India Can Learn From SpaceXs Latest Triumph Written By : & News18.com Last Updated: November 22, 2024, 17:53 IST Embrace risk, support long-term thinking, and create ecosystems that turn ambitious dreams into reality A pair of giant robotic arms caught the first stage booster of SpaceXs Starship. (Image: X/@elonmusk) We all watched in wondrous amazement as SpaceX caught" the Starships first stage booster with chopstick" mechanical arms a feat as good as catching a falling skyscraper. And a thought must have crossed all our minds: what can India do to achieve such audacious innovations, such unbelievable moonshots? Surely, we have the talent and the motivation. Its important to realise that this is not just about technological prowess. It is as much about the innovation ecosystem and specific regulatory frameworks and programmes that enable this kind of fundamental shift in how we approach innovation. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has achieved commendable successes with its frugal innovations, but we need to think about what sort of an ecosystem will enable private companies in India to take massive technological risks that SpaceX routinely undertakes. And this is not just about the space sector, but about innovation in general. related stories So, while we look at the space sector specifically in this essay, the ideas can be applied across industries. At the outset, lets be clear about one thing money is important. Theres no doubting that. Deep capital markets enable all of this risk-taking. There is only so much moonshot innovation that poverty can dream of. But it isnt the only ingredient of the secret sauce that we are looking for here. It includes an environment where failure is considered to be just another stepping stone to success. We explore two broad areas where the Indian government can begin shaping such an environment regulation and funding. The Regulation Balancing Safety and Innovation India has taken some steps in the right direction with its space sector reforms, boosting private player participation. However, there is still a lot to do. The US governments approach to the space sector, especially with SpaceX, offers some very valuable lessons. The Commercial Space Launch Amendments Act of 2004 explicitly treats space flights differently from traditional aviation. It allows for informed consent" and experimental permits for testing. The Federal Aviation Administrations (FAA) Office of Commercial Space Transportation operates on a permissive by default" principle for test flights, requiring companies to demonstrate that public safety is protected, not that every system is perfect. If one compares this to the Indian regulatory scene, one can see that a lot is left to be desired. For instance, IN-SPACe still requires multiple approvals across agencies even though it is fashioned to be a one-stop shop for space regulation. A startup testing a new propulsion system would need clearances from PESO, environmental authorities, and multiple ISRO centres, and maybe some others too. The technology transfer process from ISRO to private players is also, more often than not, a case-by-case, individual negotiation process. The liability framework remains unclear, unlike specific legislation like the US Commercial Space Launch Act that caps private company liability and provides government indemnification above certain thresholds. Of course, there is no discounting the fact that management styles impact the success story of a company. But more often than not, Indias rules make it difficult to adopt a first principles engineering approach, something that, say, Elon Musk adopts at his companies. SpaceX, for instance, built rockets for $2 million by buying raw materials instead of using expensive aerospace vendors. In India, though, regulations would strangle this approach by insisting on using approved vendors only, or by having industrial licensing that mandates predefined processes and supplier relationships. Modifications to approved designs would have to sit through fresh regulatory approval cycles in India. This sort of culture doesnt encourage flat hierarchies which are amenable to innovation. If our regulations like, say, the Factory Act, require detailed approval for each process change, one cant follow the test, fail, fix, test again" philosophy of SpaceX. Rapid iteration and testing become impossible and things progress at a glacial pace. Labour laws should not make it difficult to run 24/7 testing cycles. High-risk testing requires robust, and not restrictive, accident liability laws. For vertical integration to work and give dividends in the form of innovation, we cant have our rules requiring separate entities for different business activities. Multi-skill deployment of labour is essential, which labour laws can complicate sometimes. Zoning laws separate manufacturing from R&D facilities, but manufacturing and design teams being co-located helps spur innovation. Tax structures can sometimes favour outsourcing over vertical integration. If we want to encourage quick decision-making, we cant afford to have conservative and risk-averse corporate governance regulations. Requirements for board approvals for decisions need to be looked at from this angle. Large expenditures are essential to progress, but these cant be looked at with suspicion always as part of the process. Directors liability encourages conservative decision-making. Thus, we need engineering freedom reforms, corporate governance reforms, and balanced labour and safety frameworks. Teslas story offers another crucial lesson: the power of integrated innovation ecosystems. Building cars wasnt just what Tesla did; it created a complete ecosystem including charging infrastructure, battery technology, and autonomous driving systems. Such integrated ecosystems foster innovation. The success of UPI demonstrates, for instance, how creating open digital infrastructure can spawn innovation across sectors. We need to create innovation zones where companies can operate with greater freedom and can have access to world-class infrastructure. SpaceXs Starbase in Texas shows how dedicated innovation zones can accelerate development. Government Support Rewarding Outcomes In the US, government contracts trigger a virtuous cycle that permeates across the ecosystem. NASAs Commercial Crew Program provided crucial early contracts while allowing SpaceX to retain intellectual property rights and pursue commercial opportunities. We require concrete programmes like NASAs Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS), which provided SpaceX with $396 million in milestone-based payments instead of traditional cost-plus contracts. Critically, COTS also allowed the same flexibility to SpaceX when it came to IP rights and commercial opportunities. NASA served as an anchor customer guaranteeing a baseline revenue stream. This model of government as an anchor customer in addition to a regulator has proven transformative. Lets imagine how this could work in India. Instead of being tied down by traditional funding mechanisms and procurement methods, government departments could offer outcome-based contracts to startups that work on critical and emerging technologies from defence technologies to climate solutions. The Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), which has been envisioned as an apex-level body providing strategic direction to research and development in the country, could be imagined as an Indian equivalent of Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) from the US, providing Technology Readiness Level (TRL) and milestone-based funding for high-risk, high-reward projects, while allowing companies to own the resulting IP and to profit out of the commercialisation of the resulting innovations. This would require changes to Indias procurement rules the General Financial Rules (GFRs) to allow different kinds of procurement contracts. There is also the concept of evaluating outcomes of projects based on whether good faith efforts were made, and whether there was any explicit malfeasance. This, again, will require changes in our procurement rules, as also training our judicial machinery in adjudicating such cases. SpaceXs success is built on a foundation of deep private capital. These venture capitalists are willing to bear enormous risks associated with space technology because of the stabilising force of the government as an anchor customer. This stands in sharp contrast to the Indian governments approach to demand-driven space missions, where it seeks to invest in space technology based on private sector demand, instead of creating the demand itself. The Indian government, in its efforts to encourage private space companies, has set up a venture capital fund to aid in funding, but this approach too has drawbacks. It could discourage private investors and require the government to make complex investment decisions a task they may not be well-suited for. A better approach would be for the government to use this budget to purchase services directly from these startups. This would simplify the governments role, direct funds to startups that can deliver results and attract private investors to successful companies. To implement this effectively, new funding models with various profit-sharing and incentive structures need to be developed. This, too, requires backing in law. Embrace Risk and Long-Term Thinking What would an Indian SpaceX look like? Perhaps its not in space at all, but in renewable energy, biotechnology, or quantum computing. The key is that ambitious innovators need an environment where they can take big risks, fail fast, and keep pushing boundaries. This means rethinking everything, from our bankruptcy laws to our education system. We need to transform Indias innovation ecosystem from a permission-based system to a performance-based one, and move away from subjective approvals to objective criteria, much like how SpaceX operates under clear FAA guidelines rather than case-by-case permissions. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Embrace risk, support long-term thinking, and create ecosystems that turn ambitious dreams into reality. Arindam Goswami and Ashwin Prasad are research analysts at Takshashila Institution, Bengaluru. The views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the authors. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views. First Published: November 22, 2024, 17:52 IST Opinion | Oxford Unions Kashmir Debate: Free Speech Shouldnt Mean Needless Provocation Written By : News18.com Last Updated: November 22, 2024, 18:31 IST As a global academic institution of repute, Oxford Union would do well to honestly introspect on its decision and in future avoid listing topics for debates that other than hurting public sensitivities, achieve precious little The Oxford Union's decision to hold a debate on Kashmir's independence has stirred significant controversy, particularly among Indian students and scholars. (X/@OxfordUnion) The Oxford Union, one of the most prestigious debating societies in the world, has long been a platform for robust discussions on global issues. However, its decision to hold a debate on Kashmirs independence has stirred significant controversy, particularly among Indian students and scholars. Kashmir has been a region of conflict between India and Pakistan for decades, and the debate on its status remains a deeply sensitive and polarising topic in South Asia. A spontaneous wave of protests by the Indian student community erupted following the Oxford Unions decision to host a debate on the contentious issue of Kashmir. The debate, titled This House Believes that Kashmir Should Be Independent, has sparked outrage among an overwhelming majority of Indians who rightly view the discussion as an attack on Indias sovereignty. The protest has attracted widespread attention, raising concerns about the intersection of free speech, international relations, and the role of academic institutions in addressing politically sensitive topics. related stories As Kashmir is an integral part of India, the motion which advocates Kashmirs independence has rightly drawn sharp criticism and many Indian students at Oxford as well as other supporters in India view this provocative debate as an affront to the countrys national interests. They argue that the motion perpetuates a completely false narrative about the status of Kashmir and could potentially incite further tension between India and Pakistan, as well as within the region itself. In response to the debate, a significant number of Indian students at Oxford University have staged protests, demanding that the Union reconsider hosting the debate. The protests have taken various forms, from peaceful demonstrations and sit-ins to petitioning the Union leadership for an apology and withdrawal of the motion. The students have expressed their concerns that the debate could harm Indias international reputation and exacerbate an already sensitive issue. Indias stance on Kashmir is clear and unambiguous," said Anjali Verma, one of the leaders of the protest. Kashmir is an integral part of India, and any debate questioning this sovereignty is not just irresponsible, but also deeply hurtful to millions of Indians, including those from Kashmir," she further said. The protests have garnered significant media attention, with many Indian outlets covering the students efforts to voice their opposition. The demonstrators have emphasised that their objection is not to the right to free speech but to what they perceive as an attempt to delegitimise Indias position on the Kashmir issue. Some students have also raised concerns that the Unions choice of topic may be influenced by political bias or external pressures, rather than a genuine academic interest in fostering constructive dialogue. The Oxford Union, for its part, has defended its decision to host the debate. In a statement released after the protests began, the Union emphasised its commitment to free speech and intellectual exchange. The Unions leadership stressed that it was not taking a position on the issue but was merely providing a platform for a wide range of views to be expressed in line with its tradition of encouraging diverse perspectives on complex global issues. We believe that debates should challenge ideas, engage with difficult subjects, and allow for the free expression of all viewpoints," the statement read. The Oxford Union is not a political body; it is an academic institution dedicated to fostering critical thinking and discourse," it further read. The Union also pointed out that debates on sensitive issues like Kashmir are not unusual at Oxford, and similar discussions on the region have been held in the past. However, the scale and prominence of this particular debate have raised concerns about its potential to escalate tensions, particularly with India. The Oxford Unions Kashmir debate highlights the complexities of navigating sensitive political issues in an international academic environment. The protests from Indian students at Oxford are part of a broader trend in which universities and student organisations around the world are increasingly being called upon to balance freedom of expression with the potential impact that certain topics can have on national sentiments and international relations. Being an integral part of its territory, India has all the rights to oppose any attempts aimed at internationalising the Kashmir issue. The Government of India has repeatedly emphasised that Kashmir is a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan and should not be the subject of third-party involvement or discussions. The Oxford Union debate, therefore, comes at a time of heightened diplomatic sensitivity, as India continues to face challenges related to cross-border terrorism, separatist movements, and its strained relations with Pakistan. On the other hand, supporters of the debate argue that universities should serve as spaces for open and challenging discussions, where even contentious issues can be debated without fear of censorship or retaliation. They contend that the debate on Kashmir is an opportunity to engage with complex historical and political realities in an academic setting and that such discussions can contribute to a broader understanding of the regions challenges. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The protests by Indian students against the Oxford Unions Kashmir debate reflect the deep emotions and national pride associated with the Kashmir issue. While the Oxford Unions commitment to free speech is laudable, the protests underscore the need for universities to carefully consider the potential ramifications of hosting debates on highly sensitive topics. As a global academic institution of repute, Oxford Union would do well to honestly introspect on its decision and in future avoid listing topics for debates that other than hurting public sensitivities, achieve precious little! The author is Editor Brighter Kashmir, Author, TV commentator, political analyst and columnist. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views. First Published: November 22, 2024, 18:31 IST Opinion | Whither Bangladesh? Yunus Hand In Glove With Islamists Written By : News18.com Last Updated: November 22, 2024, 18:26 IST Yunus should not be seen as an accidental head of government who, due to his lack of political experience, is being manipulated by wily Islamists. He is hand in glove with them, if not one of them himself Bangladeshs Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus is not a typical politician. (AP file photo) Bangladeshs Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus is not a typical politician. When the Nobel Prize-winning economist was made the head of the government after the ouster of Sheikh Hasina, many hoped that he would be able to improve governance in Bangladesh. The hopes have been dashed, for he has been behaving as a blunt instrument in the hands of his backers, most of whom are Islamists. Nothing else explains Yunus recent comment that the violence against Hindus is exaggerated propaganda" aimed at destabilising the nation. The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council, however, doesnt think so. An AP report quoted the council as saying that there have been more than 2,000 attacks on Hindus since August 4, as the interim government has struggled to restore order. United Nations human rights officials and other rights groups have expressed concern over human rights in the country under Yunus. Hindus and other minority communities say the interim government hasnt adequately protected them and that hard-line Islamists are becoming increasingly influential since Hasinas ouster," the report said. related stories Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also expressed concern over the attacks. While US President Joe Biden has been downplaying human rights issues in Bangladesh, his successor, Donald Trump, has been forthright in denouncing barbaric" violence against Hindus, Christians, and other minorities. Hopefully, pressure from Washington after Trump assumes office will improve the situation in Bangladesh. Yunus will find Trump 2.0 tough. The reason is simple: the Nobel laureate has been mollycoddled so much by the West that neither he nor his government will find it easy to deal with a tough White House. Yunus and his cronies seem to have become insolent; they dont give two hoots to the criticism about the mistreatment of religious minorities. They are bothered only about punishing Hasina. To be sure, as prime minister, Hasina was not the paragon of statesmanship. Her reign was pockmarked with allegations of corruption and authoritarianism. But now it looks like her biggest sin was the protection she provided to Hindus. Nothing galls her detractors more than this (from their perspective) unforgivable sin. Days after her ouster, a Hindu victim of Islamist violence told BBC that Hindu minorities in Bangladesh are largely viewed as supporters of Sheikh Hasinas secular Awami League party and are often attacked by [her] rivals in a country where Islam is the state religion." Since then, attacks on the Hindus have become more widespread and ferocious. The recent Durga Puja celebrations, for instance, were muted; there were reports of at least 35 riotous incidents related to the festival. Yunus reaction, however, smacked of complacency tinged with malevolence as he stated, Durga Puja was celebrated in almost 32,000 pandals across the country." It must be highlighted here that Islamism is rearing its ugly head not because of Yunus incompetence but because of his deliberate actions. He lifted the ban on Bangladeshs largest Islamist party, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), in August. Notably, the JI has a dark and controversial past. It is, in fact, a party of traitors who collaborated with the genocidal Pakistani Army in 1971. They actively participated in the murder of hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of people, the Hindus being special targets. Estimates of the death toll range from 300,000 to 3 million. Additionally, thousands of women were raped by Pakistani soldiers. Islamists want to undo the secular legacy of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the father of Bangladesh. They want Muhammad Ali Jinnah, instead, to be known as the father of the nation. On September 11, Jinnahs 76th death anniversary was commemorated at the National Press Club in Dhaka, with Urdu songs and poetry. If Bangladesh had not been part of Pakistan in 1947, we would have been in the same position as Kashmir today, with the Indian junta holding weapons to our necks. Bangladesh gained independence because of Pakistan, which Jinnah helped create," a speaker said at the event. Therefore, the attacks on Sheikh Mujibur Rahmans legacy, including the vandalisation of his statues and murals, cannot be dismissed or downplayed as the excesses of worked-up mobs. His legacy is relentlessly and continuously being targeted. A few days ago, Yunus accepted the demands of anti-Hasina students to remove the portrait of Sheikh from the presidents office. It would be instructive to recall that the Islami Chhatra Shibir, the student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh, has been the engine of student protests and the fall of Hasina. Meanwhile, on November 17, Yunus reiterated his interim governments stance that it would seek Hasinas extradition from India. At the same time, he is rehabilitating Islamists. Syed Mohammad Mosaddek Billah, a senior leader of the Islamist party Islami Andolan Bangladesh, told the German media platform DW that Islamist political parties, including his own, were suppressed by the Hasina government but are now being supported by the interim administration to participate in the upcoming elections. Many convicted terrorists have been released from jail since the formation of this [Yunus] government without following proper legal procedures, which poses a security threat to Bangladesh and beyond," Veena Sikri, former High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh, told DW. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all In a nutshell, Yunus should not be seen as an accidental head of government who, due to his lack of political experience, is being manipulated by wily Islamists. He is hand in glove with them, if not one of them himself. The author is a freelance journalist. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views. First Published: November 22, 2024, 18:26 IST 'Biren Singh Couldn't Bring Peace, So Why Isnt He Resigning?' Manipur Minister's Criticism Signals Internal Rift Reported By : CNN-News18 Edited By: Apoorva Misra Last Updated: November 22, 2024, 14:14 IST Yumnam Khemchand Singh said Mondays meeting of MLAs, which he skipped, should have included the administration as it was their job to maintain law and order in the state Yumnam Khemchand Singh. (X @YKhemchandSingh) Yumnam Khemchand Singh, a minister in the Manipur government, has questioned chief minister N Biren Singhs refusal to quit over the failed law and order situation in the volatile state. Yumnam Singh was one of the leaders who did not turn up for Mondays meeting of MLAs called by the chief minister and is known to be a Biren Singh-baiter. CNN-News18 caught up with Yumnam Singh to understand the situation in Manipur and his insistence on the chief ministers resignation. related stories Edited Excerpts: Why did you not attend Mondays meeting? The meetings notification said it was to review the law and order situation in Manipur. If that were the case, then the DG and chief secretary should have been called. Why were the MLAs summoned? The administration will look into law and order, this is not my work. Even Saturdays resolution has no meaning. When there is an attempt to set our houses on fire, its not possible to hold such a meeting. People say you dont like Biren Singh and you have been opposing him. Is that true? In politics, there is no friend or foe. Honestly speaking, it has been 18 months and there is no peace. I asked him to resign a couple of times but he is not putting down his papers. He could not bring peace till now so why isnt he resigning? Several houses of ministers and MLAs have been vandalised and set ablaze. Whats your take on that? People are emotional and you need to make them understand the situation. When protesters came to my house, I told them I too am looking for justice. I am also emotionally broken. I requested them and they understood. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all How will peace come to Manipur? More forces have come in but we need to talk to people and make them understand the ground realities. Location : Manipur, India First Published: November 22, 2024, 14:00 IST Inside Details Of BJPs 8-Hour Meeting On Maharashtra, Jharkhand Poll Results Eve Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: November 22, 2024, 19:34 IST BJP president JP Nadda general secretary (organisation) BL Santosh, general secretaries Vinod Tawde, Arun Singh and Dushyant Gautam were present at the meeting BJP National President JP Nadda attended the meet. (PTI File) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) called a meeting on Friday, just a day before the results of the Maharashtra and Jharkhand assembly elections. But it was not about the elections. The meeting was scheduled for eight hours and meant to check on the progress in the states. On the same day, workshops were run simultaneously to help the BJP set its sights on the next BJP presidential election in mid-January. related stories BJP president JP Nadda general secretary (organisation) BL Santosh, general secretaries Vinod Tawde, Arun Singh and Dushyant Gautam were present. The meeting that started at 11 am went on till 7 pm. The BJP has called all its state presidents and state general secretary (organisations) to understand by when 50% of the states can have their new state presidents and new teams in place a constitutional requirement for the election for the BJPs national president. The BJP had set a target to complete the elections at all mandal-level units in India in November. But in Fridays meeting, instructions have been given to conduct elections for mandal president by December 15 and district presidents by December 30, which is a slight delay than the scheduled time. In todays meeting, sources say, state presidents were audited about their states. Recently, the BJP tasted victory in Haryana by reaching out to farmers a segment that was unhappy with the BJP. The saffron party has decided to share its success mantra with others. On the sidelines of Fridays meeting, a workshop for the Kiran unit was arranged at the BJP headquarters in Delhi. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all However, who will become its next president, you ask, and even the senior leaders claim they are clueless. We are also getting to know through the media", laughed one BJP general secretary, while adding it will be clear by mid-January. First Published: November 22, 2024, 19:34 IST Microsoft Wants To Stop Another Crowdstrike Outage From Damaging PCs: Heres How Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 22, 2024, 09:12 IST Microsoft faced one of its biggest IT outage earlier this year when the Crowdstrike update crashed the systems. The company wants to prevent another BSOD outage to strike the industry. The Crowdstrike outage caused a major IT problem for Microsoft as millions of Windows PCs went offline. The company has managed to recover from that incident and is now preparing the tools to battle another outage like that, if it ever happens. The biggest issue with the Crowdstrike incident was that a simple update error resulted in the blue screen of death error for millions of PCs. Microsoft clearly doesnt want a repeat of that, so it has set up a new program that tries to take care of the chinks in Windows PC which caused the outage in a big way. related stories Plans To Stop Another Crowdstrike-like Outage The first major change that Microsoft has planned with the new Windows Resiliency Initiative is to keep its security vendors within the user mode to safeguard the kernel mode. The company is developing new Windows capabilities that will allow security product developers to build their products outside of kernel mode." Blocking this route could go a long way in keeping Windows machines secure from future Crowdstrike-like outages. The other major addition is the ability to remotely fix issues with Windows systems, in case the IT admin has to handle an event of a similar scale or urgency. Microsoft is creating a Recovery Environment, as mentioned in a report by The Verge, which will ensure that any misbehaving or corrupt file can be centrally deleted for a lot of customers. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all And yes, Microsoft is also looking to foolproof its own backend structure so that another faulty update doesnt end up causing the blue screen of death (BSOD) issue. So, next time a Crowdstrike or any other security vendor for Windows decides to push an update, it has to be done with all the checks thoroughly done. The task for Microsoft is clear but not the easiest. The company has a large chunk of its enterprise customers running on Windows PCs, that needs to be protected at all cost. One can never say that a Crowdstrike-like outage will never happen again but the company owes it to its customers that it does everything in its power to stop or minimise its impact on the industry. Location : Redmond, Washington State, USA First Published: November 21, 2024, 08:30 IST Last Updated: November 22, 2024, 12:00 IST The new gaming service will let you use without a PS Sony is rolling out a new significant feature for its PlayStation Portal called Cloud Streaming. According to The Verge, earlier the device could only stream games from your PlayStation 5 via Wi-Fi. However, as part of a new system update, now users will be able to stream select PS5 titles from the PlayStation Plus Game Portfolio to their PS Portal. Notably, the update is currently rolling out in the Beta phase and will be available for the PS Plus Premium subscribers only. related stories Since Cloud Streaming (Beta) on PS Portal is still an experimental offering, the features available during the beta period may change over time and may not reflect the final experience," Sony wrote in its blog post. Once the update is live, the PS Portal users will be able to access 120 selected games from the PS Plus Game Catalog. These include games like Dave the Diver, Ghost of Tsushima, Marvels Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Monster Hunter Rise and Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart and others. Sony states that customers would require a minimum of 7Mbps Internet connection to stream games at 720p resolution and a minimum of 13Mbps to stream games at 1080p quality. Games may stream at up to 60fps. However, the update comes with several restrictions too as the users will not be able to play any PS4 or PS3 games at present. Also, they wont be able to use several PlayStation Plus features such as Game Trials, party voice chat, game invites for some games, 3D audio, as well as in-game commerce (purchasing or selling of items within a game). Child accounts will also be not able to access the Cloud Streaming feature. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The update will initially be available in countries like Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Cyprus, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom and the United States. Indian PS Portal users will have to wait to see the Cloud Streaming feature. The PS Portal was released last year. In India, it comes with a price tag of Rs 22,999. Bengaluru Man Calls Out Sharan Hegdes Startup 1% Club For Expecting Free Work From Experts Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 22, 2024, 15:07 IST When a Bengaluru-based man quoted his professional fee of Rs 25,000 per hour, Sharan Hegde's 1% Club responded that they don't pay experts for online sessions. Sharan Hegde's 1% Club offers experts 'branding on their app' as compensation instead of payment for hosting sessions for its members. (Image: X/@financewsharan and @ankitv) Finfluencer Sharan Hegde, who founded the 1% Club to help people achieve financial freedom", has been facing backlash after offering an expert a barter deal. Bengaluru-based professional Ankit claimed that the company requested him to host a free online session, offering branding on the app" as compensation instead of paying a professional fee. Ankit took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to share that a representative from Hegdes financial startup reached out to host a masterclass online for the members. Shortest meeting ever. Representative from Sharan Hegdes 1% club: Hi, wed like you to conduct a masterclass on Building your personal brand online" for our online sessions for members." related stories When Ankit quoted his professional fee of 25,000 per hour, the representative responded that the company does not pay experts for online sessions and instead offers branding on their app" as compensation. Read| I Sell Orgasms For A Living: This Indian Entrepreneur Is Breaking Taboos With His Start-up Ankit declined the offer, stating he wasnt interested in branding and needed his fee. Despite this, the company reiterated its policy of not paying experts for online sessions. Frustrated by the encounter, Ankit wrote, Its almost 2025. Why does a startup as well funded as Mr. Sharans 1% club, that teaches" people how to invest their money expect free hours from experts?" He ended his post by calling out the companys poor mechanisms" and questioning, Why cant they just pay?" Take a look at the entire post below: Shortest meeting ever.Rep from @financewsharan's 1% club: Hi, we'd like you to conduct a masterclass on "Building your personal brand online" for our online sessions for members. Me: My professional fee is 25,000 per hour. Rep: We don't pay anything to experts who host these Ankit.Today (@ankitv) November 22, 2024 A few weeks back, Sharan Hegde laid-off 15 per cent of the 1% Club workforce as part of the companys first cost-cutting exercise" aimed at supporting the long-term growth of the company which he and Ragav Gupta founded. I just laid off 15% of my workforce and I received a lot of messages from my friends and media if Im going bankrupt. As a finance influencer who built his career around financial education, the irony isnt lost on me," Hedge wrote on LinkedIn. Hegde said that 1% Club is currently generating $8 million in annualised revenue with a 35-40% EBITDA margin. We have almost 85,000 active paying customers and are working on new financial products and services some of which are already launched and have also achieved profitability," he underscored. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Also Read| Laid-Off Employee Questions Sharan Hegdes Financial Literacy, 1% Club CEO Respondsa He admitted to redundant expenses" and the mistakes the company made while hiring employees. I started this company from my bedroom with just 5 interns 2 years back and fast forward today we have almost 200 employees. Needless to say, when you grow at such lightening speed you are bound to make some mistakes with hiring and redundant expenses." He further mentioned that the company had identified AI-driven cost-saving opportunities that could improve profitability" and efficiency". First Published: November 22, 2024, 15:05 IST Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On November 20, ORITEK announced the successful completion of its B1-round financing, which raises for the company hundreds of millions of yuan. The fresh funding round was led by CMG-SDIC Capital, with participation from leading investment firms and industry capital, including CASSTAR, Kunpeng Transportation Captital Fund, Xingyu Co., Ltd, who were also existing shareholders. Photo credit: ORITEK ORITEK was founded as a joint initiative between its founding team and CMG-SDIC Capital, with shareholders that include state-owned capital, industrial capital, top-tier venture capital firms, and key players in the automotive industry supply chain. As a provider of AI system-on-chip (SoC) solutions for intelligent automotive platforms, ORITEK focuses on meeting the core demands of the automotive industry's transition to third-generation electrical/electronic (E/E) architectures. The company drives its "Everything+AI" strategy, which aims to bring AI technologies to practical automotive scenarios, enabling automakers to offer consumers a fully integrated, intelligent driving experience. On the product front, ORITEK's Longquan series covers a wide range of chip needs for intelligent carborne components, including AI-based headlights, AI-based camera monitoring system (CMS), zone control unit (ZCU), and integrated central computing units for driving and parking. The company is also renowned for its cutting-edge AI algorithms and flexible, layered delivery of software and solutions. These innovations are claimed to significantly reduce the development costs of new products and features, while also shortening the time to market for automakers. According to ORITEK, it has conducted in-depth cooperation with dozens of Tier-1 suppliers and partners, and has secured designated orders for several vehicle models. Chennai Couple Relies On WhatsApp Group For Home Birth, Health Experts Warn Of Dangers Curated By : Trending Desk Last Updated: November 22, 2024, 15:07 IST The local Public Health Officer complained about them at Kundrathur police station for violation of medical safety regulations. The authorities called for peoples attention to the dangers associated with reliance on information obtained through online forums. (Representative Image) A Chennai couple delivered their baby at home with the help of a WhatsApp group instead of going to a hospital. The couple, Manoharan, 36, an earthmover operator, and his wife Sukanya, 32, are parents to two girls eight and four years old. They decided against medical check-ups during Sukanyas pregnancy and relied solely on advice from a WhatsApp group named Home Birth Experiences, which has over 1,000 members sharing tips and illustrations for home deliveries. According to The Times Of India (TOI), on November 17, when Sukanya went into labour, instead of going to a hospital, the couple decided to follow the instructions from the WhatsApp group. Reportedly, Manoharan personally supervised the delivery process. Post the birth of their child, they posted a photo on the internet that immediately drew the ire of health officials. related stories The local Public Health Officer lodged a complaint against them at Kundrathur police station for violation of medical safety regulations. The cops lodged an FIR and found that the man was a part of the group that discussed the decision and process of giving birth at home without seeking medical help, according to The Times Of India report. The authorities called for peoples attention to the dangers associated with reliance on information obtained through online forums. They also pointed out that Sukanya as well as her newborn needed a post-delivery check-up. Speaking about deliveries to TNIE, the Director of Public Health and Preventive Medicine Dr T S Selvavinayagam stated that any birth could become an emergency even if a woman werent in the high-risk category. He explained that if emergency obstetric care within the needed time wasnt provided, it could lead to more complications for both the mother and the child. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Dr Selvavinayagam went on to highlight that for the mothers, the biggest dangers are obstructed labour, postpartum haemorrhage and infections in their reproductive tracts. For the babies, their threats include asphyxia, physical injuries in newborns and infections. He also pointed out the difference between natural birth and home birth. We can promote natural delivery in the institution with suitable contingency plans to handle emergencies, if any," Selvavinayagam said. Location : Delhi, India First Published: November 22, 2024, 15:07 IST Former Zomato Employee Reveals What Its Like To Work With CEO Deepinder Goyal Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 22, 2024, 09:21 IST The man worked for Deepinder Goyal's Zomato for a year. He joined the company in 2019 as Engineering Lead and was promoted to Engineering Head the same year. Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal revealed that his unconventional job posting for Chief of Staff role has received over 18,000 applications. Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal, who has been searching for the right fit for the Chief of Staff role at his company, posted a job opening on November 20. However, the unconventional" posting received a lot of backlash online as the ideal candidate would not receive a salary during the first year. Instead, they have to pay Rs 20 lakh for the opportunity" to work at Zomato, which the company would donate to Feeding India, their non-profit arm. Additionally, Goyal announced his own contribution of Rs 50 lakh equivalent to the Chief of Staffs annual salary to a charity of the candidates choice. He further assured that the selected individual would earn more than Rs 50 lakh annually from the second year onwards. Amid this, a former Zomato employee, who worked for the company for a year, shared his experience of working with Goyal. Arnav Gupta, who joined Zomato as Engineering Lead in 2019 and was promoted to Engineering Head the same year, defended Goyals Rs 20 lakh stipulation, saying that it would give better returns than IIM" and that the role is worth" it. related stories I know people are commenting various stupid things about paid internship," Gupta wrote in response to the job listing. Leaving this note here as someone who got the chance to work 1 year with Deepinder Goyal, if youre looking for a career in Management Consulting/Strategy, this is worth way more than Rs 20 lakh!" I know people are commenting various stupid things about "paid internship"Leaving this note here as someone who got the chance to work 1 year with @deepigoyal, if you're looking for a career in Management Consulting / Strategy, this is worth waaaay more than 20L! Arnav Gupta (@championswimmer) November 20, 2024 In a separate post, Gupta referred to Goyals job posting as a real altMBA". He described it as a one-year program" with a 20 lakh fee, during which the candidate would undertake a concurrent one-year internship" at the office of the Bengaluru-based company. Gupta highlighted that this program comes with guaranteed placement" at Zomato, with an annual package of Rs 1 crore". Adding a touch of humor, he noted that unlike traditional MBA programs, this one would have just a single seat. He went on to say, We need more such programs, because for rich kids, fighting over the scraps to get CAT 99.99% for IIM makes no sense compared to this? For the right person, this will have better returns than IIM." Zomato Chief of Staff role Goyals unconventional" and unattractive" listing received over 18,000 applications despite Rs 20 lakh caveat. According to Goyal, the ideal candidate is down-to-earth," with zero entitlement," Grade A communication skills," and a learning mindset." Goyal emphasised the unique value of this role, claiming it offers ten times more learning" than a two-year management degree from a top institution. He justified the hefty fee by stating, We believe that people who apply for this role should do it for the learning opportunity it presents, rather than for a fancy well paying job which will make you look cool in front of yourself, or the people you want to impress." The Zomato CEO described the position as a fast-track learning program" designed for learners" rather than resume builders". The application process reflected this, requiring candidates to submit a 200-word cover letter explaining why they should be chosen and attaching resumes were discouraged. Deepinder Goyal closed the applications for Zomatos Chief of Staff position on November 21, explaining that Rs 20 lakh caveat was merely a filter" to find candidates who could appreciate the opportunity of a fast track career, without getting bogged down by the constraints in front of them". He added that among the sea of applications that he received, he would reject those who have money or even mentioned it. Whats more, he even attached a screenshot of his chat with the former employee who defended his decision. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Goyal expressed gratitude, saying, Thanks for defending the idea. Appreciate it. Hopefully 1/100 people will get it, and thats exactly what I wanted." Between you and me, we will not eventually ask for Rs 20 lakh and pay the right person anyway," he revealed. First Published: November 22, 2024, 08:49 IST How This US Man Makes Rs 2.15 Crore Annually Working Just 30 Hours A Week Curated By : Local News Desk Last Updated: November 22, 2024, 11:35 IST Steven Guo, a resident of California, USA, said that smart work is important for him so that there is a balance between work and personal life. The issue of balancing job and personal life is always a topic of debate. A 24-year-old US man, Steven Guo, moved to Bali, Indonesia, hoping to seek a work-life balance. He managed to work just 30 hours a week and is now earning approximately Rs 2.15 crore in a year, approximately. Steven Guo shared in a recent interview that his days in Bali finally make sense to him with his mornings for running his business, his afternoons for surfing and exploring, and his evenings for witnessing the vibrant culture there. related stories Guo explained that his entrepreneurial journey started at the age of 12, and he would mostly host Minecraft servers. He spends 40 per cent of his time on clients and the marketing strategy of the product, and the rest of the time he fulfils his hobbies. He has travelled to 15 countries and then settled down in Bali. According to Guo, he started his first business at the age of 12. He was a video game player then and had earned Rs 8.5 lakh in a few months. He started a game development company, in which he did not succeed. He understood the importance of marketing, and for this, he started studying business economics at the University of California. After getting low marks, he tried his hand at business again. Today he has a company of 19 people in the US, UK, and Philippines. Apart from this, he also runs an online retailer for selling dates and a company selling covers for luxury cars. Guo works for six hours from Monday to Friday, roughly spending not more than 30 hours a week, and he revealed that 40 per cent of his work time goes into market research on his clients and their products. Guo also shared that he noticed that Bali has a good affordability range and his community is a four-bedroom villa, which is a shared occupation with friends. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Steven Guo explained that he is much happier in Bali, as the lifestyle there is great. Guo balances a lifestyle while growing his e-commerce empire and is enjoying his social life, which many dream of. He is also mindful of his spending and prioritizes investments over indulgences. Guo explained that though he earns $254,000 annually, $60,000 is kept for index funds and IRAs. He noted that he makes sure to not spend money on things that depreciate. His ambitious plan is to expand his portfolio to $50 million by the time he is 30 and wants to reach there by investing in high-growth opportunities. Location : Delhi, India First Published: November 22, 2024, 11:35 IST Is This Still Happening? London-Based Woman Shares Displeasure Over HRs Questions On Marriage Curated By : Trending Desk Last Updated: November 22, 2024, 10:22 IST A marketing professional recently shared her ordeal while interacting with an HR representative from an Indian company. Janhavi Jain expressed her shock when she was asked if she was planning to marry soon. Janhavi Jain is based out of London. (Photo Credits: X) The debate over toxic work culture and shifting ethics has gained significant momentum in the corporate sector as well as on social media. Amid the growing concerns, an Indian marketing professional living in London recently shared her ordeal while interacting with an HR representative from an Indian company. Janhavi Jain expressed her shock when she was asked if she was planning to marry soon. While many netizens were equally shocked, some pointed out that this has been the most common personal question for female candidates during job interviews and continues to prevail. Sharing about her experience on X, Janhavi wrote, This HR of an Indian company asked me how old I am and when I said 25, they asked me if I am looking to marry soon? Is this still happening?" As soon as Janhavi made the post, people flooded the comments section with their views and personal experiences. related stories This HR of an Indian company asked me how old I am and when I said 25, they asked me if I am looking to marry soon???Is this still happening?? Janhavi Jain (@janwhyy) November 19, 2024 A user explained the rationale behind such questions and stated, People are asked when they are planning kids because employers would not want to give Maternity etc." People are asked when are they planning kids coz employers would not want to give Maternity etc. Mrinalini Arora (@MrinaliniArora) November 20, 2024 They want working machines not humans with lives DrStrange (@DrStrangeinBlue) November 20, 2024 There were others who simply criticised the practice saying, They want working machines not humans with lives," Yes it is happening. They feel marriage will distract us." Yes it is happening. They feel marriage will distract us. Krupa Kotecha (@krupakotecha_) November 20, 2024 Once, I was considered for a very senior rolethe HR asked how will you spend this money..are you married? Oz Tech Another individual shared a personal anecdote, Once, I was considered for a very senior role the HR asked how will you spend this money..are you married?" while a person simply stated, Yeah this type of misogynist questions are very common." Yeah this type of misogynist questions are very common Prantik (@faardyu) November 20, 2024 A person also stated the consequences of challenging HRs who ask such questions, Yes, happens. When I told the HR that this is inappropriate, he said they need to know this to have a contingency plan." Yes, happens. When I told the HR that this is inappropriate, he said they need to know this to have a contingency plan. Anuja Musale (@anujadm) November 20, 2024 Maybe she runs a matchmaking business as a side hustle. The Random Feeds (@therandomfeeds) November 20, 2024 One user simply joked, Maybe she runs a matchmaking business as a side hustle." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Similar instances of toxic work cultures have come to light recently. Few days back, a product designer quit on his first day of work when his manager demanded that he work past normal working hours without pay and derided the concept of work-life balance as a fancy term" and a Western behaviour." In addition, he felt belittled when his employer chastised him and subjected him to unacceptable" behaviour. Location : Delhi, India First Published: November 22, 2024, 10:22 IST Joe Rogan Changes His X Bio To Mock 'The View' Co-Host Who Called Him 'Dragon Believer' Curated By : Trending Desk Last Updated: November 22, 2024, 16:26 IST The topic of dragons emerged when Joy Behar was discussing the results of the US Presidential Election with his co-hosts in a recent episode of ABC's 'The View'. Joe Rogan's bio on the X platform now reads- ''Dragon Believer.'' (Photo Credits: X Renowned American podcaster Joe Rogan has given a befitting reply to Joy Behar who recently claimed him to be a believer of dragons. Behar has gained much popularity as the co-host of the ABC show, The View, where she features alongside Sara Haines, Sunny Hostin, Whoppie Goldberg and Alyssa Farah Griffin. The topic of dragons emerged when the panel was discussing the results of the recent US Presidential Election. They were addressing a poll which shed light on the number of young voters who made their decision, considering the daily news spread by right-leaning political influencers and podcasters. Behar felt that Rogan also had a key role in this regard. The podcaster allegedly influenced many youngsters to cast their ballots for the Republican Partys Donald Trump who comfortably breached the magic figure of 270 votes to beat Kamala Harris. related stories I think thats why people like our show because they know that we are checked by ABC NewsWe went from Walter Cronkite, basically, to this guy Joe Rogan, who believes in dragons. I checked it," Behar said in that episode of The View. And he also thinks that they, dragons-like, I guess, dinosaur-type of animals, roamed the Earth when people did. So this is a type of really, really bad information thats going out there. But its possible Donald Trump did roam the Earth when dinosaurs were here," she added. NEW: The Views Joy Behar says people like their show because they tell the truth, unlike dragon believer" Joe Rogan.Lmao. Whoopi Goldberg later chimed in & claimed conservatives on X are bullying people off the platform and that Elon Musk is the real Vice President. Behar: pic.twitter.com/fXtkMIvw6L Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) November 21, 2024 Behar recently shared a clip of her monologue on X (formerly Twitter) and Rogan took it as an opportunity to hit back at her. He reshared Behars post with a humorous caption Thats my new official X description." Rogan seems to have kept his words as his bio on the microblogging site now reads Dragon Believer." Thats my new official X description. https://t.co/rJ4Fozzmcd Joe Rogan (@joerogan) November 21, 2024 In another X post, Rogan dropped the link to one of his podcast episodes where he hosted a famous adventurer, Forrest Galante. Were dragons real animals," Rogan wrote in the caption. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all At one point during the interview, the podcaster said, Its so possible that something that flew like a pterodactyl, as we think of pterodactyls as being like bat wings, maybe they had feathers, maybe that a gigantic predatory bird and maybe some of those things looked like dragons." That particular episode of The Joe Rogan Experience has more than 6.5 million views on YouTube. Location : Delhi, India First Published: November 22, 2024, 16:26 IST Only Poonam Pandey...: Age-Reversing Millionaire Bryan Johnsons India Visit Has An Unusual Collab Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 22, 2024, 11:33 IST The 47-year-old age-reversing American millionaire Bryan Johnson is set to visit India this December. Bryan Johnson claims to have reversed his biological age by 5.1 years and successfully restored his hair after facing hair loss and greying in his late 20s. Age-reversing millionaire from America, Bryan Johnson, who had earlier hinted at visiting India in October, has now confirmed his plans for December. He will be in Mumbai, the Maximum City, and Bengaluru, the Tech Capital, to raise awareness about his Dont Die" community. Suprisingly, he mentioned Poonam Pandey in his post, stating that she is the only one in India who truly believes in his idea. Hello India. Ive been told the only person who believes in Dont Die is Poonam Pandey. Were about to change that. Im in Mumbai Dec 1-3 and Bangalore 4-6," wrote Johnson on X (formerly known as Twitter). He completed his post with the hashtag Marna Mat [Dont Die]". related stories What is Bryan Johnsons Dont Die" community? Johnson founded Dont Die" community to defeat all causes of human and planetary death and promote prosperity". Read| Age-reversing American Techpreneur Bryan Johnson Plans Visit to India, Says Dont Die in Cryptic Post We are at war with death and its causes. We are building towards an infinite horizon. We are fighting for the freedom to exist as long as one chooses. Why? Because we have things to do tomorrow. And tomorrows tomorrow. Until we no longer want tomorrow," reads the message on the website where visitors have the option to either join" the community or die". For the first time ever, we can boldly imagine continued life is a choice," it further proclaims in bold. Take a look at his post below: Hello India. Ive been told the only person who believes in Dont Die is @iPoonampandey. Were about to change that. Im in Mumbai Dec 1-3 and Bangalore 4-6. # Bryan Johnson /dd (@bryan_johnson) November 22, 2024 The 47-year-old techpreneur is known for reversing his biological age by 5.1 years and regrowing his hair after experiencing hair loss and greying in his late 20s. Also Read| Genetically I Should Be Bald: American Millionaire Bryan Johnson, 47, Grows Hair Back top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Genetically, I should be bald. I started to lose my hair and go grey in my late 20s. At 47, Ive got a full head of hair and ~70% of my grey is gone," he had written on X in October this year. He explained, Contrary to popular belief, you can maintain your hair well into your 40s and beyond. In 12 months, I went from a Norwood 3 to a Norwood 2. Norwood is a hair loss scale." First Published: November 22, 2024, 11:33 IST This $4.5 Million Hotel, Which Once Hosted Elvis Presley, Will Be Blown Up On New Year's Eve Curated By : Trending Desk Last Updated: November 22, 2024, 17:22 IST The hotel, which once hosted stars like Elvis Presley, will be reduced to rubble as part of a plan for future development. The hotel closed in 2017 due to financial mismanagement. (Photo Credits: Instagram) What would compel a city to spend millions of taxpayers dollars on a long-vacant hotel, only to blow it up at the stroke of midnight on New Years Eve? In Macon, Georgia, thats exactly whats about to happen. The hotel, which once hosted stars like Elvis Presley, will soon be reduced to rubble as part of a plan for future development. The iconic hotel, which closed in 2017 due to financial mismanagement and international fraud scandals, has been sitting abandoned ever since. In 2023, Macon-Bibb County bought the property for $4.5 million with the intention of demolishing it due to significant structural issues. related stories On November 21, the county commission approved a $2.6 million contract to implode the building, bringing the total investment to a hefty $7.1 million. We acquired this property to blow it up, and I think a lot of people are going to have a problem with it," Macon Mayor Lester Miller was quoted as saying by WMAZ. According to the Associated Press, the hotel, which opened its doors in 1970, has a storied past marred by controversy. Once frequented by high-profile guests, it soon fell into financial turmoil. In 1991, the New York Banking Department shut it down after it became embroiled in a fraud and money laundering scandal tied to the Bank of Credit and Commerce International (BCCI). Over the years, the hotel was affiliated with both Hilton and Ramada Plaza but ultimately ceased operations in 2017. Since then, it has remained abandoned, becoming both an eyesore and a topic of frequent discussion for locals with a strong connection to the area. Miller told the news outlet that the building is not stable enough to be transformed into affordable housing or any other usable space. He expressed confidence that the investment in demolition would yield significant returns for the community, asserting that whatever replaces the hotel will be 100 times" better than its current state. While many in the community support the proposed demolition, some have raised concerns about potential risks associated with the implosion. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Russ Henry, a member of Christ Episcopal Church located near the blast site, expressed concern that vibrations from the blast could damage historic features, including the stained-glass windows of the church. He urged local officials and contractors involved in the project to take every precaution to avoid damaging nearby structures. He also noted that safety measures would be implemented and property owners would be consulted before the demolition. Though specific plans for the sites development after demolition have not been finalised, the mayor stated that the area has the potential to play a key role in the overall development of Macons riverfront. The city is committed to ensuring that future projects will benefit both the community and the downtown Macon area. Location : Delhi, India First Published: November 22, 2024, 17:22 IST Watch: Worlds Tallest And Shortest Women Meet In London Over Afternoon Tea Curated By : Trending Desk Last Updated: November 22, 2024, 15:24 IST Rumeysa Gelgi, the world's tallest woman, and Jyoti Amge, the worlds shortest, met for tea in London to mark Guinness World Records Day 2024. The two bonded over common interests such as self-care, makeup, and nail art. (Photo Credits: Instagram) The most recent video from Guinness World Records (GWR) depicted a meeting between two record holders, making many smile. In the video, the tallest woman in the world, Rumeysa Gelgi from Turkey, meets the tiniest woman in the world, Jyoti Amge from India. The clip captures them drinking tea and spending time together. They got together to celebrate the special occasion of Guinness World Day 2024 at the London Savoy Hotel. The video was shared on November 21 and it has collected over 53 million views so far. Rumeysa Gelgi, a 27-year-old Turkish web developer, is 215.16 cm (71") tall, while Jyoti Amge, a 30-year-old Indian actor, is 62.8 cm (21"). The video for Guinness World Records begins with Jyoti Amge entering a room to meet Rumeysa Gelgi. Rumeysa exclaims as she enters, You are so beautiful." To which Jyoti responds smiling, You are, too." After that, the video shows them enjoying tea and spending time together. related stories View this post on Instagram A post shared by Guinness World Records (@guinnessworldrecords) Reportedly, after meeting Jyoti for the first time, Rumeysa told Guinness World Records that she had a great experience. Rumeysa remarked that she had waited a long time to meet Jyoti and praised her as the most beautiful woman. Rumeysa added that the height difference made it hard for them to keep eye contact, but she mentioned that the meeting went well overall. Rumeysa noted that they had a great time discussing their common interests and sharing beauty and self-care advice. As the video garnered attention, people on social media left several comments on it. A user said, Wow. What a wonderful moment." Another commented, This is amazing." How tall are they?" a user asked. They are both so beautiful!" another on Instagram expressed. Who Is Jyoti Amge? Jyoti hails from Nagpur and was a mediocre child until she was five years old. She was soon diagnosed with achondroplasia, a type of dwarfism that prevents her from reaching a particular height. She had her first taste of stardom when she made an appearance on Bikkuri Chojin 100 Special No. 2 on Fuji TV. She also had an appearance in the music video for a Mika Singh song. She most recently appeared in American Horror Story, a television series in the United States. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all More About Rumeysa Gelgi An activist, public speaker and advocate, Rumeysa previously held the record for the tallest teen alive and broke the record for the tallest woman alive in 2021. She was diagnosed with Weaver Syndrome in 1997 after exhibiting abnormally enormous growth for a newborn. Despite having a complex medical history, physiotherapy and numerous operations throughout her childhood, she overcame them with the steadfast support of her family. Location : Delhi, India First Published: November 22, 2024, 15:23 IST Who Is Ajita Pandey, A Nursing Officer With A World Record For Most Snake Rescues Curated By : Trending Desk Last Updated: November 22, 2024, 16:03 IST With her social media content, Ajita tries to raise awareness about the consequences of the unnecessary killing of snakes as well as their ecological significance. Ajita rescued 984 snakes between March 2017 and July 2024. (Photo Credits: Instagram) Ajita Pandey, a dedicated nursing professional from Bilaspur, is passionate about one thing in life rescuing snakes. Her fearless approach and calm demeanour while handling venomous reptiles have earned Ajita a cool nickname, Snake Girl". Besides working as a nursing officer, Ajita has rescued thousands of snakes and returned them to the wild over the last few years. Videos of those dangerous rescue operations have been shared on Instagram where she has 1.25 lakh followers. Ajita hails from a family of animal lovers. Her place is home to 18-20 dogs, cows and calves. She first met snake charmers in Chhattisgarh and developed an interest in rescuing snakes at the age of 18. To understand the profession and its challenges, she had to go through several books, newspapers and internet archives. related stories Through her research, Ajita learnt more about why the existence of snakes was important to maintain the balance of the ecosystem. After gaining knowledge about different reptile species, Ajita discovered that some snakes might pose a life threat but most of them are not poisonous. With her social media content, Ajita tries to raise awareness about the consequences of the unnecessary killing of snakes as well as their ecological significance. She advocates the idea of seeking help from experts like her instead of causing harm to the creatures. She also encourages people to call medical professionals if a venomous snake bites. In one of her recent videos, Ajita was spotted rescuing a non-venomous black rat snake with bare hands. The reptile was hidden in the lawn of a house in Bilaspur. Ajita expertly pulled out the snake from a bush and kept it in a bag. She later let it return to the wild. Anita shared a video of the entire process on Instagram. The post has already garnered over 11 lakh views and more than 80,000 likes. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ajita pandey #bilaspurian (@invincible._ajita) top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all During the COVID-19 pandemic, Ajita shattered the world record for the most snakes rescued by an individual." She had saved as many as 984 snakes between March 2017 and July 2024. Location : Delhi, India First Published: November 22, 2024, 16:03 IST Why This Man Refused Over Rs 3 Crores For A Bill Inherited From His Grandmother Curated By : Trending Desk Last Updated: November 22, 2024, 17:15 IST Tommy, the proud owner of the 1988 bill, discovered that it features a striking misprint, setting it apart from typical currency. The bills front displays a striking misprint, with overlapping sections of the design. (Representative image/Reuters) A man who inherited a rare $5 bill (Rs 422) from his late grandmother might be sitting on a small fortune though he has no intention of parting with it. Tommy, the proud owner of the 1988 bill, discovered that it featured a striking misprint, setting it apart from typical currency. The bills front displays a striking misprint, with overlapping sections of the design. In the lower-right corner, the large number 5" appears printed twice, misaligned with the rest of the layout, creating a stacked or offset effect. A misaligned ink mark also appears in the bottom right, an error typically found on the reverse side. On the back, a blank area unusually extends into the middle, replacing the printed information that should be there. related stories Charlotte Carroll, Tommys girlfriend, posted a video of the unique currency on TikTok, calling it the most insane banknote I have ever seen." We have had people offer between $5 and $400,000 (Rs 3.3 Crores) for it, and we refuse," Carroll told Newsweek, explaining that the bill holds deep sentimental value for them. She revealed that Tommys grandmother, who once worked in Universal Studios finance department in California, had included the rare currency in her collection. Now, it serves as a cherished family heirloom. Palm Island Coins, a Florida-based coin and currency company, noted that currency errors" like the one on this $5 bill are among the most dramatic" and sought after by collectors. The company lists a similarly misprinted $1 bill for $1,249, while another faulty $5 bill is priced at $1,800. Theyre perfectly legal to own and have become an amazing part of the paper collecting hobby!" said Palm Island Coins. Paper money expert Wyatt McDonald explained that misprints on modern currency are relatively common and usually add only a modest premium of two to three times the bills face value. Older misprints, particularly those with red, blue, or gold seals, tend to hold significantly higher value. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all In contrast, a misprint on a modern green seal note generally only adds a modest premium. That said, they are excellent conversation starters and meaningful, sentimental items," McDonald added. For Carroll and Tommy, the sentimental value of their unique $5 bill far outweighs any financial offer. It is our most favourite, and priceless, piece out of anything in our collection," she shared with the outlet. Location : Delhi, India First Published: November 22, 2024, 17:15 IST Shanghai (Gasgoo)- In recent days, industry insiders reported that Great Wall Motor (GWM) and Huawei are in discussions to collaborate on R&D of advanced intelligent driving systems. It was suggested that key models under GWM's TANK brand might feature Huawei's advanced driving and smart cockpit solutions. All-new Blue Mountain Intelligent Driving edition; photo credit: GWM However, on the evening of November 21, GWM's Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Ms. Wu Huixiao took to social media to clarify that no such cooperation has been established between the two companies. She emphasized that GWM has always pursued its own technological development in intelligent driving and aims to keep core technologies in-house. GWM has made significant strides in the field of intelligent technologies, notably through the establishment of its subsidiary, HAOMO.AI. According to Chinese business information inquiryplatform Tianyancha, Mr. Wei Jianjun, Chairman of GWM, is the ultimate beneficiary of HAOMO.AI, holding a 37.2% stake in the company. Besides, several of GWM's key brands already feature the company's self-developed Coffee intelligent cockpit system. In the area of intelligent driving, GWM has launched its Coffee Pilot Ultra system, which has been mass-produced and installed in vehicles. This system is based on a data intelligence framework and an end-to-end driving model, SEE, capable of covering all scenariosfrom urban streets to rural roads, and from main highways to narrow alleyswithout the need for HD map data. At the Auto Guangzhou 2024 in November, GWM also announced an upgrade to the Coffee OS, bringing it to version 3.1, which enables nationwide city-level deployment of its NOA (Navigation on Autopilot) system. Wu Huixiao explained that the Coffee OS 3.1 focuses on enhancing trust between the driver and the vehicle, creating a child-friendly experience, and improving interactive flexibility, resulting in a multi-dimensional advancement of the system. In addition to intelligent driving, GWM has also collaborated with Huawei in the health and safety sector. Based on the Coffee OS 3.1, the companies have jointly developed a product called "Digital Health," integrating Huawei's health tracking and smart vehicle technologies to offer safer and more health-conscious mobility solutions. Woman Orders Resin Pendant Online, Receives Dog Tooth Instead Curated By : Trending Desk Last Updated: November 22, 2024, 19:14 IST When the accessory arrived, the woman discovered that the resin tooth-shaped necklace had a strong, "disgusting" odour. Woman ordered the necklace through a Chinese e-commerce platform. (Photo Credits: TikTok) A woman was left repulsed after purchasing a necklace with what she described as a dog tooth" pendant. Bella Moscardini, a UK resident, shared her experience on TikTok after buying a leather necklace with a plastic tooth from Temu, a Chinese e-commerce platform, for just 57 pence (around Rs 60). She had intended to use the necklace for a costume, but upon its arrival, she felt a foul, unpleasant odour. After inspecting it, Bella concluded that the resin tooth might have once belonged to a dog and decided to dispose of it, having tested" it to confirm it was made of plastic. I bought this necklace on Temu, it was for a costume. Long story short, me and my friends were going woodstock hippies for a costume day at my school. So originally, this tooth thing was hanging on the end. I checked on the Temu website and it does state that its resin jewellery. Im a jeweller, we work with resin a lot, its like a strong glue," Bella explained in her video on TikTok. related stories Im taking it off today because I get a whiff, a strong stench of this tooth on the end. It smells disgusting and the resin is literally scentless. If youve ever ordered anything off Temu, nine times out of 10, its just plastic and thats what I was expecting. On the website, it describes it as resin," she added. As per reports, the woman even posted images from the website of the Chinese retailer. 1pc Vintage Style Mens Multi-Layer Braided Faux Leather Necklace with Resin Pendant" is the items description. You can see its described as a resin pendant. Ill put more pictures up so you can see it! Its also weird how each pendant on each slide is completely different," she spotted this while comparing images from the listing, which all appeared to be different. Its crazy, they look like theyve been taken from different teeth," she pointed out the disparities in pendants across the listing, reports added. Bella decided to test the notion by examining the pendants composition. It could just smell bad, maybe it was sat in a room with something else on the way here," she proposed a theory. Bella tested the disgusting item by putting it under a lighter, reports state. She added, So I burn this with a lighter and am like, oh my god, its not melting. And then the most disgusting smell comes off it like you wouldnt believe. I have double triple-checked and it reeks." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all It also really looks like a dogs tooth," she said in the end. Bella, who is furious at the discovery, went on to give the retailer a bad" review, pointing out that the majority of the comments on the website reportedly were positive. Location : Delhi, India First Published: November 22, 2024, 19:14 IST After ICC Warrant, Netanyahu To Be Arrested If He Steps Foot In These Countries Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 22, 2024, 19:34 IST All 124 member countries of the Rome Statute a 1998 treaty under which the ICC was formed are now compelled to detain Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu over alleged war crimes in the Gaza war The ICC issued arrest warrants for Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu (L) and his former defence minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes in the Gaza conflict. (Image: X) Canada, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands among other countries, have said they will comply with the arrest warrants issued against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by the International Criminal Court. All 124 member countries of the Rome Statute a 1998 treaty under which the International Criminal Court (ICC) was founded are now compelled to detain Netanyahu over alleged war crimes in the Gaza war. But, the court cannot enforce its power on the member states and has to rely on cooperation from them for arrests. related stories Several members of the ICC are allies of Netanyahu-led Israel, including the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Hungary among others. It is highly unlikely that these countries will arrest him if the Israeli prime minister arrives on their soil. On Thursday (November 21), the ICC issued warrants for Netanyahu and his former defence minister Yoav Gallant for crimes against humanity and war crimes" committed between October 8, 2023, and May 20 this year. It also issued an arrest warrant for Mohammed Deif, the head of the military wing of Hamas. Israel said Deif was killed in an air strike in July, but the militant group has not confirmed his death. ALSO READ | Why Has Netanyahu Likened ICC Arrest Warrant Against Him To 1894 Dreyfus Affair? Explained WHICH COUNTRIES WILL ARREST, WHO WELCOMED THE MOVE? Ireland: Yes, Absolutely Netanyahu will be detained if he arrives in Ireland, Prime Minister Simon Harris said on Friday. Asked by state broadcaster RTE if Ireland will arrest him if he came to Ireland, he said: Yes, absolutely. We support international courts and we apply their warrants." Relations between Ireland and Israel have deteriorated since Dublin recognised the Palestinian state last May, a move that prompted Israel to recall its ambassador. Irelands foreign minister Micheal Martin told Newstalk radio that war crimes have been committed in Gaza. Its a collective punishment of the people its genocidal," he said. Italy: We Would Have To Arrest Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said his country will be obliged to arrest Netanyahu if he arrived on their shores. He told RAI televisions Porta a Porta programme that he believed the ICC was wrong" to put Netanyahu and Gallant on the same level as Hamas. But, he said if Netanyahu or Gallant were to come to Italy, we would have to arrest them". It was not a political choice but Italy was bound as a member of the ICC to act on the courts warrants, he added. The Netherlands: Line From Government Clear According to reports, Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp, whose country hosts the ICC, has confirmed his country will arrest Netanyahu. The line from the government is clear. We are obliged to cooperate with the ICC we abide 100 per cent by the Rome Statute," he said on Thursday (November 21). Canada: Important To Abide By International Law Canadian PM Justin Trudeau said his country will support and comply with the ICC warrants. First of all, as Canada has always said, its really important that everyone abide by international law. This is something weve been calling on from the beginning of the conflict," he said in Toronto, as per reports. Canada is one of the founding members of the ICC and the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Spain: Respects The Decision Spain said it will follow the ruling, with official sources telling AFP the country respects the decision and will conform to its commitments and obligations in compliance with the Rome Statute and international law". Norway: Confidence It is important that the ICC carries out its mandate in a judicious manner. I have confidence that the court will proceed with the case based on the highest fair trial standards," Norwegian foreign minister Espen Barth Eide said. Sweden: Independence And Integrity Sweden and the EU support the important work of the court and safeguard its independence and integrity," said Swedish foreign minister Maria Malmer Stenergard. Belgium: Fight Against Impunity The fight against impunity wherever crimes are committed is a priority for Belgium, which fully supports the work of the (ICC)", Belgiums foreign ministry said on X. Those responsible for crimes committed in Israel and Gaza must be prosecuted at the highest level, regardless of who committed them." Turkey: Positive Decision The ICCs decision is a belated but positive decision to stop the bloodshed and put an end to the genocide in Palestine", Turkish justice minister Yilmaz Tunc said on X. Foreign minister Hakan Fidan welcomed the warrants as an extremely important step". European Union: Binding It is not a political decision," said EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, speaking during a visit to Jordan. It is a decision of a court, of a court of justice, of an international court of justice. And the decision of the court has to be respected and implemented." China: Hopes For Objective, Just Position China, which like Israel and the US is not a member of the ICC, urged the court to remain objective and fair after it issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu. China hopes the ICC will uphold an objective and just position (and) exercise its powers in accordance with the law," foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at a regular press conference. China said it supports any efforts by the international community on the Palestinian issue that are conducive to achieving fairness and justice and upholding the authority of international law". WHICH COUNTRIES ARE EXAMINING? France: Takes Note France on Friday said it has taken note of the arrest warrants issued for Netanyahu, Gallant and Deif. France takes note of this decision. True to its long-standing commitment to supporting international justice, it reiterates its attachment to the independent work of the court," the French foreign ministry said in a statement, without specifying if the men will be arrested if they entered French territory. Germany: Theoretical Germany is examining" how to respond to the ICC decision to issue an arrest warrant for Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said on Friday. We are now of course examining exactly what that means for implementation in Germany," she told public broadcaster ARD. Whether German authorities will move to arrest Netanyahu or Gallant is currently theoretical", Baerbock said. The country is bound by" the court as it recognises the body and respects international law, she said. German government spokesperson Steffen Hebestreit said Berlin was one of the biggest supporters of the ICC", which came into being partly as the result of German history". At the same time, it is a consequence of German history that we share unique relations with and a great responsibility towards Israel," he said. Further steps will only be taken if Netanyahu or Gallant were planning to visit Germany, he added. WHICH COUNTRIES ARE AGAINST THE MOVE? Hungary: Outrageously Impudent Hungarian PM Viktor Orban on Friday denounced the arrest warrant for Netanyahu, saying he will defy it by inviting him to Hungary. In comments to state radio, he accused the ICC of interfering in an ongoing conflict for political purposes", saying the decision undermined international law and escalated tensions. In his comments, Orban, who is a close Netanyahu ally, called the arrest warrant outrageously impudent" and cynical." He said he will invite Netanyahu to Hungary and vowed to disregard the warrant if the invitation is accepted. We will defy this decision, and it will have no consequences for him," Orban said. He also wrote to Netanyahu saying the arrest warrant was a shameful" move. Hungary signed the Rome Statute in 1999 and ratified it two years later during Orbans first term in office. However, the country has not promulgated the associated convention for reasons of constitutionality and, therefore, asserts it is not obliged to comply with ICC decisions. US: Outrageous US President Joe Biden called the ICC arrest warrants outrageous" in a statement on Thursday. Whatever the ICC might imply, there is no equivalence none between Israel and Hamas," he said. We will always stand with Israel against threats to its security," he said. In an earlier statement, the White House said it fundamentally rejects" the calls for arrests. Argentina: Israels Right To Self-Defence Ignored The arrest warrant for Netanyahu and Gallant ignores" Israels right to defend itself, Argentinian President Javier Milei said. He said the country declares its deep disagreement" with the decision, which ignores Israels legitimate right to self-defence. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Israel faces brutal aggression, inhumane hostage-taking and indiscriminate attacks on its population," he said. Criminalizing the legitimate defense of a nation while ignoring these atrocities is an act that distorts the spirit of international justice." (With agency inputs) First Published: November 22, 2024, 18:25 IST China Moves Tibetan Buddhist Monastery Students To State Schools | Exclusive Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: November 22, 2024, 18:21 IST The Lhamo Kirti Monastery school was completely shut down as part of China's broader initiative to control the Tibetan education China has intensified control over Tibet, targeting religious, educational, and environmental spheres. (File for representation) The Chinese authorities recently transferred around 200 students from a Tibetan Buddhist monastery school in Sichuan province to state-administered residential schools, in what agencies have termed a sign of Chinas escalation on Tibetan Buddhism. According to a note from top intelligence agencies, the Lhamo Kirti Monastery school was completely shut down as part of Chinas broader initiative to control Tibetan education. Four Tibetan youths were detained in Sichuan for resisting forced transfers from monastic schools to state-run schools. They then underwent political re-education before being compelled to enrol in a local government school. related stories China aims to promote loyalty to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) through state-run education. Over 1 million Tibetan children have been placed in state-run schools promoting Mandarin and Chinese cultural values. China has intensified control over Tibetan Buddhism through stricter restrictions, increased surveillance, and forced assimilation policies. Chinas actions aim to assimilate Tibetan identity and limit family contact," read the note. Intelligence sources said, China asserts control over the appointment of Tibetan religious leaders, including the Dalai Lamas reincarnation. The launch of the Tibet International Communication Centre was to reshape international narratives." China has intensified control over Tibet, targeting religious, educational, and environmental spheres to take them away from their roots and a situation like that of the Uighurs is being created. Arrests are being carried out for contacting outsiders in these areas and they are threatened that they will be sent to rehabilitation centres in case of non-compliance," sources said. In September, Chen Wenqing, the head of the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission the ruling Communist Partys top security body, visited the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) and some of the 10 Tibetan autonomous prefectures across Yunnan, Sichuan, Gansu and Qinghai and reviewed security. He called for a resolute crackdown against separatists. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all He also asked the local officials to maintain stability and guard against independence activities, the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported. In July, the US passed the Resolve Tibet Act, which enhances its support for Tibet and promotes dialogue between China and the Dalai Lama toward a peaceful resolution of the dispute over the status and governance of the remote Himalayan region. First Published: November 22, 2024, 18:15 IST Elon Musk Slams TIME Magzine Over To-Do List, Reveals His Real Goal: Trying To Make Life....' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 22, 2024, 09:57 IST The Tesla CEO denied the to-do list which included installing human brain chip and flying to Mars Tech Billionaire Elon Musk (Photo: AFP) Tech Billionaire Elon Musk responded to his to-do list featured on the cover of TIME magazine saying it was not actually his list. The Tesla CEO denied the to-do list which included installing human brain chip, flying to Mars, saying he was trying to make life multiplanetary to maximize the probable lifespan of consciousness". related stories The X owner took to the social media platform and wrote, To be clear, I have not done any media interviews and this is not actually my checklist. I am trying to make life multiplanetary to maximize the probable lifespan of consciousness. Some of the items below are needed for that." To be clear, I have not done any media interviews and this is not actually my checklist.I am trying to make life multiplanetary to maximize the probable lifespan of consciousness. Some of the items below are needed for that. https://t.co/Sv0N3Z5U4l Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 21, 2024 The cover of TIME magazines December issue featured the headline Citizen Musk: Whats next on his to-do list?" alongside a photo of the 53-year-old tech billionaire. The image included a checklist with items like Electric Vehicles," Become richest man," Buy Twitter," Launch rocket," Bring rocket back," Implant human brain chip," Get Trump elected," and Work from Mar-a-Lago." However, Slash $2 trillion" and Fly to Mars" remained unchecked on the list. Earlier this month, US President-Elect named Elon Musk to a role aimed at creating a more efficient government, handing even more influence to the worlds richest man who donated millions of dollars to helping Trump get elected. Musk and former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy will co-lead a newly established Department of Government Efficiency, a body that Trump suggested will function outside traditional government structures. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all According to Trump, the department will collaborate with the White House and the Office of Management & Budget to drive large-scale structural reform" and introduce a pioneering, entrepreneurial approach to government operations. The initiative is set to conclude by July 4, 2026, marking the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Musk, named by Forbes as the worlds richest person, is expected to benefit from Trumps potential victory, gaining significant influence to advance his companies and secure favorable treatment from the government. First Published: November 22, 2024, 08:48 IST Incompetence, Inability To Ensure Safety: Cops Force Canada Temple To Cancel Event Under Khalistani Pressure Reported By : CNN-News18 Edited By: Apoorva Misra Last Updated: November 22, 2024, 14:30 IST The Vaishno Devi Temple administration demanded that the Halton Police take immediate action to provide viable solutions for Hindu Canadians Intelligence sources said police were under pressure from Khalistani groups to force temples to cancel their events. (PTI) Canadas Vaishno Devi Temple was forced to cancel an event after the Halton Police, under pressure from Khalistani elements, refused to give the venue. Calling it a blatant demonstration of incompetence and an inability to ensure the safety of community-benefit events", the mandir administration said: We demand that the Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) take immediate action to provide viable solutions for Hindu Canadians, Sikhs, Muslims, and others who rely on these services, especially seniors." related stories They added: The impact of this Khalistani extremism is affecting countless Canadians, and a concrete resolution is needed now more than ever." CNN-News18 had reported earlier how Canadas Peel Police demanded money to protect Hindu groups. Intelligence sources had said that the police allegedly demanded $70,000 to provide protection, angering the community which said: We are also tax payers, why this bias towards us? The Peel Police, instead of addressing our issues, is putting undue pressure on us." Intelligence sources said police were under pressure from Khalistani groups to force temples to cancel their events. The Justin Trudeau government is under pressure before the Finance Bill to oblige Khalistani groups and Jagmeet Singh who is blackmailing the Canadian prime minister. This is for the first time in the world that local police are demanding money to protect minorities," they said. Earlier, Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) founder Gurpatwant Singh Pannun had announced new dates of temple attacks in Canada and issued an open threat to Hindu MP Chandan Arya, triggering a response from India which termed the actions terror acts". top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all In his threat, Pannun said SFJ would target Indian diplomats at Hindu temples on November 16-17. We will shake the foundations of Ayodhya the Canadian PM, RCMP have acknowledged that Indian diplomats spy on Canadian Sikhs and are responsible for the assassination of Shaheed Nijjar NEXT Challenge to Indian Terrorist diplomats will be: 16 November At Kalibari Mandir, Mississauga and 17 November, Triveni Mandir, Brampton [sic]". The attacks on Hindu temples began on a large scale in the last one year, including the firing at the house of Satish Sharma, president of Surreys Lakshmi Narayan Mandir. Location : Canada First Published: November 22, 2024, 14:27 IST 'Speculative': Now, Trudeau Govt Rejects Canadian Media Report Naming PM Modi, Jaishankar, Doval Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 22, 2024, 14:59 IST Justin Trudeau government has reacted to Canadian media's controversial report on PM Narendra Modi, NSA Doval and S Jaishankar. Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau | File Image The Canadian government has clarified a recent controversial report that sought to establish a link between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, terming the media report as speculative and inaccurate". On October 14th, because of a significant and ongoing threat to public safety, the RCMP and officials took the extraordinary step of making public accusations of serious criminal activity in Canada perpetrated by agents of the Government of India," the government said. related stories The Government of Canada has not stated, nor is it aware of evidence, linking Prime Minister Modi, Minister Jaishankar, or NSA Doval to the serious criminal activity within Canada. Any suggestion to the contrary is both speculative and inaccurate," it added while reacting to the media report. What Was The Media Report? This comes after The Globe and Mail, a reputed newspaper in Canada published an article linking PM Modi and NSA Doval into the controversy around the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June last year. The report had cited an unnamed security official claiming that Canadian security agencies believe that PM Modi knew about Nijjars killing". Notably, Nijjars killing has led to a diplomatic row between the two countries with Trudeau himself alleging that the Indian officials were involved in the incident while New Delhi has rejected the claims. Indias Response To Media Report India rejected The Globe and Mail report and termed it a smear campaign". Our response to queries regarding a report in Canadian media: https://t.co/1IAURpKlfT pic.twitter.com/jIPlg05JM6 Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) November 20, 2024 Such ludicrous statements made to a newspaper purportedly by a Canadian government source should be dismissed with the contempt they deserve. Smear campaigns like this only further damage our already strained ties," MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal had said. Previous Anti-India Western Media Reports In October 2024, The Washington Post reported that Indian diplomats in Canada had allegedly gathered intelligence on Sikh separatists over the past year. According to the report, this information was reportedly used by Indian agencies to identify targets for the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The report further claimed that during a secret meeting" in Singapore, Canadian officials, including National Security Adviser Nathalie Drouin, Deputy Foreign Minister David Morrison, and a senior Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer, presented evidence suggesting that India had utilised the Lawrence Bishnoi gangs networks in Canada to orchestrate the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. During the meeting, Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval allegedly stated that Bishnoi was capable of orchestrating violence from wherever he is incarcerated" and was known to continue his activities from within prison.. First Published: November 22, 2024, 08:52 IST Musk Mocks Ellen DeGeneres With Sean Diddy Combs Conspiracy Theory After US Departure Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 22, 2024, 11:43 IST Famous daytime show host Ellen and her wife moved out of the USA following Donald Trump's presidential win, according to reports. Elon Musk (L) and Ellen DeGeneres (R) | AP Image/File SpaceX founder and billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk mocked former talk show host, Ellen DeGeneres and her wife Portia de Rossi over their decision to leave the United States and settle in the United Kingdom, referring to an alleged conspiracy theory linked to Sean Diddy Combs. Several US media outlets reported on November 21, citing their sources, that the famous daytime show host Ellen and her wife had moved out of the USA following Donald Trumps presidential win. related stories The Hollywood couple reportedly relocated to the Cotswolds in England, inviting an ocean of reactions, including a pointed response from Musk, who took to his self-owned social media platform X, (formerly Twitter), only to bring a new angle on the matter. Musk shared a conspiracy theory alleging that DeGeneres decided to leave the country as she had connections with the disgraced rapper Diddy, who is currently behind bars over charges of racketeering and sex trafficking among others. The Tesla boss referred to an original post of DeGeneres in 2016 when she wished happy birthday to P Diddy by referring to him as Cuddle McSnugglestuff". Happy birthday, P Diddy, Puff Daddy, Sean Combs, or as I call him, Cuddle McSnugglestuff. You dont need to know why. @iamdiddy," read the post. A user who shared a screenshot of the post commented, It makes sense why she fled the country after the election." The post was shared by Musk, who also added an eyebrow-raising emoji in the caption without elaborating much. In response to Musks X post, a user wrote, If that is what she calls him I wonder what he calls her. Actually no no I dont I dont want to know." Another user said, Ellen fled the country before Donald Trump could release the Jeffrey Epstein client list." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Musk, who previously referred to Sean Combs as a close friend," faced criticism earlier this year for his connection to the embattled music mogul. Musk had acknowledged Combs as an investor in X but later expressed surprise at the scope of the allegations against him, posting on the platform, I wonder how many people knew about this." Reportedly, DeGeneres and her wife moved to England after completing the sale of their Montecito Estate in California. During the recently held US presidential elections, she campaigned for Democrat nominee Kamala Harris. Location : United States of America (USA) First Published: November 22, 2024, 11:43 IST 'Ready To Fight': UK Warns Russia Against Invading Eastern European NATO Members, Says Report Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 22, 2024, 10:38 IST The UK military is prepared to fight Russian forces if Eastern Europe is invaded, stated Deputy Defence chief Rob Magowan, amid rising tensions following Ukraines strikes on Russian targets with US-supplied missiles. Russian President Vladimir Putin (Photo: AFP) The armed forces of the United Kingdom would be ready to fight their Russian counterparts if President Vladimir Putin invades another Eastern European nation, Rob Magowan, the deputy chief of the British defence staff has reportedly said. According to a report with Politico, the top UK military chief, in a statement to the House of Commons defence committee, said, If the British Army was asked to fight tonight, it would fight tonight. I dont think anybody in this room should be under any illusion that if the Russians invaded Eastern Europe tonight, then we would meet them in that fight." related stories Magowans remarks came after he was asked as to how many British brigades could get to NATOs eastern flank in the event of a major escalation by Russia, the report stated. He also told MPs that the UK armed forces have a range of operational risks and operational strengths," and said he had spoken before about needing more lethality," it stated. This comes amid soaring tensions as Russian foreign intelligence chief Sergei Naryshkin recently said that his country will retaliate against NATO countries that facilitate long-range missile strikes against Russian territory by Ukraine. Naryshkin also said changes announced by Putin to Russias nuclear doctrine meant it was in effect impossible to defeat Russia on the battlefield. Ukraine used US ATACMS missiles to strike Russian territory, taking advantage of newly granted permission from the outgoing administration of US President Joe Biden on the 1,000th day of the war in Ukraine. On the same day, Putin approved a policy document that lowered the threshold for Russia to use nuclear weapons in response to attacks by an enemy using conventional weapons. In July, Putin said that Russia would start producing intermediate-range missiles to mirror" US plans to deploy such weapons. Of late, he said Russia developed Oreshnik in response to the US development and deployment of missiles with a similar range. If Russia launches more strikes on Ukraine with the new missile, it will warn of its use in advance to allow civilians to reach safety as a humanitarian" gesture, Putin said, adding that Moscow isnt worried about tipping off the enemy since it cannot stop the attack. Later, UK Defense Secretary John Healey told lawmakers that the war was at a serious moment", and the front line is now less stable than at any time" since the conflict began, the Associated Press reported. Last month, Politico reported UK Defense Secretary John Healey as saying that the state of the armed forces was far worse than we thought" after his Labour Party entered government. Meanwhile, eastern European NATO members, including Latvia and Estonia, have been eyeing Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Finland, which borders Russia to its east, warned about sabotage of critical infrastructure. Despite Magowans tough talk, concerns remain about the UKs military capability in the event of a European escalation, Politico reported. First Published: November 22, 2024, 10:27 IST Security Screening To Media Leak: Exclusive On Canadas Flip-Flops Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: November 22, 2024, 19:41 IST Indian agency sources said such flip-flops are abnormal in Canada and show the pressure of Khalistani groups on the Canadian government The ties between India and Canada are strained. (AFP File Photo) The withdrawal of enhanced security for passengers travelling from Canada to India is aimed at embarrassing India, according to top intelligence sources. Amid diplomatic tensions with India, Canada had on November 20 enhanced its security screening for passengers travelling to India, citing an abundance of caution". In a statement to the broadcaster, Federal Transport Minister Anita Anand on November 22 said the extra screening measures have been lifted. related stories According to sources, Khalistani groups had met authorities and showed a series of earlier issued threat messages by Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) and Gurpatwant Singh Pannun issued about Air India. They said the screening would show that SFJ is a terrorist group and Pannun a terrorist. The groups asked the government to withdraw the order with immediate effect. Indian agency sources said such flip-flops are abnormal in Canada and show the pressure of Khalistani groups on the Canadian government. THE MEDIA LEAK Another was the media report alleging Indian link to the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. While the story maintained deniability, the header was strong against top Indian leadership. India had called it smear campaign". Our response to queries regarding a report in Canadian media: https://t.co/1IAURpKlfT pic.twitter.com/jIPlg05JM6 Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) November 20, 2024 The Canadian government has now clarified, calling the media report as speculative and inaccurate". The Indian side has off the record communicated to Nathalie G. Drouin, Intelligence Advisor to Trudeau, that no judicial order has come so far. Sources said Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), which is infiltrated by Khalistani groups, leaked the report to the media house. On October 14th, because of a significant and ongoing threat to public safety, the RCMP and officials took the extraordinary step of making public accusations of serious criminal activity in Canada perpetrated by agents of the Government of India," the government said. The Government of Canada has not stated, nor is it aware of evidence, linking Prime Minister Modi, Minister Jaishankar, or NSA Doval to the serious criminal activity within Canada. Any suggestion to the contrary is both speculative and inaccurate," it added while reacting to the media report. This comes after The Globe and Mail, a reputed newspaper in Canada published an article linking PM Modi and NSA Doval into the controversy around the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June last year. According to sources, PM Trudeau wanted to embarrass the Indian side, but retracted amid American pressure and the group picture of Trudeau, Joe Biden and PM Modi at G20 Summit in Brazils Rio de Janeiro. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all India has clearly stated it will not engage with Trudeau. Intelligence sources say these flip-flops are nothing but the mindset under which the Trudeau government is working. First Published: November 22, 2024, 19:24 IST Telangana Student Accidentally Shoots Himself Dead During Birthday Celebration In US Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 22, 2024, 13:33 IST Birthday celebration took a fatal turn for an Indian student in the US as his gun misfired, claiming his life. Indian student dies in US A 23-year-old Indian student died in the US after he accidentally misfired his hunting gun during the celebration of his birthday. Hailing from Telanganas Hyderabad, Aryan Reddy was celebrating his birthday on November 13 with his friends at his residence in Georgias Atlanta. related stories How Did The Incident Take Place? The Indian student took the hunting gun that he had brought recently to clean it, ending up accidentally firing. The misfired bullet struck his chest, according to the officials. His friends, who were in the flat but in another room, heard the gunshot and rushed to his room and found him lying in a pool of blood. They rushed him to the hospital where he was declared dead. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Reddy was a student at Kansas State University, Atlanta where he pursued a Master of Science. His family lives in the Uppal district in Telangana. His body will be flown to his hometown tonight. Location : Georgia First Published: November 22, 2024, 13:24 IST Beijing (Gasgoo)- AVATR, the premium new energy vehicle (NEV) brand co-backed by Changan Automobile, Huawei, and CATL, recently held a brand launch event in Dubai, UAE, marking the overseas debut of its AVATR 012 model and the official launch of the AVATR 11, which is now available for pre-order in the region. Photo credit: AVATR Smart Mobility International, the exclusive distributor of AVATR in the UAE, has launched a dedicated showroom in Dubai. The facility highlights AVATR's cutting-edge products and embodies the brand's vision for intelligent and sustainable mobility, underscoring the Middle Eastern market's strong enthusiasm and confidence in AVATR. Photo credit: AVATR Speaking at the launch event, Moutaz Louis, CEO of Smart Mobility International, remarked, "Introducing AVATR to the UAE marks a significant milestone in the region's new energy vehicle development journey. AVATR represents a new era of intelligent mobility, perfectly aligning with the UAE's forward-looking vision for sustainable transportation. With AVATR's proven global success and technological strengths, we are excited to bring a new driving experience to UAE consumers." Photo credit: AVATR According to Changan Automobile's 2024 overseas expansion plan, the company aims to introduce its NEV brands, including DEEPAL, AVATR, and NEVO, to the Middle East and Africa. The Chinese automaker also plans to host brand launches, establish a Middle East subsidiary, and complete the construction of a regional spare parts center by the end of the year. 'Third World War Has Begun': Ukraine's Ex-Military Commander On Russia's Missile Attack Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 22, 2024, 20:12 IST A former commander-in-chief of Ukraine, Valery Zaluzhny, claimed that the direct involvement of North Korean troops and Iranian weapons on behalf of Russia was a significant factor in the war's global expansion Ukrainian firefighters work on a spot following an air attack, in Dnipro, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Image: AFP) Pointing to the involvement of Russias autocratic allies", a former military commander in Ukraine has said World War 3 is well underway. Valery Zaluzhny, who is now serving as an envoy to the United Kingdom, claimed the direct involvement of North Korea and Iran in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. I absolutely believe that in 2024 we can believe that the Third World War has begun," Zaluzhny said during a speech at the Ukrainska Pravdas UP100 award ceremony, as per reports. related stories In the aftermath of Russias missile strike on Dnipro, Zaluzhny said Russias autocratic allies are a significant factor in the wars global expansion. There are reports that Russia has deployed more than 10,000 North Korean troops in the Kursk region and is using Iranian drones in the conflict. Soldiers from North Korea are standing in front of Ukraine. Lets be honest. Already in Ukraine, the Iranian Shahedis are killing civilians absolutely openly, without any shame," he was quoted in a report by NDTV. ALSO READ | Has World War 3 Begun? A Look At Russias Allies, Ukraines Arms Suppliers & Indias Stand He claimed that North Korean troops, as well as Iranian and Chinese weapons were actively contributing to the war. It is still possible to stop it here, on the territory of Ukraine. But for some reason, our partners do not want to understand this. It is obvious that Ukraine already has too many enemies," he was quoted, urging Ukraines allies to take action and prevent the conflict from spreading beyond the countrys borders. WHAT DID RUSSIA SAY ABOUT MISSILE STRIKE ON UKRAINE? On Thursday (November 21), Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow had tested a new medium-range hypersonic non-nuclear ballistic known as Oreshnik" (the hazel) by firing it at a missile and defence enterprise in Dnipro. A missile and space rocket company Pivdenmash, known as Yuzhmash by Russians, is based in this Ukrainian city. Putin said the Ukraine war was escalating towards a global conflict after the US and Britain allowed Kyiv to hit Moscow with their weapons. He warned the West that Moscow could strike back and more attacks similar to the one in Dnipro may follow. He added that civilians would be warned ahead of further strikes with such weapons. He said after a nod from the administration of President Joe Biden, Ukraine struck Russia with six US-made ATACMS on November 19 and with British Storm Shadow missiles and US-made HIMARS on November 21. From that moment, as we have repeatedly underscored, a regional conflict in Ukraine previously provoked by the West has acquired elements of a global character," he said in an address to the nation carried by state television. The Russian president said the US was pushing the world towards a global conflict. And in case of escalation of aggressive actions, we will also respond decisively and in a mirror manner," he added. He further said Russia was developing short and medium range missiles in response to the planned production and then deployment by the US of medium and shorter range missiles in Europe and the far east. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all I believe that the United States made a mistake by unilaterally destroying the treaty on the elimination of intermediate-range and shorter-range missiles in 2019 under a far-fetched pretext," Putin said, referring to the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty. (With agency inputs) Location : Kyiv, Ukraine First Published: November 22, 2024, 19:53 IST Two Australians Among Six Dead After Suspected Methanol Poisoning In Laos Last Updated: November 22, 2024, 17:47 IST Two Danish citizens, an American and a Briton have also died after what media described as a night out in adventure town Vang Vieng. The group of about a dozen tourists became ill after going out on November 12, (Representational Image) A second young Australian tourist died in a Thai hospital on Friday, bringing the death toll related to suspected methanol poisoning during a night out in a Laos backpacker hotspot to six. Two Danish citizens, an American and a Briton have also died after what media described as a night out in adventure town Vang Vieng. related stories The group of about a dozen tourists became ill after going out on November 12, according to British and Australian media. All Australians will be heartbroken by the tragic passing of Holly Bowles," Australia foreign minister Penny Wong said in a statement. Just yesterday, Holly lost her best friend, Bianca Jones." I know tonight all Australians will be holding both families in our hearts," the foreign minister added. Australian officials are now pressing Laotian authorities for a full and transparent investigation into what happened. At the Bangkok hospital where Bowles had reportedly received treatment, staff said they could not confirm she had been a patient there. AFP has contacted Australias embassy in Bangkok for comment. Backpacker trail Vang Vieng has been a fixture on the Southeast Asia backpacker trail since Laos secretive communist rulers opened the country to tourism decades ago. The town was once synonymous with backpackers behaving badly at jungle parties and has since re-branded as an eco-tourism destination. I heard the news but everything is normal here," Michael, a Vietnamese manager at Vangvieng Rock Backpacker Rooftop Hostel told AFP, asking to use only one name. The high season is about to start so we are welcoming more tourists every day." There are still many tourists in town, and they go partying," a receptionist at Vang Vieng Chill House Hostel told AFP. Bowles and Jones, both aged 19 from Melbourne, became unwell while staying at Vang Viengs Nana Backpackers Hostel last week, Australian media reported. The women drank at the hostels bar before they went out for the evening, the Sydney Morning Herald reported. They failed to check out on November 13, when hostel staff rushed the pair to the hospital. The Vietnamese manager of the Nana Backpackers Hostel has been detained for questioning, the Laos tourist police told AFP. No charges have been made, however. The Laos tourist police could not be reached for comment on Friday. Alcohol tainted with methanol is suspected to be the cause of death. Methanol is a toxic alcohol used in industrial and household products like antifreeze, photocopier fluids, de-icers, paint thinner, varnish and windshield wiper fluid. Methanol can be added to liquor to increase its potency, but can cause blindness, liver damage and death. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all On their travel advice websites for Laos, UK and Australian authorities warn their citizens to beware of methanol poisoning while consuming alcohol in Laos. In neighbouring Thailand, at least six people died and more than 20 were hospitalised after drinking methanol-laced bootleg alcohol in August. Location : Laos First Published: November 22, 2024, 17:47 IST UK Police Conduct Controlled Explosion Near US Embassy In London Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 22, 2024, 16:13 IST The US embassy said on X that the police had closed a road near the building out of "an abundance of caution". The U.S. embassy said on X that the police had closed a road near the building out of an abundance of caution. (X) British police officers on Friday carried out a controlled explosion near the United States (US) embassy in London after they found an abandoned and suspicious package outside the embassy. We can confirm that the loud bang reported in the area a short time ago was a controlled explosion carried out by officers. Enquiries are still ongoing and cordons will remain in place for the time being," Londons Metropolitan Police said in a post on X. related stories We can confirm that the loud bang reported in the area a short time ago was a controlled explosion carried out by officers.Enquiries are still ongoing and cordons will remain in place for the time being. Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) November 22, 2024 The Metropolitan Police force conducted the explosion after setting up cordons near the high-security site in Nine Elms, south of the River Thames. The US embassy has said that the authorities were investigating the suspicious item found outside the building. It further said that police had closed a road near the building out of an abundance of caution". Local authorities are investigating a suspicious package outside the U.S. Embassy in London. Met Police are present and have closed Ponton Road out of an abundance of caution. We will provide further updates when available. Please monitor @metpoliceuk for updates. U.S. Embassy London (@USAinUK) November 22, 2024 The police in an earlier statement said that they were aware of speculation about the incident online. The US moved its embassy from Mayfair, central London, to a 12-storey purpose-built glass cube in Nine Elms in 2018, partly for safety reasons. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The formerly industrial area now houses dozens of upmarket apartment buildings alongside Battersea Power Station, a 1930s-era building recognisable for its red brick and white chimneys, which has been redeveloped as a shopping and tourist centre. (With inputs from agencies) Location : London, United Kingdom (UK) First Published: November 22, 2024, 15:54 IST 'World Must Respond': Ukraine's Zelenskyy Calls Russian Strike 'Clear Escalation' | Updates Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: November 22, 2024, 10:09 IST Russia Ukraine War News: Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russia's attack on its territory using a new type of ballistic missile was the second step toward escalation. Russia Ukraine War News: Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin | AP Image (File) President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday said that the Russian attack at a Ukrainian military facility with a new type of ballistic missile was a clear and severe escalation" in the war and called for strong worldwide condemnation. Russia fired a hypersonic intermediate-range ballistic missile at the Ukrainian city of Dnipro on Thursday in retaliation to the US and UK allowing Kyiv to strike Russian territory with advanced Western weapons. related stories This is a clear and severe escalation in the scale and brutality of this war," Zelenskyy wrote on X, referring to a strike on the central city of Dnipro. The use of a ballistic missile against Ukraine today is yet more proof that Russia has no interest in peace." The Ukrainian President added that Russias attack on its territory using a new type of ballistic missile was the second step toward escalation as the first step was involving North Korea in the war with a contingent of at least 11,000 soldiers." The use of a ballistic missile against Ukraine today is yet more proof that Russia has no interest in peace. Putin lies when he claims that Ukraines use of long-range weapons is somehow a new step for us," Zelenskyy added. Today, Putin admitted to taking a second step this year toward escalating and expanding this war. A new ballistic missile was used. Putin struck our city of Dnipro, one of Ukraines largest cities. This is a clear and severe escalation in the scale and brutality of this wara Volodymyr Zelenskyy / (@ZelenskyyUa) November 21, 2024 Russia Fires New Missile Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Moscow struck a Ukrainian military facility with a new medium-range, hypersonic ballistic missile known as Oreshnik" (the hazel) and warned that more could follow. He assured that civilians would be warned ahead of further strikes with such weapons. NEW Russia fires intercontinental ballistic missile with multiple re-entry warheads on a city in Ukraine.pic.twitter.com/wOAKFn9j5b Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) November 21, 2024 Earlier in the day, Zelenskyy claimed that Russian forces launched an intercontinental ballistic missile to target one of their largest cities of Dnipro, contradicting Putins claim. ALSO READ: What Is Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Russia Fired At Ukraine? Moscows attack comes after Ukraine used US and UK-made missiles to strike military targets deep inside Russian territory this week, escalating the conflict that has already lasted 1,000 days. Putin said that after approval from the administration of President Joe Biden, Ukraine struck Russia with six US-made ATACMS on November 19 and with British Storm Shadow missiles and US-made HIMARS on November 21. From that moment, a regional conflict in Ukraine previously provoked by the West has acquired elements of a global character," Putin said in an address to the nation carried by state television in Moscow. China Reacts As Conflict Grows As the conflict between Russia and Ukraine intensified by firing long-range and middle-range missiles, China urged both the parties involved to remain calm" and exercise restraint" during the time. Chinas stance of encouraging all parties to de-escalate the situation and commit to a political resolution of the Ukraine crisis remains unchanged. China will continue to play a constructive role in this regard," a senior Chinese official said. China says all parties must remain calm and exercise restraint following Ukraines use of US and UK supplied missiles to strike Russian territory.Chinas stance of encouraging all parties to de-escalate the situation and commit to a political resolution of the Ukraine pic.twitter.com/2FdIj0e83l BRICS News (@BRICSinfo) November 21, 2024 top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all It comes as Russias war in Ukraine, which began in February 2022, crossed 1,000 days and currently remains at a volatile juncture with increased military strikes and geopolitical situation. Location : Ukraine First Published: November 22, 2024, 08:38 IST Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Chinese new energy vehicle maker NETA Auto's Brazil subsidiary recently held its inaugural dealer conference, welcoming 22 representatives from 15 dealer groups. During the event, attendees gained deeper insights into the NETA brand through presentations, Q&A sessions, and vehicle test drives. Photo credit: NETA Auto The company revealed it plans to open over 10 stores across Brazil by the first quarter of 2025, further expanding its market presence and driving large-scale deliveries. As of November 22, NETA Auto has organized five showcase events in major retail centers across Brazil, including locations in Sao Paulo and Rio Grande do Sul states. These events feature the pre-sale of the AYA and X models. Two additional showcases are scheduled for launch this month, with three more planned for December. This strategy aims to increase brand exposure, boost local visibility, and drive orders. Meanwhile, NETA Auto is gearing up for Thailand's largest annual auto event, the Thailand International Motor Expo 2024, which will raise its curtain on November 28. The company will debut the latest NETA S Shooting Brake model in Thailand, showcasing its groundbreaking Super Extended-Range Electric Vehicle (Super EREV) technology. This innovation promises Thai consumers a more efficient and environmentally friendly mobility solution. New Zealand implemented a ban on displaying gang symbols in public starting Thursday, resulting in the arrest of a man mere minutes after the law's enactment. The man was found with gang insignia on his car dashboard, according to Police Commissioner Richard Chambers. This prohibition, aimed at dismantling gang influence, penalizes displaying such insignia with fines up to 5,000 New Zealand dollars ($2,940) or six months of incarceration. The government's center-right leadership introduced these measures following a pledge to curtail gang-related violence and drug crimes post-October election. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon emphasized the threat gangs pose, saying they "thrive on destroying the lives of other New Zealanders, whether that's by peddling drugs or through brutal acts of violence that leave communities in fear." Critics argue the law infringes on civil liberties and may drive gang activities underground. Police now have enhanced authority to break up public gatherings of three members or more, restrict gang affiliates' interactions, and conduct home searches for prohibited items. Controversially, the law does not apply to facial tattoos or gang colors, and it has been criticized for excluding white supremacist symbols from its scope. The latest regulations bring New Zealand's approach closer to Australia's model, which restricts gang visibility in public. With approximately 9,400 individuals identified as gang members, predominantly Indigenous Maori, the legislation has sparked debate about its impact on marginalized communities. The country is home to 5 million people. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP) A Utah judge has dismissed a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Gabby Petito's parents against Moab. The lawsuit accused the city's police officers of failing to protect their daughter during an August 2021 traffic stop, prior to her murder by fiance Brian Laundrie. Seventh District Court Judge Don Torgerson stated he couldn't address the constitutionality of the state's governmental immunity law, but the Court of Appeals could. Petito's parents contended that Moab police officers conducted a "grossly negligent" investigation after someone called to report that a man had been seen slapping a woman. Attorney Judson Burton argued that officers, during the encounter, placed Gabby in a patrol car and exhibited sympathetic behavior towards Laundrie, including laughing with him. The lawsuit, filed in November 2022, sought $50 million in damages. They said Gabby called them during the police stop and declined their requests that she come home, saying police would handle it. Moab Police's attorney, Mitchell Stephens, argued the case should be dismissed based on government immunity but also emphasized the speculative nature of the claims. He argued that the city cannot be held accountable for events that transpired far from Moab weeks later. Investigators had previously noted "unintentional mistakes" by Moab police and indicated that Petito was likely a long-term domestic violence victim. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP) A federal grand jury has indicted Phillips 66, charging the giant oil and gas company with multiple counts of violating the Clean Water Act. The charges follow from two spills in 2020 and 2021, in which the company is accused of dumping a total of 790,000 gallons of polluted wastewater into Los Angeles County's sewer system from its oil processing plant, CBS News reports. A criminal indictment of a large corporation over environmental violations is rare, US Attorney Martin Estrada told reporters. "We are sending a message," Estrada said, per the Washington Post. "Corporations and individuals need to take their duties to protect the environment seriously. We also want to send the message that nobody is above the law." The charges include two counts of negligently violating the Clean Water Act and four counts of knowingly violating the law. Phillips 66 faces up to five years' probation for each count, per the Los Angeles Times, and $2.4 million in fines. Estrada said the company could be ordered to pay restitution to Los Angeles County. Phillips has not entered a plea; arraignment is to take place in the coming weeks. In the case of both oil-tainted spills, the company did not inform the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts, prosecutors said. The agency's wastewater treatment plant in Carson was able to collect the contaminated water, keeping it from reaching the Pacific Ocean. But workers were at risk from the deluge of oil and grease, per the Times, because it could have caused a buildup of flammable methane and exploded. Phillips announced last month that it's shutting down the 650-acre refinery complex in Carson and Wilmington. (More oil spill stories.) The Kremlin fired a new intermediate-range ballistic missile at Ukraine on Thursday in response to Kyiv's use this week of American and British missiles capable of striking deeper into Russia, President Vladimir Putin said. In a televised address to the country, the Russian president warned that US air defense systems would be powerless to stop the new missile, which he said flies at 10 times the speed of sound and which he called the OreshnikRussian for hazelnut tree, the AP reports. He also said it could be used to attack any Ukrainian ally whose missiles are used to attack Russia. A senior North Korean general was wounded in a recent Ukrainian strike in Russia's Kursk region, Western officials said Thursday, per the Wall Street Journal , without disclosing the man's identity or how he was injured. However, the Journal notes several North Korean servicemen were reportedly at a command post at a Russian-controlled estate in Marino on Wednesday when Ukraine targeted the location with at least 10 British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles. Around 11,000 North Korean troops are now in Kursk, according to the Department of Defense . They're overseen by a senior North Korean officer, Col. Gen. Kim Yong Bok, per the Journal. "It will not end with just a general," former North Korean soldier Kim Seongmin, a defector who now runs Free North Korea Radio, tells Stars and Stripes. "Pyongyang put its head into the lion's mouth for money and the safety of the Kim Jong Un regime," he said Friday. "How could infantrymen survive in such a battlefield?" Russia surely hopes the North Korean soldiers can boost its forces as the war nears its third year. But military analysts believe their impact will be minimal due to inexperience, language barriers, and other factors, per NBC News. (More Russia-Ukraine war stories.) Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On November 22, ZEEKR announced that its newly introduced ZEEKR 7X model had achieved over 25,000 units in cumulative deliveries within 60 days of its market launch. ZEEKR 7X; photo credit: ZEEKR According to the company's earlier announcements, the ZEEKR 7X surpassed the 17,000-unit deliveries within 40 days of its launch. By the 50-day mark, its cumulative deliveries exceeded 20,000 units. Hitting the market on September 20, the ZEEKR 7X offers three variants: the Rear-Wheel Drive Intelligent Driving Edition, the Long-Range Rear-Wheel Drive Intelligent Driving Edition, and the Long-Range All-Wheel Drive Intelligent Driving Edition, priced at 229,900 yuan, 249,900 yuan, and 269,900 yuan, respectively. Nationwide deliveries began concurrently with the launch. In terms of power performance, the ZEEKR 7X model comes standard with 800V high-voltage platform features across its entire lineup, and offers both single-motor rear-drive and dual-motor all-wheel-drive options. The single-motor version delivers a maximum power output of 310 kW and offers two battery capacity options: 75 kWh (providing a range of 605 km) and 100.01 kWh (delivering up to 780 km). The dual-motor version boasts a combined output of 475 kW (646 hp) and is powered by a 100.01 kWh ternary lithium battery which offers a range of 705 km. Regarding intelligent driving features, the ZEEKR 7X is equipped with the brand's proprietary Haohan Intelligent Driving 2.0 System ("Haohan" is named in Chinese pinyin), which supports the NZP (Navigation ZEEKR Pilot) driving assistant system. This system handles over 90% of complex intersections and offers a city NZP commuting mode with route memory capabilities. According to the latest monthly delivery data, ZEEKR delivered a total of 25,049 new cars in October, a year-on-year surge of 92% and a month-on-month increase of 17%. From January to October this year, its cumulative delivery reached 167,922 units. Currently, ZEEKR has a number of models on sale, including the ZEEKR 001, the ZEEKR 009, the ZEEKR X, the ZEEKR 007, the ZEEKR 7X, and the ZEEKR MIX. Earlier this week, President-elect Trump nominated WWE co-founder Linda McMahon to head the Department of Educationbut if Mike Rounds has his way, there soon won't be any department for her to lead. The GOP senator from South Dakota introduced a bill on Thursday that would shut down the federal agency and distribute its tasks to other departments, legislation that already has an implicit thumbs-up from Trump , per the Hill . The agency "has never educated a single student, and it's long past time to end this bureaucratic department that causes more harm than good," Rounds says in a statement. The Hill notes that the Returning Education Back to Our States Act has virtually no chance of passing the currently Democratic-controlled Senate, but come January, the GOP will take the majority in that chamber, as well as a likely slim majority in the House. Rounds isn't the only Republican lawmaker already thinking ahead to that: On Thursday, Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie told ABC News he'd also be proposing a bill to dump the DOE, within the "first few weeks" of the upcoming 119th Congress, and that his legislation will contain an actual end date. "The Department of Education shall terminate on Dec. 31, 2026," says Massie, who's made a push to pull back funds from the DOE since last year. Neal McCluskey of the Cato Institute think tank, however, says it won't be an easy task to accomplish Rounds' and Massie's mission, as the Senate would typically need 60 votes to make something like this happen. story continues below Trump "can certainly use the bully pulpit to drive this a lot," notes McCluskey, adding people would need to be put in place to administer the various programs currently under the DOE. "He could provide legislative blueprints if he wanted to. But ultimately this has to come through Congress." Dakota News Now lays out the various other government agencies that would theoretically gain control of such things as loans, disabilities advocacy, and other services now under the DOE, including the Interior, State, Treasury, Labor, and Health and Human Services departments. "This legislation is a roadmap to eliminating the federal Department of Education by practically rehoming these federal programs in the departments where they belong," Rounds says in his statement. (More Department of Education stories.) Authorities have arrested a high-ranking member of the Jalisco New Generation cartel who allegedly faked his own death before living a life of luxury in California under a fake name. Cristian Fernando Gutierrez-Ochoa, 37, is son-in-law to cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, also known as "El Mencho," CNN reports. According to prosecutors, the cartel leader may have helped Gutierrez-Ochoa fake his death so he could flee to the US to be with El Mencho's daughter, who owns a coffee shop in Riverside, California, per the Los Angeles Times . El Mencho is alleged to have told associates he murdered Gutierrez-Ochoa for "lying." That's not what happened, according to the Justice Department. Gutierrez-Ochoa, who allegedly helped coordinate the transportation and distribution of 40,000 kilograms of methamphetamine and 2,000 kilograms of cocaine bound for the US, had kidnapped two members of the Mexican Navy in 2021 in an attempt to get authorities to release El Mencho's wife from custody, CNN reports. Sought by authorities, he fled to Riverside, where he used $1.2 million in drug trafficking proceeds to buy a luxury home, prosecutors say. From there, he allegedly oversaw the receiving and distribution of drug shipments. Prosecutors allege Gutierrez-Ochoa was on his guard given the deception and at least once performed counter-surveillance on federal agents who were monitoring him, per CNN. He was arrested Tuesday, according to the DOJ, which did not detail the circumstances. Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said "the Jalisco Cartelone of the world's most violent and prolific drug trafficking organizationsis weaker today because of the tenacious efforts of law enforcement to track down and arrest [Gutierrez-Ochoa]." He faces federal drug trafficking and money laundering charges for which he could be sentenced to life in prison. story continues below El Mencho's son, Ruben Oseguera, also known as "El Menchito," was convicted of conspiring to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine for US importation and using a firearm in a drug conspiracy in a US court in September, per the AP. He also faces up to life in prison at his January sentencing. El Mencho remains a fugitive. The US State Department is offering a $10 million reward for information leading to his arrest and/or conviction. (More Mexican drug cartel stories.) The US Embassy in London was locked down Friday as police carried out a controlled explosion of a suspicious package found nearby. The embassy later announced that the lockdown had been lifted, but all public appointments for the day were canceled, the Standard reports. "We can confirm that the 'loud bang' reported in the area a short time ago was a controlled explosion carried out by officers," the Metropolitan Police said in a statement. Nobody was injured, the AP reports. "Initial indications are that the item was a hoax device," police said hours later. "An investigation will now follow." "Some cordons will remain in place for the time being but the majority of the police response will now be stood down," police said. In a post on X, the embassy police said they had closed a road on the west side of the embassy "out of an abundance of caution." Gatwick Airport, meanwhile, was partially evacuated due to what authorities said was a security incident Friday morning, BBC reports. Bomb disposal experts were called to the airport 30 miles south of London after a suspected prohibited item was found in the luggage area, reports the Guardian. Police said the South Terminal was evacuated as a precaution during the investigation. Authorities said trains would not be stopping at the airport station. (More US Embassy stories.) A second Australian teenager has died from suspected methanol poisoning after drinking tainted alcohol in Laos, bringing the death toll to six in what is believed to be a mass poisoning. The deaths have drawn attention to the longstanding problem of tainted alcohol in Southeast Asia, where despite warnings from governments, many tourists are unaware of the dangers, the BBC reports. The six young people, including an American man, a British woman, and two Danish women, are all believed to have consumed tainted alcohol in Vang Vieng, long known as a party town for backpackers. Methanol. Methanol, a toxic form of alcohol used in products like antifreeze, is colorless and flavorless, with a smell similar to the kind of alcohol found in alcoholic drinks, making it hard to detect. Unscrupulous bars have been known to add it to mixed drinks to save money on spirits like vodka and give drinks more "kick," the AP reports. Even as little as half a shot can be lethal, but it takes up to 24 hours for symptoms like vomiting and abdominal pain to appear. Methanol is "broken down by the body into chemical compounds that attack the organs," per the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. If President-elect Trump hopes for another handshake with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, he best tone down his expectations. "We have already gone as far as possible with the United States with negotiations," Kim said at a defense exhibition in Pyongyang on Thursday, per the AP . "What we ended up confirming was not a superpower's will for coexistence, but a thorough position based on force and an unchangeable invasive and hostile policy" toward North Korea. Kim did not directly address the re-election of Trump, but his first public comments about the US since the election signal a tough stance, suggests an analysis in the Wall Street Journal . Trump once claimed he and Kim "fell in love." "I think he misses me," he added of the North Korean leader in July, claiming he was the best candidate to control the regime. But since Trump left office in early 2021, North Korea "has expanded its nuclear arsenal, warded off economic collapse from Covid-19 and deepened military and economic ties with Moscow, including deploying troops for Russia's war against Ukraine," per the Journal. As a result, "Kim has fewer reasons to seek sanctions relief from the US and has repeatedly played down the need for disarmament talks." At a conference with army officials last week, Kim vowed to increase his country's nuclear capabilities "without limit," adding "the most important and critical task for our armed forces is preparations for a war." As Evans Revere, former acting US assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, tells Voice of America, "Kim Jong Un is making clear to President-elect Trump that everything has changed since their previous meetings" and North Korea "will not give up" its nuclear weapons. Trump may have anticipated this, the Journal reports, noting "Sen. Marco Rubio, Trump's pick for Secretary of State, has previously compared North Korea to a 'criminal syndicate.'" (More North Korea stories.) Scientists say an unprecedentedly bad year for beached dolphins on Cape Cod might have to do with warming waters changing the availability of the animals' food, per the AP . The Massachusetts peninsula has a long history of marine mammal strandings, partially because of dramatic changes in the tide that sometimes trap wayward dolphins if they swim too close to shore. But this year has been particularly bad: The International Fund for Animal Welfare said Thursday it has responded to 342 live, stranded dolphins this year, five times more than its annual average of 67. An already bad year got worse earlier this month when the organization was inundated with calls about beached dolphins. More than 50 of the animals were stranded on multiple beaches and waterways in the span of a week, the organization said. The massive number of strandings has stretched the group's resources and supplies, said the organization's Brian Sharp. Scientists are still trying to determine what is causing the strandings, but they have noticed that the small fish the dolphins eat in high numbers have been swimming close to the shore, he said. The dolphins seem to be following that food source and getting themselves in jeopardy, Sharp said. "Any effect of climate change on ocean temperature, salinity, is going to affect the prey resource of the fish," he said. "That as part of the food web is going to have kind of that ripple, that cascade effect throughout the food web, which eventually leads to marine mammals." While the factors are complex, a changing climate is clearly driving prey and predators to new areas at times of the year they were not previously expected, said Regina Asmutis-Silvia, executive director of conservation group Whale and Dolphin Conservation North America. story continues below "We have had noticeable unseasonably warm temperatures on land lately around Cape Cod to remind us we are facing changes in the climate," she says. "But those changes don't stop at the shoreline. They are being felt in the ocean, too." Of the 342 stranded dolphins, 293 were able to be released back into the wild. More than 90 additional dolphins were found dead upon stranding. This year's strandings included a mass stranding event of more than 100 dolphins in the summer that rescuers said was the largest event of its kind in recorded US history. (More Cape Cod stories.) Ashen Tharaka TDT| Manama As the Bahrain National Theatre prepared to host the Bahrain Philharmonic Orchestras Sound of Spain concert this evening, audience members shared their excitement ahead of the performance. Under the direction of Maestro Dr. Mubarak Najem, the concert promised an enchanting journey through iconic Spanish melodies. Among those eagerly awaiting the performance was Dana Wadai, who had travelled from Saudi Arabia to attend. Speaking before the event, she shared her anticipation, saying, Yeah, we just came from Saudi Arabia, and we are so excited about this. I just heard about it from my friend. I'm really excited to see this event in Bahrain and to visit this. Wadai also reflected on the unique charm of such gatherings. Exactly. This is the beauty of it, you see. You're going to find different people from different atmospheres, different countries. This is really a nice opportunity to meet with peers and other people, she remarked. For Wadai, the concert was not just about the music but also about the connections and diversity it fostered. Its a really nice event. Im sure looking forward to it. I will let you know after we finish, she added with a smile. As the audience settled into their seats, the stage was set for an evening celebrating cultural unity through music. The Bahrain Philharmonic Orchestra continues to cement its role as a cornerstone of the Kingdoms growing artistic landscape, captivating audiences and showcasing Bahrains vibrant cultural offerings. LOS ANGELESCarnal Media has signed Zac Steele as its newest exclusive model. Steele will be featured on CarnalPlus.com, BarebackPlus.com and FTMPlus.com. Hailing from small-town Illinois, Steele is a 19-year-old performer with a passion for self-expression and a desire to connect with others, and is eager to share his story and inspire fans around the world. "I'm so grateful to be a part of the Carnal Media family," Steele said. "From the moment I started in the industry, I've idolized Carnal Media and its models. To be a part of this tight-knit community is a dream come true." Steeles journey into the adult industry began when his mom suggested he create an OnlyFans account instead of sending nudes for free on Grindr. He gained a following on Twitter and OnlyFans. In January, he made his professional debut and has since collaborated with top models including Jordan Starr and Legrand Wolf. "Carnal Media is committed to providing a platform for our models to share their unique stories and perspectives," said Alan Breslaw, chief marketing officer of Carnal Media. "Zac embodies the spirit of Carnal Mediaauthenticity, passion, and a commitment to self-expression. We're excited to see him shine and inspire our audience with his energy and enthusiasm." Additionally, Steeles dedication to advocating for mental health awareness and acceptance is a truly inspiring aspect of his personality, a studio representative said. "I was diagnosed with autism at 4, and my journey wasnt easyI was non-verbal for the first two years of my life, Steele shared. But with the help of my family and intense therapy, I've been able to overcome my challenges and become a functioning member of society. I want to share my story to inspire hope in others and promote acceptance of people for who they are, advocating for support and understanding to help everyone thrive." Asked about his experience with Carnal Media, he said, "My first shoot was incredible. I've been a huge fan of Carnal for years, and to be working with Adam Snow and the rest of the team was a dream come true. Everyone is so supportive and welcomingit feels like home." Follow Steele on X. For updates on upcoming scenes, visit CarnalPlus.com and BarebackPlus.com. EDMONTON, AB, Nov. 22, 2024 /CNW/ - Contributing to Alberta's economic prosperity, ATB Financial announced strong second-quarter results for fiscal year 2025, with significant growth in loans and deposits. In tandem, ATB Financial also made its second payment of $25.0 million in dividends to the Alberta Government, and continues to be positioned to declare dividends totalling $100 million this fiscal year. "The continued growth of ATB Financial, through dividends to the Alberta Government and strong financial results, is helping build a stronger Alberta now and for the future," said Curtis Stange, President and CEO, ATB Financial. "With a highly capable and experienced team, ATB Financial remains dedicated to supporting our clients and their businesses with expert advice and personalised solutions. Our commitment was recently reflected in the J.D. Power 2024 Canada Retail Banking Satisfaction Study , ranking us number two among midsize banks in Canada for client satisfaction." In a highly competitive market, ATB Financial reported solid revenue growth with total revenue reaching $526.2 million in the second quarter a 4.6 per cent increase compared to the same period last year. This growth was fueled by a 6.7 per cent year-over-year increase in net loans, which reached $53.1 billion, that further stimulated the economy. Total deposits rose 4.4 per cent year-over-year to $43.0 billion. Of significance, net income for the quarter reached $105.3 million. This result was driven by a combination of factors, including growth in net interest income and a 8.5 per cent increase in other income, which reached $172.3 million. The growth in other income reflects the success of ATB Financial's expanding advisory services for clients. Additionally, this quarter, ATB Financial reported $29.9 billion in assets under administration, reinforcing its position as a leading investment firm. This growth will be further enhanced by ATB's recent announcement that it entered into an agreement to acquire BCV Asset Management Inc., a prominent Manitoba-based portfolio management firm. This acquisition will expand ATB Financial's wealth management capabilities and reach across Western Canada for the benefit of its clients. The impact of the acquisition will be reflected in ATB Financial's Q3 financial report. See ATB Financial's full quarter results here . Q2 Highlights Demonstrating its commitment to advancing Truth and Reconciliation, ATB Financial achieved bronze certification in the Partnership Accreditation in Indigenous Relations (PAIR) program . . ATB Capital Markets hosted its 2024 Energy and Life Sciences Institutional Investors' Conferences in New York City . The event attracted nearly 40 investment firms and 80 corporate attendees, and included a keynote address by the Premier of Alberta . in . The event attracted nearly 40 investment firms and 80 corporate attendees, and included a keynote address by the Premier of . ATB Capital Markets released its Fall 2024 Energy Sector Survey , revealing tempered growth expectations for the Canadian energy sector in the coming year. While investors expressed a more cautious outlook, the survey identified potential catalysts and opportunities for growth. Additionally, ATB Capital Markets published its Fall 2024 Cannabis Survey , which also indicated softening sentiment in this sector. , revealing tempered growth expectations for the Canadian energy sector in the coming year. While investors expressed a more cautious outlook, the survey identified potential catalysts and opportunities for growth. Additionally, ATB Capital Markets published its , which also indicated softening sentiment in this sector. Developed in partnership with MNP, ATB Financial released " Opening the Door to Opportunity II ". It highlights the growing influence of Indigenous communities in the province's economy. ". It highlights the growing influence of Indigenous communities in the province's economy. ATB Financial granted thirty community organisations more than $450,000 in funding this quarter. Notable recipients included CASA Mental Health for its Preschool Mental Health Program, and Inn From the Cold for its Prevention & Diversion Program. in funding this quarter. Notable recipients included CASA Mental Health for its Preschool Mental Health Program, and Inn From the Cold for its Prevention & Diversion Program. Partnering with Impact Genome, ATB Financial launched a new program that provides grant recipients with Impact Genome memberships. This program promotes enhanced social project impact assessments in addition to standardised measurements of their results. Celebrating the program's first year, with participation nearly doubling, the ATB Capital Markets Women's Rotation Program continues to offer candidates a breadth of experience and serve as a testament to ATB's commitment to diversity in capital markets. continues to offer candidates a breadth of experience and serve as a testament to ATB's commitment to diversity in capital markets. ATB Financial continued its support for Jasper by donating $50,000 to a benefit concert that provided an uplifting experience for the community following the wildfires, and attracted further financial support. About ATB Financial With $62.3 billion in assets, ATB Financial is a leading financial institution that started in Alberta with the focus of putting people first. Our success comes from our more than 5,000 team members who love to deliver exceptional experiences to nearly 820,000 clients across our Personal and Business Banking, ATB Wealth Management and ATB Capital Markets businesses. ATB provides expert advice, services and products through our many branches and agencies, our 24-hour Client Care Centre, four entrepreneur centres and our digital banking options. ATB powers possibilities for our clients, communities and beyond. ATB is bronze certified as part of the Partnership Accreditation in Indigenous Relations commissioned by the Canadian Council for Indigenous Business. ATB powers possibilities for our clients, communities and beyond. More information about ATB can be found at atb.com . For more information or interview requests, please contact: ATB Financial, Media Relations Team [email protected] SOURCE ATB Financial /NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES. FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS RESTRICTION MAY CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF UNITED STATES SECURITIES LAW./ LONDON, ON, Nov. 22, 2024 /CNW/ - Odd Burger Corporation ("Odd Burger" or the "Company") (TSXV: ODD) (OTCPK: ODDAF) (FSE: IA9) is pleased to announce the grand opening of its new Vancouver restaurant and Food Truck. The Vancouver restaurant is located at 2821 Main Street and the grand opening event will take place on Saturday, November 23rd, 2024, from 12pm to 6pm. The event will include $1 soft serve, a donation to local charity partners, a tote bag for the first 30 guests in line and a ribbon cutting ceremony at 12pm. Odd Burger Vancouver Store Front. (CNW Group/Odd Burger Corporation) "We could not be more excited to finally bring Odd Burger to Vancouver," says James McInnes, CEO and Co-Founder of Odd Burger. "We see tremendous potential in the B.C. market, and we believe that our expansion strategy will be instrumental to the future growth of Odd Burger." Odd Burger will also open its first food truck in British Columbia on November 23rd, 2024, and will soon be attending local festivals and events across the province. The food truck is expected to provide additional exposure for the Odd Burger brand as it seeks to establish itself in Western Canada. The food truck is currently taking reservations for corporate events, weddings, festivals and other private functions. Food truck inquiries can be sent to [email protected]. Private Placement The Company is pleased to announce that its convertible debenture announced on September 20th, 2024, has been terminated and that the company instead intends to complete a non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") of up to 4,000,000 units of the Company (the "Units") at a price of $0.25 per Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $1,000,000. Each unit will consist of one common share in the capital of the Company (a "Common Share") and one Common Share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase one Common Share at a price of $0.30 per Common Share (the "Warrant Exercise Price") at any time up to 4:00 p.m. (Toronto time) on or before the earlier of the date that is two years following the closing date of the Offering. The completion of the Offering will be subject to acceptance of the Offering by the TSX Venture Exchange. Closing of the Offering is expected to occur on or about December 23rd, 2024, subject to satisfaction of all closing conditions. The Units, including all underlying securities thereof, will have a hold period of four months and one day from the date of issue. The net proceeds of the Offering will be used by the Company for expanding its franchise operations in Canada and in the US, upgrading its manufacturing facilities, advancing the Company's restaurant automation technology and for general working capital purposes. A finder's fee of up to 8% of the gross proceeds of the Offering may be paid in cash. In addition, the Company may issue finders' warrants equal to up to 8% of the number of Units issued in connection with the Offering. Each finder's warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one Common Share at a price of $0.30 for a period of two years from issuance. Certain insiders of the Company may participate in the Offering. Such participation is considered a related party transaction within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The related party transaction will be exempt from minority approval and valuation requirements pursuant to the exemptions contained in Section 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101, as neither the fair market value of the securities to be issued under the Offering nor the consideration to be paid by insiders will exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization. About Odd Burger Corporation Odd Burger Corporation is a technology company that is transforming the fast-food industry. The Company operates a franchised restaurant chain that is focused on improving the sustainability and efficiency of fast food. Its restaurants utilize state-of-the-art automated cooking technology to deliver a consistent food experience at prices comparable to other fast- food chains. Odd Burger also operates its own manufacturing facility that produces most of the plant-based proteins and dairy-free sauces served at its restaurant chain. The manufacturing facility also produces a consumer-packaged goods line that is currently available at various grocery retailers across Canada. Odd Burger is building the restaurant of the future by continuing its development of automated restaurant technology, deepening its vertically integrated supply chain and continuing to focus on sustainable and delicious food that can be enjoyed at its restaurants or prepared at home through its retail line. Odd Burger Corporation is traded on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "ODD" and on the OTCPK under the symbol "ODDAF". For more information visit https://www.oddburger.com. Forward-Looking Information This news release contains forward-looking information for the purpose of providing information about management's current expectations and plans relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. Any such forward-looking information may be identified by words such as "proposed", "expects", "intends", "may", "will", and similar expressions. Forward looking information contained or referred to in this news release includes statements relating to future restaurant openings, potential franchisees, demand for our products and other similar statements. Forward-looking information is based on several factors and assumptions which have been used to develop such information, but which may prove to be incorrect including, but not limited to material assumptions with respect to the continued strong demand for the Company's products, the availability of sufficient financing on reasonable terms to fund the Company's capital requirements and the ability to obtain necessary equipment, production inputs and labour. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on forward looking information because the Company can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking information include, among others, negative cash flow and future financing requirements to sustain and grow operations, limited history of operations and revenues and no history of earnings or dividends, expansion of facilities, competition, availability of raw materials, dependence on senior management and key personnel, general business risk and liability, regulation of the food industry, change in laws, regulations and guidelines, compliance with laws, unfavourable publicity or consumer perception, product liability and product recalls, risks related to intellectual property, difficulties with forecasts, management of growth and litigation, as well as the impact of, uncertainties and risks associated with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. For a more comprehensive discussion of the risks faced by the Company, please refer to the Company's Annual Information Form filed with Canadian securities regulatory authorities at www.sedar.com. The forward-looking information in this news release reflects the current expectations, assumptions and/or beliefs of the Company based on information currently available. Any forward-looking information speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Non-GAAP Measures This news release may refer to certain non-GAAP measures. These measures are not recognized measures under IFRS, do not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS, and are therefore unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. Rather, these measures are provided as additional information to complement those IFRS measures by providing further understanding of our results of operations from management's perspective. Accordingly, these measures should not be considered in isolation nor as a substitute for analysis of our financial information reported under IFRS. The TSX Venture Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release SOURCE Odd Burger Corporation For further information please reach out to Odd Burger investor relations at: [email protected] TORONTO, Nov. 22, 2024 /CNW/ - SkyFlakes, the beloved cracker brand, is excited to introduce more Canadians to the flavor and versatility of its premium cracker line with an in-store sampling experience across select Ontario and British Columbia locations. Running from October 2024 through April 2025, the event will give shoppers a unique opportunity to sample SkyFlakes' crackers and elevate their snack time experience. Discover a Memorable Snacking Experience Customers sampling SkyFlakes Crackers at the in-store sampling event. Scan to follow SkyFlakes on Social Media (CNW Group/Monde Nissin) Customers sampling SkyFlakes crackers at the In-store sampling event. (CNW Group/Monde Nissin) This exclusive sampling experience invites shoppers to discover and savor SkyFlakes' light, crisp texture and flavorful varieties. Discover new flavours and possible pairing ideas to help transform your snacking moments from boring to exciting with SkyFlakes as your perfect canvas for that perfect bite you "Our in-store sampling campaign allows consumers to experience the distinctive flavors and quality that make SkyFlakes a global favorite," said Anthonia Udemeh, Marketing Manager for SkyFlakes in North America. "We're thrilled to create a memorable, hands-on experience that brings the essence of our brand directly to our Canadian consumers." Taste, Engage, and Enjoy Exclusive Offers Each participating store will feature exclusive, limited-time promotions, encouraging shoppers to take advantage of in-store discounts. These exclusive offers provide added incentive to explore new flavors and varieties. With a focus on building genuine connections, SkyFlakes aims to use this sampling event to gather consumer feedback that will drive future product innovations and brand experiences. Sampling Schedule and Locations Below is the scheduled list of stores where consumers can join the SkyFlakes sampling weekends: November 9th, 16th & 23rd, 2024 HENLONG PRICE SMART RICHMOND CHONG LEE RUPERT LUCKY SUPERMARKET SURREY FOODY WORLD SUNNY MARKHAM OR NORTH YORK OR AL PREMIUM MISSISSAUGA LONE TAI AL PREMIUM EGLINGTON October 19th & 26th 2024 JIAN HING NATION FRESHFOOD MISSISSAUGA March/April 2025 88 SUPERMARKET YOURS FOODMART FOODY MART MARKHAM ASIA FOODMART SCARBOROUGH FOODMART C&C NORTH YORK OCEANS FRESH MISSISSAUGA YUAN MING MISSISSAUGA BTRUST MISSISSAUGA Join Us and Taste the Difference SkyFlakes invites everyone to visit the nearest participating store for a taste of its famous crackers and discover how they can enhance any snacking occasion. Follow @SkyFlakesCanada on social media for updates, exclusive offers, and details on future events. About SkyFlakes Crackers SkyFlakes Crackers are a versatile and delicious snack designed to elevate every occasion. With a buttery, lightly salted flavor and perfectly balanced texture, they complement a wide range of toppings without overpowering the taste. Their distinct rectangular shape and sturdy base holds a generous amount of sweet or savory toppings without breaking. The unique easy-snap perforation makes for easy sharing and dipping into soups and favorite dips, while their non-crumbly nature lets you enjoy a mess-free snacking on the go. Whether for a quick snack or a creative culinary pairing, SkyFlakes Crackers are the perfect canvas for your perfect bite. About Monde M.Y San Corporation Monde M.Y San Corporation has been committed to bringing high-quality food experiences to tables worldwide. Their dedication to delivering great taste is reflected in every product they create. SOURCE Monde Nissin SkyFlakes North America Team, [email protected] Two men that own a recruiting start-up have been accused of defrauding a childhood friend that liquidated her retirement savings to invest in their business venture, authorities said Friday. The civil enforcement action filed by the state Bureau of Securities within the Attorney Generals Office alleges misdealings by Bowmos chairman and president Michael Lakshin of Fair Lawn and CEO and co-founder Edward Aizman of Brooklyn, New York. Authorities allege that Lakshin and Aizman used fraud and deception to convince one of Lakshins childhood friends to cash in her retirement account and invest in their start-up. But authorities said most of the money the woman invested went to personal expenses such as a stay at a Cape Cod bed and breakfast and purchases at luxury designer stores such as Brunelli Cucinelli. The defendants callously used a personal connection to lure an unsuspecting victim into a money grab scheme disguised as an investment opportunity, said Cari Fais, Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs. Our lawsuit seeks to hold them accountable for their unlawful conduct, claw back their ill-gotten gains, require them to make the victim whole, and prevent them from defrauding anyone else. Between April and August of 2020, Lakshin and Aizman offered and sold at least $84,681 of Bowmo securities to at least one New Jersey investor, authorities said. Lakshin and Aizman allegedly told the investor that her money would earn a significantly higher return if invested in Bowmo rather than her retirement savings account, according to authorities. Lakshin told the investor that Bowmo had made him rich through successfully recruiting and placing job candidates and could do the same for her, officials said. Lakshin leveraged the childhood connection to pressure the woman to invest her retirement savings account with Bowmo after he learned that she had over $90,000 in the account with another financial institution, authorities said. In a series of text messages, authorities said Lakshin pressured the woman to use the retirement savings to invest in Bowmo and earn a MUCH GREATER return and said that by the end of July 2020 the company would already be full with investors. Lakshin also falsely told the woman that she would not have to pay taxes and penalties if she withdrew the money from the retirement account while also promising to cover any fees she incurred from withdrawing the money, authorities said. After the woman told Lakshin on June 21, 2020 that she was hesitant to make the investment, authorities say he told her that he was going to look really bad in front of [his] partners. Five days later the woman liquidated her retirement account, forfeiting over $5,000 in fees and exposed her to tax liabilities because it was not rolled into another qualifying retirement plan, officials said. Lakshin and Aizman provided the woman with access to an investor package that explained how the money would be used to further develop Bowmos software, expand marketing opportunities, make strategic hires and cover general corporate expenses among other things, authorities said. On July, 2 2020, the woman met Aizman and Lakshin at a restaurant in Fort Lee and signed a Bowmo subscription agreement and later that month, wired $84,681 to a Bowmo bank account controlled by Lakshin and Aizman, officials said. Shortly after the money reached Bowmos account, which had just over $38,000 from a $40,000 COVID-19 disaster relief loan already in it, approximately $55,000 was transferred to an account controlled by Lionscross, a company solely owned by Lakshin and unrelated to Bowmo, according to the civil complaint. Funds were also transferred from Bowmo to Aizmans wife in August 2020, according to the complaint. Authorities said in the complaint that Lakshin started withdrawing cash, transferring money to family members, and making a $3,201 purchase at Brunello Cucinelli. Larger sums of money were transferred from the Bowmo investment account to Lionscross over the next month and used to make a $25,000 purchase at a Jaguar Land Rover Dealership and other expenses, according to the complaint. Authorities said in the complaint that about $5,000 of the investors money was also transferred to an Apple bank account associated with Aizmans wife and was spent on a stay at a bed and breakfast in Cape Cod as well as cosmetics purchases and restaurant bills. Multiple attempts to reach Lakshin and Aizman for comment were not immediately returned Friday. No attorneys for Lakshin, Aizman or Bowmo were listed with the Attorney Generals Office on Friday. A court appearance in the matter hasnt been scheduled yet, according to the Attorney Generals Office. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Matthew Enuco may be reached at Menuco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Matt on X. A 37-year-old inmate held in the Burlington County jail is accused of killing his cellmate during a violent attack earlier this month, according to authorities. Prosecutors charged Rondale Holloman with murder in the death of Kenneth Bulle, accusing the detainee of strangling the 74-year-old in the early morning hours of Nov. 14. Bulle entered the jail last month on attempted murder and weapons charges, the Burlington County Prosecutors Office said. Holloman has been an inmate since September after being arrested for second-degree aggravated assault. Corrections staff at the jail said Holloman attacked Bulle, later learning he had strangled the other inmate with his hands, police said. Authorities did not release further details about the alleged attack on Thursday. Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription. Eric Conklin may be reached at econklin@njadvancemedia.com. A Fairleigh Dickinson University student was in custody Friday after he allegedly threatened to harm a fellow student or students with a gun, which led to a shelter-in-place order lasting several hours at the campus in Madison. The man, whose name was not released, is charged with third-degree terroristic threats in the incident, authorities said. The incident began Wednesday night and led to a lockdown that lasted until Thursday morning while police searched for a possible gunman on campus. Police and university officials said they later learned the student made the threat from an off-campus location. Out of an abundance of caution for the safety of our community members, we immediately reported the incident to local police and issued a shelter in place for those on campus, Joseph Vitiello, the universitys director of public safety, said in a statement. After concluding that the individual was not on campus and not an immediate threat, police advised us to lift the order and issue an all-clear bulletin, which we did at 2:45 a.m. on Thursday, Vitello said. Police said their investigation determined the alleged threat was not a general threat to the campus as a whole, but toward a specific student or students. A warrant was issued for the mans arrest and he surrendered to police shortly before 9 a.m. Thursday. He remained Friday at the Morris County Jail awaiting a court hearing, police said. No attorney information for the student was immediately available. Angelo Carfagna, a university spokesman, said the students future at the school will be determined at a later date. We will follow our judicial process, and the student will be held accountable according to guidelines in our Code of Student Conduct, Carfagna said. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription. Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Chuck Scarborough, an institution in New York broadcasting, has been reporting the news for half a century. On Dec. 12, hell say goodnight to viewers for the last time as anchor on WNBC. Scarborough, 81, is retiring after more than 50 years at NBC. Id like to break some personal news, he announced on Thursday nights NBC 4 New York broadcast. The time has come to pass the torch 50 years, eight months and 17 days after I walked into the door here at the headquarters of the National Broadcasting Company, I will step away from this anchor desk. He offered viewers a simple, heartfelt thank you for allowing him in their living rooms and placing their trust in him. In a statement, NBC said Scarborough is the New York markets longest-serving local TV news anchor. Chuck Scarborough started at NBC in 1974.NBC The anchors goodbye will not be a definitive sign-off but retirement with an asterisk, Scarborough said in the statement. After he steps down as anchor next month, he will contribute to special projects and other programming. There is only one word: gratitude, he said. Our WNBC viewers welcomed me into their homes for more than 50 years, trusting me to present the news free of any agenda, faithful to the fundamental principles of accuracy, objectivity and fairness and to bring them vital, timely information during our darkest and brightest hours. That has been an extraordinary honor. In 1974, Scarborough started working at NBC, where he anchored the 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. news. He served as the 11 p.m. anchor at WNBC until 2016, after which he continued as co-anchor of the 6 p.m. news. Sue Simmons was his co-anchor for 32 years before she left in 2012. Scarborough and Simmons reunited this year for a retrospective on his career. The longtime anchor has won 36 local Emmys, among many other awards. Scarborough in 1985, anchoring a segment offering a viewers a look behind the scenes at WNBC.NBC He shared in national Emmy and Edward R. Murrow Award wins as part of NBC 4 New Yorks coverage of Hurricane Sandy, and an Alfred I. duPontColumbia University Award for coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2014, the anchor was honored with the Governors Award from the New York chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. While he is primarily associated with New York, Scarboroughs work with NBC has taken him to South America, Europe, the Middle East, the Philippines and Russia. In March, Scarborough made an appearance on NBCs Today to mark his 50 years on the air and reflected on what he was most proud of from the long tenure. The biggest test that we all faced, including all of you guys, was 9/11, he told the shows hosts. That was an enormous shock to the city, a shock to the country. The world tilted on its axis that day, it hasnt straightened itself out yet. The way we poured our resources into that, all of us did, and covered that story and all its ramifications, thats gotta be my proudest moment. Chuck Scarborough is the gold standard in American broadcast journalism, Eric Lerner, president and general manager of NBC 4 New York, said in a statement. His skills as an anchor, reporter and newsroom leader are unmatched, and he is a pretty special guy off-camera, too. Before Scarborough arrived at NBC, the Pittsburgh native worked as a reporter and anchor in Mississippi, Atlanta and Boston. Amy Morris, senior vice president of news at NBC 4 New York and Telemundo 47, called the anchor the rock of 30 Rock. NBC said Scarboroughs replacement would be announced at a later date. Thank you for reading. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription. Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com and followed at @AmyKup. Jonathon Majors ex-girlfriend Grace Jabbari has dropped a lawsuit against that actor that accused him of assault and defamation Thursday. In December of 2023, the Creed III and Marvel star was convicted of two misdemeanor counts for assaulting Jabbari in an SUV. He was sentenced to attend a 52-week domestic violence counseling program earlier this year. A joint notice was filed by attorneys from both parties Thursday, stating that all claims against Majors had been dismissed with prejudice. Jabbari filed the lawsuit accusing Majors of having a history of domestic violence in March. She also claimed Majors had continued to deny that he abused her, stating that there was a pattern of pervasive domestic abuse that began in 2021 and extended through 2023, which got worse when they moved to London two years ago. Majors, 35, faced major backlash from the incident. The actor lost his role as Kang the Conqueror in upcoming Marvel films after the studio cut ties with him following the conviction. He was set to reprise the role in Avengers: The Kang Dynasty in 2026. The actor, known best for his roles in Creed III, Lovecraft Country, and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, shared news of his engagement to actress Meagan Good earlier this month. More music news: Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com . Christopher Burch can be reached at cburch@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter: @SwishBurch. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips/. A Pennsylvania woman has filed a lawsuit following a deadly fire in West Orange last summer that claimed the lives of her two small children and their grandmother, alleging negligence by contractors. Jennifer Dougherty, acting as administrator of the estates of her sons, Aiden Thomas Drury, 8, and Anthony Joseph Drury, 3, filed the suit Oct. 24 in Superior Court in Essex County. The suit names the estate of the childrens grandmother, along with Wertheimer & Sons, Inc., and other unnamed entities. The lawsuit was filed about a week after the childrens aunt, Mary Kate Drury, filed a $10 million notice of tort claim against West Orange officials, alleging negligence and failure to conduct timely inspections. West Orange officials did not immediately respond Thursday and Friday to requests for comment on the lawsuit. The July 13 fire occurred at a property owned by Grace Colby Drury, 75, the childrens grandmother, on Liberty Street in West Orange. Police and firefighters arrived to find the house filled with heavy smoke from a small fire in the kitchen, authorities said at the time. According to the lawsuit, the home lacked functioning smoke detectors, which contributed to the severity of the incident. Both boys suffered extensive injuries and ultimately died as a result of the fire. The lawsuit alleges that Grace Drury, who died from flames and smoke inhalation, failed to maintain the property in a reasonably safe condition. The complaint claims her negligence in ensuring adequate fire prevention measures directly resulted in the fatalities. In addition to the claims against the estate, the suit targets Wertheimer & Sons, Inc., a Montville-based contractor. Doughertys lawsuit contends the company had performed renovation work at the property following a previous fire, but neglected to install or verify the presence of functional smoke alarms. The suit further accuses the contractor of failing to adhere to basic safety standards. Representatives of Wertheimer & Sons did not respond to a request for comment. The filing also raises allegations under the New Jersey Product Liability Act, citing unnamed manufacturers and distributors of an appliance that may have contributed to the fire. Dougherty is seeking monetary damages for wrongful death, funeral expenses, and the emotional pain caused by the loss of her children. In a separate lawsuit filed Nov. 12, a first cousin of Grace Drurys late husband also alleges Wertheimer & Sons, and its subcontractors, failed to install adequate fire safety equipment, including smoke detectors, and neglected other essential safety measures that made the home unsafe for occupancy, the lawsuit claims. A GoFundMe created to help the family had raised nearly $21,000 of a $25,000 goal as of early Friday. Jennifer Dougherty, mother of Anthony Joseph Drury, 3, and Aiden Thomas Drury, 8, is suing the estate of Grace Drury, Wertheimer & Sons, Inc., and other unnamed entities as defendants.ABC-7 Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription. Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Change Healthcarea subsidiary of the global health company UnitedHealth Group has restored its medical billing services nine months after suffering an unprecedented ransomware attack that left providers with serious cashflow problems, threatened access to care, and leaked sensitive information onto the dark web. Change Healthcare, one of the largest health payment processing companies in the world, was affected by a ransomware attack on Feb. 21. The company acts as a clearinghouse for 15 billion medical claims each year, accounting for nearly 40% of all claims, according to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. The ransomware affected pharmacies across the nation, including household names like CVS Health and Walgreens, causing a significant backlog of unprocessed prescriptions, according to an alert from the New Jersey Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Cell. In addition, hospitals unable to process claims lost millions of dollars. A survey by the American Hospital Association found 94% of hospitals experienced a financial impact from the attack, with more than half calling the impact significant or serious. More than 80% of hospitals reported the cyberattack affected their cash flow, and of those, nearly 60% said more than $1 million in revenue was affected each day, it said. A Temporary Funding Assistance Program was launched to help struggling providers. The company said that as of October 15, recipients of program funding have repaid $3.2 billion. The cyberattack also compromised the personal health data of at least 100 million people nearly one-third of Americans making it the largest healthcare data breach in history, according to a breach report filed with the Office for Civil Rights, under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Office of Civil Rights issued a letter in March to healthcare providers warning that the incident was disrupting health care and billing information systems nationwide. The incident poses a direct threat to critically needed patient care and essential operations of the health care industry, the office said. An investigation into the cyberattack, as well as whether Change Healthcare and UnitedHealth violated any patient privacy laws, is ongoing. We continue to notify potentially impacted individuals as quickly as possible, on a rolling basis, given the volume and complexity of the data involved and the investigation is still in its final stages, United Health said in a statement. Any New Jersey residents who think they may have been impacted are eligible for free credit monitoring and identity theft protections for two years. Consumers can enroll in the service at www.changecybersupport.com or by calling 1-888-846-4705. Ransomware and hacking are major threats in the healthcare industry. Since 2023, health plans and business associates have accounted for approximately 49% of the 100 largest data breaches, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Change Healthcare attack offers a case study of the acute impact on patients, physicians, hospitals, pharmacies, labs and countless additional health care professionals, Dr. James L. Madara, American Medical Association Executive Vice President and CEO, wrote in a letter to the U.S. Department for Homeland Securitys Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. As a nation, we need to do better to protect our infrastructure, technologies, and systems from threat actors that seek to exploit our sensitive health care data, abuse the vulnerabilities of under-resourced populations, and promote widespread disruptions across the health care industry, Madara wrote. Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust. Jackie Roman may be reached at jroman@njadvancemedia.com. The Hoboken Police Department is cracking down on those speedy electric bikes that are whizzing around the city unregistered, Police Chief Steven Aguiar announced Friday, the citys latest initiative to curtail e-bike violations. The new initiative is aimed at creating safer streets and sidewalks as well as regulate high-speed e-bikes and make their riders accountable. NCT 127 is heading out on their fourth world tour, and they knew not to forget New Jersey. The South Korean boy band will perform at the Prudential Center in Newark on March 2, 2025. This show is one of six North American concerts, and the only N.J. stop on their tour schedule so youre gonna want to snatch up tickets ASAP. How to get NCT 127 tour 2025 tickets NCT 127 tour tickets went on sale to the public on Nov. 22 at 4 p.m. through Ticketmaster. With only six shows on the schedule for NCT 127, tickets are bound to fly of the virtual shelves of the ticketing websites. However, you can snatch up tickets on StubHub and Vivid Seats, with some of the cheapest tickets starting at $58. If you are a first time customer on Vivid Seats, then you can even get $20 off your first ticket order. NCT 127 fans can also snag tickets on SeatGeek, TicketNetwork and Viagogo, for as little as $57. Currently, the cheapest ticket on the market for their Prudential Center show in Newark on March 2, 2025, before any fees, is $57 on Viagogo. A complete list of NCT 127s world tour dates is available here. NCT 127 Tour 2025: Dates, schedule & more NCT 127 will head out on their NEO CITY THE MOMENTUM world tour on Feb. 28, 2025 in Duluth, Ga. and will wrap up on March 12, 2025 in Los Angeles. This will be the first time NCT 127 has toured North America since their last tour in January 2023. The K-pop group promises to give fans high-quality performances with powerful live shows, breathtaking choreography, and elaborate staging, making this a cannot-miss concert for diehard fans. Upcoming 2024-2025 tours heading to Prudential Center NCT 127 are not the only artists heading out on a massive tour. A few more artists you dont want to miss seeing this year include Tyler, The Creator, Mary J. Blige, Blake Shelton and Aespa. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Nicole Iuzzolino can be reached at niuzzolino@njadvancemedia.com. Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips. A New Jersey man admitted he used stolen mailbox keys to swipe more than $1.5 million in checks and money orders from collection boxes in two Connecticut cities in a six-month span. Ixavier Holman Jr. pleaded guilty to theft of mail on Wednesday, the U.S. Attorneys Office for Connecticut said. Holman Jr., of Secaucus, was arrested June 12, 2023 at a post office on New Haven after being found with two keys. He used the keys to remove mail from blue collection boxes at the New Haven post office and two locations in neighboring West Haven between December 2022 and June 2023, federal prosecutors said. Authorities later searched Holmans home and found more than 3,000 pieces of mail, United States Postal Service mail collection bins as well as a credit card reader and embosser. The mail was sorted and organized by bank, officials said. Investigators combed through surveillance footage from the area of the thefts, fingerprints left behind and license plate readers from three vehicles to nab Holman, according to charging documents. Most of the thefts took place in the 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. hours, court papers state. Prosecutors didnt say how Holman Jr, obtained the keys. Holman is free on bond ahead of his sentencing scheduled for March 12 in Hartford. He faces up to five years in federal prison. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Ellen DeGeneres and her wife Portia de Rossi have left the country due to the results of the 2024 election, according to multiple reports. DeGeneres and her wife have made the move to the Cotswolds in England, a person close to the former TV host told The Wrap. The person said that the couple plans to never return to the U.S. and said that the main reason for leaving was President-elect Donald Trumps victory. Fox News Digital reported that DeGeneres and de Rossi previously listed their home in Montecito, California, with Riskin Partners and confirmed that the home was sold in August. PEOPLE magazine also confirmed her move to England, citing a source. Ellen was in England house hunting in the beginning of October. She ended up finding a house that she loved and purchased it shortly after, the source told PEOPLE. The move comes as DeGeneres has faced controversies in recent years, including allegations of creating a toxic workplace while hosting The Ellen DeGeneres show that ended in May 2022. In her recent Netflix special, DeGeneres joked about being kicked out of show business for being mean. DeGeneres is not the only American looking to leave the country after Trumps victory. Plenty of celebrities have also said they would leave the U.S. if Trump was elected, including Sharon Stone, Cher and Barbra Streisand, according to Fox News Digital. CNBC reported earlier this month that tens of thousands of Americans are looking to move abroad due to the outcome of the 2024 election. A village in Italy is capitalizing on this by selling homes for $1 to Americans who want to leave the U.S., according to Forbes. Former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) says he will continue the fight for President-elect Donald Trump even after he withdrew from consideration to be the next attorney general. Gaetz withdrew from the nomination on Thursday, saying that he no longer wanted to distract from Trumps incoming administration due to his numerous controversies. He had resigned from Congress reportedly just days before the potential release of a House Ethics Committee report that investigated allegations of sexual misconduct and illicit drug use against him. He confirmed to conservative activist Charlie Kirk on Friday that he also would not be returning to Congress in 2025 despite easily winning his reelection bid earlier this month. Im still going to be in the fight, but itll be from a new perch. I do not intend to join the 119th Congress, he said. He noted that there are a number of fantastic Floridians who are qualified to take over his seat. BREAKING: Matt Gaetz says he won't rejoin Congress next year: Im still going to be in the fight, but itll be from a new perch. I do not intend to join the 119th Congress Good riddance! pic.twitter.com/BgKBqaiYNf Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) November 22, 2024 He went on to tease that he will continue to do whatever Trumps wants him to do. Im 42 now, and Ive got other goals in life that Im eager to pursue my wife and my family and so Im going to be fighting for President Trump," he said. Im going to be doing whatever he asks of me, as I always have. But I think that eight years is probably enough time in the United States Congress. We need a leadership structure under President Trump thats going to allow for durability of our movement and the ability to continue this great realignment of our politics, and so Ill play a part in that, he added moments later. I plan to be a big voice, but maybe not as an elected member of the government. His comments come as MAGA supporters have floated the idea of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) appointing him to replace Sen. Marco Rubiowho Trump tapped to be his Secretary of State. Its not clear yet what Gaetz will do now, but others have also suggested he could run for governor of Florida once DeSantiss term is up. Hours after Gaetz withdrew from consideration, Trump announced Pam Bondi, the former attorney general of Florida, would be his choice for Attorney General. Gaetz stepped aside amid continued fallout over a federal sex trafficking investigation that cast doubt on his ability to be confirmed as the nations chief federal law enforcement officer. Gaetzs vehemently denied the allegations, but his nomination stunned many career lawyers inside the Justice Department. Gaetz, who passed the bar but barely worked as a lawyer, had very little relevant experience for the job. Bondi comes with years of legal work under her belt and that other trait Trump prizes above all: loyalty. The hasty withdrawal by Gaetz and quick pivot to Bondi were the latest examples of Trumps tumultuous decision-making as he rushes out nominations some of questionable character and credentials at a breakneck pace without the government vetting that is typical of presidential transitions. Its an omen that despite running his most organized campaign for the White House this year, his return to the Oval Office might feature the same sort of drama that permeated his first term. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Mike Rogers is out. The Republican lawmaker who was vying for the top post at the FBI wont be appointed by President-elect Donald Trump amid backlash from MAGA loyalists who argued Rogers was a Republican in Name Only. Just spoke to President Trump regarding Mike Rogers going to the FBI. Its not happening In his own words, I have never even given it a thought. Not happening, Trump senior advisor Dan Scavino Jr. posted to X. Mike Rogers was indeed seen at Mar-a-Lago in recent days, but amid pushback from the MAGA-wing, Scavino says he wont become FBI director, CNNs Kaitlan Collins reported. Mike Rogers was indeed seen at Mar-a-Lago in recent days, but amid pushback from the MAGA-wing, Scavino says he wont become FBI director. https://t.co/lwuvoXxASF Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) November 22, 2024 More from Collins: Mike Rogers this am on Fox: People have lost faith in the FBI. And they dont even know it. Somebody like me? I can restore that faith. We reported last night that Trump is considering putting Rogers + Kash Patel at the FBI together, in attempt to please both Senate Rs and MAGA loyalists. Mike Rogers this am on Fox: People have lost faith in the FBI. And they don't even know it. Somebody like me? I can restore that faith. We reported last night that Trump is considering putting Rogers + Kash Patel at the FBI together, in attempt to please both Senate Rs and https://t.co/hXITwK7on3 Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) November 22, 2024 Trump is widely expected to sack FBI Director Christopher Wray before his tenure ends. Trump appointed Wray to the position during his first term. Some allies of Trump, including conservative strategist Steve Bannon, have been pushing Trump loyalist Patel for the position. Hes a trusted aide in Trumps orbit. There is little daylight between Patel and Trump: Patel has made it clear that he is in lockstep with the former president on most national security issues, including purging government officials deemed disloyal. Many who worked with Patel before he joined the Trump administration said he was an ambitious if not exceptional lawyer whose quick rise and far-right tilt have left them stunned. Tom Rooney, a former Republican congressman, worked with Patel on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. He described Patel as a smart and focused staffer, but said he hardly recognizes the man loudly defending the Jan. 6 rioters on far-right podcasts and radio shows. Its not the same person that I knew, Rooney said. But Kash is still relevant and Im not, so whos the smart one? After graduating from law school at Pace University, Patel failed to get a job at the prestigious law firms hed hoped to join. Instead, he became a public defender, and spent nearly nine years in local and federal courts in Miami before joining the Justice Department. After working there for about three years, Patel was hired as a staffer for the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence led by Rep. Devin Nunes, a fierce Trump ally. Nunes gave Patel a job running the committees investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 campaign. Patel ultimately helped author what became known as the Nunes Memo, a four-page report that detailed how it said the Justice Department had erred in obtaining a warrant to surveil a former Trump campaign volunteer. The memos release faced vehement opposition from the Justice Department. A subsequent inspector general report identified significant problems with FBI surveillance during the Russia investigation, but also found no evidence that the FBI had acted with partisan motives in conducting the probe. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @MatthewArco. Speculation is swirling over which of President-elect Donald Trumps cabinet picks will quit next after Matt Gaetz withdrew from attorney general consideration on Thursday. With Gaetz out of the picture, attention has turned to another nominee who is also facing sexual misconduct allegations. Trumps pick for Defense Secretary, former Fox News host Pete Hegseth, was accused of sexual assault in 2017 in California but no charges were ever filed. Hegseth has denied any wrongdoing. Former Trump aide Alyssa Farah Griffin told CNNs Jake Tapper that GOP senators will now focus their scrutiny on Hegseth, who she said has an uphill battle to confirmation. But Pete Hegseth, I think now that Matt Gaetz is out of the running, all of the Senates eyes are focused on this gentleman, she said on The Lead. Ive only met him a handful of times. Ive been with him when he interviewed Donald Trump. Trump has genuine affection for him. This is his handpicked choice. But the sexual allegations aside, hes deeply unqualified for this role. Gaetz announced he would no longer be considered for the attorney general role this week after numerous GOP senators raised concerns about allegations of sexual misconduct brought against him. After Trump revealed Gaetz as his pick for attorney general, the Florida Republican quit reportedly just days before the House Ethics Committee was set to release a report on allegations of sexual misconduct and illicit drug use brought against him. Gaetz has denied any wrongdoing. Hegseth, a veteran, has also faced criticism for his lack of experience managing large numbers of employees and for the sexual assault allegations . Farah Griffin said that the questions around his qualifications to be secretary of defense are really going to be front and center with Gaetz kind of out of the limelight now. Meanwhile, some GOP senators are already raising questions about Hegseth, with some pointing out that the military has a history of mishandling sexual assault cases. Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) said that the accusations facing Hegseth are concerning. A pretty big problem, given that we have, we have, we have a sexual assault problem in our military that a number of us and certainly the champions being Kirsten Gillibrand and Joni Ernst, but Ive been on board with them and in supporting the legislation to deal with it since the since the chain of command was not, Cramer told CNNs Manu Raju. Im not going to prejudge him, but, yeah, its pretty concerning accusation, he added. "I'm not going to prejudge him, but it's a pretty concerning accusation," Sen. Kevin Cramer, Republican of North Dakota, says of sexual assault allegation facing Pete Hegseth (who denies it) pic.twitter.com/pLkhbcyXG7 Manu Raju (@mkraju) November 21, 2024 Now numerous critics and pundits are speculating whether GOP senators could also sink Hegseths nomination, or other nominees who have been viewed as controversial, like former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard or Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Even though some GOP senators have expressed concerns about Trumps cabinet picks, it is unlikely that they will defy the president-elect. Some Republican senators appeared to signal support for Hegseth after meeting with him on Thursday. As the Hegseth nomination proceeds, Republicans also appear to be betting that they wont face much backlash for publicly setting aside the allegations of sexual misconduct especially after Trump won election after being found liable for sexual abuse last year. Hegseth held a round of private meetings alongside incoming Vice President JD Vance on Thursday in an attempt to shore up support and told reporters afterward: The matter was fully investigated and I was completely cleared, and thats where Im gonna leave it. The Associated Press contributed to this report. A member of a large group of dirt bikers who assaulted a police officer on New Jerseys busy Route 22 has been sentenced to jail. Victor Ogando-Marte, 39, of Plainfield, received a 364-day sentence on Friday, the Somerset County Prosecutors Office said in a news release. He was previously convicted of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest and multiple disorderly persons offenses and motor vehicle violations. Ogando-Marte was driving an illegal dirt bike on Route 22 in North Plainfield on April 13, 2022 along with 15 to 20 other riders during rush hour. The pack was weaving in an out of traffic, popping wheelies and blocking other cars during the process, authorities said. Near the intersection of Rock Avenue, North Plainfield Police Officer James Kirchner attempted to apprehend Ogando-Marte and during the process, the officer was dragged from the shoulder into the middle of the highway by the dirt bike, investigators said. Once on the ground, Ogando-Marte resisted arrest while other dirt bikers circled and attacked Kirchner until a group of good Samaritans, 911 callers, off-duty police officers, and responding backup were able to subdue him, officials said. The remaining riders fled the scene and no other related arrests were made. After his conviction in September of this year, prosecutors said he could face up to a five-year sentence. It is unclear why he was ultimately sentenced to just less than a year. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Nicolas Fernandes may be reached at nfernandes@njadvancemedia.com. A Middlesex County man was sentenced to seven years in prison for sexually assaulting a 12-year-old he met on social media, Somerset County officials Friday. Lenic S. Galvan, 22, of Piscataway, who lived in Bound Brook at the time of the incident, was convicted in May of second-degree sexual assault of a victim under 13 and third-degree endangering the welfare of a child. He was sentenced on Monday by Judge Jonathan W. Romankow in Somerset County Superior Court. The Somerset County Prosecutors Office started an investigation on July 25, 2021, after receiving information that a 12-year-old had been sexually assaulted by someone in Bound Brook she met on social media, authorities said. During an interview with authorities, the victim told investigators the man arranged transportation for her to travel to his home and sexually assaulted her, authorities said. Galvan was identified through an investigation and DNA analysis, investigators said. He was arrested one year later on July 26, 2022. Galvan must serve 85 percent of his sentence before he is eligible for parole. He also must register as a sex offender under Megans Law. An attorney for Galvan did not immediately return a request for comment Friday. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Matthew Enuco may be reached at Menuco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Matt on X More positive takeaways continue to flow on the Yankees in-person meeting with Juan Soto and his agent Scott Boras. Speaking at the Owners Meetings on Wednesday, Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner said Mondays sit-down with the superstar free agent in California went well. He described it as a very honest, back-and-forth dialogue that lasted a couple of hours, insisting that retaining Soto will be and has been a top priority. One day prior, Bob Klapisch of NJ Advance Media reported that the Yankees came away feeling encouraged about the meeting. Now, Jon Heyman of the New York Post is reporting that Steinbrenner made a great pitch to Soto in that face-to-face meeting. Whether they re-sign Soto or not and the Soto Sweepstakes are wide open between a possible final five teams (and maybe a sixth) the Yankees accomplished what they needed to at their high-powered get-together Monday. SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE YANKEES NEWSLETTER: RESTORING THE GLORY One important wrinkle here is that Soto felt better specifically about Steinbrenner after this weeks meeting, per Heyman. Heymans source, described as a friend of Sotos, said the superstar was hoping to establish a strong rapport with Steinbrenner this year. Hes formed close relationships with the other owners hes played for previously (Ted Lerner with the Nationals and Peter Seidler with the Padres). Steinbrenner mentioned on Wednesday that he and Soto didnt interact very much during this past season. The Yankees owner explained that he was simply giving Soto his space throughout the year, not wanting to intrude as the outfielder had a strict routine and would get into a zone at the ballpark. A message that next year and beyond would be completely different was conveyed during this weeks meeting, per Steinbrenner. I made it clear, Steinbrenner said, that the kind of relationship I would like is the kind of relationship I have with Gerrit [Cole] and Aaron Judge. It sounds like that message was received by Soto and his team. The reality here is that the Yankees can only do so much to convince Soto to return to the Bronx, though. He has a slew of high-spending suitors, other teams that can also make convincing arguments (and possibly offer more than what the Yankees are comfortable with). Steve Cohens Mets are a favorite in these sweepstakes while the Dodgers, Red Sox, Blue Jays and Phillies are all reportedly in the mix as well. Thats why Steinbrenner ultimately had a realistic assessment of the situation when asked how confident he is about the Soto sweepstakes. No idea, he said. Well be in the mix. Ill leave it at that. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription. Max Goodman may be reached at mgoodman@njadvancemedia.com. Six-day (Tuesday through Sunday) print subscribers of the Watertown Daily Times are eligible for full access to NNY360, the NNY360 mobile app, and the Watertown Daily Times e-edition, all at no additional cost. If you have an existing six-day print subscription to the Watertown Daily Times, please make sure your email address on file matches your NNY360 account email. You can sign up or manage your print subscription using the options below. The New Orleans City Council on Thursday voted to ban foil balloon releases in an effort to curb electrical outages that have been linked to rogue balloons hitting power lines. The ordinance, spearheaded by District A Council Member Joe Giarrusso, was supported by the full council. Council members called it a common-sense measure that is meant to increase public awareness over the potential dangers of Mylar (a brand name) and other foil balloons, which are highly flammable and conduct electrical currents that can cause outages and other damage when they hit utility wires. The passage of the balloon ordinance came on the same day the council also approved the citys budget for next year and honored local hip-hop artist, producer, activist and culture bearer Nesby Phips. Phips, the grand-nephew of Mahalia Jackson, grew up in the 3rd Ward, and went to high school with Lil Wayne, Curren$y and Mack Maine, all of whom he has worked with during his storied career. The new balloon law isnt meant to be punitive, though rule-breakers could face fines up to $1,000. This is not an ordinance that would grab a child off the street of New Orleans who happens to let go of their balloon, Giarrusso said at Thursday's council meeting. This is really a stop-gap for us to make sure that were doing our level best to keep electricity running. City lawmakers began considering the ban in earnest back in August, after Entergy New Orleans blamed a Mylar balloon for causing a power outage at the Carrollton water plant, prompting a days-long, citywide boil water advisory. And last month, Entergy identified a balloon as the culprit behind another outage that impacted 2,000 residents. Its also not the first time the council has tried to crack down on foil products being released into the air. In 2023, the council banned Mylar confetti cannons after they caused an outage during a Carnival parade. The new ordinance requires the city to post signage informing residents of the balloon ban at parks, recreational facilities and cemeteries. New Orleans joins a growing number of cities and states to ban foil balloon releases. Other places like Las Vegas and California have also cracked down on the release of foil balloons. Hawaii and Florida have banned the mass release of all helium-filled balloons. Meanwhile, Seattle has taken it a step further by banning all types of balloon releases because even the non-foil balloons negatively impact the environment. Matt Gaetz, the former Florida congressman who Donald Trump tapped last week as his choice for attorney general, announced today that he would withdraw from consideration. Gaetz has faced a torrent of scrutiny over allegations of sex trafficking and drug use, which he has denied. After meetings on Capitol Hill yesterday, Gaetz told people close to him that at least four Republican senators opposed his nomination enough to block his confirmation. Susan Collins of Maine, one of those senators, said that it was the best decision that Mr. Gaetz could have made. The collapse of Gaetzs bid underscored Trumps haphazard approach to his cabinet selection process. He picked Gaetz almost on a whim without extensive vetting. The storm surrounding Gaetz, personally disliked by lawmakers in both parties, has drawn some attention away from Trumps other contested picks. Pete Hegseth, his choice for defense secretary, has also been accused of sexual assault. The office of the city attorney of Monterey, Calif., released a redacted police file yesterday containing the accusation of a woman who said that Hegseth raped her in 2017. A major plan seeking to address New York Citys housing crisis won approval from a City Council committee in a key vote on Thursday, bolstered by an unexpected pledge of $5 billion in city and state funds for affordable housing and infrastructure projects. The plan, known as City of Yes, is designed to ease restrictions that have made large-scale housing growth difficult, and represents the most significant overhaul of New Yorks zoning regulations in decades. City officials estimate the changes could make way for 80,000 additional homes. The plan was passed by the Councils Land Use Committee in an 8-to-2 vote. The hearing was delayed for hours as opponents including some council members who represent neighborhoods with more single-family homes successfully fought to slightly water down some of the original proposal. The plan that the committee approved still left most of the initiatives key elements intact, but softened requirements over parking mandates and tightened the ways homeowners will be allowed to add apartments on their properties. Police officers in Trenton, N.J., systematically violate the constitutional rights of the citys residents, conduct illegal searches and needlessly escalate peaceful interactions into violence, the U.S. Department of Justice found in a report published Thursday. Even as former prosecutors and experts in civil rights law question whether President-elect Donald J. Trump will suspend federal efforts to reform police departments around the country, a yearlong investigation by the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division and Philip R. Sellinger, the U.S. attorney for New Jersey, documented several cases in which the police in Trenton had caused the deaths of innocent people. In one event described in the 45-page report, police officers encountered an unarmed man as he ran shirtless around a hospital parking lot. The officers pepper-sprayed him, tackled and handcuffed him and then took turns pressing their knees into his back as they pushed his face into a patch of mulch. The man cried, I cant breathe, and, Im going to die. After more than four minutes, he grew still, the report said. Doctors later pronounced him dead. The man was not identified, but the details match the case of Stephen Dolceamore, 29, of Springfield, Pa., which was reported by NJ Advance Media. He died on April 3, 2020, seven weeks before George Floyd was murdered by police officers in Minneapolis. Awards to victims or their families can vary greatly, depending on factors such as the projected earnings over a victims lifetime, the sympathies of juries in a given jurisdiction and the amount of publicity generated by the case. Some families win money in civil rights claims even when the officers involved are not criminally charged or disciplined. But in order to have a successful case, plaintiffs must surmount at least two significant legal obstacles. First, officers are granted qualified immunity from lawsuits if victims cannot show that the officers have violated their clearly established rights. Second, municipalities can be held responsible only if the plaintiffs rights were violated because of a negligent policy or practice for example, if the police department had ignored previous bad behavior on the part of an officer or had failed to properly train its officers. The actions in question need not have happened while the officer was on duty, said Joseph Marrone, a civil rights lawyer based in Philadelphia. The plaintiff can show that the officer had warning signs that should have led to removal from active duty or kept the officer from being hired at all. The Jean family argued that Ms. Guyger was effectively on duty when she shot Mr. Jean: She was in uniform, armed with her service weapon, issuing commands and responding to what she believed was a crime. But a judge dismissed the city from the case, leaving Ms. Guyger as the only defendant. Who pays the victim or the victims family? Large judgments and settlements in police misconduct cases are almost always paid by the city or county or its insurer. The money rarely comes out of the law enforcement budget, according to research by Joanna Schwartz, a law professor at the University of California Los Angeles. A Las Vegas family is calling for the arrest of a police officer who fatally shot a Black man inside his house after the man had called 911 seeking help during a home invasion. The shooting earlier this month has attracted widespread attention since body camera footage of the shooting was released late last week. The man, Brandon Durham, 43, of Las Vegas, called the police around 12:30 a.m. on Nov. 12, and said on the call that he believed at least two people were trying to break into his house, Assistant Sheriff Dori Koren of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said at a news conference last week. Mr. Durham told the police during the call that he was going to lock himself in a bathroom with his 15-year-old daughter. When officers entered Mr. Durhams house, they found him and a woman, Alejandra Boudreaux, 31, struggling over a knife, the authorities said. Body camera footage shows that an officer ordered them to put the knife down, and then almost immediately fired his gun, fatally shooting Mr. Durham. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology announced on Wednesday that it would eliminate tuition costs next fall for all undergraduate students whose families earn less than $200,000 per year following a national movement to try to make higher education more accessible. For students whose families earn less than $100,000 per year, the university will also cover all other costs, including housing, dining, fees and an allowance for books and personal expenses. M.I.T., the private research university based in Cambridge, Mass., is ranked among the best higher education institutions in the world. Tuition for the 2024-2025 school year was roughly $62,000, according to MITs website. The full cost, including housing and other fees, is just under $86,000 per year. In a statement, Sally Kornbluth, president of M.I.T., said that the cost of college is a real concern for families across the board. U.S. officials said that since the hack was exposed, the Chinese intruders had seemingly disappeared, suspending their intrusion so their full activity could not be discovered. But Mr. Warner said it would be wrong to conclude that the Chinese had been ousted from the nations telecommunications system, or that investigators even understood how deeply they were embedded. Weve not found everywhere they are, Mr. Warner said. The committee has received briefings from the government on the hack, and Mr. Warner has had conversations with telecommunications executives. China has been the source of hacking concerns for two decades. At first the biggest worry was the theft of intellectual property, such as chip designs and plans for military equipment. Those included the F-35, Americas most advanced fighter jet, whose blueprints China stole from American military contractors. Then, during the Bush and Obama administrations, Chinas focus turned to understanding American government officials, including the theft of the security clearance files of more than 22 million Americans. Russia carved a different path. Late in Mr. Trumps first term, it placed code into products turned out by a company called SolarWinds, which provided software to the federal government and Americas largest companies. Hackers backed by Moscow also got into the network of a major gas and fuel distributor, Colonial Pipeline, disrupting the supply of gasoline in the first year of the Biden administration. But the Chinese activity in the past year has taken these intrusions to a new level, Mr. Warner said on Thursday. This is far and away the most serious telecom hack in our history, he said. This makes Colonial Pipeline and SolarWinds look like small potatoes. The Republican attorney general of Georgia, Chris Carr, announced his candidacy for governor in the state on Thursday, marking the start of another frenzied midterm-election cycle directly on the heels of the presidential contest. Mr. Carr, 52, is the first candidate of either major party to declare his candidacy for statewide office in Georgia in 2026. In his campaign announcement, he said he would govern in the mold of Georgias past conservative governors, including Nathan Deal and Sonny Perdue, as well as Gov. Brian Kemp, who will be subject to term limits once he completes his second term in 2026. Im running to create jobs for hardworking Georgians, keep our families and our neighborhoods safe, and vigorously defend our constitution and our freedoms, Mr. Carr said in a post on X. Together, we will fight to keep Georgia red. Mr. Carr was appointed Georgias attorney general in 2016 by Mr. Deal and twice won re-election. One question for Mr. Carr will be how or even if he will vie for support from President-elect Donald J. Trump. In his 2022 Republican primary race, Mr. Carr defeated a Trump-backed challenger, though he supported the former presidents campaign this year. His allusion to governors like Mr. Kemp, a staunch conservative who has appealed to both Trump loyalists and moderate Republicans, suggests his campaign will aim to build a similar coalition. After former Representative Matt Gaetz abruptly withdrew from consideration to become attorney general on Thursday amid intense scrutiny of allegations of sex trafficking and drug use, some Republicans in the Senate welcomed his withdrawal. Senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma, a Republican who has sparred with Mr. Gaetz, said the withdrawal was probably a good decision. Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the departing Republican minority leader, described Mr. Gaetzs decision as appropriate, his spokesman Doug Andres said. And Senator Susan Collins, a moderate Republican from Maine, issued a statement saying that Mr. Gaetz had put country first. Mr. Gaetz has denied the sex-trafficking and drug allegations, and no charges have been filed, but he appeared to have faced long odds of securing the votes needed for confirmation in the Republican-controlled Senate. President-elect Donald J. Trumps pick to be attorney general, Pam Bondi, is a lobbyist for a powerhouse Republican firm, for which she represented major corporations and foreign governments with interests before the U.S. government. Ms. Bondi joined the lobbying firm of the Republican fund-raiser Brian Ballard after finishing her second term as Florida attorney general in January 2019. Among the clients for which she was registered to lobby were major companies, including Amazon, General Motors and Uber, as well as the Qatari government and various financial firms. Those registrations are no longer active, but Ms. Bondi is currently registered as a lobbyist for law enforcement-related clients, including an association representing some of the countrys largest sheriffs offices and another group representing sheriffs in Florida, as well as the Florida sheriffs self-insurance program. Utility crews across the Seattle area scrambled to clear fallen trees and restore power to nearly 200,000 homes, schools and businesses that remained without electricity early Friday, as another round of heavy wind and rain pelted the region. Officials said the outages in Seattle could last into the weekend. The storm this week also deluged Northern California, where creeks overflowed from torrential rain and firefighters made water rescues. Forecasters warned of more possible chaos on Friday. The city of Issaquah, about 20 miles east of Seattle, was among the hardest hit. The storm left roads covered in fallen limbs and downed power lines. Scores of people sought warmth and electricity at the Issaquah Senior Center, said Tina Riehl, who works at the front desk. The place is filled, she said. No power is a big thing. Fed by an atmospheric river funneling water from the Pacific Ocean, the storm killed at least two people as it tore through Western Washington this week. It moved south and parked over Northern California, flooding roadways and disrupting transit and air travel. Nearly seven inches of rain fell Wednesday at the airport in Santa Rosa, in Californias wine country north of San Francisco, breaking a one-day record. The Biden administration this week imposed sanctions on more groups and individuals it accuses of having ties to Israeli settlers inciting violence in the occupied West Bank, a last-ditch show of disapproval of Israelis annexation of land there before U.S. policy on the issue most likely swings the other way under the next administration. When President-elect Donald J. Trump returns to the White House next year, he could easily revoke the February executive order authorizing the sanctions or, even, some pro-settlement activists hope, use the order to go after Palestinian organizations instead. Texans for Israel, a Christian Zionist group, and several other settler supporters and organizations this month renewed a challenge to President Bidens order in federal court, arguing that it was being applied unconstitutionally, targeting Jewish settlers and violating the rights of Americans exercising freedom of religion and speech in support of them. The case highlights the growing international controversy over West Bank settlement amid the war in the Gaza Strip and the great expectations of the settler movement and its supporters of another Trump presidency. The central question of the hearing was whether he could be trusted to follow his lawyers commands and follow the specifications of his release if granted bail. Prosecutors have accused Mr. Combs of contacting grand jury witnesses, paying a potential witness to make a statement in his favor and attempting to use three-way phone calls from jail to contact associates whom prosecutors consider part of his criminal enterprise. The judge queried both sides closely, noting some evidence that Mr. Combs had not fully obeyed his lawyers, while also indicating some skepticism of the governments argument that he was trying to obstruct the case from jail. (That included an allegation that Mr. Combs had orchestrated a social media post on his birthday that prosecutors said was intended to influence potential jurors.) But the judge acknowledged there was some evidence that Mr. Combs did not always follow jail policies around communicating with the outside world, even when he knew his behavior was being closely monitored. Even a minor infraction is puzzling, the judge said. After his arrest in September, Mr. Combss lawyers proposed a robust bail package that they said was more than sufficient to assuage the courts concerns about the risks of his release. They offered a $50 million bond, secured by Mr. Combss Florida mansion, and said he would pay for round-the-clock security at his home, with visitors restricted to family and lawyers. After one of the defendantss lawyers acknowledged that the Miami-area mansion had access to a dock, the judge swiftly ruled out that location as a place for Mr. Combs to be housed if he was granted bail. Thats not going to work, he said. Welcome to Best of Late Night, a rundown of the previous nights highlights that lets you sleep and lets us get paid to watch comedy. Here are the 50 best movies on Netflix right now. A Distraction From the Distractions Matt Gaetz, who was President-elect Donald J. Trumps choice for attorney general despite allegations that hed used drugs and had sex with a 17-year-old, withdrew his name from consideration on Thursday. Jimmy Kimmel said the ex-congressman from Florida had crawled back under the rock of cocaine he scurried out from under. In southwestern Oregon, semi trucks loaded with logs snake along roads through dark, lush forests of Douglas fir. The logging industry has shaped and sustained families here for generations. A steady demand for lumber and a lack of other well-paying jobs in rural parts of the state have made logging one of the most promising career paths. It also comes with grave risk. A glossary of logging terms includes an entry for the term for heavy broken branches that can fall without warning: widowmakers. No American business leader has more visibly and lavishly supported President-elect Donald J. Trump than Elon Musk and few if any have a more complex relationship with China, a country that Mr. Trump has vowed to confront with higher tariffs and other measures. Mr. Musk has a lot on the line. His best-known company, the electric vehicle maker Tesla, makes half its cars in China. Tesla sells more cars in China than anywhere except the United States, and his local competition is getting stronger. Chinese regulators have not yet allowed Tesla to offer its latest assisted-driving and self-driving car technology, while allowing Chinese automakers to race ahead with similar systems. Mr. Musk has personally appealed to Chinas premier, Li Qiang, for permission to proceed with what Tesla calls Full Self-Driving as the companys market share in China has dwindled. Some experts have suggested that Beijing may be able to turn Mr. Musk into an influential ally in trying to persuade Mr. Trump to take a more conciliatory approach on trade. Yelloh, the frozen food delivery service formerly called Schwans Home Delivery, which had once been known for its reach with rural Americans and its direct-to-consumer business model, is closing its doors on Friday after decades of decline. Based in Minnesota, Yelloh was born on March 18, 1952, when its founder, Marvin Schwan, delivered 14 gallons of ice cream. The services popularity exploded over the years and later frozen foods made it onto the menu. At its peak, the company delivered meals and ice cream across 48 states, but critics and experts said the company became frozen in time, ceding ground to competitors and modernity. The Schwans name lives on in frozen foods (Red Baron, Freschetta, and Mrs. Smiths are among its many brands) that side of the business was sold to CJ CheilJedang, a South Korean company, in 2019. But on Nov. 8, Yelloh permanently parked its fleet of refrigerated trucks that, with their yellow decor, were once instantly recognizable in small towns across America. Fridays closure means that about 1,100 people across 13 states will be out of a job. In a statement, the company said it made its decision because of multiple insurmountable business challenges, including economic and market forces, as well as changing consumer lifestyles. A rule proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency on Friday could better protect communities against pollution from natural gas plants. For the first time in almost two decades, the rule would update emission limits of nitrogen oxides, a group of gases that are harmful air pollutants produced from burning fossil fuels. The emissions can contribute to asthma and respiratory infections, especially in children, older people and those who are immunocompromised. These stronger standards are necessary to better protect nearby communities health, and the power sector has already shown that the additional pollution controls can affordably and reliably do the job, said Joseph Goffman, the E.P.A.s assistant administrator for air and radiation, in a statement. The proposal was created to limit nitrogen oxide emissions from all new turbines built at power plants and industrial facilities, along with any existing turbines that are modified or reconstructed after the proposal takes effect. In the early months of 2024, a few weeks into the shooting of his new film, The Seed of the Sacred Fig, Mohammad Rasoulof learned that his lawyers received a letter. Irans Islamic Revolutionary Court had processed his case, composed of several charges against his previous movies and activism, and sentenced him to eight years in prison. Rasoulof asked his lawyers how much time he had before the authorities took him in. The process of filing an appeal, they told him, could take up to two months. He still had some time. Rasoulof and his team worked around the clock on shooting and postproduction. Another call came in. The court had rejected the appeal, and his eight-year sentence was to start immediately. To make an example of him, his lawyers warned, government agents would probably storm his house in the middle of the night, handcuff him and take him to jail. Rasoulof had to make the most difficult decision of his life. He was always determined to live and work in Iran, which had been a wellspring of inspiration throughout his filmmaking career. He had already been arrested in 2010 for shooting a movie about the Green Movement, a period of mass unrest in the wake of the 2009 presidential election, which he never finished. He was sent to jail for seven months in 2022 after signing a petition that was critical of the government. So he didnt fear being in prison, and he felt no urge to flee from regime interrogators and torturers. If anything, those encounters had provided fodder for his work. Yet this time was different. Already confronted with the likelihood that he would have to serve at least five years of his eight-year sentence, Rasoulof expected that the court would probably open a new case once it learned about Sacred Fig, which he was shooting in secret, without the appropriate approvals. Serving five years, plus whatever the latest charges would yield, would surely end his career. So Rasoulof decided to leave Iran. He had learned, from another inmate during one of his prison stints, about a network of people who specialized in helping persecuted citizens escape Iran. When Rasoulof contacted them, they advised him to leave everything behind, including his electronic devices and IDs, throw some clothes in a backpack and meet them in a town near Tehran. I was very afraid that the audience could fall asleep in the movie, he said. We worked a lot on the narrative immersion, because the soundscape reflects the emotion of the cat. By the end of making Flow, Coic-Gallas considered his first time working on a project devoid of dialogue to have been an incredible gift. Flow joins a growing number of animated features without dialogue produced away from American studios that consistently grace the lineups of renowned cinematic events like the Cannes Film Festival, subsequently gaining the attention of industry professionals and awards bodies stateside. Zilbalodis, who started his own production company, Dream Well Studio, doesnt believe Hollywood would produce films like his. (Flow is a co-production with two other studios in France and Belgium.) Making films in a more independent way allows me not just to tell stories which are unconventional, but the way that theyre told can be different as well, Zilbalodis said, referring to the long takes he used in Flow, which sometimes go uninterrupted for several minutes. Chiming in via email, the Dutch filmmaker Michael Dudok de Wit, whose Oscar-nominated film The Red Turtle is an animated tale of mans relationship to nature, said that dispensing with dialogue required paying extra attention to the animated body language of the characters to make sure their motives were clear. This is the latest iteration of Denzel Washingtons pledge to produce film adaptations of all ten plays in August Wilsons Pittsburgh Cycle. Directed by Denzels son Malcolm and starring his son John David (alongside Danielle Deadwyler), the film follows a family grappling with the legacy, trauma and literal ghosts that haunt their heirloom piano. From our review: The Piano Lesson is the weakest of the Denzel Washington-produced Pittsburgh Cycle. But when youre working with Wilsons material, theres an inherent richness, and the questions this film raises have never been more potent. What do we do with our past? What does it mean to face the future? And when every ordinary day in a nation is littered with reminders of a history thats never been resolved, how do we live? Hi, This is Jon M. Chu and I am the director of Wicked. And Elfie. Can I call you Elfie? Well, its a little bit perky. So were about midpoint in the movie. And these two roommates, who are very different from each other, have moved into this semi-small dorm room. And its Glinda and Elphaba, played by Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, and theyve just bonded over sharing stories with each other. So this is the beginning of their true friendship, their first date, shall I say. This is a very iconic scene. Popular is one of those songs that everybody knows from Wicked. Its probably the most used in talent shows, and there was a lot of pressure to do this right and to find our way cinematically into this. But of course, its all around Ariana Grandes performance here of showboating and showing her power to transform Elphaba into someone who could be popular. Exactly what they need. And Ari is just a master of comedy. You can see it in all her moves and how she interacts with Cynthia Erivo. When you actually listen to it too, its her beats and her pauses are just masterful. Paul Tazewell, our costume designer, designed this beautiful, new word I learned, peignoir, for her that has now become iconic on all the dolls and things, and this giant chandelier that she swings on. It seems simple, but actually theres a lot of manpower that is running that thing. Theres a guy actually on top whos spinning it and helping her get around, and this was a lot of play for us. We got to really allow the song to come in and take our time to come in. We had a pianist in the corner because everything is live as well, so that she could use her own tempo. Popular, youre going to be popular. And what the concept was for this was rather than go into a giant closet because its a dorm room, that the closet was all the bags that we had seen in previous scenes. I love this moment where she grabs the ruby slippers and taps it three times as our nod to Wizard of Oz. But in each of these devices, even though again, they seem simple, theres grown men in small spaces pulling it open and shutting it, and the engineering in each took months and months to design right. One of the biggest things that Cynthia really wanted was that she didnt just want to be a passenger on this, she really wanted to be a part of it. Shes not resisting it as much as in the shown in fact, shes actually really enjoying this attention and this friendship. Not when it comes to popular That mirror alone. Its so heavy and has so much engineering. Its actually very, very dangerous. Later shell actually step on it. And so that alone took many, many months to design, including this thing that folds back and that she falls back on. And I love this moment where she swans around her. We did this about 18 times. We had to grease up the floor. Her peignoir couldnt get caught on that hanger. But again, Ari is a master of physical comedy and she does it like she was born to do it. What? As suburbs go, Haddon Heights, N.J., has a lot to recommend it. Kids can walk to school and play safely under leafy trees. Its close to Philadelphia, but full of small-town charm. It has an almost century-old grocery store, good restaurants, plenty of longtime residents and small business owners who know one another by name. The town is short on just one thing: booze. For all of its 120-year history, Haddon Heights has been a dry town. But this month, its residents voted to change that. By a nearly two-to-one margin, voters passed a ballot initiative on Election Day to allow restaurants and bars to serve alcohol, joining the growing ranks of formerly dry counties and towns across the country that have abandoned such restrictions. In Kansas, where prohibition was law until after World War II, only one dry county remains. Kentucky is down to two dry counties from more than 40 in 2011. In Texas, 22 counties and more than 200 towns scrapped anti-alcohol rules over a 10-year span, according to the National Alcohol Beverage Control Association. And in New Jersey, a state with a Protestant past where municipalities can decide their own liquor rules, a once-long list of dry towns becomes shorter year after year. M. Jodi Rell, who was the first and, to date, the only Republican woman to serve as governor of Connecticut, beginning her seven years in office when the incumbent resigned in a corruption scandal, died on Wednesday in Florida. She was 78. Her family, providing no other details, said she died in a hospital after a brief illness. Mrs. Rell had been the states lieutenant governor for more than nine years when, in July 2004, she took over the governorship from John G. Rowland, a fellow Republican who had been arrested on a federal corruption charge of accepting $107,000 in gifts from people doing business with the state and not paying taxes on them. He was convicted and sent to prison. She steadied the ship, and returned a sense of decency and honesty to state government at a time when both were sorely needed, her successor as governor, Dannel P. Malloy, a Democrat, said in a statement on Thursday. Known as a moderate Republican, Mrs. Rell sought bipartisan compromise a goal that became more important to her, she said, when, five months after becoming governor, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a mastectomy and reconstructive surgery. She returned to her office in the Capitol, in Hartford, nine days later. Bird flu is now endemic in the United States, and all turkey and chicken producers know that there is a risk that some of the birds they are raising will get bird flu. When that happens, they must typically kill their entire flocks in the sheds in which they are raised. (I will spare you the details of the methods used to do this it suffices to say that one widely used method is prohibited, on animal welfare grounds, throughout the European Union and for the same reason is not used in the United Kingdom or Australia.) The normal response to risk is insurance, the cost of which is a component of the total production cost of almost every commercial enterprise. When the government instead provides that compensation for losses owing to bird flu, taxpayers who choose not to eat turkey are forced to pay to make turkey cheaper for those who do eat it. There are good reasons some people choose not to eat turkey. The turkeys eaten by Americans today are nothing like the wild turkeys supposedly eaten by the early European settlers in Massachusetts at the original Thanksgiving. More than 99 percent of the roughly 250 million turkeys produced in the United States each year are raised on factory farms, according to the Sentience Institute, crowded indoors all their lives in large sheds that almost always contain thousands of birds. Todays turkeys are not treated by turkey producers as individual birds capable of enjoying their lives, but as machines that convert cheap crops (which are also often subsidized) to something that can be sold at a higher price. The 46 million turkeys killed and eaten at Thanksgiving are almost all broad-breasted whites, selectively bred to have abnormally large breasts, because that is the part that most people prefer to eat. These birds have bodies so misshapen that they usually cannot reproduce on their own. They are the result of artificial insemination, which, especially for the females, is a procedure that they resist, but in vain. Turkeys are also bred to grow fast so that they are ready for slaughter at 3 to 5 months old. Their immature leg bones struggle to carry their weight. One study found that 60 percent had foot swelling and 25 percent had arthritis. They are often lame because they experience pain when walking or standing. Sitting on the litter that covers the floor is not a good option, either, because the litter is full of bird droppings, which, when they come in contact with moist skin, can cause caustic burns and blisters. I have been watching The Great British Bake Off since it arrived on American shores about 10 years ago as The Great British Baking Show. The baking competition was such a staple of my mid-aughts TV routine that my older daughter used to call it cake channel when she was in preschool. I often describe it as a televisual sedative: The contestants are so kind to one another and so good-natured, and the predictable and gentle cadence of the show just washes over me. Even so, in all my years watching G.B.B.O., with all its memorable characters, no contestant had ever won my heart the way that Nelly Ghaffar has this season. Ghaffar is a joyful mother of two from Dorset, England, who works as a palliative care nurse, and shes originally from Slovakia. Her English retains a charming accent, which reminded me of my Austrian omas. (Apparently Ghaffar studied nursing in Austria, so it tracks.) (Warning: spoilers ahead.) I am still thinking of her, though she was sent home on the episode that Netflix showed two weeks ago, because the show isnt the same without her genuine warmth and good humor. Now, Gluesenkamp Perez is using some of her political capital in an unexpected way, teaming up with Maines Jared Golden, another Democrat who triumphed in a Trump district, to propose a task force to consider far-reaching electoral reforms. Among their ideas are several previously championed by progressives, including expanding the House of Representatives and adopting ranked-choice voting, which lets voters list candidates in order of preference, so that multiple candidates can run for the same seat without acting as spoilers. I spoke to her about what Democrats can do to win more districts like hers, and why she thinks Congress needs radical change. Our conversation has been edited for length and clarity. What do you think Democrats can learn from your re-election? I think people like me, people in rural communities, we dont want people to talk for us. We want to speak for ourselves. We want to have our values and priorities reflected in D.C. We dont want to see D.C. keep inflicting and replacing our culture and priorities. What does that mean specifically? What values are we talking about? Well, we believe in making and fixing things. We feel pride in knowing how to make things and making things that last, having a relationship with our woods and our rivers and oceans, thats not just a terrarium or a recreational asset, but one of dependence and love and stewardship. Wildfire is one of the largest emitters of CO in my state. Thats a lot of timber that should have been harvested and built into houses to create abundance in the housing market and fund our schools. An entire county went down to a four-day school week in large part because of falling revenue from timber, and a school that my son would maybe hypothetically go to is talking about doing the same thing. Meanwhile, weve seen actual timber products being replaced with petroleum-based products. Is the problem youre talking about one of competition or overregulation? Its both. Every time a timber sale is held up in litigation for, you know, seven years, it means that the mom-and-pop operator cant make their truck payment and they go bankrupt. This transcript was created using speech recognition software. While it has been reviewed by human transcribers, it may contain errors. Please review the episode audio before quoting from this transcript and email transcripts@nytimes.com with any questions. kevin roose Casey, whats going on? casey newton Well, I have really changed my feelings about Bluesky in the past week. kevin roose Yeah. casey newton Before last week, I have to admit, while I did use it and I did occasionally see stuff on there that I thought was really funny or interesting, the feed was so political that I had just written it off as not for me. But then something really powerful happened, Kevin. kevin roose Whats that? casey newton Which is that my following doubled in four days. kevin roose Mine too. I got a weird number of followers. casey newton I mean, something is happening. kevin roose Yeah. casey newton There is something in the water. kevin roose Yeah. casey newton And what I think is funny about it, Kevin, is that my own experience reminded me how truly small minded and petty we are about these social networks. Because we will speak in such lofty terms about, well, heres the vibe of the site. And, well, this one suppresses political content. And, oh, I hate all the ads over there. At the end of the day, it is, how many followers do I have and how many little internet points did I get for making my little quip? And wherever the number is the highest, that is where you will find me. And that is all to say. Please follow me on Bluesky. [THEME MUSIC] kevin roose Im Kevin Roose, a tech columnist at The New York Times. casey newton Im Casey Newton from Platformer. kevin roose And this is Hard Fork. casey newton This week, the future of the internet could look very different next year. The Verges Nilay Patel joins us to talk about President-elect Trumps pick for the head of the FCC. Then a new study found that ChatGPT outperforms doctors in diagnosing some diseases. One of the studys authors, Dr. Adam Rodman, is here to discuss the future of medicine. And finally, courts back in session, Kevin. Its time for Hard Fork crime division. kevin roose I rest my case. casey newton No, dont rest your case at the beginning. To the end. kevin roose [LAUGHS]: Sorry. Adjourned? casey newton No, no, stop it. kevin roose Wheres my gavel? casey newton Youre ruining the show. Well, Kevin, lets get started this week with a Carr crash. kevin roose Oh, yeah. casey newton Yeah. Brendan Carr has crashed into the news as the next potential chairman of the Federal Communications Commission. kevin roose Yes. So obviously, in the post-election period, President-elect Trump has been announcing many of his picks to lead top agencies. And the one that really stuck out to me, that I thought was relevant to the topic of our show was his pick to lead the Federal Communications Commission, or the FCC, who is a man named Brendan Carr. casey newton Yes. Brendan Carr is a Republican. Hes been on the FCC since 2017. And the FCC has five members on it. And collectively, they do control broadcast media in this country. They have a lot of legal authority to do that. They have less legal authority over the future of the internet, but Brendan Carr is somebody who has a lot to say about how he thinks the internet should work. kevin roose Yeah. Hes a real activist in some of these debates about internet regulation. Hes been very vocal about going after big tech, as he calls it, for their political bias and what he views as anti-conservative censorship. Hes constantly picking fights with people online and defending his vision of an internet free of left wing censorship. And he also starts every day, literally every single day, by posting on X, Good morning, and God bless America. casey newton Up until recently, I think if youre somebody who does not agree with Brendan Carr on these issues, it has been easy to dismiss him as a crank. But within a couple of months, he is going to be a person potentially shaping internet policy in this country. And whenever internet policy issues are in the news, I want to know what Nilay Patel thinks. Nilay was my old boss at The Verge. Hes a co-founder of the verge. He is also a formidable podcaster and one of our greatest adversaries in the realm of podcasting as the host of Decoder and The Vergecast. And Nilay has been writing recently about what the arrival of Brendan Carr as chairman of the FCC could mean for not just the internet, but for speech in America in general. kevin roose Yeah. Nilay thinks that we are headed into a truly scary and dark timeline with the appointment of Brendan Carr at the FCC. And as someone who has not followed Brendan Carrs career Super closely, Im very curious to understand why he thinks this man poses such a threat to the future of the internet. casey newton Yeah, were going to hear about that. But were also going to ask him for maybe some more empowering thoughts that we can bring into this next chapter in American history. So with that, lets bring in Nilay Patel. [MUSIC PLAYING] Welcome to Hard Fork. Nilay. Its great to have you here. And I want to get started with some basic background information. Who is Brendan Carr and why does Trump see him as quote, Warrior for free speech? nilay patel Yeah. Brendan, he is an extremely online commissioner of the FCC. He was appointed by Trump. His view is that the FCC should spend a lot of time regulating not only the traditional purview of the FCC, which is wireless spectrum and broadcast television, but also big tech companies. And hes got a lot of ideas about how he might get that power, and then how he might use that power. But really, what you have is a guy who likes going on Fox News and Twitter and railing about how theres a censorship cartel in big tech, and it should be crushed. And I think Donald Trump likes that a lot. casey newton So most people probably dont think of the FCC as a very powerful agency in their daily life, but there was a time in recent American history where it did play a larger role. So tell us a bit about the recent history of the FCC. nilay patel So most Americans, I think in 2024, never think about the FCC. Not a lot, especially the last five years. The FCC has really receded. It has been sort of a neutered agency. No one trusts it anymore to do the things that people want it to do. That has not always been the case. If you go back 20 years, the FCC is a cultural force in America, and this really hit its peak with Janet Jackson at the Super Bowl. Justin Timberlake kevin roose Nipplegate. nilay patel Yeah. He rips off the corset, the bodice. America is forced to endure half a second of a nipple, and the world goes crazy. And if you remember, the George W. Bush administration hated nipples. John Ashcroft is George W. Bushs attorney general. He famously covers up the Statue of Lady Justice at the DOJ, because god forbid lawyers see nipples. Its just a very weird time in America. And all of this is based on the dominance of broadcast media. Most Americans at this time get most of their media from broadcast television and radio stations over the airwaves. You hang up an antenna, you get NBC or CBS or ABC. You hang up an antenna on your car, you get whatever local radio station. And that spectrum is owned by the government, and its licensed out to these broadcasters in the public interest. And thats really where the FCCs authority comes from. And theres a long string of Supreme Court cases that basically add up to, the spectrum belongs to the people. The government gets to make rules based on that spectrum. And the Americans do not want nipples on their public airwaves, so were going to freak out about this. So this is the high point of the FCC as a cultural force. And what happens during all of this is, the iPhone comes out, and YouTube is introduced, and podcasting is introduced. And Americans, by and large, switch to cable television in huge numbers. They stopped watching broadcast TV. They stopped consuming this content. So the FCC itself says, we have to get out of this business. We have to be out of the speech policing business. Michael Powell, whos Colin Powells son, is chairman of the FCC. And hes like, we got to stop this. These broadcast providers, theyre not competing with each other. Theyre not the dominant force. Theyre competing with cable television. kevin roose And cable television is not regulated the same way as broadcast television, because it doesnt go over the air on this publicly owned spectrum. nilay patel Right. Its on Comcasts wires, not the publics airwaves. Hes a Republican FCC chairman. Hes like, were making these really weird rules for these companies. We have to get out of this business, and we need to get into the business of broadband deployment. And this has largely been what the FCC has been focused on since 2011, 2012. Thats where you get the big net neutrality fights. kevin roose And net neutrality, just for people who are not steeped in the history and the context here, is basically the rules that say, what if youre a Comcast, if youre an internet service provider, you cannot dictate what goes over your pipes. You cant impose censorship or speech regulation at the level of the internet service provider. You are just supposed to be like the dumb pipes. That is essentially net neutrality, correct? nilay patel Yes. And its really predicated on the idea that youre going to have massive competition for internet content, which turned out to not be the case. You only ended up with a few giant platforms. You ended up with YouTube and TikTok and Meta. Like, those are your choices. So something very weird happened along the way of the internet where we recreated the dominance of broadcast television, just a handful of giant companies that control most of the media in the country, without any of the legal foundation for how the government might get involved in that content. So this is like the this is the stage were in. We unwound this previous dominant broadcast media regime where we had pretty overt speech policing all the way to well, if you want to see a nipple, the internet will provide you a nipple at any time, and like no one cares anymore. But you still have a lot of people who are very interested in how the platforms moderate and the political biases of these platforms. You have a very active right wing, which is insistent that any moderation at all that disfavors them is a moral catastrophe that should be stopped with the full weight of the government. And this is where you get Brendan Carr, who, up until recently was a pretty normal, if somewhat overly online, deregulatory force. Thats his worldview until a couple of years ago when the big push for, well, we should start yelling at Mark Zuckerberg more to make sure the algorithm favors conservative viewpoints or at least doesnt overtly favor liberal viewpoints. Brendan takes this up. And in the sweep of this history, you can see that what he wants is to be an old school chairman of the FCC. Where if youre mad about nipples on Instagram, you can write him a letter and he will have the power to fine or otherwise penalize Meta. And that is just the wheel that is turning right now. casey newton And so I think that gives us a good sense of what this persons worldview is and what he might do if he had that sort of power. I guess the next logical question then, Nilay, is, does he have this power? Is any of this authority in the FCC? And if its not, what do you expect him to do about it? nilay patel Yeah, I hope I did a good job of laying out what feels like a logical pendulum swing. casey newton Yeah. nilay patel But actually, legally, none of this makes any goddamn sense. Like, in a very real way, he does not have this power. And he was the author of the project 2025 chapter on the FCC and what you might do with it and how you might use it. Notably, project 2025 does not say, we should dismantle the FCC. Like, it says, we should dismantle every other agency. Brendans chapter of project 2025 says, the FCC should get even more power. It should be even more involved. kevin roose The chapter that he wrote I think most people associate project 2025, this is a sort of document, this sort of roadmap for a second Trump administration that was put together by some conservative think tanks and groups. And I think most people associate it with advocating for rollbacks on abortion and other social and cultural issues. But it actually does have this sort of interesting part about the FCC and how Brendan Carr specifically wants to regulate the internet. And a lot of whats in this chapter is boring normal FCC chair stuff about spectrum auctions and rural broadband access and stuff. But he starts with this thing about reining in big tech. So what is Brendan Carrs idea his big idea for how to rein in big tech? nilay patel I want to be very clear, my personal opinion of Brendan Carr is this man is incapable of having big ideas. I do not have a high opinion of Brendan Carr. But his idea is the same idea that everyone else has, which is we should mess with Section 230 until the platforms do what we want. kevin roose And Section 230, for people who are not experts, is the part of the federal law that basically shields online platforms from legal liability over user generated content. So if you post something illegal on Instagram, the government can go after the poster, but it cant go after the platform. nilay patel Yeah. I appreciate that you think there are Hard Fork listeners at this point who dont know what Section 2 There might be a few. The stakes of messing with 230 right now are, do you want YouTube to exist? Those are the stakes of 230. Do you want any user generated platform to exist at scale? Because if you make Google liable for the content on YouTube, there will quickly not be content on YouTube. You will actually turn them back into cable companies. So these are existential stakes. kevin roose And Brendan Carr does not propose getting rid of Section 230, interestingly, as some conservatives have done. He doesnt say, we should repeal the whole thing. What he says instead is we should limit these court-added extras that judges have piled on top of Section 230 to extend the shield granted by the original law. nilay patel Right. And thats the part that is wholly nonsensical. It is a fantasy. So first of all, Section 230 is a law. Congress wrote its famously 26 words long, and it has gone to court numerous times in numerous ways. And the courts have uniformly upheld the idea that these 26 words are there to keep platforms from being liable for what their users post, over and over and over again. Theres not a bunch of court added additions to this. That just doesnt exist in the law. Second of all, even if there was, you get around that by Congress doing more stuff. You dont get around that by being an unelected chairman of an agency most people dont give a shit about, and just issuing decrees about what the law means. Thats just not thats fully not how it works. And the courts in this country, particularly the conservative justices of this country, do not believe that agencies should have any power. So even if youre Brendan Carr, not only does he not have that power. If he tried to use that power, he would run right into the conservative legal movement, which is trying to defang the agencies in a very specific way. So its just none of this makes sense, except, well, if I can wield this weapon over the big platforms, they might do what I say anyway. And that is very much the animus of every attempt to modify 230. No ones actually saying, we should get rid of this law that allows YouTube to exist. Theyre saying, if we threaten this law enough, YouTubes trust and safety team will moderate YouTube the way we want. casey newton Which I think, in practice, probably has happened. I think platforms have been responsive to those sorts of threats. If youre the sort of person who likes net neutrality, you like Section 230, I feel like people might hear what youre saying and be excited about it. They think, OK, cool. So this man is hes banging pots and pans and trying to get everybody all scared, but theres really not a lot of legal basis for what hes threatening. So maybe you might feel relieved. At the same trim, I feel like were in a world where we can rely less on judicial precedents than weve been able to in the past. So many things that seemed like a slam dunk either turn into a coin flip or the Supreme Court decides to throw out decades old precedent. So as we move into this new world, this new Trump administration, how are you thinking about that risk and how the internet may change just because we might be living in legal chaos land? nilay patel I feel very strongly that the First Amendment is under the most direct threat that any of us will ever really experience. The rise of the internet that we know coincided with a period of pretty unfettered expression. The government was told not to regulate the internet. This phrase came up over and over again. Leave these companies alone. Were going to let 1,000 voices bloom. Were going to get over a lot of weird indecency ideas we have about media in general. More people have more access to speak. That is an unqualified good thing, and we are going to leave that alone. And that is an interpretation of the First Amendment, or at least a First Amendment environment that I think most people are used to right now. That is our expectation. Those walls are going to come in closer. What you are getting out of the Brendan Carrs in the Trump world version of the First Amendment is closing in is, my political opponent should be silenced, or the platform should make sure to favor us. And we will wrap it up in what sounds like a defense of free speech. But actually what it is punishment. And you see that over and over again. You see it expressed as punishment. You see Elon Musk, who runs an ISP in this country, saying kevin roose Starlink. nilay patel Starlink, saying the hammer of Justice is coming for people who publish election hoaxes. Well, lying is legal in America. Its just fully legal. Hate speech is legal in America. Weve run this all the way up to the Supreme Court multiple times, and its just legal to lie. It is legal to be racist. The government does not punish these things because we expect the market to punish these things. casey newton Yeah. I mean, on that front Carr recently sent a letter to the CEOs of four big tech companies so Apple, Meta, Microsoft, and Google blaming them for what he called an unprecedented surge in censorship, warning them that they might face investigations not just for their own content moderation, but for work they do with third party groups like NewsGuard, which do ratings for news sites around bias and accuracy. Do you see that as just more pure intimidation? nilay patel Yes. But Im curious I mean live in this world. Youve covered trust and safety a million times. This idea of groups like NewsGuard where you have this appeal to a third party that will tell you how biased your news is has always been problematic. kevin roose Yeah. nilay patel But do you think the government should have a role to play in telling you how casey newton Absolutely not. I mean, what activity could be more protected by the First Amendment than saying, I think this website is biased. There is no even theory of harm there. I can see how Carr and his allies would come along and say, oh, theres this giant censorship apparatus. But in practice, sites like NewsGuard arent even particularly widely used. And there are all kinds of these rating services that I think most people basically ignore. But to me, thats actually what makes it scary, is this thing that isnt even that influential is suddenly the target of an FCC commissioner who is now threatening platform owners, saying, do not work with these people. I mean, to me, that seems like the much greater threat to speech than some website that says Fox News leans conservative. nilay patel Yeah. And the piece of that really worries me is, theres no legal mechanism to mess with these big companies. Were all basically nation states unto themselves. You can fire threats at Jeff Bezos all day. Hes going to get on his yacht and sail away from you as fast as he can with his four support yachts in tow. And itll just be waving at them from the beach. Fine. But there are speakers in America where Brendan will have the power. So the actual broadcast networks still use the spectrum. And Kamala Harris shows up on Saturday Night Live, and Brendan Carr gets to yell about revoking the broadcast licenses of NBC, which also makes no sense because its the stations that have the licenses, not NBC proper. And he knows that, but it doesnt matter because he can go on FOX News and say, Im going to revoke NBCS broadcast license for having the temerity for a presidential candidate to be on their program even though the next day, Trump was given free airtime during a NASCAR race, which is the rule that the government has. And NBC is very good at fulfilling this rule because theyve been a broadcaster for 5,000 years. kevin roose Yes. I have two questions about this letter that Brendan Carr sent to these big tech CEOs. One of them is he the ones that he included were somewhat mysterious to me. So I get why Meta and Google are on this list. Conservatives have been mad at those two companies in particular for years about perceived censorship. But what are Apple and Microsoft doing on this list? What kind of objectionable content moderation are they doing in Brendan Carrs eyes? nilay patel Apple runs the App Store, and in order to have an app on the App Store, you have to pass Apples rules of acceptable moderation. So I think famously, Parler was kicked off the App Store. Gab was kicked off the App Store because they were just allowing all kinds of stuff to go by. Apple doesnt want this to happen. If youre a Brendan Carr and you want to make sure that no one gets to control speech in America, except for you, the person who runs the App Store is your greatest enemy, because he can keep the platforms off the phones entirely. Microsoft runs a bunch of big platforms, sure, might be worried about being, but they are also a huge developer of AI. And I think Carr is smart enough to know that the next turn of all of this is what the AI Search results are. And if the AI starts to say, hey, this is misinformation if Grok, on X, literally says, Elon Musk is the greatest source of misinformation on X, which it has said recently, thats a big problem. And I think putting these companies on notice, that you dont want quote, unquote, woke AI is a big deal for all of these players. casey newton Yeah. You mentioned the broadcast licenses a minute ago. I wanted to pick that up again, because you also established earlier that the FCC does have a bit more legal authority with them. So I agree with you. It seems like nonsense to say, well, one candidate is allowed to appear on TV, but the other isnt. But at the same time, I also do expect that they will continue making those threats. So what sense can you give us of, how easy is it for someone like Brendan Carr to wreak havoc with these broadcast networks, and what do you expect there? nilay patel I think its tremendously easy for him to wreak havoc with the broadcast networks, not because of the law, but because they are inherently weak counterparties at this moment in American media history. They are dying. This is a historically low moment for broadcast television viewership. And even the things that were keeping it alive, The NFL, are moving to streaming. This is a historically low period for cable television viewership, which is how a bunch of these TV networks are making all their money. Well see. Does anybody there have the fight, because they could win. I honestly believe if they wanted to win these fights, they could body up against Brendan Carr and say, look, were not going to do speech police in America, and were also complying with the rules. Fully, we are in compliance with the rules. But I dont think that matters in a world where the businesses are dying, the executives just want to cash out and leave, and the audiences dont care because theyre not watching anyway. And that is very, very dangerous. When I say that I think the Brendan Carr FCC embedded in the Trump administration represents the biggest threat to free speech that any of us will have ever experienced, that is the mechanism. Its the chilling effect with the power they have combined with their obvious desire to. Create new power. kevin roose Yeah, I think thats right. And I think media executives have not quite fully internalized the degree to which the people who are about to take power in this country are obsessed with destroying them. And I think this is quite different, actually, than the first Trump term when there were also these grave proclamations about what would happen to the media. But largely, media was fine, or at least there were pockets of it that had a Trump bump from the first Trump term. I think this is different. Because I think for the people who now are going to be running the country, including people like Elon Musk, this is not just something he thinks about occasionally. This is one of his driving priorities in life, is to delegitimize and undercut and ultimately destroy what he sees as the legacy media. But Im also just curious, Nilay, as a person who does understand whats coming, does think about this stuff, how do you operate in an environment like that aside from just hiring lawyers to deal with a bunch of bogus defamation claims? What should you do? nilay patel Well, first of all, Kevin, Im curious if you think the legacy media continues to exist. Like, in my view, is that its already dead. What this election showed is that actually, Trumps mastery of the YouTube podcast format was much more relevant than whatever happened on ABC News. Like, fundamentally. And so I dont want to spend my time worrying about a thing that has already destroyed itself. And so its like the real question that I have is like, if our media is all going to be a bunch of independent creators on YouTube or independent podcasters buffeted by Spotifys ad rates or whatever, how will those platforms apply this pressure to our speakers in response to the Trump administration? And will anybody even be able to follow the causal line of like, Brendan Carr yelled at CBS so the person who runs podcasts at Spotify made sure to promote the Daily Wire more than something else. kevin roose I mean, do you think we would ever see something like an equal time mandate for YouTubers where if Jake Paul does a video praising Donald Trump, he also has to do one praising whoevers running against Donald Trump? nilay patel I hope not as. Elon Musk likes to say, hes a free speech absolutist. He is not. But I might actually be one. I have a lot of complicated thoughts about this lately, but I dont think that we should overcome our own First Amendment in that way. There are laws in other countries that are wacky. In India, there was a law proposed that said if you had a YouTube channel over a certain size, you had to register with the government for preemptive regulation. Imagine how the heavily armed American population would react to that idea in this country. casey newton Yeah. kevin roose I only support regulating YouTube channels like Cocomelon, which are a blight on nilay patel Thats kids, right? If you go and ask politicians on both sides, no matter how credible or consistent or cynical you think they are, you go and say, where can you find a hook that allows you to overcome the First Amendment and pass some speech regulations that everyone will agree on, they will point to childrens content, universally. And thats why the Kids Online Safety Act exists. Thats why, hey, we should make sure that at least this group of people that cannot protect themselves, and we think they can make choices in the market to benefit themselves, we protect them at the platform level. And that is also why the platforms are fighting against it so hard, because they dont want to accept that responsibility. But thats about it. Theres not a world in which we agree that there should be such a thing as the fairness doctrine for podcasts, because the solution is to just have more podcasts. And that basically is this like, there is an infinite amount of podcasts. And that should be kevin roose There truly are not, Nilay. You have two. I mean, we can keep creating podcasts in this country nilay patel I will fix free speech by just starting new podcasts every single day. But thats what I mean. You can either have competition or you can have regulation. And up until recently, our solution has been competition. And I think what were all realizing or maybe waking up to is, actually, the recommendation algorithms the TikTok for you algorithms, theyre putting much more of a thumb on a scale than anybody can realize or quantify or see or even research because the APIs arent open. And maybe thats the thing we need like, maybe thats where we should point our regulatory effort. Is saying, we need more competition there, because otherwise you start to get into this really dicey space where you are regulating the content itself, which is what Brendan Carr is trying to do. And I just think no matter if youre super conservative or super liberal, thats too dangerous. The government should not have that power. kevin roose Well, on that cheery note, Nilay nilay patel Look, Im just telling you, the empowering thing, whenever you see a government regulator being like, we should do some speech regulation, just say theyre bad. Its great. Its the most American thing you can do, to look at the speech police and say, now leave. And it feels good. And theres just I promise you, I promise all listeners, theres something deeply empowering about that that you can express it almost every turn of your life. kevin roose Yeah. casey newton All right. Well, give it a shot. kevin roose All right. Thanks, Nilay. casey newton Thanks. Nilay, this was great. Thank you so much. [MUSIC PLAYING] kevin roose When we come back, weve got a doctors appointment. Well talk to one of the authors of a new study showing how effective ChatGPT can be in diagnosing disease. casey newton How much is the co-pay? kevin roose I think its $20 a month. Well, Casey, its time for your annual checkup. casey newton Oh, my goodness. Thats you know what, youre joking, but I actually do have my annual checkup later today. kevin roose Wait, really? casey newton Yeah, I do. kevin roose Youre going to the doctor? casey newton Thats right. Its time to find out whats going on with this old body, Kevin. kevin roose Well, just from looking at you, I would say youre not getting enough vitamin D. casey newton Well, I was recently diagnosed as handsome. kevin roose I think you need to get a second opinion on that. But, Casey, I want to talk today about AI and medicine casey newton Yes. kevin roose because there was a thing that caught my attention recently. My colleague at The New York Times, Gina Kolata, wrote a story about a study that came out a few weeks ago over at JAMA, the Journal of the American Medical Association, which showed that on average, at least in this study, ChatGPT was better at diagnosing illnesses than doctors, even doctors who had access to ChatGPT. casey newton And why thats so fascinating to me is for decades, people have been turning to WebMD to do something very similar. And mostly, it seems, getting the wrong answer. Or certainly the people posting online said, oh, I typed these three symptoms into WebMD and it told me I was dying. That is not what it appears to be happening with ChatGPT. ChatGPT is actually able to figure out whats going on with these folks. kevin roose Yes. So we have so many questions about this study that we invited one of the studys authors, Dr. Adam Rodman, to join us. Dr. Rodman is an internist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Massachusetts and the host of a medical history podcast called Bedside Rounds. Lets bring him in. casey newton The doctor will see us now. kevin roose The doctor will see us now. [MUSIC PLAYING] Adam Rodman, welcome to Hard Fork. adam rodman Thank you guys for having me. kevin roose So lets talk about this study that you helped design. Tell us about the study and what you were aiming to discover. adam rodman Well, we were testing a simple hypothesis in a complicated way. Thats what scientists do. We get too much into the details. But one of the presuppositions in my field has been this idea that AI plus humans will always be better than AI alone. Theres something essential about the humans. And a lot of health systems have rolled out these secure versions of ChatGPT, sometimes theres other lingual language models, with the idea that itll make doctors better. So we basically tested that hypothesis out. We did a randomized controlled trial where we gave doctors we gave attending physicians and residents. So those are physicians in training about it was literally 50/50. And we either randomized them to go through these really complicated cases with ChatGPT or without. And we didnt just measure the diagnosis. We did, of course, measure whether they got the diagnosis, but we measured these really nuanced measures of how people think. So were you able to look for evidence that supported what you thought? Were you able to look for evidence that didnt support what you thought? Were you able to do these basic cognitive tasks of a doctor? kevin roose What kind of information were you presenting to these doctors and these AI models? How detailed was it? Like, the kind of thing that you would get in a medical school exam or, like, what kinds of problems were they being asked for solve? casey newton Yeah, I want to see if we can solve some of them. adam rodman Yeah, I can do you want me to go through one of them for you? The real casey newton Lets hear one. adam rodman Yeah, you OK. Yeah. Im excited to hear you guys attempt to go through a medical case as we go. Let me pull up kevin roose I think its scurvy. adam rodman Yeah, I dont think any of them were scurvy, unfortunately. casey newton If theres one thing weve learned about podcast is that people love a medical mystery. adam rodman Yeah. This is basically like house M.D, right? OK. casey newton Yeah, exactly. adam rodman Here you go. A 76-year-old man comes to his doctor complaining of pain in his back and thighs for two weeks. He has no pain sitting or lying, but walking causes severe pain in his lower back, buttocks, and calves. He has a fever. Hes tired. He was told by his referring cardiologist that his recent test results that since his pain started, he has a new anemia, so his blood levels are low. And he has renal failure. And then a few days before the onset of the pain, he had coronary angioplasty. So he had a coronary catheterization of his heart and opened a vessel, and he got heparin during that. And then we go over the lab values and stuff. This is not an easy case here. This is something that I think every doctor would know. Well, do you want to try to solve it first? Sorry, I should have I should have gone with kevin roose My first thought was chlamydia. adam rodman Post-cardiologist acquired chlamydia. casey newton Exactly. Kevin. Any thoughts? kevin roose Im still going with scurvy. casey newton OK, great. What was the real answer, Adam? adam rodman Cholesterol emboli syndrome, of course. No, Im just kidding. Its actually a very hard diagnosis. casey newton That was my second guess. kevin roose Yeah, second guess. adam rodman Yeah. I mean, and the point is, none of the cases are what are called zebras. There are none of the things that are often on House M.D. Theyre all things that are tricky to figure out, but you will see and are real. The purpose wasnt really whether or not the humans got the diagnosis, but whether they went through those steps that are essential and generalizable to getting any diagnosis. kevin roose So you give these little vignettes, these medical mysteries to the doctors in the study, and the doctors are given the use of GPT 4 to try to help them diagnose and figure out whats going on with this patient. Then you also had just GPT 4 by itself with no help from human. Doctors try to analyze the same cases, and then you compared the analysis or the diagnosis from both groups. Is that right? adam rodman Exactly. And we also let them use any other resources they wanted. kevin roose And were these doctors in this study chosen because they had interest in using AI for diagnosis? Were they mostly more tech savvy doctors? Were they people who had used this stuff before? adam rodman No. So we did the classic trick to get a good subset of doctors, is we paid them. So these doctors were everyone. They had been in practice for a variety of amount of time. Some people were experienced ChatGPT users. Those were the minority. Some people had never used it before. Most people fell in between. casey newton And what were the findings? adam rodman Yeah. So the findings were not the most optimistic if you want to make people better, which is that the AI model did not improve human performance. So humans, using the AI model, did about as well as humans alone. And then, of course, the finding that I think the reason that Im here and that everyone is angry at me, is that the AI model itself drastically outperformed both groups. kevin roose Yes, this was the headline of a lot of the coverage about it, was that the I had beaten the doctors. Even if you gave the doctors access to AI, the AI by itself appears to do better at diagnosing these things. Now, obviously, we should make some caveats. This is a small study. We obviously would want more studies to confirm this result, but this really stuck out to me because it seems sort of reading the study, what happened is that basically, the human doctors did not believe the AI could be as good or better than them at diagnosing, and so they would go in and sort of second guess what the I had said and end up getting the diagnosis wrong as a result. Is that consistent with the findings? adam rodman Yeah. Id say there are two well, maybe three reasons, two reasons. So one, some people I mean, despite the basic training, some people didnt quite know how to use a language model to get the most use out of it, so probably some of that is training. Number two though, when we look at the data, people liked it when the AI model said, oh, this is your idea. These are the things that agree with it. But when the AI model said, hey, man, you might be wrong. These things dont fit. They disregarded that. casey newton Here is why that resonates with me. Have you ever been in an Uber and they have the Google Maps open and Google Maps is like, you might want to take this route. And they say, no, no, no, no, I actually a better way. And the next thing you know, it takes you an extra 30 minutes to get you wherever you were going. I firmly believe there is no Uber driver who can outsmart Google Maps. And we may be moving into a situation where most doctors cannot outsmart ChatGPT. adam rodman Well, and that brings us to reason number three, the reason that people are angry at me, which I dont think its the case now. It might be the case with 01, and its certainly going to be the case in the next one to two years. Like, maybe AI models are better at making diagnoses than human doctors. But I dont think thats the case with GPT 4 Turbo, which was the model that was used here. But its going to be true at some point, and were quickly approaching that. kevin roose Yeah. And we should say, this study took place last year, right? adam rodman Yeah. kevin roose So all of the models that doctors have access to are now almost they are 12 months better than they were when adam rodman Yeah. This is the classic academic publishing lag. And of course, Im talking about this trial now and doing really other cool stuff. But the models have continued to improve, especially in diagnostic domains. Theyre saturating our benchmarks. Everything that we can throw at them and were like, this is what humans should accomplish by the way, humans are like 45 percent, 50 percent percent, the new models are like, well, just kidding. Im 90 percent. casey newton Well, so I have a question about that, which is, ChatGPT released this 01 preview model, which does better reasoning. Thats what they tell us. And I have not been able to figure out any prompt that I as a mere journalist actually seem to have any need of it. As a doctor, are you already turning to this model for reasoning through difficult medical questions? adam rodman Yes. Yes, and I have a preprint that will come out in the next couple of days that shows how dramatic it is. kevin roose Yeah. I mean, the reason that this study caught my eye and fascinated me so much is that I think its possible to imagine that a version of this finding could be found in many different fields. Its not just going to be medicine where the AI is sort of reaches a point where it is better than either the human practitioners in that field, or the human practitioners using AI in that field. And I think when that point happens for many white collar knowledge workers, theres this question of how do as the practitioner react? Do you get defensive and say, oh, the AI has to be flawed. It couldnt possibly be better than me. Im not going to use it. Do you rebel against the AI and say, we cant these things make things up. They dont always get the thing right. Or do you embrace it and try to get good at the technology and use it in your work? Is that scenario playing out among doctors? adam rodman Yes. kevin roose Do you see doctors who are really happy about these findings because they say, oh, man, were going to be able to give patients such better care. Or do you think most of them are sort of reacting from a place of fear and confusion? adam rodman So yes, yes, and yes. Different people are reacting differently. Obviously, the reason that Im doing this work is I want better care for my patients. And again, if I like making diagnoses, Im a huge nerd. Im like the prototypical internist. I pace around my patients room like a crazy person trying to figure out whats going on. But if this algorithm helps me take better care from them, I will give that up. Other people are resistant. To insult doctors a little bit, were a profession that really prided ourselves on our cognitive abilities. It gives us a lot of societal power and power over our patients, and this is a professional challenge to my field. I am a pain in the butt, so thats fine. I dont care about that. But there are a lot of people that do. Right now, Im at the Macy Foundation Conference, its all the top medical educators, to try to figure out what AI means for how we train the next generation, whos going to be in practicing medicine for 30 years. These are things that the field is like fiercely debating and arguing about right now. Im just happy were having the conversation. casey newton Well, I have to say, I I mean, the results are fascinating, but I do find myself siding in some ways with doctors who might be exasperated with these findings. And the reason is, Kevin, you and I say all the time, hey, dont bet your career on anything that a large language model is telling you. These things do hallucinate. They make up facts all of the time. You and I dont really use them in our work in the context of, we look up a quick fact and just drop it into our story. We actually are always going to second guess the LLM. Were always going to try to find a second source before were like, OK, we actually feel like we can trust this piece of information. And Adam, in your study, basically what you found is that people who did that, which weve been advocating for as a best practice, were worse at diagnosing diseases. adam rodman I know. To be clear, I was shocked at the results. My hypothesis going in was that people using it would be the best. So I am surprised by this. So in the psychological literature on diagnosis, it kind of makes sense. Its not doctors. humans are resistant to things that disagree with them, and we have all these heuristics and cognitive shortcuts that we take. So its not surprising to me that what people did was they anchored on what they thought and what the first things that they thought, and they were resistant to something that was giving them a second opinion. Maybe thats something thats actually optimistic, because we can align models or try to figure out how to present that information to make humans better. That is what I am trying to do. And I think all the short term use is, like, lets be clear. Like, if the headline is doctors are over. ChatGPT is good. No, absolutely not. Theres a million things we do. This is just one part of it, and theyre not capable of operating without us. Im not discouraged by this. Im still working to figure out ways we can use these technologies to make better care of our patients. kevin roose Yeah. I mean, thats the question Im curious about. Is like, what can the medical field do? I mean, Im imagining a future where patients have access to this stuff. And maybe before you go into the doctor to get your hip pain checked out, you do an exhaustive prompting exercise with the model and say, hey, what is this? And then you bring the readout from the AI into your doctor and say, hey, could you give me this medicine and this medicine and I need this operation because and the doctor might say, well, lets do some tests. And you just say, I dont need to. AI already told me what to do adam rodman Thats already happening. Thats already happening. I mean, there was a Kaiser Family Foundation survey on how many patients are putting their information, but its already happened in my life when people will even put to be clear, these things are not HIPAA compliant. Please dont put any of your personal health information. But people are doing it. kevin roose Elon Musk told me I should be uploading all my MRIs to Grok. Are you saying he was not correct? adam rodman Well, it depends on if you want someone else to own all your MRI images. So yeah, keep that in mind. But kevin roose Yeah, I uploaded it and it told me I had the woke mind virus, so that was weird. adam rodman They dont work very well. kevin roose Right. adam rodman But yeah, people are doing it already. Ive had patients who do it. This is not a future. Now, does it work that well? Sometimes, but not consistently. And theyre very you have to prompt them right. But how far are we from somebody selling a commercial tool thats a doc in a box that works pretty well? casey newton I mean, that as is the actual implication of your study, is that you are better off just asking ChatGPT and not your doctor. adam rodman Thats not my conclusion from the study, if thats what you want to take from it. casey newton Well, the conclusion is basically, one in four doctors were not able to successfully diagnose this. But in 92 percent of cases, ChatGPT did. Like, if I had to choose one of those two things, Id probably choose ChatGPT, because it also does other things for me too. adam rodman I would say, the difference is that the people who put the case together, like, the information, if you want to think about the prompts, were expert clinicians. We organize it in such a way. You can imagine I dont want to talk about your past medical histories, but Ive had problems. And we dont humans dont always describe things the right way. We dont know how good ChatGPT is about getting that information out of us. I think its going to happen, but I dont think that ChatGPT can do that now. kevin roose Im curious if these AI tools do become part of the clinical model in hospitals all over the place. It sounds like they are going to. What is it going to mean to be a good doctor in a world where AI is better at diagnosing than you are? adam rodman So Ill give you the theres the darkest timeline, but well go with the optimistic timeline. kevin roose Give us both. adam rodman OK. Well, lets go with the optimistic view first, because this is what Im hoping. And inspired by oh, Im a huge nerd. This should not be a shocker. But inspired by a little bit, Kevin, its the Star Trek computer. So you have a computer system thats listening in at all times and is saying, hey, hey, Adam, you might be showing some unconscious bias here. Adam, I think you should ask if this person makes their own snuff because eosinophilic pneumonia is on their differential. Like, something thats listening in, cuing me to be better, trying to make me a better human, but also listening to the patient and getting more information from the patient. A computer system like that is something that makes the medical encounter more human, which I hope is what we want. You want the darkest timeline next? kevin roose Yes, please. adam rodman So I dont know if you guys know this. So AI technologies are already being rapidly spread out in clinical care. Theyre listening to doctors encounters with their patients. Theyre writing notes. Theyre writing the first drafts of when you talk to your doctor on a portal of those messages. I just wrote a piece in the New England Journal of Medicine, where I originally called it a language models in the insidification of the electronic medical record. It turns out the New England Journal of Medicine doesnt consider that an academic term, so they changed it to degradation. But like, what were what were seeing so far is not the model that I am advocating for and what Im researching and pushing for. But a system thats obsessed with efficiency isnt really worried about some of the downstream effects on what this means for our relationships, and is just going to like, yeah, youll get these more efficient tools, so youll see twice the number of patients in a day. Well just put this AI text in the chart so we can build off of it. And a system that might use these powerful, efficient tools to squelch out the tiny bit of humanity that remains in medicine. So that, to me, is the darkest timeline and what I want to avoid. I dont think theres you have to engage with this technology. Its going to change every single white collar field. Were the ultimate white collar field, its going to change our field. And I see a way that we end up with Dr. Crusher on the Enterprise, but I also see a way that we end up I dont know whats a dystopia like Id say Blade Runner, but I dont think there are any doctors in Blade Runner. So this analogy is going to fall apart. casey newton I mean, to me, like an optimistic gloss on all of this is the upside in making this kind of care much more accessible. Like, if all of a sudden I can just check my basic symptoms with ChatGPT, maybe that does provide me some benefit. Now, obviously a lot of people have been doing this for decades with WebMD, and theyre a lot of jokes about that. A lot of people are quick to use WebMD to assume that they have the very worst condition. And also constantly seeking medical care can create its own set of problems. But if youre just the median person, I can also just imagine checking in with my virtual doctor a couple of times a month and get some tips about how to live a healthier life. adam rodman So yeah, absolutely. Were not there yet, but I think thats the way things are going. And to be clear, the reality is terrible. Like, how long does it take you guys to see your primary care doctor? Im a doctor, and it takes me forever. So maybe well have a system that can do those basic things, but also recognize when it needs to step you up, triage you appropriately. And maybe youll have a system where instead of referring you to a specialist, your PCP will be able to work with that system to answer something that you would have needed a specialist before, or a system that says, hey, you dont need to go through the referral system. Go straight to the orthopedic surgeon. So I think theres a lot of hope. And I acknowledge, the baseline is terrible. Our medical system isnt really serving our patients. And if were thoughtful about this, thats OK if my power is eroded. Well get better care for everybody if were thoughtful about it, which if you have looked at the history of how medicine has happened in this country, thats not always the case. kevin roose So Adam, Im curious. Youre a doctor. You trained for many years to become a doctor. You amassed a lot of knowledge that has made you good at that job. What is your emotional reaction to the findings of your own study? adam rodman Yeah. I mean, I am my its a lot of emotions. Im both excited, and Im freaked out. Im not the typical doctor. I am a historian. I deeply care about how people think. I feel like Im on the edge of something new, which is exciting. But to me, I love talking to people. I love meeting new people. But one of the things that I love is the intellectual part of my work. Thats what makes it I dont love sitting down and writing billing codes and saying, is this a level 2? I hate that part of my job. But the part where I get to talk to somebody and figure out whats going on with them. So I can make them better, thats my favorite part. But at the end of the day, Im here for my patients. So Im conflicted, but its clear to me what the right thing to do is, which is do the right thing for the patient, even if it means giving up something that is dear to me. kevin roose Yeah, I mean, that strikes me as a good model for people in all kinds of industries. As the AIs do get better at doing our jobs, it seems like the North Star should be like, what is the actual work that I am performing? And if an I can do that better than I can, then maybe thats better for the world. casey newton Well, there is another approach that I wondered if you consider, which is to say that essentially, these chatbots were trained on a bunch of work that real doctors did. Those doctors are not being compensated. The primary effect of these chatbots being in the world is that the salary of a doctor could go way down. Has there been any talk among doctors of saying, lets actually get together and stop these things from draining all of the money out of our industry? adam rodman Oh, yeah, were definitely I mean, yes, those are I think that in the grand scheme of things, that doctors are worried about threats to their career. This is low right now. These are all theoretical talks, but I suspect were going to hear more of that. Its weird. When youre in a profession, I wait, am I allowed to swear on Hard Fork? kevin roose Yes. casey newton Yeah. Yes. adam rodman I actually believe in that old bullshit about the doctor-patient relationship being the most important thing. Above all else. I believe that. Thats why Im such a pain in the ass. So if this thing can do a better job than me at making my patients life better, to me, it seems like regardless of those guild issues, it seems to me thats what the right thing to do is. casey newton Yeah. Itll just be interesting if we live in a world where the actors have successfully prevented movie studios from replacing them with AI. But the doctors are like, well, I guess thats fine. adam rodman That might happen. kevin roose So after having done this study and continuing to do work in this area of AI and medicine, do you feel more optimistic about the future of medicine, or do you feel like were headed into this dark timeline where AI is just making all the decisions and we suck the humanity out of the health care system? adam rodman I see the market forces at bear here, and my worry and the way that I see things being rolled out now is that were veering not directly towards the darkest timeline, but that were heading in that direction. And I think that we need to be really thoughtful. And we is not just doctors. Like, patients need to have a voice in this also. This is ultimately who this is about, about what type of health system we want and how we want these technologies to be used. But Im actually worried about us heading like, the current timeline is pretty dark, guys. You get five minutes, 10 minutes with your doctor and they dont look at you and they type on the computer. Like, thats not good. So medical errors like, up to 800,000 Americans are killed or seriously injured each year because of medical errors. Every 1 out of $5 that Americans make go into the health care system. So this darkest timeline thing isnt that far away. Well, Im a natural pessimist, but Im trying. Im like Don Quixote. Im trying to go for the good timeline, even though it probably wont work. kevin roose If any young people are listening to this who may have been interested in becoming a doctor or entering the health care profession, what would you advise them? Should they not become doctors because AI is going to take that job? adam rodman Well, the problem is, what are you going to suggest that they do instead? Like, if were talking about technologies, they can do this. At this conference, they played something on notebook LLM with a fantastic podcast host. So I dont know. I dont know. So I think that were talking about tasks of doctors that might be automated, and its going to be working together for a while. And were not talking about the job as a whole. And fundamentally, its still a job about human connection and making people better. And if that is what you want, I would do that. Also, surgeons and proceduralists are not going anywhere. So I wouldnt dissuade somebody from medicine, but they should know, thats what theyre going into it for. And its not going to be like Doctor House I actually have never seen House. I always just use this example despite having never seen the show, so Im a phony. But its just its not going to be that cognitive part. Its going to be something different. And thats scary because you cant predict. And I would love I mean, medical students ask me this, and I dont have an answer for them. casey newton Well, its a fascinating conversation, doctor, but I will be seeking a second opinion actually. I think its just important. adam rodman You should ask ChatGPT. kevin roose Thank you so much. adam rodman Thanks, guys. Well, that was fun. casey newton Thank you, Adam. I learned a lot. [MUSIC PLAYING] When we come back, crime doesnt pay, but it does play on the Hard Fork podcast. kevin roose I see what you did there. casey newton Yeah. [MUSIC PLAYING] Well, Kevin, in the criminal justice system, the people are represented by two separate yet equally important groups the police, who investigate crime, and the media, who turn those crimes into podcasts. kevin roose [LAUGHS]: casey newton And from time to time here on Hard Folk, we like to survey the landscape of crime and punishment for a segment that we call Hard Fork crimes division. [MUSIC PLAYING] All right. Now, in this segment, we seek justice, I think its fair to say. We will not be solving any crimes, but we will describe them. kevin roose Yeah. casey newton Or certainly, we will describe what has been alleged. kevin roose Ill just say, we have not yet solved the crime, but its not out of the realm of possibility casey newton Not at all. kevin roose in the future. casey newton Not at all. We are always gathering evidence. And perhaps we should turn to our first case, Kevin. kevin roose Yes. casey newton Let me crack open this case file. The FBI searches the home of the founder of the Polymarket betting website. Did you this one? kevin roose I did, this was juicy. casey newton So Polymarket founder, Shayne Coplan, had his home searched by the FBI last week as part of a criminal investigation into whether Coplan was running Polymarket as, quote, an unlicensed commodities exchange, which is apparently illegal. And they seized Coplans electronic devices, including a phone. kevin roose Yeah, thats not a good thing when that happens to you. casey newton Now, Kevin, after Shayne Coplans phone was seized, he posted the following on X. New phone. Who dis? kevin roose [LAUGHS]: casey newton So, Kevin, remind us who this Shayne Coplan character is. kevin roose So this is the young founder of Polymarket, which is the leading crypto prediction betting market platform. It rose to prominence during the election where people wagered millions of dollars on who was going to win the election. And as my colleague David Jaffe Bellini told us on the show a few weeks ago, it was nominally illegal in the US, but lots of Americans were using it anyway through VPNs and things like that. And it was an open secret that it had this large base of customers in the US despite not technically being allowed here. casey newton Yeah. So I think that the FBI has some questions about that. But Polymarket spokesman said, why not? That the raid was, quote, obvious political retribution by the outgoing administration. kevin roose Yeah. The theory here, at least the one thats being advocated by Polymarket fans and defenders, is that the Biden Justice Department and FBI were so mad about the election and the fact that people on Polymarket had predicted that Trump would win that they I dont know, went after the company on some bogus charges. casey newton And heres why I dont think thats true. Could you imagine explaining Polymarket to Joe Biden. kevin roose [LAUGHS]: casey newton Its like, Mr. President, its a prediction market. People bet cryptocurrency on the outcomes of various events. Not in the United States, but they would VPN into it. By the time youve gotten to VPN, Joe Biden has truly fallen asleep. kevin roose I dont think so I bet Joe Biden has used a VPN. casey newton You think? So what, like, watch Netflix movies that are unavailable in the United States? kevin roose BBC mysteries. So what do we know about why they are being investigated here? casey newton Well, because if it is true that large numbers of Americans are illegally betting on elections by using VPNs, that could be a violation of the law. DYB told us that people were openly describing how to get around the ban on US bettors in the Polymarket market Discord. kevin roose Yes. casey newton So I think at the very least, the FBI is going to say, you need to tighten this up a little bit and make it a little bit harder for Americans to use this service. kevin roose Yes. And some reports have said that this investigation predates the election. This was in process long before. Its also not poly markets first run in with the law. They previously settled with the CFTC, the Commodity Futures Training Commission, in 2022 and paid a fine as part of that settlement. But this is something new. This is bigger. And I would say if you are a Polymarket fan in the US, you probably should stop doing that. casey newton Can I tell you how I think this one resolves? kevin roose How? casey newton Shayne Coplan running the Federal Reserve. kevin roose [LAUGHS]: casey newton Stay tuned. Its going to be a wild 2025. kevin roose Yes. casey newton Lets open case number two, Kevin. kevin roose What do we have? casey newton Well, Kevin, Razzlekhan, cryptos most embarrassing rapper, some say, is going to prison. Remember Razzlekhan? kevin roose I sure do. casey newton Heather Razzlekhan Morgan, who is a former blogger at Forbes and part of the Forbes to prison pipeline and creator of Cringey, crypto tinged rap videos, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison this week after pleading guilty last year to helping her husband, Ilya Dutch Lichtenstein, launder 120,000 Bitcoin he stole by hacking the crypto exchange Bitfinex back in 2016. Do you know how much 120,000 Bitcoin were worth in 2016? kevin roose 2016, lets see. Probably not as much as they are today. casey newton They were worth $71 million back then. They are worth $11 billion today. kevin roose Thats quite a haul. casey newton Old Dutch and Razzlekhan really almost got away with it. They would be living large. kevin roose I was obsessed with this story when it came out, when they got arrested, because it was out of a very pulpy spy novel. casey newton Yes. kevin roose They had fake passports, and they were this, sort of, Bitcoin Bonnie and Clyde. casey newton Yes. kevin roose And they were just these cringey millennials who were trying to get famous on the internet but also stealing a bunch of Bitcoin to make themselves very rich. It was just our friend Nick Bilton has a documentary coming out about this case on Netflix that Im very excited to watch because Im truly obsessed. casey newton Shall we shall we hear a little bit of Razzlekhan work? kevin roose Lets do it. casey newton Yeah. If we could hear a clip, please. heather razzlekhan (SINGING) Razzlekhan, the Versace Bedouin. Come real far, but dont know where Im heading. Motherfucking crocodile Wall Street. kevin roose Oh, foul language. heather razzlekhan on my fingers and boots on my feet. Always be a goat, not a goddamn sheep. Email me. Fuck your message at the beat, beat, beat, beat, beat, beat, beat, beat, beat. See, now, I to me this just goes to show how much the culture has changed, because there was a time when people would have looked at what Razzlekhan did and simply said shes being fergalicious. But in the woke moment that were in now, stealing 120,000 Bitcoin gets you a year and a half in jail. kevin roose Yeah. casey newton Really sad. kevin roose Do you think that her rap career will be an asset in jail casey newton Absolutely. kevin roose her reputation? casey newton I would not be surprised if Razzlekhan is the most popular person in the prison that shes in and if it fuels the next phase of her journey. And in fact, she posted on X that she will, quote, soon be telling my story, sharing my thoughts, and telling you more about the creative and other endeavors Ive been working on. So I dont know what that means, but I will say, I would love to see a Razzlekhan jukebox musical. kevin roose [LAUGHS]: casey newton Tell the story of Razzlekhan in her own words through her own music. kevin roose Yes. And I should say, I look forward to Razzlekhan appointment to head the Securities and Exchange Commission. Next crime, what do we have? casey newton Kevin Gary Wang, a top FTX executive, has been given no prison time. kevin roose What did he do? casey newton Well, Gary, when Kevin was the last of the legal cases against FTX. You might remember some of FTXs more famous co-founders, such as Sam Bankman-Fried, who was sentenced to 25 years in prison for his role in FTX fraud, or Caroline Ellison, who was sentenced to two years in prison. Most recently, Ryan Salame was sentenced to kevin roose Salame. casey newton 7 and 1/2 years in prison. kevin roose Its Salem. casey newton Im actually going to kevin roose literally has to put a pronunciation guide in his stories for this name, because everyone calls him Ryan Salame, but its Salame. casey newton Do you know what they called the case against Ryan Salame, Kevin? kevin roose I think I know where youre going with this. casey newton The Salame witch trials. kevin roose Yes. I knew that was going to happen. Its more like the Salame witch trials, am I right? casey newton Thats a better one. kevin roose Wait, I gotta snort out of you for that? casey newton That was good. kevin roose OK. casey newton Thats good. So anyway, so that leaves Gary Wang, the fourth member of the crew here. Well, actually, thats not even true. Theres another guy, Nishad Singh, who was sentenced to time served. So Gary Wang was the last of these cases to be resolved. And it was resolved this week, and he was given no prison time. And the reason is, he snitched so hard on SBF that the government basically gave him a standing ovation. During the sentencing hearing, one prosecutor said that Wang was, quote, the easiest cooperator theyve worked with and provided essential information to them. So he basically got the best snitch award, and it kept him out of jail. kevin roose Which is a good reminder that cooperating with the government in a fraud investigation can have benefits. casey newton Now, Kevin, the FTX legal saga has really taken place from the start of this podcast, and now its wrapping up. So do you have any feelings of nostalgia or other reminiscences from two years of FTX? kevin roose I have been just very interested in this whole saga, not just because I think it was a big deal in the world of crypto, but because it has had all of these strange ripple effects, including I was talking with someone this week about this, but the investment that SBF made in Anthropic, the AI company, has essentially paid back all of the investors who would have lost money on the FTX fraud, because that stake has turned out to be worth a ton of money. And so even though Sam Bankman-Fried was a fraudster and is now serving time in prison, it turns out he was actually a pretty good Tech Investor. casey newton If he gets out of prison and you just run into him and hes like, you know where you should put your money, would you listen to him? kevin roose Yes, honestly, I would. casey newton You know what, I might too. I believe in second chances for people. kevin roose And, Sam, if youre listening, I would love your investment advice. I could really use some updates to my portfolio. casey newton Sam, if youre listening, youre not supposed to have a cell phone in there, so be careful. kevin roose You dont think you can get podcasts in prison? casey newton That would be the worst part about going to jail. kevin roose [LAUGHS]: casey newton Well, Kevin, we have one more case to look at. A phone network has employed an AI grandmother to waste scammers time with meandering conversations. kevin roose Yes. As you know, there are now these scammers who will call people using an AI voice pretending to be a long lost cousin or their grandmother or something and just try to steal money from them by impersonating someone. But this is a story that comes to us from the UK where the largest mobile phone operator in the UK, O2, has created a new AI system called Daisy to trick scammers into thinking that they are talking to a real person who basically has been given the goal of just rambling and keeping them on the line for as long as possible. So wasting the scammers time. Im sure youve seen there are all these YouTube videos now of people whose whole shtick is that they take scam phone calls and then they try to scam the scammers. casey newton Yes. kevin roose But that is labor intensive. And so now O2 has come along and said, we can actually build an AI that just wastes the scammers time for you. And I think thats a great development. casey newton I agree, Ive read that theyve sort of designed it to keep the scammers on the phone for as long as possible, but they are also trying to learn what tricks and techniques the scammers are using so that they can share that with, yeah, maybe their customers, maybe the police, and help prevent people from falling for these things. O2 said that Daisy has managed to keep some people on the phone for up to 40 minutes. kevin roose Ill just say it. If an AI voice is keeping you on the phone for 40 minutes, youre a bad scammer. casey newton Terrible scammer. kevin roose Youre bad at your job, because you can tell instantly when its an AI on the other end of the line. At least I think I can. casey newton Well, theres usually some sort of delay. kevin roose Yes. casey newton And presumably, thats going to disappear. But for now, I guess I feel somewhat confident. Now, I will say that consumers cannot use Daisy, but what O2 did was add it to the list of what they call easy target numbers used by scammers. So sharing it around and saying, hey, this Daisy is a really easy mark. So thats cool. But I will say it does make this feel a little bit more stunty to me. Although I guess as I think about it, Im not exactly sure how consumers would be able to, I dont know, flip a button to get Daisy to answer their scam. kevin roose Well, I think because you know how Apple or other mobile devices can now say scam likely when someone calls you from an unknown number? Yeah, you could just press a button, and it would put Daisy on the line and it could just waste their time. I think we should deploy this. casey newton Wait, thats actually genius. Like, I want to do this. kevin roose Yes. Do you do you like these sort of vigilante schemes to take back the power? casey newton I mean, look, there is always pleasure in seeing a justice done kevin roose Yes. casey newton an injustice being righted. I have to say, I have enjoyed YouTube videos of porch pirates being apprehended. kevin roose The glitter bombs. casey newton The glitter bombs, I find that very satisfying. kevin roose This is when you disguise something as a package. Someone steals it, they open it up, and it sprays glitter everywhere and sets off an alarm and sets off horrible smelling stuff. And this is a very popular genre of YouTube video. casey newton Yeah. Most people do not have, very often, an experience of justice. Its like, you see injustice everywhere. But the moment that you actually see a right a wrong being righted is like transcendent. I remember one time I was on the freeway, and everyone was trying to merge onto a different freeway. And so youre just sitting and bumper to bumper traffic. And youre going forward at 1 inch an hour. And somebody gets impatient, and they pull onto the shoulder so they can just get around everybody, because I guess they had somewhere to be. And about one second after the person pulled onto the shoulder, I saw siren lights go up. And a police officer just went and pulled that person over and got them in trouble. And that was my greatest experience of justice. kevin roose Yeah. casey newton And that happened 20 years ago, and I think about it all the time. Im so glad that happened. kevin roose Anyway, thanks, Daisy. And the sooner I can have you on my phone to deter the scammers, the happier Ill be. casey newton And thats the hard fought crimes division. Case closed. kevin roose Yeah. OK. [MUSIC PLAYING] Before we go, we have a special request. If you can, we would really appreciate if you filled out a quick survey. You can find the survey at nytimes.com/hardforksurvey. Your answers will not be published in any way. They will just help us make the best show we possibly can, and understand more about who listens to the show in the first place. Again, can find the survey at nytimes.com/hardforksurvey. Well also drop the link in the show notes. casey newton Hard Fork is produced by Rachel Cohn and Whitney Jones. Were edited by Jen Poyant. This episode was fact checked by Nina Alvarado. Todays show was engineered by Alyssa Moxley. Original music by Marion Lozano, Diane Wong, Leah Shaw Dameron, and Dan Powell. Our audience editor is Neil Gallogly. Video production by Ryan Manning and Chris Schott. You can watch this whole episode on YouTube at youtube.com/hardfork. Special thanks to Paula Szuchman, Pui-Wing Tam, Dahlia Haddad, and Jeffrey Miranda. You can email us at hardfork@nytimes.com with whatever disease ChatGPT just told you that you have. kevin roose Im literally a walking nerd billboard. Thats how Jordan Alexander Wilson describes himself. A few of the reasons he cited: Theres a tattoo of a ninja from a Japanese manga series that stretches across his shoulders and down to the small of his back. Four Nintendo video game characters are inked on his left shin, and a quote from a Batman comic covers his right rib cage. But until a Friday afternoon in March 2022, Philicia Shamira Jean Saunders didnt know this side of her co-worker at Bad Robot, the Los Angeles film and television production house of which the Lost co-creator J.J. Abrams is a founder. That afternoon, she took Mr. Wilson to lunch as a thank you for remotely fixing her iPad ahead of an acting audition. It was two years into the pandemic, and because Mr. Wilson had just recently moved to Los Angeles to join Bad Robots technology support team, the two had only interacted through virtual office meetings. Sue Heverling wrapped herself in a winter coat, clutched a pair of hiking poles and set out across a frozen mud flat near Anchorage, braving five-degree temperatures and treacherous ice to see the Alaskan citys newest, and largest, spectacle. She took her first tentative steps on the ice, slipped and fell, then got up and pushed on. As she drew closer, what had appeared modest from a distance now loomed before her. That is big, Ms. Heverling, 62, recalled saying to herself. The object of her fascination was the carcass of a 47-foot-long fin whale, which has drawn crowds in Anchorage for days. The young female member of the second largest mammal species had probably washed ashore on the high tide on Saturday, according to Barbara Mahoney, a biologist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration who examined the carcass. Families of the nearly 3,000 victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks may be divided over whether the man accused of being the mastermind of the plot should someday face a death penalty trial or be allowed to plead guilty in exchange for life in prison. But many agree on one thing: The on-again, off-again plea deal process has been agonizing. Its a roller coaster that gets you nauseous, said Julie Boryczewski, whose brother, Martin Boryczewski, a trader at the World Trade Center, was killed in the attacks. Ms. Boryczewski wants Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, the main defendant, put to death. Otherwise, she said, terrorism wins. Jessica Trant, whose father, Dan Trant, was killed on Sept. 11, said the uncertainty amounted to mental warfare. Why are we being victimized again? said Ms. Trant, who also supports a death penalty trial. Sept. 11 families who have been watching the yearslong case at Guantanamo Bay feel whipsawed. On July 31, a senior Pentagon official approved a deal by prosecutors that exchanged life in prison without the possibility of release or appeal. Then Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III rescinded the agreement to try to return the case to a capital trial, a process that would require years of litigation and appeals. On the night he won a second term, President-elect Donald J. Trump rejoiced in the moment. America has given us an unprecedented and powerful mandate, he boasted. In the two and a half weeks since, his campaign has repeatedly heralded his landslide, even to market Trump merchandise like the Official Trump Victory Glass. But by traditional numeric measures, Mr. Trumps victory was neither unprecedented nor a landslide. In fact, he prevailed with one of the smallest margins of victory in the popular vote since the 19th century and generated little of the coattails of a true landslide. The disconnect goes beyond predictable Trumpian braggadocio. The incoming president and his team are trying to cement the impression of a resounding margin, as one aide called it, to make Mr. Trump seem more popular than he is and strengthen his hand in forcing through his agenda in the months to come. The collapse of Matt Gaetzs prospective nomination for attorney general demonstrated the challenges for Mr. Trump in forcing a Republican Congress to defer to his more provocative ideas. While Mr. Gaetz, a former Republican congressman from Florida, denied allegations of attending sex and drug parties and having sex with an underage girl, they proved too much even for Republicans eager to stay in Mr. Trumps good graces. The Supreme Court, which dealt a major blow to the power of federal agencies in June, agreed on Friday to consider another: whether Congress violates the Constitution by delegating broad discretion to them. The so-called nondelegation doctrine has been largely dormant since 1935, when the Supreme Court struck down New Deal laws for granting too much leeway to agencies with insufficient guidance. A decision reviving the doctrine would be the latest in a sustained series of attacks on what its critics call the administrative state. The decision in June, for instance, overruled a foundational precedent requiring deference to agencies interpretations of federal laws and endangered countless regulations in areas like the environment, health care and consumer safety. Along the same lines, other recent rulings rejected the Securities and Exchange Commissions use of administrative tribunals to combat securities fraud and limited the Environmental Protection Agencys ability to address carbon emissions. A gusty storm drawing torrents of moisture from the Pacific Ocean parked itself on Friday over the San Francisco Bay Area, flooding highways and toppling power lines. Officials warned the regions nearly eight million residents to be ready for possible floods, landslides and widespread outages. Heavy winds forced about 450 flight delays or cancellations before noon at San Francisco International Airport, according to FlightAware, a tracking website. Elsewhere in Northern California, rivers and creeks spilled over their banks after back-to-back days of pelting rain. Roads and fields flooded. The dangerous weather, fed by an atmospheric river from the Pacific, started Tuesday in the Pacific Northwest, killing at least two people in the Seattle area and dumping heavy snow in the mountains. Falling trees triggered widespread power outages, and more than 165,000 customers in Washington State remained without electricity on Friday. Utility officials said the outages could last through the weekend. The ongoing wind and rain have made it difficult for crews to complete repairs. South Africas governing party, the African National Congress, affirmed its decision to expel its former leader Jacob Zuma on Friday, rejecting his efforts to remain in the party. The party, which has ruled South Africa since the end of apartheid 30 years ago, expelled Mr. Zuma in July, casting him as a traitor after he had formed a rival political organization in a bid to challenge the A.N.C.s dominance. In the run-up to a crucial election in May, Mr. Zuma led and campaigned for the fledgling party even as he remained a card-carrying member of the A.N.C. Mr. Zuma refused to give up his A.N.C. membership and appealed his expulsion last month. He demanded to make his case in person, rather than a virtual meeting. He also wanted the party to make public its internal disciplinary processes. In the past, Mr. Zuma has turned his appearances at political and legal battles into impromptu rallies, with hundreds of supporters following him. The party refused his request, and permanently severed ties with Mr. Zuma this week. Brazils far-right movement and its leader, former President Jair Bolsonaro, have had a challenging few days. First, a supporter of Mr. Bolsonaro blew himself up near the nations Supreme Court, an institution many on the right see as an enemy, in a terrorist attack that the police attributed to political extremism. Days later, the authorities accused members of an elite military unit including a former top aide to Mr. Bolsonaro of planning to kill Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, weeks before he was to become president. The assassination plan, the police said, was printed out in the presidential offices while Mr. Bolsonaro was in the building, according to a police report reviewed by The New York Times. Now, the police are seeking criminal charges against Mr. Bolsonaro himself, along with three dozen of his allies, over a broad plot to stage a coup to keep him in power after he lost the 2022 presidential election to Mr. Lula. Russia has supplied North Korea with antiaircraft missiles in return for the deployment of its troops to fight in Russias war against Ukraine, South Koreas national security adviser said on Friday. In recent weeks, North Korea has sent an estimated 11,000 troops, some of whom have joined Russian forces in their fight to retake territories occupied by Ukraine in Russias Kursk region, according to South Korean and United States officials. It has also sent close to 20,000 shipping containers of weapons to Russia since the summer of 2023, including artillery guns and shells, short-range ballistic missiles and multiple-rocket launchers, South Korean officials have said. In return, North Korea has been widely expected to seek Russian help in modernizing its conventional armed forces and advancing its nuclear weapons program and missiles. One of the biggest weaknesses of the North Korean military has been its poor, outdated air defense system, while the United States and its allies in South Korea and Japan run fleets of high-tech war planes, including F-35 stealth fighter jets. We understand that Russia has provided related equipment and anti-air missiles to shore up the poor air defense for Pyongyang, the North Korean capital, South Koreas national security adviser, Shin Won-shik, said in an interview with SBS-TV on Friday. Through his social media influence and his many videos, Pat King rose to become one of the most prominent figures in protests that paralyzed Canadas capital for over a month, contesting coronavirus restrictions. Now, more than two years later, an Ottawa judge on Friday found Mr. King guilty of five charges involving mischief and disobeying a court order. Mr. Kings case is among several high-profile trials of protesters accused of organizing the protests and urging others to participate. In September, two men were sentenced to just over six years in prison for public mischief and firearm possession for their roles in a protest in Coutts, Alberta, a border town where the police recovered a cache of weapons. When Prime Minister Keir Starmer of Britain joined President Emmanuel Macron of France in Paris last week to celebrate Armistice Day the first British leader to do so since Winston Churchill in 1944 it was a striking illustration of his Labour governments desire to reset relations with Europe. But despite the rich symbolism and the palpable warmth between two centrist leaders, the visit was overshadowed by Donald J. Trumps victory in the American presidential election a week earlier. With his history of antagonism toward the European Union, Mr. Trumps return complicates Mr. Starmers intention to turn a corner on Brexit and pursue what he called a once-in-a-generation opportunity to rebuild ties with the rest of Europe. What could have been an economically profitable, if politically delicate, bridge-building exercise for Britains Labour government now threatens to become more of a binary choice between the E.U. and the United States. Closer British trade ties with Europe, warn diplomats and people in Mr. Trumps orbit, could come at the expense of relations with the incoming American president, who is a confirmed Brexiteer and cheered when his last British counterpart, Boris Johnson, picked fights with the E.U. Ukraines Parliament canceled a session on Friday over a warning that Russia could target the building in an attack with a missile that Ukraines air defenses cannot shoot down, lawmakers said. Although they did not say which type of missile they were worried about, the decision to cancel the session came a day after Russia fired what it described as a new, intermediate-range missile. Ukraine has no radars capable of detecting those missiles in flight through the upper atmosphere, nor air defense systems capable of shooting them down, Ukrainian experts have said. Since the start of the war, Parliament has continued meeting in its chambers, even in the first months of the conflict, when Russian forces were just 12 miles from the center of the capital. But on Friday, Parliament decided not to take the risk. They canceled it late last night, citing the danger of a missile strike, Oleksiy Honcharenko, an opposition member of Parliament, said of the planned session. In many ways, President Vladimir V. Putin seems to be winning. Russian forces are pushing ahead in Ukraine. President-elect Donald J. Trump is returning to the White House. War fatigue is spreading across Europe. North Korean troops have boosted the ranks of his army. And yet on Thursday, Mr. Putin appeared weary, threatened and newly aggrieved as he took his bellicose threats against his Western adversaries to a new level. Even with the prospect of a friendlier American administration around the corner, he has found himself struggling anew to confront perhaps the biggest failure of his war: Russias inability to deter the West from providing colossal amounts of military aid to Ukraine. As a result, Mr. Putin is bringing Russia closer to a direct conflict with the United States than at any point in decades. He announced Thursday evening that Russia had struck Ukraine with a new intermediate-range missile, one with nuclear capabilities, using a televised speech to cast the West as an aggressor that left Moscow with no choice but to respond. The arrest comes amid heightened concern over Russian espionage activities in Europe following a spate of arson attacks, vandalism and assaults against individuals, all of which have been linked to Russian operatives. This month, details emerged about an apparent Russian plot to place incendiary devices aboard cargo planes in Europe, and on Thursday, U.S. intelligence officials issued a warning to American defense companies to be vigilant in the face of potential Russian sabotage operations. Last month, Ken McCallum, the chief of Britains domestic spy service, MI5, warned that Russian intelligence operatives were on a mission to generate mayhem on British and European streets. Iran, too, represents a serious espionage threat, Mr. McCallum said. Since January 2022, he said, the British security services had disrupted 20 Iranian-backed plots that posed potentially lethal threats to British citizens. Other European countries and the United States have warned of similar threats coming from Iran. This month, Federal prosecutors in New York said that Iranian operatives had plotted to assassinate Donald J. Trump. Mr. Orahhou was arrested at his residence in Oslo on Wednesday, officials said. If convicted under Norways espionage statute, he could face up to 10 years in prison. The U.S. Embassy in Oslo did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In an email to the Times, Mr. Orahhous lawyer, John Christian Elden, said his client had admitted to having contact with Russian and Iranian intelligence operatives, but it was still unclear if his activities were serious enough to fall under Norways espionage statute. After weeks of deadly Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon and punishing combat between Israeli forces and the Hezbollah militant group, the contours of a potential cease-fire agreement appear to be taking shape, according to several regional and U.S. officials briefed on the ongoing diplomacy. The officials cautioned that critical details around implementation and enforcement needed to be worked out and that disagreements could still scupper any deal. But some cited reasons for cautious optimism. The officials, from Lebanon, Israel, neighboring countries and the United States, spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive and evolving negotiations. The proposed agreement calls for a 60-day truce, during which Israeli forces would withdraw from southern Lebanon and Hezbollah fighters would pull back to the north of the Litani River, which runs roughly parallel to the Lebanon-Israel border, some of the officials said. During that time, the Lebanese Army and a U.N. peacekeeping force would ramp up their deployment in the border zone, and a new enforcement mechanism headed by the United States would ensure that Hezbollah and Israel remained outside the area. Israel pressed on with its bombardment of Lebanon on Friday after issuing widespread evacuation warnings in the countrys south, as its conflict with Hezbollah militants showed no sign of abating despite a U.S.-led push for a cease-fire. The Israeli military launched a series of raids on the Dahiya, the area near Beirut that is in effect controlled by Hezbollah, a military spokesman, Avichay Adraee, said on Friday afternoon. The area, once home to a large civilian population, has been a frequent target of Israeli strikes since the war began and has been hit especially hard in recent days. Other strikes, which came as Lebanon celebrated its independence day, hit near the southern port city of Tyre, after calls by the Israeli military for civilians to evacuate entire towns in the area and flee more than 20 miles north. Lebanons health ministry said two separate Israeli strikes in the south had killed five paramedics. The more Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel is cast as an international pariah, the more many Israelis appear to embrace him. The arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court on Thursday for Mr. Netanyahu and his former defense minister, Yoav Gallant, on accusations of war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza Strip spurred a wave of outrage and condemnation across Israels political spectrum. It is embarrassing to see Netanyahu and Gallant in the same place as Muammar el-Qaddafi, Slobodan Milosevic, Ratko Mladic and several African dictators, wrote Sima Kadmon, a political columnist and longtime Netanyahu critic, in the Friday editions of the popular Yediot Ahronot newspaper. Still, she added, the allegations of anti-Israel-ism are understandable. Perhaps even antisemitism. Despite deep domestic polarization, analysts said, most Israelis were likely to rally around Mr. Netanyahus repudiation of the courts decision, which he denounced as antisemitic" for falsely accusing the democratically elected prime minister of Israel. An Indian family recently went viral for their decision to send their old Suzuki Wagon to the grave rather than the scrapyard in a lavish burial ceremony attended by around 1,500 people. They say you shouldnt get too attached to material possessions, but try telling that to the Polara family in Padarshinga Village, Gujarat, who recently said goodbye to their 18-year-old Suzuki Wagon R by laying it to rest in a lavish burial ceremony attended by over 1,500 locals. The Polara believed the popular hatchback to be their lucky car so they wanted to say goodbye to it properly, rather than abandoning it at a scrapyard after nearly two decades of faithful service. Patriarch Sanjay Polara told reporters that he owns several more expensive cars, including an Audi, but credits the old Wagon R for being instrumental in achieving prosperity for his family, so he wanted to do something special for it. The Polaras had a 15-foot-deep burial pit dug on their property and then slowly had the small hatchback lowered into it via a makeshift slope. The car was covered with flower petals and decorated with colorful garlands as music played from portable speakers. The family then covered it with a green cloth and performed several rituals as part of a ceremony that reportedly cost over $4,500. They even had a samadhi (shrine) erected for their beloved Suzuki Wagon R. This car was more than just a vehicle; it was part of our journey toward success. Instead of selling it, we wanted to honor it with a lasting memory for future generations, Sanjay said. Gujarat: In Amreli, farmer Sanjay Polra gave his 15-year-old car a symbolic final resting place in gratitude for the prosperity it brought his family. The family held a ceremony with the village, planting trees at the site to commemorate their fortune-changing vehicle pic.twitter.com/vtoEkVQLIP IANS (@ians_india) November 8, 2024 After all the rituals were concluded, an excavator was used to cover the wagon with dirt and clay. Sanjay Polara, who owns a construction business in Surat, said that he also plans to plant a tree over the unusual grave to remind future generations that it is resting place of the familys lucky car. Interestingly, this isnt the first time weve seen someone bury their vehicle out of appreciation for its service. Back in 2017, we wrote about Alcides Ravel, a Uruguayan farmer who laid his Ford F-350 to rest after 48 years of service. Weve also seen people bury their relatives in their favorite cars An entrepreneur and early crypto investor recently announced a public treasure hunt for five different treasure chests containing valuable items allegedly worth around $2 million. Jon Collins-Black once dreamed of finding valuable treasure, but he managed to become rich by investing in Bitcoin early, so he has spent the last five years planning an epic treasure hunt for other treasure hunters. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the crypto investor started acquiring a collection of valuable items to fill five different treasure chests with before burying them at undisclosed locations across the US. None of the chests are on private property, so technically, anyone can find them, although Collins-Black points out that you need to follow a series of clues and have a sharp mind in order to find even one of the chests. The crypto investor claims that he is the only one who knows where the treasure chests are hidden, so there is no point in trying to quiz his family and friends about clues. All the information a treasure hunter needs to embark on the greatest treasure hunt in American history is conveniently laid out in Collins-Blacks book, Theres Treasure Inside, although he made sure to make them as difficult to decipher as possible. Each chest is also a puzzle box that needs to be opened, but while Collins-Black urged people not to force them open, as his book includes instructions on how to open them, we doubt anyone would let a puzzle stand between them an life-changing wealth. Jon Collins-Black told Business Insider that among the valuables sealed inside the five treasure chests are a Casascius bitcoin (the first physical bitcoin ever made), a green Colombian emerald, a 2002 Shining Charizard Pokemon card, antiques from a shipwreck, and George Washingtons jelly glass, and he showed the American publication the receipts for all the items to prove that he really did buy them all. I was actually trying to figure out what the sweet spot would be as far as how big to make this without making it too big, I didnt want people to go too crazy, Collins-Black said, adding that the value of the treasure was estimated at between $2 million and $3 million, and only expected to grow with each passing year. If Bitcoin goes to $500,000 or $1 million or these treasures are worth $10 million in five to seven years and someone finds them, then I think Ill just celebrate that and be happy for it, the crypto investor added. In case you end up buying Jon Collins-Blacks book but find the clues inside to be insufficient or hard to decipher, dont despair, as the author plans to eventually release more clues if the treasure isnt discovered. He said that he didnt want the treasure hunt to outlive him, so he may release new clues in 8 or 10 years. I dont have this desire for me to be long gone and there to be the legend of the Jon Collins-Black treasures, he said. I dont want to drag it on forever. After seeing his business affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, a Michigan jeweler decided to close shop and make money by using about $1 million in precious metals as treasure for would-be treasure hunters willing to pay for clues. Johnny Perri has been a jeweler his whole life, after learning the business from his father, but the economic crisis caused by the coronavirus proved too hard for his shop in Macomb County, Michigan. He had to options: either sell everything and retire, or find a new way to make money using the jewelry. Perri and his wife chose option two, allegedly burying or otherwise hiding around $1 million-worth of jewelry in dozens of spots, from the Detroit metropolitan area through the Upper Peninsula. Now the jeweler is challenging people to go hunting for his treasures and claim them for themselves, if they can find it. Photo: Johanna84/Pixabay I have buried not only my entire jewelry store but thousands upon thousands of dollars of gold, silver, diamonds & antiques in various locations in Michigan from the bottom to the upper peninsula, Perri writes on his website. Everything I have buried has a history and many memories attached to them that I have let go and placed in the ground for you to discover. Johnnys Treasure Quest, as Johnny Perris new business venture is called, invites people to go on real-life treasure hunts, uncovering clues, solving riddles and walking away with thousands of dollars in riches. While they claim that the total value of the buried or hidden treasure exceeds $1 million, the jewelry is split into dozens of separate treasures. Each quest starts on a certain date and has a limited number of tickets. The catch is that in order to receive clues for each treasure hunt, participants must first buy a ticket for that specific quest. Once quest begins, every registered treasure hunter will receive a set of clues to point them in the right direction. Whoever finds the treasure first gets to keep it for themselves. Photo: Johnnys Treasure Quest You follow the riddle, you got a little wit, a little adventure in you, youll find it quick I dont expect it to go more than a week, Perri told FOX2 Detroit. The first treasure quest is scheduled for August 15 and the available tickets have already been sold out. Tickets were priced at $49, and the value of the 200 ounces .999 Silver up for grabs was estimated at $4,000. The next available quest will take place on September 13, and the value of the hidden treasure is estimated at $7,000. Tickets are still available, but cost $59. In the official rule list on the Johnnys Treasure Quest website, participants are warned not to share the clues they receive on social media or with people who did not register for the treasure hunts. If they do so, they will be disqualified and forbidden from taking part in other quests, and attempts to acquire the treasure after breaking this rule will be met with legal action. Perri claims that all of the hidden treasures are monitored with GPS trackers, so he knows the moment one of them is moved or otherwise tampered with. The Michigan jeweler said that he was inspired to turn his stock into buried treasure after reading an article about the infamous Forrest Fenn treasure recently discovered in the Rocky Mountains. After going out and experiencing the natural beauty of his state with his wife, he decided to follow in Fenns footsteps and challenge people to good, old-fashioned treasure hunts. Giving people adventure is giving them something to believe in again, besides this Covid crap, Perri said. A group of treasure hunters that has been searching for the fabled Lemminkainen Hoard treasure in Finland since 1987 claims that they are finally just meters away from finding it. Known as the Treasure Twelve, the group of treasure hunters has spent every summer since 1987 looking for the Lemminkainen Hoard, the whereabouts of which were revealed to them by a mystic just before their death. Apparently, a labyrinthine cave complex near Helsinki is home to the most valuable treasure the world has ever known, with an estimated value of over $15 billion. Now, 34 years after their search for the Lemminkainen Hoard began the Treasure Twelve are closer than ever to finally getting their hands on it. Photo: Janos Venczak/Unsplash The massive Sibbosberg cave system, located 20 miles east of Helsinki, in Finland is where the members of the Treasure Twelve are convinced the Lemminkainen Hoard was stashed away hundreds of years ago. Although the existence of the treasure has never been confirmed, those who believe its a real claim that it contains over 50,000 gemstones including rubies, sapphires, emeralds, and diamonds, several 18-carat gold life-size human statues, as well as over 1,000 artefacts dating back thousands of years. The story of the Lemminkainen Hoard began in 1984, when mystic Ior Bock claimed that his family were direct descendants of Lemminkainen, one of the heroes of Kalevala and a prominent figure in Finnish pagan mythology. Bock claimed that a sealed chamber on his estate contained the Lemminkainen Hoard and that his family had guarded against invaders for centuries. Ior Bock died in 2010, after being stabbed by one of his personal assistants, but the hunt for the Lemminkainen Hoard continued without him. The cave system that Bock claimed housed the legendary treasure trove is known by some as the Temple of Lemminkainen. Despite countless official explorations and the expeditions of over 100 treasure hunters, the hoard has yet to be discovered. The Temple Twelve are arguably the most dedicated of all the treasure hunters that have ever shown interest in the Lemminkainen Hoard. They have spent the last 34 years of their lives digging and exploring through the Temple of Lemminkainen, and they are allegedly on the brink of reaching their prize. But theyll have to wait until next summer to get their hands on it, as the rest of the year the cave system is filled with freezing rainwater. The original Temple Twelve group consisted of 12 men and women from Finland, Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands, Australia, Russia, America, and Germany, none of whom had any archaeological experience. They used rudimentary tools and worked with Ian Bock to explore the vast cave system. Over the last 34 years, most of the groups original members either died or retired, but two of the original crew still remain involved in the hunt for the Lemminkainen Hoard and they now believe that they are only meters away from the sealed treasure chamber that has eluded them for so long. Historian and author Carl Borgen, the worlds leading authority on the Lemminkainen Hoard, has chronicled the exploits of the Treasure Twelve in his book, Temporarily Insane. PRSA was named Global Public Relations Association of the Year by the Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management during the World Public Relations Forum 2024 in Bali, Indonesia. The 2024 Global Alliance World Public Relations & Communication Awards received over 100 entries from 20 countries worldwide. PRSA was the only finalist selected from the United States. The Global Public Relations Association of the Year category is open to associations with outstanding work in the public relations and communication industry that push the profession forward. For 75+ years, PRSA has been a leading advocate for the communications profession in the U.S. and around the world, and we are thrilled to be recognized as the Global Public Relations Association of the Year, said 2024 PRSA chair Joseph Abreu. Cornerstone Government Affairs brings on new state offices and personnel in Delaware, the District of Columbia, Texas and South Carolina. The additions expand the firms national footprint beyond its headquarters in Washington, DC and offices in 14 states. Lauren Vella, who was most recently chief of staff to the president at the University of Delaware, will lead the opening of Cornerstones Delaware office. Cornerstones capabilities at the local level in the District of Columbia and within the state of Maryland will be bolstered by the addition of Manny Geraldo and Derron Parks, while Matt Garcia will work with clients in the Dallas area, and Mark Harmon will help build out Cornerstones Charleston, SC location, which opened in August. Clients continue to ask us for advice and counsel at the state level, and we are excited to be able to expand these capabilities to meet their needs, Cornerstone president Campbell Kaufman said. The political landscape is ever-changing, and we are working to stay ahead of the curve. Mercury Public Affairs is merging Chicago-based Serafin & Associates into its Illinois business. Serafin & Associates president and CEO Thom Serafin will join Mercury as co-chair for the agency in Illinois. The partnership is intended to strength Mercurys Chicago and Illinois statewide operations, leveraging Serafin's knowledge of the Midwest and strategic resources from coast to coast. "Our clients require strategic communications counsel and execution, and Serafin has been a leader in this space. Mercury-Illinois will be full service in every sense in the public affairs world," said former Rep. Cheri Bustos (D-IL), who leads Mercurys Illinois team. Pam Bondi Donald Trump has picked Ballard Partners partner Pam Bondi as his nomination for attorney general as ex-Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz decides not to pursue Senate confirmation for the post. She was elected twice to serve as Floridas attorney general from 2011 to 2019 and served on Trump's defense team during the impeachment proceedings. At Ballard, Bondi chairs its corporate regulatory compliance practice, which counsels Fortune 500 companies on how to address public policy practices such as human trafficking, opioid abuse and personal data privacy. Trump earlier named Susie Wiles, a ten-year Ballard Partners veteran who led its flagship Tallahassee office, as his chief of staff. Wiles, 67, ran Trumps Sunshine State campaign in 2016, and then helmed his Save America PAC. She co-managed Trumps 2024 presidential run. Brian Ballard is a top Trump fundraiser in Florida. Sacred Heart Primary School Roscrea celebrated a momentous event as broadcaster and advocate Cynthia Ni Mhurchu MEP visited the school to raise the Blue Star Flag and Amber Flag. The ceremony was a poignant reminder of the schools dedication to both European values and mental health awareness. Ms Ni Mhurchu, a prominent figure in Irish media and a passionate supporter of education and community initiatives, was warmly welcomed by the students, staff, and local community members who gathered to witness the flag-raising event. Her presence added a touch of prestige to the occasion, underscoring the importance of the school's achievements. Ms Ni Murchu was full of enthusiasm and praise for the great welcome and the positive atmosphere she experienced in the school throughout her visit. The Blue Star Flag is a symbol of the schools participation in the Blue Star Programme, an initiative that aims to foster a greater understanding and appreciation of the European Union among primary school children. The programme, which is co-funded by the EU and the Irish government, encourages pupils to learn about European cultures, languages, history, and institutions. The initiative has been successfully ongoing in the school for a number of years now. Throughout the academic year, students at Sacred Heart Roscrea engaged in a variety of activities and projects centred around the EU. These included research projects especially in art, history and geography as well as learning Spanish as part of the languages initiative. The pupils also engage in the study of democracy and engage in the democratic process by electing their own school council which represents the student body and facilitates the student voice. The culmination of their hard work and dedication was the raising of the Blue Star Flag, signifying their commitment to being informed and active European citizens. The Amber Flag, on the other hand, is a testament to Sacred Heart Roscreas efforts in promoting mental health and well-being within the school community. This initiative, spearheaded by Pieta House, aims to create healthy, inclusive environments that support the mental well-being of students and staff alike. Wellbeing is not only a cornerstone of the curriculum but also a long established approach to school life. The Amber Flag now flies proudly alongside the Blue Star Flag, representing the schools holistic approach to education. The ceremony began with a welcome by the school principal, Mrs Sutton, who highlighted the significance of these achievements and expressed gratitude to everyone involved in the projects. Cynthia Ni Mhurchu then engaged in a question and answer session with students, as Gaeilge and through English. She shared her insights on the importance of European unity and mental health awareness. She praised the students for their enthusiasm and commitment, inspiring them to continue their efforts, to be kind and to believe in themselves. She also shared some insights into herself such as her favourite colour pink. Her favourite number 55,000, the number of first preference votes she got to become a member of the European Parliament. Her dogs name is Teddy, hes a bit mad Throughout the visit there were performances by each class which showcased the talents of the pupils in the school. The raising of the Blue Star Flag and Amber Flag at Sacred Heart Roscrea is more than a ceremonial act; it is a reflection of the schools dedication to fostering a well-rounded and informed student body. These initiatives not only enhance the educational experience but also equip students with the knowledge and skills to thrive in a diverse and interconnected world. The flags, now flying outside the school symbolise the schools ongoing commitment to promoting European values and mental health awareness. Sacred Heart Roscrea is a school full of spirit, setting a positive example and living its ethos of community, social awareness, intellect, faith and character. Cynthia Ni Mhurchus participation in the event added an extra layer of significance, reminding everyone present of the power of community, education, and support. As the students and staff of Sacred Heart Roscrea look to the future, they do so with a renewed sense of purpose and pride in their achievements. THERE was wonderful news in South Offaly on Friday last when it was announced that Shinrone Heritage Group had won the County Heritage Award, at The Heritage Council's National Heritage Week Awards Ceremony in Dublin. The County Award was for SHGs Unstitching the 17th Century Shinrone Gown, one of the most unique projects to be undertaken in the county in recent years. As well as its National Awards the Heritage Council gives a County Award to the best event or project in each Local Authority Area. The award is based on how well the event or project raised awareness about an element of heritage and how they promoted the event and involved the community. Speaking to the Midland Tribune, Ger Murphy of Shinrone Heritage Group revealed that the award was a complete surprise, as they had not been aware the project had been nominated. We learned of the Award from Heritage Officer Amanda Pedlow, who was attending the ceremony, and reached out with the wonderful news, he said. Michael Leonard, Chair of the Group, noted that the award is a wonderful recognition of our community efforts to celebrate the rich history, traditions, and culture that have shaped Shinrone and its environs. Ger added, Our goal has always been to preserve, celebrate, and share the unique heritage that defines our community, and this award reaffirms the importance of our purpose. Ger was keen to emphasise that objects such as the Shinrone Gown act as bridges between the past and the present, acting as living symbols of our communitys shared story. The Gown plays a crucial role in preserving our local identity, fostering pride in our past, and inspiring current and future generations to remain connected to a sense of place. Joe Cleary and Marguerite Walsh, who have long championed having the Shinrone Gown replicated, feel the Award inspires all in Shinrone to continue the Heritage Group's work with even greater enthusiasm as they continue to build up the collection of Shinrone National School's Museum. The Shinrone Gown was a whole community effort and SHG was evidently so grateful to everyone who supported the project the artists, local community, historians, Offaly Heritage Office, and volunteers. And it was the dedication and passion of artists Rosalind Fanning and Bernie Stapleton to recreate the gown and engage with the community that was the backbone of this project. Both Bernie and Rosalind's collective efforts to recreate the Shinrone Gown, continued Ger, have allowed the community in South Offaly to bring our shared history to life and ensure it is passed down to future generations. Bernie and Rosalind however were more modest, with Rosalind feeling she had been privileged to be entrusted with the Shinrone Gown story. Bernie was equally reflective, and when speaking to the Midland Tribune, explained that the project had brought her in touch with a whole range of people whom she would otherwise have never met. The Gown Project has given me a renewed purpose among the communities of South Offaly, she said. And speaking of communities, Shirone Heritage Group was keen to mention that the wider Offaly heritage community had received several Heritage Council awards and recognitions including James Scully, Ballycumber Tidy Towns, The Heritage Boat Association & Inland Waterways Association and Lemanaghan Bog Heritage & Conservation Group. SHGs secretary Ann-Marie Healy summed up the feeling that all Heritage Council recipients are simply a small representative of all the individuals and groups in every corner of Offaly who promote and support all things heritage in the County. Ger Murphy. on behalf of SHG, wished to thank the Heritage Office Team including Amanda Pedlow, Karen Gray, and the Creative Ireland Panel for supporting the Unstitching the 17th Century Shinrone Gown project; adding that the County Award was also a recognition of their progressive and endless support to the community heritage sector here in County Offaly. TWO concurrent six-month prison sentences were imposed on a woman who Judge Andrew Cody said had been peddling drugs. Sinead Real (29), with an address on court documents at Church Street, Clara but who Tullamore District Court heard was now living in Dublin, admitted committing drugs offences on July 5 last year. She had been accused of the unlawful possession of cocaine at the railway station in Clara and in addition, unlawful possession of diamorphine (heroin), and Alprazolam, for the purpose of selling or supplying those drugs to others, at Tullamore Garda Station. Pleas of guilty on behalf of Ms Real had been entered at a previous sitting of the court and defending solicitor Aisling Maloney said the woman had relocated to live in Dublin and had been receiving bereavement counselling because she lost a baby. She had also been working with the Community Alcohol and Drug Service and had asked that analysis of her urine be done but it had not happened because there may have been a breakdown in communication. Judge Cody said sentencing had been put back in July for Ms Real to produce clear urines for July, August, September and October and not one had been produced. Ms Maloney said her client was looking for another opportunity and it had been a very turbulent time for her. Sergeant Brendan Kearns said Ms Real had a total of 13 previous convictions, including one for robbery. A six-month suspended sentence had previously been imposed on her. Sergeant Kearns said some of the drugs were valued at 1,904. Ms Maloney said her client wished to continue with her bereavement counselling and was also due to attend at Merchants Quay for drug addiction treatment. Judge Cody said Ms Real had been convicted of having drugs for sale or supply and heroin and cocaine were scourge on society and had it wrecked. He imposed the sentences but also fixed recognisances for an appeal. Esker Ri Nursing Home in Offaly was in the spotlight at the prestigious NHI Care Awards 2024, held on November 19th in the historic Round Room at the Mansion House, Dublin. The event, in association with Homecare Medical, celebrated the exceptional dedication and care provided by nursing home staff across Ireland. A highlight of the night was the recognition of Ashbi Baby, Senior Healthcare Assistant at Esker Ri Nursing Home, who received one of the prestigious awards. Ashbis remarkable contributions to nursing home care - rooted in dedication, compassion, and excellence - have had a profound impact on the lives of residents, staff, and the wider community at Esker Ri. With a General Election just around the corner, the event was graced by the presence of Minister for Finance, Jack Chambers, who served as the guest of honour. Minister Chambers took to the stage to present one of the awards and shared heartfelt reflections on the critical role nursing home staff play in communities like Offaly. He expressed gratitude to the audience for their unwavering commitment to the well-being and dignity of older people and acknowledged the unique challenges faced by nursing homes. Originally from Kerala, India, Ashbi began her nursing career in 2006 and has spent over 12 years building a reputation for skill, warmth, and dedication. Her commitment to excellence was evident early on, earning her the Best Student Award during her training. Driven by a passion for growth, she moved to the Middle East, where she received a Special Honour Award for her exceptional service. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Ashbis bravery and compassion were on full display as she served as an emergency department nurse, putting her patients needs before her own safety. Her outstanding efforts earned her the prestigious Frontline Hero Award in 2021. Since joining Esker Ri in 2022, Ashbi has become an integral part of the team. Her calm and friendly demeanour, paired with her ability to build meaningful connections with residents, has made her deeply trusted and admired. Her attentive, person-centred care earned her the Employee of the Month award in August 2024, a testament to her lasting impact on colleagues and residents alike. Outside of work, Ashbi is a devoted mother of three and a loving wife, balancing her career and family with grace. She brings the same kindness and reliability to her role at Esker Ri, where her years of experience and gentle nature enrich the lives of residents and inspire her team daily. Commenting on the night, Tadhg Daly, CEO of Nursing Homes Ireland, said: The NHI Care Awards celebrate the extraordinary dedication and commitment of nursing home staff like Ashbi Baby. Her journey exemplifies the values that drive nursing homes like Esker Ri: compassion, excellence, and community. We are immensely proud of her achievements and the exceptional care provided to the residents of Offaly. He continued: This event was a true testament to the transformative impact nursing home staff have on the lives of those in their care. Ashbis story, along with all the nominees, reminds us why we do what we do - to ensure older people across our communities can live with dignity, respect, and joy. Esker Ri Nursing Home is a shining example of what it means to deliver care with heart and purpose. Daly also expressed his gratitude for the presence of Minister Jack Chambers, stating: We were honoured to welcome Minister Chambers to the NHI Care Awards. His participation and his recognition of the vital role nursing homes play in local communities added immense value to the celebration. His support underscores the importance of continuing to invest in and recognise the incredible work being done in this sector. Daly concluded by thanking sponsors of the event, saying: We are incredibly grateful to Homecare Medical, our title sponsor, whose partnership has been instrumental in making this event such a success. Their ongoing support reflects their commitment to the sector and to celebrating those who dedicate their lives to the care of others. I also want to thank all our award sponsors, whose generosity and belief in the importance of recognising excellence in care have made tonight possible. AS the opening of the new ALDI store in Tullamore approaches, Store Manager Yasmin Rourke says ''It is a great opportunity to take on the new Tullamore store. The experience of opening a new store, building a new team and creating a local customer base is something I am really excited about and grateful to have the opportunity to do.'' Yasmin is originally from Headford, Co. Galway but now lives in Athlone, with her five-year-old American Staffordshire Terrier called Jessie which she rescued during the pandemic in 2021.''She quickly became the highlight of my day! I also recently got married in September of this year in County Offaly,'' says Yasmin. ''Since I started my career in ALDI nearly ten years ago, I have worked in a number of stores. I started as a Store Assistant in Headford Road, County Galway and then spent time at a number of ALDI stores including Loughrea, Athlone, Roscommon, Kinnegad and Ballyfermot, and now onto the new Tullamore store.'' Yasmin worked as a Store Assistant until 2019 when she was promoted to Deputy Store Manager. Two years later she became Assistant Store Manager in the Kinnegad store before eventually moving to Ballyfermot as Acting Store Manager. ''ALDI provided training for me at the Kinnegad and Ballyfermot stores which was really beneficial when it came to progressing my career.'' When she is not busy working in ALDI Yasmin enjoys cooking, travelling, and listening to music. ''I find that working at ALDI allows me to maintain a good work-life balance, so Im able to pursue these hobbies in my free time.'' ALDIs new store in Tullamore, will create 30 permanent jobs and represents an investment of over 9.8 million in the area.The store will officially be opened by the local team, led by Yasmin on November 28.This will be ALDIs 163rd store in Ireland and the second store in Tullamore. Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator If Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants a war with Iran, on the US tax-payers' and voters' expense, he had better attack quickly. On January 20, President Donald Trump takes office, and he was elected on an anti-war platform. We don't know what Trump will do after assuming office, and we don't know if Netanyahu will remain in office. His extremist ministers, Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir, have shackled Netanyahu to a policy of genocide in Gaza, and they are advocating annexing the Occupied West Bank. Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon are all scenes of brutal Israeli military aggression, and the US taxpayers are paying for every bullet fired and every bomb dropped. While the outgoing Biden administration has failed to stop Netanyahu, or even to get a ceasefire, the Trump administration may see the situation differently, and put on the brakes, instead of shining the green light. Steven Sahiounie of MidEastDiscourse interviewed Tarik Cyril Amar, a historian and geopolitical analyst writing on X under @tarikcyrilamar. 1. Steven Sahiounie (SS): Israel has assassinated the political and military leaders of Hezbollah, but Hezbollah's military operation against Israel is increasing. How do you analyze this? Tarik Cyril Amar (TCA): It's clear, now empirically "tested" evidence that Hezbollah's organization is deep and complex enough and its popularity great enough to resist a "decapitation" strategy. It can maintain effective operations during and after such "decapitation" strikes and it can also generate new leaders at multiple levels. Regarding Israel, its repeated reliance on such methods indicates that it has illusions about its adversaries, systematically underestimating them, in part at least, I strongly suspect, due to a colonialist-racist mental bias: the old prejudice that "the natives" are incapable of complex organization and that therefore one merely has to kill their "chiefs" to defeat them. In that sense, the whole phenomenon illustrates not only Hezbollah's strength, but also one of the weaknesses generated by Zionist-colonial ideology, that Israel cannot shed and that will stay with it to its downfall. 2. SS: Israel announced that they have attacked Iran, but Iran announced that the attack was not overwhelming. In your opinion, was the Israeli attack on Iran an Israeli success? TCA: No, on the contrary. The last Israeli attack showed limits of Israel's military power and reach and, I believe, also that Israel is actually deterred by Iranian missile capabilities even now, while Iran does not have nuclear weapons yet (at least as far as we know). What we do not know at this stage is what shape a potential further Israeli attack may take, in particular under the circumstances of the incoming Trump administration. Therefore, while we can register that the last attack was a failure, it would be very unwise to draw too many conclusions. 3. SS: Iran is threatening to attack Israel in response of the Israeli attack on Iran. In your opinion, will this attack happen, and if so will it take the region to a war? TCA: Like others, I can only offer a guess. In my opinion, Iran will retaliate, but not with one massive missile strike, because that would make it all too easy for Israel to get the US on its side again for either massive support for another Israeli attack on Iran or even, in the worst case, make the US itself go to war with Iran. Israel, of course, wants precisely that: to make America fight yet another devastating war in the "Middle East" on its behalf. It is, I believe, very hard to predict if Israel will get its way in this regard. It is true that the incoming Trump administration is as Zionist, Israel-compliant, and co-genocidal as the outgoing Biden administration (at least), but Trump is also a nationalist and averse to war, not out of the goodness of his heart, but because he sees how wasteful it is. From Tehran's perspective it is probably a priority now to minimize, as much as possible, US aggression. Much of it is inevitable, but a direct American attack is not a foregone conclusion. Against that backdrop, Tehran may well choose to tread carefully and calibrate its response in a manner that avoids that kind of escalation. 4. SS: The US presidential election is over. In your point of view, how will President Trump winning the election effect the situation in the Middle East? TCA: In short: badly. But then, that's what all US administrations do. The outgoing Democrats needed to be punished for their co-perpetrating a genocide with Israel. Unfortunately, that does not mean that Trump will not do the same. We will see a shift from Genocide Joe to Genocide Donald. Trump has also already signaled that he won't be any better than Biden regarding anti-genocide protest and resistance in the US either. The new president as well will do his worst to repress them. The fundamental problem remains: the enormous pro-Israel bias of the American establishment. Again, what we don't know is how far Trump will go in obeying all of the Israeli agenda by waging direct US wars in the "Middle East". That is a more complicated question. It is true that his current picks for high positions signal that "hawks" with, in essence, neocon agendas, are put in charge. But, as Stephen Walt has posted on X, the picks also signal that Trump wants weak figures that leave him in charge ultimately. Moreover, US foreign policy hawks have more than one target of aggression. A focus on China may play a role in restricting their most extreme options with regard to Iran and Syria. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). In LAUSD's BD1, Sherlett Hendy Newbill beat her opponent convincingly by 76,737 votes (as of November 15th) earning 71.35% of the vote. Karla Griego's margin of victory was 35,691 votes in her 61.09% to 38.91% rout. When the final votes are counted, it appears Scott Mark Schmerelson will win reelection, but by a much smaller margin. As of November 15th, Schmerelson is leading 51.77% to 48.23%. His lead is only 8,422 votes. The results should not have been this close as Schmerelson is the far superior candidate. He is likable, has an extensive career in public education, and is a role model for Los Angeles students. His opponent, Dan Chang, bullied his way through the debates. His resume shows a history of jumping from one anti-public education job to another and lying about his record at Green Dot charter schools. Yet, Schmerelson is on track to have the smallest margin of victory of any School Board member in this election cycle. Some of the lack of enthusiasm for Schmerelson can be traced back to self-inflicted wounds like being the one supporter on the LAUSD Board for the scandal-plagued North Valley Military Institute as it tried to evict an LAUSD school from its campus. His refusal to stand up to the entrenched bureaucracy, even for causes he cares deeply about, also contributed to a lack of energy around his candidacy. Perhaps most damaging was his repeated failure to hold Superintendent Carvalho accountable. The recent controversies at Walter Reed Middle School and Mark Twain Middle School provide an example: Walter Reed Middle School (Image by LAUSD) Details DMCA The special needs of highly gifted students in the LAUSD are often misunderstood. To the underinformed, this group would seem to be the easiest to educate as they have the intellectual ability to learn easily what other students struggle with. However, without being sufficiently challenged, these children become bored and tune out. Set up for failure, they are at risk of being lost in the education system. To properly serve these students, Walter Reed and Mark Twain have programs that include some of the District's "most rigorous academic programs." To ensure that students are "prepared for fast-paced studies well beyond their grade level", both programs require applications, teacher recommendations, and an eligibility exam. Contrary to repeated promises to move the LAUSD towards local control, the District announced that it was removing these schools' ability to control the admission process. Instead, District bureaucrats would take control and just require that students meet its designation of gifted. Like Primary Promise, this decision was made without input from stakeholders. Playing to his strong suit, Schmerelson was quick to react to complaints from his constituents. He called for the new process to be postponed a year and "took the issue up with Carvalho's office." In a major victory for students at both schools, the LAUSD has announced that the new process will not go into effect this year. But while they have won this battle, they still have a war to fight. The fact that Schmerelson's demands included the words "postponed for a year" should be very concerning to parents as this fits with the District's propensity to bury controversial actions until they can be enacted out of the spotlight. Similarly, the Board forced Carvalho to backtrack on the purge of members in the Community Advisory Committee (CAC) because the system used to select members did not conform to the committee's bylaws or state law. The following year they used the same procedure and got away with it. Another example of the postponement strategy can be found in the repeated attempts to close the Lokrantz Special Education Center. Schmerelson has been an advocate for this school and has intervened successfully on several occasions. However, he has never addressed the conditions that allow the bureaucrats to set their sights on a school that serves the LAUSD's most vulnerable students. This leaves them at risk in the future. Schmerelson is a nice guy who supports public education, but students need him to move beyond his comfort zone. He must take on the Superintendent and the bureaucracy Carvalho leads to get to the root of issues like interference in a school's admission process. Students need long-term solutions not temporary band-aids. Carl Petersen is a parent advocate for public education, particularly for students with special education needs, who serves as the Education Chair for the Northridge East Neighborhood Council. As a Green Party candidate in LAUSD's District 2 School Board race, he was endorsed by Network for Public Education (NPE) Action. Dr. Diane Ravitch has called him "a valiant fighter for public schools in Los Angeles." For links to his blogs, please visit www.ChangeTheLAUSD.com. Opinions are his own. London, UK - London Business Training & Consulting (LBTC) is proud to announce its accreditation by the British Accreditation Council (BAC), a global leader in quality assurance for independent further and higher education. This prestigious accreditation further strengthens LBTC's reputation as a premium management training and consulting service provider. For over 35 years, the BAC has been a trusted authority in quality assurance. BAC accreditation is a globally recognized mark of The Deliverability Summit 2025 is set to return to Amsterdam on April 24-25, bringing together global email deliverability professionals for an unmatched event in the heart of Europe. This year's summit proudly announces Postmastery as the Headline Sponsor and GreenArrow as the Platinum Sponsor, underscoring the event's pivotal role in shaping the future of email delivery. Returning for its fifth year, the Deliverability Summit has become the premier gathering for strategists,marketers, B.F. Raid (Boston's Final Raid), a local heavy metal band based in New England, recently participated in an in-depth interview with Matt Connarton on WMNH 95.3's Unleashed radio show. The full interview, which originally aired on November 9, 2024, is now available for on-demand streaming at mattconnarton.com/unleashed. During the interview, B.F. Raid's members discussed the band's origins, their evolution within the New England heavy metal scene, and the creative process behind Kaneohe, Hawaii - Hawaii Gap, a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering environmental stewardship, is thrilled to announce the opening of its transformative Environmental Leadership gap year program in September, 2025. This unique 10-week program offers a powerful opportunity for recent high school graduates or those taking a gap year to immerse themselves in the breathtaking Hawaiian environment while developing critical leadership skills to champion environmental causes. The program is held Salesforce, the world leader in customer relationship management, says it is staying in San Francisco to host its premier annual event, Dreamforce. This choice demonstrates Salesforce's commitment to promoting innovation, bolstering the local economy, and honoring the rich cultural heritage of its community. Dreamforce 2024 is expected to be another ground-breaking event that draws thousands of people from all over the world and strengthens the company's ties to the Bay HOUSTON, TX - November 20 , 2024 - Navigating child custody cases can be fraught with high emotions and many challenges. Having a lawyer who understands the local and state laws to fight on your behalf is a must to get the best possible outcome. Parents who seek to protect their children's well-being deserve the support of expert attorneys fighting on their behalf. The lawyers at Ramos Law Group, PLLC Chennai, India - 11/02/2025 - As automation testing continues to be a critical skill in the software industry, aspiring professionals and experienced testers alike are looking for the right training to enhance their expertise. Recognizing this demand, a premier Selenium training in Chennai has been launched, offering an industry-relevant curriculum, hands-on learning experience, and robust job assistance to help professionals advance in their careers. The newly launched Selenium training in Chennai Eligible Oregon City residents can now receive library books and certain materials without leaving their homes, thanks to a new program announced by the Oregon City Public Library. The Library By Mail initiative allows homebound patrons to check out books and materials that are then delivered straight to their doors. The program is designed to ensure that mobility issues dont limit access to library services. Access is a huge element of the librarys mission; mobility issues shouldnt prevent someone from being able to take advantage of their local library, said Library Director Greg Williams in a news release. This will help remove that barrier. To participate, patrons must complete an application form either online or over the phone. Library staff will review the application and follow up with the applicant, who may select the materials they want delivered either online or over the phone. Approved patrons will receive their library holds every two weeks in a black canvas bag, which includes a prepaid return label and instructions for returning items. We did quite a deep dive with the postal service to pay for this, and we have money set aside in the budget to provide this service, said Helen Juarez, circulation coordinator for Oregon City Public Library. It helps that we recently got a generous donation from the Oregon City Womans Club. Williams said in the release that whether a patron is temporarily bedridden or permanently homebound, we can still provide books and other resources through this program. Participants must have a LINCC (Libraries in Clackamas County) library card and live within the Oregon City Public Library service area. Borrowing materials from other libraries, book bundles and non-book items, such as tools or electronics, are not eligible for the program. For more information or to apply, visit the Oregon City Public Librarys website or contact library staff directly. Tyler Brown is a multimedia reporter for The Oregonian/OregonLive covering breaking news. You can reach him at tbrown2@oregonian.com or 503-221-8243. A traffic stop in Northeast Portland on Wednesday yielded four arrests, with officers seizing firearms, bullets and cash, police said. The Portland Police Bureaus Focused Intervention Team pulled over a car at Northeast Halsey Street and 74th Avenue for multiple traffic violations, the bureau said in a statement Thursday. Officers saw a gun in one of the seat pockets, leading them to detain all four people in the car. While searching them, the officers found two more guns. Along with the three guns, police seized more than 80 bullets and more than $3,000 in cash. They arrested the four people in the car: Elijah Martin, 19; Aerion Purifoy, 18; Lamar Stewart, 19; and Rowan Swanson, 23. Officers had stopped the same car about a month earlier and seized two guns, police said. Fedor Zarkhin is a breaking news and enterprise reporter. Do you have a story? Reach him by phone or text at 971-373-2905 or by email at fzarkhin@oregonian.com. Our journalism needs your support. Subscribe today to OregonLive.com Detectives investigating the death of a 31-year-old Portland woman found bloodied in a car with her unharmed toddler inside are seeking her Facebook and other online data for clues about her suspected murder. Courtney Clintons body was found early on Friday, Nov. 1, in Vancouver, with her 1-year-old child in a car seat near her. A passerby discovered the dental assistant in a rented silver Ford Edge parked on Blandford Drive and called 911 at 4:30 a.m. Detectives determined that her injuries appeared to be from a violent attack, including a wound on her neck likely caused by a sharp object. No weapon was found at the scene, and police are investigating the death as a homicide, according to court documents. Officers recovered Clintons bloodstained vape and wallet from the car, as well as receipts, empty water bottles and other personal belongings. They did not find her cellphone. Swabs were collected from bloodstains throughout the vehicle for further analysis. Court documents show investigators believe Clintons social-media activity may hold critical evidence. According to a search warrant affidavit, a friend of Clintons told police that Clinton would talk with men over social media and Facebook messenger, meet up with them and share her location with trusted contacts when she felt a meeting was potentially unsafe. Court filings reveal police obtained a search warrant for Clintons Facebook data. Officers were hoping to review the records to trace Clintons movements and identify people she interacted with before her death. Records show Clinton last sent her location to a close friend on Oct. 29 at 3:38 a.m., about three days before she was found. Surveillance footage captured her near her Portland home earlier that morning. In previous reporting, Clintons sister, Dominique Fuller, said Clinton had two other children, an 8-year-old son and 10-year-old daughter, and started a fundraiser on GoFundMe for help with handling funeral expenses and taking care of Clintons children. Clintons death happened almost four months after her brother, 25-year-old Donte Mathis, was shot and killed near the Madison Suites Motel on Northeast 82nd Avenue in Portland. No suspects have been named in Clintons homicide. The toddler is with family, and police and Clintons family are asking people with information to come forward. We have no idea who would want to hurt her, said Fuller. This is just such a horrible thing to do to a woman, a mother, a child. We are really praying for justice at this time. Anyone with information about this case can submit tips to Crime Stoppers of Oregon. Secure and anonymous tips can be left at crimestoppersoforegon.com, by calling 503-823-4357 or through the P3 Tips mobile app. The organization offers cash rewards of up to $2,500 for information reported to Crime Stoppers of Oregon that leads to an arrest in any unsolved felony crime. Tyler Brown is a multimedia reporter for The Oregonian/OregonLive covering breaking news. You can reach him at tbrown2@oregonian.com or 503-221-8243. A middle school teacher in the St. Helens School District is under investigation by local police for alleged criminal conduct, the vice chair of the St. Helens School Board said Thursday, just days after two high school teachers were arrested and accused of child sexual abuse. In a brief, virtual school board meeting, vice chair Trinity Monahan said the middle school teacher who is under investigation had been placed on administrative leave and that the district was cooperating with police. Monahan did not identify the teacher and released no other information. We are appalled and deeply saddened by the crisis our school community is experiencing after arrests were made for child sexual abuse at St. Helens High School, Monahan said. Because this is an active investigation, we cannot comment further on this investigation at this time and must respect due process and privacy laws. Also Thursday, the Oregon Department of Human Services announced that it is separately investigating district Superintendent Scot Stockwell and St. Helens High School Principal Katy Wagner for alleged neglect due to failure to report child safety concerns. Both Stockwell and Wagner were placed on paid administrative leave last week after fury at school officials boiled over in the small Columbia County town, with students taking to the streets in protest and the district closing its schools for multiple days. Under Oregon law, school employees are required to report suspicions of child abuse or neglect to authorities. Some parents and students accused school leaders of covering up or downplaying reports of the alleged abuse. A spokesperson for the Department of Human Services also said the agency is investigating the two teachers who were arrested, choir teacher Eric Stearns and former math teacher Mark Collins, over the allegations of sexual abuse. The state department has pending investigations into two additional St. Helens High School employees because of allegations of sexual abuse, agency spokesperson Jake Sunderland said. But Acting St. Helens Police Chief Joseph Hogue said neither of the two were under investigation by his agency. The Department of Human Services Office of Training, Investigations and Safety investigates reports of abuse of minors by non-family members, including teachers. Such investigations typically take 30 days, Sunderland said, and decisions may be appealed. The district is seeking a temporary acting superintendent to step in for Stockwell, Monahan said, and will meet again Monday to finalize that appointment. The acting superintendent will be charged with liaising with investigators, serving as the spokesperson for the school district and school board, and ensuring stable day-to-day operations, Monahan said. Julia Silverman covers K-12 education for The Oregonian/OregonLive. Reach her via email at jsilverman@oregonian.com Thanksgiving is just around the corner, which means its almost that time of year for uncomfortable-discussions-turned-heated-arguments over the dinner table. This year especially, you might already be dreading the holidays inevitable post-election rapport. So, if youre looking for a conversation starter that (we hope) wont cause too much vitriol, consider this one: Whats your favorite Thanksgiving side? The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has reinstated the states signature Climate Protection Program that a court last year had invalidated over a technicality. The program requires ever-increasing reductions in greenhouse gas emissions from the states natural gas utilities, suppliers of gasoline, diesel, kerosene and propane and large industrial plants. Three weeks after Carl Cletus Bowles disappeared, Gov. Tom McCall made an unusual and unexpected appeal to the convicted killer. Carl, your escape from the custody of the Oregon State Penitentiary has placed in jeopardy the finest prison superintendent and the most progressive correctional program in the United States, McCall said on June 7, 1974, in a radio broadcast. I am urging that you repay Superintendent Cupps many considerate acts, and respect the confidence he has shown in you, by returning to the Oregon State Penitentiary at once. Bryan Kohberger is still eligible for the death penalty if convicted in the 2022 killings of four University of Idaho students, an Idaho judge found. In his written order signed Tuesday, Ada County District Judge Steven Hippler denied all of Kohbergers motions to shelve the death penalty in a case where the suspect faces four counts of murder and one count of burglary for the Nov. 13, 2022, deaths. U.S. Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer of Oregon is in the running to become labor secretary under President-elect Donald Trump, according to several national media reports. Chavez-DeRemer, a Republican and former Happy Valley mayor, is finishing a two-year term representing Oregons 5th Congressional District, which stretches from south of Portland to Bend. She flipped the seat to Republican control in 2022, then narrowly lost her re-election bid this month to Democratic state Rep. Janelle Bynum in one of the most expensive and closely watched House races across the country. Whether youre looking for a gift to take on the plane or in search of a keepsake from your visit in Oregon, the Portland International Airport is a great place to do your shopping. With nearly two dozen stores spread out across PDX, including several new shops pre-security, its shockingly easy to find a quality, local-made gift at the airport. And with a street pricing policy in place (not to mention the lack of sales tax), you dont need to worry about excessive price gouging while you shop. Stores in the airport include a few recognizable brands, such as Columbia and Pendleton, as well as outposts of local boutiques, shops and distilleries. There are also a few of those kitschier gift shops, where you can certainly find, say, a Sasquatch hoodie or a Keep Portland Weird bumper sticker. For those doing some very last-minute holiday shopping, or anyone with some time to kill before a flight, these are the best places to shop at PDX: Slippers at cc McKenzie at PDX on Nov. 7, 2024.Lizzy Acker/The Oregonian ccMcKenzie Bend-based boutique ccMcKenzie has been holding down a spot in Concourse C, where travelers can browse a selection of womens clothing, shoes and accessories. The stores offshoot, Calliope, offers personalized merchandise and gifts in Concourse E. ccMckenzie: 5 a.m.-9 p.m. daily; Concourse C; ccmckenzie.com; Calliope: 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily; Concourse E; calliopegift.com. --Jamie Hale Columbia Store at PDX on Nov. 7, 2024.Lizzy Acker/The Oregonian Columbia Sportswear Columbia Sportswear, the Portland-based outdoor apparel company, has long had a presence in PDX, but for the time being it is limited to a kiosk in Concourse C, where travelers can buy jackets, shirts, hats and other gear. A new storefront is expected to open in the new South Concession Hall in 2026. 5:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m. daily; Concourse C; columbia.com. --Jamie Hale Freeland Spirits, a small-batch distillery based in Portland, now has a kiosk in the Portland International Airport, with a full storefront there planned for 2026.Jamie Hale/The Oregonian Freeland Spirits Portlands women-owned distillery has big plans to pour cocktails in a future bar in the North Concession Hall, slated for a 2026 opening. For now, a Freeland Spirits kiosk offers a beautiful display of colorful bottles containing their various kinds of gin and bourbon. The Forest Gin, made with chanterelle mushrooms, Douglas fir tips, salal berries and nettles, is a great way to take a piece of the Pacific Northwest with you. 7 a.m.-8 p.m. daily; North Concession Hall; freelandspirits.com. -- Jamie Hale Hello From Portland at Portland International Airport.Veronica Nocera Hello From Portland Promised your friend a Portland souvenir, immediately forgot to hunt one down and now your trip is over? Hello from Portland has your back for all your last-minute gift-giving needs and you dont even need to go through security. The store overflows with Rose City memorabilia, everything from T-shirts and magnets to stickers, socks and shot glasses. Theres even a corner stocked with Portland-themed books for some nostalgic flight reading. 5 a.m.-10 p.m. daily; Main Terminal pre-security; hellofromportland.net. -- Veronica Nocera Customers shop at the Made in Oregon store at Portland International Airport on Thursday, August 23, 2018. (Mark Graves/Staff)LC- Mark Graves Made in Oregon Always local and sometimes kitschy, the Made in Oregon store is another PDX staple, selling gifts, clothing, food and more in a storefront in Concourse C. If youre looking to carry a slice of Oregon onto the plane, youll have plenty of options here. 4 a.m.-9 p.m. Thursday-Sunday, 5 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Wednesday; Concourse C; madeinoregon.com. --Jamie Hale Missionary Chocolates at Portland International Airport.Veronica Nocera Missionary Chocolates Missionary Chocolates is one of the airports newest pop-up shops, and its offering some of the most delicious treats. The company specializes in gluten-free, vegan chocolate truffles, but thats far from the only thing its thought to envelope in chocolate. Grab a bag of chocolate-covered figs, potato chips, cinnamon gummy bears, cherries, pretzels, marshmallows or just a classic bar. 7 a.m.-6 p.m. daily; Main Terminal pre-security; missionary-chocolates.myshopify.com. -- Veronica Nocera Orox Leather Co. at Portland International Airport.Veronica Nocera Orox Leather Co. If you want to see the look on your friends faces when you tell them you got your handcrafted leather bag from the airport, Orox Leather Co. is the place to go. The business is family-owned, run by fourth-generation Mexican American leather artisans. In its airport shop, you can find a vast selection of colorful leather handbags, wallets, belts, hats and more including a few shelves filled with a range of sweet and salty snacks. 6 a.m.-8 p.m. daily; Main Terminal pre-security; oroxleather.com. -- Veronica Nocera Paper Epiphanies, a feminist greeting card company, opened a location at Portland International Airport in August.Veronica Nocera Paper Epiphanies Paper Epiphanies, PiPH for short, is already making waves as one of the first independent greeting card companies to set up shop in a U.S. airport. But also, the cards are really just that cute. Women-run and women-centric, the store offers designs for a variety of classic and overlooked situations: birthdays, friendship, death, motherhood and more. Its also a stationery lovers paradise, full of journals, highlighters, stickers, sketchbooks and one of the few spots in the airport where you can snag a pen. 6 a.m.-9 p.m. daily; Main Terminal pre-security; piphpaper.com. -- Veronica Nocera A new Pendleton storefront has opened just past security in the Portland International Airport. Jamie Hale/The Oregonian Pendleton A new, full-fledged Pendleton store in the North Concession Hall is a welcome arrival at PDX, and comes in addition to the Oregon brands existing kiosk in Concourse C. The iconic blankets are sold alongside the woolen mills clothing and accessories, all of which make great gifts or souvenirs that scream Pacific Northwest. North Concession Hall: 5 a.m.-8 p.m. daily; Concourse C: 6 a.m.-6 p.m. daily; pendleton-usa.com. -- Jamie Hale Local apparel company Portland Gear has opened a kiosk in the Portland International Airport, with a full storefront planned for 2026. Jamie Hale/The Oregonian Portland Gear From online brand to popular retailer, Portland Gear has built off its simple (but now instantly recognizable) logo and landed a coveted space at PDX. The brand has a kiosk in the new North Concession Hall, with plans to open a full storefront in 2026. There, travelers can buy its popular branded caps and shirts, as well as its new line of colorful, weather-proof backpacks in the rainy season, they might be a great purchase for those just getting off the plane in Portland. 6 a.m.-5 p.m. daily; North Concession Hall; portlandgear.com. -- Jamie Hale Powell's Books at Portland International Airport, Nov. 7, 2024.Lizzy Acker/The Oregonian Powells Books The storefront area for Powells is still in the build-out stage, so it currently is more of a large kiosk of books and gifts than a full store. Still, its the perfect place to grab a novel for your flight or a stuffed animal for your niece when you arrive. And, if youre a visitor, this shop is a nice little taste of the wonder you can find on West Burnside Avenue at Powells City of Books. The full 1,940 square foot retail space is set to open in 2026. 6 a.m.-7 p.m. daily; South Concession Hall; powells.com. -- Lizzy Acker Hat at Straightaway Cocktails at PDX on Nov. 7, 2024.Lizzy Acker/The Oregonian Straightaway Cocktails Straightaway Cocktails may not have a full storefront area yet, but that isnt stopping the little canned cocktail shop from serving up creative and delicious cocktails as well as some adorable gifts. (Dont sleep on the cute denim dad hat with a cocktail sword-speared cherry embroidered on the front.) If you have the time, and the desire, spend $20 and get a cocktail taster flight served with local Miss Hannahs popcorn. Or grab a four-pack of cans to take with you. 7 a.m.-8 p.m. daily; South Concession Hall, straightawaycocktails.com. -- Lizzy Acker Steven Smith Teamaker has opened a kiosk in the Portland International Airport, with a full storefront planned for 2026. Jamie Hale/The Oregonian Steven Smith Teamaker Steven Smith Teamaker, the Portland-based tea company, has a kiosk and small tea bar in the North Concession Hall as it works to open a full storefront in 2026. Travelers can purchase boxes of tea to take home, or tea on tap to go. The choose-your-own sampler pack makes a nice souvenir, with so many herbal and caffeinated teas to try. 5 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday; North Concession Hall; smithtea.com. -- Jamie Hale Tender Loving Empire Tender Loving Empire, a record label and gift shop chain based in Portland, is a great addition to the airport shopping scene, selling locally made gifts and music in two locations. Its a great spot to find a small gift, like a bud vase, keychain, candle or beanie. 5 a.m.-7 p.m. daily; Concourse D; 5 a.m.-10 p.m. daily; Concourse E; tenderlovingempire.com. --Jamie Hale Timberline store at PDX on Nov. 7, 2024.Lizzy Acker/The Oregonian Timberline For most Oregonians, Timberline is a place far from the airport, up on the slopes of Mount Hood. However, the historic lodge also has a shop in PDX, where it sells a well-curated assortment of goods including food, ceramics and clothing from local brands and makers. 7 a.m.-7 p.m. daily; Concourse C; timberlinelodge.com. --Jamie Hale Vino Volo Vino Volo is the go-to wine shop in PDX, with a good selection of wines from Oregon and around the world. You can grab a bottle to go or stay for a glass (or a whole flight). A simple menu offers charcuterie and sandwiches, as well as draft beer. 10 a.m.-8 p.m. daily; Concourse C; vinovolo.com. --Jamie Hale Westward Whiskey Oregon distillery Westward Whiskey specializes in scratch-made spirits brewed with locally malted barley and ale yeast, distilled like a single malt and aged in American oak barrels. Their whiskey can be found across Portland, but travelers can also stop by their two PDX storefronts. 7 a.m.-10 p.m. daily; Concourse C; 7 a.m.-7 p.m. daily; Concourse E; westwardwhiskey.com. --Jamie Hale --Jamie Hale covers travel and the outdoors and co-hosts the Peak Northwest podcast. Reach him at 503-294-4077, jhale@oregonian.com or @HaleJamesB. Our journalism needs your support. Subscribe today to OregonLive.com. As the number and severity of domestic violence cases in Western New York continue to rise, a local agency that supports survivors is focused on investing in its forensic capabilities. Technology helps visualize domestic violence with an eye toward prosecuting those who commit it With a $50,000 state grant, the Family Justice Center is investing in groundbreaking technology that allows advocates to identify and assess domestic violence injuries that are not visible to the naked eye. The Family Justice Center of Erie County recently received a $500,000 state grant to improve its Forensic Medical Unit. The grant marks the largest single donation received by the center, which is the only domestic violence organization in the state with its own in-house forensic medical unit, said CEO Catharine Miles-Kania. The Family Justice Center has the necessary staff and technology to assess and document survivors injuries to be used as evidence in court. The grant will allow the center to make improvements to its victim-centered living room spaces, enhance the essential needs and food pantries and fund additional forensic technology purchases. It really is, I would say, one of the crown jewels of our programming when it comes to domestic violence, Miles-Kania said of the Forensic Medical Unit. And its needed at a time when the Family Justice Center is seeing a record number of survivors with near-lethal injuries, along with an alarming trend of severe and extreme abuse cases continuing to escalate. According to a report from the state Division of Criminal Justice Services, in 2022, there were 15 domestic violence homicides in Erie County. Seven of those were committed by an intimate partner and the remaining eight were killed by a family member. Thats up from 10 domestic homicides the year before and four in 2020. Erie County also reported 15 domestic homicides in 2019. When a victim comes to the Family Justice Center for help, advocates will conduct a danger assessment, an evidence-based questionnaire that quantifies the level of danger a survivor is experiencing. According to the centers data, since 2018 the cases of domestic violence have become increasingly more dangerous. The average danger score in 2018 was a 12. It rose to 19 during the Covid-19 pandemic and has increased to 21, Miles-Kania said. Its important for us to have the latest technology to be able to gather that evidence and then be able to say to law enforcement, Heres what were seeing. Here are the trends. Heres what your officers need to be aware of that when they go to a scene, that theyre prepared to encounter what is most likely going to be a very violent episode, Miles-Kania said. The center employs a full-time and part-time forensic nurse. The nurses not only treat survivors injuries, but they also are able to assess and record injuries using the centers forensic technology. The injuries the nurses document is crucial evidence the Erie County District Attorneys Office uses to successfully prosecute domestic violence cases, said Acting District Attorney Michael Keane. The grant funding to expand the Family Justice Centers facility and Forensic Medical Unit will further enhance our collective efforts to hold the offenders accountable for their crimes while protecting the safety of the victims and their families, providing trauma-informed support, offering resources to meet their individual needs, and preventing further abuse, Keane said in a statement. Those who come to the Forensic Medical Unit are typically high-risk cases who are in real danger, Miles-Kania said. Its important that they have a safe, comfortable place to rest, as well as food and other necessities. They are often fleeing a violent situation with literally only the clothes they have on their back, she said. And sometimes even their own clothing is damaged or has evidence of a violent attack, such as blood. When they leave the center to go back home or to an emergency shelter placement, the center will provide any food and basic necessities survivors may need, like hygiene products and clothing for themselves and their children, if they have any. Keane said his offices special victims/domestic violence bureau has seen not only a rise in incidents of domestic violence, but an increase in the use of weapons and threats to use weapons. More perpetrators are becoming more aggressive and retaliatory following an arrest as well. We recognize that domestic violence is a silent epidemic that thrives in an environment of secrecy and shame, Keane said. Therefore, it is unclear if the domestic violence-related incidents are becoming more prevalent and more violent, or if more victims are coming forward to report abuse. Miles-Kania said domestic violence as a whole is still very misunderstood. She believes it is a public health crisis. It is far more pervasive than people know and understand, Miles-Kania said. It is far more lethal and dangerous than I think we want to admit to or think about. What we want to do is have the community understand that this is an epidemic. The Family Justice Center-Erie County provides a one-stop shop for domestic violence survivors. Anyone being abused can get free, confidential help. Call 716-558-7233 or email safe@fjcsafe.org. Child and Family Services offers a 24-hour domestic violence hotline at 716-884-6000. The Erie County District Attorneys Office offers domestic violence support services through its BE SAFE program. Call 716-858-4630 or visit erie.gov/besafe. AI in the church? Is that something thats really needed? Apparently, its being experimented with. Swapping out the priest for a more technological experience in the confessional booth, Peters chapel in Switzerland has installed an artificial intelligence-powered Jesus that can speak more than 100 different languages, according to The Guardian. Marco Schmid, a theologian with the Peterskapelle church, spoke to how the unique idea came about. It was really an experiment. We wanted to see and understand how people react to an AI Jesus. What would they talk with him about? Would there be interest in talking to him? Were probably pioneers in this, he told the outlet. The installation, known as Deus in Machina, was launched in August as part of a years-long partnership with a local university research lab, strictly focused on immersive reality. After earlier experiments with virtual and augmented reality, the church decided to take the next step, which was to install the avatar. We had a discussion about what kind of avatar it would be a theologian, a person or a saint? But then we realized the best figure would be Jesus himself, Schmid said to The Guardian. Dealing with limited space the need for people to have private conversations with the avatar, the church switched its priest with a computer setup in the confessional booth. After training the AI program in theological texts, visitors were invited to ask questions to the AI Jesus displayed through a latticework screen. The AI Jesus even responded in real time and offered answers generated through artificial intelligence. Visitors were cautioned against sharing personal information and reminded that the interaction was not a traditional confession. Its not a confession, Schmid said. We are not intending to imitate a confession. During the two-month period of the experiment, more than 1,000 people including Muslims and visiting tourists from countries like China and Vietnam engaged with the avatar. Feedback from over 230 users suggested that two-thirds have found it to be a spiritual experience. So we can say they had a religiously positive moment with this AI Jesus. For me, that was surprising. But others were more negative, with some telling the church they found it impossible to converse with a machine. I have the impression that sometimes he was really very good and people were incredibly happy and surprised and inspired, a local reporter who tried out the device said. And then there were also moments where he was somehow not so good, maybe more superficial. The experiment also face criticism from some within the church community as Catholic colleagues protested at the use of the confessional while Protestant colleagues took issue with the at the imagery of Jesus in this way. Ultimately, it was decided that the AI Jesus was best left as just an experiment. To put a Jesus like that permanently, I wouldnt do that. Because the responsibility would be too great, Schmid said. But for Schmid, the experiment showed him that people were in search of connecting with religion while going beyond the Bible, sacraments and rituals. If all you want for Christmas is to see Mariah Carey in concert, you are in luck. The Queen of Christmas will bring her holiday tour to Pennsylvania in December - Tuesday, Dec. 3, at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, and Wednesday, Dec. 11, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh. Fans can buy tickets here (prices are as of the time of this publication): Tuesday, Dec. 3 - Philadelphia Wednesday, Dec. 11 - Pittsburgh Live Nation said, ... this tour marks Careys grandest holiday spectacle to date and is the first of many surprises she has in store to celebrate the 30th anniversary of her legendary album Merry Christmas and its record-shattering single All I Want For Christmas Is You. The show will feature the global superstars timeless holiday classics alongside fan-favorite chart-toppers, promising an unforgettable festive experience. If those dont suit your schedule, she also has these East Coast stops: Sunday, Dec. 1 - Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. Saturday, Dec. 7 - CFG Bank Arena in Baltimore, Maryland Friday, Dec. 13 - Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey Sunday, Dec. 15 - UBS Arena in Elmont, New York Tuesday, Dec. 17 - Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York Before and after the tour, Carey is in residency in Las Vegas, Nevada, at Dolby Live at Park MGM. A Brooklyn businessman has different ideas on what to do with the S.S. United States, which remains docked in Philadelphia as it prepares for its journey down to Mobile, Alabama, to become the worlds largest artificial reef. John Quadrozzi Jr., concrete magnate and owner of the Gowanus Bay Terminal in Brooklyn, recently told Gothamist that he would like to turn the vessel into a sustainable floating ecosystem. Coworking space, incubators. Preferably things that are more maritime and environmentally focusedThe vessel is just filled with small spaces in it, which would be ideal for that type of use, he said. It gets built up in increments. There are residences. There are commercial spaces. There are industrial spaces. Quadrozzi and his backer Dan McSweeney, co-founder of a conservancy dedicated to the S.S. United States, who recently pitched an idea to turn the ship into a floating affordable housing complex docked on the Hudson River, are rushing to stop the ship before it disembarks for Mobile. It was scheduled to depart on Nov. 14 but was delayed due to weather concerns. Officials have not announced a new date for the ship to be moved. Once the date is reset, it will take roughly two weeks for tugboats to tow the ship down to Mobile. In Mobile, contractors will begin the process of ensuring it is safe for ocean life and poking holes in its hull to make it land upright at the bottom of the Gulf. This process is predicted to take a year to complete after which the ship will take its final journey to a location about 20 miles south of the Florida Panhandle region in the Destin-Fort Walton Beach area, according to the Okaloosa County Commission. But Quadrozzi said he is not confident the ship can make it down to the shore for its rework. Taking a vessel like that magnitude out into the deep sea and around the horn of Florida, the likelihood of it even making it there is questionable, he told Gothamist. Although Quadrozzi is still working to find a way to keep the ship up in the Northeast, Okaloosa County officials say he has not reached out to them. Currently, their plan for the S.S. United States remains unchanged. Im not familiar with that gentleman and what he has going on in Brooklyn, Nick Tomecek, a Okaloosa County spokesperson, told Gothamist. I do know Okaloosa County has purchased this vessel for the use of the worlds largest artificial reef. Originally designed as a top-secret, convertible troop carrier during the Cold War in 1951, the S.S. United States has transported presidents, famous actors, heads of state, tourists, members of the armed forces, and immigrants before it was retired in 1969. Notable passengers included four U.S. Presidents (Harry Truman, Dwight Eisenhower, John Kennedy, and a young Bill Clinton), Judy Garland, Marilyn Monroe, and John Wayne. Students at Swatara Middle School and Tri-Community Elementary School are being sent home early Friday due to water pressure issues, the Central Dauphin School District announced. Swatara Middle School students will leave for early dismissal at 12 p.m. and students at Tri-Community Elementary School will be released at 1:00 p.m., the district announced on its Facebook page. Students will be fed lunch prior to dismissal, the district said. No other schools in the district are being dismissed early. Thursday night, Veolia Water Company issued a boil water advisory after a noticing an issue at one of their facilities in Swatara Township. The water company said the boil water notice was made out of an abundance of caution after they discovered a problem with a storage tank in Oberlin. Affected customers should bring water to a boil for one minute and let it cool before using it for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes or preparing food. WILLIAMSPORTSusquehanna University has agreed to settle for $675,000 a class-action lawsuit over it closing campus and moving to remote instruction in the 2020 spring semester during the COVID-19 pandemic. Notice of the proposed settlement filed Thursday in U.S. Middle District Court includes the notation the university denies liability but supports preliminary approval of the suit. Susquehanna was one of college and universities sued by students who claimed they should have received a pro rata refund of their tuition and fees since they did not have the benefit of in-person instruction and the use of campus facilities. Approximately 2,150 students will be notified they have the option of participating in the settlement. Judge Matthew W. Brann will not be in a position to approve the settlement until after notification has occurred and an approval hearing held. Those who opt to participate in the settlement will share in the $675,000 that will be reduced by court-approved attorney fees, litigation costs and expenses for the settlement administrator. The administrator will pay all legally mandated taxes prior to distributing the payments. The attorneys have agreed not to seek for their fees more than a third of the $675,000. The suit was brought by David Gladfelter identified in the complaint as a Pennsylvania resident who was enrolled at Susquehanna for the 2020 spring semester. In August, nearby Bucknell University agreed to settle similar litigation for $1.15 million that could impact up to 3,500 students. There has been no court activity in that case since notice of the settlement was filed. Penn State has agreed to settle for $17 million a suit that also sought a refund due to the loss of in-person instruction. Approximately 72,000 former students would share in the $17 million that would be reduced by taxes and legal fees. The head of the Pennsylvania Department of Education announced on Friday that he would be stepping down next month. Education Secretary Khalid Mumin plans to step down on Dec. 6, according to department officials. Gov. Josh Shapiro has tapped Angela Fitterer, executive deputy secretary, to serve as interim acting secretary. In a written statement, Mumin said it had been the honor of a lifetime to lead the department. I began my career as a teacher in a classroom, and those early experiences watching students get excited about learning inspired me to become a principal, a superintendent, and ultimately Secretary of Education, so I could continue to fight for those students to get more support and more opportunities, he said. Im so grateful to Governor Shapiro for this opportunity to lead the Pennsylvania Department of Education and help build a bright future for Pennsylvanias students and educators. Department officials provided no further information as to the reason for his departure. The Senate confirmed Mumin to lead the department that oversees K-12 education and higher education on June 26, 2023. Dr. Mumin has dedicated his life and career to ensuring Pennsylvania children have real opportunity through a quality education that sets them up for success in life, Shapiro said in the statement. He has led the Pennsylvania Department of Education with passion and integrity. I am grateful for his service to Pennsylvanias students and educators and wish him great success in his future endeavors. Mumins tenure saw significant investments in K-12 public education, including $1.5 billion in new funding to schools and the implementation of universal free breakfast for 1.7 million Pennsylvania students. His tenure also saw a landmark public education court ruling. In Feb. 2023, the Commonwealth Court ruled that Pennsylvanias school funding was unfair and unconstitutional. The ruling led the Basic Education Funding Commission to approve a plan for schools to receive more than $5 billion over seven years to bridge the gaps. The time is now for us to take full advantage of this opportunity to be able to level the playing field for our learners, Mumin said shortly after the ruling. Mumin aligned with Shapiros support of a limited school voucher program that targets students in low-performing public schools, but, as he said: Not at the detriment of traditional public schools. Shapiro and the Senate Republican majority last summer reached an agreement on a $100 million voucher program as part of a budget deal. The plan, however, was derailed in the House by overwhelming Democratic opposition. Mumins tenure also saw improvements to professional licensing and investments in career and technical education and apprenticeships. The Shapiro Administration also made investments in school safety and student mental health programs, as well as staving off racial and socio-economic disparities by making free menstrual products available to students in schools. Mumin was an advocate of equitable funding to bridge education inequities across the Commonwealth. The department tackled strengthening the pipeline of qualified teachers and awarded $1.5 million in grants to colleges and universities to bolster special education teacher trainees and eliminated the Basic Skills Assessment that had been required to become an educator. The department also allowed individuals authorized to work in the United States to earn certification and serve as educators in the Commonwealth; and reduced the wait time for new teachers in Pennsylvania to receive their teaching certification by more than ten weeks. During Mumins tenure, the Shapiro Administration established a new State Board of Higher Education. In his 25-plus years as an educator, Mumin served as a teacher, dean of students, principal and central administrator. Most recently, he served as the superintendent at Lower Merion School District. He previously served for seven years as head of the Reading School District. He began his teaching career in 1997 as an English teacher in Scotland. Mumin earned his doctorate at the University of Pennsylvania; he earned a masters degree in education from Pennsylvania State University, and a bachelors from Shippensburg University. Fitterer has served in state government for more than 25 years, including as deputy chief of staff to former Gov. Tom Wolf and Deputy Secretary in the Governors Office of Legislative Affairs. She was formerly a legislative director at the Department of Education. News / National by Staff reporter The long-awaited Lupane methane gas project is facing delays as investors have reportedly expressed dissatisfaction with the terms and conditions set by the government, preventing the initiative from moving forward.Michael Montana, environmental consultant for CEWALE Discovery Investment, revealed in an interview yesterday that the Russian investors behind the project are reluctant to proceed due to unresolved issues with the government's proposals. Montana explained that although the investors have received the letter they were waiting for, the terms outlined within it have not aligned with their expectations, causing a significant setback."I think they [Russian investors] now have the letter they were waiting for, I last spoke with them two to three months back," Montana said. "It seems the investors are delaying to come and kickstart the project because of the terms in the letter they were waiting for. The Russians are not on the same page with the government."In April this year, Montana had already expressed frustration with the government's failure to grant the necessary mining rights to the investors, a situation that has hindered progress.Despite plans to begin operations in the third quarter of 2024, the project has not moved forward, with the Kusile Rural District Council CEO Sifiso Hadebe confirming that there has been no movement on the ground since the investors are still waiting for the final mining licence.The methane gas reserves in Lupane, which were discovered several years ago, have yet to be exploited commercially, despite evidence showing the resource's potential for both domestic and industrial use. The government had granted the project national status in 2007, but commercial extraction has not materialized, even after nearly two decades.Methane gas is widely used for power generation and fertilizer production, and its successful commercial exploitation in Lupane could provide a significant boost to Zimbabwe's energy and agricultural sectors. However, without an agreement on the terms, the project remains stalled. NORTH MYRTLE BEACH A teen who was held at gunpoint by North Myrtle Beach police over a car theft she was not involved in has settled a federal lawsuit with the city for $250,000. Standing with her family and attorney, LaNisha Hemingway spoke about the case Nov. 21 in front of the Horry County Memorial Library in North Myrtle Beach. "If I would have moved differently, or reacted differently, I probably wouldn't be here today," Hemingway said in her first public comments since the incident last spring. "To all the young people, learn your rights. It's very important. Don't be scared to stick up for yourself and your rights." What happened that night? The case stemmed from a traffic stop around 7 p.m. May 3, when the 18-year-old was driving a dark gray Dodge Charger in the 4500 block of U.S. Highway 17 South. Hemingway, then a senior at North Myrtle Beach High School, planned to attend an event to celebrate her upcoming graduation with some of her friends. But police mistook her vehicle for another car that had been reported stolen, according to the lawsuit, which was filed on June 17. Officers Michael Pacileo and Kayla Wallace pulled her over because they had received a stolen vehicle notification from the police department, which alerted them that a silver Dodge Challenger with a specific license plate number was on Barefoot Resort Bridge Road and headed into the city. The officers turned on their sirens and blue lights and pulled their cars to the front and rear of Hemingway's vehicle. Both officers jumped out, drew their weapons and ordered Hemingway to show her hands and get out of the car. Wallace ordered Hemingway to face away from her, walk slowly toward her backwards and get on her knees, where Wallace handcuffed her. While Wallace subdued Hemingway, Pacileo searched her vehicle. News / National by Staff reporter There are growing concerns among stakeholders in Bulawayo that the municipality might be attempting to privatise the city's water management services through the back door. Reports have surfaced indicating that the local authority has engaged Vitens Evides International (VEI), a Dutch water utility company, to manage Bulawayo's water and sanitation services, raising fears of potential privatisation.Critics fear that the council may follow the same path it took with the privatisation of vehicle parking services through Tendy Three Investments and the controversial Egodini rank project, which was awarded to Terracotta Trading Limited (TTPL) for the construction of a US$60 million mall. To date, the mall has not materialised, with only a bus terminus constructed.Council engineer Robson Manatsa attempted to address the growing concerns yesterday, insisting that the engagement with VEI was not a move toward privatisation. He stated that the project would be a partnership between the Dutch company and the local authority, and that VEI would not own the water services. According to Manatsa, the project, known as the VEI Waterworks Project, would remain wholly owned by the municipality."Zimbabwe is isolated in terms of adopting water utility projects. There won't be any privatisation of water," Manatsa clarified. "It is solely owned by council, and residents will be able to question councillors, who will, in turn, question the local authority on its transparency."However, stakeholders, including the Matabeleland Institute for Human Rights and the Bulawayo Water Assembly, have raised concerns about the transparency of the process. The two groups recently held a water financing indaba, calling for clearer communication from the council regarding the project's future.Silas Silaigwana, a researcher with the Matabeleland Institute for Human Rights, emphasised the need for transparency, stating, "People are afraid that the entity will end up being privatised. The sustainability of the project will only be promoted by engaging residents and stakeholders. There is a void in access to information."Silaigwana's comments reflect wider public concerns, with many questioning the long-term viability of the project if it is not fully transparent and inclusive of community input.Bulawayo is currently facing its worst water crisis in years, with residents enduring long periods without access to water, which has only heightened anxieties about the future of the city's water services. Many fear that any move towards privatisation could worsen the situation, further depriving residents of the essential resource.While the council insists that the project is aimed at improving the city's water infrastructure, stakeholders are calling for open dialogue to ensure that any changes to the management of the city's water resources are made with full public involvement and accountability. News / National by Staff reporter Concerns are growing among Bulawayo residents over the involvement of the Dutch water utility company Vitens Evides International (VEI) in managing the city's water and sanitation services, with many calling for public consultations before any final decisions are made.These concerns were raised at a Water Financing Indaba organized by the Matabeleland Institute for Human Rights (MIHR) and the Bulawayo Water Assembly (BUWA) on Wednesday. The meeting brought together residents who expressed frustration over the lack of official communication from Bulawayo City Council (BCC) regarding VEI's role in the city's water management.Khethiwe Tshuma, a resident of Entumbane, voiced her frustration, saying that she and other residents had only heard about VEI through rumors circulating on social media. "The way this utility company came into the picture is flawed. As residents, we've only heard about it through social media rumors. We were expecting councillors or BCC officials to consult us and gather our views, but so far, nothing has been officially communicated," Tshuma said.She questioned whether VEI would offer any improvements over the current water department, adding, "What can this company do that the BCC water department hasn't done? If the same department will run the utility, where's the difference? This seems like another TTI," referencing past privatization efforts that many residents felt were unsuccessful.Other residents raised concerns about how funds earmarked for outsourcing the water services could be better spent improving the city's existing water infrastructure. "If money is the issue, why can't it be channeled directly to BCC for improvements?" one resident asked, adding that councillors needed to do a better job of communicating with their constituents."There's a void in communication. Are the councillors we elected aware of this process? They should be the ones informing us," the resident continued, calling for more transparency in the discussions about privatizing water services.Some residents also voiced skepticism about VEI's ability to address the city's ongoing water scarcity. "We need water, not technical management of water. If VEI is not bringing new infrastructure like dams, then what's the point? We already have qualified engineers," one resident remarked.Additionally, there were concerns that the privatization of water services could lead to failures similar to those seen in other sectors, such as the privatization of Ingwebu Breweries and City Towers. "We've seen what happened with Ingwebu and City Towers after privatizationthey disappeared. TTI is another example. Now it's water, and soon it'll be clinics. What's next, privatising residents?" one concerned individual asked.Despite some opposition, not all residents were entirely against VEI's involvement. "We'll accept it if it benefits us, but for now, we're saying no," said one resident, who also called for direct consultations between VEI and the public to ensure transparency.Ward 17 Councillor Sikhululekile Moyo admitted that the issue had been mishandled, acknowledging that public consultations should have been prioritized. "There was confusion in the media, and we said the issue of the utility should be paused. Residents didn't have water, yet we were discussing privatisation, which they didn't understand. We parked the issue to start over," she said.Moyo also expressed disappointment that neither BCC management nor VEI had arranged public consultations as requested. "We represent the residents, and management hasn't done what we asked. Together with VEI, we need to prepare for consultations and meet residents ward by ward," Moyo added.VEI Project Manager Robson Manatsa reassured the stakeholders that consultations would take place. "Councillors are the shareholders and remain in control of this entity. There's no way they won't be part of the process," he said, stressing that VEI was committed to engaging with residents and addressing their concerns.As the debate continues, residents remain eager for answers and transparency regarding the future of Bulawayo's water services. News / National by Staff reporter Human rights defender Namatai Kwekweza has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Registrar General Henry Machiri, demanding the immediate issuance of her national identity card. Kwekweza's legal representatives have warned that failure to comply will result in legal action against Machiri in his personal capacity.Kwekweza, who was arrested in July along with fellow activists Samuel Gwenzi and Robson Chere at Robert Mugabe International Airport, spent 35 days in detention before being granted bail in August. After her release, she attempted to replace her damaged national ID card at a Harare registry office. However, she was informed that her name was on a "Stop List," which prevented her from obtaining the document.Her legal team, composed of Tinashe Chinopfukutwa and Kelvin Kabaya of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), has since contended that the refusal to issue Kwekweza's ID card violates her constitutional rights. In a letter addressed to Machiri, the lawyers emphasized that every Zimbabwean citizen is entitled to a national identity document, irrespective of any pending or past criminal charges."Every Zimbabwean citizen is entitled to a national identity document, regardless of whether they face pending criminal allegations. Even convicted prisoners retain this right," the letter stated, referencing Section 35(3)(c) of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to an identity document.ZLHR also revealed on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) that registry officials cited a 2020 case in which Kwekweza had been implicated but was later acquitted. The organization has dismissed this reasoning as unlawful and without merit, asserting that the refusal to issue the ID card is not based on any valid legal grounds.Kwekweza's legal team has now given the Registrar General 48 hours to process the issuance of her identity card. Should Machiri fail to comply, her lawyers plan to initiate legal proceedings, with intentions to hold him personally liable for any legal costs incurred.This development has sparked renewed concerns about the protection of basic rights for human rights defenders in Zimbabwe, particularly those who have been involved in high-profile activism or political cases. Kwekweza and her legal team continue to advocate for the protection of fundamental rights and access to essential documentation, regardless of the political context. News / National by Staff reporter Major businesses across South Africa are looking to capitalise on the country's booming informal economy, with many companies licking their lips at an opportunity worth hundreds of billions of rands.New research from Trade Intelligence highlights that South Africa's informal fast-moving consumer goods (FMCGs), particularly in townships, has risen to new heights.This sector serves as a cornerstone of daily life for many South Africans, encompassing a wide range of businesses, including spazas, street vendors, fast-service eateries, bottle stores, and taverns.The retail research agency estimates that the size of South Africa's informal FMCG retail market (i.e. spaza-type stores) in 2023 will be R197 billion (+6.9% versus 2022), with at least 11.1 million people regularly shopping in its roughly 150,000 stores."While these communities are faced with some of the most difficult challenges, including high unemployment, poor service delivery and low household income, South African townships represent billions of rands in spending power," said Rogerwilco and Survey54 in their 2023 Township CX Report.Trade Intelligence explained that the informal FMCG market is largely supplied by the formal independent trade (i.e. unlisted retailers and wholesalers), some corporate chains, and to a smaller but growing degree, directly from suppliers.Independent cash-and-carry stores and wholesalers were the first formal businesses to recognise the value and potential of the informal trade and were serving these customers for decades before the end of Apartheid.Valued at R259 billion, formal independents made up around a third of the total South African FMCG market in 2023, a significant slice of the overall grocery market pie.The R197 billion informal retail sector, coupled with the R259 billion wholesale cash and carry market, makes the overall opportunity for businesses financially appetising.Thus for the past two decades, the size and continued growth of the informal market and wholesalers have attracted the attention of formal retailers.Formal retail chains began entering these sectors in the mid-2000s when zoning laws changed to allow big corporations to set up shops in and around townships and informal settlements.In particular, these traditional retailers and some suppliers want to dominate the R259 billion wholesale supply of goods to informal traders.However, many have struggled to break into the market."This is a complex and changing market to do business in due to blurred routes to market and continuous shifts," said Trade Intelligence."A once linear structure (supplier-wholesaler-trader-consumer) has developed into one where channel blurring' has redefined the sector as an 'interactive ecosystem'," added the group.Looking specifically at supermarkets, "some argue that the corporates are a threat to South Africa's informal sector, with a two-pronged strategy of setting themselves up to service the market while seeking opportunities and locations to supplant it where practical and profitable.""However, others believe that the big chains also aid informal traders by providing them with other, at times for conveniently located, options for sourcing their goods," said Trade Intelligence.Shoprite is seen to have been the most effective in tapping into this growing market through its Usave stores, specifically targeting spaza shops' supply.Usave, launched in 2003, now has 463 stores countrywide, primarily in townships and rural towns the heartland of the low-income consumer market.Recently, the company announced plans to double the number of Usave stores it has in the next five years (an additional ~ 540 stores) to tap into the strong growth of the informal economy."There is room for at least 1,000 of these stores in SA over the next five years. We use these store formats where we can't own land, such as where tribal authorities own the land or where there is limited infrastructure," Shoprite CEO Pieter Engelbrecht told Business Day TV."The macroeconomic environment is tough for consumers, particularly when it gets to mid-month. The cost of travel is also burdensome. That is where Usave comes in handy."We have seen a strong interplay between Shoprite and Usave. Our data shows that [at] month-end people flock to Shoprite to buy their groceries, but come mid-month they visit Usave stores because they are within walking distance," added the CEO.Looking at competitor Pick n Pay, the company's decision to withdraw from townships due to political uncertainty in the 1990s proved to be a costly mistake for the retailer.By the time Pick n Pay began offering bulk deals to informal retailers through the launch of their "Traders welcome" campaign in 2016, it was effectively outcompeted by the already established Shoprite and independent wholesalers.Massmart also tried to compete in this sector through its Cambridge Foods cash and carry business, but the company ended up selling these stores to Shoprite in August 2021."As South Africa's corporate supermarket chains have started rolling out brands and formats more geared toward township retail proper, they are not only a route to market but also competition to the independent trade, offering convenience through close-to-home shopping," said Trade Intelligence.SPAR, for example, outsources some township deliveries for its SPAR2U delivery service to businesses like Delivery KA Speed SA and KasiD.Traditional retailers have been concentrating on capturing the independent wholesale market that serves informal traders. However, FMCG companies across the country are increasingly targeting these informal traders directly.Companies like SAB and Coca-Cola have long recognised the value of informal trade, investing in point-of-sale promotions, store upgrades, and business training.In 2023, Tiger Brands, known for major South African brands like Koo, Oros, and Jungle Oats, unveiled a strategy to boost its presence in informal township stores.They plan to partner with more spaza shop owners and expand their reach, aiming to have their products in 130,000 to 150,000 stores over the next five years. They have already collaborated with around 46,000 stores in the past two years."With the local informal market remaining largely untapped and statistics showing that it is growing at a faster rate than the modern trade, we see exponential room for growth in this segment and are engaging closely to support our traders and better present our brands to consumers at the point-of-purchase," Luigi Ferrini, Tiger Brands Chief Customer Officer told Trade Intelligence. News / National by Staff reporter POLITICAL commentator Sishuwa Sishuwa has accused President Hakainde Hichilema of using the courts and police to persecute Bemba speakers and Zambians from Eastern Province.In an interview yesterday, Dr Sishuwa provided several examples in support of his assertions."There is a clear pattern in support of what I am saying. Let me provide examples that show how Hichilema's administration is persecuting our fellow citizens in Bemba speakers and easterners using the police and the courts. The first is that most of those being arrested by the police for political offences such as seditious practices, hate speech or unlawful assembly are either Bembas or easterners. Here, I have in mind citizens like Brebner Changala, Jason Mwanza, Chanda Chikwanka, Thomas Zulu, Edith Nawakwi, Dan Pule, Munir Zulu, Maureen Mabonga, Sean Tembo and Chishimba Kambwili. How is it possible that it is largely Bembas and Easterners who are law breakers or have the propensity to commit these crimes? Then why has the police not arrested Zambians from Southern, Western, North Western and Central provinces who have expressed hate speech towards Archbishop Alick Banda, former president Edgar Lungu, Socialist Party leader Fred M'membe, the people of Luapula province and other victims?" he asked.Dr Sishuwa added that even after being arrested for political offences, Bembas and Easterners are kept in detention for a period longer than required by the law."The second pattern that shows how the police are being abused to oppress Bembas and Easterners is through prolonged and unlawful detentions. In many instances, the Bemba speakers and Easterners who are arrested for political offences are kept in detention for several days and sometimes weeks before being released. They are almost always denied police bond. I cannot contrast this example with the experience of Zambians belonging to the Zambezi region since no one from this region has been arrested for similar offences. This shows a well-coordinated effort that is designed to punish these people through pretrial detentions, which make it impossible for them to attend or have access to the courts. As a general rule, the police are required to formally arrest and charge a suspect with a known offence. The law states that once you are charged, you must be promptly presented before court. The police are obligated to release the suspect on bond unless they are flight risks," Dr Sishuwa said."Under Hichilema, the police have repeatedly violated the law that requires the police to present suspects in court within 48 hours, and yet no action has been taken against the earring officers. Why? Is it because those at the receiving end are Bembas and easterners such as journalist Thomas Allan Zyambo?", he asked.The political commentator also criticised the double standards shown by the police over the case of Petauke independent member of parliament Emmanuel Banda."The general persecution of Easterners is also to be found in the terrible treatment meted out to Petauke Central MP Emmanuel Banda by both Hichilema and the police. The President has not only called Jay Jay Banda all sorts of names such as a thug but also shown extreme distaste for the lawmaker to the extent of instructing the police to resurrect even old cases which the courts had already settled. When Jay Jay Banda named President Hichilema's presidential aides as among those who abducted him, two of whom are Tonga speakers, the police looked away and refused to even merely summon the individuals he had named for questioning. Can you imagine what Hichilema would say or do if a Lozi or Tonga MP was abducted under the PF, named their abductors, and the police refused to do anything about it? And yet the same Hichilema recently found it necessary to order the police to arrest those using social media to abuse one of his presidential aides. Why hasn't the President issued similar instructions to the police for them to arrest those behind rogue online pages connected to State House who are repeatedly scandalising innocent citizens like Archbishop Alick Banda? Why is Hichilema showing these double standards in the treatment of citizens? Do Zambians from the Zambezi region matter more than those from the Eastern and Bemba-speaking provinces?", he wondered.Dr Sishuwa said it is hard to remove the possibility that Jay Jay Banda has been treated differently because he is an easterner."Instead of arresting the people named by the victim as his abductors, the police arrested Jay Jay Banda on what appears to be a trumped-up charge of aggravated robbery for allegedly stealing K200, I repeat, K200. They first claimed that he was was arrested for attempted murder but when they realised that attempted murder is a bailable offence under Zambian law, they changed the charged to aggravated robbery, an offence that does not attract bail, in order to keep him in prison. What kind of heartlessness is this? Why persecute someone like this? And even when evidence emerged that Jay Jay Banda was terribly unwell, the Hichilema administration kept the lawmaker in a truly terrible condition and in a hospital of their choice, not his. Does Jay Jay Banda have to lose his parliamentary seat or even die for Hichilema to be happy or remain in power?", he asked.Dr Sishuwa also criticised the judiciary for "aiding President Hichilema's oppression" of Bembas and Easterners."The judiciary has aided this oppression in three ways. The first is the denial of bail to those convicted for mostly political offences. In the recent past, several Zambians have been convicted by the courts of law for different, largely political, offences. These include Nickson Chilangwa, Ronald Chitotela, Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba, Wanziya Chirwa Kampyongo, Kalumba Chifumbe, Davy Kaniki, and Bowman Lusambo. With the exception of Lusambo, all these people are Bemba speakers, and all of them have been denied bail pending the determination of their appeal cases. Now this is highly unusual because under previous administrations, the courts issued bail to those convicted and sentenced for non-capital offences including MPs and ministers such as Gladys Nyirongo, Austin Liato, and Katele Kalumba. This enabled the sentenced to remain outside prison pending the determination of their appeal cases. How is it possible that under Hichilema and without any changes to the law, all the cited individuals who have been convicted and sentenced have been denied bail? Mind you some of them like Chitotela and Chilangwa have been convicted for minor offences such as arson, which can easily be overturned on appeal. What reasons are there to deny them bail? What flight risks do they present? I know that those convicted are very unpopular people, but this is no reason to deny them bail," he said."Zambia operates an appellant legal system where anyone convicted by a lower court can appeal to a superior court for redress. It is not for the convicting court to determine the prospects of success but to grant bail as an acknowledgement of the possibility that a superior court may reach a different conclusion from the decision of the lower court after examining the facts of the case and the relevant law. What would happen if the appeal succeeded after the convicted person has served the duration of their sentence? By denying the convicted individuals bail, the court is effectively reducing the appeal to an academic exercise since, given the slow pace at which appeal cases move in Zambia's court system, the convicted may have served their sentence in full by the time the appeal is determined."Dr Sishuwa accused the judiciary of subordinating itself to the executive."The second and third ways in which the courts have been accessories to the oppression of Bembas is to be found in the treatment of Chitotela and Chilangwa, both of whom are PF MPs. In the case of Chitotela, he is yet to be sentenced several months after he was convicted in July. Yet he is already serving a sentence before sentencing. How is it possible that the magistrate had time to convict Chitotela but has no time to sentence him? Do you see the oppression of Bemba politicians I am talking about here? By keeping Chitotela in prison without sentencing him, the lawmaker cannot appeal against his conviction. How do the Bembas serving in the UPND feel about this ill-treatment of their fellow Bembas? Surely, they should find this conduct of the courts under Hichilema unacceptable. It is like the idea behind these legal manoeuvres is to keep this Bemba person in prison at all costs. The conduct of the judiciary on this score is bad. It is as if the courts are acting in collusion with the executive to fix political opponents of the party in power. In the case of Chilangwa, he was convicted in Kawambwa and kept in prison there. When people started visiting him in big numbers, the prison services moved him to Mansa. When the visits continued even there, the prison services moved him to Mukobeko Maximum Prison in Kabwe, far away from his family and relatives. Why would the prison authorities decide to keep Chilangwa, who has been convicted for malicious damage to property, in a maximum prison that is meant for hardcore criminals such as those convicted for murder, aggravated robbery and serving life sentences? And while all this is happening, Chilangwa's appeal case is being heard in the Chinsali High Court, meaning both he and his lawyers must travel great distances to attend court. How is this acceptable? This is an administrative issue that the judiciary can easily cure by directing the prison services to keep Chilangwa in Kawambwa or Mansa," Dr Sishuwa argued."But it seems the idea is to keep both MPs in prison until the by-elections in their constituencies have been held. This way the UPND can stop them from campaigning for their preferred candidates and easily win back the seats that would enable Hichilema to secure the two-third majority needed in parliament to make changes to the Constitution. Amendments could be made to make it easier for the President to gain re-election, extend presidential terms or lift the immunity of former president Lungu. Again, here we see the courts being an accessory to the political interests of the executive. What we see is the failure of the judiciary to keep the executive arm of government in check. Instead of checking the excesses of the executive, the judiciary is now seemingly colluding with executive to secure the political interests of Hichilema and his party."He insisted that President Hichilema is oppressing Bembas and Easterners."I am very sad that President Hichilema and the UPND are using the courts and the police to persecute Bemba speakers and Zambians from the Eastern Province. Until recently, this persecution was largely limited to the civil service where about 400 civil servants, mostly easterners and Bembas speakers, have been removed from their positions and packed at the Public Service Management Division (PSMD) doing nothing for unclear reasons. Now it has been extended to politicians and others. This ongoing persecution of our fellow citizens who do not hail from the Zambezi region is wrong and must stop immediately because it is dividing the country and has the potential to cause inter-ethnic conflict. Hichilema has crossed a red line and must be opposed," urged Dr Sishuwa."Those of us who come from the Zambezi region have the duty to speak out against these injustices because the Bembas and Easterners are being silenced through these arrests and convictions, and the expanded law on hate speech that is being rushed through parliament to pave the way for the arrest of anyone criticising Hichilema for this continued persecution of Bembas and Easterners. I am very sad that our justice system is now under strong political influence."Dr Sishuwa urged Zambians to rise above ethnicity and condemn the mistreatment of others, regardless of their ethnic identity or political affiliation."I know that what I have said in this interview may not sit comfortably on the minds of some among us, who may even accuse me of fanning ethnic divisions, but my voice, as does my pen, runs on with my truth. I must either say what is in me or remain silent. I am an advocate of freely sharing views and ideas, without any inhibitions or hierarchies. Just like I publicly and repeatedly condemned the ill-treatment of Tongas under the PF and then President Edgar Lungu, I raise these concerns in the hope that the hard reality of ethnicity, mostly deployed by our political class, can be ventilated, openly debated, so that we may uncover the real reasons behind all the national divisions. In my view, resolving the complex ethnic question properly calls, among other things, for a mature and well-informed national conversation on ethnic oppression, discrimination and exclusion. One of the potentially effective ways of dismantling our ethnically coloured political system is by working for increased understanding in the society of the insidious and pervasive ways in which ethnic exclusion functions. This requires a willingness to re-examine what would be regarded as normal and every day. It presupposes opening up the subject of ethnic marginalisation no longer isolating and alienating those who dare to raise it. It involves listening and creating the spaces to hear the hurt, anger and aspirations of those expressing ethnic oppression. It means dragging the subject of ethnic exclusion from the hushed conversations and murmurs and silences into the arena of public discussion," he added. News / National by Staff reporter A collision between a Quality Gases truck and a Revival bus trailer occurred earlier today about 10km outside West Nicholson, a small settlement along the Bulawayo-Beitbridge highway in Matabeleland South province.According to reports, the truck, which was headed to Bulawayo, sideswiped the Revival bus trailer as it was making its way to Beitbridge. The incident occurred on a stretch of road known for heavy traffic and is part of the vital link between the two major cities.Eyewitnesses and a video taken shortly after the accident suggest that the driver of the truck may have been trapped or fatally injured in the wreckage. One individual, who filmed the aftermath of the crash, described the scene and speculated that the truck driver might not have survived the accident, though this has yet to be confirmed by authorities.Local residents in West Nicholson, a town once known for its beef canning industry, expressed their shock at the accident. The settlement, which once thrived as a hub for Liebig's Extract of Meat Company (Lemco), has seen its economic fortunes decline over the years, a situation many blame on corruption and poor governance under the current regime.The tragic incident has raised further concerns over the state of infrastructure and road safety in the area. While the exact cause of the crash is still under investigation, some local sources indicated that the truck might have lost control while descending a hill, leading to the collision with the bus.As investigations continue, the tragedy has underscored the need for enhanced safety measures along the busy highway, which has seen numerous accidents in the past. ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- ACTFL is thrilled to introduce Kei Tsukamaki as the 2025 National Language Teacher of the Year. The award presentation was held during the Opening General Session of the 2024 ACTFL Convention & World Languages Expo on Friday, November 22 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, PA. The Language Teacher of the Year is a program managed by the Language Connects Foundation (LCF), the charitable and public education affiliate of ACTFL. The Teacher of the Year becomes a national spokesperson for the language profession... Post this 2025 ACTFL National Language Teacher of the Year Kei Tsukamaki Kei Tsukamaki is in her 13th year teaching Japanese in Washington State. She has served as President of the Washington Association of Teachers of Japanese and currently serves as Department Chair in her building and is a member of her district's Japanese Curriculum Writing Team. Tsukamaki is the 2024 Pacific Northwest Council for Languages (PNCFL) Teacher of the Year and the 2023 Washington Association for Language Teaching (WAFLT) Teacher of the Year. The award for the ACTFL National Language Teacher of the Year elevates the status of the language teaching profession at the state, regional, and national levels by creating opportunities for recognizing the most accomplished members of the profession. The Teacher of the Year becomes a national spokesperson for the language profession to further demonstrate the critical importance of learning languages and cultures to the general public. "We congratulate Kei on being named 2025 ACTFL National Language Teacher of the Year," said Lawrence Paska, ACTFL Executive Director. "Her professional accomplishments are a testament to hard work, passion, and dedication to the field of language education. I look forward to our continued collaboration during Kei's year of service and advocacy to the profession as ACTFL's National Language Teacher of the Year. Learn more about the ACTFL Teacher of the Year Program. The other four finalists for the annual ACTFL National Language Teacher of the Year Award representing the other geographic regions of the U.S. were: Amanda Beck : William Henry Harrison High School , West Lafayette, IN Central States Languages for All , Central States Languages for All Bertha Delgadillo : Woodville Tompkins Technical & Career High School, Savannah, GA Southern Conference on Language Teaching (SCOLT) Woodville Tompkins Technical & Career High School, Southern Conference on Language Teaching (SCOLT) Sara Lee : Arizona State University, Tempe , AZ Southwest Conference on Language Teaching (SWCOLT) , AZ Southwest Conference on Language Teaching (SWCOLT) Carlos Salinas : William Penn Charter School , Philadelphia, PA Northeastern Conference on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (NECTFL) About ACTFL: Providing vision, leadership and support for quality teaching and learning of languages, ACTFL is an individual membership organization of more than 13,000 language educators and administrators from elementary through graduate education, as well as government and industry. Since its founding in 1967, ACTFL has become synonymous with innovation, quality, and reliability in meeting the changing needs of language educators and their learners. It is where the world's educators, businesses, and government agencies go to advance the practice of language learning. ACTFL's work as a trusted, independent center of excellence empowers educators to prepare learners for success in a 21st century global society; helps government agencies build language capacity in the U.S. and abroad; and connects businesses with the resources and relationships they need to succeed. About LCF: The Language Connects Foundation (LCF) is a national not-for-profit and philanthropic organization created in partnership with parent organization, ACTFL, to uplift language educators and champion language education. As a standalone entity, the LCF's ultimate goal is to help ensure a diverse, well-prepared, and highly effective language educator workforce today and for generations to come. SOURCE ACTFL ATLANTA, Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- adtechnacity, a leader in AI-driven advertising technology, today announced its inclusion in the Deloitte Technology Fast 500, a prestigious ranking of the 500 fastest-growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences, fintech, and energy tech companies in North America, now in its 30th year. adtechnacity secured the 74th spot on the list, achieving an extraordinary 1,829% revenue growth from 2020 to 2023. This growth positions adtechnacity as one of the fastest-growing companies in the advertising technology space and the leading software and services company in Atlanta. "Being recognized on Deloitte's Technology Fast 500 is a proud moment for everyone at adtechnacity," said Christopher Silva, CEO of adtechnacity. "Reaching the $100M revenue milestone as a bootstrapped company has been no small feat, and this recognition affirms the strength of our approach. From the beginning, our vision was to build a scalable customer acquisition channel that adapts to the unique needs of every advertiser and publisher. Today, our channel empowers best-in-class brands to achieve their revenue goals faster and more efficiently." Silva further emphasized the company's focus on customizations and results. "By combining AI-driven creative production, targeting optimization, and exclusive supply-side partnerships, we've developed a curated model that delivers meaningful scale for leading consumer brands. Our commitment to delivering incremental value at scale, paired with a performance-based, no-risk model, ensures our clients can scale confidently while achieving efficiency, incrementality, and ROIalways rivaling or exceeding what they achieve with Google and Meta." Technology, data science, and engineering excellence are at the core of adtechnacity's solutions. The company's advanced ETL pipelines seamlessly integrate with over 50 supply partnersmany of which are exclusive, incremental, and curated for client needs. Coupled with AI-driven creative and precision targeting, adtechnacity has built a technology-enabled service model that unlocks meaningful scale and drives superior results for advertisers and publishers alike. Building on its success in verticals such as automotive, financial products, and e-commerce, adtechnacity is now expanding into new areas such as travel, mobile apps, and consumer SaaS, while broadening its international presence. "If you're a best-in-category brand looking for scaled performance and impactful results, we'd love to partner with you," Silva added. In 2024, adtechnacity also earned a spot at No. 218 on the Inc. 5000 list, highlighting America's fastest-growing private companies, as well as being named to Inc.'s Best Workplaces. About the 2024 Deloitte Technology Fast 500 Now in its 30th year, the Deloitte Technology Fast 500 provides a ranking of the fastest-growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences, fintech, and energy tech companies both public and private in North America. Technology Fast 500 award winners are selected based on percentage fiscal year revenue growth from 2020 to 2023. In order to be eligible for Technology Fast 500 recognition, companies must own proprietary intellectual property or technology that is sold to customers in products that contribute to a majority of the company's operating revenues. About adtechnacity adtechnacity blends proprietary ad tech & AI, exclusive supply-side partnerships and best-in-class media-buying to redefine the growth and revenue trajectories for the most ambitious consumer brands in North America and Europe. Founded in 2016 and proudly headquartered in Atlanta, GA, adtechnacity has grown to become one of the nation's leading performance technology and digital advertising companies. For more information, visit www.adtechnacity.com. Media Contact: John Voigt [email protected] SOURCE adtechnacity Analytic Partners Placed Highest for Ability to Execute and Furthest for Completeness of Vision MIAMI, Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Analytic Partners, the Commercial Intelligence company for insights-driven brands, today announced it has been recognized as a Leader in the inaugural Gartner Magic Quadrant for Marketing Mix Modeling (MMM) Solutions. Analytic Partners is positioned highest in Ability to Execute and furthest in Completeness of Vision. "We believe our position as a Leader underscores our dedication to our customers and our ongoing commitment to innovation," said Nancy Smith, President and CEO of Analytic Partners. "We appreciate the extensive research Gartner has done in guiding our industry forward. This recognition, we feel, highlights the critical role Commercial Analytics plays in delivering forward-looking decisioning for lasting, meaningful growth." Elevating Insights Beyond MMM and MTA Analytic Partners' longstanding commitment to deliver insights and solutions extends well beyond Multi-Touch Attribution (MTA) and MMM. Analytic Partners' Commercial Analytics solution integrates all factors driving performance outcomes including finance, supply chain and other enterprise functions. This holistic, company-wide approach provides a forward-looking decisioning framework that brands rely on to measure both short-term and long-term impact, ensuring sustained growth. GPS Enterprise: A Powerful Platform for Enabling Growth Powered by the GPS Enterprise platform, Commercial Analytics combines data science and technology to deliver actionable insights that enable brands to make proactive, forward-looking commercial decisions. This end-to-end platform, informed by ROI Genome intelligence, ensures streamlined data management, application of advanced analytics and multi-objective optimizations to help brands meet their growth goals. Recognition extends to Gartner Critical Capabilities Report for MMM Solutions The recognition also extends beyond the Magic Quadrant. In the accompanying Critical Capabilities report for MMM Solutions, Analytic Partners received the highest scores across all 8 Use Cases, including: Highest score in Complex Marketing Analytics Highest score in Business Scenario Planning Highest score in Data Management Highest score in Media Optimization Magic Quadrant reports are a culmination of rigorous, fact-based research in specific markets, providing a wide-angle view of the relative positions of the providers in markets where growth is high, and provider differentiation is distinct. Providers are positioned into four quadrants: Leaders, Challengers, Visionaries and Niche Players. The research enables businesses to get the most from market analysis in alignment with your unique business and technology needs. To read the full Magic Quadrant report, access a complimentary copy here . Gartner, Magic Quadrant for Marketing Mix Modeling Solutions, Matt Wakeman, David Walters, Joseph Enever, Weicong Zhao, November 19, 2024 GARTNER is a registered trademark and service mark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally, Magic Quadrant is a registered trademark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates and is used herein with permission. All rights reserved. Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner's Research & Advisory organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. About Analytic Partners Analytic Partners is the leader in Commercial Analytics, providing adaptive solutions for deeper business understanding, right-time planning and optimization for marketing and beyond. We turn data into expertise so our customers can create powerful connections with their customers and achieve commercial success. For more information, visit analyticpartners.com. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/analytic-partners-recognized-as-a-leader-in-inaugural-gartner-magic-quadrant-for-marketing-mix-modeling-solutions-302314467.html SOURCE Analytic Partners PARIS, Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Huawei hosted the 2024 "Europe Innovation Day" in Paris, an event where European tech leaders, business representatives, and innovation experts explored opportunities for cross-border and cross-industry collaboration. Under this year's theme of "Unleashing the Potential of European Innovation," the event addressed critical challenges in Europe's digital transformation, offering strategies to strengthen regional ecosystems and enhance global competitiveness. Driving Europe's Digital Progress through Cooperation Driving Digital Innovation in Europe Panel Discussion Jesus Contreras, Chief Operations and Financial Officer of EIT Digital, stated: "Innovation is never a solo endeavor; it relies on collaboration and exchange among all parties." He emphasized that digital innovation flourishes when global partners and customers with diverse perspectives unite, bringing energy and momentum to collaborative efforts. Nicola Caputo, Regional Minister of Campania (Italy) and Member of the European Committee of the Regions, highlighted the challenges Europe faces in its digital transformation, such as insufficient digital literacy, lagging commercial adoption, and uneven 5G coverage. He called for governments to strengthen cross-border cooperation to boost Europe's global competitiveness in the digital economy. Ximo Puig, Spain's Permanent Representative to the OECD, stated: "Innovation is essentially a framework. Governments, businesses, and society must leverage this framework to collectively foster long-term development and build a fully connected world." Laurent Lafforgue, a renowned mathematician at Huawei Technologies France, said: "The rapid advancement of technological innovation relies on solid foundational theories. Robust theoretical research is essential to achieving sustainable and long-term technological progress." Huawei's Commitment to Long-Term Investment "Innovation is a long-term process," remarked Yu Liang, Vice President of Huawei Cloud Global Ecosystem. He affirmed Huawei's dedication to fostering open collaboration that drives both societal and commercial value. Yu further announced Huawei's partnership with Station F to launch a sustainability-focused incubation program, aiming to support 10 startups in sectors like retail, automotive, and industrial manufacturing, enabling them to achieve rapid growth within a seven-month incubation period. Advancing Digital Transformation and Building Europe's Future At the "Driving Digital Transformation for Europe's Emerging Innovators" forum, co-hosted by Euronews and Huawei, participants underscored the necessity of cross-sector collaboration and open ecosystems. Key speakers included Horst Heitz, Chair of SME Connect Steering Committee; Ana Paula Nishio de Sousa, Director of Digital Transformation & AI at the UN Industrial Development Organization; Alexander Pisemskiy, CEO of Zenpulsar; and Gaurav Tripathi, CTO of Partex NV. They emphasized the need for open data-sharing platforms and collaborative ecosystems to cultivate a more inclusive and adaptable innovation environment. "Huawei Cloud will continue to invest in Europe by delivering stable and reliable cloud infrastructure, working with government agencies and universities to cultivate digital talent, and supporting startups to scale across regions," said Zhu Xiaoming, Vice President of Huawei Cloud Global Industry Development. He noted that Europe's digital transformation is advancing slower than the targets outlined in the Europe Digital Decade 2030 plan, particularly in areas such as data and artificial intelligence. Promoting Inclusivity and Women Innovators Berta Herrero, Head of Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion at Huawei Europe, moderated a panel discussion on empowering women innovators. Panelists included Rebeca de Sancho Mayoral, Senior Adviser on EU Innovation & Access to Finance at the European Commission; Egle Ciuoderiene, Founder of Duevo; Iva Tasheva, Co-Founder and Cybersecurity Lead at CyEn; and Gaia Verzelli, an alumna of Huawei's Women Leadership School. They shared insights into EU funding and policy initiatives designed to support women entrepreneurs and called for greater female participation in the tech innovation ecosystem to foster an inclusive and diverse environment. A Call to Action Closing the event, Tony Yong Jin, Director of Business Environment Affairs of the European Region at Huawei, called on all parties to take decisive action to drive digital innovation and build a more connected, inclusive, and sustainable Europe. He stated, "Today, I call on all of us to embrace digital innovationnot just because of its promises, but because of its profound impact on every individual, family, and community." SOURCE Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd LOS ANGELES, Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Schall Law Firm, a national shareholder rights litigation firm, announces that it is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Franklin Resources, Inc. ("Franklin" or "the Company") (NYSE: BEN) for violations of the securities laws. The investigation focuses on whether the Company issued false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose information pertinent to investors. Franklin admitted on July 26, 2024, that "following the launch of an internal investigation focusing on certain past trade allocations of treasury derivatives in select Western Asset Management ('WAM') accounts, WAM received notification of parallel investigations by the SEC and U.S. Department of Justice." The Company then disclosed on August 21, 2024, that WAM co-Chief Investment Officer Ken Leech had been played on leave "effective immediately" adding that "in light of Mr. Leech's leave of absence, the Company has determined that closing its Macro Opportunities strategy (approximately $2.0 billion in AUM as of 7/31/2024) is in clients' best interests." Finally, the Company also disclosed that Leech had received a Wells Notice from the SEC. Based on this news, shares of Franklin fell significantly. If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate. We also encourage you to contact Brian Schall of the Schall Law Firm, 2049 Century Park East, Suite 2460, Los Angeles, CA 90067, at 310-301-3335, to discuss your rights free of charge. You can also reach us through the firm's website at www.schallfirm.com, or by email at [email protected]. The Schall Law Firm represents investors around the world and specializes in securities class action lawsuits and shareholder rights litigation. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and rules of ethics. CONTACT: The Schall Law Firm Brian Schall, Esq. 310-301-3335 [email protected] www.schallfirm.com SOURCE The Schall Law Firm News / National by Staff reporter Russia and Zimbabwe have initiated talks to facilitate the deployment of Zimbabwean workers to Russia, particularly in the construction sector.Russian Deputy Housing and Construction Minister Nikita Stasishin recently met Zimbabwe's Housing Minister Zhemu Soda during the World Urban Forum in Cairo to explore the possibility of Zimbabweans filling labor gaps in Russian construction. According to The Herald, the two officials agreed on a follow-up visit by a Russian delegation to discuss concrete proposals.The labor shortage is a significant challenge for Russia's economy, which is under strain due to the war and an aging, declining population. President Vladimir Putin acknowledged the issue during a speech at the Valdai Discussion Club in Sochi on November 7, calling it "one of the main obstacles to our economic growth.""We need 250,000 people in manufacturing industry right now, and it would not cover all its needs either," Putin said, highlighting the severity of the problem across various sectors.The Russian government has been actively recruiting workers globally, especially in Africa and Asia. Job advertisements for Russian vacancies in fields such as IT and construction have surged in African nations. For instance, Kenya saw a dramatic increase in ads, from 161 in the first half of 2023 to nearly 6,500 in the same period this year, as reported by the Kyiv Independent.However, the global recruitment drive has raised concerns. Instances of foreign workers being drawn into Russia's war effortdirectly or indirectlyhave led to cautionary measures in several countries.In March, India's Central Bureau of Investigation revealed 35 cases of Indian nationals being lured to fight in Ukraine under the guise of job opportunities in Russia, with at least two confirmed dead in combat. Similarly, Nepal banned its citizens from working in Russia or Ukraine earlier this year after 10 young men were killed, and dozens more went missing, many while serving in the Russian military, according to The Guardian.Critics warn that sending Zimbabwean workers to Russia could expose them to similar risks. Human rights advocates have called for transparency and safeguards to ensure the safety of those who might accept employment offers.While the talks remain preliminary, they underscore Russia's pressing need for labor and its increasing outreach to developing nations to address the shortfall. For Zimbabwe, the proposal could offer economic opportunities, but it also raises questions about worker protection and ethical recruitment practices. Funding Secured from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Focuses on Developing Next Generation Device for Long-Term Therapy Delivery ASHLAND, Mass., Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- BioSurfaces is pleased to announce that the company has been awarded a $2.06 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. This one-year grant focuses on advancing the development of BioSurfaces' Bio-Spun Cell Chamber (BSCC), an innovative device designed to provide long-term delivery of a biotherapeutic agent to treat a chronic illness. The BSCC device encapsulates genetically engineered cells that produce therapeutic proteins. Based on its extensive pre-clinical research on the BSCC, BioSurfaces expects the research funded by the grant to demonstrate that the BSCC can achieve the three key, and very challenging, goals of implantable cell therapy delivery devices: enabling cells to receive nutrients from the body, protecting the cells from attack from the immune system and allowing the biotherapeutic agent produced by the cells to move from the device into the body. The BSCC device has the potential to be a compact, minimally-invasive option to provide consistent therapy. Patient compliance issues in developing countries are particularly problematic due to factors such as supply chain interruption and economic access. These factors result in inconsistent therapy, leading to a risk of significant complications associated with the disease being treated. Current implantable devices or cellular coating technologies have failed due to materials that cause scar formation (i.e. fibrosis), which blocks the inflow of vital nutrients to the cells and inhibits outflow of the therapeutic proteins needed to treat the disease. In addition, implanted devices that do not provide an effective barrier between the encapsulated cells and the body can result in a dangerous immune response. In foundational studies, BioSurfaces' BSCC device demonstrated the ability to deliver a biotherapeutic agent for up to 150 days. The device showed excellent healing and minimal scarring as compared to existing devices. BioSurfaces will use the grant funding to increase cell capacity of the BSCC device, which will be crucial in achieving target therapeutic levels. BioSurfaces will partner with external research teams to access genetically-modified cells that produce a biotherapeutic for a targeted disease. "Receiving this prestigious grant from the Gates Foundation represents a significant step forward in our goal to provide a practical, long-term therapeutic delivery solution for patients, especially for those in underserved areas," said Matthew Phaneuf, President and Chief Executive Officer of BioSurfaces. "Our Bio-Spun Cell Chamber device is specifically engineered to address the challenges of fibrosis and immune rejection while enabling long-term biotherapeutic delivery. This device could be extremely helpful in low- and middle-income countries where access to biotherapeutics may be limited." Successful development of this BSCC technology holds promise for improving patient outcomes for other long-term diseases such as diabetes, liver disease and many rare and transmittable diseases. The device has the potential to be a game-changer in the field of cell-based therapeutics. About BioSurfaces (www.biosurfaces.us) BioSurfaces, based in Ashland, Massachusetts, is focused on improving lives throughout the world by applying our unique Bio-Spun nanofiber materials paired with our decades of expertise to develop and provide a range of products that are superior to those available today. Bio-Spun technology creates solutions by engineering biology with synthetic cellular matrices. We continue to drive innovation in applications related to life science benchtop tools, stand-alone or combination medical devices and consumer products. We also collaborate with some of the world's leading life science organizations working in these areas. SOURCE BioSurfaces, LLC The selected youth will benefit from a year-long mentorship program, networking opportunities across North America, receive C$15,000 in seed funding and the chance to present their solutions to North America's top environmental officials as part of the CEC's annual Council Session in the summer of 2025. It's time to act now. The GELP invites young people from North America to support communities and preserve our shared waters, lands and air. The program is aimed at youth who are 1835 years old and are part of a team such as, but not exclusively, youth-led organizations, youth-led associations, nongovernmental organizations, not-for-profit youth-led businesses, and teams of youth innovators and entrepreneurs interested in building their businesses. Here's what the current GELP cohort is saying. "The mentorship provided by the GELP has greatly helped me grow as a person and has made me feel more comfortable stepping out of my comfort zone, especially in areas like preparing for presentations and managing stress. Today, I feel much more at ease speaking in front of an audience!"Alexandre Savard, Encore! Biomateriaux, Canada. "The seed funding provided through the GELP was a wonderful opportunity to kickstart some of our project's most important activities. Thanks to this support, we were able to initiate the implementation of an Environmental Management Unit, a step that will foster restoration and conservation of the area." Ana Cristina Posadas Garcia, Strategy for the Restoration and Conservation of the Cienega of Tamasopo Wetland, RAMSAR Site, Mexico. "As members of the inaugural GELP cohort, we have had the privilege of connecting with individuals and organizations driven to be a power for good in the environmental and climate space. These experiences have been the catalyst for additional award nominations and the formation of collaborative partnerships that we believe will further grow our work at the intersection of justice and an equitable energy transition."McKenna Dunbar and Jake Barnet, Electrivive: An Equitable Building Electrification Workforce Redevelopment Tool, United States. We're giving youth the resources to succeed and lead. In addition to building capacity for youth, this program accelerates youth leadership by expanding youth environmental networks and providing seed funding for creative solutions to flourish, particularly at the local level. During the year-long mentorship program, youth leaders receive advice from experts to help advance their solutions and guidance on various elements of their projects, including how to pitch their solutions and other project development and management topics such as risk management, budgeting, outreach and fundraising. The program supports impactful and enduring community-driven activities and establishes a robust youth network across North America. The GELP also provides extended networking opportunities for participants. The selected solutions are presented to the public and selected teams can engage with the CEC's Joint Public Advisory Committee and Traditional Ecological Knowledge Expert Group, and Government officials and experts, during the CEC Council Session, an ideal platform to showcase the impactful ideas at the ministerial level. Requirements for participation. Applicants must demonstrate that their solutions can address or respond to critical issues related to supporting our communities and preserving our shared waters, lands and air across North America. Submissions should be practical, effective, achievable and propose sustainable solutions to an identifiable environmental problem. They should also be context-specific and consider the unique characteristics of the community or region targeted by the project. The eligibility and evaluation criteria prioritize solutions that have established a clear objective and will have a significant impact on local communities and their environment: Impact and community engagement (40%) Feasibility (25%) Alignment with CEC's strategic pillars and the program theme (15%) Identification of problem/issue (10%) Innovation (10%) Priority is given to proposals submitted by diverse youth who identified or developed their solutions jointly with communities, including community members who traditionally do not have access to decision-making spaces. Submission deadline: Completed submissions must be uploaded to the submission platform by 23:59 local time on 12 January 2025. Click here to learn more about the program, the submission guidelines and criteria, and to apply. For more information about the Generation of Environmental Leaders Program and the submission process, please join us for a virtual information session on 17 December 2024 from 13:0014:00 Eastern Time (12:0013:00 Central Time) and (10:0011:00 Pacific Time), available with simultaneous interpretation in English, French and Spanish. If you would like to know more about CEC initiatives, opportunities and efforts, you can sign up for our newsletter and follow us on social media. Media Contact Patrick Tonissen Head of Communications +1 (438) 885-8463 SOURCE Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam, Nov. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- TMA Solutions recently celebrated its 27th anniversary, a testament to its role as a pioneering force in Vietnam's software industry. With a workforce of nearly 4,000 engineers and a diverse client base spanning 30 countries, TMA reflects on its journey while setting ambitious goals for the future. The company has grown from a local software outsourcing firm into a trusted global partner, providing cutting-edge solutions in AI, IoT, and Fintech. Criteria for choosing an innovative and reliable software partner TMA Solutions - Reliable Software Partner Proven track records When selecting an innovative software partner, one of the first aspects to consider is their proven track record. This includes evaluating the company's profile and reputation within the industry, which can provide insights into their reliability and credibility. The number of years the company has been in the software industry is another critical indicator of their experience and long-term stability. Additionally, reviewing relevant case studies can give you a clear understanding of the partner's ability to deliver successful projects that align with your business goals. Engineering talents The strength of a software partner's engineering talents is a key factor in their ability to deliver on your project's demands. Assessing the number of engineers in their team provides a sense of their capacity to handle complex and large-scale projects. Beyond quantity, it's essential to evaluate the skills and expertise of their engineers. A diverse team with specialized knowledge in various technologies ensures that the partner can provide innovative and technically sound solutions tailored to your needs. Additionally, their ability to ramp up resources quickly when required is crucial for keeping the project on track and responsive to evolving requirements. Pricing Pricing is a critical consideration when choosing a software partner. It's important to understand the different pricing models they offer, such as fixed-price, time-and-materials, or dedicated teams, and how these models align with your budget and project requirements. Moreover, considering the overall costs, including any hidden fees, will help you make a more informed decision. Technical expertise The technical expertise of a software partner is paramount to the success of your project. Evaluating their domain knowledge helps ensure that the partner understands the specific challenges and requirements of your industry. Additionally, assessing their proficiency in the relevant technology stack is vital. A partner who is well-versed in modern technologies and tools will be better equipped to deliver innovative and effective solutions that meet your business needs. R&D and innovation capabilities A software partner with strong R&D and innovation capabilities is more likely to bring fresh ideas and cutting-edge solutions to your projects. This capability indicates the partner's commitment to staying ahead of industry trends and continuously improving their offerings. Engaging with a partner who prioritizes innovation can provide your business with a competitive edge in the market. Available solutions It's important to assess the range of solutions that a software partner offers. A partner with a diverse portfolio, including custom software development, system integration, and product engineering, can provide comprehensive services that meet your various business needs. Having access to a wide array of solutions ensures that the partner can adapt to your evolving requirements and support your business growth. Quality processes Quality assurance processes are critical to ensuring the reliability and performance of the software delivered by your partner. Evaluating their approach to software testing, bug tracking, and continuous improvement will give you confidence in their ability to maintain high standards throughout the development process. A partner with robust quality processes will consistently deliver high-performing software that meets or exceeds your expectations. Security practices Security is a fundamental aspect of any software partnership, particularly when dealing with sensitive data and critical business operations. Assessing the partner's security practices, including physical security measures to protect their development environment, network security protocols to prevent unauthorized access, and data security practices such as encryption and compliance with regulations like GDPR or HIPAA, is essential. A partner with strong security practices will help safeguard your business against potential threats and ensure the integrity of your software solutions. Why TMA is your innovative and reliable software partner TMA Solutions is one of the top leading software outsourcing companies in Vietnam, trusted by global companies. With more than 27 years of experience and nearly 4,000 engineers, TMA provides industry-specific solutions across automotive, telecom, healthcare, finance, and more. Our 10 specialized R&D centers, covering fields like AI, IoT, Fintech, and 5G, allow us to deliver advanced, quality-driven services that meet complex business needs. With international certifications and a commitment to continuous improvement, TMA Solutions provides reliable, high-quality support to help businesses meet their technology goals and drive sustainable growth. Intensive R&D capabilities With a remarkable 27 years of experience in software development, our company has intensive capabilities across a wide range of industries and technologies. We can support end-to-end services from product and project planning, technology roadmap to technical solution, architectural design, business analysis, UX/UI design, development and testing, porting and migration, etc. We have invested heavily in many technologies and R&D centers, each focused on key areas of modern technology, including Telecom Software, Data Solution, AI, IoT, Automotive Software Fintech, Healthtech, Hardware, Robotics Software, 5G, etc. These centers ensure we can maintain strong technical capability in order to deliver cutting-edge solutions to clients worldwide. Innovation as a Service After many years working with leading companies, TMA Solutions can offer Innovation as a Service, from technical feasibility study, prototype and proof-of-concept development, R&D, technical solution, digital and AI transformation roadmap that helps businesses transforming innovative ideas into reality and stay ahead in today's rapidly evolving technology landscape. Whether you're exploring new solutions, developing prototypes, or crafting a comprehensive technology roadmap, our experienced team ensures that your ideas are tested, refined, and implemented efficiently. With TMA, you gain a reliable partner dedicated to accelerating your innovation strategy and achieving your business goals. 4,000 engineers and a strong brand name to attract talent Our team of 4,000 highly skilled engineers is our greatest asset. As a pioneer in Vietnam software industry, we have established a strong brand name helping us attracting talents from top universities in Vietnam and overseas. This large and diverse team allows us to take on complex projects, scale our services to meet client demands, and deliver innovative solutions across various technology stacks. Our commitment to attracting and retaining the best talent ensures that we remain at the forefront of the software development industry. Clients from 30 countries We have a diverse client base that spans 30 countries including USA, Canada, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, etc. This international experience has equipped us with the ability to understand and navigate different markets, cultures, and business environments. Our global reach allows us to offer tailored solutions that meet the unique needs of clients in various regions, ensuring that we can provide the best possible service no matter where our clients are located. Experience in large and complex projects We have a proven track record of successfully managing and delivering large-scale projects that requires hundreds of engineers and strong technical expertise. Our experience in handling complex, multi-faceted projects has equipped us with the skills and processes needed to ensure that every aspect of a project is executed flawlessly. Whether it's a large enterprise system, a nationwide rollout, or a high-stakes development project, we have the experience and expertise to deliver results that meet and exceed expectations. A wide range of technologies Our 4,000 engineers can support a wide range of technologies, allowing us to provide cutting-edge solutions to our clients, from legacy systems to latest technologies. This broad technical expertise ensures that we can select the best tools and platforms for each project, providing solutions that are not only effective but also future-proof. Available Solutions TMA Solutions offers a wide range of innovative software solutions for various industries. Leveraging latest technologies such as AI/ML, RPA, IoT, 5G, blockchain, TMA Solutions has built hundreds of solutions for healthcare, finance, telecom, automotive, logistics, retail, manufacturing, etc. These pre-built solutions are designed to integrate seamlessly into existing systems, significantly reducing development time and enabling businesses to achieve rapid market entry. By offering these customizable, industry-specific solutions, TMA ensures that companies can quickly adapt to changing demands, optimize their operations, and maintain a competitive edge in a constantly dynamic environment. Strong quality foundation We have established quality foundation, supported by industry best practices, rigorous testing processes, and a commitment to continuous improvement. Aligned with industry practices and standards (CMMi, Agile, ISO 9001, TL9000, ISO 27001), we can meet stringent requirements from leading companies and maintain the growth rate in the last 27 years. Choosing TMA as your software partner means gaining access to a wealth of experience, expertise, and innovation that will drive your business forward. Website: www.tmasolutions.com Business enquiry: [email protected] United States & Canada: +1 844 224 4188 / +1 802 735 1392 (Mr. Minh Nguyen) Europe: +33 7 44 77 49 24 (Mr. Jordan Baumgartner) Vietnam: +84 28 3995 1060 (Ms. Phuong Tran) / +84 28 3990 2680 (Mr. Andy Pham) Singapore: +84 946 177 624 (Mr. Cuong Bui) Australia: +61 411 276 342 (Mr. Huy Ly) Japan: +81 50 5490 9867 (Mr. Yasuhisa Yoneda) SOURCE TMA Solutions CHICAGO, Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Chicago-based hemp businesses today applauded the thoughtful approach to hemp regulation announced by Chicago Alderman William Hall, Sixth Ward, to improve public safety particularly for minors while creating a sustainable revenue stream for the City of Chicago. Alderman Hall's proposed ordinance would ban underage sales to minors, prohibit harmful synthetics while preserving good manufacturing practices, implement strict consumer safety regulations, and level the playing field for small business owners in the growing hemp industry. "Since opening my first hemp cafe in Lincoln Park in 2022, I've built a responsible and thriving business," said Henry Hormozi, owner of the High Crowd Cafe. "Yet I've seriously considered moving operations and the jobs they create to Wisconsin due to the uncertain regulatory environment here in Illinois. Alderman Hall's plan strikes the right balance between consumer safety and a fair, supportive environment for businesses like mine that play by the rules." Added Ray Stout, Illinois Craft Brewers Guild Executive Director: "Rather than adding additional regressive taxes on alcohol, Chicago needs to look into growing new industries and building sustainable new sources of revenue. Chicago is known as the food and drink capital of the world, and enabling hemp beverages and hemp-infused hospitality ensures that Chicago will maintain this position for years to come." Alderman Hall's proposal for hemp regulation in Chicago supports a safe and viable hemp industry by: Safeguarding minors through a minimum customer age of 21. Enforcing strict packaging, labeling, dosing, testing, chain-of-custody, and retail security, access, and record-keeping requirements. Prohibiting harmful synthetic products that don't naturally occur in the hemp plant. Providing sustainable ways to generate tax revenue for needed community resources, especially at a time when Chicagoans have been feeling the squeeze from a higher cost of living. Protecting innovation and promoting retail equity by providing a means for individuals not backed by multimillion-dollar investments to enter a lawful and profitable industry one that's projected to grow to over $1 billion in sales in Chicago alone by 2029. in sales in alone by 2029. Supporting the local business community by creating an environment where responsible businesses that prioritize consumer safety and high-quality products can continue investing and creating more jobs within the community. About the Illinois Hemp Business Association The Illinois Hemp Business Association (IHBA) represents hundreds of independent and minority-owned hemp businesses across Illinois, advocating for fair regulations that protect consumer safety, encourage growth, and foster an equitable industry for all. For more information, visit ILhemp.org . SOURCE Illinois Hemp Business Association GUANGZHOU, China, Nov. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - News report from GDToday: "We have a poem in Brazil that says we don't make friends; we recognize them. It seems that we recognize China and its people as our friends. They were friends even before we met," said Henrique Couto Nobrega, president of the Brazil-China Friendship Association, during an interview with GDToday on November 18 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Henrique emphasized the significance of people-to-people exchanges, sharing that after visiting China, many of his Brazilian friends were amazed by its development, history, and vitality often contrasting sharply with their initial perceptions. At the G20 Summit, Brazil launched the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty. Henrique pointed out that China has lifted 800 million people out of extreme poverty, demonstrating that "with good policies, it is possible to overcome poverty and hunger." He also highlighted an initiative by CPFL Energia, a subsidiary of the State Grid Corporation of China, which has provided purified water to indigenous communities in Brazil's northeast, addressing a critical need for clean drinking water. "This kind of relationship is what we call a 'win-win relationship,'" Henrique concluded. SOURCE GDToday GUANGZHOU, China, Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- News report from GDToday: "The spirit of Bandung is still present, inspiring good morals, positive perspectives, and South-South cooperation," said Dr. J. Renato Peneluppi Jr., a professor of public administration and energy transition policies at the University of Worcester, UK. He made these remarks during an interview with GDToday on November 17 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, as he discussed the BRICS, APEC, and G20 summits, all of which took place within the span of a month. Renato pointed to the 2023 inauguration of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway by China and Indonesia as a clear signal of efforts to revive the Bandung Spirit. "We, in South America, want to be part of this global change," he emphasized. The historic Asian-African Conference, known as the Bandung Conference, was held in Bandung, Indonesia, on April 18, 1955. It was the first time nations of the Global South united against imperialism and colonialism, advocating for sovereignty and a more equitable global order. The conference introduced the concept of Bandung Spirit, centered on "solidarity, friendship, and cooperation," which inspired the Non-Aligned Movement and South-South cooperation. Having lived in China for 14 years, Renato made a special trip to Rio de Janeiro during the G20 summit. "I want to bridge both countries so that we can strengthen BRICS and other international initiatives which are shaping the world," he stated. SOURCE GDToday BEIJING, Nov. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Chinese President Xi Jinping left Brasilia on Thursday after attending the 19th G20 Leaders' Summit and paying a state visit to Brazil. During this nearly 10-day trip which focused on major power diplomacy, President Xi held bilateral meetings with leaders of many countries, including Western powers such as the US, Britain, France and Germany, as well as emerging market and developing countries such as Brazil and Peru, and neighboring countries such as Japan and South Korea. Such a dense schedule is rare. The New York Times published an article on Wednesday, titled, "World Leaders Seek Stability With China." This represents the perspective of a considerable part of international public opinion that promoting cooperation with China is the path to stability and that China has injected valuable certainty and stability into the world. Looking back at the topics discussed during this round of heads of state talks, whether it is "to promote the sustained, steady and sound development of China-EU relations," "China's development has made important contributions to the long-term stability and growth of the Asia-Pacific region," or "a stable China-US relationship is critical not only to the interests of the Chinese and American peoples, but also to the future and destiny of the entire humanity," the term "stability" has consistently emerged as a core keyword. Some public opinion has described the diplomatic efforts of the Chinese leader in South America over the past 10 days as following: A major developing country that embraces the spirit of "working together for the world" has contributed Chinese wisdom and solution to world peace, stability, fairness, inclusiveness, and sustainable development. China's initiatives resonate with the development concepts of an increasing number of countries, adding precious certainty to the world. China is like the anchor of stability for a giant ship this has been proven by China's diplomatic practices over the past 10 years, and has become the key of China's diplomacy to winning people's hearts. China's certainty provides a stable "emotional value" to the world. This comes from a firm and confident core of values, as well as a high degree of consistency between policy formulation and actual implementation. We have noticed that leaders of many countries have mentioned that they hope to align their national development strategies with China's development plans. In other words, when these countries plan for their own development, China is an indispensable factor. These countries view China as a partner in their pursuit of a better future. This trust is invaluable; it stems from experiences where dreams, such as "from Chancay to Shanghai," have become a reality, inspiring confidence in the realization of more dreams. Promoting cooperation with China serves as the cornerstone of this relationship. Some Western commentators are puzzled: What charm does China possess to make so many countries willing to collaborate with it for development? In fact, the answer is evident: It lies in mutual respect, win-win cooperation, and treating each other as equals. In this regard, China truly takes action and follows through on its commitments. Some national leaders are very specific when discussing cooperation with the Chinese side, indicating their high expectations for the stability of relations with China. Why is Chinese diplomacy so stable? It's because China's understanding of its own development path and its relationship with the world has always been consistent. Regardless of how chaotic and intertwined the world may become, China has a clear definition of its position: to steadfastly be a force for peace, stability, and progress in the world. China is dedicated to pursuing happiness for the Chinese people and rejuvenation for the Chinese nation, as well as to promoting human progress and world harmony. This is our mission, our responsibility, our pursuit and goal. Although we face various risks and challenges, and behind some geopolitical conflicts lie complex historical contexts, China's position remains firm: to stand on the right side of history and on the side of human progress. The Chinese often say, "When the line of a fishing net is held up, all the meshes will be open. When the fundamental principles are upheld, all work will fall in place." Our understanding of ourselves and the world remains stable, enabling us to move forward steadily. Foreign media have commented that for leaders of other countries, the conclusion of the G20 summit marks "the beginning of a new chapter in global diplomacy that may be more focused on China than ever before." We hope this will be a new starting point for advancing global governance toward a more just and equitable direction. China will continue to uphold the banner of peace, development, cooperation, and win-win outcomes, seeking its own development while firmly maintaining world peace and development, and using its own progress to better uphold global peace and development. SOURCE Global Times LOS ANGELES, Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Cistto, a sensitive skin care brand originating in China and soon to launch in the North American market, has gained recognition for its products and also for its far-reaching philanthropic vision and actions, demonstrating its corporate responsibility and commitment. Cistto's charitable initiatives transcend borders, aiming to offer support for populations with sensitive skin in various regions around the world. Addressing Skin Damage in High-Altitude Regions: The "Moon Above the Plateau" Sensitive Skin Assistance Program Cistto Skincare Plan Moon Above the Plateau" Tibet, with an average altitude of over 4,000 meters, is the highest region on Earth. The area enjoys more than 3,000 hours of sunlight each year, and meteorological data[1] shows that the Tibetan Plateau is also home to the highest levels of UV radiation in the world. Additionally, the region is one of China's three major windy areas, with strong winds affecting nearly one-fifth of the year. These extreme environmental conditions present significant challenges to skin health. According to estimates[2], around 2 million women in Tibet suffer from various degrees of skin damage, making them one of the most vulnerable populations for sensitive skin worldwide. Cistto became aware of the sensitive skin issues faced by women in Tibet. The brand, together with its research team, product developers, and external experts and testing agencies, visited the Tibetan Plateau to study the causes of high-altitude sensitive skin problems and provide skin improvement assistance for local women. Through field research and studies, Cistto gained a deeper understanding of the lifestyle and skincare habits of high-altitude women, collecting skin samples for analysis through third-party testing agencies to compare data between high-altitude and mainland skin, thereby identifying the root causes and enriching its sensitive skin database. On International Women's Day, Cistto launched the "Moon Above the Plateau" Sensitive Skin Assistance Program, aimed at providing comprehensive skin care support for women in high-altitude regions. Cistto's official accounts on various platforms opened up a channel for Tibetan women with sensitive skin to apply for assistance. In addition, Cistto waived shipping fees for remote areas in Tibet and continued to raise awareness about the causes of sensitive skin in high-altitude areas, promoting scientific skincare knowledge. Global Expansion of Philanthropic Efforts: A Continuing Corporate Commitment to Social Good The "Moon Above the Plateau" Sensitive Skin Assistance Program is just the beginning. As the brand expands internationally, Cistto's philanthropic efforts will extend beyond China, with plans to launch similar initiatives in the U.S. and other regions, addressing the skin health needs of different environments. The brand will tailor its philanthropic programs to local conditions, assisting people with sensitive skin caused by various factors. By collaborating with local charitable organizations, Cistto will establish a broader support network, further advancing the scientific education and dissemination of skincare knowledge. Cistto believes that only through continuous effort and innovation can the brand fulfill its mission of "bringing visible change to the skin." This global philanthropic initiative reflects Cistto's deep understanding of skin health and demonstrates the brand's commitment to global social responsibility. Official website: https://cistto.us/ [1] High UV Radiation in Tibet academic support: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S136468269900005X#:~:text=As%20a%20consequence%20of%20the%20low%20latitude%2C,amount%20in%20summer%20(Zhou%20et%20al.%2C%201994; [2] 2 million women in Tibet suffering from sensitive skin lacks direct corroboration in the available literature: This data is from the article published in China (https://cn.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202403/12/WS65efe9e9a3109f7860dd5085.html). SOURCE Cistto COO Monte Lewis appointed as the brand's incoming Chief Executive Officer LOS ANGELES, Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Dunn-Edwards Corporation announced today the retirement of Karl Altergott from his role as President and Chief Executive Officer in February of 2025 after 16 years of dedicated and significant contributions across the brand. The Dunn-Edwards Board of Directors and the Co-Presidents of Nippon Paint also announced that Chief Operating Officer Monte Lewis has been promoted to CEO, effective March 1, 2025. Karl Altergott joined Dunn-Edwards in 2009 and has continued to be a dedicated and decisive leader, and the company has made many significant advancements throughout his tenure. Under Altergott's leadership, Dunn-Edwards established a new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, completed a new corporate headquarters, expanded 75 new store locations, invested in multiple IT and product development platforms, sold/transitioned Dunn-Edwards as a family-run business to Nippon Paint, and built a competent leadership team. He plans to continue his service and devote part of his time to Nippon Paint as an Executive Advisor in support of organizations globally. "Serving as the CEO of Dunn-Edwards has been one of my greatest privileges as the company and the coatings industry is full of great people and customers," said Karl Altergott, outgoing President and CEO of Dunn-Edwards. "Dunn-Edwards is in great hands with Monte Lewis, and I look forward to watching the brand's continued growth." Alongside the news of Altergott's retirement, Dunn-Edwards is excited to announce the appointment of Monte Lewis as incoming CEO of Dunn-Edwards. Having spent nearly 16 years leading the company's sales organization and exemplifying proven growth and excellence, Lewis was promoted to Chief Operating Officer in February 2024. The Dunn-Edwards Board of Directors and Co-Presidents of Nippon Paint have expressed their complete confidence in Lewis' ability to help Dunn-Edwards grow its architectural footprint further in the United States. In other leadership news, Dunn-Edwards is honored to announce the promotion of Nick Hess to Executive Vice President. Hess has led the Dunn-Edwards Stores team for more than two decades and has helped the brand grow in the markets it serves. In this role, he will continue to be a powerful voice on the Executive team and work alongside incoming CEO Monte Lewis. "I am grateful for the trust placed in me to lead Dunn-Edwards, a company deeply committed to serving our customers, communities, and industry," said Monte Lewis, incoming CEO of Dunn-Edwards. "I am fortunate to begin this journey on the solid foundation that Karl and his team built over the past 16 years. Looking ahead, we will continue to strengthen our presence in our core markets while expanding into new geographic and product segments, ensuring a thriving future for Dunn-Edwards and the customers we serve." This news comes at an exciting time for the legacy paint manufacturer as it approaches its 100th anniversary in 2025. To learn more about the long-standing legacy of Dunn-Edwards and its vision for the future, visit www.dunnedwards.com . About Dunn-Edwards Corporation Dunn-Edwards Apply a Higher Standard. Dunn-Edwards is one of the nation's leading manufacturers and distributors of premium architectural, industrial, and high-performance paints, coatings, and paint supplies. It operates over 170 company stores in California, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico and Texas, and over 100 domestic and 250 international dealer locations in 12 countries. Dunn-Edwards is dedicated to preserving and protecting the environment and produces its coatings in a LEED Gold-certified manufacturing plant. Based in Southern California, the almost 100-year-old company has approximately 1,700 employees. Dunn-Edwards is a wholly owned subsidiary of Osaka, Japan-based Nippon Paint Holdings Co., Ltd. (TYO 4612), one of the world's largest paint companies. For more information, visit www.dunnedwards.com . CONTACT: Margaret Sutton, [email protected] SOURCE Dunn-Edwards Corporation BOGOTA, Colombia, Nov. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Ecopetrol S.A. (BVC: ECOPETROL; NYSE: EC) (the "Company") informs that today it completed the redemption of the aggregate principal amount outstanding of its 5.375% notes due 2026, which were originally issued in 2015. The repurchase price of this bond was USD 1,007.63 for each USD 1,000 of principal outstanding, amounting to USD 450,579,892 for the aggregate principal amount outstanding, plus accrued interest up to the date. With this early payment, the aggregate principal amount outstanding of the Company's 5.375% notes due 2026 has been completely redeemed, mitigating the Company's refinancing risk until 2028. This action aligns with the objectives of the financial plan and reaffirms Ecopetrol S.A.'s commitment to proactively manage the refinancing of maturities in 2026, as previously announced by the Company on October 22 and 28, 2024, through communications published via this same medium. Ecopetrol is the largest company in Colombia and one of the main integrated energy companies in the American continent, with more than 19,000 employees. In Colombia, it is responsible for more than 60% of the hydrocarbon production of most transportation, logistics, and hydrocarbon refining systems, and it holds leading positions in the petrochemicals and gas distribution segments. With the acquisition of 51.4% of ISA's shares, the company participates in energy transmission, the management of real-time systems (XM), and the Barranquilla - Cartagena coastal highway concession. At the international level, Ecopetrol has a stake in strategic basins in the American continent, with Drilling and Exploration operations in the United States (Permian basin and the Gulf of Mexico), Brazil, and, through ISA and its subsidiaries, Ecopetrol holds leading positions in the power transmission business in Brazil, Chile, Peru, and Bolivia, road concessions in Chile, and the telecommunications sector. For more information, please contact: Head of Capital Markets Carolina Tovar Aragon Email: [email protected] Head of Corporate Communications Marcela Ulloa Email: [email protected] SOURCE Ecopetrol S.A. News / National by Staff reporter Harare Regional Magistrate Ms. Feresi Chakanyuka has dismissed Marry Mubaiwa's application for a permanent stay of prosecution, attributing trial delays to the defense and ruling that the matter must proceed to finalization.Mubaiwa, who is accused of attempting to murder her then-husband, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, by disconnecting his life support system while he was hospitalized in South Africa, had argued that the prolonged trial was unjust.In her application, filed through her lawyer Ms. Beatrice Mtetwa, Mubaiwa cited her deteriorating health as a factor, claiming that continuing the trial would not serve the interests of justice."The applicant's health has materially deteriorated to an extent that it would not be in the interests of justice to persist with the criminal prosecution," Ms. Mtetwa argued.However, Ms. Chakanyuka ruled that the delays were largely due to repeated defense applications for postponements, which had prejudiced the complainant's right to a timely resolution."The permanent stay of prosecution is not the remedy to deal with the case. Rather, investigations shall be conducted for us to understand the reason for delay," Ms. Chakanyuka said.The prosecution has sought further postponements to review the application and prepare for trial continuation.Testimony HighlightsIn earlier court sessions, former Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care, Dr. John Mangwiro, testified that Vice President Chiwenga's condition worsened whenever Mubaiwa was present during his hospitalization."Whenever the accused walked into the room in which the complainant was admitted, he would become unconscious, even though he was awake before her arrival," Dr. Mangwiro stated during cross-examination.He also alleged that Mubaiwa often disrupted hospital arrangements, including refusing to transport Chiwenga to a medical facility in one instance, opting instead for a hotel."The accused instructed those transporting the complainant to take him to a hotel instead of the hospital, claiming he needed rest. I told her it was dangerous to do so," Dr. Mangwiro testified.Case BackgroundThe case has drawn significant public attention due to the high-profile nature of the individuals involved. The court is expected to investigate the causes of trial delays while preparing for the next phase of the proceedings.Ms. Chakanyuka emphasized the importance of addressing procedural inefficiencies to ensure justice for all parties involved. NEW YORK, Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Report on how AI is redefining market landscape - The global ewing's sarcoma treatment market size is estimated to grow by USD 205.09 million from 2024-2028, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 6.26% during the forecast period. Growing awareness about and funding for ewings sarcoma is driving market growth, with a trend towards emergence of regenerative therapies. However, lack of approved therapies for ewings sarcoma poses a challenge.Key market players include Actiza Pharmaceutical Pvt. Ltd., Advantech Co. Ltd., Amneal Pharmaceuticals Inc., Baxter International Inc., Bristol Myers Squibb Co., Cellectar Biosciences Inc., Daiichi Sankyo Co. Ltd., Eli Lilly and Co., Fresenius Kabi AG, GlaxoSmithKline Plc, Gradalis Inc., Johnson and Johnson, LGM Pharma LLC, Merck and Co. Inc., Novartis AG, Ocean pharmaceutical, Pfizer Inc., PharmaMar SA, Salvavidas, and UPMC Hillman Cancer Center. Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Ewing's Sarcoma Treatment Market 2024-2028 AI-Powered Market Evolution Insights. Our comprehensive market report ready with the latest trends, growth opportunities, and strategic analysis- View Free Sample Report PDF Forecast period 2024-2028 Base Year 2023 Historic Data 2018 - 2022 Segment Covered End-user (Hospitals, Specialty clinics, and Others), Type (Combination therapy and Monotherapy), and Geography (North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of World (ROW)) Region Covered North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of World (ROW) Key companies profiled Actiza Pharmaceutical Pvt. Ltd., Advantech Co. Ltd., Amneal Pharmaceuticals Inc., Baxter International Inc., Bristol Myers Squibb Co., Cellectar Biosciences Inc., Daiichi Sankyo Co. Ltd., Eli Lilly and Co., Fresenius Kabi AG, GlaxoSmithKline Plc, Gradalis Inc., Johnson and Johnson, LGM Pharma LLC, Merck and Co. Inc., Novartis AG, Ocean pharmaceutical, Pfizer Inc., PharmaMar SA, Salvavidas, and UPMC Hillman Cancer Center Key Market Trends Fueling Growth Ewing sarcoma, a type of bone cancer affecting children and adolescents, is characterized by the activation of the EWS gene on chromosomes 11 and 22. The disease primarily affects the legs, pelvis, chest, and abdomen, causing symptoms like lump formation, fever, bone pain, broken bones, weight loss, paralysis, and bladder loss. Treatment typically involves a combination of chemotherapy drugs such as Vincristine, Cyclophosphamide, Doxorubicin, Etoposide, Ifosfamide, and Dactinomycin. Technological advancements have led to the development of pipeline drugs like CDK inhibitors and Regenerative Therapies. Government organizations and healthcare providers continue to invest in disease diagnosis and healthcare spending for approved treatments like Gene Therapy and Disease Diagnosis. Companies like Zydus Cadila and Seqens are leading in this field. Surgery, radiation therapy, and multidrug chemotherapy are common treatment methods. Surgical procedures are performed in hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes, with medical tourism and digital services playing a role in accessibility. The mortality rate for Ewing sarcoma is high, emphasizing the need for continued research and innovation. Symptoms may also affect vital organs like the lungs, heart, kidneys, and skin tissue. The Ewing's sarcoma treatment market has witnessed notable progress in addressing metastatic and recurrent Ewing's sarcoma cases. A cutting-edge approach gaining attention is regenerative medicine, specifically gene therapy. In this method, the patient's mutated gene is extracted and altered in a lab before being reintroduced. The new gene replaces the faulty one. Although no approved gene therapies exist for Ewing's sarcoma, numerous pharmaceutical companies are researching and developing these treatments to combat metastatic and recurrent tumors. Insights on how AI is driving innovation, efficiency, and market growth- Request Sample! Market Challenges Ewing sarcoma, a type of bone cancer affecting children and adolescents, poses significant challenges in treatment due to its aggressive nature and complex genetic makeup. The primary treatment involves multidrug chemotherapy using Vincristine, Cyclophosphamide, Doxorubicin, Etoposide, Ifosfamide, and Dactinomycin, which target the activation of the EWS gene on chromosomes 11 and 22. However, the disease's incidence and symptoms, including lump formation, fever, bone pain, broken bones, weight loss, paralysis, and bladder loss, necessitate continuous research and technological advancements. Government organizations and healthcare providers invest heavily in pipeline drugs, such as CDK inhibitors and Regenerative Therapies, to improve disease diagnosis and treatment. Companies like Zydus Cadila and Seqens are developing new therapies, including Gene Therapy and Anti-stathmin therapy, to address recurrent Ewing tissue. The treatment landscape includes surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy in hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and through medical tourism. Symptoms and vital organ involvement, such as the lungs, heart, kidneys, and skin tissue, require specialized care. The mortality rate underscores the need for continued research and investment in this area. Healthcare spending on Ewing sarcoma treatment is substantial, with diagnostic services, digital services, and surgical procedures being key components. The challenges in treating Ewing sarcoma necessitate a collaborative effort from all stakeholders to improve patient outcomes and quality of life. Ewing's sarcoma is a severe bone and soft tissue cancer primarily affecting adolescents and young adults. The primary tumor is treated with either surgery or radiation, depending on the feasibility of surgical resection. Due to the high risk of metastasis, even in localized cases, chemotherapy is also administered to eliminate microscopic tumors. Chemotherapeutic agents like vincristine, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide are commonly used. Although most patients with initially localized Ewing's sarcoma survive long-term, relapse remains a significant issue. There is currently no standard approach to treating relapsed patients. Insights into how AI is reshaping industries and driving growth- Download a Sample Report Segment Overview This ewing's sarcoma treatment market report extensively covers market segmentation by End-user 1.1 Hospitals 1.2 Specialty clinics 1.3 Others Type 2.1 Combination therapy 2.2 Monotherapy Geography 3.1 North America 3.2 Europe 3.3 Asia 3.4 Rest of World (ROW) 1.1 Hospitals- Hospitals, particularly large and medium-sized institutions, play a significant role in driving the growth of the Ewing's sarcoma treatment market. These hospitals, with over 500 beds, are key end-users due to their high patient volume and purchasing power. They procure therapeutics in large quantities, enabling manufacturers to expand their product reach and enhance brand image. With advanced medical infrastructure and a growing number of emergency department visits due to the increasing incidence of Ewing's sarcoma, sales of treatment therapeutics are expected to rise in these hospitals. Medium-sized hospitals, with around 200-300 beds, also contribute to market expansion. Despite their limited budgets, they engage closely with various stakeholders and have an increasing number of patients, leading to increased demand for Ewing's sarcoma treatment therapeutics. Download complimentary Sample Report to gain insights into AI's impact on market dynamics, emerging trends, and future opportunities- including forecast (2024-2028) and historic data (2018 - 2022) Research Analysis Ewing sarcoma is a rare and aggressive type of bone cancer that primarily affects children and young adults. It is characterized by the uncontrolled growth of cells in the soft tissues surrounding the bones, often found in the legs, pelvis, chest, and abdomen. The exact cause of Ewing sarcoma is unknown, but it is linked to genetic changes in the EWS gene on chromosomes 11 and 22. The primary treatment for Ewing sarcoma is chemotherapy using drugs such as Vincristine, Cyclophosphamide, Doxorubicin, Etoposide, and Infoposide, as well as Dactinomycin and CDK inhibitors. These drugs target the genetic material and chromosomes of the cancer cells, damaging their ability to divide and grow. The treatment can affect vital organs like the lungs, heart, kidneys, and skin tissue, and may also impact the bone marrow, which can increase the risk of infection and anemia. Age can also be a factor in treatment, as older patients may have different treatment options due to the increased risk of complications. The thigh is a common site for Ewing sarcoma in the legs, and the disease can also occur in the limbs and other bones in the body. Market Research Overview Ewing sarcoma is a rare and aggressive type of bone cancer that affects children and adolescents, typically appearing in the legs, pelvis, chest, and abdomen. The disease is caused by the activation of the EWS gene on chromosomes 11 and 22, leading to the uncontrolled growth of cells. The primary treatment for Ewing sarcoma is multidrug chemotherapy using agents like Vincristine, Cyclophosphamide, Doxorubicin, Etoposide, Ifosfamide, and Dactinomycin. These drugs work by damaging the genetic material of the cancer cells. Technological advancements have led to the development of pipeline drugs and diagnostics, including CDK inhibitors and Regenerative Therapies such as Gene Therapy and Disease Diagnosis. Healthcare spending on Ewing sarcoma treatment is significant, with approved treatments including Surgery, Radiation therapy, and Chemotherapy. Symptoms of Ewing sarcoma include lump formation, fever, bone pain, broken bones, weight loss, paralysis, and bladder loss. Treatment options depend on the location and severity of the disease, with surgical procedures and medical tourism also playing a role. Mortality rate is high for recurrent Ewing tissue, with organizations like Gradalis and Seqens offering anti-stathmin therapy as a potential treatment. The disease can affect various bones, including the thigh, pelvis, and limbs, as well as vital organs such as the lungs, heart, kidneys, and skin tissue. Age is a significant factor in the diagnosis and treatment of Ewing sarcoma, with hospitals and clinics providing essential services to those affected. Nursing homes and digital services also play a role in the care of patients. Overall, the Ewing sarcoma treatment market is continually evolving, with ongoing research and development efforts aimed at improving outcomes for patients. Table of Contents: 1 Executive Summary 2 Market Landscape 3 Market Sizing 4 Historic Market Size 5 Five Forces Analysis 6 Market Segmentation End-user Hospitals Specialty Clinics Others Type Combination Therapy Monotherapy Geography North America Europe Asia Rest Of World (ROW) 7 Customer Landscape 8 Geographic Landscape 9 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends 10 Company Landscape 11 Company Analysis 12 Appendix About Technavio Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contacts Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: [email protected] Website: www.technavio.com/ SOURCE Technavio NANJING, China, Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Nanjing Leads Biolabs Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Leads Biolabs") announced that LBL-024, an anti-PD-L1/4-1BB bispecific antibody independently developed by the company with global intellectual property rights for the treatment of neuroendocrine cancer, has obtained Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This marks another significant milestone following the Breakthrough Therapy Designation granted to LBL-024 by the Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE) of National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) in China. Dr. Charles Cai, Chief Medical Officer of Leads Biolabs, said "LBL-024 obtained Breakthrough Therapy Designation from CDE in October this year for the treatment of advanced extrapulmonary neuroendocrine cancer. Our clinical data to date has been very encouraging, suggesting that LBL-024 could meaningfully improve outcomes of patients living with this devastating disease. The grant of ODD from FDA further underscores the exceptional potential of LBL-024 to address a critical gap in this therapeutic area. These policy supports for obtaining Orphan Drug qualification will greatly expedite the commercialization of LBL-024, potentially changing the treatment landscape for patients with advanced neuroendocrine cancer who currently have few therapeutic options." Dr. Xiaoqiang Kang, founder, chairman and CEO of Leads Biolabs, said "The receipt of ODD for LBL-024 from FDA represents a pivotal milestone in our global strategy. This designation not only enables LBL-024 to receive additional policy support and resource allocation during its development, accelerating its path to market and positioning it as a potential first-in-class therapeutic antibody targeting 4-1BB worldwide, but also provides us with greater market opportunities and avenues for growth on a global scale." About LBL-024 LBL-024 is a tetravalent bispecific antibody that simultaneously targets PD-L1 and 4-1BB, serving dual functions: blocking the immunosuppressive PD-1/PD-L1 pathway, and selectively co-stimulating 4-1BB in the tumor microenvironment to enhance immune responses. The dual functions of LBL-024lifting PD-1/PD-L1 immune inhibition and intensifying 4-1BB modulated T cell activationsynergistically enhance the anti-tumor immune response. LBL-024 received IND approvals from both FDA and NMPA on July 30, 2021 and September 9, 2021 respectively to conduct phase / clinical research, and has achieved outstanding results. Sponsored by Leads Biolabs, led by Professor Shen Lin from Beijing Cancer Hospital with participation of multiple clinical trial centers, the current clinical data demonstrate that LBL-024 monotherapy has more than doubled both the Objective Response Rate (ORR) and Overall Survival (OS) compared to existing treatments for this disease. Based on the current treatment status and the available safety and efficacy data, LBL-024 has entered into a single-arm pivotal trial for extrapulmonary neuroendocrine carcinomas in July 2024 and stands as the globally first 4-1BB-targetd drug candidates to have reached pivotal stage, according to Frost & Sullivan. About Neuroendocrine Cancer Neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) is a class of poorly differentiated, high-grade neuroendocrine neoplasms (NEN), which originate in the diffuse neuroendocrine cell system and may occur in many different sites. Its molecular characteristics are significantly different from those of neuroendocrine tumors (NET). NEC can be divided into pulmonary NEC and extrapulmonary NEC, among which pulmonary NEC includes small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and pulmonary large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (p-LCNEC). According to previous data collected, the number of new cases of SCLC is about 98,193, p-LCNEC is about 19,639, and extrapulmonary NECs is about 9,820 in the United States every year. As a result, there are an estimated 127,652 new cases of NECs in the United States each year, meeting the FDA's definition of a rare disease. Symptoms of NEC can vary depending on the type of tumor, its location in the body and the hormone released. The survival rate of NEC varies according to the type of cancer and whether it spreads. Specifically, the 5-year survival rate of pulmonary NECs is 5.6%, digestive tract NECs is 13.1%, and other primary NECs are 26.0%. Due to the limited effective treatment options available for patients, the overall survival rate of NEC is low, and more effective new treatment options are urgently needed. About Orphan Drug Designation Orphan drugs are medications used for the prevention, treatment, and diagnosis of rare diseases. According to the Orphan Drug Act of the United States, Orphan Drug Designation is established to encourage the development of drugs for treating rare diseases. It provides a series of incentives for new drug development, including but not limited to: (1) tax credits for clinical trial expenses; (2) specific guidance from FDA on all stages of clinical research; (3) exemption of the application fee for new drug registration; and (4) 7 years of market exclusivity after listing. About Leads Biolabs Nanjing Leads Biolabs Co., Ltd. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company dedicated to the discovery, development, and commercialization of innovative therapies to address underserved medical needs in oncology, autoimmune, and other severe diseases both in China and globally. Backboned by our proprietary technology platforms and robust drug development capabilities, we have curated a rationally designed and differentiated pipeline of 12 innovative drug candidates, six have successfully progressed into the clinical stage. Leads Biolabs is committed to providing safe, effective, accessible and affordable new drugs to address the unmet needs of patients around the world. For more information, please visit: https://en.leadsbiolabs.com/ SOURCE Leads Biolabs WASHINGTON, Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Groundbreaking research using data from NASA's Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) mission has revealed new insights into the shape and properties of a black hole's corona, a key structure surrounding black holes. Led by Universities Space Research Association's (USRA) postdoctoral researcher, Lynnie Saade, at USRA's Science and Technology Institute, these findings were recently published in The Astrophysical Journal and represent a significant advance in our understanding of black hole environments. The work was conducted at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. Many black holes are encircled by accretion disks turbulent whirlpools of gas and debris, and they also feature superheated coronas. These coronas are dynamic regions of plasma that are responsible for most X-ray emissions from black holes though scientists have only theoretical insights into their behavior. This latest discovery offers the first glimpse into the shape of these coronas, potentially deepening our understanding of how they help to generate the energy released when the black holes absorb materials. "Scientists have long speculated on the makeup and geometry of the corona," said Lynnie Saade. "Is it a sphere above and below the black hole, or an atmosphere generated by the accretion disk, or perhaps plasma located at the base of the jets?" Results from the IXPE, which specializes in X-ray polarization, help map the shape and structure of coronas. IXPE observes X-rays, and studies objects that are not just small, but also very distant. X-ray polarization is needed "to determine the geometry of these objects which are too small and distant to image." According to Lynnie Saade, "IXPE provides the means to study the black hole's accretion geometry, or the shape and structure of its accretion disk and related structures, including the corona." IXPE demonstrated that, among all black holes for which coronal properties could be directly measured via polarization, the corona was found to be extended in the same direction as the accretion disk providing, for the first time, clues to the corona's shape and clear evidence of its relationship to the accretion disk. The results rule out the possibility that the corona is a compact region above and below the black hole or at the base of a relativistic jet. This research has significant implications. With the increasing availability of data on the shape of the corona, scientists can refine their models and develop a deeper understanding of its nature and behavior. IXPE has not observed all black holes. This research has only studied 12 black holes, among them Cygnus X-1 and Cygnus X-3, stellar-mass binary black hole systems about 7,000 and 37,000 light-years from Earth, respectively, and LMC X-1 and LMC X-3, stellar-mass black holes in the Large Magellanic Cloud more than 165,000 light-years away. Stellar mass black holes typically have a mass roughly 10 to 30 times that of Earth's Sun, whereas supermassive black holes may have a mass that is millions to tens of billions of times larger. Despite these vast differences in scale, IXPE data suggests both types of black holes create accretion disks of similar geometry. Future research is needed to explore more black holes and advance our understanding of the corona. About IXPE IXPE, which continues to provide unprecedented data enabling groundbreaking discoveries about celestial objects across the universe, is a joint NASA and Italian Space Agency mission with partners and science collaborators in 12 countries. IXPE is led by Marshall Space Fight Center; Ball Aerospace, headquartered in Broomfield, Colorado, manages spacecraft operations together with the University of Colorado's Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics in Boulder. https://www.nasa.gov/ixpe About USRA Founded in 1969, under the auspices of the National Academy of Sciences at the request of the U.S. Government, the Universities Space Research Association (USRA) is a nonprofit corporation chartered to advance space-related science, technology, and engineering. USRA operates scientific institutes and facilities and conducts other major research and educational programs. An association of 121 university members, it engages the broader university community, employs in-house scientific talent, and offers innovative research, development, and project management expertise. More information about USRA is available at https://www.usra.edu. Media Contact: Suraiya Farukhi [email protected] 443-812-6945 SOURCE Universities Space Research Association PITTSBURGH, Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Gateway Outdoor Advertising, a leader in transit advertising, is thrilled and exited to have been awarded a new contract with The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority for the exclusive advertising rights for Transit Bus, Shelter, Rail, and Station advertising. The GCRTA is the largest transit agency in the State of Ohio and provides service to over 45,000,000 million riders annually. The partnership provides Gateway the advertising rights on RTA's 227 transit buses, 600+ bus shelters, 80 paratransit vehicles, 47 light rail vehicles, and 5 rails stations. RTA covers 18.1 million vehicle-miles a year on its bus, rail, and paratransit fleet. Gateway Outdoor Advertising - Cleveland Ohio Full Wrap For more information, Contact Beth Black, Cleveland Market Manager at 216-256-5373 or email her at [email protected] www.Gatewayoutdoor.com Gateway was founded in 1937 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and purchased in 1990 by Craig Heard & family. This recent award continues Gateway's growth into key markets throughout the US and allows us to provide our clients with premier transit advertising opportunities. Gateway has 11 offices in the US servicing markets throughout the United States with Transit, Shelter and other OOH media. If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Craig F. Heard, V.P. at 908-684-8122 or email at [email protected]. Contact Craig F. Heard, V.P. Telephone 908-684-8122 Email [email protected] Website Gatewayoutdoor.com SOURCE Gateway Outdoor Advertising BEIJING, Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- This is a news report from China Daily: "As foreigners, we were more familiar with China's tech progress, but our time in Yixing allowed us to see another side of China one rich in natural beauty and cultural heritage," said Nakahara Kosumosu, a Japanese graduate of Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Gen Zers representatives were experiencing purple clay in Yixing. Nakahara was one of 10 Gen Zers from eight countries who participated in an eco-tourism trip from Oct 7 to 9 in Yixing, East China's Jiangsu province. During the trip, participants experienced numerous activities, from tasting local culinary delights to exploring natural attractions. They also had hands-on experience with Yixing's famous "purple clay" and learned about local efforts to conserve and develop national forests.The Yixing Bamboo Sea Scenic Area, in particular, left a lasting impression on them. Elena Kozelko, from Russia, shared that it was her first time seeing bamboo in real life. "The view was breathtaking," she said. "I felt a majestic aura of chivalry, reminiscent of the swordsmen described in Chinese martial arts novels, deep within the bamboo forest," said Nakahara. Marina Dinaeva, a Russian undergraduate at Shanghai University, met a woman at Jiuxiang Tea Plantation who shared her knowledge of tea harvesting, explaining the nuances of picking perfect tea leaves. " Her passion for tea was contagious," Dinaeva said. Michael Oduro, a Ghana student studying at Beijing Foreign Studies University, was surprised by how the past and present blend at Shanjuan Cave, which had been preserved for millions of years. "It's like an underground city, with modern technology such as sophisticated lighting systems," he said. "I was filled with wonder, having witnessed such a natural marvel." During the visit to Yixing National Park, Nakahara was impressed by how it had expanded and become so organized in just a few years. "It's definitely a 'natural oxygen bar'. Every tree is a perfect advertisement for Yixing," she said. Reflecting on the trip, Nakahara expressed her amazement at discovering this slow-paced city nestled between bustling metropolises like Shanghai. "It's a retreat enabling people to unwind. Yixing will be a popular vacation destination for foreigners in time." As for Oduro, he feels that the trip allowed them to dive deep into Chinese culture. "We leave with a desire for more more experiences, more learning, and more opportunities to connect with this vibrant culture," he said. SOURCE China Daily NEW YORK, Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- GenNx360 Capital Partners ("GenNx360"), a New York-based private equity firm, is pleased to announce the final sale of its portfolio company, ITsavvy LLC ("ITsavvy" or "the Company"), a provider of end-to-end IT infrastructure solutions, to Xerox Holdings Corporation ("Xerox") for $400 million. This transaction marks a significant milestone for GenNx360, as its first investment in the technology services sector. ITsavvy is an Oak Brook, Illinois-based technology solutions and services provider that delivers frictionless IT experiences by designing, developing and delivering technology infrastructure solutions and services that accelerate business outcomes on behalf of its clients. During GenNx360's investment, the Company experienced impressive organic growth, completed an acquisition of a highly strategic AIOps-enabled managed services provider ("MSP") and significantly increased overall profitability through several well-executed margin enhancement initiatives. A committed focus to the Company's services strategy further fueled organic growth and strengthened the Company's overall value proposition. Through the support of GenNx360, the Company also successfully launched an AI and Intelligent Automation strategy. This strategy included commercializing an AI offering to better serve the Company's clients, as well as optimizing the Company's internal operations. "The completion of this transaction marks a significant milestone for ITsavvy and for GenNx360. Over the past two years, ITsavvy has undergone exceptional growth and transformation under the leadership of Munu Gandhi and his team. Their dedication and collaboration with our firm have been critical to the company's success. We are proud of ITsavvy's achievements and confident it will continue to thrive as part of Xerox," said Ron Blaylock, GenNx360 Founder and Managing Partner, and Chairman of the ITsavvy Board of Directors. "We appreciate GenNx360's support and strategic insights over the past two years. They have been an outstanding partner to work with to enhance and evolve our platform," said ITsavvy CEO, Munu Gandhi. "We are excited to join forces with a longstanding company in Xerox, one of the great global brands, and we look forward to supporting their next stage of growth." "As part of our Reinvention, we have created a greater organizational focus on our emerging IT Services capabilities," said John Bruno, President and Chief Operating Officer at Xerox. "ITsavvy's complementary offerings, combined with our reputation, position us to accelerate growth across key markets and unlock new opportunities to help clients transform the way they work." "It has been a privilege to work with Munu and the ITsavvy team over the past two years. We are incredibly proud of the Company's growth and look forward to following their success in the future," said Peter White, Principal at GenNx360 and ITsavvy Board Member. This transaction underscores GenNx360's focus on driving operational excellence and delivering strong outcomes for our investors. Loeb & Loeb and Greenberg Traurig served as legal advisors to ITsavvy and GenNx360. About ITsavvy LLC ITsavvy is an industry-leading IT infrastructure solutions provider with comprehensive value added resell capabilities. Founded in 2004 in suburban Chicago, ITsavvy provides frictionless client experiences through the deployment of holistic solutions that deliver client business outcomes. For more information on ITsavvy, please visit www.itsavvy.com. About GenNx360 Capital Partners GenNx360 Capital Partners is a private equity firm focused on acquiring middle market business services and industrial companies. GenNx360 partners with companies having proven and sustainable business models in expanding industries with the objective of implementing and supporting value-enhancing organic and inorganic initiatives to accelerate growth, deliver cost efficiencies, and generate strong financial returns. GenNx360 was founded in 2006 and is headquartered in New York City. For more information on GenNx360, please visit www.gennx360.com. For media inquiries about this press release, please contact: Alicia Francis, Head of Investor Communications [email protected] Phone: 929.287.6107 SOURCE GenNx360 Capital Partners BEIJING, Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A report from China Daily The 2024 World Vocational and Technical Education Development Conference brought together around 1,000 delegates in Tianjin in North China this week from Wednesday to Friday. Discussions at the conference have revolved around topics such as industry-education integration, sustainable development, teacher training and lifelong learning. The 2024 World Vocational and Technical Education Development Conference has been taking place in Tianjin this week. [Photo/china.com.cn] Co-hosted by China's Ministry of Education, the National Commission of the People's Republic of China for UNESCO and the Tianjin municipal government, the conference aims to advance vocational education as a driver of innovation and sustainable development worldwide. The event introduces six key initiatives to shape vocational education globally: a comprehensive conference featuring keynote speeches, ministerial roundtables and bilateral talks; a global alliance uniting vocational institutions, industries and educational organizations; the presentation of the world vocational education award; an international skills competition with 42 tracks; an exhibition highlighting achievements in vocational education, intangible cultural heritage and international cooperation; and the launch of World Vocational and Technical Education, a journal produced by Tianjin University of Technology and Education. In a video address to the conference, Stefania Giannini, assistant director-general for education at UNESCO, highlighted vocational education as a catalyst for transformation. She referenced UNESCO's recent Recommendation on Education for Peace, Human Rights, and Sustainable Development, which emphasizes vocational education as a driver of change. Calling for greater investment and innovation in vocational education to meet global challenges, Giannini said skills are the passport to navigating today's complex world. Huai Jinpeng, China's minister of education, said vocational education should align with the trends of the times, uphold the essence of education and preserve its unique characteristics. It should anchor its development goals amid evolving opportunities and challenges, striving for innovative breakthroughs, he added. Huai outlined a vision for vocational education as "5I" education -- Inclusive, Industry-oriented, Innovative, Intelligent, and International -- positioned to serve all, integrate with industries, drive innovation, embrace smart technologies and foster global cooperation. To ensure smooth volunteer services during the conference, the Tianjin Municipal Youth League recruited 1,448 young volunteers from nine universities, including Nankai University. Their duties spanned more than 30 roles, including guest registration, conference coordination, translation, media reception and medical assistance. SOURCE China Daily Hanwha has signed an MOU with TC Energy, one of North America's largest natural gas pipeline operators, to develop next-generation clean power solutions. largest natural gas pipeline operators, to develop next-generation clean power solutions. Project aims to commercialize super-critical CO2 waste heat recovery technology in a pipeline compressor station providing zero-carbon electricity for on-site demand. SEOUL, South Korea, Nov. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Hanwha Power Systems Co., Ltd. (CEO: Justin (Koo Yung) Lee) today announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with TC Energy for business cooperation in developing an sCO2 WHR (Waste Heat Recovery) project which will utilize the heat stream at a natural gas pipeline compressor station. The MOU outlines the installation of an sCO2 power generation system at a compressor station owned and operated by TC Energy in the state of West Virginia. The system will recover the unused waste heat exhaust from a gas turbine compressor set, and provide a lower cost, carbon free renewable generation solution. Hanwha Power Systems plans to secure this sCO2 commercialization project as a foundation for expanding its sCO2 power generation business in the North American pipeline market. This project is a significant advancement towards proving commercial viability and opening the door to large scale deployment in the industry. Justin (Koo Yung) Lee, CEO of Hanwha Power Systems, stated, "This MOU with TC Energy brings us one step closer to the successful commercialization of sCO2 power generation systems. We will continue to contribute to carbon reduction in the oil and gas market by successfully expanding the application of sCO2 power generation systems across a wide range of compressor stations." Hanwha is excited moving forward as this partnership shall accelerate Hanwha Power Systems' progress towards becoming a global leader in clean power generation solutions. Hanwha Power Systems is Korea's leading industrial compressor supplier and a provider of sCO2 power generation systems and hydrogen/ammonia gas turbine solutions. The company is actively expanding its clean power generation and energy solutions business to lead the carbon-neutral era. sCO2 (Supercritical CO2) is a fluid that, under conditions exceeding 31C temperature and 74 bar pressure, exhibits both the properties of a liquid and a gas. The sCO2 power generation system combines this characteristic of supercritical CO2 with Hanwha Power Systems' integrally geared turboma chinery technology, maintaining the sCO2 in a closed-loop system and enabling a highly efficient, compact, modular, and 100% water-free power generation system using waste heat without burning additional fossil fuels. SOURCE Hanwha Power Systems Hugel aims to secure strong business coverage in the region via the strategic partnership The MENA aesthetic market is projected to witness strong growth in the next few years with UAE and Saudi Arabia taking the lead SEOUL, South Korea, Nov. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Hugel Inc., a leading global medical aesthetics company, said on Friday it will spur expansion in the botulinum toxin market of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) via a strategic partnership with Dubai-headquartered aesthetic and medical distribution partner Medica Group. The two companies have recently entered into an agreement to bolster the distribution of Hugel's toxin Botulax in the key markets of the region. Hugel, which exports its own toxin to 64 markets including the US, Europe and China, the world's three largest toxin buyers, obtained sales approval for Botulax in the Middle East last year. Medica Group is a leading player in the region and has strong distribution networks through its head office in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and branches in Saudi Arabia and Lebanon. The company distributes medical aesthetic products from about 30 global brands, proving their solid know-how in the field and strong execution capabilities in the MENA. The MENA is one of the fastest growing regions for medical aesthetics, driven by strong economic momentum, favorable demographic characteristics, increasing accessibility to social media as well as social and consumption transformation. Hugel's Executive Chairman, Suk Cha, commented on the partnership: "We are very pleased to enter into this strategic collaboration with Medica Group. The Middle East represents a key market for Hugel, with its rapidly growing demand for medical aesthetic treatments. We have chosen Medica Group as our distributor because they share our commitment to excellence and quality. Their proven expertise, extensive reach and deep understanding of the region make them the ideal partner to bring our Botulax product to this dynamic region. Botulax is recognized globally for its quality, and we are confident that, through this partnership, it will become a leading choice for medical professionals and patients in the Middle East and Africa." Andre Daoud, CEO of Medica Group, highlighted the importance of this collaboration: "Our partnership with Hugel marks a key milestone for us as we continue to expand our portfolio and lead the aesthetics market with global solutions. The introduction of Botulax in the Middle East and Africa offers healthcare professionals access to a world-class botulinum toxin that is highly trusted for its quality, safety, and performance. This strategic partnership aligns with our mission to provide advanced, innovative products and services that meet the demands of the region's growing beauty and medical aesthetics market. Hugel's global expertise, combined with our deep local knowledge and network, will create tremendous value for our customers and their patients." About Hugel Established in 2001, Hugel is a leading global medical aesthetics company that manufactures injectables for skin rejuvenation such as botulinum toxin, hyaluronic acid fillers and skin boosters as well as absorbable sutures and cosmetics products. The company is the only South Korean supplier to the world's three largest botulinum toxin markets, the US, China and Europe. It exports medical aesthetic products and devices to around 70 countries and operates eight global subsidiaries in the US, Australia, Canada, Taiwan, China, Hong Kong and Singapore. About Medica Group A leading partner in the field of aesthetic medicine, Medica Group continues to push the boundaries of beauty and wellbeing in the region. Being at the forefront of the industry, the group is renowned for its innovative approach, state-of-the-art solutions with a solid commitment to delivering outstanding results and setting new standards in aesthetics. A trusted partner for international aesthetic brands, Medica showcases a commitment to excellence and quality through the technologies of its product and services, and the collaboration of the aesthetic medicine community. Contact: Jihyun Kim, Manager of the PR Team, Hugel [email protected] SOURCE Hugel LOS ANGELES, Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Hyundai Santa Fe has been named Family Vehicle of the Year by the 2025 Hispanic Motor Press Awards. The fifteenth-annual awards program recognizes the best vehicles for Hispanic consumers based on advancements in technology, safety, infotainment, styling, driving satisfaction, value, and more. The Hyundai Santa Fe is photographed near Nashville, TN., on July 15, 2024. The award was presented by the Hispanic Motor Press at AutoMobility 2024 at the 2024 Los Angeles Auto Show. The top vehicles were chosen by a distinguished jury panel of Hispanic automotive journalists, content creators, and industry experts. Hyundai's Santa Fe stood out among finalists for its innovative design, advanced safety features, and family-friendly appeal. "We are incredibly honored to receive the 'Family Car of the Year' award from the Hispanic Motor Press," said Ricky Lao, director of product planning, Hyundai Motor North America. "This recognition reflects our ongoing commitment to providing vehicles that prioritize safety, convenience, and innovation for families. The Santa Fe exemplifies what Hyundai stands for an ideal blend of performance, practicality, and design." "The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe offers an unbeatable combination of style, technology, and practicality - the perfect fit for Hispanic families looking for a reliable and safe vehicle," said Ricardo Rodriguez-Long, founder and president, Hispanic Motor Press. "Hyundai has consistently demonstrated an understanding of what is important to Hispanic car buyers, and the Santa Fe is a shining example of this commitment." Hispanic Motor Press Awards The Hispanic Motor Press Awards is the premier U.S. Hispanic awards presented in the country for the Latino community to educate and help pre-select the best vehicle options in the market. The jury panel is comprised of an independent group of national Hispanic automotive journalists, content creators, and influencers who assess the vehicles while considering key purchase drivers for Hispanic families in quality, reliability, style, safety, technology, and value. The annual awards include the Hispanic scholarship program for communications, automotive, and technology college students. Hyundai Motor America Hyundai Motor America offers U.S. consumers a technology-rich lineup of cars, SUVs, and electrified vehicles, while supporting Hyundai Motor Company's Progress for Humanity vision. Hyundai has significant operations in the U.S., including its North American headquarters in California, the Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama assembly plant, the all-new Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America, and several cutting-edge R&D facilities. These operations, combined with those of Hyundai's 835 independent dealers, contribute $20.1 billion annually and 190,000 jobs to the U.S. economy, according to a recent economic impact report. For more information, visit www.hyundainews.com. Hyundai Motor America on Twitter | YouTube | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | TikTok SOURCE Hyundai Motor America News / National by Staff reporter Zanu PF's Tonderai Mutasa was sworn-in as councillor for Ward 1 in Victoria Falls on Thursday after independent candidate Ephias Mambume was disqualified by the Electoral Court.Mambume's disqualification followed a challenge filed by Mutasa, arguing that the former CCC councillor had outstanding council bills which had not been settled for more than 120 days as required by law for candidates for council elections.In a public notice, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission said Wednesday that he setting aside of Mambume's nomination by Justice Bongani Ndlovu of the Bulawayo High Court, sitting as an Electoral Court judge, on November 18 had only left one candidate on the ballot for a by-election that was pencilled in for November 30."Consequently, the public is hereby notified that since only one candidate has been duly nominated for Victoria Falls municipality Ward 1, being Mutasa Tonderai of Zanu PF party, he has been duly elected as the councillor with effect from November 18, 2024," the notice said.Mutasa took his oath of loyalty to the laws of Zimbabwe in front of town clerk Ronnie Dube.Mambume has vowed to challenge his disqualification at the Supreme Court.He was found by the Electoral Court to have failed to pay rates with council records showing that he owed ZiG 103,039 and US$7,127.50 on one stand and US$5,160 on another piece of land. PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Independence Blue Cross (IBX) is implementing the Epic Payer Platform with health systems and providers in its network to streamline data exchange, close gaps in care, and improve health outcomes for members. Epic Payer Platform is part of Epic, a global healthcare technology company. The platform helps facilitate data exchange and workflow processes for providers and health plans, giving them the insights they need to make care decisions while also saving them time. "We're excited about the implementation of Epic Payer Platform with Drexel Medicine, Jefferson Health, Main Line Health, and Penn Medicine being the first to join us in this transformation. We look forward to more of our health care partners signing on as well," said Michael Vennera, executive vice president and chief strategy, technology, and operations officer at Independence Blue Cross. "We expect the platform to transform how we coordinate care for our members with automatic sharing of information with our members' doctors. There are also anticipated cost savings to both IBX and the health systems and providers on the platform due to decreasing administrative burden, avoiding unnecessary admissions and emergency department visits, and improving preventive care." Some key improvements that IBX expects to see in the not-so-distant future from this implementation include: Fewer care gaps. The real-time exchange of clinical data helps IBX and its network close care gaps, enhancing member health understanding and improving care quality. The real-time exchange of clinical data helps IBX and its network close care gaps, enhancing member health understanding and improving care quality. More insight into members' health. IBX and its network can access synchronized clinical information in real-time, enhancing healthcare team collaboration and improving patient care strategies and outcomes. IBX and its network can access synchronized clinical information in real-time, enhancing healthcare team collaboration and improving patient care strategies and outcomes. Reduced administrative burden. The Epic Payer Platform will make it easier and quicker for IBX and the health systems and providers in its network to communicate and share information, lessening the need for manual exchange of information. The Epic Payer Platform will make it easier and quicker for IBX and the health systems and providers in its network to communicate and share information, lessening the need for manual exchange of information. Enhanced medication cost transparency. Health Systems and providers will have real-time access to benefits information for IBX members. This will help them have meaningful discussions with patients about how much prescribed medications will cost members and, in some cases, suggest lower-cost alternatives if they are available. Health Systems and providers will have real-time access to benefits information for IBX members. This will help them have meaningful discussions with patients about how much prescribed medications will cost members and, in some cases, suggest lower-cost alternatives if they are available. Comprehensive patient care journey data. Providing participating health systems and providers with complete and accurate population health analytics to inform health care providers. "The integration of the Epic Payer Platform with Independence Blue Cross will significantly enhance our ability to provide comprehensive and efficient care to our patients, ensuring better health outcomes and streamlined operations," said John S. Potts, DO, FAAFP, assistant chief medical information officer at Main Line Health. In the long-term future, IBX expects its use of Epic Payer Platform to lead to automating prior authorization requests and updates, improving efficiency and reducing delays. Other activities that IBX anticipates happening in the future include: Allowing health systems and providers to verify in-network status and access cost/quality ratings, increasing patient satisfaction and optimizing value-based care. Eliminating the need for manual scanning of physical insurance cards by providing digital ID card access. "We are excited to modernize our partnership with Independence Blue Cross via their Epic Payer Platform integration. These efforts aim to improve patient health outcomes, reduce provider burden, and grow digitally shared patient data," Nathalie S. May, MD, FACP, professor of medicine and chief quality officer at Drexel University College of Medicine. IBX is working with health systems and providers in the region who are already utilizing Epic's EHR system to implement the platform in a phased approach. This implementation of Epic Payer Platform complements IBX's existing work with HealthShare Exchange, a platform that allows health insurers and different types of providers (e.g., community providers, health systems, community-based organizations, etc.), who may or may not use Epic, to share clinical records to make patient care more informed. Member privacy and confidentiality is a top priority for IBX. IBX is working with Epic to safeguard clinical information utilizing physical, administrative, and technical safeguards as required by HIPAA. About Independence Blue Cross: Independence Blue Cross is the leading health insurance organization in southeastern Pennsylvania. For more than 85 years, we have been enhancing the health and well-being of the people and communities we serve. We deliver innovative and competitively priced health care products and services; pioneer new ways to reward doctors, hospitals, and other health care professionals for coordinated, quality care; and support programs and events that promote wellness. To learn more, visit ibx.com. Connect with us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram. Independence Blue Cross is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. CONTACT: Diana Quattrone 215-815-7828 (cell) [email protected] SOURCE Independence Blue Cross Eileen Collins, Robert "Hoot" Gibson, Chris Cassidy, among others, to be inducted at 22nd Annual Living Legends of Aviation Awards BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The 22nd Annual Living Legends of Aviation Awards, to be held on Friday, January 17, 2025 at the Beverly Hilton, will honor those who have made significant contributions to aviation/aerospace. John Travolta, the "Official Ambassador of Aviation," will host, and the "Living Legends of Aviation" are excited to announce two of the Awards to be presented at the 22nd Annual Awards: Ronald Draper will be honored with the Lifetime Aviation Industry Leader Award. As CEO of Textron Aviation, Ron has been instrumental in the growth of such iconic brands as Cessna, Beechcraft and Hawker, shaping the future of aviation innovation. A West Point graduate, Draper served as a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter pilot. Polaris Dawn Crew to receive the inaugural Dr. Buzz Aldrin Space Advancement Award for their historic Polaris Dawn mission. Commander Jared Isaacman, Mission Pilot Scott "Kid" Poteet, Mission Specialist Sarah Gillis and Mission Specialist and Medical Officer Anna Menon, performed cutting-edge experiments, high altitude orbital maneuvers and performed the first ever private spacewalk. The Legends are also pleased to announce three of the Inductees that will join the ranks of the Living Legends at this year's Awards: Eileen M. Collins - Collins is a retired U.S. Air Force colonel who is celebrated as the first female pilot and commander of a NASA space shuttle. Collins has logged over 6,751 hours in 30 aircraft and 872 hours in space. Collins is a retired U.S. Air Force colonel who is celebrated as the first female pilot and commander of a NASA space shuttle. Collins has logged over 6,751 hours in 30 aircraft and 872 hours in space. Robert "Hoot" Gibson- Gibson is a decorated Navy fighter pilot, veteran astronaut and race pilot. Gibson flew five space shuttle missions and his aviation career spans over 14,000 flight hours in 160+ aircraft. Gibson is a decorated Navy fighter pilot, veteran astronaut and race pilot. Gibson flew five space shuttle missions and his aviation career spans over 14,000 flight hours in 160+ aircraft. Chris Cassidy - Cassidy is a former NASA astronaut and Navy SEAL who has logged 377 days in space. He has commanded a SEAL platoon, logged three spaceflights and ten spacewalks. More Honorees and Inductees to be announced in the coming weeks. Following the "Legends" tradition, the program will include the "Flown West" tribute to four Legends who have "Flown West" since the Legends last gathering. They include Dick Rutan, Roy Morgan, Major General William Anders and C.E. Bud Anderson. The Living Legends of Aviation are remarkable people of extraordinary accomplishment in aviation/aerospace; they include entrepreneurs, innovators, industry leaders, astronauts, record breakers, pilots who have become celebrities and celebrities who have become pilots. More than 100 men and women from across the world are among their ranks. The "Living Legends of Aviation Awards" are produced by the Kiddie Hawk Air Academy, a 501-c-3 non-profit organization. Kiddie Hawk's mission is to educate children and spark their interest in aviation. Visit LivingLegendsOfAviation.org for more information. Media and Ticket Inquiries 720-800-3070 [email protected] SOURCE Kiddie Hawk Air Academy VANCOUVER, BC, Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - Lumina Gold Corp. (TSXV: LUM) (OTCQB: LMGDF) (the "Company" or "Lumina") announces that it has granted incentive stock options and restricted share units ("RSU's") under the Company's Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan to certain directors, officers, employees and consultants of the Company. 7,805,000 stock options were granted and have an exercise price of $0.49 per share and will expire on November 22, 2029. 7,680,000 of the options will vest in three equal parts over the first two years after grant and 125,000 options (the "First Globe Options") will vest in four equal parts over the first two years after grant. 3,290,000 RSUs were granted and will vest in equal parts over three years. Additionally, the Company has renewed its agreement with First Globe Capital International Inc. ("First Globe") that was announced on December 30, 2016, for an additional 12 months. First Globe is based out of Vancouver, British Columbia, and is owned by Anish Sunderji. First Globe provides marketing and advisory services to its clients. The Company has compensated First Globe for its services by granting the First Globe Options described above. In addition, the Company has also agreed to reimburse First Globe for its reasonable incidental expenses incurred in providing the investor relation services to the Company. First Globe does not otherwise have any relationship with or hold any securities of the Company, except for previously granted stock options. About Lumina Gold Lumina Gold Corp. (TSXV: LUM) is a Vancouver, Canada based precious and base metals development company focused on the Cangrejos Gold-Copper Project located in El Oro Province, southwest Ecuador. In 2023, the Company completed a Pre-Feasibility Study for Cangrejos, which is the largest primary gold deposit in Ecuador. Lumina has an experienced management team with a successful track record of advancing and monetizing exploration projects. Follow us on: Twitter, Linkedin or Facebook. Further details are available on the Company's website at https://luminagold.com/. To receive future news releases please sign up at https://luminagold.com/contact. LUMINA GOLD CORP. Signed: "Marshall Koval" Marshall Koval, President & CEO, Director Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. SOURCE Lumina Gold Corp. New, everyday value menu will be available nationwide starting Jan. 7, featuring more fan-favorite items and even more ways to save CHICAGO, Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Next year, McDonald's is giving customers even more ways to enjoy the food they love, for less. Starting Jan. 7, the Golden Arches will introduce its highly anticipated new value platform, McValueTM, in restaurants across the country. McValue will include current fan-favorites like the $5 Meal Deal, exclusive in-app offers, and local food and drink deals plus, a brand new Buy One, Add One for $1 offer on popular items for breakfast, lunch and dinner. TLDR: More choices, any time hunger strikes. Starting Jan. 7, McDonalds will introduce its highly anticipated new value platform, McValue, in restaurants across the country. McValue will include current fan-favorites like the $5 Meal Deal, exclusive in-app offers, and local food and drink deals plus, a brand new Buy One, Add One for $1 offer on popular items for breakfast, lunch and dinner. "When it comes to value, we know there's no one-size-fits-all. We've worked closely with our franchisees to create a new platform that will let our customers define value on their own terms," said Joe Erlinger, President of McDonald's USA. "From deals on their personal go-to order to universal favorites like the $5 Meal Deal, we're excited to give fans more ways to save every time they visit one of our restaurants." Buy One, Add One for $1 Customers will be able to customize their own deals, mixing and matching their favorite items, thanks to the new Buy One, Add One for $1 offer. Here's how it works: buy one full-priced menu item from the McValue menu and add one more item of your choice for just $1.* McValue Breakfast Buy One, Add One for $1 menu items include: Sausage McMuffin Sausage Biscuit Sausage Burrito Hash Browns McValue Lunch/Dinner Buy One, Add One for $1 menu items include: 6-pc. Chicken McNuggets Double Cheeseburger McChicken Small Fries $5 Meal Deal & More Drum roll please.... you heard it here first: our $5 Meal Deal has officially been extended through next summer and will now be part of the McValue platform. ICYMI, the $5 Meal Deal features your choice of a McDouble or McChicken sandwich, small fries, 4-piece Chicken McNuggets and a small soft drink all for just $5.** There's no shortage of deals to be had at the Golden Arches. In partnership with franchisees in communities across the country,*** we will continue to offer local deals and in-App offers you can count on as well. "As local small business owners, my fellow franchisees and I are always listening to what our customers want from their neighborhood McDonald's," said Cory Watson, McDonald's Owner/Operator and National Value Chair for 2025. "No matter the city or the state, they're telling us how important it is for them to find their favorite meals at affordable prices. And we couldn't agree more. That's why we're committed to continuing to serve up great local deals - from special discount pricing on fan-favorite a-la-carte items to unique meal bundles, you can find great prices on iced coffees, soft drinks, cheeseburgers, chicken McNuggets and more. We have great value for everyone, whether you're a party of one or feeding the whole family." So, get ready for a new year, new menu. Come Jan. 7, you can visit any McDonald's nationwide, or head over to the MyMcDonald's app, to find the value that works best for you with McValue. *Valid for item of equal or lesser value. **Prices and participation may vary. McDouble meal options may be priced at $6 at select restaurants. ***Local deals and offers will vary, as McDonald's franchisees are independent business owners who set their own pricing. McDonald's USA McDonald's USA, LLC, serves a variety of menu options made with quality ingredients to millions of customers every day. Ninety-five percent of McDonald's approximately 13,500 U.S. restaurants are owned and operated by independent business owners. For more information, visit www.mcdonalds.com, and follow us on social: X, Instagram, TikTok and Facebook. Contact: [email protected] SOURCE McDonald's USA, LLC Current President & Chief Operating Officer (COO) to retire in 2025; New Chief Product Officer and new COO named NORTHFIELD, Ill., Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Medline today announced a series of leadership changes, including that Jim Pigott (currently President & COO) will retire from the company at the end of 2025. Additionally, Amanda Laabs (currently EVP, Medline Brand) is being promoted to Chief Product Officer, and Steve Miller (currently EVP, Supply Chain) is being promoted to the role of Chief Operating Officer, both effective January 1, 2025. "Jim Pigott has been instrumental to our success as a company, and his leadership has helped Medline accelerate its growth and expand its impact in meaningful ways," said Jim Boyle, CEO of Medline. "We are appreciative of Jim staying on through the transition next year, and we wish him all the best in the next chapter." Founded in 1966, Medline is a global healthcare company with 58 years of consecutive sales growth and 43,000 employees worldwide. With more than $23 billion in annual sales, Medline is a leading medical-surgical product and supply chain solutions provider serving the entire continuum of care. Through its unique offering of world-class products, supply chain resilience and clinical practice expertise, Medline delivers improved clinical, financial and operational outcomes to help make healthcare run better. "Amanda and Steve are the absolute right choice to help lead Medline into the future," continued Boyle. "They both bring a wealth of knowledge, an entrepreneurial spirit and a steady hand to leadership and most importantly, a keen focus on the customer and a commitment to developing a world-class team here at Medline." About Jim Pigott: Jim joined Medline in 1992 and has served in a wide variety of leadership roles covering strategy, products, global sourcing, inventory management and Medline Asia. He has been Medline's President and COO since October of 2023, and provided a key leadership voice as Medline has grown into a market leader. Find more information about Jim Pigott here. About Amanda Laabs: As Medline's first Chief Product Officer, Amanda Laabs will lead all product divisions, as well as Medline's international markets and the global sourcing organization. Amanda joined Medline in 2006 and has held a series of escalating product management leadership roles, most recently being named EVP, Medline Brands, in 2023. Find more information about Amanda Laabs here. About Steve Miller: As incoming COO, Steve Miller will continue to lead Supply Chain for Medline, and also add IT, Inventory Management, and Quality to his leadership portfolio. Steve has been EVP, Supply Chain, for Medline since 2022, and previously oversaw Walmart's fulfillment operations. Prior to that, Steve held global senior management roles at Goodyear and Kimberly-Clark with accountabilities across operations, end-to-end supply chain, manufacturing, corporate strategy and human resources. Find more information about Steve Miller here. About Medline Medline is a leading medical-surgical product and supply chain solutions provider serving the entire continuum of care. Through its unique offering of world-class products, supply chain resilience and clinical practice expertise, Medline delivers improved clinical, financial and operational outcomes. Headquartered in Northfield, Illinois, the company employs 43,000 people worldwide and operates in over 100 countries and territories. To learn more about how Medline makes healthcare run better, visit www.medline.com. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn YouTube SOURCE Medline Industries, LP MIAMI, Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Miami Art Week, LLC is thrilled to welcome back Chase as the Presenting Partner for Miami Art Week 2024. This continued partnership underscores Chase's steadfast dedication to arts and culture, with a special focus on nurturing the dynamic art community in South Florida. M L Gibson, Pink Sky Bluetower Miami Beach, Oil On Canvas (59 cm x 59 cm), @ml.gibson Sofia del Rivero, Bossladies, Oil on Canvas, @sofiadelriveroart Miami Art Week is committed to fostering a global platform for emerging and established artists, galleries, and nonprofit arts organizations. Through a series of dynamic, in-person art and photography events, including the Miami Art Week Kickoff VIP Party, the Wynwood Pop-Up Show, and photoMIAMIthe only photo-centric fair during the week-long festivitiesMiami Art Week celebrates creativity and connection. Discover 2024 Miami Art Week Events For a complete list of official events, visit Miami Art Week Events. The Official Event Map & Guide offers a comprehensive overview of all venues and highlights. Miami Art Week is pleased to add Luciano Koenig and Maricruz Sainz de Aja and new photographers Erica Mills and Sofia Del Rivero to our roster this year. Chase: Supporting Arts & Culture As the Presenting Partner, Chase will spotlight the talents of local and international artists, photographers, and galleries. Through Miami Art Week's digital platform (www.miamiartweek.org), art enthusiasts, collectors, and supporters can explore and engage with featured exhibitors. Exciting New Venues and Expanded Scope This year, Miami Art Week expands its reach with the Miami Art Week Kickoff Party moving to the esteemed Coral Gables Museum on December 2, from 7 to 9 PM. This invitation-only VIP event will include a curated art week exhibition of emerging and established artists that highlight the diverse program curated by the Miami Art Week team. The Wynwood Pop-Up Show and photoMIAMI Fair also found a new home in Wynwood, 2300 N Miami Ave, Miami, FL 33127, taking place on December 7 and 8, from 10 AM to 6 PM each day. Featuring over 40 emerging and established artists, photographers, and galleries, these events are open to the public, with tickets available at www.miamiartweek.org. About Miami Art Week Each year, Miami Art Week transforms Miami, Miami Beach, and now Coral Gables into the epicenter of the global art scene. With over 20 art fairs, 1,200 galleries, and thousands of artists, the week attracts collectors, art lovers, and cultural influencers from around the world. Combining art with vibrant cultural events, Miami Art Week ensures South Florida remains a premier destination for art enthusiasts. Miami Art Week's mission is to provide visibility and opportunities for artists, galleries, and arts organizations to connect with collectors and art lovers alike. Key events such as the Kickoff Party, Wynwood Pop-Up Show, and photoMIAMI showcase the rich tapestry of creativity and innovation that defines the week. For more details, visit Miami Art Week Events. For further information, please contact: Alyssa Zimerman, Director of Public Relations IHC Agency 631-805-4812 [email protected] SOURCE Miami Art Week NEW YORK, Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Report with market evolution powered by AI - The optometry software market in north america size is estimated to grow by USD 576.62 million from 2024-2028, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 6.67% during the forecast period. Increasing prevalence of ophthalmic diseases is driving market growth, with a trend towards growing ophthalmology market. However, rising medical data privacy concerns poses a challenge.Key market players include Barti, Compulink Healthcare Solutions, Doctorsoft Corp., EssilorLuxottica, EverCommerce Inc., Eye Care Leaders, First Insight Corp., Health Innovation Technologies Inc., iTRUST.IO LLC , LiquidEHR Inc., MacPractice, Nextech Systems LLC, Optical POS Software LLC, Optometric Services Inc., Solutionreach Inc., SOTH Inc., Vision Service Plan, Weave Communications Inc., WINK Technologies Inc., and WRS Health. Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Optometry Software Market in North America 2024-2028 Key insights into market evolution with AI-powered analysis. Explore trends, segmentation, and growth drivers- View Free Sample PDF Optometry Software Market In North America Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2023 Historic period 2018 - 2022 Forecast period 2024-2028 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 6.67% Market growth 2024-2028 USD 576.62 million Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023 (%) 6.32 Regional analysis North America Performing market contribution North America at 100% Key countries US, Canada, Mexico, and North America Key companies profiled Barti, Compulink Healthcare Solutions, Doctorsoft Corp., EssilorLuxottica, EverCommerce Inc., Eye Care Leaders, First Insight Corp., Health Innovation Technologies Inc., iTRUST.IO LLC , LiquidEHR Inc., MacPractice, Nextech Systems LLC, Optical POS Software LLC, Optometric Services Inc., Solutionreach Inc., SOTH Inc., Vision Service Plan, Weave Communications Inc., WINK Technologies Inc., and WRS Health Market Driver The North American optometry software market is experiencing significant growth due to the rising prevalence of chronic ophthalmological conditions such as glaucoma, dry eye, cataracts, and refractive errors. The aging population is also driving demand for electronic health records (EHR) and cloud-based solutions to manage patient data and records in optometry clinics. AI-based software and mobile applications are trending, offering remote patient monitoring and telehealth services for optometrists. Key players like Eyefinity, Crystal PM, Compulink, Practice Mate, MaximEyes, EyeMD, and others are expanding their offerings through expansions, joint ventures, and acquisitions. Ophthalmologists and optometrists require EHR software for prescription history, IOP measurement, and retinal detachment, uveitis, astigmatism, and other conditions. Hospitals, clinics, and specialist centers are adopting cloud-based EMRs for health records data management. The North American optometry software market has experienced significant growth over the past decade, fueled by the increasing prevalence of eye diseases and technological advancements in ophthalmology. This sector's expansion is further heightened focus on research and development among manufacturers, aiming to create innovative treatments. Moreover, rising medical expenses, increasing healthcare spending, and a growing demand for precise therapies are additional factors contributing to the market's growth during the forecast period. Consequently, the expanding ophthalmology market will necessitate the use of software to manage patient treatment records, medication prescriptions, and information related to glasses, contact lenses, and other eye care solutions. Request Sample of our comprehensive report now to stay ahead in the AI-driven market evolution! Market Challenges The North American optometry software market is experiencing significant growth due to increasing chronic ophthalmological conditions like glaucoma, dry eye, cataracts, and refractive errors. An aging population and the need for electronic health records (EHR) are key drivers. Optometrists require cloud-based solutions for managing patient data and records, including IOP measurement and prescription history. Telehealth and telemedicine services are essential for remote patient care, with AI-based software aiding in diagnosis. Companies like Eyefinity, Crystal PM, Compulink, Practice Mate, MaximEyes, EyeMD, and others are expanding through joint ventures, acquisitions, and strategic expansions. Ophthalmologists also use EHR software for managing complex cases, such as retinal detachment and uveitis. Hospitals, clinics, and specialist centers adopt cloud-based EMRs for health records data management. Mobile applications are also popular for patient engagement and convenience. The optometry software market in North America is witnessing significant growth due to the adoption of advanced technologies for managing medical records and data. However, this trend raises concerns regarding data privacy. Strict regulations, such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) in the US, mandate that personal medical data be kept confidential and only accessible with proper authorization. Despite these regulations, the increasing use of optometry software solutions in ophthalmology necessitates continued vigilance to protect sensitive patient information. It is essential for optometry practices to prioritize data security and ensure compliance with relevant privacy laws to maintain trust with their patients. Discover how AI is revolutionizing market trends- Get your access now! Segment Overview This optometry software market in North America report extensively covers market segmentation by Type 1.1 Cloud-based 1.2 Web-based End-user 2.1 Hospitals 2.2 Nursing homes 2.3 Others Geography 3.1 North America 1.1 Cloud-based- The optometry software market in North America is experiencing growth, with a particular focus on cloud-based deployment solutions. These solutions offer benefits such as quick deployment, flexibility, scalability, real-time data visibility, and customization capabilities. Cloud-based deployment enables integration with other eyecare software solutions, including online booking and payment processing. Flexible payment options, like monthly subscriptions and pay-as-you-go models, make these solutions cost-effective. Small and medium-scale eyecare organizations are adopting cloud-based software due to its scalability and cost savings. Innovations in data security will further increase adoption by large-scale enterprises. Cloud-based solutions provide optimal cost and efficiency by allowing organizations to store critical data on-premise and infrequently used data on a public cloud server. The market growth is driven by these advantages, with the cloud-based deployment segment expected to grow at a higher Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) than on-premise deployment during the forecast period. Download a Sample of our comprehensive report today to discover how AI-driven innovations are reshaping competitive dynamics Research Analysis The optometry software market in North America is experiencing significant growth due to the increasing prevalence of chronic ophthalmological conditions such as glaucoma, dry eye, cataracts, and refractive errors. With an aging population, there is a greater need for electronic health records (EHR) and cloud-based solutions to manage patient data and records in optometry clinics, hospitals, specialist centers, and ambulatory settings. Telehealth, telemedicine services, and AI-based software are also gaining popularity for remote patient consultations and diagnosis. Eyefinity, Crystal PM, Compulink, Inpatient EHR, Ambulatory EHR, Maxim Eyes, Revolution EHR, Doctor soft, and Liquid EHR are some of the leading optometry software solutions providing cloud-based EMR and health records data management services. These software solutions enable optometrists to streamline their workflows, improve patient care, and enhance overall operational efficiency. Market Research Overview The optometry software market in North America is experiencing significant growth due to the increasing prevalence of chronic ophthalmological conditions such as glaucoma, dry eye, cataracts, and refractive errors in the aging population. Electronic health records (EHR) and cloud-based solutions are becoming increasingly popular, enabling optometrists to manage patient data and records more efficiently. Telehealth and telemedicine services are also gaining traction, allowing for remote patient consultations and monitoring. AI-based software is being integrated into optometry practices to enhance diagnosis and treatment, particularly for conditions like retinal detachment, uveitis, and astigmatism. Optometry clinics, hospitals, specialist centers, and ambulatory care facilities are adopting cloud-based EMR systems to streamline operations and improve patient care. Key trends include expansions, joint ventures, and acquisitions by major players in the market, including Eyefinity, Crystal PM, Compulink, Practice Mate, MaximEyes, EyeMD, and others. IOP measurement and prescription history are critical features of optometry software, ensuring accurate and up-to-date patient information. Overall, the North American optometry software market is poised for continued growth as technology advances and healthcare providers seek to improve patient care and outcomes. Table of Contents: 1 Executive Summary 2 Market Landscape 3 Market Sizing 4 Historic Market Size 5 Five Forces Analysis 6 Market Segmentation Type Cloud-based Web-based End-user Hospitals Nursing Homes Others Geography North America 7 Customer Landscape 8 Geographic Landscape 9 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends 10 Company Landscape 11 Company Analysis 12 Appendix About Technavio Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contacts Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: [email protected] Website: www.technavio.com/ SOURCE Technavio Hawaiian Bros' Multi-Unit Franchisee, Stine Enterprises Answers Demand for more Phoenix area restaurants KANSAS CITY, Mo., Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Hawaiian Bros is debuting a new island-inspired franchise location in Phoenix, Ariz. This is the fifth location to be opened in Phoenix by Stine Enterprises under their recent franchisee agreement. To celebrate, Hawaiian Bros is hosting a grand opening celebration at its new location in Phoenix, Ariz. (4445 E. Thomas Rd., at the cross of 44th St.) on Monday, November 25 at 11 a.m. At the grand opening the first 100 customers in line will receive a free t-shirt and a Hawaiian Bros gift card ranging from $25-$500 (with purchase), and one lucky winner will win Hawaiian Bros for a year. After the grand opening, the Phoenix, Ariz. location will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 a.m. daily. Hawaiian Bros will also host VIP events on Friday, November 22 and Saturday, November 23 at 11am2pm and 5pm8pm. First responders, medical personnel, academic staff, students and local business employees will be treated to a free classic Plate Lunch. "Our new Phoenix location has been a big success with our guests since we opened multiple locations over the past two years," said Adam Stine, President and Owner of Stine Enterprises. "Our fan base is strong in Phoenix, and we couldn't be more honored to serve up fresh, Island-inspired meals to this amazing, supportive community." This location will also feature a new Hawaiian Bros menu item called the Keiki Meal, a kid's meal that includes a kid's portioned Huli Huli Chicken, rice, pineapple, a 12 oz beverage, a mini Dole Soft Serve and a sticker. Hawaiian Bros is known for its island-inspired Plate Lunch, which offers a variety of juicy chicken or pork glazed with sweet, savory or spicy sauces; macaroni salad, a bed of fluffy steamed white rice or vegetables; and for dessert, a smooth and tropical Dole Soft Serve. Void of freezers, fryers, or microwaves, the simple menu is prepared with the highest quality, freshest ingredients - unlike any fast-casual restaurant in the area. To learn more about Hawaiian Bros and its offerings, visit https://hawaiianbros.com/ . About Hawaiian Bros At Hawaiian Bros, we're inspired every day to spread the Aloha Spirit. To show kindness and respect, and to treat everyone as 'ohana - like family, in everything we do. Founded on the principles of honor, inclusion and gratitude, we respect the dignity and self-worth of every team member and guest. We value our differences and celebrate our common ground. And we say "mahalo" often, emphasizing the positives in our lives every day. Hawaiian Bros owns and franchises more than 61 restaurants serving the Aloha spirit in nine states across America and has expanded its franchise opportunities in 2024. Hawaiian Bros has earned a variety of prestigious awards since their opening in 2018, including a number one spot on Ingram's Corporate Report of the Top 100 fastest growing companies and the number seven spot on QSR Magazine's 40/40 List of America's Hottest Startup Fast Casuals, plus many more here. For more information, visit www.hawaiianbros.com. SOURCE Hawaiian Bros OTTAWA, ON, Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - The Royal Canadian Mint (the "Mint") announces its financial results for the third quarter of 2024 that provide insight into its activities, the markets influencing its businesses and its expectations for the next 12 months. "As the markets continue to change, the Mint is proving its ability to seize on new opportunities thanks to its diversified structure and flexible business strategy" said Marie Lemay, President and CEO of the Royal Canadian Mint. The financial results should be read in conjunction with the Mint's annual report available at www.mint.ca . All monetary amounts are expressed in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise indicated. Financial and Operational Highlights The financial results for the third quarter of 2024 were ahead of target and higher than 2023 levels. Higher gold market pricing and foreign circulation volumes combined with lower fixed costs were the main drivers for the quarter over quarter increase. These increases were partially offset by lower than expected bullion volumes from the continued soft demand in the global bullion market. The Mint expects to meet its financial goals for 2024, as set out in its 2024-2028 Corporate Plan, the Mint's Leadership team continues to actively monitor its status. Consolidated revenue decreased to $252.7 million in 2024 (2023 $360.6 million ). Revenue from the Precious Metals business decreased to $217.6 million in 2024 (2023 $328.4 million ): Gold bullion volumes decreased 38% quarter over quarter to 106.1 thousand ounces (2023 170.1 thousand ounces) while silver bullion volumes decreased 20% to 2.7 million ounces (2023 3.4 million ounces). Gold and silver market prices increased quarter over quarter by 27% and 23%, respectively. Sales of numismatic products decreased 12% quarter over quarter mainly due to the high demand in 2023 for the Queen Elizabeth II's Reign products. in 2024 (2023 ). Revenue from the Precious Metals business decreased to in 2024 (2023 ): Revenue from the Circulation business increased to $35.1 million in 2024 (2023 $32.2 million ): Revenue from the Foreign Circulation business increased 77% quarter over quarter, a reflection of higher volumes produced and shipped in 2024 as compared to 2023. Revenue from Canadian coin circulation products and services decreased 12% quarter over quarter as fewer coins were required to replenish inventories, combined with lower program fees in accordance with the memorandum of understanding with the Department of Finance. in 2024 (2023 ): Overall, operating expenses decreased 27% quarter over quarter to $28.3 million (2023 $36.0 million ) mainly due to planned reductions in consulting and workforce expenses. Consolidated results and financial performance (in millions) 13 weeks ended 39 weeks ended Change Change September 28, 2024 September 30, 2023 $ % September 28, 2024 September 30, 2023 $ % Revenue $ 252.7 $ 360.6 (107.9) (30) $ 861.2 $ 1,841.8 (980.6) (53) Profit (loss) for the period $ 5.7 $ (5.8) 11.5 (198) $ 24.1 $ 15.0 9.1 61 Profit (loss) before income tax and other items 1 $ 1.4 $ (8.7) 10.1 (116) $ 12.3 $ 23.4 (11.1) (47) Profit (loss) before income tax and other items margin2 0.6 % (2.4) % 1.4 % 1.3 % (1) Profit (loss) before income tax and other items is a non-GAAP financial measure. A reconciliation from profit for the period to profit before income tax and other items is included on page 13 of the Mint's 2024 Third Quarter Report. (2) Profit (loss) before income tax and other items margin is a non-GAAP financial measure and its calculation is based on profit before income tax and other items. As at September 28, 2024 December 31, 2023 $ Change % Change Cash $ 58.4 $ 59.8 (1.4) (2) Inventories $ 71.5 $ 68.8 2.7 4 Capital assets $ 174.2 $ 173.0 1.2 1 Total assets $ 376.8 $ 380.4 (3.6) (1) Working capital $ 99.2 $ 97.8 1.4 1 As part of its enterprise risk management program, the Mint continues to actively monitor its global supply chain and logistics networks in support of its continued operations. Despite its best efforts, the Mint expects changes in the macro-economic environment and other external events around the globe to continue to impact its performance in 2024. The Mint continues to mitigate potential risks as they arise through its enterprise risk management process. To read more of the Mint's Third Quarter Report for 2024, please visit www.mint.ca. About the Royal Canadian Mint The Royal Canadian Mint is the Crown corporation responsible for the minting and distribution of Canada's circulation coins. The Mint is one of the largest and most versatile mints in the world, producing award-winning collector coins, market-leading bullion products, as well as Canada's prestigious military and civilian honours. As an established London and COMEX Good Delivery refiner, the Mint also offers a full spectrum of best-in-class gold and silver refining services. As an organization that strives to take better care of the environment, to cultivate safe and inclusive workplaces and to make a positive impact on the communities where it operates, the Mint integrates environmental, social and governance practices in every aspect of its operations. For more information on the Mint, its products and services, visit www.mint.ca. Follow the Mint on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram. FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS AND NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES This Earnings Release contains non-GAAP financial measures that are clearly denoted where presented. Non-GAAP financial measures are not standardized under International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and might not be comparable to similar financial measures disclosed by other corporations reporting under IFRS. This Earnings Release contains forward-looking statements that reflect management's expectations regarding the Mint's objectives, plans, strategies, future growth, results of operations, performance, and business prospects and opportunities. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words or phrases such as "plans", "anticipates", "expects", "believes", "estimates", "intends", and other similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are not facts, but only estimates regarding expected growth, results of operations, performance, business prospects and opportunities (assumptions). While management considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on available information, they may prove to be incorrect. These estimates of future results are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from what the Mint expects. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include, but are not limited to, those risks and uncertainties set forth in the Risks to Performance section of the Management Discussion and Analysis in the Mint's 2023 annual report, as well as in Note 9 Financial Instruments and Financial Risk Management to the Mint's Audited Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2023. The forward-looking statements included in this Earnings Release are made only as of November 20, 2024 and the Mint does not undertake to publicly update these statements to reflect new information, future events or changes in circumstances or for any other reason after this date. SOURCE Royal Canadian Mint (RCM) LOS ANGELES, Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Schall Law Firm, a national shareholder rights litigation firm, announces that it is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Seaboard Corporation ("Seaboard" or "the Company") (NYSE American: SEB) for violations of the securities laws. The investigation focuses on whether the Company issued false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose information pertinent to investors. If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate. We also encourage you to contact Brian Schall of the Schall Law Firm, 2049 Century Park East, Suite 2460, Los Angeles, CA 90067, at 310-301-3335, to discuss your rights free of charge. You can also reach us through the firm's website at www.schallfirm.com, or by email at [email protected]. The Schall Law Firm represents investors around the world and specializes in securities class action lawsuits and shareholder rights litigation. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and rules of ethics. CONTACT: The Schall Law Firm Brian Schall, Esq. 310-301-3335 [email protected] www.schallfirm.com SOURCE The Schall Law Firm News / National by Staff reporter The disqualified independent candidate for the Victoria Falls City Council Ward 1 by-election, Ephias Mambume, has filed an appeal at the Supreme Court challenging the High Court's decision to bar him from contesting the November 30 poll.Mambume alleges he is a victim of a "well-resourced corrupt cabal" within the local authority seeking to remove him to advance their interests.The High Court disqualified Mambume following an electoral petition by Zanu PF candidate Tonderai Mutasa, who argued that Mambume was in default on water and rates payments exceeding US$17 000 for over 120 days, a violation of the Electoral Act.This ruling automatically declared Mutasa the duly elected councillor for Ward 1, as he and Mambume were the only candidates.However, Mambume, represented by Tanaka Law Chambers, claims the disqualification was orchestrated by "corrupt officials" in the Victoria Falls City Council.In an interview with CITE, Mambume alleged that his leadership style, which prioritised accountability, led to conflicts with the city's mayor, town clerk, and "captured councillors.""I was elected in 2023 harmonised election and won the ward by close to 75 percent of the vote. My style of leadership really made me at loggerheads with the town clerk, the mayor and the rest of the captured councillors," he said."I think I would stop them from doing what they wanted to do in terms of pushing through some dirty deals. So my recall was sponsored, I have no doubt about it. They had a meeting in Bulawayo with Tshabangu and they begged him to remove me because I was frustrating their deals."Mambume further accused council officials of fabricating utility bills to create the appearance of arrears."After my recall on August 30, 2024, the council opened a new water account for my house and posted an invoice of US$4 968 the same day. On October 16, a day after nomination, they created another account for my commercial property and posted US$7 175," he explained.He alleged that the council used an Excel spreadsheet to backdate these amounts to make it seem as if they were overdue for over 120 days."When they realised that these amounts have been posted onto this account less than 30 days before the Nomination Court, they sat down and did an Excel spreadsheet, breaking down those invoices into small little bits and pieces and spreading those pieces and bits down to prior months," he stated."They then used that spreadsheet as a basis to say I owe the local authority in excess of 120 days. So, in court, I produced the original invoice that council sends to our houses. The original invoice shows that as at October, there was only an amount that was in 30 days.60 days, 90 days, 120 days, had zero, zero, zero."Mambume presented original invoices and receipts in court to prove that his accounts were not in arrears.He stated that a fiscalised receipt dated October 8, 2024, confirmed his rates were paid up before the nomination court."For the rates' account, I showed the court a receipt, a fiscalised legal receipt that we get when we pay because I paid up my rates account on 8 October 2024. That was seven days before nomination court," Mambume said.Despite this, the High Court ruled against him, citing a lack of date stamps on his evidence."I produced all those original documents and guess what? The judge then said they don't have date stamps," he said.Mambume accused the town clerk and other officials of openly supporting his opponent, alleging they bragged about securing his disqualification."I wouldn't labour myself talking about the bragging that the town clerk, the mayor and his crew were doing a week before the court was to sit down, saying that no, the Zanu PF candidate should not even bother himself campaigning because we've finished the deal," he said."The town clerk even claimed my Supreme Court appeal is a dying horse's kicks.' This shows how deeply the local authority is involved in pushing my opponent's agenda."He also noted inconsistencies in the High Court case, stating that one of the two properties cited in the arrears claims was dropped during proceedings, leaving only one property in dispute."It's very important for me to note this, the court case the application had two properties that was said I was in default with respect to payment of rates and water charges. In court the applicant failed to prove that I was in arrears for one of the properties and they said 'we are abandoning this one,'" he claimed."There's only property which is the subject of this laughable judgement from the High Court and it is only the property that I can show the original real documents from the city council and original receipt it's just one property and it's not in default."The controversy has sparked criticism from opposition figures, including Promise Mkwananzi, spokesperson for one of the factions of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC)."We are witnessing the regression of democratic contestation under Mnangagwa's regime. This dismemberment of opposition politics must be resisted," Mkwananzi said. PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Sila Services, LLC is pleased to announce its acquisition of New Berlin Heating & Air Conditioning, a prominent provider of HVAC services based in New Berlin, Wisconsin. Established in 1983, New Berlin Heating & Air Conditioning has built a strong reputation for delivering high-quality heating, cooling, and indoor air quality services to homeowners throughout the greater Milwaukee area. Mike Eaton, General Manager of New Berlin Heating & Air Conditioning, shared his excitement about the partnership and the future for his team, "Joining forces with Sila Services is an exciting growth opportunity for our team while enhancing the services and expertise we can deliver for our customers. Sila's dedication to operational excellence, employee training and development, and superior customer service perfectly matches our own philosophy. We are confident that combining with a distinctly trade-centered partner allows us to better serve our people, customers and communities. We're already enhancing New Berlin's capabilities and creating opportunities for our team as part of the Sila Services family." "We are thrilled to welcome Mike Eaton and the team at New Berlin Heating & Air Conditioning into our family," said Jason Rabbino, CEO of Sila Services. "Their steadfast commitment to customer satisfaction and excellence, rooted in comprehensive technical training of their team members, aligns tremendously with our core values. With their deep ties to the community in Wisconsin, we look forward to further enhancing our service offerings in the Midwest, while building on New Berlin's extraordinary history of quality and service excellence. Finding the absolute right partner for new markets has been core to Sila's success, and we are privileged to have found that relationship with Mike and New Berlin." About Sila Services Sila Services is a leading home services platform, operating over 35 brands throughout the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Midwest. With a distinctive legacy dating back to the early 1900s, Sila offers a comprehensive range of residential and commercial services, including HVAC, plumbing, electrical, water treatment, indoor air quality, and home performance solutions. The company's mission is to attract, develop, and advance the careers of the best tradespeople, ensuring an unmatched level of service and customer satisfaction. For more information, visit www.silaservices.com. Media Contact: Andrew Moffatt, Chief Marketing Officer 610.491.9409 [email protected] SOURCE Sila Services, LLC His Majesty King Felipe VI and the Government of Spain have bestowed upon Professor Marcos Lopez de Prado the Officer's Cross of the Royal Order of Civil Merit The award recognizes Professor Lopez de Prado's distinguished services to science and the global investment industry over an international career spanning 25 years and three continents Knights and Dames of the Order include heads of state, royalty, diplomats, scientists, artists, as well as government, business, political, religious and military leaders ABU DHABI, UAE, Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- ADIA Lab Board member Professor Marcos Lopez de Prado has received the Officer's Cross and diploma of the Royal Order of Civil Merit, one of Spain's highest honours, from His Majesty King Felipe VI and the Government of Spain. The award was presented at the investiture ceremony held in Abu Dhabi on 21 November 2024 by H.E. Inigo de Palacio Espana, Ambassador of Spain to the United Arab Emirates. The honour recognises Professor Lopez de Prado's "distinguished services to science and the global investment industry". H.E. Inigo de Palacio (left) delivers the medal of Knight Officer of the Royal Order of Civil Merit to Prof. Marcos Lopez de Prado (right) (PRNewsfoto/ADIA Lab) Prof. Marcos Lopez de Prado (centre) with Prof. Steven Chu (Nobel Prize in Physics) (left) and Prof. Guido Imbens (Nobel Prize in Economics) (right) (PRNewsfoto/ADIA Lab) His Majesty the King of Spain is the Grand Master of the Order, and Spain's Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation is its Grand Chancellor. Knights and Dames of the Order are appointed for their outstanding service to society and include heads of state, royalty, diplomats, scientists, artists, as well as government, business, political, religious and military leaders. In his remarks at the investiture ceremony, Ambassador de Palacio highlighted Professor Lopez de Prado's extraordinary contributions, including his pivotal role in founding ADIA Lab and establishing its collaboration agreement with the Kingdom of Spain, which has fostered a robust scientific exchange between Spain and the UAE. The Ambassador also commended Professor Lopez de Prado for elevating and enriching Spain's image abroad. Professor Lopez de Prado has been a driving force in the modernisation of finance over the past 25 years, pioneering artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms that are now widely adopted at some of the world's largest investment firmsan achievement recognised with multiple international awards. He is Global Head - Quantitative Research and Development at the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), a Research Fellow at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (U.S. Office of Science), and Professor of Practice at Cornell University's School of Engineering, where he teaches machine learning. Ambassador de Palacio remarked: "Ranked among the top 10 most-read authors in economics globally by the Social Science Research Network (SSRN), and having advised the U.S. Congress on AI policy, Marcos' work spans science, industry and public service. The Royal Order of Civil Merit acknowledges not only his scientific and professional accomplishments, but also the lasting social impact of his work, which has strengthened international cooperation and deepened ties between nations." Professor Lopez de Prado expressed the personal significance of this honour: "As both a professor and a fund manager, I have worked for the past 25 years to advance our field, developing AI algorithms that make investing more evidence-based, systematic, and reliable. I hope this accolade draws further attention to the financial applications of AI and supercomputing, which benefit society by enabling better decision-making and public policy design. I am grateful to ADIA for the opportunity to apply my scientific work towards achieving its long-term investment objectives." "I extend my heartfelt thanks to H.E. Inigo de Palacio Espana for his exemplary role as Ambassador, and his strong advocacy for ADIA Lab. I would not have earned this highly coveted distinction without the unwavering support of my family, friends, and countless colleagues, many of whom are here with me today. This knighthood is also for them, and I will wear its insignia in their name with pride, and with profound gratitude towards His Majesty King Felipe VI." Among the attendees at the ceremony were several renowned scientists: Prof. Steven Chu, Nobel Laureate in Physics (1997) and former U.S. Secretary of Energy (2009-2013); Prof. Dan Shechtman, Nobel Laureate in Chemistry (2011); Prof. Shafi Goldwasser, recipient of the Turing Award (2012) and the Godel Prize (1993, 2001); Prof. Guido Imbens, Nobel Laureate in Economics (2021); Prof. Jack Dongarra, Turing Award (2021); Prof. Miguel Hernan, Rousseeuw Prize for Statistics (2022); Prof. Horst Simon, Gordon Bell Prize (1998, 2009). Institutional representatives included: H.E. Carme Artigas, Co-Chair of the United Nations AI Advisory Body; H.E. Sultan Al Mansoori, former Minister of Economy of the UAE; H.E. Felix Barrio Juarez, Managing Director of Spain's National Cybersecurity Institute; H.E. Prof. Enrique Herrera Viedma, Vice-President for Research of the University of Granada; H.E. Antoine Delcourt, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium to the UAE; and H.E. Robert Lauer, Ambassador of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg to the UAE. About Marcos Lopez de Prado Dr. Marcos Lopez de Prado is Global Head - Quantitative Research and Development at the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), a founding Board member of ADIA Lab, a Research Fellow at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (U.S. Office of Science), and Professor of Practice at Cornell University's School of Engineering, where he teaches machine learning. He has published approximately 100 scientific articles on AI and statistical inference in the leading academic journals, is a founding co-editor of The Journal of Financial Data Science, and the author of influential graduate textbooks used by universities worldwide. He is the inventor of 15 patents, several of which have been purchased and licensed by some of the largest institutional investors worldwide to manage multibillion-dollar funds. In recognition of his work, Professor Lopez de Prado has received various scientific and industry awards, including the National Award for Academic Excellence (1999) by the Kingdom of Spain, the Quant Researcher of the Year Award (2019) by Portfolio Management Research, the Buy-Side Quant of the Year Award (2021) by Risk.net, and the Bernstein Fabozzi / Jacobs Levy Award (2024) by The Journal of Portfolio Management. For more information, visit https://QuantResearch.org/ About ADIA Lab ADIA Lab is an independent institution engaged in basic and applied research in Data Science, AI, Machine Learning, and High-Performance Computing, across all major fields of study. This includes exploring applications in areas such as climate change and energy transition, blockchain technology, financial inclusion and investing, decision making, automation, cybersecurity, health sciences, education, telecommunications, and space. Based in Abu Dhabi, ADIA Lab is an independent, standalone entity supported by the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, a globally-diversified investment institution that invests funds on behalf of the Government of Abu Dhabi. ADIA Lab has its own governance and operational structure, and is guided by an Advisory Board of global thought-leaders in data and computationally intensive disciplines, to pursue its research independently. For more information, visit https://www.adialab.ae/ About the Royal Order of Civil Merit The Royal Order of Civil Merit is a state honour established in 1926 by King Alfonso XIII of Spain to recognise extraordinary services of Spanish and foreign citizens for the good of the Nation. Knights and Dames of the Order include heads of state, royalty, diplomats, scientists, artists, as well as government, business, political, religious and military leaders. His Majesty the King of Spain is the Grand Master of the Royal Order of Civil Merit, hence all awards of this Order are bestowed in his name. Spain's Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation is the Grand Chancellor of the Order. The Ministry's Directorate-General for Protocol receives the proposals, evaluates all candidates, and produces the mandatory reports justifying the exceptional merits of each awardee. For more information, visit https://www.exteriores.gob.es/es/Ministerio/Protocolo/Paginas/Condecoraciones.aspx Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2565399/ADIA_Lab.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2565536/ADIA_Lab_2.jpg SOURCE ADIA Lab A roundup of the most newsworthy tech announcements from PR Newswire this week, including updates in cross-border payments and autonomous driving, and our very own collab with Google Cloud. NEW YORK, Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- With thousands of press releases published each week, it can be difficult to keep up with everything on PR Newswire. To help tech journalists and consumers stay on top of the week's most newsworthy and popular releases, here's a recap of some major stories from the week that shouldn't be missed. The list below includes the headline (with a link to the full text) and an excerpt from each story. Click on the press release headlines to access accompanying multimedia assets that are available for download. PR Newswire Weekly Technology Press Release Roundup, Nov. 18-22, 2024. For more news like this, check out all of the latest technology-related releases from PR Newswire. Do you have a technology press release to distribute? Sign up with PR Newswire to share your story with the audiences who matter most. Helping Journalists Stay Up to Date on Industry News These are just a few of the recent press releases that consumers and the media should know about. To be notified of releases relevant to their coverage area, journalists can set up a custom newsfeed with PR Newswire for Journalists. Once they're signed up, reporters, bloggers, and freelancers have access to the following free features: Customization: Users can create customized newsfeeds that will deliver relevant news right to their inbox. Newsfeed results can be targeted by keywords, industry, subject, geography, and more. Users can create customized newsfeeds that will deliver relevant news right to their inbox. Newsfeed results can be targeted by keywords, industry, subject, geography, and more. Photos and Videos: Thousands of multimedia assets are available to download and include in a journalist or blogger's next story. Thousands of multimedia assets are available to download and include in a journalist or blogger's next story. Subject Matter Experts: Journalists will have access to ProfNet, a database of industry experts to connect with as sources or for quotes in their articles. Journalists will have access to ProfNet, a database of industry experts to connect with as sources or for quotes in their articles. Related Resources: Our journalist- and blogger-focused blog, Beyond Bylines, features regular media news roundups, writing tips, upcoming events, and more. About PR Newswire PR Newswire is the industry's leading press release distribution partner with an unparalleled global reach of more than 440,000 newsrooms, websites, direct feeds, journalists and influencers and is available in more than 170 countries and 40 languages. From our award-winning Content Services offerings, integrated media newsroom and microsite products, Investor Relations suite of services, paid placement and social sharing tools, PR Newswire has a comprehensive catalog of solutions to solve the modern-day challenges PR and communications teams face. For 70 years, PR Newswire has been the preferred destination for brands to share their most important news stories across the world. For questions, contact the team at [email protected]. SOURCE PR Newswire New Duval County location will host grand opening celebration Friday, December 6th TALLAHASSEE, Fla., Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Trulieve Cannabis Corp. (CSE: TRUL) (OTCQX: TCNNF) ("Trulieve" or "the Company"), a leading and top-performing cannabis company in the U.S., announced the opening of a new medical cannabis dispensary in Jacksonville, Florida on Saturday, November 23. A grand opening celebration will be held Friday, December 6, beginning at 9 a.m., featuring music, specials, discounts, and opportunities to register for upcoming patient education sessions. Trulieve Jacksonville Dunn Ave, located at 1141 Dunn Avenue, will be open 9 a.m. 8:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. 8 p.m. on Sundays, offering walk-in and express pickup service. "We are committed to providing value, delivering quality, and helping our customers enhance their lives through cannabis," said Trulieve's Chief Executive Officer Kim Rivers. "We are excited to serve northern Duval County patients and caregivers at this new location." Trulieve Jacksonville Dunn Ave, located at 1141 Dunn Avenue, will be open 9 a.m. 8:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. 8 p.m. on Sundays, offering walk-in and express pickup service. The new dispensary will carry a wide variety of popular products including Trulieve's portfolio of in-house brands such as Alchemy, Co2lors, Cultivar Collection, Modern Flower, Momenta, Muse, Roll One, Sweet Talk, and Trekkers. Customers will also have access to beloved partner brands such as Alien Labs, Bellamy Brothers, Binske, Black Tuna, Blue River, Connected Cannabis, DeLisioso, Khalifa Kush, Love's Oven, Miami Mango, O.pen, Seed Junky, and Sunshine Cannabis, all available exclusively at Trulieve in Florida. Across Florida, Trulieve offers home delivery, convenient online ordering, and in-store pickup. Veterans receive 20% off every order when they show their military ID, and all first-time guests are eligible for a 60% new customer discount at any Florida Trulieve location. For more information, or to learn how to become a registered patient, please visit Trulieve.com and connect on Instagram or Facebook. About Trulieve Trulieve is an industry leading, vertically integrated cannabis company and multi-state operator in the U.S., with leading market positions in Arizona, Florida, and Pennsylvania. Trulieve is poised for accelerated growth and expansion, building scale in retail and distribution in new and existing markets through its hub strategy. By providing innovative, high-quality products across its brand portfolio, Trulieve delivers optimal customer experiences and increases access to cannabis, helping patients and customers to live without limits. Trulieve is listed on the CSE under the symbol TRUL and trades on the OTCQX market under the symbol TCNNF. For more information, please visit Trulieve.com. Facebook: @Trulieve Instagram: @Trulieve_ X: @Trulieve Investor Contact Christine Hersey, Vice President of Investor Relations +1 (424) 202-0210 [email protected] Media Contact Phil Buck, APR, Corporate Communications Manager +1 (406) 370-6226 [email protected] SOURCE Trulieve Cannabis Corp. News / National by Staff reporter Former President of Botswana Ian Khama has called on the Southern African Development Community SADC to expel Zimbabwe if proven to have meddled with member states' elections.Zimbabwe stands accused of interfering with SADC member states' elections in attempt to save fellow former liberation parties from losing power, as wave of change hits the continent.And Khama says SADC should punish Zimbabwe if found wanting. "SADC must Expel Zimbabwe if found to have interfered with elections in the Region," he said.Apparently, Namibia is set to hold elections on the 27th of November 2024.Zimbabwe's ruling has since sent a delegation to Namibia in the name of solidarity with the ruling party there, SWAPO.ZANU PF confirmed sending officials to Namibia."ZANU PF delegation led by Secretary for War Veterans League Cde Douglas Mahiya and Deputy Secretary for Commissariat Cde Webster Shamu arrived in Namibia."They joined other revolutionary sister parties in solidarity with SWAPO ahead of the scheduled November 27 elections," said the party. New York, Nov 22 : Reiterating the call for urgent reform of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), Parvathaneni Harish, India's Permanent Representative to the UN, has said that India has underscored equal geographical representation in the permanent seat category, especially the inclusion of countries from Africa, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Caribbean, which is essential for a legitimate and effective Council. He also said that the current structure of the UNSC undermines the organisation's credibility and effectiveness. Speaking at the Plenary of the Intergovernmental Negotiations on UNSC reform on Wednesday, Harish said, "My delegation agrees with the assertion that the UN Security Council in its current design is detrimental to the credibility and effectiveness of the UN and must be addressed at the earliest. We need a UN Security Council that reflects the new multipolar world of today." "India underscores equitable geographical representation in the permanent category. In particular, the inclusion of regions such as Africa, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Caribbean is essential for a legitimate and effective Council," he added. This inclusion, Harish argued, is vital for making the UNSC more representative of the global community and more effective in addressing the world's most pressing challenges. In his statement, Harish reaffirmed India's commitment to a reformed UNSC that reflects the evolving global dynamics and the diverse interests of the international community. Harish also clarified India's position on the reform process, rejecting claims made by so-called cross-regional groups based on faith or religion, emphasising that such factors should not serve as the basis for representation in the Council. "My delegation does not support any claims being made by so-called cross-regional groups on the basis of faith or religion, which cannot be the sole basis for representation in the Council," he said. Harish highlighted India's support for creating new non-permanent seats while maintaining that such expansion should be limited to the non-permanent category. He also stressed the importance of equitable geographical representation in the permanent category. India's reform proposal remains focused on ensuring all regions have a fair and meaningful voice in the Security Council's decision-making processes. Moscow, Nov 22 : Russian President Vladimir Putin has said in a televised address that the Ukraine war has obtained features of a global conflict after attacks by Western missiles on Russia's Kursk and Bryansk regions. "Since this moment, as we have underscored repeatedly, the conflict in Ukraine, provoked by the West, has obtained elements of global nature," he said on Thursday. The Russian President vowed that Russia would respond decisively in case of escalation in Ukraine, Xinhua news agency reported. He stressed that Russia has the right to use weapons against the military facilities of the countries that use their weapons against Russia. "I would like to stress once again that it is not Russia that is destroying the international security system, but the US," Putin stressed in the speech. Meanwhile, he confirmed that Russia has successfully tested a new medium-range ballistic missile Oreshnik in response to enemy actions. Putin criticised the West for escalating the war by allowing Ukraine to strike Russian territory with long-range missiles. aIn response to the use of American and British long-range weapons, on November 21 of this year, the Russian armed forces launched a combined strike on one of the facilities of the military-industrial complex of Ukraine," the Russian President said. He also emphasised that in combat conditions, one of Russiaas newest medium-range missile systems had been tested, "among other things. In this case, with a ballistic missile in a nuclear-free hypersonic equipment." The launch signals a clear escalation of Russiaas military response to NATO's involvement in the Ukraine war. Vienna, Nov 22 : The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has said that nuclear safety "remains in jeopardy" at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant (ZNPP) as the facility twice lost connection to its only remaining 750 kilovolt (kV) power line in the last few days. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi on Thursday told a quarterly meeting of the IAEA Board of Governors that the first disconnection, caused by unspecified damage about 17 km from the ZNPP, lasted for just over 30 hours from last Saturday morning until it was repaired and restored around Sunday noon, Xinhua news agency reported. The plant again lost connection to the line on Thursday morning. The ZNPP had to rely on "its sole 330 kV backup power line for the electricity it needs for reactor cooling and other key nuclear safety functions," Grossi said. The plant had four 750 kV and six 330 kV lines available before the Russia-Ukraine war, according to an IAEA statement. Paris, Nov 22 : France has backed the International Criminal Court (ICC) in its issuing of arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif. The ICC's pre-trial chamber has accused Netanyahu and Gallant of committing "crimes against humanity and war crimes" between at least October 8, 2023, and May 20, 2024. Meanwhile, Mohammed Deif has been accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity in the territories of Israel and Palestine from at least October 7, 2023, Xinhua news agency reported. French Foreign Ministry spokesperson Christophe Lemoine said during an online press conference on Thursday that the Court is a "guarantee of international stability" and its orders must be exercised "in all situations". "The fight against impunity is our priority," Lemoine told reporters, adding that France will continue to support the action of the ICC. However, when asked if the Israeli Prime Minister would be arrested if he came to France, Lemoine did not give a clear answer, calling it a "legally complex" issue. He also said that France, the host country of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), is extremely concerned about the cultural heritages in Gaza and Lebanon which have been destroyed during the wars by Israel. Meanwhile, Norway has also backed the ICC's action. The country's Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said on Thursday: "The ICC plays a crucial role in ensuring accountability for serious crimes." "It is important that the ICC carries out its mandate in a judicious manner. I have confidence that the Court will proceed with the case based on the highest fair trial standards," he added. Mumbai, Nov 22 : An eight-year-old engagement video of actress Rashmika Mandanna, who is gearing up for the release of her upcoming film "Pushpa: The Rule" starring Allu Arjun, has started doing the rounds on social media. Mumbai, Nov 22 (IANS) An eight-year-old engagement video of actress Rashmika Mandanna, who is gearing up for the release of her upcoming film "Pushpa: The Rule" starring Allu Arjun, has started doing the rounds on social media. It features Rashmika with actor-filmmaker Rakshit Shetty and the "Animal" star flaunting their engagement rings. The video in question is almost eight-years-old. It was in 2017, when the actress exchanged rings with Rakshit. According to media reports, the actress was just 21-years-old, when she got engaged to Rakshit, who was 34 at that time. It is also said that the two started dating after working on the 2016 film "Kirik Party", which marked the actress' debut in cinema. A year later, the two got engaged. However, it was in 2018, when their love story came to an end. The two never discussed the reason behind their split. The two may have split but share a cordial relationship. Rakshit in an interview had discussed how the former couple still message each other. He had shared that Rashmika congratulates him, whenever he has a release and vice versa. The two even wish each other on their birthdays. Talking about "Pushpa: The Rule", the makers unveiled the trailer on November 17 in Patna, Bihar. The sequel to the film promises a high-voltage action-drama with Telugu superstar Allu Arjun at the forefront. It opens with a person in background introducing Allu Arjun's titular character of Pushpa as the one who is not afraid of power, and has no greed for money. Directed by Sukumar and produced by Mythri Movie Makers, the music of the film is from T Series. 'Pushpa 2: The Rule' went through production delays as the makers moved its release date from August 15 to December 6. The release date was once again changed to December 5. The film was earlier supposed to clash with the Vicky Kaushal-starrer 'Chhaava' which is based on the life of Maratha warrior king Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, the son of Indian warrior-king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. However, the makers of 'Chhaava' have reportedly moved the film's release date in order to avoid the clash. 'Pushpa 2: The Rule' is set to arrive in cinemas on December 5, 2024. New Delhi, Nov 22 : BJP President J.P. Nadda has accused the Congress of "sensationalising the situation" in Manipur, trying to set up a particular narrative and encouraging anti-India forces. New Delhi, Nov 22 (IANS) BJP President J.P. Nadda has accused the Congress of asensationalising the situation" in Manipur, trying to set up a particular narrative and encouraging anti-India forces. In a letter to Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, Nadda said, "Having witnessed firsthand the disrespectful and irresponsible manner in which you and your party walked out when Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi was addressing the issue of violence in Manipur earlier this year, it was surprising for me to see your letter on the issue addressed to the Hon'ble President." The November 21 letter comes in response to Kharge after he wrote to President Droupadi Murmu about the violence in Manipur. "...I feel compelled to respond to the incorrect, false and politically motivated narrative which your words fail to camouflage. It appears that you as well as your party seem to have conveniently forgotten the complete failure of government machinery and the ill-advised strategies adopted by Congress governments both at the centre and state during similar incidents in the early 90s and during the UPA era. I bring your party's infamous neglect of critical local issues to your notice because the repercussions of the Congress' abject failure are being felt in Manipur even today," Nadda wrote in the letter While listing the steps taken in the last ten years for the development of the northeast region, the BJP president seeks to demolish the contentions of the Congress in his letter. "...Yet, ignoring these developments you and your party have chosen to use the Northeast and its people to rake up political mileage and peddle your nefarious agendas. I wish to remind you that under Congress rule, Manipur witnessed one of the bloodiest periods in history. In addition to the black period of the 90s when thousands were killed and lakhs displaced due to rampant violence, in 2011 alone Manipur witnessed a complete blockade for more than 120 days. Petrol prices and LPG process were nearly four-times higher than the rest of the country and losses of crores of were being suffered by the exchequer every day," the letter mentions. "It was during this time that the Congress government failed to even escalate the issue to appropriate levels at the centre while the State administration engaged in thousands of fake encounters," Nadda said. The BJP chief said, "In contrast, with the first incidence of violence that was reported, our government - both at the Centre as well as State was immediately working to stabilise the situation and protect the people. Throughout this period and even today, the entire focus of our government has been on maintaining law and order and bringing normalcy to the state. From resources to personnel and provisions the entire government machinery is devoted to bringing back peace and harmony to Manipur. Our commitment to resolving the situation as soon as possible is evident when you consider that investigations into the incidents are being carried out by the NIA, the one of the most efficient agencies in the country." Nadda accused the Congress-led previous UPA governments at the Centre of failing the country's security challenges. "What is shocking is how repeated attempts are being made by the Congress party to sensationalise the situation in Manipur. It appears that you have forgotten that not only did your government legitimise the illegal migration of foreign militants to India, Mr P Chidambaram - the erstwhile Home Minister - had signed treaties with them! Furthermore, these known militant leaders fleeing their country to avoid arrest were wholeheartedly endorsed and encouraged to carry on their destabilising efforts. This complete failure of India's security and administrative protocols under your government is one of the major reasons why militant and habitually violent organisations are attempting to destroy the hard-won peace in Manipur and push it back several decades into the age of Anarchy." While assuring that the current government will not let the sinister designs succeed, Nadda said, "However, I can assure you that unlike the Congress, our government will not allow this to happen at any cost." He also accused Congress of favouring anti-India forces, "This pattern of Congress leaders endorsing and encouraging a nexus of foreign forces looking to derail India's progress is truly worrying. As a result of this failure to recognise the maleficent intentions of these individuals, your party is often seen matching them step-for-step. Whether this failure is an unfortunate blind spot resulting from Congress' thirst for power or part of a carefully designed strategy to divide the people and sideline our democracy, is what our nation deserves to know." New Delhi, Nov 22 : Ola Electric, mired in controversies amid a government probe and mounting losses, is set to lay off at least 500 employees as part of an restructuring exercise. The Bhavish Aggarwal-led electric vehicle (EV) company is trying to boost its operational efficiency by reducing redundancies and "drive profitability", according to multiple reports. The restructuring exercise will impact employees from several departments, the reports added. According to an Inc42 report, citing sources, "the aim is to cut expenses to drive profitability and improve margins. There's no set time period for the completion of the exercise". Ola Electric did not immediately comment on layoffs. The company reported a 43 per cent increase in net loss at Rs 495 crore in the July-September period (Q2 FY25), from Rs 347 crore in the previous quarter (Q1 FY25). The electric two-wheeler company also saw its revenue slump 26.1 per cent to Rs 1,214 crore (on-quarter) from Rs 1,644 crore in the first quarter of this fiscal. The net loss, however, narrowed on a year-on-year basis. In the post-quarterly earnings call, Aggarwal said the company's operating expenses had decreased quarter-on-quarter and that the company will focus on cost efficiencies. "As we continue to scale distribution, revenue will keep growing while the operating expenses are likely to remain flat or even decline over the next few quarters," Aggarwal added. The company also saw its market share plunge to 33 per cent in Q2, down from 49 per cent in the previous quarter. According to experts, increased competition and service network challenges have impacted Ola Electric's market dominance. The shares of Ola Electric continue to slide, more than Rs 38,000 crore worth of investors' money has been eroded in the company's stock in just a couple of months. On Friday, the company's share was hovering around Rs 67 apiece, way below its market debut price of Rs 76 and more than 56 per cent down from its all-time high of Rs 157.40. The market cap had reached an all-time high of around Rs 69,000 crore, which has come down to around Rs 31,000 crore. Several Ola Electric customers have reported problems with software, battery and jammed tyres. The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has also ordered a comprehensive probe into the EV company over its consumer complaint redressal practices. Seoul, Nov 22 : North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has said that his country went to every length in negotiations with the US, but it only confirmed Washington's unwavering hostile policy toward Pyongyang, the North's state media said Friday. Kim made the remarks during a speech at the opening ceremony of an arms exhibition titled 'Defence Development-2024', in Pyongyang the previous day, Yonhap news agency reported quoting the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). "We have already gone to every length in negotiations with the US, and what was certain from the outcome was ... the unchanging invasive and hostile policy toward North Korea," Kim noted in the speech. He said that the "extreme situation" on the Korean Peninsula is not the result of a "misunderstanding" of the other side, apparently referring to the US. He said that achieving the highest level of defence capability to surpass the enemy is the only way to maintain peace. New Delhi, Nov 22 : As India sees a surge in venture capital (VC) funding, China saw a steep 26.8 per cent decline in VC funding (by value) in the January-October period this year, according to a new report. A total of 2,116 venture capital (VC) funding deals worth $28.2 billion were announced in China during January-October. "This represents a year-on-year (YoY) decline of 22.5 per cent in VC deal volume, whereas the total disclosed funding value fell by 26.8 per cent," according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company. An analysis revealed that from January to October 2023, China witnessed the announcement of a total of 2,731 VC deals with disclosed funding value of $38.5 billion. The number of VC deals valued more than or equal to $100 million announced in China decreased from 70 during January-October 2023 to 50 during January-October 2024. "Crackdown on companies coupled with the ongoing conflicts, uncertain market conditions and economic challenges have weighed heavily on investor sentiment," said Aurojyoti Bose, lead analyst at GlobalData. This can also be understood from the fact that China witnessed a decline in the number of big-ticket deals during January-October 2024 compared to January-October 2023, Bose mentioned. China accounted for a 15.4 per cent share of the total number of VC deals announced globally from January to October 2024 while its share in terms of the corresponding funding value stood at 12.9 per cent. Despite this downturn, China has maintained a substantial presence in the global VC landscape standing just next to the US in terms of both deal volume and value, said Bose. VC investors in India are focused on more traditional sectors for investment, including fintech, electric vehicles, and consumer technologies. Strong demographics, a robust economy and a vibrant capital market are the real drivers behind this optimism. In October, India saw private equity/venture capital investments worth $4.7 billion across 91 deals, a 40 per cent increase from September. Credit investments were the leading deal type in October, followed by growth investments, according to the IVCA-EY monthly PE/VC roundup. Seoul, Nov 22 : South Korean steelmakers on Friday called for establishing a joint consultative body with the government to devise strategies for expected policy changes by the Donald Trump administration, the industry ministry said. Officials from major steelmakers, including POSCO and Hyundai Steel, made the call during a meeting with Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun in Seoul, where they discussed potential impacts of new policy measures by the upcoming US government and their responses, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. Under the US Section 232 tariff rules made in 2018 under the first Trump administration, Washington waives the tariffs on 54 kinds of South Korean steel products in return for a yearly import quota of 2.63 million tons of steel, reports Yonhap news agency. "It is needed for the government and the industry to set up a joint consultative body to closely monitor the situation and devise responses thoroughly based on various scenarios," an official of the Korea Iron and Steel Association said. Hyundai Steel chief Suh Gang-hyun told reporters the Seoul government needs to make efforts to maintain the quota without any adjustment, noting there has been a growing demand for steel items, particularly after Hyundai Motor Co. built a new factory in the U.S. Ahn called for close communication and consultations between the government and the industry regarding new U.S. policies, noting they could still help create new business chances. "South Korean steelmakers have contributed to the growth of the overall industry in the US. Now is time for the two sides to forge a new cooperative relationship," Ahn said, according to the report. a"IANS na/ Seoul, Nov 22 : The top air force commanders of South Korea, the United States and Japan have held talks to discuss ways to strengthen their cooperation, such as expanding joint air drills, officials said, the latest in their trilateral security cooperation amid North Korea's nuclear and missile threats. In the talks over video-conferencing held Thursday, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Lee Young-su, and his US and Japanese counterparts, Gen. David W. Allvin and Gen. Hiroaki Uchikura, respectively, vowed to continuously cooperate to deter the North's evolving threats and hold regular talks, Yonhap news agency reported quoting South's Air Force. In what marked their first meeting via teleconference, the top Air Force commanders also reviewed their joint air drills and discussed ways to expand such exercises going forward. Since holding a joint air exercise for the first time in October last year, South Korea, the US and Japan have held six rounds of such drills, including those conducted during the trilateral multidomain Freedom Edge exercise launched this year. Earlier this month, the three nations held combined air drills, involving a B-1B bomber, in a show of force following North Korea's new intercontinental ballistic missile launch on October 31. Baghdad, Nov 22 : Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the current situation in the Middle East and energy cooperation within the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies known as OPEC Plus. A statement by his media office said that al-Sudani received a phone call from Putin, during which the two discussed bilateral ties as well as the evolving situation in the region, Xinhua news agency reported. The two sides stressed the need for major countries to exert greater efforts to prevent the escalation in Gaza and Lebanon, which could jeopardise regional and global stability, the statement said. On energy issues, they highlighted the importance of coordination among all concerned countries within OPEC and the OPEC Plus group to stabilise oil and gas prices, ensuring fair pricing for both producers and consumers, it added. Belgrade, Nov 22 : Four Serbian state officials, including former Minister of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure Goran Vesic, were arrested over allegations of involvement in a "serious offense against public safety" following a deadly roof collapse at the Novi Sad railway station. According to a press release published by the Higher Public Prosecutor's Office in Novi Sad, they will face charges of "causing general danger," Xinhua news agency reported. Seven other people, including engineers and designers, were also arrested for carrying out "improper and unlawful construction work," the office added. A total of 15 people lost their lives and two others were critically injured after a roof collapsed at the Novi Sad railway station on November 1. Serbia's Minister of Domestic and Foreign Trade Tomislav Momirovic, who served as Minister of Construction, Transport, and Infrastructure from 2020 to 2022, stepped down on Wednesday. Sukma, Nov 22 Ians) : In a major operation, at least 10 Maoists were killed in the Bheji area in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district by the security forces on Friday. Several weapons, including three automatic rifles, were recovered by the security forces from the encounter spot. The bodies of the slain Maoists were also found. The encounter started early in the morning, said officials. The Maoists are believed to have moved from neighbouring Odisha to Chhattisgarh. A team of the District Reserve Group (DRG) had gone into the area in search of these Maoists after receiving information about their presence. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai's office on Friday, in a post on X, said that security forces had successfully neutralised 10 Maoists in a major operation conducted earlier in the day in Sukma district. "The Chief Minister expressed satisfaction with the operation over this achievement of the security forces and said that his government is working on the policy of zero tolerance towards Naxalism. He also said that ensuring development, peace and safety of citizens in Bastar is the top priority of his government," his office said in a statement. This encounter follows another operation on November 16, when five Maoists were neutralised in the dense forests of the Abujhmad region in Chhattisgarh's Narayanpur during an encounter with security forces. The Abujhmad region, which borders Maharashtra's Gadchiroli district, is known for being a hotbed of Maoist activity. Last month, security forces achieved an important victory by neutralising 31 Maoists in one of the most successful operations in Chhattisgarh's history. A total of 257 Maoists has been neutralised since January 2024 in Chhattisgarh, apart from 861 arrested and 789 surrendered. Security forces have claimed that the top 14 Maoists operating in the area have already been eliminated. Union Home Minister Amit Shah had earlier said that the government is committed to completely eradicating Maoist insurgency by March 2026, calling them the "biggest enemy" of development, peace, and the bright future of the youth. Authorities believe that sustained efforts by security forces are steadily eroding the insurgents' influence in the region. Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), and the Border Security Force (BSF) conduct operations from time to time based on intelligence input in these Left-wing extremism-affected areas. Patna, Nov 22 : A meeting of Bihar BJP leaders is currently underway at the residence of Union Textile Minister Giriraj Singh in New Delhi on Friday. The meeting is focused on strategizing for the Assembly elections scheduled for November next year. Prominent attendees include BJP state President Dilip Jaiswal, Deputy Chief Ministers Vijay Sinha and Samrat Chaudhary, Minister Mangal Pandey, Nitin Naveen, State In-Charge Vinod Tawde, and other core group members. The BJP-JD(U) alliance in Bihar has recently faced internal friction over controversial statements by BJP leaders, such as Union Minister Giriraj Singh's remark comparing Ranchi to Karachi under the JMM government in Jharkhand. This statement drew sharp criticism from the JD(U) leaders, highlighting ideological differences within the coalition. Bihar Rural Works Department Minister Ashok Chaudhary distanced his party from the statement, clarifying that neither he nor the JD(U) supported such remarks. Similarly, during Giriraj Singh's Hindu Swabhiman Yatra, JD(U) MLC Neeraj Kumar reiterated the party's stance, emphasizing that JD(U) had no connection to Singh's remarks or the Yatra's agenda. These issues are likely to be addressed in the ongoing meeting at Giriraj Singhas residence in the national capital, as BJP leaders deliberate on strategies to manage alliances and navigate differences while focusing on upcoming elections. The BJP may aim to strike a balance between its core ideological agenda and maintaining cooperation with its allies to ensure the coalition's stability in Bihar. Following this strategy session, a workshop chaired by BJP National President J.P. Nadda has been organised at the party headquarters in Delhi. Bihar BJP leaders will participate in the workshop, where Nadda is expected to provide guidance and electoral insights to strengthen the party's approach for the upcoming elections. This series of meetings highlights BJP's proactive efforts to consolidate its position in Bihar, emphasizing organisational strength and ideological clarity in preparation for the 2025 Assembly elections. The BJP is intensifying its organisational and electoral preparations, with a focus on both strengthening internal coordination and enhancing grassroots presence ahead of key Assembly elections. During the ongoing workshop chaired by Chief Nadda at the party headquarters in Delhi, discussions are centred on building mutual coordination with allies, bolstering the partyas booth-level strength, and refining election strategies. State in-charges, co-in-charges, national front presidents, and election officers are actively participating in this workshop. Prior to this, Nadda held a meeting with the party's general secretaries, including Bihar MP Radha Mohan Singh, to discuss initiatives such as the "membership pride" campaign and measures to further strengthen the organisational structure. Kolkata, Nov 22 : Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials were likely to question some Dubai-based Indians to get a clearer picture of the proceeds in the multi-crore ration distribution case in West Bengal, which were reportedly invested in real estate there. Sources said that the ED officials were seeking the help of the External Affairs Ministry so that the latter could take the matter up with the UAE government to make the process of integration of the Dubai-based Indians smooth. The ED officials have also opposed the plea of a city-based businessman Bakibur Rahaman, the first to be arrested by the central agency sleuths in the case. Rahaman had recently secured bail to attend family functions in Dubai. The ED opposed the plea because the main condition of bail was that Rahaman would not be able to go out of the country during the bail period. Sources said that the family function was just an excuse and the real intention was to make arrangements for the property that he owns there. Last year, after Rahaman's arrest, the ED officials tracked his assets and property worth over Rs 100 crore, which included two high-end residential flats in Dubai registered in his name. The other assets and properties included around 51 acres of land in several plots scattered over different pockets in the state, in Murshidabad and North 24 Parganas district. The assets also include nine residential flats, measuring 7,000 square feet in total, registered in the name of Rahaman. He was known as an extremely close confidant of the former State Food and Supplies minister Jyotipriya Mallick, who was also arrested last year by the ED officials in connection with the ration distribution case. Mallick is currently under treatment at a private hospital in Kolkata where he was transferred recently from the Presidency Central Correctional Home in Kolkata. Mumbai, Nov 22 : The Indian stock market was trading in the green on Friday despite geopolitical tensions as heavy buying was seen in the PSU bank shares. Nifty PSU Bank was trading with a gain of 2.88 per cent. At around 12:17 p.m., Sensex was trading at 78,010.82 after gaining 855.03 points or 1.11 per cent, while the Nifty was trading at 23,620.95 after gaining 271.05 points or 1.16 per cent. The market trend remained positive. On the National Stock Exchange (NSE), 1725 stocks were trading in green, while 677 stocks were trading in red. Nifty Bank was at 50,887.85 with a gain of 514.95 points or 1.02 per cent. Nifty Midcap 100 index was trading at 54,706.65 after gaining 321.30 points, or 0.59 per cent. Nifty Smallcap 100 index was at 17,735.50 after gaining 138.90 points, or 0.79 per cent. In the Sensex pack, SBI, Adani Ports, Ultra Tech Cement, Titan, ICICI Bank and Bajaj Finance were the top gainers. Axis Bank and Sun Pharma were the top losers. Hardik Matalia, derivatives analyst at Choice Broking, said the continued selling by foreign institutional investors remains a key concern for the domestic market. "On the downside, the 23,200 level is expected to act as critical support. A break below this level could lead the index to lower to the 23,000 - 22,800 range. Conversely, 23,800 serves as a crucial resistance level, and a sustained close above this mark is essential to reverse the ongoing downtrend. The next resistance is seen at 24,000," he said. In this volatile environment, traders are advised to remain cautious, implement strict stop-loss measures, and avoid holding overnight long positions to effectively manage risk. Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) sold equities worth Rs 5,320 crore on November 21, while domestic institutional investors bought equities worth Rs 4,200 crore on the same day. Mumbai, Nov 22 : Producer Rajan Shahi has finally broken his silence over the death of a camera assistant on the set of Rupali Ganguly-starrer "Anupamaa" due to electrocution and has now issued an official statement about the same. Mumbai, Nov 22 (IANS) Producer Rajan Shahi has finally broken his silence over the death of a camera assistant on the set of Rupali Ganguly-starrer "Anupamaa" due to electrocution and has now issued an official statement about the same. In a press released issued with the subject line reading: "An unfortunate accident during shooting of the TV serial Aanupamaa at Film City", it said that it was "purely a human error." The statement read: "We, Director's Kut Production and Shahi Production Pvt. Ltd. have been entertaining in the TV industry for the last 18 years, catering to the audience in India and abroad with our innovative, popular family shows like 'Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai', 'Bidaai', 'Anupamaa' and others, which have played a pivotal role in the Television Industry "This would not have been possible without the seamless and harmonious collaboration of over 300 talented and dedicated professionals." The statement shared that the company has fostered an ecosystem that nurtures a safe, supportive environment, ensuring respect, dignity, and healthy working conditions for our artists, technicians, and workers. Adding: "We consider them a part of our family, and the entire unit and team of our Production Houses can vouch for the care and commitment that we consistently provide." Talking about the incident, the statement mentioned: "An unfortunate accident happened on 14th Nov. 2024 during the shooting of the TV Serial Anupamaa at a set in Film City, when an apprentice camera attendant, Mr. Ajit Kumar was sent by the camera vendor, who mistakenly picked both the light rod and camera together when he was not wearing any footwear and got the electric shock." "The DOP present on the set said that it was purely a human error. He was immediately taken to the hospital and given instant medical help but unfortunately, we lost him. It was deeply saddening." The production house claimed that "in response, immediate arrangements were made to send flight tickets to the family members of the deceased, who were urgently called from Patna. All necessary legal formalities were also promptly addressed." "The Production House covered the hospital and medical expenses, facilitated the family's return to Patna, and provided compensation, for which the family expressed their gratitude through a letter. Additionally, the deceased's insurance will be directly disbursed to his nominated beneficiary." The statement also mentioned that the Production Houses have always prioritised the safety and well- being of the crew. "We remain committed to supporting our team members in such circumstances, as we consider them an integral part of our family. May God bless the noble soul of Late Mr. Ajit Kumar, who went to his heavenly abode." "We trust that the statement provided by us, as a responsible Production House, is satisfactory We would like to request rumour mongers with certain vested interests to stop spreading false rumours otherwise, failing which we will take stringent legal action against them as per the law of the land." "Besides this, we are in touch with Producers' Bodies namely Producers Guild of India (Guild), Indian Film and Television Producers Council (IFTPC), Indian Motion Picture Producers Association (IMPPA), Indian Film & Television Directors' Association (IFTDA) and mother body Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) and have updated them about the unfortunate incident." Dakar, Nov 22 : Senegal's ruling Pastef party came out on top with 130 of the 165 parliamentary seats in legislative elections, according to the provisional results announced by the national vote counting commission. Out of 7,371,891 registered voters, the number of valid votes cast was 3,623,633. The number of invalid ballots was 26,326, Xinhua news agency reported. According to the provisional results, the coalition led by former Senegalese president Macky Sall came second with 16 seats, that of former prime minister Amadou Ba with seven, and that of Dakar mayor Barthelemy Dias with three. These figures will be final once proclaimed by the Constitutional Council, which may do so within five days if there are no objections, according to election officials. Perth, Nov 22 : Fast-bowler Josh Hazlewood took 4-29 off 13 overs, while the rest of the fast-bowlers took two wickets each as Australia bundled out India for just 150 at tea on day one of the first Test at Perth Stadium on Friday. Electing to bat first, Australia were relentless with their lines and lengths to put good pressure on India, and were helped by good movement and bounce on the pitch. India had little to show about their batting performance, as nine batters were caught behind the wicket. Only KL Rahul (26), Rishabh Pant (37) and debutant Nitish Kumar Reddy (41) were able to make sizeable contributions for India after electing to bat first. Opener Yashasvi Jaiswal got a big fat edge on an uppish drive off Starc and gave a regulation catch to debutant Nathan McSweeney at gully to fall for an eight-ball duck. Rahul was tested hugely by fast bowlers, especially with Mitchell Starc asking relentless questions on his outside edge and Pat Cummins joining in the exam later on, but he continued to be watchful of anything outside off-stump. From the other end, Devdutt Padikkal struggled to break free, as Starc kept testing his outside edge, followed by Hazlewood rapping him on the pad, thigh and targeting the armpit with a short ball. Padikkalas uncomfortable stay ended in a 23-ball duck when he defended off a length ball from Hazlewood, which just nipped away to take the outside edge to the keeper. India got its first boundary when Rahul tried to get away from a shorter ball by Cummins and took the edge to fly over the slip cordon for four. An unconvincing Virat Kohli, standing outside the crease and being overly eager to play on the front foot, was beaten on both edges by Hazlewood. The pacer eventually had the last laugh as he got extra bounce on an outside off-stump delivery and found Kohlias outside edge, which was caught by first slip. Rahul grew in confidence to hit two off-side boundaries, but was given out on 26 when caught behind while trying to defend off a length ball from Starc. Australia got the decision on Rahul in their favour, but replays showed two noises and more crucially, the third umpire Richard Kettleborough wasnat provided with a front-on angle from the offside, bringing in the question if there was enough conclusive evidence to give the batter out. Rahulas fall ensured that Australia won the first session easily, thanks to the relentlessness of Starc and Hazlewood. Australia began the post-lunch session with further success as Mitchell Marsh drew Dhruv Jurel forward and forced him to push with hard hands, as the outside edge was caught safely by third slip. He followed it up by having Washington Sundar poke away from the body and was caught behind, leaving India at 73/6. In between this, Pant threw the kitchen sink at Cummins and got a flying four over the slip cordon, followed by hammering Marsh through mid-off for another boundary. From the other end, Nitish shined by playing an inside-out drive off Nathan Lyon on four, and followed it up by cover-driving him. Nitish stunned everyone by playing two magnificent reverse sweep off Lyon going behind backward point for boundaries. On the other hand, Pant was given life at 25 when Cummins dropped a chance off his miscued shot and left everyone jaw-dropped with the falling sweep going over fine leg for six. Indiaas counter-punch continued when Nitish brought out a crisp straight drive back past Hazlewood for four, but the partnership for the seventh wicket ended at 48 runs when Pant looked to flick off Cummins and the fuller scrambled delivery took a thick leading edge to second slip. Despite losing Harshit Rana, as the third slip took a catch off a diving gullyas deflection off Hazlewood, and Jasprit Bumrah, who nicked behind off the pacer, Nitish continued to impress by upper-cutting and driving Cummins for six and four respectively before a top-edge on his pull was caught by mid-wicket. Brief scores: India 150 in 49.4 overs (Nitish Kumar Reddy 41, Rishabh Pant 37; Josh Hazlewood 4-29, Mitchell Marsh 2-12) against Australia. Bhopal, Nov 22 : Defying police restrictions, Madhya Pradesh's BJP MLA from Mauganj, Pradeep Patel, visited Devra village and was arrested amid tension in the area over suspected encroachment of a nine-acre plot by the minority community near a temple, an official said on Friday. Bhopal, Nov 22 (IANS) Defying police restrictions, Madhya Pradeshas BJP MLA from Mauganj, Pradeep Patel, visited Devra village and was arrested amid tension in the area over suspected encroachment of a nine-acre plot by the minority community near a temple, an official said on Friday. Patel was arrested when he reached the village late on Thursday, despite police earlier banning him from entering the area for 15-days, said the official. On early Friday, the legislator was shifted to a government rest house under heavy security. Following which, his supporters gathered around the rest house. Amid a flare-up between two sides during an anti-encroachment drive on November 19, the MLA was initially detained on Wednesday for several hours, police said. He was detained and confined to a community hall in Mauganj. He was released on Thursday with the clear instruction that he would not visit Devra village or the disputed site near the Mahadevan Temple over the next 15 days, police said. However, Patel did not follow the instructions and returned to the disputed spot on Thursday night where he was arrested, said an official. Tension gripped the area after Hindu organisations and Patel's supporters demanded the removal of encroachment on a nine-acre plot of land occupied by minority communities near a temple. Recently, MP minister in charge of the area, Prahlad Singh Patel, had met the Mauganj legislator and requested him to avoid involving himself in the dispute and let the law take its course. The legislator, however, stuck to his defiant stand and refused to back off. Sources close to the MLA said that Patel had made his stance clear after the meeting with the minister that "no power can stop him from removing encroachment as the land belongs to the temple." Hyderabad, Nov 22 : The Telangana High Court on Friday directed the Assembly Speaker to take a call on the disqualification of Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLAs who joined the ruling Congress within a "reasonable time". A division bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice J. Sreenivas Rao set aside its single-judge bench's order directing the office of the Speaker to announce a schedule, within four weeks, for deciding the applications for disqualification of defected MLAs and suggested that the presiding officer take a decision on disqualification applications as per the 10th Schedule of the Constitution within a "reasonable time". The bench observed that the Speaker should decide as per the Anti-Defection Act while keeping in mind the five-year term of the Assembly. The order came on three appeals filed by the Legislative Assembly Secretary against the order of a single judge. In September, the High Court passed an order directing the office of the Speaker to pronounce a schedule for the hearing of the petitions seeking disqualification of the MLAs and furnish a copy of the schedule to the court's Registry. The single judge had pronounced the orders on September 9 on two writ petitions filed by BRS MLAs K.P. Vivekanand and Padi Kaushik Reddy and the third by BJP floor leader A. Maheshwar Reddy, seeking the disqualification of Danam Nagender (Khairatabad), Tellam Venkat Rao (Bhadrachalam) and Kadiyam Srihari (Station Ghanpur), who switched loyalties to the ruling party after winning last yearas Assembly elections as BRS candidates. The counsels for the petitioners argued that Assembly Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar was not following the Supreme Court orders on the issue of disqualification. The BRS recently intensified its legal efforts to get 10 MLAs disqualified for defecting to the Congress after the 2023 elections, where it lost power after two terms. BRS Working President K. T. Rama Rao along with T. Harish Rao and other senior leaders had met legal experts in Delhi as part of the partyas efforts to get turncoat MLAs disqualified. Bengaluru, Nov 22 : Karnataka state Congress President and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has said that all exit poll predictions regarding the Maharashtra Assembly election and Karnataka bypolls will be proven wrong and the Congress party will emerge victorious. Speaking to the media in the temple town Murudeshwara in Uttara Kannada district on Friday, Shivakumar said, "We will win for sure. The exit poll predictions will be reversed. On record I am making this statement and the media should show this. The exit poll results are going to be reversed." "I have carried out campaigning in Maharashtra state. We have confidence that we are surely going to win there. AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge has stated that we will form the government with a thin margin in Maharashtra state. He has also spoken to all leaders and I have also been to Maharashtra. I could see that everything was smooth and well for the party," Shivakumar stated. "However, no one knows what is inside the voting box," he added. When asked about results in Jharkhand state, he stated "I don't know about the outcome of results about Jharkhand state." Answering a question on the exit polls predicting Congress defeat in high profile Channapatna Assembly segment in the state and Minister for Waqf and Housing Zameer Ahmad Khan's racist 'Kaala Kumaraswamy' comment hurting the chances of the party, he stated, "We have done our duty. I have the full confidence of victory." "In the last Assembly election, the Congress party got only 16,000 votes. In my Kanakapura constituency, the Magadi seat represented by Congress MLA Balakrishna seat and Ramanagara seat represented by Congress MLA Iqbal Hussain, we won both. Only Channapatna seat we had lost. However, this time we will win," Shivakumar maintained. On the question of whether the racist 'Kaala Kumaraswamy' comment proved to be a setback for the party, Shivakumar stated, "I have given him (Minister Zameer Ahmad Khan) a piece of advice. He is a good worker and contributes well to the party. He had made certain statements in haste and I have stated that those remarks were wrong." "Being a state President of the party, I have stated that the racist comments were wrong and after I spoke to Minister Zameer, he tendered an apology and there is no need to make that a big matter," the Dy CM said. When asked about cabinet expansion, he stated, "I am not the Chief Minister yet, Siddaramaiah is the Chief Minister and is the one who reshuffles the cabinet." Talking about his trip to coastal Karnataka, Shivakumar said, "I went scuba diving and swam with local MLAs. The natural beauty of the coastal region needs to be explored efficiently. In Karnataka state, there is 300 km of coastline and it should prosper. Thousands should benefit and investors will have to come here." He further said, "Jobs have to be created. I went to Bangkok 15 years ago, I compared them with our local boys, who are on par with them in terms of talent. Our boys can deliver on international standards. I have visited to do all this..." "I and CM Siddaramaiah have told Minister H.K. Patil to prepare a separate tourism policy for the coastal region and it is being prepared," he stated. The Murudeshwara and other beaches in our state are on par with the Goa beaches and in no way are inferior. They need to be explored," he underlined. Chhattisgarh, Nov 22 : In a major success for security forces, at least 10 Maoists were killed in an encounter with the police in the Bheji area of Sukma district on Friday. Chhattisgarh's Deputy Chief Minister, Arun Sao, praised the efforts of the security forces in bringing the Maoist menace under control significantly, with the backing of the state government. Several weapons, including three automatic rifles, were recovered from the site of the encounter. Officials confirmed that the encounter began early in the morning and lasted for several hours, leading to the neutralisation of the insurgents. The Maoists are believed to have crossed over from neighbouring Odisha to Chhattisgarh for this attack. Talking to IANS, Arun Sao, praised the efforts of the security forces and emphasised the increase in anti-Maoist operations since the formation of the BJP government in the state. "Since our government was formed, our security forces have been working bravely and with full strength to make Bastar free of Naxalites. They are going into areas where no one would even think of going," said Sao. He further lauded the forces for their commitment to the safety and development of the region, adding, "I salute the bravery of the security forces. They are working with efficiency and dedication to fulfil the aspirations of the people of Bastar and the double-engine government." Sao further congratulated the forces on their continuous successes and wished them well for future operations. This operation follows another recent encounter on November 16, where five Maoists were killed in the dense forests of the Abujhmad region in Narayanpur district. Known for its Maoist strongholds, the Abujhmad area borders Maharashtraas Gadchiroli district. In October, security forces neutralised 31 Maoists in what was hailed as one of the most successful operations in the stateas history. Since January 2024, Chhattisgarhas security forces have neutralised 257 Maoists, arrested 861, and facilitated the surrender of 789 insurgents. The state has also eliminated the top 14 Maoist leaders. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has reaffirmed the government's commitment to eradicating Maoist insurgency by March 2026, calling the insurgents the 'biggest enemy' of the nation's development. Seoul, Nov 22 : Russia has provided North Korea with anti-air missiles and air defence equipment in exchange for its troop deployment in support of Moscow's war in Ukraine, South Korea's top security adviser said on Friday. National Security Adviser Shin Won-sik made the remark as North Korea is believed to have sent more than 10,000 troops to fight alongside Russia in the western Kursk border region against Ukraine, Yonhap news agency reported. "Russia is believed to have provided equipment and anti-air missiles to strengthen Pyongyang's vulnerable air defence system," Shin said in an interview with broadcaster SBS when asked about what the North would be getting from Russia in return for the troop dispatch. "Following North Korea's failed military spy satellite launch on May 27, Russia had already declared its intention to support satellite-related technologies (to the North), and it reportedly supplied various military technologies," Shin said. "We believe that there has also been economic aid in various forms," he added. South Korea's spy agency told lawmakers earlier this week that the troops deployed to Russia are believed to have been assigned to Moscow's airborne brigade and marine corps on the ground, with some of the soldiers having already entered combat. The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday that a senior North Korean general was wounded in a Ukrainian strike in the Kursk region. New Delhi, Nov 22 : Congress leader Rashid Alvi, on Thursday, said the MahaYuti alliance in Maharashtra has several claimants to the Chief Minister's post which was a clear display of "power-hungry" politics. Speaking to IANS, Rashid Alvi said, "There are so many claimants to the Chief Minister's position. Sitting CM Eknath Shinde wants to retain the post, Devendra Fadnavis insists he should be the CM, and now Ajit Pawar is also making a bid. This shameless display of power struggle is something we have never witnessed before. The BJP, which often accuses Congress of being power-hungry, should now answer what is happening in Maharashtra." After voting ended in Maharashtra on Wednesday, the Axis My India released its exit poll outcome on Thursday, predicting a significant victory for the MahaYuti alliance comprising the BJP, Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction), and Ajit Pawar's NCP. The poll suggests that Mahayuti could win a substantial majority, while the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance is expected to face a setback. The results of the election will be declared on November 23. Responding to BJP President J.P. Nadda's letter to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge regarding the situation in Manipur, Rashid Alvi dismissed it as an attempt to divert attention from the government's failure. He stated, "Letters like these are laughable. Has Manipur ever witnessed such devastation as it does today? The chaos and tragedy unfolding in Manipur are unprecedented. The government cannot hide its failures behind a letter." "If the central government genuinely wants to restore peace in Manipur, it has the capability to do so. Manipur is a small state. If they cannot manage the situation there, how can they claim to govern the entire country," he added. Addressing the ongoing survey of a mosque in Sambhal, Rashid Alvi criticised the government for creating unnecessary controversies around religious sites. He said, "The law in this country clearly states that places of worship as they stood in 1947 will remain unchanged. A mosque will remain a mosque, and a temple will remain a temple. Despite this, there is chaos across the country under the Narendra Modi government." "Some talk about Mathura, others about Varanasi, and now Sambhal. I believe the government should seek a clear order from the court on all mosques in the country to put an end to this. Can the nation progress if these issues dominate the agenda? Are there no other pressing concerns beyond temples and mosques? Behind all these disputes and controversies is the BJP, and no one else," he added. New Delhi, Nov 22 : Meta has purged more than two million accounts linked to scam centres in Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Philippines. The social media giant said they are going after the criminal organisations behind 'pig butchering' and other schemes, which target people globally through messaging, dating, social media and crypto and other apps to convince them to 'invest' under false pretenses. "We've partnered with law enforcement and our peers in the private sector to share insights and work together to disrupt these malicious scam operations," said the company. One of the most egregious and sophisticated fraud scams, 'pig butchering' is all about building trusted personal relationships online with someone only to manipulate them to deposit more and more money into an investment scheme, often using cryptocurrency, and ultimately lose that money. According to Meta, the scale and sophistication of this threat is unprecedented, with the US Institute of Peace estimating that up to 300,000 people are forced into scamming others around the world by these criminal groups, with about $64 billion dollars stolen worldwide annually as of the end of 2023. The criminal compounds force their workers to engage in a wide range of malicious activity, from cryptocurrency, gambling, loan and investment scams ('pig butchering') to government and other impersonation scams. Across many internet and telecom services, they make up deceptive personas, often masquerading as attractive single people or pretending to represent government agencies or trusted public figures and businesses. These scams can start on dating apps, text message, email, social media or messaging apps, then ultimately move to scammer-controlled accounts on crypto apps or scam websites masquerading as investment platforms. "The Royal Thai Police has been working with Meta on disrupting criminal scam centres for over two years. We've been able to share information so they can investigate and take action against the bad guys and help us hold the criminal syndicates behind these scam centres accountable," said Police Major General Teeradej Thumsutee, Commander of the Investigation Division of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, Royal Thai Police. Vientiane : , Nov 22 (IANS) India and Japan on Friday agreed to explore new areas of cooperation in the air domain as Defence Minister Rajnath Singh wrapped up his productive three-day visit to Laos by holding two significant meetings with his Japanese and the Philippines counterparts on the sidelines of the 11th ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) forum. Vientiane (Laos), Nov 22 (IANS) India and Japan on Friday agreed to explore new areas of cooperation in the air domain as Defence Minister Rajnath Singh wrapped up his productive three-day visit to Laos by holding two significant meetings with his Japanese and the Philippines counterparts on the sidelines of the 11th ASEAN Defence Ministersa Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) forum. In the first meeting, Singh and Japanese Minister of Defence General Nakatani hailed the increasing cooperation and collaboration between the two countries while recalling the "milestone event" of signing of the Memorandum of Implementation for transfer of the Unified Complex Radio Antenna (UNICORN) in Tokyo on November 15. The UNICORN is a mast with Integrated Communication systems which will help improve the stealth characteristics of Naval Platforms. The Indian Navy is pursuing the induction of these advanced systems which will be co-developed by Bharat Electronics Limited in India with Japanese collaboration. When implemented, this would be the first case of co-development/co-production of Defence Equipment between India and Japan. In their meeting on Friday, both defence ministers reiterated the importance of defence industry and technology cooperation between the two countries while agreeing on enhanced cooperation in co-production and co-development in the defence manufacturing sector. "The two ministers affirmed the importance of multilateral defence cooperation and exchanges in the security environment which is growing its severeness, and concurred on working together widely with countries which share fundamental values such as democracy and the rule of law," read a statement issued by the Japanese Defence Ministry after the meeting. "The two ministers concurred on developing defence cooperation and exchanges to continue deepening further bilateral relationship, and sending messages that unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion cannot be tolerated," it added. According to the Indian Defence Ministry, both ministers also discussed the Reciprocal Provision of Supply and Services Agreement between the two countries and participation of militaries in various bilateral and multilateral exercises to further improve interoperability between the Indian and Japanese forces. As they reaffirmed that India-Japan partnership is pivotal in fostering a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific region, both ministers also agreed to explore new areas of cooperation in the air domain. In another crucial meeting, Defence Minister Singh held discussions with the Philippines' Secretary of National Defence (Defence Minister) Gilberto Teodoro where both sides vowed to further bolster the defence cooperation between the two countries. Singh welcomed the Philippines as country coordinator for India in ASEAN and ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM)-Plus forum for the next cycle as both sides agreed to expand and deepen cooperation in exchange of subject matter experts, defence industry, counter-terrorism, space and maritime domain. "Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr. met with Indian Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh to discuss deeper defence cooperation. Shared maritime challenges and India's expertise in defence tech and international law took centerstage," stated the Philippines' Department of National Defence. During his visit to Vientiane for the 11th ADMM-Plus meeting, Defence Minister Singh also held bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Malaysia, Laos, China, United States, New Zealand, South Korea and Australia. Prior to his departure to New Delhi, he visited the Buddhist Wat Sisaket temple in Vientiane and sought blessings from Mahaveth Chittakaro, the Abbot of Sisaket temple. Prague, Nov 22 : Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala met with the President-elect of the European Council Antonio Costa here to discuss future cooperation and the European Union's (EU) key priorities for the coming years. According to a statement from the Czech government, Fiala discussed with Costa the setting of the European Council's working methods and priorities for the following period, Xinhua news agency reported. "A number of key decisions await us. The priorities for the new institutional period are primarily the strengthening of security and the increase of competitiveness and economic growth of the EU," Fiala said. The two leaders talked about the agenda of the next meeting of the European Council that is due to take place in the second half of December. Their discussions also included support for Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East, the future EU budget, and the enlargement of the EU. Earlier on Thursday, Czech President Petr Pavel also held talks with Costa, during which they discussed "the current challenges and priorities of the Czech Republic and agreed on the need for a united and strong Europe." Costa, former Prime Minister of Portugal, is set to succeed Charles Michel as head of the European Council on December 1. Seoul, Nov 22 : LG Corp, the holding company of LG Group, said on Friday it will cancel its own shares worth 500 billion won ($356.8 million) by 2026 as part of a corporate value enhancement programme. The company will cancel approximately 6.1 million treasury stocks, repurchased in June under its 2022 buyback programme, by 2026, according to LG Corp.'s value-up plan. The plan also includes a semi-annual dividend payment program starting next year, reflecting a stronger focus on shareholder returns, reports Yonhap news agency. To drive profitability, LG Corp. plans to concentrate investments on future growth engines, such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology and clean technologies. At the same time, four LG Group affiliates -- LG Display Co., LG Innotek Co., LG Chem and LG Energy Solution -- also announced their own value-up programmes to develop new businesses and bolster financial health. LG Display, a flat screen supplier to Apple Inc., aims to achieve a turnaround in operating profit next year by focusing on high-end OLED technology and implementing cost-saving measures. The company posted 643.7 billion won in operating losses for the first nine months of the year. LG Innotek, an electronic component manufacturing affiliate, targets 8 trillion won in sales from new businesses, including vehicle parts and semiconductor substrates. Leading chemicals maker LG Chem plans to reach 50 trillion won in sales by 2030, with a focus on new sectors, including pharmaceuticals and sustainability-related businesses. EV battery giant LG Energy Solution said it aims to double its 2022 sales of 33.7 trillion won by 2028 through customer diversification in electric vehicles (EVs) and expansion into non-EV business sectors. Patna, Nov 22 : Bihar BJP's core committee meeting held on Friday at the residence of Union Textile Minister Giriraj Singh in Delhi has laid out a strategic roadmap for the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections, said the party's state unit chief Dilip Jaiswal. Prominent attendees included BJP state President Dilip Jaiswal, Deputy Chief Ministers Vijay Sinha and Samrat Chaudhary, Minister Mangal Pandey, Nitin Naveen, state in-charge Vinod Tawde, and other core group members. After the discussions, Bihar BJP president Dilip Jaiswal said the party finalised some key agendas and a structured plan to proceed with election preparations. "The meeting focused on formulating strategies tailored to the 2025 Assembly elections, ensuring alignment with both national and regional political dynamics," Jaiswal said while interacting with the media persons in Delhi. Jaiswal emphasized the importance of the ongoing "Organisational Maha Parv", a party-wide initiative to revamp committees from the booth level to the national level. This reorganisation, conducted every six years, will conclude in December 2024, after which new committees will be constituted. "The leaders deliberated on programmes and initiatives to be executed over the next six months," Jaiswal said. With this, the party is looking to a seamless transition into full-fledged election mode. This meeting carries substantial political weight as the results of the Maharashtra and Jharkhand elections, set to be announced on Saturday, could influence BJP's tactical decisions. By commencing preparations early, the BJP has demonstrated its commitment to consolidating its position in Bihar. The party is keen on leveraging its organisational strength and aligning with coalition partners to address challenges and capitalize on opportunities leading up to 2025. Sources have said that the BJP leaders also discussed the BJP-JD(U) alliance in Bihar, which has recently faced internal friction over controversial statements by BJP leaders, such as Union Minister Giriraj Singh's remark comparing Ranchi to Karachi under the JMM government in Jharkhand. This statement drew sharp criticism from the JD(U) leaders, highlighting ideological differences within the coalition. Bihar Rural Works Department Minister Ashok Chaudhary distanced his party from the statement, clarifying that neither he nor the JD(U) supports such remarks. Similarly, during Giriraj Singh's Hindu Swabhiman Yatra, JD(U) MLC Neeraj Kumar reiterated the party's stance, emphasizing that JD(U) had no connection with Singh's remarks or the Yatra's agenda. --IANS. ajk/dpb ICC issues arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Gallant, Hamas leader Deif Xinhua) 08:05, November 22, 2024 A man views houses destroyed by an Israeli airstrike in the al-Bureij refugee camp of the central Gaza Strip, on Nov. 17, 2024. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) The court has accused all three of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity. THE HAGUE, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- The International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Hague on Thursday issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif. In a statement, the ICC's pre-trial chamber accused Netanyahu and Gallant of committing "crimes against humanity and war crimes" between at least Oct. 8, 2023 and May 20, 2024, the date when the prosecution submitted the arrest warrant applications. The ICC stated that there are "reasonable grounds" to believe that Netanyahu and Gallant "each bear criminal responsibility as co-perpetrators" for committing war crimes of starvation as a method of warfare, and crimes against humanity of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts. The court's statement outlined a series of alleged war crimes, including "intentionally directing an attack against the civilian population," and depriving the "civilian population in Gaza of objects indispensable to their survival, including food, water, and medicine and medical supplies, as well as fuel and electricity." People wait to buy bread at a bakery in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on Nov. 18, 2024. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) The ICC also issued an arrest warrant for Mohammed Deif, the commander of Hamas' military wing, accusing him of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in the territories of Israel and Palestine from at least Oct. 7, 2023. Although Deif has reportedly been killed by Israeli forces, the ICC noted that it cannot conclusively confirm his death. Prosecutor Karim Khan informed the court that available information from Israeli and Palestinian sources about his death remains inconclusive, leaving the arrest warrant active. In May, Khan initially requested arrest warrants for five individuals: Netanyahu, Gallant, Deif, and senior Hamas leaders Ismail Haniyeh and Yahya Sinwar. However, after confirmed reports of Haniyeh and Sinwar's deaths, the court withdrew those applications. People forced to flee from the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Lahia are seen on a street in the Gaza City, on Nov. 17, 2024. (Photo by Abdul Rahman Salama/Xinhua) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Bengaluru, Nov 22 : Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly R. Ashoka on Friday said that the state is on the brink of a public uprising over the Waqf issue, but Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was unaffected as for Congress seizing farmers' land was a trivial matter. Speaking at a protest demonstration against the alleged encroachment of farmers' land by the Waqf Board, R. Ashoka said: "For Congress ministers, seizing farmers' land is a "trivial" matter. They claim there's nothing to it. If that's the case, why are protests erupting across the state? Prominent leaders of temples and religious mutts are joining the struggle." "Today, protests are being held statewide by BJP and farmers. When Congress comes to power, they prioritise appeasing minority communities. They've withdrawn cases related to Bengaluru's DJ Halli-KG Halli and Hubballi riot cases," he charged. He further alleged, "When we were in power in Karnataka, there was not a single Naxal in the state. Now, Naxal issues have surfaced." "In historical Srirangapatna town in Mandya district, there is a 400-year-old temple. Yet the temple property has been registered as Waqf property. How can this happen?" he questioned. "The ongoing protest is being carried out under the slogan 'Our Property, Our Right.' The BJP MLAs from Bengaluru are actively participating. The Deputy Chief Minister is trying to suppress our BJP MLAs, asking them to tone down and compromise," Ashoka pointed out. Shobha Karandlaje, Union Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Labour and Employment, stated, "The number of Waqf properties, which stood at around 10,000 during the early days of independence, has now increased to nearly 9.5 lakh properties spanning 38 lakh acres of land under Waqf ownership." "Illegal declarations were being made to claim the lands of our farmers, temples, and monasteries as Waqf properties, which is the cause of our grievance," Shobha Karandlaje stated. C. T. Ravi, former BJP national general secretary, said: "The temple of CM Siddaramaiah's family deity, Beeralingeshwara, thousands of acres of farmers' land, and even Hindu cremation grounds have been included in Waqf properties." Former Deputy Chief Minister C. N. Ashwath Narayan, MP P. C. Mohan, MLA S. R. Vishwanath, former minister and MLA N. Muniratna, BJP state vice president Hartalu Halappa, Bengaluru South District President and MLA C. K. Ramamurthy, BJP state secretary Tammesh Gowda, Bengaluru North District President S. Harish, Bengaluru Central District President Saptagiri Gowda and others participated in the protest. Kolkata, Nov 22 : A single judge bench of the Calcutta High Court, on Friday, put an interim stay on a notification from the District Magistrate's office in West Bengal's East Midnapore district on the demolition of 140 hotels, resorts and lodges on the seaside of the popular coastal tourist hub of Mandarmani. The interim stay will be effective till December 13, the single judge bench of Justice Amrita Sinha ordered. Before that, the District Magistrate of East Midnapore will have to submit a detailed report on the matter to the bench of Justice Sinha. The next hearing on the matter has been scheduled for December 10. In 2022, the National Green Tribunal directed the demolition of these 140 hotels, resorts and lodges because they were constructed violating the provisions of the Coastal Regulated Zone Management Authority and November 20 this year was set as the deadline for the demolition. Accordingly, the District Magistrate issued a notification for the demolition. However, on February 19, that is a day before the demolition deadline; the Chief Minister stalled the decision and said the district magistrate issued the notification without consulting the higher authorities, including Chief Secretary Manoj Pant. Insiders from the state secretariat said that the Chief Minister clearly said that she would not allow the "bulldozer culture" that is prevalent in Uttar Pradesh besides expressing anguish at how the district administration unanimously took the decision to issue the notification for demolition. Meanwhile, the owners of these hotels, resorts and lodges approached the Calcutta High Court challenging the notification. Acting on the petition from the owners, the single judge bench, on Friday had put an interim stay on the demolition order. Trinamool Congress had, however, blamed the previous Left Front government for the fiasco and claimed that the latter did not follow protocols in the matter then. The Trinamool Congress leaders claimed that the demolition of so many establishments would not only result in tremendous losses to the owners but also result in the loss of jobs for thousands of individuals employed there. Ghaziabad, Nov 22 : As the Maharashtra election results will be announced on November 23, former Congress leader Acharya Pramod Krishnam on Friday claimed that the people who support Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's ideologies will celebrate Diwali while the ones who support Aurangzeb will mourn. Pramod Krishnam also posted on 'X' and said, "Like Haryana, history will be created in Maharashtra too. Pakistan will mourn and India will celebrate Diwali." Talking to IANS, Pramod Krishnam said, "There are a few leaders in India who support and love Pakistan. A few leaders support silently and some publicly. I want to tell you that the people of Maharashtra are with Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The people who follow Shivaji Maharaj will celebrate 'Diwali' and those who love Aurangzeb will mourn." "Just like under the leadership of the BJP government, we won in Haryana. I think the people of Maharashtra will choose the people who follow the Chhatrapati's ideologies. That's what I believe. The whole country is praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi. However, a few leaders in the Opposition are trying to defeat PM Modi in the elections with the support of Pakistan. The ones who want to see him lose will surely face defeat in Maharashtra. After the defeat, there will be mourning in Pakistan. But, in India people will celebrate," he added. Maharashtra voters cast their ballots for all 288 Assembly seats in a single-day election on November 20. Polling was conducted smoothly from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM across the state. Vote counting will take place on November 23, and the results will be announced the same day. The outcome will reveal whether the Mahayuti comprising the BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP can retain power or if the Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) will make a comeback. The third-largest legislative Assembly after Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, the state witnessed a fierce political rumble this year between the two main alliances, the ruling Mahayuti and the Opposition MVA. In the 2019 Assembly elections, the BJP-Shiv Sena combination won 161 seats. The BJP won 105 seats while Shiv Sena got 56. However, disagreement over power-sharing led to Uddhav walking out of NDA and forming a government with the NCP and Congress under the MVA banner. Imphal, Nov 22 : The National People's Party (NPP), which withdrew support from the BJP-led government in Manipur on November 17 alleging that it has completely failed to resolve the ethnic crisis and restore normalcy, has asked its MLAs and leaders not to attend meetings convened by the Biren government, failing which disciplinary action will be taken. Referring to the withdrawal of support from the BJP-led government in Manipur, N. Kayisii, state NPP President in an advisory said that everyone was advised to abstain from attending any meeting convened by the Biren government. "Furthermore, you are required to inform or seek permission from the NPP state President or National President (Conrad K. Sangma) before giving any official press/media statement in any form," Kayisii said. "It is crucial that all Party members strictly adhere to this decision. Failure to adhere to these guidelines may result in disciplinary action, as such actions could be perceived as undermining the party's position," the NPP advisory said. Copies of the advisory were given to all seven NPP MLAs of Manipur, Y. Joykumar Singh, party National Vice-President, all executive members and all Working Presidents of different units in Manipur. NPP supremo and Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma earlier clarified that the withdrawal of support is only from the Biren Singh-led government, not from the BJP or the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). "We are also supporting the BJP-led government in Arunachal Pradesh and Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) led government in Nagaland," he had said. With 12 MLAs in Nagaland and two members in Meghalaya, the BJP has been supporting the NDPP-dominated government in Nagaland and NPP-dominated Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government led by Chief Minister Sangma respectively. Chief Minister Sangma earlier said that there is no confidence left in the regime of Chief Minister N. Biren Singh in the trouble-torn state. The NPP Chief also urged the Centre to take serious note of what is happening in Manipur now and take urgent steps to restore peace and normalcy besides reinstatement of trust and confidence of the people in the government. If there is a leadership change in the Manipur government and a positive impact in that change, the NPP would consider supporting the Manipur government again, he added. However, with the withdrawal of support by the NPP, the BJP government in Manipur faces no imminent threat of instability as the party has 32 legislators, and has support from the Janata Dal-United's six members, the Naga Peopleas Front's five members and three Independent legislators. However, ever since the ethnic violence broke out in Manipur on May 3 last year, 10 tribal MLAs, including seven BJP legislators, have been boycotting the Assembly and demanding a separate administration or Union Territory for the tribals in Manipur. New Delhi, Nov 22 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi's foreign visit to three nations witnessed a whirlwind diplomacy, as he met over 30 world leaders and also held flurry of bilateral meetings during the five-day trip. New Delhi, Nov 22 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modias foreign visit to three nations witnessed a whirlwind diplomacy, as he met over 30 world leaders and also held flurry of bilateral meetings during the five-day trip. He also held informal interactions with global leaders during his three-nation foreign visit. PM Modi a bilateral meeting in Nigeria, 10 bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Brazil and followed it up with 9 more bilateral meetings in Guyana. In Nigeria, PM Modi held a bilateral meeting with the President of Nigeria. In Brazil, PM Modi held bilateral meet with the leaders of Brazil, Indonesia, Portugal, Italy, Norway, France, UK, Chile, Argentina and Australia. Amongst the 10 bilateral meetings in Brazil, this was the first meeting of PM Modi with 5 leaders namely Prabowo Subianto, President of Indonesia; Luis Montenegro, PM of Portugal; Keir Starmer, PM of the U.K; Gabriel Boric, President of Chile and Javier Milei, President of Argentina. In Brazil, the Prime Minister also had informal interactions with leaders of Singapore, South Korea, Egypt, USA and Spain and with the heads and executives of various international organisations like Ursula von der Leyen, European Union; Antonio Guterres, United Nations; Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, World Trade Organization; Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, World Health Organisation; and Kristalina Georgieva and Gita Gopinath, IMF. In Guyana, PM Modi held bilateral meetings with leaders of Guyana, Dominica, Bahamas, Trinidad & Tobago, Suriname, Barbados, Antigua & Barbuda, Grenada and St. Lucia. Early this morning, the Prime Minister emplaned for returning home after concluding warm visit to Guyana in last leg of his five-day foreign tour. Announcing his departure from Guyana, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a post on X, "A very warm & productive State visit to Guyana concludes. PM @narendramodi emplanes for New Delhi." The three-nation tour showcased Indiaas growing global engagement, with key discussions in Nigeria, active participation in G20 summit (in Brazil) and reinforcing ties with the Caribbean during the historic Guyana visit. Bhopal, Nov 22 : A man was shot dead by unidentified criminals outside his home in the Dewas district of Madhya Pradesh on Friday. An official said that the incident occurred at a village under Kannod police station area in Dewas district, around 150 km from state state capital Bhopal. The deceased person has been identified as Nisar Khan who was running an electronic shop in a nearby marketplace. The daylight murder triggered panic in the area. Upon receiving the information, local area police arrived at the scene and launched an investigation. "Around 7:30 am, two unidentified men called Nasir on his phone and asked him to meet them outside his home. As Nasir stepped out of his home and walked around 20 meters, criminals opened fire at him," the official said. He said that on hearing gun shots, local residents reached the spot hurriedly. However, the criminals fled from the crime scene. The victim was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was declared brought dead. Dewas SP Punit Gahlot said multiple teams have been deployed for investigation. CCTV cameras installed in nearby areas are being investigated to identify criminals. "After the postmortem, the body was handed over to the family to perform the last rites. Meanwhile, several persons, including some other shop owners are being questioned," Gahlot added. He added that the motive of the crime remains unknown, however, preliminary inquiry suggests an old rivalry behind the crime. Chandigarh, Nov 22 : Two gangsters of the Landa gang were arrested after a shootout on the outskirts of a village in Jalandhar district and seven weapons along with six magazines and cartridges each were recovered from their possession, Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said here on Friday. Those arrested have been identified as Jaskaran and Fatehdeep Singh. Both the accused were apprehended in connection with a case registered at the Police Station (Sadar) in Jalandhar. DGP Yadav said following an intelligence input about the presence of criminals associated with the Landa gang in the area of Jalandhar Police Commissionerate, teams under the supervision of Commissioner of Police Swapan Sharma launched an extensive operation and traced their location near Pholriwal village. During the high-stakes chase, the gangsters opened fire on police teams, prompting them to retaliate, he said, while adding that during the exchange of fire, both the accused persons as well as two police officers suffered bullet injuries. "Over 50 shots were fired at both the sides during the operation," said DGP Yadav. Sharing more details, Sharma said that arrested individuals were involved in numerous heinous crimes including extortion, murder and attempt to murder. The accused were also instrumental in providing logistical support to other gang members and supplying weapons to criminal outfits, he added. The Commissioner of Police said that preliminary investigations have revealed both gangsters were directly in touch with Landa and were hatching a conspiracy to eliminate two people belonging to their rival gang. He said that injured gangsters and police officers have been undergoing medical treatment at a local hospital. Further investigations are underway to uncover their network and possible linkages to other criminal groups, he added. Ranchi, Nov 22 : All preparations are complete for the counting of votes for the 81-member Jharkhand Assembly elections scheduled for Saturday. Deputy Commissioners, SPs, and election observers inspected the counting centres on Friday, expressing satisfaction with the arrangements. Authorities have appealed to the public to maintain calm during the process. The main contest in the state is between the ruling JMM-led INDIA bloc and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) headed by the BJP. The counting of votes will begin at 8 A.M. and people will get to know by afternoon as to who is forming the next government in the state. Both INDIA Bloc and NDA carried out high-octane aggressive campaigning for the two-phase elections in Jharkhand. During the 35-day campaigning period, star campaigners from both sides organised more than 500 major rallies, focussing on issues deeply tied to Jharkhand's socio-cultural fabric, such as 'Roti, Beti, Maati (livelihood, women, and land)', tribal identity, and populist welfare schemes. For the first time in Jharkhand's electoral history, Bangladeshi infiltration became a prominent campaign issue. Ahead of the result, both NDA and India Bloc expressed confidence that their alliance would form the next government in the state. Union Minister and Jharkhand election incharge Shivraj Singh Chouhan said, "I can confidently say that our government will be formed, ushering in a new era of good governance." He predicted more than 51 seats for the alliance. On the other hand, JMM spokesperson Supriyo Bhattacharya claimed that the BJP would even struggle to make a mark in 11 of the state's 24 districts. He said, the India Bloc would have a decisive victory on 59 seats of the state. Most of the Exit Polls have predicted a win for the BJP and its allies in the Jharkhand Assembly elections. However, one Exit Poll forecast a win for the JMM-led alliance. The first phase of the voting in Jharkhand on November 13, covering 43 constituencies, recorded a turnout of nearly 67 per cent, while the second phase on November 20, covering 38 seats, recorded 68.45 per cent voting. A total of over 2.26 crore voters participated in the two-phase elections, marking a milestone for peaceful and participatory democratic processes in the state. Several high stakes battles are expected in constituencies featuring prominent candidates. Some of them include Hemant Soren from Barhait, Babulal Marandi from Dhanwar, Kalpana Soren from Gandey, Champai Soren from Saraikela, Geeta Koda from Jaganathpur, Basant Soren from Dumka and others. Mumbai/New Delhi, Nov 22 : In the wake of corruption charges against former Delhi Chief Minister Aravind Kejriwal and the practice of freebies prior to polls -- commonly called 'revdi' -- leaders from other parties, some of who split from his Aam Admi Party (AAP) shared their views with IANS. Mumbai-based Anjali Damania, former leader of Aam Aadmi Party, stated that AAP initially comprised of simple people who wanted to change the politics of the nation. "Many have left but did not speak ill of the party," she said, referring to the "sheeshmahal" comment of Kailash Gahlot regarding AAP, who recently left the party. She called people like him "opportunists." "We see it every time that the ED and CBI are only after the Opposition. If these people join the ruling party, they get a clean chit. If someone has done wrong, they must be punished; but these games have to end," she said with regard to corruption charges against the AAP national Convenor. She refrained from commenting on Kejriwal and his alleged greed for power but asserted that AAP was born out of the intent to bring change in the nation. "Somewhere something kept going wrong that is why many like me have left the party, but I believe that Arvind Kejriwal did this not for himself but to promote the party's ideologybut this was wrong too and so, unacceptable," she said. Talking about the freebies, she said that this is "opportunistic politics by BJP." On that note, she went on to say that Ajit Pawar is the "most unpredictable leader of Maharashtra." She explained that if he bags 18-20 seats, he will try to become CM, irrespective of the party he will associate with. on the other hand, Shiv Sena's Dr Raju Waghmare asserted that there is no India bloc as such, "It came to an end in Lok Sabha and Kejriwal will fight Delhi election on his own." Talking about the 'revdi' practice, Waghmare said that as a government, the marginalised and lesser privileged sections of the society such as the Dalits and Adivasis have to be catered to. "A government not doing this is not fit to be in this position. If you call this support 'revdi', that's your understanding," he said. "But if Kejriwal ji is calling such support by others revdi, then it is wrong," he added. In the national capital, former AAP leader Kapil Mishra, who joined BJP in 2019, and is the Vice President of Delhi BJP, said without mincing words: "Kejriwal's revdi has poison. He is distributing poisonous revdi." He explained with the example of the promise of free water but about 40 per cent of people in Delhi have to buy water from tankers to meet basic requirements. "Where water is available, it is so bad that people fall sick and end up in hospital," he said. He explained further that the price of free electricity is that Delhi has no repaired roads and no new flyover; schools don't have principals, contracted employees are not made permanent. "Delhi has come to a standstill. The conditions are bad and Kejriwal will lose this election," he said. Mumbai, Nov 22 : Barely hours before the 'final results' of the November 20 Maharashtra Assembly elections are declared, the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) exuded supreme confidence of victory -- albeit with butterflies in the tummy - here on Friday. Mumbai, Nov 22 (IANS) Barely hours before the 'final results' of the November 20 Maharashtra Assembly elections are declared, the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) exuded supreme confidence of victory -- albeit with butterflies in the tummy here on Friday. The MVA's main allies Congress-Shiv Sena (UBT)-Nationalist Congress Party (SP), plus other smaller parties, are keeping their fingers crossed amid apprehensions of a fragmented verdict that could make all calculations go haywire. Party sources said that post-voting on Wednesday, this and other possibilities have been discussed among the allies, plus how to react in any particular scenario after the results are announced. An NCP (SP) leader said that the situation that had arisen after the 2019 Assembly polls, a two-man regime sworn-in at dawn which crashed in just 80 hours, attempts to split or wean away the MVA legislators are still fresh -- with the dread of a repeat script. Saying that "the MVA is all geared for any situation", a state Congress office-bearer hastily added that the disquiet has been spread after the series of Exit Polls that were published post voting and the ground reality is far from the alleged predictions of the poll pundits. A Shiv Sena (UBT) senior functionary claimed that notwithstanding the fuss created by the Exit Polls series, the MVA is poised to bag power "riding on a wave of anger" among the masses on a variety of issues. On record, NCP (SP) President Sharad Pawar has told his supporters "not to get hassled as the MVA is expected to bag around 155-160 seats". State Congress President Nana F. Patole said that the ruling side is likely to indulge in mischief at the counting centres and all the party activists have been directed to remain on high alert. Congress Leader of Opposition in Assembly Vijay Wadettiwar said the MVA will win more than 160 seats, while SS (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut puts the figure at over 165 seats. Congress Legislative Party Leader Vijay Balasaheb Thorat has issued stern instructions to all party candidates, their election managers, agents and other representatives to maintain strict vigil at all times before the outcome is known. "We have told them to keep watch on the proceedings starting with the opening of the EVMs-VVPAT units, the counting process which will have multiple rounds, and not to leave the counting centre till the whole process is completed," said a grim Thorat. All the top MVA leaders firmly stated that their alliance will sweep the polls and unseat the ruling MahaYuti from power, and would be in a position to form the next government independently within the available time limit (November 26) -- earning sniggers from the MahaYuti leaders. Meanwhile, the state is all set for the crucial counting on Saturday at multiple centres in Mumbai and elsewhere in the state amid tight security deployed since Wednesday onwards. According to the Election Commission of India, the counting will start at 7 a.m. (November 23) following standard protocols, the early trends are expected by 10 a.m. and the final results are likely to come from noon onwards. (Quaid Najmi can be contacted at qnajmi@gmail.com ) Mumbai, Nov 22 : Maharashtra BJP General Secretary Vinod Tawde, who is accused in the alleged cash-for-votes controversy, on Friday, served a defamation notice to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Congress National Spokesperson Supriya Shrinate. "The only work of Congress is to spread lies. I have sent a defamation notice to Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and Supriya Shrinate for their baseless allegations in the Nallasopara case as they have tried to malign my image and that of the BJP by spreading lies. Despite their attempts to tarnish my image and that of the BJP, the truth is clear - the alleged Rs 5 crore was never recovered in the investigation by the Election Commission and the police," Tawde wrote on X. He further added that this case is complete proof of the Congress party's low-level politics and their desperate attempts to mislead the nation, adding that the BJP stands tall, backed by truth and the people's trust. "The statements by the responsible people like you (Kharge, Gandhi and Shrinate) in public were deliberately made on November 19 knowing very well that the state Assembly election is on November 20 with the sole intention of damaging the prospects of the party and also defaming the image in the eyes of right-thinking people," said Tawde in his notice. "The damage is unquantifiable however, our client values the same to Rs 100 crore for the purpose of civil action," reads the notice. Tawde's notice comes after the Bahujan Vikas Aghadi headed by Hitendra Thakur on November 19 accused him of distributing cash to voters at a hotel in Virar near Mumbai on November 19, ahead of polling on November 20. The Election Commission authorities thereafter reported the recovery of Rs 9.93 lakh from Tawde's hotel rooms which led to the filing of three FIRs by the police. Thereafter, a joint press conference planned by Tawde and Hitendra Thakur was halted by the poll panel citing its illegality on the eve of voting. Tawde denied charges of distribution of cash while Bahujan Vikas Aghadi and other opposition parties demanded his arrest. However, Tawde and Thakur thereafter left together in the same car. The BJP came to Tawde's support, saying that it was a conspiracy to tarnish his image and also of the party. Imphal/Silchar, Nov 22 : Assam's Silchar Medical College and Hospital (SMCH) on Friday handed over the bodies of nine victims of Manipur violence to their families. L Uttam Singh, family member of one of the victims, said that he received the six bodies from the SMCH and was taken to Manipur by road. On November 11, six victims were kidnapped in Manipur's Jiribam district and later killed by the militants. The SMCH authority also handed over the bodies of three more victims to their families on Friday. They were also killed in separate violence in Manipur. The Joint Action Committee (JAC) representing the families of the victims of the killings in Jiribam on Thursday has announced its decision to claim the bodies of the deceased lying in SMCH. JAC Convenor Shyamkumar Mutum said that the state government has given them assurances to address their demands which include punishing the perpetrators. The state government already "discontinued" the service of Senior Superintendent of Police Nectar Sanjenbam, who is accused of firing in Jiribam district on November 17 killing Kh. Athouba, who participated in a protest against the abduction and killing of three children and three women in the district. The state government also constituted a two-member inquiry committee to probe the circumstances surrounding the November 17 incident. Mutum said that the JAC also received confirmation from the government regarding the provision of suitable government jobs for the families of the deceased, along with ex-gratia payments. On November 11, according to the Manipur police, during an encounter with the CRPF and the militants in the Jiribam district, 10 suspected Kuki "militants" were shot dead. Though the Manipur police said that the ten slain people were Kuki militants, all the tribal organisations including the Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF), an apex body of tribals in Manipur, claimed that they were "Village Volunteers". On the same day, three women and three children belonging to the Meitei community had been kidnapped by suspected militants from a relief camp in Borobekra Sub division in Jiribam district and their bodies were subsequently recovered near the confluence of the Jiri and Barak rivers along the Manipur-Assam border. The bodies were brought to the SMCH for post-mortem examinations. The Manipur government earlier this week requested the Centre to hand over three cases of killings to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). The cases include the killing of six innocent Meitei women and children in Jiribam, the death of a Hmar tribal woman who was burnt to death on November 7 in Jiribam and the killing of a Meitei community woman farmer in Saiton in Bishnupur district on November 9. After the news spread about the recovery of six bodies in Jiribam, around two dozen houses of ministers, MLAs and political leaders were attacked and vandalised by mobs in several districts, especially in Imphal East and Imphal West districts on November 16 and 17. A police official in Imphal said that 32 persons who were part of the mob indulging in ransacking and arson of the houses of ministers and MLAs have been arrested so far from Imphal East, Imphal West and Bishnupur districts and some arms and ammunition, mobile phones have been recovered from their possession. Imphal, Nov 22 : Justice D Krishnakumar was on Friday sworn in as the eighth Chief Justice of Manipur High Court, during a brief ceremony held at the Raj Bhavan here. Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya administered the oath of office to Justice Krishnakumar, who was appointed the Chief Justice of the Manipur High Court on Wednesday within 48 hours of the Supreme Court Collegium recommending his name. Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, his Cabinet colleagues and dignitaries were present at the Raj Bhavan's Durbar Hall event. The outgoing Chief Justice of the High Court, Justice Siddharth Mridul, demitted office on Thursday after attaining the age of 62. Officials of the High Court said that the Supreme Court Collegium on November 18 recommended the name of Justice Krishnakumar as the Chief Justice of the Manipur High Court. Before he became the CJ of Manipur High Court he was serving as a judge of the Madras High Court. Justice Krishnakumar was appointed as a judge of the Madras High Court on April 7, 2016, and is due to retire on May 21, 2025. He was the senior most judge of the Madras High Court after the Chief Justice and belongs to a backward community, officials said. Before his elevation as a High Court judge, Justice Krishnakumar, a specialist in Constitutional Law, had practiced in civil, Constitutional and service matters in the High Court. The Governor and Chief Minister congratulated and conveyed best wishes to Justice Krishnakumar. In a post on social media platform 'X' the Chief Minister said, "I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Justice D. Krishnakumar on his swearing in as the Chief Justice of the High Court of Manipur. I look forward to working with you in furthering the cause of justice and ensuring that every citizen's rights are safeguarded and respected. May his tenure be filled with wisdom, progress, and positive transformation for the people of Manipur." Ethnic violence devastated Manipur for more than 18 months killing over 240 people, including children and women and injuring over 1,500 people of both Meitei and Kuki-Zo-Hmar community. The state government has established 302 relief camps to provide shelter to 59,414 internally displaced persons. IANS sc/rad Gurugram, Nov 22 : Haryana's Minister of Industry and Commerce and Foreign Cooperation Rao Narbir Singh asked the entrepreneurs of Korea to invest in Haryana. "The Haryana government will provide full support to the investors," said the minister while addressing more than 70 delegates from Korea at the 'Haryana-Korea Business Connect' dinner program hosted by Korea Herald in Gurugram. He added that Haryana is adjacent to Delhi on three sides and the possibilities of progress of any kind of enterprise/business are the highest here. "The state is also going to contribute the most to realise the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the year 2047. Options like Global City in Gurugram, industrial townships like IMT in Sohna and Manesar are options for investment here in Gurugram," the Minister said. He said that Gurugram is also connected to Delhi-Jaipur Expressway, Delhi-Mumbai Expressway and Alwar Expressway. "It is within a radius of 60 kilometres from Delhi. Similarly, the world's oldest mountain range Aravalli is also near Delhi," he said. He said that Korean entrepreneurs will get every kind of facility to do business in Haryana and if Korean businessmen come here and establish their enterprises, then Haryana, India and Korea will benefit from it. "Haryana has a better environment for setting up enterprises and doing business and we will work to provide all kinds of facilities to entrepreneurs through a single window keeping in mind the development of the state," he added. Korea Housing Builders Association Chairman Jung Won Joo, who is leading the Korean delegation said that Korea is very serious about business relations and housing builders are also continuing the idea of bringing their projects here. He said that no one can stop the development of Haryana, the development of India and Korea's partnership in this development because they are interconnected. New Delhi, Nov 22 : As the US Department of Justice (DOJ) proposes Google to divest Chrome web browser to restore competition to the online search market, it will have a profound impact on Sundar Pichai-run company's business model and stock valuation, according to a report on Friday. Shares of Alphabet, the parent company of Google, declined more than 4.56 per cent on Thursday (US time), marking their steepest decline since January 2024. The drop wiped out over $120 billion in market capitalisation, dragging Alphabet's valuation below the $2 trillion threshold. According to Murthy Grandhi, company profiles analyst at GlobalData, with Google Chrome accounting for nearly two-thirds of the global browser market, the implications of a forced sale for Alphabet's business model and stock valuation are profound. As per reports, Chrome has a market valuation of $20 billion or so. "It is more than just a browser it is a linchpin in Alphabet's ecosystem, connecting users to services such as Gmail, Google Drive, and YouTube. Chrome generates substantial ad revenue by driving traffic to Google's platforms and collecting user data to enhance its advertising algorithms," Grandhi added. For the nine months ended September 30, Google generated an estimated $192 billion in earnings from Google advertising. "If forced to sell Chrome, Alphabet would lose a critical channel for driving traffic to its search engine and services. However, the company could leverage this challenge as an opportunity to accelerate diversification and innovation in other high-growth areas such as artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing," said Grandhi. As of September 30, the company spent $36 billion in research and development, which is 14.2 per cent of its revenue ($253.5 billion). In addition, Alphabet's diverse portfolio, spanning hardware, autonomous driving technology, and other ventures, serves as a hedge against disruptions in its core advertising business. By continuing to expand into emerging markets and technologies, Alphabet can reduce its reliance on any single revenue source. "Beyond Alphabet, the DOJ's actions could set a precedent for addressing monopolistic practices in the tech industry. A divestiture of Chrome might lead to a more competitive browser market, fostering innovation and offering consumers more choice," said Grandhi. It could also pave the way for similar regulatory actions against other tech giants, prompting the sector to adapt to heightened scrutiny. As of September 30, the company reported cash and cash equivalents of $19.9 billion. "As the DOJ intensifies its scrutiny, Alphabet faces both immediate challenges and long-term opportunities. In the short-term, investors can expect heightened volatility as the market reacts to developments in the case," according to the report. Over the long-term, Alphabet's ability to adapt its business model, capitalize on emerging technologies, and maintain investor confidence will determine its resilience, it added. Hyderabad, Nov 22 : Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee President Y. S. Sharmila said on Friday that she swore on her children that she has no relations with actor Prabhas. "Even today, I don't know who Prabhas is," she said while targeting her brother and former chief minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy for running slanderous propaganda against her through his social media team. Addressing a press conference, Sharmila asked Jagan why he had not taken action for five years if rumours about her relationship with Prabhas had spread from the house of actor and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) MLA Balakrishna. She said Jagan Mohan Reddy recently claimed that rumours about her were spread from an IP address in Balakrishna's house. "If you really love your sister and if you believed that the false propaganda was made from the IP address in Balakrishna's house, what did you do as the Chief Minister for five years," she asked. "Didn't your satan army on social media spread the lies that I had relations with Prabhas? When I filed the case that false propaganda was being run against me, I said I have so far not seen a person called Prabhas. Even today, I don't know who Prabhas is," she said. "Then I swore on my children that I have no relations with him and I swear today that I have no relations with him," she added. Sharmila said though Jagan knew that she had no relations with Prabhas, he carried out propaganda through his 'satan army' during the last five years that she had no character and that she had relations with Prabhas. "Is this the love you have for your sister? You should be ashamed," she said. The APCC president accused Jagan of using her video for his mileage. "You can use your sister's video, file a case against the mother and include the father's name in the charge sheet. You can do anything," she remarked. Sharmila was referring to the recent report that Jagan Mohan Reddy filed a case against their mother Vijayamma in a case relating to shares in a family firm. She also referred to the allegation that the YSR Congress Party president got the name of their father Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy (YSR) included in the charge sheet filed by the CBI against him in a disproportionate assets case. Before the 2019 elections, Sharmila had filed a police complaint in Hyderabad against the social media wing of Telugu Desam Party alleging that they are spreading rumours of her having an illegal relationship with the Baahubali fame Prabhas. Accompanied by her evangelist husband Anil Kumar and YSR Congress Party functionaries, she had met then Hyderabad City police commissioner Anjani Kumar to lodge a complaint. She stated that she is a mother of two and has never spoken with the actor nor met him so far. She had blamed then Chief Minister and TDP President N. Chandrababu Naidu for a tirade against her on social media. "There are women in Naidu's family too. We can also damage them by writing against their character. But we have value-based politics," Sharmila had said. Sharmila had then actively campaigned with her brother for the YSR Congress Party. Differences cropped up in the family after Jagan became the Chief Minister. Sharmila recently alleged that Jagan was a changed man after coming to power and he tried to deprive her of her rightful share in their late father's property. She had floated the YSR Telangana Party in 2021 but early this year merged the party with Congress. She was subsequently appointed president of the Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee. New Delhi, Nov 22 : Alleging that 21,000 people in Delhi have died due to contaminated drinking water, the Delhi BJP on Friday hit out at Arvind Kejriwal's "freebie" campaign, hinting at misgovernance and discrimination among citizens while implementing welfare schemes. New Delhi, Nov 22 (IANS) Alleging that 21,000 people in Delhi have died due to contaminated drinking water, the Delhi BJP on Friday hit out at Arvind Kejriwal's "freebie" campaign, hinting at misgovernance and discrimination among citizens while implementing welfare schemes. Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva said the former Kejriwal government and the current AAP regime have failed to provide clean drinking water to Delhiites and according to the government's own data, 21,000 people have died in the past few years due to consumption of contaminated water. "The Rs 73,000 crore scam in the Delhi Jal Board is a glaring example of Kejriwal's misgovernance. Once the BJP comes to power, we will reorganise the DJB and ensure tap water supply to every household," said Sachdeva. Free water and power were the key highlights of Kejriwal's Assembly election pitch made at a party meeting earlier in the day. Sachdeva questioned why Kejriwal, who claims to provide free electricity, does not extend the subsidy to everyone. "Benefits of welfare schemes are the right of every Delhiite, and the BJP will ensure these rights are upheld once it comes to power," said Sachdeva. "If BJP comes to power, we will implement all central government schemes in Delhi and expand the scope of welfare programmes in the state," he said. The Delhi BJP chief also asked why electricity rates in Delhi were so high, with industrialists having to pay Rs 18 per unit while the AAP government was exploiting other residents under the guise of surcharge. Sachdeva said in states governed by the BJP, all central government schemes have been implemented effectively, contributing uniquely to societal progress. However, Delhi remains an exception, as a corrupt government here has prevented the implementation of many central government schemes due to political rivalry. Whether it is the Ayushman Bharat Scheme, Vishwakarma Scheme, Ujjwala Yojana, or the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, people across the country have benefitted from these initiatives. But Delhi has been unfortunate as these schemes were not implemented here due to the corrupt government, Sachdeva said, adding, "Welfare schemes should be accessible to all." Apart from free electricity and water, quality schools, quality hospitals and mohalla clinics, free bus travel for women, and pilgrimage for the elderly in Delhi were highlighted earlier by Kejriwal as the AAP government's six "revadis". The Delhi BJP President criticised the Kejriwal-Atishi governments for the mismanagement of school infrastructure. He alleged that by engaging in corruption in classroom construction, the AAP government has jeopardised the future of 1.5 lakh students who failed in Class 9 and Class 11. "All government schools in Delhi do not offer science and commerce streams after Class 10," he said. Talking about healthcare, he questioned the so-called free services offered by Kejriwal's party. "Patients are forced to wait for years to get appointments for tests in government hospitals and expired and fake medicines are being given to patients," he said. Meanwhile, Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor questioned the absence of Chief Minister Atishi from Kejriwal's "Revdi pe Charcha" programme earlier in the day. "Whenever a ruling party in any state launches an election campaign, the Chief Minister is generally present on the stage. However, CM Atishi's absence from the launch stage of AAP's campaign has led people to wonder whether all is politically well between Kejriwal and Atishi," Kapoor said. Budapest, Nov 22 : Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Friday severely criticised the International Criminal Court (ICC)'s decision of issuing arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and country's former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, calling it "brazen, cynical and completely unacceptable". On Thursday, the Pre-Trial Chamber of the International Criminal Court, in its composition for the Situation in the State of Palestine, issued warrants of arrest for Netanyahu and Gallant, for "crimes against humanity" and war crimes committed from 8 October, 2023 until 20 May, 2024 - the day the Prosecution filed the applications for warrants of arrest. The ICC said that it found "reasonable grounds" to believe that Netanyahu and Gallant each bear criminal responsibility as civilian superiors for the war crime of "intentionally directing an attack" against the civilian population. Reacting strongly, Orban not only slammed the ICC warrants but also said that he will invite Netanyahu to Hungary. "The ICC arrest warrant against Prime Minister Netanyahu is brazen, cynical and completely unacceptable. I invited Prime Minister Netanyahu for an official visit to Hungary, where we will guarantee his freedom and safety," Orban posted on X with a video clip of his interview given to the state radio. Orban said that he firmly supports reducing the number, size and extent of the ongoing conflicts in the world but the international institutions "do not act with prudence" when it comes to making decisions. Terming the ICC decision as "outrageously brazen" and "cynical", the Hungarian PM accused the intergovernmental organisation and international tribunal seated in The Hague of intervening in the ongoing Middle East conflict "under the guise of a legal authority" for political purposes. He said that Hungary has no choice left but to defy the decision. "Today I will invite Israel's Prime Minister, Mr. Netanyahu, for a visit to Hungary and in that invite I will guarantee him that if he comes, the ICC ruling will have no effect in Hungary, and we will not adhere to its provisions," Orban said, adding that the Israeli leader can conduct negotiations in Hungary "in adequate safety". New Delhi, Nov 22 : BJP General Secretary Vinod Tawde, in the midst of storm over cash-for-votes charge, lashed out at the Congress party and accused it of spreading canards and lies for scoring political points in the Assembly elections. He also slapped a legal notice to the Congress top brass including Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and Supriya Shrinate, claiming that they were plotting to malign his reputation. Speaking to IANS, Vinod Tawde said, "A day before the Maharashtra Assembly elections, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, and spokesperson Supriya Shrinate alleged that I was distributing Rs 5 crore in a hotel in Nalasopara to the voters. These false allegations were made in press conferences and posted on social media platform X." "However, when the police and the Election Commission investigated, they found no such amount or evidence," he added. He further criticized the Congress party, stating, "It is Congress's habit to spread lies. As someone who has worked for 40 years and comes from a humble background, such attempts to malign my reputation and my party are unacceptable. That is why I issued a legal notice today, demanding a public apology. If they fail to do so, I will take further legal action." In the notice, Tawde has asked the Congress leaders to publicly apologize for the defamatory statements or face court proceedings. Earlier, Rahul Gandhi took a jibe at him, the saffron party as well as Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the scandal. aModiji, from whose SAFE did these 5 crores come? Who looted the publicas money and sent you in the tempo?" the Lok Sabha LoP said in a post on X. Congress President Kharge also accused PM Modi of making Maharashtra aSAFE" through money power and muscle power. aOn one hand, there is a deadly attack on the former Home Minister of the state, on the other hand, a senior BJP leader is caught red-handed with Rs 5 crore in cash," he said on X. New Delhi, Nov 22 : An international team of scientists from India and the US have decoded the mysterious source behind fiery hot gas around the Milky Way galaxy. In the last few years, scientists have discovered gaseous matter pitched to be around 10 million degrees Kelvin hot. Faint X-ray emissions were found in all directions of the Milky Way that bore a strong signature of a super-hot gas. At the same time, this gas also showed up in the spectra of at least three distant quasars, as an absorbing medium. Scientists at the Raman Research Institute (RRI), an autonomous institute funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), along with their collaborators at IIT-Palakkad and Ohio State University, proposed the mysterious source in two related studies. They confirmed that the gas responsible for emitting and absorbing the signals detected were not the same. Instead, the X-ray emitting hot gas was caused by a puffed-up region around the stellar disc of the Milky Way. Since there is a continuous ongoing star formation at various regions across the disk of the Milky Way, the massive stars in these regions explode as supernovae, and heat the gas around the disk to high temperatures. "As such, explosions keep heating up the gas floating around the disc of the Milky Way and they enrich the gaseous matter with elements synthesised within massive stars," said Mukesh Singh Bisht, doctoral student at RRI. As this turbulent gas is swept up from the disc and swirls around violently, it either escapes into the surrounding medium or cools and falls back onto the disc. Further, this absorbing hot gas was also found to be enriched with alpha-elements, said the researchers, in the paper published in the Astrophysical Journal. "This fiery gas, at least in a few directions, seems to be enriched with large quantities of alpha-elements, such as sulphur, magnesium, neon etc., whose nuclei are nothing but multiples of helium nuclei. This is a vital clue of nuclear reactions occurring within the stellar core. These elements are thrown out of massive stars during supernovae explosions," Biman Nath, from RRI, said. Mumbai, Nov 22 : Former leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) have voiced criticism against Arvind Kejriwal's "revadi" (freebie) pledges in the run-up to the Delhi Assembly elections. Prominent among them is Mayank Gandhi, an ex-AAP member, who accused the former Delhi Chief Minister of abandoning the founding principles of the party for political greed and power. Speaking to IANS, Gandhi remarked, "We joined the AAP for alternative politics. None of us were career politicians. We wanted to transform the country. But Kejriwal became so consumed by the lure of power that he turned worse than the parties we sought to replace." He further alleged that Kejriwal compromised on the party's initial values, aligning with individuals they once deemed corrupt. "We had principles, but today, they have all been discarded. The only one left -- that only one person from a family would hold a position in the party this too will be abandoned soon," he added. Citing personal disappointment, Mayank Gandhi revealed he quit politics in 2015 and now works with farmers. Drawing a parallel to the political climate during the Emergency, he claimed, "Just like the public was betrayed then, the AAP has deceived the people now." Gandhi also criticised Kejriwal's leadership style, claiming that the AAP leader marginalised independent thinkers within the party. "Kejriwal told me once, 'I don't want people with brains in the party, just those who obey me. That's why many capable individuals left." Speaking on Maharashtra politics, Mayank Gandhi described it as devoid of principles, ethics, and morality. He stated, "There's only hunger for power here. Such politics is harmful for the country." On the subject of freebies, Gandhi warned, "Giveaways are dangerous for the nation. Remember Venezuela, a country in South America. It used to be one of the developed countries, but see where it is now. Unfortunately, this trend is spreading." The former AAP leader said, "Those who live by the sword, die by the sword," hinting that Kejriwal's political strategy might eventually backfire. Earlier on Friday, Kejriwal launched a 15-day campaign to highlight the six free services offered by the party's government, slamming the BJP for insulting the services by calling them "revadis" (freebies) and demanding their discontinuation. The AAP National Convenor launched the "Revadi par Charcha" campaign and highlighted how the AAP government provided six free services or "revadis" like free electricity, water, quality schools, quality hospitals and Mohalla Clinics, free bus travel for women, and pilgrimage for the elderly in Delhi. Elections are likely to be held in Delhi early next year. The AAP has already released a list of 11 candidates. In the previous Delhi Legislative Assembly elections in 2020, the AAP managed to win 62 seats and the BJP won eight seats. Mumbai, Nov 22 : 'Qala' actor Babil Khan is all set to return to the screens with Amit Golani's film, 'Log Out'. The film is set to have its world premiere at 'Mar del Plata International Film Festival' in Argentina. Speaking about the experience, Babil shared, "I'm thrilled to see people finally witness Log Out. I've poured my heart and soul into this project, and I can't wait for the world to see it. I'm incredibly grateful that the film will premiere at such a prestigious festival. Working with Amit Golani Sir has been an incredible experience. His vision and direction pushed me to explore new depths in my performance, and I'm proud of what we've created together." In 'Log Out', Babil takes on a completely different role, portraying a modern-day influencer navigating the complexities of digital fame. As his character rises to success in the virtual world, he soon becomes trapped by its darker consequences. With its modern-day relevance, the film promises to strike a chord with today's digitally-driven audiences. Babil Khan is son of late Irafan Khan. He made his debut with 'Qala' and later went on to feature in 'Friday Night Plan' and 'The Railway Men'. His roles in 'Qala' and 'The Railway Men' have been quite appreciated. Prior to this Babil worked as a camera assistant. Babil is also working with director Shoojit Sarkar for his next project titled 'The Umesh Chronicles'. Babil Khan recently shared an old interview of his father, Irrfan Khan, and captioned it: "When Baba did this interview, I was very lost in life. I still laugh with joy at the honesty with which he said, 'My son is not figuring it out.' This was his response when asked if his children were figuring out their paths in life. Katra, Nov 22 : Pithus, pony and palanquin owners, who routinely assist thousands of pilgrims on the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine route, on Friday called for three-day strike to protest against the proposed ropeway project in Katra. A group of protestors staged demonstration in Katra and raised slogans against the Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, demanding that it shelves the ropeway project failing which it will intensify its stir. Katra, Nov 22 (IANS) Pithus, pony and palanquin owners, plying on the route of Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine in Katra, called for three-day strike to protest against the proposed ropeway project on Friday. A group of protestors staged demonstration in Katra and raised slogans against the Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, demanding that it shelves the ropeway project failing which it will intensify its stir. Pithus, pony and palanquin operators, who earn daily wage from the Vaishno Devi pilgrims yatra are enraged over the proposed move to connect Tarakot Marg with Sanjhi Chhat and have also undertaken similar stir earlier to register their strong reservations against the project. A couple of protestors speaking to IANS said that the ropeway project/gondola will be detrimental to their livelihood and they are left with no option other than to block it. They claimed that their strike also has the backing of locals as they stand to lose heavily if ropeway project is built. Sonu Qyum, a local sharing his frustration stated, "We are on a three-day strike against the Shrine Board's decision to implement the ropeway on Tarakote Marg. They are trying to bypass the traditional path that has been used by generations of pilgrims. He stressed the deep connection of devouts with the old pilgrimage route and raised concerns over it, if the project proceeds. "Porters, who rely on the pilgrimage route for their livelihoods, are particularly vocal in their opposition. What are they doing to us?" asked a pithu owner. "Breaking mountains for this ropeway? It will take away our jobs and the livelihoods of more than 5,000 shopkeepers who rely on the pilgrimage. If any politician supports us, we will support them in the elections. Those who do not care for the poor, we will ensure they lose the next election," he said. Another protestor added, "We're protesting because we believe this ropeway project is damaging our faith. The Shrine Board says it's for the elderly, but even they don't want it. This is about preserving the tradition and not turning Vaishno Devi into a tourist spot." According to reports, the Rail India Technical and Economic Service Limited (RITES) recently initiated the bidding process for the approximately 2.4-kilometre ropeway project, aiming to connect Katra with the Vaishno Devi shrine in just six minutes. The Vaishno Devi shrine, a hugely popular pilgrim spot for Hindu devotees is visited by close to 1 crore pilgrims every year. Patna, Nov 22 : Lok Janshakti Party-Ram Vilas (LJPRV) MP Rajesh Verma stirred a political debate on Friday by claiming that Pashupati Kumar Paras, former Union Minister and leader of Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party (RLJP), was not part of the NDA alliance. Verma backed the earlier claim made by LJPRV national president and Union Minister Chirag Paswan, who had also "denied" Paras' "association" with the NDA. Chirag Paswan's remark came in response to Paras' announcement to contest the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections independently. Verma pointed out that he was absent from a key NDA meeting held at Nitish Kumar's residence and had refrained from participating in the NDA's Lok Sabha election campaigns. "Paras was not in the NDA alliance earlier and is not in it now," Verma said. Verma praised Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, crediting him for the state's development. He emphasised that the collaboration between the Centre and the NDA government led by Nitish Kumar in Bihar is fostering growth in the state. Verma remarked, "Those who are not concerned about Bihar's development cannot achieve anything in the state. If anyone truly cares for Bihar's people, it is the NDA alliance under the leadership of Nitish Kumar." Meanwhile, RJD chief Lalu Prasad's claim that the INDIA bloc will win the Assembly elections in Jharkhand and Maharashtra has sparked responses from NDA leaders. Responding to Lalu's claims, Verma exuded confidence that the NDA would form the government in both Jharkhand and Maharashtra, asserting that the alliance would also achieve victory in all seats in Bihar. Verma said, "Just wait for 24 hours; the results will speak for themselves." He emphasised the NDA's readiness for the upcoming electoral challenges, announcing plans to commence preparations for the Bihar Assembly Elections. Verma mentioned that all constituent parties of the NDA in Bihar would come together, hold joint meetings across all Assembly constituencies, and contest the elections unitedly. Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 22 : With just hours left for the counting of votes to start to decide which political formation rules Maharashtra, AICC general secretary in charge of the state, Ramesh Chennithala said that in politics, there are very few 'untouchables'. Chennithala, a senior legislator and a former Kerala State Home Minister has been burning the midnight oil for several months after he was made Congress in-charge for Maharashtra. He is known for his astute political thinking, which has been largely instrumental in putting the Congress party on a strong foot in Maharashtra after the elections were announced. In a brief chat with IANS over the phone from Mumbai, Chennithala said he is certainly pleased with how the past few months have paved the way for his party in Maharashtra. "We were lagging behind and in a few months of working hard with all the leaders of our party and the alliance partners, I think, we are on a strong wicket and now let us wait for a few hours," he added. To a specific question on speculations that have surfaced that the Congress party might extend an olive branch to the NCP led by Ajit Pawar, Chennithala laughed and said, "In politics, there are very few untouchables." "To be honest, there has been no such discussion and remember this is politics and hence it is said, there are very few untouchables in politics," said Chennithala, who had revolted against his mentor the legendary K. Karunakaran and floated a new faction when Karunakaran was in his prime. After a while, Chennithala took over the faction of Karunakaran in 2000 which was often referred to as the Congress (I) faction while the faction led by two-time former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy was known as the A faction in the Congress party. New Delhi, Nov 22 : In a fresh offensive against the AAP government, the Delhi BJP on Friday wrote to Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena to demand a probe into an alleged Rs 45-crore education 'scam' involving construction of buildings in an abandoned school in North Delhi. The BJP's Leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly, Vijender Gupta, wrote that he wants to expose the AAP government's Rs 45 crore alleged scam in Dariyapur where school buildings have been built on the same premises in 10 years but are lying abandoned. "Dr B.R. Ambedkar School of Specialised Excellence, launched with fanfare by former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and current CM Atishi in June 2023, stands empty. No admission has been done despite claims of 1 lakh applicants," alleged Gupta, questioning the education department's latest decision to build a fourth building in the school that has no students. "The building, which was advertised as a cutting-edge facility, has remained idle for an extended period after its inauguration," he said, raising serious questions about the planning, accountability and transparency of the project. Gupta wrote to the L-G, "I urge your esteemed office to investigate this matter and take appropriate action. A thorough enquiry into the rationale behind constructing such buildings, their costs and the reasons for their abandonment would not only help to address the misuse of resources but also ensure that public funds are used effectively for the benefit of the people of Delhi." The LoP said, "It has been the habit of the AAP government to construct school buildings with huge budgets, inaugurate them under extensive media coverage and advertise them as having state-of-the-art facilities for enhancing quality of education and then leave these buildings abandoned." This practice of the AAP government is not only a waste of valuable resources but also a direct violation of the public trust, as taxpayers' money has been spent on a project that does not serve the community's needs, he said. Jammu, Nov 22 : J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah will visit Saudi Arabia on November 24 for the Umrah pilgrimage (a non-Haj pilgrimage). "Alhumdullilah political clearance has come. I will be travelling to Saudi Arabia on Monday to perform Umrah and to offer prayers at Al Masjid an Nabawi (SAW) (The Prophet's (PBUH) Mosque) in Medina," the Chief Minister wrote on X. The Umrah is an Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, the holiest city for Muslims, located in the Hejazi region of Saudi Arabia. Umrah can be undertaken at any time of the year, in contrast to the Hajj which has specific dates according to the Islamic lunar calendar. Omar Abdullah won the J&K Assembly elections from two constituencies in Ganderbal and Budgam. He lost the Lok Sabha election to Engineer Rashid in the Baramulla constituency. Omar later resigned from the Budgam seat and chose to represent the Ganderbal Assembly constituency in the 90-member J&K Legislative Assembly. The ruling National Conference (NC) won 42 seats in the assembly elections. Later, six independent candidates decided to support the government headed by Omar Abdullah. Congress with six members, CPI (M) with one and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) with one seat also decided to support the Omar Abdullah-led government. Congress decided to support the government from the outside. JKPCC President, Tariq Hameed Karra said that the Congress would not join the J&K government as long as it remained a UT. The J&K Cabinet in its first meeting passed a resolution seeking restoration of statehood while the assembly in its first session passed a resolution for restoration of special status which was available to J&K till Article 370 was abrogated by the Parliament on August 5, 2019. Omar Abdullah personally submitted the resolution for statehood passed by his Cabinet to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union Home Minister Amit Shah during his first visit to New Delhi after becoming the Chief Minister of J&K for the second time. Kolkata, Nov 22 : A crucial national Working Committee meeting of Trinamool Congress has been scheduled on Monday with the main agenda of the meeting being the organisational reshuffle and the party's strategy in the coming days, keeping in mind the 2026 West Bengal Assembly polls. Incidentally, the winter session of the Assembly is also scheduled to begin Monday. Party insiders said that in the meeting, the results of the bypolls for six Assembly constituencies in the state, the counting for which will happen on Saturday, will also be analysed. Both West Bengal Chief Minister and party supremo Mamata Banerjee and the party's General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee will be present at the meeting. All the elected party MPs and legislators have been asked to be present at the meeting, to be held at the Chief Minister's residence at Kalighat in south Kolkata. It is learnt that Abhishek Banerjee has already submitted a draft report on the organisational reshuffle to the Chief Minister, where he stressed a "performance-based reshuffle". "The report is expected to be discussed at the meeting on Monday following which the Chief Minister will finalise the reshuffle," said a senior Trinamool leader who did not wish to be named. It is further learnt that in the draft report, Abhishek Banerjee gave some suggestions to the Chief Minister suggesting a change of heads in a number of municipalities in the state, especially for those where BJP's performance was much better than the state's ruling party in the Lok Sabha polls this year. Going by that logic, party insiders added that changes in the heads of at least 69 municipalities in the state are inevitable since in those urban civic bodies, the BJP was ahead of Trinamool in terms of votes secured this year. However, insiders said that the proposed reshuffle might be incorporated in some more municipalities as well although Trinamool Congress's performance was better there in the polls this year. New Delhi, Nov 22 : Having perfectly mastered the art of blending diplomacy with culture over the past one decade, Prime Minister Narendra Modi carried with him several unique gifts that reflected India's rich cultural heritage during his just-concluded visit to Nigeria, Brazil and Guyana. According to sources, as he strengthened India's diplomatic ties with countries from Africa to Latin America, Prime Minister Modi carried with him several specially-curated handcrafted artefacts and products for the foreign leaders. It included eight items from Maharashtra, five from Jammu and Kashmir, three each from Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan, two from Jharkhand and one each from Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha and Ladakh. The gifts from Maharashtra included Silofer Panchamrit Kalash (pot) - a stunning example of traditional craftsmanship from Kolhapur - given to Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Adekunle Tinubu; Warli paintings - a tribal art form originating from the Warli tribe primarily located in the Dahanu, Talasari and Palghar regions of Maharashtra - for Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and also as one of gifts in the customised gift hamper given to leaders of Caribbean countries; natural rough amethyst with silver camel head on top from Pune given to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese; hand-carved silver chess set with traditional design given to Portugal PM Luis Montenegro; an exquisite silver candle stand given to Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni and a hand-engraved silver fruit bowl featuring intricate depictions of a peacock and a tree, given to CARICOM Secretary General Carla Natalie Barnett. Jammu and Kashmir's vibrant culture was represented through gifts of a pair of papier-mache gold work vases given to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer; Pashmina shawl in papier mache box for the First Lady of Guyana and Kashmiri saffron in the customised gift hamper given to Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders who attended the 2nd India-CARICOM Summit in Georgetown. The gifts from Rajasthan include a silver photo frame with floral work showcasing the state's rich heritage of detailed metalwork and traditional motifs given to Argentina's President Javier Milei; marble inlay work, also known as 'Pietra Dura' with base marble sourced from Makrana, given to Prime Minister of Norway Jonas Gahr Store and gold work wooden Raj Sawari figurine, a beautiful representation of traditional Indian craftsmanship, combining intricate gold work with finely carved wood, given to Prime Minister of Guyana, Brigadier (Retd.) Mark Anthony Phillips. Andhra gifs included silver clutch purse studded with semi-precious stones handcrafted with intricate floral motif designs, given to spouse of Brazilian President of Brazil and Araku coffee, which is grown by indigenous communities in the Araku Valley in Andhra Pradesh, in customised gift hamper given to leaders of CARICOM countries. Sohrai painting from Hazaribagh - known for depiction of animals, birds, and nature and being a reflection of the agrarian lifestyle and the reverence for wildlife in tribal culture, were given to Vice President of Nigeria; and Khovar painting - a traditional art form that originates from the tribal regions of Jharkhand, given to President of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto, representing the rich cultural diversity of Jharkhand. Other gifts include finely fretted and engraved silver and rosewood ceremonial photo frame from Uttar Pradesh given to the President of Chile Gabriel Boric; wooden toy train, a signature product from Channapatnaa - a small town in Karnataka, given to younger son of President of Guyana; Tanjore painting from Tamil Nadu, given to French President Emmanuel Macron; a Madhubani painting, also known as Mithila painting, a traditional art form originating from the Mithila region of Bihar, given to President of Guyana Irfaan Ali; a rare and exquisitely crafted filigree boat made of pure silver - a fine example of the centuries old silver filigree art practised in Odisha's Cuttack, given to Vice President of Guyana; and Ladakhi kettle adorned with semi-precious stones, given to Speaker of National Assembly of Guyana. Last year, as India concluded the landmark G20 Summit in New Delhi, the visiting leaders received several artefacts - some the product of centuries of tradition and cherished across the world for their unparalleled workmanship and quality - that spoke volumes about India's rich cultural traditions. The gift hamper given at that time comprised Sundarban honey, Orange Pekoe tea from Darjeeling and Nilgiri tea, coffee from Araku Valley, saffron from Kashmir valley, different designs of stoles from different states to the G20 first ladies. Mumbai, Nov 22 : The state election machinery is all set for a smooth and peaceful counting of votes in 288 Assembly constituencies across Maharashtra to be held on Saturday. Buoyed by a record 66 per cent polling against 61.1 per cent in the 2019 Assembly elections, the office of the state Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) said that the counting of votes will start at 8 a.m. at all polling stations. During this process, the counting of postal ballots will begin at 8 a.m., followed by the counting of votes on EVMs at 8:30 a.m. MahaYuti comprising BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP and Maha Vikas Aghadi consisting of Congress, Shiv Sena UBT and NCP-SP are engaged in a fierce fight for supremacy. In addition, the Vachit Bahujan Aghadi, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, Maharashtra Swarajya Paksha and other smaller parties have also fielded their nominees making it a multi-party contest. There are a total of 4,136 candidates comprising 3,771 men, 363 women and two others in the fray. In all, 288 counting centres have been set up for 288 Assembly constituencies and one counting centre for Nanded Lok Sabha constituency. Further, 288 counting inspectors have been appointed for 288 Assembly constituencies and two counting inspectors for the Nanded Lok Sabha constituency. The number of postal ballots is high in all Assembly constituencies, hence, 1732 tables for postal ballot counting and 592 tables for ETPBS scanning (pre-counting) have been set up at 288 polling stations. As far as Mumbai is concerned, 36 counting centres are designated for 36 constituencies. Over 2,700 polling personnel and 10,000 police personnel have been deployed for the counting process in Mumbai. aaThe Election Commission has approved the proposal of counting centres and all District Election Officers/Election Returning Officers have given wide publicity in this regard. The contesting candidates/political parties have been informed in writing about the locations of counting centres. The sealed strong rooms will be opened in front of the observers and the candidates present or their representatives and the EVMs will be taken to the counting centre. A three-tier security arrangement has been implemented as per the guidelines of the Election Commission,aa said the state's additional CEO Dr Kiran Kulkarni. An online system was developed for quick transfer of Form 12 and 12-D with the help of NIC to facilitate the process in the current elections. Coordinating centres were set up at the district, divisional, and state levels for the exchange of blank postal ballot papers for approved forms as well as for the exchange of voted ballot papers. More than 68,000 senior citizens aged 85+ and more than 12,000 persons with disabilities benefited from home voting. More than 36,000 essential service voters voted through postal ballots and 4,66,823 postal ballots were distributed to election staff. To ensure transparency in the counting process, information has been presented to the media continuously and important statistics and developments have been disseminated online and through traditional media. Sanjay Jog can be contacted at sanjay.j@ians.in Chandigarh, Nov 22 : The International Gita Mahotsav -- 2024 will be celebrated in Kurukshetra, the birthplace of the Bhagavadgita from November 28 to December 15, Chief Minister Nayab Saini said here on Friday. The festival will showcase a divine confluence of spirituality, culture, and art. He said this year Tanzania would be the partner country for the International Gita Mahotsav, while Odisha will be the partner state. Tanzania also participated as a partner country in the International Surajkund Crafts Fair in February. The Chief Minister highlighted that the Indian diaspora in Tanzania actively organise recitations of the Ramayana and Bhagavadgita. The presence of numerous Hindu temples in Tanzania fosters a connection between Indian culture and the country. He also said Odisha boasts significant pilgrimage sites such as Jagannath Puri, the Konark Sun Temple, and the Lingaraj and Mukteshwar Temples in Bhubaneswar, all of which are sources of pride for Sanatan culture. "People can see a glimpse of this rich heritage at the Bhagavadgita mahotsav," he said. Sharing ties, the Chief Minister said Haryana has a long-standing relationship with Tanzania, with delegations from Haryana visiting the country twice, comprising industrialists, farmers, and representatives from various trades. He said Tanzania serves as a gateway to Africa and that the two regions share deep economic and social ties. He said the International Gita Mahotsav would enhance the partnership between the two countries, with Tanzanian ministers also expected to participate. "This event will provide the people of Tanzania with a unique opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of Haryana. The similarities between Haryana and Tanzania will make the event particularly engaging and will further strengthen their relationship," the Chief Minister said. Saini said the International Gita Mahotsav has achieved immense success and popularity since 2016. Lakhs of people from India and abroad attend the Bhagavadgita Mahotsav. Last year, approximately 45 to 50 lakh people participated, and a similar turnout is expected this year. He said for the first time in 2019 the International Gita Mahotsav was held in Mauritius and London, followed by celebrations in Canada in September 2022, Australia in April 2023, and Sri Lanka and England in 2024. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text New Delhi, Nov 22 : Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu on Friday welcomed the Supreme Court's decision to stay the Himachal Pradesh High Court's directive to initiate disqualification proceedings against legislators appointed as Chief Parliamentary Secretaries in the state. He told the media here the Supreme Court has provided clarity on the legal interpretation of the matter, which differed from paragraph 50 of the High Court's decision. "The relief granted by the Supreme Court is significant and we will now deliberate on the next steps after considering all legal aspects," the Chief Minister said. Responding to another question, Sukhu criticised the Opposition's behaviour, describing it as "childish" and lacking focus on public issues. "There are no controversies, but their behaviour is simply childish. Sometimes they talk about toilet tax, sometimes they indulge in 'samosa politics.' These are mere distractions," he said. He said since the BJP's "Operation Lotus" was rejected by the people and the Congress successfully retained its strength of 40 seats in the Vidhan Sabha, the Opposition's personal attacks against him are a deliberate attempt to divert attention from the welfare schemes implemented by the state government over the past two years. The Chief Minister said the Opposition should act responsibly and raise welfare issues of the common man. He reiterated his government's commitment to the welfare of the underprivileged and said that significant progress has been made in improving their socio-economic status during this tenure. A Division Bench of the Himachal Pradesh High Court on November 13 termed the appointment of six chief parliamentary secretaries (CPS) unconstitutional and ordered their immediate removal along with withdrawing all benefits and perks. A division bench of the High Court headed by Justice Vivek Thakur and Justice Bipin Chander delivered the order on two petitions challenging the appointment of the CPS, including a PIL by Kalpana Devi and by 10 BJP legislators, comprising Sat Pal Satti. The High Court also set aside the Act under which the appointment of the CPS had been made. The court termed the appointment of the CPS as waste of public funds while ordering the immediate withdrawal of all facilities extended to them. The six CPS whose appointments were set aside were Kishori Lal (legislator from Baijnath in Kangra), Mohan Lal Brakta (Rohru in Shimla), Ram Kumar (Doon in Solan), Ashish Butail (Palampur in Kangra), Sunder Thakur (Kullu) and Sanjay Awashty (Arki in Solan). The petitioner BJP leaders contended that the appointment to the CPS posts was a burden on the state exchequer. The government defended the appointments, saying they complied with the provisions of the state Act passed by the Legislative Assembly. Jerusalem, Nov 22 : The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Israeli Security Agency (ISA) killed five Hamas fighters in an airstrike, including three commanders, the IDF said in a statement on Friday. The IDF said that the attack was carried out by Israeli Air Force aircraft overnight between Wednesday and Thursday, with intelligence guidance from the ISA and support from artillery and armor units, in the northern Gaza Strip city of Beit Lahia, Xinhua news agency reported. It identified the three commanders as Jihad Mahmoud Yehia Kahlout, a company commander in the elite Nukhba force, Muhammad Riyad Ali Okel, and Anas Jalal Muhammad Abu Shakian. They were accused of involvement in killings and kidnappings near the Israeli village of Mefalsim during a Hamas attack against Israel on October 7 of last year and of participating in recent fighting in the northern Gaza Strip against IDF forces. In another statement on Friday, the IDF said it had killed Khalid Abu Daqqa, commander of the Islamic Jihad's rocket unit in the city of Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, on Wednesday. "Abu Daqqa was responsible for commanding and conducting numerous attacks against Israeli civilians and soldiers," the statement reads. Kolkata, Nov 22 : With the prices of potatoes, the staple ingredient of any Bengali dish, skyrocketing, export of the vegetable from West Bengal to other states has been barred for the time being, it was announced on Friday. The decision was taken at a meeting of the task force constituted by the state government to keep the prices of the essential food items in the retail markets of the state in check. The ban on exports of potatoes from West Bengal will continue unless the price of the vegetable stabilises in the retail markets. The decision comes just a day after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had expressed strong reservations about the export of potatoes and onions from West Bengal to other states without meeting the internal requirements within the state. Stating that her government will act tough on the issue, she said when the state government is providing funds for insurance for the farmers she could not accept the export of such food items before meeting the internal demands in West Bengal. On Monday, the members of the task force visited different retail markets in West Bengal and one of them expressed anguish over the differential prices of potatoes and onions in different markets. In the case of potatoes, which are amply produced, the price range varied between Rs 32 and Rs 40 a kg, much higher than the normal prices, at different markets. The price fluctuations in the case of onions were even more complicated. While the onions grown in West Bengal were priced at around Rs 55 a kg, the price for onions imported from Maharashtra's Nashik was Rs 70 a kg. During the market visits on Friday morning, the members of the task forces also cautioned the retailers that police action might be initiated against those who will be found responsible for artificially jacking up the price of staple foods. Baku, Nov 22 : At the COP29 summit in Baku, Britain on Friday pledged A239 million to tackle deforestation in countries, including Colombia and Indonesia, recognising the critical role of forests in those countries as "carbon sinks" that absorb more CO2 from the atmosphere annually than the UK and the US emit combined. Baku, Nov 22 (IANS) At the COP29 summit in Baku, Britain on Friday pledged 239 million to tackle deforestation in countries, including Colombia and Indonesia, recognising the critical role of forests in those countries as "carbon sinks" that absorb more CO2 from the atmosphere annually than the UK and the US emit combined. The last government's commitment to 11.6bn of climate finance from 2021-22 to 2025-26 will continue to be honoured. This includes at least 3 billion on nature, from which 1.5 billion will be dedicated to protecting and restoring forests. Halting and reversing forest loss is essential to keeping global heating under 1.5 degrees Celsius, delivering the UK's global commitments to protect biodiversity, and meeting the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Tropical forests are home to two-thirds of the world's biodiversity and 80 per cent of global terrestrial biodiversity. Wildlife such as orangutangs, tigers and jaguars are under threat, and 1.6 billion people depend on forests for their livelihoods. During COP29 in Baku, the government highlighted the value of forests in ensuring a liveable climate, where people, animals and flora can thrive. The pledge was made alongside representatives of the presidencies for COP29 in Azerbaijan and COP30 in Brazil. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said: "Forests are the lungs of our planet -- without them climate security is impossible. We're determined to play our part in mobilising finance to protect and restore global forests in these critical years for climate action. "The climate crisis has no borders and these issues impact people back home in the UK -- we're already seeing the damage flooding and record heatwaves can do to businesses and the most vulnerable in our communities. "Providing this funding now helps prevent the escalating costs of climate catastrophe at home and abroad, this is what the UK means by climate leadership." The 239 million funding announced comprises 188 million funding to the Scaling Climate Action by Lowering Emissions (SCALE) programme, to support the development of high-integrity forest carbon markets to ensure the buying and selling of carbon credits to drive emission reductions. This comes as the UK government confirms it intends to improve the integrity and use of voluntary carbon and nature markets. A sum of 48 million for blended finance to unlock private investment in sustainable forest enterprises across the tropical forest belt. The Mobilising Finance for Forests programme provides financing to companies and investors to encourage them to invest more in activities that protect and restore forests. Also 3 million for the UNFCCC to help countries protect their forests and realise their full climate change mitigation potential by reducing deforestation, restoring forests and providing benefits to local communities that depend on forests. These measures will unlock private and public financing to safeguard forest ecosystems, drive restoration efforts, and create sustainable opportunities for the communities who rely on them. This also reflects the government's commitment to the COP26 forest pledge, which aims to reverse forest loss by 2030. The government has also announced 20 projects which will receive funding from Round One of the Ocean Community Empowerment and Nature (OCEAN) Grants Programme. These projects will deliver lasting change to the marine environment and coastal communities across the world. (Vishal Gulati can be contacted at vishal.g@ians.in) Srinagar, Nov 22 : J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said on Friday that the special status resolution passed by the Assembly is alive and has not been rejected. "The special status resolution has been passed by the majority of the members of the J&K Assembly and it has not been rejected. The issue is alive. Let us get the statehood first and then we will push further. The doors are open for us," said the Chief Minister while talking to reporters on the sidelines of an official function in Srinagar. On the release of political prisoners, the Chief Minister said the matter would be decided after statehood is restored. "This issue will have to wait till the restoration of statehood as the law and order maintenance is with the Centre," the Chief Minister said. He added that once the statehood is restored, the National Conference government will ensure the release of political prisoners. He also rejected the assertion that there was nothing worthwhile in the restoration of the special status resolution passed by the J&K Assembly. "If there is nothing in the resolution, why are the Prime Minister and the Home Minister repeatedly talking about it," said Omar Abdullah. The Chief Minister also spoke about the alleged misconduct of the army soldiers during the anti-terrorist operation in Kishtwar. He urged the army to probe the misconduct and ensure punishment for the soldiers involved in the case. He also spoke about the reservation controversy and said that a cabinet sub-committee has been set up to discuss the issue with all stakeholders and then decide on the rationalisation of the reservation policy. Colombo, Nov 22 : Sri Lanka's President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Friday held a meeting with the commanders of the country's tri-forces and senior officials as he assumed duties as the Minister of Defence. Dissanayake stated that his government, as a political authority, has no other objective than to provide the political leadership necessary to meet the expectations of the people. "As I take on the responsibility of the Defence Minister, I call upon all public officials to work together with one shared purpose: building a better nation. Restoring trust in public service is key to delivering the change our people demanded with their 80 per cent mandate. Let us lead with integrity and purpose," said Dissanayake. The Lankan President mentioned that regardless of the laws and regulations, the power of the people is equally impactful. "The President stressed that in this new transformation that the public is anticipating, progress cannot be made without strengthening public trust in the public service. He noted that it is the public service that has been the driving force behind the economic and social growth of every developed nation," read a statement issued by Dissanayake's office. During his meeting with the officials at the Defence Headquarters premises in Akuregoda, the Lankan President discussed the ongoing and future initiatives of the defence ministry. The Lankan President affirmed that the new government is dedicated to promoting good governance and seeks the support of everyone for the nationas development programme. In particular, he highlighted that the power of the people remains just as strong, irrespective of the Constitution and laws while pointing out that the composition and outcome of the mandate given in the most recent presidential and general elections reflect the peopleas expectations. Sri Lanka's Deputy Minister of Defence Major General (Retd.) Aruna Jayasekara, Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Air Vice Marshal (Retd.) Sampath Thuyacontha, Chief of Defence Staff General Shavendra Silva, Commander of the Army Lieutenant General H L V M Liyanage, Commander of the Air Force Air Marshal Udeni Rajapaksa, Commander of the Navy Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera, members of the security forces, and staff from the Ministry of Defence also attended the event. Bengaluru, Nov 22 : The Karnataka High Court on Friday dismissed a bail petition filed by suspended JD-S leader and the sensational sex video scandal prime accused Prajwal Revanna, the grandson of former PM H.D. Deve Gowda, in the fourth case against him. The court had earlier rejected the former MP's bail pleas in connection with three cases and the order on the fourth case - of the alleged rape of a former Zilla Panchayat member at his office - was pending. A bench of Justice M. Nagaprasanna passed the order in the case, rejecting the bail plea. The former Zilla Panchayat member accused Revanna of sexually assaulting her over three years and recording videos of the act, which was allegedly used to threaten and blackmail her into cooperating with the former MP's demands. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) is probing four cases against Prajwal Revanna among which three are rape cases and a case of recording of video of a victim of sexual harassment. Arun, the counsel for Revanna, submitted to the court that he wanted to withdraw the bail petition from the court. However, the bench maintained that the bail plea could not be withdrawn on the day when it is scheduled to pronounce orders. The bench further stated that it is not relying on the charge sheet submitted in the case while giving the order. "The bail plea is dismissed on the basis of the complaint and the Supreme Court judgment," the court stated. The Supreme Court on Nov 11 dismissed a bail petition filed by Revanna. Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Revanna, contended that opponents orchestrated a conspiracy to gain political mileage. "I was earlier an MP, I was contesting for MP and I lost because of all this," he said, adding that a charge sheet has been filed against Revanna and he has been behind bars for four months. Refusing to entertain the matter, a bench, headed by Justice Bela M. Trivedi, dismissed Revannaas special leave petition seeking bail. Further, the Bench, also comprising Justice S.C. Sharma, said that it would not pass any order granting liberty to apply afresh for bail after a period of six months. In an order passed on October 21, the Karnataka High Court had rejected Revannaas plea for bail in connection with two rape cases and a case of recording of video of a victim of sexual harassment. One of the victims from Hassan had filed a rape case against Prajwal Revanna in Bengaluru Cyber police station. The trial court had earlier rejected the bail in the matter. Another case is related to the sexual assault of a maid at the farmhouse in Holenarasipura. The disturbing video of the incident has gone viral on social media during the Lok Sabha election, with the footage of the aged maid, pleading with him to spare her as she is an elderly lady, who served food to his father and other elders of the family as she was sexually assaulted, had stirred outrage. The victim was kidnapped after the video surfaced on social media and the police had arrested Revanna's father and JD-S MLA H.D. Revanna. Presently, he is out on conditional bail. The police had also issued an arrest warrant against Prajwal's mother Bhavani Revanna in the case. However, she managed to obtain anticipatory bail. The bail order was challenged by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) in the Supreme Court and the apex court upheld the bail order passed by the Karnataka High Court. Another case relates to forcing a woman from Hassan to strip and recording her video when she approached Revanna for her son's admission to a reputed school. Both cases were registered at the Cyber police station in Bengaluru. New Delhi, Nov 22 : The Jan Aushadhi Kendras, offering affordable and cheaper medicines to people are not just restricted to rural and remote areas. The residents of metropolitan cities like Noida are also benefiting from the scheme. A couple of customers, primarily retired Army officers, spoke to IANS and hailed the move as a path-breaking step. They said that it was because of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's goal and foresight that poor people have access to cheaper medicines in the form of generic drugs. Colonel KS Pathania said that the scheme is affordable and very beneficial for poor people. "In private medical shops, the medicines are so expensive that common people can't afford it but these centres have ensured that the even lower rung of society has access to medicines," he said. Another customer who identified himself as Colonel Gupta said that the medicines are available at reasonable rates at these centres and in terms of quality, they are second to one. It's because of this, that the sales at these Jan Aushadhi Kendras have taken a jump. Owner of the Jan Aushadhi Kendra recalling his association with the PM Jan Aarogya Yojana said that he started this centre in 2015 and has been running it since then. "We started Dadi ki Rasoi in 2015 to distribute cheap food to poor people. We also thought of starting a medicine shop and this is how it started. This is Noida's first Jan Aushadhi Kendra. It's a path-breaking scheme of government, started by Prime Minister Narendra Modi," he further stated. "If you buy medicines worth Rs 10,000 from any other store, they cost Rs 2,500 to Rs 3,000 here," he added. "There is a common belief that generic drugs are inefficient and inferior as compared to branded ones. There is no such thing. The generic drugs are equally effective as their branded counterpart," he added. He also said that the scheme was not just providing cheap medicines to the poor but also providing employment opportunities to a sizeable section of workers. Kolkata, Nov 22 : A Private Member Bill titled 'West Bengal Protection of Childhood Bill, 2024', was placed at the business advisory committee meeting of the Legislative Assembly on Friday. Incidentally, the bill placed by the BJP's Chief Whip in the state assembly Shankar Ghosh, is the first Private Member Bill that has been proposed during the current Trinamool Congress regime that started in 2011 ending the 34-year Left Front rule in West Bengal. However, despite the bill being presented at the business advisory committee meeting of the Assembly on Friday there is hardly any chance for discussion in the forthcoming winter session of the Assembly starting from Monday. This is because any private member bill has to go through a long process before it comes up for discussion on the floor of the house. As per the rule, first, the proposed bill has to be sent to the state legal affairs department for clearance. After getting it cleared from that department, the proposed bill will go to the office of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for her concurrence. If the Chief Minister approves then it will be sent to the office of Governor C.V. Ananda Bose. Finally, if the same gets clearance from Raj Bhavan the proposed Private Member Bill will come up for discussion on the floor of the house. According to the Speaker of House Biman Bandopadhyay, since this is the first Private Member Bill that has been submitted to his office during his tenure as Speaker, he is looking at the Bill quite intensively. "This Bill can come for discussion on the floor of the house after going through a particular process which is currently on in case of this bill," he said. The proposed bill has details on the necessary steps to be taken in the sphere of child development namely education, the creation of an ideal academic ambience, bringing down dropout rates and uniformity in school hours among others. Hyderabad, Nov 22 : Six pharma companies will invest Rs 5,260 crore to set up their manufacturing units in Telangana, it was announced on Friday. The government will allocate land for the establishment of the new pharma manufacturing units in the Pharma City. The MoUs in this regard were signed by representatives of the companies and the state government officials in the presence of Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Friday. Six companies expressed their interest to invest more than Rs 5,260 crore and these investments will provide 12,490 job opportunities in the pharma sector. According to the Chief Ministeras Office (CMO), the companies entered MoUs with the state government to expand their operations and also to establish pollution-free green pharma companies. Representatives of various pharma companies held talks with Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and Industries Minister D. Sridhar Babu at the Secretariat. Dr Reddy's Labs Director Satish Reddy, Laurus Labs ED V.V. Ravikumar, Gland Pharma CEO Srinivas, MSN Labs CMD M.S.N. Reddy, Aurobindo Pharma Director Madan Mohan Reddy, and Hetero Group Managing Director B. Vamsi Krishna, Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (TSIIC) Chairperson Nirmala Jagga Reddy, Special Secretary to the Chief Minister, Ajith Reddy, and Special Chief Secretary, Industries Department, Jayesh Ranjan participated in the meeting. As per the MoUs, MSN Laboratory will set up a manufacturing unit along with an R&D centre. Laurus Labs and Aurobindo Pharma will establish formulation units. Gland Pharma is ready to open an R&D centre, injectables, and drug substance manufacturing units. Dr Reddy's Labs will establish an injectable and biosimilar unit. Hetero Labs will set up a finished dose and injectable manufacturing plant. The Chief Minister directed the officials concerned to allocate land to the pharma companies to take up construction work in the next four months and also provide the required facilities in the Pharma City. Sydney, Nov 22 : Police in the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) announced that a man has died after a public place shooting in Sydney's inner city on Friday evening. According to a police statement, emergency services were called to Baptist Street, Surry Hills, an inner-east suburb of Sydney, at about 7:45 pm local time following reports of shots fired. A man, who is believed to be in his 30s, was found with a gunshot wound when the officers arrived. Ambulance paramedics treated him, but he died at the scene. NSW Police said that a short time later, emergency services were called to Kensington, a suburb in the eastern suburbs of Sydney, following reports of a car fire. On arrival, officers located a Porsche well alight. Initial inquires alleged the two incidents are linked, according to the statement, Xinhua news agency reported. Hyderabad, Nov 22 : Miscreants desecrated a temple in Shadnagar town of Telangana's Rangareddy district on Friday. Unidentified persons allegedly desecrated a temple in the Janampeta area in Shadnagar, triggering tension. Police said the miscreants damaged the Shiva Lingam installed in the temple. Local residents found the damaged Shiva Lingam in the temple in the early hours of Friday and immediately informed police. The temple committee filed a complaint in Shadnagar police station. Police inspected the temple premises and gathered clues. Police said they were trying to identify the miscreants with the help of CCTV footage in the area. In another incident, a fire broke out in an ancient temple at Ambatpalle in Jayashankar Bhupalapalli district. A fire broke out at Sri Amareswara Swamy temple at Ambatpalle of Mahadevpur Mandal on the evening of Thursday. BJP leaders alleged that the idol of Lord Hanuman was completely burnt in the incident. The cause of the fire was not known. The BJP has voiced concern over the series of incidents of desecration of temples in the state. "No end to the horrendous attacks on Hindu deities under CONgress rule in Telangana. Sri Ram Bhakth Hanuman murthy in the ancient Amareswara Swamy temple at Ambatipalli, Bhupalapalli district was burnt down by unknown miscreants & as usual the Congress Government is trying to cover up the story instead of Investigating," reads a post from BJP Telangana's official handle on 'X'. "Had the Congress govt taken swift, strict & strongest action against this kind of hate mongers in the bud, the situation wouldn't have repeated at all. But Congress who cares zilch about Hindu sentiments remains silent & unaffected just to appease its vote bank," the party said. "The burning of the Hanuman idol raises serious concerns about the safety and security of religious sites. It's alarming how Rahul Gandhi & other CONgressis continue to ignore these incidents, showing no proper action or protection for Hindu temples. Why is the state police failing to address these ongoing attacks?" asked Vishnu Vardhan Reddy, vice-president of BJP's Andhra Pradesh unit. --IANS ms/dan Bhopal, Nov 22 : Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Jan Aushadhi Pariyojana (PM-BJP) has come as a boon for inhabitants of the city as they are buying cheaper and cost-effective medicines from Jan Aarogya Kendras. As generic medicines are available at these centres at much cheaper rates, the Jan Aushadhi Kendra has become the first choice of people in buying medicines. At one such PM Jan Aushadhi Kendra in the hospital premises, most of the patients buy medicines from here. This not only saves them but also saves time. Uma Dubey, who works at this Jan Aushadhi Kendra said that most medicines are available here. Hundreds of people buy medicines on a daily basis at rates much cheaper than the private shops. Rishabh Naiwal, who works as a manager, said that the state's Red Cross Society has lauded their efforts in opening the Jan Aushadhi Kendras. "Patients get all kinds of medicines at a very cheap rate here. We have a stock of more than 2,500-3,000 varieties of medicines. I want to thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the initiative as it caters to the huge population of the country, who can't afford expensive medicines," he said. He further said that he is looking forward to more such schemes if something like this is brought by the government. Ajay Singh, a medicine buyer, said that he and his family are very thankful to the Modi government for launching a poor-friendly scheme. "Medicines are cheaper and effective here. Now, we buy all medicines from Jan Aushadhi Kendras only. We get all kinds of medicines here," he said. Notably, the Jan Aushadhi Kendras are making a tangible difference by offering generic medicines at prices that are up to 70 per cent lower than those in regular medical stores. The initiative is not just about affordable medicines, it also includes various diagnostic tests at reduced prices, ensuring comprehensive care at a much lower cost. Bhopal, Nov 22 : The Election Commission of India (ECI) instructed the officials on Friday to strictly adhere to the security protocols ahead of the counting for the Budhni and Vijaypur bypolls in Madhya Pradesh "The collector and district election officer, the returning officer, and the assistant returning officer must strictly adhere to all security protocols during counting," Madhya Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Sukhveer Singh said. He said that a three-tier security arrangement has been ensured at venues to count votes. The vote counting for the Vijaypur bypolls will take place at the Government Polytechnic College, Sheopur. At least 16 tables have been arranged for the counting of the votes at 327 polling stations. The counting will be conducted in 21 rounds. The counting for the Budhni Assembly constituency will take place at the Government Women's Polytechnic College, Sehore. At least 14 tables each will be arranged in two rooms for counting the votes at 363 polling stations. The counting will be conducted in 13 rounds. The bypolls to the Vijaypur constituency was necessitated after sitting Congress MLA Ramniwas Rawat joined the BJP while in Budhni, bypolls was mandated after sitting BJP MLA and former MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan resigned from the state Assembly following his victory in the Lok Sabha. In Vijaypur, the contest is between BJP's Ramniwas Rawat, who won this seat six- time between 1990 and 2023 on Congress' symbol and Congress's Mukesh Malhotra. While in Budhni, the bastion of Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, is between BJP's Ramakant Bhargava and Congress nominee and former minister Rajkumar Patel. Voting for bypolls was held on November 13 amid mild clashes and violence along with allegations of booth capturing. New Delhi, Nov 22 : Assam Day was celebrated at the ongoing 43rd India International Trade Fair (IITF) 2024 in the national capital on Friday, officials said. Various cultural dance forms like Satriya dance, Bihu dance, Karbi and Tiwa folk dance showcasing the rich cultural heritage and diversity of Assam were performed. Singing sensation Madhab Ranjan Gogoi regaled the audience with his beautiful renditions at Amphitheatre 1 at Bharat Mandapam here. Speaking on the occasion as chief guest, Minister for Industries and Commerce, Public Enterprises and Cultural Affairs Departments, Govt of Assam, Bimal Borah said: "Assam has seen significant strides on the development front under the able leadership of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and the then Chief Minister, Sarbananda Sonowal. The state has attracted investments to the tune of several lakh crores, including the Rs.27,000 crore semiconductor unit at Jagiroad, 13,000 crore MoUs with reputed companies, the over Rs 7,000 crore Greenfield project et al." He said that an international investors summit 2.0 will be held in Guwahati in February next year. Borah praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for all out efforts to accelerate the pace of development in the state and the Northeast as a whole. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi's various initiatives such as Make in India, Start-Up India, Digital India and skill development has brought about transformation in Assam and other parts of the country," he said adding that much effort was taken to showcase the rich cultural heritage of the state and to highlight its strengths in different sectors be it industry and tourism, in the fair. BJP MP Dilip Saikia said Assam is making progress at a rapid pace and will soon join the league of five developed states in the country. He stated that in sync with the Prime Minister's vision of a Viksit Bharat 2047, Assam is also marching triumphantly towards a Viksit Assam (developed state). Saikia further said no Prime Minister ever has given so much importance to Assam and the Northeast region as PM Modi. "Today the MSME sector is growing at a fast pace and contributing significantly to the development of Assam and the country as a whole," he added. Jaipur, Nov 22 : Rajasthan Health Department has formed a committee and ordered a detailed investigation Considering a case of declaring a live youth dead in the emergency unit of the Government BDK Hospital of Jhunjhunu. "The case is complete negligence in health services," the department said. The department has suspended Chief Medical Officer Sandeep Pachar, Yogesh Kumar Jakhar and Navneet Meel with immediate effect. Principal Secretary Medical and Health Gayatri Rathore said that the state government has taken the case very seriously and has constituted a committee under the chairmanship of Joint Director Jaipur Zone Narottam Sharma. Medical jurist Ajay Srivastava, Himmat Singh Rathore and Dheeraj Verma have been included in the committee at Kanwatia Hospital. The committee has been directed to submit the report within seven days. Further action will be taken on the basis of the committee's report. The deaf and mute 25-year-old youth, Rohitash, was brought to Bhagwan Das Khaitan (BDK) for treatment on Thursday afternoon, but the doctors declared him dead. The police were called and a Panchnama was made and the body was taken to the crematorium in an ambulance. When his last rites were being performed at around five in the evening, suddenly there was movement in his body. Even though initially the people conducting the funeral got scared but eventually they called an ambulance and Rohitash was sent to the district hospital where he underwent medical treatment in the ICU. His condition was stated to be stable initially but he died on Friday morning. Imphal, Nov 22 : With the escalating violence in Manipur, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs has provided an additional 90 companies of Central forces while the security forces so far recovered 3,000 arms looted by mobs and other inimical groups since the ethnic violence broke out in May last year, a top official said on Friday. Chief Security Advisor to the Manipur government Kuldiep Singh said that the additional Central forces would be deployed in the vulnerable, sensitive, fringe and mixed population areas. A sizable number of Central forces have already arrived in Manipur and more are coming to the state, Singh told the media after a security review meeting. He said that in the security review meeting, attended by senior officials of the Army, the Assam Rifles, the BSF, the CRPF, the SSB, and the ITBP, besides the Manipur Police, the latest situation of the state was reviewed and several standard operating procedures (SOPs) were finalised for the security forces. Singh, a former Director General of the Central Reserve Police Force, said that the joint control room and joint coordination committee in each of the 16 districts would be made proactive and their functioning would be regularly and closely monitored. "We would provide full protection to the people. Our priority is to protect the lives and properties of all citizens," the official said. He said that so far 3,000 looted arms were recovered and operations are going on to recover the remaining looted arms and ammunition. A senior police official earlier said that after the ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo-Hmar communities began on May 3 last year, 5,669 different types of sophisticated arms and lakhs of rounds of different kinds of ammunition were looted by different organisations, mobs and individuals. The Chief Security Advisor said that the National Investigation Agency has started investigations into all the cases handed over to them. In recent cases of violence, public unrest and mob attacks on around two dozen houses and bungalows of ministers, MLAs and political leaders, till now 32 persons have been arrested from different districts, especially in Imphal East and Imphal West districts. After the news spread about the recovery of six bodies in Jiribam, widespread attacks and violence by mobs occurred in several districts on November 16 and 17, leading authorities to impose a curfew and suspend mobile internet. Guwahati, Nov 22 : The counting of votes will be held on Saturday for five Assembly seats in Assam that went to by-elections on November 13. Four seats are held by BJP and its allies while Congress has a legislator in one of these five assembly constituencies. The five seats went vacant after five legislators including a cabinet minister were elected in the Parliament in this yearas Lok Sabha polls. This included two MLAs from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), including a cabinet minister, along with one each from alliance partners Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and United Peoples Party Liberal (UPPL), as well as one from the opposition Congress. BJPas former cabinet minister Parimal Suklabaidya successfully contested in the Silchar Lok Sabha seat and his earlier assembly seat Dholai was vacant. Meanwhile, another senior BJP leader Ranjit Dutta was elected to the lower house of the parliament this time. He was representing the Behali seat in the Assembly. The AGP opened its account in the parliament this time with its senior leader Phani Bhusan Choudhury being elected from Barpeta Lok Sabha seat. The party contested in two parliamentary constituencies in the state, however, it lost polls in Dhubri to Congress candidate Rakibul Hussain. Choudhury was a six-time MLA from the Bongaigaon Assembly segment. When AGP fielded him in the Barpeta Lok Sabha seat to fight parliamentary elections, supporters of Choudhury opposed the partyas decision and urged Choudhury to remain the MLA of Bongaigaon. Congress leader Rakibul Hussain defeated 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 reinforcing his status as a five-time legislator from the Samuguri Assembly seat. Meanwhile, UPPL's Joyanta Basumatary, the former MLA from Sidli, also made headlines by securing the Kokrajhar seat. The BJP contested by-elections in three Assembly seatsa"Dholai, Samaguri and Behali. Diplu Ranjan Sarma was given a ticket in Samaguri while Diganta Ghatowar and Nihar Ranjan Das are fighting for the BJP in Behali and Dholai Assembly segments respectively. The two allies of the ruling partya"Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) contested bypolls in the Bongaigaon assembly constituency while the United Peopleas Party Liberal (UPPL) fielded its candidate in the Sidli seat. On the other hand, the Congress party fought by-elections in all five Assembly seats. Bengaluru, Nov 22 : In a shocking and heartless crime, two children, aged seven and three, were strangled to death allegedly by one of their parents in Bengaluru, police said on Friday. The gruesome crime was reported from Subramanyapura police station limits of the city, and the police are investigating the father and mother, hailing from Jharkhand, as the couple are blaming each other for murdering the children. The deceased children were identified as Shubam, 7, and Sia, 3. Their mother is admitted to the hospital with a cut injury in the neck and the father, an auto driver, was questioned by the police. DCP South Division, Lokesh Jagalasar said: "Yesterday (Thursday), the murder of two children was reported. Investigations, so far at the preliminary stage, revealed that the children were strangulated to death using a rope." "Now, conflicting claims are made by both parents as to who murdered the children. A case of murder has been registered and investigation taken up from all angles. Presently, the mother is receiving treatment for a cut injury on her neck and it also remains to be verified whether the injury is self-infected or from another person. The immediate cause of the murder, as ascertained by the investigation, is that the couple had marital disputes. The relatives and neighbours have given statements in this regard," the DCP said. The investigation is ongoing and more clarity will be reached in some time, he added. According to the DCP, the case was reported by the father, who had rushed both the children and the mother to the hospital, after the incident which had taken place between 7 p.m. and 9.30 p.m. on Thursday. They reached the hospital at 10.30 p.m. The CCTV footage so far available shows that the man came to know about the incident after he arrived home, the DCP said, adding that he claimed that there was a marital dispute, frustration, and depression which had led to the incident and his wife had committed the crime. On the other hand, the woman claims to have no role in the murders and accuses her husband of committing the murders. However, it needs to be verified who was at the spot based on the technical evidence that the police have collected from the scene of the crime, the DCP said. "As per the evidence available till now, the mother was at the spot and the father had come later. Still, we need to verify it from a few more angles," he said. "The woman is a housewife. We are inquiring into both parents. However, the woman is still under treatment and the investigation is not progressing so far. She is not serious and doctors have stated that there is no danger to life. They had come from Jharkhand to Bengaluru about two months ago," the DCP said. New Delhi, Nov 22 : Union Minister for Food, Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs Prahlad Joshi on Friday issued an apology to retired Justice Michael D'Cunha over his (Prahlad Joshi) controversial remarks regarding the Covid-19 case report. During a bypolls campaign speech, Joshi responded to Congress's accusation that there was a Covid scam during the BJP government's tenure in the state. While defending his party, he referred to Justice Michael D'Cunha's report, which led to widespread criticism. Addressing the issue, Prahlad Joshi wrote a detailed letter to Justice Michael D'Cunha, conveying apologies for any unintended offence caused by his remarks. Joshi wrote: "In my long political and public life, I have never made any statement, directly or indirectly, that would harm the reputation of any member of the judiciary. I deeply regret if my remarks have caused any hurt or distress to you." He also emphasised his respect for the judiciary and Justice D'Cunha. "I have the utmost respect for the judiciary and honourable judges, who are the guardians of our Constitution. I firmly believe in the sacred duty of dispensing justice, and my recent statement was not intended to diminish anyone's reputation," he clarified. He acknowledged that his mention of the report under Justice D'Cunha's leadership during his speech had been misinterpreted, leading to the controversy. "If my statement has caused you any pain or doubts, I sincerely apologise," Joshi said. The Union Minister further clarified that his comments were directed at the state government's alleged urgency in obtaining Justice D'Cunha's report, not against the judge himself. "I did not make any personal remarks against you. My intention was never to tarnish your image or the image of the commission. I have no reason to doubt your impartiality or your commitment to your duties as a member of the commission," he stated. Karnataka Minister for Health Dinesh Gundu Rao has stated recently that Union Minister Pralhad Joshi could be jailed for calling Judge Michael D'Cunha heading the inquiry commission on the Covid scam as a "Congress agent". Gurugram, Nov 22 : To improve traffic management and road safety here in the city the Gurugram Traffic Police in collaboration with Hyundai Motor India Foundation (HMIF) inaugurated Gurugram's first Traffic Engineering Centre and Organisation Development Centre, at the DCP (traffic) office in Gurugram on Friday. Gurugram, Nov 22 (IANS) To improve traffic management and road safety here in the city the Gurugram Traffic Police in collaboration with Hyundai Motor India Foundation (HMIF) inaugurated Gurugramas first Traffic Engineering Centre and Organisation Development Centre, at the DCP (traffic) office in Gurugram on Friday. The Centre is equipped with cutting-edge technology that can monitor 1,100 cameras from a single location, ensuring streamlined management for swift action and better response time. Traffic Police officers will receive dedicated training to enhance their skills and knowledge of traffic and accident management. A significant step towards enhancing road safety in the city, the Traffic Engineering Centre monitors 218 junctions, helping manage traffic better, analysing accidents and their causes, detecting faults, and sharing recommendations for improvement. Additionally, the Organization Development Centre will act as a training ground for Traffic Police personnel, where they will be trained for better and more effective traffic management across the city. Speaking on this occasion, Shatrujeet Kapur, Director General of Police (DGP), Haryana, said: "This centre will prove to be effective in improving traffic management in Gurugram. This will reduce road accidents and reduce deaths in road accidents. During this, he said that the Institute of Road Traffic Education (IRTE) is a leading institution for road engineering and traffic engineering for road safety." aWith the help of these centres, Haryana Police will bring positive results in road engineering, traffic engineering and traffic management in Gurugram through cooperation. Both the centres established today will play an important role in traffic management by organising the traffic, and road accidents will decrease," he added. Agartala, Nov 22 : Ahead of the 60th Rising Day celebrations of the Border Security Force (BSF), a 25 km bike rally was organised on Friday to promote awareness on HIV/AIDS, drug abuse, and other social issues besides strengthening ties with villagers living along the India-Bangladesh border. The rally was flagged off by Tripura Police chief Amitabh Ranjan in the presence of BSFas Tripura Frontier Inspector General Patel Piyush Purushottam Das and other senior officials at Albert Ekka Park here. Deputy Inspector General of BSF K. Ganesh led the rally, in which more than 320 bikers from various forces, including the BSF, Tripura State Rifles, Central Reserve Police Force, and Central Industrial Security Force, participated in the 25-km rally. The rally covered several border villages of West Tripura and Sepahijala districts focusing on engaging with the youth and fostering better coordination with the local population for improved border management. BSF IG Das highlighted the significance of the rally, emphasizing the border guardsa commitment to not only securing the borders curbing infiltration, cries and smuggling and keeping maximum vigil especially now due to the unrest in Bangladesh but also addressing pressing social issues in border communities. He viewed that this initiative aims to bridge the gap between the border guards and residents while tackling challenges such as drug addiction and health awareness. The rally holds particular importance for Tripura, a state with 856 km of international border with Bangladesh. Director General of Tripura police Amitabh Ranjan praised the initiative of the BSF, calling it a proactive step towards addressing the socio-economic challenges faced by border communities and enhancing national security. He emphasised the need for collective efforts to prevent anti-India groups and fundamentalist forces from exploiting vulnerabilities along the border. The BSF, recognised as the world's largest border-guarding force, plays a pivotal role in ensuring the safety and security of Tripura's borders. Events like these not only celebrate the BSF's legacy but also reinforce its dedication to holistic border management, the DGP said. The BSF was established on December 1, 1965. Patna, Nov 22 : The Bihar Assembly's winter session, scheduled to commence on November 25, will span a concise five days, focusing on legislative work and important discussions. The government is preparing to introduce multiple bills during this session, alongside presenting the second supplementary budget for approval. In preparation, an all-party meeting was held on Friday, chaired by Assembly Speaker Nand Kishore Yadav. During the meeting, the Speaker appealed to all parties to work collaboratively to ensure smooth and productive proceedings in the House. "It is important for every leader to engage in meaningful discussions on public interest issues and resolve public grievances through cooperation between the ruling party and the opposition. The session is expected to address key issues while maintaining decorum, reflecting the aspirations of Bihar's citizens," Yadav said. The all-party meeting ahead of the Bihar Assembly's winter session highlighted concerns from the opposition regarding their role in the proceedings. Opposition leaders raised grievances about being denied the opportunity to speak during the previous session and emphasized the need for their voices to be heard this time. Opposition leaders, including RJD's Akhtarul Shaheen, insisted that their voices were sidelined in the last session and demanded fair opportunities to express their concerns. CPI-ML MLA Sandeep Saurav criticised the short duration of the session, alleging that the government aims to avoid discussions on public issues by limiting the proceedings to only five days. He suggested the session should be extended to at least 12-15 days. Some opposition members objected to certain RJD and Congress leaders sitting alongside the ruling party instead of in their designated seats. Congress leader Shakeel Ahmed Khan stated that the opposition plans to corner the government on pressing issues like unemployment and corruption. Minister Madan Sahni declared that the ruling party is fully prepared for the session. The Speaker, Nand Kishore Yadav, assured that steps would be taken to ensure smooth and inclusive discussions, while also meeting with officials to maintain order during the session. Bengaluru, Nov 22 : Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has clarified that there are no instructions to bring MLAs from Maharashtra and Jharkhand to Karnataka. Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Shivakumar stated on Friday when asked if legislators would be brought together in case of a hung assembly in the Maharashtra and Jharkhand elections tomorrow, he said: "No AICC leader has contacted me regarding this matter. If they do, thatas a different issue. As of now, there are no such plans. Our only choice now is to observe the election results that will be reported in the media tomorrow." Regarding campaigning in Maharashtra, he said: "I campaigned in about 8-10 constituencies, and wherever I went, I observed strong support for Congress candidates. The people have shown immense trust in us. I believe our government will come to power. There has been no discussion on such matters among us. The legislators there are sensible, and I donat foresee any issues. I trust the people have voted for us, and I am hopeful we will have good news tomorrow." On the BJP's alleged false propaganda regarding the guarantee schemes in Maharashtra, he stated: "We will definitely file a complaint. Our Chief Minister has already directed officials on this matter. BJP leaders seem to lack even basic knowledge. I had invited them to verify the implementation of the guarantee schemes in Karnataka and published advertisements regarding the same. Now, we will file a defamation case against them." Regarding the Wayanad by-election from where Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is contesting, he expressed confidence, "Congress will win with a significant margin in Wayanad. Around 20 per cent of the voters there are abroad, so the voter turnout may be slightly lower." On the Channapatna by-election conducted under his leadership, he responded, "The results of three post-election surveys will be proven wrong. Similar surveys were inaccurate during the state assembly and Haryana elections. Congress will win all three constituencies." Hubballi, Nov 23 : Former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has expressed confidence that the NDA will form governments in Maharashtra and Jharkhand, and win all three seats in the Karnataka bypolls. Speaking to the media in Hubballi on Friday, Bommai dismissed Congress' claims that the Exit Polls would be reversed and they would win the elections. He said, "Congress is forced to make these claims until the results are announced tomorrow." "I am not basing my statements on Exit Polls but rather on the response from people on the ground. In Maharashtra and Jharkhand, the NDA will form the government. I am confident of this," he added. The former Chief Minister said that the support witnessed during the campaign would translate into votes. "Bharat Bommai (his son) will win by a huge margin from the Shiggaon Assembly seat in Karnataka. The BJP will win two seats, while the JD(S) will secure one seat. The NDA will emerge victorious in all three constituencies in the by-elections held in the state," he asserted. Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara dismissed Bommai's statements, asserting that the Congress-led coalition would win all three by-election seats in Karnataka. He said, "The results will surprise everyone. I was sent to Maharashtra as an observer, and I am confident that the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), comprising six political parties, will come to power. The INDIA bloc will emerge victorious." Parameshwara criticised Exit Polls, saying they are not always accurate. "Two Exit Polls have predicted a win for us, giving 162 seats to the MVA, while the opposition has 128 seats. Exit Polls are subjective, and each party will interpret them in its favour," he added. "Based on discussions with community members and party workers at the grassroots level, the ground reality shows that people are fed up with the corrupt current (BJP) government. They are ready to vote for the Maha Vikas Aghadi in Maharashtra," Parameshwara concluded. --IANS mka/khz Stuttgart : , Nov 23 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that the transformative impact of India's "Reform, perform, transform" mantra over the last decade was due to the country's emergence as a key global player. Speaking during the News9 Global Summit via videoconferencing about the growing international acknowledgment of India's strategic importance, the Prime Minister pointed to Germany's 'Focus on India' document as a testament to the country's rising influence. The theme of the summit is "India-Germany: A Roadmap for Sustainable Growth," reflecting the responsible partnership between India and Germany, PM Modi remarked. Prime Minister Modi said that in the last few years, the Indo-German partnership has been strengthened. "Today, India is one of the fastest-growing large economies. Every country in the world seeks to partner with India for development. Germany's 'Focus on India' document is a significant example of this. It highlights how the world acknowledges India's strategic importance. This shift in global perception and India's development can be attributed to the aReform, Perform, Transform' mantra, which has played a major role over the last ten years," he added. The Prime Minister outlined key reforms that have strengthened India's economic foundation. "We improved the ease of doing business by ending 30,000 compliances and changed the complicated tax system by introducing GST," he said. He also highlighted efforts to stabilise the banking sector, ensuring timely and affordable capital for development. "We have created a stable and progressive policy-making environment so that our businesses can move forward," he added. He also said that India has created a "stable and progressive policy-making environment" to support businesses. These measures, he said, have positioned India as one of the fastest-growing large economies, attracting international partnerships. Pointing to strong India-Germany relations, PM Modi mentioned the significant presence of the Indian diaspora in Germany. "Today in Germany, there are about three lakh Indians, and more than 50,000 Indian students are in German universities--the largest group of Indian students abroad," he said. Apart from that, he highlighted the operational presence of "over 18,000 companies in India," reflecting robust bilateral cooperation. Addressing the gathering, PM Modi said that this summit is an addition of a new chapter to the Indo-German Partnership. The Prime Minister said, "I am happy that a media group from India is trying to connect with Germany and the German people in today's information age. This will also provide a platform for the people of India to understand Germany and the people of Germany." Prime Minister Modi emphasised Europe's strategic importance to India, particularly in terms of geopolitical relations, trade, and investment, with Germany being one of India's key partners. The year 2024 marks the 25th anniversary of the Indo-German Strategic Partnership, making it a historic year, he said. The Prime Minister highlighted the notable events including Chancellor Olaf Scholz's third visit to India and the Asia-Pacific Conference of German Businesses being held in Delhi after 12 years. The Prime Minister noted that while the Indo-German Strategic Partnership has existed for 25 years, the relationship between the two countries dates back centuries. It was a German who created Europe's first Sanskrit grammar books, and German merchants introduced Tamil and Telugu printing to Europe. Bilateral trade between the two countries stands at around $34 billion, and this trade will continue to grow in the coming years due to the strengthening partnership, the Prime Minister added. The Prime Minister highlighted India's progress towards becoming a major global manufacturing hub, drawing parallels to Germany's own development in manufacturing and engineering. Under the "Make in India" initiative, the country is offering production-linked incentives to manufacturers. India has made significant strides, becoming a leading country in mobile and electronics manufacturing, the world's largest producer of two-wheelers, and the second-largest producer of steel and cement. This transformation marks India's growing importance in global manufacturing, PM Modi said. The Prime Minister added that India is also the fourth-largest manufacturer of four-wheelers, and its semiconductor industry is poised for global success. This progress is attributed to recent government policies aimed at improving infrastructure, reducing logistics costs, easing business operations, and ensuring stable governance. India is making rapid advancements in physical, social, and digital infrastructure, with a notable global impact from its innovative digital technologies. India now boasts the world's most unique digital public infrastructure, the Prime Minister said. Prime Minister Modi encouraged German companies already established in India to increase their investments and invited those not yet present to consider entering the Indian market. Emphasising that this is the right time to align with India's growth, the Prime Minister called for a partnership between India's dynamism and Germany's precision, engineering, and innovation. The Prime Minister concluded his address by highlighting how India as an ancient civilisation has always welcomed global partnerships and invited all to join in building a prosperous future for the world. "Chilean wine has been setting new standards in recent years. Don Melchor's meticulous approach across three-plus decades has cemented its legacy as a benchmark for the country and made Don Melchor Cabernet Sauvignon Puente Alto Vineyard one of Chile's most sought-after Cabs." Post this In its official release announcing its Top 10 Wines of 2024, Wine Spectator states that Don Melchor has positioned itself as a benchmark of excellence, both in Chile and the global wine industry. Its 2021 vintage, which received 96 points, was celebrated: "Chilean wine has been setting new standards in recent years. Don Melchor's meticulous approach across three-plus decades has cemented its legacy as a benchmark for the country and made Don Melchor Cabernet Sauvignon Puente Alto Vineyard one of Chile's most sought-after Cabs. It now is honored as Wine Spectators 2024 Wine of the Year." Don Melchor 2021 marks the 35th vintage of the Don Melchor portfolio. Throughout its successful trajectory, Don Melchor has been characterized by its extraordinary quality and consistency, obtaining the highest recognitions granted by specialized media to a Chilean wine, positioning itself as an icon and true benchmark in the global wine industry. At the same time, with this notable distinction, its Puente Alto vineyard is crowned as one of the world's great terroirs for the production of wines of global stature. "It is a source of pride and gratitude that Don Melchor 2021 has been chosen number one by the prestigious Wine Spectator magazine. For me, this is undoubtedly the highest distinction received by Don Melchor in its remarkable trajectory. This, on the one hand, is a consequence of having the Puente Alto terroir, one of the best origins in the world for the production of the Cabernet Sauvignon variety, as well as the undisputed consistency that this wine has demonstrated over the years, this being the fourth time that our icon Cabernet Sauvignon has been ranked among the top ten wines in this publication," says Eduardo Guilisasti, CEO of Vina Concha y Toro. "It is a great honor to receive this recognition. I personally believe that, in order to produce a great wine, it is necessary to have a clear vision of where we want to go, staying true to the essence of the terroir, because it is the terroir that truly guides us. We are aware of this, and that is why in each of its vintages we seek to express the beauty of the perfect balance of the Puente Alto terroir. Don Melchor is born from the stony soil of this origin, the cold wind coming down from the Andes Mountains, its old vines and the careful work of man in the vineyard, making it a unique place in the world to produce a great Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon of Andean character. This important recognition, therefore, not only crowns this exceptional terroir, but also the dedicated, meticulous and committed work of so many people who have sought the excellence of Don Melchor year after year," explains Enrique Tirado, General Manager and Technical Director of Vina Don Melchor since 1997. "On its shoulders, Don Melchor has been able to carry with pride, excellence and elegance a great Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon, whose origin and legacy dates back more than 150 years of history, and whose vines were brought from Bordeaux, France. Its genetic material has been guarded for generations, representing a unique value within the global wine industry," explains Isabel Guilisasti, Vice President of Fine Wines at Vina Concha y Toro. She adds: "We receive this prestigious recognition with the responsibility to continue delivering with each new vintage of Don Melchor, our deep and historic vocation for excellence, and the strong commitment to preserve, through diverse agroecological practices and innovations, this precious place for future generations. We would like to thank all our customers and distributors for their great commitment in bringing Don Melchor to our consumers around the world." The complete list of Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines of the Year 2024 is posted at www.winespectator.com, and will also appear in the December 31, 2024 print edition. ABOUT VINA DON MELCHOR Vina Don Melchor is dedicated to the production of the icon Cabernet Sauvignon Don Melchor. The eponymous vineyard that gives life to this wine is located in the renowned appellation of Puente Alto, in the Maipo Valley, at the foot of the Andes Mountains, at 650 meters above sea level, on the third alluvial terrace of the northern bank of the Maipo River. The vineyard currently covers 314 acres (125 hectares) - mainly Cabernet Sauvignon, with small amounts of Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot - and is divided into seven main parcels, further subdivided into 151 micro-parcels. One of the most important qualities of the vineyard is its soil: poor in nutrients and, at the same time, composed of clays, silts, sands, and rounded stones, ensuring good drainage and low fertility, which allows for a restriction in the vegetative growth of the plants, favoring the concentration and natural maturity of the clusters. The vines grown in the Don Melchor vineyard come from a massal selection, a propagation method that ensures genetic diversity from the first pre-phylloxera plants brought from Bordeaux, France, in the 19th century. In 2004, in order to preserve this material, the best 3,000 plants of the vineyard were identified, from which the material for all future renovations of the vineyard is obtained today. Based on its commitment to Excellence, Innovation and Sustainability, this year Vina Don Melchor also revealed its "sundial vineyard" project, which was planted in 2018, and which this year was unveiled to rise as a new path to continue advancing in the field of sustainability, the preservation of biodiversity in the vineyard and how to face the challenges posed by climate change, as well as being a contribution to science and an important source of information regarding the cultivation of the vine. ABOUT DON MELCHOR 2021 "The 2021 vintage provided us with very expressive wines, brimming with concentration, dense and long, that cast a spotlight on the fruit and textural quality of every variety grown in the Don Melchor Vineyard, displaying a fine balance between finesse and energy, with extremely expressive flavors and aromas," describes Enrique Tirado of the 2021 vintage of Don Melchor. The final blend of Wine Spectator's first-place winning wine among the best wines of 2024, includes 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc and 3% Merlot. It was aged for 15 months in French oak barrels, where 68% were new barrels and 32% second use barrels. It is then aged for another year, developing the complexity and elegance of Don Melchor. Every year in the village of Lamarque, Bordeaux, France, Enrique Tirado meets with Eric Boissenot, son of the renowned Bordeaux consultant Jacques Boissenot, who advises hundreds of wineries, including Chateau Mouton-Rothschild, Chateau Latour and Chateau Leoville Las Cases de Bordeaux. Together with him, the winemaker tastes between 150 and 200 lots of wines from the Don Melchor vineyard, selecting only those that, in exact proportion, will determine a new vintage of the icon Cabernet Sauvignon, Don Melchor. More information at www.donmelchor.com For US based inquiries, visit https://luxurybrandsvct.com/brands/don-melchor/ Media Contact Maria Belen Letelier Correa, Vina Don Melchor, 56 9 84090039, [email protected] SOURCE Vina Don Melchor On the evening of November 12, Caldecott Medalist Sophie Blackall joined Maria Popova, author and founder of the Marginalian, at the Morgan Library & Museum in Manhattan for a discussion about Childrens Books as Philosophy for Living. The event was part of an ongoing series of Centennial Conversations hosted by Popova in honor of the Morgans 100th anniversary. Guiding their talk were three objects in the Morgans collection: Antoine de Saint-Exuperys original watercolors for The Little Prince, which marked 80 years in print in 2023; the 1862 diary entry in which Lewis Carroll described his first telling of the story that would become Alices Adventures in Wonderland; and Beatrix Potters picture letters, which contained early iterations of Peter Rabbit and other characters. The recent election cast the work of childrens book artists in a new light for Popova. She told the audience, I dont believe in moralizing children, but I do believe that morality is a branch of the imaginationjust like creativity and curiosityand if the imagination is rooted in kindness, then morality stands a pretty good chance. Popova suggested that the solution to current conflicts must begin with the moral education, with raising children who cannot want or imagine a world that is not kind. The duo dove down numerous rabbit holes, exploring this notion of childrens literature as springboard for empathy. Gently teasing Blackall for being ambivalent toward The Little Prince, Popova said the book has been a personal touchstone. The childrens books that endure can be read both when youre a child and when youre a grown-up, she said. I read The Little Prince once a year. And every year it tells me something about my life and the world Im living in that I need to examine. Although Blackall doesnt buy the portrayal of the prince as a young boy (Ive never met a child as wise or sweet or calm or focused), she finds much to admire in the way Saint-Exupery represents drawing. She referenced the opening pages of the story, in which the narrator recalls his early attempts at drawing a boa constrictor swallowing an elephant. Its a beautiful introduction to the book, she said, because everyone can drawbut we stop. Popova agreed that, too often, children are discouraged by being told [their drawing] doesnt represent reality. She wondered how to preserve that fantastical imagination while adapting to the real world. Who are the kids who become artists and say, Im going to create wonder and fantasy, even though I live in the real worldand thats also reality. For Blackall, the desire to illustrate took hold at the age of seven, when she became fascinated with the way E.H. Shepard depicted Piglets ears in a particular drawing in Winnie-the-Pooh by A.A. Milne. I would trace Shepards drawings because I couldnt figure out how, with so few lines, he could create these characters that felt like my friends. It was the first book that did not condescend to me as a child, she said. Fortunately, Blackalls early passion for drawing was nurtured rather than discouraged. Years later, the invitation to illustrate Finding Winnie by Lindsay Mattickthe story of the bear that inspired Winnie-the-Poohrepresented a full-circle moment. She went on to receive the 2016 Caldecott Medal for her work. Alongside The Little Prince, a formative book from Popovas childhood was Alices Adventures in Wonderland. Born in Bulgaria under a dictatorship, Popova said, I loved those fantastical worlds created by Saint-Exupery and Carrollboth of them playing with the questions, What is real? What is to be believed? Carroll (aka Charles Dodgson) was a mathematician and logician, and she remarked at how he created this very coherent world where even the unreal things were internally consistent. Although Wonderland is the ultimate unreality, Carrolls fictional creation illuminates real aspects of human nature and society. The fertile illusion of fantasy and the destructive delusion of fundamentalism share the same psychological structure, she said. They both enlist the imagination: fantasy mystifies in order to reveal some deeper truth, and fundamentalism mystifies in order to conceal. Popova noted young Alices moral courage as she navigates this topsy-turvy world with its arbitrary rules and ruthless monarchs, who use words to conceal the truth. Having reread the book recently for the first time since her children were young, Blackall said, I also thought about how brave Alice was. It didnt especially occur to me as a child, but she just says yes at every turn. She praised the storys delightful, subversive quality and lamented how, by contrast, so many of the books that we are making for kids today are didactic and moralizing. While she hopes that good books for children will guide them in a way to be more empathetic and kind people, she said, I do think that children deserve a story. Popova added, Stories are what make worlds. The aim of childrens literature, she said, is feeding young peoples imagination so they discover their own ability to make and break stories. Blackall expanded on the idea that booksespecially fairy talesoffer a valuable form of agency for young people. One of the things that distinguishes childrens books is theyre written for a swath of the population that has no power, basically. As a balm for the great unknown of growing up, she aims to make books that the child will want to read again and again and again. Ive learned that children will want to return to that book, because they know how it ends, and very little in their lives is familiar in that way. Ultimately, Blackall said, theres room for every kind of story. Standing in opposition to book bans and those who seek to curtail childrens freedom to read, she said, Im a big believer in all the booksand letting [kids] choose which ones they want to read. The writers pivoted to discuss their third luminary: author, illustrator, and conservationist Beatrix Potter, who was the subject of a recent exhibition at the Morgan. Like Carrollwhose Wonderland grew from a story he improvised during a boat ride with Alice Liddell and her sistersPotter wrote her books with specific young readers in mind. The early traces of her animal characters appear in her picture letters addressed to the children of her friend and former governess Annie Moore. Potters mindfulness of the child reader is also evident in the production of her books; she insisted on a small trim size because she wanted them to fit in a childs hand and to be affordable. Although Popova didnt grow up reading Potters books (she wasnt big in Bulgaria), she said she later fell in love with her scientific drawings and studies of mushrooms. I love people who refuse to reduce their gifts to one category. She always suspected that Potters tales might be a bit too saccharine for her taste, but Blackall countered, One of my favorite things is that underlying darkness in something that seems sweet on the surface. She noted how Potters scientific mind informed her storytelling. Her characters are true to their animal selves, she said. Theyre all basically trying not to eat each other! Referencing Potters practice of dissecting her childhood pets after they died and preserving their pelts, Blackall concluded, Theres nothing squeamish about her. Finally, returning to the notion of childrens books as guides for looking at and moving through the world, Blackall said, I want to foster a curiosity in children so that they will feel confident that they can read any book that they might want to pick up. And so, if a child is encouraged to be curious, I believe that they will continue to read and they will become a more empathetic human being. And I think we need that. Popova replied, There is no greater philosophy for living than curiosity, because that is the antidote to contempt. The poet Ted Kooser turned 85 this year, and the Pulitzer Prize winner and former poet laureate of the United States is as productive as ever, with Copper Canyon Press putting out his latest volume, Raft, earlier this fall. Since the 2018 publication of the new and selected volume Kindest Regards, Kooser has written two books of poetry and two chapbooks and written or cowritten two picture books, and he continues to edit the Ted Kooser Contemporary Poetry series at the University of Nebraska Press. And in December, the University of Nebraska Press will republish Koosers 1980 anthology The Windflower Home Almanac of Poetry, featuring poets from the Great Plains and designed to resemble a farmers almanac. PW spoke with Kooser about his new book, his writing process for both poetry and picture books, and how he keeps so busy well into his 80s. The interview has been lightly edited for clarity. The first two poems in your new book, Raft and A Man with a Rake, set the tone for the collectionyou write, for instance, hes figured out now how to slow it / all downand the final poem, Bird, concludes it in kind. Did you think of these poems as elegies as you were writing them? Those first two poems are those of the old man Ive become, 85 now. The tone of Raft is largely elegiac, as we old fellows like to look back with fondness at times and people long gone. If Im not writing about my own life today, Im writing about the lives of other people, like the man with the rake or the man in Under a 40 Watt Bulb. And that moment in that little country cemetery, in Bird, was a wonderful, touching experiencethose two women, my mother and her childhood friend, Bird, seeing each other for the first time in probably 70 years. I seem to be quite an elegiac old guy. Almost all of my poems have some elegy in them. Well into your 80s, you remain as busy as ever. How do you manage to be so productive? I write every morning, from about 4:30 to 7:00 or 8:00 a.m., and I can get quite a lot done in that time. During the rest of the day I take care of errands, but also spend a lot of time in correspondence with other writers. You also edit work by other writers quite a bit. What do you enjoy about working with other poets? Has editing changed how you work or think about your own poetry? Editingespecially my two literary journals, the Salt Creek Reader and the Blue Hotelconnected me with many other writers, which brought me into a community that might not have been available otherwise. I see the work of editing as apart from my work as a poet. Editing is something that I can do during the day, whereas my own writing has to be done very early in the morningbefore the critic inside me wakes up, to steal from Kate DiCamillo. If I come upon someones poem that I really like, I want to make copies and share it with everyone who comes to mind. And my writer friends are doing the same. I suppose its about being a part of a community of writers who are kind and helpful to each other. You've written several picture books (and have even been the subject of one: Ted Kooser: More Than a Local Wonder, by Carla Ketner and illustrated by Paula Wallace). How did the latest, Marshmallow Clouds, cowritten with Connie Wanek and illustrated by Richard Jones, come about? How do you find writing a picture book different from writing a poem? I was honored that Carla and Paula wanted to do that book and were successful in finding a publisher. I love illustrated childrens books, and have quite a big collection of them. So it was especially fun to have an illustrated book about me. Connie and I have become close friends over the years and exchange letters and emails a couple of times a week. She is a superb letter writer, and I cherish each one. I suggested we might try a children's book together and to try it on Candlewick, which had published my earlier children's books. While I'm writing, I never know which way something will go. I just follow the thread to see what will happen. Maybe a poem I thought to be "adult" seems, after a while, to look like something a child might like. Were attempting to unravel the tangled web of literary influence by talking with the great writers of today about the writers of yesterday who influenced them. This month, we spoke 2020 National Book Award nominee Rumaan Alam (Entitlement, Leave the World Behind) about the wry maturity of Anita Brookner and 2019 Pulitzer Prize finalist Tommy Orange (Wandering Stars, There There) about the singular strangeness of Felisberto Hernandez. Rumaan Alam on Anita Brookner I find it interesting that Brookner didnt publish a novel until 53 and then poured out this massive body of work over the next 30 years. That is one of the most extraordinary things about her. She had an entire other career as a very well respected art historian and wrote academically and critically about painting. And it's very clear when you read A Start in Life in particular, because that one feelsas often first novels canthe most autobiographical. The first line is, Dr. Weiss, at forty, knew that her life had been ruined by literature. And so it's very evident that you're encountering an authorial intelligence that has been so informed by reading. It's evident that she has this deep relationship to literature, that it helped her think about herself, and then it catalyzed something in her at some point in her 50s where she was like, I'm gonna do this. And she did it. It clearly wasn't a fluke, because she went on to do it, like, 22 more times. What do you most enjoy about her writing? Theres a kind of genteel veneer. Its post-war into the 80s in London, upper-middle-class people talking about meals and clothes and rooms and art and hotels, but beneath that there is this attention to things that are pretty ugly. Theres not a lot of nicety. There's something that feels very human and kind of grotesque. She talks a lot about food. People are eating these meals, and they're often very small, mean little meals, like a can of tuna and a sliced tomato and a black cup of Sanka, and its so evocative somehow of hunger and privation. Theyre women mostly who are just satisfied chomping on a thing of celery and eating like half a piece of toast, and I don't know why, but there's something so animal and kind of gross about that. There's also something kind of comic about it. I think she's funnier than she seems. She's more wry, and she's a bit mean. The characters will go for these unbelievably long walks and there's this feeling of people walking to the point of exhaustion or walking because they don't know what else to do with themselves. While I love a writer like Jennifer Egan, each of whose books feels like a left turn from the previous and a wholly different enterprise, Brookner is a writer who's almost the inverse, where every book is kind of the sameand that can sound like an insult to one kind of reader, but I don't mean it that way. Maybe a way of thinking about it is the way we'd think about a painter like Agnes Martin. She's investigating the same idea over and over again because she's the artistthe artist is not satisfied, or has to go back into it because there's something more that she's looking for. The artist who is relitigating the same thing over and over againits not a bad thing. It's kind of a fascinating thing. She's just using roughly the same framework each time, but that is not to say that I would skip any of them, or that they feel redundant or repetitive. There's some kind of joy to me as a reader in their familiarity, actually. Her work has a mood or attitude that seems more important than the story. Yeah, that's absolutely right. There's a real atmosphere to the booksurban late afternoon loneliness. Theres something frank and very adult about Brookner's work. Sometimes people suck. Sometimes they're idiots. Sometimes a woman, to save herself and make something of her life, has to marry a guy who's an idiot but has some money, and then they'll live happily in this stupid house, but at least they're happy, or they're rich, or they don't have any kids. It feels very grown up to acknowledge that like that: people aren't amazing. What do you think other writers can learn from her? I think her biography is very interesting, especially for writers who feel some pressure when they see those debut novels by 24-year-olds. Its like, you don't have to start there, and there is another way forward. In a culture that is so ridiculous about youth, Brookner is a very useful reminder that maturity brings its own rewards. That beginning the life of an artist at that point in your trajectory through the decades, youre sort of starting from a place of real strength. And so I do think thats useful to remember, because I think we all feel that pressure. I know I felt that when I was younger. But its not useful to think that way, so it's good to have a counterargument to that in the literature. Tommy Orange on Felisberto Hernandez Hernandez has kind of a cult following. I know Calvino really loved him. Yeah, he was my favorite writer for a certain time period, and I think this largely has to do with people who can accomplish being really funny and really sad at the same time. And also I read this story about when he died, how he had to be lifted out of his house using the kind of crane they use for moving pianos because hed gotten so big. That really intrigued me, because he was a professional piano player for silent movies and was sort of doing fiction on the side. I played piano before I wrote. Most of the reading I was doing when I really fell in love with fiction was work in translation, and a lot of that was by South American authors, so Felisberto felt like somebody that I had found completely on my own. And he was just so unlike anyone else, and continues to be. It was a big event for me when New Directions put out Lands of Memory. Thats how I discovered him, because I used to follow publishers that I loved rather than authors that I loved, and New Directions was always kind of a beacon for me. Piano Stories was the first one that I read, so discovering a new author, that book kind of remains special for that reason, and just to get another book from him was really exciting. I don't know that I would be able to choose between the two. I think it really caught my eye, too, before I read them, that Cortazar, on the back of one of the books, just says, I will always love you. And, you know, Cortazar is a giant. What strikes you about his work on a page level? His writing is unique. Its not like anyone else's, style-wise. A lot of the premises for his storieslike, this salesman who goes to people and can't stop crying in front of them comes to mind. He can pull off story premise, higher concept, and also just stuff that can feel nostalgic from his childhood, and keep me on a sentence level and on a premise level. I read that Hernandez was really into Proust, and you can see that in his obsession with nostalgia and memory. But he kind of pulled off in a few dozen pages what Proust did in a few thousand. What do you think of long versus short form? My entrance into fiction largely was short form. I loved Borges really early on, and Borges, of course, famously didn't ever write anything but short stories. Some of them you can't even call anything more than fragments. I think pulling that kind of feeling out of the reader with a shorter amount of time is something to commend Felisberto for. I feel like hes one of the South American writers who can both go on for really long stretches in a sentence but can also be concise. Hes got a relatively small body of work, but like you said, I think he accomplishes a lot with a little. What do you think writers should take from Hernandez? I think funny sadness is something that is appealing to everybody, and this happens on a craft level, but it's also something that is hard to teach. So I think reading people who can manage this balance can teach you how to do it more. You know, lifewhen its not a tragedyis definitely a dark comedy. And I think that the singularity of his voice can really teach you how to be singular in your own voice. When you read people who are really breaking from the mold stylistically, you can learn a lot about the ways that you're singular, and then the best book you can possibly write is the one that only you can write. So I think reading weird authors like Felisberto, like Robert Walser and Clarice Lispector, can teach you a lot about how to get at your own weirdness. Read More Writers Talking Writers Chuck Palahniuk on Ira Levin and Claire Dederer on Laurie Colwin Karl Ove Knausgard on Jorge Luis Borges and Olga Ravn on Doris Lessing Valeria Luiselli on Juan Rulfo and Mauro Javier Cardenas on Leonora Carrington Roxane Gay on Marguerite Duras and Kaveh Akbar on Amos Tutuola Emily St. John Mandel on Irene Nemirovsky and Sarah Rose Etter on Tove Ditlevson Jennifer Egan on Edith Wharton and Jinwoo Chong on John Okada China Mieville on Jane Gaskell and Keanu Reeves on Cormac McCarthy Lois Lowry on Flannery OConnor and Helen Phillips on Italo Calvino Paul Theroux on George Orwell and Ferdia Lennon on James Joyce Mosab Abu Toha on Mahmoud Darwish and Thuan on Tran Dan The Italian Publishers Association (AIE) has announced programming for its 23rd annual small and medium-sized independent publishers' fair, Piu libri piu liberi (More Books, More Freedom), scheduled for December 4-8 at Rome's La Nuvola convention center. For Italian independent publishers, the December fair is their largest annual event, offering a platform for smaller houses to showcase their catalogs as the holidays approach. The event maintains its focus on small and medium-sized publishers while incorporating programming that addresses broader industry concerns. This year's theme, "The Measure of the World," commemorates the 700th anniversary of Marco Polo's death. "If reading means exploring new territories and thoughts, books become the geographic map," Chiara Valerio, the fair's program curator, said. Valerio will host a six-part podcast series exploring different units of measurementfrom meters to light yearsas they relate to publishing and literature. The fair marks several significant debuts, including the first appearance by Spanish crime writer Alicia Gimenez-Bartlett, who will discuss her latest work La donna che fugge (The Woman Who Runs) and themes of gender discrimination in her writing. Award-winning journalist Patrick Winn, recipient of the Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award and multiple Human Rights Press Awards from Amnesty International, will discuss his book Narcotopia in conversation with Roberto Saviano. A dedicated science track features collaboration with the Scienza e Virgola Festival. One notable session, moderated by author Paolo Giordano and featuring mathematician Paolo Zellini and poet Valerio Magrelli, will explore concepts of infinity across disciplines. The program also includes a live-streamed conference connecting with Italian research stations in both the Arctic and Antarctica. The fair will conclude with a tribute to the late author Michela Murgia, featuring presentations on various aspects of her work. Writer Marcello Fois will discuss Murgia's connection to Sardinia, while editorial director Paola Gallo will address her publishing legacy. Actor Lorenzo Terenzi will present a previously unpublished text by Murgia. The event is supported by a wide variety of cultural and governmental organizations, including Italy's Ministry of Culture, the Lazio Region, and Rome's municipal government. The fair's visual identity this year features artwork by Antonio Pronostico, known for his surrealist visual metaphors. Find a great selection of commercial real estate, manufactured homes, timeshares and more for Sale Buy real estate. Find a great selection of commercial real estate, manufactured homes, timeshares and more for Sale in US and Canada. Search Real Estate Disney/Christopher Willard By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 11/22/2024 ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. runner-up Guy Gansert has admitted that Joan Vassos ' words have made him question if she made the right decision in choosing -- and getting engaged to -- Chock Chapple "Never will I ever throw [Joan] under the bus, because she has a heart of gold and she is a wonderful woman. I can't think or say anything negative about her, and I say that with sincerity," Guy told Joe Amabile and Serena Pitt during a recent episode of the "Bachelor Happy Hour" podcast.But Guy went on to confess, "She did say some things, even on TV, that made me question her decision."The Nevada-based ER doctor didn't reveal any specifics about Joan's alleged eyebrow-raising comments, but he suggested that he still respects Joan's final decision."She picked Chock, and she's got to go with her heart," Guy said. "That's her decision. I can't make that decision for her."Guy also pointed out how Chock is a "great guy," and Chock recently revealed they're still close friends who talk pretty frequently."I really like Chock, and we were roommates," Guy noted.Joan had selected Chock over Guy, who was "in love" with Joan, towards the end of her journey on . Joan said she had a feeling Chock was The One before her Fantasy Suite with Guy.Following Fantasy Suites week, Guy was hoping to meet Joan's family in Bora Bora.But after a wonderful family meet and greet with Chock, Joan decided to break up with Guy before he could even have the chance to meet her kids.Guy cried at the time of his elimination, and he admitted to the cameras that he was totally "heartbroken" and "devastated" by his breakup with Joan.When : After the Final Rose aired earlier this month, Guy said he had to "mentally prepare" for his reunion with Joan. After all, his feelings for her didn't just disappear.Guy, however, said it was a "happy" reunion and that watching back on TV gave him the closure he needed.For instance, Guy said he was able to learn "what Chock's MO was" during filming."It made me question myself, like, 'Should I have been a little more aggressive?' But I can only say and do what was true to my heart," Guy shared on the podcast."I was not going to say things prematurely. I could not be 'all in' in the beginning, and there are certain things I just couldn't do because I've got to be true to myself and be true to my heart."Guy said if he had behaved differently, he would've been doing "a disservice" to Joan."That's disrespectful to her," Guy acknowledged.Although Guy left without the girl, he insisted that he "still won" and is doing okay."[Joan] allowed me to have that transformational journey. She taught me and allowed me to realize that I can truly love again, [and find] that passionate love again. She did that, and allowed me that," Guy gushed.Guy said he'll forever be grateful to Joan and because they changed his life, and he added how he'd "definitely" do the show again.Joan and Chock, meanwhile, appear to be a happy couple who are thriving in the real world after their engagement aired on ABC.Joan and Chock said they're going to spend the holidays together with Joan's family in Maryland and then begin apartment hunting in New York City, which will serve as a convenient meet-up spot for the couple.Joan and Chock also shared how they have many international trips planned for 2025 -- including stops in Africa and France -- and that they'd like to have a televised wedding in late 2025 or early 2026.Interested in more The Bachelor news? Follow our Bachelor Nation News Page on Facebook or join our The Bachelor Facebook Group Disney/Christopher Willard By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 11/21/2024 ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. star Joan Vassos has revealed when she realized Chock was The One for her during her journey to find love again."I want to be honest, I went into the Guy [Fantasy Suite] date kind of knowing that it was Chock, but once again, I felt like I really needed to be true to this [Bachelor Nation] process that often works," Joan told Us Weekly in a joint interview with Chock."I wanted to make sure that I did it completely right, so I wanted to have one more date with him just to see if my feelings were any different."At the beginning of Joan's Fantasy Suite date with Guy in Tahiti, she admitted to cameras that their connection was behind what she was feeling for her other Final 3 bachelors, Chock and Pascal Ibgui However, as the day progressed, Joan noted that her feelings for Guy were able to "catch up" to his competition.Joan had said that she could definitely see a future with the Nevada-based ER doctor, and so decided to invite him into the Fantasy Suite that night.But according to Joan, after talking with Guy and building emotional intimacy in the Fantasy Suite, she walked away from the night with more clarity than ever before."I came out of that date getting to know a really, really great guy," Joan said. "Actually, my feelings were stronger, but they had moved into friendship, honestly."Joan added, "My heart was already with somebody else."Once Chock and Guy advanced to Bora Bora as Joan's Final 2 bachelors, Guy had been hoping to meet Joan's family because he was falling in love with her.Joan, however, decided to break up with Guy before he could even have that chance.Guy ended up finishing in second place behind Chock on finale, and Guy admitted he was "heartbroken" and "devastated" by his breakup with Joan.While Guy cried about his journey being cut short, Joan explained to Us that she really wanted him "to leave this whole thing with dignity," which is why she didn't drag out their relationship to the Final Rose Ceremony.On that final day of filming, Chock revealed to the magazine that he was pretty sure Joan was going to pick him as the winner."Guy has so much to offer. But I did feel confident that Joan and I had this connection. It really happened [after a kiss] when we were in the bungalow at Bora Bora," Chock shared."I go, 'No one kisses like that when they're interested in someone else. They just don't!'"Chock ended up proposing marriage to Joan at the Final Rose Ceremony in Bora Bora and the pair got engaged . Their engagement filmed in early August and aired earlier this month.Joan initially worried that Chock was "too good to be true," but he's apparently been proving her wrong every day."I was actually really looking for [a red flag], but it only ever got better instead of worse," Joan revealed of her connection with Chock."At the end, I was so confident. I knew I was taking a leap of faith, but I felt really confident in my decision because you do get to know each other pretty well."Joan continued, "People keep saying, 'Is this really possible to happen in eight weeks?' It is. You truly do get to know the important things about the person's values and how you feel when you're with them. You can do that in eight weeks!"And Chock said proposing to Joan was a "very easy" decision because he wanted to show her how committed he was."I wanted to show her... how much I loved her," Chock gushed.Joan truly found love for the second time in her life after losing her late husband, John Vassos, to pancreatic cancer in 2021."I never in a million years thought I'd feel love like this again," Joan exclaimed."After John passed away, I felt like my future was this black hole. And now it just looks so bright. The possibilities are endless for us, which is a weird thing to say at this age, but I do feel that way."As for what's next for the happy couple, Joan plans to stay in Maryland and Chock will continue living in Kansas.However, Joan and Chock are going to spend the holidays together with Joan's family and then begin apartment hunting in New York City.Joan and Chock said they'd like to have a convenient meet-up spot where they can spend time together in the Big Apple.Joan and Chock also shared how they have many international trips planned for 2025 -- including stops in Africa and France.Interested in more The Bachelor news? Follow our Bachelor Nation News Page on Facebook or join our The Bachelor Facebook Group Among the new entries, the largest by market capitalisation are LIC, Avenue Supermarts (DMart), Adani Green Energy, Zomato and Jio Financial Services. IMAGE: Brokers at a brokerage house in Kolkata. Kindly note the image has only been posted for representational reasons. Photograph: ANI Photo The National Stock Exchange has announced the inclusion of 45 new stocks in the futures and options (F&O) segment effective November 29. This marks the first expansion in the derivatives segment since January 2022, expected to trigger churns in several benchmark indices, including the NSE's Nifty 50 and the S&P BSE Sensex. Among the new entries, the largest by market capitalisation are the Life Insurance Corporation of India, Avenue Supermarts (DMart), Adani Green Energy, Zomato and Jio Financial Services. Despite meeting size criteria, some stocks have been excluded from the Nifty and Sensex due to a lack of derivatives inclusion. However, with this hurdle now removed, the question of their index inclusion shifts from 'if' to 'when'. Brian Freitas, an analyst at Periscope Analytics and contributor to Smartkarma, notes that the Sensex is unlikely to see adjustments in its December rebalance unless the review committee considers the newly added F&O stocks. The Sensex's next rebalancing announcement is scheduled for mid-December, though the review period closed on October 31. "If the 45 stocks are added to the index universe, Zomato could replace JSW Steel in the Sensex in December," says Freitas. "If Zomato is not added in December, inclusion by June seems likely. Trent also emerges as a possible inclusion for the index in June," he adds. Meanwhile, the next Nifty rebalance is set for March 2025, with a review period from August 1 to January 31. "With these new F&O inclusions, Zomato and Jio Financial Services could enter the index, leading to the exclusion of Bharat Petroleum Corporation (BPCL) and Eicher Motors," Freitas observes. The Nifty inclusions are expected to drive passive buying of around Rs 6,610 crore in Zomato and Rs 4,151 crore in Jio Financial. In comparison, BPCL and Eicher Motors could see passive outflows of Rs 2,538 crore and Rs 2,672 crore, respectively. The newly added F&O stocks are expected to outperform, motivated by the potential index inclusion and the derivatives segment's growth, which is regarded as a strong positive driver. "We analysed the stock performance of F&O additions since 2015. Results show that 70 per cent of these stocks delivered positive returns from the announcement date to the inclusion date," says Sriram Velayudhan, senior vice-president at IIFL Alternative Research. The inclusion of new stocks in the F&O segment follows the tightening of entry criteria by the market regulator, Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi). The revised framework aims to attract more liquid and high-quality names to the derivatives market, with Sebi mandating higher thresholds for market-wide position limits, median quarter sigma order size, and average daily delivery value in the cash market. This addition also comes as Sebi raises concerns over mounting retail losses in the derivatives segment. A recent study by Sebi revealed that the aggregate losses of 11.3 million retail traders exceeded Rs 1.8 trillion over three years, from 2021-2022 to 2023-2024. In FY24 alone, individual traders incurred roughly Rs 75,000 crore in net losses, with 93 per cent of retail traders losing money on F&O trades over the past three years. Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com After climbing to a record high of Rs 523 on September 30, shares of commodity major Vedanta have come off over 15 per cent amid a fall in the overall markets. Photograph: Danish Siddiqui/Reuters The Anil Agarwal-led firms latest slump comes after its stock price doubled over the past one year. Is it a blip or a trend reversal? Most analysts are upbeat on the counter driven by Vedantas strong showing during the second quarter ended September 2024 (Q2 FY25), which has improved earnings visibility over the medium term. Furthermore, operational efficiencies, capacity expansion, debt reduction, attractive dividend payouts and ongoing demerger are driving analysts optimism. The 12-month price targets for Vedanta range between Rs 470-Rs 663, implying an upside between 8 per cent and 50 per cent from current levels. Even after factoring in higher alumina price, we maintain FY25 estimated ebitda and increase FY26 estimated ebitda by 3 per cent to factor in higher silver prices and aluminium cost of production. "With demerger of business likely by FY25-end, we are valuing individual businesses separately. "A partial rollover to FY27, yields target price of Rs 663 (from earlier Rs 608). "This excludes Rs 15 dividend per share in the rest of FY25 and Rs 35 in FY26. It remains one of our top picks, said a note by Nuvama. (Ebitda is short for) earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation.) In 2023, the mining conglomerate announced plans to demerge and separately list five key businesses, including aluminium, oil and gas, and steel. The demerger could lead to creation of six independent verticals: Vedanta Aluminium, Vedanta Oil & Gas, Vedanta Power, Vedanta Steel and Ferrous Materials, Vedanta Base Metals and Vedanta. Vedantas management has said that the completion of the demerger process is expected by March 2025. However, it has also indicated that the demerged entities would list at different times, as and when approvals are secured. CLSA has revised lower the estimated ebitda for FY25-27 by 2-9 per cent citing soft oil and iron ore prices. But its target price of Rs 520 offers almost 20 per cent upside from current levels. Ongoing expansion projects augur well for volume growth and margin expansion. "The execution of these projects will be key to outperformance, while its dividend yield is likely to remain elevated, in our view, said CLSA in a note. Vedanta posted an ebitda of Rs 9,820 crore in Q2 FY25, ahead of most estimates, with cost efficiencies helping offset weakness in metal prices. Net debt at Rs 56,900 crore and net debt-to-ebitda at 1.49 times [was] best in last six quarters, benefitting from qualified institutional placement proceeds. "Besides, deleveraging at parent is progressing ahead of schedule. "We lower our FY25 (ebitda estimates) by 6 per cent on the sharp spurt in alumina price but keep FY26E EBITDA broadly unchanged. "We maintain BUY with a sum-of-the-parts based target price of Rs 600, implying an EV/EBITDA of 5.7x on FY26E and FY27E blended EBITDA (50 per cent weight each), said a note by ICICI Securities. While most analysts are positive on the stock, they also highlight key risks. For CLSA is it a slower-than-expected pick-up in growth projects, weaker commodity prices and deviation from stated capital allocation policies. Higher than expected escalation in alumina prices; delay in commissioning of coal mines in aluminium division and cost escalation in Zinc-India and Zinc-international divisions, are some of the risks flagged by ICICI Securities. Disclaimer: This article is meant for information purposes only. This article and information do not constitute a distribution, an endorsement, an investment advice, an offer to buy or sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any securities/schemes or any other financial products/investment products mentioned in this article to influence the opinion or behaviour of the investors/recipients. Any use of the information/any investment and investment related decisions of the investors/recipients are at their sole discretion and risk. Any advice herein is made on a general basis and does not take into account the specific investment objectives of the specific person or group of persons. Opinions expressed herein are subject to change without notice. 'The visit of the honourable PM with the workable strategy towards conflict resolution will help greatly.' 'But visiting the state without concrete proposals may not bring the desired outcome at this stage.' IMAGE: Protestors set a car on fire during a protest n Imphal, November 16, 2024, to condemn the killing of women and children by suspected Kuki militants. Photograph: ANI Photo Manipur saw another spate of violence in the ongoing conflict that has taken over 200 lives and displaced 60,000 Indians in the last 18 months. "Business as usual which we have witnessed over the last 18 months needs a review," says retired Lieutenant General Konsam Himalay Singh, the Indian Army's first three star general from the North East. The general is a member of the Manipur government's consultative committee on Naga peace talks and served the Indian Army for 40 years with distinction. During his career he led an infantry battalion during the Kargil War and commanded a battalion in the highest battlefield of the world, the Siachen Glacier. He later commanded an infantry division and a corps at the Line of Control facing Pakistan and also oversaw counter-terrorist operations in Jammu and Kashmir. After retirement, the general returned to settle down in his home state of Manipur. "It is for the authorities to consider the political approach [in Manipur]. Dialogue must be enforced despite the opposition by some armed gangs." "Efforts to recover the looted weapons in the hills and the valley districts must be intensified. Negotiations on the administrative issues must be facilitated by the Centre, come what may," the general tells Rediff.com's Archana Masih. It has been one-and-a-half years since violence began in Manipur. Another 50 companies of central police forces have been deployed after the fresh round of violence that has erupted. Why has the state and Centre been unable to bring the situation under control even after 18 months? The state and the Centre are trying their best to bring a reasonable level of stability. But their efforts have had limited success due to multiple complexities, hidden agendas, domination of the narrative by anti-national forces and many other factors. If the armed gangs set the agenda here, I believe things will not work. What according to you are the critical and underlying issues of this crisis which started with a high court directive resulting in violence on both sides? How has the situation deteriorated and what are the other factors that have contributed to the conflagration? The high court directive was to consider the case for the Meiteis to be included in the scheduled tribe lists. The honourable Supreme Court judgment asked the state government to reply to a query from the Centre regarding the matter which was pending for over 10 years. While the judgment may have been one of the triggers it certainly was not the only reason for the violence which occurred on May 3, 2023. Other factors like illegal poppy cultivation, encroachment on forest areas; Kuki-Chin groups being called foreigners, challenge to the ethnic identities and their beliefs and such socio-political issues added to the fire. Not to speak of the power-hungry forces and social media spread of false videos. Fear, suspicion took over rapidly to fan the violence. IMAGE: A deserted view of a road in Imphal West, November 17, 2024, during a curfew following the recent violence. Photograph: ANI Photo What is the solution to end this cycle of violence? Or is it near impossible to do so since opposing groups are well armed and the circle of violence only seems to be increasing? Historically, Manipur has seen far more violence between Kukis and Nagas (1992 to 1995) where thousands were killed. Kukis-Hmar violence in 1992, Kuki-Paite clashes in 1997, Kuki-Dimasa clashes in 2011, Meitei-Meitei Pangal clashes in 1992 are a few examples. It took time to settle down in all of the above clashes. Therefore, I do believe that things should improve over a period of time. It is not easy. IMAGE: Protests erupt across Manipur demanding the repeal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act. Photograph: ANI Photo More than 200 people have died and 60,000 displaced since May 2023 -- what steps does the Centre need to take restore people's trust and stop this violence? In my view, business as usual which we have witnessed over the last 18 months needs a review. It is for the authorities to consider the political approach. Dialogue must be enforced despite the opposition by some armed gangs. Efforts to recover the looted weapons in the hills and the valley districts must be intensified. Negotiations on the administrative issues must be facilitated by the Centre, come what may. IMAGE: Members of Kuki organisations hold a rally in Churachandpur, November 19, 2024, carrying mock 'coffins' in remembrance of the deceased members of their community who died during the unrest in Manipur. Photograph: ANI Photo The prime minister has faced criticism for not visiting Manipur even once after the violence began. Would his visit and appeal for peace between communities make a difference? The visit of the honourable PM with the workable strategy towards conflict resolution will help greatly. His appeal for peace and actionable approach will be welcomed by all. But visiting the state without concrete proposals may not bring the desired outcome at this stage. Can trust be restored between the Meiteis and Kukis? Can they co-exist together? I do believe that trust can be restored. There is no other way but to co-exist in the state of Manipur with reasonable arrangements to allay fears. Wounds, however, will take time to heal. As a former soldier yourself, what are the handicaps that the Assam Rifles, CRPF and Assam Rifles have to deal with while operating in Manipur? Assam Rifles and CRPF are doing their best in the given circumstances. But there are local issues and dynamics which need to be understood. IMAGE: The Manipur police along with troops of the Indian Army and Assam Rifles formations under Spear Corps recover 18 weapons comprising of carbines, pistols, single barrel rifles, grenades, ammunition and war like stores during joint search operations carried out in the hills and valley regions in the districts of Churachandpur, Kakching, Tengnoupal and Thoubal in Manipur. Photograph: ANI Photo AFSPA has been imposed in six police stations after the Jiribam incident. In the current situation which has deteriorated in the past few weeks, can AFSPA and giving a free hand to the army control the situation? I do not understand this phrase called 'free hand' to the army. The Indian Army operates within the law of the land. AFSPA is a mechanism under which the army operates in such a serious situation as in Manipur. With the imposition of AFSPA in six more police stations, nearly 96% of the territory except the highly populated areas of the capital is under AFSPA. The army is doing very good work under very trying circumstances. Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com Asserting that the relationship between India and the United States is built on a strong foundation, the White House has expressed confidence that it can navigate the ongoing crisis surrounding bribery charges against billionaire Gautam Adani. IMAGE: Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani. Photograph: ANI Photo At her daily news conference, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Thursday that the Biden administration is aware of the charges against Adani. Adani has been charged by US prosecutors for allegedly being part of a scheme to pay over $250 million (about Rs 2,100 crore/Rs 21 billion) as bribes to Indian officials in exchange for favourable terms for solar power contracts. "Obviously we're aware of these allegations, and I would have to refer you to the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) and DoJ (Department of Justice) about the specifics of those allegations against the Adani Group," Jean-Pierre said. "What I will say is on the US and India relationship, we believe that it stands on an extremely strong foundation anchored in ties between our people and cooperation across a full range of global issues," Jean-Pierre asserted. "What we believe and we're confident about is that we'll continue to navigate this issue as we have with other issues that may have come up as you just stated," Jean-Pierre added. "And so the specifics of this, this is something that the SEC and DoJ can speak to directly, but again, we believe thatthis relationship between India and the US has been built on a strong foundation." Bharatiya Janata party Janata Party president J P Nadda on Friday accused the Congress of pushing an "incorrect, false and politically" motivated narrative on the issue of Manipur unrest, as he hit back at Mallikarjun Kharge for seeking President Droupadi Murmu's intervention and alleging the Centre's complete failure in defusing the crisis. IMAGE: BJP Chief president J P Nadda and Congress Chief Mallikarjun Kharge. Photograph: ANI Photo In a rejoinder to Kharge, Nadda claimed the repercussions of the Congress's "abject failure" in dealing with local issues in Manipur when it was in power are being felt even today. The Congress hit back at Nadda, saying his letter to Mallikarjun Kharge is a "4D exercise - denial, distortion, distraction, and defamation". Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said, "Congress President Kharge ji wrote to the President of India on Manipur. Apparently to counter that letter, the BJP President has now written to the Congress President." "Naddaji's letter is, not surprisingly, full of falsehoods and is a 4D exercise - denial, distortion, distraction, and defamation," he said in a post on X. The people of Manipur are yearning for normalcy, peace, and harmony to return to the state at the earliest, Ramesh said. "Towards this end they are asking four simple questions: When will the PM visit the state? How much longer will the CM continue to be inflicted on the state, when a majority of MLAs are not in his support? When will a full-time Governor for the state be appointed? When will the Union Home Minister take responsibility for his abject failures in Manipur?" Ramesh said. In his letter, Nadda told Kharge what is shocking is how repeated attempts are being made by the Congress party to sensationalise the situation in Manipur, he told Kharge. He said Kharge seemed to have forgotten that not only did his government legitimise the illegal migration of foreign militants to India, the then home minister P Chidambaram had signed treaties with them. These known militant leaders fleeing their country to avoid arrest were wholeheartedly endorsed and encouraged to carry on their destabilising efforts, Nadda claimed. "This complete failure of India's security and administrative protocols under your government is one of the major reasons why militant and habitually violent organisations are attempting to destroy the hard-won peace in Manipur and push it back several decades into the age of anarchy," he said. Unlike the Congress, the BJP-led NDA government will not allow this to happen at any cost, he added. He said the governments at the Centre and in Manipur have been working to stabilise the situation and protect people since the initial violence. The entire government machinery is devoted to bringing back peace and harmony to Manipur, he said, stressing that the BJP's commitment to resolving the situation quickly as probe into the incidents of violence are being carried out by the NIA, "one of the most efficient agencies" in the country. Nadda said he felt compelled to respond to the incorrect, false and politically motivated narrative being pushed against the government and which Kharge's words fail to camouflage. Kharge and his party seems to have conveniently forgotten the complete failure of government machinery and the ill-advised strategies adopted by the Congress governments both at the Centre and state during similar incidents in the early 90s and during the UPA era, he said. The North East region has witnessed a complete transformation in every sector be it economy, security, healthcare, education or access to growth opportunities under the Modi government, he claimed. People have endorsed its work by repeatedly putting their faith in the stability of double-engine NDA governments over the false promises of the Congress and its allies, he said. He said, "From more than 10 historical peace accords to unprecedented connectivity, our governments are truly bringing the people of North East closer." In Manipur alone, the percentage of people suffering from multidimensional poverty has reduced from over 20 per cent in 2013 to just over 5 per cent in 2022, he added. He told Kharge, "Yet, ignoring these developments you and your party have chosen to use the North East and its people to rake up political mileage and peddle your nefarious agendas. I wish to remind you that under Congress rule, Manipur witnessed one of the bloodiest periods in history." In addition to the black period of the 90s when thousands were killed and lakhs displaced due to rampant violence, in 2011 alone Manipur witnessed a complete blockade for more than 120 days, he noted. Petrol and LPG prices were nearly four-times higher than the rest of the country and losses of crores of rupees were being suffered by the exchequer every day, he said. The state was marked by thousands of fake encounters, he alleged. Nadda claimed that this pattern of Congress leaders endorsing and encouraging a nexus of foreign forces looking to derail India's progress is truly worrying. "As a result of this failure to recognise the maleficent intentions of these individuals, your party is often seen matching them step-for-step. Whether this failure is an unfortunate blind spot resulting from the Congress' thirst for power or part of a carefully designed strategy to divide the people and sideline our democracy, is what our nation deserves to know," he said. Nadda also reminded Kharge of the "disrespectful and irresponsible manner" in which the Congress acted when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was addressing the issue of violence in Manipur in Parliament earlier this year. In his two-page letter to the President, Kharge had on Tuesday accused both the Union and the state government of having "completely failed" in restoring peace and normalcy in Manipur during the last 18 months, seeking her intervention. He claimed that people have lost confidence in the governments. Kharge said that the violence has claimed more than 300 human lives, including women, children and babies. "The deteriorating law and order in Manipur has internally displaced nearly a lakh of human population rendering them homeless and forcing them to live in different relief camps," he said, adding the agony continues unabated. A Bharatiya Janata Party leader has got a police complaint filed against Islamic cleric Maulana Sajjad Nomani, alleging that he has issued a 'fatwa' calling for the social boycott of Muslims supporting the BJP government at the Centre. IMAGE: A Muslim group from Old Delhi joins the BJP on March 2, 2024. Image used only for representation. Photograph: Jitender Gupta/ANI Photo BJP's Minority Morcha president Jamal Siddiqui got the complaint filed at the Tughlak Road police station in New Delhi. According to the complaint, Nomani, who resides in Lucknow and enjoys significant influence within the Muslim community, issued the controversial 'fatwa' (decree) during the Maharashtra assembly polls. Siddiqui has told police that in a widely-circulated video, Nomani reportedly said Muslims who support the BJP should be shunned, denied greetings and subjected to a complete social boycott. Nomani has also allegedly said that such individuals should be considered outside the fold of Islam. In the video, the cleric has allegedly mocked the BJP's Muslim supporters, saying they should rename themselves as 'Ghanshyam', signalling their exclusion from the community. Siddiqui has claimed that this 'fatwa' has led to severe consequences for Muslims associated with the saffron party, including threats, social isolation and abuses. 'After the fatwa, people have stopped talking to me during Friday prayers and at public places like Nizamuddin Dargah. I have faced abuses on social media and people are boycotting me,' Siddiqui has said in his complaint. He has also said that he is being followed and receiving death threats, making his life and that of other BJP workers increasingly difficult. The complainant has urged authorities to take strict action against Nomani for his statements. He has also attached a link to the video clip to his complaint. 'India is a top-tier security partner for Australia and we continue to prioritise practical and tangible cooperation that directly contributes to Indo-Pacific stability.' Kindly note the image has been published only for representational purposes.. Photograph: ANI Photo For several years, the Indian and Australian navies have developed operational practices during joint training, such as Exercise Malabar, as well as in actual counter-submarine patrols. Their efforts aim to deter submarines from China's People's Liberation Army Navy from entering the waters of the Indian Ocean, which New Delhi considers its sphere of influence. On Thursday, Australia and India took their cooperation a step further. The two nations signed an arrangement allowing the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and the Indian armed forces to conduct air-to-air refuelling. Australia's Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy and India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced the agreement during bilateral discussions on Thursday. Under the agreement, the RAAF's KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport will be able to refuel Indian aircraft that have entered airspace near Australia. It remains unclear whether Australian aircraft will receive the same courtesy when they enter the eastern Indian Ocean. The Indian Air Force currently refuels from ageing Ilyushin-78 airborne tankers, which may not be interoperable with the RAAF's more modern fighters. RAAF Deputy Chief Air Vice-Marshal Harvey Reynolds signed the arrangement in New Delhi at the Australia-India air staff talks. "The ability to conduct air-to-air refuelling with the Indian armed forces elevates our interoperability and enables us to cooperate more effectively across a range of scenarios," said Air Vice-Marshal Reynolds. "India is a top-tier security partner for Australia, and through our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, we continue to prioritise practical and tangible cooperation that directly contributes to Indo-Pacific stability," he added. The RAAF regularly trains and engages with the Indian Navy's P-8I Poseidon surveillance aircraft. This agreement marks the first step toward using the KC-30A to refuel the P-8I, expanding India's operational reach and endurance in the Indo-Pacific region. "This arrangement represents a significant advancement in our relationship with India. It provides valuable opportunities for our personnel to work closely together, share knowledge and expertise, and build trust and understanding," Air Vice-Marshal Reynolds said. Singh recalled that the India-Australia partnership is rooted in shared interests, particularly the stability and security of the Indian Ocean region. While expressing happiness over the growing defence engagement over the past few years, Singh underscored the untapped potential for collaboration between Indian and Australian defence industries in niche areas. India-Australia Conduct Joint Military Exercise 'AustraHind' IMAGE: General Officer Commanding, Major General K T G Krishnan, left, and 2nd Australian Division Major General David Thomae, right, at the closing ceremony of the 3rd edition of the India-Australia joint military exercise 'AustraHind', at the Foreign Training Node in Pune, November 22, 2024, here and below. Photographs: ANI Photo IMAGE: Troops of both the Indian and Australian armies at the closing ceremony.= IMAGE: Major General Krishnan addresses the closing ceremony. Photographs curated by Manisha Kotian/Rediff.com Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com With an eye on the assembly elections scheduled in Delhi early next year, Aam Aadmi Party supremo Arvind Kejriwal on Friday launched a 'Revdi Par Charcha' campaign that will run from November 25 to December 10, an official statement said. IMAGE: Aam Aadmi Party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal with Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai, party MPs Sanjay Singh, Raghav Chadha, party leaders Manish Sisodia, Satyender Jain and others launches the 'Rewri Par Charcha' Campaign, at party office in New Delhi on Friday. Photograph: Rahul Singh/ANI Photo Launching the campaign, the AAP national convenor said the party's district and booth-level office-bearers will reach out to the voters with pamphlets detailing the free facilities ('revdis') provided by the AAP government. "Our workers will hold 65,000 meetings across Delhi to make people understand what these free facilities mean and how only AAP can provide them," the former Delhi chief minister said. The government is providing six free facilities -- electricity, water, healthcare, education, bus rides for women, and pilgrimage for the elderly, he added. "Another 'revdi' -- Rs 1,000 monthly assistance for women in Delhi -- will be launched soon," the AAP chief claimed. Backing Kejriwal's announcements, Delhi Chief Minister Atishi said in a post in Hindi on X, 'Arvind Kejriwal has spent people's tax money on public instead of keeping it in his pocket. But all this will stop if the BJP comes to power (in Delhi).' 'The people of Delhi will have to make Arvind Kejriwal their chief minister once again to save the free facilities,' she added. Slamming Prime Minister Narendra Modi's repeated criticism of free services, Kejriwal said, "Yes, we are proudly offering these six 'revdis' to the Delhiites." Alleging that the saffron party wants to stop all the free facilities in the national capital, Kejriwal said, "The BJP is in power in 20 states, but they don't provide 'revdis' in even one of them because they don't have the intention. Only the AAP knows how to provide these free facilities." He also said the AAP workers will ask the voters what the BJP has done for Delhi in the past 10 years since 'the national capital is a half-state and the Central government has as many powers as we do'. All that the BJP has done in the past decade is to halt the AAP government's development works, Kejriwal claimed. Echoing similar sentiments, senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia highlighted the significance of the upcoming assembly polls and the need to connect with the people during election time. "We must go among the people and talk about what we have done and why. The changes we brought into people's lives are evident, and it is our responsibility to explain these efforts to them," Sisodia said. The ethnic violence between Meitei and Kuki communities in Manipur has claimed 258 lives since May last year, the state government's Security Advisor Kuldiep Singh said on Friday. IMAGE: Paramilitary personnel fire tear shell gases on students staging a protest in Imphal. Photograph: ANI Photo He said that the state would get around 90 companies of the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF), over and above the 198 companies that are already in Manipur. "The total number of deaths is 258 including militants," Singh while addressing a press conference after holding a security review meeting in Imphal. The security advisor said that 32 people were arrested in connection with vandalism and torching of properties of ministers and MLAs while around 3,000 looted weapons have been recovered. "We are getting approximately 90 companies of CAPF, over and above the 198 companies which were earlier sent to the state. A sizeable number of them have already reached Imphal. We are distributing forces to protect the lives and properties of the citizens and vulnerable points," Singh said. The authorities would set up coordination cells and joint control rooms in each district, he said after the meeting which was attended by representatives of the Army, Border Security Force, Central Reserve Police Force, Assam Rifles, Sashastra Seema Bal, Indo-Tibetan Border Police and the Manipur Police. "A number of SOPs (standard operating procedure) have been prepared for deployment of forces for coordination, for functioning, for fringe area security, for national highways security, and for any other important points which have to be taken care of," Singh said. Chief Minister N Biren Singh would be briefed about the outcome of the meeting as is done in all similar cases, he said. He said that nine bodies, including those of the victims including those of the six abducted and killed in Jiribam, were buried peacefully under tight security. The bodies include three women and three children, who were allegedly abducted from a relief camp on November 11 by Kuki-Zo militants from Jiribam's Borobekra area when a group of Kuki youths were engaged in an encounter with CRPF in which 10 of them were killed. "The CRPF post was attacked during which 10 militants were neutralised. Soon after that, it came to light that three women and three children were abducted," Singh said. It will be found out whether the abduction happened in presence of the security forces, he said. No information is available if the militants involved in the abduction belonged to Suspension of Operations (SoO) groups but it will be checked, Singh said adding that NIA is looking into the cases. The SoO pact was signed by the Centre, the Manipur government and two conglomerates of Kuki militant outfits Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and United People's Front (UPF). The pact was signed in 2008 and extended periodically thereafter. The violence between Imphal Valley-based Meiteis and adjoining hills-based Kuki-Zo groups, besides inflicting heavy casualties, rendered thousands of people homeless since May last year. It started after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur's population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley. Tribals -- Nagas and Kukis -- constitute little over 40 per cent and reside in the hill districts. Days after India strongly objected to a report in the Canada-based Globe and Mail newspaper that attempted to draw a link between the death of NIA-designated terrorist Hardeep Nijjar to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Canada has officially denied the reports. IMAGE: Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, US President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Narendra Modi talk while standing for a group photo with other leaders during the G20 summit at the Museum of Modern Art in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on November 19, 2024. Photograph: Ricardo Moraes/Reuters Nathalie G Drouin, the Deputy Clerk of the Privy Council and National Security and Intelligence Advisor to the Prime Minister, in the statement issued by the Privy Council Office said, "On October 14th, because of a significant and ongoing threat to public safety, the RCMP and officials took the extraordinary step of making public accusations of serious criminal activity in Canada perpetrated by agents of the Government of India". "The Government of Canada has not stated, nor is it aware of evidence, linking Prime Minister Modi, Minister Jaishankar, or NSA Doval to the serious criminal activity within Canada," the statement added. "Any suggestion to the contrary is both speculative and inaccurate", the statement concluded. The Globe and Mail newspaper had claimed the Indian prime minister, national security advisor and the external affairs minister were aware of the alleged plot to kill Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Referring to the report quoting an unnamed official, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said such 'ludicrous statements' should be dismissed with the contempt they deserve. "We do not normally comment on media reports. However, such ludicrous statements made to a newspaper purportedly by a Canadian government source should be dismissed with the contempt they deserve," he said. "Smear campaigns like this only further damage our already strained ties," he said. India-Canada ties nosedived last month after Canada linked Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Verma and some other diplomats to the murder. India has strongly rejected all the allegations made by Ottawa in connection to the case and subsequently recalled the high commissioner. The Canadian government had said the Indian diplomats were expelled from the country. New Delhi expelled Canadian Charge d'Affaires Stewart Wheeler and five other diplomats following Canada's allegations. The National Green Tribunal has been informed by the Uttar Pradesh government's environment department that over 1.12 lakh trees will be felled in the protected forest area in the state to make way for the upcoming Kanwar Yatra route. IMAGE: Kanwariyas carry holy water of Ganga to perform rituals at Shri Kashi Vishwanath temple during the month of Sawan, in Prayagraj. Photograph: ANI Photo The NGT had sought a reply from the secretary of the state's environment department in a case pertaining to the felling of more than 1 lakh trees and shrubs in the protected forest area. The area in question spreads across three forest divisions of Ghaziabad, Meerut and Muzaffarnagar for the proposed route between Muradnagar in Ghaziabad and Purkaji in Muzaffarnagar. The reply, filed by UP principal secretary, Department of Environment, and dated November 19 said, 'It is important to mention that the Public Works Department (PWD) received permission to cut 1,12,722 trees/plants for the Kanwar Marg project, as approved by the (Union) Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on February 28, 2023.' It said at present, 25,410 trees had been marked and assigned for felling, of which 17,607 were cut by the PWD under the supervision of the Uttar Pradesh Forest Corporation. 'Presently, the tree-cutting work has been suspended by PWD since August 9, 2024, and tree felling in certain stretches of the proposed alignment has not commenced,' said the reply uploaded on the tribunal's website on Friday. Noting that the tribunal asked the secretary to enumerate the number of trees under the UP Tree Protection Act provisions, the reply stated such an enumeration was not be possible in the stretches where tree cutting was completed as plants and bushes were also cleared during the drive. 'In the future, once PWD finalises a revised road alignment with width of 15-20 metre, joint inspections will identify and enumerate any remaining trees to be felled. However, the total number of affected trees/plants should not exceed 1,12,722,' it stated. The UP tree act provisions did not apply to the reserved and protected forest land, the reply added. 'The land used for the construction of above-mentioned Kanwar Marg is a protected forest and the implementing agency has obtained in-principle approval from Government of India for Kanwar Marg Project. Thus, enumeration of trees as per the provisions of UP Tree Act 1976 was not carried out,' it said. Regarding the definition of trees, as asked by the tribunal in its previous order, the reply cited the Centre's Parivesh Portal, according to which trees were categorised based on girth size such as 0-30 cm, 31-60 cm, and more than 150 cm, and included provisions for also counting smaller plants and trees having a girth between zero and 30 cm. 'This ensures that all relevant vegetation is comprehensively accounted,' the reply said. Glimpses from a counter-terrorism exercise conducted by the Pakistan navy's special forces in Karachi, November 21, 2024. All photographs: Akhtar Soomro/Reuters IMAGE: A JF17 Thunder fighter jet at the International Defence Exhibition in Karachi. IMAGE: The AL-Zarrar tank on display at the International Defence Exhibition. IMAGE: A member of the Pakistan armed forces takes a selfie with an unmanned combat aerial vehicle at the International Defence Exhibition. IMAGE: Visitors try out weapons on display at the International Defence Exhibition. IMAGE: A visitor inspects the guns displayed on the wall at the International Defence Exhibition. Photographs curated by Manisha Kotian/Rediff.com Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com Having lost his legal battle in all the lower courts, Mumbai attack accused Tahawwur Rana, a Canadian national of Pakistani origin, has now knocked on the doors of the US Supreme Court against his extradition to India. IMAGE: Tahawwur Rana. Photograph: ANI Photo India has sought Rana's extradition for his involvement in the 2008 Mumbai terror attack. Rana had last reached out to the US Court of Appeals for the North Circuit in San Francisco after losing the legal battle in lower courts and several federal courts. On September 23, the circuit court threw out his petition to give a stay on the decisions of the other courts that approved the move of the department of state to extradite him to India. On November 13, Rana filed a petition for a writ of certiorari before the US Supreme Court. In a long battle, this is Rana's last legal chance not to be extradited to India. In his "petitions for a writ of certiorari to review the judgment of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in this case, Rana makes the same argument that he was tried and acquitted in federal court in the Northern District of Illinois (Chicago) on charges relating to the 2008 terrorist attack on Mumbai. "India now seeks to extradite him for trial on charges based on the identical conduct at issue in the Chicago case," it says. The petition says that if the elements standard applies, he very likely will be sent to India to be put on trial a second time for the same conduct, with conviction and a death sentence ominously on the horizon for him. In addition, resolution of this issue will have considerable and increasing impact, as the growing globalisation of criminal law enforcement and international cooperation, which in turn has led to a dramatic rise in extraditions, will affect more and more individuals and nations going forward," it said. Rana faces charges for his role in the 26/11 Mumbai attack and is known to be associated with Pakistani-American Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist David Coleman Headley, one of the main conspirators of the terror incident that hit India's financial hub in 2008. A total of 166 people, including six Americans, were killed in the Mumbai terror attacks in which 10 Pakistani terrorists laid a more than 60-hour siege, attacking and killing people at iconic and vital locations in Mumbai. 'With India's growing capabilities in the space sector, this creates promising opportunities for enhanced collaboration and market access.' IMAGE: Space X's Falcon 9 rocket launches ISRO's communication satellite GSAT-N2 from Florida, November 18, 2024. Photograph: Kind courtesy SpaceX/X The US billionaire Elon Musk owned SpaceX with its Falcon 9 rocket on Tuesday, November 18, 2024, put into geosynchronous transfer orbit the communication satellite GSAT-N2 owned by India's NewSpace India Ltd (NSIL). This is the first launch of a satellite built by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for NSIL for SpaceX. Interestingly, Musk is close to US President-elect Donald J Trump. Trump has appointed Musk -- who owns SpaceX and electric vehicle maker Tesla -- to lead the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency along with former Republican presidential candidate and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy. SpaceX, now almost a monopoly in the global satellite launch market, has orbited small satellites built by Indian private players. The question that pops up is how the cooperation between the two countries will pan out under the Trump administration in the space sector. Musk, who was scheduled to travel to India in April 2024 and meet Prime Minister Narendra D Modi and also meet the heads of private space sector players, cancelled the trip. As per the earlier agreements between India and the US, ISRO will launch the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) -- an earth observation satellite -- with its rocket from the Sriharikota rocket port in Andhra Pradesh. NISAR is an earth observation satellite jointly built by NASA and ISRO. The satellite has already arrived in India from the US. During Prime Minister Modi's visit to the US last year it was announced that America will fly an Indian astronaut to the International Space Station after necessary training. Modi and US President Joe Biden called for enhanced commercial collaboration between the US and Indian private sectors in the entire value chain of the space economy and to address export controls and facilitate technology transfer. In a joint statement then issued by the White House, Biden and Modi set a course to reach new frontiers across all sectors of space cooperation. So will the two countries reach higher orbits in space sector cooperation under the Trump administration? And how do Indian private players in the space sector look at this development? Comparing Modi and Trump's political outlook in brief, Tapan Misra, founding director and chief scientist, SISIR Radar Pvt Ltd, says both leaders are nationalistic and keen to revamp indigenous production of sophisticated technology products, including those in defence, space and mobile and satellite communication technologies to boost their economies. "So, the natural outcome will be greater thrust on exports and restrictions of imports. That is where there is a potential source of conflict, both politically and economically. This conflict may result in technology denials, restrictions and tech import delays," says Misra, who was earlier director, Space Applications Centre, ISRO, Ahmedabad. "I feel both countries will compete but also find common ground to together compete against other countries. Both of them will also find the gaps in each other's strengths and will co-operate to complement each other," adds Misra. "We see further growth in this upward trajectory of cooperation in space which will take place in government to government and private to private space growing further," says retired Lieutenant General A K Bhatt, Director General, Indian Space Association. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra D Modi with then US President Donald J Trump at Hyderabad House in New Delhi, February 25, 2024. Photograph: R Raveendran/ANI Photo According to Pawan Kumar Chandana, co-founder and CEO, Skyroot Aerospace, the last decade saw Indian-US space collaboration on an upward trajectory across different administrations, built on strong institutional frameworks and shared strategic interests. The establishment of the working group for commercial space collaboration by Modi and Biden, along with the partnerships between ISRO and NASA on significant projects like NISAR and human spaceflight cooperation, demonstrates this strategic alignment, Chandana remarks. Such collaborations are expected to strengthen further under President-elect Trump, particularly given that his previous administration recognised space as a crucial frontier by establishing the US Space Force and laying the groundwork for the Artemis programme, points out Chandana. "Under President Trump's leadership, we anticipate greater emphasis on advancing space capabilities, from expanding satellite networks to furthering human space exploration. With India's growing capabilities in the space sector, this creates promising opportunities for enhanced collaboration and market access between our nations," says Chandana. Talking about the cooperation/competition between the two countries in different space segments Misra says the satellite launch market is only 4% of the global space economy. With the absence of the Ariane rocket owned by Europe's Arianespace, SpaceX has emerged as a leading launch player with 99% reliability and use of fully reusable heavy lift rocket technology. "SpaceX achieves almost three launches per week whereas ISRO launches are barely six per year. Naturally per kg launch cost of ISRO is way ahead in comparison to SpaceX. I feel India will allow the US launch industry leeway as the technology gap is immense and market size is small," forecasts Misra. As a matter of fact, ISRO's satellites play the catch-me-if-you-can game with its rockets. When ISRO created communication satellites weighing three tons, it had the PSLV rocket that could carry about two tons. When ISRO developed the four ton GSLV rocket, its communication satellites weigh more than four tons and use other space agencies to orbit the same. According to Misra, India will invest mostly in research and development to maintain strategic muscle and bargaining power in rocket technology. "I do not see a great future in the private Indian launch industry until and unless we take a huge jump, bridging the gaping hole in technology," adds Misra. Curiously, there are two Indian rocket start-ups -- Skyroot Aerospace and Agnikul Cosmos -- developing rockets to carry small satellites. Even here ISRO is present with its 500 kg rocket SSLV. However SpaceX with its regular rocket launches offers attractive rates for small satellite owners to orbit their satellites as piggy back rides. A couple of Indian private satellite players have benefitted from this. Misra, considered as the father of the RISAT series of Indian radar imaging satellites, believes India has the advantage of a great internal market in remote sensing and communication. India has an advantage in satellite technology with demonstrated capability. If India plays its cards well, Indian private satellite companies can churn out sophisticated satellites at 10% to 20% of ISRO's cost in the next 5 to 10 years, Misra adds. "Though today, the private satellite industry is just learning to walk, I will not be surprised India will emerge as a potential exporter in the satellite bus provided ISRO lends out helping hands to its private brethren," he says. "In remote sensing technology India is at par with any other country in terms of system development and operationalisation. India is going to emerge as a strong player in remote sensing, both optical and radar based. I am hopeful that in the next 5 to 10 years, the Indian private space industry will emerge as a strong global player in remote sensing," says Misra. India, Misra points out, was hitherto a strong player in space communication satellites. "Unfortunately India could not envisage total reimagination of satellite communication by SpaceX Starlink and OneWeb, by integrating 5G with the LEO satellite constellation," explains Misra. "This has put India totally on the back foot, obliterating the difference between mobile and satellite communication, making mobile towers and ground segments useless in another decade," adds Misra. "Though mobile and Internet service will grow exponentially at very cheap pricing," he says, "unfortunately Indian players have to cede a lot of ground to US players. Indian planners and the private space industry need to throw up a strong competition in terms of the Indian version of SpaceX Starlink. Otherwise, there will be a dent in the communication service market," says Misra. "Also the lead we have taken in the mobile handset market will be jeopardised," he warns. Trump's accession in the US, predicts Misra, will see exciting times between India and the US space industries in terms of competition, cooperation and complementation. "There will be some teething moments but business pragmatism will eventually take centre stage to ease our vexed issues," says Misra. "If both the US and India play their cards wisely and pragmatically, the future is a win-win for both great democracies." Venkatachari Jagannathan can be reached at venkatacharijagannathan@gmail.com Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com Counting of votes in the Maharashtra assembly elections will begin at 8 am on Saturday, with all eyes on the outcome of the battle between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party-led Mahayuti coalition and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance, which is seeking to make a comeback. IMAGE: Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) being brought to a counting centre from a strong room ahead of the counting of the Maharashtra Assembly election, in Nagpur on Thursday. Photograph: ANI Photo The final turnout in the polls, held on November 20, was 66.05 per cent, up from 61.1 per cent in 2019, election officials said. Counting of votes will also be held for the Nanded Lok Sabha bypoll, where 67.81 per cent voting was recorded on November 20. Kolhapur district led with 76.63 per cent polling, followed by 75.26 per cent in Gadchiroli, which has some Left Wing Extremism affected pockets, while the lowest was in Mumbai island city at 52.07 per cent. Mumbai suburban district recorded 55.95 per cent polling. A total of 288 counting centres have been set up for the counting of votes on Saturday, including one for the Nanded Lok Sabha bypoll. A total of 288 counting observers will oversee each assembly constituency, with two observers assigned to monitor counting in Nanded Lok Sabha bypoll, an official said. The high volume of postal ballots has led to the establishment of 1,732 tables for postal ballot counting and 592 tables for Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System (ETPBS) to ensure a smooth counting process across all assembly constituencies, the official said. In the Mahayuti alliance, the BJP contested 149 assembly seats, Shiv Sena 81 seats, and the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party fielded candidates in 59 constituencies. In the opposition's MVA combine, the Congress fielded 101 candidates, the Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray 95, and the Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar put up 86 candidates. Parties like Bahujan Samaj Party and the All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM), also contested, with the BSP fielding 237 candidates and the AIMIM putting up 17 candidates. The number of candidates this time increased by 28 per cent compared to the 2019 state assembly elections. This year, 4,136 candidates contested, up from 3,239 in 2019 elections. Among these candidates, 2,086 were independents. Rebels were in the fray in over 150 constituencies, with candidates from the Mahayuti and MVA contesting against their party's official nominees. There were 1,00,186 polling booths in Maharashtra this time, compared to 96,654 booths in the 2019 assembly elections. Mumbai police have issued an order prohibiting any assembly of people in 300-metre radius of all the 36 counting centres in the city, which comprises 36 assembly constituencies. No person, other than an official engaged with the election process or public servant engaged in duty, shall loiter or form any assembly within 300 metres radius from any counting centre, a police official said. The order is effective from 6 am on November 21 till midnight on November 24. Ahead of the counting of votes, a poster in Pune depicting NCP chief and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar as the next chief minister was put up by a local party worker and was later removed. The majority mark in the 288-seat Maharashtra Assembly is 145, the number any alliance or party needs to crack to be able to form government in the state. The term of the present state assembly ends on November 26. While most exit polls predict a victory for the Mahayuti alliance, three suggest that neither the Mahayuti nor the Maha Vikas Aghadi would secure a decisive majority to form the next government in Maharashtra. The counting of votes for the bypolls to nine assembly segments in Uttar Pradesh, the first major face-off between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and its political rivals since the Lok Sabha polls held earlier in the year, will be taken up at 8 am on Saturday amid tight security arrangements, officials said. IMAGE: Voters show their IDs while waiting in a queue to cast their votes in the Uttar Pradesh assembly by-election for the Sisamau seat on Wednesday. Photograph: ANI Photo While the results of the bypolls will not directly impact the composition of the 403-member state assembly, the contest is being seen as a prestige fight between the BJP and opposition parties. The nine constituencies -- Meerapur, Kundarki, Sisamau, Katehari, Phulpur, Majhawan, Ghaziabad, Karhal and Khair -- saw intense campaigning by the BJP, Samajwadi Party (SP) and other regional parties. Political tension has been running high in the run-up to the counting, with both the BJP and the opposition parties accusing each other of election malpractices. On the eve of the vote counting, SP president Akhilesh Yadav accused the BJP of manipulating the election process and claimed that the tactics of the saffron party are increasingly being exposed. In a press statement, Yadav asserted that the vigilance of the opposition Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) supporters has uncovered the 'BJP's efforts to manipulate the electoral process, leading to a decline in the party's support base'. "The way our voters, workers, office-bearers and the media have responded to the BJP's election fraud is being appreciated everywhere," the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said, adding that the BJP's reliance on corruption, propaganda and manipulation is the reason why its support base is shrinking. Yadav alleged that the BJP lures officials and leaders to indulge in corrupt practices, only to abandon them when things go wrong. "The BJP is not a party that protects people, it traps them," he claimed, urging SP supporters to remain vigilant during the vote-counting process. "We have won morally. Only the official certificate is pending," Yadav added. Other senior SP leaders also asserted that the bypoll results will be favourable for the party. Shivpal Singh Yadav claimed on Thursday that the SP would win five to six seats, despite what he described as the BJP's 'dishonest efforts" and use of administrative power to influence the polling. SP general secretary Ram Gopal Yadav accused the saffron party of using district officials and police to manipulate the bypoll results. He demanded re-polling under the supervision of paramilitary forces'. Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya dismissed the SP leaders' accusations as baseless. Taking to social media on Thursday, Maurya criticised Akhilesh Yadav and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for promoting what he called the politics of negativity. 'The public will reject their baseless allegations. The country needs development, not constant allegations,' he wrote on social media, asserting that the BJP would emerge a clear winner in the bypolls. The bypolls were held on November 20 amid allegations from the SP that the local police prevented voters from reaching polling booths. Acting on a complaint from the SP, the Election Commission took action against five police men. The results will determine the fate of the 90 candidates, including the highest number of 14 nominees from Ghaziabad and the lowest number of five candidates from Khair and Sisamau each. In the 2022 Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls, the BJP won the Phulpur, Ghaziabad, Majhawan and Khair seats, while the SP secured victories in Sisamau, Katehari, Karhal and Kundarki. The Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), which was an SP ally then, won the Meerapur seat. The party has since switched sides and is now a part of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance. While the Congress did not contest the bypolls, it extended support to the SP, its INDIA bloc ally. The Bahujan Samaj Party contested all nine seats independently, while Asaduddin Owaisi's All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) fielded candidates in Ghaziabad, Kundarki and Meerapur. The Aazad Samaj Party-Kanshi Ram, led by Chandrashekhar Azad, also contested all seats except Sisamau. In the current assembly, the BJP has 251 MLAs, followed by the SP (105). BJP allies, such as the Apna Dal-Sonelal, the RLD, the Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) and the Nirbal Indian Shoshit Hamara Aam Dal (NISHAD) Party, hold additional seats, while the Congress and the Jansatta Dal Loktantrik have two seats each and the BSP has one. Now, its been 15 years. Most of the girls that are coming in here today dont know anything about Jessica, said Debbie Bolognani. But, she BRATTLEBORO As Representative Town Meeting members prepare to debate if the new Acceptable Community Conduct Ordinance should be tossed out, there's hope among some for a different approach to issues in town. Members of the Community Safety Organizing Team (CSOT) held a well-attended panel Monday night at Brooks Memorial Library and via Zoom. "We're a group of community organizers, service providers, leaders, facilitators and people who have worked with a deep understanding of our community safety needs," said Emily Falta. "We're working for a vision where those needs are met through human services, mutual aid and community support, and seek to create alternatives to carceral and punitive systems." Town Manager John Potter previously said the ordinance establishes "community standards in certain areas and certain properties" with fines and no-trespass orders issued for violations at the discretion of police. Landlords, social service organization staff and residents alike have raised concerns about the ordinance. A petition presented to the board in September called for rejecting the ordinance, saying that public safety "must commit to all of our neighbors." Another petition triggered the Dec. 12 special RTM meeting, where the ordinance will be voted on by RTM members. Sonia Silbert, panel moderator and RTM member, said the panel intended to present "an alternative vision" for community safety and insight into work going on already. Members of CSOT are proposing the establishment of a community center and an emotional support program in Brattleboro to a committee tasked with recommending opioid settlement funded projects to the Legislature. Tim Wessel, RTM member and former Select Board member, told the Reformer the special meeting "feels like a waste of taxpayer money to me." "The Select Board voted 3-2 to try this, that's called democracy," he said. "Why not give it a chance to see if it helps?" Lisa Nash, a chiropractor, movement educator and trauma specialist who's currently unhoused, asked what the community has to lose by trying new ideas. Brattleboro is experiencing "human suffering, both seen and unseen," Silbert said. "Substance use, homelessness, housing prices have all increased over the past few years, and many of us in town have been frustrated by a perceived inaction on these issues," she said. She recounted the community safety review process the town underwent in 2020 that called for developing social service supports and meeting the needs of people in crisis, and the outrage this spring from downtown business owners and others about issues downtown. "They've invested a massive increase to the police budget of $1.4 million over two years, adding new downtown patrols through the BRAT [Brattleboro Resource Assistance Team] team, building a new police substation for $700,000 and the ordinance that prompted this panel today," she said. "The ordinance is very impactful, but it is one piece of a broader approach that the town is currently taking to the intersecting crises that we and many others around the country are facing." Cristina Shay-Onye, who submitted the petition to the town that resulted in the upcoming special RTM meeting, said the ordinance doesn't change much of what happens with laws today. "I don't think it makes any sense," Shay-Onye said. Lack of housing is one the biggest problems in the community, said CSOT member Calvin Moen, a psychiatric survivor, educator and advocate who also serves on the board at Out in the Open. He suggested the ordinance is only going to lead to unhoused people being "more surveilled with increased police presence." "Stuff like this," he said, "contributes to problems that it's intended to address." Moen promoted the plan put forward by CSOT for the community center and emotional support program. "I have seen peer support spaces have the ability to reconnect us with community," he said. He pointed to the success of a pop-up drop-in space at the town-owned Transportation Center, where social service organization staff and volunteers provided resources in April 2023 when Groundworks Collaborative temporarily closed after a staff member had been killed. "The folks who were using that space were really taking initiative, stepping into leadership roles, helping one another, and that's actually being able to support others while you yourself are receiving support," he said. "That's part of what creates a sense of belonging, right?" Restorative justice is "about boundaries and accountability ... but we need belonging first," said Mel Motel, co-director of the restorative justice program at Interaction. She suggested no-trespass orders be used "very sparingly," as they disproportionately affect low-income and unhoused community members. Motel questioned how a waiver system for offenders engaged in treatment or restorative programs would work and whether the services envisioned would be available. "Do the organizations in this town have the capacity to support that work, the referrals that are coming?" she said, wondering if the town will provide more resources in response. "It's not workable but I appreciate the attempt." Motel said she would love to expand a current program aimed at solving conflicts before they boil over. Interaction, Groundworks and Health Care & Rehabilitation Services collaborate on the program. Brenda Siegel, executive director of End Homelessness Vermont, said she finds the conversation in Brattleboro "very hard personally" despite having the discussions around the state and country. Her nephew died in 2018 of an overdose after his father died due to heroin about 20 years before. "You may not know that you're talking about my family but you are," she said. "I may believe that certain things are OK. You may believe that other things are OK, and that's OK." Siegel said her nephew had been in recovery before his death. "His relapse happened because of shame and stigma," she said. "These are real human beings with real challenges." Her group is helping the unhoused with advocacy, support and outreach. They're connecting people to nurses and shelter as well as conducting research via exit interviews with emergency motel housing program participants. Siegel sought to dispel "the myth" that people come to Vermont to take advantage of the state's generous housing help. "This is something that comes up all the time," she said, "81.3 percent of the interview participants lived in Vermont for more than five years, but 96 percent of the interview participants were last housed in Vermont." Many participants also experienced homelessness and involvement with the Department of Children and Families as youth, Siegel said. In place of the ordinance, she called for using "data driven solutions that include listening to people experiencing homelessness." Select Board Chairman Daniel Quipp said RTM will decide if the budget passes, but he suggested participating in the board's budget meetings if people feel the town should have different priorities. "Now is the time to engage," he said. "It is much better to be part of making the sausage than have a sausage that you don't like. So come make sausage with me." Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. BRATTLEBORO Attorneys for a local family, whose son received a COVID-19 vaccination at a clinic at Academy School against their wishes, is filing suit in the U.S. Supreme Court. In August, the Vermont Supreme Court ruled that the Politella family's claims were barred from federal law related to emergency situations. Previously, the case had been dismissed in Windham Superior Court, Civil Division. Brattleboro attorney Ron Ferrara, who represented the family through the state cases, is joining up with Brookfield attorney John Klar to challenge the Vermont Supreme Court's "outrageous conclusion that federal laws shielding vaccine manufacturers extend to school officials who negligently or deliberately inject young children with vaccines," an announcement from Klar states. They filed suit Tuesday in the U.S. Supreme Court, Ferrara said in an email. Klar is "licensed to practice in the U.S. Supreme Court; I am not," Ferrara wrote. The family seeks "to prevent this double injury subjecting their child to medical care they rejected, then denying any legal recourse for that wrong from being inflicted on other families," the announcement states. "The Politellas have asked the United States Supreme Court to correct Vermont's misguided misapplication of the PREP Act." PREP refers to the federal Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act. In a video shared on a webpage seeking to raise legal defense funds, the father Tony Politella recounted being reassured by Academy School staff that his 6-year-old son would not be vaccinated while clinics were happening at the school in 2021. "Basically I found out that he had a different name tag on and it wasn't his name," Tony said. "They gave him a shot." Leo, the son, described being "so mad" when he received the shot. Shu-Jen, the mother, said she discovered a Band-Aid on the son when he arrived home. When she called the school, she said, school staff apologized for the error. She said their son was moved to a private school "not because we can afford it." Klar said if the right to privacy includes decisions over one's body, "we would argue that that includes the right to not be vaccinated against one's will. "And this has actually not been addressed by our Supreme Court," he said in the video, adding that an earlier decision says "when there is a serious health and safety concern, in that case smallpox, that the government could mandate a vaccine, but then if you didn't take it, you could pay a fine. Paying a fine is very different than saying that the government has the right to give me an injection against my will. In this case, it was given to a young child against the expressed direction of the parents." Vermont Supreme Court dismisses unauthorized Academy School vaccination case MONTPELIER Academy School and state staff were protected under federal law when they accid Defendants include the state of Vermont, Windham Southeast School District, the superintendent, principal and assistant principal, a teacher, school nurse, Vermont's deputy health commissioner, the child's pediatrician and five unnamed state employees or volunteers. Their defense was supported by the Vermont Supreme Court. WASHINGTON, D.C. Vermont activists pushed for resolutions to block illegal sales of weapons to the Israeli government, introduced by U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt, Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt, and another lawmaker. "This is the first time the Senate has ever debated and voted on a resolution intended to restrict weapons and military aid to the Israeli government, and it was the result of tireless work of activists around the country, beginning in Brattleboro," said Isaac Evans-Frantz, director of Action Corps. "Nearly half of President Bidens party in the Senate voted to block the weapons, showing growing opposition to the presidents blank check for the genocide and wars in the Middle East." Evans-Frantz issued the statement following the Senates vote Wednesday, saying Vermont activists "prompted" the move. Resolutions were introduced after Action Corps Vermont activists and allies asked the Vermont lawmakers to do so, he said. The movement toward this vote began when Action Corps Vermont activists and allies secured Sen. Bernie Sanders pledge to introduce the resolutions, at the senior center in Brattleboro," he said. "Leading up to Wednesdays vote, Action Corps and its partners organized across the country to rally support." At the Brattleboro senior meal hosted by Sanders in August, his commitment to preventing more devastation in Gaza was loudly cheered. He said he would "lead the effort to make sure that we do not give any more arms to Israel unless there's a radical change in politics," agreeing to introduce a joint resolution of disapproval against the $20 billion weapons deal with Israel. Evans-Frantz said seven members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin and many of their colleagues "sent a clear message to Presidents Biden and Trump, that a powerful segment of the Senate is ready to cancel the blank check for the genocide and war." This vote is an important step forward in reclaiming the power of the American people through their representation in Congress over weapons, war and peace," Evans-Frantz said. From the Senate floor Wednesday, Sanders said, "poll after poll shows that a strong majority of Americans oppose sending more weapons and military aid to fuel Netanyahus war machine." "These resolutions are aimed at offensive weapons that have been used to devastating effect against civilians in Gaza and Lebanon," he said. "They would not affect any of the systems Israel uses to defend itself from incoming attacks." Sanders pointed to the Foreign Assistance Act and the Arms Export Control Act, which he said prohibit the U.S. from providing weapons to countries violating internationally recognized human rights or blocking U.S. humanitarian aid. He said Israel had a right to respond to the Oct. 7, 2023 attack by Hamas, however, "Prime Minister Netanyahus extremist government has not simply waged war against Hamas. It has waged all-out war against the Palestinian people." "In the last year alone, the U.S. has provided $18 billion in military aid to Israel and delivered more than 50,000 tons of military equipment," Sanders said, describing Israel as the "largest historical recipient of U.S. foreign aid" and the U.S. being "complicit in these atrocities." More than 43,000 people have been killed as the 14th month in the Gaza conflict, Welch said from the Senate floor Wednesday. "Many Hamas, including the Hamas leadership, has been killed. Good riddance," Welch said. But many, many thousands of innocent Palestinians, including women and children, have been killed. Over 100,000 have been maimed and injured. Sixty to 70 percent of the structures in Gaza have been destroyed. That includes the schools. Young Gazans have not been in school for 14 months. Hospitals have been destroyed. The humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza is unparalleled and is being inflicted on innocent Palestinians." Welch said he believes "the continuation of the military action in Gaza is not only jeopardizing what hostages still are alive, but it can only make Israel weaker, not stronger. Their own recently fired Defense Minister said there is no further military purpose of offensive action in Gaza. If there is no further reason for offensive military action in Gaza, why is there a need for the United States to be providing more offensive weapons for the Netanyahu government to be used in Gaza? That's the question we face. How has PB Tech grown and evolved throughout the years? We started with nothing, but there have been key points which have accelerated the business. Starting from a small base, the growth was slow at first. We attracted loyal customers and grew our branches and the business had good momentum after the first decade. However, it was getting larger and more complicated. At this time, I knew that to take it to the next level I was going to need some help, so I approached Darren Smith who was running the OEM business at Microsoft NZ at the time and asked if he would join me. He didnt say yes the first time, but eventually he agreed. Darren has great expertise in process design and programming and really set the company on a track where it could scale tremendously and become far more successful. This was a key point in our evolution. What have been some of your proudest achievements with the business? Having customers say thank you because we saved them money makes me very happy. We have always strived to offer fair pricing and good service and our customers keep coming back as that is what they want. It was never a goal, but realising that PB Tech has become the largest technology hardware reseller in New Zealand is something that I am very proud of. We just kept adapting to what our customers wanted and that has been the outcome. I was also very humbled to be inducted into the Reseller News Hall of Fame in 2023, which was unexpected. Did you ever think PB Tech would grow into the business that it is today? No, it was not what I set out to do. I just had huge focus and passion for the business, plus great timing and perhaps a little bit of luck. Originally my dream was to grow a business where I could make $100,000 a year. But the business has grown incredibly over the last 31 years; I never thought that one day it would be this big. We just continued to focus on the opportunities that arrive and make the most of each of them. Even today, we can still see so many opportunities and have plans to grow further. What are your plans for PB Tech? Looking forward, I believe PB Tech can still get stronger and stronger. PB Tech has never stopped evolving and we have plans to expand into new areas in the years ahead. We are starting new business units, looking at new product lines and reviewing our location strategy. There is never a boring day at PB Tech it constantly changes. What are some of your interests and hobbies outside of work? I love to sing and perform with a talented group of musicians who all work at PB Tech (PB Band) at a number of events including the annual PB Tech Christmas Party. The highlight was doing two concerts at the Auckland Town Hall to celebrate PB Techs 30th Birthday last year. This was the realisation of a dream as singing is my first love. I also love to fish; whether with family, the PB Team or on many industry events, it is always enjoyable. My third interest is closely related to fishing and that is I love to cook. Feeding friends and family brings me great joy. Who inspires you and why? To be honest, I just try to do the best I can with what I have. I am not looking at what others have or what they are doing, as my opportunities and challenges are different to what others face. I just focus on what is in front of me, and I am very proud of what PB Tech has become and am still excited for the future. Welcome to The Azadi Briefing, an RFE/RL newsletter that unpacks the key issues in Afghanistan. To subscribe, click here. I'm Abubakar Siddique, senior correspondent at RFE/RL's Radio Azadi. Here's what I've been tracking and what I'm watching in the days ahead. The Key Issue Iran wants to repatriate some 1,000 prisoners to Taliban-ruled Afghanistan to serve their sentences there. "They are costing a lot to the public purse," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmial Baqaei said of Tehran's motive in seeking to return prisoners to Afghanistan. The comments follow a visit by Iranian government officials to Kabul last week. Deputy Justice Minister Askar Jalalian met with Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and Khalil ur-Rahman Haqqani, the refugee affairs minister. The Taliban government has demanded that Tehran hand over all Afghan convicts after Iran Human Rights, a nongovernmental watchdog, said Tehran had so far this year executed 49 Afghans as part of an accelerating trend of executing Afghans since the Taliban's return to power three years ago. Tehran, however, only wants to hand over Afghans convicted of drug trafficking during the next two months. The transfers will only take place with the prisoners' consent. Why It's Important: Reports of wrongful convictions and arrests of Afghans have been on the rise as Iran seeks to expel millions of Afghans it says live in the country. During the past year, many Afghans have complained of harassment, intimidation, discrimination, and violence at the hands of Iranian authorities in a harsh crackdown. According to the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR), Tehran deported more than 550,000 Afghan migrants during the first nine months of this year, from among the estimated 4 million that live in the country. After the return of the Taliban to power following the collapse of the pro-Western Afghan republic in August 2021, millions of Afghans have sought shelter and jobs in Iran. International rights watchdog Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused Iran of using the death penalty "as a tool of fear" to target "ethnic minorities and political dissidents." Iran, a leading global executioner, has executed at least 651 people during the first 10 months of this year. HRW Iran researcher Nahid Naghshbandi said the Iranian courts "are a tool of systematic repression and hand out death sentences indiscriminately, leaving legal protections meaningless." What's Next: It is not clear whether the Taliban government will honor sentences by Iranian courts or will free Afghan prisoners once they return to the country. The Taliban justice system and human rights record do not inspire confidence in the extremist group's capacity to look after the rights of Afghans at home or abroad. What To Keep An Eye On Residents of the Afghan capital complain that with the onset of winter, power cuts have made their lives miserable. In many parts of the crowded city, residents only have electricity for a few hours a day. "We are miserable because there is no electricity, wood, coal, or gas," Latifa, a resident of the Qala Zaman Khan district in Kabul, told RFE/RL's Radio Azadi. Firewood and coal cost upwards of $100 for a week's supply, which is out of reach for most impoverished residents. Afghanistan imports most of its electricity from neighboring Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Iran, and Turkmenistan. This costs the cash-strapped Taliban government $220 million annually. The Taliban government struggles to collect electricity bills and relies on aggressive power cuts during low electricity supplies in winter. Why It's Important: Three years after the Taliban's return to power, it has done little to improve electricity supply in the country. Without investments, aid, and a comprehensive energy policy, Afghanistan relies on expansive energy imports instead of diversifying to green energy sources to tap into the country's abundant wind and sunlight. That's all from me for now. Don't forget to send me any questions, comments, or tips that you have. You can always reach us at azadi.english@rferl.org Until next time, Abubakar Siddique If you enjoyed this briefing and don't want to miss the next edition, subscribe here. It will be sent to your inbox every Friday. You can always reach us at azadi.english@rferl.org The Azadi Briefing will next appear on December 13. 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. 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 correspondent Reid Standish and here's what I'm following right now. A Warning From The Baltics Former Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis offered a clear warning for those who say that China is able to mediate an end to the war in Ukraine. Finding Perspective: Speaking to the French international affairs outlet Geopolitique.eu, Landsbergis stamped down the idea. China is waiting for a moment of weakness to step in and offer solutions and I fear that some in Europe would accept this offer because its a cheap alternative to us stepping up, in the same way that you buy a Chinese car because its cheaper. The same goes for their peace proposals. Landsbergis was commenting on a recent interview with outgoing U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and The New York Times, where Blinken said that one of the reasons that Moscow had not escalated into a nuclear war in Ukraine was because of China. If you follow that line of reasoning, it means that China has become a protector of Europe. That would be the beginning of a new paradigm, Landsbergis said. If we accept that China, which in my view supports Russia and is therefore an adversary of the countries supporting Ukraine, is now the guarantor of nuclear deterrence on our continent, it would be a dangerous mistake and a failure. Why It Matters: Landsbergiss warning comes as U.S. President-elect Donald Trump takes office and Europe anxiously looks at a very different geopolitical reality. Trumps tariff threats and less traditional approach to Washingtons relationship with Europe is a source of consternation in European capitals and there is talk in some corners about having a more amenable position toward Beijing to balance the Trump administration. On January 14, Chinese leader Xi Jinping spoke with European Council President Antonio Costa to begin what many analysts believe will be a charm offensive from Beijing toward the continent. But while Trump may have a rockier relationship with Brussels and various capitals than his predecessor, Beijing is also facing a different playing field than when U.S. President Joe Biden took office. Chinas support for Russia amid the war in Ukraine has strained ties with Europe, and Brussels is taking aim at Chinese companies in some sectors, a trend that looks set to continue. EU High Representative Kaja Kallas has also voiced strong criticism of China, especially for its stance around the war in Ukraine and its long-term repercussions. Landsbergis shared similar sentiments, saying that Ukraine is central to what will happen in the future between China and Taiwan. I mentioned earlier that [Russian President Vladimir] Putin has managed to change the nuclear doctrine by getting us to accept, at least for now, that resisting an attack is a form of escalation and therefore a nuclear strike is justified. One can imagine a situation where China imposes a blockade, even a partial one, on Taiwan and they resist and we try to lift it, then China could use the Russian playbook, he said. I dont think we collectively understand how reckless it is. Three more stories from Eurasia 1. The Taliban Courts Chinese Capital My Afghan colleagues at RFE/RL's Radio Azadi and I reported about a new road built by the Taliban in northeast Afghanistan that the hardline group is hoping can better connect the country to neighboring China. The Details: The first section of the road in the Wakhan Corridor was completed a year ago in early 2024, and the Taliban is looking to build out the connections further to one day open up more trade with China. The road link is part of a series of announcements and groundbreaking ceremonies in 2024 -- from oil deals to mining rights -- that the Taliban are hoping will keep moving ahead in the coming year. But the main questions remain over whether the militants can finally calm China's long-standing security concerns. Haiyun Ma, an associate professor at Frostburg University, told me that, despite the lofty deals, Chinese investment is still not flowing in Afghanistan and that there are growing frustrations under the surface between Beijing and the Taliban. Ma says that the announcement in 2024 helps bring prestige and legitimacy to the Taliban as it adapts to governing and that it offers a low-risk, low-commitment way for Beijing to signal long-term intent toward the country. But he adds that China is in no hurry to have a footprint in Afghanistan. China is yet to set up a border crossing in the area where the Wakhan road leads and despite all the resource deals, Beijing has plenty of already developed alternatives elsewhere in the world to help meet its domestic needs. 2. Trump, Greenland, China, And The Arctic Incoming U.S. President Donald Trump has once again kicked up a storm by refusing to rule out the use of force to gain control of Greenland. As my colleague Todd Prince writes, Trumps pursuit shines a light on the complicated national-security picture in the Arctic between the United States, China, Russia, and other players. What You Need To Know: While China is not an Arctic nation, it is seeking to be a major player in the region. In recent years, Beijing has sought to buy ports, other infrastructure, and mining rights on Greenland though it has not been successful. Todd writes that the United States suspected China's real interest in those projects was to place dual-use sensors and radars in the Arctic Circle to help control their military satellites and gather intelligence on U.S. space-based operations in the region. 3. U.S. Energy Sanctions Hurt Chinese, Indian Purchases Of Russian Oil Chinese and Indian refiners are looking for new fuel supplies as they adapt to hard-hitting new U.S. sanctions on Russian oil producers and tankers. What It Means: Many of the newly sanctioned tankers brought oil to China and India, and both Bloomberg and Reuters reported that the sanctions have led to a jump in prices and driven Chinese refiners back to sellers of oil that is not restricted. The sanctions were announced on January 10 and they target Gazprom Neft and Surgutneftegas, two of Russia's five largest largest oil producers, as well as 183 vessels transporting Russian oil and oil products to foreign markets. The Biden administration also sanctioned opaque traders of Russian oil, more than 30 Russia-based oil-field service providers, and more than a dozen leading Russian energy officials and executives. The Chinese refiner Yulong Petrochemical has previously bought Russian crude, but, according to industry data, it purchased 4 million barrels of crude from the United Arab Emirates following the sanctions. After the sanctions announcement, Unipec, a subsidiary of Chinas state-owned energy giant Sinopec, booked four large carriers of crude from the Middle East which the data intelligence firm Kpler said could carry a total of up to 2 million barrels. Across The Supercontinent Kyivs China Consultations: Ukraines Foreign Ministry told RFE/RLs Ukrainian Service that 2024 was a year of developing political dialogue in Beijing, pointing to the extensive high-level talks with their counterparts in the Chinese Foreign Ministry. Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhiy Tykhyi added that Kyiv considers China one of the countries that can and does have influence on the Russian Federation. And we will continue to maintain this contact with the Chinese side. Parting Shots: In a speech at the State Department on January 13 summing up his administrations record, Biden said the United States has widened its lead over competitors like Russia and China. "Our adversaries are weaker than they were when we came into this job four years ago. Let's consider Russia. Putin invaded Ukraine. He thought he'd conquer Kyiv in a matter of days. But the truth is, since that war began, I'm the only one that stood in the center of Kyiv, not him," Biden said, referring to his visit to the embattled nation last year. The China Connection: As Russian forces have intensified their advances in eastern Ukraine in recent weeks, they're being helped by a new tool on the battlefield: drones that fly with the use of fiber-optic cables, RFE/RLs Ukrainian Service and I reported. Some Ukrainian experts have said that the drone models used by Russia are very similar to Chinas commercially available Skywalker drone. There are also growing reports in Ukrainian media of high-quantity orders being placed at Chinese factories by Russian companies for large spools of fiber-optic cables. One Thing To Watch Trade between China and Russia reached a record high in 2024, according to official data released on January 13 by Chinas General Administration of Customs. The figures show how Beijing and Moscows efforts to strengthen their relationship are paying off in the face of tough Western economic sanctions on Russia. While the 2024 trade data reached an all-time high, the year-on-year growth rate slowed significantly compared to the 26.3 percent surge seen in 2023. Thats all from me for now. Dont forget to send me any questions, comments, or tips that you might have. Until next time, Reid Standish If you enjoyed this briefing and don't want to miss the next edition, subscribe here. It will be sent to your inbox every other Wednesday. I'm Steve Gutterman, the editor of RFE/RL's Russia/Ukraine/Belarus Desk. Welcome to The Week In Russia, in which I dissect some of the key developments in the country and in its war against Ukraine, and some of the takeaways going forward. To subscribe, click here. Russia's use of what President Vladmir Putin said was a new intermediate-range missile against Ukraine was all about signaling -- "a political strike not a military one," as one analyst put it. Here are some of the key developments in Russia over the past week and some of the takeaways going forward. 'Not For Military Value' On the surface, it was a military attack on Ukraine. But Russia's launch of what President Vladimir Putin described as a new intermediate-range missile was all about messaging, with most of the signals aimed squarely at Washington and the West. In televised remarks after the November 21 strike targeting the city of Dnipro, Putin said it was part of Moscow's response to Ukrainian attacks with U.S.-supplied ATACMS and British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles, which followed reports that those countries had given Kyiv permission to use such systems to hit Russian territory. And he said Russia had the right to target military facilities in countries that allow Kyiv to use their weapons for this purpose. "In short, this was a political strike not a military one," Mick Ryan, a retired Australian Army major general and a senior fellow at the Sydney-based Lowy Institute think tank, wrote on X, formerly Twitter. The ballistic missile strike was part of a broader attack on Dnipro, where Ukrainian authorities said three people were wounded. They said the attack damaged an industrial facility and a rehabilitation center for the handicapped, where photos showed broken windows, a collapsed ceiling, and debris scattered across floors. Fabian Hoffman, a defense expert and doctoral research fellow at the University of Oslo, told the Kyiv Independent that "this strike is not for military value, this is purely, purely for political purposes." Here's a look at what Putin was probably trying to achieve. 'A Different Signal' Since Putin ordered the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, he and other Russian officials -- and state-controlled media -- have repeatedly used the potential threat of a nuclear attack to try to frighten the West and deter the United States and Europe from sending weapons to Kyiv. This nuclear messaging has been so frequent, in fact, that Russia may be running out of sabers to rattle: The Kremlin may be concerned that it is seen as letting its "red lines" be crossed without consequence. Putin "may perceive that his mentioning nuclear weapons, having done so frequently, is of diminishing value in getting his message across about what he sees as NATO interference in his genocidal war," Ryan wrote. "He needed a different signal to Washington, and he chose to do so with a different kind of weapon." Putin has been raising the specter of a nuclear strike since long before the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. But there are plenty of reasons for Russia to refrain from using its atomic arsenal, including questions about effectiveness in the war on Ukraine and the blowback Moscow could face from countries around the world, including China, India, and countries of the Global South. No 'Significant Inflection' Nonetheless, the nuclear messaging was by no means missing: In his address, Putin said that "in this case" the missile -- which he called Oreshnik (Hazel) and the Pentagon said was based on an existing model, the RS-26 or Rubezh -- had a non-nuclear payload. "It's the kind of signaling you engage in when you can't, in fact, escalate in the way you've been threatening," Ruth Deyermond, senior lecturer in the Department of War Studies at King's College London, wrote of the November 21 missile strike. Like previous words and actions, including a change in the Russian nuclear doctrine this month that included wording that seemed aimed to give Putin freer rein to use atomic weapons if he decides to do so, the missile strike said little about Russia's actual intentions. "Neither the Oreshnik ballistic missile strike nor Putin's November 21 statement represent a significant inflection in Russian strike capabilities or likeliness to use a nuclear weapon," the U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War said in a thread on X. Biden, Trump, Ukraine, Europe With U.S. President Joe Biden on his way out and less than two months remaining before President-elect Donald Trump returns to the White House, Putin may hope the missile "test," as he called it, would do double duty, warning Biden against major moves to strengthen Kyiv in his remaining weeks in office and encouraging Trump -- whose repeated claims that he would quickly end the war have generated expectations of a push for peace -- to roll back U.S. support for Ukraine. While the United States may be the main target of Russia's signaling, the strike may also have been aimed to sow fear in Ukraine and cause concern in Europe at a time when Trump's upcoming presidency is raising questions not only about levels of U.S. support not only for Ukraine, but about its relationship with NATO and its solidarity with the European Union. Putin "isn't only messaging Washington D.C. here. He has used a weapon with a range of over 5,000 kilometers, which could therefore be used against almost any target in Europe and the United Kingdom," Ryan wrote. "This is a message to Europe, not only about their support for Ukraine, but also about Russia's capacity and willingness to influence policy related to defense and security well beyond Ukraine." That's it from me this week. If you want to know more, catch up on my podcast The Week Ahead In Russia, here on our site or wherever you get your podcasts (Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts). Yours, Steve Gutterman 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 Ukrainian troops have complained that people are avoiding military service and leaving them outnumbered on the front line, in interviews near Kupyansk in northeastern Ukraine on November 20. With Russian forces advancing in the area, the few remaining civilians appeared stressed and depressed about the situation. Over 4,000 people a week are now using TFI Local Link services in Roscommon, Longford and Westmeath, according to the latest figures. Figures show that journey numbers have reached a record high, with people now using TFI Local Link bus services more than 100,000 times a week across rural Ireland, including 4,075 passengers in Roscommon, Longford and Westmeath. The bus services are provided for the National Transport Authority (NTA) by 15 Local Link Offices around the country. There were 105,986 passenger journeys on TFI Local Link services in the week ending October 13th, 2024. This represents a more-than five-fold increase compared to January 2022, when weekly passenger numbers were at 19,982. In Roscommon, Longford, Westmeath passenger numbers have more than doubled, driven by the introduction of two key services, Route 426, Longford to Roscommon and Route 819, Mullingar to Athlone. Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan acknowledged the milestone and the efforts behind the scenes, stating: We have seen a transformation in public transport across rural Ireland and going by the numbers, people really like it. Reaching this milestone of 100,000 passengers a week is incredible, but Id like to think of it as just the beginning. We need to have buses criss-crossing this country and reaching into towns and villages everywhere. TFI Local Link Roscommon Longford Westmeath General Manager, Damien ONeill said: TFI Local Link Roscommon Longford Westmeath is dedicated to providing reliable and accessible transport services that enhance connectivity, making it easier for residents to travel within their communities and beyond. The success of the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan, including services like the 426 Longford to Roscommon and 819 Athlone to Mullingar, along with other regular routes such as the LR24 Ballymahon to Longford, 570 Boyle to Roscommon, 571 Arigna via Drumshanbo to Boyle, 865 Granard to Longford, and 1794 Castlerea, has significantly improved public transport. These services enable people to access college, local employment, leisure activities, and more through sustainable, affordable, and accessible modes of transport. Additionally, our traditional demand-responsive services, which can collect passengers at their door (subject to service restrictions), have contributed to TFI Local Link reaching 100,000 passenger journeys per week. There were two County Roscommon winners at the FBD Better Farming Awards, which took place in The Heritage Hotel, Killenard last week. At a gala ceremony, attended by over 200 people and hosted by former Minister of Agriculture Ivan Yates, 20 awards were presented on the night, two of them going to County Roscommon. Monksland based Senus won the Agtech Ireland Best Agritech Science Product. The company offers a software solution that transforms complex environmental data into actionable insights, enabling farmers and land custodians to make better decisions. Taughmaconnell group Ui Maine Kingdom won the Cormac Tagging Best Community/Public Group Engagement or Incentive Scheme for its work in protecting the unique Karst landscapes biodiversity, nature, water, heritage, mythology and folklore. The awards were founded in 2023 to recognise initiatives, research and practices that are helping Irish agriculture meet its economic, social and environmental challenges. They go beyond the headlines to identify the real difference being achieved by those who are excelling in the various areas of agriculture. The Future of Healthcare in Romania In Romania, revolutionary technologies and artificial intelligence are already used in many fields Photo: ckstockphoto / pixabay.com Corina Cristea, 22.11.2024, 13:45 The COVID-19 pandemic has shown that up-to-date health-related data is a critical instrument in effective public health measures and responding to crises. Moreover, the pandemic brought about a massive acceleration in the adoption of digital tools, but, as stakeholders argue, complex obstacles persist that make it difficult for the full potential of digital health data to be achieved. The European Health Data Space, a key pillar of a strong EU healthcare system, is designed to overcome these obstacles. It is a framework for the exchange of specific health-related data, which establishes clear rules, common standards and practices, digital infrastructures and a governance framework for the use of electronic health data by patients and for research, innovation, policy-making, patient safety, statistics or regulatory purposes. Cristina Berteanu, Ph.D. medical sciences: Cristina Berteanu: It is the first European data space that begins with healthcare and completely changes the paradigm, in the sense that the patient has priority over data ownership and can connect with other patients from the member states, but also with doctors in Romania and in all the other member states. Secondly, access to such data by researchers or by policy-makers is very well defined within a legal framework, which has rules for data access. It will bring important progress in discovering new molecules, in creating strategies and public policies, including prevention and customised medicine, because with access to anonymised data, targeted treatments can be created much more precisely and much more easily. Work is already underway on this European data space that will have to be operational as of 2025. This requires significant digitisation in all member states and we hope that we are making progress considering that 207 hospitals in Romania have access to funds for digitisation under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. In addition to patients being able to access and share this data more easily, while retaining greater control over it, healthcare professionals will be able to do their job more easily and effectively. Thanks to improved interoperability, they will be able to access a patients medical history, thus broadening the set of information relevant to treatment and diagnostic decisions, including when patient data is located in another EU member country. Also, by supporting the exchange of data between healthcare providers within countries and across borders, healthcare providers will avoid the duplication of tests, with positive effects for patients and healthcare costs. Researchers will have access to larger amounts of representative and high-quality data and will be able to access data in a more efficient and less expensive way, through a data access platform that guarantees patient data confidentiality. Regulators and decision-makers will also have easier access to healthcare data for more effective policy-making and better operation of evidence-based healthcare systems. This, Brussels says, will lead to better access to healthcare, reduce costs, increase efficiency, strengthen research and innovation and help build more resilient healthcare systems. Electronic patient records, smart hospitals, the concept of Big Data and the use of artificial intelligence are part of the medicine of the future. And some of them are already present in Romania. The first smart hospital in Romania, a pilot project that will help digitise the entire healthcare system, will be opened in Targu Mures. But what does a smart hospital entail? Cristina Berteanu: Cristina Berteanu: The use of electronic patient records, telemedicine, cybersecurity, the use of robots in surgery. Also, the use of virtual reality in training medical staff and doctors, as well as Big Data and the development of AI algorithms to use this concept as best we can in various areas of prevention, healthcare strategy, to ensure the quality, precision and speed with which test results are given. In Romania, revolutionary technologies and artificial intelligence are already used in many fields, starting with radiology, imaging, radiotherapy, and data collection. The new technologies that are already used in Romanian healthcare help in early diagnosis, in creating personalised treatment plans and in the molecular characterisation of tumors, especially when we talk about cancer, doctor Cristina Berteanu also explained. (AMP) November 22, 2024 A roundup of local and world news Newsflash Newsroom, 22.11.2024, 13:55 WEATHER Nearly 3-quarters of Romanias territory is under various severe weather alerts, valid at least until tonight. A code red warning for snowstorms at altitudes of over 1,700 m is in place in several counties in the centre and south of the country. Parts of Romanias mid-west are subject to code orange alerts for strong wind, ranging from 80 to 120 km/h, and heavy snowfalls are expected in the mountains. Mixed precipitation and wind are also forecast for the west, north-west and centre of the country, according to a code yellow alert. ELECTION Voting has begun abroad, in the first round of Romanias presidential election. Voting is already underway in New Zealand, Australia, Japan and South Korea. Those who have already cast their ballots today join the over 4,200 who voted by mail. Voting abroad takes place over three days, from November 22 to 24. In the country, Romanians will be able to vote for their next president on Sunday, from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., with extensions granted only if there are still voters in polling stations or queuing outside. Almost 19,000 polling stations are set up in the country and 950 abroad for this election. The most polling stations abroad are in Italy 158, Spain 147 and the United Kingdom 107. 13 candidates take part in the race for the president post. Also on Sunday, a local referendum is held in Bucharest, with three questions related to administrative issues, including the distribution of tax revenues and the issuance of construction permits, as well as the fight against drug use. A 30% turnout is needed for the referendum to be valid. SCHENGEN The interior ministers of Romania and Bulgaria, Catalin Predoiu and Atanas Ilkov respectively, are meeting today in Budapest with their Austrian counterpart, Gerhard Karner, to discuss the 2 countries full Schengen accession, vetoed by Austria so far. The Romanian PM Marcel Ciolacu, as well as his Hungarian counterpart, Viktor Orban, will also attend the meeting, held under the auspices of the Hungarian Presidency of the EU. During the talks, the officials will consider an agreement on the full accession of Romania and Bulgaria to Schengen. A decision on lifting external border controls could be taken on December 12 in Brussels, in the Justice and Home Affairs Council, but this needs the support of all EU member states. Romania and Bulgaria partially joined Schengen at the end of March, by suspending controls at air and sea borders. Land border controls remained in place, however, because of Austrias veto, which Vienna says is related to concerns about illegal migration. DEFENCE Signing the agreement with the US for the procurement of F-35 aircraft is another decisive step forward for Romania towards a modern and efficient national defence, well connected to our international partners, PM Marcel Ciolacu said on Thursday. He attended the signing of the Protocol launching the Romanian Air Forces transition to 5th generation F-35 aircraft. The document was signed by the defence minister Angel Tilvar and the US Ambassador to Bucharest, Kathleen Kavalec. UKRAINE Russias president Vladimir Putin said Russia had hit the Ukrainian city of Dnipro with a new type of medium-range missile designed to carry nuclear warheads, in response to Ukraines attacks on Russian territory with Western-supplied missiles. Addressing the nation, Putin said the war in Ukraine had acquired elements of a global conflict after the United States, France and Britain agreed with the use of their missiles against Russia, and he warned that his country had the right to use its weapons against the military facilities of those countries that allow their weapons to be used against Russian territory. In case of escalation, Putin added, Russia would respond decisively and symmetrically. The United States, which according to Reuters was informed shortly before the Russian missile launch, said Moscow was the one escalating the conflict in Ukraine. Washington, however, said it had no reason to change its nuclear doctrine based solely on Putins irresponsible rhetoric. NETANYAHU Israels PM Benjamin Netanyahu said he would continue to defend the country in any way he could, after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for him for war crimes and crimes against humanity. Netanyahu described the courts decision as an anti-Semitic act, while Israels president and the parliament speaker called it an attack on justice and truth. The US President Joe Biden called the arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court for Netanyahu and his former defence minister, Yoav Gallant, outrageous, and promised the US would stand by Israel in the face of a threat to its security. According to Biden, the International Criminal Court has no jurisdiction in this case. As for President-elect Donald Trump, he did not react to the decision to issue the arrest warrants issued against Netanyahu and Gallant, but his future national security adviser, Mike Waltz, promised a strong response to the ICCs anti-Semitic leaning. (AMP) November 22, 2024 UPDATE Click here for the latest news from RRI Newsflash Newsroom, 22.11.2024, 19:22 Presidential election Voting abroad for the first round of the presidential election in Romania began on Friday. According to the Permanent Electoral Authority, several tens of thousands of voters have so far voted in the diaspora, adding to the more than 4,200 who voted by mail. Voting abroad takes place from November 22 to 24. In the country, Romanians will be able to vote for the next president on Sunday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., with the possibility for the vote to be extended. Almost 19,000 polling stations were organized in the country for this election and 950 abroad. The most sections outside the borders are in Italy 158, Spain 147 and Great Britain 107. There are 13 candidates registered in the presidential race. Also on Sunday, a local referendum is organized in Bucharest with three questions related to administrative issues: the distribution of income from duties and taxes, the issuance of construction permits as well as the fight against drug consumption. For the referendum to be valid, a 30% turnout is needed. Schengen The interior ministers from Romania, Bulgaria, Austria and Hungary, together with the European Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, agreed on Friday, in Budapest, that Romania and Bulgaria should join the free travel Schengen area with land borders too from January 1, 2025. The final decision will be made at the meeting of the European Unions interior ministers next month, in Brussels. Romania is a security provider in Europe and Romanias entry into the Schengen Area will strengthen this area said Minister Catalin Predoiu. Present in Budapest, the Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu welcomed the agreement reached at the level of the interior ministers regarding Romanias full accession to the Schengen Area. On a social network, the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, also welcomed the favorable outcome of the informal discussions in Budapest. In 2025, the Schengen area will become stronger, the EC leader wrote. The President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola herself welcomed the positive evolution regarding the full accession to the Schengen area of Romania and Bulgaria. We remind you that Romania and Bulgaria have partially acceded to Schengen at the end of March with air and sea border controls being suspended, but land border controls remained in place due to Austrias opposition, motivated by Viennas concerns about illegal migration. Weather In Romania, the temperatures will drop compared to the previous day, especially in the southern and southeastern regions, and will be, in most parts of the country, lower than the normal ones for this period. The sky will be temporarily cloudy and light snow will be reported especially during the day, in most of the mountain areas, and on limited areas in the center and north and, isolated, in the west and northeast. The wind will intensify in the mountains, with speeds of 60 up to 80 km/h, and the gusts will reach 80 100 km/h on the peaks and blizzard will be reported. Locally, wind speeds of 50 -70 km/h will also be recorded in the center, south and east of the territory. The maximum temperatures will range from minus 2 to plus 10 degrees Celsius, and the minimum between minus 10 to plus 1 degree C. Several counties in the east, southeast, south and center are under code yellow alerts for wind intensification and blizzard in the mountains until Saturday. Road and air traffic were disrupted, on Friday, in several areas of the country, due to the blizzard and snow. Thousands of people were left without electricity. Maneuvers in Black Sea ports have been suspended. Israel The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would continue to defend the country in any way, after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant against him for war crimes and crimes against humanity. Netanyahu considers the Courts decision as an anti-Semitic act, while the President of Israel and the head of the Parliament labeled it as an attack against justice and truth. The acting American president, Joe Biden, labeled as scandalous the arrest warrants issued by the ICC for Netanyahu and his former defense minister, Yoav Gallant. On Thursday, the court also issued an arrest warrant for the head of the military wing of Hamas, Mohammed Deif, also for war crimes and crimes against humanity. In this context, the Romanian Foreign Ministry (MAE) conveyed, in a statement, that it is not possible to put the equal sign between Israel, a democracy, and terrorist organizations such as Hamas and Hezbollah. In the current context in the Middle East, when all efforts must be aimed at finding political solutions, any initiative must aim at a cease-fire agreement, the release of all hostages and the mitigation of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, MAE also states. (LS) Transition program towards F-35, launched The Romanian Air Forces transition program to 5th generation aircraft has been launched. Signing of the protocol (foto: Roxana Vasile, 22.11.2024, 14:00 The Romanian Air Forces transition program to 5th generation aircraft has been launched. Romanias decision to acquire advanced fighter jets is a key step in the ongoing modernization of the Romanian Armed Forces and will contribute significantly to the long-term defense of the NATO Alliance and our collective security. This is the message of the United States Ambassador in Bucharest, Kathleen Kavalec, at the launch event of the Romanian Air Forces transition program to 5th generation aircraft. The 32 F-35 aircraft for which the acquisition contract was signed by the Romanian and American governments is the top of aviation performance at present, says the Defense Minister, Angel Tilvar: F-35 aircraft have stealth technology, advanced sensor and communications systems, unparalleled speed and maneuverability, which makes them vital for modern military operations. The unique technological capabilities of these aircraft allow them to act as a multiplier for both deterrence and air defense capabilities, including those based on the ground, and for indirect fire force support systems, which can be supported in real time with data from the space in which they operate. According to the minister, the allocation of 2% of the GDP for Defense since 2017, a percentage that has now reached 2.5%, has allowed the Romanian Army to begin the most extensive modernization process. And the advance as stated by the US ambassador Kathleen Kavalec is a significant one: the Romanian Air Force has switched from MiG aircraft to F-16 fighter jets, so that, from 2030, it will have state-of-the-art F-35 aircraft. The American diplomat recalled that the current security challenges are significant, and Romania, as a NATO ally on the eastern flank, has been directly affected by Russias war of aggression in the neighboring Ukraine. When needed, the Romanian Air Force and the Alliance have mobilized fighter jets, following the detection of airspace violations in southeastern Romania, near the border with Ukraine. Beyond the military impact, says Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, the acquisition of the F-35 aircraft also has an economic impact: By integrating these aircraft into the Romanian Armed Forces, Romania has stimulated the development of the defense sector and will support the creation of jobs in key areas of the defense industry and technology. In addition, the integration of the F-35 into the National Defense System will offer new opportunities for training and professional development for our young specialists in the technological field. It is, therefore, an element that contributes to the development of a competent and well-trained workforce, the Prime Minister also said. The Indian stock market is up in positive territory Friday morning thanks to bargain hunting at several counters after the setback in the previous session. A few stocks from the Adani Group have moved up as well. Bank, , metal and realty stocks are among the prominent gainers. The BSE benchmark Sensex was up 704.08 points or 0.91% at 77,859.87 a few minutes before noon. The broader Nifty50 index of the National Stock Exchange was up 225.20 points or 0.96% at 23,575.10. UltraTech Cement is up 2.3%, while ICICI Bank, Power Grid Corporation, Bajaj Finance, Tech Mahindra, Titan, Larsen & Toubro and JSW Steel are gaining 1 to 2%. PSU bank stocks State Bank of India, Punjab National Bank and Bank of Baroda are up 3 to 3.3%. Canbank, Maharashtra Bank, PSB, Central Bank of India, Union Bank of India, Bank of India and IOB are also up with strong gains. Adani Group stocks which tumbled on Thursday following the indictment of Adani Group founder Gautam Adani and a few other top executives by the U.S. SEC for their alleged role in a $265 million bribery case, moved higher today after a very weak start. Adani Ports & Special Economic Zone is up nearly 2%, Adani Enterprises is gaining 3.6%, Adani Total Gas is rising 2.6%, Adani Green Energy is advancing 3.5%, Adani Power is up 1.75% and Adani Wilmar is up 0.6%, while Adani Energy Solutions is down by about 3%. ACC and Ambuja Cements are up 3.5% and 5.2%, respectively. Technology stocks Wipro, Mphasis, LT MindTree, L&T Technology Services, HCL Technologies, Tata Consultancy Service, Tech Mahindra and Infosys are up 1 to 2.3%. Realty stocks Raymond and DLF are up 7% and 3.7%, respectively. Godrej Properties, Lodha, Sobha Developers and Brigade Enterprises are up 2 to 3%. JSW Energy Limited is likely to see some action after the company said that it is planning to set up a wind turbine blade manufacturing unit in Karnataka for captive usage by the company. The stock is down marginally. Afcons Infrastructure announced that it has received a Letter of Acceptance for a project worth Rs 1,274 crore from the Uttarakhand Project Development and Construction Corporation. The stock is down more than 1%. SJVN is up more than 4%. The company announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Energy Department of the Rajasthan government for the development of renewable energy in the state. According to the MoU, SJVN would develop 5 GW of pumped storage projects and 2 GW of floating solar projects in the state. On the economic front, flash data from S&P Global said the HSBC India Composite PMI rose to 59.5 in November of 2024 from a final 59.1 in the previous month, the highest reading since August. The HSBC India Manufacturing PMI fell to 57.3 in November 2024, slightly down from 57.5 in October, and the HSBC India Services PMI increased to 59.2 in November 2024 from a final reading of 58.5 in October, according to preliminary estimates. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Russia has launched a nuclear-capable ballistic missile targeting the eastern Ukrainian city of Dnipro on Thursday, evoking international concern. The missile hit a military facility in Dnipro. The U.S. Defense Department said it was an intermediate-range ballistic missile. "I can confirm that Russia did launch an experimental intermediate range ballistic missile," deputy Pentagon press secretary Sabrina Singh said during a briefing at the Pentagon. "This IRBM was based on Russia's RS-26 Rubezh intercontinental ballistic missile model. In terms of notifications to the United States, the United States was prenotified, briefly, before the launch, through nuclear risk reduction channels." Singh said the missile carried a conventional warhead, and it could be fitted with other warheads as well. "It could be refitted to certainly carry different types of ... conventional or nuclear warheads". The Defense Department has characterized the IRBM as "experimental" in that it's the first time a weapon of its kind has been used on the battlefield in Ukraine, Singh said. "This was a new type of lethal capability that was deployed on the battlefield. That's certainly [of] concern to us ... I don't have an assessment of its impacts right now, but it's something that, of course, we're concerned by," she old reporters. Singh also said an IRBM and an intercontinental ballistic missile have similar flight paths, high trajectories and can carry large payloads. "But the main difference lies in the range and the strategic purpose," she said. The UN and the European Union criticized the attack, and called for deescalation. Russian President Vladimir Putin said the attack on Dnipro was in response to Ukraine launching American and British long-range missiles against targets in Russia. He warned that Russia could attack military facilities of Ukraine's allies that supplied these weapons. Ukraine's President Zelensky says the attack is "a clear and severe escalation" and called on the world to respond to it. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News I envisioned an AI workforce capable of handling the aforementioned tedious, mundane business tasks, which led me to wonder, How much more efficient could we be with AI assistance? The concept solidified with the thought, What if every small to medium business could access a pre-configured AI workforce from day one? Denver After 24 years in the software industry, Denver Naidoo, founder of Zeligate, saw an opportunity to radically transform how small and medium-sized businesses operate. With a wealth of technical expertise and business management experience, Naidoo understood the challenges many businesses face, especially when it comes to setting up and managing day-to-day operations. It was during the launch of his IT professional services business that Naidoo had a breakthrough. Faced with the usual challenges of starting a new venture, he realized there had to be a more efficient way to handle the repetitive, tedious tasks that often consume valuable time and resources. The spark for Zeligate came when Naidoo gained early access to an advanced Language Learning Model (LLM), a form of AI that would help solve this very problem. Combining this technology with his extensive experience in business management, Naidoo envisioned an AI workforce that could take over these mundane tasks, leaving human employees free to focus on more creative, high-value work. This inquiry evolved into a vision of an AI-powered organisational structure, simulating traditional business roles like hiring, sales, and marketing, Denver said. The concept solidified with the thought, What if every small to medium business could access a pre-configured AI workforce from day one? This eureka moment led to the creation of Zeligate. Our aim is to redefine workplace efficiency by leveraging AI to manage repetitive tasks, and allowing humans to focus on high-value, creative work. Building Zeligate Zeligate sets itself apart in the AI industry with its innovative approach to business solutions. Unlike many AI systems that focus on individual tasks, Zeligates Zeli platform delivers a comprehensive AI workforce capable of handling multiple complex functions simultaneously, from hiring to sales. The platform is designed for rapid deployment, allowing businesses to implement the solution in minutes, reducing integration time and resource demands. Zeligates role-based AI is trained in traditional job functions, making it intuitive and easy to integrate into existing workflows, enhancing human roles rather than replacing them. By automating routine tasks, Zeligate empowers employees to focus on high-value, creative work. The company prioritizes continuous innovation, refining its AI models based on real-world feedback and investing heavily in R&D to stay ahead of emerging needs. Collaboration with industry experts and a strong focus on ethical AI development ensures Zeligates technology not only complements but amplifies human capabilities in the workplace. Denver Naidoos approach to growing Zeligate is built on a strong foundation of assembling an inspired team and maintaining an unwavering commitment to customer needs. Building a Visionary Team Naidoo made it a priority to recruit individuals who shared his passion for AI-driven business solutions. This team of innovators and industry experts has played a crucial role in turning Zeligates ambitious vision into reality. Naidoo made it a priority to recruit individuals who shared his passion for AI-driven business solutions. This team of innovators and industry experts has played a crucial role in turning Zeligates ambitious vision into reality. Fostering a Culture of Innovation Encouraging creative thinking and calculated risk-taking has been central to Zeligates success. By cultivating an environment where team members feel empowered to push boundaries, Naidoo has fostered the development of groundbreaking AI solutions. Encouraging creative thinking and calculated risk-taking has been central to Zeligates success. By cultivating an environment where team members feel empowered to push boundaries, Naidoo has fostered the development of groundbreaking AI solutions. Obsessive Customer Focus Zeligates commitment to understanding and addressing real-world business challenges is a driving force behind its growth. This customer-centric approach has been instrumental in achieving product-market fit, ensuring that the solutions Zeligate provides are aligned with the needs of its users. Zeligates commitment to understanding and addressing real-world business challenges is a driving force behind its growth. This customer-centric approach has been instrumental in achieving product-market fit, ensuring that the solutions Zeligate provides are aligned with the needs of its users. Iterative Development Process By adopting an agile methodology, Zeligate continuously refines its AI workforce in response to user feedback and evolving business needs. This iterative process allows the company to remain responsive and adaptable to market demands. By adopting an agile methodology, Zeligate continuously refines its AI workforce in response to user feedback and evolving business needs. This iterative process allows the company to remain responsive and adaptable to market demands. Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration Naidoo ensures that Zeligates solutions are both technologically advanced and practically applicable by integrating insights from diverse fields, including software development and business management. Naidoo ensures that Zeligates solutions are both technologically advanced and practically applicable by integrating insights from diverse fields, including software development and business management. Empowering Early Adopters Zeligates early success can be attributed to close collaboration with its first clients, treating them as partners in development. This approach helped create a product that resonates deeply with its target users. Zeligates early success can be attributed to close collaboration with its first clients, treating them as partners in development. This approach helped create a product that resonates deeply with its target users. Balancing AI with Human Insight Naidoo believes in creating AI solutions that enhance, rather than replace, human roles. By striking this balance, Zeligate has gained widespread acceptance in the market, ensuring that its AI workforce supports human creativity and decision-making rather than replacing it. Overcoming AI Myths and Customer Hesitancy Building trust in AI solutions was challenging, especially in industries reliant on human interaction. We addressed this by implementing transparent processes Zeligates journey has been shaped by several challenges, especially when it came to customer adoption. According to Denver, one of the main hurdles was overcoming misconceptions about AIparticularly concerns regarding its complexity and impact on jobs. To overcome this, we are focused on education, workshops, case studies, and offering trials. Second, building trust in AI solutions was challenging, especially in industries reliant on human interaction. We addressed this by emphasising AIs role in enhancing human capabilities, implementing transparent processes, and collaborating with experts. Third, businesses required significant customisation of the AI workforce, so we developed a modular system to make that easier and created industry-specific AI models. Through this process, there have been a number of important lessons learned that have shaped our approach, fostering continuous learning and customer-centric innovation. First and most important is that patience is crucial when introducing transformative technology, and it was evident that clear communication about AIs benefits and limitations would be essential. Additionally, educating the market is as important as building a product. Finally, flexibility in development and strategy is vital, and early adopters and their success stories can significantly impact market penetration. Advice for Aspiring Founders Denver shares his top advice for aspiring entrepreneurs based on his own experiences: Obsess over customer needs. Focus on solving real problems for your customers, Naidoo begins. He emphasizes the importance of truly understanding and addressing customer pain points. Prioritize product-market fit. Refine your product based on user feedback before scaling up. Building the right team is also crucial. Naidoo advises surrounding yourself with individuals who share your vision and complement your strengths. He stresses the need for adaptability, urging entrepreneurs to be prepared to pivot their strategies based on feedback and advancements in the market. Focus on solving tangible problems, he says, encouraging business owners to ensure that their products or services address a clear, significant need. Cultivating resilience is another key piece of advice, as setbacks are inevitable in any business journey. Naidoo also highlights the importance of maintaining a learning mindset, staying curious, and being open to new ideas. Balance innovation with practicality. While its important to be innovative, make sure your solutions are practical and implementable. He concludes by emphasizing that these principles are interconnected. Success comes from a holistic approach that combines customer focus, product excellence, team building, and adaptability. Keep these principles in mind, and youll be better equipped to navigate the complexities of starting and growing a successful business. Keep up to date with our stories on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Marine Air Flow International from Queensland and photoSentinel from Victoria were crowned joint winners of the Small Business category at the Austrade Australian Export Awards, celebrated on Wednesday at Parliament House. Marine Air Flow International, a leader in maritime ventilation solutions, has spent nearly 20 years combating the corrosive effects of salt-laden air on ship engine rooms. With exports accounting for almost half of its revenue, the company serves commercial and defence sectors globally. Recently, it secured a significant contract to outfit two ferries built in Singapore for the UAEa deal described as a historic achievement by director Bradley Martin. The company is now setting its sights on expanding into Europe, North America, and the Middle East. Meanwhile, Victorian-based photoSentinel specializes in time-lapse photography technology, offering durable camera systems and software used in 55 countries. From documenting construction projects to environmental monitoring, its tools have broad applications. Having previously won in 2018, the companys latest success is fueled by growing operations in the UAE and the U.S. CEO Matthew Perrier praised the teams international expansion, which includes new hires in Dubai and America. The top award of the night, Australian Exporter of the Year, was claimed by South Australias Rising Sun Pictures. The renowned visual effects studio has contributed to major productions such as Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga and Apple TV+ series Monarch: Legacy of Monsters. This years awards highlighted the creativity and resilience of Australian exporters, with over half the finalists being small businesses earning less than $10 million annually. Winners of the 62nd Australian Export Awards Australian Exporter of the Year : Rising Sun Pictures : Rising Sun Pictures Small Business : photoSentinel, Marine Air Flow International (joint winners) : photoSentinel, Marine Air Flow International (joint winners) Manufacturing and Advanced Materials : TNA Solutions : TNA Solutions Emerging Exporter : Royal Poly Products, Whiskey Project Group (joint winners) : Royal Poly Products, Whiskey Project Group (joint winners) Resources and Energy : MicroBioGen : MicroBioGen Sustainability and Green Economy : NOJA Power : NOJA Power International Education : Engineering Institute of Technology : Engineering Institute of Technology Regional Exporter : Care Essentials : Care Essentials Creative Industries : Rising Sun Pictures : Rising Sun Pictures Professional Services : Reeves Envico : Reeves Envico e-Commerce : Life-Space Group : Life-Space Group International Health : ResMed : ResMed Advanced Technologies : Fivecast : Fivecast Agribusiness, Food and Beverages: Frosty Boy Global A full list of winners can be seen here. According to Austrade, the 88 finalists more than half of them classified as small businesses generated over $7.8 billion in export earnings over FY2023/24. Keep up to date with our stories on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Startups are driving innovation across Australia and New Zealand, and the latest funding announcements showcase the diverse and ambitious tech ecosystem powering the region. Here are the top funding highlights of the week: WAs Pronto Pilates raises $1.65M in equity crowdfunding round Pronto Pilates, based in Western Australia, has successfully raised $1,645,935 from 488 investors through its equity crowdfunding campaign on OnMarket. This marks the largest crowdfunding raise in Australia this financial year and the third largest for the calendar year. In addition to the funds raised, over 200 investors have expressed interest in owning a Pronto Studio, potentially translating to a $160M sales pipeline if all deals close. Notably, 16 healthcare providers are among those interested, eager to attach a Pronto Pilates studio to their practices. This also represents the second-largest raise for OnMarket in 2024, highlighting strong investor confidence in the brands growth potential. Q-CTRL Wins $2.75M Government Contract for Quantum Tech Sydney-based Q-CTRL, a leader in quantum computing software, has just secured a game-changing $2.75 million contract as part of the Australian governments bold initiative to strengthen national defence capabilities. This funding is part of the Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerators (ASCA) Emerging and Disruptive Technologies program, which is investing over $60 million in cutting-edge innovations. With 21 contracts awarded from 179 proposals, Q-CTRL is positioned to make significant strides in enhancing quantum and counter-disinformation tech, cementing its role in Australias high-tech future. QIC Invests $10M in Virescents Climate Tech Fund The Queensland Investment Corporation (QIC) is throwing its weight behind climate tech, committing $10 million to Virescent Ventures second climate-focused fund, bringing total investments to $125 million. This fund, aimed at accelerating clean energy, sustainable agriculture, and smart city solutions, is rapidly gaining momentum. Alongside heavyweights like Westpac and the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC), QIC is backing innovation at the heart of Australias green transition. Viewa Raises $300K to Revolutionize Online Shopping with AR In a move that could reshape online shopping, Melbourne startup Viewa has raised $300,000 in pre-seed funding to supercharge the digital shopping experience using augmented reality (AR). With 80% of Australians shopping on mobile, Viewa is stepping in with a solution to bridge the gap between in-store experiences and online shopping. The platform is set to boost conversion rates by up to 94%, creating an immersive shopping journey that could transform how consumers buy online. LiftHER Grant Challenge Returns with $40K for Female Founders LIFTWOMEN is back with the second edition of its LiftHER Female Founders Grant Challenge, offering $40,000in cash prizes to women entrepreneurs who are changing the world with innovative social and environmental solutions. Building on the success of the inaugural challenge in 2023, which saw nine impactful startups across Asia-Pacificrecognized, the program continues its mission to fuel women-led ventures with the resources they need to thrive and make a difference. Keep up to date with our stories on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. The power struggle between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, which turned into a vicious armed conflict in April 2023, has caused what is today the worlds worst humanitarian crisis. According to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, the conflict has killed more than 20,000 people, displaced 11 million, and half of the countrys population of 25 million is struggling with acute food insecurity. In some regions, lack of food rises to the level of famine. On November 18, the United Nations voted on a resolution, sponsored by the United Kingdom and Siera Leone, which called for increased protection for civilians, including an immediate cease-fire between Sudans warring parties, and the delivery of humanitarian aid. Fourteen members of the Security Council voted to adopt the resolution. One, Russia, voted against. And with that, the mandate aimed at helping to safeguard and feed the people of Sudan died. It is shocking that Russia has vetoed an effort to save lives though perhaps, it shouldnt be, said Linda Thomas-Greenfield U.S. Permanent representative to the UN. They claim it is because of Sudanese sovereignty. But Sudan supports the resolution. Today, the Council would have come together to call for a comprehensive, nationwide ceasefire; for increased protection of civilians; and removal of obstructions to the unhindered flow of humanitarian aid across Sudan. We would have demanded that the RSF cease attacks in El Fasher, Gezira, and elsewhere in Sudan. And called for both the RSF and the SAF to be held accountable for their commitments in the Jeddah Declaration. The Jeddah Declaration is a 2023 commitment to protect the countrys civilians, signed by the Sudanese Armed Forces, the Rapid Support Forces, and the Declarations two sponsors, the United States and Saudi Arabia. Russia claims it is for and with Africans, but votes against a resolution supported by Africans, for Africans, said Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield. It is unconscionable that Russia would callously and cynically stand in the way of demanding these actions actions to save lives in the worlds worst humanitarian crisis. We are watching the situation closely and will continue to call out abuses and those who facilitate them, including, clearly, Russia, said Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield. We must continue to amplify the voices of Sudanese people, who are calling for peace and prosperity, democracy and justice. And Russia cant stand in the way of that. New inheritance tax rules for farmers could be changed to make it easier for those 80 and over to hand down their farm without it incurring the tax, in what would be a partial climbdown by the government after a bruising row with farmers and a huge protest march in Westminster on Tuesday. The Treasury is understood to be assessing the impact of changes, including amending gifting rules for over-80s so they can pass on their farm to their family without having to live for seven years after making the gift. Guardian The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) is investigating suspected bribery and corruption at Thales Group, a multinational aerospace and defence electronics contractor. The company, which is headquartered in Paris and has a UK subsidiary employing more than 7,000 staff, is known in defence circles for its varied businesses, which include making missiles and launchers, supplying sonar systems for the Royal Navys nuclear submarines and designing the Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers. Guardian Italy, Abu Dhabi and Cyprus are among a group of countries seeking to woo Britains rich following the government crackdown on nom-doms. Countries are holding events across London to convince the UKs 67,000 non-doms UK residents with tax domiciles elsewhere to relocate in the wake of the election and Labours first Budget. Telegraph Energy bills for most households in Britain will rise by an average 21 to 1,738 a year from January, increasing the pressure on millions of people. Ofgem, the energy regulator, raised the price cap by 1 per cent, from 1,717 in the present quarter, in response to a rebound in wholesale gas prices amid mounting global political turmoil and extreme weather events. The Times The former editor of The Observer has criticised plans for it to be sold after its suitor warned it was heading down a path to closure if a deal cannot be struck. Paul Webster, who retired on Saturday after 28 years at the Sunday newspaper, said the proposed sale to the digital start-up Tortoise Media would severely damage the reputation of its owner the Scott Trust. The Times This photo taken on Nov. 20, 2024 shows a head sculpture of Alexander the Great at the exhibition "The Greeks: Agamemnon to Alexander the Great" at Capital Museum in Beijing, capital of China. Featuring a total of 270 pieces or sets of exhibits from 14 museums across Greece, the exhibition will open to public on Nov. 21, 2024 and last till May 18, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao) This photo taken on Nov. 20, 2024 shows ancient Greek statues on display at the exhibition "The Greeks: Agamemnon to Alexander the Great" at Capital Museum in Beijing, capital of China. Featuring a total of 270 pieces or sets of exhibits from 14 museums across Greece, the exhibition will open to public on Nov. 21, 2024 and last till May 18, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao) This photo taken on Nov. 20, 2024 shows a scene at the exhibition "The Greeks: Agamemnon to Alexander the Great" at Capital Museum in Beijing, capital of China. Featuring a total of 270 pieces or sets of exhibits from 14 museums across Greece, the exhibition will open to public on Nov. 21, 2024 and last till May 18, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao) This photo taken on Nov. 20, 2024 shows a scene at the exhibition "The Greeks: Agamemnon to Alexander the Great" at Capital Museum in Beijing, capital of China. Featuring a total of 270 pieces or sets of exhibits from 14 museums across Greece, the exhibition will open to public on Nov. 21, 2024 and last till May 18, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao) A visitor views a piece of relief from the Parthenon on display at the exhibition "The Greeks: Agamemnon to Alexander the Great" at Capital Museum in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 20, 2024. Featuring a total of 270 pieces or sets of exhibits from 14 museums across Greece, the exhibition will open to public on Nov. 21, 2024 and last till May 18, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao) Overseas guests visit the exhibition "The Greeks: Agamemnon to Alexander the Great" at Capital Museum in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 20, 2024. Featuring a total of 270 pieces or sets of exhibits from 14 museums across Greece, the exhibition will open to public on Nov. 21, 2024 and last till May 18, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao) This photo taken on Nov. 20, 2024 shows a painted amphora on display at the exhibition "The Greeks: Agamemnon to Alexander the Great" at Capital Museum in Beijing, capital of China. Featuring a total of 270 pieces or sets of exhibits from 14 museums across Greece, the exhibition will open to public on Nov. 21, 2024 and last till May 18, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao) This photo taken on Nov. 20, 2024 shows a replica of the "Agamemnon gold mask" on display at the exhibition "The Greeks: Agamemnon to Alexander the Great" at Capital Museum in Beijing, capital of China. Featuring a total of 270 pieces or sets of exhibits from 14 museums across Greece, the exhibition will open to public on Nov. 21, 2024 and last till May 18, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao) Visitors view exhibits at the exhibition "The Greeks: Agamemnon to Alexander the Great" at Capital Museum in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 20, 2024. Featuring a total of 270 pieces or sets of exhibits from 14 museums across Greece, the exhibition will open to public on Nov. 21, 2024 and last till May 18, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao) Overseas guests visit the exhibition "The Greeks: Agamemnon to Alexander the Great" at Capital Museum in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 20, 2024. Featuring a total of 270 pieces or sets of exhibits from 14 museums across Greece, the exhibition will open to public on Nov. 21, 2024 and last till May 18, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao) This photo taken on Nov. 20, 2024 shows a scene at the exhibition "The Greeks: Agamemnon to Alexander the Great" at Capital Museum in Beijing, capital of China. Featuring a total of 270 pieces or sets of exhibits from 14 museums across Greece, the exhibition will open to public on Nov. 21, 2024 and last till May 18, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao) Editor: WRX Kim Hyo-eun's delicious How We Share Cake, her second Korean import after the award-winning I Am the Subway (also translated by British polyglot Deborah Smith), focuses on the pursuit of familial fairness. "We are three sisters and two brothers," begins the second sister, serving as judicious narrator. "This is a story about how we share cake... and everything else." For every item--apples, milk, roast chicken--five-way division is a must. "Sometimes, sharing is easy," because who wants broccoli? "Other times, it's hard"--because cotton candy! Each sibling has preferred implements to claim his/her share: a spatula, a fork, or an oversized ladle to grab every drop. Uncle-sharing, too, is mandatory, especially when he visits with his scooter. Twenty-four minutes is the max ride time allotted per child, until second sister's crash lands her in the hospital. The children, despite their worry, quickly calculate their longer scooter access (30 minutes). Meanwhile, second sister basks--temporarily--in being the one and only, enjoying a snack just for herself, then choosing a birthday cake of her very own. Kim (who also had to "share everything" in her youth) charmingly recounts here the sibling negotiations necessary to maintain family peace. Her stylized pencil, watercolor, and collage illustrations--outlined in black and white, strategically enhanced with detailed colors and patterns--are reminiscent of comic panels with their generous use of white space, whimsy, and humor. She most often depicts the quintet as crowded together--a squished-in car ride, the malodorous single bathroom--because, with family, sharing is indeed caring. --Terry Hong Australian Consul General Silai Zaki in South India met with the management at Kochi office of Harrisons Malayalam Limited in a visit as part of efforts by Canberra to boost bilateral trade ties with states in South India. Zaki hailed the promotion of Indian horticultural products in the Australian market and discussed possibilities of adapting the Australian standards of research and development to Indian levels. Zaki pointed out that trade between India and Australia has increased by 67% in the last five years, while stressing there is tremendous potential for expansion in the future. She praised Harrisons Malayalam for its interventions in sustainable development works carried out on plantations and artificial intelligence installations in operations. Apart from this, she also spoke on export avenues in Indian commodities like tea, rubber, fruits, and spices, asserting there is strong demand in Australia for value-added products. The CEOs of Harrisons Malayalam, Cherian M. George and Santhosh Kumar, shared their perspectives on the challenges facing the plantation sector and emerging opportunities in the companies' business activities. HML officials also made a detailed presentation on the production, marketing, and quality standards of plantation crops, including tea. A delegation from Singapore visited Rajasthan Vidhan Sabha. The Singapore delegation thoroughly understood the arrangements of the parliamentary system of the Rajasthan Vidhan Sabha and the traditions of the functioning of the House from Speaker Vasudev Devnani who gave detailed information on meetings of the House, arrangement of work, agenda, questions, slip system, adjournment motion on matters of public importance, reintroduction of bills etc. Devnani also explained to the delegation the parliamentary system of the Singapore Legislative Assembly along with the system of various legislative assemblies. Devnani has recently returned after a study tour of the Legislative Assemblies of Australia, Singapore, Indonesia and Japan. The delegation also visited the Museum of the Legislative Assembly. There are immense possibilities of expansion of work in various fields in Rajasthan. This tour will give a new direction to Rajasthan and Singapore's relationship, said a member of the delegation. The delegation from Singapore included senior Minister of State Jenil Puthucheary, Desmond Tan Kok Meng, Gen Siow Huang, Shawn Huang, Ji Yao Kyan, Ms. Rachel Ong, and Saktyadi Supaat, among others. Meanwhile, the Assam Legislative Assembly Committee visited Rajasthan Vidhan Sabha and met Speaker Vasudev Devnani. The committee also visited the digital museum of the Legislative Assembly. Devnani said that the role of parliamentary committees is important, adding that the stronger the committee, the more effectively the work will be done in the state government. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare entered into an MoU with Banaras Hindu University (BHU) and the Ministry of Education to enhance the Institute of Medical Sciences (IMS), BHU. The collaboration should help establish support similar to the new All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) established under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana. The MoU defines the Health Ministry's willingness to provide IMS, BHU with both financial and technical assistance to avail of quality secondary and tertiary healthcare services affordably in the region. It will also reduce the number of patient referrals by making delivery at the local level more effective. This MoU embodies a Whole of Government approach where Ministries collaborate for shared goals and enhanced outcomes for peoples benefit: Shri J P Nadda. The MoU will deepen academic and research collaborations, facilitate student, faculty, staff and research professionals exchanges between MoHFW, AIIMS and IMS BHU: Shri Dharmendra Pradhan Union Health Ministry entered into a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Banaras Hindu University (BHU) and Ministry of Education to provide enhanced funding and technical support to Institute of Medical Sciences (IMS), BHU, here today. Union Minister Health and Family Welfare Shri J P Nadda and Union Education Minister, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan were present on the occasion. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed today enables provision of grant in aid to IMS, BHU by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on the lines of new All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) set up under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY). The provision of grant to IMS BHU by MoHFW will enhance the availability of affordable state-of-the-art secondary and tertiary health care services to the people of the region. It will contribute significantly in reducing referrals by enhancing delivery of clinical care services. This will result not only in increased patient experience and satisfaction but is expected to notably reduce out of pocket expenditure on patient care. Union Health Ministry has from time to time been providing support to IMS, BHU under various schemes for establishment of new facilities and upgradation of existing ones. Considering the excellence of IMS BHU and its potential to further improve the quality of health care services, need was felt for providing enhanced support to enable it to deliver healthcare services of highest standards. Calling this a historic day, Shri J P Nadda stated that this MoU is a result of the Union Government's 'whole of the government' approach, which fosters increased collaboration across various government departments for shared goals aimed towards peoples benefit. Shri Nadda emphasized that this MoU would establish close partnership between AIIMS, New Delhi, and IMS, BHU leading to higher teaching standards and excellence in research outcomes too. He also proposed regular student and faculty exchanges between IMS, BHU and AIIMS for enhanced outcomes. Speaking on the occasion Shri Pradhan said that the MoU will deepen academic and research collaboration between AIIMS and IMS BHU paving the way for sharing of knowledge and expertise, particularly in the areas of upgradation of clinical and healthcare facilities, robotics surgery, hospital administration and governance among others. The MoU will help establish IMS, BHU as a world-class institute, he added. Smt. Punya Srivastava, Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare stated that this MoU provides for sharing of experience, technical support and academic cooperation between the two Institutes. This is in alignment with the Union Govts 'whole of government' and 'whole of society' approach. Shri Sanjay Kumar, Secretary, Ministry of Education said, the MoU provides for both technical and administrative support to IMS, BHU and this has been possible because of the governments commitment to a collaborative approach. Prof. Sudhir K. Jain, Vice Chancellor, BHU noted that, It is rare for an institute to be supported by two Ministries. He said BHU will continue to enhance its teaching standards, research outputs and assured that the MoU will be implemented in letter and spirit. People visit the Light of Internet Expo in Wuzhen, east China's Zhejiang Province, Nov. 19, 2024. The Light of Internet Expo kicked off on Tuesday during the 2024 World Internet Conference (WIC) Wuzhen Summit in the water-town of Wuzhen, showcasing the latest technological achievements, especially those made in the artificial intelligence (AI) area. (Xinhua/Cai Xiangxin) by Xinhua writers Ye Ting and Zheng Keyi HANGZHOU, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- China is home to almost 10,000 digitalized workshops and smart factories nationwide, according to a report released by the Chinese Academy of Cyberspace Studies on Thursday, highlighting the transformative role of artificial intelligence (AI) in driving industry digitalization. Among these, 421 have been cultivated as national-level smart manufacturing demonstration factories, 90 percent of which have applied technologies such as AI and digital twins, said the China Internet Development Report 2024, which was released during the ongoing 2024 World Internet Conference (WIC) Wuzhen Summit held in the ancient water town of Wuzhen in east China's Zhejiang Province. The report analyzed China's developments, achievements and future trends in information infrastructure, digital economy, cybersecurity and law-based cyberspace governance. The report also noted that by the end of 2023, the number of valid AI invention patents in China had reached 378,000, representing a year-on-year growth of over 40 percent -- 1.4 times the global average growth rate. From 2014 to 2023, China filed over 38,000 generative AI patent applications, ranking first globally. Generative AI applications have entered a phase of rapid growth, with more than 100 large-scale models with over 1 billion parameters in China as of March 2024. AI continues to expand its applications across industries, with sector-specific large models empowering fields such as electronics, health care, and transportation. This has led to the development of hundreds of application models, driving digital transformation and upgrading traditional industries. For instance, Alibaba Group is committed to making its self-developed large models open source. To date, over 100 open-source models are available on Qwen, Alibaba Cloud's proprietary language model, with cumulative downloads exceeding 40 million, said Wu Yongming, CEO of Alibaba Group, at the summit. As of the end of this September, more than 8 million developers are actively engaged in model development and application on Alibaba's AI open model community "ModelScope." Making these models open source has significantly lowered the barriers for AI development and adoption across various industries, accelerating the implementation of AI in diverse scenarios, said Wu. Likewise, the ERNIE Agent developed by Baidu has significantly advanced the capabilities of Baidu's ERNIE foundation model and driving widespread applications across various industries, which has attracted more than 800,000 developers and 150,000 enterprises, according to Wang Haifeng, Chief Technology Officer of Baidu. "For example, we collaborated with Academician Zhu Youyong from the Chinese Academy of Engineering and his team to develop the 'Farmer Academician Agent' based on ERNIE foundation model," said Wang, who added that it integrates Zhu's research and agricultural knowledge to provide farmers with real-time assistance on issues such as planting techniques and pest control. According to data from the market research firm International Data Corporation, the market size for China's large-model platforms and related applications reached 1.77 billion yuan (about 243.8 million U.S. dollars) in 2023. Also released at the summit, the World Internet Development Report 2024 said the promising outlook for future industries driven by AI has led to significant investment from the industrial circle in AI research. In 2023, the industrial circle produced 51 prominent machine learning models, compared to just 15 contributed by the academic circle. Limited access to funding, data and computational resources in academics has caused a talent shift toward industry, further solidifying its dominance in AI research and development. The two reports mentioned above have since 2017 been released for eight consecutive years as outcomes of the WIC. Themed "Embracing a People-centered and AI-for-good Digital Future -- Building a Community with a Shared Future in Cyberspace," the summit kicked off on Wednesday and is scheduled to conclude on Friday. Editor: WRX STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. For decades, dozens of distinguished men have overseen Staten Islands NYPD presence. While each carried their own distinctions that set them apart from their predecessors, the newest appointment is truly unique from any that came prior. Breaking that historic mold, Assistant Chief Melissa Eger, 47, is the first female to assume the role of Staten Island borough commander. Things have changed a lot from when I came on in 1999 as a young police officer, Eger explained. Theres more women now, certainly not enough, especially in the executive ranks, so its a big responsibility for me to represent, recruit and mentor. In paving a path forward, Eger fills the vacancy of the position formerly held by the newly-appointed NYPD Chief of Transit Joseph Gulotta, who manned the helm on Staten Island since 2023. Eger poses in front of photos of previous Staten Island NYPD borough commanders at the 121 Precinct in Graniteville on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024. (Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel)(Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel) Before blazing a trail in her new role as the commanding officer of Patrol Borough Staten Island, Eger earned her stripes, having served for more than 25 years among the ranks of New Yorks Finest. Egers extensive career is one of service in various roles, from a patrol officer in Brooklyn to the commanding officer of the NYPDs Domestic Violence Unit. Her professional journey also led Eger to Staten Island, the borough she called home for more than 35 years. Who is Assistant Chief Melissa Eger? Eger was originally born in Brooklyn and moved to Staten Island when she was 8 years old. Raised in New Dorp Beach, she went to Our Lady Queen of Peace School and Staten Island Technical High School, both in New Dorp. Although her career would take her to different precincts across the boroughs, Eger maintained her roots on Staten Island and was among those impacted in 2012 from Hurricane Sandy. I lived in New Dorp Beach through Hurricane Sandy, Eger said. Me and my family were displaced. At that time I worked in the 123 Precinct, so that really hit home, but the community really came together. I lived in New Dorp Beach through Hurricane Sandy, Eger said. Me and my family were displaced. At that time I worked in the 123 Precinct, so that really hit home, but the community really came together. (Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel)(Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel) Egers career with the NYPD began in Brooklyns 70th Precinct, where she worked in community policing. From there, Eger was promoted to sergeant and was transferred to the 88th Precinct, also in Brooklyn, and served in numerous operational roles, including the supervisor of the burglary apprehension team. In 2008, Eger was transferred to Staten Islands South Shore, where she served as a lieutenant on patrol at the 123rd Precinct, based in Tottenville. During her time there, Eger also served as a special operations lieutenant. Once again, Eger was moved about, this time to the 122nd Precinct, based in New Dorp. There, she assumed the role of executive officer before taking the lead as the precincts commanding officer. In September of 2020, Eger was assigned to lead the 19th Precinct in Manhattans Upper East Side. Manhattan was a completely different experience; passionate community as well, different landscape, traffic, retail thefts in Manhattan, Madison Avenue, added Eger. I learned a lot, I learned a whole lot in Manhattan. Prior to being assigned as Staten Islands commanding officer, Eger was selected to be the commanding officer of the chief of departments citywide Domestic Violence Unit. Among Eger's priorities will be combatting retail theft on Staten Island. (Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel)(Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel) As the C.O. (commanding officer) of domestic violence, I interacted with advocacy groups, hearing voices of survivors, said Eger. I worked closely with the Mayors Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence. Now coming back to Staten Island, I feel like it is a bit of a full-circle experience so I can bring what I learned back into this role, added Eger. A mother and a mentor In speaking further on being the first female commanding officer in Staten Islands history, Eger provided insight on her experience over the last couple of decades. Women are more reticent to take positions of advancement, sergeant, lieutenant, and especially captain and above, for fear of not being able to also have a family as well, Eger shared. And I agree, its a challenge, but I have a family. I have three children, ages 7, 14 and 16, and its not easy, but it is rewarding. And I think managing a family really helps you manage your team. In relating to fellow female officers, Eger revealed that she recalls how in her early years she would look for role models and mentorship. Now, in leading the boroughs men and women in uniform, she hopes to act as that mentor that other female officers can look to. On domestic violence and retail theft For Eger, the issue of domestic violence is a tremendous priority. According to 2023 data from the office of District Attorney Michael E. McMahon, domestic violence accounted for more than 50% of Staten Islands felony assaults and 25% of the murders committed on Staten Island. Our domestic violence officers do a great job interacting with survivors on Staten Island, but my focus is really going to be that initial patrol response, Eger said. Our survivors, when they call 911, who do they see first? They see our patrol cops. So we really want to monitor our customer service, how were interacting with victims at their worst times. In applauding the work done by her predecessor on grand larceny auto cases, Eger looks to crack down on retail theft, a matter drawing great attention as we go into the holiday season. The Staten Island retail community has gone through a lot since the legislative reforms of 2020, said Eger. We see the same recidivists committing multiple retail thefts at the same retail locations. So I am really anxious and excited to work with our partners at the Richmond County District Attorneys Office. Additionally, Eger hopes to deploy a designated retail theft team to various locations on the Island so as to get closer to business owners and learn what they can about these recidivist thieves. Leadership, community policing In touching on the importance of working with her officers and keeping them informed, Eger said the following: I know officers need to know why they are where they are, what theyre doing, if theyre working overtime and long hours, what that necessity is and why its so important that theyre there. I think its so important that officers are informed, not only to keep them safe but to keep morale up. Eger poses with officers in her office at the 121 Precinct stationhouse in Graniteville on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024. (Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel)(Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel) Additionally, on that note of morale, she shared that she believes officers should be commended for their work. Employee recognition is a tremendous mission of mine, Eger said. We need to reward our officers, we need to tell them theyre doing a good job at multiple levels. Eger also expressed an understanding of the importance in community policing. On the one hand, when working with the NYPD, community members may offer critical surveillance footage which can assist officers in identifying perpetrators. However, besides serving to assist in combatting crime and gaining a sense of the issues plaguing residents, Eger noted how having boots on the ground is important to show residents that steps are being taken to keep the community safe. Our crime stats can show one thing, yes, were down tremendously in crime on Staten Island, said Eger. But the community needs to see us, they need to feel us, they need to know that we are there. You know, reading crime stats on a paper is not going to cut it, the community needs to see our officers out in Staten Island. Overall major crime is down 8% on Staten Island year to date, according to NYPD CompStat data. WASHINGTON President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday named Pam Bondi, the former attorney general of Florida, to be U.S. attorney general just hours after his other choice, Matt Gaetz, withdrew his name from consideration. Bondi is a longtime Trump ally and was one of his lawyers during his first impeachment trial, when he was accused but not convicted of abusing his power as he tried to condition U.S. military assistance to Ukraine on that country investigating then-former Vice President Joe Biden. Bondi was among a group of Republicans who showed up to support Trump at his hush money criminal trial in New York that ended in May with a conviction on 34 felony counts. Shes been a chair at the America First Policy Institute, a think tank set up by former Trump administration staffers. For too long, the partisan Department of Justice has been weaponized against me and other Republicans - Not anymore, Trump said in a social media post. Pam will refocus the DOJ to its intended purpose of fighting Crime, and Making America Safe Again. Trumps son Donald Trump Jr. told Fox Business on Sunday that the transition team had backups in mind for his controversial nominees should they fail to get confirmed. The swift selection of Bondi came about six hours after Gaetz withdrew. Gaetz stepped aside amid continued fallout over a federal sex trafficking investigation that cast doubt on his ability to be confirmed as the nations chief federal law enforcement officer. That announcement capped a turbulent eight-day period in which Trump sought to capitalize on his decisive election win to force Senate Republicans to accept provocative selections like Gaetz, who had been investigated by the Justice Department before being tapped last week to lead it. The decision could heighten scrutiny on other controversial Trump nominees, including Pentagon pick Pete Hegseth, who faces sexual assault allegations that he denies. While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition, Gaetz, a Florida Republican who one day earlier met with senators in an effort to win their support, said in a statement. There is no time to waste on a needlessly protracted Washington scuffle, thus Ill be withdrawing my name from consideration to serve as Attorney General. Trumps DOJ must be in place and ready on Day 1, he added. Hours later, Gaetz posted on social media that he looks forward to continuing the fight to save our country, adding, Just maybe from a different post. Trump, in a social media post, said: I greatly appreciate the recent efforts of Matt Gaetz in seeking approval to be Attorney General. He was doing very well but, at the same time, did not want to be a distraction for the Administration, for which he has much respect. Matt has a wonderful future, and I look forward to watching all of the great things he will do! Last week, Trump named personal lawyers Todd Blanche, Emil Bove and D. John Sauer to senior roles in the department. Another possible attorney general contender, Matt Whitaker, was announced Wednesday as the U.S. ambassador to NATO. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Despite the recent news that the LGBTQ+ community has been invited to march in Staten Islands St. Patricks Parade after decades of exclusion, the Advance/SILive.com has learned there could be new hurdles set by some community clergy. The yearly application process to march in the parade is traditionally held at Blessed Sacrament R.C. Church, which is located along the parade route on Forest Avenue in West Brighton. Typically, organizations will drop off applications inside the church. Bishop Peter Byrne, pictured giving a blessing over a new Staten Island Ferry vessel.Jan Somma-Hammel/Staten Island Advance But that wont be happening this year, said Bishop Peter Byrne. I am not supporting the parade, therefore the facilities here will not be available. Sorry, but I have no further comment, he told the Advance/SILive.com. The new leadership of the Richmond County St. Patricks Day Parade Committee didnt respond to a request for comment about Bishop Byrnes statement, or where the sign-up event, usually held in February, will take place for the 2025 parade. Pictured are supporters of the The Pride Center of Staten Island standing outside Blessed Sacrament Church on February 12, 2023, when they applied to march in the parade and were denied by former leadership of the parade committee. (Steve White for the StatenIsland Advance)Steve White for the Staten Islan Staten Islands first inclusive St. Patricks Parade Ed Patterson, the new chairman of the parade committee, said at a Nov. 13 press conference that the decision to lift the marching ban was made quite simply because, its just time. The Pride Center has long asserted that they merely wish to be treated like any other marching contingent in the parade. The parade committee is entrusted with ensuring that the fullness of the parade remained upon St. Patrick, the history, culture, traditions and faith of the Irish people. The Pride Center has indicated that they are willing to assist the parade committee and remain faithful to that obligation, he said at the event. On March 2, 2025, members of the Pride Center of Staten Island and other LGBTQ+ groups will march under their own banners alongside dozens of community organizations, officially bringing an end to the exclusionary ban at Staten Islands largest annual public event. The Staten Island parade was believed to be the last in the world to ban LGBTQ+ groups after similar parades in Manhattan and Boston had ended the exclusionary practice. The parade committees change in mindset was made possible by new leadership, who were installed on Oct. 30 following the retirement and resignation of former leaders, who had long pointed to the Catholic nature of the annual event as justification for LGBTQ+ exclusion. Ed Patterson, the new chairman of the Richmond County St. Patricks Day Parade Committee, spoke at a Nov. 13 press conference announcing that LGBTQ+ groups will be allowed to march in the borough's annual St. Patrick's Day Parade.Jason Paderon There was ... a desire for, quite frankly, the controversy to go away, Patterson said, repeatedly stating that the group did not wish to dwell on the decisions of past leaders. The move also comes after an advocacy project launched in 2022 by the Advance/SILive.com highlighted the LGBTQ+ exclusion by parade organizers through a series of stories that explored the large amount of city resources used to support the event, as well as the overwhelming support from the community of the Pride Center of Staten Island. How did we get here? For at least the first 55 years of the Islands traditional St. Patricks Parade, hoards of residents from all corners of the borough would flock to a strip of Forest Avenue hours before the start of the parade to create a sea of green as they eagerly awaited the hundreds of marchers, which ranged from a host of high school bands and Miss Staten Island, to all of Staten Islands elected officials, including the mayor of New York. But over the last four years, the number of organizations marching in the parade has dwindled. In fact, many groups and individuals boycotted the annual event due to the parade committees continued exclusion of LGBTQ+ groups. In 2023, organizers of the annual Jerome X. ODonovan Parade Breakfast, where local politicians gather ahead of the parade, cancelled the 25-year-old tradition over the St. Patricks Parade Committees longstanding refusal to allow members of the LGBTQ+ community to openly march in the parade. That year, a group of individuals who supported inclusion staged a brief, peaceful protest before the parade kicked off, displaying a large pride banner in the middle of Forest Avenue in front of Jodys Club Forest. Despite this, the parade committee, under its former leadership, again banned LGBTQ+ groups from participating in the 2024 event. Frustrated with the exclusionary practices of the parade committee, the Forest Avenue Business Improvement District this year orchestrated the boroughs first inclusive parade held on St. Patricks Day, March 17. The inclusive parade included a host of marchers from politicians and celebrities, to public high school marching bands who had boycotted the annual parade in recent years due to exclusion of LGBTQ+ groups. And the annual political breakfast was instead held on the morning of the inclusive parade. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Staten Island District Attorney Michael E. McMahon, in cooperation with the NYPD, will host a gun buyback event this Saturday, Nov. 23. The event, part of the New York City Gun Buyback Program, will take place at Mt. Sinai United Christian Church, 15 Pike St. in Tompkinsville, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. One less illegal gun on our streets is a victory, and we look forward to taking many more dangerous weapons out of play next weekend, McMahon posted on X, formerly Twitter. Individuals who turn in operable handguns and assault rifles will face no questions and will receive $500 bank cards. The program also offers a $200 bank card for so-called ghost guns and 3-D printed guns. Anyone turning over a rifle or shotgun will receive a $75 bank card, while those handing in air guns, non-operational handguns and imitation pistols will receive a $25 bank card. There is a three-gun-total limit and a two ghost gun limit per participant. Starting in 2016, the program has helped take nearly 700 illegal guns off Staten Island streets with the most recent event netting just over 80 illegal firearms. According to NYPD Compstat data, there have been 14 shooting victims and 14 shooting-related incidents on Staten Island this year. On Thursday, a 16-year-old boy was shot multiple times in New Brighton and rushed by EMS in stable condition to Richmond University Medical Center in West Brighton. Support the Peninsulas only locally-owned newspaper. Subscribe! Subscribing annually brings you big savings. We also offer monthly and weekly subscriptions. Premium Subscription As low as $8.25 per week Premium Includes: -- Access to the Daily Journals e-Edition: a digital replica of our daily newspaper including crossword puzzles, games, comics, classifieds and ads. You can download a digital replica of the Daily Journal for offline reading. You can also clip & download articles or images from the e-edition to share with others The most recent 90 issues are available at any given time. -- Unlimited access to our award-winning online content -- Commenting access on all stories as a valued member of the DJ community -- NEW! Access to our online-only digital crossword puzzle. A new puzzle every day, seven days a week! Roksolana Stefanyshyn, Vice President of Public Affairs at PanteonX Charitable Foundation Ukraine stands at the forefront of not only military challenges but also a transformational journey toward inclusivity and accessibility in urban development. The nation deeply scarred by war is striving to turn its cities into barrier-free and resilient spaces, primarily for veterans, people with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups. Paradoxically, this crisis provides Ukraine with a unique opportunity to become a global model for how devastation can pave the way for progress, hope, and equality. Recovery goes beyond reconstruction; it is a chance to reimagine urban landscapes as hubs of integration and equity. Inclusive urban design is not just a moral imperative but a strategic step that shapes Ukraine's future by combining humanitarian goals with economic opportunities. Scale of Loss and Potential for Change The war has inflicted massive destruction on Ukraine's infrastructure: with over 140,000 residential buildings and tens of thousands of public spaces damaged. According to World Bank estimates, reconstruction will require more than $411 billion. Ukraine is home to more than 3 million people with disabilities, while over 1.3 million veterans have returned from the frontlines. Many of them faced challenges such as mobility issues, post-traumatic stress disorder, and a lack of accessible urban spaces, making reintegration into society and the workforce difficult. More than 60% of people with disabilities lack access to essential infrastructure services like transportation or public spaces, leaving them isolated from social life. This issue will likely become more urgent post-war, as a significant number of veterans and internally displaced persons (IDPs) have suffered physical and psychological trauma, necessitating specialized solutions in urban design. Key statistics below highlight the scope of these challenges. Accessibility as Catalyst for Innovation Accessibility is not only a moral or legal imperative but also a powerful driver of technological progress and economic opportunity. Innovations in urban planning, public transportation, and product design aimed at meeting the needs of vulnerable groups ultimately benefit society as a whole. A striking example is Chieko Asakawa's 1997 invention of the Home Page Reader, a tool that allowed visually impaired individuals to navigate web content. Although initially designed to integrate people with visual impairments into the digital world, this technology laid the groundwork for voice assistants like Siri and Alexa, which now enhance the lives of millions. Similarly, "curb cut effect" demonstrates this principle: curb ramps designed for wheelchair users have proven equally beneficial for parents with strollers, elderly people, and cyclists. Inclusive Urban Design as Engine for Recovery Research by the European Disability Forum shows that inclusive urban design increases workforce participation and social activity. For Ukraine, aligning recovery efforts with accessibility principles could become a driving force for both social cohesion and economic renewal. Inclusive housing projects, such as a pilot program in Rivne supported by the EU, exemplify this approach. The program created 200 housing units designed with universal design principles for IDPs and veterans, achieving a 75% occupancy rate within just six months. Public spaces as therapy: parks, squares, and community centers designed with accessibility in mind foster reintegration and recovery for veterans and IDPs. For instance, adapted city parks in Lviv featuring sensory zones and barrier-free pathways have become vital areas for mental health recovery. A year after these renovations, the popularity of these spaces increased by 40%, underscoring the importance of inclusive design for social integration. Mobility is a crucial factor for employment, education, and access to healthcare. Transportation inaccessibility is one of the primary barriers for IDPs and veterans. In Kyiv, the modernization of metro stations has begun with the installation of elevators, tactile paving, and audio guides. As of now, 65% of metro stations have been upgraded, leading to a 30% increase in ridership among wheelchair users since 2022. According to government plans, by 2025, some 80% of the network will meet international accessibility standards, benefiting over 200,000 daily passengers with disabilities. Inclusive Design as Economic Asset Adapting infrastructure for veterans and people with disabilities not only enhances quality of life but also contributes to economic recovery. According to McKinsey research, inclusive cities are 15% more productive and can boost national GDP by up to 3% through increased workforce participation and reduced healthcare costs. Furthermore, higher productivity among veterans and people with disabilities creates new opportunities for the country's development. Transforming urban environments requires substantial investment, underscoring the importance of public-private partnerships and international support. PanteonX Charitable Foundation, focusing on adapting inclusive spaces, in collaboration with the Association of Small Towns of Ukraine, is implementing projects to create accessible housing and public spaces that ensure equal opportunities and integration. These initiatives primarily aim at physical and psychological recovery, ensuring everyone has a dignified place in society. Now is the time to lay the foundation for an inclusive future. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has ploughed $2.64m into ASX-listed Sarytogan Graphite to take equity in the graphite developer at 16c a share double its closing price of just 8c a share on Thursday. The cash injection represents the first of two expected equity investments by EBRD in the company. Sarytogans share price was up around 25 per cent in intraday trading to touch 10c after revealing it can kickstart the long-awaited development of its graphite project in central Kazakhstan, 190km from the industrial city of Karaganda. Sarytogan managing director Sean Gregory revealed the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has ploughed $2.64m into the ASX-listed company As flagged within a series of previously announced transactions, a newly signed partnership between Sarytogan and the EBRD, is a watershed moment for Sarytogan allowing several strategic projects to proceed. The initial $2.64 million investment in Sarytogan will give the EBRD a 9.99 per cent stake in the mineral explorer. By early February 2025 EBRD expects to increase its investment in Sarytogan to $5 million, leaving it with a 17.36 per cent stake, making it the companys second-largest shareholder. The EBRD has also sought approval from FIRB to invest up to the 19.99 per cent ceiling in further placements over the next 12 months. MUSIC St Vincent | All Born Screaming Tour Always Live, Palais Theatre, November 25 St Vincent cuts a striking figure in the dark. A white spotlight shines behind her, illuminating her silhouette with an angelic glow. This is the American singer-songwriters first appearance in Australia since 2018, performing exclusively in Victoria as part of the state government initiative ALWAYS LIVE. St Vincent performs on stage at the Palais Theatre on Monday night. Credit: Martin Philbey The Grammy award-winning performer, whose real name is Annie Clark, coined her moniker from a line in Nick Caves There She Goes, My Beautiful World. Her monochrome outfit suits the existential themes of life and death in her latest self-produced album All Born Screaming, eliciting gothic imagery just like Cave himself. Her set showcases her signature approach to complex arrangements. She manoeuvres between distortion-heavy tracks such as Big Time Nothing and sweet melodic tunes in the older Candy Darling, captivating the audience and keeping them guessing. The lighting theatrics, as well as her jerky movements and scurrying, are reminiscent of a horror movie, perhaps drawing from her directorial experience with anthology film XX. Loading Theres an elusiveness and enigma about St Vincent; not giving too much away about herself or her album, yet ensnaring the theatre with her kooky artist persona and unique sound. At one point, she says: I love you all, Im so glad to be here and thats all I have to say at this moment. Theres an urgency as she angrily paces, swiftly changing her guitar and returning to the mic while gesturing to the crowd to react and stand up. The orange and red-lit stage gives the illusion that Hell Is Near. Yet, theres also an intimacy, warmth and element of seduction. Before playing Fear The Future, she slides off her black arm-length gloves and drops them to the floor. During Dilettante, she sits at the edge of the stage, slowly leaning towards the front row as she sings. While performing New York, she descends into the aisle to engage with fans. At the end of her performance of All Born Screaming, she stands still, with her hands crossed at the wrist in front of her face. She soaks in the adulation like a patron saint receiving her disciples. Reviewed by Vyshnavee Wijekumar MUSIC Hatsune Miku John Cain Arena, November 22 Hatsune Miku is a superstar. She spawns into being on-stage with a flash of stardust. Shes 16 and around eight feet tall, with blue pigtails longer than her schoolgirl skirt, and a near-indecipherable digital accent. The crowd raise their glow sticks. Hatsune Miku performs at John Cain Arena on Friday night. Credit: Jonathan White / CFM / SEGA Miku, importantly, isnt real. Shes a Vocaloid a digital simulation of the voice of a 16-year-old Japanese girl, designed as a virtual instrument for musicians to use as they see fit. Augmented with a hyper-sexualised anime schoolgirl avatar, shes become a cultural phenomenon on par with any pop star, a virtual idol. Her music is crowdsourced, made up of the creative output of thousands of fans. They dont seem to mind her lack of corporeal reality. After all, Sabrina Carpenter is just a face on a screen for most whats the difference? The fan love is in full effect tonight. Decked out in impressive cosplay and waving colour-switching neon glow sticks, the audience are young and very online. They are impeccably polite, remaining seated at all times and waving their glow sticks in pre-choreographed, colour-coded flourishes that are more like motion-sensing video game moves than dancing. Its hard to escape the notion that this is part concert and part tech demo. The huge signs saying Miku Expo, for one, are more like something from a travelling convention rather than a pop tour. Miku is confined to an LED screen (though backed by a real four-piece band), and her voice is intensely auto-tuned and emotionless, stripped down to a sketch of a human voice. This, Im sure, is part of the appeal. The music is a frantic and colourful blend of electronic dance and power pop, and her human bandmates stop it being an entirely sterile experience. They and the thousands of fans the very community that provide her material. Hatsune Mikus music is a frantic and colourful blend of electronic dance and power pop. Credit: Jared Tinetti / CFM / SEGA Outside I chat to a fan in particularly impressive Miku cosplay. Shes into nightcore (essentially sped-up versions of pop songs), and Hatsune Miku rhythm games. If you dont press the buttons properly, she cant sing, she says. Miku provides fans an outlet for expression, and shes voiceless without them. Despite dystopian words like Vocaloid, theres something utopian about that. Reviewed by Will Cox MUSIC The Offspring Always Live, The Forum, November 24 Its 1999. Im eating fish and chips on the beach and listening to The Offspring top the Triple J Hottest 100 with their novelty hit Pretty Fly (For a White Guy). Dexter Holland and Noodles of The Offspring perform at the Forum on November 24, 2024. Credit: Martin Philbey Its 2024. Two giant, frantically waving inflatables, the kind you get outside vacuum cleaner stores, flank the stage at the Forum as The Offspring play Pretty Fly (For a White Guy). The lyrics, a satire of white people appropriating hip-hop culture in the 1990s, spew forth from my consciousness to my mouth without any effort. I didnt listen to much Offspring in the run-up to this show. I wanted to see how my brain would cope with the whiplash of recognition. The answer is, I had a lot of fun. The Offspring write easy, infectious songs that you can skate to, built on a formula of four chords and a bratty scream. Its uncomplicated and unfussy, and thats the appeal, and by god it works. This sold-out show is a 90s pop-punk party. Ive been drinking since dinner time! Im having a great time up here! says Noodles the guitarist. Singer Dexter Holland is the cool dad whos let you at the keg. Songs like Spare Me The Details and Want You Bad are straight out of a 90s teen movie. The Offspring write easy, infectious songs that you can skate to, built on a formula of four chords and a bratty scream. Credit: Martin Philbey Keeping that decades party vibes alive means a few uneasy hangovers. My friends got a girlfriend and he hates that bitch! Holland sings at the start of Why Dont You Get a Job? This must be where my internalised misogyny came from, says my friend. One reason these songs are so easy to get along with is familiarity. Why Dont You Get a Job? has been compared in the past with the Beatles Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da. Two different songs have bits that sound like Baba ORiley by The Who. And the main guitar riff in The Kids Arent Alright is distinctly similar to a track from, of all bands, Belle and Sebastian. At points, I think I must be hallucinating the similarities. At least theyre self-aware. They drop in a bit of Black Sabbath, and Guns N Roses Sweet Child O Mine, as well as Edvard Griegs 1875 In the Hall of the Mountain King and a rousing rendition of the Ramones Blitzkrieg Bop. Noodles even leads an audience chant of F--- yeah! thats basically Freddie Mercurys call-and-response bit at Queens 1985 Live Aid performance. Cheeky punks! But you know, its for a party. Reviewed by Will Cox THEATRE The Hall fortyfivedownstairs, until December 1 A poised three-hander from Ro Bright, The Hall is performed in the round and features a small Sacred Harp choir, singing hymns in four-part harmony. Natasha Herbert as Tup in a scene from The Hall. Credit: James Reiser All art aspires to the condition of music, as Walter Pater noted, and although the chorus is an ancient dramatic device, theatre built around an actual choir is a rarer quantity. Choirs generally indicate transcendence, lifting a performance into a realm of unified abstraction, emotional intensity or scale that theatre strains to reach alone. Sometimes choirs dominate as with Heiner Goebbels avant-garde When the Mountain Changed its Clothing in 2014, created with a 40-strong Slovenian girls choir, which was effectively a beautifully designed concert. The Hall is a striking if modest play, performed with crisp intimacy. Credit: James Reiser When drama and live choral music are integrated in a more balanced way, however, were usually in the presence of tragedy or comedy aspiring to the sublime. Its true of David Greigs moving play The Events about a mass murder targeting a multicultural choir and equally of Aidan Fennessys final and finest work, The Heartbreak Choir, which contrasts the ridiculous smallness of individuals with the uplifting unity of a rural community gathering in song. The Hall joins these works. Its a fly-on-the-wall portrait of a family struggling to cope with the grim impacts of dementia now the leading cause of death in Australia on one of its members. Loading Grandmother Tup (Natasha Herbert) has been diagnosed in her early 50s. Her cognitive deterioration and behavioural problems cause havoc for daughter Ally (Brooke Lee) and 15-year-old grandchild Billie (Emmanuelle Mattana) who devise elaborate tactics to keep Tup living with them as long as they can. Hints of a long-held secret amid Tups strict religious upbringing emerge. As her condition worsens, Ally devises a plan to fly her mum across the world for a choir convention Tup organised and was devoted to a weekly choir for years hoping to snatch one unforgettable moment of light from the encroaching darkness. Its a striking if modest play, performed with crisp intimacy, and it deals with a situation that might have been unbearable to watch if not for the songs. Herbert pulls no punches at the cruelty and humiliation of Tups plight. Its effect on her family is deftly sketched: the unsung heroism of Lees self-abnegating Ally, or the crushing moment when the irrepressible innocence of Mattanas trans teen runs into the grim fact that Nan has forgotten to use the correct pronouns. Any family faced with caring for a loved one with dementia, including mine, should be grounded and uplifted by The Hall. For Tup, song is the last thing to go as her mind unravels, and the plays sobering portrayal of domestic reality is elevated and transfigured by the sublime harmonies of a live choir, sitting among the audience. Reviewed by Cameron Woodhead MUSIC Troye Sivan | Something To Give Each Other Tour Sidney Myer Music Bowl, November 21 Troye Sivan begins by asking the crowd if theyre motherf---ing ready to sweat. He may be referencing the recent Sweat tour he co-headlined with pop icon Charli XCX, but what hes ultimately doing is preparing everyone for whats ahead: a sweaty, erotic and surprisingly heartwarming pseudo-club experience. From the first track, Got Me Started, its clear this is more a feast for the eyes than for the ears. Sivan and his six backup dancers contort their bodies to the beat, occasionally forming structured tableaus in which its difficult to tell where one body begins and another ends. Every movement is so precise, so high energy, youd be forgiven for forgetting that Sivan is likely running on no sleep having just won three ARIA awards, including album of the year, in Sydney the night before. Troye Sivan performing in Melbourne on Thursday night. He also picked up three ARIAs this week. Credit: Martin Philbey Sivan has said he created his 2023 album Something To Give Each Other both to liberate himself and shine a spotlight on queer lived experiences. Now his sensuality is celebrated onstage, through lap dances, a now-viral phallic microphone moment, and even a surprise make-out sesh near the end of the night. But while theres plenty of sex, Sivan knows when to cool things down, replacing gyrating thrusts for graceful, balletic movements during break-up ballads such as Still Got It. After touring the US and Canada, Sivan is clearly glad to be back home. After all, he emerges from backstage in an Aussies do it better shirt, and even has his dancers wear outback cork hats while dancing what appears to be a club-rat version of the Nutbush. It feels so good to be home, he says, before half-chastising the crowd for not going hard enough. Ive partied here before, I know how feral you can get, Melbourne. Sivans every wish is the crowds command, as it heaves to the pulsing beats of club songs such as Rush and Stud, and sways in time to his more introspective, sultry tracks like Heaven. He tells the fans, many of whom are dressed in his trademark leather assless chaps, to jump higher during Silly. Before you know it, people are closing their eyes, linking arms, and leaping for all theyre worth. Sivan brought the heat to the Sidney Myer Music Bowl and also knew when to cool things down. Credit: Martin Philbey He always slays this shit, one awe-inspired fan says after One Of Your Girls, which features a video introduction of Sivan in full drag. Her friend responds: Totally. Im so sweaty right now. Mission accomplished. Reviewed by Nell Geraets Photo: https://t.me/Sumy_news_ODA Sumy Regional Military Administration clarified the consequences of today's Russian UAV strike on a neighborhood in Sumy. "As a result of the attack by Russians on a residential neighborhood, two people were killed, 10 received injuries of varying severity," the message published on the Telegram channel says. Emergency rescue operations are continuing. Earlier it was reported that today, on November 22, the occupiers attacked Sumy with drones, a residential neighborhood was under attack. Christmas stories come loaded with emotional peril. Expectations of celebration, harmony and goodwill inevitably set up characters for egregious failure and ultimate redemption, which is how we get Scrooge, Dr Seusss Grinch, and the imploding George Bailey of Its a Wonderful Life. In Australian culture, we have Joe, the narrator of Paul Kellys adored 1996 song How to Make Gravy, who is in the heartrending situation of writing a letter home to his family because he will be spending Christmas in prison. In the days before Christmas in 2019, Nick Waterman and Meg Washington received a text message from a friend suggesting that How to Make Gravy would make a great movie. By chance, Kelly was performing in Brisbane a few nights later. It got to the point where he sings How to Make Gravy, Waterman recalls. Everyone was holding each other, crying. We looked at each other and we were weeping too, and we just thought, we have to find a way to do this. Live events giant TEG says artists are to blame for high ticket prices, venues responsible for hidden fees, and that dynamic pricing is important to fighting scalpers. Addressing a parliamentary inquiry into the Australian live music industry, Tim McGregor, global head of touring for TEG, which owns Ticketek, described the industry as highly contestable and in which ticket sellers have limited flexibility. This is at odds with statements made to the inquiry by Humanitix, a not-for-profit ticketing company that said big companies have locked it out of getting contracts for large stadium tours, and created a localised monopoly style of business. TEG say artists and venues are largely responsible for high ticket prices and hidden fees. Credit: Ben Rushton Australian musicians earlier this year called for an investigation into corporate players in the live music industry in a bid to stamp out anticompetitive practices that leave them struggling to make a living. Advertisement Review Eating outNorth Melbourne This add-on is like the designer dress you stumble upon in an op shop: an absolute steal Theres nothing as enjoyable as a venue that knows exactly who it is and what its trying to do, and thats Mauritian restaurant Manze, right now. Plus: its seafood platter is absolutely gorgeous. Dani Valent November 22, 2024 Save Log in , register or subscribe to save recipes for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share As featured in the Melbourne hit list for December 2024. See all stories . 1 / 7 Manzes central communal table. Bonnie Savage 2 / 7 Go-to dish: Melon with chilli vinegar. Bonnie Savage 3 / 7 Octopus and green tomato salad comes with watercress soup and rice. Bonnie Savage 4 / 7 Rasmalais with strawberries. Bonnie Savage 5 / 7 Manzes cosy dining room feels like an arty bowerbird lounge. Bonnie Savage 6 / 7 The seafood platter supplement (market fish, mussels, salmon caviar and lemon-pickle-spiked butter sauce). Bonnie Savage 7 / 7 Dont miss the taro fritters with hot sauce (right). Bonnie Savage Previous Slide Next Slide Good Food hat 15.5 / 20 How we score Mauritian$$$$ New restaurants can be fun and exciting, but if you really want to be carried along by a dining experience, find yourself an eatery thats just turned three. The kinks have been ironed out and the owners have shrugged off the overreach and imposter syndrome of the early months. Neighbourhood regulars have smoothed any rough edges, just as their derrieres have polished the chairs. Team members who didnt quite belong have moved on and the remainder can easily help new recruits settle into a system and rhythm. Three is still young and energetic, but innovation springs from an assured base. Theres nothing as enjoyable as a restaurant that knows exactly who it is and what its trying to do, and thats Manze now, sitting in the sweet spot. Whats it like to dive into a meal here? Maybe youre on one of 24 seats inside, where the cosy room feels like an arty bowerbird lounge. Pickle jars and wine bottles line the walls like cheery sentinels, local flowers and sturdy pot plants connect soil and table, a jumble of cookbooks seems to celebrate the international family of happy cooks were part of something. Advertisement Octopus and green tomato salad comes with watercress soup and rice. Bonnie Savage Perhaps theres cruisy dub music playing as a nip of pineapple rhum lands before you, the same music sound-waving through an arched hatch to the small kitchen, where theres a gentle sizzle of octopus over charcoal (youll get those tentacles later, with watercress soup and rice). Or maybe youre sitting at a pavement table, passersby perambulating. A cluey waiter suggests wine made by nuns in Lazio, Italy, which finds perfect heavenly? harmony with diced raw tuna and chilli-fermented pineapple piled on merveilles, dainty canape crackers that are usually plate-sized Mauritian beach snacks. The green melon starter is bracing and disarming; so sweet, so tart, so good. Theres an easy balance of comfort and surprise, the startling elements held safely by spirited hospitality. Advertisement Nagesh Seethiah runs his restaurant with co-owners Osman Faruqi, a culture journalist, and visual artist Jason Phu, but its Seethiah whos here day to day. Mauritian-born and New Zealand-raised from the age of eight, he studied law and art history in Canberra, working in restaurants on the side. The venue springs from Seethiahs art studies as much as his culinary ambition. This is the restaurant as a morphing creole thats more Mauritian than anything else, but also an extremely Melbourne expression of the local and seasonal, and a very Australian example of a multicultural kitchen with influences from Thailand, India and elsewhere. The go-to dish of melon with chilli vinegar (left), and unmissable taro fritters with hot sauce. Bonnie Savage Sous chefs Jeed Chu and Saavni Krishnan, The Age Good Food Guides Young Chef of the Year 2025, collaborate on the menu, and both women are encouraged to foster their own side projects. The team has experimented with various menu structures but recently settled on a three- or four-course set menu ($65/$80), with a two-course option at lunch ($40). Offerings can be amplified with add-ons, like the unmissable taro fritter ($4.50 each), a key Mauritian street eat, and the only dish thats always on. You can also try your luck with walk-in nibbles. Advertisement Mauritian food is one of the worlds great melanges with influences from India, Africa, China and Europe. That melding and merging is also expressed in language: manze is the Mauritian Creole word for to eat or food. Im still thinking about the green melon dressed with chilli vinegar to create a cleansing starter thats also a statement of intent: bracing and disarming, so sweet, so tart, so good. The optional seafood platter (market fish, mussels, salmon caviar and lemon-pickle-spiked butter sauce). Bonnie Savage The seafood platter ($25 supplement) sounds bougie, but theres an indie spin: whole Victorian flathead is splayed on the plate in a herby, lemon-pickle-spiked butter sauce strewn with mussels and salmon caviar. Its like the designer dress you stumble upon in an op shop: absolutely gorgeous, an absolute steal. You can always seduce me with salad, in this case a showcase of whats just been picked at Dog Creek Growers, a city fringe farm. The choppy tangle of greens and sprouting garlic is rumbled with chilli-lemon dressing. Advertisement Rasmalais with strawberries. Bonnie Savage Dessert is a spin on rasmalai, a south Asian sweet of fresh cheese kneaded with sugar and cardamom, made here with ricotta because its more practical than curdling milk and wondering what to do with the whey. Rasmalai is usually formed into balls and cooked in syrup, but this cheese mix is steamed in little bundt moulds and served over sliced strawberries. You get a sense of the conversations that must happen at Manze: the font of culture and tradition, the crafting anew, the confidence and freedom to test and flourish here and now. The low-down Vibe: Neighbourly, spirited, expressive Go-to dish: Melon with chilli vinegar (as part of a set menu) Drinks: Drinking here is fun. Rum is infused with fruit, ginger and syrup to make Mauritian-style rhum arrange and low-intervention wine is sourced from Australia and further afield, mostly from female-led wineries Cost: Set-menu lunch from $40 per person; dinner from $65 per person; excluding drinks This review was originally published in Good Weekend magazine Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox. Sign up Advertisement Eating outJust open These exciting new venues are set to make Martin Place Sydneys go-to hospo hub A flush of new venues has arrived with the opening of a new Metro station, including slick mid-level restaurant The Grill at new multi-storey venue The International. Scott Bolles November 22, 2024 Save Log in , register or subscribe to save recipes for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share 1 / 5 The Grill has opened at CBD hospitality hub The International. Jonny Valiant 2 / 5 The Grills head chef has a wealth of experience at Michelin-starred restaurants in the UK. Jonny Valiant 3 / 5 The Grill is part of The International, a new three-level $10 million project. Jonny Valiant 4 / 5 The team behind chefs hatted Shell House has opened The International. Jonny Valiant 5 / 5 Jonny Valiant Previous Slide Next Slide The trains arrived in August, but the rolling stock of food arrivals around the new Martin Place Metro station is on its own busy schedule. Melbourne pastry destination Lune will open on the stations doorstep before the end of the year, while cult burger brand Five Guys and two spin-off venues from chefs hatted Loulou Bistro at Milsons Point will join the party in early 2025. Hospitality operators have dipped into their pockets and backed the precinct to become the citys new food and drinking hub. Were pumped about the energy [the Metro] has brought to the place, says restaurateur Brett Robinson, who opened an opulent new restaurant, The Grill, near one of the Metro entrances on November 20. Loulou will welcome two new spin-off venues in 2025. Edwina Pickles Advertisement With its high-gloss timber panelling and a head chef with a bank of experience at Michelin-starred restaurants in the UK, The Grill is part of The International, a new three-level, $10 million play from The Point, the group behind chefs hatted Shell House. At Aalia restaurant opposite The International, restaurateur Ibby Moubadder says hes also noticed an uptick on the upper slopes of Martin Place since the Metro opened. More people, more bodies, more energy, he says. It has given Moubadder confidence to double down with expansion plans of his own. In April, hell open Aalia Wine Bar in a neighbouring shopfront that has operated as a florist. While the city is flush with restaurants, Moubadder says in the CBD there arent many wine bars. Lune founder Kate Reid is bringing her croissants to Martin Place. Supplied An award-winning Sydney bar operator, who asked not to be named, will also open a venue next year on the northern edge of Martin Place, near Caterpillar Club, which opened late last year. Advertisement Another high-profile restaurateur is tipped to be close to signing a deal to open across the street from the Metros entrance at the intersection of Elizabeth, Hunter and Castlereagh streets. And last month, the team behind Hinchcliff House opened four venues including a rooftop bar at the nearby refitted Sofitel Sydney Wentworth. On the lower slopes of Martin Place, close to George Street, Alejandro Saravia, owner-chef at newly toqued Morena restaurant, has noticed a slow increment of people since the Metro opened but the challenge is encouraging people to stay and enjoy. Concerned by the amount of red tape in the area, Saravia has joined with other local businesses and residents to form a new group to converse with the City of Sydney. Chef Alejandro Saravia in his restaurant, Morena, at 1 Martin Place. James Brickwood We want to see Martin Place as a place for everyone, but a place of quality with an identity that reflects how cosmopolitan Sydney is, he says. Advertisement Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox. Sign up Loading I think theres something about trying not to appeal to men thats quite freeing, she says. Lily is also pansexual, meaning she is romantically and sexually attracted to people of all gender identities, something she says makes her lucky since her dating options remain more open compared with her heterosexual counterparts in the movement. So what is the 4B movement exactly? And how did an underground movement from South Korea make it to the US, and beyond? What is 4B? 4B stands for four Korean words that all start with bi, meaning no: bihon (no heterosexual marriage), bichulsan (no childbirth), biyonea (no dating) and bisekseu (no heterosexual relationships). Dr Ming Gao, a researcher at the Gender and Womens History Research Centre at Australian Catholic University, says the rapid economic transformation of South Korea in the 2000s widened the socioeconomic gap, which for young women was exacerbated by systemic gender inequality. Although South Korean women are among the most highly educated in the world, the country consistently ranks among the worst countries in the OECD for gender wage gaps. It also has some of the highest rates of gender-based violence in the world a 2021 report from the South Korean government, for example, found one in three women had experienced domestic violence. In light of this, Gao says the traditional path of marriage and motherhood has become less appealing for young women, and living a life free from men is a way for young feminists to challenge these patriarchal structures. High-profile cases of gender-based violence, including the 2016 random murder of a woman in a railway station toilet and the discovery of spy cams in hotel rooms, propelled the rise of digital militant feminism, Gao says. Indeed, while the movement is growing, it remains relatively underground, with the internet a key conduit for radical feminist activity. For Korean women, 4B is both a way of life and a political stance against a patriarchal society where the gender divide remains stark. Its most extreme adherents choose to eliminate interactions with men entirely. Dr Hyein Ellen Cho, a lecturer in Korean studies and researcher at Monash Universitys Gender and Family Violence Prevention Centre, says while many people in Korea might see 4B as radical, for her its primarily a safety movement. Women just dont feel safe to have children or to date. Feminism in the 1960s and 70s looked really radical, but its not any more. Weve made lots of progress and this is part of the progression. Women march in Seoul for International Womens Day 2024. Credit: NurPhoto via Getty Images What does 4B look like in the West? Whats interesting about this evolution of 4B, says Cho, is that feminism in the East is often examined through the lens of Western feminism. The popularity of 4B in countries such as the United States is a reversal of this, with Western feminists being influenced by a movement overseas. But the withholding of sex as a means of protest in the West is not a new idea. Australian National University Professor of History Angela Woollacott points to the ancient Greek comedy Lysistrata, which tells the tale of a woman who convinces all the women of two warring cities to deny men sex until they negotiate peace. More recently, in the 1970s, separatist factions of the feminist movement formed women-only communities, one of which still exists in northern NSW today. Woollacott says that while the US election may have triggered 4Bs explosive popularity, the conditions for its rise have been brewing for some time. We have seen a very clear rise on social media of overt misogyny and masculinity and the urging of men to take more assertive and violent masculinist positions, she says, citing as examples the Tate brothers and the Your Body, My Choice refrain thats ricocheted across online spaces since the election. In Australia, specifically, she says this has been evident through the overt actions of the far right, including the Nazi party in Melbourne and how they are being overtly misogynist and masculinist in their articulations, as well as increasing reports of school-aged students displaying sexist attitudes towards female teachers and rising rates of femicide. We have seen a very clear rise on social media of overt misogyny and masculinity and the urging of men to take more assertive and violent masculinist positions. Professor Angela Woollacott, ANU Lily says her stance on relationships with men is as much a political choice as a lifestyle one. She points to the reignition of debates over late-term abortions in Australia, as in the lead-up to the recent state election in Queensland, where she lives. If we dont have abortion rights ... then I dont even want to risk having a pregnancy, she says. People forget abortion is life-saving healthcare. She also doesnt think the government has done enough to break the cycle of violence against women and says there needs to be greater support for mothers, such as free childcare. I know a lot of women who would love to have children but cannot practically or financially have them. Michelle Arrow, the professor of history at Macquarie University, says while abortion is not as politically charged an issue in Australia as it is in the US, there has been a mirroring of the global divide between men and women. When you look at the 2022 [Australian federal] election, there was a pretty significant gender gap between men and women in terms of who voted Labor and who voted Liberal, Arrow says. So that, I think, is a real concern because it suggests that young men are not on board with gender equality. And what does that then mean for young women who are trying to form relationships with these young men? Lifestyle or political movement? While Gao has been interested in the uptake of 4B in the West, he is hesitant about its potential long-term effect, given the specific social and political context in which it emerged. In Korea, 4B emerged as a response to deeply entrenched patriarchy and pronatalist policies, making it highly contextual, he says. In a country like South Korea thats extremely racially and ethnically homogenous, gender is a key point of division. And so, in countries such as the US and Australia, where racial inequality complicates and compounds gender inequality, its not a simple matter of importing overseas feminism. The recent report on murdered and missing Indigenous women and children, for example, revealed what First Nations women have been saying for decades that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and children are disproportionately affected by domestic violence. In the US, meanwhile, abortion bans disproportionately affect black women. 4B risks being seen as a one-size-fits-all movement ... this unique context highlights the importance of understanding the origins of feminist movements before adapting them to new environments, Gao says. Ming says another potential risk is that it excludes trans and gender-diverse individuals since it tends to rely on a definition of biological womanhood by prioritising heterosexual and cis women. Still, many of its adherents both in Korea and Western nations stress the movement is about inclusivity and primarily focused on distancing itself from cis, heterosexual men. So, what potential does 4B have as a political movement? Gao thinks its more about women finding ways to live within the patriarchy rather than overturning it. 4B is perhaps best understood not as a movement but as a lifestyle choice or a process of value formation. Its less about mass mobilisation and more about individual expressions of resistance. Still, Arrow thinks the movement could be a means for women to imagine a different, better way of being, even if it might not effect immediate change. I think 4B is probably something trying to test the possibilities by pushing at the limits of conventional social structures. Decentring men While headlines in the media may make it appear as though the US election alone is responsible for women going on a sex strike, the phenomenon is not new. Contemporary movements such as boy sober have seen women swearing off sex with men or de-prioritising romantic relationships for a myriad of reasons, including frustration with the poor quality of matches on dating apps, greater recognition of the value of friendships, and an increase in toxic behaviour such as infidelity and gaslighting. Camilla is 46 years old and would not necessarily identify as 4B but has stopped actively seeking romantic relationships with men. The Sydneysider, who is choosing to keep her real name private, says she has been single since early 2022 the longest period she has been out of a relationship since she was 19. Its not like I didnt try [to find a partner], but Im kind of accepting that this is never going to happen, she says. And reflecting back on the relationships I have had, Ive thought, What the hell did I get out of them? They all caused me misery in some way. Women just seem to be waking up everywhere, to what is in this for me? Camilla*, a 46-year-old who has stopped seeking relationships with men She blames a string of bad experiences with dating apps most recently, being swindled out of her life savings in a crypto romance scam and a lack of suitable matches for her decision. While some have dubbed 4B a movement about hating men, Camilla is clear that this is not the case for her. Loading Its just like Im done. I dont hate men. I have friendships with them, I work with them ... but just the whole romantic relationship thing, I barely know anyone who is even happy they are in relationships or are married. Growing up in a traditional Italian household with three brothers and a stay-at-home mum has also informed her worldview. From the age of 12, she knew she didnt want to get married or have kids. She says shes been heartened to see more women decentre men from their lives, and she has found a great sense of community and friendship among others like her. Prominent broadcaster and podcaster Josh Szeps has defended radio star Alan Jones despite revealing that the 83-year-old made repeated physical advances towards him as a young producer on his radio show, including trying to kiss him and touch his genitals. In an episode of his Uncomfortable Conversations with Josh Szeps podcast, Szeps told listeners that Jones who on Monday was arrested and charged with 26 offences against nine alleged victims after a top-secret police investigation tried to put his hand on my dick, kiss him and rub his chest on several occasions while he worked as a junior producer on his radio show. Josh Szeps made the allegations during an episode of his podcast. Credit: Wolter Peeters It was clear that he had a crush on me, and he hit on me many times, and in that context, hitting on me meant making a physical move, not a verbal one. He tried to put his hand on my dick, he tried to kiss me, he tried to rub my chest, and I would just slap him off, and we would laugh, and wed move on, Szeps said. Szeps is the first person since Jones arrest on Monday to publicly reveal an alleged encounter with the veteran radio star. However, Szeps who is openly gay said he did not consider himself a victim of sexual assault and understood Jones inappropriate advances as a way of flirting, calling the broadcaster generous and passionate and kind. Sydneys eastern suburbs boast Australias highest incomes, highest property prices and private schools galore. But not all parents wish a private education for their children. Some cannot afford it. Some disagree with it. Others may believe co-education is a better school environment for their children than the single sex regimes usually offered by the private systems schools. But whatever their restrictions and concerns, those parents are massively underserved when it comes to the provision of public high schools near their homes. Now independents, the federal MP for Wentworth Allegra Spender and Sydney MP Alex Greenwich have proposed expansion of public education facilities in the eastern suburbs to stop families leaving and provide choice at a time when household budgets are under increasing pressure. They are advocating the Edgecliff Centre in New South Head Road be redeveloped for a high school. There is still a real push from the community about the desire for a co-ed public high school, particularly in the context of the really high fees in our local private schools, Spender said. The government-owned Waverley Bus Depot has been floated as another option by the school lobby group Community for Local Options for Secondary Education. A Sydney teenager has filed a complaint with the Australian Human Rights Commission after he was banned from attending his coming school formal because he wore a scarf with the keffiyeh pattern to his graduation ceremony. In an incident that comes amid heightened community tension over the war in Gaza, the year 12 student said he was humiliated and distraught after several staff members at Condell Park High School demanded that he remove the traditional black-and-white patterned scarf that symbolises his Palestinian heritage at the ceremony held in the school hall. The 17-year-old has filed a complaint with the Australian Human Rights Commission after being banned from his school formal next week. Credit: Edwina Pickles This was despite the south-western Sydney schools long-standing custom of encouraging students to wear garments and accessories of cultural significance. Photographs from the September event show other students wearing other cultural artefacts, including feathered cloaks and garlands, over their graduation gowns. The war in Gaza has triggered deep ruptures within local institutions, including schools, universities, the Sydney Theatre Company and Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, sustained protests in major cities and disturbing acts of vandalism. Like many other parents in Sydneys eastern suburbs, Andrew Mencinsky paid to put his childrens names down on waitlists at numerous private schools. We had to go through the rigmarole, you have to sign them up when theyre young, at five or six schools, and pay the registration fees, he said. Andrew Mencinsky and his wife Stephanie with children Luca, 10, Christian 8, and Olena, 6, outside their home. Credit: Kate Geraghty Their schooling will follow a typical pattern in the area: public for primary before switching to private for secondary. He doesnt believe independent schools are superior but the kind of school he had in mind a comprehensive, co-educational state school would be a challenge. Their local, Rose Bay Secondary College, is oversubscribed. Mencinskys children attend Glenmore Road Public in Paddington, where some of their classmates will go on to high-fee private schools. He does not want to send his children to a school where they will encounter a world of extreme wealth, noting some school campuses are replete with hyperbaric chambers and Scottish baronial replica castles. Were grieving right now, but were also angry, he said. Enough is enough. Theres been too many deaths of women by men, and it needs to stop. Isla should be remembered for who she was as a loving, beautiful, adventurous spirit someone who was treasured by her family and friends. The Walk Against Family Violence. Credit: AAPIMAGE Melbourne Magistrates Court heard on Friday that police had not only linked Yaffe to the fridge but also a number of the locations where it was stored. In opposing bail, Detective Senior Constable Ben Curran alleged that on October 8, Yaffe had left the Caulfield area with a woman and travelled to Warburton, where he had booked accommodation for the night. But after receiving a call from Ganiev, they didnt stay and instead travelled back to Melbourne. The next day, CCTV captured Yaffe driving to Ganievs apartment in a Rav4 towing a trailer to drop off a black fridge, police say. Yaffe and Ganiev were then seen 10 days later removing an older fridge, wrapped in clear plastic and black tape from the home, putting it on a trailer and driving it to Caulfield South, police allege. Curran said the fridge was moved multiple times, including once in Hampton, where a neighbour called Yaffe to complain about the smell. Upon arrival, Yaffe immediately clears items from the trailer and is seen attempting to mask smells. He removed items from the Rav4, leaving them in the open air, Curran said. When it rains, he can be heard on CCTV audio saying, Its good that theyre being washed. The court heard that Yaffe was also seen disposing of Bells distinctive black and brown bag and camouflage hat shortly after being spoken to by police. Curran said police allege the fridge was later put in a Hino removalist van at a home in Mulgrave. Loading A resident there, known to Yaffe, later told police he drove the van to Clayton and upon noticing a strong smell opened the fridge, dumped it on a street corner in Bentleigh and disposed of the bag inside it, which he believed contained animal remains, in a residential rubbish bin. Curran said that with the help of council, police tracked the bag of remains to the tip, where it was recovered still in the rear of a rubbish truck. Yaffe told police when arrested that he had abandoned the fridge on Alma Road in St Kilda East the day it was removed, but later admitted lying, police allege. Curran said police allege Bells remains had been in Ganievs house for 10 days before they were moved, which would have caused a distinctive smell. It is not a smell that can be mistaken, or forgotten. We say its not possible that the accused with knowledge of Ganiev, Ganievs behaviour, his use of drugs, violent history, and the fact he had had a young female with him at that apartment at the time attended and did not believe she had been killed. And that he was transporting a body. Brunswick woman Isla Bell. Credit: Facebook Curran said police feared Yaffe had the resources and ability to flee if released on bail. He said Yaffes home had been found filled with designer clothing, bags and jewellery despite him having no full-time work, and he was found with mobile phones and bank cards in other peoples names, as well as $150,000 in his bank accounts. He appears to be living quite an extravagant life, Curran said. He also said Yaffe had an extensive criminal history for matters involving weapons and violence. I have spoken to the family of the deceased. They have expressed that they oppose the [bail] application, Curran said. Yaffes son Zid Yaffe told the court his father worked with him in his painting business and would regularly move furniture as part of their work. He offered a $20,000 surety and for his father to live with him if released on bail. Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky announced his arrival in Kyiv on Friday morning. I am interested in how the Ukrainians are coping with the bombings, how Czech projects are working on the ground and how to better target international aid in the coming months. I will discuss all of this here, he said on X. A respected anaesthetist has been dismissed from her role at a prestigious medical college after saying Australias health billing system lacked transparency and was skewed towards profit. In an email obtained by this masthead, the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA) accused Associate Professor Joanna Sutherland of tarnishing the reputation of anaesthetists and asked her to stand down as chair of its safety and quality committee. Associate professor and specialist anaesthetist Joanna Sutherland The colleges response shocked many in the medical community, who perceived her comments to this masthead as measured and reasonable. Sutherland was responding to allegations that dozens of anaesthetists and surgeons on Victorias Mornington Peninsula had engaged in fraud, double-dipping and pocketing off-the-book fees. The claims revealed exclusively by The Age have sparked investigations by a federal regulator and private health insurers. Residents of the inner-west are demanding that pollution filters be installed on the West Gate Tunnels enormous vents, which spew toxic truck fumes into the air near homes and sporting fields. Environmental Justice Australia lawyers have sent a letter on behalf of the Maribyrnong Truck Action Group urging the states Environment Protection Authority (EPA) to reconsider its decision to not require the fitting of pollution filters on the $10.1 billion tunnels twin vents. Glen Yates in front of the western-most vent under constuction. Credit: Justin McManus The two 50-metre tall concrete structures at Whitehall Street and near Fogarty Avenue in Yarraville will draw polluted air out of the four-kilometre tunnel and pump it into the atmosphere when the Transurban-operated toll road opens, scheduled by the end of 2025. Glen Yates lives with his wife and two children less than a kilometre from one of the vents. Israel has condemned Australias decision to deny a visa to former Israeli justice minister Ayelet Shaked on character grounds, warning in a statement on X that the decision was deeply offensive and would harm relations between the two countries. The threat tests already-strained diplomatic ties as Australia seeks to tiptoe around the International Criminal Courts decision to issue arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defence chief Yoav Gallant, as well as a Hamas leader Ibrahim al-Masri, for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza conflict. Former Israeli interior and justice minister Ayelet Shaked in 2021. Credit: AP As the United States rejected the warrants, and Canada said it would abide by them, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said on Friday Australia respected the ICCs independence but did not endorse or oppose its decision, or say what the government would do if any of the men set foot here. Australia respects the independence of the International Criminal Court and its important role in upholding international law, Wong said in a statement posted to X on Friday morning. Vow is the only company in the world now actively selling cultured meat, but there are more than 150 companies globally vying for what is shaping up as a highly lucrative market. Peppou says Vow is ahead of the pack, despite raising a fraction of the capital of its competitors. The start-up has raised about $US50 million ($76.7 million) from heavyweight Australian investors including Hostplus, Blackbird, Square Peg and the family office of Atlassian billionaire Mike Cannon-Brookes. Peppou has also been poaching engineers from Elon Musks SpaceX to build towards his lofty goal. Our aim is to build one of the largest food companies in history, he says. To get there, Peppou is taking a leaf or maybe a quail feather out of Teslas book on how to scale up. Vows initial focus is on premium, chef-driven menus, and its vision for the future is one in which cultured meat becomes accessible to everyday consumers. But it is deliberately not trying to replicate meat products and formats already available to consumers. Its Forged Parfait is made with 60 per cent cultured Japanese quail, blended with ingredients including garlic, onion, brandy and butter. Vow also made headlines last year for its woolly mammoth meatballs, although no human can eat them, given their cells are 1000 years old. The ultimate goal isnt just replacing traditional meats but creating something entirely new, Peppou says. Imagine a steak that tastes like venison but has the nutritional profile of salmon. Thats the kind of innovation were working toward. But first, it wants to get its products into Australian restaurants. The company has yet to finalise its local regulatory approvals, which may come in 2025 if everything goes to plan. Winning over regulators is one thing, but what about consumers? Peppou says definitively that consumers are ready for Vows novel meat products, particularly in high-end restaurants where theres a strong appetite to try new things. Vow also isnt trying to win over vegetarians or vegans with its products, given the use of animal cells, but it is trying ultimately to reduce the global reliance on factory farming, which is responsible for significant carbon emissions. Loading Take something like the Impossible burger. Who is it for? Peppou asks. Its a technically impressive product, but if I eat meat Im going to eat a beef burger, and if Im a vegan Im going to eat tofu. My core philosophy is: if Im going to change the behaviour of people like me, the only way to do that is through a product people will choose selfishly. Peppou says Vows production system is the most efficient and extensive operation in the cultured meat industry. The start-up has grown to a headcount of 100, most of whom are in Sydney. One of those is Ines Lizaur, previously an engineer for SpaceX, who moved from the US to Sydney to join Vow as its head of manufacturing. George Peppou, the founder and CEO of Vow, with Ines Lizaur, its head of manufacturing. Credit: AFR The team is solving problems that have never been solved before, with solutions that have global impact, exactly like SpaceX, Lizaur said. Its a group of talented and hard-working engineers trying to answer the question: how do you design, build, operate and scale a technology for the first time, with a fraction of the resources you would have at a large company. Its that scrappiness and drive that make SpaceX and Vow so similar and notably different from other companies. That, combined with the idea of going for a swim at Bondi every morning before I go into Vow to build bioreactors, sounded pretty appealing. Cultured Japanese quail sounded pretty appealing to chef Masa Takayama, the owner of Masa, a three-Michelin-star Japanese and sushi restaurant in New York. Takayama says hes always looking for innovative foods and methods to add to his repertoire. Vow hasnt yet received its US approvals, but the start-up recently hosted an event for journalists, who were required to sign waivers to try its meat. Blackbird Ventures partner Samantha Wong. Credit: Kate Geraghty I was very intrigued to know more about Forged Gras and the process it took to create it, the chef says. It was fun for my team to come up with dishes that could highlight its nuanced flavour ... I look forward to seeing its success in the marketplace. Venture capital funds such as Blackbird, which cut Vows first cheques, are hopeful the start-up can grow into another Australian success story like Canva, Atlassian or Airwallex. Peppou says hes received valuable mentorship from Blackbirds chair, Robyn Denholm, who also chairs Tesla. Blackbird partner Samantha Wong says Vows approach of engaging early with regulators and chefs helped its momentum. A bet on Vow is not a bet on meat-free replicas but a bet that people want to eat more delicious, nutritious food than they do today, Wong says. Science has always brought forward new categories in food. Vow has made use of machine learning, robotics and advances in biology to create entirely new foods and winning over the harshest of critics Michelin-grade restaurant chefs at global gastronomy capitals like Singapore and Hong Kong. The five-yearly Expo is on from April 13 to August 13, 2025, this time in Osaka, Japan and the Australia Pavilion is by one of the countrys oldest architecture firms, Melbourne-based Buchan, which worked closely with Indigenous cultural consultants Karrda on the project. Lead architect Nataly Ernst says Buchans design is a celebration of Country and its importance to future societies, and reflects Australias Expo theme of chasing the sun. The Australia pavilion harnesses Australias unique natural beauty, says architect Nataly Ernst. Credit: Its an expression of Australias warmth, energy and optimism, and our diverse landscape, says Ernst. Buchans pavilion and exhibition design harnesses Australias unique natural beauty as a canvas for sharing our stories and culture. The premise of these quinquennial world events may have shifted from showing off inventions and technical achievements to engendering international dialogue this year about sustainability. But the overarching theme making sense of the world and its progress remains. So too, architecture, a big part of world fairs since their inception. 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 Nazzareno Venanzi is unconcerned by the blanket of thick fog and the chilly wind whistling across the mountains in Italys central Marche region. The 85-year-old building surveyor has just driven 22 kilometres up a winding road from his home in the medieval town of Sarnano, Macerata, to a place he would rather forget. He has come to the edge of dense woodland in the Sibillini Mountains for the first time in 40 years to reveal the location of one of Italys enduring mysteries. Jeanette May, one-time British television show hostess, model and a former wife of Evelyn de Rothschild, the merchant banker and heir to millions. Credit: This is where the bones were found, Venanzi says, staring down a steep gully through a kaleidoscope of brilliant autumn foliage. Just down there. A roadside memorial marks the spot where Jeanette Bishop May, the 41-year-old once married to Sir Evelyn de Rothschild from the international banking dynasty, was found with her secretary, Gabriella Guerin, long after they disappeared in a snowstorm on November 29, 1980. Theres no explanation for why they went into the mountains that day or why they came here, Venanzi adds, as he photographs the memorial. Its a mystery. Advertisement For the next four decades, speculation has swirled around what happened to the British socialite and her 39-year-old Italian companion. Conspiracy theories have flourished about possible links to the mafia, a Rome art theft, a Brazilian gem dealer and the death of a Vatican banker in London. Initially, police determined the death of the women was an accident and the cause was hypothermia. Subsequent investigations were hampered by conflicting testimony and inconclusive forensic evidence; an open verdict was finally declared in 1989 which said they were victims of a double-murder by unknown perpetrators. But questions continued to be raised about whether they were victims of misfortune or malevolence. Now Italian authorities have launched a fresh inquiry into the cold case and announced it is a murder investigation. Jeanette May (right) then-Lady Evelyn de Rothschild on February 2, 1971. Credit: Venanzi was one of a dozen witnesses summoned by police and prosecutors for interrogation last week, as he was one of the last people to see the two victims alive. Advertisement He had met both women in Sarnano on the day they disappeared because May had seen a gate she wanted to replicate for the cottage she had bought just outside the town. They shared an aperitivo at the surveyors home with him and his wife before lunch. She asked me if I could go to the mountains with her, Venanzi recalls. I told her I couldnt because I had too many deadlines. From that moment on, we knew nothing more. When I learnt they did not return to their hotel, I was worried and notified the police. Ive never been convinced that it was an accident and I hope they can solve the case. General Carlo Felice Corsetti May missed a scheduled appointment with the previous owner of her home in the early afternoon that Saturday. Instead, she and her secretary drove up the mountain and stopped at the Hotel Sibilla Parco, where the owner, Ortelio Valori, now 82, served them refreshments. By now it was about 4pm and already getting dark. I saw a car outside, a man waiting for them in a car, Valori says. A key witness in this case, he also testified before police and prosecutors this week. But what happened to the women after they left the hotel is still unclear. Police feared the women had been kidnapped when their Peugeot 104 sedan was found three weeks after their disappearance, showing no mechanical faults or sign of forced entry, about 13 kilometres up the mountain from Sarnano. Investigators found a scarf and other belongings in the car but were baffled when a ransom demand never arrived. Advertisement There were also signs the women had sought refuge from the snowstorm in an abandoned farm house nearby, where burnt firewood and dirty plates had been left behind. Media reports at the time suggested a mans fingerprints had been found inside their Peugeot. The farmhouse that Jeanette May was renovating. Credit: Express News Papers Despite a massive search involving 500 police supported by helicopters and dog squads, it would be another 14 months before hunters discovered the womens corpses in woodland near Lake Fiastra in January 1982. Ravaged by wild boars and wolves, their skeletal remains were found lying side by side in the woods nearly 12 kilometres from where they had left their vehicle. Dubbed the murder mystery of the century, the case provoked a media frenzy in Britain and Italy. Scotland Yard detectives joined the investigation as newspaper headlines screamed of foul play and experts theorised about whether it was the perfect crime. Now residents are once again wondering what led the women to drive up a mountain on a day when there was already light snow on the mountains and dark clouds were closing in. No one around here ever thought it was an accident or misfortune, says Roberta, a barista in a cafe in the tiny town of Fiastra. After 40 years, there is something else, something is unclear. Advertisement The car the women were driving at the time. Credit: Express News Papers Corrado Ermini lives in a hamlet on the opposite side of Lake Fiastra, about five kilometres from where the bodies were found. Now 82, he was one of the three local hunters who discovered the womens bones while he and his friends were on the hunt for wild boar just two weeks after Mays second husband, Stephen, offered a reward for any news. As a child, my parents used to tell me to avoid the mountains if it snowed or I would end up like Lady De Rothschild. Fabio Fantegrossi, the 36-year-old mayor of Sarnano Ermini is still haunted by what he saw that day. It was really shocking, he recalls in an interview at his home. I saw the bodies laid out on the grass, they had been there a long time. It was as if they had been laid on the earth in a position of repose. May was found wearing a Cartier bracelet that her husband had given her as a gift, and the womens identity papers were inside the handbags found beside the bodies. But little else remained. Advertisement London: The decision of the International Criminal Court to issue arrest warrants against Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defence minister Yoav Gallant is risky. At stake is not just the fate of the two defendants but the reputation and relevance of the court itself. Founded in 2002, it is the first time the ICC has issued warrants for the arrest of democratically elected leaders. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left, and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant in 2023. Credit: AP It is also the first time it has pursued individuals whose enterprise has been substantially supported by the West. Of the 124 member states of the ICC on whom responsibility for enforcement of the warrants now falls, a good number including the UK and much of Western Europe provide arms and other military assistance to Israel. Washington: President-elect Donald Trump quickly swept aside the latest bad headlines about Matt Gaetz by speedily substituting Pam Bondi, a fellow Florida Republican with a starkly different profile but a similar reputation for fealty to be his attorney-general. Bondi, 59, is a lobbyist and Trump loyalist who served as Floridas attorney-general from 2011 to 2019. She has charted a more conventional and less clamorous course than Gaetz, with little of the ugly personal or political baggage that led some Republicans to oppose Gaetzs nomination. Former Florida attorney-general Pam Bondi speaks about a court order granting Donald Trumps campaign more access to vote counting operations in Philadelphia in 2020. Credit: AP She was a local prosecutor Bondi, the daughter of the mayor of a small Tampa-area municipality, began working as an assistant state attorney in Hillsborough County in the 1990s. During 18 years as a prosecutor, she tried cases ranging from domestic violence to capital murder, according to the bio page at her lobbying firm. When Donald Trump won all seven swing states as well as majorities in both the House and Senate earlier this month, he looked unstoppable. Like a king in a medieval court, the president-elect likes to rule with advisers circling his gilded throne in Mar-a-Lago. And on November 5, King Trump rode into battle and came out victorious. President-elect Donald Trump has looked unstoppable. Credit: AP On Thursday, however, the reality of governing in Americas imperfect democracy set in. Brasilia: Brazils federal police have recommended criminal charges against former president Jair Bolsonaro after probing an alleged coup attempt following his 2022 election loss, the first time authorities have directly linked the right-winger to attempts to keep his successor from assuming power. Police said charges were warranted against a total of 37 people, including high-ranking military members who served in Bolsonaros government, for plotting a coup and committing crimes against democracy. Former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro, has been accused over an alleged coup plot to maintain power, after his defeat by President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva. Credit: Bloomberg The formal indictment came at the conclusion of an investigation into the US Capitol riot-style insurrection attempt that took place on January 8, 2023, when thousands of the former leaders supporters stormed the countrys capital, taking over the Congress and the Supreme Court after Bolsonaros narrow loss to President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in the October 2022 election. Authorities have also determined that Bolsonaro had full knowledge of a plot to assassinate Lula, vice president Geraldo Alckmin and Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes after the election, CNN Brasil and other outlets reported, citing unidentified officials. Ukraine will receive $4.8 billion under the PEACE project from the World Bank, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal reported. "Ukraine will receive $4.8 billion through the World Banks PEACE project. This is an important contribution to support Ukraines critical budget programs in times of war. We are very grateful to the United States and development partners who are funding this assistance, providing vital support to our country and people. Our special thanks to the leadership of World Bank for their unwavering commitment to Ukraine. Your solidarity strengthens our resilience and determination to move forward. Together we are building a stronger future," he said on the X social network. San Juan, Puerto Rico:--- The world needs science and science needs women. The Young Talents Caribbean Region L'Oreal-UNESCO For Women in Science (FWIS) program is a partnership between LOreal Caribe, the UNESCO Office for the Caribbean, with the support of the Caribbean Academy of Sciences and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), Caribbean Division seeking to connect the dots between Caribbean development challenges, scientific research, and female empowerment by recognizing and honoring two young scientists with an endowment of $10,000 USD to further develop their scientific endeavors. The annual FWIS Awards Ceremony was held in October 25, at the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico, Metropolitan Campus, during the 39th AAAS Caribbean Division Convention. The event attracted notable figures within the scientific community of the Caribbean, all to celebrate the achievements of two bright, accomplished, young women whose futures in STEM are still unfolding. The 2024 FWIS recipients in the Caribbean specialize in the fields of agricultural science and sustainability. Mrs. Gillian Rowe, whose research focuses on the identification of causative agents for ginger rhizome rot at the University of West Indies, Mona in Jamaica, aims to enhance commercial ginger spice production. By profiling microbial communities, Mrs. Rowe seeks to develop eco-friendly agroproducts such as probiotics and bio stimulants to combat this disease. In the long term, this research will contribute to understanding local biodiversity, benefiting not only ginger but also other commercial crops and clinical microbiology in Jamaica. By tailoring agroproducts to local conditions, the work promises to lower production costs for farmers, reduce post-harvest losses, and support the livelihoods of many farmers, particularly women, as they restore their infected agriculture. Savanna Lloyd, PhD., whose research focuses on organic semiconductor materials at the University of West Indies, Mona in Jamaica, is dedicated to optimizing deposition processes for highly efficient electronic devices. Recognizing the limitations of traditional inorganic materials used in processor chips, LED displays, and photovoltaic panels, Dr. Lloyd explores the advantages of organic semiconductors, which can be fabricated using simpler and more cost-effective methods. By developing a meniscus-guided deposition process, the research aims to induce uniform molecular self-assembly in thin films, balancing processability, thin film integrity, and molecular orientation. This innovative approach has the potential to revolutionize the production of electronic devices, making them more accessible and efficient. LOreal Caribe is proud to recognize this second edition of For Women in Science program, in our region. This initiative gives Caribbean women in STEM the visibility and resource contributions needed to help them excel in their fields, advance their careers and establish themselves as leaders and role models for the next generation of girls and young women. We are delighted to showcase this class of FWIS awardees, who will undoubtedly carry on this legacy, complete groundbreaking research and inspire others to impact the world through their game-changing science, said Gilles Delaunay, General Manager of LOreal Caribe. The For Women in Science philanthropic program embodies L'Oreal's fundamental belief in the indispensable connection between science and women. This initiative aspires to cultivate a doctorate, postdoctoral, and early career community of women, empowering them to persist in their research, attain leadership roles, and become inspirational mentors for the generations of women and girls that will follow in their path. "This joint initiative represents a significant advancement in providing ongoing support for this essential program. By this effort, we aim not only to increase research publications but also to empower women scientists to utilize their expertise for the development of our region. Our optimistic vision is for this transformative initiative to have a lasting presence in our community for years ahead, said Dr. Natasha de Leon, president of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), Caribbean Division The Young Talents Caribbean Region marked the 53rd national and regional LOreal UNESCO For Women in Science program around the world, covering 24 islands in the region. The peer review and jury deliberation were chaired by members from the Caribbean Academy of Sciences. The candidates are evaluated based on their intellectual merit, research potential, scientific excellence, and their commitment to supporting women and girls in science. Our collaborative global initiative, the For Women in Science program, has made a significant impact on creating a more inclusive environment for women in scientific careers. It has also sparked a wider societal transformation among institutions, partners, public authorities, and the scientific and academic communities. This effort has promoted a genuine cultural shift, which is essential for sustainable development, said Ms. Danielle Cliche, Director and Representative of the UNESCO Office for the Caribbean. The program key action is: Promoting gender equality in science; at the end of the 1990s, there were only 27% women scientists worldwide. By 2014, this had become 30%, and today we have reached 33% but the progress is far too slow. (Sources: The UNESCO Science Report, 2021). Empowering women scientists to break the glass ceiling; distinct challenges remain to women advancing their careers in science. Only 18% of senior scientific roles are occupied by women in Europe. In addition to valorizing the contribution of women to science, women in science are still not visible enough, and we need more of them to act as role models for younger generations. For example, only 25 women have received the Nobel Prizes in science since its creation in 1901. This collaborative effort marks a positive step towards sustained support for this well needed program. With the introduction of this competitive grant, we hope that this will not only to encourage the publication of more research but also to spur women scientists to leverage their work for the region's development. The forward-looking vision is for this impactful initiative to endure in our region for many years to come, said Dr. Marvadeen Singh-Wilmot, Representative of the Caribbean Academy of Sciences. For more information about L'Oreal UNESCO For Women in Science, please visit https://www.forwomeninscience.com/challenge/show/75. PHILIPSBURG (DCOMM):--- The Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor (Ministry VSA), Hon. Veronica Jansen Webster said on Thursday in response to a press statement by the Soualiga Employers Association (SEA) about the Sustainable Affordable Act (SAAHA) (formerly known as National Health Insurance (NHI)) that the implementation of the NHI is not hasty. The first contours of the NHI were drafted in 2007. The unsustainable financial situation as well as the ordeals for persons who have no access to a health insurance, have been the reason to aim for a General Health Insurance (GHI). A draft National Ordinance was sent for advice to Social Economic Council (SER) and the Council of Advice (COA) in 2015 and 2017, but it never reached Parliament. The deep socio-economic crisis after the hurricanes in 2017 and the COVID-19 crisis in 2020 has left no room for any further delay. The financial situation has worsened progressively with every delay in the past years and is now in a critical stage. At this moment, the financial deficits of Social Health Insurances SZV as well as medical costs for uninsured persons have to be compensated by the Government. The large of amounts of tax income used to compensate for deficits in our health system could have been spent on investments for economic growth. With SAAHA, the deficits will be less than when we continue with our current health financing. Moreover, SAAHA will cover the uninsured, the government currently has to compensate for in case of lifesaving interventions. The current deficits of the health funds necessitate the use of AOV to guarantee continuity of care. This leads to an accelerated depletion of the pensions of Sint Maarten citizens. Without SAAHA, the financial deficits in our health financing will continue to increase and the need for cross financing from the AOV funds will persist. We fully agree that additional measures are necessary to stabilize the funding of our health system. SAAHA is the first and most important step, however, additional sources of income have to be considered, such as tourist tax, health taxes for unhealthy behaviors and medical tourism. Regarding SEAs concerns of the challenges of a shared border and undocumented residents, the humanitarian approach of the French side towards healthcare actually alleviates rather than puts strains on our health system. Many prefer the provisions on the French side rather than the ones and the access on the Dutch side. SAAHA is an individual insurance meant for all people who are entitled because of their residency status and others who are not resident but contribute to our economy: All registered persons living on Sint Maarten, irrespective of their employment status, are eligible for SAAHA. Undocumented persons are eligible when they have a contract and pay taxes for more than 20 hours per week. To prevent abuse of the system, all others are not eligible. For example, undocumented persons with less than 20 hours labour per week as well as registered persons living abroad. Moreover, there are provisions to prevent that people try to qualify for SAAHA solely to have access to expensive treatments they need. For example, people living with HIV who do not have affordable access to medication elsewhere. PHILIPSBURG:--- A group of Havo, VWO, and TKL students from Milton Peters College eagerly anticipate their departure next week Sunday for a week full of new experiences in the Netherlands and Germany. They will visit Amsterdam, follow classes at the Anne Frank Real Schule in Ahaus/Germany, stay with host families, visit a waste management plant and go skating. The students raised some funds for this educational trip, but the SOL pledge of USD 1000 comes in really handy to cover the costs. SVOBE School wants to extend a warm thank you to SOL Company for their continued support of education. To maintain growth, AI firms seek accords with publishing giants Paris, Nov 22 (AFP) Nov 22, 2024 Publishing giants and generative artificial intelligence companies are striking deals that aim to both protect copyright and provide for the rapidly increasing needs of the AI industry. US publishing giant HarperCollins has reached a contract with an unnamed tech company allowing it to use some of its books to train its generative AI models. In a letter seen by AFP, the tech company is proposing a payment of $2,500 per selected book to train its so-called large language model (LLM) for up to three years. AI models need massive quantities of texts to train their everyday language use. "HarperCollins has reached an agreement with an artificial intelligence technology company to allow limited use of select nonfiction backlist titles for training AI models to improve model quality and performance," the publisher said in a statement. It said the agreement has "limited scope and clear guardrails around model output that respects author's rights." Authors "have the choice to opt in to the agreement or to pass on the opportunity", it added. The offer has had a mixed reception in the publishing world, with writers such as Daniel Kibblesmith curtly declining. "I'd probably do it for a billion dollars. I'd do it for a sum of money that wouldn't require me to work anymore, since that's the ultimate goal of this technology," the author posted on the Bluesky social network. HarperCollins is one of the largest publishers to reach such an accord, but not the first. US scientific publisher Wiley said it has allowed "access to previously published academic and professional book content for specific use in training LLM models" in a $23 million contract with an unidentified "large tech company". The accords underscore the tension behind AI models, which collect huge quantities of content on the web, creating the risk of widespread copyright violations. - 'A broader conversation' - Giada Pistilli, head of ethics at Hugging Face, a French-American open-access AI platform, said these agreements are a step forward since they involve payments to publishers. But she regrets that they leave little room for the authors to negotiate. "What we are going to see is a mechanism of bilateral agreements between new technology companies and publishers or copyright holders, whereas in my opinion, we need a broader conversation that includes stakeholders a little more," she said. Julien Chouraqui, legal director at the French publishing union (SNE), said the accords represented "progress". "An agreement means that there has been a dialogue and a desire to achieve a balance between the use of source data, which are subject to copyright and which will generate value," he said. The press is also organising to face the challenges created by AI. In late 2023, The New York Times sued OpenAI, creator of ChatGPT, as well as Microsoft, its main investor, for violating copyright protections. Other media groups have cut deals with OpenAI. Tech companies may have no choice but to pay out to improve their products, especially as they are starting to run out of new materials to power their models. "On the web, you find lots of licit and illicit stiff, and lots of pirated copy. That not only causes legal problems but also raises issues about the quality of the data," said Chouraqui at the SNE. "If we are committed to developing a market on a virtuous basis, we must involve all the players," he said. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte may soon visit the United States to meet with President-elect Donald Trump to discuss the situation in Ukraine, The Washington Post reported on Friday, citing sources. The ezine says Rutte is expected to visit Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence soon to discuss a negotiating strategy to end the conflict in Ukraine. People familiar with the situation said that the main idea that the NATO Secretary General would try to convey will be the need for a just and long-term peace that will not encourage the actions of the Russian Federation and will provide security guarantees for Ukraine. At the same time, the publication says that during a recent meeting with NATO defense ministers in Brussels, Rutte urged European leaders not to gossip about Trump, but to engage in dialogue with him, since Europe needs America to remain on our side. Zelensky calls for 'strong' response to Russian hypersonic missile strike Kyiv, Ukraine, Nov 21 (AFP) Nov 21, 2024 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday called for a strong response from world leaders to Russia's use of a new generation hypersonic missile, saying it was a major step-up in the "scale and brutality" of the war. Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed that Russia test-fired a new type of hypersonic intermediate-range missile at the Ukrainian city of Dnipro. "This is an obvious and serious increase in the scale and brutality of this war," Zelensky said in a statement published on Telegram. Putin cast the strike as a response to Kyiv firing Western-supplied rockets at its territory, and hinted the new weapon could be equipped with a nuclear warhead for future strikes. Zelensky said it was "final proof that Russia definitely does not want peace." He also criticised the global response and warned other countries they could also become targets for Putin. "The world must react. Right now there is no strong reaction from the world," Zelensky said. "You have to react. We must squeeze. It is necessary to urge Russia to a true peace, which is possible only through force. Otherwise, there will be relentless Russian strikes, threats and destabilisation, and not only against Ukraine," he said. UN nuclear watchdog board passes resolution chiding Iran Vienna, Nov 21 (AFP) Nov 21, 2024 The UN nuclear watchdog's board of governors passed a resolution chiding Iran's poor cooperation with the agency after hours of heated exchanges, diplomats told AFP late on Thursday, a move Tehran called "politically motivated". The censure motion brought by Britain, France, Germany and the United States at the International Atomic Energy Agency's 35-nation board follows a similar one in June. But it comes as tensions run high over Iran's atomic programme, with critics fearing that Tehran is attempting to develop a nuclear weapon -- a claim the Islamic Republic has repeatedly denied. The resolution -- which China, Russia and Burkina Faso voted against -- was carried by 19 votes in favour, with 12 abstentions and Venezuela not participating, two diplomats told AFP. Ahead of the vote on Thursday night, the United States and its European allies sought to rally support for their resolution by denouncing Iran. In its national statement to the board, Washington said that Tehran's nuclear activities are "deeply troubling". London, Paris and Berlin in a joint statement drew attention to the "threat" Iran's nuclear programme posed "to international security", stressing that it now had enough highly enriched uranium for four nuclear weapons. In a first reaction after the vote, Iran's ambassador to the IAEA, Mohsen Naziri Asl, told AFP that the resolution was "politically motivated", citing its "low support" compared to previous censures. - Differences laid bare - The confidential resolution seen by AFP says it is "essential and urgent" for Iran to "act to fulfil its legal obligations". The text also calls on Tehran to provide "technically credible explanations" for the presence of uranium particles found at two undeclared locations in Iran. Moreover, Western powers are asking for a "comprehensive report" to be issued by the IAEA on Iran's nuclear efforts "at the latest" by spring 2025. Since 2021, Tehran has significantly decreased its cooperation with the agency by deactivating surveillance devices to monitor the nuclear programme and barring UN inspectors. At the same time, Iran has rapidly ramped up its nuclear activities, including by increasing its stockpiles of enriched uranium. That has heightened fears that Tehran might be seeking to develop a nuclear weapon, which it denies. The resolution comes just as IAEA head Rafael Grossi returned from a trip to Tehran last week, where he appeared to have made headway. During the visit, Iran agreed to an IAEA demand to cap its sensitive stock of near weapons-grade uranium enriched up to 60 percent purity. "This is a concrete step in the right direction," Grossi told reporters Wednesday, saying it was "the first time" Iran had made such a commitment since it started breaking away from its obligations under the nuclear deal. The landmark 2015 deal -- which curbed Iran's nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief -- fell apart three years later after the unilateral withdrawal by the United States under then-president Donald Trump. In retaliation, Tehran began gradually rolling back some of its commitments by increasing its uranium stockpiles and enriching beyond the 3.67 percent purity -- enough for nuclear power stations -- permitted under the deal. - Potential to 'harm efforts' - Although symbolic in nature at this stage, the censure motion is designed to raise diplomatic pressure on Iran. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Thursday the censure "will disrupt" interactions with the agency, but stressed Tehran would remain keen to cooperate. Earlier, Araghchi had warned of a "proportionate" response by Iran if the board passes the resolution. According to Heloise Fayet, a researcher at the French Institute of International Relations, the resolution has the potential to "harm Rafael Grossi's efforts". "But Western powers are frustrated by the lack of effectiveness of his diplomatic manoeuvres and are looking for firmer solutions," she told AFP. On Wednesday, Grossi said he could "not exclude" that Iran's commitment to cap enrichment might falter "as a result of further developments". Foreign policy expert Rahman Ghahremanpour said Tehran might retaliate to the new censure by "increasing the enrichment levels". But he does not expect any drastic "strategic measures" as Iran does not want to "aggravate tensions" before Trump returns to the White House. Russia's missile 'warning' to Ukraine and West: what we know Paris, Nov 22 (AFP) Nov 22, 2024 Russia on Thursday fired an experimental missile at Ukraine in a clear warning of its capabilities, officials from Western governments said, even as they pushed back against Ukrainian claims of a more provocative action by Moscow. Ukraine initially accused Russia of firing an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in combat for the first time in history. But a US official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Russia had not fired an ICBM but rather an "experimental" medium-range ballistic missile. In an address late Thursday, President Vladimir Putin confirmed Russia had used a new, experimental "hypersonic" medium-range ballistic missile named "Oreshnik" ("Hazel") in an attack on Dnipro. In what analysts said was intended as a warning to the countries arming Ukraine, the Russian leader hinted the missile was capable of unleashing a nuclear payload. - What was fired? Analysts and the United States pushed back against Kyiv's initial claims that Moscow had launched a nuclear-capable ICBM as part of a barrage towards the central city of Dnipro. As their name suggests, intercontinental ballistic missiles are capable of striking one continent from another, with a range of at least 5,500 kilometres (3,400 miles). Intermediate-range missiles by contrast typically have a reach of between 3,000 and 5,500 kilometres -- still long enough to make good on Putin's threat of striking the West. In his speech, the Kremlin leader said Russia had tested one of its "newest intermediate-range missile systems in combat conditions. In this case, a ballistic missile with a non-nuclear hypersonic configuration." Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov said Moscow had informed Washington of the missile's launch half an hour before it was fired through an automatic nuclear de-escalation hotline, in remarks cited in state media. While not naming the missile used or giving technical specifications, the US official said Russia "likely possesses only a handful of these experimental missiles". "Ukraine has withstood countless attacks from Russia, including from missiles with significantly larger warheads than this weapon," the official said. In London, a spokesman for British Prime Minister Keir Starmer told reporters that Russia's strike on Ukraine was a "ballistic missile" with "a range of several thousand kilometres", the first time Moscow had used such a weapon in the war. - What is the context? Tension has been building between Moscow and Kyiv's allies in the West since Ukrainian forces struck Russian territory with Western-supplied long-range weapons on Tuesday after getting the green light from Washington. US President Joe Biden gave Ukraine the go-ahead to fire the missiles into Russian territory for the first time while Washington will soon provide Ukraine with antipersonnel land mines to shore up its defences against Russian forces. On Tuesday, Putin signed a decree lowering the threshold for using nuclear weapons, a move Western powers condemned as "irresponsible". Biden is moving to boost Ukraine's war effort in the final two months of his administration, before Donald Trump, who has repeatedly promised to end the war quickly, takes power in January. "The United States will continue to surge security assistance to Ukraine to strengthen capabilities, including air defence, and put Ukraine in the best possible position on the battlefield," the official said. In London, the British government spokesman said of the Russian strike: "It is another example of reckless behaviour from Russia, which only serves to strengthen our resolve in terms of standing by Ukraine for as long as it takes." NATO spokesperson Farah Dakhlallah said Russia's use of the missile would "neither change the course of the conflict nor deter" the US-led defence alliance from backing Kyiv. - What message is Moscow seeking to send? Despite the initial confusion about the nature of the missile fired, it is clear the strike on Dnipro was unusual and aimed at grabbing the attention of Kyiv and its allies. "We are really on something unprecedented, and it is much more a political act than a military act. The cost-effectiveness ratio of the attack is zero," said Heloise Fayet, a researcher at the French Institute of International Relations. "This change of scale is significant," she said, adding this was "the first use by the Russians on the battlefield of a missile with a range greater than 2,000 kilometres". But she said the use of this missile would "not change the situation significantly on the operational level. They obviously have very few and they are expensive." Local authorities said an infrastructure facility was hit in Dnipro and two civilians were wounded. For Nick Brown of British defence analysis organisation Janes, using the missile was "really about sending an escalatory message or warning, an expensive and potentially dangerous way for Russia to rattle its sabre." According to the US official: "Russia may be seeking to use this capability to try to intimidate Ukraine and its supporters... but it will not be a game changer in this conflict." Iran to launch 'advanced centrifuges' in response to IAEA censure Tehran, Nov 22 (AFP) Nov 22, 2024 Iran said Friday it would launch a series of "new and advanced" centrifuges in response to a resolution adopted by the IAEA that censures Tehran for what the agency called lack of cooperation. "The head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran issued an order to take effective measures, including launching a significant series of new and advanced centrifuges of various types." The censure motion brought by Britain, France, Germany and the United States at the International Atomic Energy Agency's 35-nation board followed a similar one in June. But it comes with tensions running high over Iran's atomic programme, with critics fearing that Tehran is attempting to develop a nuclear weapon -- a claim the Islamic republic has repeatedly denied. The resolution -- which China, Russia and Burkina Faso voted against -- was carried with 19 votes in favour, 12 abstentions and Venezuela not participating, two diplomats told AFP. The confidential resolution seen by AFP says it is "essential and urgent" for Iran to "act to fulfil its legal obligations". The text also calls on Tehran to provide "technically credible explanations" for the presence of uranium particles found at two undeclared locations in Iran. In addition, Western powers are asking for a "comprehensive report" to be issued by the IAEA on Iran's nuclear efforts "at the latest" by spring 2025. The resolution comes just as the IAEA's head Rafael Grossi returned from a trip to Tehran last week, where he appeared to have made headway. During the visit, Iran agreed to an IAEA demand to cap its sensitive stock of near weapons-grade uranium enriched up to 60 percent purity. In 2015, Iran and world powers reached an agreement that involved the easing of international sanctions on Tehran in exchange for curbs on its nuclear programme to guarantee that Tehran could not develop a nuclear weapon -- something it has always denied seeking to do. But the United States unilaterally withdred from the accord in 2018 under then-president Donald Trump and reimposed biting economic sanctions, which prompted Iran to begin rolling back on its own commitments. Tehran has since significantly decreased its cooperation with the agency by deactivating surveillance devices monitoring the nuclear programme and barring UN inspectors. At the same time, it has ramped up its nuclear activities, including by increasing its stockpiles of enriched uranium and the level of enrichment to 60 percent. That level still falls short of the 90 percent plus level required for a nuclear warhead but is substantially higher than the 3.67 percent limit it agreed to in 2015. Denis Gorbunenko's lawyers will appeal the decision to impose sanctions in the UK Denis Gorbunenko's lawyers will appeal against the decision to include him in the sanctions list imposed by the United Kingdom. Mr. Gorbunenko categorically denies any wrongdoing and will vigorously contest the decision to include him on the sanctions list and has instructed UK lawyers to commence the process, the statement said. The lawyers emphasise that Denis Gorbunenko learnt from the media of his inclusion on the UK sanctions list on the 21st of November 2024. Mr. Gorbunenko had not received any prior notification of the decision to sanction him, nor was he given an opportunity to respond to the allegations. He has not been formally or properly notified of the detailed reasons for his sanction designation, the lawyers note. As a reminder, on 21 November the UK imposed sanctions on a number of individuals suspected of corruption. Among them is Denis Gorbunenko, who allegedly facilitated Firtash's corruption. Russia gave N. Korea anti-air missiles in exchange for troops: Seoul security chief Seoul, Nov 22 (AFP) Nov 22, 2024 Russia gave North Korea anti-air missiles in exchange for deploying troops to support Moscow's war in Ukraine, Seoul's top security advisor said Friday. The United States and South Korea have accused the nuclear-armed North of sending more than 10,000 soldiers to help Russia fight Ukraine, with experts saying Kim Jong Un was eager to gain advanced technology, and battle experience for his troops, in return. Asked what Seoul believes Pyongyang has received for the troops, top security advisor Shin Won-sik said: "It has been identified that equipment and anti-aircraft missiles aimed at reinforcing Pyonyang's vulnerable air defense system have been delivered to North Korea." Speaking to local broadcaster SBS, Shin added that North Korea has received "various forms of economic support" and "following the failure (launch) on May 27, North Korea has been working on satellite-related technology". Experts have previously said that in return for the troops, North Korea was likely aiming to acquire military technology, ranging from surveillance satellites to submarines, as well as possible security guarantees from Moscow. North Korean leader Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a strategic partnership treaty in June, during the Kremlin chief's visit. It obligates both states to provide military assistance "without delay" in the case of an attack on the other and to cooperate internationally to oppose Western sanctions. Putin hailed the deal as a "breakthrough document". Experts say Pyongyang could be using Ukraine as a means of realigning foreign policy. By sending soldiers, North Korea is positioning itself within the Russian war economy as a supplier of weapons, military support and labor -- potentially bypassing its traditional ally, neighbour and main trading partner, China, according to analysts. Russia can also provide North Korea access to its vast natural resources, such as oil and gas, they say. North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui recently visited Moscow and said her country would "stand firmly by our Russian comrades until victory day". She called Moscow's offensive against Ukraine a "sacred struggle" and said Pyongyang believed in Putin's "wise leadership". North Korea and Russia are under rafts of UN sanctions -- Kim for his nuclear weapons program, and Moscow for the Ukraine war. When asked publicly about the deployment of North Korean troops last month, Putin deflected the question to criticise the West's support of Ukraine. North Korea said last month that any troop deployment to Russia would be "an act conforming with the regulations of international law", but stopped short of confirming that it had sent soldiers. North Korea's deployment of troops has led to a shift in tone from Seoul, which has resisted calls to send lethal weapons to Kyiv, but recently indicated it might change its longstanding policy. Russia gave N. Korea oil, anti-air missiles in exchange for troops: officials Seoul, Nov 22 (AFP) Nov 22, 2024 Russia provided North Korea with oil, anti-air missiles and economic help in exchange for troops to support Moscow's war on Ukraine, government officials and a research group said Friday. The United States and South Korea have accused the nuclear-armed North of sending more than 10,000 soldiers to help Russia fight Ukraine, with experts saying Kim Jong Un was eager to gain advanced technology, and battle experience for his troops, in return. Asked what Seoul believes the North has received for the deployment, South Korea's top security advisor Shin Won-sik said: "It has been identified that equipment and anti-aircraft missiles aimed at reinforcing Pyongyang's vulnerable air defense system have been delivered to North Korea." Speaking to local broadcaster SBS, Shin added that North Korea has received "various forms of economic support". Separately, non-profit research group Open Source Centre said Pyongyang obtained oil shipments from Russia. It cited satellite images showing that more than a dozen North Korean oil tankers making a total of 43 trips to an oil terminal in Russia's ports over the last eight months, according to a BBC report. Pictures also showed empty tanks leaving almost full after arrival, the report said, quoting British Foreign Secretary David Lammy saying that the oil was payment for weapons and troops Pyongyang had sent to Moscow. - 'Breakthrough document' North Korean leader Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a strategic partnership treaty in June, during the Kremlin chief's visit. It obligates both states to provide military assistance "without delay" in the case of an attack on the other and to cooperate internationally to oppose Western sanctions. Putin hailed the deal as a "breakthrough document". Experts say Pyongyang could be using Ukraine as a means of realigning foreign policy. By sending soldiers, North Korea is positioning itself within the Russian war economy as a supplier of weapons, military support and labour -- potentially bypassing its traditional ally, neighbour and main trading partner, China, according to analysts. Russia can also give North Korea access to its vast natural resources, such as oil and gas, they say. North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui recently visited Moscow and said her country would "stand firmly by our Russian comrades until victory day". She called Moscow's offensive against Ukraine a "sacred struggle" and said Pyongyang believed in Putin's "wise leadership". North Korea and Russia are under rafts of UN sanctions -- Kim for his nuclear weapons programme, and Moscow for the Ukraine war. When asked publicly about the deployment of North Korean troops last month, Putin deflected the question to criticise the West's support of Ukraine. North Korea said last month that any troop deployment to Russia would be "an act conforming with the regulations of international law", but stopped short of confirming that it had sent soldiers. North Korea's deployment of troops has led to a shift in tone from Seoul, which has resisted calls to send lethal weapons to Kyiv, but recently indicated it might change its longstanding policy. NATO, Ukraine to meet Tuesday over Russian missile strike Brussels, Belgium, Nov 22 (AFP) Nov 22, 2024 NATO and Ukraine will hold talks next week in Brussels over Russia's firing of an experimental hypersonic intermediate-range missile, diplomats said on Friday. Ambassadors from countries in the NATO-Ukraine Council will meet on Tuesday to discuss the strike on the city of Dnipro, officials told AFP. Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday Moscow had hit Ukraine using a new-generation intermediate-range missile -- which he hinted was capable of unleashing a nuclear payload. A spokeswoman for NATO said: "Deploying this capability will neither change the course of the conflict nor deter NATO allies from supporting Ukraine." Putin said in an address to the nation the missile strike was in response to Ukraine firing long-range weapons supplied by the United States and Britain into Russia. The Kremlin leader also warned that Moscow felt "entitled" to hit military facilities in countries that allow Ukraine to use their weapons against Russia. Ukraine recently fired US- and UK-supplied longer-range missiles at Russian territory for the first time, ramping up already sky-high tensions over the conflict, which is nearly in its third year. Leading NATO power the United States accused Russia of "escalating at every turn" in Ukraine. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow informed Washington, via an automatic nuclear de-escalation hotline, that it was launching the hypersonic missile half an hour before it was fired. Putin says will carry out more Oreshnik missile tests in combat Moscow, Nov 22 (AFP) Nov 22, 2024 Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday that Moscow would carry out more tests of the hypersonic Oreshnik ballistic missile in "combat conditions," a day after firing one on Ukraine. "We will continue these tests, including in combat conditions, depending on the situation and character of the security threats posted to Russia," Putin said in a televised meeting with military chiefs. Russia fired the new-generation missile at the Ukrainian city of Dnipro early Thursday in a major escalation of the weaponry being deployed in the nearly three-year conflict. The Kremlin boss also ordered the missile, which flies at speeds of Mach 10 -- 10 times the speed of sound -- to be put into serial production. Russia is developing similar advanced systems, he added. "We need to begin serial production. The decision... has in effect been taken," Putin said, praising the "particular strength of this weapon and its power. "The weapon system that was tested yesterday is another faithful guarantee of Russia's territorial integrity and sovereignty," he added. Putin claimed no other countries in the world had such missile technology. While he conceded other states would soon develop them, he said: "That will be tomorrow, after a year or two. But we have this system now. That's important." His choreographed meeting with the defence minister and those in charge of developing the missile came at the end of a week that has seen the Ukraine conflict escalate rapidly. Putin said the firing of the Oreshnik missile was a direct response to Kyiv's forces using US- and UK-supplied missiles on Russian territory for the first time. In an address to the nation on Thursday, Putin said Russia reserved the right to fire missiles at military facilities in countries whose weapons are being used by Ukraine -- specifically the United States and Britain. Eleven-storey building toppled as Israel keeps up Lebanon strikes Beirut, Lebanon, Nov 22 (AFP) Nov 22, 2024 Air strikes hit south Beirut on Friday, crumpling an 11-storey building, as Israel kept up its deadly bombardment of strongholds of Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. The Lebanese health ministry said Israeli strikes in the south of the country killed five Hezbollah-affiliated paramedics. The World Health Organization said 226 health workers and patients have been killed in Lebanon since Israel and Hezbollah began exchanging fire in October last year. The state-run National News Agency (NNA) said Israeli warplanes carried out successive rounds of strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs from early morning until evening, including on two buildings closer to the city centre. AFPTV footage showed plumes of smoke over the southern suburbs. NNA said Israeli strikes also hit multiple targets in south Lebanon, after the Israeli military issued warnings for part of the coastal city of Tyre and other areas. The Israeli military said the air force struck Hezbollah targets around Tyre "including command centres, intelligence infrastructure, weapons storage facilities" and an observation post, and "completed a series of strikes on Hezbollah terrorist command centres" in south Beirut. An AFP photographer captured the moment a missile struck an 11-storey building housing shops, a gym and apartments on a usually busy street in south Beirut's Shiyah district. The impact sparked a fireball and caused the structure to collapse in on itself, littering the street with debris. In south Lebanon, NNA said Israeli troops entered the village of Deir Mimas, around 2.5 kilometres (1.5 miles) from the border, for the first time. "Enemy reconnaissance aircraft" were flying over the village, warning people "not to leave their homes", it said. Most of the village's population had already fled. Hezbollah said its fighters targeted Israeli soldiers around Deir Mimas with rockets and artillery. The Israeli army has been seeking to advance at several points along the border, most prominently in the town of Khiam, where Hezbollah said it repeatedly attacked troops on Friday. More than 11 months of cross-border fire between Israel and Hezbollah over the Gaza conflict escalated into full-scale war in September, with Israel conducting an intensive bombing campaign, primarily targeting Hezbollah strongholds, and sending ground troops into southern Lebanon. lar/lg/kir Ukraine seeking new air-defence systems after latest Russian strike: Zelensky Kyiv, Ukraine, Nov 22 (AFP) Nov 22, 2024 Ukraine is asking its Western partners for updated air defence systems after Russia fired an ultra-fast ballistic missile at the city of Dnipro this week, President Volodymyr Zelensky said Friday. Russia has boasted its new "Oreshnik" hypersonic missile is unstoppable by air defences and has no equivalent anywhere in the world. "Ukraine's defence minister is already holding meetings with our partners on new air defence systems -- exactly the kind of systems that can protect lives from new risks," Zelensky said in an evening video address published on social media. Russia's launch of the missile was the latest dramatic escalation in the conflict after Kyiv earlier this week fired shorter-range US and UK-supplied missiles onto Russian territory for the first time. Zelensky also called out Moscow's key ally China for its response to Moscow's new missile, which experts say can likely be equipped with a nuclear warhead and fly several thousand kilometres. China's foreign ministry said "all parties should remain calm and exercise restraint." In his evening address, Zelensky said: "From Russia, this is a mockery of the position of states such as China, states of the Global South, some leaders who call for restraint every time." "The world must sound serious in its response, so that Putin is really afraid of expanding the war and feels the real consequences of his actions," he added. Kyiv relies on Western weapons to defend against the Russian invasion, launched almost three years ago. Moscow, however, has said the use of Western arms against Russian territory makes NATO countries direct participants in the conflict, and that military sites on their territory legitimate targets for retaliatory strikes. Both sides are hurrying to secure a battlefield advantage before Donald Trump is inaugurated as US president in January. Trump has said that he can broker a peace deal in hours, though has provided no details on his plan, and repeatedly criticised American aid to Ukraine. What we know about Russia's Oreshnik missile fired on Ukraine Moscow, Nov 22 (AFP) Nov 22, 2024 The new intermediate-range ballistic missile called Oreshnik used by Russia in a strike on Ukraine is a nuclear-capable weapon that had not been previously mentioned in public. In an unscheduled television appearance on Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the strike on the city of Dnipro had tested in combat conditions "one of the newest Russian mid-range missile systems". He said missile engineers had christened the missile Oreshnik, or hazel tree, in Russian. Putin said it had been deployed "in a non-nuclear hypersonic configuration", and that the "test" had been successful and had hit its target. On Friday he said future tests would be carried out, including in "combat conditions", and ordered Oreshnik be put into serial production. - Speed - Air defences cannot intercept the Oreshnik, which attacks at a speed of Mach 10, or 2.5-3 kilometres (1.6-1.9 miles) per second, Putin said. Hypersonic missiles travel at speeds of at least Mach 5 -- five times the speed of sound -- and can manoeuvre mid-flight, making them harder to track and intercept. "Modern air defence systems... cannot intercept such missiles. That's impossible," Putin said. "As of today there are no means of counteracting such a weapon," the president boasted. Ukraine's GUR military intelligence wrote on Telegram that the missile took 15 minutes to fly from the Kapustin Yar range in the Astrakhan region to the city of Dnipro, a distance of around 800 kilometres (490 miles), reaching a final speed of over Mach 11. - Warheads - The Oreshnik missile could have three to six warheads, military expert Viktor Baranets wrote in the Komsomolskaya Pravda tabloid. Ukraine's GUR said it had six. Igor Korotchenko, editor of the Moscow-based National Defence journal, told the TASS state news agency that based on video footage of the strike, Oreshnik has multiple independently guided warheads. In this case they were conventional, but it could also carry nuclear warheads, military experts said. The "practically simultaneous arrival of the warheads at the target" shows the system is "very effective", Korotchenko said, calling it a "masterpiece of modern Russian solid-fuel military missile construction". - Range - Putin described the missile in Russian as "medium-range" but Russian military experts said the English term would be "intermediate-range". An intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) has a range of 1,000-5,500 kilometres, a level below that of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). Sergey Karakayev, the commander of Russia's Strategic Rocket Forces -- which controls its nuclear arsenal and intercontinental ballistic missile programme -- said Friday that Oreshnik can hit targets "throughout Europe". Military expert Ilya Kramnik told the Izvestia newspaper that Oreshnik's range could be at the top end of intermediate, around 3,000 to 5,000 kilometres. "In any case we witnessed the first combat use in history by Russia of an intermediate-range missile," Dmitry Kornev, editor of Military Russia website, told Izvestia. - Origins - Putin said Friday that Oreshnik was "not a modernisation of an old, Soviet system," but a "modern, state-of the art" device. The US Department of Defense described Oreshnik as an "experimental" missile based on Russia's RS-26 Rubezh ICBM. Little is known about Rubezh, a modification of Topol ICBM. The head of Russia's Strategic Rocket Forces said the missile, a "ground-based medium-range system", had been constructed based on an order from Putin issued in July 2023. The head of Ukraine's GUR military intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, said his agency knew of just two prototypes of the missile, although there could be slightly more, and the weapon is "not yet in serial production". Russian weapons expert Yan Matveyev wrote on Telegram that Oreshnik probably had two stages and would be "quite expensive" and heavy, with mass production unlikely. Putin said Friday that Russia had a "stockpile" of them and ordered the missile be put into "serial production." - Threat - Both Putin and missile forces commander Karakayev said Oreshnik could be as powerful as a nuclear strike if deployed alongside other conventional long-range weapons. "The mass use of such a type of such weapon will be comparable to the use of a nuclear weapon," Karakayev said in a televised meeting. Putin bragged that no other countries possess a missile like Oreshnik and that it was impervious both to current and future air defence systems. The United States and the Soviet Union in 1987 signed a treaty agreeing to give up all use of missiles with a range of 500 to 5,500 kilometres. Both Washington and Moscow withdrew from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty in 2019, each accusing the other of violations. Putin said Thursday that Russia will "address the question of further deployment of intermediate and shorter-range missiles based on the actions of the United States and its satellites". Photo: https://www.facebook.com/president.gov.ua/ Tamila Tasheva, Permanent Representative of the President of Ukraine to the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, says that people in the Russia-occupied Crimea understand that at the moment Ukraine has no opportunity to return the peninsula by military means. "Reactions can be different, of course, in Crimea. But people also understand that at the moment, right now, we don't have such opportunities. When we have such opportunities, we will need to focus on the situation," Tasheva said on the air of the national telethon on Friday, answering the question of how people in Crimea reacted to the president's statement on the diplomatic way to return the peninsula. She stressed that Ukraine has never stopped attempts to return Crimea to politics - through diplomacy, in particular, the Crimea Platform is working. "Of course, and we all understand this, we are looking at what is happening on the battlefield, we do not have the opportunity now, and this is what the president says, to go and retake Crimea head-on in a military way. Of course, we use all kinds of asymmetric measures, including with regard to Crimea," Tasheva added. As previously reported, in an interview with Fox News, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine could not spend tens of thousands of people to die for the return of Crimea, and the peninsula could be returned diplomatically. Sweden to finance production of Ukrainian drones under Danish model Sweden will finance production of Ukrainian long-range drones based on Danish model. The corresponding agreement was reached during a meeting between Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov and Swedish Defense Minister Pal Jonson, the press service of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry reports. "This is another step towards strengthening Ukraine's defense capability, demonstrating our partners' trust in our military-industrial potential," Umerov emphasized. The parties also discussed plans for financing assistance to Ukraine in 2025. "We are working to ensure that this support is even greater and meets the real needs of our defenders, male and female," the minister commented. The issue of equipping Ukrainian brigades was also discussed. Umerov indicated that the Ministry of Defense is finalizing agreements with Nordic partners. 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 It follows the death of 28-year-old lawyer Simone White, from Orpington, on Thursday, 19-year-old Bianca Jones, also from Australia who was travelling with Bowles, a 56-year-old American and two Danish women, aged 19 and 20. We should, therefore, I think, be more willing to consider what a peace deal might look like. Any deal that would deny Ukraine defence supplies for the future and economic aid for reconstruction is not viable. No, just no. But equivocation about territory in the disputed Russian occupied eastern regions for instance, joint Russian-Ukraine citizenship for residents of Russian-speaking territory could be on the table. Most importantly, we could and should also be willing to guarantee that for the foreseeable future Ukraine would not be admitted to Nato membership. At a peace conference in Istanbul in April, 2022, Russia demanded that Ukraine would have to accept permanent neutrality in return for international security guarantees underwritten by the five permanent members of the UN security council. But no Nato troops on Ukrainian territory. This might have been all it took to see off the Russian invasion in the first place. I have started a company called Move for Your Mind, encouraging exercise for mental health, rather than weight loss. Walking is by a mile my favourite fitness activity, but I dont feel safe doing it by myself at night after work, which is when I most need it. Most women I know feel the same, so I decided to throw an event at Racket NYC, in Chelsea, where we had a member of the Secret Service come and teach hundreds of us some basic self-defence, then we all went for a long, late-night walk. We went uptown on the High Line, crossed over to Hudson River Park, then went just past the Vessel and continued down all the way to Little Island. Hundreds of women, empowered, having the most fun pounding the pavements. I realised it was the first time Ive ever felt truly, fully safe on a walk and it allowed me to relax and take in the city. Isabella Wheildons body was found in a pushchair at the address in Sidegate Lane, Ipswich, on June 30 last year, though it is believed she died four days earlier and her mother and then-partner had continued to wheel her body around in a buggy. David Gaimster, chief executive of the South Australian Museum in Adelaide where the pieces will go on show, said bringing it halfway across the globe for Australian audiences to see is something its original owners could scarcely have imagined. The bill, which is currently making its way through parliament, is set to ban so-called bidding wars but campaigners such as ACORN Southwark have argued that the ending of the practice cant come soon enough amid the cost of living crisis. Ruth Davis, the UKs nature envoy, said: Urgent action is needed to address the nature and climate crisis we cannot tackle one crisis while ignoring the other. Global co-operation is vital to improve the health and resilience of our planet for future generations. Use of new missile by Russia, possible allies response to be discussed at emergency meeting of Ukraine-NATO Council The topic of the extraordinary meeting of the Ukraine-NATO Council will be informing the Ukrainian side about Russia's use of a new missile in the war against Ukraine and the possible reaction of the allies to this. The relevant information was confirmed to the Interfax-Ukraine agency at the headquarters of the alliance on Friday. The meeting will be held at the level of ambassadors-permanent representatives of the member countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization on November 26. It is expected that a briefing on the current situation will be held via video link from Kyiv, followed by a discussion of the possible reaction from the allies. The UK is believed to have allowed its Storm Shadow missiles to be used by Ukrainian forces within the Kursk region of Russia, while the US has given permission for its ATACMS weapons to be fired at targets in Mr Putins country. She added: What Italy is looking at with Albania is being able to take those fast-track decisions. So it is just for predominantly safe countries, in Albania, now they have been working to make sure that they are compliant with international law, and they do have the UNHCR overseeing the work that they are doing. tado has advised one way to save on heating costs is choosing the right home temperature. The recommended temperatures are between 18 and 21C in living rooms and bedrooms, and around 22 in bathrooms. However, temperatures can be lowered at night or when no one is home. A smartphone app by the company allows households to control temperatures. Duong Duc Toan, the manager of the Nana Backpacker Hostel, told the AP the day before he was detained that the two women had joined other guests for free shots of Laotian vodka on the night in question, before heading elsewhere and returning in the early hours of the morning. "We have already gone as far as possible with the United States with negotiations, and what we ended up confirming was not a superpower's will for coexistence, but a thorough position based on force and an unchangeable invasive and hostile policy" toward North Korea, he said. Clues including that he reported his passport lost or stolen and obtained a new one a few months before he disappeared led investigators to speculate that he made it appear that he had drowned to go meet a woman he had been communicating with in Uzbekistan. The UK is believed to have allowed its Storm Shadow missiles to be used by Ukrainian forces within the Kursk region of Russia, while the US has given permission for its ATACMS weapons to be fired at targets in Putins country. This is the first time we've been able to really, like, talk about it so I think that we're both sort of reliving and rehashing all the things that we've been through and journey we've been on. So we can't help people get very emotional. Photo: MFA of Ukraine Russia's attack on Ukraine with a new experimental ballistic missile is a serious scaling up of the war and a serious escalation of aggression, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha has said Friday. "This is a serious scaling of war, a serious escalation. This is an increase in risks for our civilian population. And certainly, it is also a serious challenge to the overall transatlantic security. That is why we have already called a meeting in the Ukraine-NATO format. We have scheduled the date. It is Tuesday next week," he told a joint press conference with his Czech counterpart in Kyiv. According to the minister, by that time Ukraine will try to collect evidence and conduct the necessary research in order to present Ukrainian "vision and assessments of both the consequences and the nature of the weapons used in the strike" to the allies. Photo: https://www.mev.gov.ua/novyna/dopomoha-yaponiyi-ta-proon-odesa-i-kharkiv-otrymaly-vazhlyve-dlya-prokhodzhennya-zymy The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Government of Japan, in coordination with Ukraine's Ministry of Energy, have supplied critical energy equipment to the Ukrainian cities of Kharkiv and Odesa. This support aims to enhance the cities' critical infrastructure amidst ongoing Russian attacks on Ukraines energy sector. "We thank UNDP and the Japanese government for this support, which will better meet the needs of Kharkiv and Odesa residents. The additional generating equipment will strengthen the reliability of electricity and heating supply this winter," stated Ukrainian Energy Minister Herman Haluschenko in a ministry press release. Kharkiv received 15 frequency-controlled drives and a powerful gas turbine, essential for its infrastructure. Meanwhile, Odesa will install two gas-powered cogeneration units, which, along with two previously delivered units, will cover approximately 50% of the city's critical energy needs. Additionally, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is providing 32 generators to support water supply systems. Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, during a recent visit to Kyiv, announced plans to deliver more energy equipment to Ukraine, thanking UNDP and JICA for Japan's assistance in providing such assistance to Ukrainian cities. According to UNDP Deputy Representative Christoforos Politis, strengthening Ukraine's energy sector remains a top priority of the programme within the framework of which, thanks to a strategic partnership with the Government of Japan, Ukraine received critical energy equipment that provided electricity to more than 6 million people. To date, Japan through the mediation of UNDP has supplied Ukraine with 2,361 units of generators and charging stations with a combined capacity of 25.6 MW, along with three gas turbines and four autotransformers. Minister of culture, Raluca Turcan, on Friday said that the inauguration of the Oriental Art Gallery, which opened its doors to the general public on Friday, represents a commitment that has been met, while she was also emphasising that we must be proud of our country's cultural heritage every day, inform agerpres.ro. "The creation of this new permanent exhibition is the result of a community effort in which museographers, restorers, technicians and management staff from the museum were involved on the one hand, and on the other hand, a series of partners, sponsors and donors who joined the project over time and whom I want to thank from the bottom of my heart!" Turcan said on Friday in a post on her Facebook page. The minister added that "we must be proud every day of our country's cultural heritage and enjoy this international dialogue that MNAR (National Museum of Art of Romania) creates with the rest of the world through the Oriental Art Gallery and the European Decorative Art Gallery, which were conceived as a single exhibition dedicated to decorative arts." The Oriental Art Gallery includes almost 600 art objects from Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, China, Dagestan, Egypt, Greece, India, Iran, Japan, Syria, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, selected from the most important and valuable oriental art heritage in the country, managed by the National Museum of Art of Romania. In the space dedicated to Islamic art, pieces made between the 7th and 20th centuries are exhibited, which reveal the mutual influence of artistic practices, such as epigraphic decoration and the alternation between arabesque-type and geometric vegetal elements. Islamic art reflects the presence of common features in terms of artistic conception and the repertoire of decorative motifs, both in sacred and secular art objects: carpets, costumes, embroideries, ceramics, metal objects, weapons and armour. In the hall presenting the art of China, remarkable works of millennial cultural traditions are presented, offering an overview of the evolution of artistic genres from the end of the Ming dynasty (1368-1644) and the Qing dynasty (1644-1912) to the first half of the 20th century. The selection of paintings, sculptures, textiles as well as pieces of ceramics, jade, cloisonne and lacquer illustrate the various styles of court art and art of popular influence. The rooms dedicated to Japanese art present defining objects of Japanese culture from the 17th to 20th centuries, from the Edo, Meiji and Taisho eras: paintings on silk and paper, sculptures, bronze vessels, ceramics, ivory pieces exhibited alongside the famous samurai armour of the tosei gusoku type. Polychrome woodcut, one of the major creations of art in the Edo era, is illustrated by important works by masters active at the end of the 18th and beginning of the 19th centuries, including Utamaro, Hokusai, Hiroshige, Kunisada and Kuniyoshi. The presentation of this section concludes with a unique construction in the country, the tea ceremony room. Train IR16001 consisting of Sageata Rosie 1 Coradia Stream left Friday morning, at 5:40, from Bucharest North to Brasov, according to the schedule, according to the information provided to AGERPRES by the Railway Reform Authority (ARF). At 8:43, the first set of the 37 purchased with the help of non-reimbursable European funds by the Romanian state, through ARF, will return to Bucharest North, as IR16002. "Following the completion of all checks carried out by Alstom specialists, the company confirms that the Coradia Stream train is fully functional and can run at optimal parameters. As a result, the train will re-enter commercial service, according to the operator's timetable," the representatives of Alstom company informed. On Thursday morning, the new train was cancelled, due to some errors displayed by the on-board computer, the passengers being rescheduled for the next train, according to ARF. "The new train had to be canceled this morning following errors displayed by the on-board computer which did not reset in time, after towing to the depot and disconnecting the shunting locomotive. Passengers were redirected to the next scheduled train at 30 minutes later," ARF representatives declared. For their part, the representatives of the Alstom company stated that the Coradia Stream train is fully functional, but because error messages regarding some functions appeared on the on-board computer, when the train was disconnected from the shunting locomotive, the decision was made that the train should remain in the depot. "After the successful completion of the inaugural run, when the train was disconnected from the shunting locomotive, error messages regarding some functions appeared on the on-board computer. The train is fully functional, but given the priority given by Alstom to passenger safety above however, we decided to keep the train in the depot, to carry out additional activities in order to confirm the functionalities and safety. The Alstom teams are fully mobilized to evaluate the causes and define the appropriate measures. The company's objective is to return the train to commercial service as soon as possible and to comply with commercial commitments," they said in a statement sent to AGERPRES. CFR Calatori put into circulation, as of Wednesday, the first electric train made of new rolling stock, the RE-IR TS02 Alstom Coradia Stream frame. The frame is allocated for operation to the national operator CFR Calatori by the Railway Reform Authority, the de facto owner of the Alstom trains purchased for Romania. Moreover, CFR Calatori is the railway operator selected to operate the first 12 trains out of the 37. The Coradia Stream model is the first train supplied by the manufacturing company Alstom Ferroviaria S.p.A. for rail passenger transport in Romania, within the purchase contract concluded and carried out by ARF. CFR Calatori operates the Alstom electric frame on the route Bucharest North - Ploiesti West - the stations on Valea Prahovei - Brasov as an Interregio train and with a tariff related to this class of train, according to the public services contract concluded by the company with ARF. Romania will achieve full Schengen accession as of 1 January 2025, prime minister Marcel Ciolacu, who is currently paying an working visit to Budapest, where he held a one-to-one meeting with his Hungarian counterpart, Viktor Orban, stated on Friday. "Romania and Hungary are working together to strengthen their bilateral relationship, as well as on files of interest at the European level. (...) I would like to thank, in particular, prime minister Viktor Orban for his constant support regarding Romania's full accession to the Schengen Area. And I also congratulate the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union for the work carried out during this period, but especially for the fact that it has constantly kept the Schengen issue on the table. Romanians have already felt the benefits of a partial entry into the Schengen Area, since this is something very tangible, but Romanian and Hungarian economic growth will be boosted once full accession is achieved. And the fact that Romania will take over the protection of the partial borders of the European Union will also have a positive impact on Hungary," Ciolacu emphasised, during a joint press conference with Orban. According to him, the strategy agreed upon, including with the Hungarian PM, regarding Romania's full accession to Schengen "has borne fruit." "I am glad that the strategy decided a few months ago, including together with prime minister Orban, has borne fruit and we are managing to tick our objectives today. A few days ago, I had a telephone conversation with the chancellor of Austria, Mr. Nehammer, and I told him that Romania fully assumes responsibility for the protection of the external borders of the European Union. We also reached an agreement at the level of the interior ministers, today, through the four states involved, who are present here in Budapest, and I would like to thank all the teams involved in this negotiation. Considering all these concrete things, after 13 years, Romania will achieve full accession to Schengen as of January 1, 2025," Marcel Ciolacu said. The Romanian high official also discussed the situation in Ukraine with his Hungarian counterpart. "The context remains very difficult. While the war continues to claim lives, we all see the attack on Ukrainian energy infrastructure unfolding as well. However, it is important to speak with one voice and to send a common message that we need to get involved together in the conflict in Ukraine. In the coming weeks, we will experience a new strategic reality in the Union, with the start of US president Trump's second term, as well as with the very dynamic entry into office of the new (European) Commission. And, with all these happening, Romania remains your important partner in the region. We want to work together, constructively, with you, with Hungary, for the best regional solutions that guarantee both security and regional prosperity," PM Ciolacu added. He highlighted that, starting next year, when the elections will also be over in Romania, pragmatic cooperation is needed "for economic growth, for social peace and for a feeling in society based on the fact that leaders are focused on solutions." "Regarding the new strategic reality, as you well know, I had a recent discussion with president Trump. And I think it is very important that, next year, when the elections will also be over in Romania and we will get out of the political logic of the campaign, we focus on the important things. We must work pragmatically for economic growth, for social peace and for a feeling in society based on the fact that leaders are focused on solutions," Ciolacu also declared. He also thanked the leader of the UDMR (Democratic Union of Hungarians of Romania), Kelemen Hunor, for his direct involvement, as a link, between the prime ministers of Romania and Hungary, but also between the two countries. The visit to Budapest of a delegation led by PM Marcel Ciolacu takes place in the context in which Hungary holds, until December 31, the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union, having a decisive role in supporting the European agenda of expanding the Schengen Area. The Romanian delegation includes the minister of interior, Catalin Predoiu, the minister of foreign affairs, Luminita Odobescu, the minister of transport and infrastructure, Sorin Grindeanu, the honorary advisor to the prime minister and vice-president of the European Parliament, Victor Negrescu, and the chair of the UDMR, Kelemen Hunor. The General Directorate of Personal Records of the Municipality of Bucharest announces the work schedule with the public for the issuance of identity documents necessary for voting, the activity will also take place on Saturdays and Sundays, in the next three weeks, in the context of the presidential and parliamentary elections. "Do you want to express your vote in the elections for the President of Romania, respectively for the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies? Check if your identity document is within the validity period, and if it has expired, request a new identity document at the local community public service for the record of the persons in whose territorial radius you reside," the Capital City Hall informs. The City Hall of the Municipality of Bucharest, through the General Directorate of Registration of Persons of the Municipality of Bucharest, guides and coordinates the activity of the local community public services for registration of persons of sectors 1 - 6 and ensures the optimal conditions necessary for the conduct of the electoral process, supporting the citizens of the Municipality of Bucharest to and exercise the right to vote, by issuing documents of identity as a result of the expiration, loss, theft or damage of the previously owned ones, according to the following work schedule with the public: * between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.: on November 23, November 30 and December 7 (Saturday) * between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.: on November 24, December 1 and December 8 (Sunday) The identity card is issued to the Romanian citizen on the basis of his written request and the documents with which, according to the law, proof of the surname and first name, date of birth, civil status, Romanian citizenship and home address or residence address is provided, as the case may be, it is shown in a press release sent to AGERPRES. For issuing and producing an identity card is 7 RON and is paid as follows: * Public Directorate of Personal Registration and Civil Status Sector 1 - online on the website Ghiseul.ro/ bank transfer/ Internet Banking (the receipt representing the value of the identity card will be presented at the counter), physically at Banks, Post Offices to the account: RO05TREZ70121330208XXXXX CUI: 12293095 or to: - General Directorate of Taxes and Local Taxes Sector 1 (Amzei Square no. 13, Sector 1, Bucharest); - Tax and Local Tax Centers Sector 1; - Bucharest District 1 City Hall (Bd. Banu Manta no. 9, District 1, Bucharest). * Public Directorate of Personal Records and Civil Status, Sector 2 - at all post offices within sector 2; by SMS, calling the short number 7530, with the text (S2CI7 for CI and S2CI1 for CIP) followed by CNP; * General Directorate of Personal Records, Sector 3 - at the counters of the personal registration offices; * General Directorate of Registration of Persons Sector 4 - at all post offices within the radius of sector 4 and the General Directorate of Taxes and Local Taxes Sector 4, as well as online, on its own website (www.deps4.ro); * Directorate of Personal Records Sector 5 - at all post offices, at CEC Bank branches within sector 5, the General Directorate of Taxes and Local Taxes Sector 5, as well as by SMS, calling the short number 7530. * Local Directorate of Personal Registration Sector 6 - online (ghiseu.ro; eSector6; bank transfer), physical (at the counters of personal registration offices; SelfPey terminals; Westaco; Posta Romana). In the situation where the applicant cannot present all the necessary documents for the issuance of the identity card, a provisional identity card (CIP) will be issued, in which case 2 photos and the fee of 1 leu will be submitted, paid in the same way as in the case of identity cards. Romania will enter the Schengen Area with its land borders on January 1, 2025, leader of the UDMR (Democratic Union of Hungarians of Romania), Kelemen Hunor, stated on Friday, while adding that he is happy to be part of such the decision, inform agerpres.ro. "The decision has been taken today in Budapest and Romania will enter the Schengen Area with its land borders on January 1, which is an extraordinary thing. We have worked for this result for years. After 13 years, justice is being done and we can travel without being controlled at the border. The economy will grow, it is an extraordinary thing, and I am happy to be part of the decision," said Kelemen Hunor, in a video message posted on Facebook. The UDMR leader is part of the delegation accompanying PM Marcel Ciolacu on Friday, on his visit to Budapest, in the context in which Hungary holds, until December 31, the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union, playing a decisive role in supporting the European agenda of expanding the Schengen Area. General Staff reports over 118 combat clashed at front since midnight, most in Donetsk region Photo: https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua A total of 118 combat clashes have been recorded along the front line since the beginning of the day and as of 4 p.m. on Friday. The Russian occupation forces have been most active on the Pokrovsk, Kurakhove and Vremiv axes, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) has said. "Our defenders are stopping the enemy, holding the lines and ruining the plans of the Russians," it said on Facebook. On the Pokrovsk axis, there were 29 combat clashes, five of which are ongoing in the areas of Myroliubivka, Sukhy Yar, Petrivka and Pustynka. On the Kurakhove axis, eleven assaults were repulsed, another ten battles are ongoing. On the Vremiv axis, 14 attacks have already been repulsed, nine are still ongoing. The aggressor increased the number of attacks to twelve on the Lyman axis, one battle is still ongoing there. On the Kramatorsk axis, Ukrainian defenders are repelling an enemy attack in the Stupochky area. On the Toretsk axis, the invader attacked three times in the area of Toretsk, two attacks were repulsed, and one more battle is ongoing. On the Kursk axis, Ukrainian military also repel 19 enemy attacks. On the Kharkiv axis, the enemy stormed the positions of our defenders two times in the area of Vovchansk. On the Kupyansk axis, the enemy tried to advance to the Ukrainian positions near Zeleny Hai, there is one ongoing battle in the area. On the Prydniprovsky axis, the Ukrainian defenders repelled three enemy assaults. The concept of "Society 5.0" can be seen as "a source of inspiration for countries like Romania, in their digital transformation," said Japanese professor Atsushi Deguchi, executive director and vice president at the University of Tokyo (UTokyo), a specialist in urban design and planning, in an exclusive interview with AGERPRES on Thursday. This concept, which aims for a better life for each individual, who becomes a "co-creator" in smart city projects, "aims to solve social problems and contribute to economic growth at the same time," explained the professor, author of the book "Society 5.0: A People-centric Super-smart Society" (2020). "Society 5.0 is a vision of a future society driven by the development of science and technology, also known as a 'super-intelligent society.' This vision aims to solve social problems and contribute to economic growth at the same time. In order to achieve this, it is important to use advanced technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), AI, 'big data' (large and complex data sets - editor's note) and robotics to create new values optimized for the needs of individuals and organizations," explained Atsushi Deguchi, who led the master plan for the new Kyushu University campus, the "Island City" project in Fukuoka and the "Kashiwanoha Smart City" project, achievements for which he received numerous awards. The concept of Society 5.0 can be seen as a source of inspiration for countries such as Romania, as part of their digital transformation, according to the specialist. Thus, to promote inclusive development, given that "the vision of Society 5.0 does not only refer to urban areas, but also to rural development," as the professor noted, the concept "can be applied to Romania's policy of using digital technology to revitalize rural industries and reduce inequalities in education." At the same time, the approach is citizen-centered, with the introduction of technology being seen as a priority for improving the life of the individual. "Examples include improved access to healthcare and more efficient urban services through smart city projects," Deguchi specified. In this regard, the specialist underscored the importance of public-private partnerships. "The successful implementation of Society 5.0 depends on collaboration between the Government, the private sector and academic institutions to drive policy and technological development. This approach will be a guiding principle to further capitalise on Romania's highly skilled IT workforce and start-up culture," the professor said. "The Society 5.0 model is not limited to a specific country or region and can be applied at different scales. It can be used as a framework for designing digital solutions tailored to local needs in Romania," he noted. One of the projects of Atsushi Deguchi, an urban planning researcher and a practitioner in urban design who works on smart city research to integrate Society 5.0 principles, is the construction of a smart city in the Kashiwanoha district of Chiba Prefecture, where the Kashiwa campus of the University of Tokyo is located. "Japanese cities are facing a series of challenges, such as population aging, industrial development and energy issues, while at the same time not having fully adopted digital and advanced technologies. In order to overcome these challenges and to achieve a sustainable and comfortable urban lifestyle, I am deeply interested in the Society 5.0 model and smart cities," said the professor, who is general coordinator of this project called "Kashiwanoha Smart City," located about 50 kilometres from Tokyo. Asked how such a model could be adjusted to fit Romanian cities, such as Bucharest or Cluj-Napoca, and to address local challenges such as urban congestion or energy efficiency, the Japanese specialist underscored the importance of implementing appropriate technologies and processes, taking into account the specific challenges and characteristics of the area. Regarding the improvement of urban traffic, the professor recalled the importance of introducing smart mobility and optimizing the urban structure. "In Kashiwanoha, shared mobility and automated shuttle buses are being tested. In Bucharest and Cluj-Napoca, the introduction of real-time traffic control and sharing services based on traffic data will also contribute to reducing congestion," he said. At the same time, "decentralized urban development and compact city strategies can reduce transport demand by locating residential, commercial and public facilities in close proximity," added Deguchi. In terms of improving energy efficiency, the specialist recommended introducing an Energy Management System (EMS) and transforming buildings into "smarter structures." "In Kashiwa-no-ha, we introduced a system for regulating energy supply and demand across the entire region. Following this example, an EMS combined with solar power generation and battery storage could be implemented in cities in Romania to improve energy efficiency. And by introducing building energy efficiency standards and promoting IoT-based energy management, existing infrastructure can be adapted," he explained. In implementing these measures, Deguchi drew attention to the importance of a process that takes into account local design, especially by "integrating cultural and social elements." "In Romanian cities, smart technologies must be applied while preserving historic buildings and local communities. Co-design with local voices is important," he said. At the same time, the specialist recalled that it is essential to have "a system in which the city and the surrounding rural areas can be interdependent from an energetic point of view, emphasising at the same time the importance of "harmony between the urban and the natural environment," like it's happening in Kashiwanoha. Asked how the concept of Society 5.0 can provide a solution to the urban-rural divide, a problem faced by both Romania and other countries, including Japan, the professor explained the essential role of telemedicine, by using AI and IoT to allow people living in isolated areas to have access to medical services at home, but also of smart agriculture, which can increase productivity in rural areas. At the same time, he recalled the importance of digitizing education - online education platforms can guarantee that students in rural areas have access to the same quality of education and the same opportunities as their urban counterparts - but also the introduction of automated shuttle buses in areas with limited transportation options. Citizen participation is essential for the success of smart cities, in the vision of Society 5.0. To involve communities, Deguchi recommends the "living lab." "Local residents know the local problems best, so it is necessary to promote smart cities with the participation of local people," he said. "The 'living lab' is a place where citizens, government, businesses, researchers and various other stakeholders can collaborate to co-create new technologies, services and solutions to the problems of their community. We support the creation of 'living labs' in the communities where smart cities are being built," the professor emphasised. ST. LOUIS A federal grand jury on Wednesday indicted the owner of a local home health care company with defrauding the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the Missouri Medicaid program out of more than $800,000. Natavia Boyd-Wells, 40, was charged with four counts of wire fraud and two counts of making false statements. Documents say she falsely claimed her company, Touch of the Heart Home Health Care LLC, provided home care services to people who were actually in the hospital. She also claimed to the veterans affairs department that some of her patients received more than 24 hours of care in a single day. Missouri Medicaid paid at least $197,022 to a bank account run by Boyd-Wells, and the veterans affairs agency paid more than $600,000 in reimbursements, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office. Zelenskyy imposes sanctions on 28 Russian nationals, 3 U.S. and Cayman Islands entities Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy enacted a National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) resolution imposing sanctions on 28 Russian individuals and three entities registered in the United States and the Cayman Islands. Corresponding decree No. 778/2024 is published on the president's official website. The document specifies that sanctions against the individuals are imposed for a period of ten years. Similarly, ten-year sanctions were imposed on the following companies: Alpha Bravo Aviation LLC and G200 203 LLC, registered in the United States, and Cascade Holdings, registered in the Cayman Islands. CLAYTON St. Louis County prosecutors are dropping their case, at least for now, against a county councilman they accused of violating Missouris nepotism ban. Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bells office will continue its investigation but has withdrawn its petition seeking Councilman Dennis Hancocks removal for now, spokesman Chris King said in a statement Thursday. If prosecutors decide to renew their effort to remove Hancock under the state constitutions nepotism provision, theyll have to file a new petition, King said. Circuit Judge John N. Borbonus had been set to decide Friday on removing Hancock, at least temporarily, from the council as he makes his defense. But the decision Thursday from Bells office means prosecutors arent expecting any decisions. We have determined that it is in the best interest of the public to continue our investigation of this and related matters, King said. King didnt say exactly why Bells office is holding off on the ouster petition. Kimberley Mathis, an attorney for Hancock, reiterated that Hancock did not violate the state constitution. Now St. Louis County prosecutors can refocus their efforts on important matters like keeping the county safe and crime-free, she said. Special Assistant Prosecutor Rachel Smith had argued before Borbonus on Monday that Hancock, a Fenton Republican, should be removed temporarily because he hired his stepdaughter as his aide earlier this year. But Mathis, Hancocks attorney, said Borbonus shouldnt decide until Hancock could make his defense. Chatter among political insiders shadowed the case, with some claiming that St. Louis County Executive Sam Page would use it to his advantage. Without Hancock on the council, Page might be able to pick a favorite to replace Bell, who was elected to the U.S. House earlier this month. Pages office declined to comment on those speculations. In late August, Bells office filed in court to have Hancock removed. A judge signed an order that temporarily removed Hancock from office but Borbonus overrode the order later that day and reinstated Hancock to the council. A petition from Bells office said Hancocks stepdaughter, Hollie Galati, started work on Aug. 19 at a salary of $24.88 per hour. Hancock has said he didnt know he was barred from hiring relatives and that Galatis new hire paperwork hadnt gone through. After they found out her hire wasnt allowed, Galati decided not to take the job and agreed not to be paid for a weeks work. I grew up in a close-knit family in East St. Louis. My grandmothers house is just down the street, making family gatherings easy and frequent. My grandfather was the pastor of our Pentecostal church, Bride of Christ, not far from where we live. He was succeeded by my uncle. And my dad helps out with the music. Our family is large, filled with at least 30 cousins, all connected to the recognizable Prude name. I attend East St. Louis High School with friends Ive known since preschool, creating a sense of comfort and belonging. We are all navigating life together, and that shared experience bonds us deeply. Yet I felt a yearning for something beyond this familiar bubble. Until my sophomore year, I didnt notice how distant I was from other cultures and religions. It wasnt until I engaged with organizations and educational opportunities beyond my city that I recognized how little I interacted with cultures outside my own. In the summer of 2023, I attended the Anytown Youth Leadership Institute. This week-long program focused on recognizing the experiences of marginalized groups. Surrounded by diverse perspectives, I heard stories of hardship faced by individuals simply practicing their faith. I realized I had never fully recognized my privilege as a Christian. Returning home, I felt compelled to share my new understanding. It frustrated me that others didnt seem interested in exploring different cultures and faiths. I knew this lack of curiosity stemmed from a gap in knowledge, not intentional indifference. My experience at Anytown ignited a determination in me to broaden my understanding and make exploration more accessible. This desire to expand my horizons led me to take the leap and travel to Egypt in the summer of 2024 through the Quest Scholarship Fund that offers global education opportunities to diverse students at St. Louis area high schools. I wanted to visit a place that mirrored my familys closeness and rich culture. Reading about Egypt, I felt an instant connection to their traditions and foods. The Quest scholarship represented a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. When Egypt opened up for travel post-COVID, I knew I had to go. I was excited to bond with a host family. It meant more to me than just seeing the country; I wanted to deepen my understanding of a different way of life. As I prepared for the trip, I had already begun researching Islam. I found the strength of its faith deeply admirable. Upon landing in Cairo, my first impression was overwhelming. The city was alive at 4 in the morning people were fishing, enjoying music, and shopping. To ease us into Egyptian culture, we had an orientation that provided insight into local customs. From the beginning, I learned the art of navigating public transportation in Cairo. Each bus was filled with people seamlessly passing money to the front for the fare no words were needed. Its where I first began to understand the natural sense of community in Cairo. It felt like everyone had a space for people and animals alike. Mosques coexisted with markets, showing how cultures intertwined in daily life. I appreciated how architecture reflected their ingenuity mosques elevated to avoid floods and streets curved for shade and airflow. The rich stories behind Cairos architecture fascinated me and I found it easy to dive headfirst into its extensive history. I talked with my host father Ahmed about my identity as an African American. He was curious and initially confused, asking if that meant I was from Africa. My host sister Miriam stepped in to explain, and he later shared his perspective. In Egypt, no one cares whether youre black, white, or Asian. Labels didnt matter; what mattered was community. We spent time playing board games at local coffee shops and sharing laughter over meals. One of my most memorable experiences was our journey on the Nile. The significance of traveling on this ancient river was profound, and sharing music, dances, and stories with my fellow exchange students and host siblings created beautiful moments. It was heartwarming to see our cultures blend in such an organic way. This immersion into daily life in Egypt opened my eyes to perspectives I could never have learned from a textbook. This allowed me to appreciate the depth of my host familys traditions and how we are all intertwined in the human experience. I am determined to return one day. Back home, I plan to share my story with my community. Misconceptions often shape the judgments we make about others. By sharing my experience, I hope to encourage others to embrace open-mindedness and see people and cultures beyond their stereotypes. I believe this opportunity will also help me in my future career as a mechanical engineer. I want to thank my scholarship donors for making this opportunity possible. Never in my life could I have fathomed going abroad, and the impact that it has left on me is something I am forever grateful for. With this new experience, I feel more equipped to foster dialogue about cultural differences and promote tolerance. I am certain there are others in similar situations people unaware of the cultural gaps that exist. Through open conversations about these differences, I believe we can build a more inclusive and accepting society. Ultimately, I want to help dispel stereotypes that divide us and encourage a future where we can all coexist peacefully. The tow supply vessel Aiviq travels through open water near Kodiak City, Alaska, in December 2012. (Chris Usher/U.S. Coast Guard) The U.S. Coast Guard plans to hire a commercial icebreaker to serve in the Arctic while waiting for the next generation of its cutters to be built in the next several years, service officials told lawmakers. Vice Adm. Thomas Allan, the deputy commandant for the Coast Guards mission support, told the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructures subpanel on Coast Guard and maritime transportation on Nov. 14 that an icebreaking tug, the Aiviq, would be painted in Coast Guard colors and transferred from Pascagoula, Miss., to Juneau, Alaska. The Aiviq is scheduled to start icebreaking patrols in 2026. We are at least going to make sure we have a presence with that vessel, Allan said. The Coast Guard has two icebreakers. The USCGC Polar Star, launched in 1976, is usually committed to clearing sea routes around Antarctica. The USCGC Healy was only recently returned to service following a fire. The addition of the Aiviq is meant to give the Coast Guard another option. At the same time, the U.S. is waiting for the first of 30 icebreaking ships, which were planned under a cooperative deal announced in November with Canada and Finland. Plans now call for the Coast Guard to use the Aiviq on a contract basis, with a commercial crew. The cost of the deal is still under negotiation, the Coast Guard said. The Aiviq would serve until three planned Polar Security-class icebreaking cutters become available. Construction of the first ship to be named Polar Sentinel is scheduled to start in 2025. The cost of the three ships would be $1.9 billion. The Coast Guard originally planned to try to buy the Aiviq for $150 million as a permanent addition to its fleet. The ship now will be relinquished back to the commercial market after enough new cutters have been built. I dont think we are looking to make tremendous investment on the vessel going forward, Allan said. But some lawmakers complained the Coast Guard plan would do little to close the icebreaker gap that the United States faces. Russia has at least 41 icebreakers, while China has dubbed itself an Arctic adjacent nation and has four in service. Military and commercial activity in the Arctic region has increased in recent years as warmer seas have opened and enlarged sea lanes across the top of North America, Europe, and Asia. Russia and China held joint naval exercises in October, with the flotilla passing through the Bering Strait just 12 miles from American waters in Alaska. The Jamestown Foundation, a global security think tank in Washington D.C., has reported many Russian icebreakers are small or tied up clearing Siberian ports and river mouths. However, some House lawmakers are worried about the imbalance in the number of icebreakers. In the Arctic, the Coast Guard projects American sovereignty, said Rep. Daniel Webster, R-Fla., the subcommittee chairman. Its a region containing substantial resources that support a robust fishing industry, vast energy and mineral reserves, and new routes to facilitate maritime commerce. Given these immense resources, it should come as no surprise that adversaries, including Russia and China, are working to assert themselves. Allan and Vice Adm. Peter Gautier, the deputy commandant for Coast Guard operations, emphasized the joint building project as the key to Americans keeping pace with Russia and China in the future. The Coast Guard plans to enlarge and modernize its base in Seattle to accommodate additional cutters and icebreakers, making the Puget Sound the homeport for operations in the Pacific Northwest and the Arctic. A decision on how to enlarge the base will be made next month. The most expansive option would see the Coast Guard annex Terminal 46, a large commercial pier and warehouse area south of the Pike Place Market tourist attraction. Rep. John Garamendi, D-Calif, a subcommittee member, told the Coast Guard officials that spending on icebreakers should match the American commitment to ground troops and air assets in blocking Russian and Chinese expansion in the Arctic region. Be bold, he said. People gather to greet the aircraft carrier USS George Washington as it returns to Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan, Nov. 22, 2024. (Akifumi Ishikawa/Stars and Stripes) YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE, Japan Hundreds of sailors stood in dress blues as the aircraft carrier USS George Washington pulled into Tokyo Bay on Friday morning for the first time in nearly a decade. Scores of onlookers were joined by mascots and vendors while the U.S. 7th Fleet Band, high school cheerleaders and traditional Japanese musicians welcomed the ships return to the place it called home from 2008 to 2015. While many of the carriers approximately 3,000 sailors are new to Japan, others, including its skipper, Capt. Timothy Waits, served aboard the George Washington during its previous deployment to Japan. Many of the returning sailors specifically requested the assignment, Waits said at a pierside news conference. I think that serves as a testament to the people and the culture of Japan, as well as the strong relationship between our two nations, he said. Among the new arrivals was 10-year-old William Prentiss, of Albuquerque, N.M., who was there to welcome his father, Cmdr. Jacob Prentiss, a supply officer aboard the George Washington. Im really excited to see him. I havent seen him in six months, he told Stars and Stripes ahead of the ships arrival. Amanda Murillo and her son, Ethan, of Houston, were waiting to welcome Chief Warrant Officer 2 Robert Murillo. Were grateful to have my husband home, she said pierside. Family members and friends cheer pierside as the aircraft carrier USS George Washington arrives at Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan. Nov. 22, 2024. (Akifumi Ishikawa/Stars and Stripes) Sailors man the rails of the aircraft carrier USS George Washington as it steams toward its old homeport, Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan, Nov. 22, 2024. (Akifumi Ishikawa/Stars and Stripes) Family members and friends wait pierside as the aircraft carrier USS George Washington arrives at Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan. Nov. 22, 2024. (Akifumi Ishikawa/Stars and Stripes) Family members and friends cheer pierside as the aircraft carrier USS George Washington arrives at Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan. Nov. 22, 2024. (Akifumi Ishikawa/Stars and Stripes) Family members and friends wait pierside as the aircraft carrier USS George Washington arrives at Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan. Nov. 22, 2024. (Akifumi Ishikawa/Stars and Stripes) The George Washington left Yokosuka in 2015 for a midlife nuclear refueling and maintenance period at Newport News, Va. The process was significantly delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic and other setbacks. Its sister ship, the USS Ronald Reagan, took its place as the centerpiece of the 7th Fleets carrier strike group until it left Yokosuka on May 16 for its own scheduled maintenance period at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Wash. During their 2015 interchange, the two ships swapped nearly two-thirds of their respective 3,000 crew members. This time around, only about 350 sailors from the Ronald Reagan, or 13% of its crew, moved to the George Washington before it departed for Japan. Moving that many sailors and families, as well as a ship the length of Tokyo Tower 1,092 feet is no small feat, said U.S. Embassy to Japan deputy chief of mission Katherine Monahan. [The ships] arrival here today clearly illustrates Americas steadfast commitment to the U.S.-Japan alliance and our collective security and deterrence in the Indo-Pacific region, she said at the news conference. The George Washington arrived less than a week after its aviation component, Carrier Air Wing 5, returned to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni in southwestern Japan. The wing, which departed with the USS Ronald Reagan in May, returned with several changes to its roster. Strike Fighter Squadron 147, a unit of F-35C Lightning II fighter jets, replaced Strike Fighter Squadron 115s F/A-18E Super Hornets. While other F-35 models are prominent in Japan, the 147th brings the first C variant, which is equipped for arrested landings, squadron commander Cmdr. Christopher Case told Stars and Stripes on Nov. 17. The newer aircraft are an example of how the U.S. is ensuring peace and prosperity in the region, said U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel. China knows what this USS George Washington can do today, because these are superior aircraft than they were nine years ago, he told reporters Friday. Americas deterrence and credibility are seen, heard and believed. (James Brown/Stars and Stripes) Tokyo, Japan, July 24, 1964: Young guests and visitors drink and chat in the cocktail lounge of the Sanno Hotel in Tokyo, Japan. The Sanno Hotel was once the most famous and prominent building on Sotobori-dori, a wide, busy boulevard that winds through the scenic heart of Tokyo. Serving as a transient billeting facility for field grade officers and their families in 1964, the American military was not always welcome at the Sanno. The building built in 1932 was once the spawning nest for ni-ni-roku (2-2-6), the February 26, 1936 military revolt that shook Japan but failed to overthrow the government. The New Sanno Hotel opened in 1983, replacing the old facility which was demolished. Although it's mainly a takeaway restaurant, there is a small dining area at Solecito Tex-Mex's Old Town location. The vegetarian tacos with spicy salsa verde are a favorite. (Heather Benit/Stars and Stripes) Good Mexican food is hard to find in Germany, so when I first saw the words Tex-Mex on the neon sign above Solecito restaurant in the old town, I made plans right away. Solecito is more German-Mex than Tex-Mex, but its tasty tacos and spicy salsas fill the citys noticeable void in Mexican cuisine. The restaurant does primarily takeout service, but there are six small tables for two with stools for dining in. The colorful desert mural on the wall, the location and the friendly service tempted me to dine in during one of my recent visits. Solecito Tex Mex is a recent addition to Kaiserslautern's Old Town. (Heather Benit/Stars and Stripes) What I discovered is that the secret to Solecitos food is in the salsa options. The menu doesnt highlight them, making this spicy add-on easy to miss when you order through Lieferando, as I had previously done. When the staff prepared the food in person, they asked about spice level and suggested salsas accordingly. Theres a mild red, medium green and hot habanero. I had already tried Solecitos tacos, quesadillas and nachos when ordering online. The basic quesadillas and classic nachos were bland without salsa, just chips and tortillas filled with cheese and tiny bits of red onion and jalapenos. I was eager to try the tacos again with my salsa discovery, so I ordered three vegetarian tacos and my lunch companion ordered a burrito. The veggie tacos, a burrito with salsa roja and the spicy salsa verde at Solecito Tex-Mex in Kaiserslautern. (Heather Benit/Stars and Stripes) The burrito is a classic overstuffed flour tortilla wrapped in tin foil. The vegetable option for 13.50 euros is filled with rice, refried beans, sour cream and freshly grilled peppers, onions, carrots and broccoli. I strongly object to carrots and cruciferous vegetables in Mexican food, even more than corn on pizza. My German-born companion, on the other hand, commented enthusiastically on the crunch of the carrots in the burrito. We did agree that tacos are our favorite menu item. My veggie tacos were made with wheat tortillas and were topped with cheese, rice and lettuce. The vegetables were freshly grilled and smoky. The salsa roja the tacos came with was bland, though, so I asked for the salsa verde, which added a kick. Specialty tacos on handmade corn tortillas are 13.50 euros at Solecito Tex-Mex in Kaiserslautern's Old Town. (Chrissy Yates/Stars and Stripes) A meat-eating friend, who had just returned from Texas, added her opinion after eating an entree of three specialty tacos with handmade corn tortillas. She said the chicken tinga was good but improved with salsa verde. The birria beef tasted slightly sweet and could have used more salt and a sharper onion flavor, but the chicken on the asado was seasoned just right. The single corn tortillas were not strong enough to hold all the wet ingredients, making it a messy meal. Solecito sells tacos in hard shells or with wheat or corn tortillas. It also offers an assortment of rice bowls with chicken, beef or veggies. To drink, there is bottled water, Fanta, Mexican cola and other soda. No alcoholic beverages are available. The tacos are worth ordering again, so next time Im downtown and craving Tex-Mex, Solecito will be my go-to taco spot. Stars and Stripes reporter Chrissy Yates contributed to this report. Solecito Tex-Mex Address: Steinstrasse 23, Kaiserslautern, Germany Hours: Opens at 11 a.m. Wednesday-Monday; opens at 3 p.m. Sunday. Closes at midnight on Friday and Saturday and 10 p.m. the rest of the week. Closed Tuesdays. Cost: Prices range from 7 euros for mini nachos to 42.50 for 12 tacos. Three specialty meat tacos are 13.50 euros and veggie tacos are 11 euros. Drinks 2.50 euros to 3.50 euros. Cash only for in-person orders. Information: Phone: 0631 31164204; online: instagram.com/solecito_tex_mex/?hl=en The Stuttgart main station, with its iconic Mercedes Benz symbol atop it, is the primary feature of the Miniature World Stuttgart museum's collection of models re-creating the 1980s look of the German city. (John Vandiver/Stars and Stripes) In the model train world, the replica of Stuttgarts main railway station housed in a museum on the opposite side of Arnulf Klett Platz is apparently something of a big deal. Hobbyists are said to have talked about it for years before the 2017 opening of Miniature World Stuttgart, with pictures of the models development appearing in trade magazines decades ago. The museum was a product of some 30 years of work by its creator, Wolfgang Frey. Before its arrival on the Stuttgart scene, the much-ballyhooed model of the station and its environs had been hidden from the public. Besides the station, the miniature involves about 500 model buildings and is touted by museum organizers as the largest city model in all of Europe. The true-to-scale reproduction of Stuttgart in the 1980s was made from recycled materials. A model at Miniature World Stuttgart depicts the German city as it was in the 1980s, but many of the buildings still look the same today, including the Steinberger Hotel across from the main railway station. The model of the train station and its surroundings is the biggest one in the museum's collection. (John Vandiver/Stars and Stripes) I visited recently and asked a staff member where Frey is now. I was told he died in his early 50s of unknown causes some years before the museum opened. On arrival, I was a little taken aback at the 9 euro entrance fee, which seemed steep for a relatively short visit to such a quirky place. But that obviously hadnt deterred the numerous other visitors, who seemed to take a deep interest, looking closely at the trains, tracks and models. The rendering of the Stuttgart train station serves as the centerpiece for the model, designed as a replication of what that area looked like decades ago. Currently, the facade of the station is about all that remains of a building that has been mostly gutted in connection with the ongoing Stuttgart 21 project, one of the largest and most controversial German public works initiatives in years. But having been around Stuttgart since before construction got underway years ago, I looked at the replica of the transportation hub as it was before, and it felt like time travel. The experience reminded me of the small thrill you get when seeing some familiar street corner on television or in a movie. Miniature World Stuttgart's models show assorted parts of the German city as they looked in the 1980s. This one depicts the area around the Neckar River. (John Vandiver/Stars and Stripes) The models at Miniature World Stuttgart, a museum in Stuttgart, Germany, include some showing the citys landscape and residential areas. (John Vandiver/Stars and Stripes) For anyone who has spent time wandering around Stuttgart, it all still looks incredibly familiar thanks to the exquisite detail of the replica. Cars, buses, trucks and trains course around the model city. The bustling B-27 and buildings surrounding the main station, such as the Steigenberger Hotel, are also picture-perfect. I enjoyed the re-creation of Konigsstrasse, the main pedestrian commercial strip, which extends about a mile and offers an iconic view of the Mercedes Benz symbol atop the main station at one end. The model also captures the large swaths of green space that make the Stuttgart metro area distinctive. The area along the Neckar River, with cruise boats in the water and the Rosensteinschloss up on a lush green hill, also looks just right. I regretted making a solo trip to the museum because its definitely something for school-age kids to enjoy. I suspect the museums models, all handcrafted, would be of interest to any youngster into things like trains or Legos. It seems like the kind of place that attracts aficionados. Im hardly one of those, but I enjoyed the experience nonetheless. And I left thinking that the craftmanship and all those years of dedication that went into the realization of Freys dream made it worth the price of admission. Miniature World Stuttgart is a museum across the street from the citys main station that features a large true-to-scale replica of downtown Stuttgart in the 1980s. (John Vandiver/Stars and Stripes) On the QT Address: Arnulf-Klett Platz 1-3, Stuttgart, Germany Hours: Thursday-Sunday, 1-5 p.m. Cost: adults, 9 euros; children, 5 euros Info: Online: miniaturweltenstuttgart.de The sun rises behind the Ara Pacis Mundi in Medea, Italy, on Nov. 5, 2024. Its name translates to Altar of World Peace. Marble pillars surround an altar containing an urn with soil from various war cemeteries and water samples from four seas. (Brian Erickson/Stars and Stripes) War memorials around the world tend to be country-specific in honoring the fallen, but a magnificent hilltop monument in the Italian city of Medea breaks the mold by also paying homage to peace. Built shortly after World War II, the Ara Pacis Mundi commemorates soldiers who have died in all wars. Its name translates to Altar of World Peace. Pictures dont do justice to the spectacle of the more than two dozen 45-foot-tall marble pillars, which afford visitors a panoramic view of the Isonzo River plain. The Ara Pacis Mundi in Medea, Italy, on Nov. 5, 2024. The structure was built in 1951 to commemorate soldiers who died in all wars. (Brian Erickson/Stars and Stripes) In World War I, the Isonzo Front was the scene of two years worth of fighting between the armies of Italy and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The carnage was horrendous, with about 500,000 killed. Besides the Ara Pacis Mundi, which is just a little over an hours drive from Aviano Air Base, the surrounding area has numerous stops along the Walk of Peace, a 143-mile hiking trail running from Slovenia to the Italian city of Trieste. It passes through Gorizia, about 20 minutes by car from Medea. I recently made a solo trip to the altar of peace and spent about four hours soaking up the experience, which included other sights in the park that encompasses the monument. The pillars frame the altar, which is made of porphyry rock and measures 9 feet by 15 feet. On the front of it is the inscription Lodio produce morte, lamore genera vita, meaning Hate produces death. Love generates life. The altar in the center of the Ara Pacis Mundi in Medea, Italy. The inscription on the front reads L'odio produce morte, L'amore genera vita, which in English means "Hate produces death. Love generates life. (Brian Erickson/Stars and Stripes) But its what underneath the altar that made the most profound impact for me. An urn constructed of wood and bronze contains dirt from over 800 war cemeteries worldwide and water samples from the Mediterranean, Tyrrhenian, Adriatic and Ionian seas, where both Italian and foreign ships have sunk in battle. After giving due attention to the monument, I set out on the 2.5-mile-long loop trail through Collie di Medea municipal park. Along the way, I glimpsed Saint Anthonys Church, which was built in the 18th century and sits at the end of a 343-step stone staircase built in 1815. But the construction fencing surrounding the church prevented me from getting a good look at it. The remains of a trench built during World War I near Collie di Medea municipal park in Medea, Italy. The trench can be seen along a loop trail in the park, which also features the impressive Ara Pacis Mundi memorial. (Brian Erickson/Stars and Stripes) Originally a military road from 1915, the path around the park took me past stone trenches built by soldiers during the Great War as well as an old surveillance post now known as the Kings Observatory. From this commanding height, King Victor Emmanuel III followed the battle against the Austrians. Unfortunately, I didnt make it there to take in the view because my footwear didnt hold up on the muddy, uneven path. If you check it out, plan accordingly. A small portion of a 343-step staircase in Collie di Medea municipal park in Medea, Italy. The stone staircase was built in 1815 and leads to an 18th-century church. (Brian Erickson/Stars and Stripes) Nevertheless, I got a decent workout and am hoping to return and complete the loop with appropriate shoes. For children, there is a small playground in a picnic area near the church. Visitors who pack a lunch to enjoy during their hike will find this spot suitable. There are also a couple of places to eat in Medea. But just 15 minutes away are the Palmanova Outlet Village and the Tiare shopping center in Villesse, both of which have an assortment of food options. Medea also has a visitor information center at Via Torriani 5. It is open Mondays and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 4-6 p.m., and on Fridays from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. On Tuesdays, Thursdays and weekends, its closed. Information Address: Salita allAra Pacis, Medea, Italy Hours: Around the clock, seven days a week Cost: Free Information: Online: tinyurl.com/36tdpkmw The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed 2,147 attacks on the Ukrainian healthcare system by the aggressor in 1,000 days of war, 197 health workers have died, said WHO Director General in Ukraine Jarno Habicht. In 1,000 days of war, WHO has confirmed 2,147 attacks on healthcare in Ukraine, which have claimed the lives of at least 197 health workers and patients, and injured 676 health workers and patients, he said in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine. Habicht noted that more than 40% of the attacks were aimed at the primary healthcare system, which is the gateway for the patient to the rest of the healthcare system. The number two meal from Bravo Zulu Barbecue, or BZQ, at the New Sanno Hotel in Tokyo includes brisket, lamb shoulder and two sides. (Jeremy Stillwagner/Stars and Stripes) Bravo Zulu Barbecue or BZQ at the New Sanno Hotel in Tokyo is a bold attempt to re-create American-style barbecue in central Tokyo. The hotel, run by the Navy as a Defense Department oasis in the worlds largest city, opened the second-floor restaurant on Monday. At least two dozen diners lined up in the opening half-hour to try out the food. First the good news: BZQ has several original, tasty sauces based on styles from across the United States. They are Texas Pit, Tennessee Red, KC Sweet and Spicy, Carolina Gold and Tangy Sweet Vinegar. Although Im not a big fan of vinegar-based sauces, Id use the tangy, sweet sauce again. A sixth sauce, Tokyo Miso, is an inspired creation, and while it didnt quite hit the mark for me, I recommend that visitors try it for its unique flavor. Youll find all six sauces on each table at BZQ, so you can sample them and see whats to your liking. Bravo Zulu Barbecue, or BZQ, at the New Sanno Hotel in Tokyo is a bold attempt to re-create American-style barbecue in central Tokyo. (Jeremy Stillwagner/Stars and Stripes) Now the disappointing part. Bravo Zulu Navy speak for job well done comes close, but doesnt quite get there. My brisket and lamb shoulder were cooked to near perfection, tender and easily pulled apart. But where I expected something exciting, the meat itself was underseasoned. Even the baked beans lacked the bold flavor you would expect from a barbecue joint back home. The silver lining: everything is made in-house, meaning BZQ has full control of the recipes and quality. With a few tweaks and a little more seasoning, this place could really take off. And the prices are very reasonable. My number two meal with two sides cost $16. Most items come with two sides, and you can add a third for another $2. I left the New Sanno with my belly full. BZQ also has a kids menu along with barbecue sandwiches, several desserts and additional items like Frito pie, Texas-style chili and cornbread. Maybe its not a destination quite yet, but Bravo Zulu Barbecue is definitely worth a stop when youre in the neighborhood. Bravo Zulu Barbecue, or BZQ, at the New Sanno Hotel in Tokyo is a bold attempt to re-create American-style barbecue in central Tokyo. (Jeremy Stillwagner/Stars and Stripes) Bravo Zulu Barbecue Location: New Sanno Hotel 2nd floor, 4-12-20, Minami-Azabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo Hours: Open daily, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; last order at 9:30 p.m. Prices: Meals range from $9 to $31 Dress: Casual Information: Online: www.thenewsanno.com/dining (iStock) We do it every year. We cut out recipes. We make lists. We go to the commissary. We elbow each other out of the way to grab turkeys, cranberries, yams and mini-marshmallows. We jam enough food into our pantries to feed an Army ... or Navy, as it were. Why? Because its Thanksgiving, of course! When our invited guests politely ask, What can we bring? we are faced with an interesting dilemma. On one hand, our brains are about to explode over the exhausting details of hosting, so contributions would be nice. But on the other hand, we have envisioned holiday meals using only our own families traditional recipes, and what if our guests bring dishes that are strange and unfamiliar? Thirty years ago, when my Navy husband and I lived in base housing at Fort Ord, Calif., we couldnt afford to fly back East to spend the holiday with our extended families. So, we accepted an invitation to have Thanksgiving dinner at another military familys house on post. What can I bring? I asked the other wife. Uh, well, um ... , she stuttered uncomfortably, Ill get back to you on that. I fancied myself a pretty darned good cook back in those days (before kids turned my brain to mush and our staple food into boxed macaroni and cheese) and was looking forward to contributing my culinary talents to the meal. Youve got to let me bring something, I pleaded. Well, all right then, she answered, somewhat irritated, just bring a dish of corn frozen corn. Frozen corn? I thought. Are you kidding me? She wasnt. Over the next few days, I hounded the other spouse, offering my delectable sausage apple pecan cornbread dressing, my rich Guinness gravy, my addictive Swiss onion bread, my snappy Waldorf salad. She resisted, but finally agreed to let me bring a plain pumpkin pie, reminding me to not forget the tub of Cool Whip. I swallowed my disappointment that Thanksgiving -- along with her boring stuffing and resolved to make what I wanted from then on. However, year after year, the same dilemma kept cropping up. Whether host or guest, I didnt like giving up my holiday traditions. But when we were too far away from family, I wanted to reach out to other military families rather than spending holidays alone. Eventually I realized that, unless I wanted to spend Thanksgiving stubbornly alone with my coveted recipes, Id better learn to compromise. I lectured myself, Now, if someone invites us over to their house for Thanksgiving, for goodness sake, dont turn your nose up if the hostess serves homemade cranberry sauce just because you love the canned stuff. Dont judge if the host doesnt brine his bird! I admonished, and reminded myself to never make passive-aggressive comments like, Could you pass the canned gravy? A little breast meat is stuck in my throat. I promised I wouldnt be bitter if the hostess declines my offer to show off my pecan cheesecake with gingersnap crust. Instead, I vowed to shut my pumpkin pie hole and gratefully eat whatever she serves. When I offered to host other military friends on holidays, I trained myself to happily make way for a guests beloved Tex Mex corn souffle even if it does clash with my ambrosia. You can give up your swiss onion bread just this once, I told myself one Thanksgiving, and let her bring her Gammies poppy seed loaf if it makes her feel at home. Cmon, I argued with myself, no one really cares how you think sweet potatoes should be cooked anyway. Surely no one has ever died from eating mini-marshmallows! In the end, I not only survived each holiday meal for which I compromised my traditions I gained 10 pounds in the process. Besides, Thanksgiving is the time of year that were supposed to contemplate all the things were thankful for, like our family and friends. Not the green bean casserole with the French-fried onions, for Petes sake. Friends and family truly are the meat and potatoes of life. The food? Lets face it No matter whether its canned, powdered, microwaved or slow cooked from the drippings, its just the gravy. Lisa Molinaris Better Than Yours Gravy 1. Simmer giblets and turkey neck in a covered two-quart pot of water with quartered onion, chunks of carrot and celery, salt and pepper, while you cook your turkey. 2. Strain. You should have 3 cups of stock; add chicken broth if necessary. 3. Shake one cup of the stock with 3 Tbsp. flour in a jar with a lid. 4. When the turkey is done, remove to a platter and pour the drippings into a fat separator. 5. Deglaze the roasting pan by putting it over low heat on the stovetop, adding 1.5 cups water (can also use wine, broth or Guinness). 6. Stir to dissolve the intensely flavorful brown bits left on the bottom. 7. Pour the flour-stock mixture into the pan and stir while simmering 3 minutes. 8. Add the rest of the stock, and the pan drippings (not the fat), and cook over medium high heat for 15 minutes stirring constantly, until thickened. Read more at themeatandpotatoesoflife.com and in Lisas book, The Meat and Potatoes of Life: My True Lit Com. Email: meatandpotatoesoflife@gmail.com Several customers saw fraudulent charges posted to their accounts after shopping at the exchange and other business on Kadena Air Base, Okinawa. (Pexels) KADENA AIR BASE, Okinawa Credit and debit card fraud may be more widespread on this installation than officially reported, base leaders told a packed town hall meeting Thursday, according to an attendee. The 18th Security Forces Squadron had received 23 reports of unexplained charges on credit or debit cards from people who shopped on base as of Nov. 16, wing Chief Master Sgt. Brandon Wolfgang said at the meeting, Air Force spouse Kaily Watson said by phone Friday. Stars and Stripes was barred from covering the town hall meeting at Schilling Community Center by wing spokeswoman Maj. Alli Stormer, under orders from wing commander Brig. Gen. Nicholas Evans. But individual banks have received more complaints, the wings deputy commander, Col. Joshua Lundeby, told the newspaper after the meeting. We dont have a firm number a total number of fraudulent charges, he said. The 18th Wing recently warned its community about fraud following reports of unexplained charges billed to cardholders who shopped at on-base businesses. Several customers saw fraudulent charges from a few cents to thousands of dollars posted to their accounts after shopping at businesses on Kadena, they told Stars and Stripes. The problem may be part of a widespread financial institution breach, the wing announced via Facebook on Nov. 14. More than 100 people attended the town hall, Lundeby said after the meeting. The event was standing room only, Watson said in a follow-up email Friday. Evans, in an email Thursday evening to Stars and Stripes, said he does not permit recording, livestreaming or press access at town hall meetings to ensure that attendees can speak freely without concern for how their comments may be publicly broadcast or scrutinized. Stars and Stripes is challenging that decision through official channels. At the meeting, Lundeby and Wolfgang stressed the need to officially report fraud to security forces and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, according to meeting notes Watson shared. Fraud victims must make a report in person at the security squadrons headquarters, a squadron representative said at the meeting, according to Watson. Senior Airman Mikayla Brown with the 18th Comptroller Squadron, whose cards showed unexplained charges recently, wanted an easier way to report incidents, she told Stars and Stripes after the meeting. Its clearly a trend, and its not just 10 people or 20 people, she said. Its a good amount of people. Lundeby and Wolfgang said the wing has no evidence that the recent rash of fraud is confined to Kadena, according to Watsons notes. They said Marine Corps Camp Foster and other bases had reported similar instances. It was unclear if they meant reports were made to Camp Foster or if fraud was found on Camp Foster, Watson said Friday. Wolfgang said Misawa and Yokota air bases had not received similar reports, according to Watsons notes. Security forces and the Office of Special Investigations, AAFES and the Defense Commissary Agency inspected point-of-sale terminals and found them to be safe, Wolfgang said, according to Watsons notes. I appreciate that they were potentially investigating this on the back end more than public affairs led us to believe, Watson said Friday. I think that reassurance was provided. A U.S. Navy CMV-22B Osprey flies in an undisclosed location over the Pacific Ocean, Aug. 17, 2023. (Isaiah Goessl/U.S. Navy) CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa A Navy Osprey made a precautionary landing Thursday at a commercial airport on an island north of Okinawa, a week after a Marine Corps tiltrotor made a similar landing there. A CMV-22 Osprey assigned to Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 30, Detachment 1, landed at Amami Airport at approximately 4 p.m. without incident, U.S. Naval Forces Japan spokesman Cmdr. Paul Macapagal said by email Friday. Seven crew members were on board the tiltrotor, which is deployed from Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego. Macapagal did not elaborate further. No injuries or property damage were reported, and the cause of the landing is under investigation, he said. The aircraft was still at the airport on Friday afternoon. Precautionary landings are a part of our training and commitment to the highest safety standards for our personnel and the communities we serve, he wrote. The Osprey landed after a warning lamp turned on while it was flying, a spokesman with the Kyushu Defense Bureau, an arm of Japans Ministry of Defense, said by phone Friday. Civilian flights at the airport were not affected, he added. Japan Ground Self-Defense Force personnel from the Amami Area Security Force were dispatched to the airport, the spokesman said. Some Japanese government officials are required to speak to the media only on condition of anonymity. The incident follows a Nov. 14 precautionary landing at the airport by an MV-22B Osprey assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265 from Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, according to 1st Marine Aircraft Wing spokesman Maj. Joseph Butterfield. The aircraft was conducting routine training when it landed at approximately 10:45 a.m. following onboard warning indications, Butterfield said by email Friday. He did not elaborate on the warning indications. No injuries or property damage were reported, he wrote. Two other MCAS Futenma-based tiltrotors landed at the airport at 10:45 a.m. and 11:11 a.m. to help with maintenance, the bureau spokesman said. The aircraft returned to their base the same day, Butterfield said. Operating our aircraft safely and effectively is a top priority, and our aviators take great precautions to ensure the safety of the aircrew and the communities in which we operate, he wrote. Ospreys have come under increasing scrutiny after a series of fatal accidents. The U.S. and Japan grounded their tiltrotor fleets after an Osprey with Air Force Special Operations Command crashed Nov. 29, 2023, just off Yakushima, an island south of Kyushu in southern Japan, killing all eight crew members on board. The accident investigation found a catastrophic mechanical failure at fault, compounded by a lack of urgency by the crew to deal with an engine problem. The revolutionary aircraft lands and takes off like a helicopter but flies as a fixed-wing aircraft. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un speaks with military leaders at the Academy of Defense Sciences in Pyongyang, North Korea, in this image released by the state-run Korean Central News Agency on May 28, 2024. (KCNA) A recent Ukrainian attack wounded a North Korean general, the first senior officer casualty reported among thousands of North Korean troops sent to bolster Russian forces, a report said. The unidentified general was wounded in an unspecified attack in the Kursk region, according to unnamed Western officials cited by the Wall Street Journal on Thursday. North Korean troops deployed to that area are a fair target and the U.S. Defense Department absolutely expects them to be engaged in the fight, Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said Thursday at a news conference in Washington, D.C. South Korean officials had not commented on the Journal report as of Friday evening. The countrys Ministry of National Defense did not immediately respond to a request for comment by phone that day. The potential sacrifice of one general amounts to little in the grand scheme of the two-year war in Ukraine, said former North Korean soldier Kim Seongmin, chief executive of Free North Korea Radio, a broadcast station ran by North Korean defectors. Kim said he served as a captain in the North Korean army between 1988 and 1995. Pyongyang put its head into the lions mouth for money and the safety of the [North Korean leader] Kim Jong Un regime, he said by phone Friday. How could infantrymen survive in such a battlefield? It will not end with just a general. North Koreas state-run Korean Central News Agency has yet to confirm it has deployed troops for Russias invasion of Ukraine. The countrys Foreign Ministry in a statement last month said it reserved the right to deploy them to support Russia. South Korean lawmakers briefed by intelligence officials Oct. 29 said they received reports that Col. Gen. Kim Yong Bok, deputy chief of the General Staff of the North Korean army, was among the troops sent to Russia, according to a Yonhap News report that day. At a June summit in Pyongyang, Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin pledged mutual military aid if either of their countries were at war. Last month, South Koreas National Intelligence Service said that over 10,000 North Korean troops were deployed to Russias western border. The Pentagon earlier this month estimated between 11,000 and 12,000 North Korean troops are in Russia. The North Koreans will provide some type of combat or combat support capability, Defense Department spokesman Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said during a news conference Nov. 4. Should those troops engage in combat support operations against Ukraine, they would become legitimate military targets, he said. Russias attack on the eastern city of Dnipro has spurred fears in the West over a major escalation in the ongoing war, and prompted Ukraine to request new air defense capabilities from Washington to help intercept this type of missile. (Andrew Kravchenko/Bloomberg) KYIV, Ukraine By launching a new nuclear-capable intermediate-range ballistic missile at Ukraine on Thursday, Russia was threatening Kyiv and its Western allies with the aim of stopping Ukrainian strikes with Western-supplied weapons on Russian territory or else. The attack on the eastern city of Dnipro has spurred fears in the West over a major escalation in the ongoing war and prompted Ukraine to request new air defense capabilities from Washington to help intercept this type of missile. But analysts and officials in Ukraine and the West, speaking Friday, said that while the attack had been accompanied by a major increase in threatening statements, it was ultimately just more Kremlin bravado. Moscow aimed to intimidate those who support Ukraine, NATO spokeswoman Farah Dakhlallah said in an email. Deploying this capability will neither change the course of the conflict nor deter NATO Allies from supporting Ukraine. Ukraines defense intelligence agency, GUR, released new details about the missile on Friday. It flew at roughly 11 times the speed of sound and took about 15 minutes to reach Dnipro from Russias coastal Astrakhan region. It was fitted with six warheads, the agency said, each of which contained six submunitions. GUR chief Kyrylo Budanov said Friday that the missile is experimental and that Ukraine knows that at least two test versions were set to be made. The missile is not yet in series production, thank God, he said Friday. The fact that they used it in a nuclear-free version is, as they say, a warning from them, that they are not completely crazy, he said. Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that Russia hit Dnipro with a medium-range nonnuclear hypersonic ballistic missile dubbed Oreshnik, which means hazel in Russian. The Pentagon said the missile, which was armed with a conventional warhead, was an experimental variant of Russias RS-26 Rubezh intermediate-range ballistic missile. Ukraine has not fully disclosed the extent of damage from the Russian missile strike, beyond saying it struck an industrial area in the city. Kyiv does not typically comment on damage to military sites. Putin said the attack on Dnipro was a test of the weapon, in response to the Biden administrations recent decision authorizing Ukraine to fire its U.S.-supplied Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS), with a range of up 190 miles, at targets inside Russia. On Tuesday, Ukrainian forces for the first time fired ATACMS inside of Russia, targeting a weapons depot in Bryansk region. The next day, they employed U.K.-supplied Storm Shadow missiles to attack Russias Kursk region, in an operation one Ukrainian official described Friday as successful. In the wake of the attacks, there were clear concerns over Russian retaliation, including the day-long closure of foreign diplomatic missions in Kyiv, including the U.S. Embassy, which cited intelligence over a potential Russian attack. On Friday, a parliamentary session was canceled, again over fears of an attack. The Russian side has clearly demonstrated its capabilities, Peskov said, adding that the contours of further retaliatory actions have also been clearly outlined. In the wake of the strike, Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh said they would take seriously the rhetoric coming out of Russia, but our focus remains on Ukraine and supporting Ukraine with what it needs. We dont want this to widen into a regional conflict; we dont want war with Russia, she added. Observers cast doubt on whether Russia has enough of the missiles to regularly launch such strikes and said that the attack was probably spurred by real fears in Russia over how to continue supplying the front lines if Ukraine is able to target key weapons depots and other rear support locations with Western missiles. This is definitely an attempt to intimidate the West and an attempt to force the West not to help Ukraine. But on the other hand, this is also a manifestation of the absolute panic of Putin himself, said Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Ukraines presidential office. Russias strategy has always been to test the global response to its various escalations, he added, pointing to how Moscow waited to see how the West would respond to its full-scale invasion in February 2022, frequent missile strikes on civilians, attacks on the power grid, and more recently, the deployment of North Korean troops and regular executions of prisoners on the battlefield. This is all testing, Podolyak said. And now there is a new attempt an intercontinental attack on the civilian population. Whats next? In Russia, the missile attack was presented as a major victory and a strong message to the countrys enemies. Fridays morning edition of the Russian propaganda show 60 Minutes opened with a digest of international media headlines, responding to the launch. The British Mirror says that the Oreshnik launch was a World War 3 warning shot. Put more simply, the new Russian hypersonic missile is an untouchable weapon, said host Olga Skabeeva. All thats to say, [the Western media] understood us correctly. Some analysts said that the new escalation is a sign that Moscow does not have a solid exit strategy from the war. Writing on Telegram, Russian political scientist Vladimir Pastukhov, honorary senior research associate at the University College of London, said that his intuition was telling him that Putin is not bluffing. It is not that he wanted a nuclear war and to burn in its fire but in the current situation he is ambivalent about such a possibility, he wrote. This has created a dangerous scenario, he wrote, where the circumstances are such that he does not have the option of relative defeat. They simply do not have an exit strategy in case of defeat. Mykola Bielieskov, a political analyst linked to Ukraines presidential office, said he feared Russia was trying to convince President-elect Donald Trumps team that there is a looming risk of World War III. If the U.S. backs down under these threats, Ukraine defense will be endangered, he said. Thus no more sitting on two chairs as the Biden administration tried to do all along. The latest threats, coming directly from Putin, marked a risky escalation in rhetoric that largely appears intended to stoke Western fears of a broadening conflict, said Camille Grand, a former NATO assistant secretary general who is now a distinguished policy fellow with the European Council on Foreign Relations. We shouldnt take things lightly. Thats the whole point, that you should never take the risk of nuclear escalation lightly, he said. Yet the Kremlin had created a problem for itself by making dozens of nuclear threats during the war, because its becoming loose talk. I dont think Putin wants a nuclear war, he added, but the threats were problematic because it goes against the grammar of nuclear deterrence which is that you try to avoid a situation where there is miscalculation or misinterpretation by one side or another. Francis reported from Brussels. Francesca Ebel in London, Kostiantyn Khudov and Serhii Korolchuk in Kyiv contributed to this report. A camera-equipped drone hovers above a training site at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany, in March 2024. U.S. authorities issued a joint statement Nov. 21, 2024, saying American defense-related sites in Europe should bolster security to guard against Russian sabotage. (Ayden Norcross/U.S. Army National Guard ) STUTTGART, Germany U.S. authorities say American defense industrial sites in Europe should step up their security over concerns that Russian saboteurs could target them. The National Counterintelligence and Security Center, the FBI and several Defense Department agencies issued a joint statement Thursday saying the Kremlin has recruited criminals and other proxies to conduct such operations. U.S. companies, particularly those supporting entities involved in the Ukraine conflict or other ongoing geopolitical conflicts, are encouraged to enhance their vigilance and security efforts as a precaution, the statement said. The warning comes after a series of suspected Russian sabotage actions this week that included the severing of undersea communication cables running from Germany to Finland and elsewhere. Over the past year, there have been indications of Russia getting more brazen in its sabotage efforts in Europe. Numerous acts of arson and the attempted assassination of a German defense industrial leader are among the operations that have been carried out attempted, according to allies. In July, Russian sabotage also was suspected when a package caught fire at a DHL logistics center before being loaded onto a cargo plane in the eastern German city of Leipzig. Package fires occurred in the same month in Poland and Britain. The senders intent was to do a test run on delivery channels for such packages, which were ultimately destined for the U.S. or Canada, a Polish prosecutor told the BBC in November. Gen. Darryl Williams, the U.S. Armys top commander in Europe, said in October that the situation is increasing the risks of a broader military escalation should Russian agents take things too far. We could tumble into this thing because of the people that are currently snooping around Europe and causing mischief in all of our backyards, Williams said during an Army conference in Washington. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said earlier this month that Russia is intensifying its campaign of hybrid attacks across allied territories, sabotaging industry and committing violence. This shows that the shifting front line in this war is no longer solely within Ukraine, Rutte said during a news conference in Berlin. Increasingly, the front line is moving beyond borders to the Baltic region, to Western Europe and even to the High North. The United States is involved in an array of military and defense industry efforts in Europe. In Bavaria, for instance, American and European companies are coordinating with NATO to produce 1,000 Patriot air defense missiles at a new factory, according to NATO. In June, U.S. military bases were put on heightened alert in connection with potential threats to installations across the Continent. While the Pentagon never specified the nature of the threat, CNN reported in July that the move came in response to information that Russia-backed actors were considering sabotage attacks against American military personnel and facilities. Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu severely criticized the International Criminal Court for issuing arrest warrants against him and a former minister, and said his government wont be deterred from continuing its war against Hamas in Gaza. (Shaul Golan, Pool Photo, AFP via Getty Images/TNS) (Tribune News Service) Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu severely criticized the International Criminal Court for issuing arrest warrants against him and a former minister, and said his government wont be deterred from continuing its war against Hamas in Gaza. The Hague-based courts announcement on Thursday was anti-Semitic and Israel will keep defending its citizens, Netanyahu said in his first direct comments. Israel will not recognize the validity of this decision, he said. No war is more just than the war that Israel has been waging in Gaza after Hamas attacked us unprovoked, launching the worst massacre against the Jewish people since the Holocaust. The ICC also issued warrants for Israels ex-Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Hamas commander Mohammed Deif. Israel said the latter was killed in Gaza months ago, though Hamas, an Iran-backed militant group designated a terrorist organization by the U.S. and others, never confirmed his death. While Netanyahu is unlikely to ever stand trial at the ICC, he will have to be careful where he travels. Most of Israels major allies including the U.K., France, Germany, Italy and Japan are ICC signatories and, in theory, should arrest him if he visits. Still, Hungary became the first ICC signatory to say it would disregard the ICCs move. Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a close ally of Netanyahu, on Friday said hell invite the Israeli leader to Budapest and guarantee he wont be detained. Israels main backer, the U.S., is not a signatory and condemned the ICC. The ICC issuance of arrest warrants against Israeli leaders is outrageous, President Joe Biden said. There is no equivalence none between Israel and Hamas. We will always stand with Israel against threats to its security. Israel wants Biden to impose sanctions that would ban ICC personnel from the U.S., among other steps, according to an Israeli official who asked not to be identified. If he doesnt, Israel hopes President-elect Donald Trump will. Other ideas include sanctioning countries that accede to the ICCs arrest warrants, the official said. Michael Waltz, who Trump has chosen as his national security adviser, said the court has no credibility. You can expect a strong response to the anti-Semitic bias of the ICC in January, when Trump enters office, Waltz said. Israel went to war with Hamas after the militant group raided the south of the country on Oct. 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 people and taking 250 hostage. Around 44,000 people have been killed in Israels subsequent offensive in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health authority in the Palestinian territory, which doesnt distinguish between combatants and civilians. The ICC warrants are for crimes against humanity and war crimes, the court said. Those include starvation as a method of warfare as well as murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts. Much of Gaza has been turned to rubble and the conflict has triggered anti-Israel protests in the U.S., Europe and Arab world. Talks stalled Truce talks between Israel and Hamas, mainly mediated by the U.S., Qatar and Egypt, have been stalled for months. While Israel has destroyed much of Hamas infrastructure and killed perhaps half its roughly 35,000 fighters, theres still heavy fighting in the north of Gaza. The U.S. previously said the ICC would jeopardize the cease-fire talks if it issued arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant. The United Nations says theres a humanitarian crisis in much of Gaza and that aid organizations are struggling to provide enough assistance. The U.S. and other countries have urged Israel to allow in more food, medicine and fuel. Israel has said its doing all it can to get aid into Gaza and that many of the trucks that cross into the Palestinian territory are looted by Hamas and other groups. Aid organizations blame Israel for the breakdown of law and order. The Israeli government has repeatedly denied the allegations of the ICCs chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, who sought the warrants from the courts judges in May. The Israeli military adds that it complies with international law and takes plenty of action to try to ensure civilians arent harmed by its air strikes and ground operations. Israels conflict against Hamas has spread to Lebanon, where the Israeli military is fighting Hezbollah, another Iran-backed group designated a terrorist organization by the U.S. Truce talks for that war have progressed this week, with Amos Hochstein, one of Bidens Middle East envoys, traveling to Lebanon and Israel to meet officials. He said hes managed to bridge some of the gaps between the sides, but its still unclear if he can clinch a deal. 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Service members and veterans defrauded by a retail jewelers price gouging scheme are eligible for refunds from a civil settlement. (Hope Straley/U.S. Marine Corps) WASHINGTON Service members and veterans defrauded by a retail jewelers price gouging scheme are eligible for refunds from a civil settlement secured by the New York attorney general. Service members and veterans give up so much to serve our country, and they deserve to be honored and respected, not misled and defrauded, Attorney General Letitia James said in a statement. The attorney generals office filed a lawsuit against Harris Jewelry in 2018, accusing the Long Island-based company of defrauding service members and veterans into illegal financing contracts for cheaply made products. In 2022, the attorney generals office and the Federal Trade Commission led an 18-state agreement that recovered $34.2 million in refunds, canceled debt and secured settlement money from the company. The jewelry company deceptively claimed financing jewelry purchases through Harris would raise service members credit scores, misrepresented that its protection plans were not optional or were required, and added the plans to purchases without consumers consent, the trade commission said in a statement. The company was also accused of violating numerous financial consumer protection laws, including the Military Lending Act. The settlement required Harris Jewelry to cancel $21.3 million in debt for more than 13,000 people and provide $12.8 million in refunds for more than 40,000 who were misled into paying for lifetime protection plans on low-quality jewelry without disclosure, the attorney generals office said in a statement. More than 30,000 consumers remain eligible for refunds from a fund exceeding $8 million, according to the AGs office. Consumers who purchased items from Harris Jewelry and paid for a lifetime jewelry and watch protection plan, and have yet to file a claim or previously filed a claim but did not hear back from Harris Jewelry are encouraged to file a claim online as soon as possible. A claim to get money back must be filed by Dec. 21. Anyone experiencing an issue filing a claim should contact the New York attorney generals Watertown regional office by calling 315-523-6080 or filing an online complaint. Under the procedural leadership of Donetsk Regional Prosecutor's Office, a pretrial investigation has been launched in a criminal case on the fact of the execution of Ukrainian prisoners of war by Russian occupiers, the Prosecutor General's Office said. "According to operational data, on October 2, 2024, servicemen from the Russia stormed the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near the city of Vuhledar. During the offensive, the occupiers captured five unarmed Ukrainian defenders. One of them was killed in a forest belt, and four were taken out onto the road at gunpoint, where they were also shot," the PGO said in the Telegram channel. Law enforcement officers opened a criminal case on the fact of committing a war crime that resulted in the death of people (Part 2 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). The murder of prisoners of war is a gross violation of the Geneva Conventions and is classified as a grave international crime. Urgent investigative and search actions are being carried out to establish all the circumstances of the incident. Colorados elected officials want to keep the command at Peterson Space Force Base, where it has been based since the service was revived in the summer of 2019 under then-President Donald Trump. Meanwhile, Alabamas delegation to Congress is gunning to get the command headquarters to Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, where Trump had moved it in the waning days of his first term in the White House. (Christopher DeWitt/U.S. Space Command) DENVER (Tribune News Service) An intense persuasion campaign is heating up across more than 1,200 miles, from Colorado Springs to Alabama, as both states congressional delegations battle over landing the permanent headquarters of the U.S. Space Command. Colorados elected officials want to keep the command at Peterson Space Force Base, where it has been based since the service was revived in the summer of 2019 under then-President Donald Trump. Meanwhile, Alabamas delegation to Congress is gunning to get the command headquarters to Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, where Trump had moved it in the waning days of his first term in the White House. That order was overturned by President Joe Biden a decision that kept the service in Colorado Springs, where the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce estimates it supports nearly 1,400 jobs and has a $1 billion impact on the local economy. Its a fully operational and capable command, U.S. Rep. Jason Crow said in an interview with The Denver Post. It continues to build out and perform the mission it is supposed to. We simply cant move it we will jeopardize our national security if we do. But in a preview of what could be a tough scrap ahead, Republican U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama this week told a local TV station that he was confident President-elect Trump will move it back, and I think, very early in his first few days. That claim was echoed by U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala., who told a Mobile radio station that he thought the soon-to-be president would sign an executive order bringing the command back to Huntsville. Crow, a Democrat and a former Army Ranger, said he has been in contact with the seven other members of the states congressional delegation in addition to Sens. John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet and they plan to work hand in glove together to keep U.S. Space Command in Colorado. The command is responsible for military operations in outer space, which starts at 62 miles above sea level. The Pentagon is growing increasingly concerned about rapid advances by China and Russia in space-based operations that threaten U.S. troops and other military assets on the ground, along with American satellites in orbit, the New York Times reported earlier this year. On Friday, Schriever Space Force Base in Colorado Springs was named the preferred and final home of Space Delta 15, an organization under U.S. Space Command that will provide space battle management, intelligence and cyber capabilities to U.S. Space Forces. Air Force officials said Delta 15 would be operational by summer of 2027, with approximately 250 personnel on hand. Newly elected U.S. Rep. Gabe Evans told reporters at a press conference last week that he was on Team Colorado when it comes to Space Command staying put. The Republican Army vet and former police officer, who ousted Yadira Caraveo on Nov. 5 in the 8th Congressional District, said moving would cost an exorbitant sum of money. Why do you want to spend money to move it out of here? he asked. Evans said his grandfather, a naval aviator, moved to Colorado to work in the states robust aerospace industry 50 years ago. Thats why I live in Colorado because of our aerospace sector, he said. Evans is part of the GOP half of Colorados congressional delegation that could have more influence with Trump as he nears a decision on the command. All four are in lockstep on keeping the service in Colorado. U.S. Rep.-elect Jeff Crank, whose new district is the home of the command, wasnt available for an interview this week. But he told The Post this month that it makes eminent sense to keep it here. U.S. Rep.-elect Jeff Hurd, who will represent the Western Slope in the new Congress, said the same through a spokesman Thursday. U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert, a stalwart Trump supporter who is returning to Congress in January to represent Colorados 4th District, said protecting and maintaining all of our military assets in Colorado is the best way to keep our nation strong without any threat of interruption that could harm our ability to protect Americans. Huntsville scored higher than Colorado Springs in a Government Accountability Office assessment of potential locations for the command. The city has long been home to some of the earliest missiles used in the nations space programs, including the Saturn V rocket, and it is home to the Armys Space and Missile Defense Command. That same office, however, gave the selection process low marks for documentation, credibility and impartiality and said that senior U.S. officials interviewed conveyed that remaining in Colorado Springs would allow U.S. Space Command to reach full operational capability as quickly as possible. Trumps decision to move the U.S. Space Command to Huntsville in January 2021 was widely panned as a political attempt to reward Tuberville, who challenged the results of the 2020 presidential election in favor of Trump. Bruce McClintock, lead of the Space Enterprise Initiative at the nonpartisan research firm RAND Corporation and a retired Air Force brigadier general, did not weigh in on whether Alabama or Colorado would ultimately be a better fit for Space Command, but said that any move could lead to disruptions in military readiness. Moving any combatant command headquarters invariably introduces turbulence in the workforce, McClintock said in an email. The military workforce will go where they are directed but the civilian workforce can choose to stay where they are rather than move. If Chinas space ambitions are truly a threat to American interests, he wrote, then one could make the argument that the near-term stability for US SPACECOM should be a factor in the government decision-making process. 2024 MediaNews Group, Inc. Visit at denverpost.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Lt. Gen. Christopher Donahue, right, an officer who oversaw the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and is now nominated to lead the Army in Europe and Africa, was left out of a batch of military promotions approved by the Senate on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. (Sgt. Alison Strout/U.S. Army photo) This story has been corrected WASHINGTON A batch of military promotions approved by the Senate on Thursday left out Lt. Gen. Christopher Donahue, an officer who oversaw the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and is now nominated to lead the Army in Europe and Africa. It remains unclear why Donahues nomination to become commanding general of U.S. Army Europe and Africa and receive a promotion to four-star general was not included. However, The Washington Post reported that a hold was placed on Donahues promotion by Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma. The Post said the report was based on correspondence it had seen, and there was no comment from Mullin, an enrolled citizen of the Cherokee Nation, or his office. Three years ago, Mullin, then a member of the House, twice tried to personally rescue people from Afghanistan during the evacuation, only to be rebuffed once by the U.S. Embassy in Tajikistan and once by the Pentagon, the Post said. The Senate Armed Services Committee approved nearly 1,000 promotions, including Donahues, earlier this week before advancing them to the full upper chamber. Then-Major Gen. Chris Donahue, commander of the Army 82nd Airborne Division, XVIII Airborne Corps, boards a C-17 cargo plane at the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Aug. 30, 2021. (Alex Burnett/U.S. Army) The timing of Donahues promotion is now uncertain with the Senate not expected to return from recess until December. A senators hold on his nomination could be bypassed with a time-consuming vote on the Senate floor. The chamber resorted to such a procedure last year after Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., blocked the promotions of hundreds of general and flag officers for months in a failed bid to overturn a Pentagon policy providing troops with access to abortion and other reproductive health care. Donahue is best known for being the last U.S. service member to leave Afghanistan, a moment that was captured in a grainy night vision photo that went viral in 2021. He led the 82nd Airborne Division at the time and was responsible for securing the airfield at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul. The chaotic evacuation of Americans and Afghan refugees from Kabul continues to be a frequent target of criticism by Republicans who blame President Joe Bidens administration for a suicide attack at the airport that killed 13 service members. A 2022 independent review by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction said decisions made by Biden as well as former President Donald Trump were key factors in the rapid collapse of Afghanistans security forces. As Trump readies for a second term, he is reportedly searching for a way to prosecute U.S. military officers who were directly involved in the violent withdrawal. He has called the hectic exit of American troops from Afghanistan after 20 years of war a humiliation. Donahue was pictured boarding the last plane out of Kabul, walking up a ramp with an assault rifle in hand. He sent a message to his troops as the C-17 cargo plane got off the ground: Job well done, Im proud of you all. Donahue has served as the commander of XVIII Airborne Corps at Fort Liberty, N.C., since 2022 and, if confirmed, would replace Gen. Darryl Williams at the Armys Europe and Africa headquarters in Wiesbaden, Germany. He has had a distinguished career in the Army since entering service in 1992, with roles as an Army Ranger and in the elite Delta Force. He deployed to Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere and served as the Joint Chiefs of Staffs deputy director for special operations and counterterrorism. In 2022, Donahue was part of an 82nd Airborne contingent that arrived in Poland shortly before Russias invasion of Ukraine. Special operations forces should more closely study data on training incidents and spend more time observing high-risk, noncombat operations to better mitigate accidents involving elite troops, a federal watchdog found in a study published Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024.. (K. Kassens/U.S. Army photo) Special Operations Command should more closely study data on training incidents and spend more time observing high-risk, noncombat operations to better mitigate accidents involving its elite forces, a federal watchdog found in a study published Thursday. The Government Accountability Office found recent efforts by SOCOM to implement increased safety scrutiny for high-risk training operations have been constrained by fiscal shortfalls and limited by the commands own definitions of high-risk training operations. GAO, in the new report, recommended SOCOM analyze safety data to reassess its most dangerous training operations and reevaluate how it assesses risky training. The military has relied on special operations forces in recent decades especially in the Global War on Terrorism campaign, where elite U.S. forces have fought near constantly in places such as Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and Somalia. Special operations officials have long said the tough, combat-like training conditions were the best way to build the elite troops needed to carry out the U.S. militarys toughest often secretive operations around the globe. The active-duty special operations community includes some 67,500 troops, including Army Rangers and Green Berets, Navy SEALs, Air Force pararescue forces and combat controllers, and Marine Raiders, among others, according to the GAO. Between 2012 and 2022, the GAO found more than 3,600 noncombat accidents involving special operators, with an average of 258 reported training accidents per year with at least minor injuries or more than $20,000 of military equipment damage. Accident reports ranged from a low of 120 in 2020, when training was constrained by the coronavirus pandemic, to a high of 402 accidents in 2015, the GAO found. Among all those incidents, there were about 86 major accidents among special operators defined as having caused permanent, partial disabilities, inpatient care for three or more individuals, or more than $500,000 of damage. There were 48 training deaths during that decade. Their training could be safer, the GAO found in its latest report entitled, Special Operations Forces: Additional Oversight Could Help Mitigate High-Risk Training Accidents. The watchdog said the Defense Department agreed with the recommendations it made to improve high-risk training for special operators. During the roughly two-year study, GAO analysts scrutinized accident data for special operations forces from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps during fiscal years 2012 through 2022, according to the report. The analysts also reviewed special operations training, risk management efforts and safety documents and interviewed defense officials associated with the special operations community. The congressional watchdog found parachute and combat dive training to be the riskiest operations for special operators outside of a combat zone, with accidents during those two activities accounting for roughly 40% of training incidents during the decade that they analyzed. The GAO also found most accidents some 86% were the result of human error, primarily from failure to adhere to training standards and complacency, overconfidence or indiscipline. Equipment or material failure was cited in only about 3% of reported incidents, and environmental factors accounted for less than 3% of accidents, including none of the fatalities in special operations training from 2012 to 2022. SOCOM included parachute and combat dive training among seven categories that it designated high-risk for training in a 2022 overhaul of its training safety measures, the GAO said. The other categories that SOCOM officials deemed high-risk for training were joint terminal attack controller, mountain, sniper, urban combat and vertical lift operations. Those high-risk training operations were designated to receive more oversight to ensure safety measures are followed, and SOCOM officials told the GAO that they were identified based on common-sense interpretation of training risk. But the GAO, in its report, questioned the designation for some of those categories. Some training areas designated by SOCOM as high-risk, such as sniper, had very few reported accidents while other training areas that SOCOM has not designated as high-risk, such as tactical vehicles training, had many more reported accidents, the GAO analysts wrote. Sniper training only saw five reported incidents from 2012 to 2022, including no serious accidents or fatalities, the GAO wrote. Meanwhile, special operators were involved in 83 tactical vehicle training accidents, including 12 serious incidents that resulted in 10 fatalities, the analysts wrote. The analysts suggested SOCOM reconsider the categories that it has labeled high risk, and base its decisions on an analysis of negative safety trends. Without performing additional analysis of negative safety trends in [special operations] training when designating high-risk-training areas, SOCOM may miss an increase in issues related to safety within non-high-risk-designated programs, GAO wrote. By doing so, SOCOM could ensure that [special operations] service components have the required higher levels of oversight to mitigate risks during high-risk training. SOCOM officials also told the GAO that they have not had enough money to fully implement their 2022 training oversight program, which aims to conduct assessments of the implementation of safety standards and policies. They also lack the funds for subject matter experts to observe high-risk training to take a proactive approach to identify training and safety issues before they become rampant. Last year, SOCOM spent some $767,000 on its training assessment program, but command officials told the GAO that sum was insufficient to fully implement the number of scheduled observations that are part of the training assessment program. During that last three fiscal years, SOCOM was only able to complete 18 of 30 scheduled safety observations, prioritizing the assessment efforts, the GAO found, because they are considered the more formal effort in the special operations community. The GAO pointed out the assessment and observation efforts work. In one case, a SOCOM safety assessment last year found shortcomings that resulted in undue stress and fatigue for instructors and students at the Armys Military Free-Fall Parachutist Course at Yuma Proving Grounds in Arizona. That resulted in new safety protocols and best practices, including reducing the student-to-instructor ratio and reducing the number of jumps instructors conducted each day during the course, according to the GAO. The watchdog encourages SOCOM to implement a formal timeline for each of the military services with special operations components to implement the assessment and observation systems into their training protocols. SOCOM has not established milestones to ensure the components complete these efforts, GAO analysts wrote. By not doing so, SOCOM does not have full assurance that each of the SOF service component commands possess an approach to safely conduct training and to mitigate risks. More than 300 veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder will take part in a study to measure the effectiveness of smoking cannabis on symptoms from the illness. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes) WASHINGTON The Food and Drug Administration has authorized a not-for-profit company in California to proceed with clinical trials to study the effectiveness of smoking cannabis to treat post-traumatic stress disorder in veterans. MAPS the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies will initiate the short-term study of veterans who will smoke marijuana and report their reactions to the drug by using a mobile app, according to a letter from the FDA approving the clinical trials. The five-week study will follow 320 participants diagnosed with moderate to severe PTSD who will smoke cannabis at home and then rate their PTSD symptoms by using an app that they download on their cell phone or another mobile device, according to MAPS. PTSD is a mental health condition that causes anxiety, anger and flashbacks in individuals who have experienced terrifying events. People with PTSD might experience nightmares, depression and negative thoughts. This study is extremely important to me as a veteran because other medications I use do not work on my symptoms, said Hether Zeckser, a 36-year-old former corporal who served in the Marines from 2007-2011. Zeckser of Virginia, an advocate for cannabis research, said her own personal use of marijuana helps relieve her symptoms from service-connected PTSD, while the drugs that she is prescribed by her doctors at the Department of Veterans Affairs have not worked. I look forward to the outcome of this research, she said. I would like to see cannabis approved as a PTSD treatment and get health care coverage for the costs. The FDA has the authority to regulate and approve new drugs. Clinical trials with human test subjects are a step in that process. For this study, veterans will receive active cannabis or a placebo. The study is double-blind, meaning the veterans and their clinicians will not know which dose they are receiving, said Allison Coker, director of cannabis research at MAPS. A veterans PTSD symptoms will be assessed at the start and end of the treatment. Former service members selected for the clinical trials must have prior experience smoking cannabis. They also must agree to limit their cannabis use to the doses provided for the study, according to MAPS. The FDAs Division of Psychiatry Products cleared the Phase 2 study of smoked cannabis in veterans for the treatment of PTSD called MJP2 to proceed. Under FDA oversight, MAPS conducted an earlier phase of the study. This breakthrough decision opens the door to future cannabis research, mirroring real-world consumption and generating safety data to guide medical professionals, Coker said. MAPS is still in discussions with the FDA about when the trials will start. FDA clearance to initiate a study is only one of many start-up steps needed for the study to commence, Coker said. FDA recognizes the potential therapeutic opportunities that cannabis or cannabis-derived compounds could offer and acknowledges the significant interest in these possibilities, the FDA states on its website. FDA continues to believe that the drug approval process represents the best way to help ensure that safe and effective new medicines, including any drugs derived from cannabis, are available to patients in need of appropriate medical therapy. Study participants initially will be trained to inhale cannabis while under observation. They will be supplied cannabis or placebos to take home and use on an outpatient basis. Sites in Michigan, Arizona and Florida are under consideration for the trials, including VA facilities. Veterans will not undergo mental health counseling as part of the study. This is not a therapy study, and participants will not receive psychotherapy, Coker said. But the clinical trials will enable researchers to develop data about the safe use of cannabis to inform further studies of the drug, she said. Patients with PTSD commonly use marijuana to manage their symptoms, but there is a lack of scientific evidence on its safety and effectiveness that reflect real-world consumption patterns, Coker said. MAPS successful negotiations with the FDA will benefit future clinical researchers investigating cannabis as a potential medical treatment for serious health conditions. The study will be funded by the Michigan Veteran Marijuana Research Grant Program. MAPS is the trial sponsor. Photo: https://eurosolidarity.org/2024/11/22 The Political Assembly of the European People's Party (EPP) unanimously adopted a resolution in support of Ukraine, the European Solidarity Ukrainian party which is part of the EPP said on Friday. "The European People's Party strongly condemns Russia's full-scale aggressive war against Ukraine, which has lasted for more than 1,000 days since it began on 24 February 2022... We underline the responsibility of Russia, which with its brutal actions against Ukraine exacerbates global challenges... We reiterate our firm conviction that Russia must provide financial compensation for the enormous damage caused to Ukraine," according to the text of the resolution, which was submitted for consideration by the leader of European Solidarity Petro Poroshenko. In this regard, the EPP advocates for the immediate and complete withdrawal of the Russian armed forces from the sovereign territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders, without preconditions or subsequent escalation on the ground; for accelerating the provision of air defense systems to Ukraine; for coordinated efforts to lift restrictions on the use of Western-made long-range weapons by Ukraine and granting the right to strike legitimate military targets on the Russian territory. The party also advocates for strengthening cooperation with Ukraine in the field of advanced technologies and innovations, facilitating the scaling up of Ukrainian developments by integrating them into the European defense infrastructure; increasing financial assistance to Ukraine to ensure macro-financial stability and maintain the ability to finance priority expenditures; strengthening sanctions and eliminating existing loopholes, including against the Russian energy sector, in particular Rosatom and its subsidiaries. The EPP also advocates for the establishment of a legal regime in the EU that allows for the confiscation of Russian sovereign assets in the EU, for coordinated efforts to implement the International Criminal Court's arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin, for ensuring that Western military support for Ukraine exceeds 0.25% of Western GDP annually, for unwavering support for Ukraine's integration into the EU and NATO, as well as for concrete steps to integrate Ukraine into EU defense and cybersecurity policies and programs during the EU accession process. "If adopted, the proposed EPP resolution will go hand in hand with the corresponding statement of the G7 countries, the European Commission and the logical implementation of the initiative of President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola, for which the European Parliament voted a few days ago. The adoption of this resolution today will be especially important against the backdrop of the current situation, in particular yesterday's intercontinental ballistic missile strike on the Dnieper and the appearance of 12,000 North Korean troops along with North Korean shells and North Korean ballistic missiles, Iranian attack drones and Iranian ballistic missiles," Poroshenko said during the presentation of the draft resolution. After the unanimous adoption of the resolution, EPP Chairman Manfred Weber said the document will form the basis for discussion during the upcoming International Democratic Union (IDU) Forum in Washington, which will take place in early December. The U.S. Republican Party is a member of the IDU. "There we can present our pro-Ukrainian initiative as a concrete request from Europe's largest party. We will therefore contribute to a broader international discussion," Weber said. A judge ruled that Christopher Hughes' claim for damages against the publishers of the Daily Mail had no realistic prospect of success Container lorry in which 39 people were found dead in Grays, Essex. Credit: Aaron Chown Defamation proceedings brought by a haulier over a newspaper report on the police investigation into the deaths of 39 migrants in a lorry container are to be dismissed, the High Court in Belfast ruled today. A judge ruled that Christopher Hughes' claim for damages against the publishers of the Daily Mail had no realistic prospect of success. Mr Hughes, 39, from Middletown, Co Armagh, sued after an online article named him as being sought in connection with the discovery of the bodies of the Vietnamese nationals in Essex back in October 2019. The men, women and teenagers had suffocated in the back of the sealed container en route from Zeebrugge. Four men, including the plaintiffs 45-year-old brother Ronan Hughes, were later jailed for manslaughter offences connected to the smuggling conspiracy. Christopher Hughes denied any involvement and has never been prosecuted for any offences related to the incident. A major international probe was launched immediately after the human trafficking victims were found. As part of those inquiries Essex Police made a public appeal in October 2019 for the Hughes brothers to hand themselves in to the PSNI to assist with the investigation. The court heard that the MailOnline published an article at the time of the press conference under the headline Manhunt for Essex lorry tragedy killers. It went on to state that detectives had named two suspects and wanted to speak to Ronan and Christopher Hughes, who were understood to run a haulage business from a farm near the Irish border. The report added that MailOnline spoke to Christopher Hughes on the day the bodies were discovered but he denied being involved. Christopher Hughes A defamation writ was issued against Associated Newspapers Ltd over that article. In a statement of claim, Christopher Hughes said he had been improperly implicated in the tragedy without any evidential basis. His lawyers alleged it was sensationalist, irresponsible and reckless about the reputation and integrity of an innocent man labelled by the defendant as a killer who was on the run. The newspaper applied to have the case struck out before trial, arguing that defences based on fair and accurate reporting, along with the qualified privilege, were unassailable. It also contended that the lawsuit should be dismissed for being frivolous or vexatious. Backing those submissions, Master Bell held that the article did not suggest the word killers was being directly applied to Christopher Hughes. The plaintiffs argument on this point is without merit, he said. Importantly, I am also satisfied that in the MailOnline article the defendant was not asserting the truth of the statements made by the Essex Police but rather merely repeating the fact that they had been made. According to the judge, there was no defamatory content in a case where the newspapers reporting and the qualified privilege provided defences to any claim. I am not satisfied that the MailOnline went beyond tabloid tweaking and embellished the Essex Police material, he said. Master Bell concluded: The plaintiff has no realistic prospect of succeeding in his defamation claim and that there is no reason why it should be tried. I must, therefore, dismiss the plaintiffs claim. Pensioner Chester Verner had denied abusing his wife over a two-year period and was due to contest the charges this week. This is the former RUC officer who has admitted domestic abuse offences against his wife. Pensioner Chester Verner had denied abusing his wife over a two-year period and was due to contest the charges this week. However, just before the contest was to get underway, 72-year-old Verner changed his plea to guilty. He admitted engaging in abusive behaviour towards his wife between February 21, 2022 and January 11, 2024. Verner also admitted two counts of unlawfully assaulting his wife between October 1, 2023 and January 11, 2024, and a further count of assaulting another relative on January 11 this year. The ex-cop also pleaded guilty to resisting a police officer in the execution of his duty and failing to provide a specimen of blood when suspected of driving with excess alcohol. Both these offences also happened on January 11 this year. At Magherafelt Magistrates Court this week, a judge asked for a pre-sentence report to be prepared before sentencing is passed. Verner, from Tirgarvil Road, Upperlands, Co Derry, was released on continuing bail and will be sentenced in January. The court was told the prosecution team would be applying for a restraining order to be imposed on Verner to prevent him contacting his wife. Verner, who has worked as a security guard in recent years, is understood to have served as an RUC officer in the Maghera area of Co Derry. In 2018, he wrote on social media about the murder of a former colleague in the nearby village of Swatragh. Constable Erik Clarke was part of a joint RUC/British Army patrol passing through the village on September 17, 1991. Shortly before 2am, the patrol was heading out of Swatragh when an IRA unit fired a mortar bomb at one of the Land Rovers in the patrol. The device destroyed the vehicle and Constable Clarke, who was sitting in the back of the Land Rover, was killed instantly. Three soldiers were also injured by the blast. Constable Clarke (37), was originally from England, but had been living in Portballintrae, Co Antrim. He was married and had four children. No one has ever been convicted in connection with the IRA attack. In a comment posted under an online tribute to Constable Clarke in 2018, Chester Verner said it had been a great privilege to serve in the RUC with Constable Clarke in Maghera. Verner said he would always remember arriving at the scene of his colleagues murder, describing it as horrific. He said he lived in hope those responsible for Constable Clarkes death would be brought to justice. Verner himself is now facing justice for his abusive behaviour towards his wife. Just a few weeks after his arrest earlier this year, the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) published its updated policy for prosecuting domestic abuse cases. The policy provides guidance about the different forms of domestic abuse and how the PPS take decisions in these cases. The PPSs Head of Policy and Information, Dr Richard Scullion, said domestic abuse cases made up more than a fifth of the PPSs caseload. Domestic abuse causes long-lasting and far-reaching harm to victims and their loved ones, including children and young people, and has a serious impact on wider society, he said. We want to help victims to understand what constitutes domestic abuse and the support available. One of the most effective ways of combating domestic abuse is through the pursuit and disruption of perpetrators, which includes prosecution. Prosecutors taking decisions in cases involving domestic abuse understand the complex dynamics of domestic abuse, and the impact of trauma on victims and witnesses. These cases are a main priority for us, and the safety of victims is at the forefront of our considerations when prosecuting such cases. The Domestic Abuse and Civil Proceedings Act (Northern Ireland) 2021 created a new criminal offence of domestic abuse in Northern Ireland. As well as capturing physical violence, sexual violence, and threatening behaviour, this offence also captures controlling or coercive behaviour and psychological, emotional and financial abuse. This ensures that protection is not limited to physically violent behaviour, allowing the PPS to prosecute the full range of tactics an abuser uses to control the victim, where the evidence allows. Dr Scullion urged domestic abuse victims to seek help. Police and prosecutors are dedicated to tackling these offences, he said. We in the PPS will carefully consider every case we receive and we will robustly prosecute if the evidence allows and the Test for Prosecution is met. We can apply to the court to put in place Special Measures to help victims and witnesses give their best evidence. This may include screening and giving evidence away from the court building in a Remote Evidence Centre. Our Victim and Witness Care Unit provides a dedicated point of contact from when a file is received from police through to the conclusion of any court case. There are also specialist organisations who can offer practical and emotional support to victims and witnesses of domestic abuse. My message to anyone who is experiencing domestic abuse is: Dont suffer alone please report what has happened to the police. "There is now finality to this. It's over for Brady," a source told the Sunday World. The Supreme Court has rejected Aaron Brady's application to appeal his conviction for the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe. The decision by the highest court in the country, delivered this evening, mean's the Garda killer has exhausted all legal options and will serve his life sentence, with a minimum term of 40 years' imprisonment. "There is now finality to this. It's over for Brady," a source told the Sunday World. In 2020, Brady was convicted of the capital murder of Detective Garda Donohoe (41), who was ambushed while on a cash escort at Lordship credit union near Dundalk, Co Louth, on January 25, 2013. Adrian Donohoe A jury agreed with the prosecution case that Brady was the masked gunman who shot the father-of-two dead with a shotgun at point blank range. He was the first person in 35 years to be convicted of capital murder following the largest Garda investigation in the history of the state. The inquiry was led by Detective Garda Donohoe's colleagues in Dundalk, supported by gardai from the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation. Brady (33), originally from Crossmaglen in South Armagh, challenged that conviction, but all of his 46 arguments were rejected by the Court of Appeal last July. In August, his legal team sought leave to appeal his case to the Supreme Court. All parties were informed this evening that this application has been rejected. He has now exhausted all legal avenues to challenge his capital murder conviction He will continue serving his life sentence in the maximum security Portlaoise Prison and has been in custody for other matters and in relation to the murder case since being deported from the United States in 2017. Earlier this year he was sentenced to a three-year concurrent jail term by the Special Criminal Court for attempting to pervert the course of justice during his murder trial. From his prison cell Brady recorded a videoed witness statement given by Ronan Flynn who told gardai that Brady admitted the murder to him while they were living together in New York. The footage was later circulated online, branding Mr Flynn a rat and a tout. He later refused to give evidence in the trial. Mr Justice Michael White, who presided over Bradys murder trial, described this as the most outrageous contempt of court he had come across. A second charge against Brady, that he conspired to pervert the course of justice by convincing another key witness not to testify, was taken into consideration. Statements made by Daniel Cahill, in which he told gardai Brady admitted to the murder several times, were shared by another inmate Dean Byrne who was in custody at the same time as Brady. Communications retrieved from Byrnes device showed another criminal made reference to doing damage to Cahill in return for a monetary reward. The investigation and subsequent trial were marred by efforts to prevent witnesses from testifying. One man told gardai he would be shot if he gave evidence, while Ronan Flynn was warned he and his family would be got if he testified. Jordan Maguire, of no fixed abode, had pleaded guilty to the offence on November 1, 2022, and to the production of a can of cider in the course of the assault. A judge sentencing a man for an attack on an innocent bystander in Temple Bar has described the area as becoming a violent, post-apocalyptic no-go area where people cant be safe. Judge Pauline Codd made her remarks while sentencing the 25-year-old to four years for the assault causing harm to a man on Bedford Row. Jordan Maguire, of no fixed abode, had pleaded guilty to the offence on November 1, 2022, and to the production of a can of cider in the course of the assault. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court was shown CCTV footage of Maguire punching, kicking and stomping on the man as well as beating him with a cider can during what his own barrister described as barbaric and savage behaviour. Garda Michael Walsh testified that a different man had initially assaulted the injured party but that this had not been caught on CCTV. Maguire then became involved and was captured on footage carrying out the assault in the doorway of a shop. The court heard that the injured party had no idea why it had happened. Garda Walsh told Emer Ni Chuagain BL, prosecuting, that Maguire was sleeping rough in Dublin City Centre at the time, no longer being welcome at home. He was on bail at the time. He had more than 50 other convictions, including for robbery, a threat to kill, criminal damage, possession of knives, as well as two assaults causing harm committed since this incident. He is currently serving a sentence of three years and nine months for those assaults. Oisin Clarke BL, defending, said this was a very brutal attack on the victim. He noted that his clients first ever offence was at the age of 21, two years before this assault. He pointed out that it was highly unusual for someone to come before the courts for the first time at 21 and then commit a litany of offences. He explained that it followed the death of his mother and his subsequent abuse of drugs and alcohol, leading to his grandmother asking him to leave their home. He did not deal with his grief in the appropriate fashion, he said. He got involved in a dispute that had absolutely nothing to do with him, he said of this offence. The judge described the violence as mindless and senseless. Mr Clarke agreed. His behaviour was barbaric and savage, he said. He said that his client is due for release in January 2027 and asked the court not to add to his lengthy sentence. Judge Codd said that she has heard assaults described but that the visual effect of seeing somebody being punched and stomped on via CCTV rendered it more visceral. She pointed out that Maguire had left the scene and returned with a cider can, which he used to beat down on the injured partys head. She said he was lucky not to be before the court on more serious charges. One wonders in terms of the atmosphere in Temple Bar because the court sees levels of violence meted out there by groups and gangs of young men, she said. It seems that Temple Bar is becoming a violent post-apocalyptic place. Its shocking to see it, that people cant be safe down there. It makes it a no-go area for people. She said that there had to be a general deterrent against instinctive vicious assaults on innocent bystanders. She commented on how Maguire had dealt with his grief. Sadly, young men dont deal with these things with appropriate counselling, she said. She imposed a four-year prison sentence but suspended the final six months provided he attended counselling in relation to his addiction and grief trauma issues. Darius Musinskas, 56, who was later acquitted of people smuggling, had unlawfully claimed 17,000 from the covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) under an assumed identity A Lithuanian man hiding from a crime gang and extradition over human trafficking allegations was tracked down through Department of Social Protection facial recognition technology, a court has heard. Darius Musinskas, 56, who was later acquitted of people smuggling, had unlawfully claimed 17,000 from the covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) under an assumed identity. Judge Keenan Johnson imposed a three-year suspended sentence and ordered Musinskas to pay 9,300 at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court. Factory worker Musinskas, of Oliver Plunkett Park, Dundalk, Co Louth, pleaded guilty to theft and using a false instrument between April 2020 and April 2021. In evidence, Garda James Donaldson said the social welfare office's anti-fraud facial recognition measures led to a "match" of two images of the accused under separate names. He used a doctored Lithuanian identity card to apply for a PPS number under his alias in 2018 and claimed to be renting a home in Kinnegad, Co Westmeath. He also used an old bill from a former tenant at that address to show he lived there. It was checked, but none of the tenants there had heard of him. Judge Johnson heard that Musinskashad came to Ireland in 2002, worked and had PPS under his real name. Pictures from both applications lead to a "match". He received 52 PUP payments and was then extradited to Lithuania. Garda Donaldson agreed with Andrea Callan BL, defending, that her client was aware of the existence of a European Arrest Warrant under his actual name concerning alleged people trafficking. He was sent back to Lithuania last year but was not convicted and released. The garda also accepted that it was not a case that Musinskas had not obtained double PUP payments under both identities but solely under the false name he had worked under since 2018. He had also saved some money to give back. The married father of two had one prior conviction in Ireland for drink-driving. Judge Johnson heard there was no loss to the State. When the pandemic hit, Musinskas was let go from his job under his fake identity. Ms Callan submitted that he would likely have got it anyway because he had worked since coming to Ireland more than 20 years ago. However, she added that Musinskas had a "genuine fear for his own safety", and a letter from his wife was provided to the judge. Sentencing, Judge Johnson said that "underworld" figures involved in people trafficking caused Musinskas to be concerned for his safety. He noted the accused was later acquitted in Lithuania, after which he returned to Ireland and made admissions about the PUP claim. The judge said he was impressed how the facial recognition measures picked up on this fraud, which he described as comforting. Ranking the offence as "mid-range", he suspended the sentence on condition that Musinkas did not reoffend in the next six years and paid the 9,300 he had put aside to the department. James Hawkins (24) of Ellis Quay Hostel, Ellis Quay, Dublin 7, had pleaded guilty to one count of robbery on February 21, 2023, at College Green in Dublin A man has been sentenced to three years in prison for the robbery of an American college student, who ended up injured on the ground after withdrawing money from an ATM. James Hawkins (24) of Ellis Quay Hostel, Ellis Quay, Dublin 7, had pleaded guilty to one count of robbery on February 21, 2023, at College Green in Dublin. At his sentence hearing in July, Garda Robert Kennedy told Jane Murphy BL, prosecuting, that the young American woman was studying at Trinity College and had gone to an ATM at around 6.30 pm. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that the victim withdrew 200 and put it in her purse, which she placed in her pocket. She next remembered being on the ground with a man standing over her and his hand in her pocket. Hawkins pulled at the victim's pocket, ripped it and got her wallet. The woman didn't resist as she was scared that he might hurt her. Hawkins then ran off and was followed towards Grafton Street by some members of the public. The victim was left in a state of distress, with cuts to her knees and her tights torn. Along with the 200 cash, her wallet contained her Trinity College identification card, her American identification card, debit and credit cards and another small amount of cash. Members of the public assisted her until gardai arrived. She didn't require treatment at a hospital. Gda Kennedy told the court that CCTV was obtained from Grafton Street, showing the direction in which Hawkins ran after the robbery. He was identified from the footage and arrested. Hawkins made full admissions when interviewed and identified himself on CCTV. He said that while he was taking tablets at the time, he did recall taking the purse. He apologised and said it shouldn't have happened. The court heard no victim impact statement was available as gardai have been unable to contact the victim recently. It is believed she has returned to the United States. Hawkins has 76 previous convictions for all District Court matters, including theft and burglary. He has been on remand in recent months, having served a sentence on an unrelated matter. Gda Kennedy agreed with defence counsel that Hawkins was homeless at the time of the offence and is known to have addiction issues. It was further accepted that he co-operated with gardai and entered an early guilty plea. The court was told Hawkins is originally from Tipperary, and his parents are deceased. He had addiction issues to heroin and crack cocaine but is now clean. Counsel said his client wished to apologise to the court, gardai and the victim, handing in a letter of apology. He said this is Hawkins's first conviction for robbery and his first for violent offending. Hawkins accepts he is facing a custodial sentence, but counsel asked the court for as much leniency as possible and to consider partly suspending any sentence imposed. Hawkins lost contact with his siblings due to his drug use but has reconnected with them while in custody. He has an offer of accommodation with one of them and wishes to move back to Tipperary, re-engage with sport and work with a drugs counsellor. Upon his release, his client also has an offer of work from another family member. Judge Orla Crowe noted from a urine analysis report that the former addict is now negative of all drugs and that this was entirely to his credit. She described as an aggravating factor how frightening this must have been for a young woman standing at an ATM in the dark. Noting that the maximum sentence for robbery is life in prison, she imposed a three-year sentence. However, she suspended the final six months for two years, putting him under probation service supervision for 12 months to provide him with a structured return to society. The hope would be hed be in a position to lead a law-abiding life, she said. Hawkins stood to enter the bond before being led away. Mr Kellys body was found beaten and burned inside a car in the Edward Street area of Lurgan last December Two Co Armagh men appeared in court today where they denied a charge of murdering nursing student Odhran Kelly (23). Mr Kellys body was found beaten and burned inside a car in the Edward Street area of Lurgan last December. Two men and one women appeared at Belfast Crown Court for an arraignment hearing, with all three entering not guilty pleas to the charges levelled at them. Gary Damien Scullion (32), from Edward Street in Lurgan, and Shane Harte (32), from Garland Avenue in Lurgan, were jointly charged with murdering Mr Kelly on December 3, 2023. When Scullion was asked by a court clerk how he pleaded to the charge, he replied: Not guilty. The same charge and question was then put to Harte, who also replied: Not guilty. Stephanie McClelland (36), from Lagmore Grove in Lisburn, also appeared in the dock. McClelland was charged with assisting offenders namely that on December 3, 2023, she assisted others in the removal and destruction of Odhran Kellys body. Like her two co-accused, she denied the charge put to her. A further two co-defendants also appeared in court today, but their arraignments did not proceed. Following the hearing, Mr Justice OHara said he would review the case on January 31, 2025. Scullion and McClelland were remanded back into custody, whilst Harte was released on continuing bail. Chief State Pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan today told David Dunne's murder trial that head injuries to the deceased, Robert O'Connor, could have been caused by punching, kicking or stamping A Mountjoy prisoner who died after an alleged assault in a cell suffered blunt force trauma injuries that caused his brain to rotate, a pathologist has told the Central Criminal Court. Chief State Pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan today told David Dunne's murder trial that head injuries to the deceased, Robert O'Connor, could have been caused by punching, kicking or stamping. She said the resulting complications from that blunt force trauma caused his death without any other contributing factors. Mr Dunne (40), with a last address in Summerhill, Dublin 1, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Robert OConnor on the 29th of July 2022 at Mountjoy Prison, North Circular Road, Dublin 7. The jury have been told they will hear evidence from a prison officer who will say that he saw Mr Dunne stamping on the head of Robert OConnor on the floor of a prison cell. Another officer is to give evidence that he witnessed Mr Dunne kicking Mr OConnor in the head. The jury are to hear that during the course of his garda interviews, Mr Dunne told gardai he had invited Mr OConnor into his cell because he wanted to speak to him about an earlier assault the deceased had suffered two days earlier. They will hear that Mr Dunne told gardai that Mr OConnor attacked him, and he acted in self-defence. Dr Mulligan told prosecution counsel Michael Delaney SC that before she started her examination, gardai told her that Mr O'Connor had been assaulted on July 27 resulting in a bleeding nose and damage to his right pupil. He was advised to go to Accident & Emergency but refused. Two days later he suffered a second assault resulting in a collapse. He went into a coma and despite medical attention over three days, he remained unresponsive. Brain stem testing showed that he was dead so his kidneys were donated and death was formally pronounced at 1.34pm on Aug 1, 2022. In Dr Mulligan's conclusions, she said Mr O'Connor suffered multiple blunt force trauma type injuries associated with bruises and abrasions on his head, trunk, legs and arms. He had also suffered a fractured nose. Examination of the brain showed swelling, bleeding and damage due to a lack of oxygen and blood supply. The blunt force trauma she observed could be caused by stamping, punching or kicking, she said. Dr Mulligan said the blunt force trauma caused rotational force which caused tearing of nerve cells in the brain. "The skull is a rigid structure, so if there is impact the brain will move within this rigid structure but doesn't have a lot of room to move, so that rotation of the brain will cause the nerve cells to get torn or shorn from the rotational force," she told the court. The pathologist said the significant brain trauma evident during her examination and diagnosed by a neuropathologist was most likely sustained during the second alleged assault. She said it would not have been possible for Mr O'Connor to be upright and walking around with those injuries. Under cross-examination, Dr Mulligan agreed with defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC that Mr O'Connor did not suffer any skull fractures. She further agreed that finding a cause of death can be complicated when dealing with brain injuries. It's not possible to tell what caused the blunt force trauma injuries but it is "something that could be caused by punches, kicks or stamping," she said. The trial continues before Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring and a jury. James Lawrence, who was also named as a defendant in the civil suit, was found not liable for damages. Nikita Hand speaks outside court after jury finds against Conor McGregor in civil rape case Nikita Hand has said she feels justice has been served after a nightmare few weeks resulted in her winning her civil rape case against sports star Conor McGregor. This evening, a jury in the High Court agreed Conor McGregor assaulted Ms Hand at a hotel room in the Beacon Hotel, Dublin in December 2018. He is liable to pay a sum of 248,604 in compensation. The jury awarded Ms Hand 60,000 in general damages and 188,603 in special damages. Conor McGregor lost his case against Nikita Hand In addition to the damages bill, the sportsman now faces the prospect of having to pay substantial legal costs of in excess of 1m after losing the case. James Lawrence, who was also named as a defendant in the civil suit, was found not liable for damages. Mr McGregor, who was surrounded by family and friends, sat with his head bowed as the verdict was returned. He shook his head and wiped his eyes. His fiancee Dee Devlin, who was sitting beside him, started to cry. Mr Lawrence walked over and shook Mr McGregors hand. Meanwhile Ms Hand burst into tears, and was hugged by her partner Gary Foy, when the verdict was read out. Speaking outside court, Nikita Hand said she was overwhelmed by the support she has received. Nikita thanked her legal team, Mr Justice Alexander Owens, the jury and witnesses in the case. She also thanked her own doctor and the nurses and doctors at the Sexual Assault Treatment Unit in the Rotunda Hospital. She also thanked the rape crisis centre, gardai and ambulance crew. "I want to thank all the women and men who have supported me through this trial. For those who reached out to me it hasnt gone unnoticed. I really appreciate it so much. James Lawrence outside the court I want to thank my partner Gary who has been so supportive over the last four years and who has held my hand throughout this trial, every day and every other day. I want to thank my mam and all my family and friends. Lastly I want to thank my daughter Freya who I am most grateful for. She has given me so much strength and courage over the last six year through this nightmare to keep pushing forward for justice. I want to show Freya and every other girl and boy that you can stand up for yourself if something happens to you not matter who the person is and justice will be served. She added: To al the victims of sexual assault I hope my story is a reminder that no matter how afraid you might be speak up and have a voice and speak up and fight for justice. I know this has impacted not only my life, my daughters and family and friends tremendously and is something that Ill never forget for the rest of my life. But now that justice has been served I can now try move on and look forward to the future with my family and friends and daughter. Nikita added that the last few weeks had been a nightmare and she felt vindicated by the result. As the court awaited the verdict, McGregor was sighing heavily and holding back tears as his mother and fiancee comforted him. Nikita Hand was comforted also as she sat nervously in the courtroom awaiting the outcome. Anyone who makes a scene will find themselves in jail, Judge Alexander Owens said, while he told the court to remain calm as the verdict was delivered. The trial began on November 5 and heard eight days of evidence before legal counsel for all three gave closing statements to the jury. The judge began his charge to the jury on Tuesday and continued until he sent them to deliberate just before 3pm on Thursday. A jury of 8 women and 4 men deliberated before returning before 5pm today. Conor McGregor and partner Dee Devlin and mother Margaret outside the High Court in Dublin, Conor McGregor was joined in court today by his fiancee Dee Devlin, sister Aoife McGregor, mother Margaret and father Tony. His brother-in-law Tony and one of his nieces was also present. Nikita Hand was accompanied by her boyfriend, her mother Debbie and wider support. In a note to the judge this morning, the jury asked for a HDMI cable and monitor to view the CCTV evidence, which was provided. Ms Hand, a mother of one, sued the men alleging she was raped by the pair in the Beacon Hotel in Dublin on December 9, 2018. Both men denied the allegations and say they had consensual sex with Ms Hand. The trial heard how Ms Hand and her work colleague Danielle Kealey had been out on December 8, 2018 at an alcohol and cocaine-fuelled Christmas work party. Ms Hand wanted to continue partying into the next day and, after contact with Mr McGregor via Instagram, the UFC fighter collected them from the salon where they worked. The group picked up Mr Lawrence from his home and arrived at the Beacon Hotel around midday. Ms Hand alleges she was raped by Mr McGregor some time between 12.30pm and 6pm . The jury heard she remembered the rape but had gaps in her memory about what happened afterwards. Nikita Hand outside the High Court in Dublin They heard evidence that a tampon was wedged so far inside her vagina it needed to be removed with a forceps in the Sexual Assault Treatment Unit of the Rotunda Hospital, where she presented in a terrified state the following day. They were also shown photos taken by gardai two days after the events in the hotel of Ms Hands badly bruised body. Ms Hands lawyers put forward the theory that Mr Lawrence, who came forward to gardai a day after they had interviewed Mr McGregor in January 2019, was lying and acted as a a fall guy or patsy for the mixed martial arts star. Both men rejected this theory. Mr McGregor denied they had been in cahoots but accepted he paid for Mr Lawrences lawyers. Mr Lawrence had insisted no man would put himself up for raping a woman. Mr McGregor also denied that he had booked the hotel suite so he could have sex with women. He had spent several hours in a nightclub before deciding to meet Ms Hand. It was put to him that girls who were with him in the nightclub had gone home, Ms Hand became the substitute. The UFC fighter rejected this, saying he had often booked hotel rooms rather than going home so he could rest, freshen up, go to the gym and have breakfast. Mr Lawrence gave evidence that he heard and saw Ms Hand having pleasurable sex with Mr McGregor in the penthouse bedroom while he and Ms Kealey had sex on a sofa bed in the adjoining sitting room. Ms Kealey gave evidence that Ms Hand and Mr McGregor went into the bedroom of the penthouse and that Ms Hand seemed fine afterwards. A key part of the defence case is CCTV footage, which lawyers for Mr McGregor and Mr Lawrence say showed Ms Hand acting in a manner inconsistent with someone who had just been raped. In the footage she could be seen in the hotel lift and underground car park, behaving in a friendly manner with Mr McGregor and affectionately towards Mr Lawrence. Ms Hand said she had no memory of this, that she was drunk at the time and should have been brought home. In his closing speech to the jury, counsel for Nikita Hand, John Gordon, accepted Ms Hands account in the aftermath of the alleged rape was somewhat all over the place. Why wouldnt she be all over the place? he asked the jury. How would you feel. Would you be calm and collected? She was in a terrible state. He urged the jury to vindicate and compensate his client, saying the evidence is overwhelming, embarrassing but overwhelming. Judge Patrick Lynch told Mary McAleese that he was taking the "exceptional course'' of suspending her 15-month prison sentence for a period of three years Disgraced solicitor Mary McAleese at Belfast Crown Court where she was sentenced for fraud. A solicitor who defrauded clients out of 102k in a bid to keep her business afloat following the property crash has been spared prison. Judge Patrick Lynch told Mary McAleese that he was taking the "exceptional course'' of suspending her 15-month prison sentence for a period of three years. McAleese (65), of Frys Lane, Ballymena, Co Antrim, had previously pleaded guilty to four counts of fraud by abuse of her position as a solicitor. Belfast Crown Court heard that she was the sole trader in Belfast-based legal practice O'Toole & MacRandal. The court heard the business got into financial trouble in 2007/2008 during the property crash. In an effort to keep her business going, she removed monies from the client account and put them into the office account. Three of the charges related to monies due from family estates. The fourth charge related to a client who she told an insurance firm had made a settlement for her civil claim of 2,500 when in fact the claim was settled for 12,500. The court was told that the total amount taken from the client account was 85,000. Following an audit of her books in 2016 by the Law Society and an independent firm of accountants, McAleese was struck off as a solicitor in June 2018. The Law Society has already paid back the money to the injured parties. In August 2022, McAleese was interviewed by the PSNI and made "full admissions'' to the frauds. Defence barrister Martin Morgan told the court that McAleese's husband is buying her 40,000 share in the family home and has already paid around 30,000 to the Law Society. On Friday, the court was told that another relative has raised a further 35,000 which is to be lodged with the Law Society. Describing the case as a "breach of trust'', Judge Lynch said McAleese was acting as a sole solicitor in relation to a number of estates of deceased people. "The public reposes great trust in solicitors to deal with their cases in a prompt and appropriate manner,'' said the judge. "In particular they should be honest when they come to handling large sums of money which go through their client account. "There is a high degree of trust reposed when a solicitor is operating in a fiduciary basis.'' He added that it was accepted by the prosecution that McAleese did not take the money for a "high life''. Judge Lynch said that as a result of the fraud, McAleese was bankrupted and the company failed "which brought shame upon herself and embarrassment to her and her family''. He added: "The firm's difficulties were kept a secret as her family were unaware of the difficulties until the house of cards collapsed.'' The judge noted there was a delay of eight years in bringing the case to court but he accepted that the defendant was not to blame. Taking into account her personal circumstances, her early admissions, her previous clear record, Judge Lynch said: "I have come to the view that I do regard this as an exceptional case. "I will therefore suspend the 15 month sentence for three years.'' However, the judge warned the defendant that if she committed any further offence in the next three years she would be brought back to court to serve the 15 month sentence. "Stay clear of trouble in the next three years and you will not be required so to do. And I have no doubt that you will,'' he added. Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Ruslan Stefanchuk announced that he has begun a working visit to Canada, where he plans to participate in the International Security Forum in Halifax and the plenary session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. "In addition, a number of bilateral meetings are planned. The visit is also intended to promote Ukraine's advancement towards NATO membership and deepen bilateral inter-parliamentary dialogue," Stefanchuk said in a statement on the Ukrainian parliament's Telegram channel on Friday. According to him, the visit is being carried out "with the aim of strengthening international support for Ukraine, in particular, providing additional military-technical and financial assistance in countering Russian aggression." Brothers Ahmad Hassan (23) and Ali Hassan (20) came before a sitting of Cavan District Court charged with a series of alleged offences at 51 Latt Hills, Cavan on March 12 this year Ahmad Hassan leads his younger brother from Cavan District Court after appearing before Judge Stephanie Coggans charged in connection to an alleged violent incident in Cavan earlier this year. Ahmad Hassan (23) and Ali Hassan (20) were each charged with false imprisonment and making unwarranted demands for cash during an alleged incident in Cavan in March. A number of men have appeared in court charged with falsely imprisoning and assaulting two men, making a demand for thousands of euros of cash and robbing them of their mobile phones. Brothers Ahmad Hassan (23) and Ali Hassan (20), both of 19 Warrenstown Green, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15 came before a sitting of Cavan District Court charged with a series of alleged offences at 51 Latt Hills, Cavan on March 12 this year. Ahmad Hassan was charged with making a threat to kill or cause serious harm, falsely imprisoning two men and robbing them of their mobile phones totalling over 1,000 alongside assaulting one of the alleged victims while making an unwarranted demand for 8,000. Ahmad Hassan leads his younger brother from Cavan District Court after appearing before Judge Stephanie Coggans charged in connection to an alleged violent incident in Cavan earlier this year. His co-accused was likewise charged with assault causing harm, two counts of false imprisonment, two counts of robbery and making an unwarranted demand for the same four figure sum. Sgt Damien Galligan told Judge Stephanie Coggans the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had directed for both men to be sent forward for trial to the Circuit Criminal Court. Dimitry Grinberg BL, defending and instructed by Aongus McCarthy Solicitors, applied for legal aid on behalf of both men. Richard Ayodele arriving at Cavan Courthouse. The pair were remanded on continuing bail to reappear at a sitting of Cavan District Court on January 16, 2025 for the service of a book of evidence. They were joined by two other men, Dolnet Kalemba (23) 18 Parkview, Cavan and Richard Ayodele (21) 7 Drumalee Court, Cavan, both of whom were similarly charged in connection to the same incident. Kalemba, who also had a charge sheet address at 14 Church Street, Athlone, Westmeath was charged with two counts of false imprisonment, robbery, making a threat to kill or cause serious harm, assault, the theft of an iPhone worth 665, making an unwarranted demand for cash and threatening to damage property at 51 Latt Hills, Cavan, Co Cavan on March 12, 2024. A further threatening to damage property and making an unwarranted demand for money charges related to an alleged offence some 24 hours earlier at 56 Pairc an Duin, Cavan. Farouq Oluwanifemi B Adio outside Cavan Courthouse. Ayodele, meanwhile, was charged with theft and making an unwarranted demand for 8,000 at 51 Latt Hills, Cavan also on March 12 this year. Two other men, Farouq Oluwanifemi B Adio (21) 43 Tailteann Drive, Windtown, Navan, Meath and Matthew Wilde (19) 54 Tailteann Drive, Windtown, Meath, were also charged in connection to falsely imprisoning one of the male victims at a location in the county of Cavan three weeks later on April 3, 2024. Ali Hassan (20) leaving Cavan Courthouse. Wilde also stands accused of producing a black handled knife and assault causing harm during the same incident. All six were remanded on bail to a sitting of Cavan District Court on January 16, 2025 for the service of a book of evidence. We dont care who gets these sexual deviants convicted so long as it stays within the law A group of paedo-hunting grans have slammed a top cop who last week labelled their methods as criminal and ineffective. The women, from Warriors of Children, say they have been responsible for bringing dozens of paedophiles to court, securing several convictions and said the PSNI dont have the resources to do the detailed investigations they do. They even produced evidence of more than 40 paedophiles from across the UK and Ireland who have already been convicted, or are waiting to go to trial, because of their investigations, including Kevin Christy from Portadown who served several months behind bars for sexual advances to a child, who turned out to be one of their decoys. Chief Superintendent Lindsay Fisher lit on what she described as vigilante groups for hindering PSNI investigations and accused them of committing criminal offences including blackmail and assault. She was speaking outside Bishop Street Courthouse in Derry last week after former Sinn Fein press officer Michael McMonagle was sentenced to nine months in prison for attempted sexual communication with a child and attempting to cause or incite a child between 13 and 16 to engage in a sexual activity, including penetration. Michael McMonagle In that specific case paedophile hunter groups were not used instead the entire operation was a sting led by the dedicated PSNI Child Internet Protection Team over a 15-month period which found the 42-year-old pervert trying to make contact with a number of different profiles which he believed were all children. The Chief Superintendent read extract from a prepared statement which was later posted on the PSNI website in full and went to town on groups like Warriors of Children. In the full statement it says: Police are now using this opportunity to deter people from vigilante activity, stating that vigilante paedophile hunters in NI are slowing down police investigations and even prevent criminal justice outcomes. In 2022 a judge sitting in a Tyrone court condemned the actions of so-called paedophile hunters and stated they have never been able to convict a person on their type of evidence. This leaves potentially serious offenders free to move away without any legal controls on their movements or where they can seek employment disappearing without trace. We can reveal the Tyrone case referred to was brought after a paedophile hunter group sting and the same judge went on to convict the pervert who had tried to communicate with a child sexually and to incite a child to engage in sexual activity. We cant name the man involved in that case because he was allegedly caught committing similar acts and is currently awaiting trial again. But the PSNI statement didnt mention that and it went on to further criticise paedo-hunting groups like Warriors of Children. Det Chief Supt Fisher said: The activists are causing people to be wrongly accused in some cases and attacked. Cases have fallen through or possible criminal outcomes reduced due to evidence being gathered by these groups outside of the law, undermining the integrity of any subsequent police investigation and bringing human rights into question. Policing the online world requires specialist skills to ensure an investigation is of sufficient quality to bring a high-risk offender to justice. They want vigilante groups to let their specialist teams do the job they have been trained to do. The police are the only lawful accountable authority to investigate suspected criminality. Not only are the workings of these groups hindering our investigations, they are not in a position to ensure safeguarding issues are addressed. We take great care in gathering robust evidence and, yes, we welcome the public to come forward and report concerns to us, but we are firm in our messaging that only we should take action against potential perpetrators. The safety of victims and innocent family members should be at the forefront, as well as gathering the best possible evidence to put predators before the courts. We would remind these groups that their methods also fall within the category of criminality blackmail, assault, false imprisonment naming but a few potential charges. Det Chief Supt Lindsay Fisher The women from Warriors of Children group have appeared in this paper before and explained how they motivated purely by removing paedophiles from the streets and that they are never aggressive and none of them has ever faced a criminal charge. Lindsay Fisher labelled online child protection teams as vigilantes that are hindering their investigations and are not in a position to make sure safe guarding issues are addressed, they told the Sunday World in response. Maybe she would like to explain why when teams have handed an alleged offender directly to the police why are the same alleged offenders still talking sexually online weeks after being reported? The police also state they rely on the public to come forward to them but we wouldnt like to think that when the public do come forward they are left sitting for months on end without as much as a statement being taken. It was also stated that we would remind these groups that their methods fall within criminality. We have secured convictions along with so many other teams in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK and have never even been cautioned let alone been arrested for the crimes she has mentioned. To label all teams as criminals is bizarre. The group went on to say they believed PSNI resources were extremely stretched and they have repeatedly asked for the police to cooperate with well-run groups like theirs to help catch more offenders. We dont care who gets these sexual deviants convicted so long as it stays within the law and the beasts are being convicted for their actions and the children are protected. He stopped to talk to people and shook hands as he encouraged locals to vote him number 1. Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch' who is running for the Dublin Central constituency, campaigning in Dublin. Last spring, Mr Hutch was found not guilty by the non-jury Special Criminal Court of the murder of David Byrne, in one of the first deadly attacks of the Hutch-Kinahan gangland feud. Picture date: Thursday November 21, 2024. PA Photo. See PA story IRISH Election. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch is running for the Dublin Central constituency. Photo: PA Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch campaigning in a van in Dublin. Photo: PA Gerry The Monk Hutch showed little concern for his safety as he went out canvassing today. He stopped to talk to people and shook hands as he encouraged locals to vote him number 1. The gangland figure (61), who is running for the Dublin Central constituency, was seen driving through the streets of Dublin in his white election van, adorned with a massive campaign poster, as he blared Thin Lizzys The Boys are Back in Town. A speaker in the van announced in Hutchs voice: Get out and vote, peoples choice, vote number 1, Hutch number 1. He gave passersby a wide grin and a thumbs up as he cruised around the capital. The veteran criminal has stepped up the campaign in his constituency since he announced his general election bid last week. In an interview with the Sunday World at the weekend, the unlikely election candidate said that local TDs had done nothing for the area. On Monday, Hutch shared a photo of himself clinging to an electricity pole as he hung his election poster above one of constituency rival, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald. Up we go. We are on top and staying on top. Great support and great feedback from the locals, he posted on social media. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content Hutch also shared a video from his canvassing trip, where he posed with Dubliners. Great to meet people in my constituency today and around Dublin, he wrote on social media. Great feedback as always from the lovely people of Dublin. Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch is running for the Dublin Central constituency. Photo: PA It comes as Ms McDonald was asked about Hutchs election bid by students while out canvassing at Dublin City University. She told students anyone can run for election, but she represented families that suffered because of gangland violence. It wasnt glamorous, its not cool, its not funny, she said. There were people, families and children left very, very traumatised still by that and that kind of activity in communities brings nothing but bad news and hardship, especially for young people. Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch campaigning in a van in Dublin. Photo: PA Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch on his election bid, cleaning up Dublin, that Spanish money laundering probe and comparisons to Donald Trump The Monk was acquitted last year of the gangland murder of Regency Hotel victim David Byrne in 2016. The Hutch gang have been involved in a feud with the Kinahan cartel for a number of years. The feud has claimed 18 lives. As well as Ms McDonald, Hutch faces a range of other challengers in Dublin Central, including Fine Gaels Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe and former Dublin MEP Clare Daly. When I saw the guests, there were loads of women that were rides but the men were dodge Vogue Williams has revealed that she once attended an orgy in an industrial estate. However, the Howth native was quick to point out it was for research purposes while filming a documentary for RTE. She told comedian Emma Doran on the latest episode of her Never Live It Down podcast how she went to the sex party although it wasnt for sexual reasons. I was filming for RTE and we were filming a documentary all about sex, she explained. There was this orgy going on and it was like in a sex club and it was in an industrial estate. I went in, it was just like all these beds and then like a sex swing and all these different rooms, but when I saw the guests, there were loads of women that were rides but the men were dodge. Youd be raging, she joked. Emma and Vogue laughed as they considered how attendees at such gatherings would likely see your cousin Michael pop up. Paddy, what the f**k are you doing here? Vogue exclaimed. Vogue has presented a number of documentaries, including Wild Girls, On The Edge and The Afterlife. As well as Never Live It Down she hosts the podcasts My Therapist Ghosted Me and Vogue And Spencer, with her Made In Chelsea star, husband Spencer Matthews. Speaking to Ireland AM earlier this year, Vogue discussed the premise of the new podcast, saying: Its me interviewing different guests and just really funny people. Its about interviewing people, asking them questions that they wouldnt normally get asked, so its been really good so far; I have had a few good guests, loads of really amazing people lined up. She added: There a lot of talk about times you have found yourself feeling embarrassed, different things, questions youd never be asked during an interview, and it kind of takes the interview on a completely different path. I have had a few comedians on so far, and obviously, their stories are just completely wild, so its just been such a laugh to do that. The 38-year-old said she loved podcasting, as she is so incredibly nosey, and this is a way for me to be even nosier. When youre doing podcasts, youre just sitting having a conversation, she explained. Thats why I love it so much. Obviously, there is a lot of research that goes into it, but thats the part I really enjoy as well. Its kind of like a dream job. Since it was launched in April 2021, the My Therapist Ghosted Me podcast now reaches 3.5 million listeners per month while Vogue and Spencer details whats been going on in their lives. Earlier this month it was revealed that Vogue will be the third celebrity taking part in this year's Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special. She will be partnered with professional dancer Carlos Gu on the one-off edition of the BBC dancing show, that will see six celebrities perform festive routines to be crowned Strictly Christmas Champion 2024. Drag artist Tayce and comedian Josh Widdecombe have already been announced. Williams said: "Im so excited to join the Strictly family. "Carlos would have more of a chance of winning a Nobel Prize than turning me into a good dancer but I am determined to try my very best. "Im loving it so far, bring on the ballroom floor." In 2012, she took part in Dancing With The Stars Australia with professional dancer Christopher Page. They were the third couple to be eliminated. The Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special will air on BBC One on Christmas Day. Kiwis are smoking less and snorting more than in the past, new data has revealed. Cocaine availability and use is rising, while vapers outnumber smokers of traditional cigarettes for the first time in the latest annual New Zealand Drug Trends Survey (NZDTS). Massey University has been asking thousands of New Zealanders about their drug habits annually since 2017. Lead researcher Professor Chris Wilkins says the latest survey has found increased availability of cocaine, particularly in Auckland, Northland and Bay of Plenty, and increased cocaine use across the whole country. Their anecdotal evidence was reflected in wastewater drug testing and police seizures. Wilkins said cocaine was one of the few drugs in the survey whose price had not dropped. Cannabis was the most widely used illegal drug, with seven in 10 respondents having consumed it in the previous six months. Second was MDMA (ecstasy, 45 percent), LSD/psychedelics (45 percent), cocaine (23 percent, up from 12 percent), ketamine (19 percent) and nitrous oxide (18 percent). All were well behind alcohol use, at 86 percent. Use of vaping products leapt from 48 percent in the previous survey to 64 percent, ahead of tobacco, which fell from 58 to 50 percent. Meth was most popular in Manawatu-Whanganui, Waikato and Northland, while MDMA and ketamine use were highest in Otago, Wellington and Canterbury. Cocaine use increased in all regions, but was particularly available in Auckland, Northland, Waikato, Taranaki and the Bay of Plenty. "You have seen coke production increase kind of year on year since around 2018, 2019, so it sort of suggests that they are looking to expand," Massey University researcher Robin van der Sanden told Morning Report. "There's a lot of coke floating around, so they are perhaps more inclined to serve small, kind of peripheral markets, like New Zealand." LSD and other psychedelics were getting cheaper, the NZDTS found, "perhaps reflecting new digital supply sources including social media and darknets, and interest in therapeutic use". as well as loosening restrictions in the United States and Australia. "We've seen an increase in availability and some decline in price, but I think that's really been driven by curiosity and just popularity of psychedelics on the back of that kind of wave of interest in the therapeutic benefits," van der Sanden said. Restricted availability due to supply constrictions and concerns over the size and potency of MDMA pills appears to have stunted its growth in New Zealand. High on their own supply Cannabis availability is getting higher, the survey found, and prices have "marginally declined", as more people grow their own at home. "Think about how prices in the legal economy have gone since 2017, and costs all gone up by five, 10, 15 percent - whereas these illegal market drugs have actually declined in the regions of, you know, anything from 10 to 35 percent." The 2024 survey was conducted between February and July, and spoke to 10,781 users "with recent experience and knowledge of drug use and drug markets across the country", which "broadly [represented] the demographic profile and regional population distribution", though skewed slightly younger than New Zealand as a whole. - RNZ Auckland Zoo has said goodbye to New Zealand's last elephant, and with her, her keepers. After about two-and-a-half years of planning and waiting, Burma has moved to her new home at Monarto Safari Park in South Australia. Burma and her "human herd" - that is, her keepers - arrived last week, and she is settling in well, according to Auckland Zoo's Andrew Coers. "Something that we're noticing here at the moment is that she's very much on alert with all the different noises because obviously [at Auckland Zoo] you've got all the white noise of all the different city noises that you have, whereas here it's so quiet that you get all these unusual animal noises or vehicle's noises that she's like 'what's that over there, what's this' and so we're having to support her through those," he said. "But she's made leaps and bounds." The 42-year-old Asian elephant will be in a quarantine area with a barn and a yard until mid-December. She has gone to join a herd - but she is the first one there. "It's to Burma's benefit in a roundabout way because being first there she gets to get familiar with the property and the site." The next elephant to arrive will be Permai, from Perth, who will probably come toward the end of January, then two more will join in March or April, from Taronga Zoo in Sydney. Later, a male elephant will join the herd from Perth. So what happens if they do not get along? "We've got four habitats within the precinct of elephants here so there's enough space to shift and juggle elephants if they don't get on," Coers says. But it is not a scenario he is worried about, as they have all been around other elephants before. He said the introduction process would include watching the elephants for the right signs that they were ready to meet. As far as Burma was concerned, Coers was confident she would do just fine. "She's such a gentle elephant. I, at this stage, touch wood, have no reservations about her introductions with the other cows. "What we'd like to see is her form a relationship with Permai and then that will help, they'll be able to support each other." Burma is loaded onto a plane for her trip across the Tasman. Photo: Auckland Zoo / supplied. The keepers will be watching for signs like when the elephants "link trunks, touch each other, just sniff each other, all that sort of stuff are all good signs, and they'll start rumbling, and squeaking, and carrying on". Coers is part of a team of five who joined Burma on her trip. He and his wife and colleague, Corryn Coers, have both known Burma for about 25 years, and two other trainers, Laurel Sandy and Odin Neil, for upwards of 15 years. "We've all spent that time and I don't know what we'd do without her, which is why we're here." For three of them, a return date is up in the air. "We're just trying to suss that out at the moment, we just want to make sure that we're here to support Burma with the introduction of the other elephants coming and then we'll just kind of make some decision based from all of that really," he said. While Coers was happy to see Burma in a new home with other elephants, the relocation was bittersweet. "I wanted New Zealanders to have the opportunity to be in the presence of elephants ... it's not right keeping an elephant on its own and it's not right keeping one or two. They should be socialised with a bunch of cows. "I'm still sad about her leaving New Zealand and us not being able to kind of achieve what we wanted to achieve in New Zealand." On Burma's drive from the Adelaide airport to Monarto Safari Park, South Australians lined the road to get a glimpse of her. "To have that reception was really special. I've got no doubt in my mind that the community is going to embrace her and they showed that on her arrival and I'm really grateful for that." Following their work to provide families across the region with a decent place to live, Habitat for Humanity is excited to open a destination charity store in downtown Mount Maunganui this December. With a prime location in Tawa Street, Habitats ReStore will raise vital funds to support their local housing programmes. Habitat is seeking donations and volunteers to help bring the store to life. The ReStore will provide a tangible way for people to connect with the Habitat mission, Habitat Central Region chief executive Nic Greene said. Habitat is all about building homes, communities and hope. When you shop, donate, or volunteer at our stores, youre helping us to do more for local people in housing need. Habitat Central recently welcomed three families to new warm, dry and safe homes in Papamoa. They are now part of 22 Bay of Plenty whanau working towards home ownership through Habitats rent-to-own Progressive Home Ownership programme. The past couple of years have seen us support a number of Bay of Plenty families to make their housing aspirations a reality, Greene said. Were proud to continue this work and increase our presence in the region with the opening of our Mount Maunganui ReStore. Habitat is currently accepting donations of good-quality second-hand goods, including clothing, furniture, household items, books, toys, and more. Email the Mount ReStore at themount@habitat.org.nz. Habitat also recruits volunteers to help with a variety of roles. Find out more at habitat.org.nz/op-shops. The Mount Maunganui ReStore is part of a network of 23 across Aotearoa. Follow @themountrestore on Instagram for sneak peaks and opening date announcements. - SunLive A Lotto player from Whakatane had luck on their side after winning $20,759 with Lotto Second Division in Wednesday nights live Lotto draw. They also won Powerball Second Division, taking their total winnings to $33,730. The winning Powerball Second Division ticket was sold on MyLotto to a player from Whakatane. Nine other Lotto players also had luck on their side after each winning $20,759 with Lotto Second Division in Wednesday nights live Lotto draw Powerball and Strike roll over Powerball and Strike have both rolled over on Wednesday night, meaning there is a combined prize pool of $9.8 million up for grabs on Saturday. Powerball was not struck on Wednesday evening and has rolled over to Saturday night, where the jackpot will be $8 million. Lotto First Division will be $1 million and Strike Four will be $800,000 on Saturday. The winning Second Division tickets were sold at the following stores: Store Location Pak n Save Wairau Road Auckland Harris Road Superette & Lotto Auckland MyLotto Manukau MyLotto (+PB) Whakatane MyLotto Kapiti Coast Woolworths Newtown Wellington Woolworths Belfast Christchurch Whitcoulls Riccarton Christchurch MyLotto Christchurch City Dee Night n Day Invercargill Anyone who bought their ticket from any of the above stores should check their ticket as soon as possible in-store, on MyLotto, or through the MyLotto App. Lotto NZ exists to return 100 per cent of its profits to Kiwi communities through lottery grants programmes run by Te Puna Tahua NZ Lottery Grants Board. After 10 years of mother crafting, the Bethlehem Birthing Centre will host an open-home celebration on Sunday, November 24, from 1pm to 4pm. The Chloe Wright Foundation opened the centre on November 14, 2019, with former Prime Minister Sir John Key doing the honours, and it was taken over by Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora on July 1, 2023. Bethlehem Birthing Centre co-founders Nicky Campbell (left) and Chloe Wright at the official opening with former Prime Minister John Key cutting the ribbon. Photo / George Novak We are running the primary midwifery community service, which is run through the hospital, but it is the hospital midwife team, clinical midwife co-ordinator and acting manager China Mortell said. Mortell arrived after Bethlehem Birthing Centre merged with Te Whatu Ora, where the number of births has increased to between 30 and 35 a month. We dont have enough lead maternity carers to care for all the pregnant women in Tauranga, so the primary midwifery care services team is caring for all the birth women in this town. At the open home there will be cakes, vendors and the first child born at the centre 10 years ago. Bethlehem Birthing Centre founder Chloe Wright. Photo / Andrew Warner Chloe Wright and Nicky Campbell opened the centre to fulfil a vision of providing a primary birthing facility in Tauranga. Wright died in September 2023 and her husband, Wayne Wright, will attend the celebration. People have known that this birth centre was important to her, Mortell said. The centre and Te Whata Ora have agreed to extend the services contract for another five years, according to Mortell. This is a huge accomplishment, considering birth centres are closing nationwide due to financial restrictions. About 30 staff, from nurses to midwives and chefs, help run the centre and look after the new mothers and their babies, she said. Bethlehem Birthing Centre runs three clinics, one in Bethlehem, one in Katikati and one in Te Puke, to care for the 1000 women per year who cannot find a lead maternity carer. Meeting that demand is really important, Mortell said. - SunLive A man is due to appear in the Hamilton District Court today, facing a number of serious charges. He was taken into custody following a serious incident in Waikato on Friday afternoon. At around 12.30pm on Friday, Police were notified of a person escaping custody and assaulting two Corrections Officers outside Waikato Hospital, said Detective Inspector Darrell Harpur. "The alleged offender has then reportedly carjacked a vehicle in the hospital carpark and fled the scene," said Harpur. Police made area enquiries to locate the man in the stolen vehicle, before it was sighted by the Eagle helicopter in Te Awamutu at around 3.25pm. The Eagle Helicopter tracked the vehicle until Police staff on the ground located it, and was successfully spiked on Cambridge Road, Leamington around 3.40pm. The vehicle then came to a stop just off Cambridge Road approximately five minutes later, where the offender was taken into custody. The 25-year-old man is due to appear in the Hamilton District Court today, facing a number of serious charges. "This was a rapidly evolving incident, and I would like to commend staff who swiftly formulated and executed a plan to locate and arrest the man involved before further people were brought in harms way," Harpur said. Deputy Chief of the Main Intelligence Agency of the Ministry of Defense Vadym Skibitsky confirmed the transfer of artillery systems and multiple launch rocket systems from the DPRK to Russia. "We confirm what the media says about the transfer of equipment. They transferred artillery systems and multiple launch rocket systems," he said in a comment to journalists on Friday. Skibitsky said Russia does not have 170 mm ammunition, but North Korea has stockpiles of them. "This will allow Russia to expand the entire line and receive ammunition," he said. The Intelligence Agency said the participation of the DPRK army in the war on the side of Russia poses a danger for Ukraine, South Korea, and Japan, because "some of the North Korean military will die in Ukraine, and some will return ready to conduct modern combat operations and will be able to work as instructors in the DPRK army." "This is one and a half million military personnel. They gain combat experience that neither South Korea, nor Japan, nor China have," Skibitsky said. Regina Sotorrio MALAGA. Friday, 22 November 2024, 16:36 Compartir From outside the hall, the sound of trumpets from the procession echoes faintly, acting as a call, a beckoning to enter. Visitors cross a small, dark corridor, their eyes adjusting gradually to what lies ahead. Then the spectacle begins: 40 metres of a continuous, unbroken procession that celebrates life through the lens of death. William Kentridge returns to Malaga with More Sweetly Play the Dance, a "magnificent" video installation spanning eight screens. Blending filmed images, animated drawings and music, it serves as both a poignant acknowledgment of mortality and a powerful act of defiance against it. The South African artist, who introduced the piece in a video shown at the presentation, brings together history, identity and memory in this project, which first took shape in 2015 during the Ebola health crisis. It was a time when the world witnessed, for the first time, healthcare workers fully covered in protective suits as they removed bodies from the streets or accompanied patients dragging IV drips in tragic processions. Kentridge captures this stark reality through video and animation across giant screens, led by the sounds of a brass band and punctuated by the powerful movements of South African choreographer Dada Masilo. Thanks to the vibrant, jazz-infused rhythms of the Immanuel Assemblies Brass Band and the African-rooted dance, Kentridge turns tragedy into something entirely different. He draws on a medieval belief from the time of the plague, which took lives indiscriminately, from Popes and priests to emperors, merchants and children. According to the belief, "if you kept dancing, the plague would skip over your village and move on to the next". In this way, the dance of death becomes a "dance against death". "Picasso would have been captivated by the movement Kentridge creates" The concept of resilience can be applied to any critical moment in human history. The artist reflects on how, in 2020, the installation gained new significance during the Covid pandemic, with the reappearance of protective suits and masks. "And now, in 2024, we cannot ignore the echoes of the countless people forced to flee their homes due to wars in the Middle East, Sudan and Congo," Kentridge stated. This work, from the Fundacio Sorigue collection, offers the Malaga Picasso Museum an opportunity to connect a contemporary artist with the legacy of Picasso. It highlights many similarities between them, including their focus on the human condition and the use of the colour black in their drawings. Zoom Marilu Baez "Picasso would have been captivated by the movement Kentridge creates, using the potential of video and music. A piece like this would have deeply moved him," said Miguel Lopez-Remiro, the museum's artistic director. On display in Malaga until 27 April, the piece features an immersive setup with wooden chairs resembling a classroom. "It broadens our view of contemporary art, addressing themes of drama, loss and death," said Lopez-Remiro who was accompanied by the foundation's president Ana Valles and Jose Angel Velez, secretary general for museums at the Junta de Andalucia. Pilar Martinez Malaga Friday, 22 November 2024, 17:38 Compartir The letters from Malaga's mayor Francisco de la Torre to Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez and central government relating to a proposed tourist tax have stirred up controversy in the tourism industry. The third of these letters was to Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, asking for a legal framework in which to introduce a tax of two or three euros per stay and per person against holiday homes and hotels. The proceeds from this tax would be used to help families who, due to their economic or social situation, cannot afford housing in the area as well as promoting the area as a tourist destination. Despite the fuss, De la Torre is confident that his petition "is the best way to shield and protect tourism from criticism and protests about the housing problem. If I were a property owner I would be asking for this tax to avoid this negative effect." The Andalusian tourist housing association (AVVA-Pro) supports the proposal as long as "the creation of balanced and egalitarian fiscal measures for the entire tourist sector with the aim of guaranteeing equity between the different types of accommodation and maximising the benefits for the city." This group, with whom the mayor held a meeting a few days ago to gather support for this initiative, says that "we would not object to the revenue generated being used as a tool to improve the city, to promote quality of life, improve public services, social rental programmes... thus promoting a balanced coexistence between tourism and citizens." It stated that this proposal "seeks not only to guarantee the sustainability of the sector, but also to generate a positive impact on the city of Malaga", but stressed that "the creation of any tax, fee or fiscal measure should be fair and transparent, ensuring that the resources collected are reinvested in projects that benefit the whole of society equally, without establishing arbitrary distinctions that may harm the competitiveness of some players." For their part, hoteliers insist that they no longer know how to say no to a tourist tax so that all the leaders understand it. "We have said it actively and passively, but it seems that it is not enough. We are against any tourist tax with or without some end purpose because, among other things, the current system prevents the money collected from going to a purpose linked to tourism. We are seeing this with the taxes in the Balearic Islands and Catalonia," explained Javier Hernandez, vice-president of Aehcos (the Costa del Sol's association of hotel employers and owners). This sector is surprised at the missives sent by De la Torre as an agreement has been in place since last May that this was an issue that needed further study. In May there was a meeting chaired by the Junta's tourism minister, Arturo Bernal, attended by the president of the CEA confederation of employers of Andalucia Javier Gonzalez de Lara, and the head of the Andalusian federation of municipalities and provinces (FAMP) and mayor of Cordoba Jose Maria Bellido. The meeting outcome was to activate a 'Sustainability Observatory' to tackle, using suitable data and studies, the strategies with which to respond to debates such as the setting of this tax or the management and design of a development model that avoids problems of coexistence between tourists and residents. "It is in this framework where it was agreed to take this type of proposal. We understand that tourist towns need funding, but until this observatory is defined, no tax can be introduced," said Hernandez, warning that "it is not possible to propose a tax on tourists when there are daytrippers who visit the city and who also consume our resources." Aehcos is concerned that De la Torre has always said that he would not impose a tourist tax without industry consensus, an element that the mayor also includes in these letters. "And we have said no and we continue to say no," stresses Hernandez, who reminds us that the housing problem could easily be solved by city hall speeding up the processing of land development and promoting the construction of subsidised housing. As for the purpose of the tax, he reminds us that "it is not a No", but that the priorities are not only development, but also solving problems of mobility, beaches and water resources. For his part, the mayor considers that the reform of the Local Finance Law that he is demanding from PM Sanchez is "feasible" and claims that "it has no cost for the Cabinet and I believe that it could be supported unanimously by Congress. What party would find it wrong to establish a legal framework so that municipalities that consider it can set a tax for stays in tourist homes to help pay the rent of families without resources? I see very clearly that the government could do this." De la Torre is convinced that this tourist tax measure is a well-rounded solution that will quell public protest and strengthen tourism as a key sector for the local economy. The mayor also clarifies that this tax would not be carried out without the consensus of the key players and that the priority is tourist accommodation. "Hotels are not on the agenda for the moment," he declares, although he does include them in the letter sent to the Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism, which he also enclosed in the letter sent to the Prime Minister. Pilar Martinez Malaga Friday, 22 November 2024, 12:21 Compartir Malaga city council's war on tourist apartments is being taken to central government in Moncloa. The mayor of Malaga, Francisco de la Torre, sent a letter on Tuesday to Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, in which he asks for the creation of a legal framework to establish a tax per overnight stay of two to three euros per person per day in tourist homes and hotels in the city. The letter begins with the mayor stating that the proliferation of this type of holiday rental has caused an "undesirable" situation in the city by reducing the supply of long-term rental properties. After reminding the PM of the actions being carried out by his council to limit the growth of new holiday rental licences, he calls for state collaboration in order to have the legal framework that "allows us to establish, on a voluntary basis, a tax on overnight stays in tourist homes." However, this tax is also extended to hotel stays, mentioned in the first of three letters on this subject sent to the government, addressed to the Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism, Jordi Hereu. In fact, the letter to Sanchez includes a copy of the letter sent to Hereu in August after the protests in the Canary Islands, Malaga and Palma de Mallorca, and the one sent to the Minister of Housing and the Urban Agenda, Isabel Rodriguez, last October. In the opening greeting to Sanchez, De la Torre gives him the same treatment as he did in his letter to Hereu by including "dear friend" in his own handwriting. De la Torre explains in this letter that the aim of this legal framework is that the revenue from this new tax will be used "entirely to subsidise the rents of families whose economic or social situation makes it very difficult for them to access housing." In fact, in the letter sent to the Minister of Tourism, which is the most detailed and in which the mayor gives more details of his proposal for this new tax, he explains that, if this tax were to be applied, the council could collect between 20 and 30 million euros, especially as "it would be seen as a direct action on the part of the person causing the problem to resolve the situations created." To this should be added the amount collected from the hotels, which he acknowledges would be a smaller amount because of the lower number of vacancies, and which would be directly applied to the promotion of quality tourism. De la Torre considers that "tourism of excellence must be Spain's main objective in the coming years and from Malaga we want to contribute to this in a significant way." The letter to the PM ends by asking him to heed this request and to study it with "the utmost interest. I am sure that we both share this concern and wish to alleviate the effects that the excessive supply of tourist accommodation is having on rental prices." In the letter to Minister Hereu, Malaga's mayor states that this type of holiday rental has produced a drop in the number of properties available for long-term rent and "inevitably a significant increase in the amount of rent and, indirectly, a disproportionate increase in the price of housing." In the same letter he makes it clear to the Minister that "only those municipalities that have reached a consensus with the sector on how to do it, allowing those involved in it to have a clear control that the income is destined to improve the situation and alleviate the negative effects of the excessive development of tourist accommodation, could create these taxes or tourist tax." He goes on to stress that this requires central government to create a legal framework within the scope of the Law of Local Treasuries (RD 29/2021) that "allows us, on a voluntary basis, to introduce the tourist tax for overnight stays in the cities where we see the need to do so. Subsequently, we can share the practices that we establish in each city, and learn from each other, coordinating through FEMP [the Spanish federation of municipalities and provinces] or the corresponding regional federations." De la Torre insists that this legislative framework opens the door to initiatives that "would curb, and I am sure eliminate, these currents of opinion against tourism that have been created, some spontaneously, and others with irresponsible political intent" and he appeals to Hereu's past as mayor of Barcelona to understand "to what extent we can collaborate from the municipal level to curb these manifestations of tourist phobia that inevitably harm Spanish tourism in general, and to redirect the feelings of the residents of the city that welcomes tourists towards understanding and recognising the contribution that tourists make with this tax, to solve social problems or to improve the quality and excellence of the tourism that comes to each city." However, Minister Hereu responded firmly that measures on the set-up of the tourist offer, such as tourist taxes, "have to be taken from closer to home" and pointed out that "it is very important that city councils and the autonomous regions assume their responsibilities because proximity is what gives knowledge of the reality." Moreover, in statements made before attending the preliminary regatta of the America's Cup sailing competition in Barcelona, he expressed his opposition to "generalising measures from the State when they have to be taken from a local level." However, De la Torre did not give up and on 18 October he sent another letter along the same lines to the Minister for Housing and the Urban Agenda in which he stated that "what we must do, from our respective political responsibilities, is to define formulas that make it possible for tourism to coexist with the needs of our local residents. For this reason, although various municipalities are already making progress in adopting the necessary regulatory measures to limit the proliferation of this type of housing, I believe it is essential to have this tax as an additional measure." Moreover, the letter ends by suggesting that "Malaga can serve as a pilot project and extrapolate our experience to other municipalities that show interest in this formula." Cristina Vallejo Friday, 22 November 2024, 18:24 Compartir The crime took place in Fuengirola. On the night of the Three Kings (5 January). Diana Yanet Vargas. Her partner killed her by throwing her off the balcony. She was the first recorded fatal victim of gender-based violence in Spain. Her name is at the top of the list of women murdered at the hands of their spouses, partners or exes. Compilation of this list only began in 2003 in Spain and now the names of another 1,284 women have been added over these last two decades. The starting up of this register of names, the counting and recording of the identities of these murdered women, is a response to the growing awareness of a social problem that was triggered in 1997 by the case of Ana Orantes, a 60-year-old woman who, after putting up with 40 years of abuse, was then murdered just days after telling her story on television. "With Ana Orantes, gender-based violence came to the fore socially; it generated a social upheaval and even prompted a legislative change," said Flor de Torres, deputy prosecutor for violence against women in Andalucia for the public prosecutor's office. The legislative change to which De Torres refers is the approval in 2004 of a law on comprehensive protection measures against gender violence, which this year celebrates its 20th anniversary. This took some doing as, in the words of Lola Rodriguez, who in the early 2000s chaired the Malaga gender violence protest group Cero Violencia, there was a lot of lobbying to get this "pioneering" and "very ambitious" law passed. She recalls how feminists in Malaga collected signatures to demand a law that would protect women. Rodriguez also recalls that, before they began counting and logging the number of murdered women, as soon as the feminists heard of any case of gender violence in Malaga they would organise protest rallies to express their outrage. They would find out about such crimes through the local town halls, government offices or the press. News of the murder of Diana Yanet Vargas in Fuengirola nearly 22 years ago had its place on the front page of SUR on 7 January 2003. On the inside pages, the headline was "A woman dies after being thrown by her partner from a first floor in Fuengirola." Nowadays the wording of such a news story would be different, the result of over 20 years of awareness and education on how to report on gender-based violence: victims do not die for some 'reason', they are murdered. Lonely burial Rodriguez, when she heard of the case, contacted an official at Fuengirola town hall and learned that Diana Yanet Vargas was Colombian and had no family in Malaga. No one claimed her body. About a month later, she was buried in Fuengirola cemetery with the only attendees being half a dozen women belonging to the feminist movements active at the time in Malaga province. One of them was Lola Rodriguez, who remembers that it was raining and that her tears mingled with the raindrops. Diana Yanet Vargas was 28 years old and had a daughter from a previous relationship. The girl was spending Christmas with her father in Madrid. Women from the movement against gender violence later visited the school in Fuengirola where the girl was attending and there they saw some of her drawings that clearly showed the four-year-old girl was living in a violent home. The law against gender-based violence that was passed a year after Vargas' murder identifies minors as direct and indirect victims of this reality, and the trial - in 2006 - recognised the child's right to compensation. Flor de Torres, who at that time was appointed prosecutor for violence against women in Malaga, recalls that the case of Diana Yanet Vargas was complicated as two people were convicted. The first was the murderer, Harald Mikael Robert Hellstrom. However, a second man was convicted for omission to assist the victim. A friend of the murderer, Charles Paul Marcel Moradell, closed the door of the house to prevent the screams of Vargas from being heard, said De Torres. According to SUR at the time, in the middle of an argument between the couple, who had been living in the Costa del Sol home for a year, Hellstrom threw a Christmas tree out of the window. The woman went to pick it up and, on her return, he threw her out of the window. She died instantly after hitting her head on an air conditioner unit. Neighbours told SUR that previously the attacker's friend had prevented them from entering the house when they tried to mediate between the couple. They also admitted that disputes in that home were commonplace. Zoom Lola Rodriguez was president of the protest group against male violence towards women, Violencia Cero de Malaga, in 2003. Marilu Baez This case highlighted the danger of omission and inaction, of turning a deaf ear to violence. The collaboration of the general public and especially of the locals in the neighbourhood is sometimes vital. It did not save her life, but the testimony of a neighbour was very important in the sentencing of this murderer to 14 years in prison and compensation for the daughter. Prosecution However, Concha Alarcon, who back then was vice-president of the zero violence protest group (Plataforma Violencia Cero), recalls that what was essential was that this feminist organisation brought their own private prosecution with the support of lawyer Rosa Roldan. The murderer had declared that the victim had thrown herself off the balcony, also claiming that "she was not right in the head". Roldan, according to Alarcon's testimony, was able to prove that the way she had fallen could only have happened if someone else had thrown her. Alarcon says it was not easy to prove this because it was the word of a man still alive against a dead woman. "The greatest act of injustice is to question the victims; you have to prove a fact, but you don't have to question" During the trial the criminal, Alarcon recalls, was very calm, even arrogant: "He did not bow his head; he showed no signs of repentance or guilt." She added: "He was always very well-groomed." Concha Alarcon can be seen in the photo that accompanies these lines: "He was just one metre away." Specialised courts Prosecutor De Torres explains that the case of Diana Yanet Vargas was not heard in specialised chambers. She goes on to explain how nowadays, with the development of the comprehensive law on gender violence and better public awareness, it is more likely that these cases will be dealt with by specialised domestic violence courts. She makes it clear that victims and their families should have their cases treated "with a gender-based perspective", something that has improved substantially in Spain, although "there is still much to be done". Women continue to be doubted and on certain occasions they continue to be re-victimised in the courts. "The killer did not bow his head; he showed no signs of remorse or guilt" "The greatest act of injustice is to question the victims; you have to prove a fact, but you don't have to question," she said. Lola Rodriguez later learned that Diana Yanet Vargas' mother had died as a result of gender-based violence. She also read in the newspaper El Mundo that Diana's daughter, Laura Betancurt Vargas, had also been abused by one of her partners, after a broken childhood in the care system. Two decades after this murder, the femicides continue. The year 2023 was one of the most violent years against women. According to Alarcon, the increase in male-led gender violence has to do with two factors that are present in our society. Firstly there are the denialists, those who question the very existence of these attacks on women simply because they are women. Male chauvinists see in these denials a lot of support for their attitudes towards women in general. Secondly there is a very real scarcity of resources that the governing bodies have for specialist training and supporting women who live under threat of such abuse and even to their lives. Javier Almellones Cuevas del Becerro Friday, 22 November 2024, 13:07 Compartir A circular route that cuts through the village centre and around the perimeter of Cuevas del Becerro. The landmarks en route have a singular theme: water, for the walker will see plenty of fountains, springs, other water sources and waterfalls. Route information District: Guadalteba Municipality: Cuevas del Becerro Difficulty level: Low. This walk has few slopes, although there are no specific signposts, apart from the route maps provided in the village. In any case, there is no risk of getting lost. Type of route: Circular Approximate duration: 1 hour 45 minutes Length: 4.3 kilometres Minimum height: 704 metres above sea level Maximum elevation: 748 metres Nearby places of interest: San Antonio church, 'nacimiento' (a natural spring source), Tilin trail section, old flour mill, Calle Los Jardines (a pretty street worth seeing) and El Cao waterfall. Zoom Calle Los Jardines is a village street with a surprising number of potted plants. J. Amellones How to get to the start of this route To begin this route, head towards the village of Cuevas del Becerro on the A-367 road, which links Ronda with Campillos. Once in the village centre you must locate the spot known as El Nacimiento , which usually carries water for most of the year (except during prolonged drought). There is a parking area here, although on certain days it can be a little more difficult to park due to the large number of visitors. In this case, it would be necessary to look for parking in nearby streets. Description of the walk 1At the 'nacimiento' area there is a sign explaining this route, which passes by 17 features related to water. All of them are duly identified. In addition, many curious tidbits and important information are detailed for most of the landmarks. There is a map of the whole route, which should be photographed to help you find your way around if you have any doubts. In any case, the first landmark will be the nacimiento itself, which is one of the main springs that supplies water to the De la Cueva river, also known as the De las Cuevas river. After seeing it, the next landmark will be Era fountain, located next to the area known as the 'Resbalaeros' (so called because it was once a threshing floor), which is adjacent to the main spring. From there you can walk up to this iconic fountain. After enjoying the views, return to El Nacimiento and then continue along a lane to the west until you reach Avenida de la Fuentezuela, which leads to Calle Andalucia. Zoom Era fountain. J. Amellones 2Travelling along Calle de Andalucia, take a sharp exit, crossing to the other side of the A-367 road to see the third landmark on this walk, Cruce fountain. You will also pass by one of the tributes to all those who work the land, symbolised by a man standing next to an old tractor. You then return to Calle de Andalucia, which you follow in an easterly direction until you turn left into Calle Cano. This street is so called because it leads to the fountain of the same name, which is located next to the De la Cueva riverbed. At this point the most thrilling and colourful part of the walk begins. Zoom Section of the Cueva river (in front of Cano fountain). J. Amellones 3After leaving the Cano fountain behind, the path descends towards what is known as the Tilin trail, a riverside enclave located at the foot of the village centre. In autumn and spring you can enjoy the beauty of this trail, so full of surprises with lush vegetation and the path sometimes dipping down to the river's edge. It is an ideal walk to do early in the morning in autumn or late in the afternoon in spring. In either case, you will be able to hear and even see the fauna associated with the riverbank. Zoom Tilin trail. J. Amellones 4The climax of the Tilin trail is the complex formed by an old flour mill and the waterfall known as El Cao. After heavy rains, this waterfall is truly spectacular. It can be reached by a narrow path that continues along an irrigation channel. However, you do not have to continue along this path, as the 'fountains' route takes a different path. First you climb up to the Molino. After passing a viewpoint you will have to look for the next landmark at the Puerta del Sol fountain, from where you will have to continue along the well-kept street of Los Jardines until you join the water channel that comes from the Nacimiento. This is what is known as La Isla in this village, as it is a piece of land with an abundance of olive groves, partially surrounded by water. From there, the walk continues in a more urban environment and continues past the Gertrudis fountain (near the Tilin trail, but higher up) and the Patitos fountain (near the church of San Antonio). Zoom Waterfall known as El Cao. J. Amellones 5On the final stretch for this walk, continue along Calle Almona Grande until you join the street known as Malaga (or even Sevilla) to join the Paseo del Carrizal, which is a pretty riverside stretch that leads back to the starting point at the Nacimiento. This is located next to a recreational area, where there is a nice pedestrian bridge, a children's playground and a place to rest. Zoom Bridge next to the Paseo del Carrizal. J. Amellones Flora and fauna On this walk special attention should be paid to the birdlife typical of riverside areas. They are not always visible, but they can certainly be heard as long as you follow these paths quietly. The white wagtail, robin, kingfisher, blackbird and blackcap are just some of the birds to be heard and seen. You should also look up to the sky to spot some of the birds of prey that regularly fly over the area. Easier to spot are some of the ale and female mallard ducks that occupy El Nacimiento. As far as the flora is concerned, in addition to the riverside flora with poplars and reeds, there is a wide variety of other flora in the area, ranging from cultivated olive and wild olive trees to almond and carob trees, among others. A. Pedroche Valencia Friday, 22 November 2024, 11:05 | Updated 11:20h. Compartir The recent flooding caused by the Dana that hit Spain, especially Valencia, on 29 October has generated a climate of concern for the diseases that could arise from the disaster, so much so that the leader of the regional government, Carlos Mazon, advised the population to protect themselves against these infections. On Wednesday, the subdirectorate general of epidemiology and health surveillance of the public health service reported three confirmed cases of legionellosis in people who have no epidemiological link, beyond residing in different municipalities affected by the Dana. The three people have risk factors due to previous pathologies and two of them remain in hospital. The regional ministry of health insists on the importance of observing the symptoms of people exposed to flooded areas or who have participated in clean-up work in the affected municipalities and to go to the health centre if necessary. Legionellosis presents as pneumonia and may be accompanied by muscle aches, headache, high fever, cough, shortness of breath and/or chest pain. Health recommendations The regional ministry of health points out the importance of following the recommendations approved by the public health response coordination group, made up of public health and epidemiology experts from the general directorate of public health of the autonomous government of Valenciana, together with the centre for the coordination of health alerts and emergencies (CCAES). Specifically, regarding the recommendations against legionellosis in areas affected by the Dana, it is advised to check the water tank of the affected buildings and, if it has accumulated sediment, it should be emptied, cleaned and disinfected. In addition, the use of diffusers and coarse-drop showerheads is recommended. Other recommendations include not using spray filters on taps and replacing taps and showers that are badly deteriorated. In this respect, it is advisable to dismantle the diffusers of taps and showers, clean them and immerse them in anti-limescale products or vinegar for a few hours. Then rinse them and immerse them in a solution containing 10 ml of bleach per litre of water for 30 minutes. Finally, rinse with plenty of water. With the diffusers removed, let the water run from all taps for five minutes, first in the cold water position, then hot water at maximum temperature, and finally cold water. It is recommended to repeat this last step also when returning home after a period of absence. Finally, if you have an electric water heater, make sure that the temperature is above 60C before using hot water. It is recommended that it is turned on continuously. In addition, as far as possible, the dishwasher and washing machine should be used on the hot water setting. Finally, the health authority insists on the use of a mask, rubber boots or closed waterproof footwear, eye protection, clothing that covers arms and legs and waterproof gloves when cleaning up. Some of the DPRK forces were transferred to Belgorod region of Russia bordering Ukraine, Head of the Center for Countering Disinformation Andriy Kovalenko within the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC). "Some of the forces from the DPRK were transferred to the border area of Belgorod region," Kovalenko said in Telegram on Friday. As reported earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported the presence of North Korean forces in the Kursk region of Russia. "Some 11,000 North Korean soldiers are currently present on the territory of Russia in the border area with Ukraine, the northern part of our state, namely in Kursk region. Some of these troops have already taken part in military operations against the Ukrainian military, and there are already losses," he said. Residents and businesses in the villages of Jordan and Elbridge and parts of the town of Elbridge have been ordered to boil their water. The Onondaga County Health Department overnight announced that it was notified the municipal water in these areas was inadequately disinfected. The problem was caused by a chlorination system equipment malfunction in the city of Syracuses system in Skaneateles that feeds these communities It has already been fixed. The water reaching city residents can be chlorinated again before it reaches them. The county said it will announce when adequate chlorine levels have been restored, when tests show that no harmful bacteria are present and when residents and business no longer need to boil water. It is anticipated that the problem will be resolved within 3 days, county officials said. Chlorine is a disinfectant that is used to destroy harmful microbes that could be in the drinking water. Residents on private wells are not affected. These are the instructions from the county: DO NOT DRINK THE WATER WITHOUT BOILING IT FIRST. Bring all water to a boil, let it boil for one minute, and let it cool before using, or use bottled water certified for sale by the state Department of Health. Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes, and food preparation until further notice. Boiling kills most bacteria and other organisms in the water. Harmful microbes in drinking water can cause diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other symptoms. Inadequate disinfection may pose a special health risk for infants, young children, some elderly, and people with severely compromised immune systems. The symptoms above are not just caused by organisms in drinking water. If you experience any of these symptoms and they persist, you may want to seek medical advice. For more information, please contact Bradley Milton from the Village of Elbridge at 315-246-4711, Martin Williams from the Village of Jordan at 315-952-0214, or the Onondaga County Health Department at 315-435-6600. A man was ticketed on Oct. 8 after becoming irate and confronting a deer hunter in East Quoque, Southhampton Township. The man yelled at the hunter to get out of the woods, claiming the hunter was trespassing. The man also grabbed the hunters compound bow and threw it against a tree and slapped a phone out of the hunters hand that the hunter was using to record the altercation. The hunter had permission to hunt the land and remained calm throughout the entire incident. Two New York State Department of Environmental Conservation police officers (ECOs) investigated the incident, identified the offender, and charged him with criminal mischief (Class E felony), petit larceny (Class A misdemeanor), harassment (penal law), and hunter harassment (Environmental Conservation Law), all returnable to Southampton Town Court. The following reports are excerpted from DEC: ECOs charged an Orange County hunter with hunting deer and bear over bait in October, as well as the illegal killing of a bear with the use of bait.NYSDEC On Sept. 7, a man illegally shot and killed a bear in Walkill. The killing went unnoticed until Oct. 26 when ECOs canvassing the area found an elevated hunting blind surrounded by multiple cameras, feeders, and a rotting bear carcass. They interviewed a man hunting in the area about the bear, and the man confessed to shooting it. Officers charged the hunter with hunting deer and bear over bait, as well as the illegal killing of a bear with the use of bait. A bowhunter in Mattituck was ticketed on on Oct. 30 for hunting deer over a pre-established bait pile and intentionally feeding deer.NYSDEC A bowhunter in Mattituck climbed into his tree stand on Oct. 30 for his first sit of deer season. In front of his stand hed placed a pile of corn and apples with two trail cameras facing the baited area. An ECO patrolling the area discovered the hunter, seized his bow, arrows, trail cameras, and a bait sample as evidence, and issued him two tickets for hunting deer over a pre-established bait pile and intentionally feeding deer. A man hunting rabbit in Wildwood State Park was ticketed on Nov. 10 for using a shotgun in an archery-only hunting area.NYSDEC A man hunting rabbit in Wildwood State Park was ticketed on Nov. 10 for using a shotgun in an archery-only hunting area. On Nov. 10, a buck in the town of East Greenbush got tangled in a volleyball net, dragged it a short distance into nearby woods, and became further entwined on downed trees. Two ECOs held the deer down while another ECO cut the net and freed the animal. The deer ran off into the woods without incident. On Nov. 11, an angler was ticketed for taking three undersized black sea bass and one short black fish from the rocky shore of the Robert Moses causeway.NYSDEC ECO Fishing Compliance Checks Suffolk County On Oct. 25, two anglers were ticketed for taking undersized black fish and hiding them under the seat in their truck at Robert Moses State Park in Suffolk County. On Oct. 30, an angler was ticketed for taking undersized black fish, which he hid in fabric belt around his waist. On Nov. 3, an angler was ticketed for catching a short striped bass and hiding it in the trunk of his vehicle. On Nov. 11, an angler was ticketed for taking three undersized black sea bass and one short black fish from the rocky shore of the Robert Moses causeway. Sign up for the CNY Outdoors Newsletter Enter your email address to get weekly updates on CNY outdoors news delivered to your inbox: Steve Featherstone covers the outdoors for The Post Standard, syracuse.com and NYUP.com. Contact him at sfeatherstone@syracuse.com or on Twitter @featheroutdoors. You can also follow along with all of our outdoors content at newyorkupstate.com/outdoors/ or follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/upstatenyoutdoor By Raga Justin | Times Union, Albany Albany, N.Y. New Yorks agricultural experts are on high alert as President-elect Donald J. Trump prepares to take office in mid-January. Theyre just not exactly sure what to be on the alert for. With the incoming transition to a new federal administration, nearly every policymaker in New York appears to be in a period of extended limbo, unsure how Trump and his nominees for key positions in the federal government will influence the states relationships with national agencies and access to major sources of funding for the next four years. The states agricultural sector is no exception. During an Assembly hearing last week, Commissioner Richard A. Ball, who heads the state Department of Agriculture and Markets, said he had filled seven pages of notes with possible implications of the incoming Trump administration, the second time the Republican has been in office after his first victory in 2016. Agriculture in New York has long been one of the states largest industries, particularly in upstate counties where dairy farming has been a key economic driver. But the sector has also been on the decline for many years, as recent data from federal entities like the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the state comptrollers office has underscored. Farmland takes up over 21 percent of the states total land mass, with 30,650 farms contributing nearly $3 billion to the states economic activity. But in a 10-year period ending in 2022, when the last figures were released, New York lost nearly 14 percent of farms and nearly 10 percent of farmland, according to a recent report from the state comptroller. While that mirrors a national trend, New York is outpacing the country and neighboring states in farm loss. Who finally takes the helm of major federal agencies that provide funding for and have entered into major contracts with the agricultural sector in New York including the Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture will be closely watched, Ball said. While Trump has not yet selected a nominee for the Department of Agriculture, he has positioned former presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to be in charge of the Department of Health and Human Services, which includes the Food and Drug Administration a move that has appeared to incite some fear among national agricultural groups. But funding for climate change and sustainability initiatives for farms, as well as the implications to many migrant farm workers who may be susceptible to Trumps campaign promise of mass deportation, have inched their way forward to the top of many lawmakers' agendas. The thing is, its going to fall back on the states. Its quite clear, from everything that Im reading, that as the new federal government downplays the risks of global warming, its going to be pushed back on to the states to fill this gap, said Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo, a Binghamton Democrat who chairs the Agriculture Committee. Unfortunately, climate change isnt restricted to New Yorks borders, and so it just helps if were on the same page with the federal government on risk reduction, as well as building up our resiliency for the food supply chain. Agriculture tends to straddle partisan lines, Lupardo said, but she noted that a shift among Republicans to turn further against support for climate change and immigration policies could change that. New York has about $60 million of federal funds earmarked for state agencies, including the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Environmental Conservation for climate initiatives. The federal government turning off the tap for funding could put a greater strain on New York to make up those gaps. Whether a request for additional state funding would be honored in this years executive budget remains unclear, especially as other state agency heads would likely make similar requests. Well wait and see. We remain optimistic, but there may be some particular programs or areas that we deem need additional investment by the state of New York, Ball said. Im certainly willing to make that case for agriculture here, if I have to. Whats at stake Ball and other agricultural officials have cited the importance of federal movement on massive omnibus legislation known as the Farm Bill, which plays an important role in funding conservation measures, disaster recovery assistance and sets price points for U.S. farmers and their crops. The bill expired in September; the current push to renegotiate a new bill has drawn some partisan divide, with Republicans hoping to slash funding for nutrition benefits programs like SNAP. New York farmers would stand to benefit immensely from a new Farm Bill, Ball said, adding that the hope is that more funding gets passed through the legislation rather than less. U.S. Rep. Marc Molinaro, a Hudson Valley Republican and member of the Committee on Agriculture, said the House version of the bill, which has received bipartisan support, includes 11 provisions I wrote that are specifically aimed at strengthening Northeast and therefore upstate New York farms. But overwhelmingly, the bill is built around reducing burden and increasing opportunity for farms dairy, specialty and others like the ones in upstate New York," Molinaro said. Frankly, in Congress, both houses, the Senate and the House, have very strong agriculture members leading on farm policy. This will be an opportunity to strengthen farming and provide meaningful relief. As for any concerns about what a Trump administration would mean for New York farms, Molinaro said state lawmakers should look in the mirror if they believe more needs to be done. The state of New York is one of the biggest burdens to farming in New York, whether its the new labor requirements, the regulatory regime placed on farmers ... and the ever-increasing cost of doing business because of the policies the state Legislature and governor impose on farming, Molinaro said. In fact, our bill and agriculture policy ... was meant to try to overcome some of the regulations that in New York have put our farmers at a competitive disadvantage. Molinaro said he believes the Farm Bill that expired will be extended until Republicans take control of the U.S. Senate in January. Hes confident that the new Farm Bill will then be adopted. At the same time a major U.S. trade deal with Mexico and Canada, known as the US-Mexico-Canada agreement, will likely be up for renegotiation, Trump has pledged. About 46 percent of what is grown in New York is exported, Ball said. And the states proximity to Canada has made New York a key partner in that trade agreement. Ball said he and other commissioners leading their own state agriculture departments will be seeking to minimize disruptions to the free flow of trade between those three countries. Another major concern for lawmakers and agricultural advocates has been possible impacts on the states agricultural workforce, comprised of a large share of migrant workers who are in the U.S. either without documentation or on vulnerable visa programs. Trump has promised the largest deportation program in American history that he has said will first focus on removing migrants with criminal records and who are in the U.S. illegally. Thats been deja vu for many observers: similar rhetoric from Trump during his first term in 2016 led to the same concerns among New Yorks dairy farmers that rural farm workers would vanish and create gaps in the agricultural workforce that Americans have been reluctant to fill. Mary Jo Dudley, director of the Cornell Farmworker Program, pointed to federal estimates that among the roughyl 57,000 farm workers in New York, roughly half could be undocumented. If Trump makes good on his pledge, We dont have a replacement workforce in the wings, Dudley said. What is the plan? And if there is no plan, then agricultural production will be reduced, people will sell their cows and we will turn to imported food goods. Some dairy farmers are viewing an incoming change in rhetoric and policy positively. Carlos A. Valery, who owns Orinoco Cattle Products and Farms in Delaware County, said he remains concerned about the impacts of Trumps interest in using tariffs as a negotiating tool for trade deals and said he wants to see fuel costs brought down. But I am optimistic theres no other option, Valery said. We need protections for the small farmers. While Valery said some of Trumps actions taken during his first term ultimately helped farmers like himself, he declined to comment on specifics. ___ (c)2024 the Times Union (Albany, N.Y.) Visit the Times Union (Albany, N.Y.) at www.timesunion.com By Niagara Gazette | Niagara Falls A year ago today the world was watching events unfolding in Niagara Falls. A fiery crash at the Rainbow Bridges U.S. border plaza quickly stoked fears of a sinister plot as law enforcement shut down the international span and other local border crossings. With a heightened sense of tension in the world, news of the bridges shutdown quickly traveled across the globe. The world is watching what happened here, Gov. Kathy Hochul said later that day after she traveled to the Falls for a press conference. At a time when there is such high anxiety stress levels are high and weve been on heightened alert since Oct. 7, thats why its so important for me to stand here and tell the world that based on what we know at this moment, and again, anything can change, there is no sign of terrorist activity with respect to this crash. In the end, it was determined that what had first been reported as a possible terrorist attack was actually a horrific car crash. The criminal investigation into an explosive accident was closed in July when the Niagara Falls Police Departments Crash Management Units (CMU) probe of the fatal crash ended without a determination of what caused the accident. Those sources said the investigation of the crash could be reopened if new evidence becomes available. The crash victims were identified as Kurt P. Villani and Monica Villani, both 53, of Grand Island. The Villani family are the owners Guis Lumber and seven Ace Hardware stores in Western New York. The couple was reportedly on their way to Toronto to attend a concert at the time of the crash. Investigators said a review of video evidence amassed by the Niagara Intelligence & Crime Analysis Center (NICAC) in the Falls showed the Villanis' car traveling down Niagara Street toward the bridge. The vehicle appeared to be traveling at a very high rate of speed as it entered the bridge plaza, on the toll booth side, where cars were backed up entering into Canada. A five-second clip of video, released by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and taken by a bridge security camera, shows the Villanis car speeding onto the entrance of the bridge, striking a concrete barrier and then going airborne. That video did not show the impact of the vehicle in front of the customs' inspection booths. Witnesses on the bridge said the car pancaked onto the plaza pavement and exploded into a ball of flames and smoke that destroyed one of the CBP booths. A CPB officer inside the booth escaped the destruction with only minor injuries. The debris field on the bridge covered a wide area on the customs' inspection side of the border crossing. The luxury car exploded into thousands of pieces of twisted metal, shattered glass and melted plastic. The recovered parts of the vehicle were enough to fill a construction dumpster. Still, crash investigators said much of the vehicle was incinerated in the heat of the fire that engulfed the car. Among the parts that were not found were the cars black box data recorder. Investigators said that the data recorders in automobiles, unlike airplanes, are not built to withstand explosions and fire. One investigator also said that the data on the recorder would have been of limited value in determining what caused the crash. Law enforcement sources said the cars manufacturer, Bentley Motors, was less than cooperative in the investigation. One source said a request for technical data about the car and its maintenance was rebuffed by Bentley, with a representative of the manufacturer saying a subpoena would be required to release that information. What remains of the vehicle has now reportedly been turned over to insurance investigators. Without a final determination by police on the cause of the crash, the two prevailing theories of what happened remain a possible medical emergency involving the driver or a catastrophic mechanical failure. ___ (c)2024 the Niagara Gazette (Niagara Falls, N.Y.) Visit the Niagara Gazette (Niagara Falls, N.Y.) at www.niagara-gazette.com New York Prosecutors in New York dropped charges Friday against a kaffiyeh-wearing, pro-Palestinian protester who was among the first people arrested under a local face mask ban thats stirred free speech concerns. Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnellys office confirmed it moved to dismiss the charges against Xavier Roa during a court hearing on Long Island. The case was investigated extensively and upon conclusion NCDA determined that the allegations could not be proven beyond a reasonable doubt and moved to dismiss the charges, spokesperson Nicole Turso said in a statement. Roas lawyer Geoffrey Stewart hailed the decision as a big victory for his client and for civil liberties, but argued the law itself should be struck from the books. This case shows that the law can, and in all likelihood will be abused by law enforcement because the law is unconstitutionally vague, he said in an email. Stewart has maintained that Roa acted respectfully and complied with officers as he peacefully exercised his constitutionally protected free speech rights during a protest outside an orthodox synagogue in September. The North Bellmore resident was detained under Nassau Countys Mask Transparency Act, which bans people from wearing masks to conceal their identity in public. It includes exemptions for people who wear masks for health, safety, religious or cultural purposes. The countys Republican-controlled Legislature approved the law in August in response to antisemitic incidents, often perpetrated by those in masks since the start of the Israel-Hamas war last year. Roa, who faced up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine if convicted of the misdemeanor charge, was the first protester arrested under the ban. The New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations and other groups denounced it at the time as proof that the local law was being used as a silencing tactic against Palestinian supporters. Nassau County police said Roa had been attempting to conceal his identity as he led others in pro-Palestinian chants. They also said he told officers he was wearing the scarf in solidarity with Palestinians and not for exempted medical or religious purposes. In videos showing some of the arrest, Roa wears the kaffiyeh around his neck as hes led away in handcuffs. Situation in Donetsk direction is possibly most difficult in recent times, enemy planning offensive in Zaporizhia The situation in Donetsk direction is currently difficult, but not hopeless, and more active actions by the Russians in Zaporizhia direction are not excluded, a source in the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine told Interfax-Ukraine. "Donetsk direction. The situation is difficult, possibly the most difficult in recent times," the agency's source said, adding that the situation is "not hopeless." Sources in the Armed Forces of Ukraine said the situation is tense because the enemy is numerically superior, but "there are already clear signs that the enemy is running out of steam" and the Russians are also suffering huge losses. As the source noted, at the beginning of the month the enemy was planning an offensive in Zaporizhia direction. Answering a question of whether the Russians are currently planning an offensive in this direction, the agency's interlocutor said: "We are not removing this threat." Taos Woman: Online Now! In this years Taos Woman magazine, we get up close with our eight Taosena awards recipients and women who are committed to the community and passionate in spirit. Facepalm: Large language models have a long, steep hill to climb before they prove trustworthy and reliable. For now, they are helpful in starting research, but only fools would trust them enough to write a legal document. A professor specializing in the subject should know better. A Stanford professor has an egg on his face after submitting an affidavit to the court in support of a controversial Minnesota law aimed at curbing the use of deepfakes and AI to influence election outcomes. The proposed amendment to existing legislation states that candidates convicted of using deepfakes during an election campaign must forfeit the race and face fines and imprisonment of up to five years and $10,000, depending on the number of previous convictions. Minnesota State Representative Mary Franson and YouTuber Christopher Kohls have challenged the law, claiming it violates the First Amendment. During the pretrial proceedings, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison asked the founding director of Stanford's Social Media Lab, Professor Jeff Hancock, to provide an affidavit declaring his support of the law (below). The Minnesota Reformer notes that Hancock drew up a well-worded argument for why the legislation is essential. He cites several sources for his conviction, including a study titled "The Influence of Deepfake Videos on Political Attitudes and Behavior" in the Journal of Information Technology & Politics. He also referenced another academic paper called "Deepfakes and the Illusion of Authenticity: Cognitive Processes Behind Misinformation Acceptance." The problem is that neither of these studies exist in the journal mentioned or any other academic resource. The plaintiffs filed a memorandum suggesting that the citations could be AI-generated. The dubious attributions challenge the declaration's validity, even if they aren't from an LLM, so the judge should throw it out. "The citation bears the hallmarks of being an artificial intelligence 'hallucination,' suggesting that at least the citation was generated by a large language model like ChatGPT," the memorandum reads. "Plaintiffs do not know how this hallucination wound up in Hancock's declaration, but it calls the entire document into question." If the citations are AI-generated, it is highly likely that portions, or even the entirety of the affidavit, are, too. In experiments with ChatGPT, TechSpot has found that the LLM will make up quotations that do not exist in an apparent attempt to lend validity to a story. When confronted about it, the chatbot will admit that it made the material up and will revise it with even more dubious content (above). It is conceivable that Hancock, who is undoubtedly a very busy man, wrote a draft declaration and passed it on to an aide to edit, who ran it through an LLM to clean it up, and the model added the references unprompted. However, that doesn't excuse the document from rightful scrutiny and criticism, which is the main problem with LLMs today. The irony that a self-proclaimed expert submitted a document containing AI-generated misinformation to a legal body in support of a law that outlaws that very information is not lost to anyone involved. Ellison and Hancock have not commented on the situation and likely want the embarrassing faux pas to disappear. The more tantalizing question is whether the court will consider this perjury since Hancock signed under the statement, "I declare under penalty of perjury that everything I have stated in this document is true and correct." If people are not held accountable for misusing AI, how can it ever get better? What just happened? MIT has expanded its financial aid program to allow eligible undergraduate students from families with annual incomes below $200,000 to attend the university tuition-free, marking a substantial increase from the current $140,000 limit. This new threshold encompasses approximately 80 percent of American households. For families with incomes under $100,000, the benefits of the changes are even more dramatic. These students can expect their parents to contribute nothing towards the full cost of their MIT education, which includes not only tuition but also housing, dining, fees, and allowances for books and personal expenses. The income threshold for full coverage of expenses was raised from $75,000. For families with incomes between $100,000 and $200,000, MIT has implemented a sliding scale contribution system. Parents in this bracket can expect to pay anywhere from nothing at all up to a maximum of around $23,970, which is equivalent to this year's total cost for MIT housing, dining, fees, and allowances. MIT's financial aid program has already had a significant impact on student finances. Last year, the median annual cost paid by an MIT undergraduate receiving financial aid was $12,938, allowing 87 percent of students in the Class of 2024 to graduate debt-free. Those who did borrow graduated with a median debt of $14,844. The expanded financial aid program is being funded by MIT's endowment, with the school allocating $167.3 million in need-based financial aid for undergraduate students for the current academic year, representing a 70 percent increase from a decade ago. MIT's new financial aid package comes as more students question the value of a college education even from prestigious institutions when weighed against the mounting student debt necessary to pay for it The median earnings for Ivy League graduates 10 years after attendance range from $78,943 to $103,246. This compares favorably to the median earnings of graduates from non-Ivy League institutions, which is around $58,643 for early-career and $101,777 for mid-career. MIT graduates report an average starting salary of $126,438, according to the institute's most recent survey. Another factor to consider if you have the requisite grades and test scores: Despite high sticker prices, Ivy League schools often have lower net costs due to generous financial aid. Several universities offer comparable financial aid initiatives to MIT's new program., though its $200,000 income threshold is among the highest. For example, University of Pennsylvania and Rice University offer full tuition coverage for families earning up to $200,000, with comprehensive financial aid packages covering tuition, fees, housing, and food for those under $75,000. Brandeis University, as another example, offers full tuition for families earning $75,000 or less, and half tuition for families earning $75,001 to $200,000. In general, the average annual net cost for Ivy League students after financial aid is $23,234, compared to over $32,000 for other top-ranked non-Ivy League schools. With student debt burdens soaring, calculating the ROI of a university degree can be a tough call. Generous financial aid packages can help enormously. Hopefully more schools will follow suit. What just happened? Another technology that's long been the thing of sci-fi has taken its first steps to becoming a reality: 3D bioprinting complex human organs. The concept of being able to 3D-print entire replica kidneys, hearts, etc. for patients is an exciting one, and researchers have now designed a new type of 3D bioprinter that uses sound, light, and bubbles to bring that dream a little closer. 3D bioprinting has been around for a long time now. It's a slow process that involves the devices printing just a few cells at a time, layer by layer. The problem is that the method can damage cells and lacks the precision required to create perfect replicas of human tissue. A new process called dynamic interface printing (DIP), created by researchers in Australia, addresses the imprecision problem by printing single cells at a time. It works by filling a tube with liquid polymer then using light to create a bubble and hardening it to match the tissue's shape. Next, a speaker emits sound waves that vibrate the bubble, pushing the 3D-printed cells into place. Despite the increased precision of the system, it is still more than 350 times faster than traditional 3D bioprinting methods, according to the statement. "What we're doing is we are shining light in a 2D pattern across and this is kind of what is the distinguishing feature for this technology we are printing across a bubble," David Collins, head of the Collins BioMicrosystems Laboratory at the University of Melbourne and a co-author of the study, told ABC Melbourne's Raf Epstein. "We're continuously changing those projections that are curing the individual layers as we go through that. The fundamental principle is that we can shine light onto a material, and we can create a solid." As the tissue is floating as it is printed, the system can create delicate structures using very soft materials, softer than anything currently being used, according to Collins. The tissue is also able to be printed directly in a Petri dish rather than the usual hard surface, thereby increasing cell survival rates by eliminating physical handling during tissue transfer. This allows more fragile tissue to be created safely. The team has so far only printed samples measuring just 3 centimeters in diameter with a length of 7 centimeters and a resolution of 15 micrometers. They envision DIP eventually being used to replicate human organs designed specifically for individual patients or for medical research. It could also replace animal tissue in drug testing trials. The team said DIP could "help pave the way for more effective, patient-specific therapies in the fight against cancer and other diseases." In context: Back in 1970, a futuristic "human washing machine" called the Ultrasonic Bath caused a sensation at the Japan World Exposition. The egg-shaped pod was developed and exhibited by Sanyo Electric Co., now known as Panasonic Holdings Corp. When someone climbed inside, it would automatically fill with hot water, blast them with ultrasound waves, and release massage balls to knead their body. Over 50 years later, this peculiar invention is making a comeback with a high-tech upgrade. While it never really took off commercially after 1970, the human washing machine concept clearly made an impression on at least one young visitor from Osaka Yasuaki Aoyama. Japanese publication Asahi Shimbun reports that as a fourth-grader, he was entranced watching the baths in action. Over 50 years later, Aoyama is now the chairman of Science Co., a showerhead manufacturing firm. Aoyama is determined to finally make his childhood dream a reality with an all-new "Mirai Ningen Sentakuki" (human washing machine of the future). It's set to be shown off at the Osaka Kansai Expo taking place in April next year. This modern remake ditches the egg shape for something that resembles a jet fighter (or a massive helmet), with a transparent canopy that opens from the back. Once you settle into the central seat, sensors monitor your vitals to ensure the perfect wash temperature. There's even an AI system that analyzes if you're feeling calm or excited, then projects custom visuals on the inside of the transparent cover to help the person feel refreshed. The whole wash and dry process takes 15 minutes. Aoyama says they're about 70% of the way through development. The plan is to offer up to 1,000 expo visitors a chance to try the novel bathing experience each day. If you want to sign up, Science Co. is taking reservations through their website. While they're officially just showcasing it at the Osaka expo for now, Science Co. isn't ruling out some kind of home model down the road. Previous materials mentioned the goal of "washing the mind" along with the body. Image credit: Asahi Shimbun Forward-looking: OpenAI is going after Google in a big way. After the artificial intelligence giant launched its own search engine earlier this month, the company is now considering releasing a web browser. The product would combine with ChatGPT to create a browser that could eventually challenge the dominance Google's Chrome has enjoyed for so many years. OpenAI has already had discussions about its browser with app developers and websites, including Conde Nast, Redfin, Eventbrite, and Priceline, reports The Information, which cites people who have seen prototypes or designs of the product. The partnerships could improve ChatGPT's answers to questions related to the markets they target, the report said. A source who has seen the browser said it is called NLWeb, or Natural Language Web. It will, of course, feature tight integration with OpenAI's suite of artificial intelligence products. Related reading: The Zero Click Internet On November 1, OpenAI launched its ChatGPT Search service. The company says it offers fast and timely answers with links to relevant web sources, which you would have previously needed to go to a search engine for. It blends a natural language interface with up-to-date information and promises better responses to queries that might normally require multiple searches and trawling through several pages. OpenAI has a partnership with Apple that includes ChatGPT being incorporated into Cupertino's Apple Intelligence tools. The report claims that Sam Altman's firm has also been in discussions with Samsung a key business partner of Google to bring its AI features to the Korean giant's many devices. Sources say OpenAI is still a long way off launching its own browser. However, the company hired two key Google Chrome developers this year, including Ben Goodger, one of the founding members of the Chrome team. Google dominates the global search engine market with a 90% share, while second-place Bing has just over 4%. Chrome, meanwhile, holds a 66% share of the global browser market, more than three times that of second-place Safari. News that OpenAI could soon be competing with Google in both its search and browser businesses could be well-timed for the startup. The US Department of Justice this week said it wants Google to sell off Chrome to prevent the tech giant from maintaining its monopoly in online search. What just happened? GlobalFoundries, the third-largest semiconductor foundry in the world, is finally receiving the funding promised by the US government through the Chips Act. The official announcement outlines the three main projects that will be supported by the grant, along with a massive, multi-year investment effort. The previously leaked decision to award GlobalFoundries $1.5 billion in subsidies to manufacture chips in the US is now official. The company has announced an agreement with the US Department of Commerce to receive direct funding through the Chips and Science Act, securing what will likely be the last subsidies granted under this ambitious plan before a new federal administration takes office in Washington. The $1.5 billion award follows a preliminary memorandum of terms signed in February 2024, according to GlobalFoundries. The funding will be used to expand the company's "essential" chip manufacturing capabilities in the United States, which will, in turn, provide a more resilient and reliable supply chain for the country's high-tech industry. The Chips and Science Act's plan to strengthen US semiconductor manufacturing has been five years in the making, said GlobalFoundries' president and CEO, Thomas Caulfield. The company is a crucial element of the US economy, supply chain, and national security, with two plants accredited as "Trusted Foundry" sites to manufacture secure chips for the US government. GlobalFoundries will use the $1.5 billion award to support three specific projects. First, the company will expand its existing chip fab in Malta, New York, by implementing "critical technologies" already used in other locations outside the US. This new technology is expected to provide a reliable supply of essential chips for the US automotive industry. GlobalFoundries' second project is the modernization of its existing plant in Essex Junction, Vermont, where production capabilities will be significantly expanded. The plant will also host a new facility designed for high-volume manufacturing of gallium nitride (GaN) semiconductors, which, according to GF, are essential for the next generation of electric vehicles, data centers, IoT devices, smartphones, and more. Lastly, GlobalFoundries will build a completely new manufacturing plant within its Malta, New York campus. The new fab is expected to meet domestic demand for essential chips in the aerospace, defense, computing, and automotive industries, though GF will proceed "in alignment" with market conditions and customer demand. GlobalFoundries will add the $1.5 billion award from the Chips Act to a much larger investment plan across its two US sites. The company plans to invest $13 billion over the next 10 years, with additional funding from the New York State Green Chips Program ($550 million), the state of Vermont, and other unnamed incentives. All things considered, the plan is expected to create around 1,000 direct manufacturing jobs and more than 9,000 construction jobs. GF will also work with New York and Vermont authorities to develop a qualified workforce for its semiconductor business. Brazil, which chairs the G20, tried to "put the Ukrainian agenda out of the equation" during the summit, and the Ukrainian side's count on support from Western partners did not come true, Ukrainian Ambassador to Brazil Andriy Melnyk told Radio Liberty. "As you understand, our forces here are unequal not only in relation to Brazil, but also to other countries of the Global South. Therefore, we frankly hoped that our friends not only from the G7, but also other Western countries... would help convince President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to change this approach. But frankly (and this was confirmed by my conversations just the other day in Rio de Janeiro)... then, unfortunately, no one really fought for us," Melnyk said, commenting on the results of the G20 summit. Speaking about the final declaration of the summit, which does not condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Melnyk said Western delegations did not try to change this. "For us, this is a big blow. Without exaggeration. Those who had reservations there, some of our friends, individual, let's say, friends from the G7 simply 'swallowed' what was put on the table for them," the ambassador said. The official said "regression and rollback" in the current joint statement of the summit, and this trend, according to him, is very alarming. "We are talking about the competition of these new states, which [I mean the Global South, in particular Brazil, which sees itself as one of the leaders of this movement] have thrown down a real challenge to the Western world... Our American friends and European ones, if not to be completely diplomatic, are grazing in the rear. And my heart aches from this," Melnyk said. He said Ukraine should also change its approaches and strategy. "We need to sit down and soberly re-evaluate our capabilities: what we can do and what we cannot, and also bare our teeth. And our diplomacy now is that we run after everyone, you know, and ask: give us, do this for us... I hope that this summit in Rio will not only be a reason to complain. cruel. And we must admit that it is. And then calmly, with a sober head, determine an action plan," Melnyk said. Head of the Combat Readiness Department of the Estonian Defense Ministry Gert Kaju notes that Russia's first use of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in Ukraine can be seen as a political signal, the Estonian news portal Err reports. "This is something that has not been used before, a completely different weapons system. Whether this will be followed by the use of something similar is still unclear, but most likely this is a political signal, because intercontinental ballistic missiles are significantly more expensive than other weapons systems that are used on a daily basis," Kaju said at a weekly briefing of the Estonian Defense Ministry on Friday. A representative of the Estonian Defense Ministry said the losses of the Russian armed forces in Ukraine amount to about 500,000 people wounded and killed, but according to some estimates this figure reaches 700,000. He also expressed the conviction that the North Korean soldiers sent to the Ukrainian front will not have a significant impact on the overall course of the war. "Because the daily military losses are so high. So this is a short-term mitigating measure," Kaju said. Greece pushes green transition on its fragile islands Naxos, Nov 22 (AFP) Nov 22, 2024 Greece this week signed a clean energy deal with the EU in a bid to fast-track the green transition on its fragile islands threatened by overtourism and climate change. Hundreds of Greek islands are facing major challenges including water scarcity, said Dimitris Lianos, the mayor of Naxos, the largest island in the Cyclades archipelago, where the deal was signed Thursday with the European Union and the European Investment Bank to finance decarbonisation projects. The symbolism of signing it there was hard to ignore. Like on most of Greece's many islands, farms on Naxos are imperilled by drought. The 1.6-billion-euro fund ($1.67 billion) will leverage the islands' main assets -- wind and sun -- to provide clean energy at affordable costs. Investing in "green" energy sources will "allow the islands to achieve their ecological transition", said Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. "Renewable energy will help the country become self-sufficient and reduce energy costs," he said. Greek islands depend heavily on liquid fossil fuels for their electricity supply, taking a toll on the environment and driving up costs. - Overtourism - Athens is focusing on developing renewable energy infrastructure -- offshore wind farms, energy storage systems and connecting the islands with the mainland for power supply. Greece, which is at the forefront of global warming in the Mediterranean Basin, has been experiencing scorching summers and disastrous wildfires. On many islands, residents are alarmed by water shortages and prolonged drought. Even so, hostility to wind turbines is growing as it is in several European countries. Environmental protection groups are also warning against overtourism, particularly in the Cyclades, popular for its crystal-clear waters and picturesque villages. Naxos, south of Mykonos and east of Paros is becoming increasingly popular. But in 2023, this island known for its cheeses and potatoes, had only 270 mm (10.6 inches) of rain, compared to an average of 306 mm (12 inches), according to climate monitor the National Observatory of Athens. On energy autonomy, Greece has so far given priority to smaller, unconnected and remote islands, like Chalki in southeastern Greece, which now boasts a solar power plant. - Reducing emissions - Power on the Dodecanese island of Tilos now almost entirely comes from renewables, thanks to an 11-million-euro investment from the EU and four private Greek investors. Last month Greece unveiled ambitious solar and wind energy targets in a bid to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Athens will aim to reach an 82 percent share of renewables in its electricity mix by 2030, up from the 66 percent planned in 2019, according to Environment and Energy Minister Theodoros Skylakakis. The Mediterranean country is striving to reduce emissions by 58.6 percent by 2030. Greece has already shrunk its emissions by 45 percent compared to 2005, Mitsotakis said in a speech at the COP29 summit in Baku earlier this month. The premier also said that wind and solar energy covered "almost half of Greece's electricity needs" while the contribution from highly polluting lignite, or brown coal, was now "only 6 percent". Greenpeace France quits X over climate 'scepticism' Paris, Nov 22 (AFP) Nov 22, 2024 The French branch of Greenpeace said Friday it had quit Elon Musk-owned X as it "favours disinformation and climate-scepticism". It follows similar moves by news outlets in recent days, including Britain's The Guardian which branded X a "toxic media platform" and accused Musk of using its"influence to shape political discourse." Greenpeace France said: "X today reaches an unprecedented level of toxicity: absence of moderation, proliferation of hate- and climate-sceptic speech and algorithmic pushing of extremist content". Jean-Francois Julliard, director general of Greenpeace France, said the organisation "cannot feed a platform which favours disinformation (and) climate-scepticism". Greenpeace France said it would remain active on other platforms including Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Threads, while exploring alternatives such as Bluesky. Since its acquisition in 2022 by Musk, X has been accused of spreading false information and insufficient moderation. US President-elect Donald Trump has named Musk, who rejects censorship in the name of free speech, to head a ministry of government efficiency. spe/jum/cw/ach X Meta Wealthy nations offer $250 bn on climate but pressed for more Baku, Nov 22 (AFP) Nov 22, 2024 Wealthy nations on Friday offered $250 billion a year to help poorer nations hit hardest by global warming but faced immediate calls led by Africa to give more as UN climate negotiations extended into overtime. At the COP29 talks in Azerbaijan, developing nations are demanding a bigger commitment from historic polluters most responsible for warming, but rich countries insist that massive financial pledges are not politically realistic. In a draft text revealed hours before two weeks of fraught bargaining were set to end, Azerbaijan said wealthy nations had committed to providing $250 billion a year by 2035. The text also sets an ambitious overall target to raise at least $1.3 trillion per year by 2035 from not only developed countries but the private sector. But a red line for many climate-imperilled nations at COP29 had been securing a new commitment from developed nations well above their existing pledge of $100 billion a year. The new target "is totally unacceptable and inadequate", said Ali Mohamed, chair of the African Group of Negotiators. "$250 billion will lead to unacceptable loss of life in Africa and around the world, and imperils the future of our world," he said. The Alliance of Small Island Developing States, for which climate change is an existential threat, said the target showed "contempt for our vulnerable people". But the United States signalled it was not looking to negotiate a higher figure. President-elect Donald Trump takes office in two months and is expected to pull the world's largest economy again out of climate diplomacy. "It has been a significant lift over the past decade to meet the prior, smaller goal. $250 billion will require even more ambition and extraordinary reach," said a senior US official, whose team in Baku comes from outgoing President Joe Biden's administration. Germany, a longtime leader on climate where elections are due next year, said any final deal was inevitable to include debt restructuring and other financial tools to raise the money, not just government money. Europe wants to "live up to its responsibilities, but also in a way that it doesn't make promises it can't live up to", German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock told reporters. COP29 lead negotiator Yalchin Rafiyev said negotiations would press on and that $250 billion "doesn't correspond to our fair and ambitious goal". - Less than needed - Activists point to studies that show that far more is needed for poor countries, which bear little responsibility but are disproportionately affected by record-high temperatures and rising disasters. Jasper Inventor from Greenpeace called the $250 billion offer "inadequate, divorced from the reality of climate impacts and outrageously below the needs of developing countries". But Avinash Persaud, special advisor on climate change to the president of the Inter-American Development Bank, said that the offer showed the talks were "within sight of a landing zone" for the first time. "There is no deal to come out of Baku that will not leave a bad taste in everyone's mouth," said the former advisor to Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley. The United States and European Union have wanted newly wealthy emerging economies like China -- the world's largest emitter -- to chip into the pot. China, which remains classified as a developing nation under the UN framework, provides climate assistance but wants to keep doing so on its own voluntary terms. Apart from splits over money, many nations fear the climate deal in negotiation does not reflect the urgency on phasing out coal, oil and gas -- the main drivers of global warming. Last year's COP28 summit in Dubai made a landmark call on the world to transition away from fossil fuels after long negotiations in Dubai. But a Saudi official speaking on behalf of the Arab Group said the bloc would "not accept any text that targets any specific sectors, including fossil fuel" in Baku. Top German diplomat Baerbock singled out Saudi Arabia and warned that its goal was "turning back the clock". - Criticism of Azerbaijan - Azerbaijan, an authoritarian state that relies on oil and gas exports, has been accused of lacking the experience and bandwidth to steer such large and complex negotiations. "This is the worst COP in recent memory," said Mohamed Adow of the Climate Action Network. The EU had also called for stronger leadership from Azerbaijan, whose leader, Ilham Aliyev, opened the conference by railing against Western nations and hailing fossil fuels as a "gift of God". The annual UN-led climate talks come on what is already poised to be the hottest year in history and as disasters rise around the world. Just since the start of COP29 on November 11, deadly storms have battered the Philippines and Honduras, while Ecuador has declared a national emergency due to drought and forest fires and Spain has been reeling after historic floods. bur-np-lth-sct/giv The Main Intelligence Agency of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine has been familiarized with a document prepared in Russia with a forecast of the development of the military-political situation in the world until 2045, which proposes a plan to divide Ukrainian territory into three parts, Deputy Head of the Intelligence Agency Vadym Skibitsky said. "First of all, the Main Intelligence Agency of the Ministry of Defense is familiar with this document. Moreover, this document was prepared by the Ministry of Defense and the General Staff of the Russian armed forces around December last year. This document forms the basis for long-term defense planning for a certain period of time at least ten years. In particular, this document was developed for the period 2026-2035 with a perspective up to 2045," Skibitsky told Interfax-Ukraine on Friday. He said that what is stated there concerns the further development of the situation at the global and regional levels, and, accordingly, the threats that Russia sees for itself in the future security environment. Skibitsky said during his speech at the annual YES meeting, Head of the Main Intelligence Agency of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine Kyrylo Budanov voiced some elements of this document. In particular, the lieutenant general said Russia will try to "resolve" the issue of Ukraine by 2026, which is "written down in this Russian document." The intelligence explains that this is due to the fact that a further long-term war will affect all aspects of the lives of Russians economic, demographic, image, etc. "On the possible division of Ukraine. Undoubtedly, the strategic goal of Russia remains the complete occupation of our state," the major general said, emphasizing that in order to have a powerful economic, demographic, territorial and military potential, Putin needs all of Ukraine. "This scenario of further development with a possible division of the territory is relevant not even for 2035-2045. It will already be relevant in the near future, for 2026, and maybe even earlier. You have heard Putin's statements regarding Ukrainian territories. He is already saying that Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson, Zaporizhia regions and Crimea are supposedly Russian territories according to their constitution," Skibitsky said. "And the published map already shows that the Russians perceive the occupied Ukrainian territories as new territories of Russia," he said. As confirmed by the Intelligence Agency, the document also spells out the distribution, providing for the approval of a pro-Russian government in Kyiv or necessarily a "neutral" one, that is, without the country joining NATO. "This is all an analysis and assessment by the Russians. We see how quickly they can change their plans depending on their success, the reaction of the international community and the development of the situation," Skibitsky said, noting that the Kremlin has already analyzed the threats that will be facing Russia by 2050. "We know them too," the deputy head of military intelligence said. Responding to the question of whether the Russians could really try to transfer these documents to the United States through other countries, Skibitsky said that such a threat exists. According to him, there is currently no information that this document could have been transferred anywhere, but this is not excluded. Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine General Oleksandr Syrsky met with the British delegation led by Chief of the Defence Staff of the Armed Forces of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Admiral Tony Radakin and discussed with him the issues of strengthening Ukraine's defence capability. "We discussed the development of military cooperation, in particular in the direction of training personnel of the Ukrainian Defence Forces by Great Britain, and outlined the critical needs of the Ukrainian Armed Forces for weapons, military equipment and means of destruction," Syrsky said in Telegram on Friday evening. Radakin, according to him, confirmed the intentions of the United Kingdom to continue providing logistical assistance and training personnel of the Ukrainian Defence Forces as part of training missions. "I informed my British colleague about the progress of repelling Russian aggression against Ukraine and the general situation on the front line," Syrsky said. The meeting was attended by the commanders of the Air and Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Shoppers walk past a Black Friday sign at David Jones, Melbourne, in 2023: Black Friday is getting bigger every year. Credit: Elke Meitzel But the discount frenzy, which some economists have said cannot go on forever, comes as retailers profit margins are being stretched thin while contending with higher operating costs for energy, fuel, labour, raw materials and more. Meanwhile, shoppers are buying less, trading down, turning to ultra-cheap Chinese retailers such as Temu and Shein, and taking up good deals. Businesses have had to be more deliberate and tactical with their mark-down strategy to entice Australians to part with their money, according to Carla Penn-Kahn, chief executive of the ecommerce insights platform Profit Peak. Retailers are increasingly focused on product-specific discounts rather than applying broad discounts across their entire range, she said. One of the key strategies emerging is the use of varying discount levels depending on factors like product sell-through rates [amount of inventory sold in a specific period], stock availability and popularity. This is a smart move as it avoids deep discounting on best-selling products, which could lead to [shortages] and leave retailers with less desirable inventory. At the top end of town, major retailers are eager to convey that they provide value for money, and are sticking to traditional markdown methods. Department store David Jones is offering a suite of deals that differ across categories and brands that vary in depth and timing; JB Hi-Fi began its blitz on November 21. Its Perks program members are given early access to online deals. Black Friday is now the leading retail sales event, said JB Hi-Fi managing director Cameron Trainor. Promotions are starting weeks in advance, says Penn-Kahn, in an attempt to capture consumer dollars as early as possible before sales fatigue sets in. Amazon Australia kicked off Black Friday sales on November 19. Data crunched by Shippit shows the biggest day of sales during the Black Friday period is actually six days before Black Friday itself (which falls on November 29 this year). By being more discerning with discounting, retailers can protect their margins and ensure theyre not left with stock thats harder to shift, Penn-Kahn said. No bullshit: One size does not fit all LNDR co-founder and head of sales Sarah Scott-Hunter. Credit: Retailers are marching to their own beat. While some are staggering price cuts, LNDRs site-wide approach pushes back against discounts with conditions and caveats. A lot of brands we see especially in Australia [do] final sale, or five different sales through November and kind of create that crazy sense of frenzied urgency all the time, Turner said. The duo is keen to turn down the noise. We just try and work around that kind of trickery, she said. Theres no final sale, Scott-Hunter added. We just really wanted to stay true to our core value, which is no bullshit. We want them to buy slowly. To preserve margins and meet consumer expectations, some retailers are doing things differently. Julie Mathers, founder of baby clothing brand Snuggle Hunny, began preparing for Black Friday a year ago after reviewing some excess stock. Not participating isnt really an option. Customers get hyped up about it, she said. We get asked multiple times a day, Are you doing Black Friday? Weve created a little range particularly for it. This exclusive collection is also made from excess fabric that would just otherwise go into landfill. Snuggle Hunny founder and chief executive Julie Mathers has been preparing for Black Friday since last year. Credit: Perfectly good products with minor faults that would typically have been thrown out, like prints that are slightly blurry or produced at too large a scale, will be sold exclusively during Black Friday at a discount as Snuggle Specials. From November 26 to Cyber Monday, on December 2, Snuggle Hunny will hold a sitewide sale of up to 70 per cent off. Mathers sees it as a triple win: factories get paid, customers are getting a great deal and fewer items end up in landfill. The numbers certainly stack up, if recent history is anything to go by. In September, to celebrate the ninth anniversary of the business, Mathers knocked 40 per cent off prices on her whole site for an hour. In that 59 minutes, our sales were about 55 times what they would be in any given day. We did over half a million dollars, she said. People in Perth were getting up at 4am for this. The mother of two expects sales to shoot up tenfold during the Black Friday period. It shows the power of community. When youve got a good product, a good offer, I think if you get your strategy right, this is what you can do in this economy. In Byron Bay, where LNDR is based, Turner and Scott-Hunter are expecting a fourfold increase in usual sales, but they suspect the actual figure will be higher. After 36 years reporting the news, 12 of them as ABC foreign correspondent in London and Washington, DC, Lisa Millar never would have dreamt a show about farm dogs would become a career highlight. But for the little kid from country Queensland who dreamt of becoming a journalist, Muster Dogs is a joyous homecoming. After narrating two seasons of the reality contest, which crowns the best of five dogs-in-training around Australia, Millar takes an on-screen role in the four-part follow-up, Muster Dogs: Where Are They Now? Lisa Millar with Zoe and her dog Buddy on Muster Dogs: Where are They Now? Being in regional Australia feels familiar to me When I go out on a Back Roads trip or Muster Dogs, and you can see the stars, you hear the roosters in the morning, I love it, says Millar, from Bali, where she is fixing the work-life balance after exiting ABC News Breakfast in August. Its the first time she has visited Indonesia without reporting on terrorist attacks or Australians doing the wrong thing. Grateful that she accepted what she initially thought was an unusual offer to narrate Muster Dogs in 2022, Millar is blown away by its success. By the second season, which aired in January, more than 1 million Australians were tuning in. Overseas audiences have pun warning lapped it up, with fan mail streaming in from the US and the UK. Israeli viewer Shai Lieberman was so inspired he contacted trainer Frank Finger, who owns season one-winning kelpie Princess. Lieberman appears in the special, learning the trade at Fingers Clermont property in Queensland, with the aim of operating a therapy farm back home. The bitter legal feud between Australian actor Rebel Wilson and the producers of her film The Deb will have its day in court, following a ruling by Los Angeles Superior Court judge Thomas Long that the defamation case should proceed as planned. Wilson accused the films three producers, Amanda Ghost, Gregor Cameron and Vince Holden, of embezzlement in a video she posted to her Instagram account earlier this year. Ghost was also accused of sexual harassment. The account has more than 11 million followers. Rebel Wilson at the AACTA Awards on the Gold Coast in February. Credit: Getty Images They responded with a suit against Wilson for defamation. But the 44-year-old actor had hoped to have it thrown out by using a California statute designed to dismiss cases that attempt to stifle free speech which is in the public interest. Wilsons lawyers filed a special motion to strike but the judge disagreed. These statements are not made during Wilsons participation in matters of public interest, the judge ruled. Schoolies hot spots are set for an influx of year-12 revellers from this weekend, and one coastal council has embraced the often-maligned school-leavers and the economic boost they bring ahead of summer. Alongside Lorne, Torquay and Phillip Island, the Mornington Peninsula has long been a popular party spot for Victorian teens at the end of their school days even before recently reappointed mayor Anthony Marsh helped launch its inaugural council-sanctioned schoolies in 2021. Zac Ristevski and Roman Abelseth booked their Byron Bay schoolies accommodation in year 10. Credit: Joe Armao Some people think schoolies is just a bunch of drunken idiots, and I dont think thats our view, Marsh said. People are trying to celebrate the end of a crazy period in their life, and they can come and relax, and do it in a safe and responsible way. (ECNS) -- While China and France share some similarities, they also have significant differences; To foster meaningful cooperation, both nations must strike a balance between their commonalities and disparities, said Jean-Claude Ruano-Borbalan, professor at the Conservatoire National des Arts et Metiers and director of the European Institute of Education and Social Policy, said in an interview with China News Network. Borbalan highlighted that both China and France have rich, diverse cultures. He said that French culture is shaped by European civilization, while Chinese culture has been influenced by Indian Buddhism and Western religions. He also emphasized the importance of understanding the institutional and political cultures in both countries. He pointed out that China and France both have long histories of institutional development. According to Borbalan, gaining insights into Chinas institutional and political systems is crucial to understanding the country as a whole. He underlined the significant role of Confucianism in shaping Chinese political culture, saying that Confucianism was essentially to select the people who were at the administration. Despite the shared cultural elements, there are also notable differences between the two nations. Borbalan used religion to illustrate his point, saying that the French view of religion is deeply connected with Catholic churches, and many French people mistakenly believe that Chinas Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism follow a similar pattern. This is not the case, he clarified. To bridge these differences, Borbalan stressed the need for ongoing dialogues between China and France. He suggested that both countries should engage in meaningful exchanges about their shared cultural values and mutual interests, particularly in areas that impact global development and human progress. The year 2024 marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of China-France diplomatic relations. From Nov. 12 to 14, the 6th Sino-French Culture Forum was held in Deauville, France, jointly organized by Western Returned Scholars Association and the Foundation Prospective et Innovation, with China News Network as a co-organizer and the China Internet Development Foundation offering support. Borbalan believes that the Sino-French Culture Forum is a very important forum for the common understanding, common critical thinking, and common willing of good future for the peoples of China and France. Dr Jarno Habicht, WHO Representative in Ukraine, speaks about the main healthcare risks Ukraine may face during current winter in exclusive interview to Interfax-Ukraine Text: Anna Levchenko How do you assess the situation of the healthcare system today? What are the main changes after 3 years of war? What are the main changes now compared to the pre-war period? What we can observe overall, regarding the system's functioning in the country, is that it became more resistant, largely due to the continuous reform of health, which started during the war in 2016. The national healthcare system is working, adjusting the numerous challenges, and, in a few areas, also gaining some better results than before. There is no doubt that at the same time, the system faces big challenges especially on the frontline dedicated to 10 years of war, daily attacks on health, shortage of personnel, and many others I will mention further. During 1000 days of war, WHO has verified 2,147 attacks on healthcare in Ukraine that took the lives of at least 197 health workers and patients, and injuries to 676 health workers and patients. More than 40% of attacks are directed to primary care, which is the patients gateway to the rest of the health system, including referrals to specialist care and prescriptions for medicines in the Affordable Medicines program (AMP). With growing health needs, two areas require more attention. First is the all-Ukrainian mental health program initiated by the First Lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska. The second is rehabilitation for injured patients and those who postponed their chronic care, like stroke patients. Also, we are entering the winter season, which is predicted to be the harshest winter if attacks on infrastructure continue. In UN recent report, it is clearly stated that attacks on energy infrastructure are attacks on the civilian population. During the cold season, vulnerable groups of people across the country need support. The efforts should include enhancing vaccination coverage as winter approaches with an expected rise in respiratory infections, providing health facilities with alternative heat and electricity sources, and implementing cold response strategies, which are crucial to mitigate risks and safeguard the well-being of affected populations. Situation with access to healthcare in frontline territories? What are the challenges? Is there access to specialized medical care and inpatient medical care? As I mentioned before, the country faces an issue with a shortage of healthcare workers, especially on the frontline and in rural areas. When we look at the frontline only 20-30% of the healthcare workforce is there. So we need to invest now in the workforce, including educating and motivating new healthcare workers. The decrease in healthcare personnel is not a new issue. Ukraine has been losing around 3%, or 5000 of its doctors annually, since 2019. Certain key specialties related to trauma care, epidemiology, and mental health have a shortage of doctors. Since 2017, the number of nurses has been declining by around 6%, which is around 11,000 nurses per year. In recent years, after the start of the war, the rate of decline has become faster. The main problems in most affected regions were related to the cost of medicines (46%), cost of treatment (26%), and time to get to health facilities (27%) as some of them can be destroyed. In coordination with the Ministry of Health and local authorities, WHO started to install modular primary care units in frontline communities where health facilities were damaged or destroyed. As for now, we have installed around 30 such units, which are fully functional health facilities, in 5 regions, and this work continues. To support vulnerable population we disseminate Over-the-counter (OTC) kits with necessary medications and medical supplies to families and households living in hard-to-reach areas at the front-line territories where pharmacies are absent. Overall, during these 1000 days, WHO delivered 4,500 metric tons of supplies to Ukraine. The deliveries consist of trauma and emergency surgery and other types of kits, essential medicines, other critical supplies, including about 140 ambulances, 50 buses for vaccination, equipment for laboratories and hospitals. What are the difference with the organization of work of HCF in frontline territories? Is medical equipment being evacuated? Is there data on the loss of equipment in hospitals after occupation of the territories? Are there international mechanisms for compensation or the return of this equipment to Ukraine? I would like to start with priorities, which are, by all means, people. Evacuating healthcare workers to safer places is much more important than equipment that can be and is provided by partners, including WHO. This is what happened, for instance, some time ago, with the team of the modular primary unit in Lyptsi, Kharkiv region, that was destroyed when Russian Federation forces occupied the area. Healthcare workers from this modular primary healthcare unit are working now in another community. International aid workers from humanitarian organizations are also integral to Ukraines health workforce and system. They support the provision of essential services, trainings, and enhance the capacity of local health workers where war has decreased their numbers. WHO coordinates via the Humanitarian Health Cluster around 125 national and international organizations in Ukraine to maximize support in frontline areas, but the challenges remain. According to estimates by the World Bank, the Government of Ukraine, the European Union, and the United Nations, the total recovery and reconstruction needs for the health sector are over US$14 billion by the end of 2023 with immediate priority needs for healthcare in 2024 for US$873 million. These costs consider building back better principles, including a shift toward lower energy intensity, modern standards, including climate resilience and inclusive design, etc. Also, despite the experience of other countries, Ukraine's recovery started in 2022, with international community and organizations joining it. This support to the country will continue. How is healthcare system preparing for winter? Are HCF ready to provide complex medical care in conditions of possible blackouts? What are the biggest challenges now? What is the electricity shortage to provide medical institutions? How has the situation changed compared to last year? Together with the Ministry of Health and partners, WHO supports healthcare facilities to be autonomous in light of future threats during the upcoming winter. According to our information, the regions near the frontline have the highest prevalence of energy, heating, and water supply issues. The most severe challenges were noted in Kharkiv, Mykolaiv, and Kherson, where about 30% of facilities experienced significant disruptions. Despite the challenges, most facilities (93%) have Emergency Plans in place, and 79% have conducted training for potential winter supply issues. The preparedness for electricity problems is notably high, with only 5% of facilities expressing concerns about energy readiness. However, concerns are greater regarding heating (19%) and water (20%). To provide hospitals with independent sources of heat on alternative fuel, WHO is installing an independent modular heating units to ensure uninterrupted healthcare services during winter and potential blackouts, providing a stable and safe environment for patients. Four units were already installed in Kharkiv, Chernihiv, and Odesa regions; five more units are in the process of installation. Summarizing all the above, I can assume that the country is better prepared for possible upcoming challenges as of now. How serious is AMR problem? What are the solutions? Are consultations being held with international and domestic pharma? Is there scientific research to overcome the problem? Are there calculations of costs associated with overcoming/solving the problem of antibiotic resistance? Ukraine has a high burden of AMR and the war exacerbates the issue for the next reasons. We observe increased number of infections that require antibiotic treatment, including war-related wounds, but also other community-acquired infections such as pneumonia, etc. At the same time, hospitals have limited capacity to implement high Infection prevention and control standards while having limited human resources and high influx of patients. Also, patients need to change several healthcare facilities during care, which also contributes to the spread of healthcare-associated infections and AMR. Talking about the way to AMR solutions, we need to start with the surveillance system to know exactly how big is the problem. MoH approved several orders that define approaches for AMR surveillance and data collection and reporting. Ukraine, despite the war, was able to expand its surveillance network, and currently, WHO supports the introduction of genomic surveillance for AMR, which will provide more data. The limited capacity of microbiological laboratories and limited human resources are among the main challenges. The AMR issue cannot be solved with stand-alone solutions. Improvements in clinical guidelines and adherence to them, infection prevention, including vaccination and infection prevention control, and culture change are required. This highlights the need to address issues and strengthen health systems overall. We have reliable and robust evidence on what works to reduce the AMR burden, as well as great examples from countries (e.g., Scandinavian countries). However, we understand that implementing evidence-based practices requires time, resources, and a high level of determination. How does WHO assess the pharma market in Ukraine? Is there a shortage of certain groups of drugs? Can Ukrainian manufacturers meet all market needs? How effective can certain international assistance programs be in case of a shortage of drugs? To what extent are international organizations ready to meet Ukraine's needs? Access to medicines is a long-standing problem in Ukraine, which we observe as long as we have data available - about half of all funds that people spend on health from their own budgets are spent on medicines. Consequently, medicine expenditures are one of two main drivers (together with inpatient care) of financial hardship for families. Ensuring access to medicines isn't a short-term emergency solution. It requires a comprehensive approach to build a robust pharmaceutical ecosystem. This includes aligning with EU regulations to ensure quality and safety standards before EU accession. Now, this process is ongoing in the country. The NHSU had assumed management of the Programme of Medical Guarantees (PMG) and its companion program, the Affordable Medicines Programme (AMP), which provides an opportunity for citizens of Ukraine to receive groups of medicines for free or with some small additional payment. For 20242027, NHSU's priorities are to expand coverage for cardiovascular combination medicine, medical devices, mental and behavioral disorders, oral therapy for diabetes, and anticoagulants. The situation was worsened by the war, but based on the population survey, we see that there are positive trends when we compare 2022 and 2024. For instance, in September 2022, 22% of households could not buy medicines when needed, compared to 6% in April 2024. Still, overall 81% of households said they experienced some difficulties when obtaining the medicines. The main problem is the increase in the price of medicines; 71% of respondents faced it during the WHO health needs assessment. Our team also supports MOH, authorities and community with a system-building approach, as this is the main way to ensure the availability and affordability of medicines at the country-wide coverage level. An Australian grandmother at the centre of a Japanese drug trafficking trial has told of her ordeal publicly for the first time, detailing her relationship with an online lover and accusing him of tricking her into smuggling meth. Donna Nelsons handcuffs were removed before she entered the witness box on Thursday, where she told the court she did not know the suitcase she arrived with at Narita Airport in January last year contained methamphetamine. Donna Nelson gives evidence in Japanese court. Credit: Yoshitaka Enomoto The 58-year-old from Perth, who ran as the Greens candidate for the West Australian electorate of Pearce in the 2022 federal election, broke down in tears as she described how she started online dating after her divorce because she was lonely and raising her five children as a single mother. She sparked a relationship with an online lover called Kelly, who told her he was a fashion designer who lived in Japan. An emperor penguin that swam almost 3500 kilometres from Antarctica to Western Australia in the longest recorded journey for the species has been returned to the wild after spending time recovering and regaining weight. The penguin, affectionately named Gus by registered wildlife carer Carol Biddulph and her husband Graham, put on 3.5 kilograms in their care. Biddulph said she hadnt named Gus for the first few days as she had been unsure if he was going to make it. Our main concern to begin with was that the bird was very malnourished. He was very thin, and so we had to go through a gentle process of refeeding him not too fast, not too slow, just right, she said. Australians have been charged billions of dollars in illegal merchant fees for federal government services, in a major financial scandal uncovered by the Albanese government. Fees amounting to billions of dollars have been charged over two decades, dating back to the Howard government era, for the use of credit cards and debit cards to pay for services such as visa applications and tax bills. The use of Visa and Mastercard debit cards to pay for government services has been illegally attracting merchant fees since the Howard government era. Credit: Christopher Pearce However, government sources say there are no plans to refund people charged extra for using their cards, due to the challenges of auditing tiny merchant fees across government services over so many years. Merchant fees are tiny charges made by the companies that provide the entire electronic payment system such as credit card companies and specialist networks. Prominent neo-Nazis joined a rally hosted by shadow minister Brad Battin and fellow Liberal MP Ann-Marie Hermans to protest against a lack of consultation over the renaming of a lake in Melbournes outer south-east. Battin and Hermans left the event as soon as they became aware that a small number of men dressed in black, including Thomas Sewell, the self-appointed leader of the National Socialist Network, and group member Joel Davis, had shown up to their public hearing on the renaming of Berwick Springs Lake on Tuesday night, the opposition said. Liberal MP Brad Battin speaking on Tuesday at a protest over renaming a lake in Berwick. Credit: Brad Battin/ Instagram Battin and Hermans had addressed a crowd of hundreds at the recently named Guru Nanak Lake, named after the founder of Sikhism, where they accused Labor of failing to consult the community on the name change. There is no suggestion that Battin, Hermans, the speakers or the event organisers invited the neo-Nazis or knew they would be joining the Tuesday rally. The watchdog also warned that gross debt was spiralling at a pace faster than revenue and economic growth, projected to reach $228.2 billion by June 30, 2028. Net debt is expected to hit $187.8 billion by this time. Loading While strategies and objectives are in place, the state has not articulated a clear plan for long-term fiscal management, the report found. Current strategies are short term, reactive and do not address both the existing financial challenges and emerging financial risks A more comprehensive approach is needed to ensure long-term fiscal sustainability and proactive management of the states finances. Sound financial management is foundational to fiscal sustainability. A clear and well-defined long-term financial plan is required and integral to a robust and mature financial management framework. The report comes ahead of the governments mid-year financial report for the 2024-25 budget year, where it will have to account for and offset an extra $1.5 billion promised to hospitals since May and further blowouts on the Metro Tunnel. Loading Opposition treasury spokesperson Brad Rowswell said the report confirmed that Victorias financial position continued to deteriorate under the Allan government. Under Labor, debt is growing by $80 million a day, operating deficits are set to continue for years to come, and growing interest repayments are draining vital funds from frontline services, he said. Labor cannot manage money, cannot manage our economy and Victorians are paying the price. In a letter responding to the report, Treasurer Tim Pallas said the governments debt strategy was a balanced approach to the current economic climate. The recent 2024-25 budget demonstrated that this strategy is working, with the economy performing well and the labour market strong. On Thursday, Victorias Parliamentary Budget Office reported Victorias economy grew by 1.5 per cent in the last financial year, slightly higher than the national average and second only to Queensland. Per person, Victorias economy shrank by 1.3 per cent, compared with 1 per cent nationally. The auditor-general also reported that Victoria had clawed $2.4 billion back from public corporations into its budget in 2022-23. This figure was nearly double the year before, largely because of $1.1 billion raided from the Transport Accident Commission. Loading Victoria plans to find $4.9 billion in savings over the next four years, but the report said maintaining services while doing this would be a challenge. It noted the risks included gross debt growing faster than the economy, rising employee expenses and $17.3 billion that would be needed from now until 2035 to make sure the states superannuation liabilities were properly funded. Unplanned and significant blowouts on major projects were also identified as a potential risk that could significantly strain the states financial sustainability. The auditor-general noted that the first stage of the Suburban Rail Loop was expected to cost up to $34.5 billion, but said the government had not yet disclosed the total estimated expenditure and completion date for the entire project. Assistant Treasurer Danny Pearson disagreed with the auditor-generals observations about the long-term strategy. He said on Friday the government had been upfront about its path back to surpluses and 10-year plan to pay down COVID-19 debt. Weve got a really strong, vibrant economy here in Victoria. Were investing heavily in the services that Victorians rely upon, and in infrastructure they have overwhelmingly voted for, and were not taking a backward step, he said. Saul Eslake, former chief economist of ANZ Bank and of Bank of America Merrill Lynch in Australia, said the report echoed recent assessments by rating agencies including S&P, which said Victorias financial management practices were lagging those of many highly rated domestic and international peers. WASHINGTON, Nov. 21, 2024 -- U.S. News & World Report, the global authority in rankings and consumer advice, today announced its 2025 Best Vehicle Brand and Best Certified Pre-Owned Program awards. After evaluating 38 brands, U.S. News' Best Vehicle Brands recognizes industry-wide excellence across four key segments of the automotive market: cars, SUVs, trucks and luxury vehicles. Drawing from distinct criteria, the U.S. News Best CPO Program recognizes the program that offers consumers the most benefits. This year's winners include: Best Car Brand: Honda Best SUV Brand: Hyundai Best Truck Brand: Ram Best Luxury Brand: Porsche Best Certified Pre-Owned Program: Lexus The 2025 Best Vehicle Brand Awards For the fourth consecutive year, U.S. News recognized Honda as the Best Car Brand, with high scores across the board for each of its models, most notably the Civic Type R . In addition, the exceptional quality of the Palisade , Tucson and Tucson Hybrid models helped Hyundai earn the award for the Best SUV Brand, while Ram extended its Best Truck Brand winning streak to six years due to the strength of its Ram 1500 and Ram 2500 models. For the Best Luxury Brand award, the Boxster and Cayman helped Porsche secure the win. "A key consideration for consumers during the car-buying process is the strength of an automaker's brand and how it's reflected on the quality of the cars in its lineup," said John Vincent , senior automotive correspondent at U.S. News. "Those in the market for a car, SUV, truck or luxury vehicle can look to this year's Best Vehicle Brand winners as a helpful starting point on their car buying journey, as these brands have an excellent combination of performance, interior quality, safety and reliability among vehicles in their respective categories." To determine the award winners, U.S. News Best Cars averaged the overall score of all the given brand's products in each award class. The vehicle scores are derived from the U.S. News Best Cars rankings, which take into account a range of data points like safety ratings and reliability data, as well as the consensus opinion of the automotive press. The brand with the highest average score was designated the winner in that specific category. The 2025 Best Certified Pre-Owned Program Winner Lexus wins the Best Certified Pre-Owned Program award for the eighth year in row due to its extensive warranty coverage and range of premium program benefits. "With warranty coverage for unlimited miles over six years, and competitive benefits like a service loaner and complimentary maintenance, L/Certified by Lexus continues to be a standout among certified pre-owned programs," said Vincent. To determine the award winner, U.S. News evaluated a range of distinct CPO program coverages and benefits including warranty coverage duration, trip interruption reimbursement, roadside assistance perks and more. For more information, visit Best Vehicle Brands and Best Certified Pre-Owned Program and use #BestVehicleBrands and #BestCPO on Instagram , X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook . About U.S. News Best Cars Since 2007, U.S. News Best Cars, the automotive channel of U.S. News & World Report, has published rankings and reviews of the majority of new vehicles sold in America. Each year, U.S. News also publishes the Best Cars Awards, including Best Vehicle Brands , Best Cars for the Money and Best Cars for Families . U.S. News Best Cars supports car shoppers throughout the entire car buying journey, offering industry leading advice for researching cars and finding cars for sale , as well as its U.S. News Best Price Program . SOURCE U.S. News & World Report, L.P. HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Bot Auto, a pioneer in autonomous vehicle (AV) technology, has successfully completed hub-to-hub (H2H) driverless truck demonstrations, significantly outpacing industry standards. In less than three months, the company has progressed from track testing to executing day and night H2H demonstrations from a logistics hub in Houston, TX. With a team of just 45 visionaries and an initial investment of $16.5 million, Bot Auto has achieved disengagement-free autonomous truck runs on public roads in record time. The companys ability to rapidly adapt and implement cutting-edge technology sets it apart from legacy companies, positioning Bot Auto as a leader in the next generation of transportation solutions. Todays ecosystem allows Bot Auto to leap forward by adopting open source and advanced deep learning training, which maximizes the efficiency of its engineering team. "We view todays demonstration not as an endpoint but as a stepping stone. It is a milestone inviting everyone to reimagine that in the new AI era, we can fundamentally re-architect, re-design, and re-engineer everything we know about building autonomous driving technology, said Xiaodi Hou, CEO of Bot Auto. In a world where promised deadlines are too easily missed, our team is motivated to create tangible value first with unprecedented speed and capital efficiency. The H2H journey navigates surface streets, stop signs, traffic lights, and merges onto the I-10 in the heart of transportation just west of Houston. The videos are now available for viewing, offering a glimpse into the future of autonomous transportation, powered by Bot Autos trailblazing technology and exceptional team. About Bot Auto Bot Auto is dedicated to revolutionizing the transportation industry with autonomous trucks, aiming to make a lasting positive impact on humanity. Embracing AI at every level of the company, Bot Auto leverages advanced technology and extensive experience in the AV industry to transform goods transportation into a model of increased capacity and efficiency. Operating under a Transportation-As-A-Service business model, Bot Auto is poised to lead the way in autonomous logistics, redefining the future of transportation with innovative AI solutions. VinFast Drives Community Support with Food Bank Initiative: Test Drive a VinFast EV, Help Provide 100,000 Meals for Those in Need TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As a partner of Food Banks Canada, VinFast, a leading electric vehicle (EV) brand, is excited to announce its latest initiative to support food banks across Canada. Launching on November 18 and running through December 31, 2024, VinFast's Food Banks Canada Initiative will donate 100 meals to people in need for every test drive taken. With a goal of reaching 1,000 test drives nationwide, VinFast aims to provide up to 100,000 meals for Canadians in need by the end of the year. A Drive for Change The VinFast Food Banks Canada Support Initiative is a unique opportunity to make a difference by simply test-driving an innovative VinFast EV. Each test drive will translate into 100 meals, equivalent to a $50 donation to local food banks, with a national target of providing $50,000 CAD in meals. The initiative highlights VinFasts commitment to supporting communities while showcasing its range of sustainable electric vehicles. Customers are encouraged to bring friends along, as each friend who also completes a test drive will generate an additional 100 meals, multiplying the impact. Furthering VinFast's commitment to community support, HQ staff will also be volunteering during the holiday season to help transport donations and provide hands-on assistance for local food banks. Giving Back Through Sustainable Innovation VinFasts new program brings together the brands dedication to sustainability and social responsibility, aligning with the values of eco-conscious consumers, families, and professionals who are looking for meaningful ways to make a difference. Our Food Banks Canada Support Initiative lets customers experience our innovative all-wheel drive EVs while giving back to the community. A single test drive can provide a days meals for multiple families in need, said Mr. Robert Muller, Deputy CEO of Sales and Marketing, VinFast North America. Through this initiative, were excited to bring people together in the spirit of giving, and we invite Canadians across the country to join us in making an impact this holiday season. How to Participate Consumers can visit any VinFast store nationwide to participate. For more information and store locations, please visit https://vinfastauto.ca/en Campaign Activation The Food Banks Canada Support Initiative will be supported by a multi-channel campaign across social media, digital ads, and in-store promotions. With separate English and French Canadian versions, the campaign will reach a broad audience across Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, and shopping centers. Join VinFast in its mission to support food banks and provide 100,000 meals this holiday seasonone test drive at a time. Visit a VinFast store, bring a friend, and make a difference through the power of sustainable driving. About VinFast VinFast , a subsidiary of Vingroup JSC, one of Vietnams largest conglomerates, is a pure-play EV manufacturer with the mission of making EVs accessible to everyone. VinFasts product lineup today includes a wide range of electric SUVs, e-scooters, and e-buses. VinFast is currently embarking on its next growth phase through rapid expansion of its distribution and dealership network globally and increasing its manufacturing capacities with a focus on key markets across North America, Europe and Asia. Learn more at: https://vinfastauto.ca/en About Food Banks Canada Food Banks Canada is the leader in addressing food insecurity in Canada. Our mission is to provide national leadership to relieve hunger today and prevent hunger tomorrow in collaboration with the food bank network from coast to coast to coast. For over 40 years, food banks have been dedicated to helping Canadians living with food insecurity. Over 5,500 food banks and community organizations come together to serve our most vulnerable neighbours, who this year made over 2 million visits to these organizations in one month alone, according to our HungerCount report. Since 2010, Food Banks Canada has shared over $829 million in food supports and over $245 million in funding to help maximize collective impact and strengthen local capacity while, backed by leading research, advocating for meaningful actions from governments to counter hunger and its root causes. Our vision is clear: create a Canada where no one goes hungry. Visit foodbankscanada.ca to learn more. For more information on the Food Banks Canada Support Initiative, please contact: info.ca@vinfastauto.com John Lindo: john.lindo@vinfastauto.com On November 20, Kyiv hosted the UP100 award, which brought together the best Ukrainian entrepreneurs and startups shaping the future of business. Among the partners was the HitBit Pro team, which for the first time presented its global lifestyle project aimed at integrating cryptocurrencies into everyday life. Registration and management of the card are as convenient as possible: everything can be done via a Telegram bot in a matter of minutes. This makes HitBit Pro accessible even to those who are new to cryptocurrencies. At the UP100 award, the HitBit Pro team presented an interactive stand where visitors could familiarize themselves with the product's functionality. Guests could see how easy it was to register, order a card, and make payments in real time. According to the founders, their product is designed for people who value freedom in financial transactions. We want to make cryptocurrency accessible to everyone. Our card is an easy way to integrate digital assets into everyday life, said one of the founders of HitBit Pro. The new HitBit Pro crypto card project is aimed at young people and active travelers, as well as those who earn income in crypto, value privacy, and are looking for flexible solutions to manage their finances. It allows you to use cryptocurrency for everyday purchases in stores, restaurants, traveling, and even online. The key goal is to bust the myth that cryptocurrency is complicated or inaccessible. HitBit Pro offers a tool that makes using cryptocurrencies as easy as using a bank card. The partnership with UP100 was the first public presentation of HitBit Pro. HitBit Pro is a modern financial instrument that allows you to pay for any purchases in cryptocurrency through automatic conversion into fiat currency (euros). The card is supported by the Mastercard network. Translated with DeepL.com (free version) AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Nov. 21, 2024 -- Fiat 500e Giorgio Armani Collector's Edition embodies FIAT's commitment to an electric-powered future while showcasing Italian style, elegance and craftsmanship Available in two exclusive colors green and Greige with matching tone-on-tone eco-leather seats, Fiat 500e Giorgio Armani Collector's Edition features special Armani interior treatment and unique 17-inch wheels with GA logo "Ovation," the new Fiat 500e Giorgio Armani Collector's Edition commercial, debuts with the tagline, "Don't drive it, wear it" At the 2024 Los Angeles Auto Show, in the city known as a global leader and trendsetter in electric vehicles and fashion, the FIAT brand revealed the new 2025 Fiat 500e Giorgio Armani Collector's Edition, the perfect balance of elegance, style and sustainability. An embodiment of made-in-Italy design, the Fiat 500e Giorgio Armani Collector's Edition is a statement piece, reflecting Giorgio Armani's expertise and the refined artistry of FIAT's Centro Stile design studio in Turin, Italy. "The Fiat 500e Giorgio Armani Collector's Edition represents the finest expression of Italian design, bringing together two legendary icons in the Fiat Cinquecento and Giorgio Armani," said Aamir Ahmed, head of FIAT brand North America. "Featuring Armani's unparalleled design influence, including two bespoke color combinations and high-end touches befitting an Armani fashion collection, not to mention the artistry instilled by the FIAT Centro Stile design team, the 500e Giorgio Armani Collector's Edition epitomizes the exceptionality of Italian design and craftsmanship." Produced at the FIAT Mirafiori plant in Turin, the Fiat 500e Giorgio Armani Collector's Edition is the result of an immersive collaboration between the Italian designer and the FIAT design team: a vehicle crafted with the same meticulous attention to detail and dedication to quality expected in a fashion collection. The 2025 Fiat 500e Giorgio Armani Collector's Edition will be available in the first quarter of 2025. Pricing will be announced at a later date. Special Series, Special Colors For the exterior, designers focused on achieving a sleek, monochromatic look that seamlessly aligns with Armani's aesthetic. The most striking feature of the exterior design are the wheels, custom-made to display the GA logo on a grand scale, ensuring the car makes a bold impression from a distance. The design enhances aerodynamic efficiency through a subtle three-dimensional surface. The wheels feature a sophisticated, burnished two-tone anodized finish and precise lateral grooves, adding elegance to the overall appearance. Two distinguishing and exclusive colors have been specially created, each underlying the car's elegant design. The first is a signature green, a unique and technically advanced color that mirrors Giorgio Armani's style and refined taste. Both timeless and modern, the second is ceramic Greige, a sophisticated and unmistakable shade created by Armani that merges gray and beige. The interior, inspired by Armani/Casa and the fashion collection, exemplifies great craftsmanship. Chevron stitching and three-dimensional patterns on the central seat inserts evoke traditional tailoring techniques, while materials within the cabin blend cutting-edge and artisanal methods. Innovative touches include a laser-cut dashboard insert that offers an exquisite woodgrain appearance and delivers the soft touch of luxurious fabric. This is complemented by an intricate embroidery that showcases a dedication to fine, handmade expertise. The vehicle also features the Giorgio Armani logo on the front-seat headrests, with the designer's signature displayed on the dashboard, interior door panels and rear window, reinforcing the collaboration's distinctive character and attention to detail. Premium Equipment The 500e Giorgio Armani Collector's Edition boasts premium, high-end features, including standard full LED headlamps and taillamps, wireless charging pad, seven-inch TFT display, and 10.25-inch Uconnect 5 touchscreen with navigation and wireless CarPlay and Android Auto for seamless connectivity. For audiophiles, the seven-speaker JBL audio system features four Virtual Venues hand-selected by Maestro Andrea Bocelli, offering listeners a virtual-reality audio experience that changes the acoustic characteristics of the car depending on the chosen location. My Music Room An intimate musical experience as if the artist was playing right in front of you An intimate musical experience as if the artist was playing right in front of you My Recording Studio Pure acoustics and beautiful tones of a real recording space Giuseppe Verdi Opera House, Pisa Feel the nature of music in a theatre setting, enjoying a live performance Feel the nature of music in a theatre setting, enjoying a live performance Open-air Arena Hear the unmistakable acoustics and feel the energy of an open-air arena Additionally, the 500e Giorgio Armani Collector's Edition is offered with the latest safety equipment, ADAS and Level 2 assisted driving technology, ensuring both advanced functionality and a safer driving experience. Safety features include seven air bags, Active Lane Management System, Blind-spot Monitoring, Rear Cross Path detection, Drowsy Driver Detection, Full-speed Forward Collision Warning-Plus, Intelligent Speed Assist, Lane Departure Warning-Plus and Traffic Sign Information. The Level 2 assisted driving technology combines adaptive cruise control and Lane Keep Assist to aid the driver on select roads. The Fiat 500e is the first all-electric car in its segment to offer Level 2, hands-on driver-assist technology. Fiat 500e BEV Experience The lightest passenger BEV in the market, the 500e Giorgio Armani Collector's Edition features a 42-kWh battery with a Level 2 (11 kW) charge time of 4.5 hours. BEV capability combined with quintessential design cues make it unmistakably FIAT, with style and sustainability at its core. Under the hood, the 500e Giorgio Armani Collector's Edition is driven by an electric motor with an output of 117 horsepower and 162 lb.-ft. of torque, delivering spirited performance while managing range 0-30 mph in under three seconds and a combined range of up to 149 miles. The Fiat 500e Giorgio Armani Collector's Edition is exceptionally intuitive with no need for instructions, making it easy and fun to drive. Welcoming passengers with a digital melody, it sets the tone for an immersive Italian experience. In addition, the acoustic vehicle alert system (AVAS) "sings" to pedestrians with a song titled, "The Sound of 500," authored by Flavio Ibba-Marco Gualdi. The exclusive melody provides a taste of Italy during the first moments of every drive. Fast Charging The 500e Giorgio Armani Collector's Edition handily tackles the common concern of charge time using the equipped 85-kW fast charger system in which five minutes of charge time translates to a range of up to 31 miles, more than what's needed for average daily use. Estimated charge time from 0-80% is approximately 35 minutes with an 85-kW DC fast charge; estimated time from 0-100% is 4.5 hours with a Level 2 (11-kW) charging station. New "Ovation" Campaign This one-of-a-kind collaboration between FIAT and Giorgio Armani is beautifully captured in the captivating Ovation spot. The visual narrative begins with a cover of the iconic song "Citta Vuota" as the camera follows the new Fiat 500e Giorgio Armani Edition as it travels through the deserted streets of Milan at night, passing by iconic locations such as the Armani Hotel, the fashion avenues and the Armani boutique. During the journey, something unexpected happens: the iconic Via Montenapoleone turns into a catwalk. An enthusiastic public awaits the arrival of the Fiat 500e Giorgio Armani Collector's Edition and, when the car finally makes its entrance, the atmosphere is one of emotion and refinement. The entire city seems to celebrate the arrival of this extraordinary model, while the evocative claim "Don't drive it, wear it" appears. The Armani Group Established in 1975 by Giorgio Armani, chairman and CEO, the Armani Group is one of the leading fashion and luxury goods companies in the world. With more than 9,000 employees and nine production plants, the Group designs, manufactures, distributes, and directly retails fashion and lifestyle products, including apparel, accessories, eyewear, watches, jewelry, cosmetics, fragrances, furniture and home decor, and operates in the areas of food and beverage and hotels. FIAT Brand FIAT brand celebrates 125 years as an automaker and some things haven't changed. Iconic Italian design and refinement, plus a fun-to-drive factor, come standard with every Fiat. In early 2024, FIAT brand will launch the Fiat 500e, the first Stellantis retail battery-electric vehicle offering in North America and the best-selling city EV in Europe. FIAT is part of the portfolio of brands offered by leading global automaker and mobility provider Stellantis. For more information regarding Stellantis , please visit www.stellantis.com 2025 NACTOY Finalists Revealed LOS ANGELES, November 21, 2024 Every year, among a crowded field of new and updated models, a few well-designed and well-made vehicles truly stand out as award worthy. To that end, the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year (NACTOY) awards organization today named three cars, three trucks and three utility vehicles to its prestigious list of 2025 finalists. The announcement was made at the Los Angeles Auto Show, where a selection of NACTOY finalists and many other exciting new vehicles are on display for the public to explore. 2025 North American Car of the Year Finalists 2025 North American Truck of the Year Finalists 2025 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year Finalists Honda Civic Hybrid Kia K4 Toyota Camry Ford Ranger Ram 1500 Toyota Tacoma Chevrolet Equinox EV Hyundai Santa Fe Volkswagen ID. Buzz The competition for these awards will be fierce this year, said NACTOY President Jeff Gilbert, who is also the automotive reporter for WWJ Radio in Detroit. We have a well-balanced crop of EVs, hybrids and gasoline-powered vehicles. It will be hard to narrow each category down to just one winner theyre all great choices. The vehicles were voted on by 50 respected automotive journalists who produce content for a variety of print, broadcast and digital media in the U.S. and Canada. While evaluation criteria include outstanding innovation, design, performance, driver satisfaction and value, each juror has their own method for assessing vehicles. Their industry expertise and unique assessment processes mean that being named a NACTOY finalist is a highly coveted achievement for automakers. Jurors will continue evaluating the finalist vehicles over the coming weeks and cast their ballots for the winners before the end of the year. Award recipients will be announced on January 10, 2025, as part of the kickoff for the media days of the Detroit Auto Show. Spanish and French versions of this release are available on NACTOYs website. For more information about NACTOY and its history: http://northamericancaroftheyear.org. ABOUT NORTH AMERICAN CAR, TRUCK, AND UTILITY VEHICLE OF THE YEAR The awards are intended to recognize the most outstanding new vehicles of the year. These vehicles are benchmarks in their segments based on factors including innovation, design, safety, handling, driver satisfaction, user experience and value. The organization gives out three awards. They are: North American Car of the Year, North American Truck of the Year and North American Utility Vehicle of the Year. The awards are unique because they are given by an independent jury of automotive journalists from the United States and Canada instead of by a single publication, website, radio or television station. Hyundai Motor tops its acclaimed IONIQ lineup with new three-row, all-electric SUV, blending superior space, unique design and advanced EV technology IONIQ 9 unveiled at Goldstein House in LA, an icon of mid-century modern architecture, reflecting Hyundai Motors commitment to innovation and EV leadership through its IONIQ vehicle lineup Impressive interior space with fully flat floor, Relaxation Seats, Swiveling Seats[1], and a slidable Universal Island 2.0 console to enhance passenger experience Aerosthetic styling and futuristic design elements set IONIQ 9 apart, including streamlined roof and flush surfaces 110.3 kWh battery delivers WLTP-projected driving range of 620 km[2]; advanced E-GMP architecture delivers 10 to 80 percent recharge in 24 minutes[3] Practical, future-oriented technologies, Features on Demand and AI voice[4] recognition offer advanced functionality IONIQ 9 will be shown at the LA Auto Show and on sale in Korea and the United States in the first half of 2025; rollout planned for Europe and other markets later LOS ANGELES/SEOUL, Nov. 20, 2024 Hyundai Motor Company today unveiled IONIQ 9, a three-row, all-electric SUV with expansive interior space that fuses cutting-edge design and innovative electric vehicle (EV) technology. IONIQ 9 was unveiled at the iconic Goldstein House in LA, a celebrated example of mid-century modern architecture. This unique venue reflects Hyundai Motor's vision of positioning its IONIQ lineup as a symbol of innovation and progress in the EV market, underscoring its leadership in electrification and the companys target to offer a full lineup of 23 EV models by 2030. Following IONIQ 5 and IONIQ 6, both triple winners at the World Car of the Year Awards in 2022 and 2023 respectively, IONIQ 9 will build on this legacy of electrification excellence. The World Premiere event opened with a keynote speech by Jose Munoz, the President and Global Chief Operating Officer of Hyundai Motor Company. Following the unveiling of IONIQ 9, the event featured a terrace talk session exploring the Hyundai brand and IONIQ 9s design and space, while an exhibition zone showcased the development journey of IONIQ 9. IONIQ 9 is an appealing new choice for customers seeking a three-row EV that can accommodate up to seven occupants. It provides impressive space and features that cater to individual needs while offering a sense of togetherness it is truly Built to Belong. IONIQ 9 is designed to meet the needs of consumers who are hyper-connected but also value space, privacy and relaxation. "IONIQ 9 embodies Hyundai Motor's unwavering commitment and confidence in electrification, said Jaehoon Chang, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor Company. Based on Hyundai Motor Groups acclaimed Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), IONIQ 9 offers outstanding interior space, providing customers with unique value while solidifying our leadership in the global EV market. Serene, spacious interior provides an unparalleled EV experience IONIQ 9 offers superior roominess with ample second- and third-row space, providing an exceptional experience for occupants. Its interior design is characterized by elliptical elements and calming tones to create a lounge-like atmosphere. This provides a serene and natural feel, especially when immersed in natural light from the Panoramic Sunroof. IONIQ 9s flat floor accommodates seating arrangements for six or seven occupants. The Relaxation Seats in the first and second rows can fully recline and offer a leg rest for optimal comfort, allowing up to four people to rest during vehicle charging depending on the configuration. IONIQ 9 also boasts 1,899 mm of headroom and 2,050 mm of legroom, when second and third rows are combined. IONIQ 9s Relaxation Seats[5] feature Hyundai Motors first Dynamic Body Care system[6], including a Dynamic Touch Massage function. This system uses pressure and vibration to stimulate blood flow and circulation, reducing fatigue on long drives. IONIQ 9 also introduces second-row Swiveling Seats[7], allowing the second- and third-row occupants to face each other when the vehicle is stationary. This flexible configuration feature enhances interaction and communication among passengers, adding another way to enjoy the vehicles unique space. The SUVs slidable Universal Island 2.0 console provides an impressive level of storage and delivers a walk-through front-row seating arrangement, enhancing accessibility and convenience. The bidirectional armrests can be opened from the front and rear allowing easy access to the console from the second row. Universal Island 2.0 can be moved by up to 190 mm, allowing passengers in the second row to access it easily. The console also provides 5.6 liters of storage in the upper tray, as well as 12.6 liters of storage in the lower sliding tray. With the third-row seats folded flat, the trunk can accommodate up to 1,323 liters of luggage, while with all three rows in place IONIQ 9 offers up to 620 liters of luggage room[8]. Additionally, the front trunk offers a maximum volume of 88 liters for RWD models and 52 liters for AWD models. IONIQ 9 also emphasizes sustainability in its material choices. These include Eco Process Leather[9], Recycled PET Fabric, Wool Fabric, Bio TPO/PU Skin, Bio PET/SUEDE Fabric, and Bio Paint. The vehicle also uses paint made from recycled tire waste[10]. The IONIQ 9s panoramic curved display[11], floating dashboard, slim air vents and ambient interior lighting further enhance the vehicles futuristic interior atmosphere. Aerosthetic design conveys a sleek and sophisticated image IONIQ 9s sleek Aerosthetic exterior reflects Hyundai Motors commitment to blending aerodynamic innovation and sophisticated, futuristic styling. IONIQ 9s front-end design features Parametric Pixels integrated into the LED light units and lower fascia, creating a unique and sophisticated image. IONIQ 9s silhouette is defined by a smooth, curved roofline, creating a streamlined aerodynamic profile and a low drag coefficient of just 0.259 Cd[12] when fitted with digital side mirrors[13]. Energy usage efficiency is also enhanced by smoothing and balancing airflow under the body, and reduced wheel and tire resistance. To address these needs, a new dual-motion active air flap (AAF) system has been applied for the first time. Other aero-optimizing solutions include a 3D-shaped underbody cover, aerodynamic wheels and hidden antennas. With the longest wheelbase of any Hyundai model, at 3,130 mm, IONIQ 9 impresses with its expansive cabin and grand proportions. The pure volume of the body and fenders create an imposing impression, while intricately designed accents add depth and dimension. The flowing rear wheel arch character line emphasizes the vehicles unique volumes and contributes to its dynamic design. Reminiscent of a boat tail, the rear continues the theme of pixel-fused seamless integration while contributing to IONIQ 9s outstanding aerodynamic performance. The streamlined roofline and rising lower line create balance and give the silhouette a sleek, dynamic look. Notably, IONIQ 9 is the first Hyundai model to eliminate the roof antenna by dividing its functions between the windshield cover (for GPS and satellite radio), the instrument panel (for Connected Car Services) and the tailgate glass (for FM/AM and Digital Multimedia Broadcasting), contributing towards its advanced and minimalistic design. Exterior lighting aligns with Hyundais other EV models, featuring IONIQ signature Parametric Pixel lamps with small cube projection headlights and an intelligent front-lighting system (IFS)[14] to support improved vision and driving safety while preventing glare to oncoming vehicles. The rear features a full LED combination lamp. For enhanced visibility, the outside door handles feature indirect lighting. IONIQ 9s confident stance is supported by a range of wheel options, including standard-fit 19-inch items, 20-inch and 21-inch wheel options, and a top-of-the-line 21-inch Calligraphy design, allowing buyers to customize the vehicle further. The SUV is available in 16 exterior colors, including new hues such as Celadon Gray Matte, Celadon Gray Metallic, Ionosphere Green Pearl, Sunset Brown Pearl and Cosmic Blue Pearl[15]. Inside, interior trim colorway choices include Obsidian Black and six unique two-tone options (see specifications for details)[16]. Enhanced power electronics enable advanced EV capabilities IONIQ 9 is underpinned by Hyundai Motor's innovative E-GMP architecture, which enhanced PE system, with an optimized gear ratio for hill climbing and the application of a two-stage inverter for improved efficiency. A fully encapsulated PE system helps reduce motor sound, while improved acoustic laminated glass, triple sealing in all areas and the application of a reinforced plate in the A-pillar area all help eliminate road and wind noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) inside the cabin. The platform boasts a high-capacity, high-voltage battery for extended electric range and a flat floor for added passenger comfort and increased cargo space. Collision safety and durability have also been improved thanks to a robust body structure designed for optimal crash energy distribution. IONIQ 9 is the first Hyundai model to feature aluminum fenders and quarter panels, contributing to a lightweight body that enhances the EVs efficiency. The new dual-motion active air flap (AAF) system further enhances air sealing and exterior appearance with flush body panels. The SUV also introduces a new closure system with a rolling-type pin-lift door hinge, ensuring a better fit and finish, and a newly developed electric hood latch for access to the front trunk, which not only improves the design but also enhances product quality. Large-capacity battery delivers impressive range and performance The advanced PE systems high-voltage, floor-mounted NCM lithium-ion battery offers 110.3 kWh of system energy. IONIQ 9 is expected to achieve an outstanding WLTP-estimated all-electric range of 620 km and WLTP-targeted energy consumption of 194 Wh/km for the Long-Range RWD model with 19-inch wheels[17] thanks to its low drag coefficient, advanced platform and battery technologies. IONIQ 9 conveniently charges from 10 to 80 percent in just 24 minutes using a 350 kW charger, while the platforms vehicle-to-load (V2L) signature convenience feature and 400V/800V multi-charging capability lower the barriers to EV adoption. The Long-Range RWD model is powered by a 160 kW rear motor, the Long-Range AWD alternative features an additional 70 kW front motor, while the Performance AWD models boast 160 kW motors at both the front and rear[18]. The Performance model[19] can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 5.2 seconds, while the Long-Range AWD variant[20] takes 6.7 seconds, and the Long-Range RWD version[21] takes 9.4 seconds. In terms of mid-range acceleration, such as overtaking other vehicles, the Performance model accelerates from 80 to 120 km/h in 3.4 seconds. The Long-Range AWD variant accomplishes this in 4.8 seconds, while the Long-Range RWD version takes 6.8 seconds. Practical, future-oriented technologies deliver innovative experiences Hyundai Motor has applied significant advancements to IONIQ 9 to address common EV customer concerns, including a refined EV Route Planner, improved battery consistency, an enhanced torque control display, a comprehensive energy report feature and other smart improvements. IONIQ 9 displays its charge status via green dots on the steering wheel* to keep drivers informed of remaining energy. The model features Hyundai AI Assistant, an AI-enabled voice recognition system* similar to a home virtual assistant, which is activated by a button. This systems status is indicated by dotted indicators for easy use. In IONIQ 9, these features combine advanced technology with practicality to enhance the EV experience. Hyundai Motors new Features on Demand (FoD) service is a unique offering that allows IONIQ 9 customers to further personalize their vehicle with digital upgrades purchased from the online store. The FoD products offer dynamic lighting patterns when opening the door, dynamic escort light when closing the door, and content streaming* options including Amazon Music and Soundcloud. The Display Theme feature allows customization of the screen with various themes. Bluelink Connected Car Services* deliver seamless connectivity through online voice recognition and a range of features for a more convenient and enjoyable driving experience. This includes real-time road surface and driving judgments*, as well as a Driver Safety Index based* on driver patterns. Over-the-air (OTA) software update capability allows in-vehicle controllers to update wirelessly. The vehicle features a Digital Key* function through NFC communication, a fast wireless charger with a rubberized charging pad to prevent devices sliding when on the move, and a cooling fan to reduce device temperature when charging. IONIQ 9 offers 100W high-output USB-C ports* for passengers in the first, second and third rows. Unlike traditional USB ports reliant on a 12V battery, IONIQ 9 sources power directly from the high-voltage battery for uninterrupted use. This innovative concept extends the capabilities of Hyundai Motors Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) capability. The V2L outlet in the cargo area allows users to power and charge electrical devices and appliances via a standard power outlet using the EVs battery. IONIQ 9s climate system offers a rear-independent function optimized for leisure activities, such as car camping. This system provides air-conditioning for rear passengers and reduces unnecessary power consumption by independently controlling the front and rear climate zones. The vehicle also includes a slim roof air vent designed to work in conjunction with the Panoramic Sunroof package. The new three-row electric SUV is also equipped with a UV-C sterilizer*, offering a multi-tray sterilization function that can disinfect small items, such as mobile phones, wallets and masks. This feature is developed to meet customers needs of prioritizing health and hygiene in the vehicle. IONIQ 9s infotainment system includes a 12-inch cluster and a 12-inch integrated monitor as part of the panoramic curved display[22]. The standard in-car audio setup features an eight-speaker sound system, with the option of a premium BOSE 14-speaker stereo, which supports 5.1-channel surround sound, wireless updates and advanced BOSE features. It also incorporates e-Active Sound Design (e-ASD), which outputs the virtual driving sound of an EV using the vehicles audio system. Standard advanced safety features provide peace of mind IONIQ 9s reinforced body structure ensures maximum battery safety by effectively distributing collision energy and maintaining structural integrity, even in severe incidents. Also, the standard application of third-row seat belt pre-tensioners and load limiters significantly improves third-row passenger protection in the event of a collision, preventing head impacts with the second-row seats and reducing head and neck injuries. IONIQ 9 is also equipped with 10 airbags to further enhance safety. IONIQ 9 features Hyundais latest Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) aimed at improving safety by preventing accidents and easing driving tasks. These systems include Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist 2 (FCA), Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist (BCA), Safe Exit Warning (SEW), Safe Exit Assist (SEA), Rear Occupant Alert, Intelligent Speed Limit Assist (ISLA), Driver Attention Warning (DAW), Blind-Spot View Monitor (BVM), High Beam Assist (HBA), Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (RCCA), Parking Distance Warning (PDW) and more. Driver-centric technologies enhance performance and efficiency IONIQ 9s column-type shift-by-wire system is integrated with the ignition button for intuitive operation and space utilization. It provides haptic feedback when the vehicle is in reverse. The system has been enhanced for responsiveness, while IONIQ 9s braking system has been improved for increased stopping power and efficiency. The SUVs Chassis Domain Control Unit enhances driving performance with features such as dynamic torque vectoring for improved handling, and lateral wind stability control for high-speed stability. IONIQ 9 is also equipped with a Terrain Traction Control System for rough roads and an Auto Terrain Mode[23] that uses AI to recognize the road surface and select the optimal driving mode. The vehicles suspension system has been designed specifically to suit the application of an all-electric SUV, with a MacPherson multi-link setup at the front and a multi-link system at the rear. It includes self-leveling suspension dampers for added comfort and hydro-bushing to reduce driving vibration. IONIQ 9 also offers competitive towing capabilities. In trailer mode, the vehicle automatically detects the trailer's weight and adjusts predicted range accordingly. This feature maintains a fixed 50:50 front-to-rear motor torque distribution ratio for optimal performance. European IONIQ 9 models can tow up to 2,500 kg, while North American models have a towing capacity of 5,000 lbs. In selected markets, Digital Side Mirrors replace traditional glass mirrors, displaying a side-rear view on a seven-inch OLED monitor. The system offers a zoom-out function for reversing, maneuvering guidelines, and an auxiliary line for lane changes. It provides safe, wide-angle rear-view vision even in difficult conditions, and further enhances the cars aerodynamic performance. IONIQ 9 has been engineered for reduced road noise levels, with specific considerations for the unique characteristics of EVs. The application of sound-absorbing tires minimizes tire resonance, while reinforcements to the vehicles structure adds rigidity and reduces low-frequency booming noise generated when driving on rough roads. The vehicle also features an Active Noise Control-Road (ANC-R) system[24] to further reduce road noise. IONIQ 9 set for global sales in 2025 IONIQ 9 will go on sale in Korea and the United States in the first half of 2025, with subsequent rollout planned for Europe and other markets later. Boasting a comprehensive suite of standard equipment and cutting-edge technologies, IONIQ 9 will also offer enhanced convenience and design features as optional upgrades. Detailed specifications will be unveiled closer to specific market launches. ### Hyundai IONIQ 9 specifications Specifications Hyundai IONIQ 9 Dimensions Length 5,060 mm Width 1,980 mm Height 1,790 mm Wheelbase 3,130 mm High-voltage battery pack energy 110.3 kWh Motor output Long-Range RWD Up to 160 kW rear (350 Nm) AWD Up to 70 kW front (255 Nm) / 160 kW rear (350 Nm) Performance AWD Up to 160 kW front (350 Nm) / 160 kW rear (350 Nm) 0-100 km/h Performance AWD 5.2 sec. (with 21-inch wheels) 0-60 mph 4.9 sec. (with 21-inch wheels) Top speed Long-Range AWD 200 kph / 124 mph Performance AWD 10-80% fast charging 24 minutes with 350 kW charger under optimal conditions Tires 255/60R19 (19"), 275/50R20 (20") 285/45R21 (21") Projected max driving range (WLTP) 620 km (Long-Range RWD with 19-inch wheels) Projected max driving range (EPA) 335 miles (Long-Range RWD with 19-inch wheels) Exterior colors NEW: Celadon Gray Matte/Metallic, Ionosphere Green Pearl, Sunset Brown Pearl, and Cosmic Blue Pearl ALSO: Abyss Black Pearl, Serenity White Pearl, Snow White Pearl, Cyber Gray Metallic, Atlas White Matte, Ecotronic Gray Matte, Nocturne Gray Matte/Metallic, Gravity Gold Matte, Ultimate Red Metallic, and Biophilic Blue Pearl Interior colors Obsidian Black, Dark Pebble Gray + Dove Gray (two-tone), Obsidian Black + Dove Gray (two-tone), Dark Teal + Dove Gray (two-tone), Mud Gray + Creamy Beige (two-tone), Cognac Brown + Creamy Beige (two-tone), and Dark Wine + Dove Gray (two-tone) * Energy consumption figures are not finalized. Please only use the estimates as written above. Vehicle specifications and features may vary depending on country/region and are subject to change without notice. About Hyundai Motor Company Established in 1967, Hyundai Motor Company is present in over 200 countries with more than 120,000 employees dedicated to tackling real-world mobility challenges around the globe. Based on the brand vision Progress for Humanity, Hyundai Motor is accelerating its transformation into a Smart Mobility Solution Provider. The company invests in advanced technologies such as robotics and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) to bring about revolutionary mobility solutions while pursuing open innovation to introduce future mobility services. In pursuit of a sustainable future for the world, Hyundai will continue its efforts to introduce zero-emission vehicles with industry-leading hydrogen fuel cell and EV technologies. More information about Hyundai Motor and its products can be found at: https://www.hyundai.com/worldwide/en/ or Newsroom: Media Hub by Hyundai Contact: Sooho Jung Global PR Team / Hyundai Motor Company sooho.jung@hyundai.com [1] Available in selected markets only [2] Long-range RWD model with 19-inch wheels. EPA projected driving range is 335 miles [3] Under optimal conditions, may differ by market [4] Available in selected markets only [5] Available in first and second rows depending on market [6] Available in the Korean market only [7] Available in selected markets only [8] Based on the SAE standard [9] Available in selected markets only [10] Available in selected markets only [11] Size may vary depending on market [12] With 19-inch wheels [13] Available in selected markets only. When equipped with conventional side mirrors, IONIQ 9 has a drag coefficient of 0.269 Cd [14] Available in selected markets only [15] Colors may vary depending on the market [16] Colors may vary depending on the market [17] Maximum EPA-estimated all-electric range of 335 miles and EPA-targeted energy consumption of 97 MPGe for Long-Range RWD with 19-inch wheels [18] Actual motor outputs may vary depending on conditions [19] AWD Performance variant equipped with 21-inch wheels / 0 to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds [20] AWD Long-Range variant equipped with 19-inch wheels / 0 to 60 mph in 6.2 seconds [21] RWD Long-Range variant equipped with 19-inch wheels / 0 to 60 mph in 8.4 seconds [22] Size may vary depending on the market [23] Available in selected markets only [24] Available in 21-inch wheels model only * Features with asterisks are available in selected markets only Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 22. Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov has expressed an unfounded smear campaign against the country during a meeting with his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock, Trend reports via the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry. The parties discussed the bilateral and multilateral agenda, as well as ongoing negotiations within the framework of COP29. "They also addressed the post-conflict situation in the region, the current state of the normalization process of Azerbaijani-Armenian relations, and the existing challenges in the peace process. Bayramov, expressing his concern about the coordinated, biased, and baseless defamatory campaign against Azerbaijan, delivered the country's position," the ministry added. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel AIIMS Bhopal holds winter outing for cancer warriors Staff Reporter : A winter outing was organised for 12 young cancer warriors and their families in Bhopal on Thursday. As per information, the event provided a pleasant opportunity for these children and their families to step away from the rigorous routine of treatment. For many of the children and their families, this experience was a first, making the moment even more special. The days activities included games, meals, and several interactive sessions, creating a positive and lively atmosphere for everyone. Praising this initiative, Prof Singh said, We do not only provide medical care, but also focus on the overall well-being of our patients. Through this initiative, we made a small effort to bring joy to the lives of these children. The success of this event was made possible by the contribution of AIIMS Bhopals staff, who are constantly striving to bring happiness to the lives of children battling cancer. This moment will be memorable for the children and their families, who are going through difficult times, and AIIMS Bhopal will continue to work towards improving the lives of such children. CanKids, an NGO working in the field of childhood cancer care, played an important role in organising this winter outing. BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 22. The Azerbaijani Youth Organization operating in Latvia held an event titled "Victory Assembly" in honor of November 8Victory Day at the Riga Technical University, Trend reports via the State Committee on Diaspora of Azerbaijan. The event, organized by the committee, opened with a performance of Azerbaijan's national anthem, followed by a minute of silence to honor the memory of the martyrs. Next, the Latvian MP, Chairman of the Azerbaijani Youth Organization, and an active member of the diaspora, Amil Safarov, delivered a speech. He briefed on the Second Karabakh War, the heroism demonstrated by the victorious Azerbaijani Army under the leadership of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, President Ilham Aliyev, and the glorious victory. The event also featured a screening of a short film about the Second Karabakh War, providing extensive information about Shusha city, along with footage of the city after its liberation. Moreover, a dance performance of "Uzundere" was presented by Malik Alakbarov and Aygun Asadova. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Atul Kulkarni, Arundhati Subramaniyam to inaugurate 6th edition of OCLF today Business Reporter : The 6th edition of the Orange City Literature Festival (OCLF) is set to captivate Nagpur once again, bringing a diverse celebration of literature, art, and inspiration to the city. Organised by Raisoni Foundation, this year's festival will take place from November 22 to 24 at the Chitnavis Centre, Civil Lines, Nagpur. With an impressive roster of renowned speakers, interactive sessions, creative workshops, and exciting competitions, OCLF 2024 promises something special for everyone. Atul Kulkarni, award-winning actor; Arundhati Subramaniyam, famous poet and author, Akash Khurana, a noted actor and screenwriter, Varsha Manohar, and Sunil Raisoni, Chairman, Raisoni Group, will remain present for the inauguration scheduled on Friday at Chitnavis Centre at 5pm. This year's line-up features some of the most prominent voices in literature, culture, and personal development, including Dr Pawan Sinha, Salil Desai, Mandira Nayar, Anuj Dhar, Sutapa Basu, Anuja Chandramouli, Naveen Choudhary, Rajesh Jain, Mithilesh Vazalwar, Vikash Khurana, Nilakantan, Riri Trivedi, Nilesh Oak, Nandita Om Puri, Ishaan Puri, Shefali Batra, Arun Anand, and Anil Lamba. These distinguished authors and thought leaders will share their expertise, engage in thought-provoking discussions, and offer insights on various topics. A special highlight of this year's OCLF is the drawing competition on November 24, where young artists can bring their favourite storybook characters to life. The competition is open to three age categories:- Category A - 5 to 10 years; Category B - 10 to 15 years; and Category C - 15 to 20 years. With exciting prizes for the top three winners, this competition is designed to inspire creativity and engage young minds in a world of imagination and storytelling. Reporting time is 9 am on November 24, so participants should arrive ready to showcase their artistic skills. For artists envisioning the future, the art competition on the theme "The World in the Year 2050" invites participants across different age groups to showcase their creativity and vision of the future. A vibrant marketplace will offer a variety of stalls, including books, unique merchandise, and interactive displays, creating a bustling hub for families and book enthusiasts. Bitcoin scam ED wraps up Raipur search ops Staff Reporter Raipur, The Enforcement Directorate (ED) concluded its search operation at the Raipur residence of Gaurav Mehta, a whistleblower in the Rs 6,600 crore bitcoin scam, in the intervening hours of Wednesday and Thursday. The operation, led by a Deputy Director and supported by four Assistant Directors, resulted in the seizure of three hard disks, a pen drive and three Software Design Documents (SDDs). The seized items have been sent to EDs Mumbai office for a detailed forensic analysis. The findings will determine if the evidence requires further examination at advanced forensic units in Ahmedabad and Chandigarh. These materials are believed to hold critical data that may expose unauthorised Bitcoin transactions and financial irregularities, as well as shed light on potential political connections to the scam. Simultaneously, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) intensified its probe by questioning Mehta at his residence on Thursday. The questioning follows fresh allegations by former Maharashtra IPS officer Ravindranath Patil, who identified Mehta as a key witness in the 2018 Gain Bitcoin scam, stated a senior CBI official. Notably, Patil, in his testimony, alleged that Mehta, previously a forensic consultant for Pune Police, was approached by senior political leaders Supriya Sule and Nana Patole to liquidate Bitcoin for Maharashtra Lok Sabha election funding. Meanwhile, sources confirmed that voice notes allegedly sent by Sule, instructing Mehta to transfer funds while promising immunity, are part of the investigation. Patil also implicated IPS officers Amitabh Gupta and Bhagyashree Navtake, accusing them of framing Mehta and controlling the Bitcoin wallet tied to the scam. According to officials, audio logs retrieved from Signal detail plans to use Bitcoin funds in the 2019 and 2024 elections. As the ED and CBI collaborate, sources privy to the investigation BJP demands Bhupesh, Congress leaders to answer their role BJP State General Secretary Sanjay Shrivastava launched a scathing attack on former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and other Congress leaders following the exposure of the Bitcoin scam. Highlighting its links to Maharashtra elections and enforcement actions in Chhattisgarh, Shrivatava demanded that Bhupesh and Congress leaders clarify their role in the matter. Addressing the media, Shrivastava referred to a viral social media post by a former Congress leader questioning the relationship between Bhupesh and Gaurav Mehta, the main accused in the Bitcoin scam. He further alleged, The Mahadev App case already established Congress governments financial ties with international crime syndicates. The Bitcoin scam revelations raise serious questions about Bhupeshs involvement. Congress, especially Bhupesh Baghel, must answer to the people of State. Citing an alleged audio tape involving Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole, Shrivastava stated, If Maharashtra Congress leaders are implicated and the accused operates from Chhattisgarh, isnt it logical to question Bhupesh Baghels involvement? Earlier too, Congresss corruption-tainted funds were exposed as being used to influence elections in other states under Bhupeshs leadership. He accused Bhupeshs government of being embroiled in various financial crimes, claiming, Chhattisgarh witnessed a government that looted its own revenue. Be it Soumya Chaurasia, Sameer Vishnoi, or Ejaz Dhebars brother Avner, Bhupesh Baghel has always shielded them, branding corruption cases as politically motivated. Highlighting BJPs consistent stand against corruption, Shrivastava pointed out, None of the accused linked to Bhupeshs government has managed to secure bail, including ex-CGPSC chairman Taman Sonwani. This speaks volumes about the depth of their involvement in corruption under Congress rule. The press briefing was attended by state BJP media in-charge Amit Chimnani, co-in-charge Anurag Agrawal, and spokespersons Umesh Ghormode and Amarjit Chhabra. b Accusations are baseless: Bhupesh Baghel The political atmosphere in Chhattisgarh is charged following the Enforcement Directorates (ED) action in the bitcoin case setting stage for a heated political battle, with both parties trading barbs and raising serious allegations. Bhupesh Baghel has dismissed allegations by BJP linking him to the case, asserting, I do not know any Gaurav Mehta. If BJP is naming me, they should present proof. I will file a defamation case against those making baseless accusations. The controversy escalated after BJP questioned Baghels alleged connection with Gaurav Mehta and even Chief Minister Sai has remarked, Investigation will reveal who is associated with Gaurav Mehta. On the issue of paddy procurement, Baghel accused the state government of exploiting farmers. He alleged that district collectors had been directed to underreport crop yields and claimed the governments procurement policies were causing losses to small farmers. Highlighting issues like delayed token distribution, problematic biometric system, shortage of gunny bags, and delayed payments, Baghel said, Paddy is piling up in storage centers, and the government seems unwilling to purchase it from farmers. Baghel also took aim at the state government over delays in civic and panchayat elections. He pointed out that elections, as mandated by the Constitution, must be held within five years. However, he alleged that the government had issued a notification allowing a six-month delay, which he described as unconstitutional. Cancel flights delayed beyond 3 hours, Govt tells airlines NEW DELHI : Ministry of Civil Aviation has directed airlines to immediately inform passengers of any delay in flights and to cancel flights delayed beyond three hours in order to avoid inconvenience to passengers as the winter intensifies and dense fog is expected to disrupt flying schedules. The guidelines were issued after a review meeting on fog preparedness chaired by Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu on Wednesday. The Minister emphasised a passenger-first approach aligned with Ease of Flying vision, prioritising convenience and safety. Airlines have also been told to use CAT II/III compliant aircraft and trained pilots for operations at airports such as Delhi which are prone to low visibility during winter, especially in December. Airlines have also been directed to maintain fully staffed check-in counters to reduce inconvenience and record accurate contact details of passengers while booking tickets to facilitate communication. Delhi airport operator DIAL has been directed to install LED screens to provide real-time updates on visibility conditions and increase number of Follow Me vehicles to guide planes during low-visibility situations. The unexpected spike in smog has already thrown flight schedules out of gear during this week as over 100 flights were delayed, and 15 were diverted due to the low visibility in Delhi. The Civil Aviation Ministry has underlined the need for coordination among airlines, air traffic controllers, and ground handlers. Fashionistas Jewelux - A RealJewellery Expo from Nov 23 Business Reporter : THE eagerly awaited edition of Jewelux - A Real Jewellery Exhibition brought to you by the award-winning Fashionista, will be at Hotel Centre P o i n t , Ramdaspeth on November 23 and 24 between 11 am to 7 pm. F a s h i o n i s t a started the trend of F a s h i o n Exhibitions in 2008, and now again in 2024, it is bringing the firstever real jewellery exhibition in Nagpur with the brand name Jewelux. Jewelux promises to provide an unmatched experience for jewellery enthusiasts, featuring a carefully curated selection of diamond, gold, silver and gemstone ornaments crafted by leading names in the industry, such as Irasva (T itle Sponsor), Sohum Creations (Gold Sponsor), Ekiyaa, Adi Jewels, Dream Stone by Aditi Jain, Preeti Poddar, Parekh B r o t h e r s , M a n i r a j S o l i t a i r e , Balaji Pearls, Kara by Ppriti and many more from various parts of India. With free entry for esteemed visitors, Jewelux offers a u n i q u e oppor tunity to meet and shop from some of the finest jewellers. Dont miss this exclusive opportunity to explore the best of Indian jewellery under one roof, says a press release issued by the organisers. Gautam Adani charged with paying USD 265 mn bribe to Indian officials NEW YORK/NEW DELHI : BILLIONAIRE Gautam Adani has been charged by US prosecutors for allegedly being part of a scheme to pay USD 265 million (about Rs 2,200 crore) bribe to Indian officials in exchange of favourable terms for solar power contracts. Adani, Indias second-richest man, and seven others including his nephew Sagar have been charged with paying bribes to unidentified officials of State Governments in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha to buy expensive solar power, potentially earning more than USD 2 billion profit over 20 years. Adani group had in 2021 won a bid to supply 8,000 megawatt (8 GW) of power generated using locally manufactured solar cell and modular plants but could not meet the price expectations of state governments buying such electricity. Adani is alleged to have met the then Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister in 2021, following which the state government agreed to buy 7,000 MW of power. Andhra Pradesh officials were paid at the rate of Rs 25 lakh per MW, totalling Rs 1,750 crore (USD 200 million) for 7,000 MW the state ended up purchasing. Odisha purchased 500 MW of power through the same route. Andhra Pradesh bribe payment was approximately USD 200 million, the court document showed. Odisha purchased 500 MW of power. The document also stated that central government entity Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited (SECI), which originally awarded the solar manufacturing linked power tender, entered into the sale agreements with Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Tamil Nadu between July 2021 and December 2021. The indictment also names New Delhi-based Azure Power, which had won a similar tender for supply of 4 GW. But when Azure could not cough up its one-third share of the bribe money paid to the states for buying expensive power, Adani made the firm give up part of its contract, which was then taken over by Adani through SECI. Adani has been charged with bribery and securities fraud in two separate cases brought by US authorities -- a criminal indictment by the US Department of Justice in a New York court that charges him and seven others including his nephew Sagar. Separately, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has charged Gautam and Sagar Adani and an Azure Power executive with violating the anti-fraud provisions of the federal securities laws. While the Adani group denied all charges and termed them as baseless, it scrapped a USD 600 million bond issue by Adani Green Energy Ltd. The issue was oversubscribed three times hours before the indictment. In light of these developments, our subsidiaries have presently decided not to proceed with the proposed USD denominated bond offerings, Adani Green Energy said in a stock exchange filing. The allegations made by the US Department of Justice and the US Securities and Exchange Commission against directors of Adani Green are baseless and denied, the group spokesperson said in a statement, adding it will take all possible legal recourse. Adani group stocks tanked in Mumbai trade. Ten listed firms of the group lost about USD 26 billion (Rs 2.19 lakh crore) in market value -- more than double of what the conglomerate had lost when US short seller Hindenburg brought out a damning report in January 2023. Rahul Gandhi seeks Adanis immediate arrest, probe against SEBI chief: LEADER of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Thursday demanded immediate arrest of Gautam Adani after the billionaire industrialist was charged in the US for alleged bribery and fraud. Addressing a press conference here hours after the US prosecutors charged Adani and associates for allegedly paying USD 250 million bribe to Indian officials, the Congress leader said it is now pretty clear and established in the US that the businessman has broken Indian as well as American laws. The Adani group denied the charges, saying the allegations by US prosecutors are baseless and the conglomerate is compliant with all laws. It also said that all possible legal recourse will be sought. Rahul, Cong tried since 2002 to target Modis image, PMs credibility remains high: BJP THE BJP on Thursday slammed Rahul Gandhis attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the US prosecutors indictment of Gautam Adani on alleged bribery and fraud charges as part of his long-running efforts to target its leader and noted that none of the four states named in American courts had a BJP government. Addressing a press conference, BJP spokesperson and MP Sambit Patra steered clear of the US Justice Departments allegations against the infrastructure behemoth, saying it is for the company to give an explanation and defend itself. Law will take its own course, he said while keeping the focus on Gandhis allegations against the prime minister and the BJP government at the Centre. Patra also pointed out that four states -- Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Chhattisgarh Tamil Nadu -- where government functionaries were allegedly paid bribes of over USD 250 million to secure favourable deals, were ruled by non-BJP parties during the period mentioned in the indictment. While the Congress and its ally were in power in Chhattisgarh and Tamil Nadu, the YSR Congress and the BJD, two regional parties unaffiliated to either the ruling or the opposition alliance nationally, ruled Andhra Pradesh and Odisha then, respectively. The BJP spokesperson cited investments of tens of thousands of crores of rupees by the Adani group, the ports-to-energy conglomerate, in states ruled by the Congress and its allies to question Rahul Gandhi over his partys dealings with the behemoth when he calls its boss Gautam Adani corrupt. Patra claimed that Gandhis allegations on Thursday fitted the pattern of him, his mother Sonia Gandhi and the Congress trying to tarnish Modis image since 2002, a reference to the communal riots in Gujarat when the BJP leader was the states chief minister, but in vain. Guyana, Dominica confer top awards on PM Modi GEORGETOWN (Guyana) : GUYANA and Dominica have conferred their top awards on Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his contributions during the COVID-19 pandemic and his exceptional contributions to the global community and efforts in strengthening bilateral ties with the two Caribbean nations. The Prime Minister, who is in Guyana on the last leg of his three-nation visit, was conferred The Order of Excellence by Guyanese President Irfaan Ali on Wednesday. Sincerely thank President Dr Irfaan Ali, for conferring upon me Guyanas highest honour, The Order of Excellence. This is a recognition of the 140 crore people of India, he said in a post on X. This is living proof of your deep commitment towards our relations which will continue to inspire us to move forward in every field, he said while accepting the award. Modi dedicated the honour to the people of India and the deep-rooted historical ties between the people of the two countries, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a press release. He also emphasised that his State visit is a testament to Indias continued commitment towards deepening India-Guyana friendship. Another feather in the cap for India! President @DrMohamedIrfaa1 @presidentaligy of Guyana conferred PM @narendramodi with the highest national award of Guyana The Order of Excellence, for his exceptional service to the global community, statesmanship and contribution in deepening India-Guyana ties, the MEA said in a post on X. Modi is the fourth foreign leader to be conferred with the highest National award of Guyana, according to the ministry. Before this, the Prime Minister was conferred the Dominica Award of Honour by President Sylvanie Burton of Dominica on the sidelines of the India-CARICOM Summit here. Honoured to be conferred with highest national award by Dominica. I dedicate it to the 140 crore people of India, Modi said in a post on X. This honour is dedicated to my sisters and brothers of India. It is also indicative of the unbreakable bond between our nations, he said in a separate post. The award is a recognition of PMs statesmanship and contribution to Dominica during the COVID-19 pandemic and his commitment to strengthening India-Dominica ties, the MEA said in a post. PM is the voice of global south: EAM Jaishankar: EXTERNAL Affairs Minister S Jaishankar congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi on being conferred with the Dominica Award of Honour, the highest national award of Dominica, during his state visit to Guyana. In a post on X, Jaishankar said, Congratulate PM @narendramodi on being conferred with Dominicas highest National Award - Dominica Award of Honour. The External Affairs Minister noted that the award recognises, PMs statesmanship, especially support to Dominica during the Covid-19 pandemic. He observed, The award reinforces PM @narendramodis leadership in being a true partner and voice of the Global South. After being conferred with the award, Prime Minister Modi expressed his heartfelt gratitude. International Criminal Court issues arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Hamas leaders Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Hamas leader Mohammed Deif. THE HAGUE : THE International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants on Thursday for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former Defence Minister and Hamas officials, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity over the war in Gaza and the October 2023 attacks that triggered Israels offensive in the Palestinian territory. The decision turns Netanyahu and the others into internationally wanted suspects and is likely to further isolate them and complicate efforts to negotiate a cease-fire to end the 13-month conflict. But its practical implications could be limited since Israel and its major ally, the United States, are not members of the court and several of the Hamas officials have been subsequently killed in the conflict. Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders have condemned ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khans request for warrants as disgraceful and antisemitic. The court also issued a warrant for the arrest of Mohammed Deif, one of the leaders of Hamas. The ICC chief prosecutor had also sought warrants for two other senior Hamas figures, Yahya Sinwar and Ismail Haniyeh, but they were both killed in the conflict. US President Joe Biden also blasted the prosecutor and expressed support for Israels right to defend itself against Hamas. Hamas also slammed the request. The Chamber considered that there are reasonable grounds to believe that both individuals intentionally and knowingly deprived the civilian population in Gaza of objects indispensable to their survival, including food, water, and medicine and medical supplies, as well as fuel and electricity, the three-judge panel wrote in its unanimous decision to issue warrants for Netanyahu and his former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant. The Israeli Foreign Ministry said in September that it had submitted two legal briefs challenging the ICCs jurisdiction and arguing that the court did not provide Israel the opportunity to investigate the allegations itself before requesting the warrants. No other democracy with an independent and respected legal system like that which exists in Israel has been treated in this prejudicial manner by the Prosecutor, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oren Marmorstein wrote on X. He said Israel remained steadfast in its commitment to the rule of law and justice and would continue to protect its citizens against militancy. The ICC is a court of last resort that only prosecutes cases when domestic law enforcement authorities cannot or will not investigate. Israel is not a member state of the court. The country has struggled to investigate itself in the past, rights groups say. Despite the warrants, none of the suspects is likely to face judges in The Hague any time soon. The court itself has no police to enforce warrants, instead relying on cooperation from its member states. Even so, the threat of arrest could make it difficult for Netanyahu and Gallant to travel abroad, although Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is wanted on an ICC warrant for alleged war crimes in Ukraine, recently showed he could still visit an ally when he traveled to Mongolia, one of the courts member states, and was not arrested. Khan sought warrants in May, accusing Netanyahu and Gallant of crimes including murder, intentionally attacking civilians, and persecution. In a statement at the time, Khan alleged that Israel has intentionally and systematically deprived the civilian population in all parts of Gaza of objects indispensable to human survival by closing border crossings into the territory and restricting essential supplies including food and medicine. At the same time, he accused three Hamas leaders Sinwar, Deif and Haniyeh of crimes linked to the October 7, 2023 attacks, when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel, killing some 1,200 people and abducting another 250. The three leaders are accused of crimes including murder, extermination, taking hostages, rape and torture. The Chamber found reasonable grounds to believe that Mr Deif, born in 1965, the highest commander of the military wing of Hamas (known as the al-Qassam Brigades) at the time of the alleged conduct, is responsible for the crimes against humanity of murder; extermination; torture; and rape and other form of sexual violence; as well as the war crimes of murder, cruel treatment, torture,; taking hostages; outrages upon personal dignity; and rape and other forms of sexual violence, a statement says. Prosecutors withdrew their request for a warrant for Haniyeh, who was assassinated in what was believed to be an Israeli strike in Iran in July. Israel also claims to have killed Deif, but Hamas hasnt confirmed his death. Sinwar, who was promoted to succeed Haniyeh as Hamas leader, was killed in a chance front-line encounter with Israeli troops in October. Human rights groups have applauded the decision, which came more than six months after Khan made his initial request. The ICC arrest warrants against senior Israeli leaders and a Hamas official break through the perception that certain individuals are beyond the reach of the law, the associate international justice director at Human Rights Watch, Balkees Jarrah, said in a statement. Israels opposition leaders fiercely criticised the ICCs move. Benny Gantz, a retired general and political rival to Netanyahu, condemned the decision, saying it showed moral blindness and was a shameful stain of historic proportion that will never be forgotten. List of colleges found lacking in CBI probe will be made public: HC Legal Correspondent : The Medical University will give affiliation to nursing colleges for 2024-25. Provisions of the Amendment Act will not be applicable this year. The Medical University will release results of nursing examinations of the last two sessions. The list of colleges found lacking in CBI investigation will be made public. The PIL of Law Students Association President Vishal Baghel in the nursing fraud case along with all other nursing cases was heard in the Principal Bench of Madhya Pradesh High Court before a special bench of Justice Sanjay Dwivedi and Justice Achal Kumar Paliwal. The Medical University will give affiliation to nursing colleges for 2024-25. The petitioner had challenged the amendment of the Medical University Act by presenting an application in the High Court. The court was told that the Medical University was established for the purpose of ensuring systematic, efficient, uniform, quality education, research in the field of health education, which the Government amended in the Act in 2024 and handed over the control of affiliation of nursing and paramedical courses to the regional university. The petitioner had questioned this decision and argued that other regional universities do not have expertise in health related subjects and in other states also health related courses are being conducted by Health University. Keeping in view the current circumstances, the High Court has directed that the affiliation process for the session 2024-25 will be conducted by the Medical University. Results of thousands of nursing students will be released. The annual/semester examinations of various nursing courses of the session 2019-20 and 2020-21 were conducted by the Medical University on the orders of the High Court, the results could not be released due to not getting the permission of the High Court, today the High Court has given permission to the Medical Sciences University to release the results of those examinations, due to which thousands of students who were waiting for the results will get relief. The report of colleges found deficient in the CBI investigation will be made public. The report of the investigation conducted by the High Court of about 700 nursing colleges of Madhya Pradesh was presented by the CBI in a sealed envelope to the High Court, a copy of which was handed over by the High Court to the Nursing Council and the petitioner. In this case, the High Court has directed that the list of deficient colleges and the deficiencies found in them should be made public on the website of the Nursing Council. It is worth mentioning that the High Court had also got 169 nursing colleges found suitable in the first investigation conducted again, in which many colleges have been excluded from the suitable list. Also, in the second round of CBI investigation, orders were given to investigate GMM nursing colleges, in whose report also a large number of colleges have been found ineligible. The High Court is angry at the decisions of DME and Registrar. The High Court has verbally expressed its displeasure at functioning of the officers of the Nursing Council during the hearing of the case related to representation and expressed surprise at the decisions of the Director Medical Education. On the other hand, the petitioner had challenged appointment of an inspector involved in irregularities as the Registrar, on which the High Court has verbally directed the Advocate General to take action against the guilty Registrar and has also instructed that if any negligence is committed by the officers while the case is pending in the High Court, then it will be taken seriously. Metros Orange Line construction begins, aims for 2025 mid-year completion Staff Reporter : The Orange Line of the Bhopal Metro, which spans from AIIMS to Karond, is expected to complete in the mid of 2025. According to officials, the section from Subhash Nagar to AIIMS has been almost completed, while work on the Karond section has commenced recently. Currently, the focus is on conducting pile load tests, a crucial step in ensuring the structural integrity of the metro line. The pile load test is a critical phase in the construction process, as it helps determine the load-bearing capacity of the soil and the stability of the foundation. This test is essential to ensure the safety and durability of the metro line, which will cater to the transportation needs of thousands of commuters. The construction of Bhopal Metro's Orange Line has commenced, with a focus on the priority section that spans 8 stations. The priority section, which includes a 1 km track near the DRM office, is currently underway, and once completed, the Railway Safety Commissioner will conduct a visit to issue the necessary certificates, paving the way for the metro to be opened to the public. Presently, utility trial tests are being conducted on the Orange Line. Meanwhile, the Blue Line, with a budget of Rs 1121 crores, has been awarded to a private company for Rs 1000 crores. The entire Bhopal Metro project has a budget of Rs 6900 crores, with funding from the European Investment Bank. The Blue Line's construction is expected to be completed within three years, with a loan from the European Investment Bank. The work order will be issued to the construction agency once the loan is approved. The project aims to create a 30 km metro network by 2027, with the first phase focusing on a 16 km line from Karond to AIIMS. However, the second phase has been delayed due to obstacles. To facilitate the metro project, instructions have been given to conduct a survey to identify and remove all encroachments along the route, allocate land, and distribute compensation to affected parties. Shopkeepers in Azad Nagar will receive compensation, following which they will be relocated. Additionally, over 100 sawmills on the Parvaliya Road will be shifted to a designated area, where the District Industry Center will provide amenities such as electricity, water, and roads. The shifting of sawmills will commence once these facilities are in place. MP Metro Corporations MD inspects Metro Priority Corridor construction progress S Krishna Chaitanya, Managing Director of Madhya Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation, conducted an on-site inspection of the ongoing construction work under the Bhopal Metro Priority Corridor on Thursday. The inspection covered key locations including AIIMS Station, Alkapuri Station, DRM Office Station, and the Subhash Nagar Depot. The inspection also focused on speeding up the progress of construction work, with senior officials, consultants, and contractors present. Participants included Shobhit Tandon, Director (Systems), Ajay Gupta, Director (Projects), Sanjay Singh, GM (Civil), and representatives from various departments and the general consultants and contractors involved in the project. As stated by the officials, the MDs proactive approach and detailed review underscore the importance of ensuring operational readiness and infrastructure development for the success of the metro system, which will significantly enhance urban mobility in Bhopal. Opening doors PRIME Minister Mr. Narendra Modi has proved to be the first Indian leader to visit to Guyana at the north-eastern tip of the south American continent in 56 years. In the past ten years in office, Mr. Narendra Modi made it a point to visit countries where no Indian leader had been in long years. Thus, he is opening new doors for the countrys diplomatic footprint to expand beyond the normal confines. In this manner, Mr. Modi is establishing India as a truly global player with the vision of One Earth One Family (Vasudheiva Kutumbakam). His approach is being accepted as well as appreciated by the world in general and the nations whose doors he opens after long gaps. Reports in international media have us believe that the world accords the status of genuine world leader to Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi. Expanding Indian footprint the world over has been one of the main planks of Indias diplomacy under Mr. Narendra Modis leadership. As he pursues this goal, Mr. Modi is stretching himself and Indias diplomatic eco-system to limits beyond the normal -- of which the world is taking a serious note. This is no mean an achievement for an Indian leader who was being laughed at as an upstart who was just a the Chief Minister of one Indian State until he ascended to the Prime Ministers position through a massive and authentic electoral mandate ten-plus years ago. Of course, expanding the diplomatic activity to as many nations as possible on a truly global scale is not an easily achievable task. For, India needs to do a lot of ground work before the Prime Minister actually pays a visit to any country. And to be sure, Indias diplomatic managers take this assignment in an amazing seriousness and smartness. Not only do they get engaged in much diplomatic spade-work, but also make a point to establish a good connect with the Indian diaspora in that country, no matter the countrys size and importance, and no matter the size of the diaspora there. This connect often produces great results, as could be guessed from the fact that the Prime Minister was welcomed by Vedic mantras in Brazil where he went to attend the G-20 Summit of which he (India) is the immediate-past-president. In most countries where Mr. Modi goes, the Indian diaspora welcomes him with traditional dance and music and frenzied slogans. Men and women of Indian origin throng around him and kids surge forward to hug the Prime Minister. This does not happen all by itself. Such an effervescent welcome needs much preparation in advance so that people travel hundreds of kilometers to meet the visiting Indian leader. For weeks in advance, groups of Indian artists prepare dance and music sequences to afford Mr. Modi a warm and culturally rich welcome. To be frank, the preparations for all this is not just to establish Mr. Modis name and fame. The core purpose is to establish more firmly the Indian footprint in different countries -- through the countless numbers of Indians already settled there. The effort is to establish Indias right of friendship and partnership with that country. And the multiple good effects of all that work prove that all the effort is worth the trouble. Mr. Narendra Modi has personally authored this approach to diplomacy. The idea is to open the doors of different countries for India and keep them wide open for all the time to come. Some may call this cultural diplomacy. But in actuality, multiple and complex angles are intertwined in this huge effort taking Indias flag across continents. It is obvious that this diplomatic campaign will result in creating a network of friends for India in all continents, across ideologies, and across boundaries and limitations of international realpolitik in which hard realities are harder to handle. BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 23. Chairman of the State Committee for Urban Development and Architecture of Azerbaijan Anar Guliyev met with a number of government officials visiting Baku for COP29, Trend reports, citing the State Committee. Prospects for cooperation in the areas of urban planning, infrastructure and local government were discussed at a fruitful meeting with Malaysian Minister of Housing and Local Government Nga Kor Ming. The parties considered new opportunities for more effective work in these areas and joint projects for sustainable urban development. Anar Guliyev noted that this cooperation will have a positive impact on the activities of Azerbaijan and Malaysia in this area. During the meeting with the delegation headed by the Chairman of the Committee of Architecture and Construction of the Republic of Tajikistan Nizom Mirzozoda, issues of expanding the exchange of experience between the countries and the implementation of joint projects were discussed. In addition to the modernization and transformation of cities, the guests showed particular interest in Azerbaijans experience in innovative approaches to urban development, ensuring harmony between historical heritage, modern solutions and sustainable development. Anar Guliyev also met with a delegation led by Professor Chung Koon Hee, Chairman of the Centre for Liveable Cities of the Ministry of National Development of Singapore. The meeting focused on Singapore's extensive experience in approaching sustainable and livable cities, green solutions, advanced urban technologies and digitalization of urban governance, as well as prospects for cooperation. The parties invited each other to the World Urban Development Forum, which will be held in Baku, and the World Cities Summit, which will be held in Singapore. All three delegations participating in the Urban Development Day organized at COP29 expressed their sincere congratulations on the successful organization of the event, as well as on the occasion of the initiative "Multi-sectoral Action for Sustainable and Healthy Cities" and the establishment of the Baku Coalition for Sustainable Development. Russia fired intercontinental ballistic missile at Ukraine for first time, says Kyiv KYIV : UKRAINE says Russia launched an intercontinental ballistic missile overnight targeting Dnipro city in the central-east of the country, which, if confirmed, would be the first time Moscow has used such a missile in the war. In a statement, on Thursday on the Telegram messaging app, Ukraines air force did not specify the exact type of missile, but said it was launched from Russias Astrakhan region, which borders the Caspian Sea. It said an intercontinental ballistic missile was fired at Dnipro city along with eight other missiles, and that the Ukrainian military shot down six of them. Two people were wounded as a result of the attack, and an industrial facility and a rehabilitation centre for people with disabilities were damaged, according to local officials. While the range of an ICBM would seem excessive for use against Ukraine, such missiles are designed to carry nuclear warheads, and the use of one would serve as a chilling reminder of Russias nuclear capability and a powerful message of potential escalation. The attack comes two days after Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a revised nuclear doctrine that formally lowers the threshold for the countrys use of nuclear weapons. Ukraine on Tuesday fired several American-supplied longer-range missiles and reportedly fired UK-made Storm Shadows on Wednesday into Russia. The Russian Defence Ministry said in a statement Thursday that its air defence systems shot down two British-made Storm Shadow missiles, six HIMARS rockets, and 67 drones. The announcement came in the ministrys daily roundup regarding the military actions in Ukraine. The statement didnt say when or where exactly it happened or what the missiles were targeting. This is not Moscows first public announcement of the shooting down of Storm Shadow missiles, as Russia earlier reported downing some over the annexed Crimean Peninsula. The developments come as the war has taken on a growing international dimension with the arrival of North Korean troops to help Russia on the battlefield a development that US officials said prompted U.S. President Joe Bidens policy shift on allowing Ukraine to fire longer-range US missiles into Russia. The Kremlin responded with threats to escalate further. Putin has previously warned the US and other NATO allies that allowing Ukraine to use Western-supplied longer-range weapons to hit Russian territory would mean that Russia and NATO are at war. And the new doctrine allows for a potential nuclear response by Moscow even to a conventional attack on Russia by any nation that is supported by a nuclear power. Voter Turnout: Ramtek tops district with 71.80%, Nagpur (South-West) sees lowest 54.59% By Kunaal Badge : Compared to Lok Sabha elections held this year, voter turnout has declined in Nagpur (South-West), Nagpur Central Assembly segments, but it has increased in other four segments in the city The collective efforts bore fruit as Nagpur district, which has 12 Assembly constituencies, registered 61.60 per cent voter turnout, revealed the final data shared by the administration on Thursday. This was the highest for the district in all the previous State Legislative Assembly elections since 2009. Among 12 constituencies, Ramtek topped the chart with 71.80 per cent voter turnout while Nagpur (South-West) was at the bottom of the chart with only 54.59 per cent of voters exercising their franchise. The general trend of the rural voters outshining their urban counterparts remained unchanged this time also. The polling (57.02 per cent) in all six Assembly constituencies in Nagpur city was lesser than that (66.78 per cent) in the six constituencies in rural parts of the district. The citys average polling was below the average polling for the entire district -- 61.60 per cent. Compared to that in Lok Sabha elections held earlier this year, the voter turnout has come down in Nagpur (South-West) and Nagpur Central Assembly segments. The voter turnout in Nagpur (South-West) segment was 59.40 per cent in Lok Sabha polls, and it has come down to 54.59 per cent in Assembly elections now. In Nagpur Central segment, voter turnout has declined from 64 per cent in Lok Sabha polls, to 57.17 per cent now. However, polling percentage in other four Assembly segments in Nagpur city registered increase now as compared to voter turnout in Lok Sabha elections. These four constituencies include Nagpur (South) -- from 53.95 per cent in Lok Sabha polls to 56.99 per cent now; Nagpur (East) -- from 55.70 per cent to 59.42 per cent; Nagpur (West) -- from 53.40 per cent to 55.78 per cent; and Nagpur (North) -- from 55.20 per cent in Lok Sabha polls to 58.05 per cent in Assembly elections on Wednesday. Nagpur city registers 57.02% polling Among the six constituencies in Nagpur city, Nagpur (East) constituency registered the highest voter turnout of 59.42 per cent. It came closest to match the districts average voter turnout. Of a total 4,18,981 voters, 2,48,952 exercised their franchise. Those who voted on Wednesday consisted of 1,27,017 male voters, and 1,21,929 female voters as well as 6 other voters. The all important Nagpur (South-West) constituency witnessed 2,24,517 out of 4,11,241 total voters coming out to vote. The voters consisted 1,11,099 out of 2,02,298 male voters; 1,13,415 out of 2,08,914 female voters, and three out of 29 Other voters. However, the voter turnout in this constituency, which is being watched keenly across the State, was only 54.59 per cent, which was also the lowest among 12 constituencies in the district. Further, this constituency saw the lowest voter turnout among 62 Assembly constituencies in entire Vidarbha region. Nagpur (North) constituency with 58.05 per cent voter turnout saw the second-highest voting in city. Of total 4,28,845 voters, 2,48,952 voted for their preferred candidate. Of total 2,12,989 male voters, 1,25,755 went to the respective polling booth; and 1,23,181 out of total 2,15,752 female voters also discharged their national duty. Of 104 registered voters in the Other category, 12 exercised their franchise. Nagpur (Central) constituency, which witnessed some tense moments on Wednesday night, registered 57.17 per cent voter turnout, with 1,95,060 out of 3,41,169 registered voters going to the respective polling booth. Of total 1,68,107 male voters, 1,00,161 polled their vote. Of 1,73,022 female voters, 94,888 voted in favour of the candidate of their choice. Besides, 11 out of 40 Other voters also voted. Nagpur (South) constituency witnessed 2,24,793 voters coming out to vote out of 3,94,425 total voters, thus registering 56.99 per cent voter turnout. In all, 57.86 per cent male voters (1,12,135 out of total 1,93,782), and 56.14 per cent female voters (1,12,656 out of total 2,00,635) along with two out of eight Other voters chose to exercise their franchise. The final voter turnout was 55.78 per cent in Nagpur (West) constituency with 1,08,066 out of 1,92,075 male voters, and 1,08,549 out of 1,96,075 female voters, along with 10 out of 31 Other voters exercising their franchise in the elections. By the end of voting process, 2,16,625 out of 3,88,353 total voters had cast their votes in the constituency. Nagpur rural records 66.78% voter turnout Ramtek outshined other five Assembly constituencies in rural parts of Nagpur district with an impressive voter turnout of 71.80 per cent, which was also the highest among all 12 constituencies in the entire district (including Nagpur city). Of total 1,43,540 male voters, 1,05,915 turned out to vote in Ramtek constituency. Of 1,43,389 female voters, 1,00,099 exercised their franchise on Wednesday. None of the two Other voters turned out to vote in this constituency. Here, male voter turnout was 73.79 per cent, and the female voter turnout was 69.81 per cent. Umred constituency witnessed 1,11,968 out of 1,52,695 male voters, and 1,02,060 out of 1,48,261 female voters casting their vote, taking the overall voter turnout to 71.12 per cent. This was the second-highest in entire Nagpur district. Here, too, male voter turnout (73.33 per cent) was higher than the female voter turnout (68.84 per cent). Katol constituency, with 69.94 per cent voter turnout, saw 1,02,278 out of 1,42,623 male voters, and 94,523 out of 1,38,738 female voters casting their vote. Saoner registered 68.83 per cent voter turnout with 1,14,559 out of 1,61,701 male voters, and 1,06,936 out of 1,60,114 female voters exercising their franchise. Kamptee seat witnessed 1,64,488 out of 2,51,369 male voters, and 1,56,895 out of 2,50,383 female voters exercising their franchise, taking the overall voter turnout to 64.05%. In Nagpur rural, Hingna saw the lowest polling percentage of 59.89 per cent, with 1,39,235 out of 2,32,148 male voters, and 1,30,360 out of 2,17,964 female voters going to the booth. Women voters turnout goes up by 5.57% in Nagpur district By Vikas Vaidya : The voting percentage of women in Assembly polls- 2024 in Nagpur district increased by 5.57% as compared to the elections held in 2019. The increased voting of women is more in urban constituencies than in rural. In Nagpur city, the rise is 7.97% while in rural the rise is 2.75%. There is a rise in male voters in city by 4.8% and by 1.7% in rural area. The rise in voting by women is being attributed to Ladki Bahin Yojana. Earlier, the women voters turnout was never so impressive. Women always remained on top as far as registering of voters was concerned, but the same was not the case with their turnout for voting. Total 21,34,921 male voters had registered in 2019 while 20,36,399 had exercised their franchise. Of the total 20,36,399 female voters,11,125,882 had exercised their franchise. Their total voting percentage was 59.48% while the female voting percentage was 54.80%. In 2024, the male voters registered were 11,79,814 in Nagpur city while in district the number was 10,84,076. The voting per centage in rual comes of male 57.99% and of rual is is 68.12%. In city 6,84,233 men turned up and while in rural this number was 7,38,443. The women voters in Nagpur city were 12,02,956 and in district the number was 10,58,859. The women who turned up for casting their votes were 6,74,618 in Nagpur city while in Nagpur rural 6,90,873 turned up at polling stations. The percentage of women voters in city is 56.08% while in rural it is 65.25%. In 2019 in Nagpur rural there were 10,15,550 male voters of which 6,74,500 voters exercised their franchise. In city against 11,19,371 male voters, 6,74,500 turned up to polling station. The percentage of men cast their votes stood at 66.42% in Nagpur rural while in city it is 53.19%. Of the registered 9,46,498 women voters in rural, 5,91,527 cast their votes. In Nagpur city 10,89,901 women voters registered themselves, of those 5,24,355 exercised their franchise. The voting percentage of womenfolk in the city was 48.11% while in rural it was 62.50%. BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 22. The OPEC Fund for International Development (the OPEC Fund) is significantly expanding its climate-related portfolio, President Abdulhamid Alkhalifa told Trend in an exclusive interview. "As you know, the OPEC Fund launched its Climate Finance Action Plan two years ago. It was an ambitious plan. In 2021, only 20 percent of our portfolio was climate-related, but we set targets to increase that to 25 percent by 2025 and 40 percent by 2030. Last year, we surpassed our 2025 goal, with climate-related initiatives accounting for 34 percent of our 2023 projects. So, we are progressing ahead of schedule. In addition to these targets, the OPEC Fund is also making significant strides in climate adaptation and mitigation. We are collaborating with other institutions and making strong progress on issues such as biodiversity. For example, at COP28 last year, we launched a nature-based solutions hub in partnership with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), which focuses on biodiversity and other nature-related challenges," he said. Alkhalifa added that the OPEC Fund is also collaborating with other institutions to address the critical issue of clean cooking. "This issue affects around 2.6 billion people globally, including those in Asia, Latin America, Africa, and other countries. Three years ago, we started our clean cooking campaign, which we are currently extending to numerous nations in Asia and Africa," he stated. Furthermore, the president stated that the OPEC Fund is also working with all necessary stakeholders to align its efforts with the COP29 agenda. Regarding the carbon market, we are collaborating with others to create an efficient and sustainable carbon market in different parts of the world. I would also like to congratulate Azerbaijan for achieving Article 6.4, which focuses on carbon markets. The announcement is a significant step forward for the future of carbon markets. We are collaborating with everyone to accomplish the required results. While not the exclusive focus, carbon markets are a component of this. At a side event, I attended a seminar on increasing energy efficiency and tripling renewable energy capacity, and we are totally dedicated to achieving these objectives. We are working hard to make them a reality. This is, of course, a key call from COP28, and it remains a crucial target for COP29. We are determined to achieve these objectives. The OPEC Fund has a strong portfolio in renewable energy, not just in terms of projects but also in providing policy support to countries. For example, in Latin America, we have provided loans to help create the policy environments necessary to support renewable energy, specifically in Panama and Colombia, he said. Alkhalifa noted that the OPEC Fund has made significant progress in Central Asia and the Caspian region. "We have supported a wind project here in Azerbaijan, with a capacity of 240 megawatts in the Khizi-Absheron region. We are also working with the private sector, which is key to the success of these projects. The involvement of the private sector ensures that these projects are sustainable, as they will continue to be supported by the market over the long term. Its a market-based approach," he said. He further specified that in Central Asia, the OPEC Fund is working with Tajikistan to support the Rogun Hydropower Plant (HPP), a major renewable energy project, with a $100 million loan. In addition, the OPEC Fund has financed wind and solar projects in Uzbekistan. The president noted that both are renewable energy initiatives, and the Fund is eager to expand its efforts in the region. Beyond Central Asia, Alkhalifa emphasized that the OPEC Fund has a strong portfolio of renewable energy projects in various parts of the world, including Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East. "For example, weve been involved in renewable energy projects in Jordan for many years. Some of these projects are now 10 to 15 years old and continue to operate as expected. This demonstrates that our focus is not just on launching projects but on ensuring their long-term sustainability through market-based solutions," he said. The president added that the OPEC Fund has been working with Azerbaijan for a long time. The OPEC Fund has built a strong relationship with the government and is currently providing technical assistance to support the countrys green transition. "That involves many aspects, but one particularly interesting aspect that I found is Baku's air quality. We are providing technical assistance to the government in this area as part of a broader technical assistance program for the green transition. The green transition is a broad concept, but it encompasses many specific actions that need to be taken," he said. In conclusion, Alkhalifa noted that COP29 is well organized. "I hope that everyone will come to an agreement on the desired outcomes of this meeting. This meeting is not just about gathering but about agreeing on concrete steps forward for the benefit of humanity in the long run. I hope that, just as the organization has been successfully managed, everyone will also reach consensus on the final outcome," he said. The OPEC Fund for International Development is a multilateral development finance institution established in 1976. Its 12 member countries are: Algeria, Ecuador, Gabon, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Venezuela. It is the only globally mandated development institution that provides financing exclusively from member countries to non-member countries. To date, the OPEC Fund has committed over $27 billion to development projects in over 125 countries with an estimated total project cost of more than $200 billion. The OPEC Fund is rated AA+/Outlook Stable by Fitch and AA+, Outlook Stable by S&P. BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 22. The revenues and expenses of Azerbaijan's Unemployment Insurance Fund will amount to 260.7 million manat ($153.3 million) in 2025, which is 22.7 million manat ($13.3 million), or 9.5 percent more than in the current year, the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Labor and Social Policy and MP Musa Guliyev said at a joint meeting of two committees, Trend reports. He pointed out that 206.3 million manat ($121.3 million), or 79.1 percent of the fund's revenues, will be formed from the collection of unemployment insurance contributions, which is 21.7 million manat ($12.7 million), or 11.7 percent, more than the approved corresponding indicator for 2024. According to him, 54.3 million manat ($31.9 million), or 20.8 percent of the revenues, will come from the reserve of the Unemployment Insurance Fund, formed as of January 1, 2025, and 75.9 percent of the insurance contribution collections (156.56 million manat or $92 million) will come from the non-budget sector. "Next year, the fund's expenses will cover 13 areas, while 29.5 percent of the expenses will be directed to self-employment programs, 13.4 percent to the organization of professional training and further education, and in total, 55 percent of the funds will go towards active employment measures. Compared to the approved budget project for the current year, in 2025, expenditures on unemployment insurance payments will increase by two million manat ($1.18 million), or 13.3 percent, and expenses for financing self-employment activities will rise four million manat ($2.3 million), or five percent. Expenditures for organizing professional training, as well as funding part of the wages of workers in public works, and other active employment measures will remain at the same level as this year. In 2025, the Mandatory Insurance Fund plans to involve 8,000 people in the self-employment program. Thus, the total number of people who will be covered by the self-employment program from 2017 to 2025 will reach 100,000. Next year, the State Employment Agency under the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic is planned to be allocated nine million manat ($5.29 million). The budget project of the Unemployment Insurance Fund for 2025 will create optimal foundations for compensating insured individuals for lost wages, financing self-employment, conducting professional training and career orientation activities, organizing paid public works, and other active employment measures," he added. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 22. The total value of Azerbaijan's non-oil exports from January through October 2024 amounted to $2.8 billion, rising 3.5 percent from the same period in 2023. Data obtained by Trend from AZPROMO (Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Agency) shows that this October alone, this figure increased by 23.1 percent compared to the same month last year, reaching $342.4 million. To note, in 2023, Azerbaijan totally exported non-oil products worth $3.34 billion, marking a historic maximum for the country's non-oil export value. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 22. Minister of Digital Development and Transport Rashad Nabiyev met with Chilean Minister of Transport and Telecommunications Juan Carlos Munoz, who is visiting Azerbaijan, Trend reports. Meanwhile, it was noted that cooperation between the two countries within the framework of the International Transport Forum was discussed at the meeting. At the same time, the sides exchanged views on identifying priorities in connection with the forum, which Azerbaijan will chair next year, and studied Chile's experience in this direction. Last year, a decision was made to apply the requirements of the International Transport Forum's Quality Charter for International Road Transport in Azerbaijan. Thus, it was recognized that the regulation and management of international transportation in Azerbaijan are organized according to the highest international requirements. Azerbaijan joined the Protocol of the European Conference of Transport Ministers under the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan, signed by the National Leader Heydar Aliyev on November 27, 1998. Through multilateral and multiple annual permits issued by the International Transport Forum, freight transport operators engaged in international activities and registered in the Republic of Azerbaijan are continuously operating in 43 European countries. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Mastercard, in collaboration with ABB, successfully concluded the Sandbox as a Service platform Hackathon, a virtual event aimed at discovering innovative fintech solutions to combat climate change. The Hackathon featured 8 leading fintech startups from the region, showcasing live products designed to support sustainable development and reduce carbon emissions. Over 50 regional and local fintech solutions were evaluated, with finalists meeting criteria such as the ability to operate in Azerbaijan, presenting live products ready for integration with banks, and aligning with the sustainability theme. The final day included presentations from participants to a panel of six experts representing the Innovation & Digital Development Agency, ABB Bank, Kapital Bank, Pasha Bank, Mastercard and Sabah Hub. The panel assessed the solutions on the Sandbox as a Service platform, focusing on their relevance for banks, innovation, and user experience. The winners of the Sustainability Sandbox Hackathon are: Winner 1 CARBONEMIT Winner 2 BESO Winner 3 FARADAI CarbonEmit, as the first-place winner, will receive $10,000 from ABB to further develop their startup and full access to the Mastercard Sandbox as a Service platform. The second and third-place winners will gain personal access to the Sandbox platform and additional Mastercard benefits. These teams impressed the jury with forward-thinking solutions that address climate challenges and offer practical applications for banks and financial institutions in Azerbaijan and beyond. Mastercard remains dedicated to fostering sustainable innovation, promoting environmental responsibility, and supporting fintech solutions that contribute to a greener future. At the invitation of the Chinese side, Senior Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong will visit China from November 24 to 29. At the invitation of Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Luxembourg Xavier Bettel will visit China from November 24 to 29. CCTV: To follow up on the visit of Luxembourgs Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Xavier Bettel, how does China view its relations with Luxembourg and whats Chinas expectation of the visit? Lin Jian: Luxembourg is one of the EUs founding members and Chinas friendly cooperation partner. Fifty plus years on since the establishment of diplomatic ties, China and Luxembourg have stayed committed to mutual respect, mutually beneficial cooperation and common development. In recent years, the two countries have achieved fruitful results in cooperation in such areas as air freight, finance and steel, which delivers tangible benefits to the two peoples and contributes to enhancing China-EU cooperation and keeping international industrial and supply chains stable. China stands ready to work with Luxembourg to enhance our friendship and mutual trust, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation and make new progress in bilateral relations. Anadolu Agency: The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for crimes against humanity and war crimes during Israels war in Gaza. The court said it found reasonable grounds to believe that each bears responsibility for war crime of starvation as a method of warfare, and crimes against humanity of murder, persecutions and other inhuman acts. The court also found reasonable grounds to believe that Netanyahu and Gallant committed a war crime of intentionally directing an attack against civilian population. Whats Chinas comment? Lin Jian: China noted the reports. On the question of Palestine, China always stands on the side of fairness and justice, and on the side of international law, opposes all acts that violate international law including international humanitarian law, and condemns all moves against civilians and civil facilities. As we speak, the Gaza conflict is still dragging on and unprecedented humanitarian crisis is unfolding. China supports all effort in the international community conducive to realizing fairness and justice and defending the authority of international law on the question of Palestine. We hope the International Criminal Court will maintain an objective and just position, lawfully perform its duties, and interpret and apply the Rome Statute and general international law in its entirety, in good faith and in line with uniform standards. CCTV: China has announced a trial visa-free policy to 29 countries, so will this policy be applied to more countries? Some countries hope that the maximum length of stay for visa-free travelers will be extended and the visa exemption will be permitted for more purposes of visit. Will China consider that? Lin Jian: To further facilitate cross-border travel, China decided to include more countries in its visa waiver program and extend the visa-free policy to ordinary passport holders from Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Malta, Estonia, Latvia and Japan on a trial basis from November 30, 2024 to December 31, 2025. In addition, China decided to further upgrade its visa-free policy. Visa waiver will now be granted to travelers for exchange purpose and the maximum length of stay will be extended from 15 days to 30 days. Starting from November 30, 2024, ordinary passport holders from 38 countries, including the above-mentioned nine countries, can be exempted from visa to enter China and stay for no more than 30 days for business, tourism, family visit, exchange and transit purposes. RIA Novosti: Russian President Vladimir Putin said yesterday that the Russian Armed Forces carried out a combined strike on a Ukrainian military-industrial complex facility in response to Ukrainian militarys use of long-range US-made and British-made weapons. He added that in combat conditions, the newest Russian medium-range missile systems known as Oreshnik was tested, with a ballistic missile in a nuclear-free equipment. He also stressed that the conflict in Ukraine is going global. Do you have any comment? Lin Jian: Chinas position on the Ukraine issue is consistent and clear. We advocate settling the crisis through political means and avoiding escalation. Under the current situation, all parties need to remain calm, exercise restraint, work for deescalation through dialogue and consultation, and accumulate conditions for an early ceasefire and political settlement of the crisis. Anadolu Agency: The US solely vetoed a UN Security Council resolution for a ceasefire in Gaza yesterday. Its the sixth time the US as a permanent member used its veto power to block such a resolution. Whats Chinas comment about this? Lin Jian: Chinas Permanent Representative to the United Nations has fully stated our position in his explanation of vote. The draft resolution explicitly requires an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, which is in line with the right direction of Security Council actions, and reflects the strong aspiration for peace from the international community. The ongoing conflict in Gaza has dragged on for 13 months, causing the death of over 40,000 people and unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe. The US, for the sixth time, single-handedly used its veto power on the draft resolution on ceasefire in Gaza, which once again resulted in the stagnation of Security Council and international efforts. The international community is once again reminded of US-style double standard, and the US once again stands on the opposite side of international call for ceasefire, hope of survival for the Palestinian people, and conscience of humanity. The conflict in Gaza continues and the humanitarian disaster is still worsening. The top priority now is to promote full and effective implementation of UN Security Council resolutions by parties to the conflict, and the realization of an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in Gaza, so as to create conditions for alleviating the humanitarian crisis. We also urge the US to discard political calculations, stop ignoring international law and international humanitarian law selectively, take its responsibility as a major country, and play a constructive role for the peace and stability in the Middle East. Global Times: Its reported that in a statement released on November 19, US State Department Spokesperson said the Department of State is taking steps to impose new visa restrictions on multiple Hong Kong officials responsible for implementation of Hong Kongs National Security Law. Whats Chinas comment? Lin Jian: Chinas central government firmly supports the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in safeguarding national security and punishing various activities that endanger national security in accordance with law. We firmly oppose the US using relevant judicial cases to interfere in Chinas internal affairs and smear and undermine Hong Kongs rule of law. The US needs to earnestly respect Chinas sovereignty and Hong Kongs rule of law, abide by the principles of international law and the basic norms of international relations, and refrain from meddling in Hong Kong affairs in whatever form. If the US insists on imposing visa restrictions on Hong Kong officials, China will take firm countermeasures. AFP: Lai Ching-te will visit three Pacific island nation allies at the end of this month in his first overseas trip since taking office. Does China have a comment on this? Lin Jian: The one-China principle is a basic norm in international relations and prevailing international consensus. The Lai Ching-te authorities political manipulation activities and provocations using trips to countries having so-called diplomatic ties with Taiwan will lead nowhere. It will not shake the solid and strong international commitment to the one-China principle, or stop the overriding historical trend towards Chinas reunification. We urge relevant countries to see clearly the trend of history at an early date, and make the right decision that truly serves their fundamental and long-term interests. Anadolu Agency: To follow up on ICCs arrest warrants about Netanyahu and Gallant, we have noticed that the US was quick to react against the courts decision. White House Spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said they fundamentally reject ICC issuing arrest warrants for Israeli officials. Whereas when ICC issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin for alleged war crimes in Ukraine last year, the US was supporting the courts decision. President Biden at that time said he welcomed the decision and that it made a strong point. How do you see this double standard concerning international law? Lin Jian: China always opposes the selective approach to international law and double standards by certain country. Let me reiterate that China always believes that the ICC should maintain an objective and just position, lawfully perform its duties and interpret and apply the Rome Statute and general international law in its entirety, in good faith and in line with uniform standards. AFP: Moroccan National News Agency (MAP) said that Chinese leader made a short visit to Morocco on Thursday. Can the Foreign Ministry confirm this and provide more details? Lin Jian: I have no information to share at the moment. Reuters: Just step back on the question about Lais visit to the Pacific nations. Does China request any assistance from any other nations to not allow him to travel to those countries perhaps? Has there been any other request to the United States or any other countries in the region to stop this visit from happening? Lin Jian: As I just said, the one-China principle is a prevailing international consensus. Hubei Media Group: In an interview days ago on the sidelines of COP29, Jeffrey Sachs, President of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network and a professor at Columbia University, said China, an important leader in energy transformation, has an essential role in combating climate change. Whats your comment? Lin Jian: In recent years, China has kept to the path of pursuing green development and implemented the new development philosophy. The economic growth is of higher quality and more eco-friendly. China became the first country in the world to achieve zero net land degradation, contributed a quarter of the worlds newly added green area, reversed the fast growth momentum of CO2 emissions, built the worlds largest and full-fledged industrial chain of the new energy sector, and tops other countries in the installed capacity of new energy and the production and sales of new energy vehicles. When accelerating green and low-carbon transition at home, China has worked to promote the development and prosperity of the Global South and global green and low-carbon transition. We have also shared our experience of green development to help other developing countries go green and be better off at the same time. By this October, China has signed 53 South-South MOUs on climate change with 42 developing countries, and rolled out nearly one hundred projects on climate mitigation and adaptation. China has also carried out a total of over 300 capacity-building projects in areas related to climate change, and provided more than 10 thousand training opportunities to 120 plus developing countries to increase their climate response capacity, deliver a better life to local people and improve their wellbeing. It must be pointed out that climate change is a common challenge for mankind that requires joint response from the international community. All parties need to firmly uphold the principles, targets and institutions of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement, in particular, the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities. Developed countries need to step up to their historical responsibilities and, in accordance with the stipulations of the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement, take the lead to cut emissions and realize carbon neutrality ahead of schedule to create space for developing countries in terms of emissions, and earnestly fulfill their obligations of providing developing countries with support of capital, technology and capacity building. Global South countries, including China, can support each other through South-South cooperation on a voluntary basis and improve their capability of responding to climate change and realize sustainable development. China stands ready to work with all parties, under the guidance of the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind, to jointly protect Planet Earth that we all call home and advance progress of global ecological conservation. ****************************************** The following question was raised after the press conference: Has China demanded the US not to allow Taiwans Lai to transit in US territory when he travels to the Pacific? Lin Jian: President Xi Jinping in the meeting between Chinese and US Presidents in Lima stressed that the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiques are the political foundation of China-US relations and they must be observed. Cross-Strait peace and stability and Taiwan independence separatist activities are irreconcilable as water and fire. If the US side cares about maintaining peace across the Taiwan Strait, it is crucial that it sees clearly the true nature of Lai Ching-te and the DPP authorities in seeking Taiwan independence, handles the Taiwan question with extra prudence, unequivocally opposes Taiwan independence, and supports Chinas peaceful reunification. I want to reiterate that China firmly opposes any form of official interaction between the US and the Taiwan region, firmly opposes any visit by the leader of the Taiwan authorities to the US in any name or under whatever pretext, and firmly opposes any form of US connivance and support for Taiwan independence separatists and their separatist activities. We urge the US to abide by the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiques, act on its leaders commitments, including not supporting Taiwan independence, stop any official interactions with the Taiwan region, and stop sending wrong signals to Taiwan independence separatist forces. China remains resolutely determined to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and oppose interference in our internal affairs by external forces. Bank Respublika Secures a Green Loan of 20 Million USD from IFC During the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), the International Finance Corporation (IFC) supported Bank Respublika by providing a substantial loan to finance green projects in Azerbaijan. Under the agreement, the international financial institution will provide the Bank with a loan in Azerbaijani manats (AZN), equivalent to 20 million USD, with a term of four years. The loan funds will support micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and low-income family businesses implementing environmentally friendly technologies and production methods. This initiative will help create new jobs, enhance social resilience, and make green technologies more accessible to a broader population. Supporting such initiatives will contribute to sustainable economic growth and stimulate regional development, facilitating their integration into global environmental transformation efforts. It should be noted that this is the third green loan agreement signed by "Bank Respublika" with international financial organizations within the framework of COP29. Previously, the bank signed significant and large-scale loan agreements with the Dutch Development Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development as part of COP29. Private businesses, especially smaller ones, are vital for diversifying Azerbaijan's economy and creating non-oil sector jobs. We aim to enhance the financial sectors ability to support these enterprises while promoting climate resilience. IFC's investment in Bank Respublika will demonstrate the viability of climate finance products, encouraging broader adoption among financial institutions, said Alfonso Garcia Mora, IFC's Regional Vice President for Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean. "We are delighted to sign this agreement with our long-standing partner during COP29, which is successfully being held in our country. We view this as an important step in strengthening our partnership and advancing joint environmental initiatives. Collaboration with such an influential international financial organization as IFC not only confirms the trust in Bank Respublika as a reliable financial institution but also opens new opportunities for financing micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises. We believe this agreement will create wide opportunities for funding environmentally responsible projects in our country and will help address environmental issues on a global scale," noted Tariyel Ismayilov, Chairman of the Management Board of Bank Respublika. For more detailed information, please visit the official website of the bank, check the banks pages on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, or contact the Banks Call Center at 144. Subscription to paid content Gain access to all that Trend has to offer, as well as to premium, licensed content via subscription or direct purchase through a credit card. BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 22. The "azexport.az" portal, run by Azerbaijans Center for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communication (CAERC), has rolled out a Certificate of Free Sale for the sweet treats heading from the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic to Ethiopia, Trend reports via CAERC. Aykhan Gadashev, head of the portal, noted a recent increase in requests for the Certificate of Free Sale, particularly related to food product exports. He noted that the number of companies requiring this certificate on international markets is rapidly growing. With the issuance of additional certificates through the "Azexport" portal, confectionery products manufactured in Nakhchivan will now be eligible for export to Ethiopia. A similar Certificate of Free Sale for the export of flour-based products to Ethiopia was issued earlier. The Certificate of Free Sale is issued per a decree from the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, dated September 12, 2017. This certificate confirms that the exported product is freely marketed in Azerbaijan, certified by relevant state bodies, and meets applicable standards. From April 2018 through November 2024, a total of 746 product certificates have been issued, facilitating the export of "Made in Azerbaijan" goods to over 100 countries across the Americas, Asia, Oceania, Europe, and the Persian Gulf, resolving previously existing export challenges. Entrepreneurs wishing to obtain a Certificate of Free Sale can submit their applications through the portal at www.azexport.az. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Trendyol, the leading e-commerce platform in Turkiye and one of the top e-commerce platforms in the world, is sharing its sustainability plans and goals at its pavilion at COP29. As the main sponsor of Turkiyes Sustainable Future Platform pavilion, the company is also supporting discussions on sustainability and climate by bringing together Turkish and Azerbaijani scientists working in this field at COP29. Trendyols primary goal at the 29th session of the United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP29) is to exchange ideas and experiences with leading experts, organizations, and businesses, while presenting its sustainability and social impact projects. The knowledge gained will play a critical role in shaping future strategies to enhance climate resilience and sustainable business practices. As the first e-commerce company in Turkiye to have a dedicated sustainability roadmap and action plan, Trendyol prioritizes contributing positively to the environment, nature, and society. Guided by its principle of "Transformation Together," the company is showcasing its initiatives at COP29, emphasizing its environmental efforts and commitment as a socially responsible organization. Trendyols Sustainability Report: 100% Certified Packaging Materials by 2025 At COP29, Trendyol unveiled its 2023 Sustainability Report, sharing progress on its environmental and social impact goals. The report covers nine key topics across the categories of Planet, people, and Governance. It reflects Trendyols environmentally conscious approach and its commitment to delivering long-term solutions that benefit society. The report underscores the companys significant progress toward its sustainability objectives. Since establishing Turkiyes first sustainability roadmap for e-commerce in 2022, Trendyol has achieved a 16% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions as part of its Sustainable Impact Plan. By optimizing packaging and waste management throughout its logistics network, the company has recycled 96.7% of its waste and reduced single-use plastic consumption by 57%. Additionally, 70% of its cargo packaging now utilizes recycled materials. Trendyol aims to achieve zero-waste certification for all logistics centers by 2025, after which all retail packaging materials will be sourced from certified origins. Trendyol is committed to becoming carbon neutral in its operations and value chain by 2040, with a goal of extending this neutrality across its entire value chain by 2050. Erdem Inan: "We Place Sustainability at the Core of All Our Operations" "As we continue expanding globally, we place sustainability at the heart of all our operations. We recognize our responsibility to contribute to the global fight against climate change and to leave a more livable world for future generations. This year at COP29, we presented our 2023 Sustainability Report to the global community, showcasing our efforts to create sustainable positive impact across all markets we operate in. We also introduced the Transformation Together Academy - a significant milestone for the e-commerce sector and the global e-commerce ecosystem." said Erdem Inan, Trendyol Group CEO. Trendyols Sustainability Projects Discussed at COP29 Trendyol was the only Turkish company in the Green Zone at COP29. It also served as the main sponsor of the Sustainable Future Platform, an NGO pavilion representing Turkiye at the conference. The company participated in three panels at COP29, sharing its sustainability strategies and initiatives with attendees. At the Sustainable Future Platform pavilion, Trendyol Group Corporate Communications Director Irem Poyraz, along with Sustainee Consultancy founder Ezgi Egribozlu and Cabana Education and Consultancy representative Dr. Isl Sahan, discussed the 2023 Sustainability Report and Trendyols goals in a panel moderated by Dr. Ozlem Tugce Keles. In another session moderated by Naz Yaman from the Esmiyor platform, Irem Poyraz and Arzu Karaarslan Azizoglu, UNDP Turkiye Project Coordinator, discussed Trendyols social impact projects in Azerbaijan and other markets. At a panel hosted at PASHA Holdings pavilion, titled Sustainability through Digitalization, Irem Poyraz was joined by Kapital Bank CEO Farid Huseynov and PwC representative Khayala Eylazova. They discussed Trendyols "Transformation Together" approach, the impact of digitalization on sustainability, and the newly launched "Transformation Together Academy." Trendyol also runs specialized programs to empower women and support young artists and organizations. One such initiative is the "Villages of Tomorrow" project, developed in partnership with the UNDP. This program supports women entrepreneurs and producers, expands the reach of local products and crafts, minimizes the digital divide in rural areas by extending Trendyols technological resources, stimulates employment, and contributes to rural development. BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 22. Azerbaijan and Israel discussed further bilateral cooperation in transport, Trend reports via the statement from the Azerbaijani Ministry of Digital Development and Transport. The discussion took place during a meeting between Azerbaijan's Minister of Digital Development and Transport, Rashad Nabiyev, and the Israeli Minister of Transport and Road Safety, Miri Regev. The meeting specifically discussed further cooperation in the fields of air transport, smart transport systems, and the digitalization of maritime transport. "A decision was made to establish a relevant working group in this area and hold discussions in this context," the statement said. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Profound observation of PRCM Eroded trust, confidence | Supposedly the smallest among the 33 recognised tribes of Manipur, but the message the Purum tribe via the Purum Reim Council, Manipur (PRCM) has delivered is profound. A point which many have felt but have never had the conviction to verbalise and the point delivered so effectively is certainly food for thought. Their one line statement that more and more people have lost faith in the valley based CSOs considering the adhoc measures/decisions taken by them in connection with the present crisis is hitting the bulls eye with aplomb. Food for thought this certainly is and that this statement should come at a time when a video clip of some CSO leaders coming to logger heads with some meira paibi leaders or members, the video clip of which has gone viral on the social media, makes it all that more significant. Snide remarks against the organisation purportedly represented by the said CSO leaders have also done the round on the social media, reflecting poorly on Manipur and the Meitei society as a whole. This is the reality at the moment and this is the time for everyone concerned to sit back, relax and give the observation aired by the PCRM some serious thoughts. There is no sign that the Meitei-Kuki clash would come to an end anytime soon and this is where it becomes very important for everyone to come to terms with the enormity of the task at hand and since some have stepped forward to guide the people, it is more than important that they do nothing which can reduce them to something to be mocked about. It should also be more than clear that Manipur lacks a strategy, a strategy to take the battle to those standing against the understanding of a geo-political reality called Manipur, with everyone coming under the impression that they know best and there is no need to co-ordinate. Anything called co-ordination, an understanding to make the position of Manipur clear at different levels, from the media war that has been fought from Day 1 of the conflict, to the story that is being churned out to the outside world, to the manner in which the Court is being approached, to the manner in which the demand and stand of the place and the people are being projected to the people who matter, there is nothing to suggest that a system has been worked out. To think that this is the case even after more than 18 months of the place going up in flames is unthinkable. Just like how Manipur has been surviving from day to day, it appears that the fight to protect the understanding of Manipur seems to be just going from day to day without anything coming close to the understanding of a systematic approach. Time for everyone to come to the reality. Manipur is up against forces which are powerful and which seem to have pre-planned all its moves, best exemplified by the fact that the call for a Separate Administration came the moment Manipur erupted in flames on May 3, 2023 and this call came along with the carefully manufactured victim stories which were then sold to the outside world with an ever ready section of the media eagerly lapping all these up. Lessons should be learnt and the observation given by the PRCM should be digested and corrective steps taken up accordingly. A sort of a wake up call it should be for all who are at the forefront of protecting the understanding of Manipur and her people. One also wonders whether the people of Jiribam have received the post mortem reports of the three children and three women who were killed after being kept in captivity for five full days by Kuki-Zo-Hmar militants. An answer to this would help for it is on the basis of such a report that Manipur can take the fight against such savagery more meaningfully. The bodies of the nine victims will be put to rest, but this is an incident which Manipur can ill afford to forget and yes a lesson should also be drawn from this blood curdling incident. For 18 months, Manipur has been in a state of war but there is no indication that things will improve in the coming days and if it is not Jiribam today, then it could be at any of the villages lying at the foothills on the Churachandpur side or anywhere else. The question is whether the Central forces sent here will continue to be mere spectators or do something concrete. BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 22. Azerbaijan's Baku Insurance OJSC has announced its liquidation, Trend reports via 'Vergilar' newspaper of the State Tax Service under the Ministry of Economy. According to the media outlet, creditors must submit their claims within two months to the following address: Az1007, Baku, Nasimi District, Azadlig Avenue, 120, 6th floor. To note, the legal representative of the OJSC with a charter capital of 8.9 million manat ($5.2 million) is Ogtay Sheydabayov. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Visibly upset, BJPs Siliguri MLA Sankar Ghosh, who is also the chief whip of the Opposition in the state Assembly, expressed frustration over his inability to utilise the Bidhayak Fund (MLA fund) for local area development. He criticised the local administration as well as the state government for the situation. Advertisement Demanding the intervention of chief minister Mamata Banerjee, Mr Ghosh threatened to launch a protest, including staging dharnas in front of the Assembly and even at Nabanna. Advertisement Speaking to reporters, Sankar Ghosh said, I intended to allocate my MLA funds to support development in the 33 wards of the Siliguri Assembly constituency and informed Siliguri mayor Goutam Deb about it. However, the unfortunate reality is that the mayor has not engaged with me on this matter, despite repeated demands from residents for road repairs and other developmental work. As a result, the people of these 33 wards are being deprived of basic amenities. He added that he had repeatedly raised the issue with the appropriate authorities, including the urban development department. The implementing agency for my MLA fund is the Siliguri Jalpaiguri Development Authority (SJDA). However, both the Darjeeling district administration and the chairman of SJDA have failed to utilise the allotted funds. Instead, they are blaming each other for the inaction, even though the district magistrate is currently serving as the chairman of SJDA, Mr Ghosh said. He further stated: I will seek permission from the Leader of Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari. If granted, I will raise this issue during the winter session of the Assembly and stage demonstrations in both the Assembly and Nabanna. The supporters of Anubrata Mondal have allegedly grabbed the party office belonging to a leader of the different camp in Sriniketan Bazar, Bolpur. A large police force from Santiniketan police station has been deployed along with women cops. Locals have alleged that the party office was run by one Babu Das, the observer of Ruppur gram panchayat and husband of TMC councillor of ward one of Bolpur Municipality, Sangeeta Das. Advertisement Babu Das said that the party office was closed due to some sewerage line work outside the house. He alleged that some party workers are tarnishing the image of TMC in Birbhum district with such activities. Advertisement The Kolkata High Court has granted seven days interim bail to Anarul Hossein, one of the key accused in Bogtui murder case for his daughters marriage ceremony on Tuesday. He was arrested by the CBI for the Bogtui massacre in Birbhum district, in which 10 people were charred to death in 2022. Advertisement Anarul Hossein was the former Bogtui No. 1 block president of Trinamul Congress. On 24 November, his daughter is getting married and he had appealed to the division Bench, headed by Justice Arijit Banerjee to release him on interim bail for attending the marriage ceremony. Bhadu Sheikh was the protege of Anarul Hossein. Advertisement The division Bench has granted today seven days interim bail on humanitarian grounds. He will be allowed to stay in his house, and cant roam outside and police will be posted in his house. After the marriage ceremony is over he will surrender before the police station again. On 21 March, 2022 evening, Bhadu Shiekh, the deputy pradhan of Bagtui gram panchayat was killed by his rival group after hurling bombs and firing at him from close range near Bogtui village on NH-14. Immediately after his murder, Anarul Islam had allegedly directed the supporters of Bhadu Sheikh to torch the houses of his rival groups families in Bogtui village. In the night-long loot and arson, about 10 people were killed. The attackers purchased petrol from a nearby pump and carried it on a toto and then sprayed it in the houses, locking the door from outside and setting them ablaze. CM Mamata Banerjee rushed to Bogtui village and on her directives to DGP the first arrest was made. She had formed a special investigation group to probe the case and later also provided jobs and compensations to the next of kin of the deceased. Anarul Hossein allegedly talked with the local police station over phone for long hours and prevented them from saving the affected families and fire brigade personnel on that night. The Kolkata High Court had directed a CBI probe into the incident. Meanwhile, one of key accused Lalan Sheikh was killed during interrogations at the CBI custody in its temporary camp office in Birbhum. CID is investigating that case on high court orders. ASTANA, Kazakhstan, November 22. Kazakhstan and Pakistan are rolling up their sleeves to strengthen their business and investment connections during a roundtable in Islamabad, Trend reports The roundtable took place while the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, Alibek Bakayev, was in the capital of Pakistan, Islamabad, alongside the Managing Director of Kazakh Invest, Azamat Kozhanov, marking a significant Kazakhstan-Pakistan gathering. On the Pakistani side, the roundtable saw a gathering of representatives from the public sector and a cornucopia of industries, including logistics, banking services, agriculture, light industry, pharmaceuticals, construction, and a few more. It was a real melting pot of ideas and expertise. All in all, the roundtable gathered the bigwigs of around 20 Pakistani companies hailing from various corners of the country. In his speech, Azamat Kozhanov emphasized the growing potential for the development of bilateral relations and the need to increase mutual investments for the implementation of joint projects. "Despite positive dynamics, the current pace of economic cooperation between Kazakhstan and Pakistan remains underdeveloped. It is strategically important for Kazakhstan to ensure access for its products to the Pakistani market, where over 250 million people reside. Additionally, there is a unique opportunity to attract Pakistani investors to Kazakhstan's agro-industrial complex, which would contribute to strengthening the country's food security," Kozhanov noted. The roundtable also featured negotiations with the Federal Minister of Industry and Production, the Minister for National Food Security and Research, Rana Tanveer Hussain, the First Deputy Minister and Federal Secretary for Economic Affairs, Kazim Niaz, and the First Deputy Minister and Federal Secretary for Trade, Javad Pohl Khawaja. Additionally, Fauji Fertilizer Company, one of Pakistan's largest producers of mineral fertilizers, presented potential investment projects for implementation in Kazakhstan. The discussions became an important platform for establishing connections, exchanging experiences, and discussing promising projects between the two countries. Bilateral trade between Kazakhstan and Pakistan amounted to $52.4 million in 2023, and for the first 8 months of this year, it increased by 16 percent, reaching approximately $40 million. During this period, Kazakhstan's exports doubled, amounting to $8.3 million. There are over 429 enterprises with Pakistani capital in Kazakhstan, and Pakistan has a trade representative office in Almaty. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel HP Ghosh Hospital reached a milestone with the successful launch of Eastern Indias first robotic-assisted spine surgery system. The landmark event showcased the pioneering Mazor-X Robotic System, the latest advancement in precision spine surgery. This event also highlighted the hospitals ongoing commitment to bringing cutting-edge medical technology to the region. The hospital and The Spine Foundations expert team of medical professionals provided valuable insights into the systems capabilities and its transformative potential for treating complex spinal disorders. Dr Saumyajit Basu, director & lead spine surgeon of The Spine Foundation and Mr Somnath Bhattacharya, CEO of HP Ghosh Hospital said, Today, we are not only introducing cutting-edge technology but also setting a new standard in spine care in Eastern India. The system allows us to perform surgeries with unparalleled precision. Advertisement Advertisement Lieutenant General Yash Ahlawat, yesterday took over the reins as General Officer Commanding of the north Bengal based elite Brahmastra Corps from Lieutenant General Rajeev Puri. Lt Gen Ahlawat was commissioned into 7 Madras in December 1990. An alumnus of Indian Military Academy Dehradun, the General Officer has attended the command and staff course at Singapore, higher defence management course at College of Defence Management, Secunderabad and the national defence course at National Defence College, New Delhi during the course of his service. Advertisement In an illustrious career spanning over 34 years, the General Officer has served in varied roles in command and staff tenures encompassing all types of terrain and operational environment. His command assignments include command of 9 Madras (Travancore), brigade and divisional level formations along the Line of Control. Advertisement He has held important instructional and staff appointments at all levels including Defence Attache (DA) with High Commission of India in Malaysia and Brunei. The General Officer held the key appointment of Major General General Staff (Operations) in Udhampur based Headquarters Northern Command before taking over as GOC Brahmastra Corps on Wednesday. The details of the involvement of the retired cop in the matter had been mentioned in the charge sheet filed by the cops in the matter to a lower court in Kolkata on Thursday. More than one lakh vehicles were booked for not possessing valid Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificates while six thousand overage vehicles were impounded under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) restrictions in the national capital. According to a data accessed by the newspaper, a total of 1, 56,545 vehicles were fined for not possessing valid PUC certificate out of which 1,24,877 vehicles were booked during GRAP 1, 2 restrictions, 13,729 during GRAP 3 and 4,915 during GRAP 4 restrictions. Advertisement The data also revealed that 6,021 overage vehicles were seized out of which 4949 were impounded during GRAP 1, 2 restrictions, 449 under GRAP 3 and 146 under GRAP 4 restrictions. Advertisement Moreover 513 vehicles were fined for carrying Construction and demolition (C&D) waste. Additionally, 6684 light motor vehicles (LMV) running on BS III petrol and BS IV Diesel were fined out of which 2652 were booked during GRAP 3, 1211 during GRAP 4 restrictions. The data also revealed that a total of 65 diesel operated heavy goods vehicles (HGV) were also fined. In order to manage traffic and avoid traffic congestion to reduce vehicular pollution 300, traffic congestion points were decongested. A total of 1,818 inter-state buses and 1,22,690 trucks were checked at the borders of the city. Expressing dissatisfaction with the steps taken to control and combat toxic air pollution in the national capital, the Supreme Court on Friday directed the Delhi government and police to immediately set up checkpoints at all 113 entry points to the city to monitor the entry of trucks carrying only essential supplies. Stating, So far as compliance is concerned, we are not satisfied. The government has not clearly stated how many officers are stationed at entry points to enforce the measures of GRAP IV, a bench of Justice Abhay S Oka and Justice Augustine George Masih said that personnel deployed at the entry points must be clearly informed about the items approved for transportation in trucks carrying essential commodities. Advertisement Expressing dissatisfaction with the compliance of GRAP IV measures, the bench said that despite orders passed by the top court and the CAQM, the Delhi government and police have failed to comply with the clauses under GRAP stage IV. Advertisement Directing the Delhi government and police to begin checking trucks entering the national capital and permitting only those carrying essential supplies, the court appointed 13 members of the Bar (advocates) as court commissioners to visit the citys entry points and verify whether trucks are being stopped. Appointing 13 advocates as court commissioners, the bench asked the Additional Solicitor General to forward their names to the Delhi Police Commissioner to facilitate their visit to the entry points, where they can take photographs and file a report to the court. The order to deploy officers at all 113 entry points, with clear instructions to allow only trucks carrying accepted essential commodities, came after the court was informed that while there are 113 entry points, vigilance is primarily maintained at just 13 major ones. The bench observed that this meant that for the other 100 points there is no restriction on vehicles banned under GRAP stage IV. Also noting that there are CCTV cameras only at 13 entry points, the bench directed that the CCTV footage be given to amicus curiae in the case at the earliest. The bench posted the matter for hearing on November 25 and said it would consider whether the GRAP-IV restrictions should continue. Under the GRAP-IV restrictions by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), the entry of trucks into Delhi-NCR is prohibited to combat air pollution. In a significant breakthrough, the Special Cell of Delhi Police has arrested two suspects involved in a shooting at a fuel pump in Gokalpuri, East Delhi. The accused, identified as Abhishek Kumar alias Harshu and Vikrant alias Vicky, were apprehended with two sophisticated pistols and 22 live rounds in their possession. Advertisement The incident occurred late at night on November 15, when four armed men on two motorcycles opened fire at the fuel pump, injuring Anshul Rathee, the supervisor. Advertisement Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Amit Kaushik stated that specific intelligence was received about the suspects movement towards Khichdipur village. Acting on the tip-off, the duo was apprehended during a planned operation. According to the DCP, Abhishek Kumar had established contact with jailed gangster Kala Jatheri through the Signal app. Jatheri introduced him to an associate named Johny, who facilitated the hiring of the shooters for 50,000 to carry out the attack. DCP Kaushik revealed that Abhishek, a graduate, became involved in criminal activities through his connection with Jatheri. Vikrant, a school dropout, had developed links with local criminals over time. A fresh case under the Arms Act has been registered against the suspects. Further investigations are underway to uncover the larger criminal network behind the incident, the officer added. Academy Award-winning director Christopher Nolan has stoked fans curiosities like nothing else. The studded cast list of his upcoming film is expanding every passing day. After Tom Holland, Zendaya, Anne Hathway, Lupita Nyongo, and Matt Damon, Robert Pattinson joins the film. This will mark Pattinson and Nolans second collaboration following Tenet. Meanwhile, apart from the cast, no other details about the project are available. The slated film is shrouded in a cloud of dense mystery, piquing fans curiosities. As per Hollywood Reporter, Nolan wrote the script and is directing the project, which Universal Pictures will distribute. The studio has set a release date of July 17, 2026. Busting fan theories, the outlet reported that insiders have assured that no theory has hit the nail on the head. Various theoretical, even divergent, details been posited regarding the project period vampire thriller, a helicopter action thriller but insiders maintain that nothing has come close to nailing Nolans real idea. Apart from writing and directing, Nolan is also producing alongside partner and wife Emma Thomas for their Syncopy banner. Advertisement Nolan and Pattinsons last collaboration was the time-defying thriller Tenet. In the title, Pattinson starred alongside John David Washington. The title marked the filmmakers final film at Warner Bros. This concluded their long and successful association for hits such as The Dark Knight trilogy, Dunkirk and Interstellar. Meanwhile, the untitled film marks Christopher Nolans continued collaboration with Universal following Oppenheimer. The collaboration came after Nolan parted ways with Warner Brothers. Advertisement Also Read: K-pop at Coachella: BLACKPINKs Jennie, Lisa and ENHYPEN to light up the stage Moving ahead, Batman star Robert Pattinson has several tantalising projects on his plate. The actor is going to reprise his role in the Warner Brothers-backed sequel to the 2022 blockbuster The Batman. For the film, Pattinson will return as Gothams saviour, the caped crusader known as Batman. The actor will also star in A24s Primetime. The slated thriller draws inspiration from the reality show To Catch a Predator. The film will serve as the narrative chronicling the life of rising filmmaker Lance Oppenheim. Additionally, Pattinsons next, Bong Joon-Hos sci-fi comedy Mickey 17, will hit theatres on April 18, 2025. A Chennai-based engineering student, VV Vaageesan, has taken legal action against the makers of the film Amaran, demanding 1.1 crore in compensation after his phone number was shown in a romantic scene. The film, which released on October 31, features a scene where Sai Pallavis character, Indhu Rebecca Varghese, tosses a crumpled piece of paper with her mobile number written on it at the hero, played by Sivakarthikeyan. Unfortunately for Vaageesan, the number displayed in the film is his own. Advertisement After the film hit theaters, Vaageesan, who was enjoying Diwali with his family, began receiving an overwhelming number of calls from people asking to speak to Sai Pallavi. Advertisement Initially confused, he quickly realized that the number shown in the movie was his own, leading to an influx of calls. The number, which has link to his Aadhar card, bank statements, and other essential services, is difficult for him to change. The student has expressed his distress, stating that the continuous interruptions have severely impacted his daily life. He claimed that since the release of Amaran, he has been unable to sleep, study, or engage in basic activities without disruptions. Despite his attempts to address the issue by reaching out on social media, tagging director Rajkumar Periyasamy and actor Sivakarthikeyan, he received no response. In his legal notice, Vaageesan is seeking 1.1 crore in damages, citing the untold hardships and mental agony he has faced since the incident. He has also demanded that they remove his phone number from the film immediately to prevent further complications. Assam Day was celebrated at the ongoing 43rd India International Trade Fair (IITF) 2024 here on Friday. Various cultural dance forms like Satriya dance, Bihu dance, Karbi and Tiwa folk dance showcasing the rich cultural heritage and diversity of Assam were performed. Advertisement Singing sensation Madhab Ranjan Gogoi regaled the audience with his beautiful renditions at Amphitheatre 1 at Bharat Mandapam. Advertisement Speaking on the occasion, Assam Minister for Industries and Commerce, Public Enterprises and Cultural Affairs Departments Bimal Borah said Assam has seen significant strides on the development front under the able leadership of Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma and the then Chief Minister, Sarbananda Sonowal. Borah said the state has attracted investments to the tune of several lakh crores, including the Rs 27,000 crore semi conductor unit at Jagiroad, Rs 3,000 crore MoUs with reputed companies. The Minister said that an international investors summit 2.0 will be held in Guwahati in February next year. Borah also praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for all out efforts to accelerate the pace of development in the state and the Northeast as a whole. Prime Minister Narendra Modis various initiatives such as Make in India, Start Up India, Digital India and skill development have brought about transformation in Assam and other parts of the country, he said. MP Dilip Saikia, who was also present, said Assam is making progress at a rapid pace and will soon join the league of five developed states in the country. Saikia said in sync with Prime Ministers vision of a Viksit Bharat@2047, Assam is also marching triumphantly towards a Viksit Assam (developed state). He further said no Prime Minister ever has given so much importance to Assam and the Northeast region than Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Today the MSME sector is growing at a fast pace and contributing significantly to the development of Assam and the country as a whole, quipped Saikia.. The Assam Pavilion at the IITF highlights the states progress in various sectors including manufacturing, technology, tourism, and infrastructure, as well as its vision to transform into a major economic hub in Eastern India. Amid the continuing tension in Manipur, BJP National President J P Nadda Friday accused the Opposition Congress of sensationlising the situation in the state and criticised its party chief Mallikarjun Kharges letter to President Droupadi Murmu on the violence in the northeastern state. Kharge, who is also the leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, in his letter to President Murmu on Tuesday, stated the BJP-led governments in Manipur and the Centre have failed to restore peace and normalcy, and urged her intervention into the matter. Advertisement Manipur is witnessing a fresh surge in violence since the ethnic clashes between the Meitei and Kuki communities broke out in May 2023. Advertisement In his letter to Kharge, Nadda wrote, What is shocking is how repeated attempts are being made by the Congress party to sensationalise the situation in Manipur. It appears that you have forgotten that not only did your government legitimise the illegal migration of foreign militants to India, P Chidambaram, the erstwhile home minister, had signed treaties with them! Furthermore, these known militant leaders fleeing their country to avoid arrest were wholeheartedly endorsed and encouraged to carry on their destabilising efforts. The BJP leader claimed that this complete failure of Indias security and administrative protocols under Congress government is one of the major reasons why militant and habitually violent organisations are attempting to destroy the hard-won peace in Manipur and push it back several decades into the age of anarchy. The BJP chief said the pattern of Congress leaders endorsing and encouraging a nexus of foreign forces to derail Indias progress is worrying and questioned whether this failure is an unfortunate blind spot resulting from Congress thirst for power or part of a carefully designed strategy to divide the people and sideline democracy. This pattern of Congress leaders endorsing and encouraging a nexus of foreign forces looking to derail Indias progress is truly worrying. As a result of this failure to recognise the maleficent intentions of these individuals, your party is often seen matching them step-for-step. Whether this failure is an unfortunate blind spot resulting from Congress thirst for power or part of a carefully designed strategy to divide the people and sideline our democracy, is what our nation deserves to know, said Nadda. In his letter, Nadda pointed out, I feel compelled to respond to the incorrect, false and politically motivated narrative which your words fail to camouflage. It appears that you as well as your party seem to have conveniently forgotten the complete failure of government machinery and the ill-advised strategies adopted by Congress governments both at the Centre and state during similar incidents in the early 90s and the UPA era. Highlighting the BJPs leadership in the northeastern state, Nadda said, With the first incidence of violence that was reported, our government at the Centre as well as the state was immediately working to stabilise the situation and protect the people. Throughout this period and even today, the entire focus of our government has been on maintaining law and order and bringing normalcy to the state. From resources to personnel and provisions, the entire government machinery is devoted to bringing back peace and harmony to Manipur. He stressed that their commitment to resolving the situation as soon as possible is evident when you consider that investigations into the incidents are being carried out by the NIA, one of the most efficient agencies in the country. Photo: Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 22. Azerbaijani Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov and Minister of Labor and Social Protection of the Population Sahil Babayev met with Israel's Minister of Transport and Road Safety, Miri Regev, Trend reports via the nation's Ministry of Economy. The meeting focused on expanding socio-economic and trade ties between the two countries, as well as exploring opportunities for cooperation and exchange of expertise in the transport and transit sectors. The intensification of innovation partnerships was also discussed. The officials exchanged views on potential areas for joint economic activities, facilitating business connections, and promoting humanitarian and other forms of cooperation. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel As part of its Plan B, the BJP-backed Mahayuti is actively wooing independents and smaller parties to secure their support in case it falls short of a majority after the Maharashtra election results are declared on Saturday. This comes despite Devendra Fadnaviss denial on Thursday that the BJP is in touch with independents. Significantly, senior Shiv Sena (Uddhav Bal Thackeray) leader Sanjay Raut alleged here on Friday that the BJP-led Mahayuti had offered bribes to independent candidates in the recently held Maharashtra assembly elections. Shortly after Raut made the allegation, the BJP hit back saying that it does not wish to snatch away his (Rauts) right to dream. Advertisement According to BJP workers, the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) is in touch with the BJP top brass. However, an MNS leader refused to confirm or deny this, stating, We have nothing to say until the results are declared tomorrow. Advertisement The closeness between the MNS and the BJP has never been a secret. In fact, even as recently as November 7, senior BJP leader and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis himself had openly described MNS founder and chief Raj Thackeray as a good friend. Fadnavis also candidly stated that the BJP has attempted to support Raj Thackerays son Amit Thackeray, who has contested from the Mahim assembly seat. Moreover, although 70 candidates have contested against the BJP, these are largely seen as friendly contests by other parties. In a related development, the grandson of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar and chief of the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) tweeted from his X account here on Friday that if his party secures the necessary numbers in the Maharashtra assembly elections, it will support whichever side is capable of forming the government. If the VBA gets the numbers tomorrow to support a party or an alliance in forming the government in Maharashtra, we will align with the side capable of forming the government. We will choose power, Prakash Ambedkar tweeted on X. Incidentally, the VBA fielded 200 candidates in the just concluded 2024 Maharashtra assembly elections. The party had contested 236 constituencies in the 2019 Maharashtra elections but failed to secure any seat, although it garnered a vote share of 5.5% in the seats it contested. Besides independent candidates, the smaller parties contesting the 2024 Maharashtra assembly elections include the Raj Thackeray-led MNS, the Prakash Ambedkar-led Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA), the Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the Asaduddin Owaisi-led All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM). In this context, it is worth noting that in the 2019 Maharashtra assembly elections, smaller parties won 29 assembly seats and their MLAs finished as runners-up in as many as 63 assembly constituencies in Maharashtra. Political observers are of the opinion that these smaller parties and independents, who are expected to win around 30 seats, could play a decisive role in the event of a hung assembly after the 2024 Maharashtra assembly elections are declared on Saturday, November 23. In a bid to promote the constitution values among citizens, the Hamara Samvidhan, Hamara Samman campaign, launched earlier this January by the Vice President, aims to deepen citizens understanding of the Constitution. The yearlong campaign seeks to raise awareness about the significance of the Constitution in shaping Indian society and to educate citizens on their legal rights, ensuring that the foundational principles continue to resonate with every Indian. Advertisement The campaign aims to promote several goals, including building constitutional awareness, promoting legal rights and responsibilities, sub campaigns and thematic initiatives,sabko nyay, har ghar nyay and vidhi jagriti abhiyyan, among others. Advertisement The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment had announced on November 19, 2015 that the Government would celebrate 26th November every year as Constitution Day. This observance serves as a reminder of the democratic principles that guide the nation. As part of this endeavour to build awareness regarding constitutional ideals, the Hamara Samvidhan, Hamara Samman campaign has been launched. The year-long campaign began with its first regional event in Bikaner, inaugurated by then Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud in March. Regional events have since been held in Bikaner, Prayagraj, and now Guwahati, aiming to engage diverse communities, especially in the Northeast, and promote understanding of the Constitution across India, a press statement said. Another key element of the campaign is its digital engagement component. Citizens are encouraged to actively participate through the campaigns dedicated portal, which serves as an online platform for education, engagement, and action. Through this portal, citizens can access resources such as videos, articles, infographics, and quizzes to test their knowledge of the Constitution. It also allows citizens to take pledges and participate in online discussions about the Constitutions role in shaping the future of India. As part of Indias 75th year as a Republic, the Hamara Samvidhan, Hamara Samman campaign supports the vision of a Viksit Bharat (Developed India) by 2047. It encourages citizens to uphold constitutional values, respect democratic principles, and engage in legal and political processes shaping the nations future, the statement said. Nyaya Bandhu is a Union governments initiative that connects practicing advocates willing to offer free legal services to marginalized beneficiaries via mobile technology. The Department of Justice aims to strengthen this network by establishing pro bono panels in each High Court, curated and managed by the respective courts. This will ensure the programmes effective integration into the judicial system for optimal impact. Counting of votes for the Maharashtra and Jharkhand Assembly elections will begin early Saturday morning amid tight security. Counting across all the centres in Maharashtra and Jharkhand will begin at 8 am, an Election Commission official said. The counting of postal ballots will begin first, he added. Advertisement Elections to the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly, which witnessed a direct contest between the BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP Mahayuti alliance and the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP-Sharadchandra Pawar (NCP-SCP) Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance, were held in a single phase on 20th November. The state recorded a voter turnout of 65.02 per cent. Advertisement Bigwigs whose fate will be decided include Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, former state minister and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray, and NCP leader Nawab Malik. It may be mentioned that exit polls for the Maharashtra Assembly elections predicted a victory for the Mahayuti alliance. Earlier, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said that the Mahayuti would retain power with a huge majority. In the 2019 Assembly elections, the BJP won 105 seats, the Shiv Sena 56, the NCP 54, and the Congress 44 constituencies. In Jharkhand, the Assembly elections witnessed a direct contest between the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-Congress alliance and the BJP-led NDA. The first phase of voting in 43 Assembly seats was held on 13th November and the second phase in 38 seats on 20th November. The first phase recorded a voter turnout of 66.65 per cent and the second phase 68.45 per cent. Chief Minister Hemant Soren, his wife Kalpana Soren, former chief minister and state BJP chief Babulal Marandi, Leader of Opposition in the Jharkhand Assembly Amar Kumar Bauri, and All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) president Sudesh Mahto are prominent candidates whose fate will be decided in the election. Kalpana Soren exuded confidence in the JMM-Congress-led alliances victory in the mineral-rich state and said that the people of Jharkhand had chosen the path of development. Notably, exit polls telecast by different private TV channels on Wednesday evening predicted a win for the BJP-led NDA. In the 2019 Assembly polls, the JMM won 30 seats, Congress 16, and BJP 25 constituencies. The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) crossed the 55 lakh-member mark across the nation during its 70th National Conference in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh. The saffron organisation claimed that it has now become the worlds largest student organisation by breaking its previous record of 5,512,470 members. Advertisement Speaking on the occasion, ABVP National General Secretary Yagywalkya Shukla said, ABVPs consistent activism has gained the trust of students by successfully raising students issues across all the education institutions in the country. Advertisement The ABVP has significantly addressed concerns related to issues in educational institutions to support a bright future for students studying in these institutions and is committed to womens safety, empowerment within educational institutions, and fostering female leadership. These efforts have been significant in creating a supportive environment for women in academics, he added. The organisation is holding its annual conference from November 22 to 24 in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh. During this, several prominent figures from academics, business, and politics among other sectors share their ideas for the youths participating there. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met US Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin on the sidelines of the 11th ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting (ADMM)-Plus in Vientiane, Lao PDR, on November 21, according to a release from the Ministry of Defence. The two leaders praised the progress achieved in the India-US defence partnership, which is underpinned by enhanced operational coordination, information-sharing, and industrial innovation, the release noted. Both sides recognised the remarkable progress made under the US-India Defence Industrial Cooperation Roadmap, including ongoing collaboration to advance priority co-production arrangements for jet engines, munitions, and ground mobility systems, the release stated. The Defence Minister highlighted his recent successful visit to the US in August 2024, during which two significant agreements were signed the Security of Supplies Agreement (SOSA) and the Memorandum of Agreement regarding the deployment of Liaison Officers. Both sides welcomed ongoing efforts to deepen the military partnership and interoperability to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific, the release added. Advertisement Referring to the QUAD Summit attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 21, Singh stressed the importance of working together on agreed initiatives, including the Maritime Initiative for Training in the Indo-Pacific (MAITRI), the first-ever Quad-at-Sea Ship Observer Mission, and the launch of a Quad Indo-Pacific Logistics Network pilot project. These initiatives aim to support rapid and efficient civilian responses to natural disasters across the Indo-Pacific, the statement said. Advertisement Both sides affirmed their commitment to fostering defence innovation collaboration between the two governments, businesses, and academic institutions, as facilitated by the India-US Defense Acceleration Ecosystem. They agreed to provide more joint challenges, funding opportunities, and visibility to drive this collaboration further. Both sides also committed to sustaining the momentum achieved over the last two and a half years through growing convergence in strategic interests and enhanced defence cooperation, the release stated. The Defence Minister expressed his gratitude to Secretary Austin for his lasting contribution to deepening and expanding the India-US defence partnership. In a post on X, Rajnath Singh described Secretary Austin as a great friend to India and commended his exemplary role in strengthening the defence partnership between the two nations. He also extended his best wishes for Austins future endeavours. It is always a matter of immense joy to meet my friend, Lloyd Austin. He has been a great friend to India. His contribution towards strengthening the India-US defence partnership has been exemplary. I wish him the very best in all his future endeavours, Singh wrote on X. Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has welcomed the Supreme Courts decision to stay the Himachal Pradesh High Courts directive to initiate disqualification proceedings against MLAs appointed as Chief Parliamentary Secretaries (CPS) in Himachal Pradesh. Interacting with media persons in New Delhi, he stated that the Supreme Court has provided clarity on the legal interpretation of the matter, which differed from paragraph 50 of the High Courts decision. The relief granted by the Supreme Court is significant, and we will now deliberate on the next steps after considering all legal aspects, the Chief Minister said. Advertisement Responding to another question, Sukhu criticised the oppositions behaviour, describing it as childish and lacking focus on public issues. There are no controversies, but their behaviour is simply childish. Sometimes they talk about toilet tax, sometimes they indulge in Samosa Politics. These are mere distractions, he remarked. Advertisement The CM stated that since the BJPs Operation Lotus was rejected by the people of the state and the Congress successfully retained its strength of 40 seats in the Vidhan Sabha, the oppositions personal attacks against him are a deliberate attempt to divert attention from the welfare schemes implemented by the state government over the past two years. The Chief Minister said that the opposition should act responsibly and raise welfare issues of the common man. He reiterated his governments commitment to the welfare of the underprivileged and said that significant progress has been made in improving their socio-economic status during his tenure. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh concluded his three-day visit to Vientiane, Lao PDR, on Friday, with significant bilateral meetings with Japans Defence Minister Gen Nakatani and the Philippines Secretary of National Defence Gilberto Teodoro. During his meeting with the Japanese Defence Minister, both leaders emphasized the importance of cooperation in defence technology and industry. They recalled the recent signing of the Memorandum of Implementation for the UNICORN mast in Japan, marking a milestone in joint efforts. Discussions focused on co-production and co-development in defence manufacturing, along with enhancing interoperability between the Indian and Japanese forces. Topics included the Reciprocal Provision of Supply and Services Agreement and participation in bilateral and multilateral military exercises. The ministers also explored new areas of collaboration, particularly in the air domain. Advertisement Singh also met Gilberto Teodoro from the Philippines to discuss strengthening defence ties. Before departing for New Delhi, the Defence Minister visited the historic Wat Sisaket Temple in Vientiane, where he sought blessings from Mahaveth Chittakaro, the Abbot of Sisaket Temple. Advertisement During his stay in Vientiane, the defence minister attended the 11th ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) and held bilateral discussions with counterparts from Malaysia, Lao PDR, China, the United States, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, Australia, Japan, and the Philippines, reaffirming Indias commitment to regional security and collaboration. Close on the heels of a single judge of the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court stressing the need to bring more accountability from Church institutions and ordering the Union and State governments to implead and file their response, a Division Bench called for a Central legislation akin to the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act and the Waqf Act for this purpose. The Division Bench of Justices P Velmurugan and KK Ramakrishnan made the suggestion while hearing a petition challenging the transfer of a 4.54 acre property of the Tamil Baptist Trust in Kovilpatti town to the Tamil Baptist Mission alleging it to be illegal. Advertisement Taking notice of some fraudulent transactions carried out by those administering Christian institutions, including schools and charities to enrich themselves, the judges also called for necessary amendments to the Registration Act, to prevent the alienation of Church properties without securing the permission of the Court. Further, the Bench made it clear that absence of suitable legislation to effectively oversee the management of those properties had given room for illegal transactions. Advertisement The Bench then suggested a Central legislation with adequate procedures to exercise control over the management of properties of Christian institutions in view of the prevailing situation. The court said this suggestion is made in the interest of protecting those properties from being misused and alienated illegally. In October this year, Justice N Sathish Kumar, hearing a batch of petitions challenging the appointment of the correspondent to the Scott Christian College, Nagercoil, and payment of salary to employees, observed Churches not only have vast properties, but also run educational institutions the institutionssuffer administratively and financially as their funds are drained to fuel power struggle, adding that these assets need to be protected and a permanent solution is required. With rival factions litigating each other having become a yearly affair, those in the administration, to strengthen their positions, use the Church funds to fight the cases, it was pointed out. The Judge then directed the Union Home Secretary and the Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary to file their response, explaining their stand. The High Court, batting for enhanced scrutiny of Church properties, has rattled the Christian hierarchy of all denominations with all of them claiming that the existing statues are enough. The security forces in Chhattisgarhs Sukma district eliminated 10 Maoist insurgents in a fierce gunfight in the dense forests of Bheji village located in Konta taluka of Dakshin Bastar Dantewada . The encounter, which began early Thursday, marks a major victory for the forces combating left-wing extremism in the Bastar region. Officials confirmed the recovery of three automatic weapons, including an AK-47, INSAS rifle, and an SLR from the site. The operation is part of heightened counter-insurgency efforts in response to recent intelligence indicating a surge in Maoist activity along the Odisha-Chhattisgarh border. Advertisement Bastar IG Sundarraj P revealed that the operation unfolded in the forests near Dantespuram, Korajuguda, and Nagaram, and involved personnel from the District Reserve Force (DRF) and CRPF units. The bodies of 10 Maoist insurgents have been recovered so far. Our forces remain on the ground to ensure complete sanitisation of the area, he stated. Advertisement Sukma SP Kiran Chavan termed the operation a landmark success. He noted that sustained efforts and enhanced coordination between security agencies were key to the operations success. The encounter followed a tip-off about a Maoist assembly in the area, prompting the deployment of multiple units. Security forces were met with heavy fire but responded decisively, forcing the insurgents to retreat. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai lauded the forces for their bravery, reiterating his governments resolve to eradicate Maoist insurgency. This success underscores our zero-tolerance policy against Maoist violence. We are committed to ensuring peace, development, and the safety of every citizen in Bastar, the Chief Minister said. The Sukma operation follows another confrontation a day earlier in the Udanti Wildlife Sanctuary on the Odisha-Chhattisgarh border. In that encounter, Maoists fled under heavy fire, leaving behind a single-shot rifle, Maoist literature, and supplies. The Chhattisgarh government has intensified counter-insurgency operations this year, bolstered by actionable intelligence and improved coordination among state and central forces. From January 1 to November 22, security forces have eliminated 207 Maoists, marking a sharp escalation in the fight against left-wing extremism. Despite these successes, Maoists remain a persistent challenge. Their use of dense forests for guerrilla warfare has tested even the most seasoned personnel. The Sukma encounter, however, demonstrates that the tide is turning. The latest skirmish underscores the heightened vigilance along Chhattisgarhs border with Odisha. Officials revealed that Maoists recently infiltrated the region in significant numbers, prompting a state of high alert. In Sukmas rugged terrain, where conflict and fear have overshadowed development, proactive operations like these reaffirm the governments determination to restore normalcy. With the Bastar Fighters, a specialised local force, playing a pivotal role in such operations, the government seems to be keen to cement its gains and rebuild trust among the local population. Ahead of the Parliament Session, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and ruling DMK president MK Stalin has asked the party MPs to join hands with the INDIA bloc and take on the BJP-led Union Government to task. Do not be lenient or soft pedal, but be hard on the Union Government, Stalin told the party MPs at a meeting on Friday evening held at the DMK headquarters Anna Arivalayam. Advertisement Though dynamism is apparently absent in the BJP after forming the government for the third time, it is very particular in implementing their agenda. And, we should not give any room for that, he said, adding that the party MPs, expressing the DMKs strong commitment to its ideals, should speak in parliament along with their counterparts in the INDIA bloc. Advertisement He asked them to raise their voice about the severe financial distress, the biggest crisis that Tamil Nadu is facing, creating difficulties in running the administration. Your speeches should help Tamil Nadu secure legitimate rights in the financial domain. Be hard on the Union Government and be specific that the state has not got even a single major project from the Union Government in the last decade, was his advice to the DMK parliamentarians. The meeting also resolved to fight the fascist tendencies of the BJP government and to preserve federalism in India. We will raise our voice for the states right and for its financial rights, it said, listing the various fronts where Tamil Nadu has been ignored or discriminated against: from railways to funds for tackling natural disasters. BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 22. In the grand tapestry of commerce, the vibrant threads of Azerbaijan and Italy wove together a remarkable narrative, with their trade turnover blossoming to a staggering $9.57 billion from the dawn of January to the twilight of October in 2024. Data obtained by Trend from the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan indicates that this figure represents a decrease of $3.92 billion, or 29.09 percent compared to the same period last year. Azerbaijan's trade with Italy accounted for 24.31 percent of the country's foreign trade turnover during the reporting period. Azerbaijan's exports to Italy amounted to $9.13 billion in the first ten months, showing a decline of 30.6 percent compared to the previous year. This accounted for 40.14 percent of the countrys total exports. In addition, Azerbaijan increased its imports from Italy by 28.8 percent, reaching $442.86 million from January through October 2024. Imports from Italy made up 2.66 percent of the country's total imports during the reporting period. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel In a huge relief to the dissident BRS MLAs ,the Telangana High Court has set aside an order of a single-judge bench which had directed the Speaker to announce within four weeks a schedule to decide on the disqualification petition against three MLAs who had joined the Congress. The judges said in the fresh order that the Speaker should take a call on the disqualification petition within a reasonable time. The Legislative Assembly secretary had filed the appeal to the division bench after a single judge bench had directed the Speaker to decide on a schedule to hear the disqualification petitions filed by two BRS MLAs KP Vivekanand and Padi Kaushik Reddy. BJPs floor leader A Maheshwar Reddy had also filed a separate petition for disqualification. The petitions had sought the disqualification of BRS dissidents, Danam Nagender, Tellam Venkat Rao and Kadiyam Srihari. Subsequently. A total of ten BRS MLAs joined the Congress before the High Command apparently, put a stop to poaching attempts. Advertisement Today, the bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice J Sreenivas Rao asked the Speaker to decide upon the disqualification petitions pending before him within a reasonable time, keeping in mind the tenure of the current Assembly. The Speaker, as the chairman of the tribunal constituted under the tenth schedule of the Constitution, must keep in mind its purpose and the Anti-Defection Law. Advertisement The direction of the division bench will give a bit of breathing space to the dissident BRS MLAs and the Congress leadership in Telangana. Congress will require at least 26 BRS MLAs to rebel in order to split the BRS Legislative The Uttar Pradesh government has approved a proposal to organise grand roadshows for Maha Kumbh 2025 in major cities across the country and abroad. Apart from this, approval has been granted for the purchase of 220 vehicles for the event. Advertisement The decisions were made during a state cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath here on Friday. Advertisement A grand Mahakumbh is being organised in Prayagraj from 13 January to February 26. The UP government is working in mission mode to make this largest festival of Sanatan Dharma a grand success. Briefing media persons about the cabinet meeting, State Cabinet Minister AK Sharma said that a grand Mahakumbh is being organised in Prayagraj. He added that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath suggested promoting Indias Sanatan culture both within the country and abroad. Under this, roadshows will be organised under the leadership of ministers in various big cities of the country and also in foreign countries. In India, roadshows will be organised in cities like New Delhi, Mumbai Pune, Jaipur, Hyderabad, Thiruvananthapuram, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Guwahati, Dehradun, Bhopal, Chandigarh, and Patna. Roadshows will be held abroad in Nepal, Thailand, Indonesia, Mauritius, as well as other countries. The state Urban Development Department will also bear the expenses of the roadshow. He told that Rs 20-25 lakh will be spent on roadshows in each city. FICCI and CII will be made partners in the roadshow. Minister AK Sharma said that the government has decided to purchase 220 vehicles for the Mahakumbh, with a total expenditure of Rs 27.48 crore. The purchase will include 40 Mahindra Bolero Neo, 160 Bolero B6 BSVI, and 20 buses. Meanwhile, two other important decisions were taken in the cabinet meeting. It was decided to operate 71 newly constructed/under-construction colleges as government colleges, while approval has also been given for the formation of Vivek University in Bijnor district. These decisions will prove to be a milestone in the direction of providing quality and affordable higher education in the state. Higher Education Minister Yogendra Upadhyay said that the department currently runs 171 government colleges, of which 71 are newly constructed or under construction. Earlier, these colleges were operated by universities. However, some universities have recently expressed their inability to manage them smoothly. As a result, a proposal was put forward, and it has now been decided that these 71 colleges will be directly managed by the state government. Until now, staff were hired on a contract basis. However, the government has decided to create 71 principal posts, 1,136 assistant professor positions, 639 class three staff roles, and 710 class four positions, with 16 posts allocated to each college. This will provide employment opportunities while enhancing the quality of education. In another decision, the state cabinet approved the expansion of the Aqua Line of Metro Rail service between Noida and Greater Noida. This decision has been taken to ease traffic congestion from Sector 51 Metro Station to Knowledge Park-20 in Greater Noida. State Finance Minister Suresh Khanna told the media at Lok Bhavan on Friday that to further ease traffic between Noida and Greater Noida, the Cabinet has approved the expansion of the 17.435 km Aqua Line Metro Project from Sector 51 Noida Station to Knowledge Park-20 in Greater Noida. In this project, Rs 394 crore will be spent by the Government of India and Rs 394 crore by the state government. Forty per cent of the amount will be sanctioned by the state government and 60 per cent will be sanctioned by the Greater Noida Authority. The sentencing of 45 pro-democracy campaigners in Hong Kong under its controversial National Security Law signifies a turning point in the former British colonys political and legal history. This trial, the lar gest since the laws imposition, is emblematic of a broader erosion of freedoms that once defined the territory. It underscores the cost of Beijings drive to ensure control over a city long celebrated for its vibrant civil society. The law, introduced in 2020, has reshaped Hong Kongs political landscape by criminalising vaguely defined acts of subversion and collusion. Once a bastion of free expression, the city has witnessed an alarming crackdown on dissent. The recent trial, which targeted key figures in the pro-democracy movement, illustrates this stark transformation. These individuals were not accused of violent acts but of organising a primary election to strengthen opposition candidates ~ a democratic process by any global standard. This sentencing highlights the weaponisation of legal systems to achieve political ends. By framing democratic activities as threats to national security, authorities have redefined lawful dissent as criminal behaviour, eroding the trust that underpins any legitimate judicial framework. Many defendants were denied bail and detained for extended periods before their convictions, a sharp deviation from Hong Kongs legal traditions rooted in the rule of law. By handing down sentences of up to a decade, the judiciary has sent a clear message: dissent, even in its most peaceful form, will not be tolerated. Advertisement The implications extend far be yond the individuals sentenced. Hong Kongs pro-de m ocracy movement, already weakened by years of gov ern ment crackdowns, has been effectively decapitated. With its leaders imprisoned and its supporters silenced, the movement faces an existential crisis. The citys civic identity, once synonymous with peaceful protests and vib rant debates, is giving way to a climate of fear and self-censorship. Beijing, for its part, views the trial as a necessary step to secure stability and safeguard national security. However, this approach risks further alienating Hong Kongs population. While public dissent has largely been stifled, the deep mistrust of authorities lingers. Stability achieved through suppression often proves brittle, as suppressed grievances have a way of resurfacing in unexpected ways. International reactions to the trial have been sharp but largely symbolic. Western nations have condemned the sentences as an attack on fundamental rights and freedoms. Advertisement Yet, economic dependence and geopolitical considerations limit their ability to confront Beijing effectively. This reflects a sobering reality: as authoritarian regimes grow bolder, democratic nations face shrinking avenues to counteract these trends. Hong Kongs transformation is a cautionary tale of how quickly freedoms can erode under sustained pressure. The citys vibrant democracy was not dismantled overnight but through incremental encroachments on rights and institutions. For the people of Hong Kong, this trial is both a devastating blow and a reminder of the fragility of freedom. For the world, it is a call to defend democratic values before they are lost. There is a simplistic conflation of sensibilities that are imagined by Indias right-wing about the policies and approach of Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. It is superficially assumed that Netanyahu enjoys unflinching support amongst all Israelis as the country goes about retaliating disproportionately in the Gaza Strip and expanding the war to Lebanon. The axiomatic and slightly lazy equation that Netanyahu is personally equal to Israel and Israelis besets such misplaced beliefs. What is missed in this oversimplified understanding is that while Israelis (especially the Jews), like patriots from any other country, would certainly perceive organisations like Hamas or Hezbollah as enemies, and therefore put all hands on deck in times of grave exigencies like now, they may or may not support the politics of a Netanyahu and his manufactured muscularity unthinkingly. Israel for all its questionable positions on Palestine is a rare, healthy, and thriving democracy. As the worlds most sanctioned nation by the United Nations, Israel has still not allowed the international opprobrium to coalesce, and consequently to regress into a single-party nation. While there are laws that directly or indirectly discriminate against the native Arab Israelis (largest minority composing 21 per cent of the population), yet the Arabs/Palestinians in Israel have equal voting rights with political space afforded for exclusive Arab parties. Internally, Israel has contested on conflicting ideas for better governance and handling of the underlying issues facing the country, and done so, democratically. Advertisement Besides the religious/clerical parties representing various faithbased positions, the partisan landscape entails shades of Communist parties, Centrist/Liberal parties and a host of right-wing options. Their positions have included the secular, progressive and two-state solution-favouring approach of the Israeli Labor Party (or its earlier avatar Mapai) with foundational leaders like David Ben Gurion, Golda Meir, Yitzak Rabin, Shimon Peres, Ehud Barak etc. On the other side of the political spectrum are the hardline and increasingly right-wing, conservative, and exclusivist Likud Party, with leaders like Ariel Sharon and now, Netanyahu. Advertisement The latter do not believe in the two-state solution (a position held by India, even now) and favour a more militaristic solution. Perhaps it is this subliminal appeal of the muscularity and heavy-handed approach of Netanyahu that galvanises the right-wing cadres in India who too seek a similar approach towards others, in their own narrative. However, political reality is more complex in Israel itself, with Netanyahu facing a severe backlash from Israelis for his corrupt and authoritarian ways, much before the tragic 7 October 2023 attack by Hamas, which rightfully led to all Israelis to sink their partisan differences temporarily to counter the threat. So much so, that Israeli political rivals who were breathing down the neck of Netanyahu till then, subsequently joined hands to form a National government in a show of national unity. However, this National unity was to support Israel only in a time of crisis, and not indefinitely for Netanyahu or his brand of politics. Many fallaciously even believe that Netanyahu and his partisan cadres represent the majority of Israeli Defense Force (IDF) veterans and their thinking ~ this is incorrect. The Veteran community is equally divided across the Israeli partisan spectrum, and if anything, murmurs of a significant sway away from the Netanyahu approach by the IDF community (serving and Veterans) has gained credence. The so-called political Peaceniks (who favour the two-state solution) have also been distinguished IDF veterans. They include Yitzak Rabin, who was the Chief of IDF and oversaw Israels victory in the Six-Day War, and Ehud Barak who has the honour of being the most decorated soldier of IDF, who also rose to head it. So the narrative that it is only the likes of Netanyahu who represent the patent Israeli valour or resilience is grossly misplaced; there are many in the opposition ranks who have been true Israeli heroes, but will not support his political belligerence masquerading successfully as the national currency, unilaterally. Hard data from Statista notes that the public approval percentage for Netanyahu has plummeted from a high of 68 per cent in 2015 to new low of 41 per cent in the midst of the ongoing action. Conversely his Unfavourable score has risen from 31 per cent to 58 per cent! Clearly, many in India have misinterpreted the natural Israeli reaction to the terror attack by Hamas as unqualified support for Netanyahu or his policies. Many Israelis have commented on the ironic timing of the terror incident that may have inadvertently given Netanyahu the opportunity to distract focus from his failures, derelictions and shortsightedness, which may have contributed to the tinderbox-like situation in Gaza Strip in the first place. The fate of yet another retired Chief of IDF, General Benny Gantz, who though a Netanyahu rival had joined the National government following the terror attack for the sake of national unity, personifies the disillusionment against the Prime Ministers ways in Israel. Though the Defense Minister in the interim National government, like many moderates, Gantz too favoured a check and accountability on Netanyahus bloodlust and bludgeoning of Gaza Strip. A pacifist in relative terms, Gantz is in favour of demilitarizing Gaza and handing it over to an international/neutral force, normalising relations with Arab neighbours et al. Seeing himself put in a position that is indefensible, should he have carried on in Netanyahus government, he resigned in June. Obviously, the move to withdraw was also tactical ~ to push for early elections so as to conclusively put an end to Netanyahus hawkish ways that many Israelis now believe will jeopardise their future. Has Netanyahu maximize his distractive politics of polarisation and aggression to such an extent that it has reached levels of diminishing marginal utility? It seems most Israelis (including distinguished Veterans of IDF) think so. The facile view of many from India of a united Israeli populace, including its Uniformed fraternity, endorsing and wholeheartedly supporting Netanyahus war in the Gaza Strip or Lebanon, is not true. Democracy always auto-corrects and perhaps Netanyahu and his ways have outlived their ability to convince people, at least in Israel. Conflation of an individual to the identity of a nation is always a fatal mistake. (The writer is Lt Gen PVSM, AVSM (Retd), and former Lt Governor of Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Puducherry) Of late Vladimir Putin has shifted Russias nuclear doctrine to a more directly and openly retaliatory posture in response to any attack by Ukraine or any NATO country using longer-range US missiles. It represents Russias sense of reactive ire and fulmination coupled with a resolve of sabre-rattling that is conspicuous by its verbalisation of adopting a nuclear path. This maelstrom if unleashed is enough to obliterate not only Ukraine but a large chunk of the European landmass, not to speak of incalculable disaster that might descend on millions of civilian populations including Russians. Already the war has caused severe dislocation if seen through the lens of the refugee crisis and dire humanitarian situation, as access to basic public amenities and social protection have been severely disrupted. The American attitude, especially Joe Bidens decision to clear the use of missiles on Russian territory, is an open provocation to Putin and his cohorts who take pride in the fantasy of Russias resurgence into a mighty continent-spanning empire. Already, Bidens foreign policy has proved to be a flop show, with the US humiliating retreat from Afghanistan. Similarly, its relationship with Iran has plummeted to the nadir. China and North Korea also figure among other prominent revisionists who are threatening the post-Cold War liberal world order. Russia faces tremendous pressure at home as it grapples with the simmering wrath of an intensified economic crisis and dissident voices that mock the dream of winning the war. As Ukraine continues to receive sophisticated tranches of weapons from the West, it feels enabled to exert immense pressure on the Russian forces. Advertisement There is even talk that Ukraine might succeed in retaking some significant towns from Russian occupation. On the other side, the Russian army seems fatigued because it has been fighting a protracted battle against Ukraine not just for more than three years but because the confrontation began almost a decade ago when Russian-backed separatist groups had launched an offensive against Ukraine. Recent changes in nuclear gear by Putin are, therefore, a clear signal that Russia is losing its patience. Thats why its truculence is becoming conspicuously manifest. However, it is important to decipher the meaning of Russian threats because nuclear blackmailing can boomerang on Russia. Advertisement So, if we delve into these pertinent points, in the first instance, it becomes crystal clear that nuclear war is not a cakewalk to be won so easily, hence it is better not to dare stir the hornets nest. Second, it appears a little surprising to find such a sweeping change in the behaviour of Russia because prior to 2013-14 we witnessed a sort of mutual understanding towards arms control. In contrast, from 2014 onwards Russias relations with the US started to worsen. It was in this context that Russia and Chinas capability to use nuclear weapons became an object of serious concern to the West. Thirdly, a concomitant question that crops up is whether a nuclear weapon is merely a technology issue. It will be clear if we follow up on the logic of the developments of both sides. Now it is clear that the current nuclear behaviour of Russia amounts to an extraordinary and unprecedented posture. Putins ultimatum that any attack on its land could draw a nuclear response is alarming indeed because Russias nuclear arsenal is fairly awesome. Hence, once started, it is unlikely to restrict the exchange of such destructive tactics. Therefore, Putin too must be aware that nuclear war can by no means be a limited one, save and except it may logically mean application of low-yield nuclear warheads. In that case destruction can be confined to a limited area. In that sense, the use of nukes amounts to a symbolic posture rather than stoking the fires of a substantial full-scale nuclear conflagration. Here the role of sophisticated technology becomes paramount because it necessitates precision technology and miniature nuclear weapons. But Putins attitude seems to go beyond a mere technological question. He is deliberately upping the ante, which is a strategy of domination through escalation of tension around game model to confuse and unnerve the adversary, the West and NATO. It is a psychological game to outwit the opponent rather than undertaking an outright strike because once that happens, even on a limited scale, it is likely to lead to escalation that will envelop both sides. Putin must be aware that in such a scenario, a unilateral nuclear strike wont be an ordinary gamble because both sides might end up with irreparable damage. Hence recourse to a nuclear strike cannot be a rationally chosen path of strategic acumen or political aspirations. However, theres a hidden aspect also. It implies that a shrewd captain always strives to make a virtue out of necessity. So, even if the nuclear path is risk-prone, he might strategize to project the option in the dire need of national security. In that case, the temptation to exploit the nuclear option would prove to be fairly justifiable because then a script would be made that the small states bordering Russia are Western traps and part of a bigger conspiracy to emasculate Russia. In those circumstances, the use of nuclear weapons to neutralise threats would appear a legitimate option as Putin plays a card of Russias victimhood. At present, Russia and the US possess approximately 65-66,000 nuclear weapons and thousands of tactical nuclear weapons. The critical factor lies in the probability that in case of a nuclear confrontation, China and Iran might join the Russian bandwagon. In that eventuality, the West, especially the US needs to be well-prepared although the difficulty lies in the fact that the Russian strategy of assertion through land grab and the Chinese strategy of penetrating anothers maritime zone cannot be so easily reversed. So, it will make the US more restless to push through the geopolitics of small states like Ukraine or Taiwan. But it is circuitous and naive in the sense that it will not bring about a desirable thaw, but might encourage Putin to put up an aggressive posture vis-a-vis the West by lowering Russias nuclear threshold. (The writers are, respectively, Professor, Department of Political Science, SKB University, and Associate Prof (Retd.), Chandernagore Govt. College, Hooghly.) India stands at a critical juncture in its energy transition journey, aiming to achieve 500 GW of renewable capacity by 2030. This ambitious target, pivotal for meeting international climate commitments, is threatened by a significant skills shortage in the renewable energy sector. The gap is not just a technical shortcoming but a barrier to realising the broader goals of energy security, economic growth, and global leadership in green manufacturing. The magnitude is stark. India faces a shortage of 1.2 million skilled workers, a figure projected to rise to 1.7 million by 2027. This deficit spans the entire value chain, from advanced manufacturing of solar panels and batteries to field operations like installations and maintenance. While the government has allocated funds for skilling programmes, the current budget is inadequate. Industry leaders argue for a tenfold increase to bridge the gap effectively. However, funding alone is not enough. Structural reforms in education and training are essential to align the workforce with the specific needs of the renewable sector. A key challenge lies in Indias tradition al engineering curriculum, which is not equipped to ad dress the nuances of renewable technologies. Institutions must integrate specialised programmes on solar, wind, and battery storage technologies to prepare graduates for real-world applications. Additionally, partnerships with global renewable energy leaders could facilitate knowledge transfer and enhance local expertise. Advertisement The consequences of inaction are profound. The skills shortage is already inflating operational costs and delaying project timelines, undermining Indias renewable energy ambitions. Moreover, it risks derailing the Make in India initiative, which aims to transform India into a global manufacturing hub. Without skilled labour, the renewable sectors potential to contribute to exports and job creation will remain unrealised. The problem is further exacerbated in remote regions, where retaining talent is an uphill battle. Workers often gravitate toward urban centres, leaving rural project sites understaffed. To address this, companies must offer competitive salaries, incentives, and opportunities for skill development. Simultaneously, the government should prioritise skilling programmes in rural areas, creating employment opportunities closer to home for many aspiring workers. Localised skilling hubs in renewable-rich states could provide targeted training and retain talent within key regions, boosting both employment and project efficiency. Advertisement In this context, private-sector efforts are encouraging. Some companies have established dedicated training facilities, focusing on green technologies and practical applications. These initiatives, though commenpdable, cannot substitute for a coordinated national strategy. A collaborative approach involving the government, industry, and academia is imperative to meet the growing demand for skilled workers. Indias renewable energy sector is at the heart of its climate strategy and economic aspirations. Addressing the skills gap is not just an industry concern but a national imperative. By investing in education, fostering innovation, and ensuring equitable access to opportunities, India can overcome this challenge and establish itself as a global leader in renewable energy. The time to act is now. The 20th World Congress of Endoscopic Surgery (WCES 2024) was held in October at the Biswa Bangla Convention Centre. The event is organised by the International Federation of Societies of Endoscopic Surgeons (IFSES) and the Indian Association of Gastrointestinal Endo Surgeons (IAGES). Experts discussed the field of Minimal Access & GI Endoscopic Surgery. Doctors discussed tracks of upper GI, bariatric, breast, small bowel, HBP, hernia, colorectal, thyroid and endocrine, thoracic, urology, obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatric, acute care surgery and trauma, abdominal wall repair, robotics surgery and emerging technology. Advertisement Irillic introduced a path-breaking laparoscopic diagnostic surgery device that promises to transform imaging in minimally invasive procedures. The IrillicL.nm True 4K NIR laparoscopic imaging system is a state-of-the-art surgical tool designed to provide surgeons with exceptional clarity in visualising the surgical field. It enhances the surgeons colour vision using ICG (Indocyanine Green) fluorescence overlay and offers multiple imaging modes to optimise the success of minimally invasive surgeries. Near-Infrared (NIR) imaging technology allows for improved identification of critical anatomical structures, such as vascular tissues and their perfusion, which are vital during surgeries. Advertisement The company experts said key standout features of the IrillicL.nm include, true 4k imaging chain, offering unparalleled resolution, ensuring that even the smallest details are visible. Advanced microvascular imaging provides precise visualisation of blood vessels, crucial for surgical accuracy; 24-axis colour calibration, which ensures colour precision and consistency across different imaging modes; depth contrast imaging mode, which enhances the depth perception of tissues, improving surgical decision-making. Through modular architecture, the system can be easily upgraded with new features, ensuring long-term utility; remote serviceability allows maintenance and troubleshooting remotely, minimising downtime; intelliquant feature provides real-time fluorescence quantification with intensity mapping and contour visualisation, helping surgeons make critical decisions during operations. Sachin Nene, CEO, Motherson Health & Medical says the IrillicL.nm system uses fluorescence technology. The integration of Near-Infrared (NIR) and ICG fluorescence overlay allows surgeons to visualise tissue perfusion and vascular structures in real time. This not only improves precision during surgeries but also contributes to better patient outcomes. Talking about the cost, and how it makes a difference in the field of laparoscopic imaging, the CEO said, The IrillicL.nm system is Indias first indigenously developed True 4K NIR system. It has been fully designed, developed, and manufactured within the country, offering a world-class alternative at an affordable price compared to established multinational brands. For hospitals still using older HD technology, upgrading to this system can dramatically improve patient outcomes by providing surgeons with higher clarity, better imaging modes, and advanced fluorescence capabilities. This system is especially beneficial for minimally invasive surgeries, where clear visualisation is key to reducing complications and improving recovery times. About the availability of the system, Mr Nene said the IrillicL.nm True 4K NIR laparoscopic imaging system has already received approval from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO). Once an order is placed, the system typically has a standard lead time of 6 to 8 weeks, ensuring timely delivery to healthcare facilities. The IrillicL.nm system has undergone extensive clinical evaluations, and feedback from the surgeons using it has been overwhelmingly positive. Doctors have particularly praised its imaging clarity, advanced vascular visualisation capabilities, and the overall impact it has on improving surgical outcomes. The systems ease of use and advanced features have received significant appreciation from the clinical community. The system is already being successfully used in several hospitals across India. Unfortunately, no hospitals in Kolkata are using the system. However, its growing adoption in other regions of India suggests that it will soon find its way into healthcare facilities across the country, including Kolkata. Mr Nene said surgeons who are already trained in minimally invasive surgery, particularly laparoscopic procedures, will find the transition to using the IrillicL.nm system seamless. The system comes with clinical application training provided by a specialised team to ensure that users are familiar with the systems features and can maximise its potential during surgeries. As the International Criminal Court on Thursday issued arrest warrants for Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, Israeli leaders from across the political spectrum united to condemn the decision pronounced by a three-judge panel of the United Nations court. Netanyahus office described the warrants as an antisemitic decision equivalent to the modern Dreyfus trial, referring to the 1894 trial of a French artillery captain of Jewish descent that has become one of the most prominent examples of anti-Semitism. Advertisement Netanyahu added: Israel rejects with disgust the absurd and false actions and charges against it by the International Criminal Court, which is a biased and discriminatory political body. Advertisement Under the Rome statute that established the ICC, the court was set up to be an independent body that stands apart from international politics. The Israeli statement said: There is nothing more just than the war that Israel has been waging in Gaza since October 7, 2023, after the terrorist organisation Hamas launched a murderous attack against it, and carried out the greatest massacre committed against the Jewish people since the Holocaust. The decision was made by a corrupt chief prosecutor trying to save his own skin from the serious charges against him for sexual harassment, and by biased judges motivated by antisemitic hatred of Israel, it said, referring to claims made against the Netherlands-based courts chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, which Khan has denied. Benny Gantz, a former member of Netanyahus war cabinet, in a post on X, described the ICC move as moral blindness and (a) shameful stain of historic proportion that will never be forgotten. The Israeli President, Isaac Herzog, said: This is a dark day for justice. A dark day for humanity. Taken in bad faith, the outrageous decision at the ICC has turned universal justice into a universal laughing stock. It ignores the plight of the 101 Israeli hostages held in brutal captivity by Hamas in Gaza. ICC judges said reasonable grounds existed to believe that Netanyahu and Gallant had committed the war crime of using starvation as a method of warfare, and the crimes against humanity of murder and persecution. Most outspoken in Israel was the far-right national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, who said Israel should annex the West Bank in response to the ICCs issuance of the arrest warrants. The response to the arrest warrants: applying sovereignty over all areas of Judea and Samaria (the West Bank), Jewish settlement throughout the entire land, he said. Describing the warrants as an unprecedented disgrace, Ben-Gvir said the ICC once again demonstrates that it is antisemitic from beginning to end. Israels Foreign Minister, Gideon Saar, said: This is a black moment for the international criminal court, in which it lost all legitimacy for its existence and activity. This is an attack on Israels right to defend itself. This attack is directed against the most attacked and threatened country in the world, which is also the only country that other countries in the region openly call for and work to destroy. Saar also added: These orders are aimed not only personally against (Netanyahu and Gallant) but also represent an attack on Israels right to defend itself. Opposition leader, Yair Lapid, described the warrants as a reward for terrorism. Israel is defending itself against terrorist organisations that attacked, murdered, and raped our citizens. These arrest warrants are a reward for terrorism, he said. The Chairman of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, Avigdor Lieberman, who has previously served as Defence Minister under Netanyahu, said the move provided further proof of the double standards and hypocrisy of the international community and the UN institutions. He said: The state of Israel will not apologise for protecting its citizens and is committed to continuing to fight terrorism without compromise. The warrants were issued on a day when Netanyahu was meeting the US special envoy Amos Hochstein in Jerusalem to discuss recent renewed efforts to secure a ceasefire with Hezbollah. Hochstein has been in Beirut this week to advance an agreement to halt fighting between Israel and Hezbollah. Canada has denied media reports suggesting that it sought to link Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval with the killing of Khalistan supporter Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The denial came after India strongly objected to a report quoting unnamed officials in the Canada-based Globe and Mail newspaper that attempted to draw a connect between Nijjars killing last year to PM Modi and his top aides. Advertisement In a statement, the Privy Council of Canada said, On October 14th, because of a significant and ongoing threat to public safety, the RCMP and officials took the extraordinary step of making public accusations of serious criminal activity in Canada perpetrated by agents of the Government of India. Advertisement It added, The Government of Canada has not stated, nor is it aware of evidence, linking Prime Minister Modi, Minister Jaishankar, or NSA Doval to the serious criminal activity within Canada. Any suggestion to the contrary is both speculative and inaccurate. On November 20, India had strongly refuted the media report, saying it should be dismissed with the contempt it deserves. The Ministry of External Affairs had emphasised that smear campaigns like this will only further damage the already strained ties between the two nations. We do not normally comment on media reports. However, such ludicrous statements made to a newspaper purportedly by a Canadian government source should be dismissed with the contempt they deserve. Smear campaigns like this only further damage our already strained ties, said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiwal. Reiterating the call for urgent reform of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), Parvathaneni Harish, Indias Permanent Representative to the UN, has said that India has underscored equal geographical representation in the permanent seat category, especially the inclusion of countries from Africa, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Caribbean, which is essential for a legitimate and effective Council. He also said that the current structure of the UNSC undermines the organisations credibility and effectiveness. Advertisement Speaking at the Plenary of the Intergovernmental Negotiations on UNSC reform on Wednesday, Harish said, My delegation agrees with the assertion that the UN Security Council in its current design is detrimental to the credibility and effectiveness of the UN and must be addressed at the earliest. We need a UN Security Council that reflects the new multipolar world of today. Advertisement India underscores equitable geographical representation in the permanent category. In particular, the inclusion of regions such as Africa, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Caribbean is essential for a legitimate and effective Council, he added. This inclusion, Harish argued, is vital for making the UNSC more representative of the global community and more effective in addressing the worlds most pressing challenges. In his statement, Harish reaffirmed Indias commitment to a reformed UNSC that reflects the evolving global dynamics and the diverse interests of the international community. Harish also clarified Indias position on the reform process, rejecting claims made by so-called cross-regional groups based on faith or religion, emphasising that such factors should not serve as the basis for representation in the Council. My delegation does not support any claims being made by so-called cross-regional groups on the basis of faith or religion, which cannot be the sole basis for representation in the Council, he said. Harish highlighted Indias support for creating new non-permanent seats while maintaining that such expansion should be limited to the non-permanent category. He also stressed the importance of equitable geographical representation in the permanent category. Indias reform proposal remains focused on ensuring all regions have a fair and meaningful voice in the Security Councils decision-making processes. Photo: Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Azerbaijan BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 22. Azerbaijan's green energy initiatives, with a total capacity of 2 gigawatts, are expected to pave the way for the export of an additional 1.2 billion cubic meters of gas by 2027, said Parviz Shahbazov, Azerbaijani Energy Minister, Trend reports. Speaking at the ministerial session on "Challenges and Opportunities for a Resilient Future" at the 1st Istanbul Energy Forum, Shahbazov emphasized the importance of regional and international energy cooperation in addressing current energy challenges, including the growing demand for energy, combating climate change, and strengthening energy security. Azerbaijan currently exports oil to around 30 countries, and starting in December, the number of countries receiving its natural gas will increase to 12. The country's energy partnerships are now expanding to include renewable energy sources. The minister also highlighted the role of the COP29 presidency's energy initiatives in accelerating the global shift toward green energy. He pointed out that these initiatives are based on Azerbaijan's ambitious national and international programs aimed at expanding renewable energy sources. Shahbazov further discussed the international renewable energy program, which includes key green energy corridors such as the "Azerbaijan-Turkiye-Europe," "Caspian-Black Sea-Europe," and "Central Asia-Azerbaijan" corridors. He stressed that these projects will enhance regional energy cooperation and contribute to energy security and the transition to sustainable energy. The minister also shared that, at the initiative of Bulgaria, discussions are ongoing regarding the potential supply of green energy from Georgia to Turkiye and onward to Europe. "All these interconnectors will not only contribute to energy security but also accelerate the global energy transition," Shahbazov concluded. The discussions, moderated by Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar, also included representatives from Georgia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Moldova, Serbia, Uzbekistan, and Libya. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel The International Gita Mahotsav 2024 will be celebrated with great enthusiasm on the sacred land of Dharmakshetra-Kurukshetra, a site of profound significance in Indian culture and the birthplace of the Srimad Bhagavad Gita. The festival will showcase a divine confluence of spirituality, culture, and art. Advertisement The grand event will take place from November 28 to December 15, running continuously for 18 days, during which the timeless message of the Shrimad Bhagavad Gita will be shared with all of humanity. Advertisement This was informed by Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, while addressing a press conference here today. He said that the solution to every problem can be found in the Shrimad Bhagavad Gita. He said that this sacred Granth has inspired many of the worlds leading thinkers, and it is our duty to ensure its teachings reach every home and individual. He said that this year, the United Republic of Tanzania will be the partner country for the International Gita Mahotsav, while Odisha will be the partner state. Tanzania also participated as a partner country in the International Surajkund Crafts Fair held in February. He highlighted that the Indian diaspora in Tanzania actively organize recitations of the Shri Ramayana and Shrimad Bhagavad Gita. The presence of numerous Hindu temples in Tanzania fosters a connection between Indian culture and the country. He also said that Odisha boasts significant pilgrimage sites such as Jagannath Puri, the Konark Sun Temple, and the Lingaraj and Mukteshwar Temples in Bhubaneswar, all of which are sources of pride for Sanatan culture. People can see a glimpse of this rich heritage at the Mahotsav. The Chief Minister said that Haryana has a long-standing relationship with Tanzania, with delegations from Haryana visiting the country twice, comprising industrialists, farmers, and representatives from various trades. He said that Tanzania serves as a gateway to Africa and that the two regions share deep economic and social ties. He said that the International Gita Mahotsav will enhance the partnership between the two countries, with Tanzanian Ministers also expected to participate in the Mahotsav. This event will provide the people of Tanzania with a unique opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of Haryana. The similarities between Haryana and Tanzania will make the event particularly engaging and will further strengthen their relationship. The Chief Minister Saini stated that the International Gita Mahotsav has achieved immense success and popularity over the past eight years, since 2016. Lakhs of people from India and abroad attend the Mahotsav. Last year, approximately 45 to 50 lakh people participated, and a similar turnout is expected this year. The Chief Minister shared that from November 28 to December 15, a grand Gita Mahaarati will be held daily on the sacred banks of Brahma Sarovar. Cultural programs will take place at various pilgrimage sites throughout the 48 Kos of Kurukshetra from November 28 to December 11. The festival will officially kick off with a Gita Yajna and Pujan at Brahma Sarovar on December 5. On the same day, a three-day International Gita Seminar will begin at Kurukshetra University. On December 9, a saint Sammelan will be held at Purushottampura Bagh, followed by an All India Devasthanam Conference at the same location on December 10. The Chief Minister highlighted that on Gita Jayanti, December 11, a Gita Yajna and Bhagwat Katha will be organized at Jyotisar Tirtha, with a global recitation of the Gita by 18,000 students. On December 11, there will be a 8 Kos Tirtha Sammelan, Gita Shobha Yatra, Deepotsav, and cultural programs at 182 pilgrimage sites within Kurukshetra University. As in previous years, Gita book fairs and exhibitions will also take place at Brahma Sarovar from December 5 to 11. The Chief Minister said that a Crafts and Saras Mela will also take place from November 28 to December 15, featuring the cultures of Tanzania and Odisha, along with the artistic creations of various craftsmen. Additionally, cultural programs will be organized at all district headquarters from December 9 to 11. He urged all residents of Haryana and the nation to actively participate in the International Gita Mahotsav. On this occasion, Suryabanshi Suraj, Minister of State for Languages, Literature, and Culture, Government of Odisha, expressed gratitude to the Haryana Government for designating Odisha as the partner state this year. He highlighted that Haryana is the land of the Gita, while Odisha is the land of Mahaprabhu Jagannath, who is regarded as an avatar of Lord Krishna. He said that the Mahotsav will provide Odisha with an opportunity to exchange and share its rich culture, heritage, folk dances, and traditional cuisine with Haryana. Speaking on this occasion, Anisa Kapufi Mbega, High Commissioner of the United Republic of Tanzania to India, expressed gratitude to the Government of Haryana for designating Tanzania as the partner country for the event. She said that this partnership demonstrates how culture can unite people. She said that in 2023, the President of Tanzania visited India, and during his meeting with Prime Minister Sh Narendra Modi, both leaders agreed to strengthen relations between Tanzania and India. Mrs. Mbega also mentioned that two Tanzanian ministers are expected to attend this years Gita Mahotsav. Palestinian politicians hailed the decision by the International Criminal Court (ICC) to issue arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, concerning alleged war crimes committed in Gaza. The Palestinian Authority (PA) government said on Thursday in a statement that the courts decision restores hope and confidence in international law and its institutions, and in the importance of justice, accountability and the prosecution of war criminals. Advertisement The PA is headquartered in the Israeli-occupied West Bank city of Ramallah and exercises nominal self-rule in parts of the territory. Advertisement The criminal court released arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant on Thursday, accusing them of war crimes in Gaza where more than 44,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel launched its campaign, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. The ICC said it had found reasonable grounds to believe Netanyahu and Gallant bore criminal responsibility for the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare, as well as the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts. The statement from the Palestinian Authority, which has partial administrative control in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, did not make any mention of the warrant also issued on Thursday for Hamass military chief Mohammed Deif over war crimes and crimes against humanity. Israel said it killed Deif in Gaza in July, but Hamas has not confirmed his death. The group, in its own statement about the ICC decision, similarly did not mention Deif. Hamas said the warrants for the Israeli leaders were an important step towards justice and can lead to redress for the victims in general. But it remains limited and symbolic if it is not supported by all means by all countries around the world, the groups political bureau member Bassem Naim said. Husam Zomlot, the Palestinian ambassador to the UK, said it was incumbent upon all parties to enforce the ICC measures. While the court cannot enforce arrests, signatory states are obliged to apprehend those facing warrants. The ICC arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant is not only a step towards accountability and justice in Palestine but also a step to restore the credibility of the rules-based international order and its judicial system, he posted on X. Russian President Vladimir Putin has said in a televised address that the Ukraine war has obtained features of a global conflict after attacks by Western missiles on Russias Kursk and Bryansk regions. Since this moment, as we have underscored repeatedly, the conflict in Ukraine, provoked by the West, has obtained elements of global nature, he said on Thursday. Advertisement The Russian President vowed that Russia would respond decisively in case of escalation in Ukraine, Xinhua news agency reported. Advertisement He stressed that Russia has the right to use weapons against the military facilities of the countries that use their weapons against Russia. I would like to stress once again that it is not Russia that is destroying the international security system, but the US, Putin stressed in the speech. Meanwhile, he confirmed that Russia has successfully tested a new medium-range ballistic missile Oreshnik in response to enemy actions. Putin criticised the West for escalating the war by allowing Ukraine to strike Russian territory with long-range missiles. In response to the use of American and British long-range weapons, on November 21 of this year, the Russian armed forces launched a combined strike on one of the facilities of the military-industrial complex of Ukraine, the Russian President said. He also emphasised that in combat conditions, one of Russias newest medium-range missile systems had been tested, among other things. In this case, with a ballistic missile in a nuclear-free hypersonic equipment. The launch signals a clear escalation of Russias military response to NATOs involvement in the Ukraine war. Job Title: Programme Advisor on Youth and SRHR Organisation: Royal Danish Embassy in Kampala Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda About US: The Royal Danish Embassy in Kampala is the diplomatic mission of The Kingdom of the Denmark. The Danish Embassy in Kampala connects Denmark and Uganda. The Embassy handles projects backed by Danish International Aid, supports Danish companies in Uganda as well as Danish citizens. Job Summary: Denmark is one of the leading international development partners on youth empowerment and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) in Uganda, including in refugee settings. The Danish Embassy is recruiting a Programme Advisor to help drive our work in these areas, including managing the Embassys engagement Strengthening Adolescents and Youth (SAY) Empowerment and Rights Programme implemented by UNFPA together with Care, Marie Stopes and Naguru Teenage Information and Health Centre and in close partnership with the Government of Uganda. The programme focus on strengthening information and service delivery on SRHR and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) specifically targeting young people in refugee and host communities in Northern Uganda. If you have experience in management of development cooperation and is motivated by empowering youth and women, we would like to hear from you! Key Duties and Responsibilities: Manage and monitor the implementation of the Strengthening Adolescents and Youth (SAY) Empowerment and Rights Programme. Provide technical advice and support to implementing partners so that they are equipped to contribute effectively towards the relevant thematic areas. Grant management, i.e. ensuring compliance, that agreed obligations are implemented, including partner accountability, anti-corruption follow-up and budget management. Oversee timely reporting, including financial and narrative reporting. Ensure adherence to Danida Aid Management Guidelines. Advise on SRHR, GBV, gender and youth empowerment within the Embassy. Act as the Embassys gender focal point and as our Youth Sounding Board anchor. Participate in coordination and dialogue with stakeholders incl. Development Partners, the Government of Uganda, multilateral institutions, and civil society/NGOs. Please note that the responsibilities within the position may change depending on the needs of the Embassy. Qualifications, Skills and Experience: Masters degree in political science, social science, development studies, business, finance, economics, or a related field. At least 5 years experience in administration and management of grants, working for a donor or in a medium to large-sized donor-funded organisation. At least 3 years experience working in the area of SRHR, GBV, gender or youth. Experience from working with refugee and host communities will be an added advantage. Experience working with partner organisations in relation to grant management will also be an advantage Behavioural Competencies: Exceptional interpersonal skills and a collaborative mind set, fostering teamwork and effective cooperation. Demonstrated accountability, with a strong sense of ownership and commitment to delivering results within deadlines. Proven ability to work proactively with minimal supervision Excellent command of English, with strong verbal and written communication skills What we offer A rewarding position with impactful responsibilities and meaningful work. The opportunity to shape your tasks, plan your work, and enjoy a high degree of autonomy in executing your responsibilities. A collaborative and supportive team in an open, informal, and engaging work environment. A 37-hour work week with a competitive compensation package, including a generous workplace pension scheme and comprehensive health insurance for you and your dependants. Expected commencement date is as soon as possible. The position is on a Permanent Employment Contract. A probation period of 3 months will apply. How to Apply: To apply please send your CV and cover letter (including contact details for 3 work-related referees) to email address [email protected]. Please mark your application: DK Programme Adviser Youth & SRHR. E-mails must not exceed 2 MB. Please only email the two required documents, do not attach copies of certificates, diplomas or reference letters. In your cover letter, please relate your background and skills to the responsibilities, experiences, and qualifications outlined above. Deadline: 1st December 2024 NB: We value the interest of all applicants in joining our team; however, only candidates shortlisted for interviews will be contacted. For more of the latest jobs, please visit https://www.theugandanjobline.com or find us on our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UgandanJobline Date Posted 2024-11-21T21:00 Valid Through 2024-12-02T00:00 Employment Type FULL_TIME Hiring Organization Royal Danish Embassy in Kampala Job Location Kampala, Kampala, Kampala , 0256, Uganda Related Jobs By Akbar Novruz Azerbaijan has held discussions on advancing joint projects for the supply of "green energy" and gas to Turkiye, with the potential for further distribution to Europe. Azerbaijani Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov shared this update on X, Azernews reports. In a meeting with Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar, the two ministers reviewed key issues on the agenda of energy cooperation. Shahbazov highlighted discussions on the status of the Igdir-Nakhchivan pipeline construction and preparations for the upcoming "4th Azerbaijan-Turkiye Energy Forum." BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 22. The development of energy cooperation between Azerbaijan and Turkiye was discussed at the Istanbul Energy Forum, with the participation of Azerbaijan's Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov and Turkiye's Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Alparslan Bayraktar, Trend reports. The meetings were held in bilateral, trilateral, and quadrilateral formats. During the bilateral talks, Minister Shahbazov congratulated Minister Bayraktar on the successful hosting of the forum and the 50th anniversary of the BOTAS company, while also thanking Turkiye for its participation in COP29. Discussions focused on priority issues and prospects for bilateral energy cooperation between the two countries. "The sides highlighted the development of joint projects related to the supply of green energy and gas to Turkiye and onwards to Europe. Opinions were exchanged on the current status of bilateral projects, the final stage of the construction of the Igdir-Nakhchivan pipeline, and the upcoming 4th Azerbaijan-Turkiye Energy Forum. In the trilateral format, with the participation of Turkiyes Minister Bayraktar and Bulgarias Energy Minister Vladimir Malinov, discussions were held on expanding cooperation in the gas sector and enhancing gas supply capabilities. Notably, more than 1.4 billion cubic meters of gas were exported from Azerbaijan to Bulgaria and other European countries over the first nine months of this year. In the field of green energy, a quadrilateral meeting took place with the involvement of Minister Bayraktar, Georgias First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Levan Davitashvili, and Minister Malinov. The current status of the Azerbaijan-Turkiye-Europe green energy corridor project through Nakhchivan was reviewed. The potential for delivering renewable energy from the Caspian Sea and Central Asia to Europe via various routes through Georgia and Turkiye was also assessed. The four countries agreed to take appropriate steps to enhance cooperation in the field of green energy," the statement said. Job Title: Social Media Producer (Fresher Jobs) Organisation: Nation Media Group (NMG) Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda About the Company: The Nation Media Group is the largest independent media house in East and Central Africa with operations in print, broadcast and digital media, which attract and serve unparalleled audiences in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda. Nation Media Group is Ugandas most influential media house, operating the Daily Monitor. Saturday Monitor and Sunday Monitor newspapers, 93.3 KFM, 90.4 Dembe FM, NTV Uganda, Spark TV, Nation Courier Service and the Monitor Business Directory. Job Summary: To engage NMG social media audiences using various channels. Key Duties and Responsibilities: Quality assurance: Ensure the aesthetic qualities of all NMG social media platforms such as Facebook, X, Instagram, WhatsApp & TikTok accounts are always maintained and in a professional way. Create engaging content that has value-adds and is tailored to the different social media. Schedule social media posts and observe follower responses. Monitor and track audience growth on all NMG social media channels. Online Feedback: Engage with audiences, and circulate accurate reports, detailing results of performance, and areas of possible improvement. Ensure that Banner adverts and in-house campaigns are promoted/published at the appropriate time. Oversee content strategy and drive uptake on all NMG social media platforms and ensure they are being utilized effectively in consultation with the respective departments. Qualifications, Skills and Experience: Academic: University Degree in journalism, marketing, communication or a related field from an accredited institution Experience: 2-3 years experience Core Competencies: Good IT and Digital media skills. Demonstrated creativity, immersion in social media and a keen eye for design. In-depth understanding of social media platforms, their participants and community dynamics. Excellent oral and written communication skills. Knowledge of social media listening tools Results-oriented attitude. Video editing and graphic design experience is an added advantage How to Apply: All candidates who wish to join the Nation Media Group should apply online at the link below. Click Here Deadline: 30th November 2024 For more of the latest jobs, please visit https://www.theugandanjobline.com or find us on our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UgandanJobline Date Posted 2024-11-21T04:21 Valid Through 2024-12-01T00:00 Employment Type FULL_TIME Hiring Organization Nation Media Group Job Location Kampala, Kampala, Kampala , 0256, Uganda Related Jobs Job Title: Direct Sales Representative (2 No Experience Jobs) Organisation: KCB Bank Uganda Limited Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda About the Company: KCB Bank Uganda Limited which is part of KCB Group, East Africas largest commercial bank that was established in 1896. Over the years, the Bank has grown and spread its wings into Tanzania, South Sudan, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi completing the East African circuit in the year 2012. Today, the Group has the largest branch network in the region with over 238 branches, 950 ATMs and 8,000 agents offering banking services on a 24/7 basis in East Africa. KCB Bank Uganda was established in the year 2007 and has grown to become one of Ugandas top ten commercial banks. Key Duties and Responsibilities: Source and Manage client relationships and accounts to minimize attrition. Sourcing for new personal banking business opportunities in coordination with the sales team and other units. Adherence to KYC and AML policies and procedures. Cross sell bank products including assets, liability and electronic banking products Sales calls and market intelligence gathering Receive and escalate both verbal and written customer complaints. Any other duties that may be allocated from time to time. Risk profiling of potential clients and ensure adherence to KYC and AML policies and procedures. Qualifications, Skills and Experience: A degree or post graduate degree (Business and/or Finance related) Good understanding of banking products, policies and procedures. Sound knowledge of the KCB bank products and processes such as account opening and documentation. Credit knowledge including understanding and interpretation of financial statements. Understanding of behavior and application scoring systems and how to use relevant scoring software. Understanding risk management principles, credit scoring principles and procedures. Understanding of competitors and their products and services Attend relevant courses and e-learning sessions. Good understanding of existing customer profiles. The candidate should possess the following interpersonal competencies: Organized, proactive, Innovative, reliable, empathetic, persuasive, good team player, decisive, result oriented, energetic, active, with integrity and culturally sensitive. How to Apply: All suitably qualified and interested applicants should apply online at the link below. Click Here Deadline: 5th December 2024 For more of the latest jobs, please visit https://www.theugandanjobline.com or find us on our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UgandanJobline Date Posted 2024-11-21T22:17 Valid Through 2024-12-06T00:00 Employment Type FULL_TIME Hiring Organization KCB Bank Uganda Job Location Lira, Lira, Lira, 0256, Uganda Related Jobs I arrived in England in September 1970, a young man full of easy ambition and eager to grab the opportunities ahead. But, beyond academic goals and career prospects, Englands northern countryside offered me something more enduring: friendships that would shape my life and work. Through badmintona game of agility, strategy, and gritI began meeting local farmers, people whose lives were as raw and rugged as the landscape they called home. These friendships led me into the heart of British farming life, where I grew to understand the hardships and steadfast spirit of the true farmer. The north of England, particularly the Trough of Bowland and areas around Lancaster and Ingleton, was filled with men and women who tended their land with a quiet, determined resilience. For them, farming was not a hobby or a sideline; it was everything their livelihoods, their family histories, their identities. Men like James Whitaker, who worked the land near Lancaster, and Bobby Capstick, whose farm near Ingleton echoed the harsh, haunting beauty of the Bronte moors, stood out as living symbols of this connection to the earth. The land they worked wasnt a picturesque backdrop but a tough, unyielding partner, one that demanded everything and gave little in return. There were countless mornings when I joined these farmers, stepping out onto frozen fields in the biting cold. Under a grey sky, with sleet and snow stinging my face, I would pull on my wellies and wade through thick mud to lend a hand. The stone walls surrounding their fields, worn and battered by time and weather, evoked the stony resolve of John Keatss poetrya sense of beauty born from hardship. These walls, like the farmers themselves, were shaped by unyielding conditions and stood as enduring symbols of resilience. The farmers lives felt like echoes from Wuthering Heights, their days filled with the same raw power and harsh beauty of Heathcliffs windswept moors. Here, surrounded by howling winds and driving rain, the farmers carried on with stoic grace, embodying a spirit as wild and tenacious as the land itself. I quickly learned that to be a farmer in northern England was to live at the mercy of forces beyond control. Each day brought new challenges, from unpredictable weather to uncertain markets, leaving farmers constantly hedging their bets against rain or drought. The winter mornings were a test of endurancemornings when the fields turned into freezing quagmires, where every footstep seemed to sink deeper into the mud, and each task was made harder by the biting wind. It was in these moments that I saw the essence of these men. Their connection to the land was as much a bond as it was a struggle, a relationship formed over generations that no outsider could easily understand. Over the years, these farmers became not just friends but mentors. They taught me more than how to care for land; they taught me about resilience, patience, and a type of strength that doesnt seek acknowledgment. These were not men of idle talk or grand gestures; they were men who walked the talk, who rose before dawn and toiled through the cold, the mud, and the endless demands of the land. Through these experiences, I developed a respect for the real farmerthe one who lives each day by the sweat of his brow, whose income rises and falls with the harvest. They became, in my eyes, giants of the earth, people of unwavering resolve whose lives embodied a timeless poetry. In recent years, I have watched with growing frustration as the pressures on these farmers mount. Brexit has brought with it a wave of uncertainty, upending EU agricultural subsidies that once provided a financial lifeline. Farmers now find themselves grappling with unstable markets and shifting regulations, and many feel as if theyre losing control over their own futures. At the same time, public figures like Jeremy Clarkson have attempted to capture the hardships of farm life on television, while high-profile landowners like Dyson make sweeping, headline-grabbing statements on the state of British agriculture. To real farmers, these portrayals feel superficial, missing the everyday realitythe true, sobersided struggle of dawn-to-dusk labour and sleepless nights spent worrying over a harvest that could be wiped out by a single frost. Adding to this, politicians like Rachel Reeves are proposing tax changes that threaten to erode the inheritance protections many farmers rely on. For these families, land is more than property; its a legacy built through generations, passed down with pride and sacrifice. The looming threat of inheritance tax reforms adds yet another burden on those who are already struggling to stay afloat. Land values may be high, but for these farmers, wealth is tied to their fields and livestock, not to cash in the bank. Losing this land would mean losing a part of their identity, a severance from a heritage rooted deeply in the soil itself. Now living on my own land in Tuscany, I often reflect on those friendships, the men and women who shaped my view of strength and honour. Early mornings in Italy, as mist rises off my own fields, I think of those cold, dark mornings in England, the feeling of wet, heavy soil underfoot, and the relentless determination of my friends who farmed against all odds. I remember their laughter on the badminton court, a rare break from the grind, where friendships were forged in friendly rivalry and mutual respect. Those farmers, I realise, were a rare breedmen and women who truly walked the talk. They were doers, not speakers, facing down whatever the day threw at them with a quiet fortitude that I have come to admire even more deeply with age. From my vantage point in Tuscany, where the sun shines more often and the soil is gentler, I feel a profound empathy for my old friends, the farmers who remain tied to the unpredictable, unforgiving lands of northern England. I know that while the world around them changes, they stand as they always havesteadfast and unyielding, like the stone walls that mark their fields, an acknowledgement to endurance and to a way of life that deserves respect, not romanticised headlines or burdensome policies. In my heart, I walk with these giants still, their spirit as much a part of me as the land I now call home. The landscapes may differ, but the lessons remain, etched into my memory like the weathered stone hedges of Englandunbreakable and enduring. In what comes as a move that is likely to enhance the reach of the Indian military in the Indo-Pacific region, India and Australia have arrived at an agreement to enable the air forces of the two countries to carry out air-to-air refuelling. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Australian counterpart Pat Conroy MP announced the arrangement at a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of a regional security conclave in Vientiane. Under the arrangement, the Royal Australian Air Force's (RAAF) air-to-air refuelling aircraftthe KC-30A multi-role tanker transportwill be able to refuel Indian military planes. The defence ministry said an implementing arrangement on air-to-air refuelling was exchanged between India and Australia, which would strengthen the interoperability between the air forces of the two countries, marking a significant step forward in bilateral relationships. ALSO READ: Indian Navy submarine collides with a fishing vessel off Goa coast, two fishermen missing Both sides agreed to take defence engagements to the next level by cooperating bilaterally as well as in the regional context. Welcoming the arrangement, Royal Australian Air Force's Deputy Chief of Air Force, Air Vice-Marshal Harvey Reynolds, said it strengthens the defence relationship between Australia and India. "India is a top-tier security partner for Australia, and through our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership we are continuing to prioritise practical and tangible cooperation that directly contributes to Indo-Pacific stability," Reynolds said. "The ability to conduct air-to-air refuelling with the Indian armed forces elevates our interoperability besides enabling us to cooperate more effectively in a range of different scenarios," he added. Reynolds also called the arrangement a significant step forward as it will provide valuable opportunities to both sides to work closely and build trust and understanding. The RAAF also conducts training and engagement activities with the P-8I Neptune surveillance aircraft of the Indian Navy. Around 5,000 veterans took part in a mega event in Poonch on Friday as the Army celebrated the 77th anniversary of the historic military link-up of Poonch, a border district of Jammu and Kashmir, with the rest of the country. The Poonch Link-Up Day, a landmark event in the annals of Jammu and Kashmir, commemorates the successful military operation in 1948 during which the Indian Army linked the besieged Poonch with the rest of the country after months of isolation during the first Indo-Pak war. Today we come together to honour the courage, resilience and unbreakable bond that the Awam and the Indian Army have shared over the past 77 years, said General Officer Commanding (GoC), 16 Corps, Lieutenant General Navin Sachdeva. The GoC, who visited Poonch and led the event, observed that it was a unique chapter in military history. It stood out for the resilience demonstrated and the remarkable fact that no territory exchanged hands a testament to the unwavering resolve of both the Indian Army and the people of Poonch. ALSO READ: LCA Tejas Mk 1A export deal on cards? November 22 marks the 77th anniversary of the historic military link-up of Poonch with the rest of the country. On this day in 1948, the Indian Army, under the revered Brigadier Pritam Singh, successfully ended a grueling 15-month siege of the border town of Poonch. Despite facing hunger, disease and relentless attempts by the Pakistani Army to overrun the town, the indomitable spirit of the Poonch residents and the Indian Army prevailed. "For the people of Poonch and the Indian Army, Poonch Link-Up Day is more than a commemoration it is a celebration of a living, breathing relationship," said a Defence spokesperson. The district had been abuzz with activity for the past month, culminating in a series of vibrant events that reflected the festive spirit of the community, he said. The US Defense Department announced that owing to multiple nuclear competitors challenging America and its allies, the department, in partnership with the National Nuclear Security Administration, has taken steps to enhance the country's nuclear deterrence and flexibility. According to Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear and Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Policy (N-CWMD) Richard C. Johnson, several nuclear peer adversaries are growing, diversifying and modernising their nuclear arsenals, underscoring the role that nuclear weapons play in their national security strategies. This evolving security environmentespecially with countries like Russia and China enhancing their nuclear capabilitiesnecessitates that the US makes adjustments to its 2022 Nuclear Posture Review (NPR) to sustain the ability to achieve nuclear deterrence, according to Johnson. ALSO READ: US, Japan, Australia agree to enhance intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance cooperation in Indo-Pacific The current nuclear framework of the US is largely shaped by the 2022 NPR, and reflects a balance between deterrence, modernisation, and arms control commitments. Reiterating that the US remains committed to a safe, secure, and reliable nuclear deterrent, Johnson argued that the nuclear modernisation programme of record may be insufficient moving forward. One of the initiatives taken by the DOD in enhancing the nuclear deterrence capability is the B61-13 gravity bomb as well as the increased readiness of nuclear armed and powered Ohio-class submarines. The Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration would produce the B61-13, which is a modern variant of the B61. The B61-13 gravity bomb, delivered by aircraft, seeks to offer enhanced military options against specific high-value targets that are deemed harder to eliminate with existing weapons. READ MORE: US, Philippines sign agreement to secure shared military intelligence, weapons technology A report submitted by the department to the Congress directs that the US: "*Plans to deter multiple nuclear-armed adversaries simultaneously. *Requires the integration of non-nuclear capabilities, where feasible, to support the nuclear deterrence mission. * Stresses the importance of escalation management in US planning for responding to limited nuclear attack or high-consequence, non-nuclear strategic attack. * Enables deeper consultation, coordination and combined planning with allies and partners in order to strengthen US extended deterrence commitments." "To be prepared for the 2030s, we have to modernize our nuclear forces, the nuclear command and control, and the associated infrastructure that will allow us to be flexible and adjust over time as new challenges arise, whether that's new threats or potential changes or delays in our modernization," vice deputy director for strategic stability at the Joint Staff Grant Schneider said. Rakesh Roshan is gearing up for the re-release of his hit 1995 directorial Karan Arjun. Speaking with Hindustan Times, Rakesh revealed he is nervous to see how the new generation will respond to the classic, that will celebrate its 30th anniversary in January. The re-release is an experiment for me as a filmmaker. Im nervous, because Im presenting my film to a new generation, and curious to know what the reactions will be because the fate of the re-release will only help me gauge the mindset of the current generation of cine-goers. ALSO READ: Did Hrithik Roshan have an easy entry into Bollywood? Here's what his father and actor-director Rakesh Roshan said When asked about his casting choice in selecting big names like Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan, Rakesh said, I knew Shah Rukh was a hardworking and dedicated actor, having worked with him on King Uncle. I had him in mind while writing Arjun. Rakesh said that Salman's characteristics were synonymous to Karan's. He has very deep, expressive eyes. It was something the character of Karan needed, being a man of few words. Karan Arjun had a star studded cast. Alongside the two Khan's, Kajol, Mamta Kulkarni, Rakhee Gulzar, and Amrish Puri also starred in the film. I made sure the characters were balanced equally, from their songs to action scenes. I weaved my script from an actors perspective so that no one on my cast would have objections, Rakesh said. Karan Arjun will make a return to the big screens on November 22. Coldplay is coming to India in January for the Asian leg of the Music of the Spheres tour. They will perform in two cities -- Mumbai on January 18, 19 and 21, and in Ahmedabad on January 25 and 26. Tickets for all the show sold out less than half-an-hour after they went live. But there is one more chance for fans to grab tickets. Infinity Tickets which are sold for a lower value than the original ticket amount, will be live today, November 22, at 12pm IST, on BookMyShow. The ticket price will be as low as Rs 2000 and can only be purchased in pairs. Fans have eagerly been waiting for the arrival of the Grammy-winning band since their last performance in India in 2016. Coldplay ticket fiasco Tickets for the first three Mumbai shows went live in September but sold out quick. Fans later noticed that multiple third-party seller, like Viagogo, had snagged many tickets and were selling them at exobirant rates. The Enforcement Directorate initiated a probe into the illegal sale of tickets, and the Mumbai police summoned the BookMyShow CEO Ashish Hemrajani for questioning. But sadly, for fans, a repeat of the same happened when the tickets for the Ahmedabad show went live last week. Many took to X (formerly Twitter), and expressed their frustration at BookMyShow, for improper management and sale of tickets. One user wrote, "Why don't you directly give the tickets to the ticket scalpers? Your booking platform is a joke!" while another reacted, "Every show you add puts more money in the pockets of ticket scalpers. The level of incompetence is staggering. You're must be the worst ticketing platform @coldplay has ever partnered with. Shame on you!" Actor Manoj Bajpayee has expressed his disappointment in the lack of support for independent films in India. On Thursday, at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), held in Goa, the 55-year-old said, that even though we have streaming platforms that can support independent films, the OTT platforms only display content that they think will be a commercial success. We are at our lowest right now. We thought there is a strong platform for independent cinema, but now even the OTT platforms have stopped welcoming that kind of creativity. ALSO READ: Want to make good cinema accessible: Manoj Bajpayee We are living in a time of uncertainty. It kind of reflects everywhere. One day, independent cinema will rise again. Independent cinemas are the only kind of cinema that is staying true to the definition of cinema as an art, he added. Bajpayee also went on to explain that, when he starred in Gangs Of Wasseypur, which is widely considered his best performance till date, he understood that if he wanted a script that he liked, he would have to go hunting for them, instead of being given one. ALSO READ: Don't like to be confined to a box while choosing acting roles: Manoj Bajpayee They werent writing the scripts that I wanted and not giving opportunities to the talents who have it in them. Thats when I realised I have to look for my own directors and scripts or you just wait for eternity for that one script to happen to you, and I was desperate. This year, Bajpayee had three releases, Raam Reddy's The Fable, which made history by becoming the first Indian film to bag the Best Film award at the Leeds International Film Festival 2024. He also starred in mystery-thriller Silence 2: The Night Owl Bar Shootout and Deepak Kingrani's Bhaiyaa Ji. His new film Despatch will release on December 13 on ZEE5, and is also set to reprise his role of Srikant Tiwari in the third season of The Family Man, slated for a 2025 release. SHAMKIR, Azerbaijan, November 22. The State Border Guard Service (SBS) of Azerbaijan has fulfilled all set tasks in connection with COP29, the Deputy Head of the State Border Service (SBS) of Azerbaijan and Commander of the Border Troops Lieutenant General Araz Mammadov said during a media tour to the Shamkir, Trend reports. The Command of the Border Troops of the State Border Troops of the State Border Service of Azerbaijan has taken necessary measures in connection with preparations for the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) taking place in our country, he added. To note, the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), which will run until November 22, opened at the Baku Olympic Stadium on November 11. It is the largest event organized by Azerbaijan to date, and the first time in the region that it is being held in Azerbaijan. The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change is an agreement signed at the Rio Earth Summit in June 1992 to prevent dangerous human interference in the climate system. The acronym COP (Conference of Parties) stands for Conference of Parties 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 Berlin, and its secretariat is located in Bonn. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel The Centre will deploy an additional 90 companies of the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF), over and above the 198 companies that are already in the violence-hit Manipur. The additional 90 companies of the CAPF would amount to about 10,800 personnel. "We are getting approximately 90 companies of CAPF, over and above the 198 companies which were earlier sent to the state. A sizeable number of them have already reached Imphal. We are distributing forces to protect the lives and properties of the citizens and vulnerable points," state government's Security Advisor Kuldiep Singh said on Friday. After a meeting that was attended by representatives of the Army, BSF, CRPF, Assam Rifles, SSB, ITBP, and the Manipur Police, Singh said coordination cells and joint control rooms will be set up in each district of the state. ALSO READ: Manipur: Prohibitory orders to be relaxed in Imphal Valley; schools, colleges to remain shut "A number of SOPs (standard operating procedure) have been prepared for deployment of forces for coordination, for functioning, for fringe area security, for national highways security, and for any other important points which have to be taken care of." The ethnic violence between Meitei and Kuki communities in the state has so far claimed 258 lives. Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur's population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley. TribalsNagas and Kukis constitute little over 40 per cent and reside in the hill districts. Singh said 32 people were arrested in connection with vandalism and torching of properties of ministers and MLAs while around 3,000 looted weapons have been recovered. The Supreme Court on Friday expressed displeasure over the poor implementation of the Stage 4 measures of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in Delhi to tackle the worsening air quality. The GRAP-4 curbs have been implemented in Delhi since Monday after the air quality index deteriorated to severe+ for the first time this season. A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih held that the Delhi government and the city police failed to ensure strict implementation of these measures, especially related to restricting entry of trucks carrying non-essential goods into the national capital. The apex court appointed 13 lawyers as court commissioners to visit the various entry points in Delhi to ascertain whether restrictions on entry of trucks were implemented or not. The court will take up the matter on Monday when it will decide whether or not to ease the GRAP-4 restrictions in view the drop in air quality index levels. During the hearing on Friday, Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati informed the bench that the pollution level had dropped in the last two days. The overall AQI in Delhi remained in the "very poor" category being recorded at 373. The GRAP-4 restrictions were implemented after the AQI rose sharply to 457 on Sunday evening. Under these measures, no trucks will be allowed into Delhi except for those carrying essential items or using clean fuel. Non-essential light commercial vehicles registered outside Delhi have been prohibited, except for EVs and CNG and BS-VI diesel ones. Also, construction activities at public projects have been temporarily halted. The apex court had earlier questioned the Delhi government over delay in implementation of GRAP-4 measures, and said it would not allow scaling down of the preventive measures without its prior permission. A Delhi court on Friday stayed proceedings against Chief Minister Atishi in a defamation case filed against her by the BJP. The court also stayed the summons issued against her by the magisterial court in connection with the case. Hearing Atishis plea challenging magisterial courts order, Special Judge Vishal Gogne stayed the proceedings of the lower court until further directions. "It is directed that the proceedings before the trial court shall remain stayed till further orders. List for submissions on December 2, 2024," PTI reported quoting Judge Gognes verdict. A defamation case was registered against the Delhi chief minister on Bharatiya Janata Party leader Praveen Shankar Kapoor's complaint, accusing her of making false accusations against the party. BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor accused Atishi as well as former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal of defaming him through her reported claim that several AAP MLAs were approached by the saffron party with offers of cash to bring down the AAP government, PTI reported. Hearing Kapoors plea, the lower court had summoned Atishi on May 28 in the case. A bail was granted to Delhi CM on July 23. The court however refused to summon Arvind Kejriwal in connection with the case. Atishi claimed that the BJP approached 21 AAP MLAs and offered them money to switch over to the saffron camp. The BJP had dismissed the claims as false and baseless, and challenged the AAP leaders to produce evidence. With a day left for the Maharastra elections to come, both ruling Mahayuti and opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) are preparing for the outcome. While the race for the Chief Minister post has heated up in the Mahayuti camp, MVA ally Congress has reportedly charted a special plane for its MLA to avoid horse-trading. Both fronts, especially the MVA, are buoyed by increased voter turnout. The Congress believes this will translate into the votes for the Opposition, especially in the Vidharba region. The average voter turnout in the state has increased by more than 4 per cent. According to the Congress, the voter turnout indicates anti-incumbency sentiment. The party believes that out of 62 seats in Vidarbha, the Congress will get 35 to 40 seats. Hence, the focus in the Congress camp is to prevent the breakaway of MLAs. As soon as the results are announced, steps are in place to take the MLAs in a special plane to an undisclosed location. Local media reports claim Opposition Leader Vijay Wadettiwar has also been entrusted with keeping in touch with independent candidates who are likely to be elected. Vadettiwar is also responsible for the arrangement of MLAs in East Vidarbha. Meanwhile, the exit polls have created a buzz in the Mahayuti camp. The talks about government formation with the support of Independents have gained strength since some exit polls predict a hung Assembly. So much so that Shiv Sena Shinde group leader and minister Deepak Kesarkar has made a big statement regarding the formation of government before the result. "If necessary, we will form the government with independents," Kesarkar added. There are also reports that various discussions have taken place in the political circle. The Karnataka High Court dismissed suspended JD(S) leader Prajwal Revannas anticipatory bail plea in sexual assault registered against him on Friday. The former MP faced a setback in the fourth sexual assault registered against him by Karnataka police. Pronouncing the verdict on Revannas plea, the Karnataka High Court rejected anticipatory bail to the Janata Dal (Secular) leader considering the gravity of the complaint against him. The Special Investigation Team probing four cases of sexual assault and rape against Revanna submitted its charge-sheet in the fourth case recently. While Revannas counsel sought to withdraw the plea, the bench observed it could not be done on the day it is being heard for pronouncement of judgment. Karnataka High Court Justice M. Nagaprasanna said, You can rest assured not a word from the charge-sheet, I have relied only on the complaint. The application has been dismissed only on the basis of the complaint and Supreme Court's judgments," Bar and Bench reported quoting the bench. Revanna is facing charges under IPC sections 367(2), 354(A), 354(D), 354(B), 506 and section 66E of the Information Technology Act in the fourth case of sexual assault registered against him. Revanna recently faced a setback in the Supreme Court as well after it rejected his bail plea in one of the sexual assault cases. The Karnataka High Court rejected his bail pleas earlier. Prajwal Revanna, grandson of JD(S) patriarch and former prime minister H.D. Deve Gowda had contested the recently held Lok Sabha elections from Hassan, however, he lost to Congress candidate Shreyas Patel in the polls. He is accused of sexually assaulting several women and recording those acts. The sexual allegations emerged after the polls and he had left for Germany soon after the polls held on April 26. The Karnataka government formed a Special Investigation Team to probe the case and Revanna was arrested minutes after he landed from Germany. The series of sexual abuse cases came to light after pen drives containing the alleged videos were circulated in Hassan ahead of polls. The Congress-led alliances in Maharashtra and Jharkhand are hopeful of returning to power in both states as votes polled in the recently held assembly polls in both states will be counted on Saturday. Besides the assembly polls, results of the Wayanad bypolls where Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is contesting will also be known on Saturday. According to Election Commission officials, the counting of votes will begin at 8am and postal ballots would be counted first. According to officials, early trends will be known by 9am. Jharkhand Elections to the 81-seat Jharkhand Assembly were conducted in two phases on November 13 and 20. A record voter turnout of 67.74 per cent was recorded in Jharkhand in this assembly polls, the highest ever since the formation of the state. The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha-led ruling INDIA bloc is hopeful of returning to power in the state. Chief Minister Hemant Soren is hopeful of a consecutive win despite a few exit polls predicting otherwise. Soren contested from Barhait, against BJP's Gamaliyan Hembromin in the election. Besides various welfare schemes, misuse of central probe agencies against opposition by the BJP-led Centre was one of the key poll planks of the INDIA bloc in the election. The BJP accused the ruling alliance of corruption and supporting infiltration in the tribal-dominated state. Maharashtra In Maharashtra, the opposition Maha Vikas Agadi is confident of defeating the BJP-led Mahayuti government, formed by splitting a faction of legislators from erstwhile Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party. The Congress party has appointed observers for both Maharashtra and Jharkhand to monitor post-poll scenario. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge deputed Ashok Gehlot, Bhupesh Baghel and G. Parameshwara as partys observers to Maharashtra, while Tariq Anwar, Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and Krishna Allavuru have been named observers for Jharkhand. Polling for elections to the 288-seat Maharashtra Assembly was held on November 20 and a voter turnout of 66.05 per cent was recorded in the state, four per cent higher than 2019 Assembly polls. Oppositions Maha Vikas Agadi comprises of Congress, Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction) and the parties contested in 101, 95 and 86 seats respectively. In the ruling Mahayuti alliance, the BJP contested 149 seats, Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) 81 seats and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP 59 seats. The majority mark in the 288-seat Maharashtra Assembly is 145, the number any alliance needs to crack to be able to form government in the state. While most exit polls predict a victory for the Mahayuti alliance, three suggest a hung assembly. According to reports, Mahayuti leaders are already in talks with Independents for their support, in case of a hung assembly. Parties have also reportedly booked private jets and resorts to prevent poaching. Along with the assembly polls, bypolls were conducted to 48 assembly constituencies and two Lok Sabha constituencies Wayanad, Kerala and Nanded, Maharashtra. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is making her electoral debut this election and is contesting from the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat in Kerala a seat her brother and Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi vacated after he won from two seats in the Lok Sabha polls. The Congress-led alliance in Kerala is hopeful Priyanka will be elected to Lok Sabha with a winning margin of close to five lakh votes. Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday slammed the International Criminal Court (ICC) hours after The Hague court issued arrest warrants for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Calling it an "antisemitic decision" and "utterly baseless", Netanyahu said it is a "modern Dreyfus trial, and it will end the same way". The antisemitic decision of the international court in The Hague is a modern Dreyfus trial, and it will end the same way. pic.twitter.com/e1l8PMghrB Benjamin Netanyahu - (@netanyahu) November 21, 2024 He was referring to a wrong conviction of a Alfred Dreyfus, a Jewish French Army officer, for alleged treason in the 19th century. Who was Alfred Dreyfus? Alfred Dreyfus was a French artillery officer who was convicted of spying for Germany in 1894 due antisemitic bias. Following this, he was deported to the penal colony of Devil's Island to be incarcerated until death. However, later evidence emerged that he was innocent and the real culprit, a Catholic officer named Esterhazy, was nabbed. In time, it was revealed that the investigation was biased and the army's high command was aware of his innocence. 'We will not yield' Netanyahu added that no outrageous anti-Israel decision will prevent his country or him from defend themselves. "We will not yield to pressure," the Israeli Prime Minister said. The ICC also issued an arrest warrant for Hamas leader Ibrahim al-Masri aka Mohammed Deif. In July, Israel claimed that Deif was killed in an airstrike in Gaza but Hamas has not confirmed it. Calling it "a dark day in the history of nations", Netanyahu claimed the ICC has become the enemy of humanity instead of protecting it. Netanyahu accused ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan of corruption, alleging that the warrants were issued in a bid to save himself from serious sexual harassment allegations. Khan has rejected the claims. On Friday, the Justin Trudeau-led Canadian government denied a report linking Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval to criminal activities. Canada said that the reports are "speculative" and "inaccurate". National security and intelligence advisor to Justin Trudeau, Nathalie G. Drouin, said the Canadian government is "not aware" of any evidence of the claims made by a Canadian media house citing unnamed officials. "The government of Canada has not stated, nor is it aware of the evidence, linking Prime Minister Modi, Minister Jaishankar, or NSA Doval to the serious criminal activity within Canada." "Any suggestion to the contrary is both speculative and inaccurate," it added. Canadian governments statement comes after India strongly refuted a report in the Canada-based Globe and Mail newspaper that attempted to draw a connection between the death of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar to PM Modi, S. Jaishankar and Ajit Doval. MEA said the report should be dismissed with the "contempt they deserve". It also added that the smear campaigns like this will only "further damage our already strained ties." "We do not normally comment on media reports. However, such ludicrous statements made to a newspaper purportedly by a Canadian government source should be dismissed with the contempt they deserve. Smear campaigns like this only further damage our already strained ties," said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiwal. India-Canada relations became tense after PM Trudeau alleged New Delhi's role in the killing of Nijjar in British Columbia last year. Though India had termed the allegations as "baseless" and "motivated", Canada said it had credible information linking India's role. India recalled six diplomats from Canada after they were declared "persons of interest" by the Canadian government in the investigation into the killing of Khalistani separatist Nijjar. It was not an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), but an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) known as Oreshnik that was launched by Russia at the Ukrainian city of Dnipro early Thursday morning. Oreshnik was a newly developed hypersonic ballistic missile that was launched by Russia in a warning to the West. Kremlin on Friday said the new missile was designed to warn the West that Moscow will respond to moves by the US, and UK to let Kyiv strike Russia with their missiles. Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed that it had fired the new missile- the Oreshnik- at a Ukrainian military facility. Kremlin spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov said Russia had not been obliged to warn the US about the strike but had informed the US 30 minutes before the launch anyway. Whats Oreshnik ballistic missile? The name Oreshnik translates to hazelnut tree in Russian. Its a hypersonic ballistic missile, that can travel 10 times the speed of sound and so could not be intercepted. According to Russian sources, the range of the missiles was 5,000 km. Putin described the missile in Russian as "medium-range" but Russian military experts said the English term would be "intermediate-range". It appears to have multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicles: separate warheads able to hit different targets. Experts opine that the missile could carry six to eight conventional or nuclear warheads. Meanwhile, the Pentagon said that the missile that Russia fired was based on the RS-26 Rubezh intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). It said the US had been notified of the launch through nuclear risk reduction channels. In a major escalation, Ukraines air force initially said Russia had fired an ICBM at Dnipro, though the US denied the claim. ICBMs are defined as having a range greater than 5,500 km (3,400 miles). President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that a Russian attack with a new type of ballistic missile was a clear and severe escalation. Meanwhile, the UK home secretary has said that "we will continue" to see "aggressive language" from Vladimir Putin after the Russian leader threatened to strike the UK. Also, NATO and Ukraine will hold talks on Tuesday in Brussels over Russia's firing of an experimental hypersonic intermediate-range missile. Mexico City, Nov 21 (AP) Mexico's president acknowledged on Thursday that Canada is concerned about reports of a Chinese company's plan to build an auto plant in Mexico, but she said it does not currently exist. President Claudia Sheinbaum said she talked recently to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and that he assured her he did not support excluding Mexico from the US-Mexico-Canada trade agreement. On Wednesday, provincial leaders in Canada called on Trudeau to negotiate a bilateral trade deal with the United States that would exclude Mexico. The prime minister does not agree with taking Mexico out of the treaty, he told me so clearly, Sheinbaum said following the bilateral meeting the two leaders held during this week's G20 summit. He asked me about a Chinese company's auto plant, and if there was a plant in Mexico, she said, and responded that the company's only North American plant was in California. That was an apparent reference to Chinese carmaker BYD, which had reportedly been planning to build a plant in Mexico but hasn't done so yet. Politicians in the United States and Canada have expressed concerns that under the US-Mexico-Canada trade agreement, Chinese companies could assemble autos in Mexico and ship them north, avoiding tariffs. On Wednesday, Doug Ford, the premier of Canada's most populous province, chaired a phone call with all 13 provincial and territorial premiers and said they want Trudeau to do a straight bilateral trade deal with the US, Canada's top trading partner. There's a clear consensus that everyone agrees that we need a bilateral trade deal with the US and a separate bilateral trade deal with Mexico, Ford told reporters in Toronto after the call with provincial leaders. We know Mexico is bringing in cheap Chinese parts, slapping made in Mexico stickers on, and shipping it up through the US, and Canada, causing American jobs to be lost and Canadian jobs. We want fair trade, he said. Sheinbaum attributed that call to domestic political jockeying in Canada, saying they use these issues as part of an electoral campaign. There is a Chinese vehicle assembly plant in Mexico, operated by Giant Motors, which assembles JAC brand vehicles, largely from imported parts. But there is no evidence it exports any significant part of its production to the United States or Canada. On Tuesday, Canada's Deputy Prime Minister, Chrystia Freeland, said she shares US concerns about Mexico serving as a back door for China to import cheaper goods into the North American market ahead of a review of the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement in 2026. Freeland said members of the outgoing administration of US President Joe Biden and supporters and advisers of President-elect Trump have expressed very grave concerns to her about the issue and Canada shares them. (AP) PY PY BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 22. As part of COP29 in Baku, Trend News Agency proudly presents COP for Hope, a special project offering an unparalleled platform to hear from world leaders and trailblazers in politics, economics, science, and ecology, all united by a shared commitment to addressing todays pressing climate challenges. The professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at US Moravian University, Mark Urban, became our next interviewee. In an interview with Trend, Mark Urban said that one of the important things for him was that his students were able to have the COP experience and the opportunity to learn about a new culture. The professor noted that he is looking forward to the final decision on the COP29 negotiations. It's too early to talk about negotiations. At the moment, we are still looking forward to the last word, he emphasized. He also shared his impressions of Azerbaijani cuisine and Baku. We had a great time here. Many students came to Baku with us. Here they got acquainted with a new culture. In particular, I should mention that we like your cuisine and we enjoyed trying delicious treats. I want to say that we like your bread and tea. My students and I had the opportunity to visit Icherisheher and its surroundings. It is a wonderful experience for us, he added. To note, the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), which will run until November 22, opened at the Baku Olympic Stadium on November 11. It is the largest event organized by Azerbaijan to date, and the first time in the region that it is being held in Azerbaijan. Within COP29, the highest-level event - the summit of world leaders on climate action - was held on November 1213. The main expectation from COP29 is to agree on a fair and ambitious New Collective Quantitative Goal (NCQG) on climate finance. The COP29 Presidency has launched 14 initiatives that include linkages between climate action and the Sustainable Development Goals, including green energy corridors, green energy storage, harmony for climate resilience, clean hydrogen, methane reduction in organic waste, action on green digital technologies, and other topics. In addition to being a top priority that creates the conditions for action, creating climate finance will also help fulfill the 1.5C pledge by bringing everyone together. The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change is an agreement signed at the Rio Earth Summit in June 1992 to prevent dangerous human interference in the climate system. The acronym COP (Conference of Parties) stands for Conference of Parties 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 Berlin, and its secretariat is located in Bonn. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Washington, Nov 21 (AP) Russia's third largest bank, Gazprombank and its six foreign subsidiaries were hit with US sanctions on Thursday in a move intended to curtail Russia's ability to evade the thousands of sanctions imposed on the nation since the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said the sanctions targeting Russia's largest remaining non-sanctioned bank would further diminish Russia's military effort and will make it harder for the Kremlin to evade US sanctions and fund and equip its military. In addition, more than 50 internationally connected Russian banks, 40 Russian securities registrars, and 15 Russian finance officials were hit with sanctions. The move comes after President Joe Biden this weekend authorised Ukraine to use US-supplied missiles to strike deeper inside Russia, easing limitations on the longer range weapons as Russia deploys thousands of North Korean troops to reinforce its war. In addition, on Wednesday the Pentagon announced that it will send Ukraine at least USD 275 million in new weapons, including an undisclosed number of antipersonnel land mines, as the Biden administration rushes to do as much as it can to help Kyiv fight back against Russia before President-elect Donald Trump takes office. White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said the US remains committed to putting Ukraine in the strongest possible position, and we will continue to take all available steps to do so from surging security assistance to imposing and fully enforcing sanctions and other restrictions on Russia's war machine. Among other things, the sanctions deny the people and firms access to any property or financial assets held in the US and prevent US companies and citizens from doing business with them. Canada and the United Kingdom have previously sanctioned Gazprombank. Treasury states that Gazprombank is a means for Russia to fund its military to continue its war effort against Ukraine, using the bank to pay soldiers and compensate families of Russian soldiers killed in the fighting. Gazprombank played a role in remaining Russian natural gas supplies to Europe by handling payments from foreign customers. Earlier rounds of sanctions spared Russian gas because Europe's economy was so dependent on it but Europe is now far less reliant on Russian gas, which is down to about 18 per cent of imports. Russia cut off of most supplies in 2022, plunging the continent into an energy crisis. European governments and utilities have now lined up alternative supplies, much of it liquefied gas brought by ship from the US and Qatar. Ukraine says it will halt flows of Russian gas through a pipeline across Ukraine to Europe - about 4 per cent of Europe's gas imports - at the end of the year. Gazprom recently cut off shipments through that pipeline to Austria's OMV in a commercial dispute; OMV has said it has plenty of reserves and can find alternative supply elsewhere. The EU has set a nonbinding goal of ending all Russian gas imports by 2027. (AP) PY PY Nairobi (Kenya), Nov 21 (AP) Kenya's president said on Thursday that he has cancelled multimillion-dollar airport expansion and energy deals with Indian tycoon Gautam Adani after US bribery and fraud indictments against one of Asia's richest men. President William Ruto said in a state of the nation address the decision was made based on new information provided by our investigative agencies and partner nations, without naming the United States. The Adani group had been in the process of signing an agreement that would modernise Kenya's main airport in the capital, Nairobi, with an additional runway and terminal constructed, in exchange for the group running the airport for 30 years. The widely criticised deal had sparked anti-Adani protests in Kenya and a strike by airport workers, who said it would lead to degraded working conditions and job losses in some cases. The Adani group had also been awarded a deal to construct power transmission lines in Kenya, East Africa's business hub. Also on Thursday, Energy Minister Opiyo Wandayi told a parliamentary committee there was no bribery or corruption involved on Kenya's part in signing that deal. US prosecutors indicted Adani this week on charges he duped investors in a massive solar energy project in India by concealing that it was facilitated by an alleged bribery scheme. He was charged with securities fraud and conspiracy to commit securities and wire fraud. (AP) PY PY Ahmedabad, Nov 22 (PTI) The Gujarat State GST department conducted searches on seven commercial entities and detected tax evasion of Rs 3.53 crore, an official said on Friday. These firms were concealing actual revenues, selling without invoice and underreporting tax liability, he added. An official release said searches were conducted on November 16 at seven premises to keep a check on possible evasion of Goods and Service Tax (GST) by 'Business to Consumer (B2C)' sector entities in the state. "These firms comprised two battery dealers in Ahmedabad, four tobacco dealers in Waghai in Dang district and one salon in Nadiad town of Kheda. The salon in Nadiad had indulged in tax evasion by concealing actual sales and underreporting tax liability," the release said. The firm was also levying and collecting tax separately despite having opted for the composition scheme and the total tax liability detected was in excess of Rs 53 lakh, the release added. "The investigation on the two battery dealers revealed these firms were importing batteries and selling them locally without invoice to evade tax. During the operation, unaccounted stock and unaccounted sales were found, resulting in a total tax liability in excess of Rs 92 lakh. Large amount of unaccounted stock and unaccounted sales were found during the investigation against four tobacco dealers located at Waghai," it said. Total tax evasion detected during the investigation on these four traders was around Rs 2.08 crore, said the release. Mumbai, Nov 22 (PTI) Central Bank of India on Friday said it has got approval from the Reserve Bank to enter the insurance business through a joint venture with Generali group under FGIICL and FGILICL. In a filing to stock exchanges, the state-owned bank said the RBI accorded the approval vide a letter dated November 21, 2024. "...we would like to inform that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) vide its letter dated 21st November 2024 has approved the bank's entry in the insurance business through a joint venture with Generali group under FGIICL and FGILICL, subject to continuous compliance of conditions stipulated by it and approval of IRDAI, the sectoral regulator," the filing said. In October, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) had cleared the Central Bank of India's proposed acquisition of stakes in Future Generali India Insurance Company Ltd (FGIICL) and Future Generali India Life Insurance Company Ltd (FGILICL). FGIICL provides personal insurance, commercial insurance, social, and rural insurance, among others. FGILICL provides savings insurance, investment plans (ULIP), term insurance plans, health insurance plans, child plans, retirement plans, rural insurance plans and group insurance plans. Earlier in August, the Central Bank of India announced it has emerged as the successful bidder for the stake acquisition of debt-ridden Future Enterprises Ltd (FEL) in life and general insurance venture. New Delhi, Nov 22 (PTI) Banks' officers union AIBOC on Friday said the recently announced revised Performance Linked Incentives (PLI) for Whole Time Directors and senior executives infringes upon autonomy of boards of public sector banks. Earlier this week, the Department of Financial Services announced a revised PLI scheme for Whole Time Directors. The revised scheme also included officers from Scale IV to Scale VIII of public sector banks. However, the PLI for officers up to Scale VII has already been determined through bilateral agreements between the Indian Banks' Association (IBA) and officers' associations at the industry level. These agreements, based on mandates provided by member banks' boards, also encompass officers in Scale VIII, All India Bank Officers' Confederation (AIBOC) said in a letter written to the Financial Services Secretary. The Department of Financial Services (DFS) directive undermines this well-established framework, violating the sanctity of collective bargaining and the essence of bilateral settlements. "This selective approach to incentive-only officers from Scale IV to VIII (counting less than 5 per cent of the total workforce), while excluding over 95 per cent of employees who primarily drive business at the field level, is inequitable," it said. "During the Gyan Sangam held at Pune on January 2-3, 2015, the Prime Minister had said that banks would run professionally, and there would be no interference. It was also decided that the bank's board should be given full autonomy on HR decisions such as on recruitment," it said. Following this, the DFS issued an office memorandum dated January 13, 2015, emphasising the same citing the Prime Minister's interaction with the Chief Executives of Public Sector Banks and Financial Institutions (PSBs/ FIs). During the discussion, it was conveyed from the highest level in very clear terms that the government will not interfere in the working of the Banks/ FIs, the letter said citing the office memorandum. "The current directive, which prescribes how senior officers should perform and prioritise their work to earn incentives, surely infringes upon the autonomy of public sector banks. It disregards their governance structures and imposes centralised control, which could stifle strategic decision-making aligned with individual banks' unique challenges," it alleged. Such micro-management by the government sets a dangerous precedent, undermining the independence of functions of the boards of the public sector banks, it said. Chief executives of PSBs and SBI have performed better than their private bank peers despite being paid comparatively less, it said, adding that it is evident that money or incentives are not the motivators. "We, therefore, urge the Department of Financial Services to respect the autonomy of public sector banks and entrust the Indian Banks' Association, along with bank managements, with the responsibility to design compensation mechanisms taking the Unions/Associations along as hitherto," it said. These mechanisms should align with the collective growth of the banks and their workforce, ensuring fairness and sustainability, it added. Mumbai, Nov 22 (PTI) Delegates from 18 countries, including central bank governors, deputy governors and other central bank officials from the Global South, attended a two-day high-level policy conference that concluded on Friday. High-Level Policy Conference of Central Banks from the Global South was organised here as part of the commemoration of the Reserve Bank of India's 90th year since its establishment. In his keynote address, RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das highlighted that maintaining overall stability, which includes sustained growth, price stability, and financial stability, is a daunting challenge for the countries of the Global South amidst global spillovers, external sector imbalances, limited fiscal space, elevated debt levels and continuing financial market volatility. Central banks need to work towards more robust, realistic and nimble policy frameworks that use monetary, prudential, fiscal and structural policies synergistically to achieve better societal outcomes, he added. RBI Deputy Governor Michael Debabrata Patra said monetary policy announcements are associated with frissons of animated speculation rippling through public discourse. Projections are revised, and the balance of risks is re-tilted. Shadow monetary policy committees take positions in print and sound bytes. Curve fitting the central bank commences is it behind the curve? and accordingly, bird-like postures are conjured to characterise its angle of repose, he noted. Patra said markets get poised to reprice, and financial institutions reassess interest margins. Depositors and businesses exert conflicting pulls on public opinion. Questions rent the air on the likelihood of rate movements, by how much, and on shifts in stance, the RBI official said. While the utility of forward guidance at very low policy rates is unambiguously proven, its efficacy at higher rates is questionable, he said. This is consistent with the asymmetric nature of the monetary policy cycle. The way down has a lower bound but the way up is technically unconstrained by any upper bound, Patra added. The focus of the conference was on sharing experiences and perspectives on issues of contemporary relevance to foster mutually beneficial partnerships for a more prosperous, stable and sustainable future for the Global South. Directors of the Reserve Banks Central Board, secretaries and senior central government officials, experts from multilateral institutions, deputy governors and senior management of the Reserve Bank and other officials, top executives from commercial banks, financial market participants, academicians, economists and eminent personalities also participated in the conference. The conference assumes great significance as it seeks to strengthen the voice of the Global South and build synergies in shaping the global policy agenda, the RBI said. Washington, Nov 21 (AP) Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Gary Gensler, who was aggressive in his oversight of cryptocurrencies, will step down from his post on January 20. Gensler pushed for changes that he said protected for investors, but the industry and many Republicans bristled at what they saw as overreach. President-elect Donald Trump had promised during his campaign that he would remove Gensler. But Gensler on Thursday announced that he would be stepping down from his post on the day that Trump is inaugurated. Bitcoin has jumped 40 per cent since Trump's victory. It hit new highs and was nearing USD 100,000 Thursday. Bitcoin moved notably higher after his resignation was announced. Perhaps most famously, Gensler gave a speech during the first year of his chairmanship in 2021 where he described the world of crypto as the Wild West. This asset class is rife with fraud, scams, and abuse in certain applications, he said in a speech at the Aspen Security Forum. There's a great deal of hype and spin about how crypto assets work. In many cases, investors aren't able to get rigorous, balanced, and complete information. Under Gensler, the SEC brought actions against players in the crypto industry for fraud, wash trading and other violations. The commission brought fraud charges last month, for example, against three companies purporting to be market makers, along with nine individuals for trying to manipulate various crypto markets. The SEC under Gensler also helped to make bitcoin accessible to more investors. In January of 2024, the SEC approved exchange-traded funds that track the spot price of bitcoin. With such ETFs, investors could get easier access to bitcoin without having to buy any directly. At the time, Gensler acknowledged the SEC had denied earlier, similar applications for such ETFs, including one involving the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust, among the first to eventually be approved by the SEC. Circumstances, however, have changed, Gensler said, pointing to a ruling by the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia that said the SEC failed to adequately explain its reasoning in rejecting Grayscale's proposal. Even there, though, Gensler made sure not to endorse the merits of bitcoin. He pointed to how ETFs that hold precious metals are tracking prices of things that have consumer and industrial users, while in contrast bitcoin is primarily a speculative, volatile asset that's also used for illicit activity including ransomware, money laundering, sanction evasion, and terrorist financing. On Thursday, Gensler stood by the SEC's track record under his direction. The staff and the Commission are deeply mission-driven, focused on protecting investors, facilitating capital formation, and ensuring that the markets work for investors and issuers alike," Gensler said in prepared remarks on Thursday. The staff comprises true public servants. It has been an honour of a lifetime to serve with them on behalf of everyday Americans and ensure that our capital markets remain the best in the world. Gensler previously served as Chair of the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission, leading the Obama Administration's reform of the USD 400 trillion swaps market. He also was senior advisor to US Senator Paul Sarbanes in writing the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (2002) and was undersecretary of the Treasury for Domestic Finance and assistant secretary of the Treasury from 1997-2001. (AP) PY PY Hyderabad, Nov 22 (PTI) Six prominent pharmaceutical companies, including Dr Reddy's Laboratories, Aurobindo Pharma, and Hetero Labs, have signed memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with the Telangana government to set up facilities in the Pharma City near here, the government announced on Friday. The companies have committed to invest over Rs 5,260 crore, which is expected to create 12,490 job opportunities in the pharma sector, according to an official release. Representatives from the companies met with Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and Industries Minister D Sridhar Babu at the Secretariat to finalise the agreements. "The pharma company managements signed MoUs to establish the industries. The six companies expressed their interest to invest more than Rs 5260 crore. The investments will provide 12,490 job opportunities in the pharma sector. The government will allocate land for the establishment of the new pharma manufacturing units in the recognised pharma city, the release said. According to the MoUs, MSN Laboratories will establish a manufacturing unit and an R&D center, Laurus Labs and Aurobindo Pharma will set up separate formulation units, and Gland Pharma will open an R&D center along with injectables and drug substance manufacturing units. Dr Reddy's Labs will build an injectable and biosimilars unit, while Hetero Labs will establish a finished dose and injectable manufacturing plant, the release added. The Chief Minister instructed officials to allocate land for the new facilities and ensure the necessary infrastructure is provided in the Pharma City, with construction work to begin within the next four months. Mumbai, Nov 22 (PTI) Bollywood star Alia Bhatt is set to return as the goodwill ambassador for the All Living Things Environmental Film Festival (ALT EFF). Bhatt said she is thrilled that her production banner Eternal Sunshine Productions is partnering with the film gala for its 2024 edition. This festival is truly specialit celebrates films that uplift and showcase natures resilience while reminding us of the importance of protecting our planet. Through powerful storytelling, ALT EFF allows us to see and feel the real impact of environmental change," the 31-year-old actor said in a statement. Filmmaker Richie Mehta, who recently directed the series "Poacher" that was produced by Bhatt's company, will join the actor in championing the festivals mission. With over 100 screenings planned across India, the 2024 edition of ALT EFF will feature an engaging lineup of films, workshops, and panel discussions aimed at fostering global dialogue on urgent environmental issues. Festival Director Kunal Khanna hailed Bhatt as a "remarkable artist" who is also passionate about the environment. "Her creative endeavours through Eternal Sunshine exemplify the transformative power of storytelling in addressing pressing global challenges. "With Alia and Richie Mehta as our ambassadors, ALT EFF is uniquely positioned to amplify the voices of filmmakers who seek to use impact film and storytelling to drive environmental action," he added. New Delhi, Nov 22 (PTI) Rapper Badshah on Friday extended support to Punjabi superstar Diljit Dosanjh in the ongoing debate over alcohol-themed songs, calling out the apparent double standard in targeting musicians while liquor is sold almost everywhere in the country. Speaking at the Sahitya Aaj Tak, Badshah said he agrees with Diljit's recent comments that he will stop singing alcohol-themed songs the day liquor shops are closed across the country. Diljit made these comments after he was directed not sing songs promoting alcohol at one of his concert. Badshah, who considers Diljit as his elder brother, said an artist's work is a reflection of the society. "He is totally right. You are telling him not to sing or make songs about alcohol but then you're selling liquor everywhere. Why shouldn't they be made? An artist represents society and that's what makes them relevant and the reason why people love them. They speak about things that the whole world wants to say," Badshah said. Diljit, who is currently touring as part of his Dil-Luminati Tour, said he was a teetotaler and ready to take a pledge to not sing such songs provided alcohol shops are shut everywhere. Badshah acknowledged that the government must be facing "some kind of problem" which the people wouldn't know about but broadly, he agrees with Diljit. "If you don't want him to sing about something, then that thing shouldn't be in the society in the first place," he added. Asked about his personal equation with Diljit, Badshah said he is an inspirational figure. The duo have collaborated on chartbusters like "Proper Patola" and "Naina" from Bollywood movie "Crew". "He means a lot to me because he is like an elder brother to me and whenever I face a problem in life, he has always been there for me and to guide me. I think there is a lot to be learned from him, he is an inspiration. He is a very nice person. One should always treat such a person with care in life," he said. Badshah also spoke about the trend of songs that promote guns, especially in Punjab. "We come from a place that represents machismo and alpha male. For example, there is Divine who raps about 'gully', the place he comes from. We have been brought up like this. Bullets fly in our weddings. I'm not promoting this but this is the culture we have grown up with and we end up writing about it," he said. Badshah was also quizzed about his equation with Pakistani actor Hania Aamir and the rumours linking the duo. The musician said Aamir is a very good friend. "We have a good connection with each other. We have fun whenever we meet, it's just that and nothing else. She is happy in her life and I'm in mine. There is nothing else to it... People think whatever they want," he said. As an artist, Badshah said he is not a very "disciplined person". "I wouldn't be an artist if I was disciplined. I believe artists are passionate about their art. And though every artist has their own way of operating, I believe a lot of them are not disciplined because discipline binds you. "I would have become a soldier. As much as I wanted to serve the country, I couldn't become one," he said. Mumbai, Nov 22 (PTI) Actor Pankaj Tripathi on Friday said it is a great honour to be appointed as the festival ambassador for the Arunachal Rang Mahotsav 2024. This prestigious international theatre festival, the largest of its kind in Northeast India, runs from Friday to December 5, celebrating the rich cultural heritage and creative talent of Arunachal Pradesh. The actor, known for his performance in "Gangs of Wasseypur", "Bareilly Ki Barfi", "Fukrey", "Gunjan Saxena", "Stree" franchise and "Mirzapur" and "Criminal Justice" series, hails from Belsand village in Gopalganj, Bihar. Over the years, Tripathi has become one of the most sought-after actors in Indian cinema, earning widespread acclaim for his versatility and authenticity. Tripathi, who is attending the festival along with wife Mridula, said theatre holds a special place in his heart as it is where he began his journey as an actor. "It's a great honour for me to be associated with the Arunachal Rang Mahotsav 2024 as its Festival Ambassador. Theatre holds a very special place in my heart, as it was my first teacher, my first love in the performing arts. I owe everything I am today to the lessons I learned on the stage and the passion I developed for storytelling during my early days in Gopalganj, performing street plays and rangmanch," Tripathi, a National School of Drama graduate, said in a statement. The actor said it is inspiring to see Arunachal Rang Mahotsav celebrating the power and beauty of theatre. "This platform not only honours the traditional and contemporary performing arts of the region but also provides a dynamic space for artists from across the world to collaborate and showcase their work. I am particularly excited about the festivals emphasis on Arunachals oral folklore traditions, martial art forms, and local performing arts, which are an essential part of our cultural fabric. "The fusion of these traditional elements with modern theatre practices makes this festival a unique and transformative experience. I believe theatre has the power to connect people, transcend barriers, and create a deeper understanding of our shared humanity. I look forward to witnessing and celebrating the magic of performances at ARM '24'," he added. Belgrade (Serbia), Nov 22 (AP) Residents in several cities and towns across Serbia blocked traffic and stood in silence for 15 minutes on Friday to commemorate the 15 victims of a roof collapse in the country's north three weeks ago. Hundreds of people came out into the streets eight minutes before noon, at the exact same time when the outer roof on the railway station building in the city of Novi Sad suddenly fell on November 1, crashing down on the people standing or sitting below. Initially 14 people were killed and three severely injured. One more person died on Sunday, bringing the death toll to 15. The tragedy sparked anger and calls for answers. Many in Serbia believe that the roof collapse was the result of corruption and a lack of transparency that led to sloppy work in the renovation of the station building. Prosecutors on Thursday arrested 12 people in connection with the tragedy, including a former populist government minister, Goran Vesic. The arrests followed a wave of protests that have challenged the populist government. This week opposition politicians blocked a court building in Novi Sad for three days in a row. Serbia's populist President Aleksandar Vucic has described the protesters as thugs and bullies inflicting terror on ordinary citizens. The suspects detained on Thursday are facing charges of causing grave public danger and conducting irregular construction work, criminal acts that carry up to 12 years in prison. Opposition politicians behind the protests said they were sceptical and will continue to put pressure on authorities. Prosecutors said on Friday they have started questioning the suspects. The protest on Friday was held simultaneously in Novi Sad, the capital Belgrade, the southern cities of Nis and Kragujevac, and Krusevac in central Serbia. Some people held banners with the names of the victims, or reading corruption kills. The railway station building in Novi Sad was originally built in 1964. It was renovated and inaugurated twice in recent years as part of a wider railway agreement with Chinese state construction companies. (AP) PY PY London, Nov 22 (The Conversation) The Italian Senate recently passed a law making surrogacy a universal crime. In a country where surrogacy is already illegal, and has been since 2004, this decision takes restrictions to a whole new level. While Italian law already prohibited surrogacy within Italy, the new ban will make it a crime for Italians to access surrogacy abroad even in countries where the practice is legal. The use of the term universal crime (reato universale) to describe the ban has raised further concern. The language evokes the wording of the Italian criminal code for crimes considered so serious that they contravene universal values. The wording therefore puts surrogacy on a par with genocide and crimes against humanity. Countries are not aligned on whether surrogacy should be allowed or prohibited. Several allow it, albeit with different restrictions and safeguards. In Greece, non-commercial surrogacy has been legal since 2002, allowing the intended parents to have legal parenthood at birth. In California, even so-called commercial surrogacy where the surrogate receives compensation is allowed. Other countries, including France and Germany, prohibit surrogacy. This means that the surrogate is the legal mother when the child is born. But they still typically allow the intended parents to establish a legal bond with the child by other means, for example by giving legal recognition to the genetic father alongside the surrogate mother or to both parents via adoption, in cases where surrogacy has been sought abroad. In the UK, the surrogate is the legal parent at birth but courts can transfer parenthood to the intended parents through a parental order, a surrogacy-specific mechanism designed to be less burdensome than adoption. Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni called the new surrogacy ban common sense and celebrated it as protecting women and children from commodification. Others see the ban as the opposite of protecting women and children. International rulings The European Court of Human Rights often examines events in its member countries (which include Italy) to determine whether there is broader consensus on an issue. In 2014 it looked into surrogacy in its Mennesson v France judgment. And in 2019 it issued an advisory opinion on the matter. While it found no consensus on the lawfulness of surrogacy arrangements, it decided that the rights of children born through surrogacy require a possibility of recognition of a legal parent-child relationship. Italys absolute ban goes against this reasoning. In 2019, the British supreme court also invoked the childs welfare as the main driver for judges to recognise intended parents as legal parents. To do otherwise in most cases, it concluded, risks leaving the child legally parentless (and possibly also stateless) because they would be legally tied to a person living abroad and who did not intend to be their parent. A UK study found that most surrogates dont view themselves as the mother and would support recognising intended parents as legal parents from birth. Melonis government, led by the far-right Brothers of Italy, has consistently focused on policies that promote what it sees as a traditional form of family. Running on a platform focused on the fascist motto of God, family, fatherland, Melonis government has been open about its anti-LGBTQ+ stance. Banning surrogacy was in the partys manifesto, along with policies against same-sex marriage and same-sex adoption. During the debate in the Senate, a Brothers of Italy senator called motherhood the foundation of our civilisation. Melonis policies, from banning surrogacy to restrictions on abortion, curtail reproductive choice ideologically driven by an emphasis on natural motherhood. While it is mostly straight Italian couples who use surrogacy by going abroad, many of them will hide the fact that they had a child this way. Same-sex couples are even more restricted since they obviously cannot fly under the radar in the same way. Under Italian law, they also have no other choices for having a child together: they are banned from accessing IVF or adopting. While legal scholars and activists question whether the law can hold up to legal scrutiny or how it will be applied in practice, same-sex parents express fear that they are faced with two impossible options: leave their country indefinitely, or stay in Italy and face prison time. Under the new law, they face up to two years in prison and a fine of up to 1 million (836,000). Italys surrogacy ban is perhaps no surprise in an era of populist politics, where LGBTQ+ and womens rights are increasingly weaponised, but it should still worry us. (The Conversation) SCY SCY Atmore (US), Nov 22 (AP) An Alabama man convicted in the 1994 killing of a hitchhiker cursed at the prison warden and made obscene gestures with his hands shortly before he was put to death Thursday evening in the nation's third execution using nitrogen gas. Carey Dale Grayson, 50, was executed at the William C Holman Correctional Facility in southern Alabama. He was one of four teenagers convicted of killing Vickie DeBlieux, 37, as she hitchhiked through the state on the way to her mother's home in Louisiana. The woman was attacked, beaten and thrown off a cliff. Alabama began using nitrogen gas earlier this year to carry out some executions. The method involves placing a respirator gas mask over the face to replace breathable air with pure nitrogen gas, causing death by lack of oxygen. Alabama Corrections Commissioner John Q Hamm said the nitrogen flowed for 15 minutes and an electrocardiogram showed Grayson no longer had a heartbeat about 10 minutes after the gas began flowing. Like two others previously executed by nitrogen, Grayson shook at times before taking a periodic series of gasping breaths. The victim's daughter told reporters afterward that her mother had her future stolen from her. But she also spoke out against the decision to execute Grayson and murdering inmates under the guise of justice. The curtains to the execution room were opened shortly after 6 pm. Strapped to a gurney with a blue-rimmed gas mask on his face, Grayson responded with an obscenity when the warden asked if he had any final words. Prison officials turned off the microphone. Grayson appeared to speak toward the witness room where state officials were present, but his words could not be heard. He raised both middle fingers at the start of the execution. It was unclear when the gas began flowing. Grayson rocked his head, shook and pulled against the gurney restraints. He clenched his fist and appeared to struggle to try to gesture again. His sheet-wrapped legs lifted off the gurney into the air at 6:14 pm. He took a periodic series of more than a dozen gasping breaths for several minutes. He appeared to stop breathing at 6:21 pm, and then the curtains to the viewing room were closed at 6:27 pm. Grayson was pronounced dead at 6:33 pm. DeBlieux's mutilated body was found at the bottom of a bluff near Odenville, Alabama, on Feb 26, 1994. She was hitchhiking from Chattanooga, Tennessee, to her mother's home in West Monroe, Louisiana, when the four teens offered her a ride. Prosecutors said the teens took her to a wooded area and attacked and beat her. They returned to mutilate her body. A medical examiner testified that her face was so fractured that she was identified by an earlier X-ray of her spine. Investigators said the teens were identified as suspects after one of them showed a friend one of DeBlieux's severed fingers and boasted about the killing. DeBlieux's daughter Jodi Haley spoke with reporters at the media center on prison property after the execution. Haley was 12 when her mother was killed, She said her mother had her life and future stolen from her. "She was unique. She was spontaneous. She was wild. She was funny. She was gorgeous to boot, Haley said of her mother. She said Grayson was abused in every possible way in his youth but society failed this man as a child, and my family suffered because of it. Murdering inmates under the guise of justice needs to stop, she said, adding that "no one should have the right to take a person's possibilities, days, and life." Governor Kay Ivey said afterward she was praying for the victim's loved ones to find closure and healing. Some thirty years ago, Vicki DeBlieux's journey to her mother's house and ultimately, her life, were horrifically cut short because of Carey Grayson and three other men," Ivey said in a statement. She sensed something was wrong, attempted to escape, but instead, was brutally tortured and murdered. Grayson's crimes "were heinous, unimaginable, without an ounce of regard for human life and just unexplainably mean. An execution by nitrogen hypoxia (bears) no comparison to the death and dismemberment Ms. DeBlieux experienced, she added. Grayson was the only one of the four teenagers who faced a death sentence since the other teens were under 18 at the time of the killing. Grayson was 19. The execution was carried out hours after the US Supreme Court turned down Grayson's request for a stay. His final appeals had focused on a call for more scrutiny of the nitrogen gas method. His lawyers argued the execution method causes conscious suffocation and that the first two nitrogen executions did not result in swift unconsciousness and death as the state had promised. Hamm said he thought some of Grayson's initial movements were all show but maintained other movements exhibited by Grayson and the two others executed by nitrogen gas were expected involuntary movements, including the breathing at the end. No state other than Alabama has used nitrogen hypoxia to carry out a death sentence. In 2018, Alabama became the third state - along with Oklahoma and Mississippi - to authorise the use of nitrogen gas to execute prisoners. (AP) SCY SCY Deir al-Balah (The Gaza Strip), Nov 22 (AP) Yasmin Eid coughs and covers her face, cooking a small pot of lentils over a fire fed with twigs and scrap paper in the tent she shares with her husband and four young daughters in the Gaza Strip. It was their only meal Wednesday it was all they could afford. My girls suck on their thumbs because of how hungry they are, and I pat their backs until they sleep, she said. After being displaced five times, the Eids reside in central Gaza, where aid groups have relatively more access than in the north, which has been largely isolated and heavily destroyed since Israel began waging a renewed offensive against the militant group Hamas in early October. But nearly everyone in Gaza is going hungry these days. In the north experts say a full-blown famine may be underway. On Thursday, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defence minister, accusing them of using starvation as a method of warfare charges Israel adamantly denies. In Deir al-Balah, the Eids are among hundreds of thousands sheltering in squalid tent camps. The local bakeries shut down for five days this week. The price of a bag of bread climbed above $13 by Wednesday, as bread and flour vanished from shelves before more supplies arrived. The United Nations humanitarian office warned of a stark increase in the number of households experiencing severe hunger in central and southern Gaza. It appeared to be linked to the robbery at gunpoint of nearly 100 aid trucks last weekend in southern Gaza, close to Israeli military positions. Israel blamed Hamas but appears to have taken no action to stop the looting, while Hamas said it was the work of local bandits. Aid groups say the looting is one of many obstacles to getting food and other vital aid to the territory's 2.3 million Palestinians. They also have to contend with Israeli movement restrictions, ongoing fighting, and heavy damage wreaked by the Israeli bombardment of roads and critical infrastructure. For the Eids, hunger is the daily routine For months, Yasmin and her family have gone to bed hungry. Everything has increased in price, and we cannot buy anything," she said. We always go to sleep without having dinner. She misses coffee, but a single packet of Nescafe goes for around $1.30. A kg (2 pounds) of onions goes for $10, a medium bottle of cooking oil for $15 if available. Meat and chicken all but vanished from the markets months ago, but there are still some local vegetables. Such sums are astronomical in an impoverished territory where few people earn regular incomes. Crowds of hundreds wait hours to get food from charities, which are also struggling. Hani Almadhoun, co-founder of the Gaza Soup Kitchen, said his teams can offer only small bowls of rice or pasta once a day. He said they can go to the market on one day and buy something for $5, and then go back in the afternoon to find it doubled or tripled in price. Its kitchen in the central town of Zuweida operated on a daily budget of around $500 for much of the war. When the amount of aid entering Gaza plummeted in October, its costs climbed to around $1,300 a day. It can feed about half of the 1,000 families who line up each day. The sharp decline in aid, and a US ultimatum Israel says it places no limits on the amount of aid entering Gaza and has announced a number of measures it says are aimed at increasing the flow in recent weeks, including the opening of a new crossing. It blames UN agencies for not retrieving it, pointing to hundreds of truckloads languishing on the Gaza side of the border. But the military's own figures show that the amount of aid entering Gaza plunged to around 1,800 trucks in October, down from over 4,200 the previous month. At the current rate of entry, around 2,400 trucks would come into Gaza in November. Around 500 trucks entered each day before the war. The UN says less than half the truckloads are actually distributed because of ongoing fighting, Israeli denial of movement requests, and the breakdown of law and order. Hamas-run police have vanished from many areas after being targeted by Israeli airstrikes. The war started Oct 7, 2023, when Hamas-led fighters stormed into Israel, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting around 250. Around 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, at least a third of whom are dead, and Hamas militants have repeatedly regrouped after Israeli operations, carrying out hit-and-run attacks from tunnels and bombed-out buildings. Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed over 44,000 Palestinians, more than half of them women and children, according to local health authorities, who do not say how many of the dead were fighters. The United States warned Israel in October that it might be forced to curtail some of its crucial military support if Israel did not rapidly ramp up the amount of aid entering Gaza. But after the 30-day ultimatum expired, the Biden administration declined to take any action, saying there had been some progress. Israel meanwhile passed legislation severing ties with UNRWA. Israel accuses the agency of allowing itself to be infiltrated by Hamas allegations denied by the UN. Israeli news outlets have reported that officials are considering plans for the military to take over aid distribution or contract it out to private security companies. Asked about such plans Wednesday, government spokesman David Mercer said Israel is looking at many creative solutions to ensure a better future for Gaza. Yoav Gallant, the former defence minister who was seen as a voice of moderation in the far-right government before being fired this month, warned on X that handing over aid distribution to a private firm was a euphemism for the beginning of military rule. As that debate plays out in Jerusalem, less than 100 km (60 miles) away from central Gaza, most Palestinians in the territory are focused on staying alive in a war with no end in sight. I find it difficult to talk about the suffering we are experiencing. I am ashamed to talk about it, said Yasmin's husband, Hani. What can I tell you? I'm a person who has 21 family members and is unable to provide them with a bag of flour. (AP) SCY SCY Kathmandu, Nov 22 (PTI) India's Chief of Army Staff Gen. Upendra Dwivedi on Friday paid a courtesy call to Nepal's Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli at the Prime Ministers Office, Singhdurbar. Similarly, Gen. Dwivedi also had a courtesy call with Defence Minister Manvir Rai at the Ministry of Defence on Friday, according to a Nepal Army statement. Oli, on the occasion, expressed happiness about the continuation of the tradition of conferring the Honorary Rank of General of the Army to each others army chiefs between Nepal and India, according to the Prime Ministers secretariat. Oli also underscored the need to further expand collaboration and relations between the two countries. Gen. Dwivedi said that he felt proud and fortunate to be the Honorary General of the Nepal Army and expressed confidence that he would do whatever possible to further expand bilateral relations. Earlier in the morning, Gen. Dwivedi experienced a mountain flight and visited the Nepal Army Command and Staff College at Shivapuri in Kathmandu where he interacted with the student officers of the Army Command and Staff Course, according to the statement. Earlier on Thursday, Gen. Dwivedi met his Nepalese counterpart Gen. Ashok Kumar Sigdel and discussed matters relating to mutual interest. The Indian Army chief was conferred with the Honorary Rank of the General of Nepal Army by President Ramchandra Paudel at Rastrapati Bhawan, Sheetal Niwas, on Thursday. Gen Dwivedi, who is leading a five-member delegation, arrived here on Wednesday for a five-day official visit at the invitation of his Nepalese counterpart Sigdel. London, Nov 22 (PTI) The Delhi-based family of Harshita Brella on Friday issued a heartfelt tribute to the 24-year-old found murdered in the boot of a car in London, triggering an international manhunt for her 23-year-old husband Pankaj Lamba as the prime suspect. Earlier, father Satbir Brella, mother Sudesh Kumari, and sister Sonia Dabas called for justice for Harshita after it emerged she had been the subject of a domestic violence court order to protect her from Lamba. Northamptonshire Police released an additional CCTV image of her walking with her husband by a boating lake where she lived in Corby on November 10, the night they believe she was killed. Harshita, you left this world but you are still with us in our hearts and will always be there, reads the familys tribute issued via the police force. We will never forget you till our last breath. Always stay with us. We miss you in every very moment of our life, it reads. The police launched a murder investigation into Harshitas death after her body was found inside the boot of a car in Ilford, east London, in the early hours of November 14. Detectives are continuing to appeal for information as they work to establish the circumstances that led to her death and bring her killer to justice, the police said. Brella was the subject of a 28-day domestic violence order against Lamba, which had not been renewed at the time of her killing. Her local MP for Corby and East Northamptonshire, Lee Barron, also raised the issue in the House of Commons this week, asking Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner if in certain circumstances domestic violence protection orders (DVPOs) should last longer than 28 days. DVPOs are court orders that ban a domestic violence perpetrator from returning to their home or having contact with the victim. Rayner said the government was committed to halving violence against women and girls as she expressed her concerns over the "horrifying set of circumstances" surrounding Harshita's murder. Earlier this week, an inquest into Harshita Brella's killing was opened in Northampton and adjourned until May 21, 2025, while the murder investigation remains ongoing. The provisional cause of her death was noted as "manual strangulation pending toxicology and histology" at the inquest hearing. The police have released a series of CCTV images of Lamba, suspected of murdering his wife on November 10 in Corby before driving her body to London some 145 kilometres away. Our inquiries have established that Pankaj Lamba drove a Silver Vauxhall Corsa from Corby to Ilford sometime on the morning of Monday, November 11. We suspect Harshitas body had been placed in the boot of the vehicle by Lamba before leaving Corby. Lamba then abandoned the vehicle in Brisbane Road, Ilford and made his getaway, said Detective Chief Inspector Johnny Campbell, Senior Investigating Officer from the East Midlands Special Operations Major Crime Unit (EMSOU). Peshawar, Nov 22 (PTI) A mob ransacked and set fire to two police check points on Friday to protest the killing of nearly 50 people by militants in the restive province in northwest Pakistan. Heavily-armed militants on Thursday ambushed dozens of vehicles carrying passengers in Kurram district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, killing around 50 people, mostly Shias, in one of the worst attacks in the region in recent years. Rescue authorities said around 50 people, including eight women and five children, were killed and 20 others injured in the attack while police initially confirmed 45 deaths. The toll was raised to 47 on Friday. No group claimed responsibility for the attack on passenger vans. On Friday, in response to the Thurday's killings, all markets and educational institutions in Parachinar remained closed even as enraged locals blocked the main road by burning tires. After a lot of protests, the crowd ransacked Bab-e-Kurram, an entry point to Baggan Main Bazar and burnt two police check points at Palachinar. Deputy Commissioner Kurram Javed Ullah Mehsud said efforts are underway to save the lives of those injured in the barbaric shooting. We will restore the routine life as quickly as possible, he said. A grand jirga (traditional council) will be called to discuss problems hampering restoration of peace in the district. Meanwhile, funeral prayers were offered for the individuals who were killed in the incident in Bagan and Ochit, Lower Kurram. Tribal leaders from Turi and Bangash communities, including Jalal Bangash, expressed their deep concerns. They stated that for the past one and a half months, they had been demanding the government to ensure safe travel routes. Two weeks ago, more than 1,00,000 people participated in a peace march to reopen and secure the main highway, after which the government assured them of safe convoys. In September, more than 50 people were killed and 120 others injured in clashes spread over eight days between Shia and Sunni tribes over a piece of land in Kurram district. The intensity of the fighting had led to the closure of the Parachinar-Peshawar main road and the Pak-Afghan Kharlachi border, disrupting transportation and movement. The road blockade has caused a shortage of essential items, including food, fuel, and medicines, worsening the situation for residents. The fighting had spread to areas such as Balishkhel, Sadda, Khar Kallay, Peewar and Maqbal in the district, which borders Afghanistan's Khost, Paktia, Logar and Nangarhar provinces, which are considered strongholds of the ISIS and the Pakistan Taliban. Similar clashes in the same region in July left dozens of people dead and more than 225 injured. Sukma, Nov 22 (PTI) Ten Naxalites were killed in an encounter with security personnel in Chhattisgarhs Sukma district on Friday, a senior police official said. The gunfight broke out in the morning in a forest within the jurisdiction of the Bhejji police station when a joint team of security personnel was out on an anti-Naxalite operation, said Inspector General of Police (Bastar Range) Sundarraj P. The operation was launched based on inputs about the presence of Maoists belonging to Konta and Kistaram area committees of Naxalites on forested hills of Korajguda, Dantespuram, Nagaram and Bhandarpadar villages, he said. Bodies of 10 Naxalites have been recovered from the spot so far, he said. Besides, a cache of weapons, including an INSAS rifle, an AK-47 rifle and a Self Loading Rifle (SLR), were also seized, he said. The search operation by the District Reserve Guard (DRG) and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) is still underway in the area, he added. With this incident, bodies of 207 Naxalites have been recovered so far this year following separate encounters in Chhattisgarhs Bastar region comprising seven districts, including Sukma, police said. Patna, Nov 22 (PTI) In an attempt to overcome the shortage of manpower in the senior ranks, Bihar Police has decided to give power akin to superior officers to 3000 personnel within a month. Those who will be benefited under the new scheme will include eligible constables, assistant sub-inspectors (ASIs) and sub-inspectors (SIs). Around 3000 eligible personnel of Bihar Police will be given the charge of superior officers within a month in the state. The process is being finalised with an aim to overcome the shortage of policemen in the senior ranks, Director General of Police (Headquarters) JS Gangwar told reporters. In the year 2023-24, a total 12,987 policemen were given charges of superior officers at different levels in the state, according to a statement. While 5,787 eligible constables were given charge of ASI, 5097 ASIs were given charge of SIs in 2023-24. Besides, 905 SIs were given charge of Inspectors in different districts in the state. Similarly, 2,176 personnel of the Bihar Special Armed Police (BSAP) were given charge of superior officers, it said. BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 22. The European delegation is continuing its intensive negotiations on climate financing, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said at a press conference as part of COP29 in Azerbaijans Baku, Trend reports. "Climate financing is impossible without reducing CO2 emissions, and reducing CO2 requires funding to ensure that all countries can implement it. In this context, we, as the European delegation, continue our intensive negotiations on the text. This means that we are building our actions based on what was powerfully and decisively agreed upon last year: tripling the pace of renewable energy development, doubling energy efficiency, and, most importantly, finding pathways to phase out fossil fuels. This is critically important for ensuring that currently mobilized funds are directed toward accelerating the energy transition in countries where it is still lagging behind. This includes developing energy storage systems, building infrastructure, and creating conditions to phase out coal in countries where coal-fired power plants are still operational, just as is already happening in industrialized nations, particularly in Europe. This is also a matter of climate justice," she said. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Kolkata, Nov 22 (PTI) Tension was palpable at the main gate of the Visva-Bharati on Friday as the SFI held a protest against a programme organised by the varsity in collaboration with an organisation helmed by a BJP leader. SFI's Visva-Bharati unit secretary Pratyush Mukherjee said the Left-wing organisation will continue to resist attempts to "saffronise" the campus. The CPI(M)-backed SFI was protesting against a lecture organised at the Lipika Auditorium by the varsity's Bhasa Bhavana and Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee Research Foundation, which is helmed by BJP leader Anirban Ganguly. The lecture was organised to celebrate the granting of classical language status to Bengali, Marathi, Assamese, Pali and Prakrit. Mukherjee said the topic of the programme was welcome but not the organiser. The SFI alleged that as they raised slogans near the main gate, they were assaulted by the varsity's security personnel. "We were beaten up by security personnel though we were holding a peaceful protest. Visva-Bharati should not be turned into the turf of saffron forces," an SFI activist said. Ganguly, who also faced protests while entering the campus, told reporters, "This is not a political event. We will not discuss politics here." Visva-Bharati registrar Ashok Mahato told PTI, "We don't have any information about any protest inside the venue. If any protests take place outside the gate, I cannot comment on it." New Delhi, Nov 22 (PTI) BJP president J P Nadda on Friday accused the Congress of pushing an "incorrect, false and politically" motivated narrative on the issue of Manipur unrest, as he hit back at Mallikarjun Kharge for seeking President Droupadi Murmu's intervention and alleging the Centre's complete failure in defusing the crisis. In a rejoinder to Kharge, Nadda claimed the repercussions of the Congress's "abject failure" in dealing with local issues in Manipur when it was in power are being felt even today. What is shocking is how repeated attempts are being made by the Congress party to sensationalise the situation in Manipur, he told Kharge. He said Kharge seemed to have forgotten that not only did his government legitimise the illegal migration of foreign militants to India, the then home minister P Chidambaram had signed treaties with them. These known militant leaders fleeing their country to avoid arrest were wholeheartedly endorsed and encouraged to carry on their destabilising efforts, Nadda claimed. "This complete failure of India's security and administrative protocols under your government is one of the major reasons why militant and habitually violent organisations are attempting to destroy the hard-won peace in Manipur and push it back several decades into the age of anarchy," he said. Unlike the Congress, the BJP-led NDA government will not allow this to happen at any cost, he added. He said the governments at the Centre and in Manipur have been working to stabilise the situation and protect people since the initial violence. The entire government machinery is devoted to bringing back peace and harmony to Manipur, he said, stressing that the BJP's commitment to resolving the situation quickly as probe into the incidents of violence are being carried out by the NIA, "one of the most efficient agencies" in the country. Nadda said he felt compelled to respond to the incorrect, false and politically motivated narrative being pushed against the government and which Kharge's words fail to camouflage. Kharge and his party seems to have conveniently forgotten the complete failure of government machinery and the ill-advised strategies adopted by the Congress governments both at the Centre and state during similar incidents in the early 90s and during the UPA era, he said. The North East region has witnessed a complete transformation in every sector be it economy, security, healthcare, education or access to growth opportunities under the Modi government, he claimed. People have endorsed its work by repeatedly putting their faith in the stability of double-engine NDA governments over the false promises of the Congress and its allies, he said. He said, "From more than 10 historical peace accords to unprecedented connectivity, our governments are truly bringing the people of North East closer." In Manipur alone, the percentage of people suffering from multidimensional poverty has reduced from over 20 per cent in 2013 to just over 5 per cent in 2022, he added. He told Kharge, "Yet, ignoring these developments you and your party have chosen to use the North East and its people to rake up political mileage and peddle your nefarious agendas. I wish to remind you that under Congress rule, Manipur witnessed one of the bloodiest periods in history." In addition to the black period of the 90s when thousands were killed and lakhs displaced due to rampant violence, in 2011 alone Manipur witnessed a complete blockade for more than 120 days, he noted. Petrol and LPG prices were nearly four-times higher than the rest of the country and losses of crores of rupees were being suffered by the exchequer every day, he said. The state was marked by thousands of fake encounters, he alleged. Nadda claimed that this pattern of Congress leaders endorsing and encouraging a nexus of foreign forces looking to derail India's progress is truly worrying. "As a result of this failure to recognise the maleficent intentions of these individuals, your party is often seen matching them step-for-step. Whether this failure is an unfortunate blind spot resulting from the Congress' thirst for power or part of a carefully designed strategy to divide the people and sideline our democracy, is what our nation deserves to know," he said. Nadda also reminded Kharge of the "disrespectful and irresponsible manner" in which the Congress acted when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was addressing the issue of violence in Manipur in Parliament earlier this year. In his two-page letter to the President, Kharge had on Tuesday accused both the Union and the state government of having "completely failed" in restoring peace and normalcy in Manipur during the last 18 months, seeking her intervention. He claimed that people have lost confidence in the governments. Kharge said that the violence has claimed more than 300 human lives, including women, children and babies. "The deteriorating law and order in Manipur has internally displaced nearly a lakh of human population rendering them homeless and forcing them to live in different relief camps," he said, adding the agony continues unabated. New Delhi, Nov 22 (PTI) India and Japan on Friday deliberated on a reciprocal provision of supply and services agreement for greater interoperability between the militaries of the two strategic partners amid common concerns of over China's military muscle-flexing in strategic waters. The proposed pact was discussed at a meeting between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Japanese counterpart Gen Nakatani that took place on the sidelines of a regional security conclave in Vientiane, the capital city of Laos. The defence ministry said both sides agreed to enhance cooperation in co-production and co-development of military hardware. "To further improve interoperability between the Indian and Japanese forces, reciprocal provision of supply and services agreement between the two countries and participation of militaries in various bilateral and multilateral exercises were discussed by both the ministers," it said in a statement. The reciprocal supply and services pact, if sealed, would provide for the militaries of the two countries to use each other's bases for repair and replenishment of supplies, besides facilitating scaling up of overall defence cooperation. Singh and Nakatani also agreed to explore new areas of cooperation in the air domain, the ministry said. It said the two sides reiterated the importance of India-Japan defence industry and technology cooperation. "Recalling the milestone event of signing of Memorandum of Implementation (MoI) of UNICORN mast in Japan last week, both sides agreed for enhanced cooperation in co-production and co-development in the defence manufacturing sector," it said. The MoI was inked for the co-development of UNICORN (Unified Complex Radio Antenna) mast, a key equipment for warships to increase their stealth characteristics. Singh also held a separate bilateral meeting with Philippines Defence Minister Gilberto Teodoro. "Both sides agreed to expand and deepen cooperation in exchange of subject matter experts, defence industry, counter-terrorism, space and maritime domain," the ministry said. Prior to his departure to Delhi, Singh visited the Wat Sisakat temple (a Buddhist temple) in Vientiane, and sought blessings from Mahaveth Chittakaro, Abbot of Sisaket temple. Singh arrived in Vientiane on Wednesday, primarily to attend a meeting of the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus). The ADMM-Plus is a platform comprising 10-nation ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and its eight dialogue partners -- India, China, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Russia and the United States. Laos hosted the meeting in its capacity as the current chair of ADMM-Plus. Srinagar, Nov 22 (PTI) People's Conference chief Sajad Lone on Friday accused Jammu and Kashmir's ruling National Conference (NC) of aligning with the BJP's agenda, calling the regional outfit the "A-team" of the saffron party. In a statement, the People's Conference MLA from Handwara claimed the NC "betrayed" the people of Jammu and Kashmir by "failing" to bring an unambiguous and strong resolution condemning the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A in August 2019. "You can't be so naive. The reason the prime minister and the home minister spoke so much about the resolution was purely electoral. It was wielded as a stick against the Congress, but not as forcefully as it should have been," Lone said. His remarks came hours after J-K Chief Minister and NC Vice President Omar Abdullah said the BJP targeting the Congress during the Assembly elections in Maharashtra and Jharkhand was an answer to those who said there was nothing in the resolution passed by the J-K Assembly asking the Centre to work out a mechanism for restoring the special status of the erstwhile state. Lone and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have said the resolution was not clear in condemning the Centre's decisions taken on August 5, 2019, and in seeking the restoration of Articles 370 and 35A. "If there was nothing in the resolution, why did the prime minister and the home minister raise it regularly? It is obvious that there was something in it," Abdullah said on Friday. However, Lone said only two parties -- the BJP and the NC -- perceived the resolution as demanding the restoration of Articles 370 and 35A. "Others probably couldn't understand it due to their poor command of English," Lone said sarcastically. The People's Conference chief also claimed the pre-election ferocity about Article 370 has now turned into a "tame surrender" -- one that "normalises and endorses" the events of August 5, 2019. "This silence makes it appear as though the first elected J-K Assembly post 2019 endorsed those events. If this is not betrayal, then what is," he asked. Lone also said the "lack of an unambiguous resolution" condemning the events of August 5, 2019, and demanding the restoration of Articles 370 and 35A reflects the "NC's failure to stand up for J-K". Referring to the 'People's Resolution' -- a resolution moved by Lone and PDP members along with an Independent MLA -- as the "real voice of dissent", Lone warned that the issue would continue to "haunt" the Assembly throughout its term. "The ruling party will eventually have to accept or reject this resolution. The truth will prevail," Lone said. New Delhi, Nov 22 (PTI) The third phase of Delhi Congress' Nyay Yatra began on Friday from Valmiki Mandir at Palam village and covered three Assembly constituencies, party officials said. Delhi Congress chief Devender Yadav visited the village and interacted with representatives of 365 villages, who pledged their support to the Congress, the party claimed in a statement. The massive public support for the Nyay Yatra is a clear message to the Kejriwal government and the BJP that people are looking for a change, Yadav claimed. He said that when Congress comes back to power, its first priority would be to address the problems affecting the common people, like the street vendors, so as to ensure an assured platform for everyone to earn a dignified living. The Nyay Yatra covered Palam, Brijwasan and Mehrauli Assemblies on Friday before concluding at Andheria Mode, Mehrauli. The Nyay Yatra has completed its two phases. It will cover all the 70 assembly constituencies in four phases before concluding on December 4. New Delhi, Nov 22 (PTI) The Supreme Court on Friday sought the response from the Gyanvapi mosque committee in Varanasi on a plea filed by the Hindu side for conducting an ASI survey of the sealed area of the mosque where a "shivling" was purportedly found in May, 2022. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan issued notice to the Committee of Management Anjuman Intezamia Masajid and sought its reply within two weeks on a plea filed by the Hindu side. On May 16, 2022, during a court-ordered survey of the Gyanvapi premises adjacent to the Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi, a structure found in the wazukhana (ablution pond) area was claimed to be a "shivling" by the Hindu side whereas the Muslim party claimed it to be a "fountain". Senior advocate Shyam Divan, along with advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, representing the Hindu side, said they had filed an application to consolidate all the suits and transfer it from the Varanasi district court to the Allahabad High Court. Senior advocate Huzefa Ahmadi, appearing for the mosque management committee, contended before the bench the appeal filed by the Masjid committee questioning the maintainability of the suits as barred by the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act 1991 should be heard on an urgent basis. After hearing both the sides, the bench agreed to post all the matters together on December 17. The top court on August 4, 2023, refused to stay the Allahabad High Court order allowing the ASI to conduct a scientific survey at the Gyanvapi mosque complex to determine if the 17th century structure was built upon a pre-existing temple, notwithstanding the assertion by the Muslim side that the exercise will "reopen wounds of the past". The apex court, however, asked the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) not to take recourse to any invasive act during the survey. It then said the evidentiary value of the scientific survey of the ASI was open to be tested in the lawsuit and was open to objections, including cross-examination. The Varanasi district court on July 21, 2023 directed the ASI to conduct a "detailed scientific survey" -- including excavations, wherever necessary -- to determine if the Gyanvapi mosque located next to the Kashi Vishwanath temple was built upon a temple. The mosque's wazukhana, where a structure claimed by the Hindu party to be a "shivling" exists, will not be part of the survey following an earlier Supreme Court order protecting the spot in the complex. The Hindu party claims a temple existed at the site which was demolished in the 17th century on the orders of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. Bengaluru, Nov 22 (PTI) The Karnataka High Court on Friday dismissed the anticipatory bail application filed by former JD (S) MP Prajwal Revanna, who is facing allegations of rape and sexual assault, in connection with a fourth case registered against him. The fourth case was registered against Revanna, accusing him of sexual harassment, on June 12 at cyber crime police station of CID in Bengaluru. In this case he has been booked for sexual harassment, stalking and criminal intimidation, and violation of privacy of IT Act. The complainant in this case is a woman, who was allegedly sexually harassed over a video call. Prajwal's advocates wished to withdraw the anticipatory bail plea on the ground that the chargesheet had been filed in the case, but Justice M Nagaprasanna did not allow them to withdraw the petition, and instead dismissed the plea. Revanna is currently under judicial custody at Parappana Agrahara Jail here, and a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed to probe four separate cases against him. He was arrested by the SIT on May 31 upon arrival at Bengaluru Airport from Germany in connection with a case registered at the Holenarasipura Town Police Station. He was remanded to custody the following day. Revanna had failed in his bid to retain the Hassan parliamentary constituency in this year's Lok Sabha polls. The cases of sexual abuse came to light after pen drives containing explicit videos allegedly involving Prajwal Revanna were reportedly circulated in Hassan, ahead of Lok Sabha polls there on April 26. The JD(S) suspended him from the party following the cases filed against him. In the first case registered against him at the Holenarasipura Town police station in Hassan on April 28, Revanna is accused of sexually harassing a 47-year-old former maid. He is listed as accused number two, while his father and local MLA, H D Revanna, is the primary accused. The second case against Prajwal Revanna was filed by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on May 1 after a 44-year-old former member of the Hassan Zilla Panchayat accused him of repeatedly raping her. The third case pertains to rape of a woman in her 60s from Mysuru's K R Nagara, who was also a domestic help. The victim's son had initially filed a kidnap case, alleging abduction of his mother, at the K R Nagar police station on May 2. In this kidnap case, the SIT had arrested Revanna, who is currently out on bail, and had questioned Prajwal's mother Bhavani, who has got anticipatory bail. Bengaluru, Nov 22 (PTI) Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Friday expressed confidence about Congress winning all the three assembly constituencies in the state where by-polls are held. He also voiced confidence about congress along with its alliance partners coming to power in Maharashtra, without engaging in 'resort politics'. Results for by-polls to the state's Sandur, Shiggaon and Channapatna Assembly constituencies that were held on November 13, and Maharashtra Assembly polls on November 20, will be declared on Saturday. "The exit polls will fail, we will win all the three seats. In Channapatna, I said I'm the candidate irrespective of whoever contests from the party, I'm the candidate and I'm the face. If we lose, it is my loss..." Shivakumar, who is also the state Congress chief, said in response to a question. Speaking to reporters here, he said, he has campaigned in more than 8-10 consistencies in Maharashtra for Assembly polls there, and is confident of the party winning the polls. "....without any 'resort politics', we will be able to form the government there (Maharashtra), this is my hope and confidence," he said in response to a question on 'resort politics'. Asked, in case of hung assembly in Maharashtra and Jharkhand, is there a possibility of Congress MLAs being shifted to Karnataka under his supervision, Shivakumar said, "some national media are reporting this, as far as I'm concerned no leader of AICC has approached or spoken to me. I'm not involved in this. If they call me it is a different issue, but we don't have any such plans." Shivakumar urged the centre to immediately take action and arrest billionaire Gautam Adani, following the US filing civil and criminal charges against him and seven others over a multi-million-dollar bribery scheme. "I would like to request the Prime Minister, the image of the government is important, the image of the country is important, and his (Modi) image is also important....we appeal to the PM to book a criminal case against him (Adani) and arrest him...shareholders interest should also be protected," he added. Responding to a question on whether the state government will initiate any action against Adani group in the state where it has businesses, the Deputy CM said, "The central government should start criminal proceedings, after that if they write to us we will do whatever has to be....there should be a plan of action from the central government, since it is international crime." Asked if the state government will not have any contract with the company ahead, Shivakumar said, "I won't say that. I can't tell that. If there are clean projects without any corruption.....I won't discuss it now, let's see..." Replying to a question whether any disciplinary action will be taken against Minister B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan for referring to Union Minister and JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy as "Kaalia" (dark-skinned), which the NDA had slammed as a "racist" slur, the DCM said, the matter will be discussed internally in the party. "I have spoken to him (Khan) personally, he is an important worker and leader. Emotionally he has spoken, I have told him it is not right. CM has also spoken to him. Internally we will discuss, I don't want to discuss in the media. We also make mistakes. We have to set right the people, we will see," he said. Several Congress party office-bearers have been pushing the party to crack the whip against Khan, a lawmaker from Chamarajpet, accusing him of causing damage and embarrassment to the party. They also feel that his remarks had an adverse impact on the party's prospects in the Channapatna Assembly segment. Viewed of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. Washington Post columnist Jennifer Rubin is facing fierce backlash after a clip from her podcast went viral, featuring an inflammatory claim that Republicans want to kill your kids. You have to boil it down to nuts and bolts, and you have to be pithy. What do I mean by pithy? How about this: Republicans want to kill your kids. Its actually true, Rubin said during the episode. She justified the statement by referencing Republican positions on vaccines, medical research, and gun policies, arguing that these stances endanger children. If youre going to oppose vaccinations, stop breakthrough medical research, and allow minors to get semiautomatic weapons which they use to shoot up schools well then, you are responsible for kids health and death, she continued. Rubins remarks ignited a storm of criticism. Conservative activist Robby Starbuck called for her dismissal, tagging Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos in a post on X, writing, She should be fired over this if theres any sanity left in the world. Others accused Rubin of exhibiting Trump derangement syndrome. Rubin also faced criticism for earlier comments on her podcast, where she labeled Trumps cabinet picks as unfit and reckless and urged Senate members to block their confirmations. Conservatives decried her rhetoric as divisive and extreme. Rubins latest controversy comes as the Washington Post faces internal and external scrutiny over its recent editorial policies. Last month, Bezos didnt allow the paper to issue a presidential endorsement for Vice President Kamala Harris, breaking with decades of tradition. The move was criticized by Rubin, who dismissed Bezoss explanation and accused him of appeasing Trump to protect his business interests. Rubin, who previously gained prominence as a staunch critic of the Obama administration, has shifted her tone in recent years, becoming one of the Biden administrations most vocal defenders. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, November 22. Uzbekistan and Kuwait signed a memorandum on trade facilitation, Trend reports. The document was signed during the meeting of the Uzbek-Kuwaiti Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, and Scientific-Technical Cooperation. The agreement marks a significant step forward in fostering partnerships in priority sectors of both economies, paving the way for mutual growth and development. The delegations of the two countries were led by high-ranking officials, with Minister of Investment, Industry, and Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan Laziz Kudratov representing the Uzbek side and State Minister of Economy and Investment of Kuwait Noura Suleiman Al-Fassam heading the Kuwaiti delegation. Discussions focused on the current state of trade, economic, and investment cooperation, resulting in agreements to draft an Industrial Cooperation Program and finalize a bilateral investment treaty in the near future. Both sides explored opportunities in banking and finance, Kuwaiti participation in Uzbekistan's privatization initiatives, and collaboration in agriculture, tourism, transport and logistics, and environmental protection. Meanwhile, trade turnover between the two countries has increased more than fivefold over the past five years, driven by mutual trade in food products, chemical goods, and services. Currently, seven enterprises with Kuwaiti capital are operating in Uzbekistan, reflecting the growing economic ties. Australias communications minister introduced a world-first law into Parliament on Thursday that would ban children younger than 16 from social media, saying online safety was one of parents toughest challenges. Michelle Rowland said TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, Reddit, X and Instagram were among the platforms that would face fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars ($33 million) for systemic failures to prevent young children from holding accounts. This bill seeks to set a new normative value in society that accessing social media is not the defining feature of growing up in Australia, Rowland told Parliament. There is wide acknowledgement that something must be done in the immediate term to help prevent young teens and children from being exposed to streams of content unfiltered and infinite, she added. The bill has wide political support. After it becomes law, the platforms would have one year to work out how to implement the age restriction. For too many young Australians, social media can be harmful. Almost two-thirds of 14- to 17-years-old Australians have viewed extremely harmful content online including drug abuse, suicide or self-harm as well as violent material. One quarter have been exposed to content promoting unsafe eating habits, Rowland said. Government research found that 95% of Australian care-givers find online safety to be one of their toughest parenting challenges, she said. Social media had a social responsibility and could do better in addressing harms on their platforms, she said. This is about protecting young people, not punishing or isolating them, and letting parents know that were in their corner when it comes to supporting their childrens health and wellbeing, Rowland said. Child welfare and internet experts have raised concerns about the ban, including isolating 14- and 15-year-olds from their already established online social networks. Rowland said there would not be age restrictions placed on messaging services, online games or platforms that substantially support the health and education of users. We are not saying risks dont exist on messaging apps or online gaming. While users can still be exposed to harmful content by other users, they do not face the same algorithmic curation of content and psychological manipulation to encourage near-endless engagement, Rowland said. The government announced last week that a consortium led by British company Age Check Certification Scheme has been contracted to examine various technologies to estimate and verify ages. In addition to removing children under 16 from social media, Australia is also looking for ways to prevent children under 18 from accessing online pornography, a government statement said. Age Check Certification Schemes chief executive Tony Allen said Monday the technologies being considered included age estimation and age inference. Inference involves establishing a series of facts about individuals that point to them being at least a certain age. Rowland said the platforms would also face fines of up to AU$50 million ($33 million) if they misused personal information of users gained for age-assurance purposes. Information used for age assurances must be destroyed after serving that purpose unless the user consents to it being kept, she said. Digital Industry Group Inc., an advocate for the digital industry in Australia, described the age limit as a 20th century response to 21st century challenges. (AP) Ukraine claimed Thursday that Russia launched an intercontinental ballistic missile overnight at one of its cities. If confirmed, it would be the first time Moscow has used such a weapon in the war. Ukraine did not provide any evidence that an ICBM was used in the attack on the central city of Dnipro, apparently armed with conventional warheads. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said a missile used matches the speed and altitude of an ICBM. The Kremlin refused to comment on the strike. The attack comes in a week when tensions have repeatedly soared, as the U.S. eased restrictions on Ukraines use of American-made longer-range missiles inside Russia and Russian President Vladimir Putin lowered the threshold for launching nuclear weapons. The range of an ICBM which can exceed 5,500 kilometers (3,400 miles) is beyond what is needed to attack Ukraine. But such missiles are designed to carry atomic warheads, and the use of one, even with a conventional payload, would serve as a chilling reminder of Russias nuclear capability. It also appears to send a message to Ukraines Western allies that Moscow has the ability to target them. In a statement Thursday on the Telegram messaging app, Ukraines air force said an intercontinental ballistic missile was fired at Dnipro, along with eight other missiles, and that the Ukrainian military shot down six of them. Two people were wounded in the attack, and an industrial facility and a rehabilitation center for people with disabilities were damaged, according to local officials. The air force statement did not specify the exact type of ICBM but said it was launched from Russias Astrakhan region, on the Caspian Sea. Today, our crazy neighbor once again showed what he really is, Zelenskyy said. And how afraid he is. U.K. officials did not immediately confirm what kind of missile Russia fired. Prime Minister Keir Starmers spokesman, Dave Pares, called the reports deeply concerning but added that intelligence services were still looking into them. If true, clearly this would be another example of grave, reckless and escalatory behavior from Russia and only serves to strengthen our resolve, he said. Defense Secretary John Healey said there were unconfirmed reports of Russia firing a new ballistic missile into Ukraine, which we know they have been preparing for months. Ballistic missiles can have a range of anywhere from under 500 kilometers (310 miles) to over 5,500 kilometers (3,400 miles) in the case of intercontinental ones. Ballistic refers to the shape of their trajectory. Since the Cold War era, Moscow and Washington have given each other advance notice about ICBM launches to prevent the other side from perceiving a test launch as a nuclear attack. They have stuck to exchanging such warnings despite increasing tensions which ratcheted up again in recent days. Earlier this week, the Biden administration authorized Ukraine to use U.S.-supplied, longer-range missiles to strike deeper inside Russia a move that drew an angry response from Moscow. Days later, Ukraine fired several of the missiles into Russia, according to the Kremlin. The same day, Putin signed a new doctrine that allows for a potential nuclear response even to a conventional attack on Russia by any nation that is supported by a nuclear power. The doctrine is formulated broadly to avoid a firm commitment to use nuclear weapons. In response, Western countries, including the U.S., said Russia has used irresponsible nuclear rhetoric and behavior throughout the war to intimidate Ukraine and other nations. They have also expressed dismay at the deployment of thousands of North Korean troops to Russia to fight against Ukraine. Also Thursday, Russia also struck Zelenskyys home city of Kryvyi Rih, wounding 26 people, said the head of regional administration, Serhii Lysak. The missile strike caused damage to an administrative building, at least five multistory residential buildings, and civilian vehicles. The Russian Defense Ministry, meanwhile, said in a statement that its air defense systems shot down two British-made Storm Shadow missiles, six HIMARS rockets, and 67 drones. The statement didnt say when or where the Storm Shadows were shot down or what they were targeting. Russia earlier reported downing some of the missiles over the illegally annexed Crimean Peninsula. More than 1,000 days into war, Russia has the upper hand, with its larger army advancing in Donetsk and Ukrainian civilians suffering from relentless drone and missile strikes. Analysts and observers say that the loosening of restrictions on Ukraines use of Western missiles is unlikely to change the the course of the war, but it puts the Russian army in a more vulnerable position and could complicate the logistics that are crucial in warfare. Putin has also warned that the move would mean that Russia and NATO are at war. It is an important move and it pulls against, undermines the narrative that Putin had been trying to establish that it was fine for Russia to rain down Iranian drones and North Korean missiles on Ukraine but a reckless escalation for Ukraine to use Western-supplied weapons at legitimate targets in Russia, said Peter Ricketts, a former U.K. national security adviser who now sits in the House of Lords. (AP) The U.S. leads the world in developing artificial intelligence technology, surpassing China in research and other important measures of AI innovation, according to a newly released Stanford University index. Theres no surefire way to rank global AI leadership but Stanford researchers have made an attempt by measuring the vibrancy of the AI industry across various dimensions, from how much research and investment is happening to how responsibly the technology is being pursued to prevent harm. The gap is actually widening between the U.S. and China, said computer scientist Ray Perrault, director of the steering committee that runs Stanfords AI Index. The U.S. is investing a lot more, at least at the level of firm creation and firm funding. The California-based universitys Institute for Human-Centered AI which has ties to Silicon Valleys tech industry released the report Thursday as government AI officials from the U.S. and several allies met in San Francisco this week to compare notes on AI safety measures. Heres which countries made the top 10: United States The U.S. ranks No. 1 on Stanfords list and has consistently held that position since 2018 when it overtook China. It has far outpaced China in private AI investment, which hit $67.2 billion in the U.S. last year compared to $7.8 billion in China, according to the report. It also leads in publishing responsible AI research. Its no surprise that the home of commercial AI powerhouses such as Google and Meta, along with relative newcomers like OpenAI and Anthropic, has produced many notable AI models that have influenced how the technology is being developed and applied. The U.S. also gets some points for having a number of AI-related laws on the books, though Congress has yet to pass any broad AI regulations. China China has requested far more patents than any other country regarding generative AI, the U.N. intellectual property agency said earlier this year. Stanford researchers counted that as one measure of Chinas strong growth in AI innovation but not enough to lead the pack. Still, the report says that Chinas focus on developing cutting-edge AI technologies and increasing its R&D investments has positioned it as a major AI powerhouse. Chinas universities have produced a large number of AI-related research publications and it has commercial leaders developing notable AI models, such as Baidu and its chatbot Ernie. United Kingdom Coming in at No. 3 is the UK, which also ranked high in research and development, and educational infrastructure due to top computer science universities churning out a skilled AI workforce. Its also home to Googles AI subsidiary DeepMind, whose co-founder recently won a Nobel Prize; and had more mentions of AI in parliamentary proceedings than any other country. Last year, the UK hosted the worlds first international AI safety summit. India Close behind the UK was India, thanks to a strong AI research community, improvements in economic investments tied to AI and a robust public discourse about AI on social media, according to the report. United Arab Emirates The UAEs deliberate focus on AI appears to have paid off in the Middle Eastern nations fifth-place score. It was one of the top locations for AI investments. Microsoft earlier this year said it was investing $1.5 billion in UAE-based tech firm G42, which is overseen by the countrys powerful national security adviser. Based in Abu Dhabi, G42 runs data centers and has built whats considered the worlds leading Arabic-language AI model, known as Jais. The rest of the top 10 Rounding out the top 10 are France at No. 6, followed by South Korea, Germany, Japan and Singapore. France, home to the buzzy AI startup Mistral, ranked high in AI policy and governance. Both it and Germany will be part of the European Unions sweeping new AI Act that places safeguards on a range of AI applications based on how risky they are. The EU also follows the U.S. in developing a plan to expand semiconductor production within the bloc. (AP) President-elect Donald Trump is reportedly considering former Secret Service agent and ex-Fox News host Dan Bongino to lead the U.S. Secret Service in his upcoming administration, according to a CNN report. The move would mark a return to federal law enforcement for Bongino, who served as a Secret Service agent from 1999 to 2011 after beginning his career as a New York Police Department officer. Bonginos name is said to be on a shortlist that includes Sean Curran, head of Trumps current security detail, and Robert Engel, the former head of his detail who was with Trump during the events of January 6, 2021. Bongino has a complex political history, having transitioned from law enforcement to politics and media. He first entered the political arena as a Republican Senate candidate in Maryland in 2012, followed by an unsuccessful run for a Maryland congressional seat in 2014. After moving to Florida in 2015, Bongino sought a congressional seat in 2016, finishing third in the Republican primary amid controversy, including a profanity-laced tirade against a reporter. He later gained prominence in conservative media, hosting shows on NRATV and Fox News, including Unfiltered with Dan Bongino. Currently, he hosts The Dan Bongino Show on Rumble, where he continues to be an outspoken conservative voice. Bonginos potential appointment comes amidst major challenges for the Secret Service. The agency faced heavy criticism following a security failure at a Trump campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, in July, where an assassination attempt nearly cost Trump his life. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle resigned after the incident, with Bongino among her most vocal critics. He has accused Cheatle of putting politics ahead of presidential protection and called her utterly unqualified to lead the agency. Bonginos sharp critiques of the Secret Services handling of that and other security failures have fueled speculation that Trump might choose him to implement sweeping reforms. Trumps decision will likely hinge on balancing experience with loyalty and trust. While Bonginos Secret Service tenure and media prominence make him a high-profile candidate, figures like Curran and Engel bring direct experience managing Trumps security detail during pivotal moments. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) Kashrus Questions Posed to Rav Shlomo Miller in 2012 at an AKKO Kashrus Convention Question 1: Dishwashers for Meat and Dairy Q: Many people are aware that Iggeros Moshe permits the use of one dishwasher for both meat and dairy (assuming separate racks are used for each), but what most people are not aware of is that one of those teshuvos was written in response to a question posed specifically for Nursing Home X! What is the reason for this heter? Why can one use one dishwasher for both meat and dairy? A: Rav Moshe explained that his psak is based on the fact that the blios (absorbed tastes) are nat bar nat (twice removed taste) of hetairah (permissible substance), but the practical question is that very often especially in a commercial dishwasher there is residue of meat or dairy left on the filters, which would negate the possibility of relying on nat bar nat. Therefore, at Nursing Home X there is a kashering every time they switch between meat and milk (or vice versa), but the truth is that the main goal of that kashering is to ensure that there is no residue left anywhere in the dishwasher so that the principle of nat bar nat can apply. (Iggeros Moshe YD 2:29. Rav Miller explained that although the detergent would appear to be pagum (defective/spoiled) and could prevent blios from spreading, one must give careful consideration before assuming that all detergent actually has a foul-enough taste to qualify for this halacha.) There is a halacha that one should not continually kasher a utensil back and forth between meat and milk because the person might forget the items status and mistakenly use it without kashering. In general, that type of concern is limited to cases where if the person would forget, the food would be assur bdieved (prohibited after the fact). However, in our case, where even if the person did not kasher the dishwasher the food eaten on the dishes would be mutar bdieved (permitted after the fact) (due to nat bar nat), one may lchatchilah (initially) regularly kasher between meat and dairy. Question 2: Temperature for Kashering Q: The dishwasher is heated to 185 F during kashering. Doesnt hagalah (kashering with boiling water) have to be at a higher temperature? A: There is no need for hagalah water reach 212 F, and in fact, at Torontos elevation water boils at lower than that temperature! (In addition, the barometric pressure a value that changes from day to day plays a role in determining the boiling point of water.) Boiling occurs when the waters internal pressure equals the external pressure in the atmosphere, such that bubbles escape from the water. Boiling is also not necessary for hagalah but rather the ikar hadin (basic law) requirement is that the water be maaleh resichah (bringing to a boil) which is defined as when the water becomes agitated. That typically occurs somewhere above 180 F, and for that reason Nursing Home X may kasher their dishwasher at 185 F. Lchatchilah (initially), hagalah should be performed when the water is at a traditional rolling boil, but in this case where there is a tzorech (need) and the kashering is only being performed between meat and milk, one may rely on the lower temperature of hagalah. Question 3: Steam System Concerns Q: There is just one boiler which provides all hot water and steam for the entire facility including the jacketed kettles on both the meat and dairy sides of the kitchen, and the direct-steam used to cook vegetables. Condensate is returned from all jacketed kettles to the boiler. Doesnt this condensate serve as a medium for transferring meat taam (taste) to the dairy side and vice versa? Must the hashgachah insist that Nursing Home X spend $150,000 to purchase a second boiler? A: It is generally assumed that steam has the status of a toldas haur (derivative of fire) in the sense that although it is removed from its heat source (the fire) it is not considered iruy kli rishon (pouring from a primary vessel). Accordingly, if someone is cooking fish on the fire and meat splashes onto the outside of the pot, Chavas Daas holds that the taam transfers directly from the meat into the fish such that this transfer is just one nat. Bais Ephraim argues that the transfer occurs in two steps from the meat into the pot-wall, and from the pot-wall into the fish and therefore the transfer is considered two nats (nat bar nat). According to Bais Ephraim, one may surely use the same steam system for both meat and dairy because the transfer of taam from the meat kettle into the steam is already nat bar nat and when the taam transfers back into the dairy food that will be a third nat such that one may even be lenient and permit nat bar nat al yedei bishul (nat bar nat through cooking). Similarly, even according to Chavas Daas the steam could be used to cook pareve food to be served at a dairy meal, because by the time the taam transfers into the dairy food it will have transferred three times (meat to water to dairy). Accordingly, it would be better for there to be separate boilers for meat and dairy, but in this shaas hadchak (pressing circumstances) one can rely on the aforementioned leniency and allow them to continue using just one. (It seems that a considerable amount of the facilitys condensate is generated by the very large kitchen. It was suggested that it may be worthwhile to calculate exactly how much steam is used for innocuous uses for it may turn out that the meat and/or dairy taam is batel bshishim (nullified in sixty parts) in the pareve condensate.) Question 4: Jewish Workers on Shabbos Q: Many of the Nursing Home X residents are cholim (sick people) and therefore certain kulos (leniencies) can be relied upon as relates to hilchos Shabbos. Many of those kulos are only permitted if the action is done by a non-Jew. If so, what should the COR do if a Jew applies for a job in the Nursing Home X kitchen? A: In truth this is a serious issue but in practice the hashgachah has no control over who is hired. From the perspective of the residents, they may eat the food based on the assumption that the food they are eating was prepared by a non-Jew (since non-Jews comprise the majority of the workforce). (An additional factor is that Gra permits food cooked by a Jew on Shabbos bshogeg (unknowingly), and the bulk of the Jews working on Shabbos nowadays qualify as shogegim (unknowing sinners) since they never knew better than to be mechallel Shabbos.) Question 5: Pre-Shabbos Preparation Q: Should the hashgachah push/force the facility to do as much melacha (work) before Shabbos as possible, or might that cause them to not serve the patients properly? A: In theory, all melacha which can possibly be performed before Shabbos should not be done on Shabbos, so as to minimize the chillul Shabbos wherever possible. However, in this situation it is possible that making such demands could lead them to walk away from hashgachah altogether, and therefore careful consideration and shikul hadas (weighing of the law) should be given before making any new demands. It is crucial that the people involved in the hashgachah work to create goodwill and work together with Nursing Home X as much as possible, so that in the long run the kosher community will gain as much as possible from the relationship. Question 6: Cafeteria Open on Shabbos Q: At this time, the cafeteria is open to the public on Shabbos. No cooking is done on Shabbos but people can purchase cold sandwiches and similar items. What, if anything, should the COR do about this? A: It is a chillul Hashem (desecration of Gods name) to give a hechsher on food sold in this manner on Shabbos, and maybe this could be minimized by putting up a sign which states that the CORs hashgachah is limited to food prepared during the weekdays (or something similar). A side benefit of such a sign is that it might discourage people from buying food on Shabbos. Question 7: Non-Kosher Catering Q: The historical approach has always been that the entire Nursing Home X is certified as kosher, and no non-kosher food is allowed in under any circumstances. There has been significant pushback from the fundraising arm of the foundation (and others) to allow non-kosher catering in the conference rooms. Should we allow this? A: It is worthwhile to maintain the kedushas hamakom (sanctity of the place) and pretend to not notice the occasional exception. The pirtzah (breach) of formally allowing non-kosher food into the building could potentially lead to even more serious issues in the future, and should be avoided. Question 8: Different Levels of Illness Q: Must the staff be taught to differentiate between different levels of choleh (yesh bo sakanah life threatening illness, ein bo sakanah non-life threatening illness, michush minor ailment) and allow or disallow melachos based on that? A: This is not required because the vast majority of residents are at least in the category of a choleh sheein bo sakanah (non-life threatening illness) for whom a non-Jew is permitted to perform melacha on Shabbos (and for whom bishul akum is permitted on Shabbos). Question 9: Chametz and Tevilas Keilim Q: Nursing Home X was founded by Jews and just about all of the current decision makers are Jewish. It is a non-profit where most of the funding comes from government sources, but a sizeable amount of collected from the community by a foundation. Do they have to sell their chametz for Pesach? Do they have to be toveil their dishes? A: The government has the right to take control of any non-profit which is not performing up to par, and therefore there is some reason to suggest that the Jews are no longer the owners of Nursing Home X and rather just serve as a sort of management company for the governments nursing home. Due to the difficulty in performing tevilas keilim (immersion of vessels) on all of their dishes, it would seem that one could be lenient based on the aforementioned sevara (logical argument) as relates to: Items used only for the preparation of food (e.g. pots) Food cooked in pots and/or with utensils that did not undergo tevillah, remains kosher such that the question of whether tevillah is required on pots does not directly impact the residents. Glass and china The mitzvah doraisah (biblical commandment) of tevilas keilim is limited to metal utensils and therefore one may be more lenient as relates to the mitzvah drabannan (rabbinical commandment) to also toveil glass (and china). However, it would be appropriate for the facility to toveil all of their flatware since those items are used by residents, there is a doraisah requirement that they undergo tevillah, and it is also not nearly as complicated and difficult to toveil them as is it to toveil the large dishes and utensils. The halacha is more strict as relates to mechiras chametz (selling of leavened products), because not only must one sell chametz which they own (or have achrayus responsibility for), but they must also get rid of chametz which they have the right to use (matzui etzlam available to them). Accordingly, since Nursing Home X is controlled by Jewish people they should perform mechiras chametz before Pesach. Nursing Home X does not currently do any baking of breads, cakes or other items that require hafrashas challah (separation of dough portion). If they (or another similar facility) would bake with the five primary grains, they would be required to be mafrish challah (separate challah), and further study would be required to determine if that hafrashah should be done with a bracha (blessing). Question 10: Medicine Less than a Shiur Q: In most cases a person uses less than a shiur (minimum amount) of liquid medicine. Although the general rule is that chatzi shiur asur min haTorah (half the minimum amount is biblically forbidden), are there still some possible reasons to be lenient? A: There are some possible reasons to be lenient: There are those who say that chatzi shiur asur min haTorah only applies to foods which are forbidden based on a lav (negative commandment) but if they are a mere issur balma (general prohibition) then there is nothing wrong with eating a chatzi shiur of that food. Achiezer considers that the issur to feed non-kosher food to a child (lo taachilum do not feed them) may not apply to a chatzi shiur. Based on these reasons one can be melamed zechus (judge favorably) on those who give their children a teaspoon (i.e. less than a shiur) of liquid medicine that contains glycerin when there is no kosher alternative available. Question 11: Tablets Q: What is the status of tablets? A: Tablets are primarily made of starch and other food items with a small amount of bad-tasting medicine mixed in, and therefore the pill qualifies as something which is shelo kderech achilah (not the normal way of eating), which is permitted for a choleh if there are no substitutes. Although there are stearates on the outside of the pill (and those stearates might not be kosher), since the stearates cannot be separated from the rest of the pill they are considered to be mixed in with the pill. When viewed this way, the stearates are batel bshishim and therefore do not pose a concern. Question 12: Cough Medicine Q: What about cough medicine? A: Cough medicine typically contains glycerin which if it is made from neveilah (improperly slaughtered animal) or chazir (pig) is an issur lav (prohibition from a negative commandment). Accordingly, the only possible heter to take cough medicine which is safek issur (doubtfully forbidden) is if it is given to a child. However, Rav Aharon Kotler said that there is no heter for an adult to consume cough medicine if it contains glycerin (and does not have hashgachah). The ikar hadin (basic law) is that since the glycerin is usually not more than 20% of the medicine, one can be mevatel (nullify) the medicine in 12 times its volume such that the glycerin is batel bshishim. This assumes one is not concerned with ChaNaN (the principle that forbidden items that enhance taste cannot be nullified) in this case. It would be better to be concerned for ChaNaN and be mevatel the entire volume of the medicine. Question 13: Chewables Q: What about chewables? A: Pills which are chewed are considered kderech achilah (normal way of eating) and therefore if there are (possible) non-kosher ingredients in them an adult would be forbidden from taking them. Since a chewable pill is smaller than a kezayis (olive-size), an adult could give one to a child. Question 14: Gelcaps Q: What about gelcaps? A: Previously, we noted that hard gelatin capsules are shelo kderech achilah because people would not eat them in their current, plasticized state, and therefore they are permitted for cholim. In contrast, softgels are somewhat worse due to their being in a more-edible form, and therefore even cholim should avoid them. The only way they can be consumed is if one wraps the softgel in a paper, kosher capsule, or some other non-food item before swallowing the softgel. Question 15: Vitamins Q: What about vitamins? A: If a person takes a vitamin tablet as part of their daily nutrition, then they should use kosher vitamins because in this case the vitamin is a food replacer such that they are considered food even if tablets would otherwise be considered shelo kderech achilah. On the other hand, if the person takes therapeutic doses of vitamins as a form of refuah (healing), then the person may take them in tablet form regardless of whether the ingredients are kosher. Question 16: Toothpaste and Mouthwash Q: What about toothpaste and mouthwash? The Clarkstown Police Department is investigating a deeply troubling act of vandalism that occurred at a shul on Tor Terrace early Thursday morning. Mispalllim arrived to find siddurim and chumashim discarded in a garbage can, three bookshelves destroyed, and seforim scattered across the floor, Monsey Scoop reported. This shocking act was promptly reported to the Clarkstown Police Department, and a police report has been filed. Additionally, Chaverim of Rockland has been enlisted to assist in the investigation. The shul, which currently operates out of a backyard tent, is in the process of obtaining the necessary permits from the Town of Clarkstown. Just days before the incident, the shul management had been notified by the Town that some neighbors expressed dissatisfaction with the setup. The timing of this vandalism has raised concerns about potential motives. A representative of the shul spoke to YWN, stating, This is very privateits in a backyard. We dont bother anyone. We dont park on the street, and the property is so large that it cant even be seen from the road. This is pure hate. Community members are urging local authorities to act swiftly to ensure the safety and security of religious institutions in the area. The investigation remains ongoing, and updates will follow as more information becomes available. President Joe Biden has criticized the International Criminal Courts (ICC) decision to issue arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, labeling the move as outrageous. Let me be clear once again: whatever the ICC might imply, there is no equivalencenonebetween Israel and Hamas. We will always stand with Israel against threats to its security, Biden declared in his first official response to the ICCs controversial decision. The ICC, based in The Hague, announced Thursday that it had approved arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant on suspicion of war crimes, along with a warrant for Hamas military leader Mohammed Deif, whose death from an IDF airstrike remains unconfirmed by Hamas. The charges against Netanyahu and Gallant include allegations of crimes against humanity, including murder and persecution, and accusations of using starvation as a method of warfare. The arrest warrants, which also accuse Netanyahu and Gallant of ordering attacks on civilian populations, could significantly impact their ability to travel internationally. Nations that adhere to ICC protocols, including many in Europe, would be required to detain the Israeli leaders should they enter their territories. France has already stated its intention to comply with the ICC directive, as has Canada stances that could severely restrict diplomatic mobility for Israels leadership. U.S. Senate Majority Leader-elect John Thune has warned that the Senate will impose sanctions on the ICC if it continues its pursuit of what he described as twisted and baseless arrest warrants. The controversy surrounding the ICCs decision has also cast a spotlight on its chief prosecutor, Karim Khan. Khan faces allegations of misconduct, including accusations of coercive behavior and abuse of authority brought forward by a former female aide. Despite the courts internal watchdog initially closing the case within five days, an external investigation has since been launched due to mounting scrutiny. Concerns about the integrity of this investigation have arisen, given Khans connections to the oversight body. Reports allege that Khans wife, Shyamala Alagendra, a former official at the Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS), may have influenced the probe. Furthermore, the director of the OIOS investigations unit previously worked closely with Khan at the United Nations. The ICC has been accused of bias and a lack of transparency, with critics pointing to Khans sudden cancellation of a planned visit to Israel in May to gather evidence for the case. The visit was reportedly arranged months in advance to allow Israeli officials to present their side of the allegations. However, Khan abruptly called off the trip, raising questions about the thoroughness and fairness of his investigation. In response to the ICCs actions, Israel has engaged in behind-the-scenes diplomatic efforts with the United States and other allies to counter the arrest warrants. The UK-based organization Lawyers for Israel has also challenged Khans credibility, threatening to file professional misconduct charges against him unless the warrants are retracted. The case has drawn widespread criticism from U.S. and Israeli officials, who argue that the ICC is unfairly targeting democratic leaders while equating them with individuals like Deif, a Hamas leader responsible for orchestrating terror attacks against civilians. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) US President Donald Trumps team is already mapping out retaliatory measures against the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague after its decision to issue arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, Kan Reshet Bet reported Friday morning. Although Trumps inauguration is still two months away, set for January 20, 2025, the President-Elect is preparing a firm response to the ICCs actions. Sources in Washington revealed, The possibility is of imposing personal sanctions not only on the prosecutor or the court but also on the judges themselves who issued the order. Some have even suggested that sanctions extend to the families of those court officials involved in issuing the warrants. Trumps nominee for National Security Advisor, Mike Walz, responded to the ICCs announcement with a sharp tweet: The ICC has no credibility and these allegations have been refuted by the U.S. government. Israel has lawfully defended its people & borders from genocidal terrorists. You can expect a strong response to the antisemitic bias of the ICC & UN come January. US House Speaker Mike Johnson echoed this stance, tweeting, The ICCs decision to target Americas ally, Israel, is antisemitic, reprehensible, and completely ridiculous. It has absolutely no jurisdiction over Israel or the United States, and these illegitimate warrants are an attack on the very concepts of sovereignty and due process. He further called for immediate legislative action, stating, The U.S. Senate should vote immediately on the bipartisan Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act, and President Biden should take clear steps to prevent these warrants from being enforced. If Senator Schumer and President Biden do not act now, they will most assuredly invite future lawfare against Israel and the United States. We cannot afford to show weakness. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) On Saturday, November 16, the No Name Club National Youth Conference brought together over 200 young people from across Ireland to meet like-minded club goers and learn from each other. Members of the St Josephs Mayfield Club were there to enjoy the day. Guest speakers at the event, which took place in Athlone included Dr Niall Muldoon, the Ombudsman for Children, Sergeant Cormac Moylan from Operation Lifesaver, and influencer, comedian and musician Garron Noone. READ NEXT: RIP: Search for missing woman in her 40s stood down following discovery of body They spoke about a wide range of topics affecting young people including youth empowerment, road safety, stress management and mental health. Pictured are young people and volunteers from No Name Club St Josephs Mayfield, Co Cork with comedian and musician, Garron Noone. No Name Club is a national, voluntary youth organisation that aims to empower provides young people aged 15-18 by providing a fun, safe environment where they can socialise without the pressures of alcohol or drugs. Operating youth clubs all over Ireland, No Name Club plays a vital role in offering young people safe spaces where they can build confidence and social skills, while avoiding some of the risks of peer pressure. If youd like to find out more about establishing a No Name Club in your locality, or youd like to find out more about your nearest club, contact https://nonameclub.ie/. Legally challenging the UK Government over Irish unity votes is an option, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald has said. Ms McDonald said successive UK governments have failed to provide clarity on its position for the preconditions or tipping point where a referendum would be held. The Sinn Fein leader said: I dont think thats a sustainable position. I think now this new British Government under Keir Starmer needs to set out their stall. Under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement of 1998, the UK Government is obliged to call a referendum in Northern Ireland if there is evidence of a shift in public opinion in favour of unity. In that event, there would be a simultaneous vote in the Republic of Ireland. Earlier this year, Prime Minister Sir Keir said he was committed to the principles of the Good Friday Agreement. However, while in opposition he said a referendum on Irish unification was not even on the horizon. Asked on Friday if Sinn Fein would consider a legal challenge against the British Government to force it to provide clarity on its decision making, Ms McDonald said Ireland had previously challenged the UK in the courts over legacy legislation. She said: Would (a legal challenge) be our first option? No. Is that option available to the Irish state? Yes. Ms McDonald said it was open to any citizen to challenge the UK Government on the terms of the Agreement. She added: Our first choice is political and diplomatic. Meanwhile, Ms McDonald also criticised the leader of Fianna Fail for saying he did not believe a border poll would happen within five years. She made the remarks as she launched Sinn Feins latest policy document on its long-held ambition for a united Ireland. Ms McDonald told reporters in Dublin: We need a mature, respectful conversation about constitutional change. Its a conversation that should be approached with optimism, with ambition and with the real sense of opportunity. Of course, the conversation must be inclusive. It has to recognise that people hold competing and different views about the future. It has to recognise the reality that partition has hurt Ireland politically and economically, and that we now have a chance to change all of that. Its time to plan and prepare for a united Ireland. The General Election policy document expands on the partys plans to work towards holding referendums for Irish unification by the end of the decade, under the provisions of the Good Friday Agreement. The party would also appoint a junior minister focused on reunification, and initiate a diplomatic offensive to promote Irish unity. Ms McDonald said she would seek support from US President-elect Donald Trump and other American politicians across the aisle. It would establish citizens assemblies to discuss the constitutional future of Ireland and prepare for an Irish national health service. Asked if the Irish flag would change in a united Irish state, Ms McDonald said the current tricolour represents an alliance between the Gael and the Planter. She said: For me the flag the green, the white and the orange represents all of our traditions. The entente between the orange and the green the Gael and the Planter. So I see no reason to change the flag. Ms McDonald said she personally saw no reason to change the flag or the anthem, but accepted others would have differing views. She said there was now a need to prepare for Irish unification in a better way than what was seen during Brexit. During the time leading up to the UKs withdrawal from the European Union, the DUP refused to engage with all-island talks established by then-Irish premier Enda Kenny. Asked if Sinn Fein expected to proceed with its preparations for unity without engagement from the DUP, Ms McDonald said: At that time, the argument was made that: Whats the point in extending it to the north? Unionism wont come. And correct, the DUP didnt come, but the Alliance Party did, and unionism came. It came as hauliers, agriculture, business. So we have to have the objective that every political party, all political representatives, will not just come and participate, but will feel very welcome coming and participating and their views and perspectives valued. Ms McDonald said it would be a mistake to reduce unionism to individual political parties, adding that there had been a sea change in how Protestants, unionists and loyalists engage with the conversation around unity. She also said there had been exciting political advancements in Northern Ireland. She pointed to Michelle ONeills position as First Minister as something that was against all odds and never supposed to happen. One of the proposals in Sinn Feins plans is to change the rules of the Oireachtas parliament in Dublin to allow MPs from Northern Ireland to have speaking time. Sinn Fein MPs do not take their seats at Westminster. Asked if she believed this could see her as a future taoiseach taking questions in Dublin from TUV leader Jim Allister during Leaders Questions, she replied: Well, I would very much welcome that Im not sure how Jim Allister would feel about it. Earlier on Friday, Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin said he did not foresee a Fianna Fail government holding a border poll in the next five years. He emphasised his work on the one-billion euro Shared Island Fund, which he described as the most important initiative for cross-border relationships since the Good Friday Agreement. Speaking on Newstalk, Mr Martin added: Thats the future, its about reconciliation. Its about the old Wolfe Tone principle of uniting people, Protestant, Catholic and the centre. Ms McDonald said his position was astonishing and irresponsible, adding that she thought Fianna Fail believed in unity. She said: Change is happening, its evident that its happening. It needs to be managed and planned for and I actually think its irresponsible of any political leader to refuse to plan for the future. Ms McDonald added: I think its irresponsible, I think its short-sighted. I think it lacks ambition. I think its very much out of step with the opportunities that we now have as a country. We should be grasping opportunity, not pushing it away. Paschal Donohoe has said he paid for his own meal during a private meeting with Ryanair boss Michael OLeary. The Public Expenditure Minister has come under scrutiny from the opposition over the February 2022 meeting with the airline chief, which was previously undisclosed. Sinn Fein finance spokesman Pearse Doherty said there was a need for Mr Donohoe to come clean over the meeting, accusing Fine Gael of a lack of transparency and accountability. He said: Paschal Donohoe is the Minister for Public Expenditure and Michael OLeary is a business figure who is regularly seeking to influence government policy. It is important for the Irish people to know whose interests their government really serves. Mr Doherty said the minister did not disclose the dinner meeting when first asked about engagements with Mr OLeary. He said he later acknowledged the meeting after journalists came with more information. We have now been told by Fine Gael that no records were kept of the meeting as no actions were taken arising from it. Thats not good enough. Mr Donohoe said on Friday: Any matter that ever refers to government business is dealt with in the right way. Any meeting that I have with anybody that refers to Government business is recorded and its published in my diary. Mr Donohoe was Finance Minister and 18 months into his Eurogroup presidency at the time of the dinner. Asked if it was acceptable to have a purely social meeting with the chief executive of Europes biggest airline, given his roles at the time, he said: Yes, it is. Pressed on what the two men talked about if no official business or policy was discussed, Mr Donohoe said: We talked about very general matters. If any issue in relation to government, business, regulation or policy had been dealt with, that would have been recorded and it would have been dealt with in the same way that every other engagement that I do. Mr Donohoe said he would not describe himself as friends with Mr OLeary, adding that attendees paid their fair share. It is not the first controversy involving Fine Gael and Mr OLeary during the election campaign. The Ryanair boss appeared to malign teachers during the launch of enterprise minister Peter Burkes campaign in Mullingar. Mr OLeary and Fine Gael were criticised after the crowd at the event laughed when the airline chief said he would not hire teachers to get things done, saying the Dail needed more people from private sector backgrounds. Mr Burke and senior Fine Gael figures including Taoiseach Simon Harris welcomed Mr OLearys endorsement but distanced themselves from his remarks about teachers. Mr Doherty added: It would be instructive for the public to know just how much influence Michael OLeary has with Fine Gael and, by extension, over decisions made by that party in government. Mr Donohoe was speaking to the media at the launch of Fine Gaels election policies for Dublin and other urban centres. The party said it is committed to transforming Dublin city centre into a more vibrant, safe and attractive destination in which to live and work. Mr Donohoe said Fine Gael would implement recommendations of the Dublin City Centre Taskforce, with a focus on revitalising OConnell Street, delivering more visible policing and security, and transforming derelict sites. Fine Gael also pledged improved security measures in the city centre with increased CCTV coverage and a targeted response to reduce open drug use, redeveloping the GPO, collaborating with cultural institutions to offer more late-night events and extended opening hours. The party said it would recruit 6,000 new gardai over the next five years and reduce the concentration of drug treatment facilities in the city centre. Sinn Fein has claimed that a three-year extension of tax relief for landlords, as proposed in Fine Gaels manifesto, is effectively giving almost half a billion euros of public money to landlords. There have been various reports that the rental crisis is being exacerbated by claims that landlords are fleeing the market (though a FactCheck by The Journal last year found that statistics put out by the Government to back up the claim were unproven). The Government has responded by introducing measures which it hopes will incentivise landlords to remain in the market, but has received criticism from opposition parties for giving them even more money on top of rental income. The topic has come up again during the General Election campaign, with Sinn Fein claiming this week that Fine Gael is promising even more for landlords if they are part of the next Government. But are the opposition partys figures correct? The Claim Sinn Fein claimed that Fine Gaels manifesto has promised an extra half a billion euros to landlords. Fine Gael are promising that, if reelected, they will hand over half a billion Euro of public money to landlords, read a 17 November post on X by Sinn Fein, quoting the partys finance spokesperson Pearse Doherty. A link on the post brings users to a press release that quotes Doherty as saying: Fine Gael have outlined in their manifesto an additional 480m in tax breaks for landlords over three years. The Evidence Firstly, a look at Fine Gaels manifesto (which was published last weekend) shows that although there is no explicit reference to a half a billion euros figure (or 480 million euros) for landlords, there is a proposal to extend landlord tax relief. This is a reference to the Landlord Tax Credit (technically called the Residential Premises Rental Income Relief, or RPRIR) that was introduced in the Budget 2024; that budget said the measure would apply from 2024 to 2027 inclusive. This credit allows landlords to not pay a portion of tax worth up to 20% of a their net rental income in a year, provided that figure does not exceed a certain threshold. It was worth 600 euros per landlord in 2024, 800 euros per landlord in 2025; it will be worth 1,000 euros per landlord in both 2026 and 2027, according to Budget 2024. Although Fine Gaels manifesto says the party plans to extend the credit, the details in the text simply read: Extend Landlord Tax Credit: Continue the Landlord Tax Credit until 2030 for landlords who stay in the rental market. So, where does the figure of 480 million euros come from? Sinn Fein claimed that Fine Gael promises to pay an additional 160m euros per year from 2028 to 2030 (or 480 million euros in total). The party told The Journal that this was outlined on page 117 of the partys manifesto. The tax expenditure already exists at present, a Sinn Fein spokesperson said. Fine Gael plans to continue the relief in 2026 and 2027, so they will hand over 303m euros in those years and a further 480m euros subsequently (2028-30). Page 117 of the Fine Gael manifesto does show a figure of 160 million euros on a list called Tax Package, which does not include an indication of a timescale. Fine Gael was asked by The Journal about how the figures in their manifesto should be interpreted, but no response was received by the time of publication. However, a separate chart on page 116 suggests that the cost will occur over the entire course of a future government (if Fine Gael is elected and the measure is introduced as outlined). The chart is labelled Budgetary Package 2026-2030, and contains a line referring to Fine Gaels proposed Tax Package, costed at 7 billion euros (which matches a rounded reference to a 7.028 billion euros figure on page 117, which includes the 160 million euros landlord tax relief). In the case of the extension to landlord relief, this is likely to be the total cost over the years 2028, 2029, and 2030. This is because 2026 and 2027 were already announced in Budget 2025 (and so are not an extension). Interpreted this way, the actual cost of the extension would be about 53.3 million euros a year over three years. So it appears that Sinn Fein are incorrect in claiming that the figure is worth 480 million euros; instead Fine Gael appear to have announced an additional 160m euros, one third of that figure. But that isnt actually the case, because of the way manifestos like this are presented. Fine Gael clarified to The Journal that individual measures like this are only presented in manifestos with the amount they cost in a single year something that is standard practice for recurring expenses. The party confirmed that the 160 million euros figure was for each of 2028, 2029 and 2030. However, a Fine Gael spokesperson told The Journal that the measure is a relief on tax that landlords have to pay, rather than public money being handed over to landlords. Fine Gael recognises that a thriving rental market needs a balance of support for landlords to keep properties available for long-term tenancies, the party said. Verdict Sinn Fein claimed that Fine Gaels manifesto has pledged an additional half a billion euros to landlords if it gets into Government. A press release by Sinn Fein stated that Fine Gael is set to give 480 million euros to landlords over three years. Fine Gaels manifesto pledges to expand the Landlord Tax Credit for the years 2026 to 2030 at a cost of 160 million. The credit has already been set for 2026 and 2027, so the 160 million euros cost will be for the three subsequent years. Although Fine Gaels manifesto reads like the cost will be 160 million euros for all three years combined, a party spokesperson clarified that measures like this are listed in manifestos as the amount they will cost in a single year. They said that the 160 million euros would be spent in each year from 2028 to 2030 which would be equivalent to a total of 480 million euros. Sinn Feins claim that Fine Gaels manifesto pledges an additional half a billion euros to landlords is therefore true. As per our verdict guide, this means the claim is accurate, and is not missing any significant details or context. The Journals FactCheck is a signatory to the International Fact-Checking Networks Code of Principles. You can read it here. For information on how FactCheck works, what the verdicts mean, and how you can take part, check out FactChecks readers guide here. You can read about the team of editors and reporters who work on the factchecks here. BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 22. The Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) "under pressure from three European countries and the US passed a non-consensual resolution regarding Iran's peaceful nuclear program", said Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the country's Atomic Energy Organization in a joint statement, Trend reports. "Irans principled policy has always been based on constructive engagement with the IAEA within the framework of the rights and obligations outlined in the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement. Since its establishment, the 14th government of Iran has prioritized the continuation and enhancement of cooperation with the IAEA to resolve mutual issues in line with this principled approach. As part of this policy, Iran welcomed the visit of the IAEA Director General to Tehran, making all necessary arrangements to facilitate interactions and ensure the success of his trip. In such circumstances, the three European countries and the US - countries with a long history of breaching commitments, including under the JCPOA, and imposing unjust sanctions and unlawful pressure on the Iranian people - chose to undermine the constructive atmosphere between Iran and the IAEA. Without even waiting for the results of Rafael Grossils visit, they pursued an unjustified and confrontational action by submitting a resolution against Iran to the Board of Governors," the statement reads. Tehran pointed out that this resolution failed to gain the support of half the Board's members, highlighting opposition to the political and destructive approach of its proponents. "This politically driven, unrealistic, and destructive approach undermines the positive atmosphere and mutual understandings achieved through engagement. Such actions, especially at a time when Iran and the IAEA were pursuing constructive dialogue, demonstrate once again the insincerity of the three European countries and the US in their claims of upholding the Agencys credibility. Their use of Irans nuclear program as a pretext to advance illegitimate objectives has become evident," the statement added. Meanwhile, as Rafael Grossi addressed the IAEA Board of Governors recently, he mentioned that it has been almost four years since Iran ceased its nuclear-related commitments under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). This cessation has led to a loss of continuity in the IAEAs knowledge regarding Irans nuclear program, the IAEA chief noted, particularly in relation to the production and inventory of critical components such as centrifuges, rotors, bellows, heavy water, and uranium ore concentrate. By Laman Ismayilova Azerbaijan Culture Minister Adil Karimov has received a delegation led by Seyyed Reza Salehi Amiri, the Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts of the Islamic Republic of Iran, who visits Azerbaijan to participate in COP29. Adil Karimov greeted the delegation and thanked his Iranian counterpart for participating in such a prestigious event hosted by Azerbaijan. He underlined that there are broad prospects for cooperation in various fields of culture between Azerbaijan and Iran. In particular, the promotion of joint activities in the fields of library work, museum activities, and exhibitions, as well as the establishment of collaboration in cinema, and mutual participation in traditional music festivals and competitions could contribute to the development of relations. Moreover, there are opportunities to expand cooperation at the level of international organizations. He emphasized the importance of preparing joint nomination files for including cultural heritage examples in UNESCO's relevant lists, as well as the need for collective efforts to combat the illegal circulation of cultural assets. Minister Seyyed Reza Salehi Amiri expressed his satisfaction with participating in COP29 and also thanked for the meeting. He highlighted the significance of continuing efforts to develop relations and the interest in mutually beneficial cooperation across various fields. The Iranian minister stated that public-private partnerships are essential in the protection of cultural heritage. He mentioned that experience exchange between the two countries can be conducted in this area. At the same time, he noted the possibility of jointly restoring the Khudafarin bridges on the Araz River. During the conversation, issues related to cultural heritage and the environment within the framework of COP29 were discussed, and an exchange of views on other areas of mutual interest took place. At the end of the meeting, Adil Karimov presented a commemorative gift to the minister. BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 22. In response to a resolution regarding Tehran's nuclear program, the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran has instructed the implementation of effective measures, including the activation of a significant number of new and advanced centrifuges of various types, said Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the country's Atomic Energy Organization in a joint statement, Trend reports. "These measures are being undertaken to safeguard the countrys interests and further develop Irans peaceful nuclear industry in line with the nations growing needs, all within the framework of Irans rights and obligations under the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement. At the same time, technical and safeguards-related cooperation with the IAEA will continue as before, following the Safeguards Agreement," the statement reads. Iran also reiterated its readiness for constructive engagement with relevant parties based on international legal principles and norms. "Iran remains committed to protecting the rights and interests of its great nation while continuing the development of its indigenous and peaceful nuclear program with unwavering determination," the statement concludes. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi visited Tehran on November 14 (2024) and held negotiations with several senior Iranian officials, including President Masoud Pezeshkian. In January 2016, Iran and the P5+1 group (the US, Russia, China, the UK, France, and Germany) implemented the Comprehensive Joint Plan of Action concerning Irans nuclear program. In May 2018, the US announced its withdrawal from the deal and reimposed sanctions on Iran. By the end of 2020, the Iranian parliament decided to pursue a strategic plan in the nuclear sector to counter the sanctions, leading to a suspension of additional steps and the Additional Protocol as per the nuclear agreement. Consequently, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) faced a reduction in monitoring capabilities by 2030 percent. BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 22. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte will pay visit to Turkiye, NATO said in a statement, Trend reports. According to the information, this will be Rutte's first visit to Ankara since his appointment. During the visit, the NATO Secretary General will meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and National Defense Minister Yasar Guler. The Secretary General is also reported to meet with representatives of the Turkish defense industry and visit the Turkish Aerospace Industry. GRUEZI ZURICH! Yesterday, Maurice Lacroix opened the doors to its latest boutique, located on vibrant Bahnhofstrasse in Zurich. Despite the urban brand having boutiques in other parts of world, this is the first time the company has opened a permanent store in its home nation. Visitors to this retail destination will be able to view the brands entire collection of models and can also look forward to receiving a warm Zurich-style welcome. Maurice Lacroix Zurich boutique Maurice Lacroix Maurice Lacroix, the watch firm from the Franches-Montagnes, is regularly seen in the worlds great metropolises, showcasing its range of urban-style watches. The companys box-office sensation, the AIKON collection, has won the hearts of many Millennials and Gen Zers. Its masterful blend of nuanced dial detail, sumptuous case finishing, Swiss watchmaking know-how and high perceived value have, for many discerning individuals, made a compelling case for selecting this contemporary model. In recent years, the Swiss brand has opened boutiques in various locations; however, surprisingly it has never opened a Maurice Lacroix boutique in its home nation of Switzerland. until now! Stephane Waser, Managing Director of Maurice Lacroix, remarks, Last night, we opened our new boutique in the heart of Zurich, showcasing our full collection of urban-style watches. The design, inspired by city life, blends neon, metal and concrete to create an environment that wonderfully showcases our products. Maurice Lacroix Zurich boutique Maurice Lacroix While this is a new company-owned store, we remain committed to working with our loyal and trusted retail partners around the globe, nearly 1,500 spread across 80 countries, all offering the same contemporary design, watchmaking expertise, high perceived value and excellent customer service. Bvlgari, the iconic Roman jeweler, marked the launch of its latest Tubogas jewelry collection with exclusive events at the Cercle des Bains in Geneva and Schiffbau/La Salle in Zurich. These stunning venues set the stage for a celebration of Bvlgaris unique blend of tradition and innovation, embodying the bold spirit that defines the Maison. First introduced in the 1940s, the Tubogas collection is renowned for its revolutionary craftsmanship and daring design. The new interpretations of this iconic collection were revealed in immersive settings, each crafted to give guests a unique perspective on these timeless creations. In Geneva, Cercle des Bains, nestled in the vibrant Quartier des Bains known for its contemporary art exhibitions, provided a culturally rich backdrop for the event. Meanwhile, Zurichs Schiffbau/La Salle, a transformed industrial building and cultural landmark, offered a modern, industrial-chic atmosphere that perfectly complemented the audacious essence of Tubogas. The Bulgari Tubogas Event at the Schiffbau Bulgari Swiss television personality and Bvlgari Ambassador Christa Rigozzi hosted the Geneva celebration, while Serap Yasuv, a seasoned moderator with 17 years of experience hosting Swiss TV programs and events, led the Zurich gathering. Together, they guided guests through the creative journey of the Tubogas collection. Thoughtfully designed choreography and lighting heightened the unveiling, creating an enchanting atmosphere that emphasized the elegance and artistry of Tubogas. Throughout the evening, guests were captivated by Bvlgaris narrative pillars of Savoir-Faire, Femininity and Inspiration. Each pillar was brought to life by exceptional talents who reflected their personal interpretations of Tubogas. New Tubogas Collection Bulgari Savoir-Faire was portrayed by Ona Sadkowsky, a rising Swiss artist whose creations highlighted the mastery of craft and the iconic Serpenti collection. Her work elegantly balanced lightness and richness, inviting guests to embrace the beauty of life and opportunity. Femininity, the essence of Bvlgaris designs, was represented by models Jasmin Brunner, Manuela Frey, Vivienne Oesch, and actress Lara Wolf. They embodied the empowering spirit of the Tubogas collection. Also joining them was professional athlete Loris Benito, team captain of Young Boys, whose elegance and charisma added a refined touch to the evening. Vivienne Oesch wearing the new Tubogas Bulgari Inspiration was interpreted through multiple art forms. Internationally acclaimed harpist and composer Alexander Boldachevdelivered a breathtaking performance, blending classical precision with modern innovation to echo the soul of Tubogas. Zurich dancer Gisele Oesch mirrored this fusion with her graceful and contemporary movements, while artist Ginny Litscher contributed added her touch by designing exquisite silk scarves inspired by the collections aesthetics Star chef Danny Khezzar added a sensory delight with his extraordinary culinary presentation. His creation, an airy, flavored mousse that transformed into a snake, echoed the artistry and symbolism of Tubogas. The celebration continued into the evening, energized by DJ Shirins dynamic set, which created a vibrant and dazzling atmosphere. Tubogas Event Bulgari These events reaffirm Bvlgaris dedication to creativity and innovation while honoring its rich heritage. The Tubogas collection stands as a bold and timeless expression of luxury, celebrating the past, inspiring the present, and envisioning the future. KANSAS CITY, Mo. Jackson County Executive Frank White, Jr. issued the following statement today following Missouri Attorney General Andrew Baileys announcement of his intention to file a lawsuit against the Countys recently enacted gun ordinance and his request to the County Legislature to preserve all records in anticipation of litigation: This announcement comes as no surprise. From the start, I made it clear that this ordinance violated Missouri law. While I strongly disagree with the states preemption of local gun regulationsbecause I believe communities should have the ability to protect themselvesignoring the law doesnt lead to progress. It leads to predictable legal challenges and wasted resources, and unfortunately, this ordinance will do more harm to gun safety advocacy than doing nothing at all. When leaders pass laws that they know wont hold up in court, they dont just waste taxpayer moneythey erode the trust people place in government. They create frustration and cynicism, making it harder to build the kind of consensus we need to take meaningful action. Progress on gun safety isnt achieved through political theater or performative gestures; its achieved through thoughtful, lawful, and sustained efforts to bring people together around real solutions. Jackson County has never shied away from taking on tough fights when its the right thing to doand weve won. Our success comes not from performative actions but from standing on the side of the law, acting strategically, and prioritizing the best interests of our residents. Our record of success includes: - Challenging the Second Amendment Preservation Act: When the state passed this performative law undermining the rule of law, I partnered with St. Louis County Executive Dr. Sam Page, St. Louis City Mayor Tishaura Jones, and the United States Department of Justice to challenge it in court. That law was ultimately found unconstitutional. - Defending Public Health Authority: During the pandemic, we joined with public health officials inside and outside of government to successfully reinstate longstanding, lifesaving laws that help keep our communities safe, despite attempts by the Missouri Attorney General to strip those protections away. - Preserving Fair Reassessments: When the Countys reassessment processes were attacked by the Attorney General and others, we stood firm and successfully defended them against baseless claims. We win these fights because we fight smart. We follow the law, not work against it. Thats why I urge the Legislature to reconvene and fix this ordinance before the County is forced to waste taxpayer dollars on a losing effort. Specifically, I encourage them to undo the changes made to the Countys code and instead adopt provisions similar to those implemented by Kansas City, Missouri. Kansas Citys code was thoughtfully crafted to avoid violating the states preemption laws while addressing gun safety concerns. Adopting similar provisions would protect public safety while creating much-needed uniformity across Jackson County. The people of Jackson County deserve leadership that doesnt just chase headlines but delivers results. Thats why I opposed this ordinance, and its why I will continue to focus on practical, enforceable measures that reduce gun violence and make our communities safer. I urge the Legislature and others to join me in crafting policies that meet the moment, respect the law, and reflect the trust our residents have placed in us. Because the fight to protect our communities is too important to waste on shortcuts and symbolism. ### Popular actor Roman Yasinovskyi ("Dovbush," "Cyborgs") said that there was a time when the author of the film "To Catch Kaidash," Natalka Vorozhbyt, was thinking about continuing the series, which is so beloved by the audience that it is called a folk show. The actor played Artem, the groom of Kaidash's eldest daughter-in-law Motria, in the TV movie. ADVERTISIMENT In an interview with OBOZ.UA, Roman Yasinovskyi admitted that he would really like the series to be continued. He also said that he was outraged when the movie started to be broadcast on TV. The actor admitted that he was unpleasantly surprised by some moments: "Recalling this beautiful picture, I want to admit that I was very offended that it was broadcast on television in two episodes at once and at a very late time. At the same time, there was a TV series with Russian actors, which was broadcast one episode at a time and at the best possible time. I was so outraged by this! But it's worth saying that people still watched 'Kaidashi', it had great ratings." ADVERTISIMENT It is known that the author of this production is Natalka Vorozhbyt, and the actors have repeatedly stated publicly that there are no new seasons of the film planned. However, Roman Yasinovskyi says that there was a chance that the second season premiere could have taken place: "As far as I know, at some point in her life Natalka was ready to write a sequel. But, unfortunately, it didn't happen." "I would really like the movie to have a sequel. It seems to me that I have a very good role in it everything is developing. You can still talk and talk about the hero. If you look at the Kaidash, everything seems to be clear in their story almost dots. I have big dashes or commas," adds Yasinovskyi. "I am extremely grateful to Natalka Vorozhbyt, who believed in me and allowed me to try," says Roman Yasinovskyi. The project itself is exclusively about love. There's an interesting story about how I got acquainted with the script. I was going to Odesa to perform a play that night. And I was sent the texts for the audition and 12 episodes of the movie. I thought: "I'll read one episode and go to bed." And what do you think? I read everything! And as soon as I arrived in Odesa, I immediately wrote to the agent that I wanted to get into this series. Nataliia's writing is simply amazing she's one hundred percent in her place." Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Don't fall for fakes! By Nicole Lyons, November 22, 2024 From left, Nellie deLaurier, KMOS Traffic and Programming Coordinator; Michael OKeefe, KMOS Programming and Communications Manager; and Kristen Kuebler, Director of Client Services for TRAC Media. The Public Television Programmers Association (PTPA) has named KMOS PBS Programming and Communications Manager Michael OKeefe as the recipient of the Jerry Trainor Mentorship Award. The award was presented at the annual PTPA meeting on Nov. 10 in Cleveland, Ohio. OKeefe was nominated by KMOS Traffic Coordinator Nellie deLaurier, who presented him with the award. The PTPA Mentorship Award, also known as the Jerry Trainor Mentorship Award, honors individuals who exemplify leadership and extraordinary mentorship among programmers. Conceived in 2013, the award was named and presented in honor of former programmer Jerry Trainor, who demonstrated a commitment to the growth and advancement of his peers throughout his career spanning more than 20 years. Like Trainor, awardees are devoted to the engagement of programmers in a way that positively impacts the future of public media. OKeefe graduated from the University of Central Missouri (UCM) in 1982 with a Bachelor of Science in Broadcasting and Film and completed his Master of Arts in Environmental Studies in 2014. During the four decades he has served as KMOS-TVs program director, OKeefe has worked on multiple initiatives that have made KMOS the organization it is today. He has been responsible for the stations programming and promotional efforts, including scheduling for all four KMOS channels, creating the monthly program guide, Contact, and designing and maintaining the KMOS website. Among his many achievements, OKeefe played a significant role in helping the station transition from a single-channel to a multiple-channel broadcast platform. These efforts have enabled KMOS to increase its viewership and recognition within Central Missouri and the PBS system. As a member of PTPA, OKeefe is part of an organization that is considered a trusted partner and an essential resource for programming professionals in an ever-changing industry. In their working environment, members of the organization make daily decisions regarding broadcast and digital curation, distribution, and consumer viewing trends. PTPA promotes an atmosphere where members can trade best practices and utilize professional development and mentoring opportunities to help them connect the public television stations they represent to the communities they serve. KMOS serves the citizens of 38 Central Missouri counties with high-quality educational content and experiences online, over-the-air and in various communities. The station is integral to engaged learning as a professional learning lab for students from a variety of disciplines at UCM. KMOS broadcasts programming on four channels full of programs for all ages on 6.1, lifestyle and how-to programs on 6.2, international news, documentaries and dramas on 6.3, and a full schedule of kids programming to fit the schedule of every busy family on 6.4. For more information about UCMs public television station, visit kmos.org. To learn more about PTPA, visit ptpa.tv. Hi, my name is Scott C. Waring and I wrote a few books and am currently a ESL School Owner in Taiwan. I have had my own UFO sighting up close and personal, but that's how it works right? A non believer becomes a believer when they experience their first sighting. You witnessed it, your perceptual field changes, so now you need to share it. I created this site to help the UFO community get a little bit organized. I noticed that there was a lot of chaos when searching for UFO sighting reports, so I hope this site helps. I wanted to support those eyewitnesses who have tried to tell others about what they have seen, yet were laughed at by even closest of friends. More and more each day the governments of the world leak bits and pieces of UFO information to the public. They have a trickle down theory in hopes of slowly getting citizens use to the idea that we are not alone in universe and never have been. The truth is being leaked drop by drop until one day we look around and find ourselves neck high in it. The discovery of alien species in existence is the most monumental scientific event in human history, suppression of that information is a crime against humanity. About me: I live in Taiwan. I OWN MY OWN ENGLISH SCHOOL, AND ONCE HAD 5 SCHOOLS. Am Former USAF at SAC base (flight line). Age: 42 Educ: BA in Elem ed. Masters in Counseling ed. I had two UFO sightings, (30+bus size orbs) in military and in 2012 personally saw the UFO over Taipei 101 building on New Years Day (and recored it). facebook like button Tweet tweet button for twitter Published November 21, 2024 CAPTION:(L-R) Noah Stephan, Amira Morales, Gwendolyn Abadie, Aayush Dahal, Beau Benoit, Dr. Joshua Stockley, Amaya West, Michelle Thapa, George Khawas MONROE, LA The University of Louisiana Monroe Honors Program attended the annual meeting of the National Collegiate Honors Council in Kansas City, Mo., from October 30 -November 3. Dr. Joshua Stockley, Director of the ULM Honors Program, was joined by eight students Amira Morales (Freshman, Biology, Covington), Gwendolyn Abadie (Junior, Toxicology, Lafayette), Amaya West (Senior, Biology, West Monroe), Michelle Thapa (Freshman, Computer Science, Nepal), George Khawas (Junior, Computer Science, Nepal), Noah Stephan (Junior, Biology, Monroe), Aayush Dahal (Freshman, Computer Science, Nepal), and Beau Benoit (Senior, Toxicology, Benton). Michelle Thapa co-presented with Dr. Stockley for a panel entitled, The Kids Are Not Okay: Mental Health Programming in Honors. The presentation focused on innovative and collaborative steps taken by the ULM Honors Program during the past year with respect to mental health programming to include workshops, group sessions, a wellness competency, and signing an MOU with the Marriage and Family Therapy program to create an externship site. Thapa shared with attendees her experience in participating in unique programming, dubbed the Honors Experience, jointly administered by two graduate students from the Marriage and Family Therapy program during the Spring 2024 semester. NCHC24 was incredible, and getting the opportunity to present at my first conference was a crowning moment. From attending meaningful, themed sessions to seeing research from student presenters, I learned a lot within a short time - place-based learning, capstone projects, social impacts by activists like Erin Gruwell, creative critiques from students on novels and movies, political awareness activities, AI impacts, and social stigmas in healthcare, Thapa. What I will take from this experience is how everyone is enthusiastic about their fields of interest, have ideas to share, and how NCHC provided a platform for all of that. NCHC ignited my own passion and motivated me to implement ideas at ULM. There are so many ways that I am determined to use my computer science degree and honors experience to bring a positive change to ULM and to our society. This experience sparked a lifetime mission for me, she added. NCHC provided an opportunity to see what we as students can do to better the Honors Program, said Beau Benoit. Meeting student leaders from programs across the country inspired me and our council members to do more with our program and set ourselves up for success in the coming years. The trip also gave each of us the chance to bond with each other and allowed us to grow together as a council, Benoit stated. Attending NCHC '24 was more than a great experience, said Amira Morales. I benefited from NCHC in more ways than I originally thought I would. I was allowed to participate in multiple sessions as well as meet and connect with people from all over the country. I left Kansas City with not only amazing experiences but with so many great ideas to implement into the ULM Honors program for the betterment of everyone, added Morales "It was a privilege to attend NCHC 2024 with such wonderful company. It helped me get out of my comfort zone and interact with multiple honors students from different honors colleges in the nation. I learned about various facets of the honors community and have brought diverse perspectives to grow our honors program. From back-to-back sessions to admiring the beautiful downtown of Kansas City, NCHC is indeed the one for the books, said Aayush Dahal The conference was a splendid blend of personal and professional panels. I got the chance discuss methods and strategies the honors college around the US have been using to improve their program. I am incredibly excited to be able to apply the things that I have learned in our program, stated George Khawas NCHC was an incredible experience! To me, when being involved in any group or organization, it is always important to hear from other successful groups that have attained similar goals or goals that your group is aiming for. NCHC provided a great opportunity to do that. The entire conference was full of great conversation and fellowship, and I am so glad I had the opportunity to attend, said Amaya West I found NCHC to be especially inspiring, in not just what I can do as an individual student but also in what I can do for the Honors Program and for our entire university. Its a grand exchange of ideas and experiences between colleges across the nation that I am so thankful I got to experience, and I hope I can serve better for it, said Gwen Abadie "I came into the conference expecting to take a few things that could possibly benefit the program, but what I didn't expect was the influx of ideas and experiences that I cannot wait to share with the program. It was more than I ever expected to get out of it. I am so grateful I was allowed to represent the program and even more excited to apply what I learned," stated Noah Stephan. NCHC is a unique opportunity for our student leaders to connect with like-minded peers, explore innovative ideas, and deepen their understanding of excellence in honors. Students, faculty, and administrators from all over the country unselfishly share what is working within their own programs so that others may better their programs. NCHC challenges us to think bigger, push boundaries, and bring impactful strategies back to ULM," says Dr. Stockley. At the same time that we learn from others, it is humbling that other programs want to learn from us as was the case with our presentation on mental health programming. Attending the conference were 1,800 honors students and administrators from colleges and universities across the United States. The National Collegiate Honors Council (NCHC) is an educational organization that supports and promotes undergraduate honors education. NCHC has nearly 900 member institutions and several hundred individual members, impacting over 330,000 honors students. NCHC provides its members with resources, training opportunities, and collaborative events to build and sustain honors programs and their curriculum. NCHC distributes honors scholarships and hosts exclusive events for its members. Honors Program Celebrates Record-High Freshman Class in Fall 2024 The ULM Honors Program is celebrating an overall enrollment increase of 35%. A total of 212 freshmen joined the program this year, making it the largest-ever freshman class for the program. The 2024 class includes from Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, Arkansas, United Kingdom, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Germany, Nepal, and Nigeria. The ULM Honors Program is excellent at scale, and we are delivering on that statement now more than ever, said Dr. Joshua Stockley. We have an impressive track record of not simply attracting highly motivated students, but also ensuring that they grow academically, professionally, and personally into their best selves to graduate, to obtain elite jobs, to gain admittance into competitive graduate programs, and to become change makers in their communities. In the summer of 2024, the Honors curriculum, the FLIGHT Program was recognized with two distinctions - Highest Engagement and Outstanding New Program - at a national student engagement conference hosted by Suitable. The FLIGHT Program, is unlike any other program offered by any other university or honors college in the state, so it is absolutely fair to say that our honors students are receiving an innovative, cutting-edge education. The fall 2024 class boasts an average GPA of 3.76 and includes 32 valedictorians. Although the honors program does not require a minimum test score for admission, the average ACT for the class is 27, and the average SAT is 1300. Collectively, the freshman class represents 34 unique majors from each undergraduate college. International students comprise 33% of the Honors Program freshman class; 42% of the class is non-white. I chose ULM because of the welcoming and family atmosphere that I experienced the minute that I stepped foot on campus, said Honors Program freshman Hali Dumatrait. Little did I realize that I would find a family within that family. As soon as I heard about the Honors Program, I immediately knew I had to join because it would give me a place to find equally motivated friends that I could grow with throughout my years at ULM, added Dumatrait. I chose ULM because it was close to home, affordable, but, most importantly, the best option to get the best education. I joined the ULM Honors Program because I knew it would provide me with additional opportunities to be successful in the future and accomplish my goals, said Honors Program freshman Brandon Bell. Our growth is an affirmation of the spirit of collaboration at ULM, a success story of what happens when Recruitment, Admissions, Scholarships, Financial Aid, International Student Programs, Student Life, and our Academic Deans and school directors and program coordinators and faculty come together to practice ULMs mission of changing lives, said Stockley. About the ULM Honors Program The ULM Honors Program is a unique program within ULM that seeks intellectually curious students who desire to challenge themselves with new ideas and to work with similarly motivated students. The program is open to all majors and works within all degree programs. Honors students are exposed to more in-depth topics and work closely with faculty in smaller courses. For more information about the Honors Program contact Dr. Joshua Stockley at stockley@ulm.edu or 318-342-3216 or visit ulm.edu/honors. facebook like button Tweet tweet button for twitter Published November 22, 2024 MONROE, LA The University of Louisiana Monroe houses three TRiOprograms, which are federally funded programs designed to assist first-generation and income-eligible students in reaching their full academic potential. The TRiOprograms host a variety of events for students that enhance their college experience and help them build strong on-campus connections. These are a few of the recent events facilitated by ULM TRiOprograms. ULM TRiO-SSS scholars bond over bowling The ULM TRiO Student Support Services Program hosted an exciting evening of bowling at Bayou Bowl in Monroe, La. TRiO Scholars from all class levels enjoyed the opportunity for peer bonding and student engagement. When asked what they liked most about the event, students mentioned that they liked connecting with other TRiO Scholars and, of course, the free food. Assistant Director of the TRiO Student Support Services Program, Dr. Mystee Burrell noted, Connections and belonging are critical aspects of student success. Some students may find it difficult to form connections with their peers due to shyness or anxiety, which is why the TRiO team intentionally creates spaces where students can bond and build relationships in a fun, relaxed, and safe environment. TRiO CCAMPIS student-parents enjoy a fun-filled day at Curry Farms Pumpkin Patch On Saturday, October 12, 2024, the University of Louisiana Monroe's TRiO Child Care Access Means Parents In School (CCAMPIS) program held a parent event at Curry Farms Pumpkin Patch in Start, La. Eighteen CCAMPIS parents and children attended this yearly event, which allows TRiO CCAMPIS student-parents and their families to unwind and socialize with their children and other CCAMPIS parents and families. Curry Farms has everything for everyone, including a corn maze, seeing pumpkins grow on vines, picking pumpkins, sluice mining, hayrides, tree swings, a corn box, a tiny train, and much more. Jordan Van, a TRiO CCAMPIS participant, stated, Curry Farms is a great way to spend a day with the family. There is always something to do. Kids never get bored. Those looking to quench their thirst might have Kona Ice or freshly squeezed lemonade. Tammy Anderson, TRiO CCAMPIS Assistant Director, emphasized the significance of these activities for student-parents to model social skills for their children, noting, "Being a student-parent has additional financial burdens compared to a non-student-parent. Giving student-parents the option to spend time with their children allows them to model how to develop social skills via interaction and play for their children without worrying about the expense of an admission fee." TRiOs Retention Outreach Specialist, Anthony Bartley, attended the event and said, There was some recent discussion in Washington about the potential for ending the CCAMPIS program as there is already a CCAP program for assisting working parents or student-parents with child care support. Looking around here today, you can see that the CCAMPIS program goes so much farther. Not only does the program assist with childcare, but there are built-in incentives to get a higher GPA, required workshops for financial management and parenting, tutoring, priority registration, and more. Its so much more than a stipend for childcare. ULM TRiO CCAMPIS participates in annual Trunk or Treat event The ULM TRiO CCAMPIS (Child Care Access Means Parents In School) program, along with several other departments and Recognized Student Organizations, recently attended the annual ULM Trunk-or-Treat event on October 30, 2024. This year, the route wove through Mitchell Lane, with trunks set up on either side. There were games and food trucks, along with many departments and RSOs in attendance, to provide treats to the hundreds of families, church groups, and community organizations that made the loop. These events are a great way to highlight the connection ULM has with the community. Participating in the ULM Trunk-or-Treat event provides TRiO CCAMPIS staff a chance to engage with student-parents, their children, and the broader community. It also allows us an opportunity to raise awareness about our program among university employees and members of the community, stated Tammy Anderson, TRiO CCAMPIS assistant director. A large number of the CCAMPIS student-parents also took advantage of the good weather and fun atmosphere, even though they have already met the Parent Event program requirement. CCAMPIS Coordinator Anthony Bartley added, What we are doing today really helps to highlight the difference between the CCAMPIS program and other childcare subsidy programs. We dont just provide a check to off-set childcare costs. Among other things, we encourage and require student-parents to spend quality time with their children. Its such an important part of the program. ULM TRiO programs celebrate National First-Generation Day The University of Louisiana Monroe's TRiO Programs Student Support Services (TRIO-SSS) and TRIO Child Care Means Parents In-School (TRIO-CCAMPIS) hosted a series of events on November 14, 2024, to celebrate National First-Generation Day. This annual observance highlights the accomplishments and perseverance of first-generation college students and graduates, recognizing their dedication to achieving higher education despite overcoming significant challenges. The celebration serves as an opportunity to honor their unique journeys and inspire a culture of resilience and success. A first-generation college student is defined as someone whose parents or legal guardians have not earned a bachelors degree, thus making them the first in their family to graduate with a bachelors degree from a four-year college/university. The National First-Generation Day underscores ULMs commitment to ensuring that all studentsregardless of their backgroundhave the tools and resources necessary to succeed. By prioritizing community-building and equity, the university continues to champion the success of its diverse student population. This year, the Student Support Services TRiO Program hosted a tabling event outside the HUB. Later, the program hosted an inspiring TRiO Alumni Panel, featuring ULM TRiO graduates who shared their post-graduation experiences, offering valuable insights and encouragement to current first-generation students. This celebration is not just about recognizing the challenges first-generation students face but also about celebrating their resilience and successes, said Dr. Mystee Burrell, Assistant Director of TRIO-Student Support Services at ULM. National First-Generation College Student Day shines a spotlight on these students, promotes inclusivity, and underscores the importance of resources and support in their educational journey. It is a critical step toward advancing equity and access in higher education. The TRiO team extends its gratitude to President Berry and Dr. Christine Berry as well as Provost Arant, the Office of Student Development, and the Office of Recruitment for their contributions that played a crucial role in ensuring the success of this year's National First-Generation Day. About ULM TRIO programs ULM hosts three federally-funded TRiO Programs: Child Care Access Means Parents In School (CCAMPIS), which assists college students who are parents with their childcare costs and parenting skills; Student Support Services (SSS), which serves college students; and Educational Talent Search (ETS), which serves junior high and high school students. The goal of TRiO programs is to increase the number of underrepresented, disadvantaged, or first-generation individuals who persist and graduate from high school and college. TRiO participants must meet federal eligibility requirements. For more information about the TRiO Programs, please contact the TRiO main office at 318-342-1097, stop by Sandel 351, or visit www.ulm.edu/trio The TRiO CCAMPIS Program is funded by the United States Department of Education and provides subsidized childcare to ULM full-time Pell-eligible student-parents. Additional services include parent workshops, financial literacy training, parent events, advising, and much more. To learn more or apply, go to the ULM TRiO CCAMPIS website at https://www.ulm.edu/research/TRiO/ccampis.html or stop by the TRiO office in Sandel Hall, Room 351. For more information, contact Tammy Anderson, MPA, at taanderson@ulm.edu, or Anthony Bartley at bartley@ulm.edu, or call (318) 342-1097. TRiO -SSS is one of the eight TRiO Programs fully funded through the U.S. Department of Education to assist first-generation, income-eligible students to remain in good academic standing and graduate from college. To learn more about the ULM TRiO -SSS program or to apply, visit www.ulm.edu/trio or stop by the TRiO -SSS office located in Strauss Hall room 206 or the ULM TRiO office Sandel Hall 351. Additional contact information can be obtained by calling (318) 342-1097 or via email at burrell@ulm.edu or estis@ulm.edu | By Emily Bleiweis Nearly 1.5 million Marylanders suffer from hypertension or high blood pressure, including West Baltimore resident Cynthia Ward. Over the past three years, because of the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), Ward has been able stay on top of her health and get a handle on her blood pressure. My blood pressure is now being monitored better today than before, Ward said Oct. 22 at a news conference promoting the schools work in the West Baltimore community. UMSON has worked with community, faith-based, academic, and health care partner organizations in Baltimore City to reduce social isolation and inequities in cardiovascular health through its West Baltimore RICH Collaborative, an initiative supported by a $2.4 million Pathways for Health Equity Grant from the Maryland Community Health Resources Commission (MCHRC) awarded two years ago. Now, thanks to a new five-year, $5 million Health Equities Resource Communities (HERC) grant from the MCHRC, UMSON will build on that success through the West Baltimore Reducing Inequities in Cardiovascular and Mental Health Collaborative Stronger Together (RICH 2.0) initiative. Were just so thrilled to have all of you join us today as we celebrate the kickoff of the West Baltimore RICH Collaborative 2.0, Yolanda Ogbolu, PhD 11, MS 05, BSN 04, NNP, FNAP, FAAN, the Bill and Joanne Conway Dean of the University of Maryland School of Nursing, said at the news conference. This is an initiative that is dedicated to reducing health disparities in cardiovascular health and mental health. Heart disease stands as the No. 1 killer in Baltimore, with high blood pressure being a significant risk factor and contributor of heart disease, continued Ogbolu, who serves as principal investigator on the grant. Despite these alarming statistics, we know that many of our residents in West Baltimore have high blood pressure, and many of them dont know that they have high blood pressure. It is hiding in plain sight. Ward first connected with the original RICH Collaborative when the program came to her church during Heart Health Month. After enrolling, I received a BP cuff to take home, and the community outreach team called me to check on me often and gave me advice on how to help my blood pressure. I am still checking my blood pressure every day, and I am thankful for the help that I got from the RICH program, Ward said. In the two years the program ran under the original grant, the West Baltimore RICH Collaborative reached 7,000 people and enrolled 2,000 in the program. With the newest grant, RICH 2.0 will be able to extend its reach from four to seven city ZIP codes, and in addition to focusing on cardiac health, it will also include assessments for mental distress. This means community outreach workers can refer individuals not only to primary care providers but also to mental health providers. RICH 2.0 includes an increased number of community, faith-based, academic, and health care partner organizations, including: A Better Tomorrow Starts Today counseling agency American Heart Association Ascension St. Agnes Hospital ATOSK Health Care Services, Inc. Bmore for Healthy Babies The Community Builders, Inc. Coppin State University Helene Fuld School of Nursing Druid Heights Community Development Corporation LIGHT Health & Wellness Comprehensive Services, Inc. Ministers Conference Empowerment Center CDC Robertas House UMB Community Engagement Center UMSON University of Maryland School of Medicine University of Maryland School of Pharmacy University of Maryland School of Social Work University of Maryland Medical Center (Downtown and Midtown) Matila Sackor-Jones, MS, HS-BCP, executive director of partner organization Robertas House, a family grief support center, said her organization understands the connection between grief, mental health, and physical well-being. In the past year, we've supported hundreds of individuals and families dealing with the impacts of complicated grief and traumatic loss, including 227 homicide survivors, Sackor-Jones said. Over 60 individuals who are grieving cancer-related deaths and illnesses. Thirty-eight were grieving from overdose loss, and unfortunately, over 50 cases where grief and heart conditions like heart attacks and heart failure were intertwined. Our partnership with the West RICH 2.0 Collaborative allows us to address these challenges holistically, targeting both mental as well as physical health. Research shows that chronic stress, like uncomplicated grief, increases blood pressure and heart disease risk. By providing mental health supports as well as ways to manage those stresses, we can help reduce the physical impacts of stress on our individuals as well as on our communities. We firmly believe that addressing the conditions in the environments where people live, learn, work, play, and age can reduce health disparities and foster social connections, Ogbolu added. By partnering with community-based, faith-based, and academic organizations, our collaborative has achieved a substantial collective impact far exceeding what any single organization could accomplish alone. For further information about RICH 2.0, please visit www.nursing.umaryland.edu/rich. Welcome Guest! You are here: Home ICC Warrant Against Netanyahu: Who Said What? Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant face an unprecedented challenge following the International Criminal Courts arrest warrants against them Friday November 22, 2024 7:30 PM , ummid.com News Network The Hague: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant face an unprecedented challenge following the International Criminal Courts arrest warrants against them for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. The warrants issued on Thursday , mark a pivotal moment in international justice and restrict their travel to 124 countries that are signatories to the Rome Statute, obligating them to cooperate with ICC rulings. The ICC arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant also put them in a small group of leaders to be accused of crimes against humanity. ICC judges have issued about 60 arrest warrants, and 21 people have been detained and appeared in court, according to its website. Some 30 people remain at large. The court has issued 11 convictions and four acquittals. Here are some of the key reactions to the ICC decision: Israel Netanyahus office rejected the decision and described the move as anti-Semitic in a statement. Israel rejects with disgust the absurd and false actions leveled against it by ICC, his office said, adding Israel wont give in to pressure in defense of its citizens. In separate comments, Netanyahus office claimed the decision was comparable to the modern-day Dreyfus trial and it will end in the same way, referring to Alfred Dreyfus, a Jewish army captain who was wrongly convicted of treason in France. Israels ambassador to the UN Danny Danon called the ICC warrants a shameful and political decision. We need to speak with our allies and move forward with a decision to boycott the ICC and anyone who cooperates with it, said Danon. Palestine Hamas welcomed the decision to issue arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant, calling it an important step towards justice. [Its] an important step towards justice and can lead to redress for the victims in general, but it remains limited and symbolic if it is not supported by all means by all countries around the world, Hamas political bureau member Basem Naim said in a statement. Hamas also called on the ICC to expand its scope to other Israeli officials. The Palestinian Authority, which governs the occupied West Bank, said, the ICCs decision represents hope and confidence in international law and its institutions. It urged ICC members to enforce a policy of severing contact and meetings with Netanyahu and Gallant. Jordan Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said the ICCs decision must be respected and implemented. Palestinians deserve justice, he said. United States The ICC issuance of arrest warrants against Israeli leaders is outrageous, President Joe Biden said in a statement. Let me be clear once again: whatever the ICC might imply, there is no equivalence none between Israel and Hamas. We will always stand with Israel against threats to its security. The White House also expressed concern over the Prosecutors rush to seek arrest warrants and the troubling process errors that led to this decision. The United States has been clear that the ICC does not have jurisdiction over this matter, a National Security Council spokesperson said. Canada Its really important that everyone abide by international law, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said, adding Canada would abide by rulings of international courts. South Africa In a statement, the government welcomed the ICC decision and said it marked a significant step towards justice for crimes against humanity and war crimes in Palestine. South Africa reaffirms its commitment to international law and urges all state parties to act in accordance with their obligations in the Rome Statute, it said. We call on the global community to uphold the rule of law and ensure accountability for human rights violations. European Union Foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the ICC warrants were not political and should be respected and implemented. This decision is a binding decision and all states, all state parties of the court, which include all members of the European Union, are binding to implement this court decision, he said. The Netherlands Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp said that his country respects the independence of the ICC. We wont engage in non-essential contacts and we will act on the arrest warrants. We fully comply with the Rome Statute of the ICC, he added. France France would act in line with the ICCs statutes, said Christophe Lemoine, spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. However, he declined to say whether France would arrest Netanyahu if he came to the country, saying it was legally complex. Germany A government spokesperson says Germany will carefully examine the ICCs arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant, but will not take further steps until a visit to the country. The Federal Government was involved in the drafting of the ICC Statute and is one of the ICCs biggest supporters. This position is also a result of German history, the spokesperson said. At the same time, a consequence of German history is that we have a unique relationship and a great responsibility to Israel. Norway Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said, It is important that the ICC carries out its mandate in a judicious manner. I have confidence that the court will proceed with the case based on the highest fair trial standards. Ireland Prime Minister Simon Harris said the warrants an extremely significant step. He added that Ireland respects the ICCs role and that anyone in a position to assist it in carrying out its vital work must do so with urgency. Italy Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Rome would consider with allies how to interpret the decision and act together. We support the ICC the court must play a legal role and not a political role, he added. Sweden Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard said Sweden and the EU support the courts important work and protect its independence and integrity. Swedish law enforcement authorities decide on the arrest of subjects of ICC warrants on Swedish territory, she added. Hungary Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto condemned the ICC decision, calling it shameful and absurd, presidential spokesperson Zoltan Kovacs reported on X. This decision disgraces the international judiciary by equating leaders of a country attacked by a heinous terror attack with the leaders of the terrorist organization responsible, Szijjarto said, adding, Such a decision is unacceptable. Reacting strongly a day after ICC warrants, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban not only slammed the ICC warrants but also said that he would invite Netanyahu to Hungary. The ICC arrest warrant against Prime Minister Netanyahu is brazen, cynical and completely unacceptable. I invited Prime Minister Netanyahu for an official visit to Hungary, where we will guarantee his freedom and safety, Orban posted on X with a video clip of his interview given to the state radio. United Kingdom Britain respects the independence of the ICC, a spokesperson for Prime Minister Keir Starmer said without confirming whether Britain would uphold the warrants. Emily Thornberry Labour chair of the foreign affairs committee, and former shadow foreign secretary and shadow attorney general, however said the UK will arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he enters the country. If Netanyahu comes to Britain, our obligation under the Rome Convention would be to arrest him under the warrant from the ICC", she said. (It is) not really a question of should we are required to, because we are members of the ICC", she added. Belgium The fight against impunity wherever crimes are committed is a priority for Belgium, which fully supports the work of the [ICC], the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on X. Those responsible for crimes committed in Israel and Gaza must be prosecuted at the highest level, regardless of who committed them. Austria Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg called the warrant incomprehensible and ludicrous, but his office also said as a party to the Rome statutes Austria was obliged to implement ICC arrest warrants. Switzerland The Swiss Federal Office of Justice said it is obliged to cooperate with the ICC under the Rome Statute and would therefore have to arrest Netanyahu and Gallant if they entered Switzerland and initiate extradition to the court. Argentina President Javier Milei said on X that his country declares its deep disagreement with the decision. He wrote that the warrant ignores Israels legitimate right to self- defense against the constant attacks by terrorist organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah. Turkey Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said the ICC arrest warrant was a hopeful and crucial step in bringing to justice Israeli authorities who committed genocide against Palestinians. We will continue to work to ensure that international law is implemented to punish genocide, Fidan added. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres respects the work and independence of the ICC, said his spokesman Stephane Dujarric, when asked about warrants issued for Netanyahu and Gallant. Francesca Albanese, the UNs special rapporteur on Palestine, called it a rare moment of euphoria. I want to acknowledge the innumerable victims of too many wars on Gaza, and the indomitable work of Palestinian HR orgs without whom the hope brought about by the ICC decision today, would have not come, she said. Amnesty International The human rights organization said on X that the wheels of international justice have finally caught up with those alleged to be responsible for war crimes & crimes against humanity in Palestine and Israel. There can be no safe haven for those alleged to have committed war crimes and crimes against humanity, it added. Human Rights Watch The ICC arrest warrants against senior Israeli leaders and a Hamas official break through the perception that certain individuals are beyond the reach of the law. [With inouts from Quds News Network.] Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates. Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. Welcome Guest! You are here: Home The Election Commission is set to conduct today i.e. Saturday November 23, 2024 counting of votes of all the 81 assembly seats in Jharkhand from 08:00 AM Sunday November 24, 2024 10:50 PM , ummid.com News Network Jharkhand Election Results 2024 Live Updates: The JMM/Congress alliance has regained power in Jharkhand as per the latest update by the ECI. According to the ECI final data, the JMM has won 34 seats, the Congress has won 16 seats, the RJD has won 4 seats and the CPIM (L) has won 02 seats. The BJP has won 21 seats, JD (U) 01 seat, AJSU 01and LJPRV 01 seat. 06:40 PM The JMM/Congress alliance is poised to regain power in Jharkhand as per the latest update by the ECI. The ECI data at 06:40 PM showed, the JMM has won 22 seats and is leading in 12 seats, the Congress has won 10 and is leading in 6 seats, RJD has won 2 seats and leading in 2 seats. The BJP has won 14 seats and is leading in 6 seats. 08:30 AM The BJP led oppositionallianc of the BJP, has taken early lead as counting of votes starts in Jharkhand. According to the trends available at 08:30 AM, BJP led alliance is ahead in 25 constituencies while the ruling JMM+Congress candidates are leading in 10 seats. 01:00 AM: The Election Commission is set to conduct today i.e. Saturday November 23, 2024 counting of votes of all the 81 assembly seats in Jharkhand from 08:00 AM. Polling to elect the new assembly in Jharkhand was held in two phases. The first phase of polling in Jharkhand was held on November 13 whereas the polling for the second phase was held on November 20, 2024. Jharkhand 2024 Polling Percentage According to the data released by the Election Commission of India, the voter turnout in the first phase of polling in Jharkhand was 64.86%. The state recorded a poll percent of 68.95% in the second phase. Jharkhand has a total of 24 districts. As per the ECI districtwise data, a total of 683 candidates were in the fray in the first phase for which polling was held in 43 assembly seats in 15 districts of the state. Seraikela Kharsawan district recorded the highest polling per cent 76.02% whereas the lowest poll percent was 62.64% in Ranchi. The state recorded the overall poll percentage of 68.95% in the second phase. The highest polling percent 77.61% was recorded in Jamtara district whereas the lowest voter turnout was 63.79% in Bokaro. How many candidates contesting 2024 Jharkhand election The ruling The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)which is contesting the election with Congress and some other parties has fielded 41 seats. The Congress Party is contesting on 30 seats. The Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) has fielded candidates in 68 assembly seats. Hemant Soren, who is contesting from Barhait, is seeking re-election as Chief Minister. Former Chief Minister Champai Soren, who joined the BJP earlier this year, is contesting from Seraikela seat. The half way mark is 40, and as per the exit polls the BJP has edge over JMM+Congress alliance. Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates. Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. The world's tallest and shortest women met for a cup of tea in London to celebrate the 20th Guinness World Records Day. Rumeysa Gelgi, a 27-year-old Turkish web developer, and Jyoti Amge, a 30-year-old Indian actress, became close during the meeting at The Savoy Hotel. ADVERTISIMENT Gelgi joked that their height difference made it "hard to make eye contact," but said the meeting was "great" and "amazing." In addition, the record holders discovered that they actually have a lot in common, according to the official website of the Book of Records. Amge, 30, is the world's shortest woman, standing at 62.8 cm, while Gelgi is known as the world's tallest woman at 215.16 cm. The Turkish citizen suffers from a rare disease called Weaver's syndrome, which causes accelerated growth and skeletal deformities her case was only the 27th in the world and the first in her home country. She uses a wheelchair and can only stand with the help of a walker for short periods of time. ADVERTISIMENT Jyoti Amge, an actress from India, has a form of dwarfism called achondroplasia. The duo of female record holders were listed in the 70th anniversary edition of the Guinness Book of World Records. The celebrities, who received their titles in 2021 and 2011, held an English tea ceremony at The Savoy Hotel to mark the 20th anniversary of Guinness World Records Day. "It was very nice to meet Joti for the first time. Sometimes it was hard to look into each other's eyes because of our height difference, but it was great. We have a lot in common: we both love makeup, grooming, and manicures," said Helgi. "I'm used to looking up and seeing people who are taller than me, but today I was very happy to look up and see the tallest woman in the world. I am very glad to have met Rumeisa, she is so good-natured and I felt very comfortable talking to her," said Amge. Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! China has been on the list of the fastest growing and developing countries for more than a decade. Tourists come here to see how representatives of the ancient culture are renovating their cities and surrounding themselves with the latest technologies. OBOZREVATEL has selected 5 of most beautiful cities in China that everyone should see. ADVERTISIMENT Guangzhou One of the oldest cities in the world began its history more than 2 million years ago. Back then, the first settlement appeared on the territory of the modern metropolis, which developed rapidly and grew into the craft and trade center of China. Today, you can see ancient temples that are centuries old and stunning skyscrapers with incredible illumination. Guangzhou also hosts dozens of international festivals and the country's largest concerts. ADVERTISIMENT Lhasa The capital of Tibet is considered the spiritual center of the world. Pilgrims come here to perform the mysterious rituals and meditate in the incredibly famous place of power. It is not surprising that Lhasa is home to two of the largest Buddhist shrines, the Drak Yerpa and Jokhang temples. Their layouts are designed so that most rooms turn into caves in the rocks, where monks can be alone with themselves. The city is also famous for its unique architecture, which is very different from traditional Chinese architecture. Perhaps the fact is that Tibet has always lived a separate life and has not succumbed to modern global trends. ADVERTISIMENT Xi'an This city is known for the tomb of the once ruling Qin Dynasty. Together with the emperor, 8,000 statues of terracotta warriors with horses were buried in a special crypt. However, legend has it that the remains of hundreds of the monarch's servants with their families and 50 innocent women lie nearby. Historians have not yet confirmed this fact, but the vast territory of the mausoleum has been only partially explored. Another famous attraction of the city is the ancient mosque, built in compliance with Chinese architectural traditions. Of course, there are very few Muslims among the local population. However, many Arab traders came to Xi'an in the 8th century. The local authorities built a shrine for them. This is how China proved once again that it respects and values the traditions of all peoples and religions. ADVERTISIMENT Guilin This city is considered the first tourist center in China. And for good reason. Amazing mountain ranges, lakes with clear water, and endless rice fields make the area simply incredible. Climbers come here to conquer the local peaks. There are also many interesting caves that glow in different colors in the dark due to the unique fauna inside. Guilin is also famous for its many parks filled with oriental flowers and trees, waterfalls and ponds. Near the city there is an ancient settlement that has survived to this day without a single change. ADVERTISIMENT Chengdu This large Chinese metropolis surprises tourists with a combination of ancient traditions and the latest technologies. There are robotic cleaners next to the thousand-year-old temples, and the streets are equipped with surveillance and public protection systems. But that's not what made Chengdu famous around the world. The city is home to the world's largest research zoo, where giant pandas live. There are hundreds of these cute fluffy animals, which tourists adore so much. Last week, illegal immigrant Jose Antonio Ibarra finally faced trial for killing 22-year-old UGA nursing student Laken Riley. Now, the court finally has a decision. The Georgia judge sentenced Ibarra to life in prison without parole for the brutal murder of Riley. According to BBC, Ibarra, an undocumented Venezuelan immigrant, was found guilty of 10 counts against him, these include felony murder and attempted rape. The verdict brought tears to Riley's loved ones, but Ibarra showed no visible reaction. Testimonies Against Ibarra The testimony told horrid details of the crime. The prosecutors stated that Ibarra ran after Riley and confronted her with a rock on campus, where a fierce fight ensued. The data from Riley's smartwatch showed that she called the police before sustaining fatal injuries. DNA was shown to have been found under Riley's nails, connecting Ibarra to the crime. Though the defense argued that the evidence was circumstantial, the judge sustained the prosecution ruling. Ibarra illegally entered the US in 2022 and was supposed to be deported for further processing over past minor arrests. Critics argued that if only the government had detained Ibarra earlier, he would not have committed such a heinous crime. This case became a rallying point during the 2024 presidential election, influencing debates on immigration policies. The murder of Riley profoundly affected her community and raised pleas for justice and reform. Her family, friends, and advocates attended court hearings in hopes of closure. Per CBS News, the case also raised wider questions on campus safety, immigration enforcement, and violence prevention. President-elect Donald Trump latched onto the story of Riley to emphasize a need for stricter border control, and opposition continued to urge that focus be placed on systemic issues rather than individual cases. November 22 2024 The Burrell Collection has headed off a stiff challenge from four other projects to be crowned Scotland's building of the year. The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) named the 68.25 million Burrell Renaissance Project, as the winner of the Andrew Doolan Best Building in Scotland Award for a package of works instigated by Glasgow Life and John McAslan + Partners to repair the failing fabric of the A-listed attraction. Despite a muted reception from one of the building's original architects, the renovation was praised for its 'respectful and deferential approach', with judges hailing the collection as 'an outstanding example of problem-solving and future-proofing that has rejuvenated an old friend'. Originally designed by Barry Gasson, John Meunier and Brit Andresen in 1983 the building has been repaired with upgraded services to display more art in an environmentally friendly manner. Continuing the trend of favouring retrofit projects over new builds, established by last year's winner Cuddymoss, the accolade recognises the increase in display space, accessibility improvements and new entrance arrangement. The judges concluded that the award 'makes a bold declaration about the role of architecture a renewed confidence and belief in it at a time when Glasgow and Scotlands creative and cultural industries are in peril.' The 2024 RIAS Doolan Award jury was chaired by architect David Kohn alongside author and journalist Gabriella Bennett and RIAS president Karen Anderson. November 22 2024 30 affordable homes, including much needed supported accommodation, have been handed over to tenants at Coldside Road in Dundee. Delivered by KDM Architects on behalf of Caledonia Housing Association the 5.4m project comprises a mix of houses and flats which replace a variety of industrial units. Six apartments have been developed as supported accommodation in conjunction with Dundee City Council's Health and Social Care Partnership. DHSCP chair Ken Lynn said: These extra homes are an extremely welcome addition to the city; the six new homes that will be used to provide this support require additional features and specifications that go beyond the standard set by a typical housing association. DHSCP commissioned the service that will provide onsite support enabling adults with additional support needs to stay in their local community and get the right care and support. Homes are finished in off-white dry dash render and red brindle mix facing brickwork. ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 22nd Nov, 2024) Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Professor Ahsan Iqbal on Friday chaired a meeting to assess the progress of projects being executed under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) during the current fiscal year. Senior officials of the Ministry of Planning provided a detailed briefing on the allocation, releases and expenditure of funds for PSDP projects across the country, a news release said. Addressing the meeting, the minister directed the ministry to develop a comprehensive strategy to ensure the timely completion of all ongoing PSDP projects. Reviewing road infrastructure projects of Balochistan amounting to Rs400 billion, Ahsan Iqbal directed that these projects must be completed within three years. He said the government was committed to prioritizing development initiatives in Balochistan, including Balochistan three projects of N-25 dualization of the Khuzdar-Kuchlak section of National Highway, the dualization and rehabilitation of the Karachi-Quetta-Chaman road from Karachi- Karoro & Wadh- Khuzdar and the dualization of Kararo- Wadh Sectionand Kuchlak-Chaman Section at a total cost of Rs224 billion. Other projects of M-8 include the construction of the Hoshab-Awaran-Khuzdar Section-II and Hoshab-Awaran-Kiwzer Package-I, Construction of the Gwadar-Ratodero road project and construction of Wangu Hills Tunnel at a total cost of Rs96 billion, and two projects for the dualization & Improvement of existing N-50 from Yarik-Sagu-Zhob Bypass at Rs. 76 billion cost; and Rehabilitation & Upgradation of long Awaran-JhaliJao Road worth Rs7 billion. The minister directed the Planning Ministry to ensure the timely utilization of funds by other ministries under the development budget. He also stressed the importance of coordinating with ministries regarding their financial requirements for the next quarter, particularly for projects funded by external assistance to avoid any delays in fund disbursement. Highlighting the importance of prioritizing projects nearing completion, Ahsan Iqbal directed that projects with 80 percent completion status be expedited with the necessary funding. Externally funded projects should also be completed promptly to create a place for new projects in the next PSDP. The minister further said the upcoming PSDP for the next fiscal year would be aligned with the "5Es" framework and the objectives of the five-year development plan. Projects that meet these objectives will be given priority, he informed. He emphasized that PSDP projects were not only important for national development but also essential for public welfare. He urged all stakeholders to ensure the timely completion of these projects so that the benefits could be passed on to the public without further delay. LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 22nd Nov, 2024) Punjab University Vice Chancellor (VC) Prof. Dr. Muhammad Ali Shah has been assigned the additional charge of Vice Chancellor Government College University (GCU) Lahore. The Punjab Higher Education Department (PHED) issued a notification in this regard with the approval of the Governor of Punjab here on Friday. A highly respected figure in academia with extensive experience in administration, research, and teaching, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Ali Shah was warmly welcomed by the university faculty as he assumed office as the 33rd head of GCU Lahore. Prof. Dr. Shah is renowned for his contributions to higher education, particularly in the field of Biological Sciences. His academic journey includes a Ph.D. from the University of Wales, UK, and a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Missouri, USA. He also holds an MSc from Punjab University. Dr. Shah began his illustrious career as a lecturer at Murree Lawrence College before serving as Vice Chancellor at seven of Pakistan's leading institutions, including Government College University Faisalabad, Quaid-i-Azam University, and Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan. Throughout his remarkable career, he received over 19 national awards for research and teaching excellence, including the Pakistan academy of Sciences Gold Medal, the Best University Teacher Award, Tamgha-e-Imtiaz, and Sitara-e-Imtiaz. He has also held prestigious roles such as Chairman of the Accreditation Committee of Punjab and has served on the syndicates, senates, and committees of various universities. There is a unique landscape in Dulan County, Qinghai Province in northwestern China. A river with colored waters that never mix. The striking and clear separation between the two bodies of water is due to changes in the origin and therefore the bottom sediments in each of them. ADVERTISIMENT An incredible video posted on the social network X shows the "meeting point" between the ice-blue waters of the Quaidam River and the dark red waters of the Wulansusu River. Here, you can see a clear line where they converge in the town of Xiangjia, creating a stunning image. The blue Quaidam River flows through the Quaidam Basin in China's Qinghai Province. It features snow-capped mountains and grasslands dotted with wildlife. The basin consists of a blue salt lake, which makes the water clear and cool, writes The Sun. And the Wulanwusu River, which flows from Lake Alake on the southern border of the Quaidam Basin, is dark red. It is known as the "red water river" and flows through an area of red rock or red sandstone. At the confluence of the two rivers in Dulan County, the distinct blue and red waters continue their journey without flowing into each other. Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! PESHAWAR, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 22nd Nov, 2024) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Health Advisor, Ihtesham Ali on Friday said that adequate supplies of anti-diphtheria serum were available across the province and urged parents to take their children to the nearest healthcare centres for vaccination. Responding to media reports on the worsening diphtheria outbreak in the province, he emphasised the critical need for vaccination to control the situation. In a statement, Ihtesham shared that a comprehensive report on the outbreak had been presented to raise awareness among the public and media about the severity of the disease. He stressed that the situation could be brought under control unless parents ensure their children were vaccinated against diphtheria and 11 other preventable diseases. The health advisor also disclosed that 26 deaths had been reported across the province due to diphtheria this year, adding that the disease's rapid transmission from one child to another could aggravate the situation. He urged parents to immediately vaccinate their children and maintain social distancing as key measures to curb the spread. Earlier, the health department in its report revealed that 383 cases of diphtheria had been recorded this year across from 228 union councils in 27 districts of the province. Alarmingly, 91 percent of the affected children had not received the diphtheria vaccine, it said and added that the outbreak had occurred 27 times this year in districts including Peshawar, Mardan, Dera Ismail Khan, Bannu, Kohat, Charsadda, Haripur, and Swabi, with 75 percent of affected children being over five years old. APP/adi ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 22nd Nov, 2024) President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday paid tribute to the security forces for carrying out a successful operation in Bannu to eliminate terrorists. In their separately issued statements, both the president and prime minister lauded the gallantry of the security forces for killing three terrorists and arresting another two in injured condition. President Zardari reiterated the resolve that the security forces would continue their action till the complete elimination of terrorists. "We will continue to thwart the evil designs of these enemies of humanity. The government is fully resolved to purge the country of terrorism," Prime Minister Shehbaz said and vowed to continue the anti-terror fight till the elimination of this scourge. Punjab Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique reaffirmed the governments commitment to transparency in the ongoing hospitals revamping project, stressing that there would be no compromise on quality and timelines LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 22nd Nov, 2024) Punjab Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique reaffirmed the governments commitment to transparency in the ongoing hospitals revamping project, stressing that there would be no compromise on quality and timelines. He made these remarks while presiding over a meeting at the Specialized Healthcare and Medical education Department, here on Friday. The minister stressed the importance of completing the revamping projects in various government teaching hospitals of Lahore on time. He stated that contractors had been instructed to expedite work to ensure the convenience of patients visiting government hospitals. Revamping projects are being prioritised, and their continuous monitoring is being conducted to maintain high standards, he said. During the meeting, Khawaja Salman Rafique reviewed the latest progress on the projects underway in nine teaching hospitals, including Services Hospital, Nawaz Sharif Hospital Yaki Gate, Mian Munshi Hospital, Lady Aitchison Hospital, Mayo Hospital, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Kot Khawaja Saeed Hospital, Jinnah Hospital, and General Hospital. Officials provided updates on the progress of the projects, highlighting efforts to enhance infrastructure and services in these facilities. Special Secretary Development Syed Wajid Ali Shah, Additional Secretary Dr. Waheed Asghar, Chief Planning Officer Abdul Haq Bhatti, and other officers participated in the meeting via video link. The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), on Friday, issued a Rs 55 commemorative coin, to mark the auspicious occasion of 555th Jayanti (birth anniversary celebrations) of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, a spiritual teacher, mystic and poet who is regarded as the founder of Sikh faith KARACHI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 22nd Nov, 2024) The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), on Friday, issued a Rs 55 commemorative coin, to mark the auspicious occasion of 555th Jayanti (birth anniversary celebrations) of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, a spiritual teacher, mystic and poet who is regarded as the founder of Sikh faith. On the auspicious occasion of 555th Jayanti of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the Federal Government has been pleased to issue a commemorative coin of Rs55 denomination. The central bank, in a statement issued here, informed that the Nickel-Brass coin is 30mm in dimension and weighs 13.5 grams and it is being issued through the exchange counters of all the field offices of SBP Banking Services Corporation. It is a unique depiction of inter-faith harmony in Pakistan as it has the crescent and five-pointed star on one side and picture of monument of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji on the reverse side. State of Pakistan is heir to diverse religious denominations; Baba Guru Nanak Dev Ji, founder of Sikh faith tradition, is one of the finest sons to blossom out of the land now constituting Pakistan, the statement mentioned. Sikhism is a worldwide religion with millions of adherents and the holiest shrines of Sikhs are located in Pakistan. On the obverse side, the waxing crescent moon and five-pointed star facing North-West in rising position, is in the center and along with periphery on the top of crescent star is inscribed in wording (Islami Jamhuria Pakistan) in Urdu Script. Below the crescent and on the top of two springs of wheat with arms curved upward, there is the year of issuance 2024. The face value of coin in numeral (55) in bold letters and Rupia in Urdu script are written on the right and left sides of crescent star respectively. On the reverse side of the coin, a picture of the monument of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji is shown in the center. The wording (555th Birthday Celebrations) is written on the top of the monument and (Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji) is written at the bottom of the monument whereas (1469-2024) is written along with the periphery at the bottom of the coin depicting the span of birthday celebrations. (@FahadShabbir) RAWALPINDI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 22nd Nov, 2024) The Security Forces on Friday killed four terrorists in three separate engagements in Balochistan. "An intelligence based operation was conducted in Awaran District on reported presence of terrorists. During the conduct of operation, after intense fire exchange, two terrorists were successfully neutralized; both high value targets identified as Niaz @ Ghuman and Zareef @ Shah Jahan," said an Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) news release. In another operation in Dera Bugti District, own troops effectively neutralised one terrorist, it further said. In yet another engagement in Kech District, own troops, while conducting an intelligence based operation, killed another terrorist. "The killed terrorists were involved in numerous terrorist activities against security forces as well as the innocent civilians and were highly wanted by the law enforcement agencies," it said. Security forces of Pakistan, in step with the nation, remain determined to thwart attempts at sabotaging peace, stability and progress of Balochistan. (@FahadShabbir) Perth, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 22nd Nov, 2024) India roared back into the first Test against Australia on Friday after being skittled for 150, taking seven wickets in the final session to put themselves in the box seat after a riveting opening day in Perth. At the close the hosts were in disarray on 67-7 after Jasprit Bumrah demolished the Australian top order in a devastating spell to end the day with 4-17. Alex Carey was unbeaten on 19 and Mitchell Starc not-out six. After opting to bat the visitors were blown away for 150, no match for the hosts' lethal pace attack with Josh Hazlewood taking 4-29. Impressive debutant Nitish Kumar Reddy (41) and flamboyant Rishabh Pant (37) showed some spirit but once again superstar Virat Kohli flopped, out for five. The 36-year-old has only managed two Test centuries in the last five years, with questions mounting over whether he still warrants selection. But Australia fared no better in reply. Captain Bumrah removed rookie opener Nathan McSweeney lbw for 10, another headache for a team struggling to find a decent replacement for the retired David Warner. Marnus Labuschagne had a massive letoff two balls later, with Kohli putting down a sitter in the slips, leaving Bumrah with his head in his hands. But India quickly snared another breakthrough with Kohli this time holding the catch off Bumrah to remove Usman Khawaja (8), and when Steve Smith was trapped lbw next ball, it was game on. Harshit Rana clean-bowled Travis Head (11) for a maiden Test wicket before Mitchell Marsh departed for five, caught low in the slips by KL Rahul off Mohammed Siraj. Labuschagne rode his luck for 52 balls to eke out two runs before he too was on his way, lbw to Siraj, then Bumrah returned to dismiss skipper Pat Cummins (3). Malaga, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 22nd Nov, 2024) World number one Jannik Sinner triumphed in singles and doubles to help Davis Cup holders Italy beat Argentina 2-1 on Thursday to reach the semi-finals. Italy will face Australia after they earlier defeated record 32-time winners the United States and world number four Taylor Fritz with a tense 2-1 victory. Sinner won his first two Grand Slams this season, as well as triumphing at the ATP Finals last week without dropping a set, and blew Sebastian Baez away 6-2, 6-1 after Francisco Cerundolo comfortably beat Lorenzo Musetti 6-4, 6-1 in the opening rubber. In the decisive doubles battle, Sinner and Matteo Berrettini shaded Andres Molteni and Maximo Gonzalez 6-4, 7-5 to progress. "If they put me on the court in doubles I try my best," said Sinner. "Matteo played unbelievable today, he carried me." Italy booked a third consecutive return to the semi-finals and are favourites to win the Davis Cup for a second year running, in no small part because of Sinner's presence. The 23-year-old is still waiting for the outcome of the World Anti-Doping Agency's appeal against his initial exoneration for twice testing positive for traces of the steroid clostebol in March. Sinner beat Novak Djokovic in singles and doubles in last year's semi-finals on the way to helping Italy end a 47-year wait to lift the trophy again. Against Baez in the first set of his singles match, the Italian spurned five chances to close it out but eventually did so at the sixth time of asking. Sinner broke in the second and fourth games of the second set, before holding on to serve out the match. The doubles teams were tied until the ninth game of the first set when Sinner won three points and then Molteni clipped his passing shot which was heading wide to hand Italy the decisive solitary break. The second set was even tighter with Italy breaking for a 6-5 lead and sealing their victory with a Sinner smash. "It's a different feeling when you step on court and can enjoy playing with the best player in the world," said Berrettini. - Green and gold triumphant - Australia's match-up with the USA was the most played in Davis Cup history with this their 48th meeting -- the first was in 1905. In the opening rubber, Australia's Thanasi Kokkinakis edged Ben Shelton 6-1, 4-6, 7-6 (16/14) with a gripping tie-break triumph. Fritz pulled the US level in the tie by beating Alex de Minaur 6-3, 6-4 before Matthew Ebden and Jordan Thompson scored a 6-4, 6-4 win over Shelton and Tommy Paul. Australia, who have lifted the trophy 28 times, second only to the USA, last won the tournament in 2003 and finished as runners-up in the last two editions. With Fritz leading the charge for a strong US squad, the Americans were hoping for a first title since 2007. However Kokkinakis' tie-break heroics and Australia's doubles team won them an even quarter-final clash. "We had to rush out here and get the job done for our country and we love nothing more than those pressure moments," said veteran Ebden, 36. World number 77 Kokkinakis saved four match points and spurned six of his own before eventually prevailing to end the thrilling tie-break, the joint-sixth longest in the competition's history. "I don't know if I've been that pumped up in my life, I wanted that one bad, I wanted to help my team," said the Australian. After Fritz -- who finished as runner-up in the ATP Finals last week -- defeated De Minaur, US captain Bob Bryan opted for two singles players in Shelton and Paul over his doubles specialists and paid the price. "This wasn't a black-and-white decision, it was a razor-thin edge, you know, and we went with it," said Bryan. "We knew it could have turned out like it did, because we're playing a tough team... but I don't regret anything about this (choice)." Australia were beaten by Italy in last year's final and will be out for revenge on Saturday. "If we're up against them we'll be up for the challenge -- but it's not going to be any easier than it was last year, either," said captain Lleyton Hewitt. The Netherlands, who defeated Rafael Nadal's Spain on Tuesday, tackle Germany in the first semi-final on Friday. Stockholm, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 22nd Nov, 2024) Sweden's financially-strained electric car battery maker Northvolt announced Friday the resignation of its CEO Peter Carlsson, hours after the company sought bankruptcy protection in the US while it reorganises its business. Carlsson, who co-founded Northvolt and has led it since its inception in 2016, will "step aside from his role as CEO", the company said in a statement, adding that the search for a new chief executive was under way. Northvolt announced late Thursday that it had applied for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the United States to enable it to restructure its debt and reorganise its business. The filing gave it access to "approximately $145 million in cash collateral", it said, while Swedish truckmaker Scania, a customer, pledged $100 million in new financing. Swedish media reported the company had debts of $5. 84 billion and just $30 million in available cash. Northvolt said its operations would continue as normal during the reorganisation. The company said in September it was slashing 1,600 jobs -- a quarter of its staff -- and suspending the expansion of its site as it struggled with strained finances and a slowdown in demand. Northvolt has been seen as a cornerstone of European attempts to catch up with China and the United States in the production of battery cells, a crucial component of lower-emission cars. Europe accounts for just three percent of global battery cell production, but has set its sights on 25 percent of the market by the end of the decade. The battery maker has also been plagued by production delays, which in May led car manufacturer BMW to drop an order worth 2 billion Euros ($2.2 billion). (@FahadShabbir) Brussels, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 22nd Nov, 2024) Winding between copper vats and oak barrels, a cluster of early-morning visitors filed through a cavernous Brussels building for an up-close peek at craft beers brewed using a centuries-old method -- before sampling the result. Since it was founded in 1900 in Anderlecht, a working-class district of the Belgian capital, Brasserie Cantillon has been turning out so-called primitive "lambic" beers that are steeped in local tradition. What makes lambics special is they start with a process known as spontaneous fermentation -- through exposure to wild yeasts, specifically those native to Belgium's Zenne valley -- as opposed to cultivated brewer's yeast. Aged in wood barrels for months to years, which allows for a secondary fermentation to occur as the beer's sugars convert to carbon dioxide, the result is a distinctive dry beer with a faintly tart aftertaste. Cantillon's speciality is an even more niche type of beer known as "gueuze" -- a blend of lambics from different years and whose fruity varieties include kriek, or cherry in Flemish -- that has around 20 brewers in Belgium. Towards the end of the 1970s, the brewery decided to set itself apart by turning its operations into a museum that today draws more than 30,000 visitors a year, amid a broader surge of enthusiasm for craft beers and micro-breweries. On this November morning, tourists from Italy, France, Japan and Britain rubbed shoulders in what is billed as the last working lambic brewery in Brussels, watching its workers ply their craft. Joining the tourists were two interns from Canada's Quebec including Isabelle Gignac -- a beer professional in her thirties who works at a micro-brewery on the shores of the Gaspe Peninsula. Her boss sent her to Cantillon for five weeks to bring back some of its know-how. "What makes a difference between the beers brewed here is how long they are aged, and what barrels are used," she said. Morello cherry, haskap, elderberry flower: the brewery uses a whole palette of fruity aromas for its gueuze beers, adding them at the secondary fermentation stage. "Lambic is what comes closest to primitive beer -- the kind that was made before Louis Pasteur and microbiologists discovered how yeast works in the second half of the 19th century," explained one of Cantillon's co-owners, Jean-Pierre Van Roy. Compared to the 6.5 million hectolitres of beer imbibed in Belgium last year, Cantillon's output is a mere drop, with an annual 2,500 hectolitres (55,00 UK gallons) produced on average. Two-thirds of that are sold abroad. Together with his wife Claude Cantillon, granddaughter of the brewery's founder Paul Cantillon, the couple remain majority stakeholders in the family business while the day to day is handled by their three children. John Gallagher, an Irish academic based in Leeds in northern England, inherited his taste for Belgian brewing from a well-travelled uncle. "These are beers rooted in a 'terroir,'" he said approvingly as he sipped from a red fruit variety, using the French term designating the particular mix of soil, climate and culture that feeds a product's character. "That's what gives them such a reputation with beer lovers," Gallagher said. "In England, traditional methods have been long lost." Ocean Engineering Graduate Lands Two Job Offers in One Day Fri, 11/22/2024 - 10:15am | By: Gabriela Shinskie Picayune native Marthonette Aguilar landed two job offers in one day at a recent invitational job fair, contributing to the growing success of The University of Southern Mississippis (USM) School of Ocean Science and Engineering (SOSE) program. Aguilar is a 2024 USM graduate with an extensive passion for hydrography and ocean engineering (OE). A select few eligible candidates from across the U.S. were invited to the job fair to meet with departments and interview for positions at the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) Warfare Centers Carderock Division in Bethesda, Maryland. The Carderock Division includes 2,000 engineers and scientists aiding the Navy in maritime technology and assisting in research for military logistics, unmanned vessels, ships and submarines. I got a few back-to-back interviews throughout the day [which led to the job offers]. Im excited about the future, exploring opportunities for professional growth, and learning more about the field Im working in, said Aguilar. She will begin her career in the Platform Integrity department, focusing on modeling and testing ships and their reaction to high-impact hits from missiles or other circumstances. Her hard work in USMs OE program gave her the tools needed to land a high-profile engineering career path; however, her passion stemmed from years of yearning for work in the industry. Aguilar noticed that her desire to pursue a career in hydrography was growing as she entered high school. When deciding what college to attend, she noticed that USM was the right fit with its stellar OE program. She credits her father for helping her make the leap and apply for the journey to propel her dreams into reality. She started her academic career in Hattiesburg but later wanted to be a part of the OE community on the coast and transferred to the universitys Gulf Park campus. She felt a sense of camaraderie and collaboration among her peers. It was great to collaborate with the people at the Gulf Park campus. We had a bond. I learned a lot from the program and utilized the technical skills in the interview process, said Aguilar. Her professors noticed her drive for success within the program and put her in contact with a hiring representative as a potential candidate for the job fair. Aguilar submitted her resume and cover letter and hoped for the best, later receiving a personal invitation to attend. Dr. Gero Nootz, OE assistant professor, realized her potential to impact the engineering community positively. "Marthonette's journey with USM has been nothing short of inspiring. From starting at the Hattiesburg campus to transitioning to the Gulf Park campus, she has consistently stood out as a hardworking and dedicated student. From her first class with me, her eagerness to excel was evident. In her final semesters, Marthonette worked on a senior design project to build a mini wave flume that has drawn significant attention. Her work will lay the foundation for a larger wave flume on the Gulf Park campus, enabling future students to learn about and advance sustainable marine energy production, said Nootz. A wave flume is a long, narrow tank that generates waves to study different scenarios in a controlled environment. Her focus was geared toward 3D modeling and circuits. Aguilar could relate her senior design wave flume project at her job fair interviews. The OE program prepared me very well for this event. They [recruiters] were surprised I had good background knowledge and experience with the concepts, said Aguilar. Receiving two job offers in a single day speaks volumes about the relevance and quality of our Ocean Engineering program and the growing demand for skilled professionals in this field. Congratulations, Marthonette! Your success is well deserved, said Nootz. Click here to learn about USMs Ocean Engineering program, dedicated to preparing students for success. New cars are usually equipped with modern technologies that ensure safe and comfortable driving. When choosing the best car for winter, all-wheel drive (4WD) is key. All-wheel drive makes driving easier, but it doesn't help you stop faster, so the first thing you should do is install a high-quality set of winter or all-season tires. ADVERTISIMENT Experts have selected the best models that feel confident on snowy and slippery roads. Almost all of these cars are available with all-wheel drive. Driving in this mode consumes more fuel, so some cars are configured so that most of the time the power is transmitted to only two wheels (usually the front), and to the other wheels only in case of loss of traction. Dacia Duster The Dacia Duster is an affordable and reliable vehicle. The cheapest 4x4 variant is the Expression TCe130 with a 1.2-liter turbocharged gasoline engine. The Duster Journey 4x4 is well-equipped and affordable compared to its main competitors. Ineos Grenadier ADVERTISIMENT The Ineos Grenadier is something of a tribute to the original Land Rover Defender, which means it is particularly maneuverable in difficult conditions. There's a choice of gasoline or diesel engines, both 3-liter six-cylinder units from BMW, and all Grenadiers have an eight-speed automatic transmission and permanent 4WD. The best thing about the Grenadier is its ability to handle any task, off-road, icy, or terrible weather, but it is an expensive car to buy and operate. Toyota GR Yaris ADVERTISIMENT There aren't many superminis with all-wheel drive, but the Toyota GR Yaris is a compact hatchback that offers speed, comfort, and agility. With 276 hp from its 1.6-liter turbocharged engine, a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic transmission is available, and all cars have permanent all-wheel drive. Ford Ranger Ford Ranger has won six consecutive New Car Awards. So it's fair to say that it's a high-quality, reliable, and durable vehicle that has decent dynamics, sufficient safety equipment, and attractive style. The model range is impressive, as there are options with different configurations and engines. The 2-liter diesel with 168 hp is equipped with partial all-wheel drive, while the 2-liter models with 202 hp and 3-liter models with 237 hp have a 10-speed automatic transmission and permanent all-wheel drive. A plug-in hybrid will be available early next year. ADVERTISIMENT Hyundai i10 The Hyundai i10 has won our City Car of the Year award twice in a row thanks to its spacious interior, attractive exterior design, and user-friendly dashboard. The unique thing about the i10 is that it comes with front-wheel drive only, so you'll need to buy a decent set of winter tires. You can choose between 1-liter gasoline engines with 62 hp and 1.2 78 hp, both with manual or automatic transmission. There is also a 1-liter i10 N Line turbocharged with 89 hp, which perfectly combines sportiness and luxury in a compact and reliable package with an excellent warranty. Land Rover Defender ADVERTISIMENT Land Rover has long been a popular brand for those who want a car that can overcome any terrain or cope with the worst weather, and the latest Land Rover Defender is one of the best models. It is undoubtedly a premium option. The Defender has a wide range of features that surpasses almost all other models on the market. The running costs will be high, but in return, you will have a comfortable, refined vehicle with a great interior that will protect you from the worst winter weather. Volvo EX30 The only electric option here, the Volvo EX30 is the type of car that can turn you into an electric car enthusiast. It looks great inside and out, is fun to drive, and is reasonably priced. Choose the 69 kWh battery with the dual motor to get all-wheel drive. Nissan Qashqai The original Nissan Qashqai was a game changer, 18 years ago, with the release of the updated third-generation vehicle a sophisticated small SUV equipped with a safety kit and high-tech software. Today, Nissan has turned away from diesel, so you have to choose between gasoline and mild hybrid powertrains. Only the latter have all-wheel drive. The Nissan Qashqai is not as roomy as some competitors, but it is comfortable, refined, attractive, and well-equipped. Subscribe to the OBOZ.UA channels on Telegram and Viber to keep up with the latest events. On Thursday, the United States rejected the International Criminal Court's ruling to arrest Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel, and Yoav Gallant, the country's former defense minister, asserting that the court lacks the necessary jurisdiction. See the full story here. Saliha began taking online classes after she lost hope of returning to school to pursue her dream of becoming a doctor in Afghanistan. She was in ninth grade when U.S.-led forces withdrew from the country and the Taliban seized power in August 2021, banning girls' secondary education. "I used to dream of finishing school and going to university," said Saliha, 18, who did not want her family name to be revealed for security reasons. "But now, considering all the limitations, my hope is just to have any kind of education, whether via online courses or underground school." With the Taliban's ban on secondary education in its fourth year, some Afghan girls and young women like Saliha are looking for an alternative source of education. According to the United Nations, more than 1.4 million girls in Afghanistan have been affected by the ban. Under the Taliban, women are barred from receiving a university education, working with government and nongovernmental organizations, and going to public places, such as parks, gyms and beauty salons. Like other Afghan girls and young women, Saliha and her four sisters must remain at home, but, she said, she is determined to continue her education. "I saved every penny to purchase a computer and pay for the internet," she said, to continue learning online. But not all Afghan girls and women can afford to take online courses. In 2022, only 6% of women had internet access in Afghanistan, compared with 25% of men, according to Gallup. Flexibility required Pashtana Durrani, founder of LEARN Afghanistan, a digital school network in the country, told VOA that because of Afghans' varying degrees of access, her organization provides different education models. "A one-size-fits-all approach does not work in Afghanistan. The key is being flexible and responsive to each community," said Durrani. In addition to offering online classes, Durrani's organization runs underground schools in six provinces, educating some 700 girls. But, she said, there is a need to work with local elders to ensure more girls attend these classes. Meetra Alokozay, executive director of Sahar Education, a nonprofit working to empower women in Afghanistan, told VOA it was essential that men support female family members to attend either online or underground classes. "We want men to support their daughters and sisters in pursuing an education," said Alokozay. But, she said, the Taliban's return to power affected the education system in Afghanistan. UNESCO reported that the number of girls and boys enrolled in primary school dropped from 6.8 million in 2019 to 5.7 million in 2022. The ban has already taken a toll on girls and women. A primary school teacher in Kabul, who requested anonymity for fear of reprisals, told VOA that after the Taliban's takeover in 2021, parents withdrew some of her students from school even before they finished the sixth grade. "Shortly after, they were both married off. I don't remember their exact age, but I do know they were no older than 13 years," added the teacher. Mental health problems A report by exiled Afghan human rights watchdog Rawadari this month said that girls in Afghanistan are experiencing a deterioration in mental health and an increase in suicide attempts, in addition to being forced into marriage. "As a result of the ban on women's education, violence against women increased, which has made life difficult for girls and women" in Afghanistan, the report said. Sahar Education's Alokozay said, "Raising awareness about what's going on in Afghanistan is crucial. Many people, even in the U.S., are unaware of the situation." Saliha urged the international community "not to leave Afghan girls alone." "Think about us, write about us, give us opportunities to learn, and help us fight this system," she said. "If one door closes, help us find another." This story originated in VOA's Afghan Service. The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. The International Criminal Court accuses Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant of war crimes for Israels actions in Gaza. Russia launched a new, larger missile at a Ukrainian city. President-elect Donald Trumps pick for attorney general withdraws from contention amid a sex scandal. Plus, a look at press freedom in Niger. China is encouraging its fresh graduates to take up jobs as domestic helpers, as the youth jobless rate has hovered at a high level of around 17%. See the full story here. The new Toyota Land Cruiser FJ is an inexpensive model with off-road capabilities that will be even cheaper than the RAV4 crossover. The car will be made in a fashionable brutal style. A concept design of the car was shown online. ADVERTISIMENT The Toyota Land Cruiser FJ SUV is being prepared for the premiere. The novelty will be the brand's cheapest SUV on the global market. Motor1 tells us more about the car. The Japanese company will present the car in late 2024 or early 2025. It is based on the Hilux Champ budget pickup truck. It costs from $13,000. It was expected that the Toyota Land Cruiser FJ could cost a little more than $20,000, but there is no exact information yet. The car will be the successor to the Toyota FJ Cruiser, which was discontinued about 10 years ago. Insiders report that the new vehicle will be powered by classic internal combustion engines. However, hybrid options should not be ruled out. It is obvious that Toyota wants to turn the Land Cruiser line into an image sub-brand, as Land Rover did with the Range Rover models - it all started with one car, now there are four in the lineup. European allies in the Baltic region are investigating how two fiber-optic data cables were severed earlier this week, with suspicion falling on a Chinese vessel in the area. Germany has said the incident was clearly sabotage. The Danish navy said this week it is following the Yi Peng 3, a Chinese bulk carrier, as it moves through the Baltic Sea. As of Friday, marine tracking systems showed the vessel anchored east of the Danish city of Aarhus. Denmark did not elaborate on why it was tracking the ship. However, there's widespread speculation the vessel may have been involved in the severing of two fiber-optic cables on the seabed, one connecting Finland and Germany and the other running between Sweden and Lithuania. Speaking Tuesday, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius was adamant it was no accident. "I also don't like to believe in the version that these were anchors that accidentally caused how shall I put it damage to these cables. So, we have to conclude, without knowing exactly who did it, that it was a hybrid action. And we also have to assume, without knowing it, of course, that it is sabotage," Pistorius told reporters in Brussels. European allies in the Baltic are collaborating on an investigation, according to defense analyst Charly Salonius-Pasternak of the Finnish Institute of International Affairs. "There's the camp that I would say sees hybrid operations in absolutely everything. And it is one of the things I've cautioned against that if you're in a hall of mirrors, everything looks a certain way. We don't know that," he told VOA. "But as we've already seen in the Baltic Sea, but [also] elsewhere, the incidents of, as it were, 'perfect timing' in terms of anchors dragging or other things at some point you have to start drawing conclusions that this cannot be just an accident," Salonius-Pasternak added. Several similar incidents There have been numerous similar incidents in the Baltic Sea in recent years. In October 2023, the Balticconnector gas pipeline linking Estonia and Finland was badly damaged. Ten months later, China said a Hong Kong-registered vessel, the Newnew Polar Bear, had caused the damage accidentally in a storm. Finland remains skeptical of the admission, saying there were no storms in the area on the day the damage was detected. "At least for some countries, it may be politically convenient to label them as kind of unsolved mysteries," Salonius-Pasternak told VOA. "Because if you identify them saying, in this case, definitely someone in the Chinese political establishment directed the captain to do this what are you going to do then?" Questioned Thursday on Denmark's tracking of the Yi Peng 3 in the Baltic, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Li Jiang denied any knowledge. "I do not have specific information on the Chinese vessel," Li said. "We are willing to maintain communication with the parties concerned in accordance with international law and jointly safeguard the safety of international seabed infrastructure. At the same time, we also hope that the normal navigational rights and legitimate interests of Chinese vessels will be effectively protected." Baltic needs better monitoring, says leader Speaking on Friday, Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal said better monitoring of maritime traffic was required in the Baltic. "What are the surveillance systems and systems acknowledging what is happening and where? Who is moving where? And, where is the fault located?" Michal asked. "Because there can be also quite natural reasons." In 2022, the Nord Stream pipeline carrying gas from Russia to Germany under the Baltic Sea was blown up. The perpetrator is still unknown. Western nations and Russia blame each other, while others have suggested that Ukraine carried out the attack. All deny responsibility. The COP29 climate summit presidency released a draft finance deal on Friday that would have developed nations take the lead in providing $250 billion per year by 2035 to help poorer nations - a proposal that drew criticism from all sides. We talked with Professor Gregory Keoleian with the School for Environment and Sustainability at the University of Michigan. Heavy gunfire erupted in South Sudan's capital, Juba, on Thursday evening after security forces moved to arrest the former head of the intelligence service, according to Reuters reporters and an alert sent to United Nations staff. The gunfire began around 7 p.m. local time (1700 GMT) and continued sporadically for more than an hour before dying down, Reuters reporters said. A U.N. safety alert to staff members in Juba, seen by Reuters, said the shooting was related to the arrest of the former head of the National Security Service (NSS). It urged U.N. staff to shelter in place. In early October, President Salva Kiir dismissed Akol Koor Kuc, who had led the NSS since the country's independence from Sudan in 2011, and appointed a close ally to replace him. Army spokesperson Major General Lul Ruai Koang said Akol Kuur had not been arrested and had stayed in his house throughout the shooting. Koang said he would address reporters later on Friday after a meeting with other security officials. Analysts said the sacking of Akol Koor reflected a power struggle at the highest levels of government. It came weeks after the transitional government that Kiir leads announced that elections expected in December would be postponed for a second time. Rival factions loyal to Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar fought a civil war from 2013 to 2018 that resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths. The two have governed together since then as part of a transitional government. There has been relative peace, but the opposing forces clash periodically in addition to frequent fighting among a patchwork of armed groups in rural areas. The United Nations atomic watchdog's 35-nation Board of Governors passed a resolution on Thursday again ordering Iran to urgently improve cooperation with the agency and requesting a "comprehensive" report aimed at pressuring Iran into fresh nuclear talks. Britain, France, Germany and the United States, which proposed the resolution, dismissed as insufficient and insincere a last-minute Iranian move to cap its stock of uranium that is close to weapons-grade. Diplomats said Iran's move was conditional on scrapping the resolution. Iran tends to bristle at such resolutions and has said it would respond in kind to this one. After previous criticism at the International Atomic Energy Agency's Board, it has stepped up its nuclear activities and reduced IAEA oversight. China, Russia and Burkina Faso voted against the text, diplomats in the meeting said. Nineteen countries voted in favor and 12 abstained. Standoffs The IAEA and Iran have long been locked in standoffs on a range of issues, including Tehran's failure to explain uranium traces found at undeclared sites, its barring last year of most of the agency's top uranium-enrichment experts on the Iran inspection team, and its refusal to expand IAEA monitoring. The resolution seen by Reuters repeated wording from a November 2022 resolution that it was "essential and urgent" for Iran to explain the uranium traces and let the IAEA take samples as necessary. The resolution in June of this year did the same. The new text asked the IAEA to issue "a comprehensive and updated assessment on the possible presence or use of undeclared nuclear material in connection with past and present outstanding issues regarding Iran's nuclear program, including a full account of Iran's cooperation with the IAEA on these issues." Western powers hope that report, due by spring 2025, will pressure Iran into negotiations on fresh restrictions on its nuclear activities, albeit less far-reaching ones than in a 2015 deal with major powers that unraveled after then-President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from it in 2018. With Trump set to return to office in January and Iran having taken its uranium enrichment far beyond the deal's limits, it is far from clear whether Trump would back negotiations aimed at setting new limits before those of the 2015 deal are lifted on "termination day" in October of next year. If no new limits are agreed before then, the report could be used to strengthen the case for so-called "snapback," a process under the 2015 deal where the issue is sent to the U.N. Security Council and sanctions lifted under the deal can be re-imposed. Iranian reaction Last week IAEA chief Rafael Grossi visited Tehran, hoping to persuade new Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who is seen as relatively moderate, to improve Iran's cooperation with the agency. Grossi formally reported to member states on Tuesday that "the possibility of Iran not further expanding its stockpile of uranium enriched up to 60% U-235 was discussed" in his meetings with Iranian officials, and that the IAEA had verified Iran had "begun implementation of preparatory measures." Iran already has enough material enriched to that level close to the roughly 90% purity that is weapons grade for four nuclear weapons if enriched further, according to an IAEA yardstick. It has enough material enriched to lower levels for more bombs, but Iran denies seeking nuclear weapons. Grossi said on Wednesday he had asked Iran to cap that stock of 60% material and Iran had accepted his request. He said at a news conference that day that it was "a concrete step in the right direction," suggesting that he felt a resolution could undermine that progress. With the resolution passed, Iran is likely to respond. Moments after the vote, Iranian state media cited a joint statement by the foreign ministry and the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran saying Iran's nuclear chief Mohammad Eslami has issued orders for measures like activating various new and advanced centrifuges, machines that enrich uranium. "If there is a resolution, it [Iran] will either increase its activities or reduce the agency's access," a senior diplomat said before the vote. The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants on Thursday for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former defense minister and Hamas officials, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity over their 13-month war in Gaza and the October 2023 attack on Israel, respectively. We talk with Leila Sadat, Washington University professor of international criminal law and special adviser on crimes against humanity to the ICC Prosecutor. Israeli forces launched strikes Friday on Beiruts southern suburbs and areas in southern Lebanon identified by Israel Defense Forces as Hezbollah strongholds. Video provided by news organizations showed strikes in Baabda, Choueifat, Hadath and Dahiyeh. In a post on its X social media account, the IDF said its air force completed a series of attacks on headquarters used by Hezbollah in the Dahiyeh area in Beirut. The post said the attacks were to damage the ability of Hezbollah to strike Israel, including production sites and warehouses of weapons in Dahiyeh. The IDF also said from its X account that its jets earlier Friday attacked Hezbollah targets in the southern port city of Tyre. It said the targets included Hezbollah headquarters, intelligence infrastructures, weapons warehouses, an observation post and military buildings. Many military assets that were attacked are associated with Hezbollah's 'Aziz' unit, which is responsible for shooting from the area of southwestern Lebanon towards the territory of the State of Israel and other terrorist activities in the area, the post said. U.N. peacekeepers injured Separately, the U.N. mission in Lebanon, UNIFIL, said in a statement Friday four Italian peacekeepers were injured when two rockets struck the missions headquarters in Shama, just south of Tyre. The statement said the injuries were not life threatening and the peacekeepers were receiving treatment at the base hospital. UNIFIL said the rockets damaged a bunker and logistics area used by the international military police and caused significant damage to nearby infrastructure. They said the rockets were likely launched by Hezbollah or affiliated groups. The UNIFIL statement said this was the third attack on this UNIFIL base in Shama in a week and came amid heavy shelling and ground skirmishes in the Shama and Naqoura areas in recent days, heightening tensions in the region. UNIFIL strongly urges combating parties to avoid fighting next to its positions. It reiterated that any attack against peacekeepers constitutes a serious violation of international law and United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701. 'Deadliest year' for aid workers Also Friday, the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said this year has been the deadliest year on record for humanitarian personnel worldwide, driven by the conflict in Gaza, it said in a statement. OCHA said the 281 aid workers killed so far this year globally surpasses the previous high of 280, with 178 of those deaths occurring in the occupied Palestinian territories, including Gaza. Since the October 7, 2023, terror attack on Israel that sparked the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon, 333 humanitarian personnel have been killed. The U.N. office said many were killed in the line of duty while providing humanitarian assistance. Most were staff members of the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. Geneva-based OCHA spokesperson Jens Laerke said the front-line workers being killed are doing the best humanity has to offer, and he called their deaths outrageous. Regardless of your faith or what religion you embrace, these people are doing God's work, and they're being killed in response, he said. Hamas launched its October 7, 2023, terror attack on Israel. About 1,200 Israelis were killed, and 250 were taken hostage. About 100 of the hostages have yet to be released, although a third of them are believed to be dead. Following the attack, Israel began a campaign to eliminate Hamas in Gaza that has killed at least 44,000 people, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Since the fighting with Hezbollah began, more than 3,500 people in Lebanon have been killed, according to authorities. Most of the fatalities have occurred since late September. The United States, the United Kingdom and other Western countries designate Hamas and Hezbollah as terror groups. VOA United Nations Correspondent Margaret Besheer contributed to this report. Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse. Kabul residents are struggling with severe water shortages, often waiting hours at the Afghan capitals dwindling wells for drinking water. The United Nations cautions that urbanization and climate change could deplete the city's groundwater within the next five to six years. VOAs Afghan service has this report, narrated by Bezhan Hamdard. On November 21, the head of the military junta in Mali, Colonel Assimi Goita, appointed government spokesperson Abdoulaye Maiga as prime minister, Reuters reported. A day earlier, Goita fired prime minister Choguel Maiga, who had criticized the regime for refusing the transition to civilian government. Early this year, the junta, which has controlled Mali since 2020, suspended all political activities in the country and extended the military rule until 2027. The juntas leadership claims all is well in the country. Speaking with the Russian state-run Sputnik Africa on November 16, Oumar Mc Kone, president of the Bloc for the Recovery and Development of Mali, bragged about the "extraordinary success" the junta achieved in recent years in "guaranteeing security in the Sahel." Kones comments came as the United Nations peacekeepers, Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali, or MINUSMA, completed the withdrawal of over 13,000 troops from Mali. Launched in 2013, the MINUSMA was protecting civilians from the violent Islamist fighters and separatist rebels who joined forces in Northern Mali. With more than 300 troops killed during the deployment, MINUSMA became the U.N.s deadliest mission. The junta accused the U.N. peacekeepers of being "part of the problem in fueling intercommunal tensions" and ordered MINUSMA to leave the country in June 2023. Mali kicked out French troops the previous year, gradually replacing Western missions with the Russian Defense Ministrys Africa Corps, formerly the Wagner Group. MINUSMA failed because its objectives went against the interests of Malian people, Sputnik Africa reported, citing Kone: "[The Malian army] has achieved in two years what foreign organizations, including MINUSMA, have not been able to achieve in 12-13 years." The claim is false. The extremist armed groups attacked civilians twice as often since MINUSMA started pulling out of Mali. The Global Conflict Tracker produced by the New York-based Center for Preventive Action reported in October a significant growth of violent extremism leading to humanitarian crisis and erosion of human rights in the Sahel. "Since last August, when MINUSMA completed the first withdrawal phase, the attacks by the extremist groups have more than doubled." According to the latest report from Armed Conflict Location & Event Data, or ACLED, attacks on civilians in Mali spiked by 38% since the withdrawal of MINISUMA peacekeepers, with the battles and attacks "spreading to new locations in northern Mali." ACLED said the Malian army, backed by Wagner forces, uses tactics such as "torture, summary executions, beheadings, ejection of prisoners from aircrafts and the booby-trapping of corpses." The 2023 Global Terrorism Index ranked Mali third globally among the countries most affected by terrorism. The score is based on the number of incidents, fatalities, injuries and hostages. Malis recent score is four times higher compared with previous years. Last year, the U.S State Department terrorism report on Mali said, "Reports of targeted and indiscriminate attacks on the civilian population in other parts of the country, notably in the north, significantly increased following the withdrawal of international forces, such as Frances Operation Barkhane in 2022 and MINUSMA during the year." Human rights groups, U.N. investigators and the U.S. State Department accuse the Malian army backed by Russian troops of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity. New York-based Human Rights Watch documented one such atrocity, when a Malian drone bombed a wedding celebration in an open-air location in Konokassi, Segou region, located in central Mali, killing five men and two boys on February 16. The next day, a second drone strike hit a group of villagers as they were burying the bodies of those killed during the wedding, leaving five more men and two boys dead and six others injured. United Nations investigators said that in March 2022, more than 500 people were killed, "the vast majority summarily executed by the Malian troops backed by Wagner mercenaries." Eyewitnesses recounted harrowing experiences during the five days in Moura village. The attack began on a busy market day, March 27, with an army helicopter flying over the town and "opening fire on people," while four other helicopters landed. Troops disembarked "and gathered people at the center of the village while shooting randomly at those trying to escape." Observers say that democracy in Mali has diminished, and that the country is on the brink of a civil war. The army staged back-to-back coups in 2020 and 2021, promising to hold elections in February 2022. The juntas current leader, Goita, who came to power after the second coup, has repeatedly failed to set an election date to transfer power to the civilian government. Mali remains the "epicenter of the protracted crisis in the Sahel region," the U.N. refugee agency said, noting, "The volatile security situation and escalation of tensions in the region has significantly increased those being forcibly displaced from Mali to Mauritania." The U.N. agency reported: "This rapid increase in the last 22 months has more than doubled the number of Malian refugees living in Mauritania, bringing the total estimated population to 273,070 as of September 2024." The runner-up in Mozambique's October 9 presidential elections, Venancio Mondlane, has accepted President Filipe Nyusi's offer to join discussions with him and three other candidates in hopes of ending weeks of postelection protests and violence that have left at least 30 people dead in the southeast African country. Nyusi called for dialogue during a state-of-the-nation address Tuesday, saying the demonstrations were limiting the activities of companies, stalling shipments from ports and putting people out of work, among other issues that are negatively affecting the nations economy. From his Facebook page, Mondlane said that he had accepted the dialogue offer and that he would submit his proposal on Saturday for an agenda for the talks, which are proposed for Tuesday. There was no indication the other candidates responded to Nyusis call. Nyusi, who will hand over his office in January to Daniel Chapo if the Constitutional Council confirms the election results, appealed for dialogue with Mondlane along with ruling party candidate Chapo and the two other presidential hopefuls, Ossufo Momade from Renamo and Lutero Simango of the Democratic Movement of Mozambique. The demonstrations broke out October 24 when the nations election commission declared ruling Frelimo party candidate Chapo the winner with nearly 71% of the vote. Mondlane and his Podemos party, who the commission said came in second with 20% of the vote, challenged the vote and called for protests. The advocacy group Human Rights Watch has reported that while many of the protests have been peaceful, some demonstrators have burned tires and blocked roads. Mozambique security personnel have responded with tear gas, dogs, rubber bullets and, in some cases, live ammunition. Along with the deaths, Nyusi said, more than 800 people, including 66 security officers, have been injured. Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and other groups have condemned the violent response by the security personnel, as well retaliatory violence by protesters. They have called for the release of those illegally and arbitrarily detained and have called on regional authorities to press the Mozambique government and security forces to respect fundamental human rights. VOAs Jeff Custer contributed to this report. U.S. President Donald Trump wants Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to come up with a plan to grant the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina what he calls long overdue federal recognition, fulfilling a campaign promise he made last September. Federal recognition acknowledges a tribes historic existence and its modern status as a nation within a nation entitled to govern itself and receive federal benefits, including health care, housing and education. Historically, tribes were recognized through treaties or laws or presidential orders or court decisions. In 1978, the Department of the Interior standardized those procedures, allowing recognition through the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Congress or a federal court ruling. Those standards require tribes to demonstrate continuous political autonomy since the 19th century, and members must document descendance from historical tribe members. The process is time-consuming and expensive, often requiring assistance from historians, genealogists and attorneys. Historic records, if they ever existed, may be lost or destroyed. The 1978 rules, updated in 1994, also state that tribes previously denied cannot reapply. Gray eyes Over time, the Lumbee have been linked to several historic tribes, including the Cheraw, Tuscarora and even Siouan tribes. One tribal name or a single cultural origin is insufficient to explain Lumbee history, because Lumbee ancestors belonged to many of the dozens of nations that lived in a 44,000-square-mile territory, writes Lumbee historian Malinda Maynor Lowery. The names of these diverse communities varied depending on where the people lived and on what Europeans wrote down about them. In 1584, English explorer Arthur Barlowe noted that some Indian children on Roanoke Island had very fine auburn and chestnut coloured hair. Three years later, England established a small colony on the island. The governor left for England to gather supplies. When he returned, no one was there. There were two clues: the word "CROATOAN" carved into a fence post and "CRO" on a tree. This gave rise to the theory that they had been taken in by Croatan Indians. In the early 1700s, Hatteras Indians at Roanoke, as the Croatans were now called, told English explorer John Lawson that they descended from those vanished settlers. They also had gray eyes, which Lawson believed confirmed their mixed heritage. They tell us, that several of their ancestors were white people, and could talk in a book [read], as we do, the truth of which is confirmed by gray eyes being found frequently amongst these Indians, and no others, Lawson wrote. Enduring names The 1790 federal Census recorded family names found among the Lumbee today and classified them as all other free persons. In 1835, North Carolina banned voting in state elections for anyone who had a Black, mixed-race or biracial ancestor within the past four generations, and the state amended its constitution to segregate Black and white children into separate public schools. As the lines between white and colored hardened in North Carolina Indians resolved that non-Indians must recognize their distinct identity, Lowery wrote. In 1885, North Carolina recognized the Lumbee as Croatan Indians and created separate schools for them. Shortly after, 54 members identifying themselves as Croatan Indians and remnants of the lost colony petitioned Congress for aid to educate more than 1,100 of the tribes children. The Indian Affairs commissioner turned them down, saying he could barely afford to support the tribes already recognized, let alone the Croatans. The tribe renamed itself Lumbee, after the nearby Lumber River, in 1952. In 1956, Congress passed Public Law 570, acknowledging the tribe as a mix of colonial and coastal-Indian blood but denying them federal benefits. In the 1990s, the Interior Department again rejected the Lumbees petition, citing insufficient proof of cultural, political or genealogical ties to a specific historic tribe. Despite failed bills, the House passed the Lumbee Fairness Act in December 2024, which, if approved by the Senate, would grant federal recognition and benefits. The Interior Department released an update to the acknowledgment process, allowing certain tribes that were previously denied the opportunity to reapply for recognition. That was set to take effect this week but has been postponed to March 21. Congress 'not equipped' North Carolinas federally recognized Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) has long opposed Lumbee recognition. The Lumbee cannot even specify which historical tribe they descend from, and recent research has underscored the dangers of legislative recognition without proper verification, EBCI principal chief Michell Hicks said in a December 2024 statement. Allowing this bill [the Lumbee Fairness Act] to pass would harm tribal nations across the country by creating a shortcut to recognition that diminishes the sacrifices of tribes who have fought for years to protect their identity. Former EBCI chief Richard Sneed told VOA in 2022, Congress is not equipped to do the necessary research to determine whether or not a group is a historic tribe or not. The process was created for that purpose. In an emailed statement, Lumbee tribal chairman John L. Lowery expressed cautious optimism that the Lumbee Fairness Act would pass. Our critics are sad individuals who use racist propaganda to discredit us while ignoring the struggles of other minorities in America, he told VOA. As Indigenous people, we are the minority of the minority here in the United States, and our critics are trying to erase the memories of our ancestors, and we will not let that happen! Fifty-six thousand people identified as Lumbee in the 2020 U.S. Census. If recognized, they would be the largest acknowledged tribe east of the Mississippi River. A few days ago, Armenian and other media outlets reported on a strange appointment in the future administration of Donald Trump. A Christian preacher, a member of the Evangelical Church, and an associate of Trump named Joel Tenney announced that, after the inauguration of the 47th president in January, he will assume a certain position "aimed at strengthening and promoting relations between the United States and Armenia." Tenney is known as a long-time and staunch supporter of Armenians. He has met with so-called "refugees" and has loudly accused Azerbaijan of "ethnic cleansing." Armenian media, sharing this news with enthusiasm, are already anticipating the beginning of a new era in the destructive activities of the Armenians in our region. Donald Trump himself has never shown much interest in the South Caucasus, but the presence of a significant number of pro-Armenian figures in his future team could alter this approach. The appointment of Preacher Tenney to oversee relations between the United States and Armenia is, of course, a very strange decision. And it's not about Tenney's personality as an Armenian sympathizer and Islamophobe, but rather about the very nature of the appointment. If this really happens, it means the diaspora managed to secure such an appointment for some merit. The United States cannot have individual preachers... sorry, staff members working with each country. There are almost two hundred countries on the planet, and Armenia is a speck of dust in the United States' interests in Eurasia. The Armenians are clearly being misled again, and they are happy about it. By the way, the preacher has already started his work without waiting for an official appointment. A photo was posted on social media the other day, showing Tenney standing at the grave of the 28th President of the United States, Woodrow Wilson, with his hand resting on the coffin lid and smiling happily. This photo and gesture carry a certain message, and the timing is significantNovember 22. On this day in 1920, President Wilson signed a report titled "The Decision of the President of the United States of America on the border between Turkiye and Armenia, Armenia's access to the sea, and the demilitarization of the Turkish territory adjacent to the Armenian border." In Armenia, the so-called Wilson arbitration is remembered with tears. Over a hundred years have passed, yet the aftertaste left by the signing of this document still haunts the Armenians. For the first time in their real, not mythical history, they stood on the threshold of "Armenia from sea to sea." The president of such a powerful nation personally drew the borders of "Greater Armenia," despite the fact that the US Senate rejected by a vote of 52 to 23 the proposal of the Supreme Council of the Allied Powers to accept a mandate for Armenia. Wilson's drawing of the borders, as historians note, was already merely a symbolic gesture. But Armenians still believe that everything can be returned. I remember that Armenia even considered challenging the legality of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline and the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, arguing that these projects violated the Armenian "borders" drawn by Wilson. Armenian pundits have argued that the American arbitration remains in force today and will continue to do so until Armenia concludes a new border agreement and formally recognizes its current border with Turkiye. Of course, this is absurd, but we are talking about our neighborsand that explains everything. In fact, the document signed by Wilson on November 22, 1920, never gained legal force. Those who try to promote a different interpretation in Armenian society are simply deceiving the Armenians. Wilson's arbitration was based on the Treaty of Sevres. However, there's a problemthe Treaty of Sevres was signed with Ottoman Turkey, and the Turkish Republic, established by Ataturk, did not recognize it. As a result, the agreement became nothing more than a worthless piece of paper, a napkin that sobbing Armenian nationalists wiped their noses on. Distressed, Woodrow Wilson even sent a fact-finding mission to Turkiye, which, as we would say today, recognized that there was no possibility of implementing pro-Armenian plans. The issue was closed. The Dashnaks attempted to reopen it, and in response, they received the Treaty of Alexandropol, signed by the same powers that had signed the Treaty of Sevres, which deprived Armenia of any future territorial claims on Turkiye. In 1921, world powers concluded the Moscow and Kars Treaties, which established the current borders in the region. This marked the final blow to Armenian hopes. All they can do now is demand the denunciation of these treaties and deceive themselves by proving their invalidity. The Treaty of Sevres has long been relegated to the archives, and so has Wilson's report. However, Armenia continues to hope that Yerevan can resurrect the issue. Our neighbors are trapped in the past, so they come up with absurd ideas, such as denouncing the Moscow Treaty or bringing Sevres back to life. These hopes were reignited by yesterday's photo posted on social media. The preacher's pose at Wilson's grave gave the Armenians renewed hope that Wilson's arbitration might return to the agenda. Tenney posed there intentionally; it was a symbolic and promising gesture toward the Armenians. Today's date will be celebrated by Dashnaks and nationalists with great enthusiasm because Tenney's gesture confirmed their belief that "The West is with them." They are confident that Mr. Tenney will whisper the right words into Trump's ear, and everything will be decided in their favor. Once, the Armenians clung to Russia's skirt, believing that Mother Russia would give them Azerbaijani lands; now, they are clinging to America's hem in the hope that, for reasons still unclear, the new president, courting the Armenians, will lift the lid of the coffin and bring Woodrow Wilson's ideas back to life. The preacher and, according to the media, the future head of a certain department dedicated to Armenia, Joel Tenney, with his gesture, has given the Armenians unrealistic hopes for this. However, their fulfillment is unlikely, but Armenians are used to being promised unrealistic things. They'll survive this too. Malta is one of the smallest island states in the world. However, it is home to the oldest temples, which, according to one hypothesis, were built by the Atlanteans. OBOZREVATEL has collected 10 interesting facts about this country that will surprise you. It is believed that many millennia ago Malta was part of the mighty Atlantis. After the country's territory went underwater, seven islands remained intact. ADVERTISIMENT An indirect but very convincing proof of this is the fact that the country's sights are older than the Egyptian pyramids. Only three of Malta's seven islands are inhabited. However, it is so hot there that people have to constantly invent ways of protection against sun and heat stroke. Thus, houses on the territory of the state are located very close to each other so that narrow streets are in the shade all day long. More than one and a half million tourists come here every year. This makes the country one of the most attractive vacation destinations among Europeans. By the way, in 2004, Malta joined the European Union, and in 2008, it fully switched to the euro. Despite its remoteness from the mainland, the country has a lot in common with the EU. This is due to the fact that the country was a colony of Great Britain for many years, which left a mark on its culture and customs. ADVERTISIMENT The Maltese are calm and friendly people. They have experienced a long history of state formation, so they have great respect for people of all nationalities. This is why crimes are very rare here. Even theft is unusual on the island. The country has one of the oldest universities in Europe, which has been operating for almost 500 years. In general, they take education seriously here. Malta is considered the largest center for learning English. There are various training camps, meetings, and evenings for teenagers from the age of 13. ADVERTISIMENT However, this nation knows how to relax better than anyone else in the world. Although the islanders have very few holidays, they organize huge festivals with live music, dancing, fairs and competitions for each. People come from all over the country to attend them. By the way, according to statistics, every second Maltese has studied music. Alcoholism is a strange thing for this country too. The locals hardly ever drink strong drinks. However, everyone here drinks wine in large quantities (it costs less than water). Maltese almost never get divorced. Even the law does not provide for such an option. A vacation in Malta will cost you more than on other islands. The fact is that most of the products in the country are imported from Europe, so the prices for vegetables, meat, or even drinking water are very high. Kaja Kallas, the European Union's next foreign policy chief, is already sending signals that she will take a tough stance on Russia and China and be an advocate for a strong alliance between Europe and America. Kallas spoke to the European Parliament for the first time in her new role at a hearing on November 12, where she stressed that the EU will be steadfast in its commitment to support Ukraine against Russian aggression. She begins her five-year term as the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on December 1. The former Estonian prime minister warned that Russia, Iran, North Korea and more covertly China want to change the rules-based world order. She called on the EU to respond to this threat alongside its closest allies and partners "without losing an inch of who we are." Elze Pinelyte, an expert at the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) with a focus on Sino-EU relations, told VOA Mandarin that Kallas' policies "remain firmly supporting Ukraine's victory." In response to worries that the incoming Trump administration may reduce U.S. support for Ukraine, Kallas stressed that the United States' strategic interests in China are inseparable from the outcome of the war on Ukraine. "If the U.S. is worried about China and other actors, they should also be worried about how we respond to Russia against Ukraine," Kallas said during the November 12 hearing. Ivan U. Kyszcz, a researcher at the Estonian International Defense and Security Center, told VOA Mandarin, that Kallas "reflects the view that Europe needs to do more for its own defense and security, and this is not inconsistent with NATO and the European and American alliance." As for whether the second Trump administration will change Brussels' considerations, he said, "there are still too many unknowns." Tougher policy toward China Kallas' tough stance toward China was first seen during her tenure as prime minister of Estonia, when her government advocated that Estonia's China policy should be promoted within the framework of EU-China relations. In 2022, Estonia announced its withdrawal from the Beijing-led "Cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European Countries," the so-called "16+1" mechanism. After the European Parliament elections this year, Kallas was nominated as the candidate for new foreign policy chief. She then resigned as prime minister of Estonia. Some experts say Kallas will take a tougher policy toward China than her predecessor Josep Borrell. Pinelyte agreed and added that Kallas likely will "seek support to limit China's ability to fight Russia's war." Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the EU has condemned Beijing's support for Moscow. Kallas said that without China's support, "Russia cannot maintain the war with the same intensity." China should face "a higher cost" for supporting Russia in the war against Ukraine, Kallas said, hinting at more deterrent sanctions. In October, Kallas wrote to the European Parliament that during her tenure as EU high representative on foreign policy, she would be committed to countering Russia's "imperialist dream" and China's "unfair competition." A trade dispute between the EU and China over products such as electric vehicles has lasted for more than a year, and negotiations are still ongoing. The EU said China's large subsidies for electric vehicles constitute unfair competition. Unpredictable alliance It is not clear whether the Trump administration will continue to provide security guarantees and support to Ukraine, and whether it will impose higher tariffs on the European Union. Given the United States' greater focus on the Indo-Pacific region and its strategic competition with China, many European leaders are calling on the EU to reduce its security dependence on the United States. Pinelyte at EESC said "Kallas seems to have taken office at a time when the idea of an alliance with the United States is outdated." Abigael Vasselier, director of policy and European affairs at the German Mercator Institute for China Studies, told VOA that the EU needs to avoid the state of panic it fell into with the first Trump administration. Instead, she said, it must seek to coordinate with the second Trump administration, including "making recommendations" on China issues. "The EU needs to be prepared because the Trump and Biden administrations will have completely different approaches to China," she said. Nigerian military authorities are praising the arrest of separatist leader Simon Ekpa in Finland on Thursday. Ekpa was arrested along with four others for alleged terror-related activities, including incitement to violence and terrorism financing in Nigeria. In two separate statements late Thursday, Nigerian defense authorities lauded Ekpas arrest as a step toward his extradition to Nigeria and a validation of Nigeria's bilateral relations with the international community. Police in Finland arrested Ekpa along with four others on Thursday for suspected terrorism financing and inciting deadly violence in Nigeria's southeast region using social media. Finnish police are seeking a court order to extend their detention. The arrest comes eight months after Nigerian authorities declared Ekpa a wanted man, and three months after they appealed to a visiting European Union delegation to extradite him. Beacon Security and Intelligence analyst Kabiru Adamu said the authorities negotiations paid off. "When such a bilateral conversation is held at that level, then you would've done the documentation that in most times would give you a good result, Adamu said. Ekpa was a leader of the separatist Indigenous People of Biafra, or IPOB, a group that advocates the southeast regions split from the rest of Nigeria but has long since politically fragmented. He rose to prominence following the arrest and incarceration of fellow IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, by Nigerian authorities in June 2021. Using social media posts and broadcasts, Ekpa has been calling for a no work day in Biafra every Monday to demand Kanu's release a measure that some factions of IPOB have criticized. Following Ekpas arrest, Kanus supporters within IPOB released a statement disassociating themselves from the Ekpa. Security analyst Ebenezer Oyetakin said Ekpa's extradition can't come soon enough. "One would've expected that when the sovereignty of a nation is being threatened by individuals or a group of individuals, that should be a wake-up call to that country's leadership, particularly the security leadership, Oyetakin said. But we did not pursue this in a constructive and strategic diplomatic approach that it should be. But it is better late than never." The secessionist campaign in Nigeria's southeast led to a civil war in 1967 that killed an estimated 1 million people, mostly from starvation. In recent years, hundreds of people including security operatives have been killed there in renewed separatist agitation. Adamu said it won't be easy for Finnish authorities to extradite Ekpa to Nigeria. "I doubt if we have an extradition agreement between Nigeria and Finland, Adamu said. And the fact that he has dual citizenship in my understanding of international relations, it will be next to impossible for Finland to extradite him knowing that he's likely to be tried for treason and terrorism. These are offenses that could even fetch a death penalty." Finland had previously investigated Ekpa for alleged financial crimes, including receiving money through questionable means. It's unclear if his arrest will spark more tensions in the region, but analysts say authorities must be on the lookout for a possible new Biafra separatist leader. Several of Beijings leading trading partners are urging Chinese President Xi Jinping to do more to pressure North Korea to stop or reverse its deployment of troops to Russia, where more than 10,000 North Korean soldiers have joined the front lines in the war against Ukraine. The appeals at the past weeks twin summits in Brazil and Peru reflect the awkward position in which the Chinese leader finds himself as he attempts a delicate balancing act between Russia and the West. At a joint press conference with Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva in Brasilia on Thursday, Xi called for bringing together more voices of peace in Ukraine. He pushed for a six-point consensus on Ukraine first put forward by China and Brazil in May that stresses dialogue and negotiations leading to a political settlement. Before his bilateral meeting in the Brazilian capital, Xi was told by world leaders on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro and the APEC summit in Lima, Peru, that Beijing needs to persuade North Korea to stop sending more troops to fight for Russia. German Chancellor Olaf Scholtz warned Xi on Tuesday at the G20 that the deployment of North Korea troops to fight against Ukraine amounted to an escalation of the war. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol asked Xi last week at APEC to play a constructive role on North Koreas deepening ties with Russia. Yoon used the global gatherings as an opportunity to consolidate the Wests condemnation of Pyongyang-Moscow military ties. U.S. President Joe Biden also told Xi at APEC that Beijing has influence and capacity to prevent the conflict in Ukraine from expanding through the presence of more North Korean troops, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said at a press briefing Sunday. Biden pointed out Chinas position calling for the de-escalation of the conflict and said the presence of North Korean troops runs counter to that stance. Balancing act China has been reluctant to call out North Korean leader Kim Jong Un for providing troops and munitions to help Russian President Vladimir Putins war efforts. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned Tuesday that North Korea could deploy up to 100,000 soldiers, and the U.S. estimates that about 11,000 North Korean troops have been mobilized in the Russian border region of Kursk. Beijing currently finds itself in a tricky situation, said Patricia Kim, a fellow at Brookings Institution where she leads the Global China Project. It is uncomfortable with North Koreas growing military cooperation with Russia that has extended into the Ukrainian battlefield. Putin is now indebted to Kim, and this may embolden Pyongyang to engage in risky behavior at home that can have blowback effects on China, she told VOA. At the same time, Beijing believes it cannot afford to alienate Pyongyang or Moscow, especially as the potential for a U.S.-China confrontation grows with [President-elect Donald Trumps] return to office, she said. Despite the discomfort, it is unlikely that Xi will confront Moscow or Pyongyang about sending more North Korean troops, said Bonnie Glaser, managing director of the Indo-Pacific program at the German Marshall Fund of the United States. Glaser suggested that China is less concerned about the North Korean troops in Russia than about responses by the U.S., Japan and South Korea that could negatively impact Chinese interests. Liu Pengyu, spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, told VOA on Wednesday that Chinas position on both Ukraine and the Korean Peninsula remains consistent, and that Beijing has been making efforts toward de-escalation of the situation in Ukraine. While being silent on North Korean troops, China is accused of providing dual-use goods that Russia needs to produce weapons. The European Union has also warned Beijing that the attack drones that Russia is producing in Chinas Xinjiang Province would have consequences. China has been trying to support Russias war in Ukraine without angering the West out of concern over any economic backlash it could trigger including trade restrictions and sanctions that could further cripple its struggling economy, analysts said. China is skilled at playing this role of ambiguity, given its history of nonalignment, while knowing its economy relies on good trade relations with the U.S. and the EU, said Joseph DeTrani, who served as the special envoy for six-party denuclearization talks that included North Korea and China, from 2003 to 2006. China appears reluctant to use its limited leverage with North Korea due, in part, to the tension in the U.S.-China relations, he said. At the same time, DeTrani said, the Chinese president will not openly support Russias war for fear that would undermine his governments credibility with the Global South, where Xi is trying to prove that Chinas system of governance is far superior to the liberal democracy in the U.S. In October, the U.S. sanctioned Chinese companies for directly helping Russia build long-range attack drones. In response, Chinas Foreign Ministry urged the U.S. to stop using the Ukraine issue to smear or put pressure on China. Aligned against US Richard Weitz, senior fellow and director at the Center for Political-Military Analysis at the Hudson Institute, said China views its partnership with Russia as more important than any differences it has over North Korea. China does not want to antagonize Russia over North Korea, he said. Despite their differences on particular issues, including North Korea, they are fundamentally aligned globally against the U.S. and the Western order. So, theyre not going to let these specific differences over narrower issues interfere with that global alignment, said Weitz. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said at a meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Brazil on Monday that Beijing is ready to cooperate closely with Russia within the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, according to Russian news agency TASS. They also stressed the importance of strengthening foreign policy coordination between Moscow and Beijing at international venues, including the U.N., BRICS and the G20, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday. By failing to condemn Russian aggression, China threw away any claim to neutrality, said John Erath, senior policy director at the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation. It is unlikely, however, that Beijing believes Russia-DPRK [North Korea] military cooperation to be in its interest. If China has objected to the partnership, it does not seem to have produced much of an effect on Putin or Kim, said Erath. Europe must be ready to fill the potential gaps in funding and weapons for Ukraine that may arise when U.S. President-elect Donald Trump takes office, Polish Foreign Minister Radosaw Sikorski said Friday. In an exclusive sit-down interview with VOA Eastern European Bureau chief Myroslava Gongadze, Sikorski noted that Trump and fellow Republicans appear reluctant to continue robust U.S. support for Ukraine, and he said it would be crucial to leverage frozen Russian assets to sustain Ukraine's defense. Sikorski also called on EU nations to increase defense spending to meet the challenges posed by Russias aggression. Sikorski said solidarity between the EU and the U.S. remains vital to sustaining Ukraines fight, deterring further Russian aggression and safeguarding democratic values on the continent. The interview has been edited for brevity and clarity. VOA: We start with the latest development, specifically on Russia using ballistic missiles in Ukraine, basically testing ballistic missiles on the civilian population. Do you see this as a new escalation of the war, and what should the Wests response be? Polish Foreign Minister Radosaw Sikorski: There's a lot of noise, as you know, as to what exactly hit Ukraine. Russia has been using ballistic missiles throughout this war, but this is alleged to have been an intercontinental ballistic missile which normally has a different use, which, if it is the case, is on the one hand an escalation and a signal, but on the other hand also an act of desperation that Putin is unable to win in this war, and we see signs of the Russian economy in real stress. We have reports of Russian soldiers deserting. And of course, inviting mercenaries from North Korea is not exactly a sign of strength. VOA: Still, what would be Polands response, and how are you concerned about this latest development? You advocated for extending the air defense over part of Ukraine, western Ukraine. NATO and Brussels didn't agree. Do you think it's time to reconsider? Sikorski: Maybe, let's be precise about what the stakes are. Poland is a victim of Russian missiles and drones. We assume that they lost control, and we've had several drones, as has Lithuania and Romania, and also cruise missiles. One of them traveled two-thirds of Poland and fell 10 kilometers from my house in western Poland. There was another incident in which a Russian missile launched at western Ukraine was shot down and the debris killed two Polish citizens, obviously, on our side of the border. We also had Russian cruise missiles breaching our airspace briefly in order to hit Lviv from the west, and there is no legal or operational doubt that once this stuff is in our airspace, we have the right to shoot it down, but when we do that over our territory, the debris damages something or can kill someone. So, the debate is about whether the right of self-defense extends only to one's own airspace or to the immediate area of a neighboring country, particularly when that neighboring country is asking us to shoot Russian missiles over its territory. And you can have a genuine difference of opinion as to this issue. I personally think that when the Russians send missiles or drones into another country, the least they can expect is that they'll lose the missile or the drone. VOA: So, would you be lobbying NATO on this idea of extending protection of airspace over Ukraine? Sikorski: We've had this discussion in the summer, and no decisions were taken by the alliance. And we do want to act as an alliance, because we have an integrated radar system and integrated anti-aircraft system, and we want our allies to be able to react to any further Russian escalations jointly. VOA: Recently, you opened a new military base near Kaliningrad. This base was planned for a long time. You signed the agreement with Americans a long, long, long time ago. However, now Russia is saying that this base will be a target. How significant is the opening of this base for Poland, and how do you respond to threats from Russia? Sikorski: Well, here we are in Warsaw. I mean, that was also a target. But the base would be capable of shooting down such Russian missiles as the one that hit Ukraine a couple of days ago because it is Aegis on shore it's essentially an American destroyer built on land, and it could handle all types of missiles, not only ones aimed at the United States but also ones aimed at Europe. Transatlantic tensions VOA: Recently, you hosted five ministers of foreign affairs of European countries here in Warsaw, and you talked about boosting defense spending, U.S.-EU collaboration and supporting Ukraine. What are the biggest challenges you see in all those three areas? Sikorski: Well, we don't know what the new administration will do in regards to supporting Ukraine. If they wanted to threaten Putin with escalation, they would have to be ready to pass another package of support for Ukraine in Congress, and so far, we see no willingness to do that. If they don't pass another package, then it's up to Europe to step in, and it would be expensive. But the war is costing us about half a percent of GDP. We are a 15 trillion-euro economy. My view is that if we allowed Putin to win, the cost of deterring him then would be much higher. So, it's better to help Ukraine, particularly as we have resources and ready finance that only requires political will to take action namely, the frozen Russian assets, and not only the loan, but the capital itself. So, $45 billion Ukraine is getting already. We could use the remaining $250 billion. My personal judgment is that by the end of next year, the Russian economy will be really in trouble, and therefore the challenge is to sustain Ukraine for one more year, and we have the money, so that's as regards support for Ukraine. Europe also needs to do more for its own sake, but also, if we are to gain respect in Washington, we need to show Donald Trump that we listened when he was right when he demanded that European countries spend more [on defense]. Poland has done more than its fair share. We are spending 4.7% of our GDP on defense next year, more than double, almost triple, of what some richer countries are doing. But we know the realities in Germany, and constitutional court judgments in Italy and France. We also have a high budget deficit, but we've had the success of euro bonds secured on the joint credibility of the entire European Union. And it turns out that the European Commission can raise money very cheaply in the financial markets for the COVID recovery plan, hundreds of billions of euros. VOA: Experts say that Europe needs $720 billion to invest in defense and military modernization in general. Do you feel that European countries are ready to spend, that they understand the needs and are now ready to move ahead with this? Sikorski: At the Warsaw meeting, we discussed this idea. It didn't find its way into the communique, but in our conversations, there seems to be general receptiveness to such a plan. VOA: President-elect Trump is promising to achieve peace. How do you see your relationship with the U.S. now, with the old administration going and the new administration coming? Sikorski: Everybody wants peace. If Ukraine capitulated, there would be peace. So, Putin also wants peace. The question is, on what conditions? You know, under communism, we had peace, but it was like the peace of a prison. So, the question is, will the U.N. Charter be respected, and will the security and border guarantees that Ukraine already had, including from Russia, be respected? And the question is how to achieve it. The war will end, not when Ukraine stops fighting. In that case, there would simply be no Ukraine. The war will end when Putin stops fighting. So, what needs to happen is for Putin to come to the judgment that the war was a mistake and that it cannot be won at an acceptable price. And I think he's actually closer to it than he pretends. He is all braggadocio. In fact, it's a catastrophic outcome so far, and he's in trouble. He's just trying to position himself into hypothetical negotiations. But the United States, Europe and Ukraine have stronger cards than he thinks. VOA: Were you able, or will you be planning to deliver this understanding to the newly elected U.S. president? Sikorski: I'm in touch with his former officials and the people who are being talked of as future officials. Our president has been in touch with Donald Trump all along. He calls him his friend, an American hero. We hope that that personal relationship will also be effective. VOA: He [Trump] pushed Europe to put more in defense, and Europe may have to stand alone. He said that Europe has to take responsibility for its security. Sikorski: Given that America cannot handle two conflicts at the same time, and given that successive U.S. presidents have told us frankly that for them, their competition with China is the number one issue, we should take greater responsibility for our security. VOA: And Europe is ready? Sikorski: Europe is always a little tardy, because we are democracies, because you always have to make choices between guns and butter, and our societies prefer butter. But I think the scale of Russian atrocities, the pictures of civilian targets being hit, the threat of what Putin is trying to cause, which is another wave of millions of refugees this should be a wake-up call to all Europeans. Russia gave North Korea anti-air missiles in exchange for deploying troops to support Moscow's war in Ukraine, Seoul's top security adviser said Friday. The United States and South Korea have accused the nuclear-armed North of sending more than 10,000 soldiers to help Russia fight Ukraine, with experts saying Kim Jong Un was eager to gain advanced technology, and battle experience for his troops, in return. Asked what Seoul believes Pyongyang has received for the troops, top security advisor Shin Won-sik said: "It has been identified that equipment and anti-aircraft missiles aimed at reinforcing Pyonyang's vulnerable air defense system have been delivered to North Korea." Speaking to local broadcaster SBS, Shin added that North Korea has received "various forms of economic support" and "following the failure (launch) on May 27, North Korea has been working on satellite-related technology." Experts have previously said that in return for the troops, North Korea was likely aiming to acquire military technology, ranging from surveillance satellites to submarines, as well as possible security guarantees from Moscow. North Korean leader Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a strategic partnership treaty in June, during the Kremlin chief's visit. It obligates both states to provide military assistance "without delay" in the case of an attack on the other and to cooperate internationally to oppose Western sanctions. Putin hailed the deal as a "breakthrough document." Experts say Pyongyang could be using Ukraine as a means of realigning foreign policy. By sending soldiers, North Korea is positioning itself within the Russian war economy as a supplier of weapons, military support and labor -- potentially bypassing its traditional ally, neighbor and main trading partner, China, according to analysts. Russia can also provide North Korea access to its vast natural resources, such as oil and gas, they say. North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui recently visited Moscow and said her country would "stand firmly by our Russian comrades until victory day." She called Moscow's offensive against Ukraine a "sacred struggle" and said Pyongyang believed in Putin's "wise leadership." North Korea and Russia are under rafts of UN sanctions -- Kim for his nuclear weapons program, and Moscow for the Ukraine war. When asked publicly about the deployment of North Korean troops last month, Putin deflected the question to criticize the West's support of Ukraine. North Korea said last month that any troop deployment to Russia would be "an act conforming with the regulations of international law," but stopped short of confirming that it had sent soldiers. North Korea's deployment of troops has led to a shift in tone from Seoul, which has resisted calls to send lethal weapons to Kyiv but recently indicated it might change its long-standing policy. Russian state media reported Friday citing the Russian Defense Ministry their forces have taken control of five settlements in Ukraines eastern Donetsk region, including the village of Novodmitrovsk. The report, from Russias state-run Ria Novosti news service, said Russian forces defeated one tank, four mechanized, one infantry, three Ukrainian Army Jaeger brigades, two marine brigades, three territorial defense brigades and two National Guard brigades. They also managed to repel 68 counterattacks. The report has not been verified. The Russian report comes as Ukraines Defense Minister Rustem Umerov was in Stockholm Friday for meetings with his Swedish counterpart, Pal Jonson. Jonson announced that Sweden, one of NATOs newest member nations, was pledging $2.2 billion in support for Ukraine for 2025 and 2026, and said there is a deepened cooperation between the two nations. During a joint news conference, the two defense ministers discussed Russias current offensive, including Russias launch this week of an intermediate-range missile targeting the city of Dnipro. Jonson said Sweden called the launch an attempt to scare them and other nations from supporting Ukraine, which he said will fail. Jonson told Umerov Swedens support for Ukraine was an investment into our own security, because your security is also our security. In a nationwide televised address late Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged it had launched the intermediate-range missile, which Ukraine originally claimed was an intercontinental ballistic missile, in response to the United States and Britain permitting Kyiv to use their longer-range missiles against Russia. In the address, Putin warned it could use the new weapon, which has a range of 800 kilometers, against those nations. Some analysts, such as Keir Giles of Britains Chatham House, have called the missile launch and Putins comments scare tactics. He said the last thing Putin wants to do is attack a NATO member. At the Stockholm news conference Friday, Ukraines Umerov said Russias missile launch was the second time the nation has escalated the war in Ukraine in recent months, citing the deployment of thousands of North Korean troops on the Russian border. He said Ukraine is working on replying to the launch. Umerov did acknowledge the situation on the front lines is difficult, but said Ukraine is resisting, and Russia is suffering huge personnel and equipment losses. Meanwhile, regional officials in the northeastern Ukrainian city of Sumy on Friday reported that Russian strikes killed at least two people and injured at least 12. The officials say the suspected drone attack struck a residential neighborhood, damaging apartment buildings, private residences, and businesses. They reported rescue operations were under way. Sumy lies across the border from Russias Kursk region, where the Ukrainian army launched an incursion earlier this year. Some information for this report was provided by Reuters and Agence France-Presse. Twelve people have been arrested in connection with a roof collapse at a railway station earlier this month that killed at least 15 people in the city of Novi Sad, Serbian prosecutors said Thursday. Novi Sads Higher Prosecutors Office said the suspects, who were not identified, were arrested on suspicion of committing criminal acts against public safety. One suspect remains at large. If convicted, they face up to 12 years in prison. Fourteen people were killed on the day of the November 1 incident and three were injured, one of whom died Sunday. Former Novi Sad Mayor Borislav Novakovic said the arrests should have happened sooner. For the past 20 days, all suspects could influence witnesses, tamper with evidence and alter documentation, he told The Associated Press. The deadly collapse sparked several rounds of protests, with demonstrators, joined by opposition leaders, taking to the streets with claims that government corruption and nepotism led to the roofs shabby construction. Opposition politicians have called for prosecutors of organized crime to handle the case, according to AP. Other news outlets reported that ministers of transport, construction, infrastructure and trade, along with the head of state-run Serbian Railways, have resigned because of the incident. Goran Vesic, the former construction minister, was reported by Serbian media to be among those detained. Vesic, however, posted on the X social media platform that he reported to authorities voluntarily. The protesters who have clashed with police are calling for indictments in connection with the roof collapse and for the release of activists who were arrested in earlier demonstrations. Serbias populist president, Aleksandar Vucic, has characterized the activists as thugs and bullies, and he has described the protests as terror and brutal violence by certain political factors. Some information for this report came from The Associated Press and Reuters. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's latest nominee for U.S. attorney general has established herself as a staunch conservative, Trump loyalist and outspoken defender of the president-elect, both personally and professionally. Trump announced his selection of former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi on Thursday, just hours after former Florida U.S. Congressman Matt Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration for the post. From his Truth Social media account, Trump praised Bondi and what she will bring to the office. "For too long, the partisan Department of Justice has been weaponized against me and other Republicans Not anymore," Trump wrote. "Pam will refocus the DOJ to its intended purpose of fighting crime and making America safe again." The 59-year-old Bondi was one of the lawyers on Trump's defense team during his first impeachment trial, and she played a leading role in his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Raised, educated in Florida Bondi was born and raised in Florida, received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Florida, and a law degree from the Stetson University College of Law in DeLand, Florida. Early in her law career, Bondi worked as prosecutor and spokeswoman in Hillsborough County, where she was assistant state's attorney. In 2010, she became the first female attorney general elected to the state of Florida. In that role, "she pioneered impactful anti-trafficking initiatives, hosted groundbreaking conferences to combat sexual exploitation, and championed innovative solutions that other states have since followed," said the non-profit National Center on Sexual Exploitation, which welcomed her appointment in a statement Friday. While in office, Bondi defended a 2008 amendment to the state constitution that would ban same sex marriages. In 2018, she joined other Republican state attorney generals in an unsuccessful lawsuit attempting to overturn the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, more commonly known as Obamacare. Bondi received widespread criticism in 2013 when, following a $25,000 donation to a political action committee supporting her re-election campaign from the Donald J. Trump Foundation, she chose not to join a lawsuit initiated by the attorney general of New York against Trump University for "persistent fraudulent, illegal and deceptive conduct." Prior to the donation, Bondi had said she was considering joining the lawsuit, as her office had received at least 22 complaints about Trump University. She endorsed Trump in the Florida primary during the 2016 presidential campaign. Organization founded to advance Trump's agenda Bondi serves as chair for the Center for Litigation and co-chair of the Center for Law and Justice at the America First Policy Institute, a conservative organization that was founded in 2021 to advance Trump's agenda. Bondi is also a partner at the Washington-based Ballard Partners lobbying firm, where she chairs the firm's Corporate Regulatory Compliance practice. Some information for this report was provided by The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse. The Federal Communications Commission voted on Thursday to propose new rules governing undersea internet cables in the face of growing security concerns, as part of a review of regulations on the links that handle nearly all the world's online traffic. The FCC voted 5-0 on proposed updates to address the national security concerns over the global network of more than 400 subsea cables that handle more than 98% of international internet traffic. "With the expansion of data centers, rise of cloud computing, and increasing bandwidth demands of new large language models, these facilities are poised to grow even more critical," FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel said. Baltic nations said this week they are investigating whether the cutting of two fiber-optic undersea telecommunication cables in the Baltic Sea was sabotage. Rosenworcel noted that in 2023 Taiwan accused two Chinese vessels of cutting the only two cables that support internet access on the Matsu Islands and Houthi attacks in the Red Sea may have been responsible for the cutting of three cables providing internet service to Europe and Asia. "While the details of these incidents remain in dispute, what is clear is that these facilities -- with locations that are openly published to prevent damage -- are becoming a target," Rosenworcel said. The Chinese Embassy in Washington said "turning undersea cables into a political and security issue severely disrupts international market rules, threatens global digital connectivity and cybersecurity, and denies other countries, especially developing countries, the right to develop their undersea cable industry." The FCC is conducting its first major review since 2001 and proposing to bar foreign companies that have been denied telecommunications licenses on national security grounds from obtaining submarine cable landing licenses. It also proposes to bar the use of equipment or services in those undersea cable facilities from companies on an FCC list of companies deemed to pose threats to U.S national security including Huawei, ZTE 000063.SZ 601728.SS, China Telecom 0728.HK and China Mobile 600941.SS. FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks said the commission is considering whether to bar companies from getting undersea cable licenses that are on other lists like the Commerce Department's Consolidated Screening List. "China has made no secret of its goal to control the market, and therefore the data that flows throughout the world," Starks said. Last month, a bipartisan group of eight U.S. senators called on President Joe Biden to undertake "a review of existing vulnerabilities to global undersea cable infrastructure, including the threat of sabotage by Russia and China." The United States has for years expressed concerns about Chinas role in handling network traffic and potential for espionage. Since 2020, U.S. regulators have been instrumental in the cancellation of four cables whose backers had wanted to link the United States with Hong Kong. In June, the FCC advanced a proposal to boost the security of information transmitted across the internet after government agencies said a Chinese carrier misrouted traffic. Violent attacks in China this month have killed 43 people and injured more than 70, raising questions about why the tragic incidents occurred and sparking discussion and debate online. VOA spoke with observers who see a link between the incidents and a lack of effective measures to address the underlying social and mental health issues caused, in part, by the countrys current economic challenges. These violent attacks happen quite frequently, and one cause of the attacks is Chinas sluggish economy and the direct grievances that it creates for average people across several industries and social classes, said Kevin Slaten, the research lead of the China Dissent Monitor project under Washington-based Freedom House. In Slatens view, widespread grievances caused by Chinas economic downturn not only caused worker protests in China but may also have forced some people to adopt more extreme measures to express their feeling of desperation. While some violent acts seem to be random, others are directed at a person or people known to the suspect. There are more incidents of unpaid wages toward the end of the year, and these things not only drive protests but also drive individual frustration, anger and hopelessness that leads some people to take it out through senseless violence, Slaten said in a phone interview. In one of the most recent attacks, a 21-year-old student in the city of Wuxi, in eastern China, was reportedly so dissatisfied with his pay at an internship that he killed eight people and injured 17 more with a knife at a vocational school on November 16. In another case, a 29-year-old man rammed a car into a group of people at a factory in southeastern Chinas Guangdong Province in August due to labor disputes. He injured at least eight people. Slaten said there are mechanisms designed to address grievances over pay and other issues in China, but Chinese people often are unable to resolve their problems through these channels. Its difficult to bring collective cases under Chinas court system, and court cases often take a long time, so for vulnerable communities that dont have the time or resources to deal with the court system, they cant rely on it, Slaten said. In his view, while some Chinese citizens will try to highlight their cases through public advocacy, anger and desperation could motivate mass violence too. Some experts say working-class people are often the group affected the most by Chinas ongoing economic downturn. For hundreds of millions of migrant workers, there is not an adequate social safety net, and things like unemployment insurance are not really in place, Eli Friedman, a professor at Cornell Universitys School of Industrial and Labor Relations, told VOA by phone. An existing trend VOA researched online reports of violent attacks in China between February and November of this year in which more than one person was killed or injured. Combined, some 120 people were killed and more than 213 were injured in those attacks. November marks the deadliest month in China. VOAs data analysis shows knives were used in most of the attacks. Vehicles directed at people were also used. Since information about the attacks is often instantly removed from social media platforms by Chinese authorities, it can be difficult to understand the motives of the attackers or the scale and frequency of the incidents. Experts say Chinese authorities want to prevent information about violent attacks from spreading in society. Soon after each event, the government will try to censor discussions on social media platforms related to the incidents, said Dali Yang, an expert on Chinese politics at the University of Chicago. They dont want other people to think this is something to resort to if they cant express their grievances, but such actions also make it very difficult for authorities to understand the underlying causes of such cases, resulting in their failure to address these causes, Yang told VOA by phone. When VOA tried to search for posts about the car-ramming incident in Zhuhai on Chinas microblogging site Weibo, which is similar to social media platform X, no relevant results were found. Despite Chinese authorities efforts to limit the spread of information about these attacks, Yang said, Chinese citizens are still expressing concerns about the surge of random acts of violence. Even without much information, I do get a sense in chat rooms on messaging apps that there is anxiety about these attacks in China. Part of the reason is because these are indiscriminate attacks happening in places with a lot of people, he told VOA. Chinese governments response Following the attack in Zhuhai, President Xi Jinping urged relevant authorities to strengthen their prevention and control of risks at the source and emphasized the importance of resolving disputes in time. Chinas top prosecutorial office also pledged stern, strict and swift punishment for major vicious crimes to maintain social stability and reiterated its zero-tolerance approach toward crimes targeting students and compromising school safety. Local media reports revealed that some local authorities in China have started to identify specific types of high-risk individuals who might carry out indiscriminate violent attacks against the public. These include the unemployed, people who have recently ended relationships, people with low incomes and those with no channels to express their feelings. Chinas basic medical insurance for city dwellers and guaranteed minimum living standards for rural residents usually provide subsidies to individuals who fit the high-risk criteria, analysts said. However, the economic downturn and lack of financial resources may make it difficult for the Chinese government to maintain these social programs. Their measures to identify individuals who are at risk of carrying out violent attacks against the public may be a short-term strategy to deal with social discontent, and it remains to be seen whether they resort to more repressive measures, such as using centralized ways to manage these individuals, Lin Thung-Hong, a research fellow at the Academia Sinica in Taiwan, told VOA. Movies always help to create a Christmas mood at the end of a gray and cold November. That is why streaming services start publishing such content about a month before the holiday. ADVERTISIMENT And it seems that Ukrainians are already actively taking advantage of the opportunity to cheer themselves up and give themselves a little bit of Christmas magic. According to the latest Netflix rankings, several holiday premieres have already made it to the top of the week. Thus, the first place in Ukraine in terms of views is occupied by the new romantic comedy Meet Me Next Christmas. It tells the story of a woman named Layla who lives in New York. She has two desires: to meet the man of her dreams again and to attend the Pentatonix Christmas concert. However, all tickets to the event are already sold out. The second place is occupied by a Christmas comedy too, and it is also a premiere - Hot Frosty. The main character of the film, a widow named Kathy, magically brings a snowman to life. His innocence helps her heal and find love again. Although hey get closer before the holidays, he is doomed to melt. ADVERTISIMENT The Ukrainian mystical horror The Witch. Revenge comes next. It tells the story of Olena, who loses her beloved after the invasion of the Russian occupiers. In order to avenge him, she regains the witch's powers she once renounced. The fourth place is taken by the Finnish action movie Sisu, which takes place in Lapland in 1944. The protagonist is a gold digger who accidentally encounters a Nazi unit. ADVERTISIMENT The family animated film The Super Mario Bros. Movie is in the top five. This is a feature-length adaptation of the popular video game series. The plot is unchanged - the charismatic mustachioed plumber Mario is trying to save his beloved Princess Peach. Next is the Swedish drama Let Go. In the story, Stella and Gustav's family is on the verge of collapse. In order to save their marriage, the woman organizes a joint trip to attend a dance competition in which her daughter is participating. ADVERTISIMENT The French fantasy family comedy Family Pack is in the seventh place. It tells the story of a large family whose members have become strangers to each other. But one day, a board game throws them back to the Middle Ages and they have to survive among the invasion of fantastic monsters. The main star of the movie is Jean Reno. Next is the youth sci-fi slasher Time Cut. Lucy, a high school student, suddenly finds herself in the year 2003. In order not to waste time, she decides to stop the serial killer who took her sister's life. ADVERTISIMENT The ninth place is occupied by a romantic comedy Leap Year starring Amy Adams. Anna, whom she plays, decides to take advantage of an ancient custom and goes to her lover on February 29 to propose. However, a meeting with a handsome hotel owner makes her change her mind. The top ten is rounded out by the romantic comedy Merry Christmas. The screenplay was inspired by the song by Wham! - Last Christmas, in which the hero tells how he gave his heart to his beloved for the holidays. Game of Thrones star Emilia Clarke plays the lead role. Subscribe to OBOZ.UA channels on Telegram and Viber to keep up with the latest events. This time last year, American journalist Alsu Kurmasheva was in a Russian prison, jailed on bogus charges. On Thursday night, free from her ordeal, she accepted a prestigious press freedom award from the Committee to Protect Journalists, or CPJ, in New York. This is a very emotional moment for me. It means so much, Kurmasheva told VOA shortly before receiving her award. I will take this opportunity to address the whole world to repeat again that journalism is not a crime and all journalists who are behind bars today should be released at once. A dual U.S.-Russian national who works at VOAs sister outlet Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty in Prague, Kurmasheva was jailed in Russia for more than nine months on charges widely viewed as politically motivated. During her acceptance speech, Kurmasheva recounted her experience in prison. I tried not to look up as the snow was falling because I couldnt bear seeing the many layers of barbed wire between me and the sky, she said. Kurmasheva, American Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and other political prisoners were released from Russia this August in a historic prisoner swap between Moscow and Washington. Its an awesome responsibility to be a beacon of light, and my story is an example of the price that can be paid for reporting the truth, Kurmasheva said Thursday night. Kurmasheva is among four journalists CPJ honored with its annual International Press Freedom Awards. The others are Quimy de Leon from Guatemala, Samira Sabou from Niger and Shrouq Al Aila from Gaza. The awardees come from different parts of the globe, but a common thread is how they have encountered efforts to criminalize journalism, said CPJ CEO Jodie Ginsberg. Thats something that we see increasingly across the world, is the use and abuse of laws to punish journalists for speaking truth to power, Ginsberg told VOA. During her acceptance speech, Kurmasheva highlighted her RFE/RL colleagues who are still jailed on charges that are widely viewed as retaliatory. Journalists Ihar Losik and Andrey Kuznechyk are jailed in Belarus; Vladyslav Yesypenko is jailed in Russia-occupied Crimea; and Farid Mehralizada is jailed in Azerbaijan. RFE/RL rejects the charges against all of them as false. My colleagues are not just statistics. Like me, theyre real human beings with families who miss and love them, Kurmasheva said. Like Kurmasheva, de Leon and Sabou know all too well the costs that can come with doing their jobs. Sabou, an investigative journalist, has faced years of legal harassment over her coverage of governance issues in Niger. The reporter has been jailed on multiple occasions, but she still reports. What would the world be without the microphones, cameras and pens of journalists? Sabou said during her acceptance speech. Late last month, Sabou told VOA that she plans to use the platform from the award to help improve conditions for journalists in her home country. Its a prize for press freedom, so what we plan to do with it is to work justly to improve the press freedom environment, she said. De Leon has also faced legal threats and other forms of harassment over her reporting, which focuses on environmental issues and human rights in Guatemala. We have taken risks to tell the stories emerging from our realities and to seek truth, even when it means challenging power, she said Thursday night. The black-tie gala was hosted this year by John Oliver, who hosts the Emmy-winning satirical news show Last Week Tonight. During his opening remarks, Oliver noted that press freedom experts predict the First Amendment will be under threat in the United States during President-elect Donald Trumps administration. It looks like we are going to be called on to defend journalists and media freedom right here in the United States, Oliver said. In Ginsbergs remarks, she said CPJ will defend journalists wherever they are under threat. In this moment, we will not be bullied. We will not deviate from our mission, not shrink from the challenges we face, including and especially here in the U.S., she said. Not all of the awardees were able to attend. Al Aila, the Palestinian journalist, was unable to leave Gaza because of the Israel-Hamas war. The war is the deadliest conflict on record for journalists, according to CPJ data. As of Thursday, at least 137 journalists and media workers were killed in the conflict, including 129 Palestinians, two Israelis and six Lebanese. Not only has it been impossible for international journalists to get into Gaza, but increasingly, almost impossible for journalists or anyone else to get out of Gaza, Ginsberg told VOA. We are thinking of [Al Aila] and all journalists who are working under unimaginable conditions currently in Gaza. Al Aila took charge of the independent production company Ain Media after her husband Roshdi Sarraj, who co-founded the company, was killed in the war. On Thursday night, CPJ also honored the late Christophe Deloire, former head of Reporters Without Borders, with its annual Gwen Ifill Press Freedom Award. A longtime press freedom advocate, Deloire died in June from cancer. To everyone who carries on this legacy here in the room tonight, and around the world thank you. This award is for Christophe, for it is also for you, Deloires wife, Perrine Daubas, said in her speech. Because this fight, now more than ever, is ours. The role of Azerbaijan as a growing exporter of fossil fuels has forced a debate at this months climate conference in Baku over which countries are most responsible for worsening climate change the producers or the countries that buy and burn those fuels. Climate activists have cited a slew of new contracts signed by Azerbaijans state oil company in the past year, a development that President Ilham Aliyev has defended as a gift from God and a realistic response to market demand. Oil and gas account for more than 90% of the southern Caucasus countrys exports, boosted by the discovery of the Shah Deniz gas field in the early 2000s, according to the International Energy Agency. The main buyers of its petroleum are Croatia, Germany, Israel, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Turkey and Ukraine, among others. After imposing sanctions on Russian gas in response to Moscows invasion of Ukraine, the European Union turned to other sources, including Azerbaijan. This prompted Baku to begin planning a major expansion of its oil and gas production, according to Ufuk Alparslan, regional lead for Turkey and the surrounding regions at energy research group Ember. Azerbaijans expectations are that the EU will have higher fossil fuel demand, Alparslan told VOA. Their target market will always be the EU, especially after the Ukraine war. Asked whether the buyer or the seller of fossil fuel should take the blame, Alparslan said both share the same responsibility. Its not fair to blame the producers. Theres demand for it [fossil fuels]. I think they should share the blame together, he said. Myrto Tilianaki, senior advocate of environment and human rights at Human Rights Watch, said all countries should double down on their transition from fossil fuels to clean energy sources. Tilianaki said Azerbaijan has not set a good example as the host of this years U.N. climate change conference, COP29. As a COP president, you are meant to be galvanizing and gathering countries around higher [climate] ambitions for this COP, Tilianaki told VOA. She said Bakus stark support for fossil fuel expansion while calling for more ambitious climate goals is contradictory. But Fadhel Kaboub, senior adviser with Kenya-based research group Power Shift Africa, told VOA it is hypocritical to place the blame for rising carbon emissions on producers like Azerbaijan. The problem is the countries of Global North that caused climate change and exceeded their carbon budget by far. And they are in a situation where they owe climate debt they need to pay to the Global South, he said. Azerbaijan has set a goal of reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 40% from 1990 levels in the next 25 years, provided it receives international support. The country has several planned solar and wind projects that would generate 2 gigawatts of renewable energy. It is said to own considerable potential to develop renewable energy from solar, wind, hydropower, biomass and geothermal resources. As the EU seeks to reduce its own demand for fossil fuels, Alparslan said Bakus current strategy to boost oil and gas production might not be ideal. He said discussions on how to diversify its energy sources will be inevitable. The EU wont be a good market in the future, and demand reduction will affect it. They are already at maximum capacity, and if they need to produce more, they have to develop more gas fields, which need financing, he said. Other developing nations in the fossil fuel-rich region will also need to develop alternatives both for domestic use and export, Alparslan added. He cited the case of Uzbekistan, which exported more than $2 billion worth of gas in 2019 but has seen its production dry up and now is a net gas importer, according to local media reports. While it relies on gas from Russia and other countries for now, Uzbekistan has shifted its energy investment into developing renewable sources with an eye to future exports. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said at the COP29 talks this month that he expects to sign a multilateral deal to that effect with the EU in the coming days. Kaboub said developing nations with huge renewable potential like those in Africa have been denied manufacturing technology from the Global North due to perceived geopolitical risk. Its a question of power. The Global North is not interested in disrupting the colonial geopolitical hierarchy, he argued. Climate finance to Africa reached $44 billion in 2021-2022, but more than one-third of that was in the form of loans to already debt-ridden nations, according to a report from the Climate Policy Initiative. Alparslan suggested that developing countries that are highly reliant on generating and exporting fossil fuels should begin their transition by seeking to boost regional cooperation and share renewable energy through improved grid connectivity. These projects can attract international and external funding, he said. Green energy projects are more appealing than fossil fuel. Columbus Mavhunga Mount Hampden, ZIMBABWE The Southern African Development Community held an extraordinary summit of heads of state in Zimbabwe on Wednesday to discuss the post-election strife in Mozambique and the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Mozambique has been rocked by violence since last months elections, with police accused of killing at least 30 protesters, according to civil society organizations there. The opposition accuses the FRELIMO government, which was represented by Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi, of stealing the October 9 elections. "Summit received an update of the Republic of Mozambique on the post-election political and security situation in the country and reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to work with the Republic of Mozambique in ensuring peace, security and stability through the relevant structures of the SADC organ on politics, defense and security cooperation," said the group's executive secretary, Elias Magosi. "Summit extended condolences to the government and people of the Republic of Mozambique for the lives lost during the post-election violence. Earlier in the day, Magosi said those aggrieved in Mozambique should pursue legal solutions instead of resorting to violence. Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who holds the rotating chairmanship of SADC, did not speak about the situation in Mozambique during his eight-minute closing remarks. He talked only about the conflict in eastern DRC. Since 2022, the Congolese army has been fighting a rebel army with the assistance of soldiers from some SADC countries. Speaking from Maputo via WhatsApp before Mnangagwas speech, Albino Forquilha of the Optimist Party for the Development of Mozambique (PODEMOS) which is protesting together with supporters of Venancio Mondlane, the runner-up in last month's disputed presidential election said they were not reading much into the SADC meeting. The PODEMOS party has mobilized people to protest the result that was announced by the electoral commission of Mozambique, which presented results which differ with those that were collected on the voting tables [polling stations]," Forquilha said. "So, we are requesting fair elections. The constitutional court, which is the last institution to give results in a transparent manner its important to call representatives of competing political parties when they validate the election. Everyone can accept them, because the [confirming] process of these two different numbers has been transparent. This is what we are requesting now. Opposition parties in Mozambique disagree that FRELIMOs candidate, Daniel Chapo, won the presidential election. In a state of the nation address on Tuesday, Nyusi invited the four presidential candidates for a dialogue as part of a bid to end post-election protests. By Ken Bredemeier Former Republican Representative Matt Gaetz is withdrawing his name from consideration as U.S. President-elect Donald Trumps attorney general. I had excellent meetings with Senators yesterday. I appreciate their thoughtful feedback and the incredible support of so many. While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition, Gaetz wrote on social media platform X. The U.S. House of Representatives Ethics Committee failed Wednesday to reach agreement on whether to release findings from its nearly finished investigative report on Gaetz. The panels chair, Republican Representative Michael Guest, emerged from a lengthy committee meeting, saying, There was no agreement by the committee to release the report. He declined further comment. Gaetz was accused of sexual misconduct and illicit drug use before he was picked by Trump to become the countrys top law enforcement official in the administration that takes office on January 20. ABC News and The Washington Post reported that the committee had obtained documents that showed Gaetz paid two women who appeared before the committee as witnesses a total of more than $10,000 between July 2017 and late January 2019. The women, who were over the age of 18 at the time of the payments, told the panel that some of the money was for sex. A Trump transition spokesperson defended Gaetz in a statement. The Justice Department received access to roughly every financial transaction Matt Gaetz ever undertook and came to the conclusion that he committed no crime. These leaks are meant to undermine the mandate from the people to reform the Justice Department, with Gaetz at the head of the agency, the spokesperson said. Several U.S. senators, Democrats and Republicans alike, were demanding that the report be released so they could consider the scope of Gaetzs background as they undertook their constitutionally mandated role of confirming or rejecting a new presidents Cabinet nominees. Hours after Trump named him as a nominee, Gaetz, 42, resigned from Congress, even though he had just been reelected to a fifth term. His resignation ended the House Ethics Committees investigation, which had been nearing a conclusion. Gaetz was in the Capitol on Wednesday to meet with some of the senators who would have voted on his nomination. The Senate has not voted to reject a presidential nominee for a Cabinet position since 1989, with members of both political parties giving wide deference to new presidents to fill top-level jobs with appointees of their choosing. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said he met with Gaetz and Vice President-elect JD Vance, still a sitting senator, and told them there would be no rubber stamps, no lynch mobs in the confirmation process. These allegations will be dealt with in committee, but [Gaetz] deserves a chance to confront his accusers, Graham told reporters. The Justice Department investigated the allegations against him but last year declined to bring any charges. Gaetz, like other Trump nominees for top government jobs, has been a vocal supporter of the president and his Make America Great Again agenda. Gaetz, however, angered some fellow Republican lawmakers in the House in 2023 by spearheading the effort to oust then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. In Niger, where press freedom faces challenges, journalist Samira Sabou has become a symbol of resilience. The investigative journalist and activist is being recognized with an International Press Freedom Award. Reporter Abdoul-Razak Idrissa met Sabou in the capital, Niamey. The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. Its reported that Ukraine has fired British-supplied Storm Shadow long-range missiles into Russia for the first time. It follows U.S. President Joe Bidens reported decision earlier this week to approve the use of American longer-range missiles on targets deep inside Russia. Henry Ridgwell reports According to the New York Times of November 17, U.S. President Joe Biden has finally authorized the Pentagon to provide satellite data to Ukraine so that it can use U.S. ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile System) missiles against North Korean forces in Kursk (Russia). The United Kingdom immediately aligned itself with the United States for the use of its Storm Shadow missiles. France, however, seems not to have done so for its SCALP missiles. ATACMS missiles can be fired from HIMARS mobile launchers. The latest models have a range of 300 kilometers and reach an altitude of 50,000 meters. The latest versions of the Storm Shadow/SCALP missiles, on the other hand, have a range of about 400 kilometers. Guiding missiles to internationally recognized Russian territory (and no longer to the territories that recently joined Russia) is an act of war. The United States is therefore engaging in a confrontation without knowing how Russia will respond. Russian military doctrine provides for a response to this type of attack, but Russian President Vladimir Putin has suggested another type of response, this time non-nuclear: supporting the aggressors opponents in other theatres of operation. This is what was done on 15 September with the bombing of an oil pipeline by Ansar Allah in Israel in retaliation for the bombing of a gas pipeline by Ukraine in Russia (cf. VIN 1927). Ukraine fired ATACMS missiles at Russian territory and the next day Storm Shadow missiles. In response, Russia promulgated its new nuclear doctrine and fired, for the first time on a battlefield, an RS-26 Rubezh ballistic missile capable of carrying a nuclear payload. Voltaire, International Newsletter is a weekly newsletter on international politics. It features 10 to 15 pages of contextualized, sourced news items. Its aim is to enable you to follow the decline of the unipolar world and the emergence of a multipolar system. The newsletter is published in several languages. Several foreign ministries from different countries have already subscribed. Our director of publication and editor-in-chief directed French magazines several years ago, and has won journalism awards abroad. He has regularly contributed to some fifteen major dailies and magazines around the world. Voltaire, International Newsletter is available by subscription for 500 a year, is published 42 times a year (not in July-August, nor during the Christmas holydays). Its an indispensable tool for any professional in international relations or defense. Whats more, 10 times a year, subscribers are invited to Zoom virtual meetings with publications director Thierry Meyssan. Contents of issue N109 EDITORIAL 2435 Joe Biden and Keir Starmer authorize NATO to guide ATACMS and Storm Shadows missiles from Ukraine against Russia AMERICAS 2436 US Congress Ready to Sanction the International Criminal Court 2437 U.S. Senate Fails to Block Arms Sales to Israel 2438 Donald Trump continues to put together his administration 2439 The two reasons for the governments streamlining Programme 2440 Campaign against the confirmation of Robert Kennedy Jr. 2441 Pentagon Continues UFO Sighting EUROPE 2442 Gaza: Pope Francis condemns the globalization of indifference 2443 French Senate reveals Borne and Attal governments denial of budget reality 2444 Trial of the Catalan separatists against NSO 2445 Olaf Scholz resumes contact with Vladimir Putin 2446 Andrzej Duda confirms that US bases in Poland are directed against Russia 2447 The Programme of the Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU 2448 MEPs reach a secret agreement to validate the Von der Leyen 2 Commission 2449 Hungarian EU presidency opposes reform of EU treaty balance 2450 The Council of the EU wants to relaunch a "two-speed Europe of defense" 2451 EU decides to continue its agreement with Israel despite its human rights violations 2452 The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense plans to build nuclear weapons 2453 Resignation of Aslan Bjania 2454 Council of Europe reaffirms its support for Ukraine 2455 The New Russian Nuclear Doctrine AFRICA 2456 Libya takes Islamic measures against women 2457 Mali recovers outstanding payments from mining companies 2458 Legislative elections in Senegal 2459 Niger arrests suspected DGSE agent ASIA 2460 Benjamin Netanyahu compares the events in Amsterdam to "Kristallnacht" 2461 Bezalel Smotrich says threat to annex Gaza will help get hostages back 2462 Islamic Jihad ready for separate negotiations 2463 The investigation into BibiGate is progressing 2464 Isaac Herzog forced to cancel his participation in the COP29 2465 Gali Baharav-Miara calls for the dismissal of Itamar Ben Gvir 2466 IDF uncovers Russian support for Hezbollah 2467 A diplomatic delegation searched at Beirut airport 2468 Assessment of the war in Lebanon 2469 Acts of war and terrorism in Lebanon 2470 Israeli-Lebanese negotiations stall 2471 IDF also bombs Syria 2472 Turkiye breaks with Israel 2473 Masoud Pezeshkian marks 100 days in power 2474 Bangladesh Requests Extradition of Sheikh Hasina 2475 Takeshi Iwaya Brings Japanese Imperialist Support to Kiev INTERGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS 2476 Russia vetoes British draft resolution on Sudan 2477 U.S. vetoes draft resolution on Gaza 2478 Many States disagree over the ambiguous wording of resolutions on women 2479 The Fourth Committee supports UNRWA 2480 Conference on the Establishment of a Zone Free of Nuclear Weapons and Other Weapons of Mass Destruction in the Middle East 2481 UNESCO places 34 Lebanese cultural sites under its protection 2482 New failure of the G20 2483 Kimberley Process General Assembly The Ukrainian Armed Forces' strike on the Kursk region with western long-range missiles resulted in deaths. These are exclusively invaders from the Sever group. ADVERTISIMENT This was officially announced by Russian dictator Vladimir Putin. This is the first time that the Kremlin leader has publicly recognized Russian losses in the war against Ukraine. The dictator said that military targets in the Bryansk and Kursk regions were attacked on November 19 and 21 by American and British ATACMS and Storm Shadow missiles, respectively. "In the Kursk region, one of the command posts of our Sever group was attacked. As a result of the attack and the anti-aircraft battle, there are, unfortunately, casualties, dead and wounded among the personnel of the external security units of the facility and maintenance personnel," Putin said. He also noted that the command and operational staff of the control center was not injured and "is carrying out the normal management of the actions of the troops." The enemy did not achieve its goals, Putin emphasized. ADVERTISIMENT Regarding the strike in Bryansk Oblast, he said that the falling debris of the allegedly downed ATACMS caused a fire in an ammunition depot, which was extinguished, "there were no casualties or serious damage." For their part, the West claims that at least a North Korean army general was wounded in the Kursk region as a result of Ukraine's strike. It is not known who exactly, but a number of publications hint that it was most likely the DPRK's Deputy Chief of General Staff, General Kim Yong Bok, who was wounded. As a reminder, it was General Kim Yong Bok who was assigned to command the DPRK troops in the Russian army. ADVERTISIMENT As reported by OBOZ.UA, a strike was carried out with Storm Shadow missiles in the Kursk region of the Russian Federation. This is the first time the Armed Forces of Ukraine have attacked military facilities in Russia with British cruise missiles. The target of the missile strike was probably an underground command post of Russian troops, which could be used not only for communication but also for coordinating military operations. This was reported by Defense Express. As a result of the Storm Shadow missile strike in the Kursk region of the Russian Federation, at least 18 Russian occupiers were killed and 33 others were wounded. Among them are also North Korean mercenaries. In addition, it is likely that a Russian general was among the "two hundredth" or "three hundredth" this is not counting the North Korean general. Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Photo-Illustration: Vulture; Photos: Everett Collection (Aidan Monaghan/Paramount Pictures, Caitlin Cronenberg/TriStar Pictures) In the days of the Roman Empire, plebeians and patricians alike entertained themselves by watching men fight to the death. Some two millennia later, were much more civilized; we entertain ourselves by watching movies where men fight to the death. Audiences are returning to the Colosseum with the release of Gladiator II, the latest in a subgenre that dates back to Hollywoods early days. Perhaps surprisingly, though, there arent actually as many true gladiator movies as the subgenres cultural saturation would imply. The Joey, do you like gladiator movies? joke from Airplane! makes it seem like there are enough gladiator movies that youd need to bust out some of the weird letters to count them all using Roman numerals. Thats not the case, though. Excluding genre movies that have gladiatorial combat in them, like Tron: Legacy or Thor: Ragnarok, and ruling out sword-and-sandals epics that feature Romans but no actual gladiators, its a much smaller list of films that will scratch your gladiator itch. Were left with 13 gladiator movies many of which are extremely Christian and many of which have gay undertones (not mutually exclusive) that earn a thumbs-up from a discerning Caesar. And, in that spirit, all the movies are getting a thumbs-up or thumbs-down ranking, evaluating both how good of a movie they are and how much of the movie is about gladiators. (Chariot racing, while technically different, is acceptable because its a deadly sport.) In order to make this list, at least one pivotal scene needs to take place in an arena but there are great films that have minor gladiatorial aspects, and there are movies that are packed with gladiator action but are quite bad as films. Let the thumbs serve as a guide to which type of movie youre dealing with. And with that, we who are about to rank, salute you. XIII. How Good Is It? How Gladiator-y Is It? This remake of the 1959 original Ben-Hur (which youll find much higher on this list) tries to have it both ways. It aims to make the story of the Jewish prince turned slave turned charioteer who gets revenge on the Roman stepbrother who wronged him into something much grittier, stripping all the color out of what should be a lush world and replacing jaw-dropping sets with drab CGI. Theres a bigger focus on action, but none of it is good. At the same time, it also foregrounds the Christianity, making Jesus Christ into a proper character, whereas the original told its story around the Greatest Story Ever Told to great effect. The result doesnt feel at all spiritual. Rather, it feels like a crass play to reach both faith-based audiences and kids in search of an exciting blockbuster, respecting neither. The only only thing the 2016 Ben-Hur might have over the original is a few shots near the end where charioteers get yeeted from their crashing chariots, an entertaining special effect the original couldnt practically achieve but one that doesnt make up for how crummy the rest of the sequence is in comparison. XII. How Good Is It? How Gladiator-y Is It? Though not an explicit remake, Ridley Scotts Gladiator is similar to The Fall of the Roman Empire, as both feature a disgraced Roman general who must fight for the future of Rome after Emperor Commodus usurps his father, Marcus Aurelius. So why, then, are The Fall of the Roman Empire and Gladiator so far apart on this list? The former was a box-office bomb that is often credited alongside Cleopatra as one of the films that ended Hollywoods infatuation with epics. Theres plenty of spectacle a re-creation of the Roman Forum was the largest set ever built at the time but the execution is middling and the story is tired. It probably shouldnt be on this list at all, since there isnt a proper gladiator scene in it. Instead, General Livius duels Commodus with javelins for the fate of Rome in a makeshift arena made of centurion shields. When Gladiator did this same basic scene, it was significantly more exciting and more emotionally loaded. (Not to mention that Gladiators version was more gladiator-y.) XI. How Good Is It? How Gladiator-y Is It? The arguable first in a wave of mid-century gladiator movies, Quo Vadis follows a Roman military commander, Marcus Vinicius, who falls in love with a Christian woman and must attempt to reconcile his feelings and her faith, which was persecuted under the rule of Emperor Nero. Quo Vadis was a big hit when it came out, and it certainly has all the hallmarks of the lavish historical, biblical epics that were so in vogue at the time, but its three-hour run time really feels like three hours (if not more). The gladiator scene comes near the end, when the woman, Lygia, is tied up in an arena and her bodyguard must kill a charging bull with only his bare hands to save her. Its not a terrible action scene, all told, but if youre coming to this list looking for a gladiator movie, one dude wrestling with a cow probably aint gonna cut it. X. How Good Is It? How Gladiator-y Is It? Barabbas shares a lot of similarities with Ben-Hur, which had been released two years earlier. The big difference is that Ben-Hur is a lot of fun while Barabbas is a bummer from start to finish. The title character is a criminal whom the crowd elected to spare over Jesus when Pontius Pilate gave them the chance, according to the New Testament. Barabbas endures a life of survivors guilt and misery following his pardon, toiling away in underground mines, Andor-style, for 20 years before surviving a cave-in and becoming a gladiator. There is something kinda fun about actor Anthony Quinn, who was in his mid-40s at the time and intentionally looks like shit following his characters decades of slavery, being a surprisingly good gladiator. On the whole, though, watching him suffer and suffer before eventually embracing Christ is a tough hang. IX. How Good Is It? How Gladiator-y Is It? Kit Harington didnt stray too far from Westeros, genre-wise, when he starred in Pompeii, which came out between the third and fourth seasons of Game of Thrones. He also didnt exactly distinguish himself as Milo, a Celt with less personality than Jon Snow who becomes a Roman slave. Milos then forced to fight as a gladiator in Pompeii which is about to explode! Pompeiis gladiator scenes are plentiful and action-packed, but theyre extremely hamstrung by the movies PG-13 rating, and you can feel it holding itself back with every non-bloody swing of the sword. (That its so easy to compare it to Game of Throness violence doesnt help.) But, when the volcano explodes, Pompeii becomes a pretty fun disaster movie, if for no other reason than that its different to see the well-trod disaster tropes applied to ancient times. VIII. How Good Is It? How Gladiator-y Is It? Gladiator II shouldve heeded the words of Oliver Reeds Proximus in the first movie; you become the best gladiator not because youre the strongest or you kill the quickest but because the crowd loves you. Ridley Scotts sequel, which comes almost a quarter-century after the first effort, stars a jacked Paul Mescal as its next-generation Russell Crowe. Unlike Crowes Maximus, however, Mescals Lucius is a hard character for crowds to love or even care about. Saddled with a convoluted backstory that prevents him from expressing emotions beyond taciturn rage until the movie eventually fills in the gaps about what happened between the last movie and this one, Lucius drifts through the many elaborate gladiator combat scenes with a sense of disinterested detachment. Theres a whole conspiracy involving his mother, a Roman general, and the deranged twin emperors that feels detached from Luciuss journey until it isnt. Perhaps most damningly, Lucius never establishes a bond or rapport with his fellow gladiators which, it turns out, is something of a load-bearing Corinthian column for gladiator movies. Its clear why Maximus earned their love and respect; why his comrades come to revere Lucius is something Gladiator II just assumes. Its disappointing and not helped by the fact that the action scenes like a naval battle in the Colosseum and a rhino fight that Scott dreamed of for the first movie but couldnt pull off feel somewhat perfunctory despite how elaborate they aspire to be. VII. How Good Is It? How Gladiator-y Is It? There are sexier and more violent movies than The Sign of the Cross, but none will make you go damn more than Cecil B. DeMilles 1932 Pre-Code epic, which really gets a lot of mileage out of being Pre-Code. Like Quo Vadis (which itself was based on an 1890s novel), The Sign of the Cross follows a Roman named Marcus who falls in love with a Christian woman. Ostensibly a biblical epic where the ultimate ending is Marcus accepting Christ and eternal life, The Sign of the Cross features an erotic lesbian dance, actress Claudette Colbert bathing in milk, and about 20 straight minutes of gladiator games that have the general vibe of a snuff film. Men fight to the death, Christians are mauled by lions, and naked women covered only with flower garlands are tied up for crocodiles to devour and gorillas to ravage. Its not exactly the sort of action movie a modern viewer might be expecting when they look for a gladiator movie, but it certainly captures the innate debauchery of the arena in addition to capturing the realities of Old Hollywood. VI. How Good Is It? How Gladiator-y Is It? Strictly speaking, The Eagle should only barely count as a gladiator movie. Only one scene takes place in an arena, and its hardly action-packed. An enslaved Celt (Jamie Bell) is forced to duel a gladiator in a shabby, muddy arena in Roman Britain, but he refuses to put up any sort of fight and is only spared when Channing Tatums centurion gives his resolute bravery in the face of certain death a big ol thumbs-up. However, the ensuing relationship between the two echoes dynamics found in plenty of good gladiator movies, as Bells Esca has a complex bond with Tatums Marcus (another Marcus!). Esca is Marcuss slave, in his debt because Marcus saved his life. But although he hates Rome, he seems to genuinely like Marcus, even going above and beyond when Marcus ventures north of Hadrians Wall to recover the eagle standard of the lost Ninth Legion. Despite having the least actual onscreen gladiator content of any movie on this list, The Eagle is without question the best movie to watch if you want to watch something in the style of 2000s Gladiator, but worse. V. How Good Is It? How Gladiator-y Is It? Demetrius and the Gladiators is the sequel to another movie, 1953s The Robe, though you dont need to have seen The Robe in order to enjoy what Demetrius gets up to with those gladiators. The title character is a former Greek slave who is arrested and forced to fight as a gladiator. At first, the devout Christian refuses to kill, but when he believes the woman he loves has been killed, Demetrius throws that commandment in the garbage and goes crazy in the arena. His exploits catch the eye of Emperor Caligula, who asks the now-faithless gladiator to bring him Christs robe, which Demetrius was tasked with hiding following the events of the first film. The movie is about Demetriuss crisis of faith, but his time in the arena and in gladiator training camps have all the beats and drama youd expect from a gladiator movie. Demetrius and the Gladiators might have actually codified these tropes years before Spartacus or Ben-Hur made them iconic. IV. How Good Is It? How Gladiator-y Is It? The Arena is exactly what youd expect from a sexy gladiator exploitation flick made in the 70s, for better and for worse. Pam Grier and Margaret Markov, who had starred in Black Mama, White Mama two years prior, reteamed for The Arena, which swapped the prison setting of their first film for an ancient Roman arena. After theyre captured and taken from their respective home countries by the Romans, slave girls Mamawi and Bodicia must put aside their differences and join forces if they want to have a chance at survival. The Arena is schlocky, violent, and horny uncomfortably so at times, as there are depictions of sexual assault that might understandably be disqualifying for some viewers. But, if you know what youre getting into and are in the mood to watch glorious trash, step into The Arena. III. How Good Is It? How Gladiator-y Is It? There were gladiator movies before Spartacus, and there have been many since, but Stanley Kubricks epic is undoubtedly the archetypal gladiator movie. It has been endlessly referenced and copied, and there are parts of Spartacus that Gladiator rips off almost explicitly for good reason! Kirk Douglas stars as Spartacus, an actual historical figure who led a slave rebellion and waged war against Rome, and the film follows his growth from a gladiator-school rookie to a noble leader of men and women in search of freedom. Spartacus isnt perfect it gets a little muddled at times and eventually, it bumps on the limits of the stoic title characters interiority but its a rousing, iconic swords-and-sandals saga. II. How Good Is It? How Gladiator-y Is It? Ben-Hur, the first film to ever win 11 Academy Awards, is unquestionably the best movie on this list, held back from taking the top spot only because its not especially focused on gladiator sport until the final sequence. But oh my, what a sequence that final chariot race is. Charlton Heston stars as Judah Ben-Hur, a prince of Jerusalem who is betrayed by Messala, a man he once considered a brother, and sentenced to a life of slavery in the bowels of a galley ship. However, when he survives the boats sinking and fate gives him another chance, he has a shot at revenge against Messala on the racetrack. The deadly chariot race, a nearly 15-minute-long tour de force of practical effects and daring stunts, is one of the best action sequences ever filmed (if not the best). If Ben-Hurs only accomplishment was the chariot sequence, it would still be a masterpiece; the fact that the race comes at the climax of an exceptional movie makes it something of a miracle, full of stirring performances and lush production design. Among the many gladiator movies that are also religious epics, Ben-Hur might be the most effective; Judahs story plays out in tandem with a mostly unseen Jesus, allowing the former to stand on its own while benefiting from an earnest sense of spirituality from the latter. I. How Good Is It? How Gladiator-y Is It? Of course Gladiator a movie whose title is literally just the word gladiator was going to be the best gladiator movie. Director Ridley Scott understood the assignment when he brought back the historical epic after Hollywood had largely abandoned it for decades, as Gladiators primary goal is the same as the real-life gladiatorial games of antiquity: thrill and delight the crowd. Russell Crowe stars as Maximus Decimus Meridius, a respected Roman general whose family is murdered and is cast into slavery when Joaquin Phoenixs Commodus, who has usurped his fathers throne, (correctly) views Maximus as a threat. Maximuss quest for revenge takes him from a ramshackle arena in Spain all the way to the Colosseum, fighting man and beast alike in the hopes of gaining vengeance and freedom. While the critical response to Gladiator is somewhat muddled (it is typically considered to be in the middle of the pack of Best Picture winners), no other gladiator movie quite captures the gory glory of Rome. Strength and honor. Related The dream of Rome, yeah, whatever. The dream of Lucius and Ravi, though! Photo: Aidan Monaghan/Paramount Pictures Spoilers follow for Gladiator II, released in theaters on November 22. Gladiator II muffles Paul Mescal and his character, Lucius Verus, in a very heterosexual plot, with every element meant to amp up his obsessed-with-the-Roman-Empire trauma. His wife gets fridged in the opening minutes. His beautiful mother abandoned him as a child, remarried a hot military hero, and then seemingly never wondered where her lost son was. Every villain is a little bit gay. These are not conditions conducive to the particular delights of watching Mescal on screen. Mescal thrives as sensitive, engaged, melancholy but trying, leaning forward to hear you talk and really look at you types. The Irish heartthrob only gets to lean into that persona opposite one character in Gladiator II. When hes with them, he twinkles and preens. He leans over a bit so their gazes are unbroken; he holds his body steady and doesnt pull away when they touch. Mescal looks more engaged in these scenes than he does in all the rest of the movie, with a noticeable difference on his face from the vague expression he wears when hes delivering gobbledygook speeches about the dream of Rome or how irritated but not quite rageful he seems during the gladiator fights forced on him by grasping war profiteer Macrinus (Denzel Washington). Mescal is serviceable in those action sequences, but theres a disconnect between his body and his face, a sense that hes swinging a sword around when hed really rather be sitting down and talking to someone seriously and vulnerably. Thats Mescals bag, and amazingly (and a little ironically) for a movie this committed to straight-guy nonsense, Gladiator II offers us the full Paul Mescal experience solely when hes angled that distinctively disheveled mullet toward his characters most selfless ally who happens to be the gladiator turned doctor treating his wounds. Lucius and Ravi shippers, my people, where you at? Mescal, bless him, is trying his best to connect with anyone onscreen who will give him a little something back. But because of how Gladiator II ships him around the Roman Empire and keeps killing the characters Mescal could have chemistry with, Lucius spends the first half or so of the film in a weird static zone where he repeatedly denies his ancestry and chases after his mothers new husband (Pedro Pascal), whom hes incorrectly labeled as his mortal enemy. Luciuss Bedouin wife played by a definitely not Bedouin actress? They get a scene or so together (and exchange the horribly clunky vow Where death is, we are not) before shes offed. The Numidian chieftain who seemingly raised Lucius? He loses his will to live nearly immediately after being captured and lets a feral baboon kill him. Mescal and Pascal dont have enough time together to develop any rapport, and Washington is a hurricane of energy and maximalism who totally overpowers Mescal in every scene theyre both in. All the rhythms of Luciuss relationships are off until Alexander Karims Ravi appears. Hot. Photo: Paramount Pictures In terms of characters from the first Gladiator, Ravi is like a mash-up of Oliver Reeds Proximo, Djimon Hounsous Juba, and Tommy Flanagans Cicero in his understanding of the brutality required to be a gladiator, his immediate loyalty to Lucius, and his wariness about the idea that Rome could change. He has to bear the weight of too much exposition and dot-connecting. But still! When Ravi gently cleans a sword slash on Luciuss arm and offers him opium for the pain, Mescal transforms his character into someone suddenly paying attention to the person in front of him, noticing what they say and engaging with them on their own welcoming terms. Is Ravi saying In your current state, I could best you now sort of flirty? Mescal plays it like it is, with his wide grin and amused attitude. Something similar happens when Ravi explains that he bought his way out of fighting and became a doctor because I met a woman Mescals rejoinder, Theres always a woman, feels both gently mocking and a little knowing. You can practically imagine a wink at the end of it. And if I told you that Lucius teasingly calls Ravi old man, gives him a treasured family ring, and then asks for his keys? Well! I look forward to the swingers tag on your AO3 story. Im mostly joshing, but the chemistry between Lucius and Ravi encapsulates the films biggest problem: It doesnt let Paul Mescal be Paul Mescal. Hes at his best when hes operating in complementary modes of coy, chummy, and bashful and pensive, doleful, and wistful, and he gets the opportunity to play those ranges when Lucius is revealing his dreams and regrets to Ravi. He trusts this doctor with his life and then eventually with his plans to protect Rome from Macrinus, and in their relationship, Mescal is allowed to be proactive in the ways hes most effective as an actor. Those clunky speeches arent it. The underdeveloped relationship with his wife and his mother arent it. Gladiator was a big, sentimental, sincere movie about the genuine and valorous camaraderie between men who risk their lives for each other. Gladiator II tries to mimic or evoke a number of its predecessors beats, but it never quite masters how and why men relate to one another and what qualities they see in other men that inspire loyalty and sacrifice. The closest thing we get to that old Gladiator feeling is found in Lucius and Ravi even if they dont kiss. It is sophomore year at Essex College, and I am delighted to guide you through season three of Mindy Kaling and Justin Nobels The Sex Lives of College Girls! I solemnly swear I will keep my complaints about the unrealistic portrayal of college life to a minimum, despite my long years working in academia. Last season left off with a lot of loose threads that need to be tied up, and with the knowledge that Renee Rapp is leaving the show, you can feel how hard they are working in this episode to get through all the things from last season to set us up with some new hotties, enemies, and friends. One of my favorite things about this show has always been how well they get this specific kind of friendship at this specific age. Sure, the references often sound like they are straight out of the mouth of a woman in her mid-30s, but feelings are always right the relief of Leighton coming out to the group, all the little ways they get to know and understand each other better as they get older. So Im a little annoyed at how rushed this first episode is, and how little it earns the emotional resolution it is going for. Frankly, Im of two minds about it: If I want to be churlish, I dont know why this arc has to be so rushed. I assume it is to allow space for the girls to make up so they can say good-bye to Leighton as a foursome, which is just so dramatically inert that it depresses me. It would be much more fun to watch this foursome figure out how to say goodbye to one of their core members while at odds with each other. But alas, I am simply a humble recapper, so let me get to it! Lets start with Whitney and Kimberly, who have not spoken since last summer, despite Kimberlys few attempts to reach out. She and Canaan havent slept together yet, causing MVP Lila to wonder, Why is this betrayal so chaste?? And indeed, when we see Kimberly and Canaan back at Sips, they are a little awkward around one another. There is a risk you take when you put possible sex on hold for months! Bela and Leighton confess that not only do they have a separate group chat (ouch!), but they have also been having separate lunches with Whitney, and Bela mentions they went to visit Whitney in Washington, D.C., over the summer and had dinner with Kamala! (And Doug, for the record.) With that final application of salt in the wound, Bela and Leighton tell Kimberly she needs to fix this ASAP. Meanwhile, Whitney is living in Kappa house, having agreed to join last year. It seems Whitney is the only person on earth who has no idea how sororities work? She skips all the house bonding activities and seems shocked to learn they are mandatory which, Im sorry, but duh? Aside from the good shower products, not much about the sorority is speaking to Whitney. That is, until Kimberly appears with an apology caboodle, something I would have taken as a declaration of war. The sorority sisters overhear Whitney yelling and come right to her defense. I would never speak ill of women but if you did that to your friend, you are a cock-gobbling skank, one of them spits, and they chase Kimberly right out of the foyer. She leaves the caboodle on the porch. Its probably still there if anyone needs! At the Y2K party, Kimberly and Canaan sneak off to finally do it but they cant. First, while making out, Kimberly asks, Hows your mom? and then remembers they have to restock the toilet wands tomorrow morning. They both feel weird about it, and moreover, Kimberly just cant sleep with her besties ex. Like most things in this episode, this feels a little rushed and convenient, but it is at least believable that Kimberly wouldnt be able to sleep with Canaan. They return to the party, where Bela pushes Whitney and Kimberly into a supply closet and demands they return as friends. And, because Kimberly didnt sleep with Canaan, they can. Of course, the lie is what Whitney cant get over, and Kimberly does a decent job of apologizing, owning that she was not thinking about Whitney at all and that their friendship is more important than Canaan and any accidental below-the-waist touching that may or may not have happened while cleaning the pastry case. Also, Whitney is dying to move back in, so I suppose we can consider the sorority plot wrapped up here. Bela, having been informed by Rose Adobo that her 1.8 GPA is far too low to transfer, has decided that instead of leaving, she will be undergoing an entire personality overhaul. She will no longer be doing comedy, nor will she be leading with her sexuality. Instead, she will be a FAF, taking over for Frude, who contracted pneumonia over the summer and will be heading back to Sweden. Bye, Frude, I loved your name! She has a rough FAF start, announcing herself as she runs into her first meeting like shes in the WWE, then gets entirely walked over by Taylor, an English freshman who is clearly being set up as some nemesis for Bela because, well, Bela wouldnt be Bela if she wasnt at odds with someone! I am fully team Bela, especially after Taylor stands to announce that the Essex tradition of a didactic older person talking about the good old days is a little bit antiquated. Strangely, all the fellow freshmen are nodding along to this speech, as if having an upperclassman who tells you which shower stall has better water pressure is some horrible ordeal. But after Bela forces Whitey and Kimberly to make up, Leighton tells Bela that she might make a good FAF after all. Lets hope! And of course, we still have to lay the groundwork for Leightons exit. She returns to campus with Alicia and her dad, who is still troublingly addicted to his alma mater, after a summer of backpacking. Alicia feels compelled to point out that their trip does not count as backpacking as they had a driver and stayed exclusively at luxury hotels. It sounds like the only kind of backpacking I personally could handle, but I understand that my community (lesbians) may differ. All seems well for these lovebirds until Alicia gets a call and asks Leighton to pull over so she can take it privately. If you think shes talking to some other girl, youre wrong. I mean, that was my first thought, too, but I just didnt want your mind to go there, Mr. Murray chimes in helpfully from the backseat. It seems a little too on the nose to have the issue be cheating, but something is definitely suspicious! Turns out it was the newly elected mayor of Boston, and Alicia is leaving Essex to work for her. Leighton, if you can believe it, doesnt love this, nor does she react well to it! Look, does it seem bonkers that the incoming mayor of a major city would give a full-time gig to a college sophomore? Of course! But were going with the flow!! Leighton, true to herself, picks a fight and then ignores Alicia until the Y2K party, where she looks, according to Kimberly, hotter than a news anchor. Alicia wants to take this job, and she loves Leighton, so the only way this relationship is going to end is if Leighton ends it. There is just the slightest look of surprise and joy on Leightons face after Alicia says she loves her; its very sweet. She loves Alicia too, and doesnt want to break up. They agree to take it day by day. However, something else is happening for Leighton, which is the reality of Essexs math department. The advanced math course she signed up for didnt get enough enrollment to run for the term, and its kind of sweet to hear Leighton be bummed that she doesnt get to learn about fiber bundles and sequences. Her professor suggests she take a course at the grad school nearby, which allows for a scene of Leighton on a bus chatting to Fortune Feimster, who apparently ruins the idea of ever taking the bus again for math classes. If you are wondering why a woman who hired a car to travel through Europe is on the bus in the first place? Well, its so she can go to her professor with her complaint and so he can tell her that Essex is not the place you go if you are into math but has she heard of MIT? Leighton takes it in. Like, MIT, MIT? Isnt that in Boston? Well, not Boston, technically it is in Cambridge, but [I am yanked off stage by a large hook] WHEW. Lets hope this frantic pace calms down a bit by next week, shall we? Office Hours True to Essex form, as soon as Whitney steps on campus, she makes eye contact with a new shirtless hottie and he shows up at the Y2K party. I am certain we will see more of this young man! Since January 6, we have a no-tolerance policy for strawberry-blonde women running at me. Sherri Shepherds line readings continue to bolster me with joy. Kimberlys dad purchased a shirt Donald Glover wore on the red carpet to impress her new boyfriend. It is top-notch work, but it was made even better by the fact that she did not introduce them. Im proud of you, Bela. Its hard to look in the mirror, realize you are annoying, and want to change. Kimberly, always keeping it a bit too real. Bela confesses her sins to the statue of John Essex only to discover it is not John Essex, but Jacob Meyer Yates, a man who froze to death on the Oregon Trail after eating his family. Aint that just like a statue. Who will comfort them when they are homesick? Or spray Narcan in their tiny young nostrils? Frude loves his job so much. VULTURE NEWSLETTER Keep up with all the drama of your favorite shows! Email This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Vox Media, LLC Terms and Privacy Notice By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice and to receive email correspondence from us. The Ukrainian flag has traveled into space for the fourth time. The commander and sponsor of the historic Polaris Dawn mission, billionaire Jared Isaacson, took a blue and yellow flag with the United24 logo on his space journey. ADVERTISIMENT Jared has been financially supporting Ukraine since 2022 when he donated $100,000 for an ambulance. And now the billionaire entrepreneur has decided to take the symbol of our country into space to make a large-scale statement about the necessary support for Ukraine, Deputy Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov wrote on his Facebook page. We would like to remind you that the SpaceX Polaris Dawn mission, which launched into space on September 10, was a record-breaking one. The crew of four amateur astronauts reached an unprecedented altitude for an orbit around the Earth - more than 1400 kilometers. "This is the world's first tourist spacewalk, and with the Ukrainian flag at once!" said Minister of Digital Transformation Fedorov in a post. ADVERTISIMENT Travel history of the Ukrainian flag The flag of Ukraine was first deployed in space in 1997. The first astronaut of independent Ukraine, Leonid Kadenyuk, took it with him on a mission. At that time, the Ukrainian national anthem was performed in space for the first time, Suspilne reports. For the second time, the Ukrainian flag was unfurled in Earth orbit by American astronaut Randolph Breznik, who once adopted a boy from Ukraine, Ukrainian media report. ADVERTISIMENT Astronaut Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper became the third Ukrainian woman in space to unfurl the blue and yellow flag in Earth orbit, OBOZ.UA wrote. Although she represented the United States, she also took Ukrainian songs on her space journey, as she is proud of her roots and has even visited her father's small homeland. In addition to space, the Ukrainian flag has been repeatedly unfurled on the world's highest mountain, Everest. The first time it was done by a Ukrainian national expedition in 1999. Over Antarctica, the blue and yellow symbol first flew in 1994 and has been hanging there since then over the Ukrainian polar station "Akademik Vernadsky." Earlier, OBOZ.UA wrote that the Polaris Dawn crew broke more than one record in space. Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Extinction Rebellion stage protest in Rome. Activists linked to the Extinction Rebellion environmental group dumped a truckload of manure outside Italy's interior ministry in Rome on Friday as part of a demonstration. Around 100 protesters set up tents on the grounds of the ministry building in Piazza del Viminale, near Rome's opera house, before being removed by police. The protest was against the Italian government's climate policies and the promotion of laws aimed at repressing dissent, according to news outlet Fanpage. Oggi @XrItaly scarica quintali di letame di fronte al Viminale: Lunica sicurezza che abbiamo e questo clima di merda Ci sono dei precedenti: 1/ pic.twitter.com/66yNBrXyse valerio renzi (@valeriorenzi) November 22, 2024 "This ministry is one of the promoters of the new security bill that significantly increases the penalties for those who protest peacefully" - one of the activists said - "We are occupying this square to demand that those who have the task of protecting our security do everything necessary to combat ecoclimatic collapse and to guarantee the right to dissent." During the demonstration, which coincided with the final day of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, a protester held a banner that read: "The only security we have is this shitty climate". LETAME AL VIMINALE: SICUREZZA DI CHI? Scaricata una tonnellata di letame al Ministero dellInterno, mentre un centinaio di persone si sono accampate in tenda allingresso. #climadimerda #climatechange #ExtinctionRebellion pic.twitter.com/1fOOEsJ6ka Extinction Rebellion Italia (@XrItaly) November 22, 2024 Earlier this year Italy introduced tough new penalties for those who damage or deface monuments and heritage sites, as the right-wing government sought to clamp down on "eco-vandals". Under the law - which was proposed by former culture minister Gennaro Sangiuliano after a series of protests targeting landmarks including the Trevi Fountain - those caught damaging or defacing works of art or cultural heritage can face fines of up to 60,000. Photo Extinction Rebellion Italia Robin Hood activists strike again in Rome. A group of anonymous activists sabotaged key locks used for short-term rentals on streets around Rome on Wednesday night in a new protest against overtourism. The protesters used glue and wire cutters to destroy the locks - which provide guests with access to their short-term rental property - before leaving behind 'Robin Hood' stickers. They focused their blitz - documented in a video by LaPresse - on properties in the districts of Aurelio, Ostiense, Pigneto, Monteverde and Monti. The activists, who carried out a similar protest in Rome last month, say their vandalisation of key boxes is part of a campaign against an "out-of-control phenomenon" that results in socio-economic inequalities throughout Italy. In a statement to LaPresse, they noted that "something has started to move" in Rome, following their protest in October, with the city council discussing plans to limit short-term rentals in the historic centre. However the activists say "this is not enough" as the suburbs are also starting to feel the "inequalities" caused by overtourism, and have called on tourism minister Daniela Santanche to establish a national plan to regulate short-term rentals. The activists also directed their appeal to the Catholic Church which "delegates almost entirely to the private market the burden of hosting the pilgrims that this city is unable to accommodate". Pope Francis recently urged the diocese of Rome to respond to Rome's housing crisis, amid rising rental prices ahead of the Vatican's Jubilee Year 2025 when more than 30 million tourists and pilgrims are set to arrive in the Eternal City. The demand for short-term rentals in the Italian capital has led to a growing trend of landlords turning their properties into tourist accommodation, to the detriment of local residents who have to move or are priced out of the market. The latest protest against overtourism in Rome comes amid an outcry over a deal allowing short-let property rental firm Airbnb to stage mock gladiator fights in the Colosseum. Earlier this month Florence unveiled a 10-point plan aimed at tackling overtourism, including a ban on key boxes in the historic centre. Photo credit: Omri Eliyahu / Shutterstock.com. Mount Melleray Abbey in County Waterford will be closing in January and its monks transferred to Roscrea on an interim basis. The decision was made with the aim of ensuring a future for Cistercian life in Ireland, a spokesperson said. In a statement to the Waterford News & Star, Superior ad nutum at Abbey of Our Lady of Silence, Dom Rufus Pound ocso, said that the decision came after much reflection and soul searching as an order". We have been confronted with these difficult decisions as we address the reality of falling numbers and ageing communities; issues which other similar communities are also addressing at this time. We will be continuing our presence in Ireland into the future, but to achieve this, regretfully, we must consolidate in accordance with the restrictions of our present resources. 'A difficult time' Regarding the future of Mount Melleray and the other vacated abbeys, Fr Rufus said: No final decisions have been taken at this stage regarding any of the properties, which may be vacated in the near future, however as decisions are made further announcements will be forthcoming. This is a difficult time for all the members of our new Community as we strive to meet the challenge of our present day realities. It is especially difficult for those who have spent their entire lives in a specific monastery and must now adjust to these changed circumstances. We would also like to take this opportunity to thank our staff, some of whom have been with us and supported us for decades, and the many other loyal volunteers and friends who will be affected by these developments. "None of the previous three abbeys would have survived over the centuries without the support and friendship of those in the locality, but also many others associated with them in different ways. "We recognise and acknowledge the often profound attachment all these have towards our monasteries and we deeply regret that we will not be able to maintain our presence at all three locations, as we embark on this new beginning. "Our gratitude and prayers will continue to be with those who have shared our journey in so many rich and varied ways here in Ireland over the years." New residency The order have decided that, with effect from January 26, 2025, three of their communities, namely, Mount Melleray, Mellifont and Mount St Joseph, which since November 3, the Feast of St Malachy, have already merged as one new single community, will be based, for an interim period, at Roscrea. This new community has been given the name of The Abbey of Our Lady of Silence, and its residency at Roscrea is only as an interim measure. Abbeys at Moone (Co. Kildare) and at Portglenone (Co. Antrim) will not be affected by this decision and will continue as autonomous communities. Fr Rufus said: "Our new community of Our Lady of Silence currently consists of twenty-six members, three of whom are novices, and already interest has been expressed from others wishing to join us. We are optimistic that this now has the potential to become a vibrant community wherever we finally decide that it will be located. "We will now take time to consider how this new community will develop and where it will ultimately reside on a permanent basis. In the context of our decision we must rationalise our use of the three properties formerly associated with the three pre-existing communities, in line with our present day needs and resources." The community members of Our Lady of Silence will, in the main, continue at their present locations until January 26, 2025. Thereafter they will vacate Mount Melleray and Mellifont until final decisions have been made in regard to the long term location of the new community. History The Cistercians were first established in Ireland in 1142, initially at Mellifont Abbey by St Malachy. Mount Mellaray was founded on May 30, 1832, at Scrahan, Cappoquin, by a colony of Irish and English monks, expelled from the abbey of Melleray after the French Revolution of 1830, and who had come to Ireland under the leadership of Fr Vincent de Paul Ryan. On the feast of St Bernard, 1833, the foundation stone of the new monastery was blessed by the Most Rev. Wm. Abraham, bishop of Waterford and Lismore. It was a chilly night for cold callers, but residents in Cleaboy received General Election candidate Sadhbh ONeill with grace and a willingness to listen. The Waterford News & Star went on the campaign trail with the new Labour candidate in Ashley Court and Beechwood this week. Not many residents opened their doors, and of those that did, they didnt stop to talk long. With the evening that was in it, that wasnt a surprise. From those who braved the elements, the short responses were mostly positive. This, Ms ONeill said, was not unusual. Residents of Ashley Court in the Cleaboy area of Waterford raised issues including 24/7 cardiac care and Waterford Airport. People are just gorgeous, said Ms ONeill. Most people must be sick of the constant leaflet drops, but the residents of Ashley Court and Beechwood accepted Labours literature saying they would take the candidate's request for a number one vote under consideration. Most residents said they would consider voting for the Labour candidate, with just one man responding he would not vote for anyone. He was rather aggressive about it but did take a leaflet. The main issues on the night were the cardiac unit at University Hospital Waterford, Waterford Airport (or its lack of an adequate runway) and frustration with both the government parties and the opposition candidates. One resident, who described himself in the heart attack bracket, said he would consider voting for anyone outside of the current government parties. The mans main issue was the cardiac unit at UHW. He said he was worried that were he to have a heart attack that evening, he would have to be taken to Cork. Another resident said, Dont have a heart attack at the weekend. But she also said once one is in the hospital, the care is very good. I have nothing but good to say about the hospital, said the resident. A comment made by most who find themselves in Irelands most notorious hospitals, highlighting for many the role of politics in medicine. Ms ONeill told residents that Labour has a plan and not just for Waterford Hospital, and, of course, that she understood their fear. WATERFORD AIRPORT A key issue on the doorsteps was Waterford Airport. Not surprising, perhaps, because of the media attention over recent weeks. Residents in Ashley Park had very definite views about the benefits they saw in Waterford Airport. One resident said Dublin was two hours away, and that was too far, especially when you consider that the M50 is extremely busy. There is a long journey before you actually make it to the airport. He also pointed out that the rail service is underdeveloped, which gives people little option but to brave the M50. Another resident thought a local airport might improve congestion, with fewer people coming from and going to Dublin. That resident also said she thought having an airport in Waterford would bring more business to the city. So, for residents, the airport was not just about planes, but roads, traffic, time and investment in the region. FRUSTRATION There was a general frustration with not only the current government but the opposition candidates. One resident said her main issue was with all parties. She told us she felt like the government was throwing around a bonanza of money. She said she knows the country is flush but a downturn will come as it has before. Did we learn anything from last time, said the resident. The resident also said that while the cost of living measures were helpful, they should not be universal. She said she would have supported the current government parties in previous elections, but right now they need to introduce targeted measures for those who are struggling the most. Another resident said he watched the debate on RTE last week, and he was not impressed. I watched that debate the other night and went to bed fuming, he said. A new book, The Lost and Early Writings of James Connolly, 1889-1898, has been released, shedding light on the formative years of one of the 20th centurys most influential socialist thinkers and revolutionary leaders. Edited by Dr Conor McCabe, the collection brings together a wealth of Connollys earliest articles, letters, and speeches, many of which have remained unpublished or inaccessible for over a century. Waterford Council of Trade Unions (WCTU) will host the launch of the book on Tuesday, November 26, at 6pm in The Book Centre, Waterford, with a discussion on the book on the evening from Dr Conor McCabe. Conor McCabe is a historian and author with expertise in Irish history, labour movements, and economic policy. His meticulous research and commitment to uncovering untold stories have established him as a leading voice in historical scholarship. This new historic compilation captures Connollys intellectual and political evolution as he grappled with the intersecting struggles for workers rights, socialism, and Irish independence. From sharp critiques of capitalism and imperialism to incisive analyses of social and economic justice, these writings reveal the seeds of Connollys revolutionary ideas that would later galvanize radical movements in Ireland and beyond. Whilst highlighting themes of solidarity, equality, and resistance, the book captures the enduring relevance of Connollys vision in addressing the political and social challenges of today. The release of the book, which includes lost works of Connollys, marks a significant contribution to Irish history, labour studies, and political theory, providing scholars, activists, and general readers with a deeper understanding of Connollys legacy. The funeral of veteran Francis Paul Malone took place at the Sacred Heart Church in Ferrybank on Thursday morning. Paul passed away at age 82 on Monday, November 18, at University Hospital Waterford. Fr Roderick Whearty paid tribute to Pauls service in the Irish Defence Forces, as a peacekeeper, his part in the 1961 Battle of Jadotville and his work in his community of Ferrybank. All of those life experiences went into making the man Paul was, loved by so many. He was also very much a community man who gave himself, immersed himself in community life, especially again, as we saw earlier... in the allotments, in Ferrybank and in the Residents Association. It sounds like he was very much a doer. He didn't sit back and watch others. He got up and he did it himself, a real example to all of us. I suppose his work, his involvement and his commitment to his local area was, I know, very much appreciated, will never be forgotten, said Fr Whearty. PEACEKEEPER An Athlone-native Paul made Ferrybank his home. He was a member of A Company 35th Infantry Battalion of the Irish Army and part of the Engineering Corp. He was deployed to the Congo in 1961 as part of a peacekeeping mission requested of the UN to ensure the peaceful withdrawal of Belgian Forces from the region. Paul told his story of his time in the Congo in the 2022 edition of the Festive Star. But at his funeral, Pauls soon to be son-in-law Ross spoke about his pride in the Defence Forces and that the celebration of his life was made more special by the presence of IUNVA, especially those from Post 9. Pauls army career saw him retire as a Sergeant, with multiple deployments throughout his career. He was always so proud of the part he played in the Jadotville encounter in 1961 in the Katanga region of the Congo where 50 Irish people valiantly defended the region and today thank Paul for his bravery and pursuit of peace, said Ross. STORYTELLER During the requiem mass, symbols were presented to represent parts of Pauls life and open up his story. President of Irish United Nations Veterans Association Paul Cooley presented the organisations chain, symbolising Pauls time as president of Post 9. Pauls son David presented a secateurs to represent Pauls time and commitment to the allotments in Ferrybank. David also brought forward a tablet to represent his fathers love of music and history. Pauls son-in-law-to-be Ross spoke on behalf of the Malone family. He told those gathered of Pauls wicked sense of humour, passion for his community in Ferrybank and his love for his friends and family. He spoke about Pauls hard work, especially in the Defence Forces and the establishment of the community centre and his tendency to find himself in peculiar situations. And that he always had a good story. Looking around it is fairly unsurprising to see the sheer number of people sharing stories about Paul, about his selfless nature, unrelenting passion for his community in Ferrybank, love for his friends and family and, most famously, his love for joking, sometimes with an inappropriate streak. Paul was an absolute joy to be around and he never let you away with anything, said Ross. FATHER As part of the eulogy, Ross read aloud a piece written by Pauls daughter Niamh and son David, wherein they said: We cherish all the memories we had of Dad. He gave us everything and taught us so much. It sounds cliched but he honestly was the best Dad. We consider ourselves incredibly privileged to be able to call him our beautiful Dad. Rest easy, your duty is done. Following the mass, Paul was laid to rest in the cemetery adjoining the Sacred Heart Church. Paul is pre-deceased by his parents Charles and Kathleen, brothers George and Maurice, sister Kathleen and first wife Nuala. He is sadly missed by his wife Christine, his children Niamh, David, Philip, Tony, Dermot and Helena, Niamh's fiance Ross, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, brothers Andy, Charlie, Gabriel and Jimmy, sisters Mary and Ann, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, extended family, neighbours and friends. John D Walsh is The Irish People party's candidate in Waterford. The candidate ran as a single-issue candidate in the last General Election on the topic of restoring the 8th amendment, this time, however, he has expanded his campaign beyond that issue. Health and education are the top issues facing Waterford, he says. "Our population is getting older but there's a problem with our health service at the moment. People feel very aggrieved that it's not up to the standard that it was - and the same in education." His third top issue is the economy, "We have to make sure there is an atmosphere of enterprise - of developing businesses - and small businesses are key to that." Walsh's party is campaigning on the issue of family creation and support, but what is the party seeking to do, and for whom? "A family," Walsh says, "is what we define as a mother, father and children - a normal family." "What is happening in Hungary now, with the government there, where they look after primarily those families." He believes the Irish government should similarly give tax breaks for those who have multiple children, "to encourage people to get married and settle down as a family." "I know there are other types of families as well," he says, "but I mean only the mother and the father can have children." "Any family that has children would be what I call normal," he says, but the idea of a gay couple with children, however, Walsh said, "Well, I would have a problem there because the children aren't coming... they don't... Where are those children coming from? "They aren't produced by themselves as it were. Every child deserves a mother and father - that should be the way it should be." He said he does not consider that concept of a family to be exclusionary. The Irish People party has aligned itself with the National Party and the Irish First Party under the banner of the 'National Alliance'. John D Walsh responded to the label of 'far right', which has been given to the parties. "These things aren't defined. The right and left [political labels] come from the French Revolution. Those who sat on one side of the chair - they wanted to preserve what was there and those on the left wanted to change things. So I would be considered back about 25 years ago as 'middle of the road'. "I would be considered 'in the centre', probably slightly over to the right but certainly not... people have ideas of far rights being neo-Nazis or things like that. There's nothing at all in that philosophy that I would agree with." Asked whether the principles of the Irish People party could be racist, Walsh said: "Well, first of all, identifying people by their skin colour; I can remember back in the 60s, and 70s - a black person - you would never say he's black. You would say he's a Negro, that's his race. You wouldn't identify his colour but now it has totally reversed. If you say the word Negro, then you're racist you know." "I believe in what Martin Luther King said that we should judge people by their character, not by their skin colour. We've got into identity politics, a lot of it is kind of lazy pigeonholing people. You put them in a box that sums them up but that's totally unfair." "So, what the Irish people are concerned about is mass, uncontrolled immigration. They're not against immigration." WATCH: Full Interview Here There are people in Waterford who live in fear of the N25 road, according to Councillor John OLeary. The councillor was raising the exclusion of the proposed road upgrade from the National Development Plan, at a sitting of Comeragh District Council this week. He said it was frightening that the road was not on the plan. There are people who live in fear who use that road. It is on us as public representatives to see if that can be changed and how can we set about doing that because if it is not in the National Development Plan, then we will always be chasing our tail, said Cllr OLeary. Cllr OLeary said it is a very busy road and needs to be separated into two carriageways. He said input is needed from Transport Infrastructure Ireland for the project to make progress. It has to change and it needs to change, said Cllr OLeary. Cllr Catherine Burke supported her district colleague, saying that getting the "not fit for purpose" N25 on to the National Development Plan has to be a priority. Why we are not a priority like any other national road is just shocking to me," said Cllr Burke. Senior Engineer Gabriel Hynes said everyone agrees that from a safety point of view the work needs to be done. But, he said the TII has been very clear that if it is not on the National Development Plan, it cannot be progressed by TII or the council. They did say it was a political decision for the upgrade of the N25 to be put on the National Development Plan. So, Im putting the ball back on yourselves, said Mr Hynes. SPEED REVIEW Also discussed at the meeting was the speed limit review set to take place across the country. Cllr Liam Brazil asked when the review would take place in Waterford. Mr Hynes said it is hoped the legislation will be passed by early January 2025. If so, signs in the county can be changed by the middle of the month. He said the council will start with local roads, which currently have a limit of 80km/hour. This will be reduced to a mandatory 60km/hour. Urban roads will be reduced from 50km to 30 km/hour. Now I put a caveat on that, obviously some larger roads that wouldnt be appropriate to be 30, and it is a reserved function, your responsibility because ourselves and the gardai we can bring those roads back up to 50 where we see that to be the appropriate speed limit, said Mr Hynes. Mr Hynes said the Waterford City ring road and the main road in Dungarvan would be examples of roads where 30km/hour would not be an appropriate speed limit. That assessment will be done in conjunction with guidance from the Department of Transport and will be approved at a plenary meeting. Olha Kharlan, a two-time Olympic champion, admitted that she does not yet know when her wedding to Italian fencer Luigi Samele will take place. The 34-year-old saber fencer also mentioned how preparations for the 2024 Games in Paris have affected the relationship between the partners. ADVERTISIMENT Harlan spoke about this in an interview with Volodymyr Yaroslavskyi's YouTube channel. The most titled Ukrainian athlete in the history of the Olympics noted that she has now put her career on hold and decided to devote herself to her personal life, which will undergo serious changes. "We have been together for 6.5 years. On the one hand, we feel each other very well. But before the Olympics, we sat together and couldn't spend time together. Because we are preparing for a very nervous competition. It was so tense... Now we are engaged. We are preparing for the wedding. We haven't decided when it will be yet, so don't even ask. The project is a family. I gave myself time. Now I want to give myself time for my personal life," Kharlan said. Recently, Olha was shocked by the news of her death, which was posted on Facebook. Because of this, the saber fighter appealed to her compatriots and urged them to carefully check the information, because many people believed in the outright fake. Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! The COP29 climate talks in Azerbaijan are dragging towards an ugly and late finish as powerful voices call for massive reforms to the system, while a voting bloc led by Saudi Arabia seeks to slow progress and even undo a key success from last year. The oil industry still dominates Baku, host to the COP29 United Nations climate talks. Credit: AP The well-funded Saudi Arabian diplomatic machine has been acting as a wrecking ball, says Alden Meyer, a veteran of 28 of these vast and messy events who is now a senior analyst with the London-based climate research group E3G. Meyer says Saudi Arabia has become so adept at playing the complex game of United Nations climate diplomacy that it led the push for the organisation to adopt a consensus approach. That would mean making a major decision would require all 200 or so countries signed up to the climate treaty to agree. That makes it very easy for Saudi Arabia and sympathetic oil-rich nations to slow the process. Even better, from their point of view, reforming the system also needs consensus. Advertisement This story is part of the November 16 edition of Good Weekend. See all stories . If theres a siren call to the young right now, it would sound like an Arctic yodel: Frohhhhh yohhhhhh! The promise of frozen yoghurt (froyo) brings crowds of over-excited teens and young adults together as they queue for the pleasure of choosing their flavours, swirling their choices into paper cups, and adding all manner of sweet syrups, wafers, confectionery and sprinkles. Photo: Simon Letch Froyo burst onto the Australian scene 12 years ago, and has grown into much more than a swirly, soft-serve, yoghurt-based, icy-cold treat. The Aussie-owned Yo-Chi started in Melbourne and is expanding fast. Its tenth Sydney store has just moved into the prized waterside site vacated by Cirrus, a two-hatted seafood restaurant in popular work-and-play precinct Barangaroo. Advertisement The interiors are Willy Wonka-fun places, as sparkly as little kids unicorns. Its a sign of the times for an old codger like me, but for those at the other end of a lifetime of dining, its a great move. Why? Because frozen yoghurt is seen as a lighter, healthier choice than ice-cream. Because the interiors are Willy Wonka-fun places in which to get together with friends, as sparkly as little kids unicorns. Yo-Chi is not a fad: Meet the man making frozen yoghurt cool again And because this generation loves to customise. Nobody is telling them what to order or what to eat. Nobodys saying they cant pile mini mochi onto butterscotch caramel syrup onto pistachio froyo with a side swirl of acai. Getting a froyo is an incredibly rule-free, individual, self-serve process, which is probably what they love most of all. Once youve filled your cup, you just go to the weigh and pay station, then grab a cute stool under a disco ball and stay as long as you like. Advertisement Comment: The last days of froyo are way overdue Essentially, its a dessert bar and community centre for kids, and for people who want to relax and get together in a setting that doesnt require alcohol. And the chefs are taking notice. Federico Zanellato known to most as the entrepreneurial chef behind Sydneys Italian-Japanese degustation diner LuMi has teamed up with a partner to open Freo, a more adult, premium-quality froyo outlet next to Sydney Town Hall. If this really is a trend, it might pay for fine diners to adopt a few of the same psychological strategies, or they could find themselves frozen out. Not by the franchises themselves, but by a new generation of guests accustomed to a no-rules, customisable, all-inclusive way of dining. With added sprinkles. theemptyplate@goodweekend.com.au The best recipes from Australia's leading chefs straight to your inbox. Sign up The five remaining members of the Bali Nine could be transferred to Australia as soon as next month after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese directly lobbied new Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto. The two leaders met earlier this month on the sidelines of the APEC meeting in Peru, where Albanese raised the cases of the five men, Matthew Norman, Michael Czugaj, Scott Rush, Martin Stephens and Si Yi Chen, who are in prisons on the Indonesian islands of Bali and Java. Australians Matthew Norman (right), Si Yi Chen (centre) and Tach Duc Thanh Nguyen in court during their trial in Denpasar, Bali in October 2005. Credit: AP It was not the first time Albanese had raised with Prabowo the fate of the five men, who are serving life sentences after being arrested in 2005 for attempting to smuggle heroin from Indonesia to Australia. Albanese had also privately lobbied Prabowos predecessor, Joko Widodo, to secure the mens freedom. Rental affordability is the worst on record in several capital cities, pushing welfare recipients, minimum-wage workers and single-income households to the fringes of Australian communities. The National Shelter-SGS Planning and Economics Rental Affordability Index released on Friday shows it is unaffordable for the average household to rent in every city aside from the ACT, the one jurisdiction in Australia where a rent cap has been implemented. Affordability was much worse for low-income households; in some cases the poorest of the poor would need to spend more than their entire income to rent in the most expensive cities. Rental affordability was at its worst on record in Sydney and Perth, and although Melbourne improved slightly, it was still trending down. On November 21, Russia used an experimental medium-range ballistic missile, the "Kedr," to strike Dnipro. Russian dictator Vladimir Putin called it "Oreshnik" and used the name of the research and development work on this missile. ADVERTISIMENT As of October, Russia had produced only two such missiles. This was stated by Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Defense Ministry's Main Intelligence Directorate, during the discussion "Genocidal Practices of the Russian Federation in Ukraine: From the Holodomor to the Russian-Ukrainian War" on November 22. He explained the confusion with the name of the missile used by Russian troops to attack Dnipro. "Yesterday, the Russian dictator frankly, openly, publicly stated that the "Oreshnik" missile was used, as he called it. "Oreshnik" is the name of a research work. This is just a code for it. The system itself is called "Kedr." It's an experimental system, let's say it's a medium-range ballistic missile. The fact that they used it in a non-nuclear version is, well... This is, as they say, a warning from them that they are not completely crazy," Budanov said. ADVERTISIMENT He said that the launched experimental missile contained six warheads with submunitions. Experts are currently determining what exactly the missile was "stuffed" with. However, the fact that these missiles are a fake product for Russia is well known in Ukraine's military intelligence without any expertise. "The missile is experimental. We knew for sure that two prototypes were to be made by October. Perhaps we made a little more. But believe me: this is a prototype. This is not yet mass production, thank God," Budanov summarized. As a reminder, on November 21, Russia launched missiles from Tu-95MS and an intercontinental ballistic missile at Dnipro. The combined massive attack on the city's enterprises and critical infrastructure lasted from 5 to 7 am. ADVERTISIMENT According to the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Russian troops launched an intercontinental ballistic missile from Astrakhan region of the Russian Federation, an X-47M2 "Kinzhal" aeroballistic missile from a MiG-31K fighter jet in Tambov region, and seven X-101 cruise missiles from Tu-95MS strategic bombers (launch area Volgograd region). "As a result of the anti-aircraft combat, the units of the Air Force anti-aircraft missile forces destroyed six X-101 missiles. The other missiles were destroyed without any significant consequences," the Air Force said. The moment of the Russian attack on Dnipro with an intercontinental ballistic missile was caught on video. According to the DIU, the missile's approach time to the Dnipro was 15 minutes. On the evening of the attack, Putin made a statement to Russians. In particular, he said that Russia had used "one of its newest Russian medium-range ballistic missile systems with a non-nuclear hypersonic "Oreshnik" missile to strike the industrial complex in Dnipro. The dictator added that the speed of ballistic missiles ranges from 4 km/s to 7.8 km/s and that there are allegedly no means in the world to counter another Russian "analog." Putin called the use of an intercontinental ballistic missile on a Ukrainian city "a response to the strikes by American and British weapons on Russian territory." However, the very next day, a part from the "Oreshnik" found in Dnipro exposed the Kremlin's lies. Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber . Do not fall for fakes! Some officials have suggested that U.S. President Joe Biden could return nuclear weapons to Ukraine that were seized after the collapse of the Soviet Union. It could play a role as a deterrent against new Russian attacks after a potential peace treaty. ADVERTISIMENT The New York Times wrote about this. In the article, journalists cite several unnamed officials without providing additional information. "It would be an immediate and huge deterrent. But such a move would be difficult and have serious consequences," the media wrote. The NYT noted that discussions about new ways of military assistance to Ukraine and its future security system have intensified ahead of the arrival of US President-elect Donald Trump in the White House. This is because it is likely to mean "less room for maneuver" for Kyiv. One of the biggest unknowns for Ukraine is whether Europe and the new US leadership will provide any security guarantees that would prevent Russia from trying to occupy more territory. Some in the Biden administration have suggested taking more decisive action in his final weeks in office. Some of these steps are already being implemented: The Ukrainian Armed Forces have been allowed to use long-range Western missiles on Russian territory; the supply of American anti-personnel mines has been approved; the Pentagon has also lifted the ban on the deployment of American military contractors in Ukraine to maintain and repair US-provided military equipment. "The acceleration of U.S. arms shipments in the final months of the Biden administration could help Ukraine enforce a ceasefire or truce line if a settlement is reached, officials said," the NYT said. As reported by OBOZ.UA: Earlier, British security and defense expert Nicholas Drummond said that Donald Trump could take an unexpected approach to resolving the war in Ukraine. To prevent Russia from attacking the neighboring country once and for all, the new US president may give Kyiv nuclear weapons. The German publication BILD claims that Ukraine could theoretically need only a few weeks to create its first nuclear bomb. Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Don't fall for fakes! On Thursday, November 21, Russia fired various types of missiles at the Dnipro River, including the first use of the Oreshnik intercontinental missile, which dictator Vladimir Putin called "the latest weapon." However, the wreckage of the Oreshnik was found at the site of the arrival, including a part from another missile, the Bulava. ADVERTISIMENT Given that the Bulava has been under development since the 1990s, the claims of "novelty" of the Oreshnik seem to be an exaggeration. This was written by the Russian edition of "Agency." The outlet noted that a part made for the Bulava missile was found at the crash site of the Oreshnik missile, which Putin called "the latest development." Development of the Bulava began in the 1990s, and production began in the late 2000s. "This may indicate that the missile used by the Russian army on Thursday may not use such new technologies as the Russian president said in his video address," the Agency notes. Photos of the wreckage were published by CNN. And Radio Liberty journalist Mark Krutov discovered a 2013 contract for the development of working documentation for the preparation of serial production of spare parts for the ZK-30 complex or the R-30 Bulava intercontinental ballistic missile. ADVERTISIMENT The part mentioned in the procurement documents is being manufactured on a Swiss high-precision drilling and milling machine Fehlmann Picomax 54. "The Bulava missile is not the newest in the Russian arsenal. Its development began back in the 1990s, it was tested in 2005, mass production began in 2007, and it was adopted in 2012. The use of parts from the Bulava in Russia's "newest" missile may cast doubt on whether it uses truly new technologies, Krutov said," the Agency writes. Putin himself said on the day of the attack on Dnipro that Russia used "one of its newest Russian medium-range missile systems with a ballistic missile in a non-nuclear hypersonic Oreshnik" to strike the industrial complex in Dnipro. The dictator added that the speed of ballistic missiles ranges from 4 km/s to 7.8 km/s and that there are allegedly no means of countering another Russian "analogues" in the world. ADVERTISIMENT Putin called the use of an intercontinental ballistic missile by a Ukrainian city "a response to the strikes by American and British weapons on Russian territory." As a reminder, on November 21, Russia launched missiles from Tu-95MS and an intercontinental ballistic missile down the Dnipro River at Ukraine. The combined massive attack on the city's enterprises and critical infrastructure lasted from 5 to 7 am. According to the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Russian troops launched an intercontinental ballistic missile from Astrakhan region of the Russian Federation, an X-47M2 Kinzhal aeroballistic missile from a MiG-31K fighter jet in Tambov region, and seven X-101 cruise missiles from Tu-95MS strategic bombers (launch area Volgograd region). "As a result of the anti-aircraft combat, the units of the Air Force anti-aircraft missile forces destroyed six X-101 missiles. Other missiles were destroyed without significant consequences," the Air Force said. Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber . Do not fall for fakes! On the morning of November 21, Russia fired a missile at the Dnipro River with a previously unknown missile. Aviation expert Konstantin Krivolap suggested that it could have been either an RS-26 Rubizh or some other kind of munition. ADVERTISIMENT With such actions, the Kremlin dictator Vladimir Putin wanted to scare both Ukraine and other Western countries. Like, "I do what I want, I do what I want, I shoot where I want." Kryvolap commented on the incident in an interview with OBOZ.Talk. "It is a fact that we are unfamiliar with the missile. This is the first thing. Next, the characteristics of this missile, the RS-26 Rubizh, state that these missiles fly on a ballistic trajectory. All intercontinental ballistic missiles are two- or three-stage - like a normal spacecraft of the 80s and 90s," the analyst said. Such missiles rise very high, and then, approaching the target, enter the lower layers of the atmosphere and at this distance they split. Russia expects that its intercontinental ballistic missiles will be able to reach both Europe and America if necessary. ADVERTISIMENT "So, this RS-26 missile, according to its characteristics, let's say, its passports, from what we are told in cartoons, [flies] 6 thousand kilometers. At this range, it should have a minimum range of 2,000 kilometers (there was such information). But from Kapustyn Yar, from which the launch was allegedly made, to the Dnipro is only 800 kilometers. And this is the first thing that causes misunderstanding," Kryvolap pointed out the strange moment. The RS-26 Rubezh is a development of the ideology of the RS-24 Yars missile, which, in turn, is a development of the Topol. The actual strike is carried out not by a single charge, but by several Rubezh units. "So, judging by what is available on the networks about the defeat of Dnipro, there were at least six falls. I wouldn't say it was a missile hit because there are no explosions, it just falls down, just a fire and that's it. But there is no such powerful explosion, nothing like that. ADVERTISIMENT What could it be? It is possible that the fission units did not work, did not initiate, this is the first thing. Secondly, we don't know how many of these blocks are there, because the information is classified and we can't find out. And the third thing is where the second and third stages of this rocket will go," the expert asked. If the first stage falls near the launch site, and the second stage flies about 100 kilometers, then with such a short distance between Kapustyn Yar and Dnipro, it is not clear where it happened. "And I assume that maybe what fell were warheads with the fragments of the second stage of the missile. It's just a guess. We can't even say for sure whether it was an RS-26 or not. It is very difficult to say," the aviation expert said. Kryvolap believes that with the new way of shelling Ukraine, Putin wanted to say not even to us, but to the rest of the world that "I have adopted a new doctrine, this new doctrine allows me to do whatever I want, to shoot where I want." ADVERTISIMENT When asked what Ukrainians should prepare for, he said: "There are many factors that are difficult to predict, difficult to cover everything. It will take time for this to become clear. There is a lot of uncertain information." As reported by OBOZ.UA: On the morning of November 21, Russia launched a combined missile strike on Dnipro. The Ukrainian Air Force said that the occupiers launched an intercontinental ballistic missile, an X-47M2 Kinzhal aeroballistic missile and seven X-101 missiles. The defenders of the sky shot down six X-101s. On Thursday evening, Kremlin dictator Vladimir Putin made an address in which he said that his army had launched a new medium-range ballistic missile, the Oreshnik, at a Ukrainian city. Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! By Cillian Sherlock, PA Gardai would arrest Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he arrived in Ireland, the Taoiseach has said. It comes after the International Criminal Court issued warrants for Mr Netanyahu and former Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes in Gaza. The ICC also issued a warrant for Mohammed Deif, head of Hamass armed wing, over the October 7th, 2023 attacks that triggered Israels offensive in Gaza. Benjamin Netanyahu addresses Israels parliament (Ohad Zwigenberg/AP) Israel is believed to have killed Mr Deif in an air strike but Hamas has never confirmed his death. Asked by RTE if Mr Netanyahu would be arrested in Ireland, Taoiseach Simon Harris said on Friday: Yes, absolutely. We support international courts, and we apply their warrants. He was not asked about any other individual, but the Tanaiste later said warrants against Hamas leadership would absolutely be executed. Micheal Martin said: There should be no equivocation in condemning Hamas and condemning Hezbollah in terms of what theyve been doing, and indeed, Irans malign role in the region because its a complex issue, its not simple. Mr Martin, who is also foreign affairs minister, said he did not agree with US President Joe Bidens characterisation of the warrants for Mr Gallant and Mr Netanyahu as outrageous. Tanaiste Micheal Martin (Brian Lawless/PA) The Tanaiste said war crimes have been committed in northern Gaza and added: Its a collective punishment of the people. They are war crimes. Its genocidal. Speaking on Newstalk radio, Mr Martin said: Im very concerned about the United States approach to the International Criminal Court in that there are 100 signatories, and we have to have accountability at international level through a court system that is independent. Mr Harris has said the issuing of the warrants was an extremely significant step. He said the court points to reasonable grounds to believe that Mr Netanyahu and Mr Gallant bear criminal responsibility for crimes perpetrated in the war in Gaza, including the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare, and the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution and other inhumane acts. In the case of the leadership of Hamas, the court points to reasonable grounds that Mr Deif, along with Ismail Haniyeh and Yahya Sinwar, agreed to carry out the attacks of October 7th. It says there are reasonable grounds that Mr Deif is responsible for crimes against humanity of murder, extermination, torture, rape and other forms of sexual violence, and taking hostages. Mr Harris said: These charges could not be more serious. The Government has long expressed its profound concern about the conduct of the war in Gaza and has stated clearly its belief that the rules of international law and international humanitarian law have not been upheld. We have insisted that international law must apply in all circumstances, at all times, and in all places, and that those responsible for breaches, those who commit war crimes and crimes against humanity, must be held fully to account. Mr Harris and Mr Martins respective Fine Gael and Fianna Fail parties are separately contesting a general election in Ireland to be held on November 29th. Rochford Motors, Main Opel Dealer in Ballyhaunis, County Mayo, has been awarded the Opel Retail Sales Dealer of the Year 2024 accolade. Dealer Principal, Liam Rochford, was presented with the trophy to much applaud at the annual Opel Dealer Conference, held this year in Frankfurt, Germany. The 3-day conference took in a visit to the Opel Classic Collection in celebration of Opels 125-year milestone in 2024, together with an exciting future product reveal, at Opels headquarters in Russelsheim. First established in 1981 by the late Billy Rochford, Rochford Motors was appointed to the Opel Dealer Network in early 2022. In less than three years, Liam Rochford, Billys son, has grown Opel market share in the county exponentially and cultivated a loyal Opel customer base, serviced by his team of experienced personnel. Rochford Motors topped the polls across set criteria to win the Opel Retail Sales Dealer of the Year 2024 title, to include retail sales achievement and growth, New Vehicle customer satisfaction, and marketing actions. Richard Dillon, Head of Retail Sales at Opel Ireland said I am whole-heartedly delighted to present Liam Rochford and his staff at Rochford Motors with this deserved award. In just a few short years not only has Rochford Motors become synonymous with the Opel brand in County Mayo, but the team has also consistently and enthusiastically embraced every facet of retail sales and marketing business in 2024, to deliver a healthy Opel market share in the county for both passenger cars and light commercial vehicles. I wish them every continued success. Liam Rochford, Dealer Principal, said at the Opel Dealer Conference, I am absolutely delighted to bring the Opel Retail Sales Dealer of the Year trophy home to Mayo. I am equally thrilled to know that our teams continued efforts are recognised by Opel and Gowan Auto, and I personally thank all my team for their absolute dedication to our company and to Opel. With new Grandland set to arrive in a matter of weeks, and new Frontera in 2025, we look forward in confidence to more years to come. He added: I cannot accept this award without acknowledging our very valued customers. We thank them sincerely for all their support throughout the years and we very much look forward to seeing everyone in 2025 at Rochford Motors. Award-winning Connemara-based Killary Adventure Company has announced the creation of up to 20 new sustainable tourism jobs after acquiring an historic hostel building to transform into modern, eco-friendly accommodation. The Company has acquired the Sleepzone Connemara Hostel located on the same site as its business overlooking the breathtaking Killary Fjord. The hostel building, dating back to the 1860s is to be restored and renovated increasing Killary Adventure Companys on-site beds to over 200. The announcement was made this week during a visit to Killary Adventure Company by Miriam Kennedy from Failte Ireland, head of the Wild Atlantic Way which celebrates its 10th birthday this year. She said: "Failte Ireland welcomes Killary Adventure Companys acquisition and revitalisation of the former Connemara Hostel. By preserving the historic character of the building while creating modern, eco-conscious accommodation, theyre setting a powerful example of how tourism and sustainability can go hand in hand. This project not only supports the areas appeal as a year-round destination, but will also boost the local economy through job creation and increased visitor opportunities. Killary Adventure Company, Connemaras only certified B Corp company, said the exciting development will create between 15 and 20 new jobs, including skilled positions, while providing year-round accommodation for visitors to Connemara. Were thrilled to expand our accommodation offering, particularly in a region like Connemara where the need for sustainable, all-year-round facilities is growing, said Ciara Young, Director of Killary Adventure Company. This expansion is part of our broader mission to support sustainable tourism in the region, and to offer a variety of options to cater to eco-conscious travellers, adventure seekers, and business visitors. She added: We believe this expansion will not only bring new employment opportunities but will also support the local economy by helping to extend the tourist season and ensure visitors can enjoy Connemaras natural beauty sustainably in every season." Ciara said the building restoration will be aligned to the companys dedication to sustainability and community development. The acquisition means the Company will be offering three different accommodation options when the new accommodation opens in April 2025. In collaboration with Failte Ireland & Galway County Council, Killary Adventure Company has spent the past year developing a comprehensive sustainable development plan for its 150-acre site. The plan prioritises environmental preservation, ensuring that business expansion integrates elegantly with the natural landscape, helping to maintain Connemaras beauty, while also fostering the growth of eco-tourism. Earlier this year the adventure outlet became one of the first businesses in Ireland to achieve the prestigious B Corp Certification, joining over 1,300 companies in 42 countries worldwide including leading global brands including Patagonia and Etsy. The environment and social responsibility certification reflects the commitment of Killary Adventure Company to sustainability and responsible business practices. The Company offers a range of activities for school groups, summer camps, families and corporate retreats. It also attracts international and Irish adventure seekers with its guided and self guided tours business, Connemara Adventure Tours. It also runs Gaelforce Events which is renowned for hosting the annual Gaelforce Great Fjord Swim at Killary Fjord and the Gaelforce West Adventure Race annually. On November 21, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin said that his troops had fired an experimental hypersonic missile, the Oreshnik, at Ukraine. However, military experts claim that this is not the case - the Russians struck the Dnipro River with an RS-26 Rubizh missile. ADVERTISIMENT It has a range of up to 6,000 kilometers. This was reported by the British Financial Times, citing an unnamed Ukrainian military official. Putin said that the Oreshnik was used to hit a plant in Dnipro, which used to be a "top-secret missile building facility of the Soviet Union." However, on Thursday morning, the aggressor hit the city with nine missiles, of which six X-101s were shot down by air defense forces. According to the dictator, the strike was allegedly in response to the fact that the United States and the United Kingdom allowed Kyiv to use advanced Western weapons against targets in Russia. "However, a senior Ukrainian military official told the Financial Times that it was an RS-26 Rubizhne missile, which has a range of up to 6,000 kilometers," the newspaper said. The analysts did not provide any more facts on this. The article was accompanied by a map showing, among other things, the location of the Russian strike (Dnipro) and a blue line outlining the distance at which the Defense Forces can strike at Russian territory with Western weapons. ADVERTISIMENT Earlier, the Pentagon also said that the Oreshnik ballistic missile that Russia launched on November 21 on the Dnipro River was not an intercontinental ballistic missile, but it was indeed based on the Rubezh ICBM. As reported by OBOZ.UA, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Putin is using Ukraine as a testing ground for the latest weapons. According to him, the Kremlin once again demonstrates its contempt for human life, dignity, and freedom by using the latest missiles. Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Allentown, PA (18103) Today Mainly cloudy, mild, and mainly dry after some morning fog and drizzle taper off. . Tonight Mostly cloudy, a bit breezy, and mild; perhaps a spotty shower. Reading, PA (19601) Today Mainly cloudy, mild, and mainly dry after some morning fog and drizzle taper off. . Tonight Mostly cloudy, a bit breezy, and mild; perhaps a spotty shower. The Lehigh Valley Planning Commission reviewed a proposed warehouse project Thursday night. The project calls for the construction of two warehouse facilities totaling 640,400 square feet at 905 Pennsylvania Ave. in Plainfield Township and Wind Gap Borough. The site is currently undeveloped and contains existing woodlands. The LVPC previously reviewed an application for the site. That proposal offered 786,000-square-foot and 308,000-square-foot warehouse buildings and a 19,520-square-foot office and shop. In Thursday's incarnation, the larger of the two buildings sizes was reduced roughly in half to 385,400 square feet, while the smaller facility was reduced by about 17% from 308,000 square feet to 255,000 square feet. The site is directly south of Blue Mountain, also known as the Kittatinny Ridge, and is along the Route 512 major corridor and located less than one-third of a mile south of a northbound entrance ramp to Route 33. This said, the LVPC's report said many roadways in the vicinity were not built for heavier vehicular traffic the development would generate. The applicant did submit a traffic impact assessment study on May 24, 2021. However, LVPC requested the developer submit an updated TIA to address any updates or changes. The organization's reports acknowledge the project site is appropriately located for traffic traveling northbound on Route 33, but vehicles travelling south or traveling from south to north toward the site will most likely travel through Wind Gap via Route 512, or what is known as South Broadway in the borough. A southbound on-ramp to Route 33 is only site accessible by traveling south on Route 512 or North Broadway. Given this, a driver wishing to travel south on Route 33 will travel through the borough to the interchange. This, LVPC said, will have a "significant impact on the borough," and further discussions with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation should be cultivated and include the township, borough and developer. While the developer's plan include tractor-trailer parking spaces, the LVPC "strongly recommends" the developer provide overnight tractor-trailer parking areas to expand truck parking options and amenities. These spaces should include sufficient amenities such as driver facilities and electrification of truck parking stalls. The LVPC also robustly recommended that existing slope and tree cover on the property's northernmost section be retained. Grand Central Landfill The LVPC reviewed a proposed amendment involving sanitary landfill facilities. 3:01 Controversial landfill expansion proposal moves forward to Plainfield Twp. planners The Plainfield Township Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 to send Waste Management's landfill rezoning request to the township planning commission. The proposal, submitted by Waste Management as a private applicant, proposed to amend Plainfield Township's zoning ordinance and zoning map pertaining to the Grand Central Landfill as it approaches the end of its lifecycle. The application proposes to amend the township's zoning map by rezoning 18 parcels on Pen Argyl Road's east side from the Farm and Forest zoning district to Solid Waste Processing and Disposal. The area to be rezoned is bounded by Pen Argyl Road to the west, Delabole Road to the south, Bocce Club Road to the north, and the rail right-of-way to the east. The total area to be rezoned is 211 acres, with a total land area of 325 acres to be acquired by Waste Management to incorporate buffering. A further breakdown shows that 81 acres would be utilized for waste disposal, 52 acres for supporting uses, and 192 acres would serve as woodland and wetland buffer. In its report, the LVPC noted that because the existing landfill is nearing capacity, rezoning would allow a continuation of existing operations. If the area is rezoned, significant adverse community impacts are unlikely. This is due to the proximity of the expansion area to existing operations. The most substantial impact would be to the land itself, LVPC's report said. Commission members debated the report for a significant time Thursday night, but ultimately approved the report with some alterations. Northridge school building The commission reviewed a proposed school building offered by an urban school district. ASD considers financing options for proposed $115M academy at Northridge complex Allentown School District is proposing a new kindergarten through grade eight building at the site of the former Allentown State Hospital. The project, offered by the Allentown School District, calls for the acquisition of real estate and the construction of a proposed kindergarten through eighth grade building at the site of the former Allentown State Hospital located at 1600 Hanover Ave. In September, ASD and City Center Investment Corp. announced plans for a two-story, 203,400-square-foot academy as part of the proposed Northridge project. The building is slated for a 16.7-acre plot in the Northridge project that would be purchased by ASD from City Center. The school would be located at Hanover Avenue and the future Northridge Drive corner. Northridge Drive is scheduled to be the main road into the complex. The building's construction will likely start in the fall of 2025, according to district officials at their Oct. 10 committee meetings. The project is estimated to cost $115 million. CATL to begin battery cell production in Hungary's Debrecen Xinhua) 08:17, November 22, 2024 People visit the booth of CATL at the 2024 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition in Beijing, China, April 30, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin) The new plant, with a planned annual capacity of 100 GWh, will be CATL's second battery manufacturing site in Europe. DEBRECEN, Hungary, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- China's leading battery maker, Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Ltd. (CATL), announced on Wednesday that it will start producing battery cells at its new facility in Hungary's second-largest city Debrecen next year. The new plant, located in Debrecen's Southern Industrial Park, will be CATL's second battery manufacturing site in Europe, with a planned annual capacity of 100 GWh. Jason Chen, general manager of CATL Europe Operations, highlighted the city's favorable location, robust infrastructure, and strong educational institutions as key factors behind the investment. "Debrecen offers excellent conditions for us to continue building our production and supply chain network, thus supporting the European electrification process," Chen told reporters at a press event. The main building of the plant is nearing completion, with mechanical and electrical installations underway. Earlier this year, the company also began module assembly in a leased facility near the construction site to meet growing client demand. Chen underscored that the new plant would leverage advanced Industry 4.0 technology, featuring an optimized layout to minimize energy consumption while maintaining full production capacity. Jason Chen (C), general manager of CATL Europe Operations, speaks at a press conference in Debrecen, Hungary, on Nov. 20, 2024. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua) The company aims to achieve carbon neutrality across its core operations by 2025. CATL plans to replicate these efforts in Debrecen shortly after the plant becomes operational. "CATL has always prioritized green manufacturing, not just in products but also in our processes," said Balazs Szilagyi, CATL's senior public affairs manager. He highlighted the company's local environmental initiatives, including financing the planting of 200 container trees and supporting regional greening projects. As the factory nears its launch, CATL is actively recruiting and training local talent. The Debrecen team has grown to over 400 employees, and the company has introduced a dual-education program in partnership with the Debrecen Vocational Training Center, as well as collaborations with the University of Miskolc and the University of Debrecen. "Our priority is to provide young people with an inspiring career path and continuous training opportunities," said Noemi Sidlo, CATL's communications and public relations manager. To this end, the company is establishing a dedicated training center to equip local workers with the latest industry skills. Beyond workforce development, CATL has undertaken several corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives. These include contributions to the University of Debrecen's Pediatric Clinic and plans to support a children's home. The company has also engaged in community events, such as the Debrecen Drive and the Flower Carnival. Aerial photo taken on June 24, 2022 shows the building of the Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Ltd. (CATL) in Ningde, southeast China's Fujian Province. (Xinhua/Lin Shanchuan) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Cowardly American Congressman Frank Pallone continues to pretend that the terrible two days in Baku never happened to him. If this Armenian sympathizer had been a little younger, he might have earned the United States a couple of Olympic medals at COP29, he showed outstanding sprinting skills, running so fast from Azerbaijani journalists. Its unclear what Pallone was thinking or what he was counting on, but his time in Baku was uncomfortable. Upon his arrival in Azerbaijan, Pallone was supposed to go to his hotel, but he changed his route halfway when he learned that journalists were waiting for him there. The congressman, as brave as an Armenian lion, had to head straight to the Olympic Stadium, where a pre-hired security team was already waiting for him. In other words, hes ready to tweet at a moments notice, but when it comes to answering questions, he runs faster than Usain Bolt, hides behind his security team, and rushes to the airport to fly back home. Well done, Frank! Now, Pallone shares something in common with the Armenians they can exchange tips on how to run and hide from Azerbaijanis more effectively. The Oreshnik ballistic missile, which Russia launched on November 21 on the Dnipro River, is not an intercontinental missile. However, it is indeed based on the Rubizh ICBM. ADVERTISIMENT This was stated by Deputy Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh during a press briefing, CNN quoted her as saying. The defense official confirmed that Russia had informed the United States about the strike on Ukraine just before the missile launch. "The United States was notified shortly before the launch through the Nuclear Threat Reduction System," Sabrina Singh said. She noted that the National Nuclear Risk Reduction Center operates "a 24/7 bilateral NNRRC line with Russia that has been in place for 35 years and is currently being used to transmit launch notifications." Singh characterized the Oreshnik as "an experimental model of an intermediate-range ballistic missile" and said it was "based on the model of the Russian intercontinental ballistic missile RS-26 Rubizhne. Thus, according to the Pentagon spokesperson, Russia has used a new type of lethal weapon in the war against Ukraine, which is "certainly a cause for concern." ADVERTISIMENT Singh also recalled that before that, the Russians had escalated the conflict by involving the North Korean armed forces on the battlefield against Ukrainians. As reported by OBOZ.UA: On the morning of November 21, the Russian terrorist army struck Ukraine with an intercontinental ballistic missile. The city of Dnipro was attacked. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Kremlin dictator Vladimir Putin is using Ukraine as a testing ground for the latest weapons. According to him, the Russian authorities are once again demonstrating their contempt for human life, dignity, and freedom by using the latest missiles. Later, Putin said that Russia had hit the Dnipro with an Oreshnik medium-range ballistic missile. According to him, it was a test run of the missile. Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and in Viber. Do not fall for fakes! The one thousand and third day of the large-scale war that Russia is waging against Ukraine is underway. The occupiers are most active in the Pokrovsk, Kurakhove, and Vremivsk directions. Our defenders are bravely holding the line and destroying the enemy's plans. ADVERTISIMENT This was reported by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in a summary on November 22 as of 16:00. It is noted that 118 combat engagements have taken place at the front since the beginning of the day. Russian shelling During the day, a number of settlements in Sumy, Chernihiv, and Kharkiv regions suffered from enemy terrorist attacks. The enemy launched artillery attacks on Bleshnia, Oleksandriia, Tymofiivka, Turia, Obody, and Zhuravka. The enemy launched four air strikes in the Kursk region, downing four UAVs. Ukrainian soldiers are also repelling enemy attacks in this area, which have already totaled 19 today. Situation at the front In the Kharkiv sector, the enemy stormed the positions of our defenders twice near the town of Vovchansk. ADVERTISIMENT In the Kupiansk sector, the enemy tried to advance to our positions in the area of Zelenyi Hai during the day. One firefight took place there. In the Lyman sector, the aggressor increased the number of attacks to 12. The combat took place near Hrekivka, Novoiehorivka, Makiivka, Torske and Terny. One firefight is ongoing. Enemy bombers struck near Ivanivka. In the Siversk sector, the enemy launched air strikes with guided aerial bombs in the areas of Bilohorivka, Zakitne, and Siversk. ADVERTISIMENT In the Kramatorsk sector, our defenders are repelling an attack by the occupiers near Stupochky. In the Toretsk sector, the enemy attacked three times in the area of Toretsk. Two attacks have been repelled, and one more battle is underway. The enemy's activity in the Pokrovsk sector remains high. In the areas of Myroliubivka, Promin, Lysivka, Sukhyi Yar, Pustynka, Hryhorivka, Dachenske, Petrivka and Pushkine, 29 times today, clashes of varying intensity started there. Five firefights are currently ongoing in the areas of Myroliubivka, Sukhyi Yar, Petrivka, and Pustynka. ADVERTISIMENT The situation also remains tense in the Kurakhove sector. Eleven attacks were repelled near Berestky, Sontsivka, Novodmytrivka, Kurakhove, Katerynivka, Romanivka, and Antonivka, and ten more battles are currently underway. In the Vremivsk sector, the aggressor is trying to advance on Ukrainian positions near Trudove, Kostiantynopolske, Rozlyv, Rozdolne, Sukhi Yaly, and Novodarivka. Fourteen attacks have already been repelled, nine are still ongoing. The enemy launched air strikes with anti-aircraft gunships in the areas of Velyka Novosilka and Novyi Komar. In the Prydniprovsk sector, our defenders repelled three enemy attacks. Kozatske came under an air strike. In other areas, the enemy is conducting air strikes and artillery attacks on the positions of our troops and settlements. Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and in Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Dialogue: Global Democracy and the United Nations Summit of the Future - What Next? When: Monday, 25 November 2024 Where: Parktown Management Campus The Smart Classroom, Albert Wessels Building, 2 St Davids Place, Wits Parktown Management Campus and on Zoom Start time: 12:00 Enquiries: kemantha.govender1@wits.ac.za RSVP: https://wits-za.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_tP6VUxP7TiaXxji2id2kKg#/registration The Wits School of Governance invites you to a dialogue that will reflect on the United Nations Summit of the Future. The Wits School of Governance and Democracy Without Borders invite you to a dialogue that will reflect on the United Nations Summit of the Future. On 22-23 September 2024, the UN convened a Summit of the Future and adopted a Pact for the Future that was said to be a once in a generation opportunity to forge a new global consensus on what humanitys future should look like. This event will provide a critical analysis from the vantage point of global democracy, a transformation of global governance, the African Agenda as well as women and youth. It will discuss democratic representation and participation at the UN, global democracy promotion as well as the (potential) role of South African foreign policy in these fields. The panel will include Mr Andreas Bummel (Executive Director of DWB), Professor Adebayo Olukoshi (WSG), Ms Ndzalama Mathebula (DWB-South African Chapter) and will be moderated by Dr Thelela Ngcetane-Vika (WSG). Self-proclaimed President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko has threatened that in case of new mass protests in the country, similar to the events after the 2020 presidential election, he will order a complete shutdown of the Internet. Lukashenko previously claimed that the outages at the time were caused by alleged interference from abroad. ADVERTISIMENT However, he has now admitted that the Internet shutdown after the elections in the country was carried out by his own decision. Lukashenko said this on Friday, November 22, during a meeting with students of several educational institutions at the Minsk State Linguistic University, the Belarusian propaganda outlet BelTA reports. "If this happens again, we will turn it off altogether. Do you think I will watch and pray that you haven't written to someone if the country is gone tomorrow," Lukashenko said. According to him, the Internet shutdown in 2020 was due to the fact that the issue of "the country's fate" was being decided then. "I'm weighing it up and thinking: to save the country, we'll turn off the Internet for two hours or an hour so that the special services can't control our society from there. That's why it was done. I chose the best of the worst," Lukashenko said. ADVERTISIMENT "To be honest, it was almost always my decision. If you have two problems, you start weighing them," Lukashenko added. After the disputed 2020 presidential election, which extended the long-running rule of Alexander Lukashenko, Belarus was gripped by massive street protests, with participants demanding Lukashenko's resignation. The protests were accompanied by large-scale arrests, reports of torture, and violent crackdowns that left several people dead. Immediately after the election, Internet access in the country was almost completely blocked for three days. As a reminder, Belarus has set the date for the next presidential election. According to the decision of the House of Representatives, they will be held on January 26, 2025. Meanwhile, Russia has already promised to send Russian security forces to the country in case of protests against the falsification of the will of Belarusian citizens. Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber . Do not fall for fakes! The United States has warned defense companies that the aggressor country Russia may be planning sabotage operations against them. The warning applies to companies both in the United States and abroad. ADVERTISIMENT The warning was issued to company executives by the National Counterintelligence and Security Center, The New York Times reports. This body advises American companies on intelligence threats from potential adversaries. It noted that Russian intelligence services are already conducting a number of sabotage operations against European defense companies "to undermine support for Ukraine from the Allies." The heads of American companies were advised to monitor the territory of their facilities and personnel, as well as to watch for potential equipment malfunctions. Companies are advised to strengthen their physical and online security. Separately, employees were warned against disclosing travel plans, changing their routes, and urged to report "suspicious incidents." In addition to protecting the facilities, the center proposed to strengthen the personal security of managers and other key employees. ADVERTISIMENT According to the newspaper's sources, the warning was partly caused by "fears of a Russian attempt to assassinate the head of a German arms manufacturer." This refers to a possible plan by Russia to assassinate Armin Papperger, the CEO of Germany's largest arms manufacturer, Rheinmetall. The Kremlin's plans were uncovered by U.S. intelligence and passed the information on to German special services. "Those who are involved in work related to Ukraine or other geopolitical conflicts should be careful about disclosing information about work, travel, personal and family information on the Internet. Attackers can use this information to determine access, location, and personal vulnerabilities," the center said in a statement. Earlier, Western officials warned that Russia planned to install incendiary devices in cargo planes and detonate these devices at US warehouses or planes en route to the country. As reported by OBOZ.UA, an act of sabotage was recorded on the territory of the Bundeswehr Air Force barracks located in Cologne, Germany. Unknown persons entered the barracks through a hole in the fence and probably poisoned the water supply. Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! The Brazilian Federal Police formally indicted former president Jair Bolsonaro on Thursday of attempting to orchestrate a coup detat, according to an official statement. The retired far-right military officer is alleged to have sought to subvert the election results and block leftist Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva from returning to power. Bolsonaro, who governed Brazil from 2019 to 2022, is among 37 individuals charged, including two retired generals who served as ministers in his administration. The police report has already been submitted to the Supreme Court, and precautionary measures have been issued, including a ban on international travel, which led to the confiscation of Bolsonaros passport months ago. Bolsonaro has not commented on the formal accusations but has consistently proclaimed his innocence, asserting that he acted always within the four lines of the Constitution. The indictment stems from evidence gathered over two years through investigations, analysis of communications, financial and tax records, whistleblower testimonies, searches, and seizures, according to the police statement. The polices formal indictment must now be evaluated by the Supreme Court. Bolsonaro was disqualified months ago by the Supreme Court from running for office until 2030. That ruling convicted him of abuse of power, citing his use of the presidential platform to systematically undermine confidence in the security of the countrys voting system. Investigators argue that the coup attempt failed because the conspirators failed to secure the backing of the then-commanders of the Army and Air Force, Generals Marco Antonio Freire Gomes and Carlos de Almeida Baptista. Both generals implicated Bolsonaro in the plot during their testimony as witnesses, as revealed in March. On January 8, 2023, thousands of Bolsonaro supporters launched a coup attempt in Brasilia, storming government buildings just a week after Lula was sworn in for his third, non-consecutive term as president. To date, only the direct participants in the attack have been tried and sentenced. The Supreme Court has handed down heavy sentences to over 200 individuals, but none of those accused of planning or financing the coup attempt has yet faced trial. The indictment follows revelations by police this week that the coup plotters had plans to assassinate President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, his vice president, Geraldo Alckmin, and Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes. Adding to the tension, just last week, a Bolsonaro supporter detonated an explosive device outside the Supreme Court building. A pivotal figure in the investigation is Mauro Cid, Bolsonaros personal secretary during his presidency. Cid, a military officer who managed Bolsonaros cell phone and accompanied him in nearly all official activities, has become a critical source of information in the probe. After spending several months in preventive detention at a military facility, Cid agreed to cooperate with authorities, providing details about the coup attempt and the involvement of others suspected in the plot. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant, his defense minister for most of the Gaza war, became the first leaders of a Western-backed democratic country to be the subject of arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Thursday. The decision, for their alleged responsibility for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza since the start of the war against Hamas in October 2023, puts them in the same league as Russian President Vladimir Putin and senior officials who planned the invasion of Ukraine; commanders of a Libyan militia for a case involving mass graves containing hundreds of corpses; dictators such as former Sudanese leader Omar al-Bashir, or a warlord as cruel as Ugandan Joseph Kony, leader of the Lords Resistance Army. It is a symbolic blow to the image of the country, which also has an open case for alleged genocide at the Hague Tribunal and has seen its occupation and colonization of the West Bank and East Jerusalem declared illegal for decades. Now, the ICCs double arrest request poses an individual dilemma for several of the 125 member states: whether to prioritize respect for the decision (they are technically obliged to do so, but it depends on their will, because there is no authority to impose it), or their alliance with Israel, with the consequent risk of being accused of double standards. One of the immediate practical consequences is that Netanyahu and Gallant will have to ensure, before boarding a plane, that they will not be arrested upon landing. This is the case for all the member states of the European Union (a historical supporter of the ICC) and the United Kingdom, which has been supplying Israel with weapons. But one thing is theory and another is practice, as has been witnessed in previous cases. Mongolia, for example, welcomed Putin in September, despite having signed the Rome Statute, which gave birth to the ICC in 2002. Anthony Dworkin, a senior policy analyst at the Berlin-based European Council on Foreign Relations think tank, believes that EU countries should make clear that they fully support the ICC as an independent judicial body, confirm that they will execute arrest warrants and avoid any statements that undermine the court or question its legitimacy. Especially, he adds, touching on one of the points that most damages the image of the West in the Arab-Muslim world, after the strong European support for the ICC arrest warrant against Putin, which was issued in March 2023, shortly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The Netherlands, for example, has announced that it would arrest Netanyahu, but the spokesman for the French Foreign Ministry has avoided answering a direct question on the subject, calling it a legally complex issue. The head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, has underlined the obligation to do so. The issue is not limited to arrests, as signatories of the Rome Statute have the obligation to cooperate with the court, which may influence their political, economic, or arms support for Israel, recalls Alonso Gurmendi, a specialist in Human Rights at the London School of Economics. I think that more than one national mechanism will be activated as a result, he adds. Germany, for example, is the second-largest supplier of arms to Israel in the Gaza war. And, unlike the first (by far), the United States, it is an ICC member state. A boost for the Global South What was at stake was whether the institution itself was up to the challenge. The institution has responded. In the framework of how the world works, if the West reacts by saying I am not going to comply, it will be the West that will lose prestige, not the court, he says. Gurmendi also sees a boost to the efforts of countries in the Global South interested in compliance with international law, including Chile, Brazil, and South Africa (which filed the complaint for genocide against Israel in The Hague), which has made it easier for people in key places to face these cases without dying before reaching the strategically correct place. If an international arrest warrant is issued for the Israeli leaders as of today, it is because the crimes they are accused of were committed on Palestinian territory (Gaza), which has been part of the court since 2015. If this were not the case, Netanyahu and Gallant could be in a similar situation to that of the Syrian leader, Bashar al-Assad, or the leaders of China, whom some groups are trying to bring to justice for alleged serious international crimes. But since neither Damascus nor Beijing are members of the court, the ICC lacks jurisdiction and attempts are focused on finding loopholes through other states or national courts. The Israeli prime minister will be able to travel, a priori without problems, to countries with which Israel has been strengthening its relationship (in many cases through arms sales), such as India. And, of course, to its great ally, the United States, which is neither a member of the court nor does it recognize its jurisdiction in this case. But they will not have a huge margin, since Israel sees itself as part of the Western world and has, for example, the EU as its main trading partner, with a tariff exemption agreement and scientific and educational cooperation projects. Among the other countries that have not signed or ratified the Rome Statute, many are enemies (Iran), refuse to recognize Israel (most of the Arab world) or have never fully strengthened the link, due to their different geostrategic alignments, such as China and Russia. Then there is the symbolic aspect: the photos, the handshakes... the arrest warrants, notes Dworkin, raise the question of how EU representatives should interact with Netanyahu, as they avoid all contact with other leaders accused of international crimes or whose arrest has been requested by the ICC. This is what happens, for example, with the former Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta, who was elected after an arrest warrant was issued against him, Dworkin notes. The dilemma will not be limited to whether or not to travel to Israel, or to bilateral visits, but will also affect other forums, such as the United Nations General Assembly meeting held every September in New York. This year, Netanyahus speech was already marked by controversy: many delegates walked out of the room when he took the podium. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition The Ukrainian Air Force reported on Thursday the first launch of a Russian intercontinental missile along with other ballistic and cruise missiles against Ukrainian territory, a development that has raised fears of an even greater escalation of the conflict in the region. According to the local newspaper Ukrainska Pravda, the missile used was an RS-26 Rubezh, a state-of-the-art model with a range of up to 6,000 kilometers (3,728 miles) and capable of carrying a 1.2-ton nuclear warhead. However, sources from the U.S. administration denied the use of an intercontinental missile a few hours later. The attack came after Kyiv launched its first ever strike using U.S.-supplied long-range ATACMS missiles on Russian soil on Tuesday, marking 1,000 days since the invasion of Ukraine. This was followed by the launch of British Storm Shadow missiles on Wednesday. The characteristics of each of these missiles are detailed below. Ballistic and cruise missiles Ballistic missiles, which can carry nuclear or conventional warheads, have a parabolic trajectory that allows them, once they have reached maximum altitude, through propulsion systems, and overcome the atmosphere, to descend at high speed, unlike cruise missiles, which move in a straight line in a regular manner and at low altitude. The shortest range ballistic missiles are the so-called tactical missiles, with a range of less than 500 kilometers (310 miles). Intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), however, exceed 5,500 kilometers (3,417 miles). If the use of an intercontinental missile over Ukraine were confirmed or if Moscow were to launch one at some point Russia could send a message to the United States and its Western allies about its ability to strike, both from a distance and because it could use a nuclear warhead, although ICBMs can also use conventional warheads. The U.S. Congress published a report in September estimating that Russia possesses 326 intercontinental ballistic missiles, whose destructive capacity could be increased by the Kremlins arsenal of 1,710 operational nuclear warheads. ATACMS On November 17, outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden gave the green light to Kyiv for the use of ATACMS (the acronym for the MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile System) on Russian territory. This is again a ballistic missile, but with a range of around 300 kilometres (186 miles). It is the longest-range missile model delivered by Washington to Ukraine. Until this week, the Ukrainian military had not been authorized to use ATACMS against targets inside Russia, although they had done so on the Crimean peninsula, illegally annexed by Moscow in 2014. The recruitment of North Korean soldiers and the use of long-range missiles sent by Pyongyang pushed Washington to change its mind, although the use of ATACMS is restricted to the front in the Russian region of Kursk, where the Ukrainian army occupies about 650 square kilometers (250 square miles). The ATACMS, which can carry conventional unitary or cluster warheads, have been, together with Patriot anti-aircraft defense systems and F-16s, one of Kyivs major requests to its American partner. These ballistic missiles can be fired from the same launchers as the Himars delivered by the U.S. to Ukraine, although the latter, also of the ballistic type, have a range of about 80 kilometres (50 miles) in the Ukrainian theater of operations. Since May of this year, following the offensive launched by Moscow in the province of Kharkiv, the Ukrainian army was authorized to use Himars against military bases on Russian soil near the border. Storm Shadow A day after the first ATACMS missile launch toward Russian territory, the Ukrainian Air Force attacked the Kursk area with a British Storm Shadow long-range missile, manufactured by a consortium (MBDA), consisting of a French company (Matra) and a British company (British Aerospace). The French version of this missile is called Scalp. The range of this type of missile is around 250 kilometers (155 miles). As with the ATACMS, before deploying them on the Kursk front, the Ukrainian army had successfully used Storm Shadows against targets in Crimea and the Black Sea. Although London and Paris have not made a clear statement on the authorization given to Kyiv to use its missiles on Russian soil, the use of Storm Shadow on Wednesday against a Russian base implies that the two capitals, together with Washington the missiles use American technology have given their approval. Storm Shadow missiles are launched from fighter planes and have the capacity to hit bunkers or weapons depots. They fly at low altitude using guidance systems to avoid radars and detonate or drop their explosive charge once it reaches the target. According to the International Institute for Strategic Studies think tank, the main obstacle to firing these missiles is the need to mount them on Su-24M fighter planes, a model of which Ukraine only has five aircraft. Kinzhal hypersonics In March 2022, a month after the invasion of Ukraine, Russia launched several Kinzhal (dagger, in Russian) hypersonic missiles against the invaded country for the first time. This projectile eight meters long, one meter in diameter, weighing 4,300 kilos and with a range of 2,000 kilometers (1,243 miles) represented a step in the escalation of the war. Although this type of ballistic missile has not been decisive in the conflict, mainly due to the deployment of Patriot defense systems on Ukrainian territory, the speed of its flight Kinzhals can reach Kyiv in just a few minutes makes it difficult for citizens to predict and has spread terror among the Ukrainian population. On Thursday, the Russian missile offensive launched against targets in the Ukrainian city of Dnipro included a Kinzhal Kh-47M2, according to information from the Ukrainian Air Force. Moscow also launched seven KH-101 missiles on the same day, of which six were intercepted. This model of cruise missile, lighter but with speeds exceeding 900 kilometers per hour (560 mph), is one of the best known and feared by Ukrainian civilians. It can fly by burning fuel in regular trajectories and with guidance systems at very low altitudes, which makes interception difficult. A KH-101 hit the Okhmatdyt childrens hospital in Kyiv last July. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Masako Wada is 81 years old. She was born in 1943. She was a one-year-and-ten-month-old baby at the time of the bombing of Nagasaki at 11:02 a.m. on August 9, 1945. She humorously describes herself as the youngest member of the youth department of Nihon Hidankyo, the institution awarded the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize in October for its efforts to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons and for demonstrating through witness testimony that nuclear weapons must never be used again, according to the Nobel Committee. Founded in 1956, Nihon Hidankyo is the only national Japanese organization of the hibakusha, the survivors of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in World War II. Like Wada, all its members are victims of the most destructive weapon ever used by humans. They pursue the abolition of nuclear arms through words, by recounting their experiences. Wada has taken over as the older survivors have died. She has a lively look and makes herself understood through an interpreter. The danger of atomic weapons being used is increasing, she warns in an interview at the end of October in the organizations small office in Tokyo, two narrow floors filled with boxes, books, and pamphlets. She remembers nothing of the bombing of Nagasaki. She often tells the story of her mother. She unfolds a map of the city to accompany her narration: Question: Where were they? Answer. My family lived 2.9 kilometers from the epicenter. My mother was preparing lunch. I was playing outside the house. She called me because it was very hot outside; I went inside, and after some time, there was a loud bang, an explosion. She didnt know what had happened. When she came to, she found that everything, the glass doors, the wooden doors, the paper sliding doors, and the walls of the house had been blown into the air. The fragments had turned into a pile about 30 centimeters in size. She went outside. She saw orange dust; the green mountains had turned brown from the heat of the explosion. The fire spread immediately, and many people who survived direct death came to our area around the mountain. My mother saw rows of people coming down. They were naked or they were wearing tattered clothes. She couldnt tell if they were men or women; their hair was spiky, curly, and looked like horns. She described the rows of people as if they were brownish, grayish ants. Q. How did you react? A. My mother, who was 24, carried me on her back as she helped tend to the people who came in. In those days, people saved up pieces of old cloth to use as bandages after sterilizing them. With these makeshift gauze pads, and water from the well in our backyard, she helped clean and dress the wounds. Our neighbors house had been demolished some time before it was official policy, to prevent the spread of fire and the plot was empty. The bodies were brought there with the help of a large wooden cart, which was normally used to collect garbage. People would pick up the corpses scattered on the street to put them on the cart. Hands and legs stuck out of the piles like dolls. Every day, more and more bodies came to be cremated. Seeing so many corpses, little by little, my mother lost her sense of humanity, her sense of sadness or pity for these people. They all became numb. I just thought, Well, we have so many bodies today; and the next day, There are fewer today than yesterday. She always said that humans were not born to be treated like garbage like that. Q. How were the next few days? A. When the war was over, she was asked to help at a first aid station set up in a nearby school. In the auditorium there were lots of people lying on the floor, burned or wounded, moaning and crying. She was supposed to follow the doctors with the bottles of antiseptic liquid, but when she saw so many wounded she couldnt bear it; she asked for the liquids to be taken away so she wouldnt drop them, and she fainted. These were very precious products. Many hospitals had been destroyed. Doctors died, there were no medicines or nurses. So she was asked to work. When she came to, she was given another task. Because of the heat and the rotting flesh, there were flies everywhere, laying eggs on the bodies of the living, hatching in the flesh, the larvae moving around. She had to brush them off and sweep them off the floor. The larvae are usually very small. But she said they were the size of a thumb. They were so fat because they had a lot of food. She had never seen such huge larvae in her life. Wada pauses to show a photo of a cylindrical device. When they dropped the bomb, she says, they also dropped three radiosondes like this one to measure the pressure of the explosion and other parameters. These devices collected data on objects on the ground, she says. But they never collected data on how people lived and died under the mushroom cloud and how they ended the precious things of life. These machines could never sense or collect that information to send to the U.S. military. Q. What is your first memory associated with the bomb? A. The people in the neighborhood were all hibakusha who experienced the bombing. Whenever they got together, they would naturally talk about those days. Many had injuries, scars, and keloids on their bodies. It was a daily occurrence for me to listen to them and watch them. Q. What does the Nobel Peace Prize mean to you and the organization? A. According to Alfred Nobel's will, the Nobel Peace Prize should be awarded to persons or organizations that meet three conditions: promoting friendship between nations, contributing to the reduction or end of war or the reduction of weapons, and working for the promotion of peace and disarmament through conferences. This is exactly what we have been doing. Awarding Nihon Hidankyo the Nobel Peace Prize has been very timely, because the danger of nuclear weapons being used is increasing. Q. Why do you think this danger is growing? A. Russia and Israel have nuclear weapons, and the risk of their use is increasing in Ukraine and the Middle East. We have a president [Putin] who keeps threatening to use them. The nuclear taboo, or the sense that nuclear weapons should never be used, is diminishing because of the worsening crises. People dont know what could happen if a nuclear weapon is used. They dont know what happened when it was used. The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty has been in effect for over 50 years, but the promises of that treaty have never really been fulfilled. The countries that officially have nuclear weapons, the P-5 [the five permanent members of the UN Security Council], are not sincere in implementing their promises. Q. What has this organization meant to people like you? A. When I was young, I was not very aware of their activities. It was only after returning to Japan after living in the United States from 1977 to 1982 that I wanted to work for the abolition of nuclear weapons. It had been 40 years. Still, there were many hibakusha with very clear memories who worked to spread their testimonies. I helped them publish newspapers and pamphlets that compiled their stories. I learned about their experiences. I also interviewed my mother and wrote down what she experienced. I tried to put it into a book, but my mother said that [its impact] was insufficient. I thought that perhaps other veteran hibakusha would feel the same way. But after so many years, many have died. The average age of survivors is 86. So little by little, I feel that I have to tell it. Q. Do you think people are forgetting what happened? A. Yes. But thanks to the Nobel Committees announcement, Nihon Hidankyo is now better known in the world. And perhaps that will resonate in peoples minds. Perhaps they will remember that there are people collecting signatures in many places and relate their actions to the abolition of nuclear weapons. Perhaps they will find out what these people have been doing and relate our activities to their own lives, and how it affects their lives that is our hope. The Committee evaluated our work, the exchange of testimonies and experiences, as something unique. It is true: we call for peace and the abolition of nuclear weapons, not through weapons, but through dialogue and our words. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Xac minh 'than y' chua ung thu bang phuong phap 'truyen nang luong' "Than y" Nguyen Van Kien (trai) lam viec voi co quan chuc nang - Anh: Cong an cung cap Ngay 28-2, ong Nguyen Tuong Duy - chu tich UBND xa Hai Yang (huyen ak oa, Gia Lai) - cho hay ang phoi hop cac co quan chuc nang xac minh truong hop nguoi xung... An Giang lien tiep xuat hien mua trai mua Mua bat chot giua cao iem ma kh khien nguoi dn bat ngo. Theo ng Luu Van Ninh, Gim oc i Kh tuong Thuy van tinh An Giang, nguyn nhn cua hien tuong ny l do nhieu ong nhiet oi trn cao trong ieu kien La Nina ket hop cua ra pha Nam khoi khng kh lanh... The tightening of the United States immigration policy is at the heart of Mexicos concerns. This has been made clear by the statements of President Claudia Sheinbaum, who has already activated her Cabinet to seek alternatives to temper Donald Trumps heavy-handed discourse and his campaign promise to deport up to one million immigrants in an irregular situation each year. Although there are still two months left until the Republicans inauguration, the Mexican government is already working on documents to demonstrate with hard data the contributions of the Mexican diaspora to the economy of both countries, as well as the benefits of the trade agreement between Mexico, the U.S. and Canada (T-MEC), which will be reviewed in 2026. The signals that Sheinbaum has sent, however, indicate that the migration crisis is for now the priority front for Mexico and the first major obstacle to be resolved in the bilateral relationship. We do not agree that migrants should be treated as criminals, said the president in her most recent press conference. Sheinbaum indicated that the working document on the Mexican community will highlight facts such as the payment of taxes by migrants, the quality of their work and their importance in key areas, such as the agricultural and construction sectors. The president said that she convened her Cabinet on Tuesday to outline the route on other crucial issues for the diplomatic relationship, such as trade and security. We have a plan and we are developing it, she said in an effort to call for calm amid the uncertainty caused by Trumps victory in the November 5 presidential election. A day earlier, Sheinbaum stood up for the Mexican community, in what was her most forceful statement in favor of migrants since she assumed the presidency on October 1. Our countrymen and women are heroes and heroines, workers who support their families and the Mexican economy, but also, let it be heard loud and clear, they contribute to the economy of the United States, she said at the commemoration of Revolution Day. Yesterday I made a special emphasis and we will continue to do so. Remittances are one of the pillars of the Mexican economy and account for around 4% of GDP, according to official estimates. Last year, over $63 billion was received in remittances from abroad. The more than five million undocumented Mexicans in the United States are not the only cause for concern for the Sheinbaum government. Although specialists say that it is unrealistic to carry out a million deportations annually, the incoming presidents plan is for hundreds of thousands of irregular immigrants to be returned to Mexican territory, regardless of their nationality. There is also the threat of closing the border, which would have a direct impact on trade and the transit of people. In the event that there are deportations, we will receive the Mexicans, and we have a plan for that, Sheinbaum insisted. The plan is not limited to confronting Trumps anti-immigrant rhetoric. Sheinbaum announced that Mexicos consular network in the United States, the largest of any country, would be strengthened to protect the interests of the Mexican community and give them tools to defend themselves from abuse and raids by immigration authorities. However, the approved budget for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was reduced from 9.994 billion pesos ($488.5 million) to 9.294 billion for next year. Mexicos calculation is that if it shows itself to be an effective ally that delivers results, the threats of the Trumpists will be moderated and thus an extreme scenario will be avoided. Trump has shown no signs of moderation and is focused on sending signals to his voters that he will fulfill his campaign promises. He has named Cuban-American Senator Marco Rubio a harsh critic of Mexico and former president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Sheinbaums mentor as secretary of state. He also appointed Tom Homan as border czar and South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem as secretary of Homeland Security to complete a team of hawks to implement the shift in immigration policy. Homan, for example, has said that the designation of Mexican cartels as terrorist groups is imminent, adding more pressure and tension to the border control agenda. He also welcomed the donation of more than 500 hectares of land in Texas, announced this week, to build large human warehouses to serve as temporary migrant detention camps and facilitate deportations. In a scenario of complete uncertainty, political volatility, and great anticipation on both sides of the border, migration is already emerging as one of the main sources of friction between the two countries. Sheinbaum has said she will seek a meeting with Trumps team, although there is still no date for one to take place. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Click the photo and watch the video. * Thanks to China's favorable measures for tourism, including a series of visa-free transit policies and payment facilitation services, as well as "China Travel," there is an inbound travel boom in once-poor mountainous regions. * The Chinese mainland recorded an estimated 95 million inbound tourist arrivals in the first nine months, a 55.4 percent increase year on year, according to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. * According to the data center of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, in the first three quarters of 2024, village tourism visits increased 15.5 percent yearly to about 2.25 billion, with total revenue up 9.8 percent year on year to 1.32 trillion yuan. CHANGSHA, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) Jose Chaves, 40, from Costa Rica, recently visited Furong Town, enticed by pictures of its magnificent waterfall and traditional stilt houses built on the hillside famous features of this ancient scenic spot in Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, central China's Hunan Province. "It's a very lovely and beautiful place. Entry, hotel reservation and transportation are convenient in China," said Chaves, who took a 12-day trip to China. "I will recommend this place to my friends and share my trip on social media." With a history of more than 2,000 years and located in the hinterland of China's Wuling Mountains, the town of Furong in Xiangxi's Yongshun County is benefiting from the growing popularity of the "China Travel" campaign on global social media. Thanks to the campaign, it has seen a surge in inbound tourism. Foreign visitors take photos at the Furong Town scenic spot in Yongshun County, Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, central China's Hunan Province, Nov. 7, 2024. [Xinhua/Chen Sihan] Hinterland Tourism Boom "There were very few foreigners in the prefecture before poverty eradication. Now, it is not unusual to see foreign friends on the street," said Li Lichao, deputy head of the Culture, Tourism, Radio and Television Bureau of Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture. At Xiangxi's Shibadong Village, the idea of "targeted poverty alleviation" was first put forward in 2013. Through the strategy, 98.99 million people in rural China were lifted out of poverty, and all 832 impoverished counties were officially recognized as having escaped poverty by 2020. The strategy advocates that development is the general method to eliminate poverty, and governments in poverty-hit regions should suit their measures to different conditions and help locals find ways to shake off poverty. In the process of poverty alleviation and rural revitalization, the government of Xiangxi has explored the cultural and tourism industry to empower rural development. Today, the prefecture has 161 enterprises in the cultural and tourism industry chain above the designated size, which refers to enterprises each with an annual main business turnover of at least 20 million yuan (about 2.8 million U.S. dollars). The tourism industry has contributed more than 70 percent of the GDP growth of Xiangxi in recent years, with more than 500,000 people working in the sector. "Ancient townships, such as Furong, Fenghuang and Aizhai, which blend natural wonders and cultural interests, are particularly popular among foreign tourists," said Li. Thanks to China's favorable measures for tourism, including a series of visa-free transit policies and payment facilitation services, as well as "China Travel," there is an inbound travel boom in this once-poor mountainous region. In the first three quarters of this year, the prefecture received 254,000 inbound tourist visits, a year-on-year increase of nearly four times. The Chinese mainland recorded an estimated 95 million inbound tourist arrivals in the first nine months, a 55.4 percent increase year on year, according to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. A drone photo taken on Nov. 7, 2024 shows a view of the Furong Town scenic spot in Yongshun County, Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, central China's Hunan Province. [Xinhua/Chen Sihan] "My schedule has been fully booked for the past few months receiving foreign tourists," said Xu Yan, Chaves' English-speaking tour guide during his journey in Xiangxi, adding that most of her clients are from visa-free entry countries such as Thailand, Singapore and the Republic of Korea. According to Sun Jiashan, an associate researcher from the Central Academy of Culture and Tourism Administration, more and more foreign tourists are gradually exploring China's rural and mountainous areas, rather than just visiting the metropolis. Sun said that Xiangxi is attracting more overseas tourists thanks to the continuous improvement of facilities and infrastructure for rural tourism, and the improvement of services and overseas marketing. "The phenomenon is the result of strategies of poverty alleviation and rural revitalization," he said. Business Opportunities, Cultural Exchanges In order to better connect with the overseas tourism market, Xiangxi has strengthened cooperation with travel platforms, social media and overseas influencers since last year. Other efforts include increasing multilingual signs and facilitating payment services. "We have been cooperating with online travel agency Trip.com, to promote Xiangxi to overseas tourists and facilitate their booking accommodation and tickets at our scenic spots," said Su Jun, a staffer responsible for the marketing and branding of Furong. In March, over 100 overseas influencers were invited to Furong to experience and make promotions online. In order to serve foreign tourists, Furong has set up a team of English tour guides, and also a talent pool of over 100 guides speaking Russian, French, Japanese, Korean and other foreign languages, according to Su. Deng Ni, 36, a native resident of Furong, quit her job in downtown Yongshun, returned to her hometown and started her homestay business in May last year. Foreign tourists have given her good comments on online traveling platforms, praising her fluent English communication skills and attentive service. "In the past, visitors to Furong Town were mainly domestic tourists. However with the 'China Travel' boom, overseas tourists have "changed" the traditional off-season, like November and December, into a peak season," said Deng. She added that more than half of her bookings had been made by overseas tourists during the two-month period. In Furong, another homestay owner called Qu Zhangxun started learning English to better serve foreign tourists. His homestay, featuring rooms with excellent views of the waterfall, has received guests from more than 20 countries and accepted overseas reservations for accommodation until October next year. "I have asked my staff to be skilled in using translation apps, and I am also learning it myself. I hope to make all my tourists want to come back again and again," said Qu. People visit the Furong Town scenic spot in Yongshun County, Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, central China's Hunan Province, Nov. 7, 2024. [Xinhua/Chen Sihan] According to the data center of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, in the first three quarters of 2024, village tourism visits increased 15.5 percent yearly to about 2.25 billion, with total revenue up 9.8 percent year on year to 1.32 trillion yuan. Last week, seven villages in China, including Shibadong Village in Xiangxi, were honored as "Best Tourism Villages" by the United Nations World Tourism Organization. They are highly representative in terms of geography, culture and development models. For example, at Azheke Village, nestled in the heart of the Honghe Hani Rice Terraces in southwest China's Yunnan Province, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, villagers have contributed resources such as terraces, houses and traditional ways of life, creating a model of collective participation and shared prosperity. Xiaogang, a village in Anhui Province where China's rural reform began over four decades ago, is another location making strides on its new journey toward achieving rural revitalization. Today, visitors from across the globe can witness the profound changes China has undergone by exploring this village. During the third Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture Conference on Tourism Development held earlier this month, Olga Vakhrousheva, honorary vice president of New Zealand-China Maori Culture Tourism Promotion Association Incorporated, came to Yongshun from New Zealand to sign cultural and tourism agreements, advocating cooperation activities such as developing more tourism projects and organizing more exchange visits. "Furong Town is like a fairy tale. China has such a rich culture and variety of history, and showing them to the world would be great," she said. Vakhrousheva shared her experiences of making tea, cooking, drinking and singing with local people in a village in Yongshun. She said she noticed similarities between residents in Xiangxi and Maori people, who also have traditions such as singing when guests are invited into villages. "If we can do exchanges with kids, helping them to learn about other cultures, they can be open to each other and do things together when they grow up," said Vakhrousheva. (Video reporter: Dai Bin, Zhang Yujie, Chen Sihan and Ju Yinhe; Video editors: Hong Ling, Zak Zuzanna, Zhang Yuhong, Zhu Cong and Zhang Nan) (Source: Xinhua) Editor: Teng Ge BRASILIA, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) China is ready to join hands with Brazil in a spirit of perseverance and dedication to build a China-Brazil community with a shared future and usher in the next "Golden 50 Years" of China-Brazil relations, said Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday. Addressing a grand welcome banquet hosted by Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in Brasilia, Xi thanked him and the Brazilian people for their warm and friendly reception and congratulated Brazil on achieving remarkable development under President Lula's leadership. Noting that the vast oceans separating the two countries have never hindered their mutual understanding and friendship, Xi said that the two nations have distinctive characteristics while blending harmoniously with openness, innovation, diversity and unity as their shared traits and common aspirations. Xi added that he and President Lula had announced to elevate the bilateral relationship to the China-Brazil community with a shared future for a more just world and a more sustainable planet and witnessed the signing of cooperation documents aligning the Belt and Road Initiative with Brazil's development strategies. Looking back, the two sides have every reason to be proud of the achievements in their relations, and looking ahead, they are confident and full of anticipation for the bright future of their bilateral ties, he said. For his part, Lula said that President Xi and he lead the two largest developing countries in the Eastern and Western hemispheres respectively, noting that both are keenly aware of the people's struggles and are committed to improving livelihoods and eradicating poverty. Lula expressed deep admiration for China's development achievements under President Xi's leadership, particularly the accomplishment of lifting 100 million people out of poverty. He pointed out that President Xi has set an example for the world by working for people's well-being, upholding social fairness and justice, and advocating for peace over war, cooperation over confrontation, and creation over destruction. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties half a century ago, Brazil-China relations have become a model of solidarity, cooperation, mutual benefit and win-win results among Global South countries, Lula said. The alignment of development strategies between Brazil and China will contribute to the common prosperity of both countries and demonstrate to the world that they can achieve development, revitalization, and justice through their own paths, he said. Both Brazil and China uphold multilateralism and advocate for the peaceful settlement of disputes, said Lula, adding that their cooperation will have a significant and far-reaching impact on the world. Brazil looks forward to working closely with China to build a Brazil-China community with a shared future, he said. (Source: Xinhua) Editor: Teng Ge BRASILIA, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday met with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. The following are some of the highlights of Xi's remarks. In recent years, under the joint strategic guidance of two heads of state, the two countries are increasingly becoming reliable friends with a shared future and positive forces for peace. The China-Brazil relationship is at its best in history, which has not only improved the well-being of the people of the two countries, but also defended the common interests of developing countries, enhanced the strength and voice of the Global South, and made outstanding contributions to world peace and stability. China is ready to work with Brazil to continually enrich China-Brazil relations in the new era, be "golden partners" who help each other succeed, and keep working toward the goal of building a community with a shared future for mankind and creating a more just world and a more sustainable planet. The two countries should practice genuine multilateralism, make fair remarks and take fair actions, so as to make global governance more just and equitable. China stands ready to strengthen communication and coordination with Brazil at the United Nations, BRICS and other multilateral mechanisms, support Brazil's presidency of BRICS next year, promote high-quality development of greater BRICS cooperation, and make BRICS voice louder on upholding multilateralism and improving global governance. As major developing countries, China and Brazil should take the lead in conducting consultations, promoting global solidarity, jointly addressing global challenges concerning the future of mankind, and strengthening cooperation in such fields as green transformation, sustainable development, climate change, and artificial intelligence governance. China stands ready to work with Brazil to ensure the success of the China-CELAC Forum, better synergize the BRI with the development strengths and needs of the LAC region, and strive for more achievements in building a China-LAC community with a shared future. (Source: Xinhua) Editor: Teng Ge 160,000 light-years from planet Earth, a giant star is in agony. It could be on the verge of death, which means it expels huge amounts of gas and dust in a chaotic cosmic dance. Everything seems to indicate that it is in the last stages of its life before becoming a supernova. When that happens, one of the most energetic events in the universe will occur: the star will briefly release an enormous amount of light and energy and then go out forever. We know this because scientists have seen it in the first high-resolution photograph, in astronomical terms, of a star outside our galaxy. Known as WOH G64, it was captured thanks to the gravity instrument of the Very Large Telescope (VLT) from the European Southern Observatory (ESO), located in the Chilean region of Antofagasta. The photo and the accompanying research were published Thursday, November 21, in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics. Keiichi Ohnaka, an astrophysicist at the Andres Bello University in Chile and lead author of the research, says, for the first time, it has been possible to capture a magnified image of a dying red supergiant in a galaxy other than the Milky Way. To achieve this, Ohnaka and his team had to get creative. Because the star is so far away, no single telescope is capable of capturing it with sufficient sharpness. If the scientists had wanted to take the image with a single instrument, they would have had to use a gigantic telescope at least 100 meters in diameter. This technology does not exist; it would be very expensive and technically difficult to use, explains Ohnaka. The largest telescopes available today are between eight and 10 meters in diameter. A larger one cannot be built because its lenses would be so heavy they would deform, spoiling its optics. Faced with this dilemma, the astronomers have chosen to combine the power of four telescopes, each 1.8 meters in diameter. They mixed the light received individually by each of the devices, combined the data, and so managed to obtain an image with an unprecedented level of sharpness for the exploration of stars outside our galaxy. But the research yielded a snapshot that was not exactly what the scientists had expected. Artistic reconstruction of WOH G64, the first star outside our galaxy photographed in close-up. ESO/L. Calcada A dramatic end WOH G64 is 2,000 times the size of our Sun and lies in the Large Magellanic Cloud, a dwarf galaxy orbiting the Milky Way. Between 2005 and 2007, Ohnakas team first observed it with a telescope in the Atacama Desert and were able to learn more about the stars characteristics, such as its brightness and composition. Using computer models, they were able to reconstruct the appearance of the red supergiant. This reconstruction of the star looks nothing like the actual photograph. In the new image, an accumulation of light can be seen enveloping the star in an oval shape, as if it were an egg, surrounded by a ring. The authors of the study believe that this is due to huge amounts of matter that the star is ejecting into space. The evidence shows us that WOH G64 has changed in the last 10 years, Ohnaka explains, adding, I dont know exactly when it happened, but it started expelling more and more matter. The normal thing for such a star, he explains, is for the ejection to be geometric, similar to a soap bubble, and not oval, which caused some confusion. There are several possible explanations for this phenomenon, explains Yolanda Jimenez Teja, a postdoctoral researcher at the Andalusian Astrophysics Institute, who specializes in stars outside the Milky Way. As a red supergiant, it has three or four potential fates, all equally dramatic, she explains. One possibility is that WOH G64 is breaking up. During the advanced stages of its life, the outer atmosphere of stars like the Sun expands and can gradually break away, forming planetary nebulae. Its current behavior could also be due to its instability, causing jets of matter to be ejected violently through an axis that gives it its egg shape. Another hypothesis suggests that the energy cocoon is being generated by the gravitational influence of a companion star that has not yet been discovered because of a weaker brightness, overshadowed by that of the main star. There are two other possibilities, says Jimenez. One is that the star increases its temperature and is in the process of becoming a blue supergiant, a last vital phase before dying. The other is that it transforms into a black hole. These processes take place over thousands of years. It is impressive that we are seeing all these variations in just a decade, a blink of an eye in universe time. It seems that they have caught the star in a moment of great activity and that is very valuable, she adds. It is not yet certain what will happen to WOH G64. It could die, transform, or even, after this massive ejection of matter, recover its previous equilibrium. It could be tens to thousands of years before we see the outcome. Jacco van Loon, director of the Keele Observatory in the UK, and co-author of the study, has been observing WOH G64 since the 1990s and believes that this star is one of the most extreme of its kind, and any drastic change could bring it close to an explosive end. More observations are needed to fully understand it. What is certain, says Gerd Weigelt, professor of astronomy at the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy and co-author of the study, is that the phenomenon provides a unique opportunity to witness the life of a star in real time. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition The Starmer Labour government has spent the last weeks deepening its complicity in Israels genocide of the Palestinians in Gaza, earning direct criticism from Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories. She urged during her speaking tour of the UK last week that people act to make sure their elected leaders do not drag this country and its taxpayers into funding a war of annihilation. Albaneses comments were immediately prompted by the repulsive performance of Labour Foreign Secretary David Lammy in parliament at the end of October. Given the opportunity by Conservative MP Nick Timothy to confirm there is not a genocide occurring in the Middle East, Lammy seized it with both hands. UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, center, and US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, right, are welcomed by Foreign Minister of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha, left, for a meeting in Kyiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024. [AP Photo/Leon Neal] I do agree with the honourable gentleman, said Lammy, Those terms were largely used when millions of people lost their lives in crises like Rwanda, the second world war, the Holocaust, and the way that they are used now undermines the seriousness of that term. This single sentence tears international human rights law to shreds. That it was uttered by a lawyer says everything about the real meaning of the law and human rights as observed by imperialist politicians. It also damns Lammy as a man who is fully aware of the crimes he whitewashes. His logic, of course, would mean that Israel is free to carry on to the 999,999th murdered Palestinianforcibly expelling countless millions besidesuntil the Genocide Convention has anything to say about it. Albanese commented in an interview, David Lammy has to explain to the public where he read that its the number of people killed which defines genocide. David Lammy should read Article 2.4 of the Genocide Convention which refers to an act of genocide that doesnt involve the killing even of one person. There is genocide through forceful transfer of children David Lammy is not the only genocide denier. But I think its particularly serious when it comes from someone who has a position of authority, who carries an even greater authority because hes a man of law. UN Special Rapporteur on Palestine, Francesca Albanese [Photo by The Left/Flickr / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 But excuse me. What constitutes genocide is established by Article 2 of the Genocide Convention, not personal opinions. And its the intent, the determination to destroy a group in all or in part through several, or even only one, of these acts: killing, infliction of severe bodily or mental harm, and creation of conditions of life which would bring about the destruction the group. And look at Gaza today. The UN rapporteur has produced two detailed reports substantiating the case against Israel: Anatomy of a Genocide in March and Genocide as Colonial Erasure in October. The latter notes in its conclusion, Since its establishment, Israel has treated the occupied people as a hated encumbrance and threat to be eradicated, subjecting millions of Palestinians, for generations, to everyday indignities, mass killing, mass incarceration, forced displacement, racial segregation and apartheid. This, Albanese argues, is a stain on the international system and humanity, which must be ended, investigated and prosecuted. Lammys office replied lamely to a request for comment from Middle East Eye that he did not specify that genocide required millions of people to be killed. He had, simply observed that the term has largely applied to such cases. Albanese was unimpressed, telling Tribune, History will judge these people who have not done anything in their power to prevent atrocities. Meanwhile, in doing so, the UK is violating its obligations under international law not to aid and assist a state which is committing international wrongdoings. This is where we are. There are responsibilities; there might be complicity. That complicity includes the hundreds of UK arms contracts supplying Israel with the instruments of its crimes, including parts for the F-35 jets which have helped to turn Gaza into a wasteland. It includes hundreds of surveillance flights over the territory flown from the British airbase in Cyprus, the transport of US special forces from that airbase to Israel, and the deployment of UK spies to the countryall reported by Declassified UK. And it includes the military planes and ships deployed against the Houthis and Iran, giving the fascist Israeli government the security to carry on its genocidal offensive. In the context of these accusations by a UN official, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer doubled down in parliament last Wednesday. Asked to share his definition of genocide by Independent MP Ayoub Khan, the prime minister replied, It would be wise to start a question like that by reference to what happened in October of last year. Im well aware of the definition of genocide, and that is why Ive never described this as and referred to it as genocide. Sir Keir Starmer responds to questions in Parliament, including that asked by Khan, November 13, 2024 [Photo by UK Parliament/Flickr / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 This is the response of a political criminal, right down to the mafia-like threat in the first sentence: youll make the ritual condemnation of Hamas if you know whats good for you! As for the refusal to acknowledge the genocide, Starmer is not only wrong but lying through his teeth. He knows Israel is committing this heinous crime to the very letter of the law, and he does not need the UN special rapporteur to tell him so because he studied and worked with that law in his career as a barristerhis previously much spoken of past as a human rights lawyer. Though as Albanese commented in her Tribune interview, I dont think that one can call himself or herself a human rights lawyer if they dont stand for human rights. Starmer and Lammy are aiming both to facilitate the ongoing annihilation of the Palestinians in Gazaby contributing to Israels campaign of denialand to cover their governments legal exposure for complicity in breaches of the Genocide Convention. Should that case ever be levelled against them, the Labour cabinet will claim in the tradition of many of historys worst criminals that they simply did not realise what was going on. Unfortunately for Starmer, he has used the term genocide multiple times in the past when it suited the agenda of British imperialism. In 2016, he voted to refer to the UN the Islamic States massacres of Yazidis and Christiansinvolving the deaths of roughly 5,000 peopleas a case of genocide. In 2021, he denounced inaction over Chinas treatment of the Uyghurs as turning a blind eye to genocide. In 2022, he referred to the genocide at Srebrenica, remembering the 8,000 Muslim men and boys who lost their lives. He had previously claimed the Serbians had committed genocide against the Croatians, who lost roughly 15,000 citizens. Lammy, for his part, warned in 2017 that the Rohingya were facing genocide ethnic cleansing, gross human rights abuse and a UK government too afraid to stand up and speak out. None of which is to say that either of them cared any more about these victims than they do about the Palestinians, but to make the point that, for the ruling class, genocide is not a universal crime: It is either an accusation to be thrown at enemies or a policy tool to be used by allies. Such rank hypocrisy has always existed, but it has been brought to extremes by the Gaza genocide, with British imperialism now openly opposing UN experts and denying international law. As with the NATO war against Russian in Ukraine, the UKs Labour government is driven to the most extreme positions by its desperate reliance on a military and diplomatic partnership with Americaafter Brexit, and now faced with the prospect of Trumps tariff war suffered without the backing of the European Union. But it is part of a broader trend. The new imperialist war for the redivision of the globe is tearing apart whole regions of the world, and the capitalist pretence of the rules-based international order and international law along with them. Ernesto Tolentino, a 39-year-old autoworker in Mexico, reached out to the World Socialist Web Site Autoworker Newsletter to expose the nightmarish mistreatment and wrongful termination he suffered at the hands of General Motors at its assembly complex in Silao, Guanajuato. GMs Silao complex in Mexico [Photo by General Motors / CC BY-NC 3.0 Hoping to contribute to the global campaign of the WSWS and the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC) against mass layoffs in the auto sector, Tolentino said: I know very well that by stating my case I am exposed to a lot of bad things, but I think it is time to let everyone know what this company is like and how they treat us. I am doing this for a big change. In the past month, news headlines have cheered that GM is crushing it right now (Business Insider) and is on the path for record earnings (CNN), and celebrated how its share price outperforms its peers in 2024 (CNBC). The automakers wealthy investors have been showered with $16 billion in buybacks and an estimated $500 million in annual dividends, amid the largest share price increase since the 2020 COVID-19 bailout. This obscene accumulation of wealth extracted from workers is based on cost cutting and a massive human toll. Just last week, GM announced that it was laying off 1,000 workers, chiefly in the US, following the elimination of 1,500 jobs in its software division in August. While the US corporate-controlled parties and union apparatus pin the blame for layoffs on foreign workers, particularly in Mexico, automakers super-exploit and discard workers in Mexico just as ruthlessly as in the US and Europe. Following a workplace injury which left him in chronic pain and needing a cane, Tolentino was fired and given a pitiful severance pay of 120,000 pesos ($5,917) for 15 years of work and no compensation for sacrificing his physical well-being. These 15 years have gone to waste, he said. For the company we workers are just a number. They do not value our effort and dedication. On September 3, 2023, following a three-month shutdown of the entire plant, his team leader Luis Gerardo Perez announced that members would have to work four hours in each station over the 12-hour shift, instead of the two hours they were used to. This, Perez claimed, would help them get back in rhythm. Victimized Mexico GM worker Ernesto Tolentino I was working normally until the last operation, the most difficult one, when my back and my left foot began to hurt, Tolentino said. He recounted: When it was time for the snack, I had to take Ketorolac and Naproxen. I kept working, but the pain continued and I had to endure it until the end of the shift. I wasn't working well and stopped the line, and my team leader got angry with me. I told him that my back and my left foot were hurting, and he just told me that he would make an appointment with the medical service right away, which never came. I could barely get on the bus and sit down, but the pain got worse. After arriving at my stop, I could hardly get off and walked home one step at a time. I told my mum how I was feeling and went to the emergency room. He explains that he was diagnosed with lower back pain and given a cast for his foot and a two-week medical leave. Two weeks later, his pain had only worsened. After following the same routine with the doctors, they gave him a three-week extension, after which a traumatologist in November 2023 gave him stronger pills, told him to lose weight and to go back to work until he could start rehabilitation therapy. He spent half a month working in pain until his first rehabilitation appointment. Two and a half months of rehabilitation and rest did not resolve his pain, and he was bounced around between three different traumatologists, with the last one concluding that he had a herniated disc based on an MRI. On May 14, however, the doctors refused to extend his disability, and he was forced to return to work with a cane. They put me on the line with a cane and everything; now I'm still with a cane. The leader of the area looked at me and said, No, we can't keep you here, let's see where we can put you. After 20 minutes he was sent to the plant doctor, who sent him to the union office. There, they sent him to the clinic without any assistance, having to walk long distances and then getting an Uber. The state-owned insurance agency refused to extend his disability. So, he was compelled to clock in at work every working day and then use his own money to travel to the clinic to avoid being laid off, losing about 500 pesos per day ($25). By June he had spent all his savings and bonuses traveling back and forth to work and the hospital, so he stayed home. The company stopped paying him and called him to the plant to tell him unceremoniously that he was being fired after 15 years at the plant for not presenting a doctors note authorizing leave. Asked about the role of the unions at the plant, Tolentino said he had joined theindependent union SINTTIA that was elected into the plant to replace the hated Confederation of Mexican Workers (CTM) union in early 2022, but left because they didnt want to help me with my problem. He opted to join Coalicion, a minority union affiliated to the CTM when they offered to help him, but this consisted in advising him to show up at the plant and then go to the clinic to request a medical justification each day. When he ran out of money and was fired, the union officials told him: Well, thats your problem, you should have come and gone anyway you could. I gave you the solution and you didnt listen. Tolentino stressed: The truth is that these unions are corrupt and are only in favor of the company and not the worker... GM and the companies here are in collusion with the unions and with the state insurance agency. At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, he added, I got sick from COVID and hospitalized. I was incapacitated for five months and hospitalized for a month. The truth is that in the work areas, there is always cooperation to help the worker or the union also cooperates; this time there was no cooperation. Based on his experience, Tolentino concluded: The working hours are very long. They are 12 hours, four days per week. And they bring the workers under a lot of pressure, to the extent that they get injured because of the constant pressure. When youve been in an area for many years and you want to change, they dont allow you to do it under the pretext that there is no room for you. Tolentino says that the severance pay, which was not given to him until November 4, will barely be enough to cover debts he accumulated for legal, travel and other expenses. He is currently preparing a legal battle with the state insurance for a pension and might need surgery. I am desperate. I don't know if Im going to go back to work or not... I dont even have enough money to survive, thats why I accepted the 120,000 [pesos]. Several active and former GM Silao workers confirmed to the Autoworker Newsletter that such cases are common. A leader of the now defunct rank-and-file group Generating Movement, which backed the GM national strike in the United States in 2019 by refusing to work overtime, noted that such wrongful terminations of injured workers were a key issue behind their efforts to kick out the CTM, but then the group was sidelined by SINTTIA with funding and training from the AFL-CIOs Solidarity Center. She explained: I have seen many examples inside GM Silao [where] people are dismissed without any scruples after returning from work injuries that will leave them with lifelong consequences, and they are forced to resign with threats. It is barbaric what they do with the workers. Two of the workers who led Generating Movement, she explained, including Pilar de la Luz Torres Rosales and Maria Guadalupe Ibarra Ramirez were victimized in similar cases. SINTTIA only used them and washed its hands in the end, she said. It never supported them or any of the other dismissed workers. A safe job, living wage, quality healthcare and pensions are all basic rights that cannot be secured under the capitalist profit system. As the IWA-RFC wrote in a recent statement: The IWA-RFC rejects the right of the capitalists to control production to maximize profit by driving workers into the ground. Instead, we fight to realize the social rights of the working class through workers control over production, through the transformation of the giant corporations into public utilities For decades, the major corporations have used global production as a wedge to pit workers in a global race to the bottom. But with an international strategy that rejects the national divisions promoted by the labor bureaucracies and national governments, workers can take the offensive and utilize globalized production to build a far more powerful, united class movement than was possible in the past. A panel discussion on the topic "Protection of Leopards in Changing Climate Conditions" has been organized collectively by the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, the International Dialogue for Environmental Protection (IDEA) Public Union, and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) as part of the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), Azernews reports. Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, founder, and head of IDEA Public Union Leyla Aliyeva spoke at the opening of the event, stating that the observation of climate change and negative trends in the global ecological system pose a threat to the populations of many species, including the Caucasian leopard. She noted that rising temperatures and numerous natural disasters make it difficult for leopards to survive in nature. Detailed information was provided to the project participants about the various activities carried out by IDEA, including the "Restoration of the Leopard Population in Azerbaijan" project implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), which has contributed to increasing the number of leopards in the country. Leyla Aliyeva stressed that the Caucasus Biodiversity Summit, held in 2014, raised awareness of ecological balance and conservation of species in the South Caucasus region. The founder and head of IDEA pointed out that due to the steps taken, 23 leopard individuals have been spotted in Azerbaijan over recent years. At the end of her speech, Leyla Aliyeva called for further strengthening of global efforts to ensure the effective protection of leopards. Following her, Ajay Barai, Regional Director for Europe and North Africa at WWF, Elshad Asgarov, Director of WWF's Azerbaijan office, Aurel Heidelberg, Director of WWF's Germany office, Rashad Allahverdiyev, Deputy Head of the Biodiversity Conservation Service of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, Tatjana Rosen, expert on carnivores at the International Union for Conservation of Nature, and Jernej Stritih, representative of the Eco-Corridors Fund for the Caucasus, also spoke at the event. Donald Trump and his Republican allies promised to go all out against Democratic immigration programs like CHNV parole, and they have already set the wheels in motion. The Trump administration is not yet in the White House but has already published a report in which it not only calls the program unlawful, but also a fraud-ridden, unmitigated disaster, guilty of undermining national security and endangering public safety over and above the best interests of Americans. There is little doubt that the end of the parole program is just around the corner. The 14-page report from the Committee on the Judiciary and Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement released Wednesday lays out documented revelations of massive fraud in the Biden-Harris administration program, which has allowed more than 531,000 Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan, and Venezuelan citizens to legally enter the United States. Through CHNV, each month up to 30,000 aliens, who otherwise have no basis to enter the country and who have a supporter in the United States, can bypass the U.S. border and fly directly into the country on commercial flights to be granted parole for a period of two years, says the document, which was disseminated on social media by the House Judiciary GOP. After exposing the Democratic Administrations abuses of immigration law and its failure to stop a crisis that has negatively affected communities across the country, the Republicans called on Congress to stop a program they say was implemented without their authorization. It is clear that Congress must act to address the massive influx of illegal immigrants during the Biden-Harris Administration and rein in the Administrations dangerously radical open-border policies, the document states. Evidence of fraud in a program targeted by the Republicans In early August, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the temporary suspension of the parole program after authorities detected evidence of fraud, particularly in the forms filled in by sponsors the persons in charge of legally and financially supporting beneficiaries in the United States. Now, the fraud accusations include not only those already reported, but also violations related to the apparent use of public money and human trafficking. The report details that the same Social Security number was used more than 3,200 times; that over 460 nonexistent zip codes were identified in applications for more than 2,800 beneficiaries; and that, in one case, 21 applications were submitted from the same IP address on behalf of 18 women and only three men. Of those women, at least six were aged under 18. The Republicans also insist that USCIS has approved parole recipients even though the sponsor submitted fraudulent documents, or admitted that part of their income is derived from criminal activities, or they are people who depend on public assistance. The document also claims that DHS approved people who were on parole, were beneficiaries of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), or had temporary visas in the country. Renowned Florida immigration attorney Willy Allen does not doubt that such programs could be ripe for fraud. Im not surprised, any program like this, which allowed sponsorship of anyone, is always open to fraud. However, he believes that if the number of fraud cases is just over 100,000, as authorities have said, it is still a minimal figure for the more than two and a half million people who applied for the parole program and the small number of beneficiaries. The program wasnt perfect, but it did allow legal entry to hundreds of thousands of people for a period of time. The Republicans claim in the new report that despite this documented evidence of fraud for which the program was previously suspended, the Biden-Harris administration went ahead and announced its resumption in late August 2024. The parole program is already dead Trump has not been shy about saying that, once he takes the reins of the country, he will abandon programs such as CBP One, through which migrants schedule their appointments at the border, or the parole program. Get ready to leave, especially quickly if theyre criminals. Get ready to leave because youre going to be going out real fast, he said in an interview on Fox News in September. His vice president-elect, J. D. Vance, also agreed with those words and has said that, although thousands of people have entered through these types of programs, he will continue to call them illegal aliens. The document that the Republicans released is, in fact, an anti-immigration declaration. In its pages, they claim that the Biden-Harris administration implemented programs like these to mask the border crisis and artificially decrease historically high border encounters. The report claims that, since January 2021, the country has welcomed 7.7 million illegal aliens, a period during which over 100,000 encounters were recorded at the southwest border in 44 consecutive months. The end of the parole program is only a matter of time. Allen has no doubt that, in fact, humanitarian parole is already finished. The program is dead and it died in July. In August, no one entered, in September just over a thousand people entered, and the numbers for October are also low. In December, it will not continue. It began as an executive order and it will die as an executive order, the attorney says. Many families will be left in complete uncertainty: both those who are waiting for a response from the program, as well as those who have completed two years of legal residence in the United States. Sadly, the people who have not entered until now will not enter. They will have to find other ways to come to the United States, because this path has already died. It doesnt matter if you are waiting for a response, if you applied a year ago, says Allen. He also explains that, in the case of Cubans who arrived in the country as beneficiaries of the program, they will be able to benefit from the so-called Cuban Adjustment Act, which opens the way for them to gain permanent residence. Venezuelans will remain under the protection of Temporary Protected Status (TPS), at least until they can renew it. However, Nicaraguans and Haitians are in the most vulnerable position. They will not have a way to continue in the country legally after two years, insists the lawyer. What I have recommended to those who are afraid to return to their country is that this is the time to request political asylum in the United States, because they come from countries where they faced violence like the Haitians, or political repression like the Cubans or Venezuelans, and this is the time when they can request asylum. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Picket line outside the Benioff Children's Hospital in San Francisco, California, November 21, 2024. The two-day strike by nearly 40,000 University of California workers concluded Thursday, leaving all the fundamental political and economic grievances of thousands of workers completely unaddressed. The strike, which involved custodians, janitors, healthcare workers, and technicians, highlighted the appalling conditions faced by UC employees and the determination of workers to fight. The union bureaucrats from the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 3299 and University Professional and Technical Employees (UPTE-CWA) Local 9119 limited the strike in advance to only two days. This is a replay of the unions actions in 2019, when a series of short-term strikes ended with a sellout agreement that failed to address workers needs. Workers at UCmany of whom are immigrantsendure crushing workloads, stagnant wages, and skyrocketing living costs in one of the wealthiest states in the US. Meanwhile, the UC system enjoys a multi-billion-dollar endowment and continues to rake in profits. Nevertheless, the strike is a preview of the eruption of the class struggle under the Trump administration. Workers, with healthcare and immigrant workers in the front rank, will be thrust into struggle against Trumps program for dictatorship, which includes mass deportations and the evisceration of public health. For workers to fight back, however, requires a struggle against the pro-corporate union bureaucracy and the Democratic Party. The Democrats, concerned only with continuing the wars in Gaza and Ukraine, try to lull the public to sleep and wish Trump success in his policies. The union bureaucracy, by limiting and suppressing strikes on behalf of management, acts against the only social force on which the fight against dictatorship can be based. For this reason, the WSWS urges UC workers to form rank-and-file committees to give workers the power to countermand decisions that violate their will and provide the means to link up with workers across the UC system, the healthcare industry and around the world. On the picket lines, workers articulated economic grievances as well as pressing political issues, including the rising threat of authoritarianism, the plight of immigrants, and the broader societal impact of growing inequality and war spending. At UC San Francisco, the WSWS spoke to a nurse case manager who said she is typically responsible for about 20 patients, from admission to discharge. When you have short staffing, it causes patients to stay in the hospital longer. Theres risk of infection for staying longer, delays in care, insurance denial, and patients might get medical bills for hundreds of thousands of dollars. Due to unfilled job positions, the UC is saving millions of dollars: We asked for critical data in regards to staffing vacancies and the University of California has not given us any data for 18 months. We dont know what theyre hiding. Just this week I had a patient in the emergency department for four days, she said. Due to short staffing, patients stay in hallways in their most vulnerable time in their life, out in public where tons of people are walking past them, also raising the danger of the spread of infections. Theyre paying their chancellors and CEOs double-digit pay increases of 30 percent. UC San Diego Chancellor [Pradeep] Khosla had a 78 percent increase. We are losing our talented staff and the amount of work has been increasing, [as well as] the complexity of the patients. Two sanitary workers at UC San Diego told the WSWS that the genocide in Gaza makes them sick to my stomach, as does Trumps proposed mass deportations. The Republicans say they will stop war, but they want to start war with other people, referring in particular to China. Striking workers at UC San Diego, November 20, 2024 Another worker, a phone center technician, reiterated demands for full-time staffing, higher pay and restoration of bonuses. All the executives received a 4.5 percent pay raise this year, they have purchased more hospitals, and they have also raised our parking costs! For an eight-hour work day, we have to pay $6.50, [that] really does add up. This is all just corporate greed and its unfair. Under Trump, she said that she is very concerned about healthcare costs for her, her colleagues and the population. She scoffed at the proposed appointments of Dr. Mehmet Oz for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services. Im also really concerned about scheduled abortions and for the future of women having the right to choose whether or not they get one. Many times, it is a dire situation and of medical necessity. What will happen to all those people? I think there are more protections here in California, but I also worry about the rest of the US. Marilyn, a custodian at UC Irvine, said, During the pandemic, we worked risking our lives. We were recognized as heroes, but we didnt get anything for that. Now we are fighting over $25 an hour, and we are also paying more for health insurance. She continued: When adding all expenses, my husband and I need to work two jobs to support a family of four kids. The reality is that often three or four families have to live together to save on rent. Striking University of California workers march at UC Irvine, November 21, 2024. Marilyn is an immigrant. I came from Mexico in the 90s. I was illegal. Ive been in California 34 years and worked two or three jobs most of the time so that my kids could have a better life. Im worried about the new president, we need to be ready, to be resilient and confront everything they do to us. Its really sad to see families being separated, even when the kids didnt even come as illegal. She expressed dissatisfaction with the fact the strike was limited to two days. I dont know what happened with two days. Some people said it should be a week, others a month. The strikes conclusion without any concrete gains underscores the need for workers to build their own organizations to transfer power from the union apparatus to the rank and file, as a first step towards mobilizing for a fight to defend the rights of the working class everywhere. UC workers must form independent, rank-and-file committees to take control of their struggle. These committees can unite with other sections of the working classincluding Kaiser Permanente workers and others engaged in simultaneous battlesand fight for a broader, politically conscious movement against the capitalist system itself. The threat of fascism, police dragnets and war imposes on workers the urgent need to prepare for an all-out confrontation with the political forces oppressing them, not just the Democratic and Republican parties, but also a union bureaucracy that tries to suppress the class struggle. Only through the independent organization of rank-and-file committees can UC workers turn their anger into meaningful action. This week, the US and UK authorized the use of NATO long-range weapons deep inside Russia, crossing a red line that Russian officials said would lead to military retaliation, including the potential use of nuclear weapons. An ATACMS missile being launched from an M270 MLRS. On Sunday, President Joe Biden authorized the Ukrainian regime in Kiev to use ATACMS missiles to bomb Russia. Then, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who has publicly lobbied Washington since September for this policy, said London would let Kiev bomb Russia with its Storm Shadow missiles. Kiev fired ATACMS missiles on Tuesday and Storm Shadows on Wednesday. The alarm must be sounded in Europe and internationally. Bombing another country is an act of war. Whether or not war has been declared, a state of war effectively exists between the worlds major nuclear-armed powers. The Russian government has responded to these provocative attacks with increasingly blunt warnings of a military response. Far from stepping back from the brink, Washington and its NATO allies in Europe are continuing to escalate attacks on Russia. Starmer has made clear that the danger of nuclear war will not deter him from bombing Russia. He was asked about the shift that the Kremlin announced in its nuclear doctrine in September, allowing Russian nuclear strikes on nuclear-armed states like Britain that arm other countries to bomb Russia. Calling Russian warnings that it will respond to attacks on its territory irresponsible rhetoric, Starmer declared that Russian threats to respond with nuclear weapons are not going to deter our support for Ukraine. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock endorsed the bombing of Russia and dismissed warnings of nuclear war, saying, We will not be intimidated, no matter what new things are trumpeted time and again. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said bombing Russia was already an option we would consider, claiming there is nothing new in the US-UK bombing of Russia. Russia has begun taking retaliatory measures. On Thursday, it fired an intermediate-range ballistic missile, identified by Ukrainian and NATO sources as an Orestnik variant of the RS-26 Rubezh missile, at Dnipro. Normally, such a missile would carry four independently maneuverable nuclear warheads, each of which is 20 times more powerful than the US nuclear bomb that destroyed Hiroshima. With a 5,800 km range, it can destroy any city or military base in Europe. However, this missile was unarmed and damaged its target, a Ukrainian missile factory, simply by crashing into it at 12,000 km per hour. In a nationwide televised address, Russian President Vladimir Putin indicated that this strike was a warning to NATO. In response to the use of US and British long-range weaponry, on 21 November this year, the Russian armed forces carried out a combined strike. In combat conditions, a test was carried out of one of the latest Russian intermediate-range missile systems. We have the right to use our weapons against military facilities of those countries which allow their weapons to be used on our facilities, Putin continued. We are ready for any developments. If anyone still doubts this, they shouldnt. There will always be a response. It is utterly reckless to dismiss Russias statements as a bluff. Whatever the form, Russia will retaliate to the ever more aggressive actions of the NATO powers. Yesterday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova denounced the US missile base in Poland at Redzikowo, calling it blatantly provocative. She said the base had been identified as a priority target for potential destruction. Explaining the dangerous logic of escalation, WSWS International Editorial Board Chairman David North wrote in a comment published on X Thursday: If Putin were to directly warn Starmer that further use of the Storm Shadow missiles against Russia will result, without question, in direct retaliation against Britain, Britain would not call off further attacks. At this point, the US and NATO must believe that Russia will in all likelihood respond with a significant act of military retaliation. But the avoidance of such retaliation is no longer of decisive importance. The United States and the major Western powers are committed to Russias defeat and will not back down. And it now appears that Putin has concluded that he cannot avoid direct conflict with his Western Partners. The situation is extraordinarily dangerousand the danger is intensified by the fact that the general public seems to have no idea that we stand on the brink of a catastrophic war. In 2022, as Biden debated whether to send tanks to Ukraine, he warned of the danger of an Armageddon. He said he knew Putin fairly well and that Putin is not joking when he talks about the use of tactical nuclear weapons. Now, despite Putins escalating threats, Biden has sanctioned the bombing of Russia. The European powers, having fought Russia alongside Biden for nearly three years, are concerned by Trumps threat to scale back US military support for Kiev and impose tariffs to block European exports to America. Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna is calling for European boots on the ground in Ukraine, as French President Emmanuel Macron did this winter. The European powers are pressing to escalate the war so as to independently assert their own imperialist interests. The emerging Third World War, of which the war against Russia is a component part, is a war of plunder. The war in Ukraine is also a battle for raw materials, states the Germany Trade and Invest (GTAI) agency, pointing to Ukraines large deposits of iron, titanium and lithium, some of which are now controlled by Russia. Even greater riches, in critical minerals but also oil and gas, would fall to them if they could subjugate Russia. Their decision to stop purchasing cheap Russian energy has devastated Europe. Since then, Reuters reports, industrial electricity prices have jumped 280 percent in Germany, over 200 percent in France, Italy and the Netherlands, and 103 percent in Spain. Europe is hemorrhaging factories and jobs as these energy price hikes have made European goods globally uncompetitive. And so, earlier this year, Polish President Andrzej Duda called for crushing Russia and dividing it into 200 powerless ethnic statelets. Claiming there is no more space for Russia in todays world, he declared provocatively: Russia is often called the prison of nations, and for a good reason. It is home to over 200 ethnic groups Russia remains the largest colonial empire in the world today, which unlike the European powers has never undergone the process of decolonization, and has never been able to deal with the demons of its past. There is no more space for colonialism in the modern world. Another factor driving the European bourgeoisies war escalation is the intensification of the class struggle. Staggering under a massive debt burden after decades of bank bailouts, the European states are each planning tens of billions of euros in cuts to key social programs to divert them into military spending, even as working class anger mounts over job losses. After massive strike struggles in the last two years, the European governments are deeply unpopular and despised among workers. Russian military strikes could serve as a pretext to further militarize society, outlaw strikes, reestablish conscription and intensify policies of austerity and war rejected by broad masses of the working population. The deep-rooted opposition to imperialist war among workers in Ukraine, Russia, Europe, America and internationally must be activated and mobilized in a struggle against their own capitalist governments. Israeli director Yuval Abraham has sharply denounced the latest campaign by German authorities to stigmatise his film No Other Land and the filmmaker himself as antisemitic. No Other Land has gone on general release in Germany and Britain, but has only had a limited release in the US. The film, made by the Palestinian-Israeli collective of Abraham, Basel Adra, Hamdan Ballal and Rachel Szor, recounts the brutal expulsion of Palestinian villagers from Masafer Yatta, a settlement of 19 villages south of Hebron in the occupied West Bank. It was reviewed by the WSWS. Filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Basel Adra. [Photo by Richard Hubner / Berlinale 2024] [Photo: by Richard Hubner / Berlinale 2024]] In February, No Other Land won both the best documentary award and Panorama Audience Award at the Berlin International Film Festival. In his courageous acceptance speech at the festival, Abraham denounced the apartheid-like situation prevailing in a region where he and his Palestinian co-director live in a a land where we are not equal. I live under civilian law and Basel [Adra] lives under military law. We live 30 minutes from one another. Alarmed at the support won by the film at the Berlinale, leading members of the Berlin Senate went into action. Two days after the award ceremony, the mayor of Berlin, Kai Wegner (Christian Democratic Union) denounced the filmmakers speeches as antisemitic. His remarks were echoed by the Berlin senator for cultural affairs, Joe Chialo (CDU), accompanied by similar comments by leading members of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) and Greens in the Senate. When asked why, at the end of the award ceremony speech, she was seen applauding, Germanys Culture Minister Claudia Roth (Greens) disgracefully and absurdly responded she was applauding the Israeli filmmaker, i.e., not his Palestinian colleague. From the very start of the murderous Israeli invasion of Gaza, Roth has played a leading role in the government campaign aimed at gagging opposition to the genocide. Now, as Israel extends its war of extermination into Lebanon, the official portal of the Berlin Senate has revived its hate campaign against Abraham and his film. On his X account Abraham wrote: Berlins official city portal just wrote our film No Other Land has antisemitic tendencies. A film that won the Berlinale and was recently invited to a special screening in the German embassy in Israel. It pains me to see how, after murdering most of my family in the holocaust, you empty the word antisemitism of meaning to silence critics of Israels occupation in the West Bank (the topic of our film) and legitimize violence against Palestinians. I feel unsafe and unwelcome in Berlin of 2024 as a left-wing Israeli and will take legal action. Following the vicious claims of antisemitism made against him in Berlin in February, which were immediately embraced by the far-right Netanyahu regime in Israel, Abraham revealed that he had received a series of death threats. In response to Abrahams criticism and his threat of legal action, the Berlin city portal, aware that its claims were baseless, rapidly took down its claim of antisemitism and issued an apology. The Senates campaign to deter the public from seeing No Other Land and deflect attention from its own and the German governments unwavering support of the genocide being conducted against the Palestinians has collapsed like a house of cards. No Other Land The latest assault against Abraham and his film comes just one week after the German parliament (Bundestag) adopted a reactionary antisemitism resolution, which has been fulsomely welcomed by the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) and basically adopts the latter partys anti-Muslim program. The resolution stresses Israels legitimate security interests as a central principle of German foreign policy and declares that one of the prime sources of antisemitism is immigration from the countries of North Africa and the Middle East. The resolution reaffirms Israels right to self-defence and adopts the definition of antisemitism laid down in the reactionary International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) declaration, which equates any criticism of Israel and Israeli policy with antisemitism. The main demand in the parliaments resolution is the denial or withdrawal of public funding from cultural projects and/or organisations that criticise the mass murder in Gaza and defend the rights of Palestinians. Over the course of the past year, the German media has systematically defended every crime of the fascist regime in Israel while demonising Palestinian resistance. In recent weeks, the campaign of ethnic cleansing taking place in Gaza has been barely mentioned by the major news outlets. Nevertheless, even some of these outlets felt compelled to comment on the anti-democratic background to the Bundestag resolution which, according to Deutschlandfunk was worked out in secret by a small circle of parliamentarians behind closed doors. Contrary to standard practice with regard to such resolutions, interested parties and civil rights organisations with their own point of view were excluded. In true neo-colonialist style, no Arab or Muslim organisations were involved in drawing up the resolution while the strong influence of pro-Israeli groups and lobbyists was very evident. The comment by Deutschlandfunk described the role played in particular by the virulently pro-Zionist Bild newspaper: The debate has long been toxic. The fear of being defamed as an antisemite and Israel-hater by the Bild newspaper also has an effect in politics right up to the highest echelons. In the event, with its antisemitism resolution, the German parliament has come down firmly on the side of the pro-Israel organisations seeking to whitewash the crimes of the Netanyahu government. Recent months have witnessed a series of attempts to intimidate and silence critics of Israels genocidal policy. In October the German Society for Photography arrogantly and disgracefully demanded that the artist and award winner Shirin Abedi apologize for uttering the call Free Palestine during an awards ceremony. The treatment of Abedi mirrors that of the French artist Johanna Tagada Hoffbeck who, at the start of this year was denied the opportunity to present her work at an unnamed German museum after she posted an Instagram message that also ended with the appeal, Free Palestine. This was all too much for the museum management. It sent Hoffbeck a note asserting, As a museum that operates with public funds, we cannot and do not want to accept statements that go in this direction. Museum officials continued by ominously explaining that we are sceptical about our collaboration with you at the moment. The latest victim of political censorship is the British artist and author James Bridle. In June, Bridle was awarded the Schelling Architecture Foundation prize for his outstanding contributions to architectural theory. In mid-November, the foundation suddenly withdrew its award just days before the award ceremony was due to take place. Citing the German parliaments antisemitism resolution, the foundation committee expressed its opposition to Bridles support for an Open Letter published by artists in October, which declared we will not work with Israeli cultural institutions that are complicit or have remained silent observers of the overwhelming oppression of Palestinians. In a note to the Guardian, Bridle commented: Although they are clearly not prepared to state it outright, the foundations decision is an accusation of antisemitism, which is abhorrent. It is particularly so given the organisations own history. The Schelling Architecture Foundation prize is named after German architect Erich Schelling, a member of various Hitlerite organisations between 1933-34 and 1945, who worked on the conversion of a building to be used as a Nazi publishing house in 1939. Artists and cultural workers in Germany are already under enormous pressure due to budget cuts by the government, which has prioritised spending on war and rearmament. This pressure is now compounded by blatant political censorship. The campaign against Abraham and No Other Land and other artists makes clear that, in response to the massacre of innocent men, women, children and babies in Gaza and Lebanon, the German government, the Berlin Senate and leading German media outlets are determined to silence all dissenting voices. Amid an ongoing attack by the ruling elite on conditions in the auto industry globally, three research workers at Hyundai Motor in South Korea were killed on Tuesday. They were conducting performance testing on a vehicle in an enclosed space that was not ventilated or monitored properly. While the company and government pledged to investigate how the accident occurred, nothing will be done to address safety in the car or other industries. The logo of the Hyundai Motor Co. is displayed at the automaker's showroom in Seoul, South Korea. [AP Photo/Lee Jin-man] The accident took place in the city of Ulsan at the electric vehicle quality division in Hyundais plant 4. The city is located in the southeast of South Korea and is home to Hyundai Motors primary production center. According to the initial investigation, the three workers were performing a test in an area just large enough for a car, driven by rollers on the floor, with a space around the vehicle for a person to walk. The test took place around 12:50 p.m., but when they had not appeared in over two hours, another worker went looking for the three and found them unconscious in the test area. They were taken to a hospital, but all three were pronounced dead. On Wednesday, police ordered autopsies for the workers, who have only been identified as being in their 20s, 30s, and 40s. Two were employed by Hyundai Namyang Research while the third was working for a subcontractor. Hyundai released a perfunctory statement saying, We express our deepest condolences to the bereaved families. We will promptly determine the cause of this accident and actively take necessary measures. The company added, We will do our best to prepare measures to prevent such unfortunate accidents from happening again in the future. The accident exposes the serious lack of safety measures at Hyundai, which is the third-largest automobile producer in the world. It is clear that the testing facility was not properly monitored to confirm that dangerous gases were fully ventilated. Nor were measures in place to observe the three workers from outside the test chamber to ensure their safety, a point driven home by the amount of time between the testing and when they were discovered. Safety is being sacrificed for profits. Another worker was killed at the Ulsan facility on November 7 after suffering a 12-meter fall during the construction of a new electric vehicle plant. Like auto companies in the US, Germany, Japan and other countries, Hyundai is engaged in a cutthroat competition to boost profits by slashing costs. In 2023 alone, the companys operating profits grew 54 percent to 15.12 trillion won ($US10.8 billion). This agenda is being carried out as part of the so-called just transition to electric vehicles. As these vehicles require fewer parts, they also require less labor. Under capitalism, this means thousands of jobs are on the chopping block. The Korean Metal Workers Union, which represents workers at Hyundai and other auto companies, has backed this pro-business campaign. No genuine measures that impact company profits will be taken to address safety at Hyundai or in the auto industry as a whole. This is despite claims from the Ulsan Metropolitan Police, the National Forensic Service, the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency and the Labor Ministry that they would conduct a joint investigation and determine if there was any violation of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act. The previous administration of Democrat Moon Jae-in pushed this act as a means of posturing as a defender of workers. The act came into effect in January 2022 after being passed the previous year. It imposes up to one year in prison or a fine of up to one billion won ($US715,112) on business owners, executives or responsible officials culpable for serious injuries or deaths in the workplace. However, the act was never meant to genuinely protect workers. When it was passed, the original bill was already watered down. This included reducing the jail time and fines and restricting the criteria under which responsible figures could be found guilty. The law does not apply to businesses with less than five employees, and it did not cover businesses with 5 to 49 employees until January this year. The law was meant to give the impression that the Moon government was making progressive reforms in order to repress workers growing anger to the attacks on their living conditions carried out by previous governments. Moon pledged at the beginning of his administration in 2017 to halve workplace fatalities, bringing the number down to approximately 500. There were 964 deaths as a result of workplace accidents that year. Moons pledge meant he viewed 500 as an acceptable number of workers deaths. It also meant he refused to take measures to protect workers that would impinge on big business profits. By 2022, when Moon left office, 874 workers lost their lives on the job. At the same time, the number of workers falling ill and dying from diseases related to the workplace have sharply risen. This has taken place over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly rising in 2021, the same year Moon declared the beginning of the living with COVID era. In 2017, some 9,183 people contracted an illness as a result of their job. The figure rose through Moons term in office and continued to do so after the right-wing Yoon Suk-yeol took office in 2022. Last year, a total of 23,331 people contracted an illness through work, a figure likely to be surpassed in 2024. Deaths rose from 993 in 2017 and reached 1,349 in 2022. These figures do not give a complete picture of the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and are undoubtedly a drastic undercounting. During the pandemic, there have been more than 34 million confirmed cases while tens of thousands have died. And while not every work-related illness may be COVID, the fact that thousands more workers are getting sick demonstrates the lack of safety measures in place throughout the pandemic. The Yoon government is now working to downplay the number of workplace deaths as it moves to tear up even the limited legal safety measures and penalties for violations. Workers cannot place their faith in any section of the ruling class to protect their safety on the job or conditions overall. On Saturday, November 16, dozens of concerned residents of Columbus, Ohio reported seeing a group of men dressed in all black and carrying flags emblazoned with swastikas marching through their community. The neo-Nazis marched down High Street and through some of the surrounding neighborhoods, including the Short North arts district. Without police intervention, the fascists freely hurled racial slurs, spouted antisemitic rhetoric and intimidated people. Several African American patrons at a local bar reported that the fascists sprayed them with mace. (Warning clip has explicit language) The group was clad in all black and wore ski masks adorned with the fascist deaths head symbol to cover most of their heads and faces. The deaths head or totenkopf is a symbol originally used by the German SS and has been used widely by the neo-Nazi group Atomwaffen. After several hours of intimidating residents, as the Nazis returned to their rented U-Haul van, the group was finally approached by the Columbus Police Department (CPD). The cops briefly detained, questioned, and then released the fascists without making any arrests. As of this writing, no charges have been brought against any of the members of the group. Both Columbus natives and people living outside of Ohio took to X, formerly Twitter, to register their disgust. Some locals reported that the fascists were free to harass members of the community for two and a half hours before there was any police intervention. There was speculation as to what organization this group of fascists could be, their manner of dress and the vile, racist rhetoric they spewed bringing to mind neo-Nazi groups like Blood Tribe and the Goyim Defence League (GDL). Further investigation revealed that this particular group of neo-Nazis go by the title Hate Club 1488. The leader of Hate Club 1488 is Anthony Altick, a fascist from Missouri who served two years in prison for the murder of a black man and the shooting of two others. The group itself is based out of St. Louis, Missouri and made up of members from around the state. Public outrage over the presence of Nazis belatedly forced members of the state government of Ohio to issue pro forma responses. Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein issued a statement saying, To those involved in the neo-Nazi march in the Short North today, take your flags and the masks you hide behind and go home and never come back. Your hate isnt welcome in our city. Republican Governor Mike DeWine wrote in a statement, There is no place in this State for hate, bigotry, antisemitism, or violence. In fact, hate and bigotry are being cultivated in Ohio by the Republican Party, starting with President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance. The cultivation of fascist ideology is being promoted by the incoming Trump administration and the entire Republican Party, which is being transformed into a fascist party. Altick has previously posted photos of himself at Trump rallies. Fascist Anthony Altick at a Trump rally. The group previously marched through Springfield, Ohio, immediately after Trump and Vance told racist lies about Haitian immigrants eating family pets. Trump has declared that as soon as he takes office he will mobilize the forces of the state to deport millions of immigrants. In this effort, Trump and the Republicans are counting on the support of fascist groups such as the Blood Tribe and the Proud Boys to be his shock troops. While these groups have support from the GOP, which has fully transformed into a party of fascism, the Democrats share equal blame for the normalization of fascism, from supporting neo-Nazis in Ukraine to pledging a smooth transition to the aspiring dictator Trump. On Monday, the Biden White House issued a pro forma response that read in part, This sickening display comes during a tragic rise in Antisemitic rhetoric and violence that is a crises [sic] the American people should all come together against. After more than a year of funding and enabling Israels ongoing genocide in Gaza and criminalizing protests against it, including by labeling opponents of the unending slaughter as antisemitic, the Biden administration has laid the groundwork for the suppression of those who oppose Trumps policies and his fascist followers. The Trump administration, with the support of the Democratic Party, is preparing a government of social counterrevolution in order to prosecute their global war agenda. The working class must organize independently of both capitalist parties if workers and youth are to defeat the fascist threat and work towards a socialist future. Three months before Germanys early federal election, pressure is growing within the ruling Social Democratic Party (SPD) to choose Defence Minister Boris Pistorius as the partys lead candidate instead of Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Defence Minister Boris Pistorius at the NATO summit in Vilnius in July 2023 [Photo by NATO / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 The SPDs miserable poll numbers are ostensibly the reason for this. In a recent survey, only 13 percent favoured Scholz as chancellor. This puts him well behind Christian Democrat (CDU) leader Friedrich Merz (34 percent) and the Green Partys Robert Habeck (21 percent). Some 32 percent of respondents did not want any of the three as chancellor. The SPD as a whole is polling at 15 percent, more than 10 percent less than in their election victory in 2021. This means that almost half of the 206 SPD parliamentary deputies are at risk of losing their seat. Pistorius, who took over the Ministry of Defence almost two years ago, has enjoyed high popularity ratings ever since. This is not so much to his own credit but as the result of a systematic media campaign. Before he took up his post, the ministrys top management had been replaced three times in just four years and the Bundeswehr (Armed Forces) had been systematically portrayed as underfunded, dilapidated and unfit for war. Pistorius was then presented as a people-oriented, hands-on minister who would stay out of the squabbles of the coalition government of the SPD with the Greens and Liberal Democrats (FDP). After the collapse of the coalition, reports began to accumulate that there was unrest in the SPD grassroots and that members were refusing to campaign for Scholz. In the meantime, leading members of the party have come out of hiding. For example, members of the Bundestag, Dirk Wiese and Wiebke Esdar, expressed strong doubts about Scholz. The key question is what the best political line is for this federal election. We are hearing a lot of support for Boris Pistorius, they said. Both come from the partys North Rhine-Westphalia state association, which has a large number of members, and lead powerful currents in the SPD parliamentary group. Esdar is the spokeswoman for the Parliamentary Left, Wiese is the spokesman for the conservative Seeheim Circle. Georg Maier, the head of the SPD in Thuringia, has also distanced himself from Scholz. The public blames him for the failure of the coalition talks, even though it wasnt his fault, he told Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland. In light of this, the question naturally arises as to whether the party would be better off with a different candidate for chancellor. Adding to that the good of the party must always come first. Former SPD leader and Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel, now chairman of the elitist Atlantic Bridge network, also spoke out. At the grassroots of the SPD, resistance to a business as usual with Chancellor Scholz is growing every day, he wrote on X. And the SPD leadership can only offer appeasements and devotional addresses. The growing support for Pistorius underlines what the SPDs real policy is. Like the Greens at their recent party conference, the Social Democrats are responding to the imminent return of Donald Trump to the White House with an offensive for militarism and war. There are no major political differences between Scholz and Pistorius. Both work closely together and fully support the escalation of the war against Russia and the Israeli genocide in Gaza. As chancellor, Scholz bears the main responsibility for the gigantic increase in military spending and the military support for Ukraine, which has so far cost 28 billion. Only the USA has spent more on war. But while Scholz is trying to cover up his unpopular pro-war policy with a few phrases about peace and warnings of an incalculable escalation, Pistorius is openly formulating the SPDs militarist programme. He is calling for an arms build-up far beyond NATOs two-percent of GDP target and is publicly advocating the reintroduction of compulsory military conscription. A year ago, he had already called for a change of mentality in the armed forces and in society as a whole. We must get used to the idea again that there could be a danger of war in Europe, and that means we must become war-ready, we must be well-fortified and prepare the Bundeswehr and society for it. Pistorius also bluntly embraces German great power interests. He regards the Indo-Pacific as a German sphere of interestas a region of the world that is becoming an increasing challenge for our American friends as well as for us in the face of an increasingly self-confident China that is sometimes questioning the rules-based order, as he wrote in a guest article for Die Welt. Germany must also become more present there. The fact that more and more SPD members want to go into the election campaign with this outspoken militarist at the top is a measure of the decline and corruption of this party. Even the SPD-affiliated weekly Die Zeit notes: Its hard to imagine a social-democratic messiah clattering along on a tank and proclaiming that he wants to get the Bundeswehr in fighting form. That the self-proclaimed peace party SPD places all its hopes in a man who calls for a drastic increase in the defence budget and celebrates the deployment of US medium-range missiles in Germany as a step towards greater security was unthinkable until recently. The war frenzy is not limited to the SPD. It has taken hold of all the establishment parties and all official media. They not only propagate war, they long for it. The self-satisfied functionaries who populate the SPDs Willy-Brandt-Haus and the other party headquarters, the writers in the editorial offices and their well-to-do voters and readers are reacting to the growing social and international tensions by mothballing peace symbols and diplomacy and starting a war cry. Their answer to Make America Great Again is Deutschland Uber Alles. When Green Party Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock was asked about President Bidens go ahead for far-reaching missile attacks on Russia and what she thought of Russias intensified nuclear weapons doctrine, she replied: We will not be intimidated, no matter what is trumpeted around again and again. This is not recklessness, but madness. In order to defend Germanys strategic interests, as stated in a resolution at the Green Party congress, Baerbock is willing to provoke a nuclear war. The SPD and the Greens are hated, no matter which candidates they put forward at their head. But with their open enthusiasm for war and rearmament, they are signalling they are prepared to provide unconditional support to any chancellor, no matter how right-wing, and that there is no limit to what they will do. Preventing a devastating war and the attacks on working people this would call for requires the building of an independent movement directed against all the established parties. This movement must be based on the working class, it must be international and fight for a socialist programme. It must expropriate the wealth of the oligarchs who dominate economic and political life and transform society so that it meets human needs and not private profit. The Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei (Socialist Equality Party) is standing in the federal election to gain support for this perspective. On Thursday, the International Criminal Court (ICC) formally charged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Secretary Yoav Gallant with war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Israeli genocide in Gaza. Exterior view of the International Criminal Court, or ICC, in The Hague, Netherlands, Tuesday, April 30, 2024. [AP Photo/Peter Dejong] The court charged Netanyahu and Gallant with the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare; and the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts. In May, ICC prosecutor Karim Khan accused the Israeli leaders of presiding over the murder and extermination of Palestinians, as part of a common plan to use starvation as a method of war and other acts of violence against the Gazan civilian population as a means to collectively punish the civilian population of Gaza. In its document charging Netanyahu and Gallant, the ICC accepted the allegations by Khan that Israel is using starvation as a weapon of war and declared that the alleged crimes against humanity were part of a widespread and systematic attack against the civilian population of Gaza. The charges against Netanyahu and Gallant are fully justified. But Israel is acting at the behest of US imperialism, together with the other imperialist powers, in its genocidal war against the people of Gaza, which is part of the drive by the imperialist powers to reorganize the Middle East under their own domination. The response of US officials expresses the acknowledgement that they are guilty of aiding and supporting all the crimes with which Netanyahu is charged. Republican Senator Tom Cotton responded to the ruling by making a veiled threat to attack the Netherlands or any country that cooperates with the warrants. Woe to him and anyone who tries to enforce these outlaw warrants. Let me give them all a friendly reminder: The American law on the ICC is known as The Hague Invasion Act for a reason. Think about it. Senator Lindsey Graham wrote in a statement on X: The Courts actions against Israel sets the foundation for the ICC to come after the United States one day. We must respond forcefully to the Court for our own good. In another tweet, he added, If you aid and abet the ICC after their action against the State of Israel, you can expect consequences from the United States. A joint statement by senators from both parties, including Graham and Democrat John Fetterman, stated, Acquiescing to the Courts jurisdiction over Israel is to agree, in theory, they have jurisdiction over the United States. US President Joe Biden responded to the ICCs arrest warrants by declaring, The ICC issuance of arrest warrants against Israeli leaders is outrageous. Let me be clear once again: Whatever the ICC might imply, there is no equivalencenonebetween Israel and Hamas. We will always stand with Israel against threats to its security. Asked to comment on Grahams calls to sanction the ICC, White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre said that the US expressed openness to the proposal. We are discussing with partners, including Israel the possibility of sanctioning the ICC, she said. The United States, the worlds leading perpetrator of war crimes, has never ratified the Rome Statute that established the International Criminal Court and does not recognize its authority to prosecute US war crimes or those of Israel, its proxy in the Middle East. On September 2, 2020, the United States government imposed sanctions on ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda in response to an investigation by the court into US war crimes in Afghanistan. Despite this, the Biden administration publicly welcomed a war crimes investigation by the ICC against Russian President Vladimir Putin over the war in Ukraine. Early last month, Israel initiated the so-called Generals Plan in northern Gaza, and Israeli officials directly stated their intention to stop all food and water from entering into northern Gaza in an effort to force the population out through starvation. As part of the plan, anyone who remains is to be treated as an enemy combatant, subject to being killed. Later in October, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken traveled to Israel to meet with Netanyahu. During their meeting, the two sides explicitly discussed the so-called Generals Plan. After the discussion, Blinken issued a blanket endorsement of Israels war aims in an effective approval of the plan. Since then, the amount of food entering northern Gaza has fallen to the lowest level since the start of the invasion, with a UN panel warning that famine is imminent in northern Gaza. But earlier this month, the State Department explicitly declared that Israel was not committing human rights abuses in Gaza by withholding food, despite the fact that just a tenth of the food the State Department said is adequate is getting into Gaza. The ruling by the International Criminal Court has demonstrated, once again, the complete criminality of US imperialism. Having funded, armed and politically supported a genocide, the US government is threatening to sanction, and even attack, the institutions of international law. It likewise vindicates the mass demonstrations all over the world against the Gaza genocide, which governments around the world have claimed are antisemitic as a pretext for carrying out arrests and banning demonstrations. No one should be under any illusion, however, that this ruling will stop the genocide or even hold Netanyahu and Gallant to account. The imperialist powers backing the genocide will abide no legal control over their acts of mass murder. Stopping the genocide, alongside the broader eruption of world war, requires the building of a mass movement of the working class armed with a socialist perspective. Amidst a lackadaisical public health response, two viruses with pandemic potential continue to spread in the United States. The California Department of Health reported the first case of mpox in the United States caused by the clade I mpox virus. Concurrently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed five new human cases of H5N1 (bird flu) in the state of Washington. A colorized transmission electron micrograph of mpox particles (red) found within an infected cell (blue), cultured in the laboratory [AP Photo/NIAID] The mpox case is concerning because the clade I mpox virus causes more severe illness and death than the clade II virus and thus is considered more aggressive. The case fatality rate in clade I mpox outbreaks has ranged from three percent to 11 percent. The patient in California had recently traveled from East Africa and is assumed to have contracted the infection there, where an outbreak of clade I virus is ongoing. Based on symptoms and travel history, the patient was tested for mpox, which confirmed infection. The patient had mild symptoms and was permitted to return home and self-isolate there. In August, the World Health Organization declared the ongoing global clade I mpox infections in Africa a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC). As reported by the WSWS at the time, the response of politicians and public health officials was largely silence with minimal follow-through to combat it. That lack of urgency has now resulted in the confirmed appearance of the virus in the United States. The failure of the global capitalist system to eradicate the virus has enabled the outbreaks in East and Central Africa to fester, which in turn enabled the virus to travel to the United States. At present, authorities believe that the mpox virus is spread only through close personal contact including sexual activity. Although they do not believe that casual contact poses a significant risk of transmission, they are nevertheless investigating travelers who shared the airplane with the patient in California. Previously, the rapid spread around the world of the clade II mpox virus raised the specter of respiratory transmission. A detailed review of the evidence in a Lancet Microbe article assessed the risk of respiratory transmission of clade II to be low, but could not rule it out and called for further studies and vigilance. Multiple outbreaks of clade II are still ongoing and were the subject of a WHO declaration of a PHEIC in 2022, which is still active. The WHO is holding an emergency meeting next week to determine whether PHEIC status still applies to these outbreaks of clade II. While clade I mpox virus appeared in North America for the first time, the CDC announced five new human cases of H5N1 avian influenza in the state of Washington. A sixth presumptive positive case there is under investigation. All five infected individuals are farmworkers who had mild symptoms and did not require hospitalization. They are assumed to have contracted the virus from infected dairy cattle on farms where they work. Wastewater monitoring in California has detected H5N1 virus in 21 of 28 monitoring sites statewide, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Palo Alto, San Diego, and San Jose. Authorities do not know for certain how the H5N1 is getting into wastewater, but current hypotheses include unpasteurized milk, wild bird droppings, and discarded animal products. A recent case of H5N1 in a young man in British Columbia, who is critically ill, has undergone further study. Scientists isolated and sequenced the virus from the patient. They found that this H5N1 variant is different from the one circulating in birds and cattle in the US and Canada They also found that the virus has undergone several unsettling mutations. Specifically one mutation, known as PB2 E627X, makes it easier for the H5N1 virus to infect humans. This increases the potential for human-to-human transmission, which would very likely trigger a new pandemic. The mutation also makes the virus more lethal, helping to explain the patients critical illness. In the meantime, a study published in Nature Communications last week showed that H5N1 virus circulated among southern elephant seals in Argentina, Uruguay, and Brazil in 2023. This means that the H5N1 virus has shown the capability for transnational mammal-to-mammal transmission for the first time. The study notes that: From a public health perspective, mammal-to-mammal transmission could be a stepping-stone in the evolutionary pathway for these viruses to become capable of human-to-human transmission. The elephant seal populations were devastated by the outbreak, with a case fatality rate of 95 percent among pups of one group of seals. Valeria Falabella, co-author of the study and Wildlife Conservation Society in Argentina director of coastal and marine conservation said: We were totally appalled by the dramatic impact of the epidemic of avian influenza on this population. It will take decades before the numbers are back to the 2022 population size. Several researchers on the study are part of Argentinas Institute of Virology and Technological Innovations. This agency is in turn part of Argentinas National Council of Scientific and Technical Investigations, Spanish acronym CONICET. This fact is significant because Argentinas fascist president Javier Milei has cut the budget of CONICET by over 30 percent since 2023. It is also telling that Milei was the first foreign leader hosted by US President-elect Donald Trump after the election. Trumps hosting of Milei and his nomination of anti-science hucksters to key roles in his administration signals that he will similarly gut research and public health measures aimed at preventing the next pandemic. Future studies of H5N1 transmission and evolution would be eliminated, leaving workers in the dark about the growing threat and practically ensuring the emergence of future pandemics. The ongoing march around the world of two highly dangerous viruses, enabled by the ruling class policy of profit over lives which in turn dictates the gutting of public health science and practice, is a warning to the working class. The working class can only re-organize society to prevent future pandemics by organizing its own, independent political struggle against capitalism through the International Committee of the Fourth International. Late yesterday afternoon, the Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) called off a two-day strike by Sydney and New South Wales (NSW) passenger rail workers that was set to begin in the early hours of this morning as part of an enterprise bargaining dispute. The union also agreed there would be no stoppage next weekend, and that another action, a gradual reduction in kilometres able to be worked by Train Crew, would be paused until December 9. Sydney train guard checks station platform [Photo: RTBU NSW] In a clear sign that a sell-out is being prepared behind closed doors, both the RTBU leadership and NSW Labor Premier Chris Minns have said they expect a deal to be stitched up before the end of the year. The union praised the premiers intervention in a letter to members last night, declaring: The bargain was going nowhere fast, and within 24 hours, the Premier has turned it around and were now confident that we can achieve a good outcome. The union leadership claimed it had achieved a mechanism where we can increase the percentage pay rise in the new EA [Enterprise Agreement] through identifying and abolishing waste throughout the rail agencies and within the Transport bureaucracy. What this boils down to is that any wage rise above the Labor governments real-wage slashing 9.5 percent over three-year offer will have to be paid for through cuts to jobs and conditions elsewhere in the organisation. This is completely in line with the Labor governments policy, proclaimed well in advance of its union-backed election win last year, that pay rises must be linked to productivity gains. Significantly, there was no mention in the letter of workers existing demand for an 8 percent per annum pay rise over four years. This weekends strike was called off, not because the Labor government has agreed to give workers a real pay rise or meet any of their other demands, but because the RTBU leadership never intended for it to proceed. For the second week running, the union leadership had given the government the option to avoid disruptive industrial action by simply running a few extra trains overnight. The unions threatened action was nothing more than a diversionary stunt, aimed at creating the conditions for the bureaucracy to declare victory while workers receive nothing. Nowhere in the log of claims prepared in consultation with workers is there a demand for 24-hour rail service. Pitched to workers as a means of drumming up popular support for their cause, the bureaucracys linking-up of the call for 24-hour rail service with workers struggle for a decent pay rise in fact created widespread confusion. While the union never planned to disrupt a single train, the government and the corporate media seized the opportunity to warn passengers of mass disruption due to industrial action. Now, the RTBU bureaucracy is using this entirely predictable media-government campaign to discourage workers from any further action. In a letter to members last night, the union wrote: We know that when we cause disruption, the public takes it out on us on the frontlines. The cancellation is a blatant violation of the intentions of workers, who voted in August for industrial action including strikes of up to 24 hours. But this is only the latest sign that the RTBU bureaucracy is not leading workers in a fight, but preparing to sell them out. It follows a toothless five-minute strike in the wee hours of October 24, which the bureaucracy cynically hailed as a world first. Just over a month earlier, the union abruptly shut down work bans that were ostensibly opposing the Bankstown line conversion. The union leadership never intended for the limited action to proceed, promising the Labor government that it would be called off if train travel was made free for a weekend. The same playbook has been used by the RTBU leadership in perpetrating previous betrayals. In 2022, the RTBU bureaucracy sidelined workers for months while it engaged in multiple court cases, then forced them to conduct an additional protected action ballot over a plan to switch off fare collection machines. This proposed action was ultimately never carried out, serving instead as a pretext to shut down virtually all other industrial action by rail workers. With workers cut out of their own struggle, the union leadership pushed through a sell-out deal, based on a phoney promise that larger wage rises would be delivered through the industrial courts after workers signed off on the rotten agreement. In one dispute after another, the union has called off strikes before trading off hard-won conditions for minimal wage increases. In 2008, the RTBU was the first union in NSW to agree to the 2.5 percent pay increase cap that would later cover every public-sector worker in the state. In 2014, the union allowed the deletion of redundancy and redeployment clauses, clearing the way for mass sackings. In 2018, the RTBU shut down a planned 24-hour strike and pushed through a meagre 3 percent per annum pay rise that came with cuts to jobs and conditions. This weekends strike cancellation and the pause on other industrial action, as well as the RTBU bureaucracys heralding of Minns, should be a warning to rail workers that yet another betrayal is being prepared. This means workers need to take matters into their own hands. Rank-and-file committees, democratically controlled by workers, must be built in every rail depot. To fight for their own interests, workers will have to wrest control of their struggle back from the union bureaucracy, which is tied by a thousand threads to Labor and exists to deliver the demands of the financial and corporate elite. In the first instance, these committees must insist that a real industrial fight is carried out, not phoney stunts that allow the government to pick and choose when strikes proceed, without agreeing to any of workers demands. But rail workers cannot resolve their issues alone. Through rank-and-file committees, they will need to link up their struggle with the hundreds of thousands of public sector workers across the state, who are either in the process of fighting the Labor governments real wage cuts, or have recently had them imposed in sell-out union deals. This includes nurses and midwives, who last week carried out their third statewide strike of the year, demanding an immediate 15 percent pay increase and improved conditions, despite the efforts of the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association to sell them out. It also includes teachers, who have just had Labors real wage cutting offer imposed upon them by the NSW Teachers Federation, based on a show of hands involving a tiny fraction of the workforce, who were told nothing about the deal ahead of the vote. The notable exception to this is the state police force, who were last week awarded a 39 percent rise, in appreciation for their service as a key part of the capitalist state, tasked with enforcing the Labor governments sharpening assault on all forms of working-class opposition. What NSW rail workers, along with the whole public sector, here and interstate, are up against is the pro-business austerity agenda of the state and federal Labor governments. Defeating this will require a political struggle, but this is impossible within the framework of the trade unions, which have presided over decades of cuts to jobs, wages and conditions, as well as the privatisation of swathes of vital public infrastructure and services. Above all, what is required is an alternative socialist perspective and a fight to place railways, other vital public assets including schools and hospitals, as well as the banks and major corporations, under public ownership and democratic workers control as part of the broader reorganisation of society to meet social need, not private profit. Eight days after he was nominated by President-elect Donald Trump to serve as Attorney General, Matt Gaetz announced he would be withdrawing from consideration. Matt Gaetz talks with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., before President-elect Donald Trump speaks during an America First Policy Institute gala at his Mar-a-Lago estate, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, in Palm Beach, Florida. [AP Photo/Alex Brandon] The former Florida representative, a Trump-loyalist and friend to the Proud Boys militia group, posted on his Twitter/X account Thursday morning, While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition. Hated by his Republican and Democratic colleagues alike, but for different reasons, Gaetz faced an uphill confirmation battle in the Senate. While Republicans will hold a 53-47 majority in the chamber after incumbent Pennsylvania Democrat Bob Casey conceded to Republican Dave McCormick on Thursday, CBS News reported that at least eight Republicans and every Democrat opposed Gaetzs nomination. Posting on his social media site Thursday, Trump accepted Gaetzs withdrawal, writing, I greatly appreciate the recent efforts of Matt Gaetz in seeking approval to be Attorney General. He was doing very well but, at the same time, did not want to be a distraction for the Administration, for which he has much respect. The distraction referred to by Gaetz and Trump is a currently suppressed House Ethics Committee report which the Committee, in a party-line vote, voted to keep secret on Wednesday. A second vote on whether to release the report is currently scheduled for December 5. Cable news programs and the capitalist press have carried dozens of stories alleging what may or may not be included in the report, and whether or not it will be released. Predictably, there has been saturation coverage of alleged sex and drug crimes, drowning out any discussion of Gaetzs fascist political views and the reasons Trump selected him to serve as a legal hit man against his opponents.. The main allegation in the report is that Gaetz, 42, paid for one or more sexual encounters with a 17-year-old in 2017, the first year he served in Congress. There are also allegations of accepting improper gifts and obstructing government investigations into his own conduct. In addition to the House Ethics Committee investigation, Gaetz had previously been subjected to a three-year investigation by the Department of Justice related to allegations of child sex trafficking, statutory rape and illicit drug use. The DoJ closed its investigation without bringing any charges. The use of the sex scandal to take down Gaetz follows a long pattern of both capitalist parties settling their internecine conflicts by avoiding any intervention by the masses, or discussion of the actual political and democratic issues at stake. The same playbook is currently being used against Trumps fascist pick for Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth. The former Fox News personality and defender of war criminals is currently fending off accusations that he raped an unconscious woman in 2017. Hegseth subsequently paid an undisclosed sum for the womans silence. In the case of Gaetz, Democrats and their allies in the press have focused their opposition based on the allegations in the ethics report. There has been virtually no discussion, or objection, to the fact that Gaetz was among the 147 Republicans who voted to overturn the 2020 election following the attack on the Capitol. Gaetz publicly blamed antifa for the attack while privately he sought a blanket pardon from Trump. After President Joe Biden was inaugurated, Gaetz and Georgia Rep. Majorie Taylor Greene embarked on the America First Tour in support Trumps stolen election lies. Serving as Trumps proxy in the House last year, Gaetz filed the motion to unseat then-Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy for agreeing to a government spending package Trump opposed. Removing McCarthy paved the way, with the help of the Democrats, for the ascension of current ultra-right Speaker Mike Johnson. Johnson authored the pseudo-legal theory Republicans used to justify voting to overturn the election results after the attack on the Capitol. Gaetz is not currently a member of the House, since on November 13, hours after Trump announced his selection for AG, he resigned from Congress effective immediately. In a letter delivered to Speaker Johnson, Gaetz wrote that in addition to resigning, I do not intend to take the oath of office for the same office in the 119th Congress, to pursue the position of Attorney General in the Trump Administration. There is some speculation that Gaetz withdrew as a nominee to block the release of the ethics report, but it is also possible that he stepped back to accept a job within the Trump White House that does not require Senate confirmation hearing. While Gaetz has been sidelined for now, there has been no change in the fascist trajectory of the Trump administration. Within hours, Trump announced on Truth Social that his replacement for Gaetz would be former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi. Trump boasted that Bondi, was prosecutor for nearly 20 years, where she was very tough on Violent Criminals, and that she is an AMERICA FIRST Fighter. Bondi was Floridas attorney general from 2011 through 2019 and served on Trumps defense during his first impeachment trial in February 2020. While running for attorney general in 2013, Bondi received a $25,000 donation form the Donald J. Trump Foundation, after which Bondi declined to join in a lawsuit against the for-profit scam known as Trump University. A regular on Fox News, Newsmax and at CPAC, in November 2020 Bondi repeated Trumps claims of voter fraud on Fox. In service of Trumps coup, she joined the legal arm of the America First Policy Institute, which became known as America First Legal, in 2020. Through America First Legal, Bondi advanced Trumps agenda, such as filing lawsuits against schools that teach sex education. She also helped coordinate Trumps legal defense and his various Super PACs. Trump and Pam Bondi, November 2, 2024. [Photo: Pam Bondi] In an attempt to cultivate a fascistic base of support among anti-science soldiers, the legal organization also sought to block the Biden administration from discharging soldiers who refused to get the COVID-19 vaccine. In the lead-up to the 2024 election, Bondi traveled the country with other Republicans, such as Representative Greene, on a voter integrity tour aimed at whipping up militia elements to challenge the vote had the election been closer. On Thursday, New York Times reporter Kenneth Vogel reported that Bondi is currently lobbying for the Ballard Firm, the lobbying shop of top Trump fundraiser Brian Ballard. The Times previously reported that Ballard helped raise more than $50 million for the Trump campaign and that he had personally given Trump more than a quarter million dollars. Vogel noted that Bondi has previously lobbied on behalf of major corporations including Amazon, General Motors and Uber. Texas is close to finalizing a controversial curriculum that would include Bible-based lessons in elementary classrooms, from kindergarten through fifth grade, in English, language arts, and literature textbooks. The measure is optional and school districts would not be required to employ it, but in exchange for doing so the state would offer them an incentive of $60 per student, resources paid for with state funds. The proposal comes directly from the Texas Education Agency (TEA), the official local government body in the matter, which after the passage of a law earlier this year was given the mandate to create its own free textbook. If the plan is approved on November 22, school districts will be able to adopt it in August 2025, at the start of the next academic year. Greg Abbott, the states Republican governor, supports the initiative and has publicly approved all the materials developed by the TEA. Earlier this week, the Texas Association of School Boards gave the preliminary green light to Bible lessons, with an 8-7 vote, but the debate was such that it had to hear 150 public testimonies from people who support or reject the proposal. Known as Bluebonnet Learning, the curriculum was developed under House Bill 1605, a 2023 law that radically changed the curriculum standards for Texas public schools. Four Democratic school board members and three Republicans voted against the plan; the remaining eight Republicans voted to approve it. Several parents, teachers, and education advocacy groups expressed concerns about the unnecessary introduction of religious concepts into schools, with teaching too focused on Christianity. Educator Megan Tessler said the plan contradicts the mission of public schools: This curriculum does not meet the standard of an honest, secular curriculum, she testified. Public schools are meant to educate, not indoctrinate. I believe the Christian Bible is important and even fundamental, but that choice should not be made by the state for my family or any other, argued another of the testimonies. Supporters of the plan say studying Bible stories would help improve reading comprehension and teach morality. Parents and teachers want a return to excellence, said Cindy Asmussen. Bible stories and concepts have been common for hundreds of years. One of the proposed lessons is the Golden Rule, which is most associated with Jesus teachings in the Sermon on the Mount, though it briefly mentions other religions. Mary Elizabeth Castle, a spokeswoman for Texas Values, a group that supports the plan, defended the inclusion of the Bible on the grounds that its influence on Western culture cannot be ignored and that banning it would be an attack on students educational freedom. The Texas affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers, a union representing more than 60,000 school employees in the state, condemned the proposal for violating the separation of church and state, and fears this is just the beginning of greater religious influence in schools. My assumption, in terms of Texas politics, is that this will pass, and we will see litigation, Professor Martin Levy, a scholar at Texas Southern Universitys Thurgood Marshall School of Law, told Houston-based television station Khou. The case could end up in the U.S. Supreme Court as a debate over religious freedom and the establishment clause: The reality is you cant really have religious freedom if the government establishes one. Texas is not the only state with similar initiatives. Republican-governed Oklahoma and Louisiana have pushed measures to teach the Bible in public schools. In June, Oklahomas superintendent of education ordered public schools to teach the Bible as part of the curriculum. The state also created the new Office of Religious Liberty and Patriotism within the Department of Education, an agency aligned with president-elect Donald Trumps efforts to protect prayer in schools. Florida law allows school districts to have volunteer chaplains to counsel students and provide guidance. And Louisiana is in the midst of a legal dispute over a law requiring public schools to display the Ten Commandments. At the national level, with Trumps victory in the U.S. elections on November 5, education could take a big turn. Trump promised during his campaign that he would abolish the Department of Education and threatened to cancel funding for schools that address issues such as racism in the classroom and recognize the transgender identity of students, although that remains to be seen because a president cannot replace a federal department with a signature. Linda McMahon, a Trump campaign manager and fundraiser with no teaching background or experience in education policy, was nominated to lead the Department of Education in the next administration. McMahon has spent 16 years on the board of trustees of Sacred Heart University, a private Catholic institution. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Donald Trump, last May in New York with his fist raised after being found guilty of 34 crimes by a jury. Donald Trump continues to avoid his sentence for the 34 crimes of which a jury found him guilty last May. Judge Juan Merchan, who is overseeing the case, decided on Friday to indefinitely postpone the sentence against the president-elect. The initial sentencing date was set for July 11. But this date was pushed back to September following the Supreme Courts ruling on presidential immunity, and then after the U.S. presidential elections until November 26. Now, it has been postponed indefinitely. Judge Merchan also granted Trumps defense teams request to file a new motion to dismiss the case, giving them until December 2 to submit their documents. Prosecutors must respond by December 9. Trumps legal team had initially asked for an extension until December 20. Trump was found guilty by a jury of 34 counts of falsifying business records, including checks, invoices, and accounting documents, to cover up a $130,000 to adult film actress Stormy Daniels during the 2016 election campaign. The goal of the hush money was to prevent the information from becoming public and potentially harming his electoral chances. Falsifying business records is a crime that can carry a maximum penalty of four years in prison, although sentences for such offenses are often served concurrently. In cases like Trumps especially given his status as president-elect its unlikely that he would be sent to prison, with probation or fines being more typical penalties. Moreover, Trumps election casts doubt on whether he can even be sentenced. Just as a sitting president is completely immune from any criminal process, so too is president Trump as president-elect, Trump lawyers Todd Blanche and Emil Bove argued in a filing Wednesday. They also contend that the statute of limitations for prosecuting him would expire once he takes office, making conviction impossible after that point. Both Blanche and Bove have been nominated by Trump for senior positions in the Justice Department. The jury's verdict made Trump the first former president to be convicted of a crime. When he takes office on January 20, if the conviction stands, he will be the first convicted felon to become president. Trumps defense strategy has focused on delaying and postponing the proceedings until after the election. In the other three criminal trials he faces, he has largely succeeded in avoiding trial dates, which he can continue to delay once he assumes the presidency. In the New York case, the only one in which Trump has gone to trial, he first tried to overturn the conviction using the Supreme Courts ruling on presidential immunity, which grants presidents broad immunity for their official acts. After that ruling, Judge Merchan set deadlines for arguments on immunity and set tentative dates for sentencing and rulings on immunity, which he has since postponed. He has not yet made a decision on whether the immunity doctrine applies to this case. Now, Trumps legal team is expanding its argument, citing the Justice Departments longstanding policy of not prosecuting sitting presidents. They argue that by extension, this practice should apply to a president-elect as well. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition KYODO NEWS - Nov 22, 2024 - 20:40 | World, All, Japan, Travel/Tourism China said Friday it will restart its unilateral visa-free arrangement for short-term Japanese visitors on Nov. 30, allowing stays of up to 30 days, a measure believed to be aimed at promoting tourism and trade amid a downturn in the world's second-largest economy. The preferential treatment had been suspended since March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Chinese Foreign Ministry announced the step effective through the end of next year for Japan and eight other nations including Bulgaria and Romania. China has given visa exemptions to short-term visitors from about 30 other countries, including Southeast Asian, European and Oceanian ones as well as South Korea. But it had previously called for "equal" visa treatment for Chinese nationals as a condition for a resumption of the visa-free arrangement, which Tokyo had repeatedly sought, according to sources familiar with bilateral relations. Japan requires all Chinese visitors to obtain visas regardless of the length of stay. Hours after China's formal announcement about the visa exemption, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba told reporters in Tokyo that his government had urged the Chinese side to take such a step to accelerate private exchanges between the two countries. "We hope that bilateral exchanges will be encouraged further," Ishiba said, adding that deepening Japan-China communication is the most important foundation for bilateral ties. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Ishiba agreed during their meeting in Peru last week to foster "mutually beneficial" and "stable" relations and boost people-to-people exchanges. The Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in China welcomed the restart of the visa exemption, saying in a statement it "strongly expects this decision will activate personnel exchanges that are essential" for strengthening economic ties. However, it remains unclear whether the visa-free arrangement could sharply increase Japanese tourism and investment in China due to a host of issues that have strained the relationship, such as the fatal stabbing of a Japanese schoolboy in Shenzhen and the detention of Japanese nationals over espionage allegations. A diplomatic source has pointed out China's preferential visa treatment is part of its efforts to approach countries that have close ties with the United States and minimize any negative effect from a fiercer competition between Beijing and Washington after President-elect Donald Trump returns to the White House in January. Between 2003 and 2020, China allowed Japanese nationals to visit without visas for up to 15 days. Before the pandemic, it also had unilateral arrangements for visa-free short-term visits by Singapore and Brunei citizens. In July last year, it revived those programs and expanded the preferential treatment to other countries. Related coverage: Japan conveys "serious concerns" to China over military activities China admits plane entered Japan airspace in August but unintentional Japan's Ishiba, China's Xi agree to forge "mutually beneficial" ties Cong Bolin, an associate researcher at the First Institute of Oceanography, the Ministry of Natural Resources of China, speaks during an interview with Xinhua at Ao Phang-Nga National Park in Phang Nga province, Thailand, Nov. 20, 2024. (Xinhua/Sun Weitong) Phang Nga, Thailand, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- A series of activities on mangrove ecological protection between China and Thailand were held in Thailand's southern Phang Nga province, gathering more than 60 representatives from the natural resources and marine departments of the two countries. The China-Thailand Mangrove Collaborative Protection Demonstration Area was unveiled in Thailand's Ao Phang-Nga National Park during the two-day event which started on Wednesday. With an area of 311 hectares, the demonstration area is located along the coast of Phang Nga Bay. The Chinese and Thai marine departments will carry out mangrove vulnerability assessment, ecological restoration analysis, nature education, and mangrove planting as well as the establishment of a cooperation mechanism, aiming to have an in-depth collaboration and exchange. Growing in the intertidal zones of tropical and subtropical coasts, mangroves play an important role in purifying seawater, preventing wind and waves, sequestering and storing carbon, and maintaining biodiversity. Ao Phang-Nga National Park has one of the largest and best-preserved mangrove areas in Thailand. However, mangrove protection has been threatened by some challenges in recent years. Onnitcha, director of the Mangrove Resources Research and Development Center 3 under Thailand's Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, said that Thailand can learn from China's rich experience in mangrove protection and restoration technology. She added that the local government and community expressed their sincere gratitude to China for the support and looked forward to cooperation in more areas in the future. Cong Bolin, an associate researcher at the First Institute of Oceanography, the Ministry of Natural Resources of China, said that as one of the few countries that has achieved an increase in mangrove areas in recent years, China has accumulated rich experience in restoration and technical standards. He believed that China and Thailand will strengthen cooperation at multiple levels such as policy formulation, technology research and development, and talent training, so as to jointly promote the protection and restoration of mangroves. The event was supported by the China-Thailand Joint Laboratory for Climate and Marine Ecosystems, established by the Ministry of Natural Resources of China and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Thailand. The event also includes academic exchanges, nature education, mangrove planting and mangrove science book donation, with the purpose of further enhancing the Thai people's understanding of mangrove protection and encouraging more to participate in mangrove conservation. Students plant mangroves during activities on mangrove ecological protection between China and Thailand at Ao Phang-Nga National Park in Phang Nga province, Thailand, Nov. 20, 2024. (Xinhua/Sun Weitong) Onnitcha, director of the Mangrove Resources Research and Development Center 3 under Thailand's Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, speaks in an interview with Xinhua at the Ao Phang-Nga National Park in Phang Nga province, Thailand, Nov. 20, 2024. (Xinhua/Sun Weitong) Chinese and Thai representatives unveil the China-Thailand Mangrove Collaborative Protection Demonstration Area at the Ao Phang-Nga National Park in Phang Nga province, Thailand, Nov. 20, 2024. (Xinhua/Sun Weitong) Students learn to plant mangroves at the Ao Phang-Nga National Park in Phang Nga province, Thailand, Nov. 20, 2024. (Xinhua/Sun Weitong) Chinese and Thai scholars take part in an academic discussion in Phang Nga province, Thailand, Nov. 21, 2024. (Xinhua/Sun Weitong) Feng Yingqiao teaches Chinese calligraphy to children at the Chinese Cultural Center in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on Nov. 8, 2024. (Xinhua/Emmanuel Herman) DAR ES SALAAM, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Fourteen-year-old Nsajigwa Michael is among around 25 Chinese and Tanzanian children learning Chinese calligraphy and painting at the Chinese Cultural Center in the bustling port city of Dar es Salaam. "China is a country with a wealth of culture, and I want to learn more about it," said Nsajigwa, a sixth-grade student at Lexis School in Oysterbay, during an interview with Xinhua ahead of World Children's Day on Nov. 20. "My seven-year-old younger brother is also interested in Chinese culture. He is learning Chinese calligraphy, which is the art of creating decorative handwriting or lettering with a pen or brush." In addition to learning Chinese painting, Nsajigwa, who resides in Kinondoni, Dar es Salaam, is also studying the Chinese language. "These classes have given me a deeper understanding of Chinese culture. They have also helped me make many Chinese friends, and I look forward to visiting China in the future," he said. The Chinese Cultural Center in Tanzania, established in 2013, hosts children twice a week. The center aims to inspire critical thinking, emotional intelligence, and artistic expression among its young learners. Besides Tanzanian children, many Chinese children living in Tanzania also study at the center. "I have made many Tanzanian friends in the class, and they have shared many fascinating things about their country with us," said Jiang Yanchen, a Chinese student who moved to Tanzania with his parents for work. Feng Yingqiao, a Chinese teacher who has been teaching Chinese calligraphy and painting at the center for the past two years, explained her approach. "Many Tanzanian children are of great interest in Chinese culture. My classes help them better understand Chinese traditional culture through calligraphy and painting," she said. "These art forms are not just skills but windows into China's rich cultural heritage." Feng noted that she often integrates Chinese history into her calligraphy and painting lessons to help students develop a deeper connection with the culture. "My classes have sparked a growing interest in China's history and arts among the children," she said. "I teach once a week, and many of my students come from Chinese families working in Dar es Salaam. Learning calligraphy and painting is also about preserving their cultural identity." Feng emphasized that her work goes beyond teaching skills. "I'm helping to build a cultural bridge between China and Tanzania, fostering cultural exchange and mutual understanding among the children," she added. Children learn Chinese calligraphy at the Chinese Cultural Center in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on Nov. 8, 2024. (Xinhua/Emmanuel Herman) More from Footwear News Bethenny Frankel is not letting go of her giraffe shoes. The Real Housewives of New York star attended LOreal Pariss Women of Worth event in Hollywood on Thursday night. The event is in its 19th year. For it, Frankel showed she was worth it in an all black look featuring gold accents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She wore a long black dress with a lowcut neck and thigh-high slit in the front. She paired it with gold accessories including bracelets a necklace and earrings. She even chose golden makeup. Bethenny Frankel attends the 19th annual LOreal Paris Women of Worth Celebration at NeueHouse Hollywood on November 21, 2024 in Hollywood, California. Frankel continued the color palette down to her shoes. She wore a pair of black and gold strappy wedges. The straps of the shoes were made of suede. They featured a black strap across the ball of the foot as well as a black ankle strap. The shoes thick platform gold platform is also visible. In some images it appears that the shoes sole and platform are two tone with a gold footbed and black platform. In reality, it is all gold: as the red carpet is black, the platform reflects the color back in some photos. The shoe is Balmains black suede wedge with a metallic platform and zipper up the back. The heel measures just over five inches. Bethenny Frankel before attending the 19th annual LOreal Paris Women of Worth Celebration at NeueHouse Hollywood on November 21, 2024 in Hollywood, California. Frankel calls her platform heels giraffe shoes. She began using the label publicly earlier this year. Back in September, she walked in the LOreal Paris fashion show and wore a pair of tall satin platform heels. They were from Versace and featured a chunky block heel as well as the Medusa medallion on the back. Like the styles she wore for the Women of worth event, they also included an ankle strap. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On social media, Frankel was criticized for her walk. She responded to those critics saying that she had to walk that way because of the shoes she chose. When someone commented That walk what the she responded in a video posted to Instagram. Im gonna tell you what the,' she said. I chose those shoes. LOreal said, You can pick anything you want and I chose those shoes because I wanted to be like a giraffe with elongated legs. Like one of those long-legged creatures that walks a runway and looks like theyre not even the same species. And I loved it. Since then, shes been referring to platform heel styles, which not only provide height but elongate the leg, as giraffe shoes. Jenna Lyons, heels, high heels, style, celebrity style, celebrity red carpet Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jenna Lyons Chic Shoe Style: From Vibrant Heels to Sharp Sneakers View Gallery 40 Images Launch Gallery: Bethenny Frankel's Shoe Style Best of Footwear News Sign up for FN's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. When Jonathan Rone's time ended on the first season of "The Golden Bachelorette," right before hometown visits, his newly amassed fans were disappointed to say the least. But, they quickly found out that he's already off the market. So what has the reality TV heartthrob been up to since he left the show, and did he have any ulterior motives? Rone recently shared his story and cleared things up with The Des Moines Register. Here's what he had to say. Jonathan Rone says he doesn't know why Joan Vassos didn't pick him on 'The Golden Bachelorette' Rone was always authentic and open with "The Golden Bachelorette" Joan Vassos, he said. While he left it all up to her, he wasn't quite sure what the issue was that led to her decision not to include him to the final four. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I tried to reveal as much to her about myself as possible," Rone said. "I really don't know if the fact that I'm a single father with two younger children was an issue." Rone's children aren't as young as most fans had been speculating, he said. His daughter is almost a senior in high school and his son is in the seventh grade. While he was saddened to leave Vassos and the men he'd come to know like brothers, Rone said the community he gained after coming home fans and locals who had watched the show was touching. More: Iowan Dan Roemer still looking for love after 'Golden Bachelorette' exit 'I wanted her to see Oakland, Iowa,' Jonathan Rone says about disappointing exit on 'The Golden Bachelorette' Joan Vassos of "The Golden Bachelorette," and Iowa native Jonathan Rone share a hug at "senior prom" during an episode that aired Sept. 25, 2024. Rone's time on "The Golden Bachelorette' ended during Episode 5, when Vassos chose her final four men. Those men got to bring Vassos back to their families for hometown visits, a tradition in the franchise. Rone told the Register he was disappointed he didn't get to show her small-town Iowa. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I wanted her to see Oakland, Iowa," Rone said. "It doesn't have the the big glitz and glamour of a place like Chicago or any of the other spots that some of the other guys were from, but you know, that's that's where I live. And that's where I'm thriving." Rone said he'd hoped to show Vassos his hometown not only to connect with her more deeply but to introduce her to his children. It was important to him that Vassos saw him as a father in action. How did Jonathan Rone meet his new girlfriend after 'The Golden Bachelorette'? Rone was first to take the hot seat on the "Men Tell All" Episode of "The Golden Bachelorette" and showed vulnerability during his discussion. But when Vassos finally got to the hot seat on the reunion episode, Rone revealed what he'd been wanting to tell her and viewers alike: He's happily off the market. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rone told the Register that he met his new girlfriend, Michelle Zimmermann, on social media after his time on "The Golden Bachelorette" ended. He said things are going well with his California girl, and she's a beautiful person inside and out. It was a bit of a shock to Zimmermann that he was from Oakland, Iowa and not Oakland, California, he told the Register, but it was nothing they weren't willing to overcome. Zimmermann is originally from Iowa and was born in Des Moines, about an hour and a half east of Oakland. The two visit each other often, and Rone said it's helpful that he can often get a direct flight to California. The two will even be spending Thanksgiving there together, so look out for some cute couple photos! Could Jonathan Rone have been the next 'Golden Bachelor'? The Bachelor and Bachelorette shows regularly pick their next leading star from the batch of recent contestants who haven't found love. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rone said that while he'd watched The Bachelor and Bachelorette before and knew that pattern, he was never angling to be the next "Golden Bachelor." "My whole decision to enter into the journey was to really see if I had a second chance at a forever love," Rone said. "So that wasn't even in the back of my mind." And now that he's officially off the market, it's no secret that Rone will not be the next "Golden Bachelor," although he said he's "touched" by the support and well wishes from fans. Victoria Reyna-Rodriguez is a general assignment reporter for the Register. Reach her at vreynarodriguez@registermedia.com or follow her on Twitter @VictoriaReynaR. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Jonathan Rone's 'Golden Bachelorette' regret? Joan not visiting Iowa Gatwick Airports south terminal has reopened after police called a bomb disposal squad and evacuated passengers to assess a suspected prohibited item which was found in luggage. Passengers were ordered to leave a large part of the south terminal of the UKs second-busiest airport on Friday morning following the discovery at 8.20am. The security issue has now been resolved, said an airport spokesperson, who also warned that there were delays and cancellations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They said: The earlier security alert has now been resolved and cleared by police. The South Terminal is reopening to staff and will be open to passengers shortly. Travellers flying from the south terminal have been unable to check in and are facing long delays as flights are disrupted. Some passengers wrapped themselves in emergency foil blankets against the cold as they waited outside the building. Earlier, Sussex Police said: As a precaution, an EOD (explosive ordnance disposal) team is being deployed to the airport. This is causing significant disruption and some roads around the south terminal have been closed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wed advise the public to avoid the area where possible. Key points London Gatwick reopens South Terminal Police reveal bomb squad called in after suspected prohibited item found in luggage at Gatwick Flight disruption now under way at Gatwick Train services at Gatwick Airport station suspended New Yorker describes Gatwick chaos 20:31 , Athena Stavrou Brian Torres, 22, who was visiting from New York in the US, was in the terminal preparing to go through security checks when he was ordered to evacuate. He said: I was upstairs. We didnt know what was going on. They ended up sending all of us out. We walked down the stairs then went to the street and stood there for a while. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We were going into security but noticed the long line. Its been busy (before) but never that busy. Mr Torres said the disruption messes with my travel plans. He added: I just want to get back home to talk to my mom. Its scary. Theyre not informing us about anything. Its been absolute chaos: Airline passengers disrupted by Gatwick alert 19:40 , Athena Stavrou Thousands of airline passengers were delayed after Gatwick airports south terminal was evacuated because of a security alert. Travellers were unable to check in for more than four hours due to the incident on Friday. David Bouchardau, who was due to fly to Paris at around 1.30pm to return home, said: I live in the countryside so I dont know how the roads are going to be when I reach France. Its going to be a long day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said the airport staff were trying their best, adding: There are many, many people. Its a very difficult situation for everybody. You just have to be patient and wait for news. Two people released from police custody as investigation concluded 19:01 , Athena Stavrou Police have concluded their investigation into a report of a suspect package at Gatwick Airport. Officers from the EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) team made the package safe, and the airport has been handed back to its operator. Two people who were detained while enquiries were ongoing have been allowed to continue their journeys. Sussex police said: There will remain an increased police presence in the area to assist with passengers accessing the South Terminal for onward travel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Safety of the public, staff and other airport users has been our priority throughout the operation, and we thank them for their patience while the incident was ongoing. Rail disruption ended 18:30 , Athena Stavrou Disruptio to rail travel to the airport has now ended, Gatwick Express has said. After hours of cancellations and severe delays, the operator has said that no further trains are being affected by the incident. Disruption caused by this incident has now ended. No further trains are being affected by this incident. You will no longer need to use an alternative route. No further trains will call additionally at Horley and Three Bridges. Gatwick Express (@GatwickExpress) November 22, 2024 No zero-risk flight paths left over Middle East, aviation group warns 18:02 , Athena Stavrou A flight operations group has warned that the conflict in the Middle East is presenting serious challenges for pilots navigating the airspace around Israel, Lebanon, Syria and Iran Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Passenger aviation has never been safer but there simply is no risk-zero route available says Ops Group, an international membership organisation for pilots and other aviation staff. The group has published a blog called Dodging Danger: The Three Routes Through the Middle East. The writer, Chris Shieff, says: It no longer seems to be a simple question of is this route safe? but instead, of ones own appetite for known risks. The article analyses the three routes that are currently being used by major airlines: south via Egypt and Saudi Arabia, central via Turkey and eastern Iraq, or north over the Caucasus, the Caspian Sea and Turkmenistan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read the full story: No zero-risk flight paths left over Middle East, aviation group warns Ryanair, WizzAir and British Airways lead cancellations 16:44 , Holly Evans Ryanair has cancelled a trifecta of flights to and from Dublin, Cork and Shannon. Wizz Air is now grounding more flights, with a second Sharm el Sheikh departure as well as flights to Istanbul and Hurghada. British Airways cancellations are increasing, with a flight to Funchal grounded. For each departing flight that is cancelled, there will be passengers waiting at an airport abroad to fly back to Gatwick. Passengers at Gatwick airport near Crawley, West Sussex (Gareth Fuller/PA) (PA Wire) Widespread cancellations see up to 5,000 passengers affected 16:09 , Simon Calder Even though Gatwick South terminal has reopened, widespread cancellations have begun to be made.British Airways has cancelled at least 30 flights to and from the Sussex airport. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement European and North African flights from Gatwick have been grounded to Tenerife, Marrakech, Malta, Faro, Porto, Malaga, Alicante, Seville, Jersey (two), Bordeaux, Verona, and Turin. Long-haul flights to Trinidad and Islamabad are cancelled. All the related inbound flights are also grounded. An estimated 5,000 passengers have been affected. Passengers queue to return to south terminal 16:00 , Simon Calder Thousands of passengers who have sought refuge in North Terminal at Gatwick as the only place for some distance with warmth and catering are now queuing for the shuttle to get back to South Terminal. In addition, there is confusion over the status of Gatwick airport railway station. It is open and trains are stopping, but the message has gone out that it will not reopen until 4.15pm. Queues of passengers wait to board the shuttle from the north terminal to the reopened south terminal (Simon Calder) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Watch: Crowd gathers outside Gatwick Airport after evacuation 15:47 , Holly Evans In pictures: Passengers and air crew waiting outside Gatwick 15:36 , Holly Evans Passengers at Gatwick airport waiting with their luggage (Gareth Fuller/PA Wire) Air crew at Gatwick airport near Crawley, West Sussex, where flights have been cancelled (Gareth Fuller/PA Wire) Train lines reopen but delays expected 15:20 , Holly Evans An update from the Gatwick Express have warned that delays are expected until 4.15pm, despite the lines reopening. A statement read: Lines have reopened following the police dealing with an incident at Gatwick Airport earlier today. Trains may still be delayed by up to 20 minutes or revised. This is expected to continue until approximately 4.15pm. For the latest flight information and updates, please check directly with your airline operator. Our advice remains - Do not travel to Gatwick Airport For information on flights, please contact your airline or the airport. Once we know more, we will update you on our X pages, and service updates page, belowhttps://t.co/ZTUEaFZJTz Gatwick Express (@GatwickExpress) November 22, 2024 Nurse due to fly to Jamaica left very frustrated by lack of updates 15:02 , Holly Evans Nejadeen Braham, 35, who works as a nurse on the Isle of Man, was due to fly to her homeland of Jamaica to collect her children. Speaking to reporters outside the south terminal, she said: I couldnt get in the airport. I saw everybody coming (out) from one direction. I was supposed to go inside, drop my bags and go through security. When I got here I saw everybody coming down. There were no proper updates. Im very frustrated. London Gatwick reopens South Terminal 14:46 , Holly Evans A London Gatwick spokesperson said: The earlier security alert has now been resolved and cleared by police. The South Terminal is reopening to staff and will be open to passengers shortly. Trains will also start calling at Gatwick Airport once the terminal is fully reopened. We would like to thank everyone for their patience and understanding while this situation was resolved. Safety and security is always our top priority. There are some delays and cancellations, passengers should contact their airline for any updates on flights. South Terminal is reopening after it was evacuated this morning (Marco Pajo/X) 316 flights had been scheduled to depart airport on Friday 14:31 , Holly Evans Passenger information website National Rail Enquiries said: The police are dealing with an incident at Gatwick Airport. The station and airport are currently being evacuated. Services are able to run through the station and area but will not call at Gatwick Airport at this time. Please avoid travelling to the station whilst this incident is ongoing. This is expected to continue until approximately 2pm. Aviation analytics website Cirium said 316 flights are scheduled to depart from the airport on Friday, with a total of more than 60,600 seats. A further 318 flights are scheduled to arrive, with more than 61,400 seats. Hotel helps travellers 14:08 , Jane Dalton An airport hotel allowed some stranded passengers to go in to get warm and charge their phones. Huge thank you to @HiltonHotels at #Gatwick for letting people warm up and charge phones and stuff while we're stuck because of the evacuation! I was having a massive panic attack before I was let in here! Rhiannon Taylor-Capjon (@areteedee2) November 22, 2024 Check information online before coming, says BA 14:00 , Jane Dalton British Airways is advising passengers to check information online before travelling to Gatwick Airport. A spokesperson told The Independent: Like other airlines, we are experiencing some disruption to our flight schedule at Gatwick due to a security incident at the airports South Terminal. We are in contact with affected customers and giving them updates as and when we can. Were also providing them with options including flight rebookings and hotel accommodation where necessary. We ask customers to check ba.com for the latest flight information before coming to the airport. Chaos extends into Surrey 13:55 , Jane Dalton (Simon Calder) The small commuter railway station of Horley in Surrey has suddenly become the main rail hub for Gatwick Airport. North terminal is currently operating more or less normally but the problem is getting there and away. Fast trains are stopping there instead of at the airports own station, which is closed. Passengers are either walking the 20-minute distance to North terminal, or paying a reported 30 for the two-mile journey. Flight delays 13:46 , Jane Dalton Some flights have departed from the south terminal since the evacuation, meaning some passengers may have been unable to board. A British Airways flight to Cancun, Mexico, took off at 11.16am, 26 minutes behind schedule. Several British Airways departures are delayed by at least an hour and 40 minutes, including to Orlando, USA; Funchal, Portugal; and Tenerife, Spain. Spanish carrier Vueling ordered an inbound flight from each of Barcelona and Seville to turn around and return to their starting airports. A Norwegian flight to Bergen departed two hours and seven minutes late. Your rights if your journey is disrupted 13:37 , Jane Dalton Passengers on any flights that are cancelled as a result of the security scare at Gatwick South Terminal are covered by air passengers rights rules, writes Simon Calder. They stipulate that the cancelling airline must provide an alternative flight as soon as possible on any carrier. While passengers are waiting, they must be provided with meals and, if necessary, accommodation. Cash compensation is not payable in addition, because the airlines are not responsible for the disruption. Passengers whose flights left without them are in a trickier position. Thousands had arrived at Gatwick South Terminal, only to find they could not check in. Many of them will have found their flight departed with whichever passengers had arrived before the security scare. Legally, the airlines have no obligation to such travellers. In practice, though, airlines are likely to take a flexible attitude to passengers left behind, allowing them to transfer to later flights without penalty. The problem then will be whether seats are available. Many flights are very heavily booked. What are your rights when a flight goes wrong? Gatwick Express not stopping at airport 13:00 , Tara Cobham Gatwick Express trains are not stopping at the Gatwick Airport station. Travellers are being urged to avoid the station. Gatwick Airport will not be served until further notice This is due to the Police and emergency services dealing with an incident at the airport More info to follow as it is received Gatwick Express (@GatwickExpress) November 22, 2024 Blankets and water bottles being distributed to passengers at Gatwick, reports traveller 12:50 , Tara Cobham Blankets and water bottles are being distributed to the passengers at Gatwick Aiport, according to a fellow traveller. They post on X this afternoon: Blankets and water bottles being distributed to the public. Happening now at Gatwick airport south terminal. Blankets and water bottles being distributed to the public. Happening now at Gatwick airport south terminal. #London pic.twitter.com/jTxvAuJfhs Marco Pajo (@ISawMarcoPolo) November 22, 2024 Police put security cordon in place around south terminal 12:48 , Tara Cobham Police have put a security cordon in place around Gatwick Airports south terminal. Sussex Police officers were called to the scene at 8.20am. A security cordon is in place around the South Terminal at Gatwick Airport following discovery of a suspected prohibited item in luggage. Police were called at 8.20am this morning and, as a precaution, an EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) team is being deployed. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/nlUD3u8knu Sussex Police (@sussex_police) November 22, 2024 South Terminal flights departing with long delays and leaving passengers behind 12:42 , Travel correspondent Simon Calder The closure at Gatwick South Terminal only affects the landside area before the security checkpoint. Passengers who were airside at the time the incident began have been departing on flights with British Airways, Wizz Air and other airlines. BAs flights to Cancun in Mexico and Orlando in Florida have departed, albeit around an hour late. It is believed that not all the passengers booked on the flights were on board. The latest check-in time for the British Airways flight to Orlando, for example, was 10.20am, long after closure took effect. It is likely, therefore, that passengers who had not already checked in and passed through the security checkpoint were on board. Airlines are likely to take a flexible attitude to passengers who were left behind, allowing them to transfer to later flights without penalty. Passengers seen wrapped in emergency foil blankets as they wait at Gatwick Airport 12:41 , Tara Cobham Passengers have been seen wrapped in emergency foil blankets to shield themselves from the cold as they wait at Gatwick Airport. Pictures posted on social media show the travellers anxiously waiting for updates amid travel chaos at the south terminal. Passengers have been seen wrapped in emergency foil blankets to shield themselves from the cold as they wait at Gatwick Airport (Marco Pajo/X) Passengers being let off planes at Gatwick due to cold and hunger, says traveller 12:29 , Tara Cobham Passengers are being let off planes at Gatwick Airport due to cold and hunger, a fellow traveller has said. In a post on X this afternoon, they said: Update people are being let off planes, but only because they are cold or hungry and its not moving again, Ive been informed. Update, people are being let of planes but only because they are cold / hungry and its not moving again Ive been informed. Still waiting for news Professional teams here at @Gatwick_Airport dealing with situation but no formal news pic.twitter.com/QbSalWqjE7 Laurence KC, Pavegen (@LaurenceKC) November 22, 2024 Gatwick Airports north terminal is unaffected by incident 12:26 , Tara Cobham Gatwick Airports north terminal has been unaffected by the ongoing incident at the south terminal. A large part of the south terminal building, meanwhile, has been evacuated. Travellers flying from south terminal unable to check-in since incident began 12:24 , Tara Cobham Travellers flying from the south terminal have been unable to check-in since the incident at Gatwick Airport began. Passengers are facing huge delays, with flight disruption already underway. Travellers flying from the south terminal have been unable to check-in since the incident at Gatwick Airport began (Marco Pajo/X) Hack for reaching (or leaving) Gatwick North Terminal by train 12:14 , Travel correspondent Simon Calder Gatwick airport rail station, which normally handles over 50,000 passengers a day, is closed. It is built into South Terminal, which has been evacuated. Trains are passing through without stopping. North Terminal is functioning normally, but has no access to the rail station. However, there is an alternative station on the main line from London and East Croydon: Horley, which is about a 20-minute walk from North Terminal. It is a slightly tricky journey and not recommended for those with heavy luggage. Flight disruption now under way at Gatwick 12:07 , Travel correspondent Simon Calder Flight disruption is now under way at Gatwick. The Spanish budget airline Vueling has ordered two flights from Barcelona to Gatwick, as well as a single flight from Seville, to turn around and return to their starting points. The corresponding outbound flights to Spain will also be grounded. Police been seen arriving at Gatwick Airport 11:56 , Tara Cobham Police have been seen arriving at Gatwick Airport. A passenger reported officers arriving at the scene at 11.53am. Police arriving at Gatwick airport . 11:53am. Still no update from the airport staff. pic.twitter.com/2Vi1PzMh2X Marco Pajo (@ISawMarcoPolo) November 22, 2024 Police reveal bomb squad called in after suspected prohibited item found in luggage at Gatwick 11:53 , Tara Cobham Police have revealed that a bomb squad has been called in after a suspected prohibited item was discovered in luggage at Gatwick Airport, causing the evacuation of a large part of the South Terminal. In a statement issued on Friday morning, Sussex Police said: Police were called to the South Terminal at Gatwick Airport at 8.20am on Friday (22 November) following the discovery of a suspected prohibited item in luggage. To ensure the safety of the public, staff and other airport users, a security cordon has been put in place whilst the matter is dealt with. As a precaution, an EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) team is being deployed to the airport. This is causing significant disruption and some roads around the South Terminal have been closed. Wed advise the public to avoid the area where possible. Captain of plane waiting at Gatwick Airport tells passengers incident is over suspicious package' 11:51 , Tara Cobham The captain of a plane waiting at Gatwick Airport has told passengers the incident is over a suspicious package, according to media reports. One of the passengers on a plane waiting on the tarmac was interviewed by LBC and said to the broadcaster that this is what they were told. As many as 316 flights scheduled to depart Gatwick Airport today, reports analytics firm 11:47 , Travel editor Ben Parker As many as 316 flights are scheduled to depart Gatwick Airport today, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium equating to over 60,650 seats. A further 318 flights are scheduled to arrive into Gatwick Airport today equating to over 61,400 seats. Watch: Huge crowds gather outside Gatwick South Terminal after security incident 11:45 , Tara Cobham Huge crowds gather outside Gatwick South Terminal after security incident Flights delayed as passengers warned to stay away from departure lounge' 11:44 , Tara Cobham A passenger has said their flight has been delayed this morning as they were warned to not return to the departure loung but stay near the gates. They posted on X: Flight is delayed further and being told not to go back to departure lounge but stay near the gates.no estimated time of departure yet. Still boarding to gate area so fingers crossed Gatwick Airport. Flight is delayed further and being told not to go back to departure lounge but stay near the gates.no estimated time of departure yet. Still boarding to gate area so fingers crossed @Gatwick_Airport Gatwick! pic.twitter.com/Eka3C6s72Z Laurence KC, Pavegen (@LaurenceKC) November 22, 2024 Gallons of water reportedly delivered to waiting passengers while information on incident still scarce 11:39 , Tara Cobham Gallons of water are reporteldy being delivered to passengers waiting at Gatwick Airport after being evacuated, with information on the security incident still scarce. One passenger wrote on X this morning: Incredibly impressed with Gatwick Airport and their team safely evacuated everyone from the terminal and now bringing gallons of water around for everyone.. top job! Incredibly impressed with @Gatwick_Airport and their team safely evacuated everyone from the terminal and now bringing gallons of water around for everyone.. top job! #gatwick Leonardo Jervis (@WizardryDJ) November 22, 2024 Analysis from The Independents travel correspondent Simon Calder 11:34 , Tara Cobham Gatwicks South Terminal is used by dozens of airlines, notably British Airways, Ryanair, Aegean Airlines, Wizz Air, Air Malta and a number of Chinese airlines. Some easyJet flights operate from the South Terminal, but most use the North. Simon Calder, travel correspondent of The Independent, knows Gatwick well. He comments: While information from the airport is still sketchy, what I infer from the statement so far is that there is concern about an item found during the security search area. This was clearly deemed sufficiently serious for the entire check-in area, as well as the railway station, to be cleared. Passengers who are already airside are likely to be able to remain there. Arrivals are, I understand, being bussed to North Terminal which is still operational. But there will be large queues building up; there is a limited amount of space. Meanwhile thousands of passengers hoping to fly away will be enduring a frustrating time, wondering whether they will make their flight or whether it might be cancelled. Train services at Gatwick Airport station suspended 11:33 , Tara Cobham Train services at Gatwick Airports station have also been suspended. Train passenger information website National Rail Enquiries said: "The police are dealing with an incident at Gatwick airport. "The station and airport are currently being evacuated. "Services are able to run through the station and area but will not call at Gatwick airport at this time. "Please avoid travelling to the station whilst this incident is ongoing. "This is expected to continue until approximately 2pm." Thousands of passengers reportedly all over surrounding streets and carparks waiting 11:31 , Tara Cobham Thousands of evacuated passengers are reportedly sprawled out all over the streets and carparks surrounding Gatwick Airport waiting. A passenger wrote on X: Arrived at London Gatwick for routine connection. Got through customs to find out they're evacuating the entire airport. Even people through security are being taken outside. Trains shut down and thousands all over the streets and carparks waiting. Arrived at London Gatwick for routine connection. Got through customs to find out they're evacuating the entire airport. Even people through security are being taken outside. Trains shut down and 1000's of all over the streets and carparks waiting. pic.twitter.com/igXDpt9aQL Nick Meacham (@SportsProNick) November 22, 2024 In pictures: Passengers warned to stay away as large part of Gatwick evacuated 11:23 , Tara Cobham A large part of a Gatwick Airport terminal has been evacuated as a security incident is being investigated (Marco Pajo/X) Passengers have been warned to stay away after a section of the South Terminal was evacuated on Friday morning (Marco Pajo/X) There are fears flights will consequently be disrupted, causing travel chaos (Marco Pajo/X) Full story: Flight disruption expected after evacuation at Gatwick Airports South Terminal 11:18 , Tara Cobham Gatwick Airport has evacuated a large part of the South Terminal due to a security incident. The Sussex airport confirmed the news in a social media post, with passengers expected to face disruption to their flights. A large part of the South Terminal has been evacuated as a precaution while we continue to investigate a security incident, a statement read. Joanna Whitehead reports: Flight disruption expected after evacuation at Gatwick Airports South Terminal Gatwick Airport terminal evacuated due to security incident 11:16 , Tara Cobham A large part of Gatwick Airports South Terminal has been evacuated as a security incident is being investigated. In a statement, the airport said: A large part of the South Terminal has been evacuated as a precaution while we continue to investigate a security incident. Passengers will not be able to enter the South Terminal while this is ongoing. Safety and security of our passengers and staff remains our top priority. We are working hard to resolve the issue as quickly as possible. The Austrian Alps are home to some of the most stunning mountain landscapes in Europe, and tucked within them is one of the most exhilarating adventures you could ever imagine: the Stairway to Heaven Via Ferrata. As avid adventurers, we have traveled all around the world, completing insane physical challenges like swimming in the shark-infested waters around Alcatraz, surviving on a deserted island, and climbing the vertical length of Mount Everest. But this climb, with its sheer cliffs, iron steps, and a ladder suspended 2,000 feet above the ground, had us equal parts terrified and excited. It was a challenge we knew we couldnt resist, so we went to Austria to experience the heart-pounding adrenaline and incredible mountain views for ourselves. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heres how you can conquer this unforgettable hike on your own! What is a Via Ferrata? If youve never heard of via ferrata, think of them as a hybrid between hiking and rock climbing (with a focus on rock climbing). Via Ferrata means iron path in Italian, which is a pretty literal description of this adventure. Basically, someone fixed a bunch of iron cables and steps to the side of the mountains to make it easier for ordinary people to access cool parts of the mountain that are usually reserved for the most skilled climbers. Youll find these via ferratas all over the world, but the most famous of these iron paths is definitely The Stairway to Heaven Via Ferrata, located in Austria. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ferrata gets its name from the 131-foot-long ladder stretching between two mountain peaks dangling 2,000 feet above the ground. The only thing keeping you from falling is your carabiners clipped onto a long iron cable sounds pretty crazy, right? Getting there If you decide to take on the ultimate challenge of climbing The Stairway to Heaven, the first step would be getting all the way to the Austrian Alps. The best way to get to this via ferrata would be flying into Munich and renting a car to drive 3 hours to Gosau, Austria. From there, take a cable car up to Gablonzer Hotel to spend the night in a cozy mountain hotel before beginning your hike. Preparing For the Hike Before attempting the Stairway to Heaven it is important to consider if you have the technical skills to complete the climb. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Austrias via ferratas are ranked for difficulty on a scale of A to E. The Stairway to Heaven is ranked on C/D, meaning you dont need to be an expert to attempt this climb, however, you should have a decent level of experience attempting mentally and physically challenging activities like this one. Unlike other famous hikes, you do not need a permit for via ferratas. All you need to do is go to a rental shop in Gosau to rent a helmet, harness, and carabiners. If youre a little nervous about this big climb, arrive in Gosau a day or two before to attempt some of the easier via ferratas in the area. We did the Laserer Alpin via ferrata which took us on a beautiful climb right along Lake Gosau. From there, we saw insane mountain views and beautiful fall colors reflecting on the crystal blue lake as we were dangling 500 feet in the air off of the side of a cliff it was absolutely incredible. The Climb The Stairway to Heaven takes about 4.5 hours in total: 3 hours climbing up and then 1.5 hours hiking down. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We recommend starting after breakfast, so that youll be back in time for lunch. What should you expect from this hike? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Youll clip your carabiners into iron cables as you climb up vertical rock walls, traverse tiny steel steps, and even walk a tightrope-like section right above the lake. This hike gains elevation pretty quickly, which means it will have your adrenaline pumping and your heart racing the whole way up. No matter how terrified you are, it will be impossible to ignore how epic the views are you can see everything from snow-capped mountains to villages in valleys down below. About of the way through the hike, youll finally reach the main event: the ladder. No amount of YouTube videos could possibly prepare you for how freaky this ladder is, but at this point, it's definitely too late to turn back, so onward you go. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its equal parts exhilarating and terrifying the ladder is shaky, the metal rungs are so skinny and its impossible to not look down, but just trust that your gear will keep you safe and keep going. After the ladder, you can unclip from the iron cables and basically walk to the end. This will give you a second to calm your racing heart and catch your breath before reaching the top. You will be rewarded with an absolutely insane 360-degree view of the Austrian Alps and the valleys, villages, and lakes far below. After the Climb Honestly, the 1.5-hour hike down is terrible all the adrenaline has worn off, and you just want to be back in your cozy mountain hut. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dont forget to pack some snacks to keep the energy going, and once youre back in town, treat yourself to an Austrian comfort food like kasespatzle, which is kind of like Austrian mac and cheese. After all, you just finished one of the worlds most intense via ferratas! Why Is It Worth It? The Stairway to Heaven Via Ferrata is not for the faint of heart, but its truly an unforgettable experience. The combination of physical challenge, incredible views, and that sense of accomplishment youll feel once you finish, make this an experience thats well worth adding to your bucket list. We made a video documenting our entire experience climbing the Stairway to Heaven, which you can check out below. Advertisement Advertisement SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) One of the biggest charitable events of the holiday season is happening right now and all proceeds benefit the Gingerbread House Childrens Advocacy Center. The Turkey Fry Guys set up shop along Youree Drive on Saturday, November 23, to fry up 1,500 turkeys for charity. Community members are able purchase a turkey for $75 and once the bird is cooked its donated to families, local churches, or a food pantry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its rewarding to all of us who put on the turkey fry to know that you can buy a turkey and it can go to another person that is having a hard time. To some churches. To some other non-profits to give them a little kick-start of joy for the holiday season, said Corey Craft, President of the Turkey Fry Guys. Thus far, 1,300 12-14lb. turkeys have been purchased. Craft says 200 people are on the waiting list, so there is still time for you to help a local family. Its kind of two folds too. The turkeys that we fry they go right back into the community and they are going to people and other non-profits to help them, said Craft. You know its the start of the holiday season. Its a stressful time and we like to bring a little bit of joy to the community as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Events, recipes, and holiday celebrations around the ArkLaTex The non-profit, which is entirely volunteer-driven, is also holding a charitable auction right now, which ended on Friday night at 9:00 p.m. Signed memorabilia from professional athletes, delicious dining experiences, vacations, and even a guitar signed by Taylor Swift are up for bids. Craft says 100% of the proceeds go to the Gingerbread House. Over the past two years, according to Craft, The Turkey Fry Guys have donated $230,000 to the non-profit, which dedicates its efforts to reducing the trauma experienced by child victims of sexual and severe physical abuse, including child sex trafficking. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think its very important that we invest in those kids to let them know that we have a community that stands behind them and supports them through the stuff that they are going through and dealing with, said Craft. If youd like to sponsor a turkey for charity visit the Turkey Fry Guys website or stop by 4344 Youree Drive in the House of Carpets and Lighting parking lot on Saturday morning. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTALnews.com. AUCKLAND, New Zealand, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- Bank of China celebrated ten years of operation in New Zealand with local business partners, clients and customers on Thursday. The Bank of China (New Zealand) Limited was inaugurated on November 21, 2014, with the goal of facilitating trade, economic exchanges, and financial cooperation between China and New Zealand. The bank's decade-long operation in New Zealand has made it one of the top banks in New Zealand's local market. Chinese Ambassador Wang Xiaolong and New Zealand Minister for Trade, Agriculture, Forestry, Hunting and Fishing, and Associate Minister for Foreign Affairs Todd McClay made a keynote speech at the ceremony. Wang said the Bank of China New Zealand has actively served China-New Zealand cross-border business and financing in New Zealand. "As one of the top ten banks in New Zealand in terms of asset size, it has made significant contributions to local economic and social development as well as our bilateral economic and trade cooperation," said Wang. "This year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the China-New Zealand comprehensive strategic partnership", said the Chinese ambassador. "A strong and mutually beneficiary economic relationship, the cooperation in the financial sector included, has been an important part of that partnership." McClay, for his part, echoed Wang's speech in acknowledging Bank of China New Zealand's 10-year growth and the 10th anniversary of the signing of the comprehensive strategic partnership between New Zealand and China. He took the example of himself leading the largest-ever New Zealand trade delegation to the China International Import Expo in Shanghai this year, resulting in signing multiple trade agreements. "This demonstrates the dynamic growth of our bilateral relationship," said McClay. Former Prime Minister John Key also delivered a video speech to the audience. "I remember, as prime minister, when I went along to the official opening, how excited we all were. Over the last ten years, the Bank of China has become an integral part of the banking industry here in New Zealand, helping servicing clients across a huge range of areas including everyday New Zealanders and of course business in our primary sectors and manufacturing sectors and many others," said Key. Ge Haijiao, chairman of Bank of China Limited, said in a statement read by the Bank of China New Zealand's Chief Executive Hu Beihai that the Bank of China New Zealand has committed itself to serving China's high-level opening up and promoting trade and economic exchanges between the two countries through quality services to the local market and neighboring regions. Its dedication to corporate social responsibilities has won the trust of both the public and private sectors, as well as the local community. With such trust, Bank of China New Zealand continuously expanded its business, steadily improved its operational efficiency, and became a symbol of China-New Zealand friendship, Ge said. NACOGDOCHES, Texas (KETK) The Nacogdoches Police Department said a driver was killed when their vehicle crashed in the 2000 block of Old Tyler Road on Friday afternoon. Longview ISD Education Support Center burned in fire, closed due to damage The driver had already been taken out of the commercial vehicle by other motorists when when the Nacogdoches Police and Fire Departments responded to the scene. Officials said their reports indicate the vehicle was heading south on Old Tyler Road when it used the turn lane to try passing other vehicles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats when the vehicle left the roadway, hitting trees and rolling over. Nacogdoches PD said that the driver was declared dead at the scene by the Precinct 2 Justice of the Peace. The vehicle was leaking diesel fuel so TxDOT and a hazmat team responded to deal with the spill. Nacogdoches PD said theyre withholding the drivers name while they work to notify their relatives. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com. A 10-year-old Shawano County boy called 911 last week because he needed help with his math homework. According to the Shawano County Sheriff's Office, Deputy Chase Mason wrote in his report that he wasn't "overly proficient when it comes to math" either but "nonetheless, I responded to assist" on Nov. 15. Together, the boy and deputy were able to solve an eighth-grade level decimal math problem. The sheriff's office released audio of the 911 call on Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Hey, um, it's not really an emergency I just need help on one math problem on my homework," the boy said. "It's like eighth-grade level. I'm sorry to waste your time." "I'm not very good at math, sweetie. But I can try," responded dispatcher Kim Krause. 911 dispatcher in Shawano County Kim Krause. The boy then recited a confusingly worded math problem. "I'm afraid I'm no good at that," Kruse said. "I bet ya I could send somebody to help you, though." The boy said his mom would be home in an hour and she could solve the problem, but his adult relatives were sleeping at the moment and "they're not very good at (math)." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deputy Mason then responded to save the boy's report card. The sheriff's office said Friday no further comment would be made and the boy and his family will be declining interviews from media outlets. Last week, Deputy Mason responded to an unusual 911 call. This call came from a 10-year-old who called to say that he... Posted by Shawano Sheriff's Office on Tuesday, November 19, 2024 Although, Mason gave an interview to WBAY-TV in Green Bay. He came right to the door to meet me, then I walked into the house and sat down by the kitchen table, Mason said. He had his math out all ready for me. He pointed out exactly which ones he needed help with. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I didnt have the heart to tell him that I wasnt very good at math either, but I was going to give it my best shot." After solving the problem, Mason gave the boy his business card and reminded him to only use 911 in emergency situations. "It was a positive contact and a good thing to see for the community to show that were out here to help people in every way, shape and form, especially in a small community like ours," Mason said. "When he goes to school and all of the students see it theyre going to think its so cool," the deputy added. "Just hopefully they dont all call me for math help next time." This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: 10-year-old Wisconsin boy calls 911 for help with his math homework A Maryland man recently made a remarkable discovery in the Chesapeake Bay: an almost-whole human skeleton that appears to be at least a century old. NBC Washington reported George Oliver, who lives in Calvert County, Maryland, was walking the shores of the bay on Nov. 4, looking for fossils, as he usually does. That's when he spotted a coffin during low tide. And inside the coffin was a nearly whole human skeleton. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Oliver told the station that he could see the coffin but that it was submerged in water. He called the sheriff's department, which then called an archaeological society. Officials examined the remains in the coffin but did not remove any, NBC Washington reported. Oliver took it upon himself to carefully remove the skeleton and dig up the coffin because he was worried about what might happen to the remains if he left them there, according to NBC Washington. The station also reported that Oliver pieced the coffin back together himself. "When I first found it, you could not tell that there was human remains," he told NBC Washington. "You just thought that it was full of beach sand." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Oliver turned the remains over to the Calvert County Sheriff's office. Kelcey Ward, a crime scene technician with the sheriff's office, told NBC Washington that it is not rare to find human remains that are so old but that to find an entire skeleton that is still intact is highly unusual. In fact, it is not Oliver's first discovery of human remains NBC Washington reported that he found a leg bone about 15 years ago near the same location. When he found the coffin, Oliver assumed that leg bone might have been a part of the newly discovered skeleton. Ward said it's "probably the most we've had of one body," according to the station. She said it was likely that the skeleton was still intact because it was found in the coffin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spokesperson for the sheriffs office did not immediately respond to a request for comment and more information about the discovery. NBC Washington reported that based on the construction of the coffin and the condition of the bones, the skeleton appears to be at least 100 years old, but it remains a mystery where they came from. Ward said she was not able to determine the age, race or gender of the skeleton, but she had an idea how the person died. "We did think it was quite interesting that he had a kind of a defect to his skull here," Ward said. "See, if I was working this as a more recent case and I found that, I would venture to guess maybe a gunshot wound or blunt force trauma of some sort, but obviously not having the rest of the skull makes that kind of difficult." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NBC Washington reported that the bones and the coffin will be reinterred at a local church cemetery. Oliver, on the other hand, thinks the coffin should be displayed, he told the station, because "this is somebody's craftsmanship." "It's a shame that it had to happen the way it happened," he said. "But I think it's awesome that we found him or her, and now they'll be able to rest." This article was originally published on NBCNews.com WOONSOCKET, R.I. (WPRI) Navy veteran Derek Laferriere works as a custodian at a school in Massachusetts and lives in Rhode Island with his mother, who is in hospice care. He says it has been a challenging time for his family. She is 60 years old and was diagnosed with dementia around 2019 or so, he said. But thereve been problems ever since I was a teenager. Since his mother needs around-the-clock care, Laferriere has been forced to take time off of work and was searching for financial help to be able to keep a roof over their head. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I only knew about the Family Medical Leave that was unpaid, and then I asked the question, So, how do I get paid?' he told 12 Responds. And they just sent an email saying the only way to get paid is to use your sick days. Massachusetts has a program that provides financial assistance under its Paid Family Medical Leave law. However, 12 Responds has learned municipalities in Massachusetts are exempt from the law unless they opt into it. How can I live my life taking care of my dying mother when you dont receive any funds? he said. Theres no program for this situation. MORE 12 RESPONDS: Somerset officer gets first responder discount after billing issue Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To date, state officials say they are unaware of any municipalities that have opted to pay into the program, which leaves people like Laferriere, who is employed by the municipality where he works, without financial assistance. I mean, were poor, we cant afford a nursing home, he said. Were trying to keep the house. Its a similar situation for those who work in Rhode Island. Employees of government entities like public school departments are exempt from Temporary Caregiver Insurance (TCI). However, municipalities may elect to have some or all of their departments opt in to coverage. As for Laferriere, he told 12 Responds his mother has Medicare and can apply for Medicaid to get extra financial assistance. He is also reaching out to see what services are available for veterans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sarah Guernelli (sguernelli@wpri.com) is the consumer investigative reporter for 12 News. Connect with her on Twitter and on Facebook. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Special Coverage & Notices Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. Police have arrested a 15-year-old boy in the fatal shooting of a 28-year-old man in St. Paul last month. Officers took the teen into custody on suspicion of murder at Fridley High School earlier this month, St. Paul police said this week. The Ramsey County Attorneys Office said state law prevents them from providing information about the case due to his age. Police responded to multiple reports of shots fired at Woodbridge Street and Wheelock Parkway in St. Pauls North End about 9:50 p.m. on Oct. 12. Riccardo Anthony Fleming was found lying in the street with multiple gunshot wounds and died soon after at the hospital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fleming was visiting his fathers side of the family in St. Paul and his mother, Moneke Thomas, said Friday she doesnt know why he was shot. I would like my son to be remembered as a loving person with a good heart. He was so funny and outgoing, and the life of the party, said Thomas, adding that her son loved dogs and recording music. He didnt deserve this. Im lost, Im numb. Video surveillance that police collected in the area showed a male suspect enter the door of a nearby apartment complex with a smaller male suspect within 10 minutes of the homicide, according to a search warrant affidavit filed last week. The shorter male was intentionally covering his face so it is not visible, said the affidavit, which didnt provide a motive for the shooting. Fleming lived in Robbinsdale for the first part of his life and then moved with his family to Council Bluffs, Iowa. He later lived in Fremont and Lincoln, Neb. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police said their investigation into Flemings homicide is ongoing. Related Articles 15-year-old Jada Spence has been charged with aggravated manslaughter of a child in connection with the shooting death of 14-year-old Marshaun Jones. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] The incident happened in Ocala. According to the Marion County Sheriffs Office, Jones, Spence, and four other minors, they had gathered at a home to hang out and smoke marijuana. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The police report states the minors were passing around guns, and Spence initially claimed one had fallen on the ground and accidentally discharged, killing Jones. But later, the report claims her story changed. The report states Jones had initially pulled the trigger of one of the guns and it didnt go off. Then, according to the report, Spence then took the gun, pointed it at Jones, and pulled the trigger. That time the gun did go off and the report states the bullet struck Jones in the face. After the shooting, Spence could be heard on video surveillance saying, I didnt know it was f****ing loaded bro, according to the report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was lively, energetic, and always loved to have fun, always silly and making people laugh. That was who he was, said Johnny Fudge, Jones' father, who we spoke with in October. Fudge told us his son had moved from Jacksonville to Ocala just one week before the shooting. In our interview, Fudge called for adults to do a better job of keeping firearms away from children. It seems like nobody wants to take it seriously about securing these guns and its not a good feeling when you get a call that your son has passed away over someone shooting him or because of someone having access to a gun, said Fudge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Spences charge is considered a First-Degree felony in Florida, which carries with it a possible sentence of up to 30 years in prison. Shes being charged as an adult. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. 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 to remember those lost in the OKC bombing: Mark Allen Bolte. Image courtesy Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum. We want to remember Mark Allen Bolte, 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 19-year-old suspect was arrested Thursday after four people were killed in a shooting and found inside a burning Lancaster home. The suspect was identified as Miguel Sandoval, 19, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department. On Nov. 16, shortly before 1:30 a.m., deputies responded to a shooting at a home on the 44500 block of Tabler Avenue. Authorities believed a party was being held at the residence during the deadly incident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heavy smoke and flames were seen engulfing the home. Five victims were found inside three people were found dead at the scene and a fourth person later died at the hospital. On Nov. 21, authorities identified them as Edwin Garcia, Christine Aca-ac, Matthew Montebello and Janvi Maquindang. They were only described as young adults in their 20s. The fifth victim, a 16-year-old girl, was uninjured. She was found hiding in her room and was the person who called the authorities for help. Detectives and L.A. County Fire Department arson investigators were seen combing the area for evidence at 7 a.m. Saturday. (KTLA) A suspect is in custody following a deadly shooting and subsequent arson fire in the Antelope Valley on Nov. 16, 2024. (Don Luis Meza) A suspect is in custody following a deadly shooting and subsequent arson fire in the Antelope Valley on Nov. 16, 2024. (Don Luis Meza) A suspect is in custody following a deadly shooting and subsequent arson fire in the Antelope Valley on Nov. 16, 2024. (Don Luis Meza) A suspect is in custody following a deadly shooting and subsequent arson fire in the Antelope Valley on Nov. 16, 2024. (Don Luis Meza) A suspect is in custody following a deadly shooting and subsequent arson fire in the Antelope Valley on Nov. 16, 2024. (Don Luis Meza) A suspect is in custody following a deadly shooting and subsequent arson fire in the Antelope Valley on Nov. 16, 2024. (Don Luis Meza) A suspect is in custody following a deadly shooting and subsequent arson fire in the Antelope Valley on Nov. 16, 2024. (Don Luis Meza) The suspected gunman fled the scene but was located and arrested hours later. The events leading up to the deadly shooting and house fire remain unclear. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators believe this was an isolated incident, LASD said. The case is still being actively investigated and no further details about the case will be shared in order to maintain the integrity of the investigation. The case will be presented to the L.A. County District Attorneys Office for filing consideration on Nov. 25. Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call LASDs Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Anonymous tips can be provided to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at lacrimestoppers.org. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. AKRON, Ohio (WJW) Two people have been arrested for the shooting death of a 32-year-old man in Akron. According to the Summit County Medical Examiners Office, officers were called to the 700 block of Wren Walk for a shooting at about 2:30 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 22. Ex-Amish speaks out after Ohio shunning When first responders arrived on the scene, they found the victim inside the residence with multiple gunshot wounds, said the officials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The victim was transported to Akron City Hospital where he was later pronounced dead about 20 minutes later, said the medical examiner. The victim was identified as Douglas Waters. According to police, investigators determined that the suspects forced their way inside the front door of the residence and, once inside, confronted and shot the victim multiple times before fleeing the scene. Familys dog stolen from front porch in broad daylight A short time later, patrol officers located one of the suspects, who is believed to be the shooter, on Vernon Odom, near East Avenue, and took him into custody without incident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The suspect was transported to an area hospital with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. A second suspect was taken into custody around 5:30 a.m. in the 2500 block of Ogden Avenue. Gerald Wilson, 25, and DeVionne Bigby, 26, face charges of murder and aggravated burglary. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Two Los Angeles men have been arrested in connection with a street takeover and smash-and-grab robbery of an AutoZone in South Los Angeles in June. On June 10, hundreds of people assembled for a sideshow in the Vermont Vista area. Simultaneously, about 50 to 75 of them broke into the car parts shop in the 600 block of West Century Boulevard and took about $67,000 worth of property, the Los Angeles Police Department said in a news release. Suspects captured on security cameras overtaking and looting an AutoZone store in South Los Angeles on June 10, 2024. (Los Angeles Police Department) An Auto Zone in Los Angeles is seen after being looted on June 10, 2024. (OnScene.TV) Suspects captured on security cameras overtaking and looting an AutoZone store in South Los Angeles on June 10, 2024. (Los Angeles Police Department) Suspects captured on security cameras overtaking and looting an AutoZone store in South Los Angeles on June 10, 2024. (Los Angeles Police Department) Suspects captured on security cameras overtaking and looting an AutoZone store in South Los Angeles on June 10, 2024. (Los Angeles Police Department) Suspects captured on security cameras overtaking and looting an AutoZone store in South Los Angeles on June 10, 2024. (Los Angeles Police Department) Suspects captured on security cameras overtaking and looting an AutoZone store in South Los Angeles on June 10, 2024. (Los Angeles Police Department) Suspects captured on security cameras overtaking and looting an AutoZone store in South Los Angeles on June 10, 2024. (Los Angeles Police Department) Suspects captured on security cameras overtaking and looting an AutoZone store in South Los Angeles on June 10, 2024. (Los Angeles Police Department) A man is seen carrying merchandise out of an Auto Zone in Los Angeles on June 10, 2024. (OnScene.TV) On Thursday, investigators located two men theyd identified as being part of the theft: 18-year-old Adrian Vivero and 39-year-old Trevon Lexion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement L.A. street takeover mob ransacks Auto Zone Both were arrested on a charge of burglary, though Vivero also had an unregistered firearm, over $10,500 of US Currency, and various narcotics possessed for sales, police said. Anyone with information is asked to call 818-374-9437 or email ORC@lapd.online. During non-business hours or on weekends, call 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (1-877-527-3247). To report information anonymously, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or visit lacrimestoppers.org. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. A man views houses destroyed by an Israeli airstrike in the al-Bureij refugee camp of the central Gaza Strip, on Nov. 17, 2024. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) The court has accused all three of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity. THE HAGUE, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- The International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Hague on Thursday issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif. In a statement, the ICC's pre-trial chamber accused Netanyahu and Gallant of committing "crimes against humanity and war crimes" between at least Oct. 8, 2023 and May 20, 2024, the date when the prosecution submitted the arrest warrant applications. The ICC stated that there are "reasonable grounds" to believe that Netanyahu and Gallant "each bear criminal responsibility as co-perpetrators" for committing war crimes of starvation as a method of warfare, and crimes against humanity of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts. The court's statement outlined a series of alleged war crimes, including "intentionally directing an attack against the civilian population," and depriving the "civilian population in Gaza of objects indispensable to their survival, including food, water, and medicine and medical supplies, as well as fuel and electricity." People wait to buy bread at a bakery in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on Nov. 18, 2024. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) The ICC also issued an arrest warrant for Mohammed Deif, the commander of Hamas' military wing, accusing him of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in the territories of Israel and Palestine from at least Oct. 7, 2023. Although Deif has reportedly been killed by Israeli forces, the ICC noted that it cannot conclusively confirm his death. Prosecutor Karim Khan informed the court that available information from Israeli and Palestinian sources about his death remains inconclusive, leaving the arrest warrant active. In May, Khan initially requested arrest warrants for five individuals: Netanyahu, Gallant, Deif, and senior Hamas leaders Ismail Haniyeh and Yahya Sinwar. However, after confirmed reports of Haniyeh and Sinwar's deaths, the court withdrew those applications. BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) Two different gun calls were made in Buffalo in one evening on Wednesday, with one of them being a shots fired call, according to the Buffalo Police Department. Around 7 p.m. Wednesday, officers responded to Welker Street for a report of a man with a gun. 36-year-old Jeffrey Lewis was allegedly brandishing a rifle and making threatening comments. The scene was secured. Courtesy: Buffalo Police Department A search warrant found a revolver, a rifle, over 300 rounds of ammunition, a bulletproof vest, and three high-capacity magazines, along with suspected fentanyl and drug paraphernalia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Around two hours later, officers responded to a shots fired call on the 2400 block of Delaware Avenue. A fight allegedly broke out in an apartment complex after multiple shots were heard. The scene was secured and a pistol was recovered. Suspected cocaine and drug paraphernalia were also recovered. Four people were arrested in connection. Courtesy: Buffalo Police Department 29-year-old Haley Schaefer, 32-year-old Christopher Stone, 37-year-old Nicholas Wild and 45-year-old Valeria Colson were identically charged with the following: first-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance second-degree criminal possession of a weapon three counts, second-degree criminally using drug paraphernalia seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lewis was charged with the following: two counts, third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance second-degree criminal possession of a weapon two counts, third-degree criminal possession of a weapon unlawful wearing of body armor second-degree criminally using drug paraphernalia second-degree menacing All of the suspects are from Buffalo. Latest Local News Kayleigh Hunter-Gasperini joined the News 4 team in 2024 as a Digital Video Producer. She is a graduate of Chatham University. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo. Editor's Note: This is a developing story and is being updated. Russia struck a residential area in the city of Sumy overnight on Nov. 22 with Shahed drones, killing two people and injuring 12, local authorities reported. First responders have been dispatched to the site of the attack, and rescue operations continue as of 7 a.m. local time. Sumy Oblast Military Administration did not provide further details at the time of publication. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russian strikes against Ukraine's northeastern Sumy Oblast have become increasingly destructive in recent months amid fears that Russia may launch a new attack on Sumy Oblast in the coming months. Russia's overnight missile attacks on Sumy on Nov. 18 killed 11 and injured 89, including 11 children, after a ballistic missile struck a residential building. Sumy Oblast borders Russia's Bryansk, Kursk, and Belgorod oblasts. Residents of the vulnerable border communities experience multiple attacks per day. Read also: Russian drone hits dormitory in Sumy Oblast, killing 10, injuring 13, including children Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. DENVER (KDVR) A federal grand jury indicted two men in connection to the robbery and assault of a U.S. Postal Service letter carrier in September 2023, according to the United States Attorneys Office for the District of Colorado. On Thursday, the attorneys office said 28-year-old Marquis Taylor and 21-year-old Elijah Woods were indicted by a federal grand jury on one once count each of conspiracy, assault with intent to rob a U.S. Postal Carrier and mail theft. The charges stem from an incident on Sept. 1, 2023, when the attorneys office said Taylor, Woods and a third man, 28-year-old Dravell Emon Ross, allegedly committed a strong-arm robbery of a postal carrier while she was taking her lunch break in her mail truck. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up to get breaking news sent to your inbox The reported robbery happened near the intersection of South Peoria Street and East Florida Avenue in Aurora, near Utah Park in the middle of the day. The attorneys office said the men attempted to obtain a universal mailbox key from the carrier, so they could access community mailboxes. However, they were unable to steal the key and did not gain access to any packages. Following the incident, the postal carrier suffered minor injuries. On July 17, Ross was sentenced to four years in federal prison for his role in the robbery. Woods and Taylors trial is set for March 31, 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. "It is with profound sadness that we share the loss of two of our own," Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office said of the Thursday, Nov. 21, crash PBSO From L: PBSO Corporal Luis Paez, Deputy Sheriff Ralph "Butch" Waller and Deputy Ignacio "Dan" Diaz From L: PBSO Corporal Luis Paez, Deputy Sheriff Ralph "Butch" Waller and Deputy Ignacio "Dan" Diaz Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office Corporal Luis Paez and Deputy Sheriff Ralph Butch Waller died after a vehicle crashed into them while they were on the side of a highway on Thursday, Nov. 21 A third officer, Deputy Ignacio Dan Diaz, was critically injured in the incident "It is with profound sadness that we share the loss of two of our own," the sheriff's office posted on X (formerly Twitter) Two veteran officers in Florida have died and a third is critically injured after a car crashed into them on the side of the highway. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Thursday, Nov. 21, the three officers identified as Corporal Luis Paez, Deputy Sheriff Ralph Butch Waller and Deputy Ignacio Dan Diaz were conducting traffic enforcement on Southern Blvd when the tragedy occurred, Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office (PBSO) said in a post on X (formerly known as Twitter). The accident happened in the area of State Road 80 west of Seminole Pratt Whitney Boulevard at 9:29 a.m. local time, a press release obtained by PEOPLE confirmed. Paez and Waller died in the accident, and Diaz was "critically injured in the crash and is currently fighting for his life," the police post said. "It is with profound sadness that we share the loss of two of our own," the message began. PBSO PBSO Corporal Luis Paez PBSO Corporal Luis Paez "Our hearts are heavy as we mourn the loss of our brothers, honor their memory, and support their families during this devastating time. Please keep Deputy Diaz in your prayers as he continues to fight. To serve and protect was their oath; to honor them is our duty. #PBSOFallen," the sheriff's office wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A second post read, alongside a photo of "hero" Diaz, "Deputy Diaz joined PBSO in 2004 and has been a valued member of our Motor Unit for over 10 years." "We ask for your thoughts and prayers for him and his family during this incredibly difficult time. #PBSOstrong," the message added. "Corporal Luis Paez dedicated over 36 years of his life to law enforcement, beginning his career at PBSO in January of 1988 as a Corrections Deputy before moving to Road Patrol, and ultimately serving passionately as a motor deputy for more than 20 years," PBSO said in a media advisory obtained by PEOPLE. The release added, "Deputy Sheriff Ralph 'Butch' Waller served with distinction for over 18 years in our motor unit, having started his law enforcement career with the Royal Palm Beach Police Department before it merged with PBSO in October 2008." PBSO PBSO Deputy Sheriff Ralph "Butch" Waller PBSO Deputy Sheriff Ralph "Butch" Waller In a news conference shared on the PBSO Facebook page, Sheriff Ric Bradshaw explained that the crash occurred after one officer couldn't get his motorcycle to start after contact with a motorist. He called the other two officers to help, thinking he had a dead battery. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "All three [of them were] on the grassy area of the shoulder of the road, and they were going to wait for another PBSO vehicle to come with some battery cables," Bradshaw shared. The officers were then struck by a vehicle after the driver came across a slower car in the center lane, before veering to the right and overcompensating, hitting the officers. "She overcompensated, got off the road and then struck all three of the motor officers at which time all three went airborne in different directions," Bradshaw told reporters. The officer and deputy heading to help saw what happened, the sheriff confirmed, and called for assistance. All three were transported to St. Mary's Medical Center. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Unfortunately, two of them were deceased; the third one went to surgery and is now in ICU in critical but stable position," Bradshaw said, adding, "Hopefully, he's going to make it." PBSO PBSO Deputy Ignacio "Dan" Diaz PBSO Deputy Ignacio "Dan" Diaz Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bradshaw said the preliminary investigation suggests the driver wasn't impaired. "It just looks like one of those things where she overcompensated and got off the road," he said, calling the incident a "horrific accident." "When a deputy dies, a piece of the community dies with them," Bradshaw told reporters. "It's tough." The sheriff confirmed the driver of the vehicle had "minor injuries," and that the funeral for the two deceased officers would likely take place next week. PBSO is investigating the incident with the Florida Highway Patrol. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories. Paez's friend Rich Logan told local station WPTV, "He was always a light in our lives and always fun to be around," adding of his death, "It is so difficult to process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Knowing he was so close to retirement absolutely breaks my heart," another of Paez's friends, Shanell Bledsoe, said of the late officer being 100 days from retirement, per the outlet. "And he was so looking forward to it. WPTV said Waller's loved ones "want him to be kindly remembered," but asked for space at this time. A coalition of states, Congress members, medical organizations and public policy groups have submitted amicus briefs supporting Oklahomas fight to restore federal family planning money. In October , Attorney General Gentner Drummond asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review a federal appeals court decision from July that said Oklahoma isnt entitled to federal family planning money it lost last year. That same decision brought Oklahomas case to the Supreme Court in August , where the state's emergency application asking for the release of its Title X funding was later denied . The coalition filed four briefs, fighting against one of the grants requirements to provide counseling to pregnant people on all options, including abortion . Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Drummond first challenged the states loss of $4.5 million in Title X funding last year with a lawsuit and later, a motion for an injunction against the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The goal was to recoup the lost money and prevent further loss in future grant cycles. More: Oklahoma officials settle high-profile federal mental health lawsuit What is Title X? Clinics participating in Title X programs offer confidential and low-cost family planning resources for all ages, including contraceptives, counseling and pregnancy testing. The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) had received Title X funding since 1971. Oklahoma has currently lost nearly $10 million in Title X funding as legal proceedings continue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Arguments bolstered through the coalitions amicus briefs include that the appeals court ruling conflicts with other circuits and The Weldon Amendment was violated. The amendment prevents HHS funds from going to government agencies that discriminate against health care entities that refuse to provide abortion referrals. Drummond has argued it was violated when Oklahoma was required to provide the call-in number to a hotline that provides information about family planning, including abortion. He said OSDH is a health care entity and the hotline constitutes a referral, meaning it was being subject to discrimination for declining to make referrals. The lower court has rejected that requiring Oklahoma to share a hotline providing information about family planning, including abortion, constitutes a referral. More: Drummond again asks US Supreme Court to consider appeal of Title X funding ruling Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A brief from 21 states argues that they have special solicitude to challenge unlawful federal executive branch actions to guard the publics interest in protecting the separation of powers. HHS threatens to impede the function of, if not entirely override, many of these laws and state policies (prohibiting abortion) by claiming it has the power to revoke a States Title X funding if a State will not refer patients for abortions, the brief reads. Nineteen members of Congress including Oklahoma's entire congressional delegation said the Weldon Amendment defends the conscience rights of health care institutions, which includes objections to abortion referrals. Here, OSDH has a sincerely-held objection to providing the telephone number, which it views as an abortion referral, the brief reads . Caselaw dictates that courts cannot say that the line (the objector) drew was an unreasonable one.' Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Five medical organizations and a group of coalitions and organizations also submitted individual briefs. Drummond said in a press release the briefs are a strong show of support. Federal law is clear that Title X funds cannot be used for abortion, and that organizations who decline to refer for abortions are to be protected, Drummond said. The Biden Administration, however, is attempting to force states to provide abortion referrals or lose critical healthcare funding for their citizens." StateImpact Oklahoma is a partnership of Oklahomas public radio stations which relies on contributions from readers and listeners to fulfill its mission of public service to Oklahoma and beyond. Donate online . This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: States join Oklahoma in fight to restore Title X funding FRAMINGHAM, Mass. (WWLP)The 2024 Massachusetts Broadcasters Association Sound Bites awards were held in Framingham Thursday night. The 22News team was recognized with four awards. 22News storm team meteorologist Brian Lapis was named the merit award winner for Meteorologist. 22News photographer Mike Houle was named the merit winner for Photographer. 22News Toys for Tots campaign begins Nov. 18 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 22News digital team was named the first-place winner in the digital media category. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of our greatest achievements was being recognized as the merit winners for the #WeAreBroadcasters award. This award recognizes a station for its ongoing commitment to the community and use of its power as a broadcaster for the greater good. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. Police said Thursday they made a second arrest tied to the murder of 18-year-old Jelani Jackson, 18, of Lancaster. PAST COVERAGE: Feds offer $20K reward in gang-related drive-by shootings in Lancaster Police in Lancaster said on Sept. 4 Jackson was gunned down in a drive-by shooting on Clinton Avenue. Authorities caught Lamonte Roberts, 31, of Lancaster, in Richmond County on Wednesday and charged him with murder, possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kenyan Blair, 19, of Lancaster, was arrested in September and is still in custody at the Lancaster County Detention Center on charges of murder and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime. Federal investigators believe five other shootings that followed were retaliatory and gang-related. The FBI and ATF are offering a $20,000 reward for information in these cases. After searching for nearly two years, three missing children from Utah were found in Fredonia, Arizona, a town four miles south of the Arizona-Utah border, officials announced. Fredonia police Chief Jason Peterson received information in August about the children, who were reported missing in October 2022. On Sept. 1, he and officers from various state and federal agencies retrieved the children, returned them to their mother in Utah, and apprehended the chlidren's grandmother and aunt, who police say appeared to be overseeing the children. News of the children's recovery wasn't released until Wedensday. Police suspect the children's father arranged the disappearance and hiding of the children with the help of family members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints faith. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the investigation continues, the children are safe with their mother, according to the Fredonia Police Department. No further information is available. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: 3 missing Utah children found in Fredonia, Arizona, near state border (Getty stock photo) Is it possible to bridge Americas stark political divisions? In the wake of a presidential election that many feared could tear the U.S. apart, this question is on many peoples minds. A record-high 80% of Americans believe the U.S. is greatly divided on the most important values. Ahead of the election, a similar percentage of Americans said they feared violence and threats to democracy. Almost half the country believes people on the other side of the political divide are downright evil. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some say that the vitriolic rhetoric of political leaders and social media influencers is partly to blame for the countrys state of toxic polarization. Others cite social media platforms that amplify misinformation and polarization. There is, however, reason for hope. I say this as an anthropologist of peace and conflict. After working abroad, I began doing research on the threat of violence in the U.S. in 2016. In 2021, I published a related book, It Can Happen Here. Now, I am researching polarization in the U.S. and ways to counter it. I have visited large Make America Great Again events for my research. I have also gone to small workshops run by nonprofit organizations like Urban Rural Action that are dedicated to building social cohesion and bridging Americas divides. Some refer to the growing number of these organizations as a bridging movement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Their work is not easy, but they have shown that connecting with and listening to others who hold different political views is possible. Here are three strategies these organizations are using and people can try to use in their own daily lives to reduce political polarization: 1. Listen first Pearce Godwin, a former Republican-leaning consultant from North Carolina, was one of the first bridgers. In 2013, Godwin was doing Christian humanitarian work in Africa. Upset by the vitriol of U.S. politics, Godwin, who had worked on Capitol Hill, wrote a commentary, Its Time to Listen, while on an overnight bus trip across Uganda. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Multiple U.S. newspapers published his column, which called for what is the starting point of most bridging work: People should listen first to understand. Later that year, Godwin started a nonpartisan and nonprofit organization, the Listen First Project, to promote this message through activities like a 2014 Listen First, Vote Second public relations and media campaign. After Donald Trump won the 2016 election, Godwin decided to expand Listen First work. He established the #ListenFirst Coalition with three other similar organizations: The Village Square, Living Room Conversations and National Institute for Civil Discourse. Today, this coalition includes over 500 organizations, whose work ranges from one-off dialogue skills workshops to longer-term projects that seek to build social cohesion in the U.S. 2. Be curious, not dogmatic Braver Angels dates back to 2016 and is another large nonprofit organization that is part of the #ListenFirst Coalition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Election Day on Nov. 5, 2024, Braver Angels organized hundreds of pairs of Trump and Kamala Harris supporters to stand at polling stations and demonstrate that dialogue across the political divide is possible. Some held signs that read Vote Red, Vote Blue, Were All Americans Through and Through. During the past year, I have observed Braver Angels workshops on media bias, public education, immigration and the 2024 election. Their fishbowl exercise stands out. Designed by Bill Doherty, a couples therapist and co-founder of Braver Angels, the fishbowl involves a group of Republicans and Democrats talking. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People in the group take turns speaking on a particular political topic, while the others along with a larger group of observers listen to what they say without speaking. After peering into this fishbowl, each group member discusses what they discovered by listening to the other group. Many mention their surprise at points of agreement on certain issues and the thoughtful reasoning behind positions on the other side they had previously dismissed. The exercise illustrates a key starting point of bridging work: Be curious, instead of trying to prove you are right. Learn how someone on the other side of an issue understands and perceives something. 3. Burst out of your bubble Another key strategy to overcome division is helping people burst out of their bubble. The idea is that people can objectively detach from and examine their assumptions, and then try to explore alternative views outside their social media, news information and community silos. One #ListenFirst Coalition partner, AllSides, tries to help people do this through a digital platform that shows how the same news of the day is being reported by left, right and center media organizations. It also has an online tool, Rate Your Bias, which helps users become aware of their own assumptions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People can use these tools to compare different stances on issues like federal taxes and civil liberties and how their own positions line up. People can also search for individual media outlets to see if the majority of other users have rated these organizations as liberal, conservative or center. When people identify their own biases which can become evident as they examine the media outlets they like, for example it can help them become more curious and open. It also helps them move out of the information silos that divide people. The bridging movement is not without its challenges. People who lean red are sometimes suspicious of these initiatives, which give people information on voting and democracy and can be perceived as having a liberal bias. Group diversity is also a challenge. Based on my observations, Braver Angels participants tend to be older, white and educated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And other groups, like #ListenFirst Coalition partner Urban Rural Action, have to spend considerable time and effort getting a diverse range of people in their programs. But, given Americas stark political divisions, I think there is a clear need and desire for the depolarization work these groups do. The vast majority of people in the U.S. are concerned about the current state of polarization in the nation. These bridging groups show a way forward and offer strategies to help Americans build bridges across the countrys deepening political divide. FREDONIA, Arizona (ABC4) Three Utah children missing for two years have been located living with members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, according to the Fredonia Police Department. The children went missing in late Oct. of 2022, police said. Their last known location at the time was in Beaver County, Utah. In late Aug. of 2024, the police department of the small town of Fredonia, Ariz., received information regarding three children that had been reported missing two years prior. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Provo mother arrested for child abandonment after leaving 1-year-old alone, police say It was suspected that the father had orchestrated the disappearance and subsequent hiding of the children, along with help from family members of the Fundamentalist Latter-day Saint (FLDS) Church, a press release from Fredonia Police states. Arizona and Utah agencies conducted a joint effort to plan to retrieve the children. On Sept. 1, 2024, authorities found and retrieved the three children, returning them to their mother. Police also apprehended the childrens grandmother and aunt who appeared to be overseeing the children, the release states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Kanab City Police Department, Coconino County Sheriffs Office, Kane County Sheriffs Office, Kane County SWAT, Washington County Sheriffs Office, Homeland Security Investigation, and volunteers from the childrens family assisted in the planning and retrieval of the missing children. The Fredonia Police Department would like to thank all involved for their assistance, the release states. As of today, the children are safe with their mother as this investigation continues. 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. "It was very impressive to see all this collection and how it developed here." Italian scholars who visited Dehua, Fujian were impressed by the white porcelain produced here, which is known for its creamy whiteness, paper-thin delicacy, and chime stone-like sound. #GLOBALink MATTOON, Ill. (WCIA) The Illinois Business Education Association gives out awards every year at their fall conference. Earlier this month, their outstanding Post-Secondary Educator was selected from Lake Land College. Accounting Program Coordinator Cindy Phipps has been teaching for 30 years. But this one brought recognition many at the college say shes deserved for a while. To be the one getting it this year is incredible, Phipps said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This month, she was named Post-Secondary Educator of the year by the Illinois Business Education Association. A high honor, especially for someone who didnt think she would be in education. Champaign is adding another homeless shelter, and these are the organizations next steps: I started out as a CPA, worked as a CPA in Indianapolis for six years, and it was during a continuing education session that I was watching the person teach us, Phipps said. And I said, I think I could do that, and I think Id really like it. A year later, Phipps applied to Lake Land for her current position and has been a staple since then. Shes been with the college for 30 years and has made lasting impressions along the way. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ive had lots of students, and Ive had lots of comments on the award from the students that Ive had several years ago saying, thank you, youre the reason I went into accounting.' Phipps said. Business Instructor and co-worker Marcy Satterwhite nominated her for the award. Iroquois West School District welcoming new superintendent She is always dedicated, always the first one to step up and offer to help with whatever needs to be done, Satterwhite said. She is an excellent accounting instructor. Satterwhite also said she admires the creative ways Phipps teaches accounting concepts. One of Phipps favorite methods is using LEGO bricks to give students a visual representation of the content. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On top of that, Phipps is retiring after this year. I did not expect this to happen in my last year, and like I said, I love what I do, Phipps said. So, Im not even sure what thats going to feel like when I finish up next summer. Once Phipps completes her last year, she plans to travel as much as possible and spend more time with her family. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com. Over four billion years ago, the Red Planet may have been red hot. A 4.45-billion-year-old grain of the mineral zircon in a Martian meteorite found in the Sahara Desert in 2011 indicates Mars may have been home to boiling hot hydrothermal systems similar to Earths volcanoes. The findings are detailed in a study published November 22 in the journal Science Advances. The team analyzed meteorites from a large space rock designated as NWA7034 or Black Beauty. While all Martian meteorites have clues about the planets geologic history, most of them are igneous rocks like those found on Earth and others are mantle rocks. Newsletter background image Get the Popular Science newsletter Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Email address Sign up Thank you! By signing up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. What makes Black Beauty so special is that its a sample of regolith from the surface, which is similar to soil, Aaron Cavosie, a study co-author and a planetary scientist from the Space Science and Technology Centre at Curtin University in Australia, tells Popular Science. It contains hundreds of rock and mineral fragments from lots of different sources on Mars. Roughly 20 meteorites have been found here on Earth that are all believed to have been chipped off of Mars during the impact event that hurled the original Black Beauty stone down to Earth. The tiny grain of zircon within the meteorite was first described in a 2022 study. It provided scientists with an early record of crust formation on Mars, but also preserved the damage caused by earlier impacts by meteorites. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Black Beauty meteorites offer an extraordinary buffet of clues that help to fill in the geological puzzle of Mars, says Cavosie. A sample of the Martian meteorite known as Black Beauty. CREDIT: Curtin University/Aaron Cavosie. In the new study, Cavosie and the team decided to take a closer look at the grain of Martian zircon, focusing on the trace elements within the space rock for clues about the early history of Mars. They used nano-scale geochemistry and found elemental evidence of hot water on Mars about 4.45 billion years ago. On Earth, these types of systems were essential to the development of life and water was key during the earliest parts of crust formation. Nanoscale imaging and spectroscopy helped the team identify the element patterns in the zircon. These include iron, sodium, yttrium, and aluminum. We could tell by the patterns of how the Fe [Iron], Al [Aluminum], and Na [sodium] are found inside the zircon that they were incorporated into the grain as it grew, like layers in an onion, Cavosie says. [Related: Meteorite found in a drawer in 1929 contains ancient evidence of liquid water on Mars.] On Earth, the only zircons that have patterns like these form in magmatic-hydrothermal systems. These form when water is heated by a volcanic plumbing system. This system of hot boiling water then moves through rocks, taking these trace elements with them. The team believes that these elements were added as the zircon formed 4.45 billion years ago. This suggests that water was present during early magma-filled days on Mars. Other studies found that Earths moon also used to be full of magma. When we did the follow-up trace element study, and found that the martian zircon looks very similar to zircons from the Olympic Dam hydrothermal ore deposit in South Australia, we were very surprised, and even more excited, says Cavosie. It not only meant finding evidence for magmatic-hydrothermal systems on early Mars, but it also gave us an idea about what kinds of environments they form in from an Earth perspective. ENDICOTT, NY (WIVT/WBGH) A collection of hundreds of never-before-seen IBM punch-card clocks will soon be on display in Endicott. The Endicott History and Heritage Center has been updating its museum space at 40 Washington Avenue, and by the new year, plans to be open to the public, with a new exhibit. The new exhibit is an IBM clock collection, featuring 400 different IBM punch card clocks acquired by a former IBM employee, Donald Long. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The President of the Old Village of Union Historical Society, Ted Warner says the collection was donated a few years ago by Longs wife after he passed away. He had them in a room in South Carolina, where he lived with his wife. And when people came to see the clocks, they were just stacked one against each other. Everyone that walked in the room, they called it the OMG room. They would all say Oh my God, look as this, says Warner. The museum has a completely separate room that tells the story of Endicott. Including collections from IBM, Endicott-Johnson, Union-Endicott school district, and the merger of the two villages, Endicott and Union. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Warner says once open, the museum will offer tours and will feature monthly guest presenters. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WIVT - News 34. Seoul is a justly popular destination, but its hardly the only large city in South Korea that warrants visiting. Scattered around the country are metropolises where skyscrapers edge the coastline, cities of temples and pagodas that preserve the countrys ancient history, and urban centres at the cutting edge of modern technologies. Some, like Busan, are starting to make a name for themselves on the international scene, but many remain charmingly under the radar. 1. Busan Best for a seaside break Factor in at least a weekend to explore South Koreas modern city-by-the-sea in the south east, whether you want to ride the waves, explore a coastal park or rent a beach umbrella and sit back for the day. The city is home to Jagalchi, the countrys largest fish market [to hyperlink street food experiences eyewitness], where you can feast on all manner of seafood. Dont miss Haedong Yonggungsa, one of few temple complexes in the country to be set on the seaside. And when night falls, head to Gwangalli Beach to watch the Gwangandaegyo Suspension Bridge twinkle to life in all colours of the rainbow. (Explore the best ways to experience Busan.) 2. Gyeongju Best for history Make sure to schedule time for exploring the museum without walls on the southeastern coast. Gyeongju was the capital of Silla, one of Koreas three ancient kingdoms a dynasty that came into power in 57 BCE, unified the peninsula in 668 CE and continued to rule for almost three centuries. Countless temples, palaces, shrines and works of Buddhist art are preserved here, leading some to draw comparisons with Kyoto in Japan. Marvel at pagodas and royal tombs before visiting UNESCO-listed Bulguksa Temple, a 30-minute bus ride away. From here, a two-mile hike leads to the hermitage of Seokguram Grotto, famous for its Buddhist sculptures and views out over the sea. 3. Daejeon Best for innovation Youll hear Koreans call Daejeon their Silicon Valley: this central city is the heart of the countrys science and technology sector, hosting research institutes for Samsung, LG and some 200 other companies. For travellers, this translates into a sense of a place rapidly on the rise. Theres a futuristic footbridge that lights up at night, and Skyroad, a dining and shopping thoroughfare topped with LED panels. Themed experiences include the National Science Museum, where exhibits explore Korean inventions and future technologies. Just outside the city but seemingly a world away is mountainous Gyeryongsan National Park Daejeonites favourite escape for a spot for hiking. 4. Gwangju Best for kimchi Located near the countrys southwestern tip, the so-called city of kimchi claims to have invented the pungent banchan (side dish) and to produce the tastiest. Its home to the World Institute of Kimchi, which studies the science of fermentation; Kimchi Town, an interactive museum; and a dedicated festival, which takes place each November. Attendees can participate in kimjang, the communal kimchi-making process, and sample different varieties; up to 200 are thought to exist. Beyond kimchi, its a place of galleries and art museums. Youll also find the countrys largest pedestrianised dining and drinking district, as well as round-the-clock nightlife thats notably cheaper than Seoul. 5. Gangneung Best for nature In Gangneung, secluded on the east coast, the fragrance of pine cuts through the briny air. This city is ringed by forested mountains and fronted by the sea. Take in sweeping views over the urban centre from Daegwallyeong Ridge, then end the day with soju cocktails on the long stretch of white sand at Gyeongpo, one of many beaches in the area. Gangneungs setting has historically left it isolated from the rest of the peninsula, and locals have remained more culturally conservative. Seongyojang House, an 18th-century upper-class hanok (traditional house) surrounded by pines, beautifully merges the citys natural surroundings and historical legacy. Published in the South Korea guide, distributed with the November 2024 issue of National Geographic Traveller (UK). To subscribe to National Geographic Traveller (UK) magazine click here. (Available in select countries only). Thanksgiving marks the start of gift-giving season, and small businesses around Pierce County are ready with a series of holiday markets that kick off during Small Business Saturday on Nov. 30. Local vendors abound at these events, selling everything from jewelry to cards, pastries to coffee, handmade textiles to vintage wares. Its also high time for business districts to highlight small businesses, with deals and extras like free reusable totes or photo booths with Santa. Keeping money circulating in local economies, as opposed to big-box stores, offers more than a good story. Almost half of every dollar spent at a local business recirculates throughout the local economy, compared to just 13% for chain stores, according to the American Independent Business Alliance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heres our guide to upcoming markets and neighborhood events to check out Thanksgiving weekend and through December. SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY EXTRAVAGANZA Where: South 11th Street and Fawcett Avenue, Tacoma When: Saturday, Nov. 30, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. What: specials at shops, pop-up vendors including coffee and cookies A few stores in this area have banded together in the name of The Unofficial South 11th Business District to celebrate Small Business Saturday. Find all things culinary and handmade pottery at Tacoma Knife Sharpening & Mercantile, or consider a gift card for that person in your life who always has terribly dull knives. McCoy Kids has you covered for all the little ones in your life, and Lauda stocks an array of lovely cards and other gift-able goodies. Civic Roasters will set up a pourover station; pair with a treat from Franks Cookie Club. BLACK NIGHT MARKET - HOLIDAZE Where: Tacoma Armory, 1001 S. Yakima Ave., Tacoma Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When: Saturday, Nov. 30, 2-8 p.m. What: diverse market packed with art, fashion, snacks, music and more with a focus on BIPOC makers Since launching in 2022, Tacomas Black Night Market has drawn vendors and customers from around the region. Like their other markets, the holiday edition in partnership with Tacoma Arts Live and its Markets at the Armory series will feature a fashion show, live performances and DJs. Several food trucks and pop-up tents set up outside, including Stacks Burgers and Seven Sons Kitchen. WINDOW WALK & WASSAIL - PUYALLUP Where: Downtown Puyallup When: Saturday, Nov. 30, noon-late What: informal holiday window shopping, plus hot drinks at select cafes and specials at local bars and restaurants after 5 p.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stroll through downtown Puyallup on Saturday afternoon to take in themed window displays and, ideally, pop in for a pick-me-up or a unique gift at Candle Bar, Johnson Jewelers and Meeker Mercantile. The Cat and Rabbit Cake Shop (111 E. Stewart Ave.) and Savory and Sweet Cafe (201 S. Meridian) will serve hot toddies and similar warming beverages during the day. Other participating eateries include Bourbon Street Creole Kitchen, The Lazy Ballerina wine bar, The Coaster, The Forum and Wicked Pie. TACOMA WINTER MARKET (HOSTED BY MIDSOMMAR BAKERY) Where: Sons of Norway, 1106 S. 15th St., Tacoma When: Sunday, Dec. 1, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. What: market with 40+ vendors offering handmade art, jewelry, ceramics plus food, wellness and other culinary goods Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The family behind Midsommar Bakery, a Swedish pop-up that has thrived at the Proctor Farmers Market this year for their beautiful twirled buns and breads, has gathered a few dozen regional makers for their debut winter market. Pick up pastries for now or later, and search for the perfect something for that special someone. Think photography, custom art including stained glass and letterpress, ceramics, unique clothing, teas, potents and more. Its also a chance to see the inside of the beautiful Sons of Norway gymnasium. TACOMA SUNDAY MARKET Where: Tacoma Armory, 1001 S. Yakima Ave., Tacoma When: Sunday, Dec. 1, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. What: vintage-focused market with clothing, art, jewelry and other wares, plus food, drink, music, photo booths and live workshops Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tacoma Sunday Market is the place to be for vintage fiends. At an array of booths, find funky sweaters, graphic Ts, sneakers galore, hats and more. The holiday event will also feature live workshops, including a snow-globe theme, DIY wreaths, jewelry and how-to-bedazzle a lighter. Snack on tamales, pozole and various antojitos; grab a cocktail or a coffee. A tintype photographer will be snapping portraits, or take a pic with Black Santa. You can even get a flash tattoo. Bring a toy for the Lil Boof Toy Drive that benefits Tacoma Rescue Mission. One of Donald Trumps most loyal supporters just got picked for one of the most important roles in his second administration. Pam Bondi, the former attorney general of Florida, was chosen Thursday to be the nations top law enforcement official by Trump just hours after Matt Gaetz withdrew from consideration in the face of Senate opposition. Bondi is a partner at Ballard Partners, the lobbying firm that had been run by Trump's incoming chief of staff Susie Wiles and whose founder, Brian Ballard, is a top Trump fundraiser. She is co-chair of the law and justice division at the pro-Trump America First Policy Institute, which has been likened to a Trump administration in waiting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bondi is a longtime Trump ally and after he was elected in 2016, her name was floated for various jobs in the administration but it never panned out. She appears more likely to have an easier path to confirmation as attorney general than Gaetz, who was dogged by allegations of sexual misconduct and illegal drug use. Here are five things to know about Bondi: She was the first female attorney general in Florida Bondi served as Floridas attorney general from 2011-2019, the first woman to hold the office. She initiated the states litigation against opioid manufacturers. It was settled after she left office. She left office because of term limits and worked for Trumps transition team after his first victory. She has a close relationship with Lara Trump Bondi has a close relationship with Lara Trump, the president-elects daughter-in-law and chair of the Republican National Committee. The two campaigned together against a ban on dog racing in the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Tuesday, Bondi advocated for Lara Trump to be the replacement for Sen. Marco Rubio, Trumps pick for secretary of State. Shes a former Trump lawyer Bondi assisted Trump in his first impeachment fight as a senior adviser and lawyer, making the rounds on TV to help his case. Trump was impeached on charges of abusing his power and obstructing congressional investigations but the Senate acquitted him of the charges. She nixed the Trump University fraud case In 2016, news emerged that Trump paid a $2,500 fine because his foundation improperly donated $25,000 to Bondis political election committee in 2013 before her office opted not to pursue a fraud investigation into Trump University. Trump eventually paid $25 million to settle fraud complaints against the now-defunct university. Bondi said she was unaware of Trump University complaints at the time and that the contribution had nothing to do with her offices decision not to pursue the case. Trump has said he admired Bondi for never backing away from him amid the controversy. Her dog custody battle played out publicly Bondi was involved in a custody battle with Hurricane Katrina victims over a St. Bernard she adopted in 2005 after the dog was separated from his family during the storm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The family had been trying to find the dog and Bondi refused to return him. She accused the family of neglecting the animal, an allegation they denied. The family sued, and the dispute lasted 16 months until the two sides settled before trial. Bondi returned the dog to the family with food and medication. WEST PLAINS, Mo. A man is thousands of dollars richer after making a stop at Caseys in West Plains. The Missouri Lottery press release states the man uncovered one of 40 $50,000 prizes in the 5,000,000 Fortune Scratchers game. The $50 game began this summer and players have won more than $55.9 million in prizes. Unclaimed prizes include 30 of $50,000, three $1 million prizes and two $5 million prizes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Players in Howell County have won more than $7.8 million in Missouri Lottery prizes. More than $920,000 has gone to education programs in the 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 KOLR - OzarksFirst.com. A half-century after her partial skeletal remains were found under a plastic tarp in a wooded area of northern Lebanon County, state police from Reading-based Troop L finally have a name for the blond teen whose body was interred in a nearby cemetery under the name Jane Doe. In a press conference Thursday at the Lebanon County Department of Emergency Services, investigators provided the name of the girl whose manner of death has yet to be determined but is considered suspicious. She was Ruth Brenneman, 14, who lived with her family 47 miles away in York County and was last seen at the end of the 1972-73 school year. Ruthie, as she was called by her family, was known for her long blond hair and was listed as a missing person. Investigators were vague about when and how she was reported missing, citing the ongoing investigation into her death. They conceded, however, that law enforcement officials at the time, lacking the benefits of the internet and DNA technology, never made the connection between the missing blond-haired white teen and the remains with similar descriptors in Lebanon County, an hours drive away. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Oct. 10, 1973, a state game warden investigating deer poaching in Union Township, Lebanon County, smelled what he thought was a rotting deer carcass. Game officials tracked the odor to a wooded area off Moonshine Road, not far from where Interstate 81 splits off Interstate 78 near Fort Indiantown Gap. State police investigated but could not determine how she died or who she was, though the death was suspicious because the unclothed body was covered with a green tarp with brush piled on top. Investigators estimate the victim, a white female 16 to 20 years old, died weeks before her body was discovered. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They thought she might have been one of four runaways from a home for wayward girls that operated in nearby Jonestown. READING EAGLE Jane Doe cold case out of Pennsylvania State Police Troop L- Jonestown State police held a press conference at their Troop L Jonestown barracks in October 2015 to unveil a bust of a woman that was found Oct. 10, 1973, in Union Township, Lebanon County. (READING EAGLE) Over the years, attempts to identify her using the best forensic science had to offer failed to identify Jane Doe. About 10 years ago investigators unveiled a bust of what the victim may have looked like about the time she died, but it led only to dead-ends. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In February 2016, Lt. Nathan Trate, then the Troop L criminal investigations section supervisor, released a 3-D rendering done with the help of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. In 2015, as DNA technology advanced, Troop L investigators had the remains exhumed from her grave in Mount Lebanon Cemetery. The bones were carefully unearthed by Dr. Frederick Snow, a forensic anthropologist from Tennessee and a renowned expert in forensic exhumations. Bone samples were sent to a Texas laboratory for DNA extraction. Investigators declined to answer questions specific to the investigation. Speaking to reporters Thursday, Trooper Ian Keck, the most recent lead investigator, said forensic scientists in October identified the remains using forensic genealogy analysis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said he was thankful for advances in DNA technology, especially forensic genealogy, which draws on public DNA databases to match unknown DNA profiles to identified family trees. The identification clears a big hurdle that stymied the investigation for 51 years, Keck said. Identifying the victim is a crucial step in a death investigation because it allows police to learn about the victim via family and associates, he said. Ruthies family long ago legally declared her deceased, even though the whereabouts of her remains were unknown. State Police Sgt. Joshua A. Lacey announces the identification of a body found in Lebanon County in 1973 as 14-year-old- Ruth Elizabeth Brenneman during a press conference Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024 at the Lebanon County Department of Emergency Services in Cornwall, Lebanon County. (Courtesy of the Pennsylvania State Police) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sgt. Joshua Lacey, Troop L criminal investigations supervisor, read a brief statement on behalf of her family. It read: The family wishes to extend our gratitude to Trooper Keck and the others on the Pennsylvania State Police team who worked diligently to identify Ruthie. Their work has provided us with some closure on questions that have lingered for the past 51 years. Keck said many investigators, including his predecessor, Trate, share the credit. He expressed mixed emotions with identifying the victim. You know that youre able to help a family identify their loved one that theyve been missing for several years, he said, but on the other hand I know theres another part of this investigation and its not over yet, so we need to keep going. This is just one hump we got over, being able to identify her. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ruth Brenneman was born Nov. 26, 1958. Her body was found about six weeks shy of her 15th birthday. If she were alive today, she would be 65. Investigators asked anyone who knew Ruth Brenneman or has information about her to contact state police at 717-865-5067. Information can also be submitted, anonymous if preferred, via PSP Tips at 800-472-8477 or psptipsemail@gmail.com. MARIETTA, Ga. (AP) Half a dozen state and county agencies are investigating a burned Georgia funeral home after a photographer from England said he found urns, bags of human ashes, and even human remains in what is left of the building. Norman Medford Peden Funeral Home and Crematory in Marietta, about 20 miles (32 kilometers) north of Atlanta, caught fire earlier this year. The building was up for a foreclosure auction before the fire happened. The cause of the fire is undetermined, and the building is set to be demolished. Six agencies are now involved in figuring out what was happening inside the funeral home, including Marietta police, Cobb County Fire and Emergency Services, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the Cobb County District Attorneys Office, the Cobb County Medical Examiners Office and the Georgia Secretary of States Office, WSB-TV reported Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They say they are looking for family members who used the business to handle their loved ones burial or cremation. We are trying to find out where that money is, Noula Zaharia with the Georgia Secretary of States Office Cemeteries Division said of the thousands of dollars many families prepaid for funerals. On Wednesday, the station reported what photographer Ben James, who traveled from England to photograph the abandoned funeral home, said he found in the building. Bank statements of burials, bank statements of people who had paid for burials. Ive found lots of ashes at funeral homes, maybe one or two, but to find this amount was crazy, Ive never seen such a big amount, James said. It was very alarming. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement James said he found more than 30 urns and bags of human ashes. Some were labeled with names, others werent. He said he also found family photos, death certificates, credit card information and hazardous chemicals. There was a discarded human fetus in a jar just left in the embalming room," James said. Whats the back story to it? How can that just have been forgotten about? Its very sad. A similar situation unfolded in another Georgia city last month. A funeral home owner in Douglas, about 200 miles (320 kilometers) southeast of Atlanta, was arrested and accused of neglecting human corpses after authorities said they found 18 bodies in various stages of decomposition while serving an eviction notice at the business. The U.S. Attorneys Office for the Northern District of Georgia says six drug traffickers have been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in distributing drugs around Rome, Ga. According to a release from the USAO, Adrian Robinson, Julio Martinez-Guzman, Jesse Willard Brooks, James Carden, Reginal Eric Dowdy and Casanova DePaul Pritchett all pled guilty to possessing various illegal drugs and participating in a conspiracy to sell them. A seventh accused member of the conspiracy, Abel Santoyo-Santana of Mexico, is still a fugitive and law enforcement agents are searching for him. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Information presented in court by prosecutors said the case began with a 2021 investigation, where Martinez-Guzman was found operating a drug distribution ring from two homes in Rome. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Martinez-Guzman had already been convicted on previous drug trafficking charges, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. During their 2021 investigation, agents identified Martinez-Guzmans customers as well as his narcotics suppliers, who obtained and distributed quantities of illegal drugs in the North Georgia area, including heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, and oxycodone, officials said. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, six of the co-conspirators face years in prison. The individuals were sentenced to the following federal prison terms: Adrian Robinson, 42, of Cedartown, Georgia, was sentenced to six years in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Robinson was convicted of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on May 29, 2024, after he pleaded guilty. Julio Martinez-Guzman, 54, of Rome, Georgia, was sentenced to 20 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release. Martinez-Guzman was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine, oxycodone, and heroin on February 26, 2024, after he pleaded guilty. Jesse Willard Brooks, 41, of Rome, Georgia, was sentenced to eight years, four months in prison followed by five years of supervised release. Brooks was convicted of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on February 15, 2024, after he pleaded guilty. James Carden, 42, of Villa Rica, Georgia was sentenced to five years, three months in prison followed by five years of supervised release. Carden was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin and methamphetamine on February 14, 2024, after he pleaded guilty. Reginal Eric Dowdy, 46, of Cedar Bluff, Alabama, was sentenced to three years, ten months in prison followed by five years of supervised release. Dowdy was convicted of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on February 15, 2024, after he pleaded guilty. Casanova DePaul Pritchett, 53, of Calhoun, Georgia was sentenced to two years, six months in prison followed by five years of supervised release. Pritchett was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and oxycodone on February 26, 2024, after he pleaded guilty. Drug trafficking is a societal scourge that poses serious risks to the public health and safety of our communities, U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan said in a statement. The dedication of our federal, state, and local enforcement partners resulted in the disruption of this drug trafficking organization and led to the successful prosecution of these defendants. Anyone with information about Abel Santoyo-Santanas whereabouts is asked to contact local law enforcement agents. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] BEIJING, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Luxembourg Xavier Bettel will visit China from Nov. 24 to 29 at the invitation of Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and minister of foreign affairs, foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian announced here Friday. Along a busy road in North Rosedale Park, on Detroit's west side, Pip, the bookstore cat, greets shoppers as they come in to Pages Bookshop. Across town, at 27th Letter Books on Michigan Avenue, titles are on the ground floor but walk down a flight of stairs and there's a game shop tucked underneath. And, in Hamtramck, a 1920s building on the corner of Jos. Campau and Caniff was once a bank, restaurants and bars. Now, past its stately facade, shoppers will find books and a space for clubs to meet inside at Book Suey. All across Detroit, Hamtramck and Highland Park, indie bookstores are finding ways to open and stay open, even though books don't bring in a lot of money. What does make it work, say shop owners, is connection: They are making space for the community to gather and, at the basic level, are able to have conversations with shoppers and suggest reads they might like, things book lovers can't easily do online. "You can feel the books. You can smell them," said John K. King, owner of John K. King Books, home to four floors of used books in downtown Detroit. It has been in its current location since the 1980s. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New bookstores have cropped up nearby over the past few years to join King, in East English Village and southwest Detroit. And, next spring, another bookshop and community space, Howard Family Bookstore, is slated to open on Detroit's west side. Detroiter Jerjuan Howard grew up about six blocks from the building he's renovating on Puritan Avenue, between Stansbury Avenue and Lesure Street. His great-grandparents moved into the neighborhood in 1939. Howard, 26, sees the upcoming bookstore as a "legacy project." It's a way to reinvest in his city, he said. When Howard graduated from Western Michigan University, where he studied criminal justice, in 2020, many of his peers didn't want to come back to Detroit, but Howard saw the city's potential. "I want this to become the cool thing to come back to our areas especially with Detroit changing right before our eyes," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Howard said he wants to increase literacy and offer a space where people can meet up. Alongside books, the building will have an outdoor mural and rooftop seating and sell coffee, tea and juices, he said. Howard Family Bookstore, when it opens, will join more than a dozen other independent bookstores in Detroit, according to the Detroit Economic Growth Corp. Hamtramck has three, the city's Downtown Development Authority said, and Highland Park has one. Books make great gifts, sellers say. Ahead of the holidays and as Small Business Saturday approaches, here are six bookstores in Detroit and Hamtramck to visit: Book Suey Sabrina Balgamwalla, one of the member owners of Hamtramck's co-op bookstore, Book Suey, calls herself a biblio-matchmaker, helping customers make personalized selections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Book Suey's curated inventory offers local and regional poetry, graphic novels, fiction and zines, independently made publications. The bookstore also hosts clubs from flash fiction to textile mending and events. Book Suey was built to be a bank but, over the years, has housed cafes, a tap room, and more recently, a Chinese takeout restaurant before becoming the bookstore. Dozens of books rest on bookshelves inside Book Suey, the co-op bookstore in Hamtramck, on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. Book Suey is housed in a historic building that once served as a bank in the 1920s and later as a Chinese restaurant. The original tile from the bank remains intact. Book Suey has 14 active member owners, including artists, teachers and librarians who work together to run the shop, everything from marketing to inventory to working with customers, Balgamwalla said. Balgamwalla is the director of the asylum and immigration clinic at Wayne State's Law School. "For many of us, it's an expression of our love of reading and books, the transformative power of reading and the vibrant role that bookstores play in the fabric of our communities. We all have day jobs and other things that keep us busy," Balgamwalla said. "None of us actually draw a paycheck from working here but we keep coming back because we love talking with people about books. We love hosting writers and community events and we love spending time together and so it's like being part of a community within a community." Current bestseller: "Detroit in 50 Maps" by Alex B. Hill Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Address and hours: 10345 Jos. Campau Ave., Hamtramck; 6-9 p.m., Wednesday, Thursday and Friday; 2-6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday. (Book Suey will be closed on Small Business Saturday) 27th Letter Books Located on Michigan Avenue in southwest Detroit, 27th Letter Books opened its doors in 2021. It's built on the educational model of mirrors, windows and sliding glass doors the idea that literature can offer a reflection of readers' own experiences and a glimpse and opportunity to enter other worlds. The bookstore's name comes from how the ampersand was once considered the 27th letter of the alphabet and draws inspiration from the "expansiveness found in 'and'," by promoting various forms of narrative art, said Erin Pineda, one of the worker owners of 27th Letter Books. "We focus on literary narratives through the bookstore but also we like to embrace and celebrate narratives in all forms. So, we have visual artists that we've hosted in the space. We've hosted film screenings. We do all sorts of readings and events," Pineda said. The new independent bookstore 27th Letter Books is open in temporary space on Van Dyke near Agnes in Detroit's West Village district. Photographed on Dec. 11, 2019. 27th Letter Books carries adult and children books and merchandise, including notebooks and pens. Opal Grove Games, a board game store, is located in the lower level of the building. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Current bestseller: Good Dress by Brittany Rogers Address and hours: 3546 Michigan Ave., Detroit; 1-8 p.m., Wednesday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday; noon to 5 p.m., Sunday. 27th Letter Books will also be at the downtown Detroit winter markets in Cadillac Square, until Jan. 5. Generally, the hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m.- to 7 p.m., Sunday. The winter markets have holiday hours. For more information, go to www.deckedoutdetroit.com/detroit-markets. Next Chapter Books Next Chapter Books opened its store in September 2023, along Detroit's East Warren Avenue corridor. In its first year, the business has seen growth and is looking forward to more foot traffic as restaurants and other retailers open up, said Sarah Williams, the co-owner of Next Chapter Books. It's been an upstream swim, she said, as the bookstore vies for people's attention away from screens and technology. Jay Williams stocks shelves at Next Chapter Books in the new store on East Warren Ave. Thursday, Nov 9, 2023. The started as a pop-up and have now opened the store on part of the renovated East Warren corridor. "We thrive by connecting with people who love to read or who love to shop small, shop local," Williams said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Next Chapter Books is "a bookstore and more," she said, offering new and used titles for all ages, alongside Detroit-branded hats and scarves, puzzles, family board games and locally made soaps and candles. Books make for great gifts, Williams said. "You're giving that person time to spend with themselves. You're giving that person time to use their imagination. There are hours and hours inside of a book for a person to enjoy. You're giving them the chance to see themselves perhaps in a character. You're giving them the chance to escape technology and really just find enjoyment in storytelling," she said. If there's one book Willaims herself would gift someone right now, it'd be the nonfiction "World of Wonders: In Praise of Fireflies, Whale Sharks, and Other Astonishments" by Aimee Nezhukumatathil. Current bestseller: "The Message" by Ta-Nehisi Coates Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Address and hours: 16555 E. Warren Ave., Detroit; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday. On Nov. 29, Next Chapter will have a 20% off used book sale from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. On Small Business Saturday, Next Chapter Books will open at 10 a.m. and host four neighboring small businesses. Patrons can buy coffee, baked goods, leather goods and lunch. Pages Bookshop Susan Murphy picks every book that goes onto the shelves of Pages Bookshop in Detroit's historic North Rosedale Park neighborhood ranging from fiction and history to political science and biographies. Pip, 7, looks up at Pages Bookshop owner Susan Murphy, 65, at Pages Bookshop in Detroit on Monday, Feb. 28, 2022. Pip likes to greet customers as they enter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Find a bookstore that curates and brings in the kind of books that a customer is interested in that makes all the difference in the world," Murphy, the owner, said. Pages Bookshop opened in 2015 to raise the profile of books and reach families in the community. Pip, a 10-year-old black and white cat, has been living in the store for about eight years, greeting customers. Current bestsellers: "Lovely One" by Ketanji Brown Jackson, "Intermezzo" by Sally Rooney and "James" by Percival Everett Address and hours: 19560 Grand River Ave., Detroit; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. John K. King Used & Rare Books Cinder blocks hold up some shelves and overhead fluorescent lights guide readers through the sprawling labyrinth that is John K. King Books. Stephen Cybulski, of Detroit, looks over poetry books at John K. King Used & Rare Books on Lafayette Boulevard in Detroit on Jan. 29, 2013. In its downtown Detroit location, the store has four floors dedicated to a collection of books, from religion and mystery to cooking and history. The store offers a rare book collection, accessible online. King bought the once abandoned Advance Glove Factory in the early 1980s but has been in the book business since he was a teenager in 1965, according to the business's website. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It's a community based business. I mean, we cater mostly to people in the area, even though we do get guests in from Europe and everywhere," King said. Book dealer John K. King stands in his store, John K. King Books in Detroit on Feb. 26, 2002. Current bestseller: King said "better sellers," as opposed to bestsellers, include Michigan history books, especially those that are out of print. People also buy a lot of fiction. Detroit location address and hours: 901 W. Lafayette Blvd., Detroit; noon to 4 p.m., Monday; 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturday. Source Booksellers Source Booksellers, located in Midtown Detroit, primarily carries nonfiction titles, from history and culture to health and the arts. The business has been around for 35 years and in its current neighborhood for more than two decades, Janet Webster Jones, founder and owner of Source Booksellers, said. A book seller serves the needs of customers, she said. It's like being fitted at a clothing store or buying shoes after getting measured, she said. Owner Janet Webster Jones, 84, poses for a photo at Source Booksellers in Detroit on Tuesday, April 26, 2022. Current bestseller: That's hard to say because it depends on the day, Webster Jones said. The idea of a bestseller also comes down to a transaction and the number of books sold, whereas independent bookstores are more of a relationship between buyer and seller, she said. Address and hours: 4240 Cass Ave. #105, Detroit; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday. Contact Nushrat Rahman: nrahman@freepress.com. Follow her on X: @NushratR. This story was updated to add an additional photo. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Independent metro Detroit bookstores to visit this holiday season WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (WFLA) Six people in Winter Haven were rescued after a neighbor reported seeing flames in their home early Friday morning. Around 5:34 a.m., Winter Haven police responded to the home on 3rd Street Northeast and began rescuing the residents who were sleeping inside and unaware of the fire. Largo police arrest man accused of stealing over $15K from client in estate sale Officials said the fire was confined to the back of the home. As Polk County Fire Rescue units arrived, they were able to keep the flames from spreading. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The six people are displaced and the American Red Cross is assisting them, according to the police department. Thankfully, there were no injuries. Winter Haven Police Department Winter Haven Police Department Winter Haven Police Department Winter Haven Police Department According to fire crews, the home sustained damage to only the back of the home, which includes the kitchen and laundry room. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. BANGKOK (AP) Two Australian teenagers and a British woman died from suspected methanol poisoning after drinking tainted alcohol in Laos. An American man and two Danes also died, though their exact causes of death have not been released. A New Zealander also has been sickened. The U.S. State Department issued a warning to travelers to be alert to the potential risk of methanol poisoning. But what is methanol, and how do you avoid it? What is methanol? There are three main types of alcohol: ethanol, methanol and isopropyl. Ethanol is what is found in consumer spirits and is the only one intended for consumption. Isopropanol is the main ingredient in rubbing alcohol and hand sanitizers. Methanol, commonly called wood alcohol because it is the byproduct of wood distillation, is frequently used as fuel and in products such as antifreeze and solvents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What happens if you consume methanol? According to the Methanol Institute, the global trade association for the industry, drinking just 25 to 90 ml (0.7 to 3.0 ounces) of methanol can be fatal without proper medical treatment, but can be successfully treated if caught early. Methanol poisoning can cause headaches, dizziness and decreased consciousness including coma, seizure, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision and multiple other symptoms, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. The CDC recommends seeking medical attention immediately if methanol poisoning is suspected. Individuals vary in their response to methanol, said toxicologist Alastair Hay from Britains University of Leeds. Some will be able to tolerate more than others because we all have variability in the capacity of our enzymes to detox. But small quantities ... might be fatal for individuals; others may survive slightly more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Why would it be in drinks if it's not meant for consumption? Methanol is sometimes added deliberately by unscrupulous bars to mixed drinks to give them more kick and to save money on using higher-priced ethanol-based spirits such as vodka or rum. This practice is not specific to Laos or Southeast Asia, but occurs wherever taxes on legitimate alcohol or the cost of legitimate alcohol is perceived as being too high, according to the Methanol Institute. Methanol is also a normal product of the distillation process that produces ethanol, and in home-brew distilleries without strict controls often found in poorer countries it can end up in the mix. How do you avoid methanol poisoning? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The answer is easy: don't drink it. But it's colorless, odorless and tasteless, so that can be something of a challenge. In guidance issued after the Laos poisonings, Britains Foreign Office recommends only purchasing alcoholic beverages from licensed liquor stores, buying drinks only from licensed bars and hotels, always checking if bottle seals are intact, and checking labels for poor print quality or incorrect spellings. The Methanol Institute notes that beverages such as canned beer, cider, wine, pre-mix, and duty-free products tend to be safer and less easy to adulterate. It also urges people to be wary of homemade brews, and free drinks or drinks priced far below normal. ___ Associated Press journalist Jerry Harmer contributed to this story. Multiple tourists have fallen sick after reportedly drinking alcohol spiked with methanol in a popular tourist town Facebook (3) Bianca Jones, Simone White, Holly Bowles Bianca Jones, Simone White, Holly Bowles Six tourists including an unnamed American man have now reportedly died in Laos after drinking alcohol that authorities suspect was tainted with methanol. On Friday, Nov. 22, the family of 19-year-old Australian, Holly Bowles, released a statement confirming the teenager had died after being on life support in a Bangkok hospital, per the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The statement, which was also published by the Associated Press, read: "We are so sad to say that our beautiful girl Holly is now at peace." We find comfort and solace in knowing that Holly brought so much joy and happiness to so many people," the family added. Oleksandr Rupeta/NurPhoto via Getty A photo of Vang Vieng, Laos A photo of Vang Vieng, Laos An American, a British woman, two Danish tourists and Bowles' friend, 19-year-old Bianca Jones, have also died in the incident, while multiple people have reportedly been left sick in Vang Vieng; a town popular with backpackers and tourists. According to the AP, an officer with Vang Viengs Tourism Police office who declined to be named said on Friday that a "number of people" had been detained in the case but told the outlet that no charges had currently been filed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The manager and owner of the Nana Backpacker Hostel, where the Australian teenagers who died were staying, were among those taken in for questioning, the news agency stated. Per the AP, the two Australian teens fell ill on Nov. 13 following a night out. They were taken to the hospital after they failed to check out of their room at the hostel. The hostel told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that the potentially harmful drinks they consumed on the night didn't come from its bar. A State Department spokesperson confirmed to PEOPLE that a U.S. citizen had died in Vang Vieng, saying: "We offer our sincerest condolences to their family on their loss." AP Photo/Anupam Nath A photo of the Nana Backpackers Hostel in Vang Vieng, Laos A photo of the Nana Backpackers Hostel in Vang Vieng, Laos "We are closely monitoring the situation and providing consular assistance," the spokesperson added. "On November 21, the U.S. Embassy sent out an alert informing U.S. citizens that we are aware of a number of cases of suspected methanol poisoning in Vang Vieng, possibly through the consumption of methanol-laced alcoholic drinks." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We have advised U.S. citizens to please be alert to the potential risk of methanol poisoning, especially when consuming spirit-based alcoholic drinks," the spokesperson continued. "Out of respect to the family and loved ones during this difficult time, we have no further comment," they concluded. British lawyer, Simone White, also died in the incident, per the BBC. Her law firm, Squire Patton Boggs, paid tribute on Friday via Facebook, writing alongside a photo: "It is with deep sadness that we mourn the tragic passing of our dear friend and colleague Simone White." 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Simone was a talented colleague with a bright future ahead of her and someone who epitomized our firm values. Our thoughts go out to all of Simones family, friends, and those colleagues and clients who had the privilege to work with and know Simone. She will be sincerely missed," the post added. While methanol can be inadvertently produced during the brewing process, The Guardian reported its often illegally added to drinks to help increase the alcohol content. Per the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, methanol is a colorless, watery liquid, and symptoms of methanol poisoning resemble over-consumption of alcohol, like nausea, dizziness, loss of consciousness and vomiting. Fatal cases often present with fast heart rate (tachycardia) or slow heart rate (bradycardia) and an increased rate of respiration. Low blood pressure (hypotension) and respiratory arrest occur when death is imminent, the CDC said. PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) Things are starting to look more festive down by the riverfront as they put up their Christmas tree on its tree stand on Thursday. Peoria Riverfront Museum Board Member Alison Unkovich said the tree is a 60-foot Norway spruce that was grown in Peoria and donated to the museum by Dan and Sandy Urbaniak. We are just so grateful for all our amazing sponsors and this amazing Peoria community that has truly brought this all together, Unkovich said. There have been so many wonderful people who have come to support this and do this for our community, and we are very grateful. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The tree will be decorated with more than 40,000 lights, which will be lit during an event at 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 3. Peoria police need assistance helping those in need this holiday season Everyone will also be able to enjoy the tree during the Christmas in the Village event which will be held on Dec. 6 and 7. The tree will remain on the riverfront for people to take family pictures through the holiday season, and into the new year, according to Unkovich. More information about upcoming museum events is available on its website and Facebook page. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CIProud.com. (NewsNation) More than six decades on from the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, questions remain as to what truly occurred. On Nov. 22, 1963, Kennedy was shot in the back and head while traveling in a motorcade through Dealey Plaza in Dallas. He was pronounced dead at Parkland Hospital and Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested for first murdering police officer J.D. Tippit and later Kennedy. However, several other theories suggest Oswald was a patsy or fall guy for the assassination. A full 61 years since the shooting, those theories persist, and some withheld documents from the government fuel speculation that the public does not know everything it should about the death of 35th president of the United States. The 61st anniversary A moments silence will be held at 12:30 p.m. Friday in Dealey Plaza, while the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza held a two-night event examining the traumatic impact of the assassination. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unsolved: The JFK Assassination | A NewsNation Special Report Trumps pledge to release JFK files President-elect Donald Trump said during his election campaign that should he return to the White House he would release all the remaining documents related to the assassination. According to the Associated Press, while several thousand government records remain unreleased, profound revelations should not be expected. Anybody waiting for a smoking gun thats going to turn this case upside down will be sorely disappointed, author Gerald Posner, who wrote Case Closed, told the AP. Unseen footage recently released In September, previously unseen footage of Kennedy riding in his motorcade was released before it went up for auction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The footage, a color silent 8 mm film taken by Dale Carpenter Sr., was sold by RR Auction for $137,500. These images, these films and photographs, a lot of times they are still out there. They are still being discovered or rediscovered in attics or garages, Stephen Fagin, curator for The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza, said, via AP. Theories While official investigations determined Lee Harvey Oswald was the sole gunman, many have speculated about the number of shooters involved. In a 2023 interview with NewsNation, actor and director Rob Reiner, who has a 10-part podcast series named Who Killed JFK said he had proof that four men were involved. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Private investigator Josiah Thompson, who has devoted much of his life to studying Kennedys assassination told NewsNation last year that he believes at least two shooters were involved. One of those shots was fired too close to the other two to have come from Oswalds rifle, he said. Ross Coulthart asks: Did JFK know about UFOs? | Reality Check We cant have the president of the United States assassinated by person or by persons unknown. Thats not a stable position for our society to embrace. So well fix it a little, Thompson added, when asked what he believes happened. Thompson believes there will never be a true answer as to what happened on that fateful day in Dallas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NewsNations Steph Whiteside and Ross Coulthart contributed to this report. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. An 84-year-old Texas man has been charged with first-degree murder after allegedly killing his roommate and her dog, authorities said. Police in Austin, Texas responded to a deceased person call at a home in the city's University Hills area on Monday afternoon, according to a news release from the department. Austin Police Department officers found a dead woman and dog inside the home. The woman was later identified as Linda Mlsna, 83, the department said. APD detective Israel Pina described the scene as a "very, very brutal attack," according to CBS affiliate CBS Austin. It's the 63rd homicide in the city this year, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While investigating Mlsna's death, homicide detectives found that her roommate was unaccounted for. Jack Moore was a mutual friend of Mlsna's son, CBS Austin reported, and had stayed on as a roommate when Mlsna's son moved away. Lupita Diaz, a neighbor who lived across the street from the home, told CBS Austin that Mlsna had begun having issues living with Moore. Jack Moore / Credit: Austin Police Department "It was probably like a month ago that she told me she didn't feel comfortable with him around," Diaz said. The APD's Tactical Intelligence Unit and the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force arrested Moore on an unrelated warrant related to carjacking, CBS Austin reported. Investigators found that Moore had been using Mlsna's credit cards to make purchases after her death. Moore confessed to killing Mlsna and her dog, taking the credit cards and formulating a plan to flee the country during an interview with detectives, the APD said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moore was arrested on a charge of first-degree murder and booked into the Travis County Jail. He is being held on $1 million bail, CBS Austin reported. The station also reported Moore has a criminal history and has served prison time, but police told the affiliate that there had been no domestic violence-related calls to Mlsna's home. "We shouldn't underestimate anyone. He's 84 years old," said Pina. "But you just can't predict who is dangerous and who is not. It is disturbing that you never know, when you have someone living with you, who you're actually bringing in unless you thoroughly vet them, or you've known them your entire life." Matt Gaetz may be able to return to his congressional seat after withdrawal from AG consideration Former deputy assistant attorney general on indefinite Trump "hush money" sentencing delay What to know about indefinite delay of Trump "hush money" sentencing I realize that South Carolina Republican U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace is an attention-hungry partisan, trying to make a name for herself as a culture warrior by demonizing the first transgender woman to be elected to Congress. And I understand that giving Maces proposal to ban transgender women from womens bathrooms in the Capitol any oxygen is probably just what she wants. But I also dont think its wise to allow her fearmongering and demonizing to go unanswered. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this month, voters in the state of Delaware did something momentous: They elected Democrat Sarah McBride, a transgender woman, to the House of Representatives. At 34, McBride, a member of the Delaware state Senate since 2021 and a former spokesperson for the national Human Rights Campaign, will be one of the youngest members in Congress. Focusing on healthcare, reproductive rights and economic issues, she beat her Republican opponent by a hefty 16 percentage points. Read more: Abcarian: Transgender issues aren't a top voter concern. Why is Trump's campaign obsessed with them? Since then, Mace and her colleague Georgia Republican U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene have been waging a petty war against McBride, aided and abetted by House Speaker Mike Johnson, who announced Wednesday that transgender people in the Capitol and House office buildings will be allowed to use only those bathrooms that correspond to the gender they were assigned at birth. Also on Wednesday, Mace introduced a resolution that would ban trans women from using womens bathrooms and locker rooms in federal buildings. Never mind that trans women have been using womens bathrooms on Capitol Hill and in the White House and Pentagon for years without issues, according to writer and trans activist Charlotte Clymer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I have PTSD from the sexual abuse I have suffered at the hands of a man, Mace told Scripps News. And I will tell you just the idea of a man in a locker room watching me change clothes after a workout is a huge trigger and it's not OK to make and force women to be vulnerable in private spaces." Of course, we all want to be safe in private and public spaces. But the logic and coherence there is somewhat lacking, said Andrew Flores, an associate professor of government at American University. "According to the data analysis, there is not a systematic relationship between allowing trans people to use bathrooms according to their current gender and experiences of predation. The correlation is just not there. In 2018, Flores, who is also a distinguished visiting scholar at UCLA Law's Williams Institute, and his colleagues studied crime rates before and after cities in Massachusetts outlawed gender discrimination in public accommodations, i.e. bathrooms and locker rooms. They compared the rates in those cities with Massachusetts cities that had passed no such protections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We found nothing, he told me no change in victimization rates for a crime that is already vanishingly rare. At the end of the day, we were surprised by how many agencies had such trouble producing data for us because they couldnt find it. A 2017 survey by CNN found similar results when it reached out to 20 law enforcement agencies in states with anti-discrimination policies covering gender identity. None who answered reported any bathroom assaults after the policies took effect, the network reported. Read more: Abcarian: Why would a rape survivor endorse Donald Trump? To assume that a trans woman is a sexual predator is not just outrageous and wrong, its the same sort of thinking that conflates homosexuality with pedophilia. Most child sex offenders identify as heterosexual or bisexual men. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyway, I dont know whats more perverse the fixation some Republican women have on being watched in bathrooms and locker rooms, or the way they readily stand by their male colleagues in the GOP, even if they are found liable for sexually assaulting a woman in a department store dressing room and boast about grabbing womens genitals, allegedly have sex with underage teenagers or pay settlements to women who have accused them of rape. On Tuesday, Politico reported that in a private House GOP conference meeting, Greene indicated that shed fight a transgender woman if she tried to use a womans bathroom on the House side of the Capitol. This possibility certainly tracks with reality. As many people can guess, and research shows, transgender people are far more likely than cisgender people to be assaulted in public spaces as a result of their gender identity. Still, those facts did not stop Greene from telling reporters last week that America is fed up with the trans ideology being shoved into our face. Women have been the victims of this garbage for long enough. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I would suggest that Greene and Mace are shoving transgender ideology into their own faces. As McBride herself put it in a social media post, Im not here to fight about bathrooms. Im here to fight for Delawareans and to bring down costs facing families. ... Each of us were sent here because voters saw something in us that they value. And of course, Maces mean-spirited proposal has apparently caused a backlash. Men that want to use womens restrooms are threatening to kill me over this issue, she told the cable network NewsNation. Now she can pose as a martyr. The skeptic in me thinks she was hoping for that all along. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bluesky: @rabcarian.bsky.social. Threads: @rabcarian 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. Students wait for a bus outside Lane Tech College Prep High School in Chicago. Teen birth rates have been falling for decades, but abortion bans threaten to undo that progress, experts say. (Scott Olson | Getty Images) Houston OB-GYN Dr. Hillary Boswell says she has seen how abortion bans affect teenage girls: More of them are carrying their pregnancies to term. These are vulnerable girls, and its just heartbreaking to see the number of pregnant 13-year-olds Ive had to take care of, Boswell said, referring to the change since Texas prohibited abortions after six weeks in September 2021. In June 2022, after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, Texas enacted a total abortion ban. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They would come in, and they would be very distressed, said Boswell, who spent the past decade treating underserved women and girls at community health clinics. Not being able to help them get an abortion when they wanted one, she said, was so hard and so against everything that I trained for. In the year after Texas began implementing its six-week abortion ban, teen fertility rates in the state rose for the first time in 15 years, according to a study released earlier this year by the University of Houston. Overall, the increase in teen fertility in Texas was slight: only 0.39%. But the University of Houston researchers said the change was significant, because it reversed a 15-year trend and because the national teen fertility rate declined during the same period. They also noted that the increases were larger for Hispanic teens (1.2%) and Black teens (0.5%), while the rate for white teens declined by 0.5%. So far, the Texas data is the first evidence that abortion bans might lead to an increase in teen births. But as abortion restrictions have spread post-Roe 13 states now have total bans some providers and other experts predict that other states will see increases. If so, the nations nearly 30-year trend of declining teen births could be in jeopardy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Boswell and other providers note that teens are having a harder time accessing contraception and abortions and they fear the incoming Trump administration could make it even more challenging for teens, whose pregnancies are riskier and who disproportionately sought abortions before the Supreme Court overturned Roe. In a lot of ways, Texas is sort of a microcosm of what were going to see in other parts of the country, said Dr. Bianca Allison, a pediatrician and assistant professor at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. Historically, it has always felt like young people those who are minors but of reproductive potential are left out of the conversation of reproductive autonomy and rights. Access to pills People seeking abortions have been relying on the broader availability of telehealth for medication abortions, which now account for nearly two-thirds of all abortions. The number of abortions in the U.S. has increased since the fall of Roe, largely because more people are using the easier-to-access method, according to the Society of Family Planning. But the Trump administration could make it harder to procure the pills by reversing a current U.S. Food and Drug Administration policy that allows them to be sent through the mail. Some anti-abortion groups want the Trump administration to enforce the Comstock Act, a long-dormant 1873 law they believe could be used to make it a federal crime to send or receive abortion medication. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement States also could require in-person physician visits for abortion medication, effectively barring patients from accessing it via telemedicine. And Louisiana last month began classifying mifepristone and misoprostol the two medications used in nonsurgical abortions as controlled substances, making it a crime to possess them without a prescription. A Texas state lawmaker has proposed similar legislation in his state. I would absolutely predict that we will see a reversal in our progress of reducing teen pregnancies, said developmental psychologist Julie Maslowsky, an associate professor at the University of Michigan who studies adolescent reproductive and sexual health. If someone does not want to be pregnant, they should have all the options available to them to prevent pregnancy, Maslowsky said. And the majority of teens do not desire a pregnancy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Teenage girls tend to have less money, less access to transportation and less independence than adult women. That makes it harder for them to cross state lines for abortion care, or to obtain and pay for abortion medication. A medication abortion can cost as much as $800, according to Planned Parenthood. Many teens have trouble ordering abortion medication online because they dont have credit or debit cards or a safe place where the pills can be mailed, said Rosann Mariappuram, senior reproductive rights policy counsel at the State Innovation Exchange, a nonprofit that advocates for progressive policies. Abortion funds that help people who cant afford the care have been struggling to keep up with demand. Thirty-six states require parental consent or notification before a minor can get an abortion, creating another barrier. And teens are more likely to have irregular menstrual cycles, which makes them less likely to notice a missed period. Overall, about a fourth of women might not realize theyre pregnant at six weeks, which is the gestational time limit for abortions in Florida, Georgia, Iowa and South Carolina. It's just heartbreaking to see the number of pregnant 13-year-olds I've had to take care of in the last three to four years. Dr. Hillary Boswell, Houston OB-GYN In addition, a law in Texas that went into effect in April mandates that family planning clinics get parental consent for minors seeking birth control. Lawmakers in Oklahoma and Indiana have argued that IUDs and emergency contraceptives are types of abortions, and thus should not be covered by insurance or shouldnt be available, said Mariappuram. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That conflation of contraceptives with abortion care is just evidence that theyre coming for contraception, she said. Health risks, diminished prospects Teenage girls from disadvantaged backgrounds are more likely to become pregnant. There have been persistent racial disparities in the national teen birth rate, with rates at least twice as high among Black, Hispanic and Native American girls. And while the average age of a girls first menstrual period has been declining for all girls, the trend is particularly pronounced among racial minorities. These downstream impacts [of abortion restrictions] are not the same for everyone, said Mayra Pineda-Torres, an assistant professor of economics at Georgia Tech who specializes in gender and inequality. The reality is that, still, there is a racial component here that may be exacerbating racial inequalities or this inability to access abortion services. Teenage motherhood often derails a girls education and diminishes her long-term financial prospects. And pregnancy poses particular health risks for teens: They are more likely to experience serious complications, including blood pressure-related disorders such as preeclampsia, and their babies are more likely to be born underweight. For those reasons, the American Academy of Pediatrics says teens should have access to legal abortion care. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But to abortion opponents, teen pregnancies and births are preferable to teen abortions. Joe Pojman, founder and executive director of the Texas Alliance for Life, said the state has programs designed to help families, including teen parents, take care of their children. [The program] teaches them a variety of things, like how to manage a budget, how to apply for a job, how to basically make that child self-sufficient to be able to function, Pojman told Stateline. We dont want to encourage a child to be responsible for taking the life of her own unborn child, he said. Last month, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey filed a lawsuit with fellow Republican attorneys general in Kansas and Idaho that asked a Texas judge to order the FDA to reinstate restrictions on mifepristone. They argued that lower teen birth rates harmed their states by shrinking their population, costing them federal money and congressional representation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But some studies suggest the opposite. The federal government cites research showing that teen pregnancy costs taxpayers about $11 billion per year because it leads to more public spending on health care and foster care, higher incarceration rates of teen parents children, and lower levels of education and income. Pregnancy is not benign, said Allison, the North Carolina pediatrician. Its not a joyful, welcome thing for a lot of people across the country. 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. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX As part of the COP29, an informal press conference was held in the press room allocated for the US Embassy in Azerbaijan at the pavilion. Having been attended by journalists, and editors from influential media outlets, the conference was kicked off by the US experts from Washington DC, including Laura Daniel Davis, the Acting Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior, and Rick Spinrad, the Undersecretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA Administrator. At the event, both experts shared their experiences and effective suggestions on climate change, sea and ocean levels, and the relationship between natural disasters and climate, as well as their prevention. Speaking about her experience in Scotland, Laura Daniel Davis emphasized that COP29 in Baku was organized at a high level, as well as that a number of important issues were discussed by experienced experts within the framework of the climate conference in Baku. The Acting Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior also noted that COP29 plays a leading role in climate action. During the conference, experts also answered several questions by Azernews in the Q&A session of the conference. Droughts related to the decrease in water levels in the seas in recent times and floods related to the increase in ocean levels have been a major concern in our world. Especially the decrease in water levels in the Caspian Sea in recent years is showing its negative effects on our ecology and overall fauna today. Explaining the technical aspects of the issue, Richard Spinrad, the Undersecretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA Administrator, said that despite the efforts of modern technologies, accurate information about the causes of changes in the waters of the seas and oceans has not been obtained in recent times. I think part of my answer is improving technology and capabilities to understand not only by how much water levels sea levels are changing but where; and I think one of the most important things we've learned in the last few years is there is not a uniform, homogeneous answer to things like sea level rise or lake changes. We see the same thing in the Great Lakes, for example. However, Richard Spinrad noted that many achievements can be achieved as a result of the development of AI. We're seeing very variable lake levels. And also building improved forecast capabilities, which means not just having the best observations to, I would say, initialize, to start the model, to put into the model, but also improving the mathematics, if you will, of the model. That's where artificial intelligence comes in. So I think there's a technology-sharing aspect on both the observational side and the prediction side that can answer the question of how we can work effectively together, he said. Reforestation looks a feasible option to prevent sea level rise or floods In her answer to the question, Laura Daniel Davis, the Acting Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior, touched on their focus areas, including U.S. coastal areas. One of the major things we've been doing is ensuring that along those areas where we can, we're deploying nature-based solutions and doing replanting of indigenous natural materials, like for example, Florida, sort of rebuilding the mangroves. And that's true in Puerto Rico and other places as well. And that does enhance community resilience, she said. Thus, the expert concludes that it is possible to prevent sea floods by afforesting coastal regions and planting more trees. According to Laura D. Davis, it does protect communities. And they also have been able to work with upstream as well as communities in North Carolina. She added that the state has decided it would like to do hardwood reforestation in some areas. And as you know, water all flows in the direction of the sea. And so being sure that we're supporting local communities, tribal communities, and they're thinking about how they can bring terrestrial resilience forward as they are thinking about how they can best protect their communities from the kind of sea level rise you're talking about, she emphasised. Plastic waste and contaminated sea waters amidst climate calamities In addition, experts have shed light on the recent increase in the amount of toxic substances and waste discharged into oceans and seas and its impact on the climate. As is known, the Mediterranean Sea, the North Pacific Ocean and especially the Gulf of Mexico have recently faced serious risks of pollution. These areas have already been listed according to the level of pollution. Expressing his opinion on the question, Richard Spinrad noted that the problem is caused in particular by plastic waste. I think there's a few perspectives on this. There are some elements like marine debris plastics, and the United Nations has been very aggressive in trying to identify protocols, processes and frameworks for limiting the introduction of plastics into the sea. And I think there's a good framework in place for trying to get at solutions on plastics. However, what we do know about plastics is that it's not just the large mega-plastics. The microplastics are also particularly insidious. And so, part of the answer is getting a better understanding of the consequences to ecosystems of plastics. On other forms of pollution, I believe one of the most important things we can do is, if you will, get it at the source. Make sure to understand what kinds of sources are responsible for some of the kinds of pollution you alluded to. So, for example, you talked about the Gulf of Mexico. One of the big challenges we have in the Gulf of Mexico is the annual dead zone, R. Spinrad noted. Boosting agriculture: way to minimize pollution in seas and oceans Referring to the situation in the Gulf of Mexico, Laura Daniel Davis emphasized the importance of developing agriculture in such circumstances. Where I was going on the issue of things like a dead zone from pollutants, the answer is to look at agricultural practices, in this case in what we call the bread belt, the middle states in the United States, and understand what agricultural practices could be changed, what fertilization, what irrigation practices might be changed to reduce the input of phosphates and nitrates into the Gulf of Mexico that result in things like harmful algal blooms. And that means bringing different people to the discussion. Historically, we would not have brought the agriculture community to a discussion about Gulf of Mexico pollution, but now we're having that discussion much more than this. Yeah, and I would just reiterate what Dr. Spinrad is saying about land management practices and the importance of ensuring that you are having those conversations with communities, and state actors in the United States to address pollution that can and is happening in cases there, she added. SEOUL, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's chili pepper production logged a double-digit growth so far this year, thanks to favorable weather conditions, statistical office data showed Friday. Chili pepper output amounted to 68,074 tons in the period, up 10.4 percent compared with the same period of last year, according to Statistics Korea. Improved weather conditions reduced damage from diseases and insects, leading to the expansion. The cultivation area for chili peppers declined 2.6 percent from a year earlier to 26,430 hectares. Sesame production added 0.3 percent to 9,002 tons, but highland potato output fell 0.2 percent to 126,399 tons. Students wait for a bus outside Lane Tech College Prep High School in Chicago. Teen birth rates have been falling for decades, but abortion bans threaten to undo that progress, experts say. (Photo by Scott Olson / Getty Images) Houston OB-GYN Dr. Hillary Boswell says she has seen how abortion bans affect teenage girls: More of them are carrying their pregnancies to term. These are vulnerable girls, and its just heartbreaking to see the number of pregnant 13-year-olds Ive had to take care of, Boswell said, referring to the change since Texas prohibited abortions after six weeks in September 2021. In June 2022, after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, Texas enacted a total abortion ban. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They would come in, and they would be very distressed, said Boswell, who spent the past decade treating underserved women and girls at community health clinics. Not being able to help them get an abortion when they wanted one, she said, was so hard and so against everything that I trained for. In the year after Texas began implementing its six-week abortion ban, teen fertility rates in the state rose for the first time in 15 years, according to a study released earlier this year by the University of Houston. Overall, the increase in teen fertility in Texas was slight: only 0.39%. But the University of Houston researchers said the change was significant, because it reversed a 15-year trend and because the national teen fertility rate declined during the same period. They also noted that the increases were larger for Hispanic teens (1.2%) and Black teens (0.5%), while the rate for white teens declined by 0.5%. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So far, the Texas data is the first evidence that abortion bans might lead to an increase in teen births. But as abortion restrictions have spread post-Roe 13 states now have total bans some providers and other experts predict that other states will see increases. If so, the nations nearly 30-year trend of declining teen births could be in jeopardy. Boswell and other providers note that teens are having a harder time accessing contraception and abortions and they fear the incoming Trump administration could make it even more challenging for teens, whose pregnancies are riskier and who disproportionately sought abortions before the Supreme Court overturned Roe. In a lot of ways, Texas is sort of a microcosm of what were going to see in other parts of the country, said Dr. Bianca Allison, a pediatrician and assistant professor at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. Historically, it has always felt like young people those who are minors but of reproductive potential are left out of the conversation of reproductive autonomy and rights. Access to pills People seeking abortions have been relying on the broader availability of telehealth for medication abortions, which now account for nearly two-thirds of all abortions. The number of abortions in the U.S. has increased since the fall of Roe, largely because more people are using the easier-to-access method, according to the Society of Family Planning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the Trump administration could make it harder to procure the pills by reversing a current U.S. Food and Drug Administration policy that allows them to be sent through the mail. Some anti-abortion groups want the Trump administration to enforce the Comstock Act, a long-dormant 1873 law they believe could be used to make it a federal crime to send or receive abortion medication. States also could require in-person physician visits for abortion medication, effectively barring patients from accessing it via telemedicine. And Louisiana last month began classifying mifepristone and misoprostol the two medications used in nonsurgical abortions as controlled substances, making it a crime to possess them without a prescription. A Texas state lawmaker has proposed similar legislation in his state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I would absolutely predict that we will see a reversal in our progress of reducing teen pregnancies, said developmental psychologist Julie Maslowsky, an associate professor at the University of Michigan who studies adolescent reproductive and sexual health. If someone does not want to be pregnant, they should have all the options available to them to prevent pregnancy, Maslowsky said. And the majority of teens do not desire a pregnancy. Teenage girls tend to have less money, less access to transportation and less independence than adult women. That makes it harder for them to cross state lines for abortion care, or to obtain and pay for abortion medication. A medication abortion can cost as much as $800, according to Planned Parenthood. Many teens have trouble ordering abortion medication online because they dont have credit or debit cards or a safe place where the pills can be mailed, said Rosann Mariappuram, senior reproductive rights policy counsel at the State Innovation Exchange, a nonprofit that advocates for progressive policies. Abortion funds that help people who cant afford the care have been struggling to keep up with demand. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thirty-six states require parental consent or notification before a minor can get an abortion, creating another barrier. And teens are more likely to have irregular menstrual cycles, which makes them less likely to notice a missed period. Overall, about a fourth of women might not realize theyre pregnant at six weeks, which is the gestational time limit for abortions in Florida, Georgia, Iowa and South Carolina. It's just heartbreaking to see the number of pregnant 13-year-olds I've had to take care of in the last three to four years. Dr. Hillary Boswell, Houston OB-GYN In addition, a law in Texas that went into effect in April mandates that family planning clinics get parental consent for minors seeking birth control. Lawmakers in Oklahoma and Indiana have argued that IUDs and emergency contraceptives are types of abortions, and thus should not be covered by insurance or shouldnt be available, said Mariappuram. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That conflation of contraceptives with abortion care is just evidence that theyre coming for contraception, she said. Health risks, diminished prospects Teenage girls from disadvantaged backgrounds are more likely to become pregnant. There have been persistent racial disparities in the national teen birth rate, with rates at least twice as high among Black, Hispanic and Native American girls. And while the average age of a girls first menstrual period has been declining for all girls, the trend is particularly pronounced among racial minorities. These downstream impacts [of abortion restrictions] are not the same for everyone, said Mayra Pineda-Torres, an assistant professor of economics at Georgia Tech who specializes in gender and inequality. The reality is that, still, there is a racial component here that may be exacerbating racial inequalities or this inability to access abortion services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Teenage motherhood often derails a girls education and diminishes her long-term financial prospects. And pregnancy poses particular health risks for teens: They are more likely to experience serious complications, including blood pressure-related disorders such as preeclampsia, and their babies are more likely to be born underweight. For those reasons, the American Academy of Pediatrics says teens should have access to legal abortion care. But to abortion opponents, teen pregnancies and births are preferable to teen abortions. Joe Pojman, founder and executive director of the Texas Alliance for Life, said the state has programs designed to help families, including teen parents, take care of their children. [The program] teaches them a variety of things, like how to manage a budget, how to apply for a job, how to basically make that child self-sufficient to be able to function, Pojman told Stateline. We dont want to encourage a child to be responsible for taking the life of her own unborn child, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last month, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey filed a lawsuit with fellow Republican attorneys general in Kansas and Idaho that asked a Texas judge to order the FDA to reinstate restrictions on mifepristone. They argued that lower teen birth rates harmed their states by shrinking their population, costing them federal money and congressional representation. But some studies suggest the opposite. The federal government cites research showing that teen pregnancy costs taxpayers about $11 billion per year because it leads to more public spending on health care and foster care, higher incarceration rates of teen parents children, and lower levels of education and income. Pregnancy is not benign, said Allison, the North Carolina pediatrician. Its not a joyful, welcome thing for a lot of people across the country. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Donald Trump spoke at the March for Life rally in January 2019 during his first term as president. (Photo by Mark Wilson / Getty Images) The 2024 election results created complicated new realities for reproductive rights in the U.S., with Americans even in a few red states overwhelmingly voting to protect the right to have an abortion while also overwhelmingly electing anti-abortion representatives in state houses, courts, Congress and the White House. With a Republican trifecta coming to the nations capital in January, anti-abortion activist groups are planning for the first potentially friendly presidential administration since the 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization decision overturned Roe v. Wade and eliminated a 50-year federal right to terminate a pregnancy. They aim to end other federal and state protections while vastly expanding restrictions on reproductive health care. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though many anti-abortion leaders are skeptical of President-elect Donald Trumps commitment to their cause, they say they are willing to compromise to maintain influence in his administration. Some groups are strategizing how to end-run Trumps campaign pledge not to enact any federal abortion bans by heavily restricting medication abortion or trying to ban a common abortion procedure. I dont think we have a champion here for pro-life causes, said longtime anti-abortion organizer Rev. Patrick Mahoney. What we have here is someone who will not work against us and try to crush us. We will not see pro-choice federal judges. The director of the Christian Defense Coalition and the chief strategy officer of Stanton Public Policy Center told States Newsroom that he is not a supporter of Trump and disagrees with his rhetoric on immigrants. But Mahoney said he is happy Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris lost. The vice president had vowed to try to restore federal abortion rights and throughout her career has advocated for reproductive rights. As California attorney general, she prosecuted anti-abortion activists charged with illegally recording abortion providers about a decade ago. We can have an opportunity now to begin the second phase after Roe was overturned, Mahoney said. We knew overturning Roe was only a starting line, not a finishing line. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Live Action president Lila Rose was one of the few prominent anti-abortion leaders who called out Trump before the election, after he criticized Floridas six-week abortion ban and vowed to veto a federal ban. In late August, Rose told Politico she would write in a presidential candidate and would encourage her millions of followers to do the same if Trump did not change course. On her podcast, the millennial activist recently revealed that she met with Trump and asked him to say he would vote against Floridas abortion-rights amendment, which he did. Days before the election, Rose endorsed Trump on X. Live Action did not respond to an interview request. Nationally, three out of 10 abortion-rights measures failed: Floridas proposed amendment had the highest threshold to clear, but got 57% out of the required 60% of the vote. It would have reversed the ban that reproductive rights advocates say has decimated abortion access in the Southeast. Another anti-abortion leader willing to compromise with the incoming president and Congress is Steven Aden, general counsel at Americans United for Life, the policy shop behind many state and federal abortion restrictions. Aden said he was disappointed the Republican Party removed from its platform a previous commitment to a federal ban. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, he said his group was still able to inject critical language into the current platform that effectively supports states establishing fetal personhood through the U.S. Constitutions 14th Amendment, which grants equal protection under the law. The platform also says Republicans will oppose Late Term Abortion, a political term used to refer to abortions in the second and third trimesters, the rarest but most restricted types of abortions in the U.S. We had direct input into the Trump campaign and framing the pro-life language in the party platform, Aden told States Newsroom. The platform language was much pared down, but we believe that the pro-life language preserves the essence of the partys position on the pro-life issue, and were proud of that, and look forward to continuing to work with the incoming Trump administration. Federal reproductive rights protections in question Early into his term, Democratic President Joe Biden began reversing blocks on federal funding domestically and globally for reproductive health organizations that also provide or refer for abortions. Leading up to and following the Dobbs decision, the Biden administration loosened restrictions to the medication abortion regimen, a combination of mifepristone and misoprostol, which has become the most common way of terminating pregnancy in the U.S. during the first trimester. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration allowed abortion medication to be obtained via telemedicine and dispensed directly at pharmacies. Nearly half the country has partially or fully banned abortions. But abortion numbers have risen since before Dobbs, researchers have reported, attributing the increase in part to expanded access to telemedicine abortion and to more people using online abortion clinics that mail abortion drugs from states with so-called shield laws to those with bans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anti-abortion groups Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America and Students for Life of America recently unveiled memos asking the Trump administration to pull regulatory levers that especially target abortion drugs. Under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, regulations could include: The FDA reinstating medication abortion restrictions, such as requiring multiple in-person appointments and revoking telemedicine. Or altogether revoking the 2000 approval of mifepristone. Reversing guidelines that under the federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, emergency departments at hospitals enrolled in Medicare even in states with abortion bans must offer pregnant patients the medical treatment necessary to stabilize an emergency medical condition. This law is the subject of an ongoing lawsuit deferred by the U.S. Supreme Court earlier this year. In sharp contrast to the mainstream medical community, anti-abortion advocates argue these guidelines are unnecessary and would allow doctors to broadly interpret a health emergency to mean anything. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When asked about stories of alleged denied care, maternal deaths, and doctor confusion related to state abortion bans, Aden chalked up the problem to a misinterpretation of state laws, which he said should be clarified to address these problems, while noting several times, Im not a doctor. Americans United for Lifes recommended health-exception language in part says abortion should be allowed to preserve the life of a pregnant woman or to address a serious risk of substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function. Thats a health exception with teeth, Aden said. It doesnt allow for a free-ranging, quote unquote, mental health exception that would swallow the rule. Funding a study on the potential health effects of abortion pills in the water system from patients miscarrying in their toilets after taking medication abortion drugs. Anti-abortion leaders like Mahoney said they were disappointed with Trumps pick for HHS secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has previously said he supports abortion rights. But Mahoney said hes hoping to appeal to Kennedys skepticism of FDA drug approvals. How do chemical abortions being flushed down the drain affect our water supply? Were definitely going to push hard on that, Mahoney said. Revoking a rule requiring health clinics that receive federal family planning Title X grants to offer referrals for abortion clinics, which is also the subject of an ongoing federal lawsuit. It is already prohibited to use federal funds for abortions unless the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest, or has become fatal. Activists also want to defund Planned Parenthood, the largest reproductive health center network, and extend tax credits to anti-abortion pregnancy centers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps pick to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which manages the countrys largest health programs, is Dr. Mehmet Oz, who opposes abortion. The U.S. Department of Justice could: Enforce part of the 19th century Comstock Act to prohibit the mailing of abortion-inducing drugs. Aden said enforcing this law would likely mean cracking down on online abortion clinics like Aid Access. Revoke or refuse to enforce the federal Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, enacted because of the sometimes-violent anti-abortion protests of the 1980s and 1990s. One of several activists sentenced to prison for staging a clinic blockade in Washington, D.C., Lauren Handy was also involved in obtaining aborted fetuses outside the same clinic. Trump had indicated he would potentially pardon Handy and fellow blockaders. Activists have said they will also ask the DOJ to investigate the doctor at the abortion clinic from where Handy obtained the fetuses, of whom she and other activists have accused, without evidence, of infanticide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs could: Revoke policies that expanded abortion access for veterans and members of the Military. The U.S. Agency for International Development could: Reinstate the so-called Mexico City Policy, which barred federally funding international organizations that provide or refer for abortions. As they brace for the potential impact of Dobbs without a federal safety net, reproductive justice activists are working to expand access and fight anti-abortion laws, while also protecting new state wins. The election results did not change the fact that most people want abortion access, said Fatima Goss Graves, president and CEO of the National Womens Law Center, during a recent media press briefing organized by the progressive Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Donald Trump won the election, but so did abortion, and people need to hold this incoming administration to its word that it would not restrict abortion, Graves said. We have to square the idea that millions of people in the United States voted for reproductive freedom but they also will be experiencing a situation that will become even more dire, and that people will feel scared and hopeless in this period. Arguments for a national abortion ban Aden said AUL would support a federal dismemberment bill, referring to a proposed ban on a common second-trimester abortion procedure known as dilation and evacuation, or D&E. This procedure involves dilating the cervix and removing the contents of the uterus, typically performed beginning around 12 weeks. It would be a way to effectively get a 12- or 15-week ban without calling it that. Despite its safety and efficacy record, the D&E procedure has been banned in several states, over the objection of the American Medical Association and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Its part of an old anti-abortion playbook, which under Republican President George W. Bush resulted in a federal ban on another later abortion procedure dilation and extraction, or D&X by reframing it as partial-birth abortion, which the U.S. Supreme Court upheld in 2007s Gonzales v. Carhart decision. Abortion foes describe D&Es as a gruesome procedure, or as Aden puts it, tearing 13-week-old humans apart limb from limb. Anti-abortion doctors recommend more risky and invasive procedures like C-sections, even when the abortion is medically indicated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If D&Es are banned, there would be fewer options for later abortions, which are sometimes necessary, said reproductive-health legal expert Rachel Rebouche, dean of Temple University School of Law in Philadelphia. She noted that some of the U.S. Supreme Court justices have indicated support for abortion restrictions for reasons of preserving fetal dignity rather than preserving maternal health. That litigation, from the anti-abortion perspective, depends on saying the fetus is a person with rights that attach at a certain point, if not from conception, Rebouche told States Newsroom. Dobbs opens the door wide open for those kinds of regulations. But the question is, is there a role for the federal government to enact a nationwide ban that would curtail the rights of states that have not gone the way of Idaho or Texas or others? Aden said that for now AUL will be more focused on the incremental approach to abortion restrictions, as well as calling for expanded child and prenatal tax credits and other social supports. The attorney, who was 11 when Roe was decided in 1973, is expecting another half-century of litigation over abortion with the hopes that one day the U.S. Constitution gives personhood rights to the unborn, regardless of the stage of that pregnancy. Aden said a so-called Human Life Amendment is likely impossible in the near term, needing approval from two-thirds of both houses of Congress. He said U.S. culture is not there yet. It would require a cultural sea change in the way that the majority of Americans view human life in the womb, Aden said. Thats our second generational goal. Having won our first generational goal of overturning Roe, wed love to see the day when every life is welcomed and protected in law. And if thats through a constitutional amendment, then were here for that. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) A man accused of dumping tires on Youngstowns East Side appeared in Municipal Court on Friday and pleaded not guilty. Mark Domascieno appeared in Youngstown Municipal Court charged with two counts of littering after code enforcement officers say he was caught illegally dumping tires on Monday and Tuesday on a vacant lot at Jacobs Road and Nelson Avenue on Youngstowns East Side. Bob Burke handles litter control for Youngstown. He has cameras placed in areas known for dumping. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I came in the office earlier in the week, Burke said. And I noticed that somebody with a truck, a pretty obvious pickup truck Silverado had dumped about 18 tires. Domascieno said he picked up the tires at a business in Sharon as a favor to them. Police spoke with someone at the Sharon business, who reported that Domascieno told them that he had a used tire disposal company and that he charged them $3 per tire for their removal, according to the report. Police found about 35 tires in the lot where they had reportedly been dumped. Tire dumping is an ongoing problem. Burke says they pick up about 200 tires a week. In the five years Burke has handled litter control, Domascieno is the first person thats been charged with tire dumping. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its very hard to catch these tire dumpers. They are very sneaky. Theyre very good at what they do. Theyve been doing this a long time. He just happened to make a mistake and not look up, Burke said. Friday at Jacobs and Nelson, all that was left was one lone truck tire that will be picked up on Monday. But Thursday night four miles away on McCartney Road a U-Haul involved in a crash was filled with old tires. I believe he was probably en route to our community, Burke said. Burke says there are companies that properly dispose of tires for $5 to $10 a tire. Domascieno pleaded not guilty to two misdemeanors but Burke is hoping that since he has been accused of crossing the state line, the charges could be changed to felonies that include jail time and big fines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The judge told Domascieno to return to court with an attorney. Brian Oehlbeck and Kristy Regula 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. By Melanie Burton MELBOURNE (Reuters) - India's Adani Group, whose billionaire chairman has been indicted for fraud by U.S. prosecutors, is facing accusations of racism at its Australian coal unit after an Aboriginal group filed a complaint with the country's Human Rights Commission. The Nagana Yarrbayn Wangan & Jagalingou Cultural Custodians in Queensland state said it filed a complaint alleging serious racial discrimination by the unit, Bravus Mining and Resources, earlier this week. The complaint details how Adani employees sought to verbally and physically obstruct and prevent members of the Aboriginal group from accessing springs near Adani's Carmichael coal mine in order to perform cultural rites and share cultural knowledge, the group said in a statement. We have endured years of discrimination and vilification from Adani, and were not putting up with this anymore," Nagana Yarrbayn Senior Cultural Custodian, Adrian Burragubba said in the statement. "Adani has been on notice about their conduct since our lawyers sent a concerns notice last year, and they refused to take action. Legal recourse is the only answer, he added. A Bravus spokesperson "wholly rejected" the group's allegations, saying it was an attempt to stop Bravus from telling its side of the story and "sharing facts with the public about our interactions with him and members of his Family Council." It said the mine had been operating safely and responsibly in line with Queensland and Australian law and in partnership with the majority Traditional Owner group for the mining area under the terms of ratified Indigenous Land Use Agreements and Cultural Heritage Management Plans for more than two years. It has not received any notification from the Australian Human Rights Commission of a complaint, it added. A spokesperson said the Commission was unable to confirm if a complaint has been received until it had been publicly acknowledged by both the complainant and the respondent. The Aboriginal group said it was seeking compensation, an apology, the removal of offending social media, a retraction of media statements, and anti-racism and cultural awareness training for Adanis directors, managers and employees. The Carmichael coal mine battled a seven-year campaign from climate activists and some Aboriginal groups before shipping its first cargo in December 2021. Adani Group companies' shares fell for a second straight day on Friday after U.S. prosecutors charged chairman Gautam Adani in an alleged bribery and fraud scheme. (Reporting by Melanie Burton; Editing by Lincoln Feast.) Baltimore prosecutors are still mulling what to do with the case of Adnan Syed, whose decades-old convictions were reinstated earlier this year. At a status conference in Syeds case Friday, sprosecutor Clara Salzberg, chief of the Baltimore States Attorneys Offices Post Conviction Litigation Unit, said her team needed more time to decide what to do with a request to vacate Syeds convictions filed by the previous administration in the states attorneys office. We are asking for an additional 90 days to allow us to take the time that we need to conduct the review of what was filed and to determine what are the appropriate next steps for our office to take, Salzberg said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Syeds lawyer, Assistant Public Defender Erica Suter, did not object to the prosecutors request. Also the director of the Innocence Project Clinic at the University of Baltimore School of Law, Suter didnt say anything else during the brief court hearing. David Sanford, an attorney for Young Lee, the brother of the woman Syed is accused of killing in 1999, Hae Min Lee, said he would object to any further delays in the case. The office claims it needs an additional three months to review documents it has had for over two years, Sanford said, adding, At this point, this is frankly absurd. That prosecutors are still mulling how to proceed in this case adds intrigue to a legal saga made famous by the hit podcast Serial, which chronicled Syeds prosecutions. The Supreme Court of Maryland reinstated Syeds convictions in August, capping off an appeals process dating to September 2022and placing Syeds fate in the hands of a new states attorney. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though the states attorneys office successfully moved to vacate Syeds convictions in September 2022, the office doesnt have to take the same position now that the Supreme Court has ordered a redo of the hearing that set Syed free. On the campaign trail, Bates said Syeds convictions should be undone. When his office received the case following the state Supreme Courts ruling, he said they needed to evaluate the case. Ninety days is what were confident today will at least give us the time that we need to have more clarity about what our next steps will be, Salzberg told Baltimore Circuit Judge Jennifer B. Schiffer, who is now presiding over the case. Schiffer ordered prosecutors to file anything new in the case by Feb. 28. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Syeds legal saga traces to 2000 when a Baltimore jury found Syed guilty of murder, kidnapping, robbery and related charges in the death of Lee, his high school sweetheart. Prosecutors postulated at the time that Syed couldnt handle it when Lee broke up with him, so he killed her. Lee, 18, was strangled to death and buried in a clandestine grave in Leakin Park. Syeds convictions withstood multiple appeals, but he always maintained he was innocent. Years turned to decades behind bars. His break came in 2021 when Suter approached city prosecutors about modifying his sentence under a new law allowing people convicted of crimes before they turned 18 to petition a court to change their penalty. The subsequent review spawned a full-throttled reinvestigation of the case, which, prosecutors said, revealed alternative suspects in Lees killing not before disclosed to Syed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The revelation, prosecutors said, led them to doubt the integrity of Syeds decades-old convictions. They moved to vacate the guilty findings. On a Friday afternoon in September 2022, Baltimore Circuit Judge Melissa M. Phinn scheduled a hearing for the following Monday. Prosecutors then informed Young Lee, saying he could watch it by Zoom, but a lawyer for Young Lee insisted his client, who lived in California, wanted to attend in person and wasnt given enough time to travel. Phinn proceeded with the hearing, ordering Syed freed after 23 years of incarceration. Young Lee raised questions about his role in the hearing, appealing before prosecutors dismissed Syeds charges in October 2022. He argued that the short notice violated his right as a crime victim and the intermediate Appellate Court of Maryland agreed in March 2023, ordering Syeds convictions reinstated for a do-over of the hearing to vacate them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Syed swiftly appealed to the states highest court, arguing that Young Lee got adequate notice and that the prosecutors decision to dismiss his charges nullified the appeal. Young Lee followed up with his own appeal, with his lawyers arguing the appellate courts ruling didnt go far enough for crime victims. The state Supreme Courts decision was split. The three dissenting judges argued, in part, that it was up to the legislature, not the judiciary, to decide whether to clarify a crime victims role in such a proceeding. Have a news tip? Contact Alex Mann at amann@baltsun.com, and x.com/@alex_mann10. Nov. 22Matteo Hardy has seen widespread vaping at Cony High School, and also the new, clever ways in which tobacco companies are luring teens into trying the products. There's a hand-held video game that doubles as a vaping device, and a vaping pen decorated with artwork in the same style as the "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" book series. There's even children's clothing designed to conceal vaping devices from teachers and staff. "It's just crazy what we see now," said Hardy, 16, a junior at Cony High School in Augusta and an advocate for banning flavored tobacco. "There's so many different ways kids can get tobacco into their bodies that no one knows about. We know the tobacco companies target to youth. What we've seen is an increase in targeting, going after younger and younger kids." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some Maine lawmakers and an advocacy group that Hardy belongs to Flavors Hook Kids Maine have lobbied for a flavored tobacco ban that would prevent tobacco products from being sold with added flavors such as mint, fruit, candy and menthol. Hardy said he has not tried vaping, but among his high school peers who have, all of them were attracted to it by the flavors. Still, despite Democratic majorities in the state House and Senate, and the support of the Mills administration, the bill has failed to get across the finish line. A measure passed in the Senate by two votes in 2023, with all Republicans and four Democrats voting "no" and 18 Democrats voting in favor, but it was never brought up for a vote in the House. Instead, the bill was carried over to the 2024 session, when it also failed to garner a House floor vote. Democratic leaders told the Press Herald earlier this year that there were concerns that the measure would divide the Democratic caucus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With inaction at the State House, several cities and towns in Maine have approved bans of their own, including Portland, South Portland, Bar Harbor, Bangor, Brunswick, Freeport and Hallowell. Despite the failed efforts for a statewide ban, there may be yet another attempt in 2025 to prohibit flavored tobacco in all tobacco products in Maine. Flavored tobacco is currently banned or restricted in seven other states, including Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, California, Utah, Maryland and Rhode Island, according to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. "We definitely still see the need to end the sale of flavored tobacco products," said Matt Wellington, associate director of the Maine Public Health Association, a nonprofit advocacy group. "Legislators should consider banning flavored tobacco as one of the key evidence-based strategies to reduce youth tobacco use." Whether another attempt at a ban will come up is undetermined, Wellington said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Groups have lobbied against the ban, including the New England Convenience Store and Energy Marketers Association, which argues that without a nationwide ban, all a Maine ban would do would be to encourage people to cross into New Hampshire to purchase the products. When the ban went into effect in Massachusetts, it "created a massive black market" and also caused people to simply buy them in New Hampshire, said Peter Brennan, executive director of the advocacy group. "We think this is bad public policy that would rob the state of sales tax money," said Brennan, pointing out that the sales tax money goes toward smoking cessation and prevention programs. "It's best to have a regulated marketplace, keep them at our retailers, so we can card the buyers." Dan Cashman, spokesman for Flavors Hook Kids Maine, argued that flavors are a lure for teens, and so are new marketing techniques. Adding them together is a dangerous combination to get "replacement smokers." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "What has changed in the past two years is how much more aggressive they've become in marketing to younger audiences," Cashman said. There is some encouraging data on youth vaping. The percentage of high school students who reported vaping in the previous 30 days declined from a high of 29% in 2019 to 16% in 2023, according to the Maine Integrated Youth Health Survey. About 30% of Maine high school students have tried vaping, according to the survey. The use of combustible cigarettes remains low in Maine, at 5.5%. Flavors are banned nationally in combustible cigarettes, with the exception of menthol, but vaping is more often how kids are introduced to tobacco. Hardy, the Augusta teenager, said the danger of getting young people hooked is real. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "There's a perception that regular tobacco is gross and a lot of people don't want it," he said. "But they try the flavors, and the first two times may be a choice, but after that the addiction takes over." Copy the Story Link AllFake After duping the Los Angeles school system into giving her gobs of money, the founder of an AI ed tech firm allegedly spent a lot of it on herself. As the LA Times reports, 33-year-old Joanna Smith-Griffin, the founder of an AI startup called AllHere, has been charged by federal prosecutors with identity theft and multiple counts of fraud after her alleged web of lies regarding her company's sketchy wares came tumbling down. Earlier this year, the same newspaper reported that after being contracted to build out a chatbot connecting families with information from the Los Angeles Unified School District, AllHere filed for bankruptcy despite tens of millions of dollars in public and private investment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, the reason why seems to be emerging, per the allegations: that the founder's repeated lies about the company's worth, and dips into its investments for her own personal gain, led it to ruin. Double Dipping Prosecutors maintain in their indictment against Smith-Griffin that the founder of the Boston-based company inflated AllHere's worth to attract investors, claiming that she had raised millions for its bespoke educational chatbot tech when in reality the firm had far less in its coffers. According to the indictment, the founder also allegedly used some of the tens of millions she raised from private and public investors to put a down payment on a house in North Carolina and fund her own lavish wedding. Aside from outside investments, the firm was contracted with the LAUSD, the nation's second largest-school system, for $6 million. According to school officials who spoke to the LA Times, the district only paid out about half or $3 million of that contract to AllHere ahead of its collapse. Ed Tech Launched in March, AllHere's chatbot for the LAUSD, named "Ed," was meant to be a part of students' individualized toolkits. Just a few months after its splashy rollout, however, the school district quietly took Ed offline and soon, the company that made it was sinking as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We can obviously point the finger at companies, especially startups, that are pressured to overpromise and... generally underdeliver," University of Southern California AI expert Stephen Aguilar told the LA Times after Ed went dark. "Ultimately, the responsibility rests with the school district." Now, the superintendent of the LAUSD is condemning Smith-Griffin and what prosecutors called a "deliberate and calculated scheme." "The indictment and the allegations represent, if true, a disturbing and disappointing house of cards that deceived and victimized many across the country," superintendent Alberto Carvalho told the LA Times following the recent charges. "We will continue to assert and protect our rights." Those rights, it seems, include the ability to revive the Ed chatbot at will and as Carvalho told the newspaper, the LAUSD hasn't given up hope that it will be able to do so. More on AI in education: Parents Sue School After Teacher Sends Son to Detention for Using AI On Friday, an air-raid warning was in effect for more than 10 hours in Kyiv Oblast, with air defence forces actively operating in the oblast. No hits to infrastructure facilities were reported, but the fall of debris was recorded. Source: Kyiv Oblast Military Administration Quote: "The enemy continues terrorising Kyiv Oblast with UAV attacks. The previous air-raid warning was in effect for more than 10 hours. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Air defence forces were actively operating in the oblast. Enemy targets were destroyed. We thank our defenders of the sky for their reliable protection. There were no casualties among the population." Details: No hits to critical or residential infrastructure were reported. Reportedly, the wreckage fell in open areas outside the settlements. The KOMA said that a car was damaged by the fragments of the downed targets. Background: Over the course of 22 November, Russia attacked Ukraine with 114 different drones, and the air defence destroyed 64 of them. Support UP or become our patron! Carey Dale Grayson was executed Thursday evening for his role in the 1994 murder of Vickie Deblieux, 37, who was hitchhiking to her mother's home in Louisiana when she was killed. (Alabama Department of Corrections) The state of Alabama Thursday executed Carey Dale Grayson, 49, for his role in the murder of Vickie Deblieux in 1994. Grayson, the third person to be executed by nitrogen gas by the state, was pronounced dead at 6:33 p.m. Media witnesses reported labored and heavy breathing for nearly 10 minutes and some sudden muscle movements that officials described as involuntary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to media witnesses, Grayson, given a chance to deliver his last words, directed an obscenity at Terry Raybon, warden of Holman Correctional Facility, before staff pulled away the microphone. Did you hear his statement? Alabama Department of Commissioner John Hamm said Thursday. That was enough. He has cursed out most of our employees tonight, so we were not going to give him the opportunity to spew that profanity. Hamm said that the nitrogen flowed for about 15 minutes and that Grayson died almost 10 minutes after gas started to flow. The first movements he was doing, all that, in our opinion and our staffs opinion, that was all show, just consistent with what he has been doing, Hamm said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deblieuxs daughter, Jodi Haley, approached the microphone and addressed the media. I dont know what it is like to have a mother while going through life, graduation, marriage, children, hurts and joys, she said. I have had to experience life without her presence because all those opportunities were stolen from her. Haley said that society failed (Grayson) as a child, and my family suffered because of it. And we decide as punishment for his wrongdoings to take him away all of his tomorrows and all of his opportunities, she said. Maybe he would have had words of wisdom for someone to prevent another guy from ever returning to prison, who knows the positive impact he could have had on lives. Revenge, to me, an eye for an eye justification, is not right. We use that justification, but then in that same breath we say, Vengeance is mine, says the Lord. We have to make up our minds because you cant ride two horses with one ass. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Haley said to love, to forgive, and to rid oneself of pain and hatred are fundamental requirements to induce the change for a better tomorrow. Murdering inmates under the guise of justice needs to stop, she said. State sanctioned homicide needs never be listed as cause of death. No one should have the right to take away a persons possibilities, days, moments, life. I dont know who we think we are. To be in such a modern time, we regress when we implement this punishment. And I hope and pray that my mothers death will invoke these changes and give her senseless death some purpose. A jury convicted Grayson of Deblieuxs murder in 1996 and sentenced him to death. According to court documents, Deblieux, 37, was hitchhiking to her mothers home when she encountered Grayson, then 19, and three other teenagers. The group took Deblieux to a wooded area and beat her to death. Some thirty years ago, Vicki DeBlieuxs journey to her mothers house and ultimately, her life, were horrifically cut short because of Carey Grayson and three other men, Gov. Kay Ivey said in a news release she sent shortly after the execution. She sensed something was wrong, attempted to escape, but instead, was brutally tortured and murdered. Even after her death, Mr. Graysons crimes against Ms. DeBlieux were heinous, unimaginable, without an ounce of regard for human life and just unexplainably mean. An execution by nitrogen hypoxia bares no comparison to the death and dismemberment Ms. DeBlieux experienced. I pray for her loved ones that they may continue finding closure and healing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A 16-year-old who participated in Deblieuxs murder was given a life sentence. Two other members of the group, who were 17 at the time, were originally sentenced to death. Their sentences were changed to life in prison in 2006 after the U.S. Supreme Court barred the use of capital punishment against people convicted for crimes committed while they were under the age of 18. Alabama introduced nitrogen gas as a method of execution in 2018. Supporters at the time claimed it would be a more humane method of putting people to death. Alabama executed Kenneth Eugene Smith by nitrogen gas in January and Alan Eugene Miller in September. Media witnesses reported both men writhing and gasping through their executions. In a statement, Abraham Bonowitz, executive director of Death Penalty Action, an anti-death penalty group, called the use of nitrogen gas deeply troubling. Other than state officials, anyone who witnessed the suffocations of Kenny Smith and Alan Miller will tell you just how torturous it is, the statement said. Tonight the State of Alabama will traumatize another batch of eyewitnesses to this unnecessary horror. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a lawsuit filed in June, Grayson alleged that Alabamas nitrogen gas protocol would subject him to high levels of pain because of a lack of proper mask fitting, the absence of a medical exam prior to the execution and the lack of a sedative during the process. In lieu of being executed by the states previous process, Grayson requested he be given a sedative prior to being executed or be given a lethal dose of the drug fentanyl. Earlier this month, U.S. District Judge R. Austin Huffaker rejected his arguments as speculative, saying that Grayson did not offer sufficient evidence to demonstrate he would likely succeed in a full court hearing on the merits of his claim. On Monday, a three-panel judge at the 11th Circuit denied his appeal. The U.S. Supreme Court Thursday turned down Graysons request for a stay of execution. Alabama has executed six people this year, the most in a single year since 2011. It is the only state that has carried out executions by nitrogen gas. CANBERRA, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- Human activity is responsible for the decline of old animals in the wild on land and at sea, exacerbating the impacts of habitat loss, disease and extreme climate events, according to an Australian study. The study, which was published on Friday by Charles Darwin University (CDU) in Australia's Northern Territory, found that on land, poaching, trophy hunting, predator hunting and recreational harvests are responsible for the loss of older animals, with lions and elephants among the wide range of species where older individuals are over-exploited. In freshwater and ocean environments, the oldest fish in most populations have been depleted and extremely old coral has been harvested. Keller Kopf, lead author of the study from CDU's Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, said that older animals must be protected. "In addition to their intrinsic biodiversity value and slower rate of recovery in response to human activities, the loss of old animals ultimately threatens the long-term sustainability and stability of ecosystems on which humans depend," he said in a media release on Friday. "Old individuals of long-lived species such as elephants, whales and humans accumulate knowledge over long time-periods, and -- among many other benefits -- this allows them to provide better care of their off-spring or grand-offspring." The research team called for a long-term approach with dedicated policy directives and management strategies to conserve older animals around the world. Senate Majority Leader Steve Livingston, R-Scottsboro (left) and Sen. Garlan Gudger, R-Cullman, are running to become the next Senate President Pro Tem in the Alabama Senate. The President Pro Tem assigns committee members and has a major voice in directing legislation on the floor of the chamber. (Both: Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector) The Alabama Republican State Senate Caucus will pick a new leader after Thanksgiving, but its members arent advertising their choices. The caucus, which holds 27 of the 35 seats in the state Senate, is scheduled to vote Dec. 3 for a new Senate President Pro Tempore after Sen. Greg Reed, R-Jasper, announced earlier this week that he would leave the Senate to take a job in Gov. Kay Iveys administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The two candidates for the position are Sen. Steve Livingston, R-Scottsboro, the Senate Majority Leader, and Sen. Garlan Gudger, R-Cullman, who chairs the chambers Financial Responsibility and Economic Development committee. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The Senate President Pro Tempore is the leader of the chamber and one of the two most powerful people in the Alabama Legislature. The person in the position assigns senators to committees and has a major say in the flow of legislation. Gudger declined to comment on the race because he is a part of it. Attempts to reach Livingston were not successful. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Republican caucus met earlier this week but no vote ended up taking place. Caucus meetings are not open to the public. Livingston has been in the body since 2014 and became majority leader in 2023 after then-Sen. Clay Scofield, R-Arab, left to take a job with the Business Council of Alabama. Livingston, a co-chair of the Permanent Legislative Committee on Reapportionment, handled the Senate side of redistricting in 2021, which ultimately led to court orders requiring the drawing of new congressional maps. In 2022, he passed a constitutional amendment requiring the governor to notify the attorney general and representatives of crime victims families when commuting death sentences or issuing reprieves. He also sponsored a bill changing the Department of Labor to the Department of Workforce, where Reed is headed. Gudger, who has been in the Senate since 2018, chairs Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development. In the 2024 session, he sponsored SB 1, which criminalizes some assistance for absentee ballot applications. Portions of the law have been preliminarily enjoined for blind, illiterate and disabled voters. Gudger also sponsored a bill aimed at expanding access to child care in the state; a House version of the legislation, sponsored by House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels, D-Huntsville, ultimately became law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At this stage, the differences between the candidates are not entirely clear. Outside of gambling, the Senate Republican Caucus has shown few public signs of division on statewide issues. Both Livingston and Gudger come from solidly Republican districts and have conservative voting records. Both senators voted for the states abortion ban in 2019. On an initial vote for a conference committee version of a constitutional amendment that would have allowed people to vote for some gambling, both voted yes. On a voucher-like program that Gov. Kay Ivey signed earlier this year, Gudger citing opposition from school officials in his district voted no, while Livingston voted yes. In interviews with a half-dozen members of the Senate Republican caucus on Wednesday and Thursday, almost none were willing to commit to a candidate. Sen. Chris Elliott, R-Josephine, was the only senator reached by the Reflector who named who they were supporting. Elliott supports Gudger. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He is willing to solve big problems and actually get and work to get complicated legislation across the aisle, I think that is what Im trying to say there, he said. Asked if he doesnt think Livingston is, Elliott said I didnt say that. Ive said what I said. Sen. David Sessions, R-Grand Bay, said that he did not think there was a large difference in philosophy between the candidates but that there might be a difference in style. I would tell you my personal philosophy in politics and in life is always treating people fairly and that means all people, and doing the best job you can do as a senator for your district and for the state of Alabama, and Im going to look for my vote to be cast for the person I think is doing it and doing it for the right reasons, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sen. Jack Williams, R-Wilmer, said he was looking for a leader who would listen to him. But he declined to name who was supporting. Theres only two people running but you already knew that, he said. Im sure. Sen. Greg Albritton, R-Atmore, said he was looking for someone who can get a strong majority of votes because divisions would not be helpful. We will become much like the U.S. Congress and thats something we do not need to be, he said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE A flier posted on on Thursday on a University of Alaska Anchorage bulletin board gives information about testing for sexually transmitted infections. Alaska had the nation's highest gonorrhea rate last year. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon) Alaska had the nations highest rate of gonorrhea last year and the third-highest rate of chlamydia, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported. The rankings are from the CDCs newest annual report on sexually transmitted infections, which was released last week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nationally, gonorrhea rates dropped 7% from 2022 to 2023, the CDC reported. Alaskas 2023 rate was also lower than the states 2022 rate, but the decline was slighter. Gonorrhea can cause infertility in women and men, infections that spread to various parts of the body, and complications for babies, including blindness. Alaskas gonorrhea rate dropped from 314.1 per 100,000 people in 2022 to 310.9 per 100,000 people last year, a decline of less than 1%, according to the CDC report. But the states rate was high enough to move from fourth place in 2022 to the top of the state list for last year, according to the CDC information. The national gonorrhea rate was 179.5 per 100,000 people, the CDC said. For chlamydia, Alaska also ranked third among U.S. states in 2022. But the states 2023 rate for that infectious disease was about 4% lower than that of the year prior, according to the CDC information. Alaskas 2023 chlamydia rate of 697.7 per 100,000 people compares to a national rate of 492.2 per 100,000 people, according to the CDC. Chlamydia can cause pelvic inflammatory disease, prostate gland infections, infections in newborns and other complications. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sexually transmitted infection rates are typically higher in Alaska than in other states. For example, in 2010, Alaska had the nations highest chlamydia rate and the second-highest gonorrhea rate. The cases dominate the states annual tally of infectious diseases beyond influenza, COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus. In 2023, Alaska also had syphilis rates higher than the national average. The state was the 11th highest for primary and secondary syphilis, which are the first and second stages of the infection, and 15th highest for congenital syphilis, the form of the disease passed to newborns by their mothers. Alaskas rates of primary and secondary syphilis increased from 2022 to 2023, from 21.8 per 100,000 to 22.5 per 100,000, or about 3%, according to the CDC. Ten babies were born with syphilis in Alaska in 2023, compared to 12 in 2022, according to the CDC. Syphilis rates have spiked nationally in recent years, but the rate of increase slowed to 1% nationally in 2023, the CDC said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Particularly worrisome to health officials is the sharp increase in syphilis that is present at birth, known as congenital, which can be fatal to the infants. Congenital syphilis can also cause lasting and serious health problems, including bone deformities, blindness and deafness. The increase has advisories for more testing for the infection, especially among people considered to be at high risk. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX ALBANY Albany State University has received three grants from the National Science Foundation totaling more than $3.6 million. These grants represent a significant investment in our research capabilities and will enable us to make further strides in advancing science," interim ASU President Lawrence Drake said. "The grants will support research in various fields, including biology and STEM. This funding will provide essential resources and support to our faculty and students, allowing them to conduct cutting-edge research and pursue innovative projects that will benefit the university community and beyond." The first grant, totaling $299,998, from the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Undergraduate Program Research Initiation Awards program, is for the project Enhancing the Decontamination Process of Foodborne Pathogens to Increase the Shelf Life of Food. This project will be overseen by Niamul Kabir in the Department of Natural Sciences. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The goal of this project is to improve the decontamination process of Escherichia coli O157:H7, non-typhoidal Salmonella, and Listeria monocytogenes bacteria to increase the shelf life of different foods by utilizing elevated hydrostatic pressure/high-pressure processing, mild temperature and natural antimicrobials. This research on the synergistic effect of HPP with different natural antimicrobials and environmental factors can provide additional insight into how the HPP process can be augmented to improve food safety and prevent foodborne disease outbreaks more effectively. The second grant, totaling $2,999,904, will be distributed over five years for the project Building A Community of STEM Practitioners. The multidisciplinary project will be overseen by Cheninye Ofodile, John Williams, Zephyrinus Okonkwo, Robert Owor and Dorene Medlin. This project examines whether establishing a hub for science, technology, engineering, or mathematics activities at an HBCU in rural southwest Georgia can catalyze community, school district and industry partnerships to work toward improving STEM education. Evidence-based teaching strategies, some of which are not typically utilized in STEM courses, will be taught to faculty and high school teachers participating in this project. An innovative STEM Ambassadors program will create new relationships between ASU faculty and teachers in local school districts by creating a cohort of 12-15 teachers who meet monthly with ASU STEM faculty to receive training in up to three specialized skills. ASU STEM faculty also will work on a co-curricular and extra-curricular basis with teachers and students in area K-12 school districts to assist and guide robotics competitions such as the FIRST Robotics Competition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additionally, a Summer Bridge program for incoming undergraduate students will focus on the courses that freshmen STEM majors take during their first year at ASU to help enhance students college readiness and technological skills. The projects support structures, program elements, and partnership-building activities could serve as a model to other universities seeking to revitalize and strengthen their STEM degree programs for the betterment of students and society. The third grant, totaling $363,934, from the HBCUP-RIA program, is for the project Nano-vehicles for delivery of small molecules to mitochondria in Saccharomyces cerevisiae model. This project will be overseen by Balasubramani Subramani Paranthaman in the Department of Natural Sciences. This three-year project aims to develop resveratrol-encapsulated nanoparticles capable of transgressing the cell boundaries and reaching the mitochondria. Mitochondria are essential organelles in the eukaryotic cells. They provide energy and play a significant role in cell survival. Current research is focused on developing nanoparticle-based methods to deliver drug-like molecules to mitochondria. Resveratrol is one natural product identified to have positive modulation effects on mitochondria due to its ability to alter the production of reactive oxygen and modulate gene expression, thereby changing mitochondrial dynamics, which influence the physiology and survivability of cells. This strategy can help to control the life and death of cells. Such technology will have several human and animal health applications, improving plant productivity and biomanufacturing. These grants will benefit ASU and the wider academic and research community. The research conducted using these funds will contribute to our understanding of some of the most pressing issues facing society today. It will help to advance our knowledge and capabilities in science and technology. GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) Dozens of students at Alger Middle School in Grand Rapids received a free laptop on Thursday as part of an effort to bridge the digital divide. With technology ingrained in everyday life, schools have continued to adjust. Were trying to incorporate it into their learning because we know its not going anywhere, Charlie Lovelady II, principal at Alger Middle School, said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, with some students unable to fully access the Internet at home, Lovelady II said it can create some challenges. Scholarship gauntlet aims to propel Ottawa Hills students Some homework assignments dont get done, some extra learning does not get done, Lovelady II said. Thursday at Alger Middle School, there was an effort to help tackle this issue. Around 50 students received a free laptop during an assembly recognizing academic achievement. Being able to have laptops at home, they can spend valuable time learning and being educated instead of on video games or social media, Lovelady II said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The laptop giveaway is a partnership between AT&T, Human I-T, the Greater Grand Rapids NAACP, and Kent School Services Network. Students facing homelessness find help at GVSU Greater Grand Rapids NAACP president Cle Jackson said it was important for the laptops to go where they can make the biggest impact. When you look at Black and also low-wealth and poor white kids, theyre disproportionately impacted by the digital divide, Jackson said. We talk about ChatGPT, AI, all of this. If you dont have access to the proper tools, youre going to be left behind. As the students picked up their laptops, there was plenty of excitement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I was actually the one who delivered the message to let them know they were getting the laptops and just seeing their reaction, being able to deliver something like that, thats needed, is a huge reward, said DaJuan Thomas, a community school coordinator with Kent School Services Network. Homework gap shows millions of students lack home internet One student who received a device is looking forward to the doors it will open. Check my grades, make sure I keep up on my homework, my work, everything. Make sure I get everything done and keep my grades up, said Semaj Coleman, eighth-grade student at Alger Middle School. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement AT&T also has a program that provides low-cost internet services to qualified homes. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Matt Gaetz consciously decoupled from Donald Trump earlier on Thursday when he took himself out of consideration for attorney general. It came after four senators reportedly said that they would not vote to confirm him, all prompted by the miasma of a particularly degenerate sex scandal involving Gaetz and, allegedly, a minor. It is fitting and proper that he should withdraw from consideration. But there were other issues around the Gaetz nomination that were largely overlooked by the mainstream media in the frenzy around the graphic allegations of sexual misconduct and a House Ethics Committee investigation into the particulars. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ive been researching Gaetzs ties to the Proud Boys, a right-wing extremist organization that played a leading role in the assault on the Capitol on January 6. The Proud Boys have come close to acting as Trumps personal street fighters; during a 2020 debate against Joe Biden, Trump told them to stand back and stand by. Gaetz used the same phrase this year while visiting Trump at his hush money trial in Manhattan. The ties go deeper than that. Back in November 2018, Gaetz appeared at a rally in Broward County, Florida. It was right after the midterm elections, where both a Senate seat and the race for governor in the state were hotly contested. Broward County was conducting a recount. Right-wing activists descended on a local elections office to stage protests. Gaetz, then a Florida congressman entering his second term, appeared at the protest, where several Proud Boys also appeared. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At one point, Gaetz gave a speech from what seemed to be the back of a container truck. Its a fascinating artifact, like a prototype of the 2020 election overthrow attempt: Gaetz eggs the crowd on against election workers, telling them that dead peoples votes were cast, that the election was a sham, and that audits needed to be conducted to determine the true total. The Miami New Times reported that Gaetz was photographed alongside a Proud Boy at the event. Per the New York Times, federal prosecutors examined the rally as a potential model for January 6. The person who took a video of Gaetz at the event is also purportedly a Proud Boy. After the Capitol insurrection, Gaetz traveled with other far-right members of Congress to a D.C. jail holding January 6 defendants. Enrique Tarrio, the then-free Proud Boys leader, wrote on Telegram in March of that year that Gaetz had a brass set after he pushed back on efforts to combat extremism in the military. These details were mostly overlooked in the the past week. And, now that Gaetz is out of consideration, we likely wont hear much more about it. But its telling that Trumps first pick for attorney general was friendly with members of the group committed to overthrowing the government on January 6 to save Trump politically. The Best Of TPM Today Matt Gaetz Withdraws From AG Consideration Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement North Carolina GOP Uses Waning Supermajority To Strip Power From Newly Elected State Dems Trump Wants Unilateral Power To Destroy Nonprofits. Congress Can Block It. New Details Released On Sexual Assault Allegation Against Hegseth Yesterdays Most Read Story What More Do GOP Senators Really Need To Know About Matt Gaetz? What We Are Reading Trump demands Republicans kill bill that would protect journalists from government spying Number of women in Congress stalls for the first time since Trumps 2016 election Ethics committee told of second sexual encounter between Matt Gaetz and 17-year-old at party, sources say Nov. 21A federal grand jury in New Haven has indicted a man who last lived in New London with illegally reentering the United States after being deported. According to a release by Vanessa Roberts Avery, the U.S. attorney for the District of Connecticut, Rafael Vincente Vincente, 40, a Guatemalan citizen, was arrested Thursday after being indicted on Tuesday. He then pleaded not guilty when he appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert M. Spector in New Haven, and was ordered detained. If convicted, he faces a maximum of 10 years in prison. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the U.S. Attorney's office, Vincente was deported to Guatemala in July 2005 after being convicted in Connecticut of negligent homicide and evading responsibility in connection with a motor vehicle accident that resulted in death. It is alleged he subsequently reentered the U.S. On June 7, he was charged by Groton Town Police with attempted commercial sexual abuse of a minor, attempted second-degree sexual assault and attempted risk of injury to a child. He was one of three men arrested in an operation by the FBI and local police. Police say Vincente showed up at a Groton hotel, thinking he was there to pay for sex with an underage female, but was met by law enforcement and arrested. Those charges are pending. UPDATE: FRIDAY 11/22/2024 11:41 a.m. (COLORADO SPRINGS) The alleged UCCS shooter has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Samuel Knopp and Celie Montgomery. Nicholas Jordan, the alleged shooter, appeared at El Paso County court for an arraignment hearing on Friday, Nov. 22. The defense tried to motion for another arraignment date, citing they needed more time to find mental health experts and information. Prosecutors said the defense has had time, and the victims in the case were eager to see a trial date set. The judge denied the defenses request for another arraignment, as he did not believe additional time was appropriate in the case, due to the defense entering a plea of not guilty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jordan will appear in court on Jan. 31, the defense will be able to change his not-guilty plea to not guilty by reason of insanity by that date. A two-week trial will begin on April 7 for the murder charges, Jordan will also be back in court for the allegations of a jail assault on April 21. ORIGINAL STORY: Alleged UCCS shooter back in court for arraignment hearing FRIDAY 11/22/2024 9:14 a.m. Nicholas Jordan, the alleged gunman in the Feb. 16 killing of Samuel Knopp and Celie Montgomery will appear in El Paso County court on Friday, Nov. 22 at 9:30 a.m. for an arraignment hearing after it was postponed in late October. The alleged shooter was set to appear in court for an arraignment hearing on Oct. 25, but it was moved after the defense argued it needed more time to properly investigate the case. The defense said the complexity of the case and Jordans competency being fluid has impacted the defenses ability to properly investigate the case and that entering a plea would violate due process and effective representation for Jordan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors argued that families of the victims have been waiting since February for justice, that Jordan was found competent in May, and that the defense appears to have a large team and plenty of resources. During the Oct. 25 hearing, the judge found good cause to issue a continuance to Nov. 22 and said it would be the final continuance granted. According to arrest documents, Jordan was Knopps roommate at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) when he was accused of fatally shooting Knopp and Montgomery in a dorm at the university. FOX21 News will be watching the hearing and will update this article as we learn more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado. The Moscow Conventions were presented in Ukraine, consisting of 137 articles based on real-life accounts of former prisoners of war, their relatives and brothers-in-arms. Source: the document is an alternative to the Geneva Conventions, as reported by the Association of Azovstal Defenders' Families Details: Its articles describe the "norms" of the Russian Federation regarding the treatment of prisoners of war: abuse, beatings, starvation, sexual violence, torture, etc. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Quote: "This is another attempt to show the world the consequences of a neutral attitude to crimes against humanity. If we continue to ignore Russia's violation of the Geneva Conventions, it will mean that we live in a new reality where torture and murder are allowed. Every silent crime is a new page of the Moscow Conventions," the Association emphasised. In a remark for UP.Zhyttia, the Association of Azovstal Defenders' Families stated that the project took more than three months to complete. It was founded in cooperation with the Banda advertising firm, the media initiative for human rights, the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War at Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, the Office of the Ombudsman and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. "Last year, Banda and us completed a project. Many people discussed the concerns and hardships that prisoners' families experience. One of these, of course, is noncompliance with the Geneva Conventions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a result, this time they approached us with an intriguing idea: to print new Geneva Conventions, rewritten by Russia, to communicate with them in the language they understand," the Association said. The Moscow Conventions were developed to raise awareness and demand public and official recognition by the International Committee of the Red Cross that the Russian Federation violates Geneva Convention rules. "The participating countries that have ratified the Geneva Conventions should force the Russian Federation to comply with the norms of the Geneva Convention on the treatment of prisoners of war regarding the mandatory repatriation of seriously wounded and seriously ill prisoners of war, regardless of their rank and their number," according to the book's authors. The book was presented on 20 November in Kyiv. It is available online in a variety of languages. Support UP or become our patron! TEHRAN, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- The Basij voluntary force of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) kicked off on Friday the final stage of a two-day drill in the southwestern province of Khuzestan, the Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA) reported. The first phase of the exercise, involving 60,000 Basij members, was held across the province on Thursday, during which different units carried out tactical, passive defense as well as rescue and relief operations, the report said. The second day of the drill started with a ceremony attended by IRGC's Chief Commander Hossein Salami and other high-ranking IRGC commanders as well as provincial officials, according to ISNA. The IRGC has also displayed a number of its military drones as well as defense equipment during the exercise, said the report. The supplicants gather. Morning Joe Scarborough and his wife Mika Brzezinski left off reviling Donald Trump and made the trek to Mar-a-Lago to seek the president-elects blessing. They wanted, Brzezinski said, to restart communications. I wonder how that went down? Several years of spluttering epithets: Youre like Hitler, youre a fascist. Then: Cant we please be friends? Something like that, I imagine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For his part, Trump was polite. I very much appreciated the fact that they wanted to have open communication, he told Fox News. But the circling piranhas of the commentariat were quick to pounce. Hypocrite, suggested the once-funny Jon Stewart. Nikki Haley, hardly a Trump advocate herself, seethed that Joe and Mika didnt suddenly see the light, they saw their ratings. They realised they needed Trump for their survival. This may be true. But anyone who has followed Scarboroughs career knows that, when it comes to political colouration, he is eminently, er, pliable. He was a conservative Congressman from 1995-2001. He called for the US to withdraw from the UN (still a very good idea). He condemned the Rev Al Sharpton for racist and anti-Semitic views. That was before he became pals with Sharpton and invited him on his show to talk politics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Scarborough is what you might call a Whitmanian figure. Do I contradict myself? old Walt asked in Leaves of Grass. Very well, I contradict myself. I am large, I contain multitudes. I predict that we are in for many such Whitmanian moments as the reality of Trumps victory penetrates the collective consciousness of the punditocracy and their attendant political chihuahuas. Like Caesar after the battle of Pharsalus, Trump has been a model of magnanimity to former critics like Scarborough and Brzezinski. Well likely see a steelier side of his temperament after January 20 when his administration begins focusing on the people who weaponised those institutions charged with maintaining the rule of law. What Elon Musk calls the hammer of justice is hovering in the wings. It wont be wielded by an Attorney General called Matt Gaetz. I am confident, though, that Pam Bondi will be Thor-like in dealing with the corruption and politicisation of the DOJ. In any event, the procession of supplicants in which Scarborough and Brzezinski were marching is growing longer and more diverse. Yes, there are little eructations of protest as various celebrities threaten to leave the country and unhappy females with poor matrimonial prospects shave their heads and mope in the corner, alone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But for reasons only the Zeitgeist can unravel, the serial revulsions against all things Trump, so common during his first term and through much of his 2024 presidential campaign, are more and more failing to get traction. The gears wont mesh. The Rosie ODonnells of the world cast their imprecations against the bad orange man into the air, but no one is listening. Its not only Trump. It is the mood of the nation. A couple of years ago, cynical politicians would drape themselves in Kente Cloth and kneel in homage to George Floyd. All across the fruited plain, athletes would take a knee when the national anthem played. Perhaps that is still happening on isolated college campuses. But the new hotness is the Trump dance, which is on happy display in stadiums from New York to Los Angeles. Donald Trumps quirky dance moves on the campaign trail, we read, have become the latest celebration craze in sports. To the inattentive, the fad might seem epiphenomenal. I think it signals a shift in the national mood. Its not just Trump. Its the phalanx of normality, of common sense, of fiscal and policy sanity. Its the return of prosperity, of a southern border, of men who are men and women who are women. The era of endless apology and fake accusations of racism is giving way to a new, healthier, more confident dispensation. Roger Kimball is editor and publisher of The New Criterion and president and publisher of Encounter Books 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. More Americans rate feeling warmly toward Donald Trump today than they did after the 2016 or 2020 election, despite the president-elects many scandals, including four indictments and two impeachments. After a contentious presidential election cycle, approximately 43 percent of people said they feel very warm or warm toward the president-elect in a new poll conducted by Pew Research Center. That is seven percentage points higher than after the 2016 election when Trump unexpectedly defeated Hillary Clinton. Its also nine percentage points higher than after the 2020 presidential election, when Trump refused to concede to President Joe Biden and spread false statements about mass voter fraud in a bid to overturn the election results. More people feel warmly toward Donald Trump today than they did after the 2016 or 2020 election (Getty Images) Despite Trump facing federal criminal charges for his alleged attempts to overturn that election and accusations that he incited the January 6 attack on the Capitol, many Americans have seemingly forgiven the president-elect. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The poll found that even Democrat or Democrat-leaning voters have slightly warmer feelings about Trump. In November, nine percent of those voters surveyed said they felt very warm or warm toward the president-elect. In 2020, that was five percent, and in 2016 it was eight percent. Trump has also boosted his image among Republican or Republican-leaning voters, with 78 percent reporting feeling warmly toward him. That, in part, is thanks to higher good behavior ratings during this election cycle compared to the 2020 election. Pew Researchs findings largely reflect the outcome of the election which saw much of the country shift right. Trump won both the electorate and popular vote in addition to all seven swing states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite warmer feelings toward Trump, the majority of Americans do not believe that he can successfully unite the country. Just 41 percent are confident in the president-elects ability to do so. Republicans are now far more likely to be hopeful and proud, while the share of Democrats who feel hopeful has declined sharply, the Pew report says. Meanwhile, 42 percent of Americans believe Trump is honest, and 37 percent describe him as even-tempered. Only 34 percent believe he is a good role model. Yet, Americans confidence in Trumps ability to steer the economy in the right direction, crack down on immigration and approach foreign policy at a time of heightened tensions is what ultimately what won voters over. An Amtrak engineer was nearly impaled after the train struck a fallen tree as a powerful storm hit Washington, the railroad company said. The incident happened at about 7:50 p.m. Nov. 19 in Silvana, a spokesperson for Amtrak said in a release. The Amtrak Cascades train was carrying 48 passengers from Vancouver, British Columbia, to Seattle when it hit a fallen tree on the tracks, the company said. Silvana is about a 45-mile drive north from Seattle. The damaged Amtrak train is pictured. The tree pierced the windshield, narrowly missing the engineer controlling the cart, a photo shows. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although no one was injured, the engineer was still taken to a hospital for an evaluation before being released, the company said. Passengers were given other transportation. A bomb cyclone, a low pressure storm, brought winds over 70 miles per hour on Nov. 19, The Bellingham Herald reported. The strong winds toppled trees and cut off power to thousands. Were along 35th Ave in North Seattle. Just on this road, a tree smashed into a Seattle Fire Support Unit by 103rd St. A tree crashed into a metro bus by 95th St. Same thing happened by 100th St where a tree smashed into a blue sedan. Miraculously, everyone survived. @komonews pic.twitter.com/xxGUg6NqjA Stella Sun (@stellasunwx) November 20, 2024 Flying umbrella impales woman visiting beach with her family, Florida officials say Wood-chipper accident leaves 22-year-old cemetery worker dead, New Jersey cops say Dog impaled trying to climb wire fence in Arizona. Now comes his beautiful ending By Emily Rose JERUSALEM (Reuters) - A petition by a group of non-governmental organizations for the Supreme Court to order the dismissal of far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has caused a rift in Benjamin Netanyahu's government and could plunge Israel into a constitutional crisis. In a letter to Netanyahu last week, Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara asked the prime minister to consider firing the minister, citing evidence that he allegedly interfered directly in police operations and politicized promotions within the force, threatening its status outside politics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Baharav-Miara's appeal to the prime minister came before the attorney general must give her opinion to the Supreme Court in the coming weeks on whether it should accept and review the NGOs' petition, filed in September. In her letter, made public by her office, Baharav-Miara backed the NGOs contentions that the minister had personally intervened in the way police chiefs responded to anti-government protests. She also cited a letter from former Israel Police commissioner Kobi Shabtai, who left office in July, saying that Ben Gvir had instructed senior police officers to disregard cabinet orders to protect humanitarian aid convoys heading to Gaza. Her letter drew a stinging response from the minister who called publicly for the attorney general to be fired, saying that her request was politically motivated. He has denied any wrongdoing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When he entered Netanyahu's coalition at the end of 2022, Ben-Gvir was given an expanded portfolio, including responsibility for Border Police in the occupied West Bank, despite having been convicted in 2007 of racist incitement against Arabs and backing an extremist nationalist religious group, Kach, designated as a terrorist organization by Israel and the United States. A "police law" passed by the Knesset that month - one of Ben Gvir's conditions for entering the coalition expanded the powers of the security minister over the police, including setting general policy as well as its operational priorities and guidelines. Ben Gvir said the law would strengthen the police force and its ability to combat crime, and argued that in all democratic countries the police reported to an elected minister. Critics have argued that the amendments gave Ben Gvir overarching powers over operations and made him the "ultimate police chief." Four former police commanders and two legal experts told Reuters that changes Ben Gvir has made to the structure and culture of Israel's police force have led to its politicization. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Minister Ben Gvir is trying, with his authority, to approve appointments or to be involved in promotions and advancements, in order to advance his own political interests," said Amonon Alkalai, a former police sergeant who resigned in 2021. Neither the Israel Police nor Ben Gvir's office responded to requests for comment on the minister's role in police appointments or influence over operations. Netanyahu - who faces corruption charges - has resisted past calls to dismiss Ben-Gvir. If the minister's far-right, nationalist Otzma Yehudit party were to withdraw from the governing coalition, Netanyahu would only have a slim majority. Adding to his legal difficulties, the International Criminal Court issued a warrant for Netanyahu's arrest on Thursday for alleged war crimes in the Gaza conflict. Netanyahu maintains his innocence on all counts. Should the Supreme Court order the prime minister to dismiss his minister and he refuses, Israel could be plunged into constitutional crisis, with the government in defiance of the judiciary, some legal experts say. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We don't know what would happen in that situation," said Amir Fuchs, a senior researcher at the Israel Democracy Institute, a Jerusalem-based think tank. He added that could put Israel "in a very dangerous situation." Netanyahu's office did not respond to a request for comment. HARD LINE ON PROTESTS Tel Aviv District Police Commander Ami Eshed resigned last year citing political reasons, after publicly stating he would not use force against anti-government protestors despite requests from Ben Gvir to do so. In a televised statement, Eshed said "the ministerial echelon" had blatantly interfered in professional decision making. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ben Gvir's office did not respond publicly to Eshed's comments. Israel's high court has ordered Ben-Gvir to stop instructing the police how to use force in response to protests last year and again in January. The four former officers who spoke to Reuters said a sign of the change in policing under Ben Gvir was when police did not make arrests when right-wing Israeli protesters broke into two military compounds in July after investigators arrived to question soldiers about suspected abuse of a Palestinian inmate. In contrast, police have clamped down on anti-government demonstrations. Israel Yediot newspaper in June reported that at one evening of protests, a record 110 arrests were made, out of which only one individual was charged. In response to public criticism of the high numbers of arrests, police have said some protestors at demonstrations behave violently including attacking law enforcement and lighting fires. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The police did not respond to a request for comment from Reuters on the handling of protests. TEMPLE MOUNT Senior appointments in recent months have transformed the police's leadership. After the government approved in August his choice for national police commissioner Daniel Levy, Ben Gvir said the new chief would follow "a Zionist and Jewish agenda" and lead the police "according to the policy I have laid out for him." Just over 20% of Israel's population is Arab and this community suffers much higher rates of violent crime. Neither Ben-Gvir nor Levy attended a meeting convened by Netanyahu in September to tackle rising crime rates in the Arab-Israeli community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A new Jerusalem district chief appointed under Ben-Gvir, Amir Arzani, has eased restrictions on access to the Al-Aqsa mosque, built on a site holy to Jews who know it as Temple Mount and one of the most sensitive places in the Middle East. One former senior commander who oversaw law enforcement in Jerusalem told Reuters that, in the past, when ministers tried to ascend to the Temple Mount to conduct Jewish prayer, senior officers would seek permission from the justice ministry to arrest them on the basis that it posed a threat to national security. Ben Gvir has ascended to the Temple Mount several times since his tenure began without being stopped by police. The Israel Police said in a statement, in response to Reuters' questions about the guidelines, that Knesset members could request access to Temple Mount via the Knesset Guard, and approval depended on a security assessment conducted close to the planned visit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One former commander, who served during Ben Gvir's tenure and asked not to be identified due the sensitive nature of his former position, said Ben Gvir was not prevented from ascending to the Temple Mount because it was deemed to pose no credible threat. LONG-LASTING DAMAGE Eugene Kontorovich, head of the international law department at the Kohelet Policy Forum, a conservative think tank based in Jerusalem, said an order from the Supreme Court for the prime minister to dismiss the minister would overstep judicial authority. "If a prime minister can't choose which ministers to hire and fire, he's not the prime minister, he's just a puppet of the courts," Kontorovich said. He said the attorney general had not identified any specific laws that Ben-Gvir had violated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Movement for Quality Government in Israel, a campaign group that aims to promote democratic standards, has appealed the 2022 police law before the Supreme Court. Ory Hess, a lawyer at the Movement, said the law gave Ben Gvir dangerous authority to intervene in Israeli politics because he could use the police to stifle anti-government sentiment. Yoav Segalovitz, a member of Israel's Knesset in the opposition Yesh Atid party and a former law enforcement officer who headed the police's investigations and intelligence division, said Ben Gvir's changes may do irreversible damage that would take years to correct. "A political person should never have power over how the police is used because the police is not the military: the police deal with the citizens; the police deal with the most sensitive issues," Segalovitz said. (Reporting by Emily Rose; Editing by Daniel Flynn) By Guy Faulconbridge MOSCOW (Reuters) - Vladimir Putin's hypersonic missile carried a simple message to the West over Ukraine: back off, and if you don't, Russia reserves the right to hit U.S. and British military facilities. Russia fired a new intermediate-range hypersonic ballistic missile known as "Oreshnik", or Hazel Tree, at Ukraine on Thursday in what Putin said was a direct response to strikes on Russia by Ukrainian forces with U.S. and British missiles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a special statement from the Kremlin just after 8 p.m. in Moscow that day, the Russian president said the war was escalating towards a global conflict, though he avoided any nuclear rhetoric. Putin has also refrained, so far, from actually striking the West, a step that could lead to a direct confrontation between Russia and the NATO alliance - and a confrontation that U.S. President Joe Biden said in March 2022 would be World War III. In his statement, the Kremlin chief gave the West notice that Russia reserved the right to strike at the military installations of countries that let Ukraine use their missiles to hit Russia - so far only the United States and Britain. "Putin is saying to the West stop - halt - back off," Sergei Markov, a former Kremlin adviser, told Reuters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The signal Putin is sending to the world is that we consider these strikes as the direct entry of the United States and Britain into a war against Russia," he said. "But we are not responding with all our might right now because these strikes against Russia will not change the outcome of the war." A Russian source who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the situation said Putin had hinted that he wanted to steer clear of escalation, though the odds of Russia using nuclear weapons remained pretty high. The source did not clarify whether he was talking about tactical battlefield weapons or long-range nuclear missiles. NUCLEAR THRESHOLD Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Biden dropped his opposition to Ukraine firing U.S. missiles at targets deep inside Russia in response to North Korea's entry to the war, a shift in U.S. policy that took on added urgency following Donald Trump's Nov. 5 election win, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters on Thursday. The decision could help to "Trump-proof" parts of Biden's Ukraine agenda by strengthening Kyiv's position in case it loses U.S. support, one of the sources said. Russian officials cast the move by Biden as a reckless decision by a lame-duck outgoing administration aimed at creating a serious crisis for Trump to resolve when he is inaugurated as president in January. That puts Putin in a difficult position: if he escalates now, he could stoke just such a crisis. But if he doesn't, then the West could interpret him as weak and keep pushing through clear Russian red lines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When Putin warned in September that Russia would update its nuclear doctrine to allow potentially a nuclear response to the use of conventional Western missiles to strike Russia, U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said it was not the first time he had "rattled the nuclear sabre". The day Ukraine fired U.S.-made ATACMS missiles deep into Russian territory, Putin approved the lowering of the nuclear threshold flagged two months earlier. After Putin lowered the threshold, the Pentagon said that the United States had not changed its nuclear posture - or observed a change in Russia's nuclear posture. The Pentagon and Britain's Ministry of Defence did not immediately respond to questions about whether they had changed any security postures in response to Putin's threat to attack their military installations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When asked what the main message of Putin's statement was, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday that the key thing was that Russia will react to "reckless actions" from Western countries which take part in strikes on Russia. "The Russian side has clearly demonstrated its capabilities, and the contours of further retaliatory actions in case our concerns are not taken into account are clearly outlined," he said. Besides warning that U.S. and British military facilities could be targeted, Putin said Washington's plans to deploy short- and intermediate-range missiles in Europe and Asia could prompt Moscow to do the same - bringing its firepower within closer striking range of the West. "Putin is clearly signalling increased reliance on strategic weapons - including nuclear and longer-range missiles - to push the U.S. and NATO to stop its support for Ukraine," said Jon Wolfsthal, a former special assistant to President Barack Obama and now director of global risk at the Federation of American Scientists. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I don't think he has any intention to go nuclear in a war he is winning, but he appears to want us to worry a lot, perhaps to make it easier for Trump to cut and run," he said. 'DIE HARD' Markov said Putin's statement was also directed at his audience in Russia, where Markov said there were "a lot of voices calling for Putin to strike the West directly - and strike it hard". Pro-Putin Russian Telegram channels cast the 72-year-old as a "Krepkiy Oreshnik", a word play on the name of the missile and the 1988 film "Die Hard" starring Bruce Willis which translates into Russian as "Krepkiy Oreshek" - or a tough nut. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov praised Putin for a statement he said thousands of soldiers had been waiting a long time for. "They are sitting there in the West and it is warm and quite calm. So let them feel on their own skin what a real war is," Kadyrov said. "Did they want a real war with Russia? So let them have their fill of it!" "It is necessary to demonstrate the full murderous power of Russian long-range weapons," Kadyrov said. Putin said Ukraine's attack with ATACMS on Nov. 19 had failed to inflict any serious damage. But the attack a day later with British Storm Shadow missiles on the Kursk region targeted a command point and led to deaths and injuries, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Firing what the United States believes is a new ballistic missile in response is a clear warning to the West, but a carefully calibrated one, analysts said. Kremlin spokesman Peskov said Russia was not technically obliged to warn Washington about the strike, because the missile was intermediate-range rather than intercontinental, but he said Moscow had informed the U.S. 30 minutes beforehand anyway. And while Putin pointedly avoided mention of nuclear weapons in his statement, the new hypersonic missile Russia fired at Dnipro in Ukraine can be equipped with nuclear warheads, and can reach Europe or the west coast of the United States. Ultimately, Putin warned the West not to underestimate his resolve. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We consider ourselves entitled to use our weapons against the military facilities of those countries that allow their weapons to be used against our facilities," he said. "If anyone else doubts this, then they are wrong - there will always be a response." (Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge; Additional reporting by Idrees Ali and Phil Stewart in Washington, Alistair Smout in London; Editing by David Clarke) ANDERSON COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) After searching for years, Anderson District 3 has found and purchased 72 acres of land to build a new school, located Highway 81 South. District leaders said the purchase is a step toward addressing growth and outdated buildings. Starr Iva Middle School has the greatest need. Our present middle school was built in 1953, and thats a time when the halls were much narrower. Our cafeteria is very undersized, and thats probably the biggest need. We have to be very strategic with getting 630 students through lunch, when its probably the smallest cafeteria space in our district, said Kathy Hipp, Anderson School District 3 Superintendent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hipp said each year more and more students enroll at Starr Iva Middle School. We anticipate that number to get larger based on what were seeing in our elementary schools, especially at Flat Rock Elementary. Thats an area thats really growing, said Hipp. District 3 said theyre trying to plan ahead before they completely outgrow the space they do have. For the next year, well just spend our time designing a school, seeing what happens when the house and senate get together again in South Carolina, Hipp said. Do they legislate more money for school building programs for our rural districts? Do they design the infrastructure bank to help us? Theres lots of questions, but this is just the vital piece to get us started. We now have a place to build. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The plan is to build a new school with bigger classroom space. Leaders said they hope itll be easier to monitor behavior with a new building layout. In some of the schools Ive looked at, you can stand in the central location and see down every hallway. With a building designed like that, it will make supervision and safety easier, said Hipp. Hipp said she drives by the plot of land daily and that shes grateful it now belongs to the district. To see it come to this point, to me tells us that were moving forward with a vision thats going to be the right thing for our children and thats what its about, said Hipp. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The district said the site is big enough to potentially build two schools. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS. Nov. 21ANDERSON An Anderson man is facing a maximum sentence of 12 years after being convicted on weapons possession charges. Jacob L. McIntyre, 30, 1300 block of East Seventh Street, was found guilty by a Madison Circuit Court Division 4 jury on two charges of prisoner in possession of a deadly weapon. Judge David Happe has set sentencing for Dec. 3. The state's case was presented by deputy prosecutors Tyler Piraino and Jon Jones. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to a probable cause affidavit filed by Madison County Sheriff's Department investigator Luke Carpenter, a search of a cell block in June found two homemade knives under a bed being used by McIntyre. The knives were wrapped in a material similar to what was found on McIntyre by the medical staff. He was in the Madison County Jail on a charge of aggravated battery and unlawful possession of a firearm in connection with an incident in May in which a 36-year-old man was stabbed at a local gas station. Anderson police responded to the location on Meridian Street in relation to a stabbing. When officers arrived on scene, they found a 36-year-old man who was reportedly stabbed while sitting in a vehicle near the intersection of 19th and Jackson streets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anderson police said that the 36-year-old man pulled into the parking lot of the gas station and was reportedly followed by a white SUV that blocked him in. According to a press release, while sitting in the car, the man was approached by a man who was armed with a handgun and knife. An altercation then occurred and the 36-year-old was stabbed multiple times. The white SUV reportedly fled the scene before police arrived. Judge Happe rejected a plea agreement in the case in which McIntyre entered a plea of guilty and in a second case involving charges of intimidation filed in April. McIntyre is set to go on trial on those charges on Feb. 26, 2025. Follow Ken de la Bastide on Twitter @KendelaBastide, or call 765-640-4863. NILES, Ohio (WKBN) The Warren Junior Womens League is celebrating more than a half-century of its annual Champagne Luncheon. More than 400 women attended the event Friday afternoon at the Eastwood Event Centre. WKBNs Annie Giovannucci and Abigail Cloutier walked the runway in the fashion show. This years theme was Winter Elegance, a Frosty Affair. Organizers say the luncheon is expected to raise anywhere from $15,000 to $20,000 for the Northeastern Ohio Childrens Rehabilitation Center in Howland. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They are dear to our hearts, and benefitting them helps families that cannot pay for therapy, and were able to help them out with that, said Rebecca Bucco, chairwoman of the Champagne Luncheon. In the last 55 years, the luncheon has raised more than $1 million for the community. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. NARRAGANSET For the second time this year, a fossilized great white shark tooth has been found at Narragansett Town Beach, according to the Atlantic Shark Institute in Wakefield. Last summer, Oliver and Sebastian Martinez made a "one in a million find" when they discovered a shark tooth estimated to be at least 10,000 and possibly millions of years old, Jon Dodd, executive director of the institute, noted. Fascinated by the original discovery, Dodd said he was surprised three weeks ago when South Kingstown resident Carline Shields asked him for an opinion on a shark tooth she found, also at Narragansett Town Beach. Carline Shields shows the fossilized shark tooth she found on Narragansett Town Beach. Weve never been asked to assess a tooth that size from Rhode Island waters, never mind two in a matter of months, Dodd said. "From the same small beach in Rhode Island only adds to the intrigue." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Josh Moyer, resident research scientist at the institute, inspected the tooth and determined it, too, was 10,000 to millions of years old. He also estimated it belonged to a shark that was "an impressive" 18 to 20 feet long, Dodd said. The Martinez brothers' shark was estimated at 15 feet long. Shields told Dodd she was taking a morning walk when she spotted the tooth. She initially thought it was a rock. The 2-inch-long tooth belonged to a great white shark believed to have been 18 to 20 feet long. Whats remarkable to us is that weve never gotten a call or heard about teeth of this size and species here in Rhode Island, and now weve had two in a matter of months," Dodd said. "What truly fascinating finds these are. Wed love to hear from folks if they have had similar luck, or know of anyone who has." This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Another fossilized great white shark tooth found in Narragansett VIENNA, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy said Thursday that confrontation would not solve the Iran nuclear issue, calling for resolution through political and diplomatic means. Li Song, China's permanent representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), made the remarks as the agency's 35-nation Board of Governors passed a resolution pressuring Iran on its nuclear issue. China, Russia and Burkina Faso voted against the resolution brought by the United States, Britain, France and Germany, while 12 developing countries including South Africa, India and Egypt abstained. Li said that China welcomes the cooperation between Iran and the IAEA on the outstanding safeguards issues. China also highly appreciates the positive interaction between IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi and the Iranian side and the positive results achieved during Grossi's visit to Iran last week, he added. "Facts have proved time and again that creating artificial confrontation, intensifying conflicts in the Board will not solve the problem, but will risk deteriorating cooperation between the Agency and Iran and further complicating the issue," Li said, stressing that imposing pressure is not a form of diplomacy, and confrontation cannot provide a solution. The Chinese envoy noted the fundamental solution to addressing proliferation concerns lies in political and diplomatic efforts, as well as constructive cooperation on multilateral platforms. Li urged relevant parties to view the issue in "a careful and responsible manner" and play a constructive role in the political resolution of the Iran nuclear issue. New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez had the perfect response to Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greenes new gig as Congresss billionaire babysitter. The House Oversight Committee announced Thursday that it would create a new subcommittee expressly for the purpose of working with the Department of Government Efficiency, the meme-based advisory group led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, that plans to slash trillions of dollars worth of essential government services for the purpose of eradicating the administrative state and racking up new government contracts to replace it. Greene is reportedly set to head the new subcommittee, and Ocasio-Cortez managed to find the silver lining. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is good, actually. She barely shows up and doesnt do the reading, Ocasio-Cortez wrote on X Thursday. To borrow a phrase I saw elsewhere, its like giving someone an unplugged controller. Absolutely dying at those two now getting assigned the privilege of working with MTG, she wrote in a separate post. That is actually hilarious. Enjoy, fellas! Very prestigious post you have there. Representative Jamie Raskin also weighed in on just how ridiculous Republicans plan is to shrink the size of government by creating a new committee. Its hard to keep track of all the new departments and bureaucracies the Republicans are setting up to study the size and efficiency of government, Raskin said in a statement. But isnt that what Chairman Comer and the Committee on Oversight and Accountability actually said they were doing over the last two years? Wheres their report and recommendations? Perhaps the impeachment flop derailed them a bit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So now a noted student of American government, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, will chair a subcommittee to work with two unvetted billionaires who stand to receive billions more in government contracts and subsidies from the government under Trump, Raskin said. Thats why Democrats will stay focused on waste, fraud, abuse and corruption. The government belongs to the people, not the billionaire oligarchs. Musk and Ramaswamy have already outlined their plans to strip funding from public broadcasting, Planned Parenthood, and entitlement programs, which likely include Medicare and Medicaid. It may be a blessing that they now have to work with the congressperson more interested in pushing outlandish, and antisemitic, conspiracy theories than actually governing. WASHINGTON (AP) Voters in central Mississippi and the states Delta and Gulf Coast areas will return to the polls Tuesday to resolve two judicial races in which no candidate received the vote majority needed in the Nov. 5 general election to avoid a runoff. At stake are seats on Mississippis two highest courts, the state Supreme Court and the state Court of Appeals. Judges on both panels serve eight-year terms, the longest of any elected office in the state. In the state Supreme Court race, Justice Jim Kitchens seeks a third term in District 1, also known as the Central District, which spans the states midsection from the Alabama border to the Delta region along the Mississippi River. Kitchens is the more senior of the Courts two presiding justices, putting him next in line to serve as chief justice. He faces a challenge from Jenifer Branning, a Republican state senator in her third term. Branning was the top vote-getter in the general election, with 42% of the vote to 36% for Kitchens, with the rest split among three other candidates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The courts are officially nonpartisan, but partisan fault lines have formed nonetheless in the Supreme Court race, with Democratic areas in the competitive district largely supporting Kitchens in the Nov. 5 election and Republican ones backing Branning. This was similar to the voting pattern in Kitchens 2016 reelection bid, when he won the support of the state's Democratic areas and his opponent mainly drew support from Republican areas. Branning has branded herself a constitutional conservative and rails against liberal, activists judges and the radical left. She has the endorsement of the state Republican Party. Kitchens has issued dissents in high-profile death row appeals, including a September case in which he sided with a man on death row for a murder conviction where a key witness had since recanted her testimony. In 2018, he dissented in a pair of death row cases dealing with the use of the drug midazolam in state executions. Kitchens has the endorsement of the Southern Poverty Law Centers Action Fund, a civil rights organization. Branning has had a sizable financial advantage over the incumbent since launching her campaign in February, thanks largely to a $250,000 personal loan she made to her campaign. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the Court of Appeals race, Amy St. Pe and Jennifer Schloegel were the top two finishers in a competitive three-way contest on Nov. 5 to replace outgoing Judge Joel Smith. St. Pe placed first in the general election with 35% of the vote, followed by Schloegel with 33%. The Courts 5th District is on the Gulf Coast in the southeastern corner of the state. Heres a look at what to expect on Tuesday: Runoff election day Mississippis general election runoff will be held Tuesday. Polls close at 8 p.m. ET. Whats on the ballot The Associated Press will provide vote results and declare winners in runoff elections for seats on the state Supreme Court and state Appeals Court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Who gets to vote Any voter in Supreme Court District 1 or Appeals Court District 5 who registered for the Nov. 5 general election may participate in the general election runoff. Decision notes Although Mississippi is reliably Republican in statewide elections, the Supreme Courts Central District is home to much of the states Democratic strongholds, including the Jackson area and the counties in the Mississippi Delta region. Democrats Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden both carried the Central District in their 2016 and 2020 presidential campaigns, while Kamala Harris trailed Donald Trump by less than a percentage point in 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the general election, Branning led in 10 of the 11 counties Trump carried, while Kitchens carried 10 of the 11 counties that Harris, Biden and Clinton all won in their campaigns. The 11 Trump counties made up about 62% of the total general election vote, compared to about 38% for the 11 Harris counties. In order to win, Kitchens would need to build on his leads in the counties he carried Nov. 5 and peel off enough of the votes cast for the three other candidates in areas that Trump won. That was his path to victory in his 2016 reelection race, when he carried the same 10 Harris/Biden/Clinton counties, as well as his home county of Copiah and six other counties. The most populous of these Kitchens-Trump counties is Madison, which made up about 13% of the total district vote earlier this month. Kitchens carried Madison in 2016 with 50% of the vote but only received 36% this year, compared to 47% for Branning. Trump carried Madison three times, most recently with 57% of the vote. Kitchens also carried neighboring Leake and Scott counties in 2016, but Branning had outright vote majorities there on Nov. 5. Warren County on the Mississippi River will be another key battleground in the race. Trump carried the county by close margins in 2016 and 2024 and lost by a close margin in 2020. Kitchens received 55% of the vote there in 2016, but Branning had a plurality there on election night. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Court of Appeals race takes place in a district Trump carried three times with roughly 70% of the vote. The most populous areas to watch are the neighboring counties of Harrison (home of Biloxi and Gulfport) and Jackson (home of Pascagoula), both on the Gulf Coast. The AP does not make projections and will declare a winner only when its determined there is no scenario that would allow the trailing candidates to close the gap. If a race has not been called, the AP will continue to cover any newsworthy developments, such as candidate concessions or declarations of victory. In doing so, the AP will make clear that it has not yet declared a winner and explain why. What do turnout and advance vote look like According to a September tally by the Mississippi Secretary of States office, there were about 609,000 active voters in Supreme Court District 1 and about 449,000 active voters in Court of Appeals District 5. Voters in Mississippi do not register by party. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The last time a state Supreme Court race advanced to a runoff was in 2016. About 339,000 votes were cast for that seat in the general election, but the total fell sharply to about 38,000 votes for the runoff held later that month. In the Nov. 5 general election, turnout was about 54% of registered voters in the presidential race, about 48% in the state Supreme Court race and about 50% in the Court of Appeals race. About 18% of votes were cast before Election Day in the 2020 general election and about 7% in the 2022 midterm elections. As of Wednesday, a total of 4,021 ballots had been cast before the runoff election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How long does vote-counting usually take? In the Nov. 5 general election, the AP first reported results at 8:19 p.m. ET, or 19 minutes after polls closed. The election night tabulation ended at 2:35 a.m. ET with about 93% of total votes counted. ___ Read more about how U.S. elections work 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. Nov. 15-21, 2024 Leaders of the Group of 20 nations gathered in Rio de Janeiro to discuss poverty, climate change and heightened global tensions. Victoria Kjr Theilvig of Denmark, an animal protection advocate who works in the diamond selling business, beat out Miss Nigeria to be crowned Miss Universe in the 73rd edition of the competition in Mexico City. Tropical Storm Sara formed in the western Caribbean Sea before making landfall on the northern coast of Honduras, dumping torrential rains in a slow weekend crawl across parts of Central America. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thousands attended Mexicos three-day Corona Capital music festival, welcoming headliners Paul McCartney, Iggy Pop, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Green Day and Beck. The Tortuguias Foundation that seeks to protect sea turtles in the Central American country of Panama, which has coasts on the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, carried out a release of dozens of turtles. The foundation has been working on sea turtle conservation for about 14 years and has managed to free more than 485,000 hatchlings in that period. This gallery highlights some of the most compelling images made or published in the past week by The Associated Press from Latin America and the Caribbean. The selection was curated by AP photo editor Anita Baca, based in Mexico City. ___ Follow AP visual journalism: AP Images blog: http://apimagesblog.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apnews X: http://twitter.com/AP_Images Apartment explodes in Clairton, residents smelled gas odor beforehand An apartment exploded in Clairton late Thursday night. Channel 11 has learned that residents smelled a gas odor before the explosion. Allegheny County dispatchers said police, fire and EMS units were called to the 3700 block of Miles Avenue at 11:40 p.m. Our crew at the scene saw an apartment that was destroyed. Residents told us they were watching the Pittsburgh Steelers game when the apartment exploded. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Peoples Gas sent Channel 11 a statement saying they received reports of a possible gas odor on Thursday. The company says they sent a technician who found the odor was not coming from the Peoples system. In a statement released Friday morning, Peoples said that as of 9:45 a.m. Friday, crews have not detected natural gas in the air or soil in the area. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW LAKE CHARLES, La. (KLFY) The Louisiana Court of Appeal, Third Circuit, agrees that former police chief Thomas Glover was still within a working test period when he was fired, meaning he was not entitled to any civil service due process procedures owed to a permanent employee. In an opinion filed Wednesday, Judge Guy E. Bradberry said Glover was still within a one-year probationary period when he was fired. .so he could be terminated at any time before the probationary period ended, even without cause, Bradberry said in the opinion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Glovers attorney, J. Arthur Smith III, told KLFY they will seek review by the Louisiana Supreme Court. View the full opinion here: Thomas Glover Opinion by eenfinger on Scribd ,?center> Latest News Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLFY.com. Nov. 22 (UPI) -- An independent inquiry group in the British Competition and Markets Authority on Friday recommended an investigation into Apple and Google over their dominance of mobile web browsers and apps in the country. The group said that the tech giants should be probed under the Digital Markets, Competition, and Consumers Act for their "anti-competitive behavior" in the digital marketplace. The Digital Markets, Competition, and Consumers Act is roughly the British equivalent of the European Union's Digital Markets Act, which gives the bloc the power to monitor large tech companies to make sure they are playing fairly and not trying to squeeze out smaller competitors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Most concerns that have been identified relate to Apple's policies that determine how mobile browsers, which are the way we access the web on mobile, work on Apple devices," the CMA said in a statement. "The group has provisionally found that Apple's rules restrict other competitors from being able to deliver new, innovative features that could benefit consumers." The CMA group report also examined the way users are presented with choices about what browsers they use. The group accused Apple and Google of manipulating the choices to make their own browsers the clear and easiest-to-use options. "The group has provisionally decided that an effective and comprehensive means of addressing its provisional findings is to recommend that the CMA board prioritizes investigating Apple's and Google's activities in mobile ecosystems under new digital markets competition rules coming into force next year," the CMA said. MEMPHIS, Tenn. Arkansas State Police say troopers seized 680 pounds of illegal drugs and 13 illegal firearms from Arkansas interstates during the first three weeks of November. The largest of the seizures occurred on Wednesday in Crittenden County, where Troopers stopped a Dodge Ram pickup eastbound on I-40. Troopers said they discovered 211 pounds of illegal marijuana wrapped in bundles in the backseat floorboard and in the bed of the pickup and two handguns in the vehicle. The driver, Michael Penilton, 30, of Lamar, Miss., was arrested and transported to the Crittenden County Detention Center, where he was booked on felony charges of possession with intent to deliver and simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On November 18, Arkansas State Police stopped a Ford Fusion on I-40 eastbound near London. During a search of the vehicle, they said they found 93 pounds of illegal marijuana, 10 pounds of THC wax, 1,000 vape cartridges, more than $21,000 in cash, and a Glock Pistol. November 18 seizure, I-40 near London, AR (Arkansas State Police) Graham Toth, 24, of Los Angeles, was arrested and charged with possession with intent to deliver, possession of drug paraphernalia, and simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms. Toth told investigators he was traveling from Los Angeles to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On the same day, troopers said they confiscated 73 pounds of illegal marijuana from a Memphis driver in Lonoke County. Cameron Martin, 25, was transported to Lonoke County Detention Center and charged with felony possession with intent to deliver, possession of drug paraphernalia, and unauthorized use of another persons property to facilitate certain crimes. Troopers said they also found approximately 130 pounds of illegal marijuana in multiple trash bags when they pulled over a Ford F-150 pickup truck along I-40 in North Little Rock on November 12. The driver, Srdjan Novakovic, 65, of La Mesa, Calif., was arrested and charged with possession with intent to deliver and possession of drug paraphernalia. On November 4, the driver of a Toyota Camry was stopped for a traffic violation on I-40 eastbound near Morrilton. Troopers said they discovered multiple trash bags in the trunk containing 124 pounds of illegal marijuana in vacuum-sealed bundles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The driver, Shouwei Jiang, 42, from New York, was booked on felony charges of possession with intent to deliver and possession of drug paraphernalia. Jiang said he was traveling from Oklahoma to New York. See more breaking news, local news and weather from WREG.com for Memphis and the Mid-South. Sign up for WREG newsletters and have the latest top stories sent right to your inbox. Troopers also seized a stolen firearm, a bag of 9mm bullets, approximately 39 Oxycodone pills, cocaine, and drug paraphernalia from a driver in Pulaski County. Arron Robinson, 33, of Maumelle, is facing charges of possession with intent to deliver, possession of firearms by certain persons, possession of controlled substances, possession of drug paraphernalia, and multiple traffic violations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. CHOCTAW, Okla. (KFOR) A group of arborists are raising money to replant trees lost in Harrah and Choctaw during the November tornado, hoping to restore the significant canopy loss. You could see your house next door and that was it, said Wade Brewer, who lives in a neighborhood near SE 44th and Triple X road. Before an EF-3 tornado hit Brewers neighborhood, it was considered an Urban Forest. Now, tree branches line the streets and many of the trees are blown over after growing for generations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A lot of the trees that are still standing are just totem poles now, said Brewer. A huge cottonwood was ripped from its roots near his front yard. During the storm, it landed just 10 feet from his front door. Now, its chopped up along with five of his trees. This was probably the first year I was really prepared, firewood wise, for the winter before the storm, said Brewer. I havent even started cutting up wood that came down in the storm yet. Connor Mercer and Cori Watsons roots run deep in Choctaw and Harrah. Theyre both local arborists. Expanded debris collection begins in SE OKC following tornadoes Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They said just because some of the trees are still standing doesnt mean they will last. Their damaged canopies cant keep the tree alive. Say youre used to eating 3,000 calories and suddenly youre cut down to about 500. Youre going to start starving. Thats exactly whats happening with our trees, said Watson. The two teamed up, along with R&B Trees Trees Trees, to replant the urban forest. They reached out to the non-profit Share & Care Releaf. The goal is to replant every tree that was lost, said Debra Bowers, a board member for the non-profit. Bowers said trees provide numerous benefits to your property, environment, and overall wellbeing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To replant, theyre more focused on pricier plantings, since most seedlings would likely die. Itd be around $300 a tree, said Mercer. Now, theyre calling for donations, grants, and volunteers to help bring $40,000 worth of trees to Choctaw and Harrah. If you would like to donate, click here. Brewer said hed be interested, on one condition. As long as theyre not cottonwoods. I dont want any cottonwoods, said Brewer. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. LITTLE ROCK, Ark. Several archaeological groups have come together to help honor members of the Bragg family who were killed last year by a gas leak home explosion in Michigan by putting a grant in their name. On Dec. 30, Don and Hope Bragg, and two of their children, Kenneth and Elizabeth were killed in a house explosion in Michigan. Their other child, Stephen, and another family member were injured in the explosion. Monticello community mourns the loss of 4 killed in Michigan home explosion Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Northfield Township Police Department said the explosion was caused by a propane leak. Don and Hope worked at the University of Arkansas at Monticello and were members of the Arkansas Archeological Society for nearly 20 years. Gillian Steeno with Arkansas Archeological Survey says how the familys love of science and dedication to archaeology is being honored by the Arkansas Archeological Society funding the Bragg Family Training Program in Archeology Grant. It was realizing how much the Bragg family had done for the society and Arkansas archeology in general, Steeno said. The grant is specially for our training program which we hold the first two weeks of June every summer so its an opportunity for people to get excavation experience and lab work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said the family made a big impact and they are still deeply missed. They were dedicated in pretty much everything that they did, Steeno said. its very rare to have people who are wholeheartedly into the things they do. Victims in Michigan home explosion identified as Arkansas family visiting for holidays Steeno adds that the Braggs attended the training program almost every year and hopes others share the same love. She says the grant is meant to encourage families to spend time together and pass down the Braggs passion. We miss their attitude and spirit thats why were doing our best to honor them in every way we can, Steeno said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK. BEIJING, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- China is ready to engage in dialogue, expand areas of cooperation and manage differences with the United States to promote steady and sustained development of bilateral economic and trade relations, China International Trade Representative and Vice Minister of Commerce Wang Shouwen said Friday. That will be based on mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, Wang said at a press conference. He added that China will also firmly safeguard its sovereignty, security and development interests in the process. An architect has sued for 1.4 million after losing the top of her finger in a fridge door while on holiday. Sara Turnbull said she had to give up her architecture job because she could no longer sketch after the accident, which happened during a yachting holiday in Greece. At the time, she had been a partner at an architect firm but said she had to resign and hire staff to help her in other consultancy work because of her reduced ability to type. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She is now suing Neilson Active Holidays, the company from which she chartered the 32-foot six-person yacht, blaming a flimsy catch on the fridge door for the accident. However, the holiday company has denied liability, instead claiming the fridge was safe and that Ms Turnbull dropped the door accidentally onto herself. The accident occurred after Ms Turnbull chartered one of Neilson Actives Greece-based fleet of Dufour 325 yachts on a week-long tour of the Ionian Islands in May 2018. Ms Turnbull said the top-opening fridge slammed shut suddenly and without warning. - Champion News Ms Turnbull, a chartered environmentalist who is also on the board of Transport for London, said she went to grab a bottle of water from the heavy-lidded top-opening fridge when suddenly and without warning the fridge door slammed shut, chopping off her fingertip. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I held the hinged lid open with my left hand... the hinge clip popped open and my left hand couldnt hold the weight of the door, she told Judge Simon Brown. The door slammed down. She said a latch, which should have held the fridge door in place while open, had failed, causing the door to suddenly drop down onto her hand. The court heard Ms Turnbulls career had been significantly affected by the accident, with her having to quit as a partner at an architecture firm due to her inability to sketch and use a computer. She also had to employ an administrative assistant and a managing director for Wild Work, her social enterprise consultancy, due to her reduced ability to type, she said. Ms Turnbull chartered one of Neilson Actives Greece-based fleet of Dufour 325 yachts on a week-long tour of the Ionian Islands in May 2018. - Champion News Ms Turnbull claimed that her injury was caused because the fridge lid could slam shut, rather than have a damped closure mechanism, which slows the closure of doors and cupboards. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the witness box, she told the judge that she was not claiming the latch on the fridge lid was broken, but that it was flimsy and prone to intermittent failure. Linda Nelson, the barrister representing Neilson Active Holidays, argued that the accident was not caused by any fault on its part but by Ms Turnbulls own actions. There is no good basis for finding that the latch was not in good working order, she told the judge during the trial last week. She said that Ms Turnbull had used the fridge without incident for a week and had seen the trap hazard warning sign on the lid. Our case is that the claimant dropped it accidentally on herself, the barrister said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The court heard that the yacht manager checked the fridge after the accident and found it was working in good order. Ms Nelson said the fridge had been built by the yacht manufacturer as standard and that the galley space had been certified as compliant with safety regulations. She argued that while newer or more expensive yachts may have the damped closing mechanism, that does not mean that the fittings on older models are inappropriate. She knew full well what the risks were and something went wrong. Theres very little that the defendant should have done to keep her safe, Ms Nelson added. The architects claimed losses include over 1 million in lost future earnings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, the judge must first decide whether the company was at fault before deciding how much in compensation should be paid. He reserved his judgment in the case, which will be given at a later date. 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. Matt Gaetzs decision to withdraw from consideration as Donald Trumps attorney general might be because whats underneath those headlines about sexual misconduct is something thats true, and it could not merely be willed away as, quote, fake news, MSNBCs Ari Melber said Thursday. Co-host Nicolle Wallace agreed, and noted that the withdrawal could be about the bad press surrounded the potential confirmation of Gaetz, or it could be an actual bottom that Trumps team has hit. If the latter, she continued, there is an equally disturbing police report about Trumps defense secretary nominee, Pete Hegseth, who was accused of sexually assaulting a colleague in Monterey, California, in October 2017. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So if its about a limit, then that limit should hold and apply to both of them, Wallace added. If its about uniquely salacious and tedious and gross press and members of your own party talking about a guy who crushes ED medicine, blah, blah, blah, then maybe its just about bad press. Gaetz announced his withdrawal in a post shared on X, formerly Twitter, Thursday. I had excellent meetings with Senators yesterday, he wrote. I appreciate their thoughtful feedback and the incredible support of so many. While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition. There is no time to waste on a needlessly protracted Washington scuffle, thus Ill be withdrawing my name from consideration to serve as Attorney General. Trump has since announced hell nominate Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi instead. Melber agreed with Wallace thats important to be cautious about how much we interpret what is happening in real time. He added, We always try to be that careful. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even if Trump is only troubled by what he considers bad press and reporters consider headlines, Melber continued, there is still in there a line where while he spent the better part of a campaign year attacking the press and crescendoing in the final two weeks to musing, or he would say, quote, joking, about violence against the reporters who cover his rallies, all of that vitriol is still matched by the independent and hopefully accurate, nonpartisan press mattering, because whats underneath those headlines is something thats true, and it could not merely be willed away as, quote, fake news. This week House Republicans voted to block an Ethics Committee report about sexual misconduct and drug use allegations against Gaetz, who was under federal investigation for trafficking and other allegations at the time of his nomination. The committees report has not been shared with the public, but on Wednesday the New York Times released a leaked document from Justice Department investigators establishing a myriad of Venmo payments between Gaetz and women allegedly hired for sex parties and other illicit behavior. You can watch the exchange between Wallace and Melber in the video above. The post Ari Melber Says Matt Gaetzs Withdrawal Suggests Theres Something Thats True in Sexual Misconduct Accusations | Video appeared first on TheWrap. A man arrested Wednesday night on aggravated assault charges in connection with a domestic violence dispute was identified as a U.S. Customs and Border Protection employee, according to Marana police. Timothy Sullivan, 48, was booked into the Pima County Adult Detention Center on suspicion of 19 felony charges, including aggravated assault and endangerment. Shortly after 8 p.m., Marana police responded to a reported domestic violence dispute. According to an interim complaint obtained by The Arizona Republic, Timothy Sullivan slapped his wife of 13 years, Dana Sullivan, prompting her to flee their home with their 9-year-old child. Dana Sullivan informed police that Timothy was reaching for his gun during the altercation, according to the complaint. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dana Sullivan also told officers that Timothy Sullivan called her adult sons, instructing them to say goodbye because he intended to kill their mother, as detailed in the complaint. While police were en route, Dana Sullivan reported hearing a gunshot, the complaint states. Upon officers' arrival, Timothy Sullivan fired several more gunshots, both inside and around the residence. At one point, Timothy Sullivan came out of the house with a handgun and a long gun, one in each hand. He pointed them in the direction of the officers, the report said. Police said Timothy Sullivan fired a gun and struck a vehicle parked in the driveway of the residence. The vehicle was in the direction of the officers, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police took him into custody after deploying a stun gun, according to the complaint. A statement from CBP confirmed Timothy Sullivan's employment. He was employed in a civilian role since 2022 and was assigned to the Tucson Border Patrol Sector. Timothy Sullivan was not a Border Patrol agent, CBP said. "CBP stresses honor and integrity in every aspect of our mission, and the overwhelming majority of CBP employees and officers perform their duties with honor and distinction, working tirelessly every day to keep our country safe," the statement read. "We do not tolerate corruption or abuse within our ranks, and we cooperate fully with all criminal or administrative investigations of alleged misconduct by any of our personnel, whether it occurs on or off duty." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Timothy Sullivan's bond was set at $250,000. (This story has been updated to add new information.) This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Tucson border employee arrested on 19 felony counts BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) A man who strangled his friend in a hotel room during his trip to Panama City Beach has been sentenced on Thursday. Scottie Jay Black, 43, of Tonalea Arizona was found guilty of Second-Degree Murder last month in the 2021 death of Tyrell James Sagg. Authorities said the case began on Oct. 3, 2021, when Black and the victims girlfriend reported finding him dead on the floor of their hotel room. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Arizona man found guilty of 2021 murder in Panama City Beach According to a news release, prosecutor Peter Overstreet told Judge Brantley Clark that while no one knows exactly how events unfolded that night in the hotel room, Black did good things in his life and was not the typical repeat offender. However, he also said the defendant declined to take responsibility for his actions. Overstreet also pointed out that after Black committed the murder, he had sex with a woman on an adjacent bed. Arizona man charged with Panama City Beach murder And then he just went on living life as if nothing had happened. Those are pretty aggravating circumstances after someones dead, Overstreet said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After hearing from the defense, the defendant, and the victims family, Judge Clark handed down his sentence. Clark said he weighed the words of the victims family, the defendant, and the prosecutor agreed that a 40-year sentence was appropriate. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. LITTLE ROCK, Ark. A federal inmate in Arkansas is set to serve an additional decade in prison after assaulting another inmate. Federal prosecutors said 41-year-old Raymond Tetzlaff, a federal inmate incarcerated at a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility in Forrest City, will serve an additional 10 years after assaulting another inmate who officials said eventually died from his injuries. Arkansas State Police investigating Lake Village homicide Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tetzlaffs 10-year sentence will start after he finishes serving his current 216-month sentence for drug crimes stemming from a 2017 Montana case, officials said. In addition, Tetzlaff will serve five years of supervised release after his sentence. Prosecutors said investigators found that on Oct. 29, 2022, Tetzlaff punched an inmate in the face, causing the inmate to fall to the floor and crack his skull. Three days after the assault, officials said the inmate died from his injuries. Officials said it was later discovered that Tetzlaff had assaulted the inmate over concerns regarding a missing contraband cell phone. Witnesses testified that Tetzlaff had punched the inmate when he wasnt looking. The witnesses also reported that the inmate had a seizure and fell from his top bunk. The victim was then taken to a hospital, but he never regained consciousness. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Arkansas State Police make arrest in 2023 Mississippi County crash that left woman, child dead Tetzlaff was indicted by a jury on Aug. 1, 2023, on a charge of manslaughter and a charge of assault causing serious bodily injury. He was later found guilty by the jury on June 12, 2024, of the assault charge but the jury did not reach a verdict on the manslaughter charge. According to prosecutors, the sentence is the maximum amount under law that Tetzlaff could serve. There is no parole in the federal prison system. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK. LITTLE ROCK, Ark. Officials with the Arkansas Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission will be hosting a second free food giveaway this month in response to heightened levels of food insecurity in the Natural State. The giveaway will be happening from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Friday Nov. 22 at 906 Broadway Street and officials said they will distribute 5,500 pounds of fresh poultry to assist families in need during the holiday season. Arkansas Martin Luther King Jr. Commission to host pre-Thanksgiving food giveaway Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DuShun Scarbrough, executive director of the Arkansas Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission said that the purpose of this giveaway is to serve others and address systemic inequities. This event reflects Dr. Kings philosophy of serving others and addressing systemic inequities, Scarbrough said. We hope to alleviate some of the burdens families face by providing fresh poultry, ensuring they have access to nutritious meals during this critical time. Its a blessing, Arkansas Martin Luther King Jr. Commission gives away thousands of pounds of food The food giveaway will be open to all, and food will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, while supplies last. Families are encouraged to arrive early. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For more information about this event or ways to support the Commissions efforts to address food insecurity, visit ArKingDream.org. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK. LITTLE ROCK, Ark. A much-debated rate hike by Summit Utilities was approved Thursday by the Arkansas Public Service Commission. The utility was approved to raise rates by 23.4%. Summit Customers will pay an additional $15.23 on average under the Thursday order. Friday filing shows Summit Utilitys rate increase still in flux for Arkansas A portion of the increase is tied to the impact of Winter Storm Uri in February 2021. The PSC had Summit removed 50% of the Uri costs as part of the Thursday ruling to soften the rate hike impact on consumers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Summit was allowed to propose a rate increase two years after taking over Centerpoint Energys Arkansas assets in January 2021, one month before Uri. Recent snow shatters more records as Little Rock receives ~6 years worth of annual snowfall in just a week On Oct. 7, the PSC received a motion from groups involved in the rate discussion, including the attorney generals office and Summit Utilities, stating they had agreed to the rate increase. Two days later, on Oct. 9, several Arkansas lawmakers questioned the rate increase due to its potential impact on consumers. This was followed by Attorney General Tim Griffin submitting a letter to the PSC on Oct. 10 asking it to reject the rate increase, citing a change in circumstances. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Summit Utilities responds to Arkansas Attorney General opening Public Service Commission investigation Griffin said todays settlement was a result of the PSC reconsidering. As we hoped, we were able to secure a better result, and I appreciate the Public Service Commission listening to our concerns and altering Summits proposed settlement, resulting in an outcome more favorable to Arkansas ratepayers, Griffin said. We appreciate the hard work of Attorney General Tim Griffin, APSC general staff, Arkansas Gas Consumers, Inc., and the Hospitals and Higher Education Group, who represented the interests of Arkansas customers, Summit chief customer experience officer Fred Kirkwood said. These new rates mean we can continue delivering the safe and reliable natural gas our customers count on. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK. CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS) A man has been indicted for three civil rights offenses over biased threats made last June at a local pizza place, Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina, announced. Maurice Gabriel Hopkins, 31, of Mount Holly, is accused of threatening eight people at Zambies Pizza on North Davison Street because of their race, color, religion and national origin for being at the shop. Officials say Hopkins also tried to intimidate patrons from using their federally protected housing rights. East Charlotte house fire that injured firefighter was intentionally set: CFD Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to arrest warrants, Hopkins went into the store and started making racial comments to a group of Indian patrons. An unnamed person intervened and asked him to leave, to which Hopkins said they would have to call the police to make him leave. Hopkins said he had something for them and was going to grab his AR, the warrants say. He then left. When Hopkins came back in a Toyota Corolla, someone outside spotted him with an assault rifle, and the bystander ran to distract Hopkins from going inside. Hopkins then pointed the gun at the person. He said, No, Im back for my pizza; now give me my (expletive) pizza while gesturing with the rifle toward the store. One witness said Hopkins stood in the doorway, also pointing the gun at him and others at the store. On June 10, officers got a partial plate for the Corolla from a security video. The owner of the car was able to tell police that Hopkins was the one driving it at the time of the crime, and, on June 13, Hopkins was positively identified in a police lineup. Hopkins was booked into the Mecklenburg County Jail on June 26 for several charges: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Attempted robbery with a dangerous weapon Two counts of assault by pointing a gun Going armed to the terror of people Two counts of communicating threats According to jail and court records, the day after his arrest, Hopkins was released after posting a $50,000 secured bond. Several attempts to serve him a subpoena have failed. On November 21, it was announced that Hopkins was also indicted with three civil rights offenses. He faces a maximum of 10 years in prison for each of the three indictments if convicted. It is unclear what additional prison time he may face for the other charges. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. Kate Rubins was floating in zero gravity miles above Earth in 2020 when she decided to join the Army. A little more than a year later, Rubins, already a biomedical researcher and astronaut, received a direct commission to the rank of major in the Army Reserve through training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Now, three years into her Army career, shes joined the rare ranks of a handful of soldiers who have earned the right to wear the Army Aviation Badge with the Astronaut Device. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Army astronaut returns to Earth after breaking NASA record On Thursday afternoon, Rubins pinned on the Army Aviation Badge with the Astronaut Device. Its really an incredible honor to receive this device, Rubins said. To me, the meaning is really the fact that Im able to serve in the Army Reserve. Rubins, who currently works as a health services officer with the 75th Innovation Command at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Maryland, is the first Army reservist to receive the device. Coming off her second space mission since joining NASA in 2009, she welcomed the challenges of becoming an Army officer. Thats in part due to the incredibly focused nature of years-long preparations for her trips to the International Space Station. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The idea for me that I was going from one mission to another mission was actually incredibly helpful, Rubins said in a call with media Thursday. Possibly the rarest device in the Army, officials confirmed with Army Times on Friday that the device, originally called the Army Astronaut Badge, was created by the Chief of Staff of the Army in 1983. Since its inception, officials said, only three other soldiers have earned the device: Col. Drew Morgan, who wears it on his Army Master Space Badge, and Cols. Anne McClain and Frank Rubio, who wear the device on their Aviation Badges. Shown here is the Army Astronaut Device on the Army Aviation Badge. Only four soldiers in the Army have earned this device. (U.S. Army) Those three individuals are also the only members of the active duty Army with the device. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McClain was the first soldier to receive the device during a ceremony Nov. 10, 2020, at Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, officials told Army Times. Though she received the device then, she qualified for it in 2018 following a space mission to the International Space Station. Morgan and Rubio met the criteria for the device in 2019 and 2022, respectively. It is a gold-colored device, 7/16-inch in length with a star emitting three contrails encircled by an elliptical orbit, according to Army Regulation 600-8-22. The Army requires a soldier to complete astronaut training and achieve an altitude of 62 miles or greater, passing the Karman Line, which is the boundary between the Earths atmosphere and space, to qualify for the device. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rubins, a Farmington, Connecticut, native, earned a doctoral degree in cancer biology from Stanford University Medical School. She conducted undergraduate research on HIV-1 integration in the Infectious Disease Laboratory at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, according to her official biography. The major later lead a team of 14 researchers studying viral diseases that mostly affect Central and West Africa. She has spent 300 days in space across two flights in 2016 and 2020 and conducted four spacewalks. Rubins was also the first person to sequence DNA in space. BOGOTA, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- At least five soldiers were killed and several others injured in an attack by the National Liberation Army (ELN) guerrilla group in Anori, a city in northwestern Colombia, authority said Thursday. Defense Minister Ivan Velasquez extended condolences to the victims' families and members of Colombia's Armed Forces while ordering a "forceful" offensive against members of the armed group. Meanwhile, Colombia's National Army condemned the attack through its account on X platform, saying that a team is supporting the victims' families, friends, and colleagues. Offensive actions in the area where the attack occurred have also been reinforced. The ELN is Colombia's oldest remaining guerrilla group, and one of the armed groups currently engaged in peace talks with Colombian President Gustavo Petro's government. Since taking office in 2022, Petro has proposed a "Total Peace" policy involving the country's various armed factions to end over 50 years of fighting that has victimized millions of people. STORY: :: People were arrested in Kenya's capital ahead of President William Ruto's State of the Nation address :: Nairobi, Kenya :: November 21, 2024 A new deputy president was sworn in earlier this month after his predecessor was impeached by parliament for charges including gross violation of the constitution and stirring ethnic hatred. Ruto's address is coming days after members of clergy called out his government over high taxation, failed promises, persistent flaws and gross mismanagement of the countrys resources. CHEATHAM COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) An Ashland City man was convicted of possession of child pornography in federal court Wednesday. According to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Middle District of Tennessee, 61-year-old Scott Michael Nelson was found to have video of child sexual abuse material on his phone when probation officers searched it during Operation Blackout on Oct. 16, 2021. He admitted the phone was his, so probation officers contacted the Metro Nashville Police Department, which seized the phone and obtained a search warrant for it. Operation Blackout is a program where the Tennessee Department of Correction conducts home searches of every registered sex offender on probation prior to Halloween. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Father, son taken into custody after cocaine found in chicken nuggets container in Ashland City When officers found the video on Nelsons phone, he was a registered sex offender who was on probation in Davidson County after serving a 10-year sentence in Florida for 2009 convictions for multiple child exploitation crimes, according to the Attorneys Office. Nelson is set to be sentenced on March 27, 2025. He faces a mandatory minimum term of incarceration of 10 years and a maximum term of incarceration of 20 years in federal prison. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. Could the judge in the New York case just not sentence Trump and let it sit then bring it back to a courtroom once Trump is out of office? Pepper Parr, Carlisle, Ontario Hi Pepper, The short answer is: Maybe. Its a question that Judge Juan Merchan may have to answer in the coming weeks. In fact, Manhattan prosecutors mentioned that possibility in a recent letter to the judge. They wrote, Given the need to balance competing constitutional interests, consideration must be given to various non-dismissal options that may address any concerns raised by the pendency of a post-trial criminal proceeding during the presidency, such as deferral of all remaining criminal proceedings until after the end of Defendants upcoming presidential term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before we get to that possibility, Merchan needs to rule on Trumps motions to dismiss the case and overturn his guilty verdicts. The soonest that could happen is next month after the prosecution responds to Trumps forthcoming dismissal motion Dec. 9. If the judge sides with Trump on either motion, then theres no sentencing to be had. But to your question of could the judge put the case on hold, were in uncharted territory. The prosecutions letter to the judge suggests that its a possibility theyre prepared to defend. Trump has been trying to put off his sentencing, but well have to see what his position would be on the subject if his pre-sentencing motions are rejected. His lawyers have signaled that they would immediately appeal any adverse decisions on his pending motions up to the Supreme Court if needed so its unclear whether or when we will get to the point of sentencing before Trump takes office. Thats all to say that its possible all these issues wont be settled before Inauguration Day on Jan. 20. And its unlikely that criminal proceedings in any case will continue against a sitting president. If prosecutors and Merchan seek to continue any remaining proceedings after Trump leaves office, one would imagine that he would seek to halt or quash them, though its unclear on what grounds he would do so. Ultimately, the answer of whether a trial judge can do anything especially anything atypical is answered by appellate courts. As ever, all roads lead back to the Supreme Court, where we may be wondering in 2029 what the justices will do. Subscribe to the Deadline: Legal Newsletter for expert analysis on the top legal stories of the week, including updates from the Supreme Court and developments in Donald Trumps legal cases. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) Fort Eisenhowers Chapter of the non-profit Association of the United States Army gave a $54,000 gift to The Fisher House on Friday. The check was presented this morning at the Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center. The Fisher House Foundation offers free lodging to military families while a family member receives care at the hospital. ALSO ON WJBF: Piedmont Augusta gives $1.9 million to local organizations Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fisher Houses provide the opportunity for servicemember families, active-duty retirees, veterans, free lodging while their loved ones are being treated in area hospitals, said Thom Tuckey, a board member on the Association of the United States Army. So, it really takes a financial burden off of them and gives them the opportunity to stay someplace like this. You can see this is a fabulous house. The two Fisher Houses in Augusta are located at Fort Eisenhower and the Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center. Photojournalist credit: Dania Alawir Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) Attorneys for the federal government and local leaders charged in connection to the Jackson bribery scandal filed a motion asking for the trial date to be moved back. The attorneys said a large amount of evidence, including hundreds of hours of audio and video recordings and thousands of pages of discovery, need to be reviewed. The motion was filed on November 20 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi. Attorneys seek to push back Jackson bribery trialDownload Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens, Jackson Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba, Jackson City Councilman Aaron Banks, Ward 6, were indicted in connection to the bribery scandal. Owens has been charged with one count of conspiracy to commit federal program bribery, honest services wire fraud, and money laundering. Lumumba has been charged with one count of conspiracy to commit federal program bribery, honest services wire fraud, and money laundering. Banks has been charged with one count of conspiracy to commit federal program bribery, honest services wire fraud, and money laundering. Reaction to Jacksons bribery scandal after recent indictments According to the unsealed indictment, Owens conspired with Lumumba, Banks, former Jackson City Councilwoman Angelique Lee, Ward 2, Sherik Marve Smith and others to carry out a bribery scheme to enrich themselves from October 2023 to May 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The documents stated that Owens, on behalf of two individuals purporting to be real estate developers from Nashville, Tennessee, facilitated more than $80,000 in bribe payments to Banks, Lumumba and Lee in exchange for their agreement to take official action to ensure the approval of the developers proposed downtown Jackson development project. The two developers were confidential human sources for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Owens allegedly solicited and accepted at least $115,000 in cash and promises of future financial benefits from the developers to use his relationships with Banks, Lumumba and Lee to act as an intermediary for the over $80,000 in bribe payments. In January 2024, Banks allegedly solicited a $50,000 bribe in exchange for future votes in favor of the project. The documents stated that he also accepted an initial payment of $10,000 in cash from the developers via Owens in February 2024, along with a promise of funding for the employment of a family member and a protective detail service. Prosecutors said Lee accepted cash, deposits and other gifts for her future votes in favor of the proposed real estate development project in the City of Jackson. The documents showed that Lee accepted $19,000 from February 2024 to March 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The court documents stated that about March and April 2024, Lumumba accepted a bribe payment of $50,000 from the developers via Owens in the form of five $10,000 campaign-donation checks to disguise the true source of the funds in an attempt to avoid scrutiny from the public and law enforcement. A picture of Jackson Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba (Left) and Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens (Right) from the unsealed indictment. (Courtesy: United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi) A picture of Jackson Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba (Left) and Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens (Right) from the unsealed indictment. (Courtesy: United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi) A picture from the unsealed indictment shows Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens holding cash. (Courtesy: United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi) Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens arrives at federal court in downtown Jackson on Nov. 7, 2024. (WJTV) Jackson Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba arrives at federal court in downtown Jackson on Nov. 7, 2024. (WJTV) Jackson City Councilman Aaron Banks arrives at federal court in downtown Jackson on Nov. 7, 2024. (WJTV) Lumumba directed a city employee to move a deadline to favor the purported developers project, and Banks and Lee agreed to vote in favor of it, according to the indictments unsealed Thursday. Owens, Lumumba, Smith and the purported developers traveled in April on a private jet paid by the FBI to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, according to the newly unsealed indictment. During a meeting on a yacht that was recorded on audio and video, Lumumba received five campaign checks for $10,000 each, and he called a Jackson city employee and instructed that person to move a deadline for submission of proposals to develop the property near the convention center, the indictment says. The deadline was moved in a way to benefit the purported developers who were working for the FBI by likely eliminating any of their competition, the indictment says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Banks, Lumumba and Owens were in federal court for their initial appearance on Thursday, November 7. The three men pled not guilty to the charges against them, and they each received a $10,000 unsecured bond. Banks, Lumumba and Owens were ordered to give up their passports. Lee and Sherik Marve Smith were previously charged in connection to a bribery scandal. Bribery case adds to problems in Mississippi city with water woes and policing disputes Smith who is an insurance broker and a relative of Owens, according to court documents was charged with conspiracy to commit bribery. Smith waived his right to prosecution by indictment and consented to prosecution by information, and he pled guilty to the charge. His sentencing has been scheduled for 9:00 a.m. on February 19, 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Smith conspired to give cash payments and campaign contributions to two Jackson elected officials, and the money came from the purported developers who were working for the FBI, according to court documents. The case was brought against Lee in August 2024, and she resigned from the Jackson City Council after she was charged with conspiracy to commit bribery. Investigators said the FBI raided Lees home in May 2024 and found items in connection to the bribery case, except a sweatshirt and perfume. The Associated Press reported the seizure occurred on the same day agents raided the offices of Owens and the downtown cigar shop that he owns. Among the items found in the district attorneys office was a lockbox made to look like a book labeled as the U.S. Constitution, containing about $20,000 in cash, with about $9,900 showing serial numbers confirming it was paid by the purported developers to Owens, according to the newly unsealed indictment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lee pled guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery, and her sentencing was pushed back to a later date. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJTV. Hannah Kobayashi's aunt and father spoke at a rally near Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, close to where the woman was last seen LAPD Hannah Kobayashi Hannah Kobayashi Family members held a rally in Los Angeles amid the ongoing search for Hannah Kobayashi, who disappeared nearly two weeks ago after missing her connecting flight to New York City. Please, please do not stop saying her name, Hannah Kobayashi, Kobayashi's aunt, Larie Pidgeon, told the crowd outside Crypto.com Arena on Thursday, Nov. 21, per KTLA. Your entire family is here. The entire world is looking for you. If you can and you have access, please reach out to us. Were not mad. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "If someone has her, I want you to see the pictures we have posted. I want you to see this family, and I want you to know she is so loved. I want you to know that she is so special and kind," Pidgeon said. Shes a beautiful girl inside and outside, Kobayashi's father, Ryan Kobayashi, said during the rally. Just reach out, if you can at all. Thursday was the first day the Los Angeles Police Department responded to her family and reached out to her sister for more information, reports Fox 11. Related: Woman Missed Flight and Sent Cryptic Texts. Over a Week Later, Shes Still Missing and Her Family Is 'Terrified' Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pidgeon previously told PEOPLE that Kobayashi, 30, left Maui on Friday, Nov. 8, and was supposed to make the connecting flight to N.Y.C. at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), but missed it because of her tight layover. Pidgeon said Kobayashi contacted Pidgeon's sister, Geordan Montalvo, and told her she missed her flight and was trying to rebook. According to Kobayashi's family, she went to a bookstore around noon on Saturday, Nov. 9, and that evening she went back to LAX, telling Montalvo that trying to get on another flight was a "nightmare," but that she was still trying to get there. The family said they have confirmed sightings of Hannah at LAX the next day, too but on Monday, Nov. 11, they started getting concerning text messages from her, saying, "I think someones trying to steal my identity. Im really scared." 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. Courtesy of Larie Pidgeon Hannah Kobayashi Hannah Kobayashi Other text messages said, I got tricked pretty much into giving away all my funds and For someone I thought I loved, according to KGMB/KHNL. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Loved ones grew concerned, and asked her if she was okay, Pidgeon told PEOPLE. However, she said Kobayashi didn't respond, and then her phone went dead." Family said Kobayashis last pinned location was at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) around 4 p.m. local time on Nov. 11, according to Pidgeon. A ticketing agent told the family that they spoke to Hannah that day and that she was discussing buying a new ticket either back to Maui or to New York, the aunt told PEOPLE. Related: Missing Woman Seen on Video with Stranger After She Didnt Get on Connecting Flight, Family Says That same day, Pidgeon added, the family got a confirmed sighting of Kobayashi and an unidentified person getting on the train. Kobayashi exited the train around Pico Station, which is one of the places they went to look after arriving for the search. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It wasn't a good neighborhood," Pidgeon said. "And the officers that were there and people that we spoke with, they were like, you don't come here after dark." Kobayashis family is worried that she might have been abducted or trafficked, but when contacted by PEOPLE on Wednesday, Nov. 20, the Los Angeles Police Department said there was no update and that the investigation is ongoing. DENVER (KDVR) A judge delayed the trial for an Aurora dentist accused of poisoning his wife to death after the defense attorney suddenly quit during jury selection on Thursday. James Craig is accused of killing his wife of 23 years, Angela Craig, by putting poison in her protein shakes. The Arapahoe County Coroner ruled that her March 2023 death was caused by poisoning from cyanide and tetrahydrozoline. Dentist accused of killing wife tried to plant letters suggesting she was suicidal, police say Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Craig faces charges of first-degree murder and solicitation to commit tampering with physical evidence. He pled not guilty. The 18th Judicial District Attorneys office has also requested Craig face additional charges of solicitation to commit murder in the first-degree and solicitation to commit perjury in the first-degree. According to the arrest affidavit, police said Craig searched online for things like How to make murder look like a heart attack and How to make poison days before his wife searched for symptoms she was having vertigo, shaking and cold lips. Craig allegedly ordered a rush shipment of potassium cyanide even though it was not needed. He also allegedly researched multiple undetectable poisons and purchased some. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The trial has been delayed before and was set to begin Thursday with jury selection. However, on Thursday morning, the defense counsel moved to withdraw from the case due to a professional conflict, according to the 18th Judicial District Attorneys Office. The judge allowed the withdrawal under the Rule of Professional Conduct, and Craig declined to represent himself, delaying the case. The 18th Judicial District Attorneys Office said an Appearance of Counsel Hearing is scheduled for Dec. 16, at 8:30 a.m. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. (This story was updated to correct a typo.) The Austin American-Statesman has reached an agreement with the Austin NewsGuild on a two-year contract that boosts journalists pay while ensuring editors flexibility to adapt to the ever-changing local news environment. Ninety-four percent of the front-line journalists ratified the contract Thursday after 3 years of negotiations. It is the first labor contract since voting to become a union in 2021. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The contract provides flexibility to manage into the future and guarantees pay raises for all newsroom members. It includes a commitment from Gannett to continue to use journalists to gather the news and serve the local audiences. We are pleased to have an agreement in place and focus all our energy on our shared goal delivering essential journalism in the communities we serve, said Gannett Media Chief Content Officer Kristin Roberts. The Austin American-Statesman has a rich history of providing trusted news and information that our readers have told us they want. We are committed to delivering on this promise and remain your go-to source. The parties issued this joint statement on Wednesday: The Austin American-Statesman and the Austin NewsGuild are proud to reach this agreement that helps us fulfill our shared news mission of covering the Central Texas community with trusted local journalism and positions us for success in the future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This contract will help protect local journalism jobs and provides an opportunity for labor and management to work together in mutual respect to provide essential journalism for our audience, said union president Nicole Villalpando and Executive Editor Courtney Sebesta. The contract sets minimum wage levels for new, five-year and 10-year reporters, photographers, producers and planners and includes a general hourly wage increase for those at or over the minimum in each of the contracts two years, something that will help attract talent to our newsrooms. The contract also freezes healthcare premiums for the first year of the contract and guarantees training and mentorship for journalists new to the company so they can confidently hit the ground running. The Austin American-Statesman is part of Gannett, which publishes USA TODAY and more than 200 local news sites nationwide This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Statesman reaches 2-year agreement with Austin News Guild LUMBERTON, N.C. (WBTW) A Lumberton man wanted on a murder charge and considered to be armed and dangerous was arrested Thursday afternoon, police said. Tauris Agzene Cabbagestalk, 25, allegedly shot and killed Justin Keith Whitted, 34, at about 4 p.m. on Oct. 26 near the intersection of Highway 211 and Saddletree Road, police said. He was taken into custody without incident at about 2:15 p.m., but police did not say where the arrest took place. Police said Whited was found in the roadway next to his vehicle and died after being taken to a local hospital by EMS. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cabbagestalk appeared before a magistrate on charges of first-degree murder discharging a firearm in city limits and injury to personal property, police said. He is being held without bond at the Robeson County Detention Center. Lumberton police thanked the public for supplying anonymous tips during the investigation, along with the Robeson County Sheriffs Office. * * * Dennis Bright is the Digital Executive Producer at News13. He joined the team in May 2021. Dennis is a West Virginia native and a graduate of Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. Follow Dennis on, Facebook, X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. PUL-E-KHUMRI, Afghanistan, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- At least 11 worshippers were killed by unidentified gunmen in northern Afghanistan's Baghlan province late Thursday, local media reported on Friday. The victims were killed on the spot as worshippers gathered at a shrine in the province's Shahr Kohna (old city) region, Nahrin district, local media quoted witnesses as saying. No one has claimed responsibility for the attack immediately. There has been no comment by any local or central government officials on the deadly attack. Autopsies reveal that two Kansas women were stabbed repeatedly as they tried to defend themselves this spring in the Oklahoma Panhandle. On March 30, 27-year-old Veronica Butler and 39-year-old Jilian Kelley, both of Hugoton, disappeared as they were driving to a scheduled visitation with Butlers two children. Butler had told family members that she would return later. But her car was found abandoned on the side of the road south of Elkhart in rural Texas County, Oklahoma. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On April 14, authorities discovered the bodies of the two women. Five people were arrested in connection with their deaths. The bodies were found inside a freezer buried 4 to 8 feet deep. Clothes, a stun gun, roll of tape and a knife were also found. Veronica Butler Butlers autopsy shows she died from multiple sharp force trauma. Her body had 30 sharp force injuries, including stab wounds. The cuts were in her head and neck, and other parts of her body. She suffered nine stab wounds and had 21 deep cuts. Ten of the cuts were from Butler attempting to defend herself, according to the autopsy report. Butler apparently grabbed a knife blade with her right hand, resulting in her fingers being sliced multiple times, according to the autopsy. She additionally sustained a blunt force laceration to the back of the head. Jilian Kelley Kelleys autopsy, which was released on Nov. 5, shows that she also died from multiple force trauma. She reportedly had suffered 16 sharp force injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kelleys body had nine stab wounds and and seven deep cuts. Two of the 16 cuts were from her attempting to defend herself, the autopsy report said. Both Butler and Kelley also had stun gun marks on their necks. Given the nature of Mrs. Kelleys injuries, including a devastating upper cervical spinal cord injury, it is my opinion that her death was very rapid as she would have likely not only lost her ability to move her body below her head, but also her ability to breathe on her own, the autopsy said. It is my opinion that, therefore that she was most likely deceased before she was placed inside the freezer. Victims were mothers Kelley was a mother of four and led a life dedicated to her faith and service to others as a devoted Christian woman and Pastors wife, her obituary read. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Butler was a mother of two who was described as a compassionate soul who touched the lives of many with her kindness and unwavering dedication, an obituary said. Kelley and Butler were on their way to Oklahoma for a scheduled parental visit with Butlers kids. Kelley was riding along with Butler because the visits required another adult to be present. Court documents show Tifany Adams, the grandmother of Butlers children, was embroiled in a custody battle over Butlers kids. The father of the children, Wrangler Rickman, is Adams son. He had legal custody of them. Preachers wife and her friend vanish as their vehicle is found abandoned, OK cops say Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Oklahoma authorities recover 2 bodies a day after arresting 4 in missing Kansas women case Updated: Fifth person arrested in connection with killing of two Kansas women in Oklahoma One of two missing Kansas women was embroiled in custody battle with suspect in her death Oklahoma authorities identify bodies found Sunday as two missing Kansas women TEXAS COUNTY, Okla. (KFOR) The full medical examiner reports for both Kansas women murdered in Texas County have now been released. Veronica Butler and Jilian Kelley were brutally murdered last March. The two were heading to see Butlers children for a supervised visit, when they vanished. Their bodies were found in a freezer buried in the ground two weeks later. Butler was involved in a bitter custody battle with Tifany Adams, the paternal grandmother of her children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Adams, along with four others are accused of brutally murdering the two women, all members of an anti-government group called Gods Misfits. Butlers autopsy was released today, this comes after the judge denied a request by the defense to keep them sealed. The report says Butler suffered 30 sharp force injuries; she was stabbed nine times, many to her head and neck. Probable cause of death released in Texas County murder case It says there was also evidence Butler tried to fight off her attackers. Including her having grabbed the knife blade with her right hand, resulting in her fingers being sliced multiple times, the report states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jilian Kelleys report was mistakenly released early a few weeks ago by the medical examiner. She was also stabbed. Both Kelley and Butler also had possible stun gun marks. The reports state both their dead bodies were put inside a freezer and buried, along with evidence of the crime. Theres been a recent twist in the case, two of the defendants waived their right to a preliminary hearing. New court filings show Paul Grice and Cora Twombly are now endorsed as state witnesses and will be called to testify during the preliminary hearing next month for the three other defendants. 2 Texas Co. murder suspects waive preliminary hearing, schedule February court date Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement News 4 spoke with a legal expert about what this move may mean. I believe did it because they had worked out a deal with the prosecution and that deal would be to testify and then in the end Im sure for the prosecution to take the death penalty off the table and let them plead to life or something like it, said Ed Blau, legal expert. Court documents from September allege that Paul Grice stabbed and killed Butler, Tad Cullum killed Kelley, the Twomblys acted as lookouts and Adams purchased several supplies and hated and despised Butler and wanted her dead. Adams, Cullum and Cole Twomblys preliminary hearings are set to begin December 17. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All three are facing several charges including two counts of first degree murder. The grandmother also faces two counts of child neglect. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Gov.-elect Kelly Ayotte speaks with reporters on Election Day, Nov. 5., 2024. (Will Steinfeld | New Hampshire Bulletin) Gov.-elect Kelly Ayotte has created a Public Safety Task Force to explore improvements to justice and public safety and push for further changes to the states bail laws her office announced Friday. Ayotte, a Republican who will be inaugurated in January, announced the task force as part of her transition efforts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The five-person task force will include a mix of police, firefighter, and corrections representatives. Members include Manchester Mayor Jay Ruais, a fellow Republican; Manchester Police Chief Allen Aldenberg; Rep. Stephen Pearson, who is also a lieutenant with the Manchester Fire Department; New Hampshire Department of Corrections Chief Probation and Parole Officer Seifu Ragassa; and Mary Tenn, a litigation attorney who at one time served as a special assistant district attorney for Middlesex County in Massachusetts. In a statement, Ayotte said: This qualified and dedicated group of individuals will help identify key issues and priorities to further our justice and public safety goals, from recruiting and retaining the best first responders in the nation, to ending the revolving door bail system and getting dangerous criminals off our streets. It was not clear whether the task force meetings would be public. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ayotte made crime a central pillar of her campaign, and particularly focused on Manchester, attacking her Democratic opponent Joyce Craigs record while mayor of the city. New Hampshires violent crime rate has been steadily decreasing since 2016, according to the FBIs Crime Data Explorer tool. But Ayotte, Ruais, and others have said too many people are committing crimes while out on bail, and have pushed to roll back a bail reform law signed by Gov. Chris Sununu in 2018. Sununu signed a second bill in August that was intended to hold people who are accused of violent crimes behind bars until their arraignments, and to expedite the bail process by introducing bail commissioners to help adjudicate bail, among other changes. That bill was seen as a compromise, after Senate Republicans clashed for years with House Republicans who did not want to impose strict bail requirements. Ayotte has criticized that bill. In an interview with the Bulletin in September, she said she is not sure how the state is going to implement the magistrate system, which requires the state to hire attorneys who can stand in for judges to allow bail hearings to proceed quickly. And she said she believes the 2018 bail reform law should be repealed entirely. Why did we try to fix a problem that in my view is not a problem? she said, speaking of the 2018 effort. TOPEKA (KSNT) Members of the Topeka Rescue Mission team Miriam Krehbiel and Josh Turley join the 27 News Morning crew with a look ahead at how the organization is raising funds and donations through Black Friday, Giving Tuesday and Christmas. Great Value breakfast food products recalled due to plastic contamination The pair also highlight how the newly unveiled Hope Center will make a difference in the Topeka Community. For more information, watch the interview above. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News. A footbridge over Lochsa River. (Getty Images) Deep in Idahos Clearwater Mountains, along the beautiful Lochsa River, is a stand of ancient cedar trees. These trees stand hundreds of feet tall and are hundreds of years old. They have seen a lot of American and Idaho history. They were standing long before Europeans arrived in these mountains, back when the Nez Perce traveled through the Clearwater Mountains along what they called the Road to the Buffalo, the route they used to travel from their Idaho home to the buffalo hunting grounds in Montana. They were standing when explorers Lewis and Clark passed by less than mile away on their 1805-06 historic trek across North America to the Pacific Ocean. These trees were standing in 1877 when Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce were fleeing the U.S. Cavalry in their heartbreaking effort to reach the safety of Canada. Conservation historian Bernard DeVoto camped under these trees in the late 1940s while working on his editing of the Lewis and Clark journals. After DeVotos death, this grove of cedar trees was named the DeVoto Memorial Cedar Grove, and his ashes were spread on this site. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its no accident that these old cedar trees are still standing. They remain standing because they are on public lands. Public lands, in which every American has a stake. Surrounding forests, not on public lands, tell a far different story. A few miles to east of the DeVoto Cedar Grove are lands that once belonged to a railroad company. In the 1860s, railroad companies were given vast tracks of lands in the West to facilitate settlement efforts and ease the way for possible cross country railroad routes. Only a few such routes panned out, so the railroads eventually sold much of their timber lands to private timber companies. These companies, out to maximize profits for shareholders, ravaged these forests, brutally logging these landscapes and leaving behind eroded hillsides, polluted streams, and miles and miles of stumps. Even today these denuded lands continue to dump sediment into the headwaters of the Lochsa River. A few miles to the west of the DeVoto Cedar Grove are forest lands that ended up owned by another entity, this time the state of Idaho. Forests owned by the state are mandated to be managed to produce the maximum revenue for the school system. This means logging. Lots of logging. The state lands west of the DeVoto Cedar Grove are a jumbled maze of logging roads and clearcuts. Any old trees once there are long gone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Besides his work on the Lewis and Clark journals, Bernard DeVoto is best known for his conservation advocacy in Harpers Magazine in the 1940s. It was here that DeVoto blew the whistle on the efforts by the national livestock associations to turn all of Americas public lands over to individual states and eventually private ownership. DeVotos writing galvanized opposition that helped defeat that effort at that time. But bad ideas die hard. Theres always remained smoldering efforts by private entities and the politicians in their pocket to somehow get their hands on public lands. The effort is back again. Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador a filed a friend of the court brief supporting Utahs effort to dispose of public land to state ownership. While purportedly focused on lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management, which provide unmatched wildlife habitat and recreation opportunities to all Americans, Utahs lawsuit raises the question of whether the federal government can hold lands in perpetuity at all. If this effort were to succeed, you can bet the national forests would be next on the politicians wish list. Idaho sold off about one third of the land it received from the federal government upon statehood. Had Idaho gotten more land, it would have simply sold more of it. It has generally been a short step from state ownership to private ownership. And private ownership has meant, for stands of old forests like the DeVoto Grove on the Lochsa, a quick trip to the nearest sawmill and money in the owners pocket. Millions of acres of old growth forest, and the wildlife, clean water, and recreation opportunities supported by these forests, are gone forever by this route. We in the West know what state or private ownership means for forests. Stumps, and lots of them. Both entities manage forests to maximize dollars generated. In contrast, public lands mean trees hundreds of years old, superb wildlife habitat, clear, clean water, and unmatched recreation opportunities. And our heritage. You would be hard pressed to find many areas owned by states or private corporations where short term monetary gains are sidelined for the sake of protecting a place of history like the DeVoto Cedar Grove. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX By Virginia Furness LONDON (Reuters) - The Bahamas has unlocked more than $120 million to fund the conservation and management of its oceans and mangroves with a debt swap financed by Standard Chartered and backed by the private sector. By spending $215.7 million to buy back Eurobonds and repurchasing an $81 million commercial bank loan using a lower-cost $300 million loan from Standard Chartered, the Bahamas is able to redeploy the interest and principle payment savings to fund wide-reaching ocean conversation projects. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So-called debt for nature swaps are emerging as an important tool to help countries achieve their conservation and climate goals and close the $942 billion nature finance gap BloombergNEF estimates is needed to restore and maintain biodiversity globally. The swap comes after nations at a UN biodiversity summit in Colombia in October failed to devise a plan for how countries would reach the ambitious global goals for mobilizing billions of dollars for nature conservation. Rich nations signalled an unwillingness to pay more, instead looking for the private sector to fill the gap. "The nature bonds programme is one of the few mechanisms that can drive financing at scale towards climate and nature in the global south," said Slav Gatchev, head of sustainable debt at The Nature Conservancy, which designed the deal and provides conservation support to the Bahamas. The Bahamas' unique archipelago of low lying islands, coral islets and cays make it and the people who live there highly vulnerable to climate impacts. The country is still feeling the effects after Hurricane Dorian left widespread devastation in 2019. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Bahamas deal is the first new generation debt swap to involve guarantees and insurance from the private sector with Builders Vision, an impact investor, putting up a $70 million credit guarantee and Axa XL providing $30 million insurance. The deal enhancements, along with a $200 million partial credit guarantee from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), enabled Standard Charted to price its 15-year loan at 4.7%, a coupon the bank said was roughly aligned to the cost of new IDB debt. "The asset class is not only scaling but developing," said Dennis Eisele, head of global credit market financing for Latin America at Standard Chartered. "Builders Vision and AXA demonstrate there is an expanded pool of capital for these deals." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eisele said the bank has no immediate plans to sell on the loan. At their simplest, debt for nature swaps see part of a country's debt bought up by a bank or specialist investor and replaced, usually helped by a credit guarantee, with a new lower-cost "nature" bond or loan. Funding from the Bahamas swap will go towards restoring mangroves damaged by the hurricane, managing the archipelago's 6.8 million hectares of marine protected areas and supporting the build out of a new project to protect the entire Bahamian ocean area. (Reporting by Virginia Furness; Editing by Susan Fenton) SAN DIEGO (Border Report) Since October, the construction and building industry in Baja California has been employing homeless people to offset a labor shortage in the region. Were offering them scholarships and a chance to grab onto an opportunity to become mason workers, electricians, plumbers with the advantage of knowing there will a market ready to hire them, said Gabriel Vizcaino, president of Tijuanas Chamber of Construction Industry. A homeless-service agency called Proyecto Salesiano is working with the building industry to offer homeless people an opportunity to learn a trade. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More and more Tijuana children working in flea markets and as street vendors Organizers say the initiative is positive step for those who have decided to participate. We have a void in terms of human resources, we need to train personnel to have a labor force ready to fill job openings, Vizcaino said. These type of initiatives will help us find workers, we need to integrate the homeless, we also need agreements in place with job training sites. The training is being financed by Proyecto Salesiano, state government funds and the building industry. Visit the BorderReport.com homepage for the latest exclusive stories and breaking news about issues along the U.S.-Mexico border Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investment of this kind is limited, there are few construction companies capable of financing job training of this scale, we wish there was more public funding for this type of training, said Vizcaino. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) Safety along a deadly street in east Bakersfield was the hot topic at a city council meeting last night, after the tragic death of 13-year-old Jeremiah Villalobos just last week. Jeremiah was riding his bike on Columbus Street, near Loyola Street when he was hit by a car in broad daylight last week and died. There have been two other collisions with people resulting in deaths on Columbus Street in the last five years. Family and friends of Jeremiah fought through tears while addressing the city council, criticizing the street and how to make it safer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The speed that vehicles move down Columbus is outrageous and drivers must be held accountable, we urge the city of Bakersfield to take immediate action, said Carmen Perez, Jeremiahs grandmother. Our children should be allowed to ride their bike in the safety and the freedom that we experienced as children. Jeremiah was a student at Chipman Junior High and Isaiah Zeja, a friend of his spoke on his behalf. Im just asking for there to be some safety measures in that area, like a high-visibility crosswalk, some speed bumps or any lights, said Zeja. The fateful crash happened in Councilmember Ken Weirs ward and his response is for city staff to reach out to Jeremiahs family about forming a group to address the issue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kern County organizations ready to feed families in need for Thanksgiving In other news, big changes are coming to Bakersfield parks. The city adopted the over $300 million Recreation and Parks Master Plan update, after being delayed since August for more public comment. Local environmentalists had sent a letter to the city council before Wednesdays meeting, asking to increase the citys tree canopies and giving suggestions. Some also came to the meeting and gave public comment. CSUB professor Antje Lauer drafted the letter, We would like to ask the city council to add our petition to that plan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement City council added the petition as an addendum and passed the master plan. The city has also created a traffic calming plan, which works to increase safety on busy Bakersfield streets by reducing lanes, adding painted bike lanes, and minimizing lane width. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17. Baltimore Citys and Montgomery Countys school systems are in jeopardy of losing funding due to unmet requirements under the states preeminent education plan, the Blueprint for Marylands Future. At a meeting Thursday, the Blueprint Accountability & Implementation Board voted to officially warn the two school systems that they have not complied with certain criteria that would warrant the boards approval to release fiscal years 2025 and 2026 Blueprint funds. We do have to make certain we abide by the terms and conditions in our statute to make sure that we get compliance in a timely fashion, said board chair Isiah Leggett. We also try to work very carefully with all the jurisdictions that we are as responsive and responsible as possible to get to a positive outcome for everyone in terms of compliance. Unfortunately, there are some that are still not at that level and some are close to it, and so we need to at this point and time consistent with statutory requirements make some distinctions here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Each Maryland school system had to provide an implementation plan to the board, a government entity charged with overseeing the execution of the Blueprint. Baltimore City and Montgomery County havent provided all of the components of their implementation plans, according to the board, including Baltimores career ladder. After multiple rounds of negotiations over specifics in the teacher career ladder, the Baltimore Teachers Union and the school system reached a stalemate ahead of a state deadline, and formal impasse papers were filed. Earlier this year, a city schools spokesperson said the district would build on the strengths and address the challenges of our previous career pathways while also meeting all Blueprint requirements. Board member Laura Stapleton said she was hopeful Baltimore City was on the path for approval. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We understand that Baltimore City is at an impasse and that theyve worked through it, Stapleton said. I am very hopeful theyll be able to rectify it. And so even though this is about giving an official warning, I hope that it is seen that they are on the right path. Another board member complimented Baltimore for having a representative at the meeting to explain its position. Montgomery County did not have an official at the meeting. Five other school systems Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Howard, Prince Georges and Talbot counties also did not meet requirements from the board that would trigger the release of funds. Those districts have submitted all the required parts of the plans but have been asked to provide more information in some of the categories and did not receive warnings. AIB staff have reviewed initial and updated submissions and provided each (school system) with feedback and requests for revision/additional information necessary to be recommended for approval, a statement from the board reads. The districts have until Dec. 11 to submit updates to the board for the next round of consideration at its Dec. 19 meeting. Have a news tip? Contact Glynis Kazanjian at gkazanjian@baltsun.com. Former West Virginia House Delegate Mick Bates will not assume his newly elected role as Raleigh County surveyor after learning he does not possess the qualifications necessary for the job. Bates informed the Raleigh County Commission of this via a hand-delivered letter dated Nov. 18. In the letter, Bates said he would not be taking on the position he ran for because he was not a licensed surveyor and was unaware that it was required. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I was unaware of the passage of a (state) statute in 2013 that made it a requirement to be a licensed Surveyor to hold this office," Bates wrote in his letter. He goes on to state, "Please accept this as notice of voluntarily withdrawing/not (to) be seated/resigning so that someone who is statutorily qualified could be appointed." Bates said he would not have filed to run if he knew about the surveyor license requirement. Unlike other county-elected positions, a county surveyor has no official duties and no salary unless the county commission contracts with the elected surveyor for specific work, according to the West Virginia Secretary of State's 2024 Running for Office Guide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As county surveyors are solely used on a case-by-case basis, some West Virginia counties operate without elected county surveyors and contract the work when necessary. Even if the county has an elected surveyor, it is not required to use their services. The only requirements listed in the state's running guide for county surveyors are that they must be at least 18 years old and have a surveyor's license. Bates, a physical therapist and small business owner, said none of the paperwork he received while filing for county surveyor specified that a surveyor license was required. "I was not advised that this was a requirement until it was too late to have my name removed from the ballot," Bates said in his letter. "To the best of my knowledge at the time I filed to run this office was vacant, no one else had filed to run and if I was elected the position came with no pay or responsibilities unless specifically requested and contracted by the County Commission to do so. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "In the unlikely event that something was required I would have subcontracted qualified professionals to do so. "There was no intent to mislead or misrepresentation made. "Had I been aware that the facts were otherwise I would not have not filed to run." According to a representative with the Raleigh County clerk's voter registration office, all candidates who file to run are provided copies of the state's Running for Office Guide. Bates did not respond to questions from The Register-Herald about whether he received this guide when he filed. Bates previously served as a West Virginia House delegate from 2014 to 2022 as a Democrat. He left his position as a delegate to run qas a Republican for West Virginia Senate in 2022. He lost in the primary to incumbent Rollan Roberts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bates filed to run for Raleigh County surveyor on Jan. 24, according to information posted to the secretary of state's website under the candidate listing tab. His Democratic opponent for county surveyor, incumbent Timothy B. Kosut, filed for the position on Jan. 22. Kosut was elected in 2020 and ran unopposed. Bates bested Kosut by an overwhelming majority in the November general election, claiming nearly 75 percent of the vote. The race for county surveyor was also one of the county races in which a Republican was contested. The Register-Herald attempted to reach out to Kosut for a comment Thursday but did not hear back. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the West Virginia Board of Surveyors website, Kosut is a licensed surveyor. As to how Bates was able to run for a position he was not qualified for, a representative from the West Virginia Secretary of State's Office said it is up to the candidate to know whether he or she meets the qualifications for office. According to information provided by David Cook, general counsel for the West Virginia Secretary of State's Office, "The candidate, when filling out the certificate of announcement, swears and affirms that he/she meets all constitutional and statutory qualifications to seek and hold the office sought and that he/she is eligible and qualified to hold the office. Our office is prohibited from determining candidate eligibility unless a disqualifying factor clearly exists on the certificate of announcement which requires no investigation." Cook further stated that the Secretary of State's Office does not have the ability to remove, of its own accord, a person from office even if a "disqualifying factor is discovered down the road." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Depending on the timeframes, the candidate can withdraw, a person can write a written request to the State Election Commission, or a candidate/voter can file a writ of prohibition to the circuit court," Cook said. On Wednesday, Raleigh County Attorney Bill Roop told The Register-Herald that the Raleigh County Commission is still gathering information on how it will proceed with Bates' withdrawal as county surveyor, a position which Bates would have been sworn into at the beginning of the year. SYDNEY, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- Police in the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) announced that a man has died after a public place shooting in Sydney's inner city on Friday evening. According to a police statement, emergency services were called to Baptist Street, Surry Hills, an inner-east suburb of Sydney, at about 7:45 p.m. local time following reports of shots fired. A man, who is believed to be in his 30s, was found with a gunshot wound when the officers arrived. Ambulance paramedics treated him, but he died at the scene. NSW Police said that a short time later, emergency services were called to Kensington, a suburb in the eastern suburbs of Sydney, following reports of a car fire. On arrival, officers located a Porsche well alight. Initial inquires alleged the two incidents are linked, according to the statement. Roland Oliphant is joined by The Telegraphs Sarah Newey to talk about her interview with one of the international combatants fighting in Myanmars brutal civil war. Plus: as violence escalates in Haiti, MSF are suspending activities in the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince until further notice. We hear from their head of mission about the decision and what the mood is like on the ground. Battle Lines, a podcast from The Telegraph, combines on-the-ground reporting with analytical expertise to help the listener to better understand the course of world politics, wars and tensions, as fault lines grind and slip in an increasingly dangerous and confusing multipolar world. Listen to Battle Lines using the audio player in this article or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or your favourite podcast app. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. The veterans at American Legion Post 1619 in Morrisonville received a camper as a donation. They sold $2,390 in raffle tickets as a fun and unique way to sell the camper. They added $2,610 from their own fund to make an even $5,000 donation going directly to the Battlefield Memorial Gateway Park project. Adding to the donation, the Sons of American Legion Post 1619 also donated $500 to the project, bringing Mondays total to $5,500. That money will go directly toward completing phase two of construction. It is absolutely amazing that our veterans, who have already served this great nation, are leaning in with heart and with their wallets, and once again leading the way, said Plattsburgh Town Supervisor, Michael Cashman. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Phase one of the park wrapped up a year ago with the completion of the Purple Heart Trail. Phase Two is scheduled for completion by the end of 2026. It is set to include a remembrance plaza, veterans walk, amphitheater and a childrens play area. These funds will go directly toward building a multi-generational space that honors our veterans and tells the American stories that have occurred right here on Lake Champlain and the greater Plattsburgh region, said Cashman. Cashman, praising the Legion for their efforts, hopes others in the community will also step up during this years fundraising campaign. For information, or to donate, you can visit Battlefield Memorial Gateway Parks website here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC22 & FOX44. JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) As the holidays approach in Mississippi, officials with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) are encouraging consumers to be aware of scams. According to the BBB scam tracker, there were more than 29,000 reports of customers losing money to online shopping scams in 2023. Which major retailers will be closed for Thanksgiving this year? The National Retail Federation predicted that Americans will spend more than $980 billion this holiday season, and there are ways to protect your money. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The biggest thing we always say this any time of year when youre shopping online, you need to have a credit card, not a debit card. And the reason being is, if it is a scammer who is taking your money, if theyre not just going to take you for that price, theyre going to take you. Theyre just going to keep taking money out of your bank account till its gone. If its a credit card, you know that moneys not coming out of your account. You can dispute it with the credit card company. And what you start to see was some of these scam websites, as well. They dont take credit cards. They want cash app. They want they want that, you know, that raises a flag, said John OHara with BBB Mississippi. Some steps to avoid being scammed include keeping personal information to yourself, thinking about the payment method being requested and using secure and traceable transactions. Close Thanks for signing up! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJTV. ST. LOUIS Sterling First-Bey of north St. Louis is an admitted sneakerhead. When he saw a recent shoe deal on Facebook that he couldnt refuse, he acted fast. I like Air Max [shoes]. The Air Max [shoes] I buy usually cost $160 on sale. These were on sale for like $30, $40, First-Bey said. He ordered the shoes and received a tracking number. But when weeks turned to months and the shoes still hadnt arrived, First-Bey knew hed been scammed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To be scammed in that way was horrible, because I never expected it, he said. I ordered shoes off of the internet all the time. This is the first time it ever happened to me. First-Bey is not alone. According to a new study from the Better Business Bureau, online shopping fraud rose nearly 125% in 2023. Four out of 10 scams reported to the BBBs Scam Tracker were online shopping-related. Eight out of 10 people were susceptible to losing money, the BBB said. Better Business Bureau investigator Brian Edwards says scammers skills are improving, making it harder for consumers to spot fraud. Looks alone arent enough anymore to say whether a website is legitimate or not, Edwards said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eureka family loses home in fire, dog alerts them to flames And with the holidays upon us, Edwards says consumers must be extra vigilant. Scammers know when people are willing and want to shop online more, and they are going to increase their efforts during that time as well, he said. According to Edwards, the best way consumers can protect themselves from these types of scams is to use a credit card. Credit card companies or banks, through their credit cards, are much more likely to refund or issue a charge back on a credit card versus something like a debit card, he said. You go to buy something online, and the company reaches out and they say, Oh, can you pay me through Venmo or Zelle or PayPal? Its time to be wary of that, because that is something that were seeing a lot of scammers do. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And as First-Bey learned the hard way, the adage rings true. If its too good to be true, its too good to be true. Keep your money, he said. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. Indianas Republican Lieutenant Governor-elect Micah Beckwith on Thursday threatened to push to defund Westfield schools after he said he was disinvited to an appearance at an agriculture program at Westfield High School following complaints about his visit. Beckwith on Thursday morning posted on X that Westfield Washington Schools disinvited him to meet with students in the districts agriculture program because it wouldnt be safe. By the end of the day, Beckwith shared again on social media that he had a a great, honest, and firm conversation with district leadership and received a new invitation to visit with agriculture students. Beckwith, who was elected earlier this month alongside Governor-elect Mike Braun, will oversee multiple state agencies once he is sworn in, including the Indiana Department of Agriculture. He has long been an outspoken champion of culture war issues and his back-and-forth with Westfield Washington Schools on Thursday is another sign that likely will not change when he enters the Statehouse. The back and forth also highlights the politicization of what previously had been a more straightforward position. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In between Beckwith's social media posts on Thursday, he went on WIBC radio program Kendall and Casey where he called the rescinded invitation in Westfield an example of the left woke mob" and questioned why he could not visit Westfield High School when First Lady Dr. Jill Biden stopped there in 2023 to meet with students in a mental health club. From 2023: First Lady Jill Biden chats with Westfield High students about mental health awareness Lt. Gov.-elect Micah Beckwith attends Org Day, or organization day, ahead of the upcoming legislative session at the Indiana Statehouse on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024, in Indianapolis. Beckwith said on the program the decision about his appearance came from the super far left Westfield High School principal and Paul Kaiser, the Westfield Washington Schools superintendent, who he called a coward. According to Beckwiths explanation on WIBC, Kaiser told the lieutenant governor-elect he received calls from 15 people who said they were concerned about Beckwiths visit. A spokesperson for Westfield Washington Schools did not respond to a request for comment from IndyStar. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On the radio program Thursday, Beckwith said he had a conversation with a Westfield school board member about the district rescinding his invitation in which the board member said they wanted to also talk about school funding. Beckwith said he responded that he wanted to use the Westfield story as an example to advocate for universal school vouchers. Gov.-elect Mike Braun, in a letter to state lawmakers this week, said expanding the states school voucher program was one of the items in his administrations policy agenda. I think Im going to use this story all over the state to try to get universal vouchers pushed through and try to strip away as much funding from schools like you as possible because of the woke crap you guys are doing right now, Beckwith said on the radio program Thursday. Beckwith does not have the power to withhold funding from a school. He would have to convince lawmakers to do so. Beckwith was not Brauns choice for lieutenant governor, but joined the ticket this summer after he was selected by Republican convention delegates. On the campaign trail this year, Beckwith continued to draw condemnation for various remarks, including saying he would fire or demote state employees that put pronouns in their email signatures and calling for the deportation of Haitian refugees in Logansport. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the two weeks following Election Day, Beckwith has also drawn heavy criticism for threatening the Indiana Daily Student, the student-led newspaper at Indiana University. Contact IndyStar state government and politics reporter Brittany Carloni at brittany.carloni@indystar.com or 317-779-4468. Follow her on Twitter/X @CarloniBrittany. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana lt. gov.-elect Micah Beckwith criticizes Westfield Schools Belarus authorities are on full alert ahead of upcoming presidential elections in January 2025, new wave of police raids target relatives of political prisoners. Belarusian police conduct counter-protest drills to prevent manifestations of extremism and terrorism during the election campaign. Russias military doctrine was updated, covering Belarus with a Russian nuclear umbrella. No change in the U.S. nuclear posture. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Subscribe to the Newsletter Belarus Weekly Join us Polish broadcaster TVP appoints new leadership to flagship Belarusian-language channel Belsat amid heated debate over the channel's independence and future. Record 49 Russian Shahed-type drones entered Belaruss airspace in October, Belarusian Hajun monitoring group reports. Belarusian political prisoners relatives targeted in new police raids ahead of presidential elections The Belarusian authorities have launched another wave of raids and arrests across the country ahead of the presidential elections scheduled for Jan. 26, 2025, targeting political prisoners relatives, human rights activists reported on Nov. 15. Since the previous presidential elections in 2020, which sparked nationwide protests, over 3,500 individuals have been recognized as political prisoners by human rights organizations. Nearly 1,300 of them remain behind bars. Over the four-year-long crackdown on dissent in Belarus, 65,000 people have been subjected to politically motivated persecution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Belaruss KGB security agency unleashed a new round of raids on Nov. 14, targeting the relatives of political prisoners in the countrys Hrodna and Brest regions, and in the capital Minsk, according to reports by human rights groups Viasna, Dissidentby, and the Country to Live In foundation. The raids constitute the third attack in a terror campaign this autumn, potentially targeting several hundred people, says Andrei Stryzhak, the head of Solidarity Foundation BYSOL, a group helping to evacuate dissidents from Belarus and assisting those suffering from persecution in the country. The activist said the raids were occurring against the backdrop of an imaginary thaw in relations between the regime and its opponents, coinciding with the release of 31 political prisoners and the permitting by the authorities of a family visit to Maria Kalesnikava, a prominent opposition leader who had been held incommunicado for over 600 days. According to BYSOLs leader, this round of repression has hit the northern Belarusian regions of Polatsk and Navapolatsk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With the rapid approach of the presidential election, to be held ahead of schedule on Jan. 26, 2025, the regime of Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko has launched a pre-election intimidation campaign, human rights activists from the Viasna Center report. Belarusian police conduct extremism and terrorism prevention exercises ahead of presidential elections Belarusian police are to conduct exercises in Minsk and regional centers to ensure the prevention of manifestations of extremism and terrorism ahead of the January presidential elections, the Interior Ministry announced on Nov. 19. The 2025 Belarusian presidential elections, scheduled for Jan. 26, are intended to extend the rule of the countrys dictator, Alexander Lukashenko, for a seventh consecutive term in office. The previous presidential race sparked protests nationwide after the pro-Lukashenko Central Elections Committee announced his victory amid widespread claims of vote rigging. The police drills, which were scheduled to take place between Nov. 19 and 22, were to demonstrate the readiness of the police to respond to possible complications of the situation in the country during the election campaign. The exercises involve practicing street closures, and using smoke, flash and gas bombs and special equipment to disperse protests. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The goal (of the exercises) ... is to prevent manifestations of extremism and terrorism, the involvement of citizens in illegal actions, and the suppression of violations of public order, the Interior Ministry said in a post on its official Telegram channel. A video accompanying the post shows the detention of alleged offenders, scenes from a polling station, and shots of riot police countering groups of people with placards. Belarus Security Council Secretary Alexander Volfovich said the exercises were routine ones, but claimed that exiled opponents of the Lukashenko regime are using all levers and opportunities to try to sway the situation again. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the Belarusian opposition leader who claimed to have beaten Lukashenko in the 2020 presidential election, said the exercises were intended to intimidate the opposition. Training to suppress citizens isnt a sign of strength its a sign of fear, she wrote on X. Putin approves new nuclear doctrine allowing nuclear response to attack on Belarus Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed Russias updated nuclear doctrine, providing for nuclear retaliation in the case of armed aggression against Belarus, according to a presidential decree published on the government website on Nov. 19. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The revised deterrence policy suggests that aggression against the Russian Federation and its allies by a non-nuclear state with the support of a nuclear state could trigger a nuclear response. The updated doctrine also considers any large-scale cross-border attack involving aircraft, missiles, or drones to be grounds for consideration of a nuclear strike. The publication of the doctrine comes on the heels of the United States giving Ukraine permission to strike targets in Russia with the U.S.-supplied long-range missiles. The White House National Security Council said that Russias lowered threshold for nuclear retaliation did not come as a surprise, but also provided no reason for the United States to adjust its own nuclear posture. Putin first proposed making changes to the doctrine on Sept. 25 amid discussions in the United States and the U.K. about allowing Ukraine to strike deep into Russian territory with Western-supplied long-range conventional missiles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko, an ally of the Kremlin, welcomed the inclusion of Belarus under Russias nuclear umbrella, saying it was long overdue. An attack on Belarus is World War III, Lukashenko said on Sept. 27, alleging NATO countries were deploying troops at the border with Belarus. Although a non-nuclear state, Belarus reportedly has Russian nuclear weapons deployed on its territory following the signing of the agreement on May 25, 2023 on placing Russian non-strategic nuclear weapons on Belarusian territory. Lukashenko also attended Russian nuclear military drills, during a sudden inspection of the countrys tactical nuclear weapons launchers in May 2024. Read also: Russia reportedly uses new Oreshnik ballistic missile against Ukraine what we know so far Belarusian Hajun: 49 Russian Shahed-type drones crossed into Belarusian airspace in October Forty-nine Russian Shahed-type combat drones entered Belaruss airspace in October the highest number recorded in a month, the Belarusian Hajun war monitoring project wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russian Shahed-type drones began to cross regularly into Belarus in July this year, with Ukraine reportedly using electronic warfare measures to send the drones off course. Amid intensified attacks against Ukraine in subsequent months, incursions of Russian drones into Belarus surged from infrequent, isolated instances to 27 stray drones being spotted over Belarus in September. Throughout October, 33 stray drones returned from Belarus to Ukrainian territory, while the location of 14 was lost, according to the monitoring group. One drone crashed in Kalinkavichy, roughly 60 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, overnight on Oct. 3, after three Shahed drones flew into Belarusian airspace. Lukashenko was traveling by helicopter over the country at the time of the drone incursion. Another UAV was downed by the Belarusian Air Force over the countrys Homel Oblast overnight on Oct. 20. It was the second instance of the Belarusian military downing a Russian UAV since the incursions began. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the moment, there is no reason to believe that Russian UAVs of the Shahed-136/131 type will stop flying into Belarus in the near future, Belarusian Hajun said in its report. Lukashenko claimed on Oct. 4 that the Belarusian Air Force downs a lot of drones, both Russian and Ukrainian, and attributed the incursions to the work of radio-electronic warfare equipment and mistakes by drone operators. No proof of Ukrainian drones entering Belarusian airspace has ever been presented. Minsk, Russias staunchest ally, has never publicly raised objections with Moscow over the reported drone incidents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read also: Investigation: Who helped Russians increase production of domestic attack drones despite sanctions Polish broadcaster merges exiled Belarusian-language TV channel with international editorial office, despite calls for it to remain separate entity Polish Public Broadcaster TVP has appointed new leadership to its flagship broadcaster for Belarus, Belsat, in a move to integrate the exiled Belarusian-language television channel into its Center for Foreign Language Programs despite calls for Belsats operations to remain independent. On Nov. 15, TVP appointed Alina Koushyk, a former anchor and producer at Belsat, as the head of the Belarusian editorial office. Koushyk, who had left Belsat two years ago for a role in Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskayas shadow cabinet, said, We aimed to advocate for Belsat to remain an independent channel, but unfortunately, our efforts did not succeed. The merger comes amid broader restructuring of Polands state media following the defeat of the conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party in the 2023 parliamentary elections, with the new government saying it was seeking to restore impartiality to TVP. The restructuring implies Belsats formerly separate airtime will be split into three sections six hours each for Belarusian-language programming, the Russia-focused news channel Vot Tak, and a Ukrainian-language broadcaster that has yet to be formed. Koushyk replaces Aleksy Dzikawicki, a co-founder and acting director of Belsat, who on Nov. 19 requested that his contract be terminated. Dzikawicki said he had requested early dismissal to avoid having to carry out an order to formally liquidate Belsat as an independent entity within TVP. Belsat started broadcasting in 2007 as the first Belarusian-language TV channel, offering coverage in the Belarusian language, which has been gradually excluded from Belarusian public life by the Lukashenko regime. Belarus is low in the press freedom rating, ranking 157th among 180 countries in 2023. Almost no independent media are left in Belarus due to the Lukashenko regimes efforts to stamp out a free press, which have seen 40 media professionals prosecuted, outlets being branded as extremist, and punishments introduced for sharing extremist content. The potential downsizing of Belsat to only one of several editorial offices within the Center for Foreign Language Programs has drawn criticism from Belarusian opposition leaders. However, TVP World director and editor-in-chief Micha Broniatowski has denied that Belsat will lose its independence after the merger, saying Belsats editorial office will be fully Belarusian, there will be no orders to cover what the Foreign Ministry wants, or not to cover what it does not want covered. In March, Belsat, lost 47% of its total financing from the Foreign Ministry and Polands TVP, and its longtime director, Agnieszka Romaszewska-Guzy, was dismissed. The International Press Institute (IPI) has urged Polands Foreign Ministry to reconsider the decision, warning of the disastrous impact on the accessibility of independent Belarusian news. While acknowledging Polands financial burden, the IPI called for measures to ensure Belsats survival as a vital platform for European security. The restructuring is set to be finalized on March 1, 2025. Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. BELVIDERE, Ill. (WTVO) Adan Ibarra, 32, has been arrested and charged for a 2023 crash that caused the death of a 7-year-old boy. According to the Belvidere Police Department, officers were called to the scene in the 1700 block of 14th Avenue around 2:33 p.m. on Friday, June 2nd, 2023. They found a 7-year-old lying unconscious but breathing when they arrived. A preliminary investigation showed that the child had chased a ball into the street when a northbound vehicle hit him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The child was transported to a hospital in Madison, where he died. Ibarra was indicted by a Boone County Grand Jury on three counts of Aggravated Driving Under the Influence Causing Death, and one count of Reckless Homicide. He was arrested in a traffic stop on November 18th, 2024, and booked into the Boone County Jail. Ibarra faces up to 14 years in prison if convicted of the crime. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyStateline | WTVO News, Weather and Sports. Nov. 21The Bemidji Fire Department was recently awarded a $4,833 Community Grant from the Foundation for Rural Service. The grant will enable the Bemidji Fire Department to acquire protective gear for Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) medics to ensure safety while providing critical medical assistance in high-risk situations, a release said. The FRS is a subsidiary of the National Telecommunications Cooperative Association, of which Paul Bunyan Communications is a member. As part of its ongoing commitment to rural communities across the country, FRS offers aid to communities served by NTCA members through its annual Community Grant program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These grants are designed to provide support to a variety of local efforts to build and sustain a high quality of life in rural America, the release said. "We started a tactical medic program last summer after identifying the need through a risk profile. Since then, our firefighters have attended training and obtained tactic medic certification," Bemidji Fire Department Chief Justin Sherwood said in the release. "This grant funding will allow us to get three sets of SWAT gear and implement the program. We greatly appreciate the support of the FRS and Paul Bunyan Communications to make that happen." The Bemidji Fire Department serves an area of 522 square miles, including three cities and 15 townships. According to the release, in 2023, they responded to 1,278 calls. "The Bemidji Fire Department does so much for our region and we are happy to support their efforts through this FRS Grant," Chad Bullock, Paul Bunyan Communications assistant CEO and general manager, said in the release. BERLIN (Reuters) - The German government will carefully examine the International Criminal Court's arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defence chief, but will not take further steps until a visit to Germany is planned, a spokesperson said. "I find it hard to imagine that we would make arrests on this basis," said German government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit on Friday, pointing out that legal questions had to be clarified regarding the warrant. He did not specify what those questions entailed and did not answer when asked whether Netanyahu would be welcome in Germany. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The German government's position on weapons deliveries to Israel has not changed following the arrest warrants and are still subject to a case-by-case assessment, he added. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said on the sidelines of the COP29 climate summit in Baku that Germany respected the ICC's work and adhered to the law at national, European and international levels. "Whether the Israeli prime minister will enter the European Union is a hypothetical question. But we are now examining exactly how we will deal with it," she told broadcaster RTL/ntv in an interview. Netanyahu was last in Germany in March 2023, and no visits are currently planned between the two countries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel declared that Israel's security is a core part of Germany's modern political existence, or raison d'etat, in taking responsibility for Nazi Germany's role in the murder of six million Jewish people in the Holocaust. Since Hamas's attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, Chancellor Olaf Scholz has also cited Germany's historical responsibility for what it sees as its special support of Israel. "The German government was involved in the drafting of the ICC statute and is one of the biggest supporters of the ICC - this attitude is also the result of German history," said Hebestreit. "At the same time, it is a consequence of German history that we share unique relations and a great responsibility with Israel." (Reporting by Markus Wacket, writing by Miranda Murray and Friederike Heine, editing by Rachel More, William Maclean) VIENTIANE, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- Thongloun Sisoulith, general secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee and Lao president on Friday met with visiting Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun. Noting that the Laos-China friendship is unbreakable, Thongloun urged further strategic communication and practical cooperation between the two militaries. Dong said China is willing to work with Laos to deepen the pragmatic cooperation between the two militaries and push forward the in-depth development of military relations. Dong also held talks with Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Chansamone Chanyalath. A social-media tribute to Coptic Christians. A billboard in Amish country. A visit to a revered Jewish gravesite. While Donald Trump's lock on the white evangelical vote is legendary, he and his campaign allies also wooed smaller religious groups, far from the mainstream. As it turned out, Trump won by decisive margins, but his campaign aggressively courted niche communities with the understanding that every vote could be critical, particularly in swing states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Voter surveys such as exit polls, which canvass broad swaths of the electorate, arent able to gauge the impact of such microtargeting, but some backers say the effort was worth it. Just one week before the election, Trump directed a post on the social-media platform X to Coptic Christians in the United States - whose church has ancient roots in Egypt. He saluted their Steadfast Faith in God, Perseverance through Centuries of Persecution and Love for this Great Country. This was the first time seeing a major U.S. presidential candidate address the community in this manner, said Mariam Wahba, a Coptic Christian and research analyst with the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a Washington-based research institute. It was really a profound moment. She said many Copts share the conservative social views of other Christian groups in the Republican constituency, and they may already have been Trump supporters. But the posting reinforced those bonds. Coptic bishops sent the president-elect congratulations after his victory and cited their shared social and family values. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some Assyrian Christians another faith group with Middle Eastern roots similarly bonded with Trump, whose mispronunciation of Assyrian at a rally created a viral video moment and drew attention to their support. Sam Darmo, a Phoenix real estate agent and co-founder of Assyrians for Trump, said many community members cited the economy, illegal immigration and other prominent voter issues. They echoed other conservative Christians' concerns, he said, on issues such as abortion, gender identity and religious expression in public. But he said Trump supported various Middle Eastern Christians recovering from the Islamic State group's oppressive rule. Darmo also credited Massad Boulos, father-in-law to Trumps daughter Tiffany, for mobilizing various Middle Eastern Christian groups, including Chaldean Catholics, and other voters, particularly in Michigan, such as Muslims. He brought all these minority groups together," he said. Were hoping to continue that relationship. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But members of Middle Eastern-rooted Christian groups, and their politics, are far from monolithic, said Marcus Zacharia, founder of Progressive Copts, a program of Informed Immigrants, an organization that promotes dialogue on sensitive topics among such groups in the United States and Canada. He said many younger community members question Trump's stances on issues such as immigration, and sense that conservatives sometimes tokenize them by focusing on the plight of persecuted Christians in the Middle East while neglecting wider issues of repression in countries there that the U.S. supports. He said there needs to be more informed dialogue across the political divide in these communities. There is no more high time than these next four years to have that way of conducting conversations, he said. Courting the Amish Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republicans also made an aggressive push for Amish voters, particularly in the swing state of Pennsylvania, where they are most numerous at about 92,000 (many below voting age). The GOP has made similar efforts in the past, even though researchers have found that less than 10% of them typically vote, due to their separatism from society. But Republicans used billboards, mailers, ads and door-to-door campaigner to drive turnout in Lancaster County, home base to the nations largest Amish settlement. On Election Day, Amish voters Samuel Stoltzfus and his wife Lillian Stoltzfus said they were supporting Trump, citing their anti-abortion beliefs. We basically look at it as murder, Stoltzfus, 31, said outside a polling center in the Lancaster County community of New Holland, where dozens of other members of the local Amish community voted. Trump has wavered on the issue, dismaying some abortion opponents, though many have said Republicans still align more closely to their views. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stolzfus added: Make America great again and keep the moral values, he said. Lets go back to the roots. Steven Nolt, a history professor at Elizabethtown College in Lancaster College who studies the Amish and their voting patterns, said that while its too early to say definitively without further research, he doesnt see evidence of a larger turnout this year. Lancaster County as a whole most of which is not Amish is a GOP stronghold that Trump won handily, though both parties votes edged up from 2020, according to unofficial results posted by the Pennsylvania Department of State. Trumps biggest increases were in urban or suburban areas with few Amish, while some areas with larger Amish populations generally saw a modest increase in the Trump vote, said Nolt, director of the colleges Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bottom line, percentage-wise, not much change in the parts of Lancaster County where the Amish live, he said. Paying respects at a Chabad grave Trump directly reached out to members of the Chabad Lubavitch movement, a prominent and highly observant branch of Orthodox Judaism. On Oct. 7, the anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel that triggered the Gaza war, Trump made a symbolically resonant visit to the Ohel, the burial site of the movements revered late leader, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson. Wearing a yarmulke, the traditional Jewish skullcap, Trump, who has Jewish family members, brought a written prayer to the Ohel and laid a small stone at the grave in keeping with tradition. The site in New York City, while particularly central to Chabad adherents, draws an array of Jewish and other visitors, including politicians. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement About two-thirds of Jewish voters overall supported Trump's opponent, Democrat Kamala Harris, according to AP VoteCast, a survey of more than 120,000 voters. But the Trump campaign has made a particular outreach to Orthodox Jews, citing issues including his policies toward Israel in his first administration. Rabbi Yitzchok Minkowitz of Chabad Lubavitch of Southwest Florida said it was moving for him to see images of Trump's visit. The mere fact that he made a huge effort, obviously it was important to him, he said. ___ Associated Press journalist Luis Henao contributed. ___ Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the APs collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. WASHINGTON Since President-elect Donald Trump's election victory, his past vows to pardon defendants from the Capitol attack on Jan. 6, 2021, has stoked a surge of people seeking to delay their cases and prompted a Trump-appointed judge to call the possibility beyond frustrating and disappointing. More than 1,500 people have been charged for the riot and more than 1,000 have been sentenced in the attack by Trump supporters that injured 140 police officers and temporarily halted Congress from counting Electoral College votes certifying President Joe Biden's 2020 election victory. A Justice Department list of sentences in the cases through Oct. 7 ran 120 pages. The longest sentences were for seditious conspiracy. Enrique Tarrio, the leader of the Proud Boys, a far-right street gang, got 22 years. Stewart Rhodes, the leader of the Oath Keepers group of people with backgrounds in the military of law enforcement, got 18 years. Rhodes former wife, Tasha Adams, has told USA TODAY she feared he would kill her if he is released from prison. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps own federal charges of conspiracy and obstruction of Congress are in the midst of being dropped after his election, under a Justice Department policy barring prosecution of a sitting president. Trump has called the rioters patriots and said he was inclined to pardon many of them. Amid a surge of defendants asking for delays in their cases, U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols, who was appointed by Trump, voiced disappointment in the prospect of blanket pardons. Blanket pardons for all January 6 defendants or anything close would be beyond frustrating and disappointing, but thats not my call, Nichols said Tuesday, according to a transcript, in postponing the trial for Edward Jacob Lang of New York, who is charged with attacking police who were defending the Capitol. And the possibility of some pardons, at least, is a very real thing. Here is what we know about the potential for pardons in Jan. 6 cases: The members of the U.S. House Select Committee investigating the January 6 Attack on the U.S. Capitol sit beneath a video of former President Donald Trump talking about the results of the 2020 U.S. Presidential election as they hold their final public meeting to release their report on Capitol Hill in Washington, on Dec. 19, 2022. Trump has vowed to pardon Jan. 6 defendants For years, Trump has repeatedly mentioned the potential for pardons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In September 2022, Trump told Pittsburgh broadcaster Wendy Bell that he would issue full pardons and perhaps an apology to anyone involved in protests on Jan. 6. Well be looking very, very seriously at full pardons because we cant let that happen, Trump said. To many, an apology. Theyve been so badly treated. In March 2023, he posted an all-caps message on social media: "LET THE JANUARY 6 PRISONERS GO." "I am inclined to pardon many of them," Trump told CNN in May 2023. "I can't say for every single one because a couple of them, probably, they got out of control." In April 2024, Trump told Time magazine he would absolutely consider pardoning every Jan. 6 defendant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Karoline Leavitt, who Trump has chosen as his White House spokesperson, issued a statement saying he would "make pardon decisions on a case-by-case basis." Nayib Hassan, an attorney for Proud Boys former leader Enrique Tarrio, speaks to reporters outside the E. Barrett Prettyman Federal Courthouse in Washington, U.S., September 5, 2023. REUTERS/Julia Nikhinson. Defendants ask judges for delays in cases while awaiting pardons A number of defendants have already asked for delays in their cases, in anticipation of Trump pardons. Lawyers for Christopher Carnell, of Cary, North Carolina, was convicted of obstructing Congress, may have been the first to ask for a pause on Nov. 6, the day after Trump's election victory by arguing expecting to be relieved of the criminal prosecution that he is currently facing when the new administration takes office." U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell refused request the same day and has set sentencing for Dec. 13. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Carnell, who was 18 when he entered the Capitol, was convicted of five misdemeanors including disorderly conduct for making his way to the Senate floor, where he rummaged through the documents in Sen. Ted Cruz's desk. Howell erased his felony obstruction conviction after a Supreme Court decision changed the interpretation of the statute. Lawyers for Brandon Heffner, of Harford County, Maryland, asked Nov. 7 to pause action in his case by citing Trump's pardon vows. Heffner is charged with civil disorder and disorderly conduct for allegedly blocking a door for police to exit the building while wearing a black helmet and tactical vest. U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta rejected the request Nov. 11. "Defendant's speculation that he may receive a pardon is not good cause to stay this matter," Mehta wrote. Zachary Alam, of Centreville, Virginia, who was convicted of assaulting officers, destroying government property and disorderly conduct. He jumped through a broken window to enter the Capitol and smashed the glass windows of doors leading into the House Speakers Lobby. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Alam said at his Nov. 7 sentencing he wanted a pardon, but U.S. District Judge Dabney Friedrich gave him eight years in prison. Lawyers for Terry Allen, 65, of Spring Hills, Pennsylvania, who was convicted of assaulting police with a wooden flagpole, asked Nov. 8 to postpone his sentencing by arguing history has shown Trump is not shy when it comes to exercising his pardon powers. Prosecutors opposed the request as "speculation and conjecture" of a pardon. Mehta rejected the request on Nov. 12 and sentenced him two days later to two years in prison. Allen plans to appeal. William Alexander Pope, is charged with civil disorder and obstruction of Congress after video showed him walking through Statuary Hall and being restrained by Capitol Police officers. He represents himself and filed a motion Nov. 9 to delay his trial then set for Dec. 2 because the American people resoundingly rejected these prosecutions by electing President Trump to end them and pardon January 6 defendants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But prosecutors opposed the request, saying the case has been pending nearly four years. "There is a public interest in the prompt and efficient administration of justice," prosecutors wrote. "At this time, the defendants expectation of a pardon is mere speculation, and the Court should proceed as it would in any other prosecution." U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras set a hearing Dec. 13 to discuss a new trial date. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Potential Trump pardons for Jan. 6 defendants spur hopes, concerns Nov. 21Two Albuquerque charities will receive $6.25 million in donations as part of the $110 million Amazon co-founder Jeff Bezos pledged to 40 organizations across the country combating homelessness. It is the first time both charities Catholic Charities and Barrett Foundation have been selected by the Bezos Day One Families Fund, which was founded in 2018. Only once before has the fund selected a nonprofit in Albuquerque, where Bezos was born. In 2019, homeless services provider HopeWorks secured $2.5 million from Bezos' charity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Natasha Gacinski, CEO of Catholic Charities, said the organization is still figuring out how to use the $5 million it received, but the majority will likely go toward its Rapid Rehousing program. The Catholic Charities website describes it as a "program from HUD available for single or two-parent families experiencing homelessness." "Rapid Rehousing participants receive quality support for up to 24 months from Catholic Charities' case managers, who assist them in accessing housing, entitlements, counseling, child care, educational and employment opportunities," according to the website. "We were actually vetted and selected to apply. This wasn't like an open call, and very few agencies were selected to apply," Gacinski told the Journal on Thursday. "I'm really proud of the reputation of Catholic Charities, because, of course, we were selected. We run a wonderful housing program, but I think it speaks to the needs of our community." Gacinski estimates that 200 people will be assisted by the funding. By Mayor Tim Keller's estimates, there are 5,000 people experiencing homelessness in Albuquerque. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, $1.25 million will go to the Barrett Foundation, which aids women and children experiencing homelessness. "We're a nonprofit, so it's very significant; it's amazing. We're just so grateful," Cory Lee, chief executive officer of the Barrett Foundation, told the Journal on Thursday. "Most nonprofits are always in need of support, and so this funding is going to allow us to just continue to work toward our mission to end homelessness in Albuquerque, especially for women and children, and it's going to provide five years of support with the housing crisis and the lack of affordable housing." Lee emphasized the need for nonprofits to remain vigilant with the city's housing crisis. "This money is significant. Unfortunately, if you drive down the streets of Albuquerque, you know that homelessness and housing instability have increased in Albuquerque, and so the work continues," Lee said. Bezos, formerly the world's richest person, and his fiancee since 2023, Lauren Sanchez are both Albuquerque natives. With fresh arrest warrants being issued by the International Criminal Court on Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will have fewer travel options, as a handful of foreign countries have announced that they will comply with the ICCs mandate. The ICC issued warrants for Netanyahu, Israels former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas military leader Mohammed Deif, alleging that all parties have committed war crimes and crimes against humanity. Deifs charges have to do with Hamass October 7 attack on Israel that left 1,200 dead; Netanyahu and Gallant are being charged over Israels brutal war in the year since, which has killed at least 44,000 Palestinianswhich is very likely an undercount. Estimates by the medical journal The Lancet from July say the death toll could exceed 186,000. Israel claims Deif was killed in August; if true, it no longer matters whether or where he is arrested. Netanyahu and Gallant are another story entirely, as they risk arrest if they travel to any countries that are signatories to the Rome Statute. Israel and the United States are not among those countries, but many others are, including Canada, whose Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Thursday that the country will abide by all the regulations & rulings of the international courts. Canada PM Justin Trudeau asked about ICC warrants against Israeli leaders + if he will allow Canadian law enforcement to arrest them: "it's really important that everyone abide by international lawwe will abide by all the regulations & rulings of the international courts." https://t.co/cbb654j0uA pic.twitter.com/KAAP5C2o5Y Prem Thakker (@prem_thakker) November 21, 2024 A spokesperson for Frances foreign ministry, Christophe Lemoine, said that while the warrants were a complex legal issue, the nation supports the courts actions. Combating impunity is our priority, Lemoine said. Our response will align with these principles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Leaders of the Netherlands gave a clearer answer, saying Netanyahu would be arrested if he set foot on Dutch soil. The line from the government is clear. We are obliged to cooperate with the ICC ... we abide 100 percent by the Rome Statute, Dutch foreign minister Caspar Veldkamp said in Parliament Thursday. The Netherlands is home to the court, located in The Hague. In all, 124 countries are party to the Rome Statute, including every country in the European Union; under the terms of the treaty, Netanyahu and Gallant shouldnt be able to travel to any of them without being arrested. Other signatories to the Rome statute include the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Australia. But the United States is not, and has rejected the warrants out of hand, with the National Security Council saying that the ICC does not have jurisdiction over this matter. In coordination with partners, including Israel, we are discussing next steps. Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders have been accused of war crimes going back to 2023, so this decision from the ICC will be seen by foreign rights observers as a long time coming. The U.S. has thus far avoided any measures holding Israel accountable, whether ignoring its own laws and pronouncements or failing to restrict weapons exports to Israel in Congress. The question is whether the U.S. will intervene to prevent the enforcement of these arrest warrants. The Biden administration added more than two dozen Chinese companies to its forced labor blacklist Friday in its latest effort to combat the exploitation of Chinas ethnic Uyghur population. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) identified 29 businesses allegedly using forced Uyghur labor in the countrys Xinjiang province to produce goods for industries ranging from agriculture and pharmaceutics to bioscience. President Biden signed the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLP), legislation that aims to punish China for its abuses against ethnic and religious minorities in the region, into law in 2021. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Forced labor is a violation of basic human rights, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said in a statement. The Department of Homeland Security has aggressively enforced the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, preventing goods made through forced labor from entering our country, investigating and exposing more than 100 bad actors, and helping American businesses avoid inadvertently profiting from this modern form of slavery. Alongside our government, industry, and civil society partners, the United States is making progress towards the eradication of forced labor while supporting economic fairness, safeguarding human rights, and holding perpetrators accountable, he added. Mayorkas also shared that the agency was identifying new measures to prevent the import of goods produced as a byproduct of forced labor amid feedback on their swift approach to blocking products from entering the U.S. We get competing arguments about what we are doing some will say were slow, and we certainly have heard from some businesses that we are too aggressive and moving too quickly, Mayorkas said Friday in an interview with the Wall Street Journal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its sometimes very difficult to get the granularity in the supply chain, but we have made incredible strides in our investigative capabilities, and we are looking at harnessing, increasingly, technology to assist us in that, he told the outlet. DHS announced additional bans to three companies in late September and two more in early October. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. In 2022, President Joe Biden signed the CHIPS and Science Act into law to boost the semiconductor industry in the U.S. His administration plans to allot all of the funds before President-elect Donald Trump and his Cabinet take over in January. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo has made it her sole mission to have almost all of the money obligated by the time we leave, she told Politico. Thats the goal, and I certainly want to have all the major announcements done as it relates to the big, leading-edge companies, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some of those funds are headed to Arizona and Utah. Trump criticized the $280 billion bill while on the campaign trail. That chip deal is so bad, he said on the The Joe Rogan Experience podcast last month. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., also indicated the House GOP will likely repeal the legislation. With both chambers of Congress and the White House soon under Republican control, theres a possibility this could happen. Biden administrations slow progress The legislation includes $52.7 billion in subsidies for U.S. semiconductor production, and billions more for scientific research. On Wednesday, the administration finalized a $1.5 billion grant for GlobalFoundries to expand manufacturing in New York. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last week, the Commerce Department struck a $6.6 billion deal with the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company to set up three plants in Phoenix. Two years ago, shortly after I signed the CHIPS & Science Act, I visited Arizona to announce a commitment by TSMC to invest in America, Biden said. On that day, I spoke about how the United States invented semiconductors and used to manufacture nearly 40% of the worlds chips, but now it makes closer to 10% of them and none of the most advanced chips. I came to office determined to change that. He called the announcement one of the most critical milestones yet in the implementation of the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In late October, when the presidential campaigns were still in full swing, Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, at a rally with former President Bill Clinton, raised concerns about the possibility that her city could lose Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Companys planned $65 billion investment that would create high wage jobs and the future of our economy. CHIPS Act investment coming to Utah Earlier in August, Texas Instruments entered an agreement with the Commerce Department to direct $1.6 billion from the CHIPS Act to semiconductor manufacturing plants in Texas, as well as one under construction in Lehi, Utah. Were working as hard as we can, Raimondo told Reuters last week. At the time of the announcement, outgoing Sen. Mitt Romney, who voted in favor of the CHIPS Act, said this move would cement Utahs vital role in our national defense and economic success, and help the U.S. break away from its dependence on China for chips. Gov. Spencer Cox said he was thrilled about the news that would not only expand Silicon Slopes offerings but also create jobs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Utahs Sen. Mike Lee voted no on the CHIPS Act, as did Sen.-elect John Curtis in the U.S. House. As Bloomberg reported, the White House is rushing to wrap up deals with chipmakers like Intel, Samsung and Micron Technology. But Geoffrey Gertz, a senior fellow in the energy, economics and security program at the Center for a New American Security, doesnt think Republicans are going to repeal this funding. He said he expects to see continued announcements from the Commerce Department in the upcoming weeks. Im skeptical that either the Trump administration or congressional Republicans will make a concerted effort to roll back or alter CHIPS Act funding in any serious way, Gertz said. Theres generally broad, bipartisan support for investing in American manufacturing capabilities in this critical sector, and politically theres a reason why you rarely see governments withdraw already approved subsidies. Nov. 22 (UPI) -- U.S. President Joe Biden has denounced the International Criminal Court's decision to issue arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister,Yoav Gallant, while several other world leaders have stated they will abide by the order. The ICC on Thursday issued war crimes arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Gallant and the slain Hamas commander Mohammed Deif in connection with the ongoing war between Hamas and Israel. The court accused the Israeli leaders of directing military attacks against civilians in Gaza, using starvation as a weapon of war and committing crimes against humanity. Deif, also known as Mohammed Dia Ibrahim al-Masri, was accused of committing war crimes in Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack, which killed 1,200 Israelis and ignited the current war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Israeli military announced it early August that it had been Deif "eliminated." Without a police force, the ICC relies member states to make arrests. Biden, who has been a staunch supporter of Israel's right to self-defense defense, lambasted the court Thursday night, accusing it placing equal responsibility for the war on Israel and Iran-backed Hamas, which the United States and other countries have designated a terrorist organization. "The ICC issuance of arrest warrants against Israeli leaders is outrageous. Let me be clear once again: whatever the ICC might imply, there is no equivalence -- none -- between Israel and Hamas," he said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We will always stand with Israel against threats to its security." Netanyahu also condemned the ICC in a video statement, calling court's decision to issue arrest warrants from him and Gallant "anti-Semitic." "The truth is simple: No war is more just than the war that Israel has been waging in Gaza after Hamas attacked us unprovoked, launching the worst massacre against the Jewish people since the Holocaust," he said. He also denounced the court for failing to act against Hamas operatives accused of committing war atrocities, such as rape and infanticide, while the Iran-proxy militia continues to hold 101 of the 251 Israelis it kidnapped at the start of the war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "No biased anti-Israel decision in The Hague will prevent the State of Israel from defending its citizens," he said, as he vowed that the country will continue its war against Hamas, Hezbollah and other Iranian proxies. "Israel does not, Israel will not recognize the validity of this decision." Since Hamas' Oct. 7 attack, Israel has been waging war against the militia as well as other Iranian proxies, including Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis of Yemen. Although Israel initially had broad support from the international community following the Hamas strike, the growing Palestinian civilian death toll in Gaza and Israel's methods of fighting the war have drawn increasing criticism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the Hamas-controlled Gaza health ministry, more than 44,000 people, many women and children, have been killed in the war. The health ministry in Lebanon, where Israel has been fighting Hezbollah, reported nearly 3,600 deaths, most occurring since late September. Reactions to the ICC announcement have been mixed. While some democracies responding coolly, others championed it as a meaningful step toward justice. European Union policy chief Josep Borrell issued a brief statement on X simply stating he acknowledged it and that all decisions from the court are binding by all members, including EU states. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters that Canada will "abide by all regulations and rulings of the international courts." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris, on the other hand, said the arrest warrants were "an extremely significant stop." "Ireland respects the role of the International Criminal Court. Anyone in a position to assist it in carrying out its vital work must now do so with urgency," he said in a statement. According to its website, Netanyahu and Gallant are among 55 defendants that the ICC has issued arrest warrants for. BIG COUNTRY, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) With the persistent rain we have seen this past month, our drought monitor continues to show improvement. Our monthly and yearly precipitation totals are also far above average. What impacts were felt in the Big Country during the 2024 hurricane season? Last week, our U.S. Drought Monitor consisted of both Moderate and Dry risks. To give a refresher, two weeks ago, both King and Knox County were under an Extreme risk. This weeks update showed major improvement. Most of our counties are right where we need to be. Unfortunately, Mills County is still at a moderate risk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Understanding thunder & lightning in the Big Country. While the drought monitor is an amazing tool to help us understand our precipitation history and current climate conditions, sometimes numbers and raw data serve better. As stated earlier, our precipitation totals are far above average. For the month of November, our normal precipitation total (average) is 1.40, while our current total is 5.19. For the year 2024, our normal precipitation total (average) is 25.24, while our current total is 27.07. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weathering the Storm: Tips to manage storm anxiety Although our drought conditions have improved, it is important to mention that some of our counties are still under a Burn Ban. Be sure to follow the rules and regulations when outdoor burning must take place. The Texas Burn Ban regulations can be found here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has stated that Russia needs migrants as a workforce and for the dynamic development of the country due to its strained demographic situation. Source: Kremlin-aligned news agencies RIA Novosti and RBC (Russian Business Consulting) Quote from Peskov: "Migrants are essential. The reality is that our demographic situation is highly strained. While we live in the largest country in the world, our population is relatively small. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats why Russia welcomes migrants. To ensure dynamic development and achieve our growth plans, we clearly need a strong workforce, and we fully support their arrival." Details: RBC reports that a similar view was expressed by Igor Artamonov, the governor of the Lipetsk oblast. Quote: "There are legal migrants, and there are illegal ones. Frankly, we dont particularly like either, but there is a practical necessity someone has to weld the pipes. Without that, there will be no production," the official explained, outlining why Russia relies on migrants. Artamonov emphasised that migrants must speak Russian, follow the required rules, preferably remain "without families here," and work in industries where they are needed, not where they prefer. Background: After the terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall in March 2024, which was attributed to individuals from Tajikistan, Russian authorities introduced a series of stricter measures targeting migrants. The State Duma increased penalties for illegal migration and imposed tighter restrictions on obtaining Russian residency permits through marriage. A new deportation regime was also enacted, allowing law enforcement to conduct raids on migrants before deporting them. These measures have led to a worsening labour shortage in Russias job market. Support UP or become our patron! TUNIS, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- Tunisian security units on Friday arrested 321 "dangerous" individuals who were allegedly involved in drug trafficking and various criminal offenses, the Tunisian Interior Ministry said in a statement posted on its Facebook page. "The operations occurred at dawn this Friday in the northern province of Bizerte and Beja province in northwestern Tunisia," it said. According to the statement, 20 plaques, 27 pieces of Cannabis-type drugs, 15,100 psychotropic tablets, five hunting rifles, a pistol, and 596 hunting cartridges were seized during the raids. The ministry stressed that the operations are part of a national security campaign involving various security units. HONOLULU (KHON2) Honolulu City Council Bill 46 aims at freeing up vacant homes by taxing its owners up to 3 percent of its property tax assessed value. Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You The council voted on moving the bill to full council for approval. The bill was introduced back in August by Council Chair Tommy Waters following a UHERO study which found Honolulu had the highest rent in the nation, and the median house price was $1.1 million. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That means you have to earn $254,000 to afford your mortgage, Waters said before the budget hearing on Thursday. He said another study by DBEDT stated Honolulu needed to build 25,000 units to find a balance. We cant build all those units all at once, we have to be creative and find a way to get people into housing, Waters explained. We can build, but we also have to fill, which means filling these empty homes. The census says statewide there are approximately 34,000 empty units, on Oahu we believe there are 18,000 units even if we fill half of those that makes a huge dent in the backlog. We were shocked by what wed seen on our hike: Hawaii hikes Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Waters said approximately 18,000 property tax bills are sent off-island to people who dont live here. The taxed revenue would go towards affordable housing, but the citys Director of Budget and Fiscal Services asked council to slow down and wait for a half-million dollar study to be completed to see how much of an impact the law would have. HPD bike officer in serious condition after collision The number of exemptions that have been added to the bill that I believe could extremely water down the amount of homes that are empty based on what we can actually validate and what can actually be supported, explained Andy Kawano, budget director. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are nearly 20 exemptions on the current bill, including deployed military, homeowners exemption, legal vacation rentals, death in the family, caregivers, and long-term renters to name a few. The study being conducted is almost finished with Phase 1, according to Kawano, which would provide the city with feedback from other cities who have implemented similar laws, like Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. This movie genre is Hawaiis favorite: New study Kawano also noted there might not be enough staff available to enforce the new law, which would go into effect in 2027. He added that the goal of the study was to come up with estimates of revenue and estimated counts of empty homes and to come up with an operating budget for the administrative unit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Waters said the city already paid for a study to look into an empty home tax back in 2021. We hired UCLA to do this, and the recommendation of this study, we recommend that the city and county of Honolulu implement a robust and enforceable empty homes tax,' Waters told Kawano. Weve already paid for this. Sen. Schatz says partisanship is roadblock to Maui funding Waters said the time to implement the law is now. This study was done in 2021, three years ago, you know as well as I do that I introduced this very same measure three times already, he added. I think the time is now, we cant wait, we cant build our way out of this [housing crisis], this one is just one tool, its not going to be the silver bullet, but its a tool that we can use to fill those empty homes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said Hawaii also has one of the lowest property tax rates in the country which entices wealthy individuals to temporarily own here before selling. According to the City of Vancouver, the empty homes tax is reducing the number of vacant residential properties in Vancouver. The law was implemented back in 2017, and from then to 2022, the number of vacant properties decreased by 54 percent based on data collected by the City under the Empty Homes Tax program. The website also states data had highlighted positive impact of the EHT on Vancouvers rental housing supply. The Canada Mortgage Housing Corporation also observed a significant shift toward long-term rental in Vancouver from 2018 to 2019 following the introduction of EHT and the Speculation and Vacancy Tax, with an increase of 5,920 condominium units in the long-term rental stock, the website reads. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The City of Vancouvers report states the overall number of condominium units in the rental pool reported by CMHC continues to increase due to both increasing supply and a shift toward long term rental, with the EHT continuing to encourage the shift toward long-term rental and maintaining the use of existing units as long-term rental. The City of Vancouver states since the tax launched in 2017, more than $142 million of net revenue has been allocated to support affordable housing initiatives. For Honolulu, the city would have homeowners prove property status each year. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Evidence would include: proof of principal place of residence of the owner, tenant, or occupant for six months in the tax year, including vehicle registration, drivers license, utilities records; tenancy agreements; proof of receiving medical care; proof of sale or transfer of ownership for the property; death certificate; court orders; proof of deployment; and building permit applications. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Bill OReilly, the former Fox News host, has argued that President-elect Donald Trumps cabinet picks will not have any sway over policy in his next administration. The 75-year-old appeared on NewsNation on Wednesday night, saying that Trump is likely to concentrate power at the White House and simply have his department leaders follow his directives. The commentator compared Trumps incoming administration to that of Franklin D. Roosevelt, saying that the president-elect will put in place a structure where cabinet members will simply follow his lead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The people that do department heads are going to say yes, sir or theyre not going to be okay, OReilly told host Chris Cuomo. OReilly went on to describe Trump senior advisor Stephen Miller, who has been assigned the role of deputy chief of staff for policy, as the most powerful man in the country, besides Donald Trump. Very few people understand how Donald Trump is going to run the country. The second time around is going to be totally different than the first time, and this is why there is so much chaos and confusion, OReilly argued. So the first time he got elected in 16, Trump didnt know what he was doing, and he admitted that, and he took advice from a lot of people, and he appointed standard people like Jeff Sessions to run justice disaster, the oil guy to be Secretary of State. It was ridiculous. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, the former CEO of ExxonMobil, lasted just over a year in the role between 2017 and 2018. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has made several surprising and controversial picks for his cabinet, with one, former attorney general nominee Matt Gaetz, being forced to end his bid for the post on Thursday amid allegations of sexual misconduct and illicit drug use, claims Gaetz has forcefully rejected. Trump nominated former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi in his place. Bill O'Reilly attends the Hollywood Reporter's 2016 35 Most Powerful People in Media at Four Seasons Restaurant on April 6, 2016 in New York City. He has suggested that Trumps cabinet picks will have very little input on policy (Getty Images) Secretary of Defense nominee and Fox News host Pete Hegseth is also facing accusations of sexual misconduct, namely that he assaulted a woman in 2017, an allegation that he also denies. Meanwhile, HHS Secretary nominee Robert F Kennedy Jr, an anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist, is facing criticism from the right for his pro-choice views and from others for his eclectic, and often unfounded, views on health. The nominee to be the director of national intelligence, former Democratic Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, has intelligence analysts worried because of her views on the war in Ukraine and comments seen as her backing Russia, as well as for conducting secret meetings with Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement OReilly noted that in previous Republican administrations, such as those led by Presidents George W Bush and Ronald Reagan, members of the cabinet had significant input on policy matters. But the former Fox News host suggested that the Biden administration also controlled most matters centrally from the White House. This time around Trump believes that he has figured it out, OReilly said. So all he wants is what Franklin Delano Roosevelt did. He wants a cabinet that will do everything he says. He does not need policy coming out of those people. All he needs is for them to pick up the phone when Stephen Miller, the deputy chief of policy, calls and says, The president, would like you to do this. And they say, Yes, sir, he added The policy ... all of it is going to be made in the White House. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Community Change) The ways in which Ohio supports its children and addresses infant and maternal mortality may change if a group of legislators has their way, though the changes may not start until next year. Committees in both the Ohio House and the Ohio Senate heard testimony this week on two bills seeking to help support families in everything from pregnancy to early childhood education. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A bipartisan bill was introduced in the Senate Finance Committee called the Strong Foundations Act, which seeks to leverage community resources to improve infant and maternal mortality rates in a state that has continually ranked among the poorest performing states in the country. More moms and babies are dying from causes related to pregnancy and childbirth in Ohio than many states, said state Rep. Andrea White, R-Kettering. House Bill 7 also looks to modernize Ohios participation in the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) nutrition assistance program, along with pushing more home visits, early intervention, and strategic investments that would bring about more engagement in early Head Start programs. White said she and co-sponsor state Rep. Latyna M. Humphrey, D-Columbus, are asking for not only the moral imperative but the business case for passing House Bill 7. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill would appropriate $34 million over two fiscal years to make an impact in pregnancy resources, child poverty, homelessness and even mental health, but the preventative steps the bill suggests would save the state more than it spends, according to White and Humphrey. The ripple effects of the issues that surround pregnancy and child development are as important as the rest of a childs life, the sponsors told committee members. In our most vulnerable moments, having at least stable housing will provide a solid foundation for motherhood, Humphrey said. Also, having stable housing will significantly reduce pre-term births which is proven to have direct impacts on the health of the mother and the infant. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Senate Finance Committee members on both sides of the aisle expressed support for the bill, but some indicated the implementation of it could happen with the states operating budget, set to be approved in the next General Assembly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I like what I see in here, said state Sen. Louis Blessing, III, R-Colerain Twp., adding that the $34 million the bill asks for is much less than what the state could gather from its outstanding tax expenditure lists. I think we can easily do this next budget cycle for sure, in particular if the General Assembly big if has the nerve to go after some of those tax expenditures, he said. Blessing also suggested the co-sponsors add a provision to the bill that would increase eligibility for the states Publicly Funded Child Care program to 200% of the federal poverty level. Of course we would support that, White responded. In fact, the reality is Ohio is scraping the bottom in how we reimburse and the percentage for starting child care coverage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State Sen. Paula Hicks-Hudson also complimented the bill, particularly the infant and maternal mortality supports that could help in her own Lucas County, which ranked as one of the highest counties in infant mortality in data from the Ohio Department of Health. But she, too, said she isnt expecting to see the bill go forward in the current GA, citing the amount of time it took for the committee to take up the measure. H.B. 7 was introduced in the Ohio House in Feb. 2023, passed that chamber in June of this year, and was referred to the Senate Finance Committee later that same month, just before the legislature went on a summer break that continued until after the general election. Another bill thats been sitting in the wings for more than a year saw light in the House Ways and Means Committee, though the fact that its sponsored only by Democrats may spell unlikely success in the GOP supermajority in both chambers. House Bill 290, called by sponsors the Thriving Families Tax Credits, hopes to expand upon the federal child care tax credit that was extended in the American Rescue Plan, creating a benefit of up to $1,000 per child age 0 to 5 in a household, and up to $500 per child age 6 to 17. According to sponsor state Rep. Lauren McNally, D-Youngstown, families earning less than $65,000 per year would qualify for the full benefit amount, and benefits would taper off for household incomes up to $85,000 per year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Thriving Families Tax Credit starts with a full benefit at $65,000 because these Ohioans have been paying more in state and local taxes as a result of all the tax loopholes and tax cuts Ohio has passed since 2005, McNally said. McNally said the bill was drafted in response to the top-of-mind issues of her neighbors, such as paying their bills, getting school supplies for their children, filling their gas tanks and being able to afford taking a sick day. Agonizing over everyday expenses is happening all over the state in what McNally called a cost-of-living crisis, and it isnt because Ohioans are slacking off. If youve ever spent time with someone from The (Mahoning) Valley, youd know better than to question our will power and work ethic, McNally told the committee. Because the bills were introduced this year, if it isnt approved by the end of the lame duck session in December, the measure would need to be reintroduced in the next General Assembly. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE DELHI, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH) A Binghamton man is facing charges following an investigation in Delaware County. The Delaware County Sheriffs Office announced the arrest of Latee Baker, 26. On July 21, Sheriffs Deputies received a harassment complaint from the Village of Delhi. Following an investigation into the complaint, Deputies requested a Criminal Summons from the Delhi Town Court. On November 20, Sheriffs Deputies assisted the Village of Delhi Police Department in the execution with several sealed indictment arrest warrants in the Town of Kortright. During the investigation, Deputies eventually located and arrested Baker for Harrassment in the Second Degree. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Baker was turned over the the Village of Delhi Police Department and remanded to the Delaware County Jail to await arraignment. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WIVT - News 34. As flu season nears, Europe is increasing surveillance for human cases of H5N1 influenza, also known as bird flu. As reported by the Telegraph, new guidelines from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) will be focused on ensuring the rapid detection of cases, such as updates to testing protocols and symptoms to look out for in potential cases. Weve updated our guidance to include milder symptoms in individuals exposed to birds or other animals, Angeliki Melidou, principal expert in respiratory viruses at the ECDC, told The Telegraph. The priority is to strengthen surveillance and ensure we monitor and follow up with exposed individuals. Health care workers in Europe will also be advised to ask people with flu-like symptoms about possible previous exposure to birds and other animals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We cannot exclude the possibility of H5N1 triggering a human pandemic, Melidou said. It has many opportunities to adapt as it expands its host range, so vigilance is crucial. The risk of humans contracting H5N1 influenza is still low for the general public in Europe. It's moderate for those who work with animals. This comes at a time when some bird flu infections are alarming scientists in the United States. This year alone, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have reported 53 cases in humans. Last week, news broke that five new cases of H5N1 flu were detected in California, as well as a case in a child that had no exposure to farm animals. The first human case in Oregon was also detected. Recent wastewater samples have detected the virus in several California cities. In Canada, a teenager was hospitalized with bird flu, which is unusual given that most human cases have been relatively mild. Preliminary sequencing shows a potential mutation that could make the virus more transmissible between humans. While the teen didnt have exposure to poultry, they did with pets which could have been where transmission occurred. KANNAPOLIS, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) A shooting suspect wanted out of Biscoe, North Carolina was arrested Friday morning in Kannapolis, law enforcement officials announced. Kannapolis PD conducted a traffic stop on 36-year-old Candor, NC resident Timothy Jones, who was in a stolen vehicle that had been connected to a previous shooting on November 18th in Biscoe, NC. Following his arrest Jones was served with warrants that had been previously issued by Biscoe PD for gun possession as a felon, assault, and assault with a deadly weapon. He is currently being held at the Cabarrus County Jail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nobody was injured in the shooting. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Theres snow on the ground and the slopes are open Friday night at Sugar Mountain Ski Resort. Its an early start this year, and Channel 9s Dave Faherty says thats welcome news for High Country businesses in desperate need of a rebound after Hurricane Helene. Sugar Mountain said they had so much cold weather over the last two nights that theyve been able to cover much of the mountainside. Just about every snow gun at the resort is on, allowing the resort to open Friday morning in Avery County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The owners here say the early opening will not only help them, but businesses far away from the slopes still recovering from Helene. Frequent the restaurants, the hotels, the gas stations and the grocery stores. The entire support system that keeps Avery County alive, said Kimberley Yochl with Sugar Mountain Ski Resort. CHECK IT OUT >> White gold: Whos skiing in North Carolina, and how much are they spending? A few miles away in Banner Elk, Les Broussard says Helene shut down his restaurant, the Banner Elk Tavern, during their busiest time of year. He had to temporarily lay off more than 100 workers as Banner Elk lost water and had damaged roads. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All of that has now been fixed, and hes been able to rehire. We refer to snow this time of year as pennies from Heaven, Broussard told Faherty. It helps us transition from the fall, which we lost October because of Helene, but we are back to normal, back online. Things are looking great. The North Carolina Ski Industry pumps $240 million into the western North Carolina economy each year. Visitors at Sugar Mountain are enjoying the winter blast and glad to be here. Not just for optimism and to give people stuff to do but it brings people up to all the other businesses. Its really the lifeblood over the winter, said Andrew Hart, who was visiting the resort. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement About six inches of snow has fallen in the area, enough for some folks to even make a snowman. You can see conditions at ski resorts across North Carolina by clicking this link. (VIDEO: Cold weather means NC ski resorts can finally open for the season) (Bloomberg) -- Senator Bob Casey has conceded to his Republican opponent, David McCormick, in a Pennsylvania race that was so close that it triggered a recount. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I just called Dave McCormick to congratulate him on his election to represent the people of Pennsylvania in the US Senate, Casey, 64, said in a video posted Thursday evening on X. He was first elected in 2006. McCormick, 59, was declared the winner by the Associated Press earlier this month until the state ordered the recount because the margin was less than 0.5%. Commonwealth Secretary Al Schmidt said that this was only the eighth time that the recount provision was triggered since 2004 when the state law was passed. One of those five recounts was the 2022 Republican primary, when McCormick, a former chief executive officer of hedge fund giant Bridgewater Associates, came up short against the physician and television personality Mehmet Oz, who ended up losing against John Fetterman. This time, McCormick giant rode a wave of enthusiasm for Donald Trump and billionaire contributions to his campaign to trounce Casey, a scion of a Democratic political dynasty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His father, also named Bob Casey, was the states governor. This week, Trump chose Oz to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The freshman senator led Connecticut-based Bridgewater for more than a decade following his stint in the George W. Bush administration and combat duty in the first Gulf War. Casey and his allies painted McCormick as someone who lacked meaningful Pennsylvania connections, having bought a home in Pittsburgh only in 2021. McCormicks team portrayed Casey as out of touch, assailing him for his support of the Biden administrations economic policies. (Updates with Caseys father, Oz appointment, in sixth paragraph. An earlier version corrected that Oz was defeated by John Fetterman, not Casey) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Sen. Bob Casey hears testimony at the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions subcommittee on Children and Families July 9, 2024 (U.S. Senate photo) U.S. Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) on Thursday dropped his bid for reelection, conceding to GOP challenger Dave McCormick, putting an end to one of the most hotly contested and expensive Senate races of the cycle, and an end to the Scranton natives 18-year career in the Senate. I just called Dave McCormick to congratulate him on his election to represent Pennsylvania in the United States Senate. As the first count of ballots is completed, Pennsylvanians can move forward with the knowledge that their voices were heard, whether their vote was the first to be counted or the last, Casey said in a statement Thursday afternoon. This race was one of the closest in our Commonwealths history, decided by less than a quarter of a point. I am grateful to the thousands of people who worked to make sure every eligible vote cast could be counted, including election officials in all 67 counties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Associated Press called the race for McCormick on Nov. 7, but Casey had refused to concede, citing the large number of ballots still to be counted at the time. Since the vote margin between McCormick and Casey was less than 0.5%, it triggered an automatic statewide recount under Pennsylvania law. Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt estimated the cost of the recount would be more than $1 million. As county tallies began to trickle in, however, it did not appear Casey would pick up enough votes to clear McCormicks lead. Casey still trailed McCormick by 16,349 votes on Thursday evening, according to the Pennsylvania Department of State. A DOS spokesperson said late Thursday that the department was reviewing applicable law and would provide an update Friday on what happens next with the recount. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At least 20 lawsuits by the candidates and their parties were filed in 13 counties challenging election boards decision on handling mail-in and provisional ballots with irregularities. Most were still pending when Casey conceded Thursday evening. Although the Casey campaign claimed a victory when a Philadelphia judge rejected an effort by McCormick to exclude 966 provisional ballots with missing signatures from poll workers, the court also rejected a bid by Democrats to count more than 2,000 ballots missing a voters signature or a secrecy envelope. The six cases that had been decided resulted in a net loss of about 60 votes for Casey. McCormick thanked Casey for his years of service to the commonwealth in a statement Thursday. Senator Bob Casey dedicated his career to bettering our commonwealth. Dina and I want to extend our sincere gratitude to Senator Casey, Terese, and their family for their decades of service, hard work, and personal sacrifice, McCormick said. I am so honored to represent every single citizen in Pennsylvania in the United States Senate and will fight for you every day. Thank you. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his statement Thursday, Casey thanked those who had voted for him and his campaign staff. When a Pennsylvanian takes the time to cast a legal vote, often waiting in long lines and taking time away from their work and family, they deserve to know that their vote will count. Thats democracy, Casey said. Im proud of the work weve done since Election Day to enfranchise voters across the state no matter whom they voted for and to ensure that the democratic process could unfold. In just a few days, we built an organization of 350 staff across the state, joined by more than a thousand volunteers, who helped more than 6,000 Pennsylvania voters make a plan to fix small issues with their ballot so their vote would be counted. This election cycle was the second time McCormick has been involved in a recount while seeking a U.S. Senate seat in Pennsylvania. He lost the GOP primary in 2022 to Mehmet Oz by less than 1,000 votes. Oz had received Donald Trumps endorsement, but ultimately lost to John Fetterman in the general election. This time around, however, McCormick was better prepared. Before he had even officially announced his candidacy, he had the support of Americans for Prosperity (AFP) Action, the super PAC funded largely by billionaire Charles Koch. And unlike 2022, McCormick was the only Republican on the primary ballot in April. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McCormick waited until after former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley dropped out of the race to endorse Trump. Haley, who never campaigned for Trump in 2024, hit the stump for McCormick in Pennsylvania in the final week before the election. Trump formally endorsed McCormicks campaign during a rally in the Lehigh Valley on April 13 Caseys birthday calling the GOP challenger a good man who wants to run a good ship. Hes a smart guy who was a very successful guy. After he endorsed Trump, McCormick became a ubiquitous presence at the President-elects campaign visits to Pennsylvania. That included the July 13 rally in Butler, where Trump was injured in an assassination attempt. McCormicks main line of attack against Casey was that the incumbent was weak and almost always voted in favor of President Joe Bidens agenda. After Bidens disastrous debate performance against Trump in June, some Democrats publicly called on the president to not seek a second term, but Casey did not join those calls. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Casey and Biden, both natives of Scranton, had a close relationship, with the president frequently referring to him as Bobby, including at his State of the Union address in March. Biden was spotlighting Caseys push against greedflation, or corporate price gouging, which was a focus during the early days of Caseys campaign. Heading into the general election, Casey and McCormick debated twice, arguing over abortion, immigration and the economy. Casey and Pennsylvania Democrats called into question McCormicks residency and whether he actually lived in Pennsylvania, and criticized McCormicks previous role as CEO of hedge fund Bridgewater Associates. U.S. Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) greets John Fetterman before a speech by President Joe Biden at the United Steelworkers of America Local Union 2227 on September 5, 2022 in Pittsburgh. (Photo by Jeff Swensen/Getty Images) Casey is the longest-serving Democratic senator in Pennsylvania history. He was first elected to the Senate in 2006 when he defeated Republican incumbent Rick Santorum. The son of former Pennsylvania governor Robert P. Casey, Sr., Casey became the dean of the Pennsylvania Congressional delegation, after serving as Pennsylvania Auditor General from 1997 to 2005 and Treasurer from 2005 to 2007. He launched an unsuccessful bid for governor in 2002, but lost to then-Philadelphia Mayor Ed Rendell in the primary. Casey serves as chairperson of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, where he championed issues like Social Security and drew attention to scams that targeted senior citizens. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With Caseys loss, Republicans have now swept all of Pennsylvanias statewide offices in 2024. It marks the first time in the 21st century that the GOP has won the presidency and all of Pennsylvanias row offices in the same year. Pennsylvania junior Sen. John Fetterman praised Casey in a statement Thursday, saying it was a supreme honor to have Bob Casey as a colleague, friend, and mentor. When Fetterman was hospitalized for depression shortly after he took office in 2023, he credited Casey and his staff for offering guidance and support. Unassuming while delivering for PA for nearly two decades, he fought for working Pennsylvanians and unions, rural communities, seniors and people with disabilitiesall of us, Fetterman added. Bob Casey was, is, and always will be Pennsylvanias best senator. Peter Hall of the Capital-Star staff contributed SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Azerbaijan has created favorable conditions for lasting peace, stability and reliable security in the South Caucasus, said President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev in an address to the participants of the 12th General Assembly of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP), Azernews reports. "By fully restoring its territorial integrity and sovereignty as a result of the 44-day Patriotic War in 2020 and the one-day anti-terrorist operation in 2023, Azerbaijan has created favorable conditions for lasting peace, stability and reliable security in the South Caucasus and very significant opportunities for establishing new cooperation relations in our geography and beyond. Azerbaijan promotes constructive peace agenda and puts forward important proposals and initiatives in this area. With its principled position, Azerbaijan performs efficiently based on its national interests and norms and principles of international law. It is known that armed conflicts result in human casualties, destruction of social infrastructure and in many cases economic decline and serious security challenges, as well as cause serious damage to the environment with severe consequences lasting for decades," President Ilham Aliyev said. BEIRUT, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- Three paramedics were killed and three others injured on Friday in an Israeli airstrike targeting their vehicle at the Deir Qanoun Ras El Ain junction in southern Lebanon, the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health reported. The ministry's Public Health Emergency Operations Center issued a statement announcing that the Israeli army continues to target paramedics and ambulance facilities in the south. "For the second time today in a row, the Israeli occupation targeted a team affiliated with the Islamic Health Authority Association - Civil Defense, which led to the martyrdom of three paramedics and the injury of three others," it said. Since Sept. 23, the Israeli army has intensified its air attack on Lebanon in an escalation of conflict with Hezbollah. In early October, Israel initiated a ground operation across its northern border into Lebanon. The body of 6-year-old Joshua Al-Lateef Jr. was found around 9 p.m. Thursday in a pond near the apartment building where he lived, according to West Chester officials, ending a more than daylong search that involved hundreds of first responders and volunteers. The child was reported missing after being last seen around 5:30 p.m. Wednesday near his home on Wyndtree Drive. He was on the autism spectrum and nonverbal, police said, and he reportedly liked parks and water. Joshua Al-Lateef Jr., 6, has been missing from his home on Wyndtree Drive in West Chester Township since 5:30 p.m. Wednesday. Divers combed through five lakes Thursday morning at the Lakefront apartment complex where Joshua Al-Lateef Jr. went missing, said West Chester Township Fire Chief Rick Prinz. Divers didn't find any articles of clothing or other items that pointed to where Joshua had gone. The property has a total of eight lakes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials said the lakes are challenging to search because of the murky, muddy bottoms and the water is dark. "This was not the outcome any of us wanted, but the work of the volunteers was not in vain," said township spokesperson Barb Wilson. Groups of volunteers, bundled in coats and hats, searched on foot in the snow on Thursday. Roughly 300 volunteers helped alongside 400 first responders. Prinz thanked the community for their support. West Chester Police Chief Brian Rebholz said the investigation will continue Friday to "tie up loose ends." A diver searches a pond at Lakefront at West Chester on Thursday, Nov. 21. Lakefront is an apartment complex from where 6-year-old Joshua Al-Lateef Jr. went missing on Wednesday. Joshua's older brother reported him missing in a 911 call, saying Joshua had been dropped off by a school bus and was supposed to be watched by his older sister. Joshua's brother said the child didn't have a history of wandering away from home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Multiple government and nonprofit agencies were also assisting in the search, including Texas EquuSearch, Cincinnati K-9 Search and Rescue, Buckeye Search and Rescue, Butler County Technical Rescue, Warren County Technical Rescue and the Ohio State Highway Patrol. Joshua Al-Lateef Jr., 6, went missing in West Chester Township on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. This story was updated to add a video. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Body of missing West Chester 6-year-old found The FAA is reviewing an issue with the Boeing 737 Max's engine. Boeing may need to come up with a permanent solution, The Seattle Times reported. That may further delay the certification of the Max 7 and Max 10, which are years behind schedule. Boeing could face further delays to new jets as regulators examine an engine issue. It comes after two incidents on Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 Max jets last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In March 2023, smoke poured into the cabin after a bird hit an engine shortly after takeoff from Cuba. Smoke also filled the cockpit in a December 2023 birdstrike incident. The pilots safely made emergency landings in both cases. Boeing consequently issued a bulletin in February informing airlines about potential impacts and appropriate operating procedures. On Thursday, the Federal Aviation Administration announced it was convening a review board to address an issue with the CFM LEAP-1B engine that powers the Boeing 737 Max. It added that it wasn't an "immediate flight-safety issue" but would develop a path forward and collaborate with Boeing, engine maker CFM, and European regulators. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The FAA may require 737 Max pilots to change takeoff procedures, The Seattle Times reported. It added that this would involve turning off the airflow from the engines into the plane's interior to prevent it from filling with smoke in the case of a birdstrike. Such a change would be temporary until Boeing devises a permanent solution, the report said. Coming up with that could further delay the certification of its 737 Max 7 and 737 Max 10 jets the shortest and longest versions of Boeing's newest narrow-body plane. A delay would hamper Boeing's turnaround as it looks to recover from a difficult year. 17,000 employees are set to be laid off, while workers are currently returning to factories after a seven-week strike. A 737 Max 10 at last year's Paris Air Show. Pete Syme/Business Insider Boeing initially thought the Max 10 and Max 7 would be certified by the end of 2022, but the timeline was pushed back to 2024 and then to next year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It came up against stricter rules in the wake of the 737 Max crashes in 2018 and 2019, when a combined 346 people died. Boeing also withdrew a safety-exemption request related to the Max 7's engine de-icing system earlier this year, as it faced more scrutiny after January's Alaska Airlines blowout. The delays have irritated airlines, including Boeing's biggest customer, United Airlines. CEO Scott Kirby said United would build an alternative plan without the Max 10 due to the delays and frustrations following the blowout. "We are working with the authorities that are investigating these incidents," Boeing said in a statement shared with Business Insider. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We continue to follow regulatory processes to properly address potential issues and ensure the continued safety of the global fleet." Southwest said in a statement to BI that it's in close contact with Boeing, the FAA, and CFM. It added that it notified flight crews about the effects of birdstrikes after the 2023 incidents, and "reiterated the importance of following established Safety procedures that are part of the company's recurrent Pilot training." "The airline continues to address this issue through its robust Safety Management System while working with the manufacturers and Safety regulators to identify a permanent solution," the statement continued. "Load Reduction Devices have been widely used across the industry for more than 20 years and operated as designed," a CFM spokesperson said. "We are collaborating with FAA, EASA and Boeing to determine if there are any learnings from recent events." Read the original article on Business Insider PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY, Va. (WFXR) Pittsylvania County warns residents of a boil water notice along the North and South area of Route 58 West on Martinsville Highway. Effective Thursday, November, 21, The Virginia Department of Health, Pittsylvania County Health Department, and Pittsylvania County Public Works advise residents to boil tap water before use or drinking to prevent health risks. The notice is for the following areas: Plantation Drive Martin Drive Whispering Pines Inman Road Hyler Circle Rockwood Drive Willow Briar Lane Grays Park Road Horseshoe Road Gemstone Lane Windsor Place Windsor Trail Windsor Court Brosville Industrial Park Mangrums Road Deercrest Lane Breezewood Drive Pine Lake Road Berry Hill Road Foxwood Place Pineview Road Blue Ridge View Drive Ridgeway Drive Westridge Drive Beckham Court Beckham Lane Rivertree Drive Bowe Street Pine Oak Lane Meadowview Drive Meadowbrook Circle Martinsville Highway West Carter Drive (Photo Credit: Pittsylvania County) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Residents will be updated when the boil water notice is lifted once water samples are tested and cleared. For more information, contact Chris Adcock, Public Works Director for Pittsylvania County at 434-432-7136. Check back with WFXR News for more updates in the future. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFXRtv. Border Patrol agents intercept immigrants near Eagle Pass, Texas, in August 2019. Photo by Jaime Rodriguez | U.S. Customs and Border Protection WASHINGTON President-elect Donald Trump has promised to hire 10,000 more Border Patrol agents as part of a crackdown on immigration. That may be a tall order. Days after taking office in 2017, Trump ordered the Border Patrol to add 5,000 agents. By the time he left four years later, the Border Patrol had actually shrunk by 1,084 agents, records from Customs and Border Protection show. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Current staffing is nearly 3,000 below the target set last year by Congress. Despite promises to recruit more Border Patrol agents, the reality is that over the last several administrations, the Border Patrol has struggled to recruit, train and maintain agents, said Colleen Putzel-Kavanaugh, associate policy analyst at the nonpartisan Migration Policy Institute. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Attrition has outpaced hiring since 2021, according to a September report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) documenting the CBPs chronic staffing shortages. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Long hours, harsh working conditions and relatively low pay have kept turnover high for decades at the Border Patrol, which was created a century ago. A 2023 audit found that 88% of border stations were understaffed. Advertising and other recruitment efforts under both Trump and President Joe Biden yielded disappointing results. Under Trump, CBP inked a $297 million contract with a company that promised to recruit, vet and hire 5,000 Border Patrol agents plus 2,500 officers for related agencies. The administration scrapped the deal three years into Trumps term. By then, the company had delivered just 36 new hires at a cost topping $60 million. Standards are stringent. Just 1.8% of Border Patrol applicants complete training and go on active duty, the GAO says about the same as for the Secret Service. The FBI rate is just over 3%, by comparison. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The screening process includes polygraph exams and drug screenings. Border Patrol staffing peaked at 21,444 agents in 2011, agency records show. As of June, staffing was just over 19,000, according to the GAO well short of the 22,000 target set last year by Congress. Newly hired agents with no previous law enforcement experience can earn $48,809 to $87,838, according to federal job postings. Former police officers and military police can earn more. Since January, the Border Patrol has offered $20,000 bonuses for new hires who complete training and three years of service, plus $10,000 if they agree to serve in a remote location. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the campaign, Trump promised a $10,000 signing bonus and 10% raise for Border Patrol agents. He and his advisers havent clarified whether the bonus would be on top of existing incentives. We have a tremendous shortage because they havent been treated right, Trump said at an Oct. 13 campaign rally in Prescott Valley. The shortages didnt start when Biden took over nearly four years ago. By then, there were 19,740 agents, 88 fewer than when Trump had been sworn in. In the second half of his first term, the Border Patrol hired more than 3,500 agents but lost more than 3,100 to attrition, according to the GAO. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That tracks with projections issued early in Trumps tenure by his first CBP commissioner, Kevin McAleenan that the Border Patrol would have to hire more than 26,000 new agents to expand by 5,000, due to turnover. A 2017 DHS inspector general report cited rising rates of suicide among agents and struggles with employee morale, among other factors that prevented the department from filling all authorized slots. CBP reported more than 2.1 million encounters along the Southwest border in the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30. The monthly tally set a record last December but has fallen sharply since then. In some sectors, Border Patrol officials say the influx required diverting up to 60% of agents away from border security missions to care for migrant families and children; provide transport to processing centers, shelters and hospitals; and handle paperwork. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Presidents Biden, Trump and Barack Obama each tried and failed to increase the number of Border Patrol agents. Under Obama, the number dropped from 20,119 agents to 19,437. Trump has vowed to make it happen in his second term. President Trump has promised to make sure border agents and law enforcement have the resources they need to keep our border secure and our communities safe, Karoline Leavitt, Trumps pick for White House press secretary, told Cronkite News by email. He will deliver. The president-elects policies require significantly more personnel. The mass deportations he has promised would target over 11 million undocumented immigrants, a daunting task for 6,000 Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents assigned to removals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most interior enforcement is performed by ICE, while Border Patrol primarily guards land borders. Immigration experts said signing bonuses wont be enough to fill the empty slots. Some also criticize Trumps emphasis on enforcement. The focus on more Border Patrol agents is a very narrow, restrictive frame and understanding of the solutions, said Allan Colbern, an assistant professor and immigration expert at Arizona State Universitys School of Social and Behavioral Sciences. A better approach, he said, would be comprehensive immigration reform that includes hiring more immigration lawyers and judges to reduce the backlogs of cases that force authorities to release asylum-seekers into the U.S. pending a hearing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also blamed the emotional toll of a job focused on deterring access to the American dream by people desperate enough to try. If we had a welcoming system for Border Patrol to facilitate humanitarian assistance, to help people through the legal system to seek asylum, he said, the job would be much more meaningful. Democrats generally share that view, while Republicans tend to emphasize the enforcement side. Earlier this year at Trumps urging, Senate Republicans quashed a bipartisan bill that would have added 1,500 Border Patrol agents. The bill added $20 billion to expand staffing. It also tightened asylum rules. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, senior fellow and the American Immigration Council, which opposes mass deportation, agreed that hiring personnel needed to speed processing would reduce the need for more enforcement. Simply having more agents will not solve the so-called border crisis, he said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) The Columbus Division of Police has identified two of its officers who shot a 16-year-old suspect Wednesday, and both have previously been involved in deadly encounters. On Thursday, CPD named Officer Brian Carter and SWAT team member Matthew Liford as the pair who fired their weapons while pursuing a teenage murder suspect. Investigators were searching for the 16-year-old, who was accused of killing 39-year-old Alejandro Lopez-Lechuga while trying to break into the victims car. Lopez-Lechuga had confronted the teen around midnight at the Hyde Park Townhomes before being shot. Hours later, Columbus police stopped the teen in a car on Cooper Colony Drive. Sgt. Joe Albert said when the 16-year-old got out of the vehicle with a rifle and tried to run away, it led to Carter and Liford opening fire. Emergency crews took the teen to a hospital with life-threatening injuries, but he was still alive as of Thursday evening. Columbus police said he had been charged with murder for Lopez-Lechugas death, with additional counts possible. As part of standard procedure with police shootings, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation is handling a review of both officers conduct. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unsolved Ohio: Columbus woman missing for nearly seven years Liford has worked for CPD for 26 years, and was previously a burglary detective before being assigned to the citys SWAT unit. Ohio BCI investigated him and two other officers after they shot and killed 46-year-old Bret Andrews in February 2023. Accused of raping a minor under 13 years old, Andrews came to Grove City from Athens to evade an outstanding arrest warrant, according to an affidavit. Trying to serve the warrant, Liford and two other SWAT officers used their cruisers to surround Andrews car in a Home Deport parking lot. Liford was the last officer to use his gun firing three shots in bodycam video after the group said they saw Andrews reaching. Andrews was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital within the hour. Investigators found a firearm in Andrews car, and a Franklin County grand jury later declined to charge Liford or the other two officers for the shooting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Carters history in 33 years with CPD did not include shooting a person, but a dog instead. During a 2018 training exercise with his K9 partner Benzi, the dog would not listen to Carters commands and attacked him. The officer suffered serious bites to his arms before he ultimately shot Benzi. It was the first time CPD said one of its officer had ever shot a K9 partner, and Benzi was euthanized by a veterinarian as a result. Carter had to undergo surgery for his injuries from the attack. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage) The prosecution and defense closed on day four of The State of Texas v. Ryan Joaquin Renfroe following hours of additional testimony and analysis of Facebook conversations held by those involved in the shooting incident that resulted in the death of Jakob Jones. The trial is scheduled to reconvene in the morning of Nov. 22 at the Tom Green County Courthouse. According to court records filed within Tom Green County, should Renfroe be found guilty, the jury will assess his punishment. The closings come after two law enforcement members were called to testify during the courts proceedings on Nov. 21: San Angelo Police Department crime scene investigator Kenneth Kimble and SAPD detective Thomas Gibson. Photos, physical evidence presented Kimble testified that he was dispatched to an alley directly next to Fat Boss Pub on Jan. 1 to aid in the investigation of a shooting. He stated that he met with detectives upon arriving at the alley and began to take photographs of the scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kimble said that multiple items were taken from the scene as evidence, including a 9mm handgun found in Renfroes vehicle, spent bullet casings, a broken glasses lens, a broken pair of glasses, a hat and a vape pen. Several photos were then displayed for the jury to see. Among these images were photos of a broken glasses lens, a white vape pen near Jones right hand and evidence markers denoting the location of bullet casings and the gun found in Renfroes vehicle. Afterward, physical evidence was presented to the jury. Several exhibits were tied to the gun found in Renfroes truck, such as the gun itself, the guns magazine, nine bullets that were in the magazine and a gun holster. Other items such as clothing were also displayed. Facebook conversations revealed Following Kimbles testimony, Gibson was called to the witness stand. Gibson, a detective who helped conduct an interview with Renfroe after the shooting incident occurred and had been given permission by Renfroe to view messages on his phone, read aloud several Facebook message conversations that Renfroe had with Jase Wilson, Cody Chambers and Jones. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many of the messages sent in the various conversations were sent in a period spanning from Dec. 30 to Jan. 1. Several of the messages sent to and from Renfroe contained expletives, insults and suggestions for the recipient to meet the sender at specified locations. It was observed by the court that Renfroe was the first person to have sent a message in his online conversation with Jones, with the first message sent being related to a road rage incident that occurred between the two. At one point in this message, Renfroe stated that Jones and the occupants of his vehicle were acting hard like I wouldnt have aired out your whole truck. When questioned by the State regarding the nature of this message, Gibson stated that Renfroe had informed him during an interview conducted following the shooting that he believed aired out referred to the act of deflating the tires of a vehicle. Gibson said that he informed Renfroe that he had come to have a different understanding of the phrase, clarifying for the court when asked that he believed the phrase was associated with the act of shooting a firearm. After the State passed the witness, the defense pointed out multiple instances throughout Renfroes conversations with Wilson, Chambers and Jones in which Renfroe had been sent messages that, according to Gibson, could be considered confrontational or threats. The defense also pointed out several messages sent by Renfroe in which he had spoken specifically in regard to the individual receiving the message rather than a multitude of people associated with the recipient. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Concho Valley Homepage, KLST and KSAN will continue to provide coverage of The State of Texas v. Ryan Joaquin Renfroe as the trial progresses. Be sure to visit our website, Facebook pages or mobile app to stay up to date. Previous Trial Coverage Forensic scientist and witnesses of killing take the stand in Renfroe murder trial Pub manager, deceaseds friend testify in New Years Day murder trial Law enforcement testifies in New Years Day murder trial Trial begins for man accused of New Years Day murder Pre-Trial Coverage Grand jury indicts man for New Years killing Details emerge in San Angelo New Years killing San Angelo man arrested on murder charge Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement WATCH: Police investigate death in downtown San Angelo New Years Day Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ConchoValleyHomepage.com. Both women charged in the Chad Mullen murder case in Putnam County have pleaded not guilty to their charges. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] This follows their arrests earlier this month. 30-year-old Caylen Deller made an appearance in court today. She traded in her horse-riding attire for a dark blue jumper. Her public defender, Brian Smith said Deller waived an arraignment earlier this week and presented a written plea of not guilty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deller is facing first-degree murder with a firearm in the shooting death of her ex-boyfriend Chad Mullen. Her Co-defendant Tina Lee-Ellis was also in court today. She is accused of helping Deller hide Mullens body and charged with accessory to murder after the fact. However, both women are additionally charged with tampering with evidence and failure to report death to conceal the death. Attorneys spoke to Judge Alicia Washington and were negotiating a possible bond for Tina Lee-Ellis. Caylen Deller and Tina Lee-Ellis walked freely for several weeks after Mullen was reported missing in mid-September. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They were both arrested and booked in early November after a tip led to the discovery of Chad Mullens body, which was found buried in a shallow grave in Hastings. Action News Jax Shanila Kabir reached out to Caylen Dellers attorney, Brian Smith after the hearing. He declined to comment. Dellers next court date is January 9th. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. DENVER (KDVR) The Boulder Police Department is investigating a series of burglaries after three suspects were seen breaking into several businesses, according to a press release. Boulder police warned business owners to be wary of potential break-ins by the group of suspects. The burglaries have all occurred in businesses located on Pearl Street and Arapahoe Avenue. The first started on Oct. 29 and the latest as recently as Nov. 14. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Baby dies from meth toxicity in Lakewood, 2 suspects arrested Police said there are no known patterns aside from the break-ins occurring during the night and the suspects taking the cash drawer from the businesses. To access the buildings, they have been finding lockboxes and breaking them to obtain the keys to the businesses. The suspects are described as three males, either white or Latino, about five feet, 10 inches tall. One was seen wearing a black hoodie, another a green hoodie with a John Deer logo, and another a gray hoodie with a John Deer logo. The suspects also seemed to be wearing socks over their hands in the surveillance footage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone with any information about these individuals or these crimes is asked to contact Detective Snyder at SnyderJ@bouldercolorado.gov or 303-441-3386 regarding case 24-11438. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) A 12-year-old boy and several teenagers were arrested in San Francisco on suspicion of participating in a violent organized retail theft crew. Investigators said the 12-year-old boy was part of a crew that carried out at least 23 separate crimes in the city and stole more than $84,000 in merchandise from stores. The crew ranges from ages 12-18, the San Francisco Police Department wrote on Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The oldest member of the crew was 18-year-old Brandon McClain of Hayward, SFPD said. Seven more arrested members were all juveniles. Police said officers arrested a 15-year-old San Francisco boy, two 14-year-old San Francisco boys, a 15-year-old Oakland boy, a 15-year-old Oakley boy, and a 14-year-old Pittsburg boy. The 12-year-old San Francisco boy was charged with assault, robbery, burglary, grand theft, and 10 counts of organized retail theft, police said. Their names were not released because they are minors. The boys were linked to several incidents when Walgreens stores were ransacked by masked thieves who worked together as a team and followed the same modus operandi, SFPD said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On September 29, eight suspects entered Walgreens at 1333 Castro Street and stole over $15k in merchandise. The same group came back with five more accomplices two hours later and stole almost $12k in merchandise. On September 16, a Walgreens store on Potrero Avenue was targeted. When an employee asked the suspects to stop, two of the suspects assaulted the employee, resulting in a serious head injury, SFPD wrote. Investigators believe the same crew carried out an assault on Mission Street near 24th Street on the same day. On September 9, nine suspects entered Walgreens at 2690 Mission Street. While the boys were escaping with over $1k in stolen merchandise, one brandished a gun at a security guard. On August 18, seven suspects entered Walgreens at 1333 Castro Street and began concealing merchandise. One of the thieves jumped over a counter and stole a cash register. The store lost $6,500. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On July 11, seven masked boys began gathering outside a Walgreens at 2050 Irving Street. Employees recognized them and called the police, but the boys forced the door open and stole $1.3k in merchandise, police said. The case was investigated by the SFPD Burglary & Organized Retail Crime Unit, SFPD Mission Station Anti-Vendor Enforcement Unit, patrol officers, and Walgreens Asset Protection. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. WASHINGTON (DC News Now) School officials said Eastern Senior High School was on an alert status for a time Friday morning after someone shot a teenage boy near the schools campus. According to the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), police responded to the 1700 block of East Capitol St. NE for a shooting. The location is the same block as where the high school sits. Police are investigating after a teenage boy was shot near a high school on Nov. 22. (Jack Barbash/DC News Now) Metro to ramp up fare enforcement for first time in 50 years Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers found the teenager suffering from a gunshot wound. Police said he was conscious and breathing when medics took him to the hospital for treatment. The school lifted the alert status as police continued their investigation. (Jack Barbash/DC News Now) Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. BEIRUT, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese Minister of the Displaced Issam Charafeddine said on Friday that 420,000 Syrian refugees had returned from Lebanon to their homeland since the beginning of the Hezbollah-Israel conflict in October 2023, Lebanese news website Elnashra reported. The Syrian authorities dealt positively with Syrian returnees and the 170,000 displaced Lebanese who had sought refuge in Syria due to the war in Lebanon, Charafeddine said. Lebanese authorities have repeatedly urged the international community to assist in the return of Syrian refugees to their country of origin, as Lebanon hosts the largest number of refugees per capita, according to the UN Refugee Agency. The Lebanese government estimates that about 1.5 million Syrian refugees reside in the country before the outbreak of the Hezbollah-Israel conflict. Since the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel erupted, a large number of Syrian refugees have begun returning to their home country. SAO PAULO (AP) Police have formally accused Brazils former President Jair Bolsonaro and 36 others of attempting a coup to keep the right-wing leader in office after his electoral defeat in 2022. Their allegations threaten to torpedo Bolsonaro's hopes of returning to politics. Brazils Supreme Court said Friday that police findings were delivered to Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who next week will relay them to Prosecutor-General Paulo Gonet. He will decide whether to formally charge Bolsonaro or toss the investigation. Bolsonaro told the news website Metropoles on Thursday that he is waiting for his lawyer to review the police report, which is reportedly about 700 pages long, but that he would fight the case. He dismissed the investigation as the result of creativity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The former president denies that he tried to stay in office after his narrow electoral defeat in 2022 to leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Bolsonaro has since faced a series of legal threats. That police are seeking formal charges indicates the investigation found evidence of a crime and its author, and it is likely there are legal grounds for the prosecutor-general to file charges, said Eloisa Machado de Almeida, a law professor at Getulio Vargas Foundation, a university in Sao Paulo. On Friday, the attorney for Bolsonaros former right hand, Lt. Col. Mauro Cid, said in a live television interview that his client had informed the Supreme Court that Bolsonaro was aware of the coup plot. The then-president knew it all. Actually, he led this organization, Cids attorney, Cezar Bitencourt, told network GloboNews. Just minutes later, Bitencourt partially retracted his statement. "I didnt say Bolsonaro knew it all. All is a lot. He was evidently aware of some things. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police said the Supreme Court agreed to the release all 37 names in the police report to avoid the dissemination of incorrect news. Among them are dozens of former and current Bolsonaro aides, including: Gen. Walter Braga Netto, who was his running mate in the 2022 campaign; former Army commander Gen. Paulo Sergio Nogueira de Oliveira; Valdemar Costa Neto, the chairman of Bolsonaros Liberal Party; and his veteran former adviser, Gen. Augusto Heleno. Braga Nettos lawyers said they would wait to formally receive the police documents before making any comments. The retired general shared their statement on X late Thursday. Bolsonaro is already accused separately of smuggling diamond jewelry into Brazil and directing Lt. Col. Cid to falsify his and others COVID-19 vaccination statuses. Bolsonaro has denied those charges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another probe found he abused his authority by casting doubt on Brazil's electoral system, and judges on the top electoral court barred him from running again until 2030. Still, he insists he will run in 2026, and many in his orbit were heartened by President-elect Donald Trump's recent election win despite his swirling legal troubles. Local media report that Gonet is already under pressure to move forward with multiple investigations against the former president, and politicians say if the 69-year-old Bolsonaro does stand trial his allies and rivals will race to seize his influence with voters. Bolsonaro is no longer the sole leader of the right-wing. He is coming out of mayoral elections in which most of his candidates lost. All these probes dont help him at all, said Carlos Melo, a political science professor at Insper, a university in Sao Paulo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The governor of Sao Paulo, Tarcisio de Freitas, the radical candidate for Sao Paulo mayorship Pablo Marcal, the governor of Goias state, Ronaldo Caiado ... There are politicians lining up to court Bolsonaro voters, Melo said. Creomar de Souza, a political analyst of Dharma Political Risk and Strategy, said the formal accusation is obviously bad for Bolsonaro, but that it might not impede him if he does decide to run for office again. This could give those targeted a chance to portray themselves as being persecuted, de Souza said, adding that could benefit them. Bolsonaro's allies in Congress have been negotiating a bill to pardon individuals who stormed the Brazilian capital and rioted on Jan. 8, 2023, in an attempt to keep the former president in power. Analysts have speculated that lawmakers want to extend the legislation to cover the former president himself. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, efforts to push a broad amnesty bill would be politically challenging in light of the new allegations against Bolsonaro and others, Machado said. On Tuesday, Federal Police arrested four military and a Federal Police officer, accused of plotting to assassinate Lula and Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes in an effort to overthrow the government following the 2022 elections. Last week, a man tried to enter the Supreme Court in the capital Brasilia with explosives but was blocked by guards. He threw the explosives outside the building, killing himself. Bread & Roses begins with a celebration. A beautiful, intimate moment of new beginnings between a newly engaged couple and their families. Then, chaos strikes. In the middle of the night, their world is turned upside down as gunfire blasts, signaling the arrival of the Taliban. But as bullets fly, communities take to their balconies, shouting, Down with the Taliban!, signaling that no matter the force brought upon them they are free Afghanis and will remain so. At that moment in time, and when this footage was first captured via personal digital camcorder, it was easy to act in defiance. For years, the Afghan people had been emboldened to do so by American forces and their presence within the country to push against Taliban insurgency. But when these troops pulled out after 20 years due to deals signed by now President-Elect Trump during his first term in office and carried out by President Biden near the start of his, the Taliban seized on the opportunity in force. It took a little over three months for the Taliban to take control of the levers of power in Afghanistan, ousting the governing body in place since 2004. More from IndieWire Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The documentary Bread & Roses steps in at this transition moment, in which all the work heretofore done to expand womens rights in Afghanistan over the last 20 years was suddenly thrown into turmoil. Using the same playbook as they used back then, Afghanistan slowly rolled back hard-earned freedoms, starting with separating the universities by gender and eventually working to keep all girls above sixth grade from receiving further education. They mandated a dress code for women. They barred them from parks and gyms. Eventually, all female nongovernmental workers were forced to stop working then, government workers as well. Featured in the documentary are a dentist named Zahra and government employee Sharifa. Zahra is one half of the young couple celebrating at the top of the film, but even her relationship must stand second to her liberation. She turns her former dental practice into a meeting ground for the revolution but still performs procedures when necessity calls. While Zahras journey is one of an emboldened spirit constantly tested, Sharifas is one of a lost soul yearning for a new horizon. She knows her potential is wasted inside the house. She often escapes to her roof to remind herself of the outside world waiting for her. The third thread in producer/director Sahra Mahnis inside exploration follows Taranom, an activist part of the hoard fleeing Kabul circa the Talibans invasion. She eventually makes it out of Afghanistan, much to her distress, and into Pakistan where shes forced to lay low in a safe house alongside fellow refugees. At a certain point, even this location becomes no longer viable, and shes forced to pick up and go with no money in her pocket and no idea where to head next. Though her story carries an active tension, in the film doesnt do enough to show us the activism Taranom has spent most of her life participating in. Throughout Bread & Roses, capturing the moment tends to carry more value than offering full context on each individual, but rarely does it hold us back from forming some kind of connection with them. These three characters, as well as one additional cameraperson, captured this footage via cell phones and camcorders, then passed on this work to Mahni to be pieced together. Bread & Roses conveys an eerie intimacy, but theres also a separation between the viewer and subject matter that undercuts the films overall message. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the urgency of Bread & Roses shouldnt go unmentioned. These women knew they needed to document this moment, wasting no time in doing so, and taking whatever means necessary to show the repercussions of radicalism. Clearly, executive producer Malala Yousafzai and producers Jennifer Lawrence and Justine Ciarrochi saw the need for this footage to be seen as soon as possible. Responding to what the Taliban was doing to women in Afghanistan, they joined the movie at the same time as abortion rights were being overturned in America. At one point in Bread & Roses, during a meeting between mostly female revolutionaries, one participant rallies the crowd, pushing against the notion that the Taliban is a truth you should tolerate as many would want them to believe. In hearing this, I was struck by the sentiments relevance to how American media outlets and individuals cope with the forthcoming presidential transition, now without the energy to fight and instead resigned to the latest brand of fascism. What is even more distressing is that, within the documentarys context, this moment comes early in a battle still very much waging. In fact, by the close of Bread & Roses, these women, in many ways, are worse off than how they began the film and since forced to endure abduction, torture, and a solitude theyd never known. Its a shocking reality that brings the entire vision into focus, made even bolder by showing the lengths these women go to to fight back, whether through protest or continuing to educate young girls despite mandates not to. Bread & Roses is a warning and one that is perhaps too late to heed. Perhaps the imperative and all we can do is to follow the example of these women by acting up rather than accepting the so-called law and order thrust upon us. Unfortunately, even Zahra, Sharifa, and Taranom could not live under these conditions and, as relayed through a post-script at the end, were forced to relocate outside of Afghanistan. What comes through most by the time Bread & Roses wraps up is that our responsibility now is not to ourselves, but to future generations, to ready them to face down their aggressors instead of merely accepting their will. Grade: B Bread & Roses is now streaming on Apple TV+. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Want to stay up to date on IndieWires film reviews and critical thoughts? Subscribe here to our newly launched newsletter, In Review by David Ehrlich, in which our Chief Film Critic and Head Reviews Editor rounds up the best new reviews and streaming picks along with some exclusive musings all only available to subscribers. Best of IndieWire Sign up for Indiewire's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 36,718 people played the daily Crossword recently. Can you solve it faster than others? 36,718 people played the daily Crossword recently. Can you solve it faster than others? SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage) The Concho Valley Community Action Agency held the 2024 Homeless Symposium on Thursday, Nov. 21, at Saint Paul Presbyterian Church. People heard from a panel of speakers who experienced homelessness. The CVCAA, with the Concho Valley Homeless Planning Coalition, held this event to bring awareness to the people in the community who experience homelessness and the search for a solution. It is a conversation with some of our homeless neighbors, Mike Burnett, CVCAA executive director and Homeless Coalition Board chairman, said. People who have lived experience with homelessness, engaging in a conversation with people in the community about the realities of being homeless, and some of the struggles and barriers that they go through to just basically live every day. Our hope is that this will spark more conversation and more action among the community to help our people in need. The panel spoke about their lack of safety and how their past experiences have led to mistrust in the community. Burnett says that bad decisions and bad luck can lead anyone to homelessness, and sometimes anything can help. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Each of them comes from a different background and a different area, Burnett said. I think one of the things we like to highlight is that homelessness is not just people on the low end of the poverty scale. It can happen to any one of us; at any moment, we can become homeless. When asked about the importance of this symposium, he said that listening to those stories and seeing that it could be me it could be you, it could be our neighbor, someone in your family, that at any moment could end up on the streets and being homeless. The more we can talk about that the more we can hopefully help people who are homeless and help others from becoming homeless. Burnett says anyone can help by donating to local nonprofits that assist the homeless population in the area. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ConchoValleyHomepage.com. We buried my second mother on Thursday; a woman without whom I probably would not be writing this column. As my first mother was slowly drinking herself to death, my stepmother Bernice helped me and my two brothers navigate our way through the teenage trauma of it all with a reassuring maternal dependableness that had been sadly lacking throughout our childhood. When our mother died as a result of her alcoholism, it was our father and stepmother who helped us not only to come to terms with our loss, but also to ensure that it didnt have a Philip Larkinesque effect on the rest of our lives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All the mourners said lots of kind things at the funeral. But one remark has stuck with me as I return to work today: If it wasnt for Bernice, you probably wouldnt have ended up being a journalist. I had always thought that I had so aggressively pursued a career in a bid to avoid turning into my mother; that it was all my doing. But on reflection, theres no way I could have done any of it without Bernices support and guidance. No woman can succeed in life without the help of another woman, whomever she may be. This is the first column Bernice will not read, and on Sunday, I will present the first GB News show that she will not watch. Next week, I will appear on This Morning, and there will be no text from Bernice, remarking on some aspect of the conversation. Of everyone in my life, she was my most vocal and enthusiastic champion and words cannot adequately express the enormously positive impact she had on my life. I have previously written about assisted suicide in the context of the death of my first mother. I argued at the time that it was in danger of robbing loved ones of precious final moments with their dying relatives and warned that the Canadian experience suggested that it could create a slippery slope resulting in people taking their own lives for depression and other non-terminal illnesses. The thought of disabled and elderly people opting for assisted suicide for fear of being a burden to their families also troubled me greatly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the death of my second mother has given me a new perspective. I am now even more opposed to the rushed and ill-thought-out Assisted Dying Bill, which will be voted on next Friday, than I was before. What Ive learnt from Bernices death is that the Government should not be legislating for new ways for people to kill themselves. It should actually be legislating for more funding and support for hospice care, which is already assisting people to die in a far more humane and compassionate manner than any other setting. Hospice care eases the physical and emotional pain of death and dying by letting people focus on living, right until the end. But not enough people can access it either as in-patients or outpatients, because it is chronically underfunded. Take the Peace Hospice in Watford, where Bernice passed away on November 6. This remarkable charity, of which I am a proud patron, receives just 14 per cent of its funding from the government despite providing unparalleled palliative care for the local community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I am loath to criticise the NHS since it cared for both of my mothers in their final weeks. But the sad truth is that it is too overstretched to provide the sort of palliative care that hospices can. I would wager that most people advocating for assisted suicide on the basis that their loved one endured a slow and painful death will not have benefited from hospice care or indeed, properly administered palliative care. Bernice had been extremely agitated and distressed in hospital and hard-pressed staff at times appeared unable to cope with her rapidly deteriorating condition. Some doctors and nurses were excellent, including the palliative care team that referred her to the hospice, but others appeared out of their depth and could have benefited from more palliative care training. We had no communication from her GP throughout her demise and so there was no one overseeing her care except my father, a retired family doctor. But once she was transferred to the hospice, everything transformed for the better. She had her own room; we had one point of contact, a palliative consultant who was an expert in her field; as a family, we were cared for with as much compassion as Bernice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our only regret is that we couldnt get her into the hospice sooner but beds are always in short supply and even the neediest of patients have to go on a waiting list. It cannot be coincidence that in Canada, less than half of patients who opt for euthanasia see a palliative care team and only 15 per cent of Canadians have access to publicly funded palliative care at home. In Belgium, where the assisted suicide laws are so liberal they do not just apply to the terminally ill but patients with psychiatric conditions and even children, two thirds of all dying patients do not have access to specialist palliative care. According to the Australia Health Review, 59 per cent of dying intensive care patients are not referred to end of life care services. In June, all states and the Australian Capital Territory passed legislation creating an assisted suicide and euthanasia scheme for eligible individuals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As Dr Claud Regnard, honorary consultant for St Oswalds Hospice in Gosforth, has warned: This evidence raises a serious concern that many who choose to participate in an assisted death do so not because it is the best choice from an array of good end-of-life options, but because it is the only option. Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, has said he cannot back the Bill, tabled by his Labour colleague Kim Leadbeater, because it would divert funds away from the NHS. But his prioritisation of the NHS when it comes to the provision of end of life care is part of the problem. Hospices rely on fundraising to survive, and the charitable coffers have been badly affected by the cost of living crisis. Add to that hefty NHS pay rises, which have pushed up wage bills for hospices, and it has been a recipe for disaster for the sector. The Budget made things even worse because, unlike the NHS, hospices are not exempt from the rise in Employer National Insurance Contributions. As Toby Porter, CEO of Hospice UK, has pointed out: The number of people dying each year in the UK is going up significantly, and right now, hospices are making service reductions and redundancies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is complete madness, not least when you consider how much hospices ease pressure on the NHS, and the fact that they ensure more people die in their preferred place of death, surrounded by their family, with the care they need. That, surely, is the definition of assisted dying. So forget the Bill its not whats needed. Whats needed is more funding to ensure that loved ones can have as dignified a death as our beloved Bernice. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. An American Airlines passenger who punched a flight attendant so hard that he gave her a concussion is now suing a Manhattan street vendor he insists is at least partially responsible for causing his brutal behavior. Brian Hsu, 23, was duct-taped to his business-class seat following the unprovoked October 2021 attack, which forced AA flight 976 to divert to Denver on its way from New York City to Santa Ana, California, spurring Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to float the possibility of a federal no-fly list. Bystander footage of the shocking event went viral , and American Airlines CEO Doug Parker described the incident during which the victim flight attendants nose was also shattered as one of the worst incidents seen to date aboard a commercial aircraft. Hsu later pleaded guilty to a federal assault charge and was banned from ever again flying American . His lawsuit comes less than 90 days after he finished serving two years of federal probation for the American Airlines assault. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under questioning by police, Hsu said he had suffered a previous brain injury that left him with extensive psychological damage and a persistent mental fog, and that he was flying home following surgery to reconstruct portions of his skull, according to the criminal complaint filed against him at the time. Hsus mother also brought up the brain injury as a possible reason for her sons actions, telling investigators that he had since become more easily angered, the complaint states. Brain injuries, even slight ones, can cause all manner of lasting effects, including, in some cases, significant personality changes. Brian Hsu says his brain injury was the result of an assault in the Union Square section of New York City (Getty Images) On Wednesday, the case took an unexpected turn when Hsu filed suit against the man he accuses of bashing his head against a sidewalk 13 months prior, claiming River Tarpleys shocking conduct caused him severe and permanent personal physical and psychological injuries. Hsus lawsuit, which asks for unspecified punitive damages, says the September 2020 assault required multiple surgeries to his skull and brain, and that he will require ongoing medical care well into the future. The circumstances of the attack and what led up to it are unclear. The suit traces Hsus brain injury back to September 23, 2020, when he was walking through the Union Square area and was allegedly accosted by a peddler selling CDs, eventually identified as Tarpley. After some sort of interaction between the two, Tarpley violently attacked Hsu, striking him about the head and face, and slamming [him] onto the [ground], rendering him unconscious, the lawsuit states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At that point, according to the suit, Tarpley continued the vicious and unprovoked attack by drag[ging] [Hsu] over the asphalt street. Tarpley, according to the suit, was convicted in May on charges related to the incident, without further detail. Tarpley was unable to be reached for comment on Thursday. A spokeswoman for the Manhattan DAs office said Tarpley was found not guilty on felony charges of 1st- and 2nd-degree assault but was convicted by a jury of 3rd-degree assault, a misdemeanor and sentenced to three years probation. His mother, Candece Tarpley, said her son went through a lot of emotional pain during this, claiming Hsu attacked her son first during the dispute and insisting Hsus brain injury occurred when he fell backwards onto his head during the encounter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Attorney Michael J. Lezamiz of Sutton & Smyth LLP, who filed the lawsuit on behalf of Hsu, said in an email, A New York City jury found River Tarpley guilty for his assault of my client, Mr. Hsu. The civil suit serves to provide my client with some form of solace after his life was forever changed by a traumatic brain injury caused by River Tarpleys beating. We are confident a civil jury will find him liable. As for Hsus in-flight assault, he pleaded guilty in April 2022 to one count of assault within the Special Aircraft Jurisdiction of the United States. A second count of interference with a flight crew was dropped as part of Hsus plea agreement. At sentencing, Hsu faced up to 20 years behind bars. He received 24 months probation and was ordered to pay $16,290 in restitution. River Tarpley was arrested after a brawl with Brian Hsu, but was not convicted, according to his mom (Getty Images) In a statement filed on his own behalf before sentencing, Hsu, who was attending The New School at the time of the midair attack, referenced character letters from friends and family who insisted his behavior in this case was out of character and the result of his brain injuries. Thanks to the brain trauma, Hsu now suffers from depression, PTSD, and social anxiety, according to the statement. He felt remorseful and embarrassed about what he did aboard flight 976, and is especially sensitive because he is a victim of crime himself, it contends, referencing the alleged attack by Tarpley. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For her part, the flight attendant, who has never been formally identified, ultimately laid out some $24,706.09 for medical expenses stemming from the assault, according to a sentencing memo prosecutors filed after Hsus guilty plea. The victim flight attendant has also provided an impact statement wherein she describes persistent and ongoing nose pain which has required frequent doctor appointments, the memo said. She also reports ongoing fear and trauma as a result of the attack and her injuries. Hsus probation ended in August. Editors Note: This story has been updated to reflect new information from the Manhattan DA about the final outcome of Tarpleys case The two brothers who authorities allege were paid to stage the late-night attack on Jussie Smollett in 2019 say not even Pinnochio believes the Empire star at this point and that he still owes them $500 for their services. Olabinjo and Abimbola Osundairo appeared on Fox & Friends to react to the overturned conviction. The Illinois Supreme Court ruled Thursday that Smolletts rights were violated when a special prosecutor re-filed charges that had been dropped in a deal with the states attorney general. The ruling effectively vacates his 150-day sentence and resolves the matter completely. Smollett has maintained his innocence throughout, saying the attack was a true hate crime. The Osundairo brothers, who recreated the hoax for a Fox Nation special, appeared on Fox & Friends on Thursday, saying they were simply helping out a friend at the time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We were taken aback initially, not because of the Supreme Courts decision, but because Jussie never admitted guilt, Abimbola Osundairo said. We understand that he has due-process rights and double jeopardy is not allowed in America. However, Jussie should have admitted guilt, and thats where we stand. The real injustice here was the sweetheart deal in the beginning of all this, he continued. Brothers connected to Smollett hoax speak and spill some tea -Kim Kardashian kidnapping hoax? pic.twitter.com/CLf5faPWio Karli Bonne (@KarluskaP) November 22, 2024 A representatie for Smollett did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday. The Cook County states attorneys office initially filed 16 counts of disorderly conduct, but dropped them after Smollett agreed to perform community service and forfeit a $10,000 bond; a grand jury restored five charges after a special prosecutor took the case. Testimony indicated Smollett paid $3,500 to two men to carry out the attack, and directed them on what to do and say, including shouting that he was in MAGA country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jussie got that deal because he has influence and power, Abimbola Osundairo said. Thats why he got that sweetheart deal. Fox & Friends host Brian Kilmeade asked the brothers whether they had been in contact with Smollett since the incident. Did he ever pay you guys? We have not spoken to him since, Olabinjo Osundairo said. Yes, he did pay us, at first he still owes us $500, but I dont think were ever going to see that. Kilmeade asked whether they know anyone who thinks Smollett is telling the truth. Not a single soul, Olabinjo Osundairo said. I do see people online who still have his back, but no in my immediate circle, nobody believes him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yeah, not even Pinnochio, Abimbola Osundairo quipped. Abimbola said the brothers were skeptical that the scheme would work, but Smollett made it seem like this is what Hollywood does. He mentioned Kim Kardashian during that time, she had an incident (in 2016) where she got robbed and kidnapped in France he said that was made up, that was fake. So thats what I was thinking, like Oh, this is our introduction into Hollywood. The brothers also suggested there was a who behind the hoax Who put him up to it?, Olabinjo Osundairo said. Watch the segment in the clip embedded above. The post Brothers in Jussie Smollett Hoax Case Taken Aback by Sweetheart Deal, Say He Still Owes Them $500 appeared first on TheWrap. Broward Health and Nicklaus Childrens Hospital have agreed to jointly provide healthcare to children in Broward County, the hospitals boards announced. Through this collaboration, Nicklaus Childrens, which is based in Miami-Dade County, will become the dedicated pediatric provider at Broward Healths Fort Lauderdale and Coral Springs hospitals. Broward Health currently operates Salah Foundation Childrens Hospital as part of Broward Health Medical Center and Broward Health Coral Springs and has neonatal intensive care units at both hospitals. For Broward Health, the affiliation brings Nicklaus Childrens expertise in neurology, cardiology, oncology and orthopedics and subspecialties to its pediatric patients. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shane Strum, CEO of Broward Health and interim CEO of the Memorial Healthcare System, said he has been working with Nicklaus for about a year to make this happen. He said bringing in Nicklaus specialists will, over time, triple the size of pediatric staff at Broward Health Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale, the systems flagship hospital. For some of the high acuity and very specialized cases, we have had to send those children down to Nicklaus or sometimes outside the state, Strum said. Now they are going to be able to stay close to home. Nicklaus has a small presence in Broward County but this arrangement gives the childrens hospital a much bigger platform. As South Floridas only freestanding pediatric hospital serving families for 75 years, Nicklaus Childrens looks forward to delivering care to more children and families in Broward through our world-renowned programs and services, said Matthew Love, president and CEO of Nicklaus Childrens Health System. Through our affiliation with Broward Health, we will be able to increase access to high-quality care in the region while keeping kids close to home for decades to come. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Strum said the affiliation will begin in early 2025, and a full transition is expected by the end of the year. Strum also took on the role of interim CEO of Memorial Healthcare System in September and indicated the two publicly funded North and South Broward Hospital Districts would collaborate more. The two will jointly operate a new freestanding emergency department in Sunrise for children and adults scheduled to open in early 2026. However, Memorial owns Joe DiMaggio Childrens Hospital, a Nicklaus competitor. On Friday, Strum said wants to eventually bring Joe DiMaggio Childrens Hospital and Nicklaus together to create the Childrens Hospital of Florida. Imagine the combined forces, the cross pollination, the credentialing physicians could do so they can go back and forth. It would actually change the pediatric landscape, Strum said. Parents anywhere could come here for these services instead of leaving the state. Got tips or comments? South Florida Sun Sentinel health reporter can be reached at cgoodman@sunsentinel.com. An elderly woman who died of extreme neglect in May 2023 was so badly neglected by her family and a visiting nurse that she became stuck to a mattress covered in bedbugs, with her skin growing over the bedding blackened by feces and urine, prosecutors said in court on Friday. Now, her daughter, Eva Fontes Cardoso, 53, and granddaughter, Kayla Cardoso, 31, and that visiting nurse, Lisa Hamilton, 64, are facing charges in connection with the neglect and death of 79-year-old Dinora Cardoso, prosecutors said. Eva Cardoso is facing a manslaughter charge, while all three suspects accused in an alleged scheme to steal from the states Medicare program, according to Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruz. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors said in court that the elderly woman had severe infections resulting from lack of care, lack of bathing and toileting, and the feces and bedbugs. An expert told prosecutors that the cockroaches would have essentially thrived in this kind of condition. They would have been eating off of her wound, a prosecutor said, adding that the expert explained that It would have taken months for that kind of infestation to take place. A judge ordered Eva Cardoso may be released on $5,000 bail during her arraignment Friday in Brockton Superior Court, on conditions that she not travel out of state, surrender her passport, not work in healthcare setting, and not work with disabled people. Prosecutors had asked for $100,000 cash bail. Kayla Cardoso was ordered released on $500 bail, on conditions that she stay away from and have no contact with witnesses, not travel out of state, not work in a healthcare setting, and not work with elderly or disabled people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both Eva Cardoso and Kayla Cardoso work as paraprofessionals for Brockton Public Schools. Hamilton, a visiting nurse who works for a private company, was released Friday after posting $500 cash bail, on conditions that she stay away from no contact with witnesses, not travel out of state, surrender her passport, and not to volunteer with elderly. The judge allowed Hamilton to continue working as a nurse, only as long as she is supervised. The charges stem from a lengthy investigation by Massachusetts State Police troopers assigned to the Plymouth District Attorneys Office and the Attorney Generals Office, Cruz noted. On May 17, 2023, when firefighters arrived to Dinora Cardosos unit at the Belair High Rise senior housing complex on Belair Street, they found horrific conditions: bedbugs and cockroaches were climbing on the elderly womans bedding, and on her. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The mattress was blackened with feces and urine, prosecutors said. Emergency crews smelled a significant odor and they saw that Dinora Cardoso was stuck to the bedding and that some of her skin had grown over the bedding. Severe bed sores were all over her backside area. Emergency crews had to take the victim along with her mattress by ambulance to a local hospital because they could not separate the mattress from her body. At Good Samaritan Medical Center, Dinora Cardoso was in such obvious infected state that she had to be taken to Brigham and Womens Hospital in Boston, where she died two days later, prosecutors said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Test performed on the victim showed uncontrolled diabetes, kidney failure and evidence of sepsis, prosecutors said. Eva Cardoso, Kayla Cardoso and Hamilton are all due back in court on Jan. 15. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW * Xinjiang contributed more than 90 percent of China's cotton output last year, harvesting a total of 5.12 million tonnes of cotton. * It is estimated that the overall mechanization level of crop cultivation and harvesting in Xinjiang will reach more than 90 percent this year, with over 95 percent for major crops of wheat, corn and cotton. * In recent years, advanced farming methods, modern and smart machinery, and optimized management practices have been widely applied in Xinjiang. As a result, many crops grown there have set new high-yield records at regional or national level. URUMQI, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- For Haila Cherza, a 67-year-old cotton farmer in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, the old tradition of harvesting with heavy manual labor is a thing of the past. The new reaping approach has been made possible by automatic machines equipped with self-navigation systems. "Cotton yields and profits were low in the past. However, we now use machines for sowing, plowing and harvesting, as well as drones for spraying pesticides," said the farmer of the Kazak ethnic group who has been planting cotton for over four decades. Through the collective economy, the fragmented cotton fields distributed to households in Haila Cherza's village have been merged into collective plots. "I receive a considerable land rent and wage for managing about 1,500 mu (100 hectares) of cotton fields," he added. Xinjiang contributed more than 90 percent of China's cotton output last year, harvesting a total of 5.12 million tonnes of cotton. Shawan City, where Haila Cherza resides, is one of the region's largest cotton production bases. A cotton harvester is at work in Shawan City, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Oct. 8, 2024. (Photo by Guan Bing/Xinhua) At Shawan's 100,000-mu high-yield cotton demonstration fields, the average cotton yield per mu is estimated to reach 580.6 kg through a yield trial in October. According to Li Xueyuan, a researcher at the Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, the high yield in such large areas is a fruitful outcome that can provide reliable references for cotton farming practices. In recent years, advanced farming methods, modern and smart machinery, and optimized management practices have been widely applied in Xinjiang. As a result, many crops grown there, including cotton, corn, peanuts and soybeans, have set new high-yield records at regional or national level. ADVANCED METHODS Advised by experts from the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Lou Guangwei, a farmer of Qapqal Xibe Autonomous County of the Kazak Autonomous Prefecture of Ili, applied a dense planting method across his more than 30,000 mu of corn fields. Compared to the traditional planting method, the number of corn plants per mu rose from about 6,000 to 8,200, with a yield increasing from 1,200 kg to 1,330 kg, while 200 cubic meters of water can be saved at least. "Thanks to agricultural experts who came to the fields and provided us with technical guidance, our corn yields have increased over the years," said Lou. The expert Lou mentioned is Li Shaokun, a researcher with CAAS who introduced the dense planting. The method boosts production output by increasing the density of plants on farmland and precisely regulating the growing condition of corn to enhance its resistance to environmental stresses. "With dry weather, abundant sunshine and water, the large temperature difference between day and night and a high mechanization level in facilities, Xinjiang's Ili is an ideal region for deploying the dense planting method," said Li Shaokun. Staff members measure the spacing of wheat seedlings at a seed company in Changji City, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Nov. 7, 2024. (Xinhua/Ding Lei) Experts assist farmers in choosing the right seeds to ensure that corn thrives when planted densely. Farmers level their soil evenly with machines, use the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System to ensure the precision of both quantity and placement of seeds, and utilize certain anti-lodging agents to help the plants stand straight and acquire sufficient light. It is estimated that the overall mechanization level of crop cultivation and harvesting in Xinjiang will reach more than 90 percent this year, with over 95 percent for major crops of wheat, corn and cotton, according to the department of agriculture and rural affairs of Xinjiang. Data from the department shows that, in the first half of this year, the summer grain sown area in Xinjiang stood at 17.57 million mu. The average yield per mu reached 394.6 kg, up about 2 percent year on year. MODERN FARMING TECHS According to Li Jing, deputy head of the department of agriculture and rural affairs of Xinjiang, the region has also been promoting the technique of supplying dissolved fertilizer to crops through the drip irrigation system. Xinjiang's Manas County has successfully implemented this technique in its cotton fields by utilizing a smart agriculture system that integrates irrigation systems, soil sensors, weather and pest monitors, and other facilities. "With the help of the system, about 30 cubic meters of water per mu can be saved on average at cotton fields in Manas, and over 200 yuan (about 27.8 U.S. dollars) can be saved through reducing the cost of water, fertilizer and labor," said Lyu Xiaoqing, head of the agriculture and husbandry technology promotion center of Manas. Lyu said that the designated amount of water and fertilizer can be distributed to cotton accurately at a set time, which improves farming efficiency, makes cotton grow better and increases output. She added that monitoring data can be collected and used to advise farmers on scientific decisions. "A farmer can manage up to 2,000 mu of cotton fields, with many farming activities done through phone apps." An aerial drone photo taken on March 21, 2024 shows a seed planter at work in a field in Tianhai Village of Liuyuan Town, Aksu City, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Ding Lei) With similarities in geographical environment and climatic conditions, Xinjiang has also been engaged in international agricultural cooperation with Central Asia countries. This October, in the city of Almaty, Kazakhstan, researchers of the Kazakh Research Institute of Agriculture and Plant Growing (KRIAPG), were busy conducting a yield trial for 10 varieties of corn developed by a Chinese company. "We are developing corn varieties featuring resistance to high temperature, salt-alkali and drought, which suit conditions of Xinjiang and Central Asia," said Ma Ding, a seed expert from China, adding that his company is cooperating with KRIAPG to gain quality certification and market recognition in Kazakhstan. According to Sholpan Bastaubayeva, head of KRIAPG, the institute has been cooperating with the Chinese seed company for nearly a decade in areas such as breeding and training, resulting in reduced agricultural costs and increased farming efficiency. Sun Tan, vice president of CAAS, said that China and Kazakhstan have a solid foundation in international agriculture cooperation. He said that through technology exchange and bilateral cooperation, Central Asia's cotton production capacity and farmers' income are expected to grow, while China can expand its channel for importing cotton. (Video reporter: Ding Lei and Gou Lifeng; Video editors: Zhang Yichi, Wei Yin and Li Qin) BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) Bulgaria and Romania could become full members of Europe's Schengen travel zone starting at the beginning of 2025, Hungarian officials said on Friday. The two Balkan countries joined the European Union in 2007 but were not integrated into the borderless Schengen zone until March, when border checks were lifted from maritime and air travel. Land border checks remained in place due to opposition primarily from Austria, which has long blocked Schengen entry for the two countries over illegal migration concerns. But following a meeting of the Austrian, Bulgarian, Hungarian and Romanian interior ministers in Budapest on Friday, Austria lifted its opposition, paving the way for a final decision by a summit of EU interior ministers in December. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hungary's Interior Minister Sandor Pinter said Friday that Romania and Bulgaria, which both have borders with countries outside the EU, are now one step closer to becoming full Schengen members. He added that there was a clear opportunity to finalize the process by the end of the year, and that the countries would need to jointly send at least 100 border guards to the frontier between Bulgaria and Turkey. EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson, who was also present at the meeting, said in a video posted on X: This is a great day to achieve the full freedom for all the citizens of Bulgaria and Romania into the Schengen area, and I'm very happy today. The Schengen Area was established in 1985. Before Bulgaria and Romanias partial admission, it was comprised of 23 of the 27 EU member countries, along with Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. Around 3.5 million people cross an internal border each day. Ursula von der Leyen, the head of the EU's executive commission, wrote on X that the two neighboring countries belong fully to the Schengen area. I welcome the positive outcome of informal discussions in Budapest today ... Let 2025 see Schengen become stronger, she said. WARREN, Ohio (WKBN) A Warren man has been charged in connection to a drive-by shooting in Warren where another man was shot in the temple. Read next: 14 people treated in multi-state U-Haul truck chase Officers were called just before 3:30 p.m. Wednesday to a house in the 2400 block of Hamilton St. SW on reports of a shooting. When they arrived, they found a man sitting in the living room holding a towel to a gunshot wound on his temple. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Witnesses at the house said that an argument between a family member at the house and another man over a woman culminated with a suspect driving by the house and firing several shots. In all, 27 shell casings from a 9mm gun were found at the scene, according to a police report. One of the bullets traveled through the house and a TV before hitting the victim in the head. The victim was not the person engaged in the argument with the suspect. The victim was taken to the St. Elizabeth Hospital for treatment. Police also found several bullet holes in the vacant house next door. According to court records, a felonious assault charge was filed against 19-year-old Kenneth Clauss, II, in connection to the incident. A warrant was issued for his arrest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nadine Grimley contributed to this report. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) Authorities are investigating a series of burglaries beginning in late September that seem to target Asian American homeowners in Washington County, according to investigators. Of the 10 recent cases, four have taken place in Tigard, two in Beaverton, and four in other parts of Washington County. Law enforcement in all three jurisdictions believe the break-ins could be related. Second storm slated to hit Pacific Northwest not a bomb cyclone Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So far, the victims are all affluent homeowners who are Asian Americans, and the suspect(s) use a similar method to break in, the agencies said. Investigators said the suspect or suspects seem to park in a car to conduct surveillance on a home that is being targeted to determine when the homeowner will be away. Residents in the area are encouraged to report any suspicious activity to police. St. Helens High School principal under investigation for neglect amid teacher sex abuse case Tigard Police, Beaverton Police, and the Washington County Sheriffs Office said they are working with state and federal partners during their investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We want to assure our communities that investigators are working in a coordinated effort to share information and develop leads, the agencies said. They are conducting extensive interviews with victims as well as neighbors and are canvassing neighborhoods to gather evidence. Investigators are actively looking into whether additional links between the victims exist. Tom Sollitt is the founder of Asian American Town which brings together the community through events like the Asian American Night Market. He told KOIN 6 News break-ins like these adds to the stress many in the local Asian American community already face, especially after the rise in hate crimes since 2020. I think a lot of these communities are already at a heightened stress level and then this happening on top of it, really acknowledging that theres probably more stress going on, Sollitt said. Asian American Town celebrates culture, fights stereotypes and supports others in tough situations, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just trying to recognize that we are more disconnected as a broader Asian community than i think has been acknowledged or recognized in the past, Sollitt said. Kelsey Anderson, a Tigard Police spokesperson, acknowledged its a concerning situation for people to learn about but encouraged the public to stay vigilant and report anything that may seem suspicious or unusual in their neighborhood. One thing that we want to be careful about is we want people to report suspicious activity and its the activity that were looking at and not necessarily people, Anderson said. If you have surveillance footage or tips, contact the Washington County non-emergency line at (503) 629-0111. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. BURKE COUNTY, Ga. (WJBF) The Burke County Sheriffs Office announced the death of one of its K9 officers after a battle with cancer. Halo, a K9 veteran, was a a loyal and courageous member of the team, according to BCSO in a statement on Friday, Nov. 22. She also worked in the United States Military at home and abroad. Known for her keen instincts and tireless work ethic, Halo excelled in her duties, contributing to public safety and leaving an enduring legacy of service, the sheriffs office said in a statement. Beyond her professional accomplishments, Halo brought joy and companionship to those who worked alongside her. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The sheriffs office extended condolences to her handler, Deputy Austin Plueger, and those in the community who knew her. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJBF. BROOKLYN, N.Y. (PIX11) Food insecurity continues to grip New York City, with a new study revealing that working families are increasingly joining the lines for assistance at local food pantries. Jasmine Bethancourt, a supervisor at RiseBoro Food Pantry in Bushwick, expressed deep concern about the current state of food insecurity at her pantry. Its devastating because we want to be able to serve all of the families. We want to be able to give food to everyone, Bethancourt said. At this point were almost, were at capacity, were over capacity. More Local News Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The pantry has adapted to meet the diverse needs of the community, especially during the holidays, but challenges persist. Bethancourt noted, Were experiencing a lot of new faces that we havent seen before. We think about our seniors and children, but working families are also struggling now. This week, the anti-poverty organization Robin Hood released its annual food insecurity report, revealing alarming statistics. One in three adults (31%) and nearly half of families with children (44%) experienced food hardship in 2023. The report defines food hardship as sometimes or often running out of food, or a person worrying that they will. Ryan Vinh, a research analyst at Columbia University, highlighted the lasting impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on food security. Since the pandemic, food pantry use has essentially doubled among families with children, Vinh stated. He added that it remains to be seen whether these numbers will return to pre-pandemic levels. The most troubling aspect of the current situation is the growing number of employed people seeking food assistance. The report shows that pantry use among employed New Yorkers more than tripled in 2020 and remains twice as high in 2023 at 11% compared to 5% in 2019. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What our research finds is that a lot of the folks that are accessing the food pantries are also working or engaging in the labor force in some way. That suggests that peoples salaries arent keeping up with rising costs, Vinh explained. He emphasizes the need for more policies and income supports to help supplement income, such as expanding SNAP or the child tax credit. As the holidays approach, RiseBoro Food Pantry is striving to meet the increased demand. However, they face significant challenges, including a shortage of volunteers. One of the biggest challenges were facing right now is a shortage in volunteers, Bethancourt said. The pantry serves over 400 families a week with a very small team. Bethancourt emphasized the need for systemic change to address the root causes of food insecurity. Its all from a political standpoint. Food insecurity is occurring for everyone, she stated. As food insecurity continues to be a pressing issue in New York City, organizations like RiseBoro Food Pantry are calling for donations and volunteers to help meet the growing need. For more information, click here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. (WWLP) The rain is helping crews in Berkshire County in the fight against the massive Butternut wildfire. The fire in Great Barrington has now grown to nearly 1,400 acres on East Mountain. The approximately 1 of rain over the last 24 hours is helping slow the spread of the fire but not putting it out completely. Smoke from Butternut Fire in Great Barrington travels through parts of Connecticut Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fire does not seem to be spreading rapidly, which is great news for us. We are keeping the fire a quarter mile away from any residential structures. There was encroachment overnight, which we were able to push back, said Great Barrington Fire Lt. Brian Mead. There are no evacuation orders in place but state officials are reporting that the fire is still not fully contained. The air quality from the smoke is being monitored and updates for your location can be found on airnow.gov. MAP: Butternut Fire in Great Barrington On Friday, the fire department plans to cut the final line, what they call a fire break which connects the eastern and western lines. This process is an effort to contain the fire. (Massachusetts DCR Bureau of Forest Fire Control and Forestry) Ongoing wildfires in Massachusetts As of 5 p.m. on Thursday, the Massachusetts DCR Bureau of Forest Fire Control and Forestry issued a list of the following wildfires that are ongoing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Butternut: Great Barrington: 1,388 acres at 0% containment. Fire burned actively overnight with backing fire and heavy smoldering. The fire is burning in steep and rugged terrain. Access is difficult. Thomas Road: North Andover, Boxford State Forest. 517 Acres at 60% contained. the fire is being held mostly on hard packed roads. No structures threatened at this time. State Forest and trail closures in effect. No immediate residential values at risk. Houghtons Path: Milton, 41 acres 70% containment. Weakened trees and snags in burned area. Mt. Gilead: Lynn, MA. Lynn Woods Reservation. Currently at 440 Acres, 50% contained. Most areas along the perimeter looking strong. Crag Mountain South: Northfield, MA. 5 acres and 85% containment. Local resources continue to patrol and monitor. Old Forest Road: North Andover, MA. Located in Boxford State Forest. 134 acres and 60% containment. Cain Hill Fire: 140+ acres and 60% containment. Middleton Pond: Middleton and North Reading, MA. 242 acres and 60% containment. Continued patrol of perimeter. Pappas Fire: Canton, MA. 33 Acres and 90% containment. Traders Way: Salem, MA. 15 Acres at 85% containment. No new activity. Local FD monitoring Bradway: Monson, MA. Located on Bradway Rd. 44 acres at 90% Contained. No new information. Castle Rock: Saugus, MA., Breakheart State Reservation. 24 acres and 60% contained. Mop up continues. Fitzgerald: Northampton, MA. 55 Acres, 85% Contained. Resources continue to patrol and monitor. Moose Meadow: Montgomery, MA. 60 acres and 80% contained. Mop-up Monitor and patrol. FD05111: Georgetown, MA. Currently 10 Acres, estimated 75 % containment. Located in the Georgetown Rowley State Forest. Fire is in patrol and Monitor status. Fern: Saugus, MA. 20 Acres at 70% containment. Located on Breakheart Reservation. Braintree Brush: Braintree, MA. 45 acres and 80% contained. Pine Hill: Foxborough, MA. Currently 10 acres and 90% contained. Patrol and monitoring is ongoing. Depot: Whately, MA. estimated 2 acres and 85% contained. Local and DCR Fire continue to patrol and monitor. Rocky Pond: Boylston, MA: 2 acres and 70% contained. In patrol and mop up. Snags and weakened trees inside perimeter. Franklin Well #8: Franklin, Ma. 12 Acres at 80% contained. n patrol and mop up status. Wildfires in Massachusetts October: 213 fires- 841 acres burned November: 433 fires 2,813 acres burned 1,226 total fires in 2024 so far 4,202 acres burned (Massachusetts DCR Bureau of Forest Fire Control and Forestry) 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. People should use an electric blanket if they cant afford to heat their homes because of the impact of winter bill price rises, an energy company boss has said. Greg Jackson, the chief executive of Octopus Energy, suggested people should snuggle up under electric blankets rather than use central heating if they want to minimise the impact of increases to winter energy bills. Mr Jackson said using electric blankets rather than central heating or gas and electric fires could save households 300 a year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If people are worried about their heating, they can stay warm and healthier much more cheaply by snuggling up in electric blankets for a while, he told BBC Radio 4s Today programme. Mr Jackson said Octopus had already sent out 65,000 free electric blankets to its customers. Theyre not tokenism. It saves 300 quid a year on your gas bill during the crisis and keeps you warm. His comments follow Fridays announcement by regulator Ofgem that the energy price cap is to rise by 21 from 1,717 to 1,738 from January. The rise means energy bills will remain a third higher than they were before the 2022 energy crisis set off by Russias invasion of Ukraine and look set to remain high indefinitely. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Octopus Energy made a net profit of 203m on revenues of 13bn in the year ending April 2023 during which it claims to have spent 69m on helping customers to keep warm and cut bills. Mr Jackson said he had more recently offered support to pensioners hit by the loss of winter fuel payments. We put about 30m into funds for those that are harder up. For example, we announced a new support for older people that are missing out on the winter fuel payment this winter. And you know, almost 100,000 people have used those various funds, he said. The latest price rise comes as Ofgem figures show surging numbers of people in debt because of energy bills. More than 660,000 people are in debt over gas bills and more than 800,000 regarding power bills. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Overall debts for gas and electricity have risen to 3.7bn by the middle of this year compared with 1.7bn in the middle of 2021. Dame Clare Moriarty, the chief executive of Citizens Advice, also speaking on the Today programme, said: Energy debt is now the most common type of debt that we deal with ... Bills are now two thirds higher than before the start of the energy crisis and with an expectation that theyll remain at that level for the foreseeable future. Were just expecting to see people continuing to be really squeezed, particularly families with children, particularly disabled people they are facing impossible choices. Mr Jackson said that in the long term the UKs energy system needed major reforms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Today our prices are way too high because, first of all, were so dependent on the internationally traded gas price. Its currently three times higher than it was in 2020. But secondly, our electricity market is so inefficient. Were building wind farms but instead of them bringing down our prices, were paying them to switch off when its too windy. We cant carry on building all this new infrastructure without changing the market. Were going to be spending up to 6bn a year paying wind farms to turn off and balancing the system by 2030 if we dont reform the market. And this is all adding to bills. 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. GREENVILLE, S.C. (WSPA) The South Carolina Department of Agriculture and the Forestry Commission estimate the total financial damage to the states agriculture industry from Hurricane Helene, Tropical Storm Debby and this past summers flash drought comes to a sum of $621 million. South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster believes that total to be higher telling media at a public appear in Greenville on Thursday, We think the damages is a lot more than that. McMaster attended the states first ever Farm and Forest Recovery Resource Days event at Greenville Technical College to let farmers in the state know they havent been forgotten. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some of those people get hit so bad, they cant fix it quick enough to get back on their feet, said McMaster. We want to be sure that that help gets there. We depend on the farmers, we depend on agriculture, we depend on the forests, we got a lot of them. They provide a lot of work, a lot of happiness, a lot of comfort for a lot of people and we want to ensure they stay that way. Lewis Kiffer, a generational family farmer from the small town of Starr, in Anderson County, said that sometimes, the farmers feel forgotten when a natural disaster hits. Always were left behind because were in a rural area, said Kiffer. Were not near as many people, so they tend to worry about the massive population instead of the few scattered around. The recovery event featured workers from more than a dozen state and federal organizations, offering resources to those who need them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kiffer said he drove to Greenville from Starr because he wanted to find a way to repurpose more than 60 downed trees on his farm that have hindered his production. I produce beef and goats, said Kiffer. The fences are down so you have to work to cut the trees off the fences and reset fences. He explained the holes in the fences would have allowed his livestock to escape had he not repaired it quickly after the storm. Its not only a hazard to my animals, its also a hazard to you going down the road, Kiffer said. As for why he wants to repurpose his trees, It should be used, said Kiffer. Grown for many years. Its a waste of resources. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The event wasnt just to help farmer rebuild their farm though. The South Carolina Department of Mental Health was also in attendance to try and raise awareness about the mental toll being a farmer takes. Particularly with farmers and tree producers, we know that they are one of the top occupations at risk for suicide, mainly because of the stress that comes into the predictability of being a farmer and tree producer, said Jennifer Butler, Director of Public Education. Between 2000 and 2018, suicide rates have been higher in rural America than in urban America according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Weather can impact it, where planting, poverty or income impact [farmers] stress level, said Butler. Also the isolation of being on their farm and not interacting with larger groups of people [plays a role]. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The next Farm and Forest Recovery Resource Days event will be on December 6 in Myrtle Beach. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS. JERUSALEM, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Israeli Security Agency (ISA) killed five Hamas fighters in an airstrike, including three commanders, the IDF said in a statement on Friday. The IDF said that the attack was carried out by Israeli Air Force aircraft overnight between Wednesday and Thursday, with intelligence guidance from the ISA and support from artillery and armor units, in the northern Gaza Strip city of Beit Lahia. It identified the three commanders as Jihad Mahmoud Yehia Kahlout, a company commander in the elite Nukhba force, Muhammad Riyad Ali Okel, and Anas Jalal Muhammad Abu Shakian. They were accused of involvement in killings and kidnappings near the Israeli village of Mefalsim during a Hamas attack against Israel on October 7 of last year and of participating in recent fighting in the northern Gaza Strip against IDF forces. In another statement on Friday, the IDF said it had killed Khalid Abu Daqqa, commander of the Islamic Jihad's rocket unit in the city of Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, on Wednesday. "Abu Daqqa was responsible for commanding and conducting numerous attacks against Israeli civilians and soldiers," the statement reads. It began with a peace move nobody wanted and ended with an experimental missile strike so rare in war Moscow gave a 30-minute heads-up to Washington. The past seven days have fundamentally changed Ukraines long conflict, and at a breakneck pace ahead of Donald Trumps inauguration in January. The week marks a seismic escalation that nevertheless risks fading fast in the fatigue swamping the war, so it is worthy of a recap. The White House publicly authorized Ukraine Sunday to fire missiles it supplied into Russia proper, which it swiftly did Monday. Moscow responded by using an experimental medium-range missile, with hypersonic speeds and a multiple warhead system usually reserved for nuclear payloads, to strike Dnipro Thursday. Putin claimed the Oreshnik could evade all Western air defense. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both sides dubbed each other reckless - and by sides, I mean the US and Russia. For this is fast becoming a war where Washington desperately seeks to alter Ukraines downward curve on the front lines, and Russia, the aggressor here from the start, edges towards riskier ways of restoring the deterrent value they have lost in the last three years. Neither is likely to get into direct conflict with the other, but instead become more intimately involved in Ukraines increasingly global fight. It is a rapid deterioration. Seven days ago, fury surrounded unexpected talk of peace. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz unilaterally rang Russian President Vladimir Putin, ending a two-year isolation of the Kremlin head from major Western leaders. Scholz was seeking to curry favor with pro-Russian voters in eastern Germany ahead of a general election, but justified his call by saying that if Trump was going to talk to Moscow, Europe should too. Ukraine and Poland were publicly angry; France and the UK seemed to more quietly seethe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is unlikely the White House decision on weapons stemmed from Scholzs call, and indeed it said President Joe Bidens reversal of months of delay over approving the missile use inside Russia was fueled by North Korean troops joining Russias ranks. Similarly, Putins decision to launch the Oreshnik missile was likely Moscow stepping up another rung on a carefully prepared ladder of escalation. Moscow and Washington have telegraphed these moves for months, even if they are still a little taken aback on how their adversary actually made them this week. In this screen grab from a video provided by the Come Back Alive Foundation on November 21, 2024, lights are seen in the sky during a Russian attack on Dnipro, Ukraine. - The Come Back Alive Foundation/AP The exact specifics of the Oreshnik seem key to Putins message. A lot remains unclear, but most assessments, and Putins own comments, agree this is a new missile, likely hypersonic, not nuclear (this time), but able to deliver multiple warheads in a fashion normally reserved for nuclear payloads. Putin said that at 3 km per second, its speed meant all Western air defenses were useless. US and NATO officials called the device medium-range and experimental, comments that initially sound like they sought to downplay its significance but may actually point to a wider rift with Moscow. In 2019, President Trump pulled out of the Intermediate Nuclear Forces treaty, the landmark act limiting the development of such weapons, accusing Russia of violating it. Western officials insistence this missile - which appeared nuclear capable - was intermediate in range, was perhaps a nod to Russias continued pursuit of such weapons outside of the now defunct INF. Perhaps this was a nod to Trump too that Moscow has been busy making the weapons his first term claimed they were. Ukraine deemed the device the Kedr, apparently first alluded to in Russian state media in 2021. Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraines defense intelligence, said Friday it was a medium-range ballistic missile, a nuclear weapons carrier. The fact that they used it in a non-nuclear version is a warning that they have completely lost their minds. Budanov said Ukraine assessed that two prototypes of the Kedr were made by October, but insisted it is not a serial product, thank God. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The weeks ahead will show if the Oreshnik is a singular message or a new tactic. Its use injected some greater anxiety in Kyiv, after the snap closure of the US Embassy Wednesday citing an aerial threat, fueling the fear Moscow is reaching for tools in its kit that it had kept for a final existential fight with a great power. Yet the weeks most troubling news is perhaps away from the loud geopolitical brawling and ominous fireworks over Dnipro. The United Kingdoms Defence Intelligence, normally a staunch advocate of the Ukrainian military, said Thursday the front line was more unstable than at any time since the invasion. That is a euphemism for Kyivs forces struggling across the front and matches the persistently gloomy reports CNN has had from military and open sources. It is bleak in every direction. South of Kharkiv, Russia is advancing near the city of Kupiansk. Supply lines are at threat around the eastern Donbas region. Even southern Zaporizhzhia seems under greater pressure, and Moscow is persistently trying to push Ukraine out of its Kursk border region. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Biden administration may rush in anti-personnel mines and announce more ammunition, but the changes are happening right now, across trenches where snow is settling. They look set, in the most optimistic reading, to at least give Moscow the upper hand territorially for a bleak winter. Trumps presidency expedited talk of talks. Yet the immediate response has been a headlong rush to exacerbate the hot war ahead of its possible freeze. The acute risk is this lurch forwards to a better negotiating position, develops an unstoppable momentum of its own. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com In southeast Wisconsin and across the country, America's so-called "Dreamers" are sitting down with their families and discussing worst-case scenarios. If you're deported, the young adults ask their parents, who would take care of my younger siblings? If I lose my work permit and have to return to a country I haven't seen since childhood, where would I go? They have benefited from DACA the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program which protects from deportation immigrants who came to the country as children, and also provides them with a work permit. The idea behind the program is that the child didn't make a choice to enter the country illegally, likely has little to no tie to their native land, and should be granted special relief. Participants in a 2021 immigrant rights rally in Milwaukee carry a banner that reads, "Immigrants are essential." Dreamers and their families have never enjoyed much certainty about their future. The program has been embroiled in legal challenges for much of its 14-year existence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Donald Trump's election, after campaign promises of mass deportation, sealing the border and ending DACA, has brought a new sense of urgency and fear. "It feels more real this time," said registered nurse Yareli Suarez, 23. "Now we really have to think about any possible outcome." More: Mass deportation, ending DACA: How would Trump's policies affect Wisconsin immigrants? Suarez, a DACA recipient who has lived in Milwaukee since she was 4 years old, is considering what could happen if her undocumented parents were deported. She can't imagine her three younger siblings moving to Mexico, where she was born. They don't speak Spanish and are U.S. citizens. American life, she said, "is all they know." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her parents, who fled gang violence and and poverty in their town, now work in a factory. When he first arrived in the U.S., her father did backbreaking work on farms and in slaughterhouses. Suarez had hoped to return to school to be able to teach nursing. But DACA's uncertain fate means she and other DACA recipients don't know if they will be allowed to work once their current two-year work permits expire. Some immigration lawyers are urging DACA recipients to renew their status right away if it expires any time in 2025. "I had so many goals, and I had this vision of how I wanted to advance my career," Suarez said. "It all kind of feels like its on hold because I don't know what's going to happen." More: Mass deportations would devastate dairy farming and other businesses Ending DACA is part of Trump administration's immigration plan For now, DACA allows about 530,000 young adults who came to the U.S. as children to stay and work here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Legal rulings from previous years mean DACA isn't accepting new applicants, but current recipients are unaffected, for now. Still, the Obama-era program was intended as a temporary solution, and there are no direct paths to permanent legal residency or citizenship for recipients. Advocates have urged Congress to pass a law codifying protections for these young people. With Trump coming in, and Republicans holding both houses of Congress, that is unlikely. Stephen Miller, who is set to be Trump's homeland security adviser and deputy chief of staff, has said the administration will again try to end DACA. Miller is an immigration hardliner who is a proponent of several policies that met legal challenges during Trump's last administration. Further, the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments last month in a lawsuit over DACA, though the judges have not yet ruled. If the program is struck down and the case is appealed to the Supreme Court, the Trump administration is not expected to defend it. Mario Rubio of Milwaukee came to the U.S. from Mexico City with his family in 2006. Young immigrant adults express fear post-election, lay some blame on Democrats For 23-year-old Mario Rubio, who immigrated to Madison in 2006 and now lives in Milwaukee, DACA gave him the chance to get a driver's license. And it now allows him to work legally for a south-side neighborhood nonprofit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, having to repeatedly renew his DACA status is "both time consuming and financially consuming," Rubio said. It costs at least $555 every two years to renew. He didn't see much hope for the program's survival in the coming years. Both Republican and Democratic administrations have disappointed Rubio. He noted that during the George W. Bush administration, he and his brothers were placed in a jail cell as children when they were caught crossing the border. But he also expressed dismay at Barack Obama's high deportation numbers. And for all the fear and uncertainty about what is to come, Suarez said, Democrats should have done a better job advocating for immigrants. DACA recipients, he said, felt like bargaining chips in a fraught political debate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: GOP Sen. Ron Johnson draws contrast with Donald Trump, calls mass deportation unrealistic More: They grew up legally in Wisconsin. Green card backlogs mean they may have to leave the U.S. Rubio and Suarez are part of a local advocacy group for young adults called Comite Sin Fronteras, or "Committee without Borders," which is part of the Milwaukee immigrant rights organization Voces de la Frontera. Group members gathered after the election to process their thoughts and emotions aloud. "A lot of people have reached their breaking points, and they're trying to find community," Rubio said. Fernanda Jimenez, 23, of Racine, got into the DACA program just under the wire, before new applications were denied. Facing uncertain futures, DACA recipients double down on activism Still, the young adults who gathered came to a conclusion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We're tired of fighting, but we're also not going to give up," said Fernanda Jimenez, 24, of Racine. "We know that there's too much to give up." Jimenez, a grant writer and the lead organizer of the Comite Sin Fronteras, wants to help not just DACA recipients, but those with no protection from deportation: undocumented parents and relatives, plus people who came of age after the window to apply for DACA closed. Jimenez got in just under the wire. She applied in 2016 when she was 15 years old, shortly before Trump took office the first time. She has friends who turned 15 later and never got the chance to apply. More: 'Power to change the world': How a Racine teacher blended teaching and student activism Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Groups like the Comite are pledging to prepare immigrants for what's ahead. That means offering resources, but also speaking out publicly on the issue. They're working to organize rallies and other events as Trump transitions to power. Jimenez said she's heard some people are thinking about choosing to leave the country, to get out before they are forced. Many others are thinking about how to respond in the event of a mass deportation sweep. She's been clear with her family, she said. She doesn't want to leave the U.S., and she doesn't want them to leave either. They should not give up on the country where they've spent most of their lives, Jimenez told them. "We've provided our labor, our culture, everything to this country," she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How the next four years will play out is uncertain. And how much success advocates will have in keeping DACA in place, or stopping families from being separated by deportation, remains to be seen. Jimenez is ready to do what she can. "We won't leave without a fight," she said. Sophie Carson is a general assignment reporter who reports on religion and faith, immigrants and refugees and more. Contact her at scarson@gannett.com or 920-323-5758. This story was updated to add a video. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Trump's plan to end DACA means fear, uncertainty for young immigrants PUTNAM, Conn. (WTNH) A hundred years later, a Putnam mans act of bravery could lead to a nuclear submarine being named in his honor. Torpedoman 2nd Class Henry Breault was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Calvin Coolidge in 1924, making him the first and only enlisted submariner to receive the award. Now, a local effort is underway to add another accolade to that list. Henry Breault was a great individual who actually managed to do an extraordinary thing under extraordinary pressures, said Ryan C. Walker, the director of the USS Henry Breault Association and the author of The Silent Services First Hero, which is about Breault. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Walker has started a petition to name a Virginia-class submarine after Breault. To date, it has more than 1,750 signatures. If successful, the USS Henry Breault would be the submarine to be named after a sailor. A submarine folk hero Breault was born on Oct. 14, 1900 in Putnam to Joseph and Flora Breault. He died on Dec. 7, 1941, of a heart condition in Newport, Rhode Island, and was buried in the old section of Putnams Saint Marys Cemetery. The USS O-5 was traveling from the Atlantic side of the Panama Canal to perform fleet exercises in the Pacific when it was hit by another vessel. With a hole now punched into its side, the USS O-5 sank within a minute. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Breault was in the torpedo room at the time and was able to make it topside. But, instead of jumping overboard to save himself, he rushed back into the torpedo room to rescue a shipmate who was trapped, and gave another submariner time to escape. Chief Electricians Mate Lawrence Brown didnt know how bad the crash was and likely thought it was a hard wave. He and Breault were able to close the watertight door to the room before the battery compartment exploded. They were then trapped inside the room for 31 hours before being rescued by a salvage party. Its very dark in the torpedo room, Walker said. Its very tight. There is water up to their ankles, 12 inches of water, and they only had a flashlight. They didnt have food or water, and estimated they had enough oxygen for 48 hours (although Walker suspects it was actually 36 hours). The battery compartments explosion created hydrogen gas and a fire. It was heating up, already sweltering hot from being Panama in October. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For the first six hours, they likely didnt hear much as they banged on the walls. I think people forget, this was an era where we didnt know what submarine escape was, Walker said. The Navy experimented in 1910 with escaping by going out of torpedo tubes, but there was a fatal flaw one person would have to remain behind. I think thats important to the story, Walker said. Lawrence Brown and Henry Breault looked and each other and said, Its either one of us, or none of us. Neither man ever fully recovered from the sinking. Breault almost died and was holding his breath when the hatch was finally opened. He perforated a lung, which Walker suspects that had an impact on his early death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While some of the other submariners said theyd never step foot in one again, Breault said that the sinking did not bother me at all, according to a letter he wrote. However, Walker notes in a paper published in the International Journal of Maritime History, theres questions on if the letter is authentic. Naming submarines Virginia-class submarines, also known as the SSN-774, have been commissioned to replace the Los Angeles-class. The vessels are being built by General Dynamics Electric Boat in Groton and HII-Newport News Shipbuilding. There are currently three unnamed submarines int he pipeline. Currently, two existing submarines are named after former secretaries of the Navy John Warner and John Dalton. Another is named after Hyman Rickover, known as the father of the nuclear Navy. The other submarines are named after states, cities and fish. U.S. Navy awards Electric Boat $243 million for Virginia Class submarine program Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Naming a submarine is a multi-step process. The Naval History and Heritage Command compiles primary and alternate name recommendations and forwards those to the secretary of the Navy, who has the final say. Names can also be submitted by the public. New 8 reached out to the office of the secretary of the Navys office for comment, and did not receive a response. A growing possibility Walker, who tracks submarine names, flagged a potentially troubling trend. Some names, like Greenville, Miami and San Francisco, are known as major high-profile incidents for bad things. I am a little superstitious as a former sailor, so I always wondered what was going on with that, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As names shifted from exclusively being named after states, he saw the possibility to name one after a Medal of Honor recipient. He predicts that naming a ship after a sailor could help with military recruitment. It would also place an emphasis on the importance of a sailor to a ship. Now that the election cycle is over, Walker hopes to get politicians involved. New 8 reached out to Putnams mayor for comment, and did not receive a response. Lost to history Finding information on Breault is difficult. Walkers book relied heavily on official military documentation to paint a picture of the elusive submariners life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Breault was married by April 10, 1935 to a woman named Pearl, and adopted her daughter, Helen. From what Walker has been able to track down, he didnt have any biological children before he died at the age of 41. We didnt even know he was married prior to the publication of my book, Walker said. Some of the mystery around Breault could have been intentional. I think he insisted on being anonymous, Walker said. I dont think he wanted to be anything other than a good sailor. After the sinking, Breault requested to serve in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater in the Philippines for four years, perhaps to escape his publicity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It wasnt done under orders, Walker said. He was just doing what he thought he needed to get done. Theres another reason why Walker might have gone unrecognized. He died two days before the attack on Pearl Harbor, and likely got lost in the aftermath. From there, he went unrecognized by the Navy for decades. Walker has tried tracking down surviving family members without success. Whenever hes reached out to another Breault in the Putnam area, hes told that Henry is from the other Breault family. Connecticut Medal of Honor recipient dies Whats also lost is any artifacts linked to the sailor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We dont even have his Medal of Honor, Walker said. Two were created he filed for a new one to be created because he lost the other. Walker hopes people will start looking for Breaults artifacts if a submarine is named in his honor. That could include descendants of other sailors on the submarine who remember their great-grandfathers stories. Local efforts have worked to remember Breault. Theres a footbridge in his honor in Putnam, where theres support to recognize him. His legacy also lives on in the Naval Submarine Schools curriculum. Breault is a part of one of the first assignments new recruits are given as they do a scavenger hunt through the Submarine Force Museum. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. HARRISBURG, Pa. (WKBN) The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has lifted a ban on campfires in state parks and on forest lands. At the beginning of November, the dry weather increased the risk of wildfires. After the recent period of wet weather, that risk has decreased. Based on recent weather and forest conditions, and with rain and snow forecasted, DCNR is allowing campfires to resume in designated areas across state parks and forest lands, said DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Campfires are now permitted in fire rings that confine and contain the fire in designated camping areas. There may still be local open burning bans in effect, so you should check with your county or township governments before burning anything outside. Pennsylvanians are still encouraged to be careful whenever burning anything outside. To prevent wildfires: Keep fires small and contained Properly discard matches and fire starters Always have water, a shovel and a bucket nearby Never leave a campfire unattended Make sure all wood and coals are fully burned to ash Extinguish campfires completely Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. By Anna Mehler Paperny TORONTO (Reuters) - Canadian neurosurgeons in partnership with Elon Musk's Neuralink have regulatory approval to recruit six patients with paralysis willing to have a thousand electrode contacts in their brains. The trial, called CAN-PRIME, has started recruiting patients for a study that will test the safety and efficacy of a device that allows people to move cursors with their minds, a surgeon leading the trial said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Neuralink announced regulator Health Canada's approval this week. Neuralink has implanted two such devices in patients in the United States. Directors at Neuralink reached out to Toronto-based University Health Network neurosurgeon Andres Lozano a year ago, he told Reuters. He figures his experience with other forms of brain implants played a role. "Myself and our entire team jumped at the possibility of participating in this trial," Lozano said. The trial will use a two-ton robot to implant 64 electrodes, each with 16 contacts, into the hand-motor areas of patients' brains. The idea is that the electrodes will transmit activity in those areas so that by thinking about movement, the patient can make connected devices move. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To be eligible, individuals must have severe quadriplegia due to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or a spinal cord injury. They would have the surgery in Toronto and use the technology at home, said Lozano, who added he hopes to start in the new year. As the sponsor, Neuralink designed the electrodes and implantation system and will be decoding signals from the electrodes, while the doctors will be responsible for patient selection, surgery safety and health monitoring. "The surgery obviously is a necessary crucial step, but we will not be analyzing the data or doing anything with the data. That'll be up to the company to do that," Lozano said. Any procedure has risks and there is the possibility of complications, Lozano said. These include brain bleeds, infections, broken wires or wires that stop transmitting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In May Neuralink disclosed that wires had pulled out of position in its first patient - a problem sources told Reuters the company had known about for years. Neuralink did not respond to a request for comment. Health Canada confirmed it had issued an authorization on Nov. 15 but did not provide the study protocols. This intervention is likely years away from being available to the general public, said Brad Wouters, executive vice president of science and research at University Health Network. But Musk "has demonstrated the ability to move quickly," he said. This technology focuses on reading brain activity. But there is a possibility of "writing," too, Lozano said - of transmitting information so that, for example, visually impaired people can "see." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But safeguards need to be in place so the technology is not abused, he added. "There's this issue, also, of whether the systems could be hacked and someone could insert thoughts into you or read your thoughts," Lozano said, adding this is theoretical but "we have to put in the proper safeguards to ensure that this is done safely and properly." (Reporting by Anna Mehler Paperny; Editing by Caroline Stauffer and Jonathan Oatis) A train collided with a vehicle in Oconomowoc Friday afternoon, injuring the driver, according to Oconomowoc police. At 12:54 p.m., the Oconomowoc Police Department was notified that a train struck a vehicle at the train crossing near Summit Avenue at Main Street, according to a news release from the department. Oconomowoc police arrived at the scene along with the Western Lakes Fire Department and emergency medical services. The driver of the vehicle was injured and taken to a local hospital. The extent of the driver's injuries is not known. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two other vehicles were damaged as a result of the collision, police said. The occupants in those vehicles were not injured. The train involved in the incident was a Canadian Pacific freight train, police said. There were no injuries to anyone onboard the train. The Wisconsin State Patrol and the Canadian Pacific Railway Police also responded. The incident happened roughly three months after a bicyclist, Peter Roschtscha, was struck and killed by an Amtrak train in Oconomowoc on Aug 20. The circumstances leading to Friday's crash are currently under investigation, according to police. Canadian Pacific is cooperating with police for the investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Contact Adrienne Davis at amdavis@gannett.com. Follow her on X at @AdriReportss. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Driver injured when vehicle struck by train in Oconomowoc, police say The News The battle to lead the Democratic National Committee began the day after the election slowly, and politely. Former Maryland Gov. Martin OMalley declared his candidacy first, followed by Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party chairman Ken Martin. Wisconsin Democratic Party chair Ben Wikler is considering it; Latino strategist Chuck Rocha is talking about it; other Democrats are trying to talk Michigan state senator Mallory McMorrow and former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel into it. They would need to play catch-up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ive probably made about 275 calls so far, Martin told Americana on Thursday, estimating that a little over 100 of the partys 450-odd voting members now support him. As president of the Association of State Democratic Committees, Martin worked for years with fellow state chairs on what he called the 57 state party strategy (the states, DC, and territories), funding them year-round. His basic pitch: We need to get the DNC out of DC. The View From Ken Martin Americana: Whats your analysis of what happened to Democrats in non-swing states this year? The Harris campaign poured resources into Wisconsin because it was competitive, and Harris got 37,000 more votes than Biden. In Minnesota, it wasnt competitive; Harris got 50,000 fewer votes than Joe Biden. What happened? Ken Martin: The national average, in terms of the swing to the right, was about 6%. Here in Minnesota, it was about 2%. It was a little bit more of a red trickle. While we lost two open seats, we only lost one incumbent in the state House in a year. We held the line. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But we did have a sort of A/B test of swing states and non-swing states, and I think that goes to show that what we need to be doing is investing in every race downballot. Legislative seats, city council, school boards, county board seats. That helps us up the ballot, too. But thats not where all the $2.5 billion went. One idea from the Unity Reform Commission, created after the 2016 election as a compromise between Hillary and Sanders forces, was to be fully transparent about party spending. Do you want to revisit that and have more transparency in how the DNC is spending money? There should be no sacred cows, right? We should be looking at everything. We should look at media spending. We should look at our ground operation. We should look at our targeting, our messages, our polling, our research, and have a critical eye of what worked and what didnt. I dont want to call that an autopsy because were not actually dead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here in Minnesota, Ive always believed that theres really nothing to hide. You pull back the curtain on the Wizard of Oz and see its just a guy its like that. When youre transparent and open, it sort of takes the mystery away. If were not transparent, the people that are giving us money, the grandma whos sending us $5 a month, were going to lose her trust. We do have to justify it. So why did Republicans do so well in greater Minnesota, outside of the Twin Cities and Duluth? What do Democrats need to do to be competitive there? We still have huge pockets in greater Minnesota that are Democratic, right? But we have been losing ground, for sure thats not an excuse. For the first time in modern history, the perceptions Americans have of the two major political parties has switched. The majority of Americans believe the Republican Party best represents the interests of the working class and the poor, and the Democratic Party is the party of the wealthy and the elites. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That is a deep challenge to our brand. Weve always been the party that fights for the working class. Weve always been the party that fights for the poor and for the marginalized and the oppressed. But clearly, thats not what people perceive. Working-class people and folks in rural communities dont see us talking about them. Whats the media part of this? Starting in 2007, Democrats said: Were not letting Fox News host our debates any more. In 2020, Bernie Sanders goes on Joe Rogan, and some outside groups say: He shouldnt have gone on a bigoted transphobes show. Thats absolutely dumb. Thats why I posted my op-ed after the election on Fox News. We have to be a party thats competing in every message environment and information environment. Its about showing up in all of these spaces and platforms where people are getting information. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My boys, who are 22 and 20 they get all of their news and information from TikTok. I still read a hard copy of the newspaper from front to back every morning. That probably makes me a little abnormal. We have to recognize that across the strata of generations in age, that people are getting information in different ways, and we have to be in those spaces. There should be no space that were afraid to bring our message to. Trump and the Republicans have been messaging since the 2020 election, spreading misinformation and disinformation on these platforms, using trusted validators, messengers that were already on these platforms, micro-influencers, people that they already knew and trusted. We are in a continual information environment that we have to start competing in better. Would you allow Fox News to host a presidential debate? I think thats a conversation we should have, right? It should be on the table. I think all that stuff battle-tests our candidates. It helps us reach out to people who are in those spaces. Being on some of these platforms doesnt mean you subscribe to their belief system or what theyre saying. Its not about legitimizing their viewpoints, its about making sure that people are hearing our viewpoints. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I want to make it very clear: I dont think we should be chasing Republican votes. Thats because I think thats a failed strategy. But we shouldnt be afraid to be on any of these platforms to get our message out. In early 2023, the DNC passed a resolution basically saying: Biden is our nominee. We wont sanction debates. You had RFK Jr. out there in the wilderness, eventually just quitting the party. Was it a mistake to endorse him and close that down? Look, we cant go back. Its an academic exercise, right? There was a primary, you know, Dean Phillips ran in it, and he lost. Joe Biden won. So to suggest that there wasnt a primary just isnt accurate. There was, and people had an opportunity to compete in that. Our party, in primaries throughout the country, decided that Joe Biden should be our nominee. The process was open, it was fair, it was what it was. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But we have to use this opportunity right now to make sure that as we go into 2028, which will be an open primary, that the process is open and fair and transparent to anyone that wants to participate in it. Even if the vice president decided to run? Of course. Leaving out Jaime Harrison: Who was the best chair of the DNC? Who would be your model? Howard Dean, for sure. I think hes been the best party chair weve ever had. He had to tell a lot of power brokers in D.C.no, and he did it. And his record of success during that time was tremendous. If Im successful in being elected to chair, I really hope to serve in the same sort of vein that he did. The Republican candidate for a Roseville-area seat in the Minnesota House who accused his Democratic-Farmer-Labor rival who won the election of not living in the district is asking a court to overturn the election results. In a lawsuit filed in Ramsey County District Court, House District 40B candidate Paul Wikstrom claims Curtis Johnson, who won the Nov. 5 election by 30 percentage points, does not reside in the 450-square foot Roseville studio apartment he listed on his candidate paperwork and still resides in his five-bedroom house in Little Canada. Minnesotas Constitution requires legislative candidates to live in their district for six months before an election to be eligible to run. Wikstrom, of Shoreview, is asking a judge to nullify the results of the Nov. 5 election before the start of the 2025 legislative session and asking for a special election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The challenge could potentially affect the balance of power in the soon-to-be split Minnesota House, where DFLers and Republicans won 67 seats in this years election leaving questions about who will control the chambers agenda. Johnson, a member of the Roseville School Board, has owned a house with his wife in Little Canada since 2017, and says he got an apartment at Rosedale Estates in District 40B in March. The apartment complex is on Rice Street in Roseville, about a mile and a half southwest of his familys home. Lawsuit A month of daily surveillance of Johnsons home, a lack of normal activity at his apartment, and other evidence, such as a lack of utility hookups, proves Johnson didnt actually live in the district and never intended to, Wikstrom claims in his court filing. Johnsons behavior establishes a material violation of election laws because he falsely represented to the Secretary of State in his affidavit of candidacy regarding his residency, and to the voters within State House District 40B that he resided in the District, the lawsuit said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Johnson hasnt listed his Little Canada home for sale, though hes said he and his wife plan to do so and started talking to a realtor in March. In a statement, Johnson said he and his wife got an apartment as they searched for a new house in the district. As many Minnesotans know, the current housing market is tough, and its taken us longer than wed like to find our next home. I started renting, and I still live in a Roseville apartment as my primary residence while we keep searching for a forever home, he said. My wife and our youngest child still live in the house because we didnt want to disrupt our childs life by moving the rest of the family into my apartment and then moving them again after we found a house in Roseville. Johnson and Wikstrom were running for a seat held by outgoing DFL Rep. Jaime Becker-Finn of Roseville. District 40B includes Roseville and parts of Shoreview. Campaign issue During the campaign, Wikstrom ran advertisements claiming Johnson did not live in the Rice Street apartment. Wikstrom volunteers conducted a surveillance campaign on Johnsons house and apartment, taking notes, pictures and video. Volunteers visited the property more than 60 times between Aug. 31 and Nov. 11, and have filed sworn statements on their findings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Between Sept. 16 and Oct. 14 they watched Johnsons Little Canada house daily, and found that Johnsons primary vehicle was parked in the driveway at the house every morning and evening, according to the lawsuit. A neighbor said she saw Johnson leave the house around 9 a.m. and return around 6 p.m. most weekdays. Volunteers also watched the apartment and never saw lights turned on, according to the lawsuit. The two internet service providers who offer service in the building told campaign volunteers that there was no service set up at the address associated with Johnson. Tenants are expected to pay electricity bills to Xcel Energy, property managers told the volunteers, but the utility said no individual was getting billed at the apartment, and that they considered the unit a demonstration apartment used for showings, the lawsuit claims. During the campaign, Wikstrom claimed that by the time he had enough evidence to file a challenge to Johnsons residency claims it was too close to the election. At the time, he wouldnt say whether he would file a challenge after the election. Previous residency cases Candidates have been removed from the ballot for residency reasons before. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2016, the state Supreme Court disqualified Chisago County GOP Rep. Bob Barrett after activists gathered evidence that Barrett did not actually live in the Taylors Falls rental home listed on his candidate paperwork. To prove it, they visited the property 30 times over 15 days, the Pioneer Press reported. Because Barrett was disqualified less than 80 days before the election, state law required a February special election. Results of the election where Barretts name was on the ballot were nullified. If Johnson is disqualified from representing District 40B by the start of the session in January, it could break the partisan tie in the House and give Republicans a temporary majority. Pending a recount in another race, the House is set to be split 67-67 for the first time since 1979, and party leaders have been negotiating power-sharing agreements. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This story has been updated to include a response from Johnson. Related Articles GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) A Grand Rapids shelter held a candlelight vigil Thursday night to raise awareness of youth homelessness across the state and the country. Covenant House, which has 34 locations across the country and two in Michigan, serves young people. It works to offer the stability they need to change their circumstances and move forward with their lives. Covenant House helps youths overcome homelessness, find purpose Covenant House Grand Rapids holds a candlelight vigil on Nov. 21, 2024. Thursday evenings vigil featured stories of those who are staying at their facility, those who have moved on and staff members. Dozens in the community also gathered to sing songs and light candles for the youth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Klear Davis, 25, told News 8 that he had been homeless for much of his young adult life. It was not until he walked into Covenant House that he was able to turn his life around. I guarantee you that most, if not all of them inside of that building have been through what I have been through, if not worse. And they had to come out of it one way or another, so they are trying to push that on the youth, Davis said. You cant help anybody else without helping yourself, and no one is going to help you unless you help yourself. Covenant House shelters around 2,300 young adults across the country on any given night. Students facing homelessness find help at GVSU Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement About one month ago, Davis left Covenant House after he was able to find permanent housing. He is now living in his new apartment with his best friend. He said he has a new perspective and a new goal, living his life to the fullest. Look at where I am now in the matter of a month. Anything is possible, anything in the world is possible, he said. Its living now, not surviving as I was before. I can finally see the hope inside my future. As candlelight filled the night sky, speakers said it represented more than just light in darkness it represented hope for the youth. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. TAIYUAN, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- Xiaoxitian Temple in north China's Shanxi Province is renowned for its nearly 2,000 extraordinary suspended sculptures in one single hall, which have captured much attention and gone viral on social media. Join Xinhua for a closer look. BALDWIN COUNTY, Ala. (WKRG) Baldwin Preparatory Academy students are going to get more hands-on experience in the automotive industry as Terry Thompson Chevrolet is donating a car to the school. According to a news release from the car dealership, they will be donating a brand new 2024 Chevy Trailblazer to the school at 9 a.m. on Dec. 2. New funding from the state helps domestic violence victims in Mobile Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials with the dealership said this donation, which will help students in Baldwin Preps Automotive Technology Program, was their chance to give back to the community. We feel it is an obligation to give back to the community, and this vehicle will be used for educational purposes in their automotive technology program, Terry Thompson said. This program is cutting edge where graduates can be ASE certified technicians upon graduation, and its our privilege to be associated with the academy. Students in the program will be able to learn diagnostics, repair and maintenance with the car. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Editors Note: This story has been updated with information from the Alabama Department of Corrections and Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey. ATMORE, Ala. (WKRG) 50-year-old Carey Dale Grayson was executed by nitrogen hypoxia Thursday evening at the Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore, Alabama. Grayson, who fought the restraints, was the third nitrogen hypoxia execution in the state. He was pronounced dead at 6:33 p.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mayor Sandy Stimpson announces changes to executive leadership team When the curtains opened at 6:06 p.m., Grayson was strapped to a gurney wearing a full-face mask. When Holman Correctional Facility Warden Terry Raybon asked Grayson what his final words were, Grayson responded, Uh yeah, for you, you need to f*** off. His microphone was muted as he continued. That was enough, Alabama Department of Corrections Commissioner John Q. Hamm said. Hes cussed out most of our employees tonight, so were not going to give him the opportunity to just spew that profanity. At 6:11 p.m. Grayson raised both middle fingers just before gas was administered. He was approached by his spiritual advisor, who appeared to calm him down, and he gave a thumbs up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Semmes man accused of pepper spraying, shooting his stepdaughters boyfriend: Police Shortly after, Graysons body began to twitch as he appeared to let out a brief yell. At 6:14 p.m., Graysons legs rose into the air for about 30 seconds before lowering back down to the gurney. His fists appeared to be clinched tightly. The first movements he was doing and all of that, in our opinion and other staff, that was all show, Hamm said. At 6:15 p.m., Graysons hand relaxed, a sign that he could have slipped out of consciousness. From 6:13 p.m. to 6:20 p.m., Grayson appeared to gasp for air 14 times. Each gasp was spaced 15 to 30 seconds apart. His last gasp was smaller than the rest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New funding from the state helps domestic violence victims in Mobile You are going to have involuntary body movement in the nitrogen hypoxia executions, Hamm said. Grayson appeared to stop breathing at 6:21 p.m. The curtains closed at 6:27 p.m., six minutes before he was pronounced dead. Hamm said nitrogen flowed through Graysons mask for about 15 minutes. He flatlined after about 10 minutes. Navigating negative mental health during the holiday season Grayson was sentenced to death for the brutal 1994 murder of 37-year-old Vicki DeBlieux in Odenville, Alabama. Vickie DeBlieux was hitchhiking from Chattanooga, Tennessee, to her mothers house in West Monroe, Louisiana, but she never made it due to the actions of Carey Dale Grayson and three others. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont know what it is like to have a mother going through life, Jodi Haley, DeBlieuxs daughter, said. Haley was 12 when her mother was killed. Prosecutors said four boys, who were teenagers at the time, took DeBlieux to a wooded area and beat her to death. The group then cut DeBlieuxs fingers off before throwing her body off a cliff. Judge grants mistrial in Sheila Agee trial due to unhinged juror Grayson and his friends returned to the body later to mutilate it even further. Investigators narrowed in on the group when one of the boys showed a friend one of DeBlieuxs severed fingers and boasted about the killing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Grayson, who was 19 at the time, was the only one from the group to be sentenced to death. The U.S. Supreme Court overruled the death penalty for the other three teenagers because they were under the age of 18 at the time of the murder. Instead, they were sentenced to life in prison. Society failed this man as a child, and my family suffered because of it, Haley said. Grayson submitted appeals in hopes of getting out of nitrogen hypoxia, calling for more scrutiny of the new method. He was the third inmate in the state of Alabama to be executed with the new method. Some 30 years ago, Vicki DeBlieuxs journey to her mothers house and ultimately, her life, were horrifically cut short because of Carey Grayson and three other men, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey said. She sensed something was wrong, attempted to escape, but instead, was brutally tortured and murdered. Even after her death, Mr. Graysons crimes against Ms. DeBlieux were heinous, unimaginable, without an ounce of regard for human life and just unexplainably mean. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An execution by nitrogen hypoxia bares no comparison to the death and dismemberment Ms. DeBlieux experienced, Gov. Ivey continued. I pray for her loved ones that they may continue finding closure and healing. According to ADOC, Grayson had 11 visitors and three phone calls on Wednesday. He had three visitors and two phone calls on Thursday. An ADOC news release said Grayson refused his breakfast and lunch trays on Thursday. His final meal was soft tacos, beef burritos, tostada, chips, guacamole and Mountain Dew Blast. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Veteran political strategist James Carville and former RNC chief Ronna McDaniel agree that former President Trumps controversial administration picks shouldnt surprise anyone. He said he was gonna do this, Carville, who served as a senior adviser for former President Clinton, said Thursday on NewsNations CUOMO. Look, he won the election saying he would be as disruptive as he possibly could, he added. This shouldnt be a surprise to anyone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McDaniel emphasized that voters are focused on the economy, and on tangible results. People are hurting in this country, she told host Chris Cuomo. This was an election about the economy. If they get the job done if they fix the border, bring costs down, and are effective nobodys going to remember what happened during this nomination process. Success, she argues, can overshadow previous challenges, as people value meaningful change. Trump is rapidly filling his new administration with high-ranking nominations announced almost every day since his win. Rapid fire appointments include billionaire ally Elon Musk and former rival Vivek Ramaswamy to lead the new Department of Government Efficiency together and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as the head of the Department of Health and Human Services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) has withdrawn his name from the running for attorney general following controversy over his nomination. Gaetz announced on X that he had made the decision to bow out after meeting with senators for feedback. While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition, he wrote. There is no time to waste on a needlessly protracted Washington scuffle, thus Ill be withdrawing my name from consideration to serve as Attorney General. Trumps DOJ must be in place and ready on Day 1, he added in the post. Carville said he wasnt surprised at what happened to Gaetz, adding that he thinks more stuff is coming out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I have a firm belief that human nature of this type is repetitive, he said. NewsNation is owned by Nexstar Media Group, which also owns The Hill. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. KANSAS CITY, Kan. (WDAF/NEXSTAR) Respiratory infections caused by a bacteria known as Mycoplasma pneumoniae have been increasing in recent months, leading to widespread cases of a condition known as walking pneumonia, according to the CDC. Infections resulting in walking pneumonia are generally less severe than pneumonia, with many patients going their daily routines without initially realizing they have it. Symptoms also start out mild in the first week before getting progressively worse; they include a cough, sore throat, headache, and/or fever. People with pneumonia caused by M. pneumoniae can seem better than expected for someone with a lung infection, the CDC writes. With mild symptoms, people may not stay home or in bed. Thus, the phrase walking pneumonia was coined. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement STD epidemic slows as new syphilis and gonorrhea cases fall in US In October, the CDC wrote that since late spring, the number of infections caused by walking pneumonia has been increasing, especially among young children. In fact, the CDC is seeing more cases nationally than it has since the pandemic began in early 2020. The exact number of cases is hard to determine, as walking pneumonia isnt a condition that is required to be reported to public health departments. The CDC does, however, have data from the National Syndromic Surveillance Program (NSSP), which collects patient information and diagnoses from emergency departments across the country. NSSP data isnt available publicly, but the CDC has confirmed that several Health and Human Services (HHS) regions are reporting higher case numbers than others. Specifically, the highest levels were reported in HHS Regions 2, 6, and 7, which cover: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands (Region 2) Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas (Region 6) Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska (Region 7) While still increasing, the lowest increases were reported in HHS regions 8, 9, and 10, which include: Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming (Region 8) Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Marshall Islands, and Republic of Palau (Region 9) Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington (Region 10) Its important to note that while the National Syndromic Surveillance Program collects data from the vast majority of emergency departments, it isnt 100%, so there may be regions of the country with more or less reporting, the CDC said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Doctors at a Kansas City hospital told Nexstars WDAF that kids are among the most at-risk. Every three to four years immunity to mycoplasma waxes and wanes. Now the immunity has waned and were seeing more kids clustered together, so were seeing a higher rate of walking pneumonia in children especially, Dr. Shawn Sood, a pediatric intensivist at KU Health, said. Last year I feel like RSV was higher, two years prior COVID, and now were facing more mycoplasma cases, he added. Sood explained that since symptoms start with a minor cough or sore throat, infected kids go to school and spread it, not realizing theyre sick. Walking pneumonia is also a bacterial infection and not a virus, so theres no vaccine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If your childs having this lingering cough, sore throat, or fever have them checked out, Sood urged. James Balmer, a music teacher who spoke with WDAF, is currently recovering from his own 10- to 12-day bout with the illness. Hes noticed many of his elementary students coming down with respiratory illnesses over the last month. Youll see one or two [students] out for two or three days, Balmer said. When asked if he wished parents would keep sick kids at home, he quickly replied that he did. E. coli cases climb in McDonalds outbreak tied to slivered onions Milder cases of M. pneumoniae infection usually clear up on their own, the CDC says, but antibiotics may be used to treat the infections in some cases. The bacteria is naturally resistant to some antibiotics, so judicious use is recommended. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Over-the-counter medicines can help you feel better while youre recovering, the CDC says. If more severe cases of M. pneumoniae infection are left untreated, they can lead to permanent lung damage, or in rare cases, neurological issues like seizures or a wobbly walk., Sood said. Weve also seen kids who had untreated walking pneumonia with severe respiratory symptoms, said Sood, who added that a lot of these kids have asthma, or have required a ventilator. Several children were in the KU Healths UCI with respiratory illnesses at the time Sood spoke with WDAF. He expects cases to only increase as kids spend more time indoors during the winter months, especially with holiday break coming up and families traveling. Children who are suspected to be sick with M. pneumoniae infection should be taken to their pediatrician immediately, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Legal advocacy groups on Friday accused Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., of preemptively surrendering to Republicans with the deal he cut late Thursday night, which would forfeit four Democratic circuit court nominees in order to prioritize 13 district court nominees, further ceding appellate court appointments to Republicans. According to the Associated Press, the deal outlines a plan for the Senate to vote to confirm 13 more district court judges before the upper chamber adjourns in December. If the Senate votes to confirm all of these nominees, President Joe Biden will have successfully appointed 234 judges to federal courts the same number of judges that President-elect Donald Trump appointed in his first term. As part of the deal, Republicans have agreed to the schedule. Previously, they were forcing procedural votes in order to slow down the confirmation process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The issue with the deal, however, is that all of the judges will be district court judges rather than circuit court judges, meaning that Republicans will likely get to appoint the replacements for the four pending vacancies on the circuit court level, potentially giving Republicans even more control over the federal judiciary on the appellate level. News of the deal was met with immediate criticism from groups like the American Constitution Society and its president, former Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis., who told Salon that it is extremely frustrating to hear the reported deal on circuit court nominees. The White House has nominated extremely qualified individuals for these seats and the Senate needs to do its job and hold votes on all of these nominees, Feingold said. All public officials need to be prepared to fight against the extremism that will come when Trump returns to office and retreating in advance is a dangerous precedent to set. There are currently four circuit court nominees awaiting a floor vote in the Senate: Adeel Abdullah Mangi, who was nominated for the Third Circuit; Karla M. Campbell, who was nominated for the Sixth Circuit; Julia M. Lipez, who was nominated for the First Circuit; and Ryan Young Park, who was nominated for the Fourth Circuit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Feingold, the deal paves the way for the incoming administration to install more conservative extremist judges on powerful courts of appeal, which in the past eight years have ruled again and again against the rights of Americans on issues ranging from reproductive freedom to voting rights. All of these lifetime appointments will affect our rights for generations to come. Maggie Jo Buchanan, the managing director of the liberal advocacy group Demand Justice, called the deal categorically unacceptable. These are critical seats that have real impacts on everyday Americanswe cannot allow Trump to fill them with radical extremists, Buchanan said. If Democratic Senators are already rolling over this easily while they still have power, we are in for trouble when Trump actually assumes office. We need leadership thats up for a fightand that starts now. Russell Wheeler, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, however, pointed out that two of the circuit court nominees, Campbell and Park, are for future vacancies, meaning the outgoing justices could decide to stay on the court through the next presidential election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is precedent for them simply withdrawing their intention to leave senior status, Wheeler said. If this deal will get possibly 13 more district judges through I think it's all in all a good thing for the Democrats. Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course. Wheeler also noted that there has been opposition within the Democratic caucus to Mangis nomination by both Democratic senators from Nevada, Jacky Rosen and Catherine Cortez Masto. Wheeler noted that, without inside information on how senators planned to vote on these circuit court nominees, its hard to know whether they might have been able to get them through or not. Carl Tobias, a law professor at the University of Richmond, told Salon that its not clear whether Rosen and Cortez Masto, who are up for re-election in six and four years respectively, would have maintained their opposition of Mangi. The doubts about Mangis ability to get confirmed, combined with the two future vacancies makes it look like a less bad deal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whats not clear to me is that none of those four nominees were going to be confirmed, Tobias said. The other Democrats who lost have all been there to vote, Tester, Brown, and Casey, and Manchin have been voting for some of the nominees as has Sinema. Tobias said that Mangis confirmation, in particular, could have been important in tipping the balance on the third circuit from Republican appointees to Democratic appointees. The only one who I think may not have gotten an affirmative vote is Mangi, Tobias said. But there's a big caveat to that. I wasnt in the room when the deal was cut. I don't know what Democrats know and I don't know what Republicans know and a lot of that is not public information. Editors note: This story has been updated to clarify the legal proceedings involved in this case. (NewsNation) Veteran investigative journalist Catherine Herridge would love a face-to-face conversation with President-elect Donald Trump about freedom of the press, and remind him about how her own work benefited him eight years ago. If I didnt have confidential sources, and this credible pledge that I would protect their identity, I would never have been able to uncover the defects in the Russia collusion case. And I think that should really matter to President Trump, Herridge told NewsNations CUOMO on Thursday. Best Prime Day Deals for 2024: Big Black Friday savings are already live shop the best here Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The best gifts currently on sale for under $50 Stock up on stocking stuffers while theyre cheap BestReviews is reader-supported and may earn an affiliate commission. Herridges reporting for Fox News questioned the investigations into alleged collusion between the 2016 Trump campaign and Russia. Her reporting drew praise from Trump. Trump Cabinet picks shouldnt surprise anyone: James Carville Herridges desire for a meeting with the president-elect comes as journalists press the Senate to approve the Press Act, which would protect reporters from government agencies spying on their activities. The bill unanimously passed the House in January but has been stalled in the Senate. Trump recently urged Republican senators to oppose the measure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Herridge is also busy trying to stay out of debt and out of jail. Earlier this week, a three-judge panel heard Herridges appeal of her refusal to reveal her sources in a series of stories in 2017 about the founder of a military school in Virginia. Herridge linked the owner to Chinas Peoples Liberation Army; the owner then sued the government and subpoenaed Herridge to reveal her sources. Herridge has refused. South Dakota Republican introduces bill to eliminate Department of Education This case involves the First Amendment and the right of reporters in the future, she said. During that suit, a judge found Herridge in contempt and levied an $800-a-day fine against her, but delayed enforcement pending appeal. At this weeks appeal hearing, the panel appeared skeptical of Herridges arguments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Confidential sources are just vital to investigative journalism, Herridge said. If you dont have a credible pledge of confidentiality for your sources, then your toolbox as an investigator is empty. No government official, no whistleblower with firsthand knowledge of government corruption or wrongdoing will come forward, she added. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. Nov. 22A year ago today the world was watching events unfolding in Niagara Falls. A fiery crash at the Rainbow Bridge's U.S. border plaza quickly stoked fears of a sinister plot as law enforcement shut down the international span and other local border crossings. With a heightened sense of tension in the world, news of the bridge's shutdown quickly traveled across the globe. "The world is watching what happened here," Gov. Kathy Hochul said later that day after she traveled to the Falls for a press conference. "At a time when there is such high anxiety stress levels are high and we've been on heightened alert since Oct. 7, that's why it's so important for me to stand here and tell the world that based on what we know at this moment, and again, anything can change, there is no sign of terrorist activity with respect to this crash." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the end, it was determined that what had first been reported as a possible terrorist attack was actually a horrific car crash. The criminal investigation into an explosive accident was closed in July when the Niagara Falls Police Department's Crash Management Unit's (CMU) probe of the fatal crash ended without a determination of what caused the accident. Those sources said the investigation of the crash could be reopened "if new evidence becomes available." The crash victim's were identified as Kurt P. Villani and Monica Villani, both 53, of Grand Island. The Villani family are the owner's Gui's Lumber and seven Ace Hardware stores in Western New York. The couple was reportedly on their way to Toronto to attend a concert at the time of the crash. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators said a review of video evidence amassed by the Niagara Intelligence & Crime Analysis Center (NICAC) in the Falls showed the Villanis' car traveling down Niagara Street toward the bridge. The vehicle appeared to be traveling at a very high rate of speed as it entered the bridge plaza, on the toll booth side, where cars were backed up entering into Canada. A five-second clip of video, released by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and taken by a bridge security camera, shows the Villani's car speeding onto the entrance of the bridge, striking a concrete barrier and then going airborne. That video did not show the impact of the vehicle in front of the customs' inspection booths. Witnesses on the bridge said the car pancaked onto the plaza pavement and exploded into a ball of flames and smoke that destroyed one of the CBP booths. A CPB officer inside the booth escaped the destruction with only minor injuries. The debris field on the bridge covered a wide area on the customs' inspection side of the border crossing. The luxury car exploded into thousands of pieces of twisted metal, shattered glass and melted plastic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The recovered parts of the vehicle were enough to "fill a construction dumpster." Still, crash investigators said much of the vehicle was incinerated in the heat of the fire that engulfed the car. Among the parts that were not found were the car's black box data recorder. Investigators said that the data recorders in automobiles, unlike airplanes, are not built to withstand explosions and fire. One investigator also said that the data on the recorder would have been of limited value in determining what caused the crash. Law enforcement sources said the car's manufacturer, Bentley Motors, was "less than cooperative" in the investigation. One source said a request for technical data about the car and its maintenance was rebuffed by Bentley, with a representative of the manufacturer saying a subpoena would be required to release that information. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What remains of the vehicle has now reportedly been turned over to insurance investigators. Without a final determination by police on the cause of the crash, the two prevailing theories of what happened remain a possible medical emergency involving the driver or a catastrophic mechanical failure. (NewsNation) Investigators in Russia are looking into the death of Vladimir Shklyarov, a principal dancer at the world-famous Mariinsky Ballet in St. Petersburg, after he fell from an apartment block balcony and died at the age of 39. Police say initial information suggests his fall, which was discovered early Saturday morning, was the result of an accident, state media have reported. Some Kremlin critics highlighted what they said was a condemnation of the Ukraine war made by Shklyarov in 2022 and posted on Facebook by someone else. However, Shklyarovs own social media feed currently contains no such post. A Reuters analysis was unable to verify the authenticity of the post made in his name. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prolific Mexican cartel leader allegedly faked his own death to live life of luxury Bill Browder an investment advisor to the Hermitage Fund, which was formerly the largest foreign portfolio investor in Russia said Kremlin critics have an unfortunate history of fatal falls. In Russia, when youre dealing with somebody who is opposed to Putin, and they die suddenly and from falling out a window, you would look at all the circumstances and assume foul play until you rule it out, Browder told NewsNation. And you know when you mentioned that they were waiting for an investigation, well, whos going to conduct the investigation? But if he indeed was murdered, then the people who murdered him (would lead the investigation). Browder said hes dealt with similar threats firsthand. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I know all about it because many of the people close to me have been murdered by the Putin regime, he said. Theyve threatened me with death. And so this is a murderous mafia state that kills anybody who stands in their way. Reuters contributed to this report. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. CELINA, Ohio (WDTN) A Celina woman was arrested on drug charges following a search warrant on her residence. According to the Mercer County Sheriffs Office, deputies conducted a traffic stop just after 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 20. The vehicle had been stopped for a traffic violation, but information obtained during the stop led deputies to request a search warrant of a local home. After the search warrant was granted by a Mercer County judge, deputies arrived in the 800 block of Sycamore Street to execute the warrant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the search, authorities found several grams of methamphetamines and drug paraphernalia. Deputies arrested a 33-year-old Celina woman on drug charges. She had previously been jailed for possession of drugs earlier this year. She is now being held at the Mercer County Adult Detention Facility without bond. The Mercer County Sheriffs Office was assisted by members of the Grand Lake Drug Task Force. Prosecutors for the county will review the case for any additional charges. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com. WACO, TX (FOX 44) The Central Texas African-American Chamber of Commerce celebrated its 20th Annual Awards Banquet on Thursday, recognizing individuals and businesses with outstanding dedication and service to the community. The Rising Star Award recognizes young adults in the community who exhibit leadership and passion, whether through owning a business, working with nonprofits, or being actively involved in service. The Chambers coordinator for the Center of Business Excellence, Jocelyn Williams, emphasized the importance of celebrating these individuals who inspire others through their hard work and dedication. For that particular award, we kind of just look at those in the young adult community who are the rising stars, who are movers and shakers within the community, Williams said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Among the honorees was Tonee Shelton, a self-published author and poet from Waco, who was awarded the Rising Star Award for her contributions to both the literary world and her local community. Shelton, known for her poetry and book tours across Central Texas, has touched the hearts of many with her words. She has held numerous book readings and signings, creating spaces for others to feel heard, seen, and valued. Shelton says her writing serves as an avenue for connection and healing, particularly for those whose voices have often gone unheard. I love helping people. I love getting to know people. And poetry is just another strategy, an avenue to do that, to connect with people, to allow them to feel seen and heard, Shelton said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shelton, who has a strong connection to her hometown of Waco, credits the city for shaping her career and supporting her journey. Waco has been hard on me and its been beautiful to me and it is the reason that I launched my career. And so Im excited for whats next. And Ill always be able to say that Waco was my beautiful foundation, Shelton shared. Despite the challenges, Sheltons commitment to helping others and fostering the success of others in her community remains at the core of her work. The annual banquet is an opportunity for the Chamber to honor the contributions of community members and businesses, ensuring they feel seen, supported, and appreciated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This years ceremony continued the tradition of uplifting those who make a difference in Central Texas, with Shelton as a shining example of the power of hard work, dedication, and community spirit. I think the skys the limit for her, Williams added, looking ahead at Sheltons promising future. As Sheltons career continues to grow, she remains committed to amplifying her message and supporting others in their journeys, solidifying her place as a rising star in the Central Texas community. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KWKT - FOX 44. BEIJING, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- The remains of 43 Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs who lost their lives during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea will be returned to China from the Republic of Korea (ROK) in late November, according to China's Ministry of Veterans Affairs. This will mark the 11th repatriation of CPV martyrs' remains since the signing of a handover agreement between the two countries. From 2014 to 2023, China and the ROK, in accordance with international laws and humanitarian principles, successfully completed 10 consecutive handovers involving the remains of 938 CPV martyrs in the ROK, along with related artifacts. Both sides have agreed to continue their cooperation in these efforts. Almost 200,000 CPV soldiers were confirmed killed in the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea, with most interred on the Korean Peninsula. DAUPHIN COUNTY, Pa (WHTM) Central Dauphin School District says Swatara Middle School and Tri-Community Elementary are sending students home early today due to water pressure issues. According to the Central Dauphin School District, the middle school will be dismissed at noon on Nov. 22, and Tri-Community Elementary students will be dismissed at 1:00 p.m. The school district says all students will be fed lunch before being dismissed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No other schools in the district are being dismissed early at this time. This is a developing story. Stay with abc27 News as more information becomes available Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27. CENTRAL ILLINOIS (WCIA) As the winter weather approaches, warming centers in Central Illinois are available to ensure that no one is left out in the cold. Read on below to find out more about warming center locations near you: Champaign Co. warming centers, shelters offered ahead of weekend cold snap Champaign County The City of Champaign has a list of resources available on their website. They have shelters for adults and for families and children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Strides Low Barrier Shelter Strides provides year-round, full day, shelter services to adults. Its located at 70 E Washington, in Champaign. For more information, call 217-403-6150. C-U at Home C-U at Home is a 24/7 Mid-Barrier program that assists people who are experiencing homelessness that are eighteen and over. Houses eight women and sixteen men in a program can last up to 18 months. For more information contact C-U at Home at 217-819-4569 or visit the office Monday-Friday between 10:00 am-3:00 pm at 309 S Neil St. Crisis Nursery Crisis Nursery is an emergency-based childcare facility open 24 hours, 365 days a year serving ages birth through six. Families who may be experiencing a crisis are welcome to call to begin the process of scheduling care for their child or children at 217-337-2730. You can also text 217-636-4221. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Families with Urbana children Cunningham Township offers a 30 to 90-day program for families in the Urbana School District or Crisis Nursery. Eight families are able to participate at a time, so there is a needs-based waitlist. Program duration depends on participation in case management services and actively working towards finding stable housing. To participate, you must have a referral by Urbana School Counselor or Crisis Nursery. According to Keep Illinois Warm, there are nearly 20 other warming centers in the area. You can find more about their resources here. Location Address City State Zip SALVATION ARMY 360 LIFE CENTER 307 KICKAPOO ST LINCOLN IL 62656 DECATUR CIVIC CENTER 1 GARY K ANDERSON PLAZA DECATUR IL 62523 THE OASIS DAY CENTER 243 W CERRO GORDO ST DECATUR IL 62522 BLUE MOUND VILLAGE HALL 309 N RAILROAD AVE BLUE MOUND IL 62513 FORSYTH PUBLIC LIBRARY 268 S ELWOOD ST FORSYTH IL 62535 OREANA-WHITMORE COMMUNITY CENTER 407 S VIEW ST OREANA IL 62554 WARRENSBURG VILLAGE HALL 155 MAIN ST WARRENSBURG IL 62573 SALVATION ARMY DAYTIME WARMING CENTER 2212 N MARKET ST CHAMPAIGN IL 61822 STRIDES LOW BARRIER SHELTER 70 E WASHINGTON ST CHAMPAIGN IL 61820 THE DWELLING PLACE/FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 100 N FRANKLIN DANVILLE IL 61832 Location Address City State Zip CRIS HEALTHY AGING CENTER 309 N FRANKLIN DANVILLE IL 61832 DANVILLE VILLAGE MALL 2917 N VERMILION ST DANVILLE IL 61832 DANVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY 319 N VERMILION ST DANVILLE IL 61832 DANVILLE FAMILY YMCA 1111 N VERMILION ST DANVILLE IL 61832 FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST MINISTRY CENTER 503 N MAIN ST GEORGETOWN IL 61846 HOOPESTON CITY HALL 301 W MAIN ST HOOPESTON IL 60942 RIDGE FARM VILLAGE HALL 15 W WOODYARD AVE RIDGE FARM IL 61870 SHELBY COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT 1700 W SOUTH 3RD ST SHELBYVILLE IL 62565 PONTIAC RECREATION CENTER 900 N ELM ST PONTIAC IL 61764 Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com. CHIPPEWA FALLS A Chippewa Falls man accused of approaching two children, asking them to play with each other and then tried to lure them to a different area to play with them, has entered not guilty pleas. Michael C. Buttke, 32, 8986 Highway 124, appeared in Chippewa County Court on Wednesday for an arraignment on two counts of child enticement-sexual contact, three counts of disorderly conduct, and one count of bail jumping. Defense attorney Kerry Kelm told Judge Steve Gibbs that the two sides are close to an agreement, so Gibbs set a plea and sentencing date for Dec. 3. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A preliminary hearing was conducted earlier this month. After hearing from an investigator, Gibbs found probable cause that Buttke committed the crimes. Buttke remains incarcerated in the Chippewa County Jail on a $2,500 cash bond, which was reduced last month from $5,000. If Buttke posts bond, he cannot have contact with children or enter parks, and he must take medication prescribed to him. According to the criminal complaint, Buttke approached the two children on Aug. 22 at Marshall Park, where the Bernard Willi Municipal Pool is located. Mr. Buttke asked them to perform sit-ups, and offered them $500 if they would jumper cable each other, the complaint reads. (The children) declined the request. Mr. Buttke then provided them a rope and asked them to play tug of war with him. The victims stated that Mr. Buttke asked (them), each independently, and then together, if they would walk with him to another area, pointing to an area of brush that was secluded by the creek. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both children declined to go. The victims said the incident was weird, and that they felt uncomfortable during the incident. This was the second incident involving Buttke that month. On Aug. 12, police interviewed a 14-year-old girl about an incident that occurred behind a bar in the city. Buttke offered her $20.00 to go to the ground, and once on the ground, Mr. Buttke crossed his legs over hers, the complaint reads. (The girl) stated that Mr. Buttke then proceeded to tickle (her) armpits, and feet. (She) stated that Mr. Buttke also lifted her shirt and tickled her stomach. The girls mother reported Buttke had previously touched the girl. CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) CU at Home is getting ready and taking next steps to add a new homeless shelter in the community after Champaign City Council approved it Tuesday night. The organization is figuring out a timeline with the help of a construction company. Once its finalized, administrators and case workers will move into office space. Clients will be in the back part of the building where space will be created for residential living. Melissa Courtwright, CU at Homes executive director, said those living there will go through an interview process before moving in. Then, theyll be able to stay in the apartment-style living spaces for 12-18 months. During that time, theyll work to gain more stability and get back on their feet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From homelessness to mentoring: How CU at Home helped this man turn his life around One of the biggest things that were continuing to assess for is peoples motivation, she explained. Were looking for people who are at the where that theyre ready for a change and theyre ready to do all the necessary steps that it takes to make that change happen. This will be another mid-barrier shelter in addition to CU at Homes seven other locations. This new one will house 26 people. To Courtwright, this is important because the organization keeps getting phone calls from people who need a place to stay. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She understands that not everyone supports the proposal, but she wants the community to know that the goal is to be good neighbors. They want to live in a safe environment, they want an opportunity to do all the things that people in the surrounding residential areas have the opportunity to do every day, Courtwright added. To watch Tuesdays council meeting, click this link. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com. CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) The City of Champaign is feeling prideful after it earned a perfect score from an LGBTQ advocacy group. The Human Rights Campaign Foundation released its 2024 Municipal Equality Index. 506 cities were studied as a part of the analysis. City leaders announced Friday Champaign was one of 130 cities across the nation scored a perfect score this year. The city also achieved a perfect score in 2022 and 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The City of Champaign is honored to once again receive a perfect score in this years Municipal Equality Index, said Mayor Deborah Frank Feinen. The City Council and I are committed to ensuring Champaign remains a welcoming and safe place for our valued LGBTQ+ community members. This latest achievement shows how Champaign continues to be a leader by advancing laws and policies that promote an inclusive and diverse city that everyone can enjoy and call home. Carmons, other downtown Champaign venues under new ownership The scores come from 49 metrics like any local nondiscrimination laws, how the municipality treats its employees, what municipal services they offer, law enforcement regulations, and city leaderships public views on LGBTQ+ equality. The City of Champaign has been at the forefront of protecting the rights of LGBTQIA+ individuals since 1972 by prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, Champaigns LGBTQ+ Liaison Kris Koester said. The City organization remains committed to listening, learning, and working with our community to continue fostering that inclusivity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Also in Central Illinois, Peoria scored a 70, a slight decrease from 2023. Springfield earned a perfect score. The full index can be found on HRCs website. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com. CHICAGO Felony charges have been filed against a Chicago man accused of injuring another person in a shooting on the citys Southwest Side earlier this month. According to Chicago police, 44-year-old James Harris, a Chicago Lawn resident, has been charged with one felony count of aggravated battery with the discharge of a firearm and one felony count of armed habitual criminal. Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers said the charges stem from Harris role in a shooting that allegedly unfolded near his Southwest Side home. Authorities said on Sunday, Nov. 3, Harris allegedly opened fire on a 45-year-old man in the 6600 block of South Kedzie Avenue, leaving him injured. 44-year-old James Harris, a Chicago Lawn resident, has been charged with one felony count of aggravated battery with the discharge of a firearm and one felony count of armed habitual criminal. Currently, it is unclear what led to the shooting and authorities have not provided an update on the victims condition. LATEST CASES: Missing people in Chicagoland Police and the U.S. Marshals Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force eventually caught up with Harris and he was taken into custody in the 3100 block of West Mann Drive. Harris appeared in Court on Thursday for a detention hearing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS) A clinical social worker who ran a Charlotte-based healthcare group received a lengthy prison sentence after a trial jury found her guilty on multiple charges, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Western District of North Carolina announced on Friday. 42-year-old Charlotte resident and licensed clinical social worker Ashley Cross will serve more than 11 years after a federal jury found her guilty in May of multiple charges including healthcare fraud. Court records stated that from 2016 through 2021 Ms. Cross owned and operated Charlotte-based Odyssey Health Group. Under her leadership, the company submitted fraudulent reimbursement claims to SC Medicaid resulting in more than $1.2 million. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cross was also accused of COVID fraud involving an event planning company run by her boyfriend and co-conspirator resulting in more than $270,000 in PPP loans, court records showed. Cross is currently being held in federal custody. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS) Two Charlotte repairmen accused of not filing over $1.5 million in federal taxes have pled guilty to charges, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Western District of North Carolina announced. 43-year-old Charlotte resident David Quick, and former Charlotte resident Tony Christo, 33, both pled guilty to tax fraud charges on Friday Court records stated that from 2018 through 2021 both men worked as home repairmen and provided car repair services to elderly customers. The two men received over $1.5 million from customers and failed to report the income on tax returns. They did various jobs ranging from roofing to driveways. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The charges carry a maximum sentence of three years in prison. Both men are out on bond. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) A Cherokee man has been sentenced to three years in prison for possessing child porn. According to a release from the Department of Justice, Krystopher Cordeiro, 23, was sentenced on Wednesday. The release states that Cordeiro was in possession of the child porn from January 1, 2023, through September 26, 2023. In April and May of that same year, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a CyberTip that Cordeiro had uploaded child pornography on four different occasions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sioux City man pleads guilty, sentenced for stealing from credit union In September 2023, law enforcement searched Cordeiros home and Cordeiro admitted that he had searched for underage porn. They also discovered more than 200 images and 10 videos of actual child porn and more than 1,000 images and 133 videos of simulated children. Cordeiro was sentenced to 36 months in prison and has been ordered $6,100 in fines and assessments. He must also pay $6,000 in restitution to victims in the case. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports. CHESHIRE, Conn. (WTNH) Parents spoke out on Thursday at a Cheshire Board of Education meeting with questions regarding the handling of former teacher Annie Dunleavy. Exclusive: Cheshire teacher behind politically charged viral video resigns Dunleavy posted a politically-charged video that went viral earlier this month. She later resigned from her role as a special education teacher in Cheshire schools. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think people are just upset with how it was handledand with no notificationthey just didnt feel secured with how it was handled, Pam Salamone, Cheshire mom of four former students, said. Dunleavy exclusively spoke with News 8 about the situation on This Week in Connecticut. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. GUANGZHOU, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- The southern Chinese metropolis of Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, announced on Friday that it will reduce taxes on transactions involving larger housing units, aligning with similar measures adopted earlier by Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen. Starting Dec. 1, the city will scrap the distinction between ordinary and non-ordinary housing, according to an official notice. This means that tax benefits previously reserved for ordinary homes will now apply to non-ordinary homes as well. Under the new rules, non-ordinary housing units, defined in Guangzhou as those with a building area exceeding 144 square meters, that have been owned for at least two years will be exempt from the 5.3 percent value-added tax (VAT) during transactions. Guangzhou's decision follows similar initiatives in other major cities, signaling a coordinated effort among China's four first-tier cities to simplify housing taxation policies and support the property market. China has introduced a series of measures to stimulate its slowing real estate sector, including cutting mortgage rates, reducing down payment requirements, and relaxing purchase restrictions. These policies appear to be yielding results. In October, China's property market showed signs of recovery, with narrowing price declines, stronger sales and improved buyer sentiment. The National Bureau of Statistics reported last week that the decline in prices of commercial housing across 70 large and medium-sized cities moderated on a month-on-month basis. CHICAGO Despite the wet and cold weather, dozens of Chicago community members will sleep outside Thursday night to raise awareness about the hardships of the unhoused. Covenant House Illinois has hosted the sleep-out event since 2016. Company CEO Susan Reyna-Guererro said that while conditions are far from ideal, they reflect the daily struggles faced by many unhoused people. It really provides an increased awareness of just how difficult these experiences are for our young people, Reyna-Guererro said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The non-profit offers essential support to young adults ages 18-24, providing access to food, showers, laundry services, case management, employment and education resources, and a safe place to rest. About 12,000 face homelessness daily. The sleep-out event funds more than 60,000 meals and helps secure 10,000 nights of safe housing each year. Their goal is to raise $650,000 to continue providing year-round services. First-time participant Mark Abraham intends to brave the conditions for a particular reason. I think its important to put yourselves in the shoes of the people of the homeless teens that actually have to endure this, Abraham said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines About 150 people signed up for the event. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. A federal judge sentenced a Chicago man to 120 months in prison after the man pleaded guilty to distributing fentanyl in Hammond, according to a release from U.S. Attorney Clifford D. Johnson. U.S. District Court Judge Philip P. Simon also sentenced Kirby to six years of supervised release following his prison sentence. According to documents in the case, on three occasions between March and April of 2021, law enforcement purchased fentanyl from Kirby in Hammond. Kirbys criminal history includes eight prior felony convictions involving firearms and drugs, and an aggravated fleeing offense. He was also on federal supervision during the most recent case. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Indiana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Toth prosecuted the case. This evenings beloved Detroit tree lighting will include many food trucks options to satisfy hungry revelers. One of those options is the Chick-fil-A mobile kitchen. Starting at 5 p.m. the popular chain will hand out free Chick-fil-A chicken sandwiches while supplies last. Around 3,000 chicken sandwiches are expected to be handed out, according to Chick-fil-A. Chick-Fil-A sandwich from Chick-Fil-A. The annual tree lighting event at Campus Martius expects to attract more than 100,000 people. This years tree tops 66 feet and is a Michigan-grown Norway spruce with 25,00 LED lights and sparkling bulbs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: Detroit Tree Lighting 2024: Performances, food trucks, bars and road closures As part of the Chick-fil-A giveaway they will also donating 100% of the proceeds from sales at the tree lighting of its Chocolate Chunk Cookies to local organizations. Metro Food Rescue and Hospitality House Food Pantry are two organizations set to receive donations. The local organizations are part of Chick-fil-As Shared Table program. In addition, starting Saturday and through Dec. 7, owners and operators of local Chick-fil-A locations will donate a portion of Chocolate Chunk Cookie sales to the Shared Table effort. Chick-fil-As Shared Table program donates surplus food from the restaurant to local soup kitchens, shelters, food banks, and nonprofits. Chick-fil-A announced a significant investment and expansion of its Michigan footprint. The chains final metro Detroit opening to happen this year opened last week in Chesterfield Township. The fast-food giant expects to add more than two dozen locations in metro Detroit and statewide. Across these new anticipated Michigan locations, Chick-fil-A expects to create 2,500 jobs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chick-fil-A operates nearly 30 restaurants across the state and about a dozen in metro Detroit, from Woodhaven to Novi to Shelby Township. Contact Detroit Free Press food writer Susan Selasky and send food and restaurant news to: sselasky@freepress.com. Follow @SusanMariecooks on Twitter. Support local journalism and become a digital subscriber to the Free Press. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Chick-fil-A to give free chicken sandwiches at Detroit tree lighting CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) The Charleston Police Department released body camera videos Friday morning that appeared to show a suspect pointing a gun before he was shot by officers. Chief Chito Walker addressed what he could about Thursdays officer-involved shooting. He said additional information would come from the State Law Enforcement Division, as they are the lead investigating agency. Officers responded to the intersection of King Street and Line Street just before 10 a.m. Thursday for a physical altercation between two men. One of the men held up a firearm and pointed it in the direction of the second individual the interaction was seen in the provided videos. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a result, two of our officers discharged their service weapons, striking the armed individual, said Chief Walker. Officers on scene immediately rendered medical aid to the individual at that point, who was then transported to a local hospital. He was later pronounced deceased. Charleston County Coroner Bobbi Jo ONeal identified the man as 37-year-old Andrew Williams of Charleston. ONeal said Williams died at the Medical University of South Carolina at 10:47 a.m. None of the officers were injured. Seth Stoughton, a University of South Carolina School of Law professor and national use of force expert, said it appears the officers actions were appropriate given the circumstances. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers are trained to use deadly force only when theres an imminent threat of death or great bodily harm to themselves or to someone else, Stoughton explained after reviewing the body cam footage provided by police. When you have an individual who not only has a gun in his handbut raises his gun in the direction of another person, its entirely reasonable for officers to conclude hes going to shoot that guy. He noted that while some context is missing, officers seemed to follow standard procedure when arriving at the scene and gave proper commands to drop the weapon before resorting to lethal force. It is always a tragic situation whenever police officers have to take someones life but in a situation where the options are either the officers use deadly force, or if they refrain, the subject is likely to use deadly force against another personthats the type of circumstance where officers can use deadly force, Stoughton continued. Video began circulating Thursday from an individual who witnessed the shooting. News 2 asked Charleston PD about that video after receiving it they sent us the following response at the time: We have seen this video and it only shows a small portion of the altercation. More details will be released tomorrow. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chief Walker addressed the video saying he understood the footage can raise questions and said it was important to note that the video lacked important context. He felt it was necessary to provide clarity and show a portion of the officers body-worn camera footage. Let me emphasize these are excerpts and the video will stop a moment before the shooting occurs. I do this out of respect for the gravity of the situation and the fact that this is not just a critical incident, but a loss of life, said Chief Walker. A family is grieving, and we recognize that a loss is being felt. He went on to say, Moments like this weigh heavily on me. This is a situation no one wanted, neither the officers, our community, nor the family of the individual that was involved. Our officers faced a split-second decision in a very dangerous situation. And they are now to carry the immense weight of that moment. These incidents remind us of the challenges and significance of public safety work. Chief Walker said they are fully committed to cooperating with SLED throughout the investigation while providing updates when appropriate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said the officers involved in the shooting are receiving necessary support. Theyre doing as best as possible in the circumstances, he said. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCBD News 2. China has called on "all parties" to remain calm and exercise restraint following Russia's strike on the city of Dnipro with a new ballistic missile and Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin's threats to Western countries about the use of weapons against them. Source: Ukrinform, citing a statement by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian at a briefing Quote from Lin Jian: "Under the current circumstances, all parties should remain calm and restrained, work to cool the situation through dialogue and consultations, and create conditions for a political settlement of the crisis [as China refers to Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine ed.], in order to achieve a ceasefire as soon as possible." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: Lin Jian also emphasised that China's position on Ukraine is to promote a political resolution and prevent further escalation. Background: The Russians attacked Dnipro on 21 November, damaging an industrial enterprise, a rehabilitation centre, residential houses, and garages. Two people were injured as a result of the strike. Ukraines Air Force noted that during the latest missile attack on the city of Dnipro, Russia used an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). In his Thursday address, Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin indirectly confirmed US reports, stating that during the morning attack on Dnipro on 21 November, Russia used the Oreshnik medium-range missile. Putin stated that Russia might target countries that allowed their weapons to be used against Russia. Support UP or become our patron! BEIJING (Reuters) -China is willing to conduct active dialogue with the United States based on the principles of mutual respect and promote the development of bilateral economic and trade relations, vice commerce minister Wang Shouwen said on Friday. Wang, also China's International Trade Representative, said China would be able to "resolve and resist" the impact of external shocks, responding to a question about the impact of potential tariffs from U.S. President-elect Donald Trump. "We believe that China and the U.S. can maintain a stable, healthy, and sustainable development trend in economic and trade relations," Wang said at a press conference in Beijing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement China is also willing to "expand areas of cooperation and manage differences" with the U.S., Wang said. With Trump's threat to impose tariffs in excess of 60% on all Chinese goods, which has rattled Chinese manufacturers and accelerated factory relocation to Southeast Asia and other regions, Chinese exporters are bracing for any trade disruptions. Economists polled by Reuters believe the United States could impose nearly 40% tariffs on imports from China early next year, potentially slicing growth in the world's second-biggest economy by up to 1 percentage point. Chinese authorities on Thursday announced a series of policy measures aimed at boosting foreign trade, including pledging to strengthen financing support to firms and expand exports of agricultural products. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The trade turmoil of Trump's first presidency will also bring impacts on the Chinese yuan. The yuan rallied 10% through the first 18 months before sliding about 12% through his imposition of tariffs and the pandemic. "Our basic judgment is that the yuan exchange rate will remain basically stable at a reasonable and balanced level," said Liu Ye, an official from China's central bank said at the same press conference. The central bank will "maintain the flexibility of yuan while strengthening guidance on expectations to prevent the market from forming one-sided views expectations," she added. The bank will also resolutely guard against the risk of exchange rate overshooting and keep yuan stable at a reasonable and balanced level, according to Liu. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chinese firms are squirreling away even more dollars, pricing contracts in yuan and opening import lines to mitigate currency risks, Reuters reported on Friday. (Reporting by Ellen Zhang and Liz Lee; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman and Kim Coghill) (Bloomberg) -- Most Read from Bloomberg China will attempt to boost exports further, with Beijing promising to support its firms to increase shipments despite a rising global backlash over an influx of cheap Chinese goods. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beijing will provide financial and diplomatic help for exporting companies, said Wang Shouwen, the Chinese international trade representative and a vice minister of commerce. The government will also direct Chinese shipping firms to boost cargo capacity and bolster e-commerce, he said at a Friday press conference in Beijing. Those promises come despite growing pushback against the nations surging exports, with total shipment value on track to rise to the highest ever this year. The new policies are aimed at promoting the development of high-quality trade and helping companies solve practical problems in areas such as trade financing, insurance and shipping, Wang said. In addition, the policies seek to address rising protectionism, he said, without offering detail. The export boom is making Chinas international goods trade increasingly unbalanced. The surplus this year is nearing a record while import growth has flat-lined due to the struggling domestic economy. Weak Chinese demand has pushed the worlds second-largest economy into deflation, which is reflected in the falling price of exports since May 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While some consumers overseas welcome the cheaper Chinese goods, more and more companies and governments fault China for undercutting their own prices and revenues. A number of nations have raised tariffs on Chinese steel, electric vehicles and other goods, and US President-elect Donald Trump has threatened high levies on all Chinese products. Beijing has begun to take small steps to rein in the export boom, with the government last week cancelling tax rebates for some industrial goods that had encouraged firms to ship overseas. However, that move has roiled the aluminum industry, which is heavily dependent on supply from China. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. A Chinese man living in Los Angeles was sentenced to almost two years in federal prison for his role in trying to bribe an IRS official at the behest of the Chinese government. Earlier this year, John Chen, 71, admitted that he served as an unregistered agent of the Chinese government and tried to bribe who he thought was an IRS agent to revoke the tax-exempt status of Falun Gong, a U.S.-based new religious movement. The scheme was first reported by Seamus Hughes Court Watch. Falun Gong, perhaps best known for the Shen Yun dance performances and news outlet The Epoch Times, opposes the Chinese Communist Partys control of the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chinese agents tried to bribe IRS to target Shen Yun group Alongside co-conspirator Lin Feng, 44, Chen worked inside the United States at the direction of the [Peoples Republic of China] government to further the PRC governments campaign to repress and harass Falun Gong practitioners, the U.S. Department of Justice said in a news release. Using multiple payments of several thousand dollars each and promising at least $50,000 if an audit were opened, Chen and Feng worked with government officials from the Peoples Republic of China to carry out the PRC governments aim of toppl[ing] . . . the Falun Gong, prosecutors wrote. As a result, Chen was sentenced to 20 months in prison and three years of supervised release, and hell forfeit $50,000 as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Feng was sentenced in September to a time-served sentence of 16 months in prison. Each faced a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. (Bloomberg) -- A selloff in Chinese stocks deepened on Friday afternoon, as disappointing tech earnings hurt sentiment already weakened by concerns over Donald Trumps imminent return. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The mainland benchmark CSI 300 Index slumped 3.1%, the most since Oct. 9. The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index of Chinese stocks traded in Hong Kong lost 2.1%, capping a second straight week of losses. A gauge of Chinese tech stocks in Hong Kong tumbled into a technical bear market. The retreat extends the markets slide since an October peak, underscoring growing frustration over the pace of Beijings fiscal stimulus rollout and jitters over a potential escalation in US-China tensions. The disappointing earnings from consumption bellwether PDD Holdings Inc. and online search company Baidu Inc. have further dented confidence, with the latters shares briefly plunging 10% in Hong Kong following a decline in revenue. Traders also pointed to statement by Texas Governor Greg Abbott dated Nov. 21, which prohibited state agencies from putting new money into investments originating from China and urged a divestment of previous holdings. That worsened fears that some of the largest US funds may avoid investing in China as part of political considerations. The statement from Texas has affected sentiment especially when the market is lacking momentum, said Steven Leung, an executive director at UOB Kay Hian Hong Kong. Investors have also found nothing has improved from property and equity to consumption also no positive surprise from corporate earnings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Traders have looked to Chinese tech earnings to regain confidence over the economys trajectory, only to face the harsh reality of anemic consumer spending. Baidu Inc. recorded its biggest revenue drop in more than two years. PDD warned that its profitability will trend downward over time because of intensifying competition in its home market of China. The Hang Seng Tech Index fell 2.6% on Friday, taking its decline from an October high to over 20%. The markets outlook has been under debate after a massive rally in late September, driven by monetary easing, lost momentum. Wall Street analysts including those at Morgan Stanley and CLSA have recently trimmed their recommendation on Chinese stocks. Some, however, have said a selloff will be an opportunity to add positions as Beijing likely has enough policy tools to counter US president-elects tariff proposals. There are signs that the stimulus so far has stabilized the economy. Retail sales exceeded forecasts in October. While industrial production increased at a slightly slower pace from the previous month but hovered above a level critical to achieving the governments 2024 growth target of around 5%. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yet the rising uncertainties mean the market will see increased volatility heading into 2025. The broader market is still facing uncertainties around macro, because better October numbers were partly boosted by early Singles Day promotions on the retail side and timing around policy easing on the property side, so there are some questions around sustainability, said Xin-Yao Ng, an investment manager at abrdn Plc. Regarding tariffs, I think Trump will start to negotiate with various governments, but the appointees to the government are many China hawks, so not great. The Hang Seng China gauge has now lost 17% since its October peak. The CSI 300 Index is down more than 9%. --With assistance from Kelly Li. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement (Updates with statement from Texas governor) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban speaks at the opening ceremony of the Eurasia Forum 2024 held by the National Bank of Hungary in Budapest, Hungary on Nov. 21, 2024. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua) Orban stressed that Hungary must define its regional role independently of European strategies. BUDAPEST, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban declared on Thursday that "the coming era, the coming century will be the century of Eurasia," urging Hungary to define its role within the region independently of European strategies. Speaking at the Eurasia Forum in Budapest, organized by the Hungarian National Bank, Orban said: "Hungary must determine its place within this framework on its own and not derive it from a European strategy." The country already has a "very deliberate national and economic strategy," he added. The prime minister linked Hungary's frequent disputes with the European Union (EU) to its independent strategic approach. "All our disputes with Brussels stem from the fact that Hungary has an independent strategy that starts from new realities, acknowledges the given circumstances and defines Hungary's place in this context, regardless of Brussels' doctrine," Orban said. Orban highlighted Eurasia's dominant position in the global economy, pointing out that the region accounts for 70 percent of global GDP, hosts three-quarters of the world's leading scientific clusters, and includes 15 of the top 20 financial centers. Jason Chen (2nd R), general manager of CATL Europe Operations, speaks at a press conference in Debrecen, Hungary, on Nov. 20, 2024. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua) Reflecting on Europe's position, Orban criticized what he described as the continent's inability to adapt to the shifting global landscape. "It either does not recognize the significance of Eurasian integration or refuses to embrace it." Western elites have failed to overcome their "sense of superiority" and adapt to the rise of Asian economies, Orban claimed. Hungary has outlined its approach, which includes diversifying trade, investments, and energy supplies. Over the past decade, Hungarian exports have doubled both in the east and the west and the country has also attracted significant foreign investments from Germany, China, South Korea, and the United States, Orban noted. Hungary's strategy will validated next year, with major global investments being completed, Orban said. These investments include the Budapest-Belgrade railway, one of Europe's largest rail infrastructure projects, which China financed and partly constructed. New manufacturing plants, including BMW and Chinese battery factories, will begin production, alongside expanded facilities such as BYD in Szeged. The Eurasia Forum, aimed at fostering dialogue on the economic and geopolitical opportunities within Eurasia, has drawn policymakers, business leaders and economists from across the globe this year. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) Listeners might notice jazz and rock influences on the new album Dont Forget to Tip the Band featuring guitarist Jesse Christen, drummer Dan Heier and bassist Reuben Rodriguez, but the blues are unmistakably all over the new recording. Cant get the blues out of my playing, Christen said. Christen wrote most of the albums songs. It was great to bring Jesses songs to life, Heier said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think Jesse underplays his creativity as an artist and doesnt speak a lot about it, Rodriguez said. For Heier, the album provided a learning opportunity. This was really cool for me cause people think of me a lot of times as the jazz drummer, Heier said. And I had so much fun, like, doing a deep dive into, like, blues records leading up to the album, recording the album. For about two months, all I listened to was blues albums just to kind of get that sound in my head. The entire album was recorded in two days, Rodriguez said. On the second day, when we were doing a soundcheck, Jesse was like, Oh, okay, lets just do something kind of like this in G. And then he wrote Barbeque Smoke right then, and we recorded it right then. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beyond the talents of Rodriguez and Heier, Christen had additional support for his project. I got a grant from the South Dakota Arts Council to help fund this project, which is greatly appreciated, and here we are, Christen said. We have a product, bringing art to the people of South Dakota. Newly elected lawmaker says he may not serve his term The three Sioux Falls men dont just play the blues together; theyre friends, too. Were able to improvise a lot, and we listen to each other, and its just a good time, Christen said. In this group, we listen so well to each other, Heier said. And so, like, were able to pick up the synergy really quickly. And it gelled really fast in the studio, and yeah, and we just have a blast doing it. And I think that comes out in the music. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wed been playing together quite a bit for probably four or five years leading up to this, and I figured wed better document something, Christen said. All three contribute their skills to the album, but Christen is the bandleader on the project. Santella: If someone hears you play for the first time, lets say youre feeling pretty good, youre ripping it, what do you want them to take away from your music, Jesse? Oh, hopefully, they can enjoy it and get an escape from the everyday stresses of life in our sometimes nasty world, Christen said. The blues are often recognizable thanks to a familiar chord progression, but perhaps more than that, its a feel; youll know it when you hear it. And as a fan of the genre might explain, the music has a way of uplifting the listener as well as the band on stage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Listeners can check out Dont Forget to Tip the Band on Apple Music, Amazon Music and Spotify. It is also available on Christens website. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com. TOYAHVALE, Texas (KMID/KPEJ) The Texas State park is widely known for its summertime fun, but Friday, December 6th, the park is offering an option to celebrate the holiday season with a night of community, cookies, and hot cocoa. Slow down and take in the scenery this December as you enjoy snacks and watch the thousands of lights decorated across the cottonwoods and tree grove dance in the reflection of the Balmorhea pool. The park entrance fee will be waived during the event hours on both Friday, December 6th and Saturday, December 7th from 6:00PM to 8PM. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Chuck Scarborough Exits as NBC 4 New York Anchor, Ending 50-Year Run; David Ushery to Succeed Him Its the end of an era for those of us who grew up in the Tri-State area. Chuck Scarborough announced at the close of the Nov. 21 newcast that he will step down from his role anchoring the news at NBC 4 New York. More from TVLine Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Scarboroughs last day anchoring at WNBC will be Thursday, Dec. 12. The time has come to pass the torch, Scarborough said on-air tonight, breaking some news of his own. Fifty years, eight months and 17 days after first setting foot at WNBC, I will step away from this anchor desk. Ill have more to say to you and my esteemed colleagues then, he added. But for now, Ill offer a simple, heartfelt thank you for allowing me into your living room and trusting us to bring you the news. Scarboroughs 50-year run is a record-setting one, as the New York City DMAs (Designated Market Area) longest-serving local television news anchor. Moving forward, Scarborough will serve a periodic contributor to special station projects and programming. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chuck Scarborough is the gold standard in American broadcast journalism, Eric Lerner, President and General Manager of NBC 4 New York, said in a statement. His skills as an anchor, reporter and newsroom leader are unmatched and he is a pretty special guy off-camera too. We are fortunate that after Chucks last newscast next month, he will return to his News 4 New York family from time to time and report on special projects. David Ushery will succeed Scarborough as co-anchor of the evening news effective Monday, Dec. 16. Best of TVLine Sign up for TVLine's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. OPELOUSAS, La. (KLFY) A Church Point man has been arrested in connection with the 2016 murder of Erica Hunt, his sister-in-law, authorities said. Jordan J. Barnes, 33, of Church Point, was arrested Thursday by Louisiana State Police and charged with second-degree murder, arrest records show. Hunt went missing on July 4, 2016, after telling family members she was going pick up food. The case would remain cold until December 2018 when when her remains were discovered in Ville Platte. The remains were sent to a DNA lab where they were confirmed to be Hunts in 2021. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a news release on Friday, state police said investigators interviewed Barnes on Thursday. During the interview, Barnes confessed to killing Erica Hunt, troopers said. Bond details for Barnes, Hunts brother-in-law, were not released. Anyone with information about this case is urged to contact St. Landry Crime Stoppers by calling 948-8477 (TIPS), visiting stlandrycrimestoppers.com, or leaving a WEBTIP via Facebook. Tips can also be submitted by texting TIPS625 followed by the tip to CRIMES (274637). Additionally, the Louisiana State Police offers a secure online reporting system for submitting tips by visiting www.lsp.org and clicking the Suspicious Activity link. Latest news Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLFY.com. Nov. 21The evangelical church suing the University of Maine System over an attempt to purchase the Hutchinson Center in Belfast also has filed a protest with the system, temporarily pausing the property's sale. The university system received the written protest Wednesday morning, following its announcement that the church lost its second-round bid on the property, spokesperson Samantha Warren said in a statement. "Consistent with our long-standing practice, the award is stayed until this protest is resolved," Warren said in the statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Calvary Chapel Belfast, which received the original offer to negotiate sale terms for the center in August, alleged religious discrimination in a lawsuit against the university system and several officials filed this week. There were no updates in either the lawsuit or the internal appeal as of Thursday afternoon, Warren said. She said it was early to say how long the new protest will take to resolve, but the system aims handle it "in a thoughtful and timely manner." The university system announced its plans to offer the building to Waldo Community Action Partners last week. The nonprofit group offered more than $3 million for the property, which was appraised at around $2.5 million. Donna Kelley, president of Waldo Community Action, said her group was reviewing the lawsuit and waiting to see the outcome of the latest appeal in a statement Wednesday night. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We are aware the Calvary Chapel has availed themselves of the RFP appeal process as we did in the first round," Kelley said. "Until that is addressed, we are unclear of the outcome of the RFP." Staff Writer Riley Board contributed reporting. Copy the Story Link Kentucky seniors can switch Medicare plans under an open enrollment period that ends Dec. 7. They were notified after the termination notice via letters and through brokers. (Getty Images) LOUISVILLE Citing a large volume and high frequency of coverage delays and denials, UofL Health is terminating its partnership with UnitedHealthcares Medicare Advantage plan. The termination goes into effect May 1 for UofL facilities like University Hospital, Jewish Hospital, Mary & Elizabeth Hospital, Shelbyville Hospital, Peace Hospital and outpatient centers, while doctors offices will still be in network until May 2026. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement UnitedHealthcare said in a statement, We are early in our discussions with UofL Health. Were committed to utilizing the more than five months remaining on our contract to engage in good-faith negotiation with the goal of reaching an agreement that is affordable for consumers. Kentucky seniors impacted by this news can switch plans under an open enrollment period that ends Dec. 7. They were notified after the termination notice via letters and through brokers. Paul Nagy, UofL Healths senior vice president of managed care and contracting. (Zoom screenshot) Paul Nagy, UofL Healths senior vice president of managed care amd contracting, told the Kentucky Lantern that the timing of the termination announcement is helpful to the seniors. I think it will be beneficial to those United members to have that opportunity to know and make that informed decision on whether this is something thats significant to them that would make them want to choose another plan, or perhaps theyre fine to seek care other places, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the past year, about 12,000 UnitedHealthcare members have received care at least once from the UofL Health system, Nagy said. If all 12,000 were to never, ever get care again, it would not cause UofL Health to have to close any facility, nor would it force us to have to stop providing any of the services that we do today, Nagy said. A UnitedHealthcare spokesperson called the timing a scare tactic. Its unfortunate UofL Health has put Kentucky seniors in the middle of our negotiation as a scare tactic given we only recently kicked off discussions about a new contract, the spokesperson said. We believe UofL Healths decision to communicate early to our members is nothing more than a negotiating tactic in an effort to elicit a reaction and leverage consumers by creating fear and anxiety. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement, UofL Health CEO Tom Miller said the termination has not been an easy decision. United Healthcare is simply not delivering on promises made to its Medicare Advantage patients or providers, Miller said. We will not turn away any patient in need of care, but United Healthcare has created an unmanageable process that creates too many administrative hurdles when sick people just need care and the confidence they are covered. An untenable position. UofL Health sent the formal notice of termination to United Healthcare in late October, Nagy said. Their agreement allowed for 180 days notice of termination, which would have been before the May 1 effective date. Before the termination notice, Nagy said, problems had been going on for a long period of time but had increased in frequency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Denial is one of the key factors ultimately leading to this decision, Nagy said. Its kind of an odd economic system where we provide the care up front, we have expenses in providing those cares, and then we submit a claim and look to be paid on the back end. And so when denials happen at a large volume and high frequency, its detrimental to the financial health of our health system. Denials are also negative for patients, Nagy said. The system also dealt with approval delays and reimbursement downgrades, he said. I am concerned about barriers put up for those that really need care, Dr. Jason Smith, UofL Health chief medical officer, said in a statement. We care deeply about our patients and the care they receive, which is why we are unwilling to continue with the status quo. Denials of care and onerous pre-approval processes put our patients, physicians and other providers in an untenable position. Baptist Health also cut its agreement with UnitedHealthcare, the Lantern previously reported, citing similar issues as UofL. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our track record of renewing contracts with providers is strong, a United spokesperson said. We negotiate thousands of provider contracts every year, and the vast majority of those negotiations result in renewed contracts with no disruption for our members, and also no external noise as the negotiations are handled professionally and behind closed doors. We are fully committed to engaging in productive, good-faith negotiation and remain focused on our goal of renewing our contract with UofL Health. We hope UofL Health shares our commitment toward reaching an agreement. Dysfunctional relationship UofL Health still accepts Medicare and other Medicare Advantage plans from other insurance companies. Beginning Jan. 1, UofL will also accept Devoted Health as a new plan, though that was in the works before the United termination, and is not in response to it, Nagy said. Before terminating the partnership, UofL Health met with United to discuss the issues, but ultimately reached the point where we recognized this was a difficult environment that we would be best to not continue, Nagy said. I think anytime youre in a dysfunctional relationship whether thats business, personal or others theres times you may make the decision that its just best to part ways and withdraw, he said. Were not out to say that anybodys a bad, horrible organization. We just felt it would be best for us and for us and for our patient populations to discontinue the partnership. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Bryan, Tx (FOX 44) The City of Bryan is working with College Station, Texas A&M and Brazos County to fight against a plan to pull massive amounts of water out of the Simsboro Aquifer. This comes out of concern that the plan would deplete essential water resources for the Brazos Valley. Those entities have filed suit in a state district court to block an out of state entity from doing it. Permits to draw up to 100,000 acre-feet of water from the aquifer each year have been sought by a San Francisco-based company, Upwell LLC. The city says it has a concern for the long-term sustainability of water in the Brazos Valley, saying that ideally all parties using it would prioritize conservation and carefully manage the resource for the future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our community has worked diligently to protect and manage these water resources, states Mayor Bobby Gutierrez. We hope other public and private water users, such as Upwell, are committed to conserving Brazos Valley`s water resources, including water in the Simsboro Aquifer. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KWKT - FOX 44. TAMPA After weeks of community meetings and debate among neighbors, Tampa City Council members voted 5-2 Thursday evening to move forward with a major stormwater system update in South Tampa. The city will pay Kimmins Contracting Corp. $7.7 million to design and build the new system. The current proposal involves box culverts along residential streets in the Parkland Estates neighborhood and down the economic corridor of South Howard Avenue. Council member Bill Carlson and chairperson Guido Maniscalco were the dissenting votes. The area in question has struggled with drainage for decades. The community, in a low-lying part of South Tampa, collects runoff from other neighborhoods. Engineers say the land is shaped like a bowl, trapping water without a natural outlet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vik Bhide, Tampas mobility director, said the project would increase drainage capacity fivefold for the entire watershed, which in addition to Parkland Estates, includes neighborhoods Palma Ceia Pines, New Suburb Beautiful and Bayshore Beautiful. However, community members have been split about whether the proposed solution will cause more problems for residents and businesses. Crowded in the audience Thursday were residents in white T-shirts with boldface font: Stop Flooding in Parkland Estates and Palma Ceia Pines. Among them were others in restaurant uniforms and chefs whites, as well as black T-shirts with a different call We Can Do Both: Save Businesses & Stop Flooding. Those in black shirts asked council members to delay their votes for 120 days and consider a different route than South Howard. Business owners have been adamant that construction on the two-lane street would irreparably harm bars, restaurants and other establishments. The citys proposal involves shutting down the road in one- or two-block segments at a time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The city team has pit us against our friends and neighbors by presenting us with a false choice, said Joe Collier, president of Mainsail Lodging and Development and a managing partner at the Epicurean. The business owners fear even partial shutdowns will cut off foot traffic and cause issues with deliveries and utility services, forcing them to close and put service sector employees out of work. City officials have noted side streets would remain open, but restaurateurs say its impractical for 18-wheelers or box delivery trucks to detour through narrow residential roads. The South Howard businesses arent trying to kill this project, said Jarrod Dyer, an owner of Bellas Italian Cafe. Were trying to keep it from killing us. But proponents say the proposal is imperative for the long-term preservation of the neighborhood. As tensions rose throughout the meeting, some choked back tears or visibly shook with anger. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im losing businesses that I love theyre losing me, said Elizabeth Dinwiddie, whose home recently flooded and who has spoken to the council several times about the proposal. The fact that you wont take one for the team ... but you want me to suffer for years. Several employees of Berns Steak House addressed the council about the potential impacts of around 300 employees losing work. One noted that the famed steakhouse reopened at a loss multiple times over the summer after food spoiled during storm-related power outages. Shutting down access to the restaurant is a storm we cannot weather, he said. In the audience, a woman in one of the white shirts whispered, Imagine what would happen if it flooded. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One speaker criticized Carlson, who represents South Tampa, for not attending an earlier meeting on the project at Stovall House. Carlson tried to respond but was gaveled over. Ive done many, many forums all over my district, Carlson said, exasperated, before leaving the room. This is unbelievable. This is the worst issue weve ever dealt with. Carlson criticized the city for choosing a route before engaging fully with community members. He added that neighbors were more divided on the proposal than any other project hed seen. If we approve this today, theres going to be a war in South Tampa, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maniscalco, the council chairperson, advocated for the 120-day delay. Council members also expressed concern that the contract presented Bristol Avenue as a potential route connecting to South Howard. They had voted in June that any plan should avoid the street due to its historic nature. Other council members advocated for moving forward and including Kimmins in further discussions about the proposed route. We are here because council members before us kicked the can down the road, council member Lynn Hurtak said. Thursdays approval means Kimmins will create a design and finalize costs. That process could take up to a year, at which point the council will need to vote again to approve the design. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres plenty of time to plan this out and work together, Bhide said. Having our designers on board will allow us to better engage with the community. The project would not be done until at least 2029. In the meantime, residents still expect flooding for even run-of-the-mill rainstorms. ODESSA, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- Odessa City Council and its new members, Mayor Cal Hendrick, At-large councilman Craig Stoker, and District 1 councilman Eddie Mitchell, along with re-elected District 2 councilman Steve Thompson and District 4 councilman Greg Connell, District 5 councilman Chris Hanie, and District 3 councilman Gilbert Vasquez, said they will quickly tackle some controversial policies enacted by the previous council Working alongside city management, Odessas new mayor and city council members have identified several controversial ordinances and contracts they wish to re-visit. Topping the list are the no-fault contracts for city management, binding contracts with outside organizations like the Texas Government Accountability Association (TGAA) and city ordinances that create a potential for legal action against the city. The controversial new language to the existing bathroom ordinance was added as a final act of a lame duck council and creates the potential for lawsuits to be brought against the city. The ordinance contains language that city staff has deemed unenforceable, and based on feedback received from citizens, the new Mayor and Council members have expressed a desire to re-visit this ordinance. They want to acknowledge the safety concerns which were the origins of this ordinance, but they feel there is a way to craft a fair and equitable policy for all Odessans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The TGAA and city management contracts are scheduled for the upcoming Council meeting on Tuesday, November 26th. The bathroom ordinance will be taken up at a later date, the City said in a news release. TGAA The Texas Government Accountability Association contract was discussed at the last meeting of the out-going guard; former mayor Javier Joven, along with councilmembers Mark Matta and Denise Swanner, were blasted after they gave former City Manager John Beckmeyer the authority to sign an agreement with the nonprofit group, which promised to help the City with its efforts in being more transparent and ethical when creating policies and procedures. The $24,000 a year agreement with TGAA can only be ended if its placed on the ballot and residents vote to do so, but questions were raised after Beckmeyer admitted he heard of TGAA through his friend Matt Armstrong, the same person who was helping the ousted members with their re-election campaigns. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, the new council must determine if the agreement with TGAA is a legal binding contract. No-fault contracts Additionally, new City leaders said they will look into contracts that were signed by the previous council that would guarantee large payments to City Attorney, Dan Jones, City Secretary, Norma Aguilar, and Assistant City Manager, Agapito Bernal. The golden parachute contracts state that the City must pay out the remainder of each contract should the employee resign, no matter the circumstances. Its the same contract that would have allowed the City to cut a check to Beckmeyer for $700,000 when he resigned last week. The City has been spared, so far, from paying Beckmeyer because Hendrick stepped in, and with the help of District Attorney Dusty Gallivan, secured a restraining order to prevent the payment until an investigation into the legality of the contracts can be completed. Restroom Ordinance Previous Coverage: Odessa City Council approves divisive restroom ordinance Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Also during the last meeting with Joven, Swanner, and Matta, the Council approved a controversial bathroom ordinance that would allow police officers to charge anyone who knowingly enters any public or private bathroom, or locker room, of the opposite biological sex, (defined in the ordinance as the sex, or gender, listed on a persons birth certificate.) The language of that ordinance was changed in the eleventh hour to include private restrooms as well as public restrooms, an extreme government overreach and possibly an illegal one, according to those who spoke out against the ordinance. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. WAUKESHA - At a scenic park site not far from where the horrific attack occurred, people gathered to both honor those killed in the 2021 Waukesha Christmas Parade and dedicate a memorial sculpture recalling the tragic incident. The Parade Memorial in Grede Park had been nearly three years in the making, culminating in a mixed-feelings ceremony Thursday timed to coincide exactly, to the minute, when Darrell Brooks Jr.'s SUV first tore through the heart of parade on Nov. 21, 2021. Those addressing the crowd included a family member of one of the six people who died when they were struck by Brooks' vehicle. Their words carried both messages of past suffering and healing, which included the creation of the memorial off Wisconsin and St. Paul avenues in downtown Waukesha. Guests begin to gather at the Parade Memorial at Grede Park on Thursday, ahead of the 4:39 p.m. dedication ceremony. The memorial, along Riverwalk Drive off Wisconsin and St. Paul avenues in downtown Waukesha, recalls the victims of the 2021 Waukesha Christmas Parade tragedy. "This memorial stands as a reminder of our pain, heartache and loss, but it also stands as a testament to our unity, support, resilience and love," Waukesha Mayor Shawn Reilly said in opening remarks. "This memorial is one more symbol of what it means to be Waukesha Strong." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The heart-shaped sculpture is a purposeful nod to the six victims Tamara Durand, Wilhelm Hospel, Jane Kulich, Leanna Owen, Virginia Sorenson and Jackson Sparks who died from their injuries. The heart is formed by six ribbons, representing "those precious lives lost," Reilly noted in his remarks, and come together to "signify how all of our lives are woven together, reminding us that our shared heart matters most." Victimized speakers acknowledge their pain and importance of healing Lori Lochen, a Catholic Community of Waukesha representative who was among the dozens injured in the 2021 parade, took her personal pain and made it a tool, dedicating herself as a member of the Waukesha Parade Memorial Commission to the creation of a lasting memory with positive overtones. "Our purpose was to create a memorial that thoughtfully honors the victims of the Waukesha Christmas Parade tragedy, provide an opportunity for reflection and represent healing as a community," Lochen said. "After many months, we have reached that moment in which are gathered." Still, she remembers the utter shock as the headlights of Brooks' SUV barreled through the Dancing Grannies group immediately behind her and then knocked her down. She regained consciousness, in the now-dark street, with many hands covering her in blankets, trying to communicate with her. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For Taylor Kulich, who was not at the parade that day, the pain comes from the mother she lost. The healing began with Lochen, who she hadn't previously met comforting her nearly one year later, as both listened to testimony during Brooks' weeks-long trial. "I was there by myself and I was a complete hot mess, to be honest," Kulich said, remembering her uncontrollable tears. "It was the worst day ever, all over again, and there was this complete stranger to hand me a tissue and put her hand on my shoulder. Somehow, I felt my mom had a hand in that." Kulich and Lochen became friends as both served on the parade commission. The memorial continues their healing, she said, still fighting back tears on Thursday as she discussed her mother's attributes and how she shared "that contagious cheerful energy and smile with everyone she came in contact with." "Her name was Jane, but for me, she will always be 'Mom,'" Kulich said. Six-month project included fundraising and efforts of Waukesha leaders The large memorial features the heart-shaped sculpture surrounded by elaborate landscaping, benches, a wall made up of customized tiles (created by community members as part of another fundraiser) and, most notably, plaques for each of six deceased victims. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The city of Waukesha, along with the Waukesha County Community Foundation as fundraising manager, had orchestrated efforts to honor those impacted by the 2021 parade attack, in which more than 60 others were injured. Their focus has been two memorials downtown, the first of which was dedicated on the second anniversary of the attack. Fundraising for the larger $1.5 million Grede Park memorial took time, but construction finally got underway last spring, putting it on a path for completion as scheduled. Pewaukee-based VJS Construction Services LLC, which also has made financial and in-kind donations to the project, was the lead contractor, working from a design initially conceived by Thrive Architects and altered to incorporate ideas from Waukesha resident and renowned artist Carmen De La Paz. As previously reported, both Thrive principal owner Jeremy Bartlett and VJS president and CEO Craig Jorgensen said their contributions represented their strong personal commitment to what the memorials represent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As for Brooks, he remains in prison serving multiple life terms following his October 2022 conviction. His appeal of his conviction, long expected, has not yet materialized. His attorney, Michael Covey, said Thursday he has requested a fifth extension as he and Brooks consider the specifics of their appeal. Contact reporter Jim Riccioli at james.riccioli@jrn.com. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Waukesha memorial dedicated on Christmas parade tragedy anniversary Main building of the Russian State Duma in Moscow. (State Duma website) MOSCOW, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- The Russian State Duma, or the lower house of the parliament, approved the country's federal budget for 2025-2027 on Thursday. In 2025, Russia's budget revenues are projected to reach 40.296 trillion rubles (about 399 billion U.S. dollars), while expenditures will amount to 41.469 trillion rubles. Budget revenues are set to grow to 41.841 trillion rubles in 2026 and 43.154 trillion rubles in 2027, while expenditures will increase to 44.022 trillion rubles in 2026 and 45.915 trillion rubles in 2027. The federal budget deficit in 2025 is expected to reach 0.5 percent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP), 0.9 percent of the GDP in 2026, and 1.1 percent of its GDP in 2027. The priorities of the federal budget within the 2025-2027 period will be meeting the state's social obligations to citizens, ensuring the security and defense of the country, achieving technological sovereignty, and advancing infrastructure. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) The City of Longview and three of its police officers are facing a lawsuit connected to the fatal shooting of a suicidal woman killed on New Years Day. Danielle Whiting, mother of the deceased Katelynn Rose Smith, filed a complaint against the city and officers Elijah Heston, Dylan Fletcher and Caitlyn Woolcott-Rose on Wednesday. St. Helens High School principal under investigation for neglect amid teacher sex abuse case Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pierce County-based firm Mark Lindquist Law has accused the Longview Police Department of being negligent in the death of 29-year-old Smith. Attorneys alleged the agency failed to train officers on how to respond to mental health crises and violated the American Disabilities Act, as well as other civil rights laws. KOIN 6 previously reported that Smith died outside of a residence on Columbia Heights Road around 5 a.m. on Jan. 1. Court documents show her boyfriend called 911 that morning to inform first responders that she assaulted him in an attempt to enter his home, grab a gun and take her own life. According to the complaint, the responding officers directed Smiths boyfriend to stop blocking her from entering the home, despite their awareness that she wanted to enter for access to the handgun. Man accused of attempted murder, arson after Portland house fire arraigned Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Plaintiffs alleged police didnt attempt to stop Smith as she walked into the home and grabbed the weapon. When she walked back outside and pointed a gun at officers, they fired 23 rounds at her, attorneys said. The law firm reported that the 9mm pistol was unloaded. Smith died on the scene despite life-saving efforts from emergency responders. Instead of devising a safety-oriented plan and taking steps to prevent Ms. Smith from accessing firearms, Defendants escalated the situation, creating a dangerous environment through aggressive commands and failure to provide the necessary accommodations for Ms. Smiths mental health crisis, Mark Lindquist Law wrote in the complaint. She is survived by her 8-year-old and 12-year-old children, according to the firm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Horror of Vancouver Mall deadly shooting shown through newly-surfaced 911 calls Court documents additionally revealed Smith had occasional mental health issues at a relatively young age, and was briefly involuntarily committed in 2023. KOIN 6 has reached out to the city attorneys office for comment. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. Nov. 21An approaching cutoff for the use of American Rescue Plan Act funds has city leaders prioritizing final plans for spending the last remaining dollars. Officials are plowing ahead to finish the last ARPA contracts and ordinances with a self-imposed December deadline looming. The city initially received about $38 million in ARPA funding, part of a massive $1.9 trillion federal stimulus bill signed into law in 2021 designed to boost recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. "Each week staff meets to go over that active list as it changes and evolves constantly. The Dec. 9 council meeting is what we're shooting as the last actual opportunity to submit an ordinance or resolution to council for approval," Interim City Manager Clint Thompson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thompson said the allocation of ARPA funds has taken on a heightened priority within each of the city's departments. Contracts and funding agreements have made up a significant portion of City Council agenda items in the last several months to ensure everything is complete. Rescue Plan Act funds were dispersed in two tranches and largely split between the previous city council and current members. The city had roughly $1.1 million left in August to obligate for expenditures before the end of the year. Since then, the city has committed $150,000 for Missouri Western Law Enforcement Academy tuition, part of $450,000 in total ARPA funds, along with $47,000 for an infill housing study, $494,000 for the Civic Center Park balustrade replacement project and $98,182 to demolish the former HPI Products facility at 408 S. Eighth St. "We're on pace to ensure that all projects have been completed or obligated for the use of funds. Obviously, St. Joseph, or no other community that's received funds wants to lose out on these grant opportunities that that we've received," Thompson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Once final expenditures have been identified, Thompson said additional funds could potentially be directed to the city's sewer infrastructure project to lower ongoing costs and maintenance of the operation. Since the first contracts were approved in December 2021, ARPA funds have been used to stabilize and enhance numerous areas of the community, from health and education to public safety and economic development. ARPA agreements authorized since 2021 include $1.5 for Missouri Western's recently opened Houlne Center for Convergent Technology, $2.3 million to expand Hillyard Technical Center, $600,000 for Family Guidance and $1.5 million for the Downtown InspireU Children's Discovery Museum. Smaller funds amounts went to a variety of social service and nonprofit organizations including Community Missions, Youth Alliance, Sisters of Solace, Allied Arts Council and United Cerebral Palsy. YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) The City of Youngstown has a new Christmas tree. Read next: How to watch the Poland vs. South Range High School Football Regional Championship this Friday The 25-foot tree started its journey downtown, to Federal Plaza, on Friday morning. This years tree was donated by Poland resident Bill West, the owner of HeckYA! hot dog shop. It was cut down early Friday morning. I think its a great idea to be able to give back. I think that, we really, my wife and I, we just jumped at the chance. We thought this is going to be a great thing for the city. The city wants it. Its been a tough year, hasnt it, for everybody, and what a great way to just, like, finish off the year to be able to finish off the year with bringing people together, West said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The tree will be lit during Youngstowns annual Holiday Parade on Friday, Dec. 6. The tree lighting is expected to take place at 7:15 p.m. Gerry Ricciutti 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. When James Sears came back to work in the Los Angeles Mall in the fall of 2022, he hoped he wouldnt be alone. He had been away from his shoe repair shop for a year and a half. The mall, across the street from City Hall in the Civic Center, was a wasteland, its walkways empty, the food court and most restaurants locked or boarded up. Except for some palms and other trees, the landscaping had been reduced to dirt. The fountains were dry. Sears, 81, tried to be patient. He dusted the counters and chairs. He cleaned up where there had been a water leak, and he waited. But no one came. One day, he posted a handwritten note and slid shut the steel gate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CLOSED Will reopen when people start to wear shoes. Sears decision reflects a truth about downtown Los Angeles that is forcing small businesses, landlords and property managers to think hard about the future. With buildings standing empty and shops still boarded up, the traditional use of space is no longer viable. James Sears inside his shoe repair shop on Flower Street in the Financial District. Sears had another shoe repair store in the Los Angeles Mall across from City Hall, but it is closed now. Sears repairs a heel in his shop. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times) The Los Angeles Mall is unique in both design and ownership. It is located below street level two sunken courtyards connected by a broad tunnel under Temple Street and is owned and managed by the city of Los Angeles, which once counted on the income from tenants like Sears. Sears has stopped paying rent, and while the city has forgiven what he owes, its Department of Water and Power has not. His past-due for utilities is about $4,000, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Absent any activity, his shop stands frozen in time: a commendation from the city and a photograph of his father on the wall, racks of shoe polish, laces and an empty gumball machine. The city is welcome to do what they want with it, he said. But what are they going to do? The city is wrestling with that question, which is relevant not just for Sears shop but also for the mall and the Civic Center, roughly 12 blocks around City Hall with courts, police and sheriff's headquarters and city transportation, records and licensing agencies. The pandemic has changed many things related to work in the city of Los Angeles, said Blair Miller, a principal project coordinator with the Los Angeles Department of Economic and Workforce Development. It may continue to alter how we work going forward, compared to before the pandemic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 'Nothing has changed but its obsolescence. Its still functional, just not popular.' John Sheppard, retired senior real estate officer for the city of Los Angeles, on the Los Angeles Mall A man eats lunch in the deserted Los Angeles Mall. Miller also leads her department's real estate group, whose responsibilities include evaluating surplus and underutilized properties at the request of the City Council that have potential for redevelopment. Once bustling with city employees and residents needing city services these few blocks lying in the shadow of City Hall have been made desolate by telecommuting options and online access to municipal departments. The customers who supported the mall have largely disappeared, and few believe they will ever come back. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Used to be that you couldnt walk out there without bumping into somebody, said Sears. It was that crowded. Sears father, David, opened the shop in 1987 for his son to run. It was the familys second shoe repair shop. The city charged about $800 in rent, and during a good year, Sears earned up to $90,000 before expenses. Sears Shoe Repair remains closed in the Los Angeles Mall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sears remembers when mayors Tom Bradley, and later Richard Riordan passed by and when then-LAPD Chief William Bratton needed a repair. Business first started to drop off when longtime customers retired and no one took their place, he said. Now, since the COVID-19 pandemic with a decreased need for office space and an increased need for housing the city may want to start to think about "repurposing the Los Angeles Mall and surrounding properties ... whether they could be reused in a way that revitalizes the whole area," Miller said. Proposals for the redevelopment of the Civic Center go back almost 30 years, but the 2013 closing of Parker Center, the former LAPD headquarters, led to an ambitious plan that called for new offices, apartments and retail space linked by a series of paseos east into Little Tokyo. The plan, unveiled in 2017, was shelved just before the pandemic, a fortuitous turn that is now allowing planners to adapt to a radically different city. The Los Angeles Mall downtown is nearly dead. A new report and analysis is expected to be presented to the City Council early next year, said Miller. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Opened in 1975, the mall was the Civic Centers crown jewel. Almost two blocks long, between First Street and the 101 Freeway, the mall took $70 million and 17 years to complete, part of an ambitious overhaul that included the construction of the 18-story City Hall East. Critics argued at the time that a municipally owned and operated shopping mall would never work, but the Los Angeles Mall opened with a nearly 80% occupancy rate. Its success was attributed not only to the number of people working in the Civic Center (36,000, second only to that in Washington, D.C.) but also in details meant to entice shoppers. Artists were commissioned to design sculptures and water features. The subtropical landscaping cost more than $6 million. John Sheppard, retired senior real estate officer for the city of Los Angeles, stands in the street-level courtyard above the Los Angeles Mall. John Sheppard, a retired senior real estate manager for the city, was fascinated by the mall after moving to Los Angeles from Washington, D.C., almost 40 years ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fountains were flowing. A street musician played to lunchtime crowds, and during the holidays, lights festooned the parapets. Nothing has changed but its obsolescence, he said. It's still functional, just not popular. The mall is an elegy for what mid-20th-century politicians and progressives imagined downtown Los Angeles could be: a city with a vibrant core, accessible by freeways, anchored by a City Hall with encomiums inscribed above entrances exalting the public good. Time is frozen on the face of the antique clocks positioned in the courtyards. The towering Triforium, the art piece that brought music and lighting to the public space, is quiet. Drought has withered the palms, and the escalators are still. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some customers still make their way down the stairs. At lunch, Rafiq Karim does brisk business at the Lotto convenience store, its windows covered with announcements of big winners. For anyone buying scratchers, he will happily wave his hand over the cards for good luck. Karim has worked here for 15 years, cutting back his hours when foot traffic fell off. By midafternoon, hes often ready to close. A Mediterranean restaurant is one of the few remaining businesses in the Los Angeles Mall. Bobs Big Boy is now California Pita, whose grand opening in 2007 occasioned a commendation from then-Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. The manager, Manuel Arvea, 38, has worked here for six years. He wishes that parking were less expensive and that the city would open up the restrooms for those living on the streets, who often sleep on the benches. Repurposing has been the citys approach to the vacancies. The Childrens Museum is now an interim homeless shelter. The CVS is now a storage facility. The Hallmark store houses the citys Civil + Human Rights and Equity Department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other city departments mail services, moving services, the city employee benefits association work out of former stores and provide a glimpse of what the future might be. We're exploring whether it's financially feasible to convert some of the other space into hoteling space for city employees, said Yolanda Chavez, an assistant city administrative officer. Hoteling when employees have a common work space rather than dedicated desks would better accommodate the new world we work in, she said. The city is about to issue a telecommuting policy. Once departments work out their schedules, Chavez said, her team will reallocate office space in the mall. The city is looking to revitalize the Los Angeles Mall. Some city employees have been working in leased buildings throughout downtown. The mall provides an opportunity to eliminate that expense. We're trying to make the best use of our city space so that we're not paying for private leases, said Chavez. By realigning the workforce, the city is forcing a greater question about the Civic Center. While the first impulse given the housing crisis in Los Angeles may be to build more housing, followed by commercial and retail development, there are other factors to consider, Miller said. If city employees return to the Civic Center, businesses like Sears Shoe Repair might see more customers. But a civic center isn't just a commercial destination. It is an expression of how civic leaders and citizens frame a city's identity. Creating that identity today, said Miller, is "a balancing act." "We need to take a look at what makes effective city government in terms of the public accessing services, in terms of interaction of city employees, building relationships and knowledge across departments," she said. "Once you're looking at that, then you need to ask: How does your space work with that? Sears helps a customer. Meanwhile, Sears, who scoffs at the idea of retirement, goes to work each day at the store his father opened in 1973 on Flower Street in the Financial District. Business is better there, he said. Whatever the citys plan, he hopes to keep a store in the Civic Center and would like to be relocated on street level, where more customers will find him once they "start to wear shoes" again. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. LONDON (AP) A civil jury in Ireland finds that mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor assaulted a woman in a hotel. (CORRECTS: A previous APNewsAlert misstated the claim the jury found him liable for.). A panoply of civil liberties advocacy groups and other nonprofits are raising alarms over a bill that passed the House Thursday, saying it could be used to punish them for speaking out under the incoming second Trump administration. The bill, which failed on the House floor last week, squeaked by on a 219-184 vote, with more than two dozen members not voting. It now goes on to the Senate, where its fate is unclear. But if the turnaround by many Democrats in the House Thursday is any indication, it faces an uphill climb in the upper chamber. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A request for comment to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumers (D-N.Y.) office was not immediately returned. This is the kind of bill that the infamous House Committee on Un-American Activities wouldve introduced back in its day, said Patrick Eddington, senior fellow with the libertarian Cato Institute, referring to a House panel notorious during the anti-Communist Red Scare days of the 1950s. By voting for H.R. 9495 today, the House of Representatives chose fear over freedom, said Kia Hamadanchy, senior federal policy counsel at the American Civil Liberties Union, in a statement. The ACLU signed a public letter Monday opposing the bill with almost 300 other civil society groups, including the Brennan Center for Justice, the Center for Democracy and Technology, and Demand Progress. The bill has also raised worries among groups active on the issue of Israels war in Gaza and related relief efforts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have seen bills like this in other countries, and we know what they do: silence criticism and put lifesaving humanitarian operations like Oxfams at risk, said Abby Maxman, president and CEO of Oxfam America, which has been active in restoring clean water and sanitation to war-torn Gaza. Robert McCaw, director of the government affairs department with the Council on American-Islamic Relations, echoed that point: This bill was designed to silence and financially drain organizations that oppose Israels genocide of Palestinians, the slaughter of Lebanese, and the broader erosion of human rights in the region, he said. The bill, from Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-N.Y.), would grant new powers to the Treasury Secretary, allowing them to designate nonprofit groups as terrorist supporting organizations. Such nonprofits could be subject to having their tax-exempt status suspended if they are found to have provided support to groups formally listed by the government as terrorist organizations. Under the bill, nonprofits flagged by the government would be given 90 days notice and could avoid suspension if they take steps to stop providing support to terrorist groups. They could also challenge the designation with the IRS and in federal court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In September, the bill flew through the House Ways and Means Committee, passing on a bipartisan 38-0 vote. And it garnered wide bipartisan support as recently as Nov. 12, winning 256 votes in the House but falling shy of the two-thirds majority needed to pass under a procedure used for non-controversial bills. That vote saw 52 Democrats vote in favor of the bill. But as word circulated about the bills possible impact, pressure mounted on lawmakers to reject it when it came up again Thursday, this time under normal rules requiring only a majority of yes votes. The 219 votes it got was only one more than needed to pass in a full House, and only 15 Democrats backed it. What changed since September? The expected occupant of the White House next year, for one thing. Trumps openness about seeing the levers of power as a potential way to settle scores, new in modern U.S. history in its sheer brazenness, spooked some Democrats. In June, Trump told TV personality Phil McGraw, Sometimes revenge can be justified, Phil. I have to be honest. Sometimes it can. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The dispute has left the parties in an odd position: House Republicans, who decried a boost to Internal Revenue Service funding because they said it would lead to government overreach and the hiring of thousands of new agents, now support a bill that could radically expand Treasurys power. And House Democrats, who supported boosting IRS enforcement with an eye to better enforcement, is now overwhelmingly opposed to expanding Treasurys powers due to worries over government power. Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), the moderate former House majority leader who voted for the bill Nov. 12 and against it Thursday, specifically cited Trump as a reason why. There is legitimate reason in todays world to expand the Treasury Secretarys ability to police non-profits supporting terrorist organizations. This bills drafting, unfortunately, goes further, he said in a statement. After careful review, I believe additional protections are necessary for this bill to shield non-profits with no connection to terrorism from politically motivated punishment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Of the 17 Democrats who voted for the bill when it was in committee, only two Reps. Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.) and Bradley Schneider (D-Ill.) wound up voting for it again Thursday. Republicans defended the measure Thursday. Ways and Means Chairman Jason Smith (R-Mo.) accused Democrats of engaging in fearmongering scenarios and partisan antics with their opposition. And Rep. Blake Moore (R-Utah) said he could not name specific examples of where the new authority would have been useful, but maintained it was needed. We absolutely needed the power to be able to deter that type of activity from happening, he said. The groups that cosigned the ACLUs letter against the bill say the protections in it arent enough to prevent abuse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bills creation of an after-the-fact administrative or judicial appeals process not only comes too late, but it is also unlikely to remedy these fundamental deficiencies. Instead, it functionally shifts the burden of proof about whether a nonprofit provides material support from the government to the nonprofit, they said. Related... Self-described tech executive and network engineer Stephen Spoonamore asserted in a letter to U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris his "near certainty" that she, not President-elect Donald Trump, won the 2024 presidential election. Spoonamore described a hacking and fraud scheme whereby fake "bullet vote" ballots marked only for Trump and no other races or issues were inserted into electronic voting systems. However, Snopes' research, in which we compared the vote tallies cited by Spoonamore with the latest official election results, found his figures to be incorrect and his assertions to make no mathematical sense. In addition, as of Nov. 21, we had found no evidence to support Spoonamore's claims that Election Day bomb threats and Trump supporter Elon Musk's America PAC sweepstakes were involved in such a scheme. In the wake of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's victory in the 2024 election, a man named Stephen Spoonamore sent a post-election "duty to warn" letter to the defeated candidate, Vice President Kamala Harris, claiming he had uncovered evidence of hacking and fraud in the Nov. 5 election. Spoonamore's allegations combined several elements to drive his point home, including mentions of swing-state vote manipulation, a $1 million daily sweepstakes managed by tech entrepreneur Elon Musk's super political action committee (America PAC) and Election Day bomb threats. Spoonamore's main claim was that it was a "near certainty" Harris truly won the election, not Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Snopes received numerous reader emails asking whether Spoonamore's claims were true. For example, one reader wrote, "Does Steven Spoonamore letter have a basis in fact?" Another reader wanted to know, "[Does the] 'duty to warn' letter to VP Harris have any legitimacy, who wrote it [and] is [it] possible what the letter suggests?" 'Duty To Warn' On Nov. 8 three days after the election Spoonamore took to the Spoutible social media network to spell out some of his claims of election hacking and fraud in a 14-post thread (archived). One of the posts featured a picture of a "duty to warn" letter listing some of his concerns (archived). He addressed the letter to Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro. Seven days later, on Nov. 15, Spoonamore posted the text of a second and more substantial "duty to warn" letter on the Substack publishing platform He addressed that letter to Harris (archived). That letter suggested that one or more unnamed bad actors manipulated votes in the seven swing states of Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. He asserted the bad actors inserted false results into those states' voting systems by way of a number of "bullet vote" ballots displaying only a vote for Trump and leaving all other races blank. In another part of the letter, he said Musk's America PAC and its sweepstakes offering $1 million daily prizes to prospective voters who signed Musk's petition captured voter information that bad actors later secretly used to carry out their scheme. He also said the Election Day bomb threats at election-related locations may have served as distractions or diversions, or as a fail-safe in the case Trump lost (his campaign could claim a disrupted "chain of custody" for ballots). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In our examination of Spoonamore's claims, we found discrepancies in the purported vote tallies and a lack of evidence for his other assertions. In other words, much of what he alleged amounts to a hypothesis grounded in mere speculation. Mainly, some of the numbers Spoonamore cited as evidence to prove his claims weren't anywhere near the latest publicly available election results. We contacted officials at state and federal levels with questions about Spoonamore's claims. We also reached out to Spoonamore via email and X. After this story was published, Spoonamore responded to our email saying, in part, "My Duty to Warn letter was not perfect. That is not the point of DTW letters. It is to alert to the likelihood of an issue. I stand by the need for such a letter." Who Is Stephen Spoonamore? As of this writing, Spoonamore's LinkedIn page says he resides in Pennsylvania and describes him as a "C-suite veteran" and "technology policy developer." His job history lists roles in media, communications, water treatment technology, information technology, electronics and, most recently, the building of software primarily for medical imaging. He recently noted (archived) on X he is "NOT a data scientist" but rather described himself as "a tech executive and network engineer." According to Ballotpedia, he ran an unsuccessful campaign as an independent for a seat in the Ohio House of Representatives in 2016. In the "duty to warn" letter to Harris, Spoonamore referred to himself as a "lifelong Republican" and cited numerous purported credentials, including working with clients at federal departments, delivering lectures, carrying out a special review and authoring hacking risk analyses. Spoonamore's Plea to Harris In Spoonamore's letter to Harris, he declared, "You should reverse your concession, call for both a full investigation of criminal activity and demand hand recounts in all seven swing states. In my professional view there are multiple and extremely clear indications the presidential vote was willfully compromised." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He continued: "In my view it is a near certainty the results have been changed at a scale which reversed the U.S. presidential election. They imply there is a chance a hand recount will show you won more votes. I am stating a hand recount will most likely show you did win." Spoonamore's Hypothesis of Election Hacking Spoonamore's letter to Harris spelled out his belief that "a capable and skilled series of exploits, electronic tools and hacks were used to change the presidential vote in all seven swing states" and that "these activities have reversed the outcomes in at least Arizona, Michigan, North Carolina and Wisconsin." He claimed that the "tell" pointing to the purported hacking was "a historically absurd number of Trump-only bullet ballots or undervote ballots." Undervote ballots are when voters make a number of selections for some, but not all, races. However, based on a full reading of his letter to Harris, as well as a Nov. 18 video interview on the Thom Hartmann Program YouTube channel, Spoonamore's primary focus was "bullet vote" ballots in this case meaning ballots displaying a vote for Trump but no selections for any other ballot items. North Carolina Spoonamore alleged that the purported hacking and fraud in North Carolina proved to be "the most extreme" and that "the public results indicate over 350,000 voters cast a ballot for Trump and no other race." However, this is false. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the North Carolina State Board of Elections' website, as of Nov. 21, 5,722,556 voters cast ballots. Of those, 5,699,152 ballots displayed votes in the race for president. The website also reported that 5,592,243 ballots bore votes for the state's governor's race. A comparison of the numbers for total votes and the gubernatorial race would reveal the maximum number of possible "bullet vote" ballots for all presidential candidates. The difference between the two numbers is 130,313 votes a count nowhere near the 350,000 votes stated by Spoonamore. Trump received 183,048 more of North Carolinian's votes than Harris. During a Reddit "Ask Me Anything" discussion featuring Spoonamore, some users also noted the discrepancy between Spoonamore's figures and the latest actual election results for North Carolina. (At least one other user asked about a different discrepancy involving Spoonamore's numbers for Maricopa County, Arizona a matter covered in the next section of this story.) In an email, North Carolina State Board of Elections spokesman Patrick Gannon told Snopes, "Without access to confidential data, there is no way that anyone could know what this individual claims to know about North Carolina's presidential election. North Carolinians cast secret ballots, and cast vote records and ballot images that could potentially provide this information are confidential in North Carolina. My first step in fact-checking this would be to ask the writer to show his work." Arizona Spoonamore's letter to Harris said Arizona and Nevada also had large numbers of "bullet vote" ballots for Trump. He affirmed this assertion in the Hartmann interview. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For Arizona, he wrote in his letter, "AZ - 123K+ 7.2%+ of Trump's total vote. Enough to reverse the outcome." However, the latest election results for Arizona showed that out of 3,429,637 total ballots cast voters cast 3,389,319 total votes in the presidential race and 3,347,964 votes for U.S. Senate candidates. The difference between the total number of ballots and those voting for Senate is 81,673 votes a count smaller than the more than 123,000 votes asserted by Spoonamore. Trump received 187,382 more votes in Arizona than Harris. A spokesperson for the Arizona Secretary of State told Snopes they planned to post official (finalized) election results on Nov. 25, "where undervotes will be a category that can be reviewed and calculated." They declined comment about Spoonamore's letter to Harris. Spoonamore's letter also claimed that "Maricopa County AZ, seems to be the source of the vast majority, perhaps nearly all, of the AZ bullet ballot voters for Trump." The Maricopa County government website displayed a total of 2,078,460 ballots cast, with 2,061,574 votes for presidential candidates and 2,034,256 for U.S. Senate candidates making the maximum number of "bullet votes" 44,204. Trump received 71,515 more votes in Maricopa County than Harris. (The Maricopa County website displayed an additional 7,629 write-in votes for president in a PDF that did not appear on its main results page. That number of write-ins is included with the tabulation in this paragraph.) Nevada and Other States As for Nevada, Spoonamore contended in his letter, "NV - 43K+ 5.5%+ of Trump's total vote. Enough to exceed recount threshold." The Nevada government website (archived) reported that out of 1,487,887 total ballots cast 1,484,840 ballots contained votes for presidential candidates and 1,464,728 contained votes for U.S. Senate candidates. The mximum number of "bullet votes" is 23,159. Trump received 46,008 more votes in Nevada than Harris. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Spoonamore's letter further said that five other states showed similar patterns of what he believed to be hacking and fraud. Our review of the latest results for Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin did not find outcomes substantially different than those for North Carolina, Arizona and Nevada. A spokesperson for the Pennsylvania State Department said, "Pennsylvania held a free, fair, safe and secure election." Spoonamore's Claim that Musk Was Involved On Oct. 19, 2024, Elon Musk announced that America PAC would award a daily sweepstakes prize of $1 million to people willing to sign his petition pledging support for the First and Second amendments. In October, the page specified: "This program is exclusively open to registered voters in Pennsylvania, Georgia, Nevada, Arizona, Michigan, Wisconsin and North Carolina." CNN reported on Oct. 23 that the Justice Department warned America PAC its sweepstakes may violate federal law, which bars paying people to register to vote. Musk's petition was open only to registered voters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Nov. 4, ABC News reported the recipients of the $1 million-a-day sweepstakes were preselected, despite Musk's claim that the giveaway's "winners" would be randomly selected. The article also said a Philadelphia judge ruled that day that the sweepstakes could continue through Election Day. Spoonamore's letter to Harris claimed, "Musk's team used this system to build a list of voters pledged to vote for Trump." Spoonamore alleged that the street addresses asked for in Musk's petition allowed bad actors to infiltrate election systems and cast fake votes: "Once they had the people's names and street [addresses], this would allow for building a pool of ghost voters who could logically be marked for fake ballots, structured in a manner which matched ePollBook and precinct data." However, as of this writing on Nov. 21, the claim that bad actors used data from Musk's America PAC sweepstakes to engage in election tampering is unfounded, given the lack of evidence to support it. Spoonamore also pointed a finger at Starlink, a satellite network developed by SpaceX, of which Musk is the CEO. As we previously reported, claims that bad actors used Starlink to "hack" or "rig" the 2024 presidential election were also unfounded. Election Day Bomb Threats On Election Day, the FBI announced on its website that it was "aware of bomb threats to polling locations in several states, many of which appear to originate from Russian email domains. None of the threats have been determined to be credible thus far." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CBS News journalist Scott MacFarlane reported, "Law enforcement officials estimate about 30 bomb threat hoaxes have targeted election-related locations nationwide, according to two sources familiar with the matter. Around 17 fake bomb threats have targeted the state of Georgia alone, two people familiar with the investigation told CBS News." NEW: Law enforcement officials estimate about 30 bomb threats hoaxes have targeted election-related locations nationwide, according to two sources familiar with the matter. Around 17 fake bomb threats have targeted the state of Georgia alone, two people familiar with the Scott MacFarlane (@MacFarlaneNews) November 5, 2024 Later, on Nov. 12, Atlanta NBC affiliate WXIA-TV published an article saying that Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger reported "over 60 bomb threats" on Election Day in his state alone. In Spoonamore's initial Spoutible thread, he wrote, "Now, why the bomb threats? They were NOT to allow for hacker access. The programming was already in place, they were to break chain of custody and produce legal grounds to not trust a recount. Every place that GOT a bomb threat is a place the courts will now have to consider the factual argument of whether the ballots COULD have been tampered with while the evacuations were going on. They weren't. But that is the argument the GOP will make to prevent recounts." He elaborated in his subsequent letter to Harris: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lastly, this hack methodology may or may not have some correlation with the series of bomb threats called in by Russian-affiliated assets. The use of distraction or diversion of this kind is common. My first thought was, and my thinking remains, these bomb threats were called into tabulation centers and precincts where the hackers had already planned to conduct ghost bullet ballot introductions. I believe they wanted a disruption in the chain of custody, so lawyers could claim after the hacking events that the chain of custody on the ballots was flawed. The creation of the false-argument of a broken custody chain would be used as a pretext to prevent hand recounting, as hand recounting would not match the Trump favorable result. However, by a reverse of that logic, any jurisdiction which was subject to a bomb threat was forced to break standard operating procedure. This alone should be grounds for you to ask for a hand recount. As of Nov. 21, Spoonamore's claim that the bomb threats were part of a hacking and fraud scheme, like his claim that Musk was involved in the alleged fraud, remains unsupported by concrete evidence. Sources: "11/05/2024 UNOFFICIAL GENERAL ELECTION RESULTS - STATEWIDE." North Carolina State Board of Elections, Nov. 2024, https://er.ncsbe.gov/?election_dt=11/05/2024&county_id=0&office=FED&contest=0. "2024 Michigan Elections." NBC News, Nov. 2024, https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-elections/michigan-results. "Arizona Election Results." Arizona Secretary of State, Nov. 2024, https://results.arizona.vote/#/featured/47/0. ABC News. "Judge Denies Philadelphia DA's Request to Block Elon Musk's $1 Million Giveaway." ABC News, https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/elon-musk-pac-giveaway-judge-injunction-ruling/story?id=92223179. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024. Catalini, Mike. "Musk Offers Voters $1 Million a Day to Sign PAC Petition Backing the Constitution. Is That Legal?" The Associated Press, 20 Oct. 2024, https://apnews.com/article/musk-1-million-giveaway-trump-voters-petition-b4e48acbfe04fde735e60b1911ad0197. "Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Election Results." Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Nov. 2024, https://www.electionreturns.pa.gov/General/SummaryResults?ElectionID=105&ElectionType=G&IsActive=1. "Data Scientist's Shocking Call for Election Recount Raises Scary Questions! W/ Stephen Spoonamore." YouTube, Thom Hartmann Program, 18 Nov. 2024, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJR5uQpweko. "FBI Statement on Bomb Threats to Polling Locations." FBI.gov, 5 Nov. 2024, https://www.fbi.gov/news/press-releases/fbi-statement-on-bomb-threats-to-polling-locations. Hardinges, Nick. "It's Official: Trump Wins US Presidency." Snopes, 6 Nov. 2024, https://www.snopes.com//news/2024/11/06/trump-win-2024-presidential-election/. MacFarlane, Scott. "NEW: Law Enforcement Officials Estimate about 30 Bomb Threats Hoaxes..." X, 5 Nov. 2024, https://x.com/MacFarlaneNews/status/1853917798600200530. "Maricopa County Election Results." Maricopa County Voter Registration and Elections, Nov. 2024, https://elections.maricopa.gov/results-and-data/election-results.html. "Nevada Secretary of State 2024 General Election Results." Nevada Secretary of State, https://silverstateelection.nv.gov/. "November General Election." The Office of Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, Nov. 2024, https://results.sos.ga.gov/results/public/Georgia/elections/2024NovGen/reports. Perez, Evan, et al. "Justice Department Warns Elon Musk That His $1 Million Giveaway to Registered Voters May Be Illegal | CNN Politics." CNN, 23 Oct. 2024, https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/23/politics/elon-musk-justice-department-letter/index.html. "Petition in Favor of Free Speech and the Right to Bear Arms." AMERICA PAC, https://petition.theamericapac.org/. "President and Vice President." Florida Election Watch, Nov. 2024, https://floridaelectionwatch.gov/FederalOffices/President. Pultarova, Tereza, and Elizabeth Howell. "Starlink Satellites: Facts, Tracking and Impact on Astronomy." Space.com, 14 Apr. 2022, https://www.space.com/spacex-starlink-satellites.html. Rascouet-Paz, Anna. "No Evidence Musk's Starlink Network Was Used To 'Rig' 2024 Election." Snopes, 13 Nov. 2024, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/musk-starlink-2024-election/. Raymond, Jonathan. "Georgia Secretary of State Says There Were over 60 Bomb Threats during Election." 11Alive.com, 12 Nov. 2024, https://www.11alive.com/article/news/politics/elections/georgia-election-bomb-threats-secretary-of-state-brad-raffensperger-update/85-f0236078-210c-41a0-aeff-c1e6e48d3040. Spoonamore, Stephen. "Duty to Warn Letter - to VP Harris - Re: Election 2024." Substack, 15 Nov. 2024, https://substack.com/home/post/p-151721941. ---. Spoutible, 8 Nov. 2024, https://spoutible.com/thread/37794003. "Stephen Spoonamore." LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/spoonamore/. "---." Ballotpedia, https://ballotpedia.org/Stephen_Spoonamore. "Undervote." Ballotpedia, https://ballotpedia.org/Undervote. "Wisconsin County Elections Websites." Wisconsin Elections Commission, Nov. 2024, https://elections.wi.gov/wisconsin-county-election-websites. Updates: Nov. 22, 2024: We updated this article to note Spoonamore's emailed response received on the day after publishing. KANSAS CITY, Kan. Part of the Kansas City skyline was lit purple on Thursday night, November 21, to recognize World Pancreatic Cancer Day. The cancer is one of the three deadliest along with lung and colorectal. More than 60,000 Americans will be diagnosed with it in 2024, but of those nearly 80% wont live to see the new year. Talking about her dad can be an emotional topic for Sara Leifried, a Clay County woman whose father died from the disease in 2021. When she thinks of him, its often with a smile, reminiscing about his sense of humor and laugh. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its interesting because I walk around the world, and I feel like Im listening for that laugh out of other people, she explained. Doctors see a rise in walking pneumonia cases among Kansas City kids After his stage three diagnosis in 2020, doctors opted not to remove his tumor as it was too risky. He lived for a little more than a year until he died in hospice. Its a very cruel disease, she continued. Its an unforgiving one too. The five-year survival rate is just 13%, according to the Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Network. Doctors dont screen for it, which means its usually caught when its too late, around stage three or four. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unfortunately, the pancreas is a critical organ. Its not something we can take out and live a normal life without it, and thats the biggest issue with this disease, said Doctor Raed Al-Rajabi, an oncologist with KU Health System. He also said that since the pancreas is so deep in the body the tumor needs to grow a significant amount before it even causes symptoms. The problem is the detection, and a lot of these cancers tend to spread to other organs pretty early on, he explained. Sara was devastated after losing her father, which is when she decided to do something about it. Thats when I knew I couldnt sit here and do nothing anymore. I had to take action, Sara detailed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That prompted Sara to volunteer with the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network or PanCAN. With more than 50 chapters across the country, its a major reason why new research is happening and why the survival rate has risen from 9% to 13% within a matter of years. Billie Eilish sends love to family of Kearney teens killed in multi-state police chase Since 2003, PanCAN has raised $208 million for research while creating a 1075% boost in funding for the National Cancer Institute. Not only would he just be proud of me, but I think hed just be proud of every bit of it, she said. The Kansas City chapter of the Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Network is holding its annual Purple Stride Fundraiser on Saturday, April 26, which is a walk to raise funds for all of the research PanCAN does each year. It will be in Grandview, Missouri at the Amphitheater, and registration is free. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. WARREN, Ohio (MyValleyTributes) Clifford A. Cliff Frazier, 75, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, November 20, 2024 at Hospice House in Poland. Born in Warren on December 2, 1948, Cliff was the son of the late Floyd C. and Lillian (Richter) Frazier. Find obituaries from your high school Cliff was a 1968 graduate of Champion High School. He went on to serve in the United States Army during the Vietnam War, serving from 1969 until 1970. He proudly served with the E Troop 1st Cavalry 11th Bde as an 11D 20 Armor Recon Specialist and in the Amcal Division as an APC driver based in Duc Pho Rvn. For his service, Cliff was awarded an honorable discharge and earned the rank of Spec. 4/E-4. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Upon returning home from the service, Cliff was a machinist at Triangle Machine in Niles, Ohio and then at Bell Manufacturing, also in Niles. On January 15, 1973, Cliff was hired at the Packard Electric Division of General Motors in Warren, Ohio, where he stayed until December of 2007, retiring as a material handler. On April 14, 1973, he married the love of his life, Marie (Santucci) Frazier, sharing 51 years of marriage. Cliff was an avid outdoorsman, sharing his passion for hunting, trapping, fishing and camping with his kids and friends alike. He also enjoyed woodworking and home improvement work. If Cliff could help someone in any way, he never hesitated and found time to get it done. He was always willing to lend a hand, asking nothing in return. Cliff loved his family more than anything else in life. He is survived by his wife, Marie Frazier; his children, Heather (Brian) Cunningham of Girard and Shane (Matilda) Frazier of Niles; granddaughter, Rachel Cunningham of Girard; grandson, Adam Cunningham of Girard; sisters, Lana (Anthony) Santucci of Vienna, Ohio and Cheryl (Randy) Prem of Youngstown. He also leaves behind several nieces and nephews that were as cherished as his own children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Besides his parents, Cliff was preceded in death by a brother, Ronald Frazier. Family and friends may visit and pay tribute to Cliff on Friday, November 29, 2024 from 10:00 11:00 a.m. at the Peter Rossi & Son Memorial Chapel of Warren, 1884 North Road NE, where a funeral service will follow at 11:00 a.m. Burial will follow at All Souls Cemetery with Military Honors. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Cliffs name to Hospice of the Valley-Hospice House, 9803 Sharrott Road, Youngstown, OH 44514 OR to Trumbull County Veteran Services, 253 E. Market Street, Warren, OH 44484. Family and friends may visit www.peterrossiandsonfh.com to sign the guest book and send condolences to the Frazier family. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Clifford A. Cliff Frazier, please visit our floral store. A television tribute will air Sunday, November 24 at the following approximate times: 8:58 a.m. on FOX and 9:58 p.m. on MyYTV. Video will be posted here the day of airing. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. BAKU, Azerbaijan Organizers of the United Nations climate summit issued a draft agreement Friday that would see the U.S., EU and other wealthy governments provide $250 billion a year in climate finance to developing nations by 2035 an amount that falls far short of the trillion-plus figure that the poorer countries had sought. The agreement comes with many uncertainties about which nations would provide exactly how much money, especially with President-elect Donald Trump who has scoffed at the reality of climate change and vowed steep cuts in government spending about to take power in the U.S. The finance question has been the main topic of contention at the COP29 talks in Azerbaijans capital. The new target is for money to help poorer nations green their economies and cope with the effects of a heating planet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Talks had been due to end Friday but were almost certain to go into overtime, given how far apart the parties remain. "It's ridiculous. With this number, they are spitting in our faces," said Panama's climate envoy Juan Carlos Monterrey Gomez. We dont take that seriously, said Kenyan climate envoy Ali Mohamed, referring to the $250 billion figure. Whatever agreed-upon sum comes out of the talks will be a follow-up to a $100 billion target that richer nations agreed to in 2009. They finally met that target two years after a 2020 deadline. Since then, climate needs and the damage from worsening disasters have grown more expensive and severe. The figure included in the latest draft text is unlikely to appease poorer governments, many of which had already balked at reports in POLITICO that the European Union was internally discussing a range of $200 billion to $300 billion per year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Blocs of developing countries that negotiate together have sought anywhere from $500 billion to $1.3 trillion annually from wealthier governments public funds. The date they want the target to come due is 2030, five years earlier than in Fridays draft. "Is this supposed to be the developed countries 'taking the lead'? a senior negotiator for a large developing country wrote in a message accompanying a crying emoji. Several analyses have shown developing countries will need more than $1 trillion annually from outside sources to prevent global temperatures from rising 1.5 degrees Celsius since the mid-19th century, the stretch target that the worlds governments set in the Paris climate agreement. The draft deal indicated that the shortfall, of as much as $1.3 trillion, could be filled largely using private capital by 2035. The draft is unclear on whether the $250 billion would come only from public funds and private investments they mobilize, or if it also includes all types of private investment. Thats an ambiguity poorer countries want stamped out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its not gonna go well. The 250 is too low and also ridiculous that it says from both private and public for that one, said a senior Latin American negotiator who was granted anonymity to discuss the negotiations. Even though the number fell short of developing countries wishes, a European negotiator said it will still strain some rich nations. Higher than thought, said the negotiator, who was granted anonymity to discuss sensitive diplomatic matters. Some in the group will have to go back to capitals. Another European negotiator said that for his country, $250 billion was a good ballpark figure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senior Biden administration officials have noted they are negotiating a deal that a future Democratic or climate-friendly government could meet. Four years of Trump and at least two years of full Republican control of Congress will likely diminish, if not obliterate, U.S. climate finance contributions, moderating what the U.S. can reasonably achieve. "It has been a significant lift over the past decade to meet the prior, smaller goal," a senior U.S. official said in a statement, adding that "$250 billion will require even more ambition and extraordinary reach. This goal will need to be supported by ambitious bilateral action, [multilateral development bank] contributions, and efforts to better mobilize private finance, among other critical factors." Environmental organizations said governments can likely hit a loftier number. Changes already underway to lending practices at multilateral development banks such as the World Bank should free up tens of billions of dollars of more finance that primarily flows from rich to poor countries, Joe Thwaites, senior advocate for international climate finance at the Natural Resources Defense Council, said in a statement. Countries could also reach for modest increases in country-to-country finance, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A further major bone of contention at COP29 has been U.S. and European demands that wealthy, but technically still developing, nations, such as China, Singapore and the Gulf states, should also pay into the pot. The draft essentially left that option up to those countries under pressure to donate, inviting developing country Parties to make additional contributions either as part of the goal, or supplementing it through what China often calls South-South finance. That represents little change in the stance of China, which came into the talks refusing to budge but also saying that it had provided around $25 billion in total since 2016. ANKARA, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- Five members of the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) were "neutralized" by Turkish forces in cross-border operations in northern Syria, Turkiye's Defense Ministry said Friday. Turkish security forces "neutralized" the YPG members during the "Operation Euphrates Shield" and "Operation Olive Branch," the ministry said in a statement, without specifying the timing of the operations. In a separate statement, the ministry said the Turkish forces have "neutralized" a total of 1,213 Kurdish militants in Syria since January. Turkish authorities often use the term "neutralized" in their statements to imply the identified "terrorists" surrendered or were killed or captured. The Turkish army launched several operations in northern Syria since 2016 in order to create a YPG-free zone along its border within the neighboring country. Turkiye sees the YPG group as the Syrian branch of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). The PKK, listed as a terrorist organization by Turkiye, the United States and the European Union, has rebelled against the Turkish government for decades. A cluster of workers at Ventura County berry farms have been diagnosed with a rare disease often transmitted through sick animals urine, according to a public health advisory distributed to local doctors by county health officials Tuesday. The bacterial infection, leptospirosis, has resulted in severe symptoms for some workers, including meningitis, an inflammation of the brain lining and spinal cord. Symptoms for mild cases included headaches and fevers. The disease, which can be fatal, rarely spreads from human to human, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ventura County Public Health has not given an official case count but said it had not identified any cases outside of the agriculture sector. The countys agriculture commissioner was aware of 18 cases, the Ventura County Star reported . Read more: Alameda County child believed to be latest case of bird flu; source unknown The health department said it was first contacted by a local physician in October, who reported an unusual trend in symptoms among hospital patients. After launching an investigation, the department identified leptospirosis as a probable cause of the illness and found most patients worked on caneberry farms that utilize hoop houses greenhouse structures to shelter the crops. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the investigation to identify any additional cases and the exact sources of exposure continues, Ventura County Public Health has asked healthcare providers to consider a leptospirosis diagnosis for sick agricultural workers, particularly berry harvesters. Rodents are a common source and transmitter of disease, though other mammals including livestock, cats and dogs can transmit it as well. The disease is spread through bodily fluids, such as urine, and is often contracted through cuts and abrasions that contact contaminated water and soil, where the bacteria can survive for months. Humans can also contract the illness through contaminated food; however, the county health agency has found no known health risks to the general public, including through the contact or consumption of caneberries such as raspberries and blackberries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Highly contagious whooping cough rises in California to highest level in years Symptom onset typically occurs between two and 30 days after exposure, and symptoms can last for months if untreated, according to the CDC. The illness often begins with mild symptoms, with fevers, chills, vomiting and headaches. Some cases can then enter a second, more severe phase that can result in kidney or liver failure. Ventura County Public Health recommends agriculture and berry harvesters regularly rinse any cuts with soap and water and cover them with bandages. They also recommend wearing waterproof clothing and protection while working outdoors, including gloves and long-sleeve shirts and pants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While there is no evidence of spread to the larger community, according to the department, residents should wash hands frequently and work to control rodents around their property if possible. Pet owners can consult a veterinarian about leptospirosis vaccinations and should keep pets away from ponds, lakes and other natural bodies of water. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Pam Bondi, Donald Trumps replacement pick for attorney general, has at least one thing going for her, CNN political commentator Ana Navarro said Thursday: She hasnt been accused of sexual assault or statutory rape. Navarro contrasted Bondi with several of Trumps Cabinet selections, the first being former Florida congressman Matt Gaetz. Gaetz has been accused of having sex with a minor and for paying for sex. He denies both, and a federal investigation into the matter didnt bring charges against him. I know Pam Bondi very well, Navarro said on AC360. Pam Bondi, like many other Republicans, is a mainstream Republican who turned MAGA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I will tell you, she is not an ogre. She is not a jerk. She is not a person who purposely wants to come across as being the kind of person that Matt Gaetz wants to come across as being, she said. She has been an early loyalist of Donald Trump back in the 2016 primaries. She was a loyalist of him even though Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio were running. I think with Pam Bondi, he gets loyalty, which matters a lot to him. And, Navarro continued, she hasnt committed statutory rape or been accused of it. Navarro then alluded to former Fox News host Pete Hegseth, who in 2017 was accused of sexual assault and who paid off the accuser for fear of losing his TV gig. Hegseth, potentially the next head of the Defense Department, denies the sexual assault allegation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She hasnt been accused of sexual assault, Navarro said. Navarro then drew yet another comparison, this time to Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trumps pick for secretary of Health and Human Services. She hasnt sawed the head off a whale or stabbed a dead bear cub. So, all in all, Id say shes one of the better picks. Kennedy has admitted to improperly dumping a dead bear cub in Central Park in 2014. And, his daughter says he once decapitated a dead whale in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, tied it to the roof of his minivan, and drove it five hours back home to New York. CNNs Dana Bash challenged a Democratic governors reasoning for backing Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, and she did not hold back. Following RFK Jr.s health secretary nomination, many questioned his qualifications to lead the department in light of his history of sharing outlandish medical beliefs. However, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, a Democrat, told Bash on CNN that he was raised to have a glass is half full perspective, and he is trying to remain optimistic about RFK Jr. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bash pushed back against Polis with more of Kennedys unfounded claims in which he alleged vaccines cause autism, suggested AIDs was not caused by HIV, and a claim that 1918s influenza was vaccine-induced. Bash also mentioned Kennedys past claim that COVID-19 was targeted to attack Caucasians and Black people, and spare Ashkenazi Jewish people and Chinese people. Im an Ashkenazi Jew and I got COVID, said Bash. I get that, you believe sir, that RFK Jr. does make important points but can you just explain why that outlays just some of what I listed? Polis responded, To be clear, those things are completely false, adding that he supported Kamala Harris for president. We have to find a way to of course rebut those things, and say, These are the facts, but also, look for opportunities where we can, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Polis then listed things he hoped will move forward under Kennedy, such as reducing harmful pesticide use, cutting prices on prescription drugs and improving Americas nutrition. Bash then asked Polis if he was concerned about a fall in vaccination rates in Colorado schools from 2023-2024. Again, I encourage everyone to look at the data. Its not something people should do at the point of a gun, its something people should do because it helps save the lives of those that they love the most, said Polis. A few days ago, the governor sparked outrage on X after tweeting his support for Kennedy. Science must remain THE cornerstone of our nations health policy and the science-backed decision to get vaccinated improves public health and safety. But if as a country we follow the science we would also be far more concerned about the impact of pesticides on public health, ag policy on nutrition, and the lack of access to prescription drugs due to drug high prices, he wrote. This is why I am for a major shake-up in institutions like the FDA that have been barriers to lowering drug costs and promoting healthy food choices. Lest there by any doubt, I am vaccinated as is my family. RALEIGH, N.C. (WGHP) About a week after moving a defamation lawsuit from superior court to federal court, CNN has now filed to dismiss North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinsons defamation lawsuit entirely, calling it political theatre. On Oct. 15 Robinson filed a lawsuit against CNN and North Carolina musician Louis Love Money after two separate news articles made claims about the outgoing lieutenant governors use of pornography outlets through the late 90s and early 2000s. Published by The Assembly on Sept. 3, the first article featured an interview with Money, a former clerk of a Greensboro porn video shop. He told the digital magazine that, during his time working at the Greensboro store, he developed a friendship with Robinson, who he says frequented the shop after work. Money also shared the story behind the song The Lt. Governor Owes Me Money, released by Moneys band Trailer Park Orchestra, that claims that Robinson still owes the musician $25 for a bootleg porn tape. While Money is named as a defendant in the lawsuit, The Assembly is not. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then, on Sept. 19, CNN published an expose that connected Robinson to comments, which the suit described as lewd, sex-obsessed, racist and outrageous, that were posted on the porn website NudeAfrica from roughly 2008-2012. CNN links Robinson to the user minisoldr who referred to himself in forum posts as a black NAZI!, talked about peeping on college girls as a young teen at North Carolina A&T State University and reportedly made comments so explicit that CNN refrained from publishing them. Obviously vulnerable to manipulation: NC Lt. Gov. Mark Robinsons argument against CNN centers on porn websites outdated software The NudeAfrica user disclosed biographical details that match Robinson, including name, age, location and year of marriage, and used several specific turns of phrase that Robinson has also used. The username minisoldr was the same Robinson had used for personal accounts on X, then Twitter, and YouTube at the time. Robinson states in the lawsuit, filed Oct. 15, that he categorically did not visit these video shops to buy or rent pornography and that the NudeAfrica comments are not his. He said that he made friends with Money and would occasionally bring over free pizza and socialize during his time working at a nearby Papa Johns. He refuted the NudeAfrica comments saying that they could have been faked by people with a vested interest in derailing his gubernatorial aspirations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Robinsons legal team filed an amended complaint because the initial complaint violated North Carolina state law by demanding $50,000,000 in damages. On Thursday, CNN filed a motion to dismiss the suit in the eastern district of North Carolinas federal court. This motion comes six days after CNN filed a removal, moving the lawsuit from the Wake County Superior Court, alleging that Robinsons inclusion of Greensboro musician and former porn clerk Louis Love Money was nothing more than a tactic meant to keep the lawsuit out of federal court, calling it meritless in the new filing. Motion to dismiss Defamation lawsuits are not intended to be political theatre, the motion begins. Yet it appears this is precisely why Plaintiff Mark Robinson brings this suit against Cable News Network a lawsuit he announced at a press conference in the final days of his campaign for Governor of North Carolina. CNN says that Robinson has not, and cannot, plausibly prove that CNN acted with actual malice, a legal requirement in defamation cases against public figures. In order to qualify as defamation, the defaming party must be aware that the alleged defamatory statements were false when they were made. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additionally, CNNs legal team pushes back on Robinsons claims that the posts attributed to him could have been fabricated. CNN traced Robinsons online identity through the use of a common shared username, minisoldr, and an email address obtained in a Disqus leak. Robinson claimed that these posts could have been manipulated or created by bad actors due to poor website security on the Nude Africa forum. CNN argues that this is not a sufficient argument to prove defamation, calling them conclusory guesses that are untethered from actual facts. CNNs legal team writes: Based on this guesswork, Robinson proceeds to invent an implausible theory that CNN acted with actual malice and should have never published this highly newsworthy Article because maybe it is possible that someone (who he does not name) could have triangulated various bits of digital information (all of which predates Robinsons time as a political figure in North Carolina by almost 10 years), fabricated the minisoldr posts, and then somehow manipulated the time stamps on the fake posts so they looked like they were made between 2008 and 2012. And he does so despite the fact that he alleges not a single shred of plausible evidence supporting that theory. Robinsons hypothesis is implausible, to say the least. Robinson has not adequately alleged that CNN acted with actual malice. Indeed, by showing their work the CNN reporters demonstrate their subjective belief in the truth of their reporting, which Robinson is unable to contravene. Respectfully, this Court should dismiss Robinsons Amended Complaint with prejudice. CNN breaks down how they verified Robinsons identity, from identifying the shared username and email address to unique turns of phrases to his specific favorite Twilight Zone episode. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Based on all of the information CNN had gathered during its investigation, it had no reason to seriously doubt that Robinson was the author of the minisoldr Nude Africa posts. To allege otherwise is wishful pleading, CNNs legal team says. Former porn clerk files motion to dismiss NC Lt. Gov Mark Robinsons $50 million lawsuit Because they had no reason to seriously doubt the identity of minisoldr, CNN argues that Robinson cannot prove actual malice. The legal team goes on to outline a detailed rebuttal of Robinsons suggestion that the posts could have been manufactured by a bad actor. CNNs legal team writes: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under this theory, in the last four years since Robinson has burst on to the political scene, someone must have created an account on Nude Africa with the username minisoldr, added biographical information that matches Robinson, and listed Robinsons email address involved in the Disqus (or other) data breach. This bad actor then must have dug through Robinsons social media accounts to find phrases unique to Robinson and scoured the internet for posts on other platforms where Robinson revealed his interests and other facts about himself. Then, armed with all this information from across the internet, the Mark Robinson impersonator created posts on Nude Africa containing information such as Robinsons favorite Twilight Zone episode and phrases like dunder head, and manufactured stories that align with Robinsons biographical details, like peeping at a Historically Black College and University, where Robinsons mother worked. Finally, the false Robinson poster somehow backdated every single post examined by CNN to a date between 2008 and 2012. This theory is not only implausible, it is ridiculous. CNN concludes: For the foregoing reasons, Defendant CNN respectfully requests that the Court grant its motion to dismiss and dismiss the Amended Complaint with prejudice. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX8 WGHP. North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson (left) and his attorney Jesse Binnall hold a news conference to announce a lawsuit against CNN and Louis Money of Greensboro in Raleigh, North Carolina on Oct. 15, 2024. (Photo: Galen Bacharier/NC Newsline) CNN moved to dismiss a defamation lawsuit by Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson against the news network over its reporting of his incendiary comments on a pornographic message board, calling the suit a work of political theatre. In a memorandum supporting its motion to dismiss, CNN charged that Robinsons claims fail to meet the legal standard for libel, alleging nothing that would indicate the outlets reporters acted without regard for the truth and did not believe their own reporting. Instead, the lawsuit makes broad claims of a politically motivated journalistic hit job that it fails to support with evidence, the networks lawyers wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He has failed to plausibly allege a claim for defamation, attorneys for CNN wrote. The Amended Complaint does not include a single allegation demonstrating that CNN doubted the veracity of its reporting. Robinson sued the media outlet as well as a former Greensboro porn store employee who alleged he was a frequent customer after a CNN investigation unearthed years of inflammatory posts on the porn site Nude Africa under an account with the username minisoldr, which Robinson frequently employed elsewhere. The bombshell report found that Robinson called himself a black NAZI! and a perv and confessed to peeping on womens locker rooms. Separately, the former employee, Louis Money, spoke to The Assembly to allege that Robinson was a frequent customer of his store. He also took part in a music video entitled The Lt. Governor Owes Me Money in which he sings those same allegations. Money sought the cases dismissal in state court, but it was subsequently removed to the federal court for the Eastern District of North Carolina. To prove the reports defamatory, Robinson would have to produce evidence showing that the claims were false and that CNN and the porn store employee acted with actual malice the standard for defamation against public figures, which encompasses elected officials like Robinson. That means that the claims must not only be false, but also that they be made with a reckless disregard for the truth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CNN matched biographical details from the account, including Robinsons name and email address, to verify it belonged to him. These steps demonstrate the outlets reporters showing their work, CNNs memorandum notes, and demonstrate their subjective belief in the truth of the story, which alone would be enough to disprove a claim of actual malice. Instead of providing evidence to suggest CNN reporters doubted the story, Robinson put forth conclusory guesses, which are untethered from actual facts that an unidentified individual framed him for making the posts and that CNN knew this when it published the story, the attorneys wrote. They note that the comments were made from 2008 to 2012, nearly a decade before Robinson entered the political stage. He alleges not a single shred of plausible evidence supporting that theory, the filing reads. Robinsons hypothesis is implausible, to say the least. The article defined the final months of the lieutenant governors campaign, which he ultimately lost by more than 15 percent of the vote. On election night, campaign strategist Matt Hurley decried the political ramifications the CNN story had on the campaign. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his concession speech, Robinson quoted former President Richard Nixon who he called an often demonized politician telling supporters that only if youve been in the deepest valley can you ever know how magnificent it is to be on the highest mountain. Robinson will have the opportunity to respond to the motion to dismiss, at which point the federal judge in the case will rule on whether to dismiss the claims or allow them to proceed. CNN has obtained photos from a source within Ukraine's security forces that reportedly show wreckage of the missile used by Russian forces in the attack on Dnipro on 21 November. Source: CNN; Agentstvo, a Russian analytical outlet; journalist Mark Krutov on (formerly Twitter) Quote: "A Ukrainian security source provided photos of the debris from the attack on Dnipro city. Kyiv has accused Russia of firing an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) at Ukraine, which would likely mark the first time Moscow had used such a weapon in more than 1,000 days of war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fragments pictured do not necessarily all belong to one missile, the source said." Wreckage of a new Russian missile that may have struck Dnipro on 21 November. Photo: CNN Details: An unnamed Western official has reportedly questioned whether the missile involved was an intercontinental ballistic missile. CNN has reached out to weapons experts to review the photos and provide an independent analysis of the missile's type. Agentstvo reported that the wreckage recovered from the impact site of the missile touted by Russian President Vladimir Putin as a cutting-edge innovation of Russias defence industry include a component from the Bulava missile. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Serial production of this missile began in the late 2000s, suggesting that the missile used by the Russian military on Thursday may not feature the advanced technologies Putin claimed in his video address," analysts observe. Mark Krutov, a journalist for Radio Liberty, identified serial numbers on one of the components, which led him to a 2013 government procurement contract. This contract detailed the preparation of technical documentation for producing parts for the ZK-30 system, another designation for the R-30 Bulava intercontinental ballistic missile. The Bulava missile is hardly a new addition to Russia's arsenal. Development started in the 1990s, test launches occurred in 2005, mass production began in 2007, and it was officially deployed in 2012. The presence of Bulava components in what was claimed to be a "state-of-the-art" missile raises doubts about whether it genuinely incorporates cutting-edge technologies. Background: Ukraines Air Force reported that Russia used an intercontinental ballistic missile during the latest missile attack on the city of Dnipro. Ukrainska Pravda sources reported that it could have been a Rubezh missile, a potential carrier of nuclear warheads. However, Western sources argued that it was, in fact, an "experimental medium-range ballistic missile". The Kremlin's leader, Vladimir Putin, effectively confirmed US intelligence in his address on Thursday, stating that during the morning attack on Dnipro on 21 November, Russia used an Oreshnik medium-range missile. The United States has officially confirmed that Russia struck Dnipro on the morning of 21 November with a ballistic missile developed from an RS-26 Rubezh intercontinental ballistic missile. Support UP or become our patron! JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO @STARADVERTISER.COM Rear Adm. Sean Regan, right, commander of the Coast Guards Fourteenth District, saluted Chief Petty Officer and cadet Ethan Gochu, left, Thursday during a commissioning ceremony to establish Hawaiis first Coast Guard Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps unit, at Kalani High School. 1 /3 JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO @STARADVERTISER.COM Rear Adm. Sean Regan, right, commander of the Coast Guards Fourteenth District, saluted Chief Petty Officer and cadet Ethan Gochu, left, Thursday during a commissioning ceremony to establish Hawaiis first Coast Guard Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps unit, at Kalani High School. JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO @STARADVERTISER.COM USCG ME3 Adam Atwood, right, helped cadet Hunter Fahling try on a plated tactical vest used during operations after a commissioning ceremony Thursday at Kalani High School. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 2 /3 JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO @STARADVERTISER.COM USCG ME3 Adam Atwood, right, helped cadet Hunter Fahling try on a plated tactical vest used during operations after a commissioning ceremony Thursday at Kalani High School. JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO @STARADVERTISER.COM Chief Petty Officer and cadet Ethan Gochu disembarked a U.S. Coast Guard vessel Thursday at Kalani High School. The schools new Coast Guard JROTC unit is the 14th in the nation and the first in Hawaii. 3 /3 JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO @STARADVERTISER.COM Chief Petty Officer and cadet Ethan Gochu disembarked a U.S. Coast Guard vessel Thursday at Kalani High School. The schools new Coast Guard JROTC unit is the 14th in the nation and the first in Hawaii. JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO @STARADVERTISER.COM Rear Adm. Sean Regan, right, commander of the Coast Guards Fourteenth District, saluted Chief Petty Officer and cadet Ethan Gochu, left, Thursday during a commissioning ceremony to establish Hawaiis first Coast Guard Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps unit, at Kalani High School. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO @STARADVERTISER.COM USCG ME3 Adam Atwood, right, helped cadet Hunter Fahling try on a plated tactical vest used during operations after a commissioning ceremony Thursday at Kalani High School. JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO @STARADVERTISER.COM Chief Petty Officer and cadet Ethan Gochu disembarked a U.S. Coast Guard vessel Thursday at Kalani High School. The schools new Coast Guard JROTC unit is the 14th in the nation and the first in Hawaii. Kalani High School officially activated its newly formed Coast Guard Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps program, the first of its kind in Hawaii. The inaugural class of 25 cadets will officially get started next semester. On Thursday, Coast Guardsmen, school families and faculty members gathered in the schools gym for a kickoff ceremony. Chief Petty Officer Ash Armstrong, who will be the cadets instructor, told attendees, In this program we are not only introducing young men and women to the proud legacy of the United States Coast Guard, we are also instilling in them the core principles that will guide them as future leaders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement JROTC programs are administered and partly funded by the U.S. military. They are distinct from the ROTC programs on college campuses, run by active-duty service members, that train students in military tactics and eventually commission them as military officers. JROTC instructor roles are filled mostly by military retirees and occasionally by late-career active-duty personnel, and not officially considered a recruitment program. It is about developing character, resilience, a sense of responsibility extends beyond the classroom, said Armstrong. These cadets will learn discipline, teamwork and problem-solving skills that will serve them well, whether they pursue a career in the armed forces, higher education or any other path they choose. Coast Guard District 14 Commander Rear Adm. Sean Regan said the Coast Guards small nationwide JROTC program boasts a 100 % graduation rate and that about 27 % of graduates pursue a military career after. Regan said, If anybody ever infers that this generation of men and women are not go-getters, I offer they come here and meet with these folks. They are just fantastic young citizens and emerging patriots. JROTC programs have existed since 1914, but the Coast Guard didnt have one of its own until it activated its first in Florida in 1989. It has only 14 programs nationwide, with the newest at Kalani, but in 2024 Congress mandated that it open at least one in each of its nine active districts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Don 't miss out on what 's happening ! Stay in touch with top news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It 's FREE ! Email 28141 Sign Up By clicking to sign up, you agree to Star-Advertiser 's and Google 's and. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA. The new program at Kalani is the first and so far only one in District 14, which includes Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas. The island communities of District 14 are uniquely dependent to the ocean, and the Coast Guard is active throughout the region doing search and rescue missions, safety inspections and fishery enforcement patrols. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rochelle Mahoe, the state Department of Educations complex-area superintendent for Kalani High, said that through the maritime science courses and experiences, our cadets will gain invaluable experience knowledge and open doors to exciting new careers in maritime industries and beyond. Capt. Clay Cromer, head of Coast Guard JROTC programs, told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser that the program is designed to give students a greater appreciation of the role the ocean plays in their lives. Cromer said that from an academic perspective, theyre going to learn about not only our Coast Guard missions and the maritime domain, but also about commerce and about environmental stewardship, environmental protection, you know, and being good citizens and just an awareness how much of our economic supply chain depends on the maritime domain. Cadet Arellano Manzi, 14, a freshman at Kalani High who has taken on the role of company executive officer for the new class of 25 cadets, said he had long had an interest in the military and was drawn to the program because I thought I could do good. I wanted to really test my strengths to see how I would deal with other people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Manzi admitted that at this point hes still uneasy to be a leader, and volunteered mostly because he thought it would help him compete in national competitions. But he said hes curious about the opportunities the Coast Guard could offer and is interested in one day pursuing a career as a pilot. The Coast Guard has historically been the smallest U.S. military branch until the creation of the Space Force, which counts just over 4, 000 service members. But the Space Forces proposed budget next fiscal year of roughly $29.4 billion dwarfs the roughly $14.2 billion the Coast Guard is slated to receive. Nevertheless, it has played a centraland growingrole in U.S. Pacific policy. In February 2023 senior Coast Guard commanders said the service intends to triple its deployments in the Pacific region in coming years. But by December, shortfalls in retaining and recruiting Coast Guardsmen in part forced the service to shut down several facilities and retire several vessels around the country. As demand for the Coast Guards skills continues unabated, the service has felt the strain as it fights for funding and resources. During a congressional hearing in March, Coast Guard deputy commandant for mission support Vice Adm. Paul Thomas said the serv ice was operating with a deficit of about 4, 800 members, or nearly 10 % of its workforce, even as it continues day-to-day missions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are losing our surge force, Thomas told lawmakers. If we had to respond to a hurricane or oil spill or crisis on the southwest border like we have in the past, then you would see some real problems with regard to our ability to maintain our regular missions. But in the meantime the service continues to make do. Armstrong said the Coast Guard plays a unique role among the military branches in that our direct job is related with the community. Armstrong is retiring from the Coast Guard and will stay at Kalani after his retirement in early 2025 as the JROTC instructor. He has a long history in Hawaii : He first came to isles after enlisting in the Army and served on Oahu as a Cavalry Scout, before going to college and joining the Coast Guard after graduation, taking him right back to the islands. Throughout his Coast Guard career, Armstrong has worked in logistics with assignment both on land and at sea in the Pacific. He said when the opportunity to take on the program at Kalani came up just as he was readying to leave the serv ice, it seemed like the ideal fit for him. I like doing instruction. I enjoy teaching, said Armstrong. Everything just kind of serendipitously fell into place with this. MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW) Coastal Carolina University officials on Thursday held a christening in Myrtle Beach, welcoming a new boat to its fleet thanks to a donation from the North Myrtle Beach Police Department. Officials say the new vessel is 27 feet long and is the third-largest from their now-eight-vessel fleet. Officials say after the upgrades its gotten, its now worth half-a-million dollars. The boat will be used for CCUs Gupta College of Science, providing students with hands-on STEM research and learning. North Myrtle Beach Police Chief Dana Crowell says they upgraded and decided to keep it local and donate it to the school. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CCU President Michael T. Benson spoke about how grateful the school is for the donation. To have the setting, to have the access to all these wonderful natural resources where our students can literally be in a laboratory outside, Benson said. To have the support from North Myrtle Beach Police Department means a great deal to us. Officials said theyve already began using the boat for research trips and are excited to get students on board and learning. * * * Adrianna Lawrence is a multimedia journalist at News13. Adrianna is originally from Virginia Beach, Virginia, and joined the News13 team in June 2023 after graduating from Virginia Commonwealth University in May 2023. Keep up with Adrianna on Instagram, Facebook, and X, formerly Twitter. You can also read more of her work, here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. NEW YORK (PIX11) Rain and frigid temperatures have arrived in New York City. City officials have declared a Code Blue as temperatures are expected to drop into the 30s overnight. More Local News During a Code Blue, shelters and drop-in centers citywide will be available for the homeless and those seeking refuge. No one will be denied shelter. The NYCDHS will deploy outreach teams to assist homeless individuals. If you encounter a homeless person in the cold, please call 311, and an outreach team will be sent to that location. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Friday will be cloudy with rain showers over the city and snow showers north and west. Measurable snow accumulations are possible, especially over higher locations. When will New York City see snow? In addition to the colder temperatures, New Yorkers may see a few flakes in the city, but likely no accumulation, according to the PIX11 weather team. The Code Blue is in effect until 8 a.m. on Friday. More information on homeless assistance can be found online or on the 311 app. Ben Mitchell is a digital content producer from Vermont who has covered both local and international news since 2021. He joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of his work here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Renowned Azerbaijani and Russian dancer Farid Kazakov has joined the jury of the international festival competition "Istanbul Autumn Festival", the dancer told Azernews. The International Festival-competition "Istanbul Autumn Festival" gathered talented participants from various countries, including Azerbaijan, Turkiye, Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Greece, etc. In his opening speech, Farid Kazakov emphasized the importance of international cultural cooperation between countries and spoke about the rich creative heritage of Azerbaijan and the readiness of its representatives to help uncover and develop new talents. "Every time I represent Azerbaijan on the international stage, I feel a sense of pride! Sharing about our rich history, cultural and creative heritage is a pleasure! Evaluating international competitions of such scale is always a great responsibility, and doing so while representing my country is twice as important," the dancer said. "In the new season, I received an offer to open an international academy of gymnastics and dance in my name in Istanbul, as well as to cooperate with one of the best Turkish artistic gymnastics schools, 'Elita Gymnastik Sport Club,' directed by Aytan Rustamova, a compatriot from Azerbaijan, where I have already been able to implement many of my productions, including Azerbaijani works to the music of Gara Garayev, Shovkat Alakbarova, Arif Malikov, and other luminaries of our art. I am glad to now be a connecting link between Azerbaijan and Turkiye in the field of gymnastics and dance," he added. The organizers of the competition noted the high professionalism of the jury members by awarding them with certificates of appreciation and commemorative prizes. "I would like to share another joyful piece of news: at the end of the year, for the first time in Istanbul, the annual festival of Farid Kazakov will take place, which will also be the milestone 5th edition. Additionally, it now holds international status! My team and I are actively preparing for it and are ready to surprise all the residents of Turkiye with a vibrant international event," he concluded. Farid Kazakov is a world champion in dance at the "World Dance Olympiad," three-time best soloist of Russia, holder of the global international award "Most Fashionable Awards," finalist of the international talent show "Central Asia's Got Talent," twice laureate of the national award of Azerbaijan. In 2021, the dancer won the prize "Turkiye Zirve Odulleri" in Turkiye. He got the title the "Most Talented Dancer of Turkiye 2021". Farid Kazakov is an honorary member and ambassador of Azerbaijan and Turkiye in the European Cultural Association. The dancer is a graduate of the Baku Choreographic Academy and the Moscow State Institute of Culture. He is a multiple winner and Grand Prix holder of international, all-Russian, and republican competitions. Moreover, the dancer's name was added to the book dedicated to Azerbaijan's prominent public and cultural figures. BEIJING, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- China has urged schools to involve parents in overseeing the food served on campuses, reaffirming the country's commitment to safeguarding the health of its younger generation. Parent oversight commissions should be established to ensure parents' rights to supervise the bidding and procurement of food materials, principals dining on the same food with students, the evaluation of food quality, food safety checks and transparency in expenses and revenues, according to a Ministry of Education document. Headteachers are the first to be held accountable for campus food safety and the management of related funds, said the document. Schools should appoint food safety officers, with a dedicated food safety director required for cafeterias serving more than 500 individuals, it added. Schools must conduct a food safety and satisfaction evaluation every semester among teachers and students, and among parents separately, and provide feedback on the results, according to the document. Last month, parents accused a private middle school in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, of serving stale meat to students. An official probe found the pork in question was substandard due to improper transportation and storage. As public awareness of health grows, food safety has increasingly been a red line in society. In response to the Kunming incident, for example, an investigation was launched the same day, with results made public three days later. More notably, authorities have launched a province-wide campaign to identify and address potential food safety concerns on campus. Law enforcement has also been intensified. Prosecutors said Wednesday that they had brought more than 24,000 related cases against 41,000 individuals in court between 2019 and 2023. China has 1,610 national food safety standards, evaluating 340 food categories with 20,000 parameters. There are also more than 100 regional standards. China prioritizes public health, with food safety at the top of its standards' agenda, Tian Jianxin, an official in charge of food standards, surveillance and assessment at the National Health Commission, said earlier this month. Multiple lanes reopened after being temporarily blocked on southbound Interstate 5 through Seattle Friday morning due to a crash. According to the WSDOT, the crash occurred near Mercer Street at milepost 167. By 4:15 a.m., all lanes of I-5 were blocked as crews worked to clear the scene. At about 4:30 a.m., a couple of lanes of traffic opened. There were no further details to provide at this time. Teresa Horlander has lived at the Colonel House for a few years, with her daughter and her daughters three school-age children. The family and their pet cats share a small space, with extra sleeping areas on the floor to augment the one bed. The family didnt know the hotel was being sold to the city until after the fact, after seeing a report on a TV newscast, Horlander said. We found out last night, she said Thursday afternoon. Nobody told us. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although city officials approved a municipal order to purchase the Triplett Street motel Tuesday night, Horlander said she has received no communication from the motels current owners. The family doesnt know when theyll have to vacate the motel or how theyll find new housing. We have no way of even being able to look for a new place, Horlander said. We dont have a car. We dont have nothing. The city is purchasing the Colonel House for $600,000, with plans to solicit for a private developer interested in renovating the property and turning it into affordable housing. The motel has been the scene of incidents that involved calls to police, and arrests. City officials said businesses and residents in the area have complained about the motel and that the city had been in purchase talks with the motel owners for some time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Horlander said the family contacted the Housing Authority of Owensboro and were told there was a two to three year waiting list to get into housing. When talking to a Housing Authority staff member, she said, It doesnt matter what your situation is, it doesnt put you at the top of the list, Horlander said. Lee Daugherty and Abigail Daugherty have lived at the motel for almost a year with their 2-year-old daughter. Like Horlander, Lee Daugherty said he hasnt heard from the motel owners about the sale, or how long theyll be able to stay. I didnt think it was real, he said. Abigail Daugherty said there was a time when she didnt want to be outside with her daughter because of drug activity at the motel. After sheriffs deputies arrested three people living at the motel on drug trafficking charges in January, the complex has been safe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since this place had the bust in January, it has been clean here, Abigail Daugherty said. With the arrests, it was a lot better to have a child out here. The family has put in multiple applications for housing, but Abigail Daugherty said the rent was much higher than at the Colonel House. They were asking for three times the rent, which is more than anybody in this town makes, she said. Lee Daugherty said the family found a possible new residence through a relative, but that they wont be able to move in right away. Hopefully, theyll give us 30 days before we have to move out of the Colonel House, Daugherty said. If they do, the (new residence) will be open by then. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other residents at the motel declined to talk Thursday afternoon. Abigail Daugherty said she believes resources for people in need of housing are going to the homeless who are coming to Owensboro from other cities. We know people who have moved here from Indiana who immediately got a job or an apartment, compared to someone here, she said. Horlanders family has been homeless before and has lived at other city motels, like the Budget Inn. Horlander said she has heard contradictory things, such as people will be allowed to stay at the Colonel House until Jan. 1. In terms of crime, the motel has been quiet since the drug arrests, Horlander said. There has been no trouble since the arrests, Horlander said. The only thing I saw was the room next door caught fire. COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) Colorado funeral home owners accused of letting 190 bodies decay and giving out fake ashes plead guilty to corpse abuse. Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) suggested that his immediate praise of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s nomination as secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) was a way of trying to see the best in the situation. I was raised in a way where I try to look at the glass as half-full, Polis said Friday when asked by CNNs Dana Bash whether he thinks that Kennedy, an outspoken anti-vaccine activist, can separate his personal beliefs from his work. The question was a nod at an interview Polis did with 9News, NBCs Denver affiliate, earlier this week, where he asked, Can he separate those incorrect personal beliefs from the work he does on chronic disease, nutrition, and taking on Big Pharma? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Poliss glass-half-full mindset comes as hes been under fire for his initial praise of President-elect Trump choosing Kennedy to serve as HHS secretary. Im excited by the news that the President-Elect will appoint @RobertKennedyJr to @HHSGov. He helped us defeat vaccine mandates in Colorado in 2019 and will help make America healthy again by shaking up HHS and FDA, the governor wrote in a post on social platform X last week, referencing the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). He received pushback from fellow Democrats like Hawaii Gov. Josh Green and Colorado state Sen. Kyle Mullica. A spokesperson for Polis told The Hill last week the governor has not changed his view as a whole on RFK Jr.s positions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While opposed to RFKs positions on a host of issues, including vaccines and banning fluoridation, he would appreciate seeing action on pesticides and efforts to lower prescription drug costs and if Trump is going to nominate someone like him then let them also take on soda, processed food, pesticides and heavy metals contamination. But he definitely does not endorse actions that would lead to measles outbreaks and opposes unscientific propaganda that undermines confidence in the lifesaving impact of vaccines, the spokesperson said in an emailed statement, adding that Polis received the flu and COVID vaccines earlier this month. During his CNN interview, Polis criticized Trumps first-term HHS pick, Alex Azar, a lobbyist and pharmaceutical executive. Azar had come under fire in 2020 after his handling of the early days of COVID; Trump administration officials discussed replacing him as HHS secretary. Azar ultimately resigned in early 2021, mentioning the Capitol riot in his letter. Last time Donald Trump was president, he appointed a pharmaceutical lobbyist in charge of that agency: Alex Azar, Polis said, criticizing what he described as a lack of progress on a number of health-related issues. I think its important, during the confirmation process to, of course, make sure that this is somebody who wont make his personal utterings and sayings into official policy, but will pursue policies on behalf of the America people, so I try to remain optimistic where I can, Polis later added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. DENVER (KDVR) The 2024 holiday shopping season is ramping up, but not all gifts are created equal. This is especially true for childrens toys, ranging from fun and safe to downright dangerous. Each year, CoPIRG releases its Trouble in Toyland report which looks at toys that could put children at risk of injury or death. How to provide Thanksgiving dinner for less than $50 CoPIRG Executive Director Danny Katz said the primary risk for many toys is choking. This is especially true for children under 3 years old who are more likely to put objects in their mouths. He advised parents to use an empty toilet paper tube to check the size of toys or toy pieces as it is roughly the same size as a childs throat. If the piece can pass through the tube then it should be considered dangerous for young children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This also includes water beads, which are small colorful beads that when exposed to water can expand to many times their original size. Kats said that because of their appearance, this can be appealing for small children to put in their mouths, which could create a dangerous situation. U.S. Rep. Brittany Petterson (D-Lakewood) joined Katz at the event to discuss a bill she is sponsoring that would ban water beads. While choking hazards were the main focus, other concerns outlined during the presentation include items that may not have been removed from online stores after being recalled and smart toys. For smart toys, Katz suggested parents look for and consider blocking location services, voice recognition and other features that may collect and store data about a child. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Holiday pop-up markets around Denver in 2024 A final topic discussed in the news conference was what Katz called a loophole that allows companies outside of the U.S. to ship toys and other products into the country without having to prove they are safe. Sometimes these are direct to consumers, other times to a third-party seller in the country. Its not just toys, its a lot of different products that are using this exemption and coming into our country, Katz said. According to Katz, more than 1.6 billion products are shipped into the country this way each year. The Trouble in Toyland page mentioned Shein and Temu in its reporting on this issue, although it doesnt give specific examples of issues with either company. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PIRG, the parent organization of CoPIRG, said that there are more than 150,000 emergency room visits or deaths caused by toys to children under the age of 15 each year and nearly half of those are children under the age of 4. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. Haleh Abghari was found dead in August, and police have issued a murder warrant for Ceasar Lorenzo Wilson dignity memorial Haleh Abghari Haleh Abghari Authorities investigating the killing of a Colorado professor in August say they have identified a suspect who is yet to be located. The body of Haleh Abghari was found in her Colorado Springs, Colo., home in August, local police said in a statement. This week, police announced a second-degree murder warrant against Ceasar Lorenzo Wilson, who has not yet been located, per the statement. coloradosprings.gov Ceasar Lorenzo Wilson Ceasar Lorenzo Wilson On Aug. 12, police responded to an unknown call for service around 7 a.m., and found Abghari, 54, dead with a stab wound, they said in the statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The El Paso County Coroners Office conducted an autopsy. While the cause and manner of death have not yet been released, police say they are looking into the case as a homicide. The coroner's office did not respond to PEOPLE's request for further information. The investigation led officers to Wilson, 53, and police issued a warrant for his arrest. Police did not comment on how, or if, Abghari and Wilson knew each other. Gofundme Haleh Abghari Haleh Abghari 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. Abghari was a renowned vocal artist with prestigious accolades from around the world, according to her professional website. She was a voice professor at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs at the time of her death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a GoFundMe set up to assist her family, Abghari is being remembered as a dedicated daughter, sister, friend, performer, teacher, advocate. Halehs life was a testament to her passion for the arts, human rights, and her commitment to her family and friends, reads part of the fundraiser. "She leaves behind a legacy of courage, creativity, and deep connections with those who knew her." Police are requesting help from the community to locate Wilson, but have warned citizens to not approach him because he is considered armed and dangerous, they said in the statement. DENVER (KDVR) Senator Janet Buckner will resign from her position representing Senate District 29 in southern Aurora. The Colorado Democrats announced Thursday that Buckner has issued a letter of resignation from office, opting to vacate her seat on Jan. 9, 2025. Her term was set to end on Jan. 8, and she was re-elected into the position, running unopposed in the 2024 election. Colorado Sen. Chris Hansen plans to resign after landslide reelection win Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Buckner was appointed in 2015 to represent District 40 in the Colorado House of Representatives to replace her husband John, who died in office. She was elected to keep her seat in 2016. She then went on to be elected to the State Senate in 2020. Buckner released the following statement: It is with humble gratitude that I offer my resignation from the Colorado Senate today. My journey in public service began nine years ago after my husband, John, passed away, and it has been a joy and honor to build on his legacy and forge a path of my own. I am extremely proud of the work he and I did to ensure that every child has access to a quality education and every Coloradan has the opportunity to succeed. After a personally challenging year, it is time for me to step aside and prioritize my family and health. I am grateful to my constituents in Senate District 29 for their trust, and to my colleagues in both the House and Senate who have graciously supported me. I leave with full confidence that SD29 will continue to thrive under thoughtful and dedicated leadership. Senator Janet Buckner Gov. Jared Polis said in a statement that Buckner put the people of Colorado first, with a focus on issues like free preschool, education and affordable healthcare. His statement read in part, When her husband John passed away in 2015, Janet didnt hesitate to step up and powerfully build upon the legacy of his service. Janet and John are giants of the community and will leave a lasting legacy. I have no doubt that whatever Janet does next, she will continue to make Colorado even better. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up to get breaking news sent to your inbox Sen. Chris Hansen, who represents Senate District 31 in Denver, was also re-elected and announced plans to resign earlier this month. Hansen submitted a resignation letter and will also vacate his seat on Jan. 9, according to the release from the Colorado Democrats. The Colorado Democrats said vacancy committees will choose new senators for both District 31 and District 29 to serve for two years, and an election for each district will occur in 2026. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials release 1 of 5 gray wolves onto public land in Grand County, Dec. 18, 2023. This wolf is known as 2302-OR. (Courtesy of Colorado Parks and Wildlife) A nonprofit that advocates for the restoration of gray wolves in Colorado said this week that it will begin offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information on acts of illegal wolf poaching as the state moves forward with its voter-mandated reintroduction plans. The announcement of the Rocky Mountain Wolf Projects anti-poaching reward comes after a year of tension between advocates, wildlife managers and ranchers over last winters release of the states first 10 reintroduced wolves, and just ahead of the arrival of another 10 to 15 animals in the state wildlife agencys 2024-25 release season. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hunting gray wolves, an endangered species, is illegal in most cases under federal and Colorado law, and a state anti-poaching program, Operation Game Thief, offers rewards of up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest or citation of poachers. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX But Courtney Vail, chair of the Rocky Mountain Wolf Project, said the groups new reward, which is supported by pledges from a range of private donors and advocacy organizations, will enhance incentives to bring perpetrators of crimes to justice. While enforcement of, and imposition of penalties under, the law (i.e., fines, revocation of hunting privileges, or jail time) are probably the most effective deterrents to illegal activities, we believe that rewards may incentivize the public to say something if they see something regarding wolf poaching, Vail said in a written statement. By establishing and announcing the Wolf Reward, we hope to preempt those seeking to harm wolves as reintroduction unfolds and as wolves navigate their future among Colorados public and private landscapes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its been a turbulent first year for Colorados wolf reintroduction program, which is mandated by a statewide ballot measure, Proposition 114, narrowly approved by voters in 2020. The states first established wolf pack following reintroduction consisting of a male and a female who were among the first 10 wolves released in Grand and Summit counties in December 2023, and their four pups was rounded up by Colorado Parks and Wildlife agents in August after a series of livestock depredations. A short time later, the packs adult male died in captivity of what officials said was a preexisting injury. State and federal wildlife officials said earlier this month that a different reintroduced wolf found dead in Grand County in September had died in a fight with another wolf, but also disclosed that the animal had an old, healed gunshot wound to its rear leg. Since the reintroduced wolves, captured last year in Oregon, underwent health screenings at the time, CPW officials say the wolf was likely shot in Colorado. The Rocky Mountain Wolf Project says measures like the anti-poaching reward are necessary to preempt targeted violence towards wolves during the initial stages of the reintroduction process to support law enforcement efforts. The standing $50,000 incentive will be awarded for information leading to formal charges against anyone who illegally kills a wolf in Colorado, the group says, and it will work in conjunction with the states existing anti-poaching tip hotline. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gray wolves are native to Colorado and other Rocky Mountain states, but were hunted to near-extinction by settlers and ranchers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Conservationists and ecologists have backed reintroduction efforts like the one pioneered in Yellowstone National Park in the 1990s, while ranching and hunting interests have fueled a new backlash to reestablished wolf populations. A formal reintroduction plan approved by the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission last year calls for the capture and release of 10 to 15 wolves per year in the programs first three to five years, with an initial target of a stable population of at least 50 animals within the state. Under Proposition 114, ranchers who lose livestock to confirmed wolf depredations are eligible for compensation from the state, while the federal government has granted a special exemption to the Endangered Species Act that allows for lethal control, as well as injurious nonlethal methods and intentional harassment, against wolves who threaten livestock. Ranchers have formally petitioned CPW commissioners to delay the second round of wolf releases scheduled for this winter. CPW announced in September that the agency had reached an agreement with wildlife officials in the Canadian province of British Columbia to capture up to 15 gray wolves there and release them in Colorado between December and March. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Before this years presidential election slips into gloomy history, we should pause to slam our moldy, undemocratic vote-counting system called the electoral college. If Donald Trump had to win, its good that he prevailed in both the archaic electoral college and the national popular vote. The popular vote should always settle who is elected president. Name one other office in America thats not decided by who gets the most votes from state governor down to first-grade class president. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the national popular vote doesnt count for squat in a U.S. presidential election. All that counts is our ancient electoral college system, rooted in the Founders appeasement of Southern slave states. Its beneficial, however, that Trump apparently also won the popular vote. Because now we should be able to hold a rational conversation about the evils of the electoral college without being tagged as poor-loser partisans whining that the Democrat lost despite having been favored by most American voters. There are two bad things about our electoral college system: Its possible for the major party candidate whos least favored by the nations voters to be elected president, as weve seen. It focuses the candidates attention on a few battleground states, and the rest of us are ignored. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Big states, little states, it doesnt matter. If theyre blue or red, their voters are relegated to the cheap seats as distant spectators to the main event being fought in a few purple swing states. The blues and reds are taken for granted and snubbed. The candidates dont hear from California voters about the acute water troubles in our state. But theyre lobbied about manufacturing declines in Michigan and Pennsylvania. Its an old cliche and true: Squeaky wheels get the government grease. Its not the electoral college, per se, thats the culprit. Its how the electoral votes are awarded by the states. Theyre parceled out on a winner-take-all basis. If a candidate carries a state by one vote or 1 million, its irrelevant. All the states electoral votes go to the popular vote winner. Two small states Nebraska and Maine are exceptions. They partially award electoral votes based on who wins in congressional districts. That makes more sense than strict winner-take-all. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In California, at least 5.9 million people voted for Republican Trump. They might as well have used their ballots for fireplace kindling. All 54 of the states electoral votes will be awarded to Democrat Kamala Harris, who received roughly 9.1 million votes. (When the final count is in, the vote totals will increase slightly.) Same thing in Texas, only vice versa. There, 4.8 million people voted for Harris. But all 40 electoral votes are going to Trump, who was supported by 6.4 million people. Republican voters were effectively disenfranchised in California, as Democrats were in Texas. Polling has shown that the overwhelming majority of Americans including Californians want to junk the electoral college system and elect the president by popular vote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A September survey by the Pew Research Center found that 63% of Americans prefer that the presidency be decided by the national popular vote. Read more: Column: Lots to blame for Harris' dismal finish, including blunders by Obama and Biden Conservative Republicans, however, like the status quo no doubt because two GOP candidates in recent years have won the presidency while losing the popular vote: Trump in 2016 and George W. Bush in 2000. But junking the electoral college entirely wont happen any time soon because its politically impossible. It would require a constitutional amendment. And that would need a two-thirds vote by each house of Congress both about to be controlled by the GOP plus ratification by three-fourths of state legislatures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Red state politicians wont sign off because Republican candidates benefit from the current nonsense. Neither would purple states because they enjoy all the attention and campaign bucks as battlegrounds. But theres a way to reform the system and still retain the electoral college. Just change how the electoral votes are awarded. Parcel them out in proportion to each candidates popular vote in the state. In California, Harris got roughly 59% of the vote and Trump, 38%. Minority candidates picked up 3%, but Id shift their tiny amount to the major contenders for electoral vote purposes. Harris would wind up with 33 and Trump with 21. In Texas, Trump would win 23 electoral votes and Harris, 17. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Trump chooses anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as health secretary A proportional allocation system would make sure that every vote counts and lessen the likelihood that the candidate who loses the popular vote will become president, UC Berkeley law school dean Erwin Chemerinsky wrote in a recent Sacramento Bee op-ed. Besides Trump and Bush, three presidents were elected in the 1880s while losing the popular vote: John Quincy Adams, Rutherford B. Hayes and Benjamin Harrison. The electoral college was based on the framers distrust of majority rule and was a tremendous boost to slave states political power, Chemerinsky told me. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The South fretted about the Norths larger population and the Yankees political clout. So the founders compromised. Slaves wouldnt be allowed to vote, but they could count as three-fifths of a person for the purpose of apportioning members of the House of Representatives based on population. That strengthened the South in the electoral college because a states number of electors is based mostly on the size of its House delegation. But every state also gets an elector for each senator. And each state is entitled to two, regardless of its size an allotment designed to dilute the power of big states. I didnt do all the math, but its a safe assumption that Trump still would have won the electoral college vote under a proportional allocation system. Chemerinsky, a constitutional scholar, believes the reform could be passed by Congress without amending the Constitution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But first, Americans would need to insist that they elect the president, not the states. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. SINGAPORE, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- The non-oil domestic exports (NODX) in Singapore grew 9.2 percent year-on-year in the third quarter of this year, in a sharp contrast to the 6.5 percent decrease in the previous quarter, the government agency Enterprise Singapore said Friday. Singapore's domestic exports of electronic products rose 17 percent year-on-year from July to September, while domestic exports of non-electronic products grew 7 percent. NODX to Singapore's top markets increased in the third quarter. Malaysia, China, and the United States were the largest contributors to the expansion. Enterprise Singapore downgraded the NODX growth forecast to around 1 percent for 2024 due to volatile pharmaceuticals as well as ships and boats segments. Singapore's total merchandise trade grew 5.5 percent year-on-year from July to September. Its services trade increased 13.9 percent to 235 billion Singapore dollars (175 billion U.S. dollars). Regular visits to the dentist to fill cavities used to be a shared ordeal for millions of American children and adults. The reason that hasn't been the case for late baby boomers and subsequent generations is that the fluoridation of drinking water became common starting in the late 1940s and continuing today. So it's right to question why Donald Trump's nominee to head the Department of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has placed the ending of fluoridation atop his list of first-day initiatives in his campaign against American public health. "On January 20," Kennedy tweeted a few days before the election, "the Trump White House will advise all U.S. water systems to remove fluoride from public water." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 'Fluoridation is the most monstrously conceived and dangerous Communist plot we have ever had to face.' The unhinged Gen. Jack D. Ripper in the 1964 film 'Dr. Strangelove' The reason, he asserted, is that "fluoride is an industrial waste associated with arthritis, bone fractures, bone cancer, IQ loss, neurodevelopmental disorders, and thyroid disease." That's all flatly untrue or grossly misleading. Kennedy's screed against fluoridation is part and parcel of a policy package that has legitimate scientists warning of a public health catastrophe in the making. Fluoridation of tap water has generated local controversies ever since it was introduced in the U.S. in 1945. But it remains fully supported by a majority of Americans and by professional organizations including the American Dental Assn. and the American Academy of Pediatrics. That suggests that the proper stance of a Health and Human Services secretary would be to voice support for the practice. Kennedy has done just the opposite. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, fluoridation is one of the 10 great public health achievements of the 20th century, up there with vaccination, family planning and recognition of the health dangers of tobacco. On January 20, the Trump White House will advise all U.S. water systems to remove fluoride from public water. Fluoride is an industrial waste associated with arthritis, bone fractures, bone cancer, IQ loss, neurodevelopmental disorders, and thyroid disease. President Robert F. Kennedy Jr (@RobertKennedyJr) November 2, 2024 Fluoridation revolutionized dentistry, especially for children. Fluoridation of tap water was credited with reducing the incidence of tooth decay by as much as 70% when it was first introduced; by the mid-1980s, when other sources of fluoride, such as fortified toothpastes, were available, the effects of tooth decay in children were still 18% lower among those living in fluoridation communities than in those without it. Who would benefit from the end of community fluoridation and a recrudescence of tooth decay? Dental supply companies, investors in which are rubbing their hands in glee at the prospect of more demand for their products. For example, shares of Henry Schein Inc., a distributor of specialty dental products, have risen more than 9% since RFK Jr. was named as Trump's choice for HHS secretary. Kennedy's tweet about fluoridation exemplifies the anti-vaccine crowd's method of casting doubt on established public health policies. There are two elements. One is to portray rare adverse health effects some so rare that their very existence is questionable as major and acute threats. The second is to downplay the beneficial effects of a policy. That leaves the public believing that the policy has only adverse effects, and that those are immediate and severe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Column: Opposing vaccine mandates, Trump exposes kids to disease Tooth decay is a little-recognized public health problem, in part because fluoridation has made it rarer than it used to be. But it hasn't disappeared. The American Academy of Pediatrics calls it "one of the most common chronic diseases in children," and one that can have "lifelong consequences." It disproportionately affects children who are racial minorities, come from low-income families or have special needs. It's not only about the occasional toothache or cavity needing filling. Tooth decay can produce "incapacitating pain," bacterial infection that may spread throughout the body, and, of course, to the loss of a tooth. In the first part of the last century, the only remedy for decay was to pull the tooth. As of 2012, two-thirds of Americans had access to fluoridated tap water. Thanks to fluoridation, the CDC says, "tooth loss is no longer considered inevitable, and increasingly adults in the United States are retaining most of their teeth for a lifetime." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More baby boomers reached 60 with "a relatively intact dentition at that age than any generation in history," the CDC says. Interestingly, that makes water fluoridation more important than ever, since it means that seniors have more teeth vulnerable to decay than before. Communities that have ended fluoridation have seen dental illnesses soar. Since fluoride was removed from drinking water in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, in 2011, Alberta Children's Hospital has seen dental infections requiring treatment with IV antibiotics increase by 700%, a hospital specialist told the City Council in 2019. Half of those infections were in children younger than 5. Windsor, Ontario, Canada, voted in 2018 to resume fluoridation five years after it had ended the program, after discovering that the number of children with tooth decay or oral conditions requiring urgent care had increased by 51% in the interim. Opponents of fluoridation have played on paranoid fears for decades, but into the 1960s, these were popularly dismissed as ravings from fringe organizations. In the 1964 film "Dr. Strangelove," the unhinged Gen. Jack D. Ripper declares that "fluoridation is the most monstrously conceived and dangerous Communist plot we have ever had to face" echoing the position of the John Birch Society. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Column: Trump and RFK Jr. want to make the world safe again for polio and measles. You should be terrified The anti-fluoridation camp has long claimed that the process "increased the risk for cancer, Down syndrome, heart disease, osteoporosis and bone fracture, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, low intelligence, Alzheimer's disease, allergic reactions, and other health conditions," the CDC noted in 1999. "No credible evidence supports an association between fluoridation and any of these conditions," the agency stated. More recently, critics object that fluoridation "is being imposed on them by the states and as an infringement on their freedom of choice," the National Research Council reported in 2006 similar to the elevation of individual "freedoms" over communal interests that animates the anti-vaccine movement. The anti-fluoridation camp scored a legal victory in September, when federal Judge Edward M. Chen of San Francisco, an Obama appointee, ordered the Environmental Protection Agency to review its safety standard for fluoridation in tap water. Chen concluded not that "fluoridated water is injurious to public health" but that "there is unreasonable risk of such injury," triggering a legal mandate that the EPA take a closer look. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chen's findings were heavily based on a government study with a checkered research history. More on that shortly. Despite the limitations of his order, it may well be taken as a validation of suspicions about fluoridation. What of RFK Jr.'s roster of adverse health effects? Let's take them one by one. To begin, although fluoride can be a byproduct of industrial processes, it's also a mineral naturally present in soil, groundwater, plants and food. Arthritis? The National Research Council's 2006 analysis of government fluoride standards identified "no indications" in the existing scientific literature implying "that fluoride had a causal relationship with ... rheumatoid arthritis." Bone fractures? The 2006 analysis determined that the leading evidence for fluoride's effect on bone strength pointed to lifetime exposure to fluoride at concentrations at or exceeding 4 milligrams per liter, which is more than five times the concentration in fluoridated tap water. The effect was found chiefly in people prone to concentrating fluoride in their bones, such as those with kidney disease. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bone cancer? The main source of this claim appears to be a 15-year study led by the Harvard School of Dental Medicine, published in 2006 in the journal Cancer Causes and Controls. In the same issue of the journal, however, two Harvard experts cast doubt on the study, noting that the original researchers were unable to replicate their findings when they repeated their study with new subjects. The results, they said, "do not suggest an overall association between fluoride and osteosarcoma" (that is, bone cancer). Read more: Column: At age 60, 'Dr. Strangelove' feels more relevant than ever Evidence of "thyroid disease," as Kennedy tweeted, is similarly inconclusive, especially at the approved levels of fluoride in tap water. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That brings us to Chen's ruling in the San Francisco lawsuit. His findings relied heavily on a monograph by the National Toxicology Program first published in 2019. The paper initially concluded that "fluoride is presumed to be a cognitive neurodevelopmental hazard to humans, based on findings that children exposed to high concentrations of fluoride showed lower IQs than others. The survey focused on the effect of water with more than 1.5 milligrams of fluoride per liter, more than twice the approved level in the United States. It acknowledged that it had only "moderate confidence" that such concentrations could result in lower IQs, and stated that it had "insufficient data" to determine that the 0.7 mg/liter concentration in fluoridated tap water affects IQ. There were lots of problems with the National Toxicology Program's monograph. Two peer reviews by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine essentially ripped it apart, rejecting it both times. The program "had not adequately supported its conclusions," the peer reviewers wrote. The monograph lacked a "rigorous statistical review." The reviewers recommended that the program "make it clear that the monograph cannot be used to draw any conclusions regarding low fluoride exposure concentrations ... typically associated with drinking-water fluoridation." Among other changes in the final monograph published this summer, the program removed references to a "neurodevelopmental hazard to humans." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Critics also pointed out the inherent problems with treating IQ as an all-purpose measure of intelligence, since it's well-known that IQ can be affected by "socioeconomic, physical, familial, cultural, genetic, nutritional, and environmental factors," the American Academy of Pediatrics observes. Kennedy's mindset is curious: He has promoted treatment of COVID-19 with ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine, which have been proved to be useless for the purpose, but he campaigns against fluoridation, which has demonstrated a health benefit over nearly eight decades. Is this any way to run a public health agency such as the HHS? Get the latest from Michael Hiltzik Commentary on economics and more from a Pulitzer Prize winner. Sign me up. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. CHAMPION, Ohio (WKBN) The Board of Commissioners of the Trumbull County MetroParks Thursday decided to wait another month before reaffirming its decision to demolish the Leavittsburg Dam. Theyre waiting on word from the Ohio EPA on whether money already allocated to remove the dam can be used for alternative plans. The commissioners were considering a resolution reaffirming their 2021 decision to demolish the Leavittsburg Dam and people attending from the Leavittsburg area were not happy about it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When you have this on the agenda, it pretty much looks like its a done deal. If thats it then please let us know so we can just leave, said Warren Township Trustee Ed Anthony. Goodwill is something that I think we all need in this room and goodwill is the result of working together in earnest compromise, said Leavittsburg resident Julia McComb Shutt. Trumbull County Commissioner Denny Malloy wants the board to seriously consider a study by the Akron Engineering firm DLZ which suggests alternatives to demolition. Malloy told the board if they voted to reaffirm there could be consequences. You think anyone on the board of commissioners is going to give the park board one penny for a budget next year if you dont listen to the people? he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MetroParks Commissioner Kurt Sauer suggested tabling the motion until the boards next meeting Dec. 19. Sauer wants one question answered by someone with the Ohio EPA. Whether the funding that we currently have in place, some significant dollar amount of which we have spent, will be able to be transferred to an alternative solution, Sauer said. MetroParks Commissioner John Brown reminded everyone the decision to demolish the dam was made three and a half years ago. And to keep stringing people along, I dont think is fair. But if its another month in this process Im willing to rescind my request, Brown said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The MetroParks Board ultimately decided to table the resolution and will take up the Leavittsburgh Dam demolition again on Dec. 19. There were also several residents of Braceville Township at the meeting who supported the removal of the dam because they said it would reduce the flooding problems that have plagued Braceville for years. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. Community members gather in the pews of St. Matthews Baptist Church in Stanton, Tenn. at a community benefits demands meeting hosted Nov. 16 by BlueOval Good Neighbors and Tennessee for All. (Photo: Tennessee for All) A coalition of community members from towns surrounding Fords new BlueOval City manufacturing campus in West Tennessee issued a list of demands for a legally binding community benefits agreement this month, inviting Ford to negotiate. Their demands include company commitments to hire local workers at livable wages, create funds to support locals as rents and the cost of living rise, monitor the campus environmental impacts and give a newly created BlueOval Good Neighbors Community Board the power to oversee and enforce those provisions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The list which is based on community input collected by BlueOval Good Neighbors and advocacy group Tennessee for All from their own community outreach over the last two years has not yet been acknowledged by Ford. The company has run a separate 2-year outreach effort to gather input for a Good Neighbor Plan that has yet to be released. That effort is overseen by an Equitable Growth Advisory Council of 25 community leaders and elected officials selected by Ford. The 6-square-mile campus will be constructed on about 3,300 acres of what was once farmland in the southwestern corner of Haywood County. The $5.6 billion campus will include manufacturing facilities for electric vehicles and batteries, a supplier park, a rail yard connection, and a wastewater treatment plant. The massive venture one of the largest battery and vehicle manufacturing campuses in the country lies just 2.5 miles south of Stanton, a small town of less than 600 people. Mason, a majority Black town of just over 1,300 residents, is about 6 miles west of the facility. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We want residents in every community neighboring BlueOval City to benefit as the campus comes to life and we look forward to introducing the Good Neighbor Plan soon, spokesperson Jessica Enoch wrote in an email to Tennessee Lookout. Ford has been contacted by many groups that say they speak on behalf of residents, many of which are not even from the area. It would not be feasible for us to engage with every third-party group that purports to speak on behalf of residents. In fact, what we hear most from residents is that they want to speak for themselves. Community members, leaders and union representatives who gathered at a Nov. 16 meeting hosted by BlueOval Good Neighbors and Tennessee for All said they do want to have a voice in their future, backed by the legal reinforcement of a community benefits agreement. They agree that development brings opportunities, but growing pains are already palpable. Meeting attendees described neighbors losing their rented homes when landlords sold property after Ford came to town. One woman described seeing trees cleared and smelling smoke as downed logs were burned. Some have seen rent and property tax increases as property values rise. Many have received offers to purchase their homes. You get these little things in the mail where folks want to buy your house, and they have enough nerve to offer me $35,000, Mason Alderwoman Virginia Rivers said. Where am I going to buy a house for (that). If I sell what Ive got, I cant even go buy something else. Virginia Rivers, Mason, Tenn. alderwoman.(Photo: John Partipilo) Attendees also voiced continued concerns over threats to water quality, not only from the campus, but from secondary developments that lead to water pollution and runoff. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several people pointed to what the community has experienced since 2022: the states attempted takeover of the City of Masons charter, Fayette County governments closure of a Mason community center and Black farmers receiving reportedly low offers for land to use for state road projects leading to the new campus. Enoch stated the Equitable Growth Advisory Council will use community feedback to shape its plan, including research and surveys led by the University of Tennessee at Martin and input from four public meetings held in February, some of which Tennessee for All representatives attended. The council is just one way that Ford engages with residents. Ford and Ford Philanthropy spent more than 1,000 hours listening to community input and learning about local priorities, and we continue to welcome ideas from residents, who are encouraged to contact commrels@ford.com, she wrote. Rebekah Gorbea, statewide coordinator for Tennessee for All, said BlueOval Good Neighbors list of demands is a culmination of the coalitions work. She said the group has attempted to meet with Ford to negotiate for two years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These demands are a product of years of community input on the harsh realities of Fords BlueOval City Project, Gorbea stated in a news release. These EV plants are cropping up all over the South and the Biden administration and Ford have the opportunity to show that these developments are for the people just as much as they are for profit. If Ford really wants to be a good neighbor, we are ready to negotiate. BlueOval Good Neighbors Key Demands Summary BLACKSBURG, Va. (WFXR) The Community Foundation of the New River Valley (CFNRV) is celebrating its 30th anniversary. The non-profit foundation started in 1994 and works with families, individuals, and businesses to meet their charitable interests in the community. They award grants and scholarships to students who want to attend college for a degree. The foundation started when volunteers came together to make an impact on the New River Valley. In 1997, the foundation awarded $3,000 in grants and gave out the first scholarship in 2002 of $500. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New grocery store coming to Northwest Roanoke bringing healthier food options Since then, the foundation has continued to expand its vision in the NRV. As of today, the CFNRV manages $18 million in almost 230 funds and has awarded grants and scholarships of more than $8.8 million. The CDNRV works with hundreds of partners in the New River Valley to address childhood education and food access, which are the most pressing issues in the region. We are so proud of what we have accomplished in 30 years at the Community Foundation. Each grantee, student, and partner that we support and work with plays a role in making the New River Valley the vibrant place that it is, said Pat Hyer, the CFNRVs board president. We strive to continually understand our communitys needs and priorities so that we can continue to reach even more people in our region. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The CFNRV also hosts the regions annual GiveLocalNRV Giving Day, which gives back to the community for more than 100 nonprofits. This event has raised more than $4.3 million for local nonprofits since 2014. The Roanoke Foodshed Network receives $800,000 grant for food systems We are incredibly grateful to CFNRV because the consistent financial support over many years has allowed us to stay focused on providing quality services to families and children in the New River Valley, said Andi Golusky, the executive director of NRV CARES, a longtime CFNRV grantee and Giving Day participant. The strong leadership of the CFNRV has helped to promote our small agency to many areas of the community we would not otherwise have the ability to reach. The Higher Impact Fund was created by the CFNRVs Board of Directors to support the priorities of the CFNRV to grow over the next 30 years. The Secular Society, a private NRV philanthropy, will also give $100,000 to the Higher Impact Fund. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For more information or to donate, visit cfnrv.org/30th. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFXRtv. YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) New homes are tough to come by in Youngstown. In fact, outside of the main center downtown, there have been only 20 units built in the last 15 years. That is changing, however, with a new project to bring homes to the city. Thursday, a ceremonial groundbreaking was held for six new homes being built on Mineral Springs Avenue. The more we build, the more community we build, and the quicker we can realize Youngstown coming back as a community that cares about each other, said Councilman Julius Oliver. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Construction has already started on the homes. They will be three bedrooms with two and a half baths, plus a two-car garage. When you buy a home here, youre not just buying a house, youre also buying into whats happening in this neighborhood, said YNDC Executive Director Ian Beniston. Since 2008, Mineral Springs Avenue has changed, from blight to demolition, and now, new builds. Money for the project came from the Welcome Home Ohio Program. It was funded by the Ohio General Assembly, including former Youngstown council member Lauren McNally, who is now a state representative. So exciting in such a way to put a bow on the end of my first term, McNally said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The price of each home is capped by the state at $180,000. Construction will finish in the spring, and the homes will go on sale. It is a partnership between multiple agencies and partners to improve the housing stock in Youngstown. Coming together is a beginning. Standing together is progress, and working together is success, said Deb Flora, executive director of the Mahoning County Land Bank. The homes will include a 100-percent, 15-year property tax abatement. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. DES MOINES, Iowa Organizations offering community Thanksgivings in Des Moines are reaching capacity in record numbers, with thousands seeking out meals. Chucks Restaurant in Des Moines has hosted the Parks Community Thanksgiving for 40 years. On Thanksgiving they offer a sit-down dinner in the restaurant, and they offer meal deliveries. This year the sit-down dinner will run from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and they will deliver over 2,700 meals directly to homes around Des Moines on the morning of Thanksgiving. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another organization hosting a community Thanksgiving, Hope Ministries, will serve over 4,000 meals during Thanksgiving. Around 3,800 will be delivered to homes while an estimated 250 will be ready to serve at the Hope Cafe. We have hit capacity every year at Thanksgiving, which is why we have been blessed to be able to work with partners and expand our capacity. Obviously, we havent reached the limit of the need yet, so this is our biggest meal outreach ever and we are still hitting capacity, said Kathy Coady the Chief Development Officer at Hope Ministries. Mobile healthcare program launched to help Des Moines homeless community The Bethel Mission Hope Cafe will serve their dinner from 12 to 1 p.m. Hope Ministries expected thousands for their deliveries, but Kathy says the in-person turnout is best guess. On a robust day Hope Cafe will serve over 100 people, during the holiday season the numbers increase to 150 or more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A lot of it depends on the weather, so if there is mild weather on Thanksgiving Day, Im sure we are going to have a big turnout, said Coady. Well see how many people show up, and then we are going to gauge, you know following the holiday, and assess if we can continue to grow our capacity. Each year Hope Ministries works to expand the number of meals they are able to serve. Over the past years the growth in need for Hope Cafe services has demanded continued increases. With delivered meals reaching capacity so far out from Thanksgiving, they are already thinking about how they will meet the demand next year. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to who13.com. BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) Bill Cramer Chevrolet and the Salvation Army launched their 41st Empty Stocking Fund fundraiser Thursday night. Our parent company Nexstar Media kicked things off with a $10,000 donation from the Nexstar Charitable Foundation. This is WMBBs third year co-sponsoring the Empty Stocking Fund. Ace Hardware will once again be asking customers to round up to the next dollar at the checkout. Owners, the Smith family, will then match the total. Dont miss Cocktails for a Cause Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It has been 41 years of these events happened, and I see that its great, is great. To see how the community supports the Salvation Army in town and how they can get alongside us because we cant do it alone. We need everyone, Salvation Army Captain Niurka Pena said. The Salvation Armys goal is to raise $200,000. The community has always come along with us. So we can do the most good which is our mission. Our mission is to get to those in need. And with these funds, we can do that, Salvation Army Captain Arnaldo Pena said. The money will go to a number of Salvation Army programs that help those in need like emergency funds, services for domestic violence, and transitional housing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The support from the community has been phenomenal. And its really become a tradition and you know I think over the period of the 41 years that weve been doing this, we raised in excess of six and a half million dollars for the Salvation Army, Cramer Chevrolets Bill Cramer said. The event has also brought the community together during tough times. Businesses compete in Forgotten Coast Festival of the Trees The biggest year ever was the hurricane year. 2018. And the community was extremely generous, raising over half a million dollars at a time when the community needed it the most and the army was there taking care of families who didnt even have the means to cook food Theyre hopeful the event will continue to grow for years to come, Cramer said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The areas growing. So many folks coming here to live now. And that means more people are going to have issues coming up and they need the help. And the Salvation Army is always ready to help, Empty Stocking Fund Co-Chairman Jerry Brown said. The empty stocking fund runs through December. Beginning Friday morning youll be able to scan a flow code with your cell phone or click here. Or you can drop off a check at Bill Cramer Chevrolets 23rd Street showroom. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) Lawmakers are home for Thanksgiving, but when they return to the Capitol, they face a looming government funding deadline. Senate Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) says lawmakers should expect a busy schedule when they get back in December. Both sides must continue working together to keep the government open beyond the December 20th deadline, Schumer said. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) is suggesting lawmakers should pass a funding extension instead of a full budget. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) isnt committing to either option. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are pros and cons both ways, well just see how it plays out, McConnell said. The effort to pass another short-term spending bill is facing opposition. Senator Tim Kaine (D-Va.) argues lawmakers have an obligation to get a full funding package passed this year. I think pushing it into next year is a horrible idea and I think its politically motivated because next year there will be two Republican houses and a Republican president, Kaine said. He says he thinks theres bipartisan agreement on that point. I know that the strong desire on the Senate side not only among Democrats, but among many of my Republican colleagues is to get this done now, Kaine said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) says she thinks Congress should prioritize passing a government funding bill now, so that come January the new Republican majority can shift focus to enacting their agenda. That way the next Congress can stand at full attention, ready to advance policies to make our country safer, stronger, and a more resilient place, Capito said. Lawmakers only have until December 20th to come to an agreement or risk a government shutdown right before Christmas. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. House Republicans rejected a farm bill proposal by Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) this week, increasing the likelihood that lawmakers will pass another one-year extension of the massive legislation by the end of the year rather than a new, longer-term measure. A source in Speaker Mike Johnsons (R-La.) office confirmed this week that the GOP-controlled House plans to seek an extension of the 2018 farm bill, the last major version of the legislation signed into law, rather than pursuing a new bill after months of gridlock. The legislation, which has long underpinned the countrys agriculture sector and food aid programs, is typically passed in five-year increments, but lawmakers similarly punted on passing a new bill at the end of last year. Major bones of contention in interparty talks surrounding the legislation include reference pricing, the subsidies paid to farmers when the prices of commodities fall below a certain threshold. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement GOP lawmakers are specifically seeking higher reference prices for cotton, peanuts and rice, with the increase paid for by cuts to the Commodity Credit Corporation, which the Biden administration has used for climate-related discretionary funds. Democrats have opposed this move, as well as a GOP push to freeze the expansion of the foods covered by the Supplemental Nutrition and Assistance Program (SNAP). House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) signaled Democrats would not budge on SNAP at a press conference Tuesday, saying, We certainly will continue to protect nutritional assistance for Americans all across the country. Thats in urban America, rural America, exurban America, the heartland of America and small-town America. That will be a priority for us, as has always been the case, moving forward. A second source familiar with the GOP conference meeting confirmed to The Hill that Republican House members rejected the Stabenow text, which the source called not a serious proposal after Senate Democrats walked away from negotiations, expressing frustration on the GOP side that Stabenow did not release the text until 20 days remained in the session. The source also pointed to the fact that the Senate Democratic caucus was not united on it, citing pushback from Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) on reference prices for the Southeastern U.S. in Stabenows text. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The source confirmed that House Agriculture Chair Glenn Thompson (R-Pa.) dismissed the Senate bill as a form of legacy protection for Stabenow, who is retiring from the Senate in January. Thompsons remark was first reported by Politico. The GOP-controlled House passed its farm bill text out of committee earlier this year, while Stabenow introduced text for the Senate version this week. Having won a trifecta in the November election, Republicans have considerably less incentive to pass a full new bill by years end rather than passing another extension and introducing a broadly Republican-supported bill in the next Congress. It was widely reported in the weeks leading up to the Houses markup that Stabenow was calling Democratic members on the phone urging them to vote against our bill, which still secured four Democratic votes, the source added. The GOP bill the Farm, Food and National Security Act of 2024 passed the Agriculture Committee 33-21 in May, with the support of Democratic Reps. Yadira Caraveo (Colo.), Don Davis (N.C.), Eric Sorensen (Ill.) and Sanford Bishop (Ga.). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Hill has reached out to Stabenows office for comment. Democrats could likely only exert meaningful leverage by threatening to outright block any stopgap measure and allow the current extension to expire. Jeffries signaled in his press conference, however, that some form of reauthorization would be a priority for the Democratic caucus during the lame-duck session. Its our hope that we can find the common ground necessary in order to reauthorize the farm bill in a manner that meets the needs of everyday Americans, of farmers particularly family-owned farmers and that meets the needs of the health and food safety of the American people, Jeffries said. Emily Brooks contributed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A bipartisan group of state attorneys general is urging Congress to enact a law that would provide greater safeguards for minors online. (Photo by Peter Cade/Getty Images) Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman has signed a letter alongside other attorneys general of both parties asking Congress to pass the Kids Online Safety Act before the end of 2024. Attorney General Russell Coleman The letter, dated Nov. 18 and sent to congressional leaders including Kentuckys Sen. Mitch McConnell, said the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) will establish better safeguards for minors online. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While an increasingly online world has improved many aspects of our material well-being, prolific internet usage negatively impacts our children, the letter states, calling the threats minors face on social media a national youth mental health catastrophe. The KOSA legislation, among other things, would require social media companies to take reasonable measures in the design and operation of any product, service or feature that the covered platform knows is used by minors to prevent and mitigate the following harms to minors. It also would limit features that increase, sustain or extend use of the covered platform by the minor, such as automatic playing of media, rewards for time spent on the platform, notifications and other features that result in compulsive usage of the covered platform by the minor. There is nothing partisan about protecting our kids, Coleman, a Republican, said in a statement. This legislation would help create a safer online environment that reduces harm to kids and helps parents like me safeguard our children. As a father and as the Attorney General, I hope our legislators can come to an agreement soon on this critical issue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to Coleman, attorneys general from Tennessee, Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont and Wyoming signed the letter. Coleman is also suing TikTok, accusing the social media platform of exploiting minors and being designed to addict and otherwise harm them. Tik Tok said the claims were inaccurate and misleading. JERUSALEM, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- Israeli settlers on Friday evening tried to attack Commander of the Israeli army's Central Command Avi Bluth and accompanying officers in the city of Hebron, southern West Bank, according to a statement issued by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The incident occurred during a mass Jewish religious event held annually in the city, the statement said, noting that "the group chased the commander, shouted derogatory remarks, and blocked the exit road on his way to operational activity." Israeli state-owned Kan TV News reported that dozens of rioters shouted at Bluth "Traitor" and "Israel hater." The statement said the Israeli Police arrested five of them, and the group was dispersed within a short time. "The IDF strongly condemns all violence of any kind against IDF personnel and views such incidents with utmost severity," it added. Israeli settlers occasionally attack Israeli security forces in the West Bank to express dissatisfaction with actions or policies perceived as favoring Palestinians, such as evacuating illegal Jewish outposts or arresting and expelling rioters from the region. Separately, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced earlier on Friday the cessation of the issuance of administrative detention warrants against Jewish settlers in the West Bank. "In a reality where the Jewish settlers in Judea and Samaria (the West Bank) are subject to serious Palestinian terror threats and unjustified international sanctions, it is inappropriate for Israel to take such a severe step against them," the minister said in a statement. A panel of women testifying Nov. 20, 2024, to the House Appropriations Committee oversight hearing on Investigating the Crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women listen as Maulian Bryant (left) spoke about the challenges her Penobscot Nation faces in accessing resources to find missing people. From left to right: Mary Jane Miles, Cheryl Horn, Abigail Echo-Hawk and Eugenia Charles-Newton. (Screenshot via YouTube/House Appropriations Committee) Paul Begay, Anne Curley, Ella Mae Begay and Everett Charley are the names of only a handful of Navajo people missing that Navajo Nation Council Delegate Eugenia Charles-Newton shared as she addressed a congressional committee hearing on Missing and Murdered Indigenous People. These are a few of the names I wanted to read aloud, so they know they are not forgotten, Charles-Newton told the House Appropriations Committee oversight hearing on Investigating the Crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The victims are both men and women, but it is Native American women who disproportionately go missing and are murdered in cases that are rarely solved, if theyre investigated at all. The Bureau of Indian Affairs estimates that there are approximately 4,200 missing and murdered Indigenous peoples cases that have gone unsolved. She said that the total number of known people missing from the Navajo Nation is 75, and they do not know the number of Navajo people who have been murdered. Its unaccounted for because we lack the manpower to track those cases properly, and we also lack the infrastructure to record all cases, she said. Charles-Newton was one of five Indigenous women who testified to the committee on Nov. 20, and each shared their experiences working and advocating for missing and murdered Indigenous people in both rural and urban settings. As part of the testimonies, each woman also provided recommendations on how federal agencies can better support MMIP efforts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many of the concerns highlighted in the hearing related to continued jurisdictional issues among federal, state, and tribal entities, the lack of readily available resources for investigations involving MMIP cases, the need for more comprehensive data collection regarding Indigenous peoples and accountability among federal agencies. My inner being agonizes over the lack of worth given to Native women and the senseless acts that lead to their harm, said Mary Jane Miles, vice-chairman of the Nez Perce Tribal Executive Committee and member of the Nez Perce tribe. In the past, people in power have not cared about Native women, but their families and tribes do care. Over and over again, the women who testified spoke about the jurisdictional confusion that, many said, is ultimately used as a way to pass the buck and avoid doing the police work required to seek justice for the victims. Cheryl Horn, a member of the Assiniboine Tribe of Fort Belknap who sits on the Montana Missing Indigenous Persons Task Force, spoke about the difficulty in getting any help from the tribal, county and federal law enforcement agencies when two of her nieces went missing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement None of these jurisdictions want this case, said. I dont want jurisdiction used as an excuse not to do it, which is what Im seeing in Montana. Likewise, Urban Indian Health Institute Director Abigail Echo-Hawk told the committee that the maze of jurisdiction is just an excuse that allows law enforcement to not pay attention to those they dont care about and those they dont care about look like me and the other women on this panel today. Charles-Newton drove home exactly how jurisdictional confusion has failed Native victims, telling the committee about her own kidnapping and brutal repeated rapes when she was just 17 years old. She said she accepted a Coca-Cola from a man she knew, only to wake up later, tied up in a shack and held for more than a week. He raped me repeatedly, he beat me, he broke my ribs, broke my cheekbones. He tried to carve his initials into my pubic area, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And although Charles-Newton knew who her rapist was, and told police over and over, she said all they kept asking her about was where the shack was located, a question she couldnt answer. Because of that, jurisdiction was never settled, and her rapist was never prosecuted and now she represents that man as a Navajo Nation delegate. No one came to search for her, she said, because tribal police told her family that shed just gotten tired of living in her tribal community and had left. That was an excuse, Charles-Newton said, but her family believed it because they have been conditioned to believe the police. Nobody wants to solve these cases. They just want to say that its closed, she said. I wish we had law enforcement where everybody took their jobs seriously. The tendency to blame Indigenous women who are victimized conditioned by decades of stereotypes that treat Native people, and especially Native women, as less than human makes it that much more difficult to get non-tribal law enforcement to respond to the cases the same way they would if the victims were white women, Echo-Hawk said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This cannot depend on one person, on one organization. It must be a systematic approach that upholds accountability, she said. It is something weve been calling for, but no one has been willing to take up the cause. Maulian Bryant, a member of the Penobscot Nation in Maine and the incoming executive director of the Wabanaki Alliance, said the failure to recognize the crisis taking place on tribal lands and against Native Americans living in urban centers is only the latest trauma visited upon Indigenous people by the U.S. government. Things like the American government stealing land from Native people and then forcing them into boarding schools, where they literally had their culture beaten out of them, have left Indigenous people less than human and invisible. Its so much more than laws and jurisdiction, its where weve been placed in society, she said. We love this place and we need it to love us back. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho, called the hearing as part of the House Interior and Environment Appropriations Subcommittee, which oversees funding for the Department of Interior. More than 40% of American Indian and Alaska Native women are raped in their lifetime, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For Indigenous women between the ages of 10 and 24, homicide is the No. 3 leading cause of death. For Indigenous women ages 25 to 24, it is the fifth leading cause of death. Forty percent of all victims of sex trafficking are identified as American Indian and Alaska Native women, Simpson said. In 2023, over 5,800 American Indian and Alaska Native females were missing and 74% were children. This is tragic and unacceptable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Simpson said that, as part of the FY2025 House Interior appropriations bill, the Bureau of Indian Affairs public safety and justice programs received a $191 million increase, including an additional $141 million for criminal investigation and police services. Simpson said the bill also provided an additional $13.5 million for a total of $30 million for the missing and murdered Indigenous womens initiative, which focuses on helping address the MMIP crisis, including resources for criminal investigators, software platforms and evidence recovery equipment. These steps are just the beginning, he said. The goal of the hearing is not to point fingers, Simpson said, but to solve a problem. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We want to know whats working and whats not working, things that might need to be changed and that is the purpose of this hearing, he said, because as the appropriations committee, it is their responsibility to fund many of those programs. Echo-Hawk spoke to the committee on behalf of the Indigenous people living in urban areas who continue to be impacted by the crisis yet still do not have access to resources promised through the Savannas Act and Not Invisible Act. These people are suffering in the same ways the tribes are suffering, Echo-Hawk said of Indigenous people living in urban settings. Echo-Hawk, who is a member of the Pawnee Nation and serves as the executive vice president of the Seattle Indian Health Board, touched on three major topics related to the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous peoples: the Department of Justices failure to implement the Savannas Act and the Not Invisible Act, the need for a national alert code for missing and endangered Indigenous people, and the importance of holding the military accountable for violence against Indigenous people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Please ensure that there is accountability for urban Indian populations as we move forward in doing everything we can to achieve justice, Echo-Hawk said. Savannas Act is an effort to improve the federal response to missing and murdered Indigenous peoples, including increasing coordination among federal, state, tribal and local law enforcement agencies. The Not Invisible Act was signed into law in 2020, and it requires the U.S. Department of Justice and Department of Interior to establish the Not Invisible Act Commission, a cross-jurisdictional advisory committee that will develop recommendations to address the public safety challenges associated with missing and murdered Indigenous peoples. The commission was formed in May 2022, and it held field meetings in June 2022, which helped it compile a recommendation report for the Departments of Justice, Interior, and Congress in November 2023. Some of those recommendations included tracking and reporting MMIP and human trafficking cases, coordinating tribal-state-federal resources to combat MMIP and human trafficking, and identifying, reporting, and responding to instances of MMIP cases and human trafficking. For those of us serving in the urban setting, the promises of the Savannahs Act and Not Invisible Act have never come, Echo-Hawk said. She noted how she has often interacted with law enforcement agencies that acknowledge a crisis happening among Indigenous people, but they do not know how to adequately address it because they do not have the resources to do so. Echo-Hawk pointed out that the commission for the Not Invisible Act took two years to be appointed, and the process for appointment and data collection was rushed. As a result, many Indigenous people within urban communities were unable to share their experiences with the commission. They need to do better, she said. Our urban communities must be involved and we have to ensure that all of our people, regardless of where we live, have the opportunity to see justice. To address violence against Indigenous women by the military, Echo-Hawk shared her personal experience of being victimized as a young woman by an active-duty military man. Echo-Hawk called for accountability within the Department of Defense, stating that department leaders need to make current data readily available on human trafficking, sexual assault, domestic violence and homicide of both active-duty military who are affected and those who are perpetrators in the active-duty military. We need to know what the impact is of the military on this crisis and of those active-duty service members who deserve safety, she said, adding that Indigenous people make up over 1% of those in active-duty military service, and this crisis impacts them. U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-Maine, said that it is a complex crisis, and there has been growing awareness and focus on resolving unsolved cases as well as understanding and addressing other contributing factors, such as drug and human trafficking, domestic violence, poverty, housing issues and more. Theyre all equally important to confront the scale and severity of this issue, she said. That is why its imperative we pass a full-year interior appropriations bill and not have programs constrained by operating under a continuing resolution. Pingree pointed out several initiatives that have been put in place to address the ongoing crisis, including the establishment of Operation Lady Justice in 2019 to pursue these unresolved cases; the creation of a missing and murdered unit within the BIA Office of Justice Services in 2021, which was established to provide leadership and direction for cross-department and interagency work; and the 2023 launch of the DOJs missing and murdered Indigenous regional outreach program, which permanently placed 10 attorneys and coordinators in five designated regions across the United States to help respond to cases. Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole, R-Oklahoma, said that Indigenous women and girls continue to be disproportionately targeted by dangerous predators. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data indicates that Native women and girls experience a murder rate 10 times higher than the national average, Cole said. Tragically, I have seen these stats first hand in my home state of Oklahoma, which ranks No. 2 on the list of the top 10 states with Native American and Alaska Native missing persons cases. Cole said that while the statistics are alarming, data collection on the issue is still lacking, and solving the MMIP crisis will require sufficient awareness and resources. Because of the extreme lack of resources, statutory roadblocks, and several other barriers, this crisis wont be solved without the work and partnership of leaders of the federal, state, tribal, and local law enforcement, he said. This article was first published by the Arizona Mirror, part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Arizona Mirror maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Jim Small for questions: info@azmirror.com. Follow Arizona Mirror on Facebook and X. South Dakota Sen. Mike Rounds introduced the "Returning Education Back to Our States Act" on Thursday, signaling a commitment to deliver on President-elect Donald Trump's vow to dismantle the Department of Education. In the conservative movement to return education back to local control, Rounds said the legislation would "eliminate" the department while redistributing all critical federal programs to other agencies. Rounds' announcement was first reported by Fox News. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "For years, I've worked toward removing the federal Department of Education," the Republican senator wrote in a statement, adding "I'm pleased that President-elect Trump shares this vision, and I'm excited to work with him and Republican majorities in the Senate and House to make this a reality. This legislation is a roadmap to eliminating the federal Department of Education by practically rehoming these federal programs in the departments where they belong, which will be critical as we move into next year." In his statement, Rounds said the United States spends too much on education for students' test scores to be lagging behind other countries in standardized assessments. He called the DOE ineffective and earmarked the department's responsibilities for the Departments of Interior, Treasury, Health and Human Services, Labor and State, according to the bill text. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and aid programs under Title VIII of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act will be transferred to the Department of Health and Human Services, the Office of Indian Education of the Department of Education will be transferred to the Department of the Interior, the Federal Pell Grant and other higher education loan programs will be transferred to the Department of the Treasury. According to the bill, the treasury department will allocate Block grants to states for K-12 and postsecondary education. The treasury secretary also has the power to withhold these funds if they are mishandled by the states. The Justice Department will oversee federal civil rights laws that were previously under Title VI. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie told ABC News Thursday morning that he would also bring forward legislation to abolish the DOE within the "first few weeks" of the 119th Congress. "There'll be one sentence - only thing that will change is the date: The Department of Education shall terminate on December 31, 2026," Massie told ABC News. PHOTO: In this March 25, 2021, file photo, Sen. Mike Rounds speaks during during a hearing on Capitol Hill, in Washington, D.C. (Pool via Reuters, FILE) Massie has been pushing to defund the U.S. Department of Education since the start of 2023 when he introduced H.R. 899. Massie's bill wasn't voted on in the House last year. However, education analyst Neal McCluskey at the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank, argued Massie's one-sentence bill was not realistic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: Dismantling the Department of Education? Trump's plan for schools in his second term "You've got to figure out what to do with all the legislation that feeds into the Department of Education," McCluskey said. "If Congress were to pass that law that says, abolish the Department of Education, technically the department would go away, but then you'd have all sorts of questions, well, who's going to administrate or be administrator for all these programs," he said. In March 2023, Massie wrote an amendment H.Amendment 124 in H.R. 5, the "Parents Bill of Rights Act" the House's signature K-12 education policy to abolish the department. That amendment failed as all Democrats and 60 House Republicans voted against it. Here are ways to gut the department Even as Republicans hold majorities in both chambers next Congress, the Senate typically needs 60 votes to do anything, according to McCluskey. McCluskey said, "There's no chance they're going to be at 60, and so it's going to be tough [to abolish the department legislatively]." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The Department of Education administers a whole lot of laws, and then those laws have to be changed about who runs student aid and who is tasked with making decisions about canceling student debt, and who decides or who administers Title I and lots of these other federal programs," McCluskey told ABC News. "He [President-elect Trump] can certainly use the bully pulpit to drive this a lot. He could provide legislative blueprints if he wanted to. But ultimately this has to come through Congress," McCluskey underscored. Meanwhile, Augustus Mays, vice president for partnerships and engagement at the advocacy group The Education Trust, told ABC News that the president-elect could also ask Congress to gut federal programs like Title 1, the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), and others, in his congressional budget request. MORE: Can Trump deliver on his promise to ax the Department of Education? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Public education, particularly in high-need districts, would effectively be drained of millions of dollars, according to Mays. "It would really cripple the ability to function and aid the support that these students need to really succeed from an academic standpoint," Mays said. Congressional Republicans continue to introduce bills eliminating the Department of Education originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is mocking rival Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene over the Republican lawmakers new post working alongside the newly created budget-slashing Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. The progressive Bronx/Queens lawmaker says her GOP counterpart from Georgia is not ready to do the hard work needed to find big cost savings in the federal budget. She barely shows up and doesnt do the reading, Ocasio-Cortez tweeted. Its like giving someone an unplugged controller. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ocasio-Cortez predicted incoming DOGE bosses Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy will find out the hard way that Greene lacks the needed legislative chops to help them get stuff done on Capitol Hill. Absolutely dying at those two now getting assigned the privilege of working with MTG, she wrote. That is actually hilarious. Enjoy, fellas! Greene has been tapped by Rep. James Comer, the GOP chair of the oversight committee, to lead a subcommittee to work with DOGE in the coming Congress. The firebrand MAGA lawmaker vowed to use the new post to root out waste in the federal bureaucracy. We will identify and investigate the waste, corruption and absolutely useless parts of our federal government, Greene said in a statement. Our subcommittees work will expose people who need to be FIRED. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Greenes appointment reflects an apparent dramatic improvement in her relationship with House Speaker Mike Johnson. She sniped at Johnson in recent months and accused him of working with Democrats to avoid government shutdowns and funding Ukraines effort to defend itself against the Russian invasion. The pair appear to have buried the hatchet since their mutual ally President-elect Trump won a fresh four-year term in office. Musk and Ramaswamy have been appointed to lead DOGE, a new organization that has no formal power over the federal budget. It is unclear how DOGE will function and how its proposed actions would translate into actual budget cuts, which legally must be approved by Congress. Musk, the worlds richest man, has said he hopes to cut about a third of the federal budget, a shocking goal that could be politically dangerous for Trump. ______ Conor McGregor leaving court following the jury's decision in his sexual assault civil suit. - Credit: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile/Getty Images A woman who accused MMA fighter Conor McGregor of violently raping her in 2018 has won a civil case in Ireland, according to The Guardian. McGregor was ordered to pay more than $250,000 to Nikita Hand, who alleged that McGregor brutally assaulted her in a hotel penthouse in 2018 in Dublin. Hand spoke outside of the courthouse after the verdict Friday, thanking her family and her legal team. More from Rolling Stone Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To all the victims of sexual assault, I hope my story is a reminder that no matter how afraid you might be, speak up, you have a voice and keep on fighting for justice, Hand said. McGregor, in a statement shared with Rolling Stone, said he had instructed my legal team to appeal todays decision. He continued: The judges instruction and the modest award given was for assault, there was not an award for aggravated or exemplary damages. I am disappointed that the jury did not hear all the evidence that the [Director of Public Prosecutions] reviewed. I am with my family, focused on my future. During the trial, Hands attorney told the jury that McGregor had assaulted her out of anger after losing a fight several months prior (per The Associated Press). Hes not a man, hes a coward, John Gordon said during the trial. A devious coward and you should treat him for what he is. During Hands testimony, she told the court that she was afraid McGregor was going to kill her, claiming McGregor put her in a choke hold during the encounter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hand brought her claims to the police, but they didnt pursue criminal charges against McGregor. McGregor denied the allegations, claiming that he and Hand had engaged in consensual sex. He called the allegations full blown lies during the trial. McGregors attorney Remy Farrell had encouraged jurors to put aside any personal feelings they may have about McGregor when determining their verdict. You may have an active dislike of him, some of you may even loathe him there is no point pretending that the situation might be otherwise, Farrell said, per the BBC, adding that what is important is the evidence. Best of Rolling Stone Sign up for RollingStone's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Conor McGregor has been ordered to pay $250,000 to a woman who accused the MMA fighter of brutally raping and battering her in a hotel. McGregor said he plans to appeal the courts decision. I will be appealing todays decision. The judges instruction and the modest award given was for assault, not for aggravated or exemplary damages, McGregor said in an X post on Friday. I am disappointed that the jury did not hear all the evidence that the DPP reviewed. I am with my family now, focused on my future. Thank you to all my support worldwide. I will be appealing today's decision. The judge's instruction and the modest award given was for assault, not for aggravated or exemplary damages. I am disappointed that the jury did not hear all the evidence that the DPP reviewed. I am with my family now, focused on my future. Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) November 22, 2024 Nikita Ni Lamhain accused the UFC star and another man, named James Lawrence, of raping her in a Dublin hotel back in 2018 following a Christmas party. McGregor has denied the claims, stating their actions were consensual. Lawrence was found to not have sexually assaulted the woman. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lamhain read her own statement before media outside the courthouse, praising her daughter for helping her through her trial proceedings. She has given me so much strength and courage over the last six years throughout this nightmare to keep on pushing forward for justice, Lamhain said. I want to show [her] and every other girl and boy that you can stand up for yourself if something happens to you, no matter who the person is, and justice will be served. The post Conor McGregor Ordered to Pay Woman $250K in Sexual Assault Case appeared first on TheWrap. Conor McGregor, the Irish mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter, must pay nearly 188,000 (250,000) in damages to a woman who accused him of rape in Dublin in 2018, a jury decided on Friday. The 36-year-old fighter previously told Dublins High Court he had consensual sex with Nikita Hand in a penthouse at the Beacon Hotel in December 2018. It also emerged a group of masked men invaded Ms Hands home and stabbed her partner, prompting her to move out of the area she lived in. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The break-in was not put before the jury as the judge said it was not relevant to the case. Her lawyers did not accuse Mr McGregor of being involved. Ms Hand alleged Mr McGregor pinned her down, choked her three times and brutally raped and battered her. Mr McGregor shook his head as the jury of eight women and four men found him liable of assaulting Ms Hand following six hours and 10 minutes of deliberation. The jury of eight women and four men reached its verdict after six hours of deliberation. Ms Hand says the last few weeks have been a nightmare - Brian Lawless/PA Mr McGregor has been ordered to pay her 188,000 (250,000) in damages. Mr McGregor said he planned to appeal the courts decision. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speaking outside of court after the decision, Ms Hand said the last few weeks had been a nightmare. I know this has impacted not only my life, but my daughters, my family and friends tremendously, she said. Its something that Ill never forget for the rest of my life. The MMA fighter remained silent as he left court holding his long-term partners hand. Ms Hand was left with purple and blue bruising along her hands and wrists, a bloodied scratch to her breast and a sore neck, the jury was told. Mr Justice Alexander Owens presides over the the civil case between Conor McGregor and Nikita Hand - Brian Lawless/PA Her lawyer told the jury that when she was referred to a sexual assault treatment unit the day after the alleged assault, a doctor was so concerned he ordered photographs to be taken of her injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ms Hand said that she and a friend met Mr McGregor, whom she had spoken with on social media, after attending a Christmas party. The MMA star then drove Ms Hand and her friend to a party in a penthouse room at the Beacon hotel, where there was drugs and alcohol, the trial was told. Ms Hand said Mr McGregor came on to her in the hotel room but told the trial she did not want to have sexual intercourse with him. Her lawyer, John Gordon, said she was on antidepressants at the time, and full of drugs at the time of the alleged assault. Conor McGregor denies any wrongdoing - Brian Lawless/PA Mr McGregors lawyers hit back by accusing Ms Hand of extortion and asked the jury to look at the evidence rather than his character. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lawyers pointed to CCTV footage of the woman arriving at and leaving the hotel with Mr McGregor and James Lawrence, who she also accused of sexual assault. Ms Hand lost her claim against Lawrence. Both Mr McGregor and Mr Lawrence denied any wrongdoing. 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. Conor McGregor's image is at risk as a jury finds him liable for a sexual assault charge. The Irish professional mixed martial artist lost the rape case brought against him by a Dublin hairdresser, Nikita Ni Laimhin. She filed a civil suit, alleging that she was brutally violated by the former UFC star in 2018. The incident allegedly involved two men, Conor McGregor and James Lawrence. However, only the athlete was punished for the incident. It is important to note that both men vehemently denied the assault claims, but the jury only believed one party's narrative. Conor McGregor Found Liable Of Sexual Assault Despite His Consensual Arguments MEGA The month-long sexual assault drama concluded in McGregor's loss on Friday, November 22. He arrived at the courthouse with his longtime partner, Dee Devlin, who remained by his side when the verdict was read. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The jurors in the case did not support McGregor's side of the story, where he argued that the 2018 encounter had been consensual. On that note, the victim, Ni Laimhin, was awarded roughly $250,000 in damages. As for her claims that Lawrence had assaulted her after McGregor, the jurors refuted the narrative. TMZ reported that they stressed in their ruling that he did not rape Ni Laimhin. The plaintiff also had no recollection of such an event occurring. Inside McGregor's Sexual Assault Drama Earlier this month, The Blast covered that Ni Laimhin had filed a civil damages claim against McGregor and Lawrence over a 2018 incident. The boxer appeared in court on November 5 to fight the allegations with his attorney. The legal rep argued that Ni Laimhin was trying to extort McGregor, but her attorney, John Gordon SC, painted a different picture. He told the jury that the assault occurred in December 2018 after the parties linked up at her salon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McGregor and Ni Laimhin reportedly had a close relationship and frequently contacted each other on social media. He invited her and her friend for a drive, eventually ending up at a penthouse suite in Dublin's Beacon Hotel. The Former UFC Fighter Allegedly Brutally Forced Himself On The Victim At the hotel, McGregor allegedly invited Ni Laimhin to the bedroom, where he tried to initiate a sexual encounter. However, she refused because she was on her period, but the MMA fighter pinned her down on the bed. "She will tell you that she was nervous, that she tried to push him off her, but she was completely unable to do so," her attorney claimed. "You will see pictures of her hands and wrists, which are black and blue. You will see that her left breast has a bloodied scratch." The legal rep noted McGregor's brutal assault continued by flipping Ni Laimhin over and putting her arms in a lock. He repeatedly drew her up by the neck until she couldn't breathe and gave up on resisting his attacks. The Victim Was Reportedly Taken To The Hospital Via Ambulance Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ni Laimhin's attorney claimed that after subjecting herself to McGregor's "violent and vicious assault," she was allegedly attacked by Lawrence. However, the legal rep stressed that she had no recollection of such an event. Following the incident, Ni Laimhin visited her mother, who alerted emergency services. The victim was then taken to the hospital by ambulance. The lawyer claimed she was visibly shaking and in pain during the transfer. "In the face of this, Mr. McGregor will tell you that this was a consensual encounter, that they were just having fun and a bit of rough sex. That's his answer," the attorney said, adding: "What did I say about common sense? Don't be fooled into leaving it behind in this room. What he is saying is that she gave him a license to carry out what has to have been a brutal assault on her body." Connor McGregor Threw A Surprise Birthday Party For His Partner Years After The Incident Five years after the 2018 event, The Blast shared how McGregor threw a lavish birthday party for his then pregnant fiancee. He surprised Devlin with a lavish bash, showering her with extravagant gifts, as seen in his Instagram post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The celebrations took place on his yacht, with its interior adorned with pink and gold balloons. Devlin's joy was visible in the snaps, looking elated surrounded by the gifts, McGregor, and their children. Part of the expensive presents she received were cream-colored bags from Louis Vuitton and Chanel. There were also chic Chanel shoes, pink bedazzled sandals, and, to top it off, a massive birthday cake. Given that his longtime partner remained faithfully by his side throughout the sexual assault drama, Conor McGregor's relationship may not be affected by his loss. The News Polarization has gripped the world. The right is moving right, the left is moving left, and the center is getting squeezed. Or so it might seem: Lately, there are examples around the world of movements that were once considered part of the left moving toward the right as well. In 2024, a coterie of former Democrats joined up with Trump, forming a strange coalition on the basis of anti-establishment sentiment and rejecting progressive mores. For Director of National Intelligence nominee Tulsi Gabbard, a former DNC vice chair and Bernie Sanders surrogate, Trump represents an isolationist Republicanism in line with her foreign policy worldview. She has been sharply criticized by leaders in both parties as too Russia-friendly and too tolerant towards figures like Syrian dictator Bashar Al-Assad. Gabbard is also a social conservative on certain issues, putting her out of step with the Democrats liberalism. RFK Jr., the controversial presidential candidate and enfant terrible of the Kennedy family, was anti-Trump as recently as this year. Kennedy ran his campaign on policies aimed at overhauling government, often targeting large corporations and their influence over public policy. But Kennedy is also a noted conspiracy theorist, who believes that everything from wi-fi to vaccines are poisonous, often in conflict with the scientific consensus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The clusterbomb of positions some conventionally left, some right, some fringe has scrambled traditional political lines. Colorado governor Jared Polis, a Democrat, issued a qualified statement of support for RFK and drew instant backlash from members of his party. On the right, anti-abortion Republicans are uneasy with Kennedys support for reproductive rights, among other issues. But its not just in the US that this is occurring. Sahra Wagenknecht, a former leader of Germanys Die Linke party, left over disagreements with social policy. Wagenknecht founded her own party, named after herself, taking aim at a host of left-wing stances: namely, on climate and immigration. The party, BSW, has seen its best results in East Germany, where it managed to enter state parliaments across the board in this years state elections. It seems likely to make it into national parliament next year as well, though one recent survey indicated some struggles. BSW has been placed in a tradition of Old Left parties that retain the social conservatism of the Soviet era. Communist and social democratic parties across Europe fall into this vein, like the Communist Party of Greece, which has campaigned against same-sex marriage in the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In France, Communist leader Fabien Roussel emphasized protection of Frances unique gastronomy during his campaign, propounding that the French working class should have cheap access to steak and cheese. Latin America has a similar tradition of unorthodox leftists. Perus last presidential winner, Pedro Castillo, aligned himself with the far-left Peru Libre party, campaigning for better conditions for peasants and teachers. But he was also noted for his social conservatism, reflective of many of Perus rural and Indigenous communities. In Mexico, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador ran a progressive campaign against a conservative political establishment. But AMLO himself has conservative tendencies, and notably clashed with the former mayor of Mexico City on masking during the Covid crisis. That former mayor was his ally, Claudia Sheinbaum, now Mexicos president. Brads view While a left-wing conservatism may seem unusual in the context of standard political analysis, there are some clear explanations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some voters who would have once backed typical left-wing parties may find themselves alienated by their trend towards social progressivism in recent years. Leaders of these movements have identified what they have labeled woke social and economic politics as a source of their frustration, which are often derided as products of academics and elites. Many of these parties also offer an anti-establishment appeal similar to that invoked by right-wing nationalist movements. Candidates like Wagenknecht are leveraging social media to reach a slice of the disaffected in conservative spaces. Gen X and older millennials may be prime targets for this strand of politics given their adoption of social media and memories of alternative rebellion, alongside a lack of upbringing with recent progressive shifts. Notable While Pierce County elected officials and homeless advocates celebrate the groundbreaking of the Good Neighbor Village in Spanaway, neighbors to the project continue to protest. On Nov. 21, Tacoma Rescue Mission hosted a groundbreaking ceremony at its property at 176th Street and Spanaway Loop Road. The property, situated next to Spanaway Lake, will be the site of what is being called the Good Neighbor Village a project that promises to provide nearly 300 permanent homes for chronically homeless people. The project has been a priority for Pierce County Executive Bruce Dammeier. Thevillage, which will require residents to pay rent, work and follow community guidelines, is modeled on a village for the formerly homeless in Austin, Texas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Counsel to Dammeiers office, Steve OBan, spoke at the groundbreaking of his visit to the community in Austin. He said after his two-week stay at the village he was stunned by the power of the community there. It was quiet and peaceful, OBan said. We felt safer there than we do in our own neighborhood in West Tacoma. Since the beginning of the projects conception it has faced political and regulatory hurdles. A group known as Spanaway Concerned Citizens has fought the project at nearly every turn. The group has objected to the project over concerns that it would have adverse environmental impacts on multiple wetlands on the property as well protected Garry oak trees and endangered squirrel habitat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This spring, Spanaway Concerned Citizens hired lawyers who fought the project during a Pierce County Hearing Examiner hearing that lasted multiple weeks. In June, the hearing examiner approved the project. During the groundbreaking, Tacoma Rescue Mission executive director Duke Paulson celebrated the progress of the project, which recently was granted a clearing and grading permit from the county. Paulson said the project had been an intimidating one, that he and others at the rescue mission had poured their hearts into, at times shedding tears through the obstacle-riddled process. Two protesters walk past security guards at the groundbreaking ceremonies at the site of the new Good Neighbor Village in Spanaway, Washington, on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. The women left the property on their own a few minutes later. As the groundbreaking took place, a small crowd of picketers with Spanaway Concerned Citizens protested outside the property. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Debbie Clark lives down the street from the site and was there to protest. Clark told The News Tribune she felt the hearing examiners approval of the project was politically motivated and that the county hastily granted clearing and grading permits as a way to push the project through before any appeals. She worried about oak trees being cut down and black bears being displaced into the surrounding suburbs. Spanaway Concerned Citizens filed an appeal to the hearing examiners decision in Thurston County Court on Sept. 16. During the groundbreaking, construction crews could be heard working in the wooded areas of the property. One could hear mechanical equipment, and voices hollering, followed by the snapping, cracking, and heavy thuds of trees being felled. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Neighbors to the village often bring up concerns over the people that will live in the village. Clark told The News Tribune she was concerned about the kinds of transient people the project could attract and how that might affect property values in the area. These are not the kind of people that are wanting to better themselves, she said of the potential residents of the village. Stephanie Dye also lives nearby and attended the protest. She told The News Tribune she feared the type of people coming into the area and had already noticed an uptick in unhoused individuals. She blamed the village, which had not yet been built. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Well, its the only thing that has changed, Dye told The News Tribune. She said she worried about the safety of her children amid construction. I understand that some fear the project because it is unknown, Paulson said during the groundbreaking ceremony in an attempt to address concerns in the surrounding community. We want to be good neighbors to those around us. In the long run, we are partners with them. Dammeier said outside community support would be critical for the success of the village, which he envisioned to be inviting instead of isolating. Its going to take a community to deliver this, he said. It is now confirmed that the weapon Russia fired in an unprecedented attack on Ukraine yesterday was not an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). However, the missile in question, named Oreshnik, is technically derived from an ICBM. Its use highlights past discussions about the potential value of a conventionally armed ICBM, which some countries may be looking at fielding if they havent already, and that would offer a unique extremely long-range strike capability below the nuclear threshold. Russian President Vladimir Putin disclosed the existence of Oreshnik and announced its use in the attack on the eastern Ukrainian city of Dnipro in a televised address yesterday. The missile is based on the RS-26 Rubezh, according to the Pentagon, a secretive missile you can read more about in detail here. Readers can also find more about what is known about the attack and Oreshnik in The War Zones prior reporting. Better footage of the alleged impacts of multiple warheads separated from a Russian ICBM in Dnipro earlier today. Status-6 (Military & Conflict News) (@archer83able.bsky.social) 2024-11-21T10:10:24.907Z Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When it comes to ballistic missiles, intercontinental range is defined as anything greater than 3,418 miles (5,500 kilometers). Short, Medium, and Intermediate Range Ballistic Missiles (SRBM, MRBM, and IRBM) have ranges of 620 miles (1,000 kilometers) or less, between 620 and 1,860 miles (1,000 and 3,000 kilometers), and between 1,864 and 3,418 miles (3,000 to 5,500 kilometers), respectively. Within those categories, the exact configuration of the missile, including how many warheads it carries, conventional or nuclear, can vary significantly. The Oreshnik that Russia fired at Ukraine yesterday carried six individual warheads each with six submunitions, according to authorities in the latter country. Putin has said the weapon included unspecified non-nuclear hypersonic technology. It remains unknown when the missile carried standard re-entry vehicles, maneuvering ones, or true hypersonic boost-glide vehicles. ICBMs and other larger ballistic missiles, and their payloads, typically reach substantial hypersonic speeds, generally defined as Mach 5 or above, in the course of their flight and especially while their payloads careen down to their targets. Its worth noting here that the RS-26 already represents an unusual case when it comes to categorization. Officially, Rubezh is an ICBM, but there has long been evidence that it is actually an IRBM. The RS-26 is itself understood to be a shortened derivative of the RS-24 Yars ICBM, which the U.S. government assesses to just be a variant of the preceding RS-12M Topol-M. There is already some debate also about where the Oreshnik lies on the range spectrum, with Putin calling it a medium-range weapon and American officials putting it in the IRBM category. A Russian road-mobile RS-24 Yars ICBM. Vitaly Kuzmin This all may have contributed in various ways to Ukraines initial assessment that what Russian forces had fired was an ICBM. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That being said, the concept at least of a conventionally armed ICBM is a real thing. Just last year, the U.S. military openly stated that it had assessed there to be possible interest in [the] development of a conventional ICBM within Chinas Peoples Liberation Army (PLA). There have also been reports that Israels Jericho 3, described as an ICBM, can be employed with a conventional payload. The earlier Jericho 1 short-range ballistic missile and Jericho 2 IRBM, both of which were reportedly retired in the 1990s, are also understood to have been able to carry conventional warheads, as well as nuclear ones. Israel does not publicly acknowledge the existence of its nuclear or longer-range ballistic missile arsenals. The Israeli Shavit-2 space launch rocket, seen being launched here, is reportedly tied to the countrys Jericho series of ballistic missiles. Israel Ministry of Defense Israel is also reportedly developing the next generation of the Jericho, the Jericho 4, a three-stage missile, whose capabilities will include the possibility of carrying fragmentation warheads, according to a report earlier this year from The Jerusalem Post. The story did not provide any further details about that missile, including a range categorization, but it points to the possibility of another Israeli long-range conventional ballistic missile capability in the works. The U.S. military has also explored similar capabilities in the past, including a possible conventionally-armed version of the Trident II submarine-launched ballistic missile, which has intercontinental range. A Trident II launch. USN The Ohio class nuclear ballistic missile submarine USS Rhode Island fires a Trident II during a routine test in 2019. USN After the Pentagon highlighted Chinese interest in a conventional ICBM in 2023, The War Zone explored the potential benefits of such a capability, writing: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A likely goal of developing such a system for the PLA would be to have a weapon that puts strategic targets, such as air bases, ports, major command and control nodes, and seats of government, as well as symbolic ones, anywhere in the United States (or really anywhere in the world) at risk without having to escalate to the use of nuclear weapons. This could offer a powerful deterrent to non-nuclear strikes against the Chinese mainland. In addition, the hope could be that if these conventional ICBMs ever had to be used the U.S. government, or any other potential nuclear-armed adversary, would be significantly less likely to retaliate with nuclear weapons. Chinese DF-41 ICBMs, or mockups thereof, on parade. Global Times Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a separate story exploring the possibility of Israel using Jerichos with conventional warheads against Iran, The War Zone further highlighted what a weapon of this kind might offer: Already, the Jericho missiles provide the fastest means of striking targets in Iran, and their ballistic trajectory and speed would likely render them immune to interception, especially given the very limited capabilities of Irans air defenses against ballistic missile threats. A subsonic cruise missile would be much easier to intercept and wouldnt provide the option of hitting certain time-sensitive or hardened targets. And in contrast to long-range direct attacks by Israeli Air Force aircraft, no Israeli personnel would be put in harms way. A Jericho missile with a conventional payload would be a very capable weapon in its own right, for the above reasons and even a high-explosive warhead would be extremely destructive. According to CSIS, the Jericho 2 can carry a 3,300-pound high-explosive warhead, while the Jericho 3 has a payload capacity of between 2,200 and 2,900 pounds, although that is in a configuration that has to fly many thousands of miles, not one that has to hit a fraction of that distance. So a much larger payload could be possible if it was adapted for a regional strike profile. The extreme speed that the missiles warheads would be traveling during their terminal attack makes them capable of targeting hardened or buried command centers and other key fortified sites to a degree the IAF isnt capable of. This is a huge capability to consider. Israel does not have the ability to destroy Iranian nuclear facilities that are deeply buried, like the enrichment site in Fordow, via traditional aerial attack, without resorting to nuclear strikes. The United States is the only nation with a conventional air-to-ground capability that could potentially do this the U.S. B-2 stealth bomber and its Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP). But, knowing this limitation, could Israel have created conventional penetrator warheads for its ballistic missiles that could potentially threaten these sites, at least being capable of disabling them for a period of time? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A conventional ICBM carrying multiple warheads, or even with a true multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle (MIRV) configuration, could offer even greater capability. A MIRVed missile with conventionally-armed re-entry vehicles with significant accuracy would allow a single missile to strike multiple impact points. The payload bus from a now-retired U.S. LGM-118 Peacekeeper ICBM with 10 mock re-entry vehicles. Wilson44691 via Wikimedia A payload bus from a decommissioned LGM-118A Peacekeeper ICBM now on display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force with 10 mock re-entry vehicles. Wilson44691 via Wikimedia There are also clear strategic messaging benefits that would come along with a conventional ICBM capability. A successful attack with such a weapon would have the knock-on effect of very visibly demonstrating the ability to conduct a nuclear strike. Russia clearly had a desire to send signals to Ukraine, and more so to the United States and other countries supporting it, as well as demonstrate a practical capability, with its use of Oreshnik today. At the same time, while there are clear benefits to fielding a conventionally armed ICBM, they could also present worrying discrimination challenges for a defender, who would struggle to determine whether or not they were under nuclear threat. The speed at which an ICBM travels already limits the time available to assess the threat and respond in any way. All of this raises the possibility of a scenario in which an opponent, mistakenly believes they are under nuclear attack and responds in kind, which in turn could well prompt a rapidly escalating nuclear exchange. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is not an idle concern. The Pentagon has said it received advance warning of the Oreshnik attack directly from the Russians through established nuclear risk reduction channels. The notification occurred even though Russias forces fired the missile across a relatively short distance (roughly 500 miles) at a target inside a non-nuclear state not covered by Americas deterrent umbrella. Pentagon:- Russia's experimental intermediate-range ballistic missile launched at Ukraine was based on the RS-26 Rubezh ICBM model;- The US was notified by Russia about the launch briefly before it occurred through nuclear risk reduction channels. Status-6 (Military & Conflict News) (@archer83able.bsky.social) 2024-11-21T19:57:18.465Z The same kinds of discrimination fears played a significant role in the U.S. militarys previous decision to scrap work on the Conventional Trident Missile. American officials have also openly criticized Chinas ambiguity around their deployment of longer-range ballistic missiles capable of carrying conventional or nuclear warheads. While it has turned out that the RS-26-based Oreshnik that Russia fired at Ukraine was not a conventionally-armed ICBM, it still highlights the very real interest in, if not more active development and even potential fielding of, a weapon of that kind globally. Contact the author: joe@twz.com UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday strongly condemned a deadly attack in Pakistan's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The attack, launched by gunmen, targeted three passenger vehicles on Thursday, reportedly killing at least 42 people and injuring 20 others. The secretary-general stressed that attacks against civilians are unacceptable, said Stephane Dujarric, his spokesman, at a daily briefing. Guterres extended his deepest condolences to the families of the victims and the government of Pakistan. He called on the Pakistani government to conduct an investigation and to ensure that those responsible are held accountable. LITTLE ROCK, Ark. A Conway couple was sentenced to 45 combined years in prison for selling fentanyl to a victim who overdosed and died. A judge sentenced 39-year-old Terry Wayne Franklin to 25 years in prison and, his wife, 36-year-old Mary Danielle Sheppard to 20 years in prison, both sentences followed by three years of supervised release. Three Arkansas men sentenced to more than 47 years for fentanyl trafficking Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Franklin and Sheppard were charged on July 5, 2023, with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl resulting in death and distribution of fentanyl resulting in death. Franklin pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl resulting in death and Sheppard pleaded guilty to distribution of fentanyl resulting in death. This couple made the decision to sell pills containing a deadly, illegal drug, unfortunately resulting in yet another loss of life from the use of fentanyl, Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, said. Let this sentence serve as a warning to those who sell fentanyl in any form, that you will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law and the penalty is severe. According to officials with the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Arkansas, an investigation found that police in Greenbrier were dispatched to a possible overdose at a home on May 15, 2022. This is an epidemic: Arkansas State Police push to get fentanyl off the streets Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers found several pills on the scene and investigators discovered text messages between the victim and Franklin regarding the purchase of fentanyl pills, officials said. Officials also noted that surveillance video showed the victim and Sheppard meeting the night of the overdose. After the death, officials said police in Texas conducted a traffic stop on Franklin and Sheppard where they found pills containing fentanyl. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK. CONWAY, S.C. (WBTW) As temperatures along the coast start to drop, socks are what the Conway Police Department is collecting around the city to donate to local homeless shelters and hospitals. The departments victims advocate, Nickey Richardson, said she came up with the idea three years ago to help those in need during the holiday season. They have already raised 1,100 socks before December. Richardson said the donations would be collected across the community at the police station, city hall, or even Conway schools to get younger children involved with giving back at school. Being a former elementary school teacher, Richardson said its a way for public engagement for the city of Conway and those who are younger. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were out in the schools myself, she said. Its teaching the little ones life skills, giving gratitude and just sharing from preschoolers on up to high schoolers is very important. She said that its a lot more than just giving back to the less fortunate and having the community come together, but to help during the holidays far beyond just socks. Its not about the socks. Its a lot bigger than socks. You know, I have a lot of people say, Nickey, I need socks, I need everything,' Richardson said. And thats just the thing. If they need socks, they need warm winter coats, they need a Thanksgiving meal, a Christmas meal. One of the homeless shelters to receive the donations was New Directions. CEO Kathy Jenkins said socks are one of the most crucial articles of clothing for the homeless, adding that if their feet arent warm, their bodies arent warm. Jenkins said as Myrtle Beach continues to grow, so will the homelessness, saying New Directions takes in roughly 1000-1200 homeless people each year and roughly 40 more men and 5-10 women during the winter months. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our mission is to help people recover from homelessness, poverty and addiction by connecting them with the resources they need to get back on their feet, she said. We connect them with partner agencies and partner resources to help them overcome the barriers that they have and get back on their feet. Jenkins said sock donations are always helpful during the colder months, but that living on the coast helps with the climate conditions compared to other states. She said as temperatures start to drop below 40, the shelters will open their doors at the main shelter and womens shelter to anybody who may need help. We pretty consistently get 40 to 50% of the people who walk through our door into what we would call a permanent positive solution, she said. We look at long term recovery, we look at permanent housing, and we look at reuniting with family. Living on the streets during the cold months before, Ricky Dail said hes grateful for shelters like Jenkins and for donations like Richardsons that help people like him get back on their feet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Because the winner, I dont have to stay out in the cold no more. For nine years, Id done it. I stayed, I slept out here. I woke up in the morning in that it was terrible, he said. The companies that help this place are awesome. I feel better, Im happier. I want my life back. And theyre helping me do it. Richardson said the sock drive will end Dec. 31 with the goal of reaching 3,000. * * * Gabby Jonas joined the News13 team as a multimedia journalist in April 2024. She is from Columbus, Ohio, and graduated from Kent State University in May 2023. Follow Gabby on X, formerly Twitter, Facebook or Instagram, and read more of her work here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW. The News As COP29 hurtles to a close, the latest draft agreement on climate finance has some delegates ready to potentially abandon the talks rather than accept a proposed fundraising target they view as catastrophically low. After two weeks in which the summits leaders failed to offer any specific fundraising target as a starting point, the draft agreement released Friday would commit developed countries only to raise $250 billion by 2035, a figure about $1 trillion lower than what the most vulnerable countries had sought. And with it, the COP process itself is being pulled into existential doubt. Its ridiculous, just ridiculous, Juan Carlos Monterrey Gomez, Panamas special representative for climate change, told Semafor. Yesterday, with no figure, they were slapping us on the face. Now with the crumbs they are offering, they are spitting in our faces. At this point all options are on the table, including the nuclear option of walking out of Baku without a deal, he said. Tims view This years focus on finance was always going to make this an exceptionally hard COP, and the last few hours of every COP are always agonizing. But at the Baku talks, the COP process itself is facing its deepest crisis in recent memory. Under President-elect Donald Trump, the US is about to pull out of the process. Argentina ditched the summit when it had barely started, and Frances negotiator refused to attend. Papua New Guinea never showed up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement COP is an imperfect process, and is always in some stage of breakdown. It was never very likely that any kind of voluntary, UN-administered process in which every country from the Seychelles to Saudi Arabia needs to agree on every detail would ultimately solve the climate crisis. Perhaps COPs most important function through it all is to continue to exist: To give countries a reason to keep showing up, to keep chipping away at the problem, to keep up the peer pressure, while individual countries and private companies figure out more durable and comprehensive solutions. But at this precarious stage of the global energy transition, the Baku talks have shown that even that may be too much to ask. Draft agreements on the table are very worrying for the future of multilateralism and the Paris Agreement itself, Susana Muhamad, Colombias environment minister, told reporters. What is the point of even having a convention if we cant deal with the thing that is causing the problem? The Friday draft showed some breakthroughs from earlier iterations, by at least recommitting to a transition away from fossil fuels that was agreed to in Dubai last year. But the proposed finance target is sure to spark a major backlash from developing countries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When the original climate fundraising goal, $100 billion, was struck at the 2009 COP in Copenhagen, the number was essentially plucked out of a hat by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and a small number of allies. That proved to be a deeply flawed strategy, as disagreements emerged about how and what to count, and how to make the money accessible. In Baku, the idea was to work bottom-up, by agreeing to an accounting structure and then deciding on a number that was feasible within it. That has proved highly problematic as well, as rich countries grapple with the vast gap between what is being demanded of them and what they believe they can realistically provide. The leaders of last years summit in Dubai were, like those in Azerbaijan, representing a fossil-fuel-reliant nation that many observers doubted would be able to deliver an ambitious climate deal. But COP28s host Sultan al-Jaber proved an adept diplomat, capable of leveraging his experience in fossil fuels to draw peers into an agreement that the world needs to transition away from them. Baku has proven hard-pressed to follow that act, a sign that geopolitical momentum toward the energy transition cant be taken for granted. Delegates on all sides of the debate spent the summits final days fuming that Azerbaijans negotiating strategy more often drove parties apart than brought them together. The lack of a clearer signal about the long-term fate of fossil fuels risks undermining the confidence the private sector needs to continue pouring investments into clean energy. And even if some kind of deal can be struck in the next 24 hours, the level of backtracking and renegotiating on display in Baku suggests that vulnerable countries should have little faith theyll actually see the money theyve been promised. Room for Disagreement In addition to the hard $250 billion target, the draft agreement calls on all countries, development banks, and private investors to voluntarily shoot for a $1.3 trillion target. For now, some observers are at least relieved to finally have hard numbers on the table as a launching point for further negotiation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is no deal to come out of Baku that will not leave a bad taste in everyones mouth, but we are within sight of a landing zone for the first time all year, said Avinash Persaud, special advisor on climate change at the Inter-American Development Bank. Before the latest draft was announced, some delegates were already considering walking out, said Colin Young, executive director of the Caribbean Community Climate Change Center, which coordinates between Caribbean countries in the negotiations. He said they may be forced to wait, again, for a better outcome next year at COP30 in Brazil. Ultimately the COP process, flawed as it is, is the closest thing to a global climate democracy it may be possible to get. And even if Young leaves Baku frustrated, hes not ready to give up on COP entirely just yet. At least here, small countries have an equal voice in the room, Young said. Outside of this process, we dont stand a chance. Fossil Fools While attending the United Nations' COP29 climate summit in Azerbaijan, a New York Times reporter decided to engage in a time-honored local custom of bathing his entire nude body in crude oil. As the newspaper reports, the same oil that fueled the Soviet victory over the Nazis had led the Eastern European country to petrostate status though its reserves differ from those in the rest of the world, because it doesn't burn the skin and has alleged healing properties. As NYT Moscow bureau chief Anton Troianovski notes in its account of his ordeal, local scientists and historical explorers have touted the benefits of oil from its Naftalan region for thousands of years, saying it can help heal wounds and ease aches and pains. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Near the Georgian border there is a spring from which gushes a stream of oil in such abundance that a hundred ships may load here at once," Marco Polo wrote in the 13th century. "This oil is not good to eat, but it is good for burning and as a salve for men and camels affected with itch or scab." Oil Wellness To see about this salve-like nature, Troianovski traveled four hours away from Azerbaijan's capital city of Baku during the UN's COP29 summit to Naftalan, now a resort town with dozens of oil spas. "[The oil] crept into every crevice of my submerged body and every fold of my skin," he wrote. "It smothered the hair on my limbs, making me look a little like an animal stuck in an oil spill." When in the bath, Troianovski realized that instead of the heavy stickiness he expected, the oil was actually quite slippery. It was, he wrote, an "otherworldly" or even "netherworldly" sensation that the writer was given exactly 10 minutes to ponder before being instructed to stand up with the help of a wall handle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Then," Troianovski wrote, "came an attendant to scrape it all off." Using a long shoehorn, the attendant scraped the substance off of Troianovski then patted him down with "oversized paper towels" before giving him a washcloth to handle his own nether regions. To "process the experience" back at the UN climate conference, the NYT bureau chief decided to go to the site of the world's first-ever industrial oil well. Located today in the parking lot of a swimming pool in Baku, the rig continues to pump out the same harmful, finite, and uber-profitable substance Troianovski had just been bathing in on the other side of Azerbaijan. "Take it out, sell it," an oil rig worker named Khalid told him. "Its like God sent this to us." More on petrostates and climate change: Secret Video Shows Top Climate Change Conference Official Promising to Facilitate Fossil Fuel Deals BOONEVILLE An Alcorn County woman has been charged with first degree murder in connection with a fatal Tuesday morning stabbing in Booneville. Booneville police were called to a residence on South Lake Drive around 10:30 a.m. Nov. 19 and found a male who had been stabbed. Lee Winston Butler Jr., 30 of Albany, Georgia, with a single stab wound to his chest. He was later pronounced dead on the scene. Because of the circumstances surrounding the incident and the victims injuries, authorities viewed the death as a homicide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chyna Lea Damron, 28 of Corinth, was identified as a person of interest and taken into custody at the scene. She appeared before Booneville Municipal Court Judge Greg Meyer for her initial appearance Thursday where she was formally charged with first degree murder. Judge Meyer ordered her held without bond. NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) The Charleston County Coroners Office has identified the male suspect who was killed by a woman he shot at on Sablewood Street, according to police reports. Montel Porter-Robinson, 28, of Hollywood, died at the scene on Thursday from a gunshot wound, according to the coroners office. As previously reported, officers with the North Charleston Police Department responded to an address on Sablewood Street around 4 a.m. after reported sounds of gunshots. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dispatchers also received a call from the victim saying someone shot at her, and she shot the suspect, the police report states. The woman was taken to the hospital with injuries. No arrests have been made. The investigation is ongoing. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCBD News 2. Coroner: West Chester child died of accidental drowning DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) The 6-year-old West Chester boy who was found dead Thursday night died in an accidental drowning, according to the Butler County coroner. According to Cincinnati NBC affiliate WLWT, volunteers and officials had been searching for Joshua Al-Lateef Jr. since Wednesday before discovering him in a pond close to his house. More than 300 people were taking part in the search Thursday night. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Not the outcome that we wanted tonight, but we are very thankful for the support that we did receive from our community, said Fire Chief Rick Prinz Thursday night. All public safety in Butler County is grieving with the family, and we wish and pray for the family going forward and hopefully well grant them some peace. Read more at wlwt.com Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com. New development near Sloan Canyon National Recreation Area. (Photo by Kyle Roerink) Across the West, debates about federal land sales and ownership are coming into the foreground as the new administration prepares to come into office. While some folks would want you to believe that there are stark differences in the political parties attitudes toward federal land ownership, Nevada politicians betray the common sentiments that conservatives want public lands sold and liberals dont. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republican officials from Utah are waging marketing and legal campaigns to challenge the federal governments ability to manage public land, calling open spaces unappropriated and pushing for fast-tracked privatization. Ironically, Silver State Democrats are actually getting it done pushing bills in Congress to expand long-standing, Nevada-centric policies that have legitimized the sale of federal lands that Utah politicians can merely dream of undertaking. This week, look no further than Nevada Democratic Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, whose legislation to sell off federal lands in Clark and Washoe counties passed in a U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources work session. While the bills still have to clear a full Senate vote, pass the House and get the Presidents signature to actually become law, the result in Tuesdays hearing is an indication that the bills may have legs in the next few months and definitely in the future. The bill for Clark County amends the Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act to allow for more federal lands to go up for auction on the outskirts of Las Vegas where future concerns about the Colorado River raise questions about the water necessary to invite another 800,000 people to Clark County on lands that are currently inhabited by the desert tortoise. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The purported financial benefits give Nevada politicians at all levels a reason to support. The proceeds from land sales fill the coffers of the State of Nevada, counties, and other local government entities like the Southern Nevada Water Authority. Ask any blue-collared Nevadan living in Las Vegas if inviting hundreds of thousands of more people to Clark County is a good idea especially as Lake Mead hovers below 40 percent of its storage capacity, as utility bills rise, as air quality deteriorates, as the traffic increases, as the private equity firms buy up the middle-class housing. Nevada is the only state in the nation with enacted federal legislation that allows for large swaths of public land to be disposed and auctioned for private interests in Southern Nevada. Simultaneously, Rep. Mark Amodei is working on creating a bill that would allow for similar public land sale programs to be implemented in Northern Nevada. Senator Jacky Rosen has the companion bill in her chamber that Cortez-Masto co-sponsors. The move to push forward the Southern Nevada Economic Development and Conservation Act and the Northern Nevada Economic Development and Conservation Act will be viewed as a model for public land sales across the West. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Indeed, Nevada Democrats are showing Utah Republicans how it is done. Drive around Salt Lake City right now and find billboards advancing the notion that federal lands actually belong to the state. This tactful marketing campaign is really a part of a strategy to warm the public up to land sell-offs that dovetail with legal challenges that imply federal land management undermines state sovereignty. In Nevada, at the least, the longstanding quid-pro-quo of public land sales comes with the promise of conservation designations that protect landscapes that are high in scenery but not always as high in biodiversity, and usually are under no particular threat at all. Politicians arent so quick to lock up threatened landscapes, as the threats are usually backed by moneyed interests. In Utah, offsetting land sales with conservation wouldnt be the case. The promise in the Beehive State is all about making money, and fast. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The public land sale proposals coming from Nevada raise a specter of dealmaking. The bills in play this week may or may not advance through Congress before the Trump inauguration. If they dont, Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee, who could take control of the Senate committee overseeing western public lands in the next Congress, might want to ask the Nevada delegation how badly it wants SNEDCA and NNEDCA. Would Nevada lawmakers trade votes with Mike Lee on bills that would allow Utah to sell off its lands? What other states would be willing to engage? Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, and Wyoming have opinions too. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The point here is that Nevada sets a dangerous tone. The state is limited in the availability of private lands. And its also limited in its availability of water. But thats not a problem for Cortez Masto and her staff all of whom believe that there is plenty of water available. And maybe today there is. But the best scientists in the nation are telling us that we are headed into a drier future that could have a cascading effect on southwestern water supplies. Cortez Masto has experience in long-term planning in water issues in Nevada. She was the Attorney General of Nevada when the state was actively supporting efforts ultimately deemed illegal to pump and pipe billions of gallons of groundwater from rural communities for sprawl in Vegas. It was her deputy AGs, alongside attorneys for the SNWA, that were saying plenty of water exists. Her staff was wrong. Nevada and Utah politicians seemingly take an oath to unending and unchecked growth if they want to assume their powerful seats in Washington, D.C. Of course, Sens. Lee and Cortez Masto are serving dutifully. And, of course, they have more in common than they want us to think. Nevada Current is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Nevada Current maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Hugh Jackson for questions: info@nevadacurrent.com. Follow Nevada Current on Facebook and X. ANKARA, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- The Turkish government on Friday replaced two democratically elected mayors in the eastern province of Tunceli following a court ruling. According to a statement from the Turkish Interior Ministry, Tunceli City Mayor Cevdet Konak and Ovacik District Mayor Mustafa Sarigul were removed from office after being sentenced to six years and three months in prison on charges of "being a member of a terrorist organization." Cevdet Konak, representing the Peoples' Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party, and Mustafa Sarigul, from the Republican People's Party, were elected in local elections in March. In their place, Tunceli Provincial Governor Bulent Tekbiyikoglu has been appointed as the acting mayor of Tunceli City, while Huseyin Samil Sozen, district governor of Ovacik, has been assigned as the acting mayor of Ovacik. These appointments mark another instance where the government replaced elected mayors in the past few weeks. The Turkish government removed three pro-Kurdish mayors from office in southeastern cities in early November, citing terrorism-related convictions and charges, and appointed trustees to replace them. The three mayors, all from the pro-Kurdish DEM Party, were removed from their roles in Mardin Metropolitan Municipality, Batman Municipality, and Halfeti District Municipality in Sanliurfa due to alleged connections to "membership in an armed terrorist organization." The DEM, which holds 57 seats in the parliament, has seen several mayors replaced previously over similar accusations. A week earlier, a mayor from the opposition Republican People's Party was arrested on charges of affiliation with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). The Turkish government links the DEM to the PKK, which is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkiye, the United States, and the European Union, and has rebelled against the Turkish government for decades. NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) The leadership at Norfolk International Airport is looking to truly emphasize the international part of their name by adding nonstop commercial international flights. While the name international has adorned the airfield since 1976, charter flights have made up the majority of the international traffic. The term means an airport has the capabilities to host U.S. Customs and immigration officials. However, in a year where the airport is again expected to break records for passenger traffic, Executive Director and CEO Mark Perryman believes now is the time to make the push for a regularly-scheduled nonstop flights to a foreign land. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said there is data to back up the need and airlines that are interested. The only thing he needs: community support. Its been phenomenal: Norfolk International Airport on track to have another record breaking year for number of passengers This is where the community needs to come together and work with the airport on the international air surface, because we cant do it alone, Perryman said. We market the airlines each and every day to get us to San Diego to more flights to Orlando or wherever. But the international really is going to take a group beyond just the airport. The airport has seen significant growth in the last decade when it comes to nonstop flight options. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2014, the airport had 21 different nonstop destinations. This year, there are 45. Perryman described the airport as punching above our weight, as it has more options than San Antonio, Hartford and Memphis. But for international flights, the competition is fierce. Airlines often expect cash commitments to secure new long-haul international service prior to committing to a U.S. route, Perryman said. Over a two-year period, $3.5 million of Pennsylvania tax dollars has been given to British Airways for their nonstop service from Pittsburgh to London. In Cleveland, $12 million in incentives has successfully lured Aer Lingus to begin providing service to and from Dublin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were never going to get the American United or Delta to fly nonstop from here, Perryman said. Theyre going to fly through their hubs. Thats their business model. And it works. But what we can get is some of the other airlines Air Lingus, Condor, even maybe Lufthansa, are British air foreign flag carriers that want a direct feed into their hub in Europe. Thursday, Perryman revealed to the Norfolk Airport Authority Board that airlines have already reached out, interested in adding a service as data shows a consistent amount of travel out of Norfolk to Europe, via connecting flights. Each day, roughly 70 travelers combined are headed to end destinations of either London, Rome, Paris, Frankfurt, Athens, Amsterdam or Munich from Norfolk. If you combine all that together, we could fill two airplanes a week to a European destination that then would disperse out to other destinations, Perryman said. So somewhere in the 225 to 250 passengers, twice a week on aircraft. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those numbers dont include those who drive to Dulles International Airport in northern Virginia or take Amtrak to Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport. In order to make his best pitch to airlines, Perryman said he needs passengers to do a full-court press. Fly from here, Perryman said, because if you decide youre flying internationally out of Dulles, youre going to drive up there. Thats great. For Dulles, it actually hurts us because that doesnt get counted in our numbers. He plans to lead the charge to build a Hampton Roads coalition for international flights. Tell your business leaders, tell your community leaders that you want this and that youre willing to support it and fly it, Perryman said. Thats really what it comes down to. We have to build this groundswell of support to show the airlines numbers or numbers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) Could a serial killer be responsible for a decades-old Nashville cold case? In 1979, a 21-year-old Nashville mother was found dead with approximately eight stab wounds. Gail Norris story is now on the Nashville cold case website after it launched one month ago. Lieutenant Jill Weaver told News 2 that the cold cases date back to the mid to late 60s. Collectively we have 5 to 600 [cold cases]. Have breaking news come to you: Subscribe to News 2 email alerts On August 6, 1979, Gail Norris was found dead on 8th Avenue N and Clay Street in Nashville. She was found off the side of the roadway, she had been stabbed multiple times, Weaver said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weaver said she was last seen alive the day before when she was visiting with friends at an apartment complex on the 4000 block of Albion. That early evening she left to take the bus. The next day she was found by utility workers. Gails case had sat dormant for decades until Detective Weaver received a phone call from her family in 2022. [They] inquired about Gail being killed by a serial killer at that time frame which was Sam Little, Weaver said. Samual Little died in 2020 while serving three consecutive life sentences. He was convicted in 2014 for killing three women and confessed to strangling 93 victims between 1970 and 2005, including a Chattanooga woman believed to be killed by him. SEE ALSO | Renewed efforts to find Nashville mother 11 years after disappearance Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Was it a serial killer? Maybe, Weaver said. While there is no evidence to connect the dots, Weaver did look into Gails case. Nobody had looked into her case since 1979. She said one clue was what officers found near her body. They found an insurance pamphlet, it was called Temtex Industries. But shes now hoping this story will jog the minds of Nashvillians, as she hopes to get answers to Gails family four and a half decades later. Could have been someone that knew her, or a stranger, but a lot of this hasnt been rolled out and we want to see who can we talk to, Weaver said. Are they still alive for one thing? UNSOLVED TENNESSEE: Find more of the states cold cases, missing persons, and other mysteries If you have any information on this case please email mnpdcoldcase@nashville.gov. Or call Nashville Crime Stoppers at 615-74 CRIME. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gails family sent this statement to News 2: During the month of August, 1979, our world was forever changed. Our family was notified that our sister, daughter, friend and mother of an infant daughter, Gail E. Norris had been brutally murdered by an unknown person. We can all remember the notification as if it were yesterday, what we were doing, the music that was playing on the radio, the latest Off the Wall album had been released by Michael Jackson and Prince was the latest craze. Its something how the smallest things during a tragedy, will forever take you back to that same day and that same time as if it were yesterday. Maybe, its because we, her sisters, were all so young ourselves at the time. Gail, loved to watch wrestling and eat fried pork skins. She was a gentle, kind person and loved people. She had a daughter, less than 2 years old when she was taken from us and her. Her daughter would never know, other than stories by family, just how kind and loving her mom was. The notification of her murder rocked our family to its core. To receive information from the Metro-Nashville Police Department, that her cold case would be revisited, forced us to once again remember the tragedy, but we are very hopeful that this will bring the assailant to justice and we can receive the closure that we have not been afforded all these years. Sisters Forever Hopeful, Shirl Jackson, Pamela Recasner, Donna Odom, LaWanda Crawford Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. WARSAW, N.C. (WNCT) Law enforcement officers with the Duplin County Sheriffs Office arrested two people on multiple charges related to identity theft. Information from an insurance investigator said a female in the Warsaw area was using a stolen credit card belonging to someone in New York. A search was done Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. Investigators on the scene found evidence linking Jenny Teresa Ocampo-Mejia to the card. Other fake identification cards and documents were found that linked her husband, Tony De La Cruz, to a stolen identity out of Brownsville, Texas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ocampo-Mejia was charged with: Two counts felony identity theft One count felony trafficking in stolen identities One count possession of a fraudulent identity One count obtaining an ID using false information She was jailed on a $30,000 secured bond. De La Cruz was charged with: Three counts felony identity theft Two counts possession of a fraudulent ID De La Cruz was jailed on a $20,000 secured bond and placed under a detainer by U.S. immigration. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WNCT. WASHINGTON (DC News Now) Ending youth homelessness is the goal of an annual event in the district where dozens of people sleep in frigid temperatures. Thirty-one teams with more than 150 people participated in Covenant House Greater Washingtons annual Sleep Out at The Wharf. We dare to have the audacity to have a hope for a future. A hope where we can transform the conditions of our living together, said Mia McClain, senior pastor at Riverside Baptist Church. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement See you cherubs there: Jack Schlossberg says hell be at his own lookalike contest in DC Organizers started with a moment to pause and remember the 90 people who were unhoused and died in D.C. last year. A vigil to remember the 90 homeless people who died in DC last year kicks off the annual @CovenantHouse Sleep Out, raising money to end youth homelessness @DCNewsNow pic.twitter.com/i3sD9jwRDt Daniel Hamburg (@DHamburgReports) November 22, 2024 On Thursday night, participants voluntarily slept outside. We sleep out so our young people dont have to. We sleep out to raise critical funds for youth experiencing homelessness in the area that supports our efforts so that our youth can leave us and thrive, said Angela Jones Hackley, CEO of Covenant House Greater Washington. Covenant House Greater Washington provides not just shelter, but food, clothing and services including job training, education, healthcare, mental health counseling and legal aid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jeffrey Henderson, a new board member of Covenant House Greater Washington said its his first time participating in the sleepout. You get a real sense of the stress they go under. The anxiety that they face, Henderson said. Kurt Einwaechter, a member of the Cisco team, said its his 7th year participating. This is to kind of show solidarity, to raise awareness, to raise funds for Covenant House so they can get homeless youth off the street, Einwaechter said. National Cherry Blossom Festival reveals official festival artwork Nora Marcus, team captain for Cisco said its her fourth year sleeping out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weve got a group of 14 people. Four of them are multi-time sleepers and were proud to have ten new sleepers. So far weve raised $28,000, Marcus said. There are close to 1,000 homeless youth across the D.C. area that theyre able to count. But there could be many more who are not on the streets or in shelters, but couch surfing, for instance. Its pervasive, actually. And a lot of the youth that are on the street come from marginalized communities, McClain said. We have an extra high number of LGBTQIA youth who are finding themselves houseless because of certain factors in their family. While everyone participating can go home to their beds Friday morning they know many youth dont have that luxury. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Covenant Houses fundraising goal this year is $500,000. As of Thursday night, theyve raised more than $245,000. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) A Grand Rapids homeless shelter that serves young people works to offer the stability they need to change their circumstances and move forward with their lives. Theyre looking for something where they can just breathe and just feel comfortable and safe, Kelvin Jackson, a shift lead at Covenant House, said. Covenant House, which has 34 locations across the country and two in Michigan, held a candlelight vigil at its Grand Rapids campus Thursday evening, with a program of singing and sharing stories to draw attention to the problem of homelessness among young people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How a Grand Rapids coalition has housed 28 people in five months The shelter on Antoine Street SW near S. Division Avenue serves people ages 18 to 24. In about five years, it has worked with 326 people, including about 80 this year. Leaders say 154 young people have found jobs or stayed with existing jobs, and 136 have moved to stable housing. Currently, 28 people are staying at the shelter. Theyre people like 23-year-old Demetrius, who News 8 met earlier this week as he shot some hoops while the weather held. Its his pastime when hes not working as a cook. He lives at Covenant House now, but he spent five years homeless after he says he fell in with a bad crowd and made some bad decisions. Sleeping in parking lot stairwells, like parking lot garages, and I was also getting locked up for that for that, too: trespassing, he recalled. It was tough for me. There was days I didnt eat nothing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He has worked hard to move past that period in his life. When people see me, I want them to (think), Thats a godly person,' he said. Keasia, also 23, has been at Covenant House for only a week. Shes studying to become a nurse, hoping to finish up in 2026. My sister has sickle cell and so growing up, Ive been in and out of the hospital with her, and I see this stuff all the time and just me being around it, I just really grew to love it, she said. She said she tries to look ahead, but is often reminded of what led her to where she is now. Im kind of disappointed in myself because I feel I couldve done better. I could be in a better situation, in a better place right now, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Seventy-five percent of the youth who come into the shelter have mental health challenges and 33% have foster care history. Jackson, the Covenant House shift worker, said many of the young peoples stories have similarities. A common thread is brokenness, Jackson said. A lot of young people are broken and it stems from some traumatic (circumstance) or the hand they were dealt. That was the case for Demetrius and Keasia. I was homeless at 18 and had no family support, Demetrius said. My dad, hes not in the picture, Keasia said. He suffers from drug abuse. Softspoken, she has a hard time sharing details. But whats important is the choice she made. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I got on a bus and I just came here, she said. Students facing homelessness find help at GVSU Jackson said young people sometimes just need a push in the right direction. I cant move forward, he described their mindset. Theyre stuck, like caught in mud. Theyre not quite developed as of yet mentally, spiritually, emotionally. Keasia is trying to find a job as a certified nursing assistant and wants to save up money to buy a car. Shes reminded of what she needs to do to reach those goals when she looks at the words painted on the windows at Covenant House: Accountable, action, acceptance, appreciation, ambitious, she read. Covenant House Michigans Grand Rapids location in November 2024. Demetrius said hes not going back. His focus is moving forward, really just focused on trying to love myself right now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I definitely need to do what I need to do and (the people at Covenant House) are going to help with it, but you got to make sure youre applying yourself, too, he said. List: Food drives, coat drives and more ways to give this season After three months at Covenant House, he will be leaving soon. He hopes to find an apartment of his own. He said hes learned a lot and is ready to pass that on to others. Dont give up. Just stay focused. Gods got a bigger plan for you, he said. Its going to be OK. Covenant House is hosting a Thanksgiving meal drive, with a match for all donations made online at CovenantHouse.org by Nov. 30. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) Volunteers and Congressman Troy Carter participated in the annual Covenant House Sleep Out event on Thursday, Nov. 22. The volunteers chose to spend the night outside in the cold in an effort that aims to end youth homelessness. This year, the event has raised more than $280,000. New Orleans City Council votes to ban release of Mylar balloons The money helps Covenant House offer resources like food, shelter, clothing, education, job training and health care to help keep young people off the streets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement WGNO spoke with Carter and Covenant House CEO Rheneisha Robertson as the event began on Thursday night. On Friday, Nov. 22, WGNO checked back in with Carter to discuss his experience, the impact of the event and his main takeaways. WGNO also spoke with Robertson about her main takeaways as the event wrapped up. Stay up to date with the latest news, weather and sports by downloading the WGNO app on the Apple or Google Play stores and by subscribing to the WGNO newsletter. Latest Posts Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) Thursday, Nov. 21, was the annual Covenant House Sleep Out. Unconditional love, absolute respect and relentless support for our youth who are overcoming homelessness. We serve youth ages 16 to 22 who are housing insecure. We not only provide them with safe shelter, a sanctuary for them, and then we do wraparound support for those young people once theyve stabilized, said Covenant House CEO Rheneisha Robertson on the work and mission of Covenant House New Orleans. New Orleans City Council votes to ban release of Mylar balloons Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thursday night was the annual Covenant House Sleep Out, where members of the community give up their creature comforts for a night to raise money for the effort, but also develop a bond between the community and Covenant House residents. The youth are inspired by the sleepers, on lived experience often times, which motivates them. It gives them hope. Its a magical event between our donors and the youth, said Sheri Combs with Covenant House. 2025 U.S. Gymnastics Championships to be held in New Orleans Covenant House gives young people hope and belief that they can dream beyond their current condition, and thats a cause we can all get behind. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For me its a steppingstone in that nothings over yet. Its a temporary spot. It offers you so much to remind you that as long as you just keep putting in the work, youve done it before, you can always do it again, said Covenant House resident Sincer Crawford. Stay up to date with the latest news, weather and sports by downloading the WGNO app on the Apple or Google Play stores and by subscribing to the WGNO newsletter. Latest Posts Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGNO. (NewsNation) Covenant House, a charity focused on helping the homeless, hosted sleep out events across the country Thursday night to raise money and awareness for their cause. The purpose of the sleep out is to give participants a glimpse at how difficult it is to be unhoused. The temperature maxed out at 41 degrees overnight in New York, and there was light rain and wind bringing the feels like temperature below freezing. The event also raises money for Covenant Houses operations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Over 83 tons of ground beef recalled nationwide, illnesses reported NewsNations Caitlyn Becker attended a sleep out in New York Thursday, and described the weather as absolutely frigid. It was bitter, brutal cold last night, Becker said Friday on Morning in America. The cement was absolutely freezing. The wind was howling. Though there were times when Becker said she wanted to go home, she noted that 4.2 million youth dont have this option. Im doing this for one night, but tomorrow Ill go home. Ill give my husband a hug, Ill call my siblings, and Ill go on with my life, one man told NewsNation. There are too many young people out there who dont have a home to go to. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shakeema North, executive director of Covenant House New York, said the sleep outs help people understand the magnitude of the situation. This is a sad issue that we are dealing with in society, North said. Last year, sleep out events nationwide raised around $10 million. Just Thursday night in New York City garnered $1.8 million. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. (FOX 56) The Kentucky State Police Department (KSP) is investigating a crash involving a deer that led to the death of an Edmonton man. School bus involved in injury crash on New Circle Road in Lexington An initial investigation showed that Larry Wicker, 62, of Elkhorn, was driving west on Kentucky Highway 70 in a 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier when a deer reportedly entered his path, troopers said. Wicker was unable to avoid the deer, per KSP. When his vehicle collided with it, the deer was thrown airborne, hitting a 2002 Freightliner driven by Rocky Morrison, 75, of Edmonton, who was driving east on the highway. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more of the latest Kentucky news Morrison was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash by the Taylor County coroner, per law enforcement. Wicker was not injured in the crash. An investigation into the crash remains ongoing. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News. The South Side took another step toward becoming a national computer hub Thursday when the Chicago Plan Commission approved the creation of a quantum computer research park on the long-vacant U.S. Steel South Works site. The vote came after hours of impassioned testimony from dozens of community residents. Many said the project represents an opportunity to bring billions of investment dollars and new businesses to a region that has suffered decades of isolation and disinvestment. Others said the massive development, first announced by Gov. JB Pritzker this past summer, is moving at a breakneck pace and needs to slow down, allowing environmental activists and community advocates the chance to secure a written agreement with the developers on wildlife protection, job creation and affordable housing. Nobody in the community was told that this was coming until we heard about it from the governor, said Vanessa Schwartz, executive director of Metropolitan Family Services Southeast Chicago Center, which does workforce development in the neighborhood. Were always looking for good investment into this community, but there are just a lot of unknowns. Wed like to work with (the quantum park) to ensure our youth have opportunities to pursue career paths. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Developers Related Midwest and CRG plan to build the Illinois Quantum & Microelectronics Park 10 miles south of downtown on a portion of South Works along the lakefront between 79th Street and the Calumet River. Pritzker touts the park as crucial to Illinois economic future, and committed $500 million to fund quantum computing research and the new campus, which in July landed California-based tech company PsiQuantum as its anchor tenant. I want this to look like what U.S Steel was, a massive engine for employment, said Related Midwest President Curt Bailey. The proposal still needs a green light from the full City Council. The developers want to secure that final approval in December and break ground on PsiQuantums initial building by the first quarter of 2025, then begin a second building in the spring. Bailey estimated the development team would have $600 million worth of construction underway in the next six to eight months. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is not easy to attract capital to this city, he added. This project will be able to attract capital. Not everyone embraces the plans rapid pace. Advocates like Friends of the Parks say commission members agreed to rezone the entire 440 acres at 8080 S. DuSable Lake Shore Drive for development, but the proposed quantum park would only occupy 128 acres. They worry the remaining open space, now home to a diverse array of wildlife, including migratory birds, could be lost without much public discussion or community involvement. Quantum computing aims to use the subatomic forces of quantum mechanics to solve problems faster than traditional computers, and experts say it could lead to scientific breakthroughs in medicine, energy, agriculture and other fields. A University of Illinois-led organization manages the quantum campus, which includes regional partners such as Argonne National Laboratory and Fermilab, other area universities, and the federal Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. If successful, the quantum park would end a decades-long struggle to find uses for the South Works site, once home to one of the worlds largest steel plants. It employed 20,000 people at its height, but when U.S. Steel shuttered it for good in 1992, only 700 remained. The plant was mostly demolished, and a parade of developers hatched a series of unsuccessful schemes to replace it, including plans for up to 13,000 homes and a boat marina. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advocates want more bird protections at Chicago quantum computing park Although PsiQuantum has promised to create only 150 jobs, Pritzker said this summer that a completed quantum hub will eventually generate tens of billions of dollars in new investment and thousands of jobs, many not requiring advanced degrees. We intend to drive innovation on a history-altering scale and provide unprecedented economic opportunity for the people of this great city and state, the governor said at a July news conference. Those advocating for more discussion won some support from commission members. Both Ald. Daniel La Spata, 1st, and Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez, 25th, voted to abstain, saying they wanted Related Midwest to hold more community meetings and negotiate a community benefits agreement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im not a no vote on this, theres a lot to be excited about, La Spata said. Im the sort who believes in whats in writing. Lopez acknowledged that the developers held three community meetings so far and have another scheduled for December. But he said its not enough for a development on this scale. I dont see the issue with taking more time, he said. My experience is, if its not in writing, things tend not to happen. Anne Holcomb told commission members that she lives two blocks from the site and worries the decades of pollution at the site could make it unsafe to launch such a large construction project. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We need to see this fleshed out before we move forward, she said. Other residents urged the Plan Commission to approve the plan. Jorge Perez, the owner of Chicos Oven, a donut shop on 83rd Street, said he bought the building in 1996 and watched the neighborhood lose half its population as other businesses fled in the wake of South Works closure in 1992. Thats what caused displacement, he said. I encourage you to vote yes and build it fast. The developers plan to construct four buildings along the Calumet River for PsiQuantum, completing the first in early 2026, and secure further approvals from the City Council for still-evolving plans to fill in the rest of the research park, including an industrial cryogenic plant. They promised commission members that they would add walking trails, preserve native landscapes for wildlife, maintain the existing lakefront parks, add single-family housing near the site and make sure the soil is uncontaminated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chicago Department of Planning and Development Commissioner Ciere Boatright said the developers discussions with community members were far from over, and it was time to get started. There are opportunities to iron out other details, she said. This is how we want to see development move. An exhibitor shows a prosthetic hand to Ugandan Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja (R) during a job fair in Kampala, Uganda, on Nov. 21, 2024. The Ugandan government and Chinese technology firm Huawei on Thursday launched a two-day job fair aimed at promoting youth employment in the information, communication and technology (ICT) sector. (Photo by Ronald Ssekandi/Xinhua) KAMPALA, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- The Ugandan government and Chinese technology firm Huawei on Thursday launched a two-day job fair aimed at promoting youth employment in the information, communication and technology (ICT) sector. Ugandan Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, who presided over the opening of the fair, said the government has prioritized ICT in its development plans for the socio-economic transformation of the country. "Through strategic investments in infrastructure, skills development and innovation, we are creating an enabling environment for ICT to thrive," Nabbanja said, noting that ICT remains one of the fastest-growing sectors globally, offering limitless opportunities. She said that in Uganda, the ICT sector employs over 1.3 million people, with a growth rate of 14.8 percent, significantly higher than the country's annual economic growth of about 6 percent. "This signals the untapped potential for creating jobs, wealth and technological solutions to our national challenges," she said. Chinese Ambassador to Uganda Zhang Lizhong said that ICT is a key driver of development. The industrial chain cooperation, one of the 10 partnership actions announced by China during the Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation held in September this year, includes plans for China and Africa to build a digital technology cooperation center and initiate 20 digital demonstration projects, he said. Over the years, China has partnered with Uganda to develop its ICT sector, the ambassador said. Under Uganda's National Backbone Infrastructure Project, financed by China and constructed by Huawei, over 1,864 miles of fiber optic cable have been laid, and 4G services have expanded to remote districts, bringing improvements to many sectors, including health, agriculture, and education. "With its continued growth, I believe the ICT sector can create more job opportunities for talented young men and women, greatly addressing their concerns and fostering digital inclusiveness," Zhang said. Ssali Gao, deputy managing director of Huawei Technologies (Uganda) Co. Limited, said that in the near future, ICT will be the backbone of every industry, meaning those with ICT skills will be in high demand. Ssali also noted Huawei's involvement in Uganda's ICT sector development, including talent development and digital training in remote areas. Aminah Zawedde, permanent secretary of Uganda's Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, said this year's job fair is designed to equip participants with practical skills and industry insights. "These include a master class on artificial intelligence (AI), where participants will gain valuable knowledge about its transformative impact on industries and the skills needed to excel in an AI-driven world," Zawedde said. She added that during the last two editions of the job fair, over 10,000 opportunities were created, connecting employers with potential employees. The fair also featured an exhibition where participants learned about developments in the country's ICT sector, including the use of robotics and artificial intelligence to promote efficiency. The job fair, themed "Shaping Uganda's Digital Future: Bridging Skills, Innovation, and Opportunity," has attracted ICT companies, start-ups, government agencies and academic institutions. Students showcase their robotic designs during a job fair in Kampala, Uganda, on Nov. 21, 2024. The Ugandan government and Chinese technology firm Huawei on Thursday launched a two-day job fair aimed at promoting youth employment in the information, communication and technology (ICT) sector. (Photo by Ronald Ssekandi/Xinhua) Ugandan Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja (3rd R, Front) and other officials listen to an introduction of a Huawei smart village during a job fair in Kampala, Uganda, on Nov. 21, 2024. The Ugandan government and Chinese technology firm Huawei on Thursday launched a two-day job fair aimed at promoting youth employment in the information, communication and technology (ICT) sector. (Photo by Ronald Ssekandi/Xinhua) Ugandan Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja speaks at the opening ceremony of a job fair in Kampala, Uganda, on Nov. 21, 2024. The Ugandan government and Chinese technology firm Huawei on Thursday launched a two-day job fair aimed at promoting youth employment in the information, communication and technology (ICT) sector. (Photo by Ronald Ssekandi/Xinhua) Felonies The following people were booked into the Lee County-Tupelo Adult Jail in connection with felony charges ending Wednesday at 11 a.m. Jeffery D. Anderson, 55, of Canton, was arrested by the Lee County Sheriffs Office, burglary, felony malicious mischief, possession of fentanyl. Zybrianna Z. Cummings, 20, of Verona, was arrested by the Verona Police Department, drive-by shooting. Steven Ray Joiner, 50, of Guntown, was arrested by the Lee County Sheriffs Office, trafficking methamphetamine, possession of a firearm by a felon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Samuel Dale Phelps, 44, of Tupelo, was arrested by the Mississippi Department of Corrections, violation of probation. Lee County Sheriffs Office The following reports were filed Wednesday by the Lee County Sheriffs Office. A Frontier Communications employee said someone damaged a communication repeater near county roads 2442 and 2346 in the Guntown area. The person stole the copper wire. He said it created a large outage in the area, which could be dangerous for people who rely on medical communication devices in case of emergency. A Whitewater Lane, Saltillo, man said someone entered his unlocked truck and stole two extra capacity magazines for Sig Sauer pistols from the center console during the night. There was a dark Dodge Charger parked outside the house for several minutes around 6 p.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Sweetwater Lane man said overnight, someone entered his unlocked car and stole $60 in $1 bills from the center console. He did not know who could be responsible. A County Road 931, Auburn, woman said she went to check on her Heritage .22-caliber revolver and the gun was not in its box. Shes had the gun for a year and never took it out of the box. The house showed no signs of being broken into and nothing else has come up missing. A Mitchell Road woman said a neighbor called and said her car window was broken. She went to check and found the rear passenger window of her Kia Rio shattered. The door was locked, and nothing appeared to be missing. Anyone with information on any of these reports is urged to call the Lee County Sheriff's Office at 841-9041, the Tupelo Police Department at 841-6491 or Crime Stoppers of Northeast Mississippi at (800) 773-TIPS or download the P3 Tip App and leave an anonymous tip that way. PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) The biggest fundraiser of the year for Crittenton Centers is officially underway after Thursdays Jingle & Mingle event. The annual Festival of Trees is taking place at the Holiday Inn & Suites Grand Prairie location, with a lineup of events over the weekend. Christmas trees and decorations lined the event center, complementing an open bar and live auction. Ashley Spain is the Board of Directors Chair for the not-for-profit organization and said the goal of the festival is to get people in one place to support a good cause. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We want to bring people together to really inform and educate the mission of Crittenton Centers and show the community what we have to offer to the population that needs it most, she said. Crittenton Centers re-open walking trail with new name and new design Spain didnt share the organizations funding goal for this year but said they are on track to meet or exceed it. Crittenton Centers has a crisis nursery thats open every day to provide no-cost care for children aged 0-6 for families in need. Other events this weekend include a paint night on Friday, as well as a brunch on Saturday. The festival ends on Sunday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) The owner of the Crown Uptown Theatre in College Hill, Mike Brown, said the building could soon meet the wrecking ball. He said the fate of the building depends on permission to increase capacity. Brown said it is impossible to turn a profit without doubling the capacity of people allowed to attend an event at the theater. He said he understands the historical significance of the 1928 building and wants to preserve history. He adds that if the Wichita City Council decides against the expansion, he will move to demolition the following day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Without the approval of the capacity increase, the building will go away, said Brown. Brown purchased the theater in 2023. He said the only way to make a profit was to increase its capacity, a move that was approved by the planning commission but voted down by the districts advisory board. Now, the theaters fate looms as Wichitas City Council has the final say. For an artist that can sell 2,000 tickets, and we can only sell 850 for standing GA, theyre going to look out at a half-empty room, and theyre going to pass and go somewhere else, said Brown. Save the post: Eureka VFW post struggling to keep its doors open Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brown hired architects who said the building could hold 2,000, and instead of tearing it down, he would rather save it. A little under a million dollars to increase bathrooms, upgrade the green rooms into that groovy 70s custom van, the balcony suites, all of these things I think Wichita would really enjoy. Its going to be really unfortunate if we cant get together as a developer and a community to save this building, said Brown. Those opposed believe the capacity increase will double the number of cars in the area during events. Also, people on that side of the fence fear it interferes with the final stage of the College Hill overlay discussion. The debate is already grabbing attention. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ive got a lot of people reaching out to me. Before this interview, I was on the phone with four different people; there were a lot of opinions out there, trying to listen to everyone before trying to make a decision on where Ill vote, said Wichita City Council member Brandon Johnson. Johnson said the decision to tear down the building is ultimately up to the owner as the property has no historical protection. Wichita City Council members are voting on this issue on Dec. 3. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV. A Stratford man was arrested this week on a number of charges for allegedly fleeing a traffic stop on Interstate 95 in Bridgeport over the summer before crashing into multiple vehicles in New Haven. Eliseo Batz Donis, 27, faces charges of reckless driving, disobeying signal of an officer, engaging police in pursuit, misuse of registration plate, failure to maintain proper lane on a limited access highway and a number of other motor vehicle violations, according to Connecticut State Police. The warrant affidavit supporting the arrest of Donis said, on July 28, troopers received multiple 911 calls about a driver in a red pickup truck driving erratically on I-95 South in the area of Exit 40 just after 3:30 p.m. State police used Department of Transportation highway cameras to find the vehicle, which could reportedly be seen running other drivers off the road and nearly hitting multiple vehicles, according to the warrant affidavit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A trooper positioned his cruiser at the Exit 30 ramp where he spotted the pickup truck and began following it. The license plate on the vehicle came back as belonging to a black 2020 Ford F-350 Super Duty truck. As the trooper followed the red pickup, he allegedly saw the driver cut in front of other motorists and nearly hit them, the warrant affidavit said. The trooper then got behind the driver and flipped on his lights and siren. According to the warrant affidavit, the driver pulled over in the area of Exit 27A and could be seen staring at the trooper through a side view mirror. The trooper noted in the warrant affidavit that he believed the driver was getting ready to take off once he approached the vehicle, so he stayed in his cruiser for several seconds. The driver of the pickup truck began to drive off, so the trooper reactivated his lights and siren and the man stopped about 30 feet past where he initially stopped, the warrant affidavit said. By this time, another trooper was approaching the area and was about to stop in front of the pickup truck to box it in. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the warrant affidavit, the driver allegedly appeared to see the second trooper and sped off. The vehicle was last seen on Route 8 North near Exit 2. Troopers did not pursue the truck. A trooper was able to reach the individual registered to the license plate that was on the red pickup and asked him if he owned the vehicle. The man said he owned a black pickup truck, but not a red one, and that he allowed a friend to use it to pick up a boat, the warrant affidavit said. The man said he was not sure why his license plate would be on a red pickup truck. State police wrote in the warrant affidavit that he was very cooperative and seemed to be concerned. Around 5:40 p.m., the New Haven Police Department issued a be on the lookout for a red pickup truck that was involved in multiple crashes and left the scene, according to the warrant affidavit. The vehicle was allegedly seen driving very erratically. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement About 10 minutes later, New Haven police said the vehicle became disabled after a crash and the driver was in custody. He was identified as Donis, who was taken to an area hospital to be evaluated, the warrant affidavit said. State police said they were able to identify Donis as the man who fled the I-95 traffic stop before pursuing a warrant for his arrest. He was served the warrant on Wednesday in Milford Superior Court. Donis was held on a $50,000 bond and was expected to be arraigned in Bridgeport Superior Court. The argument on the Red Line was in progress when Sheila Evans stepped into the train car. It was evening rush hour on Wednesday. The way Evans describes it, three people were involved in an altercation at one end of the train car. Evans tried to report the situation via the CTA website, and another passenger pushed the operator call button. One of the individuals involved in the argument came over wielding what looked to Evans like a knife, or possibly a fake knife. The woman asked if the passengers pushed the call button, Evans said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Do you want to get your a popped? the woman asked, a video recorded by Evans shows. She warned them not to push the button, before I have somebody kill your a when you get upstairs. Evans, 27, said the passengers heard no response from the operator through the intercom for several minutes, until the people involved in the altercation had already left the train at a Near North Side station, though she said it might have been helpful that the operator stayed silent. A police officer also stepped into the train car after they left, Evans said. It was alarming, she said. And it was weird to not know what to do or how to respond. The altercation comes as CTA leadership has grappled in recent months with the best way to address stubbornly high rates of violent crime. Though the incident was not immediately reported by police as a major crime, it offers a window into the transit agencys response to uncertain and sometimes scary situations for passengers. And to Evans, it raised questions about what measures could be most effective to ensure safety on trains. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CTA crime, the perception of crime and security have been nagging concerns in recent years. The rate of reported violent crime on trains spiked as the pandemic emptied the CTA of many riders, and though it has since gone down, through the first half of this year it remained higher than prepandemic levels. There were about 5.1 violent crimes per million rides through June 2024, comparable to the same timeframe in 2023 but well above the years before the pandemic. For example, in the first half of 2019, 2.5 violent crimes were reported per million rides, a September Tribune analysis of CTA ridership and city crime data showed. The analysis did not include every fight or argument on a train, but rather included only crimes considered serious enough to report to the FBI as index crimes. Violent crimes include robberies, homicides and more aggressive assaults and batteries. Security on the CTA is handled partly by Chicago police, who patrol the transit system at no cost to the CTA. The agency also pays for additional volunteer off-duty officers, unarmed guards and dog teams. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The transit agency has boosted funding for security significantly since 2022. After proposing security spending for 2025 that was comparable to expected 2024 spending $88.5 million for 2025 the CTA recently decided to move $3.3 million instead to develop unspecified public safety pilot programs. The $3.3 million is coming from existing CTA plans to cut the number of unarmed guards and increase the number of dog teams next year, CTA spokesman Manny Gonzales has previously said. He said no updates would be available until January about how many guards and dog teams will patrol the system next year. The announcement that the money would be reshuffled came as security became a flashpoint for CTA board members in recent months. They have called for a broader range of efforts to address safety, like adding transit ambassadors, improving the environment through measures including lighting, and other efforts. They also pushed for more transparency from CTA leadership about security efforts, and more information about whether the unarmed guards were effective. Some at the CTA have sought to push responsibility for security efforts onto Chicago police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Probably one of the 800-pound elephants in the room is, were beholden to (the Chicago Police Department). We simply do not have enough police officers on the train, board Chairman Lester Barclay said. We want what was given for the Democratic National Convention, he added. We want the city to basically police public transportation with that same degree of fervor and interest. We saw them riding the trains, we saw them on the platforms, our customers saw that. But when the convention was over, the show was over. CTA President Dorval Carter has also called on the Police Department to make the transit system a priority. This month, he acknowledged the department faces bigger citywide challenges, but said both he and the board chairman had asked the department to prioritize transit. We dont have enough police officers on CTA. Its plain and simple, he said. Look at the size of our system, look at the geographic coverage of our system, look at what our customers tell us that they want to see. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Carter later said police could not solve all of the challenges the CTA faces with security and efforts such as social services outreach on trains, and suggested measures, including expanding the roles of existing rail customer service agents. But he pegged the ability to add to their roles to what is allowed in union contracts. Still, the incident left Evans frustrated with the response, and wondering if there could be better options. It just feels frustrating in general that whatever action happens with these kinds of incidents always happens after the fact, its never during or never prevention, she said. Evans was on her way home from work Wednesday, riding the Red Line from the Chicago station near downtown to Belmont on the North Side when she entered the car where the altercation was taking place. Related Articles Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The people in the altercation left the station, and CTA said police officers were already at the Clark and Division station as part of a train-checking mission Wednesday afternoon. Within 10 seconds, two women can be seen on security camera footage exiting a train car, passengers alert nearby officers to what was taking place, and the officers follow in the direction of the women, CTA said. Combating crime on our system requires a multi-pronged approach, the foundation of which is the Chicago Police Department, which is responsible for law enforcement for most of our system, CTA officials said in a statement. CTA supplements their efforts through investments in technologies, as well as added resources such as unarmed security guard and K-9 security teams, which are primarily deployed across the rail system in stations and on trains to serve as an added presence and layer of eyes/ears for reporting matters to police/first responders. Evans said she was happy to have an option to use the operator call button and report the situation online, through CTAs chatbot feature unveiled earlier this year, because she felt like they were good options to avoid escalating the situation. But she said she has rarely seen a response to any situation she reported online, and wondered how the messages are monitored. The CTA says the chatbot is not intended for emergency situations, but can be used for issues such as cleanliness, employee feedback, disruptive behavior and safety and security. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The agency said riders who feel unsafe can call 911, or if they cannot do so leave the railcar at the next stop or flag down a CTA employee for help. On trains, they can use intercom units to call the train operator, switch cars at the next stop or flag down the train operator for help. The knife-wielding person left Evans uncertain how to feel. She played Tetris on the way back home, because she heard it was supposed to help lessen the effects of traumatic situations, then wondered just how serious the situation shed experienced really was. It did feel scary at the time, but it almost felt more scary afterward looking at the video, she said. Somebody pointed a knife at me. That is bizarre, thats a weird thing to go through. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) Thursday marks the seventh day of the Culinary Unions strike at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas. It also marks the first day of the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix weekend. The strike began after failed negotiations on a new five-year contract. New Thursday, civil disobedience arrests. Picketers blocked Paradise Road in front of the hotel, sitting in the street. Police had blocked approaching traffic, reducing the risk of injuries. Union members say getting arrested shows commitment to the cause. By Thursday night, a total of 57 arrests were made during the protests, according to Las Vegas Metro police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Virgin says otherwise. A Let them Vote sign on the hotel was a statement by Virgin officials, who believe their workers dont want Culinary Union representation. In a statement, Virgin Hotels Las Vegas said, It is disappointing that Culinary Union leaders are prepared to spend their own members resources on fake arrests, rather than engaging in constructive good faith bargaining something they have not yet done. Picketers demonstrate outside Virgin Hotels Las Vegas on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. A Let them Vote sign is a message from hotel officials, who believe their workers dont want Culinary Union representation. (KLAS) Union worker Aaron Mahan laughed when he heard that, Wasting resources? The company is professional at wasting resources, look at the wall they put up recently. The wall Mahan referred to keeps the picket line out of sight from the casinos entrance and keeps loudspeakers in Virgins lot that are pointed toward the picket line away from view. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mahan has worked at the property since 2005. Hes been going to the picket line since day one. Traffic moves along Paradise Road outside Virgin Hotels Las Vegas on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. (KLAS) I dont want to be out here. None of my coworkers want to be out here demanding whats fair, whats right. We just want to be treated like every other worker in this union, Mahan said. As for inside the casino, temporary workers are filling positions, and F1 guests are checking out some of the displays in the casino. Just before Noon Thursday were empty tables, and empty machines a calm before the race weekend intensifies. Picketers demonstrate outside Virgin Hotels Las Vegas on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. A Let them Vote sign is a message from hotel officials, who believe their workers dont want Culinary Union representation. (KLAS) This is a union house, this is a union town, Mahan said. 8 News Now reached out to Virgin to learn more about how the hotel is operating during the strike, but they did not respond. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its important to note recent demonstrations like Thursdays arrests havent resulted in jail 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 KLAS. Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky arrived in Kyiv on a visit on the morning of 22 November. Source: European Pravda, citing Lipavsky on X (Twitter) Details: Lipavsky stated that during his visit, he aims to assess "how the Ukrainians are coping with the bombings, how Czech projects are working on the ground and how to better target international aid in the coming months". "I will discuss all of this here," the Czech foreign minister tweeted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Background: Lipavsky previously said that no one knows whether US President-elect Donald Trump would cut off aid to Ukraine but that even if he did, he would not do so abruptly. In August, he suggested that Russia's military plans were not limited to invading Ukraine. Support UP or become our patron! Czechia decided not to apply to the European Union for an extension of the exception to the European ban on imports of Russian petroleum products introduced in 2022. Source: Reuters with reference to the Czech Ministry of Industry and Trade, as reported by European Pravda Details: The ban on the supply of Russian petroleum products was approved within the framework of EU sanctions against Russia. But Slovakia, Hungary and Czechia have been granted exemptions to the ban in order to have time to find alternative sources of supply. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Quote: "In the context of the current situation and steps that Czechia is taking to secure independence from imports of oil from Russia, the Czech Republic does not see a reason why the exemption should be extended," the Czech Trade and Industry Ministry told Reuters. Czechias exemption ends on 5 December. The country imports around eight million tonnes of oil each year from two sources: over 60% via the Druzhba pipeline, which transports oil from Russia, and the remainder via the German IKL pipeline, which connects to the Italian TAL pipeline beginning in Trieste. Previously, Czechia stated that it intends to eliminate reliance on Russian oil by developing TAL. This is projected to double the capacity of oil transported to Czechia to up to eight million tonnes per year starting next year. Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala previously stated that the Czech Republic will be independent of Russian oil by the middle of 2025 at the latest. Support UP or become our patron! The U.S. Senate unanimously passed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Deadline Act Thursday. (Photo by Richard Stephens via iStock / Getty Images Plus) While much of the discussion in Congress has centered on the transition of powers and changing roles in leadership heading into 2025, Iowas delegation took actions this week on issues like federal student aid and allegations of federal disaster aid discrimination. The U.S. Senate unanimously passed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Deadline Act Thursday, a measure that would require the U.S. Department of Education to ensure that the form for receiving federal student aid, FAFSA, is available by Oct. 1 each year. The legislation was passed 381-1 by the House earlier in November, and now heads to President Joe Bidens desk for final approval. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The measure was introduced after there were problems with the 2024-25 FAFSA rollout, where many users experienced glitches, errors and processing delays while applying for higher education aid. While the education department typically opens the FAFSA form Oct. 1 each year, federal officials announced the 2025-2026 FAFSA form would open using a staggered approach, starting with a testing period in October before opening to all applicants, to prevent issues that occurred the previous year from repeating. On Thursday, the department announced the 2025-2026 FAFSA form was officially open to all applicants, beating its planned Dec. 1 full launch by 10 days. But members of Congress say that more steps need to be taken to ensure the FAFSA form is open and available for families in a timely manner. The bill passed in the U.S. Senate Thursday would officially change require FAFSA to be rolled out by Oct. 1 each year moving it up from the current legal deadline of Jan. 1. U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, an Iowa Republican who cosponsored the legislation in the Senate, said the bill will provide certainty to families applying for federal student aid and loans that were put in a difficult position because of last years delays. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After Bidens FAFSA fumble left students out in the cold, Im working to hold bureaucrats accountable to a firm deadline, Ernst said in a statement. As the FAFSA Deadline Act clears another hurdle, I hope that no one has to worry about bureaucratic blunders derailing their academic ambitions. Congress has done our part, and now President Biden must sign this into law immediately. Planning for college is stressful enough Americans deserve certainty that they will be able to access this federal aid tool by Oct. 1. Iowa senators call for action, answers on alleged FEMA discrimination Ernst also joined a letter this week calling for accountability through another federal aid provider the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency in the wake of reports that a low-level FEMA supervisor told her team to avoid canvassing houses that showed support for President-elect Donald Trump in Florida following Hurricane Milton. On Tuesday, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell told lawmakers on the House Transportation and Infrastructure subcommittee and the House Oversight and Accountability Committee that the agency employee in question was fired, and that there was not evidence to suggest any larger orders or movement to deny emergency disaster relief to Trump supporters. However, Criswell said the agency was conducting an internal investigation to determine if other employees were involved, in addition to saying she would request an inspector general investigation. Ernst signed on to a letter Tuesday alongside other 18 other senators asking Criswell to provide more information on the incident including communications between the supervisor and her Survivor Assistance Team as well as information and documents about houses in all declared disaster zones that could not be reached, and the reason why they were marked not able to access property. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Criswell said the Florida incident was isolated, the senators said in the letter that the former FEMA employee has made claims that avoiding homes on the basis of apparent political beliefs is a wider practice in FEMA, even happening in Western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene brought devastating rains and floods the likes of which we have never seen. Given the shocking and reprehensible nature of these allegations, our constituents deserve immediate answers and maximum transparency, the senators wrote. As Members of Congress, we are committed to holding those responsible accountable and making sure that rank weaponization against the American public is never tolerated. U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley also wrote a letter to Criswell earlier in November asking for more information on the incident and what steps the agency is taking to prevent political discrimination in distributing disaster aid in the future. Politicization of who receives FEMA assistance is unacceptable, especially as the people affected by these disasters attempt to put their lives back together. The American people deserve a more robust and detailed explanation of this problem and FEMAs plans to fix it, Grassley wrote. Authorities on Friday identified a man killed in an officer-involved shooting in Springfield on Thursday. Devin Lewis, 24, of Springfield, died in the shooting early Thursday morning, Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni said in a statement. In his statement, Gulluni expressed his condolences to Lewiss family. At approximately 1 a.m. Thursday, Springfield Emergency Communications received a 911 call, and officers responded to the 0-100 block of Lyman Street, Gulluni said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When officers arrived, a short time after being on scene, they discharged their firearms, Gulluni said. A man, later identified as Lewis, was wounded and emergency help was immediately rendered by the officers and other first responders were summoned, the district attorney said. Details on what led up to the shooting or the reason for the emergency call were not immediately released. The officer-involved shooting remains an ongoing investigation by the Hampden District Attorneys Office and the Springfield Police Detective Bureau. Gulluni said additional information will be released at the end of the investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW COLOMBO, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- A supplementary agreement for the China-aided housing project for low-income families in Sri Lanka was signed here on Friday, with officials from Sri Lanka's Ministry of Urban Development, Construction and Housing and Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Qi Zhenhong attending the event. Anura Karunathilake, minister of urban development, construction and housing, said that over the past decades, whenever Sri Lanka faced difficulties, the Chinese government and people have always extended a helping hand without hesitation. He expressed gratitude for the selfless assistance from the Chinese government and people, emphasizing that the agreement signed on Friday is of utmost importance to the Sri Lankan people. Tang Yandi, counselor of the Chinese embassy in Sri Lanka, said the project aims to provide high-quality residential buildings in designated areas of Colombo for low-income households. "The successful signing of the supplementary agreement will be a token of our further strengthened friendship," Tang said, expressing his confidence that the project will be another success with close cooperation between the two sides. The implementation agreement for the housing project was signed in November 2023, and the supplementary agreement details specific bidding and division of work for the project. According to the agreement, the construction works for 1,996 housing units for low-income families in Sri Lanka will commence soon. Data from the Ministry of Urban Development, Construction and Housing showed that more than 700,000 families in Sri Lanka lived without permanent housing as of November 2023. CHESTER COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) A Pennsylvania police officer was arrested Thursday after officials say he stole drugs from a medication collection box while he was on duty. The Chester County District Attorneys Office said in a news release on Thursday that David Maurer, 55, stole the drugs while he was emptying the boxes on Wednesday at a police department and hospital. Maurer kept pill bottles that had controlled substances inside them after he emptied the boxes out instead of taking them to the collection site for disposal, the DAs office says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pennsylvania men convicted of pizza shop arson that lead to firefighters death The collection boxes allow residents to discard unwanted medication. Maurer was a Detective Sergeant for the West Goshen Township Police Department, the DAs office says. Charges of theft and possession of a controlled substance were filed against Maurer, who was arraigned before of Magisterial District Judge Martin Goch and released on his own recognizance. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now abc27 Evening Newsletter An investigation is still ongoing and anyone with information is asked to call Chester County Detectives at 610-344-6866. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27. Brian King-Henke is staging a renewed search effort in July 2025 to look for his son Austin, who has been missing since September Yellowstone National Park/Facebook The father of Austin King, a Yellowstone National Park worker who has been missing since September, isn't giving up hope that his son will be found Like Ive been saying all along, you know, I believe in the impossible," Brian King-Henke told The Independent The father of Austin King, a Yellowstone National Park worker who has been missing since September, isn't giving up hope that his son will be found The father of missing Yellowstone employee Austin King is not giving up hope that his son will be found even after park officials scaled back their search last month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement King, 22, a concession worker at the park, has been missing since September when he failed to show up to his boat pickup following a seven-day backcountry trip to summit Eagle Peak, Yellowstone National Park stated in a previous news release on Facebook. "[King] was reported overdue to the Yellowstone Interagency Communications Center when he failed to arrive for his boat pickup near Yellowstone Lakes Southeast Arm on Friday afternoon, Sept. 20," officials said. Related: Dad of Yellowstone Worker Who Vanished Last Month Shares Eerie Note Son Left on Mountain: 'I Cant Feel My Fingers' He was last heard from on Sept. 17, "when he called friends and family from the summit of Eagle Peak in the parks remote southeast corner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In October, officials announced they were scaling back efforts to find Austin and "transition from a rescue to recovery" mission. PEOPLE reached out to the park officials on Friday, Nov. 22. Now in an interview with The Independent, Austin's father Brian King-Henke spoke out about having to wait until spring to keep looking. 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. Yellowstone is unforgiving in the winter, if youre not prepared for it, King-Henke said. I know its more of a recovery than anything but its just knowing that hes out there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But he hasn't lost hope that his 22-year-old has somehow managed to survive. Im hearing that all these hunters that go out there, there are quite a few cabins spread out in those mountain ranges and those basins, he told the newspaper. So, if [Austin] was able to get out there and find them then hed have supplies. They all have blankets, firewood, food, youre out of the weather so theres always the possibility. King-Henke continued, Like Ive been saying all along, you know, I believe in the impossible. Related: Parents of Missing Yellowstone Employee 'Not Giving Up' on Finding Son After He Didn't Return from Hike Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Kings last known communication, a hand-written note left in a registry diary at the top of Eagle Peak, he described the intense weather conditions that he was facing. I cant feel my fingers and my glasses are so fogged from the ruthless weather of the mountains. I truly cannot believe I am here after what it took to be here. I endured rain, sleet, hail and the most wind I have ever felt, Kings letter read. I could not see Eagle for most of the day due to the most fog I have ever seen in my life." King-Henke is now working to fund a search effort that will take place in July 2025, when the snow and harsh weather conditions subside. I dont want somebody to come across him and find him torn to pieces or anything like that, he said. I couldnt, I couldnt. I dont think I could live with that and hear someone say Hey, we found his hand or something like that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Related: Hiker Who Clung to Calif. Cliff for Nearly an Hour Before Being Saved Speaks Out: 'My Muscles Were Tired' King-Henke planned to travel to Cody, Wyo. from Nov. 17 to 21 to touch base with others who will aid in the rescue effort, he wrote in an update on his son's GoFundMe page. Ive been through a journey of anger, sadness, he told The Independent. Ive been going through a roller coaster of emotions. But I have to keep reminding myself that Ive made it through things in the past which have given me the foundation ground to keep level-headed and do what I need to do as Dad. He added, Its going to be a daunting task to bring this army [of helpers] together and be ready in July. GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) Friday on the Daily 8, were looking at the mysterious bright beams in the sky near Grand Rapids, ways that you can give back this holiday season, what to do in West Michigan this weekend and more. You can watch the full Daily 8 for Nov. 22, 2024, in the video player above or check out any of the stories mentioned below: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Each weekday, the Daily 8 brings you the top eight stories we are keeping an eye on in and around West Michigan. Join us again Monday for the Daily 8. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. A bend at Rustic Falls in Yellowstone National Park where several million dollars in grants will fund the widening of the road and the construction of a parking lot and construction trail south of Mammoth that was announced on June 18, 2024. (Photo by Blair Miller, Daily Montanan) U.S. Sen. Steve Daines on Thursday introduced a bill with bipartisan support that seeks to reauthorize a program to address billions in overdue maintenance at national parks, increase program funding from the federal government, and seeks to increase the amount of public donations supporting those projects. The act would for keep the program running for another eight years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Called the America the Beautiful Act, the bill would build upon parts of the bipartisan Great American Outdoors Act signed in 2020 under President Donald Trump, which authorized up to $6.5 billion in funding during the course of five years for the National Parks and Public Legacy Restoration Fund through fiscal year 2025. Since 2020, more than $4 billion has been committed from the fund to projects across the country. Daines, a Republican, led introduction of the bill Thursday alongside Sens. Angus King, I-Maine, Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., and Mark Warner, D-Virginia. He said in a statement the bill would continue to address a backlog of maintenance projects on certain public lands and at national parks, including Yellowstone and Glacier. Our country is home to incredible national parks and public lands thats what makes us America the beautiful. Ill always fight to protect our parks and work to make sure were managing our public lands as effectively as possible, Daines said in a statement. Going to the Sun Road- A Thin Gray Line NPS / Tim Rains Daines also provided a wide-ranging list of groups supporting the measure, which includes the National Park Foundation, Montana Outfitters and Guides Association, Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, Montana Trout Unlimited, the Boone and Crockett Club, the Property and Environment Research Center, and the Montana Conservation Corps, among others. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This bipartisan legislation marks a significant step forward in our collective effort to continue preserving and protecting our nations invaluable natural and cultural heritage, National Park Foundation President Will Shafroth said in a statement. Building upon the extraordinary success of the LRF, which has invested more than $4 billion in critical projects to date, this reauthorization will empower our national parks to address long-standing maintenance needs and directly improve the visitor experience. According to a draft version of the bill provided by Daines, the measure, if passed and signed into law, would reauthorize the Legacy Restoration Fund through fiscal year 2033 and increasing the annual funding by $100 million a year, from $1.9 billion to $2 billion annually. The bill would also have the federal government put a priority on projects that already have 15% of matching funds for the project committed and would require participating agencies to put together public awareness campaigns to raise more money for donations for projects. The six-page bill would allow agencies to proceed with projects for the next fiscal year under a continuing resolution, would ensure any land administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are eligible for funding, and is aimed at increasing transparency by requiring agencies to compile two-year lists of projects and report more information to Congress on how maintenance backlogs are being reduced. Federal Highway Administrator Shailen Bhatt announces a $22 million grant project at Yellowstone National Park on June 18, 2024. (Photo by Blair Miller, Daily Montanan) The full National Park Service maintenance backlog was estimated at $23 billion as of October 2023. In Montana, out of the eight park units identified by the park service, there is a $243 million estimated backlog, including $117 million in maintenance at Glacier National Park, and $53 million at both the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area and Yellowstone National Park, according to the park service. Buildings ($33 million) and housing ($31 million) carry the most expensive backlogs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Montana so far, five projects have received a total of $86.3 million in Legacy Restoration Fund money. Glacier National Park got $26 million to repair and resurface 9 miles of Going-to-the-Sun Road and replace the bridge over McDonald Creek in 2021. And the park received $15.7 million to replace the Swiftcurrent Water Distribution System and $10.9 million to replace the Headquarters Wastewater System in 2022. For fiscal year 2025, $33.3 million is going to replacing the utility systems and water system components within Glacier National Park, which should be effective for the next 50 years, according to the park service. In the Wyoming portion of Yellowstone National Park, there is an estimated $1.4 billion maintenance backlog. Projects have already received tens of millions of dollars within the park during the past five years, including addressing wastewater collection and treatment systems, several bridges, repairing structures at Fort Yellowstone and other historic sites within the park. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most of the $439 million in Legacy Restoration Fund money granted to Wyoming has gone toward projects in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park. By increasing funding up to $2 billion annually for the next eight years, and by allowing our public land management agencies to advance projects should Congress be able to pass a budget, we can ensure continued on-the-ground progress to reduce deferred maintenance of our public lands, said Kaden McArthur, the government relations manager for Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, in a statement. Clayton Elliott, the conservation and government relations director for Montana Trout Unlimited, thanked Daines for leading on the reauthorization effort. The LRF is a critical tool to meaningfully address the chronic deferred maintenance on our public land estate that impedes public access while simultaneously moving the needle on collaborative efforts for our wild fish and their habitats, Elliott said in a statement. America-the-Beautiful-Act NEW YORK Daniel Pennys defense team called an expert witness Thursday, who challenged the medical examiners determination that Jordan Neely died as a result of the former Marine choking him on a subway car. Dr. Satish Chundru a Texas-based forensic pathologist Pennys legal team hired to reinvestigate Neelys cause of death said he disagreed with the opinions of everyone working at the New York City medical examiners office, including the offices chief, that Neely perished as a result of compression of the neck. Chundru, who has been paid about $90,000 for his work in the Penny case, blamed an array of other factors for Neelys death, including schizophrenia, his use of synthetic marijuana, and a sickle cell crisis caused by exertion from the struggle and restraint. Pennys legal fees have been covered by an online fundraiser that has pulled in more than $3 million. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its fair to say you ruled out chokehold as cause of death in this case? Pennys defense attorney, Steven Raiser, asked Chundru in Manhattan Supreme Court. Thats correct, Chundru said. Chundru said a chokehold death plays out in two stages. First, the person is rendered unconscious from consistent and sufficient pressure on their neck. The second phase, he said, sees the aggressor sustain that pressure for an extended period of time until they die. He said one can call something a chokehold when both elements are met. Unconsciousness always precedes death in a chokehold, the Texas doctor said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Because footage of the incident depicts Neely, 30 at the time of his death, appearing to transition from alive to dead without a period of unconsciousness in between, Chundru said he determined Neely died from other factors. Chundru further said he did not believe there were enough blood spots on Neelys eyelids nor appropriate bruising on Neelys neck to determine the chokehold that immediately preceded his death was the cause of it. In the audience for Chundrus testimony was Dr. Cynthia Harris from the medical examiners office, who performed the autopsy on Neely the day after the incident. She and her colleagues unanimously agreed the chokehold killed Neely the day after the procedure after footage of it became available. Before the prosecution rested Monday, Harris said that to reach any other conclusion she would need to ignore footage of Penny choking Neely until Neely passed out and started displaying signs of terminal brain injury, a purple hue to his face, congested veins, blood spots on his eyelids, damage to the inner structures of Neelys neck, and other symptoms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harris said Neely showed signs of cell sickling but nothing that would cause him to die. She said only seven overdose cases out of 10,000 reviewed by the medical examiners office in four years involved people dying from ingesting the synthetic cannabis Neely had and that those people, unlike Neely, had abnormal hearts. Neely, who grew up in Manhattan and New Jersey, dealt with untreated mental illness, drug addiction and homelessness. His relatives say that he was devastated by his mothers murder when he was 14. He found joy in performing as Michael Jackson for New Yorkers when he was stable. Penny, 26, of West Islip, L.I., served four years in the Marines and was studying architecture and working as a barback in Brooklyn at the time of the incident. His loved ones have testified that he grew up in a tight-knit family and town, getting good grades in high school, where he played upright bass with the orchestra and was on the lacrosse team. He has pleaded not guilty to second-degree manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide. Its still not clear whether he plans to take the stand in his defense. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The two men, close in age and each standing 6 feet and 1 inch tall, were otherwise worlds apart in their life experiences. Their lives collided on an uptown F train on the afternoon of Monday, May 1, 2023. Neely boarded the car Penny was riding to the gym at Second Ave. and began loudly screaming that he was hungry, thirsty and ready to go to jail shortly after the doors closed, alarming passengers, multiple eyewitnesses have testified. Penny quickly sprung into action, taking Neely down from behind. Some 30 seconds later, the train pulled into the next stop, where the two men remained on the floor, with Pennys arm curled around Neelys neck and his legs wrapped around his body, according to videos shown at the trial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors say Penny acted appropriately while the train was in motion and criminally after it reached Broadway-Lafayette, with no need to continue subduing Neely for nearly six minutes after passengers had fled to safety. Jurors have heard from another passenger who aided Penny. He said he told him he had Neelys arms under control, so it was safe to let go of his neck, but Penny did not let up. On cross-examination, which was expected to resume Friday, prosecutor Dafna Yoran sought to undermine Chundrus testimony by pulling up studies that contradicted it as well as excerpts from his mentors book and a recent TV special he appeared in that explored similar themes. Chundru said he consulted on about 30 cases yearly, with around 60% of them for the defense, and had earned around $90,000 from the Penny case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yoran asked if it was true he made $5 million in the last year performing hundreds of private autopsies, more than the National Association of Medical Examiners recommends to avoid negatively impacting the quality of the procedures, including on holidays and weekends. Chundru said yes, adding, Im sorry my business is doing well. _____ PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) The head of state governments Minerals, Mining and Superfund Program says the purpose of a recent change to how limestone sites are licensed in South Dakota was to get more acres covered by financial assurance so theyll someday be environmentally reclaimed. Rounds introduces plan to dismantle Dept. of Education On Thursday, during a teleconference meeting with the state Minerals and Environment Board, program administrator Mike Lees described the Legislatures passage of SB111 back in March as a big win. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lees program is part of the state Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, which supported the legislation. The new law during the next five years gradually increases reclamation surety amounts for mining sand, gravel and construction aggregate, including limestone, to $3,850 per affected acre or $300,000 statewide for each operator. They currently are $500 per acre or $20,000. Board members last month questioned why they were asked to approve releases of two reclamation sureties totaling $294,500 for Pete Lien & Sons and three totaling $1,563,300 for Simon Contractors. Because of the new law, Pete Lien & Sons saw its surety amounts reduced to $40,000, while Simon Contractors dropped to $20,000. The new law however calls for gravel, sand and construction aggregate mines, including limestone, to eventually pay much more. On July 1, 2026, the per-acre amount rises to $1,500 per acre or $100,000 statewide. Thats followed by a second round of increases on July 1, 2027, to $2,750 per acre or $200,000 statewide. The final set of increases takes effect on July 1, 2029, when the per acre amount climbs to $3,850 and the statewide license goes to $300,000. Lees acknowledged on Thursday that the two companies saw substantial reductions from the new law. But he also pointed out that, should their operations not change, the two will see their required surety amounts climb as each increase in the new law takes effect. Pete Lien & Sons will eventually be required to post sureties totaling $600,000 and Simon Contractors will be at $300,000, according to Lees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deadly crash in Northwest Iowa He presented information showing that, as of November, there were 418 licensed gravel, sand and aggregate mine operators with 976 active licensed sites throughout South Dakota that have a total of 111,437 acres that havent been reclaimed. The reclamation liability on those acres totals $44,188,899, but under the old system just $3,699,209 or 8.34% of the liability has been posted in sureties. Looking ahead to 2029 when the new law takes full effect, and assuming nothing else changes, sureties would total $22,736,208, or 51.5% of the liability. Board member Bob Morris of Belle Fourche asked how Lees program plans to check 111,000 acres for reclamation. One of the programs employees, Bret Graves, said state law doesnt specify a deadline for completing reclamation projects. Graves said the standard practice is that the mine operator tells the department when the site has been reclaimed and that in triggers an inspection. He said each licensed operator submits an annual report and both aerial imagery and on-site inspections are used to spot-check. Lees said a potential additional benefit from the new law is that smaller operators might be stimulated to reclaim open acres and clean up areas no longer needed so that they can avoid the significant surety increases coming during the next five years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Morris asked whether Lees program has an internal policy regarding a site thats no longer active and has gone without reclamation while still under surety. No, Lees answered, saying that a letter is triggered only when an operator stops filing annual reports and stops posting the required surety. Its often left open and unreclaimed for an extended period, Lees said. As we consider it, theyre still actively mining, even if they havent touched it for five years. Morris thanked Lees. It was nice to see this information put in context, Morris said. Another board member, Doyle Karpan of Jefferson, however, said he was concerned that the sites arent inspected annually. Anyone could come in there. All of a sudden it becomes a temporary garbage dump, Karpan said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lees replied that mine sites have waste management requirements and his office responds when negative information is received about a site. Theres no way our three sand and gravel inspectors are able to get out to the sites every year, Lees said. Getting the new law passed was such a big win for us, Lees said. He acknowledged that the board could have benefited from receiving a more detailed explanation during the October meeting. This context would have been very helpful, he said. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com. COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) The dark web is a phrase you may have read a lot over the last few months not just from NBC4, but Columbus leaders are talking about it as well. The massive ransomware attack on the city led to hundreds of thousands of peoples private information on the dark web. NBC4 Investigates first showed you the extent of the breach, despite the mayors initial claims the stolen data lacked value. SWAT team shoots overnight homicide suspect in Columbus Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, NBC4 Investigates is fact-checking city leaders claims about the dark web. Experts took us on to the dark web again to show what else is out there, other than the citys data. When you break it down, the dark web is really about privacy. City leaders have claimed that in order to access the dark web, you need a certain level of expertise or are only doing it for criminal reasons. This isnt true. The whole idea with this dark web is to be more anonymous, CMIT Solutions Owner Daniel Maldet said. Just because someone wants that in particular for themselves doesnt necessarily mean theyre engaging in illegal activity, Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) Director of Engineering Alexis Hancock said. EFF is a non-profit that defends digital privacy and free speech. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sentencing postponed for former Columbus police officer convicted of murder Privacy is important for everyone, Hancock said. Privacy is what the dark web was created for, but thats not the message from city leaders. It takes a level of sophistication to get to this information on the dark web, no one is just Googling dark web to find this, City Attorney Zach Klein said in a press conference on Aug. 29. Cyber security experts say otherwise. An affidavit written by the citys Department of Technology Director Sam Orth says: Only individuals willing to themselves navigate and interact with the criminal element on the dark web, who also have the computer expertise and tools necessary to download data from the dark web would be able to do so. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That was written when the city filed the lawsuit against the whistleblower who helped NBC4 Investigates uncover the true extent of the breach. The lawsuit has been dropped and the whistleblower can no longer show us the city data, but other cybersecurity experts maintain Orths claims in that legal document are incorrect. Police arrest 16 in Columbus street gang bust Getting to the dark web just takes a special browser. The most common dark web browser is called Tor. You dont need sophisticated tools to access Tor, Hancock said. Its simple as downloading a browser and opening it and then you are on the Tor network. As far as only criminals being on the dark web, that is also not true. Yes, criminals exist on the dark web, but criminals also exist on a surface web. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tor is often used by activists and those under oppressive foreign regimes, including journalists. Youre able to access things more readily even if your government is blocking it, Tor can possibly help you reach that website, Hancock said. The dark web was first developed as a way for U.S. intelligence members to communicate anonymously. Unsolved Ohio: Columbus woman missing for nearly seven years These research projects were not only seen as beneficial to different government operations, but it was eventually packaged and able to be utilized by the general public, Hancock said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Entities such as the CIA and the BBC have sites on the dark web as well. We got a look, and it took seconds: open a laptop, open Tor, find the link to the site you want to go to, and there it is. Whats different from a regular online search is no one knows you visited the sites on the dark web. It isnt that difficult and there are YouTube videos out there that can explain ways in which to access the dark web, Maldet said. Again, we dont advise that people do that, but its not that difficult to do. We reached out to the city attorney and Department of Technology asking if Klein and Orth stand by their statements about the dark web. Klein said he did, and Orth has not responded. ATF agent wins $1.6 million in lawsuit against Columbus police over 2020 arrest Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Columbus is offering free credit monitoring to anyone who is afraid their information is compromised. The deadline to sign up is next Friday, Nov. 29. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. Sen. Gerald Malloy, D-Hartsville, talks during a South Carolina Senate Judiciary Committee meeting in Columbia, S.C. on Tuesday, March 15, 2022. (Travis Bell/STATEHOUSE CAROLINA/Special to the SC Daily Gazette) COLUMBIA State Sen. Gerald Malloy is scheduled to appear Dec. 3 before the South Carolina Election Commission to challenge the results of his slim loss to Republican JD Chaplin following inconsistencies in the vote count. The Hartsville Democrat, a 22-year veteran of the Senate, filed the protest this week after a mandatory recount revealed what state election officials referred to as concerning discrepancies between election night and recount ballot numbers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chaplin led Malloy by 278 votes ahead of the Nov. 14 recount a margin already narrow enough to trigger an automatic recount. Due to the technology of modern elections, recounts dont generally alter the numbers by much, if at all. But there was a relatively substantial difference this time in the recount of roughly 50,000 votes in a district that spans five counties. After all counties rescanned ballots and reported the new results, the Republicans lead shrank to just 87 votes. Malloy picked up 51 votes in the largely rural Pee Dee district and Chaplin lost 140 votes. The vast majority of those changes came from rural Lee County population 16,000 which prompted a letter from the states election chief, Howard Knapp, seeking an explanation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Malloys challenge, his legal team is demanding an audit of how the results were calculated, including a forensic audit of the countys voting machines. If the audit results dont settle the matter, they are calling for a new election. There are a lot of wrong ways to do things right, but there is no right way to do things wrong. The results in Senate District 29 are wrong, Malloys attorneys wrote. The legal team, which includes a former candidate for state Attorney General, a former U.S. Attorney, the son of Senate Minority Leader Brad Hutto and Malloys own son, called the varying vote counts unprecedented. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the 18 state and congressional level recounts held in South Carolina over the past decade, ballot numbers changed by a total of just 24 votes, the lawyers wrote. In Malloys Senate contest, the vote changes were 14 times that. Election integrity and accuracy are the cornerstones of democracy, Malloy said in a statement after filing his challenge Tuesday. It is imperative to understand what happened here because every voter deserves to know their vote is counted fairly and accurately. Chaplin and the state Republican Party dismissed Malloys claims, with state GOP Chairman Drew McKissick calling him a sore loser. McKissick, who has celebrated the flip of four Senate seats to the GOP, stressed that other Democrats conceded with an even slimmer margin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That would include one other Democrat incumbent in the Senate. Mike Fanning, D-Great Falls, conceded ahead of the automatic recount for his district, despite losing by less than 30 votes among almost 56,000 cast. But even ahead of Malloy filing a challenge, state election officials were seeking answers from Lee County. It is imperative that these concerns are addressed promptly and thoroughly to ensure public confidence in the electoral process, Knapp wrote Monday in the commissions request. State election officials are still searching for the source of the varying numbers and are trying to make sense of the explanation it received late Thursday from Lee Countys election board. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In its response, Lee County officials said a number of test ballots were inadvertently included in the election night count, after workers failed to wipe the test votes from their system before voters started casting ballots. Thats the only way to explain the irregularities between election night and the recount, wrote board chairperson Deloris LeGrant. Malloy, in his challenge, also alleged early voting ballots were improperly included in the count of who voted on Election Day. While these issues may explain why there were fewer ballots in the recount results than the numbers from election night, the question remains how Malloy actually gained more than 50 votes in the recount compared to election night. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lee Countys election director did not immediately respond to messages left by the SC Daily Gazette. Still, in his challenge, Malloy must prove that the results are in doubt to the point that they caused his loss. This is not Malloys first time taking part in this type of appeal. In 2020, he was the lawyer defending Sen. Karl Allen, D-Greenville, in his re-election win challenged by Republican Jack Logan. The margin in that race was not nearly as narrow, with Allen taking 63% of the vote to Logans 37%. If Malloys team disagrees with the election commissions actions at the Dec. 3 hearing, he could appeal to his colleagues in the Senate, which gained a supermajority of Republicans with the election. By law, the South Carolina Supreme Court settles election appeals for all state and federal officeholders except state legislators. The chamber is holding an organizational session Dec. 4 to make committee assignments and elect their leaders. The Senate already has Chaplin on the Statehouse website and Malloy as a former senator. A daughter and granddaughter of an elderly woman, and a nurse, are facing charges in connection with her neglect and death, law enforcement officials announced Friday. Eva Fontes Cardoso, 53, and Lisa Hamilton, 64, are slated to be arraigned Friday in Brockton Superior Court on charges in the May 2023 death of 79-year-old Dinora Cardoso, according to Plymouth District Attorney Timothy Cruz. Investigators are still looking for 31-year-old Kayla Cardoso. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The DAs office identified Eva Cardoso as the daughter of the victim, Kayla Cardoso as the granddaughter of the victim, and Hamilton as a nurse who worked for a private company. Eva Cardoso is facing a manslaughter charge, while all three suspects are accused in an alleged scheme to steal from the states Medicare program, according to Cruz. The charges stem from a lengthy investigation by Massachusetts State Police troopers assigned to the Plymouth District Attorneys Office and the Attorney Generals Office, Cruz noted. Additional details on the investigation will be revealed in court, Cruz said. This morning State Police arrested Eva Fontes Cardoso, 53, and Lisa Hamilton, 64. The charges stem from a lengthy investigation by PCDAO and the Attorney Generals Office into the May, 2023 death of a 79-year-old woman in Brockton. The pair are to be in Brockton Superior Court. DA Tim Cruz (@PlymouthCtyDAO) November 22, 2024 This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW A Davenport man was arrested after police say he and a woman broke into his great uncles home, then assaulted and robbed him. According to the criminal complaint, the victim in the incident went to the Davenport Police Station on October 13 at about 8:58 a.m. to report a burglary. The victim said that on October 12 at about 3:30 a.m. he was inside his bedroom in his apartment when he saw movement on the porch outside of the bedroom glass sliding door. The door opened and two people entered, a man and a woman. The defendant, identified as Tavaris Lane, 41 of Davenport, got on top of the victim while he was still lying on the bed and began striking him in the face and head area. The woman began going through the closets inside the apartment during the assault. Lane attempted to get behind the victim and strangle him, but the victim was able to get away and fell onto the floor. The victim yelled that he was going to have a heart attack, and both Lane and the woman fled the apartment with a medium size black bag containing the victims bank statements, Social Security card, marriage license and other personal information. Tavaris Lane (Scott County Jail) According to the criminal complaint, the victim suffered bruising and swelling around his head and face and told officers that he immediately recognized Lane as his great nephew and identified him to officers. The victim told investigators that he had seen the Lane twice the day before the assault. The victim briefly invited Lane and the woman from the incident into his apartment on October 11 at about 3 p.m. During this visit, Lane and the woman entered and exited through the rear sliding door. The victim told investigators that Lane and the woman were wearing the same clothes when they came into the apartment on October 12 at 3:30 a.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A warrant for Lanes arrest was served on November 19, according to court records, and he was booked into the Scott County Jail on November 21 on charges of first-degree burglary, second degree robbery and fifth degree theft. He has a preliminary hearing on November 26. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com. ISLAMABAD, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- Seven terrorists were killed in separate operations by the security forces in Pakistan's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and southwest Balochistan provinces over the last three days, the country's military said on Friday. One operation was launched during the early hours of Friday in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Bannu district on the reported presence of terrorists, the military's media wing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement. During the operation, the troops effectively engaged the terrorists' location, killing three and injuring two others. Weapons, ammunition, and explosives were also recovered from the killed terrorists, who remained actively involved in numerous militant activities against security forces and civilians, the statement added. Four more terrorists were killed in three separate operations in Awaran, Dera Bugti, and Kech districts of Balochistan over the last three days, the ISPR said in another statement. The troops launched all three operations on receiving a tip-off regarding the presence of the militants at the targeted sites. The killed terrorists were involved in numerous terrorist activities against security forces as well as innocent civilians and were highly wanted by law enforcement agencies, the statement added. "Security forces of Pakistan, in step with the nation, remain determined to thwart attempts at sabotaging peace, stability, and progress of Balochistan," the ISPR said. ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) Republican candidate for Roanoke City Mayor David Bowers petitioned the Roanoke Circuit Court for a recount Thursday afternoon after the results were certified by the Roanoke City Electoral Board with him trailing Democrat Joe Cobb by just 59 votes. Claiming inconsistencies and irregularities in the vote-counting process, Bowers explained his decision to request a recount before Cobb took a chance to respond later Thursday afternoon. I think the people in Roanoke want to have a recount and I think it was my obligation to ask for one, said Bowers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The former Mayor led by 19 votes on election night before his lead slipped away as more than 1,500 outstanding absentee and provisional ballots were counted. Joe Cobb wins the race for Roanoke City Mayor Many of the provisional ballots came from same-day voter registration, which allows people to register to vote on election day and cast a ballot that is marked provisional until their voter eligibility can be confirmed. This year was the first Presidential election year in which the practice was legal in Virginia and Bowers disagreed with its use. Same-day registration in voting, Im opposed to it and this is a good reason why, he said. Election day should be election day. It should be over on election day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When reminded that the practice is legal in Virginia, Bowers responded by saying that it should not be. If youre a responsible citizen, you should get yourself down to the registrar, you should get yourself registered, you should be vetted or whatever they do and then youre prepared to vote on election day, Bowers said. According to the Virginia Department of Elections, Bowers received 311 provisional votes, just 11 fewer than Cobb. In a statement to the media Thursday afternoon, Cobb praised the electoral board for the work it has done through this process. They diligently followed secure procedures and verified and counted all ballots in certifying the election results, he said. I stand by this outcome. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bowers declined to answer whether he would accept the results of the recount. He also questioned the vote-counting process. ELECTION UPDATE: Roanoke City Electoral Board certified results for Mayor The city registrar was able to count 40,000 votes in a matter of hours, Bowers said. Yet the same-day voter registration routine or scheme or whatever you want to call it took six or seven days. Bowers also said he was worried that the Roanoke College Poll published just before the election discouraged some of his voters from turning out because of the large lead it projected for Cobb. The current margin of 0.15% falls well within the half-percent threshold that allows for a locality-funded recount. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Roanoke Circuit Court now has seven calendar days to hold a meeting to appoint the three judges who will preside over the process and determine when the recount will take place. WFXR will continue to follow this race as it moves through the recount process. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFXRtv. This is an adapted excerpt from the Nov. 21 episode of The ReidOut. On Thursday, President-elect Donald Trumps pick for attorney general, Matt Gaetz, announced he was withdrawing his name from consideration. [I]t is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition, Gaetz wrote on X. But lets be clear, Gaetz didnt drop out because he was a distraction; he dropped out because the votes werent there. The incoming administration couldnt convince enough Republican senators to back Gaetz. This abrupt withdrawal is a hugely embarrassing moment for Trump. The president-elect thought he had a mandate to nominate whomever he wanted and push them through, no matter what skeletons were in their closet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is Trumps first big failure since winning a second term, and it should be seen as such. Its also a failure of Vice President-elect JD Vance, who personally lobbied his Republican colleagues in the Senate on behalf of Gaetz. Clearly, he failed to convince enough of them to come around. Within hours of Gaetzs withdrawal, Trump named longtime ally and former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi as his new pick to lead the Justice Department. Bondi started as a relatively Jeb Bush-type Republican. As Floridas attorney general, she pursued the opioid crisis and led an unsuccessful challenge to the Affordable Care Act bread-and-butter Republican issues. Shes not somebody with a penchant for pursuing enemies like Gaetz, so it would be interesting to see if she pushes back against Trump. In 2017, Bondi was rumored to be in the running for a nomination as part of Trumps first Cabinet but, at the time, they were not certain she would get confirmed because of a controversy surrounding a donation Trump made to her campaign in 2013 shortly before she declined to join a lawsuit against the now-defunct Trump University. Overall, I would say Bondi brings the basic qualifications that Gaetz did not. She certainly could be the administrator of the Justice Department. But, over the next few weeks, well see how the politics, including that 2013 donation, play out. Allison Detzel contributed. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com Knoxville, Tenn. (WATE) Get ready to burn those Thanksgiving calories with guided hikes in many Tennessee State Parks. Several East Tennessee State Parks are offering guided hikes the day after Thanksgiving. The events promise guests will see beautiful scenery and learn about Tennessees rich history. Christmas parades, lights and parties: Things to do in East TN this holiday season Participating parks in East Tennessee: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Indian Mountain (Campbell County) After Thanksgiving Day Hike 2024 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Cumberland Trail (Rhea County) After Thanksgiving Hike: Stinging Fork Falls 9 a.m. Warriors Path (Kingsport, TN) Black Friday Railroad History Hike 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Frozen Head (Morgan County) Day After Thanksgiving Hike 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Panther Creek (Hamblen County) Day After Thanksgiving Hike 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Sycamore Shoals (Carter County) Day After Thanksgiving Hike 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Norris Dam (Anderson and Campbell Counties) Day After Thanksgiving Hike 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Cove Lake (Campbell County) Day After Thanksgiving Hike 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Harrison Bay (Hamilton County) Day After Thanksgiving Hike 2024 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Hiwassee Ocoee (Polk County) Day After Thanksgiving Hike @ Benton Falls 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Seven Islands (Knox County) Gobble Wobble After Thanksgiving Hike 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Fort Loudoun (Monroe County) Turkey Hike 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The full details for each hike can be found online. There are also hikes taking placed in Middle and West Tennessee state parks. The Restaurant at Cumberland Mountain State Park in Crossville is hosting a Thanksgiving buffet at lunch from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Several other state parks in Middle Tennessee and West Tennessee are offering Thanksgiving meals as well. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WATE 6 On Your Side. SPRINGFIELD, Mass (WWLP) Massachusetts leaders voice their outrage in the aftermath of a tragedy that killed a Springfield mother and her baby in Harford. Police identify suspect wanted in connection with Hartford shooting death of Springfield mother and baby They need to catch this individual, said Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno. On Tuesday, 20-year-old Jessiah Mercardo and her 4-month-old baby Messiah were shot and killed in Hartford. The Department of Children and Families told 22News the child was in foster care at the time of his death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When a child is placed in foster care, whether it is kinship or not, each case is unique as far as whether there are certain stipulations that need to be followed as to whether there can be contact between biological parent and the child, said Nicole Levy, Senior Associate Attorney at Lynch & Owens P.C. 22News spoke with State Senator John Velis about what the state legislature is hoping to learn from the investigation into the babys death. Somehow or another this child ended up with mom and the baby got killed. Someone needs to answer questions, said Senator Velis. Because of privacy reasons, DCF could not comment on how Messiahs mother was able to take him to Hartford on Tuesday, where they were both shot and killed. Why? Who? What? We need those answers and we, as lawmakers, we are going to demand those answers and hold them accountable, said Senator Velis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno was outraged by the suspects criminal history. First of all, this individual shouldnt have been on the streets with the record he has, the brazenness of what he did taking a young life and a babys life, I have no patience for that what-so-ever, said Mayor Sarno. Police are still warning that this suspect should be considered armed and dangerous. Morales is not yet in custody but on Thursday police were able to find the vehicle he allegedly used in the shooting, in Waterbury, Connecticut. Hartford police have said he still has access to several other vehicles. 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Scout Clean Energy has taken a major step toward building a controversial wind farm along the Horse Heaven Hills south of Kennewick. Scout, which is owned by a Canadian investment firm, announced Thursday it signed the site certification agreement for the Horse Heaven Clean Energy Center issued by the Washington Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC). Gov. Jay Inslee approved the project and signed the agreement in October. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The company plans to build possibly hundreds of wind turbines along a 24-mile stretch of the local ridgeline. The exact number is not yet set based on some restrictions laid out in the deal. Scout said signing the agreement will allow it to continue moving forward toward construction of the largest clean energy project in Washington state history. Scout Clean Energy praised Inslees leadership in a news release announcing it signed the agreement. This project represents a major step forward in the states clean energy transition, bringing sustainable power and economic benefits to communities throughout Washington, said Michael Rucker, founder and CEO of Scout in the release. We thank EFSEC for its work, Governor Inslee for his leadership, and look forward to breaking ground and making this vision a reality. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The move comes as opponents to the project in the Tri-Cities prepare to appeal Inslees decision. On Tuesday, Benton County commissioners voted unanimously to join Tri-Cities CARES, a nonprofit, to appeal the industrialization of the skyline south of the Tri-Cities. EFSEC initially called for significant reductions to protect endangered ferruginous hawks and sensitive cultural areas, but Inslee sent its recommendation back. He told EFSEC to prioritize the states pressing need for clean energy and reduce restrictions. Scout had proposed installing either up to 222 turbines about 500 feet tall or 147 turbines that are 670 feet tall, plus solar arrays and battery energy storage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The approved plan contains restrictions that could affect 50 of the 222 shorter turbines or 34 of the taller ones, depending on which plan Scout Clean Energy pursues. The number of turbines also will depend on whether Scout can find other spaces for turbines it planned in areas that EFSEC restricted in its second proposal to the governor and determinations yet to be made about whether some areas historically used by ferruginous hawks are no longer viable and could be used for turbines. The initial proposal boasted a capacity of up to 1,150 megawatts from a combination of wind, solar and battery energy storage. Lawsuits must be filed by Dec. 2 in Thurston County Superior Court before they can be heard by the Washington Supreme Court. The Yakama Nation also is eligible to appeal but has not announced whether it will. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Scout says the construction project will support 1,000 jobs and that the project will contribute more than $250 million in local taxes over its 35-year lifespan. The wind farm will be built with union labor following a 2022 agreement with Tri-Cities unions. Scout initially expected to secure regulatory approval through Benton County, but switched course to use the state process through the EFSEC council. More than 40 people signed up to comment on the project when Benton County held a town hall meeting on the project, with 80% speaking in opposition to the full proposal. Scout Clean Energy calls itself a national utility-scale renewable energy developer, owner and operator. It is based in Boulder, Colo., but is owned by Brookfield Asset Management of Canada. AI-generated media today is astonishingly high-quality and produces images and audio that are nearly indistinguishable from reality, and video isn't far behind. But with this progress comes a new wave of legal and ethical battles. Lawmakers are alarmed by deepfakessynthetic media that mimic realityfearing their potential to destroy reputations, especially in high-stakes election campaigns. Yet some of the new state deepfake laws raise serious First Amendment concerns. While "political misinformation" has become a focus of the Democratic Party in the past few years, Republicans also object to AI-assisted media deployed opportunistically to harm their candidates' reputations. Deepfake fears have sparked rare bipartisan action, with nearly one-third of states passing laws to regulate their use during elections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most laws targeting deepfakes stick to civil penalties, but at least Texas and Minnesota take it further, criminalizing synthetic media intended to "influence an election." Texas' law resembles a criminal defamation statute and violations can mean a year in jail. Minnesota's law is even harsher: simply "disseminating" a deepfakeresharing on social media might sufficecould land repeat offenders in prison for up to five years. Further, a government official or nominee guilty of disseminating a deepfake can be removed from office. From vague terms ("deepfake," "disseminate") to harsh criminal penalties, these laws clash with First Amendment protections, especially since they fail to exempt parodies or satire. Fortunately, in September, a state appellate court declared Texas' law facially unconstitutional. Regarding the overbreadth of the Texas law, the state court said, "Given that influencing elections is the essence of political speech, it is difficult to imagine what speech would not be included under the statute." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But even the state laws with civil liability have many of the same problems. It's worth examining California's new deepfake law, AB 2839, which bans the distribution of altered political media that could mislead a "reasonable person," provided it's done "with malice." The law sweeps broadly to include popular political content. California Governor Newsom has made clear, for instance, that prohibited media include commonplace memes and edited media. California's law requires the creators of parodies or satire to label their media as such. There are carve-outs for broadcasters and newspapers but no express carve-outs for social media companies. Social media firms "distribute" political memes and deepfakes, so it appears they could be liable for damages. A controversial and shocking twist in AB 2839 is its "bounty hunter" provision, allowing any "recipient of materially deceptive content" to sue "the person, committee, or other entity" that distributed the content. The winning party also wins attorneys fees, so this law creates a potential litigation frenzy over digital content. The California law essentially invites millions of social media users to sue people who create political memes and edited videos. Even someone just sharing a post on social media could be liable because "distribution" is left undefined. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Like the Minnesota and Texas laws, the California law has serious First Amendment problems. It's apparently designed to function as a prior restraint for political online media. As one nonprofit official who helped draft the law told TechCrunch: The real goal is actually neither the damages nor the injunctive relief. It's just to have people not do it in the first place. That actually would be the best outcometo just have these deepfakes not fraudulently impact our elections. AB 2839 was signed and went into effect in September. Christopher Kohls, the conservative meme creator whose edited satirical video was singled out by Governor Newsom, sued to block the law. In early October a federal judge enjoined enforcement of almost all of the meme bounty hunter law, in the case Kohls v. Bonta. Some of these laws may survive, particularly if they only require clear and simple disclosures. The Minnesota and Texas laws, however, still raise serious First Amendment concerns because they criminalize election-related content. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the words of a federal judge, these deepfake laws often act "as a hammer instead of a scalpel," chilling far too much speech. The post Deepfake Crackdowns Threaten Free Speech appeared first on Reason.com. (Bloomberg) -- Polands development bank is switching priorities to bankrolling defense spending as the country ramps up military outlays amid an escalating war in neighboring Ukraine. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego, which has sold debt to finance everything from pandemic aid to benefits for Ukrainian refugees, seeks to boost the specialized defense fund it manages to as much as 76 billion zloty ($18.5 billion) next year, Chief Executive Officer Miroslaw Czekaj said. Thats equivalent to 40% of the countrys planned military outlays for 2025. Poland intends to spend 4.7% of economic output on defense in 2025 a record high and roughly twice as much as in 2022 as the conflict across its eastern border rages on and Donald Trump returns to the White House after calling on NATO members to bolster their defense budgets. Issuance by BGK, which sells state-guaranteed bonds, has an outsized influence on the Polish government debt market. The quasi-sovereign has sold 257 billion zloty in debt over the past five years, including its first foreign-currency bonds dedicated to fund military spending last year. Czekaj declined to detail the scale of BGKs bond sale plans for next year, telling Bloomberg that issuance largely hinges on the decisions of the government. Foreign financing will help the bank to ramp up the Armed Forces Support Fund next year, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Countries that supply Poland with military hardware, such as the US and South Korea, will provide a majority of the financing, according to Czekaj. This will create an external financing component for the dedicated military fund managed by BGK, and reduce the lenders reliance on bond sales, according to the CEO. Funding from bond sales is only supplementary, Czekaj, a former treasurer of the city of Warsaw, told Bloomberg News. Nobody should expect we will flood market with new issuances. Meanwhile, bond sales for BGKs Covid relief program are set to drop to 26 billion zloty next year from more than 50 billion zloty expected in 2024, he said. Successive administrations have borrowed through the quasi-sovereign issuer instead of directly by the government to finance additional spending without amending the budget. Such moves come at a cost: less liquid BGK notes demand a yield premium over government debt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement BGK remains in close contact with the Finance Ministry over the lenders issuance plans to ensure a smooth financing environment for the government as well as the quasi-sovereign, Czekaj said. Debt is issued after BGK and the Ministry of Finance agree on the terms of such securities, so that their characteristics, timing and markets are consistent with the governments debt management policy, the CEO said. The debut sale of BGKs defense-purposed bonds in October last year showed demand from leading US financial institutions as well as European investors, Czekaj said. Only a minority of potential buyers raised issues related to ESG values, according to CEO, while most showed growing understanding that security needs funding. Yields on Polish government bonds have increased in past months due to looser budget policy as well as worsening sentiment to emerging-market debt. The extra yield investors demand to hold BGKs dollar-denominated notes issued as part of its Armed Forces Support Fund and due in 2028 over the sovereigns dollar bonds of similar length has averaged 40 basis points since the lenders notes were sold last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. The popular MSNBC chat show Morning Joe is the subject of a ridiculous new uproar. Last week the shows co-hosts, Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski, traveled to Mar-a-Lago to meet privately with President-elect Donald Trump. Scarborough and Brzezinski stand accused of hypocrisy because theyve been very critical of Trump over the years, calling him a dangerous fascist, comparing him to Hitler, and making various other pointed criticisms. Now, their appalled detractors say, theyre bending the knee, normalizing Trump, playing the access game, et cetera. So many disgusted viewers changed channels that viewership was down 12 percent Tuesday. Look, I hold no brief for Scarborough or Brzezinski. Ive appeared on Morning Joe once or twice, but not recently, and I dont pine to be asked back. I dont watch Morning Joe because my late first wife and I tuned out public affairs television in 1998 amid blanket coverage of President Bill Clintons dalliance with Monica Lewinsky. Our reasons werent partisan, but parental: Watching the news created an unacceptable risk that wed have to explain what a blow job was to our very young children. Later, I opted against bringing television journalism back into my life because watching video ate too much time. You cant skim it! To my mind, the World Wide Web rendered TV news obsolete. My cell phone is far superior for breaking news because when theres new information it pings me and when there isnt it leaves me aloneit doesnt fill dead air with blather. Besides, any must-see video will turn up online, often with more thoughtful analysis. Now that Ive persuaded you not to watch cable news, allow me to defend two of its best-known practitioners. Scarborough and Brzezinski make their living as political journalists. Political journalism is a job that requires you to talk to creeps. Not every politician is a creep, of course, nor even most. But creeps do get elected or appointed to political office with some frequency, most especially nowadays, and its no use pretending they arent there. Indeed, creeps often make excellent sources because the same weak impulse control that makes them creeps may cause them to blurt out something newsworthy. Everybody who has ever been a reporter is well aware that the job requires you to spelunk regularly into unsavory caverns. Indeed, interviewing evil people is much more interesting than interviewing saintly ones. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im particularly taken aback that people are going on Twitter to condemn Morning Joe for not boycotting Trump. Such ass kissers, said Neo Jane. And this is why Im done with MSNBC, added Waltb31. The news organization NEVER cared about American democracy. Only ratings through appeasement. So tell me this, Neo Jane and Waltb31: If you object so strongly to legitimizing Trump, why are you still loitering in Elon Musks MAGA cesspool? Did Scarborough and Brzezinski grovel at their private meeting? Almost certainly they did; Trump is famous for demanding it. But so what? If you think reporters dont kiss sources asses to acquire access youre a fool. Noble as it may sound, nobody ever scored an interview by saying, I plan to confront John Doe about his contemptible lies. I mentioned my first wife. She was a notoriously lethal writer of political profiles, but, working from home, if she was trying to seduce someone into granting an interview shed order me out of the room. I dont want you judging me for being too good at this, shed say. Get lost. We hear much tut-tutting about access journalism on social media, as if mere access to powerful people were inherently corrupting. The critics are invariably people who dont break news. Certainly you can take the access game too far, but only if your endearments pollute your work product. Any interview that doesnt hold the subject accountable is bad journalism, period. So is a beat sweetener, the term of art for a flattering profile intended to elicit future scoops. When a reporter values his sources more highly than his readers, its time to hang it up. But to condemn Scarborough and Brzezinski merely for taking a meeting with Trump jumps the gun. If in the future Morning Joe airs a fawning interview with Trump, or if the hosts butter him up on air, therell be ample justification to cry foul. Several critics point out that the pair were guilty of both offenses when Trump ran in 2016. Eric Wemple of The Washington Post recalled much friendly chuckling with Trump that year in cozy Morning Joe interviews. Writing in The Nation, Chris Lehmann points out that after the second presidential debate, which Hillary Clinton plainly won, Brzezinski babbled that Trump rocked the political world. Trump even thanked the team on Twitter for all of your nice words and comments on the debate. Should Scarborough or Brzezinski revert to such sycophantic nonsense, then theyll deserve every bit of the scorn theyre receiving now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But all they did was meet with the guy! That isnt capitulation; its what they get paid to do. In the very unlikely event Trump were to ask me to fly down to Mar-a-Lago, do you honestly think, dear reader, that Id refuse? My boss would fire me if I did. Citing two sources, CNN reported this week that Scarborough and Brzezinski visited Mar-a-Lago because they were credibly concerned that they could face governmental and legal harassment from the incoming Trump administration. No kidding. Every Trump critic shares that fearand The Verges editor, Nilay Patel, opined in a recent interview that they should take steps now to protect themselves. But I doubt self-protection was Scarborough and Brzezinskis primary motive, because talking to presidents (and presidents-elect) is their job. Uh, you said he was Hitler, Jon Stewart stated triumphantly on The Daily Show. Perhaps hes unacquainted with the newspaper columnist Dorothy Thompson (18931961). Thompson was a trailblazer in many waysKatharine Hepburn played a character based on her in the 1942 comedy Woman of the Yearand among these was that she was the first American journalist to interview Adolf Hitler. The interview took place in December 1931 at the Hotel Kaiserhof opposite the Reich Chancellery in Berlin. Hitler was a year away from becoming chancellor but already leader of a rapidly growing Nazi Party. Thompson didnt tell Hitler in advance that shed read Mein Kampf and found it repulsive. Indeed, she agreed to submit her questions in advance, which is never ideal. After she published her interview (in a 1932 book titled I Saw Hitler!) Thompson got kicked out of the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement History faults Thompson for concluding from her visit that Hitler was too obviously deranged (the very prototype of the Little Man) ever to amass serious power. But her access hardly corrupted her; the book did not flinch from expressing utter contempt. Hitler didnt have to invent the ingenious idea of appealing to an old racial prejudice, she wrote. He found it, in his own mind and soul. Hitler turned out to be kind of a lousy interview. This passage may strike a familiar note: The interview was difficult, because one cannot carry on a conversation with Adolf Hitler. He speaks always, as though he were addressing a mass meeting. In every question he seeks for a theme that will set him off. Then his eyes focus on some far corner of the room. Yet as with Trump today, the exercise was worthwhile because the on-deck Fuhrers boasts warranted serious attention from a complacent world. I will get into power legally, Hitler told Thompson. I will abolish this parliament and the Weimar constitution afterward. I will found an authority-state, from the lowest cell to the highest instance; everywhere there will responsibility and authority above, discipline and obedience below. Hitler might as well have added, I am your retribution. To be clear, Im not putting the Morning Joe hosts on a plane with Dorothy Thompson. Theyre chat show hosts, not shoe-leather, globe-trotting correspondents. Nor am I saying, despite drawing some parallels, that Trump is Hitlers doppelganger. (That role already belongs to Kaiser Wilhelm II.) Im merely pointing out that if it wasnt normalizing for one American journalist to talk to Adolf Hitler, then it shouldnt be normalizing for two American journalists to talk to Donald Trump. Yes, this monster has been elected president. Yes, thats terrifying and awful. But please redirect your anger in a more constructive direction. MSNBC is not our problem. The defense has rested its case in the trial of Daniel Penny, the former Marine who held Jordan Neely in a fatal chokehold on the New York City subway last year, after four days of witness testimony. Neelys cause of death became the focal point of the defenses case in Pennys manslaughter trial, with a forensic pathologist challenging the prosecutions argument that Neely died from the former Marines chokehold. The homeless New Yorker died in May 2023 after an encounter with 26-year-old Penny on the New York City subway. The case has polarized city residents, while raising the broader question of when its appropriate for a citizen to kill another citizen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Penny placed 30-year-old Neely in a chokehold after he began shouting at train passengers that he was hungry and thirsty and didnt care whether he died. Penny, who is White, forced Neely, who is Black, to the train floor and restrained him in what prosecutors say became a deadly chokehold. A medical examiner ruled Neelys death a homicide. Prosecutors are not trying to prove that Penny intentionally tried to kill Neely. Instead, they allege he went way too far by holding Neelys neck for about six minutes, violating law and human decency. Penny told NYPD detectives he put a man in a chokehold to try to restrain him until police arrived and did not mean to hurt or kill him, according to a video played in court. During the first days of defense proceedings, Pennys attorneys brought character witnesses to the stand who testified to his reputation. In the following days, the defense turned toward Neelys medical history and pointedly disputed the medical examiners determination of the cause of death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following closing arguments on December 2, a jury of 12 Manhattanites will decide Pennys fate. He faces one count each of second-degree manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide. Defense first focused on Pennys character Pennys attorneys introduced six character witnesses during the first two days of their presentation, including family members and men he served with in the US Marines. Penny served four years in the Marines. He was a green belt in the Marine Corps martial arts program, learning several blood chokes designed to cut off blood flow to the brain and render someone unconscious, his martial arts instructor Joseph Caballer had testified for the prosecution. A childhood friend said Penny was known for being kind, too kind. A man who served with him in the same battalion said he had a reputation for being above reproach, and that as Marines they were taught to value life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The defense then turned to Neely and his mental health history. A medical expert for the defense, forensic psychiatrist Dr. Alexander Sasha Bardey, testified Neely was likely experiencing schizophrenic psychosis when he boarded the subway car last year. Bardey did not meet or examine Neely. A 50-page extraction of Neelys medical history, going back six years, showed the homeless mans multiple interactions with the citys health system throughout more than a dozen hospitalizations. In some instances, Neely requested medicine for his psychosis. In others, he described being hungry and cold. Medical professionals also reported Neely, sometimes disheveled and unclean, reported hearing voices and had delusions of grandeur. He also reported being afraid that people wanted to attack him because they were jealous of him. The records showed that during some hospital stays, Neely described sadness due to a lack of support and family. Hospital staff wrote in their reports that Neely said he was depressed about being homeless. His hospitalizations were sometimes due to his abuse of K2, the records showed. Expert witness challenges medical examiner on autopsy In a marked counter to the official medical examiners ruling, a forensic pathologist for the defense testified Pennys chokehold did not cause Neelys death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is not a chokehold death, Dr. Satish Chundru told the jury. Neelys death was not consistent with a chokehold because he never lost consciousness before dying, he testified, saying instead Neely died of a combination of factors including his sickle cell trait, schizophrenia, the struggle and restraint by Penny and K2 intoxication. Dr. Cynthia Harris, a New York City medical examiner who performed Neelys autopsy, sat in the gallery as Chundru frequently knocked her methods and conclusions that she testified to last week. Harris testified for the prosecution that she had no doubt Neely died from neck compression. While toxicology found the presence of K2 in Neelys system, Harris testified she did not think the stimulant drug contributed to his death. A death related to the synthetic cannabinoid is typically linked to a cardiac event Neely did not experience in his final moments, Harris testified. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She acknowledged she made the determination before toxicology results were in, but said she did not feel it was necessary to wait it would not have changed her mind if he had enough fentanyl in his system to put down an elephant, Harris said. In a lengthy cross-examination, the prosecution spent hours aiming to discredit Chundrus conclusion that Neelys sickling crisis was largely to blame for his death. Chundru said Neely was likely in a sickling crisis before Penny put him in a chokehold. He testified the city medical examiner missed signs of previous sickling in Neelys spleen revealed in the autopsy he said further supports his finding. Assistant District Attorney Dafna Yoran challenged Chundru saying someone in a sickling crisis would likely appear lethargic and short of breath, unlike Neelys loud and aggressive behavior testified to by subway witnesses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The jury heard that a medical examiner ruled Neelys death a homicide, but siding with the defense, Judge Maxwell Wiley instructed the jury that homicide as it is defined by a medical examiner is not a conclusion that a crime was committed you make that conclusion or it is made in a courtroom. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- Brunei and Singapore signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on processed beef products export, local media reported on Friday. According to the local daily Borneo Bulletin, the cooperation will pave the way for Brunei's first commercial-scale export of processed beef products to Singapore, reinforcing food security and strengthening economic ties. The processed beef exports are set to begin in the first quarter of 2025, underscoring Brunei's dedication to enhancing its global competitiveness and food security by meeting the international quality standards, the Borneo Bulletin reported. Delaware's Office of Defense Service represents people who can't afford an attorney in more than 20,000 criminal matters every year, working in court on behalf of some 85% of justice-involved people in the state. Their clients often lack stable necessities like housing, employment prospects, transportation and various treatment services. Research has shown that people who have such necessities are more likely to avoid legal issues in the future. As part of a growing movement to reduce America's globally outsized reliance on locking people up, Delaware's public defender has been at the forefront of helping their clients find those basic necessities along with providing them legal defense in court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One way they do this is through a collaboration with Partners for Justice, a national nonprofit that provides advocates who work with public defenders' clients to connect them to available services in areas like housing, employment and health care. Advocates also help clients complete court-ordered programming and provide mitigation information to defense teams. Delaware was one of two pilot programs partnering with the nonprofit in 2018 in a model that has spread across the country in 40 offices across 16 states. Dawn Williams is the director of training and development at Delaware's Office of Defense Service. She, along with Maria Whiting, has helped implement this program here. Dawn Williams Question: How has the role of the public defender changed through the years? Answer: Public defense has evolved tremendously over the years. Traditionally, it is about protecting the fundamental legal rights of your clients, but it's grown beyond that to ask, how do we better the whole person? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We do that by trying to address how someone's involvement in the legal system will impact them when they leave the courtroom. It means looking at them as a person, helping them find stability and helping with some of the ancillary issues that might have contributed to their legal system involvement. What is your role in this area? Myself and my colleague (Maria Whiting) supervise client advocates, which are a unit of six professionals that are placed in our office through Partners for Justice. Some of that is helping with the hands-on work the advocates are doing. Some of that is trying to develop the program to better serve clients like building connections with community services and implementing in Delaware things that are working in other places. What does the hands-on work actually look like? Advocates meet with the person and talk to them about their needs and the resources they may benefit from. We are client-led. So we talk to them about their priorities. Many people don't know they are eligible for different kinds of help. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It can be wide-ranging. They may express an interest in a GED program. So the advocates will talk to them about what those options are and how to achieve that and then follow up with them. That's one example but it can range from helping find people community service options if that is ordered by the court, helping them get basic but crucial documents, writing a resume and finding job opportunities. Housing is a hard one because there are limited resources but we will try to connect them to whatever resources are there. People's needs are different so it looks very different depending on the situation. Sometimes advocates meet with them about one thing and it turns into five things. The goal is to empower people. Helping the unhoused: 'It's a revolving door.' How Delaware, nonprofits combat a rising homeless population Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Feed our neighbors: Where to give and get a free turkey in Delaware for Thanksgiving in 2024 How do you feel this work contributes to the larger well-being of society? If someone is working, reconnected with their family, if their housing is stable and they are doing all of those things, that is good for the community. People completing their education, getting work, those are things that give people respect in themselves a sense of value and success. That is what we should want for anybody as part of a community. Why is this work gratifying to you personally? I get to work with immensely talented people, lawyers and non-lawyers. It is truly a team of people that make it all work to the benefit of every person that we have a privilege to represent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And I genuinely love helping people. Even when a client says, "You know, you told me this probably wasn't going to be the outcome we wanted, but you fought so hard for me. Thank you." That's huge. I am a firm believer in pay it forward. I feel like I've had a pretty good gig and a pretty good life and if I can help in a little way, I know it sounds cliche, but I can go to bed at night a happy person. This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: A growing model for helping justice-involved individuals in Delaware AUSTIN (KXAN) Delta Air Lines will launch nonstop flights between Austin and Jacksonville in May 2025, the airline announced Friday. The new route will be Deltas seventh new nonstop service from AUS in 2025. Once-daily flights will begin May 7 and will be operated by SkyWest Airlines as Delta Connection. Flights will leave Austin at 8:55 a.m. and arrive in Jacksonville at 12:35 p.m. local time. Return flights will leave Jacksonville at 1:15 p.m. and arrive in Austin at 3 p.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whether customers are travelling for business or leisure, they will greatly benefit from yet another convenient direct flight through Delta from Austin, a Delta spokesperson told KXAN. Delta is committed to connecting Austin to more destinations, offering customers greater convenience and choice as the city continues to grow. AUS Data Hub: Passenger totals, busiest months and new flights in 2024 and 2025 Jacksonville is currently not served by any other airline from Austin, after American Airlines canceled its route in January. AUS-JAX is the most in-demand domestic route that currently does not have direct flights, according to a monthly air service report presented to the Austin Airport Advisory Commission. In addition to the Jacksonville route, Delta will launch several other new nonstop flights next year. Service to New Orleans will begin in February, while flights to Panama City, Florida, begin in March. Flights to Indianapolis and Memphis will launch in May, then service to San Francisco and Tampa begins in June. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Delta Air Lines to launch five more new nonstop routes from Austin in 2025 Delta is currently the third-largest airline at AUS in terms of passenger traffic, but that is forecast to change next year, after American cut more than 30 routes in late 2023 and 2024. Based on the schedules that theyve loaded, we do expect Delta will become the second-largest carrier in the first half of 2025. Southwest remains number one, and American will fall to number three, Jason Alexander, AUS deputy chief of airport affairs, said in the advisory commission meeting last week. Southwest and Frontier Airlines have also announced new routes from Austin in 2025. Southwest will fly to Milwaukee and Reno beginning March 6, while Frontier will fly to Cincinnati and Phoenix starting March 7. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tickets for Deltas new Jacksonville route go on sale Saturday. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. JAMESTOWN, R.I. (WPRI) On an unseasonably warm October day, the John H. Chafee pulled away from the docks of Fort Wetherill to conduct a survey of the marine life that call Narragansett Bay home. Known as trawl fishing, scientists roll out a large net in the water, drag it along the ocean floor and see what comes up. Christopher Parkins, the principal biologist of the trawl survey for the R.I. Department of Environmental Management (DEM), said state regulators have been using trawl fishing data since 1979 to decide which marine life can be caught and which need to be protected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But since Parkins started in 2016, he said the data has shown that fish are coming earlier and staying longer because of rising temperatures brought on by climate change. Were seeing things like menhaden that would leave in the wintertime, we see them 12 months a year now, he said. Parkins also said climate change has been pushing out other species that prefer the cold, like cod and lobster. Looking at things like lobster, they kind of have been a loser of climate change, he said. They used to be all over Narragansett Bay. Theyre still here, but for the most part, theyre in deeper water. Theyre offshore. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a sentiment shared by Narragansett Bay Lobsters, which told Target 12 it is now largely catching lobsters roughly 10 miles off the coast. Each time the trawl survey is conducted, biologists count, sort, weigh and measure the creatures they pull up. The marine life is then released back into the water. Target 12 saw the net pull up scup, squid and butterfish out of the bay, all of which Parkins said are common. But another fish that showed up is another sign of climate change, according to Parkins. Spot is one of the ones were starting to see more of, he said. Thats more of a mid-Atlantic species. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Scott Olszewski, chief of the DEMs Division of Marine Fisheries, said these monthly surveys are done even in frigid temperatures. He said the data is crucial in determining fishing regulations. Tautog collected during the trawling survey. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We manage for sustainable use so that everybody has the opportunity [to fish], he said. Whether they want to go and purchase seafood or they want to catch it on their own. Olszewski said regulations have shown results in protecting species, like a large black fish known as a tautog. He explained that limiting fishing during their breeding season has boosted the population. They know that Rhode Island has a good tautog fishery this time of year, he said. A lot of these things are really good economic drivers for the state. DONT MISS: New Jersey man catches record-breaking tautog in Newport Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the October survey, the vessel also picked up some trash, including a PVC pipe, a heart-shaped Mylar balloon and a lobster trap. Sometimes well get ghost gear, sometimes well get pieces of plastic, Parkins said. That piece of PVC? It was a little abnormal. But it depends, you really never know what youre going to get. In fact, Parkins said the oddities the net pulls up are one of the best parts of the trawl survey. He said hes seen everything from a drone to fish from the Gulf of Mexico. We had a red snapper last week, he said. In fact, during the October trawl survey Target 12 took part in, a red big eye was pulled from Narragansett Bay, a species Parkins said is tropical. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, Parkins said this fishs presence is not a sign of climate change. Red eye collected during the trawling survey. Thats another one of those tropical species that we dont see a lot of, but they come later in the summer when the water warms up, he said. During this particular survey, he said there were fewer fish than they would normally see in the summer, which is a sign that the marine life are heading out for the winter. Its really about the health of Narragansett Bay, DEM Director Terry Gray said. It shows you really whats under the water here. Kate Wilkinson (kwilkinson@wpri.com) is a Target 12 investigative reporter for 12 News. Connect with her on Twitter and Facebook. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Ocean, Bay & Beach 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 WPRI.com. LEXINGTON, Ky. (FOX 56) In the wake of President Donald Trumps re-election, Planned Parenthood has seen a surge in demand for long-acting and permanent birth control options. Though Rebecca Gibron, the CEO of Planned Parenthood in Kentucky, said back in 2022, following the overturn of Roe v. Wade, a similar increase in demand for contraceptives was seen. I think what we are seeing today is very similar to when the Dobbs decision came out of patients being very fearful of their ability to really control their private medical decisions and being able to access the care that they need to make the decisions that are best for their life, their circumstance, and their family, said Gibron. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, just two years later, calls for IUDs and implants are rising across health centers in our region. But its not just women; theyve also seen an increase in calls for men seeking vasectomies. Whether its an act of love for their partner or whether its them just being more responsible and aggressive in seeking permanent contraception, I think it is really indicative of the national climate right now. Gibron said that compared to the two days after the election this year and the last election year, they have seen a 1,000% increase in patients seeking long-acting, reversible contraceptives She said this uptick reflects an intensified concern among patients over preserving their reproductive choices as political uncertainties grow. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A lot of phone calls of patients worried about: Can they even access birth control, or will they even be able to access birth control under a Trump administration, let alone needing access to abortion care? Corbin man accused of cashing nearly $14K in fraudulent checks Gibron added that with phones ringing off the hook and questions left without answers, she said Planned Parenthood will never stop prioritizing patients needs. Planned Parenthood will never stop fighting to restore access for people in Kentucky to have full bodily autonomy and the ability to make their own private medical decisions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News. SPRINGFIELD In the days after former President Donald Trump was reelected, Illinois Democrats raised alarms about the ramifications of his second term and said they would consider whether the state needs to strengthen any of its progressive laws on reproductive rights and other issues that might be threatened by an unfriendly White House. But the Democratic-led Illinois General Assembly adjourned its final session of the year without taking any meaningful steps in that direction, with some lawmakers saying more time is needed to consider what might be done. Republicans countered by accusing Democrats of considering legislation based only on assumptions about potential actions by the Trump administration. During their five-day fall veto session legislators left town a day early in the first week lawmakers did pass a measure to phase out a subminimum wage for people with disabilities, and moved forward on another aimed at making it easier for the states child welfare system to have a childs family member serve as their legal guardian. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some bigger issues were pushed into next year, among them legislation adjusting the states pension system and a proposal to consolidate the Chicago areas transit agencies. Following a lame duck session scheduled for Jan. 2-7, a new General Assembly will be seated on Jan. 8, and after that Gov. JB Pritzker and lawmakers will also need to confront a projected budget shortfall of nearly $3.2 billion for next years state budget. Pritzker last week announced he was part of an initiative called Governors Safeguarding Democracy with Colorado Gov. Jared Polis to leverage states rights against threats following Trumps reelection. But Pritzker didnt go the route of California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who directly asked his states general assembly to address Trumps election in a special legislative session next month. Illinois Democratic lawmakers said figuring out exactly what to do will take some time, and that the just-completed session simply provided an opportunity to get discussions started. So many people that we legislators represent, including ourselves, have so much anxiety about changes to come due to the incoming administration and we dont know immediately what we can do in the state legislative arena, but we are already listening, talking about it and planning for it, said Rep. Lindsey LaPointe, a Democrat from Chicagos Northwest Side. Those are complicated issues and once we start putting stuff on paper and talking about it publicly, we have to get it right. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some of the issues being explored are in the areas of environmental protections, immigration and health care access, along with abortion, LGBTQ+ and workers rights. State Rep. Bob Morgan, a Democrat from Deerfield, believes he and his colleagues will be working on issues that address preemptive, proactive protections for Illinoisans. Morgan, who has a special interest in gun safety issues following a deadly mass shooting in his district at the 2022 Fourth of July parade in Highland Park, questioned whether President Joe Bidens Office of Gun Violence Prevention would be on the chopping block and how that would affect Illinois. When we start talking about policy to keep people safe, it really puts the pressure on states like Illinois to really figure out what can we do to reduce gun violence, and the opportunity to rely on the federal government will no longer be there, Morgan said. Morgan was a main sponsor of Illinois sweeping gun ban that took effect in January 2023, but earlier this month was ruled unconstitutional by a federal judge who was appointed to the bench during Trumps first term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement House Republican leader Tony McCombie, who has been critical of the Democratic call for a legislative response to Trumps approaching presidency, said Thursday she was against having a lame duck session if the Democrats dont intend to pass any meaningful measures. We do not need more time for out-of-touch Democrats to dream up harmful legislation, said McCombie, of Savanna. We need bipartisan legislation that focuses on the issues Illinois families care about most. Republican Rep. Charlie Meier said Democrats shouldnt be changing laws or passing laws just because Americas doing what America does by electing a new president. Theyre going to try to think what he might do before he even does it to create another law on the Illinois citizens that we may not need, said Meier, of Okawville. We are a state that has written so many laws, so many rules, that we are about the worst in unemployment in the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Among the measures lawmakers did move to Pritzkers desk during the brief session was a heavily debated bill to phase out subminimum wage for disabled workers over the next five years. Federal law allows some employers to pay disabled workers less than minimum wage. In Illinois, some disabled workers are paid less than a dollar an hour, according to the bills advocates. Erin Compton, a student who identified as having an intellectual disability, testified in favor of the bill in committee, saying she has held several jobs including in research and as a ticket scanner for the Cubs. Some people say that having a job isnt for me, because Im not smart enough or good enough to work, but I was given opportunities to work in the community and have to have a fair wage, Compton said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pritzker praised the legislation, calling it an unprecedented, crucial leap forward for disabled people to earn a fair wage. Far too often, people with disabilities still endure barriers to employment and discrimination in the workplace, he said in a statement. Many are paid subminimum wages that devalue their contributions and diminish their likelihood to secure meaningful work and participate in other life-enhancing activities. While the bill passed with bipartisan support, opponents including Republican Sen. Chapin Rose of Mahomet warned it could lead to a loss of opportunities for some disabled people. Another measure that has bipartisan support provides additional incentives for relatives of children in the care of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services to maintain a home for the youths as an alternative to the children being placed in foster care with nonfamily members. It passed with no opposition in the Senate on Thursday after passing 113-0 in the House last spring. But because of an amendment that was attached to the bill by the Senate, it has to go back to the House for what will likely be the bills final vote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The legislation requires DCFS to seek federal funding to start a kinship navigator program to assist relatives who are caregivers with the agency and increase financial support to those relatives. According to the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois, which pushed for the measure, more than 10,000 children in DCFS care live with relatives, but over 60% of these caregivers are denied the foster care benefits necessary to care for a youth being placed in their household because state law requires them to meet complex standards that were put in place decades ago. Current licensing procedures create unnecessary roadblocks to financial assistance for relatives serving as caregivers, Sen. Mattie Hunter, a Chicago Democrat who was a chief sponsor of the measure, said in a statement. Research shows children are better off when they can maintain connections to their families and traditions. We need to provide these families with the support they need to make this possible. The veto session was also an opportunity for lobbyists, unions and other advocates to make last-minute pushes to get their bill proposals on lawmakers agendas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On the second day of the veto session, thousands descended on the state Capitol for a rally highlighting their concerns over changes made to Illinois beleaguered pension system 13 years ago. Workers hired after Jan. 1, 2011, were placed into a Tier 2 system that offered reduced benefits compared with other employees hired before that date. The overall goal of creating the Tier 2 plan was to shrink a pension debt that now runs to about $141 billion. But benefits paid out under the Tier 2 system at some point wont equal to what Social Security would provide to those employees, a violation of a federal safe harbor law. This would require Illinois to pay large sums in Social Security taxes instead of operating its own pension system which, while still costly, allows the state more flexibility. At the rally, proponents cheered and bellowed chants calling for equality in the states pension system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are union people. We believe people doing the same job, a fair days work, deserve a fair days pay, whether thats in your paycheck, your benefits or your retirement security in a pension, Pat Devaney, secretary-treasurer of the Illinois AFL-CIO, said to the crowd. So what happened over the years? Politicians, state governments, local governments came up with schemes to underfund the pensions, take pension holidays, use other gimmicks to cause stress in the system. The states perennial pension problems are among several budgetary matters that will likely be taken up in the coming months by the legislature, along with how to deal with a $730 million fiscal cliff for Chicago-area public transit once federal pandemic aid dries up in early 2026 and whether to set aside more state funding for Chicagos public school system. Other unresolved issues include gun safety measures that Democrats havent been able to bring over the finish line. Legislation often referred to as Karinas Bill, named after Chicago resident Karina Gonzalez, who, along with her 15-year-old daughter, was shot and killed by her husband last year, would require police to remove guns from people who have orders of protection against them, clarifying when and how authorities can confiscate such firearms. As it stands, firearms arent always taken from people in those situations even if the firearm owners identification card is revoked. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Illinois lawmakers could weigh a proposal to create a statewide office to help under-resourced public defenders. One of the proposals goals is to address the lack of public defense resources in rural areas, many of which dont even have a public defenders office. The measure also seeks to address disparities in the resources allotted to county prosecutors and public defenders. For example, Cook Countys 2024 budget provided about $102 million for its public defenders office, and about $205 million for its states attorneys office. Other unresolved issues range from whether to allow all dispensaries to sell medical cannabis to legalizing medical aid in dying, often referred to as physician-assisted suicide or medically assisted death. This proposal would give mentally competent, terminally ill adults the right to choose to end their lives by allowing these patients the right to access life-ending prescription medication. Democrats have a golden opportunity to lower drug prices again before the next Congress begins on Jan. 3. Democrats and Republicans alike support two bills that'd rein in pharmacy benefit managers the gigantic and secretive "pharmaceutical middlemen who squeeze small pharmacies' profits and raise costs for consumers," as Vice President Kamala Harris described them during the campaign. If congressional leaders bring the bills up for a vote during the post-election lame duck session, they'll almost certainly pass and thus save Americans billions of dollars at the pharmacy. Americans of all political stripes want lawmakers to rein in PBMs, who are inflating prescription drug costs at patients' expense. One recent poll conducted by Morning Consult found that over two-thirds of registered voters think Congress should consider passing PBM reform legislation before the end of the year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It's no mystery why so many Americans feel this way. Currently, around one in four adults struggle to afford their prescribed medicine, while about three in ten don't adhere to prescriptions due to cost, according to the health policy research group KFF. Pharmacy benefit managers perform several tasks within the health care industry. They negotiate drug prices with manufacturers on behalf of insurers, process prescription claims, and manage formularies insurers' lists of covered drugs. But somewhere along the way, the companies realized they could ring up steep profits at the expense of patients. PBMs decide which medicines get covered by insurance plans, and they use that gatekeeping power to extract massive discounts from drug manufacturers. The PBMs pocket a percentage of those savings as income. This gives them a warped incentive to put the most expensive medicines on formularies, with little regard for cheaper alternatives. The higher a drug's nominal "list" price, the bigger the discount, and the more the PBM makes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And the rest of the savings from PBM negotiations generally aren't passed on to patients at the pharmacy. In fact, insurance companies typically set coinsurance and copay amounts based on a drug's original list price, not the negotiated price. According to a 2022 report from the University of Southern California, patients pay up to 20% more for generic drugs than they would if they got to benefit from PBM savings. Want more health and science stories in your inbox? Subscribe to Salon's weekly newsletter Lab Notes. In July, the Federal Trade Commission published an investigation into the sector, in which it reported that a "vertically integrated and concentrated market structure has allowed PBMs to profit at the expense of patients and independent pharmacists." That "market structure" is the result of big insurers, PBMs, and pharmacies teaming up by means of mergers and acquisitions to control the industry. Each conglomerate favors its own pharmacies, which pushes smaller ones out of the market. These tactics helped shutter nearly 2,200 pharmacies between December 2017 and December 2020, leaving dozens of communities, many of them rural, with limited access to medication. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fed up with this behavior, lawmakers are now proposing common-sense reforms. One bill would eliminate the perverse incentive for PBMs to put more expensive drugs on formularies by delinking PBM compensation from the list price for drugs. Instead of earning a percentage of a drug's list price, the middlemen would receive a flat fee. Another legislative proposal would make sure that any savings negotiated by PBMs are passed on to patients at the pharmacy counter. This bill would require that patients pay coinsurance rates based on a drug's negotiated, discounted price, rather than on its full list price. The proposal would cut out-of-pocket costs for Medicare Part D patients with asthma and congestive heart failure. These two strategies delinking and sharing the savings would achieve the ultimate goal of cutting patients' out-of-pocket costs. Washington is about to look a whole lot different. But there's no reason that the two bipartisan PBM reform bills need to wait. Congressional leaders from both parties agree on the need to pass PBM reform, and the current "lame duck" legislative session is an ideal opportunity to do so. Indiana Democratic Party Chair Mike Schumhl, pictured at the Indiana Democratic Convention on June 13, 2024, declined to pursue a recount in a tight central Indiana race. (Whitney Downard/Indiana Capital Chronicle) Despite losing a central Indiana seat by just 64 votes and potentially hundreds of ballots left uncounted due to irregularities the Indiana Democratic Party announced it wouldnt push for a recount or contest the results in House District 25. Incumbent Republican Rep. Becky Cash, of Zionsville, barely kept her seat earlier this month, losing Boone County by 419 votes but winning Hendricks County by 483 votes over Democrat challenger Tiffany Stoner. Rep. Becky Cash, R-Zionsville. (Photo from Indiana House Republicans) Since that time, an election board meeting in Hendricks County on Nov. 15 apparently released information about irregularities in the voting process, according to Democrats. The Indiana Capital Chronicle couldnt confirm the claims from an independent news source, though a left-leaning blog posted similar allegations on Nov. 18. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A call to Hendricks County Circuit Court Clerk Marjorie Pike to discuss the claims went to voicemail on Friday. Hendricks County was previously at the center of another recount, when a commission took three months to certify victories in two races without thin margins of victory. Our intent since polls closed on Election Day was to investigate systemic and widespread issues with the administration of early, vote-by-mail, and Election Day voting in Hendricks County. They were not alone in having challenges with getting people to staff the polls, but they stand very much alone in some of the egregious errors committed, said Mike Schmuhl, the Democrats party chair. Our candidate, Tiffany Stoner, ran a fantastic campaign that was centered on the good people in Boone and Hendricks counties. While we will not seek a recount in this election, we do believe the public deserves more transparency so we ensure that every vote is counted accurately and every Hoosiers voice is heard in every election, Schmuhl continued. Alleged irregularities Errors in Hendricks County reported by the Democrats included the decision to reject roughly 280 absentee mail-in ballots, some of which were apparently sent to voters without the required security initial from the clerks office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the error was discovered, the clerk knowingly chose not to inform voters that their ballots would be rejected due to the offices mistake, the Democrats press release said. the affected voters remain unaware of this issue. Other ballots were rejected due to mismatched signatures a method of verification that has repeatedly been questioned by voting rights activists who say signatures vary too much. Some note that younger generations who werent taught cursive may be especially vulnerable to disenfranchisement because of mismatched signatures. Need to get in touch? Have a news tip? CONTACT US Voters who fall in these category are supposed to receive a notice offering them a chance to correct their ballot. The release claims those notices were mailed on Nov. 7 but voters were only given until noon on Nov. 13 to submit a signed affidavit verifying their signature. However, the release goes on to claim that an overseas Indiana voter in the military couldnt fix their signature and thus didnt have their vote count. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additionally, some voting machines were allegedly left unattended at a polling location overnight and the state agencies were accused of making mistakes in transferring voter registrations to the county. Lastly, statutorily required inspectors werent present at any early voting site, according to the party. Let us be very clear: these errors in the administration of the election disenfranchised voters. The Republican Party in Indiana is constantly talking about election integrity, but stands by while dozens of voters in the suburbs of Indianapolis arent able to vote. In addition, Hendricks County voters consistently faced 3-plus hour wait times, said Schmuhl. He concluded by calling for the General Assembly to enshrine protections for early voting in the next session, which is due to start in January. Many of these errors could be addressed by having the Hendricks County Clerk simply follow already prescribed procedures. Schmuhl said. The early vote in Indiana is not protected by the same procedures as Election Day voting, and in House District 25, where almost 66% of the total in person votes were cast early, we believe those votes are entitled to the same protections as Election Day votes. We call on our state and legislative leaders to address these issues promptly. The deadline for candidates to file a recount request was Nov. 19 at noon while county parties may file a challenge until Nov. 22 at noon. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX DES MOINES, Iowa A homicide investigation is underway in Des Moines River Bend neighborhood. Officers with the Des Moines Police Department were called to an apartment at 513 Forest Avenue Thursday night around 8:23 on a report of a deceased person, according to department spokesperson Sgt. Paul Parizek. When they arrived, officers found a 65-year-old man who was dead, and evidence of traumatic injury was observed. The name of the victim has not been released. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sgt. Parizek said this was the citys 15th homicide of 2024. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to who13.com. A look back at local, national and world events through Deseret News archives. On Nov. 22, 1963, John F. Kennedy, the 35th president of the United States, was shot to death in a motorcade in Dallas. And a nation moved from shock to grief to, well, back to normal. Kennedy was sitting beside first lady Jackie Kennedy as the motorcade moved through downtown Dallas on that fateful day. Texas Gov. John B. Connally, riding in the same car as Kennedy, was seriously wounded. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Suspected gunman Lee Harvey Oswald was soon arrested for the crime, but died by gunfire at the hands of Jack Ruby within days. Within hours of the shooting, Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn in as president. The Deseret News printed an Extra, a quick edition of the news of the day. Coverage was extensive for weeks. The headlines read: Kennedy assassinated; President killed by Texas sniper; President McKay deeply grieved; Utah officials, citizens shocked; Attack first since try on Truman; Kennedy won Utah cheers in recent visit; and Bell tolls news of tragedy to shocked S.L. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Utahns truly were shocked. Just eight weeks before he died, JFK visited Utah and spoke in the Salt Lake Tabernacle at Temple Square. The Deseret News dispatched six photographers to chronicle the only visit Kennedy made to Utah while president of the United States on Sept. 26-27. Here are a variety of stories from Deseret News archives about Kennedy, his presidency, his visits to Utah, and the ongoing, yes ongoing, conspiracy talk about his assassination: American recall poignantly the events of Nov. 22, 1963 50 years on, finding profit in truth on John F. Kennedy case Thousands of Utahns turned out to see President Kennedy in 1963 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president is dead: What it was like to live through JFKs assassination Lesser-known JFK assassination controversy involving Catholic priest explored in new book Remembering JFKs legacy of compassion JFKs Utah visits chronicled on Web President John F. Kennedy addresses a large gathering in the Tabernacle on Sept. 27, 1963. The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square provided the music. | Credit: Deseret News Archives John F. Kennedy remembering a friend Remembering JFKs life and speeches Kennedy calls for diversity in his 1963 Utah speech Topic of the day: Remembering JFKs presidency ISLAMABAD, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- The Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) of Pakistan arrested 10 individuals involved in drug smuggling in operations across the country, said a statement on Friday. The spokesman of the ANF said that the personnel of the anti-narcotics force conducted nine operations, recovering over 10 kg of narcotics worth more than 2.2 million Pak rupees (around 7,920 U.S. dollars). According to the official, the ANF forces confiscated 9.15 kg of Hashish, 994 grams of heroin and 570 grams of Ice, or methamphetamine, during the operations. The ANF made raids and arrested smugglers during the operations in the cities of Gujarat, Peshawar, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Sialkot, Lahore and Multan. All suspects have been charged under the Narcotics Control Act of Pakistan, and further investigations are underway to dismantle the drug smuggling networks, said the spokesperson. Nov. 22 (UPI) -- A draft finance deal Friday at the U.N. COP29 climate and environment talks proposed wealthy nations give $250 billion a year to poorer nations in climate funding. Developing countries, however, called for more money with negotiations in Baku, Azerbaijan, and expected to push talks into the weekend. "A new draft finance deal delivered to harried negotiators in Baku on Friday -- the final scheduled day for the U.N. climate talks that have been under way for the past two weeks -- proposes rich countries commit $250 billion a year to help vulnerable nations cope with our warming planet and to accelerate the global switch to renewable energy," the United Nations said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The draft text called for an overall climate change financing goal of $1.3 trillion a year to developing countries by 2035, but the specifics on reaching that goal haven't been worked out. Developing nations and climate and environment advocacy groups think the $250 billion a year isn't nearly enough to meet the scale of the global climate crisis. "This is definitely not enough. What we need is at least $5 trillion a year, but what we have asked for is just $1.3 trillion," Panamanian climate envoy Juan Carlos Monterrey Gomez told the Guardian. "That is 1% of global GDP. That should not be too much when you're talking about saving the planet we all live on." Power Shift Africa's Mohamed Adow said, "Our expectations were low, but this is a slap in the face. No developing country will fall for this. It's not clear what kind of trick the presidency is trying to pull. They've already disappointed everyone, but they have now angered and offended the developing world." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Namrata Chowdhary from the international environmental organization 350.org said in a statement, "It is a slap. It is insult. It is shocking that we are at this state now. The rich countries are basically gambling with the lives of people in the developing nations and small islands." Lidy Nacpil from the Asian Peoples' Movement on Debt and Development said in a statement to U.N. News, "One of the issues that is preventing the Global South from undertaking urgent climate actions and from also providing our people with essential services that we need is the debt burden." And she added that climate finance should not come in the form of loans to developing nations because it adds to poorer countries' debt. The Climate Action Network's Jacobo Ocharan called it a terrible deal. "We urge all developing countries to have the courage in the negotiations to keep pushing, because this deal is terrible," Ocharan said in a statement. "We keep pushing on the idea that no deal is better than a bad deal." DEWITT COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) Many people do their holiday shopping online nowadays, and that means many packages are being delivered. With that being said, local authorities warn that its a time to watch out for porch pirates. The DeWitt County Sheriff, Mike Walker, said residents can put delivery instructions to specify a secure spot they want their packages placed. He also said other ways to keep porch pirates from stealing is to install cameras. People can also coordinate with a trusted neighbor to grab their package if residents know they wont be home at the time. The sheriff said the best way to prevent theft is to do holiday shopping the old fashioned away. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sangamon, Menard Co. Crime Stoppers offer package theft prevention tips Shopping in the stores, to me, is the safest way to do it because you can get your items, you can secure them in your vehicle, Walker said. If youre going to multiple stores, even if you secure something in your vehicle, you need to have something, whether its a coat or blanket or someplace in your vehicle where you can cover that up so if somebody is walking past your vehicle, they dont see what youve got. He said when it comes to shopping in stores, always watch your surroundings or shop in a group. If youre alone and feel like someone is following you, ask a security guard or someone working to walk you out to the car. Walker said to always track your packages and watch out for scams around this time of the year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com. Sean "Diddy" Combs has accused federal prosecutors of using underhanded tactics to ensure his recent bail request was denied. Through his attorneys, the rapper alleged that prosecutors presented an edited version of a viral video showing him assaulting his ex-girlfriend, Cassandra "Cassie" Ventura, to the judge. According to the claim, the altered footage exaggerated Diddy's perceived threat, portraying him as more dangerous rather than framing the incident as a domestic dispute. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sean "Diddy" Combs' upcoming bail hearing is set for Friday, and if denied, it will mark the fourth time his request has been rejected since his arrest in September. Federal Prosecutors Are Accused Of 'Mischaracterizing And Concealing Critical Facts' MEGA Ahead of Diddy's fourth bail hearing on Friday, his legal team filed new docs in which they accused federal prosecutors of "mischaracterizing and concealing critical facts" to get the rapper's bail request denied. According to the documents obtained by TMZ, Diddy's lawyers alleged that the prosecutors had shown the presiding judge an edited video of an altercation between Diddy and his ex Cassie, which was caught by the camera in the hotel where it occurred. The incident occurred in 2016, and the video of it went viral earlier this year amid Diddy being investigated by the authorities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Diddy's lawyers also claimed that the prosecutors had the unedited version of the video but chose to alter it to present their "most powerful evidence of danger and obstruction." They went on to say that the intention behind such an underhanded tactic was to make Diddy look even far more dangerous than the unedited video portrayed. Diddy Said The Video Isn't Evidence Of A 'Freak Off' Or Sex Trafficking A 2016 video shows Sean "Diddy" Combs assaulting then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura in an altercation that matches some allegations in now-settled lawsuit https://t.co/fYUQ2z2MYN CNN (@CNN) May 17, 2024 In the documents, Diddy's lawyers also attempted to explain away some of the violent acts depicted in the video. In one scene, Diddy could be seen dragging Cassie down the hallway back to their hotel room after she tried to leave via the elevator. Surprisingly, Diddy claimed that he didn't "drag" Cassie down the hall, contrary to what was shown in the video. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A different scene in the video also showed a half-naked Diddy throwing a vase across the room, with Cassie likely being the intended target. The rapper also denied this and claimed that he only threw the contents of the vase at Cassie. Diddy mentioned that the incident did not align with the federal prosecutors' claims of sex trafficking or forced sex. He said that the altercation was simply a "sad glimpse into a decade-long consensual relationship" and described it as just a "domestic dispute." Diddy Offered A Robust Package For Fourth Bail Attempt MEGA After his arrest in September, Diddy was hit with three bail denials despite his legal team's best efforts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They filed a fourth attempt earlier this month, offering an extremely substantial, comprehensive bail package to back their arguments about him not being a flight risk, per USA Today. As part of the package, they offered a "$50 million bond secured by the equity in Combs and his mother's Florida homes, implementation of a 24/7 monitoring service by approved security personnel." They also proposed additional conditions, including prohibiting the rapper from having "internet or phone access outside of meetings with legal counsel, a pre-approved visitor list consisting of select family members, and surrendered passports belonging to the rapper and his family members." What Happens If Diddy's Fourth Bail Attempt Is Denied MEGA Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Friday, the judge will review arguments from both federal prosecutors and Diddy's lawyers before making a decision on Diddy's bail request. A fourth bail denial could mean that Diddy would remain in prison until his trial in May 2025. He is currently being held at the special housing unit of the Metropolitan Detention Center in New York. Despite initial concerns that Diddy's high-profile status could lead to him being targeted, there have been no reports of that happening. However, his lawyers have earlier claimed that the conditions of the detention center were horrific and not fit for pre-trial detention. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Diddy is currently being charged with racketeering, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges but faces up to life imprisonment if he is eventually found guilty by a jury. The Rapper Recently Got An Offer On His Raided L.A. Mansion MEGA The "Bad Boy for Life" rapper finally received an offer on his L.A. mansion, which was one of his homes that was raided as part of investigations by Homeland Security earlier this year. According to TMZ, Bo Belmont and his company, Belwood Investments, have offered $30 million for the mansion, which happens to be almost 50% less than Diddy's asking price. The realtor boss says he wants to change the narrative that has trailed the 17,000 sq. Ft home and turn attention to the actual beauty of the property. It remains unknown if the price he's offering is the last bargain, as it's far below what Diddy is asking for. Belwood Investments has gained notoriety for buying up celebrity homes at a bargain price after snapping up Kanye West's Malibu beachfront property for $21 million, far less than the $57 million fee he paid for it in 2021. The U.S. Capitol is shown on Oct. 9, 2024. (Jane Norman | States Newsroom) Over the past two years, as my husband works from New York City and our permanent residence remains located in Appalachia, a great deal has been learned on both sides of the aisle, so to speak. Ive been most enlightened from talking with folks who welcome those who are not only hungry for a good meal in a neighborhood restaurant, but famished for ways to make sense of the often times senseless, even in the vastly red state of West Virginia (which, incidentally, not so long ago, was true blue). And then, every few weeks, I return to the overwhelmingly blue state of New York, specifically New York City, where that certain color remains true to the core principles of American democracy Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In West Virginia, folks that frequent the family-owned restaurant, Hardings, know one another and they each know the staff and the owner well. So well, in fact, that the nourishment provided by menu selections becomes secondary to attempts to unravel the very twisted threads of a democracy that seem to have become too thin to grasp. In fact, it is the very certainty that when walking through the doors to Hardings the conversation will begin with the hostess, the cashier, or another customer who is equally-eager to unearth a morsel of truth that will allow them some clarity that will matter. Still, it is difficult to recognize that moment when the person at the table across from you is wearing a ball cap that reads: TRUMP: THE SEQUEL in full view of everyone. That is a moment though when we remind ourselves that while burying our heads in the sand might very well be a comforting notion, it is imperative that we do just the opposite, knowing full well that the journey will be fraught with an unprecedented peril. A few months before the presidential election, a seasoned server at Hardings overheard a conversation that was gathering momentum among myself and a few other customers nearby. The conversation centered on President Barack Obamas seeming insistence to dismantle the coal industry. After some time passed, this server asked to be included in the conversation. We welcomed her, not knowing that her views would change the way we thought we knew the situation. She informed us that President Obama was not trying to dismantle the coal industry, but was instead attempting to hold coal owners/operators to even higher standards of regulations in order to protect coal miners to an even higher level. And with the resultant and destructive opioid epidemic that ensued throughout that community, we hung our heads in shame. That moment of clarity was just one of many examples of not knowing what you think you know. Its a moment of gratitude and a reminder that all may not be as it seems. And when the coin is flipped and lands me in New York City, I, surprisingly, find myself, like Dorothy, at home, politically. Its a bit like a pinball ricocheting off the machines bumpers, simply trying to avoid the certain pitfalls. This time, the restaurant of those with whom I find comfort is located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan; again, a small neighborhood eatery called Island. I find its name comforting a sea of displaced humanity searching for an island to call its own. The political conversation is as energized as found at Hardings, but what is most noticeable in a city that focuses on the acquisition of money (there really is no way to cushion that certainty) is the lack of focus on the marginalized. Unless you are wearing blinders, the marginalized in New York City will not let you forget them, regardless of your efforts to do so. And with a number of private schools located within a few miles radius of our apartment, recess looks very different for the marginalized than it does for those whose paths are certain, which brings me to the current atrocity of the possibility that the president-elect is seeking recess appointments for those he has tapped for his cabinet and other high-ranking administrative positions. Its not a difficult concept, but it is a dangerous one. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A recess appointment doesnt require a Senate vote. Let me say that again: a recess appointment doesnt require a Senate vote. They take place when a president appoints a federal official while the U. S. Senate is in recess. The absurdity of this possibility is obvious to anyone who wants to see it, even with only one eye open. In essence, in this case, the president is able to bypass the process of approval by the Senate, thereby eliminating questions and background qualifications, as an example. Fortunately, for all of us, the recess appointments clause in the U.S. Constitution, while allowing the president to make such appointments, includes the word temporary. The downside? It is possible, even with that caveat, for a recess appointment to last for about two years. It goes without saying that the potential for disaster is very much alive within that period of time. One might ask the question, Why the rush? The answer of course is undeniably crystal clear for most of us. And it has nothing to do with Republicans asserting that they are supporting this measure in order to prevent the Democrats from blocking the will of the American people. Thats a bit like suggesting that recess is the same for the marginalized on the streets of Manhattan as they are for the privileged on the private school playgrounds. Lets not lose track of what truly represents American democracy. Lets not bury our heads in the sand for the next four years or ever. Lets not think that conversations that take place around the dinner table have much of anything to do with the menu. And always, lets remember that America is a country united, not divided, whether you walk its rural paths or its city streets. To suggest otherwise is part of the problem. Lets keep our heads above the sand and move forward with conviction. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX DENVER (KDVR) This is the future for American turkeys that Benjamin Franklin hoped for. On Thursday, Gov. Jared Polis announced the pardoning of four turkeys in honor of Thanksgiving celebrations, in a post on X. The turkeys were relocated to Adams County where they will continue their aviary existence. Colfax Avenue to soon have a holiday tree bigger than the one at Rockefeller Center The four pardoned birds were named: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lady Riketa Featherington Dinger Rockette Fred Polis said the pardoning is a fun way to celebrate Thanksgiving while honoring Colorados agricultural producers. The governors post on X also asked Coloradans to look out for produce marked with the Colorado Proud emblem when shopping for Thanksgiving this season. The emblem verifies that the product was grown, raised or made by Colorados agricultural industry. To learn about what Colorado foods are in season and where they can be located, visit the Colorado Proud website for more information. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. BOARDMAN, Ohio (WKBN) The regional plan for the six-county Diocese of Youngstown that began in 2019 is continuing to move forward. The latest announcement is parish name changes for churches in Mahoning and Ashtabula counties. Read next: Over 83 tons of ground beef recalled nationwide, illnesses reported: USDA Parishes have merged to mitigate financial expenditures and to address the number of parishioners and population shifts. This year, there have been a total of 20 parish mergers. More are expected in 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Local parish mergers and name changes effective Jan. 1, 2025 include: Austintown Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish and St. Joseph Parish. The new merger name will be Saint Blaise Parish. Boardman St. Charles Parish and St. Luke Parish. The new merger name will be Saint Catherine of Siena Parish. Youngstown St. Columba Cathedral Parish, St. Edward Parish and Holy Apostles Parish. The new merger name will be Saint Columba Cathedral Parish. In Ashtabula County, St. Mary Parish, Rock Creek and Sacred Heart Parish have merged. The new name will be Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque Parish. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 federal appellate panel heard arguments Thursday but made no ruling in former Los Angeles County veteran politician Mark Ridley-Thomas' bid to overturn his fraud and bribery convictions connected to a pay-to-play scheme that prosecutors say bought his son a spot at the University of Southern California. In arguments before the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in Pasadena, Alyssa Bell, a lawyer for Ridley-Thomas, asserted that guilty verdicts for bribery and honest services fraud should not be allowed to stand. Ridley-Thomas, 70, was sentenced to three years and six months in federal prison for his March 2023 convictions on single counts of conspiracy, bribery and honest services mail fraud and four counts of honest services wire fraud. Federal prosecutors charged Ridley-Thomas with scheming in 2017 and 2018, while he served on the LA County Board of Supervisors, with the then-USC Dean of Social Service Marilyn Flynn to get a prestigious position for his son, Sebastian Ridley-Thomas. Related: Mark Ridley-Thomas Challenges Conspiracy, Bribery Convictions According to the government, he wanted to secure his son a prestigious job to deflect attention from his the younger Ridley-Thomas' abrupt resignation from the California Assembly in 2017 amid a sexual harassment investigation into his conduct made by staffers. In exchange for Ridley-Thomas's support in getting the School of Social Work lucrative contracts with the county, Flynn provided Sebastian Ridley-Thomas with admission to the school's master's program in 2018 and a scholarship to the private university a more than $100,000 benefit according to the government, as well as a paid professorship to teach at USC while he was a student. Related: Attorney General Ruling Adds to the Heat in the Mark-Ridley-Thomas-Nury Martinez-Herb Wesson Battle U.S. District Judge Dale S. Fischer, who called Ridley-Thomas a "shakedown" artist after his conviction, subsequently granted the longtime politician's bid for bail pending appeal. Fischer said Ridley-Thomas used substantial political power as a bargaining chip to get benefits for his son," adding, "There is simply no justification for monetizing a public office." He has remained free on bail as he appeals his conviction and has insisted on his innocence. Flynn, the former Dean, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to three years of probation, including 18 months of home confinement, and fined $150,000. You know the old leftist phrase the worse, the better: Its said to date to the early days of revolutionary Russia, and it means that the worse social conditions become for the proletariat, the better things will be for the left, because people will be more sympathetic to revolution. Its a plausible idea, I guess, although it hasnt usually worked out very well for the leftistsoften, the worse just keeps getting worse and the revolution never comes; at other times, the revolution does come but things dont get any better and arguably get far worse, as was the case in the Soviet Union itself, where Joe Stalin probably butchered or imprisoned or starved to death more proletarians than all the czars put together. So now, here at home, we have our first scalp of the not-yet-extant second Trump administration. Matt Gaetz is out as attorney general. I wrongly thought hed make it. Senate Republicans may have a little more backbone than many of us thought. At least four GOP senators told their colleagues they would vote no (including Senator-elect John Curtis of Utah; could be worth keeping an eye on him). Of course, it didnt come to a vote, or anywhere near that, but it certainly looked like Gaetz would go down in flames, so he did the sensible thing (for once!). Is this a win for the opposition? Sure. Any setback for Donald Trump is a win for the other side. Plus, more substantively, its hard to imagine how awful Gaetz would have been as attorney general. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But now we have Pam Bondi stepping into the job. No one can seriously question her credentials on papera former assistant state attorney who served as Floridas attorney general for eight yearsso she will probably sail through confirmation. Is this so much better? Shes been a MAGA loyalist for a decade. She dropped an investigation into Trump University after Trump donated $25,000 to her campaign (no charges were brought against her). In a normal world, that would be pretty controversial. But in Trumpworld, its jaywalking. Bondi will presumably do whatever Trump wants her to do, and more cleverly than Gaetz would have done. Were left hoping that those 18 years as a prosecutor have inculcated in her some modicum of respect for the law, such that if Trump calls her and orders up an arrest of someone he doesnt like, she may slow-walk it. Its roughly the same with all the other absurd appointees. What Pete Hegseth, Trumps pick to run the Department of Defense, is alleged to have to done to that woman in 2017 is repulsive (he denies the charges and says it was consensual). His views are beyond extreme. But if he becomes so toxic that he, like Gaetz, has to withdraw, it wont be because he believes liberalism must face utter annihilation, but because of the sex scandal. On the one hand, thats goodit would tell us that even Republican senators draw a line on sexual assault. On the other, it means that all Trump has to do is nominate someone else who isnt charged with sexual misconduct but is cool with the annihilation of liberals, and that nominee will sail through. We could run through several more of Trumps nominees in a similar vein. Tulsi Gabbard, his pick for director of national intelligence, may be the most outrageous choice of all. I mean, if you were Germany or France, would you share intel about Russia with her? She may get bounced, but again, shed likely be replaced by someone just as ferociously loyal to Trump and roughly as reactionary and objectionable, just less histrionically so. Ditto Linda McMahon, a truly nutty choice for education secretary, although she seems likely to get through. Matt Whitaker to NATO? His main qualification is trying to interfere with the Mueller report. Federal Communications Commission chair nominee Brendan Carr wrote the relevant section of Project 2025 and has recently suggested that his FCC will look closely at the broadcast licenses of the major networks, which no administration has done in decades. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And dont ever forget the most alarming of them all, the man who has faded from the headlines somewhat because his elevation does not require Senate confirmation. Border-czar-to-be Tom Homan has nevertheless been out there talking to right-wing news outlets about doubling the number of ICE agents in sanctuary cities and states: Sanctuary states said theyre not allowing any detention facilities in their statefine. Then well arrest them. Well fly them out of the state and detain them outside the state, again, awayaway from their families, their attorneys. Thats what you want, thats what you get. So its good that Matt Gaetz wont be attorney general. Yet somehow its hard to think of this as much of a victory. Bondi looks to be a slight improvement. But shes likely to do the job better than Gaetz would have. How much of a win is that? If anything, the Gaetz episode shows that the Senate will save Trump from himself. Theyll block some of his most obviously problematic and indefensible appointments and, once he becomes president, thwart the occasional policy move, but theyll rubber-stamp 90 percent of the Trump agenda and even help him by making it all look more palatable to those not paying close attention. And overall, the worse will not get better. This article first appeared in Fighting Words, a weekly TNR newsletter authored by editor Michael Tomasky. Sign up here. Nov. 22A new report calls for a comprehensive paid family leave policy in Ohio, arguing that it is good for families, businesses and the economy; though some push back on any proposed mandate to businesses. "The benefits are vast, including improved health outcomes for mothers and babies, reduced infant mortality rates, and diminished emotional and financial stress," Lynanne Gutierrez, president and CEO of Groundwork Ohio, said in the report issued by the nonpartisan organization in October. "Yet, despite these well-documented advantages, 76 percent of Ohioans are employed in jobs that do not offer access to paid family leave. Those with access are most often white individuals earning six-figure salaries." Groundwork Ohio is a statewide nonprofit public-policy research and advocacy organization that supports high-quality early learning and healthy development strategies for kids and has been a strong advocate for improving access and funding for early childhood education and child care. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an effort that began in January with funding from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, Groundwork Ohio studied the impact of paid leave using data and research, feedback from families and stakeholders across the state. While federal law already requires up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave for certain family and medical issues, the report argues that a comprehensive paid family leave policy in Ohio would improve the health of mother and child, strengthen economic support for families, help keep women in the workforce and boost the state economy. The report also acknowledges that business leaders, particularly at small companies, may be concerned about the cost of paid family leave and workforce disruptions when parents are absent. "We applaud the research on paid family leave done by Groundwork Ohio, and their willingness to engage the business community in these efforts," said Stephanie Keinath, vice president of strategic initiatives at the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce. "We're particularly interested in learning from states that have implemented voluntary paid family leave policies, as we strongly support maintaining the flexibility of employers to create benefits policies that best meet the needs of their workforce." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The need for paid leave policies has been talked about in the past and should be discussed more, said state Rep. Tom Young, R-Washington Twp. But ultimately businesses are the ones in the best position to decide what their companies need to do to attract and keep workers, and some already do offer that benefit, he said. "So forcing it on people with a mandate is not something I do believe would pass the (Ohio) House or the Senate," Young said. State Rep. Willis E. Blackshear, Jr., D-Dayton, who will become a state senator in 2025, supports adding a state mandate for paid family leave and setting "reasonable limits" on the size of businesses that would be required to follow the mandate. "We need to support our workforce and foremost we need to support families. Ohio has a high infant mortality rate and maternal mortality rate, especially among black women and infants," Blackshear said. "Paid family leave would ensure that families have the ability to provide for their children without having to risk losing their job or going without income for long periods of time." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He is unsure whether such a law could pass in the Republican-dominated legislature but he said a family leave policy could draw people into Ohio's workforce. "While the focus in recent years has been to attract large companies to Ohio, we need to also recognize that we need to attract and maintain our workforce here in Ohio," Blackshear said. "By supporting policies that help working families, we are making Ohio a more desirable place to live." The benefits of paid parental leave Infants whose mothers have paid leave are more likely to breastfeed, gaining benefits like improved digestive and immune system functioning and a decreased likelihood of asthma, ear infections, gastrointestinal infections and childhood obesity, according to the report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And research indicates an association between length of leave and decreased postpartum depressive symptoms in mothers, the report said. Parental leave that includes fathers also allows for closer bonding with newborns. Paid leave would financially help Ohio parents, who've just borne the cost of childbirth and all the expenses that come with a new baby, avoid the additional cost of unpaid time off in a state where four weeks of unpaid leave costs a full-time worker about $3,100 in lost income, the report said. Paid leave also assists parents challenged by the high cost of child care, which is particularly expensive for infants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Paid family leave is closely linked with lack of affordable child care in Ohio, where child care access disparities are especially pronounced for Black and Hispanic families," the report said. "Recent data shows that only 4.3 percent of low- and moderate-income children ages 0-2 received child care subsidies to offset cost burdens." Paid family leave helps the economy by making it easier for women to enter and remain in the workforce. Keeping women in the labor force helps businesses, which have long struggled to fill jobs with a skilled workforce, the report said. That also increases overall wages and state tax revenues. In addition, paid leave reduces the need for public assistance to families when a parent must stop working to care for a child, the report said. "Employers with supportive paid leave policies and greater flexibility for birthing mothers not only promote diminishment of gender wage gaps, but increase women's labor market participation by 6 percentage points in the first year of a birth, and 20-50 percent within 5 years after a birth," the report said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Federal law mandates unpaid leave Federal law requires that workers have access to up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave from work for certain family and medical reasons, including childbirth, the employee's serious health condition or to care for the employee's spouse, child or parent with a serious health condition. Known as the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and signed by President Bill Clinton in 1993, the law does not require companies to pay employees who use the leave time. It applies only to employers with 50 employees or more. Workers must be employed at the company or organization for at least one year to be eligible and have worked at least 1,250 hours in the last year, according to the report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Each year 8.4 million people, or 5.3% of eligible workers, use FMLA, the report said. Ohio is not among the twenty-one states and the District of Columbia that have enacted paid leave laws, which vary as far as requirements and funding. The Ohio legislature did approve paid family leave for state employees in 1997, the report said. In 2015 Dayton became the first major Ohio city to offer paid parental leave to city employees, and soon after Cincinnati and Columbus added similar policies, the report said. But under a law passed in 2016, cities and counties in Ohio are not allowed to require employers to provide paid sick days or family leave at a cost to the employer, the report said. A company or organization's employees may have access to other types of leave and some employers do offer paid family leave or allow people to use paid sick leave or short-term disability coverage. But lack of financial resources lead nearly 23% of women to return to the job ten days after giving birth, according to the report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Without a mandatory paid family and medical leave policy, the report said, "U.S. workers are likely to repurpose earned vacation or sick time for family and healthcare reasons, leading to increased burnout, turnover, and poorer mental health outcomes." Follow @LynnHulseyDDN on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and X. By Alimat Aliyeva Washington has no plans to take retaliatory measures following Russia's renewal of its nuclear doctrine, Azernews reports. We see no reason to alter our nuclear policy or doctrine in response to Russia's statements, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre emphasized during a briefing. Jean-Pierre also noted that the United States was not surprised by Russia's decision to update its nuclear doctrine. Russia has been signaling its intentions to revise the doctrine for several weeks now, she added, pointing to a series of actions and statements from Moscow in recent months that indicated a shift in policy. Its worth noting that on November 19, Russian President Vladimir Putin officially approved the Foundations of the State Policy of the Russian Federation in the Field of Nuclear Deterrence, a document outlining the countrys approach to nuclear strategy and the conditions under which it might use nuclear weapons. The move comes amid escalating tensions between Russia and the West, particularly in the context of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and NATOs increasing presence on Russias borders. While Washington is taking a wait-and-see approach, experts suggest that the renewed Russian nuclear doctrine could have broader implications for global security, particularly in relation to arms control agreements and the future of non-proliferation efforts. NEW DELHI, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- The security advisor of the local government in India's Manipur Kuldiep Singh on Friday said the federal government will send over 10,000 additional paramilitary troopers to the trouble-torn northeastern state to contain the situation. According to Singh, with the addition of 90 companies (approximately 10,800 personnel) of the paramilitary forces, the total number of companies deployed in Manipur has reached 288. A fresh cycle of violence erupted in the state earlier this month after a tribal woman belonging to the Kuki community was allegedly fired upon and subsequently burnt to death after gunmen from the opposite Meitei community resorted to arson. Manipur has been on edge since May 3 last year when large-scale violence broke out in the state during a tribal protest over the inclusion of the non-tribal Meitei community for a scheduled tribe status, designated for disadvantaged socio-economic groups which gives them reservations in education and government jobs. At first, Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency looks like the most Silicon Valley-style project one could imagine: The idea was first bandied about on social media, and its name is a jokey reference to a crypto coin. Musk and co-leader Vivek Ramaswamy are hiring via X, and plan to govern it partially by podcast. But now that theyve laid out their plans in a Wall Street Journal op-ed, concern is bubbling up even in the tech world that the project might suffer from a couple other very Silicon Valley qualities: ego and overpromising. Its not clear to many experts that the pairs plans, as detailed as they sound, are a serious toolkit for tackling the D.C. bureaucracy. (Despite the name, DOGE is actually an advisory commission outside government.) Theres even concern they could backfire, and that two self-proclaimed innovators could end up tearing down much of the essential infrastructure that ushers along American innovation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theyre making very large promises upon which its not clear how they can deliver, American Enterprise Institute senior fellow Kevin Kosar told DFD. For innovation mavens, the root of the concern is the vast support the federal government provides for critical American R&D. Musk has promised a massive cut to the federal government and the discretionary budget that could be on the chopping block is exactly the money that funds agencies like the National Institutes for Health or the Small Business Administration (through its Small Business Innovation Research program) for key public-private partnerships. Sujai Shivakumar, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, compared the federal governments role in enabling innovation to building a highway and warned that extensive regulatory and civil service rollbacks risk riddling it with potholes. If you are indiscriminately cutting these expenditures or staff, you are very much at risk of damaging the connective tissue across our innovation system, Shivakumar told DFD. This is a time when we actually need to be doubling down and reinforcing our innovation system, and we would hope that any department looking to create efficiencies is mindful of that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That concern extends to the tech world, even among those who share Musk and Ramaswamys desire to reinvent American government. Rohit Krishnan, a Bay Area venture capitalist who has written his own prescription for how an anti-regulator could roll back the state to boost innovation, said that while DOGEs mission is salutary, he needs to see more details about how the commission would accomplish its goals. Sweeping pointless regulations or outdated ones or even purely providing legal clarity so we can do things is underrated, [so] some blunt approaches therefore could be okay, Krishnan told DFD. But only if we can build back up the state capacity where its needed. As the op-ed lays out, much of DOGEs focus will be simply on firing people. While they make a genteel nod to the idea that Employees whose positions are eliminated deserve to be treated with respect, the two have been quite brutal about workers in their own careers and remarks. Musk gutted Twitters payroll after his 2022 takeover, and Ramaswamy once mused about firing three quarters of federal employees through a random lottery. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think [Musk and Ramaswamy are] focused on the fact that having civil servants is the problem, and that they need to be like tech company employees, said Krishnan. Im not sure its true. Because there is a lot of operational work needed, and actual negotiation to make things work. Jennifer Pahlka, U.S. deputy chief technology officer under former President Barack Obama, offered qualified praise for the plan but said Musk and Ramaswamys plan to fire large swaths of the bureaucracy is the wrong fix for a bigger structural problem. We need civil service reform that allows for firing underperformers, as well as hiring practices that actually assess candidates for their skills There are so many amazing civil servants who would cheer from the rooftops if that were to happen, Pahlka told DFD. Ive spent my career frustrated that government doesnt speed up. In this case, Id like them to slow down a bit. Its not as if Musk and Ramaswamy lack for precedent, or advice to draw on. Similar agendas like the Reagan-era Grace Commission or former Vice President Al Gores early-1990s National Performance Review proposed reinvention of the bureaucracy to varying degrees of success. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Proposals abound in the tech world and blogosphere as well, from the Foundation for American Innovations October report on An Efficiency Agenda for the Executive Branch to an influential series of articles from pseudonymous blogger Scott Alexander on the perceived shortcomings of the Food and Drug Administration. The experts surveyed by DFD largely agreed that the success of the commission will depend on turning the corner from where to cut to how to build, giving a slimmed-down bureaucracy clear guidelines and permissions to carrying out its goals. Both Krishnan and CSIS Shivakumar noted that the natural incentive within bureaucracy, and especially procurement, is simply not to do anything, in order to minimize error. They argued that the best form of efficiency is a government that makes it clear what agencies and companies alike can do and frees them to get out there and do it. You need to look at efficiency from a dynamic perspective, Shivakumar said. How do you connect entrepreneurs with research, with commercial products, with markets domestically and abroad that is our historic advantage vis-a-vis other countries, and that is what we need to be emphasizing. HONOLULU (KHON2) The Hawaii State Department of Health (DOH) is investigating potential human exposure to a flock infected with the H5N1 avian influenza virus. No human cases of the virus have been reported in Hawaii at this time. Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You As of Thursday, 54 individuals have been investigated for possible exposure. Of those, 34 were offered testing due to unprotected contact with the infected birds within the past 10 days, or because they developed respiratory symptoms following the exposure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A total of 29 individuals consented to testing, including 13 who exhibited respiratory symptoms and 16 who showed no symptoms. All those with high-risk exposure, such as prolonged contact with sick or dead birds, also agreed to testing. Samples from the individuals were tested at the State Laboratories Division using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods. All 29 test results, including those of individuals with symptoms, came back negative for avian influenza. Two symptomatic individuals tested positive for common cold viruses. The DOH continues its investigation into potential exposures related to the Mililani Pet Fair, where some attendees had contact with ducks or geese on Nov. 2. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Avian influenza detected at Wahiawa duck sanctuary At least four individuals who were exposed only at the event have tested negative for the virus. The U.S. Department of Defense has also assisted in identifying individuals with potential exposure, all of whom have tested negative. The infected flock was confirmed to carry the clade 2.3.4.4b, genotype A3 strain of H5N1, which was first identified in wild birds in Alaska in 2022. This strain is believed to have been introduced to Hawaii through migratory wild birds, and it differs from strains that have infected dairy cows on the mainland U.S. or caused illness in humans in other regions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although initial test results are reassuring, the DOH advises the public to continue exercising caution. The department recommends avoiding close contact with wild birds and reporting any sick or dead birds to the Department of Agriculture at 808-483-7106 (during business hours) or 808-837-8092 (after hours). Residents who have recently visited or worked on a farm in another state with known H5N1 infections are urged to contact the DOH Disease Reporting Line at 808-586-4586 for a risk assessment. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news For more information, visit the DOHs avian influenza website. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2. The Hawaii Department of Health says so far, no one has tested positive for avian influenza after the first detection of H5N1 in a flock of ducks and geese last week. DOH followed up with 54 individuals for potential exposure to the infected flock in Wahiawa. Of that total, 34 were offered testing due to exposure to the infected birds without personal protective equipment such as gloves, masks and goggles, or because they developed respiratory symptoms within the past 10 days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A total of 29 consented to testing, which involved collecting swabs from the throat, nose, or eyes for a polymerase chain reaction analysis from DOHs State Laboratories Division. The results for all 29 came back negative for avian influenza, the department said. Some of these individuals had very high-risk exposure to the flock, while two people with symptoms tested positive for common cold viruses. Don 't miss out on what 's happening ! Stay in touch with top news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It 's FREE ! Email 28141 Sign Up By clicking to sign up, you agree to Star-Advertiser 's and Google 's and. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The investigation into potential exposures to people who interacted with ducks or geese from the flock at the on Nov. 2, meanwhile, is ongoing. DOH urged anyone who attended the Mililani Pet Fair to remain vigilant for symptoms as some of the ducks and geese from the flock were present, but had not developed the first signs of infection until a few days later. DOH says at least four people whose only exposure was at the Mililani Pet Fair have been tested for avian influenzaall with negative results. Additional results from the pet fair will be shared as they become available. DOH has also worked with the U.S. Department of Defense to identify individuals with potential exposure after volunteering at the sanctuary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They have been tested for avian influenza, DOH said, and there are no confirmed cases. Susan Wilkinson, founder of the nonprofit Susies Duck Sanctuary, in order to alert others to the danger of the virus. Wilkinson said the ducks she had rescued from around the isle suddenly grew ill a few days after the pet fair. About 20 of the birds, including her beloved goose Hector, died within the first week. She also found at least a dozen dead zebra doves, which were wild, and not pets, on her property. The rest of the flock were euthanized once H5N1, or highly pathogenic avian influenza, was confirmed by the Hawaii Department of Agriculture. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. Department of Agriculture, meanwhile, has determined through the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Iowa that the strain of avian influenza in the infected flock was of the clade 2.3.4.4b, genotype A3. The A3 genotype is indicative of a spillover from migratory birds, according to Lyndsay Cole, spokesperson for USDAs Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. It is a different genotype from the one found in the current outbreak among U.S. dairy cows. DOH said the A3 genotype was first identified in wild birds in Alaska in 2022, and that it remains unknown whether it is likely to infect humans or other mammals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is also different from the genotype reported in a critically ill teen diagnosed with H5N1 in Canada. APHIS has now included Hawaii in its map of states with detections of avian influenza among commercial and backyard poultry flocks. Hawaii is listed as having two infected backyard flocks in mid-November impacting 79 birds. While initial human test results are reassuring, DOH is still urging the public to remain vigilant. DOH advises the public to :Avoid close contact with wild birds, and if you encounter birds that appear sick or have died, dont approach them.Report sick or dead birds, especially if multiple or unusual, to the Department of Agriculture (808-483-7106 from 7 :45 a.m. to 4 :30 p.m. weekdays or 808-837-8092 during other hours and holidays ).Hawaii residents who recently visited or worked on a farm in another state with known or suspected H5N1 animal infections should call the DOH disease reporting line 808-586-4586 for a telephone risk assessment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 0 Comments By participating in online discussions you acknowledge that you have agreed to the. An insightful discussion of ideas and viewpoints is encouraged, but comments must be civil and in good taste, with no personal attacks. If your comments are inappropriate, you may be banned from posting. Report comments if you believe they do not follow our. Having trouble with comments ? . COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) For domestic violence awareness agencies, the holiday season is often accompanied by an increase in domestic violence incidents. Although the holidays can be fun for many, domestic violence agencies say added stressors often cause an uptick in violence. They want people to know just because some people have off for the holidays, their programs are always there to help. Theres always someone to answer the hotline, to offer support, Lillian Howard, director of clinical and supportive services for Lutheran Social Services Choices, said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unsolved Ohio: Woman missing for nearly seven years Lutheran Social Services Choices is the only domestic violence shelter in Franklin County. Howard said LSS Choices always sees an increase in calls for service during the holiday season. We have the perception that everyone is sitting around a big table and they are saying grace and giving thanks for different things that have happened throughout the year. But in families where there is a lot of coercive control happening, there is an increase, Howard said. Howard said it often has to do with stressors like finances or having lots of people in the home. They say alcohol also adds fuel to the fire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rachel Ramirez, the director of health and disability programs for the Ohio Domestic Violence network, said sometimes around the holidays their network gets fewer calls, which is also worrisome. When sales taxes will increase in central Ohio When we have more people at home and theres just more time and more opportunity for people to get hurt, as well as theres less options. Its harder sometimes for domestic violence survivors to reach out for help, Ramirez said. She said knowing the resources available to help could make all the difference. Ramirez said to never underestimate the power of a supportive person in your life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just to make sure that survivor knows that you are there for them. Regardless, it is really, really important that we do our best to refrain from any type of judgment, Ramirez said. Domestic violence agencies are open and available and accessible during all of the holidays and that we are here to support domestic violence survivors. Both groups said there are people monitoring their hotlines 24/7. LSS Choices hotline is 614-224-HOME (4663), and the Ohio Domestic Violence Networks hotline is 1-800-934-9840. If someone is unable to call, they can also chat live through the National Domestic Violence Hotline here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. (NewsNation) President-elect Donald Trump is considering adding a new position to his administration: the nations first-ever crypto czar. The role would oversee cryptocurrency policy and regulation and act as a liaison between Congress and the White House. Trumps top team is meeting with bitcoin and crypto experts to discuss the role. Matt Gaetz withdraws from nomination as attorney general Trump has several crypto businesses himself and, during his campaign, had promised to make the United States the crypto capital of the world by creating a bitcoin strategic reserve. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The idea is in its early stages. Bloomberg reports that many of the conversations are in their initial processes, and there are still discussions about whether the role would be a specific White House administrative role or more of a czar position, which is more colloquial for someone being a point person to spearhead a certain topic. Whats clear is that Trump has spoken very positively about the issue of cryptocurrency on the campaign trail and even gave remarks at a bitcoin conference in Nashville, Tennessee, this summer. If crypto is going to define the future, I want to be mined, minted and made in the USA, Trump said. Its not going to be made anywhere else. Bitcoin is going to the moon, as we say. Its going to the moon. I want America to be the nation that leads the way, and thats whats going to happen. Youre going to be very happy with me. The price of bitcoin in just the past month has skyrocketed since the election. Thats largely because there are a lot of cryptocurrency investors who remain optimistic that this administration will be favorable to bitcoin and to cryptocurrency in the future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sanctuary cities plan to resist Trumps mass deportation plans Sen. Debbie Stabenow, a Democrat from Michigan, has been trying to push cryptocurrency legislation since this summer and has encountered some roadblocks both from within her own party as well as from across the aisle. Shes looking for ways to offer regulations and consumer protections, trying to make a push, according to Politico, before the new session comes into effect and Republicans take the majority in the Senate. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. UPDATED: Back in the White House soon, Donald Trump looks to have succeeded in his quest to stay out of prison. In an unsurprising move, the former and future president and convicted felon wont be sentenced on Tuesday in his New York hush-money case. The very high-profile criminal case saw Trump found guilty in May on 34 counts of falsifying business records to make and conceal payments to squelch media reports of an affair with adult entertainer Stormy Daniels getting out before the 2016 election. More from Deadline Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The judge in the case, Juan Merchan, on Friday morning said sentencing is adjourned and granted motions from both parties to argue for and against a dismissal of Trumps conviction, setting aside the November 26 sentencing date that was chosen before the former president was re-elected. Trumps defense team which now consists of two lawyers, Todd Blanche and Emil Bove, nominated to positions in his Justice Department have until December 2 to file a motion arguing for dismissal. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has until December 9 to respond. Braggs office has already petitioned for the conviction to stand even if sentencing wouldnt happen until after Trump leaves office in 2029. In case, youre not picking up whats going down, Judge Merchan did not offer a new sentencing date in his order this morning. PREVIOUSLY, NOV. 19 AM: Prosecutors said that they would agree to pause Donald Trumps sentencing in his New York hush money trial as the president-elects attorney pursue a dismissal of his conviction, even suggesting that a delay would extend until after the incoming presidents term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The sentencing was scheduled for Nov. 26, and Judge Juan Merchan is weighing the impact of a Supreme Court decision on presidential immunity for official acts. Trump was found guilty of 34 felony counts related to hush money payments made to porn actress Stormy Daniels in advance of the 2016 election. New York District Attorney Alvin Bragg wrote in a letter to the judge that they would not oppose a defense motion for a stay as Trumps team seeks a motion to dismiss. Bragg, though, wrote that they intend to oppose a motion to dismiss. Trumps legal team argued that his conviction should be dismissed on the grounds that he has legal immunity as president-elect, among other things. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bragg wrote that they deeply respect the office of the president, are mindful of the demands and obligations of the presidency, and acknowledge that [Trumps] inauguration will raise unprecedented legal questions. We also deeply respect the fundamental role of the jury in our constitutional system. Bragg added, No current law establishes that a presidents temporary immunity from prosecution requires dismissal of a post-trial criminal proceeding that was initiated at a time when the defendant was not immune from criminal prosecution and that is based on unofficial conduct for which the defendant is also not immune. Rather, existing law suggests that the court must balance competing constitutional interests and proceed in a manner that preserves both the independence of the executive and the integrity of the criminal justice system.' The latter quote came from a Supreme Court ruling on whether Trump had to turn over his tax records to Braggs predecessor, Cyrus Vance Jr. Bragg also wrote that given the need to balance competing constitutional interests, consideration must be given to various non-dismissal options that may address any concerns raised by the pendency of a post-trial criminal proceeding during the presidency, such as deferral of all remaining criminal proceedings until after the end of Defendants upcoming presidential term. Steven Cheung, Trumps communications director, said in a statement, This is a total and definitive victory for President Trump and the American people who elected him in a landslide. The Manhattan DA has conceded that this Witch Hunt cannot continue. The lawless case is now stayed, and President Trumps legal team is moving to get it dismissed once and for all. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dominic Patten contributed to this report Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Contrary to his customary bragging that he won the election in an unprecedented landslide, President Donald Trump's percentage of the popular vote has fallen below 50% and it drops a little bit lower every day as the final votes are tallied up. According to the Cook Report, as of Tuesday, Trump was at 49.94 percent, and Harris was at 48.26, a difference of a mere 1.68%. He won fair and square but to call it an overwhelming mandate to dismantle the government is ridiculous. Obviously, Trump will always maintain that his victory was the greatest in history and that nobody's ever seen anything like it. But in Washington, it's become clear that Trump's win was not the overwhelming validation of his agenda that we were told in the days after Nov. 5. Over 50% of the people voted against it, just as they did in 2020 and in 2016. Perhaps some Republicans waking up from their stupors and realizing this accounts for the fact that the fever broke yesterday for the first time since Election Day. Matt Gaetz withdrew his nomination for Attorney General proving, as my colleague Amanda Marcotte writes, resistance is not futile. As Marcotte points out, the pressure was mounting from the public and press over Gaetz's egregious ethics violations and details from the House ethics committee were starting to leak out. Gaetz withdrew after being informed that a new accusation that he had sex with an underage girl at one of his raucous drug-fueled parties was about to drop. But as the Bulwark's Marc A. Caputo reported, it was Trump calling him to say that he didn't have the votes in the Senate and wouldn't be confirmed that finally forced Gaetz to throw in the towel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ever since Elon Musk and the rest of Trump's crack transition team gathered at Mar-a-Lago to plot his triumphant return to the White House in January, they've been throwing around threats and intimidating members of the House and Senate. Many of them, like Rep. Roy Nehls, R-Tx., seem to positively love it: Rep. Troy Nehls (R., Texas): "If Donald Trump says, 'Jump three feet high and scratch your head,' we all jump three feet high and scratch our heads. That's it." That's it.pic.twitter.com/F3Vsco9ld3 Jay Nordlinger (@jaynordlinger) November 17, 2024 Considering how often Republicans have done just that, anyone could be forgiven for thinking that's exactly what they all intend to do. But a funny thing happened when Trump weighed in on the Senate majority leadership vote to replace Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., shortly after the election. Top adviser Elon Musk along with others such as RFK Jr., Tucker Carlson, Vivek Ramaswamy and Charlie Kirk all endorsed Florida senator Rick Scott, tacitly letting it be known that Trump himself would be happy with his election. Trump only intervened with an edict before the vote, demanding on his Truth Social platform that Any Republican Senator seeking the coveted LEADERSHIP position in the United States Senate must agree to Recess Appointments... We need positions filled IMMEDIATELY!" All three contenders, Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., John Cornyn, R-Tx., and Rick Scott R-Fla, agreed to allow Trump the ability to make recess appointments if necessary, a constitutional but rarely used gambit which had been obstructed by both parties over the last decade through a series of parliamentary maneuvers. The question everyone was asking was, why would he need it? He had a Senate majority of at least 52 votes (now 53.) Why wouldn't his own party be able to muster the necessary votes to confirm his Cabinet? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the end, John Thune was elected (by a secret ballot) which was the first clue that Trump's iron grip may not be as strong as assumed. Thune is a Mitch McConnell protege, looked at with suspicion by the MAGA crowd, and considered more establishment institutionalist than Trump loyalist. Scott, the choice of Trump's firebrand advisers, only got 13 votes. We soon found out why Trump was signaling that he needed recess appointments when on the same day Thune was elected Trump named Gaetz followed by a succession of hacks, weirdos, extremists and kooks, none of whom are remotely qualified for the massively important jobs they're nominated for. For a time it seemed as though Trump had arrogantly decided to bypass the advice and consent role of the Senate altogether and simply force the House and Senate to recess during which time he would just appoint his entire cabinet. It was a strongarm move meant to let the Senate know that they are merely there to do his bidding and nothing more. Then last Sunday night, renowned New Yorker reporter Jane Mayer tweeted that Mitch McConnell had told a gathering, "Message to Trump Team: There will be no recess appointments." She deleted the tweet not long after, apparently due to a misunderstanding about the meeting being off the record, but MAGA world was incensed, obviously because it was true. McConnell will not be the majority leader next year but that doesn't mean he doesn't know things. Philip Bump at the Washington Post reported that the House is digging in its heels on their part of the recess appointment gambit as well: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Similarly, its been reported without denial that enough House Republicans are unwilling to adjourn the House to give House Speaker Mike Johnson a pretext for claiming the House and Senate are in disagreement, which might give the president the power to adjourn Congress. Somewhere along the line Congress decided that it's not going to entirely give up its constitutional prerogatives so that Trump can install his cavalcade of carnival sideshow acts into the most powerful jobs in the world. And that was in spite of the fact that a Trump adviser told ABC News that they'd done some serious arm twisting telling the GOP senators that "anyone on the wrong side of the vote is buying yourself a primary. That is all. And there is a guy named Elon Musk who is going to finance it. (Nice little Congress you have there, be a shame if anything happened to it...) There's a decent chance the Senate will reject Hegseth, Gabbard and RFK Jr. as well. As Bump notes, "their confirmations were never going to be easy, but Gaetzs withdrawal both increases the amount of scrutiny that they face and establishes a precedent under which scandal-marred candidates step aside." It's always safe to bet on the ultimate cowardice of Republicans in the face of Donald Trump so I won't get my hopes up. But this episode shows one thing: Trump lost. Bigly. Within a little over two weeks, he's already blown the appearance of invincibility, demonstrating once again that he is an incompetent egomaniac whose psychological unfitness creates nothing but chaos. As we all know, there aren't many guardrails left but Trumpian dysfunction is actually one of them and it's still fully operational. Since Donald Trump won the 2024 election, his campaign has labeled his victory a landslide and even marketed merchandise like the Official Trump Victory Glass. However, his win was not a landslide by any means. According to a new report by the New York Times, Trump defeated Vice President Kamala Harris with one of the smallest margins of victory in the popular vote since the 19th century. The publicationselection tally showed Mr. Trump won the popular vote with 49.997 percent as of Thursday (Nov. 21). A different count used by CNN shows him winning by 49.9 percent. His margin over Vice President Harris was around 1.6 percentage pointsthe third smallest since 1888. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump and his team are pushing the notion of a resounding margin (as stated by one of his aides) likely to make it seem that the president-elect is more popular than he actually is. This perception, some believe, is also a tool to make Trump seem like a more indelible figure when it comes to pushing through a radical agenda, which includes dismantling the Department of Education and deporting illegal immigrants at alarming rates. His Cabinet, which critics have complained comprise of unqualified loyalists, was also pushed through at lightning speed. However, when Trump nominated Matt Gaetza former Republican congressman from Florida who has been accused of sex traffickinghe faced immediate backlash. Gaetz was ultimately replaced by one of Trumps lawyers, Pam Bondi. Despite all of this and the the NYTs report that claims Trump won by the smallest of margins, Trumps communications director Steven Cheung in a statement remained steadfast that the former president beat Harris by a landslide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Trump won in dominating and historic fashion after the Democrats and the fake news media peddled outright lies and disinformation throughout the campaign, he said. Trump garnered the popular vote for the first time after three consecutive attempts and became the first Republican to win it in two decades. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. DOOR COUNTY, Wis. (WFRV) The Boys & Girls Club of Door Countys innovative STEAM for Girls of the Future program has been honored with the 2024 State Program Award by Boys & Girls Clubs of Wisconsin, recognizing its efforts to close gender gaps in STEAM education. The 10-week summer program, which served 49 girls ages 8-11, has been celebrated for its forward-thinking approach to science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics education. It aims to inspire the next generation of female scientists, engineers, and tech leaders. Manufacturing plant in northern Wisconsin to close before end of the year, laying off 57 employees Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Participants engaged in hands-on learning, connected with female professionals in STEAM fields and explored career opportunities in areas such as artificial intelligence and environmental science. Women make up just 28% of the STEAM workforce in the U.S., said Jennifer Schmidt, Program Services and Training Specialist for the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Bay & Lakes Region and creator of the program. Only around 21% of engineering majors and 19% of computer and information science majors are women. This program plants seeds to cultivate the next scientist who will cure cancer or the next AI technician to develop smart homes. (Door County Boys & Girls Club) (Door County Boys & Girls Club) By showcasing women in STEAM careers, Schmidt noted, the program helps young girls envision their own success in these fields. The programs impact is evident in its outcomes. Eighty-one percent of participants scored medium to very high in STEAM efficacy, surpassing the national average of 64%. Additionally, 90% reported enjoying science projects, and 80% expressed curiosity about science, computers, or technology. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Highlights included hands-on experiments, engineering projects, mentorships with local STEAM professionals, field trips to industrial manufacturers, innovation competitions modeled after Shark Tank, and activities in robotics and coding. Green Bay Packers Foundation awards $1.5 million in grants at annual luncheon The program was made possible through a community grant from the Womens Fund of Door County. The support from the Womens Fund has been instrumental in empowering our youth and expanding opportunities for local children, said Kacie Mueller, Development Director of the Boys & Girls Club. Their commitment helps us break barriers and inspire young people to explore whats possible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. DOTHAN, Ala (WDHN) A Dothan man will spend over two decades in an Alabama prison after pleading guilty to several charges. According to court records, 31-year-old Danny Lee Pace pled guilty to five counts of possession of obscene material on Wednesday, November 20. He was sentenced to ten years in the Alabama Department of Corrections. Pace was arrested in late 2022 and charged with five counts of possession of child pornography. Several days after his initial arrest, Dothan Police charged Pace with an additional 30 counts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement READ MORE: Dothan man facing more child pornography charges, DPD Per Paces plea agreement, 30 of the 35 possession charges were dropped. In October, Pace pled guilty to sexual abuse of a child less than 12, a charge he was arrested on in 2021, and was sentenced to 20 years behind bars. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDHN - wdhn.com. ZAGREB, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- Croatian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure Oleg Butkovic said on Friday that Croatia is ready to assist Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) in rehabilitating the railway line damaged by last month's floods in the central parts of the country. Butkovic emphasized Croatia's eagerness to resolve the issue "as soon as possible" due to the strategic importance of the railway for the Port of Ploce, located in southwestern Croatia on the Adriatic Sea coast. During his meeting with Andrijana Katic, head of the Department of Transport and Communications of BiH, Butkovic highlighted the railway's role as a crucial supply route connecting the Port of Ploce, Croatia's second-largest port, with industrial hubs in Sarajevo and other parts of BiH. He said that Croatia is prepared to provide additional support through donations and expert advice, leveraging its extensive experience with major investments in railway infrastructure. Katic expressed gratitude for the support, underscoring the railway rehabilitation as a top priority for BiH. Croatia has already sent 10 million euros (10.04 million U.S. dollars) in aid to BiH to help address the consequences of the floods, which claimed 26 lives, destroyed hundreds of buildings, and caused significant damage to infrastructure in central BiH. EAST LANSING Mich. (WLNS) 6 News has new information on the person of interest in a double homicide where two bodies were found in a freezer. According to police, On Nov. 7th, management at the Coolidge Place Townhomes in East Lansing informed officers that there was a pool of blood in a home on the 1500 block of Wintercrest Street. While searching the home, officers found human remains in a freezer. Since then, investigators have identified 37-year-old Jason Brice Weerawat as the person of interest. Lieutenant Adrian Ojerio with the East Lansing Police Department gave more information on the status of Weerawat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The subject has been confirmed to be deceased, Lt. Ojerio said. Search warrants show Weerawat took his own life in Detroit back in July, leaving bodies in a freezer and a dead person of interest. We have to rely on the evidence that has been collected, Lt. Ojerio said. Search warrants also show police want to look into hard drives and computers found in what is believed to be Weerwats bedroom. Along with his door dash and Amazon accounts and a camera found in a different bedroom. As 6 News has learned more so has Andrew Whitney, who lives near the home where the homicides occurred. Its so hard to figure out what happened and I really hope we get some clarity on this soon, Whitney said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whitney said he has been trying to wrap his mind around the situation. Every time we get more information, were just left with more questions, Whitney said. Whitney watched as investigators carried items out of the townhome. I saw a lot of damaged things come out. Some cracked and broken computer screens. And even still, a week after they had first come in, the smell was just wretched, Whitney said. As for the bodies in the freezer, police said they have not been identified yet and evidence is still being processed. Until police know more they say Weerawat remains a person of interest, not a suspect. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This person at this time is just linked to the case but we have nothing at this time to confirm this person did anything, Lt. Ojerio said. Police said as evidence comes in, Weerewats status in the case could change but they stress that the investigation is still open. A lot of questions remain: Who are the two people that were found in the freezer? When did the murders happen? Police do not believe there is a threat to the public. Reach out to East Lansing Police at 517-319-6842 or 517-319-6876 if you have had any contact with Weerawat or have any information on this case. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WLNS 6 News. Officer Jarid Rankila tells Erica Peters she is being detained | Screenshot via Superior Police Department body cam footage The Wisconsin Examiners Criminal Justice Reporting Project shines a light on incarceration, law enforcement and criminal justice issues with support from the Public Welfare Foundation Douglas County District Attorney Mark Fruehauf said he had serious concerns about the credibility of a Superior, Wisconsin police officer who has served as a witness in criminal cases. The concerns stem from discrepancies between the officers incident report and body camera footage documenting an April 13, 2024 arrest. As a result, the DA dismissed 40 cases, including 26 involving felony drug charges, where the officer served as a witness. The concerns were raised after Officer Jarid Rankila, 26, a three-year veteran of the force, reported that a woman he arrested had injured him, kicking the door of a police car so that it closed on his hand. Body camera footage reveals Rankila saying You almost smashed my hand in the fing door. The footage also shows him using the hand he said had been smashed without any apparent difficulty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Aug. 26, Fruehauf wrote Superior Police Chief Paul Winterscheidt about his concerns that I have regarding the credibility of Officer Jarid Rankila, relative to the above-listed incident and the claim made therein by Officer Rankila about a hand injury he sustained during the incident. Chief Winterscheidt told the Examiner that Rankila had resigned from his job and that his last day on the force was Sept. 30. Reports In the incident report Rankila prepared, he noted that he was called at 9:10 p.m., April 13 to the Superior Curling Club, 4700 Tower Avenue, (local media refers to this area as the Superior Fairgrounds) where a woman was flipping over tables, yelling at people and causing a disturbance. The woman, Erica Peters, 40, of Appleton, was there to watch her son compete in a cage fight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rankila recorded that he and two other officers arrived on the scene and that Peters appeared intoxicated and was becoming aggressive with one of the other officers. Rankila attempted to handcuff Peters but, he reported, she resisted until, with the assistance of the other two officers, he was able to handcuff her and attempt to secure her in squad car 32. I walked to squad car 32 to open the rear drivers side door for Officers Olson and Finger. When I did this Erica turned toward the rear drivers side door of the squad car and kicked it shut. My right hand was in between the door and the b-piller of the squad car at the time Erica kicked it out. When Erica kicked the door shut on my right hand, I felt a rush of pain in my right hand In his report, Rankila stated that he stopped at the Essentia Health Emergency Room in Superior to speak with a ER doctor about the incident and weather (sic) I should have my had (sic) examined. At that time, which was approximately 30-40 minutes after my hand was slammed in the door, I was no longer feeling pain in my right hand. My hand was tighter than normal and I noticed it was slightly swollen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ER doctor listened to my recollection of the incident. He advised that I be mindful of any pain or range of motion issues with my affected hand in the coming days and weeks. The doctor stated it would not be necessary to check me into the ER for an official check-up as he would end up telling me the exact same thing and then release me. Peters was booked on three charges: disorderly conduct, resisting or obstructing an officer and battery to a law enforcement officer. Only the battery charge is a felony. Peters was ultimately charged only for disorderly conduct and resisting or obstructing an officer. She pled no contest to the disorderly conduct charge and the other charge was dismissed. Fruehauf notes that on April 16 Rankila filed a supplemental narrative report of the incident in which Rankila reports: I would rate my level of pain to be 8/10 (eight out of 10) when the door closed on my hand. I noticed swelling and stiffness in my hand and fingers for approximately 30 minutes following the incident. And Fruehauf also notes that on April 18, Rankila completed an Employee Injury/Illness Report Form in which he reported that the injury included abrasion, bruise and pain, and stated I opened the door to the squad car and she kicked it closed on my hand, and he described severe pain in my right hand, swelling and light bruising. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fruehauf said a review of the reports Rankila filed without reference to any other evidence would lead a reasonable reader (and did, in fact, lead me personally) to conclude that Officer Rankila had a car door forcibly closed or slammed shut on his hand and he suffered an injury that was evidenced by pain, swelling, bruising, and abrasions (which is what one would expect to see following a persons hand being slammed in a car door). Body camera Still from bodycam video | photo courtesy Douglas County DA Officer Rankilas body camera was recording during this incident. It is not consistent with his police reports, said Fruehauf. The Douglas County DA described what he saw in the footage of the reported door slamming on Rankilas hand. Officer Rankilas hand is on the side of the open door, with his fingers on the outside, and the base of his palm resting on the inside of the door. He is essentially gripping the door as it is open. Peters, without warning aggressively and forcefully kicks the door while Officer Rankila is holding on to it. In a frame-by-frame review of the body camera footage, it appears as though Officer Rankila is able to quickly remove his hand just before the door closes on it. It certainly does not close on his fingers. At worst, if it closed on any part of his, it would have been the base of his palm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Close inspection of the body camera footage the Wisconsin Examiner received from the police department does not clearly show Rankilas hand on the squad door. Rankila (Winterscheidt letter) Still from bodycam video | photo courtesy Douglas County DA Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fruehauf provided the Examiner with a series of still images taken from the video that, he said, show Rankilas hand on the door prior, during and after the door is kicked. However, the still images are not very clear. In the report, Fruehauf noted that Rankila shouts, Hey! Knock if off. You almost smashed my hand in the fing door! Fruehauf also pointed to video showing Rankila reenacting his hand being slammed in the door and saying, I was holding the door open and she kicked it shut so hard that my hand went boom! At this point, his entire hand is inside the vehicle such that the reenactment depicts the door appearing to close on his wrist, said Fruehauf, adding, This is not consistent with the actual incident as depicted on his body camera. Still from bodycam video | photo courtesy Douglas County DA Fruehauf noted other footage shows Rankila using his right hand without any apparent difficulty and also that there had not been a photo taken of Rankilas hand to document the injury. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his incident report, Rankila did not provide the name of the doctor who reportedly looked at his hand, but an Ashland County investigator had spoken with an ER doctor on duty that night, who said he had a vague recollection of talking with a police officer in person or on the phone. GPS data on Rankilas squad car, Fruehauf said, located it at Essentia Hospital on the night of the incident for 2 minutes and 21 seconds. Analysis Based on my review of the above information, I do not find credible the report of Officer Rankila wherein he says on April 13, 2024 his hand was slammed or smashed in a car door, resulting in injuries to include bruising, abrasions and swelling, wrote Fruehauf. Fruehauf raised concerns about several areas of Rankilas report including the visit to the hospital where Fruehauf questioned how Rankila would have had enough time in less than 3 minutes to walk into the emergency room and consult a doctor, as well as the fact that he did not get the name of the physician. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Assuming Officer Rankila did not suffer the hand injury he describes, it is also disconcerting that any falsehood would not be limited to his initial report, but was in fact repeated twice more in the two subsequent reports he wrote days later documenting said injury, wrote Fruehauf. Fruehauf said that prior to the reported kick, Peters had not done anything that would warrant a felony charge and that night she would have been allowed to post bail and not spend the night in jail. Because Rankila charged her with a felony, Peters wasnt allowed to leave pending a hearing before a judge. Officer Rankila had every right to be upset, wrote Fruehauf. He had every right to bring her to jail and book her on the misdemeanor offenses she had committed. But he did not have the right to include false information in a police report that ultimately supported Peters being booked in on a felony and having to sit in custody longer than she likely would have had she been booked solely for misdemeanor behavior. Fruehauf also raised concerns about using Rankila to prosecute other cases. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I have significant concerns about my offices ability ever again to use Officer Rankila as a witness. Absent additional information that sheds light or somehow serves to explain that this is some kind of innocent mistake, I cannot in good conscience permit a case to rest on the credibility of an officer with this kind of apparent dishonesty, he wrote. Fruehauf said the Superior Police Department has an internal investigation underway and he requested the department provide him any information that tends to either inculpate, or exonerate, Officer Rankila. He added that he has begun dismissing cases with prejudice that rely primarily on Officer Rankilas credibility and would require him to testify at a motion hearing or jury trial under oath. Charges against Rankila? Fruehauf was asked why he hadnt filed a charge against Rankila for intentionally falsifying a police report. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law, he said. Based upon my discussion of the case with Ashland County and my review of the evidence, at this time I do not believe I could prove beyond a reasonable doubt that a crime was committed by Mr. Rankila. Were charges to proceed against Mr. Rankila, I would be required to prove intentional falsification beyond a reasonable doubt at his trial, and I believe a reasonable jury, which would be instructed that it must give Mr. Rankila the benefit of every reasonable doubt, could conclude that this was not a case of intentional falsification, but rather unintentionally very poorly worded reports. At the same time, Fruehauf said, whether poorly written or something worse, this incident caused me serious concerns about my offices ability to rely on Mr. Rankilas credibility in future cases where he would be needed as a witness. As a result, we have made the decision to dismiss pending cases where he would be a necessary witness in the future, which has resulted in dismissal of 40 such cases, primarily involving drug and traffic related offenses. This was a difficult decision that results in several charged defendants who will not have their day in court, Fruehauf added. But the job of the prosecutor is to do justice, and given the credibility concerns I have, I believe dismissal of those cases is necessary and in the interests of justice. Dismissed cases The Wisconsin Examiner requested a list of the dismissed cases, which Fruehauf provided. Of the 40 cases, 26 involved a felony related to a drug charge, including methamphetamine with intent to deliver and cocaine with intent to deliver. Other felony charges dismissed included possession of firearm by a felon, bail jumping and fleeing an officer Misdemeanors dismissed included financial card fraud and neglect of a child. There is also one criminal traffic violation for operating while intoxicated (OWI) and three charges for operating without a license. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX (FOX40.COM) More than 70 acres of rural San Joaquin County was scorched after a downed powerline sparked a wildfire on Thursday morning, according to Calaveras Consolidated Fire. The Duck Fire burned in a mostly empty area of the county, about 8 miles north of the community of Farmington. Calaveras Consolidated Fire The fire began at five acres sometime around 11 a.m. with a moderate rate spread due to winds in the area. By noon the fire grew to 54 acres, according to CAL FIRE. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By 4 p.m., CAL FIRE reported that the fire was 100% contained after burning 73.4 acres. Isleton Bridge to undergo work for several months, limiting daytime use Ground personnel from Calaveras Consolidated, Farmington, Linder-Peters and San Andreas responded to the Duck Fire, along with aerial resources from CAL FIRE. Pacific, Gas and Electric crews responded to the fire as well and worked to mitigate any potential hazards from the downed line. This is the second wildfire that CAL FIRE has responded to in the San Joaquin/Calaveras area this week. On Wednesday afternoon, CAL FIRE Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit (TCU) responded to a 10-acre vegetation fire in San Andreas near Highway 12 and Briski Road. CAL FIRE TCU The Brauns Fire began just before 2 p.m. and strong winds in the area pushed the fire to 50 acres within 30 minutes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In under an hour after the initial report, firefighters stopped forward progress and by 3:32 p.m. had reached 25% containment. It was not until Thursday morning that CAL FIRE reported 100% containment. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40. HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) Authorities are asking people to avoid the area of Highway 707 and Holmestown Road because of downed traffic signals. Horry County Fire Rescue responded at about 2:05 p.m. after the lights were apparently blown down by strong winds. The incident blocked traffic near Timberlake Drive heading toward Murrells Inlet. The South Carolina Department of Transportation is working to fix the downed lines and traffic signals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The South Carolina Highway Patrol and Horry County police are assisting. * * * Dennis Bright is the Digital Executive Producer at News13. He joined the team in May 2021. Dennis is a West Virginia native and a graduate of Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. Follow Dennis on, Facebook, X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning on Friday afternoon for San Francisco as heavy downpours dropped inches of rain on the city. The warning will remain in effect from 12:43 p.m. until 3:45 p.m. as rapid rainfall continues. Between 0.5 and 1 inch of rain has fallen. Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 3 inches are possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is already occurring, the NWS wrote. Live Bay Area storm updates Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Local law enforcement agencies reported flash flooding and a waterfall on stretches of Interstate-280, including near John Daly Boulevard and Washington Street. Officers blocked off some lanes of I-280 to prevent drivers from trying to cross deep patches of water. People should avoid walking or driving through flood waters, officials said. The powerful storm is being generated by an atmospheric river and offshore bomb cyclone. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. DES MOINES, Iowa The Downtown Winter Farmers Market begins Friday at the Iowa Events Center. Throughout the three-day market, more than 10,000 people are expected to attend. Elizabeth Weyers, the Manager of the Downtown Winter Farmers Market, said that the market is a great way to support local businesses and vendors. We end our regular season in October and so we kind of have a little bit of a gap. So this is an opportunity for some of those farmers to come out and sell their seasonal produce. But also a lot of our local businesses that use these events to kind of build their brand to come out and share what they have for the holiday seasons. We also have 13 Spark vendors that will be here. So those vendors that are in our Spark DSM business incubator that need that, you know, we allow kind of a barrier-free entry to the market and kind of support them in different ways. Theyre going to be present here as well, Weyers said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Over 100 vendors are attending the market selling everything from late-season produce to holiday goods. The Downtown Winter Farmers Market is taking place in Hall B of the Iowa Events Center during the following days and times: Friday, Nov. 22: 10 a.m. 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23: 9 a.m. 6 p.m. Sunday. Nov. 24: 9 a.m. 4 p.m. To learn more about the Downtown Winter Farmers Market, visit the event website. Metro news Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to who13.com. A draft bill to update design requirements for data centers is facing pushback from some who feel that the proposed criteria are overly restrictive and out of step with industry standards. Frederick County Executive Jessica Fitzwater announced in September that her administration would be introducing two pieces of legislation to set critical digital infrastructure industry-specific siting and design requirements. Both of the bills would be based on the recommendations of a data center workgroup, which Fitzwater convened in June 2023 and issued its final report in March 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Frederick County Council held a workshop on the siting bill on Oct. 8. At the request of council leadership, the administration is in the process of examining other zoning mechanisms that could replace the floating zone from the original draft, Council President Brad Young said in an interview. On Tuesday, the council was presented with a draft version of the design bill, which addresses elements such as lighting, noise and vibration, viewshed impacts, power generation and fuel storage. As currently proposed, the design bill would require that mounted lights for data centers not exceed 18 feet in height. Data centers would be required to mitigate wildlife impacts through features such as warm-colored or motion-sensitive lights, and to mitigate viewshed impacts through features such as building materials and landscaping. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The proposed bill would also require that all data center site plan applications include a sound study and a vibration impact study accounting for levels along all property lines. Before a certificate of occupancy could be issued, an applicant would be required to measure actual noise and vibration levels at property lines and ensure that they do not exceed the limits set by county code. A data center could be required to hire a third-party engineer to conduct additional sound and vibration testing if the countys zoning administration receives credible evidence of violations after the building is occupied. The proposed bill would also regulate power generation and fuel storage, requiring that data centers use generators that meet or exceed Tier 4 emissions standards as defined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and limiting liquid fuel storage capacity to one 1,100-gallon tank per building. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to the draft bill itself, the council was also presented on Tuesday with a list of possible revisions suggested by stakeholders in meetings with the Fitzwater administration. On the industry side, the administration has met with entities including Aligned Data Centers, Rodgers Consulting, Quantum Loophole and Rowan Digital Infrastructure about the critical digital infrastructure bills. Quantum Loophole is the developer of a data center campus on the former site of the Alcoa Eastalco aluminum smelting plant near Adamstown. Both Aligned Data Centers and Rowan Digital Infrastructure are tenants on that property. The administration has also discussed the critical digital infrastructure bills with environmental advocacy groups Mobilize Frederick and the Sierra Club Catoctin chapter, according to the memo submitted to the council along with the draft bill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Victoria Venable, Fitzwaters director of government relations and strategic partnerships, said on Tuesday that feedback received by the administration has ranged from this is too onerous, strike a lot of it to go a little bit further. It wasnt fully that the industry came in and said we dont want to do any of these regulations, Venable said. We heard a lot of really helpful feedback about how to better accomplish our goals with consistency that would make sense for the industry and for our community as a whole. Most of the suggested changes to the noise and vibration section of the bill including limiting the number of times a data center can be required to take action on complaints and extending the timeline for taking corrective action dont sit well with the administration, Venable said. Kevin Lancaster, a construction manager for Aligned Data Centers, said on Tuesday that requiring sound studies for one data center to incorporate sound studies from adjoining critical digital infrastructure projects would create an insurmountable task for applicants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tying our development to those around us that are outside of our control will create confusion and open up developers like ourselves to blame games and unsolvable situations, Lancaster said. Venable said the administration was open to figuring out a way for the sound study requirement to work better. However, she said, we do want the ordinance to address what the reality would be. If we have multiple data centers in one area, to actually protect our community and the impacts they may feel from the noise we do need to find a way that incorporates all of that cumulative impact, Venable said. On the issue of fuel storage, Venable said the administration likely does not have an appetite for rolling back requirements that fuel storage tanks conform to International Building Code and National Fire Protection Association standards as suggested by some stakeholders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A few of the suggestions Venable said the administration would look into include changing the language around maximum fuel storage capacity and emissions standards for generators. Mike Wilkins, the countys director of development review and planning, said on Tuesday that the limits on fuel storage in the draft bill were lifted from another section of the zoning ordinance governing the limited industrial and agricultural zoning districts. However, Wilkins said, that language refers to standalone fuel storage tanks rather than belly tanks that are integrated into the generators themselves, as is typical for data center operations. Michael Morris, the executive vice president of design and construction for Aligned Data Centers, said during the meeting that the 1,100-gallon fuel limit in the draft bill equates to about five hours of run time, whereas data centers are 24-hour operations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A thousand gallons would truly be a show-stopper for any sort of critical environment, Morris said. Its just not feasible. With regard to the emissions standards, Councilmember M.C. Keegan-Ayer said it was her understanding that most Tier 4 generators are manufactured overseas, which could prove problematic for companies. She suggested that the draft bill could be changed to allow for generators that are not certified as Tier 4, but are made with the same noise and emissions goals in mind. Councilmember Jerry Donald said officials should make design requirements for data centers as strong as possible while they still have the ability to control what the industry looks like in Frederick County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have a lot of leverage now, Donald said. We wont have a lot of leverage when these whales show up and we try to move them. Karen Cannon, the executive director of Mobilize Frederick and the co-chair of the data center work group, urged the council on Tuesday to uphold the groups sustainability recommendations which she said were based on industry standards and ordinances in other jurisdictions with data centers. I do believe that the things that were recommended are things that are achievable with the right will and interest in reaching those sustainability standards, Cannon said. Since June 2023, the countys Planning and Permitting Division has been operating under an executive order pausing individual zoning map amendments to change properties from any other zoning category to Limited Industrial (LI) or General Industrial (GI), where data center development is currently allowed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fitzwaters administration has said the executive order will remain in effect until the County Council can evaluate and implement legislation addressing siting and zoning for data centers. The data center design bill has yet to be formally introduced to the council. Once that happens, the council will have 90 days to take action on the legislation. Young said he hopes the administration will send a new draft of the siting bill to the council within the next month. Law enforcement around Florida is mourning the loss of two deputies after a terrible crash in South Florida. Florida troopers are investigating after a driver crashed into three Palm Beach County motorcycle deputies. Two of the deputies were killed and a third was critically injured. Read: Former deputy indicted for first-degree murder of his deputy wife The deadly crash happened Thursday morning. The deputies were off on the side of the road when a driver trying to pass a slower-moving vehicle lost control and hit all three. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Watch: Osceola County deputy accused of sparking a fire during an arrest takes the stand in his own defense A long procession of law enforcement officers from all over Florida gathered Thursday as they escorted the bodies of the two officers to the medical examiners office. Im sure that these deputies, not in their wildest dreams, thought that this was gonna happen to them today. So, you know, when a, when a deputy dies, a piece of the community dies with them, said Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) Culinary union members entering the second week of a strike at the Virgin Hotels staged a demonstration Thursday night resulting in 57 arrests and causing traffic delays near the Las Vegas Strip. Culinary Union Local 226 members stage a civil disobedience protest on Paradise Road in front of Virgin Hotels Las Vegas as they prepare to enter their second week of a labor strike. Picketers sat in traffic lanes on Paradise to block traffic. (Credit: Culinary Union) Culinary Union Local 226 members stage a civil disobedience protest on Paradise Road in front of Virgin Hotels Las Vegas as they prepare to enter their second week of a labor strike. Picketers sat in traffic lanes on Paradise to block traffic. (Credit: Culinary Union) Culinary Union Local 226 members stage a civil disobedience protest on Paradise Road in front of Virgin Hotels Las Vegas as they prepare to enter their second week of a labor strike. Picketers sat in traffic lanes on Paradise to block traffic. (Credit: Culinary Union) Culinary Union Local 226 members stage a civil disobedience protest on Paradise Road in front of Virgin Hotels Las Vegas as they prepare to enter their second week of a labor strike. Picketers sat in traffic lanes on Paradise to block traffic. (Credit: Culinary Union) The arrests for civil disobedience occurred along Paradise Road; a major thoroughfare east of Las Vegas Boulevard. The demonstration caused Las Vegas Metropolitan police to close southbound Paradise, between Flamingo Road and Harmon Avenue causing issues for drivers using Paradise to avoid the 5 p.m. closure on the Strip for the F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix. Some frustrated drivers were caught in the traffic jam for hours. Traffic cameras show the traffic backup caused by the closure of lanes on Paradise Road on Nov. 21, 2024. (Credit: RTC) The union planned the arrests in coordination with the police. Metro closed the road in order to make the arrests safely. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Union members are seeking a new multi-year contract with a pay raise and better benefits for 700 union workers at the property. The strike was planned to take place at the same time as the F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix which draws thousands of people from around the world. The union said it plans to continue the strike until an agreement is reached. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. BRYAN/COLLEGE STATION, Texas (FOX 44) A drug bust in a Bryan residence with children present results in two arrests. The College Station Police Departments Special Investigations Unit obtained a narcotics search warrant for a residence in the 500 block of West 29th Street in Bryan on Thursday. This was the result of an investigation into narcotics sales in Bryan with ties to College Station. The department says the search warrant was executed at the property early Thursday morning by the SWAT Team. Two adults and two children were found on scene. The two adults, identified as 43-year-old John Michael Pilkey and 36-year-old Bobbie Jean Jones, were detained during the execution of the search warrant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Three arrested in Plantersville drug bust John Michael Pilkey. (Courtesy: College Station Police Department) Bobbie Jean Jones. (Courtesy: College Station Police Department) Items recovered during the search included marijuana, methamphetamine, ecstasy, drug paraphernalia, and extensive evidence of drug sales. (Courtesy: College Station Police Department) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The department says Pilkey and Jones are charged with Possession of Marijuana 4oz>5lbs, Manufacture/Delivery of a Controlled Substance PG2, 4g>400g, and Delivery of Marijuana to a Child. Pilkey and Jones have been booked in the Brazos County Jail. Pileys total bond is set at $95,000 and Joness total bond is also set at $95,000. The College Station Police Departments Community Enhancement Unit, Hostage Negotiations Team, and Canine Unit assisted in this case, along with the Texas Department of Public Safetys Criminal Investigations Division in Bryan. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KWKT - FOX 44. TIRANA, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- Albania officially became a member of the Single Euro Payment Area (SEPA) on Nov. 21, 2024, the Bank of Albania (BoA) announced on Thursday. This milestone places Albania among the first Western Balkan countries to join SEPA, a key step towards European Union (EU) membership, said BoA. Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama hailed the development, emphasizing its significance for Albanians. For all money transfers from Europe to Albania or vice versa, there will no longer be financial costs starting from Jan. 1, 2025, he noted. "This is another big step on the path towards Albania 2030 in the EU," said Rama on social media. The BoA outlined multiple benefits of SEPA membership, including significant cost reductions and faster payment processing times. Cross-border payment costs in euros are expected to drop by at least fivefold, resulting in an estimated savings of 20 million euros (20.8 million U.S. dollars) for the Albanian economy in the first year alone. These advantages are anticipated to boost other sectors, such as trade, tourism, and direct investments, further integrating Albania into the European economic framework, according to BoA. MEMPHIS, Tenn. The West Tennessee Drug Task Force arrested two people and seized a pound of marijuana and more than $18,000 in cash during a drug bust in Frayser this month. The director said agents with the 30th District out of Memphis served a search warrant on Helmwood Street following a lengthy investigation and also confiscated 1/4 ounce of fentanyl and digital scales. Marijuana and cash seized on Helmwood St. in the 38127 zip code on 11/13/24 (West TN Drug Task Force) Drugs seized on Helmwood St. in the 38127 zip code on 11/13/24 (West TN Drug Task Force) Director Johnnie Carter said under the Governors Violent Crime Initiative Fund grant, they are targeting the most violent zip codes in Memphis, including 38127 in Frayser. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weve barely began to scratch the surface with this grant as we primarily target fentanyl and violent offenders in these zip codes, said Carter. Ive got a great group of dedicated investigators whove forged great local partnerships, and all I can say is that if youre selling fentanyl, you better stop. Youve been warned. Carter said Governor Bill Lee set aside half a million dollars to reduce crime in Tennessees ten most dangerous zip codes, nine of which are in Memphis. The zip codes include: 38118 (Airport/Parkway Village) 38106 (South Memphis) 38127 (Frayser) 38116 (South Downtown) 38109 (South Memphis) 38114 (Orange Mound/Bethel Grove) 38111 (East Memphis) 38128 (Raleigh) 38115 (Hickory Hill) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Carter said over the last few months theyve served around nine search warrants, made 4-5 arrests and have indictments pending. The cases will be prosecuted by the Shelby County 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 WREG.com. The News Dubais economy relies on staid industries aviation, logistics, and construction. But its future success is dependent on innovation: Thats the case put forward by Khalfan Belhoul, the chief executive officer of the Dubai Future Foundation. The UAEs government is applying business lessons to prioritize foresight and understand its risks, he said in an interview. Financial resources and people are crucial to execution, but long-term goals and a mindset to accept risks are equally important: The further you look, the blurrier the vision becomes but if you get it right, the rewards are immense, Belhoul said. Speaking at the annual Dubai Future Forum set in the Museum of the Future and packed with self-proclaimed futurists Belhoul explained the type of out-of-the-box thinking the citys leadership regularly engages in: At a recent gathering, they discussed transforming the entire city into a duty-free zone for tourists and customizing education. Some of these ideas are tested and deployed first in Dubai, setting the bar for innovation, Belhoul said. Mohammeds view Its easy to mock the grandiose vision set forth by UAE officials, especially for those who witnessed Dubais real estate and financial crash 15 years ago and recognize that the citys economy is not driven by space exploration, AI, and advanced manufacturing. But even the perpetually skeptical myself included, and Im not alone must recognize that Dubais success isnt an accident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres a reason why millions of people have flocked to this city, despite skyrocketing rents, gridlocked traffic, intolerable heat and its not for the Burj selfie or restaurant scene. Officials like Belhoul and entities like the one he runs keep innovating, to make the city as comfortable, safe, productive, and enjoyable as possible. The ground floor of Emirates Towers once home to high-end clothing brands and a karaoke bar has been transformed into a hub of innovation. Startup incubators, a robotics lab, and other concepts are being tested in the open, with government officials, including the prime minister, AI minister, and Dubai crown prince, frequently passing through on their commute to their offices in the tower. It may be symbolic, but the message is clear: The UAEs leadership managed to steer their country through the resource curse, and they arent going to succumb to the innovators dilemma. Room for Disagreement Dubai is in better financial shape today than it was in 2009, when the global financial crisis exposed its debt-fueled expansion and forced it to seek a bailout from its neighbor. However, this improved position does not make it immune to shocks. Trade routes can shift competition in ports and aviation within the region is intensifying and a population dominated by expatriates, with little prospect of gaining citizenship, can quickly vanish. An economy built on the movement of people and goods cant withstand such pressures for long. Nascent industries such as space exploration and robotics remain niche. Over the past two decades, the UAE has invested 23 billion dirhams ($6.2 billion) in its space program, achieving significant milestones, including reaching Mars. While impressive, the space industry remains a minor component of the broader economy. And despite enthusiasm around technology and AI, the intellectual property and trillion-dollar tech giants remain firmly rooted in the US, not the UAE. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The challenge for Dubai is significant: Maintaining its status as a critical hub of connectivity in a region where competitors aim to displace it. The risks of sustaining and defending this position without the benefit of oil revenues are considerable. Know More Khalfan Belhoul, Dubai Future Foundation CEO. Michael Calabro/World Economic Forum Keeping with the theme of innovation, Belhoul sees the need for Dubai and the UAE to lead on digitalization and artificial intelligence. He predicts that within the next year, an artificial intelligence-created board member will join a Fortune 500 company, a development he says will force societies to ask questions about the nature of leadership: Will AI simply optimize for efficiency, or will it have vision? This aligns with the UAEs broader strategy to position itself as a hub for regional and global economies not just to collect a toll, but to expand markets for Emirati companies. The countrys population of 10 million isnt enough, he said, and even the Middle East doesnt provide enough scale. UAE companies need to think globally and require a hub that provides that interconnectivity necessary to grow beyond their home markets, Belhoul said. Chemical manufacturing company DuPont has been fined $480,000 for releasing known carcinogens into the atmosphere, per The New Orleans Advocate. The fine comes after a two-and-a-half-year battle with the Environmental Protection Agency. What's happening? DuPont's LaPlace chemical facility has been releasing a known carcinogen into the air at levels greater than what federal rules allow. In an unannounced inspection of the plant, the EPA found numerous releases of benzene from a storage tank and pipe. During the first day of inspection, EPA officials examined 77 valves and two pumps. On a benzene waste tank, the EPA measured 20,100 parts per million of benzene coming from a vent, compared to the lower 1,650 ppm figure DuPont had reported from its own measurements. The officials also found 1,933 ppm and 542 ppm of benzene leaking out of two separate valves; both figures are above the EPA limit. Do you worry about having toxic forever chemicals in your home? Click your choice to see results and speak your mind Benzene is a chemical that can cause chromosome changes in bone marrow cells. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, long-term exposure to benzene is not only linked to cancer but also to neurological complications, reproductive issues, and gastrointestinal problems. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Short-term exposure to benzene can also cause health problems. The EPA lists drowsiness, dizziness, and headaches as common side effects. Short-term exposure can also result in skin, eye, and respiratory tract irritation. In severe cases, benzene can also cause unconsciousness. Why is the DuPont settlement important? Benzene is a known carcinogen that has detrimental consequences for public health. By violating federal rules, DuPont knowingly released toxic levels of benzene into the atmosphere. As a result, the company not only threatened the health and safety of its employees but also that of surrounding communities. From an environmental perspective, emitting harmful pollutants such as benzene into the atmosphere worsens the rising global temperature. As more pollutants enter the atmosphere and temperatures continue to rise, air quality decreases and powerful storms become more frequent. What's being done about benzene pollution? The EPA fined DuPont for emitting high levels of benzene into the atmosphere. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We are pleased to resolve this matter with the U.S. EPA," Daniel Turner, a spokesperson for DuPont Specialty Products, told The Advocate. "We have taken immediate corrective actions to resolve the issues identified in the inspection process." 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. THE HAGUE (AP) Pro-Palestinian activists told a Dutch court on Friday that the Netherlands is violating international law by selling weapons to Israel, a day day after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for alleged war crimes. If The Hague District Court supports the complaint, the Netherlands will be banned from sending weapons or weapons parts to Israel and trading with the occupied territories. The Netherlands has already halted the export of F-35 fighter jet parts to Israel following a similar case earlier this year. The government uses my own tax money, that I pay, to kill my own family. Ive lost 18 members of my own family, Ahmed Abofoul told a full courtroom. Abofoul is the legal adviser for the pro-Palestinian organization Al-Haq, one of the 10 groups who sued the government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Dutch state denies it is in violation of the 1948 Genocide Convention, drawn up following World War II. Every cooperation is cautiously weighed, government lawyer Reimer Veldhuis said, arguing the court should not take the role of the state in setting foreign policy. The treaty requires signatories to do everything they can to prevent and punish genocide. The activist groups pointed to several emergency orders from another court, the International Court of Justice, as confirming the obligation to stop weapons sales. In January, the top U.N. court said it was plausible Palestinians were being deprived of some rights protected under the Genocide Convention. This is the result of the complicity of governments for decades, Abofoul told reporters after the hearing. The court will rule on Dec. 13. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Thursday, the worlds only permanent international criminal court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu, his former defense minister and Hamas military chief, accusing them of crimes against humanity in connection with the 13-month war in Gaza. The warrants said there was reason to believe Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant have used starvation as a method of warfare by restricting humanitarian aid and have intentionally targeted civilians in Israels campaign against Hamas in Gaza charges Israeli officials deny. Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp, whose country hosts the court, confirmed The Netherlands would arrest Netanyahu if he arrived on Dutch soil. The line from the government is clear. We are obliged to cooperate with the ICC and we will also do that. We abide 100% by the Rome Statute, he said in response to a question in parliament. Hard-right leader Geert Wilders, whose party became the biggest after Dutch elections last year, condemned the warrants. He said on social media that he plans to visit my friend Netanyahu in Israel soon, showing further cracks in the countrys four-party coalition that almost collapsed last week. Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans called Russia's use of the new Oreshnik missile another escalatory step. Source: Brekelmans in a comment to Ukrinform in The Hague, as reported by European Pravda Details: When asked by a journalist about Russia's use of a new experimental ballistic missile, Brekelmans described it as "another escalatory step". Quote: "Using such weapons is unacceptable. This indicates that Putin is willing to cross a new threshold again and again," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brekelmans also referenced the phone call between German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin. "Last week, German Chancellor Scholz called Putin in search of a sign of goodwill; the next day, Russia launched a major missile strike. It is evident who refuses to negotiate and instead escalates the situation. That is why Ukraine needs our steadfast support," he said. Background: Kyiv initiated a meeting of the Ukraine-NATO Council to consider the ramifications of the most recent medium-range ballistic missile strike on Dnipro. Scholz described Russia's use of an experimental missile in an attack on Ukraine as a "terrible escalation". Support UP or become our patron! NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) Early voting for the Dec. 7 Congressional General Election starts Friday, Nov. 22. Voters across the state will see four proposed constitutional amendments on the ballot and local propositions in various parishes with some, including Orleans, St. John and St. Tammany parishes, having runoff elections. Covenant House New Orleans hosts 13th annual Sleep Out event Those who plan to cast their ballot ahead of election day can find their early voting location and sample ballots on the Louisiana Secretary of State website. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Early voting ends on Nov. 30, and election day is on Dec. 7. Stay up to date with the latest news, weather and sports by downloading the WGNO app on the Apple or Google Play stores and by subscribing to the WGNO newsletter. Latest Posts Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGNO. CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS) An early morning fire at an east Charlotte house was intentionally set, according to the Charlotte Fire Department. Just before 6 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 21, CFD got several calls about a fire in the 3900 block of Sharon Amity Road. Firefighters were able to get to the home in minutes and noticed flames coming from a vacant house that was set to be demolished. CFD: A view of the front of the residential structure with active firefighting efforts underway. CFD: Early morning fire showing heavy smoke and flames engulfing a vacant structure. CFD: Flames erupting through the roof of the structure as firefighters work to contain the blaze. CFD: Aftermath of the fire with firefighters on scene assessing the damage. While inside the house, one firefighter injured their ankle and was able to get out of the burning building on their own. They were then taken to Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center. The firefighter was released from the hospital Thursday afternoon and is expected to fully recover. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fire crews controlled the fire in about 40 minutes. Fire officials say the fire was caused by something incendiary and was intentionally set. Anyone with information is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 704-334-1600. You can remain anonymous. Previous Coverage | Firefighter hospitalized in east Charlotte blaze: CFD Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP)In the spirit of giving the Eastern States Exposition is continuing their tradition of donating meals to local non-profit food pantries. Each year the Eastern States Exposition purchases steers at the 4-H Beef Sale and donates the resulting beef to local food pantries. Heres when to take your turkey out of the freezer The 4-H Beef Sale occurs during the Big E fair and provides an opportunity for buyers to support rising agriculture workers by rewarding their hard work and purchasing steer. This year the beef from the Commended Overall and second place Medium weight steers were donated to the Parish Cupboard, Open Pantry, and Friends of the Homeless. Nearly 25-hundred pounds of beef was donated to all three pantries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Supporting people who are underprivileged in our own locale at Thanksgiving time where when, you know, our holiday seasons are so important to us, and being able to give this back to the community is something the Eastern States Exposition takes great pride in, explained Eastern State Exposition President Gene Cassidy. With this donation the pantries will be able to continue their mission of providing nutritious meals to those in need. Cassidy hopes this donation will inspire others to support agriculture and contribute to the fight against food insecurity. 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. This story was originally published on MyNorthwest.com. Eastside Fire and Rescue (EFR) crews have responded to multiple generator fires in the last couple of days, with one person reported dead. As of Thursday afternoon, more than 250,000 people are still without power in Washington, according to PowerOutage.us. On Tuesday, an atmospheric bomb swept through Western Washington, downing power lines and snapping trees. While crews continue to put out fires Thursday, officials are warning people to not bring generators inside. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Do not store fuel for your generator in your house, EFR stated via X on Wednesday. Before refueling the generator, turn it off and let it cool down. Cliff Mass: Second strong windstorm will hit Washington Friday, with one key difference from bomb cyclone On Wednesday, crews responded to a fire in Woodinville at a house on 176th Avenue Northeast. EFR reported a person died in the fire and the incident is currently being investigated by the King County Sheriffs Office. EFR crews in Woodinville are responding to a working residential structure fire on the 19000 blk of 176th Ave NE. Crews are in defensive mode- updates to follow pic.twitter.com/YXdW0Veqkv Eastside Fire & Rescue (@EastsideFire) November 20, 2024 Another fire occurred Wednesday at 192nd Place Southeast and is also being investigated by the sheriffs office. Fortunately, all occupants and pets were able to get out safely. All occupants and pets were able to exit the home safely. The fire was able to be extinguished quickly. The incident is under investigation by KCSO this time. pic.twitter.com/i5F5pPu83S Eastside Fire & Rescue (@EastsideFire) November 21, 2024 Crews responded to another fire the next day. EF&R continues to respond to generator fires today. PLEASE move generators AWAY from your homes, garages, fences or sheds (at least 15 feet). All generators, event hard mounted generators, require CO detectors in your home. CO detectors save lives. pic.twitter.com/yS4u53TtwX Eastside Fire & Rescue (@EastsideFire) November 21, 2024 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eastside Fire official: Theyre not using safe fueling practices Catherine Breault with EFR spoke with KIRO Newsradio on Thursday. She said at least six fires in the last 48 hours are suspected to have started from generators. We have been on at least six or seven generator fires just in our response area since the storm began and we expect to continue going on those calls while the power outages continue, Breault said. Some houses have been destroyed by the fires. Weve had some, where, its just simply, the outside of their house gets burned, Breault said. But weve had some that are total losses. She said many people buy generators but dont know how to use them properly. Often, generators are placed right next to homes or debris and can spark flames. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theyre putting them next to their homes, Breault explained. Theyre not using safe fueling practices. Theyre leaving fuel right next to them. Theyre not making sure its cool when theyre refueling them. She said to take your time and read the directions when using generators. It could save your life. All these little things that you think might not be a big deal are resulting in these home fires, she added. According to Breault, generators should be stored at least 15 feet from any structure and should not be stored near windows, doors or anywhere where you might have carbon monoxide. Heather Wong with the Bellevue Fire Department also spoke to KIRO Newsradio. She said the trouble is, when the power goes out, people try to improvise. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bringing grills inside or camp stones inside to keep warm or to cook and it truly is dangerous, Wong shared. More details: Utilities offer advice as residents wait for power restoration across Puget Sound Carbon monoxide can be deadly: Important tips for generator use Burning charcoal, propane and other fuels can emit carbon monoxide, which can kill you if it is not properly ventilated. Wong said if someone is using a gas-powered generator to power their home, they should move it out of their garage and away from their windows. The same goes for running car engines while charging devices or trying to warm up, for example. Do not assume that you are safe, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) states on its website. Carbon monoxide from generators is completely colorless and odorless, so you wont know if its there. It could kill your family and your pets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the Red Cross, if you start to feel dizzy, sick or weak while using a generator, get to fresh air immediately. FEMA added to not use generators indoors or in partially enclosed spaces, including homes, garages and crawl spaces. Also, using a fan will not prevent carbon monoxide buildup, and to not store fuel for generators in your house. Before refueling the generator, turn it off and let it cool down, FEMA said. Gasoline or other flammable liquids spilled on hot engine parts could ignite, and invisible vapors from the fuel can travel along the ground and be ignited by the generators pilot light or by arcs from electric switches in the appliance. The agency also advises installing battery-powered carbon monoxide alarms inside homes and following the manufacturers recommended placement. When connecting appliances to generators, FEMA said to always use heavy-duty extension cords. The agency also warns that connecting a generator directly to your home could kill those inside. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hooking up your generator directly into your home power supply could increase the voltage or could cause a surge to the outside power lines and potentially injure or electrocute an unaware utility lineman, the agency states. It also bypasses some of the built-in household circuit protection devices. FEMA also said to use a qualified electrician to install the correct equipment in accordance with local electrical codes or to ask your utility company to install an appropriate power switch. Contributing: Jillian Raftery and Heather Bosch, KIRO Newsradio Julia Dallas is a content editor at MyNorthwest. You can read her stories here. Follow Julia on X here and email her here. CHIPPEWA FALLS An Eau Claire man charged with 15 counts of child pornography has entered not guilty pleas to all counts. David L. Hendrix, 62, 2916 Northland Drive, was charged in April in Chippewa County Court; each of the 15 charges carry a mandatory minimum of three years in prison. He appeared in court Tuesday where he entered the not guilty pleas. Judge Steve Gibbs set a return date for Feb. 12. Hendrix remains free on a signature bond. Chippewa County District Attorney Wade Newell refiled the charges in April after dismissing a similar case in December. The case was dismissed after a plea agreement fell apart, so Newell asked for the charges to be dropped without prejudice at the time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the criminal complaint, officers from Altoona and Eau Claire police departments had learned that child pornography had been downloaded at a home in Chippewa Falls. On July 19, 2019, a search warrant was executed at the home at 1555 Nicholas Lane. Hendrix, who was home, told police there would be no illegal things on the electronics. He admitted to searching and viewing pornography online. A forensic audit was conducted of a computer in Hendrix bedroom, which located a video, just over two minutes in length, showing several prepubescent females with scenes of nudity. In a prior letter to the court, defense attorney Harry Hertel wrote I believe there is an explanation for the presence of alleged child pornography being present on a hard drive, of which he had no knowledge. However, the new criminal complaint states that multiple images have been located, with descriptions of each image. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Three separate hard drives were located, and all three had child sexual assault material, along with pictures Hendrix had taken in his life, such as photos of his own children. Then-Judge Steve Cray released Hendrix on a signature bond in 2019, with an order to not possess any electronic devices that can access the internet. Hendrix also was ordered to surrender his passport. Cray said he had concerns that Hendrix had connections outside the country, as he lived in the Philippines for several years with his wife, and was possibly a flight risk. A replica of Sanxingdui iconic artifact is on display at the "Sanxingdui Encounter" exhibition at the Memor Museum in New York, the United States, on Nov. 21, 2024. The Memor Museum in New York City officially unveiled its much-anticipated exhibition, "Sanxingdui Encounter," with a lively opening ceremony on Thursday. The exhibition, running from Oct. 11, 2024 to Jan. 19, 2025, is part of a prestigious international tour. This opportunity offers the public a fresh perspective and a vital window for understanding ancient Chinese civilization. (The Memor Museum/Handout via Xinhua) by Ashley Che NEW YORK, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- The Memor Museum in New York City officially unveiled its much-anticipated exhibition, "Sanxingdui Encounter," with a lively opening ceremony on Thursday. Located in the heart of Manhattan's Metropolitan Museum Historic District, the museum has brought one of China's most mysterious ancient civilizations to life through interactive exhibits and cutting-edge technology. The exhibition, running from Oct. 11, 2024 to Jan. 19, 2025, is part of a prestigious international tour that has previously been showcased in Beijing, Shenzhen, Shanghai, and Doha IN Qatar. This opportunity offers the public a fresh perspective and a vital window for understanding ancient Chinese civilization. Willa Ao, president of the Memor Museum, expressed her excitement about the exhibition's debut in the Big Apple. "With the experience we've gained from previous showcases, we are excited to engage an even broader public audience this time. Our goal is to create an accessible and impactful experience for all visitors. And we are thrilled to see that the local community has responded enthusiastically, with many visitors already coming to explore the exhibit. We hope this growing interest continues to inspire a deeper appreciation for these remarkable cultural artifacts," said Ao. The artifacts have been meticulously curated over the past four years to guarantee the authenticity and accuracy of the cultural treasures on display, said Ao. Jiyuan Shang, Cultural Counselor at the Chinese Consulate in New York, shared her insights on the significance of this exhibition and the broader impact it has on promoting Chinese culture abroad. "Fundamentally, we would love to share, and proudly share the development of Chinese culture to the world. Sanxingdui is a wonder, it serves as a testament to the remarkable achievements of early Chinese civilization and the enduring legacy of Chinese culture," Shang told Xinhua at the event. The "Sanxingdui Encounter" goes beyond static displays to offer a multi-sensory experience. The 12K micro-viewing display utilizes ultra-HD technology to capture intricate details of key artifacts, blending virtual and tangible elements to reconstruct historical depth and to observe close details such as fine carvings, textures, and time-worn marks on the artifacts. Both Chinese and American teams have collaborated closely to develop original music and visuals to create this immersive experience. The VR immersive archaeological experience allows visitors to feel as if they are able to travel directly to the Sanxingdui Museum's iconic halls in China and explore iconic artifacts including the Sacred Tree and Bronze Standing Figure. Additionally, participants are able to explore a recreated virtual archaeological excavation site which provides a realistic and once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to discover the restricted area. The "Sanxingdui Encounter" features over 10 1:1 scale replicas approved by the National Cultural Heritage Administration. All of the replicas have been meticulously crafted and studied to replicate the original materials and details. The replicas are transported using innovative, patented "C-Tech Relic Boxes," equipped with temperature and humidity controls, GPS tracking, and lightweight materials. The interactive areas include activities for both children and adults. The themed activities include mystery "blind boxes" to reveal, acrylic pouring, and stamp collection crafts. Young people are able to have an engaged and memorable educational experience. Visitors are also able to interact with Dui Bao, an AI guide that is able to offer real-time answers about the exhibition and ancient Shu civilization. Dui Bao is able to reach a diverse audience due to its multilingual capabilities. Sanxingdui is one of the most important archaeological discoveries in China which has unveiled the inexplicable ancient Shu civilization. Dating back over 3,000 years, the ancient Shu people's artifacts were first uncovered in 1927 by a farmer digging an irrigation ditch. The initial findings and archaeological excavations of the site in the following decades gradually substantiated the existence of ancient Shu civilization. Numerous sacrificial pits containing thousands of gold, bronze, jade, and pottery artifacts were uncovered by local workers in 1986. Further groundbreaking discoveries would not be made until March 2021, in which more than 500 cultural relics, including an astonishing 3,000-year-old golden mask, were located at a 4.6-square-mile area outside the provincial capital of Chengdu. The mask is estimated to be crafted from 80 percent pure gold and weighing 280 grams. "Seeing the ancient civilization of my homeland presented with such care in a foreign land is indescribably moving. Thank you for bringing Chinese culture to the world," remarked Jessie, a Chinese student in the United States. "What sets this exhibition apart is its modern technology, like VR. You've never seen artifacts like the Bronze Sacred Tree and Large Standing Figure displayed like this before!" shared local content creator @love.life.travels on Instagram. Photo taken on Oct. 11, 2024 shows replicas of Sanxingdui artifacts on display at the Memor Museum in New York, the United States. The Memor Museum in New York City officially unveiled its much-anticipated exhibition, "Sanxingdui Encounter," with a lively opening ceremony on Nov. 21. The exhibition, running from Oct. 11, 2024 to Jan. 19, 2025, is part of a prestigious international tour. This opportunity offers the public a fresh perspective and a vital window for understanding ancient Chinese civilization. (The Memor Museum/Handout via Xinhua) Photo taken on Oct. 11, 2024 shows posters of the "Sanxingdui Encounter" exhibition at the Memor Museum in New York, the United States. The Memor Museum in New York City officially unveiled its much-anticipated exhibition, "Sanxingdui Encounter," with a lively opening ceremony on Nov. 21. The exhibition, running from Oct. 11, 2024 to Jan. 19, 2025, is part of a prestigious international tour. This opportunity offers the public a fresh perspective and a vital window for understanding ancient Chinese civilization. (The Memor Museum/Handout via Xinhua) People attend the opening ceremony of the "Sanxingdui Encounter" exhibition at the Memor Museum in New York, the United States, on Nov. 21, 2024. The Memor Museum in New York City officially unveiled its much-anticipated exhibition, "Sanxingdui Encounter," with a lively opening ceremony on Thursday. The exhibition, running from Oct. 11, 2024 to Jan. 19, 2025, is part of a prestigious international tour. This opportunity offers the public a fresh perspective and a vital window for understanding ancient Chinese civilization. (The Memor Museum/Handout via Xinhua) 61-year-old Ediye Muslimova, Editor-in-Chief of the Crimean Tatar children's magazine Armanchyk, was abducted in temporarily occupied Crimea on 21 November. Source: NGO Crimean Solidarity with reference to Muslimova's niece Elzara; manager of the Crimean Tatar Resource Centre, Zarema Barieva; Suspilne.Krym Details: Muslimova's niece reported that she last spoke to her aunt on the morning of 21 November, and she was supposed to visit Elzaras mother. However, Ediye did not show up or get in touch. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zarema Barieva, manager of the Crimean Tatar Resource Centre, said that Muslimova was abducted by three FSB officers, forcibly put into a white Gazelle car and taken to an unknown destination. She said that Muslimova is being held in the FSB building, where she is being pressured. Nariman Dzhelyal, the first deputy head of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people and former political prisoner, told Suspilne.Krym that Armanchyk is the only glossy children's magazine in the Crimean Tatar language. It has been published on the peninsula since 2011 and comes out monthly. Crimean Tatar children's magazine Armanchyk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Photo: Zarema Barieva on Facebook Muslimova was also involved in educational and publishing activities and "always worked on the development of Crimean Tatar culture, especially children's literature". Dzhelyal called her "a well-known representative of the Crimean Tatar intelligentsia". Quote from Dzhelial: "She never engaged in open politics, but she was always so conscious, active, Crimean Tatar. She had her own social, civic and political position, which, unfortunately, cannot always, or even ever, be expressed in Crimea today". Support UP or become our patron! The Legislature held its annual post-election organizational session Tuesday and amidst the pomp, circumstances and new faces was an old question: Will lawmakers muster the nerve to stand up to Gov. Ron DeSantis, and will they ever put the public interest ahead of special interests? The day started with a power shift. House Speaker Daniel Perez, 37, a Miami lawyer and father of three, and Senate President Ben Albritton, 56, a citrus grower from rural Wauchula, took the reins in an atmosphere of giddy optimism and bipartisan harmony. It wont last. It never does. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Florida, legislative leaders wield enormous power, but not for long. To get anything done, they have to act quickly. They have plenty of votes. Republicans are about as dominant as ever in one of the reddest Capitols in the country. One-party domination With a net gain of one seat, the GOP now holds an 85-35 advantage in the House and a 28-12 advantage in the Senate. Those are supermajorities, which mean that the minority Democrats do not have enough votes to slow down the GOP steamroller. The first sign of that one-party domination came Tuesday as House Democrats, led by Rep. Mike Gottlieb, D-Davie, tried and failed to stop Republicans from keeping in place strict time restrictions on floor debate. That marginalizes the only power Democrats have left to challenge the status quo from the floor of the House. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In South Florida especially, a condo crisis is looming over a Jan. 1 deadline for state-mandated building inspections that will force millions of older residents to pay higher assessments on their units. The Legislature mandated more frequent and costly condo inspections in response to the Champlain Towers South collapse in 2021 that killed 98 people in Surfside. Amid growing alarm over soaring assessments, Gov. Ron DeSantis promised reforms and relief by the end of the year, but it looks like it wont happen. Perez and Albritton both said they have no plans to call a special session, meaning that any state response will wait until the regular session begins in March, when dozens of other issues will command attention. The question shouldnt be when, Perez told reporters. The question should be what? What is the solution that people are offering to the issue before condos? Hes right, and special sessions are a media fixation. Without a very clear consensus, it makes no sense for legislators to rush to judgment, just to give the public the false impression that they fixed a problem. But this crisis wont go away. A lack of experience Besides, this Legislature is lacking experience, with nine new senators and 27 new House members. Some of them do not yet know how the Capitols new smart elevators work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rampant turnover in membership is assured because of the eight is enough term limit law voters approved in 1992. There are five new lawmakers from greater Orlando, two from Broward, three from Palm Beach county. This is the Legislature that will work with DeSantis in his final two years as governor. Hardly a lame duck, DeSantis is experiencing a resurgence of sorts, as he will soon appoint a U.S. senator and helped defeat ballot initiatives on marijuana and abortion rights. The governor was sued for his aggressive and possibly illegal use of state workers and resources to fight Amendments 3 and 4. But he got away with it. Neither Perez nor Albritton sees any need for a state law to prevent it, even though both voted for a law in 2022 that prevents cities and counties from doing the same thing. Open carry is dead Far too often for the past six years, DeSantis has had his way with a too-timid Legislature. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The question is whether Perez and Albritton have the nerve to stand up to him. One answer came quickly Tuesday. Albritton, the first Senate president from rural Florida in many years, is fond of the phrase measure three times and cut once. The Legislature has a long history of too little measuring and too much cutting. The senator fielded reporters questions for 25 minutes an encouraging sign. He made news by flatly declaring his opposition to a DeSantis priority of an open carry gun law that most Florida sheriffs have opposed. They oppose it. I trust my law enforcement officials, and thats where I stand, said Albritton, whose singular opposition is enough to block a Senate open-carry vote for two years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Such independence is refreshing. The Legislature needs much more of it. The Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board includes Editor-in-Chief Julie Anderson, Opinion Editor Krys Fluker and Viewpoints Editor Jay Reddick. The Sun Sentinel Editorial Board consists of Editorial Page Editor Steve Bousquet, Deputy Editorial Page Editor Dan Sweeney, editorial writers Pat Beall and Martin Dyckman and Anderson. Send letters to insight@orlandosentinel.com. Nov. 21Thumbs up to the volunteers that make the annual Pittsburg County Elected Community Thanksgiving Dinner a success year in and year out. Every year, county elected officials, members of their staff and community volunteers come together to put together a free holiday dinner made available to any Pittsburg County resident who wants to participate. Volunteers will soon begin the process of putting together the meal that officials said fed 3,330 residents last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The dinner is offered free of charge with no income or age requirements in place. For those who don't have the means to pick up their meals, such as the elderly, shut-ins or those lacking transportation, volunteers will deliver the meal to them. Pittsburg County Clerk Hope Trammell said those who want to volunteer in preparing the meal need to meet at the Emergency Management Office on Monday, Nov. 25, at 9 a.m., located at 705 EOC Dr. in McAlester. Those who want to serve at the Southeast Expo Center Thursday, Nov. 28, need to arrive by 8 a.m. and those who want to deliver need to arrive by 9 a.m. to be prepared. Without volunteers, a lot of our neighbors would not have the opportunity to enjoy a Thanksgiving meal, and for that we commend all those who give up their time over the next week to helping out the community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Information to receive a free holiday meal on Thanksgiving must be submitted by Wednesday, Nov. 27, by noon. For more information and to submit information, call 918-423-7785. Thumbs up to local government officials and employees who attended a seminar over Oklahoma's open meetings and records laws this week. Several elected officials, including McAlester City Council Members Robin Woodley, Chris Stone, Levi Gilmore, and Kevin Beaty, were in attendance. "It was very informative and detailed with needed information to keep us aware of any changes and detailed policies we must follow," Gilmore said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Oklahoma Attorney General's Office partners with the Oklahoma Press Association each year to host seminars on the laws in cities across the state. Oklahoma AG Gentner Drummond has said transparency in government is a priority for his office. We are thankful for Drummond and his staff for making the principles of transparency a priority and for the local government officials who attended for taking the time out of their schedules in ensuring they are up to speed with the laws. Nov. 22related content BLUEFIELD After a special meeting Thursday afternoon, the Bluefield State University Board of Governors announced that following a nationwide search, Dr. Darrin Martin, Ed.D, a Bluefield native and Bluefield State graduate, had been chosen as the university's 17th president. The Board of Governors unanimously voted for Dr. Martin citing his visionary leadership, commitment to academic excellence and dedication to fostering student success, board members said in their announcement Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "On behalf of the Board of Governors, I am thrilled to welcome home a third-generation graduate to lead Bluefield State University," said Charlie Cole, Chair of the Board of Governors. "While serving as interim president, Dr. Martin has demonstrated exceptional leadership in advancing educational opportunities and building strong partnerships that benefit students, faculty, and the broader community. We are confident he will be an outstanding leader for Bluefield State." Martin said he was excited about joining Bluefield State University. "I am deeply honored to lead this distinguished institution which has given so much opportunity to me and others." he said. "Bluefield State is uniquely positioned to expand opportunities for its students and strengthen its impact in the region. I look forward to continuing to work collaboratively with faculty, staff and the community to build on the university's successes." Martin said that while growing up in Bluefield, he developed a strong appreciation for the area and its educational institutions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Coming back to Bluefield State feels like returning home," he said. "This university has meant so much to my family, and I'm honored to help lead it into the future." "I would like to express my thanks to the search committee chaired by board member, Cathy Deeb and all the constituency groups who assisted us in selecting the next leader," Cole said. "All three final candidates were strong prospects with years of experience. I am confident that Dr. Martin will lead Bluefield State University into our next chapter." Martin had been serving as the Interim President of Bluefield State University, having been appointed to this position by the Board of Governors in November 2023. Martin said he is also focused on strengthening the university's ties with the local community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Bluefield State has always been an important part of this region, and we will continue working with local organizations and businesses to create opportunities that benefit our students and the wider community," he said. Faculty Representative to the Board of Governors and Associate Professor of Art, Jack Sheffler also praised Martin. "The leadership demonstrated during his interim presidency was impressive. His engagement with our faculty, staff and students as well as the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission were key in our decision," Sheffler said. Prior to this appointment as interim president, Martin was a member of the Bluefield State University Board of Governors, having been appointed by Gov. Jim Justice. Before his service to Bluefield State University, he served in a variety of roles at the university including Dean of Academic Support; Director of Graduate Education; and Interim Dean of the College of Education & Social Sciences. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Martin also served as a School Improvement Specialist for the West Virginia Department of Education; Director of Teacher Education for Concord University; and was a high school level administrator with Tazewell County Public Schools. During much of this time, Martin also operated a successful educational consulting business, university officials said. Martin is a graduate of then Bluefield State College, earning both an A.S. in Mechanical Engineering Technology as well as a B.S. in Mathematics Teacher Education. He continued his education at Radford University, where he received a M.S. in Educational Leadership and Administration. In 2000, Martin was awarded an Ed. D in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from Virginia Tech University. He lives in Bluefield, Va. with his wife, Dr. Serena Starcher, Superintendent of Raleigh County Schools and his four children and is an elder at Westminster Presbyterian Church. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An investiture ceremony will be planned for the near future where the university community and the public will have an opportunity to formally welcome Martin. Contact Greg Jordan at gjordan@bdtonline.com Contact Greg Jordan at gjordan@bdtonline.com Americans planning to do some holiday baking this year may have to scramble to track down a key ingredient. Some stores around the U.S. are running short of eggs, especially those operating in states that require eggs from cage-free hens, as cases of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) flare and the virus spreads from wild birds to commercial flocks. More than 40% of the nation's roughly 300 million egg-laying hens are raised in cage-free facilities, but roughly 60% of "bird flu" cases recently detected involved cage-free farms. "After two months of no outbreaks, we had them recently in Utah, Oregon, California and Washington, and three of those states are exclusively cage-free," Emily Metz, chief executive and president of the American Egg Board, told CBS MoneyWatch. "Where we are hearing reports of shortages it's at stores like a Whole Foods or a Trader Joe's." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After a brief respite from bird flu among commercial-egg producers, HPAI struck again starting in mid-October, resulting in the loss of 2.8 million birds. The nation's egg production fell 2.6% last month from a year ago and is projected to be down 1% this year versus 2023, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service recently said in a monthly report. The outbreaks, which began in January of 2022, have affected nearly 110 million chickens, turkeys and other birds, including wild, commercial and backyard flocks in 49 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That was the first time HPAI, also known as H5N1, had been detected in the U.S. since 2016. The return of bird flu is wiping out poultry populations at commercial facilities in multiple states, most recently striking more than a million egg-laying hens in California's Kern County, where HPAI had been confirmed in 2.2 million egg-laying hens the prior week, according to the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. More than 790,000 egg layers were also culled last week at a commercial operation in Arizona's Pinal County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How long do shortages last? The tighter egg supplies means the U.S. is experiencing "hyper-localized shortages that are very temporary and intermittent and that are corrected sometimes within a day," said Metz, whose board markets and promotes eggs and egg products. "There are local areas where supplies aren't quite as strong, so you might see pockets where shelves get picked over," said Bernt Nelson, an economist with the American Farm Bureau Federation. After HPAI-related shortages drove up egg prices in the spring, the virus is having the same impact this winter. Experts forecast that egg prices could stay elevated for the rest of the year and into 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As with the cost of other commodities, egg prices fluctuate with supply and demand, the latter of which has remained fairly stable over the year, regardless of cost, according to the Farm Bureau's Nelson. The egg board, however, said America's appetite for the protein has grown of late, rising steadily for 20 consecutive quarters. "We see egg prices ride the wave as bird flu comes and goes," Nelson said. Right now, "Bird flu infections are by far the biggest factor impacting egg prices." The national average for a dozen eggs is $3.37, up 30% from a year ago but lower than the January 2023 average of $4.82, the economist said. But some regions are seeing even higher prices. In California, white cage-free eggs were selling for about $5.26 a dozen last week up nearly 90% from $2.81 during the same time in 2023, according to the USDA. Despite the price spikes, Nelson and Metz advised consumers against hoarding a perishable product like eggs, emphasizing that shortages typically pass quickly as retailers replenish their supplies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Eggs keep in the fridge really well if you need them, go and get them," said Nelson. Added Metz, "There is a hen for almost every person in the U.S., if they are not in the supermarket today, come back tomorrow." Breaking down the best commercials from the Super Bowl Here's what could be behind surging flu cases, plus symptoms to watch New poll on Trump approval rating as steel, aluminum tariffs set Heavy snowfall has hit parts of western Europe, bringing serious disruption to traffic and forcing the Eiffel Tower to close temporarily. Emergency services in the south-western German state of Baden-Wurttemberg were called out to assist in more than 380 weather-related incidents within 18 hours, police said on Friday. A police spokesman said at least 30 people were wounded, mostly suffering minor injuries, with damage exceeding 1 million ($1.04 million). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Worst hit were the cities of Freiburg and Constance, where police were called out in 135 and 140 weather-related operations respectively between Thursday afternoon and Friday morning, they said. In neighbouring France, around 1,750 lorries were stuck on motorways, with the northern regions of Burgundy and Normandy most affected, Transport Minister Francois Durovray told broadcaster BFMTV. Hundreds of heavy-duty vehicles were stuck on difficult stretches after drivers reportedly ignored bans imposed due to the weather conditions. Many drivers were forced to spend the night in their vehicles. Rail traffic was also disrupted in France, where 200,000 households were also without power due to the weather according to supplier Enedis. In Paris, the Eiffel Tower was temporarily closed to visitors after being covered in rare snowfall. ELBA, Ala (WDHN) The last few days have been horribly painful for the family and friends of Susan Harrison, who lost her life in a car crash on Friday, just north of the Elba city limits. Jackie Stinson saw her just hours before. Susan was her best friend, roommate, and caretaker. Since I live here and all of her things are here, its still hard to put it behind me. She was a force, and I dont know anyone like her, but I loved her. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The crash occurred on Alabama 87, three miles north of Elba. Alabama State Troopers say the car Susan was driving left the road and hit a tree. Troopers say that she was not wearing a seatbelt at the time. READ MORE: Single-vehicle crash kills Elba woman Jackie says earlier that afternoon, Susan spent the day dancing to music and trying on outfits for a dinner date that night. That was the last time Jackie saw Susan. It was hard because I expected her to come in, but instead, I got a knock at the door from the state trooper. But she was so happy that night. I try to remember that; thats what keeps me going, Jackie said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jackie says Susan kept her going daily, taking care of her. They were both retired. She says Harrison helped her many years ago when Jackie was at her worst, mentally and physically. I have stage 4 COPD, and Im not in the best of health, so she was there for me, and I would like to say I was there for her. Jackie says Susan worked in radio for over 20 years at WVVL and WZTZ. She remembers her friend as a god-fearing woman with a heart of gold. If she had two dollars and you needed it, she would give it to you and say oh, I can get it back. Jackie says Susan loved her family unconditionally. She leaves behind sons, brother, and grandchildren. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats the things that brought her happiness, being with them. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDHN - wdhn.com. Becky Bohrer Associated Press JUNEAU, Alaska President-elect Donald Trump promised repeatedly during his campaign to expand oil drilling in the U.S., which is good news for political leaders in Alaska, where oil is the economic lifeblood and many felt the Biden administration has obstructed efforts to boost the state's diminished production. A debate over drilling on federal lands on Alaska's petroleum-rich North Slope will likely be revived in the coming months, particularly in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, which environmentalists have long sought to protect as one of the country's last wild places. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Saturday, Trump named Chris Wright a campaign donor, fossil fuel executive and vocal advocate of oil and gas development to serve as energy secretary in his second administration. The question of drilling on the refuge's coastal plain, as Trump sought to do during his first term, also divides Alaska Native communities. Some welcome the potential new revenue while others worry about how it will impact wildlife in an area they consider sacred. What is the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge? The largest wildlife refuge in the country covers an area of northeast Alaska roughly the size of South Carolina. It boasts a diverse landscape of mountains and glaciers, tundra plains, rivers and boreal forest, and is home to a variety of wildlife including polar bears, caribou, musk ox and birds. The fight over whether to drill in the refuge's coastal plain along the Beaufort Sea goes back decades. Drilling advocates say development could create thousands of jobs, generate billions of dollars in revenue, and spur U.S. oil production. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the U.S. Bureau of Land Management has said the coastal plain could contain 4.25 billion to 11.8 billion barrels of recoverable oil, there is limited information about the amount and quality of oil. And it's unclear whether companies will want to risk pursuing projects that could become mired in litigation. Environmentalists and climate scientists have pushed for a phase-out of fossil fuels to avert the worst consequences of climate change. The refuge is east of the oil fields in Prudhoe Bay and the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, where the Biden administration approved the controversial Willow oil project but also made about half the petroleum reserve off-limits to oil and gas leasing. Have there been efforts to drill in the refuge? An exploration well was drilled in the 1980s on lands where Alaska Native corporations held rights, but little information has been released about the results. Still, opening the coastal plain to drilling has been a longtime goal for members of Alaska's congressional delegation. In 2017, they added language to a tax bill mandating two oil and gas lease sales by late 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The first sale took place in the waning days of the last Trump administration, but President Joe Biden quickly called on Interior Secretary Deb Haaland to review the leasing program. That led to the cancelation of seven leases that had been acquired by the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority, a state corporation. Smaller companies gave up two other leases. Litigation is pending over the canceled leases. The Biden administration recently released a new environmental review, ahead of the deadline for the second required sale. It proposes offering what the Bureau of Land Management said would be the minimum acreage the 2017 law allows a proposal Alaskas Republican U.S. senators cast as a mockery of the law meant to encourage exploration. What do Alaska Natives want? There are sharp divisions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Leaders of the Inupiaq community of Kaktovik, which is within the refuge, support drilling. Gwichin officials in communities near the refuge have said they consider the coastal plain sacred. Caribou they rely on calve there. Galen Gilbert, first chief of Arctic Village Council, said the refuge should be off-limits to drilling. Arctic Village is a Neetsaii Gwichin community. We dont want to bother anybody. We dont want anything. We just want our way of life, not only for us, but for our future generations, Gilbert said. Leaders in Kaktovik have vowed to fight any attempt by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to designate the lands as sacred. Josiah Patkotak, mayor of the North Slope Borough, which includes Kaktovik, said in an October opinion piece that the land has never been Gwichin territory. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The federal government must understand that any attempt to undermine our sovereignty will be met with fierce resistance, he wrote. Oil is vital to the economic wellbeing of North Slope communities, said Nagruk Harcharek, president of Voice of the Arctic Inupiat, a nonprofit advocacy group whose members include leaders from that region. Responsible development has long coexisted with subsistence lifestyles, he said. After Trump's election, what might change? In a video posted on X by Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy, Trump said he would work to ensure a natural gas pipeline project long sought by state political leaders is built. The project, opposed by environmentalists, has floundered over the years due to changes in direction under various governors, cost concerns and other factors. While voters might not have been head over heels for Trump, they appreciated that his policies, when they come to resource development, are clearly policies that work to benefit an economy like Alaskas, Trump critic U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski told reporters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So I would anticipate that we would see, again, a return to greater economic opportunities through resource development, she said. Dunleavy said Trump could undo restrictions imposed by the Biden administration on new oil and gas leasing on 13 million acres (5.3 million hectares) of the petroleum reserve. Harcharek's group sued over the restrictions, arguing that the region's elected leaders had been ignored. Erik Grafe, an attorney for Earthjustice in Alaska, said the petroleum reserve was not set aside to get oil out at all costs. Other important resources must be considered and afforded protections under the law, he said. Oil is not the future and it cant be, Grafe said. The state needs to start thinking of a Plan B, post-oil. ELLWOOD CITY, Pa. (WKBN) An Ellwood City nail salon was fined and given a public reprimand by the Pennsylvania Department of State for what it called grossly incompetent actions. Nails Spa was given a $6,600 civil penalty and ordered to stop possessing methyl methacrylate (MMA) and metal credo tools. MMA is a resin commonly used in artificial nail products, dentistry and the production of plastics. Credo tools are used to remove callused skin. The violations were cited in the agencys latest disciplinary actions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An investigation also said the salon operated in a grossly incompetent and unethical manner by offering prohibited services, namely waxing, without a license. The agency said the salon employed some unlicensed workers and didnt keep clean towels in a closed container. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. When these two signs come together, it's often a tale of opposites attracting, but not without their fair share of challenges. Capricorns, with their practical and pragmatic approach, may find Libras' indecisiveness and tendency to overthink frustrating. Libras, on the other hand, may feel stifled by Capricorns' rigid adherence to structure and their aversion to spontaneity. Navigating the Emotional Landscape One of the primary areas of tension between Libra and Capricorn lies in their emotional expression and needs. Libras are more open and expressive with their feelings, craving validation and emotional connection. Capricorns, however, tend to be more reserved and guarded, prioritizing logic and practicality over emotional vulnerability. This mismatch can lead to misunderstandings and a lack of emotional intimacy if not addressed. Advertisement Balancing Priorities and Perspectives Another key area of difference between Libra and Capricorn is their priorities and perspectives on life. Libras are often drawn to beauty, art, and social harmony, while Capricorns are laser-focused on their career goals and achieving tangible success. This disparity in values can create conflicts when it comes to decision-making, resource allocation, and the overall direction of the relationship. Navigating Communication Challenges Libras and Capricorns also face challenges in their communication styles. Libras prefer a more diplomatic, indirect approach, often avoiding confrontation, while Capricorns value direct, no-nonsense communication. This clash in communication preferences can lead to misunderstandings, frustration, and a breakdown in effective dialogue if not addressed proactively. Earlier this week, I wrote about the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, and its vague but audacious plans for reforming the executive branch after President-elect Donald Trumps victory. Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, the two men leading the project, have largely spoken about it only in hazy termsat least until now. The clarity that they have offered is unlikely to satisfy its critics or doubters, to say the least. In a Wall Street Journal op-ed on Wednesday, Musk and Ramaswamy elaborated in more detail about their plans to reverse a decadeslong executive power grab and reshape the federal government. They claimed to have a mandate not only from the American people but also from the Supreme Court in their quest to dismantle federal regulatory agencies. And they advanced legally questionable arguments for how they could accomplish it. The op-ed opens with a certain lack of self-awareness. Our nation was founded on the basic idea that the people we elect run the government, the two men wrote. They depicted an America where most policy decisions arent made by the democratically elected president and his political appointees but by millions of unelected, unappointed civil servants within government agencies who view themselves as immune from firing thanks to civil-service protections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Taking on these nefarious civil servants are two unelected, unappointed men who aspire to wield unaccountable influenceDOGE, despite its name, is not a government agencywho also cannot be fired. We are entrepreneurs, not politicians, they wrote. We will serve as outside volunteers, not federal officials or employees. Unlike government commissions or advisory committees, we wont just write reports or cut ribbons. Well cut costs. The irony was apparently lost on them. To accomplish this, they suggest that they would identify and hire a lean team of small-government crusaders to be housed within the White House Office of Management and Budget, who would presumably be doing much of the real work. As outside volunteers, Musk and Ramaswamy cant actually cut anything or fire anyone. They would simply make recommendations for othersTrump, Congress, federal agency heads, anyone with actual powerto do it. At the same time, the two men act as if they will take a much more direct, personal role in all of this. Unlike those pesky civil servants, they would do so while carrying a wide range of obvious conflicts of interest and opportunities for corrupt self-enrichment. Broadly speaking, Musk and Ramaswamy have three stated goals. The first one is to massively reduce the number of federal regulations. They argued that two recent Supreme Court rulingsWest Virginia v. Environmental Protection Agency in 2022 and Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo earlier this yearcompel them toward action. Together, these cases suggest that a plethora of current federal regulations exceed the authority Congress has granted under the law, they wrote. The Supreme Court suggested no such thing. In the West Virginia case, the Supreme Court struck down a defunct Obama-era plan for regulating power-plant emissions and limited the Environmental Protection Agencys power to enact future regulations of those emissions. The conservative majority invoked the major-questions doctrine to argue that Congress hadnt spoken clearly enough to grant the agency the power to issue such a consequential ruling. Contrary to what Musk and Ramaswamy suggest, the court said that this doctrine was reserved for certain extraordinary cases, suggesting that most federal regulations would not fall under its scope. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Loper Bright is much more consequential: The justices used that case to overturn the Chevron doctrine, which had required courts to defer to federal agencies when interpreting the scope of those agencies regulatory portfolio. That will have major consequences for when courts review new regulations in the future. At the same time, the conservative majority asserted that old court decisions will generally remain intact. We do not call into question prior cases that relied on the Chevron framework, the court explained. The holdings of those cases that specific agency actions are lawfulincluding the Clean Air Act holding of Chevron itselfare still subject to statutory stare decisis despite our change in interpretive methodology. How would these regulations be eliminated? Musk and Ramaswamy said that DOGE will work with legal experts embedded in government agencies who are aided by advanced technology to create lists of regulations that they think are invalid. (They did not elaborate upon the advanced technology they plan to use.) From there, Trump would use the list to immediately pause enforcement of the targeted regulations and initiate the process for review and rescission of them. This would liberate individuals and businesses from illicit regulations never passed by Congress and stimulate the U.S. economy, Musk and Ramaswamy claimed. Presidents cannot simply make federal regulations disappear via executive order. The Administrative Procedures Act, or APA, and other federal laws typically set out the bureaucratic process for crafting regulations. Rescinding a regulation generally requires the agency to go through the same process as creating one. Failure to follow this process can lead a federal court to invalidate those efforts. Trump and his allies are well aware of this: Their sloppy approach to the regulatory process led to dozens of defeats in court during his first term. One aspect of this scheme that sticks out is the claim that Musk and Ramaswamy would use advanced technology to decide which regulations to cut. If that is a reference to artificial intelligence programs, then it could be a serious mistake. Not only are AI programs generally untrustworthy and unreliable, but they are ill-suited to complex legal work. Judges have had to castigate lawyers for filing AI-written briefs that included fake citations to nonexistent court cases. Using AI to throw out existing regulations would practically invite legal challenges under the APAs arbitrary and capricious standard. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then again, they might need AI because of the shortage of human workers that the pair plans to engineer. Their second goal is to substantially reduce the number of federal employees. DOGE intends to work with embedded appointees in agencies to identify the minimum number of employees required at an agency for it to perform its constitutionally permissible and statutorily mandated functions, the two men wrote. They argued that this goal goes hand in hand with the aforementioned deregulatory push, claiming that fewer regulations means that there will be fewer civil servants needed to enforce them. There are some things that the Trump administration could lawfully attempt to do to reduce the number of civil servants. One option would be reduction through attrition by imposing a hiring freeze on new federal employees. When Trump tried imposing one three days into his first term, however, it faced a chaotic rollout and had numerous exemptions. He eventually scrapped it four months later for practical reasons. Another would be to end work-from-home policies for most federal employees, which has often led to departures in private-sector companies that tried to reverse the post-Covid trend. The Trump administration, via the Office of Personnel Management, would almost certainly be able to end federal work-from-home policies that became popular during the Covid-19 pandemic. Every agency has different work-from-home rules, however, so its not clear how impactful such a change would be. During his first term, Trump also sought to relocate some federal agencies as a backdoor means of downsizing their workforces. The Trump administration moved the headquarters of the Bureau of Land Management from D.C. to Grand Junction, Colorado, in 2019, prompting most of the affected workforce to be reassigned elsewhere within the federal government. Since the agencys legal obligations remained intact, however, ProPublica reported that the relocation made it more difficult for the agency to finalize some policy changes that had been sought by the Trump administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All of this would not be enough to fit with DOGEs ambitions. Musk and Ramaswamy, who have no legal background or government experience, argued that the presidents power to carry out mass firings is greater than most people think. Federal civil service laws could make such a maneuver difficult, but the two men argued that Trump could get around those laws using one phrase from the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978, which says that the president may prescribe rules governing the competitive service. That power is broad, Musk and Ramaswamy claimed. Previous presidents have used it to amend the civil service rules by executive order, and the Supreme Court has heldin Franklin v. Massachusetts (1992) and Collins v. Yellen (2021)that they werent constrained by the Administrative Procedures Act when they did so. They argued that Trump could cite this language to enact large-scale firings, force the relocation of federal agencies, and compel civil servants to return to the office five days a week. Here, its worth noting that while Musk and Ramaswamy are listed as co-authors on this op-ed, much of its language and reasoning seems to come from Ramaswamy, who advocated for similar tactics against federal regulatory agencies during his brief presidential campaign last year and this spring. The former biotech executive told an audience at the America First Policy Institute in 2023 that he believed, based on his own research, that mass layoffs could circumvent federal civil service protections. If you actually read the U.S. Code in full, they dont apply to mass layoffs [that] they call reductions in force, Ramaswamy said at the time. And large-scale reductions in force are absolutely the method that Ill be using. By only reading the U.S. Code, which is not actually federal law, Ramaswamy may have missed language in congressional appropriations bills that restricts executive-branch officials from relocating or downsizing many agencies without lawmakers approval. It is also questionable whether the White House could effectively eliminate a congressionally established agency simply by laying off its entire workforce. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A separation-of-powers battle is even more inherent to their third and final series of proposals, which call for massive cuts to government spending. Any American who watched Schoolhouse Rock as a kid knows that the power of the purse belongs to Congress, which has the power to fund or defund federal agencies as it wishes. Musk and Ramaswamy see the basic framework of the Republic as an obstacle to be overcome instead of a process to be followed. Skeptics question how much federal spending DOGE can tame through executive action alone, they wrote in the op-ed, with considerable understatement. Those skeptics typically note that the Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 generally forbids a president from not spending funds that were authorized and appropriated by Congress. Lawmakers enacted the law to constrain Richard Nixon, who autocratically tried to defund specific programs created by Congress on his own whims. Musk and Ramaswamy would simply ignore that law. Mr. Trump has previously suggested this statute is unconstitutional, and we believe the current Supreme Court would likely side with him on this question, they wrote. I cant really blame Trumpworld for assuming that the justices will act like a Pez dispenser of favorable rulings for them. But this one might go too far. The Supreme Court already drew a sharp line against a presidential line-item veto in the 1990s despite bipartisan support for it. Just this year, the justices also emphasized Congresss broad discretion over how it structures appropriations when they turned back a right-wing challenge to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureaus budgetary structure. DOGE might have more success on cutting government spendingor any of its other priorities, for that matterif it worked with Congress to enact them through legislation. House Republicans have even taken steps to facilitate this process: Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene said this week that she would chair a DOGE-themed subcommittee when the new Congress takes power in January. With Republican control of both chambers, it should theoretically be easier than ever to come up with major legislative reforms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the long, difficult work of writing legislation is a poor fit for DOGEs incoherent knee-jerk ideological vision. Musk and Ramaswamy complained about executive overreach by regulators while proposing to use executive powers in legally dubious ways to deregulate en masse. They claimed that the president owes lawmaking deference to Congress, not to bureaucrats deep within federal agencies while suggesting that the president should simply ignore laws passed by Congress. And they denounce unelected civil servants as if they themselves hold public office. Indeed, the vision seems to be not that the people we elect run the government, as the op-ed claims, but that rich and well-connected people should and do run it instead. Musk spent an estimated $200 million of his considerable fortune to help send Trump back to the White House this year. In return for that help, Trump has apparently given Musk free rein to reshape federal agencies that regulate Musks companies and purge the civil service that awards him lucrative government contracts. DOGE is not aiming to eliminate a wasteful, lawless, and antidemocratic bureaucracy in Washingtonit is hoping to become one. Elon Musk is so excited to start his new gig ruining the federal government that hes getting an early start by goading his millions of followers to cyberbully government employees. This week, Musk took aim at Ashley Thomas, the director of climate diversification for the U.S. International Finance Corporationa highly technical role that involves developing ways of securing agriculture and infrastructure against extreme weather, one agency official told The Wall Street Journal. After a right-wing troll account posted on X drawing attention to Thomass position, Musk reposted it, noting that there were So many fake jobs. Ironic, coming from a CEO. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speaking of fake jobs, last week, Donald Trump announced that Musk would be co-heading the Department of Government Efficiency, an advisory board set on slashing the government budget by a trillion dollars, hoping to cut personnel and essential government services so they can be snatched up by government contractors or outsourced to private companies owned by billionaires like Musk. Musks decision to sic his millions of X followers on a specific individual, whose only crime seems to be having a job that Musk in all his infinite tech bro wisdom doesnt understand, isnt just cruel, its dangerous. In 2022, Musk targeted Yoel Roth, who was Twitters head of trust and safety, suggesting that Roth was endangering children, leading to his hordes of haters accusing Roth of being a pedophile and calling for his death. Roth was chased out of the company after Musks acquisition and had to relocate as a result of the billionaires cyber campaign. Musks mob mayhem is also a sign of whats to come. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Government Employees, told the Journal that Musks tactics are aimed at sowing terror and fear at federal employees. Its intended to make them fearful that they will become afraid to speak up. Kelley also pointed out that federal employees are a hell of a lot cheaper than government contractors. Household energy bills will jump by 21 from January in a fresh blow for millions of pensioners who face the loss of winter fuel payments. Ofgems announcement on Friday means the price cap will rise from 1,717 a year for a typical dual-fuel household paying by direct debit to 1,738 from January 1. There had been hopes that the price cap would be unchanged or even decline but predictions of a cold winter are instead pushing global gas prices upwards. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Energy Secretary Ed Miliband blamed the rise on the UKs dependence on fossil fuels. He said: As long as Britain remains exposed to the rollercoaster of global fossil fuel markets, we will be vulnerable to energy price rises over which we have no control. The Governments clean energy mission is the only way to take back control of our energy, with cheaper and more secure power, out of the grip of dictators like Putin. The change to the price cap - which sets a maximum rate per unit and standing charge that can be billed to customers for their energy use - means the average household will pay on average around an extra 1.75 a month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite the rise from Octobers price cap, the limit on average bills in January will still be 10pc (190) cheaper compared to the same time a year earlier, when the cap stood at 1,928. It will be 57.2pc less than the cap two years ago, during the energy crisis, when average annual bills were capped at 2,321 from January to March 2023. Tim Jarvis, director general of markets at Ofgem, said the best way for consumers to cut their bills was to shop around for better tariffs. He said: Our reliance on volatile international markets - which are affected by factors such as events in Russia and the Middle East means the cost of energy will continue to fluctuate. So its more important than ever to stay focused on building a renewable, home-grown energy system to bring costs down and give households stability. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While todays change means the cap has remained relatively stable, we understand that the cost of energy remains a challenge for too many households. However, with more tariffs coming into the market, there are ways for customers to bring their bill down so please shop around and look at all the options. Ed Miliband said energy bills were rising because of Britains reliance on fossil fuels - Sean Gallup/Getty Images The increase will add to growing pressure on Labour over its decision to cut the winter fuel allowance of 300 so that only pensioners eligible for other benefits get the handout. The change means an estimated 10 million households will lose out on the benefit. Newly published government analysis has found that the measure could force 100,000 pensioners in England and Wales into relative fuel poverty this year. The analysis was published earlier this week just as temperatures plunged and parts of the UK experienced their first snowfall of the year. Simon Francis, coordinator of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, said: Households will have to find more money to keep themselves warm at the worst possible time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To make matters worse, the new Government has cut back the levels of support available to some of the most at risk households. Caroline Abrahams, Director at Age UK, added: Older people, struggling without their Winter Fuel Payment, who were praying for a reduction in energy prices to help them in the New Year, will be bitterly disappointed today. Shadow energy secretary Claire Coutinho said the rise in the energy price cap shows Labours reckless energy policies were making families worse off. She said: During the election Ed Miliband promised to cut everyones energy bills by 300 by 2030. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, not only is this promise nowhere to be seen, but he even ordered Labour MPs to vote against it in Parliament - running away from their broken promises once again. Instead, Labours reckless energy policies and their cruel plan to scrap the Winter Fuel Payment for 10 million pensioners is leaving families worse off - as we are already starting to see. Analysts Cornwall Insight offered a glimmer of hope, suggesting bills will reduce slightly by 1.4pc in April falling to 1,713 per year for a typical dual fuel user, before dipping slightly again in July. It said the key cause of price volatility was the price of gas which is impacted by geopolitical events such as the Middle East conflict, the Ukraine war and the US elections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Principal Consultant Dr Craig Lowrey said: This latest increase in the price cap underlines the continuing volatility of the energy market, which is still experiencing the lingering effects of the energy crisis. Theres little point in waiting for the market to settle on its own - theres no going back to so-called normal prices, unfortunately, this is the new reality. Any reform of the price cap will be just one piece of the solution - whats urgently needed is a comprehensive approach, including targeted support such as social tariffs and sustained investment in domestic renewable energy sources, to help shield consumers from ongoing market shocks. Read the latest updates below. 11:03 AM GMT Look around for affordable energy deals, says Ofgem Ofgem has urged people to make the most of any state benefits they are entitled to, which could help with paying energy bills as well as the wider cost of living. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Around 1.4 million pensioners are already receiving pension credit, but the Government estimates up to 880,000 further households are eligible for the support for those with a low income. People receiving pension credit qualify for the winter fuel payment worth up to 300, to help with bills. Previously, anyone over state pension age could receive the payment, but this was changed by the new Government, meaning about 10 million pensioners will miss out this year. Tim Jarvis, director general of markets at Ofgem, said: Anyone struggling with bills should speak to their supplier to make sure theyre getting the help they need and look around to make sure theyre on the best, most affordable deal for them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thanks for following our coverage of the energy price cap announcement. Heres a guide to whether you should fix your energy bills. 10:36 AM GMT Labour running away from broken promises, says Coutinho The rise in the energy price cap shows Labours reckless energy policies are making families worse off, according to the shadow energy secretary. Claire Coutinho said: During the election Ed Miliband promised to cut everyones energy bills by 300 by 2030. Now, not only is this promise nowhere to be seen, but he even ordered Labour MPs to vote against it in Parliament - running away from their broken promises once again. Instead, Labours reckless energy policies and their cruel plan to scrap the Winter Fuel Payment for 10 million pensioners is leaving families worse off - as we are already starting to see. Claire Coutinho said Ed Miliband and Labour were running away from their broken promises once again - Geoff Pugh for the Telegraph 10:12 AM GMT There isnt any point in insulating homes if there isnt any heat inside them The Government is dragging Britain into the Stone Ages, ruining the countryside with unsightly wind turbines that provide hardly any energy, Telegraph readers have said after the increase in the energy price cap. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here is a selection of comments from your fellow readers and you can join the debate below: 09:51 AM GMT Energy prices still 50pc higher than before Putins invasion of Ukraine Energy bills remain about 50pc higher than before the energy crisis triggered by Vladimir Putins decision to invade Ukraine. The energy price cap stood at 1,216 from October 2021 to March 2022, before Russias invasion sent energy bills surging. National Energy Action chief executive Adam Scorer said: Todays news that the price cap is rising by 1.2pc will impact millions of vulnerable households. With temperatures now plunging and far less support available many are getting deeper into debt trying to keep warm. Now we know there will be no let up into January and beyond. Targeted government support is essential to save millions from the misery and danger of a cold home. 09:31 AM GMT Higher price cap bitter pill for disabled people David Southgate, policy manager at disability equality charity Scope, said: This is a bitter pill to swallow for the many disabled people who face sky-high bills because they have no choice but to use more energy. Life costs a lot more when youre disabled, because of needing to use more heating to stay warm and healthy, or charging vital equipment like wheelchairs and breathing machines. Our disability energy support services are hearing from disabled people who have cut back everything they can and racked up huge amounts of debt. The government urgently needs to step in and bring in discounted energy bills for disabled people. 09:04 AM GMT Use an electric blanket to keep gas bill down, says energy boss The boss of Octopus Energy suggested that pensioners struggling with their energy bills would be better off using an electric blanket this winter. Greg Jackson told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: We send 65,000 free electric blankets to people. In weather like this, if people are worried about their heating, they can stay warmer and healthier much more cheaply by snuggling up on an electric blanket for a while. So lots of things you can do. He rejected the suggestion that the move was tokenism in lieu of setting up a discounted social tariffs for those on benefits. Mr Jackson said: Theyre not tokenism. It saves 300 a year on your gas bill during the crisis and keeps you warm and safe. Now look, Id much rather we did what really matters, which is system reform. Today our prices are way too high because, first of all, were way too dependent on the internationally traded gas price. Its currently three times higher than it was in 2020. Secondly, our electricity market is so inefficient that when were building wind farms, instead of them bringing down our prices, we pay them to switch off when its windy. Greg Jackson said his company sends out 65,000 free electric blankets to customers - REUTERS/Hollie Adams 08:38 AM GMT Price cap rise: should you fix your energy bills? As of Jan 1, a typical household will pay 1,738 a year for their energy bills, when the next price cap rise is due to kick in. This is an increase of 1pc, or 21 over a year from the current 1,717 price cap. This will be in place until March 31, and means energy prices will stay high for the duration of the winter months. Experts had initially predicted that the cap could fall slightly in January. But analysts Cornwall Insight have now said that prices are unlikely to fall significantly in the near future. Our reporter Tom Haynes tells you all you need to know. 08:19 AM GMT More people than ever battling energy debt, warns Citizens Advice Citizens Advice chief executive Dame Clare Moriarty said more people than ever have come to them with energy debt this year. Asked on BBC Radio 4s Today programme how many people are struggling and what impact the household energy bills further rise will have, she said: Well, were really worried, because we, at Citizens Advice, have been seeing nearly three years worth of the cost of living crisis and how that squeezed peoples finances, and were seeing that showing up in increasing levels of energy debt. So weve had more people than ever before come to us this year with energy debt. Energy debt is now the most common type of debt that we deal with, and its not just the numbers of people, its also the levels of debt that people are in that are rising. So for bills to remain at this high level, so its two-thirds higher than it was before the start of the energy crisis, and with an expectation that theyll remain at that level for the foreseeable future, were just expecting to see people continuing to be really squeezed, particularly families with children, particularly disabled people, and for that, to be facing impossible choices. So thats why were saying there needs to be targeted support from the Government for people who are on low incomes, with high energy needs, who are in the most desperate circumstances. Asked what effect scrapping the winter fuel allowance for all but the poorest pensioners will have, Dame Clare said: Well, there are clearly going to be a group of pensioners for whom that is going to have a really serious impact. 08:05 AM GMT Bills will reduce from April, analysts predict Analysts Cornwall Insight do offer slightly more positive prospects, with bills predicted to reduce slightly by 1.4pc in April falling to 1,713 per year for a typical dual fuel user, before dipping slightly again in July. It said the key cause of price volatility was the price of gas which is impacted by geopolitical events such as the Middle East conflict, the Ukraine war and the US elections. Dr Craig Lowrey, principal consultant at Cornwall Insight, said: This latest increase in the price cap underlines the continuing volatility of the energy market, which is still experiencing the lingering effects of the energy crisis. Theres little point in waiting for the market to settle on its own - theres no going back to so-called normal prices, unfortunately, this is the new reality. Any reform of the price cap will be just one piece of the solution - whats urgently needed is a comprehensive approach, including targeted support such as social tariffs and sustained investment in domestic renewable energy sources, to help shield consumers from ongoing market shocks. 07:56 AM GMT What is the Ofgem price cap? Ofgem changes the price cap for households every three months, largely based on the cost of energy on wholesale markets, with the regulator confirming the level for the first quarter of next year on November 22. The energy price cap was introduced by the Government in January 2019 and sets a maximum price that energy suppliers can charge consumers in England, Scotland and Wales for each kilowatt hour (kWh) of energy they use. It does not limit total bills, because householders still pay for the amount of energy they consume. Ofgem is also currently considering the future of price protection, including the suitability of the price cap and a potential permanent ban on so-called acquisition tariffs - cheaper prices for new customers to lure them away from their existing supplier. 07:38 AM GMT Price cap 10pc lower than same time last year The change to the price cap - which sets a maximum rate per unit and standing charge that can be billed to customers for their energy use - means the average household will pay on average around an extra 1.75 a month. For an average household paying by direct debit for dual fuel this equates to 1,738 per year. This is 10pc (190) cheaper compared to the price cap set which came into force on January 1 this year, which stood at 1,928. It is 57.2pc less than the cap two years ago, during the energy crisis, when average annual bills were capped at 2,321 from January to March 2023. Chart of the day It's still right to worry about the *level* of #energy prices, but at least the new #Ofgem cap won't increase the annual rate of #inflation: the 1.2% rise in Jan will be smaller than the 5.1% rise a year earlier, when bills were also higher (1,928 v 1,738). pic.twitter.com/tVf02MDMcl Julian Jessop (@julianHjessop) November 22, 2024 07:26 AM GMT Price cap rise deals another blow to pensioners after winter fuel allowance cut Caroline Abrahams, director at Age UK, said the loss of the pensioners winter fuel allowance plus another price rise, would hit pensioners hard. She said: Older people, struggling without their Winter Fuel Payment, who were praying for a reduction in energy prices to help them in the New Year, will be bitterly disappointed today. The news that the energy price cap is instead slightly rising is the latest in a series of blows for pensioners living on a low or modest income, who do not receive Pension Credit because they dont claim it or are not eligible. There are millions of older people in this situation and we know that many are hoping against hope that something will turn up to help ease their situation over the next few months, when the weather is at its coldest. 07:18 AM GMT Households will have to find more money, say fuel poverty campaigners Simon Francis, coordinator of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, said plummeting temperatures and another price rise marked four years of winter energy crises. He said: Households will have to find more money to keep themselves warm at the worst possible time. To make matters worse, the new Government has cut back the levels of support available to some of the most at risk households. Thats why it is so vital the ministers bring in more support for vulnerable households this winter and speed up plans to bring in a social tariff for next winter - a move that is backed by the vast majority of voters. 07:12 AM GMT Fossil fuel rollercoaster behind rising energy bills, says Miliband Energy Secretary Ed Miliband blamed the rise in the energy price cap on the UKs dependence on fossil fuels. He said: The rise in the energy price cap will cause concern for families struggling with the cost of living. That is why the Government will do all we can to help people. We are taking action to insulate homes, providing the Warm Home Discount to three million families, driving increased take up of pension credit, and working with suppliers to ensure there is help available for the most vulnerable customers. As long as Britain remains exposed to the rollercoaster of global fossil fuel markets, we will be vulnerable to energy price rises over which we have no control. The Governments clean energy mission is the only way to take back control of our energy, with cheaper and more secure power, out of the grip of dictators like Putin. That is why we are acting at speed on this mission to give families the energy security they deserve. Every wind turbine and solar panel we install, every home we insulate will help to protect consumers and bring down bills once and for all. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband blamed fossil fuels for rising bills - Sean Gallup/Getty Images 07:03 AM GMT Cost of energy remains a challenge to many households, says Ofgem With the price cap poised to rise by 21 from January, Tim Jarvis, director general of markets at Ofgem, said: While todays change means the cap has remained relatively stable, we understand that the cost of energy remains a challenge for too many households. However, with more tariffs coming into the market, there are ways for customers to bring their bill down so please shop around and look at all the options. Our reliance on volatile international markets - which are affected by factors such as events in Russia and the Middle East means the cost of energy will continue to fluctuate. So its more important than ever to stay focused on building a renewable, home-grown energy system to bring costs down and give households stability. In the short term though, anyone struggling with bills should speak to their supplier to make sure theyre getting the help they need and look around to make sure theyre on the best, most affordable deal for them. 07:01 AM GMT Energy price cap rises as Starmer pulls winter fuel payments Good morning. The regulator Ofgem has increased the average annual energy for British households to 1,738. The 21 rise in the price cap from 1,717 a year comes into effect from January 1. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. An investigation is underway after a New England couple says their guns were removed from checked baggage on a flight bound for Boston earlier this week. Chelsey Simoni and her husband departed North Carolinas Charlotte Douglas International Airport on a Delta flight on Monday night and upon landing at Bostons Logan International Airport, they discovered their custom firearms valued at about $4,000 were missing. Despite following every TSA guideline for properly transporting and storing firearms, Simoni told WBTV that the locks on her checked handgun cases were gone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You know, I definitely advise people to drive if theyre going to take their firearms somewhere, Simoni told the news outlet. I dont advise they fly, because this is a significant moral burden on me right now that I dont wish on anybody. Police reportedly told the couple that the weapons were removed from their cases before the plane took off from Charlotte. The TSA, Delta, and Charlotte airport officials are investigating. The guns have still not been located. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Tweed isnt exclusive to the holidays, but it certainly makes every outfit feel merrier come December. Royals, in particular, seem to favor the versatile material, with everyone from Princess Kate to Duchess Meghan offering their own takes on the trend. As for Queen Letizia of Spain, she put a modern spin on the traditional holiday look with an elegant choice of outerwear. Earlier this week, Letizia attended the Luis Carandell Journalism Awards ceremony, which was held at the Palace of the Senate in Madrid. For the occasion, she rewore a maroon-and-white collarless tweed jacketa Carolina Herrera piece that she had previously worn during a January 2024 visit to the Association for the Prevention, Reintegration, and Care of Prostituted Women headquarters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Letizia paired the colorful jacket with sensible black pieces, including flowy straight-leg pants and glossy leather boots with a chunky block heel. But, the real showstopper of the day was her long collarless cape coat, which draped down past her shoulders and hit right below her knees. She rounded out the look with a black leather top-handle bag and bejeweled hoop earrings. Paolo Blocco - Getty Images Paolo Blocco - Getty Images Paolo Blocco - Getty Images Looking for a way to royally spice up your own outfit this holiday season? Shop similar styles to Letizias cape coat below. Buckle-Trim Wool-Blend Cape Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement $290.00 at ralphlauren.com Wool-Blend Cape $170.00 at cos.com Fluffy Cashmere Blend Cape $3780.00 at saksfifthavenue.com Cashmere Shimmer Double-Knit Cape $82.00 at neimanmarcus.com The queen is a proponent of rewearing old pieces in her closet. For instance, while attending the presentation of the National Radio for Everyone service this past October, Letizia showed up in a sleek lilac suit designed by Spanish label Bleis Madrid. The set is one of the royals go-to looks, with Letizia previously having worn the suit during outings in June 2024 and September 2021. You Might Also Like It was 7pm last Friday. The Piccadilly line train, waiting at Hyde Park Corner, was packed with people heading towards the West End. Just as the Tube doors started beeping, indicating they were about to close, a man in a hood and a mask thundered along the carriage, thrust his leather gloves in my friends face, snatched her phone and dived off again. The timing was perfect; the audacity breathtaking. As the train pulled out seconds later, Holly could barely comprehend what had just happened to her. A woman sitting opposite burst into tears at the shock. I still find it hard to fathom. It was early evening. Plenty of people were around, heading towards Green Park for dinners and weekend festivities. There are (supposedly) cameras on the underground network. Its madly common now to hear of thieves on mopeds snatching mobile phones from pedestrians hands as they loiter on pavements. Around me in south-east London, parents have started organising rotas to accompany their kids home from school every afternoon because theyre sick of their phones being mugged (if yet another reason was needed to delay giving teenagers mobile phones, this is surely one of them). But on the Tube at 7pm? With so many witnesses? I dont want to sound hysterical, but is this not a bleak new low? Holly emerged at Green Park and explained what had happened to a Tube worker at the top of the escalators because she uses Apple Pay on her phone and couldnt get through the gates without it. Ill let you through, the TFL employee murmured, apparently not hugely bothered or surprised about what had happened underground. Holly also reported it to the police but, at the time of writing, was yet to hear anything back. From what others have told me, Ill get an email in a day or so saying case closed because they cant do anything about it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her assailant, she presumes, must have been waiting at the other end of the carriage, scrutinising likely targets. If you happen to be on a Tube or train any time soon, glance around. Youll notice that most people are on their phones. Many (most?) of us are now incapable of sitting peacefully on our journey or commute without constantly scrolling on it. I often feel absurdly smug when Im reading a book, but Im quite as bad as everyone else with my phone at other moments. And anyway you can read books on phones now, so for all I know that commuter frowning at his iPhone is trudging through Dostoyevsky. Point being, were sitting ducks for modern day Artful Dodgers; babies in our seats, lost in our screens, entirely ignorant of whats going on around us whether its a woman standing in the aisle wearing a Baby on Board badge, or a thief. According to the most recent figures, a phone is now pinched in London every six minutes. Given the stories one hears that almost doesnt sound often enough to me. Every six seconds, surely? Having returned to the office this week and reported her Friday evening ordeal to colleagues, Holly was deluged with similar stories. One colleague has seen two phones snatched on Oxford Street recently; not so long ago, another had his mugged by one of the aforementioned moped opportunists. Earlier this month, a businessman leaving the Houses of Parliament had his phone snatched by a robber on an electric bike, which are apparently also fuelling a rise in thefts since you can make a quick getaway on them, and e-bikes for hire now clutter every London pavement. Acting instinctively, the businessman bravely flung himself on the back wheel but caught his hand in the spokes and later needed 12 stitches in his hand and wrist after being gored. Although the bandit did throw back his phone, so not all was lost. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Over the weekend, it emerged that Sir Mo Farah has also recently taken on a phone thief by chasing a white van which had driven off with his. They, too, threw it back at him. But what if youre not an Olympic athlete, or you dont want to fling yourself on the back of a fast-moving e-bike? Its so depressing, Hols said after the drama this week, I feel a bit on edge. I felt the same after my phone was pilfered from my pocket a couple of Christmases ago. If people were still in the business of telling others theyd asked for it, then this could perhaps have applied to me since Id had a few glasses of red wine, and I was crossing a packed Leicester Square. But the thief must have been quick (and presumably sober) since he only had a hundred metres or so to catch me before I tottered into the Tube station. Bang, my phone was gone. I had to fall on the mercy of another TFL worker to get home (how many are now begged by victims who cant even get themselves out of a station because of the total reliance on our phones? For paying for things, for tickets, for directions, for everything). It was an administrative nightmare for 24 hours as I tried to exist without it, but fortunately another phone was soon despatched thanks to insurance. I reported it to the police too, but only for a crime reference number because thats what the insurers needed. I didnt hear any follow up from the coppers, although I later traced my phone to an address not far from Leicester Square, and from there to Shenzhen, the tech hub which is often referred to as Chinas Silicon Valley, where theyre resold or used for parts. Perhaps weve all become far too casual about flashing around these devices, often worth over a thousand quid. But I dont think we can be blamed for trying to do a few emails on the Tube on a Friday night. That cant be asking for it, can it? But what can we do if masked men are now swaggering along carriages plucking phones from peoples hands like magpies, and were not as fast as Sir Mo? 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. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) The El Paso Independent School District will be closing eight schools over two years to deal with a budget deficit. A divided school board voted 4-3 late Tuesday night, Nov. 19, to move forward with the closures. Here is a list of affected schools: Phase 1 (2025-2026): Carlos Rivera Elementary; Lamar Elementary; Newman Elementary; Putnam Elementary; Rusk Elementary; and Zavala Elementary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Phase 2 (2026-2027) Stanton Elementary and Travis Elmentary. EPISD Superintendent Diana Diana Sayavedra issued the following statement about the closures, saying, Change isnt always easy, but it is necessary: On Tuesday, the El Paso ISD Board of Trustees made a significant decision to approve the Destination District Redesign (DDR) recommendation plan, which includes the closure of eight campuses, across two phases, starting in the 202526 school year. While this decision was necessary to preserve and strengthen our district and ensure our students have access to a high-quality public education, we understand that it is a challenging reality for all of us. Our schools are more than just buildings they are places where memories are made, friendships are forged, dreams are realized, and communities come together. I am committed to continuing to strengthen our schools and uplift our communities. I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who participated in this process, especially the families who attended meetings and provided constructive feedback. Your voices have been essential in guiding this process, and we must continue to work together to ensure that every student in our district has access to a high-quality education in a well-supported learning environment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For the families and students transitioning to new campuses, we are fully committed to supporting you every step of the way. The well-being of our students is our top priority; therefore, school & district staff will be on hand to support you through the transition. We will continue to communicate updates, provide resources, and, most importantly, prioritize your familys needs. Change isnt always easy, but it is necessary. Together, we will navigate these changes and emerge stronger, united by our passion to secure success for the children of El Paso. Thank you for your continued support, patience, and dedication to our students and their futures. It starts with us. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Erie, PA (WJET/WFXP) For the third year in a row, the City of Erie has earned a perfect score on the Human Rights Campaigns 2024 Municipal Equality Index (MEI). Each year, MEI evaluates 506 cities across the nation based on how inclusive municipal laws, policies, and services are of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) community who live and work there. City of Erie earns 100 on Human Rights Municipal Equality Index for second year Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The city announced its 100/100 score on the 2024 evaluations by MEI on Thursday with the ratings based on non-discrimination laws, the municipality as an employer, municipal services, law enforcement and leadership on LGBTQ+ equality. Along with the perfect score, Erie was also credited for its continual commitment to equality, diversity, equity and inclusion, something Mayor Joe Schember called key drivers to grow Eries economy. The City of Erie is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion which are key drivers of economic growth, serving to attract residents, visitors, and businesses who place a high value on inclusivity. We are focused on what matters: building community, growing the economy, and taking care of each other. Diversity is one of Eries greatest strengths. When everyone feels supported, welcomed, and valued for their unique skills, perspectives, and talents, this empowers people to thrive and contribute to our sense of community. Our policies and practices continue to help us achieve this perfect score, and this is one of the ways in which we strive to make Erie an inclusive place to live, work, play, and raise a family. I am grateful to the LGBTQ+ Advisory Council, who helped us reach this milestone, for their guidance and dedication. City of Erie Mayor Joe Schember Candlelight vigil held in honor of National Transgender Day of Remembrance Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Erie first started participating in the MEI evaluations in 2018 after Schember took office debuting with a score of 50 that rose each year until hitting 100 for the first time in 2022. Nine other Pennsylvania cities also participated this year with Allentown, Carlisle, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and State College also earning perfect scores. More information can be found on Eries LGBTQ+ Council can be found on their website here and you can view the full 2024 MEI report along with past reports online. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com. Nov. 21A retired state employee and union president has filed a complaint with the State Ethics Commission accusing First Judicial District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies of violating state law by using her office's Facebook page for political purposes. Arcy Baca of Santa Fe who worked for several state agencies, including the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission, and served as a public employees union president before his retirement in 2020 filed the complaint Wednesday. He accuses Carmack-Altwies of violating the New Mexico Governmental Conduct Act by posting political messages on her official Facebook page on Election Day. He notes in his complaint the law bars public employees from using the power and resources of their offices to obtain personal benefits or pursue private interests, and "directly or indirectly coercing or attempting to coerce another public officer or employee to pay, lend or contribute anything of value to a party, committee, organization, agency or person for a political purpose." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Carmack-Altwies posted a video on her official government Facebook page on Election Day endorsing Democratic candidates, according to Baca's complaint, which includes screenshots of posts. "The video contained the words 'Proud Democrat,' an image of Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris with the words 'Thank you' and an image of a ballot showing votes for Democratic candidates," Baca wrote. The ballot image "includes the completion of a bubble for DA Carmack-Altwies herself," the complaint says, adding the endorsement of Harris "appears to have been subsequently deleted." Baca asks the commission to order the district attorney to issue a news release "acknowledging that any endorsements made on behalf of the First Judicial District Attorney's Office violated state law." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This press release should also include a public apology to voters for intentionally misleading them and for the improper use of public resources," Baca wrote. His complaint also asks the commission to order her and "any staff members involved in the unlawful post" to complete at least 20 hours of ethics and governmental conduct training and to apply any applicable fines. Carmack-Altwies is a Democrat. Baca described himself as a "staunch Democrat" but said the Election Day posts rubbed him the wrong way. "I don't like people that think they are above the law," he said, adding he's "fed up" with other Democrats, including state legislators, "hurting the Democratic Party by thinking they are above everyone else." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "That's why I did it," Baca said. "Nothing personal. It's just what she did, and it's not cool. You can't be using state stuff for your own benefit." Baca said he's also been dissatisfied with Carmack-Altwies' performance as district attorney. "She never takes responsibility for anything," he said. Carmack-Altwies did not respond to an email requesting comment Thursday. The State Ethics Commission has the authority to initiate civil action in District Court or refer cases to the attorney general or district attorney to initiate civil action, according to statute. The commission can also issue a temporary or permanent injunction or restraining order and level civil penalties of $250 per violation; the penalties cannot exceed $5,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was unclear Thursday whether the commission has jurisdiction over the district attorney. According to the law that created the commission, it has jurisdiction over "state officers and employees of the executive and legislative branches of government." The District Attorney's Office is part of the judicial branch. The statute also gives the commission authority to adjudicate complaints related to eight specific state laws, including the Governmental Conduct Act, and gives it jurisdiction over "candidates and other participants in elections." Commission Deputy Director Amelia Bierle, who also serves as its spokesperson, declined to comment on the case Thursday but said jurisdictional issues are decided on a "case-by-case" basis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reviewing a complaint to determine whether the commission has jurisdiction is generally the first step when a complaint is submitted, she said. If the commission has jurisdiction, Bierle said, the general counsel will conduct an investigation to determine if there is probable cause to support the allegations. If the attorney finds probable cause, the case is then reviewed by a hearing officer. If the hearing officer agrees probable cause exists, Bierle said, the complaint is referred to a second hearing officer, who conducts a hearing and issues an order, which can be appealed to the commission. The process can take eight months to a year, Bierle said, but if the reviews don't find probable cause, a case "probably can be wrapped up in two to six months." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is the second time Carmack-Alwies who ran unopposed for a second term in the general election after beating her predecessor, Marco Serna, in the Democratic primary has come under fire in connection with her Facebook account. In 2022, the District Attorney's Office agreed to pay $25,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by a man who said being blocked from her office's Facebook page was a violation of his right to free speech. The EV-battery maker Northvolt has entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, it said Thursday. The Swedish firm, founded by two ex-Tesla executives, has struggled amid stuttering demand for EVs. Peter Carlsson, Northvolt's CEO and cofounder, is set to step down as part of the bankruptcy process. Northvolt, the electric-vehicle-battery company founded by two former Tesla executives, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after struggling to ramp up production. The Swedish company said Thursday that it voluntarily entered bankruptcy proceedings in the US so it could restructure its debt and obtain new investment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Soon after the bankruptcy was announced, CEO Peter Carlsson, one of Northvolt's founders, said he would step down as part of the process. Bankruptcy documents showed Northvolt had about $5.8 billion in debt and just $30 million in available cash enough to fund its operations for about seven days. In bankruptcy documents, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, and Microsoft were all listed as creditors. It had raised more than $15 billion since its founding in 2016. Northvolt said it had secured extra funding of about $245 million, including $145 million in cash, and a $100 million commitment from a customer to provide a debtor-in-possession loan a specialized credit line for firms going through bankruptcy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This decisive step will allow Northvolt to continue its mission to establish a homegrown, European industrial base for battery production," Tom Johnstone, Northvolt's interim chair, said in a statement. "Despite near-term challenges, this action to strengthen our capital structure will allow us to capture the continued market demand for vehicle electrification," he added. Northvolt plans to continue operating during the bankruptcy proceedings. Founded by Carlsson and Paolo Cerruti, Northvolt aimed to revolutionize battery manufacturing , but it has struggled in recent months. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The firm's bankruptcy comes after difficulties in ramping up battery production at its facility in Skelleftea, Sweden, close to the Arctic Circle. In June, BMW pulled out of a $2.1 billion order for battery cells for its EVs, citing delays in deliveries. In September, Northvolt said it would lay off about 1,600 staffers. Automakers in Europe are struggling with weak demand for EVs and rising competition from Chinese rivals. On Wednesday, Ford said it would cut 4,000 jobs in Europe by the end of 2027. Volkswagen , Europe's largest car company, is considering closing factories in Germany for the first time and cutting tens of thousands of jobs. VW faces stuttering demand in Europe and has lost market share in China to local rivals selling cheaper EVs and hybrids . Read the original article on Business Insider NORTHWEST FLORIDA (WKRG) Three local organizations are partnering to ensure 1,000 more families can celebrate Thanksgiving with a festive meal through two events. Judge grants mistrial in Sheila Agee trial due to unhinged juror According to a news release, UF/IFAS West Florida Research and Education Center, Feeding the Gulf Coast and Waterfront Rescue Mission are teaming up to host food distribution events in Santa Rosa and Escambia counties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The events are scheduled for Nov. 26 at 9 a.m., but cars can begin to line up starting at 8 a.m. Santa Rosa County: Clyde L. Gracey Milton Community Center 5629 Byrom Street in Milton Escambia County: Brownsville Community Center 3200 W. Desoto Street in Pensacola The above first-come, first-served events will last until food runs out, according to the release. Officials said they hope to feed 500 families per event for a total of 1,000 families fed. Mayor Sandy Stimpson announces changes to executive leadership team Feeding the Gulf Coast will provide holiday meal boxes for each family that includes a turkey or ham and all the fixings for a Thanksgiving meal, the release said. UF/IFAS WFREC and Santa Rosa Farm Bureau will provide locally grown produce. This will also allow an opportunity to teach residents in the community about the economic, environmental, and societal benefits of agriculture. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. The tragic death of a British tourist in Laos has cast a spotlight on the regions problem with methanol poisoning, but also serves as a stark reminder for both parents and backpackers of the wider dangers of visiting this region. This week, British lawyer Simone White, 28, died in Laos after a suspected case of methanol poisoning. At least five others have died, including two 19-year old Australian nationals, an American man and two Danish nationals. Anthony Albanese, the Australian Prime Minister, said: This is every parents very worst fear and a nightmare that no one should have to endure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many of the victims were staying at the Nana Backpacker Hostel in Vang Vieng, a small town in central Laos, where staff were warned that a number of guests had fallen ill after failing to check out on Nov 13. Nana Backpacker Hostel is at the centre of a methanol poisoning scandal that has led to several deaths - AP Millions of British tourists visit South East Asia each year, where the Banana Pancake Trail, a popular, loosely defined route through several countries in the region, as well as Full Moon parties, have become rites of passage for backpackers. The warm welcome, hedonistic nightlife scene and sense of freedom are central to the appeal of this region, along with the white-sand beaches, natural beauty and balmy climate. But as parents prepare to wave farewell to their children whether heading out on a Gap Year adventure or on a backpacking trip in their twenties it is important to remember that this is a highly complex region. In some south-east Asian countries drug abuse can be punishable by death, road traffic safety standards are among the worst in the world and drink spiking and bootleg alcohol are common issues. Here are the five key safety concerns of visiting South East Asia that all backpackers, and parents of backpackers, should be aware of before they go plus advice on insurance, and staying in touch with your children while they are away. Is South East Asia safe? The expert view Lee Cobaj is Telegraph Travels expert on South East Asia. She explains the complexities of the region. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People have this misconception that South East Asia is more free than other parts of the world, because they can hire motorbikes without licences, go wild at beach parties and find drugs in party zones like Vang Vieng in Laos and Thailands Full Moon parties. Its a heady atmosphere that allows people to drop their inhibitions but the dangers are as real as travelling anywhere else. Visiting this part of the world is great fun until its not. Health and safety is an abstract concept in South East Asia, often only enforced when theres some kind of headline-grabbing tragedy. There are frequent tragedies in places like Vang Vieng in Laos, Kuta in Bali, Phnom Penh in Cambodia, and Phuket, Pattaya and Koh Pha Ngan in Thailand. Over my years living in Asia Ive heard stories on a horrifyingly regular basis of people having their drinks spiked and then being assaulted, falls from balconies, broken bones or worse from leaping into rocky rivers and bays, overloaded boats sinking, overconfident swimmers drowning, fireworks blowing up in peoples hands, amputations and decapitations from hanging out train windows never mind the number of scooter accidents [Thailands road traffic deaths are the ninth highest in the world per capita]. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sadly, after some initial crackdown, very little changes at a government level. As a result, travellers simply cant expect to find the same safety standards as they would in the Western world, and need to be fully aware of the dangers that exist. Alcohol dangers Many British tourists will visit South East Asia for its vibrant nightlife scene. Often, party venues will have a large, communal booze bucket which backpackers often drink from using straws, and there have been reports of these being spiked. Bootleg alcohol is widespread across South East Asia. The Foreign Office warns: Methanol has been used in the manufacture of counterfeit replicas of well-known alcohol brands or illegal local spirits, like vodka. You should take care if offered, particularly for free, or when buying spirit-based drinks. If labels, smell or taste seem wrong then do not drink. Methanol is tasteless and odourless. It can rapidly lead to serious illness. Long-term effects may include blindness and permanent damage to the Central Nervous System. Coma and death may occur following substantial exposure. British lawyer Simone White, 28, died in Laos after a suspected case of methanol poisoning The type of drinks that contain methanol could include local spirits such as rice or palm liquor, spirit-based drinks like cocktails, or counterfeit brand-named bottled alcohol that you find in shops. Travellers should only buy drinks at licensed bars or liquor stores, should avoid home-made drinks, always check bottle seals are intact, and check labels for spelling mistakes or poor print quality. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tourists should also be warned that drinks served in south-east Asian countries are often stronger than in the UK, usually because the spirit measures are bigger. Aside from the aforementioned booze buckets, individual drink spiking is a concern travellers are warned to never leave their drink unattended and to be cautious when accepting drinks from strangers. Road safety The whole region has road safety standards lower than equivalents in Europe. Thailand, in particular, has one of the worst records for fatalities on motorcycles according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). On its Thailand page, the Foreign Office warns: Motorcycles and scooters for hire in beach resorts are often unregistered and cannot be used legally on a public road. Before you hire a vehicle, make sure your travel insurance covers you and check the small print of the lease agreement. Do not hand over your passport as a guarantee against returning a motorcycle or scooter. Scams In 2023, more than 91 million tourists visited Indonesia, Laos, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines. Many would have faced scams in various forms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jonathan Frankham, General Manager for UK and Europe at insurance firm World Nomads, warns: In Cambodia, beware of ATM card skimming, fake orphanages, and overly friendly strangers offering unsolicited help. In Vietnam, avoid offers to smoke tobacco pipes or purchase antiques, which can lead to fines or legal trouble. On the Foreign Office page for Indonesia, many of the warnings apply for all countries in South East Asia: Credit card fraud is common. Do not lose sight of your card during transactions. Criminals sometimes place a fake telephone number on ATMs advising customers to report problems so they can fraudulently ask for card details. Unlicensed money changers may short-change you. Scams are common throughout the region - AP Only use licensed currency exchanges, identified by a Bank of Indonesia logo and a QR code. Open the code to check the name of the business and its operating licence. There has been a rise in the number of scams at tattoo parlours, nail salons and spas in Bali. Take care when choosing your provider and agree fees in advance. Drug possession Heavy drinking and drug abuse are common in South East Asia. Backpackers should never take illegal drugs in the region, firstly for the potential dangers to health, but also due to the extremely strict laws against drug abuse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Indonesia, authorities take a zero-tolerance approach and those caught using drugs could face lengthy prison sentences, or a death penalty. Police have been known to raid venues and take urine or blood samples of partygoers. Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand have similarly strict policies on hard drugs. On the subject of cannabis in Thailand, the Foreign Office advises: While low-strength cannabis is legal in Thailand, it is likely to be illegal in other countries you travel on to. This includes residual amounts, for example in bags or clothing or in your bloodstream. The Foreign Office adds: Conditions in prisons and other detention facilities in Thailand are harsh, with limited access to healthcare. Detainees have died in custody. The death penalty has been issued for drug crimes in Thailand. In the Philippines, being in possession of even a small quantity of drugs will lead to a mandatory prison sentence. In Malaysia, offenders could be given punishments as harsh as the death penalty, or a whipping according to the Foreign Office. Petty crime Petty crime is rife. Bag-snatching and pickpocketing in particular are prevalent. Tourists are warned to be particularly cautious in crowded markets and on public transport, and to make sure they dont leave their belongings unattended at hostels. Other crimes to be aware of The Foreign Office warns of other safety concerns in South East Asia, including terrorism, sexual assault, violent crime, organised crime and job scams. Tourists should read the relevant FCDO pages for Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Indonesia before travelling, to ensure you are up to speed on the latest advice. Which insurance should you buy? Travellers to South East Asia should consider taking out a comprehensive insurance policy which includes overseas medical, repatriation, coverage for belongings and cover for adventure activities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jonathan Frankham of World Nomads, says: We were deeply saddened to hear about the tragic death of Simone White in Laos. At World Nomads, we see frequent claims related to food poisoning, road accidents, and theft in the region, he added. Frankham recommends: We always recommend checking the policy wording carefully and ask yourself, how much cover will you need if something goes wrong? Only you know where youre planning to go, how much you paid, what youre planning to do, see and visit, and how your personal situation might influence your choice. A Gap Year guide for anxious parents by Natalie Paris Check in often Arrange to have catch-ups with your gap year traveller, even if all they can manage is an occasional message. This will allow you to keep up to date with their adventures, but also confirm they are safe and where they are meant to be. Video calls via Whatsapp and Facetime are great when time allows, but texts or phone calls work as well. Keep an eye on the news When people are travelling to remote places with little technology, or have busy schedules, it can be hard to keep up to date with current affairs. You can help them by checking the security and health situation in the countries your traveller is visiting, or by signing up yourself to the Foreign Offices email alerts. Keep documents safe Those at home should set themselves up as an emergency contact. Get them to make scanned copies of all their important documents before they go (passports, visas, travel insurance, medical certificates, credit cards, debit cards, useful phone numbers) so that you can keep them in a safe place. Be ready to pass on any of this information should the traveller need it while they are away. It is a good idea to keep scanned copies of all important documents - alamy Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Manage your expectations Remember that gap years are a chance for your child to experience freedom and independence. Not being at your beck and call is a big part of that. Look forward to your children returning full of stories, having enjoyed new responsibilities. Future employers will appreciate this too. If you are waiting on a reply from a gapper, remember that they are being kept very busy. Young people on structured trips will have jobs and group activities to attend to. They will probably have a dedicated advisor on hand, so their first port of call wont necessarily be you and they should have everything they need to overcome obstacles. If they are travelling independently, they will probably be trying to cram as much sightseeing as they can into a day, while working hard to make connections that will make their lives easier. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. The governments star witness took the stand Thursday in former Illinois Speaker of the House Mike Madigans ongoing corruption trial. Former Chicago alderman and FBI mole Danny Solis testified about an alleged $1.3 million bribery scheme, which prosecutors allege was directed by Madigan and co-defendant Michael McClain. Solis briefly took the stand late for a little over a half hour before court adjourned for the day. During his testimony, Solis spoke in detail about his Deferred Prosecution Agreement with the government. PREVIOUS: Another one of Madigans trusted allies testifies in racketeering and bribery trial The 75-year-old is formally charged with bribery and awaits sentencing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FBI Special Agent Ryan McDonald testified how agents first confronted then Alderman Solis with evidence hed taken bribes in June of 2016. We knocked on the door. Mr. Solis answered and we requested to speak with him, McDonald said. We told him we were conducting an investigation and we had wiretapped his phone. And we showed him surveillance photos and asked him for his cooperation. According to the FBI, among the surveillance photos were apparent compromising photos of Solis with an unnamed individual outside a massage parlor. After consulting with his lawyer, the Chicago City Council Zoning Committee chairman agreed to cooperate with the government and wear a wire. Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Going into hiding in 2019 when press reports blew his cover, Solis had initially been expected to testify in the extortion bribery trial of former Chicago Alderman Ed Burke, who was convicted last year. Prosecutors elected to hold Solis back during Burkes trial. Solis testimony should last more than a week. Madigan and McClain deny any involvement in the alleged criminal conspiracy. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) A former chairman of the Horry County RIDE IV advisory committee and a former Myrtle Beach City Council member was arrested Wednesday on a DUI charge. William Wayne Gray, known as Wayne Gray, was arrested late Wednesday by the South Carolina Highway Patrol. He was charged with first-offense DUI and hit and run with property damage, according to online records for the J. Reuben Long Detention Center. No details about the incident were immediately available. Gray was booked into the jail at about 11 p.m. Wednesday and released early Thursday morning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gray has a long background of involvement in local government. In June, he was among four people interviewed for the position of Horry County administrator. He also interviewed for the job in 2019 and served on Myrtle Beach City Council from 1998 to 2002 and 2006 to 2018. RIDE IV, the countys transportation program, will fund more than 30 projects over the next 25 years or until the county collects $6.6 billion when it goes into effect on May 1. Voters approved the 1% sales tax in November. * * * Dennis Bright is the Digital Executive Producer at News13. He joined the team in May 2021. Dennis is a West Virginia native and a graduate of Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. Follow Dennis on, Facebook, X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. A former military chief has hit back at Donald Trumps Defense Secretary nominee over remarks made about women serving in the armed forces. General Mark Milley, who served as the 20th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said that the US military must be and always should be standards-based, as he called out the comments by Pete Hegseth. Hegseth, a military veteran and former Fox News host, was announced as the President-elects choice for secretary of defense last week, in a move that caused consternation across the political aisle. He served 13 years as a part-time member of the National Guard, culminating in the rank of major. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It hasnt made us more effective, hasnt made us more lethal, has made fighting more complicated," Hegseth said in an interview earlier this month. He went on to add that he was straight-up saying we should not have women in combat roles. Speaking at a national security innovation event hosted by the Pallas Foundation on Thursday, Milley, who served as the nations highest-ranking military officer, reacted to the comments. Dont lecture me about women in combat, he said. Women have been in combat and it doesnt matter if that 762 (bullet) hits you in the chest, no one gives a s*** if its a woman or guy who pulled the trigger youre still dead. Donald Trumps pick for Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth, has said previously that women should not be allowed to hold combat roles in the military (AP) He continued: If you meet the standards, our military must be and always should be a standards-based merit-based military, period, full stop. Doesnt matter if you are white, Black, a man, a woman, a Catholic or a Protestant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What matters are standards, readiness standards. Do you meet the standard or not? If yes, pass go, collect 200, join the infantry. According to service data reviewed by Military.com, there are currently around 3,800 women serving in frontline army combat roles across infantry, cavalry, armor and field artillery roles. The data includes active duty, reserve and National Guard, and encompasses enlisted and officers. In the Marine Corps, nearly 700 women are serving in combat roles, including 112 female infantry riflemen and 15 Marine officers, the data showed. Though Milley served as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during Trumps first stint in office, holding the position from 2019 to 2023, the relationship between the pair became tumultuous. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In September 2023, the President-elect appeared to imply that Milley deserved to be executed after speaking with a Chinese general during Trumps fraught final months in office. This is an act so egregious that, in times gone by, the punishment would have been DEATH! A war between China and the United States could have been the result of this treasonous act, Trump wrote on Truth Social at the time. Milley later said that he would take appropriate measures to ensure his and his familys personal safety in the wake of the remarks. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) Governor Bill Lee recently signed an executive order to establish the Duck River Watershed Planning Partnership, which aims ensure long-term sustainability of the Duck River and all of Tennessees watersheds. In times of low river and drought, the Duck River has looked more like a gravel bar than a river. In fact, people downstream of Columbia in Hickman County have been concerned for years about the future of the Duck River. SEE ALSO | Gov. Bill Lee signs executive order to protect Duck River, promote water resource management Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement News 2 spoke with members of the Duck River Agency about Gov. Lees plan. According to them, they have longed a commitment like the one that was signed on Wednesday, Nov. 19. Were all excited, not just members of the Duck River Conservancy and the people in Hickman County. The people up and down the river are excited about this, pleased with the governors action, stepping up in a leadership role, said Douglas E. Jones, president of Duck River Conservancy. There has to be a regional system to protect the river. One utility cant have the power. Thats whats happened in the past. It is known that many people have moved to Middle Tennessee. In fact, researchers expect at least eight million people to reside in the Volunteer State by 2040. Due to the increase in population, officials say the Duck River is at stake, saying they cant keep drawing water from it forever. RELATED: Duck River placed on Americas Most Endangered Rivers of 2024 list Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some hope that one day there can be a pipeline from the Tennessee River to the Duck River Valley to help supply water to people. According to the executive order, one of the clauses pertains to large scale engineering projects, which could possibly include a pipeline. The governors office added that the order also requires government agencies, including the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) and Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA), to partner in order to identify more priority watersheds, amongst a list of other responsibilities. Governor Lees stepping up turns the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation loose so they can do their job. TDEC does an excellent job and has excellent people. And now, they can go to work in protecting the Duck River. The Duck River was at a tipping point. Its fragile, expressed Jones. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com TDEC is directed to evaluate large scale engineering projects for near-term mitigation and long term sustainability of the Duck River, he concluded. These projects should be evaluated on a cost and feasibility basis and presented to the governor for further consideration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Duck river, which spans 269 miles through Tennessee, was recently named one of Americas Most Endangered Rivers of 2024. To read the full executive order, click here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. By Dan Levine and Sheila Dang (Reuters) - U.S. government researchers have found that a widely prescribed asthma drug originally sold by Merck & Co may be linked to serious mental health problems for some patients, according to a scientific presentation reviewed by Reuters. The researchers found that the drug, sold under the brand name Singulair and generically as montelukast, attaches to multiple brain receptors critical to psychiatric functioning. Singulair was a blockbuster product for Merck after its launch in 1998, offering relief in a pill as an alternative to an inhaler. In early advertising, the company said the side effects were so benign that they were "similar to a sugar pill," while the label said any distribution in the brain was "minimal." Generic versions are still prescribed to millions of adults and children every year. But by 2019, thousands of reports of neuropsychiatric episodes, including dozens of suicides, in patients prescribed the drug had piled up on internet forums and in the U.S. Food and Drug Administrations tracking system. Such adverse event reports do not prove a causal link between a medicine and a side effect, but are used by the FDA to determine whether more study of a drugs risks are warranted. After years of analysis, the reports and new scientific research led the FDA in 2020 to add a "black box" warning to the montelukast prescribing label, flagging serious mental health risks like suicidal thinking or actions. The agency also convened a group of internal experts around the same time to look into why the drug might trigger neuropsychiatric side effects. The results of the group's work, which are preliminary and have not been previously reported or released publicly, were presented to a limited audience at the American College of Toxicology meeting in Austin, Texas on Wednesday. Jessica Oliphant, a deputy director at FDA's National Center for Toxicological Research, said at the event that laboratory tests showed "significant binding" of montelukast to multiple receptors found in the brain. The FDA also confirmed earlier scientific research showing montelukast penetrates the brains of rats. More study is needed about how the drug accumulates in the nervous system, Oliphant said. "These data indicate that montelukast is highest in brain regions known to be involved in (psychiatric effects), she said. The FDA said it does not plan to update the drug label based on data from the presentation. 'SOMETHING THAT'S CONCERNING' Connecticut Democratic Attorney General William Tong speaks at a public meeting in Stamford, Conn., after this months election. Tong and other officials in blue states are vowing to build a firewall of reproductive health protections as they anticipate federal and state attacks on abortion access under the Trump administration. (John Moore/Getty Images) Read more Stateline coverage on how states are either protecting or curbing access to abortion. Officials in blue states are vowing to build a firewall of reproductive health protections as they anticipate federal and state attacks on abortion access under the Trump administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were going on offense, Connecticut Attorney General William Tong, a Democrat, told Stateline. We are in an unprecedented war on American women and patients. State attorneys general, particularly my colleagues and I who support abortion rights and reproductive freedom, have been building this firewall for some time now. President-elect Donald Trump has said he would leave abortion access up to individual states in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Courts 2022 Dobbs ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade and dismantled the federal right to abortion. But even in states with strong abortion protections, such as Connecticut and Massachusetts, lawmakers and other officials are already discussing ways to stave off legal challenges from various quarters, including federal agencies under a Trump administration and anti-abortion lawmakers in conservative states. What were watching is this interplay between protective states and the Trump-Vance administration, and what impact that administration will have on state laws and access to sexual and reproductive health care, said Candace Gibson, director of state policy at the Guttmacher Institute, a research and policy organization focused on advancing reproductive rights. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its going to be an interesting time. Targeting abortion pills Tong said one of his biggest concerns is that legislative efforts and legal challenges from anti-abortion lawmakers in red states could lead to nationwide restrictions on the medication mifepristone. Its one of two drugs most commonly used in medication abortion, which now accounts for nearly two-thirds of all abortions. If you ban that, it will be nothing if not a nationwide ban on abortion, he said. Conservative-led states could follow the example of Louisiana, which passed a law in its most recent legislative session to classify mifepristone and the drug misoprostol as controlled substances. Both are used in medication abortions as well as to treat other conditions, such as life-threatening postpartum hemorrhaging. Since Louisianas law took effect, hospitals in the state have pulled mifepristone and misoprostol from obstetric hemorrhage carts and instead stored them in passcode-protected cabinets outside of labor and delivery rooms. Its a move some physicians worry could waste precious time in emergency situations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last week, Republican state Rep.-elect Pat Curry filed a similar bill in Texas. Conservative lawmakers in North Carolina hastily passed a law in 2023, overriding Democratic Gov. Roy Coopers veto, that included additional restrictions on dispensing abortion medication. That law has been mired in lawsuits. But last month, Democratic attorneys general in 17 states and the District of Columbia asked a federal appeals court to uphold a ruling that North Carolina cant impose restrictions on mifepristone that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has said are medically unnecessary. Meanwhile, anti-abortion groups released a Make America Pro-Life Again Roadmap last week, outlining their plans to hammer away at abortion access at federal and state levels, including an emphasis on challenging mifepristone access. We have a siege engine ready for these legal walls that well face at some state legislatures and legislative levels, and also at federal levels, said Kristan Hawkins, president of the anti-abortion organization Students for Life Action, on a media call last week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hawkins said legislators in nine states Arizona, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, West Virginia and Wyoming would be filing bills targeting the sale or distribution of medications that can be used for abortions. Arizona state Rep. Rachel Jones, a Republican, said on a recent call with media that she plans to target abortion pills in her fight against Arizonas new constitutional amendment protecting abortion access, which voters approved earlier this month. There are other ways, at the front of this, to encourage women to make a different decision before they even go into that abortion clinic, before they order the pills, to stop the ability to be able to do that so easily through the mail, Jones said. She said she plans to educate her legislative colleagues on how to combat the big push for medication abortion. Bolstering shield laws A number of states have passed shield laws designed to minimize the legal risks for people who provide or access abortions. But just eight states California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington protect abortion providers from legal action regardless of where their patient is located. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For example, telehealth providers in states including California, Massachusetts and New York prescribe abortion medication to patients in states where abortion is banned. Shield laws attempt to protect those providers from prosecution. State shield laws havent seen many challenges yet, but they could be coming, said Gibson, of the Guttmacher Institute. Attorneys in the reproductive justice division of the Massachusetts attorney generals office are looking at ways to further strengthen the states shield law. With the incoming Trump administration, they anticipate more efforts from conservative prosecutors and attorneys general to mount legal challenges with the expectation of a friendlier federal atmosphere. My office, including through our Reproductive Justice Unit, will continue to ensure that Massachusetts remains a leader in advancing access to care, protecting our health care rights, and addressing disparities, while working in collaboration with my counterparts across the country, said Massachusetts Democratic Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell in a statement to Stateline. Regional impact Officials in blue states also are shoring up protections for contraceptive access, digital privacy and emergency abortion care in hospitals. For example, in Maryland, Democratic lawmakers passed a sweeping online data privacy law in April, in an attempt to limit how tech platforms and phone apps can gather and use consumers personal data, including reproductive health data. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Policymakers understand these state bans on abortion access arent just state bans, that they have a regional impact as well. Candace Gibson, Guttmacher Institute Connecticut and Massachusetts are among the states looking at ways to strengthen their laws to protect reproductive emergency care if the Trump administration reverses current federal guidelines that say abortion is covered under the hospital emergency care law known as EMTALA. If the Trump administration says hospitals are no longer federally required to provide abortions as part of emergency reproductive care, Tong said, even patients in a state such as Connecticut could be affected. Without state requirements, religiously affiliated hospitals, for example, could refuse to terminate pregnancies in situations where a patients life or health could be at risk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gibson said she expects to continue seeing more state lawmakers filing contraception protection bills in upcoming legislative sessions. In Virginias most recent session, Democratic lawmakers passed a bill to guarantee access to contraception, though it was vetoed by Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin. Earlier this year, Campbell, of Massachusetts, organized a working group of Democratic state attorneys general and others to collaborate on how to use shield laws and other legal and legislative tools to protect abortion rights. Theres been an increase in collaboration conversations amongst different state policymakers, Gibson said in an interview with Stateline. I think policymakers understand these state bans on abortion access arent just state bans, that they have a regional impact as well. 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. Planned Parenthood facilities, like this one in southeast Portland, provide the majority of abortions in Oregon. (Lynne Terry/Oregon Capital Chronicle) Officials in blue states are vowing to build a firewall of reproductive health protections as they anticipate federal and state attacks on abortion access under the Trump administration. Were going on offense, Connecticut Attorney General William Tong, a Democrat, told Stateline. We are in an unprecedented war on American women and patients. State attorneys general, particularly my colleagues and I who support abortion rights and reproductive freedom, have been building this firewall for some time now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President-elect Donald Trump has said he would leave abortion access up to individual states in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Courts 2022 Dobbs ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade and dismantled the federal right to abortion. But even in states with strong abortion protections, such as Connecticut and Massachusetts, lawmakers and other officials are already discussing ways to stave off legal challenges from various quarters, including federal agencies under a Trump administration and anti-abortion lawmakers in conservative states. What were watching is this interplay between protective states and the Trump-Vance administration, and what impact that administration will have on state laws and access to sexual and reproductive health care, said Candace Gibson, director of state policy at the Guttmacher Institute, a research and policy organization focused on advancing reproductive rights. Its going to be an interesting time. Targeting abortion pills Tong said one of his biggest concerns is that legislative efforts and legal challenges from anti-abortion lawmakers in red states could lead to nationwide restrictions on the medication mifepristone. Its one of two drugs most commonly used in medication abortion, which now accounts for nearly two-thirds of all abortions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you ban that, it will be nothing if not a nationwide ban on abortion, he said. Conservative-led states could follow the example of Louisiana, which passed a law in its most recent legislative session to classify mifepristone and the drug misoprostol as controlled substances. Both are used in medication abortions as well as to treat other conditions, such as life-threatening postpartum hemorrhaging. Since Louisianas law took effect, hospitals in the state have pulled mifepristone and misoprostol from obstetric hemorrhage carts and instead stored them in passcode-protected cabinets outside of labor and delivery rooms. Its a move some physicians worry could waste precious time in emergency situations. Last week, Republican state Rep.-elect Pat Curry filed a similar bill in Texas. Conservative lawmakers in North Carolina hastily passed a law in 2023, overriding Democratic Gov. Roy Coopers veto, that included additional restrictions on dispensing abortion medication. That law has been mired in lawsuits. But last month, Democratic attorneys general in 17 states and the District of Columbia asked a federal appeals court to uphold a ruling that North Carolina cant impose restrictions on mifepristone that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has said are medically unnecessary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, anti-abortion groups released a Make America Pro-Life Again Roadmap last week, outlining their plans to hammer away at abortion access at federal and state levels, including an emphasis on challenging mifepristone access. We have a siege engine ready for these legal walls that well face at some state legislatures and legislative levels, and also at federal levels, said Kristan Hawkins, president of the anti-abortion organization Students for Life Action, on a media call last week. Hawkins said legislators in nine states Arizona, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, West Virginia and Wyoming would be filing bills targeting the sale or distribution of medications that can be used for abortions. Arizona state Rep. Rachel Jones, a Republican, said on a recent call with media that she plans to target abortion pills in her fight against Arizonas new constitutional amendment protecting abortion access, which voters approved earlier this month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are other ways, at the front of this, to encourage women to make a different decision before they even go into that abortion clinic, before they order the pills, to stop the ability to be able to do that so easily through the mail, Jones said. She said she plans to educate her legislative colleagues on how to combat the big push for medication abortion. Bolstering shield laws A number of states have passed shield laws designed to minimize the legal risks for people who provide or access abortions. But just eight states California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington protect abortion providers from legal action regardless of where their patient is located. For example, telehealth providers in states including California, Massachusetts and New York prescribe abortion medication to patients in states where abortion is banned. Shield laws attempt to protect those providers from prosecution. State shield laws havent seen many challenges yet, but they could be coming, said Gibson, of the Guttmacher Institute. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Attorneys in the reproductive justice division of the Massachusetts attorney generals office are looking at ways to further strengthen the states shield law. With the incoming Trump administration, they anticipate more efforts from conservative prosecutors and attorneys general to mount legal challenges with the expectation of a friendlier federal atmosphere. My office, including through our Reproductive Justice Unit, will continue to ensure that Massachusetts remains a leader in advancing access to care, protecting our health care rights, and addressing disparities, while working in collaboration with my counterparts across the country, said Massachusetts Democratic Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell in a statement to Stateline. Regional impact Officials in blue states also are shoring up protections for contraceptive access, digital privacy and emergency abortion care in hospitals. For example, in Maryland, Democratic lawmakers passed a sweeping online data privacy law in April, in an attempt to limit how tech platforms and phone apps can gather and use consumers personal data, including reproductive health data. Connecticut and Massachusetts are among the states looking at ways to strengthen their laws to protect reproductive emergency care if the Trump administration reverses current federal guidelines that say abortion is covered under the hospital emergency care law known as EMTALA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If the Trump administration says hospitals are no longer federally required to provide abortions as part of emergency reproductive care, Tong said, even patients in a state such as Connecticut could be affected. Without state requirements, religiously affiliated hospitals, for example, could refuse to terminate pregnancies in situations where a patients life or health could be at risk. Gibson said she expects to continue seeing more state lawmakers filing contraception protection bills in upcoming legislative sessions. In Virginias most recent session, Democratic lawmakers passed a bill to guarantee access to contraception, though it was vetoed by Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin. Earlier this year, Campbell, of Massachusetts, organized a working group of Democratic state attorneys general and others to collaborate on how to use shield laws and other legal and legislative tools to protect abortion rights. Theres been an increase in collaboration conversations amongst different state policymakers, Gibson said in an interview with Stateline. I think policymakers understand these state bans on abortion access arent just state bans, that they have a regional impact as well. This article was first published by Stateline, 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. Innovation Killer President-elect Donald Trump has appointed multi-hyphenate billionaire Elon Musk and big pharma shill Vivek Ramaswamy to lead a new "Department of Government Efficiency" (or DOGE, in a nod to a cringey memecoin) an effort to inflict "temporary hardship" on the American people by making massive cuts to the federal government. And even if it were to successfully do just that something experts have plenty of doubts about chopping down the "discretionary" budget could be a disaster for innovation in the country. As Politico reports, indiscriminate budget cuts could sever key public-private partnerships and leave United States startups behind. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "If you are indiscriminately cutting these expenditures or staff, you are very much at risk of damaging the connective tissue across our innovation system," Center for Strategic and International Studies senior fellow Sujai Shivakumar told Politico. "This is a time when we actually need to be doubling down and reinforcing our innovation system, and we would hope that any department looking to create efficiencies is mindful of that." Mass Firing Musk's approach to cutting budgets, which has historically involved mass layoffs and the dissolution of entire vital departments across his companies, could end up being more of the same when it comes to DOGE. In an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal, Musk and Ramaswamy detailed how they'll fire people across the federal government. But whether applying that kind of Silicon Valley-style thinking to government bureaucracy will prove effective remains dubious at best. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I think [Musk and Ramaswamy are] focused on the fact that having civil servants is the problem, and that they need to be like tech company employees," Bay Area venture capitalist Rohit Krishnan told Politico. "Im not sure its true. Because there is a lot of operational work needed, and actual negotiation to make things work." Now that Musk and Ramaswamy are searching for people with a so-called "high IQ" who are willing to work for no pay on the former's social media platform, their ability to fill the massive civil servant hole they want to bore sounds highly questionable. In short, by ripping up the established connections between entrepreneurs and the government, the DOGE department could be devastating to American innovation. But whether they'll even have a chance to tear down these relationships in the first place is far less clear. The so-called "department" will be operating from outside the government in what increasingly sounds like an advisory role. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In other words, Musk and Ramaswamy will need to get Congress on board with their indiscriminate mass culling of civil servants which could prove far more difficult. More on DOGE: Elon Musk's "DOGE" Department Sounds Like It Might Be a Fake Thing to Make Him Feel Important By Gerry Doyle SINGAPORE (Reuters) - The United States has layers of sensors that can spot, track and identify ballistic missile launches such as the Russian IRBM fired at Ukraine on Thursday - a Cold War system that has been refined over decades into an unblinking global network. Six Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman satellites, known as SBIRS, for space-based infrared system, sit in geostationary orbit around earth hunting for launch signatures, according to the U.S. Space Force, which operates them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They - and a network of smaller satellites in lower orbits - use a variety of sensors to detect the firing of a ballistic missile anywhere on the planet within seconds, from small, unsophisticated weapons such as Scuds all the way up to intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), said William Alberque, a visiting fellow at the Henry L. Stimson Center. "The things that you can do with video, plus IR, plus synthetic aperture radars, plus ground-based radars...all of these things knit together," Alberque said. "Processing all this data at very high speed means we have the ability to know more about what is launched than ever before." Rocket motors, for instance, produce different exhaust gases of varying temperatures based on their fuel and other design factors. These "signatures" can quickly identify a missile. Ground-based sensors include massive solid-state early warning radars in the United States, Canada and Britain. Together with satellites, the system can determine missile type, launch angle, azimuth, apogee, velocity, size and landing point, among other things. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Besides Space Force, many other U.S. government organisations are involved, including the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, U.S. Strategic Command and the Missile Defense Agency. Regional military commands may be involved as well. Some launch notifications can be automated, such as smaller, short-range weapons that don't pose any threat to the U.S. or its allies. More serious alerts for longer-range weapons or a direct threat require human analysis and decision-making. In the case of Russia's strike on Ukraine near the city of Dnipro, there was no concern about a nuclear attack because there were no signs of warheads being moved, other forces being prepared, or the involvement of Russia's 12th Chief Directorate of the Ministry of Defense, which controls its nuclear weapons, Alberque said. "There would be a huge signature for potential use," he said, referring to nuclear weapons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Early warning systems as a concept originated during the 1950s, at first to spot bomber formations and later expanded to detect missiles. The first systems used enormous ground-based radars to scan for missiles rising over the horizon, and were linked to defensive systems that often included nuclear-tipped interceptors. Space Force is in the midst of a nearly $15 billion program for more advanced early warning satellites, dubbed Next Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared. The system will include geostationary satellites, the first of which is set for delivery in 2025, and polar-orbiting satellites scheduled for launch in 2028. (Reporting by Gerry Doyle; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan) President-elect Donald Trumps pick for secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services wants communities to stop adding fluoride to drinking water. Hes not alone. Neither are the high-profile medical groups that say fluoride has helped protect the dental health of children in the U.S. for many decades. But what has long been deemed one of the countrys public health success stories is now at the heart of a national controversy, with some communities doubling down on keeping fluoridation to prevent cavities and others removing it from their water supply. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heres a look at why fluoride has become controversial and some of the events and research driving the discussion. Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s stance Just days before the election, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who, if he is confirmed by the U.S. Senate, will become Health and Human Services secretary, said the Trump administration on its first day in office would recommend communities shut down their fluoridation efforts. On X, Kennedy has called fluoride an industrial waste associated with arthritis, bone fractures, bone cancer, IQ loss, neurodevelopmental disorders and thyroid disease. He has also referred to fluoride as a neurotoxin. The Washington Post and other media noted that medical organizations responded by calling Kennedys assertions unfounded at the levels of fluoridation used in drinking water. But many of them have also noted that in an NBC interview, Trump said possible action against fluoridation of water sounds OK to me ... You know, its possible. How fluoride got added to drinking water Fluoride is a chemical ion of fluorine and its the 13th most common element in the Earths crust, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Almost all soil and water and many rocks contain fluoride. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It prevents cavities by combining with outer enamel tooth layers, making enamel stronger. In 1945, Grand Rapids, Michigan, began adding fluoride to water and the rate of tooth decay among children went down. A bigger push for fluoridation to prevent cavities began in 1950. Next, toothpaste companies started adding fluoride to their products, but drinking water is still where most people get fluoride, researchers say. The CDC notes that it doesnt mandate water fluoridation communities decide. But the U.S. Public Health Service has recommended adding it in small amounts to drinking water. In 2015, amid concerns about fluorosis, which sometimes leaves discolored splotches on childrens teeth, officials reduced how much they said should be added to community water supplies. The Associated Press reported that about 2 out of 5 adolescents had tooth streaking or spottiness, which Deputy Surgeon General Boris Lushniak described as mostly a cosmetic issue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An estimated 75% of Americans get water that has fluoride added. That most Americans get fluoridated water hasnt meant its ever been universally accepted, however. As the AP noted, Opponents argue its health effects arent completely understood and that adding it amounts to an unwanted medication. Brain development study raises questions This summer, the National Toxicology Program, a federal agency that coordinates toxicology studies and testing related to health, released a report that said with moderate confidence that higher levels of fluoride lower the IQs of children. Critics of the research point out that in the research cited, fluoride levels were twice the recommended limit for drinking water. Wrote the AP of the 324-page report, It summarizes a review of studies conducted in Canada, China, India, Iran, Pakistan and Mexico that concludes that drinking water containing more than 1.5 milligrams of fluoride per liter is consistently associated with lower IQs in kids. The article noted no attempt to quantify the exact IQ point loss, but said that some of the studies reviewed in the report suggested IQ was 2 to 5 points lower in children whod had higher exposures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The report had been delayed in part because an earlier draft was criticized by a committee of experts who said the available research did not support that drafts conclusions, per AP. Since fluoride is such an important topic to the public and to public health officials, it was imperative that we made every effort to get the science right, the programs director, Rick Woychik, said in a statement. The American Academy of Pediatrics responded by saying the report hadnt caused it to change its stance on recommending fluoride be added to water to prevent dental decay. While additional research to better understand the association and potential biologic mechanisms would be important, theres nothing about the research that makes me concerned (about) low levels of fluoride through use of toothpaste and drinking fluoridated water, said Dr. Charlotte W. Lewis, a member of the organizations Section on Oral Health. Besides noting the report looked at levels double that in drinking water, the academy also questioned whether the programs findings would apply widely. The studies included for analysis were geographically heterogeneous, with different study populations. Socioeconomic, physical, familial, cultural, genetic, nutritional and environmental confounders affect IQ. It is unclear whether data on childrens IQ extracted from a variety of different studies are accurate, comparable or generalizable, according to AAP experts, the academys analysis of the study reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lewis said the review left out existing large population-based studies that didnt find a link between fluoride and IQ. As a result, the academy continues to recommend children use an age appropriate amount of fluoride toothpaste and drink fluoridated water. The organization said those in communities without fluoridation in water should supplement it and that dentists should apply topical fluoride to childrens teeth based on recommendations from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. In a Sept. 25 statement, the American Dental Association referred to itself as staunchly in support of community water fluoridation at optimal levels for the purpose of preventing tooth decay. Differing opinions Not everyone agrees with the dental and pediatricians group. Or, on the other side, with the government report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ashley Malin, a University of Florida researcher who studies how higher fluoride levels in pregnant women impact their children, said the study that was critical of fluoride in water was the most rigorous of its kind. She told the AP it makes sense for pregnant women to pay attention to and lower their fluoride intake and said policy discussions about requiring fluoride content on beverage labels might be a good idea. She told NPR that concentrations in community water should be reduced or the practice stopped completely. Also this year, a Cochrane review of fluoridation concluded that the benefits may be less now that fluoride is generally added to toothpaste. Cochrane is a nonprofit, international network with headquarters in the U.K. thats part of the U.K. National Council for Voluntary Organizations. Cochrane produces systematic reviews, published in the Cochrane Library, to help people make informed health decisions, per its website. In response to the Cochrane piece, the American Dental Association in October issued a statement reaffirming its endorsement of community water fluoridation at optimal levels to help prevent tooth decay. It said that recent reviews dont present new or significant findings on the subject. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The statement noted that fluoridated water was accessible to communities regardless of their socioeconomics and added that the CDC has said water fluoridation and fluoridated toothpaste work together to help prevent tooth decay, doing a better job than either one alone. Lorna Koci, who chairs the Utah Oral Health Coalition, is outspoken in support of fluoride. In stated amounts, we are very favorable and have studies that show the benefit of that from an oral health perspective, she told the Deseret News. We have information that shows what has happened in cities where they have removed the water fluoridation. That, she added, is a noticeable increase in decay. The coalition itself has a position statement on fluoridation that reads: Dental caries (tooth decay) is the most common chronic disease of childhood and dental caries incidence for adults exceeds that of children. Community water fluoridation is a safe, beneficial, cost-effective, and socially equitable public health measure for preventing dental caries in children and adults. As such, the Utah Oral Health Coalition supports the optimal fluoridation of water systems throughout the state of Utah. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Experts who favor maintaining water fluoridation agree that more research is needed to better understand possible negative associations, but they worry about the politicization of the issue and the risk of losing whats long been considered an effective public health intervention. Rarely is one study going to definitively tell us all the answers we need to make a decision, Donald Chi, associate dean of research at the University of Washington dentistry school, said. Science is cumulative. A judge chimes in The National Toxicology Program study was cited by U.S. District Judge Edward Chen, who said in a ruling this year in California that while its not clear that theres a problem with the levels of fluoridation in U.S. drinking water, that is a question that needs to be addressed. He told the Environmental Protection Agency to lower the risk, though he did not specify how the agency should do that. The judge ordered the EPA to study the effects of fluoridated water and tighten its regulations as appropriate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The EPA has for years reported that levels of fluoridation above 4 mg/L could contribute to skeletal fluorosis, which can weaken bones and increase stiffness and pain. Safe levels of fluoride? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention fluoride page notes that the U.S. Public Health Service recommends that fluoride be added to drinking water. The recommendation, it says, is science-based guidance on the optimal level of fluoride in community water supplies. That optimal amount is for 0.7 mg/L as the concentration that maximizes fluorides oral health benefits while minimizing potential harms, such as dental fluorosis. The CDC reports that in 2013, the Community Preventive Services Task Force reaffirmed and updated the recommendations for fluoridation of water that it first made in 2001. The public health agency acknowledges the need to limit how much fluoride young children get, but has long supported adding it to water. It recommends not using fluoridated toothpaste in children younger than 2 unless a dentist suggests doing so. And children ages 2-6 should have only a pea-sized amount of toothpaste. They also should avoid fluoride mouthwash. Among the worries that critics cite are how fluoride impacts developing fetuses and babies who may get fluoridated water in their baby formula. KFF Health News quoted David Bellinger, a Harvard Medical School neurology professor and professor in Harvard School of Public Healths Environmental Health Department. He said the calculation of benefit and risk would be different depending on the amount of fluoride and whether typical exposure levels lead to the concerning conditions or if that only happens when exposure levels are higher. In toxicology, the dose makes the poison is a long-standing principle, he said. So a general statement that fluoride is associated with diseases X, Y and Z is not very helpful unless the dose that might be responsible is specified. Chi told the NPR reporters he believes that scientists and health experts will have to change how they explain findings to the public. The old health care model was very paternalistic, meaning that providers would tell patients what to do and largely patients would go and do it, he said. I think health providers, public health officials, those working with patients, you really have to know your stuff. I think its really important to create a space with patients to have these conversations. Cities begin to act Cities, like experts, appear to be divided on the issue. And some of them are taking steps related to their positions on the topic. NPRs WFYI in Indianapolis reported that in 2011, the city council in Calgary, Canada, voted to stop fluoridating water, a move its expected to reverse in 2025. The number of cavity-related dental treatments for every 10,000 children under the age of 5 increased from 22 in 2014 to 45 in 2019, according to one study. In another example, Lebanon, Oregon, voters on Election Day narrowly approved removing fluoride from the water supply, as The Washington Post reported. The state already had one of the lowest water fluoridation rates in the country, the Post noted. In Winter Haven, Florida, last week, the city commission voted 3-2 to stop adding fluoride to drinking water as soon as reasonably practical thereafter, as WFLA-TV reported. The story noted that Mayor Pro Tem Brian Yates suggested that some of the approximately $48,000 the city would save could be donated to charities that provide dental health services and products. Some cities have simply not added fluoride, including Portland, Oregon, where voters said no. On the opposite side, Sheridan, Wyoming, recently started adding fluoride. Buffalos WIVB4.com said that New York city plans to keep fluoridating its water regardless of Kennedys recommendations. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) The Fabens Independent School District (Fabens ISD) Board of Trustees unanimously approved Dr. Rogelio Segovia as the new superintendent on Thursday, Nov. 21, according to a press release from the school district. The school district says Segovia was named the lone finalist for the position in October while serving as the assistant superintendent. The board then observed a mandatory 21-day waiting period before finalizing his appointment. Before joining Fabens ISD, Segovia spent six years as the associate superintendent for San Elizario ISD since 2018. His prior rules included assistant principal at Ann M. Garcia-Enriquez Middle School for over five years and special education teacher, elementary principal, and secondary principal, according to the school district. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Segovia has a bachelor of science in social psychology, two masters degrees in counseling and educational leadership, and a doctorate in curriculum and instruction and educational leadership, according to the school district. I am deeply honored and excited to serve as the new Superintendent of Schools for Fabens ISD, said Dr. Segovia. Together, with the support of the Fabens ISD School Board, our dedicated educators, staff, families, and students, we will continue to build a future of excellence where every student can succeed. Fabens ISDs strength lies in its people, and I look forward to working alongside this incredible community to elevate our district to new heights. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. MOSCOW (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin said Russia had struck Ukraine with a new hypersonic medium-range ballistic missile in response to Kyiv's use of U.S. and British missiles against Russia. What is the "Oreshnik" (Hazel tree)? WHAT DID PUTIN SAY? Putin said on Thursday that the Ukraine war was escalating towards a global conflict after the United States and Britain allowed Ukraine to strike deeper into Russia with their missiles, and warned the West that Moscow could strike back. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In direct response to Ukraine's use of U.S. and British missiles on Nov. 21, he said Russia had launched an "Oreshnik", one of its newest intermediate-range missiles, at a defence enterprise in the Ukrainian city of Dnipro. The city is home to the missile and space rocket company Pivdenmash, known as Yuzhmash to Russians. WHAT IS THE MISSILE? Putin said "Oreshnik" was a hypersonic ballistic missile. He said it travelled at 10 times the speed of sound and so could not be intercepted. Russian sources said the range was 5,000 km (3,100 miles), allowing Russia to strike most of Europe and the west coast of the United States. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It appears to have multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicles: separate warheads able to hit different targets. Anatoly Matviychuk, a Russian military expert, said it could carry six to eight conventional or nuclear warheads, and was probably already in service, according to Yuri Podolyaka, a prominent Ukrainian-born, pro-Russian military blogger. The Pentagon said the missile that Russia fired was based on the "RS-26 Rubezh" intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). It said the U.S. had been notified of the launch through nuclear risk reduction channels. WHAT DID UKRAINE SAY? Ukraine's air force said Russia had fired an ICBM at Dnipro, though the United States said that was incorrect. ICBMs are defined as having a range greater than 5,500 km (3,400 miles). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said that a Russian attack with a new type of ballistic missile was a "clear and severe escalation" and called for worldwide condemnation. WHAT IS THE RS-26? The RS-26 is a solid-fuelled, road-mobile ballistic missile that entered development in 2008. The United States formally withdrew from the landmark 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty with Russia in 2019 after saying that Moscow was violating the accord, an accusation the Kremlin denied. The United States said at the time that Russia was developing a ground-based cruise missile (known as 9M729 in Russia) that was distinct from the RS-26. (Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge; Editing by Kevin Liffey) The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is now open for applications, which is good news for Oklahoma high school seniors. This class of 2025 will be the first group required by state law to complete the form in order to graduate. FAFSA is a form that lets students apply for federal grants, work-study funding and student loans. Many higher education institutions also require a FAFSA to determine a student's eligibility for their own grants, scholarships and loans. The law applies to anyone graduating from a public high school accredited by the Oklahoma State Department of Education, but there are some exceptions. How graduates can skip the FAFSA The law, which was adopted in 2023, includes several ways for seniors to graduate without submitting a FAFSA form: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The student's parent or legal guardian can sign a form to opt-out participation in the requirement. An 18-year-old student can sign the opt-out form themselves. A school counselor can authorize a student's graduation without submitting a FAFSA. The opt-out form can be found on the state Education Department's website, sde.ok.gov. How to apply for free student aid The 2025-26 FAFSA form is available now. Anyone who's required to provide information on the form, whether it's the student, their parent or spouse, will need to create a StudentAid.gov account. The form requires Social Security numbers, tax returns, records of child support, current balances of cash, savings and checking accounts, and the net worth of investments, businesses and farms. More: Should my college student have a credit card? Tips for starting financial health habits Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While filling out a FAFSA application opens doors for a student to receive federally backed loans and other aid, there is no requirement to apply for those loans. Details about FAFSA can be found at StudentAid.gov. Students who need to fill out FAFSA forms before they graduate must do so before finishing their final semester of high school. The state Education Department recommends students learn about FAFSA during their financial literacy instruction, which requires knowledge of FAFSA and other financial savings programs that are designed to provide students with the basic skills and knowledge needed to effectively manage their personal finances. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: FAFSA now open for applications: What Oklahoma seniors need to know HONOLULU (KHON2) A Mom, her husband and seven children are struggling to get on their feet and could use a helping hand through the holidays, especially for the children. Check out whats going on around the nation on our National News page The family shared a home with the Moms uncle. During the pandemic, her uncle passed away from COVID-19. They were unable to keep up with rent, evicted the following year and were homeless. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just this month, they were able to move into a family shelter but then, Dad was in an accident on the job and was laid off. All the children, ages one through 15, could use clothes and shoes for church and school. Their seven-year-old daughter would love a dollhouse. Their six-year-old daughter would love a doll. Toys for their one-year-old son would be appreciated. Dad could use tools, toiletries and a buzzer to cut his hair. Mom would appreciate toiletries, bedding, towels and rugs. In the spirit of laulima, our many hands working together, we can help this struggling family have a brighter holiday season. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Check out more news from around Hawaii If you would like to help, visit the Laulima Giving Programs website HERE. Select Adopt A Family and fill out the submission form with the family code H240094-9. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2. The family of a man shot and killed by Oklahoma City police four years ago will receive $1.05 million in a settlement approved by the Oklahoma City Council. Bennie Joe Edwards, 60, was shot and killed by police on Dec. 11, 2020, after officers arrived at a northeast Oklahoma City store where Edwards had been accused of bothering customers. The encounter ended with officers shooting at Edwards as he ran toward them while holding a knife, and then shooting him in the back as he attempted to run away. The city council approved the settlement at its Tuesday meeting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The killing of Edwards, who was experiencing homelessness and had a history of mental illness, drew intense controversy and days of protests. It happened just months after the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police, which sparked backlash and social unrest nationwide. The shooting also raised questions about whether or not Oklahoma City police detectives should be allowed to investigate fellow officers. Many police departments statewide often turn to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation to handle officer-involved shootings, but Oklahoma City police still investigate their own, submitting their internal findings to the local district attorney to decide whether charges are pursued. In response to calls for police reform in recent years, a revamped Community Public Safety Advisory Board was established to provide some civilian oversight and to review complaints and shooting cases, but only after investigations are closed. Many other recommendations, including revision of the police department's use of force policy and prioritization of de-escalation, are still on the pathway to implementation. "Oklahoma Citys Police Department has a custom and practice of using excessive force disproportionally against minorities, unarmed and mentally ill individuals and what happened to Bennie Edwards was truly shameful," Ben Crump, a prominent civil rights attorney representing the Edwards family, said in December 2021. "He was in emotional distress at the time the officers encountered him, and instead of responding with compassion and care, they treated him with aggression, tasers and bullets." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: A Black man killed by OKC police had severe mental illness; the officers had no crisis intervention certification. In February 2021, former Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater charged one of the officers involved, Sgt. Clifford Holman, with first-degree manslaughter, but not the other, Sgt. Keith Duroy. However, a detective later recanted his original statement that Holman unnecessarily shot Edwards. Current District Attorney Vicki Behenna decided to dismiss the charges against Holman in 2023. Despite that decision, Edwards' family moved forward with a civil lawsuit against the city. Kimberle Thompson, Edwards' daughter, and Juanita Hill, Edwards' mother, co-administrators of his estate, had sued the city and officers Duroy and Holman in federal court in December 2021. The lawsuit alleged Duroy and Holman "used inappropriate, unwarranted and unjustifiable force" against Edwards, even as they saw "Edwards was retreating." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: OKC policing task force consultant submits de-escalation, use of force recommendations An Oklahoma City Council memo said the settlement was reached between Edwards' family and the city on Oct. 25. The memo also emphasized the settlement was made without any admission of liability. A spokesperson for the city could not provide further comment on the settlement. Neither legal teams representing Holman and Duroy nor the Edwards family responded to requests for comment Thursday. (This story was updated because an earlier version included an inaccuracy.) This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC council approves $1.05M settlement with Bennie Edwards' family A British lawyer who died of suspected methanol poisoning in a backpacker town in northern Laos was a beautiful, kind and loving daughter, her parents said on Friday. Simone White, 28, is one of six foreign tourists to have died after drinking alcohol believed to have been laced with methanol in Vang Vieng. Laotian police have launched an investigation into the suspected mass drink-spiking and detained a number of people, including the owner and manager of a hostel where some of the victims stayed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement released on Friday, Neil and Sue White said: We are devastated by the loss of our beautiful, kind and loving daughter Simone. Simone was one of a kind and had the most wonderful energy and spark for life. She was a soul who gave so much to so many and was loved by her family, friends and colleagues. Simone has been taken from us too soon, she will be sorely missed by her brother, grandmother and entire family. Our hearts go out to all other families who have been affected by this terrible tragedy. The Telegraph understands that White, from Orpington in the London borough of Bromley, had travelled to Laos with two school friends. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She became ill after drinking shots believed to have been laced with methanol from a bar in Vang Vieng on Nov 12 and later died in hospital. Whites mother is understood to have flown to South East Asia last week and returned to the UK on Friday following her daughters death. Bethany Clarke, one of Whites friends and a healthcare worker from Orpington, was also treated in hospital after drinking free shots offered by one of the bars in Vang Vieng. In a Facebook post, she said her liver started to shut down and warned other travellers to avoid all local spirits. White was an associate lawyer in the London office of Squire Patton Boggs, an American law firm. It said: Simone was a talented colleague with a bright future ahead of her and someone who epitomised our firm values. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Friday, Australian tourist Holly Bowles, 19, became the sixth holidaymaker to die, just a day after her best friend Bianca Jones died in a Thai hospital. Bianca Jones (left) and Holly Bowles, from Australia, also died after falling ill The father of Bowles confirmed his daughters death. It is with broken hearts, and we are so sad to say that our beautiful girl Holly is now at peace. We find comfort and solace in knowing that Holly brought so much joy and happiness to so many people, Shaun Bowles told Nine News. The two friends, from Melbourne, had been mid-way through a dream trip. They had been staying in a hostel in Vang Vieng and visited local bars the night before becoming critically unwell. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Staff at the Nana Backpackers Hostel found them in their room when they failed to leave on time. The other victims include an American man, believed to be in his 50s, and two Danish women in their 20s. They are thought to have consumed drinks tainted with methanol, which is a cheaper alternative to the ethanol found in alcoholic drinks but can cause severe poisoning or death. Vang Vieng in Laos is a popular tourist destination - Anupam Nath/AP The Laos government said on Saturday it was profoundly saddened by the deaths. In a statement the government expressed sincere sympathy and deepest condolences to the families of the deceased, adding an investigation was under way to find the cause of the incident, which is suspected to be methanol poisoning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At least 10 others, including more British tourists, became unwell after drinking in the same town. Some of the ill victims are believed to have been transferred to a hospital in Bangkok. The Foreign Office said it was assisting other British people who had been poisoned. It is believed more than 100 guests of the Nana Backpacker Hostel were served free shots of Lao Tiger vodka mixed with ice and Coke Zero on the night of Nov 12. An officer at Vang Viengs Tourism Police office said no charges had been filed but a number of people had been detained in connection with the case. Staff at the hostel, which is still operating but not accepting new guests, confirmed the manager and owner were among those taken in for questioning. 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. GARFIELD HEIGHTS, Ohio (WJW) Garfield Heights police are working to identify and apprehend a suspect who stole a teenage girls dog from her familys front porch on Wednesday. Its just really sad, 16-year-old Jaleyah Hannah said. I was literally bawling my eyes out yesterday. Because its like; how could somebody just be so cruel just to take a dog off the porch? Clevelands first public restrooms planned at 4 spots Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hannah and her family immediately reported the crime as soon as they noticed that Princess, a 3-year-old golden American pit bull, was taken. The incident was captured on the familys home security system. The footage shows an unknown man getting out of a white sedan, believed to be an Audi with a red interior. The man walks up to the front porch, pets the dog, and then picks her up and puts her in the back seat of the car. He gets in the passenger seat and the car drives away. I was really shocked, Hannah said. I was really mad because she was like a really precious dog, and we had her since she was a little puppy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two Cleveland residents killed in Virginia crash The suspect is a man wearing a black hoodie with a large white skull design and red writing on the front. He was also wearing black pants with red and white stripes or accents and black shoes that appeared to be Jordans. Garfield Heights police said they are working very hard to find Princess and return her safely to the family. Hannah fears Princess was stolen because the suspect wants to breed her. Its like, really expensive to get dogs like her, she said. Shes a pit bull and at that, shes friendly, so I feel like they took more advantage just to grab her. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How did you find me so fast? 83-year-old accused bank robber asks Hannahs mother has a speech disability, and her stepfather is deaf. So, the 16-year-old is doing everything she can to help find her dog, calling local shelters and planning to post signs. She said one of the key pieces of evidence could be the cars license plate. She hopes police will bring this thief to justice. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Garfield Heights police at 216-475-1234. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Listen and subscribe to Opening Bid on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you find your favorite podcasts. Craig Newmark, the 71-year-old founder and former CEO of classifieds site Craigslist, is alarmed about potential cybersecurity risks in the US. The deal is our country is under attack now, he told Yahoo Finance executive editor Brian Sozzi on the Opening Bid podcast (video above; listen in below). Its not like Im in the recruiting line after Pearl Harbor because my dad volunteered in the '40s, but I guess thats what I should be doing. This embedded content is not available in your region. Newmark, who stepped down from the company in 2000 but kept a position answering customer complaints, has foregone reaping financial rewards in semi-retirement. Instead, he started Craig Newmark Philanthropies to primarily invest in projects to protect critical American infrastructure from cyberattacks. He told Sozzi he is now spending $200 million more to address the issue, on top of an initial $100 million pledge revealed in September of this year. He encouraged other wealthy people to join him in the fight against cyberattacks. I tell people, 'Hey, the people who protect us could use some help. The amounts of money comparatively are small, so why not help out,' he said. Craig Newmark, founder of Newmark Philanthropies, speaks during a panel discussion on Sept. 12, 2022. (Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images) Pacific Press via Getty Images Cybersecurity has had a banner year in the spotlight, with issues going beyond past annoyances where consumers simply need to change passwords, call a credit bureau, or cancel an account after a breach. This past summer, a Microsoft (MSFT) Windows update containing a defect hit 8.5 million computers. It resulted in flight cancellations and hampered health and payment services. Concerns swirled about potential infrastructure attacks on a global scale, such as the Paris Olympics. In October, utility company American Water Works (AWK) announced a cybersecurity attack that temporarily shut down its customer portal and paused billing. Shares of cybersecurity stocks have subsequently soared: Palo Alto Networks (PANW) and CyberArk Software (CYBR) are up 38% and 53% year to date, respectively. Wall Street is staying bullish on each stock, according to Yahoo Finance analyst recommendation and price target data. The global financial impact of cybercrimes could reach $13.82 trillion by 2028 from $9.22 trillion in 2024, the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia estimated. The need for municipalities and other government entities to act rather than react remains paramount, warns Newmark. I think a lot about this, said Newmark. Ive started to fund networks of smart volunteers who can help people protect infrastructure, particularly [for] the small companies and utilities across the country who are responsible for most of our electrical and power supplies, transportation infrastructure, [and] food distribution. COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) A podcaster has wrapped up her investigation into a decades-old central Ohio cold case, giving the victims family hope of finally receiving justice. John Bernie Burnside, 32, was found dead in his Marysville home on Dec. 11, 1993, just 10 hours after reporting a break-in to police. Burnside, who had cerebral palsy, was discovered with a plastic bag placed over his head and taped around his neck. His death was originally ruled a suicide, but was later determined to be a homicide. Unsolved Ohio: Columbus woman missing for nearly seven years Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He had worked for Honda for quite a while, said Paula Troyer, Burnsides sister. He had gotten a good job and he excelled there. He was kind and quiet and just not a violent-type person at all. He had a small build and stature and just kind of an older soul. John Burnside (Photo Courtesy/Paula Troyer) John Burnside (Photo Courtesy/Paula Troyer) John Burnside (Photo Courtesy/Paula Troyer) Burnsides homicide caught the attention of Melissa Sandberg, a civil investigator from Florida. While her review of Burnsides case marked the first season of her podcast Dog with a Bone, she has been examining cold cases for more than three years, recently as part of an independent group of investigators who brought new leads in the suspicious death of a West Virginia woman named Judith Petty. Sandberg works in the healthcare industry and investigates cold cases on the side. She spends her own money to fly to places where victims lived, and talk with their family, friends and law enforcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sandberg said Burnsides case sparked her interest when she came across a Facebook group named Who killed John Bernie Burnside, which had 22 members. She felt like Burnside had been forgotten and reached out to his family to offer her free services and coverage on her upcoming podcast. Ohio State rehousing students living in dorm where mold, mushrooms were found I was surprised at first and then I was so thrilled as nothing else had happened all these years, Troyer said. My dad just passed two years ago, and he had so hoped this would come before he passed so that part is sad. I would have loved him to see this cause he worked on it so much. Before his death, Burnsides father had also independently investigated his sons homicide. He left behind a plethora of his findings, which helped Sandberg in her own search for answers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His dad had dug and dug and dug for information, and was really trying to solve his sons own murder, and so I had all of that information, Sandberg said. Everyone in Marysville seems to know what happened, but yet nothing was ever done. Troyer (left) and Sandberg (right) looking through information compiled by Burnsides late father. Sandberg (second from the left) with members of Burnsides family, including Troyer (left). Sandberg investigated the homicide from February to November, traveling to Marysville twice to meet with family members and interview people of interest in the case. Dog with a Bones first season consisted of 10 episodes, uploading once a week from Sept. 12 through Nov. 14. Troyer said she learned new information about Burnsides life and death through Sandbergs investigation, however, none of Sandbergs suspects came as a surprise to her. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We already know who did this in our minds, Troyer said. So shes just confirmed timelines and everything and just brought in more evidence for what we already knew. After Sandberg began to look into the case and reach out to different law enforcement agencies, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation decided to review the case. Sandberg has kept in contact with the agency and sent them all of her findings. The bureau told NBC4 they have no updates on the investigation to share at this time. Troyer said she is hopeful the review will result in an arrest and closure for Burnsides family after 30 years. Its finally time that people do the right thing, Sandberg said. Bernies family, they deserve an apology and they deserve justice. Sentencing postponed for former Columbus police officer convicted of murder Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The first season of Dog with a Bone racked up over 25,000 listens from people all over the country, according to Sandberg. Episodes can be found on Apple and Spotify. To me, this is a very important podcast, Troyer said. For the people that get into just trying to solve murders and trying to find missing people, what a wonderful thing those people are using their voice for. Sandberg said she is currently looking for another case to investigate for her second season, but she will continue to follow Burnsides case and update listeners. Sandberg said she does not have a release date for the second season yet, and updates can be found on the podcasts Facebook page. Anyone who has information on Burnsides homicide may contact the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations tip line at 800-282-3784. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. Family members of Hannah Kobayashi, a resident of Maui who vanished in Los Angeles earlier this month, held a rally and passed out flyers downtown near the spot where she was last seen. Kobayashis family, who said she was traveling from Maui to New York, became concerned when she missed her 11 p.m. flight out of LAX to John F. Kennedy International Airport on Nov. 8, KTLAs Carlos Saucedo reported. A surveillance photograph obtained by the family showed the 31-year-old landed at LAX, but what happened next is still being pieced together. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After family members traveled to L.A. to try and retrace her steps, they learned that Kobayashi attended a Nov. 10 LeBron James event at The Grove. The following day, her phone was pinged back at LAX, but her last known location was the Pico Metro Station near Crypto.com Arena around 10 p.m. on Nov. 11 where she was seen with an unknown person. Family members of Hannah Kobayashi seen in downtown L.A. holding a rally and passing out flyers on Nov. 21, 2024. (KTLA) Hannah Kobayashi seen at LAX on Nov. 8, 2024, in a surveillance photo obtained by family members. (viewer image) Hannah Kobayashi seen in L.A. in a surveillance photo obtained by family members. (viewer image) Family members of Hannah Kobayashi seen in downtown L.A. holding a rally and passing out flyers on Nov. 21, 2024. (KTLA) Family members of Hannah Kobayashi seen in downtown L.A. holding a rally and passing out flyers on Nov. 21, 2024. (KTLA) Family members are asking for the communitys help searching for Hannah Kobayashi, 31, of Maui, who missed her connecting LAX flight and hasnt been seen or heard from since Nov. 10. (Larie Pidgeon) Hannah Kobayashi seen in this undated photography. (viewer image) Please, please do not stop saying her name, Hannah Kobayashi, her aunt, Larie Pidgeon, beseeched Thursday afternoon. Your entire family is here. The entire world is looking for you. If you can and you have access, please reach out to us. Were not mad. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The family does not believe the 31-year-old is safe, with her aunt telling KTLA last week that she began receiving alarming texts messages soon after she went missing. She mentioned feeling scared, and that someone might be trying to steal her money and identity, Pidgeon said. Strange, cryptic messages things about the matrix, it was so unlike her. And then all of a sudden, no more communication. L.A. motorcycle officer crashes in lanes of 405 Freeway in Sepulveda Pass They are now afraid that someone might have hurt her, especially since her last known location can be dangerous in the late evening. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shes a beautiful girl inside and outside, her father, Ryan Kobayashi said at Thursdays rally. Just reach out, if you can at all. Kobayashi is described as 5 feet 10 inches tall, weighing about 140 pounds with brown hair, brown eyes and fair skin with freckles. A GoFundMe has been organized to help support family members who have traveled to L.A. to assist in the search. Officials with the Los Angeles Police Department confirmed they are investigating, though Kobayashi has not yet been listed as a critical missing person. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. Amelia Schafer ICT + Rapid City Journal RAPID CITY, S.D. In the middle of the afternoon in her dorm room, Aniah Painte, a freshman at the Flandreau Indian School, woke up to a punch in the face. I woke up on the second punch and I felt blood, Painte, 15, said recounting the Oct. 14 attack. I saw all this blood running down my face. Painte had gone to her room to take a mid-afternoon nap and awoke to find herself being beaten by two other students who had broken into her room. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two fellow students accused Painte, of the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation, of stealing a THC vape from them and a few dollars. Painte told them they were mistaken and had the wrong person, but the girls wouldnt listen. Flandreau Indian School's Home Living building, photographed on May 15, 2024. (Photo by Tedd McDermott, Lee Enterprises) I thought they were my friends, Painte said. I kept telling them it wasnt me, I didnt have it. Widespread bullying and violence have gone unchecked at the Flandreau Indian School, a residential Bureau of Indian Education facility in eastern South Dakota, the Painte family said. Staffing shortages and a lack of communication allow for students to act out with no consequence, said Aniahs mother Denise Painte. After the incident, Aniah called her mother, who raced in from Rapid City to take her home. Aniah maintained she hadnt stolen the vape and her mother had her drug tested, which confirmed she had not consumed marijuana. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When staff came, Aniah said they were more concerned with finding the vape than they were her injuries. The vape was not found in her room. Aniah is now living back at home in Rapid City with her family members, who are concerned and alarmed with how the incident was handled. In an interview with ICT and the Rapid City Journal, Aniah Painte said violence is common at the school. Students often participate in fight rings, where older students will pay younger students to fight each other for their amusement. She said staff rarely patrol the dorms. These girls need to be held accountable, Denise Painte said. Id like to see how often (the schools) safety procedures are reviewed and updated and how much training staff receives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Flandreau Indian School is one of four remaining off-reservation boarding schools in the United States managed by the Bureau of Indian Education. The school first opened its doors in 1872 as a Presbyterian Indian Mission School until it was taken over by the federal government in 1877. Now, the residential school is a high school for grades 9-12. Like many other schools across the nation, the Flandreau Indian School is currently struggling with staffing shortages. According to the schools website, there are eight positions open: an art teacher, a transitional teacher, a business technician, an intermittent home living assistant, a regular home living assistant, a residential life manager, a school maintenance boiler operator and a substitute teaching position. The Bureau of Indian Education did not respond to requests for comment. I would like to see the school be shut down until they have proper staffing, Denise Painte said. From day one they were telling me they were understaffed. The only way I was able to communicate with my daughter was because I sent her a cell phone. Whenever I call the school, no one picks up. It just rings and rings, and I leave messages that are never answered. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Painte said the only time she was able to have a conversation with staff was when they coordinated her daughters return to Rapid City. Violence and bullying arent the only issues at the Flandreau Indian School. Earlier this fall, the Lee Enterprises Public Service Team uncovered stories of students at the Flandreau Indian School being improperly prescribed psychiatric medications by staff with no medication training. Denise Painte graduated from the Flandreau Indian School in 2002. Remembering a positive experience at the school, she chose to send her daughter there. Its completely different now, she said. I went to Flandreau so I trusted them. I thought shed be safe there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Painte family filed a police report with the Moody County Sheriff's Department, which is responsible for patrolling the school, but havent heard anything. When she went to pick up her daughter, Denise said police told her usually nothing comes out of reports like this and shed need to file police reports in Arizona and Minnesota, where the two girls lived. Moody County Sheriff Troy Wellman said the department is occasionally called to the school for student fights. A case report was generated from the incident, but as all parties involved are minors, the department was unable to provide the report. I want answers, Denise Painte said. How were those kids able to get a key from the staff? The staff were more concerned about where the vape was than my daughters safety. I want justice for my daughter. Physically, Aniah is okay, she said, but mentally shes still recovering from the attack. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It breaks my heart, Aniah Painte said. It was so cruel. They didnt try to hear me out or anything. I didnt deserve that. This story is co-published by the Rapid City Journal and ICT, a news partnership that covers Indigenous communities in the South Dakota area. Our stories are worth telling. Our stories are worth sharing. Our stories are worth your support. Contribute $5 or $10 today to help ICT carry out its critical mission. Sign up for ICTs free newsletter. This article was republished in partnership with Balls and Strikes. In 2023, the renowned Supreme Court lawyer Tom Goldstein announced his retirement, explaining that when the court is controlled by a six-justice conservative supermajority, there is very little that an advocate for the little guy can hope to accomplish anymore. This week, Goldstein, best known as the founder and publisher of SCOTUSblog, reemerged to offer the sort of keen insight available only to a man who argued more than 40 cases before the justices during his illustrious career: that under the Constitution, winning a presidential election makes any crimes you may have committed magically vanish. This is the thrust of Goldsteins latest op-ed in The New York Times, in which he calls for the prompt dismissal of all ongoing prosecutions of President-elect Donald Trump. With the election now over, the courts have to decide quickly whether to move forward, Goldstein writes. Although this idea will pain my fellow Democrats, all of the cases should be abandoned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Goldstein does not defend Trumps real-world conduct at issue in any of these cases. They are, in no particular order, aimed at his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia; his payment of illegal hush money to kill an unflattering news story about an extramarital affair; his mishandling of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago mansion; and his complicity in the Jan. 6 insurrection, an anniversary that Trump will soon celebrate by watching many of the same lawmakers who almost died at his supporters hands take the formal steps necessary to make him president of the United States. Instead, Goldstein argues that operation of the democratic process has rendered these prosecutions illegitimate. The Constitution trusts the judgment of the American people to decide whether the cases against Mr. Trump, as he has argued, were political and calculated to stop him from being elected, he writes. The people had plenty of opportunities to hear both sides, and they have spoken. Goldsteins claim here is that under the Constitution, the 2024 election basically was a trial, and Trumps victory is a definitive not guilty verdicta verdict that applies not only to the three cases that have yet to go to trial, but also to the one in which jurors already found Trump guilty, too. The purported constitutional equivalence between criminal trial outcomes and presidential election results will come as a surprise to anyone with a passing familiarity with criminal trials or presidential elections. Prosecutions, for example, take place in the controlled environment of a courtroom; presidential elections, by contrast, take place in a barely regulated political landscape in which reactionary billionaires are free to buy as many votes as they can afford. Prosecutions are decided by randomly selected juries of a fixed number of ones peers; presidential elections are decided by whatever coalition decides to show up to the polls that day. Prosecutions are about determining the culpability of a specific person for a specific act in a specific jurisdiction. Presidential elections are, in effect, very expensive national popularity contests, in which an individual voters perception of a nominees alleged criminality may have everything, something, or nothing to do with how they ultimately choose to cast a ballot. For a multitude of good reasons, the Constitution firmly rejects the legitimacy of determining innocence or guilt by popular referendum, and certainly does not contemplate allowing people accused of crimes to opt out of the criminal legal system by running for and winning elected office. (I would have thought an acclaimed Supreme Court advocate would understand basic stuff like this, but here we are.) In a courtroom, telling outrageous lies under oath is the sort of thing that can land you in prison. Out on the campaign trail, telling outrageous lies earns you raucous applause, credulous media coverage, and a 2-point polling bump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In perhaps the most absurd passage in the op-ed, Goldstein discusses the pending state charges against Trump, which, unlike the federal cases, the president cannot unilaterally kill once he takes the oath of office. A central pillar of American democracy is that no man is above the law. But Mr. Trump isnt an ordinary man, Goldstein writes. (See if you can spot the qualifier he added!) The slippery-slope argument Goldstein is trying to make is that allowing state prosecutions of a sitting president could set a troubling tit-for-tat precedent in the future. But somehow he misses the excruciatingly obvious problem that if, in fact, no man is above the law, everything he writes before and after this paragraph is either: 1) a vacuous justification for ascendant authoritarianism, or 2) the sort of critical thinking that, if you were to include it in an AP Government exam in high school, would prompt a concerned note from your teacher asking if you were getting enough sleep. As it turns out, the real central pillar of American democracy is that no man is above the law, unless that man is deemed sufficiently extraordinary for one reason or another, in which case retired members of the Supreme Court bar will dust off their keyboards to crank out half-baked blog posts conflating an election result with a legal exoneration. Throughout, Goldstein expresses great concern about the dangers that politically driven prosecutions might pose to the democratic order; elections, he asserts, play a critical role in sussing out which prosecutions are political and which are not. In Goldsteins view, Democrats desire to see the cases through just proves that their support is based not on confidence in the prosecutors legal theories and evidence, but instead on politics and hatred of Mr. Trump. But Goldstein never grapples with the implications of endorsing a framework that, in the name of scrupulously avoiding political prosecutions, would require prosecutors to look the other way basically anytime a president commits a crimeno matter how worthy of prosecution the crime may be, and no matter how threatening the crime is to the democratic order that Goldstein says he is so concerned with preserving. And like so many of Trumps ostensibly reluctant defenders in the legal profession, Goldstein does not acknowledge the simple fact that his proffered solutiondismissing a criminal prosecution because the defendant happened to win a presidential electionis just as political a choice as proceeding as if the defendant were anyone else. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Like the Supreme Courts decision in Trump v. United States, which transformed the Richard Nixon when the president does it, its not illegal adage into an ironclad principle of constitutional law, Goldsteins logic would turn democratic elections into get-out-of-jail-free cards for anyone who can afford to buy one. Regular people, of course, would still be subject to regular criminal courts, where they might get life in prison for stealing a few VHS tapes. Wealthy politicians, by contrast, would be allowed to do as many crimes as they please, secure in the knowledge that as long as they file the paperwork necessary to run for office, and thereafter manage to convince a plurality of the electorate to vote for them, they will enjoy the privilege of being able to escape accountability altogether. I am not sure why Goldstein feels passionately enough about the subject to be this bootlickingly wrong about it in public. But his choice to do so demonstrates how malleable this countrys conception of justice really is: If a defendant is famous and powerful enough, elite lawyers will write in to the newspaper of record to cravenly argue that, as a matter of constitutional law, famous and powerful people actually shouldnt be subject to the legal system at all. As the saying goes, when youre the president, they let you do it. Disclosure: For about a year beginning in 2009, I wrote weekly, unpaid round-up posts for SCOTUSblog, and unsuccessfully interviewed with Goldstein for a job as his personal assistant. For my SCOTUSblog author page, I had a friend take my picture in front of the brick facade at the old National Capital YMCA, because I was a 22-year-old recent college graduate during the Great Recession, and needed the several hundred dollars it would have cost to get a professional headshot for rent. Corrections & Clarifications: A previous version of this article misidentified a city that no longer has service from Phoenix with Breeze Airways. Airline milestones are a perfect time for cheap flights. That's what a low-cost carrier is doing to celebrate two years at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Breeze Airways will celebrate two years in Phoenix with a sale on airfares to and from the four nonstop destinations it serves in Phoenix. Advertisement Advertisement Breeze, founded in 2021 by JetBlue Airways founder David Neeleman, launched its service in Phoenix in November 2022 with flights to Provo, Utah and Charleston, South Carolina. (The Charleston route has since been suspended.) As the carrier expanded its network nationwide, Phoenix has been part of its growth; Breeze began flying to Norfolk, Virginia in October. Here's what Breeze's fare sale offers. Breeze Airways fare sale 2024 Breeze is offering one-way sale fares to these destinations from Phoenix: Provo, Utah, starting at $39. Norfolk, Virginia, starting at $85. Hartford, Connecticut, starting at $99. Richmond, Virginia, starting at $99. Advertisement Advertisement Breeze charges low base fares plus fees for seat assignments and other services. How to get cheap flights with Breeze Airways The sale is available for flights through Feb. 12, 2025. Travelers must book their flights by Nov. 30 to get the low fares. Book at flybreeze.com. Does Breeze allow free carry-on? Breeze passengers get one free carry-on with the Nice Bundle, Nicer Bundle and Nicest Bundle prices. No free carry-on is included with the No Flex Fare. Breeze Airways and more: Here are all the new flights from metro Phoenix for fall 2024 Michael Salerno is an award-winning journalist whos covered travel and tourism since 2014. His work as The Arizona Republics consumer travel reporter aims to help readers navigate the stresses of traveling and get the best value for their money on their vacations. He can be reached at Michael.Salerno@gannett.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter: @salerno_phx. Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Breeze Airways sale: $39 flights to these cities CENTRAL ILLINOIS (WCIA) The 2024 U.S. presidential election ended two weeks ago with Donald Trump reclaiming the White House. 59% of Central Illinois voters voted for Trump and his running mate J.D. Vance. Heres how every Central Illinois county voted for president Farmers are hoping this means lower costs for crop production, but they are holding their breath when it comes to Trumps tariff proposals. According to Josh Linville, Vice President of Fertilizer for StoneX, the tariffs could deliver a kick in the shins if they apply to the imported fertilizers that farmers need. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A lot of folks come and say, This is great for farmers, theyre going to rescind all of this stuff. Hes really for the American ag. Hes going to get rid of this stuff, lower our prices,' Linville said. But the problem is, Trump leans into his tariffs. Hes got a history of using it. Im not saying hes going to continue that, but if you think about it, all the tariffs against Chinese fertilizer imports, that 25% tariff, came from the Trump administration. Trump favors huge new tariffs. What are they, and how do they work? Russia is also in the mix, and the U.S. has current tariffs on their phosphate, but not on potash, nitrogen and UAN. Linville hopes Trump can use his relationship with President Vladimir Putin to work with each other to resolve issues between the U.S. and Russia. But if they start to get into a little bit of an ego, butting heads, and Trump starts to pull out these tariffs, well, now weve lost another supplier of potash. Now weve lost another supplier of nitrogen, Linville said. Thats the worry. He likes to use these tariffs as a tool. Well see if he does that on fertilizer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Canada is another option for potash and the U.S. has phosphate mines in Florida. But those mines are right in the path of hurricanes, and they narrowly avoided Hurricane Milton. From the Farm: Hurricane Miltons effects on Central IL ag People dont realize this. If that storm had been 35 miles north. Linville said. Tampa Bay is dealing with 10- to 15-foot storm surge devastating to the region. We were literally 35 miles away from having a completely different conversation today. Linville said that if fertilizer has to wait for spring application because of inclement weather, supplies would be plentiful because very little may be applied this fall. But the situation with Russia could drive nitrogen prices high next spring. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com. By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The Federal Aviation Administration plans to convene a review board in the coming weeks to consider safety concerns about engines on Boeing 737 MAX airplanes after two bird strike incidents on Southwest Airlines planes in 2023. The FAA said it is addressing an issue with the CFM LEAP-1B engine and is collaborating with Boeing, CFM and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency. The two incidents resulted in smoke in the cockpit. The Seattle Times, which reported the planned review earlier, said the FAA could issue instructions to pilots for changes during procedures during takeoff until Boeing develops a permanent fix that could extend delays to certification of the MAX 7 and MAX 10 models. A person briefed on the matter said the FAA has to take into account whether a change in procedures makes sense to address an extremely rare incident of smoke in the cockpit, when pilots have a procedure to address the issue. We are working with the authorities that are investigating these incidents. We continue to follow regulatory processes to properly address potential issues and ensure the continued safety of the global fleet, a Boeing spokesperson said. Southwest Airlines said on Thursday it notified flight crews about the effects of certain bird strikes following two events that occurred in 2023 and "reiterated the importance of following established safety procedures that are part of the companys recurrent pilot training." Southwest said it is working with "the manufacturers and safety regulators to identify a permanent solution." Boeing in February published a bulletin to inform flight crews of potential flight deck and cabin effects associated with severe engine damage. CFM, the world's largest engine maker by units sold, is co-owned by GE Aerospace and Safran. GE Aerospace said on Thursday the LEAP engine meets FAA and EASA bird ingestion certification requirements and noted the birds in the two incidents significantly exceeded the size and weight of regulatory bird ingestion certification standards but the engines still performed as designed. Boeing's 737 MAX 7 and 10 are delayed as the planemaker works to address an engine anti-ice system that could lead to it overheating and potentially causing an engine failure before the planes can be certified. (Reporting by David ShepardsonEditing by Chris Reese and Leslie Adler) The Osceola deputy accused of recklessly igniting a gasoline fire with a Taser and severely burning a man he was trying to arrest was found not guilty Friday night of misdemeanor culpable negligence after a weeklong trial during which he testified the incident was an accident. David Crawfords family was filled with emotion as the verdict was read at 8 p.m. after more than six hours of deliberation. The acquittal put to rest a complex trial that rested on a central question: Was the February 2022 fire at a Wawa gas station in Orlando caused by Crawfords missteps while trying to arrest then-26-year-old Jean Barreto? His attorney Michael Barber lauded the verdict, telling a reporter immediately afterward this was not a typical misdemeanor case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We think the jury got it right; we think justice was served here today, Barber said. My client is very happy to be able to put this behind him and get back to his life and get back to protecting and serving the community. An elated Crawford declined to speak with reporters after the verdict and its not clear he intends to return to the Osceola County Sheriffs Office. An agency spokesperson did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment. Prosecutors, led by Chief Assistant State Attorney Ryan Williams, said they put forward the best case they could against the deputy. I think the jury took their time and deliberated carefully, Williams said. Ultimately its their decision whether or not law enforcement uses reasonable force on an arrest, and they reached their decision based on the evidence and their view of it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The prosecution and defense made their closing arguments Friday. The fire that left Barreto with burns on three-quarters of his body happened after hed been chased by deputies into Orange County, fleeing on a dirt bike after reports of bikers brandishing guns at people in Osceola. No gun was ever found. Prosecutors argued Crawford acted deliberately and recklessly. They further noted he threatened Barreto he would get Tased again during the confrontation immediately before the stun gun discharged and Barreto burst into flames. In Williams final pitch to the jury he told them Crawford paid no attention to the innocent bystanders when he approached Barreto moments before the blaze. He knew there was gasoline all over the place. He announced it. He knew he was going to Tase him. He announced it, Williams said noting the burns Barreto suffered mean his body and his life are changed forever. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There was no chaos at this gas station until he arrived, he added. But Barber told jurors another story: The fire was accidental and the result of a justified chase of a man accused of fleeing deputies who believed he had a gun. He also questioned throughout the trial whether the stun gun a state fire investigator said was responsible for the blaze was the actual cause pointing to alternate explanations like the heat from Barretos engine. We want you to look at all the evidence, we want you to look at all of the law, Barber said, later adding: Every single witness, every single video conclusively shows you he didnt intend to use the Taser. Throughout the trial, jurors heard testimony that pinned the fire on the stun gun belonging to fellow Deputy Christopher Koffinas, who used it during the struggle with Barreto before Crawford got hold of it. It was when Crawford pulled the trigger as he tried to toss it that the gasoline ignited. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Orlando Halloween mass shooter indicted on 11 charges including 1st-degree murder Jurors also heard from a detective leading the criminal investigation who testified that radio transmissions did not point to Barreto as an armed suspect, contrary to what Crawford said on the witness stand. But Barber tried to sow seeds of doubt throughout the trial, starting with questioning the cause of the fire. He also tried to make the case that the force used to apprehend Barreto was justified because he was riding recklessly at high speeds while fleeing authorities. Whether Barreto was correctly identified as armed was completely irrelevant, he said, pointing to the lead detectives testimony and that of other deputies who took the stand and said Crawford was required to make an arrest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What the evidence established is he did exactly what he was supposed to do: he followed his training, Barber said. Koffinas, he argued, immediately and against policy drew his stun gun and used it around gasoline. Koffinas, the cowboy from Texas running up, quick draw, boom doesnt wait for anything else, he said. Crawfords trial happened two years after Barretos fateful encounter with Osceola deputies. Sheriff Marcos Lopez defended the chase, saying Barreto fit the description of a motorcyclist brandishing a gun and likely tossed it. That was not supported by helicopter video shown to jurors. The chase and arrest was criticized as grossly excessive by Mark NeJame, who leads the law firm that once represented Barreto. According to him, Barreto was with a group of dirt bikers on a memorial ride in honor of a friend when deputies arrived on scene. Barreto faced charges of fleeing law enforcement, reckless driving and resisting arrest but prosecutors declined to bring a case against him. A lawyer representing Barreto did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment following the not guilty verdict. ASHLAND CITY, Tenn. (WKRN) Ashland City authorities arrested a Nashville father and son last week after discovering cocaine in a fast food container. On Friday, Nov. 15, members of the Ashland City Police Department stopped a vehicle because of a dark window tint. Joseph Tibbs Jr., 24, was driving, and his father, 72-year-old Joseph Tibbs Sr., was in the passenger seat. Body camera footage shows the entire traffic stop. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You ever been in trouble in Sumner County? an officer asked. A records check on the driver landed Joseph Tibbs Jr. in handcuffs for an outstanding warrant out of Sumner County. Youre on probation for felony possession of cocaine, the officer pointed out. Man wanted for vehicular homicide following September crash in Clarksville News 2 checked with the the Tennessee Department of Correction (DOC). It turned out that Joseph Tibbs Jr. was convicted of forgery and cocaine possession in 2023, but he was put on probation. Officer: Do you have anything in there at all? No marijuana? Joseph Tibbs Jr.: I dont smoke. We were just literally leaving Hillcrest rehabilitation to see my mom. Shes in hospice. Thats where we was coming from. Officer: Do you have any marijuana? Any cocaine? Joseph Tibbs Jr.: No, I dont smoke none of that now. Officer: You got no coke on you? Joseph Tibbs Jr.: No. Officer: No methamphetamine? Joseph Tibbs Jr.: No. Officer: No heroin? Joseph Tibbs Jr.: No. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nashville man wanted for fleeing from crash apprehended by Mt. Juliet police A search of the car yielded a chicken nugget container that also had a rock of cocaine. The bag was found on the passenger side floorboard. The officer described to his partner how he found the 6-gram rock of cocaine: I got down in here. Dude, I just had, like, an intuition. I keep looking, dude. I pop this open and it was stuffed right here, and he was eating that whenever I walked up here, and that other dude in the back just lied straight to our face: I dont do that no more.' Police read both men their rights and then asked them to whom the cocaine belonged. The father and son denied knowing about the drugs in the bag. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officer: Its in that Hardees bag. Joseph Tibbs Sr.: I just bought that Hardees bag! Joseph Tibbs Jr.: We just literally got that down the road. Officer: And yall think somebody put crack cocaine in your Hardees bag? No, I watched yall eat it; one of yall handed it off or put it in there. Nobody just puts crack in Hardees, okay? Joseph Tibbs Sr.: No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. Officer: So nobody wants to claim it? Joseph Tibbs Jr.: We literally just grabbed it. Joseph Tibbs Sr.: We just bought it. Officer: Yall just think Im brand new, huh? Joseph Tibbs Sr.: You think were brand new because we didnt have no, I dont do drugs! Officer: So nobody? Joseph Tibbs Jr.: I dont do drugs. None of us had any drugs on us. We literally just got that bag. Officer: Okay, well yall are both going to jail for possession of crack cocaine. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com Since neither man admitted to owning the cocaine, both were arrested. Joseph Tibbs Jr. who has a hold out of Sumner County is still in the Cheatham County Jail on a $19,500 bond. The 24-year-old has been charged with possession with intent to sell and deliver a Schedule II controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, simple possession of marijuana, and driving on a revoked license. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, Joseph Tibbs Sr. was released from jail on an $18,500 bond. The 72-year-old was also charged with possession with intent to sell and deliver a Schedule II controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and simple possession of marijuana. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. A man and his teenage daughter were shot while inside their home in Tacoma on Thursday. Officers were dispatched to the shooting just after 7 p.m. in the 3400 block of East L Street. The man and teenager were inside the house when bullets came through the walls from the outside, Tacoma Police Department spokesman detective William Muse told The News Tribune. They were both shot in their lower extremities, Muse said, and were taken to a local hospital for their injuries. The teenager was reportedly in surgery, he said. It is currently unknown how severe their injuries were. Muse could not confirm if the incident was a drive-by shooting. No suspects have been identified. Federal law defines a hate crime as a threat or attack based on a persons race, religion, disability, ethnic or national origin, sexual orientation, genre or gender identity. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Evidence has to be collected, and the public needs to help us with that, Supervisory Special Agent Keith Kabrhel told Channel 2s Courtney Francisco. Kabrhel said if you receive a hate letter or written threat, put on rubber gloves when touching it. He said that can preserve fingerprint evidence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Take a picture of it with your phone, said Kabrhel. That preserves a lot of information, preserves what it looked like when you originally received it, and preserves date and time. If someone texts a hateful threat, Kabrhel said save a screenshot of it and save the original text. Dont delete it. Dont send it to anybody else, said Kabrhel. He said if someone calls you with a threat, record it. A lot of time what we see people do is take another phone and record the conversation, said Kabrhel. If you receive a threat in your e-mail, dont delete it. We want to take a picture of it to preserve that evidence as well as the original e-mail itself, said Kabrhel. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If a threat happens in person physically or verbally, Kabrhel said to get to a safe place and record it on your phone. If you can help out your neighbor, another person in a parking lot or a store when something bad happens to them, that can be good evidence, said Kabrhel. Right now, the FBI Atlanta is investigating several racist text messages that invoked slavery after the presidential election. Now, the vile trend has expanded. The FBI said senders are not just targeting people based on race, theyre sending texts to people based on ethnic origin and sexual orientation. Metro-Atlantas Latin American Association said a 15-year-old DeKalb County student is one of the latest to receive a text saying she has been selected for deportation. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] The FBI said some texts are telling some in the LGBTQIA+ community to report to re-education camps. The FBI is still investigating to confirm who sent the texts and if any crime was committed. FBI Atlanta said it had already planned to release the hate crime response guide before the recent rash of racist texts. FBI Atlanta's just released Hate Crime Response Guide. pic.twitter.com/a50XjoUWkl FBI Atlanta (@FBIAtlanta) November 21, 2024 You can report suspected hate crimes to tips.fbi.gov or call 770-216-3000. Nov. 22Six people were arrested Friday morning as part of a federal investigation into a Dayton-area drug trafficking organization. Arrests were made in Beavercreek, Dayton, Fairborn, Huber Heights, Trotwood and Troy, according to a Drug Enforcement Administration spokesperson. The suspects were arrested on multiple charges, including conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine. Multiple local, state and federal law enforcement agencies partnered together in the investigation, including the FBI, U.S. Marshal Service, U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Ohio and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Troy police assisted the FBI and DEA as they executed federal search and arrest warrants around 6 a.m. in the 700 block of North Dorset Road. "The warrants were served without incident and the investigation is ongoing," Troy police posted on social media. We are working to learn more and will update this story as more details are available. (Bloomberg) -- The US Supreme Court will weigh a fresh line of attack on federal administrative power, agreeing to consider the constitutionality of the $8 billion annual slate of subsidies that help cover the cost of telecom services for poor people and rural residents. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heeding calls from both the Federal Communications Commission and opponents, the justices will rule on the decades-old Universal Service Fund, which uses a charge imposed on monthly phone bills to help more than 8 million people afford telephone and broadband service. The fund also subsidizes service to schools and libraries through the E-rate program. Challengers led by the conservative advocacy organization Consumers Research say Congress gave the FCC too much authority when lawmakers established the program in 1996. The opponents also say the FCC in turn has unconstitutionally handed off its powers to the private nonprofit entity that administers the fund. A private company is taxing Americans in amounts that total billions of dollars every year, under penalty of law, without true governmental accountability, the group argued in court papers. The FCC and the Biden administration joined calls for Supreme Court review after the 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals split with two other appeals courts and declared the program invalid. US Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar said the 5th Circuit ruling threatens to undercut service for millions of people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Universal service programs ensure the availability of vital telecommunications services to schools, libraries, rural health care providers, and rural and low-income customers, argued Prelogar, the administrations top courtroom lawyer. The court is likely to schedule arguments for early next year, meaning the incoming Trump administration will inherit the case. The solicitor general typically defends federal statutes and programs regardless of party affiliation, though there is no guarantee Trumps team will follow that approach. Agency Power The case could open a new avenue for attacks on administrative power. Last term, the court overturned a 40-year-old legal precedent and rolled back the power of federal agencies to regulate business. The challengers in the latest case are seeking to revive the so-called nondelegation doctrine, a legal theory the Supreme Court last invoked to blunt Franklin D. Roosevelts New Deal in the 1930s. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advocates of the nondelegation doctrine say the Constitution assigned the legislative power to Congress and lawmakers cant simply hand off that authority. A variation of the argument, known as the private nondelegation doctrine, would restrict the governments ability to hand off responsibilities to outsiders. The 5th Circuit, perhaps the countrys most conservative appeals court, said on a 9-7 vote that the combination of those two arguments rendered the program unconstitutional. The universal service contribution mechanisms double-layered delegation is incompatible with our constitutional structure, Judge Andrew Oldham wrote for the majority. Several of the Supreme Courts conservatives have expressed interest in revitalizing the nondelegation doctrine. The court in recent decades has largely neutered the doctrine, saying Congress can delegate as long as it lays out an intelligible principle for agencies to follow. Rubber Stamp Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Congress instructed the FCC to set up the Universal Service Fund in the 1996 law that deregulated the telecommunications business. The FCC then created the private Universal Service Administrative Co., known as USAC, to run the program subject to the commissions oversight. The nonprofit entity provides the financial projections that determine the size of the contributions. It also sends out bills, collects money and disburses funds to beneficiaries. Prelogar told the Supreme Court that USAC performs only an advisory role and has no independent substantive power to set the contribution factor or the amount of individual carriers contributions. But Oldham said the FCC served as a rubber stamp and had never made a substantive change to the proposed contribution amounts until the litigation began. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Telecom providers including AT&T Inc. and Verizon Communications Inc. typically pass the fees onto customers in the form of bill line items, and that money is funneled back into the communications access programs. The contribution rates assessed on the carriers have soared in recent years because the fees are only applied to revenue from voice calls, which are diminishing. The broadband industry has advocated for maintaining the subsidy programs during the court fight, saying companies rely on the support to fund major infrastructure investments in hard-to-reach areas. The lead case is Federal Communications Commission v. Consumers Research, 24-354. --With assistance from Kelcee Griffis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) this week authorized a long-delayed clinical trial to test whether smoking marijuana can be used to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in veterans. The trial, sponsored by the nonprofit Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), has been blocked by the FDA since 2021. The agency had raised a variety of objections, including that allowing people to inhale high-potency cannabis was dangerous to their health. The FDA also objected to the studys self-titration dosing method, which will allow participants to smoke as much cannabis as they feel they need to relieve their symptoms up to a daily limit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But on Wednesday, MAPS announced that the FDA will allow the trial to proceed. Importantly, they said the FDA no longer objects to either smoking or letting participants choose their preferred amount. After three years of negotiations with the FDA, this decision opens the door to future research into cannabis as a medical treatment, offering hope to millions, the organization said in a statement. FDA also will allow the trial to use a THC potency that matches commercially available cannabis in states permitting legal medical or recreational adult use. One requirement the agency insisted on was that the study participants must have prior experience inhaling cannabis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Allison Coker, director of cannabis research at MAPS, said they did not want to change the study design to fit how the FDA has historically viewed marijuana research. The trial is meant to mimic how veterans may use cannabis in their daily lives, the way its delivered and the amount thats delivered. Medical marijuana is legal in 39 states, and 24 states and D.C. have legalized recreational use. But marijuana is illegal federally, and long-standing restrictions on marijuana research presented hurdles. Most cannabis users are smoking or vaping, Coker said, which the FDA was reluctant to allow. But smoking or vaping means the effects happen almost instantly, which is important for people who have PTSD. Additionally, the available products in states where marijuana is legal are of a much higher potency than what the federal government has until very recently allowed to be used in studies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite the growing use of cannabis among patients with PTSD, there have been limited rigorous studies on whether it works. People are using it for medical use. States are clearing it for medical use, but the FDA has not weighed in on it. We dont have as many studies and data as we might want, especially we dont have studies [reflecting] the way that people are using it in the states, Coker said. Coker said the approval shows the federal government is slowly coming around to recognizing the value of research into the potential benefits of marijuana rather than its harms. The changing legal landscape of marijuana prompted the Biden administration to propose rescheduling the drug as a lower risk, which could ease some of the existing restrictions. But the process is long and complex, and its not clear if the incoming Trump administration will continue it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, the Department of Health and Human Services, in a report to Congress this summer, acknowledged long-standing federal barriers to researching marijuana and indicated that better research is needed. The MAPS study will be funded by a $12.9 million grant from Michigans cannabis agency, which devotes taxes from retail marijuana sales to fund research into the drugs health benefits. The randomized, placebo-controlled study will enroll 320 veterans suffering from moderate to severe PTSD. Researchers will use marijuana from Canada with a high level of THC that closely matches the legal products sold domestically, Coker said. Coker said the hope is their approval was a tipping point. The group published all their FDA correspondence online so other researchers can learn from it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our goal was really to help lift up research across the field. Thats why this was so important to us to have this fight, Coker said. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Nearly a year after FDNY Monsignor John Delendicks death from a 9/11-related illness, a plaque dedication ceremony honoring the beloved chaplain was held Friday morning at the Brooklyn firehouse he called home. Delendick, who died on Thanksgiving in 2023 at age 74 from pancreatic cancer, was remembered as both a generous and humorous figure, fiercely dedicated to the firefighters who make up the department. The Monsignor was a calming and steadying voice in their times of need. On good days he was a friend and a confidant, quick with a joke and a jab, said Fire Commissioner Robert Tucker to the crowd gathered in the Canarsie firehouse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The plaque, which is to be installed at Ladder 170/Engine 25/Battalion 58, mentions his work shepherding our members during the rescue and recovery efforts in the wake of 9/11. The event not only ultimately claimed his life but was the center of much of the work he did after the attacks. The Queens native was ordained on Feb. 12, 1977, and became an FDNY chaplain 19 years later after serving in churches across Brooklyn. Delendick took over as the departments senior chaplain after Father Mychal Judge became the first official victim of 9/11. He never forgot who was left behind and the years that followed were devoted to 9/11 families and this department, said Tucker. Delendick returned to the site multiple times in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks, with the toxic dust of lower Manhattan eventually sickening the veteran priest. He arranged boat trips for 9/11 families to visit Ground Zero only weeks after the attack, gathering the mourners for a prayer on their trip from the Brooklyn Naval Yard to the site. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even after his diagnosis of cancer, Delendick continued his work in the 9/11 community. Today we are here to remember someone who didnt give a little more, he gave a lot more, said FDNY Chaplain Rabbi Joseph Potasnik. Authorities in Minnesota have issued an appeal to find an "endangered" elderly man who left for Texas "because it was warm there." Harvey Pearson, 82, of Sturgeon Lake, left his home on Nov. 6 and said he was traveling to Texas. He called his son and left a voicemail on the night of Nov. 7, saying he was in Corpus Christi. Police say Pearson is "very active on social media" but he has not made a post since Nov. 7. Minnesota BCA "No family members nor the reporting party have been able to get ahold of Harvey since that date and both of his phones are now off," the Minnesota BCA said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Reporting party states that Harvey is vulnerable and has been having recent memory issues, forgetfulness, and mood changes. "This is very unusual for Harvey, as he is very connected with his phone, friends, and family." It is believed he was traveling in a 2005 silver Chevy Silverado. Anyone with information should call the Pine County Sheriff's Office at 320-629-8380. TROY, Ohio (WDTN) Federal officials served warrants in Miami County early Friday morning. According to a release from the Troy Police Department, federal and local authorities were in the 700 block of N. Dorset Road in Troy on Friday around 6 a.m. Troy Police said it was assisting members of the Drug Enforcement Agency and Federal Bureau of Investigation at the location. The warrants were served without incident and the investigation is ongoing, the department said in the post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the DEA, 6 individuals were arrested with alleged connection to a Dayton area drug trafficking organization. These arrests were conducted in Dayton, Beavercreek, Fairborn, Troy, Huber Heights and Trotwood. Multiple charges are pending including conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine. Multiple local, state and federal agencies including the FBI, ATF, U.S. Marshal Service, and the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of Ohio collaborated over multiple years of 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 WDTN.com. (Reuters) -Honeywell will sell its personal protective equipment business to Protective Industrial Products for about $1.33 billion in cash, it said on Friday, further streamlining its business. A potential sale of the PPE business was disclosed before activist Elliott Investment called for a split of the company's aerospace and automation businesses after taking a $5 billion-plus stake. Since taking charge last year, CEO Vimal Kapur has looked to align Honeywell's portfolio to a shift to the so-called megatrends of automation, aviation and energy transition. The sale of the PPE business, which is part of the company's industrial automation segment, is expected to close in the first half of 2025. The diversified industrial giant said it would retain its gas detection portfolio within the segment after the divestment. Protective Industrial Products, which manufactures and supplies protective equipment, is owned by private equity firm Odyssey Investment Partners. (Reporting by Utkarsh Shetti in Bengaluru; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila) TULSA, Okla. A Wyandotte couple accused of child neglect and abuse of their mentally disabled, adopted son will appear in court next week. Court records show that Jennifer Enyart, 44, and her husband Keith, 52, are in federal custody and are both charged with child neglect in Indian County. Jennifer faces an additional charge of assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm for allegedly using a stun gun on the genitals of their 15-year-old mentally disabled, adopted son. Medical reports show several of the childs injuries were consistent with the use of a taser or stun gun, court records show. The medical report concluded the teens injuries were likely the result of child abuse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Special Ed teacher charged with using stun gun on adopted, disabled sons genitals Keith is being held in the Tulsa County jail, and Jennifer is reportedly in custody at the Okmulgee County jail. A jail employee declined to confirm information on Jennifer Enyart, saying she felt uncomfortable releasing information. When pressed with the Oklahoma Open Records Act, she said the jails computer system was down and couldnt release any information confirming Enyarts presence in the Okmulgee jail. The couple is scheduled to return to court on Nov. 26 for preliminary and detention hearings. They appeared in United States Federal Court in Tulsa on Wednesday, where a 6-page federal criminal complaint and arrest affidavit were unsealed, and the hearings were set. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jennifer Enyart is a Special Education teacher at Wyandotte. School officials released a statement saying she was placed on administrative leave. On September 3, 2024, after learning of allegations against Mrs. Enyart, she was placed on administrative leave. The district has and will continue to cooperate with all investigating agencies. The school is working with its legal counsel to determine its next actions regarding Mrs. Enyarts employment, said Brad Wade, Wyandotte Schools Superintendent. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com. Records obtained by the American Civil Liberties Union show that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials are working to expand immigrant detention capacity in New Jersey, despite opposition. (John Moore | Getty Images) Federal immigration authorities are working to expand immigrant detention capacity in New Jersey ahead of mass deportations President-elect Donald Trump has said he will order, new records reveal. The American Civil Liberties Union discovered the expansion plans after suing in September to obtain records on contract solicitations Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials issued in June to secure additional detention space around the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The records show ICE officials are eyeing at least three New Jersey facilities that would be run by private prison companies and have a combined capacity of about 2,500: Albert M. Bo Robinson Treatment Center, a 1,000-bed facility in Trenton that held state prisoners until 2022. Records indicate ICE is looking to house 600 immigrants at the center, where the New York Times uncovered sexual assaults, robberies, and other abusive conditions during a 2012 investigation. Elizabeth Detention Center, a 300-bed facility owned and operated by CoreCivic, Inc., that now is the states only immigrant detention center. Records show ICE aims to create a new outdoor recreation center at this facility, which made headlines in 2021 for abusive treatment, cramped and unsanitary living conditions, and medical neglect. Delaney Hall, a 1,196-bed facility that housed immigrant detainees between 2011 and 2017. Records show GEO Group Inc. expects to secure a 15-year contract by the end of December to detain a minimum of 600 immigrants there, despite community opposition. Delaney Hall in Newark (Photo by New Jersey Monitor) The documents dont indicate if ICE is considering other facilities beyond those that responded to its solicitation, nor how much it would all cost and how much taxpayers would cover. The expansion plans come as a 2021 state law banning immigrant detention centers in New Jersey remains in legal limbo after CoreCivic and GEO Group sued to block it. A federal judge partially struck down the law last year as unconstitutional, the state appealed, and court arguments are expected in early 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They also come as legislation that would give immigrants in New Jersey new protections remains stalled in the Statehouse. Thats why its urgent that policymakers act, said Ami Kachalia, an ACLU-NJ campaign strategist. State lawmakers should pass the legislation, known as the Immigrant Trust Act, so that New Jersey is not complicit in separating families or depriving our residents of due process, Kachalia said in a statement. New Jersey has already taken steps to oppose immigrant detention by phasing out ICE contracts and closing county-run ICE jails. But as federal plans to expand detention in New Jersey continue, the need for protections grow by the day, she added. Amy Torres, executive director of the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice, called on state lawmakers to go even further. She pointed to California, where Gov. Gavin Newsom called a special session next month to protect immigrants and otherwise Trump-proof the state, and Boston, where Mayor Michelle Wu this week doubled down on the citys sanctuary status for immigrants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think New Jersey hasnt explicitly said yet whether or not they will cooperate, Torres said. A spokeswoman for Gov. Phil Murphy directed the New Jersey Monitor to comments the governor made during a Nov. 6 news conference. Then, he said he had no crisp answer on what the state might do to counter Trumps detention and mass deportation plans but warned: We will be very aggressive, both with bullhorn, with legal action, with any other action we deem to be necessary. Attorney General Matt Platkin seconded that sentiment. New Jersey is the proud home to many immigrant communities people who abide by our laws, pay taxes, run businesses, and contribute to the rich diversity of our state. We have defended our immigrant communities for years, and that wont stop now, Platkin said through a spokesman. That includes continuing to defend our state law that bars private entities from entering into contracts to house immigrant detainees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most of the states congressional delegation have signed letters urging the Biden administration to back off of plans for new immigration detention centers in New Jersey. The Albert M. Bo Robinson Treatment Center in Trenton (Dana DiFilippo | New Jersey Monitor) Undocumented residents here have basic protections under a 2018 order by the state attorney general known as the Immigrant Trust Directive, which limits local police from sharing information with federal immigration authorities. But those protections do not expand to other sensitive places like schools and health care facilities and libraries, Torres said. Torres called the ACLUs discoveries scary, because every available option is on the table, not just the sites that we know. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is so important that not a single dollar of New Jersey resources are used for Trumps vengeful and dangerous plan, Torres said. More than 11 million undocumented immigrants live in the U.S., and about a half million of them are in New Jersey, by federal and state estimates. ICE spokesman Mike Alvarez declined to comment, saying the agency doesnt comment on ongoing or pending litigation. But in the records the ACLU obtained, ICE officials said expanding detention capacity would help fulfill ICEs mission to protect society along with achieving the goals of the DHS and the mandates of the U.S. Congress. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Local and regional economies would benefit because the detention centers would create new jobs, officials noted. Strengthening the nations capacity to detain and remove criminal and other deportable noncitizens is a key component of ICEs strategy to deter illegal immigration and protect public safety, one document stated. Sophie Nieto-Munoz contributed to this report. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Federal prosecutors have secured a third guilty plea in a drug smuggling ring that mailed a record amount of fentanyl pills from Arizona to the Twin Cities hidden in stuffed animals. DaShawn Natori Domena, 25, of Indiana, pleaded guilty Wednesday in U.S. District Court in St. Paul to conspiracy to distribute the drug in connection with the ring that ran from August 2022 to February 2023. Eight others, all from either St. Paul or Minneapolis, also were charged this year with the same count following the seizure of 280,000 fentanyl pills that were sent in six packages through the U.S. Postal Service from Phoenix to the Twin Cities metro area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities called the fentanyl seizure, which amounted to 66 pounds with an estimated value of over $2.2 million, the largest ever in Minnesota. Court documents say several of the defendants traveled to Phoenix to obtain fentanyl from suppliers, hid the pills inside stuffed animals and mailed them to addresses in and around the Twin Cities. The drug ring disguised the stuffed animals as birthday presents and lined them with dog treats in an attempt to prevent drug-sniffing dogs from alerting them. Last week, Cornell Montez Chandler Jr., 25, of St. Paul, was sentenced to more than 13 years in prison after pleading guilty to the charge in June. In August, Stardasha Christina Davenport-Mounger, 25, of Minneapolis, also admitted to the scheme, while the six other defendants have pleaded not guilty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sentencing dates for Davenport-Mounger and Domena have not been scheduled. Related Articles Nov. 21Ferris High School is to be the fourth Spokane high school to get its own CHAS-run health center on campus, the school board decided Wednesday. Rogers, Shadle Park and North Central high schools already have school-based health centers within their walls that address all sorts of health needs, including physicals, writing referrals and prescriptions, treating and testing some illnesses. They're frequently used by students and their families. The Rogers clinic, opened in 2020, logged treating 667 patients in more than 1,900 visits from August 2023 to the same month of 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The other two clinics, opened this summer, each cost around $300,000 to $450,000 to retrofit into existing office space. Around half the funding for those came from the city's pandemic-era federal American Rescue Plan Act, with the rest from the school district. The city will also fund around half of Ferris' future facility, allocating $200,000 from its remaining rescue dollars to the school district to expand its services. The school district will cover the rest of the construction expenses, and CHAS pays to staff the clinic through a memorandum of understanding with the school district. Capital Projects Director Greg Forsyth estimates adding a clinic into Ferris will cost $350,000 to $400,000. The school board had its choice between the two remaining high schools: Ferris and Lewis and Clark, but also proposed middle schools Flett and Yasuhara, depending on where the biggest health care need is, board members said. On Wednesday, they'd reached a consensus Ferris had that need. Board member Jenny Slagle was absent from the meeting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "LC is right in the middle of our medical system," Board President Nikki Otero Lockwood said, referring to the hospitals and clinics that surround the downtown high school. They decided against a middle school in part because of results from the state's annual healthy youth survey that show a higher proportion of students may need care addressing their dental, mental and sexual health in high school. In a presentation to the board meant to inform their pick, Executive Director of School Support Services Becky Doughty told the school board Ferris' nurse office is around 20% more used than Lewis and Clark's. Doughty, who leads the district's nursing staff, also supplied the board with data that indicated Ferris had higher proportions in categories relevant to health care and access to it, including more kids with disabilities, learning English, experiencing homelessness, enrolled in special education and classified as low income. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Southgate school also had around 5% more "chronically absent" students, those kids who miss 18 or more days of school for any reason, including excused absences for doctors appointments. With the addition of a CHAS clinic a couple of doors down from their classroom, kids don't have to miss a school day to get health care. The addition of these clinics is one tool in the district's belt to help improve attendance at target schools, a metric that has tanked statewide post-pandemic. "It seems like all else being equal, that Ferris has a more significant need than LC, and additionally is farther away from health care services," board member Mike Wiser said. "With that direction, we'll be moving forward with planning and layouts for Ferris, and we'll work with the Ferris community to find the best location," Forsyth said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Then we'll partner with our CHAS clinic to make sure we're getting the opportunities and items that they need." The district expects to start retrofitting the new clinic into Ferris this summer. Like other school based health clinics, it'll be open year round, except on federal holidays, on weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Elena Perry's work is funded in part by members of the Spokane community via the Community Journalism and Civic Engagement Fund. This story can be republished by other organizations for free under a Creative Commons license. For more information on this, please contact our newspaper's managing editor. [Source] Two Filipino American siblings, Christine Asa-Ca, 26, and Janvi Maquindang, 21, were among four people fatally shot at a home that caught fire in Lancaster, California, on Nov. 16. Asa-Cas fiance, Edwin Garcia, 24, also died at the scene, along with an unidentified fourth victim who succumbed to injuries at a hospital late Sunday night. Authorities responded to a 911 call about the shooting made at 1:27 a.m. by a terrified 16-year-old family member who hid in her bedroom and was later rescued by deputies. Firefighters arrived at 1:43 a.m. and extinguished the blaze within an hour. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators have yet to determine a motive or identify any suspects, though they have not ruled out that the shooter may be among the deceased. A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to cover funeral expenses and support the surviving siblings. Authorities urge anyone with information to contact the L.A. County Sheriffs Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500 or Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477 or lacrimestoppers.org. Trending on NextShark: Watch: BTSs Jin reacts to being named 'worlds most handsome man' Download the NextShark App: Want to keep up to date on Asian American News? Download the NextShark App today! WASHINGTON Amnesty International is appealing to President Joe Biden to use his final weeks in office to rectify a case of injustice by releasing 80-year-old Native American rights activist Leonard Peltier from prison. As a matter of humanity, mercy, and human rights, you should grant clemency and release Leonard Peltier, reads a Wednesday letter to Biden from Paul OBrien, executive director of Amnesty International USA. This would not only allow Peltier to be home with his family and community for his last years, but it would also help mend the fractured relationship between Native Americans and the U.S. government, which could be forever part of your legacy, said OBrien. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A White House spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment. Heres a copy of OBriens letter, which also calls on Biden to take actions like closing the Guantanamo Bay detention center and changing course in response to the Israel-Gaza war. Peltier, who is nearly blind and struggles to walk, has been in prison for almost 50 years. He is widely considered to be Americas longest-serving political prisoner. The U.S. government convicted him for murdering two FBI agents in a 1975 shoot-out on Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. But his trial was carried out with unbelievable misconduct: The FBI threatened and coerced witnesses into lying. Federal prosecutors hid evidence that exonerated Peltier. A juror admitted on Day 2 of the trial that she was biased against Native American people, but she was kept on anyway. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The governments case fell apart after these revelations, so it abruptly revised its charges against Peltier to aiding and abetting whoever did kill those agents entirely on the grounds that he was one of dozens of people present when the shoot-out took place. The FBI and U.S. attorneys office later admitted they never did figure out who killed those agents. There was never evidence that Peltier committed a crime. In his letter to the president, OBrien raised concerns about Peltiers health he has diabetes and an aortic aneurysm amid the ongoing unfairness of his imprisonment. Peltier was hospitalized in July after his diabetes reportedly caused him to develop open wounds and tissue death on his toes and feet. He was hospitalized again in October. No one should be imprisoned after a trial riddled with uncertainty about its fairness, OBrien wrote, and keeping him locked behind bars does not serve justice. Amnesty International is urging President Joe Biden to grant clemency to Leonard Peltier in his final weeks in office. AP Members of Congress, U.S. senators, Indigenous rights groups, Hollywood celebrities and international human rights leaders including Pope Francis and Nelson Mandela have called for Peltiers release over the decades. The main reason hes still in prison, if not the only reason, is because of staunch opposition from the FBI. But the bureaus stated reasons for opposing Peltiers release are full of holes, outdated and remarkably easy to disprove. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The FBI remains resolute against the commutation of Leonard Peltiers sentence for murdering FBI Special Agents Jack Coler and Ronald Williams at South Dakotas Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in 1975, the bureau asserted to HuffPost in a 2022 statement. We must never forget or put aside that Peltier intentionally and mercilessly murdered these two young men and has never expressed remorse for his ruthless actions. The FBI still has not publicly addressed the key context of that 1975 shoot-out, either: The FBI itself was intentionally fueling tensions on that reservation as part of a covert campaign to suppress the activities of the American Indian Movement, or AIM, a grassroots movement for Indigenous rights. Peltier was an active AIM member and an FBI target. Biden has authority to unilaterally release Peltier before he leaves office. Presidents historically announce batches of clemencies at the ends of years, and particularly at the ends of their terms. Biden wouldnt even have to formally pardon the Native American elder; he could simply grant Peltier clemency, which would allow him to live out his final years at home with his family in South Dakota without the U.S. government simultaneously conceding it was wrong to imprison him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement HuffPost spoke to Peltier in a rare interview in May 2022. Asked what he would say to Biden if he had a few minutes alone with him, he said his message would be simple. Im not guilty of this shooting. Im not guilty, Peltier said. I would like to go home to spend what years I have left with my great-grandkids and my people. Lawmakers formed an advisory group earlier this year to explore whether health care providers should be allowed to use psychedelics to improve mental health. This comes after two states, Oregon and Colorado, enacted a process of legalizing psychedelic substances. A third state, Massachusetts, recently rejected a statewide initiative. Over the summer, the state tasked the Psychedelic Therapy Advisory Working Group to review current research, consult with experts and explore state programs on psychedelic-assisted therapies. A final report concluded that Vermont was not ready yet, but also requested lawmakers let the group continue to do its work and expand its study. These substances are not new, they have been around for ages, research around them is newer and the use of them in our society in medicine, said group member Dr. Kelley Klein. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Healthcare workers protest UVMHN plan to cut services Dr. Klein, who also serves as a medical director for the Department of Mental Health, says the outcome was to be expected as the nine-member group struggled to come to a consensus. She says she hopes the group, if continued by lawmakers, will keep researching and monitoring new data from other state programs before potentially developing its own unique model. We can watch and learn from their programs and see what theyre doing and make sure that the population remains safe and to make sure that things remain therapeutic. While there was some agreement in the group around focusing any statewide-programs on psilocybin-containing mushrooms, also known as magic mushrooms, some members ran into disagreements over FDA approvals and safety. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dr. Rick Barnett, a group member, licensed psychologist, and co-founder of The Psychedelic Society of Vermont, says he thinks there is enough positive evidence to start a program without FDA approval. He also believes the group should focus more on decriminalization in addition to medicinal use. If people are growing their own mushrooms and theyre using it in a safe way, can we provide more public education and training around how to use these substances safely and let people make their own choices around these things, he said. For now, members will wait on lawmakers to see if their work can continue and if there is a path forward for psychedelics in Vermont. In the meantime, the group has advised the state to develop harm reduction training for providers, who may come across the psychoactive substances as it grows in popularity. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC22 & FOX44. Insurance brokerage and consulting services company Arthur J Gallagher has acquired retail insurance broker THB Chile, headquartered in Santiago, Chile. The deal consideration was not revealed. THB Chile specialises in offering property/casualty, life and health benefits, as well as reinsurance services across Chile. The THB team will now operate under the leadership of Lionel Soffia, who leads Gallagher's retail insurance and reinsurance brokerage business in Chile and Latin America. Commenting on the purchase, Gallagher CEO and chairman J Patrick Gallagher, Jr said: "THB Chile brings deep market expertise and a complementary book of business, representing a significant expansion of our retail and reinsurance brokerage operations in Chile. I am very pleased to welcome the THB Chile team to our growing Gallagher family of professionals." Based in Rolling Meadows, Illinois, Gallagher operates in nearly 130 countries worldwide. Earlier this month, Gallagher acquired Peabody Insurance Agency, a Michigan-based retail insurance agency. Peabody Insurance caters to commercial and personal lines clients and focuses on the manufacturing, construction, and multi-family real estate sectors. Additionally, Gallagher acquired Oklahoma City-based Scout Benefits Group, which is known for its employee benefits consulting, particularly in health plan strategies. The Scout Benefits team, including Tiffany Davis and Todd Davis, will remain at their current office. It will reporting to Leah Vetter, head of Gallagher Central region employee benefits consulting operations. "Arthur J Gallagher further expands with THB Chile acquisition" was originally created and published by Life Insurance International, a GlobalData owned brand. Reading an article recently published by Politico, a prominent European news agency on Azerbaijan's alleged 're-exporting' of Russian gas to Europe, one might conclude that either the author has lost his mind or the editor is ignorant of the facts. Frankly speaking, the article resembles the work of a defiant teenager trying to assert himself by challenging societal norms. Even, calling this collection of words an article is improper. The author claims that after the outbreak of the Russian-Ukrainian war, the EU turned to Azerbaijan to replace the Russian energy it had relied on for years. This claim alone proves that the author lacks information about the current economic and political situation in Europe, let alone Azerbaijan. It is worth noting that the EU made a significant mistake by relying on a single energy source and, following the outbreak of the Ukrainian war, tried to diversify its energy sources, which should have been done long ago. On the one hand, Azerbaijan has neither the ambition nor the resources to replace Russian gas in the European market, nor does the EU demand it. In other words, Azerbaijan cannot replace Russia with a capacity of its energy resource roughly six times lesser than it in the European market, and even if Azerbaijan somehow had enough gas to replace Russia and provided it to Europe for free, the EU would not accept it. As mentioned earlier, the EU aims to diversify its energy sources. Another fact that confirms the author's detachment from reality is that Azerbaijan has not imported any gas from Russia in 2024. In an attempt to tarnish Azerbaijani-Ukrainian relations and defame Azerbaijan, the author goes to great lengths. He exaggerates the oil trade between Azerbaijan and Russia and comments on Azerbaijani-Russian relations. Frankly, I didn't bother to verify the truth of his claims. Even assuming he is correct, the author's assertion that Russia can finance over 1,000 newly recruited soldiers with this revenue is misleading. It is crystal clear that 1,000 soldiers cannot change the fate of the Ukrainian war. On the other hand, Russia exports gas to some European countries through pipelines traversing Ukraine. With the revenue from this pipeline, Russia can recruit many more soldiers. Additionally, Russia's trade turnover with pro-Western countries, such as Armenia, has soared, earning Moscow billions of dollars from this trade. However, the author does not touch upon these issues. To tell the truth, the author is not the only journalist who exaggerates Azerbaijani-Russian relations. Several other journalists have either hinted or openly criticized Azerbaijan's relations with Russia. All of these can be described with one word - hypocrisy. Firstly, Azerbaijan has always recognized the territorial integrity of not only Ukraine but all countries suffering from either separatism or invasion. In this regard, Azerbaijan is decisive. However, Azerbaijan has not witnessed the same level of concern in the Garabagh issue. The countries that criticize Russia today and provide Ukraine with weapons acted completely contrary during the Garabagh wars. Take France, for example. Today, Paris arms Ukraine, but during and even since the II Garabagh War, it has been providing Armenia with weapons. Members of the separatist regime in Garabagh used to travel frequently to France. Unfortunately, we did not see any sanctions against the political leaders who committed the Khojaly massacre and destroyed Azerbaijani cities the way they did for Russia, which affected an ordinary citizen. Even some Western or pro-Western media outlets, including Ukrainian ones, aired Armenian propagandists under the guise of neutrality. It is interesting that we do not see the same neutrality in the light of the Ukrainian war. Furthermore, it is worth recalling that when Russia attacked Georgia in 2008, one of the Western media outlets denounced then-president of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili and said that he should have remembered that big countries, such as the USA and the EU, do not commit suicide for their little allies, such as Georgia. We saw the dark and hypocritical face of the West in 2008. We saw how they used our neighbor fraternal Georgia, and we do not intend to repeat the same mistake. In a nutshell, if you have any problem with Russia, please solve it yourselves and do not involve us in it. We are not going to be a tool of the West like some others. The company has over 35 years experience in its field, and currently boasts an investment portfolio worth $6.3 billion. This is split among three key market segments: behind-the-meter, which includes energy efficiency, residential solar, and community solar projects, and makes up approximately 47% of the total portfolio; grid connected, which includes wind and solar power generation, along with large-scale power storage projects, and makes up some 40% of the portfolio; and fuels, transport, & nature, which includes renewable natural gas, fleet decarbonization projects, and ecological restoration initiatives, and adds up to about 13% of the portfolio. This breakdown only refers to the investment portfolio; in addition, HASI has total managed assets of $13.1 billion. This is a potentially high-growth field, as there are several pushes supporting an energy transition social pressures, to reduce our modern societys pollution footprint; business pressures, to ensure a reliable power supply as non-renewable sources grow scarce; even governmental pressures, as legislatures respond to the more grass-roots pressures and provide support for an energy transition. HASI, from its base in Annapolis, Maryland, is working to provide financial support in this field and at the same time, to provide solid returns for its own investors. The first stock on our list is HA Sustainable Infrastructure, formerly known as Hannon Armstrong. This companys name points toward its business: HA Sustainable is a finance company and asset manager focused on supporting the energy transition from fossil fuels to renewable power sources. In short, this company provides capital and financing resources for firms involved in clean or green energy. Right now, the analysts at JPMorgan are taking the lead, highlighting their own must-haves for 2025. According to the latest data drawn from the TipRanks platform, two stocks they are highlighting boast Strong Buy consensus ratings and solid upside potential; lets give them a closer look, and add in the JPM commentaries, as well, to find out what makes them top picks. The top picks, the must-have stocks, can come from a wide range of sectors, depending on the analysts preferences. Some like industrials, others like biotech, others go for Big Tech, while some advise buying into venture capital. The common denominator is simple the analysts all pick stocks that are primed for gains going forward. Were only 6 weeks away from 2025, which means that its time to check in again with Wall Streets investment banks and professional analysts theyre selecting their top pick stocks for the coming year. These are the choices that the experts believe will bring solid returns in the coming year, and investors should pay close attention. Story Continues Of particular interest to return-minded investors, HASI has a long history of keeping a reliable dividend payment. The most recent declaration was on November 7, of 41.5 cents per common share for a January 10 payment. This payment annualizes to $1.66 per common share, and gives a forward yield of 5.9%. We should note here that HASI shares fell sharply in the wake of the recent election. Trumps victory, and the related anticipation of sharp policy differences from the previous administration, particularly in the area of climate policy, spooked investors on the subject of green energy investment. Shares in HASI are down by 20.5% since the election. That said, JPM analyst Mark Strouse, writing several days after the vote, was clearly not worried about this stock when thinking of its prospects. He said, We believe the company is largely tracking expectations and continue to see conservatism in the medium-term targets as project yields continue to trend higher and the companys recent investment grade credit rating likely benefits spreads over time. Given the scale, diversification, and maturity of its portfolio, we highlight HASI as being relatively more insulated from potential policy changes under a new administration compared to the rest of our renewables coverage HASI is a top pick within our coverage. Strouse goes on to rate this stock as Overweight (Buy), with a $42 price target that suggests a one-year upside potential of 50%. (To watch Strouses track record, click here.) From the Street generally, this stock gets a Strong Buy consensus rating, based on 8 reviews that include 6 Buys and 2 Holds. The shares are priced at $28.05 and their $41.83 average target price implies a one-year gain of 49%. (See HASIs stock forecast.) Xenon Pharmaceuticals (XENE) The second stock on our list, Xenon Pharmaceuticals, describes itself as a neuroscience-focused biopharma company. Xenon has made solid progress in the development of new therapeutic agents for the treatment of epilepsy, and its lead product, azetukalner, is currently undergoing multiple late-stage clinical trials in several seizure and mental-health applications. Azetukalner is a Kv7 potassium channel opener, described by Xenon as both novel and potent. It was developed as a potential treatment for focal onset seizures (FOS) as well as primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures (PGTCS), and is also being tested as a treatment for major depression. While epilepsy and major depression are very different disorders, both frequently prove resistant to current treatments leading to high unmet medical needs among patients. On the clinical trial side, the company is highly optimistic about azetukalner on the FOS track. The X-TOLE trial series is proceeding with good results, and Xenon expects to release topline FOS data from the Phase 3 X-TOLE2 clinical trial by the second half of next year. In addition, on the major depressive disorder (MDD) track, Xenon has presented data from the Phase 2 study of azetukalner, and is preparing to initiate a Phase 3 trial, X-NOVA2, before the end of 2024. Backing up the array of clinical trials, Xenon also has several pre-clinical programs underway. These include the Nav1.7 sodium channel inhibitors under investigation as treatments for pain indications, and the Nav1.1 sodium channel openers being studied as a potential treatment for Dravet Syndrome. All in all, Xenon is a biopharmaceutical company with multiple shots on goal lined up and that has caught the attention of JPM analyst Tessa Romero. Covering this stock for JPM, Romero writes of it, At a high-level, we have reason to believe that the stock will start to work again as we move towards 2025 which we expect to be a pivotal year for the company with XTOLE2 data anticipated for azetukalner in FOS that, if positive, could unlock the path to product approval and send shares towards the $60/sh level (our FOS deep dive here); we also expect increased visibility on the development pipeline in validated targets such as Nav1.7 and Nav1.1 that mgmt seemed particularly excited about in our conversation to be additional drivers for the stock Remains a top pick heading into 2025. Along with choosing XENE as a top pick, Romero puts an Overweight (Buy) rating on the shares and a $63 price target that indicates room for a 50% gain in the next 12 months. (To watch Romeros track record, click here.) The Street would concur as is clear from the unanimously positive Strong Buy consensus rating, based on 8 recent analyst reviews. XENE shares are trading for $39.34, and their $56.88 average price target implies an upside of 44.5% on the one-year horizon. (See XENEs stock forecast.) To find good ideas for stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks Best Stocks to Buy, a tool that unites all of TipRanks equity insights. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the featured analysts. The content is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment. HOMOSASSA, Fla. (WFLA) A large blaze that broke out at a property in Citrus County early Thursday morning left a shed destroyed, with only a few wooden beams still standing. Crews with Citrus County Fire Rescue received reports of a structure fire on West Minuteman Street in Homosassa around 8 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 21. PHOTOS: Hillsborough man narrowly escapes car fire on Sunshine Skyway Bridge Firefighters said they found a 1,000-square-foot wood-frame shed engulfed in flames when they arrived at the property about four minutes later. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After deploying multiple hoses to extinguish the blaze, crews secured the power to the shed by unplugging an extension cord, which they said was the only source of electricity to the structure. Investigators said multiple items were also plugged into the extension cord, which may have been the source of the fire. (Credit: Citrus County Fire Rescue) The blaze was brought under control by 8:14 a.m. However, efforts to ensure the fire was completely extinguished continued for about another hour. Officials deemed the structure a total loss. As of Friday, investigators were still working to confirm whether the extension cord was the main cause of the fire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a news release, Citrus County Fire Rescue said this fire should serve as a reminder for residents to follow electrical safety guidelines, especially avoiding overloading extension cords. (Credit: Citrus County Fire Rescue) The fire departments community partner 1-800-BoardUp was contacted to provide immediate assistance to the property owner and their 9-month-old son, officials said. They were provided with items such as diapers, baby wipes, clothing and a jacket. We are grateful to our dedicated firefighters and community partners who worked collaboratively to ensure the safety and well-being of all involved, the fire department said. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. Adelaide Hall will be demolished after the Central Business Improvement District Commission, which met Nov. 21, was informed that the building is not repairable. The building was the home of Bricktown Brewery, which had been at the location since 2014, but a fire broke out Nov. 5. Were going to try to salvage what we can for the replacement building, said Rick Griffin of Griffin Properties. We intend to construct a building as close to the original look as much as possible. Bricktown wants to come back. We like them, and the town likes them. That building was built in 1871 and lasted until Nov. 5. We want a building that people will look at and be proud of 100 years from now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Adelaide Hall was initially constructed in 1871 by William Meade Fishback and was the second-oldest building on Garrison Avenue in Downtown Fort Smith. Richard Griffin restored the building early in the 1990s, and the Varsity Grill restaurant became the first tenant. Based in Oklahoma City, Bricktown Brewery invested in additional renovations and moved into the location in 2014. Daddy was buying properties and investing in Downtown Fort Smith when it wasnt very popular, Rick Griffin said. When the Central Mall first opened, many businesses began to leave the downtown area, and it fell into disrepair. It was sad. Griffin said he hadn't received the full report from the fire department investigators, but early assessments said the fire started from a piece of equipment in the kitchen. We just hate that we have to tear it down, but this gives us a chance to put in a new modern building that is historic in appearance, Griffin said. The inside will not be modern. We will try replicating what it looked like and hope we can pull it off. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Griffin said he and his company are moving as fast as possible to begin the process and construction. The company is getting the permits to start the demolition as soon as possible because the building is too dangerous for people to be in or around. Hes already engaged an architectural firm and hopes they can start construction in the next six months. We had to drop everything to attend to this, Griffin said. Ive had a lot of people reach out to me to express their sadness that the building suffered the fate that it did. The building is important, and Bricktown did a great job there and is very successful. My job is to keep them in Fort Smith and at that location, and I think well be able to do that. This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: Fire forces demolition of Adelaide Hall, plans for rebuild underway CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) Crews were called to St. Annes Church in Chicopee for a fire Thursday night. At around 10:30 p.m., firefighters were called to a fire alarm activation at St. Annes Church on College Street. Upon arrival, the fire was located and quickly put out. The building was unoccupied at the time. Butternut wildfire grows to nearly 1,400 acres in Great Barrington (Chicopee Fire Department) (Chicopee Fire Department) The cause of the fire has not yet been determined. 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. (Photo by simpson33 via iStock / Getty Images Plus) A West Liberty firefighter who says he was wrongfully arrested on a charge of harassing public officials and then fired over a separate allegation of sexual harassment is now suing the city for $155,000. In a federal lawsuit filed this week, Paul Reed alleges he was working for the City of West Liberty on Sept. 25, 2023, when he was placed on administrative leave based on vague allegations of misconduct. Eleven days later, Reed claims, he was informed that he was being investigated for sexual harassment. On Oct. 24, 2023, Reed was fired. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lawsuit alleges the city initially denied Reed access to statements by witnesses within the fire department that would have allowed him to rebut the claims of harassment. It goes on to allege that once Reed saw the statements, three or four months after he was fired, he realized the statements were filled with subjective interpretations of his behavior rather than what he would consider factual claims. Reed also alleges that in September 2024, long after he was fired, his fiancee, West Liberty City Council member Dana Dominguez, met with City Manager Lee Geertz and Mayor Mark Smith. At that meeting, Reed alleges, Geertz admitted to mishandling the investigation into his conduct and acknowledged there were issues involving Eric Werling, West Libertys police chief in 2023, and Werlings role in the probe. The lawsuit seeks to have Reed reinstated in his job and compensated $10,000 for the loss of his stipend as a volunteer firefighter, $15,000 for emotional distress and $30,000 for damage to his reputation. The lawsuit also seeks $100,000 in punitive damages. The city has yet to file a response to the lawsuit. Geertz and Smith could not be reached for comment Thursday. Firing followed arrest, acquittal Court records show that in June 2023, several weeks before Reed was fired, he and his fiancee clashed with police officials over an unrelated issue that resulted in his arrest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to police reports, on May 31, 2023, the citys police officers were investigating a report that the juvenile daughter of Dominguez had been punched by a 14-year-old boy at the West Liberty Public Library. A police officer then telephoned Dominguez, who has been a West Liberty council member since January 2022. Police reports in the case indicate Reed answered the phone and refused to let the officer speak to either Dominguez or the alleged victim, and also refused to let police meet with the two, saying the family didnt want police to pursue the matter. It should be noted that Reed is not legally married to Dominguez or have legal custody of the juvenile, the officer wrote in her report, adding that Reed had prevented her from investigating the alleged assault. Reed said that if they were telling me that they want nothing to happen then that is what we are leaving it at, the officer wrote in her report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The court file contains exhibits that include a series of June 2023 text messages between Chief Werling and Dominguez, in which Dominguez objects to the police departments investigation of her fiance. In the exchange, Dominguez wrote: Paul just told me what is going on and I will be talking to the mayor about this. This is absolutely ridiculous Eric! My daughter did not want to press charges We have a paper trail of complaints against you and your officers, and this feels like straight up retaliation. The police chief responded that we were doing our due diligence in following up on the allegation of an assault against a minor. Dominguez replied, saying she had given Reed permission to speak to police officers about the alleged assault, and added, Oh, I will be talking to the county attorney, as well You overstepped me as her mother and what youre doing is waiting (sic) taxpayer dollars on arresting an innocent person on (sic) our family This is not needed and completely inconsiderate that you would go behind my back and do this. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two days after that exchange, Reed was formally charged with harassment of a public official. In August 2023, he was acquitted of the charge after a bench trial. In September, Reed was placed on leave, and in November, Werling resigned as the citys police chief. Dominguez continues to serve on the West Liberty City Council. Reed said Thursday the criminal charge brought by West Liberty police was unjustified but is not directly connected to the fire departments allegations of sexual harassment. Editors note: This story was revised on Nov. 25, 2024, to reflect the fact that Reed says he didnt personally attend the September 2024 meeting his fiancee had with other city officials. German firefighters were forced to partially excavate a housing estate to rescue a toddler who became trapped in a pipe that was too narrow for adults to enter. Two-year-old Valentin was playing on the estate in Saxony when he fell three metres down the pipe and was stuck for nearly three hours. A police spokesman suggested the lid over the pipes opening was not fitted properly and gave way when the boy crossed it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His mother immediately called for help, but when firefighters arrived they could not squeeze themselves into the opening. It was impossible to reach the boy trapped in the shaft from above, Peter Kammel, head of fire operations in the town of Pirna, told German outlet Bild on Friday. No adult person was so slim that the rescue workers could climb into the shaft or even reach the boy headfirst. The rescuers came up with a novel, if messy solution: they would need to dig up part of the estate to find another way into the pipe. The rescue operation in Saxony took place in sub-zero temperatures - Daniel FArster Two construction companies were called in and diggers were used to uproot two trees as part of efforts to clear the area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The rescuers reportedly dug until they reached a separate entrance to the pipe which is used for inspections, and then managed to drag the boy by the legs through it. Conditions were difficult for the rescue operation, with firefighters erecting a tent over the pipe opening in sub-zero temperatures, to keep snow away from Valentin. As soon as he was freed, Valentin was taken to hospital, where he was diagnosed with hypothermia and minor injuries to his legs. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. WASHINGTON, D.C. (WGHP) First Lady Jill Biden will soon receive the official 2024 White House Christmas Tree, the White House announced in a press release Thursday. On Monday, Nov. 25 at 2:30 p.m., First Lady Biden will receive a Fraser Fir from western North Carolina, a region pushing forward after the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene. On November 20, 2023, First lady Jill Biden speaks to reporters in front of the official 2023 White House Christmas Tree at the White House in Washington, DC. Biden was joined by military-connected families to receive the 18 and a half foot Fraser Fir from Fleetwood, North Carolina. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) On November 19, 2018, U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump look at the North Carolina grown Fraser Fir Christmas tree at the North Portico as it makes its way to the Blue Room for display at the White House in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) Since 1966, the National Christmas Tree Association has picked the farm to provide each years tree by holding the National Christmas Tree Contest. This year, Cartners Christmas Tree Farm in Newland, North Carolina, was named grand champion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This years 20-foot tall tree will stand floor to ceiling in the White Houses Blue Room. Every year, the rooms chandelier is removed to accommodate the trees height. This year will mark the 16th time since 1961 that the White House Christmas tree has been harvested from North Carolina, the second largest Christmas-tree-producing state in the country. Pennsylvania is the only state to come close with 11 times. On November 28, 2012, the official White House Christmas tree, an 18-foot-6-inch Fraser Fir from Jefferson, North Carolina, stands in the Blue Room during a preview of the 2012 White House holiday decorations at the White House in Washington, DC. The first lady welcomed military families, including Gold Star and Blue Star parents, spouses and children, to the White House for the first viewing of the 2012 holiday decorations. The theme for the White House Christmas 2012 is Joy to All. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) This will also be the third time that the Biden Administration has hosted a North Carolina tree. The 2023 tree was harvested from Fleetwood, North Carolina, and the 2021 tree was harvested from Jefferson, North Carolina. Bidens 2022 tree came from Auburn, Pennsylvania. The only other presidents to host a North Carolina tree for three Christmases were former Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Western North Carolina, where 96% of North Carolinas Christmas tree production is located, was struck by Hurricane Helene in late September. The storm left countless homes without power and hundreds of roads closed due to debris and damage if not washed out entirely. Nevertheless, North Carolinas Christmas tree farms endured. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX8 WGHP. SENECA, S.C. (WSPA) If you call for an ambulance in Oconee County, theres a good chance a specialist named Burton will come to your door. Clinical Field Specialist Ashley Burton and his daughter, Leah Burton, are paramedics for Prisma Health EMS. They are stationed next to Prisma Health Oconee Memorial Hospital. I cant imagine doing this just for a job and money, I believe its a calling, Ashley Burton, who gave up his career as a plant supervisor to join EMS, said. FatherDaughterEMS2 He was born and raised in Seneca. So was his daughter, who was homeschooled and had plans to enter medicine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ultrasound tech, but had no passion in it, Leah Burton said. In about three semesters, my heart just wasnt it. So, I was looking for an outlet. Emergency medical services would be that outlet, but first, she had to have a conversation with her dad. I told him I was thinking about doing an EMT class and he made me promise him that I was not going to like truck. Leah Burton did spend one day on the truck and said she fell in love with it. FatherDaughterEMS1 As a father, initially, I didnt want her doing it, Ashley Burton told 7NEWS. Were not oblivious to the fact that society is changing. More dangers, theres more drugs, theres more violence out there, so were first there first line, so we depend a lot on the cops. So as a dad, I wasnt for it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Burtons told us they are prevented from working together on trucks by law. I love working the same shift. So, we see each other at work, but its kind of separate, which is nice. according to Leah. Ashley Burton plans to remain on ambulance calls for a while while acknowledging the years are adding up. This is rough on the body. Im not a young guy, just 46 Im not old either, but I love the teaching part of this job. Leah Burton has plans to become a flight medic within the next two years and then something else. I want to be a stay-at-home mom and homeschool, like my mom. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS. Two weeks before Ukraine's pivotal 2004 presidential election, 22-year-old filmmaker Iryna Tsilyk found herself at the center of a heated exchange during a trip to Moscow. The upcoming elections were a topic of group conversation and one Russian woman, bristling with anger, demanded, How dare you Ukrainians think you are independent? It was the first time in my life that I realized how much some Russians really hate the idea that we Ukrainians live in an independent country, Tsilyk told the Kyiv Independent. That animosity toward Ukrainian sovereignty would later come to manifest itself in the election results. Pro-Russian candidate Viktor Yanukovych was declared the winner over the pro-Western reformer Viktor Yushchenko in the Nov. 21, 2004 runoff, following widespread documented voter intimidation and electoral fraud. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Outraged by the stolen election, Tsilyk and hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians poured into the streets of Kyiv on the day after the election, demanding justice and a return to democratic principles. The Orange Revolution a two-month wave of peaceful protests, strikes, and sit-ins centered in Kyiv ultimately forced a new vote. Yushchenko triumphed, signaling a victory for Ukraines democratic aspirations. It was a turning point when Ukrainians, myself included, understood that if we are united, we have the power to bring about positive change in our country, Tsilyk said. Twenty years after the Orange Revolution, as Ukrainians continue to resist Russias full-scale war of aggression, many are looking back on the anniversary of that uprising as the first battle in their enduring fight for the nations independence. Smear campaigns, poisoning, voter intimidation The 2004 presidential election that sparked the Orange Revolution was perhaps the most heated election in Ukraines recent history. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sitting President Leonid Kuchma, whose time in office had been overshadowed by a high level of corruption and events like the brutal murder of journalist Georgiy Gongadze, threw his support behind Yanukovychs candidacy as a continuation of the status quo. A wave of televised political smear campaigns attempting to portray Yushchenko as a fascist, coupled with his shocking poisoning in September 2004, defined the fraught lead-up to the initial vote. For many Ukrainians, all this underscored the high stakes of the election. Six weeks before the election, Yanukovych updated his campaign platform to include proposals for dual citizenship, elevating Russian to the status of a second state language, and rejecting NATO membership. On top of that, Russian leader Vladimir Putin arrived in Kyiv under the pretense of celebrating the anniversary of Ukraines Soviet liberation from the Nazis on Oct. 28, but it soon became clear that he had other intentions, as he made a return visit leading up to the runoff vote. People shout during a celebration at Maidan Nezalezhnosti Square (Independence Square) as Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko, the 50-year-old hero of the "Orange Revolution," arrives there after an inaugural ceremony in the Parliament in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Jan. 23 , 2005. (Yuri Kadobnov /AFP via Getty Images) Supporters of opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko in Kyiv, Ukraine on Dec. 3, 2004. (Sergei Supinsky / AFP via Getty Images) Appearing on Ukrainian national television, Putin tried to make it appear that he had no preferred candidate. He talked about how much he liked the Ukrainian language, poorly recited lines from 19th century national poet Taras Shevchenkos pivotal work Kobzar, and told Ukrainians to vote for the candidate they liked. But it was clear that Moscow favored Yanukovych as the next president of Ukraine, and the Yushchenko campaign publicly accused Putin of foreign election interference. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Kharkiv, Ukraines second-largest city, English teacher and interpreter Hennadii Tsupin recalled seeing people putting up posters with Yushchenko sporting a Hitler mustache as well as posters of Ukraine divided between East and West. We could also see that the nomenklatura employees of the state were ordered to support Yanukovych. Teachers and doctors, because they are paid by the state budget, were forced to attend meetings in support of Yanukovych. Workers of the state-owned enterprises, too, Tsupin said. When Yushchenko had come earlier in 2004 to visit Kharkiv with the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, some pro-Yanukovych agitators were waving the Russian flag and shouting angrily at Yushchenko supporters. The police had to separate them, and there was a lot of passion and anger in the air. Tsupin didn't consider himself an active participant in the Orange Revolution when it started, as he remained in Kharkiv, but he did his part to be an informed citizen during the election. He tied an orange ribbon to his Lada, the color of Yushchenkos campaign. He also went to Yushchenkos campaign headquarters and got some campaign stickers to distribute around the city. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Because I am 1.90 meters (6 foot 2) I could stick them quite high up on metal posts, out of reach of Yushchenko haters, he recalled. When Yanukovych garnered 39.3% of the vote and Yushchenko 39.8%, the run-off vote was triggered, as presidential candidates needed to secure more than 50% of the vote to win. Journalist Olga Tokariuk was a 19-year-old university student in Kyiv during the 2004 election when she and three of her friends volunteered to work as election observers on behalf of Yushchenkos campaign during the Nov. 21 runoff vote. When asked where they would prefer to serve, their answer was simple: "Anywhere." They were sent to Luhansk Oblast, having been told that "nobody wanted to go there." The group arrived in Stanytsia Luhanska, a town that is under Russian occupation today. Tokariuk recalled how local residents were kind toward the outsiders and engaged in conversation with them in Ukrainian. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the polling station, Tokariuk witnessed firsthand how pro-Yanukovych people were trying to stuff the ballots. Election observers in support of Yanukovychs campaign also forced out pro-Yushchenko observers across numerous polling stations, Tokariuk among them, so they couldnt register any violations. It was really shocking how well-coordinated it all was, she told the Kyiv Independent. Almost all of our observers were expelled. Some of them were even taken to the forests with a sack put over their heads, intimidated, threatened with automatic weapons. Those elections were absolutely not free and transparent. We saw it with our own eyes. Returning from Luhansk to Kyiv after observing the election fraud and voter intimidation in the runoff, Tokariuk and other election observers discussed their concerns over the experience. Exit polls suggested that Yushchenko had secured 52% of the run-off vote and Yanukovych only 43%, but the next morning, the Central Election Commission declared Yanukovych the winner by 2.5%. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We decided that we had to do something, Tokariuk said. We soon learned that a lot of people had the same idea. Introducing official merch from the Kyiv Independent Shop now I knew I had to be there An estimated 500,000 people gathered in central Kyiv in the days following the election results, many coming from cities across Ukraine to take part in the Orange Revolution. "On the first day after the victory was declared for Yanukovych, I knew that I had to be there, said Khrystia Vengryniuk, who was a 17-year-old university student in the western city of Chernivtsi. Like many of her fellow Ukrainians, she understood that the election results had been rigged. "I told my classmates that all of us needed to be there, not in class, because our future depended on it, she said. There were a few other like-minded students in my group, and we stood on the central square in Chernivtsi. Later, we traveled to Kyiv to join (other protesters on) the Maidan." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vengryniuk had only brought her autumn coat with her to Kyiv but she was determined to stand on the central square day and night despite the cold. I had to fight for what I believed in, she said. It felt like everything in Ukraine would finally be okay, that we were breaking away from Russia for good. Tsilyk and her friends also took part in the Orange Revolution from the very first days. "It felt like everything in Ukraine would finally be okay, that we were breaking away from Russia for good." We got creative coordinating orange in our outfits, Tsilyk said, referring to the color of Yushchenkos campaign that later came to symbolize the revolution. The streets of Kyiv were a sea of orange. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The entire atmosphere was vibrant and festive people were singing and chanting pro-Yushchenko slogans. Supporters of opposition presidential candidate Viktor Yushchenko surround the parliament building in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Nov. 27, 2004. (Uriel Sinai/Getty Images) Despite the frigid weather and the high stakes of the protests, many Ukrainians remember the Orange Revolution as a largely peaceful, even celebratory moment. In stark contrast to the EuroMaidan Revolution, also known as Revolution of Dignity, a decade later, which saw over 100 protesters killed by the security forces of then-President Yanukovych, the Orange Revolution remained remarkably nonviolent. The biggest difference between the Orange Revolution and the Revolution of Dignity was that we actually felt safe, Tsilyk said. I dont recall ever feeling a sense of impending danger during that time. Many protesters also looked for ways to use their skills to support the revolution. As a journalism student, Tokariuk helped deliver a newspaper produced three times a day for the demonstrators who had gathered from all over the country. With no social media and few smartphones at the time, providing access to reliable information was essential. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I was shouting, Latest news! Latest news! just like how newspapers were delivered in the old days, Tokariuk recalled. It felt incredible to be among the people, seeing how genuine our efforts were and how many had traveled from all over Ukraine to defend their choice (of Yushchenko). It was my first revolution. For many of us, it was our first experience of standing up for democracy. It made me a firm believer in democracy Ukraine's Supreme Court ruled on Dec. 3 that the election results could not be validated due to documented fraud, thereby annulling the results and triggering a second runoff vote. Under the watchful eye of both domestic and international election monitors, Ukrainians returned to the polls for a third time on Dec. 26. The Central Election Committee announced that Yushchenko had earned 51.99% of the vote and Yanukovych 44.20%. Yushchenko's inauguration as president occurred on Jan. 23, 2005, marking the end of the Orange Revolution. Vengryniuk recalled that the crowd was so massive at Yushchenkos inauguration that she began to worry that she would be crushed. Her friends father helped move her through the swarms of people to a place where she could catch some air. Later, all of us adults and university students who had come together drank wine and pomegranate juice to regain our strength because the crowd had been so overwhelming, she said. Yushchenko would go on to face numerous challenges during his presidency, including infighting with political rivals and interference from powerful oligarchs whose influence he had hoped to subdue. The 2008 global financial crisis further compounded these setbacks in effective policy-making, as well as ongoing gas disputes with Russia, deepening his unpopularity among Ukrainians. During this period, Yanukovych and his pro-Russian Party of Regions planned their political comeback. Unfortunately, Russian propaganda was incredibly strong back then, and people voted for Yanukovych the next time around. I still believe Yushchenko was a good president, though second only to Petro Poroshenko, Vengryniuk said. Yanukovych won against Yushchenkos prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko in the 2010 presidential election, and Ukrainians, as Vengryniuk lamented, had no idea what Ukraine would still have to endure in the years to come. Nevertheless, the Orange Revolution served as a crucial moment of political awakening for those involved. Riot police members are running as they change shift with their fresh colleagues in the Presidential compound during the ''Orange Revolution'' in Kyiv, Ukraine Nov. 29, 2004. (Mladen Antonov / AFP via Getty Images) The Orange Revolution helped me realize freedom and democracy are not free, Tokariuk said. They need to be protected and people need to defend their right to have free and fair elections. The success of the Orange Revolution also equipped many Ukrainians who participated with the resolve needed to face future challenges, including the Revolution of Dignity, the illegal annexation of Crimea, and the invasion of Donetsk and Luhansk a decade later, as well as Russias full-scale war that erupted in 2022. Back then, I was overcome by this beautiful feeling that I am Ukrainian and we Ukrainians can do anything, Tsilyk said. Facing even bigger challenges today, I still carry this feeling with me today. Read also: Viktor Yanukovych: Ukraines scandal-ridden ex-president Note from the author: Hi, this is Kate Tsurkan, thanks for reading this article. It was really empowering to hear from Ukrainians about their political awakening two decades ago and how that moment of triumph helped them brace for the hard times that would later come. If you like reading about this sort of thing, please consider supporting The Kyiv Independent. Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Nov. 21A McKinley County man with five DWI convictions was arrested Monday night after reportedly urinating on the side of Interstate 40 and leading the officer who witnessed it on a 60-mile chase through eastern New Mexico. Jimmie Yazzie, 44, of Thoreau is charged with aggravated driving while under the influence, aggravated assault upon a peace officer, aggravated fleeing a law enforcement officer, criminal damage to property over $1,000, reckless driving and other traffic-related charges. Yazzie is being held at the DeBaca County Detention Center. His attorney could not be reached for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yazzie drove with a revoked driver's license and was on parole for several DWI convictions, New Mexico State Police spokesperson Wilson Silver said. Court records show Yazzie has been convicted of DWI five times and, in 2023, he had another DWI charge dismissed as part of a plea agreement, according to court records. State Police identified Yazzie through a vehicle registration search, according to a statement of probable cause filed in Guadalupe County Magistrate Court. At 9:38 p.m. Monday, a State Police officer was conducting a welfare check on a car in Quay County when they saw Yazzie urinating on the side of the road. When Yazzie saw the officer, he got into his vehicle and fled, going 113 mph on the interstate, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement About a half-hour later, police found Yazzie getting gas at the Route 66 Gas Station in Newkirk, according to the statement. When he was told to get away from his vehicle, Yazzie got in the car, reversed and pinned an officer between Yazzie's driver's door and a gas pump, which caused over $1,000 in damage to the pump. "The door dragged me several feet as he reversed into the gas pumps striking his door into them," the officer wrote in the report. "As I was being dragged, I was fearful for my life that Jimmie Yazzie was going to kill me." Yazzie fled west on I-40. At mile post 277 in Santa Rosa, police set up spike strips that Yazzie drove over and flattened his tires. However, he kept driving until reaching an apartment complex in Santa Rosa, where he stopped and ran, police said. Officers detained him and discovered he had bloodshot, "red watery eyes, flushed red skin" and had peed all over the front of his pants, police said. Yazzie told police he had several drinks in Tucumcari, according to the probable cause. "It's a dark day when things like this happen," said Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez Osceola County Corrections Kelsey Glover Kelsey Glover A 14-year-old girl in Florida died after her mom held her head underwater in a bathtub, law enforcement officials say. In a news conference on Wednesday, Nov. 20, Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez said that officers responded to a call regarding an "armed disturbance" at a home in Poinciana that morning involving the victim's mother, Kelsey Glover, 35. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lopez said that upon their arrival, the disturbance "was still taking place" at the home. Officers attempted to wrestle a hammer away from Glover while she was "trying to strike the lady who [was] trying to prevent her from harming her daughter." Getty Stock image of police siren Stock image of police siren Related: Leilani Simon, Sentenced to Life for Murder of 20-Month-Old Son, Wants Childs Remains Given to Her Brother "It was just something that we caught in the act, and God only knows in which direction that was going to go if we didn't get there on time and kick the door in," said Lopez, noting that four people were in the home at the time of the incident: Glover, her daughter, identified as 14-year-old Giselle Glover, a roommate, and another child. It was after Glover was apprehended that deputies spoke to people at the home who informed them that Giselle was "upstairs in the bathroom and unresponsive." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Witnesses also told deputies that they saw Ms. Glover holding her 14-year-old daughter's head underwater in the bathtub. They tried to stop her but were not successful. Eventually, Ms. Glover began attacking and chasing these witnesses around the house with a hammer, which led them to call also 911," said Lopez. Osceola County Sheriff's Office/Facebook Sheriff Marcos Lopez of the Osceola County Sheriff's Office speaks during press conference on Wednesday, Nov. 20 Sheriff Marcos Lopez of the Osceola County Sheriff's Office speaks during press conference on Wednesday, Nov. 20 Related: Trial of Mom Accused of Encouraging Son to Murder Woman Ends in Mistrial After Juror Did Crossword Puzzle The teen was transported to a hospital, where she was declared dead shortly after arriving, said Lopez. While officials await a report from the medical examiner's office on Giselle's cause of death, the sheriff's department has launched a homicide investigation. Glover was aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and battery charges. Online records show that Glover is being held at the Osceola County Jail without bail. According to Lopez, officials are also investigating why Glover held her daughter's head underwater, noting that she was "a little uncooperative" with the investigation thus far. Osceola County Corrections Kelsey Glover Kelsey Glover Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Hopefully, we'll get to the bottom of that soon. That's why, right now, we're charging her with those other charges. But as soon as this gets concluded, the other charges will be charged, according to what occurred," said Lopez. According to the sheriff, the only previous record of a domestic issue occurred when Glover allegedly battered her daughter's father, causing him to obtain an injunction against her. 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. "It's a dark day when things like this happen," said Lopez. "What happened to her is unimaginable and we are determined to get justice for Giselle." If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages. Nvidia (NVDA) is assuaging Wall Streets concerns about any potential slowdowns in the production of its next-generation Blackwell chip, telling investors during the companys earnings call on Wednesday that its on pace to exceed its previous revenue estimates for the current quarter. Blackwell production is in full steam, CEO Jensen Huang said during the call. I think we're in great shape with respect to the Blackwell ramp at this point. Prior to the earnings call, The Information reported on Nov. 17 that Nvidia was contending with overheating issues related to its Blackwell-based servers leading suppliers to adjust the design of the racks that house the servers. Nvidia responded at the time saying that design iterations are normal and expected. The report followed a separate Blackwell design issue that Nvidia addressed over the summer, which gave Wall Street pause about whether the chip would land on customers' doorsteps on time. Now Nvidia is saying that the chips arent just shipping, theyre in the hands of all of the companys major partners as well. In Q3, Nvidia reported that cloud service providers, companies like Microsoft (MSFT), Amazon (AMZN), and Google (GOOG, GOOGL), made up 50% of the chipmakers data center revenue. Ensuring theyre getting Blackwell chips sooner than later is paramount for Nvidias continued growth. And the company appears to be doing just that. Read more: Nvidia nearly triples in value over 11 months: Is it time to invest? With any product ramp, there's always a great deal of complexity, and Blackwell is no different, Dan Flax, senior research analyst and managing director at Neuberger Berman, told Yahoo Finance. And I think what's notable is that Nvidia and its partners are executing well. I think supply will improve over the next couple of months as they really scale Blackwell. But theres one problem that continues to bedevil Nvidia: supply constraints. The sheer number of companies jockeying for position to grab the AI behemoths chips makes it difficult to meet demand. It is the case that demand exceeds supply, Huang told analysts. And thats expected as were in the beginning of this generative AI revolution. CEO Jensen Huang speaks during the keynote address of Nvidia GTC in San Jose, Calif., Monday, March 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg) ASSOCIATED PRESS For some perspective, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg told investors during the companys most recent earnings call that the social media giant is training its Llama 4 AI models on a server cluster made up of more than 100,000 Nvidia H100 chips. The H100 is Nvidias prior-generation Hopper AI accelerator. With Blackwell promising far better performance than Hopper, it only makes sense that massive AI companies like Meta (META) are angling to get as many of those chips as possible. PALM BEACH, Fla. (WFLA) Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has ordered flags to be flown at half-staff for the fallen deputies who tragically passed away during a crash on Thursday. Corporal Luis Paez and Deputy Sheriff Ralph Waller were killed in a major crash on Southern Boulevard in Palm Beach County. The crash also injured Deputy Ignacio Dan Diaz, who underwent surgery later that day and is currently in the ICU. 2 Florida deputies killed, 1 injured in major crash Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Sheriff Ric Bradshaw, the deputies were riding their department-issued motorcycles when they pulled off to the shoulder due to one of the deputies having a problem with his bike. A woman driving an SUV had veered off into the shoulder after coming upon a vehicle driving slower than her, causing her to strike all three deputies, sending them airborne. Corporal Luis Paez (Photo courtesy of Palm Beach County Sheriffs Office) Deputy Sheriff Ralph Butch Waller (Photo courtesy of Palm Beach County Sheriffs Office) Deputy Ignacio Dan Diaz (Credit: Palm Beach County Sheriffs Office) Rushed to the hospital, Corporal Paez and Deputy Sheriff Waller died from their injuries. When a deputy dies, a piece of the community dies with them, the sheriff said. 4 children die in crash while driver takes photo of Welcome to Florida sign: FHP Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the governors office, Corporal Paez began his service in 1988 as a Corrections Deputy, before serving as a Motor Deputy for more than 20 years. Deputy Sheriff Waller served with Royal Palm Beach police before transitioning to the Palm Beach County Sheriffs Office in 2008. These brave officers who made the ultimate sacrifice will always be remembered for their courage and service, the governors office said. Starting Friday at 3 p.m. to sunset, the United States flag and the State of Florida flag will be flown in Palm Beach County at half-staff to honor the fallen deputies. The flags will also be at half-staff on Tuesday, Dec. 3 from sunrise to sunset. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. FLORENCE, S.C. (WBTW) A Florence man turned himself in to the Florence County Sheriffs Office after a domestic altercation where he threatened to kill members of his family, warrants said. John Frederick Garner, 58, was taken into custody after an incident that happened at a Florence home on Nov. 16. According to Capt. Stephen Starling, Garner got into an argument with his 30 year old stepson, who is a vulnerable adult with autism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A warrant said Garner is being charged with abuse of a vulnerable adult after he threw his stepson on the ground and repeatedly punched him in the face, causing non-life threatening injury to his left cheek, nose, and mouth. During the argument, Garner also shoved his wife and knocked her on the ground three separate times when she tried to intervene. For this, he is being charged with first degree domestic violence. A warrant said Garner then left the home with a long gun and said, Im coming back and killing all of you! All of these acts happened in the presence of a minor. Officers began to look for Garner when they arrived around 6:05 p.m., but were not able to locate him. Flock cameras later saw Garners vehicle later in the upstate of South Carolina. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Garner turned himself in on Thursday and is being held in the Florence County Detention Center. * * * Jordan White is a Digital Producer at News13. She joined the News13 team in August 2024. Jordan, a Myrtle Beach native, graduated from St. James High School in Murrells Inlet and is a graduate of Coker University. Follow Jordan on Facebook, X, formerly Twitter, and read more of her work here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW. A Fort Lauderdale, Fla. man who spent years swindling unemployment and COVID relief funds from the system just had his hustle blown all the way up and now, hes looking at some serious time in jail. Conrad Brandon Bernard pled guilty to bank fraud and identity theft on Nov. 15, according to a press release from the United States Attorneys Office for the Southern District of Florida. As News 4 JAX reports, authorities believe the 24-year-old ran his scheme between May 2020 and December 2022, stealing the identities of at least 14 people to get his hands on over $1 million in COVID and unemployment benefits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The States Attorneys Office says the United States Small Business Association (SBA) approved applications Bernard filed for COVID relief funds under the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program and transferred money into multiple bank accounts he set up using other peoples personal identification information. He then moved the funds he received from the government into accounts in his name. Bernard also allegedly used personal identification information from people without their knowledge or consent to access unemployment benefits from several states, including West Virginia and Arizona which he deposited into his personal accounts. According to the States Attorneys Office, Bernard hustled the government out of a total of $1,083,340 over the nearly two-year period. A police investigation found that Bernard had a collection of fake identification, including passports and Florida drivers licenses, as well as the names, dates of birth and social security numbers of several thousand individuals, according to the U.S. Attorneys Offices statement. If Bernard is found guilty, he could spend up to 30 years in prison for bank fraud, followed by a mandatory consecutive two years for aggravated identity theft.vHissentencing is scheduled for Feb.5, 2025. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) Communities across America have been adding fluoride to their water for decades. About 75% of the nations water systems add naturally occurring minerals to strengthen teeth and prevent cavities. Its in your toothpaste; your dentist uses it to clean your teeth. Thats what the recommendations are, and thats what they say. Its supposed to help with those things, and thats why we had it. So, we add fluoride into the water after its treated, its into the treatment process, and we added at about one part per million is what we had, Bay County Water Division Superintendent Sean Lathrop said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Toucans on the Beach announces re-opening In August a federal agency reported, with moderate confidence, about a link between high levels of fluoride exposure and a host of health issues like lower IQ scores in children, arthritis, bone fractures, bone cancer, neuro-developmental disorders, and thyroid disease. Health and Human Services Secretary-select Robert F. Kennedy Jr. declared that he would push to remove fluoride from drinking water on Donald Trumps first day of presidency. So, what would that mean for Bay Countys water system, which supplies most of the countys drinking water? It wouldnt change the water at all, Lathrop said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lathrop says it would be a relatively easy process to discontinue fluoride. It would actually save Bay County around $150,000 a year. But for now, officials say that they are going to continue following the guidelines until instructed to do so. We just go by whatever the recommendations of the government are, we just follow their guidelines. And right now, their guidelines are still to be added, Lathrop said. A lot of things have changed since communities began adding fluoride to their water. These days people buy, and drink bottled water and dentistry has advanced light years since the 1950s. So, is it even necessary any longer? US towns plunge into debates about fluoride in water Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To get a healthcare perspective, we reached out to more than two dozen local dental practices, the Bay County Health Department, and even the dental hygienist program at Gulf Coast State College. But all either refused or said were too busy to discuss it. A growing number of Florida communities do not add fluoride to their water, including Boca Raton, South Dade, Pinellas and Hernando counties, and Winter Haven. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Miami-Dade County Democratic state Rep. Dotie Joseph at the Capitol on Nov. 19, 2024. (Photo by Mitch Perry/Florida Phoenix) Floridians of all political stripes are gearing up for what President-elect Donald Trump has promised will be the largest deportation effort in American history when he returns to the White House in January. Thomas Kennedy is a spokesperson for the Florida Immigrant Coalition. He takes Trumps words seriously but says that there are considerable roadblocks ahead for the president-elect to fully fulfill his promises. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One is the budget and resources, he said. Theyre going to have to hire a lot more agents ICE [Immigration and Customs Enforcement], CBP [Customs and Border Enforcement], and immigration enforcement substantially to carry this out. Another problem will be whether the governments of Venezuela, Cuba, and Nicaragua accept citizens sent back by the U.S. government. These are geopolitical opponents of the United States, and they are not going to accept those deportation flights, he told this reporter on WMNF radio last Friday. And deportation flights cant land in a foreign country unless they are allowed to land by that foreign country. So, we can expect foreign policy jockeying negotiations from those countries if they want to carry out those deportations. Its yet to be seen what specifically he wants to do, added North Miami Democratic House Rep. Dotie Joseph. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The concept of having these mass deportations is going to be significant, and theyre going to have to re-work a lot of things to make it happen. From my review of Project 2025, it seems more of a mass detention program than a mass deportation program initially, which is problematic. Theyre seeking to change some of the procedural due process things that we have in place and some of the requirements that are existing. Tom Homan, President-elect Trumps choice for border czar, has acknowledged that ICE may have to detain some undocumented immigrants for weeks. Thomas Homan at the Republican National Convention on July 17, 2024. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) What people dont understand is we cant just put [them on] a plane, he said, according to a report from ABC News. Theres a process we have to go through. You have to contact the country, they have to agree to accept them, then they got to send you travel documents. And that takes several days to several weeks. So, we need detention assets. Haitian Americans and more Joseph was born in Haiti and raised in Miami. She now works as an attorney in North Miami and has represented 108th District in the Florida House since 2018. She says shes worried for the Haitian American migrants in her community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How thats going to play out within the Haitian American remains to be seen, Joseph said. We know that [Trump] has said that he wants to eliminate TPS, not just for Haitian Americans but basically all Black and brown countries. Which is problematic, especially for people who were recipients of the humanitarian parole program, specifically people from Haiti, Venezuela, and I think Nicaragua. So thats going to impact our community from South Florida and throughout Florida altogether. So, a lot of it is a bunch of question marks right now and how much latitude Congress and the courts will give him. TPS stands for Temporary Protected Status, created by Congress in 1990 to provide a temporary immigration status to nationals of specifically designated countries that are confronting an ongoing armed conflict, environmental disaster, or other extraordinary and temporary conditions, according to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. There are currently 16 countries designated for TPS in the United States Afghanistan, Burma, Cameroon, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Haiti, Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine, Venezuela, and Yemen. Pinellas County Republican Rep. Berny Jacques via Florida House of Representatives Pinellas County Republican Florida House member Berny Jacques was also born in Haiti, but he has a different take on the issue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mass deportations is a policy proposal that was central to Donald Trumps campaign, he told the Phoenix in a text message. The American people and Floridians gave President Trump a resounding victory, and they expect him to follow through with the deportations. I support it and stand ready to help. According to the Associated Press VoteCast exit poll of Florida voters, 23% considered immigration the second most important issue going into the election, trailing only the economy. First target Trump has promised to remove millions of undocumented immigrants during his presidency, but border czar Homan has said that the first target will be those who have committed crimes. I think theyre putting together a plan that includes all of the protections that have been voiced and thats a plan that prioritizes those who are being held in jails right now for criminal acts that theyve committed here in the United States, said Deb Tamargo, former president of the Florida Federation of Republican Women. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pinellas County U.S. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, a Republican who has been critical of the Biden-Harris administration regarding immigration, responded to questions from the Phoenix with an emailed statement: No family should go through what Laken Rileys and many others have gone through, their children murdered by people who should not be here. Just last month, we saw three men arrested in our state of Florida for sexual crimes against a child, Luna wrote. Mass illegal immigration has ravaged our country, and President Trump has a mandate from the people to secure our borders, apply our laws, and protect our communities. We are a country of law and order. It is not about politics. It is about putting Americans and their safety first. As the designated Border Czar, Tom Homan has clearly stated that they will begin the deportation of the over 10 million illegals allowed under Kamalas watch and locate the over 300,000 missing migrant children lost by the Biden-Harris administration. (The 300,000 missing migrant children reference comes from an August report published by the Department of Homeland Securitys Office of the Inspector General, which faulted Immigration and Customs Enforcement for failing to consistently monitor the location and status of unaccompanied migrant children once they are released from federal government custody, the Associated Press reported. The story went on to say that experts say it is a stretch to refer to roughly 300,000 children as lost or missing.). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Samuel Vilchez Santiago chairs the Orange County Democratic Party. He said theres broad agreement that migrants with criminal convictions should be targeted, but that thats not all that Donald Trump is talking about. Hes talked about doing that, but hes also talked about getting rid of TPS, not only getting rid of the parole program thats successfully lowered illegal border crossings, but hes also talked about targeting and deporting those people on TPS, he said. He has talked about even denaturalizing citizens who are here legally and who have not committed crimes. During Trumps first term in office, his Justice Department created a denaturalization program called Operation Second Look to investigate the citizenship of thousands of immigrants suspected of obtaining naturalization by fraud, misrepresentation, or deceit. Reluctance to comment Any type of mass deportations could threaten the construction and agriculture industries in Florida, but the states new legislative leaders said this week that the issue is beyond their authority, and they were reluctant to comment on how that could play out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Any sort of immigration policy comes from the federal government, House Speaker Daniel Perez told reporters in Tallahassee on Tuesday. Its for the federal government to decide. Thats a question that you should be asking the president. The federal government is the federal government. State government is state government, declared Senate President Ben Albritton on Tuesday. Thats a federal issue. My purview and my calling as of this morning when I was sworn in and voted in by my senators in this body was to oversee the operation of the Florida Senate. I dont serve in the federal government. So, we can pontificate, I guess, all the time about it. Warning Those answers were lacking, says one Florida Senate Democrat. Carlos Guillermo Smith via Florida Senate If Trump implements the militarized mass deportation program as he has promised, it will have serious consequences for Floridas families and economy, including family separations, labor disruptions, and declines in state revenue, predicts Central Florida Democratic state Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republican leaders cant suddenly look the other way after years of state-level interference in federal immigration policy. What is their plan to protect Floridians from these disastrous impacts? Florida Republicans werent willing to concede that immigration was just a federal issue in 2023, when the Legislature passed and Gov. Ron DeSantis signed what was considered at the time to be the strongest anti-illegal immigration bill in the country. The biggest consequence of that was it just created fear in immigrant communities, said Vilchez. A lot of people who were undocumented left this state but, even then, were talking about a mass deportation program that has been reported to potentially impact a million Floridians if not more, and thats definitely going to have negative consequences in our state. I think in terms of consequences from SB 1718, combine that with a massive deportation program at the federal level, and we are talking about a worst-case scenario. The Phoenix has reached out to the governors office to ask his thoughts about the potential for mass deportations for undocumented immigrants. While some Democratic governors have said they will actively oppose such plans, in Texas the state land commissioner has offered a parcel of rural ranchland along the U.S.-Mexico border to use as a staging area for such deportations. BRADENTON BEACH, Fla. (WFLA) Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody and U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan held a news conference in Bradenton Beach on Friday discussing alleged political discrimination against supporters of President-elect Donald Trump from FEMA in the wake of back-to-back hurricanes. This comes after a FEMA supervisor was fired for instructing workers to withhold aid, or skip over, homes displaying Trump campaign signs in Lake Placid. FEMA administrator says she supports investigation of alleged Trump bias in relief efforts Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It wasnt a question of whether this happened, Moody said. I think its now a question of how did this happen and whats being done about it. It is unclear whether this was an isolated incident, or indicative of what Republican officials have called widespread discrimination against supporters of the president-elect. Moody said whistleblowers have come forward with claims of discrimination in multiple states. I think that tells you that as we move through this, as we get discovery, as things come out of hearings, that youre going to find that this was more pervasive, Moody said. Republican officials are demanding answers. Buchanan, who represents Manatee County and part of Hillsborough County, and 54 House colleagues co-signed a letter to FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell asking the agency to identify any additional incidents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have 54 members that weve got on a letter to the administrator to make sure that she understands that were going to be very tough and focused on this, Buchanan said. Moody filed a lawsuit last week against Criswell and former FEMA supervisor Marni Washington, seeking punitive damages and citing whistleblower claims. Like the letter, the lawsuit aims to uncover how far this political discrimination reaches, according to a statement from Moody. As you can see in Florida, we still need help, Moody said Friday. The lawsuit that Florida is pursuing we will do so aggressively, we will seek expedited discovery. We will get to the bottom of how extensive this is. Appearing before a House subcommittee investigating the federal governments response to Hurricanes Helene and Milton on Tuesday, Criswell said she would support an independent investigation and she does not believe that this employees actions are indicative of any widespread cultural problems at FEMA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the wake of the congressional hearings, Moody urged the agency to course-correct and to make sure they are serving all Americans, all Floridians, regardless of political opinion. The lawsuit and investigation follows mounting tensions between the federal agency, Republican lawmakers and some residents of areas impacted by the recent hurricanes. In North Carolina, an armed man was accused of threatening FEMA workers responding to an area impacted by Hurricane Helene and calling on others to join. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Editors note: This story is available as a result of a content partnership between WFTV and the Orlando Business Journal. Florida has agreed to pay $725,000 in legal fees and costs for businesses that successfully challenged part of a 2022 law that Gov. Ron DeSantis dubbed the Stop WOKE Act. A court filing Nov. 19 said the state and the plaintiffs reached a settlement Nov. 4 on attorney fees and other legal costs. Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker quickly issued an order Nov. 19 directing the parties to comply with the settlement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read: Community feeding partners provide meals to seniors ahead of the holidays The filings came after attorneys for the businesses filed a motion Sept. 27 seeking $749,642 in fees and $41,144 in additional costs related to the lengthy legal battle. Click here to read the full story on the Orlando Business Journals website. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. A state law that limits the content allowed to be taught in general education classes at universities is being implemented and has caused uproar among professors at Florida International University. The law aims to weed out general education courses based on theories that systemic racism, sexism, oppression, and privilege are inherent in the institutions of the United States. The law also bars professors from teaching courses in general education based on unproven, speculative, or exploratory content. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this year sociology was removed from general education, and now the university is slated to do the same to many more courses. The departments that have been the most affected by the law are Global and Sociocultural Studies, Politics and International Relations, History, and Earth and Environment. The implementation of the new state law across Floridas 12 public universities in the state leaves many academic departments facing the difficult decision of changing the content of a course to keep it in general education or removing it to maintain its integrity. The dozen professors and students at FIU who spoke to the Miami Herald called the states involvement in curriculum decisions censorship and political meddling, and say the process has been chaotic going against the collaborative approach between administrators and professors necessary to maintaining academic freedom. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many professors said it will ultimately result in dwindling enrollments for departments, eventually leading to their removal. And students told the Miami Herald they dont want to pay for elective courses that dont fulfill requirements. Professors are angry and concerned about their jobs and a say an environment of fear has swept across the university as administrators scramble to comply with the law. Should universities not comply with the law, they stand to lose part of their funding. How course revisions and removals happened Last summer, the chairs of FIUs academic departments were shocked to receive an email from the administration containing a list of recommendations for revision or removal of their courses from the general education curriculum based on the law. Having a class count for general education is important because it exposes students to various disciplines in the first years of their studies, including subjects they may not be familiar with, and for some departments, its crucial for enrollment numbers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In all, at least 39 courses were marked as not complying with the statute, with 21 courses ultimately being marked as ok with proposed revisions, and 12 marked for removal from general education, according to the latest list of Board of Governors revisions obtained by the Miami Herald from the university. At an earlier Board of Trustees meeting, 22 courses were noted for removal. Many other courses were removed upstream by department heads who received guidance from the university early on that the course would never be approved, according to emails obtained by the Miami Herald. In the Department of Global and Sociocultural Studies, nine courses were flagged for review by the Board of Governors the state administrative body that controls public universities. Douglas Kincaid, the department chair, said the administration made it clear that two courses Sociology of Gender and Anthropology of Race and Ethnicity would never pass the test for inclusion in general education, based on early guidance from the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The entirety of the Sociology of Gender course description and learning objectives were highlighted as problematic, and the vast majority of Anthropology of Race and Ethnicity was also noted as objectionable. Over the following weeks, decisions were made across departments as to what courses to try and save, and which to simply let go, with the understanding that their course content would not pass the muster of the Board of Governors. Some departments determined that it would be better to remove certain courses from general education, instead of sacrificing the integrity of the content of the class with vast revisions. There is a high level of political interference which is deeply troubling, said Katie Rainwater, a professor of Global and Sociocultural Studies at FIU and one of the professors who teaches Sociology of Gender, which had been in general education since 2003. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kincaid, like all of the faculty members at FIU who spoke to the Miami Herald, sees the hollowing out of general education as political interference undermining academic freedom. They said the ongoing revisions have occurred without transparency and proper faculty input and fear the revisions threaten the future of free thought and nuanced discourse within public education. Professor Katie Rainwater sits inside an office at Florida International University on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024, in Miami, Fla. Rainwater is a professor in the Global and Sociocultural Studies department and has spoken out against a state law which is limiting the kinds of courses that can be included in general education with the aim of getting rid of liberal indoctrination in universities, calling it censorship and political meddling. The state governing body for public universities maintains that these courses are not being completely removed and that students who wish to participate can still choose to take them as an elective. Raul Villegas, 18, a freshman at FIU who spoke to the Miami Herald, said that he felt like the point of education was to explore dangerous territory or a deeper level of different topics to get a better understanding of topics and formulate your own opinions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But he and two of his friends agreed that they would not take a course if it did not count for general education or credit toward their major. It costs money paying $200 bucks for a class that ends up not counting sucks, said Villegas. It should still count as credit, he added. If they dont count toward general education I dont have time. Ive got to focus on my career. Thats the reason Im in the university, said his friend Eduardo Gonzalez, a sophomore who is focused on construction management. Ray Rodrigues, the Chancellor of the State University System of Florida said that his office is enforcing the law so stringently because policymakers were concerned that indoctrination was occurring in the classroom. He pointed to a Gallup poll which found that American confidence in higher education is dwindling, especially among Republicans. In all, 68 percent say it is headed in the wrong direction. Of the Republicans who lack confidence in higher education, 53 percent mention political agendas, with the idea that education is pushing liberal political ideas on students at the root of their concern. In contrast, Democrats who arent confident in higher education cite affordability. Ray Rodrigues, Chancellor of the State University System of Florida FIUs president Kenneth Jessell told the Miami Herald that the idea that professors in his university are indoctrinating students is false. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our faculty are very, very well balanced, they are focusing on the discipline, ensuring students have a quality education without saying this is the wrong or right way, he said. Fear and self-censorship on campus Across the university, administrators and professors say there is now a pervasive environment of fear and self-censorship. According to Jennifer L. Doherty-Restrepo, the Assistant Vice President for Academic Planning and Accountability at FIU, the Board of Governors staff helped us identify general education courses that may not align with the statutes and take that feedback and continue the institutional review. Rodrigues, the chancellor of the Board of Governors, said that in a perfect world, his staff would not need to get involved, and all of this would be handled at the university level. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But that has not been the case at FIU. The process has created a game of ping pong between department heads, professors, and the administration where course descriptions and course titles were edited and certain terms were kicked out over months of meetings, phone calls, spreadsheets, and emails. Professors claim that instead of being done transparently and collaboratively, the revisions occurred through backdoor conversations between the Board of Governors and the administration and provost office at FIU, who were pressured to implement revisions to course objectives and course titles in alignment with the statute. Many professors have concerns about this process, noting that the staff of the Board of Governors may not be qualified academics with the expertise to be so involved in what is and is not taught in public universities. According to professors, many departments at the university received suggested revisions to courses that were often out of touch with the objective of the course, and some professors say they were not consulted as to what the revisions were. They also say the law is vague. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eric Scarffe, is an assistant professor of philosophy and president of the United Faculty of Floridas chapter at FIU, the faculty union. He said that given the fact that university budgets are tight, and tuition has not been raised in over a decade, the university was pressured to comply with the law quickly and in a haphazard way. There was no long runway with clear guidelines or goals, he said, referring to the course revision process. But the administration at FIU stands behind their revision process and says they have received ample input from faculty and followed procedures. FIU President Kenneth A. Jessell says professors at FIU do not try to indoctrinate student and that the university is following the new state statutes regarding general education. Many courses have been forced to add the term Western canon to their description, an idea that refers to works that shaped the development of Western civilization and thought. But no definition for Western canon is provided in the law. Rodrigues, the chancellor of the Board of Governors, disagrees with the notion that the law is vague, but also could not provide an answer as to the definition of the Western canon. Im not an academic so I would not answer that question. I am an administrator, he said. Some professors fear losing their jobs. Some administrators have the same fear, but said they are keeping their mouths shut, simply complying with state law. Martha Schoolman, an English professor, recalls running into a student and sociology professor on campus. They were discussing the course revisions. She says she walked away from that conversation and thought: Well, this whole enterprise isnt safe anymore, they dont care about this being a good school there is a kind of mentality where anything can be sacrificed in order to comply and there is no point in resisting it, she said. They want to re-shape the whole curriculum, the whole system, in this very conservative image. Professors are concerned about the revisions to general education courses in part because other securities they long felt are also being pulled out from under them. Tenure, a process created to protect freedom of academic inquiry, has also been threatened by Governor DeSantis and his supermajority legislature. Now, professors have to apply for a review every five years. Inside Higher Ed reports that 21 percent of professors at the University of Florida who were reviewed for tenure either gave it up or quit altogether. The Florida Phoenix reports that around 38 percent of professors (they surveyed 350) had already applied for a job in another state. Kevin Grove, a geography professor at FIU, agrees that the law is pushing academics out of Florida and causing a brain drain. He said it censors history and the historical record. It silences the experiences of violence, harm, suffering, and the resistance to these conditions. Grove believes the implementation of this law marks a return of the plantation mentality, which he defines as a system of total social organization on all aspects of society and of beliefs that privilege white supremacy. A screenshot from a list of course revisions shows the Board of Governors suggesting the removal of two courses -- Social Problems, and Global Womens Writing: Gendered Experiences Across Societies and Cultures. At the same time course revisions are occurring and classes are being dropped from general studies, Adam Smith Center for the Study of Economic Freedom at FIU has been awarded over $15 million in state funding. The center has hosted many center-right politicians. Funding at risk Many professors said they believe that one reason the administration at FIU and other universities are so eager to implement the revisions and interpret the statute conservatively is because they fear losing funding. But Jessell says he is confident they are following the law and are not concerned about losing funding. For this school year, the State University System has allocated more than $40 million of performance-based funding to FIU, all of which is at risk if the Board of Governors does not approve the list of general education courses. Other public universities have even more money at risk. Florida State University, for example, received over $60 million in state performance-based funding this year. At a January 2025 Board of Governors meeting, a list of general education courses from all twelve of the public universities in the state will be voted on. At that time, the staff will be asked by the board whether they have any concerns about the curriculum and universities will find out whether or not they are able to maintain their performance-based funding. Miami Herald reporter Ana Claudia Chacin contributed to this report. SANTA ROSA COUNTY, Fla. (WKRG) Currently serving his second term as a Florida state representative, Joel Rudman is seeking the U.S. House seat left vacant after Matt Gaetzs resignation. Former U.S. representative for Floridas 1st district, Matt Gaetz, also withdrew his name from consideration for attorney general. Few alleged injuries reported in Escambia County school bus crash: FHP Two candidates have thrown their hats into the race: Florida State Representative Michelle Salzman of Pensacola and Florida State Representative Dr. Joel Rudman of Navarre. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rudman said hes been encouraged by those in Santa Rosa County to take this next step. They want someone thats going to fight for them again, Rudman said. Thats what the citizens of Northwest Florida demand. Thats what they deserve, and thats what they expect. If elected, Rudmans first focus will be securing the border. High-speed chase ends in crash near Crestview school Rudman spoke highly of Gaetzs time as U.S. Representative for Floridas 1st congressional district. He said he thinks the people of Northwest Florida would see similarities in both of their political beliefs. We are both boldly conservative, Rudman said. We are both proud supporters of Donald J. Trump, and its my intention to carry forth President Trumps agenda. You know, a president cant do this alone; he needs a legislature thats in lockstep with him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement WKRG News 5 reached out to both candidates on Thursday, but Rudman was the only one who responded. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Floridas Surgeon General on Friday recommended against putting fluoride in the water, guidance that comes amid speculation he is being eyed for a position in President Donald Trumps administration. Trump has already appointed his top health official, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has been an outspoken opponent of adding fluoride to drinking water. But Floridas Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo has been considered for either head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the nations Surgeon General or assistant secretary for health under Kennedy, according to Politico. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gov. Ron DeSantis, who appointed Ladapo in 2021, has said he wanted to see Ladapo be the head of the Department of Health and Human Services. Like Kennedy, Ladapo has been skeptical of COVID-19 vaccines, going against the scientific majoritys view. Ladapo said he was recommending against fluoride in the water because of the neuropsychiatric risk associated with fluoride exposure and cited the wide availability of fluoride through other means, like toothpastes, mouthwash and in-office dental applications. It is clear more research is necessary to address safety and efficacy concerns regarding community water fluoridation, Ladapo said in a statement. The previously considered benefit of community water fluoridation does not outweigh the current known risks, especially for special populations like pregnant women and children. Major medical organizations in the U.S., including the American Dental Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the CDC, support adding fluoride to water. Dental groups say it reduces tooth decay and helps younger children develop healthy permanent teeth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Recent studies that show possible links between fluoride and some health concerns often involve fluoride consumed in excess or have thin evidence and require further study, according to medical and public health experts. More than 70% of people in Florida are on community water systems that add fluoride, according to the Department of Health, which on Friday updated a page to list all of the statewide water systems participating. Water fluoridation in the United States has been happening since the 1940s, and was recommended by the federal public health service officially in 1962. As of 2022, about 72% of the U.S. population has water systems that are fluoridated. The U.S. banking system is like the Wild West compared to the way things are handled in Canada. That's one big reason why, during the Great Recession, even the largest U.S. banks wound up having to cut their dividends while Canadian giants like Toronto-Dominion Bank (NYSE: TD) and Bank of Nova Scotia (NYSE: BNS) didn't. That said, these two banks, my favorite high-yield banks right now, aren't hitting on all cylinders. But that's exactly why you might want to buy them along with me. Are You Missing The Morning Scoop? Wake up with Breakfast news in your inbox every market day. Sign Up For Free Canada's banks are highly regulated Without getting into the nitty-gritty of it, Canada takes a vastly different approach to its banking system than does the United States. The country's regulators have, pretty much, given a handful of very large banks entrenched industry positions because of the important role that banks play in the economy. Regulators are also heavy-handed on a day-to-day basis. For example, during the Great Recession, Canadian banks were barred from raising dividends because regulators wanted to ensure that there was enough financial liquidity at the banks. Image source: Getty Images. Not that there was a problem, given that the largest Canadian banks simply paused their dividend increases and then, when allowed, started increasing them again. That's vastly different from what transpired in the United States, where many of the largest banks ended up cutting their dividends. That's not to suggest that Canadian banks are risk-free -- they most certainly are not. But heavy regulation has left the biggest players with protected industry positions and, just as important, generally conservative management teams. I'm a fan of buying fallen angels. That basically means owning good companies that have found themselves dealing with temporary problems. When it comes to large banks, which are highly complex entities, I'm inclined to focus on Canadian banks because I'm confident that Canadian regulators are holding their feet to the quality fire, if you will. Thus, the pool I'm fishing in is safer than the U.S. banks, where it sometimes feels like anything goes. (Remember the bank runs in 2023?) Right now, my favorite banks are Canadian giants Toronto-Dominion Bank, more commonly called TD Bank, and Bank of Nova Scotia, usually shortened to Scotiabank. Here's why. TD Bank and Scotiabank are muddling through hard times Even though Canadian banks are generally conservative, that doesn't mean their businesses don't go through difficult periods, just like every other company. I tend to buy stocks when they are dealing with difficult periods because that's usually when their dividend yields are historically high. Both TD Bank and Scotiabank are in a funk right now. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid, Getty Images) Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo echoing viewpoints propagated by Robert F. Kennedy, President-elect Donald Trumps pick to become the nations chief health official recommended against community fluoridation of drinking water Friday. Ladapo, whose past advice on health issues has roundly been criticized by others in the health care arena, had his suggestion rejected by the group that represents Florida dentists, which countered that fluoridation is one of the most effective and affordable public health measures around. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ladapo asserted a neuropsychiatric risk associated with fluoride exposure, citing studies that allege exposure to fluoride increases risk of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and lower IQs. It is clear more research is necessary to address safety and efficacy concerns regarding community water fluoridation, Ladapo, who works for Gov. Ron DeSantis, said in a written statement. The previously considered benefit of community water fluoridation does not outweigh the current known risks, especially for special populations like pregnant women and children. Ladapo estimated that 70% of Florida residents are on community water systems with fluoridated water and included a link for people to find out their communities status. It was the latest in a long list of public health recommendations from Ladapo criticized by associations that represent the people providing the care. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The guidance also comes on the heels of a decision by the Winter Haven City Commission this week to stop adding fluoride to its water supply by Jan. 1 or as soon as reasonably practicable. The Florida Dental Association countered that fluoride helps prevent tooth decay. Adding optimal amounts of fluoride into our community water supplies can prevent at least 25% of tooth decay in children and adults, reducing the need for costly dental treatments. Decades of sound scientific research proves the safety and effectiveness of fluoridation and underscores the importance of continuing community water fluoridation for the well-being of Florida residents, Dr. Jeff Ottley, president of the Florida Dental Association, said in a statement. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention named community fluoridation of drinking water one of the 10 great public health interventions of the 20th Century because of the dramatic decline in cavities since it started in 1945. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is no mandate, though, for community fluoridation of drinking water. The U.S. Public Health Service recommends fluoride levels for municipalities that do choose to add fluoride to community water supplies. Ladapo recommendations Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo. (Screenshot/Florida Channel) Earlier this year, Ladapo advised parents that it was up to them whether to keep their children at home amid a measles outbreak in Broward County counter to usual guidance from the CDC to keep unvaccinated children at home. The advice was criticized by Ladapos predecessor, Dr. Scott Rivkees, who is now at Brown University, in an interview with the Washington Post. Ladapo also has expressed deep skepticism of Covid-19 vaccines and the efficacy of face masks to limit exposure to viruses. And he made national headlines in 2021 when he refused to don a mask during a meeting with state Sen. Tina Polsky, who was being treated for cancer and requested that he wear one. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After Trump was elected to a second term, Ladapos boss, DeSantis, took to social media to promote him as the best candidate to head the massive Department of Health and Human Services. Trump picked Kennedy instead, even though he is not a scientist or physician. His appointment is seen by some as a victory for a medical freedom movement that arose in response to the Progressive Era idea that health experts should guide policy. HHS is a sprawling department that includes the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, a high-profile health agency. Trump announced this week that his pick to run that agency is former TV personality and onetime U.S. Senate candidate Mehmet Oz. Oz won the Republican primary in the 2022 Pennsylvania U.S. Senate race but was defeated during the general election by Democrat John Fetterman. Trump wrote that Oz would work closely with RFK Jr., who his nominee for Health and Human Services secretary, to take on the illness industrial complex, and all the horrible chronic diseases left in its wake. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has not announced his choice to head the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the Food and Drug Administration, two other agencies under the auspices of HHS. Ladapos guidance notes that fluoride is a naturally occurring chemical present in groundwater, rainwater, soil, plants, and foods. He noted that its also available from other sources including toothpaste, mouthwashes, and fluoride applications by dental providers. While evidence shows fluoride strengthens teeth, the guidance says, additional research is being conducted to review the impacts of overall fluoride exposure in the population. Ladapo lists alleged safety concerns related to systemic fluoride exposure including reducing IQ, cognitive impairment, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The guidance states that studies also show increased neurobehavioral problems in children whose mothers ingested fluoride during pregnancy. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (WLAX/WEUX) Flu season is here and health officials are concerned with the number of people currently vaccinated in Wisconsin. Officials say flu vaccines in the state have only gone up from 25.4% last year to 25.8% this year. Locally, The Eau Claire City-County Health Department was hoping for 70% of the community to be vaccinated but has only seen 22% receive the vaccination. Of that 22%, half of them are over the age of 65. Thomas Haulpt with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services reminds folks that its not just the flu or Covid that vaccination guards against. Risks of getting RSV, or Walking Pneumonia, are also high. Mycoplasma, pneumonia, it causes walking pneumonia thats the common term for it. Its a bacteria versus a virus like covid and influenza, it affects the younger adults, school-aged children. But this year weve seen a significant increase in Wisconsin and also a significant increase in the United States. ECCCHD does offer vaccines with limitations. Local clinics are available for flu shots and Covid vaccinations. You can get both shots at the same time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX2548 & WIProud. 2024 has been a year of immense turmoil for Bangladesh and its readymade garment (RMG) sector. But comprehensive reform is underway, according to the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Associations (BGMEA) new leadership. At Sourcing Journals annual fall summit, Bitopi Group managing director and BGMEA support committee member Miran Ali said the trade group, which represents thousands of factories, is going to reform everythingand its not stopping at the RMG industry. More from Sourcing Journal Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are changing the constitution, the judiciary, the civil service, the police, every aspect of life in Bangladesh will be reformed and will be representative of the constituents that its supposed to represent, he said. Student protests erupted across Bangladesh in June over demands for changes to quotas in government jobs, and that civil unrest led to a heavy-handed response from law enforcement and the countrys military. Hundreds of individuals lost their lives in these skirmishes, and demonstrations boiled over into a total uprising against the Bangladeshi government, culminating in the ousting of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August. We needed this change. We needed to get freedom, Ali said. Most of the population of Bangladesh is below the age of 24; these are people who have grown up living under the oppressive dictatorship of the previous regime for 17 years. What we have right now in Bangladesh is a post-revolutionary society we are buildingwe are actually building a new country, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A leadership shakeup at BGMEA (led by Bangladeshs Ministry of Commerce, which ordered the group to dissolve its board) led to the placement of Md. Anwar Hossain, vice chairman of the Export Promotion Bureau, as administrator in October. He was tasked with initiating a free, fair election within 120 days to solidify the power transfer. Mr. Anwar is here as a symbol of the fact that the interim government of Bangladesh is fully in support of our industry, and the fact that industry and government will work together in making the necessary reforms, Ali said. Hossain took the stage at the Sourcing Journal fall summit to speak to the roadmap for the months ahead. As administrator, my role is to collaborate and facilitate a smooth transition to new leadership that can actually complete the reform agenda we are facing right now, he said. He is relying on 10 advisors from the industry and discussions with brands throughout the country to inform a strategy that will prioritize the countrys RMG sector, which accounts for 82 percent of Bangladesh exports and a huge contribution to our economy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite headwinds like production delays from curfews and unrest, ongoing garment worker demonstrations and a monsoon that caused shipping disruptions over the summer, Bangladeshs RMG sector is still in growth mode, according to Hossain. The industry saw 23-percent year-over-year export growth between October 2023 and October 2024, he said. During the period between July and October 2023, RMG accounted for $11.5 billion in exports. One year later, that figure grew by nearly $1.3 billion to $12.8 billion during the same three-month period. Ali said that while Bangladesh is just beginning to emerge from the upset of the past several months, he is confident in a return to normalcy. One of the challenges is that when you when you have a repressed society that suddenly gets complete freedom, there will be a period of disruption, he said. I would say, considering the national trauma that our country has gone through over the over July and August and the last 17 years, we are remarkably stable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a matter of fact, the unrest that has happened is scattered, not a generalized problem. It is a specific issue related to individual factories, he added. With a new labor advisor issuing a stern warning to factories that dont settle their worker dues, Ali said he believes that any institution, any company where workers are not being paidthe government will start taking action. There will be a transition in attitudes surrounding the treatment of workers under the new government regime, and while it wont put an immediate end to unrest at every factory, new BGMEA leadership and a new relationship with the government could lead to a period of stability not seen in recent years, he said. With domestic labor force issues resolved, the BGMEA will be able to focus on advancing the industry on the global stage, he added. Decarbonization projects for the fashion industry are now taking shape with the buy-in of brands and international organizations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In September, BGMEA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with global nonprofit Cascale to promote socially and environmentally responsible practices within the apparel sector. Meanwhile, brands like Bestseller, H&M Group, Gap Inc. and Mango this year signed onto The Future Supplier Initiative, which aims to help suppliers in Bangladesh decarbonize their operations through transitions to low-carbon technologies and renewable energy. Until today, everything that has happened in the supply chain, whether its minimum wages or working hours or anything else, its usually top down. Customers would tell us I want this and I want that, but you never really hear suppliers speaking back to you, Ali said. Bangladesh is now transitioning away from the way we were when we used to hear what you had to tell us, and now we have something to say to you as well, he added. We will be demanding a different behavior. We will be demanding a more responsible behavior. The Department of Justice (DOJ) is trying to force Google to sell Chrome after a federal judge ruled that the tech giant had monopolized the search market. Making Google divest itself from Chrome and Android won't significantly reduce Google's share of the market for general search services, it will just harm consumers. The DOJ's antitrust crusade against the tech giant began in October 2020 when, invoking Section 2 of the Sherman Act, it argued that Google had abused its monopoly power to "require preinstallation and prominent placement of Google's apps," among other claims of exclusionary conduct. Judge Amit P. Mehta of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ruled in favor of the DOJ in August, finding Google guilty of monopolizing the general search engine (GSE) market. To end Google's monopoly over the GSE market, the DOJ recommended divestiture from Chrome, "which has 'fortified [Google's] dominance,'" and Android, "which would prevent Google from using Android to exclude rival search providers." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ryan Young, senior economist at the Competitive Enterprise Institute, tells Reason that the DOJ's narrow market definition doesn't consider Reddit, ChatGPT, and other GSE alternatives, which "have become popular, and in some areas outperform Google." Even accepting the DOJ's definition of the GSE market, the claim that Chrome is responsible for Google's dominance of the market is highly dubious. Google made up 89 percent of the U.S. search engine market despite Chrome making up only 57 percent of the U.S. browser market as of October 2024. That means at least 74 percent of non-Chrome users search with Google, even assuming 100 percent of Chrome users search with Google. Even if Chrome suddenly vanished, it's clear Google would still dominate the GSE market. Nevertheless, antitrust enforcers insist Chrome is "a key access point through which many people use [Google's] search engine," reports Bloomberg. If Chrome is a key access point to Google, so are Safari, Firefox, and Edge. The DOJ also recommends Google be barred from using "its ownership and control of Android, or any other Google product or service, to: degradethe features, functionality, or user experience, on rival GSE, Search Text Ads, or AI Products on Android Devices." But divesting Google from Android would deprive users of the convenience of bundling smartphones with the suite of preinstalled Google apps, including Chrome, Google Play, Google Maps, Google Drive, and the rest of the comprehensive suite of free-to-use apps. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This isn't the only lawsuit the DOJ has against Google. The DOJ sued the embattled tech firm in January 2023 for violating the Sherman Antitrust Act by monopolizing digital advertising technology. The DOJ claims Google's acquisitions of ad tech competitors "have had harmful effects on competition and consumers." But that's not quite true. The expectation of acquisition benefits consumers by encouraging R&D investment in a manner similar to advance market commitments that guarantee firms a prespecified return for a product. If the latter benefits consumers by encouraging innovation, so does the former. Consumer welfare is the end goal of competition just as "consumption is the sole end and purpose of all production," according to Adam Smith. Google's integration of its search engine, suite of apps, browser, and Android phones has made consumers' lives better; the DOJ's recommendations will make them worse. The post Forcing Google To Sell Chrome and Android Won't Make its Search Engine Less Popular appeared first on Reason.com. PAXTON, Ill. (WCIA) For the fourth time in just over a year, Ford County is looking for a new administrator of their Public Health Department. WCIAs partners at the Ford County Chronicle reported that Paul Abraham, whose employment as public health administrator began July 29, has resigned, effective Dec. 20. This is now leaving the Paxton-based health department in search of its fourth administrator since Lana Sample left the role on Sept. 1, 2023. On Nov. 12, Abraham informed the board of healths president, Mike Short, that he was thinking about resigning. Two days later, Short met with Abraham to try to encourage him to stick around, Short said. He also said that Abraham was doing a really good job and we sure didnt want him leaving. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After taking the weekend to think over the decision, Abraham informed Short on Nov. 18 that he had decided to resign. Abraham made his decision official during the board of healths meeting on Nov. 19, when he submitted his written resignation. Short said that Abraham indicated his desire to return to work in long-term care. Windsor of Savoy under new ownership Im moving back into a more traditional health care setting, Abraham told The Chronicle. While the effective date of Abrahams resignation is set for Dec. 20, he told the Chronicle that it is flexible. Short said Abraham has offered to extend his resignation to a later date in the event that the health department has not hired a replacement by Dec. 20 and has also not yet moved into its new office building on W. Ottawa Road in Paxton. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were disappointed hes leaving, but we understand, Short said. We really wish him well wherever he goes, because we were really pleased with what he was doing here. Danville School Board decides superintendent will return to on-site work after threat investigation The health department is expected to move into its new office during the week of Dec. 9, but that timeline is subject to change due to ongoing renovations. As of Nov. 21, contractors were making good progress, Short said. With the search for a new candidate currently underway, Short said he plans to first contact candidates who interviewed for the position previously to see if they would still want the job. There were 18 applicants and three other finalists when Abraham was hired last summer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more on The Ford County Chronicles 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 WCIA.com. MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (WBOY) A forensic anthropology team from Mercyhurst University in Erie, Pennsylvania is examining a set of human remains recovered in Monongalia County last week. The Monongalia County Sheriffs Office said in a news release that the remains were found in a shallow grave near the intersection of Little Indian Creek Road and Birchfield Road on Friday, Nov. 15. Those remains were sent to Mercyhursts team on Wednesday by the West Virginia State Medical Examiners Office. Local investigators called upon the team from Mercyhurst because of their expertise with outdoor crime scenes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Former WVU, Steelers player facing COVID pandemic relief fraud charges 12 News spoke with the team leader, Dr. Dennis Dirkmaat, and while he could not comment on the case specifically, he explained what forensic anthropologists can contribute to a homicide investigation. Were not just looking at the bones, said Dirkmaat. Were considering the soft tissue and the decomposition process. Were looking at the plants, the soil, the potential animals that may come. So, its a very multidisciplinary effort. Dirkmaat has worked on more than 2,000 cases in Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia, including the recovery and identification of the victims of United Flight 93 on Sept. 11, 2001. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If anyone has any information on the Monongalia County case, theyre asked to contact the Monongalia County Sheriffs Office at 304-291-7260. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) Workers have started the process of tearing down a century-old burned-out apartment building near downtown Sioux City. Only the street level of the former Argonaut Apartments building remains standing as of Thursday night. Sioux citys city council awarded a contract worth $101,000 to Herbert Construction Company for the removal of the old four-story structure. Sioux City plans to replace lead service lines in the coming years Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The building once housed about 30 apartments and two businesses. Twisted rebar and concrete brick rubble still need to be cleared, with site work to follow. In March 2023, the building was red-tagged after the owners failed to correct numerous housing deficiencies. This May, a few small fires were found in the basement. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports. A former city councilman has been sentenced to spend three weekends in federal prison and serve one year of probation for falsifying votes when he ran for a seat on the council in 2017 and 2018. Michael DeFilippo, 38, of Bridgeport, was also ordered to pay a $15,000 fine when he was sentenced in federal court in New Haven, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Connecticut. The sentencing comes after he pleaded guilty in May to deprivation of rights under color of law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The prosecution argued unsuccessfully for a prison sentence. This case is no ordinary misdemeanor prosecution the government said in a court filing. The defendant Michael DeFilippo willfully struck a blow at foundational principles of local democracy. He thwarted the will of the people to cheat his way into elected office, placing his own political ambition above the will of the voting public. According to federal officials, DeFilippo served on the city council from June 2018 until July 2021, representing the 133rd District, which is near the Sacred Heart University campus. Officials said he owned several rental properties that he leased to students of the university and used the names of tenants to falsify votes. Though city council elections are usually held in Bridgeport in odd-numbered years, the September 2017 primary was re-run in November 2017 and again in April 2018 because of repeated absentee ballot irregularities in the Democratic primary for the 133rd District, federal officials said. The general election took place in June 2018. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DeFilippo was selected as one of the two Democratic nominees for the 133rd District in April 2018 and in June 2018, he was elected to the Bridgeport City Council. Authorities allege that in the primaries as well as the general election, DeFilippo stole and falsified voter registration applications and absentee balloting documents. He forged signatures and submitted fraudulent election documents to election officials in the name of some of his tenants, officials said. DeFilippos conduct caused Bridgeport and Connecticut election officials acting under color of law to deprive DeFilippos tenants of their right to vote (by counting stolen ballots), and to deprive all 133rd District voters of their right to have their votes fully counted (by diluting election results with fraudulent registrations and ballots), the U.S. Attorneys Office said in a statement. DeFilippo won the town committee endorsement in his council race in 2017. At the time, he worked as a bartender. DeFilippo also owned several multi-family homes that he rented to dozens of students who attended nearby Sacred Heart University in Fairfield. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was one of the two highest vote getters in the two-person district. But the result was overturned based on allegations of absentee ballot irregularities brought by the third place finisher. In the second primary, DeFilippo again was a top two finisher, but those results were again tossed out based on allegations of ballot fraud. The court hearing the election challenge concluded that DeFilippo had injected himself into what had become illegal partisan party interference and ordered the primary to be run a third time. DeFilippo finished among the top two candidates again and went on to win the general election. DeFilippo was a council member until 2021, when he resigned after being indicted. GLOCESTER, R.I. (WPRI) The Glocester man accused of child molestation back in June is now facing additional charges, 12 News has learned. The Providence County Grand Jury handed up an indictment Thursday charging 49-year-old Kyle Delaney with three counts of first-degree child molestation/sexual assault and three counts of second-degree child molestation/sexual assault. Delaney, a former advisor for the Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF), was first taken into custody over the summer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was initially only charged with one count of first-degree child molestation/sexual assault, but is now facing two additional counts as the case moves to Providence Superior Court. Delaney is accused of sexually assaulting a victim under the age of 14 in Glocester between November 2015 and January 2020, according to the indictment. Court records indicate Delaney is currently out on a $100,000 surety bond. He was ordered not to contact the victims and not to have unsupervised contact with minors. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. On Thursday, DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston announced the indictment of a former deputy who was accused of having a sexual relationship with an inmate and smuggling contraband into the jail for him. Former Deputy Joann Marks, 27, was indicted on Tuesday on charges of sexual contact by an employee, two counts of violation of oath by a public officer and items prohibited for possession by inmates. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] In April, jail employees found a cell phone and cigarettes in an inmates cell. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators questioned Marks about the contraband and she admitted to having brought it into the jail. She also admitted to having sex with the inmate. That same day, Marks was arrested and fired. She later bonded out of jail. TRENDING STORIES: On Thursday morning, Marks turned herself back in to the jail where she is currently being held. Her arrangement has been scheduled for December 23. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] When Boston announced Marks indictment on Thursday, she also announced the indictment of Tobias Woods, who is accused of providing a fellow inmate, Christon Collins, with drugs laced with fentanyl, causing Collins death two days later. OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) According to the Oklahoma County Detention Center (OCDC), a former detention officer has been accused to smuggling contraband into the jail. OCDC says the Criminal Investigations Division (CID) arrested Casey Slone after she allegedly brought contraband into the jail and engaged in illegal communications using a contraband cellphone with someone who was incarcerated. LOCAL NEWS: Metro couple expecting child says stranger broke into home Casey Slone. Image courtesy Oklahoma County Detention Center. The actions of this former detention officer are an outright betrayal of the trust placed in them by the public and their colleagues. Smuggling contraband into the facility endangers lives, compromises security, and undermines the integrity of our entire justice system, said Brandi Garner, Oklahoma County Detention Center CEO. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials say Slone was hired as a detention officer in August 2023. She was terminated in July 2024 after being arrested by the Oklahoma Department of Corrections for trying to smuggle contraband into a state prison in Pittsburg County. According to ODOC, information given to the department led investigators to May 14, 2024, when Slone supposedly brought in contraband during her lunch break. Surveillance camera footage and recorded phone calls alleged that she brought in K2-laced papers and other items to be delivered to an inmate. LOCAL NEWS: Homeless encampments being moved ahead of multipurpose stadium construction We have zero tolerance for such misconduct. This behavior is not only unacceptable, but also a stark reminder of why vigilance and accountability are essential in our work. Garner added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials say Slone is facing two charges; Carry as weapon, drugs or alcohol into jail and Accessing a computer system or network with unlawful intent. She has since been released on bond. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City. Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi is President-elect Donald Trumps new pick for US Attorney General. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Bondi has a long track record here in the Sunshine State, serving as Florida Attorney General for eight years. Her career began as a prosecutor in Hillsborough County before she made the jump to Floridas top cop in 2011. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her tenure focused heavily on shuttering pill mills and taking on opioid manufacturers. Since then, shes remained closely aligned with Trump and even defended him during his first impeachment trial in 2019. State Rep. Dean Black (R-Yulee) argued Bondi law and order, through and through. And everyone had better tow the line because she is smart as a whip and she is tough as nails, said Black. But Bondis critics, like State Rep. Anna Eskamani (D-Orlando), note she wasnt free of controversy during her time as Florida AG. Bondi defended the prohibition of gay marriage in the state constitution. It was an act that spurred criticisms during her response to the Pulse Nightclub shooting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2013, Bondi came under scrutiny for declining to join in a case against Trump University shortly after her political action committee received an illegal $25,000 donation from the Trump Foundation. So, I think there is concern that Pam Bondi has already demonstrated a desire not to investigate Trump in past situations, that she would continue to be a yes person, said Eskamani. UNF political science professor Dr. Michael Binder argued, despite her past controversies, Bondis confirmation will be a much easier sell compared to Trumps first AG pick, former US Rep. Matt Gaetz. Shes one of the Trump people and this makes a lot of sense from his perspective and she doesnt have nearly the scandalous baggage that Gaetz did, said Binder. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On social media, Gaetz called Bondis appointment a stellar selection, and added she will, bring the needed reforms to the DOJ. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. HUDSON A former Glenwood City School District superintendent, who later worked as Chippewa Falls Schools executive director of human resources and public relations, appeared in St. Croix County Court Thursday on 17 felony charges. Timothy D. Johnson, 52, now of Glenwood City, was charged in October with theft in excess of $100,000, two counts of laundering money, seven counts of uttering a forgery, and seven counts of misconduct in office by producing fraudulent records. Johnson appeared in person in court, where he waived time limits on a preliminary hearing. Judge Scott Nordstrand released Johnson on a signature bond, and he set terms of Johnsons release, which included having no contact with any witnesses or the Glenwood City School District, either in person or through any electronic communications. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nordstrand set a settlement conference for Dec. 26 and a pre-trial scheduling conference for Jan. 16. No trial dates have been set. Johnson was hired by the Chippewa Falls School District in May 2023. However, he was placed on administrative leave in January after allegations surfaced that he had collected more than $80,000 for continuing education classes that he never took at Viterbo University in La Crosse while he was superintendent in the Glenwood City School District. Johnson resigned from Chippewa Falls a week later, and school officials said he never had any access to the districts finances here. In June, Intellex Forensics Advisory Services issued a 68-page report to the Glenwood City School District with details of the fraudulent activity. Based on the results of our review, we conclude that Tim Johnson fraudulently received $75,515 in education reimbursements while simultaneously receiving $125,000 to offset graduate courses never taken, the letter reads. Further, we were asked to review funds placed into investments by Tim Johnson and (district accountant) Ron Johnson. The result of our forensic review showed that Tim Johnson and Ron Johnson negligently placed $349,650 of District funds into investments not compliant with Wisconsin statutes. Additionally, we were asked to review funds paid to Ron Johnson. The results of our forensic review concluded that Tim Johnson and Ron Johnson improperly compensated Ron Johnson in the amount of $17,500. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Viterbo University officials later confirmed that Johnson hadnt taken any of the classes he was reimbursed for dating back to 2014. University officials said reimbursement forms that Johnson had submitted to the school district were not on official school letterhead. Tim Johnson submitted claims for and received $75,515 in reimbursements for graduate courses he claimed he completed during the school years of 2013-14 through 2022-2023. Our examination of the Viterbo transcripts, however, revealed that Tim Johnson never completed these courses, the forensic audit reads. Johnsons participation in a doctoral program at Viterbo University was not mentioned in his resume or any other application materials he provided to the Chippewa Falls School District. Johnson joined the Glenwood City School District in 2003 as its middle school/high school principal. He was promoted to superintendent in 2014 and stayed in that role until he resigned in May 2023. TOPEKA (KSNT) A former Republican political candidate for the District 2 Congressional seat of Kansas has been arrested by local law enforcement after allegedly harassing a county court official numerous times. The Shawnee County Sheriffs Office announced on social media on Nov. 22 that 44-year-old Michael A. Ogle was arrested on Nov. 21 on charges of interference with the judicial process and harassment by telecommunications device. His arrest stems from allegations he harassed a Shawnee County District Court official several times. Shawnee County deputies are still investigating the incidents leading up to Ogles arrest. He is currently being held in the Shawnee County Department of Corrections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ogle previously ran as a Republican for the District 2 Congressional seat for the 2024 Primary Election, losing out to fellow candidate Derek Schmidt who would go on to win the General Election. Ogles run for the congressional seat was noteworthy as he was the only one running for office in the race who was also a convicted felon. Gov. Laura Kelly issues two new pardons Friday Ogle previously pleaded guilty to two felony charges following a Christmas standoff in 2019. He pleaded guilty to aggravated domestic battery for choking a family member in a rude manner and interference with law enforcement, along with misdemeanor domestic battery. He told 27 News in an interview he had been drinking during the incident and was hoping to gain expungement prior to the 2024 General Election. 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/MatthewLeoSelf Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) The state agency in charge of the certification of California law enforcement officers has made a final decision in the case of a former Kern County Sheriffs lieutenant charged with sexual and administrative misconduct. David Wesley Hubbard, who as supervisor of the Kern County Sheriffs Internal Affairs division, regularly presided over investigations into his colleagues suspected misconduct, has been decertified by a state agency for his own misconduct. Hubbard had been accused of sexual improprieties with a subordinate in his office while on duty and destroying evidence relevant to the ensuing investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sheriff Donnie Youngblood, in a blistering termination letter, called Hubbards behavior inexcusable. The Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training, following up its advisory boards recommendation from earlier this year, apparently agreed: POST announced last month that Hubbards peace officer credentials have been revoked. RELATED: Internal Affair Despite that, Hubbard continues to work for the Kern County District Attorneys office, which hired him after the sheriffs office fired him. A spokeswoman for the county said Hubbard is still employed as an Investigative Specialist. DA Cynthia Zimmer did not respond to requests for comment, and efforts to reach both Hubbard and his attorney were unsuccessful. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The decertification means, according to a POST spokeswoman, Hubbard can no longer work as a peace officer in the state of California and has no avenues to get his certificate back. His revocation has been reported to the National Decertification Index so it is unlikely he will be able to get a job as a peace officer anywhere else. On a late November weekend in 2021, then-Lieutenant Hubbard and a civilian sheriffs employee who reported directly to Hubbard, had what both parties describe as consensual sex in his office, while he was on watch commander duty, acting, as POST investigators characterized it, as the highest ranking law enforcement official in Kern County. Hubbard, who months later gave an audio-only interview to a POST investigator, said he was trying to do his job as best he could, given the intimate distraction of the moment. READ: Sheriff Donny Youngbloods letter to David Hubbard Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I had my radio on, Hubbard told the investigator. I had my phones on. I was available, as needed. I feel like I was, um, able to respond to any situation. For Hubbard, who is married, sex at the workplace with a lower-ranking employee, who was engaged to another sheriffs deputy, was serious enough. But the woman also was involved in an apparently unrelated incident involving, again, sex. She reported a second man, a detective sergeant in the same unit as Hubbard, sexually assaulted her. Internal Affairs embarked on a review of that case as well. Hubbard and the woman became concerned about what this detective sergeant might say about other sexual liaisons in the sheriffs office specifically Hubbards office affair with the woman. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News Not only did the accused detective tell investigators about Hubbards affair with his subordinate, he accused her of being, quote, crazy and coming on to him. Suddenly Hubbard was under investigation himself. Internal Affairs would be interviewing him and reinterviewing his subordinate. Hubbard is alleged to then have deleted evidence text messages from his work-issued mobile phone, and telephone logs. He is alleged to have interfered with the investigation of the sergeant and improperly shared confidential information with the woman he had sex with, according to the POST findings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hubbard worked for KCSO from April 2007 to August 2022 and would mark 20 years with the county in 2026. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17. FRANKFORT, Ky. (FOX 56/WJHL) Former Letcher County Sheriff Shawn Mickey Stines was indicted on Thursday for the alleged murder of a Letcher County District County judge. RELATED: Stines was previously arrested and charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of District Judge Kevin Mullins inside the Letcher County courthouse on Sept. 19. He pleaded not guilty to the murder on Sept. 25. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A press release from Attorney General Russell Colemans office said a Letcher County Grand Jury indicted Stines on one count of murderpublic official. Stines retired as sheriff at the end of September after receiving a letter from Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear and Kentucky General Counsel S. Travis Mayo asking him to resign formally. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News. CONNECTICUT (WTNH) Former lieutenant governor Michael Fedele is reminiscing on the times he spent working closely with former governor Jodi Rell, who died on Wednesday. Brookfield remembers former governor Jodi Rell Fedele said that he met Rell in the early 90s when they both served in the state legislature. The two remained in touch over the years until she ultimately tapped him to be her number two in 2007. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The amazing thing about her I found was she could walk into a room with two people or 2,000 and as soon as she walked in, everyone knew her, Fedele said. She had that aura of its okay, you can approach me, people approached her they felt comfortable and felt assured something would be done. Fedele also said that Rell listened to those who worked for her and around her, taking their opinions to heart. Rell and Fedele were so popular that they beat then-New Haven Mayor John DeStefano in the 2006 race for governor by nearly 30 points. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com. NEWTON COUNTY, Mo. A former Newton County corrections officer charged with giving drugs to inmates in exchange for cash will go to prison. Correy Shrum, 33, pleaded guilty Monday to delivery of a controlled substance at a jail and corruption by a public servant. As part of his plea deal, Judge Jake Skouby sentenced Shrum to four years in prison. Shrum was ordered to turn himself in, Monday morning, to the Newton County Jail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Newton County Sheriffs Office started investigating Shrum around this time last year after hearing some suspicious phone calls between an inmate and the inmates girlfriend. Investigators say surveillance video showed Shrum handing unknown items to an inmate, and Shrum told them he passed drugs to an inmate in exchange for $1,700. When investigators searched the inmates, they found plastic bags containing meth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shrum worked as a jailer in Newton County for about eleven months before he was arrested. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com. Nov. 21MORRISTOWN A former Morristown Central School District superintendent was sentenced Thursday to more than 17 years in federal prison for trying to entice a 9-year-old girl into sexual activity. Bruce Wakker, 69, Syracuse, was sentenced in U.S. District Court, Syracuse, to 210 months in prison, followed by an additional 20 years of supervision upon his release, after being found guilty following a three-day trial in October 2023 of attempting to entice a minor into engaging in unlawful sexual activities and attempting to transfer obscene materials to a minor. According to U.S. attorneys, trial evidence established that from November 2019 to June 2020, Wakker exchanged thousands of sexually explicit text messages with people he believed to be a 9-year-old girl and her mother. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In these text messages, Wakker, among other things, discussed performing different sexual acts with the 9-year-old and sent the 9-year-old pictures of his genitalia. Wakker arranged to meet with the presumed mother and 9-year-old in person. On June 11, 2020, he traveled from Syracuse to New York Mills in Oneida County for the purpose of engaging in sexual intercourse with the 9-year-old. According to a criminal complaint filed in the case, Wakker told the mother that he was a "high-profile educator" his entire life and lived along the Canadian border for 27 years, serving as teacher for 12 of those years and an administrator for 15 years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He stated that he "rose to the highest ranks in public education" and that "everyone in the entire County" knew who he was. The messages he exchanged were actually with an undercover investigator posing as both the mother and daughter. Wakker was arrested shortly after his arrival to meet the pair. Wakker was dismissed from his three-year position at Morristown in June 2003, prompting him to sue in state Supreme Court, claiming his contract did not end until 2006 and that he was owed his $81,000 annual salary and two years of benefits. He ultimately received a $35,000 settlement in August 2004. RALEIGH, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) Former North Carolina governor and Charlotte mayor Pat McCrory is speaking out against the state Senate bill that strips power from the states top leaders. Now the chair of election research organization RightCount, McCrory emphasizes that voters elected candidates to serve in certain roles. NC governor, AG powers stripped as part of Hurricane Helene relief bill North Carolinians, including me, elected the state auditor to investigate waste, fraud, and abuse in state government not appoint the Board of Elections, he said. The North Carolina Constitution assigns appointment powers of this nature to the governor, not the state auditor. Both political parties should stop playing games with the administration of elections, which shakes the confidence of voters in our voting system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senate Bill 382 passed through the House and Senate this week after McCrory argued it was fast-tracked by its Republican sponsors. It includes relief funds for Hurricane Helene, but it was the section regarding the governor and attorney general that has drawn the most criticism. It would strip the governor of the authority to appoint members to the State Board of Elections, also removing duties from the attorney general. Two Democrats Josh Stein and Jeff Jackson will take office in those roles in January when the GOP also will lose their supermajority. Gov. Roy Cooper has signaled his intent to veto the legislation, which would then return to the General Assembly for a potential override vote in the days ahead. McCrory, a Republican while serving as a politician, was governor from 2013-2016 and served as the Queen Citys mayor from 1995 to 2009. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. David Zalubowski/AP; Chelsea Jia Feng/BI Nvidia's third-quarter earnings beat estimates but fell short of the highest expectations. Still, Wall Street analysts responded by overwhelmingly raising their price targets for the stock. The potential for stock buybacks and its competitive edge are boosting analysts' confidence. Nvidia successfully tested Wall Street's patience after with its hotly anticipated third-quarter earnings report on Wednesday. While Nvidia beat the average analyst estimate for revenue and profits, it didn't meet the loftiest expectations, and its fourth-quarter revenue guidance relative to expectations was narrower than prior quarters. Wall Street was nevertheless impressed by the results, sparking a wave of price target increases from more than 20 firms as analysts anticipate an imminent sales boom with the release of Nvidia's next-generation Blackwell chip. JPMorgan boosted its Nvidia price target to $170 from $155, highlighting that the company has built a large competitive moat around its business. "The team continues to maintain a 1- 2 step lead ahead of competitors with its silicon/hardware/software platforms, and a strong ecosystem and the team is further distancing itself with its aggressive cadence of new product launches and more product segmentation over time," JPMorgan analyst Harlan Sur wrote on Thursday. Goldman Sachs increased its price target to $165 from $150 on the expectation that Nvidia will deliver more than $200 billion in revenue next year. Additionally, the bank highlighted that Nvidia has a trick under its sleeve to help boost its stock price going forward: a potentially massive stock buyback program. Nvidia repurchased $11 billion worth of its own stock in the third quarter, up 188% from the year-ago quarter. Goldman said it expects "a step-function increase in share repurchases" by the company, hitting a cumulative $181 billion by 2026. Goldman Sachs "This is a cash gusher," Ben Reitzes, managing director at Melius Research, told CNBC on Thursday. "At some point they have to buyback more stock because there's simply nothing they can do with it." Rosenblatt Securities continues to have the highest Wall Street price target for Nvidia stock, increasing it to $220 from its prior target of $200. That represents a potential upside of 52% from the stock's price on Thursday morning. Even DA Davidson, which has rated Nvidia at "Neutral" due to valuation concerns, increased its price target to $135 from $90. "While management did not give much color beyond the next quarter for Blackwell, they expect strong demand coupled with similar supply constraints that they experienced with the ramp up of Hopper," DA Davidson analyst Gil Luria wrote in a note. NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) A former nurse pled guilty on Wednesday to stealing an elderly patients wallet and fraudulently charging her credit cards. The patient was admitted to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital in December 2022 and attended to by Jean. One day during the patients stay, Jean assisted her in getting up to leave her room and then stole her wallet from her purse while she was gone. Jean then proceeded to use the victims credit cards for multiple charges. While she was still hospitalized, the victim checked her banking accounts and noticed Jeans fraudulent charges. She also realized her wallet was missing and reported the theft to hospital staff. The hospital staff reviewed the surveillance footage and saw Jean stealing the victims wallet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Wednesday, Jean pled guilty to felony credit card larceny and misdemeanor credit card fraud. The Commonwealth withdrew additional credit card larceny and fraud charges at her preliminary hearing in exchange for Jeans guilty pleas. Judge Jamilah D. LeCruise accepted Jeans plea agreement, found her guilty and set her sentencing hearing on Feb. 14. Nurses are among the most trusted professionals in America, and Ms. Jean abused that trust in so shamelessly stealing from a hospitalized victim in her care, said Commonwealths Attorney Ramin Fatehi. I commend the staff of Sentara Norfolk General Hospital for their quick action to uncover Ms. Jeans crime and their cooperation with the police. I also commend the hospital for having a surveillance system in place that allowed for a quick arrest and for a conviction in this case. We will seek a sentence for Ms. Jean that reflects the blameworthiness of her actions. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) A former Oklahoma County Detention Center detention officer was booked into jail on Wednesday after allegedly attempting to smuggle contraband into a state prison. According to the OCDC, 31-year-old Casey Slone was fired on July 30 after she was arrested by the Oklahoma Department of Corrections for attempting to smuggle contraband into a state prison in Pittsburg County. She was initially hired as a detention officer on August 21, 2023. Slone is accused of coordinating a contraband drop during her lunch break on May 14. Investigators say surveillance footage and recorded phone calls indicate Slone smuggled K2-laced papers and other contraband into the facility and delivered the contraband to an inmate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Slone faces charges of carrying a weapon, drugs or alcohol into jail, and accessing a computer system or network with unlawful intent. She has since posted a $10,000 bond and was released from custody. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Amelia Schafer ICT + Rapid City Journal RAPID CITY, S.D. Mason Big Crow, the former treasurer of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, was detained on Nov. 20 on federal charges related to embezzlement. Court documents indicate Big Crow, Northern Arapaho and Oglala Lakota, was formally indicted on Sept. 19 on charges of larceny and embezzlement. Big Crows indictment states that on or about between January 2021 and March 2023 Big Crow allegedly stole an amount exceeding $1,000. And second, on or about between January 2021 and March 2023 Big Crow stole or embezzled more than $1,000 of monies, funds, credits, goods, assets or other property belonging to the Oglala Sioux Tribe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Big Crow is currently being held in the Pennington County Jail. His initial appearance is scheduled for Friday at the Andrew W. Bogue Federal Building in Rapid City. The U.S. Attorneys Office declined to comment. Big Crow served as treasurer from 2022 until September 2023 when he resigned in a special session. Big Crow had previously served several terms as tribal treasurer from 2020-2022 and 2018-2020. At the time of his resignation, Big Crow was behind on filing numerous tribal audits, claiming COVID had delayed the process. In a May 31, 2023, tribal council meeting, Big Crow said the tribe's previous audit firm had quit and he was securing a new firm, Whipfli Firm in Rapid City, to help complete its audits. At the time, the tribe was struggling to gain funding for projects due to the unfinished audits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This puts the tribe in a world of hurt when we cant get anything done about the audits, Councilman DonRoy Cubby Ghost Bear said in the May 31, 2023, meeting. Youre telling us one thing and Im hearing another thing. Were three years behind. We cant be having that, Mason. Councilwoman Anna Halverson brought attention to missing COVID finance reports during the meeting. Millions in federal COVID relief funds given to the tribe were unaccounted for as of May 2023, she said during the meeting. Both Ghost Bear and Halverson sat on the tribes finance committee and expressed in the 2023 meeting that Big Crow had not been transparent about finances with the committee. The audit isnt our fault, Big Crow told them. The auditors up and quit on us. I didnt call them and tell them not to do the audit if thats what youre trying to say. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In that meeting, Big Crow said the audits should be completed by the end of 2023, but today the tribe is missing audits for 2020, 2021 and 2023, according to records from the Federal Audit Clearinghouse. At the time, there were also concerns the tribe was in default to the First National Bank of Gordon, Neb. The tribe had consolidated a roughly $40 million loan from the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Tribe with the bank. The Shakopee Tribe had provided a loan to the tribe in the early 2000s for improvements to the Oglala Sioux Tribes Prairie Wind Casino. Tribes are required by law to have audited financial statements and compliance audits. The Single Audit Act requires an annual audit of all non-federal entities that spend over $750,000 in Federal Financial Assistance, including tribes, every fiscal year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Big Crow was replaced as treasurer by Cora White Horse. During his term as treasurer, tribal citizens had raised concerns of Big Crows inability to effectively file information needed for federal audits something South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem attacked the tribe and other tribes for in early 2024. After resigning, Big Crow attempted to run for a tribal council position as Wakpamni District Representative in the 2024 tribal election but lost. The Oglala Sioux Tribe did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Big Crows attorney, Gregory J. Sperlich, was in court and unable to respond to requests for comment. This story is co-published by the Rapid City Journal and ICT, a news partnership that covers Indigenous communities in the South Dakota area. Our stories are worth telling. Our stories are worth sharing. Our stories are worth your support. Contribute $5 or $10 today to help ICT carry out its critical mission. Sign up for ICTs free newsletter. A prominent public defender who once ran for judge in Milwaukee County is facing allegations of solicitation and falsifying paperwork to represent one of the women he paid for sex. The attorney, Travis Schwantes, had solicited a woman he was actively representing, or had represented, knowing she was being trafficked, suffering from drug abuse issues, or other trauma, according to court documents. Schwantes was charged late Thursday with two felonies solicitation and making a false statement to qualify for a public defender as a party to the crime and two misdemeanors related to prostitution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The criminal complaint details a sprawling investigation that took off when Milwaukee police arrested a woman who they believed was operating a prostitution ring out of her apartment on the citys near west side. That woman identified Schwantes and a handful of other men including a retired municipal judge from another county, a funeral director, a public safety worker and another attorney as her clients, the criminal complaint says. The complaint does not identify the five men by name but notes that they were arrested. The Milwaukee County District Attorneys Office did not immediately respond to questions early Friday about the status of those cases. During the investigation, two other women told authorities that Schwantes, 54, had paid them for sex acts on multiple occasions, with one disclosing that Schwantes knew she had open warrants and that he falsified information to represent her as a public defender in those cases, arrest records show. Travis Schwantes Investigators found Schwantes had written on an eligibility evaluation form that the woman had lost her job cleaning houses, but the woman said that was not true, and "in fact, she was self-employed, engaged in prostitution with one of her sources of income being" Schwantes, according to arrest records obtained this week by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Schwantes continued paying the woman for sex during the time he represented her, prosecutors say. The attorney representing Schwantes, Joseph Bugni, declined to comment early Friday. Attempts to reach Schwantes directly were not successful. Schwantes went on leave from the State Public Defenders Office in May. He resigned on Sept. 27, said Adam Plotkin, spokesman for the office. These allegations are very concerning to us; representing our clients in accordance with the rules of Professional Responsibility are of utmost importance to the SPD, Plotkin said in a written response to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While these are serious allegations, we must remember that all people accused of crimes are afforded the presumption of innocence and Attorney Schwantes will be afforded the same, he said. The Journal Sentinel asked if the State Public Defender's Office had received any complaints about Schwantes' conduct with female clients during his time working there and if the office had undertaken an internal review after becoming aware of the criminal investigation, but has not heard back. Schwantes turned himself in at the Milwaukee Police Administration Building shortly after 10:30 a.m. Oct. 17 and was released about 1:30 p.m. that same day, booking logs show. On Thursday, he was issued a summons to appear in court on Dec. 20. Investigators believe Schwantes used internal records to get info about women, complaint says Schwantes did not hide his profession from the women he encountered, prosecutors say. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The woman who first named Schwantes as a client said he disclosed his job and gave her advice on how to avoid being detected by police. He told her she was doing everything right by working during the day and walking customers into the residence, the complaint said. Prosecutors noted that the woman's attorney later described her as a victim of sex trafficking. Investigators from the Milwaukee Police Department and District Attorney's Office also believe that Schwantes used records in the Public Defenders Office to learn information about the women he was paying for sex. The woman who had the open warrants told authorities she never gave her real name to Schwantes and was surprised when he identified her by name during their first or second in-person encounter and mentioned her open cases, according to the complaint. A third woman also said she had never provided her real name to him, nor had she disclosed to him that she was a past crime victim. Even so, during one of their interactions, Schwantes said that he put him away, in an apparent reference to the man who had sexually assaulted the woman, the complaint says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That man was acquitted at trial of sexual assault, but later convicted of sexual assault of a child in an unrelated case. Schwantes represented the man in the later case which resulted in the man being sentenced to 25 years in prison. Prosecutors wrote in the complaint that the only way Schwantes could connect VICTIM 3 to that offender was through the internal records of the Office of the State Public Defender and suggested he made the comment to try to gain the womans trust. Detectives obtained search warrants for Schwantes' phone and found photos and online payments that corroborated the women's accounts, according to court records. In a few cases, he wrote Justice or Just Us in the notes of the payments. The examination of his phone records had an additional layer of screening from an outside detective so investigators would not violate privileged communications between Schwantes and his clients. The woman he represented waived her attorney-client privilege so investigators could review her records. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The criminal complaint was signed by Assistant District Attorney Nicolas J. Heitman, who works in the office's Public Integrity Unit and has handled other high-profile cases. Jordan Frickes attorney, Travis Schwantes, comforts him as he is about to be led away after being sentenced to life in prison. Schwantes has spent his career as a public defender. He was a supervisor at the Public Defenders Office in Milwaukee and ran for judge in 2020, collecting endorsements from more than 250 elected officials, attorneys and community members. That year, he drew a salary of about $104,000, according to state records obtained by the Journal Sentinel. Prior to his time in Milwaukee, Schwantes managed the Public Defenders Office in Walworth County from January 2012 to July 2016. Schwantes has represented defendants in high-profile cases, including Jordan Fricke, who was convicted of killing Milwaukee police officer Matthew Rittner, and Steven Zelich, a former West Allis police officer who was convicted of killing two women in sex acts and discarding their bodies in a suitcase. Schwantes represented Zelich in the initial proceedings of the case in Walworth County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Schwantes also prevailed in legal cases involving caregivers accused of homicide, including a babysitter in Cudahy who was acquitted by a jury of causing the death of a 6-month-old girl and a father in Milwaukee whose case was dismissed after a cause and manner of death could not be confirmed because of a botched autopsy. (This story was updated to add new information.) Ashley Luthern is a reporter and deputy investigations editor at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. She can be reached at ashley.luthern@jrn.com. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Former Milwaukee public defender faces prostitution-related charges Central Christian University, the small school run by former state Rep. Carolina Amestys family, advertised multiple degree programs it was not authorized to offer including several Ph.Ds, according to staff for the state Commission for Independent Education. As a result, board members for the agency, a branch of the Florida Department of Education, voted Thursday to grant the school a provisional license rather than renew the annual one the school already had, though the differences between the two designations appear minimal and Central Christian will still be allowed to operate. The extent of the misleading advertisement was quite extensive, agency general counsel Eric Giunta said. Were not talking about an unlicensed program being accidentally mentioned in one obscure corner of its website. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The downgrade came three months after Amesty was indicted on four felony charges stemming from accusations she forged a mans signature on an employment form she notarized in 2021. The document was part of an earlier application for licensure the school submitted to the state. But the commissions action on Thursday was not related to the indictment or allegations of forgery. Rather, the school advertised without state authorization programs including bachelors, masters and Ph.D degrees in Christian Clinical Counseling, Christian Clinical Psychology and Modern Languages and English Literature as well as a Ph.D in Business Administration, according to a letter sent in August from the commission staff to university President Juan Amesty. The letter said the school needed to delete those references from its website and social media pages. The school also advertised certificate programs in medical missions, bible studies, and chaplaincy on its website without the states blessing, according to commission staff. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But as of Nov. 8, the schools website still listed some of those programs, commission Executive Director Tiffany Hurst said during Thursdays meeting. Visitors to the Spanish version of the schools website could also apply by credit card for admission to the unapproved programs. The names of those programs have appeared very prominently on the schools application and other parts of the website for about a year, Giunta said. And four of the unauthorized programs were Ph.D degrees, he said, implying that the school had met accreditation standards it had not attained. Theres a certain gravitas that attaches to an institution that is offering Ph.D programs, Giunta said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Addressing the commission, attorney Bob Harris, who represents Central Christian University, insisted the school had never actually offered any programs without authorization nor enrolled students in them. He blamed the issue on changes made to the schools website by the webmaster. The school maintains both English and Spanish versions of its website, he said, and things got crossed over. Central Christian has 49 students in six bachelors and masters degree programs, according to documents the school submitted to the state. Last month, commission members agreed without discussion and without initially even disclosing what action they were taking to extend the schools license temporarily through Nov. 30, but at the time, it was unclear what would happen to the school after that date. Commission staff said in the Thursday meeting that the school could be considered for another annual license in July. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Amesty, who lost her reelection bid earlier this month, frequently touted her role as the schools vice president during her first run for office in 2022. She represented a district that includes much of southwestern Orange County, including Horizon West, Windermere and Disney World and a slice of northwestern Osceola County. Commission members did not discuss Amestys indictment during their Thursday meeting, nor did they address a Florida Department of Law Enforcement report that accused her of defrauding the state in her former role as an administrator for the school with her improper behavior regarding a form submitted for licensure. The states criminal investigation that prompted the charges came on the heels of a Sentinel story published in March that first called into question Amestys actions regarding an employment form for Robert Shaffer, a veteran educator with a Ph.D. from the University of Florida. Amesty notarized a document that purportedly contained Shaffers signature, but Shaffer told the Sentinel he did not sign it. The Sentinel based its story in part on interviews with three handwriting experts who said they didnt think the handwriting on the signature line was Shaffers. An FDLE handwriting expert ultimately agreed with their findings, the newly released investigative report says, stating that Shaffer highly probably did not write his signature on the form. Instead, FDLEs handwriting analyst found, Amesty probably wrote Shaffers name on the signature line. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During their investigation, FDLE agents asked Hurst whether the group would have issued a license to the school if it knowingly provided false information on its application. She responded that it depended on the situation, according to the investigative report. anmartin@orlandosentinel.com DENVER (KDVR) A suspect is in custody after an attempted burglary in Fort Collins prompted police to alert residents to shelter in place. At around 2:15 a.m. on Friday, Fort Collins Police Services said officers responded to a burglary in progress in the 1100 block of Laporte Avenue, north of Colorado State University. Police said that when the suspect was attempting to enter a house, he reportedly fired a single round from a handgun into the air. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Baby dies from meth toxicity in Lakewood, 2 suspects arrested Officers arrived a short time later but were unable to locate the suspect until they heard an additional gunshot being fired nearby. A NoCo 911 Alert was sent to those in the area, alerting them to lock doors and remain inside. Police said two houses were evacuated while officers set up a perimeter. According to Fort Collins police, a drone unit and a K-9 unit were used to track the suspect to a backyard in the 100 block of Pearl Street, about a third of a mile away from the original location. After an hour and a half of calling for the suspect to surrender, police said he was taken into custody safely. He is now booked into the Larimer County Jail on charges of trespassing, discharging a firearm, prohibited use of a weapon and resisting arrest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up to get breaking news sent to your inbox Police said its unclear if the suspect had attempted to fire the second round at officers, but no one was injured during the incident. Anyone who may have additional information on the scene is asked to call the Fort Collins Police Services non-emergency line at 970-419-3273. You can also leave an anonymous tip with the Larimer County Crime Stoppers at 970-221-6868. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Ryan Park North Carolina Solicitor General Ryan Park (Photo: NC Department of Justice) North Carolina Solicitor General Ryan Park will not receive a vote in the Senate to fill a vacancy on the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals under a reported deal struck between Democrats and Republicans to advance several other judicial nominees. In a statement to CNN, a spokesperson for Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said the deal will see four circuit court nominees lacking the votes to get confirmed end their bids in exchange for more than triple the number of lower court judges moving forward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The four circuit court nominees who have yet to receive votes before the Senate are Julia Lipez for the First Circuit, Adeel Mangi for the Third Circuit, Park for the Fourth Circuit, and Karla Campbell for the Sixth Circuit. All were nominated to succeed judges appointed by President Barack Obama. Park did not respond to a request for comment. His nomination met strident opposition by North Carolinas Republican senators, Thom Tillis and Ted Budd, with the former maintaining that he had no prayer of getting confirmed by the full U.S. Senate. Tillis previously said that he had convinced multiple Democrats to vote down Parks bid. During the time that Parks nomination has remained in limbo, Tillis has refused to consider nominees for three other district court vacancies in the state: two in the Middle District of North Carolina and one in the Western District. It is unclear whether the Senate deal would allow nominations to those posts to proceed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sen. Joe Manchin III (I-WV), who caucuses with the Democrats, was among the senators who repeatedly voted against President Joe Bidens judicial nominees lacking Republican support. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) voted against a Biden circuit court nominee earlier in the year, though she voted to confirm Floridas Embry Kidd to the Eleventh Circuit on Monday. Carl Tobias, a professor specializing in the federal judiciary at the University of Richmond School of Law, said it was really unfortunate that Park would not advance, expressing skepticism that Senate Democrats lacked the votes to confirm him. He called Park a consummate lawyer, praising his intellect and legal experience. Its really unfortunate for Ryan Park, whos an extraordinary nominee, Tobias said. Its a real loss for the state, but at this point, I dont think itd be rectified in the short term. But maybe in the long term well see. He noted that Judge James Wynn, who Park was nominated to replace, faced similar Senate intransigence before completing his successful path to the bench. When Wynn was first nominated by President Bill Clinton, Republican Senator Jesse Helms refused to give his approval, blocking him from becoming the first Black judge to serve on the Fourth Circuit. He would not join the court until Obama renominated him in 2009. In January, Wynn announced plans to take senior status, a form of semi-retirement for federal judges. Until that transition takes place, the decision is reversible, as an Ohio district judge did following the election. It is not clear whether Wynn, who is 70 and previously served on North Carolinas Supreme Court and Court of Appeals, would follow suit. FRANKFORT, Ky. (FOX 56) A Frankfort attorney pleaded guilty to numerous fraud charges after pocketing money from a clients estate. According to court documents, Brian Logan, 50, prepared a will for a client in August 2018. After his client passed away, Logan was named as the clients executor of their estate, which included property and cash. The Department of Justice announced that, instead of following the will of the estate, Logan transferred $239,600 from the estate to his personal bank account through a series of transactions spanning from Oct. 10, 2018, to Aug. 31, 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Logan would use this money to pay for personal expenses, including making payments on his credit card, according to the DOJ. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: In addition to the money transfers, Logan also hosted a fictitious transaction to sell the estates property to a friend of his before causing a second fake transaction, which caused the friend to sell the property to an entity in Logans name, per the U.S. Attorneys Office. Logan would forge his friends name and signature on the deeds at each transaction and would collect rent on the property for nearly six years, per the DOJ. He would use this money to make payments on his credit cards. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additionally, Logan pleaded guilty to submitting false documents to a bank in connection with a loan application for the property in question. The U.S. Attorneys Office claimed Logan provided the bank with a forged deed and a fake lease that he once again used his friends name and forged signature. According to the DOJ, Logan used the $116,000 in proceeds from the loan for his benefit. Read more of the latest Kentucky news He is scheduled to be sentenced on March 5, 2025, and could face up to 30 years in prison. Logan could also be ordered to pay any restitution and fines the court deemed fit. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News. XRP zoomed as Gary Genslers announcement of stepping down in January as chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) kept a multiweek bullish trade going. XRP prices surged 25% in the past 24 hours, with most of the gains in early Asian hours Friday, amid widespread belief of a shift toward a crypto-friendly regulatory environment for U.S.-based companies. XRP is closely-related to Ripple Labs, a high-profile payments company targeted by the SEC since 2020 on allegations of selling the token as a security to U.S. investors. Ripple fully cleared a long-drawn court case in 2024, bringing the spotlight back on XRP, a major token that commands a $77 billion market capitalization. The token is now up 65% in the past 7 days and 150% in the past month, data shows, with CoinDesk market analysts targeting a short-term price level of $1.40. (CoinGecko) Donald Trump's election victory in 2024 has been positively received by the crypto community due to his previously expressed pro-crypto sentiments. Investors are betting that his administration might foster policies conducive to the growth of the crypto industry. There are also expectations of an XRP exchange-traded fund (ETF) in the U.S. among some traders amid the perceived lenient regulatory environment. This week, XRP, alongside dogecoin (DOGE), recorded significantly higher trading volumes than usual leader bitcoin on South Korean exchanges in a sign of frenzied demand . XRP and U.S. dollar-denominated open interest are over record levels with over 2 billion tokens (worth more than $2 billion at current prices) in futures positions betting on further market volatility. The number of cannabis-related emergency department visits in Frederick County has been increasing, reflecting an increase in visits across the state, according to recently released Maryland Department of Health data. The state announced on Nov. 13 the launch of the Maryland Cannabis Public Health Data Dashboard, which includes data on cannabis-related emergency department visits; cannabis-related poison control calls; and cannabis use among youth and adults in each Maryland county. In Frederick County, although the number of emergency department visits didnt increase every month, following the legalization of recreational cannabis in July 2023, the number of visits continued trending upward coming into 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The data on visits is based on patients self-reports that cannabis was the main reason for their visit or that cannabis use was indicated on patients discharge diagnoses, according to the dashboard. Frederick County cannabis-related emergency department visits from 2022-2024 So far in 2024, the number of cannabis-related emergency department visits each month has exceeded the number of visits during the corresponding month in 2023 in Frederick County. The largest gaps are between March 2023 and March 2024 and between September 2023 and September 2024. This year, there were 26 more visits in March and 16 more visits in September compared to the same time last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Frederick County cannabis-related emergency department visits from 2023-2024 The rate of emergency department visits per 100,000 people in Frederick County also rose, from 61.3 in 2022 to 82.1 in 2023. That emergency department visit rate also went up from 2022 to 2023 for the majority of the states jurisdictions and the state overall, according to the dashboard. Frederick County had among the lowest rates, along with Howard, Montgomery, Kent, Queen Annes, Talbot and Caroline counties. The highest rate was in Allegany County, which had 481.6 cannabis-related emergency department visits per 100,000 people in 2023. Its rate in 2022 was 193.3. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The second-highest rate for 2023 was in the city of Baltimore at 378.6 visits per 100,000 people. The state uses rates to compare counties versus counts of emergency department visits due to the counties different population sizes. The dashboard said small population sizes can create unstable rates that fluctuate year to year. Rate of cannabis-related emergency department visits per 100k people, 2019-2023 Maryland Department of Health spokesperson Chase Cook wrote in an email Wednesday that the increase in visits could indicate more recreational cannabis use since it was legalized. He said it is also likely due to a decreased stigma surrounding cannabis use, and health care providers may be asking more about cannabis use following legalization. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2021, people age 20 to 29 made up the biggest proportion of cannabis-related emergency department visits in Frederick County 56 out of 161 visits that year. People age 10 to 19 made up the second largest proportion, with 38 visits. But in 2022, the number of visits for people age 10 to 19 notably increased to 69 visits, making that group the largest proportion instead. That trend continued into 2023, with 86 visits among that age demographic. The number of visits for people age 20 to 29 has stayed nearly the same from 2021 to 2023. Frederick County cannabis-related emergency department visits by age group Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The dashboard also shows data on youth and adolescent cannabis use from the Maryland Youth Risk Behavior Survey and Youth Tobacco Survey. This data indicates that the percentage of middle and high schoolers who have ever used cannabis has been decreasing overall in Frederick County and for all of Maryland from the 2012-2013 school year to 2022-23 school year. From the 2016-17 school year to the 2018-19 school year, the percentage of Frederick County middle schoolers whod used cannabis slightly jumped from 3.7% to 4.2%, but it has been lower each academic year since. The percentage of high schoolers has decreased every academic year since the 2012-13 year, but notably dropped from 30.8% in the 2018-19 year to 23% in the 2021-22 year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cook noted that the most recent data from the state Youth Risk Behavior Survey and Youth Tobacco Survey comes from the academic year before recreational cannabis was legalized. The state is collecting data for the 2024-25 school year. The current survey includes additional questions aimed at gaining a more comprehensive understanding of youth cannabis use behaviors, Cook wrote. The Frederick County Health Departments director of behavioral health services, Andrea Walker, said in a statement on Wednesday that previous cannabis prevention efforts have focused primarily on youth and adolescents, while interventions, referrals and therapeutic services focused more on adults. Due to recent cannabis legislative changes, greater attention and resources will be needed to support greater prevention programming and substance use disorder referrals, counseling and treatment, Walker said. Mayors in northern France are calling for the deal that allows Britain to carry out immigration checks in Calais to be scrapped. For 20 years, the British Border Force has been able to examine a travellers documents before they board ferries to the UK. A coalition of French mayors wants to end the agreement, blaming the migrant crisis on Britains flawed asylum system and failure to crack down on illegal working. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They argue that both the migrants and the local population in northern France face an intolerable situation that is being fuelled by the lure of crossing the Channel to live and work in the UK. They have called to scrap the 2003 Le Touquet agreement between the UK and France which allowed UK immigration checks on French territory. They have also called for the UK to agree to open up legal routes to Britain in an attempt to stop the Channel crossings by migrants in small boats, a proposal Sir Keir Starmers government has rejected. The situation is urgent Rishi Sunak signed a 500 million deal with France to directly fund French police operating on the beaches to counter the crossings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It initially led to a fall of around a third in the number of successful attempts but numbers crossing have now passed 33,500, up more than 20 per cent on last year. Sony Clinquart, mayor of Grand-Fort-Philippe, said: Were in the midst of hypocrisy. Were talking about a border, but it doesnt exist because the British authorities accept all the migrants who arrive. If we dont sound the alarm, nothing will happen. The situation is urgent, its been going on for too long. If we had a technical solution, wed already have succeeded. Guy Allemand, the mayor of Sangatte, said: Weve had video surveillance cameras installed, paid for by the British, to discourage people smugglers, but theyve never worked. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres no point in paying thousands of euros, we need to raise the debate with legislative changes and stop crisis management. Ive been elected for 15 years and the situation is only getting worse. The mayor of Calais, Natacha Bouchart, said: Weve got to get to grips with the British, thats enough. Humanitarian reception centres Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, accepted that the UK needed stronger action on illegal working but said that since Labour came to power it had increased the number of immigration enforcement visits by 20 per cent. It has also increased the number of returns of migrants with no right to stay in the UK by 20 per cent since the election, with some 10,000 removed since July. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The collective of mayors also called for the introduction of an immigration prefect, the creation of a transport police force to reassure the population and the establishment of humanitarian reception centres outside the coastal strip to take care of migrants before they arrive. They called for additional resources and the reimbursement of expenses incurred by the municipalities concerned from their own funds. A Home Office spokesman said: Juxtaposed border controls allow millions of passengers to travel legally between France and UK every year with robust security checks. This is a separate issue to small boat crossings, which threaten lives and undermine our border security. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The people-smuggling gangs do not care if the vulnerable people they exploit live or die, as long as they pay. We will stop at nothing to dismantle their business models and bring them to justice. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. QUITO (Reuters) - An affable honey-cream Labrador retriever named Aldo is helping young Ecuadorean children relax at the dentist's office, allowing them to cuddle up and stroke him to distract them from noisy machines and invasive oral procedures. With some five years' experience in emotional support, 8-year-old Aldo understands some 30 commands and enjoys climbing on top of children sitting in his owner Glenda Arias' dental chair. "Visits always tend to be traumatic, but Aldo brings tranquility and peace to my daughter," said mother Beatriz Armas. "These visits are totally pleasant for her." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Arias said Aldo's clinical involvement had helped transform the behavior of children attending her consultations. "Aldo is essential," she said. (Reporting by Tito Correa in Quito; Editing by Sandra Maler) BATON ROUGE, La. (KTAL/KMSS) Louisiana State Treasurer John Fleming announced that a housing development in Natchitoches was among those approved for funding through a Louisiana State Bond Commission measure. Five developments authorized by the bond commission, including the Natchitoches Thomas Apartments Project, will become affordable housing units made possible through the Louisiana Housing Corporation. According to the state treasurers news release, $23M in revenue bonds will be allocated for the acquisition, construction, rehabbing, and equipping of a 120-unit multifamily housing development in Natchitoches. More Louisiana News Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other projects include the Canal Crossing Senior Apartments and the Lafitte Phase VII Projects in New Orleans, the Reserve at Lapalco Place Project in Marrero, and the Sabine Trace Project in Merryville, Beauregard Parish. For fiscal year 2025, the State Bond Commission issued $667.17 million in various bonds to refinance outstanding bonds, providing the state with $89 million in savings through 2044. The commission has also approved 87 debt applications totaling $4.29 billion and 87 local government elections. State Treasurer Fleming credited this success to our team of dedicated professionals who work tirelessly on behalf of the people of Louisiana. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. It was a unique procession to celebrate the life of an electrical lineman who died while on the job. Utility trucks with their buckets high in the air lined the street outside the funeral of one of their fallen comrades in Griffin. People who watched it all appreciated the love and support shown to Griffin City employee Eric Weems and his family. I think its pretty cool what theyre doing for them, Billy Cinnamon told Channel 2s Tom Jones as he watched all the trucks lined up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cinnamon and others saw more than 50 utility trucks with their buckets raised. Weems was killed when the city said equipment malfunctioned on November 13th on Spalding and Little Street. Channel 2 Action News saw the arm of a bucket truck had disconnected and the bucket was on the ground. I feel real sorry for the guy out there, Cinnamon said. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Linemen from all over the state came to pay their respects. Many held their helmets over their hearts as the hearse carrying Weems body traveled under the utility truck buckets and onto Griffin First Assembly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some came from Lawrenceville, Dalton and the city of Forsyth for the emotional day. If you caught me earlier I would have been in tears, Mike Batchelor from Forsyth said. Batchelor says this kind of show of support is not uncommon. When you have a freak accident or any kind of lineman that passes away, this is what we come to do, he said. At Weems funeral, the pastor prayed over the 53-year-old Navy veterans flag-draped casket. We pray for his brother. We pray for his children, his grandchildren, Batchelor said. Taps played and the flag was given to Weems family as one of Weemss coworkers prayed for protection for all linemen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And I pray before God this day, that our brother who has fallen is home safely in your arms, Michael Poole said. RELATED STORIES: Cinnamon says the procession was a fitting way to remember someone killed while working to serve others. If he was here, he would sure appreciate it, he said. The City of Griffin closed all departments and services so workers could grieve or attend the funeral. Trent Granger, the coworker who was seriously injured during the incident where Weems was killed, also attended the funeral, but did not want to comment. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Donald Trump chose Matt Gaetz for attorney general mid-flight eight days ago because he wanted to shock a Washington institution the DOJ into submission. The political rollercoaster that ensued ended with a thud Thursday as it became clear another institution the U.S. Senate wasnt on board. Leaks from multiple investigations into sexual misconduct and drug use, an uphill battle to get skeptical GOP senators in line, and the looming possibility that his confirmation hearing would become an embarrassing circus as Trump tries to push his agenda simply became too much. As of Wednesday, there were at least four Senate Republicans opposed to Gaetz, according to two people familiar with the count. And his support was likely to dwindle as concerns loomed about additional damaging allegations being made public from the House Ethics Committees investigation. He didn't have the votes, and it was only going to get harder with the ethics stuff, one person with knowledge of the situation said, adding that the situation surrounding Gaetz was distracting super distracting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just a week ago Wednesday, Trump was frustrated that he didn't have an attorney general candidate with the kind of no-holds-barred personality needed to overhaul the Justice Department. As it happened, Trump was flying on his private plane to Washington that day with Gaetz, the ultimate bomb thrower, in tow. As the two got to talking, the president-elect realized the solution to his problem was sitting right in front of him: Gaetz the loyal, divisive firebrand was his man for the job. Trumps rapid decision later that day to choose one of the most polarizing members of Congress as the nations top law enforcement officer set off a rolling cascade of controversies and pushback on Capitol Hill pushback that led to the Thursday morning call, in which Gaetz came to the conclusion he needed to withdraw from consideration. Trump and Gaetz agreed that attorney general was too important a role to risk a dragged out confirmation fight, according to a person familiar with the discussion. And it was becoming increasingly apparent that Gaetz, in the end, would have come up short in a confirmation vote. Hours after Gaetz withdrew, Trump named another Floridian, former state Attorney General Pam Bondi, as his choice to lead DOJ. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The eight-day saga provided a sample of what might be in store as Trump takes office in January for his second term. Just when the political establishment thought it had seen it all, the president-elect found a new way to shock with a choice that seemed beyond the pale to almost everyone but him. And this was not a one-off: A pair of other Cabinet decisions, vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead HHS and Fox personality Pete Hegseth to run DOD were almost as stunning. Trump kept a brave face in his support for Gaetz. On Tuesday he told reporters in Texas that he had no plans to drop the embattled ex-congressman; to the contrary, he was personally making calls to senators on Gaetzs behalf. But while some members of Trumps team expressed cautious optimism about his meetings with senators on Capitol Hill along with Vice President-elect JD Vance, serious doubts were brewing. The Senate also has a responsibility for advice and consent and in this particular case, I think there was advice offered, rather than consent, said Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), who added that he was not surprised by Gaetzs withdrawal. By late morning Thursday, Gaetz had also called top Republican leaders and activists who had pushed for his confirmation telling them he would soon announce he was bowing out, according to a person with knowledge of one such conversation. "While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition," Gaetz said in a statement. "There is no time to waste on a needlessly protracted Washington scuffle, thus I'll be withdrawing my name from consideration to serve as Attorney General. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That message appeared to reach few senators, however. Many learned the news from Gaetzs post on X while voting on the Senate floor or after being asked about it by reporters. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), a close ally of Vance who said he planned to support all of Trumps nominees, said he learned from the post. The timing was unexpected, said Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), who met with Gaetz on Wednesday. My view coming out of that meeting was that it was important that he had a full and fair hearing, and the Senate moved promptly, I assume, based on the announcement today that there were significant challenges to Senate confirmation. Gaetz and Vance were at the Capitol for almost 12 hours on Wednesday, meeting with key senators on the Judiciary Committee. Their pitch appeared to be to just give the Florida Republican a hearing even if that hearing would be Kavanaugh on steroids as Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) put it. Democrats had been pushing for the release of what was expected to be a damning report by the House ethics panel outlining claims that Gaetz previously had sex with a 17-year-old girl, among other allegations. On Thursday, CNN reported that the woman who told House investigators Gaetz had sex with her when she was a minor had actually reported that Gaetz did so twice including one time as a threesome with another adult woman. Gaetzs announcement that he was withdrawing from consideration came moments before the story published, though he continues to deny the claims. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the last senators seen meeting with Gaetz and Vance was Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) one of Gaetzs few meetings with a non-Judiciary Committee member. Ernst, who has shared her own story of sexual assault, had refused to comment on Gaetz throughout the week, saying only that he had an uphill battle while praising some of Trumps other nominations. Some advocates for Trumps Cabinet picks said they believed Gaetzs exit would boost the prospects of other selections, such as Hegseth, Kennedy and Tulsi Gabbard. It doesnt mean RFK or Tulsi or Pete are going to get through, but it probably is appreciated by the Senate that Gaetz no longer is up for consideration, said the person with knowledge of how lobbying efforts were going. Gaetzs quick demise is a rare setback for Trump since his triumphant victory this month, and questions remain about how he let it happen. A person apprised of Trumps thinking on the matter said that the president-elect was already aware of the contents of the House ethics report about Gaetz, despite speculation among some that Trump wasnt fully informed about the findings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As Gaetz made the rounds on Capitol Hill this week, the mystery wasnt so much whether he would be confirmed but how long it would take for him to withdraw. People in Trumps orbit said it was apparent that there was widespread unease among Senate Republicans about being forced to take a vote on Gaetz. This one, they wanted a pass, the person said of the Senates discomfort with Gaetz, and I think that message got through. President-elect Donald Trump wasted little time in nominating a new attorney general after his first plan flamed out. Former Rep. Matt Gaetz, plagued by his sex scandals and the threat of a Senate confirmation impasse, rescinded his candidacy for the position in a social media post Thursday afternoon. By evening, Trump had appointed his replacement: Pam Bondi, a former Florida attorney general and a defense lawyer during Trumps first impeachment trial. The Gaetz nomination, Trump allies knew, would likely reach the Senate dead on arrival. Gaetz spent Wednesday blitzing around Senate offices, Vice President-elect JD Vance in tow, attempting to convince Republican lawmakers that he was legitimate and confirmable. They failed on both accounts, it seemed: By midday Thursday, Gaetz had tossed in the towel. The New York Times and NBC both reported that Gaetz believed a cohort of four or five Republican Senators planned to oppose his confirmation, no matter what; among them, both outlets reported, was Utah Sen.-elect John Curtis. Gaetz, however, never met with Curtis, the senator-elects spokesperson said; in a statement, the spokesperson said Curtis plans to carefully examine the records and qualifications of every nominee President-elect Trump sends to the Senate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump quickly accepted Gaetzs resignation and curtly moved on. He was doing very well but, at the same time, did not want to be a distraction for the Administration, for which he has much respect, Trump wrote in a social media post. Six hours later, another post: I am proud to announce former Attorney General of the Great State of Florida, Pam Bondi, as our next Attorney General of the United States. He lauded Bondis 20-year career as a prosecutor and her role on the federal Opioid and Drug Abuse Commission under Trump. She is smart and tough, and is an AMERICA FIRST Fighter, who will do a terrific job as Attorney General! Trump wrote. Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi speaks before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump arrives to speak at a campaign rally at First Horizon Coliseum, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Greensboro, N.C. | Alex Brandon The move quickly earned cheers from Republican Senators. She will be confirmed quickly because she deserves to be confirmed quickly, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina, said. I look forward to supporting her nomination in the Senate, Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, added. Gaetzs hasty surrender shows that confirmations for Trumps Cabinet picks a motley mix of Trump loyalists are not a foregone conclusion. Gaetz may have been a candidate with little-to-no chance of being confirmed, but the final 24 hours of his appointment the blitz around Senate offices, the assumption that a GOP blockade existed showed that Trumps picks could, conceivably, face a challenge, even in a Republican-controlled Senate. Beyond Gaetz, the steepest hill will likely be faced by Pete Hegseth, Trumps nominee for Defense secretary. The author, Fox News personality and former Army National Guard officer has been plagued by criticisms of his little managerial experience and his own checkered history. In 2017, Hegseth was accused of sexual assault, and a contemporary police report released via a public records request this week offers detail into the allegations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hegseth claimed he was completely cleared of wrongdoing. Like Gaetz, Hegseth made the rounds on Capitol Hill this week, attempting to corral Republican senators behind his confirmation. At least one Republican who reportedly opposed Gaetzs confirmation is on board with Hegseth: Sen. Markwayne Mullen, R-Oklahoma, said he visited with Hegseth Thursday and is looking forward to getting him confirmed. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trumps pick to lead the Health and Human Services department, is an environmental lawyer and anti-vaccine activist. To Republican senators, though, his progressive climate positions or unorthodox health views are not the issue: His position on abortion is. Trump went silent on abortion in the final weeks of his campaign, after softening his position over the duration of his run; but its Kennedy, not Trump, who would play a much larger role in influencing abortion policy. Even as the right to abortion is left up to the states, HHS oversees regulations on chemical abortions, funding for the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program and abortion reporting requirements in relation to Medicaid all issues that the National Review demanded Kennedy speak to in order to prioritize pro-life policy goals as HHS Secretary. As pro-life groups express concerns about Kennedys views, several Republican senators say they expect the issue to arise in Kennedys confirmation hearings. Theres no question that this will be an issue, Sen. James Lankford, Oklahoma, told Fox News. Sen. Todd Budd, R-North Carolina, added: I would fully expect any of Trumps nominees to be pro-life, as is President Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tulsi Gabbard, Trumps pick to be the national intelligence director, is perhaps Trumps most surprising. Gabbard, a former Democratic congresswoman, veteran and presidential candidate before changing her party affiliation, has faced sharp criticism for her perceived warmth toward global threats. On Wednesday, former U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley called Gabbard a Russian, Iranian, Syrian, Chinese sympathizer. But Senate Republicans have offered little resistance. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, among those who reportedly opposed Gaetz, said she doesnt know (Gabbard) at all, so it would be premature for me to reach a judgement. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said he has no doubt (Gabbard) is a patriot. Others of Trumps non-Cabinet selections like his pick for border czar, Tom Homan will not require Senate confirmation. There is widespread misunderstanding about what a czar is, Justin Vaughn, associate professor of political science at Coastal Carolina and author of Czars in the White House, said. Typically, when someone is called a czar, it means they are the point person on an important issue, regardless of their formal title, and that they speak for the president, which conveys informal power since they typically dont have much formal power otherwise. Gaetz gone: Turns out the scandalswhich may have involved a second instance of sex with a 17-year-old escort*were too much for the Trump team, which withdrew once (and future) Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz's nomination for attorney general. "I have decided to withdraw my nomination so I can spend more time with teenage girls and, time-permitting, my family." https://t.co/lo7a11YQM6 Jesse Singal (@jessesingal) November 21, 2024 I had excellent meetings with Senators yesterday. I appreciate their thoughtful feedback - and the incredible support of so many. While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) November 21, 2024 Gaetz had, in preparation for the confirmation hearings and possibly serving as head of the Justice Department (lmao), resigned from his seat in the 118th Congress. But don't get too excited: He's back for more, come January, as he was reelected by his constituents. Now, President-elect Donald Trump has picked former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi to head up the Department of Justice, pending confirmation by the Senate. Bondi is a Trump loyalist who "oversaw the filing of voting-related lawsuits in battleground states," per The New York Times. Trump will also "nominate three members of his criminal defense team to top roles in the Justice Department" making clear that he will, in essence, funnel his own personal legal advisers and defenders to top positions within the government. Of course, this is just kind of how administrations workyou choose people you like and trust, who are loyal to youbut Trump has, in particular, vowed a purging of deep state enemies within the DOJ, repeatedly affirming that he intends to put an end to the lawfare that's victimized him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pot possibilities: It's not clear how, exactly, the incoming Trump administration will handle pot at the federal level; though it remains federally illegal, it's now legal for recreational use in 24 states. Matt Gaetz as head of DOJ could have been a useful pot champion, but Trump's replacement pick for attorney general, Bondi, is decidedly no fan of weed. Still, advocates are looking toward possible movement during the next few months, prior to Donald Trump taking office. The Safer Banking Act, which would allow much of the industry to gain access to banking services, has some slimmish odds of passing over the next few weeks, and "one potential positive for the industry is a Biden-led plan to reclassify cannabis," reports The Wall Street Journal, theorizing about lame-duck pot possibilities: "Marijuana is labeled a Schedule I substance alongside heroin and LSD. Because it falls into this category, cannabis companies aren't allowed to offset regular business expenses such as rent or travel, which can leave their effective tax rate north of 70%. Rescheduling would boost the profitability of many struggling cannabis growers who don't have enough cash on hand to pay what they owe to the taxman. An initial hearing on the proposal will take place on Dec. 2. So long as Republicans don't scuttle the process, estimates of how long rescheduling cannabis could take range from six months to two years." Scenes from New York: Earlier this week, a 51-year-old homeless man named Ramon Rivera went on a stabbing spree across Manhattan, killing three people. He was released last month having been jailed on charges of burglary and assault. His record is longhe's been arrested by the NYPD eight times, at least five times in Florida, and twice in Ohiobut it's not totally clear how many arrests have resulted in convictions and jail time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many will continue to say crime is down year over year, which may well be true, but two things are worth considering: People aren't these perfectly rational creatures who compare the crime level to this point last yearit's more of a broad sense of how things used to be, versus how they are now; and public disorder, which is very hard to measure and isn't captured by crime stats, appears to be quite bad. Whether it's people shooting up in plain sight, or behaving erratically on the street, or pharmacies locking up their wares due to shoplifting, many New Yorkers share a sense that our politicians simply do not care about ensuring public spaces are safe, pleasant, and usable. QUICK HITS Yuval Levin came on Just Asking Questions to talk about what Trump's mandate to rule is, if it exists at all, as well as framing the American political divide between right and left as one of Edmund Burke vs. Thomas Paine. Speaking of Just Asking Questions, we have something special planned for fans of the show once we reach 5,000 subscribers on YouTube. You know what to do! "My analysis of precinct-level voting data in four major urban areas shows that the exit polls may actually be understating the degree to which Asian Americans shifted to the right," writes Neetu Arnold for RealClearPolitics. "Majority-Asian precincts in New York City, for instance, saw a rightward shift of 31 percentage points. Precincts in Dallas and Fort Bend counties in Texas both saw rightward shifts between 17 and 20 points. And precincts in Chicago saw a 23-point shift to the right." This is a good point, on the topic of the ongoing battle between Rep. Nancy Mace (RS.C.) and incoming Rep. Sarah McBride (DDel.), who is transgender. (Relatedly.) This defies reason. Bathroom bills (by either party) only benefit one population: The trans people who *do not* pass. If they pass, then no one even notices and it is not an issue. This is only coming up because activists want bathroom access for people who *do not* pass. https://t.co/rbAZwrxXyy Sarah Haider ???? (@SarahTheHaider) November 19, 2024 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So true: G.K. Chesterton writes why children ought to be read fairy tales. Just superb pic.twitter.com/YrjtdbH5vm Istra of Glome (@tillwehvfaces) November 21, 2024 *CORRECTION: A previous version of this post got the specifics of Gaetz's sexual encounter wrong. The post Gaetz Pulls Out appeared first on Reason.com. Former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) withdrew his nomination as President-elect Trumps attorney general on Thursday, putting an end to a chaotic several days on Capitol Hill and making him one of the quickest in history to withdraw from a Cabinet nomination. His selection was swarmed with controversy, as hes been accused of sexual misconduct. The House Ethics Committee voted Wednesday to keep its investigation into Gaetzs allegations private, but lawmakers charged ahead with plans to finish the investigation. Gaetz resigned from Congress immediately following Trumps nomination, which essentially halted the investigation; he has denied all allegations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a post Thursday afternoon on social platform X, he said while he had excellent meetings with senators, it was clear that his nomination was unfairly becoming a distraction to the Trump transition teams work. Gaetzs nomination lasted just eight days, making it one of the quickest withdrawals in U.S. history. Here are the other history-making withdrawals for Cabinet appointees: 1. Edwin D. Morgan Former Sen. Edwin D. Morgan was nominated by then-President Lincoln on Feb. 13, 1865, to be Treasury secretary, but he declined the appointment the same day. 2. Henry Dearborn Former U.S. Secretary of War Henry Dearborn was nominated by President Madison on March 1, 1815, to be reappointed as War secretary, but the Senate rejected the nomination. Madison withdrew the nomination the next day. 3. David Tod Former Ohio Gov. David Tod was nominated by President Lincoln on Jun. 30, 1864, to be Treasury secretary, but the next day, Tod declined the invitation citing poor health. 4. Zoe Baird Lawyer Zoe Baird was nominated by former President Clinton to be the first female attorney general on Jan. 20, 1993, but withdrew six days later after it was revealed she hired undocumented immigrants and did not pay Social Security taxes for them. 5. Linda Chavez Former White House Office of Public Engagement Director Linda Chavez was nominated to be secretary of Labor by former President George W. Bush on Jan. 2, 2001, but withdrew her nomination seven days after it was discovered she employed an undocumented immigrant a decade earlier. 6. Bernard Kerik Bernard Kerik, the former minister of the interior of Iraq, was nominated to be Homeland Security secretary by former President George W. Bush on Dec. 3, 2004, but withdrew his nomination seven days later after it was revealed he hired an undocumented immigrant as a nanny. 7. Matt Gaetz Gaetzs withdrawal was eight days after he was nominated by Trump, bringing him in at seventh on the list of quickest withdrawals. 8. Judd Gregg Former Sen. Judd Gregg (R-N.H.) was nominated by former President Obama on Feb. 2, 2009, to serve as the Commerce secretary. He withdrew his nomination 10 days later due to differences in governing and policy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. (The Hill) Former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) withdrew his nomination as President-elect Trumps attorney general on Thursday, putting an end to a chaotic several days on Capitol Hill and making him one of the quickest in history to withdraw from Cabinet nominations. His selection was swarmed with controversy, as hes been accused of sexual misconduct. The House Ethics Committee voted Wednesday to keep its investigation into Gaetzs allegations private, but lawmakers charged ahead with plans to finish the investigation. Gaetz, who resigned from Congress immediately following Trumps nomination essentially halting the investigation, has denied all allegations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rove: Trump will pay a price for Cabinet pick chaos In a post on the social media platform X Thursday afternoon, he said while he had excellent meetings with senators, it was clear that his nomination was unfairly becoming a distraction to the Trump transition teams work. Gaetzs nomination lasted just eight days, making it one of the quickest withdrawals in U.S. history. Here are the other history-making withdrawals for Cabinet appointees: 1. Edwin D. Morgan Former Sen. Edwin D. Morgan was nominated by former President Lincoln on Feb. 13, 1865, to be Treasury Secretary, but he declined the appointment the same day. 2. Henry Dearborn Former U.S. Secretary of War Henry Dearborn was nominated by former President Madison on March 1, 1815, to be reappointed as War Secretary, but the Senate rejected the nomination. Madison withdrew the nomination the next day. 3. David Tod Former Ohio Gov. David Tod was nominated by former President Lincoln on Jun. 30, 1864, to be Treasury Secretary, but the next day, Tod declined the invitation citing poor health. 4. Zoe Baird Lawyer Zoe Baird was nominated by former President Clinton to be the first woman attorney general on Jan. 20, 1993, but withdrew six days later after it was revealed she hired undocumented immigrants and did not pay Social Security taxes for them. 5. Linda Chavez Former Director of White House Office of Public Engagement Linda Chavez was nominated to be Secretary of Labor by former President George W. Bush on Jan. 2, 2001, but withdrew her nomination seven days after it was discovered she employed an undocumented immigrant a decade earlier. 6. Bernard Kerik Bernard Kerik, the former minister of the interior of Iraq, was nominated to be Homeland Security Secretary by former President George W. Bush on Dec. 3, 2004, but withdrew his nomination seven days later after it was revealed he hired an undocumented immigrant as a nanny. 7. Matt Gaetz Gaetzs withdraw was eight days after he was nominated by Trump, bringing him in at seventh on the list of quickest withdrawals. 8. Judd Gregg Former Sen. Judd Gregg (R-N.H.) was nominated by former President Obama on Feb. 2, 2009, to serve as the Commerce Secretary. He withdrew his nomination 10 days later due to differences in governing and policy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. MARTIN, Tenn. (AP) Losing a Cabinet nominee to the confirmation process isn't unheard of for incoming presidents including for Donald Trump when he was elected the first time. Chad Chronister's announcement Tuesday that he was pulling out of consideration to lead the Drug Enforcement Administration makes the Hillsborough County, Florida, sheriff the second of Trump's picks to withdraw after being announced as leaders of the incoming administration. The withdrawal follows Matt Gaetz's decision to pull his name last month from consideration for attorney general amid continued fallout over a federal sex trafficking investigation. Together, the moves are the first indications of resistance that the president-elect could face from his own party, including picks facing allegations of sexual misconduct or other questions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here's a look at some recent difficulties with presidential Cabinet picks and some of the criticism for Trump's current slate: Republicans voicing their doubts Chronister whose name was announced on Saturday as Trump's DEA pick was met with swift condemnation from some conservative figures over his enforcement of lockdown measures during the COVID-19 pandemic. In March 2020, Chronister arrested the pastor of a megachurch who held services with hundreds of people and violated a safer-at-home order in place aimed at limiting the spread of the virus. U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky, was among those airing public complaints, saying Chronister should be disqualified for the arrest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After Gaetz was chosen last month, Sen. Lindsey Graham, a Judiciary Committee member who is among Trump's top Senate allies, predicted he would have to answer some tough questions in a confirmation hearing. Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, a Trump critic, said of Gaetz, I do not see him as a serious candidate. Other Trump picks face questions, too. Pete Hegseth, Trumps pick for defense secretary, was accused by a woman of sexually assaulting her in 2017. Hegseth has denied her allegations. Tulsi Gabbard, the former Democratic congresswoman chosen to be director of national intelligence, has expressed sympathy for Russia and repeated false Russian theories about Ukrainian bioweapons. Gabbard, a military veteran who became one of Trumps top 2024 surrogates, has attracted criticism for meeting with Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad and has voiced skepticism that Assad was behind chemical attacks on his own people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nikki Haley, who was the last major GOP opponent against Trump for this years presidential nomination, argued against confirming Gabbard, saying the post was not a place for a Russian, Iranian, Syrian, Chinese sympathizer. Haley also said Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Trump's pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services should face hard questions from senators due to his opposition to vaccines and other views decried by public health officials. Hes a liberal Democrat, environmental attorney trial lawyer who will now be overseeing 25% of our federal budget and has no background in healthcare, Haley said. So some of you may think RFK is cool, some of you may like that he questions whats in our food and whats in our vaccines, but we dont know, when he is given reins to an agency, what decisions hes going to make behind the scenes. Republicans will have 53 votes in the Senate in January and can break 50-50 ties with Vice President-elect JD Vance. That means four Republicans would have to break ranks to defeat any nominee if all Democrats oppose a Trump pick. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This has happened before including to Trump Every recent president has had some doomed Cabinet nominations including Trump himself. In early 2017, Trumps choice for labor secretary was the first Trump nominee to withdraw his name from consideration. Fast food CEO Andrew Puzders exit came after Republicans expressed concern over his failure to pay taxes promptly on a former housekeeper who wasnt authorized to work in the U.S., and Democrats had complaints about Puzders business record and remarks about women and workers at his company, which owns Hardees and Carls Jr. Puzders name has been floated recently again as a possible pick in Trumps second administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump also ousted his first national security adviser, Michael Flynn, after just weeks on the job because Flynn wasnt truthful about his contacts with Russian officials during the transition. The first year of Trumps first term, Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price resigned after his costly travel triggered investigations that overshadowed the administrations agenda and angered his boss, serving less than eight months. According to the Brookings Institution, which tracks presidential administration turnover, Trumps first term resulted in the turnover of a total of 14 people, nearly twice the amount 8 people of President George H.W. Bushs term in office, a distant second place. Other presidents' picks Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and both Bush and his son George W. Bush all had to come up with new names after nominees for their Cabinets ran into trouble. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Obama took three tries to find a secretary of commerce. New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson withdrew his name after the word surfaced that a grand jury was investigating allegations of wrongdoing in the awarding of contracts in his state. Republican Sen. Judd Gregg of New Hampshire backed out citing irresolvable differences with the policies of the Democratic president. In 2001, Linda Chavez George W. Bush's pick for labor secretary swiftly withdrew after it emerged that she had housed an immigrant living in the country illegally. Bill Clinton went through several attempts at selecting an attorney general, nominating Janet Reno after both of his first two choices withdrew over word that they had hired people who had been in the U.S. illegally for household work and babysitting. The Senate rejected George H.W. Bushs defense secretary pick, former Texas Sen. John Tower, in 1989 after several waves of reports over allegations of alcohol abuse and womanizing. ___ Associated Press writer Nancy Benac in Washington contributed to this report. ___ Meg Kinnard can be reached at http://x.com/MegKinnardAP GALLATIN, Tenn. (WKRN) Gallatin police arrested five people in connection with area gang and drug activity on Friday. CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime-related reports from across Middle Tennessee Police noted that the arrests followed a lengthy investigation and the execution of two search warrants in the 310 block of Hancock Street and the 700 block of Demoss Street. Among the individuals arrested are: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ajhenjuan Murehead, also known as Ajhenjuan Parker, who was charged with possession of schedule II for resale, two counts of possession of a firearm as a felon and possession of drug paraphernalia Charles Fitts, who was charged with possession of a firearm as a felon and simple possession of crack cocaine Antonio Walker Jr., who was charged with reckless endangerment and accessory to commit criminal homicide. Additionally, a juvenile was also arrested Friday, though they were not named nor were their charges listed. Although the arrests are believed to be related to gang and drug activity, authorities added that not every arrest was connected to recent shootings within the community. However, Walkers arrest was directly linked to a shooting that occurred earlier this week in Gallatin. Gallatin police said they continue to investigate the recent shootings and encourage anyone with information to come forward. TBI investigating shooting involving District Attorney General Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These arrests are the result of dedicated investigative work and highlight the connection between gang activity, drug trafficking, and violence in our community, Captain Lamar Ballard said in a Friday press release. While this is a significant step forward, our work is far from over. We remain committed to dismantling these networks and ensuring the safety of our residents. Gallatin authorities added that they are actively searching for David Duncan as he has active warrants. Anyone with information about the recent shooting has been asked to contact Gallatin police at (615) 452-1313. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) This weekend, over 300 physicians across Alabama will gather in Birmingham for a training on substance abuse. One of their topics will be on Gas station drugs. According to Altapointe Health Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr. Luke Engeriser, they are products like unregulated Delta-8, a psychoactive compound derived from hemp, and theyre often found at gas stations and vape shops. No charges filed against man arrested after teens set up sting Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Colorful packages behind the counter with all kinds of different names, said Dr. Engeriser. Dr. Luke Engeriser said the products are not FDA approved, and the chemicals inside can lead to health risks. These are not regulated by the FDA, so there is no oversight at all about their manufacture. What it says that they contain in the package may or may not be accurate, so the doses may be much higher than you think they are. They might contain all kinds of chemicals that might be toxic, said Dr. Engeriser. According to Dr. Engeriser, those chemicals may cause a number of side effects. On the milder side people can have a big increase of anxiety and severe panic attacks, but on the more severe side they can become psychotic and have hallucinations, delusions, said Dr. Engeriser. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Clinical Director of the Alabama Poison Information Center and Professor at UAB Jessica Pescatore said the products can often become addictive. Theyre often marketed as supplements or mood or energy boosters, said Pescatore. They almost have opioid-like effects and, so, in those cases, were concerned about people that might have impaired breathing or be so cognitively impaired or sedated that they might get into an accident, said Pescatore. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS 42. An immigration attorney in Gastonia says the fear over President-elect Donald Trumps plan of mass deportations is real, and she can feel it over the calls for help. People worry that deportation will start soon after the inauguration for anyone without permanent status, but theres no quick way to get that. Channel 9s Ken Lemon spoke with one woman in Gastonia who asked not to show her face out of fear of deportation. Through tears in her eyes, she said her biggest wish is for her kid to graduate high school. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shes a mother of two who came here from Honduras about four years ago. She works in construction and lives in fear. [We] stay at home to not go to places where they can risk themselves being deported, a translator said for her. She even worries if it will be safe to send her 13-year-old and 5-year-old sons to school. Whats going to happen if [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] goes to the school and tries to get them? she said through a translator. Immigration attorney Sharon Dove told Lemon shes getting more questions from her clients. People are terrified, that is not an exaggeration, Dove said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dove said 98% of her clients are Spanish-speaking, and many of them believed they didnt have to rush to get asylum or a Green Card. Then, former president Trump won the election on a promise of mass deportations. Now, they are calling us in a panic, Dove said. She said the Charlotte immigration court has one of the lowest approval rates in the country for people seeking permanent status; only 10% of people are successful. Charlottes immigration court is backlogged on top of that; anyone hoping for a speedy hearing without a date scheduled soon may be asking for too much. No, theres not much hope of that, Dove said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gaston County Board of Commissioners Chairman Chad Brown said its not right to let everyone into the county without becoming citizens. If I invite you to my house for dinner, I dont want you walking through my window to come in and eat my food. You can walk through the front door, Brown said. Advocates told Lemon that people who are here without documentation are afraid that self-reporting will put them in a spotlight, and that will get them deported. Some, like the woman from Honduras, worry their entire family can be deported. (VIDEO: Sheriff McFadden reacts to ICE compliance bill) (Bloomberg) -- California Governor Gavin Newsom is embarking on a tour of conservative counties in a bid to connect with voters who shifted to President-elect Donald Trump in this months election. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Newsom kicked off his pitch in Fresno County on Thursday, touting $120 million in job-creation grants intended to boost employment across California in the coming years. The move is part of the Democrats effort to reinforce his partys economic messaging while addressing growing voter concerns about affordability and the outlook for the working class. California may be the largest economy in the United States of America, Newsom said from an automotive repair school. But thats cold comfort for certain regions in this state that dont feel that theyre fully participating in that economic output. They dont feel like theyre fully engaged in the prosperity that is the state of California. Fresno County voted for the Republican presidential candidate for the first time in two decades in this years election, underscoring the inroads Trump made with traditionally Democratic voters. Its one of eight counties that he flipped in deep-blue California, contributing to a broader national swing that helped Republicans secure control of the White House and both chambers of Congress. In the coming weeks, Newsom is set to visit Colusa County, a rural area north of Sacramento, and Kern County, a GOP stronghold and home to former Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I care about people. I dont care who you voted for, Newsom said. I care about Trump supporters. I care about RFK Jr. supporters. I care about Tucker Carlson supporters. The governors focus on conservative-leaning counties highlights rising voter frustration with Democrats who control all levels of Californias state government. Concerns over housing affordability, crime and gas prices have pushed some voters to the right, while hundreds of thousands of people have left the state. Trumps gains arent the only signs of a conservative shift in the state. Voters overwhelmingly passed a ballot measure toughening penalties for theft and drug crimes. And Republicans are poised to flip as many as three seats in the state legislature, although Democrats will retain their supermajority. Newsom can point to a track record that includes bolstering labor protections and enacting landmark legislation that lifted the minimum wage for fast-food workers to $20 an hour. But Californias economic disparities further complicate the governors pitch to the working class. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement High housing costs are often blamed for driving residents away to other states. The typical price for a mid-tier home in California has been rising rapidly and now tops $700,000, more than double the national average, according to the states Legislative Analysts Office. While highly-paid tech workers have reaped significant financial benefits from an AI-driven surge in the stock market, hourly workers have seen only modest wage growth, according to the states nonpartisan budget analyst. Californias unemployment rate of 5.4% remains above the national average of 4.1%. (Updates with Newsom comment in sixth paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 2024 Bloomberg L.P. JESUP, Ga. (WSAV) A death investigation is underway in Jesup. Friday morning, along with the U.S. Marshals Office, the Jesup Police Department attempted to apprehend a wanted felon at 154 Sycamore Street. During the operation, a gunshot was fired from within the residence, Jesup Police said. Agents quickly secured the scene and entered the home where, according to the department, a male was found dead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 6 agencies investigate after a photographer says he found remains in a burned Georgia funeral home Jesup Police added that the nature of the incident is under investigation. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation was called in to assist. The police department urged anyone with information related to the case to contact law enforcement. This story is developing. Stick with WSAV News 3 for updates. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSAV-TV. GEORGETOWN COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD)Over the last few weeks, charges have been filed against several Georgetown County students for making school threats. Now, the district administration is working hard to combat this. Since the beginning of the 2024 school year, officials have investigated a total of 47 threats made by students. The most recent threat was made by a Waccamaw Middle School student who threatened a teachers life after an administrator took away her bag of chips. Georgetown County School District Superintendent Dr. Bethany Giles told News 2 that many threats are unsubstantiated and made as jokes. Still, she wants students to understand they are no laughing matter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We all want to laugh. We all want to have fun, but there are appropriate ways to do it. And joking about safety or joking in a bullying or threatening manner is inappropriate. Thats not the way to be funny or to humor. We want it to be in good spirit, said Giles. Dr. Giles is also asking parents to do their part by staying vigilant about monitoring their kids online activity. We also need our parents to safeguard against social media conversations and things students can access. We want them to ensure that they are speaking and using the appropriate words and choosing their response to situations appropriately, said Giles. If you know of any threats circulating on social media, you should immediately report them to local law enforcement and the school district. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCBD News 2. A new CEO will lead the Greater Erie Community Action Committee (GECAC) into its 60th year working to eliminate poverty in Erie County. Danny Jones is retiring after seven and a half years at the helm. Dr. Ben Wilson has been appointed as the new CEO. Erie earns third straight 100 on Human Rights Campaigns Municipal Equality Index Dr. Wilson served as the senior advisor for workforce development and transformation at Thomas P. Miller and Associates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He held previous roles at GECAC including director of self-sufficiency programs and director of workforce development. Erie earns third straight 100 on Human Rights Campaigns Municipal Equality Index Jones told us its the right time to retire and that hes proud of the work he and his team have done and is handing off to capable hands. With government funding now being in question its gonna take someone to stay the course. Theres a lot of challenges that we have to overcome to go forward and I think we got that person, said Jones. What I would like to do is continue to provide those vital services that people need in our community, said Wilson. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dr. Wilson will begin in his new position on Dec. 9. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com. BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) BASF settled with the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) after multiple violations at the BASFs Geismar facility. According to a settlement agreement, BASF agrees to pay LDEQ $35,460, of which $5,201.63 goes towards the departments enforcement costs. The LDEQ performed inspections of BASFs Geismar facility in 2017 and found violations through 2017 related to alleged unauthorized emission release and failure to submit required information in a report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Geismar chemical manufacturing plant produces ethylene oxide/glycols, aniline, acetylene and butanediol. A report from LDEQ states in October 2020, approximately 554 pounds of chlorine was released from a valve on a chlorine line. State law says a written notification is required in the event of unauthorized discharge. BASF submitted a written notification to the department without the required information. Mysterious chemical in tap water identified after nearly 40 years: Is it toxic? While repairing the valve in the chlorine line, three people were potentially exposed to chlorine and were taken to a local hospital. Two people were checked and released on the same day. The third person was held in the hospital for an additional three days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement BASF reportedly failed to include the extent of injuries for all three people exposed to chlorine. Another instance where a violation was made included excessive natural gas being sent to a flare, causing multiple pollutants, such as carbon monoxide and formaldehyde to be released for about five months in 2016. The BASF Corporation failed to maintain an air pollution control device, which released about 157 pounds of ammonia in 2020. State law says the reportable quantity to the LDEQ is 100 pounds. BRProud reached out to the LDEQ about the settlement but did not receive a response. Latest News Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to BRProud.com. The city of Geneseo decided on a location for their newest solar panel array. The city already has a solar array on the south side of the city, and is planning to put an additional array on the north side. (Gavin Waidelich, OurQuadCities.com) The city originally had space set in Prairie Park, but some people were concerned that transforming the space will drive away the public and the parks habitat. The city then changed the array to be at the police shooting range, public works facility and the citys burn pile. The city says they are planning to meet the states plan for cleaner energy head on. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were looking to hedge the market, said City Administrator Brandon Maeglin. The future of energy, we know the state of Illinois is looking at closing coal fire facilities. They have net zero initiatives and adding this to our electric utility here will help the stability and predictability of our rates into the future. The city is hoping to qualify for the Illinois Shines program. The projected cost is $3.4 million. The city administrator says adding the panels will help provide power to essential parts of the city. One of the reasons that this is a very attractive site is because its on the north side of town, said Maeglin. We have some high users in that area, the hospital, the school district and then our industrial park. The energy produced can immediately be distributed on our current infrastructure to those facilities. Construction contracts will be brought to city council sometime in the next two months. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com. GEORGETOWN COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD)Over 70 employers and resource agencies filled up the gym at Howard Center, ready to hire Georgetown County Paper Mill employees who will soon be without jobs. Officials said the goal is to keep the workers local and support Georgetowns economy. Last month, over 600 employees were told theyd be out of a job before the end of the year. When the International Paper Mill announced plans to close emp,loyers in the community rallied around them. We have had a fantastic turnout. I cannot believe many employers have come out to meet these IP people. They know how talented and skilled they are and what they want, which is wonderful, said Ayla Dyer, A director of Waccamaw Regional Council Workforce development. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Approximately 80 companies and businesses participated in the job fair. Representatives from state and local government jobs, medical facilities, and more. With the vision to keep these skilled workers in the local workforce and ensure Georgetowns economy isnt crippled by the closure. The closure has created a lot of issues for us, most of which we will be looking at in the coming year but right now our focus is on the people, and we want to make it possible for their families to stay in Georgetown County to work and live and thrive in Georgetown County, said Jackie Broach, The public information officer for Georgetown County. Officials said this is just one of the ways theyre supporting those impacted by the closure, and they plan to continue doing so throughout the process. I hope that they realize that this community is close-knit. I hope they know that were here to build each other up and keep each other here to ensure were a thriving community and keep building toward a better future, said Maya Morant, the marketing director for economic development. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another job fair happens on Friday from 12 pm until 5 pm at the Howard Center. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCBD News 2. A father is in custody in coastal Georgia after shooting and killing three of his family members on Friday morning. Chatham County police say they went to a house on Quacco Trail at 9 a.m. where they found three people, including a teenager, dead. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Investigators say Junior Thomas Babcock, 42, shot and killed his parents and his 14-year-old son at the home they shared. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Babcock was arrested a short time later, but his exact charges are unclear. TRENDING STORIES: Police didnt comment on what led up to the shootings or identify any of the victims. Detectives say they are still investigating, but dont expect to arrest anyone else. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Georgia's top health official dismissed all members of a state committee that investigates pregnancy-related maternal deaths after a committee member presumably released information about two such deaths. In a letter first reported by ProPublica and dated Nov. 8, state public health commissioner Dr. Kathleen Toomey said whoever shared the information violated state law and a confidential agreement signed by committee members. An agency investigation wasn't able to identify who disclosed the details. ProPublica reported in September that internal reports showed the Georgia Maternal Mortality Review Committee determined the deaths of two women were preventable, but found that doctors were hesitant to perform a procedure that could have saved their lives because of the state's strict abortion policies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The cases drew national attention and became a central theme in Vice President Kamala Harris ' presidential campaign. Harris has been outspoken on abortion rights ever since the Supreme Courts decision more than two years ago that overturned Roe v. Wade. The Georgia committee works to identify what caused women to die during pregnancy or soon after childbirth, seeking to prevent other deaths or health crises. The decision to disband the committee seems very abrupt, said Monica Simpson, executive director of SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective, one of the groups that sued Georgia over the state's abortion ban beyond six weeks of pregnancy. A judge initially struck down the ban, but Georgia's Supreme Court halted the ruling in October, restoring the law. "To have any time where we dont have this committee in place difficult to fathom, realizing that we may lose access to really important data and information that could help us make better decisions and organize better around what we need for the state," Simpson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Toomey wrote that reconstituting the committee will not result in a delay of the committee's responsibilities. The Georgia Department of Public Health will open applications for new members in the coming weeks, Toomey said in the letter, but will work to make sure there is more oversight and confidentiality in its review of cases. "This is a scare tactic meant to stop full investigations into the circumstances of pregnant womens deaths across the state," Alicia Stallworth, Director of Georgia Campaigns at Reproductive Freedom for All, said in a statement. "Now more than ever, its important to mobilize against anti-abortion extremists like Governor Kemp, who are responsible for these deadly bans. Republican Gov. Brian Kemp doesn't appoint or release members of the committee because it's overseen by the Department of Public Health, Kemp spokesperson Garrison Douglas said. Kemp signed into law in 2019 a ban on abortions once the fetal heartbeat is detected, which can be as early as six weeks. A spokesperson for the health department declined to provide additional comment and said the letter speaks for itself. This story was originally published by ProPublica. ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. Sign up to receive its biggest stories as soon as theyre published. Georgia officials have dismissed all members of a state committee charged with investigating deaths of pregnant women. The move came in response to ProPublica having obtained internal reports detailing two deaths. ProPublica reported in September on the deaths of Amber Thurman and Candi Miller, which the state maternal mortality review committee had determined were preventable. They were the first reported cases of women who died without access to care restricted by a state abortion ban, and they unleashed a torrent of outrage over the fatal consequences of such laws. The womens stories became a central discussion in the presidential campaign and ballot initiatives involving abortion access in 10 states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Confidential information provided to the Maternal Mortality Review Committee was inappropriately shared with outside individuals, Dr. Kathleen Toomey, commissioner of the state Department of Public Health, wrote in a letter dated Nov. 8 and addressed to members of the committee. Even though this disclosure was investigated, the investigation was unable to uncover which individual(s) disclosed confidential information. Therefore, effective immediately the current MMRC is disbanded, and all member seats will be filled through a new application process. A health department spokesperson declined to comment on the decision to dismiss the committee, saying that the letter, which the department provided to ProPublica, speaks for itself. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemps office also declined to comment, referring questions to the health department. Under Georgia law, the work of the maternal mortality review committee is confidential, and members must sign confidentiality agreements. Those members see only summaries of medical records stripped of personal details, and their findings on individual cases are not supposed to be shared with the public not even with hospitals or with family members of women who died. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The health departments letter states that there could be new steps to keep the boards deliberations from public view. The letter said officials might change other procedures for on-boarding committee members better ensuring confidentiality, committee oversight and MMRC organizational structure. Maternal mortality review committees exist in every state. They are tasked with examining deaths of women during a pregnancy or up to a year after and determining whether they could have been prevented. Georgias had 32 standing members from a variety of backgrounds, including OB-GYNs, cardiologists, mental health care providers, a medical examiner, health policy experts and community advocates. They are volunteer positions that pay a small honorarium. Their job is to collect data and make recommendations aimed at combatting systemic issues that could help reduce deaths and publish them in reports. The Georgia committees most recent report found that of 113 pregnancy-related deaths from 2018 through 2020, 101 had at least some chance of being prevented. Its recommendations have led to changes in hospital care to improve the response to emergencies during labor and delivery and to new programs to increase access to psychiatric treatment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The health departments letter states that the change to the current committee will not result in a delay in the MMRCs responsibilities. But at least one other state has experienced a lag as a result of reshaping its committee. Idaho let its maternal mortality review committee legislation expire in July 2023, effectively disbanding the committee after lobbyist groups attacked members for recommending that the state expand Medicaid for postpartum women. Earlier this year, Idahos Legislature reestablished the committee, but new members werent announced until Nov. 15. There is now more than a yearlong delay in the review process. Reproductive rights advocates say Georgias decision to dismiss and restructure its committee also could have a chilling effect on the committees work, potentially dissuading its members from delving as deeply as they have into the circumstances of pregnant womens deaths if it could be politically sensitive. They did what they were supposed to do. This is why we need them, said Monica Simpson, executive director of SisterSong, one of the groups challenging Georgias abortion ban in court. To have this abrupt disbandment, my concern is what we are going to lose in the process, in terms of time and data? One objective of any maternal mortality review committee is to look at the circumstances of a death holistically to identify root causes that may be able to help other women in the future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the case of Candi Miller, the most prominent detail in a state medical examiners report of her death was that she had a lethal combination of painkillers in her system, including fentanyl. It attributed the cause of death to drug intoxication. Candi Miller with her husband, Alex Cardenas; son Christian; and daughter Turiya, whom she named after her sister. - Courtesy Turiya Tomlin-Randall/ProPublica But the Georgia committee looked at the facts of the death with a different objective: to consider the broader context. A summary of Millers case prepared for the committee, drawn from hospital records and the medical examiners report, included that Miller had multiple health conditions that can be exacerbated by pregnancy, that she had ordered abortion pills from overseas and that she had unexpelled fetal tissue, which showed the abortion had not fully completed. It also stated that her family had told the coroner she didnt visit a doctor due to the current legislation on pregnancies and abortions. The committee found her death was preventable and blamed the states abortion ban. The fact that she felt that she had to make these decisions, that she didnt have adequate choices here in Georgia, we felt that definitely influenced her case, one committee member told ProPublica in September. Shes absolutely responding to this legislation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For Millers family, the committees findings were painful but wanted. It seems like that is essential information that you would share with the family, said Millers sister, Turiya Tomlin-Randall, who was not aware of the committees work until ProPublica contacted her. She also said its upsetting to hear that the committees members were dismissed partly as a result of her sisters case being disclosed to the public. I dont understand how this is even possible, she said. The committee also investigated the case of Amber Thurman, who died just one month after Georgias six-week abortion law went into effect. The medical examiners report stated that Thurman died of sepsis and retained products of conception and that she had received a dilation and curettage, or D&C, and a hysterectomy after an at-home abortion. When the committee members received a summary of her hospital stay, they saw a timeline with additional factors: The hospital had delayed providing a D&C a routine procedure to clear fetal tissue from the uterus for 20 hours, which Thurman needed for rare complications shed developed after taking abortion medication. The state had recently attached criminal penalties to performing a D&C, with few exceptions. The summary showed doctors discussed providing the D&C twice, but by the time they performed the procedure it was too late. Committee members found that there was a good chance Thurmans death could have been prevented if she had received the D&C sooner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Doctors and a nurse involved in Thurmans care did not answer questions from ProPublica for its September story. The hospital also did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Thurmans family also told ProPublica they had wanted the information about her death disclosed. Amber Thurman, a 28-year-old mother, died after she couldnt access legal abortion care in Georgia. The states maternal mortality review committee found that her death was preventable and said a delay in care had a large impact. - Nydia Blas for ProPublica Some experts say that keeping the reports of maternal mortality review committees confidential is important for a committee to serve its purpose. They are set up not to assign blame but instead to create a space for clinicians to investigate broad causes of maternal health failures. But others say the lack of transparency can serve to obscure the biggest disruption to maternal health care in half a century. We know that the reports that have come out of that committee are anonymized and synthesized in order to provide a 50,000-foot view, said Kwajelyn Jackson, executive director of Feminist Womens Health Center in Atlanta, which provides abortion care. But my worry is that in an effort to protect the state, there will be less information that will be available to people who could shift their actions, shift their protocols, shift their strategies, shift their behaviors in order to make a difference in maternal health outcomes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two states did make shifts to their committees Idaho, after members made a recommendation to expand Medicaid that Republicans opposed, and Texas, after a member publicly criticized the state. In 2022, Texas committee member Nakeenya Wilson, a community advocate, spoke out against the states decision to delay the release of its report during an election year. The following year, the Legislature passed a law that created a second community advocate position on the committee, redefined the position and had Wilson reapply. She was not reappointed. The state instead filled one of the slots with a prominent anti-abortion activist. Wilson said Georgias decision to dismiss its committee could cause greater harm. What message is being said to the families who lost their loved ones? she said. Theres going to be even less accountability for this to not happen again. Ziva Branstetter, Kavitha Surana, Cassandra Jaramillo and Anna Barry-Jester contributed reporting. Doris Burke contributed research. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com A Georgia woman who reported her 20-month-old son missing in 2022, setting off a large search until his remains were found in a landfill, was sentenced to life in prison Thursday for his killing. Leilani Simon was convicted of murder last month in Quinton Simon's killing. She was sentenced in a Chatham County court to life with the possibility of parole. "The one thing that I will say before pronouncing sentence is clearly little Quinton Simons life and death impacted many, many individuals, but also the community at large, Chatham County Judge Tammy Stokes said. Simon reported her son missing from their home in Chatham County, near Savannah, on Oct. 5, 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities soon said that they believed Quinton was dead and that Simon was the prime suspect. His body was found in a landfill around five weeks after he was reported missing. Simon was arrested in November 2022 and indicted on murder and other charges the following month. Quinton Simon. The indictment alleged that Simon caused Quintons death with an unknown object that caused serious bodily injury and then dumped him in a trash bin around 3 miles from her home. A jury convicted Simon last month of malice murder, two counts felony murder, concealing the death of another and other counts related to false reports and false statements. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Simon was sentenced to what amounts to life in prison, as well as an additional 10 years. She stood as the sentence was read and nodded, apparently in acknowledgment, as the sentence was read. She did not speak. Before she concluded Thursday's hearing, Stokes made one additional comment. "May there be peace, somehow," she said. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com The News Germany reported weaker-than-expected economic expansion Friday, downgrading its GDP growth to just 0.1% for the third quarter, underscoring the latest challenge facing a country whose coalition government has collapsed. Europes biggest economy barely avoided recession this year, battered by declining industrial production, the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and Russias invasion of Ukraine. Its famed manufacturing sector faces challenges from Chinese rivals: Germanys old macro business model of cheap energy and easily accessible large export markets is no longer working, an ING economist wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But with elections not expected to be held until February, analysts are skeptical of any short-term policy changes to address the countrys malaise. Germanys unpopular chancellor staved off an internal party bid to unseat him, but is polling in the mid-teens. A chart showing the real GDP growth of Europe versus Germany from 2000 to 2029, with a forecast between 2024 and 2029. SIGNALS Trouble at Volkswagen speaks to larger economic turmoil Sources: Deutsche Welle, The Financial Times, Carnegie Europe Trouble at Volkswagen, Germanys biggest industrial employer, epitomizes the economic difficulties facing the country. Workers announced on Thursday that they planned to strike, following news that the automaker would be shuttering some domestic plants for the first in its 87-year history and cutting wages by 10%. While China used to be Volkswagens biggest customer, its own car brands in particular EVs are now flooding international markets. Though the EU moved last month to de-risk from China by raising tariffs on Chinese EVs to 45%, Germany voted against the measure, fearing retaliation from Beijing. Berlins mindset over China wont change until there is a fundamental strategic shift in the German economic model: de-industrialization is the future, an expert at Carnegie Europe wrote. Economic woes contributed to Scholz coalition collapse Sources: Deutsche Welle, Chatham House Germanys economic woes have contributed to intense dissatisfaction with its current leadership, the most unpopular in the countrys history. Earlier this month, the coalition government collapsed, sparked by disputes over constitutional debt restrictions. Germans have been spoiled by [past] success, Deutsche Welle wrote, leading to a reluctance to deviate from the status quo economically. Despite Scholzs declaration of a Zeitenwende (turning point) in 2022, which indicated a major boost to military spending spurred by Russias invasion of Ukraine, Germanys policy changes have always been two steps forward, two steps back, one expert said. If the minority government can enact planned reforms before the election, it may renew voters confidence, think tank Chatham House argued, if not, it could embolden the far-right AfD party, adding to political uncertainty. Germany has suggested that it will not arrest Benjamin Netanyahu if he travels to the country because of its Nazi history. Mr Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, was made the subject of an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant over alleged war crimes in Gaza on Thursday, a move he has described as anti-Semitic. A number of European countries, including the UK, have said they will respect the ICCs decision. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But a spokesman for Olaf Scholz, the German chancellor, suggested the country would not carry out such an arrest due to its history and unique relationship with Israel. I find it hard to imagine that arrests could be carried out in Germany on this basis, said Steffen Hebestreit, a government spokesman. His words came as the German government said in a statement that it had taken note of the ICC decision and said it was one of the courts biggest supporters. But it added: At the same time, it is a consequence of German history that we share unique relations and great responsibility with Israel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We will carefully examine the domestic steps. Any further action would only be taken when a visit [to Germany] by prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant is foreseeable. In an interview with The Telegraph last December, Ron Prosor, the Israeli ambassador to Berlin, said Germany had become Israels second strategic partner, behind the United States, due to its amazing response to the Oct 7 attacks. In a clearer show of support for Mr Netanyahu, Viktor Orban, the prime minister of Hungary, has invited the Israeli leader on a state visit, defying the ICCs decision to issue an arrest warrant. Mr Orban criticised the ICC ruling, labelling it a political decision that discredits international law and that could add fuel to the flames in the war between Israel and Hamas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hungary signed the statute of the ICC in 1999, ratifying it two years later, meaning it is technically obliged to arrest the Israeli prime minister should he step foot in the country. Mr Netanyahu thanked Mr Orban for the invite and for his warm support of Israel. Vowed to make an arrest Mr Orbans rejection of the ICCs ruling marks a split among European countries after Italy and the Netherlands vowed to arrest Mr Netanyahu, as well as Mr Gallant. The ICC arrest warrant against prime minister Netanyahu is brazen, cynical and completely unacceptable. I invited prime minister Netanyahu for an official visit to Hungary, where we will guarantee his freedom and safety, Mr Orban said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added that the disgraceful decision would have no impact whatsoever on Israel and Hungarys relationship. Mr Netanyahu said: I thank Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban for the warm support for me and the state of Israel. Against the shameful weakness of those who have lined up alongside the outrageous decision against the state of Israels right to defend itself, Hungary like our friends in the US has shown moral clarity and steadfastness on the side of justice and the truth. Mr Orban has become an outlier in Europe in recent years, particularly over his willingness to maintain open communication with Vladimir Putin during the war between Russia and Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His decision to invite Mr Netanyahu to Hungary is in marked contrast to the position of fellow European Union member states, including Ireland, Italy, and the Netherlands. Guido Crosetto, Italys defence minister, told RAI television on Thursday: We would have to arrest them. He added that it was not a political choice but that Italy was bound as a member of the ICC to act on the courts warrants. It followed a call by the European Union on its member states to respect and comply with the arrest warrants following the ICCs landmark decision. Josep Borrell, the EUs foreign policy chief, also disputed Israels claim that the courts decision was political. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Netanyahu condemned the decision on Thursday, labelling it an anti-Semitic decision motivated by hate. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Former German chancellor Angela Merkel has spoken out against the strident public stance of her successor Olaf Scholz over his dismissal of his then finance minister Christian Lindner and the resultant collapse of the coalition government. "When Olaf Scholz spoke so bluntly, there was some unease among the public. Some thought: If our federal chancellor is so out of touch - heavens above - how bad is it for our country?" Merkel was quoted as telling Der Spiegel magazine on Friday. Scholz sacked Lindner on November 6 after a dispute over economic and budgetary policy. Lindner's Free Democratic Party (FDP) then withdrew its ministers from the alliance with the Greens and the Social Democrats, of which Scholz is a member, causing the coalition to break up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Scholz accused the FDP chief of irresponsible behaviour, saying, "He has too often engaged in petty party-political tactics. Too often he has broken my trust." Serious government work was not possible in this way, he added. Commenting on whether Scholz had violated the dignity of his office with his comments, Merkel replied, "I wouldn't have said it if I thought it was a prime example of dignity." The chancellor heads the constitutional body of the government, noted Merkel, who led Germany for a total of 16 years. "His office has dignity, and that should always guide you." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As chancellor, you have to ride out the hard knocks, she added. "You feel a lot of emotions, but it's better to shout at the wall in your office than at the German public." Merkel said her immediate thought when witnessing the spat between Scholz and Lindner was, "Men!" When asked what seemed typically male to her, the 70-year-old former chancellor replied, "For example, taking things personally. You should avoid that as much as possible in politics." Scholz intends to call a vote of confidence in Parliament on December 16. If, as expected, he does not receive a majority, elections will be held on February 23. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz addressed 100 local politicians on Friday in a speech that spanned the economy and foreign policy, as he began campaigning for another term in office ahead of elections expected in February. Scholz is seeking to remain the country's leader despite the collapse of his three-party coalition earlier this month, but faces an uphill battle with his Social Democrats (SPD) currently languishing at around 15% in the polls. In his address, he made no mention of the wrangling over whether his party would even select him to be their leader in the upcoming vote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There was widespread speculation that instead of Scholz, whose approval ratings are dismal, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius might receive the nomination as chancellor candidate instead. However, on Thursday Pistorius said he would not stand, paving the way for Scholz to be nominated by the party executive next week. Scholz also spoke about Ukraine, a contentious issue in the party, and defended his refusal to supply Ukraine with long-range cruise missiles. "I say that it is only with the SPD that prudence and clear support for Ukraine come together on this difficult issue," he argued. He said it was right for Germany to be Kiev's most important supporter after the United States, but said he has also sought to prevent a war between Russia and NATO. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Among the achievements of his three years in office, Scholz listed reforms to migration policy. He also campaigned to reform the nation's debt brake on government spending. Scholz is set to call a vote of confidence in the German parliament in mid-December, in the expectation of losing after the Free Democrats left his coalition earlier this month. Elections are then expected to be held on February 23. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Friday called Russia's use of an experimental new missile in Ukraine a "terrible escalation" as he defended his administration's policy on the conflict. Scholz said Russian President Vladimir Putin's authorization of the strike, which hit the Ukrainian city of Dnipro on Thursday, was a "terrible escalation, just like the use of North Korean soldiers who are now being deployed and dying in this war for Putin's imperial dream." However, Scholz maintained that his government's refusal to supply Ukraine with long-range missiles to hit Russian territory was correct. He said it was necessary to ensure that the conflict in Ukraine does not escalate into a full-blown war between Russia and NATO, calling for prudence. "I stand by that," Scholz said. Nov. 21MITCHELL Veterans put their lives on the line every day to protect the freedoms of all Americans. It's a selfless act that puts them in harm's way in order to defend the country against its enemies. Students and staff at Gertie Belle Rogers Elementary School in Mitchell are very aware of the sacrifices made by those veterans, and they showed their appreciation Wednesday afternoon when the school student council presented a check to Midwest Honor Flight that will help pay expenses for two veterans to visit Washington, D.C. "It takes a lot of effort to make each of these flights possible, and seeing younger generations get involved in helping their local veterans see their memorials in D.C. is something all the students, teachers and parents should be proud of," Aaron Van Beek, CEO of Midwest Honor Flight, told the Mitchell Republic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Students presented Van Beek with a check for $1,968.20, a sum raised through a three-day penny war fundraiser that put student classes against one another to see who could raise the most money by contributing pennies and paper currency to their classroom bucket. On certain days, students could bring silver coins nickels, dimes and quarters to place in the buckets of other classes. Pennies and folding money in a classroom bucket counted toward positive points, and silver coins counted toward negative points. When the three days were up, teachers counted every coin and bill, accounting for positive and negative points. The class with the most positive points, in this case Amy Uher's third grade class, will be rewarded with a pizza party for their efforts. It's a friendly competition with bragging rights on the line, but it's also more than that, said Julie Kapfer, school counselor and student council advisor at Gertie Belle Rogers Elementary. Kapfer, who counts several veterans among her family members, felt a fundraiser for Midwest Honor Flight, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing veterans with respect, honor, and closure with an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C., according to its website, would be an appropriate gesture. The organization serves the state of South Dakota and areas of northwest Iowa, northwest Nebraska, and southwest Minnesota. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is the second year the school has done a fundraiser for Midwest Honor Flight. "We changed our Veterans Day theme to the Honor Flight and had a very good turnout last year. We did a penny war for the fundraiser and raised well over enough to send one person, and so we thought let's continue doing that," Kapfer said. "This year we raised enough for two." The penny war is an engaging activity and one that gets the competitive juices flowing among students, but the lessons connected to it bring opportunities to learn about veterans from wars past, such as World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. Veterans from those three wars in particular are getting older by the day, and the chances to thank them properly are steadily diminishing. The fundraiser is a way to bring social studies lessons from the classroom to life, Kapfer said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "My dad is a Korean War veteran, and there just aren't a lot of them left. Even with our Vietnam vets, they are getting few and far in between," Kapfer said. "I don't know that a lot of these kids these days have any connection to that, because it's been a while. I think it brings to their attention things they don't know about." Midwest Honor Flight has flown 23 missions over the years carrying veterans to Washington, D.C. It has transported 1,994 veterans on its flights, and more than 600 are still waiting to be part of the traveling group. The flights are all expenses paid, taking the financial burden of taking part in the flights off the veteran being honored. Van Beek said the organization is planning for five flights of approximately 85 veterans each in 2025. By the end of the year it hopes to honor more than 420 additional veterans. Efforts like the one spearheaded by Gertie Belle Rogers are crucial to ensuring Midwest Honor Flight can complete its mission, Van Beek said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Without donations, we would not be able to take as many flights as we do. The donation that was presented to us today will allow for two veterans to experience this once in a lifetime trip to D.C.," Van Beek said. The annual fundraiser has proven to be a fun, effective way to bring history to life by supporting veterans who served during some of America's most historic conflicts. It's been so successful that school leaders say they plan to continue returning to the project into the future. Kapfer said it has been inspiring watching the students learn about historic events while at the same time giving back to those who served in uniform. The most exciting part of the project for her was seeing the enthusiasm from the kids taking part. "Just watching the kids get very excited about it. And afterwards everybody was asking a lot of questions how much did we raise?" Kapfer said. "I'm very excited about getting them excited about doing something for somebody else." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Allison Pierson, principal at Gertie Belle Rogers Elementary School, agreed that the excitement about helping others is inspirational. Veterans have given everyone at Gertie Belle Rogers Elementary School, and across the country, access to the freedoms that make up a strong civic community. Seeing the students mature and understand the importance of thanking those who served has been greatly rewarding. "Not only can we make a donation to Midwest Honor Flight, but we can also teach our students how to be compassionate and giving community members and how to think about people outside themselves. Some of those lessons don't come until opportunities like this present themselves," Pierson said. Those wishing to contribute to Midwest Honor Flight, donations can be made visiting the organization website at midwesthonorflight.org/donate or by mailing to P.O. Box 22, Sioux Center, Iowa, 51250. More general information on Midwest Honor Flight can be found at midwesthonorflight.org. Rudy Giuliani on Thursday appealed a judges decision last month ordering him to turn over most of his assets to two Georgia election workers to satisfy their $146 million defamation judgment. After months of collection efforts, U.S. District Judge Lewis Liman on Oct. 22 ordered Giuliani to hand over his New York apartment, Mercedes-Benz, luxury watches, signed New York Yankees memorabilia and cash, among other items. The former New York City mayor then missed the deadline to comply, but his new attorney has indicated much of the property has since been transferred. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Giuliani, who had consented to much of the turnover order, is now hoping to reverse it, filing a notice of appeal to bring the matter before the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The Hill has reached out for comment to Giulianis spokesperson, who previously described the efforts to seize Giulianis assets as politically motivated bullying and intimidation. Ruby Freeman and Wandrea Shaye Moss won the $146 million judgment at a jury trial last December after Giuliani defamed the mother-daughter duo by falsely claiming they engaged in mass election fraud while serving as election workers in Atlanta in 2020. Giuliani is separately appealing the verdict. The duo has accused Giuliani of continuing to defame them and on Wednesday asked a separate judge to hold the former Trump attorney in civil contempt for recent comments on his radio show. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Freeman and Mosss legal team declined to comment. Updated at 6:09 p.m. EST. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The board of Tennessee State University voted unanimously Friday to urge interim President Ronald Johnson to end an agreement with former President Glenda Glover, who is slated to receive $1.7 million over the next four years in a buyout and pay package for her role as president emeritus. The vote came at the end of the university's regular board meeting Friday, which swiftly adjourned following the vote. The board also voted to urge Johnson to end a contract with general counsel Laurence Pendleton. As of 2023, Pendleton made a base annual salary of $208,985, according to records previously obtained by The Tennessean. Pendleton, who is also the board secretary, was present for the meeting Friday. The moves comes as TSU faces financial turmoil and while Glover is under contract as president emeritus for the next four years, according to records obtained by The Tennessean. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copies of the employment agreement show that Glover, who retired in June, was slated to receive a transition payment of $850,000 on July 1, 2024, which was equivalent to half of her remaining salary as president, the records show. In addition, the signed agreement with TSUs former board then provides her an annual salary of $212,500 over four years, effective July 1, 2024, to serve as president emeritus which also totals $850,000. That brings the total cost of her buyout and current pay package to $1.7 million over the next four years. In August 2023, Glover announced she would retire as TSU president at the conclusion of the academic year. She signed the transition document in late September 2023. Then-TSU board chair Deborah Cole and Pendleton signed the document in November 2023. TSU Board Chair Dakasha Winton addressed the concerns over Glover's agreement at the start of Friday's board meeting. She said a request is out to Johnson's team to compile all "documents, payments and consulting deliverables" associated with the immediate past-presidents work since June 30. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Please note that this board has not approved any agreements with the immediate past president," Winton said. "Full transparency on these matters is essential for restoring trust. We are entrusted with life-changing decisions for TSUs students and faculty." She said she also requested Johnson compile a comprehensive memo that will address his team's accomplishments under their action plan and to provide data-backed recommendations regarding bolstering the school's flagging enrollment. She said the school will also undergo an evaluation to determine if any financial exigency is necessary. "We must operate with the highest standards of transparency and accountability," Winton said. "While some of yesterday and todays reports have been difficult to hear, I am comforted that progress is being made and will continue to be made." University spokesperson Kelli Sharpe said in a statement the university is committed to moving forward and staying focused on its mission and its students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "TSU is about much more than the focus currently placed on our financial standing," the statement read. "The university was established by the State of Tennessee, and a priority is to strengthen that symbiotic relationship. We believe that in order to sustain a future-ready TSU, we need the State, and in turn, the State needs TSU." The statement also said TSU's work extends beyond the classroom and has touched millions of families since its founding in 1912. "We are dedicated to community service, economic development and fostering a diverse and educated workforce as a multifaceted social impact institution," the statement read. Board Chair Dakasha Winton listens to the audit updates during the TSU Board of Trustees meeting at Tennessee State University in Nashville, Tenn, Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. Details of Glover's president emeritus agreement Under the agreement, Glovers duties as president emeritus may include fundraising, guest lecturing, hosting and attending events and maintaining relationships with stakeholders. Glover also gets an administrative assistant, designated parking and access to the university suite at Nissan Stadium for TSU and Titans games as part of her emeritus duties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She will be reimbursed for any events related to her duties hosted in her home and will be entitled to same benefits as other TSU employees, including health benefits. The contract also establishes a committee that will consider naming a TSU building in her honor. TSU President Glenda Glover looks on during the quarterly board of trustees meeting at Tennessee State University in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, March 14, 2024. The agreement comes as TSU faces deep financial struggles. State lawmakers abruptly ousted TSU's board earlier this year over concerns about financial mismanagement. They also recently floated more than $30 million in emergency funds to keep the institution financially viable. The university was forced to lay off more than 100 employees in October after it was nearly unable to make payroll. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a hearing last week, GOP lawmakers pointed to a scathing state audit that showed management failures during Glover's tenure and criticized university leadership for keeping her on as an adviser. Ronald Johnson was hired as the schools interim president in July. Meanwhile, supporters of TSU have pointed to the fact that the historically Black university has been largely underfunded compared to the states other land-grant institutions. A federal report last year estimated TSU was underfunded by some $2.1 billion throughout its history. Glover defends agreement, criticizes state In news interviews earlier this week, Glover said her contract was a buyout package after lawmakers pushed her to retire. While an $800,000 buyout buyout had previously been reported, the emeritus plan and salary had not. Glover in an interview with The Tennessean on Friday said the payment was a buyout of the remaining five years of her contract after lawmakers asked her to retire early. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its not only fair but its whats owed to me as the value of the remainder of my contract, she said. She said she was set to receive the $850,000 transition payment in two lump sums of $425,000, but she chose to postpone one of the payments because the university was cash strapped. Glover said she plans to aggressively fundraise for the university in her role as president emeritus. She plans to travel to the East Coast after Thanksgiving for a fundraising trip. Glover also fired back at state leaders, who she said are blaming her for problems caused by the historic underfunding and negative publicity when the board was vacated earlier this year. She said that spurred a drop in enrollment numbers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement to the Tennessee Tribune, Glover said enrollment has dropped more than 25% with just over 6,300 students enrolled in the fall 2024 semester, for a decline of $20 million in revenue. "I want to make it clear that I am not a contract employee at TSU," she said in the statement to the Tribune. "Recent reports reference my Retirement Agreement with Tennessee State University, which represents the remainder of my five-year contract term at TSU. The early retirement discussions initiated by key legislative representatives resulted in an agreement that was approved by the TSU Board of Trustees." While the state has allocated $250 million to the university, she said the financial problems are further exacerbated since the funds are restricted for infrastructure and cannot be used for operations. Terminating Glover's agreement may be a challenge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If the board or the board's designee decides to terminate it, the agreement states that Glover shall be paid the remainder of the amount owed to her in the deal unless she is fired for "gross malfeasance or fraud," as defined by university policy. If she resigns, she also would be owed money. Trustee Marquita Qualls asks a question during the TSU Board of Trustees meeting at Tennessee State University in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. In a meeting on Thursday, TSU's current leadership pushed forward with a plan to avoid a $46.1 million shortfall. While the plan only gets the university through the current fiscal year, which ends June 30, Johnson assured concerned board members that his team is working on plans for what comes next. As for Glover's compensation, Johnson said the agreement was a board decision, although the document spells out a role for the current president to decide on the duties of Glover in her role as president emeritus and charges him with reviewing and potentially changing her emeritus salary. This story has been updated to add additional information. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: TSU board pushes to end $1.7M deal with former president Glenda Glover The News British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is proving himself to be something of a globetrotter: Hell have taken at least 10 overseas trips by the end of November, to countries including the US, Germany, France, and Brazil. Downing Street has said Starmer is very clear that international co-operation is key to delivering for the British people, but the UK now caught between China, the US, and the EU may struggle to chart a course that keeps everyone on side. SIGNALS The UK has a loneliness problem Sources: Sky News, Financial Times Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Starmers diplomatic blitz is partly an attempt to distinguish himself from his Conservative predecessor Rishi Sunak, who showed little interest in reestablishing Britain on the world stage post-Brexit, Sky News deputy political editor wrote. But the UK does have a loneliness problem to address: No country had a cushier place in the world than the UK did a decade ago as a member of the European Union, a close ally of the US, and a potential link between the West and China a columnist argued in the Financial Times. With the accession of Donald Trump in the US, some analysts are warning that the UK will soon have to make a choice between Washington and Brussels. Whether the UK could be spared in a global trade war remains to be seen Sources: The Independent, The Times of London Trump has floated the idea of negotiating tariff exemptions with the UK, and his fondness for the country and wish to see a successful Brexit could ultimately save it from the worst effects of a global trade war, a political appointee in Trumps previous administration told The Independent. Other insiders disagree: I dont see a special deal coming for the UK, a former US ambassador told The Times of London. Complaints continue to come in for a travel company that claims to have its main office in Orlando. The company is called FlightMover LLC with a web address of flightmover.com. Action 9 Consumer Investigator Jeff Deal spoke with upset customers who claim the company doesnt disclose all the terms of their tickets and tries to squeeze more money out of them. Do you have a consumer complaint or need help from Jeff Deal and Action 9? Click the banner below to submit a tip. The Flight Mover travel website boasts low air fares along with Best Customer Care. Thats what attracted Joe Ferrazza when planning his upcoming holiday trip. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I found this company, and said Oh, these ticket prices look great, Ferrazza said. The website lists Flight Mover with an Orlando address on Edgewater Drive in the College Park area. READ: It could be your biggest nightmare: Action 9 investigates potential hidden danger in Florida homes For Joe Ferrazza, his round-trip airfare on flights between New York and Cincinnati around Christmas were advertised at just over $300. He felt it was a good deal, so he booked it. He said, I went to purchase the ticket and received an email a few minutes later that I needed to call this company, which I then did. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ferrazza told Action 9, once on the phone, the company told him his flight didnt include a carry-on bag or even a personal item. If he wanted to bring any luggage, he needed to upgrade. He claims the new price the customer service representative quoted was nearly $900. Jeff Deal asked, What did you think when he told you that price? Ferrazza responded, Well, the first thing I thought was, how can they not include a personal item and a carry-on bag? To make matters worse, he said customer service tried to strong arm him into accepting it. The guy said to me, Well, youre going to pay for this anyway. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another traveler told Action 9 she agreed to pay for the upgrade after a similar phone call, but she felt like it was a bait and switch by Flight Mover. FlightMover LLC has an F rating with the Better Business Bureau. The BBB has also noted a pattern of complaints. The common theme that we see in complaints and reviews is that consumers are not getting the travel combinations or the tickets that they expected, said BBB President Holly Salmons. She said many of the complaints were related to extra fees and terms the consumers didnt feel were fully disclosed. On a Google review, one consumer complained they were sold a standby ticket and wrote: For the love of God, please to not book anything with this company. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FlightMover LLC is registered in Wyoming, but lists its principal office address as the one in Orlando. Action 9 couldnt find a license for Flight Mover to operate in Florida. READ: It blew right across his home: Appliance expert warns about potentially explosive refrigerators Consumer Investigator Jeff Deal went to the company address in College Park to ask some questions. Deal introduced himself and said, Were looking for FlightMover LLC. Do they ever actually come into this office? A worker responded, No. What we are is just a mail service. With the drop box location listed as PhysicalAddress.com and no license that Action 9 could find in Florida--its hard to say if Flight Mover even operates in the Sunshine State. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One thing that is clear to Joe Ferrazza, hell never do business with them again. I told them I said, Well, Im not paying for this, and I will inform the Better Business Bureau, and Im going to alert my bank, Ferrazza said. Ferrazza did not end up having to pay and he rebooked with another company. FlightMover LLC has not responded to our questions about all of this. Before booking, make sure you do your homework and read the reviews about companies especially if youve never used them before. The federal appeals court based in Denver rejected the appeal of prison officials accused of using excessive force against a prisoner, reasoning earlier this month that even if the U.S. Supreme Court's precedent means the claims will ultimately fail, an immediate appeal was not the answer. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) The U.S. Marshals task force is asking the community to be on the lookout for a parolee at large. Ben Maldonado, 30, is wanted for domestic violence and has a criminal history including robbery, possession of a firearm and vehicle theft, according to U.S. Marshals. Maldonado is described as being 5 feet, 9 inches tall and weighing about 165 pounds. He has multiple tattoos on his back, neck, chest and arms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maldonado has been tied to the Bakersfield and Visalia areas. If youve seen him or have any information on his whereabouts, call or text the U.S. Marshals at 979-1187. All information about Maldonado is confidential. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17. Nov. 21About 100 people joined a protest against the Israel-Hamas War at Gonzaga's campus Thursday, demanding the university cut ties with weapons manufacturers. Student Hailey O'Hara rallied the crowd with a megaphone, encouraging students to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people and "to disrupt business as usual" by walking out of their classes. "As we stand here today," O'Hara said, "2 million Palestinians are suffering in Gaza, forced to live in fear, surrounded by death and destruction, knowing that at moment they may be blown apart by American-made bombs." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Organizers asked Gonzaga to withdraw from the Inland Northwest Consortium, a Gonzaga-led initiative to bring an aerospace tech hub to Airway Heights in partnership with companies including major defense contractors Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Collins Aerospace. The Seattle Times reported that Boeing is a major supplier of the Israel Defense Forces. Similar protests at campuses nationwide erupted after the war broke out last year, and previous demonstrations at Gonzaga have asked for the same thing. The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants Thursday for Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former defense minister and Hamas' military chief, accusing them of war crimes. Pope Francis in a new book this week called for allegations of genocide in Gaza to be investigated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an excerpt quoted by the Vatican News, Francis wrote: "According to some experts, what is happening in Gaza has the characteristics of a genocide. It should be carefully investigated to determine whether it fits into the technical definition formulated by jurists and international bodies." As a Jesuit institution, protest organizers said Gonzaga has an obligation to cut ties with any companies involved. Gonzaga released a general statement in response to the protest Thursday, recognizing the importance of campus demonstrations and freedom of expression, without directly addressing connections to weaponmakers. "Our Jesuit values call upon us to seek justice, uphold the dignity of all persons and to build bridges of understanding that can lead to a more hopeful and peaceful future," the statement said. "We therefore respect the right of students, faculty, staff and administrators to exercise their intellectual freedom in the pursuit of these ends." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The statement also linked to information on the university's website about its endowment. A report outlines Gonzaga's strategies and principals for socially responsible investing, but does not give specific details about the portfolio. Student organizer Kevin Pinkelman said that while the university has disclosed how much of its portfolio is invested in fossil fuels, it hasn't done the same for weapons manufacturers. The protesters held signs with sayings such as, "divest and disclose" and "Zags against genocide." They marched around campus through drizzling rain, chanting common phrases like "free, free Palestine," but also chants directed at the university's trustees and leadership. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Andrea Brower, a sociology professor who participated, commended the students. "It is deeply disturbing that there is even a debate about this," Brower said. James Hanlon's reporting for The Spokesman-Review is funded in part by Report for America and by members of the Spokane community. This story can be republished by other organizations for free under a Creative Commons license. For more information on this, please contact our newspaper's managing editor. Google and federal officials are battling it out over a proposal that the tech giant be forced to sell its popular Chrome web browser to restore competition to the online search market. The proposal, filed by the U.S. Department of Justice and several states this week, came after a federal judge ruled that Google maintained an illegal monopoly over internet search. The landmark decision opened the door to the current showdown over potential remedies that could reshape the tech giant's multibillion-dollar business. As part of their proposed penalties, Justice Department officials also suggested the judge impose restrictions on Android, Google's mobile operating system, to prevent it from favoring Google products. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Department of Justice says forcing Google to divest Chrome would create more competition and stop the search giant's control over a "browser that for many users is a gateway to the internet." Google pushed back, calling the request an "unprecedented government overreach" that would harm consumers and U.S. tech leadership. "This is to some extent a negotiating dance," said George Hay, a Cornell University law professor and antitrust expert. "The DOJ is probably trying to get Google to be more cooperative in coming up with remedies that will fix the problem." Here's what you need to know: What are U.S. officials proposing? The Justice Department outlined for the judge several possible solutions in its 23-page court filing, including forcing Google to sell Chrome and potentially Android as well if the company does not adequately address its practice of requiring smartphone makers to use Google products embedded in Android. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The playing field is not level because of Googles conduct, and Googles quality reflects the ill-gotten gains of an advantage illegally acquired," the filing says. "The remedy must close this gap and deprive Google of these advantages." The Justice Department wants to bar Google from entering into exclusive agreements with content publishers, as well as owning or acquiring any interests in search rivals. Publishers should also be able to opt out of having Google use their content to train artificial intelligence tools, under the proposal. And Justice Department officials want advertisers to have more access to data and control over ads that show up in Google search results. The Justice Department is trying to make consumers more aware of choices outside of Google, the world's most popular search engine. Another potential fix includes requiring Google to display a "choice screen" on every Google browser when a user hasn't selected a default search engine. What's Google's response? Google thinks the government's proposal goes too far. Instead, the company thinks the government should focus solutions more narrowly on agreements it has with Apple, Mozilla, smartphone manufacturers and wireless carriers that require the companies to favor Google's search engine over others. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kent Walker, chief legal officer at Google and its parent company, Alphabet, in a blog post called the government's proposal a "radical interventionist agenda that would harm Americans and Americas global technology leadership." Google opposes the idea that it should install "choice screens" on its browser and alleges that would hinder people's abilities to use the company's products. Will this affect the way I search online? Because Google's punishment hasn't been decided, it is too early to say how internet search could be affected. Antitrust experts said it depends on what remedies the judge in the case decides on and whether they withstand scrutiny by an appeals court. Some experts questioned whether any changes, even a forced sale of Chrome, would be effective in getting people to use other search engines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It will still be there in some way, shape or form, but it may be more subtle in terms of the effects on consumers," said Shubha Ghosh, a law professor at Syracuse University. It's unclear who is interested in buying Google Chrome, which Bloomberg reported could be worth up to $20 billion. Could the Trump administration affect Google's punishment? Possibly. President-elect Donald Trump has criticized Google over allegations that the search giant censors conservative speech, which the company has repeatedly denied. But Trump, who reportedly took a phone call with Google Chief Executive Sundar Pichai after he won the U.S. presidential election, has also stopped short of saying he would break up the search giant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a very dangerous thing because we want to have great companies, Trump said in an October interview moderated by Bloomberg News. We dont want China to have these companies. Right now, China is afraid of Google. Hay said he doesn't anticipate Trump will pull the plug on the case, but the Justice Department could soften its proposed remedies. What happens next? Google said it will file its own proposals next month. Court hearings on Google's punishment are scheduled to begin in April. Judge Amit Mehta of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, who is overseeing the case, is expected to make a decision on Google's punishment by August 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Associated Press was used in compiling this report. Sign up for our Wide Shot newsletter to get the latest entertainment business news, analysis and insights. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. State Sen. Terry Johnson, R-McDermott, during the Ohio Senate session, February 8, 2023, in the Senate Chamber at the Statehouse in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Graham Stokes for Ohio Capital Journal. Republish photo only with original story.) In Columbus, Ohio last weekend, a small group of neo-Nazis marched through the Short North neighborhood, sparking outraged responses from city and state leaders, as well as President Joe Biden. Ohio state Sen. Terry Johnson, R-McDermott, brought up the incident as he introduced his proposed bill to define antisemitism under Ohio law Wednesday, but his proposal goes back to the wave of demonstrations on university campuses protesting Israels war in Gaza. Demonstrations related to pro-Gaza protests on college campuses have been marked by disturbing displayed aggression and intolerance, he argued. Many of these protests cross the line into antisemitism by targeting Jewish students and expressing hateful rhetoric. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His legislation incorporates a definition of antisemitism created by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance in state law to determine whether an individual has committed ethnic intimidation. That offense operates as an enhancement to charges like menacing or harassment when the violation is tied to an individuals race, color, religion, or national origin. Johnsons would measure adds riot and aggravated riot to the list of charges that can be elevated if theyre connected to ethnic intimidation. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Johnson insisted this legislation should not be construed to diminish or infringe on any right protected by the First Amendment. The freedom of speech and public demonstrations are ingrained in our American way of life, Johnson said. It is crucial for such a protest to adhere to the principles of respect, empathy and constructive dialog, which we all respect. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speaking after the hearing, Johnson reiterated that hes not concerned about the proposal stifling free speech. He argued its a worthy step to expand the scope of ethnic intimidation and explicitly define antisemitism. Any agency using the provision to police protected speech would be reined in by the rule of law, Johnson added. Taking a step back In full, the IHRA definition of antisemitism reads, Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities. Since its introduction in 2016, nearly 1,300 entities have adopted that definition according to IHRA. Among their number are 45 countries, including the United States, as well as 37 state governments and 96 city and county governments within the United States. Despite that success, the effort has been met with pushback. In April of 2023, more than 100 civil rights organizations including Human Rights Watch, the ACLU, and Amnesty International signed a letter urging the United Nations not to adopt the IHRA definition. The signatories argued, while antisemitism is a pernicious ideology that poses real harm to Jewish communities around the world and requires meaningful action to combat it, the IHRAs approach is the wrong one. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The organizations argued in practice, the definition has often been used to wrongly label criticism of Israel as antisemitic, and thus chill and sometimes suppress, non-violent protest, activism and speech. Their letter noted, as well, that the primary drafter of the IHRA definition has since argued its been weaponized to chill speech on college campuses. Ohio perspectives Already, Ohio lawmakers have passed legislation aimed at lowering the temperature of campus protests. Following passage of the CAMPUS Act this June, the Ohio Jewish Caucus, made up of Reps. Casey Weinstein, D-Hudson, Dani Issacsohn, D-Cincinnati, and Beryl Brown Piccolantonio, D-Gahanna, praised the measure as a bipartisan effort to promote safety and inclusivity. Every student deserves to live, study, and grow in an environment where they feel safe and respected, they said in a statement. This year has brought tremendous turmoil on our campuses, and we spent months listening to diverse student voices share their fears, frustrations, and wishes. We are hopeful that the CAMPUS Act will produce a healthier and safer environment when students return to school this fall. Unlike Johnsons measure, which increases penalties, the CAMPUS Act directs universities to implement anti-harassment policies and report hate incidents annually. The proposal also provides funding for safety improvements and interfaith outreach programs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Ohio Capital Journal requested comment from the Ohio Jewish Caucus without response. Ohio Jewish Communities President Howie Beigelman said his organization is in full support of codifying the Governors executive order from 2022, which is what the bill will do, and he rejected the idea that the measure might stifle free speech. You can say anything you want, and you have the right to protest. All this does is define the speech, he argued. For there to be any charge, theres still a requirement of a criminal action here. The antisemitism definition helps provide context to understand if the action was a hate crime or just a standard crime. Representative-elect Eric Synenberg, D-Beachwood, was quick to note that since he doesnt get sworn in until the next session, he doesnt get a vote. Still, he praised Johnson and DeWines willingness to take action publicly on behalf of his community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And you know, that includes, obviously this past Saturday in Columbus where we had a group of Nazis marching, and he was very quick to condemn that, Synenberg said of DeWine. But while Synenberg embraced the IHRA definition and the intent behind Johnsons proposal, he still had questions about its application. If ethnic intimidation already extends to religion, he wondered, do we really need to further define this? But Synenberg, whos an attorney, argued if the question comes down to protecting a marginalized group or people saying harmful things about them, he leans toward protecting the marginalized. Limiting what somebody can say if its meant to harm or target or hurt a marginalized group? he said, Im fine to take that side of the argument every day of the week. But Faten Odeh worries in an effort to protect one marginalized group, Johnsons measure may be missing an opportunity to protect several others. Odeh heads up the Council on American-Islamic Relations, or CAIR, of Ohio. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While we support efforts to combat antisemitism, Islamophobia, anti-Palestinian racism and other forms of hate, she wrote, this bill as drafted wrongly conflates legitimate criticism of the Israeli government, its actions and its founding ideology with antisemitism. Conflating criticism of the Israeli government with antisemitism, she continued, undermines fundamental constitutional rights, threatens protected political expression and risks discriminatory enforcement. Odeh added that narrowly focusing on criticism toward one community neglects the broader need to combat all forms of hate and discrimination. She argued state lawmakers would do better by strengthening existing hate crime laws. Follow OCJ Reporter Nick Evans on Twitter. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Some Republican senators are privately eager to see the FBI file on Tulsi Gabbard, whose history of alignment with Russia has drawn concern in the wake of her nomination for the post of director of national intelligence, reported Punchbowl News. Although Gabbard has drawn headlines for previously echoing Russian talking points on topics like the wars in Ukraine and Syria, its her support for leaker turned Russian citizen Edward Snowden that is allegedly most troubling for some lawmakers. The former Democratic congresswoman openly pushed for the U.S. to drop all charges against Snowden in a 2020 bill that was co-sponsored by former Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz, another one-time Trump cabinet nominee who was yesterday forced to withdraw his name amid sexual misconduct allegations he denies. Gabbard is Trumps pick for director of intelligence. Lawmakers, including members of the Senate Intelligence Committee, which is responsible for processing Gabbards nomination, reportedly find Gabbards support for Snowdena former NSA employee who leaked state secretsespecially concerning because of the danger his actions posed to national security, reported Punchbowl. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although FBI file reviews are standard for presidential cabinet candidates, Punchbowl reported that the Republican senators interest in doing so seems to suggest that they believe there could still be unknown information in the filesuch as potential foreign contacts. The GOP senators are still, for the time being, treating their president-elects candidates with the typical level of deference, largely refraining from public criticism, though many of the picks have dropped jaws on both sides of the aisle. However, remarks from senators seem to suggest that this state of affairs might not last. Gabbard has drawn concern for her perceived alignment with Russia. I start out saying, OK, this is an individual the president wants on his team, said Republican Sen. Mike Rounds, who is on the intelligence committee, according to Punchbowl. But now lets talk about information that maybe the president didnt have, or information that comes up, and at that stage do we advise the president to look elsewhere or do we offer our consent? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another Republican on the committee, Sen. John Cornyn, told Punchbowl that he has no doubt [Gabbard is] a patriot, but that he would still like to ask her about her stance on Russia. Sen. Susan Collins, also on the committee, said that Gabbard is a nominee that illustrates the importance of a full background check, a public hearing, and the constitutional role of the Senate. In a statement to Punchbowl, Trump transition spokesperson Alexa Henning stated that Gabbard will protect our national security and defend against any effort to use the work of our intelligence agencies as weapons against Americans. Nov. 21GOSHEN A man accused of murdering a woman in Goshen on Oct. 13 was in court on Thursday for a pretrial conference where the judge learned that discovery is expected early next week. Hector Duran Gomez, 45, is accused of using a zip tie to asphyxiate Alma Bermeo, 45, at their 810 S. Indiana Ave. home. According to the probable cause affidavit, Duran Gomez, despite having a no-contact order connected to a current domestic battery charge against Bermeo was at their home the night prior. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police said in the probable cause affidavit that Bermeo left her home after a dinner with Duran Gomez and other family members the night prior but texted her daughter that he was following her and later followed her back to the house. Having not heard from her for much of Oct. 13, Bermeo's friend contacted the police for a welfare check on her as she wasn't answering her phone. Police, along with Bermeo's father, found Bermeo's body in an oversized garage on the property. The garage was used by the father and Duran Gomez to work on cars together and the father noted the lock had been changed sometime overnight and he and the police forced entry into it. Surveillance cameras on the outside of the home also were "moved and broken from the area in which they were supposed to be pointing," the affidavit reads. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They found Bermeo in the corner deceased with a zip tie around her neck, according to the affidavit. Police located Duran Gomez in a parking lot in the 500 block of Lincolnway East and he agreed to drive to the police station to provide a statement. Duran Gomez was taken into custody by the Goshen Police Department and charged with violating the no-contact order between himself and Bermeo. While under arrest, police officers said they noticed scratch marks on Duran Gomez's left forearm, the affidavit reads. An autopsy on Oct. 15 showed that Bermeo's manner of death was preliminarily determined to be homicide by asphyxiation. Duran Gomez's pretrial conference is scheduled for Nov. 21, a trial status conference for March 6, and a jury trial scheduled for March 31. RONALD E. WAGONER A man accused of dealing meth was sentenced in Elkhart County Circuit Court on Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police stopped Wagoner near Nappanee Street and Lusher Avenue after they noted that one of his headlights was not working. Police also noted that the plates were expired. Because of that, the vehicle would need to be impounded. When police informed Wagoner that the vehicle would be impounded, he began manipulating items in the vehicle and opened the dashboard storage compartment, where the officer noticed a small glass pipe with burnt residue. When asked, Wagoner told the officer it was just a piece of glass and the officer ordered him to hand it over. Wagoner complied and was removed from his vehicle and handcuffed. While searching the vehicle, police found a total of 38.5 grams of meth, a large amount of baggies and half a dozen unused glass pipes and a bong. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During sentencing, Wagoner said he wants to get into programs to help for substance abuse. Wagoner was sentenced to Count 2, possession of meth, a Level 3 felony, to 12 years at the Indiana Department of Corrections with four years suspended on reporting probation. KALEB D. GOODWIN One of the five people accused of an armed robbery on Middlebury Street in Elkhart in September had a pretrial status conference in Elkhart County Circuit Court on Thursday. Kaleb Goodwin is currently at the Logansport Juvenile Facility and his attorney Michael Banik told Elkhart County Circuit Court Judge Michael Christofeno that they've waived the bond hearing until Goodwin was released from the facility. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to a probable cause affidavit, two victims arrived at the Elkhart Police Department at 11:34 p.m. Sept. 13, 2024, to report an armed robbery at the apartments at 304 Middlebury St. Alora L.S. Layton, Carrie A. Layton, Emarri K. Redmond, Kaleb D. Goodwin and Issac R. Duckworth were accused. The victims, one man and one woman, told police that they were sitting in their car messaging a friend of the man's, Carrie A. Layton, about helping her move furniture. Two men approached the vehicle on the driver's side, where the woman was, wearing masks and dark clothes and displaying guns, a probable cause affidavit reads. The female driver told police one of the men opened the sliding door of their van and took a knife from her car and threatened her with it. He also reportedly hit her with the magazine end of the pistol he had. The woman said the knife and something from the center console had been taken before returning from the same apartment door they'd come from. The male passenger told police that at the same time, another man approached his passenger side door and took his wallet and a vape and returned to the same apartment as the others. A woman who was nearby did not approach the vehicle. Police executed a search warrant on the apartment and reportedly found a 17-year-old boy hiding inside with multiple firearms on him. They arrested both 17-year-olds, Issac Duckworth and Kaleb Goodwin, as well as E'Marri Redmond, 19; Carrie Layton, 20; and Alora Layton, 18, all of Elkhart, on charges of armed robbery. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Goodwin's jury trial remains set for March 3, with a trial status conference Feb. 6. EDUARDO A. RUEDA JR. One of two teens associated with a Twin Pines armed robbery last winter in Goshen saw his trial continued from Dec. 16 to April 7 during Elkhart County Circuit Court on Thursday. Eduardo Rueda and Johnathan Martinez are accused of an armed robbery in Twin Pines Mobile Home Park in Goshen on Feb. 2, 2023. According to a probable cause affidavit, the victim, 16, had made an Instagram post selling a PlayStation 5, which Rueda responded to with interest in the purchase. Rueda allegedly went to the teen's home and the two of them were outside discussing the transaction when a white Chevrolet Silverado with no license plate pulled up and a man in a ski mask exited the vehicle and pointed a gun at him and took the PlayStation. The white truck was later linked by police to Martinez. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators found surveillance footage that led them to believe that Rueda and Martinez had met earlier in the afternoon at Martin's Supermarket, 3800 Mishawaka Road, and found evidence of communications between the two via SnapChat as they drove in their separate vehicles from Martin's to Twin Pines, and a SnapChat image to a group chat including Rueda of a PlayStation and gun in the Martinez' passengers' seat and announcing to the chat the successful robbery, the probable cause affidavit reads. It also, by video, led investigators to believe the two met up and transferred the gun and game system to Rueda's vehicle at Hobby Lobby parking lot, and Rueda reportedly set the robbery up. Martinez was sentenced to 12 years at the Indiana Department of Corrections with five years suspended on reporting probation for Armed Robbery, a Level 3 Felony. A pretrial conference is scheduled for Jan. 18. Editor's note: Read more court news online at www.goshennews.com. Dani Messick is the education and entertainment reporter for The Goshen News. She can be reached at dani.messick@goshennews.com or at 574-538-2065. If youve ever dreamed of directing a Washington state agency, now is your chance to apply. Gov.-elect Bob Ferguson on Thursday announced plans to hire fresh faces to helm nine state agencies. He has started the process to appoint leadership to: Department of Transportation Department of Health Department of Children, Youth and Families Department of Social and Health Services Department of Ecology Department of Enterprise Services Department of Corrections Health Care Authority Governors Office of Indian Affairs Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than 45,000 employees clock in full time at these various agencies, according to the Nov. 21 news release. McClatchy reached out to the governor-elects office for additional comment but did not immediately hear back. Secretary of Health Dr. Umair Shah, a Gov. Jay Inslee appointee, revealed Tuesday that hell be stepping down next year. Other agency heads have also made plans to retire, move to the private sector or pursue other state-government roles, as noted in Fergusons news release. Im grateful to cabinet members for their service to the people and state of Washington, Ferguson said. We will appoint new leaders who will bring fresh ideas and a passion for improving government. We are building a government that will fight to protect the rights of Washingtonians, solve problems, and make government work for the people. How do I apply? Hopefuls can vie for leadership positions in Fergusons administration by visiting a newly launched web portal and filling out a form. There are also opportunities to volunteer on commissions and boards. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The governor-elect will continue to assess other cabinet agencies leadership, the news release says. He intends to give an update sometime next week. Fergusons transition team Ferguson has touted the diversity of his transition team. On Nov. 16, he posted on X (Twitter) that the group features Washingtonians from every region and both sides of the political aisle. It includes the mayors of Tacoma, Spokane and Leavenworth, as well as state Reps. Tom Dent (R-Moses Lake) and Tana Senn (D-Mercer Island). Earlier this week Ferguson announced that the transition team is fielding submissions from those who want to serve in the Evergreen States government. The job candidate-finding effort was broadcast as part of his mission to form an inclusive, expert-driven and diverse administration. My Transition Team includes Washingtonians of both parties from every region of the state. Im excited to work with anyone who shares my passion to improve government, protect Washingtonians rights and move our state forward. Im focused on public safety, housing, and making it Bob Ferguson (@BobFergusonAG) November 16, 2024 Aside from state-agency leadership and volunteer roles, applicants also can aim for operational and policy-advisor positions, according to a Nov. 18 news release. Intrigued parties can fill out an interest form and read about specific openings at careers.wa.gov. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ferguson also vowed to pare down bureaucracy and center the people in all decisions during his gubernatorial tenure. This is a unique opportunity to contribute to Washingtons future and to help implement policies that will improve the lives of all Washington residents, he said. HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) Kentucky patients with certain conditions like cancer and PTSD will soon be able to apply for their medical cannabis cards. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear and the executive director for his medical cannabis office Sam Flynn outline the plan on Thursday. The state will start allowing patients to apply for their medical cannabis cards starting January 1. These cards can be used to purchase edibles, oils, vapes and even raw plant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But first, Kentuckians will need to visit one of the nearly 150 practitioners authorized to write the correct certification for cannabis. It is part of the application process. Kentucky is already one step ahead of those wondering where can I find my nearest practitioner? Starting December 1, the state will have a directory of those professionals on their Office of Medical Cannabis website. The other steps of the process are on that website too. You need to set up an initial appointment, You need to receive a diagnosis or a confirmation of a qualifying condition. And then you need to retrieve the written certificate. Thats what you will use that written certification to apply for a medical cannabis card, Governor Beshear says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kentucky meanwhile has issued 29 licenses to cultivators, safety compliance facilities and processors. Flynn says hes been working with them to ensure safe distribution of cannabis products. We have stringent requirements on security locking mechanisms. Many of these facilities are existing facilities, and they are retrofitting those, Flynn says. Some of these facilities will be new facilities and theyll need to be built out. More from Ben Walls Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eyewitness News. Everywhere you are. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW). TOPEKA (KSNT) Kansas Governor Laura Kelly has granted two additional pardons Friday. Kelly made the announcement on Nov. 22 for two people who showed signs theyve been rehabilitated, according to a press release from the Office of the Governor. The decision follows independent reviews from the Prison Review Board, the Kansas Department of Administration and the governors legal team. The decision to grant these pardons comes after a meticulous and thorough review process, Kelly said. One of the largest factors taken into consideration is a persons commitment to rehabilitation, making amends, and positively contributing to society. Granting these pardons will give a second chance to two individuals who have taken responsibility for their actions and are working to move on with their lives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Former Kansas Republican congressional candidate arrested on harassment charge in Shawnee County Kellys pardons were extended to Anthony Mitchell and Richard McMichael. Kelly previously issued a series of pardons and commutations on Nov. 6. Factors that go into the decision-making process of issuing pardons includes the nature of the offense, harsh sentences, impact of the crime on victims/survivors, demonstration of rehabilitation, criminal history, absence of disciplinary issues in prison and more, according to the Office of the Governor. More information on this process can be found by clicking here. For more Capitol Bureau 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/MatthewLeoSelf Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News. AUSTIN (KXAN) With executive orders from Gov. Greg Abbott coming down back-to-back, we wanted to know about indirect implications from them. You know, its really interesting on the timing, said. State Rep. Gene Wu, D-Houston. Im not really sure of what to make of it because many of the things the governor talks about are things weve know about for years, if not decades. Texas universities required to punish antisemitic rhetoric in free speech policies Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If nothing, maybe its because the legislature is starting up and people are filing bills and maybe hes trying to make a point, he said. The governor said in his executive order this week The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has engaged in a worldwide harassment campaign. The order goes on to say Texas will defend and safeguard itself and our public treasury from any potential threat, including those posed by the CCP. Wu pointed out that Texas and China do a lot of business together. There are tens, if not maybe hundreds, of billions of dollars in Chinese investments in Texas, Wu said. You go up and down the Texas coast, theres a ton of Chinese chemical plants out there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The co-founder of Stop AAPI Hate, Cynthia Choi, said that Abbott is up to his same old antics. Gov. Greg Abbott issues executive order targeting Chinese government operatives in Texas Chois organization works to end racism and discrimination against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Really policies like this and rhetoric really contributes to an environment where Asian Americans are viewed with suspicion, Choi said. KXAN requested an interview with the Abbott on the timing of these orders and worries from groups like Chois. His press office referred to his orders for any official statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. By Alimat Aliyeva The American aircraft carrier USS George Washington has arrived at the Yokosuka Naval Base in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, for permanent deployment, Azernews reports. The George Washington will replace another aircraft carrier, the USS Ronald Reagan, which had been stationed at Yokosuka. This marks the return of the USS George Washington to Japan for the first time in 9.5 years. The ship was previously stationed in Yokosuka from 2008 to 2015 before being sent back to the United States for extensive repairs and equipment upgrades. Notably, the USS George Washington became the first American aircraft carrier to be permanently stationed in Yokosuka with a nuclear-powered propulsion system. This was a significant milestone, underscoring the growing strategic importance of the U.S. Navy's presence in the Pacific. After its tenure in Japan, the George Washington underwent a major overhaul and modernization process before returning to active duty. The redeployment of the George Washington reflects the U.S. Navy's ongoing commitment to maintaining a strong presence in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly amid rising tensions in the region involving North Korea and China's expanding military activities. The aircraft carrier is expected to serve as a cornerstone of U.S. naval operations in the area, providing critical support for regional security and reinforcing alliances with key partners like Japan. In addition to its military significance, the George Washington's return is also a boost to the local economy in Yokosuka, where the presence of American naval personnel supports local businesses and fosters a continued partnership between Japan and the United States. LITTLE ROCK, Ark. Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders pardoned two turkeys Thursday at an event celebrating the turkey industry in the Natural State. The turkeys, Tom and Gladys, were both raised by nine-year-old Nevaeh Haile of Vilonia who is a member of the Mount Vernon Enola 4-H club. Officials said Tom recently was crowned the Arkansas State Fairs Turkey of the Year. Gov. Hutchinson pardons 2 Arkansas turkeys for Thanksgiving Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the event, the governor proclaimed Nov. 24-30 as Arkansas Turkey Week and thanked Cargill for their donation of 150,000 pounds of turkey products to the Arkansas Foodbank, Northwest Arkansas Foodbank and River Valley Foodbank during the holiday season. This is the time of year to give thanks to everyone around us but especially our farmers, Gov. Sanders said. Our turkey producers have been bringing families together for years and we are so grateful for their work to feed Arkansans and Americans this holiday season. Biden pardons National Thanksgiving Turkeys while marking his 81st birthday with jokes about his age Marvin Childers, president of The Poultry Federation said that the Natural State plays a major role in ensuring turkey is on the table around the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the third-largest turkey producer in the country, Arkansas plays a major role in ensuring that tables across the United States are filled with quality poultry products, Childers said. Arkansas produces 27 million turkeys a year and Arkansas Turkey Week is an opportunity for us to celebrate the hardworking farmers who dedicate themselves to producing turkeys of the highest standards. We are also fortunate to have two of the largest processing companies, Cargill and Butterball, who employee thousands of hardworking Arkansans in Springdale, Ozark, Huntsville, and Jonesboro. For more information on the Arkansas Department of Agriculture, visit online at Agriculture.Arkansas.Gov. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK. Nov. 21GRANBY, Mo. The city of Granby has been awarded a $62,500 state grant to contract with an engineer to look at the feasibility of connecting East Newton High School to the city's wastewater system. The grant, awarded by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, was announced Wednesday. "This is a competitive grant program that offers funding to municipalities as an incentive to construct connections for small, struggling wastewater treatment facilities," the DNR said. "The entities responsible for these small facilities often lack the financial and technical resources to upgrade their wastewater treatment facilities to meet more stringent limits and operate their facilities appropriately. These facilities typically serve such a small number of connections that the cost to comply with permit conditions is a significant financial challenge for the users." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Granby Mayor Jamie Conway, Granby is nearing completion of an extensive expansion and reconstruction of its wastewater treatment plant and the school district came to the city to ask about making the connection. "Because we did a major upgrade of our wastewater system, we can take on a lot more sewer through our system," Conway said. "They asked us if we would be interested in entertaining the option for them to hook up to our system. The city said as long as it was not on the cost of the citizens of Granby, we were interested." East Newton Superintendent Scott Carlton said the DNR has suggested that the high school needs to find a wastewater option other than its current wastewater lagoon system. "East Newton High School was starting to be built in 1967, and the things that were construction code then are not code now," Carlton said. "Granby is the closest wastewater treatment system. None of the other area communities have that. I don't know if this would have been possible without their expansion of their wastewater system. With the expansion, we think and Granby thinks they would probably have the capacity to support us as well. It's just the high school. It's not like you're hooking up to another town or anything like that." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Conway said the distance of several miles between the school and the city and is the biggest challenge facing the proposed project. The DNR said in a written release that the funds will "cover all the eligible costs to develop the plan, which is expected to be completed by April 2026." "The department's intention for this grant is to decrease the number of point sources that discharge pollutants to Missouri's waterways by promoting regional partnerships that would not be possible without this funding," Dru Buntin, director of the DNR, said in a statement. "Water and wastewater systems are crucial infrastructure that aid community health and economic vitality." Unconnected Granby Mayor Jamie Conway said the wastewater grant is unrelated to a $536,000 no-interest loan the Department of Natural Resources awarded the city in September for planning and designing work related to the city's drinking water improvement project. Conway said the city has needed to upgrade its water and wastewater systems for years but that the issue had been kicked down the road until now. She said the city is using the loan money to design the improvements needed for its water system and hopes to start construction on that sometime in 2025. After 20 years and $2.3 trillion spent, after more than 100,000 American and Afghan lives lost, one would think our war in Afghanistan would be more of a reference point today. Yet, outside of a few jabs from conservatives regarding President Bidens handling of the exit, the war was hardly brought up at all this election cycle despite having ended just three years earlier. A reminder of how fast society moves and perhaps a glimpse into the future. When was the last time you heard someone mention Ukraine in casual conversation? Back in February 2022, when Russia invaded, there were vigils in our streets. Now, more than 1,000 days later, after Congress has approved $175 billion in aid , its likely to fade into distant memory. President-elect Donald Trump, who has repeatedly questioned funding Ukraine, has vowed to end the war quickly. Ukraines president, Volodymyr Zelensky, said he would like to do so through diplomatic means next year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Opinion: Western aid isn't prolonging the war in Ukraine. This is While the average American probably hadnt thought much about Ukraine before the 2022 invasion, Russian President Vladimir Putin has been thinking about the country for more than 30 years. The breakup of the Soviet Union was the collapse of a historic Russia, he said in a documentary that aired on Russias airwaves. Putin has also referred to his countrys 1991 fall as the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the 20th century. For those keeping score at home, hes ranking the end of the U.S.S.R. as worse than both world wars and the 20 years in Vietnam. We lost 40% of the territory, production capacities and population. We became a different country. What had been built over a millennium was lost to a large extent. Read more: Biden for the first time OKs Ukraine's use of U.S.-supplied long-range missiles in Russia Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Make Russia Great Again may not lend itself to a pronounceable acronym, but it does clearly define Putins foreign policy agenda. Its one predicated on a worldview that sees Ukraine as a rebellious commonwealth and not an independent democracy. Throwing off oppression is a story we know well in this country. Its a story we teach our children and base our exceptionalism on. Its a story of freedom. But as we all know, freedom isnt free. Under the Biden administration, America was willing to help Ukraine pay to keep its freedom. The incoming Trump administration has signaled this will likely not continue. Other nations will go on to help Ukraine in its fight, but without Americas military and economic power, this coalition will struggle to hold together against Russias might. The gamble in not providing aid to Ukraine is that should that country fall, it wont satisfy Putin. His desire to restore his countrys glory has been burning for three decades. Why would he stop just as resistance crumbles? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The phrase elections have consequences isnt just about domestic politics. There are consequences abroad as well. When most voters supported Trumps candidacy, did they fully understand what walking away from Ukraine would mean? As former Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) told me: Ukraine gave up its nukes, in exchange for peace. The fact that Russia is attacking now means that only nukes work as a deterrent, so you can expect nuclear proliferation throughout the world. Read more: Column: Trump talks tough on Russia now, but as president he bowed to Putin As president, Trump was slow to respond after Russia fired on and captured Ukrainian vessels and sailors back in 2018 . Based on that lukewarm response, and his comments about helping Ukraine, it does make one wonder if Trump has any red line for Putin, and if so, what it is and what he is prepared to do to defend it. Unfortunately, there werent many opportunities to have these conversations during this election cycle. If there had been, perhaps voters would have a better understanding about the money for Ukraine. According to Kinzinger, a member of the Air National Guard and an Air Force veteran who served in Afghanistan and Iraq, the money spent on weapons is actually produced here in the United States and we send our old [weapons] to Ukraine. So, were actually building jobs and refreshing our own weapons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Normally the U.S. pays to have old weapons destroyed, Kinzinger said. None of this rose above the noise that surrounded a campaign season saturated with misinformation. Trumps pitch for isolationism, or his willingness to ignore Ukraine, apparently resonated with many voters. And given our habit of quickly moving on from talking about war, its doubtful many of us would even remember just how much supporting Ukraine cost us. On the other hand, we might find abandoning Ukraine and caving to Russia has a far steeper cost one that will be impossible for us to forget. @LZGranderson 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. DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) The grandson of a man whose body parts were discovered in a Trotwood home in April has changed his plea. Tygan Keiter had been facing four counties of tampering, each a 3rd-degree felony. Initially pleading not guilty, he changed his plea to two of the counts to guilty on Wednesday. On April 22, human remains were discovered at a Trotwood residence. The remains were identified as Edgar Keiter Sr., 75. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Keiter Sr.s son, Edgar Keiter Jr., 52, was arrested as the initial alleged suspect in the case after a serial number on the victims knee was used to track him down. Keiter Jr. was indicted on several counts including gross abuse of a corpse. Amanda Reiff was charged on two counts in relation to the incident, each occurring between April 12 and May 1, 2024. Keiter, Jr. and Reiff remain in the Montgomery County Jail facing charges of abusing a corpse and tampering with evidence. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. GRANITE SHOALS, Texas (KXAN) A white tail deer population boom is causing one Hill Country town to take action. Granite Shoals has seen its deer population increase significantly over the last few years, and now the city is introducing a program to reduce those numbers. The deer population is enormous out here, said Granite Shoals City Council Member Brian Edwards. Edwards said more deer means theres the potential for more accidents, which is a danger to residents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You have to drive very self aware and take it slow, Edwards said. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) said the white tail deer population across the state has dipped over the years due to drought. Texas deer population bouncing back following drought In 2016 there were about 5.5 million white tail deer, but recent data shows there are about 4.7 million. While state numbers are down, Blaise Korzekwa, with TPWDs white-tailed deer program, said there are pockets where deer can see growth. Those are areas close to water or areas where there are no predators and plenty of food. If left unchecked the deer can cause problems, Korzekwa said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is the danger of vehicle collisions, said Korzekwa. The impact of too many white-tail could start to impact other wildlife species based off the changes in habitat. Peter Hutnick with the Granite Shoals Wildlife Advisory Committee, is in charge of monitoring deer populations. Data from the city shows that in 2019 there were about 950 white tail deer. However, during COVID-19, the committee stopped its harvesting program, and now those numbers are way up. Lakeway considers deer management options after viral trapping video We saw during our survey over 2,000 deer this year, Hutnick said. That was the first time we saw over 2,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To help reduce the numbers the city started discussing a harvesting program this year. The program will allow qualified hunters to bow hunt in designated areas. The meat from these deer would then be donated to food pantries to feed families in need. This is strictly for deer population management, Edwards said. The Wildlife advisory committee said they will have a town hall meeting in February or March to get public input about the harvesting program. They hope to then start the program around October 2025. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) Thursday night at the Terre Haute Convention Center, Senator Greg Goode held a free speech event, discussing politics with National Review Editor-In-Chief Rich Lowry. This comes just two months after the cancellation of Lowrys appearance at Indiana State. He says he believes the decision by the university was a mistake. I think Indiana State made a terrible decision. This is the kind of decision that college campuses across America make, you are a little bit controversial, doesnt matter what the truth is or why you are controversial. They just say dont come. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senator Greg Goode invited Lowry to speak at his event after hearing the news of the cancellation. Goode is an Indiana State Senator who was elected on the merits of free speech and debate. In the midst of that disappointment, I saw an opportunity and reached our to Mr. Lowry. I was immediately touched by the sense of humility and grace that he demonstrated, as well as his interest to come to Terre Haute. To be able to participate in a very civil discourse among our fellow citizens, even among those who might disagree with him. The two discussed the current state of politics, focusing on the recent presidential election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Goode says the purpose of events like this are to bring people together. To also show the world that in Indiana, and in paticular West Central Indiana, that we can come together as a people. Even despite the very hot rhetoric that is occuring across the country and in some cases, college campuses. That we can come together, through civil discourse, about the future of our country. Goode says that prior to the event, he reached out to THPD for safety measures, but there were no problems tonight. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyWabashValley.com. Homicide investigators arrested a 19-year-old suspect after four people were fatally shot and left inside a burning Lancaster home in the early hours of Saturday morning, authorities said. Miguel Sandoval of Lancaster was arrested on suspicion of murdering Edwin Garcia, Christine Aca-ac, Matthew Montebello and Janvi Maquindang, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. His charges will be presented to the L.A. County district attorney's office for filing consideration on Monday, investigators said. L.A. County sheriff's deputies and firefighters responded to a call for service in the 44500 block of Tabler Avenue in Lancaster at 1:27 a.m., authorities said. Upon arriving, they found a one-story home in flames. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What was found inside was grisly three men and a woman, all described as in their 20s, bleeding from gunshot wounds, authorities said. Three victims died at the scene, while a fourth was rushed to the hospital in critical condition, according to the Fire Department. Firefighters extinguished the blaze shortly after 2 a.m., at which time the cause was under investigation. Read more: Want to sit in on the Menendez brothers' hearing? The lottery is Monday Investigators said a fifth person, a 16-year-old girl, was also home at the time of the incident but was not injured, according to ABC7. She called 911 and hid in her bedroom before being rescued by deputies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators believe it was an isolated incident and no further details are being released about the case at this time. Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500 or report an anonymous tip at (800) 222-8477. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY) More than 300 students, alumni, donors and community members gathered last week as the Ragin Cajuns Catholics at Our Lady of Wisdom broke ground for a new church and student center. According to a news release, the project will begin in early 2025 and is expected to take 18 months to complete. In June 2022, the Diocese of Lafayette completed a land transaction which resulted in the Diocese exchanging five acres of land with the University of Louisiana at Lafayette to get 1.4 acres in the heart of campus. That acquired land will be the site of the church and Catholic Student Center. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now KLFY Daily Digest The new church will seat a little more than 580 people. The new student center will be 25,000-square-feet and will include multiple bible study rooms, lecture hall, a library and more. During the ground breaking ceremony, Rev. Patrick Broussard announced a $6 million gift to the Catholic Student Center from the Patrick F. Taylor Foundation and Phyllis M. Taylor. This is the largest gift given to any entity in the Diocese of Lafayette and represents Mrs. Taylors legacy to the students of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, the news release read. Latest News Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLFY.com. Colorado's second-highest court ruled last month that the city of Colorado Springs cannot be held liable for a vehicle crash in which traffic lights were functioning normally in one direction and were inoperative in the perpendicular direction. Participants in the 12th meeting of the Coalition of States to establish a special tribunal on the crime of aggression against Ukraine adopted a joint statement for the first time, as well as agreeing on the parameters of the tribunal's operations. Source: Iryna Mudra, Deputy Head of the Presidents Office, as reported by European Pravda Details: The Coalition of States convened in Riga and "agreed on the key parameters of the tribunal's work, in particular regarding its jurisdiction, and worked out a road map that clearly provided for concrete further steps" to create a special tribunal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Quote: "We have finally made significant progress this year. Ukraine's position is clear and unambiguous: we cannot and will not compromise on justice," Mudra commented. In a statement adopted for the first time following the meeting of the Special Tribunal Group, the parties confirmed the inevitability of punishment for the aggressor and their commitment to the speedy creation of a special tribunal. Separately, they noted Ukraine's ratification of the International Criminal Court's Rome Statute, as well as progress in the preparation of the draft bilateral agreement between Ukraine and the Council of Europe on the establishment of a special tribunal, the draft statute, and the draft Extended Partial Agreement, which defines the conditions for the tribunal's funding. Background: Discussions for establishing a special tribunal for Russia for the crime of aggression have been ongoing after 2022, but there had been no actual progress on this matter in a long time. The major reason is that Ukraine favours the establishment of an international tribunal (on the basis of an international organisation), while key Western allies prefer the so-called hybrid format (in which the tribunal is held under Ukrainian legislation but with the backing of foreign partners). Support UP or become our patron! (Photo credit: Parks and Wildlife Service, Western Australia/Facebook) In a heartwarming conclusion to an extraordinary journey, Gus the emperor penguin has been released back into the wild off the southern coast of Western Australia. After spending 20 days recuperating under the care of local wildlife experts, Gus was returned to the ocean from a Parks and Wildlife Service vessel, with hopes that he will find his way back to his Antarctic home. Gus's incredible story began when he was first spotted on Nov. 1 by surfer Aaron Fowler near Denmark, approximately 250 miles south of Perth. Initially mistaken for a large sea bird, Gus amazed onlookers as he waddled onto the shore. "There was this big bird in the water, and we thought it was another sea bird, but then it kept coming closer to the shore -- and it was way too big -- and it just stood up and waddled right over to us," Fowler recounted to the Albany Advertiser. Fowler speculated that the penguin, showing unusual comfort around humans, might have mistaken the surfers in their wetsuits for fellow penguins. In this photo provided by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, a male emperor penguin dubbed Gus, stands on a beach near Denmark, Australia, on Nov. 1, 2024, thousands of kilometers from its normal habitat on Antarctica. (Photo credit: DBCA via AP) In this undated photo provided by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, a male emperor penguin dubbed Gus, stands on a scale after being discovered on a beach near Denmark, Australia, on Nov. 1, 2024, thousands of kilometers from its normal habitat on Antarctica. (Photo credit: Miles Brotherson/DBCA via AP) At the time of his discovery, Gus was severely malnourished, weighing only 51 pounds, far less than the typical 100-pound weight of an adult male emperor penguin. He was quickly taken into the care of Carol Biddulph, a registered wildlife rescuer with the Australian Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. "Never in my wildest thoughts would I have thought I'd ever have an emperor penguin to care for," Biddulph told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. "It's just amazing. It's such a privilege to be part of this bird's journey." (Photo credit: Parks and Wildlife Service, Western Australia/Facebook) (Photo credit: Parks and Wildlife Service, Western Australia/Facebook) Under Biddulph's care, Gus gained nearly eight pounds and recovered his strength. On a Wednesday morning, the Parks and Wildlife Service ensured Gus's safe return to the wild, where he will hopefully navigate back to Antarctica, covering the extensive distances that emperor penguins are known for in their foraging trips. Clearcut Logging Hackers have targeted a phony "online university" founded by the far-right influencer and alleged human trafficker Andrew Tate, gaining access to thousands of files and chatlogs from people who paid for his sketchy lessons. As the Daily Dot reports, a group of purported "hacktivists" breached private user files on Tate's subscription-based "The Real World" site and leaked the chat logs, exposing the idiotic musings of those who pay the self-described "misogynist" $50 per month for his crank wisdom. "Maybe its just the [mainstream media], but I am starting to fear for my own safety and the future of the USA," one of the users wrote the day after Donald Trump's assassination attempt earlier this year, per the logs viewed by the Dot. "Shootings every day, LGBTQ agenda, the matrix, I live in a very good area with a very good home life but I am sick of all this garbage happening here." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Along with breaching the user information and chatlogs, the unidentified group flooded the notoriously homophobic Tate's Rumble chatroom with LGBTQ-themed emoji in the middle of one of his shows. According to one of the Dot's sources with knowledge of the situation, the platform was "hilariously insecure" as also evidenced by another hack earlier this year exposing nearly a million users' personal information. This lack of security made it easy, per the hackers' own statement to the site, to "upload emojis, delete attachments, crash everyones clients, and temporarily ban people." Legal Defense Maybe the most interesting question is what else the hackers haven't released yet and whether it could affect Tate's ongoing legal jeopardy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While it doesn't appear that Tate has responded publicly to the hack, the timing could not be worse for the 37-year-old "Manosophere" icon. As Reuters reported earlier in the week, Tate and his brother Tristan both had appeals accepted in a Romanian court, where the influencer faces charges related to sex trafficking allegations in that country. Tate is also the subject of a more recent civil suit filed by women in the United Kingdom who claim he raped them. While some social media commentators attempted to overstate the significance of the Romanian appeal and characterize them as outright dismissals, Newsweek noted that the appeals court merely removed part of the evidence from the sex trafficking case due to inconsistencies in the original indictment. From a minor legal win to a major hacker blow, Tate's clearly had a hell of a week and we couldn't imagine it happening to a nicer guy. More on hacktivism: Project 2025 Exec Loses Mind, Threatening "Furry Perverts" After Embarrassing Hack Matt Hancock has admitted do not resuscitate orders were wrongly applied during the Covid pandemic. The former health secretary told the Covid Inquiry the practice had been used inappropriately during the crisis, denying people access to potentially life-saving treatment. He also suggested the UK should lock down faster in the event of a future pandemic, despite concerns over the impact of the medieval measures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Do not resuscitate (DNR) orders, which instruct doctors not to attempt CPR if a patients heart or breathing stops, are generally only supposed to be drawn up with the clear agreement of the person in question. But concerns were raised during the crisis that blanket DNRs had been imposed on vulnerable people without their consent. Giving evidence to the Covid Inquiry on Friday, Mr Hancock said it was obvious the orders had been wrongly applied in some circumstances and backed an investigation into their use during the pandemic. The former health secretary was asked whether he would support a systemic review of all DNR notices put in place in early 2020. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He replied: I certainly think a review like that should be looked at because its obvious that there were cases when DNR notices were wrongly applied. And I think the issue of consent is so important here. Mr Hancock said he could not recall ministers looking into a review when he was in government, because our absolutely prime motivation was to stop that from happening in the first instance. He said: Now, of course, were no longer in a pandemic, and so now would be an appropriate moment to consider doing that. Mr Hancock also insisted he acted immediately on concerns over the inappropriate use of DNRs during the Covid crisis when he was first alerted to them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The reality is that as soon as I heard about this being a potential problem and these concerns being raised with me, I immediately acted, because I feel so strongly about this, he said. And I went public on it, including using the platform of the daily press conference to reiterate the total unacceptability of this and I discussed it with the NHS leadership, whose responsibility it was to stop it from happening. Threatened with legal action The government was threatened with legal action over an alleged failure to provide consistent advice on the use of DNRs during the pandemic, with ministers ultimately committing to publish new patient-facing guidelines in July 2020. Mr Hancock added: There is absolutely no reason why anybody should put in place one of these measures without a properly consented process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2021, a major survey by the care watchdog found blanket orders were imposed on care home residents without their consent in a potentially discriminatory and unlawful use of the practice. It also found DNRs had been applied to people with learning disabilities who were not near the end of their lives, showing a concerning disregard for disabled people. The charity Age UK said the extremely disturbing report confirmed concerns peoples rights to choose were ridden roughshod over during the pandemic. On his second consecutive day giving evidence, Mr Hancock also made the case for future lockdowns despite questions over the justification for imposing such drastic restrictions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Boris Johnson, who was prime minister throughout the pandemic, has said he is no longer sure the national shutdowns played a decisive role in defeating the virus. Describing the restrictions as literally medieval in their savagery and consequences, he likened himself to King Canute and questioned whether it was possible for government action to repel the waves of a highly contagious disease. Boris Johnson has said he is no longer sure Covid lockdowns worked - Andrew Boyers/PA Critics have raised questions about whether the benefits of lockdowns outweighed the impact on economic growth, childrens education and peoples mental health. But Mr Hancock suggested the UK should act even faster in the event of a future pandemic, telling the inquiry: There needs to be a national debate, in my view, about how we respond immediately. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said: The absolute number one thing that we can do to avoid this sort of trauma for NHS staff is to bring in lockdown measures early in response to a pandemic-level pathogen. And I think that those who understand the consequence of waiting before bringing in measures that are going to be necessary need to unite to win that argument. There are still people making the argument that lockdown wasnt necessary, or in future we should try to do without it. I think that is false, wrong and dangerous, and the case needs to continue to be made so that should a pandemic-potential pathogen [hit us], which could happen at any time, were ready. 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. TAYLOR COUNTY, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) Fire has destroyed a home in Buffalo Gap. A home on the 800 block of Live Oak Street caught fire around 2:30 p.m. Thursday. First responders arrived and found the home was completely engulfed in flames. After working on the fire for a brief time, all firefighters retreated from the inside and began attacking the exterior until the fire was put out. At about 7:00 p.m., a spark reignited, and fire crews returned to extinguish the flames. The fire is now out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Neighbors say the homeowner did make it outside. A family member said that one person was taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation but is expected to fully recover. The Red Cross is in contact with the family. Investigators told KTAB and KRBC that the current cause is unknown, but the fire did start on the porch, and a cigarette could have been involved. The home was owned by Oscar and Maria Lola Molina. The couple lived there with their elderly mother, eldest Daughter Meagan Molina, and her two young boys. They are currently living with nearby family in Buffalo Gap. If you would like to contribute to their recovery donations can be made through the family created GoFundMe page. The dollar store in Buffalo Gap is also accepting monetary donations that will go to the family. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No further information is available at this time. Stick with BigCountryHomepage.com for any additional details. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com. The video above aired on Nov. 13, 2024. SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) The San Diego Police Department has released the identities of the officers who responded to an incident involving a suspect accused of shooting and killing two people in their car near the San Diego County Courthouse on Wednesday, Nov. 13. The suspect, identified as 26-year-old Christopher Farrell, allegedly shot the couple in their car at 1300 Union St. just before 8:30 a.m. as they were headed to the courthouse to attend a restraining order hearing against him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Man found dead in vehicle in parking lot Authorities said Farrell had been in a previous relationship with the female victim, 31-year-old Rachael Martinez. Martinez and her partner, 39-year-old Jose Media, were both killed in the shooting. Several witnesses saw Farrell flee the scene on foot holding a gun, according to SDPD. He was later found by Port of San Diego Harbor Police officers in Little Italy, which led to a shootout. During the fight, a Harbor Police officer was injured and Farrell was fatally shot. The shooting is still being investigated by the SDPD Homicide Unit. Deported veterans worry Trump will stonewall bill meant to bring them home Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Thursday, SDPD identified the Harbor Police officers who were involved in the incident. The officers who fired their service weapons were named as Corporal Jason Day and Officer Alexander Kahn. Day has been employed by Harbor Police for approximately six years, and Kahn has been with the department for approximately nine years, SDPD said. The officer who was shot was identified as Officer Patrick Lynch. He has been employed by Harbor Police since September and was previously with the San Diego Police Department for approximately one year. Lynch, who did not fire his weapon during the incident, is currently in field training on patrol. According to SDPD, the investigation will be reviewed by the San Diego County District Attorneys Office to determine whether the officers have any criminal liability for their actions. The Harbor Police Department will also conduct an investigation into the officers discharge of their firearms. The investigation will be monitored by the Federal Bureau of Investigations and the U.S. Attorneys Office. Anyone with more information regarding the case is asked to contact the Homicide Unit at (619) 531-2293 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. The Harford County Council is down one member with the Nov. 14 removal of Dion Guthrie. The panel expects the county's Democratic Central Committee to submit three candidates by mid-December. The deadline to fill the vacancy is Jan. 13. Photo by Bryan P. Sears Newly hired attorneys for the Harford County Council are demanding that a former councilmember decide if he will follow through with a threatened lawsuit over his ouster, and that he stop trying to contact current council members in the meantime. The three-page letter to Dion Guthrie follows the councils hiring Tuesday of the law firm Rifkin Weiner Livingston to represent it in the event that Guthrie heads to court to overturn his removal from the panel. The firms letter urged Guthries attorney to quickly decide if he will make good on the threat of legal action. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In connection with entering his plea of nolo contendere, Mr. Guthrie told the court, through counsel, that he doesnt have the resilience to contest the criminal allegations, Alan Rifkin, a partner at the Rifkin law firm, wrote in his Nov. 20 letter to Guthries attorney. However, he has publicly stated his intent to file a civil lawsuit. Please be advised that your clients public statement that he intends to sue has caused the Council to incur costs and is causing those costs to increase. If your client does not intend to file suit, please advise forthwith so that damages may be mitigated, Rifkin wrote. Guthrie pleaded nolo contendere on Nov. 14 in Baltimore County Circuit Court to one felony count of stealing more than $23,000 from the union he ran for more than 50 years. Prosecutors, based on a joint investigation by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and the U.S. Labor Department, alleged that Guthrie misappropriated money from various accounts and a credit card to pay for beach condo rentals, iTunes purchases and more. Guthries plea acknowledged prosecutors had enough evidence to convict him, but also allowed him the ability to continue to dispute the allegations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The plea triggered his automatic removal under state law. But Guthrie and his attorney challenge that. They claim that Guthrie can stay on the council since Baltimore County Circuit Court Judge Dennis Robinson struck the plea before sentencing him to probation before judgment. Rifkins letter called Guthries plea indisputable and said that, At that moment, he ceased to be a Member of the Council. Nothing that occurred afterwards is relevant to automatic removal from office. We ask that you and your client direct all communications regarding this subject matter to this firm, to my attention, and with Mike Berman and Stu Cherry. No one else will be responding to any communications from Mr. Guthrie. Alan Rifkin, attorney for the Harford County Council The removal is based on a voter-approved 2012 amendment to the Maryland Constitution, that automatically removes any elected official who enters a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to any felony charge or misdemeanor crimes related to the officials public duties and responsibilities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Previously, the constitution required a final conviction, after judicial review or otherwise, which left open the possibility that some officials could remain in office pending appeals or sentences of probation before judgment, a sentence that effectively strikes the finding of guilt. Harford County officials, who said they were acting on advice from the attorney general, said removal is triggered by a plea of guilty or nolo contendere and is not affected by any subsequent sentence. The council moved quickly following Guthries plea, informing him of his removal and askingd Harford County Executive Bob Cassilly, whose administration oversees technology and payroll for the council, to turn off Guthries access and stop paying him. Cassillys administration complied. Since his departure, Guthrie and his attorney have emailed council members at both their personal and office accounts, sometimes copying Cassilly. The emails dispute the removal and demand Guthries return to the council. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a Nov. 20 letter to Harford County Council President Patrick Vincenti (R), Guthries lawyer claims the removal is unlawful because the theft occurred in Baltimore County, and because Judge Robinson struck Guthries plea as part of the probation before judgment sentence. With either of these arguments there simply is no conviction, the attorney, Domenic Iamele, wrote. The letter, as with other emails and letters, repeats the threat of a lawsuit. It behooves you, the county executive, Mr. Cassilly, and the Harford Co. Council, to rethink your position based on the fact that there is no conviction, thus allowing Mr. Guthrie to serve out the balance of his councilmanic term in service to the citizens of Harford Co, Iameles letter said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rifkin demanded the messages from Guthrie himself stop, saying it is not necessary for the council to respond to them and no response will be forthcoming. We ask that you and your client direct all communications regarding this subject matter to this firm, to my attention, and with Mike Berman and Stu Cherry, Rifkin wrote. No one else will be responding to any communications from Mr. Guthrie. Neither Guthrie nor Iamele responded to a request for comment Thursday. They have yet to file suit against the county, according to online court records. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The legal deadline for filing such a lawsuit is unclear, but the clock for Guthrie is ticking pragmatically speaking. In the hours after Guthries plea, the Harford County Democratic Central Committee said it would seek legal advice regarding the vacancy, and it announced in a Nov. 16 social media post that it was moving forward with seeking a replacement. The charges to which Councilman Guthrie pled no contest do not represent the values we expect in our Democratic elected officials, the group said in a Facebook post. We wish former Councilman Guthrie the best in his future endeavors and thank him for his service on the Council to the residents of District A and to the County. The Harford County Charter gives the council 60 days to fill the vacancy. They have set a Jan. 13 deadline for such a vote. The council notified the central committee, which must send at least three names to the council to replace Guthrie. Central Committee Chair Henry Gibbons said in an interview Thursday night that the organization will set a tight timeline for sending names to the council. The committee will accept applications until Dec. 6, and is scheduled to meet on Dec. 18 to interview candidates and select three nominees to forward to the council. HARLETON, Texas (KETK) The Harrison County Sheriffs Office is asking for the publics help locating someone who reportedly stole a Kubota tractor from a property earlier this week. Teen leads Longview police on pursuit, crashes stolen vehicle into building According to the department, the person shown below allegedly took the Kubota M7040D 70 HP from a property on Edmonson Road in Harleton at around 1:33 a.m. on Nov. 18. The tractor has a closed cab and the serial number #62330. Photo courtesy of the Harrison County Sheriffs Office. Photo courtesy of the Harrison County Sheriffs Office. Officials said they dont know whether the tractor was driven away from the property or taken out on a trailer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone with information on the man or the tractor is asked to contact investigator Rocco Bruno by email at roccob@co.harrison.tx.us or by phone at at 903-923-4000. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com. HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) As rain put out the candles and soaked the stuffed animals at the memorial for 20-year-old Jessiah Mercado and her 4-month-old son, Hartford police have been putting out nation wide alerts for the suspect in their deaths. Springfield baby shot in Hartford was in foster care The suspect, 23-year-old Lance Morales, allegedly pulled the trigger and shot the mother and son in an argument about a car. He has more than 20 charges felonies and misdemeanors going back over the last four years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No mother or child should have to go through that, its heartbreaking, Lisa Long, a Hartford resident, said. Hartford double homicide victim was an advocate for young people exposed to street violence Police said that Morales has a long criminal history going back many years: In 2020, he was charged for firing shots in a convenience store parking lot. He was held on a $75,000 bond and was released from custody. In 2023, he rammed a police cruiser, facing 11 charges. He was held on a $250,000 bond and was released with promise to appear. Hartford major crimes is working with the Massachusetts State Police and Springfield police to try and track him down. They are also using federal resources and intelligence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Just days after winning a landslide election for his second term in office, Democratic Sen. Chris Hansen of Denver has told 9News he intends to announce his resignation Tuesday. The head of a major hospital in eastern Lebanon was killed on Friday in an Israeli airstrike, the Lebanese Health Ministry said. Ali Rakan Alam, the director of Dar Al Amal University Hospital, was killed along with six colleagues in a "treacherous aggression" on his house, the ministry added. The hospital is the largest in the north-eastern province of Baalbek-Hermel, according to the ministry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This martyrdom comes amid the continued attacks carried out by the Israeli enemy army on health workers and institutions in an accumulation of war crimes," the ministry added in a statement. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military. NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) In todays health headlines, can GLP-1 drugs reverse prediabetes? Plus, how to reduce food noise and stick to weight loss goals during Thanksgiving week. Dr. Ania Jastreboff, Yale Medicine endocrinologist and obesity medicine physician-scientist and director of the Yale Obesity Research Center at Yale School of Medicine, discussed these topics on Good Morning Connecticut at 9 a.m. Watch the video above. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Maryland Health Secretary Dr. Laura Herrera Scott. File photo by Bryan P. Sears. State officials pushed back against critics of new Medicaid regulations that took effect Thursday, saying the tighter rules are needed to stop fraud and ensure that taxpayer dollars go to services that assist people with disabilities. At issue are recent rule changes from the Developmental Disabilities Administration that will require some families to submit additional documentation to prove that the various health, care and transportation services granted under state Medicaid waivers go to services that help a disabled family member. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those changes took effect Thursday, days after patients and family members rallied outside the State House over regulations they said were burdensome and developed without their input. But Health Secretary Dr. Laura Herrera Scott says the additional paperwork will help catch fraud and ensure that Medicaid dollars go to services that help people with disabilities, instead of going to things like high-cost appliances and season tickets to games. She said audits have uncovered significant numbers of improper or unsupported payments for beneficiaries, which is why increased documentation is needed. In the current model, beneficiaries just had to attest to certain things without any supporting documentation, and now we are requiring specific documentation to make decisions, she said. We have to look at some of these very high requests as potentially inappropriate or also fraudulent. And we certainly have expectations with the federal government Without adequate documentation, the state has limited ability to identify fraud, waste and abuse. Advocates say they support stopping abuse of the system, but the changes have left families feeling hurt and judged and accused. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We hear a lot of these stories that paid families of people with disabilities in a very poor light, and were just not sure thats true, said Patti Saylor, who had a son with Down syndrome who died in 2013 after an altercation with an off-duty police officer. She is a volunteer with Self-Directed Advocacy Network of Maryland. No one wants to waste taxpayers dollars, that would be ludicrous, she said. If there are a few bad apples, as there are in all programs, have the state deal with those specific individuals. Maryland offers Medicaid waivers to people with disabilities to help them and their families afford various services, such as day care, transportation needs and live-in caregiver support. About 16,800 families use the waiver for traditional care through an established program. But 3,600 people with disabilities receive self-directed care meaning they or their families are responsible for hiring and paying support staff. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement About 40 to 50 people gathered at the State House in Annapolis Tuesday to protest the new rules, saying that the changes were rushed, did not consider the voices of families who use the Medicaid waiver and could put access to current services at risk. But Herrera Scott said there have been no major changes to the policy and the types of services that DDA provides. Where the changes are is in how and what information is collected and how applications are processed, she said. And this addresses findings that actually repeat findings, quite frankly in legislative audits that DDA did not take proper action with significant numbers of improper or unsupported payments. Herrera Scott said findings of improper uses of Medicaid funds have included: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Commercial appliances, such as commercial microwaves, washers and dryers, that are three times the price of household appliances; Purchase and repair of vehicles and vehicles for family members; Medical and dental services that are already covered under the participants insurance; Sporting event tickets, including season tickets for individuals other than the participant; and home maintenance. She also said that some self-directed service providers are collecting higher wages than those who work for a traditional provider doing similar work, and the rule changes will reduce that wage disparity. This is a tough life, and theyre throwing a lot of administrative red tape and paperwork. It starts off being hard and this makes it harder. Alicia Wopat, president, Self-Directed Advocacy Network of Maryland Their wages are set at a level thats significantly higher than market norms for similar type of employment, she said. So, its not an equitable system of care, even within the Disabilities Administration, because under traditional services, those workers make significantly less than some of the exceptions that are allowed under self-directed services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have employees under the self-directed model that are greater than the 90th percentile of wages for similar work in the state of Maryland, Herrera Scott said. And the most extreme example, for instance, is support brokers are being paid at about 155% more, or about $60 an hour, than the Bureau of Labor Statistics 75th percentile of about $24 an hour. Saylor, who is a nurse who works with people on self-directed Medicaid waivers, said that rates for self-directed providers and traditional are providers are the same, but that self-directed providers have fewer overhead costs. They (traditional providers) have to cut their pie in lots of different pieces because they have to pay for the building they have to pay for the HR department, they have to pay for their vans. Over in self-direction, you dont have all of those costs, Saylor said. So, you have more money, more part of your pie that you dont have to put into wages but the rates are the same, she said. The rates in self-direction and the rates in traditional providers are the same. Theres less overhead, so it shows up in a higher wage to the employee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Alicia Wopat, president of SDAN who has a son with autism, said that employees under the self-directed model do not get the same benefits that a traditional provider may offer. A larger company offers more benefit packages that you cant do as a company of one, Wopat said. Disability advocates fear that new Developmental Disability Administration rules will create hurdles for those who self-direct disability services. Nov. 19, 2024. Photo by Danielle J. Brown. For Wopat, the larger issue is the burden of paperwork and lack of transparency on how the rules were rolled out. This is a tough life, and theyre throwing a lot of administrative red tape and paperwork. It starts off being hard and this makes it harder, she said. It all comes back to collaboration and transparency and actual meaningful dialogue that gets to solutions that work for the people using the program, Wopat said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Herrera Scott said the change is designed to expedite payments and enhances independence and increases flexibility, supports families and creates equity in a fiscally responsible way. While the rules are already in effect, Herrera Scott said that the department will continue to take feedback on how the new documentation system works as families use it. Almost every single week, there is a meeting with the DDA community that at any point, a beneficiary or their parent or their provider can join in to weigh in, Herrera Scott said. Theres still lots of opportunity to provide feedback on the documentation thats now needed. We want to make sure their beneficiary, their loved ones, receive the services that meet their needs and we will continue to work with them, and the additional documentation does not compromise the current services theyre getting, she said. Berlin, VT (myCV) Hundreds of healthcare workers in Central Vermont took to the streets Thursday, waving signs condemning the University of Vermont Health Networks decision to cut clinical services. The protests took place outside of the Central Vermont Medical Center in Berlin and the Mad River Valley Health Center in Waitsfield, two locations that would see significant or complete service cuts under the health networks new cost reduction plan. Last Thursday, the networks top officials released their current idea on how to save money in the coming budget year, after the Green Mountain Care Board found they were millions of dollars over budget in fiscal year 2023. But, to the dismay of many, the new plan mainly consists of closing certain departments and clinics around the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At CVMC, the network plans to shutter the hospitals inpatient psychiatric unit, and in Waitsfield, they want to completely close the Mad River Valley Health Center, which includes family medicine and rehabilitation clinics. The places theyve chose to suggest that they want to cut are just not sufficient, said Chrissy Searles, a LNA and Mental Health Tech. at CVMC. Its not okay, and it shouldnt be happening in those departments. There are so many areas where the network really needs to reconsider the choices that theyve made, and make them elsewhere, not for the most vulnerable populations, said Sue Becker, a member of Central Vermont Healthcare United. CVMC workers argue their psychiatric unit is essential, and to close it would be a major disservice to the community, especially during a time where mental health needs are high. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We see people almost daily in our emergency room that suffer with mental health issues that need some help, Searles said. I dont think its a smart move. Inpatient psychiatry, theres not anything else around for folks. On top of that, staff say closing the Mad River clinics, which also have long waitlists, will overcrowd other ones nearby. Specifically, they think it would overcrowd the health center in Waterbury, which also already has a waitlist of its own. Mad River has a patient waiting list, I believe, of 600 people Waterbury has their patients and 550 people (on a wait list). So 1,150 people are waiting to be seen, Becker said. These people have nowhere to go, and I think thats the point, Searles said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement UVMHN President and CEO Dr. Sunny Eappen released a statement last week along with the announcement of the planned cuts. Dr. Eappen said in part, These decisions we are being forced to make are painful because there are patients connected to each one of them. I apologize to our patients and to our employee colleagues who will be impacted. That said, another message healthcare workers really wanted to get out at the protests was that the networks plans to cut services are not yet set in stone. They think leaders can reconsider the areas where theyre looking to make cuts, and find different ways to save money. UVMHN officials have not yet responded to Thursdays demonstrations. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC22 & FOX44. In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre made a big announcement on Wednesday, but you'd be forgiven for not thinking major change was on the horizon as its teaching artists unfurled rolls of paper to create crank puppets at The Midtown Global Market on Thursday. Just a day earlier, the theater announced it plans to move and sell the historic Avalon Theatre that it has called home for 36 years. The theater, which has been in the Twin Cities for 50 years, may be moving, but it also wants people to know that it will remain a committed part of the community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The theater made a similar announcement in 2021, coming out of the pandemic, but wound up not selling the building. This time, the wheels are in motion. Interim Executive Director Elina Kotlyar tells Bring Me The News they're working with a real estate agent and hope to be in a new space within six to nine months. She says it was a "hard decision," particularly since it has been on Lake Street for so long. In the Heart of the Beast hosts a workshop at the Midtown Global Market Photo by Dustin Nelson "We have deep roots in the Powderhorn and Phillips neighborhoods," she says. "We have deep roots within the building. We have deep roots within our immediate neighboring communities." In the Heart of the Beast has its hub in the neighborhood and offers workshops, like the one it hosted on Thursday, just down the street at Midtown Global Market. However, it also has people who drive long distances to attend classes and hosts events in cities around the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "People are craving programming, especially as school arts programming has budget decreases [in schools]. I think that, as an arts organization, it's our responsibility to make sure that we are here to provide that programming accessibly to more than just the immediate neighborhood," Kotlyar says. "You want to embrace your community, and we're saying we're embracing you. But we want to open our arms and embrace even more people." In the Heart of the Beast's Avalon Theatre Courtesy of In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre As the organization contemplated the move, the heart of the discussion was around creating accessible programming that can survive the ever-changing arts landscape. This year alone, Minnesota has seen the closure of community arts organizations like the North Suburban Center for the Arts and performance hubs like the Cowles Center and the James Sewell Ballet, which will shutter at the conclusion of its current season. "We're thinking about sustainability," Kotlyar says. "We've been here for 50 years. How can we be here for another 50? Another 100? Another 150?" A move will unlock capital resources from the building, allowing the organization to continue offering equitable pay for artists and opening the possibility of hiring more staff. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Instead of maybe putting money into the building, which, it's a historical building, it also deserves care... it's about fulfilling a clear vision for the theater's future and place in the community," Kotlyar says. "One of our values is accessibility," she continues. "Accessibility can be many things, right? Accessibility could be that I can't go up stairs. Accessibility can be it's too loud... we're thinking about bus routes. We're thinking about people getting to us on bikes. We're thinking about parking. Accessibility is also language. It has nothing to do with space per se, but it's building a community where Spanish speakers and Somali speakers, ASL, can come." Whether or not In the Heart of the Beast finds a new home on its proposed timeline, the theater has no plans to back off its workshops, storytimes, and work with emerging artists in the community. It will continue programming in the interim and Kotlyar says whether or not things are in place, they'll find a way to host future events like its summer camps. "I think arts opportunities are absolutely necessary for our community. It's not a choice. It's a necessity for people to have access to the arts," Koltyar says. "I think that's really important for mental health, for well-being, for the happiness of making art, and just community in general." Related: Immersive, 'enchanting nighttime realm' exhibition coming to Mia this month Another Atlantic rain maker moves in for the weekend, with heavy rain, winds, and even some slushy snow prompting warnings across parts of the East Coast. This unsettled pattern will continue through the weekend, and beyond, keeping much of Atlantic Canada stuck in the stubborn and gloomy cycle. RELATED: Parts of Atlantic Canada actually in need of the weekend rain Periods of rain will be widespread across, with 30 to 50+ mm forecast for much of the region. The rain will also mix with wet snow in New Brunswick, and some slushy accumulations aren't out of the question, especially for higher terrain and northern areas. This weekend: Baron - Atlantic Canada Saturday pressure tracker - Nov22 This incoming weekend storm will bring plenty of wind and precipitation, helping to relieve pressures on areas facing lower water levels. According to Halifax Water, minimal precipitation this fall has resulted in lower-than-normal water levels in Lake Major. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So far this month, Halifax has only recorded nine percent of the normal rainfall amount for November. Baron - Atlantic Canada Saturday morning precipitation - Nov22 Light rain moves into the Maritimes through the day on Friday, with the heavier precipitation picking up through much of the day on Saturday. The low will meander across the region before eventually tracking east into Newfoundland, and blasting the region with heavy rain, as well. Baron - Atlantic Canada Saturday evening precipitation - Nov22 DON'T MISS: Transform your broken umbrella with this clever hack A widespread 30-60 mm of rain is forecast by the time all is said and done on Sunday. Gusty winds will also pick up, which could result in some local power outages. Baron - Atlantic Canada rain - Nov22 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another system is expected for next Tuesday and Wednesday, and with temperatures remaining mostly on the mild side of seasonal, that will mean more rain for the region. Conditions look to trend somewhat colder during the first week of December. Be sure to check back for the latest weather updates across Atlantic Canada. Pete Hegseth is mad. The former weekend Fox News host and Army National Guard veteran who President-elect Donald Trump tapped to lead the Department of Defense has made blasting the states of the American educational system and armed forces a cornerstone of his brand. And one of the things that has him most worked up is measures that the militarys leadership have taken in recent years to weed out far-right extremists from their ranks. In a bestselling book and in a Fox special earlier this year, Hegseth aired his critique of security measures designed to keep patriot extremism a term for militia-linked ideology out of the military. He has also shared his story of personally being dubbed an extremist by the Pentagon due to the ink on his body. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I have a Christian tattoo on my chest, which is part of the reason why I was orders were revoked from my unit and I was pushed out of my unit, Hegseth said during The War on Warriors live show that aired on May 10. Theres new concepts like patriot extremism, which is a part of how they review the profile of people serving. So, there are real insidious aspects of whats happening inside the Pentagon. Hegseth was referring to steps the Department of Defense has taken to address the threat posed by far-right militia members and white supremacists in the armed forces. He went on to attribute this to supposedly left-wing elements in military leadership. A lot of ideological people with too much time staring down at a meritocracy that they dont control, Hegseth said in the Fox live show. You know the left, they dont like things they cant control. And they look at the DoD and they say that this is something we need to bring to heel. The Fox special, The War on Warriors, promoted Hegseths book of the same name, which was published in June. In his book, Hegseth made even clearer his objection to the Pentagons steps to remove patriot extremists from the military and contended that he had been among those caught up in the crackdown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hegseths central thesis is that liberal concepts have taken over todays military. This, he explains, includes the concerns about right-wing extremists in the ranks. The shoehorning of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), Critical Race Theory (CRT), feminism, genderism, safetyism, climate worship, manufactured violent extremism, straight up weirdo shit, and a grab bag of social justice causes that infect todays fighting force have nothing to do with making our military more capable, Hegseth wrote in The War on Warriors. In the book, Hegseth specifically cited a military stand-down to address extremism in the ranks that was ordered by Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin in February 2021. A DoD news bulletin announcing that decision noted it came after the revelation that extremists who stormed the U.S. Capitol on January 6 were active duty service members and others were military veterans. A substantial number of the people charged in conjunction with that attack had ties to the armed forces. Hegseth also pointed to Pentagon training materials that were leaked in 2021 which outline the domestic extremist ideologies posing the greatest risk to the DoD. While the documents cited by Hegseth noted other groups, they focused on three different types of radical movements as the most serious threat to the armed forces: patriot/militia extremism, anarchist extremism, and ethnic racial supremacy. These training materials, which were obtained and published by Politico, included information about risk factors and symbols to help commanders, who have wide leeway to address these issues within their ranks, to identify members of these groups. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 17-page briefing that drew Hegseths ire described the anarchist movement as including left-wing groups like antifa and Occupy. Under the umbrella of ethnic racial extremism it focused on white supremacist and neo-Nazi groups. Right-wing groups like the Proud Boys and Oathkeepers were included in the patriot extremism category. This ideology holds that the U.S. government has become corrupt, has overstepped its constitutional boundaries, or is no longer capable of protecting the people against foreign threats, the briefing said of the patriot extremist philosophy, adding, Some elements have openly formed militias and openly advocate for the violent overthrow of the current U.S. government. In his book, as he criticized these materials and other elements of the Pentagons crackdown, Hegseth specifically complained of the measures to eliminate white supremacists and patriots. He accused generals of hunting for racists in our ranks that they know do not exist. Not only does this document assert that extremism is rampant in the military, but it suggests a new form of extremism Ive never heard of in the military called Patriot Extremism, Hegseth wrote. If you want an effective military, your target recruiting constituency is patriots. Theyre not on your enemy list. Unless the purge is coming. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These writings have made headlines since Trump tapped Hegseth to become secretary of defense on Nov. 12. Trump specifically touted The War on Warriors when he announced the pick. Since then, Hegseth has faced considerable controversy and sexual assault allegations. Hegseths critique of the crackdown on right-wing extremists merits particular attention since, if he is confirmed, he would have the ability to change those policies. And, despite Hegseths contention that patriot extremism is made up and that there are no racists in the ranks there has been, in addition to the Jan. 6 attack, ample recent evidence that white supremacists and other far-right extremists have made inroads in the U.S. military. The Trump transition team did not respond to a request for comment about Hegseths seeming desire to eliminate efforts to weed out far-right extremists from the ranks. In his book and on-air statements, Hegseth only objected to the crackdown on right-wing groups. He did not describe his views on the Pentagons efforts to identify and address anarchists and other far-left extremists. Overall, in his books and broadcasts, Hegseth made the case that the extremism crackdown was part of a broader problem of far-left ideology in the military that was turning off its key constituency, which he described as normal dudes and straight, white men who represent both the largest portion of the force and the largest drop in recruitment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For the past three years, the Pentagon across all branches has embraced the social justice messages of gender equity, racial diversity, climate stupidity, vaccine worship, and the LGBTQA + alphabet soup in their recruiting pushes, Hegseth wrote. Only one problem: there just arent enough trannies from Brooklyn or lesbians from San Francisco who want to join the 82nd Airborne. Not only do the trannies and lesbians not join, but those very same ads turn off the young, patriotic, Christian men who have traditionally filled our ranks. The idea that liberal ideology poses a grave threat to the country has been a central part of Hegseths work. In the introduction to The War On Warriors, Hegseth noted the book was closely tied to his prior tome, Battle For The American Mind, which focused on the dangers of what he dubbed progressive education. These writings are an extension of the worldview Hegseth developed during his own college years, when he became drawn to hardline conservative politics and, specifically, concerns about the LGBT community and efforts to promote diversity. Hegseth also wears his political and religious views on his skin. He is tattooed and, as he noted in The War on Warriors book and Fox special, that ink caused him to run afoul of his commanders. Ultimately, Hegseth said this incident inspired him to leave the Army. In the book and on air, Hegseth claimed the tattoo that caused the problem was a Jerusalem cross, a Crusader symbol, which, he said, got him flagged as a white nationalist and an extremist. However, earlier this month, the Associated Press uncovered an email from his National Guard units, which showed his fellow soldiers actually expressed concerns about another one of his tattoos. Specifically, they pointed to the phrase Deus Vult, which is a Latin phrase that is also associated with the medieval Crusaders and the concept of Gods Will. The email, which was written by the security manager of Hegseths unit, said the motto is linked to members of the alt right, has seen White Supremacist use, and appeared on far-right internet pages. Hegseth used the phrase as the closing sentence to one of his books. Deus Vult isnt Hegseths only tattoo that has associations with far-right extremism. He also has the roman numerals for the year 1775 on his bicep. As the moment Americans took up arms against the British, the date has had significance for a variety of far-right, modern militia groups. It is a particular fixation for Three Percenters, a loose coalition of militia groups who take their name from the historically dubious assertion that only three percent of colonists fought against the British. The late Mike Vanderboegh, a militia leader who was one of the founders of the Three Percenters, repeatedly referred to 1775 in his writings and described the first battle of the Revolution, Lexington and Concord, as the formation of the American militia. In Absolved, a book that was serialized on his blog, Vanderboegh referred to the date when he described a potential anti-government revolution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both real sides in my imaginary civil war must be able to recognize the real threat to avoid the conflict, Vanderbroegh wrote. You may ask, which sides and what kind of conflict? On one side, just as in 1775, will be the Three Percent. In The War on Warriors, Hegseth referred to the same date as he railed against the supposed dangers of the radical Left. If our military, and our Republic, ever truly usurped my constitutional oath and bowed fully to the tyranny of the Left, then to use a historical example I would leave the British Army of 1775. I would stand and fight, and advise my kids to find a bridge in Lexington and Concord to stand their ground with me, Hegseth wrote. There have been multiple explanations for Hegseths 1775 tattoo. A New York Post article on his ink that was published earlier this month described it as the year that Georgia joined the other twelve British colonies at the Second Continental Congress. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement TPM reached out to Hegseth on Wednesday to ask about the tattoo and his position on the Pentagons measures to address patriot extremism in the armed forces. He did not respond, however, on Wednesday evening, we received a text message from a person who would not tell us their name and asked to be quoted only as an adviser to Pete Hegseth. After we agreed to those conditions, they sent a terse text. 1775 is the Army Birthday you ignorant jackass, the adviser wrote. We attempted to follow up to note that was not what the Post reported and to ask about Hegseths views on screening for extremist ideologies. All I have to say. Thank you, the person wrote. Have a good evening. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hegseth and his team apparently insist his tattoo has nothing to do with the far-right militia movement. However, in his book, the man who could go on to lead the Pentagon indicated he believes he is unquestionably someone who fits the armed forces current definition of an extremist patriot. Pushing for gender equality, todays generals weaken unit readiness, Hegseth wrote, adding, Rooting out extremism, todays generals push rank-and-file patriots out of their formations (Im one of them). More safety improvements have been made at the University of Georgia following the murder of nursing student Laken Riley. Riley was killed in February while out for a jog on the universitys campus. Im speechless usually when I think about it. Its unbelievable, UGA parent Shelley Heffner told Channel 2s Audrey Washington. She shouldve been able to go for a run, but thats not the world we live in. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Student Rachel Dantes-Palmer said she was near the running trails at Lake Herrick when police found Rileys body in February 2024. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] I havent run since because its unsafe. Im a small young woman, so if I had been caught in a sticky situation, I dont know how I wouldve gotten out of it, Dantes-Palmer said. To make people feel safer, UGA detailed its $7.3 million boost in security at the school. I think its a good effort, but theres more that can be done, said Dantes-Palmer. RELATED STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to emergency stations with cameras, UGA installed more camera systems across the campus. There are also more overnight transportation options and a 21% increase in UGA police officers. Anything they can do to get access to students quicker if something so disturbing were to happen, Heffner explained. Some community safety groups said they want the security cameras on campus integrated with the police departments system. They believe more integration would help police better track dangerous people. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) A new set of rules aimed at regulating hemp in Tennessee will go into effect Dec. 26, and hemp farmers, retailers, and manufacturers are worried one of them will put the industry up in smoke. The rule in question, which was announced by the Tennessee Dept. of Agriculture (TDA) in September and goes into effect Dec. 26, prohibits hemp products that contain more than .3% THCA when burned. THCA is a hemp-derived cannabinoid that turns into THC when burned, causing a high similar to that of marijuana, according to the TDA. However, those in the hemp industry argue hemp does not cause an intoxication like marijuana. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement RELATED: Hemp manufacturers, retailers raise money to sue TN over new rules Multiple hemp farmers, retailers, and manufacturers testified to lawmakers during a rule review hearing Wednesday that the rule banning hemp products containing more than .3% THCA when burned will essentially prohibit hemp flower in the state, resulting in negative consequences for businesses and consumers. This is 85% of our sales, Michael Soloman, who owns multiple hemp businesses said. Theres going to be nothing to regulate. You dont need to hire any inspectors. Well all go out of business. This is going to take the flower, the plant that we are permitted to grow by the state of Tennessee, off the table for retail, Chris Sumrell, the owner of Farm to Med and a hemp farmer said. What do people do with the flower? They smoke it. We cant stop people from doing that. If we take this off the counter and dont regulate and tax it, theyre going to go to the black market or take their business across state lines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those involved in the hemp industry testified they support all the other rules the TDA introduced, which include licensing, testing, and labeling requirements. They asked lawmakers to consider reworking the other rule regarding THCA levels. Have breaking news come to you: Subscribe to News 2 email alerts However, House Majority Leader Rep. William Lamberth (R-Portland) said all the rules are necessary in order to ensure consumers are protected. It absolutely was the intent of this legislation to ban products over .3%, Lamberth said. Flower, any other products, anything. We wanted products to be available out there that are hemp-derived that, quite frankly, are not what I see on the billboards right now, [that say] Real weed. Buy it now in Tennessee.' Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lawmakers hashed out the controversial rule for hours but concluded they wouldnt have the power to toss out one, singular rule without getting rid of all the others until the next legislative session. The bottom line is this: if we dont like it, and I know a lot of us have problems with this, we do, the only real way to fix this effectively is to fix this in January. Its legislation in January, Sen. Kerry Roberts (R-Springfield) said. Read the latest from the TN State Capitol Newsroom Sen. Janice Bowling (R-Tullahoma) expressed concerns over waiting until after the rules go into effect to take action. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If we fix it the very first session in January, how many people will have gone out of business? Bowling asked. What would be the negative impact of the black market swooping in? Do we know? Bowling added the states rules are stricter than federal regulations. After taking votes on multiple ways to move forward, including a proposal to throw out all the rules, and another to put a temporary stop to the rules, House members agreed upon a neutral recommendation and Senate members took no action. The rules are set to go into effect Dec. 26. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. Texas State University will receive a $1.3 million federal grant to help train schools in the state to better tackle violence against teachers, which has had a rise nationally, officials said. The grant is funded in part by the U.S. Department of Justice's STOP School Violence Program and was authorized by U.S. Sen. John Cornyn's Mental Health and School Safety Bill, the federal lawmaker announced Monday. The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, signed in 2022, aims to prevent mass shootings by investing in mental health crisis intervention programs and school security. The STOP School Violence program strives to improve school security and climate. The Texas School Safety Center at Texas State University, which was awarded this grant, is an academic research center that "serves as the central location for school safety in the state," director Kathy Martinez-Prather told the American-Statesman in an interview. The center is inscribed in the Texas Education Code and the Governor's Homeland Security Strategic Plan as the agency that provides school safety initiatives and mandates to Texas schools, and trains campuses in behavioral threat assessment, emergency operation planning, mental health, bullying prevention and drug use. It also provides research, audit help and technical assistance. The Old Main Building at Texas State University in San Marcos Friday August 23, 2024. Martinez-Prather said the federal grant will be used to reduce violence against teachers and train administrators to better respond to teacher victimization a "growing national phenomenon" affecting school climate and teacher retention, which has not received the same attention as other school issues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Texas, an assistant principal in Corsicana was blinded by a student who threw a wooden hanger at her in August. She was airlifted to a hospital and required surgery. A year before, an assistant principal was attacked by high school students in Houston. "Teachers are often leaving the profession because of the experience with victimization, often at times it's more so how administration dealt with it," she said. "We've had several incidents here in our own state where we've had teachers victimized and campus administrators physically assaulted. (We want) to get to the forefront of how can we equip our leaders that are in the schools to better support educators." The National Institute of Justice sponsored research partially conducted by the University of Texas at San Antonio that revealed "verbal, physical and psychological abuse by students is a serious and pervasive problem that affects many teachers," with only 17% of teachers surveyed not experiencing some kind of victimization. The study spearheaded the center's proposal. They worked closely with UT San Antonio to design a research-informed training, Martinez-Prather said, and did their own inquiry into how Texas educators are feeling. U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) during Round Rock Chamber of Commerce's Power Lunch series at the Embassy Suites by Hilton in Round Rock Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024. Cornyn updated community members on issues important to Central Texas. The grant will support the training for 36 months. The center will start offering the training statewide in January remotely and in the second year, it will adjust the training based on participant feedback and data evaluation to enhance it further, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This isn't something to our knowledge that is being done right now, at least in this capacity," Martinez-Prather said. "And we think that this is going to really, really help inform and support our educators in the classroom that are experiencing this and also help district and campus administrators better understand how to support teachers." The training will guide schools through how best to handle specific scenarios and how to develop policies and procedures to address teacher victimization. Cornyn declined to be interviewed for this story due to scheduling issues, but said in a news release that he's grateful the law passed after the Uvalde school mass shooting in 2022 is helping campuses address violence. The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act is about mental health, school safety, and ensuring that the tragedy that struck Uvalde was not in vain, Cornyn said in the release. Im grateful this law is giving schools across our state the resources needed to keep students, staff, and teachers safe. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas State University secures $1.3M grant to help keep teachers safe AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) Students from 14 counties attended the East Georgia Skills Challenge at the Georgia Carolina State Fair site in downtown Augusta on Thursday. Hundreds of students had the opportunity to participate in competitions based on various aspects of construction, including carpentry, cabinet making, electrical, masonry and other skills. Students were also able to meet and speak with construction professionals about their careers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They, this is there Friday night life, said Michael Dunham, CEO of the Associated General Contractors of Georgia. They come out they do their very best. Theyre demonstrating what they have learned. If they win here they get to go on to the state competition with Skills USA in February. And should they win at the state level they can go on to the national competition. Most definitely nervous, said Connar Peterson of Evans High School. You dont know what youre gonna do, you dont know how youre gonna all you can do is prepare for it. Youre never gonna be able to prepare fully for it but you just gotta go in there and do what you can. The Associated General Contractors of Georgia partnered with R. W. Allen Construction, Gold Mech and Silver Sheet Metal to host the event. Photojournalist credit: Gary Hipps Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) Jayden Wallace, 23, made his first appearance in court Thursday, facing several charges in connection with a high-speed chase that injured a Virginia State Police trooper. Wallace has been charged with two felonies and two misdemeanors the two most serious charges being hit-and-run causing injury and reckless endangerment for continuing to drive more than 20 mph over the speed limit. State police initially reported a trooper clocked Wallaces Dodge Charger on Interstate 264 eastbound at 125 mph. However, court documents say that he got up to 130 mph at one point. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The chase led to Birdneck Road and then onto Americus Avenue, which is a dead end. The trooper thought she had Wallace boxed in and got out of her patrol car. Thats when Wallace hit the gas, striking the trooper as he got away. She was hurt and hospitalized, but is expected to recover. Wallace has been a member of the Navy for more than two years and is a fire controlman 3rd Class. The Navy said they are cooperating with the state police investigation. Wallace told Judge Wanda Cooper he will hire his own attorney. His next court date is Dec. 5. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com. Whooping cough a highly contagious and potentially dangerous illness has surged in California this year, staging a comeback to levels not seen since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Across California, there were fewer than 300 reported cases of whooping cough, also known as pertussis, all of last year. This year, there were 1,744 reported cases statewide as of the end of September, according to the California Department of Public Health. Those at highest risk from whooping cough are infants younger than 1 year old, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Other people at higher risk of severe illness include those who are immunocompromised or who have moderate-to-severe asthma. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Los Angeles County, there have been 347 confirmed and probable whooping cough cases so far this year, up from 126 reported in all of 2023 and more than quadruple the 2022 total. Read more: California 'overdue' for whooping cough outbreak as cases spike across U.S. Nationwide, the number of reported whooping cough cases in 2024 is higher than what was reported in 2019, the last year before the COVID-19 pandemic. In recent years, many common respiratory illnesses saw large declines in transmission in part because of the preventive measures put in place to combat the coronavirus. So far in 2024, the number of whooping cough cases in Los Angeles County is 3.5 times higher than at the same point last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We're definitely noticing that more and more schools are reporting several of their students having infection," said Dr. Nava Yeganeh, medical director for Vaccine Preventable Disease Control for the L.A. County Department of Public Health. "We're keeping a close eye on that and trying to make sure we can do whatever we can to decrease the number of pertussis cases." Whooping cough typically surges every three to five years. "So, we're overdue," Yeganeh said. "Our last big spike was in 2019. ... We aren't quite to where we were in 2019, so we're grateful for that, but really keeping an eye on the numbers." Los Angeles County reported 1,691 confirmed, probable and suspected whooping cough cases in 2019. Read more: Orange County baby dies of whooping cough Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of California's worst whooping cough seasons in recent memory was in 2010, when more than 9,000 cases were reported the most in 60 years, according to the California Department of Public Health. Ten infants died from the disease that year. Four years later, more than 11,000 cases of whooping cough were reported across the state, and two infants died. The last infant to die from whooping cough in L.A. County was in 2014. Whooping cough can be a pernicious disease that starts out like a cold, but then takes a severe turn with coughing that persists for weeks or months, according to the CDC. An infected person's cough contains contagious bacteria, which can be breathed in by anyone nearby. People are contagious as soon as they feel sick and remain so for at least two weeks after they begin coughing. Antibiotics can help shorten the infectious period and reduce the rate of disease transmission. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Whooping cough risks, symptoms and vaccine Whooping cough is named for the high-pitched whoop that can be heard as patients suck in air after coughing. Some people describe whooping cough as producing the worst coughing fits they've ever experienced. "It's really hard to watch, because it looks like they can't catch their breath," Yeganeh said. Those who have these symptoms should get tested and treated, and stay home to prevent spreading the disease. Whooping cough can be devastating for infants. It's possible for babies to not cough and instead suffer from apnea pauses in breathing that threaten their lives, according to the CDC. The babies can turn blue as they struggle to breathe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Infants can also suffer from something called pulmonary hypertension when blood isn't getting through the arteries en route to the lungs to pick up oxygen. The pertussis toxin can trigger a reaction that produces a high white blood cell count, Yeganeh said potentially causing sludging in the blood vessels leading to the lungs. "It takes a long time to reverse," Yeganeh said. Read more: Why did so many California kids get whooping cough despite being vaccinated? Schoolchildren can also get very sick, she said, with coughing so severe they can't sleep. And adults can sometimes cough so hard that they fracture their ribs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are vaccines for whooping cough. As early as 2 months old, babies get a formulation called DTaP, which besides pertussis also protects against diphtheria and tetanus. The whooping cough vaccine in a different vaccine formulation, called Tdap, is given to adolescents at age 11 or 12 and to adults every 10 years. Additionally, starting in 2012, women were recommended to get a whooping cough vaccination during every pregnancy. Pregnant, vaccinated moms then pass protective antibodies to their babies. Also, everyone who is caring for infants should be vaccinated against whooping cough, Yeganeh said. Read more: Vaccination aversion has fueled measles and whooping cough outbreaks, study finds Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The vaccine doesn't prevent 100% of infections, but those who are vaccinated and still get sick typically have milder illness, according to the CDC. Those who have been exposed to someone with whooping cough but are not yet sick themselves can also get antibiotics to boost protection against illness. The CDC supports providing such post-exposure prophylaxis to all asymptomatic household contacts within 21 days of when a whooping cough patient starts coughing. "About 80% ... of people who are in the household [of a person with whooping cough] could get infected," Yeganeh said. A Times analysis of state data from the start of the year through the end of September shows that the greater San Francisco Bay Area has the highest per capita rate of whooping cough in the state, with 17 cases for every 100,000 residents. That's higher than the statewide rate of 5 cases for every 100,000 residents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The greater Southern California area has a whooping cough rate of about 4 cases for every 100,000 residents. Read more: Kids who didn't get whooping cough vaccine a cause of outbreak, scientists say The Bay Area's high rate is largely driven by high reported case rates in Marin County, where there have been 129 cases for every 100,000 residents. There were a number of cases related to transmission in schools earlier this year, but the number of cases has been declining since September. The high reported case rate in Marin County could also be influenced by robust testing practices. San Diego County has the second-highest case rate in the state, with 14 cases for every 100,000 residents, according to the analysis of state data. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to local data, there have been 547 confirmed and probable whooping cough cases in San Diego County so far this year, up from 332 cases in all of 2023, officials said. Whooping cough patients have ranged in age from less than 1 month old to 85, with most cases between age 11 and 17. "Pertussis activity continues to increase, and we are seeing an upswing in cases on track to returning to pre-pandemic numbers, Dr. Ankita Kadakia, the interim San Diego County public health officer, said in a statement. The rate in Los Angeles and Orange counties is about 2 whooping cough cases for every 100,000 residents, according to the analysis of state data. Through October in Orange County, there had been 74 cases of whooping cough, the county Health Care Agency said in a statement. That's up from the 11 cases in 2023, but still below the 185 cases seen in all of 2019. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) Hundreds of flights were delayed at San Francisco International Airport on Friday as a powerful storm slowed down the first big wave of holiday travelers. According to FlightAware, 350 flights were delayed Friday morning, and 50 more flights were cancelled. About 160,000 passengers are traveling through SFO on Friday, airport officials said. On Thursday, about 500 flights were delayed because of stormy weather at SFO. One woman flying from San Francisco to New Mexico told KRON4 that her flights boarding time was delayed by four hours. Other travelers in the airport reported three-hour delays. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sunday will be the busiest day for Thanksgiving holiday travelers, with 164,000 passengers scheduled to fly in and out of SFO, airport spokesperson Doug Yakel said. Bay Area atmospheric river storm updates: Flood advisory issued for San Francisco In total, 6.3 million travelers are expected at SFO between Thanksgiving and New Years Day, an estimated 15% increase over 2023 holiday travel levels, airport officials wrote. Fewer flight delays, 23, were reported at Oakland International Airport (OAK) Friday, according to FlightAware. Thirty-two flights were delayed at San Jose Mineta International Airport (SJC). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement San Jose airport officials said they expect bustling terminals and packed parking lots between Friday, November 22, and Monday, December 2, at SJC. Peak days include November 22, 26, 27, and December 1. On November 27, therapy animals will parade through terminals spreading Thanksgiving joy and paw-sitivity for travelers, SJC officials wrote. An OAK spokesperson told KRON4 that between Nov. 22-Dec. 1, the Oakland airport expects 340,000 passengers will pass through its terminals. SFO has most holiday weather delays in US, study finds Travelers are strongly encouraged to arrive at the airport at least two hours prior to departure for domestic flights, and three hours prior to departure for international flights, the Transportation Security Administration said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On the ground, Bay Area drivers are navigating wet roadways and wind-triggered hazards. The National Weather Service Bay Area wrote, An atmospheric river continues to inundate Northern California this morning. Rain chances will increase throughout the day as a cold front works its way across the Bay Area. Heavy rain may lead to the flooding of low lying areas and roadways, which may cause them to not be passable. Nationwide, AAA projects 79.9 million travelers will venture 50 miles or more from home over the Thanksgiving holiday travel period. This years projection is an increase of 1.7 million compared to last year, and 2 million more than in 2019. Thanksgiving is the busiest holiday for travel, and this year were expecting to set new records across the board, from driving to flying and cruising, said Stacey Barber, vice president of AAA Travel. Americans reconnect with family and friends over Thanksgiving, and travel is a big part of that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP) The future of Holyoke is in the hands of the community as the city held its third listening session on Thursday. Holyoke police arrest attempted murder suspect The community got to speak one-on-one with the planning commission and the mayor focusing on the citys growth and sustainability. This is the shared vision that came from the people, it wasnt the mayor and I in the back room thinking this is what the city needs, shared Aaron Vega, Director, of Holyoke Office of Economic Development. The comprehensive plan will feature a blueprint designed for the citys next 20 years focusing on housing, transportation, and economic development. The youth also got to share their vision for Holyoke and put it on pen and paper. Homelessness and addiction are a top concern for the citys youth. Meanwhile, affordable housing and green energy businesses is also on the minds of many. Im a scientist and an educator, and Im looking to see if I can help Holyoke do more,, shared Adam Lamee. And then I also want to see more places for people to get into the outdoors, shared Kristen Sykes. Holyokes comprehensive plan has not been updated since 1999. City officials want residents to craft a plan that reflects the communitys needs and aspirations. Were leaning towards green energy companies and green technologies coming to Holyoke that want to build on that, shared Aaron Vega, Director, of Holyoke Office of Economic Development. If you werent able to attend the public input sessions you can still be a part of the planning. Click here to participate in a survey with the City of Holyoke. 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. An empty-homes tax meant to penalize real property owners who leave their Oahu residences vacant for extended periods of time has been deliberated at Honolulu Hale for years. But on Thursday the Hono lulu City Councils Budget Committee voted 3-2, with Esther Kia aina and Augie Tulba dissenting, to advance the second of three readings of Bill 46, which could tax a vacant real property by as much as 3 %. That means a home valued at $1 million could receive a $30, 000 tax bill each year it remains empty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The measure, introduced in August by City Council members Tommy Waters and Radiant Cordero, could now see full Council adoption, possibly by December. As amended, Bill 46 now states it will pursue EHT as its own real property tax classification, rather than a supplemental tax, in order to help address the citys dual crises of homelessness and a lack of affordable housing that arise from inadequate housing supply and inadequate funding to address these problems. The measure proposes the EHT be levied, assessed and collected for each tax yearfrom July 1 to June 30for every parcel on which an empty home is situated. Don 't miss out on what 's happening ! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stay in touch with top news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It 's FREE ! Email 28141 Sign Up By clicking to sign up, you agree to Star-Advertiser 's and Google 's and. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA. If approved, the EHT would start on July 1, 2026. As drafted, the bill states the tax rate for an empty home is 3 % of the tax-assessed value of the residential property for the applicable tax year, provided that :For the first tax year in which the empty homes tax is assessed, the tax rate for an empty home is 1 % of the tax assessed value of the residential property for that tax year.For the second tax year, the tax rate for an empty home is 2 % of the tax-assessed value of the residential property for that tax year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The EHT also could tax properties with multiple dwelling units. Moreover, the measure states EHT revenues must be earmarked, with at least 20 % to be deposited into the citys affordable housing fund. Revenues not deposited into the affordable housing fund shall be deposited into the general fund. At least 20 % shall be used to increase the citys supply of affordable housing for persons earning 140 % or less of the area median income as determined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, as adjusted for household size. At least 10 % of the revenues shall be used to address homelessness, the bill states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, up to 5 % of the revenues from the empty homes tax may be used to support the administrative costs of implementing and enforcing this program, including the costs of additional staff. To administer the program, the city must notify residential property owners of the EHT. The city would then mail to each owner of residential property, at the owners address appearing on the real property tax roll, either a property status declaration form or instructions on how and when to make a property status declaration online. The mailing is deemed to have been received by the owner five days after mailing, the bill states. Currently, there about 15 exemptions, according to the bill. They include :The dwelling unit is the principal residence of one or more of the owners of the property for at least six months in the tax year.The dwelling unit is the principal residence of a renter or other permitted occupant of the property for at least six months in the tax year. Multiple rental or occupancy periods may be aggregated for the calculation of the six-month period. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under Bill 46, an EHT could help ease housing problems by encouraging existing owners to rent or sell vacant housing stock for use as homes for local residents ; increase the citys supply of homes to better meet demand and reduce market pressures that cause high and unaffordable housing prices ; and raise funds for affordable housing and homelessness solutions. Conversely, Honolulu has one of the nations highest housing costs, with the median cost for a single-family home exceeding $1 million as of December, the measure states. The 2020 U.S. Census reports that the city has a housing vacancy rate of 9.2 percent, with 34, 253 housing units unoccupied, the bill states. On Thursday, Council members either offered more Bill 46 amendmentsmany gleaned from the publicor withdrew them outright. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But as amendments to the bill were being offered, city Budget and Fiscal Services Director Andy Kawano asked the Council to proceed slowly. Kawano noted Ernst &Young LLP, the citys consultant in this matter, is being paid nearly $500, 000 to study the implications of Bill 46. He added that the consultants work involved two phases. Phase 1 is a feasibility phase, he said. Phase 2 will be the execution phase : to put the measure into operation, and provide guidance on doing that. Saying the first phase would be completed by the end of January, Kawano asked that the Council slow down and not go to third reading until we have a report back from the consultants on the feasibility of the bill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My concern is due to Council members listening to feedback from the public, the number of exemptions that have been added to the bill, that I believe could extremely water down the amount of homes that are empty, based on what we can actually validate and what can actually be supported, he said. Kawano also said his department was too understaffed to oversee implementation of this new law. However, Waters said he wanted the city to fight to get Bill 46 adopted. He added that the measure, if approved, would not take effect until fiscal year 2027. So theres time between today, 2024, and 2027 to figure out how youre going to implement this bill, right ? Waters queried. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kawano replied, There is time, but its going to be extremely tight even with the 2027 fiscal year. He said the city would need more staff and then have to reorganize to figure out where to put this new unit. During the budget meeting, the public spoke for and against Bill 46. Ronda Ching Day op -posed the bills numerous exemptions as well as the required paperwork to pre sent to the city. It could be very burdensome, she added. Referring to the pending Ernst &Young study, Donna Kohls said, It sounds like were trying to pass a bill and we dont know whats in it. Suzanne Young, CEO of the Honolulu Board of Realtors, opposed Bill 46, too. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We know firsthand that we have an affordable housing issue, and if we thought the empty-homes tax bill was going to help, we would support it, Young said. She said legal challenges over a similar EHT in San Francisco prevented her groups support. But several University of Hawaii at Manoa studentsmany of whom appeared at a news conference attended by Council Chair Waters outside Honolulu Hale prior to the meetingsupported passage of Bill 46. Among them, Albany Coate, a UH senior, said, This bill is important. Real people are experiencing real issues with housing right now, she said. Thats why we need to pass this bill as soon as possible, so we can start feeling the impacts of it as soon as possible. Piper Neri, a UH student, agreed. Too many local families are being priced out of their own neighborhoods while homes sit empty, owned by absentee investors or reserved as second homes for occasional visits, she said. Bill 46 is a practical solution that encourages these vacant properties to be used for what they should be : homes for people, not financial assets. Others, like the Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law &Economic Justice, recommends the city implement a 3 % to 5 % EHT. The group says such a taxlevied on properties left vacant for more than six months each yearcould generate $183 million to $305 million for the city annually. Prior to the committees vote on Bill 46, Tulba said he remained opposed to the measure. He suggested waiting for the Ernst &Young study to be completed, and also highlighted prior legal challenges against similar EHTs in places like California. And I dont want to put us in a position to face the same challenges, Tulba said. And until we have more assurance that this is not a violation of the Constitution, I think we should tread lightly. House District 16 voters will have to wait a few days longer to find out who will represent them after a very close race between Democrat incumbent Steph Vigil and Republican challenger Rebecca Keltie, a Navy veteran. Final unofficial election results showed Keltie leading by just 0.01%, triggering an automatic recount. The difference represents just seven votes out of more than 40,000 cast. El Paso County Clerk and Recorder Steve Schleiker said on Thursday that the recount would start on Wednesday after his office begins its canvass of the election and a logic and accuracy test. Both are necessary to certify results. The recount will pause over Thanksgiving and Friday, resuming on Saturday, Nov. 30. Colorado requires a recount if the margin between candidates is less than 0.05%. The recount has to happen within 31 days of the election. District 16, encompassing a northeast section of central Colorado Springs, was also a close race in 2022. Vigil won the seat by 710 votes over current City Councilman Dave Donelson. Featured Local Savings Vigil initially held a slim lead in the race on election night. The numbers slowly turned in Keltie's favor as overseas, provisional and other ballots came in. Vigil released a statement on Facebook on Nov. 15, saying she would honor the results of the recount. "I will be active in our community in every meaningful way that I can, and will continue to be accessible to you for collaboration and partnership," the post read. The same day, Keltie said she was confident the lead would hold. Im so glad that I can be the person to represent the people. Everyone wanted more common-sense leadership and they definitely voted for it, Keltie said. Schleiker said he would be in contact with both candidates and parties through the process. On Thursday, the House passed a bill that could hand the Trump administration near-unilateral power to strip nonprofit status from organizationsincluding climate and environmental groups, news outlets, and even universities. H.R. 9495, or the Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act, contains the language of a measure that quietly passed through the House last spring as part of a package of bills rushed through with bipartisan support after Iran carried out retaliatory strikes on Israel. Only 11 Democrats voted against that bill, H.R. 6408, in Aprilalthough it then stalled in the Senate. This week, however, the vast majority of Democrats voted against H.R. 9495. Just 15 Democrats voted in favor, joining nearly unanimous support from Republicans. The bill, which grants the Treasury Department a new power to designate nonprofits as terrorist supporting organizations and revoke their tax-exempt status accordingly, could head to the Senate before the end of the year. What changed between April and now is that Donald Trump has been elected president. Trump has vowed repeatedly to take revenge on his political enemies. Those include high-profile Democrats whove led legal proceedings against himlike Adam Schiff and New York Attorney General Letitia Jamesas well as a wide spectrum of actors that he and other Republicans refer to as the left. At a rally in October, Trump called the crazy lunatics that we havethe fascists, the Marxists, the Communists an enemy from within, who are more dangerous than Russia and China. As the more than 300 civil society organizations opposed to the bills passage noted in a letter sent to House leaders earlier this week, the executive branch could use the authorities granted by this bill to target their political opponents and use the fear of crippling legal fees, the stigma of the designation, and donors fleeing controversy to stifle dissent and chill speech and advocacy. All the Treasury Department would need in order to declare a nonprofit a terrorist supporting organization would be evidencehowever flimsythat the organization in question offered material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, a list maintained by the State Department and vulnerable to politicization. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is already strictly illegal for organizations and individuals to provide material support to foreign terrorist organizations. The executive branch enjoys broad discretion to determine both which groups are included on that list and what constitutes material support. The novelty of H.R. 9495 is that it would give the Treasury the ability to seriously penalize organizations based on those definitions. Kia Hamadanchy, senior policy counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union, explains that theres no standard of proof for the Treasury to designate terrorist supporting organizations. Targeted groups also have very little recourse to challenge that determination, which carries potentially devastating consequences. If youve been publicly labeled a supporter of terrorism, your donors arent going to want anything to do with you. Banks arent going to want to transact with you. Then theres all the legal fees involved, he says. A lot of organizations wouldnt be able to get to their day in court. Stripped of their nonprofit status, targeted groups would need to start paying corporate income taxes too. Its easy to imagine that the definition of who is a terrorist and what it means to materially support them could become far broader in a Trump administration, particularly given how eager the right has long been to apply that definition to environmentalists. Nineteen states have significantly enhanced penalties for protesters challenging pipelines and other critical infrastructure. Dozens of people opposing a law enforcement training facility known as Cop Cityconstruction of which would raze part of Atlantas Weelaunee Foresthave been charged under Georgias domestic terrorism law. Trumps pick to become secretary of state, Marco Rubio, has warned in recent years that members of Extinction Rebellionthe climate group started in the U.K.would enter the country in order to commit violence and terrorist acts. In a June 2023 letter to FBI Director Christopher Wray and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, Rubio urged them to prevent Extinction Rebellion members from entering the country. It should be obvious, he wrote, that foreign nationals who are members of violent extremist organizations should not be allowed into the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Civil liberties organizations and pro-Palestine groupsthose most explicitly targeted by H.R. 6408were among a relatively small number of groups to raise alarm bells when it first came up for a vote and courted broad bipartisan support; following a rapid-fire push by those groups to stop it from coming up for a vote in the Senate, the bill lost steam. More than 100 organizations joined onto a letter from the ACLU to Congress in September, opposing H.R. 6408s revival. The signatories included many climate and environmental groups, like the Sierra Club, Earthjustice Action, and the Natural Resources Defense Council. Republicans once again revived the push for this bill after Trumps election, when a broader swath of resistance groups that had mobilized against Trump in 2016 urged their members to call their members of Congress to oppose it. Over the last week, groups opposed to the bill focused their efforts on the 52 Democrats who voted for H.R. 9495 in a failed attempt to pass the bill last week. (The bill was put to a House vote initially under a suspension of procedural rules, a relatively common practice which means that Republicans wouldve needed a two-thirds majority to pass it and it couldnt be amended; they fell just short.) That so many Democrats voted for that bill can be explained partially by the speed with which it was introduced; the package it was a part of was introduced and then put to a vote practically overnight using a fast-track process. But its passage also relied on more widespread support within the Democratic caucus for more hawkish foreign policy measures, as well as strong support from American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC, and the Anti-Defamation League, ADL. Congressional Progressive Caucus leaders Pramila Jayapal, Mark Pocan, and Greg Casarwhove been outspoken on climate and environmental mattersall voted for H.R. 6408 in April. None responded to my requests for comment for a story on that at the time. CPC deputy whip Ro Khanna, who also initially voted for H.R. 6408, said at the time that he did so to ensure we curtail foreign terrorist organizations that, if unchecked, jeopardize our national security and could entangle us in another endless war. I wish that protections for climate, peace, and other nonprofits had been included to protect their work and will push for that. Jaypal, Pocan, Casar, and Khanna all voted against H.R. 9495 this week and last week, with Jayapal speaking out against it on the floor Thursday. This isnt the first time that environmental groups have been caught in the crosshairs of bipartisan support for Israels war on Palestine and efforts to criminalize those who oppose it. Backlash to the the Boycott, Divest, Sanctions campaign launched in 2005 in solidarity with Palestinian civil society groups, for example, has led in some odd directions in recent years. Specifically, bills passed in Texas to punish companies the state believes to be participating in the BDS campaign now serve as models for conservative efforts to blacklist financial institutions discriminating against oil and gas producers by using environmental, social, and governance-based, or ESG, investment criteria. Like anti-BDS measures, Texass Energy Discrimination Elimination Act bars the state from entering into contracts with companies that are deemed to be boycotting fossil fuel firms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While anti-ESG efforts are plainly partisan, Politico reported this week that the Environmental Protection Agencystill controlled by Democratsmay be withholding a $50 million grant to the Climate Justice Alliance over that coalitions outspoken position on Gaza. That Democrats would join in on civil liberties crackdowns in order to back Israel isnt all that surprising; HuffPost revealed this week that the White House accused senators voting to block additional arms transfers to Israel of supporting Hamas. The House vote this weekand, specifically, the drop in support for the nonprofit killer bill since Aprilshows that Democrats are starting to understand some of the consequences of this kind of unreflective hawkery. But it shouldnt have taken this long. Those who claim to support climate and environmental causes ought to pay close attention to measures designed to punish Palestinians and those who support them, regardless of whos in the White House. These kinds of illiberal policies can be expected to punish others too. More than three dozen Democratic and Republican lawmakers are calling on the Biden administration to offer a classified briefing on Turkeys support for Hamas, raising concerns that the U.S.-designated terrorist group may relocate its headquarters to the NATO-allied country. Lawmakers sent a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines on Thursday requesting a classified briefing take place to discuss reports that Hamas officials expelled from Qatar are being welcomed in Turkey. Turkish President and Peoples Alliances presidential candidate Recep Tayyip Erdogan makes a speech at the presidential palace, in Ankara, Turkey, Sunday, May 28, 2023. (AP Photo/Ali Unal) Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has long provided public backing for Hamass political leadership and often hosted meetings with the groups leaders in Ankara. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And while Erodgan offered muted concern over Hamass Oct. 7 terrorist attack against Israel, the long-time Turkish leader has praised the militants as a liberation group, and condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as Hitler for the large-scale destruction and death suffered by Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Throughout the tenure of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkeys relationship with Hamas has long been an issue of concern, the lawmakers wrote. Reports of Hamass potential relocation of its headquarters to Turkey, a NATO ally, are deeply concerning and dramatically escalate existing concerns about Turkeys relationship with the terrorist group. With these concerns in mind, we request an immediate briefing in a classified setting to discuss. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The letter was led by Reps. Dan Goldman (D-NY), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), and signed by 37 other House members from both sides of the aisle. Successive presidential administrations have grappled with complicated ties with Turkey, a strategic defense ally that straddles Europe, the Caucuses and the Middle East and controls access between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean. U.S. officials also recognize Turkey as a major contributor to humanitarian assistance to millions of Syrian refugees. Though Ankara is a NATO outlier for maintaining relations with Moscow, Erdogan successfully oversaw the August prisoner swap that freed unjustly detained Americans and Russian political prisoners. But many lawmakers are upset about Erdogans increasing authoritarianism, suppression of civil freedoms and violation of human rights; attacks against U.S.-allied Kurds in northeast Syria; and antagonism toward Israel and provocations against fellow-NATO ally Greece. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Turkey is so-far denying that it is providing safe-haven to Hamas officials an unnamed Turkish diplomatic source dismissed reports that members of Hamas were planning on relocating to Turkey, Reuters reported on Monday, saying that Hamas figures only visit the country from time to time. But two unnamed Israeli sources said some remaining Hamas leaders in Gaza may move to Turkey, according to Jewish Insider, a U.S.-based newsletter. The outlet reported that at least two senior Hamas officials have left Qatar for Turkey, citing an Israeli diplomatic source and a senator briefed by Israeli officials. Hamas political officials received instructions to leave Doha from Qatari officials in recent weeks, at the request of the Biden administration. Hamas officials had headquartered in the Qatari capital at the request of the Israeli and U.S. governments when communication was necessary with Qatari officials serving as intermediaries. But the U.S. called to revoke the diplomatic arrangement earlier this month, following failure to achieve a deal for Hamas to release 101 hostages the group kidnapped from southern Israel on Oct. 7, which could lead to a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In their letter, lawmakers call for Blinken and Haines to address the accuracy of reports that Hamas is looking to set up its headquarters in Turkey. They also ask for any details on the extent of ties between Ankara and Hamas and whether any material or financial support is provided; and whether the U.S. would seek extradition of Hamas officials from Turkey based on U.S. criminal charges brought against the terrorist group by American families of victims of the Oct. 7 attacks. The lawmakers also raise questions over whether Hamas has ever planned terrorist attacks from Turkish soil, including occupied areas of Syria and the Turkish-occupied territory in the Republic of Cyprus. The lawmakers focus on Cyprus is notable the island served as a strategic resource for the U.S. in earlier helping evacuate American citizens from Israel following the Oct. 7 attacks, and as a staging ground for delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. But Cypriot and Israeli officials have also worked together to thwart terrorism threats on the island. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In December 2023, Cypriot authorities with the help of Israel reportedly arrested two Iranian nationals suspected of allegedly plotting to target Israelis in an attack. Lebanese Hezbollah, the U.S.-designated terrorist group also backed by Iran, also threatened to attack Cyprus in June. The letter from lawmakers has the endorsement of the American Hellenic Institute, a non-profit think tank and advocacy organization based in Washington D.C. This letter is an important first step to addressing a critical U.S. security concern and will ensure policymakers are informed about the true extent of Turkeys role in supporting Hamas, Alexander Christofor, legislative director for AHI, said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Updated: 2:03 p.m. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. HOWARD COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now) Howard County police are investigating a fatal two-car crash in Clarksville. On Thursday, the Howard County Police Department said officers responded to a crash that happened just before 3 p.m. on the 13100 block of Triadelphia Mill Road. Man charged in connection to shooting on I-95 in Maryland, MSP investigating A 2016 Toyota Corolla was driving east on Triadelphia Mill Road when it crossed into oncoming traffic and hit a 2017 Toyota 4Runner head-on. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The woman driving the Corolla died at the scene and the woman driving the 4Runner was taken to the hospital with serious injuries. Police are still investigating the cause of the crash. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has said that the US sanctions against Gazprombank, a private-owned Russian bank, threaten the energy security of some Central European countries. Source: European Pravda citing Bloomberg Details: Szijjarto said that sanctions against Gazprombank are "an attack on our sovereignty," so Hungary is "reviewing the situation with the energy ministers of Turkiye, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria and Serbia." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Hungary is grateful to Turkiye, Bulgaria and Serbia for ensuring a very safe, very reliable and very stable transit [of gas ed.]," the Hungarian foreign minister said. Hungary, along with Slovakia and Austria, is one of several EU countries that still depend on Russian gas supplies. They pay for it through the now-sanctioned Gazprombank. Bloomberg writes that the interruption of current gas supplies from Russia to Europe could increase competition for global supplies and lead to higher prices for natural gas, which would hit European consumers. Background: In recent years, Hungary has signed several agreements with Gazprom for additional gas supplies. Viktor Orban, Hungary's Prime Minister, believes that the European Union needs to review sanctions against Russia, as he thinks they are keeping energy prices high. Support UP or become our patron! BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Friday denounced the International Criminal Courts issuing of an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying he would defy it by inviting him to Hungary. In comments to state radio, Orban accused the ICC, the worlds top war crimes court based in The Hague, of interfering in an ongoing conflict for political purposes, saying the decision to issue the warrant for Netanyahu over his conduct of the war in Gaza undermined international law and escalated tensions. Member countries of the ICC, such as Hungary, are required to detain suspects facing a warrant if they set foot on their soil, but the court has no way to enforce that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ICC issued the arrest warrant on Thursday for Netanyahu as well as for his former defense minister and Hamas military chief, accusing them of crimes against humanity in connection with the 13-month war in Gaza. The warrants said there was reason to believe Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant used starvation as a method of warfare by restricting humanitarian aid and intentionally targeted civilians in Israels campaign against Hamas in Gaza charges Israeli officials deny. In his comments Friday, Orban, a close Netanyahu ally, called the arrest warrant outrageously impudent and cynical. He said he would invite Netanyahu to Hungary later Friday and vowed to disregard the warrant if the invitation is accepted. We will defy this decision, and it will have no consequences for him, Orban said. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto earlier criticized the ICCs warrant as absurd. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel and its top ally, the United States, are not members of the court. But other Israeli allies, including some of its close European friends, are put in an awkward position by the warrants. Several, including France, welcomed the courts decision and signaled they might arrest Netanyahu if he visited. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said President Joe Bidens administration was deeply concerned by the prosecutors rush to seek arrest warrants and the troubling process errors that led to this decision. Netanyahu on Friday praised Hungary for its stance on the warrant, saying in a statement: "Against the shameful weakness of those who stood by the outrageous decision against the right of the State of Israel to defend itself, Hungary like our friends in the United States is displaying moral clarity and standing by justice and truth. The action by the ICC came as the death toll from Israels campaign in Gaza passed 44,000, according to local health authorities, who say more than half of those killed were women and children. Their count does not differentiate between civilians and combatants. SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) A state regulatory body has ruled on Aqua Illinois rate increase. The Illinois Commerce Commission approved a $11.6 million rate on Thursday for an increase for utility company Aqua. That decision cut down on Aquas request by about 43%. Also part of the decision is any customer whose income(s) who are at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Level can get a 70% discount on the base volumetric charges starting in July. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Illinoisans shouldnt have to choose between groceries or running water when funds are tight, ICC Chairman Doug Scott said. Aquas new low-income discount rate will help keep water flowing for customers who are struggling to pay their utility bills. Illinois Supreme Court reverses actor Jussie Smolletts conviction Additionally the ICC reduced Aquas requested return on equity from 10.8 to 9.6 percent. Utility watchdog groups like the Citizens Utility Board are celebrating ICCs ruling. The ICCs ruling is a step in the right directionalthough we never like to see water rates go up for long-suffering Aqua customers, CUB Executive Director Sarah Moskowitz said. We believe that a 9.6 percent profit rate for shareholders is still too high, but we are pleased that regulators rejected the companys outrageous 10.8 percent proposal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The decision come after 11 months of the regulatory body analyzing the case filing, as well as testimonies, exhibits and additional materials. The ICC makes sure utility companies like Aqua have enough funds to keep on providing safe and reliable service for maintaining and replacing any aging infrastructure. I want to acknowledge that while the outcome of this case may lead to increased charges on customers water bills, the ICC did not come to this decision lightly, ICC Commissioner Stacey Paradis said. The information in this case, as with any other that might impact Illinoisans utility bills, was evaluated with great care and consideration, reviewing each of Aquas relevant projects. Illinois clears $72 million in residents medical debt ICC officials said how much a customers average bill will increase depends on their service class and water usage. Anyone struggling to pay water bills should check out Aquas consumer assistance programs and Aqua Aid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Around 93,000 customers in 14 counties get water and/or sewer service from Aqua Illinois. The full case can be found on the ICCs website. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com. The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants on Thursday for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former defence minister and the Hamas military leader for alleged war crimes relating to the conflict in the Gaza Strip. The warrants, approved by a pre-trial chamber in The Hague, followed applications filed by Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan in May. The court said on Thursday that there were grounds to believe that Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant "intentionally and knowingly deprived the civilian population in Gaza of objects indispensable to their survival, including food, water, and medicine and medical supplies, as well as fuel and electricity." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The period in question is October 8, 2023 to May 20, 2024. Khan has been investigating alleged war crimes during the Gaza conflict for months. Israel had challenged the warrants but the ICC judges dismissed the objections. An arrest warrant was also issued for Hamas military chief Mohammed Deif, who is believed to have masterminded the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel in which some 1,200 were killed and 250 abducted. In response, Israel launched a military campaign that has caused widespread devastation and deprivation across the coastal strip. Israel said it killed Deif in a Gaza airstrike in July, but Hamas has never confirmed the claim. What are the charges? In its decision, the ICC chamber stated there are "reasonable grounds" to believe that both Israeli officials were criminally responsible for allegedly committing acts including "the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare; and the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The chamber said there were "reasonable grounds" to believe Deif was "responsible for the crimes against humanity of murder; extermination; torture; and rape and other form of sexual violence; as well as the war crimes of murder, cruel treatment, torture; taking hostages; outrages upon personal dignity; and rape and other form of sexual violence." What is the reaction? Following the ICC announcement, Netanyahu condemned the international arrest warrants against him in a post on X. "The anti-Semitic decision" was made by a "biased and discriminatory political body," he wrote. Israeli President Isaac Herzog also reacted with outrage, writing on X: "This is a dark day for justice. A dark day for humanity." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, the Hamas militia issued a statement hailing the arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant. It did not comment on the arrest warrant also issued against Deif. Hamas described the decision as "a significant historical precedent" that rectifies a long-standing injustice against Palestinians. Hamas also called on the ICC to expand its investigation against "all criminal leaders of the occupation" to include ministers and officers who "have shed the blood of our Palestinian people." The ICC does not recognize the immunity of heads of state or government. In 2023, it issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin over possible war crimes in Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following the news from The Hague, top EU diplomat Josep Borrell said all EU countries must carry out arrest warrants issued by the ICC. "It is not a political decision. It's a decision of a court, of a court of justice," Borrell said while in Amman. "This decision is a binding decision," he added. In the Netherlands, Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp told parliament that Dutch authorities will arrest Netanyahu and other wanted men if he enters the country. US President Joe Biden strongly condemned the arrest warrants issued against Netanyahu and Gallant. In a statement released late on Thursday Biden called the move "outrageous." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Let me be clear once again: whatever the ICC might imply, there is no equivalence none between Israel and Hamas," Biden said. "We will always stand with Israel against threats to its security." Neither the US nor Israel recognizes the ICC. However, the Palestinian territories are member states. In 2021, the court affirmed its jurisdiction over the territories occupied by Israel since 1967. As of Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is officially wanted for war crimes and crimes against humanity a stunning position for the leader of one of the nations closest to the U.S., which positions itself as a champion of international humanitarian law to protect against such crimes. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has unveiled arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his former defense minister Yoav Gallant for alleged crimes during Israels ongoing offensive in the Gaza Strip, charging the two men with enforcing starvation and killing innocent people during a widespread and systematic attack against the civilian population of Gaza. On Thursday, the court also issued a warrant for alleged crimes against humanity and war crimes for Mohammed Deif, a commander of Hamas, the Gaza-based Palestinian militant group whose gruesome Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel sparked the Israeli campaign. (Israel claims to have killed Deif, but Hamas has not confirmed his death as it has for its other leaders.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A White House spokesperson condemned the ICC for targeting the Israelis without commenting on the courts decision regarding Deif, whom the Biden administration placed under sanctions in September. Accusing the court of troubling process errors and overstepping its jurisdiction, the spokesperson said the administration is preparing next steps. Israel also rejected the charges and blasted the ICC. But Thursdays move made clear that regardless of Washingtons actions, the global conversation around the Gaza war is headed in a direction that will increase pressure on the U.S. and Israel, which heavily relies on American diplomatic and military support. President Joe Biden has so far declined to reduce U.S. backing for Israel even as international observers, U.S. lawmakers and watchdog groups have said its conduct violates American and international law. Neither has President-elect Donald Trump suggested he would withhold assistance to Israel once he takes office in January. Legal experts told HuffPost the warrants will boost international scrutiny of Israeli actions enabled by the U.S. and whether the two countries have fulfilled their promises to respect global standards for shielding civilians during wartime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Israel is extremely unlikely to surrender Netanyahu and Gallant, meaning theres a slim chance theyll face trials, the arrest warrants will not go away, said Adil Haque, a Rutgers University professor. Every ICC member has to arrest [the Israelis] if they visit, and at a political level this will compromise their ability to have public contacts with them, he continued. The U.S. and Israel are not members of the ICC, but 124 of the worlds countries the majority are. After the warrants were issued, officials in severalEuropean countries and Canada said they would respect the ICC order, suggesting they would arrest Netanyahu and Gallant (though some ICC member countries have previously failed to execute ICC warrants). The deputy prime minister of Belgium, Petra de Sutter, argued the continents reaction could extend to challenging the European Unions association agreement with Israel, which involves a lucrative free trade deal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The warrants could stiffen the spine of national authorities in other countries to pursue their own prosecutions related to Gaza, said Brian Finucane, a senior adviser at the International Crisis Group think tank. Citing the principle of universal jurisdiction, under which governments can pursue suspects for major international crimes regardless of their nationality or where the incidents occurred, Finucane said: Israeli officials will face possible criminal exposure in third states for years to come. Such prosecutions could include legal action against those aiding and abetting actions in Gaza, he continued a circle that could include American officials who have overseen weapons transfers to Israel while knowing about its pattern of alleged war crimes. Warrants are one more reminder to U.S. officials that they have been aiding and abetting men credibly accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity, said Finucane, who previously worked as a lawyer at the State Department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ICCs Thursday statement highlighted ties between American leverage and Israeli policy choices, implicitly suggesting the U.S. could have done more to prevent civilian harm. Israels decisions on humanitarian aid for Gaza were often conditional, the statement reads. They were not made to [fulfill] Israels obligations under international humanitarian law In fact, they were a response to the pressure of the international community or requests by the United States of America. In any event, the increases in humanitarian assistance were not sufficient to improve the populations access to essential goods. Meanwhile, the ICC development shows the weakness of the argument that Israels domestic legal system can handle claims of atrocities or violations of international law. Israels government has previously told the ICC its robust judiciary can rigorously probe misconduct. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That assertion evidently did not really convince the courts judges as they weighed the ICC prosecutors request for warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant, Suzie Navot, an Israeli constitutional law professor, wrote on X. She noted that the Israeli government has not set up a state commission of inquiry into the Gaza war which would have far-reaching investigative powers despite the Israeli attorney generals advice to do so. Whether Israel pursues internal accountability for possible war crimes is a major factor in the question of whether it can legally receive support from countries like the U.S., which prohibits aid to nations engaging in major human rights abuses, and whether Israel should face consequences like international sanctions for its conduct. A protester holds a placard with the face of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a demonstration in front of the U.S. Embassy in Madrid to demand that the United States comply with the mandate of the International Criminal Court to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for war crimes. Luis Soto/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images Thursdays announcement that ICC judges see reasonable grounds to believe Netanyahu and Gallant bear criminal responsibility for ongoing crimes, including enforcing mass starvation among Palestinians and intentionally killing civilians, comes amid other international evaluations of Israeli conduct. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is still considering South Africas case accusing Israel of perpetrating a genocide in Gaza. Its proceedings are expected to continue for years to come, ensuring continued high-profile discussions of Israeli decisions blessed by the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials and experts working on distinct global legal proceedings often lean on each others conclusions and analyses as they reach their own judgments. Haque noted that the ICC judges suggested Israeli leaders had created conditions of life calculated to bring about the destruction of part of the civilian population in Gaza, which is in line with the definition of genocide though genocide requires a different mental state of specific intent. And the parties to the Geneva Conventions which govern much of international law plan to hold a conference on the Middle East in March. The confab could weigh in on whether Israel is occupying Gaza under international law, which would mean the Israeli government bears special responsibility in caring for its population. The ICJ said in July that Israel is occupying the Palestinian region. I assume the vast majority of the Conference will agree, Haque told HuffPost, saying a strong conference statement would still be useful. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For the U.S., mounting and ongoing inquiries into the Gaza war will likely fuel strategic complexities for years. Those could include charges that America is selective in its commitment to international law given its ardent opposition to the ICCs first-ever warrants for figures allied with the West as well as tensions in important foreign relationships and embarrassing findings about U.S. culpability in horrifying aspects of the Gaza war. Condemnations or revelations from abroad could strengthen domestic frustrations against overwhelming U.S. support for Israel, which has become a major issue in national politics. Developments in the ICJ case, further warrants over the U.S.-backed Israeli offensive in Gaza or other events could inspire new public anger and fresh battles in Congress that build on already unprecedented votes challenging the U.S.-Israeli relationship. In 2023, Biden cheered the courts issuance of a warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin over war crimes during his full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The Biden administration then decided to support the ICC in its investigation of Russian activity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, Haque said, the U.S. is in an untenable position, supporting the warrant for Putin but opposing the warrant for Netanyahu. But perhaps Trump will oppose both, he added. The incoming president has expressed admiration for Putin and accused Bidens team of unwisely provoking him. Differing approaches to the court could drive a split between the U.S. and Europe traditional friends already likely to be at odds under a second Trump presidency over matters like trade, Ukraine and climate policy. The E.U. should prepare for a U.S. attack on the ICC, Anthony Dworkin, a senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations think tank, argued in a Thursday post. Europe must resist any US pressure to cut its own ties and support for the court. A Colorado Springs police officer was arrested on multiple charges after being accused of inappropriate sexual contact with a minor and victim intimidation. On Oct. 16, the Colorado Springs Police Department received information regarding a sexual contact allegation against Sgt. Glenn Eric Thomas, which allegedly occurred at an address in Woodland Park. During the investigation, police say they found probable cause that Thomas had also attempted to intimidate the victim. Additionally, Thomas is accused of violating a protection order prohibiting contact with a former spouse. Charges related to the sexual contact allegations in Woodland Park have not been filed as of Thursday. A judge signed an arrest warrant on Nov. 21 and Thomas was taken into custody without incident the same day. According to a news release, Thomas has been employed by the department since January 1993 and is currently assigned to the DUI unit. He has since been placed on paid administrative leave "pending a review of the case and a filing of charges by the District Attorneys Office." An internal investigation is ongoing as well. On November 20, a formerly dormant volcano in Iceland began erupting again. The volcanic eruption has affected the lives of many in and around that area. A video of the Iceland volcanos eruption captured lava dramatically engulfing the entire parking lot of the iconic Blue Lagoon. The eruption led to evacuations at the world-famous tourist destination. Moreover, the Icelandic town of Grindavik encouraged its residents to vacate the area for their safety. Iceland volcano eruption: Lava consumes Blue Lagoon car park in dramatic footage Video: watch as #lava inundates Blue Lagoon car park pic.twitter.com/fBDvEuaDUK RUV English (@RuvEnglish) November 21, 2024 The volcano on the Reykjanes peninsula in southwestern Iceland has become active again, and its eruption is affecting the lives of many. It began erupting on Wednesday night, with Thursday early morning seeing its peak activity. According to the Icelandic Meteorological Office, the lava has reached too far west, flowing to areas it has never reached before. Moreover, the speed of the lava flow was recorded to exceed 100 meters per hour on Thursday. The agency noted that the hazard assessment will be updated on Friday if they dont see any changes. The volcanos eruption has also impacted the iconic Blue Lagoon in Iceland, with a video capturing lava covering the famous tourist destinations parking lot. The drone footage is as dramatic as it is frightening. According to ABC News, people have been requested to evacuate the Blue Lagoon as well as the Icelandic town of Grindavik, which is close by. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Icelandic volcano is a rift activity volcano. Thus, it isnt a conical mountain spewing magma up the top but instead, the earth pulling apart along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge to ooze a massive amount of the same. This form of eruption is less dangerous and explosive, mostly involving lava slowly flowing to different areas. The most recent volcanic eruption featured a fissure that measured up to 1.8 miles long. However, it isnt the first time this volcano has erupted this year. The Icelandic volcano has erupted a whopping six times since the beginning of this year. The post Icelands Volcano Engulfs a Whole Car Park in Drone Video appeared first on Mandatory. First the towering, weathered sign disappeared on State Street weeks ago. Now the entire building could be turned to rubble? I scarcely believe it myself, but Merritts Family Restaurant, 6630 W. State St., has filed paperwork with the city of Boise proposing to tear down the nearly century-old structure. Then rebuild. The work is necessitated, according to documents, because of the expansion of ACHDs (Ada County Highway Districts) State Street right-of-way. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Good ol ACHD street-widening plans the bureaucratic bulldozer that plowed another State Street landmark, Smoky Davis meat shop, out of existence in 2018. (Remember the lawsuit settlement?) I emailed the Merritts project applicant, Ryan Erstad of Erstad Architects. I phoned Merritts and left a message for the owners. Neither was immediately returned. Maybe theyre all speechless, too. The proposal is for another single-tenant building, which doesnt align with the citys vision for 21st century State Street. Erstad wrote that this would limit construction costs and property management considerations for the Merritt family, the restaurants operator and occupant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If the city refused to bite instead demanding a costlier multistory structure that strictly adheres to Boises modern zoning code it could create the sort of obstacle that will push this longstanding business to a different municipality or simply cause them to close, he wrote. Locally famous as Home of the Scones, Merritts is a grizzled treasure. Its been in the same location for nearly 50 years. It was featured in the Idaho Statesmans book 150 Boise Icons. Merritts Country Cafe was all-night staple on State Street in Boise for decades before reducing hours in 2017. Back when it was open all night, plenty of Boiseans enjoyed a drunken er, buzzed after-bar meal there. (Nowadays, its open 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.) The threat of State Street widening first reared its head about five years ago. Thats when Merritts wrote on Facebook that plans would put the new road and sidewalks right at our front door! The problem is that the majority of Merritts parking would get eliminated. As part of the restaurants proposed plan, parking would be on the side and behind the new building. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Back then, Merritts posted that it was hunting for a different location, but no place will ever have the history and character of this old truck stop. Merritts hazy history Merritts was opened in 1975 by Lester Merritt, according to previous Statesman reporting, at the old Yatesville truck stop, which had operated since 1928 and had a small cafe. Using math based on a Merritts social-media post a decade ago, the building is 96 years old. Like many longtime Boiseans, I just know my own hazy Merritts history. Back when partying all night felt reasonable, friends and I made the occasional 2 a.m. taxi journey there. (In other words, pre-Uber.) After the bars closed, it was hard to beat a billion-calorie Super Ranch scramble with cheese. Cigarette smoke wafted through the air, mingling with the smell of cheap coffee. The jukebox blasted Patsy Cline and AC/DC. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Between mouthfuls of butter-slathered scones, wed exaggerate whatever chaos wed witnessed or caused downtown that night. But Boise has changed. A lot. The city eventually passed a no-smoking ordinance, for one thing. Cant say Im upset about that. But Merritts considering demolition? That idea actually is strangely upsetting. Even if the restaurant did wind up rebuilt into something ... modern. Newfangled. (Just that idea makes a person shudder, right?) Maybe they could at least line the walls with Idaho nostalgia? Or cover the restrooms in Boise OG stickers? You cant go back, Boise. Thats what they say. But in Merritts case, hopefully maybe? we sort of could, if that old building vanishes. In the weeks leading up to what was expected to be a second attempt to execute Idahos longest-serving death row prisoner, state prison officials found they had a problem: Their lethal injection drugs expired. Already difficult to acquire for use in executions, the drugs are costly, too. Idaho paid $100,000 in state funds for the batch of pentobarbital, according to public records obtained by the Idaho Statesman earlier this year. Just a week after prisoner Thomas Creech was served another death warrant, the Idaho Department of Correction learned it no longer had enough of the powerful sedative it needed on hand to put him to death. Prison officials expended the majority of their prior stock of lethal injection drugs in February when they called off Creechs execution because they couldnt find a suitable vein for an IV, but had already drawn the chemical into syringes for use. The spent drugs cost taxpayers more than $33,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Creech, 74, has been incarcerated in Idaho for more than 50 years, most of it on death row for three murder convictions in the state. The second attempt to execute him planned for Nov. 13 was delayed when a federal judge issued a stay in one of his appeals to prevent the state from fulfilling his death sentence. However, the short stock of lethal injection drugs reveals that IDOC officials were not as prepared as they thought to carry out the states first execution in more than 12 years, Creechs attorneys wrote in federal court filings this month. IDOC officials were forced to scramble to come up with a solution to avoid putting off Creechs execution once again, this time by their own doing. Faced with the loss of the new execution drugs through their own carelessness, and saddled also with a death warrant it had to carry out lest it face another embarrassing preliminary injunction order the state had to come up with a plan on the fly, Creechs attorneys with the Federal Defender Services of Idaho wrote. Reimbursement for expired drugs unclear Idahos execution shield law narrowed what the prison system must disclose about its lethal injection drugs to members of death row and the public. But of the limited information it was compelled to provide to Creech, some key details from its latest pentobarbital purchase turned out to be untrue, his attorneys asserted in the court filings while pointing to internal prison records. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The drugs intended to execute Creech did not, in fact, have an expiration date in 2025, as Josh Tewalt, the states prisons director, had earlier sworn under penalty of perjury, Creechs attorneys wrote. Contrary to what they said under oath in court filings this summer, IDOC leaders also didnt have a certificate of analysis to prove the drugs had been tested properly, the filings read. The testing would have affirmed the injection was potent and safe enough to end a persons life without causing what could be construed as cruel and unusual punishment. This failure was entirely within the states control, Creechs attorneys wrote. As anyone who has ever taken medication knows, and as (Director) Tewalt admitted a simple glance at a manufactured drugs packaging will tell you when it expires. But no one acting on behalf of the state of Idaho and charged with carrying out its most profound and solemn duty ever bothered to do so much as look once at the execution chemicals. Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador, whose office is tasked with defending IDOC and its leadership in the lawsuit, did not respond to requests for comment. The deputy attorneys general handling the case have yet to respond to the merits of the court filings that alleged the drugs expired. Idaho Department of Correction Director Josh Tewalt has led the state agency since December 2018. Included in the court filings from Creechs attorneys was a chain-of-custody form for IDOCs lethal injection drugs that showed Randy Valley, warden of the maximum security prison south of Boise, transferred the $100,000 worth of pentobarbital out of his possession on Oct. 24 less than three weeks before Creechs scheduled execution. Expired returned to supplier, the log entry read. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The log also showed that Valley accepted a new batch of pentobarbital the next day. An invoice for the purchase, included in court filings by Creechs attorneys, showed the 15 grams of pentobarbital cost $50,000. IDOC failed to meet the requirements of the Idaho Public Records Act when it did not respond to a request from the Statesman for the same invoice for pentobarbital, so the purchase could be verified. The state law provides up to 10 business days for public agencies to respond with requested public records, and that deadline lapsed Wednesday. The going retail rate of 15 grams of pentobarbital is about $16,200, a doctor of pharmacy said in a sworn declaration submitted to the court by Creechs attorneys. The state paid about three times that amount for its latest batch of the drug. It is also unclear whether the prison system was reimbursed $100,000 by the unnamed supplier for the expired batch of drugs, which Creechs attorneys said the state bought as early as April. IDOC provided the Statesman with the purchase invoice in response to a public records request. IDOC declined to comment Thursday after the Statesman asked questions about the drugs and their costs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Department of Correction is an executive branch office that falls under the supervision of Gov. Brad Little. His office also did not respond to questions from the Statesman about the lethal injection costs and expiration of drugs intended for Creechs planned execution this month before it was postponed. Gov. Little has made clear his support of capital punishment, Joan Varsek, Littles spokesperson, told the Statesman in an emailed statement last month. As the chief executive of state government, Gov. Littles job is to follow the law and ensure lawful criminal sentences are carried out. Additional execution costs rack up Last month, IDOC announced it revised its execution policies and renovated its execution chamber almost eight months after the prison system was unable to execute Creech. State officials indicated they hoped the changes would prevent a repeat of the first failed execution in Idaho history. An execution preparation room was constructed, so the execution team can assess a prisoners veins before delivering them to the chamber. IDOC also added cameras for a live closed-circuit broadcast so witnesses can see what happens in that new room to meet federal execution transparency requirements. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Instead of a standard IV, known as peripheral access, the execution team, assisted by a volunteer qualified physician will now be trained to insert a central line IV with a catheter through a jugular in the neck, or vein in the upper thigh or chest. The American Medical Association strictly prohibits members from participating in an execution in any form. Every IDOC staff member and execution-related team member participates voluntarily, Sanda Kuzeta-Cerimagic, IDOCs spokesperson, previously told the Statesman. Our experience is that most people volunteer out of a sense of duty and a belief that this process should be dignified. For design and construction, the renovation costs totaled $314,000, Kuzeta-Cerimagic said. Little signed a bill into law last year to add a firing squad as the states backup execution method and provided $750,000 to remodel the execution chamber. Execution by lethal injection remains the primary means of capital punishment in the state of Idaho, Varsek said last month. The improvements to the execution procedures help ensure the state of Idaho can carry out just sentences as ordered by the court. Idaho hasnt executed a death row inmate since June 2012, and just two in more than 30 years. The states execution method is lethal injection with a firing squad as the backup method, though not yet available because of delayed construction. Future construction to accommodate a firing squad execution will cost an additional $953,000, Kuzeta-Cerimagic said. About $436,000 remains in IDOCs building fund from the firing squad law, which would require another half-million dollars appropriated to complete that work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were trying to work as quickly as possible to have that be an option while also maintaining our ability to carry out capital punishment by lethal injection, Tewalt said in a July interview with the Statesman. Lethal drugs, including pentobarbital, became harder to come by after manufacturers increasingly chose to no longer sell them to prisons for executions. But the state in 2022 passed its shield law, which protects any identifying information of execution team members and suppliers of execution drugs from public release. Since then, lethal injection drugs have been more available to the state, according to prison officials. For right now, Tewalt said. Nov. 21University of Idaho murder suspect Bryan Kohberger can face the death penalty if convicted in the four students' deaths, an Ada County judge ruled Wednesday. Kohberger, a former Washington State University student, is charged with four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary in the stabbing deaths of students Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin in November 2022. His attorneys previously filed multiple motions attempting to take the death penalty off the table provided Kohberger is found guilty of the homicides. Ada County Judge Steven Hippler, who oversees the case since it was moved from Moscow to Boise to quell concerns of jury bias, rejected all 12 attempts from the defense to strike the death penalty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the 55-page decision, Hippler laid out the defense's arguments, which included how the death penalty is used in various places in the state and how geography has a say in who gets the death penalty and who does not. Attorneys Anne Taylor, Jay Logsdon and Elisa Massoth cited a national treaty from 1992 barring undue punishment, arguing that the law is unconstitutionally vague and provides no clarity on a lesser penalty, among other arguments. Hippler wrote in response their argument "defies logic." Idaho passed a law in 2023 to allow death by firing squad if lethal injection is unavailable, which the defense also claimed was cruel and unusual. But the prosecution has a legal basis to ask for the death penalty under the law, Hippler wrote. The law is clear, he explained, even when barred in other states: The death penalty has been declared constitutional in Idaho. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It is difficult to conclude the death penalty contravenes evolving standards of decency when a majority of the states of this nation continues to provide for it as a punishment," he wrote in the decision. To sentence Kohberger to death, prosecutors must prove to a jury at least one "aggravating factor," or factor that makes the crime more heinous in nature, existed during the time of the killings. Latah County prosecutors listed five factors in their intent to seek death, including that Kohberger exhibited utter disregard for human life, is a continuing threat to society, and one murder was committed at the time of another murder. The defense also took aim at these factors, but Hippler noted case law that narrows the reasoning of why those factors could be applied; that "depravity" in such a crime can "offend all standards of morality" and that propensity to commit murder applies to a "willing, predisposed killer" who "tends toward destroying the life of another." And because the defense also took to challenge the Eighth Amendment on the basis of the death penalty being cruel and unusual, it's also their job to provide for a more humane alternative. The defense did not do this, Hippler wrote. He also implied the defense's motions were not timely or in the midst of controversy since the case hasn't gone to trial and there is no verdict, so deciding on a method of death just based on the "defendant's distress" is essentially pointless. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Assuming the defendant is convicted, and the death penalty imposed, it would likely be at least a decade before he is executed," Hippler wrote. "To decide now as to the constitutionality to any given method would amount to an advisory opinion." Kohberger's trial is set for next summer. The Idaho State Board of Education could pass a resolution limiting diversity, equity and inclusion polices, also known as DEI, in Idahos public colleges and universities. The discussions come amid a nationwide backlash against DEI programs, which became popular in 2020 in the aftermath of George Floyds death at the hands of a Minnesota police officer. This is not about removing support where people need it, Josh Whitworth, executive director of the State Board of Education, said during Thursdays board meeting. Rather, he said, its aimed to provide all students with access to the offices. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its really an inclusionary point of view, Whitworth said. The draft resolution presented Thursday to the board would ensure that no central office, policy, procedure or initiative is dedicated to DEI. The colleges must also ensure that all student success centers are dedicated to all students. Board member Kurt Liebich said he was concerned the DEI policy could be interpreted broadly and eliminate groups that are helpful for some students. He said students need academic support in college to be successful, but also need to find their people. We have a lot of programs on our campuses that support Native Americans, that support veterans, that support first-gen students, Liebich said at the meeting. All those programs are really, really important for students to be successful on our campuses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another board member said he didnt think the resolution would require removing such programs. Rumors started circulating on social media this week that the University of Idaho planned to eliminate its DEI units. A social activist organization at the University of Idaho, Movimiento Activista Social, posted on Instagram asking people to stand in solidarity against the move. University of Idaho spokesperson Jodi Walker said the school was discussing closing its DEI-related units with students, as part of its overall discussions on how to meet the expectations of our board and the Legislature. Idaho lawmakers this past session introduced Senate Bill 1357 to prohibit DEI in Idahos higher education institutions, though the bill went nowhere. No announcements have been made, Walker said, and decisions are fluctuating based on information from the State Board. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In light of the information provided at todays board meeting, we are evaluating our options and working with the board to provide input and feedback to their resolution, Walker said. Ultimately we will comply with any resolutions or policies they establish. Idaho universities make changes The board took no action on the resolution Thursday. But university administrators have already begun making changes. A week before the meeting, Idaho State University President Robert Wagner announced that the school was restructuring the Office of Equity and Inclusion and renaming it to the Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX. Programs from the Diversity Resource Center and the Gender Resource Center are set to be integrated into broader student support services. This shift allows us to consolidate efforts and provide more streamlined, impactful support for all students while adhering to state guidelines, Wagner wrote. Along with this restructuring, Im excited to announce the creation of the Bengal Success Center, which will play a key role in supporting academic success for all ISU students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An Idaho State University spokesperson did not respond to a message asking why the university took such moves. Lewis and Clark State College did not return a request for comment. Boise State is committed to serving all students, Boise State University spokesperson Stephany Galbreaith said in an email. We are aware of the resolutions that were presented at todays Idaho State Board of Education meeting and will provide feedback. Idaho legislators scrutinize diversity Idahos Republican state lawmakers have been scrutinizing diversity initiatives at universities for years, at times withholding budget approvals for colleges as they criticized offices that were involved in DEI programming. School administrators and state officials have responded by limiting equity initiatives that have become standard across the country. The Idaho State Board of Education approved a resolution banning diversity statements for hiring at Idahos four-year public colleges in April 2023. That same year, legislators passed a budget bill for universities that barred state funding for diversity programs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Efforts against DEI initiatives will likely continue in Idaho, said state Sen. Brian Lenney, R-Nampa, who co-sponsored last years anti-DEI bill. The other two co-sponsors did not return requests for comment. Ive spent my time in the Senate pushing state bureaucrats to dismantle DEI, because not only is race-based discrimination illegal, its steeped in Marxism and utterly incompatible with Idahos values, Lenney wrote in an email. In 2025, well ramp up our campaign, leveraging the Legislatures hard shift to the right to completely eradicate these toxic policies. On an April morning, Caldwell police officers arrived at a Sonic Drive-In, where a 19-year-old woman waited after she had walked two miles, flagged down a passerby and called 911. She had just escaped from Marcus Jacksons RV, she told them, where Jackson had raped and strangled her three times, according to a probable cause affidavit. Jackson was facing up to life in prison if he was found guilty of three felonies: rape, attempted strangulation, and unlawful possession of a firearm. Police had searched his RV and found a Glock 9mm handgun with ammunition, which he was prohibited from owning because of a prior domestic violence conviction. But Canyon County prosecutors dropped the most severe charges, of rape and strangulation, after his arrest. Instead, a plea deal for the unlawful possession charge offered him a much shorter sentence: one year in prison. And the county has no public record of the hearing that discussed why the charges were dropped. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The countys court support services told the Idaho Statesman that the hearing in which the charges were dismissed wasnt recorded because of a glitch in the system, and there is no transcript of the hearing. All criminal hearings in Idaho must be recorded, or under Idaho law, proceedings must be transcribed through a court reporter, though court hearings have increasingly relied solely on audio recordings because of staffing shortages. The Canyon County Prosecutors Office also didnt respond to the Statesmans inquiry on why the charges were dismissed. During Jacksons sentencing, Scott Vermeer, who works for the Canyon County Prosecutors Office, said the case was pared down because of changes in circumstances with the victim but didnt elaborate further, aside from mentioning that his office was no longer in contact with her. Its uncommon for rape cases to lead to a conviction, according to statistics from the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, an anti-sexual violence organization, and even more challenging to prosecute when a survivor isnt involved. But prosecutors can still pursue charges without the survivor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Overall, the state does believe this is economical and a reasonable outcome, Vermeer said, as he asked the judge to impose the one-year sentence. At their mercy: Parole commission to review Jacksons case Third Judicial District Judge Randall Grove, who presides in Canyon County, noted during the October sentencing that the remaining charge of unlawful possession was mildly threatening, whereas the other charges of rape and strangulation were significantly threatening. But Grove said he wont rely on the dismissed charges that had fallen by the wayside, and instead agreed to follow a deal reached between the prosecution and defense. Jacksons one-year sentence also credits him with the nearly six months hed already spent in jail. The now-51-year-old could be on parole by the end of April unless the states parole commission intervenes. The commission determines who is released on parole for all criminal cases in Idaho. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jackson was on parole for a prior domestic violence conviction after he strangled his then-girlfriend the day before New Years Eve in 2020. That morning, Jackson had appeared for a sentencing hearing in Boise on two misdemeanor domestic violence charges, court records showed. He was placed on supervised probation and told he wouldnt face additional jail time. Hours later, after his ankle monitor was removed, Jackson beat and threatened to kill his then-girlfriend and her teenage daughter, according to 4th District Judge Samuel Hoagland in Ada County. Jackson was arrested and charged with six felonies related to the attack. But through a plea deal, they got whittled down to two felony convictions: battery domestic violence with traumatic injury and aggravated assault. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison with the possibility of parole after 2 years by Hoagland, who retired in February 2024. I think this sentence is just, fair and reasonable, Hoagland said at the time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By August 2023, Jackson was released from prison. The Idaho Commission of Pardons and Parole will review Jacksons case once hes eligible for parole again in April, Idaho Department of Correction spokesperson Sanda Kuzeta-Cerimagic told the Statesman in an email. That review will occur during an executive session thats closed to the public, Kuzeta-Cerimagic said. The commissioners will determine whether he should be released into the community or spend additional time in prison for violating the terms of his initial release. If the commission doesnt grant him parole, Jackson could spend up to five more years in prison. Hes going to be at their mercy, Jacksons public defender, Cassandra Wright, said in court. So far, only one of Idahos public universities has publicly announced that it is restructuring its diversity equity and inclusion offices. (Christina Lords / Idaho Capital Sun) The Idaho State Board of Education is considering adopting a resolution that would address concerns from lawmakers and Idahoans about existing diversity, equity and inclusion programs in Idahos public universities. In a special meeting Thursday, the board met to discuss three draft resolutions, including one meant to consolidate and affirm existing Idaho policies related to diversity, equity and inclusion into one document. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The proposed resolution would direct public Idaho universities to maintain equality of opportunity for all students; ensure that no central offices, policies, procedures or initiatives are dedicated to diversity, equity and inclusion; ensure student success centers are dedicated to all students; and ensure that no employee or student is required to declare gender identity or preferred pronouns. Thursdays meeting was the boards first read of the resolution, and it will take time and feedback from stakeholders before it is finalized and voted upon. Board Executive Director Joshua Whitworth said at the meeting the draft resolutions are based on similar activity in other states such as Utah and Texas. In Utah and Texas, there are laws that restrict diversity, equity and inclusion programs in state universities and public institutions. The purpose is to ensure that we are providing support for all of our students and that our institutions are defending core principles of freedom of expression by not taking sides on contentious issues, but rather facilitating constructive discussions and civil and rigorous debate on our public campuses, Whitworth said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Board President Linda Clark said in a press release that the board has heard concerns from lawmakers and Idahoans about the issues addressed in the draft resolutions. These concerns are being expressed not only in Idaho, but in many states across the nation, Clark said in the release. We will work with our institutions to collect input, and the Board will make a decision during a future Board meeting. DEI-restricting policies already in place Idaho has laws already in place preventing state funds from supporting diversity, equity and inclusion policies. In 2023, the Idaho Legislature passed Senate Bill 1176, an education budget bill for the states public universities. It also prohibited state funding for activities tied to diversity, equity, or social justice, Idaho Education News previously reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the 2024 legislative session, Idaho Gov. Brad Little signed Senate Bill 1274 into law. The law prevents higher education institutions in Idaho from requiring diversity statements as a condition of employment or student admission. What does the draft resolution NOT do? The draft resolution comes at a time when topics of diversity, equity and inclusion have increasingly been on the radar of Idaho lawmakers. During the 2024 legislative session, three legislators Sens. Scott Herndon, R-Sagle; Brian Lenney, R-Nampa; and Rep. Elaine Price, R-Coeur dAlene sponsored Senate Bill 1357. The bill would have prohibited diversity, equity and inclusion programs in Idaho colleges and universities, and it specifically named diversity programs and positions to eliminate across Idaho universities. The bill did not receive a hearing, and it did not make it to either floor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The boards draft resolution is not a replica of that bill, Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction Debbie Critchfield told the Sun. Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction Debbie Critchfield (Courtesy of the State Department of Education) Its definitely not an apples-to-apples comparison, Critchfield said. I think that particular piece of legislation did call upon very specific actions to take place relative to certain populations. Im taking this resolution as reaffirming the role of education at the state level that we have a student-centered system. Critchfield said nothing about the resolution forces an immediate action as far as closing any programs or diminishing support groups meant to help students. In no way are we saying that those programs should go away, Critchfield said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Critchfield said she wants any student coming onto an Idaho campus to feel welcome, and the resolution reaffirms the idea that Idaho universities wont give special attention to certain groups while acknowledging that different groups of students have unique needs. How are Idaho universities addressing DEI concerns? So far, only one of Idahos public universities has publicly announced that it is restructuring its diversity equity and inclusion offices. On Nov. 14, Idaho State University announced it would reorganize its Office of Equity and Inclusion, renaming it the Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX. Programs from the universitys Diversity Resource Center and Gender Resource Center will be integrated into broader student support services, according to the university. It is unclear if other Idaho universities are making similar moves. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Boise State University spokesperson Stephany Galbreaith told the Sun Thursday evening that the university is committed to serving all students, but she did not address if the university has restructuring plans. We are aware of the resolutions that were presented at todays Idaho State Board of Education meeting and will provide feedback, she said in an email. University of Idaho spokesperson Jodi Walker said the university is discussing how to meet the expectations of the board and the Idaho Legislature. Among those conversations is closure of our DEI-related units, Walker told the Sun in an email Thursday evening. In light of the information provided at todays board meeting, we are evaluating our options and working with the board to provide input and feedback to their resolution. Ultimately, we will comply with any resolutions or policies they establish. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lewis and Clark State College spokespeople could not be immediately reached for comment. Diversity, equity and inclusion is expected to remain a prominent topic in the 2025 legislative session. Idaho lawmakers are scheduled to meet at 8:30 a.m. on Dec. 2 at the Idaho State Capitol to discuss DEI. dei SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Should Illinois legalize assisted suicide? Some state senators think so. If allowed, vulnerable people who are sick, elderly, disabled, and those with mental illness and dementia will become targets. As the father of a Downs Syndrome toddler, I am extremely alarmed by this proposal. No one should be comfortable with promoting a cheaper, easier alternative to lifes struggles in order to ignore their responsibilities to people who need their help. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Canadas law, with 79% support, was promoted as a last resort for the terminally ill. Support has plummeted to 30% because of the disregard toward vulnerable citizens such as anyone with an illness and those who are disabled. Canadians facing homelessness and poverty are feeling compelled to end their lives rather than be a burden to society. In 2023, 76.2% of Belgium euthanasia was administered to people with physical and psychological issues, including personality disorders, depression, and Alzheimers. A Netherland law that took effect on February 1, 2024, allows parents to euthanize their children even if the child doesnt want to be killed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Proponents can call it dignity, but it is cruel and heartless to disregard human life. If you agree, please let your state senator know. David E. Smith, executive director of the Illinois Family Institute This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Should Illinois legalize assisted suicide? | Letters An Illinois man was sentenced to six years Friday after signing a plea deal in his Griffith girlfriends shooting death. He said it was an accident. Mike Lee, 24, of Riverdale, Illinois, and formerly Griffith, pleaded guilty in October to Level 4 felony unlawful possession of a firearm, Level 5 felony reckless homicide and an unrelated case for Level 6 felony fraud. He faced up to 12 years. He told Griffith Police he was trying to un-jam his gun on Dec. 30 when it went off, fatally striking his girlfriend Toniesha Carter, 21, in the eye. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deputy Prosecutor Tara Villarreal said they couldnt prove a murder case i.e. the shooting was on purpose. Defense lawyer John Cantrell noted the couple hadnt argued and Carter went into another room to charge her phone so Lee could look up a YouTube tutorial. His mild-mannered client was devastated, the lawyer said. Two aunts and Lees godmother spoke in his favor, saying he was a devoted father and wanted money to go to Carters funeral expenses and son. It was an accident that left him so distraught, his aunt Annie Lee said. Griffith Police Detective Robert Carney said it was a weapon that could pierce body armor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On cross-examination, he said sometimes cops can use the same way to clear a weapon, but its not the way I would do it in an apartment building with someone close by. Villarreal said she didnt dispute what his family said about his character. But Lee had nearly a dozen prior police contacts, which showed a total disregard for the law. Everyone knows you do not mess around with guns around other people, she said. No one from Carters family spoke at the hearing. Villarreal said Carters father was very very upset and her family was left to bury her a couple of weeks into the New Year. He was a convicted felon who was barred from owning a gun. She asked for 11 years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lee claimed he got the gun to make her happy, because she wanted to shoot it off at a New Years party. He was left in shock when it went off. Why do that with a high-caliber weapon that you had little experience with, Judge Salvador Vasquez asked. It makes little sense to me at all, the judge said. Lee said Carter had just walked back in the room and was on the bed. He never pointed the gun in her direction. I wasnt paying attention to her, Lee said. Griffith police responded on Dec. 30 to the 1000 block of East 35th Avenue. A witness said she heard a gun go off. Carter was found in the fetal position on the bed in a back bedroom. The gun was next to her. She was shot in the head. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A woman took Carter to her shift at Amazon at 6 a.m. that day, but she was sent home for showing up without safety shoes. The woman said they came back and went to sleep. Around 3 p.m., she woke up and Carter came into her room to get a phone charger. Soon after, she heard a gunshot. Lee came to the room and said he shot Carter in the head. At first, she didnt believe he was serious, due to his tone. When the woman asked if she was breathing, he said no. He called the cops. The couple had arguments but none that day, she said. The gun was an Anderson Manufacturing AR-15 multi-caliber pistol. Lee said they woke up around 1 p.m. and Carter made him food. She went to get a phone charger so he could watch a YouTube video to clear the gun. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He got one round out and thought it was empty. He bought the weapon the night before from someone in Illinois, the affidavit states. In the Oct. 22, 2023, incident, Carter told police that Lee had strangled her at the same apartment. She answered his phone and got into a heated argument with his childs mother. After he refused to leave, Carter locked herself in the bedroom. He kicked the door open, forced her on a bed and strangled her, the affidavit states. She declined treatment. He was charged two days before the shooting with strangulation and misdemeanor domestic battery in that case. mcolias@post-trib.com Getting a clearer idea of the scope of homelessness in Colorado Springs is one of the next steps that will come out of the new Homelessness Response Action Plan that Mayor Yemi Mobolade released Thursday. Whether he's speaking with residents, business owners or service providers, the concern is clear, the mayor said while mentioning highlights of the document at his monthly press briefing. The issue of homelessness is complex, Mobolade said, and weighs heavily on our community. The six-pronged plan seeks to balance compassion with public safety, he said, and builds on past community efforts that have expanded facilities and programs. Areas of focus are enforcement and cleanup, street outreach and shelter, homelessness prevention, employment for homeless people, housing and supportive services, and collaboration and public communications. While city staff reviewed those areas at a public meeting in August, 60 actions tied to 14 short- and long-term objectives were unveiled Thursday under the five-year plan. Regarding data, Mobolade said the estimated cost to provide services for a homeless person in Colorado Springs is an old figure from 2019 of $55,000 annually, which he intends to update. He said he also wants to provide more costs beyond the $500,000 the city allocates in its general operating budget annually to a few organizations that operate emergency shelters. Also, the annual Point in Time census, a Housing and Urban Development-mandated count of the homeless population on a given night in January, does not yield a complete conclusion, Mobolade said. Accessing other metrics, including a monthly account of how many people are using homeless services in the community and how many have exited the system, is a priority, he said. We need a real comprehensive look at the true need, Mobolade said. I dont believe the Point in Time number reflects our lived experiences. This years survey showed total homelessness decreased by 13% over 2023 to 1,146 people, which reflected a level last seen in 2015. A more realistic picture requires stepped-up personal connection with people on the streets, said Aimee Cox, the citys new chief housing and homelessness officer. Some of the steps outlined in the new plan have been enacted in recent weeks, she said, including building one-on-one relationships with homeless people who hang out in the downtown core and working to return them to stable housing. The Homeless Outreach Team of the Colorado Springs Police Department has received funding for two more officers for a total of nine who do enforcement and outreach in encampments and other known hangouts. Officers enforce city ordinances against illegal camping and other laws, issue tickets to violators, serve outstanding warrants and also help people connect to housing, addiction recovery and other services, said Sgt. Olav Chaney, who heads the team. Featured Local Savings Many folks we deal with are not ready for help, but we always offer it to them, he said. Authorities dont always strike out. This morning, we offered to take a guy to Serenity Connection for addiction recovery. He didnt want to go right away but took a card and a phone number, Chaney said. Since the program started earlier this year, he said the team has helped a dozen people use the organization, which supports people ready to get off drugs or alcohol. A second city crew to clean up trash left behind from illegal encampments also had been added to the budget. Another urgent need, Cox said, is more sheltering in extreme cold weather, when the temperature drops to 19 degrees F or below. The citys main shelter for single men and women, Springs Rescue Mission, can accommodate at least 450 people and up to hundreds more, but some homeless people say they dont like the shelter or its rules and want other choices. The nonprofit organization Hope COS uses local churches as pop-up shelters and has less restrictive conditions but doesnt receive city funding and has had to cut back on services. We are in conversations, Cox said. Mobolade said tackling homelessness requires a multi-faceted approach with public-private partnerships to really move the needle. To that end, a regional team is forming to enact a coordinated response to addressing homelessness, he said. Other strategies listed in the plan include expanding supportive housing, recruiting more landlords to accept subsidized housing vouchers and working with them to keep people housed and prevent homelessness, involving more businesses in employing homeless people and increasing opportunities for behavioral health care. Chloe, who attended the meeting and who had been homeless for nearly a year, said she thinks theres a huge disconnect between the people who need the services and what the city is saying. It isnt person-focused on the homeless community, she said. Its like we dont matter. Said Mobolade: We are driven by the values of courage, empathy and humility to implement this plan. The report can be found at ColoradoSprings.gov/HomelessnessResponseActionPlan. CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WAVY) Its been two years since a disgruntled supervisor at a Walmart in Chesapeake killed six people and injured even more. On Nov. 22, 2022, six Walmart employees were gunned down during a mass shooting that rattled the community. Several others were injured. The gunman, a Walmart supervisor, took his own life before he could be confronted by police. The tragedy took place at the Chesapeake Walmart Supercenter on Sams Circle, off of Battlefield Boulevard. Full coverage of Chesapeake mass shooting Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The six employees killed were: Brian Pendleton, Kellie Pyle, Lorenzo Gamble, Randy Blevins, Tyneka Johnson and Fernando Chavez-Barron. Mayor Rick West reflected, saying the city is moving forward since the tragic mass shooting. I just like to say its a sad day to think back on, West said. And we certainly feel for the families. And we made a commitment that day that we would never forget and we will not forget, but we will move on and we will be strong. West believes the city responded well, given the time period. Well, I think we sort of already knew that this could happen at any place, West said. I mean, its obvious if you look back at the number of shootings that have taken place in this country over the last five years, no locality, no city is immune. So, we were prepared, I think, for that incident. We responded well. I think the city and city public safety and everyone in the city did a great job in terms of responding. But I mean, it is what it is and it was horrible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following the shooting, many people filed lawsuits against Walmart for negligence. West thinks as the holidays approach, the focus on the tragic day fades away. Well, I think like everything else, unfortunately, as time goes by, the pain goes away, West said. And sometimes, we even forget what happened. So I dont think its honestly unless youre a victim, a family member theres a whole lot of thought going into, this is a special day. I think most people are focusing on Thanksgiving, family, thankful for what they have, and thats about it. A Walmart spokesperson gave the following statement regarding the anniversary: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The anniversary of November 22, 2022, is a sad day for our Walmart Chesapeake store (#1841) associates, the families of the victims and the Hampton Roads community. We continue to support our associates, and they will have a private moment of remembrance to reflect on this tragic anniversary. The shooter had left a manifesto on his phone before taking his own life and was found dead by police. Continue to check WAVY.com for updates. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com. Brendan Carr, President-elect Donald Trump's pick to chair the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), wants to "dismantle" what he calls "the censorship cartel." As Carr defines it, that cartel includes not just Big Tech companies such as Meta, Apple, Microsoft, and Alphabet (which owns Google) but also NewsGuard, a company that rates the credibility and transparency of news and information sources. Carr says NewsGuard has conspired with other businesses to "violate Americans' constitutional freedoms" by silencing "news outlets and organizations that dared to deviate from an approved narrative." Carr's complaint is puzzling for several reasons. First, his claim that NewsGuard is violating "Americans' constitutional freedoms" is legally nonsensical, since the First Amendment constrains government action, not the decisions of private businesses. Second, the First Amendment protects NewsGuard's commercial activities, which include researching news outlets, evaluating them, offering guidance to advertisers, and selling filters based on its credibility assessments. Third, Carr's implicit charge that NewsGuard is biased against conservatives, which echoes complaints from Republican members of Congress and organizations such as the Media Research Center (MRC), does not seem to have a firm empirical basis. How Could NewsGuard Violate the First Amendment? NewsGuard was founded in 2018 by former Wall Street Journal publisher L. Gordon Crovitz and Steven Brill, founder of The American Lawyer and Court TV. "NewsGuard is a private organization that conducts fact-checking and provides credibility ratings for news and information outlets," notes Ari Cohn, lead counsel for tech policy at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression. "These ratings can be seen by users utilizing a browser plugin to help them assess news sources, and can be licensed by online services for various purposes including assisting in content moderation decisions." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Contrary to what Carr claims, a private organization cannot violate the First Amendment. As Cohn notes, Carr himself has previously acknowledged that point. "Whether it's the government shutting down speech (a 1A issue) or a private platform doing it (not 1A), these decisions aren't made by an oracle of truth," he wrote on Twitter (now X) in 2020. "It's always a person in power (merely fallible or with a political agenda) that censors speech." It is certainly true that fact-checkers and news media analysts are fallible and may be biased, and there is no shortage of complaints about specific calls that NewsGuard has made. But the crucial difference between a business like NewsGuard and the government is that only the latter has the power to coerce compliance. People are free to evaluate NewsGuard's judgments, accept or reject them, and act accordingly. Like the news outlets it evaluates, NewsGuard is subject to competition and to criticism that may dissuade potential customers. None of this is true of the government, which has a legal monopoly on the use of force to impose its will. If legislators or regulators restrict what people can say and see online, websites cannot ignore those edicts without risking civil or criminal penalties. That difference is reflected in the wording of the First Amendment, which says "Congress shall make no lawabridging the freedom of speech." Courts have extended that injunction to other federal agencies and, via the 14th Amendment, to state and local governments. But as Carr conceded in 2020, private decisions about which speech to host, even when they strike some people as arbitrary, unfair, or politically biased, are not "a 1A issue." The same goes for the private advice that informs those decisions. In fact, those decisions and advice are forms of speech protected by the First Amendment, as the Supreme Court recognized this year in Moody v. NetChoice. "The Constitution protects the expression of groups like NewsGuard, which simply provide opinions on the credibility of content and information sources that other services may choose to adopt or ignore at their discretion," Cohn notes. Or as Crovitz put it in a written response to Carr's charges against NewsGuard, "our journalism is itself speech protected by the First Amendment." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Crovitz added that "we're concerned to see a government official using the powers of his officeto attempt to prevent a private company (NewsGuard) from producing journalistic content." Cohn shares Crovitz's concern. "Carr's message is unambiguous," he writes. "NewsGuard's expression and viewpoints are disfavored, and both NewsGuard and any expressive platform caught utilizing or adopting it are at risk of FCC retaliation. It's difficult to imagine a more clear-cut attack on First Amendment rights than that." All of this would be true even if, as NewsGuard's critics claim, the company were systematically biased against conservative voices. But there is little evidence to support that claim. 'A Tool to Censor Conservative Speech' "We wonder if NewsGuard [is] used as a tool to censor conservative speech," Rep. James Comer (RKy.), chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, said last June after revealing that his committee was investigating the company's practices. In a June 13 letter to Brill and Crovitz, Comer said he was especially concerned about political opinions expressed by some NewsGuard employees, a Defense Department contract with the company (which NewsGuard has described as both a "grant" and a "licensing fee"), "NewsGuard's business relationships and other influences on its ratings process," and "frustrations about interactions with NewsGuard representatives over exchanges" that news outlets "perceive as aiming to suppress information that may challenge widely held views but is not itself inaccurate." The committee "does not take issue with a business entity providing other businesses and customers with data-based analysis to protect their brands," Comer wrote. "Rather, we are concerned with the potential involvement of government entities in interfering with free expression." But he added that "truthfulness and transparency about the purpose and origin of inquiries and managing conflicts of interest that may impact the public good are also relevant," which suggests that Comer thinks his job as a member of Congress includes second-guessing NewsGuard's business practices, irrespective of any purported government influence. His speculation that NewsGuard may be "a tool to censor conservative speech" likewise reflects an agenda that goes beyond legitimate concerns about government involvement in shaping online speech. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Carr, for his part, describes NewsGuard's name as "Orwellian." Under the guise of checking facts and assessing the credibility of news outlets, he averred in a November 13 letter to the CEOs of Meta, Alphabet, Apple, and Microsoft, NewsGuard "operates as part of the broader censorship cartel" by steering advertisers away from disfavored sites. To support that claim, Carr cited a November 2024 Newsmax story about Comer's probe, headlined "Rep. Comer to Newsmax: NewsGuard's Methods Must Be Probed," that quoted the congressman's concern about anticonservative bias. The Newsmax story also quoted Newsmax host Rob Schmitt. "Their goal is obviously to bully conservative media out of existence," he said. "They want to have just one dialog in this country. They want to have left-wing authoritarianism." Carr also cited a December 2023 MRC report that supposedly documented NewsGuard's "leftist bias." The report described the results of an analysis that looked at a sample of news sources rated by NewsGuard. MRC divided the sources into "left-leaning" and "right-leaning" categories based on assessments of "media bias" by AllSides. The average NewsGuard rating for "left-leaning" outlets was 91, the MRC reported, compared to 65 for "right-leaning" outlets. "NewsGuard is just another leftist group trying to censor conservatives," MRC President Brent Bozell said. "We have the proof." Unsurpisingly, Crovitz disagrees. "NewsGuard's ratings are based on nine apolitical journalistic criteria using a transparent process with multiple layers of review and fact-checking," he says in an email. The "credibility" criteria include "does not repeatedly publish false or egregiously misleading content," "gathers and presents information responsibly," "has effective practices for correcting errors," "handles the difference between news and opinion responsibly," and "avoids deceptive headlines." The "transparency" criteria include "discloses ownership and financing," "clearly labels advertising," "reveals who's in charge, including possible conflicts of interest," and "provides the names of content creators, along with either contact or biographical information." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If NewsGuard is applying those criteria fairly and consistently, how does Crovitz explain the MRC's results? He says the MRC's sample consisted of just 55 outlets, a tiny percentage of the "10,855 news and information websites from all corners of the political spectrum" that NewsGuard has rated, and that sample was not random. The MRC "chose specific outlets to analyze, choosing more credible left-leaning outlets and less credible right-leaning outlets to create a false conclusion," Crovitz says. "Many prominent conservative and libertarian outlets with high scores were not included in MRC's study, skewing the results. Heritage.org (100/100 NewsGuard score), The Wall Street Journal (100/100), Reason (100/100 NewsGuard score), CATO (92.5/100 score), Washington Free Beacon (87.5/100), and MRC's NewsBusters site itself (92.5/100 score), were excluded, among numerous others. Similarly, left-leaning sites with low NewsGuard scoressuch a DailyKos.com (45/100 score)were excluded." The MRC's methodology limited its analysis to sites rated by AllSides. But Crovitz notes that "AllSides has rated more than 800 news and information sources," which he says means "MRC's sample of 55 sites was also an incredibly small sample even of AllSides' data." 'Our Apolitical Approach' Although the MRC's own site got a high rating from NewsGuard, the same cannot be said of Newsmax. Carr "relied on false claims about NewsGuard from sites like Newsmax that get low reliability scores from us," Crovitz says. "We find it ironic that sites like Newsmax report falsely about us, misleading government officials into threatening us, then call us censors, even though we're First Amendment absolutists." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his written response to Carr's letter, Crovitz suggested a course of self-improvement for Newsmax. "There is an alternative to Newsmax misleading government officials in an effort to block independent ratings of Newsmax's editorial practices," he wrote. "Newsmax could instead join the thousands of other news websites that earned higher trust scores from NewsGuard by improving its basic journalistic practices. Indeed, our Newsmax Nutrition Label explaining our criteria and how we applied them provides a roadmap for Newsmax to improve its practices and join the many conservative-oriented and liberal-oriented sites that have increased their NewsGuard ratings by improving their credibility and transparency practices." Newsmax, a leading promoter of Trump's baseless claims that systematic election fraud deprived him of his rightful victory in 2020, may have trouble earning a higher NewsGuard rating. In September, it settled a defamation lawsuit by Smartmatic, one of the companies implicated in Trump's stolen-election fantasy, for an undisclosed sum. Newsmax still faces a defamation lawsuit by Dominion Voting Systems, which likewise figured in that fantasy. While it might be true that Newsmax's criticism of NewsGuard is motivated by sour grapes, that explanation does not apply to the MRC's complaints, although Crovitz argues that they are based on a skewed reading of the data. Still, the high rating for the MRC's NewsBusters site seems inconsistent with the organization's thesis, and other conservative outlets with high NewsGuard ratings have cited them as a badge of honor. "Among NewsGuard's verified and trusted news sources is The Daily Signal, which has received a 'green' rating on all eight relevant criteria, and is described as a news outlet that 'generally maintains basic standards of accuracy and accountability,'" the Heritage Foundation organ bragged in 2019. The author of that piece, Daily Signal editor Pete Parisi, was enthusiastic about the company's potential for warning people about "fake news." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Such examples, Crovitz argues, show that NewsGuard is not hostile to conservative outlets. "As a result of our apolitical approach, there are more conservative and libertarian sites with overall 'credible' ratings in NewsGuard's database than liberal sites," he says. "This includes many of the most prominent conservative and libertarian media outlets." Those outlets, Crovitz says, include Fox News, the New York Post, RedState, Townhall, The Western Journal, The New York Sun, Reason, The Daily Caller, The Washington Times, the Washington Examiner, The Dispatch, National Review, The Free Beacon, The Post Millennial, the Cato Institute, Hot Air, Commentary, the Heritage Foundation, and The Daily Signal, along with "numerous other conservative and libertarian brands." He notes that "The Wall Street Journal (100/100) outscores The New York Times (87.5/100), The Washington Examiner (92.5/100) outscores The Daily Beast (87.5 /100), The National Review (92.5/100) outscores Mother Jones (69.5/100), Fox News (69.5/100) outscores MSNBC (49.5/100), and The Daily Caller (82/100) outscores The Daily Kos (45/100) and CNN (80/100)." 'The FCC Does Not Have Authority' Crovitz obviously has an ax to grind, and his counterexamples do not amount to a systematic refutation. And given Reason's perfect NewsGuard rating, you might be skeptical of my take. But it seems clear that the company is not automatically giving news outlets low or high ratings based on their ideological orientations. That does not mean none of the complaints about NewsGuard's practices or judgment calls are valid. But it does suggest that critics like Carr, Comer, and Bozell are, at the very least, exaggerating their case and overlooking contrary evidence. In any case, when it comes to FCC action or congressional investigations, none of this should matter. As Cohn notes, "the FCC's authority is generally limited to the mechanisms of transmitting communications. Only in extremely limited circumstances does the FCC have jurisdiction over contentnone of which apply online. Put simply: The FCC does not have authority whenever it decides it would like to 'promote free speech' over one method of communication or another." And although Comer cites NewsGuard's receipt of Defense Department money as a justification for his committee's jurisdiction, he clearly intends to range far beyond any such government nexus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whatever you make of the case against NewsGuard, its research and speech are no less protected by the First Amendment than the dissenting voices that Carr claims have unfairly suffered as a result of the company's ratings. The government has no business trying to suppress either. CORRECTION: Ari Cohn's name was misspelled in the original version of this article. The post Incoming FCC Chairman Brendan Carr's Beef With NewsGuard Is Legally Dubious and Empirically Shaky appeared first on Reason.com. By Krishna N. Das and Jatindra Dash NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Opposition politicians from Indian states named in the U.S. indictment of billionaire Gautam Adani denied any wrongdoing on Friday, after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's party said they had to answer for contracts signed while they were in power. U.S. authorities have charged Adani and seven others with agreeing to pay bribes to unnamed Indian government officials to obtain solar power-supply contracts in Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh, as well as the federal territory of Jammu and Kashmir, between 2021 and 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Adani Group has denied the allegations made by the U.S. Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission as "baseless" and said it was "fully compliant with all laws". All the states named by U.S. authorities were at the time ruled by parties opposed to Modi's ruling alliance. This includes the Congress party, which has called for Adani's arrest and accused Modi of shielding him or favouring him in deals. Modi's party and Adani have denied the charges. The then-ruling parties of Odisha, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh said in separate statements that their governments had not signed any power purchase deal with the Adani Group, but had bought through a federal government agency, Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "There was no engagement with any private party whatsoever, including Adani Group," said Pratap Keshari Deb of the regional Biju Janata Dal party, who was energy minister of Odisha during the time U.S. authorities specified. SECI, which selects renewable energy producers for projects through bids and then signs deals with power buyers, said it had "no basis so far" to investigate the allegations and that it was "not clear if any of SECI's covenants have been violated". The former Congress chief minister of Chhattisgarh, Bhupesh Baghel, said his government had given no contract to the Adani Group and demanded an investigation. Indian authorities, who have not made any public statement about the U.S. allegations, have not responded to questions from Reuters about any investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party, which is now in power in Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, said any investigation would only expose politicians from other parties and that they should clarify their positions. A regional opposition party now ruling Jammu and Kashmir said it would investigate the charges. The Adani Group's businesses range from power and ports to coal and castor oil derivatives, with projects across India. (Reporting by Krishna N. Das in New Delhi and Jatindra Dash in Bhubaneswar; Editing by Alexander Smith) Indiana wins $196 million loan to improve drinking water. (Getty Images) The head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys (EPA) Water Office, Bruno Pigott, joined Indiana Finance Authoritys Jim McGoff on Friday to announce a $196 million loan to improve drinking water and wastewater systems statewide. This funding will help address the demands of a growing population. The State of Indiana intends to use this loan to finance drinking water and wastewater infrastructure improvement projects to better serve Indiana communities. This investment will help address aging infrastructure and expand services in communities experiencing growing needs. Projects that will receive funding are located throughout the state and are expected to benefit 134,000 Indiana residents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement EPAs State Infrastructure Financing Authority Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (SWIFIA) program provides loans exclusively to state financing authorities, also known as state revolving fund programs. This SWIFIA loan offers additional low-cost financing to Indianas Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds, that will help implement critical water infrastructure projects in the state. I want to congratulate the State of Indiana for securing a $196 million loan from EPA. Through our partnership, we will upgrade water infrastructure across the state to keep residents healthy, protect water resources, and create good-paying jobs while keeping water bills affordable, Pigott said. The State of Indiana is ahead of the curve in securing EPA financing to advance water infrastructure goals and benefit 134,000 people across the state. The IFA is continually searching for alternative funding sources to keep pace with Indianas increasing water-infrastructure needs, said McGoff. EPAs SWIFIA program provides that additional source of funding, which will help communities across Indiana invest more than $400 million in their local water systems. This loan will be Indiana Finance Authoritys first SWIFIA loan and third loan through the EPAs Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program, totaling more than $630 million in WIFIA financing to advance water infrastructure projects in Indiana. The SWIFIA loan will offer the authority further flexibilities by allowing deferment of principal payments for 20 years and substantial savings for Indiana residents. Savings from Indianas first WIFIA loan totaled more than $130 million. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since its creation, EPAs Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act program has announced $21 billion in financing to support $45 billion in water infrastructure projects that are strengthening drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure while creating over 150,000 jobs. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX NEW DELHI (AP) Indian billionaire Gautam Adani, one of Asias richest men, may be facing his biggest challenge yet with an indictment by U.S. prosecutors for alleged fraud and bribery. But its unclear just how the case will affect his businesses and own future as well as the Indian economy and government. On Friday, shares in some of the Adani Group's companies began ticking back up after they plunged a day earlier following the announcement of the charges in New York. The stock prices of six of his 10 listed companies rose slightly, between 1% to nearly 4%. Adani, a major power player in India perceived as close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was charged Wednesday with securities fraud and conspiracy to commit securities and wire fraud at a court in Brooklyn, New York. The test for the tycoon and his multibillion dollar empire spawning everything from energy and ports to media and agriculture, comes just after the 62-year-old founder and his sprawling business empire had bounced back after losing more than $60 billion in market value in early 2023 following allegations of stock price manipulation and fraud by the short-selling firm Hindenburg Research. It also raises questions about corporate governance and crony capitalism in India's economy, which Modi has vowed to make the world's third largest, intensifying scrutiny on the outsized influence of large, family-run conglomerates. Asia's richest man is another Indian billionaire, Mukesh Ambani of Reliance Industries. Prosecutors allege that Adani duped investors in a massive solar project in India by concealing that it was being facilitated by bribes. Seven other executives connected to Adanis sprawling business empire also face charges. The indictment outlines an alleged scheme to pay about $265 million in bribes to government officials in India. The Adani group denied the allegations against directors of Adani Green Energy, its renewable energy arm, as baseless and said they will be seeking legal recourse. Shares in Adani's green energy venture, which is at the center of the case, dropped 8% on Friday. None of the people charged in the case have been arrested. For Adani, this hits hard, no matter how you slice it. His public relations machine was in overdrive for nearly two years rehabilitating his image following the Hindenburg allegations. This indictment came like a bolt from the blue and instantly reversed all recent progress in salvaging his reputation and business empire, said Michael Kugelman, director of the South Asia Institute at the Wilson Center. LONDON (AP) Indigenous leaders from the Wampis Nation in Peru are urging lawmakers at the House of Commons in London to ban international banks' support for Amazon oil activities they say harm their ancestral rainforests. HSBC bank, based in the United Kingdom, JPMorgan Chase in the United States and Santander in Spain helped finance the state-owned oil company Petroperu as it sought to upgrade a coastal refinery. The plant processes crude oil from a 680-mile (1,094-kilometer) pipeline that runs through rainforest. In the last decade there have been dozens of leaks along the pipeline. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the meetings, Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick raised the issue in the House of Lords and in an interview Friday said the banks actions were deplorable. Weve been conserving our forest for over 7,000 years, Pamuk Teofilo Kukush Pati, a Wampis leader, told The Associated Press. Now their fishing waters have been badly polluted, he said, and there is no guarantee of life ... we are in a very grave situation. Most alarming is the fact we find out that various banks fund Petroperu, said Tsanim Evaristo Wajai Asamat, another Wampis leader. "And these things are happening all across the Amazon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The banks acted as bookrunners on a $1 billion bond offering for the refinery work in 2021, first reported by the U.K. nonprofit Bureau of Investigative Journalism. When banks act as bookrunners, they advertise the bonds to their customers and use their reputation to give investors confidence. Financial data provider Dealogic estimates each bank made $583,000 in fees. A spokeswoman for Santander bank said via email that the company followed all relevant environmental regulations and does a careful analysis before backing companies that operate in the Amazon. A JPMorgan spokeswoman said Indigenous rights are a fundamental consideration across their business. A spokeswoman for HSBC said in a statement that it places restrictions on backing projects in the Amazon. In the last decade, there were 89 leaks from the pipeline, Petroperu said in an email. It said only two were caused by equipment failure criminals or natural forces caused the rest. Petroperu has spent more than $180 million cleaning up the last decades oil spills, it said. More than 15,000 Wampis live on some 5,000 square miles (13,000 square kilometers) of forest and wetland in northern Peru. Their territory is home to hundreds of species of fish and rare birds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The people made headlines in 2015 when they declared an autonomous government, in part to protect their environment. The government of Peru does not recognize it. According to Petroperu's bond prospectus for the refinery project, which provides transparency to investors, bond buyers faced financial risks relating to the effects of oil leaks on local and indigenous communities. There could be protests, fines, compensation and negative publicity, it warned, and Indigenous communities had taken hostile measures against our facilities and installations on various occasions. The prospectus also said there were criminal investigations being conducted by Peruvian prosecutors over oil spills that included former Petroperu executives. Petroperu has since denied that people at its executive level are being investigated, saying that two lower-level employees were among those of interest to prosecutors. The company said via email that it's cooperating with the investigation. The year after the bond deal, in 2022, Peruvian regulators penalized Petroperu with 66 fines, including for new oil spills along the pipeline. The three banks did business with Petroperu again last year, providing advice as the oil company sought to change the terms of its debt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Wampis are unhappy about illegal logging and mining on their territory as well. They were joined in London by several delegations pressing for a proposed law that would make it a crime for British businesses to harm the environment and threaten human rights. Delegations from Colombia, Liberia and Mexico met with Baroness Ritchie, then with senior officials at both the U.K. Foreign Office and Environment Department. You need the corporate law, she said, to ensure that this is stopped. It's to do with respect. You should be respecting people if you are mining or doing oil exploration in their countries. Jesus Javier Thomas Gonzalez, from northern Mexico, spoke of a ten-year battle with a mining company listed on the London Stock Exchange that he said illegally occupied and devastated their land. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The company has economic and political influence in Mexico that is huge, he said. It's a good corporate citizen in the UK, he said, but in Mexico they behave in a different way. A U.K. government spokesman said British firms should always act to avoid environmental harms, and its approach to tackling those that don't is under constant review. __ Grattan reported from Bogota, Colombia. __ The Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find APs standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org. Shondiin Silversmith and Jim Small Arizona Mirror Paul Begay, Anne Curley, Ella Mae Begay and Everett Charley are the names of only a handful of Navajo people missing that Navajo Nation Council Delegate Eugenia Charles-Newton shared as she addressed a congressional committee hearing on Missing and Murdered Indigenous People. These are a few of the names I wanted to read aloud, so they know they are not forgotten, Charles-Newton told the House Appropriations Committee oversight hearing on Investigating the Crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The victims are both men and women, but it is Native American women who disproportionately go missing and are murdered in cases that are rarely solved, if theyre investigated at all. The Bureau of Indian Affairs estimates that there are approximately 4,200 missing and murdered Indigenous peoples cases that have gone unsolved. She said that the total number of known people missing from the Navajo Nation is 75, and they do not know the number of Navajo people who have been murdered. Its unaccounted for because we lack the manpower to track those cases properly, and we also lack the infrastructure to record all cases, she said. Charles-Newton was one of five Indigenous women who testified to the committee on Nov. 20, and each shared their experiences working and advocating for missing and murdered Indigenous people in both rural and urban settings. As part of the testimonies, each woman also provided recommendations on how federal agencies can better support MMIP efforts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many of the concerns highlighted in the hearing related to continued jurisdictional issues among federal, state, and tribal entities, the lack of readily available resources for investigations involving MMIP cases, the need for more comprehensive data collection regarding Indigenous peoples and accountability among federal agencies. My inner being agonizes over the lack of worth given to Native women and the senseless acts that lead to their harm, said Mary Jane Miles, vice-chairman of the Nez Perce Tribal Executive Committee and member of the Nez Perce tribe. In the past, people in power have not cared about Native women, but their families and tribes do care. Over and over again, the women who testified spoke about the jurisdictional confusion that, many said, is ultimately used as a way to pass the buck and avoid doing the police work required to seek justice for the victims. Cheryl Horn, a member of the Assiniboine Tribe of Fort Belknap who sits on the Montana Missing Indigenous Persons Task Force, spoke about the difficulty in getting any help from the tribal, county and federal law enforcement agencies when two of her nieces went missing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement None of these jurisdictions want this case, said. I dont want jurisdiction used as an excuse not to do it, which is what Im seeing in Montana. Likewise, Urban Indian Health Institute Director Abigail Echo-Hawk told the committee that the maze of jurisdiction is just an excuse that allows law enforcement to not pay attention to those they dont care about and those they dont care about look like me and the other women on this panel today. Charles-Newton drove home exactly how jurisdictional confusion has failed Native victims, telling the committee about her own kidnapping and brutal repeated rapes when she was just 17 years old. She said she accepted a Coca-Cola from a man she knew, only to wake up later, tied up in a shack and held for more than a week. He raped me repeatedly, he beat me, he broke my ribs, broke my cheekbones. He tried to carve his initials into my pubic area, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And although Charles-Newton knew who her rapist was, and told police over and over, she said all they kept asking her about was where the shack was located, a question she couldnt answer. Because of that, jurisdiction was never settled, and her rapist was never prosecuted and now she represents that man as a Navajo Nation delegate. No one came to search for her, she said, because tribal police told her family that shed just gotten tired of living in her tribal community and had left. That was an excuse, Charles-Newton said, but her family believed it because they have been conditioned to believe the police. Nobody wants to solve these cases. They just want to say that its closed, she said. I wish we had law enforcement where everybody took their jobs seriously. The tendency to blame Indigenous women who are victimized conditioned by decades of stereotypes that treat Native people, and especially Native women, as less than human makes it that much more difficult to get non-tribal law enforcement to respond to the cases the same way they would if the victims were white women, Echo-Hawk said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This cannot depend on one person, on one organization. It must be a systematic approach that upholds accountability, she said. It is something weve been calling for, but no one has been willing to take up the cause. Maulian Bryant, a member of the Penobscot Nation in Maine and the incoming executive director of the Wabanaki Alliance, said the failure to recognize the crisis taking place on tribal lands and against Native Americans living in urban centers is only the latest trauma visited upon Indigenous people by the U.S. government. Things like the American government stealing land from Native people and then forcing them into boarding schools, where they literally had their culture beaten out of them, have left Indigenous people less than human and invisible. Its so much more than laws and jurisdiction, its where weve been placed in society, she said. We love this place and we need it to love us back. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho, called the hearing as part of the House Interior and Environment Appropriations Subcommittee, which oversees funding for the Department of Interior. More than 40% of American Indian and Alaska Native women are raped in their lifetime, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For Indigenous women between the ages of 10 and 24, homicide is the No. 3 leading cause of death. For Indigenous women ages 25 to 24, it is the fifth leading cause of death. Forty percent of all victims of sex trafficking are identified as American Indian and Alaska Native women, Simpson said. In 2023, over 5,800 American Indian and Alaska Native females were missing and 74% were children. This is tragic and unacceptable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Simpson said that, as part of the FY2025 House Interior appropriations bill, the Bureau of Indian Affairs public safety and justice programs received a $191 million increase, including an additional $141 million for criminal investigation and police services. Simpson said the bill also provided an additional $13.5 million for a total of $30 million for the missing and murdered Indigenous womens initiative, which focuses on helping address the MMIP crisis, including resources for criminal investigators, software platforms and evidence recovery equipment. These steps are just the beginning, he said. The goal of the hearing is not to point fingers, Simpson said, but to solve a problem. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We want to know whats working and whats not working, things that might need to be changed and that is the purpose of this hearing, he said, because as the appropriations committee, it is their responsibility to fund many of those programs. Echo-Hawk spoke to the committee on behalf of the Indigenous people living in urban areas who continue to be impacted by the crisis yet still do not have access to resources promised through the Savannas Act and Not Invisible Act. These people are suffering in the same ways the tribes are suffering, Echo-Hawk said of Indigenous people living in urban settings. Echo-Hawk, who is a member of the Pawnee Nation and serves as the executive vice president of the Seattle Indian Health Board, touched on three major topics related to the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous peoples: the Department of Justices failure to implement the Savannas Act and the Not Invisible Act, the need for a national alert code for missing and endangered Indigenous people, and the importance of holding the military accountable for violence against Indigenous people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Please ensure that there is accountability for urban Indian populations as we move forward in doing everything we can to achieve justice, Echo-Hawk said. Savannas Act is an effort to improve the federal response to missing and murdered Indigenous peoples, including increasing coordination among federal, state, tribal and local law enforcement agencies. The Not Invisible Act was signed into law in 2020, and it requires the U.S. Department of Justice and Department of Interior to establish the Not Invisible Act Commission, a cross-jurisdictional advisory committee that will develop recommendations to address the public safety challenges associated with missing and murdered Indigenous peoples. The commission was formed in May 2022, and it held field meetings in June 2022, which helped it compile a recommendation report for the Departments of Justice, Interior, and Congress in November 2023. Some of those recommendations included tracking and reporting MMIP and human trafficking cases, coordinating tribal-state-federal resources to combat MMIP and human trafficking, and identifying, reporting, and responding to instances of MMIP cases and human trafficking. For those of us serving in the urban setting, the promises of the Savannahs Act and Not Invisible Act have never come, Echo-Hawk said. She noted how she has often interacted with law enforcement agencies that acknowledge a crisis happening among Indigenous people, but they do not know how to adequately address it because they do not have the resources to do so. Echo-Hawk pointed out that the commission for the Not Invisible Act took two years to be appointed, and the process for appointment and data collection was rushed. As a result, many Indigenous people within urban communities were unable to share their experiences with the commission. They need to do better, she said. Our urban communities must be involved and we have to ensure that all of our people, regardless of where we live, have the opportunity to see justice. To address violence against Indigenous women by the military, Echo-Hawk shared her personal experience of being victimized as a young woman by an active-duty military man. Echo-Hawk called for accountability within the Department of Defense, stating that department leaders need to make current data readily available on human trafficking, sexual assault, domestic violence and homicide of both active-duty military who are affected and those who are perpetrators in the active-duty military. We need to know what the impact is of the military on this crisis and of those active-duty service members who deserve safety, she said, adding that Indigenous people make up over 1% of those in active-duty military service, and this crisis impacts them. U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-Maine, said that it is a complex crisis, and there has been growing awareness and focus on resolving unsolved cases as well as understanding and addressing other contributing factors, such as drug and human trafficking, domestic violence, poverty, housing issues and more. Theyre all equally important to confront the scale and severity of this issue, she said. That is why its imperative we pass a full-year interior appropriations bill and not have programs constrained by operating under a continuing resolution. Pingree pointed out several initiatives that have been put in place to address the ongoing crisis, including the establishment of Operation Lady Justice in 2019 to pursue these unresolved cases; the creation of a missing and murdered unit within the BIA Office of Justice Services in 2021, which was established to provide leadership and direction for cross-department and interagency work; and the 2023 launch of the DOJs missing and murdered Indigenous regional outreach program, which permanently placed 10 attorneys and coordinators in five designated regions across the United States to help respond to cases. Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole, R-Oklahoma, said that Indigenous women and girls continue to be disproportionately targeted by dangerous predators. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data indicates that Native women and girls experience a murder rate 10 times higher than the national average, Cole said. Tragically, I have seen these stats first hand in my home state of Oklahoma, which ranks No. 2 on the list of the top 10 states with Native American and Alaska Native missing persons cases. Cole said that while the statistics are alarming, data collection on the issue is still lacking, and solving the MMIP crisis will require sufficient awareness and resources. Because of the extreme lack of resources, statutory roadblocks, and several other barriers, this crisis wont be solved without the work and partnership of leaders of the federal, state, tribal, and local law enforcement, he said. JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has announced that his government plans to retire all coal and other fossil fuel-power plants while drastically boosting the country's renewable energy capacity in the next 15 years. Indonesia is rich in geothermal resources, and we plan to phase out coal-fired and all fossil-fueled power plants within the next 15 years. Our plan includes building over 75 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity during this time, Subianto said at the Group of 20 summit in Brazil on Tuesday. Subianto also said he was optimistic Indonesia would achieve net zero emissions by 2050, a decade sooner than the country's previous 2060 commitment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Experts and environmental activists welcomed the announcements but hedged their expectations. Indonesia is one of the world's largest producers and consumers of heavily polluting coal. Most of its energy comes from fossil fuels. Over 250 coal-fired power plants are currently powering the country and more are being built, including at new industrial parks where globally-important materials like nickel, cobalt and aluminum are being processed. In 2022, Indonesias energy sector emitted over 650 million tons of carbon dioxide, the worlds seventh highest level, according to the International Energy Agency. Population and economic growth are expected to triple the countrys energy consumption by 2050. Experts said that real changes need to be implemented on the ground in Indonesia quickly if the president is serious about his plans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If the government is serious about speeding up the energy transition, efforts to shut down coal-fired power plants and prevent new permits for the construction of coal-fired power plants must be clear so that partners, investors and financial institution can see the pipeline and progress, Bhima Yudhistira, executive director of the Indonesia-based Center of Economic and Law Studies, said in written statement to The Associated Press. While Subianto's predecessor, Joko Widodo, was in office Indonesia pledged to phase out or at least drastically reduce the use of coal by agreeing to numerous schemes with international stakeholders. That included the largest $20 billion Just Energy Transition Partnership deal so far. The deal has struggled to make changes on the ground but is still underway. JETP deals still fall short of the estimated trillions of dollars that are needed to develop infrastructure needed to transition to renewable energy and put existing coal-fired power plants into early retirement. In Brazil, Prabowo also spoke about Indonesia's vast renewable energy potential from solar, hydropower, geothermal, wind and other sources. Only 14.5% of these renewable sources are currently tapped, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency. Current installed capacity of renewable energy in Indonesia is about 13 gigawatts, or less than 15% of total generation capacity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are committed to renewable and green energy. We are blessed with many resources, he said. We have other renewable energy sources, and that is why we are very optimistic that we can achieve (net) zero before 2050." Indonesia's Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources and state electric utility, Perusahaan Listrik Negara, were not immediately available for comment. ___ The Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find APs standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org. HONOLULU (KHON2) A hiker in her 50s was rescued on the Maili Pillbox Trail Thursday morning after suffering an injury that left her unable to descend the trail on her own. Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You The Honolulu Fire Department (HFD) received a 911 call at 9:35 a.m. and dispatched seven units with 17 personnel to the scene. The first responders arrived at 9:45 a.m. and sent personnel up the trail on foot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sen. Schatz says partisanship is roadblock to Maui funding Upon reaching the hiker at 10:01 a.m., fire crews conducted a medical assessment and provided basic life support. To facilitate the rescue, Air 1 was deployed to transport rescue personnel to the site, where they prepared the injured woman for an airlift. At 10:15 a.m., the hiker was flown to a nearby landing zone, where she was transferred to Emergency Medical Services (EMS) for further care. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news All HFD personnel involved in the operation were safely accounted for with no reported injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2. The man accused of killing two people in a dorm room at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs earlier this year pleaded not guilty in court on Friday morning despite his attorneys requesting to delay the hearing until next year. Nicholas Jordan, 25, is accused of shooting and killing Celie Rain Montgomery, 26, of Pueblo, and UCCS student Samuel Knopp, 24, of Parker, in the early morning hours of Feb. 16 in a campus dormitory. Jordan and Knopp were roommates and students at UCCS. Jordans arrest affidavit states that he had made a death threat against Knopp and that campus security and housing staff recorded multiple complaints about Jordan before the shooting. On Friday, Jordan appeared in court for an arraignment hearing where his attorney Nick Rogers requested for an additional continuance of the hearing. At Jordans previous hearing in October Judge David Shakes allowed for a continuance of the arraignment, but made it clear he would not allow any additional delays. Rogers explained to the court on Friday that he was requesting the second continuance because the defense's investigation is not complete and wouldnt be until mid-January. The investigation, according to claims made in court, is regarding the possibility of Jordan pleading not guilty by reason of insanity. Without this info we cannot make an informed decision on how to proceed with (Jordans) defense, Rogers said to the court. Jordan's competency has been an issue with the case for months, causing several delays, but he was declared competent to proceed by Judge Shakes at a hearing in August despite conflicting competency reports from separate experts. Although Jordan was declared competent by the court Rogers has continued to assert at all court hearings that he believes his client suffers from severe mental illness, and that it has continued to impact their ability to represent Jordan in court. Featured Local Savings Prosecutor Andrew Vaughan objected to a continuance of the arraignment hearing, claiming that the defense was using the continuance request as a tactic to further delay proceedings. (The victims families) are very eager to see some process in the trial date being set, Vaughan said to the court. I dont think there will be an arraignment date where they (Jordans defense attorneys) wont ask for a continuance. Judge Shakes denied the request for a continuance, setting not guilty pleas for Jordan on all charges. However, Shakes did set for a hearing on Jan. 31 to allow Jordan to change to change his plea to not guilty by reason of insanity. A defense motion regarding a request for a change of venue will also be discussed at the hearing on Jan. 31, Jordans next scheduled court date. Jordans trial is scheduled to begin on April 7, but if Jordans attorneys opt to enter a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity that trial date will likely be vacated. At Fridays hearing a second motion was denied from the defense to have Shakes disqualified as the judge presiding over the case. Shakes stated that the motion from the defense made no new arguments regarding why he should recuse himself from the proceedings. The previous motion called Shakes relationship with UCCS into question, noting he taught classes at the university, but on Friday Shakes stated he is not currently teaching and has no plans to do so in the future. Additionally, not guilty pleas were entered in Jordan's second case, in which he is accused of assaulting a deputy at the El Paso County jail in a dispute over cleaning supplies. The trial in Jordan's second case is scheduled to begin on April 21, immediately after the homicide trial. Jordan remains in custody at the El Paso County jail on a $5 million bond. Jordan did not speak to the court during the entire hearing on Friday. LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) An inmate serving time for aggravated assault in Lancaster County was found dead Thursday morning, the Department of Corrections said. Lance Heverly, 39, was found unresponsive in his cell at SCI Houtzdale in Clearfield County. Staff immediately responded to provide life-saving measures until medical personnel arrived, however Heverly was declared deceased. He was serving a 5 to 10-year sentence for an aggravated assault with serious bodily injury incident in Lancaster County. He was lodged in SCI Houtzdale in February 2022, the DOC said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Morning Weather Forecast Due to Pennsylvanias policy, State Police are investigating Heverlys death and his official cause of death will be determined by the Clearfield County Coroners 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 ABC27. In 2019, newly elected Rep. Jennifer Wexton held her initial constituent meeting with the members of Little Lobbyists, a national advocacy organization for children with complex medical needs. Mothers brought their children and talked about the impact of federal policies in their lives. Last Friday, the same group returned to attend Wextons final constituent gathering. The hour-long meeting was at once emotional and substantive. In addition to thanking Wexton for her service to the disability community, parents discussed the issues they were most concerned about as a new Congress and a second Trump administration take office in January. The parents shed tears and so did Wexton, who was diagnosed last year with progressive supranuclear palsy, or PSP, a rare neurodegenerative condition that has impacted many aspects of her life, including her ability to speak. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was a fitting full circle moment, as they were my very first meeting. The issues that they advocate for have been what Ive worked most closely on in Congress, especially since my PSP diagnosis, and Ive been so pleased to have them as a partner over the past six years fighting to make health care more affordable and protect disability rights. Its also great to see how their kids have grown. Wexton told The 19th in an exclusive interview. Wexton, a Democrat representing Virginias 10th district, served two terms in office. Last year, she announced she would not be seeking reelection due to her diagnosis. She adapted to serve out the rest of her term, using a walker to get around the hill; the condition causes rapid loss of balance, movement, speech and more. Earlier this year, she made history by being the first member of Congress to use a text-to-speech device to deliver comments on the House floor. More recently, she started using an AI recreation of her voice, assembled from audio recordings of speeches and interviews she has given over the years. She used the same voice to deliver her remarks at the meeting. Just because my voice now comes from this AI recreation does not make it any less mine or anything I say less important, she said. My hope is that going forward, we can make using these kinds of assistive devices the rule, not the exception, and I hope it helps demonstrate that a disability is no reason you cant be or do anything you set out to, even serve in Congress. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wexton supported disability issues before she developed her disability. Elena Hung, executive director of Little Lobbyists, noted how remarkable that is. The way it usually happens is, it hits the elected member personally. Either they receive a diagnosis or a family member of theirs receives a diagnosis. That wasnt the case with the congresswoman. I feel like she cared about it before it hit her personally, Hung told The 19th. A group of parents founded Little Lobbyists in 2017 in response to Republican efforts to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act and cut Medicaid moves that could have rendered their medically complex children uninsured and without treatments necessary for their survival. Over the course of last weeks meeting, constituents shared their biggest concerns: Would the Trump administration try to overturn the Affordable Care Act again? Would proposed changes to the Department of Education impact disabled students, who rely on federal enforcement to receive fair, appropriate education? What would happen to laws protecting civil rights for disabled people? How would Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President-elect Donald Trumps nomination for Secretary of Health and Human Services, impact their childrens health? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A staff member reassured attendees that while Wexton would no longer be in office, the House Democrats would still fight for families of disabled children. Im fairly certain none of the House Democrats are going to let this go quietly into the night, she said. During the meeting, multiple parents described difficulty accessing ADHD medication for themselves and their children due to an ongoing shortage and restrictions on production from the Drug Enforcement Agency. One of them was Val Watkins, an attorney, volunteer with Little Lobbyists and mother to Aire, 13, who is autistic and has an ADHD and anxiety diagnoses. Aire Watkins takes a picture of his mother, Val Watkins, as Rep. Jennifer Wexton listens in the background during a Little Lobbyists meeting in 2019. (Courtesy of Little Lobbyists) On one hand I read about the floods of Adderall in the streets of Miami during spring break, and on the other hand, my son cant get the medication he needs, Watkins said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Watkins and Aire live in Wextons district and have worked extensively with her office. They both attended Wextons first constituent meeting in 2019, in a basement conference room in a Congressional office building. At the meeting last week, in an above ground conference room in the same office building, Aire was one of the first to thank Wexton for her service to the community and helped present her with a plaque covered in photos of Little Lobbyist families. Thank you. Thank you forever, he said. Watkins followed her sons comments with her own. We love you. We love the woman that you are, the way you help our little boys and girls. Watkins, for her part, expressed gratitude for Wextons push to support furloughed federal workers in 2019. Her husband, then in his 40s, went back on active duty and redeployed to South Korea to continue providing for his family because federal workers were not receiving their salaries at the time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She was an amazing force trying to move forward the pay for federal workers, and I truly appreciate that, because so many of my neighbors and people in my community were affected, Watkins said. Tasha Nelson, another founding member of Little Lobbyists and one of Wextons constituents, attended the meeting with her son Jack, 13, who has cystic fibrosis, a genetic condition that primarily impacts his lungs. Care for cystic fibrosis, including medications, can cost tens of thousands of dollars per year, making insurance coverage all the more vital for her family. Nelson and her son were also present at the first meeting with Wexton, which Nelson described as something really special. Jack had his medications out because he was going to have a snack. Another childs parent was fixing her [tracheostomy, a breathing tube inserted directly into the neck]. Other children were playing with each other, all while were having these very important conversations about how legislation is affecting our families and our real lives, Nelson said. Congresswoman Wexton got to see a kid take out six pills and take them one at a time so that he can have a meal while were talking about the cost of medications. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2020, during the early, terrifying days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Wexton intervened to help Nelsons family navigate quarantine. Nelsons husband is a federal worker with a security clearance and initially, he was not allowed to work from home like other federal workers. This was particularly dangerous for Jack cystic fibrosis puts him at high risk of severe complications or even death if he contracts COVID-19. Wexton helped change the policy so that workers who were high-risk or who had high-risk family members, like Nelsons husband, could stay home. I reached out to her office and explained what families all over the country were experiencing, and she immediately went to the Senate Intelligence Committee, educated them on this and within a week of my call to her office, families like ours were protected and able to stay home and keep their high-risk members safe, Nelson said. While Wexton is retiring from Congress, she expects to continue advocating on disability issues as long as she is able to. I plan on enjoying lots of quality time with my family and two sons. I also hope to be able to keep up my advocacy work. Ive worked hard to make the most of this platform I have in Congress to fight for legislation and bring attention to the need to do more on these types of health and disability challenges Im facing. I plan to continue making my voice heard, Wexton said after the meeting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She also expressed faith that her successor, Suhas Subramanyam, will continue building on her legacy. Subramanyam won Wextons district earlier this month, keeping it in Democratic hands. Ive known Suhas for years, and my team and I have been working with him as he prepares to take office. He plans to keep a number of members of my team on with him and keep up much of the work weve started on issues important to our district like this one. Im sure that he will be an outstanding champion for all Virginia families. I know he and the Little Lobbyists are looking forward to meeting, she said. The post Inside Rep. Jennifer Wextons emotional final meeting with the families who started it all appeared first on The 19th. News that represents you, in your inbox every weekday. Subscribe to our free, daily newsletter. ELIZABETHTON, Tenn. (WJHL) Up to 44 residents of a Carter County street mistakenly received ballots that included the Johnson City Commission race, making it likely some votes were cast and counted in a contest that included a 38-vote margin for the final available seat. Chief Meteorologist Mark Reynolds 2024-2025 Winter Weather Outlook The mistake occurred when several residents of Heather Lane which has a Johnson City mailing address but isnt in the city limits told Carter County election workers during early voting that they pay J.C. City taxes, according to a written note from Election Administrator Tracy Tanner-Harris. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At that point in the early voting period, Heather Ln. was accidentally put in the City of J.C., the note says. It does not include an explanation of whether any election officials double-checked with the City of Johnson City to see whether the street was in the city limits. At a later point, according to Harriss note, it was brought to our attention by other voters stating they were not in the City of J.C. and was given a county ballot. The note doesnt say whether all subsequent Heather Lane voters received county-only ballots, and Harris declined an interview request Thursday. The Carter County Election Commission is scheduled to certify the results Friday morning. Because the actual votes people cast are private and protected, election officials have no way of going back and extracting erroneously cast ballots to remove any city votes that shouldnt have been cast. Voting records for the Happy Valley precinct, where some voters do live inside the Johnson City limits, show that 44 people who live on Heather Lane voted in the Nov. 5 election. Of those, 30 voted early and 14 on election day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Doug Kufner, communications director for Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett, said local election commissions are solely responsible for certifying municipal elections. Any recourse a candidate might seek would not involve the state, Kufner said. Murphy declined to comment on the situation Thursday. However, Tennessee Code Annotated 2-17 lays out the process for a candidate contesting an election. Any contest must be filed in local Chancery Court and occur within five days of the elections certification. In this case, that would be lodged in Washington County Chancery Court because the seat of Johnson Citys government lies within that county, even though the mistake took place in Carter County. The vast majority of votes cast in the election, which saw Mayor Todd Fowler lead a ticket of nine candidates and newcomer Greg Cox finish a comfortable second, were cast in Washington County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Once provisional votes were counted, Murphy actually beat Wise by two votes in Washington County, with Wise four votes ahead of Murphy in Sullivan County and 36 ahead in Carter County. That gave Wise a margin of 7,750 to 7,712, or 38 votes. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather. Orange City Hall (Photo courtesy of the city of Orange City) I was asked to speak last week at the annual conference of the National Freedom of Information Coalition. My remarks boiled down to a simple message: The public needs more information about their governments, not more secrecy from their governments. I explained a troubling trend I see worming its way through local governments in Iowa. This trend cuts at the heart of the public meeting law that has served our state and its citizens well for 50 years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Open meetings of government boards, councils and commissions give the tax-paying public a seat from which they can monitor what government boards are doing or not doing. That is the purpose the Legislature had in mind when it wrote the meetings law. Wise lawmakers believed it was important for citizens to be able to witness discussions among school board members, city council members and county supervisors. Lawmakers understood that by listening to these debates, the give-and-take, and the explanations of issues, people would be better able to understand the basis and rationale for government decisions. The reality in some communities, unfortunately, differs from that feel-good, good-government mission statement lawmakers wrote. In some communities, government boards exclude Joe and Jane Citizen from having access to those discussions. They are excluded because government officials have decided to put their own convenience and a desire to avoid uncomfortable public debate of embarrassing or controversial topics ahead of the interests of the residents of the school district, city or county. Two cases show officials disregard for public meetings The Iowa Freedom of Information Council has been involved in two cases in recent months that illustrate an all-too-common practice that is contrary to the spirit, if not the letter, of the open meetings law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Orange City is a fine community of 6,300 people in Sioux County. The city was settled by Dutch immigrants 160 years ago, and the community honors that heritage each spring with a colorful tulip festival. Recently, the Sioux County Capital-Democrat broke the news that members of the Orange City City Council and City Administrator Earl Woudstra regularly schedule what are called a series of 22 meetings of council members, mayor and administrator to discuss issues without the pesky presence of the public. Each gathering includes less than a quorum of council members. Because there is not a quorum, the gathering is not considered an official meeting. No public notice of the gathering is posted at City Hall. No minutes are kept or published. Joe Citizen is not allowed in these. When the Legislature wrote the open meetings law, lawmakers conveyed their intent with this clear policy statement in the first paragraph: Ambiguity in the construction or application of this chapter should be resolved in favor of openness. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Orange City 22 controversy bubbled into public knowledge when the Capital-Democrat obtained emails city officials had exchanged with each other about whether to change the citys ordinance that restricts raising chickens in the city. After several people voiced their opinions during a city council meeting, the council postponed a decision. Afterward, members exchanged emails with the city administrator about various options. No more council room debates/feedback Finally, in July, Councilman Rod DeBoer sent this email to his colleagues: I have asked Earl if we can have a 22 meeting with council members to get a direction as to how people will vote. No more council room debates/feedback. Three such private gatherings were held. The mayor and one council member attended the first. The mayor and two other council members were at the second. And the mayor and two more council members attended the third. In the end, the council decided to enforce the current chicken ordinance. In a letter to the editor responding to the newspapers coverage of their private meetings, the mayor, council and city administrator asserted the open meetings law does not prohibit 22 gatherings. It only become a violation when these meetings are used to formally conduct business, make final decisions, and make concerted efforts to keep the deliberations from the public, the officials wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The issue in Orange City is not the chicken ordinance. The issue is the council members working out disagreements and reaching a consensus outside the structure of public meetings of the council. Their letter does not address why their discussions needed to occur outside of public view. It was not just Orange City that was on my mind when I spoke last week at the National Freedom of Information Coalition event. The Des Moines City Council was top of mind, too. Officials risk losing public trust with their secrecy The Des Moines council has used a variation of the 22 meeting to move council members discussions of some thorny topics out of the public spotlight. Last spring, the Des Moines Register said a planned city council meeting on the citys standard development agreement for economic incentives was canceled at the last minute, supposedly because of a scheduling conflict. The discussion had been anticipated by some residents who believed the city should place more and tougher expectations on developers who want taxpayer assistance. In place of a public discussion, the council and City Manager Scott Sanders hashed over the topic in private, back-to-back gatherings without the public or developers allowed in. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Serving on local government boards is never easy, especially with more people being more outspoken with their criticism of government leaders. But council members need to understand they risk eroding the publics trust, confidence and respect when they intentionally circumvent the open meetings requirements. If leaders in places like Orange City and Des Moines cannot understand the when in doubt, meet in public language in the laws intent, perhaps the Legislature should make the statute even more explicit. As I told attendees at the national conference last week, Government officials sometimes forget that government belongs to the people, not to the officials. Randy Evans is a member of the Iowa Writers Collaborative and his columns are found on his blog, Stray Thoughts. Editors note: Please consider subscribing to the collaborative and the authors blogs to support their work. Abortion rights protesters at the U.S. Supreme Court. (Photo by Jane Norman/States Newsroom) There has been a 38% decrease in abortions performed in the state since the implementation of Iowas six-week abortion ban, according to a report published Thursday. The state law banning abortions after fetal cardiac activity can be detected something that can occur as early as six weeks of gestation went into effect July 29. The so-called fetal heartbeat ban contains some exceptions for rape, incest and to save the life of the mother. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Iowa saw a monthly average of 400 clinician-provided abortions in 2024 a figure that includes both abortion procedures and medication abortions. Thats according to data compiled through the Guttmacher Institutes Monthly Abortion Provision Study. In the month after enforcement began, the report found, that number dropped to an estimated 250 abortions. The Guttmacher Institute, an organization that advocates for reproductive health care access, stated in a news release that this decline likely both reflects individuals who traveled to other states to receive abortion care as well as those who were not able to access abortions because of the state law. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Planned Parenthood North Central States (PPNCS) has seen a 64% decrease in abortions performed between June and July before the law went into effect in comparison to August and September, according to a report from Iowa Public Radio, Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ruth Richardson, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood North Central States, said in a statement Thursday that the new data confirms what we expected when Iowa adopted a law banning abortion as early as six weeks. Iowans now face significant hardships when trying to access abortion and many are forced to travel out of state to get the essential health care they so desperately need, Richardson said. Our patients call us, full of fear and questions. Some come to our health center and leave devastated after finding out they are past the bans cutoff. But we were prepared for this moment and created a network of support that has connected hundreds of Iowans with abortion care since the ban was implemented. Our commitment is unwavering, despite the relentless attacks of politicians who want to claw their way into Iowans exam rooms. The organization also reported a 159% increase in Iowans who traveled to out-of-state Planned Parenthood clinics for care in the same time period. The Guttmacher Institutes study found that most Iowans travel to Minnesota, Illinois and Nebraska for abortion care not available in the state. Amy Friedrich-Karnik, Guttmacher Institute director for federal policy, said access to medication abortion, obtainable by mail through telemedicine providers, is a crucial reason why Iowa and other states that have implemented abortion bans since Roe v. Wade was overturned have not seen an even sharper decline in the number of abortions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Access to abortion pills by mail has been an integral component of reproductive health care since the US Supreme Courts Dobbs decision, Friedrich-Karnik said in a Thursday statement. Any changes to federal law or policy that would decrease or eliminate this type of care, as laid out in Project 2025s conservative presidential agenda, would most certainly exacerbate the abortion access crisis, especially in restrictive states like Iowa. PPNCS also released figures Thursday showing a 150% increase in long-acting reversible contraception appointments scheduled since the 2024 general election. Richardson also linked this data with President-elect Donald Trumps victory and concerns about future federal restrictions on abortion in the wake of an incoming Republican trifecta at the U.S. Capitol. The threats to sexual and reproductive health care under the Trump-Vance administration are serious, Richardson said. While we are prepared to help patients in the face of any threat, the fact that politics is once again part of peoples health care decisions is wrong. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE The Iowa Supreme Court hears oral arguments in Summit Carbon Solutions, LLC v. Kent Kasischke on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, at the historic Iowa Supreme Courtroom at the State Capitol. (Pool photo by Cody Scanlan/Des Moines Register) The Iowa Supreme Court affirmed a lower courts decision that Summit Carbon Solutions is allowed temporary access to properties for surveying, because it is a pipeline company that would be transporting a hazardous liquid. The case involved Kent Kasischke, a Hardin County landowner who refused to let Summit surveyors on his land to survey for their proposed pipeline that would transport carbon dioxide, primarily sequestered from ethanol plants, to underground storage in North Dakota. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Iowa Supreme Court heard oral arguments on the case in early October. Kasischke argued Iowa Code section 479B.15, which allows a pipeline company to enter private land to survey, was unconstitutional because the invasion of property required compensation. Justice Thomas Waterman, who issued the courts decision, said Kasischkes argument fails. He has no right to exclude the surveyor because section 479B.15 is a lawful pre-existing limitation on his title to the land, the decision said. According to the decision, this is consistent with rulings in at least four district courts, including the Iowa District Court for Hardin County that originally ruled in the case, and with Supreme Court decisions in North Dakota and South Dakota. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The decision in South Dakota, while it upheld the constitutionality of a similar statute in the state, was touted as win by those opposed to the pipeline because it said the company must prove it is a common carrier and said surveying was only constitutional if they were minimally invasive superficial inspections that, at most, cause minor soil disturbances. A press release from the Iowa Easement Team and Bold Alliance, groups opposed to the pipeline that supported Kasischke, and his attorney, Brian Jorde, said the Friday Iowa Supreme Courts decision sidesteps questions around surveying. Justice Thomas D. Waterman listens during oral arguments in Summit Carbon Solutions, LLC v. Kent Kasischke on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, at the historic Iowa Supreme Courtroom at the Iowa State Capitol. (Pool photo by Cody Scanlan/The Des Moines Register) Right now Iowa has no guardrails as to the level of invasive activity a pipeline company can do to private property as they can claim anything they want to do falls under survey or examination, the press release said. Jorde, who has represented numerous landowners in cases against Summit, said we will have to go back to the Court to address the limitations, with a hope that Iowans will be granted the same protections as South Dakotans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As part of its ruling, the Iowa Supreme Court affirmed the district courts decision that Summit Carbon Solutions is a pipeline company and fits the definition under Iowa Code by transporting a hazardous liquid. Kasischke argued the supercritical carbon dioxide that would be transported in the pipeline was not a liquid. Watermans written decision said the court relied on testimony from the district court trial for its decision, though he noted that since the district court trial, the Iowa Utilities Commission (then the Iowa Utilities Board) determined that supercritical carbon dioxide is a liquefied carbon dioxide. The CEO of Summit Carbon Solutions, Lee Blank, said in a statement Friday the Iowa Supreme Courts decision was a win for infrastructure projects across the state and the nation. Recently in carbon pipeline news: Summit Carbon Solutions was granted a permit in North Dakota, reapplied for a permit in South Dakota, sued another Iowa County for its pipeline ordinances and gave oral arguments at a U.S. appeals court for a similar lawsuit on county ordinances. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It underscores the importance of balancing landowner rights with the need to advance critical infrastructure that benefits communities, agriculture, and the broader economy, Blank said. The press release said the ruling confirms the company has met all statutory requirements and it supports infrastructure vital to enhancing economic competitiveness and ensuring energy and agricultural sustainability. Opponents of the pipeline project said in their press release, the ruling did not conclude the proposed 2,500 mile pipeline is a public use, nor that the company is a common carrier. However, Summit was granted use of eminent domain in August when the Iowa Utilities Commission approved its permit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A final element of the case was whether or not Kasischke had a tenant on the property who would have impacted Summits efforts to provide adequate notice of their plans to survey his property. Waterman wrote the court agreed with the district courts credibility analysis calling Kasischkes testimony on the issue evasive and not credible. Jorde and the Iowa Easement Team called this puzzling and disappointing, but a minor issue to the appeal. The Iowa justices affirmed that Summit complied with notice requirements and the district courts ruling and injunction. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Deandra Dee Thompson will start her term serving on the Indianapolis Public Schools board sooner than originally planned. The school board voted unanimously Thursday night to appoint Thompson to the vacant at-large position on the board after former commissioner Kenneth Allen resigned from his seat earlier this month after being sworn in as the new Center Township constable. Thompson was set to take up the seat in January, along with three other newly elected board members, but when Allen announced his resignation it left the seat open. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More on Allen's move: IPS board member resigns, replaces disgraced Center Township constable Deandra "Dee" Thompson Board policy states that the remaining members must fill vacancies within 30 days. Thompson had just won the race for the at-large seat that Allen has occupied since 2021, with Thompson receiving 56% of votes over Carrie Harris with 22% and Allen with 21%, according to unofficial results. Thompson is currently the founder and CEO of A Learning Bee Academy, which is a STEM-focused preschool. Learn more about IPS results: Pro-charter candidates win in two IPS races while Cosby wins District 2 race Newly elected board members Allissa Impink, Gayle Cosby and Ashley Thomas are set to be sworn into the board in January. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thompson was part of the group of IPS candidates who were endorsed and received financial support from pro-charter groups like Stand for Children Indiana and RISE Indy. Thompson also raised the most money out of the seven candidates running, collecting around $96,993, according to pre-election filings. About $87,600 of that was from the Stand for Children Indiana PAC and RISE Indy PAC. Contact IndyStar K-12 education reporter Caroline Beck at 317-618-5807 or CBeck@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter (X): @CarolineB_Indy. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: IPS school board has a new member after recent resignation (Bloomberg) -- Iran said it will increase its nuclear fuel-making capacity after it was censured by the United Nations atomic watchdog, ratcheting up tensions with the West just days after it signaled a willingness to ease them. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, Mohammad Eslami, ordered a significant collection of new and advanced centrifuges in response to a rebuke from the UNs International Atomic Energy Agency over Tehrans failure to resolve a probe into uranium particles found at undeclared sites, Irans Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Iran operates thousands of centrifuges that spin at high speed to separate uranium isotopes. The machines typically produce low-level reactor fuel but can be programmed to make higher concentrations of uranium suitable for a weapon. IAEA inspectors reported last week that Iran has withheld using hundreds of advanced new machines already installed. Tehrans move is a response to a divisive vote late Thursday by the IAEAs board of governors to censure Iran over a years-long probe. The board also ordered agency Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi to produce a comprehensive report detailing Irans infractions by early next year. Only 19 of the boards 35 members supported the European and US censure, with countries including Brazil, China, Indonesia, Russia and South Africa either opposing or abstaining. It came days after the Islamic Republic suggested it was ready to resolve the standoff over its atomic work by agreeing to stop enriching uranium to 60% levels, close to the level required for nuclear weapons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Irans Foreign Ministry said its decision to order more centrifuges is in line with its peaceful nuclear program and its technical cooperation with the IAEA will continue. Iran remains ready for constructive engagement with relevant parties based on international legal principles and standards, the ministry said in its statement. The comprehensive report that the IAEA is now expected to produce is part of a broader western initiative to potentially reimpose or snap back United Nations sanctions on Iran before they expire in October 2025. That diplomatic mechanism was part of the defunct nuclear deal that was abrogated by Donald Trump in 2018 and which capped Iranian nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief. It is an elaborate approach, Grossi said Wednesday during a press conference. It is an approach by some to start considering the possibility of snap back. Mixed Signals Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before the vote, Grossi appealed to the board to exercise prudence, collaboration and restraint. Censure risked sending mixed signals to Iran, which for the first time had unconditionally pledged to stop enriching uranium close to the levels required for weapons, he said. Moreover, Grossi warned that applying too much pressure on Iran at the wrong time could eventually damage a bedrock arms-control agreement by leading Iran to consider leaving the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. During a trip to Tehran earlier this month he noted that those discussions are already taking place, albeit not yet at the executive level. Iran still has enough fuel on hand to produce a handful of warheads, the IAEA said, giving it room to maneuver should its leadership make a political decision to move forward with nuclear armament. Inspectors have lost continuity of knowledge over key parts of the Islamic Republics nuclear work, which would need to be restored as part of a broader deal to control and oversee activities, they said. Irans attempt at compromise was seen by some as an olive branch toward the incoming Trump administration. Now, with the IAEA on the clock to produce a report that can be used to revive UN sanctions, Trump has the potential to inflict more pain on the Persian Gulf nations economy than he did during his first term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement (Updates with vote details, IAEA report and Grossi quote from the third paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Tehran Iran said Friday it would launch a series of "new and advanced" centrifuges in response to a resolution adopted by the United Nations nuclear watchdog that censures Tehran for what the agency called lack of cooperation. The censure motion brought by Britain, France, Germany, and the United States at the 35-nation board of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) follows a similar one in June. It came as tensions run high over Iran's atomic program, with critics fearing that Tehran is attempting to develop a nuclear weapon a claim the Islamic Republic has repeatedly denied. Iran says it will "substantially increase" uranium enrichment capacity The resolution which China, Russia and Burkina Faso voted against carried with 19 votes in favor, 12 abstentions and Venezuela not participating, two diplomats told AFP. "The head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran issued an order to take effective measures, including launching a significant series of new and advanced centrifuges of various types," a joint statement by the organization and Iran's foreign ministry said. This file photo released November 5, 2019 by the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran shows centrifuge machines in the Natanz uranium enrichment facility in central Iran. / Credit: Atomic Energy Organization of Iran via AP Centrifuges are the machines that enrich uranium transformed into gas by rotating it at very high speed, increasing the proportion of fissile isotope material (U-235). "At the same time, technical and safeguards cooperation with the IAEA will continue, as in the past" and within the framework of agreements made by Iran, the joint Iranian statement added. Behrouz Kamalvandi, Iran's atomic energy organization spokesman, on Friday said the new measures are mostly related to uranium enrichment. "We will substantially increase the enrichment capacity with the utilization of different types of advanced machines," he told state TV. Iran's retaliatory measures "are reversible if this (Western) hostile action is withdrawn or negotiations are opened," Tehran-based political analyst Hadi Mohammadi told AFP. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement IAEA demands "credible explanations" from Iran The confidential resolution seen by AFP says it is "essential and urgent" for Iran to "act to fulfil its legal obligations" under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) ratified in 1970. The text also calls on Tehran to provide "technically credible explanations" for the presence of uranium particles found at two undeclared locations in Iran. In addition, Western powers are asking for a "comprehensive report" to be issued by the IAEA on Iran's nuclear efforts "at the latest" by spring 2025. This handout picture provided by the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran on Nov. 15, 2024, shows the organization's spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi (L) and Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharib Abadi (R), posing for a picture with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi (2nd-L), in front of the gate of the Fordow nuclear enrichment plant, in Fordow, near the city of Qom, Iran. / Credit: -/Atomic Energy Organization of Iran/AFP/Getty The resolution comes after the IAEA's head Rafael Grossi returned from a trip to Tehran last week, where he appeared to have made headway. During the visit, Iran agreed to an IAEA demand to cap its sensitive stock of near weapons-grade uranium enriched up to 60% purity. "Iran did not start the cycle of provocation the Western side could, without passing a resolution... create the atmosphere for negotiations if it really was after talks," the analyst Mohammadi said. The 2015 nuclear deal and how we got here Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2015, Iran and world powers reached an agreement that saw the easing of international sanctions on Tehran in exchange for curbs on its nuclear program. But the United States unilaterally withdrew from the accord in 2018 under then-president Donald Trump and reimposed biting economic sanctions, which prompted Iran to begin rolling back on its own commitments. President Biden sought to revive parts of the deal during his first two years in office but was unsuccessful. Without offering any specific evidence for his assertion, U.S. House Intelligence Committee chairman Rep. Mike Turner claimed in an August interview on CBS News' "Face the Nation" that Iran could declare itself a nuclear weapons state "by the end of the year," blaming the Biden administration for what would mark a major escalation the U.S. has sought for years to avoid. Iran "might declare themselves a nuclear weapons state by the end of this year, with the reports have been news reports have been out, stating that there is a possibility," Turner told Face the Nation moderator Margaret Brennan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pressed by Brennan about whether U.S. intelligence believed Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had already decided, after many years insisting his country would not seek to develop a nuclear weapon, to change that policy, Turner answered: "No." On Thursday, Iran's deputy foreign minister for legal and international affairs Kazem Gharibabadi warned of Iran's potential next step. "Iran had announced in an official letter to European countries that it would withdraw from the NPT if the snapback mechanism was activated, and the Security Council sanctions were reinstated," Gharibabadi said in a late-night interview with state TV. The 2015 deal contains a "snapback" mechanism that can be triggered in case of "significant non-performance" of commitments by Iran. This would allow many sanctions to be reimposed. Tehran has since 2021 decreased its cooperation with the agency by deactivating surveillance devices monitoring the nuclear programme and barring UN inspectors. At the same time, it has ramped up its nuclear activities, including by increasing its stockpiles of enriched uranium and the level of enrichment to 60%. That level is close, according to the IAEA, to the 90%-plus threshold required for a nuclear warhead and substantially higher than the 3.67% limit it agreed to in 2015. Judge postpones Trump "hush money" sentencing indefinitely Sarah McBride on handling GOP challenges as first openly transgender member of Congress "The Dish": Exploring Dixon's Famous Chili TEHRAN, Iran (AP) As Iran faces increasing tensions with the West and turmoil at home, a new exhibition at the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art is displaying Western artwork including pieces not seen by the public in at least a decade. The unveiling of the exhibition Eye to Eye has drawn numerous women, their hair uncovered, to the underground galleries of the museum in Tehran's Laleh Park. Their presence, while unacknowledged by authorities, shows the way life has changed inside Iran just in the last few years even as the country's theocracy presses forward with enriching uranium to near-weapons grade levels and launching attacks on Israel during the ongoing Mideast wars. The first feeling that came to me, and I told my parents, was that I cant believe Im seeing these works, which have always been kept far from our eyes, said Aida Zarrin, a young woman at the museum. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If such events are held here and we can see artworks like the rest of the world, its enough. They are really precious. The government of Irans Western-backed shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, and his wife, the former Empress Farah Pahlavi, built the museum and acquired the vast collection in the late 1970s, when oil boomed and Western economies stagnated. Upon opening, it showed sensational works by Pablo Picasso, Mark Rothko, Claude Monet, Jackson Pollock and other heavyweights, enhancing Irans cultural standing on the world stage. But just two years later, in 1979, Shiite clerics ousted the shah and packed away the art in the museums vault. Some paintings cubist, surrealist, impressionist and even pop art sat untouched for decades to avoid offending Islamic values and the appearance of catering to Western sensibilities. Nearly everything is believed still to be there, though an Andy Warhol print of the empress was slashed during the revolution. Today, the collection is likely worth billions of dollars. Even with Iran now cash-strapped under Western sanctions, officials with the museum have been able to advocate for keeping the collection, though there have been occasional trades in the past for items from Persian history. Those sanctions may increase under the next administration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As Iranian politics have thawed, re-frozen and thawed again, the collection resurfaces along with those changes. Among the over 120 works being shown are ones from Picasso, Andy Warhol and Francis Bacon, along with celebrated Iranian artists. One of the Warhols, Jacqueline Kennedy II, is a silkscreen double image of the former U.S. first lady in mourning after the 1963 assassination of her husband, President John Kennedy. Another Warhol portrait of Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger also garnered attention from the cellphone photo snappers. A lot of these works are important works in the history of art, and thats why this show distinguishes itself from others, said Jamal Arabzadeh, the exhibition's curator. A lot of people with less exposure to art have discovered the museum for the first time. ... We are seeing a part of the community that are discovering art and the museum and see the potential of this place, and this is something to be proud of. The presence of Western art comes as Iran's government has long fought against items like Barbie dolls and depictions of cartoon characters from The Simpsons. Such Western influences have been deemed un-Islamic in the past and have been seen as part of a soft cultural war against the Islamic Republic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With a ticket costing the equivalent of 14 U.S. cents, the exhibition offers a rare government-sanctioned event not involving the country's politics or Shiite religion. Among the visitors were many women defying the country's mandatory headscarf, or hijab, law. Crackdowns over the hijab have slowed down after Iran's presidential election in July that elected reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian, though individual cases of arrest continue to draw anger. And for many, the cost of tickets to travel abroad given Iran's collapsing rial currency keep foreign museums out of reach. This is very attractive for art enthusiasts because not everyone can go and see museums abroad. Its extremely exciting to see the works here, said a woman who only gave her last name, Dolatshahi. I had no idea I could see works by van Gogh and Picasso here. ___ Gambrell reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The Irish electorate face a general election on November 29 in a gloomy mood, for the choices on offer are uninspiring yet only the most ignorant or complacent can ignore the dangers ahead. The American electorate have let down the Irish. On January 20th, the US-Irish special relationship will cease to be. Not even the deluded believe that Donald Trump will play the traditional role of Yankee fairy godfather of scattering dollar bills all over the green fields of the republic while singing Danny Boy. Joe Biden who told us Ireland was part of his soul ensured that there would be no credible Democratic presidential candidate, so he left Congress in the hands of his enemies for at least the next two years. Worse still, Vice-President Elect JD Vance who shares his Make America Great outlook seems a racing certainty to inherit the crown in four years time. Until comparatively recently Irish elections provided a great deal of enjoyment, even for us emigres, for the candidate-based system of proportional representation gives each voter a single transferable vote so in all elections in the Republic a voter can vote for every single candidate; and as the constituencies in the Irish parliament are multi-seat and hotly contested, giving someone your number two, three or even five can be a decision of real consequence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the fun stopped in 2020 when forming a coalition government (the norm from 1989) proved impossible without a deal being done between Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, whose political enmity has its roots in the civil war that ended more than a century ago. The object was to ensure that Sinn Fein the IRAs political wing whose democratic credentials are questionable was kept out of power. Neither party wanted partnership with a party that celebrated a violent history, admired dictators, had convicted criminals among its representatives, was known to be strategically under the direction of IRA veterans, was rich because of the decades of robberies and had become increasingly hard-Left. Being essentially centre-Left and now fashionably progressive, the two parties teamed up with a few Greens and rubbed along well enough to be the likely partnership to dominate after the election. Sinn Fein has been wounded by paedophile scandals, the smaller parties are weak and many of the most popular candidates are one-man bands. But many of those are courting popularity by listening to the general public whose initial generosity towards immigrants is giving way to deep resentment and fear as small towns seem swamped and hotels become hostels for asylum seekers. There is a national panic about housing. A populist with charisma could storm the election, but the lack of anyone suitable keeps trouble-making at bay. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The country is wasteful, but rich, and the Fianna Fail and Fine Gael squabbles are mostly about which interest groups to throw pots of money at. Ireland claims it doesnt need to beef up its derisory defence budget because its neutral, and Keir Starmer looks unlikely to kick up a fuss, yet security sources are deeply worried about Russian intelligence operations in Ireland, and the acute threat from warships to undersea networks and pipelines. But Trump could disrupt the harmony. Unlike Irish Americans many of whom have abandoned the Democrats the Irish hate Trump, didnt think he had a chance of winning the election and being inveterate virtue signallers, they made that abundantly clear. They also loathe Israel which Trump supports vociferously and have consistently denounced it as genocidal. They also abominate Trumps new best friend Elon Musk too. Irelands elite are worse than ours: their Irish Legal News just followed The Guardian in ceasing to post to X. The problem is that the financial future of Ireland is in Trumps hands and he has already got his eye on the 35 billion Irish trade surplus with the US which has everything to do with the low corporation tax which US companies love. Pharmaceuticals and chemicals, for instance, are made in vast amounts by US subsidiaries and exported back home to the US. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Being a member of the EU brings politicians some comfort, but Brussels calls for harmonisation of taxes, which with Trump tariffs, could bankrupt the country. The Irish pride themselves on their charm, but Trump is no push-over. This government is leaving the next government which will probably be the same a terrifying legacy. 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. Students in the Iroquois School District will have warm hands and ears this winter thanks to the handiwork of local seniors. The knitting and crocheting group at the Mercy Hilltop Senior Center has been working hard all year long. Donate toys at Stuff the Fire Engine event to give Christmas gifts to Eries youth Their efforts yielded over 200 hats, 140 scarves and 40 pairs of gloves. All were donated on Thursday for children in Iroquois Elementary Schools. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the center, we really believe in the importance of our seniors not only enjoying themselves, but it empowers them to contribute to the community and it helps the community so its a win-win, said Dina Scribner, Mercy Hilltop Senior Centers executive director. Erie City Mission giving out 1,000 boxes of love for Thanksgiving Were heading into winter weather right now so we have a lot of requests coming in for winter gear to make sure that kids are properly outfitted. Were minimizing sicknesses because theyre not dressed properly, making sure that theyre able to get to school and stay warm, said Caitlin Kinnane, community school director, Iroquois Elementary School There were also 22 packages of underwear and 25 packages of socks donated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com. Israel on Friday unleashed a spate of airstrikes on Beirut's southern suburbs, an area seen as a hotbed of Lebanon's Iran-allied Hezbollah movement. In the evening, the Israeli military carried out four airstrikes on the suburbs, bringing to 12 the number of hits that targeted the area Friday. The latest wave targeted the neighbourhoods of Ghobeiri, Galerie Semman, Chiyah and Haret Hreik. The bombardment sparked fires and resulted in the collapse of buildings, Lebanon's state news agency NNA reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel earlier struck hit several buildings in the neighbourhoods of Hadath and Haret Hreik, for which Israel's army had previously issued evacuation warnings. Residents usually are told by the Israeli military to keep at least 500 metres away. The UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon reported a new attack against its facilities, injuring four of its personnel. The UN Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said four Italian peacekeepers were injured when two rockets hit the headquarters of the UN peacekeeping troops in southern Lebanon on Friday. "Two rockets struck the Sector West Headquarters in Shama, injuring four Italian peacekeepers who are now receiving treatment at the base hospital. Fortunately, none of the injuries are life-threatening," UNIFIL added in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The rockets, likely launched by Hezbollah or affiliated groups, hit a bunker and a logistics area used by the international military police, causing significant damage to nearby infrastructure, the statement said. One of the affected structures caught fire, but the blaze was swiftly extinguished by base personnel, UNIFIL said. "This is the third attack on this UNIFIL base in Shama in a week. Todays attack comes amid heavy shelling and ground skirmishes in the Shama and Naqoura areas in recent days, heightening tensions in the region." The peacekeeping force said it strongly urges combating parties to avoid fighting next to its positions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Also in southern Lebanon, five paramedics were killed in two separate Israeli strikes. One hit a car belonging to the Islamic Health Authority Association, which is affiliated with Hezbollah, at the Deir Qanun-Ras al-Ain junction, the Lebanese Health Ministry said. Three paramedics from the same association were killed in another attack in Al Qatarni. Up until November 21, Israel had killed at least 214 healthcare workers and injured 321 others, the ministry said. Nearly 3,600 people have been killed by Israeli attacks in Lebanon since October 2023, although most of the deaths have occurred since September. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than 15,000 people have been injured and over 1 million displaced, according to the Lebanese health authorities. Women and children reportedly among eight new Gaza deaths Women and children were among the latest casualties in Gaza City following an Israeli airstrike, Palestinian media reported on Friday. Eight people died, according to the WAFA news agency. There were also casualties in the attack on a house in the city's northern Shejaiya district, it reported. The information could not initially be independently verified. The Israeli army said it was investigating the alleged incidents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement WAFA also reported repeated deadly attacks by Israeli forces in other locations in the Gaza Strip. Meanwhile, the Hamas-controlled health authority in the sealed-off coastal region warned that hospitals could be shut down or restricted within 48 hours due to the lack of fuel. According to the Israeli military, it is continuing operations against Hamas fighters in the Jabaliya refugee district in the northern Gaza Strip. Officials said Israeli troops had so far discovered around 300 explosive-rigged buildings there. The Israeli army also said that it last week killed the commander of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad's (PIJ) rocket unit, who had been responsible for numerous rocket attacks on Israel. Smoke billows from a building hit by an Israeli missile in the Chiyah area, on the outskirts of Beirut southern suburb. Israel continued its air raids across Lebanon as the country celebrated its independence day. Marwan Naamani/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa The new Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz on Friday announced plans to abolish so-called administrative detention without charge for Israeli settlers in the occupied West Ban - but not for Palestinians. Palestinians are much more frequently affected by the controversial practice of Israeli authorities. Under administrative detention, suspects are held for six months or longer, ostensibly for security reasons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is the case if the person is, for example, linked to a criminal offence but there is not enough evidence to bring charges. Lawyers say detention in such cases is based on confidential information and that they therefore have little power to stop it. Other so-called preventive measures are to apply to settlers in future, but what they will entail remains unclear. According to Palestinian and Israeli organizations, more than 3,440 Palestinian prisoners are currently in administrative detention. Israeli media report that eight Jews are also being held this way. Katz justified exempting Jewish settlers from the measure because they are exposed to "serious Palestinian terrorist threats" in the West Bank. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also condemned "any form of violence against Palestinians," without specifically naming extremist settlers as the perpetrators. Israeli activists fear that the minister's decision could encourage such settlers to carry out attacks against Palestinians. According to Israeli media, far-right members of the Israeli parliament praised the decision. Many politicians are in favour of expanding Israeli settlements in the West Bank, including the annexation of Palestinian territory. Israeli settlements are illegal under international law and an obstacle to peace in the region. The European Union and the US government recently imposed more sanctions due to the increasing settler violence. Administrative detention does not exist in Israel. However, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has already considered using it to combat crime in the Arab community. By Claudia Cristoferi MILAN (Reuters) - The arrest of an Italian-Egyptian pornographic actor in Cairo is raising concern among officials in Italy, where feelings are still running high over the unresolved killing of student Giulio Regeni who was arrested and killed in Egypt eight years ago. Elanain Sherif, 44, known by his stage name of Sheri Taliani, was picked up at Cairo airport on Nov. 9 and taken to prison without any official explanation, his lawyer said on Friday, confirming reports in Italian newspapers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Online publication of pornography is illegal in Egypt, and Sherif's lawyer, Alessandro Russo, told Reuters this may have been the reason for the arrest, though he had received no notification from the Egyptian authorities. The Egyptian foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for a comment. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said the government and Italy's embassy in Cairo were following the case "with the utmost attention". Sherif was transferred from a Cairo prison to another penitentiary near Alexandria a few days after his arrest and has not been heard of since, the lawyer said, adding that the last person known to have seen him was his mother, the day after he was detained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sherif was born in Egypt but lives in Italy and holds both Egyptian and Italian passports. Russo said he was trying to contact an Egyptian lawyer appointed by Sherif's mother, who had accompanied him to Egypt. "From Italy we can only try to verify that Elanain Sherif is being treated well, the Egyptian lawyer will take care of the case over there," he said. "It's clear that we are thinking with concern about the cases of Giulio Regeni and Patrick Zaki." Italy has charged four Egyptian security agents with kidnapping and killing Regeni, a postgraduate student at Britain's Cambridge University, in Cairo in 2016. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Egyptian police detained him because they thought he was a British spy, according to Italian prosecutors, while Egypt blamed the killing on a group of gangsters after initially suggesting he had died in a road accident or in a sex attack. Zaki, an Egyptian researcher who had been studying in Italy, was arrested during a trip home to Egypt in 2020. Last year he obtained a pardon from the Egyptian president a day after he was handed a three-year prison term on charges of spreading false news. (Editing by Gavin Jones and Peter Graff) PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) Questions and suggestions from a long-time county prosecutor about enforcing some of South Dakotas chapter of open meetings laws are drawing attention. Jerry Miller has served as Union County states attorney since 2004. He made a variety of points as part of a complaint he recently filed on behalf of a North Sioux City man with the state Open Meetings Commission. South Dakota News Media Association executive director David Bordewyk and state Attorney General Marty Jackley are reacting to what Miller had to say. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By law, the attorney general appoints the commissions members. Jackley says hes open to considering possible improvements. I am always willing to consider revisions to our open meetings law that provide clarification or assist the various states attorneys and the Open Meeting Commission in carrying out their duties, Jackley told KELOLAND News. As attorney general, I have strived to improve government transparency. We continue to work with the media to strengthen our laws and provide more information to the public. The commission found that North Sioux Citys municipal council violated South Dakotas law requiring local governments to post agendas at least 24 hours before holding meetings. One of the questions Miller asked was who should be charged for such a violation. If a city assigns a staff member or hires/contracts with a web developer to facilitate the posting of agendas on the website, is that the person to be charged? Is that the person who can be charged? Is it the person who had the responsibility and did not follow through with their obligation, who should be charged? Or is it that person, in addition to the elected and/or appointed persons who make up the board, that should be charged? he asked. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Newly elected lawmaker says he may not serve his term Among Millers suggestions are requiring a local board or council to do over at a second meeting any decisions made at an earlier illegal meeting, giving the state commission authority to take an open-meeting violation before an administrative law judge, and perhaps a new state law that prohibits public officials from using public funds to pay fines for open-meeting violations. Open-meeting violations are classified in South Dakota as class 2 misdemeanors punishable by up to 30 days in county jail and a $500 fine. But when Miller emailed states attorneys throughout South Dakota, none reported back to him that they had taken a local board, council or commission to court for an open-meeting violation. The Open Meetings Commission meanwhile is limited to issuing a public reprimand to the offending official or government, but thats as far as it goes. The law goes on to say that no violation found by the commission may be later prosecuted by the county states attorney or the attorney general. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bordewyk, whos been lobbying lawmakers on public records and open meetings for 29 years, has a solid sense of how far legislators will go. The Union County states attorney raises valid, legitimate frustrations when it comes to enforcement of the open meetings law, Bordewyk told KELOLAND News. The Open Meeting Commissions authority to issue only a public reprimand was the happy medium when the commission was created by the Legislature 20 years ago. No states attorney wants to be put in the position of criminally charging local school board members or city council members for violating the open meetings laws. Its politically untenable, Bordewyk continued. And historically the Legislature has not been willing to change or expand the penalty for violation of the open meetings laws. And I dont think any of that is changed today. From my position, thats unfortunate, but thats where we are. The Open Meetings Commission meeting on November 18 was its first in four years. It handled six complaints. The commission meets again on November 25 to consider seven more complaints. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bordewyk said SDNA in the past advocated for tougher sanctions in the open meetings laws, but found little or no traction among lawmakers. Nonetheless, he still wants South Dakotas open government laws to be improved, even if only incrementally. That is why we are looking at possible legislation to require all public boards that adhere to the open meetings laws to annually review the laws for the purpose of education and training, Bordewyk said. Composition of public boards continually change. The open meetings laws are tweaked and changed occasionally. An annual refresher course on the open meetings laws could go a long way toward helping public boards avoid missteps and unintended violations of the law. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com. SIOUX FALLS S.D. (KELO) South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley is praising President-elect Donald Trumps selection of Pam Bondi as his Nominee for Attorney General. Pink concert in Sioux Falls canceled This is Trumps second nomination after his first, Matt Gaetz, removed himself for consideration. I served with, and was impressed, with Pam as Floridas Attorney General, Jackley said in a news release. She is an experienced prosecutor who will strengthen the relationship between federal, state, and local prosecutors and bring respect to the Department of Justice. Jackley said in a news release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2017, then-Attorney General Bondi served as the keynote speaker at the South Dakota Law Enforcement Charitable Game Feed held in Sioux Falls. Jackley said he is one of several attorneys general advising the Trump transition team on legal issues, according to a news release. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com. JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) Capitol police arrested a man after a child was taken to a hospital in critical condition. Bailey Martin, press secretary for the Mississippi Department of Public Safety (DPS), said police responded to the call about an unresponsive child on Thursday, November 21. Memphis man found guilty in Southaven football players shooting death According to Martin, the child was transported to the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) in critical condition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Capitol police arrested Jarvis Stewart, 20, of Jackson, for felony child abuse in connection to the incident. He is being held at the Hinds County Detention Center. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJTV. Jaguar's new video ad features models in colorful, modern clothing, and doesn't show any cars. Jaguar Jaguar defended its rebranding campaign after online critics roasted a promotional video. Jaguar's boss said the rebranding message was lost "in a blaze of intolerance." The campaign, featuring models and no cars, was criticized as "woke." Jaguar's managing director is defending the British luxury-car maker's rebranding campaign calling out some of its online critics and characterizing their reaction as "vile hatred" and "intolerance." In an interview with the Financial Times, Rawdon Glover said the campaign's intended message was lost "in a blaze of intolerance" and that the controversial promotional video was not meant to be a "woke" statement, as some critics have argued. The video, which features models in brightly colored clothes, didn't feature any cars notable, the critics said, for a car brand. The backlash began earlier this week after Jaguar unveiled a brand strategy ahead of its all-electric launch, which is expected sometime in 2026. Advertisement Advertisement As part of the rebrand, the iconic 90-year-old company a favorite of British royalty and prime ministers debuted a modernized typeface for its logo, a new leaping-jaguar mark, and a video ad that showed models doing things like painting a wall, holding a sledgehammer, and gathering in a pink desert without any cars in sight. The video generated a rash of criticism on social media, with some right-leaning personalities accusing the company of abandoning its history and pushing into "woke" politics. Glover told the FT he was disappointed by "the level of vile hatred and intolerance" that the video garnered online, particularly against the models it featured, adding that the campaign had received overall "positive" buzz. He said Jag's intent was to be different from other automakers. Advertisement Advertisement "If we play in the same way that everybody else does, we'll just get drowned out. So we shouldn't turn up like an auto brand," Glover said in the interview. "We need to reestablish our brand and at a completely different price point, so we need to act differently," he said. "We wanted to move away from traditional automotive stereotypes." Jaguar released a redesigned logo this week. Jaguar As part of the brand's positioning, the newly announced Jags are expected to be significantly more upmarket than the ones that are being phased out, Car and Driver previously reported, citing a Range Rover from the brand's corporate cousin that costs about $400,000 as where the brand wants to be. (Most 2024 Jaguar models have list prices of about $50,000 to $80,000.) Jaguar, which is part of the Jaguar Land Rover group and owned by India's Tata Motors, announced earlier this fall that it would end production of all its current models this year before debuting its new all-electric lineup. Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, high-profile critics of this week's rebranding video which has been viewed nearly 160 million times on X included Tesla CEO Elon Musk, the influencer brothers Andrew and Tristan Tate, and the conservative personality Ian Miles Cheong. In response to the video posted on X by Jaguar, Musk wrote : "Do you sell cars?" And Nick Freitas, a Republican member of the Virginia House of Delegates, replied to Jaguar on X : "Well we know where the advertising team for Bud Light went," referring to the backlash to a Bud Light ad in 2023 that featured a transgender influencer. Jaguar's revamped maker's mark, the leaping jaguar. Jaguar Advertisement Advertisement Some critics said they would boycott the brand based on their assumption that it had gone "woke," while others, including some marketing professionals, mocked the video as confusing and stylistically outdated. Jaguar said it would announce more details about its new branding strategy in December, though it's not clear whether that will include specifics about any of its forthcoming electric vehicles. Without commenting specifically on the backlash, Jaguar said in a statement to Business Insider: "The brand reveal is only the first step in this exciting new era, and we look forward to sharing more on Jaguar's transformation in the coming days and weeks." Read the original article on Business Insider (Bloomberg) -- Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishibas cabinet approved a stimulus package thats slightly bigger than last years, as he followed up on a pledge to ramp up support for households and businesses struggling to cope with higher costs. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The stimulus lays out fiscal spending of 21.9 trillion ($140 billion) on measures to support sustained wage gains and cash handouts for low-income households, subsidies for gas and electricity bills, and investment into the semiconductor and artificial intelligence sector, according to the Cabinet Office on Friday. The most important thing is to raise wages for all generations, Ishiba told reporters earlier in the day. This needs to happen now and in the future. Delivering on a promise to provide a bigger spending package than last year was a key checkbox that Ishiba needed to tick as he looks to shore up his leadership of a minority government. Ishiba struck a deal this week with the Democratic Party for the People to shore up enough support for his stimulus plan. That deal provides Ishiba with a template for sustaining his Liberal Democratic party-led minority government ahead of other looming challenges, including an annual budget for the next fiscal year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After losing its majority in a lower house election on Oct. 27, the ruling coalition needs the votes of at least one of the three largest opposition parties to pass legislation in parliament. It could go horribly wrong at any point for the LDP if the coalition loses the DPP or other alternatives, said Rintaro Nishimura, a Japan associate at The Asia Group, an advisory firm. Of the measures laid out in the package, around 10.4 trillion of fiscal spending will be earmarked for economic growth, 4.6 trillion for price-relief measures, and 6.9 trillion for other economic, social and security measures including disaster management. The overall working size of the package will reach around 39 trillion, according to the cabinet office, a figure that relies on projected spending from the private sector. The actual cost of the measures is closer to 13.9 trillion, in line with a figure seen earlier by Bloomberg in a draft of the package. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The agreement on the package puts Ishiba on a firmer footing after recent opinion polls showed underwhelming public support for his cabinet. A survey published by public broadcaster NHK this week showed public approval at 41% and disapproval at 37%, relatively poor numbers for a new administration. Ishiba launched his new cabinet lineup on Nov. 11. Still, the approved package shows the new reality for the ruling party and the difficulties Ishiba faces going forward. The opposition parties now have some leverage to try and get their policy goals implemented, an advantage the DPP used to get the coalition to agree to its demand of raising the cap on tax-free income and including a reference to that in the package in return for its backing for the stimulus. The prime minister needs to demonstrate he can push ahead with policy and political funding reforms if he wants to ensure he stays on as leader heading into another national election next summer. Ishibas desire to reach a decision this year on when to raise taxes to secure funds for planned increases in defense spending is another test he faces. None of the main opposition parties have expressed support for such tax hikes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The LDP needs to get its policies right in order to regain the publics trust, as voters are most concerned about the economy and political reforms, said Yu Uchiyama, professor of Japanese politics at the University of Tokyo. Otherwise, its possible the ruling coalition will also lose its majority in the upper house election, and that would be a big problem. Ishiba returned to Japan this week after attending a G-20 leaders meeting in Brazil and an Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Peru. He missed the leaders family photo at APEC and faced some criticism from the public in Japan for not standing up to greet other leaders. Still, Ishiba held a rare Japan-China summit meeting with President Xi Jinping that appeared to help with a recent thawing of frosty ties. Among positive developments, China will re-introduce short-term visa exemptions for Japanese visitors, its Foreign Affairs Ministry said Friday. Ishiba had also hoped to meet with President-elect Donald Trump en route back from South America but was told Trump wasnt planning to meet world leaders ahead of his inauguration in January. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nishimura of the Asia Group said the fundamental question for the LDP is whether Ishiba is the right leader to take the party into the election next July. He will need a few big wins diplomatically and politically to secure that confidence, Nishimura said. (Updates with more background, developments.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Restaurant critic Jay Rayner has accused The Guardian of employing anti-Semites and its editor of lacking the courage to take them on turning up the heat on the identity crisis gripping the Left-wing news organisation. In a message to friends on Facebook, Mr Rayner, who this week quit the papers sister Sunday title The Observer after 28 years, launched an excoriating attack on Katharine Viner, the Guardians editor, over her alleged failure to properly address anti-Semitism. Mr Rayner said: For years now being Jewish, however non-observant, and working for the company has been uncomfortable, at times excruciating. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Viner likes to deny it but there are anti-Semites on the dailys staff and she has not had the courage to face them down. He added: For years now I have made a point of sending her a back channel email each time the Guardian has published another outrage. It will be a joy to know that Im not a part of that any more. The alleged failure to stamp out anti-Semitism is understood to be a factor in Mr Rayners decision to leave the newspaper. He described its comment section as a juvenile hellscape of salami-sliced identity grievance politics. In recent years, Ms Viner has grappled with controversies including an allegedly anti-Semitic cartoon of Richard Sharp, the then-BBC director general, and an opinion article entitled Israel must stop weaponising the Holocaust. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The newspaper last year sacked cartoonist Steve Bell over an unpublished drawing of Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The image was interpreted by some as a reference to Shylock, the Jewish moneylender in Shakespeares The Merchant of Venice who demands a pound of flesh. Mr Bell defended his cartoon, saying it was impossible to draw this subject for The Guardian now without being falsely accused of using anti-Semitic tropes. Craven Observer sale Jay Rayner said he had sent Katharine Viner an email each time the Guardian published another outrage - Christopher Furlong/Getty Images Mr Rayners damning verdict on Ms Viners leadership also extended to strategy. She is currently spearheading an attempt to offload The Observer to Tortoise Media, a loss-making start-up founded by the former BBC News director James Harding. Mr Rayner, son of the late agony aunt Claire Rayner, branded Ms Viners pursuit of the deal absurd and deranged, ahead of a crucial board vote on Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his message, he also branded the planned sale of the Observer craven and took aim at Ms Viner for her role in it. He said: It represents a failure of duty of care to her staff, and crass mismanagement. Guardian journalists are to stage a strike for four days next month as anger about the sale boils over. On Friday, Ms Viner invited staff to meetings in her office to hear your views and share some of my thoughts on the deal. The National Union of Journalists has branded the sale a betrayal. It has also accused Guardian bosses of inappropriate attempts to root out strikers after asking staff whether they intend to take part in the industrial action. Anna Bateson, the chief executive of Guardian Media Group, has defended the sale, insisting it would ensure a sustainable future for The Observer. However, she has warned of difficult decisions if it does not go through. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Rayner, who presents Kitchen Cabinet on BBC Radio 4 and will join The Financial Times in a few months time, said The Observer would always be a part of me after landing his first column at the newspaper in 1988 at the age of 21. But he added: Im not sorry to be leaving Guardian newspapers ... I have a new job and Im very happy about it. A Guardian spokesman said: We take allegations of this nature extremely seriously. The Guardian Media Group has a zero tolerance approach to antisemitism and all forms of prejudice and discrimination. We have robust processes in place. When any allegations are made, we investigate them and deal with them swiftly. We recognise the strength of feeling about the proposed sale of the Observer. Our priority is to support our staff and serve our readers, so that the Guardian and the Observer can continue to promote liberal journalism and thrive in a challenging media environment. 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. WATERTOWN, N.Y. (WWTI) A 36-year-old Philadelphia woman is facing multiple charges for alleged misuse of food stamps and welfare fraud. The Watertown Police Department said that Jillian Garnsey, who is referred to as Jillian McCready in court documents, is accused of claiming SNAP benefits that she was not entitled to. Crow harassment to begin again next week in Watertown According to court document, McCready is alleged to have submitted six applications for SNAP benefits for a period between 2018 and 2023. These applications were turned into the Jefferson County Department of Social Services where each of the applications allegedly intentionally listed her household income and composition incorrectly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McCready allegedly received nearly $16,700 in SNAP benefits that she was not entitled to. She is facing charges of first-degree offering a false instrument for filing, third-degree grand larceny, third-degree welfare fraud and misuse of food stamps. McCready was arrested on Friday, November 22 and was processed and arraigned his morning in Watertown City 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 WWTI - InformNNY.com. Jena Griswold, Colorado secretary of state, announces an investigation into voter fraud in Mesa County during a press conference at her Denver office on Oct. 24, 2024. (Quentin Young/Colorado Newsline) Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold told a panel of state lawmakers that her office delayed telling county clerks about a voting equipment password leak last month because she wanted to know more about the scope and impact of the situation first. Instead, many clerks learned about the password breach when the state Republican Party publicized it and the media began reporting on it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The department was focused on determining the full scope of the issue and finalizing a plan for our technical and outreach strategy before sharing it, to avoid fueling the major disinformation environment that surrounds our elections (and) has real effects on election workers all across the state of Colorado, Griswold told the Joint Budget Committee on Thursday. I regret that the clerks learned about this issue from a party that was not us before we had completed our assessment. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Griswold said her office learned about a published spreadsheet with partial system passwords on Oct. 24, took the spreadsheet offline and began taking action. The Colorado GOP then shared the information in an email on Oct. 29. The passwords known as Basic Input Output System or BIOS passwords were for equipment in 34 of Colorados 64 counties. The use of BIOS passwords requires in-person physical access to voting machines, which are kept in secure areas subject to controlled keycard access and 24/7 video surveillance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State officials, independent cybersecurity experts and county clerks from both parties have expressed confidence that Colorados 2024 election remained secure. By Oct. 31, all affected equipment had undergone password updates, and state employees verified that no settings on any of the equipment had been altered. Griswold, a Democrat, has faced intense criticism since the disclosure of the password breach, with many Republicans calling for her resignation. Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer, a Weld County Republican, pressed Griswold on her delayed communication with county clerks. (Clerks are) in the middle of an election. You know about a password breach. Regardless if its not immediate, it still was a threat. They still should have been notified. When did you think it would be appropriate to notify the clerks? Kirkmeyer asked Griswold. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Griswold repeated that her office wanted to gather information, which required a lot of manpower across the state, and finalize a strategy before determining what our next steps would be. She did not offer an exact timeline for when she planned to tell clerks. An outside law firm based in Denver is investigating how the passwords ended up online. The office used $25,000 from its personnel services appropriation, but the actual cost of the investigation could differ depending on whether the firm needs to hire a forensic computer analyst. Additionally, the Denver district attorneys office is also investigating the incident. Griswold said that her office will release as much as the law firms final report as possible without creating a security risk. Additionally, her office is requiring increased cybersecurity and password management training. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Nov. 21BEMIDJI Jerry Gale, founder of Christians Against Christian Nationalism Minnesota, will present "Understanding and Responding to Christian Nationalism," at 11:45 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 26, at United Methodist Church, 924 Beltrami Ave NW. "Christian nationalism seeks to merge Christian and American identities, damaging both the Christian faith and America's democracy," a release said. "It implies that to be a good American, one must be a Christian." Gale first became aware of Christian nationalism on Jan. 6, 2021, after seeing footage of Christian symbols being carried by those who broke into the U.S. Capitol. Shortly after, he discovered the website Christians Against Christian Nationalism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In January 2024, Gale formed the Christians Against Christian Nationalism Minnesota group and is sharing his message throughout the state. Gale is also a member of Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church in Minneapolis. Sponsors will provide a light lunch. A free-will offering will be accepted to defray meal costs and gas expenses for Gale, the release said. Attendees should RSVP prior to the event. For more information or to register, contact C.T. Marhula at (701) 317-2232 or ctm@gra.midco.net. [Source] On the Nov. 15 episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, host Joe Rogan and guest Jeff Dye discussed the perceived strong work ethic of Asian people and its impact on the lawsuit against Harvard University for alleged discrimination against Asian American applicants. "They [Asian people] make it more difficult for them to get in. They have to have higher grades and a higher score," Rogan stated, highlighting the alleged disadvantage faced by Asian American applicants due to their high academic achievements. Rogan and Dye acknowledged the role of cultural emphasis on hard work and discipline, with Rogan observing, "It's this kind of crazy work ethic that some Asian households instill in their children." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They discussed the lawsuit against Harvard, where the university was accused of using a holistic admissions process that allegedly downplays academic merit in favor of other factors. Rogan argued that while striving for equality of opportunity is important, "the world is not fair, and you can't make it fair with laws or rules," and that "it doesn't make you better to suppress someone by diminishing their success." The conversation touched on the complexities of balancing academic merit with other factors in college admissions and the broader issue of fairness in a competitive society. Trending on NextShark: Joe Rogan discusses colleges alleged discrimination against Asians on podcast Download the NextShark App: Want to keep up to date on Asian American News? Download the NextShark App today! (WHTM) Pennsylvania U.S. Senator John Fetterman is known for his colorful comments. On Thursday he offered a new one in response to former Congressman Matt Gaetz withdrawing his nomination for Attorney General. Holy s I didnt see that coming, said Fetterman sarcastically outside the capitol shortly after the news broke. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now This Week in Pennsylvania Fetterman also called Gaetz, who was facing an investigation into sex trafficking claims, the ultimate troll. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fetterman also called out people who he says freak out over the nomination that many believed would not pass in the Senate. You better pace yourself, though, because its not even Thanksgiving, and we dont have to react and take unserious things so seriously that the worlds going to spin off its axis, said Fetterman. Gaetz had been under investigation by the Justice Department and the House Ethics Committee amid sex trafficking allegations involving underage girls that Gaetz has denied. The Justice Department decided not to charge the former Florida congressman, however the House committee was reportedly nearing the release of a report regarding the claims. In recent days, an attorney for two women said his clients told House Ethics Committee investigators that Gaetz paid them for sex on multiple occasions beginning in 2017, when Gaetz was a Florida congressman. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the women testified she saw Gaetz having sex with a 17-year-old at a party in Florida in 2017, according to the attorney, Joel Leppard. Leppard has said that his client testified she didnt think Gaetz knew the girl was underage, stopped their relationship when he found out and did not resume it until after she turned 18. The age of consent in Florida is 18. Theyre grateful for the opportunity to move forward with their lives, Leppard said Thursday of his clients. Theyre hoping that this brings final closure for all the parties involved. Gaetz has vehemently denied any wrongdoing. The Associated Press contributed to this report Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27. KANSAS CITY, Mo. Johnson County, Kansas announced on Thursday five efforts focused on providing affordable housing or helping the homeless. The efforts will share more than $6.3 million of state and local fiscal recovery funds previously planned to support the proposed homeless shelter in Lenexa. Those funds were required to be reallocated by Dec. 31. Missouri AG planning to sue Jackson County over new gun ordinance Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When the Lenexa City Council voted down the proposed homeless shelter in September, the Board of County Commissioners directed staff to come up with proposals for projects that support those on the Johnson County Housing Continuum. On Thursday, the BOCC approved the following allocations: $2.47 million to Habitat for Humanity of Kansas City to acquire land to build a 50+ home development in Johnson County $3.1 million to Friends of Johnson County Developmental Supports to purchase and renovate properties to create affordable multi-family housing units for individuals served by Johnson County Developmental Support or Johnson County Mental Health. $467,346 to the Salvation Army for its Family Shelter Expansion. $137,654, to Project 1020 to support operations of the countys only cold-weather emergency shelter for adults. $175,000, to United Community Services for the purpose of housing system investments. Download the FOX4 News app on iPhone and Android Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Johnson County received $117,009,332 of SLFRF from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, which has earned $2.4 million in interest. The funding must be obligated by Dec. 31 and fully spent by Dec. 31, 2026. Interest earned on these funds is being allocated to SLFRF-eligible projects and programs, according to the county. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. Daniel Pennys chokehold of Jordan Neely isnt what killed the homeless man he died from the combined effects of synthetic marijuana, schizophrenia and other factors, the defenses medical expert testified Thursday. Dr. Satish Chundru, a forensic pathologist based in Texas, told jurors in Manhattan Supreme Court that Neelys autopsy records and video of the fatal F train altercation in May 2023 didnt show signs typical of known chokehold deaths. In your opinion, did Mr. Penny choke Mr. Neely to death? Pennys attorney Steven Raiser asked. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No, replied Chundru, the chokehold did not cause death. Daniel Pennys forensic expert testified Thursday that Penny did not choke Jordan Neely to death. Steven Hirsch Chundru, who said he has worked as a medical examiner for county governments in Florida and Texas, ruled out two medically recognized chokeholds the air choke and the blood choke because he believed Neely, 30, died from other causes. He also pointed out what he said were discrepancies in Neelys medical records, specifically bruising on the homeless mans neck, and how there was almost negligible petechia tiny spots of bleeding found on his eyelids, that Chundru claimed were inconsistent with a fatal chokehold. Instead, Chundru who dubs himself the Forensic Doc on his website said that Neely died by the combined effects of sickle cell crisis, the schizophrenia, the struggle and restraint, and the synthetic marijuana. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chundru claimed that schizophrenia carries an increased risk of sudden cardiac death. Dr. Satish Chundru, a forensic pathologist based in Texas, told jurors that Neelys autopsy records didnt show signs of known types of fatal chokeholds. Steven Hirsch He also testified that hed seen deaths caused by K2 toxicity alone. Neely, a former Michael Jackson impersonator with a history of mental illness and drug abuse, had the synthetic marijuana in his system at the time of his death, trial evidence has shown. The findings from Chundru who was called by Pennys defense attorneys were far different from those of the city medical examiner, who stood by her ruling that Neelys death was caused by asphyxiation as a result of the former Marines chokehold. Dr. Cynthia Harris, who performed the autopsy, said video of the fatal encounter convincingly showed the chokehold was his cause of death that she wouldnt change her ruling even if it turned out Neely had enough drugs in his body to put down an elephant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harris testified earlier this week that she and the other doctors at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, including the chief, believed that Neelys death was caused by asphyxia, consistent with being choked, after seeing a journalists video of the homeless man dying with Pennys arm wrapped around his neck. Chundru was pressed Thursday by Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Dafna Yorna about his claim regarding the petechia on Neelys eyelids and eventually conceded that other medical professionals, including his mentor, did find that such symptoms were consistent with death by asphyxiation. The prosecutor also grilled Chundru about whether the darker color of Neelys face compared to his arms proved that blood wasnt flowing to his head because his arteries and veins were being blocked as a result of the chokehold. Yoran pointed to the bystander video where Neelys face is darker than the rest of his skin as veins protrude from his forehead, and asked Chudru what he made of that. Penny faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted of manslaughter for the shocking caught-on-camera fatal encounter. NYC Courts One suggestion is that he has some blockage, another suggestion is that he has a suntan, Chundru said, before eventually agreeing with the prosecutor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chundrus cross-examination will continue Friday, with closing arguments in the lightning-rod trial expected for Dec. 2. Several eyewitnesses have testified that Neely, who was unarmed, was threatening passengers on the train during the May 1, 2023 encounter, but had not touched anyone before Penny took him down to the subway floor and held him in the chokehold. Pennys lawyers have said he acted to protect other straphangers and shouldnt be held criminally liable for Neelys death. Prosecutors say Penny knew his actions could be deadly and continued with them anyway. Penny, 26, is charged with second-degree manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide. He faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted on the top charge. Donald Trumps sentencing on 34 felony counts related to his 2016 hush money scheme has been put on indefinite hiatus, a judge ruled on Friday. Manhattan Judge Juan Merchan agreed to a request from both parties to cancel the sentencing, which had been scheduled for November 26. The cancellation means that Trump is exceedingly unlikely to face sentencing over the guilty verdict before he takes office on January 20, 2025. Merchan said in the ruling that he would hear arguments on whether to dismiss the case in light of Trumps election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg said earlier this week that he would oppose a motion from Trumps legal team to dismiss the case on the grounds of Trumps recent election. But he made it clear that Trumps election has catapulted the case into uncharted legal territory. Bragg suggested that Merchan may consider freezing the case for the duration of Trumps term, but made no specific suggestion on how Merchan should proceed. Throughout the six-week spring trial, Merchan ruled conservatively: he showed deference to Trumps defense attorneys, and scolded them on several occasions for not being more aggressive in their defense of the the former President. Merchan has yet to rule on a separate motion to dismiss the case from Trump over the Supreme Courts July immunity decision. In that ruling, the court found that evidence relating to a Presidents official conduct could not be admitted during a prosecution of unofficial conduct. That could shatter part of the trial, which focused on payments that Trump directed while in office to reimburse Michael Cohen for the hush money scheme. DECATUR, Ill. (WCIA) A Macon County judge rejected a motion on Thursday to overturn the verdict she reached in the case of a Decatur couple accused of possessing child pornography. Judge Lindsey Shelton heard arguments from the lawyers of Douglas and Kelly Nichols explaining why the couple should either get their convictions overturned or why Shelton should grant them a new trial. Scott Reuter, the Macon County States Attorney, explained to WCIA that motions like this are common once trials conclude; they are made by defendants attorneys to see if there is an error made in the prosecution. This case is a stark example of a high-profile, media-driven prosecution where the pressure to deliver a conviction overrode the fundamental principles of fairness and justice. Doug and Kelly Nichols were subjected to a trial that ignored critical evidence, misapplied established legal standards, and relied on speculative inferences rather than distinct proof, the lawyers wrote in an 18-page motion. The intense public scrutiny surrounding this case created immense pressure to produce a conviction, yet it is precisely in such cases where the judiciary must stand firm, uphold the rule of law, and hold the State to its stringent burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the central arguments the lawyers made is that the images the Nichols were convicted of possessing are not in fact pornography meant to excite sexual desires. These images were all either innocent captures of a familys daily life or documentation of playful activities that were given an unwarranted connotation because the Nichols girls were playing naturally with their bodies exposed, the lawyers wrote. Decatur man gets 21 years for 2023 robbery-turned-murder The Nichols lawyers also argued that the state erred in charging Kelly Nichols with the creation of child pornography, one of the more serious charges she was convicted of, and that the Nichols never had knowledge or possession of the content. The lawyers argued that physical evidence, including one video, shows that the video was filmed by one of the Nichols daughters, not Kelly, and that the content was passively stored during automated backups, with no deliberate review or intent by the Nichols and ended up buried amongst millions of other family photos and videos taken over the span of 20 years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, Judge Shelton had previously rejected the Nichols claims that the content in question was not pornographic. On Thursday, she again rejected that argument and every other argument the Nichols lawyers presented. The Nichols motion for acquittal or a new trial was denied, setting the stage for their sentencing. While a sentencing hearing had been scheduled for Thursday, Judge Shelton noted that a sex offender evaluation had not been completed yet for the couple. Unable to sentence them without that evaluation, Shelton delayed the sentencing and scheduled a status hearing for Feb. 7 to see if the evaluation will be complete. In addition to his child pornography case, Douglas Nichols is also facing charges of criminal sexual assault in another case. A status hearing in that case was also scheduled for Feb. 7. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com. Nov. 22A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit by five Maine lobstermen who say that the state's rule requiring tracking devices on their boats violates their rights against unreasonable search and seizure. Although the judge dismissed the suit against the commissioner of the Maine Department of Marine Resources, he encouraged the lobstermen to appeal the decision because it raises "significant Fourth Amendment issues." The Fourth Amendment protects against unreasonable searches and seizures by the government. In his ruling, U.S. District Judge John Woodcock cited jurisdictional problems with the case. While he agreed that the department's rules of installing tracking devices are clear, are informational and have a "properly defined scope," he also wrote that the lobstermen have "legitimate privacy concerns." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Lobstermen are not always fishing on their boats," Woodcock wrote in the ruling. "They have their own lives. Even though they use their boats to fish for lobsters, they also use these vessels to perform personal errands, to visit family and friends, and even in some cases to live on." But because the lobster industry has many regulations, the state has legal authority to inspect boats for compliance without a search warrant, even through tracking devices, Woodcock wrote. Although the lobstermen are concerned about privacy with the data collected from their tracking devices, Woodcock agreed that because they work in a "closely regulated industry" that this data is important for lobster preservation. Alfred Frawley, a Portland lawyer who represents the lobstermen, said in an interview Friday that his clients will appeal the judge's decision and will base their appeal on the Fourth Amendment, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The issue is "relatively new," Frawley said. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans in February 2023 struck down part of a rule by the National Marine Fisheries Service requiring owners and operators of charter boats in the Gulf of Mexico to use approved GPS tracking devices to transmit the boat's position to the NMFS and U.S. Coast Guard. The court did not decide whether the rule violated Fourth Amendment rights. The 5th Circuit instead rejected the government's arguments, ruling that GPS tracking devices do not fall within the scope of equipment that a 1976 federal fishery conservation and management law can require on recreational vessels. The NMFS rule exceeded the law's authority, the court ruled. Frawley said the Maine lobsterman's case will be the first to be argued on constitutional grounds. Copy the Story Link Judge Juan Merchan on Friday said he is going to let Donald Trump file a motion to dismiss the hush money case in which the president-elect was found guilty, in a move that further pushes off a possible sentencing that had been tentatively set for next week. In his order, Merchan set deadlines of Dec. 2, for Trumps motion, and Dec. 9, for the prosecutions response, and he agreed to pause moving forward toward sentencing in the meantime. Trumps lawyers argued in a letter to the judge on Tuesday that immediate dismissal of the case is required to facilitate the orderly transition of Executive power as the president-elect prepares his return to the White House in January. They asked Merchan for permission to file a formal dismissal motion by Dec. 20, noting that thats after special counsel Jack Smiths position to the courts in Trumps two federal cases is due on Dec. 2. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those federal cases were all but doomed upon Trumps election victory, but trickier questions remain in his two state cases in New York and Georgia, because presidents cant get state cases dismissed or pardon them away. Criminal actions arent likely to proceed against Trump while hes in office, but one of the lingering questions is whether the state cases might be deferred until Trump leaves office. As in those [federal] cases, dismissal is necessary here, Trumps lawyers argued in the pre-motion letter to Merchan. Those lawyers are Todd Blanche and Emil Bove, both of whom Trump named for high-ranking Justice Department positions in his incoming administration. Just as a sitting President is completely immune from any criminal process, so too is President Trump as President-elect, they wrote. Merchan was previously set to decide whether to overturn Trumps guilty verdicts due to the Supreme Courts July 1 immunity ruling in the federal election interference case. In May, a state court jury in Manhattan found Trump guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records. He was set for sentencing on July 11, but before that could happen, his lawyers cited the high court ruling to try and overturn the verdicts and dismiss the case. Merchan subsequently delayed the sentencing, most recently to a tentative Nov. 26 date, which could have gone forward only if he had ruled against Trumps immunity motion. Even then, Trumps lawyers had signaled that they intended to appeal an adverse immunity ruling immediately pre-sentencing, so the Nov. 26 sentencing date was far from certain even before this latest action. Now Merchan has to rule on both the motion to dismiss and the motion to overturn the verdicts before any sentencing can proceed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg agreed that Trump should be able to litigate the new dismissal issue while further proceedings are paused, but he signaled that his office would oppose the effort to dismiss. His office asked the judge that their response to Trumps forthcoming dismissal motion be due Dec. 9, sooner than Trumps Dec. 20 deadline request for his motion. Merchans scheduling order is in line with Braggs request. A filing from Bragg to Merchan floated the possibility of continuing proceedings after Trump leaves office, a difficult question whose answer becomes more pressing as we approach Trumps inauguration in January without a sentence. Subscribe to the Deadline: Legal Newsletter for expert analysis on the top legal stories of the week, including updates from the Supreme Court and developments in Donald Trumps legal cases. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) An Administrative Law Judge decided Thursday to allow attorneys two more weeks to evaluate a formal complaint filed to the Oklahoma Corporation Commission. The complaint was filed in September by Representative Tom Gann (R-Inola). It claimed that ONGs Fuel Adjustment Clause and Prudence Review case was tainted and unlawful. Gann filed the paperwork because of Commissioner Todd Hietts involvement in the case after he was accused of sexual misconduct and drunkenness in June. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement LOCAL NEWS: State Supreme Court justices hear arguments in case against Todd Hiett The filing said Hietts past and continued participation in this matter violates state Ethics rules. Gann was initially told the complaint would only be considered as public comment in upcoming hearings. That prompted Gann to go a step further and file court records Wednesday that said attorneys involved in the case would also be breaking the law if the case moved forward. The documents said the attorneys had broken a rule of professional conduct for remaining silent. Deputy Attorney General, Chase Snodgrass, addressed Ganns accusations during a hearing on the merits of the ONG case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I find his comments to be defamatory and not in accordance or a correct recitation of the law, said Snodgrass. Our team, along with contributions from this commission staff and other stakeholders in this process, have saved ratepayers hundreds of millions of dollars in 2024 alone. The Attorney Generals Office is tasked with representing the collective efforts of ratepayers. Administrative Law Judge Carly Ortel decided to postpone any decisions Thursday and reconvene on December 5th to that attorneys from both sides could research Ganns complaint. Gann was one of three lawmakers who have asked the State Supreme Court to disqualify Hiett from voting on upcoming utility cases. Hiett has been under pressure to resign after the sexual misconduct allegations surfaced. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since then, he has voted on a $31 million rate increase for ONG customers. Hietts alleged victim works for ONGs parent company. Last week, the highest court heard oral arguments in the case against Hiett but have yet to make a decision. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City. A federal judge in Massachusetts has rejected a request by the parents of a Boston-area high school senior who wanted to raise a key grade this fall after teachers accused him of cheating for using artificial intelligence on a class project. In a ruling denying immediate relief to the student, filed Wednesday, U.S. Magistrate Judge Paul Levenson said nothing about the case suggests teachers at Hingham High School were hasty in concluding that the student and a classmate had cheated by relying on AI. He also said the school didnt impose particularly heavy-handed discipline in the case, considering that the students had violated the school districts academic integrity rules. An attorney for the family on Friday noted the ruling is merely preliminary and that the case will continue with more discovery. But a former deputy attorney general who follows AI in education issues said the likelihood of the family winning on the merits in a trial look all but over. Put Students First: Support Journalism That Exposes Truth and Inspires Action. Donate to The 74 After an Advanced Placement U.S. History teacher last fall flagged a draft of a documentary script as possibly containing AI-generated material, the pair received a D on the assignment and were later denied entry into the National Honor Society. The groups faculty advisor said their use of AI was the most egregious violation of academic honesty she and others had seen in 16 years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jennifer and Dale Harris, parents of one of the students, sued the district and several school staffers in September, alleging that their son, a junior at the time and a straight-A student, was wrongly penalized. If the judge didnt order the district to quickly change his grade, they said, hed risk not being admitted via early admission to elite colleges. He has not been identified and is referred to as RNH in court documents. Related Could Massachusetts AI Cheating Case Push Schools to Refocus on Learning? The complaint noted that when the students started the project in fall 2023, the district didnt have a policy on using AI for such an assignment. Only later did it lay out prohibitions against AI. But in court testimony, district officials said Hingham students are trained to know plagiarism and academic dishonesty when they see it. Peter S. Farrell, students attorney While he earned a C+ in the course, the student scored a perfect 5 on the AP US history exam last spring, according to the lawsuit. He was later allowed to reapply to the Honor Society and was inducted on Oct. 15. Ultimately, the schools own investigation found that over the past two years, it had inducted into the Honor Society seven other students who had academic integrity infractions, said Peter S. Farrell, the familys attorney. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his ruling, Levenson said the case centered around simple academic dishonesty, and that school officials could reasonably conclude that the students use of AI was in violation of the schools academic integrity rules and that any student in RNHs position would have understood as much. The students, he said, did not simply use AI to help formulate research topics or identify sources to review. Instead, it seems they indiscriminately copied and pasted text that had been generated by Grammarly.com into their draft script. Benjamin Riley, Cognitive Resonance Levenson said the court doesnt really have a role in second-guessing the judgments of teachers and school officials, especially since the students werent suspended. Farrell on Friday said he expected the case to continue, but Benjamin Riley, founder of Cognitive Resonance, a think tank that investigates AI in education, said the judges ruling suggests the familys chance of winning in a trial are slim. Riley, a former deputy attorney general for California, said the issue at the core of the case isnt the whiz-bang technology of AI its about a student who plagiarized and got caught. The judges decision explains at length and in detail how the school district had academic integrity policies in place, as well as a fair process for resolving any issues arising under them. Everyone in the district, he said, followed these rules and imposed an appropriate (and frankly light) punishment. As is often the case, few will see the diligent and quiet work of thoughtful educators at Hingham Public Schools, but I do and Im hoping they felt good when this decision came down. They should. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Related Is AI in Schools Promising or Overhyped? Potentially Both, New Reports Suggest Had the family not sued the district, Farrell said, it wouldnt have come to light that he had been treated differently than other students admitted to National Honor Society who had academic integrity infractions on their record. He also noted that the school admitted the student into the National Honor Society within a week of a hearing in the case last month. The timing of that action was not a coincidence. Hingham Public Schools did not respond immediately to a request for comment. (AP) A federal judge on Friday imposed a one-year reduction in a prison sentence for a man who stormed the U.S. Capitol and then engaged in a pattern of disruptive courtroom behavior, including berating and insulting the judge. Marc Bru from Vancouver, Washington complained about his prison conditions but refrained from hurling any more insults at Chief Judge James Boasberg, who resentenced him to five years in prison. Bru is one of the beneficiaries of a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that limited the governments use of a federal obstruction law. Bru, 44, joined the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol with fellow members of the Proud Boys extremist group. He grabbed a barricade and shoved it against police officers. He later joined other rioters inside the Capitol and entered the Senate gallery, where he flashed a hand gesture associated with the Proud Boys. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bru wasnt one of the most violent rioters at the Capitol, but his conduct after the Jan. 6, 2021, riot was the worst I think Ive seen of anyone, the judge said. In my 22 years as a judge, Ive never seen a defendant say the things he said at sentencing, Boasberg said. At his initial sentencing hearing in January, Bru repeatedly interrupted Boasberg and called him a clown and a fraud presiding over a kangaroo court. He referred to a prosecutor as despicable and repugnant. You can give me 100 years and Id do it all over again, said Bru, who has represented himself with an attorney on standby. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Friday, Bru initially deferred to his lawyer and declined to address the court before Boasberg announced his sentence. But he spoke up when the judge asked if he had any objections to his new sentence, a routine question at the end of sentencings. Bru, who has been incarcerated for 15 months in several different facilities, said his experience behind bars has been an eye-opener to the conditions and to the realities that lie within the walls. Putting me in that system longer, it is not that much of a deterrent, he said. It doesnt help. More than 1,500 people have been charged with crimes stemming from the Jan. 6 attack by a mob of Donald Trump supporters. President-elect Trump has vowed to pardon rioters, whom he has called patriots and hostages. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some rioters have cited Trumps campaign rhetoric in asking judges to pause their cases. Nobody mentioned the possibility of pardons during Brus resentencing. Boasberg convicted Bru of seven charges, including two felonies, after hearing trial testimony without a jury last year. Bru is one of a handful of Jan. 6 defendants to be resentenced after a Supreme Court ruling in June led to the dismissal of convictions on a felony obstruction charge. The high court ruled 6-3 that a charge of obstructing an official proceeding must include proof that a defendant tried to tamper with or destroy documents a distinction that applies to few Jan. 6 criminal cases. Vacating Brus obstruction conviction reduced his recommended range for a prison sentence from between 70 and 87 months to between 18 and 24 months. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Justice Department prosecutor Madison Mumma argued that Brus conduct during and after the riot still merits a six-year sentence. I dont think anything has changed, Mumma said. Prosecutors said Bru, a Washington state resident, planned for an armed insurrection a January 6 2.0 attack to take over the government in Portland, Oregon, several weeks after the Capitol riot. After his pretrial release, Bru was charged with separate drunken driving-related offenses in Idaho and Montana. He absconded before his trial, skipped two court hearings and defiantly boasted via Twitter that the government would have to come get him if it wanted him, according to prosecutors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bru represented himself at his bench trial but didnt present a defense. Instead, he repeatedly proclaimed that he refused to consent to the trial and showed nothing but contempt for the Court and the government, prosecutors wrote. Two days before his January sentencing hearing, Bru said he intended to command the U.S. Marshals Service to arrest Boasberg and a prosecutor for human trafficking, according to prosecutors. Nov. 22 (UPI) -- An Irish jury on Friday ordered mixed martial arts fighting star Conor McGregor to pay a woman who accused him of raping her six years ago nearly $259,000 in civil damages. NIkita Hand was awarded $258,996 from McGregor in a decision handed down by a High Court jury in Dublin as part of a civil assault case. Hand alleged McGregor raped her in a Dublin hotel on Dec. 9, 2018. "To all the victims of sexual assault, I hope my story is my reminder that no matter how afraid you might be, speak up, you have a voice and keep on fighting for justice," Hand told reporters outside the courtroom following the verdict. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I will be appealing today's decision," McGregor said in a social media post. "The judge's instruction and the modest award given was for assault, not for aggravated or exemplary damages." Hand alleges McGregor wouldn't take no for an answer during the incident. Her attorney John Gordon told the jury McGregor savagely and violently assaulted her. McGregor denies sexually assaulting Hand. In court Hand alleged she was raped in the Beacon Hotel as McGregor pinned her down and choked her three times. She had to have a tampon removed afterward by a doctor using forceps. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said she told McGregor she wouldn't have intercourse and mentioned wearing a tampon. McGregor claims there was no mention of the tampon. McGregor and a friend, James Lawrence, were partying the night of the alleged assault. The jury found Lawrence had not assaulted Hand through allegedly having sex with her without consent. Jussie Smollett's attorney said the actor was "harmed substantially" after he was found guilty of lying about a 2019 hate crime in an interview with "GMA3" following the overturning of his conviction. The Illinois Supreme Court threw out the former "Empire" actor's conviction in a decision on Thursday after concluding that the state's prosecution was unfair due to an agreement that initially dropped the charges. Smollett was first indicted on 16 felony counts of disorderly conduct for filing a false police report, though Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx agreed to drop the charges if he paid $10,000 and did community service. A special prosecutor later charged him again, leading to his trial and conviction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: The Jussie Smollett trial: Timeline of how this case ended up in court In its decision on Thursday, the court found that the state could not bring a second prosecution against Smollett after the initial charges were dismissed, and that reneging on the agreement "would be arbitrary, unreasonable, fundamentally unfair, and a violation of the defendant's due process rights." Tina Glandian, Smollett's attorney, told "GMA3" on Friday that they have been fighting the second prosecution from the start as "completely illegal." "It violates numerous constitutional provisions," she said. "We've raised this numerous, numerous times before, various courts. And finally yesterday, the Supreme Court of Illinois agreed with us and said the second prosecution was barred because there was an agreement in place and the state is bound to honor its word." PHOTO: In this Feb. 24, 2020, file photo, former 'Empire' actor Jussie Smollett arrives at court for his arraignment on renewed felony charges in Chicago. (Kamil Krzaczynski/Reuters, FILE) The case began after the openly gay actor told police he was attacked by two men while walking on a street near his Chicago apartment early on Jan. 29, 2019. The attackers allegedly shouted racist and homophobic slurs before hitting him, pouring "an unknown chemical substance" on him and wrapping a rope around his neck. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chicago police said Smollett's story of being the victim of an attack began to unravel when investigators tracked down two men, brothers Abimbola and Olabinjo Osundairo, who they said were seen in a security video near where Smollett claimed he was assaulted and around the same time it supposedly occurred. The Osundairo brothers told police the actor paid them $3,500 to help him orchestrate and stage the crime. A jury convicted Smollett in December 2021 on five of six felony counts of disorderly conduct stemming from filing a false police report and lying to police, who spent more than $130,000 investigating his allegations. Dan Webb, who was appointed by a Cook County judge to continue looking into the case after the Cook County State's Attorney's Office initially dropped all charges against the actor, said he was "disappointed" in the court's decision and noted that the ruling "has nothing to do with Mr. Smollett's innocence." "The Illinois Supreme Court did not find any error with the overwhelming evidence presented at trial that Mr. Smollett orchestrated a fake hate crime and reported it to the Chicago Police Department as a real hate crime, or the jury's unanimous verdict that Mr. Smollett was guilty of five counts of felony disorderly conduct," he said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: Jussie Smollett's conviction in hoax attack overturned by state supreme court Glandian said Smollett continues to maintain his innocence and has "vehemently denied" any participation in a hoax. "We do believe he didn't get a fair trial, that the jury didn't hear all the evidence that should have [been] heard, that things were improperly excluded, that the jury panel was not properly put together," she said. "The Supreme Court yesterday didn't get to that issue. They said legally this was invalid. It violated his due process and they, based on that, threw out the conviction. But we still maintain that he didn't receive a fair trial." In the wake of the case, she said Smollett has been releasing music and "continued to do what he does best." PHOTO: Tina Glandian, an attorney for Jussie Smollett, discusses the actor's conviction being overturned on 'GMA3,' Nov. 22, 2024. (ABC News) "I think hopefully, obviously this can only help matters because he was harmed substantially after everything that happened, and of course, the convictions and the sentence that was imposed," she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Webb said that despite the Illinois Supreme Court's decision, the city of Chicago is still able to pursue its pending civil lawsuit against Smollett in order to recoup the investigation costs. Glandian said she hopes the city "does the right thing" and dismisses that case. "He's incurred substantial legal fees. He spent six days in jail, all of which now has been said by the highest court in Illinois was completely unconstitutional," Glandian said. "So for the city now to further proceed, we'll see what they do. But hopefully they dismiss that case immediately." Jussie Smollett's attorney says actor was 'harmed substantially' by conviction originally appeared on abcnews.go.com In late October, the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women issued a landmark ruling, declaring that Perus program of forced sterilization in the 1990s could be considered a crime against humanity and urging the country to compensate the victims. While the committees decision is nonbinding, it could prompt action in Peru to provide compensation to the victims, estimated to comprise more than 300,000 women, and catalyze more legal appeals by survivors of similar state-sponsored forced sterilization programs. While the U.N.decision could well be a turning point for how the international community approaches instances of forced sterilizationdefined as the involuntary or coerced removal of a persons ability to reproduceprevious efforts to compensate and recognize survivors have faced daunting hurdles. Examining the trajectories of these other attempts to remedy the injustice of forced sterilization programs suggests that the U.N. committees decision will merely be the first step in a long and difficult process of securing justice for Peruvian victims of forced sterilization. What Happened in Peru? Perus program of forced sterilization began in 1996 under then-President Alberto Fujimori.Its roots lay in the governments efforts to reduce poverty in the countryseen as a major policy concern and a contributing factor to anti-government sentiment fueling groups like the far-left Shining Path insurgencythrough the countrys National Population Program.Over the course of four years, the program forcibly sterilized an estimated 25,000 men and 300,000 women, disproportionately targeting Indigenous, rural and impoverished women. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To get more in-depth news and expert analysis on global affairs from WPR, sign up for our free Daily Review newsletter. Though Fujimori claimed that the sterilizations were consensual, the stories that emerged from the campaign for restitution and justice make it clear that many of them were forced or coerced. Consider the experience of Rudecinda Quilla. When she was trying to get a birth certificate for her fourth child, doctors said that she would have to undergo tubal ligation in exchange for the document. She refused, but was eventually forced onto a hospital bed, her hands and feet tied while she was injected with an anaesthetic. When she woke up hours later, she had been sterilised and staff told her that she would never breed like an animal again. Quillas experience is just one of many of the heart-wrenching accounts of how the Peruvian government robbed women of their reproductive autonomy. Where Else Has This Happened? Peru is far from the only country to have pursued a program of forced sterilization. Similar programs were run by Nazi Germany as well as state-level governments in Canada and the U.S., among others, at various points in their respective histories. In Nazi Germany, for example, an estimated 400,000 people or more were forcibly sterilized. In line with Nazi ideology, those targeted included the mentally ill, the mentally disabled, the deaf, persons with tuberculosis, homosexuals, gypsies, and, of course, Jews. In 1929, the Canadian province of Alberta passed a eugenic sterilization law under which nearly 3,000 people were forcibly sterilized in the following decades. By 1930, nearly 30 states in the U.S. had adopted laws allowing the sterilization of people who were institutionalized. As eugenicist ideas evolved in the U.S., the demographic profiles of who was targeted for forced or coerced sterilization shifted. In the 1960s and 1970s, thousands of Native American women were forcibly sterilized; there is compelling evidence that Mexican and Black women were also targeted with forced or coerced sterilization through state-run programs. Programs of forced sterilization continued in parts of the U.S., even after the laws permitting them were repealed. California is an illustrative example for understanding how eugenics-infused politics drove forced sterilizations at the hands of the state. According to Amy Littlefield,a third of all people sterilized under U.S. eugenics programs lived in California, with immigrants and people of color disproportionately targeted under the states forced sterilization program. Though California repealed its state-level eugenics law in 1979, forced or coerced sterilizations continued to be performed on people in custody at state prisons or other correctional facilities under the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. The Center for Investigative Reporting found that at least 148 people in California prisons underwent tubal litigations between 2006-2010 in the absence of state-required approvals and decades after California repealed the law that had previously undergirded the program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These programs have often been justified as being for the good of the country and even for the benefit of those who are subjected to the nonconsensual medical procedures. But across time and geography, racist, eugenicist and patriarchal logics have been at the heart of forced sterilization programs, the objective of which was to exert control over who could give birth for the purpose of creating a more desirable gene pool. Previous Efforts at Justice In recent years, civil society organizations and social justice advocates have sought justice for those who were victimized by these programs. In the mid-1990s, a Canadian woman took the government of Alberta to court for involuntarily sterilizing her in 1959. Her petition snowballed into a class-action lawsuit through which 850 people were eventually awarded $142 million Canadian dollars in damages. In 2022,California launched a program to compensate those who had been involuntarily sterilized by the state. This outreach included creating a California Victims Compensation Board to manage the process. According the 19th News website, in 2023, California began a marketing campaign leaning on social media posts and advertising on TV, radio and the internet. The victims compensation board has also emailed information about the program to organizations that might work with people who could qualify. Despite this outreach, the uptake has been lackluster. Inadequate record-keeping and the passage of time has made it difficult to verify whether applicants qualify for compensation. One of the women who successfully proved that she did qualify underscored the inadequacy of the programs financial compensation, telling reporters, No amount of money, I think, can take away the hurt or the feeling of loss. Im grateful, but it dont fix what happened. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Similar issues accompanied North Carolinas efforts to compensate victims of its forced sterilization program, in which more than 7,000 people were subjected to involuntary or coerced sterilization. In 2008, the state legislature established a committee to devise a plan. Its final report recommended $20,000 be paid to each living victim, alongside a series of symbolic efforts, including incorporating this chapter of the states history into public school curricula and erecting a historical marker recognizing the victims. But the state legislature voted against approving the recommended reparation amount. In 2009, however, the state budget didallocate $250,000 for the Office of Justice for Sterilization Victims, allowing the process of identifying and compensating victims to begin in earnest. In 2010, the state estimated that just under 3,000 victims might still be alive. That figure was later revised downward to between 1,500-2,000. According to academics Sarah Brightman, Emily Lenning and Karen McElrath, The state used multiple strategies to locate living victims, including a media campaign, a telephone hotline, a designated website and the clearinghouse that served as contact point for assisting victims with claims. Yet after 18 months, just 111 victims had been verified by the state, a small minority of those presumed to be alive and a vanishingly small fraction of the estimated total victims. There are a variety of reasons why it was difficult for North Carolinas dedicated agency to effectively reach out to victims. These hurdles include low trust in the state, limited reach of the media campaign to raise awareness of the program, the threat of stigma from being public identified as having been forcibly sterilized, and difficulties providing documentation for a medical procedure that took place decades earlier. There were also disagreements between state officials and victims about what constituted appropriate compensation. Lessons Learned From Past Efforts to Secure Justice The U.N. committees recent decision could pave the way for a measure of justice for Peruvian women who were subjected to forced sterilization at the hands of the government. However, previous efforts to compensate victims of state-run forced sterilization programs reveal that there are formidable logistical and social hurdles still to come. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If the Peruvian government abides by the committees recommendation to compensate victims, the body charged with this process will have to cultivate enough trust among affected communities to identify possible victims. Furthermore, it will have to verify claims of forced sterilization that took place 30 years ago. Additionally, the organization will have to find a way to ameliorate any stigma that might be associated with victims coming forward and identifying themselves. Finally, the program will have to engage forthrightly and compassionately with victims about how financial compensation fits in with the broader program of restitution and justice. Reparations will not repair the harm done by this program, but too small a sum could compound the frustration and lack of trust in the government already felt by victims. In addition to efforts to address past injustices, we must remain attentive to instances of ongoing programs of forced sterilization as well as new ones, as the conditions that fuel eugenic-driven forced sterilization programs are still at play. Consider, for example, the accusations that China is forcibly sterilizing Uyghur women with more than three children, or the reports of forced sterilization of Roma women in the Czech Republic. Or consider the accounts from Uzbek women who claim that they were involuntarily sterilized as a part of the countrys population control efforts. At the same time that we are looking to provide a measure of justice to victims, we need to be cognizant of new programs that impede on reproductive freedom. Hilary Matfess is an assistant professor at the University of Denvers Josef Korbel School of International Studies. She is also a Council on Foreign Relations term fellow, a research fellow at the Research on International Policy Implementation Lab and a nonresident senior associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Africa Program. In Love and at War is her second book. The post Justice for Perus Forced Sterilization Victims Still Faces Many Obstacles appeared first on World Politics Review. West Virginia Children's Home, a residential facility in Elkins, W.Va., for foster children, will be closed by the state by the end of the year. The home serves youth ages 12 to 18 who cant be in traditional foster homes due to behavior issues. (Courtesy photo) In 2022, Gov. Jim Justice and the former state health department leader announced a childrens crisis center would come to Elkins, West Virginia. Too many kids experiencing mental health issues were sleeping in emergency rooms because the state had nowhere to put them. Other kids who needed help ended up in hotel rooms. Weve got a plan that will really help our kids and help a lot of kids who are at risk and that really need the help and need it right now, Justice said during the announcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The crisis center never materialized. Last week, the Department of Human Services announced that the West Virginia Childrens Home, which was supposed to house the center, will shut down by the end of the year. It currently is used for foster children. Weve been exploring over the last few years of what a crisis center may look like and how it would be operationalized, but the facility has never been utilized as a crisis center, said Cammie Chapman, DoHS deputy secretary of children and adult services, during a governors press conference on Nov. 19. Senate Finance Chairman Eric Tarr, R-Putnam, said he didnt believe the Legislature had made any ear-marked appropriation to the facility to make it a crisis center. Judge David Wilmoth Randolph County Circuit Judge David Wilmoth, whose cases include children in need of placements, said the West Virginia Childrens home was valuable for juveniles who had nowhere else to go, who would otherwise fall for the cracks. He knew there was a plan to build a crisis center. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement West Virginia does need crisis shelters. It is very difficult to find a place to house juveniles who cant remain home for a variety of reasons, he said. Currently, these children are housed in hotels with child protective services employees or youth service workers required to remain with them around the clock. The cost of this could be better spent on facilities strategically placed throughout the state. The closure of the Childrens Home along with the never-developed crisis center exacerbates two ongoing problems in West Virginia child welfare: a lack of in-state group homes and an acute need for kids mental health care that could help prevent kids from entering the overburdened system. DoHS has tried to improve community-based and crisis services for children, but shortfalls persist. We are still seeing kids in the emergency room, and it is still a problem getting placements once theyre there, said Jim Kaufman, president of the West Virginia Hospital Association. Lawmaker requests answers about centers closure The state doesnt have enough foster families, leading to a reliance on group care for kids. Some children with behavioral challenges need residential care, but there arent enough beds. Katrina Harmon, executive director for the West Virginia Child Care Association, said the closure of the Childrens Home, which has 25 beds, was detrimental. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Further reduction of in-state residential treatment beds will only result in an increase of the states current reliance on out-of-state treatment facilities, and completely inappropriate temporary housing options such as hotels and juvenile detention facilities, she said. A news release from DoHS said the West Virginia Childrens Home needs $7.2 million in deferred maintenance and security measures. Theyre relocating current residents in appropriate, supportive environments that align with their individual needs. The building is falling all to pieces. Its just the right and smart thing to do, Justice said. The facility currently operates at an annual cost of $1.7 million due to its continuous 24/7 operation, according to DoHS. The state department of education operated a school on its grounds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wilmoth said that some children preferred a placement like the childrens home that allowed residents to access education and prepare for a successful life as adults. This facility allows children to remain in-state and close to their families, in a community setting while they receive services, education and treatment, he said. Del. Amy Summers, R-Taylor Del. Amy Summers is co-chair of the Legislative Oversight Commission on Health and Human Resources Accountability. She has requested that DoHS leadership appear before lawmakers in December to hear their plans for where children in need of care will go now that the facility is unavailable. The DoHS and the courts have an issue with child placements, so I hope they have a plan with a private entity, said Summers, R-Taylor. We the state do not need to own a facility, but we better make sure we are doing everything we can to attract highly qualified and competent providers to the state. Del. Jonathan Pinson, R-Mason Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Del. Jonathan Pinson, R-Mason, a foster parent, said, We have a responsibility to make sure children in West Virginia have a safe and stable environment when being removed from their home I am deeply concerned about the closing of the West Virginia Childrens Home in Elkins at the end of the year. Wilmoth said it was a complicated situation that requires the cooperation of many agencies and branches of state government to properly address. I have had the opportunity to meet with a number of state representatives about this problem since 2019. Unfortunately, those meetings did not result in solutions that could address the problems outlined above or support the continuing need for the West Virginia Childrens Home, he said. State short on in-state group homes, kids mental health services Del. Adam Burkhammer, R-Lewis Del. Adam Burkhammer, R-Lewis, a foster parent, said having an adequate number of safe placements was critical to a well-functioning child welfare system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We cant remove kids for safety concerns, but in turn, have no suitable place to take them This includes an abundance of safe and loving foster homes and high quality residential facilities for when that type of care is needed, he said. Out of the 6,135 children in state foster care, DoHS data showed 149 are in emergency shelters, 138 are in psychiatric hospitals and 708 are in group residential care. More than half of the children in group homes reside out of state, and a sweeping foster care lawsuit has accused the state of sending kids to unsafe out-of-state facilities. DoHS announced last year that theyre trying to bring more kids back in-state for care, but the shortage of in-state beds is still an issue. Harmon said a workforce crisis, liability insurance costs and payment reimbursement delays with DoHS were some of the barriers for West Virginia providers to expand care. She said it was vital that DoHS work with private providers to improve the system and adequately invest in robust community-based and foster care services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kaufman said DoHS has been working to improve its community-based mental health care for kids, which includes a mobile crisis unit. He noted that a nationwide shortage of pediatric mental health care providers is a challenge. I give the state a lot of credit because theyre trying to figure out, How do we strengthen the system and how do we better use the community systems to prevent kids from needing a crisis bed or the emergency room? he said. Jim McKay, state coordinator for Prevent Child Abuse West Virginia, said improving mental health care access was key to preventing more families from entering the foster care system. When families cant access behavioral health services, they are left to face struggles on their own, he explained. This can lead to situations where kids end up in foster care not because their parents dont care, but because they dont have the help they need to meet their childrens needs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He continued, By investing in prevention services, mental and behavioral health support, and counseling, we can help children and their families navigate these challenges and hopefully avoid crises altogether. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE VANDALIA, Ohio (WDTN) Three juveniles have been taken into police custody after being alleged of multiple charges stemming from car thefts. The Vandalia Police Department said on Facebook Thursday that their department, alongside a local task force, have been investigating residents concerns over the thefts. Troy man pleads guilty to having unregistered destructive devices Through the investigation, crews obtained confessions related to multiple car thefts in Vandalia and other communities nearby. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This investigation is ongoing, but we expect other cases to be solved soon, the post reads. Residents are asked to call the Vandalia Police Department at 937-898-5868 or 911 if its an emergency. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com. [Source] Despite losing the 2024 presidential election, Vice President Kamala Harris remains the top choice among Democratic voters for the partys 2028 presidential nomination, according to a new poll by Puck News/Echelon Insights. The survey, conducted from Nov. 14 to 18, found that 41% of likely Democratic voters would support Harris, far ahead of California Gov. Gavin Newsom at 8% and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro at 7%. Harris 2024 running mate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg tied at 6%, while other potential candidates, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker garnered lower support. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harris, who secured 226 Electoral College votes to Donald Trumps 312, addressed her loss at Howard University, urging supporters to respect the results and vowing that the light of Americas promise will always burn bright. Meanwhile, Vice President-elect J.D. Vance leads the Republican field for 2028 with 37% support, well ahead of former candidates Nikki Haley and Vivek Ramaswamy at 9% each. The poll reflects strong voter interest in Harris despite uncertainty over whether she will seek another political bid. Trending on NextShark: US indicts Asias 4th richest man in $250 million bribery scheme Download the NextShark App: Want to keep up to date on Asian American News? Download the NextShark App today! NEMAHA COUNTY (KSNT) A Kansas Democrat has apologized and removed a controversial social media comment, which read, Did you kill Trump for me? The Kansas Democratic Party confirmed the comment by JoLene Bloom, the chairwoman of the Kansas Democratic Party in Nemaha County. The states party chair said Bloom was dealt with internally for making remarks about killing President-Elect Donald Trump. Bloom made the comment on a social media post a Nemaha County resident made about a recent pheasant hunting trip. No such verbiage is appropriate we dont condone that, we in fact condemn any such language in any form, Jeanaa Repass, the state chair of the Democratic Party, told 27 News. She has taken the post down, she has been dealt with internally and advised that any rhetoric is not acceptable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rate hike listed as biggest driver of Evergy earnings 27 News contacted Bloom by email and phone. She had not responded by the time of this publication. For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News. JOPLIN, Mo. A federal judge in Kansas tells the City of Joplin it has no jurisdiction over a JPD case file containing the name of the sniper who killed a toddler in a hostage stand-off in 2022. A year ago, a public records request was made to obtain the official unredacted police report in JPDs possession about the hostage incident that caused the death of two-year-old Clesslyn Crawford. The Joplin police officer, who fired the fatal shot, is fighting to remain anonymous. Clesslyn Crawford Currently known only as Sniper One, the officer filed a lawsuit in Jasper County asking a judge to prevent the City of Joplin from releasing that unredacted report, which contains his full name. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The issue is whether an order preventing the release of the investigative file in federal court extends to the copy of the report JPD received. Clesslyns paternal grandmother filed a wrongful death lawsuit in Kansas federal court. The City of Joplin, the City of Baxter Springs, and Cherokee County were all named in the civil suit. That case was settled with the parties agreeing to pay a total of $1.5 million. Joplin paid $1.4 million, while Baxter Springs and Cherokee County each paid $50,000. The judge in that case restricted the release of the report by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. He ordered the parties that were given the report to destroy their copies by August 31, 2023, and ordered them not to release it. That case was then closed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After that case was settled, and Cherokee County prosecutor Kurt Benecke said he was not filing criminal charges against the JPD sniper, Interim Joplin Police Chief Brian Lewis requested a copy of the report for an internal investigation. A Freedom of Information Act request was filed for the unredacted report JPD was given. Joplins city attorney then notified Sniper One the city was going to release it. Thats when Sniper One filed a Petition for Injunctive Relief. Essentially, asking a judge to prevent the city from releasing the unredacted report with his name in it. Joplin sought to reopen the federal case in Kansas to get a ruling as to whether the report JPD was given, fell under the judges protective order in the federal case. The KBI opposed the reopening of the federal case and the judge agreed. Both parties say JPD received its copy of the report well after the Kansas case was closed and for a different reason, therefore it was not covered or protected by the Kansas case. The judge then denied the request to reopen the case. In his petition, the officer says releasing his name poses a danger to his, and possibly, his familys safety. He says social media posts offering a reward for his identity indicate potential danger and the need for anonymity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Jasper County case has remained in limbo pending the ruling in the Kansas case. Parties now expect the Jasper County case to move forward. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com. The high-powered defense for Karen Read is bolstering its lineup of attorneys as they prepare for a new murder trial over the death of her Boston police officer boyfriend. Sale of Karen Reads Mansfield home closes as 2nd trial nears A new motion filed in Norfolk Superior Court indicates the Yannetti Criminal Defense Law Firm has asked to add Robert Alessi, a partner at the New York-based firm DLA Piper, to Reads group of legal representation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read has requested that Mr. Alessi be associated in as counsel of record, the motion reads. Alessi has specialized skill and knowledge in representing defendants in matters of this nature. Alessi serves as the Global Vice Chair of DLA Pipers Energy Sector and is regularly called upon by Fortune 100 domestic and international clients to handle their most significant energy, environmental, and financial services matters, according to the firms website. Motion for new attorney added to Karen Read team by Fox Boston Staff on Scribd David Yannetti, Alan Jackson, and Elizabeth Little also serve on Reads legal team. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A recent Vanity Fair interview revealed that Read is currently living off the remains of her 401 (k) and owes more than $5 million in deferred legal fees. The SJC is currently determining if jurors who sat through Reads first trial for the death of John OKeefe will be questioned about their deliberations. The SJC will issue a written decision that could take four months before it is published. Reads lawyers have been fighting to dismiss her second-degree murder and leaving the scene of a deadly crash charge for double jeopardy reasons. Double jeopardy is a legal protection that prohibits anyone from being prosecuted twice for the same crime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read is accused of killing OKeefe by striking him with her SUV and leaving him to die in a snowstorm in Canton in January 2022 after a night of drinking. Morrisseys office opposes Reads bid to get the charges dropped and argues that Superior Court Judge Beverly Cannone was correct when she ruled all of Reads charges should remain for her retrial. Read is hopeful to avoid a retrial that Judge Beverly Cannone tentatively scheduled for January 2025. Her first trial ended with a hung jury in July. Karen Read adds new NY based lawyer to her defense team according to court filing. pic.twitter.com/c1yErJNAqZ Ted Daniel (@TedDanielnews) November 22, 2024 For the latest happenings in the Read case, click here. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW NEW MEXICO (KRQE) For the first time in more than four years, visitors stepped foot in the Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument on Thursday. The monument is home to cone-shaped tent rock formations that came from volcanic eruptions that occurred 6 to 7 million years ago. This is my first time here, and Ive been waiting for it to reopen and really thought it would never reopen. And its been an extraordinary walk up through this canyon and up to the top of the plateau. Its absolutely beautiful. Its actually beyond my expectations, said Steve Rudy from Santa Fe. Story continues below Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The monument has been closed since the pandemic, with officials citing COVID-19 and overvisitation as reasons for the closure. So initially, with the resource management plan for this area, we had estimated about 50,000 visitors annually. And by the time we had closed due to COVID, that had nearly tripled, said Jamie Garcia, public affairs specialist for the Albuquerque District Bureau of Land Management. Due to overvisitation, Garcia said the monument experienced accelerated erosion, overcrowding on the trials, and long lines to enter. To address some of the issues, BLM and Cochiti Pueblo launched a new online reservation system that would limit the number of visitors. Guests now have to purchase a BLM ticket and an access pass to the pueblo to visit on a specific day. When they arrive at the monument for their visit day, they will start at the [pueblo] visitor center, check in there, and they will follow a pilot car into the monument. And the rangers at the entry booth will then scan their recreation.gov pass, and they will be on their way to go, Garcia explained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People were able to book tickets on Nov. 12, and as of Nov. 21, they are already sold out for the remaining part of the year. Rudy and another visitor, Ken Miller, said they got their tickets as soon as they opened up to the public to purchase Ive lived all my life here, and Ive never come up here. And Ive heard about it, but I never knew where it was. So now that its open, its kind of an interesting place to at least check off on my bucket list of places to go and see, said Miller. Miller also expressed his excitement to see one of the two places on earth where the cone-shaped tent rock formations, also known as hoodoos or fairy chimneys, are found. The others are located in Cappadocia, Turkey. So the tent rocks that you see are those cones. The cap rock above is like a little hat. Think of it like a rain hat, and it protects the body of the cone underneath. Wind and water erosion over many, many, many, many years have eroded those away, and that hat has protected that pillar underneath, Garcia explained. The rock formations vary in height from a few feet up to 90 feet. One of the ways visitors can view them is by walking through a slot canyon in the monument. The Slot Canyon is one of the most beautiful places Ive seen in the U.S. and Ive been toI dont know how many national parksand Ive been to all 50 states, and the next mile up this trail is one of the most beautiful places in the U.S., I think, Rudy explained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you are interested in visiting Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument, Garcia said more tickets for the monument will become available at the start of 2025. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. This is a developing story. ABC4 will update this post as new information becomes available. KAYSVILLE, Utah (ABC4) An individual with outstanding warrants has caused a neighborhood in Kaysville to shelter in place as police negotiate with the person. According to Kaysville Police, police were called to the vicinity of Lincolnshire and Crestmont Way to investigate a domestic violence case where it was discovered that the suspect was preventing family members from leaving the residence and had outstanding warrants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 3 Utah children missing since 2022 found living with FLDS Church, returned to mother Police say it was determined that the suspect was refusing to leave the home and was in violation of an active protective order. Kaysville Police responded to the location in an attempt to make contact with the suspect, all efforts to this point have been unsuccessful. Kaysville Police have requested assistance from the South Davis Metro SWAT Team. The family has been safely removed from the home. Efforts to contact the suspect are still ongoing. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has instructed the government and security forces to take urgent measures to ensure the security of military and civilian targets following Russian leader Vladimir Putin's threatening statement about a strike on Ukraine with an Oreshnik medium-range missile. Source: Tokayev's spokesman Berik Uali on Facebook Quote: "President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has instructed the prime minister, head of the presidential administration, chiefs of all security agencies and akims [heads of local government] to take urgent measures to ensure the security of major military and civilian facilities in connection with the escalation of the situation around Ukraine." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: Uali said the situation in Kazakhstan is under the president's personal control. "The main strategic goal for our state is to maintain stability, peace, and law and order. Kazakhstan has repeatedly advocated for ending hostilities between the two Slavic peoples through negotiations," Tokayev's spokesman wrote. Previously: On the evening of 21 November, Russian leader Vladimir Putin reported that Russian forces had used an Oreshnik medium-range missile during the attack on Dnipro that morning. He claimed that Ukraine's use of Western-supplied long-range weapons to strike Russian territory had given the war "elements of a global nature". He also issued threats against countries authorising such attacks on Russia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reacted to Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin's statement about the use of an Oreshnik medium-range missile on Ukrainian territory, noting that this is a clear and serious increase in the scale and brutality of this war and a cynical violation of the UN Charter by Russia. Support UP or become our patron! Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is enlisting associates with close ties to anti-vaccine organizations to help vet and interview candidates for senior roles at the Department of Health and Human Services, even as he publicly seeks to distance himself from the movement he once led. At least three informal advisers connected to the anti-vaccine movement are assisting Kennedy in filling out his staff as he prepares to lead HHS, according to five people familiar with the matter and documents obtained by POLITICO highlighting Kennedys continuing close association with the movement and its potential influence within the nations leading health agency if hes confirmed as secretary. A spokesperson for President-elect Donald Trumps transition stressed to POLITICO that many different groups across the ideological spectrum are offering input on personnel and said there is no guarantee that anyone the Kennedy allies are interviewing will be hired. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr. Kennedy is soliciting resumes from a wide spectrum of individuals to submit into the formalized process that President Trump has set up to staff his administration, the spokesperson said. Mr. Kennedy serves at the pleasure of the President, and all appointees will be thoroughly vetted, hired and offered jobs by President Trump. Yet the involvement of anti-vaccine activists could further complicate Kennedys efforts to allay concerns about his vaccine views and win Senate confirmation. In an email obtained by POLITICO, Kennedy ally Kim Haine reached out to a prospective candidate to set up an interview for a top HHS job, identifying herself as part of the [Make America Healthy Again] transition team. Haine is the president of the Hawaii chapter of Childrens Health Defense, a leading anti-vaccine group that Kennedy chaired until he resigned in 2023 to run for president. She also led the effort to get Kennedy on the Hawaii ballot earlier this year. Our transition team would like to gauge your interest in helping advance our MAHA initiatives, she wrote to one candidate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Haine did not respond to questions about her role. The team that Kennedy is relying on to help vet resumes for incoming HHS staff, conduct interviews and offer advice also includes Del Bigtree, a prominent anti-vaccine figure who runs the nonprofit Informed Consent Action Network. And Aaron Siri, a vaccine injury attorney whose law firm has done millions of dollars of legal work for Bigtrees ICAN, has been deeply involved in the vetting process as well, according to three people familiar with the matter. Siri specialized in challenging Covid vaccine mandates at schools and workplaces during the pandemic, and has also served as Kennedy's personal attorney. One public health leader familiar with the process, granted anonymity due to fear of retaliation from the new administration, called the transitions reliance on Childrens Health Defense employees for vetting work disturbing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It appears that a litmus test is being applied to candidates on one issue: vaccine skepticism, he said. It is deeply concerning that a nonprofit organization concerned about one issue is involved with vetting candidates that will work on deeply complex matters spanning the public health field and huge sprawling agencies. Kennedy has assembled this kitchen cabinet at the same time he is working to publicly downplay his history of vaccine denial. The former Democrat and environmental leader has previously suggested vaccines cause autism and once called the Covid shot the "deadliest vaccine ever made," but earlier this month denied that he's anti-vaccine and said he would not try to take vaccines away from people as part of the Trump administration. "Im going to make sure scientific safety studies and efficacy are out there, and people can make individual assessments about whether that product is going to be good for them," he told NBC News shortly after Trump's election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since Trump tapped him to lead HHS, Kennedy has run his own ad-hoc operation within the broader Trump transition, the people said, relying on advisers and allies to sift through resumes and help with interviews before submitting his recommendations to senior Trump officials. Others, like former campaign manager Amaryllis Fox Kennedy, who is also his daughter-in-law, have been helping with logistical work and managing input from a range of outside sources. That operation, which Kennedy has managed in part out of his home in California, also includes alumni from his failed presidential campaign, such as Fox Kennedy and former press secretary Stefanie Spear, as well as other friends and associates. Bigtree served as the Kennedy campaigns communications director. Siblings Calley and Casey Means, wellness influencers who have worked with Kennedy on his Make America Healthy Again movement, are also close advisers. Kennedy has sought to exercise broad influence over the personnel hires for both HHS and other agencies, though the selection process remains a freewheeling and often chaotic endeavor that Trump is liable to upend at any moment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kennedy and his allies fought efforts from advisers elsewhere in the transition to install former first-term Trump HHS deputy chief of staff Paul Mango at the office overseeing Medicare and Medicaid. Trump then abruptly named celebrity physician Mehmet Oz to lead the massive agency that oversees health coverage for more than 150 million Americans. The transition has yet to officially fill several other top health jobs, including the heads of the Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, though Kennedy allies are seen as frontrunners for those roles. Trump's team has further added to the unstructured culture ruling the process of staffing the new administration by rejecting, for now, federal transition resources, including the use of FBI background checks. Instead, they have set up a sprawling private vetting process for Cabinet nominees and lower-level agency positions. Their refusal so far to sign ethics and transparency agreements with the White House, Justice Department and General Services Administration also means they do not have to disclose who is funding their work, raising concerns from watchdog groups and former government officials about conflicts of interest. Daniel Payne contributed to this report. A top Senate Democrat on Friday objected on his partys behalf to President-elect Donald Trumps selection of Pam Bondi, Trumps onetime personal attorney, as his nominee for attorney general. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said Friday hes aware of serious questions about Bondis past conduct, and is worried about Trumps team nominating her before shes gone through the customary FBI background check. Trump announced Thursday that Bondi the former attorney general of Florida, and a lawyer who helped defend Trump during his first impeachment trial would replace former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz as his pick to lead the Department of Justice. Gaetz, who was under a House Ethics Committee investigation for sex trafficking and illicit drug use until his abrupt resignation from Congress, withdrew his nomination earlier on Thursday as scrutiny around him mounted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the controversial announcement and awkward withdrawal of Matt Gaetz, the Senate and the Senate Judiciary Committee should insist that President-elect Trump, like prior Presidents-elect of both parties, follow the rules, Durbin continued, noting the lack of a formal background check on Bondi. Bondi has been under fierce scrutiny for taking a $25,000 check from the Trump Foundation around the same time that Florida was considering joining an investigation into alleged fraud at the since-shuttered Trump University. She ultimately declined to join the probe, and both she and Trump have denied that the payment was a quid pro quo. In September 2016, just ahead of Trumps first presidential victory, the IRS determined that his donation to Bondis political action committee violated laws banning political contributions from nonprofit organizations. Trump was ordered to pay a fine. Bondi has also worked as a lobbyist for the government of Qatar and several private American companies, including General Motors, Uber and Amazon. Related... (Bloomberg) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said past talks with the US merely confirmed Washingtons unchangeable hostility toward Pyongyang, in comments delivered at an arms exhibition showing off the countrys latest missiles designed to hit the US mainland. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have already gone as far as we could through negotiations with the US, and what we have confirmed at the end was not the willingness of a superpower to coexist but its uncompromising stance of strength and its unchangeable invasive and hostile North Korea policy, Kim said in a speech according to a state media released Friday. Photos released by the Korean Central News Agency showed Kim speaking on podium, flanked by Pyongyangs latest intercontinental ballistic missiles. North Koreas most recent ICBM test in October set a fresh flight time record, just days before the US presidential election. Kims comments come amid speculation that Donald Trumps election victory may lead to another change in tack in the US on dealing with Pyongyang. The president-elect repeatedly touted a very good relationship with Kim while on the campaign trail. During his first term as president, Trump flew halfway around the world for summit meetings with Kim, betting that his personal diplomacy could overcome sticking points both sides have known about for years in a sharp change of approach. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump scaled back major joint drills with South Korea as he tried to negotiate directly with Kim, while Pyongyang briefly halted its missile testing. But the collapse of talks at a second summit in Hanoi exposed just how far apart the adversaries remained, even after the face-to-face meetings. Trump balked at partial concessions and Kim refused to simply walk away from his nuclear program something the regime has resisted for decades. Under Kims leadership, North Korea has instead accelerated its development of missiles and nuclear weapons, and ratcheted up aggressive rhetoric against South Korea. The latest remarks suggest Kim has no interest at this point in any potential renewal of direct diplomacy with Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The geopolitical environment has also moved on since the two leaders last met with Pyongyang feeling more emboldened after recent support from Moscow. Kim has emerged as a critical ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin and his war in Ukraine. North Korea has so far sent more than 10,000 troops to fight alongside Putins army in Russias Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces have occupied part of the border territory since a surprise incursion in August. The growing ties between Pyongyang and Moscow have raised fears about North Koreas ability to strengthen its military and sustain its regime with Russian backing. We will continue to take decisive action to eliminate all military threats to the country and people, Kim said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement (Adds background on previous Trump-Kim talks in paragraphs 5-6) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. A member of the Arizona Department of Transportation's Incident Response Unit helped a woman rescue a kitten on Interstate 10 in Phoenix. ADOT employee and animal lover Rich Dimaio was driving on the I-10 in west Phoenix on Nov. 6 when he noticed a woman on the side of the road trying to catch a kitten. He pulled over to help the woman. The woman was able to capture the kitten and wrap him in a towel, ADOT said in a news release. She told Dimaio the kitten was thrown out of the window of the car in front of her. The kitten hit the front of the woman's car and suffered minor injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to ADOT, Dimaio took the kitten to the Arizona Humane Society where he was cared for and named Martin. After two weeks, Martin was doing well and ready to be adopted as a working cat. The Arizona Humane Society has a working cats program for cats deemed unsuitable for indoor living but still in need of a forever home. Cats adopted through this program are often adopted by people with barns or warehouses wanting a furry friend to help with pests. Dimaio is no stranger to rescuing animals from Phoenix freeways. Earlier this year, a 4-year-old female German shepherd was darting in and out of traffic on the I-17 during the morning rush hour, according to ADOT. ADOT said Dimaio, with the help of a trooper from the Department of Public Safety, used a breakfast sandwich to lure the dog to safety. Dimaio took her to Maricopa County Animal Care and Control with the promise of adopting her if she wasn't claimed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The dog, now named Freya, was adopted by Dimaio and his family. ADOT urged people unable or unwilling to care for an animal to never throw it out of the window of a moving car. AHS referenced a similar incident in 2019 when a kitten was thrown out of a car window on the US 60 in Mesa. Luckily, a good Samaritan rescued the cat and got the attention of a DPS trooper who took the kitten to an animal hospital for treatment before being put up for adoption. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Kitten thrown out of car onto I-10 in Phoenix up for adoption Speaking out against hate isnt optional in the mind of Eunice Trotter. Trotter, the director of Indiana Landmarks Black Heritage Preservation Program, is among those who have shared their concerns about the distribution of Ku Klux Klan flyers found this week in Carmel, Fishers and Westfield as well as in Northern Indiana. These types of behaviors should not be ignored, said Trotter, a 6th generation Hoosier, whose family has lived in Indiana since the late 1700s. This should be aggressively, publicly and vocally condemned by our leadership. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The flyers encourage the tracking and reporting of immigrants, and they include contact information for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and a chapter of the KKK in Kentucky. But while people have shared their outrage on social media, local police say they are having difficulties identifying a law that was broken in the flyer distribution. More: Trump vows to declare national emergency, use military for mass deportations Meanwhile the flyers are causing distress for some Hamilton County residents. A naturalized citizen, who lives in the county, said her neighbor found some of the flyers on the street Monday morning. I understand we have very cemented legal status, but its terrifying still," said the woman, who IndyStar is not identifying, because she is concerned she could be targeted, despite her legal immigration status. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement National groups have also weighed in on the distribution of the flyers, including the Council on American-Islamic Relations, which is the largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization in the U.S. All Americans, and particularly our nations leaders, have a duty to push back against the promotion of hate-filled ideologies we are witnessing nationwide, said Ibrahim Hooper, who is a spokesperson for the organization. "Minority communities feel increasingly vulnerable to the discrimination, and even violence, which inevitably results from such bigotry." What are police doing about the flyers? The Carmel Police Department has identified the person responsible for distribution of the flyers and believes he lives in a different state, said deputy chief D.J. Schoeff, a spokesperson for the department. From what investigators can tell, the man is randomly placing the flyers and there is no indication that he is specifically targeting addresses or individuals, Schoeff said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although this action is deplorable and certainly not reflective of our wonderful community, in consulting with the Hamilton County Prosecutor's Office, we have determined that the random distribution of the flyers does not rise to the level of a crime, Schoeff said via email. We will continue to consult with the prosecutors office if any action rises to a level of a criminal act. More Hamilton County news: Carmel police use a drone as first responder. How does it impact public safety, privacy? The Carmel Police Department is committed to defending the safety of all citizens and condemns all hate speech or actions, Schoeff added. The department has no reason to believe there is a danger to the community but is asking residents to be vigilant. Officials in Fishers and Westfield also confirmed the flyers were found in their cities and that investigations were ongoing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Community leaders have had to decide between ignoring the flyers, as to not give the hate group any more attention, versus making public statements condemning them. Every instinct in me says we need to combat that, but it brings more attention, said Westfield Mayor Scott Willis. In Westfield, the city opted against making a public Facebook post condemning the flyers to avoid bringing more attention to them. The City of Fishers declined to provide a comment for this article for that same reason. When speaking with IndyStar, Willis shared his thoughts on the flyers. "This is not Westfield, he said. It's disgusting and I'm disappointed in whoever did it, but I'm confident it wasn't a Westfield resident. It doesn't reflect who we are as a community. That kind of rhetoric is not needed in our country at all." A voice of hate needs to be met with a voice of love For Trotter, theres a lot Hoosiers can do to combat hate groups like the KKK. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Regular people can issue letters to the newspaper speaking against it and telephone their elected officials demanding there be public rebuffing of this type of hate, she said. They can, in their own small circles with family, co-workers and at church, speak out against this. Pastor Chris Duckworth, of the New Joy Lutheran Church in Westfield, shared a message on social media encouraging his congregation to speak out against the messaging in the KKK flyers. I feel the need to speak up because the distribution of this hate and lies in our community needs to be pushed back on, Duckworth said. It needs to be met with an equal or greater measure of love, honor and dignity. A voice of hate needs to be met with a voice of love. Trotter wasnt surprised by the distribution of the flyers due to the current political climate in the country, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President-elect Donald Trump said Monday that he would declare a national emergency and use the military to execute his mass deportation plans. During his campaign, Trump repeatedly promised a "mass deportation" that would round up immigrants around the country who have violated the law. People believe they have a signal that think this kind of behavior is OK, that this type of disregard for the rights of all Americans and people who seek to become Americans is OK, but it's not, Trotter said. We have to remember too that we are a nation of immigrants." She pointed out this isnt the first time a hate group has tried to divide the Hoosier state. Just this summer, Ziploc bags with neo-Nazi propaganda were found in suburban neighborhoods in Franklin Township, on the southeast side of Indianapolis. And last year, hate-spewing flyers were left at Carmel and Fishers homes seeking recruits for the Ku Klux Klan. "Indiana was home to very strong and active branch of the KKK and other groups, Trotter said. None of those groups have survived and it's because of the kind of people we have here in Indianapolis and in the state. This too shall pass. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Contact Jake Allen at jake.allen@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter @Jake_Allen19. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: KKK fliers found in Hamilton County, Indiana. Here's what's being done A 15-hour standoff between law enforcement and a knife-wielding suspect in Passaic county prompted the response of a SWAT team and the use of a chemical agent to force his surrender, officials said. Authorities were called to the residence in Wayne on Preakness Avenue to investigate reports of a man, since identified as Thomas Pfefferkorn, who was expressing suicidal thoughts, Wayne Police Public Information Officer, Detective Captain Dan Daly told TAPinto. When they arrived on the scene just after 6 p.m., first responders were initially met by Pfefferkorns father, then Pfefferkorn, who was wielding a large knife that he waved at responding officers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He closed the door and ran away before appearing again in an upstairs window, tapping the knife against the glass, said Daly. Officers immediately called for backup, set up a perimeter and closed Preakness Avenue. At that point, the Passaic County Sheriffs Department SWAT team and a crisis intervention team and paramedics from St. Josephs Health were called to the home. Both agencies spent the next 15 hours trying to negotiate with Pfefferkorn and coax him back outside to no avail. When Pfefferkorn stopped communicating, the SWAT team deployed gas. He was taken into custody shortly thereafter and transported to a medical facility for evaluation, Daly said. A subsequent search of the house turned up multiple firearms and illegal high-capacity magazines even though Pfefferkorns father told police that there were no guns at the residence. Pfefferkorn was arrested and charged with possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and being a certain person not to possess weapons, police said. Based on the gravity of the situation, Im very happy that everyone came out without any injuries because this could have turned into something much worse, Wayne Mayor Chris Vergano said. Im very proud of our Police Department, and how they handled the situation. BENGALURU (Reuters) - Indian billionaire Gautam Adani's indictment by U.S. authorities for his alleged role in a $265 million bribery scheme has sent shockwaves through his eponymous ports-to-soybeans conglomerate. The Adani Group denies the allegations. Here is what you need to know. THE MAJOR U.S. INDICTMENT Gautam Adani, one of world's richest people, faces his biggest challenge after he was charged along with seven others over alleged bribery related to power supply deals in India, in what U.S. authorities called "The Corrupt Solar Project". Adani Group, which runs several key infrastructure projects across the globe, says the allegations are baseless and has vowed to seek "all possible legal recourse". The group's CFO has said the indictment is linked to one Adani Green Energy contract that makes up some 10% of the unit's business. Meanwhile, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's party has distanced itself from the billionaire amid opposition calls for a probe and allegations that Modi is shielding Adani, charges his ruling party deny. There is also a growing spotlight on Sagar Adani, a millennial scion of the company who is alleged to have kept track of hundreds of millions of dollars paid to Indian officials in what U.S. authorities described as "bribe notes". The alleged bribes caught the attention of U.S. authorities when Adani's companies were raising funds from U.S.-based investors in transactions starting in 2021. DISCLOSURE ISSUES, STOCK ROUT AND FALLOUT The scandal has also raised concerns about market and public disclosure lapses by Adani Group, with authorities alleging the company issued false statements earlier this year related to its knowledge of the U.S. investigation. The U.S. indictment has kept Adani Group's debt and equity under pressure, further exacerbated by credit ratings agencies including Fitch and Moody's cutting their outlook for several of the listed companies owned by the conglomerate. The indictment has had other ramifications across the globe, including some bankers considering pausing fresh lending to the group and oil major TotalEnergies halting any further investments into Adani Group. Kenya has ordered the cancellation of Adani infrastructure deals worth more than $2.5 billion and a U.S. development agency is 'assessing ramifications' on a Sri Lanka Adani port project it had agreed to finance. In Bangladesh, a government panel has sought legal help for its investigation of power deals including one with Adani, while in India, a key southern state which figured in the indictment charges, Andhra Pradesh, is considering suspending a power purchase deal with Adani. President-elect Trump again turned to a loyalist in tapping former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi to lead the Department of Justice (DOJ). Trump named his choice Thursday, just hours after former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) withdrew from consideration his nomination that was plagued by allegations that he had sexual relations with a minor, which he denies. The announcement of Bondi garnered immediate enthusiasm from numerous key Senate Republicans, a sign she could face an easier path to confirmation. For too long, the partisan Department of Justice has been weaponized against me and other Republicans Not anymore, Trump wrote in announcing his pick on Truth Social. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heres what to know about Trumps new pick to lead the DOJ: Longtime Trump ties Bondi was a senior adviser on Trumps first impeachment defense team, a role for which she took a leave from the lobbying firm Ballard Partners. She then rejoined the firm, which was founded by Florida lobbyist Brian Ballard, the former 2016 chair of the Trump Victory fundraising committee. She is still a partner at Ballard Partners, which is also where Trumps incoming chief of staff, Susie Wiles, worked. During her time there, Bondi lobbied on behalf of the Qatari government. During her work on Trumps first impeachment, Bondi raised unsubstantiated claims that would later become central to the Republican case for impeaching President Biden, floating without evidence he had engaged in corrupt business practices with his son, Hunter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump and Bondis ties go back to even before he entered politics, when in 2013 he gave a $25,000 donation from the Donald J. Trump Foundation to a political committee supporting Bondi. She was weighing joining a suit against Trump University at the time. Bondi has endorsed Trump since 2016, doing so even as Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), her home-state senator, was running for president. During the first Trump administration, Bondi served on a presidential commission focused on drug addiction and the opioid crisis. Shortly before leaving office, Trump named Bondi as a member of the board of trustees for the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts. Bondi also works for the America First Policy Institute, a nonprofit organization made up of many former Trump officials advocating for policies aligned with the now-incoming president. Backed Trumps false election claims Bondi was one of numerous attorneys who stepped into the fray as Trump was challenging the outcome of the 2020 election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A total of 62 lawsuits were filed, but all were unsuccessful, and in some cases they spurred condemnation by judges for including false claims. Bondi was among those who backed Trumps claims there was widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election, falsely claiming Trump had won Pennsylvania and insisting they had evidence of cheating. At one point, she raised the possibility of fake ballots being counted in the state but then declined to get into specifics. She has since been a critic of special counsel Jack Smith, who brought charges against Trump relating to his efforts to thwart the transfer of power after he lost and his mishandling of classified documents after leaving the White House. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In one recent radio appearance, she called Smith and other prosecutors who have charged Trump horrible people who were trying to make names for themselves by going after Donald Trump and weaponizing our legal system. And in a 2023 appearance on Fox News, she echoed Trumps claims about a deep state while likewise calling for an investigation of prosecutors. The Department of Justice the prosecutors will be prosecuted, the bad ones. The investigators will be investigated because the deep state, last term for President Trump, they were hiding in the shadows. But now they have a spotlight on them, and they can all be investigated, she said. Long prosecutorial experience Bondi spent roughly 30 years as a prosecutor, first working in Floridas Hillsborough County, which includes Tampa, where she was born. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Perhaps most prominently, Bondi in that role prosecuted Mets star Dwight Gooden, who in 2006 was sentenced to a year and a day in prison for violating his probation by using cocaine. Bondi ultimately left the office to run for Florida attorney general in 2010. After she won a competitive Republican primary bolstered by her television appearances, Bondi emerged victorious in the general election and became Floridas first female state attorney general. As the states top legal officer from 2011-19, she embraced fights seeking to overturn the Affordable Care Act, including at the Supreme Court, and helped lead efforts seeking to combat the opioid crisis. Bondi also defended Floridas constitutional ban on same-sex marriage, with her office in court arguing that recognizing such marriages from other states would cause significant public harm. She shifted her tone after the 2016 mass shooting at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, leading to a famously heated interview with CNNs Anderson Cooper. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That was voted into our state constitution by the voters of Florida. Thats what I was defending. It had nothing to do Ive never said I dont like gay people, Bondi said in the 2016 interview. Past controversies While Bondi is expected to garner a more positive reception in the Senate, she may be followed by some past controversies during her confirmation process. Bondi was accused of improperly accepting a $25,000 donation from Trump in 2013 when she was weighing multiple fraud accusations against Trump University. Bondi was accused of improperly accepting a $25,000 donation from Trump in 2013 when she was weighing multiple fraud accusations against Trump University. Related allegations ultimately spurred a suit against the school brought by the New York attorney general. Both of them denied any connection between the donation and the offices decision, but the donation itself was illegal because it came from a tax-exempt charity organization. Trump paid a $2,500 fine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2017 the Florida Commission on Ethics found no wrongdoing by Bondi after investigating the matter, though Trumps team did not comply with the investigation. Trump claimed to have sent the donation to Bondi by accident, conflating her organization with another in Kansas with a similar name, but an email revealed by the Daily Beast in 2021 shows Bondis team coordinating with Trump about the donation. The fine paid by Trump was one of numerous improper actions cited in the decision from a New York state court shutting down the foundation in 2018. In 2013, Bondi publicly apologized for asking that the execution of a man convicted of murder be delayed because it conflicted with a campaign fundraiser. She said she was wrong and sorry for requesting then-Gov. Rick Scott (R) push back the execution by three weeks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bondi also adopted a dog in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, sparking a battle with the family that originally owned the Saint Bernard. Bondi initially resisted giving the dog back to the family, prompting a lawsuit. She later settled the suit with the family and returned the pet. Updated at 1:15 p.m. EST on Nov. 23, 2024 Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Welcome back, Deadline: Legal Newsletter readers. Donald Trumps first attorney general pick quit before he could be fired (or, rather, not hired), the president-elects hush money sentencing was further postponed, and the Supreme Court issued an opinion that wasnt much of an opinion at all. Well get to all that but first, lets talk judges. Not the justices who get most of the attention, but the judges on the nations trial and appellate courts. Although Democrats will lose the White House and Senate come January, theyve been confirming key jurists to these lower courts during the post-election lame duck period before Republicans take over. Among President Joe Bidens nominees who won lifetime appointments this week is Amir Ali, wholl serve on Washington, D.C.s federal trial court. Dont be surprised if this young and accomplished civil rights lawyer is floated as a high court pick for a future Democratic president. Indeed, Bidens lone justice, Ketanji Brown Jackson, also began her judicial career on the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democrats are closing in on the 234 judges seated in Trumps first term. Whether they meet or beat that number remains to be seen, as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and company race the clock before they lose power. Meanwhile, Matt Gaetz wont be attorney general. He withdrew after it became clear the incoming GOP-majority Senate wouldnt confirm him. In keeping with the Florida loyalist theme, Trump quickly announced Pam Bondi as the next top cop contestant. Like Gaetz, shes an avatar for MAGA vengeance, but unlike Gaetz, she has criminal experience beyond being investigated. The former Florida attorney general led a lock her up chant against Hillary Clinton at the 2016 Republican National Convention. When it turned out that Trump would be the one facing lockup, Bondi said on Fox News last year that his prosecutors will be prosecuted. Bondi also backed Trumps effort to overturn 2020 election results; she defended him in his first impeachment; and, as Florida AG, she didnt take action against Trumps fraudulent for-profit university after his foundation gave $25,000 to a political action committee supporting her. That last move led Stephen Colbert to call Bondi the only person in the world ever to make money from Trump University ... other than Donald Trump. In his criminal cases, the main action (or lack thereof) was in New York. Judge Juan Merchan approved Trumps request to file a motion to dismiss the case outright due to his impending White House return. That motion is due Dec. 2 and the states response is due Dec. 9, after which Merchan can rule on that request as well as Trumps pending motion to overturn his guilty verdicts based on the Supreme Court immunity ruling. Only then can the case proceed to sentencing, which is by no means a certainty before Trump takes office. (More on that in this weeks Ask Jordan.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We also got a mysterious piece of news in the Georgia election interference case. The state appeals court was supposed to hear arguments next month in the defense effort to disqualify Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. But the court abruptly canceled the hearing without explanation. The courts next move could shed light on the cancellation. As in New York, its unclear what will happen in the state case that unlike the federal ones Trump cant get dismissed or pardon away by virtue of being president. Unlike the New York case, where Trump is the only defendant, he has many co-defendants in Georgia who could face televised trials while hes in office. The Supreme Court issued its first opinion of the term in an argued case on Friday (the courts first opinion overall was in a capital case summarily decided without argument). But the courts ruling in Facebook v. Amalgamated Bank was a one-sentence order dismissing the case as improvidently granted, meaning the court realized after the fact that it shouldnt have taken up the appeal in the first place. Whoops! The justices also added to their docket on Friday, taking up a new appeal over the scope of federal agency power. Elsewhere on the high court docket, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is pressing his luck with an application to halt misinformation investigations of doctors in Washington state. Justice Elena Kagan rejected his attempt on Wednesday, but now hes shopping it to Justice Clarence Thomas. Former Trump White House advisor Peter Navarro tried a similar move of turning to another justice when he fought to stay out of prison for Jan. 6 committee contempt, but the full court ultimately rejected him. Well see if Trumps pick for Health and Human Services fares better in his high court quest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Finally, a programming note: The newsletter is off next week for Thanksgiving and will return the first week of December. It should be a busy one, with special counsel Jack Smith slated to update the courts about his plans for Trumps federal cases, Trumps New York dismissal motion due to Merchan, and the justices set to hear arguments over transgender rights in United States v. Skrmetti. Subscribe to the Deadline: Legal Newsletter for expert analysis on the top legal stories of the week, including updates from the Supreme Court and developments in Donald Trumps legal cases. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday claimed that a newly developed ballistic missile fired into Ukraine earlier in the week was incapable of being intercepted, the culmination of a week of escalating threats to the West. There is no countermeasure to such a missile, no means of intercepting it," Putin said in televised comments, according to Reuters. "And I will emphasize once again that we will continue testing this newest system. It is necessary to establish serial production." Earlier, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said its attack using the hypersonic Oreshnik missile was a warning to Ukraines reckless Western allies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Thursday, Putin said he had ordered a strike with the new intermediate-range ballistic missile in response to Ukraines use of long-range Western weapons to hit targets inside Russia for the first time. Despite Moscows deployment of the new weapon, which carried multiple warheads, the United States and its European partners have vowed not to be deterred in their support for Kyiv. Meanwhile, new details were emerging about the deepening alliance between Moscow and Pyongyang. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un issued his own nuclear threat to his U.S.-backed southern neighbor and accused Washington of fueling tensions. The latest round of saber rattling from Putin and Kim has come during a week in which the war in Ukraine passed 1,000 days and with Washington preparing for a change in leadership. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, Western officials and analysts have sought to play down what they said was an effort to intimidate Kyiv and its backers. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy decried the use of the new missile on the eastern city of Dnipro as a "severe escalation." He also announced that Ukraine was holding meetings with its "partners" about new air defense systems to counter any new threats. A drone attack on Ukraine's eastern Sumy region killed at least 2 people Friday, local officials said. On Thursday, he said the Russian missile strike was a second major step toward escalation after the Kremlin's deployment of more than 10,000 North Korean troops. On Friday, Kim warned that due to U.S. hostility, his region had never faced a greater risk of "the most destructive thermonuclear war," according to the KCNA state news agency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Kim-Putin alliance was likely one factor behind the decision of Washington and its allies to relax restrictions on Kyiv. And NATO, the Western military alliance bracing for a second Donald Trump presidency, said it would not stop that support in the face of Putin's threats. Deploying this capability will neither change the course of the conflict nor deter NATO allies from supporting Ukraine, alliance spokesperson Farah Dakhlallah said. Biden administration officials briefed Ukraine and other allies in recent days to help them prepare for Russia possibly using the new weapon, according to a U.S. official. Russia may be seeking to use this capability to try to intimidate Ukraine and its supporters or generate attention in the information space, but it will not be a game changer in this conflict, the U.S. official said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ukraine's use of long-range Western weapons to strike Russian soil followed months of pleading during which it came under intensifying Russian attacks in the air and on the battlefield. In a sign of the danger felt on the ground, the Ukrainian Parliament canceled a session Friday and reduced staff presence because of the increased threat of a missile attack on the area housing government buildings, the countrys public broadcaster said. Meanwhile, Russian Defense Minister Andrei Beluosov said that his forces had sped up their advance and disrupted the Ukrainian militarys plans for the upcoming year. On a visit to a command post of the countrys north group of forces the group targeted by a Ukrainian strike in the Kursk border region that used British Storm Shadow long-range missiles Beluosov said that Ukraines best units were ground down here and that "the advancement [of the Russian Armed Forces] has accelerated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Russian Defense Ministry, which posted the comments Friday, did not say when or where the visit took place. Andrey Baklitskiy, a senior researcher at the Geneva-based United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research, was unconvinced by escalating Russian threats. Russia clearly felt the need to respond to Ukraine's crossing its red lines, he said. But, he told NBC News in a phone interview Friday after the new missile was launched that it is "unclear what this is adding to Russian capabilities." While the new missile had multiple warheads, it was not clear how precise they were, Baklitskiy said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. said the Oreshnik or Hazel tree was a new, experimental type of missile based on the design of the existing RS-26 Rubezh intercontinental ballistic missile. Kyiv initially claimed that Russia had fired an ICBM. The weapon would also likely be "quite expensive," Baklitskiy said, so not something the Kremlin could regularly deploy. While Baklitsky conceded that the attack still had its uses as a thinly veiled threat that it could one day unleash a nuclear payload, he caveated that by pointing to signals that the Kremlin was still eager to avoid significant escalation Russia notified U.S. officials about the attack using nuclear risk reduction communication channels. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "You are responding with something you havent used before," he added. "But then its not escalatory in the sense of things getting out of hand." This article was originally published on NBCNews.com A Los Angeles Police Department motorcycle officer was rushed to the hospital after going down in northbound lanes of the 405 Freeway in the Sepulveda Pass. Details are extremely limited and its unclear exactly what caused the crash, but authorities said the incident occurred just after 4 p.m. near Skirball Center Drive. Aerial footage of the scene captured by Sky5 showed a massive traffic backup as first responders, including medical personnel with the Los Angeles Fire Department surrounded the officer who was laying in lanes of traffic on a stretcher. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Paramedics were treating the officer before loading him into an ambulance. First responders on the scene of an LAPD motorcycle officer who crashed on the 405 Freeway on Nov. 21, 2024. (KTLA) First responders on the scene of an LAPD motorcycle officer who crashed on the 405 Freeway on Nov. 21, 2024. (KTLA) A massive traffic backup on the northbound 405 Freeway in the Sepulveda Pass after an LAPD motorcycle after was involved in a crash on Nov. 21, 2024. (KTLA) First responders on the scene of an LAPD motorcycle officer who crashed on the 405 Freeway on Nov. 21, 2024. (KTLA) An LAPD motorcycle officer being rushed to the hospital after crash on the 405 Freeway on Nov. 21, 2024. (KTLA) An LAPD motorcycle officer being rushed to the hospital after crash on the 405 Freeway on Nov. 21, 2024. (KTLA) Sky5s Gil Leyvas reported that lanes of traffic on the northbound 405 were completely shut down, with the backup stretching at least all the way to the 10 Freeway. Officers with the California Highway Patrol were also on the scene in response to the closure. In an evening update, officials with LAPD said the officer sustained minor injuries and is expected to recover. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. Labour is continuing to hand out more than 500m to foreign farmers as it faces criticism for destroying British farms with its inheritance tax raid. Fresh analysis shows more than 536m is being spent across ten programmes in Africa, Asia, and South America, including in Brazil, the worlds 11th-richest country, where low-carbon agriculture is being funded. Many of the schemes stretch for more than a decade, with one 206m plan running until 2031 having launched in 2012. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One project worth 16m is attempting to grow tea in Rwanda for the first time, according to figures from the Taxpayers Alliance seen by The Daily Express. It comes after Chancellor Rachel Reeves sparked fury by cutting relief on death taxes for farms and businesses. The sweeping changes predicted to raise 500m mean farmers must now pay 20pc tax on the value of their farm above 1m. Robert Jenrick, shadow cabinet minister, criticised Labour for spending hundreds of millions on foreign farmers while British livelihoods are destroyed by their cruel inheritance tax changes. He told The Express: That will feel like a slap in the face for many British farmers. Its not too late for Starmer to listen, admit hes made a big mistake, and actually keep a promise he made at the election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rupert Lowe, Reform UKs business and agriculture spokesman, wrote on social media: Ive written to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office requesting that the minister takes steps to ensure foreign farmers do not receive a penny of British taxpayer money. Reeves should focus on supporting British farmers More than 20,000 farmers marched on Whitehall earlier this week to protest the tax raid, joined by Jeremy Clarkson, celebrity farmer, and Lord Lloyd-Webber. Mr Clarkson accused the Chancellor of handing farmers a knee in the nuts. GB News The research found another programme launched in 2023 by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) delivered 105m to resilient farming systems in unspecified countries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Joanna Marchong, of the think tank, said: Reeves should cut funding to farms abroad and focus on supporting British farmers who directly contribute to their communities and our countys food security. The foreign aid budget was dropped from the target of 0.7pc to 0.5pc of gross national income in July 2021 by Boris Johnson, the then-prime minister . Overseas spending in 2023 amounted to 0.58pc of gross national income, or 15.3bn. In its manifesto earlier this year, Labour said it would restore the 0.7pc target as soon as fiscal circumstances allow. However, this pledge was broken by Ms Reeves who did not restore the target in her Oct 20 Budget a move criticised by billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A government spokesman told The Telegraph: We are committed to supporting farmers here in the UK which is why we are investing 5bn into farming at home over the next two years the largest amount ever for sustainable food production and natures recovery in this countrys history. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. The deadline for submitting evidence to the Governments Curriculum and Assessment Review has just passed. Telegraph readers who might have wished to express an opinion are now too late even if they managed to find and navigate the complicated 33-page online form provided by the Department for Education. We must now wait and see whether the review lives up to its own extravagant aims: to refresh the curriculum to ensure it is cutting edge ... fit for purpose and meeting the needs of children and young people to support their future life and work, balancing ambition, excellence, relevance, flexibility and inclusivity, ensuring meaningful, rigorous and high-value pathways and contributing to the Governments missions to break down the barriers to opportunity for every child and young person, at every stage, as well as to the Governments mission on growth. So many cliches in so few lines! But good luck to the review in working these miracles without (as it is more modestly put) destabilising the system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In charge of the process is Professor Becky Francis, who has published on fashionable aspects of education (feminism, gender, ethnic minorities). She is a London-based insider (fellow of the British Academy, holder of the CBE) and long-time Labour supporter. During the Blair government she criticised British education as having an obsession with academic achievement. More recently, and more encouragingly, she stated that the present national curriculum (finalised under Michael Gove) was pretty good at the moment. She is now reported to be primarily concerned with class inequalities, presumably good news for todays only demonstrably disadvantaged minority: white working-class boys. A more worrying sign of what might be in the offing is a report published by OCR, an examining body owned by Cambridge Assessment consisting of Oxford, Cambridge and the Royal Society of Arts (of which Prof Francis was once director of education), and explicitly aiming to influence the review. Entitled Striking the balance, it was chaired by Charles Clarke, former Labour education secretary. He was reported in 2003 to have said that medieval history was a waste of time. This he denied, but did believe that the purpose of universities was to enable the British economy and society to deal with the challenges posed by the increasingly rapid process of global change. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This might mean that medieval history is indeed a waste of time, or it might mean that understanding the past helps us to navigate the future. Clarkes preface to the OCR report suggests the former. He wants the school curriculum to be far more contemporary and forward-looking, including more content on digital skills and artificial intelligence and climate change focused far more on the world as it now is and is going to be than on the past. Focusing on the past, it appears, is merely acquiring the canons of knowledge which have been built up over centuries. What remarkable self-assurance to assume an understanding of both the present and the future while demeaning knowledge built up over centuries which is, of course, the only knowledge we have. Clarkes vision of the future involves making climate change a central part of the curriculum. Education or indoctrination? This utilitarian focus means cutting back on literature: the literary canon should better reflect the range of cultures and experiences of all young people. What about their common culture? Why not aim to widen their experiences by introducing them to imaginary worlds they cannot otherwise know? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Instead, the OCR wants more media, non-fiction and multi-modal texts, including film, TV, drama and digital texts. Cultural discovery is not needed by the future proletariat, it seems. Yet there are excellent schools that show every day that children from a range of cultures can enjoy and take possession of our shared culture. This is their right, and it is what all our schools should aim at, not at the perpetuation of cultural differences, intellectual impoverishment and what has rightly been condemned as the tyranny of low expectations. As a historian, I am worried by what may be in store for the History curriculum, which the OCR report casually describes as overloaded with content. To reduce its already slim provision would be disastrous. Ever since the beginning of democracy and mass education the two are closely linked teaching history to schoolchildren has been seen as essential for two reasons. First, to help future citizens understand what it means to be a citizen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Second, to create a sense of common belonging as sharers in what has been called a rich heritage of memories, both positive and negative. This is essential at a time of major change and instability such as that which we are now experiencing. England is unusual by international standards in the little time it devotes to the study of history in schools. Perhaps knowing history seemed less urgent in a country that had experienced relatively few upheavals and disasters, and where in the past a broad consensus on national identity and national values could be assumed. In countries where that was not the case, which includes most of our European neighbours, history is a core subject at all levels right up to the school leaving age. Today in Britain, ignorance of history has become a danger. It makes children and adults vulnerable to activists whose aim seems to be to undermine both citizenship and common belonging. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Or if that is not their conscious intention, it is the inevitable consequence of their campaign to discredit the past and certainly Britains particular past and inculcate shame, cynicism and division. This is done directly by distorting and even falsifying the historical record, and indirectly by ignoring large parts of it. The justifications given for such distortions are varied: that we must face up to negative parts of our past (usually well known already); that we can and should create new narratives to please certain lobbies or political movements; that we should undermine national identity and replace it by something else; and that we must please customers and consumers (including schoolchildren) by giving them a view of the past assumed to accord with their prejudices, expectations or cultural backgrounds. Any national history curriculum in a truly democratic country should have very different aims to these. It must be accurate, balanced and coherent. It must explain how the past can be rationally explored by honest interpretation of evidence. It must show how ideas, beliefs, social conditions and values change over time, and will continue to change. It must explain the origins and purposes of institutions. It must challenge complacent assumptions that our culture is the peak of human achievement, and that the future is knowable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Living in England and for the most part being future citizens of the United Kingdom is the fundamental thing perhaps the only thing that all schoolchildren have in common. The present National Curriculum for England is intended to provide the essentials of English and British history over a long period, alongside a comparative introduction to other cultures and continents. No revision of the National Curriculum should depart from this basic principle. It must value our history as the foundation of common citizenship in a multiethnic society. It is a shared heritage to which the younger generation have a right. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. The British lawyer who applied for Benjamin Netanyahus arrest praised Britain for rediscovering its moral compass under Sir Keir Starmer. Sir Keir backed arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Thursday for Israels prime minister along with Yoav Gallant, its former defence minister, and Mohammed Dief, a Hamas leader. Karim Khan KC, the ICCs chief prosecutor, first applied for the arrest warrants in May. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the time, Rishi Sunak, the then-prime minister, said the application was deeply unhelpful and stressed that there was no moral equivalence between a democratic state exercising its lawful right to self-defence and the terrorist group Hamas. Yet following a three-judge panel unanimously deciding to issue the warrants on Thursday, Sir Keirs official spokesman said the Government respected the court and refused to rule out that Mr Netanyahu would be arrested if he was to come to the UK. The comments were widely interpreted as supportive of the decision. We respect the independence of the ICC, the spokesman said. International Criminal Court Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It comes weeks after Mr Khan welcomed Labours approach and praised the the difference of tone and, I think, of substance in relation to international law by the new government. Speaking to the BBC in September, Mr Khan, 54, said: This country I love as a Brit, as an independent prosecutor, as a country that is defined by doing the right thing. Its not easy. Sometimes it brings you into conflict. Very often both sides of an argument will detest you, hate you, be unsatisfied. He added: But that quest to have a compass, a moral compass, a legal compass, which is of general application, I think thats what we need as a country to have a leading voice in the world. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think its whats needed by all members of the security council. I think its definitely welcome as a prosecutor of the ICC. Karim Khan has issued the arrest warrants Israels prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant, former defence minister - Fadel Senna/AFP Born in Edinburgh to a Pakistani consultant dermatologist father and a British mother who worked as a nurse, Mr Khan is one of four siblings. As a schoolboy he was privately educated at Silcoates School in West Yorkshire, before going on to earn his Bachelor of Laws at Kings College London. Mr Khan was not yet 23 when he was called to the bar Lincolns Inn and later went on to attend Wolfson College at Oxford University, to study for a doctorate in law. However, he never completed the course and does not hold such a qualification. International Criminal Court Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the early days of his career, Mr Khan was a Crown Prosecutor for England and Wales and was promoted to a Senior Crown Prosecutor in 1995. A year later, Mr Khan began to work for the International Criminal Tribunal for former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and Rwanda (ICTR), courts set up by The Hague to prosecute war crimes both during the Yugoslav Wars and in Rwanda, respectively. From there, he rose through special courts in The Hague and developed a reputation as a defence lawyer. However, as is the case with many of his colleagues who specialise in his field, it has not been a career without controversy. Karim Khan talks with Amal Clooney, human rights attorney, about atrocities committed in Ukraine - Justin Lane/Shutterstock Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Among his highest-profile clients is Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, the second son of Muammar Gaddaffi, the former Libyan leader. Mr Khan was also the court-appointed lawyer for Charles Taylor, a former president of Liberia, who was facing charges of terror, murder, rape and other war crimes at the time. However, the lawyers conduct in this case made headlines in itself with Mr Khan walking out of the courtroom on the day his client did not turn up for the opening of his trial. After repeatedly apologising and defying threats of contempt of court, Mr Khan said he had been sacked by his client. He went on to take silk in 2011 and was sworn in as the ICCs chief prosecutor a decade later. International Criminal Court Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, Imran Ahmad Khan, the lawyers younger brother, also pursued public life by becoming a Tory MP. Yet a criminal conviction for child sexual assault in 2022 now means his career lies in tatters. The former Wakefield MP, now 51, was found guilty of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy at a party in 2008 after plying him with gin. And Mr Khan himself is now facing an investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct made against him. Allegations which emerged last month revealed a complaint had been made to the ICCs in-house watchdog in relation to the alleged unwanted sexual touching and abuse of a female lawyer in her thirties who worked for Mr Khan. Allegations of sexual misconduct emerge against Karim Khan which tell of abuse against female lawyer - Oleg Petrasyuk/Shutterstock Mr Khan denies the allegations, but on Nov 21, the Assembly of States Parties (ASP) said it would open an external investigation into the claims, taking on the case from the internal watchdog. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sources close to Mr Khan had reportedly advised him to take a leave of absence until the inquiry had concluded yet Mr Khan has declined. In a statement he said he welcomed the opportunity to engage in this process. Mr Khan added: I will be continuing all other functions as prosecutor, in line with my mandate, across situations addressed by the International Criminal Court. The situation raises the question of whether Mr Khan will remain in his job long enough to see any of the five warrants carried out. 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. Among the 10,000 protestors who descended on Parliament earlier this week to oppose the Governments imposition of inheritance tax on farmers was 78-year-old Baroness Mallalieu. She keeps sheep and horses on her 50 acres on the southern edge of Exmoor National Park in Somerset and went along because she is incredibly angry but also terribly worried at what is being proposed. Lady Mallalieu was, though, wearing several hats on the march. For the past 26 years she has been president of the Countryside Alliance, the voice of rural Britain, which this week warned that the fight over inheritance tax of farms is squaring up to be every bit as toxic as the battle Tony Blairs government fought over fox hunting (trail hunting is still a favourite pastime of Lady Mallalieus). And for 32 years as a distinguished but now, she says, very much retired criminal barrister she has sat as Lady Mallalieu on the Labour benches in the House of Lords. She was at the march to tell the party she joined at age 16 that it has got this one hopelessly wrong. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It has taken the Labour Party 14 years to win back the trust of the countryside [efforts she has spearheaded] after that last attack on hunting. Since the last election we have more than 100 MPs in rural seats, but here we are making the same mistakes again. We are almost becoming the cruel party. There is an echo of Theresa Mays famous warning, when chair of the Conservative Party in 2002, that it risked becoming the nasty party. What exactly does she mean? These inheritance tax changes [previously farms were exempt] are not just threatening farmers in their pockets. They are threatening their family and their home. On the march, I heard there have been four suicides already among farmers and, for me, the most unpleasant side and I dont think the Government thought about this is that they are saying to elderly farmers, make yourself die before March 2026 [when the changes come in] to save your family from losing their home. She was heralded as a Brigitte Bardot lookalike in her youth (pictured here in 1967) and was elected the first-ever female president of the Cambridge Union - Getty With two grown-up daughters, Cosima and Bathesheba, from her 27-year marriage (now ended) to fellow barrister Sir Timothy Cassel, her own farm, she says, is probably too small to fall within the new inheritance thresholds, and anyway, she is planning to spend what money she has before she dies. Bought 20 years ago though she started farming aged 10 with the cows and pigs her parents kept in the fields around their Buckinghamshire home she lives on Exmoor full-time and runs it more or less single-handedly, even though she makes regular sorties to join in Lords debates in London. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The snow and ice that descended in the south-west after the farmers protest is making it hard for visitors to reach her farmhouse, so I am speaking to her via Zoom as she sits in her cosy sitting room with beams and thick walls, hung with pictures of horses. The daughter and niece of Labour MPs William and Lance Mallalieu she caused quite a stir when she went from her state grammar school to Newnham College, Cambridge, to read history and law in the mid-1960s and promptly got herself elected as the first-ever female president of the Cambridge Union. Often celebrated as a Brigitte Bardot lookalike she, shockingly for 1966, wore corduroy trousers for debates. I suppose I had blond hair, she says, with a throaty laugh, but I also had a lot of luck. There were 16 men to every woman at Cambridge back then so I thoroughly enjoyed myself. She may no longer have CND badges on her lapels but clearly she has lost none of her willingness to challenge convention. There are certainly some Labour peers who share my views, and Im pretty sure Labour MPs too, but they dont dare to appear disloyal by talking to me. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some of her colleagues on the Labour benches in the Lords, she confides, are ostracising her for criticising the party leaderships refusal to back down in the face of the farmers fury. After Id been frozen to death the other day at the demo, I went back and had hot soup in the House of Lords. Some Labour peers sat down and talked to me. They dont always do that but this time they did. One of them said hed seen the marchers at the Tube station and added, with amazement, they werent all posh. He had no idea who these farmers are. They are the real workers. It wasnt the only time her colleagues showed a misunderstanding of rural Britain. Im amazed when they tell me, I live in a country area and I dont have any of that [disgruntled farmers] in my area. But it is their weekend cottage. They dont go and sit in the local cattle market. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Westminster can feel a million miles away from her farming community on Exmoor. It is one of the very few really rural communities left. You can imagine what the mood is like here now. Ive seen people in tears. They think and I think they are right that if they were to die, it is going to deprive their family not just of money but of their home because they wont be able to pay the inheritance tax. Lady Mallalieu (pictured here addressing pro-hunting protestors outside the 2000 Labour Party Conference in Brighton) was against the Blair regimes fox-hunting ban - Heathcliff O'Malley A neighbouring farmer called by this week. He ran her through the impact of the proposed changes on farms in their neighbourhood. He knows them all. He excluded three that are really estates with a big house, and he excluded people like me who are really smallholders, but said there are 40 neighbours who will be hit. And that is just in this small area. Extend it over the country and the impact will be devastating. Numbers are a hot matter of dispute. Nick Thomas-Symonds, the paymaster general squirmed when asked four times on this weeks Question Time for exact figures. But the formidable Minette Batters, past president of the National Farmers Union of England and Wales (NFU), sitting next to him on the panel, said that around 57,000 of Britains 200,000 plus farmers are in the firing line for the next tax. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some NFU estimates put it higher still, at as many as 70,000. Meanwhile, ministers have been quoting HMRC estimates that no more than 520 farmers each year would be hit by rules that set a threshold for starting to pay inheritance tax of 20 per cent at around 3 million in many cases. When they say 520, reflects Lady Mallalieu, what they dont say is 520 each year. Its a gloomy picture. I worry that if this goes through and isnt corrected, we are going to have a complete absence of small family farms, large-scale enterprises, industrial-scale livestock farming and a lot of rewilding. No, no, no. She sounds a bit like recently-arrived farm champion Jeremy Clarkson. I love Jeremy Clarkson, she replies unfazed. I didnt see him at the march but Ive met him at Countryside Alliance meetings. I hated his programmes on cars but he says what he thinks. That is something they have in common. How, I wonder, has her party got itself into this mess with farmers? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before the election, Steve Reed [now secretary of state for the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs] went round all the farming organisations telling them changes like these on inheritance werent even in contemplation. He said it was nonsense and gave us an assurance. Her tone suggests she hasnt much time for him? Daniel Zeichner [the farming minister at Defra] is a very nice man and is well-respected. Steve Reed is more remote. I think he went to one farm, but there we are. What about Labours much-heralded crop of new MPs representing rural constituencies hitherto regarded as true blue? I suspect they have come through the party system, and were fighting seats they didnt think they would win in the hope of getting a safer one next time. They dont have a real rural connection. Lady Mallalieu herself stood twice for Labour in Hitchin, in the February and October general elections of 1974, and came within a few thousand votes of capturing it from the Conservatives. She tried for several more seats but wasnt selected. In some, I was asked how I could be a lawyer and a socialist, she recalls, and in one I was asked, Will you give anything you earn over the minimum wage to the party? I didnt answer those questions well. It has taken the Labour Party 14 years to win back the trust of the countryside, but here we are making the same mistakes again (pictured here outside Westminster in 2003) - PA There is no note of regret in her voice. Im so relieved now that I didnt get it. I just couldnt have had the life I have had, the countryside, my family, my times at the bar. Among the cases she fought usually defending was that of the Maguire Seven, wrongly convicted and jailed for running an IRA bomb-making factory in the mid-1970s. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, it is the present, not the past, that she wants to dwell on. I gather what happened is that the Treasury in the past has tried to push various chancellors to impose inheritance tax on farmers, but they all refused because they could see the downside. Unfortunately, the present chancellor didnt. The given reason for the changes is that they tackle abuses by what Lady Mallalieu describes as tax-dodging farmers those who have no intention of farming themselves but who buy agricultural land because it is exempt from inheritance tax and push up prices to a ridiculous level. So the right idea? But what they didnt do was properly consult anybody. Even, as far as we can gather, Defra. That is why the figures they have produced this week are so different from those of the NFU. Defra, she explains, has all the information on farms, including maps of every field, and could have done some proper modelling if they had been consulted in time. All the people I know wouldnt disagree for a moment with putting a tax on to affect those at the top level who pay these high sums for farming land but have no intention of farming it themselves. But the Chancellor pitched it far too low. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It sounds like she has a ready-made plan to get Labour out of this mess if only they would listen. Is she talking to ministers? Ive spoken to a number of people and had conversations, but they are confidential. Is there any hope of a U-turn? I think there will have to be one, but at the moment they are digging the hole deeper and deeper. It would improve things if they would just put up the threshold figure to a reasonable number where the small family farm is protected. She cautions, though, about thinking that the current protests are all about money. We are talking about people who are already working unbelievably long hours to keep their farms going. Theyve done tourism to the nth degree. They go round in rusty old vehicles, not Range Rovers, and they do it because it is about lifestyle, about communities, about families who have always lived on their farm. If they are forced out because the very small profits they make each year will make the inheritance tax bill impossible to pay, she has her own doubts. The landscape will become the preserve, she says, of solar panels or else rewilders, which means walkers wont get very far through the bracken and gorse that quickly covers it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is such a passion in her voice. How about going directly to her partys leader, Sir Keir Starmer? He was a good and competent lawyer, she ventures, but hes not a politician. She contacted him, she remembers, when he was first elected as leader, and sent him a report the Countryside Alliance and the Fabians had done which showed why Labour wasnt in tune with the countryside. He passed her to Luke Pollard, the then shadow environment secretary who was then reshuffled out of the post. Labour pays lip service to the countryside, she says, but isnt delivering. They talk about every Bill having to go the rounds of other government departments to see if there are things in it that affect them. So why werent these inheritance tax changes rural-proofed? Is it just the incompetence and chaos of a new administration short on ministerial experience? Lady Mallalieu isnt convinced. Ive always felt that we have a strong thread of class hatred within the party and land is class. We saw it too in the way VAT was put on private schools. My peers accuse me of being posh, but my credentials would match, if not defeat, some of theirs - Geoff Pugh Her cut-glass accent and love of fox-hunting must have caused her problems with her fellow Labour peers and MPs. I think they think I am posh but my credentials would match, if not defeat, some of theirs. My grandfather was a butchers boy in South Shields. Maybe that is why she feels so much more at home on her Exmoor farm, though she reports being alarmed even before the latest dispute by the number of her neighbours using the drop-in therapy centre at their local cattle market at Cutcombe to address the mental health strains of working as a farmer. I was having dinner the other day near here with some farming friends and there was a group of youngsters sitting there, all still at school. Whenever I mentioned a politicians name to them, theyd say, no, not heard of them. Who do you really admire? I asked. Every one of them said Nigel Farage. Such encounters reinforce her belief in speaking her mind to her own party, even if she is accused of disloyalty. People ask me why I am still in the Labour Party, and I ask myself sometimes. But someone has to stand up in the party and say things that need to be said. And I dont have anything to gain or lose. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. The Director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation is giving Channel 2 Action News an inside look at the investigation into nursing student Laken Rileys murder. After Jose Ibarra was convicted of Rileys murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole, GBI Director Chris Hosey sat down with Channel 2 Investigative Reporter Mark Winne. Hosey said the investigation wasnt without a mental and emotional toll on himself and his fellow investigators. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think for me, and obviously those investigating it each and every hour during that time frame, was just the brutality of it, the innocence that was lost that day, Hosey said. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] But once Ibarra was convicted, the GBI director says he felt a sense of relief in that Rileys family would be able to start the healing process. Obviously, the family comes to mind first, family and the friends in the community of Laken and that hopefully this helps in the healing process to move forward, he described. Hosey says the first step towards getting that conviction was the fingerprint left on Rileys phone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That was pretty convincing for us, he said. Every piece helped put the puzzle together to what happened on that running trail that morning. RELATED STORIES: He added that he was proud of his agents and investigators from other departments, calling it a team effort. One thing that these agents and investigators did on this case was they didnt go home when it got dark. They kept working as long as there were investigative acts that could help them get to the conclusion that they got to as fast as they did on this case, Hosey said. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Immigration advocates are asking for tolerance and grace for their community after Jose Ibarras conviction for Laken Rileys murder. We should not be blaming all immigrants for one bad actor immigrant, immigration attorney Joshua McCall told Channel 2s Audrey Washington on Thursday. On Wednesday, Ibarra was found guilty of the nursing students murder while she jogged on the University of Georgia campus in February. He was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Because Ibarra, who is originally from Venezuela, entered the country illegally, the case sparked a political firestorm about immigration reform. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McCall said that immediately after the crime happened, some of his clients and staff members were harassed. Threatening people of color, threatening Hispanic people, referencing this case, said McCall. In a statement shared on Wednesday, Governor Brian Kemp wrote in part: This criminal should never have been allowed to enter our country, and he certainly should not have been allowed to stay after shamelessly breaking our laws. RELATED STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McCall said while he is relieved Ibarra is off the streets and he grieves along with Rileys family, he said he doesnt want others who happen to look like Ibarra to also suffer. These Venezuelan families who come here, they fill out all the paperwork, do the right things. Just because they share a trait with this man, their lives are being placed in danger and thats not what we want to take away from this horrible tragedy, said McCall. In March, the House of Representatives passed the Laken Riley Act, which focuses on undocumented immigrants who commit crimes. According to a 2023 Stanford University Institute for Economic Policy Research study, immigrants are 30% less likely to be incarcerated than U.S.-born individuals. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] KANSAS CITY, Mo. According to the Leavenworth County Attorneys Office, one man from Lansing, Kansas has been convicted in a teenagers fatal overdose. Leavenworth County Attorney Todd Thompson says that 20-year-old Torin Michael Baughman pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of a controlled substance (fentanyl) causing death. Court records show that the charge stemmed from a Snapchat drug deal that left a teenager dead. Lees Summit police investigating deadly shooting Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Baughman was arrested on March 20 of this year on a Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) warrant. Multiple law enforcement agencies helped in the investigation, including the U.S. Secret Service, who used Life360 data to reveal that Baughman was near the victims home on the night of their fatal overdose. When we see cases involving someone that died due to overdose, its too easy to blame the user, Attorney Todd Thompson said. We need to hold the dealer, the provider, and the distributor accountable. Addiction is real; it grabs hold of someone, and its very hard for that person to let go. Now, we have a substance that kills the first time you take it. Its dangerous, and everyone needs to be aware. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Jan. 3, 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. Although Donald Trump managed to gain vital support among Latino votersespecially with Latino men, that surge was not represented equally across the electoral map. The Atlanta-Journal Constitution has reported that Latinos in Georgia supported the Democratic party about the same as they did in 2020. Per NBC News exit polls, Trump received with 45% of the national Latino votea record-high for a Republican presidential nominee. However, in Georgia the results were less drastic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NBC also noted that Kamala Harris received 56% of Georgias Latino electorate in 2024 (56%), which was just one percentage point less than President Joe Bidens in 2020. Across the seven battleground states this election, Harris -1% differential compared to Biden among Latinos in Georgia was only outdone by her performance in Wisconsin (+1%). Despite Trumps Latino gains, vote tallies in several Georgia counties banish the belief that that particular group in every state wholly backed the President-elect. According to Gwinnett records, Harris won 57.7% of the vote, similar to Bidens 58.3% back in 2020. According to the research firm Equis, which is studies Latino voters, Trump support grew by six points across metro Atlanta precincts where over 20% of registered voters identified as Latino. Compared to this population on a national scale, its a meager shift. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Latino community in Georgia has arrived in the U.S. just recently. Per census data, more than 40% of Georgia Latinos in 2022 were out of the country. Obtaining citizenship status is a requirement to participate in government elections, though this doesnt negate or minimize the Latino immigrant experience. In the 2024 election, Latinos cast nearly 180,000 ballots with 46.8% of registered Hispanic voters showing up per state data. Hispanic turnout increased in comparison to 2020 as well as in 2016. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. An earlier version of this article was first published in the On the Trail 2024 newsletter. Sign up to receive the newsletter in your inbox on Friday mornings here. To some small degree, Donald Trump owes Latter-day Saints for his victory. According to early exit polls, a majority of Latter-day Saint voters backed the president-elect, even as his support among the group lagged behind his 2020 figures. (My colleague Gitanjali Poonia has a great analysis of the polls here.) The question, now, is if Trump will repay any Latter-day Saints for the favor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several Utahns are under close consideration for ambassadorships and other administration positions, according to a person aware of the conversations, who was not authorized to speak publicly. Sen. Mike Lee was rumored as a candidate for attorney general, both before and after Trumps first pick Gaetz was up for consideration. Lee has shown little public interest in abandoning the Senate, though Lee told my colleague Brigham Tomco that he is in frequent contact with Trumps transition team, but he wants to stay. I have the job I want, Lee said. In the 119th Congress, Lee will chair the Energy and Natural Resources Committee. One of his former congressional colleagues is reportedly getting a look: Chris Stewart, a U.S. representative from Utah until 2022, is under consideration to be secretary of the Air Force, Politico reported. Stewart is the chairman of the Utah Aerospace and Defense Association and a former Air Force officer. Stewart was a candidate to serve as director of national intelligence, Politico reported, before Trump nominated former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard to the post. Stewart was a senior member of the House Intelligence Committee before resigning in 2023 to help care for his wife. Stewart declined to comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The most senior Latter-day Saint official during Trumps first term, Robert OBrien, is still close with Trump and made appearances with him on the campaign trail. A reprise as national security adviser will not occur, though Trump picked Rep. Mike Waltz, a Florida Republican and a U.S. Army colonel, for the job. OBrien, who served as Trumps national security adviser from 2019 until the conclusion of the term, was also rumored as a potential secretary of state before Trump nominated Sen. Marco Rubio. OBrien heads an international consulting firm in partnership with Stewart, and a person close to OBriens thinking said he was satisfied with his role in the private sector. OBrien did not respond to a request for comment. Carson Jorgensen, the former Utah Republican Party chair and gubernatorial candidate, is lobbying for a position as an agricultural adviser to Trump. An online petition is circulating that lays out Jorgensens qualifications for the role, and encourages Trump to add Jorgensen as a vital asset to his administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jorgensen said he did not create the petition, but that it was created by other members of the Protect American Lamb project, an agricultural initiative that Jorgensen has helped with. Jorgensen noted there has been no offer made by the Trump transition team, though he has had informal conversations with members of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s team, an honorary co-chair of Trumps transition team and the nominee for secretary of Health and Human Services. An agricultural secretary nominee has not yet been announced. Former Rep. Jason Chaffetz seems uninterested in a return to Washington: He has not had any conversations with Trump, and hes the only one who matters, he said. Now a cable news commentator, Chaffetz said he is comfortable in his role. I like my relationship with Fox News, he said. Layne Bangerter, a former official in the agriculture department and the Environmental Protection Agency during Trumps first term, said he is open and willing to serve again. I have had people from the transition reach out to me, and I cant say much more, he said. President Trump does not want people who are desk-hunters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other names Im told to watch: Gregory Smith and Marlon Bateman. Smith, who now serves as chief of staff to Rep. Eli Crane, R-Ariz., was special assistant to the President in the Trump White House for two years. Bateman was chief of staff to the U.S. State Departments Office of Policy and Planning under Trump, and helped organize the Latter-day Saints for Trump coalition in 2024. Smith, when reached via text, said, Planning to stay where I am! Bateman could not be reached for comment. Three things to know Gaetz out, Bondi in: In a matter of hours, Trumps original pick for attorney general abandoned his candidacy and Trump put forward another name. Matt Gaetz, the former congressman from Florida, faces allegations of sex trafficking and sex with minors; Trumps new pick, Pam Bondi, is the former Florida AG and a defense lawyer during Trumps first impeachment trial. Read more here . More key admin picks: Linda McMahon, former director of the Small Business Administration and the CEO of WWE, is the nominee for secretary of education; Doug Burgum, former North Dakota governor, as secretary of the interior; Marjorie Taylor Greene will work with Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy who will run a new government agency geared toward cutting government waste. All chips on the table: Both Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson have expressed a desire to repeal the CHIPS & Science Act, a major investment in the semiconductor industry in the U.S. In response, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo has pledged to use the final weeks of the Biden administration to have almost all of the money obligated by the time we leave setting off a mad administrative dash after a slow rollout since the bill was signed in 2022. Read more here. Weekend reads Law firms discuss CRRUAs lawsuit in town hall meeting EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) Three law firms behind the lawsuit filed on Wednesday against the Camino Real Regional Utility Authority (CRRUA) over the presence of arsenic in their drinking water over the years, held a town hall meeting to inform residents of the lawsuit, and sign-up others who wanted to join the suit. The meeting was held at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21 at the Dona Ana Community College Sunland Park Center, 3365 McNutt Road. Lawsuit filed against CRRUA for arsenic in drinking water Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We want the community to know that were doing this. That were trying to address some of the longstanding issues that CRRUA has faced. The trust that has been breached between the community and its water utility. And so, part of this is just to educate the community on what efforts are being put forward on their behalf, Israel Chavez, one of the attorneys spearheading the lawsuit said. CRRUA, which provides water and wastewater service to Sunland Park and Santa Teresa, has been under fire for months over concerns about water quality and discolored water. The attorneys said that they had been at work since February when they notified CRRUA that they intended to file suit. They had been gathering information and compiling research that resulted in the lawsuit filed Wednesday. Fundamentally, this lawsuit seeks to hold CRRUA accountable for its repeated failures to notify the community of the quality of their water and to fix it. (CRRUA) has received millions in state investment through capital outlay and other means. And repeatedly they have failed to meet their responsibilities as a water utility. And so, this is really the last straw, the last drop of water, so to speak, to push folks over the edge, to say enough is enough, Chavez said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lawsuit is led by the national law firm Singleton Schreiber LLP, whose expertise is in environmental law. Behind them are two local law firms, the law offices of Israel Chavez LLC and Markowski Ruvalcaba Law Firm LLC. The lawsuit seeks compensatory damages for the residents affected, and for CRRUA to provide clean water to residents in the future. At the end of the day for us, its about accountability and clean water. And in order to hold this organization (CRRUA) thats supposed to be providing clean water accountable, the community has to come together, Brian Colon, the managing partner for Singleton Schreiber, New Mexico said. It has been frustrating. We merely have been asking for something fair. We just want clean water. We all pay taxes. We pay the water bill. And on top of that, we still have to go out and buy gallons of water, to drink water, shower, and wash dishes. Its an extra cost, Elvia Acevedo, a Sunland Park resident who is a plaintiff in the lawsuit said. Today I feel relieved because we are not alone anymore. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Rep. Ryan Wilcox, R-Ogden, stands between Max Schachter (right) and Lori Alhadeff (left), parents of students killed during the 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglass High School in Parkland, Florida, during a news conference at the Utah Capitol on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024. (Kyle Dunphey/Utah News Dispatch) After the Utah Legislature passed a sweeping school safety bill earlier this year that beefed up armed security, mandated secure entrances and created a new threat reporting software, lawmakers are hoping to make some changes. HB84 passed last legislative session with broad approval, receiving unanimous support in the Senate and, after some amendments, just nine no votes in the House. This week, the bill sponsor, Rep. Ryan Wilcox, R-Ogden, told lawmakers that a few follow ups are needed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Wednesday, Wilcoxs new bill, School Safety Amendments, received unanimous approval from the Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Interim Committee. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The follow ups include changes to how schools should vet personnel hired as school security, and new building requirements. Now, instead of the local county sheriffs office training the schools guardians school employees who can volunteer to be an armed guard, if the school doesnt already have a resource officer or armed security guard they would be trained by the local police department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Local police would also now be tasked with creating a school safety needs assessment, which was previously the responsibility of sheriffs. School guardians are required to undergo a mental health screening, but if the school chooses to instead hire private security, current state code doesnt require them to be screened. Now, Wilcoxs bill would require the same mental health screening for guardians and private security. The bill also requires all exterior and interior glass in Utah schools to have a bulletproof film on it (previously, the bill only required exterior glass to be bulletproof) and centralizes all security footage to one program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hallways and doorways would all have the same letter and number identification system, so if a student calls and says Im by D7, the police will know exactly where in the building they will need to get to, said Jeff Van Hulten with the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel, during Wednesdays meeting. Wilcoxs bill will also impose a tiered system of compliance for school systems and charter schools, so school officials know if theyre adhering to the states security standards. And, the amendments would create a foundation, allowing the creation of a nonprofit to raise private funds, on top of state dollars, for schools to make safety-related purchases. A massive bill at nearly 2,800 lines long, last sessions HB84 was the product of the states School Security Task Force and included input from parents of students killed in the 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill, among other things, directs school buildings to install emergency communication systems and panic buttons, requires threat reporting if employees are aware of a particular safety concern, and links the states SafeUT Crisis Line to Utahs intelligence database. The bill also beefed up armed security in Utahs schools, sparking some controversy and pushback from teachers. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (NEXSTAR) The day after the election, Governor JB Pritzker gave a clear message to President-elect Donald Trump and his incoming 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. Whether it be reproductive rights, immigration protections or many of the other differences between the two, Pritzker made it clear he intends for Illinois to push back. He formed a coalition of Democratic Governors with Colorado Governor Jared Polis called Governors Safeguarding Democracy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Illinois State Capitol Complex security fortified with new rules Trump recently signaled that he does not plan to back away from promises of mass deportations from the campaign trail. He responded to a post on Truth Social saying that he intends to use military assets to conduct these deportations by simply saying TRUE. Pritzker questioned the legality of those measures. The idea of calling out, you know, the army into the domestic confines of the United States is seems uncalled for and may, in fact, be unconstitutional and illegal, Pritzker said. He does not have the ability to call out the National Guard inside the confines of the United States. The governors do. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Illinois is one of several Sanctuary States in the country. The state also has a policy that stops from local law enforcement from working with ICE. That on its own is expected to put the state at odds with the White House. Republican leadership in the statehouse questioned how Pritzkers steps post-election would be good for Illinois. Senate Republican Leader John Curran doesnt view this as protecting Illinoisans. Instead, he sees it as political posturing. Explain to me how thats good for Illinois, Curran (R-Lemont) said. I mean, it may be good for his future presidential aspirations. It may be good for running in the Democratic primary for president in 2028. Its not good for Illinois. Theres no good that comes from that. The Governors Democratic allies have been more supportive of this fight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My job is to protect the folks who have the least protection available, Pritzker said. House Democratic Kelly Cassidy led the charge for the Reproductive Health Act, which codified Roe V. Wade protections into Illinois law ahead of the U.S. Supreme Court Decision that overturned it. She said it was a priority going forward to ensure Illinois is protected from potential changes at the federal level. IL Senator works to improve speech therapy coverage There is still some work to do. And in particular, I expect there will be ongoing work because as they pivot to new approaches, were going to have to as well, Cassidy (D-Chicago) said. But, you know, weve got our shield law that is protections for patients and providers of reproductive health care, as well as gender affirming care that its a its a pretty good shield, but it does not protect health data. Privacy doesnt address health data privacy. So we want to make sure we get that in place there. There are some federal laws that we are anticipating might be repealed that were going to want to make sure that were addressing as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement None of those protections were filed during the two-week veto session lawmakers returned to Springfield for this month. Instead, they punted to a lame-duck session scheduled for January. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com. (WHTM) The states top Republican senator says the money isnt there to save the Pittsburgh-based steel giant, she supports its sale to Japans Nippon Steel. The $14 Billion deal was proposed in December. The Biden Administration could approve or reject it in the next few weeks. Senate President Kim Ward is calling on Governor Josh Shapiro to publicly state whether or not he is for this. Close Thanks for signing up! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now This Week in Pennsylvania The proposed deal would bring U.S. Steel under Japans Nippon Steel. It is a deal that united political foes in an election year who opposed it. Bob Casey and Dave McCormick both gave their views during their debate at abc27 in October, both saying the U.S. should do something. My concern about Nippon is it would be a foreign-owned steel company buying the iconic us steel business and putting at risk those union steelworker jobs, Casey said. McCormick stated, In cases of national security where a domestic steel industry truly is important for Americas future you have to intervene. And while he was on the campaign trail in PA, Donald Trump also said he was against the sale. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think everything that was said before the election is basically political and thats over now, Ward said. Lets move on. Lets save these jobs. Senate President Ward wants the deal, she says, to protect 3,000 jobs, and more than 3 billion a year in economic impact. For her its personal. Her dad worked in steel in the 80s downturn. My dad lost everything, Ward said He lost his pension. He lost everything. Ward trusts Nippons promise to honor union contracts and invest more than a billion dollars in the PA plant. It is just unthinkable that we would let this go when U.S. Steel has clearly stated time and again that they do not have the funds to improve the Mon Valley, Ward said. They will not be investing there because they dont have the funds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ward is cheerleading the sale and she wrote a letter to Governor Shapiro asking if the states top Democrat shares her view. I want to just ask him to tell us and tell the people that are depending on these jobs, Ward said. Where he stands, is he working toward Nippon, being able to purchase U.S. Steel. The governors spokesman wont answer the direct question but insists Shapiro has been aggressively involved in negotiations. Adding, Governor Shapiro isnt focused on social media posts or leaking letters. He has picked up the phone, gotten in the room, and is working directly with key parties to see if a deal can be reached that protects Pennsylvania jobs. Get the latest Pennsylvania politics and election news with abc27 newsletters! Nippon has taken its pitch public, by advertising it. Despite slick ads, the governors not tipping his hand. Perhaps thats strategic. But Wards cards are on the table and shes all in. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What are we going to call the Steelers, Ward said. You know, I mean, this is truly our heritage and we need to work to save it. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27. Nine Kansas cities were evaluated based on their inclusivity of LGBTQ+ people, and Lawrence and Topeka received top scores. (Getty Images) TOPEKA Kansas most LGBTQ+ friendly cities have inclusive policies, leaders who publicly support equality, and non-discrimination practices. Of nine cities surveyed across the state, Topeka and Lawrence top the list, both with scores of 100, while Wichita and Overland Park follow with scores of 97 and 96 respectively. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Human Rights Campaign Foundation and the Equality Federation Institute released Thursday the 2024 rankings from the annual Municipal Equality Index, which evaluates cities across the U.S. on how inclusive they are of LGBTQ+ people. The ratings take a look at cities non-discrimination laws, municipality employment practices, municipal services, law enforcement and leadership on LGBTQ+ equality. While certain federal and state anti-equality politicians continue to single people out to bully based on race or gender, local communities continue showing up for each other and fighting for our freedoms, our families, and our futures, said Fran Hutchins, executive director of Equality Federation Institute, in a Thursday news release. The rest of the Kansas cities surveyed all scored below 80. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Manhattan scored a 79, Kansas City, Kansas, a 69, Hutchinson a 68, Olathe a 62 and Emporia a 57. The organizations select cities to rank based on size, the presence of a public university, high proportions of same-sex couples and whether it is a state capital. The index, which is in its 13th iteration, found in 2024 a record-breaking number of cities that scored a 100. Even so, Hutchins said, the need to invest in local leaders and in the fight for local protections wherever possible persists. Local advocates are tirelessly working to shield their communities and affirm the power and strength of queer and trans individuals, even in the face of discriminatory state laws, she said. Yet, while some cities are making progress, the overall landscape remains challenging. LGBTQ+ Kansans faced multiple attempts from Republican state lawmakers in recent years to restrict health care access for young people, limit the use of public facilities and generally subjugate identity politics in their favor by proposing anti-LGBTQ+ policies under the guise of womens rights. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What set Kansas highest-scoring cities apart from the rest were leadership, law enforcement and local services. Lawrence, Topeka and Wichita each have an LGBTQ+ police liaison or task force while the other cities do not. The Lawrence and Topeka city governments provide direct services to vulnerable LGBTQ+ populations, such as youths, people experiencing homelessness and people with HIV or AIDS. Lawrence additionally provides services to LGBTQ+ older adults and supports for its transgender community. All cities met the standards for nondiscrimination laws. Emporia faltered when evaluating law enforcement and leadership, and Olathe and Hutchinson lost points in the leadership category. Manhattan and Kansas City, Kansas, scored a few points in each category, but not enough to rank either above 80 points. More than six years after he was exonerated based on insufficient evidence, a man who was charged as an 11-year-old with shooting his fathers pregnant fiancee to death wants a federal jury to make the Pennsylvania State Police pay for the years he spent in juvenile detention. Jordan Browns federal civil rights case is expected to get underway in Pittsburgh early next month, nearly 16 years after he was first accused of the February 2009 death of Kenzie Marie Houk inside their rented farmhouse in Wampum, Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania is among about a dozen states that do not have wrongful conviction compensation laws, leaving a lawsuit as Browns legal option to seek compensation for claims that four former troopers fabricated reports and manufactured evidence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brown, now 27, was adjudicated delinquent in juvenile court of first-degree murder and the homicide of an unborn child. He had been released from custody at age 18 before the state Supreme Court in July 2018 reversed his conviction. The four former troopers one now deceased that were named in the lawsuit had leading roles in the murder investigation, conducting interviews and drafting the affidavit of probable cause used to charge Brown. They are being sued over allegations they violated his federal civil rights by filing charges that lacked probable cause and fabricating evidence. State police spokesperson Myles Snyder said the agency, following policy on pending litigation, would not comment on the lawsuit. The troopers have argued they did not fabricate or conceal any evidence, nor did they violate Browns constitutional rights. Theyve said they had probable cause to arrest him, given what they see as his ability and opportunity to commit the crime and that he possessed a 20-gauge shotgun. Brown is seeking damages for emotional and mental harm, lost wages, legal costs and the time he spent in custody. His attorney, Alec Wright, said Brown had been in juvenile facilities for three or four years before he was old enough to comprehend his predicament. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At that point Jordan has two options, Wright said. Succumb to the pain of not seeing your family, not celebrating birthdays, not being free, or do your best to get through this situation that your family says has a finite end. He chose the latter. The National Registry of Exonerations says about 800 civil awards since 1989 to exonerees have amounted to about $3.3 billion, or roughly $325,000 for each year of wrongful incarceration. For Pennsylvania, the registry lists 32 civil awards that were worth a collective $110 million. Jordan Brown is not among those listed on the National Registry of Exonerations because the registry requires there be some evidence favorable to the defendant that was not presented at trial. In his case, his juvenile adjudication was vacated on grounds of insufficient evidence. Its hard to imagine a more horrifying experience than having been convicted of a crime you didnt commit, said George Washington University law professor Jeffrey Gutman, who maintains the exoneration compensation database. Youve lost your liberty, your livelihood, your family connections, potentially your health, often for decades, for something you didnt do. So society owes people who have had a terrible roll of the dice a remedy for that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jordan and his father, Chris Brown, were living with the 26-year-old Houk and her two girls, aged 4 and 7, when Houk was shot to death in her bed. Chris Brown had left for work and was eliminated as a suspect. Police and prosecutors pursued a theory that Jordan Brown, then a fifth-grader, used a youth model, 20-gauge shotgun to kill Houk in the minutes before he and Houks 7-year-old daughter went down their snow-covered driveway to meet the morning school bus. The shooting came to light when a crew picking up firewood realized Houks 4-year-old daughter was crying at the front door at about 9 a.m. on Feb. 20, 2009. By 3 a.m. the next day Brown had been charged as an adult, although his case was later sent to juvenile court. In 2012, Brown was adjudicated delinquent, which in Pennsylvania is the juvenile equivalent to being found guilty. Houks sister, Jennifer Kraner, said she was inside the juvenile courtroom for proceedings against Brown and believes he did it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Obviously, theres never justice, to bring her back, Kraner said. But its not something were comfortable with, him becoming a millionaire upon it. It seems absolutely ludicrous. A key piece of prosecution evidence came from interviews investigators had with the 7-year-old. The girl said, according to the lawsuit, that she saw Jordan Brown with two guns and that she heard a big boom before Jordan came out and they went to the bus. Brown argued in the lawsuit that the interviews contained numerous inconsistencies and contradictions and were not reliable. The state Supreme Court freed Brown, saying in a unanimous opinion that investigators produced no eyewitnesses, no DNA or fingerprint evidence, and no blood or biological material on the boys clothing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police investigated Houks ex-boyfriend, who had just moved 10 miles (16 kilometers) from her home, but eliminated him as a suspect. Houk had told him a paternity test showed that Houks 4-year-old daughter was not his child, and the night before Houk was killed, he had confronted Houks parents at a bar, according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit alleges the ex-boyfriend had made death threats against Houk and several of her relatives, although he denied doing so in testimony at Browns juvenile court hearing. A 2014 state Supreme Court summary of the case said the ex-boyfriend told police in a voluntary interview that he had been in the basement of his parents home after 10 p.m. the night before Houk was killed. At Browns hearing, he said he left the next morning at about 9 a.m. to return an auto part to a store. A test of his hands showed no gunshot residue and there was still snow on his truck that investigators said would not have survived the drive to the house where Houk was killed, according to the court summary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brown told police he saw a black pickup truck on the property the morning of the killing, a description that matched the ex-boyfriends Ford F-150. Wright believes no investigation into the killing has occurred since the state Supreme Court freed his client. Lawrence County District Attorney Joshua Lamancusa did not return a message seeking comment. When the lawsuit was filed four years ago, Brown told The Associated Press he hoped a favorable verdict might dispel any lingering doubts about his innocence. You dont just win a lawsuit over injustice for no reason, he said. These days Brown is running a western Pennsylvania beer distributorship with his father and has plans to finish his college degree, Wright said. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW LONDON (AP) A legal claim against Britains domestic intelligence agency by more than 300 survivors of a bombing that killed 22 people at a 2017 Ariana Grande concert in Manchester was rejected Friday by a special tribunal. Judges on the U.K.s Investigatory Powers Tribunal said the claimants waited too long to bring their case, which alleged that MI5 violated their human rights by failing to take measures that could have prevented the disaster. Suicide bomber Salman Abedi set up a knapsack bomb in Manchester Arena at the end of Grande's concert on May 22, 2017, as thousands of young fans were leaving. As well as the 22 dead, more than 100 people were injured, many of them children and teenagers. Abedi died in the explosion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An official inquiry reported last year that MI5 didnt act swiftly enough on key information and missed a significant opportunity to prevent the bombing, the deadliest extremist attack in the U.K. in recent years. Abedi had been a subject of interest to MI5 officials in 2014, but his case was closed shortly after because he was deemed to be low risk. The report also found one MI5 officer considered intelligence about Abedi to be a possible national security concern, but didnt discuss it with colleagues quickly enough. Ken McCallum, the head of MI5, said in a rare televised statement that he was profoundly sorry his agency was unable to prevent the attack. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Justice Rabinder Singh said the tribunal was conscious of the horrendous impact of the atrocity on the victims but said it would not be fair to let the claims proceed when they could have been filed sooner. Any reasonable person would have sympathy for them," Singh said. The grief and trauma which they have suffered, particularly where young children were killed, is almost unimaginable." Singh also noted that if the case had proceeded it would have taken MI5 away from its core mission. Three law firms representing the victims said in a statement that the ruling was extremely disappointing. "Our clients have had to endure continued delays but have done so with great patience and understanding in the hope that by allowing all legal processes to be fully explored, transparency and justice would be achieved, the statement said. Nov. 21A lawsuit filed in Pittsburg County District Court claims a local superintendent physically assaulted a three-year old student in 2023. The lawsuit, filed by the parents of the child this week, names Savanna Public Schools and Superintendent Adam Newman as the defendants. According to the lawsuit, the child was a student at Savanna Public Schools on Aug. 31, 2023, under one-on-one supervision by a paraprofessional in a classroom when Newman entered the classroom. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The suit claims Newman forcibly grabbed the child by the arm and pulled him to the floor and continued to forcibly hold the child by the arm and dragged him across the floor as the child was screaming and crying to let him go. "The incident lasted two to three minutes until a special education teacher intervened and de-escalated the situation and removed Newman's hands" from the child, the lawsuit contends. Two causes of action are claimed in the lawsuit, negligence and intentional infliction of emotional distress. On the claim of negligence, the suit states by law, the Savanna School District is legally responsible for Newman's negligent actions and the district breached its duty "because it failed to properly train Adan Newman on how to handle students with special needs." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lawsuit states the child endured physical pain and suffering, mental anguish and emotional distress, and other nonpecuniary losses "all to his detriment in a sum in excess of $75,000." Relief is also sought to prohibit Savanna Public Schools and its employees from retaliating against the plaintiffs, reasonable attorney fees, court costs, interest allowable by law, and any "other such and further relief as the court or jury deems just and equitable that is allowed by law and justified by the factual record." The claim of intentional infliction of emotional distress states the school district and Newman "acted intentionally or recklessly" and that Newman's "extreme and outrageous" conduct caused emotional distress against the child. Judgement requested for the second cause of action is similar to what was requested in the negligence claim with the amount in excess of $75,000, court and attorney fees, and other relief deemed just by a judge or jury. A response to the lawsuit was not filed by Savanna Public Schools or Newman as of Thursday. (Photo by Getty Images) The estate of a man who was shot and killed by eastern Iowa police after a high-speed chase in 2022 is now suing the officers involved. The estate of Kenneth Jamal Carrol and its administrator, Shanita Taylor, are suing the cities of Davenport and Bettendorf, as well as Davenport Police Officers Brandon Askew, Mason Pauley and Benjamin Betsworth, and Bettendorf Police Officer Zachary Thomas. Also named as defendants are Iowa State Troopers Kenneth Voorhees and Dwight Swartz, although the state is not named as a defendant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, alleges that on Oct. 30, 2022, the officers initiated an unlawful and pretextual traffic stop of a vehicle in which Carrol was a passenger. The lawsuit claims that after the traffic stop ended, police initiated a foot pursuit of Carrol and then engaged in excessive force and shot multiple times and killed Carrol. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages for the alleged pretextual traffic stop and the alleged use of excessive force. The defendants have yet to file a response to the lawsuit, although an investigation by the Scott County Attorneys Office concluded the shooting was justified. Authorities have said that on Oct. 16, two weeks before the shooting, police had pursued a vehicle similar to the Hyundai Santa Fe that Carrol was in the night of Oct. 30, and that vehicle had successfully eluded police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Because of the earlier incident, police on Oct. 30 decided to follow Carrols vehicle which was then seen weaving and crossing the center line of the road. Police allege Carrol was the driver of the car, not a passenger as the lawsuit claims. Investigators later said that police dashcam footage shows Voorhees pursued Carrols vehicle at speeds of more than 100 mph before the Santa Fe struck a curb, left the roadway and came to rest in a ditch in a residential neighborhood after which the four individuals in the car, Carrol included, fled on foot. Carrol was pursued by troopers Voorhees and Swartz through the residential area when Carrol allegedly turned and fired shots in their direction, at which point the troopers returned fire. Police officers Askew, Pauley, Betsworth and Thomas also directed shots toward Carrol, according to the subsequent investigation by the Scott County Attorneys Office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That investigation found that the six officers fired a total of 53 rounds at Carrol, 13 of which struck Carrol, resulting in his death. The investigators concluded the officers use of deadly force was justified and reasonable under the circumstances. According to the investigators, Carrols blood-alcohol level was over the legal limit for driving and he also had methamphetamine and marijuana in his system at the time of the shooting. The investigators also stated the gun Carrol is alleged to have used was found 90 feet from his body and that it appeared he had fired all of the rounds in the weapon. I counted approximately 15 times that officers requested Mr. Carrol to get on the ground, said then-Scott County Attorney Mike Walton in a December 2022 press conference at the conclusion of the countys investigation. He never, never complied. And eventually thats what caused the shooting. Because had he gone to ground any of those times including after he shot at officers he would not have been shot. KABUL (Reuters) -At least 10 people were killed by gunmen in Afghanistan's northern Baghlan province, Interior Ministry Spokesperson Abdul Mateen Qaniee said on Friday. It was not immediately clear who was behind the attack. The Taliban took over the country in 2021 and vowed to restore security to the war-torn nation. Attacks have continued, many of them claimed by the local arm of the militant Islamic State (IS) group. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In September, 14 people were killed and six others injured in an attack claimed by IS in central Afghanistan. (Reporting by Mohammad Yunus Yawar in Kabul and Charlotte Greenfield in Islamabad; writing by Shilpa Jamkhandikar; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman) At least 38 people, including six women, have been killed by gunmen who opened fire on passenger vehicles carrying Shiite Muslims in northwest Pakistan on Thursday. Police said the attack, which happened in the district of Kurram in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, is one of the deadliest in the region in recent years. Local police official Azmat Ali said several vehicles carrying passengers were travelling in a convoy from the city of Parachinar to Peshawar, the provincial capital, when gunmen opened fire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At least 10 passengers were in a critical condition at a hospital, he added. Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari condemned the attack and offered his condolences to the families of the victims, calling for authorities to take action against those who orchestrated the attack. Baqir Haideri, a local Shiite leader, denounced the assault, saying the terrorists martyred our innocent people after identifying them. Pattern of violence No one has claimed responsibility for the incident, which is the latest in a string of clashes between majority Sunni Muslims and minority Shiites that have killed dozens in recent years. Last week, authorities reopened a key highway in the region after closing it for weeks following deadly clashes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shiite Muslims make up about 15% of the 240 million-strong population of Sunni-majority Pakistan, which has a history of animosity between the two communities. Tensions have existed for decades in predominantly Shiite areas of the country, such as Kurram. Nearly 50 people from the two sides were killed over a land dispute in July when clashes between Sunni and Shiites erupted in the district. Related Pakistan is also currently carrying out intelligence-based operations in a separate conflict in Balochistan province. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In November, Pakistan's prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, approved a "comprehensive military operation" against separatist groups, who often target police, troops and civilians. Most violence in these areas has been blamed on the Pakistani Taliban and the outlawed Baloch Liberation Army. Earlier this month, an outlawed group killed 26 people in a suicide bombing at a train station, according to local officials. They dubbed themselves online as the "rickandmortyshop" and shipped stuffed animals across the country, but federal investigators allege the suspects behind the darknet business were shipping toys filled with methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin. Jerrell Eugene Anderson, 34, of Santa Clarita, the alleged leader of the ring, was sentenced Thursday to 96 months in federal prison for the scheme, the U.S. attorney's office announced. Anderson and his co-conspirators used darknet marketplaces to sell the drugs, prosecutors allege, shipping the stuffed animals from U.S. post offices. The darknet is a part of the internet that can be accessed only through special software. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On the darknet, the ring advertised its illicit business with monikers such as "Drugpharmacist" and "rickandmortyshop," in reference to the popular adult cartoon, according to prosecutors. Read more: A dark-web drug dealer at 20, he bought luxury cars and gold-plated guns. Then he got caught The group used stash houses in the San Fernando Valley to deliver the drugs hidden in stuffed animals. The scheme ran from at least July 2018 until March 2019. In August 2018, prosecutors allege, one of those packages reached a customer in Knoxville, Tenn., who died after using the heroin. Anderson pleaded guilty in June to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession of heroin with the intent to distribute, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other defendants in the investigation, including Christopher Canion Von Holton, 37; Kenneth Lashawn Hadley, 37; Adan Sepulveda; and Jackie Walter Burns, each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, according to the U.S. Justice Department. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. KANSAS CITY, Mo. Homicide detectives in Lees Summit are piecing together a timeline and evidence after a man was found shot and killed in a home on Friday morning. Lees Summit police say officers went to the home on SW Rutherford Drive, just southwest of the intersection of 150 Highway and SW Pryor Road, at about 8 a.m. after someone called 911 to report the shooting. Merriam police investigating shooting connected to crash Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The man was found dead at the scene, and Lees Summit police say the suspect had fled prior to their arrival but surrendered within a few hours and is in custody. On Saturday, November 23, police identified the victim as 51-year-old Craig L. Scott of Lees Summit. Additionally, police identified the suspect at 31-year-old Keith J. Marshall of Kansas City, Mo. Marshall is still in custody and is being charged with second-degree murder, two counts of armed criminal action, first-degree burglary and unlawful use of a weapon. Bond has been set at $250,000, according to court documents. This is an ongoing investigation, FOX4 will provide updates as theyre made available. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. Jan Murtha, executive director for the North Dakota Retirement and Investment Office, speaks during a meeting of the Employee Benefits Programs Committee on Oct. 31, 2024. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor) A key person involved with overseeing the Legacy Fund announced her resignation Friday. Jan Murtha, executive director of the state Retirement and Investment Office, announced she is leaving state government to pursue philanthropic and private sector opportunities. Her last day will be Jan. 3. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Retirement and Investment Office administers investments of the $11.4 billion Legacy Fund and other government funds, including the Teachers Fund for Retirement. The resignation comes as some Republican lawmakers plan to propose a bill in the upcoming legislative session to require more transparency of Legacy Fund investments. Murtha has led the office since November 2021. The State Investment Board on Friday appointed a search committee to identify an interim executive director. A special board meeting will be scheduled after Gov.-elect Kelly Armstrong takes office to appoint the interim director and a new chair for the board. The State Investment Board is responsible for hiring the executive director. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The State Investment Board also recognized other outgoing leaders, Lt. Gov. Tammy Miller, who has served as chair since 2023, and Office of Management and Budget Director Susan Sisk. By statute, both the governor and the head of the Office of Management and Budget are members of the board. Burgum and previous governors have delegated the position to the lieutenant governor. Armstrong this week announced that he has named Joe Morrissette to lead the Office of Management and Budget along with several other Cabinet appointments. Additional appointments are expected. With a cigar in his mouth, Winston Churchill stares out at the besieged eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk. In fact, while the city is increasingly deserted, there are more than a dozen Churchills still here, scowling over the ruins in the form of statues, portraits, and photographs. As artillery booms nearby, Oleksiy Yudin, the proud owner of the recently opened Churchill Store, looks nervously out of the window. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To stop Putins little devil, we need Churchill back! Mr Yudin cries out, before adapting a 1941 quote from the wartime prime minister: Give us the weapons, and we will do the dirty job! Behind him stands a full-length portrait of Churchill in a top hat and tails, emblazoned on the side of a drinks fridge and beaming with apparent approval. There are fewer customers than Mr Yudin, 46, would like for his cafe venture, which opened in April. The Churchill-themed cafe includes a full-length portrait of the British wartime leader - Fermin Torrano Pokrovsk is in the crosshairs of Russias advancing army, as it serves as a key logistics hub supporting Ukraines army across the Ukrainian frontline. Of the nearly 2,000 square kilometres ceded by Kyiv in the last 12 months, more than half has been lost in the Pokrovsk direction, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a think tank. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, Russian troops sit just 6km away. Western intelligence officials suggest Ukraine may be forced to retreat from the city as soon as December. Tens of thousands of residents have left, with evacuations running by bus because the train station is closed. Dragons teeth - sharp concrete blocks designed to block tanks - now line the city streets. The main bridges have been destroyed by a remorseless bombardment. On Wednesday, British long-range Storm Shadow missiles hit Russian territory for the first time, following in the wake of a US-supplied Atacms strike the day before. However, there have been long delays in approving the use of Western weapons against targets inside Russia, and Ukraines position has been steadily worsening on the front lines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In parts of eastern Ukraine, Russian soldiers outnumber their Ukrainian counterparts six to one and Kyivs troops have complained of increasing shortfalls in ammunition for other Western weapons systems, such as the Himars, which fires 50 miles compared to the Atacms 190. To Mr Yudin, Churchill represents everything the current crop of Western leaders lack. Its difficult to explain, but I admire him greatly. He was an intelligent, courageous person with a justice-seeking ideal. Nato and its leaders, on the contrary, are weak and abandoned us, he says. First, they negotiated the deal for Ukraine to give up its nuclear weapons in 1994, he adds, then they let Russia invade us breaking the Budapest agreements pledge to defend Ukraines territorial integrity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Churchill had warned his fellow leaders not to trust the Soviets. While respecting the Red Armys efforts in helping to secure the defeat of the Nazis, he cautioned that Stalins desire for territorial expansion - a trait shared by the Kremlins current inhabitant - could well destabilise Europe. In many ways, Mr Yudin shows the same indomitable spirit as the former British prime minister he so admires having faced setbacks that would break other men. In 2023, his home in Avdiivka was destroyed as Russia moved in to capture the city. A beach bar he owned in the artificial lake dubbed the Donetsk Maldives was destroyed in shelling, as were some garages and shops he owned. Fleeing Avdiivka, he made the journey just 60km west to Pokrovsk, while others travelled far further away to escape the Russian onslaught. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anything can happen, but I trust in Gods providence. The Churchill Store began construction when Avdiivka was still under Ukrainian control and we never thought the Russians could get here, Mr Yudin admits. For those residents who remain, the shop offers a chance to chat over coffee and pep up their spirits under the watchful eye of Churchill. Now Mr Yudin also procures supplies for the army and delivers aid to front line villages. In Pokrovsk, curfew starts at 3pm and pensioners can get free food and water at invincibility centres. Where am I supposed to go? Ive got nowhere else to live, says Viktor, 76, with two six-litre jugs in his hands. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Only 11,000 citizens remain in Pokrovsk, down from 70,000, and many of them will hold out until the last possible moment before they must evacuate to save their lives. The cafe venture opened in April - Fermin Torrano Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For now, Mr Yudin, like his hero, stands fast. I trust our military and the weather, he says. Winter days are shorter, and the drones fly less because the cold reduces the battery life. The Russians path is getting muddy, from the way up to here, its all fields. It wont be easy for them. He has enough money and friends to start over in any Ukrainian city. His daughter and son are far from the front and he could move his parents and join them. But he doesnt want to leave his home region and his neighbours. Often Mr Yudins mind turns to the synagogue he plans to build in the backyard of the Churchill Store. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I just want to be as close to home as possible. Im a patriot at heart, says the Ukrainian Jew. For the Russians, though, there will be no forgiveness. We will hunt down Russians just as Mossad did with Nazis and make them pay, he promises, for when the war is over. Mr Churchill would have likely met that sentiment with a grunt of approval. 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. Simon, 22, was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility for parole in the death of her 1-year-old son Quinton Chatham County Police Department Leilani Simon was sentenced in the death of her son, Quinton Simon Leilani Simon was sentenced in the death of her son, Quinton Simon Leilani Simon, the Georgia mother who was convicted of murder in the death of her 20-month-old son, has been sentenced to life in prison and she says she wants her son's ashes to be given to her brother. According to reports from the Savannah Morning News, WSAV and Newsweek, Chatham County Superior Court Judge Tammy Stokes sentenced 22-year-old Simon to life in prison with the possibility of parole plus 10 years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her sentencing comes over one month after she was found guilty of all 19 charges against her in connection with her 20-month-old son Quinton Simon's death more than two years ago. Chatham County Police Department Quinton Simon The one thing that I will say before pronouncing sentence is clearly little Quinton Simons life and death impacted many, many individuals but also the community at large, the judge said at the sentencing, per WSAV. Although Simon did not testify, she answered questions from the press, and stated that she wanted her son's remains to be released to her brother, Paul Simon. "I want my baby home," she said, per Newsweek. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Related: Quinton Simon's Mother Allegedly Beat Toddler to Death with 'Object' After Using Drugs: Prosecutors Quinton was first reported missing in early October 2022 when his mother called 911 to tell police the boy had vanished from his playpen at the familys Georgia home. Days later, police publicly stated that Simon was the "prime suspect" in her son's disappearance, and said at a press conference per WTOC-TV that she was holding out hope her son was still alive. The 22-year-old mother said at the time that she hoped her son would be found "happy and alive. We want him back in our arms, holding us. That's what we want." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We're just hoping that he's in somebody's house and they're feeding him and maybe they wanted a baby or couldn't have a baby," she told the station. "Maybe they thought they were his savior. That's our best hope at this point." She maintained her innocence for more than a month until investigators discovered the boy's body in a nearby landfill, according to local outlet WJCL. Chatham County Police Department Quinton Simons 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. Related: Grandfather of Missing Toddler Quinton Simon Killed in Hit-and-Run Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During her trial, acquaintances, family members and authorities testified against Simon, including her son's 17-year-old babysitter, who alleged that Simon was physically abusive and neglectful towards her son. "She said that she did not love him at all," the babysitter testified in October, per WJCL, recalling incidents where Simon pushed Quinton into a pool, refused to help him down the stairs resulting in him becoming injured and hit him. Defense attorneys for Simon argued that the state's case didn't have enough evidence and was too based on emotions to convict her. "We said at the beginning that most, if not all, of the State's case was based on speculation and character assassination," defense attorney Martin Hilliard said during closing statements, per Newsweek. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Simon was convicted last month of two felony murder counts, a malice murder count, concealing a death, reporting a false crime and 14 counts of making false statements to investigators. If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages. President Joe Biden has given the green light for Ukraine to launch U.S.-supplied missiles into Russia. I really dont care if this is an escalation of the war. Ukraine is smaller than Texas and has endured thousands of missiles and drones being launched over the course of the war. Cities have been destroyed, thousands of soldiers and civilians have been killed. Just think of cities in Texas being hit with this many missiles. Hundreds of thousands of Russian soldiers have been in combat and yet Ukraine keeps fighting back. The Russians had to call in North Korean troops to supplement their forces. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This war should have never been allowed to happen. NATO should have stopped the Russian invasion, I dont care how but they should have. The Russians have said that allowing Ukraine to fire missiles is an escalation and could lead to World War III. They cant even defeat a small nation without help. The incoming administration is probably going to try and make a deal that will more than likely not be in the best interest of Ukraine. I hope Ukraine puts one big hurt on Russian cities using U.S. missiles. I stand behind the Ukrainian people. Brian Ritz South Heidelberg Township ST. LOUIS More than 100 people have been sickened in an ongoing E. coli outbreak potentially connected to salads served at several events, St. Louis County health officials reported Wednesday. Despite a recent negative test result for lettuce samples from Andres Banquets & Catering, investigators remain focused on the local catering company as the probable source of contamination. John Armengol Jr., owner of Andres Banquet Center, says that the St. Louis County Health Department is wrongly suggesting that Andres was the source of the E Coli. He recently issued a statement on the outbreak. A portion of it states, Earlier today, an Environmental Public Health Specialist from the State of Missouri notified me that testing done on the samples was negative for E. coli. While I am relieved to learn of the Missouri State Public Health Laboratorys negative test results, I will continue to cooperate with the state and local health departments. St. Louis County student wounded in I-55 shooting Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The outbreak has primarily impacted students from Rockwood Summit High School, with one patient currently hospitalized. Health department officials have linked the illnesses to five events held between November 6-9, including two funerals, a high school band banquet, and a veterans event. Dozens of people are reporting similar symptoms tied to a common exposure. While a Monday lettuce sampling returned negative results, health officials emphasized that such tests can miss isolated pockets of bacteria. The investigation continues as the company faces potential legal challenges, with at least two lawsuits already filed. Andres has denied responsibility, claiming some students were ill before the catered events. The Missouri Department of Health is conducting ongoing interviews and monitoring the outbreak, with further testing and investigation expected in the coming weeks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. Nov. 21A high-risk predatory offender living in rural Alden pleaded guilty in Freeborn County District Court on Thursday to a predatory offender registration violation for having a phone number that he did not disclose on his registration. Jason Michael Sokolofsky, 41, faced three counts tied to registration violations and one count of fifth-degree controlled substance possession stemming from contact authorities made with him in March 2022. Sokolofsky, who is classified as a Level 3 offender, is court-ordered to register with the Minnesota Predatory Offender Registration at the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension through March 4, 2035. Registration includes reporting addresses of primary and secondary residences; any property owned, leased or rented in the state; employment addresses; the year, make, model, license plate and color of vehicles owned or regularly driven; as well as all telephone numbers including work, school, home and cellular telephone service. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the Minnesota Department of Corrections, Sokolofsky, 41, engaged in sexual contact with a known female teenager when he was 25, taking advantage of the victim's vulnerable state to gain compliance. Court documents state Freeborn County Sheriff's Office deputies made contact with Sokolofsky in March 2022, and he told them his current phone number, which was different than any of the other phone numbers listed on his registration. He also provided a vehicle registration not on the registration. A few days later, a detective interviewed Sokolofsky and he reportedly admitted to having two additional new phone numbers and acknowledged there had been three numbers not reported. Two other phone numbers were registered. He said his wife had reportedly had the vehicle for about a year, and he acknowledged he had access to it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When he was arrested, authorities found a silver tube that contained methamphetamine. Sokolofsky was previously convicted of predatory offender failure to register in 2017. The charge he pleaded guilty to on Thursday carries with it a two-year mandatory minimum prison sentence. SIOUX FALLS S.D. (KELO) Here are this mornings top stories with KELOLAND On the Go. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now KELOLAND This Morning 215 Lincoln High School students will soon embark on a field trip that will take them all the way to New York City. Lincoln band looking forward to making Macys music Throughout this week, community leaders and advocates in Sioux Falls have been raising awareness about hunger and homelessness. Call to Freedom and South Dakota Urban Indian Health teamed up to bring to light issues like human trafficking and Missing, Murdered Indigenous People. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Filling in the cracks: Awareness for MMIP, human trafficking ! Its a chilly start to the day, but a seasonably cool day is ahead with some sunshine and light winds through the region. Partly cloudy skies are ahead tonight, with partly sunny skies for many areas tomorrow as winds turn around to the southeast. It still looks dry for the first half of the weekend. Seasonable Weekend; Colder start to next week For the latest top stories and breaking news, download our news app. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com. The holiday season is right around the corner, which means the hunt for the perfect Christmas tree is on. For those looking to bring home a real tree, permits are available now for all Oregon national forests. How to purchase a permit to cut your Christmas tree from an Oregon national forest Christmas tree permits are available for purchase online at recreation.gov (with an added $2.50 processing fee charged by the website) and at local U.S. Forest Service offices or from local vendors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Permits are $5 each, and each permit allows the cutting of one Christmas tree. Households can purchase a maximum of five permits. If you're coming from Salem or Eugene, head east to Willamette National Forest or head west to Siuslaw National Forest. If you're coming from Portland, head east to Mount Hood National Forest. For downloadable maps of tree-cutting areas and a list of local vendors selling tree permits, go to bit.ly/WNFtree. Fourth-grade students can receive a free tree permit by getting their Every Kid Outdoors pass and entering the voucher or pass number when prompted on Recreation.gov or by visiting a Forest Service office. Turn your trip to get a Christmas tree into an outdoor adventure by harvesting in a national forest. During your tree hunt Here are some things to remember for a successful Christmas tree hunt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Remember the rules: Each national forest has specific guidelines on which trees can be cut down and taken, so be sure to check out the forest's rules online before cutting your tree. It's important to remember harvest is prohibited around campgrounds and within 50 feet of trails and paved roads. Prepare for the weather: Be sure to dress appropriately as you'll be hunting in the forest. Snow and ice conditions can also make traveling on the forest roads very dangerous. Make sure your vehicle is equipped to handle road conditions. Consult a map: Maps of the forests show where harvesting trees is legal and not legal. Maps are available online for Willamette National Forest, Siuslaw National Forest and Mount Hood National Forest. Know what tree you want: Noble, Pacific silver, Douglas and grand firs are varieties you're allowed to harvest, so you want to be able to identify the trees. Remember that you are not allowed to take whitebark pine, western white pine or Pacific yew. When you get home After you find your perfect tree, keep your tree fresh and safe with these reminders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cut and water your tree: Once you get your tree home, cut half an inch off the stump to help with water uptake, and make sure to water your tree daily. Well-watered trees keep their scent longer. Get the right tree stand: Use a sturdy tree stand that holds at least 1 gallon of water. Make sure you refill the container daily, as an average tree may consume 1 to 4 quarts of water daily. Place your tree away from heat sources: Do not place your Christmas tree within 3 feet of any heat source, like a radiator. Live tree fires outnumber artificial tree fires by 3-1. Search for ornaments while youre out and about The Willamette Valley Visitors Association has hidden 200 locally crafted wooden ornaments across non-wilderness trails in the Willamette and Umpqua national forests. They can be found in the following ranger districts: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Detroit Sweet Home McKenzie River and Middle Fork of the Willamette National Forest Cottage Grove on the Umpqua National Forest Ornament hunters can find details on the association's website about registering their ornament to win the grand prize of a two-day getaway to the Willamette Valley and for a list of participating trails. Statesman Journal reporter Alexander Banks contributed to this report. Zach Urness has been an outdoors reporter in Oregon for 16 years and is host of the Explore Oregon Podcast. He can be reached at zurness@StatesmanJournal.com or (503) 399-6801. Find him on X at @ZachsORoutdoors. This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: How to cut your Christmas tree from Oregon's national forests Spence Korte, the superintendent of Milwaukee Public Schools from 1999 to 2002, worked in the 1970s in Washington, D.C., where he was involved in developing the first federal efforts to address the needs of special education students nationwide. Korte told me once that some of the politicians involved in the process wanted to know what percentage of students would be covered by what became the Education for All Handicapped Children Act, signed into law by then-President Gerald R. Ford in 1975. Korte said that around 7% was the best estimate. At the time the law was created, Congress said the aim was for federal aid to cover 40% of the average per pupil cost of special education. Wrong and wrong. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The percentage of students who were covered by the law known now as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act quickly exceeded the original estimate. The percentage nationwide now is around 15%. In Wisconsin in 2023-24, the state Department of Public Instruction listed 124,572 Wisconsin public school students as having special education needs, out of 813,986 students. At 15.3%, this is close to the national rate. In some places, such as in Milwaukee Public Schools, about 20% of students receive special education services. And the federal government never lived up to the 40% goal. In recent times, federal money has covered an estimated 8% of special education costs. The result is easy to see: Special education programs are big and expensive, and federal aid is not all that helpful. This leaves state governments and local school districts shouldering big costs. And, at the state funding level, Wisconsin is one of the least supportive states in the country, leaving local schools with a bigger share of the costs than in most places. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This means that special ed funding is an increasingly big issue for local school districts across Wisconsin, which is why it is shaping up as a central issue maybe the central issue in setting the state education budget for the coming two school years. Work on the next two-year state budget is already underway, even if the deadline of next June for setting the budget may seem far off. For the fourth budget cycle in a row, going back to 2019, increasing state support of special ed is a top priority of many local public school leaders and advocates. The urgency and adamancy underlying their calls appears to be higher than in the past. Wisconsins state share of special ed funding declined for years, dropping to about 25% by the mid-2010s. That was the lowest figure of any state. Past rounds of advocacy for increases brought the rate up to the current level of 33%, but that was far short of what local school leaders wanted, with many calling for 60%. The current state superintendent of public instruction, Jill Underly, has already called for an increase of $2 billion in state aid for special ed costs in the 2025-27 state budget. That would raise the state share of costs from the current 33% to 90%. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Underlys proposal along with other big ticket ideas she is proposing for the state budget is far from the final word on the subject. In recent budget cycles, calls from Underly and her predecessor as state superintendent, now-Gov. Tony Evers, have been largely ignored. (Furthermore, between now and the end of the budget cycle there will be the election of a state superintendent for the next four years. Underly is expected to face a challenge not only from the conservative side of the education spectrum, but from her own liberal side, with Sauk Prairie Superintendent Jeff Wright lining up public school organizations to endorse him. Very interesting, and a subject for another time.) Will the outcome of this state budget be more satisfactory to public school leaders when it comes to special ed money? Here are three reasons why this could happen: The issue has statewide support Urban or rural, large or small, Republican-oriented or Democratic-oriented, every school district in Wisconsin is facing pressures around money. Special ed costs are a big reason for that (not to minimize the cumulative impact of general state aid increases that have been comparatively small for more than a decade). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The big increase in the number of school districts putting referendum proposals in front of local voters has helped some districts, but that underscores the overall financial pressure on schools. And helping kids with special education needs has broad, sometimes bipartisan appeal. More: Analysis shows full special education funding could avert some school referendums Special ed increases would also mean general ed increases The more local schools have to spend on special ed (much of which is required by law), the less they have for their general education programs. Increasing special ed aid would have the practical effect of freeing up money for general budgets. It would almost be like increasing state aid while dodging the issue of raising the local school revenue caps that have been part of the states education funding system for three decades. The impact of private school vouchers For years, public school advocates criticized private schools that enroll students using publicly funded vouchers for not taking very many students with special education needs. So the Legislature created a program to fund vouchers (officially known as scholarships) for special ed students in private schools, beginning in the 2016-17 school year. The program started out small, with 215 students statewide. It has grown each year since then. This fall, the program funded 2,602 students. Thats still a relatively small number, but prospects are for the total to continue to grow. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One important fact is that the state funding of private school vouchers is generous. The payments started generally at $12,000 per student in 2016 and are now generally $15,409 per student, according to the state Department of Public Instruction. Thats considerably more than state aid for special ed students in public schools (although local funding for special ed raises the per-student spending to levels that can be comparable to the state payments for private school students). Public school advocates say it is not fair that private students get more state aid than public students. That point might carry some weight with some legislators. More: After 30 years of vouchers and charters, report examines state of Milwaukee schools The Wisconsin Legislature particularly the Joint Committee on Finance that is central to setting the budget has a long history of making big decisions about school issues with no public hearings and minimal, if any, discussion. Overall levels for funding schools, expansion of the states private school voucher programs, mandates for policies on controversial subjects they all have emerged from backrooms where what went on was kept out of view. Maybe this time, with a spotlight on state aid for special education costs, funding will be dealt with in a more public fashion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the Nov. 5, elections, Republicans retained their majorities in both the state Assembly and Senate, and they will continue to have the majority of votes on the joint finance committee. But those majorities are narrower, and Gov. Evers, of course, is a Democrat. Does that make it more likely to have more middle-of-the-road or compromise-oriented decisions? Will there be grand bargains that involve special ed funding, the way there was a grand bargain in 2023 that raised per-pupil support for students using vouchers or attending charter schools? Much will happen between now and June. But count on public school officials to push hard for more generous special ed funding. Maybe this time, they will have more success. Alan Borsuk Alan J. Borsuk is senior fellow in law and public policy at Marquette Law School. He can be reached at alan.borsuk@marquette.edu. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Special ed funding an increasingly big issue for schools statewide Nov. 21LIMA A Lima man pleaded guilty Thursday to assault and firearm charges with an agreed minimum sentence of 11 years in prison, five of which are mandatory. Dewayne Carter Jr., 43, pleaded guilty to third-degree felonies of attempted assault, illegal possession of a firearm in a liquor permit premises and having weapons while under disability along with a second-degree felonious assault charge with a three-year firearm specification. Allen County Common Pleas Court Judge Jeffrey Reed explained Carter would be eligible to apply for judicial release after 10 years are served. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sentencing was set for 8 a.m. Dec. 10. The charges stem from two incidents, one on Jan. 12 and one on April 30. According to court documents, on Jan. 12, Lima police went to the Bite & Buzz parking lot at 701 S. Main St. on a report of a shooting. Police found a male in the parking lot with non-life-threatening gunshot wounds on the right side of his face and his inner right thigh and a broken jaw. Carter had fled the scene and was not immediately located. The victim said he knew Carter, adding that the altercation centered around Carter's wife. Reach Charlotte Caldwell at 567-242-0451. Featured Local Savings When Donald Trump won all seven swing states as well as majorities in both the House and Senate earlier this month, he looked unstoppable. Like a king in a medieval court, the president-elect likes to rule with advisers circling his gilded throne in Mar-a-Lago. And on Nov 5, King Trump rode into battle and came out victorious. On Thursday, however, the reality of governing in Americas imperfect democracy set in. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Matt Gaetz, his pick for attorney general, was forced to give up his nomination after it became clear he did not have the support of the Senate. Four senators reportedly opposed his appointment, kiboshing the Republicans slim majority in the reconstituted upper chamber. Alleged sex and drug parties The debacle unfolded amid allegations Mr Gaetz slept with a 17-year-old high school girl at sex and drug parties. Mr Gaetz denies the claims, but the threat of an impropriety row in the first days of Mr Trumps second term was too much for some senators to handle. After talking tough on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, Mr Gaetz has released a statement regretting that the controversy around him was becoming a distraction to the transition team. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his own remarks on Truth Social, Mr Trump said: Matt has a wonderful future, and I look forward to watching all of the great things he will do! It came just days after the president-elect doubled down on his support for Mr Gaetz, giving a television reporter who asked him if he was reconsidering his pick a firm no at a SpaceX launch in Texas on Tuesday. Thursdays episode is an uncomfortable reminder for Mr Trump of the obstacles that will stand in his way in Washington after he takes office on Jan 20. The Senate may prove difficult, especially when faced with some of Mr Trumps more ambitious policy suggestions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is already debate over whether the carpet-bombing of federal bureaucracy planned by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy will require primary legislation. If it does, then some senators will surely object. Looming over the transition team are further questions about the background of some of his Cabinet choices. Pete Hegseth, Mr Trumps nominated defence secretary, has been accused of drugging and sexually assaulting a woman at a political conference in California. He denies the allegations, and on Thursday the Trump team issued a statement to the media suggesting Mr Hegseth will not face the same issues as Mr Gaetz when it comes to confirming his nomination in the Senate. An exceptional cabinet The statement listed endorsements from 11 Republican senators and the declaration: President Donald J Trump has nominated an exceptional cabinet to implement his America First agenda. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For some, the political chicanery of Mr Trumps nominations are an unpleasant reminder of his battles with Congress during his first term. The formation of the president-elects first Cabinet was delayed by some weeks as he convinced senators to confirm his choices. Later in the term, he was impeached twice and wrangled with his own attorney general over the Mueller report into Russian interference in the 2016 election. It has been suggested that Mr Trump knew that the Gaetz nomination would be controversial, and that his appointment was mooted as a stalking horse to flush out potential rebels in the Senate. The argument runs that now Mr Gaetz has been forced to withdraw, Republicans will not dare to challenge any of the other nominations Mr Trump has put forward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is also possible that this was a strategic misstep, reportedly made without the knowledge or consent of the president-elects svengali, Susie Wiles. Perhaps Mr Trumps desire to reward an ally in the House who helped him depose the former Speaker Kevin McCarthy last year overrode his political judgement. Whatever the explanation, there is no escaping the fact that Mr Trump heads into the third weekend after the election looking his weakest since polling day. He won office again while pledging to take on the creatures of the Washington establishment, but their response has been clear. They are willing to fight back. 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. SIOUX FALLS, SD (KELO) 215 members of the Lincoln High School marching band leave this weekend for New York City to perform in the Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade. Its the schools fourth time in the parade, the last one being in 2008. Band members are excited to make music and memories in the Big Apple. Lincoln junior Will Raethers heart will be pounding right along with his drumsticks when he plays next week in the Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And its before a whole bunch of people, so always going to be nervous about that, Raether said. But pre-parade butterflies are all part of the experience of performing in the national spotlight. Because everybody watches the Macys parade. This is the second-most viewed event on television next to the Super Bowl, Lincoln High School Band Director Drew Balta said. The school submitted an audition video to parade organizers as part of the selection process. Lincoln was picked to be just one of six high schools to march in the parade. Newly elected lawmaker says he may not serve his term And we felt like we gave a pretty good pitch and we knew that we have had a great band for a number of years, Lincoln High School Band Director Dan Carlson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Taking part in the Macys parade is as much a test of endurance as it is a musical performance. The band members have been training to build their physical strength to complete the two-and-a-half mile-long parade route. My arms are killing me after mine because Im drumming the whole time so my wrists hurt. But my neck hurts the most because actually, which is really weird because Im just looking forward. But its resting on your shoulders so that kind of tenses that up, Lincoln junior Kara Brown said. The marching bands appearance in the Macys parade is the latest high note for a school thats built a national musical legacy for all to hear. It all works together in a way that makes it super special to everybody in it, to everybody outside of it, Raether said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Marching band members will leave early Sunday aboard five buses that will travel non-stop to New York. The band has scheduled some sightseeing during their time in the city, including a visit to Ground Zero and taking in a Broadway musical. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. In George Orwells classic depiction of an authoritarian society, Nineteen Eighty-four, a key component of political control is the states erasure of history: Every record has been destroyed or falsified, every book has been rewritten every date has been altered. After the thing is done, no evidence ever remains. That is the state of affairs Donald Trump would like to produce with respect to the federal cases against him, which special counsel Jack Smith has developed in painstaking detail over the last two years. Given Trumps impending return to the White House, Smith now has two months to wrap up his cases. The primary question left for him and the Justice Departments leadership is whether to produce a report of the Jan. 6 and classified documents cases and, if so, what it should look like. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Litman: Will Trump launch a reign of terror against his list of enemies? There's little to stop him The special counsel regulations that govern Smith require him to provide a confidential report to Atty. Gen. Merrick Garland explaining his decisions for or against prosecution. Garland has already made it clear that if he gets a report from Smith, he will exercise his discretion to make it public. Given what Smith and other prosecutors have described as the unprecedented circumstances of the defendants election, the regulatory prescription is an imperfect fit. Smith obviously decided to bring charges against Trump in both cases and likely prepared a prosecution memo at the time explaining his thinking to Garland and others. But political events force him to close up shop in the midst of those prosecutions. So what considerations should guide his and the departments thinking about the preparation and content of a report? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Litman: In Matt Gaetz, Donald Trump has chosen the anti-attorney general First and foremost, the public interest dictates that we have the fullest possible historical account of what happened, which is a recognized justification for special counsel reports. Special counsel Robert S. Mueller III, for instance, declined to charge then-President Trump but provided a detailed and damning account of his findings that ultimately became public. Smith has developed extensive evidence of truly grievous crimes, the worst ever allegedly committed by a president. The core of the Jan. 6 case is a breathtaking effort to exhort supporters to commit an insurrection and prevent the peaceful transfer of power, the sine qua non of a democracy. And the classified documents case presents probably the gravest violation of national security by a president, augmented by an extended and brazen campaign of obstruction of justice to impede the return of government property that Trump had no right to possess. In my mind, the need for a detailed report on the latter is greater. The House Jan. 6 committee developed a detailed public record of the plot that culminated in the insurrection. Moreover, the Justice Departments filings in the Jan. 6 case, especially its lengthy brief explaining the evidence it intended to present and why it was not foreclosed by the Supreme Court immunity decision, also left the public with a detailed account of Trumps conduct. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No such public account exists in the documents case. Thats because U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon has made a series of dubious rulings that have disrupted the departments presentation. One of them, dismissing the case on the fringe theory that Smith was not properly appointed as special counsel, is pending before the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. The holes in the historical account are significant. What was Trumps purported justification for spiriting the documents away to his Florida estate, Mar-a-Lago? How did he store them? Could they have been seen by foreign adversaries? Did he in fact show them to anyone, as the evidence that has become public suggests? And how did he and his co-defendants, Mar-a-Lago staff members Carlos De Oliveira and Walt Nauta, conspire to resist the governments lawful demands to return the documents? Trump and his circle are already adopting the stance that the election provided a decisive mandate for nullifying the prosecutions. We can be certain that when he takes the reins of government, he will have no compunction about destroying every last shred of information about them. In the style of Orwells Big Brother, he will likely try to scrub the pages of history of his misdeeds. That would be a travesty and a rank disservice to the American people and history. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps argument for popular nullification doesnt hold water in the first place. Far short of securing some decisive mandate, Trump appears to have received less than 50% of the vote, edging out Vice President Kamala Harris by one of the smallest popular-vote margins in history. Moreover, there is scant evidence that his winning coalition was moved by objections to the cases against him. Not that it would matter if they were. History is not a plebiscite in which 50% of the current population decides whats true and important. An accurate historical account is an independent value of a free society. Thats especially true in cases of heated disagreement about what happened. From that vantage point, it would be in the interest even of Trump and his co-defendants to have a full public record available. One strong case for the importance of an accurate historical record of contentious, searing events was offered by the 9/11 Commission. The report it produced, as the commission noted, was essential for historical understanding, preventing the spread of misinformation, reforming national security and readiness, and maintaining public confidence in government. All of these goals should be articles of faith in a democratic society. But it seems increasingly clear that this is not the sort of society Trump intends to foster. If he gets his way, historys record of his crimes will be replaced by blank pages. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harry Litman is the host of the Talking Feds podcast and the Talking San Diego speaker series. @harrylitman 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. By Nidal al-Mughrabi and Hussam al-Masri CAIRO/GAZA (Reuters) -Gazans saw little hope on Friday that International Criminal Court arrest warrants for Israeli leaders would slow down the onslaught on the Palestinian territory, where medics said at least 24 people were killed in fresh Israeli military strikes. In Gaza City in the north, an Israeli strike on a house in Shejaia killed eight people, medics said. Three others were killed in a strike near a bakery and a fisherman was killed as he set out to sea. In the central and southern areas, 12 people were killed in three separate Israeli air strikes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, Israeli forces deepened their incursion and bombardment of the northern edge of the enclave, their main offensive since early last month. The military says it aims to prevent Hamas fighters from waging attacks and regrouping there; residents say they fear the aim is to permanently depopulate a strip of territory as a buffer zone, which Israel denies. Residents in the three besieged towns on the northern edge - Jabalia, Beit Lahiya and Beit Hanoun - said Israeli forces had blown up dozens of houses. An Israeli strike hit the Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahiya, one of three medical facilities barely operational in the area, injuring six medical staff, some critically, the Gaza health ministry said in a statement. "The strike also destroyed the hospital's main generator, and punctured the water tanks, leaving the hospital without oxygen or water, which threatens the lives of patients and staff inside the hospital," it added. It said 85 wounded people including children and women were inside, eight in the ICU. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Later on Friday, the Gaza health ministry said all hospital services across the enclave would stop within 48 hours unless fuel shipments are permitted, blaming restrictions which Israel says are designed to stop fuel being used by Hamas. Gazans saw the ICC's decision to seek the arrest of Israeli leaders for suspected war crimes as international recognition of the enclave's plight. But those queuing for bread at a bakery in the southern city of Khan Younis were doubtful it would have any impact. "The decision will not be implemented because America protects Israel, and it can veto anything. Israel will not be held accountable," said Saber Abu Ghali, as he waited for his turn in the crowd. Saeed Abu Youssef, 75, said even if justice were to arrive, it would be decades late: "We have been hearing decisions for more than 76 years that have not been implemented and haven't done anything for us." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel launched its assault on Gaza after Hamas-led militants stormed across the border fence, killed 1,200 people and seized more than 250 hostages on Oct. 7, 2023. Since then nearly 44,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, much of which has been laid to waste. The court's prosecutors said there were reasonable grounds to believe Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant were criminally responsible for acts including murder, persecution, and starvation as a weapon of war, as part of a "widespread and systematic attack against the civilian population of Gaza". The Hague-based court also ordered the arrest of the top Hamas commander Ibrahim Al-Masri, also known as Mohammed Deif. Israel says it has already killed him, which Hamas has not confirmed. Israel says Hamas is to blame for all harm to Gaza's civilians, for operating among them, which Hamas denies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israeli politicians from across the political spectrum have denounced the ICC arrest warrants as biased and based on false evidence, and Israel says the court has no jurisdiction over the war. Hamas hailed the arrest warrants as a first step towards justice. Efforts by Arab mediators Qatar and Egypt backed by the United States to conclude a ceasefire deal have stalled. Hamas wants a deal that ends the war, while Netanyahu has vowed the war can end only once Hamas is eradicated. (Reporting and writing by Nidal al-Mughrabi Additional reporting by Hussam al-Masri in GazaEditing by Peter Graff) LITTLE ROCK, ARK. Officials with the Little Rock School District say a sharp decline in student enrollment over the last two years is forcing school board members to consider some hard decisions. The drop in enrollment is also leading to a drop in state funding. Over the last two years, LRSD has lost $12 million in funding. Now the school board is proposing to consolidate Carver and Washington elementary schools and close Brady Elementary. Arkansas could benefit from potential elimination of federal Department of Education, according to Secretary of Education Jacob Oliva Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many parents at the school board meeting voiced their disapproval of the proposal, some like Anisha Brooks saying that this is not the first time her child has been put in this position. My eldest daughter has been transitioned three times since she began school in 2019, Brooks said. She said changing schools has taken an emotional toll on her daughter. Every time theres a transition, shes losing her friends, shes losing her community, shes losing the teachers who care about her, Brooks said. Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders speaks in Oklahoma City on LEARNS, education Many teachers agreed with Brooks and other parents, like Latoya Morgan who said the school district is looking for solutions in the wrong place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If this district is truly intentional about, I guess, getting students back you would start having more conversations with the parents, Morgan said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLRT - FOX16.com. An updated version of this story can be found here. WAUPACA, Wis. (WFRV) The 47-year-old Wisconsin man found guilty of killing four Waupaca County siblings in a drunken driving crash just before Christmas 2023 is in court for a sentencing hearing. Scott Farmer pleaded no contest and was found guilty by the court on one count of operating while intoxicated and four counts of homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle during a plea hearing on August 7. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Farmer, who is from Neenah, was driving west in the eastbound lane on U.S. Highway 10 when he crashed into another vehicle head-on. The crash killed four siblings, Daniel (25), Fabian (23), Lilian (14), and Daniela (9) Gonzalez, who were out for their weekly Saturday dinner at Culvers following a shopping trip. At the crash scene, law enforcement reportedly found Farmer with an open bottle of vodka beside him. It is the fifth time Farmers been found guilty of driving while intoxicated. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. Anthropologist and author Jason De Leon said the problem with the topic of migration is that people "pedal these very simplistic stories and it's a very complex issue." To examine the issue of human smuggling, De Leon spent seven years closely studying the lives of men dedicated to smuggling migrants from Central America and Mexico into the U.S. The result was his nonfiction book, Soldiers and Kings: Survival and Hope in the World of Human Smuggling," which on Wednesday garnered De Leon the prestigious National Book Award for nonfiction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im still in pretty much in disbelief, De Leon told NBC News over the phone Thursday afternoon, in his first interview since winning the award. For De Leon, the award felt like a major win for a book about elements of migration that are totally overlooked. I ended up writing a book about a bunch of broken, beat down, mostly young men who taught me so much about what its like to try to survive, De Leon said. I think its a testament to just listening. I wanted to go in and listen to those guys. And once I did, and accepted that was my role as a listener, I just felt like I learned so much. Im super grateful for the experience and for the fact that those guys all really wanted to share their very important stories. The book, which was released in March, provides a close look at the rarely seen world of human smuggling and its connection to undocumented migration while providing a more nuanced portrait beyond the stereotypes of those doing the smuggling. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is the first in-depth and character-driven book looking into human smuggling through the real journeys and work of informants, gang leaders and guides, according to the University of California, Los Angeles, where De Leon teaches anthropology and Chicano studies and serves as the director of the Cotsen Institute of Archaeology. De Leon's book is grounded on seven years of research, which involved following a group of subjects to show the complexity of undocumented immigration and the realities and conditions that drive mass migration. While De Leon interviewed countless migrants and smugglers, his book focuses on the journeys of nearly half a dozen people from Honduras, Mexico and elsewhere. "We cannot begin to grapple with this issue until we understand all its complexities. Thats talking about smugglers, talking about the political economy of undocumented migration and people dont want that. They want to ignore these things. They want to say the solution is to build a wall ... the world doesnt work like that," he said. "For me, as a social scientist, as an anthropologist, my goal is to show people the reality that actually exists." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With this goal in mind, De Leon said he hopes that the stories compiled in his book help improve people's understanding of immigration issues and equip them with the knowledge necessary "to ask better questions of our leaders" and "begin to address these issues in a more nuanced way." The son of immigrant parents from Mexico and Philippines who had served in the Army, De Leon mostly lived in Long Beach, California, and the Rio Grande Valley in Texas constantly crossing the border into Mexico and growing up with relatives who were undocumented. Later in his professional career, De Leon became the executive director of the Undocumented Migration Project, a research nonprofit that seeks to raise awareness about global migration issues while also assisting families of missing migrants who are looking to reunite with their loved ones. The organization has been studying clandestine migration between Latin America and the U.S. since 2009 by using a combination of visual, archaeological and forensic methods "to understand this violent social process," according to De Leon's website. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite his years of experience, De Leon said he learned new lessons while working on the award-winning book. Thats the beauty of the research. I feel like Im constantly learning about the world," he said. "In writing a book about smugglers, I did not expect to be taught lessons about empathy, to be taught lessons about hope, to be taught to be more reflexive about my own position in the world. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com BOARDMAN, Ohio (WKBN) A locally owned, family-run business is holding a holiday fundraiser all in the name of helping other families who are going through what they did with one of their children. Home Carpet in Boardman is making the holiday special with Vs Trees. The family is giving away seven differently themed trees with all the proceeds going to Vails Voice Foundation. The family created the foundation to help other families with a child diagnosed with a serious or prolonged illness in the Mahoning Valley. George Rohan and Ashlee Russos daughter Vail, born in 2020, was diagnosed with Down Syndrome and Congenital Heart Disease. She developed a severe illness in 2021 that required indefinite hospitalization with multiple procedures and surgeries. In 2022, Vail received successful life-saving heart surgery, but the trajectory of her condition remains unknown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shes surpassed a lot of milestones that people counted her out on, and I think its just a testament to perseverance and our great community and all the resources weve tapped into, said Ashlee. So were hoping we can help others in that way. The family formed Vails Voice to not only celebrate and honor their now 4-year-old daughter but also to help other families going through the same types of circumstances. The foundation was established based off of my daughters story. She was born with Down syndrome. We had a complicated hospital stay and my husband and I spent five months living in our hospital room, said Russo. And so we essentially thought we need more resources to help families and kids who are in similar situations. So hence, we established the Vails Voice Foundation, and our goal is to help children with medical problems and their families have a little bit easier time. When we started this foundation, we all kind of put our heads together to see what we could do to help families that were in a similar situation to what George and Ashley and Vail all experienced, said Vails Godmother and board member of Vails Voice Kelsey Klim. What they realized is that there were a lot of families that were in the same position as them. However, they werent able to take off as much work as George and Ashley were able to. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The foundation is local but also reaches out to Akron. They were basically in a sense, blessed to have such a pool of people that could take leaves from work. They could be there with their baby the whole time where a lot of families cannot, said Vails Grandmother Gerri Rohan. They have other family members. They have to be at home. They have to work. So anything that you can give them food wise, restaurant tickets, gas tickets helps those families. One of the biggest things the foundation does is create care packages containing things like coffee mugs, winter hats, blankets, toiletries, and more. Theyve also been able to help individual families with specific needs like providing a wheelchair for a child transitioning from the hospital back home. The foundation also provides Thanksgiving dinners to families that are in the ICU or the PICU. With Vs Trees, all you have to do is stop in, buy a $10 ticket and home carpet will take care of the rest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have seven curated trees this year, said Klim. Vails grandmother Gerri creates these beautiful works of art that you can come in and buy raffle tickets for here at the store and then we raffle them off and if youre the lucky winner, you get to take it home for Christmas. You also get to take home all of the presents underneath the trees as well. We started it by fluke and it grew from two trees to now seven, and it keeps getting bigger and bigger, said Rohan. You win the tree, you take it home with you. We shrink-wrap it. Its in your house. All the money goes to the foundation. But the trees are just one part of the foundation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weve been particularly interested in going into the hospitals, delivering care kits, providing Thanksgiving Day meals, said Russo. Weve also held 12 or 13 individual families with groceries, medical costs, medical equipment, travel expenses. And so were really proud of what weve been able to do so far. Purchase a Vs Trees raffle tickets at Home Carpet located at 8479 Market Street in Boardman. For more information about other Vails Voice Foundation fundraisers and to donate, visit VailsVoice.org. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. BUCKHANNON, W.Va. (WBOY) With the Christmas shopping season just around the corner, the Small Business Administration (SBA) visited three businesses in Buckhannon this week to promote Small Business Saturday. The businesses that the SBA visited in Buckhannon will be offering special sales and events next Saturday. These businesses include The Squire on Main, Barnyard Babyz A2Z Kids Consignment, as well as a boutique, event center and coffee shop called The Outpost. It helps to be able to make awareness around how important it is to support small businesses. When you shop local, youre putting more of your hard-earned dollars back into the communities, towns, and the neighborhood in where you live, SBA WV District Director Karen Friel said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How West Virginias growing medical cannabis industry can benefit the economy According to the SBA, there are 115,224 small businesses in West Virginia which make up nearly 99% of businesses in the Mountain State and employ around half of West Virginias employees. The SBA worked with Barnyard Babyz and the Outpost to get them started. Barnyard Babyz A2Z Kids Consignment LLC Owner Anita McVicker told 12 News that the SBA helped her purchase the building that housed her infant retail store. Together, they came up with a business plan and financial projections to attract a lender. For Small Business Saturday, Barnyard Babyz A2Z Kids Consignment will be running special deals as well as a raffle. The Outpost will also be having sales as well as a hat bar where people are invited to make their own custom hats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the lead-up to Small Business Saturday, the Outpost will also have a free kids day on Nov. 24 that will include a visit from Santa, a hot cocoa bar, and cookie decorating. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. BLOUNTVILLE, Tenn. (WJHL) In early November, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee announced that his school voucher proposal would be refiled for 2025. The bill has been the topic of discussion between lawmakers since it was originally filed last year. Chief Meteorologist Mark Reynolds 2024-2025 Winter Weather Outlook In the Aug. 1 Republican primary, Bobby Harshbarger defeated incumbent Jon Lundberg in state Senate District 4 before winning the Nov. 5 general election. Lundberg, who chaired the Senate Education Committee, was a strong supporter of the voucher bill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harshbarger, who is the son of Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger, says he doesnt have a firm opinion on vouchers at this time. Before I could even open my mouth, I was automatically placed in the anti-voucher camp right from the get-go, Harshbarger said. I decided Im going to get educated on this issue. I reached out to homeschoolers, reached out to private schools, public schools, and everyone who had issues with last sessions bill. Harshbarger said he has looked over the new bill, and said he hopes the changes regarding funding will put him and his district at ease. From my understanding, theres been provisions set in that maintenance, not necessarily maintenance of effort, but maintenance for public education, Harshbarger said. So theyre wanting to put a floor under that so that when that particular system loses X number of children, theyre still going to be maintained. Because that was the biggest fear last session that theyll be defunded because tax dollars are just rolling out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Plaintiffs seek temporary halt to CSX rail repair permits in Nolichucky Republican Rep. Tim Hicks agrees with Harshbarger, choosing to keep an open mind about the bill. He said both the funding and the addition of a bonus for teachers is a positive change for the bill. It sort of takes care of a lot of the issues I think that a lot of folks had in Northeast Tennessee and in Washington County, Hicks said. My big concern: we have great schools, great teachers, great administrators, school boards. I think theres a $2,000 bonus for teachers and thats good for teachers. Im glad that its a simple bill. Its a clean bill. The next session of the Tennessee General Assembly is set to convene Jan. 14. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather. Nov. 21Gov. Kathy Hochul announced this week that more than 2,000 grants totaling $62 million were awarded by the New York State Council on the Arts, including to some local organizations and artists. According to a media release, the grants will support 1,497 nonprofit organizations and 509 individual artists, "increasing access to arts funding and recognizing the substantial economic and social impact of New York's vital arts and culture sector." With more than $21 million already awarded as multi-year grants, this funding round brings Fiscal Year 2025's totals to $84 million in grants. "As the unparalleled leader of arts and culture, New York's creativity and innovation inspires the world," Hochul said in the release. "Our continued investment in our dynamic creative sector will further boost tourism, strengthen our local economies and continue New York's success as a rich and vibrant place to live, work and visit." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NYSCA's on-going efforts to ensure greater access to arts funding also resulted in a 20% increase in applications, with 70% of organization support grants awarded to institutions with budgets under $1 million across the state, the release stated. Recipients of four different FY 2025 grant categories were announced: Support for Organizations, Support for Artists, Targeted Opportunities, and Regrants and Services. Local organizations and artists who received awards are: Arts & Rec Inc. of Stamford, received a $20,000 support for organizations grant. Bright Hill Press of Treadwell, received a $25,000 support for organizations grant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chenango County Council of the Arts Inc. received a $40,000 support for organizations grant. Chenango River Theatre Inc. received a $40,000 support for organizations grant. Colorscape Chenango Arts Festival, Inc. received a $40,000 support for organizations grant. Community Arts Network of Oneonta received a $40,000 support for organizations grant. Cooperstown Chamber Music Festival Inc. received a $40,000 support for organizations grant. Earlville Opera House, Inc. received a $40,000 support for organizations grant. Fenimore Chamber Orchestra received a $15,000 support for organizations grant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Foothills Performing Arts Center, Inc. received a $49,500 support for organizations grant. Foundation for the Open Eye, Inc. received a $10,000 support for organizations grant. Franklin Stock Company at Chapel Hall, Inc. received a $25,000 support for organizations grant. It also received a $10,000 support for artist award for playwright Kyle Bass for "The Civilities." Gilboa Historical Society, Inc. received a $15,000 support for organizations grant. Glimmerglass Opera Theatre Inc. received a $40,000 support for organizations grant. Hanford Mills Museum at East Meredith received a $40,000 support for organizations grant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Iroquois Indian Museum received a $10,000 support for artist award for Margaret Jacobs: Ancestral Understanding: Kanien'keha:ka Plant Knowledge in Steel. Roxbury Arts Group Inc. received a $40,000 support for organizations grant. The organization is also Delaware County's regrant facilitator and received $175,000 for that program. West Kortright Centre, Inc. received a $49,500 support for organizations grant. NYSCA is also accepting applications for $80 Million in grants for the Capital Projects Fund until 4 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025, the release stated. NYSCA's Capital Projects Fund invests in capital facilities and expansion projects for cultural nonprofit organizations that promote accessibility, diverse programming, environmental sustainability and more. This funding helps preserve and create jobs that contribute to the growth of New York's arts and tourism sectors. Visit the NYSCA website for additional details. Created by Gov. Nelson Rockefeller in 1960 and continued with the support of Hochul and the state Legislature, the council is an agency that is part of the executive branch. For more information on NYSCA, visit arts.ny.gov, and follow NYSCA's Facebook page, on X @NYSCArts and Instagram @NYSCouncilontheArts. LOGAN, Utah (ABC4) After recovering $10,000 from a scam, the Logan City Police Department is renewing its warning to stay hyper-aware of money fraud especially during the holiday season. Just recently, the Logan City Police Department worked alongside Homeland Security to stop a $10,000 scam. Scammers had convinced the Logan resident to pull money out of her retirement investment, place the cash between pages of a magazine, and ship the magazine to the criminal. Thankfully, law enforcement was able to intervene and return the $10,000 to the resident, but not before she had previously sent thousands in gift cards and other cash over the past several weeks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In all capital letters, the Logan Police shared a warning on social media saying, Every single day members of our community are losing money to these scams and frauds!! Please, please, please, talk with your family members, especially those who may be at high risk for not understanding technological advances. While its unclear what kind of scam the woman fell victim to, Logan City Police said there are a few common fraud scams to keep an eye out for. For starters, a business will never ask for you to send cash or gift cards. Additionally, police will not call asking for gift cards, money, or cryptocurrency to settle arrest warrants or IRS bills. Other more personal scams include someone pretending to be a family member claiming to be in an accident and asking for financial help. And as we near the holiday season, scams become a little more commonplace. The FBI reports that every year thousands of people become victims of holiday scams that rob people of their hard-earned money and personal information. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some tips to stay safe from fraud or scams are to always double-check the website youre on before checking out, never wire money directly to a seller, and avoid paying for items with pre-paid gift cards. Finally, dont click any suspicious links or attachments in emails, websites, or on social media. If you believe that you, or someone who knows, may have fallen victim to a scam, contact your local law enforcement through their non-emergency phone numbers. You may also report the fraud or scam to the FBI online. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. LONDON (Reuters) - British police said on Friday that a suspicious package left outside the U.S. embassy in London, which was blown up in a controlled explosion, was a hoax device, according to its initial indications. Police had earlier carried out a controlled explosion near the embassy building, a 12-storey purpose-built glass cube in Nine Elms, south London, and cordoned off some areas. The embassy later returned to normal operations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Initial indications are that the item was a hoax device," London's Metropolitan Police said. "An investigation will now follow." "Some cordons will remain in place for the time being but the majority of the police response will now be stood down." The embassy said it was back to normal business operations but that all public appointments for Friday had been cancelled. "Local authorities investigated and cleared a suspicious package outside the Embassy," it added. The United States moved its embassy from Mayfair, central London, to Nine Elms in 2018, partly for safety and security reasons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The formerly industrial area now houses dozens of upmarket apartment buildings alongside Battersea Power Station, a 1930s-era building recognisable for its red brick and white chimneys, which has been redeveloped as a shopping and tourist centre. (Reporting by Catarina Demony, writing by Sarah Young, editing by Sachin Ravikumar and Kate Holton) Chuck Scarborough, the 81-year-old WNBC New York television anchor, is retiring. The time has come to pass the torch, Scarborough told viewers at the conclusion of WNBCs 6 p.m. broadcast Thursday. 50 years, eight months and 17 days after I walked in the door here at the headquarters of the national broadcasting company, I will step away from this anchor desk. The New York Post first reported on Scarboroughs departure, which he told colleagues during an afternoon meeting Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Scarborough said on-air that his last broadcast will be Thursday Dec. 12, and hell have more to say about the matter then. For now, Ill offer a simple, heartfelt thank you for allowing me into your living rooms and trusting us to bring you the news. Scarboroughs half-century at WNBC began in March 1974, when he anchored the stations 5 p.m. broadcast. He would go on to earn 36 local Emmy awards, as well as a national Emmy and Edward R. Murrow award for his coverage of Hurricane Sandy in 2012. The Empire State Building will be lit Monday night in peacock blue and golden anniversary gold in honor of Chuck Scarborough's 50 years at WNBC-TV here in New York. pic.twitter.com/yrpQ7Cjsia NBC New York (@NBCNewYork) March 25, 2024 A recipient of the 2014 Governors Award for his prolific career, Scarborough is also an inductee in the New York State Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame. Over the years, he filed stories from the Philippines, Russia, and the Middle East, among other places. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prior to his impressive tenure at WNBC, Scarborough, a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, worked at television stations in Mississippi, Georgia and Massachusetts. Earlier this year, Scarborough celebrated his milestone at WNBC by participating in a ceremonial blue-and-gold lighting of the Empire State Building. Dana White wants out. After nearly a decade of trying to help his friend Donald Trump occupy the Oval Office, the UFC boss told The New Yorker he wants nothing to do with politics. Im never f---ing doing this again, he told the magazine. I want nothing to do with this s--t. Its gross. Its disgusting. His remarks came as Trump took a victory lap at last Saturdays UFC fight with an entourage that included Elon Musk, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Tulsi Gabbard, and musician Kid Rock. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement White himself also joined their group after endorsing Trump at this years Republican National Convention and stumping for him on the campaign trail. The promoter has been loyal to Trump for years, after Trump agreed to host UFC fights at his since-bankrupt Taj Mahal casino in Atlantic City back in 2001, when most venues considered cage fighting too violent. Originally marketed as a blood sport with no gloves and hardly any rules, mixed martial arts was nearly regulated out of existence by the time White took over, The New Yorker reported. Trump told the crowd at his election-night party his friends love of MMA was contagiousbefore handing White, 55, the mic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nobody deserves this more than him, and nobody deserves this more than his family does, White told the crowd. Hes the most resilient, hardworking man Ive ever met in my life. Dana White just spoke at Donald Trumps victory speech #Election2024 He thanks Adin Ross, The Nelk Boys and Joe Rogan and says that this is karma pic.twitter.com/mxmoEAcUMZ ACD MMA (@acdmma_) November 6, 2024 White was also responsible for setting up the president-elect with appearances on right-leaning podcasts, helping Trump bring his message to millions of young listenersparticularly young men. In 2016, he told the Republican National Convention he would always be gratefulso gratefulto him for standing with us in those early days. So tonight, I stand with Donald Trump." 1 year ago, history was made. Happy anniversary gentlemen! Lets do it again soon. @realDonaldTrump @danawhite pic.twitter.com/DNpyTFAe85 Colby Covington (@ColbyCovMMA) August 2, 2019 In 2018, he visited Trump at the White House and urged the then-president to attend a UFC event. Two years later, during the 2020 election, he donated $1 million to a pro-Trump super PAC and appeared at his political rallies. Thats nearly a decade of service to Team Trump. But now that Trump is entering his second and presumably final term in office in January, suddenly White is ready to be done with politics. LONGVIEW, Texas (KETK) The Longview Independent School District said their Education Support Center will be closed today after it was damaged in a fire on Friday, just after midnight. Family member breaks silence after aunts body discovered in tragic Tyler house fire According to a press release from the district, the fire caused significant damage to the buildings northwest wing. No injuries have been reported from the fire and the Longview Fire Department is investigating what caused the building to burn. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are incredibly grateful to the firefighters and first responders who acted so quickly to contain the fire and prevent further damage, Longview ISD superintendent Dr. Marla Sheppard said. Their dedication and skill ensured that no one was harmed and that the impact was minimized as much as possible. The district said that the extent of the damage means the building will be closed for all of Friday but the district did encourage staff to work from home. They also took the opportunity to remind their staff and the public about the send off at Longview High School at 1:30 p.m. I want to take a moment to wish everyone a safe and joyous Thanksgiving, Sheppard said. Despite todays challenges, we have so much to be thankful for, and I hope everyone enjoys time with loved ones. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com. SPRINGFIELD, Mo. With no TV cameras allowed, OzarksFirst takes a look inside the Scott Goodwin-Bey quadruple homicide sentencing. This was always a case that the prosecutors office took very seriously, Joshua Harrel, Greene Countys Chief Assisting Prosecuting Attorney said. Today was the end of a decade-long case, landing Scott Goodwin-Bey behind bars. Goodwin-Bey was charged first in 2015, had his charges dismissed in 2016, then charged again in 2023, then put on trial in 2024, where he was convicted a couple of months ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Throughout that time, Goodwin-Bey has maintained his innocence. The hearing began with a motion for a new trial. Goodwin-Beys attorney, Christopher Hatley, filed that motion in September arguing a litany of items, but paragraph 11 got the most discussion in court. Hatleys motion reads, 11. Juror #27 reached out to the court shortly after the jury verdict to express her regret and misgivings about the verdict. Juror #27 made it clear both then and by affidavit that she was not firmly convinced of Defendants guilt and that she had been bullied into a guilty verdict by other jurors. Hatley said in court today, it was a first for him in his career of nearly three decades in law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement OzarksFirst had previously reported when the verdict came down, Hatley polled the jury. Polling the jury simply means having the court individually ask each juror if that was their verdict. OzarksFirst had reported seeing a disgruntled juror and tried to speak with them after the deliberations, but the juror wouldnt make any comments. Another juror had told OzarksFirst off-camera the long deliberations were due to the consideration of rendering a verdict unaminously. Harrel was unphased by the move. A motion for a new trial like that is standard pretty much in every trial. Youre going to get a motion for new trial, basically setting out the basis for appeal. Usually theyre issues that the judge has already decided and theres just a way to preserve them for appeal. The difference in this one, was there was an issue that a juror had come forward after the verdict had already been accepted and indicated that they essentially wanted to flip their verdict, Harrel said. Missouri law is very clear on this, that a jury speaks only through its verdict that any statements from a juror outside of the verdict cannot be used to overturn the verdict. Its not something you see in every case and something you see enough that there is a very robust body of law that says its just not something that the judge can consider, and thats what the judge ended up relying on when he made his ruling. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the judge denied the motion, the court discussed victim impact statements. Goodwin-Bey asked to be removed from the courtroom for the statements. There was a bit of debate over the idea, with the prosecution arguing that Goodwin-Bey should have to listen to what the families have to say. That then turned into Goodwin-Beys first outburst of the day. Goodwin-Bey started raising his voice, advocating that he was innocent before turning to the family of Lewis Green and shouting in their direction the name of a man Goodwin-Bey believes committed the murders, and telling them to find that specific person. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a name OzarksFirst wont release because the person had not been charged with this crime but its a name Hatley had used in his case time and time again, claiming police had arrested the wrong man. I think thats probably just Mr. Goodwin-Bey showing us a glimpse of the person who killed four innocent people in a motel room ten years ago, Harrel said. Goodwin-Bey was then allowed to leave the courtroom when Veeda Green, Lewis mother spoke to the courtroom. She started by saying that she originally had hoped Goodwin-Bey wasnt the man held responsible but says evidence in the case changed her mind. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Green also called Goodwin-Bey a coward for shooting her son multiple times, mentioning Lewis had been handicapped and wasnt able to run away. You can never really get justice for victims who have lost a loved one. Nothing that the system does can bring their loved one back. We appreciate that the victims family stuck with us, Harrel said. Eventually, Goodwin-Bey spoke before the sentence was handed down. Goodwin-Bey harped on the court for not granting the motion for a new trial, going as far as praising former Judge Calvin Holden for dismissing the case eight years ago, but accused the prosecutors of judge shopping until they landed on Judge Joshua Christensen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Goodwin-Bey went as far as to tell the judge, that since he believed he wasnt given a fair trial, that he was the one who wasnt getting justice in the hearing. He then turned towards the Green family a second time. This time not shouting anything, but speaking, before attorneys and the judge had him turn around and Judge Christensen gave him a second warning. Judge Christensen then gave Goodwin-Bey four consecutive life sentences, along with 40 years for Armed Criminal Action charges, also running consecutively. We spoke to Veeda Green outside the courthouse, who declined an interview and said she had said all she needed to say in court this morning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement OzarksFirst caught up with Hartley after the sentencing who also declined an interview but says they plan to appeal the conviction. Im happy with the judges decision holding Mr. Goodman-Bey accountable for the horrific murders that he committed, Harrel said. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOLR - OzarksFirst.com. Nov. 22"Holy s---! I didn't see that coming!" That was the reaction of U.S. Sen. John Fetterman to Matt Gaetz withdrawing his name from consideration to become U.S Attorney General. It was also the reaction of many people when President-elect Donald Trump nominated Gaetz who resigned from the House of Representatives as an ethics investigation report on him was due to be released. That resignation ended the investigation. The panel subsequently deadlocked on release of the report, keeping it under wraps. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fetterman said he felt like Trump's pick was "nothing but trolling" just a week ago. A week ago? Is that all it was? It's easy to lose track when every day seems to bring a new pick that is, to be charitable, puzzling. Former Congressman Sean Duffy's chief qualifications for secretary of transportation would seem to be his tenure on the reality show "Road Rules." Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s own descriptions of his actions like toting a dead bear cub, as described to Roseanne Barr and health issues yes, the brain worm would seem to disqualify him for most offices, but none more than running Health and Human Services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pete Hegseth for the Department of Defense? Really? This has nothing to do with his work for Fox News. It's that the work of a broadcast media personality and the work of deploying the 2.8 million civilians, active military, National Guard and reservists have zero overlap. Fetterman's "trolling" comment seems to be the only reason for tapping South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem for Homeland Security or former Democratic presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard for director of National Intelligence. Noem's chief claim to fame is admitting to shooting her own dog. Gabbard is known for pro-Russia comments, which raise eyebrows when someone is tasked with national security in the midst of a war. "Gabbard, like Gaetz, is like a hand grenade ready to explode," said John Bolton, Trump's first term national security adviser and George W. Bush's ambassador to the United Nations. That is not to say all of the proposed picks are completely unqualified. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dr. Mehmet Oz, who lost his Senate bid to Fetterman in 2022, is named for Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. He was a respected cardiothoracic surgeon long before Oprah Winfrey made him a TV star. North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum's state has five national parks, trails and historic sites; he has the background and experience to run the Department of the Interior. Hours after Gaetz resigned, Trump named his replacement nominee, former two-term Florida attorney general Pam Bondi. Like her politics or not, she does have the resume for the job. There was no shortage of support for Trump in many corners of the Republican Party. Elected officials, former elected officials, people with long and established pedigrees in many areas stood in his corner, cheered his campaign and worked toward his goals. Why are there not better qualified people put forward to do important and vital work for the American people and to do it for Trump? Doesn't the former and future president deserve better for the Department of Education than Linda McMahon, who made sense in his first term for the Small Business Administration. But unless we are going to teach our kids how to club each other with folding chairs, the former head of WWE doesn't appear right for learning. But if Fetterman is right and this is trolling, maybe McMahon is exactly what we need. Maybe the confirmation process could be replaced with a pay-per-view cage match. The money could go toward the national debt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Holy s---. I didn't see that coming. Lori Falce is the Tribune-Review community engagement editor and an opinion columnist. For more than 30 years, she has covered Pennsylvania politics, Penn State, crime and communities. She joined the Trib in 2018. She can be reached at lfalce@triblive.com. NEW ORLEANS, LA. (KTAL/KMSS) The Louisiana Legislature will retain the states film tax incentive program but with an adjusted credit amount. In a statement, Gamble PR announced that the incentives would continue; however, the reimbursement cap was decreased from $150 million to $125. Louisiana Film President Jason Waggenspack praised the outcome as a collaborative win for the state that emphasizes the industrys role in creating jobs, driving economic growth, and sharing Louisiana stories with the world. The change in the incentive amount will take effect on July 1, 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Movies, TV shows you may not know were made in Louisiana We appreciate Governor Landrys pro-business vision, and we salute the business-minded leaders in the Louisiana legislature who recognized film in Louisiana is $1 billion industry that employs thousands of Louisianans across our state, Jason Waggenspack, president of Film Louisiana and a local filmmaker, said. The initial plan to eliminate all but one incentive program could have savaged this lucrative Louisiana investment. The hard work of so many legislators, along with the personal testimony and support of hundreds of Louisiana film workers, prevailed, and for that, we are deeply grateful. The release said the film industry in Louisiana employs 10,000 professionals in careers ranging from carpenters to producers, averaging $68,000-per-year salaries and generating an average of $350 million per year in payroll for Louisiana residents. In Louisiana workforce development and higher education, the film industry has invested $9.1 million in training programs and educational curricula with 18 in-state higher education institutions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Getty Images Two pieces of legislation that would make a temporary pay raise for K-12 teachers and school support workers permanent received final passage Friday in the Louisiana Legislature, but voters have to approve a constitutional amendment before the money appears in their paychecks next school year. Together, House Bill 5 by Rep. Tony Bacala, R-Prairieville, and House Bill 7 by Rep. Julie Emerson, R-Carencro, would use constitutionally protected funds to pay down nearly $2 billion dollars in teacher retirement system debt. It also requires local school districts to use money they would have put toward debt payments to make a $2,000 stipend the Legislature has provided on a temporary basis for two years a permanent part of teachers salaries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A $1,000 stipend for support workers would also be made permanent. Emersons bill is a constitutional amendment that requires voter approval and also contains several other changes required to make Republican Gov. Jeff Landrys tax package complete. Tying in the teacher pay aspect into the amendment, which also raises the state sales tax to 5% starting Jan. 1, could play a vital role in turning out voters for a special election in March. Making the teacher pay raise permanent is one portion of Landry ambitious plan. The governor has faced pushback from Democrats on portions of his proposal that could increase the tax burden of low- and middle-income households. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Bacalas bill, which requires school districts to use the savings created by the retirement debt payment in Emersons bill to fund the raise, unanimously passed the House and the Senate. The three funds Emerson wants to use to pay down the debt the Louisiana Quality Education Trust Fund, the Louisiana Education Quality Support Fund and the Education Excellence Fund currently support various educational programs. Emersons bill passed the Senate unanimously Friday. When it returned to the House for approval on Senate amendments, it easily passed the two-thirds threshold, 70 members, on an 87-11 vote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Using the money to pay down the unfunded accrued liability of the Teachers Retirement System of Louisiana (TRSL), which presently totals about $9 billion, would free up about $287 million annually for local school districts. The debt payment wouldnt make enough money available to fund making the raise permanent for every school district, but Bacala said he believed it would cost the state around $200,000 to make up the difference, a small drop in the bucket of the entire state budget. An analysis of the bill by the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Office said the amount the state would need to provide could be anywhere between $70,000 and $6.2 million. Senators added amendments to the bill that allow any school district that sees an excess in savings to use the money for early childhood education, summer enrichment programs and compensation for staff in areas with critical shortages. Another amendment requires school districts to certify to the state that they have given the pay raise to their employees and report how they use any excess dollars. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bacalas bill does not explicitly address charter schools, whose teachers are largely not in the Teachers Retirement System of Louisiana. Orleans Parish, where nearly all schools operate under charters, would see the least benefit from the bill, but lawmakers are looking at alternatives to fund raises so charter teachers do not see a pay cut. Its my intention to treat everyone equally and make everyone whole, House Appropriations Chairman Rep. Jack McFarland, R-Jonesboro, said last week. The Bacala-Emerson proposal would also free up about $75 million annually for Louisianas four higher education systems annually pay toward their retirement system debt. Legislators, including McFarland, currently seem in favor of allowing higher education to retain that savings, but this would not be finalized until the Legislature crafts the 2025-26 budget in its spring legislative session. Allowing higher education to retain these savings would make up for the approximately $20 million in support institutions will lose by dissolving the three state funds. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Registered nurse Orlyn Grace, left, administers a COVID-19 booster vaccination to Jeanie Merriman, right, at a COVID-19 vaccination clinic on April 6, 2022, in San Rafael, California. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) A form letter from two of Louisianas top health officials ostensibly provides health care workers with a way to get around an employers flu vaccine requirements. And even anti-vax proponents have acknowledged the document might not carry much weight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The letter from Surgeon General Dr. Ralph Abraham and his top deputy, Dr. Wyche Coleman III, has circulated online over the past week, though theres no mention of it on the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) website. A health department spokesperson has not responded to requests for more information about the letter and Abrahams reasons for making it available. Physicians can fill in the blanks to personalize the would-be permission slip written on LDH letterhead that includes the names of Gov. Jeff Landry and Health Secretary Michael Harrington on top. Please allow this letter to serve as an exemption from your hospitals influenza vaccination requirement for Dr. ____, the letter starts. The doctors state that evidence doesnt prove the flu vaccine is effective at preventing infection, transmission, hospitalization, or death and represents little more than a guess in combating the upcoming flu seasons predominant strain. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Where there is risk there must be choice, the letter continues. In the case of Dr. ____, risks of influenza vaccination outweigh benefits, and there should be no further coercion to comply. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Abraham makes no mention of specific flu vaccine risks in his letter. The most common side effects, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, include injection site soreness, muscle aches and fever. More serious complications are extremely rare. The message Abrahams letter conveys concerns Jennifer Herricks, who holds a Ph.D. in microbiology and molecular genetics. Shes also the founder of Louisiana Families for Vaccines, a group that combats medical misinformation and falling vaccine rates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If there are certain health care workers who do choose to use this form then its scary to think about people who are in the hospital, who are vulnerable, who could get exposed, Herricks said. Doctors and Infectious disease experts acknowledge that, in some years, flu vaccines are a best guess at what a particular strain will be, meaning there a vaccine cannot promise 100% protection against preventing the flu. But they still stand behind its real world effectiveness. We typically dont know the effectiveness of the vaccine until we really get into flu season, and we can see what types of viruses actually end up circulating in the population, said Dr. Kate Kirley, a family physician and the American Medical Associations director of chronic disease prevention. It typically falls somewhere between 40% and 60% effectiveness, she said for the AMAs What Doctors Wish Patients Knew series. Even when the vaccine is only 30% effective at preventing flu, that is still very meaningful and crucial for preventing hospitalizations and deaths. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kirleys words are similar to language on the LDH website that actually encourages the public to be vaccinated against the flu. Both counter the viewpoints of Abraham and Coleman as stated in their opt-out letter. Everyone six (6) months of age and older should get a flu shot by the end of October, though getting one anytime during flu season is still beneficial, the LDH website reads. It will help reduce your chances of getting and spreading the flu. You can also help care for a loved one who may be at high risk of contracting the flu by helping make sure he or she gets a flu shot, too. Theres data to back up those claims. For the 202223 flu season, the CDC estimates people vaccinated for the flu in the U.S. prevented 6 million flu-related illnesses, 2.9 million medical visits, 65,000 hospitalizations and 3,700 deaths. Abraham makes another dubious claim in his letter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Conclusive evidence has not shown masks to be effective against transmission of respiratory viruses, he writes, linking to a scientific study to support his claim. The studys authors evaluated dozens of randomized controlled trials from around the world to determine that wearing masks in the community probably makes little or no difference to the outcome of flu-like and COVID-related illnesses. Herricks questioned Abrahams reliance on research without including greater context. A single study doesnt prove or disprove anything, she said. Theyre always considered within the full body of knowledge. The surgeon generals take clashes with science that went into evaluating what should go into this year flu vaccine. Each years dose typically includes protection against multiple strains of the flu, but the U.S. Food and Drug Administration decided that influenza type B wasnt needed for this season, NPR reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The reason: There hasnt been a case of influenza B since spring 2020, which scientists attribute to widespread social distancing and masking at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. In simple terms, those measures cause the strain to go extinct, according to Dr. Rebecca Wurtz, an infectious disease physician and epidemiologist at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health. And theres also the question of whether the Abraham-Coleman letter will hold any weight if a health care facility decides to part ways with an employee who decides to defy a vaccine requirement. The Louisiana Supreme Court upheld the Ochsner Health Systems COVID-19 vaccination requirement after some of its employees challenged it. In 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court blocked a federal rule that would have allowed businesses with more than 100 employees to require COVID vaccines or weekly testing for those who refused the shot. But justices made an exception for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services that allows health care facilities to have vaccine mandates. The Illuminators questions to Louisianas three largest hospital owner-operators Ochsner Health System, LCMC Health and the Franiscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System about their flu vaccine policy have gone unanswered. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Health Freedom Louisiana, a group that supports efforts to end vaccine mandates, has circulated Abrahams incredible letter and offered to send the public copies customized with their name. There are no guarantees that the hospital will honor this letter, the group stated in a recent Substack email, which also said people who get flu shots are more likely to get the flu with repeated annual doses. While the vaccine might cause minor flu-like symptoms as a side effect, medical experts including the Mayo Clinic say annual flu shots do not increase the likelihood of contracting the virus. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Abrahams letter is reminiscent of steps Landry took in 2021 when he was attorney general. In an email to employees in his agency, he suggested strategies for students to get out of a mask mandate then-Gov. John Bel Edwards would put in place for K-12 schools just hours later. The governors order came during a surge in COVID-19 cases, with higher numbers among students, from the Delta variant of the virus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Louisiana law offers broad and robust protections for students and parents religious and philosophical objections to certain state public health policies, Landry wrote to his staff. I support your religious liberties and right to conscientiously object. At the time, public health experts said the biggest reason behind the emergence and severity of the Delta variant was low vaccination rates. Herrick and others fear a broader anti-vax mindset could lead to a reemergence of largely eradicated diseases such as measles, mumps and pertussis. It appears Abraham would rather repeat history than learn from it. DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) A roundtable discussion shed light on the need for foster and adoptive parents across Ohio. On Thursday, Nov. 21, adoptive families gathered with Montgomery County Childrens Services to share their stories and raise awareness to find home for more children. House of Bread urgently seeks blanket donations November is National Adoption Month, which looks to bring attention to the need for more foster and adoptive families. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted hosted the event, to share more about how a childs life can be positively helped by a stable family. You just feel for what these children are going through, that they need stability, they need love, said Lt. Gov. Jon Husted. They need the security that comes with a family. And once they have that, then they can thrive. Husted spent part of his childhood in a foster home before being adopted by his parents Jim and Judy Husted. Greenville park upgrades restroom facilities Husted is part of the network of Ohioans trying to make the process easier for those who are interested in fostering and adoption. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What were trying to do with streamlining the adoption process, making it easier to go online, to have to fill out one simple form that puts you universally able to adopt across county lines, said Husted. Were trying to make it easier for foster parents and adoptive parents to do this. Ohio politicians have drafted House Bill 5, which strives to modernize the adoption process and more easily place children in stable homes. HB-5 has been passed in both the Ohio House and the Ohio Senate and now awaits approval from the governors office. To learn more about foster and adoption options in Montgomery County, click here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com. LYNCHBURG, Va. (WFXR) The Lynchburg Department of Health has confirmed that a cat has tested positive for rabies near Taylor Road. Health officials said the cat was found in the Richland Hills Subdivision and is urging anyone who may have been exposed or bitten, scratched, or in contact with saliva by a cat or other animals in the area to see a doctor and contact the Lynchburg Department of Health at 434-477-5921 or email at askCVHD@vdh.virginia.gov. This incident is a reminder that rabies is present in Virginia and sometimes infects domestic animals like dogs and cats. Rabies is caused by a virus that attacks the nervous system and is lethal if proper medical care is not given following exposure to the virus. The most common source of exposure to rabies is a bite by a rabid animal. Rabies may also be transmitted by saliva from a rabid animal coming into contact with open wounds, in the mouth, eyes, or nose. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Health officials warn of rabid skunk found in Salem Everyone should take commonsense measures to protect themselves and their domestic animals from rabies. Pet owners should keep their pets up to date on their rabies vaccinations. Virginia law requires that all dogs and cats four months of age and older be vaccinated for rabies by a licensed veterinarian and that vaccinations be kept current. It is important to avoid contact with wild or stray animals, and parents should be sure that their children are taught to not touch, pet,or otherwise handle unknown animals. Additional steps that can be taken to prevent rabies in people and pets include: Do not feed stray animals. Avoid wild animals, especially raccoons, bats, foxes, and skunks. Feed your pets indoors and do not let them wander. Teach children to avoid contact with wild animals and pets they are not familiar with. Do not handle sick, injured, or dead animals. Contact a licensed wildlife rehabber if you have concerns about sick or injured wildlife. Keep wild animals out of homes by capping chimneys with screens and blocking openings in attics, cellars, and porches. Ensure trash cans have tight-fitting lids. Do not try to trap or handle stray and wild animals. If a bat is found indoors and may have had contact with someone, do not release it. Call your local animal control officer or health department to determine if the animal should be picked up and tested for rabies. Report all bites to people to the local health department for investigation. If you are bitten by a wild or stray animal do not panic. Wash the wound(s) thoroughly with warm soapy water and contact animal control, your doctor, or the health department for further recommendations. For more information about rabies, visit: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/animal-contact-human-health/rabies-control/ Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFXRtv. ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) Jacob Balabuszko, 28, has been sentenced to spend 3 years in federal prison after threatening to kill FBI agents who were investigating his connection to an extremist group. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation interviewed Balabuszko in 2020 and 2021 over his involvement with the Boogaloo Bois, an anti-government movement seeking to incite a second American Civil War, which they call the boogaloo. Prosecutors said Balabuszko threatened to kill the agents in an audio message on the Signal group chat, saying, Next time you two come to my house unannounced, Im going to shoot you on sight, that is a threat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities said Balabuszko made additional threats in the chat group, inciting others to kill law enforcement officers and collect their badges, shoot out their tires, and burn down their homes. Balabuszko admitted to investigators that he had firearms, ammunition, and body armor in his home. He was found guilty on charges of threatening to assault and murder a federal law enforcement officer and the unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition. On Wednesday, he was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Iain Johnston to serve 41 months in prison. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyStateline | WTVO News, Weather and Sports. Steve Bannon took some time out of his usual War Room programming on Friday to lament a fallen soldier, a true MAGA martyr: failed attorney general nominee Matt Gaetz. We took a casualty today, said Bannon, referring to Donald Trumps Cabinet pick stepping down amid allegations that he trafficked and had sex with an underage girl at a 2017 sex party. One of the best warriors we have in all his imperfections, and hes quite imperfect, as Donald Trump is imperfect, as Stephen K. Bannon is super imperfect. In Bannons eyes it was the deep state that tanked his nomination, and not the fact that the House Ethics Committee reportedly had mounting evidence of Gaetzs misconduct, including a history of Venmo payments for sex. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a big defeat for President Trump today. And trust me, those demons and jackals and hyenas up there in the United States Senate, Mitch McConnell, that crowd, they know it. Yo. They know it, Bannon fumed. Other members of the Trumpsphere felt similarly dejected. Trump getting elected was beyond epic, no doubt. But Gaetz as AG? That was the cherry on top, War Room chief financial officer and chief operating officer Grace Chong wrote on X. Not gonna lie, I mightve been more hyped for that. But, Steve Bannon trained us well with next man up. He really prepared us for this battle. MAGA morale is way down currently. The only thing that can save it right now would be Kash Patel for FBI Director, right-wing influencer Owen Shroyer posted on X. Bannon, like much of MAGAworld, was initially overjoyed at the news of Gaetz for attorney general, warning everyone he didnt like that theyd better be worried. The collective meltdown in response to Gaetz stepping down shows how much faith the far right placed in the former Florida representative to blindly carry out Trumps agenda. YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) A man arrested in September for stealing a running SUV was indicted Thursday by a Mahoning County grand jury. Read next: Police chase ends in multi-vehicle crash involving U-Haul Angel Martinez, 36, is charged with robbery, a second-degree felony; and fifth-degree felony charges of theft from a person in a protected class and grand theft of a motor vehicle. Martinez is free on a $15,000 bond he posted after his arraignment in Youngstown Municipal Court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reports said he was arrested Sept. 18 after police were called about 11:10 a.m. to the 3300 block of Freeman Avenue, where a man said he was washing his windows and had the SUV running. He said a man, later identified as Martinez, jumped in and drove away. The mans grandson also said he saw him get in the SUV and drive away, reports said. Police were out on another call on Canfield Road when they saw a man who resembled the description of the person who took the car run into the woods. He was later spotted in the parking lot of St. Christines School and taken into custody. Reports said he had a cell phone on him that belonged to someone who recently had reported it was taken, reports said. The SUV was found at a parking lot at Canfield and South Meridan roads, reports said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reports said the owner of the SUV and his grandson were both able to identify Martinez as the person who took the vehicle. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) A man charged with rape was found guilty by a judge in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court following a bench trial. In a judgment entry issued Friday, Judge Anthony Donofrio found Leonard Sykes, 49, guilty of three counts of rape, a first-degree felony; importuning, a fourth-degree felony; and disseminating matter harmful to juveniles, a fifth-degree felony. Sykes was set to have a jury trial on the charges Nov. 12 but opted for a bench trial that day instead. The trial concluded Nov. 14. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sykes was indicted in November 2022 by a grand jury following a September arrest. The crimes he is charged with happened in August 2022, according to court records. Judge Donofrios judgment entry said the charges against Sykes stemmed from an investigation into a missing juvenile that began in 2022 by the Mahoning County Sheriffs Office. With help from the U.S. Marshals, investigators were able in August 2022 to trace the missing juvenile through internet records to an apartment in the 700 block of Park Avenue on the North Side of Youngstown. When investigators went to the apartment Sept. 9, 2022, they found the missing juvenile there along with the son of the woman who rented the apartment, who is Sykes, according to the judgment entry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sykes appeared agitated when investigators were inside and told them the missing juvenile was a friend of his mother, the entry said. The juvenile, who was 13 at the time, was interviewed later and told investigators she and Sykes had been intimate, the entry said. Investigators later seized two phones in the apartment and found images and texts between the two of a sexual nature, the entry said. The entry said the victim in the case did retract some of the statements during the trial she had made before to investigators, saying she felt pressure from other people who told her not to let Sykes go to jail, the entry said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Judge Donofrio wrote that although the victim recanted some of her statements, the testimony of a prosecution witness who spent several hours with the victim, a nurse practitioner, was compelling. The judge also wrote it is obvious the victim felt pressured to not allow Sykes to be convicted. A sentencing date has not been set yet. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. Twelve years after being shot in the face and almost killed by the Taliban for daring to champion girls eduction in her home country of Pakistan, Malala Yousafzai is warning of the dangers that the groups extreme version of Islam poses to women. The Nobel Peace Prize winner is among the producers of Bread & Roses, a new documentary from director Sahra Mani about women in Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover in 2021. The film, which debuts on Apple TV+ on Friday, follows three women government employee Sharifa Mowahedzada, dentist Zahra Mohammadi and activist Taranom Seyedi as they try to fight the oppressive laws being imposed on them by the Taliban. In this time, its extremely important that we bring the voices of Afghan women forward, Yousafzai said in a Zoom interview with NBC News. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 27-year-old activist has become a global icon for girls education since 2012, when she was shot on her way home from school in Pakistans Swat Valley area. (The militant group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, also known as the Pakistani Taliban, is a separate organization from the Taliban in Afghanistan, but a close ally.) The Taliban are attempting to make women invisible, in a way, said Yousafzai, who graduated from Oxford University in 2020. So, visibility to the stories of women is so crucial, and this documentary is doing exactly that. The documentary largely uses cellphone footage captured by the women themselves to showcase what its like as the Taliban cracks down on their freedoms, including the ability to work, appear in public without a male chaperone or receive an education. Malala Yousafzai and Sahra Mani at Varietys Doc Dreams NYC event on Nov. 12. In 2001, American-backed forces toppled the Taliban, which had sheltered Osama bin Laden, the Al Qaeda founder and orchestrator of the 9/11 attacks. Nearly 20 years later, after Taliban militants overran much of the country, the group signed a peace deal with the U.S. during President-elect Donald Trumps first term that included the withdrawal of all foreign troops from Afghanistan by May 2021. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Joe Biden extended the deadline to August 2021 and upheld the agreement. But the withdrawal which was marked by violence, terror attacks and scenes of desperate Afghans trying to leave the country has been criticized for being badly managed. After the Taliban swept back into power, the group began imposing its extremely conservative version of Islam on the population. Women have been barred from most areas of public life. The Taliban has forbidden women from praying loudly or reciting the Quran in front of other women, issued a ban on womens voices and bare faces in public and closed classrooms to girls from the sixth grade on. Mani, who also serves as a producer, said she was working on a different documentary in Afghanistan when the Taliban takeover happened. Thats when she ended up shifting gears and working with a charity to help women with urgent needs. The new feature documentary Bread & Roses largely uses cellphone video captured by women in Afghanistan to showcase what its like as the Taliban cracks down on their freedoms. Thats how I met so many women that were sharing their daily life with me and recording their daily activities, she said during a Zoom interview. When they went to demonstrate in the street, they kept sending me videos. I decided to make an archive out of all those videos. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With support from Oscar-winning actor Jennifer Lawrence, Mani said the archival footage became the foundation for a feature documentary. Lawrence, who also serves as a producer on the film alongside Justine Ciarrocchi, said she felt the documentarys themes were relevant to people beyond Afghanistan. There is not much separating us from these other countries, Lawrence told Variety ahead of the documentarys debut at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival. Democracy is all we have, and its sliding back. We have to keep our eye on the ball, which is individual freedoms. Throughout Bread & Roses, Afghan women are seen protesting in the streets, screaming Down with terrorists! and demanding women still be allowed to learn. A frequent chant, written on many of their signs, reads: Work, bread, education! Footage from the documentary shows groups of women organizing in Mohammadis former dental practice, where they eat, chat and craft protest signs and demonstration plans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The film also shows the dangers of such resistance. Mowahedzada, one of the films main subjects, documents her loneliness after having to flee Afghanistan for her safety. May history remember that once upon a time such cruelty was permitted against the women of Afghanistan, she says at one point in the documentary, adding: Before the world, before countries that denounce coldheartedness and cry for democracy, Afghan women have become victims of policies everywhere. For me, there is no choice but to flee. Mowahedzada, the former government employee, often films herself from the confines of her home, where she showcases her isolation after shes forbidden from working. I miss everything I had, she says in the film. We dont have the right to work. We dont have the right to study. Everything has been taken from me. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In July, the Talibans chief spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, spoke at a United Nations-led meeting in Qatar, in which he urged Western leaders to look past harsh laws imposed on Afghan women and girls, The Associated Press reported. He said the Taliban upholds certain religious and cultural values that must be acknowledged to facilitate progressive bilateral relations. But human rights organizations and activists like Yousafzai have encouraged global leaders not to turn away from what is happening to women in the country. Since taking power in Afghanistan in 2021, the Taliban has created the worlds most serious womens rights crisis, according to an August news release from Human Rights Watch. Under the Talibans abusive rule, Afghan women and girls are living their worst nightmares, Fereshta Abbasi, Afghanistan researcher at Human Rights Watch, said in the news release. All governments should support efforts to hold the Taliban leadership and all those responsible for serious crimes in Afghanistan to account. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both Yousafzai and Mani said the situation has only worsened in the three years since filming for Bread & Roses took place. The documentary is showing you only a glimpse of how these women are treated for simply going out for a peaceful demonstration to ask for their right to work and for education, added Yousafzai, who through her nonprofit the Malala Fund has spent years advocating for womens right to education. Its important that countries do not normalize relations with the Taliban, because they are becoming complicit in the oppression that the Taliban are imposing on women and girls, she added. We need womens demands and rights to be on the agenda where the future of Afghanistan is being discussed and decided. She called on global leaders to codify gender apartheid as a crime against humanity under international criminal law so that we can end it, challenge it and hold perpetrators like the Taliban accountable for systematically erasing and oppressing women. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When asked what she hopes audiences take away from the film, Mani echoed Yousafzais message. Afghan women are paying a high price, she said. But its really an alarm for all of us to think deeply about these issues. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com PLANO, TX. (WFRV) A man who is the suspect in the killing of a pregnant woman back in September in southeast Wisconsin has been arrested in Texas roughly two and a half months after the shooting, authorities say. According to the Kenosha Police Department, 25-year-old Lawrence G. Franklin Jr. was arrested on November 21 in Plano, Texas, by the United States Marshal Services Joint East Texas Fugitive Task Force with the assistance of the Plano Police Department. Texas man gets 20-year prison sentence for conspiring with Appleton woman to receive child pornography Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On September 9, officers with the Kenosha Police Department stated they were searching for Franklin for the homicide of 22-year-old Amiah Prather that happened three days prior on September 6. Prather was a mother of three and was pregnant with her fourth child, a baby girl. Officers say that Franklin and Prather knew each other, however, the specifics of their relationship have not been disclosed. The Kenosha Police appreciates all of the assistance provided by the US Marshal Service and the support provided by the Plano Police Department. This case, like many others, relied on hard work and a team approach. That team included many law enforcement officers from various departments, citizens, business owners, and many others. Kenosha Police Department Five men arrested following undercover human trafficking investigation in Oshkosh Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Franklin will attend an extradition hearing in Texas before being transported back to Kenosha. Court records show that Franklin is facing two Felony A charges of 1st-Degree Intentional Homicide, one for Prather and the other for the unborn child. No other details were provided. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY, Va. (WFXR) Investigators with the Pittsylvania County Sheriffs Office believe they have the person who killed Soledad Najera, when they arrested 56-year-old Roberto Escalante, Najeras husband, near his residence on Moorefield Bridge Road in Danville on Wednesday. He attended his court arraignment early Thursday morning at the Pittsylvania County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court. He faces one count of premeditated murder in the death of his wife, and one count of willfully withholding or hiding her from authorities. Pittsylvania County Sheriff shares update in investigation for missing Soledad Najera Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Escalante indicated he knew what he was being charged with and has since asked for a court-appointed attorney. However, the judge said that based on the value of his property, its unlikely he will receive one before his preliminary hearing. Law enforcement remained on the scene of the house where Najera lived throughout the day continuing to investigate the property. She last disappeared in March of 2016. This is still an ongoing investigation, and we will keep you updated when more details come in. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFXRtv. The incident reportedly happened on Nov. 1 at an apartment building in Crown Heights, Brooklyn Google Maps The apartment building in Brooklyn where the incident allegedly took place The apartment building in Brooklyn where the incident allegedly took place A man in New York City has been arrested for allegedly killing a Pit Bull by tossing it from a 14-floor balcony. In a post shared on X (formerly known as Twitter), the NYPD said the man was reported to have grabbed and thrown a young Pit Bull from a 14th-floor balcony in Brooklyn, leading to the dog's tragic death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following the incident, NYPD detectives from the Animal Cruelty Investigation Squad and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) launched an investigation and were able to apprehend the suspect. The NYPD said they would ensure the man faced justice for their heinous act. According to local media outlets WPIX and News 12 Brooklyn, Alberto Morris, 33, allegedly threw the dog from the balcony at an apartment building in Crown Heights on Nov. 1. When a man was reported to have grabbed and thrown a young Pit Bull from a 14th-floor balcony in Brooklyn, leading to the dog's tragic death, the @NYPDDetectives from the Animal Cruelty Investigation Squad and the @ASPCA promptly launched an investigation. After conducting a pic.twitter.com/v3UTEzKnsQ NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) November 18, 2024 WPIX reported the NYPD as stating that the dog belonged to Morris friend. Per News 12 Brooklyn, police said Morris got into a dispute with one of the residents at the building, and during the argument, threw the resident's dog from the balcony. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Morris was arrested and charged with reckless endangerment and aggravated cruelty to animals, per News 12 Brooklyn. Brooklyn resident Morris was also charged with grand larceny, criminal possession of stolen property, criminal mischief and torturing an animal, according to WPIX, citing court records. Dan Baillie/500px/Getty A stock photo of a pit bull A stock photo of a pit bull 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. Morris pled not guilty at his arraignment earlier this week. He was released without bail. He is now on supervised release, according to the Brooklyn District Attorney's Office, per News 12 Brooklyn. PEOPLE has contacted the Brooklyn District Attorney's Office for comment. A man has been arrested and charged in connection to the deadly motorcycle crash that killed a ROTC instructor at Georgia Southern. On March 7, Christopher Decker was riding his motorcycle near the intersection of GA Highway 21 and West First Street when he got into a crash with another car and died. After a months-long investigation, the Effingham County Sheriffs Office arrested 21-year-old Jason Mike of Brooklet, Georgia and charged him with homicide by vehicle, DUI and failure to yield. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Deputies determined that Mike was connected to the crash that killed Decker. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Channel 2 Action News has reached out to deputies for more information on the arrest. TRENDING STORIES: [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] The Tacoma Police Department says officers arrested a man for shooting out the security lights at a business. Officers showed up at the business after its alarm went off. When they arrived, they noticed the building had been hit by bullets, so they called for backup. While they waited, officers say they heard nearby shots, so they used the patrol car to shield them and made their way to the fence. Thats when officers say they spotted a car inside a secured lot. When they called out to the person inside, he took off. Officers quickly cornered the man and arrested him. Police found a gun that the man mustve tossed while he was trying to run away. The man was booked on charges of first-degree burglary and unlawful discharge of a firearm. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) A man accused of attempting to rob a Las Vegas bank using a bomb threat told police that President-elect Donald Trump told him to do it, documents said. On Monday, Nov. 18 just before 10 a.m., officers with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department responded to a bank robbery in the the 2500 block of Rainbow Boulevard near Smoke Ranch Road. The caller told 911 that a man demanded money from the teller and passed them a note saying he was going to blow something up, according to an arrest report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While conducting a sweep for explosive devices around the bank, a man matching the suspects description approached officers, asked them if they were Metro, and told them to arrest him, the report stated. Police took the man, later identified as Irving Martinez, 55, into custody. While they were taking him into custody, Martinez rambled excited utterances and told police that Donald Trump told him to do this and admitted to attempting to rob the bank. Martinez told police he was upset because the bank was not giving him his money and he was willing to die over it, the report stated. The teller at the bank told police that Martinez tried to withdraw money from his account, but it was overdrawn and the transaction could not be completed. Martinez then gave the teller a note that stated please give me 5K large bills or I will blow this building up, according to the report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Martinez eventually left the building after the teller told her coworkers that they were being robbed. Court records show Martinez faces charges of burglary of a business, communicating a bomb threat, and attempted robbery. He was held at the Clark County Detention Center on a $40,000 bail. His next court appearance is scheduled for Dec. 5. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. DENVER (KDVR) Early Jackson was awarded more than $1 million in a settlement after he was assaulted in January 2022, according to a legal team representing Jackson. A jury decided to vote in Jacksons favor after reviewing footage from the night of the incident. Denver Public Schools unanimously vote to close, restructure 10 schools Jackson, who was experiencing homelessness, was reportedly told that he could come into the lobby of an apartment complex on 17th Street and Curtis Street on a cold night in January 2022 to briefly warm up. Not long after entering, footage showed two concierges, one appearing to hold a gun, according to the attorneys representing Jackson, push Jackson out of a chair before dragging him out of the apartment complexs lobby doors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Surveillance footage from the apartment building was deleted, but body camera footage from Denver police officers captured the incident. The real hindrance in this case was that the video evidence was destroyed about a week after Mr. Jackson was assaulted, said a member of the legal team representing Jackson. Fortunately, portions of it were captured on Denver police officers body camera videos and that evidence is what allowed the jury to determine what happened here. The attorneys representing Jackson also said that without this footage, Jacksons more than $1 million settlement never would have seen the light of day. FOX31 reached out to both the property management company, as well as to Jackson, but has not received an immediate statement from either party. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. EAST VILLAGE, Manhattan (PIX11) A man was brutally attacked with a metal pipe after refusing to give money to a stranger in the East Village back in October, police said. The NYPD released surveillance images of the suspect on Friday. The attack happened on Oct. 18 around 2:30 p.m. inside a building on First Avenue near East 13th Street. More Crime News The suspect approached the 60-year-old victim and asked him for money, police said. When the victim said he didnt have any money, the suspect took a metal pipe out of his book bag and hit the victim in the head, according to the NYPD. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The suspect ran from the building and remains on the loose. The victim was taken to a hospital with a cut to the back of his head. More Local News Police are looking for a suspect who beat a man with a metal pipe in the East Village on Oct. 18, 2024. (credit: NYPD) Submit tips to police by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), visiting crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, downloading the NYPD Crime Stoppers mobile app, or texting 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. Spanish-speaking callers are asked to dial 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). Lauren Cook is a digital journalist who has covered local news in the New York City area for over a decade. She has been with PIX11 since 2020. See more of her work here and follow her on Twitter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. GREENSBORO, N.C. (WGHP) The man who broke into Irving Park Elementary School earlier this year was sentenced on Thursday to 42 months in prison after being convicted of a gun-related offense, according to the United States Department of Justice. Jonathan Cameron Coley, 26, pleaded guilty on Sept. 24 to possession of a firearm by an unlawful user of a controlled substance. Background According to Greensboro police, Coley was identified on surveillance footage after a break-in at Irving Park Elementary School early in the morning on April 13. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police say patrol officers were called just after 6 a.m. to the school after a burglary alarm. An officer spoke with the principal at the scene, who said she would look at surveillance footage. The officer checked the school before he left. A few days later, the principal called the officer back and said that a man, later identified as Coley, was seen inside the school holding a long gun. The officer reviewed the footage at the school and contacted a detective with an image of the suspect. Coley and his vehicle were identified within hours of the footage being reviewed, and a warrant was issued for his arrest for felony possessing a gun on educational property and misdemeanor breaking and entering. Officers took Coley into custody at a traffic stop on April 16, the day he was identified. Drugs were reportedly found in the vehicle along with multiple firearms and ammunition, according to the indictment. Coley allegedly told the arresting officer that he used meth, sometimes two or three times a day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the indictment, Coley told the arresting officers he sometimes heard voices, and he went into the school because he thought he heard screaming and gunfire and went inside asking Is everybody ok? While he initially told authorities the gun seen in the footage was an airsoft gun, eventually he admitted it was not. When he appeared in court, he was banned from any school property, ordered to undergo a mental health evaluation before being released and was required to relinquish any and all firearms and ammunition when asked to do so by any law enforcement officer. He was federally indicted for the counts of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person who is an unlawful user of a controlled substance and possession of a firearm on school grounds on May 3. He was sentenced to 42 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX8 WGHP. WASHINGTON (DC News Now) The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) said a man was arrested and charged in connection to a fatal Northeast D.C. shooting. Police said that on Sept. 14 at about 5 a.m., they responded to the report of a man down in the 2200 block of Adams Place. Montgomery County police charge another New York man in gold bar sham When officers arrived at the scene, they found a man who had been shot. He died there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The man was identified as 44-year-old Erik Mewborn of Northeast, D.C. On Nov. 22, police arrested and charged 25-year-old Jeremiah Simms, of Capitol Heights, Md. with Second Degree Murder While Armed. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. A man who was initially ruled out in the 1979 death of a 17-year-old girl after passing a polygraph test has now been named a suspect in the case, the Riverside County District Attorneys Office in California announced Wednesday. Esther Gonzalez, 17, was sexually assaulted and killed while walking from her parents house in Beaumont to her sisters house in Banning on Feb. 10, 1979, according to the news release. Lewis Randolph Randy Williamson reported finding her body the following day in a snowpack off a highway near Banning. Esther Gonzalez, 17, was killed while walking to her sister's home in Banning, California, in February 1979. Riverside County District Attorney's Office According to the news release, deputies from the Riverside County Sheriffs Station described Williamson as argumentative when he reported her death. He was later asked to take a polygraph test, which he passed, and he was considered cleared of any wrongdoing, authorities said. Williamson died in Florida in 2014. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators continued working on Gonzalezs case over the years, according to the release from the district attorneys office. In 2023, the cold case team submitted several pieces of evidence from the crime scene, including semen recovered from Gonzalezs body, to Othram, a private DNA laboratory in Texas, for testing and genealogy research. A crime analyst assigned to the cold case team noted that Williamsons DNA was never compared to the evidence because the technology was not available at the time, according to the release. However, a sample of Williamsons blood was collected during his autopsy, and the California Department of Justice confirmed that Williamsons DNA matches the DNA recovered from Gonzalezs body, the district attorneys office says. The Riverside County Regional Cold Case Homicide Team is now asking the public for any information pertaining to Gonzalezs case or to Williamsons other potential victims. Polygraph tests, which measure certain physiological responses that supposedly correlate with stress triggered by the act of lying, are widely considered to be unreliable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Need help? Visit RAINNs National Sexual Assault Online Hotline or the National Sexual Violence Resource Centers website. Related... CHP Golden Gate Air Operations Police conducted a dramatic helicopter rescue after a man was spotted clinging to a cliff above a California beach. The man, who was not named, was seen clinging to the cliff face and yelling for help above Baker Beach, a popular hiking spot in San Francisco, shortly before 1pm on Sunday, officials said. San Francisco fire department and California highway patrol were alerted to the incident after a bystander saw the man and called 911, according to Fox Weather. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Footage of the incident shows the man stuck to the cliff high above the beach as a helicopter approaches. A highway patrol officer hanging from a rope attached to the helicopter lifted the man from the rock face before the pair were returned safely to the ground on the beach. It is unclear how the man became stuck on the cliff in the first place. 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. LA VERGNE, Tenn. (WKRN) The La Vergne Police Department is investigating a Thursday afternoon shooting that led to a mans death. City officials reported the shooting happened at approximately 3:10 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 21 in the 1700 block of Briarhill Court. A 46-year-old man reportedly suffered from a single gunshot wound and sustained critical injuries. On Friday, Nov. 22, the city announced the shooting victim had died. His identity has yet to be released. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime-related reports from across Middle Tennessee A 51-year-old woman, who was not named by authorities, was taken into custody at the scene. Police said they are not seeking any additional suspects at this time. There is no threat to the public, and people are asked to avoid the area while we continue our investigation, city officials added. Additional details were not immediately released. Download the News 2 app to stay updated on the go. Sign up for WKRN email alerts to have breaking news sent to your inbox. Find todays top stories on WKRN.com for Nashville, TN and all of Middle Tennessee. This is a developing story. WKRN News 2 will continue to update this article as new information becomes available. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. Police have arrested a man in connection to a fatal shooting in west Tampa on Thursday. Derrick Devard Smith, 30, of Tampa faces a second-degree murder charge in the shooting of John Jackson, 32, according to the Tampa Police Department. Officers responded about 3:45 p.m. to a report of a shooting on the 1000 block of Century Park Drive, off West Cypress Street, and found Jackson dead from gunshot wounds. Police have not released his name. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Witnesses reported hearing gunshots and saw Smith shoot Jackson multiple times, then kick him before leaving the area. Jackson did not have any weapons on or near him and investigators found no evidence of an escalating altercation between the two men, according to police. Detectives also found evidence that Jackson did not get closer than 3 feet to Smith at any time before the shooting, police said. The evidence and witness accounts contradicted Smiths claim that he fired in self-defense, according to police. Smith and Jackson knew each other from working post-hurricane cleanup but detectives were still investigating Smiths motive for shooting Jackson, police said in a news release. Officers arrested Smith a few miles east of the shooting scene and found a gun in his car, police said. He was booked into the Hillsborough County Jail and was being held Friday without bond. A man has died from the injuries he suffered in a double shooting at an apartment building in Worcester on Thursday that also claimed the life of a woman, police announced Friday. Officers responding to reports of a possible shooting on Brookside Avenue just before 6:30 p.m. found a woman and man suffering from apparent gunshot wounds inside a unit at the Tatnuck Square apartments, according to the Worcester Police Department. The woman was pronounced dead at the scene. The man was rushed to the hospital for treatment, where he later passed away. Their names havent been released, but both victims are related to each other, and both lived in the apartment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement David Blighton lives on the first floor, he tells me he heard gunfire. Well, I thought it was something been lifted and dropped. It was bam bam bam like gunshots, Blighton said. Another resident who did not want to be identified, told me the early evening double fatal shooting is unnerving. So close to us. Any one of us could have been hit, by a lost bullet or something like that. Its really scary, she said. BREAKING: Worcester police say 2nd victim, a man, has died in double shooting at Tatnuck Square apartments. A woman died yesterday. Police still on scene. @boston25 pic.twitter.com/Z2auXN2IqI Bob Ward Boston 25 (@Bward3) November 22, 2024 Video captured by a Boston 25 News photographer showed a man in handcuffs being loaded into the back of a Worcester police van, but investigators later said the individual was not connected to the shooting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No arrests have been made as detectives work to determine what led up to the shooting. Jose Rivera lives at the apartment complex and saw first responders swarm the building on Thursday night. I just saw a bunch of commotion, ambulances, and police cars, they were actually here all night until this morning, Rivera recalled Friday morning. Rivera said tenants were not allowed in the building for a period of time during the initial phase of the investigation. Nobody knew what was going on, so people were desperate to find out if their family members were OK, but yeah, its just been chaos since about 7 p.m. last night, Rivera explained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rivera, unsettled by the shooting, added, These are supposed to be, you know apartments, where so-called nothing really happens. And nothing really has happened for a year and a half that Ive been here. But its terrifying. You know, Worcester lately, has a lot of stuff thats happened in the area so yeah its terrifying. Police are not talking about potential suspects, they are only saying its likely that this double murder was not a random act. Often in these cases, people know each other. And theres a specific targeting that happens most of the time, Worcester Police Lt. Sean Murtha said. I wouldnt say other people should generally be concerned. Anyone with information is urged to contact Worcester police at 508-799-8651. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) Police released details after a stand-off in Wilkes-Barre Tuesday shut down a road for a few hours. According to investigators, on November 19 around 2:00 p.m., officers were called to Terrace Street for a man refusing to leave a house and threatening to shoot Luzerne County Sheriffs Department deputies. Police said on the scene deputies told them they were at the house to serve a PFA eviction to Robert Gronski, 62, of Wilkes-Barre, who said he was going to shoot them and let his dogs out after them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement GIANT recalls organic carrot brand due to E. coli Gronski would come to the door multiple times refusing to work with officers and saying stay the (expletive) off his property, as stated in the affidavit. Investigators reported that officers were made aware that Gronski had multiple long guns and several aggressive animals. Eventually, police ended the stand-off and Gronski was later arrested on the charges of terrorist threats. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. STRUTHERS, Ohio (WKBN) An 18-year-old Youngstown man is facing charges in juvenile court for crimes he is alleged to have committed as a child. Read next: Police find drug lab in Struthers home while serving warrant for human trafficking task force: Report WKBN is not naming the defendant at this time as he is charged as a juvenile and not an adult. According to the complaint filed in Mahoning County Court of Common Pleas Juvenile Division, the defendant is accused of raping a child who was four at the time the alleged crimes began from February 2020 through December 2022. The defendant would have been around 14 when the alleged crimes began. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The charges were filed after a report was filed in Struthers on Oct. 10. Police said the victim and family members reported that the suspect had been raping the girl, but the girl was afraid to report it initially because she said the suspect threatened to hurt her if she told anyone. The defendant faces 45 counts of rape, gross sexual imposition, attempted gross sexual imposition and intimidation charges. He appeared in juvenile court Thursday, where he pleaded a denial of the charges, which is the equivalent of a not guilty plea. The defendant is being held in the Juvenile Justice Center. Gerry Ricciutti contributed to this report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) A man was found dead Wednesday inside a vehicle in National City, authorities said. The discovery occurred around 7:57 a.m. at the Sweetwater Road Park and Ride, Officer Stephany Perez with the California Highway Patrol said in a news release Thursday. When first responders arrived on scene, they found the man inside the vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Two North County city managers leave office; one to lead Port of San Diego Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities are investigating if alcohol and/or drugs were a factor in his death. The name of the man is not being released at this time pending notification of the next of kin. If anyone has information about the incident, they are asked to contact the CHP San Diego Area directly at 858-293-6000. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. A man accused of shooting and injuring a 39-year-old man who was on his way to synagogue in West Rogers Park last month used his phone to search for synagogues and Jewish community centers in Chicago before the attack, prosecutors said Friday. Sidi Mohamed Abdallahi, 22, is charged with attempted murder, terrorism, a hate crime and aggravated discharge of a firearm in the Oct. 26 attack that unfolded on a Saturday morning in the North Side neighborhood. Abdallahi crept behind the man, who was wearing traditional dress on his way to a nearby synagogue, and shot him, prosecutors said. When Chicago police officers and an ambulance arrived on the scene, Abdallahi fired at the ambulance where the victim was being treated, as well as five police officers who returned fire, striking and injuring him, according to Assistant States Attorney Anne McCord. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Judge Susana Ortiz ordered him detained while awaiting trial. Abdallahi, who recovered in a hospital for several weeks after being shot, appeared in court with the help of a walker. His public defender said he came to Chicago from Mauritania and had been working in an Amazon warehouse. This was a calculated plan on a public street involving someones religious affiliation and an attempted slaughter of a member of that community, Ortiz said. The attack happened in a neighborhood thats home to the highest concentration of Jewish citizens in the city and spurred calls to the states attorneys office to include hate crime charges against Abdallahi. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While walking in the 2600 block of West Farwell Avenue, the victim heard footsteps behind him and a loud gunshot, McCord said. He didnt realize he had been shot until he saw a hole in his suit coat. Surveillance video captured Abdallahi in the neighborhood, and showed that he stayed in the area after the shooting, McCord said. While officers were searching for evidence, Abdallahi shot at the officers, then ran down an alley, she said. Surveillance footage captured Abdallahi shooting at the ambulance as it drove away with the victim, according to McCord. Officers took cover, and Abdallahi again fired at them, McCord said. As officers fired back, Abdallahi fell, but sat up and continued to shoot, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police took him into custody when he stopped moving, McCord said. This was 9:30 in the morning in a residential neighborhood, McCord said. There are people outside. It is a weekend. A woman is pushing a stroller and a man is trying to just attend his synagogue. McCord said the examination of Abdallahis cellphone is continuing, but so far, investigators have located more than 100 antisemitic images, videos and screenshots. His search history included a suburban gun store, firing range and two Jewish community centers, she said. He used Google Maps to favorite the locations of two synagogues, according to McCord. A man who was injured in a fire earlier this month has died, the Orange County Sheriffs Office said. Malik Corbitt, 25, and a woman were hurt on Nov. 11 after someone set their tent on fire, according to investigators. It happened in a wooded off John Young Parkway near Michigan Court. OCSO said Corbitt died on Monday. Sheriff's investigators said someone intentionally set the tent on fire. PREVIOUS: Man arrested after tent was set on fire, injuring man and woman Thats also the day investigators announced the arrest of Daniel Marriott, 48, in connection to the incident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the time, Marriott faced two counts of attempted murder. PREVIOUS: Man and woman seriously hurt after their tent was intentionally set on fire, deputies say The woman who was hurt in the fire, also in her 20s, is expected to recover, OCSO said. At last report, sheriffs investigators had not released a possible motive in the case. Stay with WFTV.com for updates on this story. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) The man accused of killing a 17 year-old in Providence last summer has been indicted by a statewide grand jury. Samuel Medina, 25, is facing a first-degree murder charge for allegedly killing Darnell Whitford on July 14, 2023. Medina turned himself in about a month later. Police said Whitford was walking near the intersection of Dexter and Waldo streets with a friend when a vehicle pulled up beside them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Medina and at least three others then got out of the vehicle and began arguing with Whitford. Police say it abruptly ended when Medina reportedly shot Whitford in the stomach at close range. According to an affidavit obtained by Target 12, detectives obtained video footage from a nearby business that recorded the shooting. The footage showed Whitford talking to the suspect for about four minutes before he was shot. Police said another person was standing next to Whitford during the interaction. On the night of the shooting, police obtained a photograph of the suspect and said officers recognized him from a previous incident in 2022 where he was detained, but never charged. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police also seized a cell phone which had videos of Medina sitting in a vehicle with other people who matched the description provided by a witness. The videos showed Medina holding two firearms. According to an affidavit, police recovered four FC 9mm Luger cartridge casings from the scene, but were unable to find the firearm as of last August. Medina is also facing various weapons charges, including discharge of a firearm when committing a crime of violence resulting in death and carrying a pistol or revolver without a license or permit. Hes set to be arraigned in Superior Court in Providence next month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Alexandra Leslie (aleslie@wpri.com) is a Target 12 investigative reporter covering Providence and more for 12 News. Connect with her on Twitter and on Facebook. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. A man installing Christmas lights in a tree in San Diego County was electrocuted and killed Thursday, according to authorities. The man, was working near the intersection of Idaho Avenue and Skyline Drive in Escondido when he was electrocuted by a power line, reported KNSD-TV. The San Diego County Sheriff's Office confirmed that the worker was hospitalized and died of his injuries. The homeowner the man was working for told KNSD that the accident occurred when the worker threw Christmas lights over the power line. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Once SDG&E [San Diego Gas & Electric Co.] shut the power down, our crews were able to access the victim via the ladder truck," Escondido Fire Department Battalion Chief Brian Salazar told KNSD. "Brought the victim down, where he was placed in an ambulance and transported to Palomar Hospital in critical condition." Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) The man whom a Las Vegas police officer shot and killed had called 911 the night before to have authorities trespass the person who would later break into his home and confront him with a knife, prompting his death. On Tuesday, Nov. 11, LVMPD Officer Alexander Bookman shot and killed 43-year-old Brandon Durham after Durham called 911 to report a home invasion. Durham told a dispatcher that he was inside his home with his 15-year-old daughter and said he was locking himself in the bathroom as the two people entered his house. Alejandra Boudreaux, 31, of Seattle, Washington, is accused of breaking into the home and attacking Durham, police said. In the seconds before the shooting, Durham and Boudreaux struggled over a knife, video from Metro police shows. Alejandra Boudreaux appears in a 2019 booking photo from Florida. (BCSO/KLAS) Records the 8 News Now Investigators obtained Tuesday reveal officers were called to Durhams home late on the evening of Nov. 10 about 24 hours before the fatal shooting for a disturbance. Durham, who was not home when he made the call around 11:30 p.m. on Nov. 10, told police his ex-friend named Marie refused to leave, according to documents. Marie is Boudreauxs middle name, according to records. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We were friends at first, Durham tells the 911 operator in the Nov. 10 call 8 News Now obtained Thursday. I need this person Ive got a trespasser me and my kid are here man, this person wont leave big old Black guy, kind of crazy. Boudreaux, who has a criminal history in Florida, identifies as a transgender woman. Alejandra Boudreaux, 31, of Seattle, Washington, faces charges following the events of Tuesday, Nov. 12, inside 43-year-old Brandon Durhams home. (LVMPD/KLAS) Wheres he at? the operator asks Durham about Boudreaux in the call. In my man in my garage I turned it into a man cave, Durham said. Bookman arrived at the house around 12:11 a.m. on Nov. 11. At 12:40 a.m., police notes indicate Boudreaux agreed to leave and left for Harry Reid International Airport, records said. The officer who made the note that Boudreaux packed up and left was Bookman. Bookman arrived at the house around 12:11 a.m. on Nov. 11. At 12:40 a.m., police notes indicate Boudreaux agreed to leave and left for Harry Reid International Airport, records said. The officer who made the note that Boudreaux packed up and left was Bookman. (KLAS) Boudreaux did not get on the plane to Seattle as she intended because the ticket was purchased with a stolen credit card, documents said. Port of Seattle police arrested Boudreaux at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in April after they said she kicked a police officer, records said. Prosecutors denied prosecuting Boudreaux on the charge. Records indicate she listed a womens homeless shelter as her address. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While on the way back to Durhams house, Boudreaux decided that she was going to die, documents said. She explained she had been suicidal for a few days and wanted to be shot by the police. Boudreaux stated, I wanted the cops to shoot me dead. And I wanted him to live the wreckage that I caused in his house. 24 hours later, Bookman was back at the home as Boudreaux broke in and Durham called 911, documents said. Video shows Bookman breaking down Durhams front door and shooting him 14 seconds later as Durham and Boudreaux struggled over the knife. It was unclear from the notes if Bookman interfaced with Boudreaux or Durham or if Bookman entered the home. The notes indicate that during the disturbance call, Durham returned to the home around midnight and told officers Boudreaux was refusing to leave. Because there was no arrest involved in the call, the responding officers did not create an arrest report or fill out other detailed documents about the call. Metro leadership placed Bookman on paid administration leave pending an outcome of their internal investigation. Durhams family has called for Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson to charge Bookman. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wolfson said earlier this week that the investigation was in its beginning stages and that it would take weeks if not months for the police department to complete. After the investigation is complete, the DAs office will determine whether or not to file criminal charges against any of the officers involved. Boudreaux has refused to appear in court twice. A judge ordered her to appear in court Monday by any means necessary. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. A collage of photos of Acey Morrison at a younger age. Morrison was killed on Aug. 21, 2022 by a man who claimed self defense. (Photos courtesy of Cheryse Hawkins, illustration by Josh Haiar/South Dakota Searchlight) The man who shot a transgender Native American woman to death in 2022 pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter this week in Pennington County. Pennington County States Attorney Lara Roetzel filed first-degree manslaughter, drug and firearms charges against 54-year-old Gregory Edward Landers in February, about a year and a half after he killed 30-year-old Acey Morrison in his Rapid City trailer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The case caught national attention in LGBTQ+ circles in part because of the extended wait between the time Landers called 911 to report the killing and the date on which he was indicted by a grand jury in Rapid City. Morrison was honored in 2022 during the annual Transgender Day of Remembrance, which takes place each November in memory of transgender people who lost their lives to violence in the preceding year. Gregory Landers. (Courtesy of Pennington County States Attorneys Office) Landers pleaded guilty to the second-degree manslaughter charge on Monday in Rapid City, two days before this years day of remembrance. Second-degree manslaughter involves the reckless killing of another human being. The maximum penalty is 10 years in the state penitentiary. A letter from Roetzel in the Landers case file says she intends to ask for a 10-year sentence with three years suspended at his Dec. 19 sentencing. His other charges were dismissed as part of the deal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This case is a tragic reminder of the consequences of reckless and violent actions, Roetzel said in a statement to South Dakota Searchlight. By accepting responsibility through his guilty plea, Mr. Landers is being held accountable for the harm he caused. We remain committed to seeking justice for victims like Acey Morrison and ensuring our community remains safe. Court documents offer insight into self-defense arguments Landers told law enforcement hed shot Morrison in self-defense when he called 911 to report the killing. He maintained that hed acted in self-defense throughout court proceedings this year. Most of the documents, exhibits, photos and transcripts associated with his effort to have the manslaughter charge dismissed under South Dakotas Stand Your Ground law are sealed. The documents that remain public do offer some new details on the situation. Landers claimed hed let Morrison stay the night after the two connected on a dating app, but that she wouldnt leave when he asked. He said shed broken his ribs in an altercation over the shotgun that killed her. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Court documents say he was treated for bruised ribs and a broken hand after the homicide. The lead investigator characterized the break to Landers hand as a boxers fracture, an injury typically associated with punching someone or something. Landers argued throughout the proceedings that hed wrestled a shotgun away from Morrison before shooting her in the chest, and had moved to hire an expert to re-check for DNA on the weapon. In a letter to Judge Heidi Linngren, Landers called himself an innocent man and wrote that he should not be convicted because of incompetent DNA testing. That testing found Morrisons DNA on the weapon, including near the barrel of the gun, but it had more of Landers DNA on it. Her left index finger was blown off in the shooting, according to a motion from Roetzel asking Judge Linngren to deny Landers request for immunity from prosecution. Thats consistent with her hands being at the top of the barrel of the muzzle at the time of discharge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Roetzels arguments noted that Landers had accused Morrison of performing a factory reset of his phone, presumably to steal and sell it, but later admitted hed wiped the phones memory to conceal information from law enforcement. Landers also said he and Morrison hadnt had sex, despite DNA evidence to the contrary, and that the physical fight between them took place in a bedroom and a closet that were undisturbed when officers arrived. Defendant says he acted in self-defense, but his words have little meaning, given the number of lies he has been caught telling, Roetzel wrote. Lead detective resigns Morrisons mother, Edelyn Catches of Oglala, grew frustrated with the justice system as she awaited an answer about her daughters death. Just over a year after Morrisons death, Catches lost her son Daniel Freeman to homicide in an incident that took place on the Pine Ridge Reservation and has yet to draw criminal charges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. Attorneys Office prosecutes felony crimes on tribal lands. U.S. Attorney spokeswoman Ace Crawford was not immediately able to offer any information on the Freeman case Thursday afternoon. The charges for Landers were a relief for Catches, but she said the self-defense arguments and an issue with the lead investigator in the case, Cameron Ducheneaux, had her anxious about the outcome. Ducheneaux resigned from the Pennington County Sheriffs Office for reasons that arent disclosed in the public court file. His resignation is noted in the file, but documents and personnel records that could shed further light on the resignation were only made available to the prosecution, defense and judge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Thursday, Catches said shed been told that Ducheneauxs situation could have called his credibility into question at Landers trial. The trial was initially set to begin this week. The plea deal means Ducheneaux will not be called to testify at a trial, nor would his credibility be called into question by Landers attorney. Looking at what we were facing, he actually had a chance of walking, Catches said Thursday. Tony Mangan, spokesman for the state Division of Criminal Investigation, said Ducheneaux remains a certified law enforcement officer, and that a hearing on his certification will take place during a meeting of the Law Enforcement Officers Standards and Training Commission meeting on Dec. 4. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The process of working through the self-defense arguments, seeing images of Morrison after the killing and hearing accusations leveled at Morrison throughout was stressful, Catches said. It was just way out of Aceys character, the way he described the altercation, Catches said. Shes glad Roetzel pursued the case, despite the wait, and that Landers has now admitted to recklessly killing Morrison. It was an uphill fight the whole way, Catches said. At least hell get something, and it will be on the record that he killed Acey. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX COLUMBUS A Starkville man will spend the next 30 years in prison for a 2023 squabble at work that escalated to a fatal shooting outside a West Point tire plant. Willie Treondo Swain Jr., 43, entered a plea of guilty to second-degree murder Thursday morning before Circuit Court Judge Lee Howard. Swain, who had been free on bond for more than a year, was taken into custody immediately after the 20-minute hearing. Authorities said Swain and Javarest Gray, 28, were employees at the Yokohama Tire Company. The men got into an argument around 7 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023. As the altercation escalated, it moved to the company parking lot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was a workplace dispute that was carried outside, Assistant District Attorney William Sparks said. There was video that shows Mr. Swain pulling out a pistol and shooting Mr. Gray in the chest. Following the shooting, Gray was transported to the emergency room at the North Mississippi Medical Center in West Point, where he was pronounced dead. Swain surrendered to authorities the next day. He was charged with murder and initially held on a $1.2 million bond. A Clay County grand jury indicted Swain for first-degree murder in April 2023. After he waived arraignment, his bond was reduced to $200,000, and he was released in August 2023. The case was set to go to trial in October, but Swain and defense attorney Kevin Horan reached an agreement with the state to plead to the lesser charge of second-degree murder. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If the case had gone to trial, and he was found guilty, the jury could have affixed the sentence at life, Horan said. By pleading, the minimum and maximum sentences are 20 years and 40 years. The agreement called for a 40-year sentence with 10 years suspended, leaving 30 years to serve, followed by five years of post-release supervision. But the judge was not bound by that agreement; he could have sentenced Swain to the maximum of 40 years and imposed up to a $10,000 fine. I will go along with the recommended sentence, Howard said. And Im not going to impose a fine because you are manning up and admitting responsibility. Because the 16th Circuit Court term was held in Lowndes County this week, the plea was accepted in Columbus. Swain was turned over to the Lowndes County Sheriffs Office, to be held until the Clay County Sheriffs Office can pick him up. He will remain in the county jail in West Point until he is transferred to the Mississippi Department of Corrections to begin his sentence. LUMBERTON, N.C. (WBTW) The man who killed, kidnapped and raped 13-year-old Hania Aguilar in Robeson County six years ago tried to escape twice on Friday when he was sentenced to life in prison, authorities said. Michael McLellan pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and other charges and admitted to killing the teen after kidnapping her from her driveway in the Rosewood Mobile Home Park in the Lumberton area on Nov. 5, 2018. His guilty plea also includes charges in crimes involving two unrelated victims that took place in October 2016 and July 2018, Lumberton police said Friday morning in a news release. Sheriff Burnis Wilkins said McLellans first attempt came on the way to the courtroom when he had what appeared to be a key made of materials from the detention centers art workshop that he had hidden in his mouth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An officer thwarted the attempt when he detected movement and pulled over McLellans leg restraints. The second attempt came while McLellan was unshackled and being taken back to jail after his court appearance. Wilkins confirmed that McLellan was completely out of his handcuffs when he reached under a piece of plexiglass, released a lever on a deputys gun holster and grabbed the weapon before being stopped. Following McLellans sentencing Friday morning, Lumberton police released a statement about the case. Everyone in the Lumberton Police Department is humbled and grateful to bring justice for Hania, her family and the community, Police Chief Micahel McNeill said. This case has shown our relentless commitment and tireless efforts to hold violent criminals accountable for their actions. Before you go to bed tonight, please pray for Hanias family to begin to heal their broken hearts. Hania Aguilar An indictment returned on May 6, 2019, charged McLellan with first-degree murder, first-degree force sex offense; statutory sexual offense with a person less than 15 years of age; larceny of a motor vehicle; felonious restraint; abduction of children; concealing/failing to report the death of a child; first-degree forcible rape; statutory rape of a child younger than 15; and first-degree kidnapping. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McLellan had been scheduled to stand trial on several occasions through the years, but there were numerous delays before his guilty plea on Friday. Officials said Aguilar was forced into a stolen SUV that was later found in Lumberton. Police said it happened at about 7 a.m. Hanias cousin reportedly witnessed a man wearing a yellow bandana push the 13-year-old inside a Green Ford SUV and speed out of the Rosewood Mobile home park the morning the kidnapping was reported. Her body was found on Nov. 27, 2018, off Wire Grass Road in the Lumberton area. The FBI has worked tirelessly from the day Hania was callously taken from outside her home to right now, when justice was served, Robert DeWitt, the FBI Special Agent in Charge in North Carolina, said in the news release. We hope Hanias family and McLellans other victims are in some way comforted knowing he will spend the rest of his life in prison for his vicious crimes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The case haunted the community for years. I miss her. We all miss her, family friend Kimberly Gaugh said in November 2020 on the two-year anniversary of her death. This whole community misses that little girl Hania was just a beautiful beautiful girl, taken way too soon. She should be here living a long joyful life. In 2018, Robeson County District Attorney Johnson Britt claimed that Aguilar would have still been alive if authorities had handled a 2016 rape case differently. Based on DNA found inside the stolen SUV and on Hanias body, McLellan was linked to an unsolved rape case in which a man broke into a womans home and raped her at knifepoint. Britt said the evidence was submitted to the lab in 2016 and analyzed in 2017 before the sheriffs office was notified on Nov. 8, 2017. At a news conference in December 2018, he alleged that the evidence was mishandled. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said the information that was sent to the sheriffs office should have given deputies a reason to seek a search warrant and collect a new DNA sample from McLellan, Britt said at the time. Had a DNA match been confirmed, he said McLellan could have been arrested and charged in the earlier rape. Lumberton police, the Robeson County District Attorneys Office, the FBI, the Robeson County Sheriffs Office, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigations and the U.S. Attorneys Office of the Eastern District of North Carolina were all involved in the case. Below is a News13 timeline of the case that was done on the one-year anniversary of Hanias death. This is a developing story. Count on News13 for updates on-air and online. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement * * * Dennis Bright is the Digital Executive Producer at News13. He joined the team in May 2021. Dennis is a West Virginia native and a graduate of Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. Follow Dennis on, Facebook, X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. LUMBERTON, N.C. (WBTW) The man who killed, kidnapped and raped 13-year-old Hania Aguilar in Robeson County six years ago tried to escape twice on Friday when he was sentenced to life in prison, authorities said. Michael McLellan pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and other charges and admitted to killing the teen after kidnapping her from her driveway in the Rosewood Mobile Home Park in the Lumberton area on Nov. 5, 2018. His guilty plea also includes charges in crimes involving two unrelated victims that took place in October 2016 and July 2018, Lumberton police said Friday morning in a news release. Sheriff Burnis Wilkins said McLellans first attempt came on the way to the courtroom when he had what appeared to be a key made of materials from the detention centers art workshop that he had hidden in his mouth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An officer thwarted the attempt when he detected movement and pulled over McLellans leg restraints. The second attempt came while McLellan was unshackled and being taken back to jail after his court appearance. Wilkins confirmed that McLellan was completely out of his handcuffs when he reached under a piece of plexiglass, released a lever on a deputys gun holster and grabbed the weapon before being stopped. Following McLellans sentencing Friday morning, Lumberton police released a statement about the case. Everyone in the Lumberton Police Department is humbled and grateful to bring justice for Hania, her family and the community, Police Chief Micahel McNeill said. This case has shown our relentless commitment and tireless efforts to hold violent criminals accountable for their actions. Before you go to bed tonight, please pray for Hanias family to begin to heal their broken hearts. Hania Aguilar An indictment returned on May 6, 2019, charged McLellan with first-degree murder, first-degree force sex offense; statutory sexual offense with a person less than 15 years of age; larceny of a motor vehicle; felonious restraint; abduction of children; concealing/failing to report the death of a child; first-degree forcible rape; statutory rape of a child younger than 15; and first-degree kidnapping. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McLellan had been scheduled to stand trial on several occasions through the years, but there were numerous delays before his guilty plea on Friday. Officials said Aguilar was forced into a stolen SUV that was later found in Lumberton. Police said it happened at about 7 a.m. Hanias cousin reportedly witnessed a man wearing a yellow bandana push the 13-year-old inside a Green Ford SUV and speed out of the Rosewood Mobile home park the morning the kidnapping was reported. Her body was found on Nov. 27, 2018, off Wire Grass Road in the Lumberton area. The FBI has worked tirelessly from the day Hania was callously taken from outside her home to right now, when justice was served, Robert DeWitt, the FBI Special Agent in Charge in North Carolina, said in the news release. We hope Hanias family and McLellans other victims are in some way comforted knowing he will spend the rest of his life in prison for his vicious crimes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The case haunted the community for years. I miss her. We all miss her, family friend Kimberly Gaugh said in November 2020 on the two-year anniversary of her death. This whole community misses that little girl Hania was just a beautiful beautiful girl, taken way too soon. She should be here living a long joyful life. In 2018, Robeson County District Attorney Johnson Britt claimed that Aguilar would have still been alive if authorities had handled a 2016 rape case differently. Based on DNA found inside the stolen SUV and on Hanias body, McLellan was linked to an unsolved rape case in which a man broke into a womans home and raped her at knifepoint. Britt said the evidence was submitted to the lab in 2016 and analyzed in 2017 before the sheriffs office was notified on Nov. 8, 2017. At a news conference in December 2018, he alleged that the evidence was mishandled. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said the information that was sent to the sheriffs office should have given deputies a reason to seek a search warrant and collect a new DNA sample from McLellan, Britt said at the time. Had a DNA match been confirmed, he said McLellan could have been arrested and charged in the earlier rape. Lumberton police, the Robeson County District Attorneys Office, the FBI, the Robeson County Sheriffs Office, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigations and the U.S. Attorneys Office of the Eastern District of North Carolina were all involved in the case. Below is a News13 timeline of the case that was done on the one-year anniversary of Hanias death. This is a developing story. Count on News13 for updates on-air and online. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. KANSAS CITY, Mo. A man charged in the deadly shooting of another man earlier this year has pleaded no contest. According to the Johnson County District Attorneys Office, Dmariea Valentino Avance pleaded no contest on Thursday to second-degree murder. Woman charged following Sunday trooper-involved shooting Lenexa police say 21-year-old Markese D. Gleghorn was shot and killed Saturday, Jan. 13, at about 7 p.m. outside a McDonalds near the intersection of W. 87th Street Parkway and Pflumm Road. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers found Gleghorn shot inside a vehicle and attempted to save his life, but he died at the scene. Minutes after police arrived, someone called 911 and said they were involved in the shooting. Police arrested Avance a couple miles away at an apartment at W. 88th Street and Lakeview Avenue. Download the FOX4 News app on iPhone and Android Avance is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 3, 2025. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. Nov. 21LIMA A Lima man waived his speedy trial rights Thursday in the Allen County Common Pleas Court when he pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from a Perry Township shooting that killed his brother in September. Jacob Striff, 24, is being charged with two counts of murder, which are unclassified felonies, and a second-degree felony count of felonious assault, all with three-year firearm specifications. A final pretrial is set for March 14, and a jury trial is scheduled to begin April 7. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Striff's attorney, Katherine Memsic, said they are planning on using a self-defense argument. She said Striff has fully cooperated with law enforcement since the beginning and is a lawful firearm owner. She wanted Striff's bond to be reasonable not $1 million like most murder suspects get because of these reasons. Assistant Prosecutor Colleen Limerick wanted the bond to remain at $750,000 which was set by the municipal court. She said she was concerned about Striff being a flight risk because he has said when the case is over he wants to move out of Ohio. She said he has previous allegations of menacing, persistent disorderly conduct and domestic violence, with one of the charges stemming from threatening to shoot family members, but none resulted in convictions. A Crime Victim Services representative said Striff's mother wanted his bond to remain the same to protect the family. Judge Terri Kohlrieser kept the bond the same because Striff couldn't provide an address he would be staying at if bond was posted, but she said it could be changed if he provides an address later. According to court documents, on Sept. 17, Striff's mother called 911 to report Striff's brother, Jeffrey Paxton Jr., 41, had been shot in the neck at 1820 Charledon Ave. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Striff told dispatch he shot Paxton three times because Paxton was trying to attack him with a screwdriver. Striff was taken into custody without incident. In an interview with sheriff's detectives, Striff said he was complaining to his mother about his brother, and Paxton said they could fight about it. Striff said Paxton began to quickly walk toward him with a screwdriver, so he tried to shoot at Paxton's legs in self-defense. After the shooting, Striff said his mother moved the screwdriver to a table in the kitchen. Striff's mother was interviewed and said she didn't recall seeing Paxton with a screwdriver and denied touching or moving it. Reach Charlotte Caldwell at 567-242-0451. Featured Local Savings JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) A man was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for illegally re-entering the United States after being convicted and deported for an aggravated felony. According to court documents, Luis Javier Sanchez-Zurita, 38, of Oaxaca, Mexico, was found illegally present in Brandon, Mississippi, on February 21, 2024. He was previously deported from the U.S. in 2017. Jackson man charged with felony child abuse Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors said Sanchez-Zurita was stopped by a Brandon police officer for carelessly driving, driving under the influence and endangerment of a child. Sanchez-Zurita pled guilty on August 22, 2024, to illegal reentry after being deported following a state felony conviction for gratification of lust (crime against children). The case was investigated by ICE ERO. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJTV. A man will spend the rest of his life in prison after admitting to murdering a teenage girl, according to officials with the Lumberton Police Department. Michael McLellan admitted to kidnapping 13-year-old Hania Aguilar from her driveway on the morning of Nov. 5, 2018, and later killing her and disposing of her body. Officials said his guilty plea, which also includes charges involving two unrelated victims, was accepted by a judge on Friday morning. U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn speaks as Gov. Jared Polis, left, and Sen. Michael Bennet listen during a community celebration to welcome home the U.S. Space Command to Colorado Springs. A Los Angeles man was sentenced to prison on Friday for threatening to bomb the citys FBI Field Office, prosecutors said. Mark William Anten, 53, of Sun Valley, was convicted by a jury in June on two charges of two counts of threats by interstate communication. He was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison by United States District Judge Wesley L. Hsu. According to the Department of Justice, Anten sent a series of threatening emails to the FBI between July and December in 2023. In those emails, he ultimately threatened to bomb the office in Westwood twice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those emails included references to Theodore John Kaczynski, the Unabomber. Between 1978 and 1995, Kaczynski killed three people and injured almost two dozen more in a series of bombings. He died in federal prison last June. Theodore Kaczynski is seen being escorted by U.S. Marshals down the steps at the federal courthouse in Helena, Montana, on June 21, 1996. A spokesperson for the Bureau of Prisons told The Associated Press that Kaczynski, known as the Unabomber, has died in federal prison. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, File) Anten was interviewed by two FBI agents in front of his home in November 2023, where he was told to stop contacting the agency. Just weeks later he sent another email to agents, writing I AM THE UNABOMBER and I WILL UNABOMB THE LOS ANGELES FBI HQ. The next day, he wrote I can go on a mass murder spree. In fact it would be very explainable by your actions. He ended the email by saying, [y]ou aint getting away with this one, and signed it, SuperMax or Death. He attached a screenshot of an internet search reading how to make a dirty bomb. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anten visited the L.A. FBI Field Office later that day, which was confirmed by surveillance footage. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, N.C. (WGHP) The Rockingham County Sheriffs Office is searching for a wanted man after a high-speed motorcycle chase over the Virginia state line. At around 7:35 p.m. on Thursday, a Rockingham County deputy tried to pull over a motorcycle on NC 14 near Fisher Hill Road after seeing a traffic violation that nearly caused a crash with another car. Investigators say that the driver of the motorcycle, Cody Warren Purdy, 34, of Eden, did not heed the lights and sirens and drove away at a high rate of speed in an attempt to escape, leading to a chase. Cody Warren Purdy (Rockingham County Sheriffs Office) The chase led the deputy over the Virginia state and onto Morgan Ford Road in Ridgeway, Virginia. Purdy got off the road on the 4300 block of Morgan Ford Road and abandoned the motorcycle around 50 yards into a wooded area behind a home where he then ran away on foot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With help from local authorities in Virginia, a manhunt of the area took place. However, Purdy was not found. Purdy is wanted on several charges related to the high-speed chase and escape as well as several outstanding warrants for arrest that are not related to Thursdays events. Anyone with information on Purdys whereabouts is asked to call 911 or their local law enforcement agencies. Rockingham County Crime Stoppers offers up to $5,000 for information leading to arrests. You can contact them anonymously at (336) 349-9683. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX8 WGHP. Thawing a turkey might seem simple, but timing is everything when it comes to preparing a safe and stress-free Thanksgiving feast. Depending on the size of your bird, you might need to start thawing it several days before the holiday or risk a last-minute scramble. Here's what the United States Department of Agriculture recommends: More: Where to watch 'A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving': How to stream for free on Apple TV+ How long to thaw your turkey in the refrigerator? At what temperature? Thawing a turkey in the refrigerator is the safest way to prepare for your Thanksgiving feast, but it requires some planning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Allow about 24 hours for every 4 to 5 pounds of turkey in a refrigerator set at 40F or cooler. To avoid cross-contamination, place the bird in a sealed container never directly in a drawer, even if you plan to disinfect after. Here's how early you should begin refrigerator thawing based on size: 4-5 lbs.: Thaw 24 hours ahead (Wednesday) 5-10 lbs.: Thaw 2-3 days ahead (Monday or Tuesday) 11-16 lbs.: Thaw 3-4 days ahead (Sunday or Monday) 16-20 lbs.: Thaw 4-5 days ahead (Saturday or Sunday) 20-24 lbs.: Thaw 5-6 days ahead (Friday or Saturday) How long to thaw a turkey in cold water? If you forgot to take your turkey out over the weekend, cold water thawing is quicker. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Plan for about 30 minutes of thawing time per pound. Keep the turkey in its original packaging and fully submerged in cold water, making sure to change the water every 30 minutes to maintain a safe temperature. Once thawed, cook the turkey immediately to ensure safety. After cooking, meat from the turkey can be refrozen. Here's how early you should begin cold water thawing based on size: 4-5 lbs.: Thaw in 2 hours (on the day of cooking) 5-10 lbs.: Thaw in 4-6 hours (start in the morning) 11-16 lbs.: Thaw in 6-8 hours (start early morning or the night before) 16-20 lbs.: Thaw in 8-10 hours (start very early morning or the night before) 20-24 lbs.: Thaw in 10-12 hours (start the night before or very early morning) How long to thaw a turkey in the microwave? Follow the microwave oven manufacturer's instructions when defrosting a turkey. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Plan to cook it immediately after thawing because some areas of the food might become warm and begin to cook during microwaving. Holding partially cooked food is not recommended because any bacteria present wouldn't have been destroyed. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: When to thaw turkey: See size-by-size guide before Thanksgiving DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) Yasmin Eid coughs and covers her face, cooking a small pot of lentils over a fire fed with twigs and scrap paper in the tent she shares with her husband and four young daughters in the Gaza Strip. It was their only meal Wednesday it was all they could afford. My girls suck on their thumbs because of how hungry they are, and I pat their backs until they sleep, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After being displaced five times, the Eids reside in central Gaza, where aid groups have relatively more access than in the north, which has been largely isolated and heavily destroyed since Israel began waging a renewed offensive against the militant group Hamas in early October. But nearly everyone in Gaza is going hungry these days. In the north experts say a full-blown famine may be underway. On Thursday, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister, accusing them of using starvation as a method of warfare charges Israel adamantly denies. In Deir al-Balah, the Eids are among hundreds of thousands sheltering in squalid tent camps. The local bakeries shut down for five days this week. The price of a bag of bread climbed above $13 by Wednesday, as bread and flour vanished from shelves before more supplies arrived. The United Nations humanitarian office warned of a stark increase in the number of households experiencing severe hunger in central and southern Gaza. The amount of food Israel has let into Gaza the past seven weeks has plummeted, now at nearly the lowest levels of the entire war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even less than that is reaching the territorys 2.3 million Palestinians because of the many obstacles to distribution, aid groups and the U.N. say including restrictions on movement by the Israeli military, ongoing fighting, damage to roads, and theft. Armed men robbed nearly 100 aid trucks last weekend in southern Gaza, close to Israeli military positions. Israel blamed Hamas but appears to have taken no action to stop the looting, while Hamas said it was the work of local bandits. For the Eids, hunger is the daily routine For months, Yasmin and her family have gone to bed hungry. Everything has increased in price, and we cannot buy anything," she said. We always go to sleep without having dinner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She misses coffee, but a single packet of Nescafe goes for around $1.30. A kilogram (2 pounds) of onions goes for $10, a medium bottle of cooking oil for $15 if available. Meat and chicken all but vanished from the markets months ago, but there are still some local vegetables. Such sums are astronomical in an impoverished territory where few people earn regular incomes. Crowds of hundreds wait hours to get food from charities, which are also struggling. Hani Almadhoun, co-founder of the Gaza Soup Kitchen, said his teams can offer only small bowls of rice or pasta once a day. He said they can go to the market on one day and buy something for $5, and then go back in the afternoon to find it doubled or tripled in price. Its kitchen in the central town of Zuweida operated on a daily budget of around $500 for much of the war. When the amount of aid entering Gaza plummeted in October, its costs climbed to around $1,300 a day. It can feed about half of the 1,000 families who line up each day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The sharp decline in aid, and a U.S. ultimatum Israel says it places no limits on the amount of aid entering Gaza and has announced a number of measures it says are aimed at increasing the flow in recent weeks, including the opening of a new crossing. But the military's own figures show that the amount of aid entering Gaza plunged to around 1,800 trucks in October, down from over 4,200 the previous month. At the current rate of entry, around 2,400 trucks would come into Gaza in November. Around 500 trucks entered each day before the war. Israel blames U.N. agencies for not retrieving the aid, pointing to hundreds of truckloads languishing on the Gaza side of the border. The U.N. says it often cannot reach the border to pick up aid cargos because the Israeli military denies requests for movement and because of ongoing fighting and the breakdown of law and order. As a result, it says, only about half the incoming aid is distributed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The war started Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas-led fighters stormed into Israel, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting around 250. Around 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, at least a third of whom are dead, and Hamas militants have repeatedly regrouped after Israeli operations, carrying out hit-and-run attacks from tunnels and bombed-out buildings. Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed over 44,000 Palestinians, more than half of them women and children, according to local health authorities, who do not say how many of the dead were fighters. The United States warned Israel in October that it might be forced to curtail some of its crucial military support if Israel did not rapidly ramp up the amount of aid entering Gaza. But after the 30-day ultimatum expired, the Biden administration declined to take any action, saying there had been some progress. Israel, meanwhile, passed legislation severing ties with UNRWA. Israel accuses the agency of allowing itself to be infiltrated by Hamas allegations denied by the U.N. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israeli news outlets have reported that officials are considering plans for the military to take over aid distribution or contract it out to private security companies. Asked about such plans Wednesday, government spokesman David Mercer said Israel is looking at many creative solutions to ensure a better future for Gaza. Yoav Gallant, the former defense minister who was seen as a voice of moderation in the far-right government before being fired this month, warned on X that handing over aid distribution to a private firm was a euphemism for the beginning of military rule. As that debate plays out in Jerusalem, less than 100 kilometers (60 miles) away from central Gaza, most Palestinians in the territory are focused on staying alive in a war with no end in sight. I find it difficult to talk about the suffering we are experiencing. I am ashamed to talk about it, said Yasmins husband, Hani. What can I tell you? Im a person who has 21 family members and is unable to provide them with a bag of flour. ___ Khaled reported from Cairo. Associated Press writer Julia Frankel in Jerusalem contributed to this report. ___ Find more of APs war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war The Marine Corps F-35C Lightning II aircraft debuted its combat airstrike capabilities for the first time earlier this month when it targeted weapon storage facilities in Houthi-controlled parts of Yemen, the Navy confirmed in a press release on Wednesday. The Pentagon previously said that the F-35C launched from the USS Abraham Lincoln in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility over a week ago. CENTCOM also posted a video of the fifth-generation aircraft taking off from the aircraft carrier. Now, the military has confirmed that between Nov. 9 and 10, the Marine Corps variant of the jet conducted the airstrikes for the first time in its operational history. Specifically, the press release said that it conducted multiple strikes against the Iran-backed Houthis, targeting anti-ship missiles that have been used against commercial and military ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read Next: 'We Need You': Defense Secretary Stands Up for Women in Combat Jobs amid Hegseth Nomination The aircraft belonged to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 314, or VMFA-314, based out of Miramar, California. It is the only forward-deployed F-35 squadron in the Marine Corps, the press release said, and the jet's debut combat employment comes just over a year after the region was sunk into turmoil following Hamas' surprise attack against Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. "The F-35C demonstrated its warfighting advantage by transiting contested airspace and striking targets in the heart of Houthi territory over multiple days," Lt. Col. Jeffrey "Wiki" Davis, commanding officer of VMFA-314, said in the press release. "My Marines are honored to be first to fight with the F-35C." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The War Zone first speculated a week ago that the F-35C's launch -- captured on CENTCOM video -- was likely the first time it was employed in combat. Traveling at speeds of 1,200 mph, the F-35C can carry Joint Direct Attack Munitions, or JDAMs, air-to-air missiles and other ordnance. It was not clear which type of munition was used for the strikes earlier this month. "The offensive and defensive capabilities of the F-35C absolutely enhance our air wing's striking arm," Capt. Gerry "Dutch" Tritz, commander, Carrier Air Wing 9 -- which the Marine jets were attached to -- said. "The now battle-tested air wing of the future has proven itself a game-changer across all carrier air wing missions." The F-35 is used by the Navy and the Air Force as well and includes two other variations -- the F-35A and the F-35B. According to the press release, the F-35B was deployed in combat for the first time in 2018 against the Taliban and ISIS. A year later, the Air Force deployed the F-35A against ISIS in Iraq. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement VMFA-314, also known as the "Black Knights," was the first Marine Corps squadron to receive the F-35C in 2020, the press release said. Military.com previously reported that seven U.S. warships deployed to the Middle East to fight the Houthis were awarded for combat, encountering 20 instances of combat between October and April. Marines, sailors and Coast Guardsmen were also awarded for seizing millions of pounds of "precursor explosive material," this publication first reported in June. The Marine Corps has rotated Marine Expeditionary Units, or MEUs, to the Mediterranean as a deterrent measure in the aftermath of the Oct. 7 attack and Israel's subsequent war against Hamas in Gaza. After having its deployment extended, the 26th MEU out of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, was replaced by the 24th MEU as part of the Wasp Amphibious Ready Group. Related: Coasties, Marines and Sailors Awarded for Seizing Millions of Pounds of Explosive Materials in Middle East SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) Thanksgiving traditions vary from family to family, and on Thursday night, the Mary J. Treglia Community House introduced some of Siouxlands international families to the upcoming holiday. Nearly 50 families were expected to attend the Evening of Togetherness event. Immigrants and refugee families had some Sneakys Chicken, side dishes, and desserts at the potluck gathering. Siouxland Christian looking to build new secondary school Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials say the event is a good example of what it means to be a community house. All of the folks coming together, it takes a little time because you have cultural differences, you have language differences, executive director Barbara Newhouse said. So what we do is we try to work through and help them understand that no matter what, they have friends. Since last year, the Mary J. Treglia Community House has assisted 400 clients with legal immigration cases. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Firefighters worked for over eight hours on Thursday to extinguish a massive fire at the Minnesota Equestrian Center in Winona. The Wilson Fire Department says its crews were called to the Minnesota Equestrian Center on Gilmore Valley Road for a barn fire at around 11:15 a.m. At about 128,000 square feet, it is one of the largest structures in rural Winona County. Approximately 31,000 square feet were lost entirely in the fire, and 45,000 square feet were damaged by smoke and heat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Equestrian Center is composed of barns and arenas interconnected by breezeways and corridors. The front of the building has an attached residence. When firefighters arrived, they found the first barn in the structure fully engulfed and the attached residence also on fire. Due to the size of the building, the heavy fuel load within it, and the advanced stage of the fire, additional departments were called. Wilson Fire Department and First Responders Facebook Firefighters began a "defensive fire attack" on the breezeway connecting the burning barn to the show arena to stop the spread. Once the fire in the breezeway was reduced, they began an interior attack in the arena to keep the fire at bay. By this point, the barn that had caught on fire had mainly collapsed, and an aerial apparatus was used to attack parts of the fire that were largely inaccessible from the ground. An excavator was called to remove the breezeway from the arena to minimize the potential of fire spread. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Everyone was able to evacuate the buildings that were impacted. There were no injuries to firefighters or the public, but two horses and a cat died in the fire. Wilson Fire Department While the fire damage to the arena was minimal, the residence and first barn were total losses. The Minnesota State Fire Marshal was also on the scene to assist with the investigation. There are no indications at this time of the fire being suspicious. Nearly 100 firefighters most of them volunteers worked on the fire for over eight hours, with Wilson Fire Department helped by crews from Winona, St. Charles, Rushford and Kellogg. Fire crews used an estimated 120,000 gallons of water on the fire, and tanker operators made over 50 round trips to water sources to haul water to the scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Crews remained on the scene for several hours, seeking out and extinguishing "hot spots" in the original fire and monitoring the connected barns and arena for any fire spread. MEC employees and Wilson FD personnel maintained a fire watch throughout the night. Wilson Fire Department and First Responders Facebook Advertisement Advertisement Cyclists ride on one of the mountain bike trails through Garden of the Gods Park in January. When his term expired in 2022, the regent of West Seram, a local jurisdiction in Indonesias Maluku province, couldnt run for re-election. Article 18 of Indonesias constitution guarantees local communities the right to choose their leaders by election. But there was no vote to choose this new regent. Instead, Indonesias national government installed a military brigadier general as interim leader. He had been serving as a bureau head in the national intelligence agency in Central Sulawesi 1,000 kilometers away. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This case of meddling was no accident. Its a deliberate strategy by Indonesias increasingly authoritarian national government to undermine the local control that has been the most cherished feature of the worlds quarter-century-old democracy. In the past four years, Indonesias national home ministry has installed more than 170 loyalists, mostly drawn from the national police, military, and intelligence agencies, as interim leaders of regional or local governments. Whether local democracy can defend itself from such maneuvers is a crucial question of the most important 2024 elections youve probably never heard of Indonesias Nov. 27 local elections in 548 regions, 415 regencies, and 93 cities. Its also an urgent question for the democratic world. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Indonesia has been a leader in the global effort to boost democracy and development by decentralizing power. Since 1970, most nation-states have devolved at least some national governing powers to provincial or municipal governments. The result: an explosion in the number of local and sub-national governments. The worlds many new local governments have adopted more democratic processes to justify their greater autonomy over public spending and land use. Indonesias decentralization was perhaps the worlds most dramatic. After the collapse of its military-dominated dictatorship in 1998, the country transferred an astonishing range of responsibilities finance, health, environment, transportation, economy to its regions, regencies (local rural areas) and municipalities. The idea was to spur more local development, and to protect fledgling democracy. The idea worked. Today Indonesia is southeast Asias most vibrant democracy and its fastest-growing economy. The country has risen in international assessments of governance, and decentralization remains popular, with 80% support in polls. On my visits to Indonesia earlier this year, everyday people often told me that decentralization was the secret of the countrys successes. But democracy and development experts complain that Indonesia has never provided its local governments the money or skilled personnel n to fulfil all their responsibilities. And the national government has sought to claw back local decision-making power particularly under President Joko Widodo, who was succeeded in October by his handpicked successor, a former military leader. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In this context, the national governments strategic interim appointments, as critics call them, seem like a dangerous turn back toward dictatorship. Public attention has focused on the interim appointment in West Seram, and three others. In West Papua, an intelligence officer and former police commander was installed as temporary regional head. In Aceh, which has a history of military human rights abuses, a former military major from Jakarta was appointed interim regional governor. In Jakarta, the president made an interim governor out of a political ally, who soon overturned his elected predecessors policies on everything from utilities regulation to pedestrian safety. Few appointees have backgrounds in local or regional civil governance. The courts and the national ombudsman have declared such temporary appointments to be lacking in transparency, and legally dubious. But the national government has defiantly kept these interim appointees in office; several are running in this months elections. The outlook for local democracy is not good. In advance of the November elections, leading national parties sought to make it harder for local parties to field candidates. The national government also decided that the countrys future capital, Nusantara, under construction on the east coast of Borneo, will not have its own democratic municipal government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Local democracy constitutes the vast majority of the democracy that exists in Indonesia, and the world. The stakes of these local elections are global. Joe Mathews writes the Democracy Column for Democracy Local, a planetary publication. This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Mathews: Undermining local democracy in Indonesia and the world In the span of eight days, former Rep. Matt Gaetz went from a reelected House member to an attorney general pick in President-elect Donald Trump's second administration to ultimately bowing out before a Senate confirmation hearing. Here is a timeline of the roller coaster of events for the embattled ex-congressman. PHOTO: President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to be attorney general, former Rep. Matt Gaetz takes a break from private meetings with Republican Senate Judiciary Committee members in Washington, Nov. 20, 2024. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP) Nov. 13, 2024 President-elect Donald Trump announces that Gaetz, who had won reelection for Florida's 1st district on Election Day, was his nominee for attorney general. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gaetz resigns from Congress that day, according to House Speaker Mike Johnson. Several House Republicans meeting behind closed doors said there was an audible gasp in the room when they heard Trump had picked Gaetz, sources told ABC News. Gaetz was investigated for alleged sex trafficking by the Justice Department, however, no charges were ultimately brought. The House Ethics Committee has also been probing Gaetz on those allegations, which he has repeatedly denied. MORE: Trump transition live updates Nov. 14, 2024 Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announces he will hold a special election to fill the Gaetz's seat but doesn't immediately provide details. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sen. John Thune, the incoming Senate majority leader, tells reporters he doesn't know if Gaetz can get confirmed until they start the confirmation process. PHOTO: President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to be attorney general, former Rep. Matt Gaetz closes a door to a private meeting with Vice President-elect JD Vance and Republican Senate Judiciary Committee members in Washington, Nov. 20, 2024. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP) Senators on both sides of the aisle call for the release of details from the Ethics Committee's investigation into the former congressman. ABC News reports the woman who was at the center of the Justice Department investigation into sex trafficking allegations surrounding Gaetz testified to the House Ethics Committee that the former congressman had sex with her when she was 17 years old. Nov. 15, 2024 Johnson tells reporters that he would urge the Ethics Committee not to release their report on their probe into Gaetz. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The speaker says he didnt think it was "relevant" for the public to know whats in the report. An attorney representing two women who were witnesses in the House Ethics Committee's investigation tells ABC News one of his clients testified that she witnessed the Florida congressman having sex with a minor. MORE: Tracking Trump's picks to serve in his Cabinet, administration Nov. 18, 2024 In an interview with ABC News' Juju Chang, Florida attorney Joel Leppard reveals new details regarding his clients' closed-door testimony before the Ethics Committee -- including that his clients told congressional investigators that Gaetz allegedly paid for them to travel across state lines to have sex on at least two occasions. PHOTO: Former Rep. Matt Gaetz, the President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to be Attorney General walks alongside Vice President-elect JD Vance as they arrive for meetings with Senators at the U.S. Capitol, Nov. 20, 2024, in Washington. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images) Nov. 19, 2024 Trump backer and Tesla/SpaceX/X CEO Elon Musk backs Gaetz despite more stories about his scandals coming to light. Musk said the scandals were "worth less than nothing" and called the former congressman "our Hammer of Justice," in a post on X. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Johnson denied that he discussed the details of the draft ethics report on the Gaetz matter with House Ethics Chairman Michael Guest, and further denied that Trump or Gaetz pressured him to bury the report. A hacker gained access to an online secure document-sharing file between attorneys involved in a civil lawsuit brought by a close friend to Gaetz, and potentially revealed documents, including unredacted depositions from key witnesses in the case, sources familiar with the matter told ABC News. During a Space X launch, Trump tells reporters he is not reconsidering his pick for attorney general. ABC News reports the Ethics Committee obtained records, including a check and records of Venmo payments, that appear to show that Gaetz paid more than $10,000 to two women who were later witnesses in sexual misconduct probes conducted by both the House and the Justice Department, according to documents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: Gaetz sent over $10K in Venmo payments to 2 women who testified in House probe, records suggest Nov. 20, 2024 Gaetz meets with Republican senators ,who push for his nomination process to continue. Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee write to FBI Director Christopher Wray to request the complete evidentiary file in the bureau's closed investigation into Gaetz. The Ethics Committee voted against releasing the report after multiple rounds of votes, with all Republicans on the committee voting against its release, during a closed-door, two-hour meeting. The committee schedules another meeting in December. Two Democrats introduce privileged resolutions to make the report public. PHOTO: The sign for the House Committee on Ethics is seen outside of their office in the Longworth House Office Building, Nov. 20, 2024, in Washington. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nov. 21, 2024 Johnson says said the House will take up the privileged resolution to force the release of the Gaetz report after Thanksgiving break. Gaetz announces on X that he is withdrawing his name from the nomination process. "While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition," he said in the post. Illinois Democratic Rep. Sean Casten suggests that he plans to still move forward with forcing the House to vote on compelling the Ethics Committee to release the Gaetz report. Nov. 22, 2024 Gaetz tells conservative commentator Charlie Kirk that he does not intend to join the 119th Congress, but is "still going to be in the fight but it's going to be from a new perch." "And I'm actually excited to see northwest Florida go to new heights and have great representation," he said. Matt Gaetz AG nomination: Timeline originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Matt Gaetz has already been replaced as the attorney general nominee after he was doomed Thursday by his alleged sexcapadeswhich he denies. But he has other pathways to reclaim his perch as agent provocateur of GOP politics. Even after resigning from Congress to dodge a damning ethics report, Gaetz could potentially still pull a U-turn and return to the House. All because he won reelection. As the Bulwarks Marc Caputo noted , Gaetz resigned in this session of Congresswhich ends on Jan. 2. But his victory on Election Day makes him eligible to be sworn in to the 119th Congress, which convenes on Jan. 3. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By law, a source told Caputo, [Gaetz] could walk back into it because it was uncharted territory to have a resignation prospective for an office not yet held. Of course, if he does indeed decide to return to the House, the release of the House Ethics Committees findings detailing Gaetzs purported proclivities for drug-fueled orgies, underage girls and illicit drug use could be waiting for him. House Ethics Chairman Michael Guest declared the matter moot Thursday in a hallway interview with CBS News. However, Maryland Democratic Rep. Glenn Ivey, a member of the House Ethics Committee, told the Daily Beast Thursday, Im not not sure that this is dead. Michael Guest argues to CBS News Jaala Brown that Matt Gaetz withdrawal should end the discussion of whether or not the Ethics committee should continue to move forward in this matter pic.twitter.com/TyaHtm73Yz Ellis Kim (@elliskkim) November 21, 2024 House Speaker Mike Johnson, the day after he returned from partying and jet-setting with Donald Trump, implored Guest not to release the report. But the evidence is ultimately in the hands of five Republicans and five Democrats on the ethics panel, which means the likelihood of the findings leaking in an especially polarized political climate is high. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, it isnt the end of the line for Gaetz. Dudes got options, said Ivey. Gaetz could be appointed by the Sunshine States governor, Ron DeSantis, to Marco Rubios soon-to-be vacant Senate seat. Rubios confirmation to be secretary of State is a much safer bet, but the Senate seat could be out of reach with Lara Trump pining for the role. Still, MAGA can dream. On X, #SenatorGaetz started trending seconds after the Florida rabble-rouser announced the end of his attorney general bid. What if that was the plan all along? asked several commentators while others, like former Sean Hannity producer Kylie Jan Kremer, tweeted, Senator Matt Gaetz has a nice ring to it. Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) agreed, calling Gaetz a great person to take over Rubios seat, reported CNN. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, the National Review quoted a source close to DeSantis saying, He wont appoint Matt. (Gaetz did back Trump over DeSantis in the 2024 GOP primary after all.) Which makes it easier for Gaetz to waltz right back into the House chamber in January and take the seat that he won. Although plenty of candidates have lined up to replace Gaetz in the solidly red Florida congressional district, DeSantis has not scheduled a date for the special election. But Gaetz could also take a White House job that doesnt require Senate confirmation. Or he could opt to spend more time with his wife, Ginger. The end of an era , wrote Mrs. Gaetz on X, seemingly hinting that her husband could be out of politics for good. Whatever it is, he can expect the explosive allegations against him to follow himpotentially in the form of a report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ivey wouldnt discuss the findings of the committees nearly three-year long investigation of Gaetz. But he noted there is precedence for the House Ethics Committee releasing reports after members have left office. The existence of a report is a matter of dispute, Ivey acknowledged. Guest claimed the report has not been completed. Rep. Susan Wild, the top-ranking Democrat on the panel, however, said it was ready to go. Regardless, dirt gathered on Gaetz over nearly three years is still there, like a ticking time bomb. Should it be made public? Ivey asked. I thought we should release the information to the Senate, no doubt, he said, so senators could fulfill their constitutional obligation to do advise and content. Matt Gaetz via his congressional website Less than 24 hours after Matt Gaetz announced he was giving up his bid to become the next attorney general, the Northwest Florida Republican made clear that he will not return to Congress in the next session beginning in January. Im still going to be in the fight, but its going to be from a new perch. I do not intend to join the 119th Congress, Gaetz said on Friday in a livestreamed interview on the Charlie Kirk Show. Im going to be fighting for President Trump. Im going to do whatever he asks of me, as I always have, but I think that eight years is probably enough time in the United States Congress. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gaetz resigned from his seat representing Floridas 1st Congressional District last week, shortly after President-elect Donald Trump nominated him to serve as his attorney general. He announced on Thursday that because of growing doubts he could be confirmed because of a House Ethics panel investigation about alleged payments for sex, including with an underage girl, he would withdraw his name for consideration to head the U.S. Justice Department. Gaetz told Kirk that he believed his nomination had great momentum, but acknowledged it had become a full-time job explaining to some Republican senators whose votes he needed that maybe a tweet I sent about them was maybe rash and not reflective of how I would serve as attorney general. The 42-year-old Gaetz, first elected to represent Floridas 1st District in 2016 and who won every election since then by double digits, has been a lightning rod in the Republican House Caucus, primarily for his leadership in taking down former Speaker Kevin McCarthy a little over a year ago. Members of the Republican-led House Ethics panel voted along party lines on Wednesday not to release the results of their investigation of Gates and instead to meet again on De. 5 to vote on the final report. Gaetz blasted the credibility of that document in his interview with Kirk. A plague that is run in Washington There is a plague that is run in Washington where theyre trying to smear somebody, they go and dredge up false, years-old allegations of the most salacious and clickbaity flavor possible, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And in this case, those allegations were coming from sources that Merrick Garlands DOJ had already deemed not credible. Like, if the things that the House Ethics Report were true, I would be under indictment and probably in a prison cell. But of course, theyre false. Because when you test them against other records, when you test them against other testimony, it all falls apart very quickly. But I was dealing with a politically motivated body. They didnt like me because of what I did with Kevin McCarthy. All of them were picked by Kevin McCarthy. They had an axe to grind. So that was going to serve as at least enough of a basis to delay my confirmation as attorney general. I could have answered all those questions. I could have engaged in a months-long fact battle, but we dont have months to go through that. Weve gotta have an A.G. ready to go Day One to implement the immigration agenda and work on the other key policy deregulatory objectives of the president. Special election Speculation ran rampant Thursday that Gaetz might decide to run for the congressional seat he vacated just nine days ago. While he announced last week that he would resign from the current Congress, there was a chance he could run again for the seat, whenever the election date is set by Gov. Ron DeSantis. But Gaetz comments on Friday killed that speculation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are now six Republicans and one Democrat who plan to run for Gaetz seat. Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi represented former President Trump at Senate impeachment trial. (Screengrab) Gaetz praised Trumps nomination of former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi to now become his U.S. attorney general and hinted at what Trump is looking for from his A.G. A.G. Bondi will be able to implement those Trump policies right away, so were ready on Day One, he said. We remember that it was the Department of Justice with Sally Yates on Day One of the last Trump administration where a lot of our agenda was scuttled. Where they started the whole Russia hoax nonsense. Where they limited the presidents ability to do what was necessary on some immigration fronts. For more than a year, Gaetz has been floated as a possible 2026 candidate for governor after Ron DeSantis tenure ends, though he has denied those rumors. He also could still be appointed by Trump to a position in the federal government that doesnt require Senate confirmation. I plan to be a big voice, but maybe not as an elected member of the government, he said. Now that former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) has withdrawn from consideration to be President-elect Trumps attorney general, questions are swirling about whether he will return to the House or if he even can. House rules and precedents and the manner in which Gaetz resigned mean he will not be coming back before the end of the year. But whether he can return next year if he wants to is unclear. Trump picks Pam Bondi for next attorney general Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here are the House rules, precedents and dynamics at play. Gaetz cannot come back this year Gaetz abruptly resigned from the House last week, the same day Trump announced Gaetz as his pick for attorney general. He cannot return for the 118th Congress, which will last through the end of the year, according to written precedents under which the House operates: The resignation of a Member from the House ordinarily may not be withdrawn. Unclear whether he can unilaterally return in 2025 Gaetz this month was reelected to represent Floridas 1st Congressional District for the 119th Congress, which starts Jan. 3. While rare, there is precedent for a member-elect resigning a seat before taking the oath of office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Gaetzs resignation letter left some wiggle room that raises questions about whether he did in fact resign, and whether he can unilaterally decide to return for the 119th Congress. I do not intend to take the oath of office for the same office in the 119th Congress to pursue the position of Attorney General in the Trump Administration, Gaetz said in his communication to the House when he resigned his seat last week. The question is whether stating his intention to not take the seat amounts to a resignation. Now that he is no longer pursuing the attorney general position, his intentions may change. Some congressional sources believe Gaetzs careful wording means he can decide to return and take the oath of office on Jan. 3, but other procedural observers are not so sure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another complicating factor is that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) last week said he instructed the Florida secretary of state to formulate and announce a schedule for the upcoming special elections to fill Gaetzs seat for the 119th Congress. Several candidates announced bids to replace Gaetz. There had not, however, been a date or schedule announced for that special election. The Florida secretary of states office did not immediately return The Hills inquiry about the special elections status, or the prospect of Gaetz returning to the seat. Gaetz could run in a special election If determined that Gaetz would not be able to decide himself to return for the 119th Congress, he could also run in the special election to fill the seat and hed have a good chance at winning. Gaetz easily won a primary against a challenger supported by allies of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), whom Gaetz ousted by triggering a motion to vacate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gaetz received more than 70 percent of the vote in that primary despite an outside PAC spending millions on brutal ads that brought up allegations of Gaetz paying for sex through a now-convicted former friend. Gaetz has vigorously denied allegations of wrongdoing, and the Department of Justice declined to charge him after investigating related matters. Not clear if Gaetz wants to return to the House While Washington and political observers wonder if Gaetz can return to the House, it is not clear if he even wants to. His wife, Ginger Gaetz, reposted his statement on social platform X about withdrawing from attorney general consideration with a photo of the two on the Capitol steps, saying: The end of an era. Being back in the House would also mean the House Ethics Committee would again have jurisdiction over him and nullify arguments from Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) that it is not appropriate to release an Ethics Committee report on a former member. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many Republicans believed Gaetz resigned his seat in order to stop the report from coming out, despite Johnson saying the reasoning was to quickly fill the seat and lessen the impact of being one member down in a slim House GOP majority. The panel investigated Gaetz on and off for years over allegations of sexual misconduct, illicit drug use, and other matters, which Gaetz has denied. It is not clear what the Florida lawmaker does next, but Gaetz has plenty of options aside from returning to the House. Those include Trump appointing him to a position that does not require Senate confirmation, exploring a run for governor of Florida, or even launching a media career. Mychael Schnell and Julia Manchester contributed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Gaetz confirmed in an interview on Friday, Nov. 22, that he does not intend to return to the House of Representatives, even though he is no longer in line to become the U.S. attorney general Chip Somodevilla/Getty; Joe Raedle/Getty Matt Gaetz, Donald Trump Matt Gaetz, Donald Trump Former attorney general nominee Matt Gaetz said that he is serious about being done with Congress, though he is ready to do "whatever" President-elect Donald Trump might ask of him next. On Friday, Nov. 22, the recently resigned Florida congressman shared in an interview with right-wing personality Charlie Kirk that he has "other goals in life" he's looking to pursue and does not intend to return to the House after withdrawing his attorney general nomination amid a sex-for-hire scandal on Nov. 21. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I'm still gonna be in the fight, but its gonna be from a new perch," Gaetz, 42, said. "I did not intend to join the [upcoming] 119th congress. There are a number of fantastic Floridians who stepped up to run for my seat, people who have inspired with their heroism, their public service. I'm actually excited to see Northwest Florida go to new heights and have great representation." Related: Matt Gaetz Withdraws as Donald Trump's Attorney General Pick amid Sex-for-Hire Allegations Leon Neal/Getty Matt Gaetz at the Republican National Convention on July 17, 2024 Matt Gaetz at the Republican National Convention on July 17, 2024 Gaetz who has denied long-running allegations related to sex trafficking, sexual misconduct with minors and illicit drug use added that even if he won't be the next attorney general, he still plans to be "fighting for President Trump" and doing "whatever he asks of me as I always have," calling his eight years in Congress "probably enough time." The politician was previously investigated by the Justice Department in a sex trafficking probe, though the federal government declined to bring charges. The House Ethics Committee then began investigating similar allegations, and when it was announced that they may release their findings this month, Gaetz resigned his congressional seat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Related: Donald Trump's Cabinet Picks: Who He's Already Chosen and Who He Might Choose Next Speaking with Kirk on Friday, Gaetz also commended former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, whom Trump nominated for attorney general hours after Gaetz withdrew his nomination. He called Trump's second choice a "phenomenal attorney general" as he praised her "legal acumen." "Even though the path will take me to a different station in life and a different place to fight for our agenda, and President Trump, we've got a great person in place," he said. Related: Matt Gaetz Bought Sex with His 'Son' Nestor's PayPal Account, Women Reportedly Told House Investigators SMG/Shutterstock Donald Trump and Matt Gaetz in November 2019 Donald Trump and Matt Gaetz in November 2019 Gaetz announced on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday that he was withdrawing his nomination after "unfairly becoming a distraction" to the White House transition of Trump and Vice President-elect J.D. Vance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The politician wrote that he was "fully committed to see that Donald J. Trump is the most successful President in history," while explaining that he wouldn't be prepared to take on the responsibilities so soon given his scandal. 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. New nominee Bondi, 59, has a history of serving as a lobbyist for the government of Qatar, a lawyer at the Trump-aligned think tank America First Policy Institute and a Fox News contributor. She promoted the president-elect's false claims of election fraud after she left state office in 2019. "For too long, the partisan Department of Justice has been weaponized against me and other Republicans - Not anymore," Trump said in announcing Bondi's nomination on Nov. 21. One day after withdrawing from consideration as Donald Trumps attorney general, former Rep. Matt Gaetz said hes done with Congress. I'm still going to be in the fight, but it's going to be from a new perch, Gaetz told Charlie Kirk on his radio show Friday. I do not intend to join the 119th Congress." Gaetz, first elected to his House seat in 2016, has been a nuisance to his partys leadership throughout his time in Washington, though hes cultivated and maintained a close rapport with Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Florida firebrand a moniker he named his podcast after led the successful charge to dethrone former Speaker Kevin McCarthy from his perch atop the House Republican Conference. Hes drawn ire from House Republicans and Democrats alike, few of whom have a positive word to say about his style or substance. "I'm gonna be fighting for President Trump, Gaetz said to Kirk. I'm gonna be doing whatever he asks of me, as I always have. But I think that eight years is probably enough time in the United States Congress. A key unanswered question is what happens to a looming House Ethics Committee report on Gaetz over alleged sexual misconduct with underage women. The committee deadlocked this week on whether to release its findings on the Florida Republican, vowing to meet again in December on the matter. The Justice Department also investigated Gaetz over the sexual misconduct allegations, but closed its probe without filing formal charges. Gaetz has always maintained he did nothing wrong. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gaetzs political career is likely not over, however. He could still join the Trump administration in a role that doesnt need Senate confirmation or run for office again in his home state. Hes been something of an enigma within the modern Republican Party, urging action to address climate change and legalize recreational marijuana, but also raising eyebrows from his colorful personal life. Gaetz introduced the world in 2020 to his adopted son Nestor Galban through whose financial payment platform accounts he allegedly paid women for sexual encounters (which he denies). Gaetz resigned from Congress immediately upon being tapped by Trump for his administration, earlier this month, but he also won reelection in November to his seat for the next Congress leaving an open question, and potential thorny legal issues, on if he could return next year. Florida will have to schedule a special election to replace him next year, but hasnt announced the dates yet. Several people have already filed to run. Some Gaetz allies have floated the idea of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis appointing Gaetz to the Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Marco Rubio, who is expected to be confirmed easily as secretary of State. Gaetz and DeSantis were once close, and Gaetz played a key role in the governors transition in 2018. But Gaetzs loyalty in the presidential election fell to Trump in 2024 when DeSantis himself ran for the job, and hes not considered a likely contender for the soon-to-be open seat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gaetz has long expressed interest in running for governor someday, and DeSantis is set to term limit out in 2026. Gaetz was at the Capitol in Tallahassee at the end of the 2024 session and evaded questions about his interest in the job, saying he was focused on his role in Washington. I would definitely enjoy that job so much, Gaetz told Donald Trump Jr. and his fiancee, Kimberly Guilfoyle, last year during a livestream, referring to the Florida governors mansion. I would never leave it if I ever got that opportunity. Gaetz never faced a difficult congressional race in the deep-red district he represents, and several other top Florida Republicans have expressed interest in running for governor in 2026, including Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody; Florida Lt. Gov. Jeannette Nunez; Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis; and Rep. Byron Donalds. Gaetzs father, Don Gaetz, just won a seat to the state Senate and used to be president of the Florida Senate. Gaetzs wife, Ginger, has been leaving cryptic posts on X about whats next, writing on Friday that Unemployment has never looked so good, while posting a picture of her husband next to a cocktail at a bar. When someone asked what they were up to, she posted a GIF that read, Keep guessing. (This story has been updated with additional information.) Former U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz is not going back to Congress. During his first public statements since announcing his withdrawal as President-elect Donald Trump's nomination for Attorney General, the Florida Republican said Friday he will not return to Congress in the next session. Im still going to be in the fight, but its going to be from a new perch. I do not intend to join the 119th Congress, Gaetz said in a livestreamed interview on The Charlie Kirk Show. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gaetz resigned from the current 118th Congress and in his resignation letter said he did not intend to take his oath of office in the 119th Congress that will be seated in January. Some have wondered if Gaetz could technically still take up his office in the new congress. Gaetz's statement Friday ends that speculation and ensures a special election will go forward. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the special election dates Friday afternoon, with Jan. 28 primary and April 1 general election. There are a number of fantastic Floridians whove stepped up to run for my seat, people who have inspired with their heroism, with their public service. And Im actually excited to see Northwest Florida go to new heights and have great representation, Gaetz said. Gaetz's nomination was plagued by allegations of sexual misconduct and illicit drug use. A House Ethics Committee was investigating the allegations, but that investigation was thrown into disarray when Gaetz resigned from Congress after being nominated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The allegations center around Gaetz allegedly paying women for sex and having sex with a 17-year-old in 2017, attorneys representing the women have told multiple media outlets. Gaetz has vehemently denied the allegations, and the Department of Justice declined to bring any charges against Gaetz after a three-year investigation. Prosecutors reportedly had credibility concerns with two witnesses. Documents from the House Ethics Committee were leaked on Thursday that detailed $10,000 in payments Gaetz made to two women who testified to the committee, according to multiple media reports. Joel Leppard, the attorney for the two women, told ABC News that Gaetz paid them for sex. Both women were over the age of 18, but one of his clients witnessed Gaetz having sex with a 17-year-old girl at a party, he said. Gaetz says witnesses against him aren't credible In his interview with Kirk, Gaetz said what happened to him was a smear campaign to bring up false "years old" allegations of the "most salacious, and clickbaity flavor possible." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "In this case, those allegations were coming from sources that Merrick Garland's DOJ had already deemed not credible," Gaetz said. "Like if the things in the House Ethics report were true, I would be under indictment and probably in a prison cell, but of course, they're false." Gaetz said when you test allegations against other testimony and evidence, they fall apart "very quickly." He also questioned the political motivations of the Republicans on the House Ethics Committee and said they were loyal to former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who Gaetz led the charge to force out of the speakership last year. "I was dealing with a politically motivated body," Gaetz said. "They didn't like me because of what I did to Kevin McCarthy. All of them were all hand picked by Kevin McCarthy, and they had an axe to grind." Gaetz said it would've been a months long battle to get through approval by the Senate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We don't have months to go through that," Gaetz said. "We've got to have an AG ready to go day one to implement the immigration agenda and to work on the other key policy, deregulatory objectives of the president." Gaetz said he thought the senate would have moved to eventually support him, but it would've take too long. "I had a full-time job explaining to senators that maybe a tweet I said about that was rash, and at the same time I was having to build out the Department of Justice with the right human talent, and the right policy infrastructure," Gaetz said. "And Pam Bondi's confirmation won't have the same sharp edges that mine would have." Just hours after Gaetz announced the end of his bid to be AG, Trump announced that he was appointing former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi to lead the Justice Department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pam was a prosecutor for nearly 20 years, where she was very tough on Violent Criminals, and made the streets safe for Florida Families, he said in a statement. Then, as Floridas first female Attorney General, she worked to stop the trafficking of deadly drugs, and reduce the tragedy of Fentanyl Overdose Deaths, which have destroyed many families across our Country. Bondi is a long-time Trump ally and previously served as one of his defense attorneys during his first impeachment trial. Trump previously talked about bringing Bondi into his first administration though it never happened. This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Matt Gaetz says he will not return to Congress Matt Gaetz has hinted that he might not be disappearing from politics just yet as speculation mounts that he could take Marco Rubios open seat in the Senate. Gaetz, who withdrew his name from consideration as Donald Trumps attorney general on Thursday, posted a cryptic message on his X account in response to a supportive post from Vice President-elect JD Vance. Thank you, Mr. VP-Elect! I look forward to continuing the fight to save our country. Just maybe from a different post, Gaetz said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His post has helped fuel speculation that he could either replace Rubio in the Senate, attempt to claw back his seat in the House after resigning, or be appointed to a different Trump administration role that does not require Senate approval. Im not sure that this is dead, Democratic Rep. Glenn Ivey of Maryland, a member of the House Ethics Committee, told the Daily Beast. After Rubio was named Trumps pick for secretary of state, a position that will likely be confirmed by the Senate, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis was left with the task of appointing his replacement in the upper chamber. Senator Rick Scott, who lost out to Senator John Thune to become Majority Leader, said that Gaetz could be a great pick to replace Rubio. Matt Gaetz hinted he could return to politics following his withdrawal from the attorney general nomination (@mattgaetz/X) But there have been rumblings that Trumps daughter-in-law Lara Trump is the favorite for the role. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Scott diplomatically told Politico: I think Lara Trump is a great pick. But Matt would be a great person. But I think Lara would do a great job. The idea was echoed by former Sean Hannity producer Kylie Jane Kremer, who posted on X: Senator Matt Gaetz has a nice ring to it. But a source close to DeSantis poured cold water on the idea, the National Review reported. He wont appoint Matt, the source told the outlet, referring to DeSantis. Gaetz backed Trump over the governor in the 2024 Republican primary. It is currently unclear if Gaetz will try to win back his seat in the House. His wife Ginger declared on her Instagram page that it was the end of an era shortly after her husband announced he was withdrawing his attorney general nomination. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gaetz resigned from his seat last week as soon as he was tapped by Trump to join his administration. When he resigned, he specified he was resigning from his term in the current Congress, the 118th, while announcing he did not intend to assume a seat in January in the 119th, even though he had just won re-election to it earlier in the month. Matt Gaetz withdrew from consideration following a week of intense scrutiny on the sexual allegations from his past (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) If Gaetz did decide he wanted to return to Congress, House rules may bar him from retaking his seat, and he may instead have to compete for it again in a special election in Florida, as the U.S. Constitution calls for special elections to fill House vacancies. The Republican left Congress two days before an explosive House Ethics Committee report was slated to be released about him, in which a witness reportedly claimed Gaetz paid her for sex. Gaetz has denied the allegations at issue in the ethics committee inquiry, as well as those related to a Department of Justice sex trafficking probe into Gaetz and his associates. The DOJ did not charge Gaetz with any crimes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the wake of his resignation, the ethics panels jurisdiction ended. Its members are still debating whether or not to release the findings, with House Democrats and some Republicans calling for it to be made public. Rep. Sean Casten of Illinois said he welcomed Gaetzs withdrawal, but it remains important that the Gaetz report be made available to the American people. Trump quickly replaced Gaetz on Thursday by nominating former Florida attorney general Pam Bondi as his next choice to lead the Department of Justice. More than three decades ago, the nation watched both riveted and horrified as a woman who was testifying during a presidential nominees Senate confirmation hearing was grilled in graphic detail about the nominees alleged sexual misconduct. The committee, according to the accounts of multiple people involved in the process, failed to seriously investigate her accusations, declined to call other witnesses who could have corroborated her testimony, and even despite the fact that she was the accuser allowed the nominee to testify first. So flawed were those hearings that in 2019, the person who had been committee chair publicly remarked, To this day, I regret I couldnt come up with a way to get her the kind of hearing she deserved. That chairman was, of course, then-Sen. Joe Biden, whose oversight or lack thereof of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas 1991 confirmation hearings has been much maligned, even by his allies. Even more regrettable is that nearly 34 years later, as evidenced by Justice Brett Kavanaughs own confirmation process, the Senate still lacks any standardized (much less sensitive or transparent) process for handling sexual misconduct allegations against those presidential nominees over whom the Senate must exercise its constitutional advise and consent powers. And, of course, there is the Trump of it all. Because we also now know that Trumps White House exercised tight control over the FBIs investigation of the allegations against Kavanaugh, refusing to authorize any independent probe of those accusations, despite Trumps public insistence that the FBI had carte blanche to do so. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Presumably, the FBIs involvement in any confirmation process for former Rep. Matt Gaetz after the inauguration would have been similarly unhelpful and stymied by the 47th president. But thanks to Gaetzs withdrawal from consideration to serve as Trumps attorney general, we have narrowly escaped another confirmation hearing spectacle. Gaetz not only was a subject of a now-closed sex trafficking investigation initiated by Trumps own Justice Department in late 2020, he was also under investigation by the House Ethics Committee for a variety of issues, including sexual misconduct and illicit drug use. (Gaetzs resignation from Congress is expected to end that investigation, and the report may never see the light of day.) According to NBC News, among the evidence received by the committee was testimony from a woman who said she had two sexual encounters with Gaetz at a 2017 party when she was 17. Gaetz has vigorously denied the allegations, and the DOJs investigation was closed without any charges against him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prior to Gaetzs withdrawal, Republican and Democratic senators both called for the release or at least their review of the Ethics Committee report and/or its related investigative materials; most of the Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee also have asked the FBI to provide them with its complete evidentiary file, including transcripts of witness interviews. But, at least until Thursday, there was no indication that senators would have obtained either type of records. As a result, there was a real possibility that several women who already testified before a federal grand jury, the House Ethics Committee or both, with respect to their involvement with Gaetz would be forced under subpoena to do it all over again. But based on the limited amount we know about these women and how weve seen the Senate respond to accusers and victims in the past, that third time would have been no charm. Consider what Joel Leppard, a lawyer for two women who testified they were paid for sex by Gaetz, told NBC News in an interview earlier this week. Leppard explained that, based on his conversations with his clients and his own observations, the women: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Have meager means and live paycheck to paycheck. At the time, they engaged in sex work (which they no longer do) to pay their rent; one of them, despite the committee offering to fly her to Washington for her testimony, instead testified by Zoom over her lunch break because she could not afford to miss work. Were strong women who were nonetheless humiliated by the process of testifying before the grand jury, during which they saw naked pictures of themselves blown up on a huge screen, and both cried during their House Ethics meetings. Are still emotionally processing their experiences and have undergone counseling. When asked during her House testimony whether she considers herself a victim, one broke down in tears and said, I dont know how to answer that, reflecting that it was a very difficult question. Remain concerned for their safety, as theyve already had strangers jump out at them from the bushes, and they worry about doing their job and someone attacking them. And thats to say nothing of what the then-17-year-old, who no doubt would have been even more central to any confirmation hearings, already has endured and would have gone through. On Thursday, after Gaetz withdrew, Leppard told NBC News: My clients are relieved to have this chapter behind them and eager to move forward with their lives. Were hopeful this brings final closure for all parties involved. But as they move forward, Pete Hegseth is still poised to be nominated as defense secretary in spite of a sexual assault allegation documented in a now-public police report and an admitted payout to his accuser. (Hegseth denies any wrongdoing, and he was not charged.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Will anyone in the Senate have the fortitude to look back on the Thomas and Kavanaugh hearings and learn from them before another woman becomes this generations Anita Hill or Christine Blasey Ford? This article was originally published on MSNBC.com Controversial right-wing Rep. Matt Gaetz abruptly dropped his bid to be Donald Trumps attorney general on Thursday, amid growing allegations involving illegal drugs and paid sex with young women. The former Florida lawmaker said he was stepping aside to avoid what he called a needlessly protracted Washington scuffle over his nomination to lead the Department of Justice in Trumps second administration. It is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction, Gaetz tweeted. Thus Ill be withdrawing my name from consideration to serve as Attorney General. Trumps DOJ must be in place and ready on Day 1. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump praised Gaetz after the announcement. Matt has a wonderful future and I look forward to seeing all the great things he will do, Trump wrote on his social media site. The incoming president had repeatedly expressed steadfast support for Gaetz and had described the pick as the single most important choice in his forthcoming Cabinet. CNN reported Thursday morning that it planned to reveal new reporting that Gaetz engaged in a second sexual encounter with a girl who was only 17 at the time, a tryst that included an older woman as well. Minutes after being asked about the new report, Gaetz pulled the plug on his bid to be the nations top law enforcement officer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before his sudden withdrawal, the nomination of Gaetz faced an uphill battle to win the required 50 senators in a confirmation hearing. Gaetz already resigned his Florida congressional seat last week in what many believed was a ploy to avoid disclosure of a congressional Ethics Committee report. The former lawmaker had won a small victory Wednesday when Republicans on the House Ethics Committee decided not to immediately release a report on his alleged misdeeds. The panel agreed to meet again in early December, when it could release the report or seek to permanently shelve it on the grounds that hes no longer a member of the House. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One twist could come if Gaetz seeks to walk back his resignation from Congress. He stepped down last week virtually at the same time Trump tapped him for the AG post. But Gaetz won reelection in November to a new two-year term starting Jan. 1, meaning he might be able to return to the House in the new year. Just hours after Gaetz withdrew his nomination, Trump announced Thursday night that hed selected former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi as his new nominee to head the Justice Department. Pam was a prosecutor for nearly 20 years, where she was very tough on Violent Criminals, and made the streets safe for Florida Families, he wrote on Truth Social. Then, as Floridas first female Attorney General, she worked to stop the trafficking of deadly drugs, and reduce the tragedy of Fentanyl Overdose Deaths, which have destroyed many families across our Country. She did such an incredible job, that I asked her to serve on our Opioid and Drug Abuse Commission during my first Term We saved many lives! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pam will refocus the DOJ to its intended purpose of fighting Crime, and Making America Safe Again, he continued. I have known Pam for many years She is smart and tough, and is an AMERICA FIRST Fighter, who will do a terrific job as Attorney General! Bondi served as attorney general of Florida from 2011 to 2019 under then-Gov. Rick Scott. She previously worked on Trumps first impeachment defense team and was involved in efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. From the The Morning Dispatch on The Dispatch Happy Friday! Argentinas president, Javier Milei, this week presented Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni with a figurine of himself wielding a chainsaw. If we were going to gift someone action figures of the TMD crew, the statuette versions of us would be holding em dashes aloft like a weapon. Quick Hits: Todays Top Stories Lots of Advice, No Consent Rep. Matt Gaetz speaks during the Conservative Political Action Conference on February 23, 2024. (Photo by Tom Brenner for The Washington Post via Getty Images) Former Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida didnt even last a full Scaramuccithat is, 11 days, or the length of time Anthony Scaramucci served as former President Donald Trumps communications director during Trumps first term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just eight days after Trump named the Florida congressman as his nominee for attorney general, Gaetz backed out. Trump later on Thursday said he intended to nominate former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi to the position instead. Gaetzs withdrawal sends an important signal: GOP senators do seem to have a breaking point when it comes to their loyalty to the president-elect, and Trump may not get everything he wants from Senate Republicanseven with a solid GOP majority in the chamber. But first, his selection had rocked Washingtonand apparently even Trumps chief of staff, Susie Wiles, who was out of earshot when another aide convinced Trump to name Gaetz. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine said she was shocked upon hearing about the pick last week. There was reportedly an audible gasp in a room where House Republicans were meeting when they read Trump had selected Gaetz. Why? Trump had chosen Gaetz to lead an agency that had for two years investigated him for alleged child sex trafficking, though the Justice Department ultimately declined to charge the congressman. And at the time of Trumps decision to nominate Gaetz, the House Ethics Committee was investigating whether he had engaged in sexual misconduct and illicit drug use, accepted improper gifts, dispensed special privileges and favors to individuals with whom he had a personal relationship, and sought to obstruct government investigations of his conduct. Gaetz has maintained his innocence. Republican senators last week generally demurred on whether they would support his nomination, opting to defer to the Senates advice and consent role. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But after meeting with Republican senators on Wednesdayaccompanied by Vice President-elect and sitting Sen. J.D. VanceGaetz announced yesterday that he would end his quest to become the top law enforcement officer in America. While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition, Gaetz tweeted. There is no time to waste on a needlessly protracted Washington scuffle, thus Ill be withdrawing my name from consideration to serve as Attorney General. Trumps DOJ must be in place and ready on Day 1. The same day, Trump announced that Bondi, who served as Florida attorney general from 2011 to 2019, would be his new nominee. For too long, the partisan Department of Justice has been weaponized against me and other Republicans Not anymore, Trump said in a statement. Pam will refocus the DOJ to its intended purpose of fighting Crime, and Making America Safe Again. I have known Pam for many years She is smart and tough, and is an AMERICA FIRST Fighter, who will do a terrific job as Attorney General! Bondi worked in Trumps first administration and led the legal arm of America First Policy Institute, a think tank dedicated to promoting Trumps agenda. In the aftermath of Election Day 2020, Bondi parroted Trumps false claims of fraud and said at a press conference with former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani that the then-president had won Pennsylvania before the state, which eventually went for President Joe Biden, had been called. The president-elect on Thursday morning reportedly called Gaetz, who had remained bullish about his chances, to tell him it was game over after more senators than he could afford to lose had apparently indicated they wouldnt support the nomination. With Republicans holding a 53-47 majority in the Senate, Gaetz could only afford to lose three Republican senators, with Vance around to serve as the tie-breaking vote. The Senate also has a responsibility for advice and consentand in this particular case, I think there was advice offered, rather than consent, GOP Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota told Politico. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some senators with whom Gaetz met yesterday to make his case apparently did not get advance warning of the announcement. I learned about it the same way everyone else did, by reading the statement, Sen. Ted Cruz of Texaswho sits on the Senate Judiciary Committee, before which Gaetz would have testifiedtold reporters Thursday. I assume it was because there were challenges in Senate confirmation. I had a good and productive meeting with Matt Gaetz yesterday. Asked whether those challenges came up during the pairs meeting, he added: The topic of our discussion will remain between us. One thing that almost undoubtedly came up during Gaetzs meetings with senators was the contents of a yet-to-be-released report on the House Ethics Committee investigation into Gaetz. The investigation was reportedly nearing completion last week, though its unclear whether the report would have been released publicly. Complicating matters, Gaetz resigned the same day Trump announced his nomination, which would typically mean the end of a House Ethics investigation. Senators of both parties said they were interested in the results of the inquiry as part of their advice and consent role. Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, who sits on the Senate Judiciary Committee, called on the Ethics committee to preserve and share the report with his own panel. His Republican fellow committeeman, Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, told reporters he wanted to see everything with regard to vetting Gaetz. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement House Speaker Mike Johnson, though, said he did not support releasing the report on the grounds that Gaetz was no longer a member of Congress. That is not the way we do things in the House, and I think that would be a terrible precedent to set, he said last week. But Democrats have argued that there is precedent for releasing a report on a member after he has resigned from the House. Democratic Rep. Bill Boner of Tennessee resigned in 1987, but the Ethics Committee two months later released its report on an investigation into allegations hed accepted bribes and misused campaign funds. The panel argued then that the general policy against issuing reports in cases such as here involved is outweighed by the responsibility of the Committee to fully inform the public regarding the status and results of its efforts up to the date of Representative Boners departure from Congress. On Wednesday, members of the Ethics Committeean even number of Republicans and Democrats, unlike most House panels that have a partisan majorityconsidered the reports release at a meeting but concluded without a decision to make it public. There was not an agreement by the committee to release the report, GOP Rep. Michael Guest, the committees chair, told reporters after the gathering. Axios reported that the 10-member committee was divided on party lines over whether to share the report, short of the majority support needed to take that step. But there are always leaks. With the fate of the reports release in limbo, press reports painted an ugly picture of Gaetzs character. The day after his nomination, ABC News reported that a woman testified to the committee that Gaetz had sex with her when she was 17 years old. Gaetz apparently announced his withdrawal from the confirmation process after CNN had contacted him for comment on a report that the woman testified to the Ethics committee that he actually had two sexual encounters with her at the same party when she was a minor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its not just salacious personal allegations that followed Gaetz into the confirmation process: He also has no shortage of enemies in his professional life. His reputation as a firebrand in the House of Representatives meant he had vanishingly few political alliesespecially after he led the effort to oust then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy last year. Following Thursdays announcement, Rep. Mike Lawler of New York, a Republican in a swing district, invoked McCarthy in a celebratory social media post. Justice has been served, he wrote. On Wednesday, Lawler also handed out bottles of water to the members of the press waiting for the House Ethics meeting to adjourn. Gaetzs political maneuvering may have also contributed to his poor showing in the Senate. Earlier this year Gaetz endorsed Rep. Matt Rosendale in the Republican primary race for Montanas Senate seat. Im 100% sure Mitch McConnell has a candidate in the Montana GOP Primary, he said of the outgoing Senate majority leader. And 1000% sure it isnt Matt Rosendale. Fire Mitch. Support Rosendale. Months earlier, National Republican Senatorial Committee chair Sen. Steve Daines, who also represents Montana, backed Tim Sheehy, who ultimately advanced to the general and unseated the incumbent Democrat, Sen. John Tester. The move likely angered the current and incoming GOP Montana Senate delegation. Daines was terse when asked about Gaetzs dropping out on Thursday. I respect his decision, he told TMD. Any thoughts on why he decided to withdraw? I respect his decision, Daines repeated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As has often been the case during his career, McConnell got the last laugh. Asked about Gaetzs decision to take himself out of the running on Thursday, McConnell said, I think that was appropriate. Worth Your Time Regardless of the outcome of the war in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin has already suffered a strategic defeat, Carl Bildt, the former prime minister of Sweden, wrote for Project Syndicate. For the past two decades, his own myopic, destructive policies have forced Ukraine to turn toward the West for support and solidarity, Bildt argued. Time after time, the Kremlins heavy-handed efforts have backfired, leaving Ukrainians even more determined to align themselves with the West. Contrary to what some Western commentators and Kremlin propagandists claim, this was never a case of the West expanding eastward as part of some malevolent plot. It was the Ukrainians who were making the strategic moves, which reflected Putins efforts to curtail their sovereignty. The only certain outcome of his misadventure will be the hatred that Ukrainians now bear toward Russia. This will have long-lasting consequences, and it already represents a major strategic defeat for Russia. Responsibility for the situation starts and ends with Putin. The West could never have achieved what Putin has: Ukraines total alienation from Russia. What can a mother and daughter learn from taking violin lessons together? Two years ago, my then-five-year-old daughter started taking violin lessons. This was entirely my idea, Maria Baer wrote for Plough. I spent my childhood desperately wishing to play the violin, only to be plopped in front of a piano instead (which I loved, nonetheless). So, renting that little one-eighth violin (it looked like a dolls instrument) and placing it gently in my girls hands every Monday after school was absolutely an attempt to live vicariously through her. Then she decided to join her. Along with the notes and the posture, my girls and I are learning the intangibleslike feeling a little silly doing something but then doing it anyway. And what it feels like to fail at something, over and over, before we get it right even once. Mostly, were learning how to be frustrated, discouraged, bored, and just generally uncomfortableand how to keep practicing anyway. Presented Without Comment The Hill: Trump Selling $11,000 Signed MAGA Guitars Also Presented Without Comment NBC News: Man Who Spent $6.2 Million on Banana Duct-taped to Wall Says Hes Going to Eat It In the Zeitgeist Iris by the Goo Goo Dolls recently was certified Diamond by the Recording Industry Association of Americameaning it was sold or downloaded more than 10 million times. In honor of that milestone, heres a throwback to an iconic, rain-soaked performance of the hit 20 years ago: Toeing the Company Line In the newsletters: Nick wondered whether authoritarianism with the patina of legitimacy was better for America than naked power grabs, and Will expressed some optimism for tech policy in the new administration. On the podcasts: Kevin filled in for Jonah on The Remnant joined by Frank Bruni of the New York Times. On the site: Mike reports on Florida as the epicenter of politics, Kevin wonders whether Trump will be able to hold his coalition together, and Andy Smarick explains the confirmation process. Let Us Know Were you surprised Gaetz withdrew? Read more at The Dispatch The Dispatch is a new digital media company providing engaged citizens with fact-based reporting and commentary, informed by conservative principles. Sign up for free. Former U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration for U.S. attorney general on Thursday in the face of allegations of sexual misconduct and drug use that jeopardized his chances of being confirmed for the job. But its not likely to be the end of his political story. At just 42 years old, Gaetz has spent most of his adult life serving in elected office and has garnered a reputation as a loyal ally of President-elect Donald Trump, who is now preparing to begin his second four-year stint in the White House. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here are four possibilities for Gaetzs political future: READ MORE: Matt Gaetz withdraws as Trumps attorney general pick amid sexual misconduct allegations Going back to the House Gaetz resigned from his House seat last week as Trump named him as his choice to lead the Justice Department. In doing so, Gaetz not only stepped down from the current 118th Congress, but said that he did not intend to take the oath of office for his next term in the 119th Congress that he just won earlier this month. House rules are unclear whether Gaetz can step back into his seat when members are sworn into the House in January. What is clear is that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is responsible for setting a special election to fill a House seat in the event of a vacancy, and Gaetzs seat is currently vacant. While no election date has been set, Gaetz could choose to run in a special election in order to regain his seat in Congress. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DeSantis and Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd could still opt to submit Gaetzs name to Congress among the list of regularly elected candidates in this years election, effectively allowing him to take his oath of office in January like any other newly elected House member, according to a congressional aide. One potential drawback for Gaetz if he does decide to return to the House is that he would once again be under the jurisdiction of the chambers Ethics Committee, which has spent years investigating sex-trafficking and drug-use allegations against the former congressman. Gaetz has repeatedly denied wrongdoing. The Ethics Committee voted this week to continue its investigation into Gaetz, but declined for now to release the findings of its investigation. If Gaetz were to reenter the House, that could change. One sign that Gaetz may be done with the House for now came on Thursday, shortly after the former congressman withdrew his name for attorney general. In a post on social media, his wife Ginger shared a photo of her and Gaetz on the steps of the U.S. Capitol with the caption, The end of an era. A Senate appointment Gaetz was one of a handful of Floridians tapped for roles in Trumps incoming administration a list that also includes U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, whom the president-elect picked for secretary of state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In turn, itll fall on DeSantis to appoint a replacement for Rubio in the Senate, though there are several potential candidates for the job and its unclear if Gaetz is one of them. Gaetz was an early booster of DeSantis during and after his successful 2018 bid for the governors mansion, and is also a steadfast Trump supporter, which could work in the former congressmans favor. However, several high-profile Trump allies are also pushing DeSantis to name Trumps daughter-in-law Lara Trump to fill Rubios Senate seat, and a number of other Florida Republicans have been floated as potential Senate appointees, including DeSantis chief of staff James Uthmeier, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody and former state House Speakers Paul Renner and Jose Oliva. DeSantis said this week that hes begun vetting potential replacements for Rubio and is likely to make a decision on an appointment by early January. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement READ MORE: Ron DeSantis says he will likely decide Marco Rubios successor by early January Another job in the Trump administration In withdrawing from consideration for attorney general, Gaetz explained that he didnt want his confirmation process to become a distraction for the incoming Trump administration. But there are still plenty of jobs in the administration that wouldnt require Senate confirmation, such as an advisory role in the White House. And Gaetz, as a longtime and loyal Trump ally, could be a prime contender for one of those roles. Bide his time for a future run for office While the attorney general job would have been a big step up for Gaetz, the former congressman has long been seen as having aspirations beyond the U.S. House. For years, many Florida Republicans have floated the notion that Gaetz could seek the governors mansion. DeSantis is currently in the middle of his second term in office and wont be able to run again because of term limits. That could leave room for Gaetz to mount a bid for governor in 2026. Former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), who has withdrawn his nomination to be President-elect Donald Trumps attorney general, said he wont return to Congress next year. Im still going to be in the fight, but its going to be from a new perch. I do not intend to join the 119th Congress, Gaetz told conservative activist Charlie Kirk on Friday. Its not clear whether Gaetz would have been able to rejoin Congress to serve the term he won earlier this month, even if he wanted to do so. It might have been up to officials in his home state of Florida. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gaetz resigned from Congress last Wednesday, the same day that Trump announced him as his pick to oversee the Justice Department. Gaetzs resignation came as the House Ethics Committee was set to release a report on its investigation into alleged illicit drug use and sexual misconduct, which Gaetz has denied. With Gaetz no longer a member, the committee was deadlocked this week on whether to release its findings. Gaetz, who served eight years in the U.S. House, has options to continue his political career in Florida. Sen. Marco Rubio (R) likely will be vacating his seat as Trumps pick for secretary of state, giving Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) discretion to appoint a replacement to serve out the last two years of Rubios term. DeSantis himself is also term-limited in 2026. Related... Matt Gaetzs withdrawal Thursday as a candidate for attorney general illustrates the roadblocks President-elect Donald Trump could face as he tries to convert his campaign of retribution into a governing coalition capable of working within the realities of Washington. Gaetz, until recently a congressman from Florida, embodies Trumps grievance- and vendetta-driven agenda like few others can. He has been one of Trumps most pugilistic defenders and the bleeding edge of MAGA resistance in Congress, even against his own Republican leadership. In Gaetz, Trump would finally get the loyal attorney general he felt he never had in his first term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But it was a tough sell from the moment Trump announced Gaetz as his choice eight days ago in a pick that shocked much of Washington. The Justice Department that Trump wanted him to lead had once investigated Gaetz in a sex-trafficking case it closed without charging him. Meanwhile, an unreleased report from a separate House Ethics Committee investigation also hung over Gaetzs head, and details of what two women told the committee about their allegations he paid them for sex were beginning to trickle out. The panel had investigated Gaetz off and on over three years on allegations including sexual misconduct, illegal drug use, accepting bribes and improper gifts, sharing inappropriate images on the House floor, misusing campaign funds and obstructing the investigation itself. Gaetz denied all of those allegations and stopped cooperating with the probe this year. In the end, it was the combination of the ethics report and opposition among Senate Republicans that doomed Gaetzs candidacy, a senior Senate aide told NBC News. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gaetz appeared too mired in scandal to survive a confirmation vote in the Senate. While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition, Gaetz wrote on X. There is no time to waste on a needlessly protracted Washington scuffle, thus Ill be withdrawing my name from consideration to serve as Attorney General. Gaetzs hasty retreat is also emblematic of how Trump and his team often reject the conventions of Capitol Hill. Although Gaetzs liabilities and legal troubles were well-documented, deeper vetting by Trumps team might have unearthed details of the ethics probe sooner. And there was little, if any, effort to take the temperature of senators before Trump surprised the political world with his announcement last week. At least five Senate Republicans were planning to vote against Gaetz and had communicated to other senators and those close to Trump that they were unlikely to be swayed, according to multiple people with direct knowledge. They are Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine and Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma, as well as Sen.-elect John Curtis of Utah. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senator-elect Curtis believes that every president is afforded a degree of deference to select his team and make nominations, said Corey Norman, Curtis chief of staff. He also firmly believes in and is committed to the Senates critical role to confirm or reject nominations based on information and insight from confirmation hearings. Mullin had been outspoken in his criticism of Gaetz telling NBC News' "Meet the Press" on Sunday, "There's no question that Matt Gaetz and I have had our differences, and that's no secret." He said, however, he'd be sure to give him a "fair shot." On Thursday afternoon, Mullin had said there was "no way" that Gaetz would have been able to get through the confirmation process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gaetz, accompanied by Vice President-elect JD Vance, a senator from Ohio, met with 11 senators Wednesday. My read is that he genuinely wanted it but had no real plan to overcome opposition, a source familiar with Gaetzs meetings said. No strategy. Not shocking that this is the outcome. Maybe a bit surprising it happened so fast, this person added. At least 20 and perhaps as many as 30 Senate Republicans were very uncomfortable about having to vote for Gaetz on the Senate floor, one of the sources said. Gaetz could afford to lose only three Republicans. I thought it was problematic from the beginning, Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There was perhaps some information out there that the president was not aware of when he made the original recommendation, Rounds said of Gaetzs withdrawing. In this particular case, that appears to have been what happened, and it may very well have been because of advice from the Senate, rather than consent from the Senate. Gaetz made the call to withdraw on his own and notified Trump of his decision earlier Thursday, two people with direct knowledge said. One of the sources recounted having observed no internal pushback when Trump informed his team of his pick for attorney general, even though multiple staffers did not believe Gaetz could be confirmed. Senate leadership was not asked in advance about the pick, this person said. The second source acknowledged that confirming Gaetz was always going to be an uphill battle. On Thursday evening, Trump named former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi as his new pick to lead the Justice Department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has other confirmation challenges ahead. His choice for defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, is a former Fox News host who has said women should not serve in combat and has been accused of, but never charged with, sexual assault. Trump also intends to nominate anti-vaccination activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for health and human services secretary and former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, who has been accused of amplifying Russian propaganda, for director of national intelligence. Before Gaetz withdrew Thursday, Trump allies were pushing hard on GOP senators and other ambitious Republicans to publicly support his embattled Cabinet picks. A person close to Trump said by the transition team welcomed Gaetzs withdrawal, adding that the [House Ethics] report started to leak out and there was no way for Matt to make it. Many officials at the Justice Department were also breathing sighs of relief Thursday. Certain events, like the sun chasing away the dark of night, are not surprising, theyre expected. But that doesnt stop me from being grateful for each sunrise, an official said. I now know what is going to be the first feather on my gratitude handprint turkey this Thanksgiving. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com PORT LOUIS (Reuters) -The prime minister of Mauritius, Navin Ramgoolam, who was sworn in this month after a landslide election victory, said on Friday he will keep the post of finance minister for himself to help keep the economy under close watch. "We are doing an audit of the economy to see to what extent the outgoing government has destroyed it," Ramgoolam told reporters in the capital Port Louis after he presided over the swearing in of other ministers. The veteran politician returned to the prime minister's office a decade after he last left power, following the landslide that gave his Alliance du Changement (ADC) coalition 60 of the 62 national assembly seats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ramgoolam, 77, said earlier this week he planned to audit public finances. He previously served as prime minister from 1995-2000 and 2005-2014. In 2006, Ramgoolam launched a programme to cut bureaucracy and simplify taxes in order to diversify the $10 billion economy from tourism, textiles and sugar exports. Since then the country of about 1.3 million people, which markets itself as a link between Africa and Asia, has grown as an offshore financial centre and been consistently ranked the easiest place to do business in Africa by the World Bank. (Reporting by Villen Anganan; Writing by Elias BiryabaremaEditing by Toby Chopra and Peter Graff) Lawyers for accused killer Maxwell Anderson are still trying to get into a cellphone belonging to Sade Robinson that was recovered after her brutal death in April. The revelation came during a status hearing Friday that focused on instructions for potential jurors and a checklist of expert witnesses who were expected to testify. Anthony Cotton, one of Anderson's attorneys, said he had received a phone with cloud data belonging to Robinson, but it is encrypted, so his office hasn't had a chance to examine its contents. A warrant for it was obtained in September, but the device wasn't unencrypted until earlier this month. Maxwell Anderson, left, sits with one of his attorneys, Jason Findling, at his jury status hearing in Milwaukee County Court on Friday in the courtroom of Judge Laura Crivello. Anderson is accused of brutally killing and dismembering a Milwaukee college student. A report on its contents was expected to be available by the end of the day Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anderson is charged with killing and mutilating Robinson, a Milwaukee Area Technical College student whom he met for a date on April 1. Prosecutors believe he killed her at his Milwaukee home, dismembered her and discarded her body parts. Anderson was in court for the hearing Friday, but did not speak. Cotton and Assistant District Attorney Ian Vance-Curzan told Circuit Judge Laura Crivello things remain on pace for trial on Dec. 9. However, another scheduling conference has been set for Dec. 2 to finalize the questionnaire that will be given to potential jurors. Vance-Curzan said a DNA and Imaging report in the case was wrapped up in October and sent to the defense, but that a crime lab scene report on what was discovered in Anderson's home during a search remained outstanding on Friday. He said he anticipated that report to be available before trial. Prosecutor Ian Vance-Curzan, right, leaves the courtroom following the jury status hearing of Maxwell Anderson in Milwaukee County Court on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. Anderson is accused of brutally killing and dismembering a Milwaukee college student. Vance-Curzan said he intends to call in several scientific experts to testify, including a medical examiner, an anthropologist, a fingerprint analyst and a DNA expert. A person with expertise in collecting and crunching cellphone tower data also may be brought in. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cotton said he plans to present a representative from Garrett Discovery in his client's defense. Based in Orlando, Florida, Garrett is a digital forensics company whose work factored into debunking claims made in 2022 that Elon Musk fired a Twitter executive on the air around the time the billionaire was closing in on buying the social media platform. Cotton said his team plans to argue someone other than their client killed Robinson. Robinson, 19, worked at a pizza restaurant on Milwaukee's east side while putting herself through school. She was just weeks away from graduating when police say she was killed during a first date, and her body was dismembered. Anderson, 33, is charged with first-degree intentional homicide and other felonies in connection with her death. He has pleaded not guilty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Robinson's mother Sheena Scarbrough appeared in court for the hearing wearing a knitted sweater embroidered with images of her daughter, with the words "Justice for Sade Robinson" written in cursive on the front. Trial is scheduled for Dec. 9. Jury selection is expected to get underway that day. Crivello has said she expects to vet a jury pool of roughly 80 people for the case. Typical jury pools are roughly 30 to 40 people. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Maxwell Anderson's lawyers want to examine Sade Robinson's cellphone New York could soon be a City of Yes sort of. The City Council approved Mayor Eric Adams controversial sweeping plan to build tens of thousands of housing units across the Big Apple in down-to-the-wire votes after a $5 billion funding promise from Hizzoner and a handful of concessions. After hours of delays Thursday, a pair of council committees signed off on the massive slate of zoning adjustments, sending it to the full body for a vote early next month. The City Council approved Mayor Eric Adams controversial sweeping housing plan in down-to-the-wire votes after a $5 billion funding promise from Hizzoner and conceding a handful of tweaks. Benny Polatseck/Mayoral Photography Office But the council approvals came with some caveats, such as restricting basement dwelling units in flood-prone zones and backyard housing to areas close to transit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It also created three zones for parking requirements with councilmembers arguing each community has its own varied need for cars. The Adams administration had lobbied for removing all parking spot requirements when adding new housing units and lifting nearly all restrictions on basements and backyard apartments. In addition, the mayor, who has made the zoning changes a cornerstone of his first term, caved to councilmembers for an ask of $5 billion to fund roads, public building renovations, water systems, sewage facilities and more. Even so, Adams praised the development. I never go into a negotiation expecting to walk away with everything that I want, he told reporters after the votes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I want to go into a negotiation walking away where we both got enough to accomplish the task, and we did that the most historical housing reform in the history of the city. After several delays, a pair of council committees signed off on the massive slate of zoning adjustments as a vote to the full body will be sent next month. James Messerschmidt Council Speaker Adrienne Adams called the votes an important step forward to address the citys housing crisis. Residents of our city need affordable and stable homes to rent and own and addressing that shortage, while supporting existing homeowners and tenants, deepening affordability and strengthening the infrastructure of neighborhoods, are goals we must all share for a safer and stronger city, Adams, no relation to the mayor, said. Despite the concessions, the plan is the first major change to the citys zoning rules since 1961 and is being touted for paving the way for builders to create tens of thousands of new homes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 11th-hour delays came down to minute, neighborhood-specific details hashed out between City Hall and the council before the midnight deadline, which included concessions that fell short of pro-development Yes In My Backyard backers wish list, but likely not enough to assuage Not In My Backyard opponents. Theyve managed to successfully piss off the YIMBYs and the NIMBYs, one source with knowledge of the negotiations told The Post as the talks dragged on into the early evening. Adams was able to cough up the financial sweetener late Wednesday with the help of Gov. Kathy Hochul, who promised an influx of $1 billion from the state over a decade, sources said. Im proud to stand with them as they move forward with their plan to build a little more housing in every neighborhood, Hochul. We need all hands on deck to build more housing and make New York more affordable for all of us. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The funding will provide $1 billion for affordable housing expenses, $2 billion in capital to build housing and another $2 billion for expanding infrastructure, including expanding sewers and other city systems, which was a key concern for lawmakers with adding tens of thousands of housing units. The plans broad strokes would bring 80,000 more housing units to the city, down from the originally estimated 100,000, officials said. Adams was able to cough up the financial sweetener late Wednesday with the help of Gov. Kathy Hochul, who promised an influx of $1 billion from the state over a decade, sources said. THANANIT stock.adobe.com But opponents in neighborhoods across the city have balked over the zoning plan, which was hashed out over a year. More than half of the citys 59 community boards voted against the proposal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The opposition extended into Thursday when Laurelton resident Sherwyn James made a last-ditch effort to raise his concerns with the proposal by confronting Adams in the City Hall rotunda. We really dont think that its a suitable place to have an additional influx of residents coming in, he said of Queens neighborhoods. The plans advocates, meanwhile, were aghast that the negotiations appeared to water down a proposal to eliminate a mandate that all new developments include parking. The so-called parking mandate, they maintained, ate into space that could be used to create new apartments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Truly a failure of leadership on the part of this Council, tweeted Sara Lind, co-executive director of Open Plans. Over 80 cities have lifted parking mandates citywide but NYC is showing once again we cant do hard things. Jake, a tawny 2-year-old mutt in L.A.s West Valley shelter, wasnt doing well. After six months at the shelter, he was running back and forth and jumping in his kennel. So shelter workers put him on the euthanasia list in September. With the current staff we are unable to fulfill his enrichment needs and it is inhumane to continue housing in a shelter environment, the workers' notes said. The number of dogs euthanized in animal shelters run by the city of L.A. has skyrocketed this year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From January to September, 1,224 dogs were euthanized at the city's six shelters a 72% increase compared with the same period a year ago, according to a Times analysis. The number of dogs entering the shelters has increased each year since 2022. But the number put to death this year has far outpaced the population gain. The euthanasia rate for dogs increased from 5.5% last year to more than 8% this year during the January-to-September period. About 1,517 cats were euthanized through September a 17% increase from a year ago. In overcrowded shelters where dogs can go weeks without a walk and may live in feces-covered kennels, some animals start behaving poorly and suffer mental and emotional breakdown, according to a report by Best Friends Animal Society, a rescue group that has long worked with the city shelters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That makes them less likely to be adopted and more likely to be euthanized. The city's euthanasia list, available on its website, shows that Jake and some other dogs are being sentenced to death not because they are seriously ill or arrive with severe behavioral issues but because the chronically understaffed and underfunded shelters cannot meet their basic needs. Agnes Sibal, a spokesperson for LA Animal Services, the city department that runs the shelters, pointed to an "overcrowding crisis" with "nowhere to house incoming dogs." This means that dogs with behavioral challenges are more likely to become at risk of euthanasia," Sibal said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After Mayor Karen Bass took office in December 2022, she vowed to save animals lives and make L.A. "a national model for animal welfare." She boosted the Animal Services budget by 18% much lower than the 56% increase sought by the department then trimmed the budget slightly the following fiscal year. She also hired a new general manager, Staycee Dains, who had run Long Beach's shelters. Read more: 'It's inhumane': Dogs at L.A. animal shelters go weeks or months without being walked In September, Best Friends announced it was withdrawing an offer of financial support to the city, stating that it would take several million dollars in funding to other shelters that demonstrate a greater sense of urgency and commitment to save at-risk pets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The current administration squandered the advantages it had inherited and did not invest in capacity building, foster programs, animal wellbeing, public and staff safety and customer service, Best Friends said in a statement. Gabby Maarse, a spokesperson for Bass, said in an email that "as a result of urgent work," about 25,000 animals were adopted or rescued from the shelters a 17% increase from the same period last year. The city has made investments to "expand the roaming cat spay/neuter program, increase overall spay/neuter, hire critical staff members, make improvements and repairs at the six shelters, and deal with critical safety issues," Maarse said. Despite the higher euthanasia rates, most animals still leave the city shelters alive, whether they are adopted, taken in by rescue groups or claimed by their original owners. The "save rate" was 91% for dogs and 81% for cats this year through September. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shelters across the country are dealing with an influx of animals, as high rents and the rising cost of veterinary care lead people to give up their pets. From January to September of this year, 33,028 dogs, cats and kittens entered L.A. city shelters an 11% rise over the same period last year. Dogs made up nearly half that number. Still, the L.A. shelters were even more crowded pre-pandemic. During the first nine months of 2019, more dogs and cats entered city shelters than in the same period in 2024, the Times analysis showed. Yet euthanasia rates were lower for both dogs and cats in 2019 than this year. Sibal, the Animal Services spokesperson, said that more large dogs are coming into the shelters than in previous years and they are staying for longer periods. Larger dogs can take up to twice as long to get adopted, exacerbating overcrowding and leading to more euthanasias, she said. Visitors walk past dog kennels at the Chesterfield Square animal shelter in August. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times) Because of the lack of space, some dogs have been living in crates in hallways and staff rooms, Sibal said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this year at the city's West L.A. shelter, two puppies were housed in the room where animals are put to death. Sibal called the situation unusual and said the intent was to protect the puppies from contracting diseases. In June, shelter volunteers emailed Bass office to question the city's euthanasia policies. Dogs that had been labeled adoptable to the public were now being marked for euthanasia, the email said. And some dogs that had been described as friendly were re-categorized as available to rescue groups, but not the general public, because they were now deemed to have behavioral issues. The result is a conveyor belt pace of killing happy, healthy dogs falsely labeled as unadoptable," the email said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Asked if the city's euthanasia policies had changed, Sibal wrote that the agency is seeking to ensure "public safety and humane animal care." "We must also do this while balancing overcrowding and fulfilling community needs," Sibal said. "Our commitment to lifesaving has not wavered." Jill Dyche, executive director of the rescue group Outta the Cage, regularly visits the city's shelters. Some dogs that have fought with other dogs are isolated and then listed for euthanasia, while others are not, she said. "The euthanasia policies are still very fuzzy, she said. It seems to be a moving target. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a 16-page report documenting conditions in the East Valley and Chesterfield Square shelters this summer, Best Friends criticized Dains, the Animal Services general manager, as the biggest barrier to improving conditions at the shelters. The shelters lacked written protocols, and the staff reported that the euthanasia policy changed five times in the last year without communication about the changes. The report also detailed ways to reduce the number of dogs in city shelters. The solutions ranged from helping owners keep their pets to better customer service for potential adopters to letting adopters take dogs home before returning for spay or neuter operations. The report described lengthy stays for dogs at the Chesterfield Square shelter, with little human interaction and possibly two weeks or more before they get any extended time outside of their kennels. From January to September of this year, 33,028 dogs, cats and kittens entered L.A. city shelters an 11% rise over the same period last year. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times) One dog named Olive Oil left her kennel only 14 times during a 240-day stay and was on the euthanasia list before being rescued, the report said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The report also noted that solid organic matter is sometimes not removed from kennels and that some kennels were not cleaned beyond spraying them with water, with the dogs still inside. At the East Valley facility, a worker continuously sprayed a brown female dog in the face while cleaning her kennel. Attempting to run to the back of the kennel, the dog fell repeatedly, the report said. City officials declined to comment on the Best Friends report, and Dains declined to talk to The Times. Dains, who earns about $272,730 annually, went on paid leave earlier this year and hasn't returned. City Controller Kenneth Mejia, who volunteers at the shelters, has used social media to highlight the higher euthanasia numbers and criticize city budget decisions. A large portion of the city's $5.9-billion operating budget goes to the Police Department, which received $1.9 billion this fiscal year. Animal Services received about $30 million. Read more: Bass' budget proposal for Animal Services is far less than what department requested Mejia told The Times that "everyone at City Hall" knows about the understaffing and crowding issues at the animal shelters, yet Bass and most of the City Council backed budget cuts for the department this year. "The city needs to do more to protect the animals, department staff and the public not just let the animals suffer deteriorating health in our shelters and end up getting euthanized," Mejia said. Animal welfare consultant Kristen Hassen, whose firm was recently hired to assess the shelters, said at a commission hearing this week that L.A.'s Animal Services is among the lowest-funded large shelter systems in the country. She said she witnessed two staff members at the Chesterfield Square shelter being responsible for feeding dogs in 275 kennels as well as cleaning the kennels. Without enough staff, there is "inconsistent cleaning and feeding" and "ongoing illness" at the facility, Hassen said. Hassen told the Animal Services commissioners that it's not clear to her why more cats are being killed by the city. She described the higher euthanasia rates among dogs as an "over-correction" by the department to deal with behavioral problems and serious biting incidents. Hassen, along with other animal welfare and academic groups, will partner with the city to improve shelter conditions, Bass' office announced last month. Jake, the 2-year-old dog that was slated for euthanasia after shelter staffers acknowledged they could not meet his needs, is no longer listed on the Animal Services website. Roger, a 6-year-old tan and white Kangal shepherd mix, was put on the euthanasia list this fall. He was showing signs of fear, anxiety and stress and "is cautious and fearful around new people," his staff notes stated. The dog was taken out for "enrichment" either walked or taken to the playground 10 times in his five months at the South L.A. shelter. "We are unable to supply Roger with the resources he needs and keeping him in the concrete kennel is inhumane for a 6-year-old senior dog," the notes said. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey vetoed the city council's hotly debated plan for a Labor Standards Board on Thursday. The proposal, which business groups have vigorously opposed, will return to the city council, which may have the votes to override the mayor's veto. The Labor Standards Board, as currently proposed, would be comprised of an equal number of business owners, workers, and other community stakeholders, a makeup that business groups say will be too labor-friendly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The board would have the ability to recommend industry-wide regulations around pay, safety, and equity. It has been championed by workers and unions as a measure that could benefit low-wage workers and enhance workplace safety. Mayor Jacob Frey Credit: Tony Webster via Flickr The Labor Standards Board would not, however, have the power to enact laws. It could only make recommendations that would be sent to the City Council for consideration. While Mayor Frey issued a veto on Thursday, he previously supported the idea. However, he has said there are details about the current proposal he will not support. "If we want this Labor Standards Board to work, business participation isn't just important, it's essential," Mayor Frey said in a statement. "Under the council's proposal, business participation is negligible and everyone knows that's not going to work. Council must pass a board that is balanced and inspires collaboration from both labor and business." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Frey appeared to be, in part, responding to a statement from a group of industry organizations that vowed it would refuse to participate in the board. The group, which calls itself the Minneapolis Works Together coalition, includes the Minneapolis Regional Chamber, Minneapolis Downtown Council, Hospitality Minnesota, Minnesota Retailers, and Minnesota Licensed Beverage Association. That group contends that the board "creates unnecessary hurdles for businesses." While Mayor Frey issued a veto, the mayor's office says he'd support a version of the proposal that features an equal split on the board between employees and employers, as well as an equal split between mayoral and council appointments. As written, the board requires a simple majority approval for a proposal to be sent to the city council. However, the mayor would like a supermajority requirement in which the board could only pass a recommendation with a two-thirds vote. Under a 50/50 split between workers and businesses, a supermajority requirement would ensure that recommendations opposed by business groups could not get through the Labor Standards Board, potentially rendering the board impotent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Mayor Frey is looking for a more business-friendly makeup of the board, it's not clear if the Minneapolis Works Together coalition would support a revision that included the mayor's recommendations. "A Labor Standards Board is not the right solution for Minneapolis," the group said in a statement applauding the veto. It did not respond to a request for comment from Bring Me The News about whether it would support the mayor's version of the board. Mpls for the Many, a political action committee supporting progressive candidates, says Mayor Frey "turned his back on workers" with the veto. "For a small handful of businesses and industry lobbyists, giving workers an equal seat at the table is a bridge too far," Mpls for the Many said in a statement on Thursday. "They have mounted an aggressive campaign in the press and behind the scenes to pressure the mayor. It worked, and after todays veto, workers finally know where the mayor really stands." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The proposal will return to the City Council, which sent it to the mayor with a veto-proof 93 vote last week. It remains to be seen if the votes will remain the same when the City Council meets again on Dec. 5. Related: Emails show Timberwolves pushing back against unionization efforts Ahead of Thanksgiving, one fortunate feathered bird was spared from the dinner table after receiving a pardon from Mayor Joe Schember. Mayor Schember visited Niagara Village Senior Living Thursday to pardon a live turkey. Erie earns third straight 100 on Human Rights Campaigns Municipal Equality Index The turkey, affectionately known as Tom Turkey, or Mr. T, greeted residents of Niagara Village as the mayor read a proclamation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement its been a pleasure. It started with a paper turkey and I wasnt going to have that. That wasnt enough. Only the best for our residents here, and this is something that hasnt been done and something they can proudly say, I live there,' said Regina Wheeler, ELC for Niagara Village Senior Living. Local groups highlight value apprenticeships bring during National Apprenticeship Week The turkey will also be visiting children in the North East School District later this month. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com. Turlock Mayor Amy Bublak sparked a political flap last month when she voted for a $642,500, noncompetitive contract between the city and Genesis Behavior Center, which will offer an unorthodox therapy to first responders. The 3-2 vote by the City Council has prompted questions about Bublaks relationship with the growth-minded company and its influence on the citys top elected official. Romena Kiryakous, who operates the Genesis center on Colorado Avenue, has donated $12,000 to the mayors election campaigns going back to 2016. In addition, campaign finance disclosures show $1,000 donations to Bublak from two of Kiryakous family members. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bublaks participation in the Oct. 22 council decision, instead of recusing herself for the sake of appearances, does not appear to violate Californias political reform laws that discourage campaign donors from expecting favors from elected officials. But it came pretty close for an elected official whos been a spokesperson for the brain scan therapy provided by Genesis. Lawrence Giventer, a retired public administration professor for Stanislaus State University, said its not a good idea for a prospective contractor to contribute to a political campaign. Its a bad practice for the contractor and the politician. It creates the appearance, at the very least, of conflict of interest, he said. A 2022 state bill prohibits local elected officials from taking part in a government decision if they received a campaign contribution of more than $250 from the applicant. But the law refers to campaign contributions in the past 12 months. Records show the last donation from Kiryakous to Bublak was $4,000 in December 2021. Bublak, a former councilwoman, was elected mayor in 2018 and re-elected in 2022. Kiryakous did not respond to messages from The Modesto Bee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To avoid the appearance of influence by campaign donors, the city of Modesto has a tin cup ordinance requiring that council members and the mayor not vote on matters involving donors of $3,000 or more. Giventer and others also questioned why the Genesis center therapy, called PrTMS, for personalized repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, was the only proposal considered at the Oct. 22 council meeting. If the city wants to help police, fire and dispatch personnel who have issues with depression, anxiety or loss of sleep, why not seek proposals from a number of professional services? The PrTMS may or may not be beneficial, said Councilman Kevin Bixel, who voted against the contract with Genesis. There could have been other modalities to consider, also. Councilwoman Cassandra Abram said at the meeting that the American Rescue Plan Act money spent on the contract could instead go to sidewalks in disadvantaged areas or to assistance for seniors. She questioned how the federal government will view the contract when ARPA spending is reported. With the decision, Turlock will have $1 million in ARPA funds remaining. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Turlock officials justified using ARPA funds to pay for the contract, noting that the COVID-19 pandemic was stressful for police and fire personnel. Councilwoman Rebecka Monez, who favored the contract, said TMS therapy worked well for a young person she knew. Bublak stressed that she benefited from the treatment and wanted to offer more than counseling to Turlocks public safety staff. In a phone interview Wednesday, the mayor was passionate about her support for the nondrug therapy. A former Bay Area police officer, she said the treatment alleviated her anxiety, migraine headaches and loss of sleep, most of which resulted from the early prison release of a man who had tried to kill her while she was on duty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bublak said she paid for the treatment she received at the Turlock Genesis center. And referring to taking part in the council decision last month, she said, I did not do anything illegal or unethical. The story is about something that can help our public safety employees. Bublak said she does not have a financial stake in the Genesis center or the PrTMS therapy. A financial interest would have disqualified the mayor from participation in the decision under Californias Political Reform Act. Transcranial magnetic stimulation, or TMS, is an FDA-approved therapy that has proved effective for clients with depression and other disorders that didnt respond to drug therapy. The Genesis treatment called PrTMS was developed by Dr. Kevin Murphy and goes further by targeting the stimulation to specific areas of the brain and customizing it for the individual. Murphys personalized version of TMS has not been subjected to clinical trials and is administered as an off-label treatment. But Murphy, who attended the council meeting remotely, stressed that clinical trials are being scheduled at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. Mayor touts therapy at national conference The Bee learned that Bublak and Kiryakous presented the brain scan technology at the annual Conference of Mayors in Kansas City in June. According to the conference agenda, the panel discussion explored strategies for cities to maximize the use of opioid settlement funds and examine the latest brain technologies available for treating addiction and behavioral health conditions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lining up lucrative government contracts is a stated ambition of Genesis, and opioid settlement funds may be another funding source. Court cases seeking compensation from pharmaceutical companies for the nations opioid addiction crisis have awarded hundreds of thousands of dollars to cities and millions of dollars to counties in the United States. On its website, Genesis PrTMS, with locations from Los Banos to Sacramento, promotes its PeakLogic software and an aggressive growth plan including licensing partnerships and franchise agreements. As more government contracts are secured, all treatment and related business will be handled by local franchises and licensed partners, the Genesis website says. This allows owners to tap into a steady high-volume revenue stream, serving municipal employees and citizens in need of mental health support. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bublak said she spoke at the national mayors conference to tell how the therapy worked for her. She said she believes it can be effective for young people with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and older adults with dementia. She said she didnt know if more proposals will surface offering PrTMS to people in Turlock. It can help so many different people, but my testimonial is about public safety and specifically about my scenario, Bublak said. I dont get anything out of this. More about the treatment The therapy uses electromagnetic waves to stimulate nerve cells in the brain. By targeting specific areas of the brain, the treatment can be customized to improve cognitive function, regulation of emotion and motor skills, Genesis says. At the center, a coil is placed against the clients head to deliver magnetic pulses. Possible side effects are headache, a lightheaded sensation and twitching of facial muscles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Clients receive the therapy five days a week, though four is OK, with each session lasting 20 to 45 minutes. The cost structure for the Turlock contract is $200 per session, $350 for an assessment by Murphy and $250 each for six to 12 EEGs to track the individuals progress. Police Chief Jason Hedden said a few employees approached him and expressed interest in the therapy, but the process through human resources is confidential and he wont be notified how many officers are seeking treatment. Jessie Dhami, Turlocks human resources director, said an anonymous survey following a presentation by Murphy in March found that 27 employees signaled an interest in the therapy. She said the program is rolling out soon. Murphys group said 22,000 people have received the treatment since 2016. Former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe said the bureau would be endangered if Kash Patel, a former aide to President-elect Trump, is nominated and confirmed to lead the agency. No part of the FBIs mission is safe with Kash Patel in any position of leadership in the FBI, and certainly not in the deputy directors job, McCabe told CNNs Kaitlan Collins on Thursday evening. The scope of authority is enormous. If you enter into that position with nothing more than a desire to disrupt and destroy the organization, there is a lot of damage someone like Kash Patel could do, he said. Left: Andrew McCabe, former FBI deputy director. Right: Kash Patel, former aide to President-elect Trump (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File/John Locher) Patel has remained loyal to the president-elect after serving as a senior adviser to the then-acting director of national intelligence, and chief of staff to former acting Defense Secretary Chris Miller, during Trumps first term. But he has never been directly employed by the FBI. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier in the interview, McCabe mentioned the years of experience within the agency that is required to understand its complex structure. I can tell you from my own experience: There is no way I could have successfully performed in that role without having spent the first 10 years of my career doing criminal work in the FBI, he said on CNNs The Source. Former FBI Special Agent Daniel Brunner also said Patels leadership would do massive damage to the agency. Putting someone like Kash Patel in the position of director of the FBI is, I believe, extremely, extremely dangerous because his resume isnt traditional, Brunner said Sunday on CNN. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, Trumps choice is on par with other appointments. Some have questioned the backgrounds of former Fox & Friends host Pete Hegseth, who was nominated to lead the Defense Department, and former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, who was tapped for director of national intelligence. The president-elect has prioritized a reformatory administration with the help of billionaire Elon Musk and biotech entrepreneur and former GOP primary rival Vivek Ramaswamy, who will co-head the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which was created to do away with wasteful federal agencies. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Thursday announced plans to shift into two key roles in the next Congress as he prepares to hand over the torch as the upper chambers top Republican. McConnell, who first announced he was stepping down from his leadership post in February, said Thursday that he will be heading up the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense. Americas national security interests face the gravest array of threats since the Second World War. At this critical moment, a new Senate Republican majority has a responsibility to secure the future of U.S. leadership and primacy, McConnell, a longtime defense hawk, said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McConnell said he looks forward to working closely with incoming Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins (Maine), who currently serves as top Republicans on the committee and its defense funding subcommittee. He also said he intends to head the Senate Rules Committee in the next Congress. Defending the Senate as an institution and protecting the right to political speech in our elections remain among my longest-standing priorities, he said. Ranking Member Deb Fischer has done an outstanding job advancing these causes, and I know she will remain a key partner in the committees ongoing work. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), who was elected Senate majority leader earlier this month, will serve in the role in the coming Congress. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller, right, greets incoming Montgomery County Board of Education member Laura Stewart at Friday's Committee for Montgomery breakfast in North Bethesda. Photo by Joe Andrucyk/Governor's Office. Like the conventions for the Maryland Association of Counties and the Maryland Municipal League, and the J. Millard Tawes Clam Bake and Crab Feast, the annual Committee for Montgomery legislative breakfast is a highly anticipated ritual in the Maryland political world. Its geared, of course, to the political elite of Montgomery County, Marylands largest jurisdiction political, business, civic, community, nonprofit and labor leaders. But statewide officeholders and pols aspiring to higher office often make the scene, too. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The schmoozing, which takes place before and after the lengthy formal program, is of the highest grade. Traditionally, the breakfast is held in mid-December, three weeks before the start of the General Assembly session, with the battle lines for the 90-day legislative session already taking shape. But this year, due to a change in the availability of the big ballroom at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel and Conference Center, the breakfast took place Friday, three weeks earlier than usual even though the weather outside seemed more like mid-December. A big group turned out, anyway at least 700 people. I am so excited to be here, because this is the signature event of the year, is it not? said Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller (D), a former Montgomery County state lawmaker, who went on to wish the crowd a Happy Thanksgiving. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I know the event is a little early this year, she said. Looks like that was a good decision to be made, because this room is filled with people who care about the direction of the state of Maryland and Montgomery County. The Committee for Montgomery was formed 36 years ago, to serve as a counterpoint to the Greater Baltimore Committee, a business group whose influence has waxed and waned through the years but is often perceived as a political powerhouse. The Committee for Montgomery, in its own words, is a coalition of leaders representing a broad cross-section of Montgomery County. Over the years, the organization has evolved to the point where it mostly exists to organize the annual breakfast, which attracts a gold-plated list of sponsors and spotlights the countys priorities for the legislative year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Because this years event occurred closer to Election Day than to the Jan. 8 kickoff of the Annapolis session, many of the speeches dealt more with the implications to the county and state of former President Donald Trumps reelection than they did to the coming work of the General Assembly. On top of that, Montgomery voters decision to embrace a two-term limit for the county executive has jumpstarted the race to replace County Executive Marc Elrich (D), with all of the known potential successors present and glad-handing energetically. In ways that befitted their personalities and priorities, a raft of political leaders Elrich, Gov. Wes Moore (D), U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D), U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-8th) and Montgomery County Council President Andrew Friedson (D) emphasized the federal governments importance on the state and local economy and mindset, and vowed to be a bulwark against whatever may come from the Trump administration, especially when it comes to protecting federal workers. Some leavened their speeches with quotes from Frederick Douglass or Tom Paine or Bruce Springsteen, and all talked in starkly partisan ways about the necessity of working together to counter Trump and his Republican allies. I know the power of the people in this room and I know the power of the people theyve elected, Moore said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Elrich taunted the orange man, and said the county can still chart its own course regardless of who sits in the White House. Nothing they do is going to change who we are, he said. What [Trump] says in Washington doesnt matter. Friedson, who, because the Committee for Montgomery breakfast was held earlier than usual, got to address the assemblage as council president for two straight years (hell turn the gavel over on Dec. 2), said that even anticipating obstacles from the federal government under Trump, we can capitalize on our unrivaled strategic assets. While there will be difficult days ahead, he said, I also believe with challenge will come an opportunity to prove our mettle in Montgomery County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I'm glad everyone is shaking off the shock and dumbfoundedness of the election. It's time to put on your marching shoes. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-8th) The federal officials, Van Hollen and Raskin, offered sober assessments of the task ahead for Maryland and Montgomery County. We need to be clear-eyed about the election results and the consequences, Van Hollen said. We know that this Trump administration, round two, presents some clear challenges to this country and to this region in particular. Raskin recounted some of the recent battles with House Republicans, including over a bill that would enable the Treasury Department to label certain nonprofit organizations as terrorist groups, and said, Its been a long week on Capitol Hill, so its good to be back in MoCo in the Free State. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im glad everyone is shaking off the shock and dumbfoundedness of the election, Raskin continued. Its time to put on your marching shoes. Even though most of the talk was dominated by the incoming Trump administration, the two-hour program did feature a 15-minute discussion with four state lawmakers about the upcoming General Assembly session. In that brief timeframe, Sen. William C. Smith Jr. (D) and Dels. Marc Korman (D), Lily Qi (D) and Jheanelle K. Wilkins (D) all from Montgomery County tried to answer questions about transportation, education, climate change, economic development and social justice. While he was addressing transportation funding specifically, Korman may have summed up the prevailing attitude about the upcoming session when he said, Whatever your cup of tea is, we dont have enough money for any of them, and thats a huge challenge. A Michigan meatpacking company has recalled nearly 84 tons of ground beef from restaurants after 15 people got sick by potential E. coli contamination. Detroit-based Wolverine Packing Co. recalled 167,277 pounds of ground beef, hamburger patties and other products, the U.S. Department of Agricultures Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) said Wednesday. The recall includes fresh products with a use by date of 11/14/24, frozen products with the production dates of 1/22/24 and products labeled with the establishment number EST.2574B inside the USDA inspection mark, officials said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Illnesses associated with the meat occurred between Nov. 2 and Nov. 10, prompting the Minnesota Department of Agriculture to investigate after everyone who fell ill reported consuming ground beef beforehand. That included an initial 10 cases reported at Red Cow restaurants in Hennepin, Ramsey and Olmstead counties and another at Hen House Eatery in downtown Minneapolis, WCCO news reported. Four more people got sick later, though it wasnt clear where they contracted the bacteria. The FSIS was brought in to investigate on Nov. 13, after which the agency determined there was a link between the ground beef products from Wolverine Packing Co. and this illness cluster. A ground beef sample tested positive for a strain of E. coli. FSIS and other health officials were continuing to investigate on Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While only two restaurants were named, the products were shipped to eateries nationwide, the FSIS said, encouraging personnel to check the labels and an extensive list of the products recalled. FSIS is concerned that some product may be in restaurant refrigerators or freezers, the agency said. Restaurants are urged not to serve these products. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase. On Wednesday, Gautam Adani was charged by US prosecutors in a massive bribery scheme. The charges have spurred an investor revolt and at least one customer to back out of major deals. Adani is the 2nd-richest person in India, behind Mukesh Ambani. Gautam Adani, the second-richest person in India, is facing bribery charges in the US and business tumult globally. Adani is the founder and chairman of the Adani Group, a multinational conglomerate with businesses spanning energy, mining, ports, and airports. The Adani Group owns India's largest commercial port and has a controlling stake in Mumbai's international airport. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Wednesday, New York prosecutors said Adani executives paid hundreds of millions of dollars in bribes to the Indian government and hid them from US investors. The Adani Group called the allegations "baseless." The charges wiped out billions from Adani's and his brother's paper fortunes. Shares of companies related to Adani, including his flagship Adani Enterprises, Adani Green Energy, and Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd., crashed 20% in the first two hours of trade on Thursday, wiping out more than $30 billion. The charges led to immediate business fallout. Following the news, Adani Green Energy canceled plans to raise $600 million in US dollar-denominated bonds, the company said in a statement to the National Stock Exchange of India. On Thursday, Kenya's president canceled deals with the Adani Group for its main airport and for power line construction. A short seller's report sent stocks down The indictment isn't the first serious bout of trouble for Adani. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A 2023 report by Hindenburg Research, an investment-research firm and short seller, sent Adani's wealth on a downward spiral. In the report, which Hindenburg said took two years to compile, the short-seller accused the Adani Group of a "brazen stock manipulation and accounting fraud scheme." Adani companies' stocks tumbled but later recovered. The Adani Group has said it was exploring legal action against Hindenburg and released a 413-page report which said that Hindenburg's claims were "nothing but a lie." It called Hindenburg's document a "malicious combination of selective misinformation and concealed facts relating to baseless and discredited allegations." Hindenburg criticized the group's response, saying it failed to address many of its questions. Adani Group did not ultimately sue Hindenburg over the report. From diamond sorter to tycoon Adani was born in Ahmedabad, in the Indian state of Gujarat, in 1962. He dropped out of university after his second year studying commerce, according to Silicon India. He then turned to the diamond industry, first as a sorter and then as a trader in Mumbai. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After his brother purchased a plastic company, Adani started working with him and began importing PVC. In 1988, he set up Adani Enterprises. Today, the Adani Group comprises 10 listed companies with a combined 46,000 employees. The billionaire is a key ally of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose government has inked infrastructure and other deals with Adani's companies. Bloomberg deemed Modi "the foundation of the tycoon's empire." The Bloomberg Billionaires Index estimates that Adani is currently worth $85.5 billion. That makes him the 18th-richest person in the world and puts him behind Mukesh Ambani, the richest person in India, whose wealth is estimated at $94.3 billion. Ambani controls Reliance Industries, another multinational conglomerate. Read the original article on Business Insider Meghan McCain, who pledged not to support either Vice President Kamala Harris or President-elect Donald Trump in the 2024 election, said this week that she instead cast a vote for her father, the late Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), for president. The Republican commentator and former View co-host made the revelation during an appearance on the iHeart podcast Next Question with Katie Couric this week. I wrote in my dad. Is that cliche? she told Couric. People are so mad at me, Katie mad that I didnt vote either way. And I was like, I have such Christian guilt at night, and I dont want anything on my conscience with any of it. And I just can never vote for Trump. I cant do it. I could never explain it to my children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As for her decision not to vote for Harris, McCain said it came down to matters of policy. I really wanted her to give me a reason to vote for her, and I just felt like it never happened, and there were some questions that she just couldnt answer, she explained. And look, Im a pro-life, pretty hardcore conservative woman, and Governor [Tim] Walz was way too extreme for me. He actually scared me a lot more than she did. Hes very radical on abortion and his record during 2020, George Floyd protests in Minneapolis. And I felt like he was cosplaying as a Republican to try and get my vote. Members of the McCain family have repeatedly spoken out against Trump, who in 2015 made incendiary remarks about John McCains military career and his time as a prisoner of war in Vietnam. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and his daughter, Meghan McCain, in 2017. Heidi Gutman via Getty Images After Trump was elected president in 2016, he and John McCain sparred numerous times, most notably in 2017 when the senator sank the GOPs efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act. When McCain died of brain cancer in 2018, Trump was not invited to the funeral. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meghan McCains decision to support neither Trump nor Harris isnt surprising. In September, she said she wasnt planning to vote for either one, even after her brother, Jimmy McCain, said hed changed his voter registration from independent to Democrat with the intention of voting for Harris. I greatly respect the wide variety of political opinions of all of my family members and love them all very much, Meghan McCain wrote on X, formerly Twitter. I however, remain a proud member of the Republican Party and hope for brighter days ahead. (Not voting for Harris or Trump, hope that clears things up). Still, in her Next Question interview, she had some mild praise for Harris for offering Democrats a fighting chance at the White House after President Joe Biden dropped out of the race in July. She had 100 days to do this, and I think she should be applauded for getting in the cockpit of a crashing plane and leveling it out the way she did, Meghan McCain said. I dont know how many other politicians could have done that. And I actually think that there are a lot of genuine criticisms of her that I can give. But I dont think shes this cataclysmic disaster that shes being portrayed as now. I think its actually pretty unfair. Listen to Meghan McCains Next Question interview below. Her comments about voting for her father begin at about the 30:25 mark. Related... Italy plans to address the International Criminal Court arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the upcoming G7 meeting of foreign ministers, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Friday. Meloni said she would be "looking into the motivations" of the ICC in The Hague. "This government remains firm on one point: there can be no equivalence between the responsibilities of the State of Israel and the terrorist organization Hamas," a statement from the prime minister said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Italy, which currently holds the presidency of the G7, will host the foreign ministers in Fiuggi, a town near Rome, starting Monday. The ICC issued arrest warrants on Thursday for Netanyahu and the recently dismissed Israeli defence minister Yoav Galant over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza war. Israel's allies have criticized the decision. Member states of the ICC are generally obligated to enforce the arrest warrants, though there is disagreement among these states on how to handle Netanyahu's. Hungary has already declared its intention to ignore the arrest warrant. Other G7 members include the United States, Canada, Britain, Japan, France and Germany. The US, like Israel, does not recognize the International Criminal Court. Those looking to watch in court as the Menendez brothers appear for a hearing on Monday will have to take a number. The Los Angeles Superior Court will be holding a lottery for 16 seats that are open to the public, requiring interested parties to show up outside the courthouse between 8-9 a.m. on Monday, November 25. The live drawing will take place between 9-9:30 a.m. Despite the carnival overtone of the offer, strict rules apply: Those who receive a badge cannot transfer it to anyone else, and attempts at transfer will disqualify the ticket-holder. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lotto winners who are not present when the 10:30 a.m. hearing begins risk losing their seats, which would be given to the two standby tickets that will also be drawn at the lottery. Badges are good only for the day. According to The Los Angeles Times, lotteries like this one are not unusual for high-profile cases, like for example the O.J. Simpson trial, where they also did a raffle for seats. Interest in Erik and Lyle Menendez has recently spiked after a documentary and a Ryan Murphy series landed on Netflix this year. The brothers originally received life sentences without the possibility of parole for the 1989 murder of their parents, Jose and Mary Louis Kitty Menendez. The couple was shot to death in their Beverly Hills mansion, and the brothers18 and 21 at the timefirst tried to pin blame on intruders, before Erik subsequently admitted the truth to his therapist. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Menendez brothers were then arrested and tried, and have at this point served more than 30 years in prison for the killings. But theyve also been lobbying for clemency on the basis that their father allegedly subjected them to sexual and physical abuse for years, while their mother let it happen. The killings, they say, were self-defense. New evidence of said abuse forms the basis for the petition at the center of Mondays hearing. Former L.A. County District Attorney George Gascon also supported the brothers resentencing, but he was voted out of office earlier this month. His successor, Nathan Hochman, has said he plans to closely review the case. The resentencing hearing, which could lead to the brothers release on parole, is scheduled for December 11. Mondays hearing deals with their attorneys efforts to downgrade their conviction from murder to manslaughter, according to the Times. (WGHP) There appears to be a crisis on American college campuses, and its going largely unnoticed by a majority of the public. This phenomenons not new, Dean of Students at Elon University Jana Lynn Patterson said. But the numbers are stark: nearly 40% of students say theyre suffering from depression, nearly 75% say they find school overwhelming and nearly 30% say they failed a class because of mental health issues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Patterson says Elon has been at the forefront of doing something about the issue and feels they have a much better situation there or even at many colleges these days. I dont think were at a crisis level because I think most colleges and universities are managing it well, Patterson said about how its dealt with as a school-wide effort. Promoting positive mental health is not the sole responsibility of the University Counseling Center. Its a university-wide obligation and initiative Twenty years ago, a student wouldnt necessarily disclose a mental health condition to a faculty or staff member. Our students would do that quite regularly now because they trust their faculty members, and they want to engage with their faculty members around that. Faculty members at most schools have begun to have training as does the state, which wants to make mental health services as common on campuses as cafeterias. Behavioral health is just like physical health. Its core to who we are as people, North Carolina Secretary of Health and Human Services Kody Kinsley said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This has been a problem that i generations in the making, including the way parents have raised their children over the last few decades. Because the world is a tougher place As parents of the last couple of generations, we have tried to lessen the impact on our children, Patterson said. And thats not a criticism other than a reality. Elons approach is to not let problems fester and to have resources available around the clock. It could be someone who works with them, Patterson said. We have a 24-hour kind of crisis line If a student is studying for a test, and its 3:00 a.m., and they feel overwhelmed then they can engage with our vendor We use a company called Timely Care. They can engage with someone at Timely Care who can help them in the moment so that then they can progress and finish up that paper or be in a better place to take that test the next day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement See more on this story in this edition of The Buckley 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 FOX8 WGHP. COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) A critical resource for those struggling with mental health and addiction is re-opening its doors to the community. Netcare Access Miles House has been serving central Ohio for nearly five decades, and after briefly closing for some renovations, is now ready to welcome clients back. The best way I can describe it is like, being stuck drowning in a choppy ocean during a storm, Carl Millender, a former Miles House resident, said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats how it felt for Millender when he lost both his business and his home earlier this year. I was like depressed and all that. Ended up, a little, in a bad state, he said. Battling the proverbial current, Millender moved around the country seven times in April before Netcare Access provided a lifeline in Columbus. Ive found that most people love it when they come through our doors, Florence Arinaitwe, a Miles House Team Lead, said. Arinaitwe is coming up on 10 years of dedicated work at Miles House, a short-term, residential treatment facility that serves people struggling with mental health and possible substance abuse issues, like MIllender. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She really helped me get set up with programs, like SNAP and whatnot. Helped me find housing and helped me really get established here, Millender said. Miles House sits in the Hilltop, on Columbus west side. For 45 years, the voluntary program has given clients a place to manage symptoms and deal with stress on their road to recovery. We do individual counseling, one-on-one, where were talking about coping skills, managing depression, mental health symptoms, Arinaitwe said. But they also focus on group work. Nobody has exactly the same struggles, but its nice to see people not only going through the struggles but overcoming that struggle, Millender said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Miles House offers four bedrooms with space for nine client beds as well as recently renovated common areas, bathrooms, and a kitchen. Arinaitwe, who fell in love with the house at first sight, is ready to welcome clients back. I cant tell you the smiles we have on our faces, she said as her face lights up. When we service clients here and we help them get back on their feet, they send us cards, they left thank you messages. Once in a while well hear a knock on the door. And while Millender said hes still looking to put his degree to use, the difference between April and now is night and day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im starting to stabilize. You know, build up a little bit of savings and I have stable housing, he said. Millender is thankful to now build from a stable foundation that Miles House helped establish. He uses the word insane to describe his past, but has another word to represent his future. Theres always hope, he said. The phrase I heard was hope springs eternal, and you never know where that spring is going to pop up, you know? And Miles House is certainly a spring of hope for me. Clients often arrive at Miles House directly from Netcares Crisis Stabilization Unit, but can also be referred by local hospitals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For more information on Miles House, or how to make a referral, you can contact Netcare Access at (614)276-CARE or visit www.netcareaccess.org. Netcare Access is a non-profit organization that provides behavioral healthcare services and promotes emotional well-being for individuals in need. NBC4s Matthew Herchik is proud board member of the Netcare Access Corporate Board. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned that the worlds richest man having the ear of President-elect Donald Trump could pose massive concerns for American democracy. The center-right German politician sparred with Trump during his first administration, defending NATO from Trump's attacks and bashing his exit from global climate commitments. In an interview with Der Spiegel on Friday, Merkel was asked if there was a difference between Trump's first term and today. She answered that Elon Musks sway with the president-elect was a troubling breakdown of barriers between the government and private businesses. There is now a visible alliance between him with the big companies from Silicon Valley, which have enormous power through capital, she told the German newspaper. If a person like [Musk] is the owner of 60% of all satellites orbiting in space, then that must be a huge concern for us along with the political issues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Musk joined Trump regularly on the campaign trail and helped finance his final push. Since Election Day, the CEO has spent time at Mar-a-Lago participating in calls with foreign leaders and vetting staffing choices. He's been tasked with co-leading the Department of Government Efficiency, an as-yet nonexistent agency, alongside Vivek Ramaswamy. The German leader of over 16 years said Trumps partnership with Musk threatened to strain the guardrails the government should be imposing on big business. Merkel said that the government should act as a "final authority" over private businesses that can "straighten things out." If this final authority is too strongly influenced by companies, whether through capital power or technological capabilities, then this is an unprecedented challenge for us all, Merkel said. Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel believes that she is being made a "scapegoat" for the war in Ukraine due to her position at the NATO summit in 2008, when she blocked Kyiv's path to a Membership Action Plan. Source: Merkel in an interview with Spiegel on the occasion of the release of her memoirs, as reported by European Pravda Details: Merkel was asked if she felt that she was being made a scapegoat for the Russo-Ukrainian war due to her actions at the 2008 NATO summit. The former Chancellor responded that this was "not just a feeling; its the truth". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Volodymyr Zelensky, for example, urged former French President Nicolas Sarkozy and me to visit Bucha after the horrific massacre, obviously implying that our position in Bucharest was responsible for the deaths in Bucha," Merkel said. She added that she "admires Zelenskyy for his courage and determination" throughout nearly three years of the war but disagrees with him on what happened in Bucharest. "I warned again and again, including in Bucharest in 2008: Putin considers the collapse of the Soviet Union the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the 20th century and, of course, I do not share this view. From this, he concludes that there is an existential threat to Russia and, wherever possible, tries to keep other former Soviet republics under control by fueling conflicts. I was right in my warning. Because Putin invaded Georgia as early as 2008," Merkel said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When asked why she had not drawn any conclusions if she was so clearly aware of what Putin was capable of, she replied that she had drawn conclusions. "In my opinion, it was necessary to try to resolve conflicts with Russia peacefully. Nevertheless, we also strengthened the principle of deterrence... At the 2014 NATO summit in Wales, the goal was set for all countries to spend 2% of their GDP on defence. I admit that the pace with which this was pursued was limited," she said. In response to criticism that Merkel had not effectively prevented Putin's aggression, failed to strengthen Germany's defence capabilities, did not supply Ukraine with weapons, and did not rid Germany of its dependence on Russian gas, the former Chancellor replied that "many important points are being forgotten today". For example, Ukraine and Poland were fundamentally not opposed to the import of Russian gas through their territories and receiving payment for it. In the interview, Merkel stated that Vladimir Putin, at the beginning of his presidency, had no intention of attacking Ukraine, and his plan gradually took shape over the years, partly due to the behaviour of the West. Support UP or become our patron! KANSAS CITY, Mo. Investigators in Merriam are working to figure out what led up to a deadly shooting followed by a crash on Friday morning that police say are related. Merriam police tell FOX4 its officers went to a shooting call in the area of Shawnee Mission Parkway and Eby Avenue, a busy area with Ikea to the north and and a number of restaurants and hotels to the south. Report: Travis Kelces stolen watch found in Providence Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers then responded to a crash about a half-mile north at Slater Street and Johnson Drive. Officers learned the crash was related to the incident where the shots were fired. The driver of a vehicle involved in the crash had gunshot wounds and was taken to a hospital, where he later died. Police said officers and detectives have located all parties involved in the incident. The investigation is ongoing. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. NEW YORK (PIX11) As we get closer to winter, New Yorkers want to know how much it will snow and exactly when its going to happen. The meteorologist who can answer those questions just happens to be a very good friend of PIX11 meteorologist Mr. G. In 1962, Jim Witt created the weather program that helps determine long-range forecasts. Watch the video player for more on 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 PIX11. OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) An Oklahoma City couple says their worst nightmare came true after a man broke into their house in the middle of the night earlier this month. The incident happened November 6 near southwest 44th Street and May Avenue. Hilda Salazar told News 4 she and her husband were asleep, well after midnight, when they received a rude awakening. LOCAL NEWS: Family of Jordan Gulley remembering him as a servant to the community and lover of life Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He came and he started kicking our door, said Salazar. Court documents identify that suspect as Humberto Rangel Junior. Salazar said she and her husband had no idea who he was, and that she had spoken with a neighbor, which they told her Rangel tried opening their door first before coming over to her home. Humberto Rangel Jr. Oklahoma County Detention Center. I was having a panic attack, said Salazar. I was hiding, and I thought that he had a gun or something and he was going to kill us. Salazar said Rangel was, thankfully, not armed, but video she shared with News 4 shows him turning lights on and off in the home before Salazar said Rangel confronted both her and her husband in their bedroom. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I started to have contractions, said Salazar. Thank God my husband was with me, and he started fighting with my husband. Salazar said her husband was able to get Rangel out of the house through the backyard. Video she shared shows Rangel trying to get back into the house, before seemingly panicking and hopping over a neighboring fence. He tried to come back to the house and then when he heard the police officers, he jumped the fence into the next house, said Salazar. Oklahoma City Police eventually caught up with Rangel and made an arrest. Rangel is facing burglary and assault charges. Salazar says the door hes accused of breaking, cost a few hundred dollars to fix. She says her family is also enhancing their security, and says she wishes Rangel had handled the situation differently. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats not the way to run up to the house, said Salazar. Thats not the way to ask for help. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City. Miguel Tiznado-Altamirano has loved cars since he was little. Anything with a motor, I liked, the 18-year-old told the Register & Bee on Wednesday. Tiznado-Altamirano is now an apprentice with KTL Restorations, a local company that restores high-end antique cars. As part of his job this week, he disassembled a 1967 Firebird. Now enrolled in Danville Community Colleges automotive analysis and repair, he was in the spotlight Wednesday for a signing ceremony officially cementing an apprenticeship program with KTL Restorations. I want to congratulate Danville Community College, Donna Carvana, the state director for the nonprofit Virginia Works, said at Wednesdays event. The kudos came because Danville is the first community college in Virginia to be an intermediary, which means it can help companies develop training programs for registered apprenticeships. Although theres a long-winded way to define it, DCCs apprenticeship coordinator Barry Richmond summed it up simply. Basically what that means is you learn while you earn, he said of students who are employed in a field while still undergoing an education pathway. You have the opportunity to take advantage of both parts of the picture here. Crystal Lawrence, who owns KTL with her husband Kurt, said about five years ago her daughter was approached by someone in school and asked if she wanted to follow in the footsteps of her parents for their business. Thats when Lawrence talked to her husband about what they could do to make the company more attractive to youth. Launching a nonprofit, they worked with the Pittsylvania Career and Technical Center to build a relationship with students and offer an internship opportunity. Thats where Tiznado-Altamirano came in. He was first part of that internship program while a high school student in Pittsylvania County. The first Tiznado-Altamirano is the first apprentice with the company, Lawrence told the newspaper following the event. But it started as an internship after his high school class took a field trip to the company. I really did fall in love with all of the work they were doing, Tiznado-Altamirano said after seeing everything up-close. I really want to pursue this career path. That internship program was also launched to teach young people real-life experiences. They need to learn outside of the classroom, she said. We are teaching life skills, too. Although she wants to retain them as workers, KTL Restorations will instill things like how to fill out paperwork when looking for a job and how an interview works. Thats on top of the general job training. Its definitely a balance, especially with the youth, she said of making it all work with working and learning. We are going to let them dabble in every single aspect of the shop and kind of figure out where they land, she noted, explaining that sometimes students arent yet sure what area many drive a passion. We can fine-tune them, once they find that love, she said. Tiznado-Altamirano is on the cutting edge of learning, also. Hes able to see how technology evolves, even in the area of restoring antique vehicles. You are driving a computer on four wheels, Lawrence explained of an ordinary vehicle. We restore high-end antique automotive, she said of the company thats known across the nation, yet flies under the radar locally despite an expansion last year. We build very, very high-end vehicles. Starting at DCC Last year DCC President Jerry Wallace issued a challenge to the college: institute an apprentice for itself. We cant champion something to the community that we arent doing, Richmond said. In this case, we enrolled a seasoned employee in the apprenticeship program. McKenley Graves, an IT specialist whos worked at DCC since 2002, became that apprentice. For this, Microsoft is providing the training classes In IT everything is always ever changing, Graves explained during a panel discussion Wednesday. You can just become stagnant in what you know. This gives him the opportunity to not only learn more skills but also grow in a position. Bracken Jones, DCCs assistant manager of IT, hopes the on-the-job training will end with a promotion to help desk supervisor for Graves. After being in the apprenticeship arena for 18 years, Carvana called it a full-circle moment for the climate of todays workforce. At the time 18 years ago everyone was convinced they had to go to college in order to have a career, she said, admitting she was the one running counter to those arguments. Apprenticeships vary in time frames based on the area. To be a plumber, it takes four years in Virginia. Most people dont want to go into the plumbing trade, she explained. And because of years and years and years of people not wanting to go into the plumbing trade, guess what: You gotta pay a plumber $100 to even show up at your house. Thats because there arent enough people in the industry now. That plumber now makes as much as a doctor who has a degree, she said, encouraging companies and students to work together to build the apprenticeship programs. Whats next KTL, which was established in 2002, is going to be expanding again within the next year and half, Lawrence said. Thats going to open up more opportunities, she explained of upcoming jobs. I would rather get that group right there in my shop she said, pointing to the young adults fresh out of high school gathered Wednesday at the colleges student center. That way she can train her workforce. And if Tiznado-Altamirano has anything to do with it, hell still be there. Still working at KTL, was his response when the newspaper asked what he wanted to do in 10 years. NEW MEXICO (KRQE) Four rural healthcare organizations in New Mexico will receive a combined $5.4 million from the states Rural Health Care Delivery Fund to bring health services closer to New Mexicans in underserved areas. This is the first allocation from the $46 million fund approved during the 2024 legislative session. Story continues below Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The initial funding will support a range of services, including maternal health care, behavioral health programs, and primary care expansion. List of recipients: Meridian Behavioral Health Inc .: Expanding reentry services for children in state custody and incarcerated individuals and launching Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) services in the following five counties: Cibola, San Miguel, Sandoval, Torrance, and Valencia. Estimated award $759,141. Multicultural Evaluation and Consultation Associates, LLC : Enhancing maternal health care coordination in the following six counties: Curry, Chaves, Dona Ana, Lea, Quay, and Roosevelt. Estimated award $1,617,176. Renew Health: Opening three new clinics with behavioral health services offering MAT in the following six counties: Chaves, Curry, Dona Ana, Lea, Quay, and Roosevelt. Estimated award $997,000. Santo Domingo Pueblo: Expanding behavioral health and primary care services for Tribal communities in Sandoval County. Estimated award $2,000,000. These projects must launch new or expanded services by the end of 2024. Additional awards will be announced in December. For more information about the Rural Health Care Delivery Fund and its recipients, visit www.hca.nm.gov/primary-care-council. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. NEW MEXICO (KRQE) New Mexico State Police arrested Jeremy Gonzales, 37, accused of stealing a U-Haul and a motorcycle inside of it. NMSP says its Automatic License Plate Recognition system helped officers identify the stolen U-Haul and arrest Gonzales. Story continues below Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On November 21, state police received a hit from the automatic license plate reader on the stolen U-Haul out of Tucson, Arizona. Around 8:30 a.m. NMSP located the U-Haul and a stolen Honda motorcycle inside the U-Haul at a Dollar General in Lordsburg, New Mexico. Gonzales was arrested and booked into the Hidalgo County Detention Center for possession of a stolen motor vehicle. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) A student doctor in Albuquerque appeared in federal court on Friday and was charged by indictment with production and possession of child pornography. Kevin Weiss, 28, will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled. According to the indictment, between approximately June 2020 to Feb. 2024, Weiss allegedly used a minor under 18 years of age to produce child pornography of the minor. He is also accused of knowingly possessing child pornography involving prepubescent minors from Dec. 2023 to March 2024. Story continues below Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If convicted, Weiss faces a minimum of 15 years and up to 30 years in prison, followed by a minimum of five years and up to a lifetime term of supervised release. Homeland Security Investigations investigated this case with assistance from the Albuquerque Police Department and New Mexico State Police. Weiss was arrested in June by the Albuquerque Police Departments Child Exploitation Unit. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Nov. 21The New Mexico Foundation for Open Government has hired a new executive director with a record of local advocacy and journalism. FOG, a watchdog for publics records law and transparency, announced in a news release Thursday that Christine Barber will take over the position starting next week. "Transparency and the public's right to know are coming under attack from numerous fronts," FOG President Jessica Onsurez said in a statement. "We are pleased to welcome Christine onboard at this critical time as FOG takes on these challenges." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Barber was previously executive director of two nonprofits Street Safe New Mexico and, most recently, Asur New Mexico. Both are geared toward helping women who are living on the streets, particularly those being sex-trafficked. Before her advocacy work, Barber was employed as a journalist with the Gallup Independent, Santa Fe New Mexican and the Albuquerque Journal, according to the release. The release states Barber has won awards for her work in journalism and as an author in New Mexico. She has two bachelor's degrees, one in journalism from the University of Florida and the other in biology from the University of New Mexico. The job came open after FOG's previous executive director, Melanie Majors, announced her retirement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Melanie not only has years of outstanding service to the FOG community, and she has built on our strong foundation allowing us to move to the future," Onsurez said in the release. Majors came to the position with more than 35 years of communications experience, including newspapers and television, starting her career as a reporter in Grants, according to the release. Majors also taught journalism classes at UNM and owned a public relations firm, The Majors Company. "As an advocate for transparency in government, FOG's mission is to defend the public's right to know and to educate citizens and government agencies about their rights and responsibilities under New Mexico's open-meetings and open-records laws," according to the release. "FOG is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, member-supported organization that serves the open government interests of the general public, the business community, elected officials, journalists and lawyers." LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has launched a multi-jurisdictional task force to address increased violence in indigenous communities. The news task force has been named the Missing or Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP) Task Force. It includes representatives from law enforcement, federal, state and local prosecutors, human services providers and victims advocates, a news release from the Office of the Attorney General announced. The Attorney Generals office reports nearly 85% of indigenous women face violence. The department referenced this Michigan Department of Health and Human Services fact sheet as evidence of the increased violence faced by Indigenous women. File/WLNS The MMIP Task Force marks a critical first step in combatting abuse and violence against Indigenous people in Michigan. By prosecuting and tackling the root causes of these crimes, working directly with this broad coalition of MMIP Task Force members, we can build safer communities and pave the way for justice for the families and victims impacted by this crisis. I look forward to working alongside tribal leaders and state, federal, and nonprofit partners to create real, systematic change for Michigans Indigenous population. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel statement in news release announcing formation of MMIP Task Force Nov. 22, 2024 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Task Force began meeting last month and will hold another meeting in December, the Office of the Attorney General reports in the news release. The Task Force is examining the factors underlying the violence and exploring options to mitigate and eliminate those factors and reduce violence within Indigenous communities, particularly against women. The news release included support from multiple Michigan tribal leaders. The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians is pleased to join forces with Attorney General Nessel, other tribal nations within Michigan, and the rest of the MMIP task force to work collaboratively on awareness, prevention, response, and support of missing or murdered indigenous people. Too many of our sisters and brothers live with the devastation of having prematurely lost a loved one due to violence. We hope that this new collaboration will build upon and advance our previous efforts to make a meaningful difference. Matthew Wesaw, Tribal Council Chairman of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, quoted in news release from Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel on formation of MMIP Task Force Nessel also announced the launch of a tip line for information related to missing or murdered Indigenous people. That number is 517-284-0008. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WLNS 6 News. The Michigan Board of State Canvassers meeting to certify the results of the Nov. 5, 2024 election. Nov. 22, 2024. Screenshot President-elect Donald Trump won Michigan by about 80,000 votes in November as the state saw the greatest voter turnout in state history at more than 5.7 million ballots cast, according to state election results certified unanimously Friday by the Michigan Board of State Canvassers. All of Michigans 83 counties certified the results of their area and with the Board of State Canvassers approval, those results will be sent to the appropriate parties to be placed on record for the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The November election was a grueling process and one that demanded all-night efforts from election workers, Jonathan Brater, director of the Michigan Bureau of Elections said during the canvassers meeting, noting several changes in Michigan law made in recent years that aimed to give Michiganders more avenues to vote. We had more than 5.7 million Michiganders cast ballots and that broke the previous record of around 5.6 million 4 years ago. Breaking that record is particularly notable because nationwide turnout dropped compared to 2024, while in Michigan, it went up, Brater said. Voters clearly took advantage of their new options in exercising the right to vote and election officials worked with diligence and integrity to make sure they had those options. Back in 2018, Michiganders voted for the right that now many states have, to vote absentee through a mail-in ballot without having to provide an excuse for why theyll be voting absentee. In 2022, Michiganders upped the ante by approving several measures amending the states election law, most notably establishing nine days of early voting where voters could cast their ballots before election day. Some municipalities provide even more days of early voting as the voter-approved changes mandated nine days, but allow for up to 29 days. Some in Michigan decried the new voting measures, citing concerns for security. Brater added that there were critics that compounded doubts about early voting by saying that people would not even utilize additional days to vote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They were wrong. Over nine days of early voting statewide, and more days in some jurisdictions, 1.2 million Michiganders cast ballots before Election Day, Brater said. It was popular throughout the state and over every day of early voting, to see so many voters embrace this new option and to see election officials administer it so effectively while offering it for the first time in a major election, was both inspiring and a testament to the commitment and excellence of our election workers, he said. And while tasked with an election that was accurately slated to drive large voter turnout in Michigan and represent steep political divisions throughout the state, Brater said election workers put their heads down and delivered a well-run election season. Election officials installed secure absent voter ballot drop boxes throughout the state and implemented a new permanent absent voter ballot list, allowing voters to sign up for the list and be mailed a ballot for all future elections so long as they are eligible voters in the state, Brater said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pre-processing for returned absentee ballots presented a helpful change for election workers, under new laws, Brater said. Officials were able to receive filled out absentee ballots, verify signatures and scan ballots through tabulators, to be counted on Election Day. More populated areas got eight days for pre-processing, while smaller communities got one day. Clerks predicted that this would improve the absent voter ballot counting process, and they were proven right. With an available week to process absentee ballots before Election Day, things went much more smoothly. Results were available earlier, Brater said. We had over 2.2 million voters cast ballots absentee, if you add that to the 1.2 million early voters we had, we had more than 3.4 million voters casting their ballots before Election Day. Even the smoothest election has a few hiccups, which those determined to cast seeds of doubt on the integrity of the election will cling to, Brater said. Election officials frequently are subject to unfair criticism, abuse and threats for doing their duty in the election, Brater noted, and they are only human. The City of Battle Creek was a high-profile example of human errors in unofficial results casting doubt in the election as there was a very close race for Michigans 44th state House seat. Initially, unofficial results reflected that incumbent state Rep. Jim Haadsma (D-Battle Creek) lost reelection to Republican challenger Steve Frisbie by more than 1,300 votes, but human error in reflecting the votes of nearly 3,000 absentee ballots narrowed Haadsmas loss to 61 votes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State law allows for a recount in a state House race if the margin of victory is less than 200 votes, although Haadsma has yet to officially request one. The issues werent with the ballots being counted inaccurately or the voting equipment counting incorrectly, it was simply a human error with sharing unofficial results, which is done to provide a quick snapshot of the unofficial results to the public, to candidates and to the media as quickly as possible, Brater said. We also identified and corrected some errors in the compiling and the submission of the results that were reported from Allegan Calhoun and Mackinac counties, and those corrections have been imported prior to state certification, Brater said. Ultimately, whether everything goes perfectly or whether there are initial mistakes that need to be corrected, these are all examples of our system workingand ultimately, the system worked in 2024, just as it did in 2022 and 2020 and in other recent elections. LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) The March of Dimes report card gave Michigans infant mortality rate a D+ grade. One of the University of Michigan Health-Sparrows maternal-fetal medicine specialists told 6 News that the report has motivated healthcare providers across the state to improve their care. Michigan faces an infant mortality rate thats almost a percent higher than the national rate at 0.642%. Thursday, medical experts and officials met for a discussion to raise awareness about pregnancy complications and the barriers people face with getting the necessary medical attention such as socio-economic status, race, and access to health care. Specialist Abby Ramseyer says these barriers tend to affect certain groups more than others. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our black birthing patients are four to five times more likely to have complications or severe morbidity or mortality from pregnancy-related things, said Ramseyer. We also know that four out of five maternal deaths are preventableso we need to be doing things to move that needle to make sure we are providing high-quality care to people. Experts say the next steps include honing in on prevention for premature births which often lead to morbidity or mortality. Sparrow has now joined thirteen other Michigan healthcare organizations and universities as part of the SOS MATERNITY Network aiming to promote healthy pregnancies Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WLNS 6 News. Cannon fire will be sounded at Veterans Park on Friday and Saturday during the commissioning of the USS Beloit, the U.S. Navy's newest combat ship named for a Wisconsin city. The 387-foot-long Freedom-variant littoral combat ship arrived Nov. 17 at Veterans Park, where it will officially receive its name and be commissioned for active service at the Saturday morning ceremony. Loud explosions can potentially trigger negative reactions for people with sensitive hearing or post traumatic stress disorder. Cannon fire rounds are ceremonial; no live rounds will be fired during the event. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here's when cannon fire will sound during the USS Beloit Commissioning, plus how to watch the ceremony on Saturday. When will cannon fire sound during USS Beloit Commissioning? Friday, Nov. 22: One round of cannon fire will be fired between 10:05 a.m. and 10:15 19 rounds of cannon fire will be fired at 10:45 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 23: 19 rounds of cannon fire will be fired at 10:15 How to watch the USS Beloit commissioning ceremony The future USS Beloit will officially receive its name and be commissioned for active service at 10 a.m. Saturday in Veterans Park. At the commissioning ceremony, retired Army Maj. Gen. Marcia M. Anderson, the ship's sponsor, will give the order, "Man our ship and bring her to life!" a Navy tradition that's followed by the hoisting of the commissioning pennant and cannon fire. That will make the Beloit an official ship in the U.S. Navy fleet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tickets are no longer available to watch the commissioning ceremony in person, but those interested can watch the livestream at www.dvidshub.net/webcast/35146, beginning at 9:45 a.m. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: USS Beloit commissioning to include cannon fire in downtown Milwaukee 14th China-ASEAN Defense Ministers' Informal Meeting held in Laos Xinhua) 08:24, November 22, 2024 VIENTIANE, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- The 14th China-ASEAN Defense Ministers' Informal Meeting was held in Vientiane, capital of Laos, on Thursday. The meeting was co-chaired by Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun and Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Chansamone Chanyalath. Laos is the rotating chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for 2024. Dong stated that in recent years, under the strategic guidance of the leaders of both sides, China-ASEAN security cooperation has not only benefited each other but also contributed to the region and the world at large. Regardless of the changing international landscape, China will steadfastly work with ASEAN to enhance unity and mutual trust, deepen practical cooperation, carry forward the Oriental wisdom, properly manage differences, and always be good partners who share weal and woe and support each other, the Chinese defense minister said. Noting that maritime issues concern the common interests of all parties, Dong said a long-term strategic vision should be established to steadily advance maritime security cooperation and strive to transform contradictions and difficulties into opportunities for cooperation. Leaders of defense departments from ASEAN countries spoke highly of the development of China-ASEAN relations, praised China's respect for ASEAN's centrality in regional cooperation, and expressed their willingness to further engage in more practical security cooperation with China to jointly maintain regional peace, stability, and sustainable development. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) Nearly all of South Dakotas 66 counties have volunteered to report information about local road conditions this winter as part of a new feature on the state Department of Transportations SD511 system. But Minnehaha County wont be one of them, even though its one of the most heavily traveled in South Dakota. Rounds introduces plan to dismantle Dept. of Education Minnehaha County Commission administrative officer Tom Greco explained why. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The primary reason for this decision is that the County and Tribal Traveler Information component offered is too generalized to accurately capture the variation in road conditions throughout the entire county, Greco told KELOLAND News. Conditions can vary greatly from a geographic standpoint and by municipality, according to Greco. The county recognizes the valuable service the current 511 platform provides to travelers and is eager to see the county-level functionality expanded in the coming years, he said. In the meantime, we will continue to implement measures to provide the public with information about county road closures and advisories. Tribal and county governments will be able to enter no-travel advisories and road closures directly into the SD511 Traveler Information System. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Adding information at the county level is intended to help travelers stay off local roads that travel apps often erroneously recommend when state routes have been closed. State Transportation Secretary Joel Jundt highlighted the new feature in the 2024-25 winter maintenance summary. This localized information advances communication efforts for South Dakota travelers, Jundt stated. I want to thank everyone involved in this complex, yet vital, implementation process. Last month the state Transportation Commission approved the 2024-25 winter plan with a $28 million budget. Thats more than last winter, when $23.2 million was budgeted and $20.7 million was spent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As of that time six other counties Miner, Turner, Hutchinson, Gregory, Mellette and Todd and the Rosebud Sioux tribal government also hadnt volunteered to participate this winter. That remains the case. DOT communications director Julie Stevenson said Friday that 59 counties and eight tribes are participating currently. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Photo by Jeenah Moon/Getty Images. Take a seat in the Break Room, our weekly round-up of labor news in Minnesota and beyond. This week: Minnesota restaurant workers do well for the Midwest; Amazon workers stage walk out for raises; Minneapolis mayor vetoes Labor Standards Board proposal; Minneapolis teachers union group moves event with controversial speaker; and attorney general settles with food company over employment notices. Minnesota restaurant workers do comparatively well Minnesota restaurant workers earn $20.44 per hour in wages and tips on average, higher than the nation as a whole and the highest in the Midwest, according to data released this month from the payment processing company Square. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lower wage workers such as those in service industries have seen the strongest wage growth in recent years, but much of their gains have been eaten away by the higher cost of housing, cars, food and everything else, leading many workers to feel like theyre falling behind rather than getting ahead. Minnesota has a relatively low cost of living, which means the average restaurant workers earnings are enough for a single person with no kids to afford the basics, but they dont stretch far enough for a family with kids, according to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development cost of living calculator. Restaurant workers in Minnesota are the 19th highest paid in the country, with workers in Delaware earning the most on average, $28.61 per hour, and those in Mississippi earning the least, $13.02 per hour. In the Midwest, Minnesota is followed by Illinois at $19.89 per hour and then Wisconsin at $18.55 per hour. On the campaign trail, President-elect Donald Trump proposed eliminating taxes on tips, an idea quickly adopted by Vice President Kamala Harris. While popular or at least populist the benefit of cutting taxes on tips would be minimal, since more than a third of tipped workers dont earn enough to pay any federal income tax, according to the Budget Lab at Yale University. Many workers also dont pay taxes on their cash tips. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the same time, eliminating the tax on tips will likely accelerate the rise of tipping culture, making workers incomes more vulnerable to the highs and lows of the restaurant industry. "If you're a restaurant worker who's already in an industry subject to a lot of ups and downs, a large component of your income coming from tips isn't gonna simplify that," Ara Kharazian, a research lead at Square, told Axios. About 22% of restaurant workers income in Minnesota comes from tips, which is on par with the national average. According to Squares analysis of its transaction data, restaurant workers in Minnesota earn a base wage of $15.89 per hour on average plus $4.55 per hour in tips. Minnesotans are average tippers, adding 15.54% for a tip on average. Thats just a hair above the national average of 15.53%, and the lowest in the Midwest as a percentage. But restaurant workers in Minnesota still take home more money in tips per hour than any other Midwestern state save Illinois because of larger tabs, more customers or a combination of the two. Amazon workers stage small walk-out About a dozen Amazon workers walked out of the MSP1 fulfillment center in Shakopee on Tuesday afternoon to demand higher wages and an end to being disciplined for missing productivity targets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The small, hourlong demonstration didnt affect operations at the warehouse where some 1,800 workers package hundreds of thousands of products a day though it caught the attention of a handful of security guards and a steady stream of workers driving in and out of the parking lot during the 5 oclock shift change. The only way that change happens is when we come together. It might start as two people, it might become five people, 10 people. Soon we have thousands, said the demonstrations organizer Eva Hadjiyanis, whos worked at Amazon for 14 months. This is the beginning of something. Amazon worker Eva Hadjiyanis speaks at a demonstration demanding higher pay at the MSP1 fulfillment center in Shakopee on Nov. 19, 2024. Photo by Max Nesterak/Minnesota Reformer. Amazons MSP1 warehouse in Shakopee has seen stirrings of worker campaigns over the years, including a short-lived unionization drive two years ago and a series of demonstrations that led to management promising to regularly meet with workers, a victory that would hardly count as such at any other company, but at Amazon garnered national media attention. The workers called for $3 per hour raises, an end to discipline for missing productivity targets and more respect from management. The starting hourly wage at MSP1 is currently $21.50 and increases to $23.90 over three years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The demonstration also drew several dozen supporters to the warehouse, including Teamsters members, who brought a branded semi truck and enough chicken alfredo to feed a hundred workers and supporters. Amazon is a top target for the Teamsters, which has organized hundreds of drivers and warehouse workers in California and New York. Earlier this year, the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry fined Amazon $10,500 for alleged worker safety hazards at its Shakopee distribution warehouse in violation of two new state laws. Amazon is appealing the citation, and a spokeswoman said the states claims reflects a lack of understanding of how we measure performance. Minneapolis mayor vetoes Labor Standards Board proposal Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey blocked the creation of a Labor Standards Board on Thursday, saying he supports the idea but that the councils proposal was lopsided against businesses. He offered an alternative with more representation for business owners, but the council may have the votes to ignore him; they passed the plan with a veto-proof majority, 9-3, last week. Labor groups notably the Service Employees International Union and Centro de Trabajadores Unidos en la Lucha have been lobbying for the boards creation. They seek to empower workers across various industries to develop labor standards with employers and community members for city leaders to consider. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement City leaders including Frey have held multiple press conferences in support of such a board over the past two years, while restaurant owners and other business leaders voiced their strong opposition. The battle over the board was largely philosophical, however, because the specifics were undefined until council members Aurin Chowdhury and Katie Cashman and Vice President Aisha Chughtai introduced the proposed ordinance earlier this month. Under the proposal passed by the council, the Labor Standards Board would have 15 members with equal representation for workers, employers and community stakeholders. Twelve would be appointed by the council and three by the mayor. The board would then create subgroups with a similar make-up for specific industries, such as child care or property maintenance, to negotiate proposed ordinances that would go to the council and the mayor for review. Frey proposed equal appointments for the mayor and council and equal representation for businesses and employees, saying that businesses wont participate if they will be heavily outnumbered in discussions. The city already has a similar labor advisory board that businesses dont participate in. Its called the Workplace Advisory Committee, which currently has four open seats for business representatives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The proposed Labor Standards Board wouldnt have any more power than the Workplace Advisory Committee, just a slightly different make-up and a focus on creating industry-specific recommendations through subcommittees. When first proposing the Labor Standards Board, labor advocates wanted its recommendations to go to the council for an up-or-down vote so they couldnt be watered down by the council, but that idea didnt make it into the final ordinance. Thats why the Labor Standards Board, if created, is unlikely to be as powerful as opponents fear or proponents hope. Given labor groups many allies on the council, labor interests will continue to be influential in city policy with or without a new advisory group. Minneapolis teachers union group moves event with Palestinian speaker A group affiliated with the Minneapolis teachers union, MFT Educators for Palestine, said on Thursday it would move an event on how to teach about Palestine from the union hall to another location after some union members raised concerns about featured speaker Taher Herzallah, a Palestinian activist who has made comments widely considered antisemitic. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, who is Jewish, called for the event to be canceled in a Twitter post, citing a video in which Herzallah says Anybody who has any relationship or any support or identifies themselves as a Jewish person or as a Christian Zionist, then we shall not be their friend. I will tell you that they are enemy number one. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an email to the Reformer, Herzallah said he misspoke and meant to say Jewish Zionists, and noted that in those remarks he also praised Jewish youth for protesting the United States support for Israel. In those remarks, he also said Zionism, or the movement for a Jewish state, is rooted in white supremacy, which may be considered antisemitic under the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition though not the Jerusalem Declaration definition. Members of the teachers union met on Wednesday to discuss concerns about the event and its featured speaker, after which members of MFT Educators for Palestine decided to move it to another location. An Instagram post by MN Educators 4 Palestine said the reason for the venue change was because of Freys inaccurate description of the event has caused concerns for the safety of our members. Minneapolis Federation of Teachers President Marcia Howard, who convened the meeting for the union members to talk to each other, cast doubt on that explanation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a message to the Reformer, she wrote MN Educators 4 Palestines online statement seems to cite safety concerns brought on by Freys statement without acknowledging the member meeting where the venue change was made. That characterization isa choice. The event is the latest controversy to embroil the states largest teachers union in the Israel-Palestine conflict. Last year, the Minneapolis Federation of Teachers approved a resolution on the Israel-Hamas war that it later walked back, saying that it harmed many Jewish members, students and families while causing unnecessary division. Attorney general settles with food company over employment practices Attorney General Keith Ellisons office announced a $142,000 settlement with Conagra Brands on Thursday for not providing seasonal workers at its fruit and vegetable processing facility in Waseca with key employment information like wages and hours before the start of employment, as required by law. The company also failed to maintain necessary employment records. Under Minnesota law, workers must be told how much they will be paid, what work they will be doing, and whether housing is provided before they agree to travel hundreds of miles to take a job in Minnesota, Attorney General Ellison said in a statement. I am pleased that Conagra Brands changed its practices and that my Office was able to secure restitution for employees. Joshua Al-Lateef was missing for just over 24 hours before divers located his body on Nov. 21 West Chester Police Department Joshua Al-Lateef, the boy with autism who disappeared from his family's Ohio home on Nov. 20, 2024. Joshua Al-Lateef, the boy with autism who disappeared from his family's Ohio home on Nov. 20, 2024. A missing boy with autism has been found dead in Ohio just days before his 7th birthday. The body of Joshua Al-Lateef was recovered by divers from a pond near his home around 8 p.m. local time on Thursday, Nov. 21, according to a news release from the West Chester Police Department. The child, who was nonverbal, was last seen around 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 20, near his home on Wyndtree Drive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Butler County Coroner Lisa Mannix has ruled Al-Lateefs death as an accidental drowning, according to NBC affiliate WLWT and FOX affiliate WXIX. Tonight we grieve with them, West Chester Township Police Chief Brian Rebholz said at a press conference on Thursday, Nov. 21. West Chester Police Department Joshua Al Lateef. Joshua Al Lateef. Related: Missing Boy with Autism Found Using Bracelet with GPS Signal: 'I Couldn't Be More Thankful' Al-Lateefs brother was the first to call 911 and report his brother missing, according to WXIX. He said his brother was dropped off by a school bus and their sister was supposed to watch the 6 year old. In a separate 911 call, Al-Lateefs mother said that her son likes water, and there is a body of water behind her apartment, but he had never been close to it, WLWT reported. 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. About 300 civilian volunteers helped search for Al-Lateef alongside around 400 first responders from multiple agencies, according to The Cincinnati Enquirer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Related: Missing 5-Year-Old Boy with Autism Found Dead in Pond Near Home: A Nightmare All crews searched through freezing temperatures and heavy snow until Al-Lateef was found after sundown on Thursday, the paper reported. He was supposed to turn 7 years old next week, according to WLWT. At the press conference, Fire Chief Rick Prinz thanked those who showed up to help search for the missing boy. "Not the outcome that we wanted tonight, but we are very thankful for the support that we did receive from our community, Prinz said. All public safety in Butler County is grieving with the family, and we wish and pray for the family going forward and hopefully we'll grant them some peace. GREEN LAKE, Wis. (WLAX/WEUX) The missing kayaker from Green Lake, once presumed dead, is alive and well, living overseas. Ryan Borgwardt was reported missing and presumed dead when his kayak and cell phone were found in a Wisconsin lake. Borgwardt planned the entire scheme, faking his death and moving overseas. Authorities have shared a video of Borgwardt explaining that he is safe and alive. Good evening, its Ryan Borgwardt, today is November 11th, and its approximately 10 am by you guys. I am safe, secure, no problem. The sheriff says Borgwardt admitted to staging the kayak in Green Lake. He then hopped on an e-bike, that he had pre-set on the shore of the lake and rode through the night to Madison. From there, he took a bus to the Canadian border, through Detroit. From there, he took a plane overseas. The sheriffs office is still trying to convince Borgwardt to return to Wisconsin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX2548 & WIProud. (KRON) A juvenile who was reported missing in Sacramento County was rescued from a sex trafficker in Oakland, investigators said. The alleged pimp, 29-year-old Deondre Smith-King, was arrested in an area known as The Blade, where 24-hour sex trafficking occurs, prosecutors said. Officers recently found the victim with Smith-King at The Blade and took the suspect into custody. The victim was exploited by Smith-King between August 17 and November 12 in Oakland, investigators said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Smith-King is now charged with one count of human trafficking of a minor and two counts of pimping a minor, the Alameda County District Attorneys Office said Thursday. San Francisco boy, 12, arrested with organized retail theft crew Alameda County is the nations 3rd largest hub for the sexual slave trade, the district attorneys office wrote. An estimated 80% of sex workers are juveniles, and many grew up in foster homes, according to the DAs office. Smith-King is being held at Santa Rita Jail in Dublin in lieu of $355,000 bail. He appeared in court on Thursday. If convicted, he will face up to 12 years in state prison. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) Mississippis children are its future, but a recent report reveals that many children in the state currently fend for themselves. More than 73 million children live in the United States. Roughly 1.1 million reside in Mississippi. Still, only 10% of the federal budget goes toward supporting the group which makes up 30% of the countrys population. SmileHub data shows that states vary widely in how they support children. Mississippi ranked poorly on a variety of metrics, contributing to its ranking as the eighth least supportive state for kids nationally. Mississippi has the 21st highest public health funding per capita. Its public hospitals and state spending per child enrolled in preschool surpass most states in the country. Still, SmileHub data indicates that Mississippis considerable investments into the state fall short. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mississippi ranked 48th on SmileHubs support systems rank for its youngest residents. The state ranked 33rd nationally for its number of childrens charities. Mississippi children also have the countrys lowest life expectancy into adulthood. Similar reports in 2024 found parallel health disparities among children. An April report from WalletHub revealed that children in Mississippi have the worst healthcare nationally. The state is ranked last for childrens access to health care and the percentage of children in excellent or very good overall health. Mississippi also has the highest infant mortality rate and the highest rate of childhood obesity in the country. To help support children, the state does provide an array of healthcare programs. For more information, visit the Mississippi State Department of Healths (MSDH) website. Close Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJTV. SPRINGFIELD, Mo. With hunting season in full swing, some local hunters want to give back to their community by donating their deer to the Missouri Share the Harvest program. Since 1992, the states Department of Conservation and Conservation Federation has participated in the Share the Harvest program, which the department says benefits both hunters and families in need. It helps people who are in need of some extra food, Francis Skalicky said. And from the hunting end, it helps people who like to hunt. It gives them opportunities to hunt that much more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deer hunters across the state of Missouri have been in the woods since Saturday and have have harvested hundreds of pounds of venison, which will be donated to local food pantries, such as Least of These. We received 630 pounds of venison today, which is awesome. And were so excited to be able to distribute that out to families in Christian County, Least of These Executive Director Kristy Carter said. A donation of that size obviously has made the holidays a much happier time for a number of families. I mean, perhaps before that, there were families that were worried, there were families that were struggling, Skalicky said. Its just made those struggles and worries a little bit less because now they have some meat. Harvested deer can be taken to any program-approved meat processor, and White River Valley Electric will cover the costs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Basically for the hunter, all it costs them is the tag that they have to get, the permit for them to be able to hunt, Carter said. So, its a win for all or its a win win win. If youre looking to share your harvest, Skalicky says there is still time. Share the Harvest goes on throughout hunting season. Theres archery season, theres some other firearms opportunities too, Skalicky said. So, there are opportunities beyond this November season to donate, to share the harvest. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. SPRINGFIELD, Mo. The Missouri State Board of Governors has voted to keep Richard Biff Williams as the universitys president. In a special meeting on Nov. 22, the board supported the continued employment of Williams as the president of the university. The following statement was released to OzarksFirst from the MSU Board of Governors: We have voted unanimously to support and continue the employment of President Williams as president of the university. This decision was made after thoughtful consideration of the viewpoints heard from all constituencies. Missouri State University has very high expectations for our leaders personally and professionally, and President Williams is working with the board on actions that he will take as part of his commitment to strengthening relationships across our campus community. Emily Yeap, MSU Assistant Director of Strategic Communication Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The following is an email that went out to the campus community: We are writing with an important update regarding Missouri State President Richard Biff Williams. As you know, President Williams was selected earlier this year to lead Missouri State into the future that we want for our students and entire campus community. As recent media reports about President Williams actions prior to departing Utah Tech University raised some questions, the Board took the time necessary to carefully consider the issue and listen to perspectives from students, faculty, staff, alumni, donors and other important community partners. We appreciate everyone who provided input to this process and their commitment to our university. After careful consideration, we believe President Williams continues to be the right person to lead Missouri State. We have voted unanimously to support and continue his employment as president of the university. We have confidence in his ability to lead Missouri State, and we are committed to working alongside him to ensure the university is a safe and welcoming environment for all students, faculty and staff. President Williams is working with the Board on actions that he will take as part of his commitment to strengthening relationships across our campus community. The university is focused on reinforcing a campus culture that properly respects and values every person on our campus. We hope you share our confidence in the future of Missouri State, and we very much look forward to our continued journey together. Thank you, The Missouri State University Board of Governors On November 14, the Missouri State Faculty Senate introduced a resolution of no confidence in Williams leadership following a federal lawsuit. That resolution was passed on November 21. The federal lawsuit stems from Williamss time at Utah Tech that accused him of discrimination and hostility. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Williams was announced as the 12th Missouri State president on March 4, 2024. Before being president at Utah Tech, Williams served as provost and vice president for academic affairs and founding dean of the College of Nursing, Health and Human Services at Indiana State University. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOLR - OzarksFirst.com. DES MOINES, Iowa The Des Moines Fire Department has launched the Mobile Integrated Healthcare program in an effort to help people get medical care who might not be able to get it on their own, which includes those who are homeless. Those who experience homelessness or un-sheltered in the community theyre still members of our community, said Hali Vanvelzen, a Des Moines Fire Medic. Its essential that as a member of the fire department were giving the best service possible so its about providing education showing them what resources are out there. The program is not just for the homeless. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Someone that falls and the firetruck comes in to pick the person back up and they say theyre not injured, and then the next day they call and they fall again and the firetruck comes and after about three times the firetruck personnel think that they might need some assistance from the Mobile Integrated Healthcare in regards to their medical care, so we will make a visit to their house and see what they need or might need, said Des Moines Firefighter, and long-time Des Moines paramedic, John Jensen. Teen charged with attempted murder in knife attack at Pella Middle School The crew does not answer 911 calls, but is referred to check on residents who may need help. Trust is a huge factor, a lot of these individuals in the community whether they are in their home or on the street or in a shelter, said Vanvelzen. They look to us for guidance. A lot of us, many of us, dont have that living experience, but if we can create that connection in that bond that helps provide a sense of security. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The big thing is to try to determine what the patient needs, said Jensen. What resources can we offer them and so it might be actually going to the doctor and then getting the doctor to refer to some agencies. Latest Metro News: Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to who13.com. Mohamed Subahis documentary Madaniya captures an uprising that would lead to the toppling of Omar Al-Bashirs 30-year rule in Sudan. These months of protest are told through the perspectives of participants in a sit-in organized in front of the Central Command of the Army in Khartoum. I choose my characters as normal people, Subahi tells Variety. They are normal, like you can find everywhere in the street. They are not like political people. They are all from different neighborhoods and different backgrounds, but they all have the same demand and the same dream. They might disagree about how the revolution goes but they all want freedom. More from Variety Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Esra is a young artist, involved in the painting of a mural. Moumen is a leather worker who distributes fliers and works portraits of those who have fallen in the struggle into his leather work. Django is a bus driver and father with young children. From different walks of life, they have all become engaged in the political struggle for an unambiguously civilian form of government. In Sudan, we have this diversity, Subahi says. I want to represent this and to document this, because in the international media, unfortunately, Sudan is unrepresented, or seen from only one point of view. This meant we decided to document this in an informative way. Alongside title cards explaining the intricacies of the shifting power between government officials and generals throughout 2018-2019, the ousting of Bashir in April and the June massacre that saw over a hundred protestors killed, there are the broadcasts of the government and army. But even amidst this politics, there are moments of quietness. The protesters pause for Friday prayers at the sit-in. Editor Micheal Youssef, whose credits include Cactus Flower (2017) and The Forgotten Homeland (2022), says: It was important to include the scene. We want to say, even though the last government was an Islamic government, Muslims are not bad people; not terrorists. Its a part of our identity. The people in Sudan are very kind and love art, music, and singing. They want to have social justice. Subahi adds: During Friday prayers, Christians would come and hold up things to protect the Muslims praying from the sun. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Subahi was on the street with his co-cinematographer Algaddal Hassan. Sometimes I use the camera, but on the street I cant use the camera or they [the army] will see me and its dangerous. So we use mobile phones to film, or the characters film with their phones as well. The danger came to a head with the June Massacre which saw over a hundred protestors killed when the army fired into the crowds, a moment captured in terrifying proximity. Subahi himself had to leave Sudan as it became increasingly dangerous. The current war between two rival generals makes the chances of a settlement slim, but Subahi sees himself continuing the film: We are Sudanese. We have hope. When I meet Sudanese people and talk, we talk about what we are going to do when the war stops. Here in Cairo the Sudanese cant wait to return to Sudan and rebuild. Youssef expresses his frustration that the world seems to only focus on certain conflicts and not on others. I was working on a picture on this conflict in Armenia in 2020 and when we were about to begin, the war in Ukraine broke out. I called the director and said were finished. The festivals will now take films only from Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I want to stop the war, Subahi says. All wars. I dont want to use a gun. I want to use my movie to tell people to stop the war. Best of Variety Sign up for Variety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. A new government has formed in Moldova. Re-elected in early November, the pro-European President Maia Sandu has replaced only the ministers in charge of Interior, Agriculture and Infrastructure. Interior Minister Adrian Efros had earlier announced his resignation after it emerged that Moscow had used activists and hackers to interfere in the elections. In the summer, Maia Sandu's lead looked confident and everyone expected a strong Yes vote in the EU accession referendum. In both cases, the margin of victory for the pro-Western forces was tiny. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most young people in Moldova align themselves with Europe, but why then did 49% of the population vote against the EU? International observers say the answer lies in Russia and its annexed state, the breakaway Transnistrian republic. Transnistria, a Soviet enclave The border dividing Moldova into two parts is not recognised by the international community, yet it has stood for 34 years. The Transnistrian Republic has its own currency, number plates and, of course, flag. In the capital Tiraspol, time has stood still since the break-up of the Soviet Union. The monochrome of Lenin and Marx monuments is broken only by a statue of Harry Potter. Harry Potter statue - Euronews 2,000 Russian soldiers stationed Transnistria ensure that things are done according to Moscow's wishes. That is why, in this part of Moldova, Russia's invasion of Ukraine can only be referred to as a defensive war or a special military operation. Those who express opposition to the war often find themselves behind bars. Harsh conditions This is what happened to Viktor Plescanov, the country's best-known political prisoner. In 2022, the 50-year-old engineer hung a Ukrainian flag on his terrace and posted "Freedom for Ukraine" on his social media, only to be confronted by the authorities shortly afterwards. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In September 2022, he was sentenced to three years and two months in prison without trial on terrorism charges. Viktor Plescanov - Euronews "The conditions in prison were hellish. It was like the 19th century. This is not Europe," explained Viktor, who at one point gave up and attempted suicide. He also showed on his arm exactly where he had tried to slit his wrists. Meanwhile, his wife, Oxana went from embassy to embassy recruiting supporters and telling Viktor Plescanov's story to the world. Eventually, under pressure from the OSCE and the US Ambassador in Chisinau, the Transnistrian leader Vadim Krasnozelsky pardoned Plescanov. But dozens of political prisoners remain in Tiraspol jails. This could be a serious obstacle to Moldova's EU accession, because if Moldovans were to join the integration process, Russian and Ukrainian separatists would come with them, something Brussels would prefer to avoid. Joshua Al-Lateef Jr. went missing from his home in West Chester, Ohio, on Nov. 20 around 5:30 p.m. West Chester Police Department Joshua Al Lateef Jr. Joshua Al Lateef Jr. A 6-year-old boy went missing on Wednesday, Nov. 20, in West Chester, Ohio, town officials said in a statement. Joshua Al-Lateef Jr., who has autism and is non-verbal, went missing from his home on Wyndtree Drive. He is around 4 feet tall and weighs around 50 to 60 lbs. The young boy was last seen around 5:30 p.m., wearing a tan shirt, tan pants, a darker jacket and black New Balance shoes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His brother and sister said his dad picked Joshua up from the bus stop, but after returning from the bus, he left home and has not been seen since, per WLWT 5. His older brother first called 911 to report him missing. He said Joshua was supposed to be watched by his older sister, adding that Joshua doesn't have a history of wandering away. "They can't find my son," Joshua's mother said in a separate 911 call, per the Cincinnati Enquirer. "They can't find my little boy." In her 911 call, Joshua's mother said that her son likes water, and there is a body of water behind her apartment, but hes never been close to it, per WLWT 5. Related: Missing Boy with Autism Found Using Bracelet with GPS Signal: 'I Couldn't Be More Thankful' Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Ohio Attorney General's Office then issued an Endangered Child Advisory on Wednesday night. West Chester Police Chief Brian Rebholz said the missing persons alert was sent out to a five-mile radius and reached around half a million phones, per WCPO 9. West Chester police are investigating the missing person case. Authorities from Ohio State Highway Patrol, Texas Equusearch, Buckeye SAR and multiple Cincinnati-area agencies are all working together. They have begun searching the five-mile radius around the property where he went missing, including the eight bodies of water around it. West Chester Police Department Joshua Al Lateef Jr. Joshua Al Lateef Jr. On Wednesday, K9 units were brought in. Additionally, diverse expertise and technical equipment are being utilized. However, the weather crews have had limited ability of thermal imaging and air assets, per WCPO 9. Despite that, drones and a Butler County Sheriff's Office helicopter aided the search. Five lakes were searched on Thursday, Nov. 21, and two of them were searched overnight, WLWT 5 reports. Fire Chief Rick Prinz confirmed that a second team will also search the lakes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Related: Calif. Teen with Autism Found in Utah 2 Years After Going Missing: 'My Sweetheart's Alive,' Says Mom On Thursday, 300 people gathered in the area to search for Joshua. Prinz said that beginning Thursday, they will start to search away from the initial area and search adjacent lakes in West Chester and nearby townships, Liberty Township and Fairfield Township. "Everyone is diligently working to find Josh," Prinz said, per WLWT 5. Chief Rebholz asked people in surrounding areas with doorbells or exterior security cameras to look through their Wednesday afternoon footage for any signs of Joshua, as well as their properties back porches, decks, sheds, any bushes or shrubs. 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. Tips can be reported through the online reporting form or calls to West Chester Police at 513-777-2231. MONCKS CORNER, S.C. (WCBD) The Moncks Corner Police Department was awarded over $100,000 in grants by the South Carolina Department of Public Safety to buy new equipment and technology. According to officials, the department has received $163,000 for the purchase of new Tasers. Officers will be upgrading from the X-26P, one of the first-generation Taser systems used by law enforcement, to the Taser 10, which is the latest model. The Taser is a vital, less-lethal option that reduces injury or serious bodily harm to the officer as well as those individuals who show active aggression towards law enforcement or other members of the community, said officials with Moncks Corner Police Department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Department of Public Safety has also awarded the police department $2,600 to purchase CellHawk map software. Officials explain that CellHawk is an investigative tool that allows law enforcement to map, connect, and analyze records and digital location evidence, which aids in prosecuting offenders. Chief Young of the Moncks Corner Police Department said, As technology advances for both law enforcement and the private sector, it is important that the Monck Corner Police Department keeps up and finds solutions that help improve evidence collection and ensure officers are equipped with tools to handle any situation they may face. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCBD News 2. Montana State University welcomes students back to campus for the first day of the Fall 2023 semester. (Provided by Montana State University) The University of Montana was recently invited to apply for a National Science Foundation grant focused on forest and rangeland technology, and if the university is successful, the project could bring $160 million to this state and Idaho during the next decade. That was just one example Deputy Commissioner Joe Thiel shared Thursday with the Montana Board of Regents of the Montana University Systems strength in research. (Screenshot from MUS presentation.) Montana ranks fifth in the U.S. for the growth of its research enterprise, he said. And in three of the past five years, he said, Montana has ranked in the top 10 for research growth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additionally, Thiel said the campuses of the system set a new record for research expenditures in 2024 of $427 million, led by Montana State University in Bozeman. To put that in context, youll see thats more than double where we were seven, eight years ago, Thiel said. However, Thiel also said some programs Montana has prioritized in the past and that previously saw bipartisan support including support through our entire federal delegation have not received their full appropriation. Meanwhile, President-elect Donald Trump has pledged to make vast changes to the federal government, and he will step into office in January 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And its unclear at this point what the change in administration, what the changeover in Congress, is going to mean for the continued funding of those programs, and it seems likely that some of the programs where weve seen great success may not receive their full freight of funding that was initially forecast, Thiel said. An analysis this week by Inside Higher Ed projected how the Trump administration could affect university research funding based on the Republicans previous administration. It said Trumps election concerns the scientific community, and he will likely focus on cuts, although Trump also has wanted to protect American research from China. It said Trump repeatedly tried to cut federal research funding in the past, but, citing an officer of the Association of University Research Parks, said the Republican-controlled Congress might realize taking a sledgehammer to research might not get community support, especially in places that depend on research to drive local economies. (Screenshot from Board of Regents presentation.) But Inside Higher Ed also said the National Science Foundation could get caught in the crosshairs of the Republican agenda against diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It said Trump may push research security and funding cuts as part of his agenda. In addition to the possibility of more stringent research security regulations, scientists may also have to compete even harder for research grants, the story said. Thiel, deputy commissioner of academic, research and student affairs in the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education, gave the presentation at the Board of Regents meeting this week in Bozeman. The Regents didnt hold significant discussions about the state of research or potential changes in the future immediately following his presentation, but Regent Loren Bough commented on the growth. I think its a remarkable number to, in that short amount of time, to have doubled what were doing as a state, said Bough, also vice chairperson of the board. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thiel said the research dollars have a direct benefit to students, some 2,000 across the state. He also said Montana has seen some declines in numbers of graduate degrees awarded, but where programs are supported by research dollars, it has seen substantial growth. For example, his presentation noted that from 2014 to 2023, graduate degrees in STEM science, technology, engineering and math increased 38%, and those in health increased 46%. In addition to UM in Missoula being tapped for the potential grant for forestry and work on the human-wildlife interfaces, he pointed to Montana Technological University in Butte and its work on critical minerals. (Screenshot from Headwaters Tech Hub presentation to Board of Regents) Additionally, he highlighted the Headwaters Tech Hub, leveraged by the optics and photonics research at MSU. Photonics includes optical and laser technology, artificial intelligence and machine learning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tim VanReken, head of the Tech Hub, said the idea with the hubs is that its time for the federal government to invest in research and development to keep up with advances in adversarial nations rather than let the private sector handle innovation on its own. The money $45.9 million for Montana including $41.3 million from the federal government is intended to catalyze work thats already taking place in an area, such as optics and photonics in Montana, VanReken said. Twenty-seven partners from the public and private sectors are involved in the project, including economic and workforce development teams. The $41.3 million for Montana comes from the CHIPS and Science Act outgoing U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, supported in 2022. VanReken said the goal is to drive a $10 billion economic impact in the state at the end of a decade with the investment. We expect for this to be ambitious, VanReken said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The university system has leveraged federal grants well in the past to build Montanas areas of strength, Thiel said. Montana has increased its success rates with grants and also the size of its grants, and that bodes well for holding some of that research growth constant. His presentation listed Montana strengths that align with federal funding priorities as environmental management; precision forestry and agriculture; optics and photonics; quantum supply chain; and rare earth element recovery. He said the National Science Foundation is remaking its EPSCoR program, which will affect Montana. The university system describes EPSCoR is a federal and state partnership that aims to increase academic research and development in the context of Montanas needs, with focuses including science and engineering, water and space. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In recent years, Thiel said, Montana has been dramatically outperforming neighboring states when it comes to research. Going forward, Thiel said Montanas campuses, private and public, tribal, and private research entities, all will need to think strategically and plan carefully if the state is to remain competitive. Theres some big changes on the horizon, Thiel said. Attorey General Ashley Moody and U.S. House Rep. Vern Buchanan host a press conference in Bradenton Beach on Nov. 22, 2024, about the state's suit against FEMA head Deanne Criswell. (Screenshot from Moody's YouTube page) Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody said the state would seek to fast-track discovery in her lawsuit against FEMAs administrator over a supervisors guidance to skip homes displaying signs favoring President-elect Donald Trump. Moody also said during a Friday press conference in Bradenton Beach that she would sue additional officials if more evidence emerges that the direction to skip houses of Trump supporters was widespread. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We dont wait for the federal agencies to start digging into their investigations. We do it ourselves, because youve got to hold them accountable, Moody said. And thats what were doing here in Florida, and thats why I was proud to bring this suit so quickly. You better believe well be on the horns with other [attorneys general] around the nation that may have experienced similar situations on behalf of their own citizens. In the suit filed in federal court on Nov. 13, Republican Moody seeks a jury trial against Federal Emergency Management Agency chief Deanne Criswell and Marni Washington, supervisor of post-Hurricane Helene and Milton relief efforts in Lake Placid, over her guidance to avoid houses advertising Trump. FEMA head testimony Deanne Criswell via FEMA. Relief workers skipped around 20 houses, Criswell told members of the U.S. House Oversight and Accountability Committee on Tuesday. Criswell fired Washington on Nov. 9 and testified in front of two U.S. House panels that there was no evidence the problem went beyond the former supervisor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The actions of this employee are unacceptable, and it is not indicative of the culture of FEMA, and I do not believe that there is a widespread cultural problem, Criswell said at the Transportation and Infrastructure hearing. I have directed ongoing investigations, working with the [Homeland Security inspector general[, working with the Office of the Special Counsel, and if we find any other acts of similar behavior, we will take appropriate disciplinary measures. Conspiracy to interfere Moodys complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida accused Criswell and Washington of conspiring to interfere with the civil rights of Florida Trump supporters. Aside from requesting the jury trial, Moody wants the defendants to pay nominal and punitive damages. U.S. House Rep. Vern Buchanan, a Republican representing the Bradenton area, hosted the press conference and said hed like to think the incident in the Highlands County town wasnt part of a cultural problem within FEMA. Were going to get to the bottom of it. Were going to resolve it, and everybody thats had a particular mindset thats not working for everybody, theyre gone, he said. Were going to get rid of them. I think its a different environment in Washington now. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Approximately 167,000 pounds of both fresh and frozen ground beef products have been recalled by the US Department of Agricultures Food Safety and Inspection Service over potential E. coli contamination. The potential contamination was first spotted by the Minnesota Departments of Agriculture and Health after it determined there was a link between a recent spate of food-borne illnesses and meat from Wolverine Packing Company, a meat distribution company based in Detroit, according to the FSIS. The federal agency said it was working with Minnesota officials to investigate the potential contamination, NBC News reports. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As of November 20, 15 people have been reported sick with symptoms that began appearing between November 2 and November 10. On November 10, the FSIS issued a press release saying that Minnesota officials had tested a ground beef sample from Wolverine Packing and found it contained a strain of E. coli. Approximately 167,000 pounds of both fresh and frozen ground beef products have been recalled by the US Department of Agricultures Food Safety and Inspection Service (Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) The FSIS then released a list of all affected products as well as images of their associated product labels. The fresh ground beef affected by the recall has "use by" dates of November 14, and the frozen products have a "use by" date of October 22, the agency said. All of the recall products include the number "EST 2574B" inside the USDA inspection mark. The affected products have been shipped to restaurants around the country, which has caused some concern within the FSIS. The agency is reportedly "concerned that some product may be in restaurant refrigerators or freezers." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The agency is urging restaurants to check their stock and not to serve the the products. It has also issued a blanket reminder to consumers to make sure that they "safely prepare their raw meat products" by cooking all beef products to 160 degrees Fahrenheit (71.11 C) to ensure any harmful bacteria is killed. The E. coli strain found in the Wolverine Packing products is the same strain that was linked to onion McDonald's used in some Quarter Pounders in October. The strain can cause bleeding in the intestines, bloody diarrhea, and hemolytic uremic syndrome, which can cause damage to the kidney's blood vessels, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Nov. 22There are more questions than answers when it comes to how the rollout of community solar in New Mexico is going. No community solar projects have broken ground, and no New Mexicans are yet signed up for the program. It's caused a lack of information at a state level as to how well the program works. The New Mexico Public Regulation Commission is in charge of adopting rules around community solar, like billing and timelines. The Community Solar Act, approved in 2021, required that the PRC report back to the Legislature three years later on progress. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Well, that deadline rolled around this month, and there's still not much to report in terms of on-the-ground progress. Multiple delays in the yearslong setup process, due to miscommunications, supply chain issues and court battles, as well as a necessary $122 million in power grid upgrades have held up the projects. The PRC sent a report to the Legislature earlier this month on the status of the community solar program. It outlined five recommendations to help the program move forward: Create more sustainable and predictable funding for the program, like a legislative appropriationProvide funding to the Health Care Authority to adopt a tool to enhance management of connecting low-income customers with solar farm operatorsGive the PRC the authority to impose sanctions on utilities not meeting deadlinesGive the PRC jurisdictional authority over community solar developers and subscription managersExplicitly allow the PRC the ability to order utilities to provide consolidated billing for program participants "The program is still in the development stage, and yet, the commission feels that community solar is on a path towards success," the report states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eleven out of 45 initially selected projects, or 22%, have signed interconnection agreements with the investor-owned utilities that are required to participate in the program by allowing energy transmission on their power lines. Those power lines are part of a national antiquated power grid, and utilities need upgrades that range in cost from $280,000 to $13 million, according to the report, adding up to more than $122 million cumulatively. Additionally, getting the equipment and upgrades could extend timelines by one or two years. "While this adds time to the process, it ensures that the projects will operate safely and efficiently in the long term and improve the overall capacity of New Mexico's grid," the report states. The delays have made it difficult for solar farm operators to promote the program and meet an original Aug. 1 deadline to sign up a customer base comprised of at least 30% low-income customers. The PRC extended that deadline, instead making it 12 months after an operator signs a utility interconnection agreement or when commercial operations start, whichever is sooner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The selected project operators promised to include a customer base comprised of 50% low-income participants or more, according to the legislative report, and most promise 20-25% or more in savings. The operators will also forgo upfront costs, early termination fees and credit checks for low-income communities. Additionally, all projects committed to contract for materials, supplies or services with locally or minority-owned or operated businesses. The PRC is expected to release a decision soon on utility-proposed solar bill credits, which will give solar farm operators more concrete billing information to provide to New Mexicans interested in participating in the program. Sixty-one years ago, on Nov. 22, 1963, when he was hardly past his first thousand days in office, president John F. Kennedy was assassinated while riding in a presidential motorcade through Dealey Plaza in Dallas, Texas. The events of that day have been the focus of countless books, movies and stories. While many of those events are still debated and have spawned numerous conspiracy theories and opinions, one thing that has remained constant is the weather that day. The weather has been the backdrop to every momentous occurrence in history. Sometimes it plays a major role in influencing the outcome of seismic events, as it did on D-Day during World War II, and other times, it simply provides the scenery in which circumstances unfold. In his book, "Invisible Iceberg: When Climate and Weather Shaped History", AccuWeather Founder and Executive Chairman Dr. Joel N. Myers takes readers on a journey from the beginning of time to modern days, exploring how weather and climate impacted world events throughout history. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are also a number of haunting what-ifs posed, including a chapter on how more rain may have saved President Kennedy's life, which is especially enthralling. Dr. Myers details a series of seemingly innocuous events in Dallas on Nov. 22, 1963, including a key exchange between his Secret Service team about the rain and whether or not they should put the top down on the car Kennedy would ride in during the motorcade. US President John F. Kennedy, First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, Texas Governor John Connally, and others smile at the crowds lining their motorcade route in Dallas, Texas, on November 22, 1963. Minutes later, the President was assassinated as his car passed through Dealey Plaza. (Bettmann/Getty Images) "Could the Plexiglass top have made the difference between life and death?" Dr. Myers speculates. "It is possible." Dr. Myers writes, "Kennedy had arrived in Dallas to deliver a luncheon speech and was only meant to be in the city for a couple of hours. Had it continued to rain, the bubble top would have remained on the limousine. Because the skies were clear, it was removed." Dr. Myers notes that contrary to popular belief, the bubble top was not bullet proof, it was created for inclement weather. Journalist Jim Lehrer, who was in Dallas covering the parade spoke to one of the Secret Service officers on duty: "He looks up at the sky-I will never forget this. He looks up at the sky and it's clear...and yells down to an agent with a two-way radio and he says 'check it downtown. What's it like downtown?' When the response came back that it was clear downtown, he ordered his fellow agents to 'Lose the bubble top.'" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dr. Myers continues, "Lehrer, who later used this experience as the basis for a novel called Top Down researched the question. "'If it was up, Oswald might not have taken the shot,'" Lehrer speculated. "He might have thought it was bulletproof. Or the quarter-inch Plexiglass might have deflected the bullets. Or the glass could have shattered into shards and killed everybody" Dr. Myers concludes that "The Warren Commission Report noted the lack of the bubble top as a factor but never ran any simulations to see if it would have made a difference. The Secret Service must have thought it was at least a major factor because the presidential limousine was immediately redesigned, giving it a permanent roof and other security features like armor plating, run-flat tires and an explosion-proof fuel tank." Join AccuWeather founder & Executive Chairman Dr. Joel N. Myers on a journey from the beginning of time to the modern day to see how weather and climate changed the very course of human history. You can purchase Invisible Iceberg: When Climate and Weather Shaped History from Barnes & Noble or on Amazon.com and wherever good books are sold. MOREHEAD CITY, N.C. (WNCT) As Christmas gets closer, more people are thinking about gift ideas. However, some families have struggles with getting enough money for those gifts. The Morehead City Police Department is gearing up for one of its Shop with a Cop events. This helps local, underprivileged children get things they want for Christmas. The department is also getting plenty of help from the community to make it happen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Highway 55 in Morehead City has a motto of Love your neighbor. So, they are providing fundraising for community groups, schools, churches and this weekend, the Morehead City Shop with a Cop fund. This weekend, Nov. 23rd and Dec. 7th, will both be the days that Highway 55 is generously giving 15 percent of its sales from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m., Nicholas Stallings of the MCPD said. Officer Stallings helped with the event last year and said it means a lot to him and the entire Morehead City PD to provide gifts for local children. Click the above video to see 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 WNCT. MSNBC's Morning Joe co-hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brezinski violated some of the cardinal rules of journalism. Journalists, so those maxims go, should never make themselves the story or get too close to those they are covering. During a 24-minute segment, Scarborough and Brezinski admitted they went to Mar-a-Lago to meet with President-elect Trump on the previous Friday. Scarborough said they talked about a lot of issuesIt should come as no surprise to people who watch the show that we didnt see eye-to-eye, and we told him so. Brezinski then chimed in, reading from a carefully prepared script, What we agreed on was restart communications. She compared the meeting with Trump to meetings her late father, and former National Security Advisor to President Jimmy Carter, would have with world leaders with whom he disagreed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brezinski reported that Trump was cheerful, upbeat, and interested in finding common ground with Democrats She claimed it is time to do something differentnot just to talk about Donald Trump, but to talk with him. This unexpected announcement ignored the threat Trump poses to the United States. It focused on why it was OK for Scarborough and Brezinski to pilgrimage to Trumps Florida estate. As a long-time viewer of Morning Joe, I am quite used to Scarborough and Brezinski's self-aggrandizing soliloquies. But I was still shocked by Mondays self-dramatizing use of their platform. In truth, this was their Kevin McCarty moment. Recall that McCarthy, then House Minority Leader, denounced Trump in the immediate aftermath of January 6. However, two weeks later, McCarthy made his own journey to Mar-a-Lago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He got photographed, smiling with the man who he had said bears responsibility for what happened when Trumps supporters stormed the Capitol. McCarthy had even told his Republican colleagues that he would urge Trump to resign. When McCarthy met Trump, all that was quickly forgotten. Like McCarthy, Scarborough and Brezinski want us to forget. As Megyn Kelly noted, prior to their meeting with the president-elect, they repeatedly slammed Trump as a racist and fascist. This radical inconsistency is why Kelly was right to brand their sit down with Trump an absurd farce. Why would Scarborough and Brezinski make such a big deal about their off-the-recording sit down with someone they once regarded as a racist and fascist? There are many possibilities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One possibility is that they wanted to assure their viewers that they would again be in the charmed circle of Washington insiders who have direct access to Trump. Kelly reminds us that Morning Joe helped "pump up Trumps first run for the White House starting in 2015 when he consistently called into their show. She even played a clip of Scarborough saying he would be open to serving as Trumps running mate. Access to power, Kelly says, is everything to Joe Scarborough. A second possible reason for their meeting with Trump is that Scarborough and Brezinski want to mend fences with Trump because they fear becoming targets of the president-elects promised campaign of retribution against his critics and political opponents. According to two sources with direct knowledge of the matter, CNN reports, Scarborough and Brzezinski were credibly concerned that they could face governmental and legal harassment from the incoming Trump administration. CNN says, Knowing that Trump has threatened retribution against his perceived political opponents and that Trump has promoted lies about Scarborough and Brzezinski in the past, the MSNBC hosts decided to reach out to the president-elect. A third possibility is that the on-the-air revelation of the Mar-a-Lago meeting was the price they had to pay before the president-elect would agree to see them. Exacting such a price would appeal to someone like Trump who wants to make people kowtow to him publicly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump seems to take special pleasure when he can do so after he has mocked, insulted, or humiliated such a person. And he certainly has gone out of the way to mock, insult, and humiliate Scarborough and Brezinski. According to NPR, seven years ago, President Trump unleashed one of the most vitriolic insults of his presidency saying MSNBC 'Morning Joe' host Mika Brzezinski was bleeding badly from a face-lift while at his Palm Beach, Fla., resort for New Year's Eve. He also described her as low I.Q. Crazy Mika." At the same time, Trump labeled Scarborough Psycho Joe and suggested that Scarborough had pathetically overstayed his welcome in Mar-a-Lago the previous New Years Eve. Or, to offer another example of Trumps treatment of Morning Joes co-hosts, four years ago he suggested that MSNBCs Joe Scarborough had committed murder. In May 2020, Trump took to Twitter to ask, When will they open a Cold Case on the Psycho Joe Scarborough matter in Florida? Did he get away with murder? Some people think so, Trump wrote. Why did he leave Congress so quietly and quickly? Isnt it obvious? Whats happening now? A total nut job! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement None of those insults or innuendos stood in the way of Scarborough and Brezinskis effort to make peace with Trump. Of course, there is nothing wrong in trying to repair a breach. The problem is Scarborough and Brezinski have had a field day criticizing others, like Kevin McCarthy, or Texas Senator Ted Cruz, who have done the same thing after Trump insulted them or their families. Scarborough called McCarthy sad and pathetic for not criticizing Trump after the then-former president met with a prominent white nationalist. He was quick to attribute McCarthys silence to the fact that he thinks his support depends on having white nationalists and supporters of neo-Nazis voting for him for speaker of the House. Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course. In 2020, Scarborough savaged Cruz in a series of tweets accusing him of selling his 'soul' by supporting Donald Trump after the president 'called your wife ugly and said your dad killed JFK.' Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now Scarborough and Brezinski have followed in Cruzs footsteps. Whatever their motives, their hypocrisy undermines the credibility of the program they host. But more importantly, it feeds into the Trumpian narrative that the press, the media, and journalists cannot be trusted. There is ample evidence of the hold that the Trumpian narrative now has on the public. Last month, Gallup reported that Americans continue to register record-low trust in the mass media, with 31% expressing a great deal or fair amount of confidence in the media to report the news fully, accurately and fairly, similar to last years 32%. Americans trust in the media such as newspapers, television and radio.For the third consecutive year, more U.S. adults have no trust at all in the media (36%) than trust it a great deal or fair amount. Journalism professor Jesse Holcomb explains, Midway through the 20th century, the news media was among the most trusted institutions in the United States. Today, it sits near the bottom of the list, outflanked only by Congress in most surveys. Holcomb continues, Its one of those social facts that elicits a sense of self-evidence (We needed a survey for that?). Everybody knows the media has a credibility problem. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Part of that credibility problem can be attributed to what Dr. Jill Stein, the Green Partys presidential nominee, calls the astounding hypocrisy in mainstream media. Scarborough and Brezinski exemplify that in spades. They should not have been surprised that viewers would see through their charade and be put off by it. And see through it, they did. That is why Morning Joe took an immediate ratings hit following Joe and Mikas Monday morning revelation about the Trump meeting. Beyond Scarborough and Brezinskis astounding hypocrisy, by meeting with Trump they dishonored the profession they purport to be a part of. That is made clear by the words of former Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black, long one of the nations greatest defenders of the press. In 1971, Black argued that the press's job is to serve the governed, not the governors. And paramount among the responsibilities of a free press is the duty to prevent any part of the government from deceiving the people. To do so depended on what Black called courageous reporting, In the end, there was nothing courageous in Scarborough, and Brezinski sought to get back in the good graces of a man who had made a career of deceiving the people. That is why Morning Joe must go. The hosts of MSNBCs Morning Joe, Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski, allegedly met with President-elect Donald Trump over fears that then-attorney general nominee Matt Gaetz would investigate the death of an intern in Scarboroughs office during his time as a Florida Republican congressman, according to a Puck News report. On Monday, Brzezinski said: For those asking why we would go speak to the president-elect during such fraught times, especially between us, I guess I would ask back, Why wouldnt we? Joe and I realized its time to do something different, and that starts with not only talking about Donald Trump, but also talking with him, she added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Their mostly liberal audience dropped by 17 percent in the hour after they made the revelation about the Trump meeting, and their ratings were down 38 percent the following day compared to the average for the year. Scarborough and Brzezinski have reportedly told friends since the election that theyre concerned about retribution from Trump over their consistent criticism of the president-elect since they last met with him seven years ago. Those worries grew when Trump nominated former Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz to be his attorney general. Gaetz announced on Thursday that he would be stepping down as the nominee. The Morning Joe hosts told friends and allies before the departure that they were concerned that Trump and Gaetz would bring back up baseless conspiracy theories regarding the death of 28-year-old intern Lori Klausutis, who died from complications from a heart condition in 2001, Puck News noted. The concerns were linked to worries that Gaetz and Trump would use the conspiracy to put legal pressure on Scarborough. In 2022, former White House communications director and current The View co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin testified before the House Select Committee investigating the January 6 Capitol riot, saying that she once encountered Gaetz outside the Oval Office, adding that Gaetz was carrying a folder with conspiracy theories about Joe Scarborough murdering his intern. Gaetz presented the contents to Trump, who subsequently posted about it on what was then Twitter. Mika Brzezinski and Joe Scarborough attend Forbes x Know Your Value 50 Over 50 on December 15, 2021 in New York City. Their ratings took a nosedive after they agreed to meet with President-elect Donald Trump (Getty Images) A source told Puck that the hosts were petrified of retribution and concerned that Gaetz, who represented the same Florida congressional district as Scarborough, would probe the death of the intern. The source said the fears had nothing to do with ratings or Comcast. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A separate source told Puck that Scarborough and Brzezinski thought that by meeting Trump, they could lessen his desire for revenge. A spokesperson for MSNBC told Puck that this characterization of the motivations for the meeting was false and inaccurate. The Independent has contacted MSNBC for comment. Trump said on Fox News on Monday morning that the meeting with the Morning Joe hosts had been very cordial. Many things were discussed, and I very much appreciated the fact that they wanted to have open communication, he said. The meeting ended in a very positive manner, and we agreed to speak in the future, Trump added. The president-elect went on to say that he expected that other meetings would occur with others in the press even those that have been extremely hostile. The former president said he has an obligation to the American public, and to our country itself, to be open and available to the press. If not treated fairly, however, that will end. The media is very important to the long-term success of the United States of America. Russia has supplied North Korea with anti-aircraft missiles in exchange for sending troops to join the war against Ukraine, Associated Press (AP) reports. Source: AP, citing South Korean Defence Minister Shin Won-sik Details: On Friday, Won-sik said on an SBS television programme that South Korea had discovered that Russia had provided anti-aircraft missiles and other equipment to strengthen Pyongyang's air defence capabilities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He further noted that Russia had provided North Korea with various economic aid. AP reports that Seoul and Washington have expressed concern over Russia's possible provision of sensitive nuclear and missile technology to North Korea. Background: Earlier reports indicated that Russia has supplied North Korea with more than a million barrels (56,000 tonnes) of oil since March 2024, likely in payment for military support. On 10 November, The New York Times reported that a 50,000-strong group of Russian and North Korean troops was preparing to launch a large-scale counteroffensive in Russia's Kursk Oblast, where Ukrainian forces are conducting an operation. Bloomberg said North Korea could send up to 100,000 troops to support Russia's war against Ukraine. Support UP or become our patron! TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) The South Howard Flood Relief project is moving forward. For Harry Coleman who lives in Parkland Estates, its a relief. Were glad the city moved forward, he said. Doing the right thing and doing the easy thing arent always the same thing, and I think they did the right thing today. Anneliese Meier on Bristol Avenue disagrees. Shes worried the history and character of the area will soon cease to exist. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All of this is going to be lost, she said. I dont think people understand the massiveness of this project. I dont think they understand what this is going to do to the character of the neighborhood, she continued. It will ruin it forever. This is a $65M project no one can agree on. Some city council members wanted to move forward with the project. I am asking the engineers to determine the best route to move the greatest amount of stormwater in the shortest amount of time, Tampa City Council member Lynn Hurtak said. I do not want the engineers to consider traffic, utilities, businesses, houses, trees, or anything else. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Others wanted to get questions answered before approving it. Not everybody is going to be happy, Tampa City Council member Guido Maniscalco said. People are going to sue. People are going to fight, he continued. This is the most divisive issue Ive ever seen. Its going to be $65M, maybe more; I know were only at $7.7M today, Maniscalco explained. Before we spend this money, lets look at every single option on the table. Nonetheless, the motion passed 5-2. That means whether those questions get answered or not, this project is moving forward. Victor DiMaio represents some of the businesses along South Howard Avenue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although they think they can change it, its set in stone, he explained. Its Howard, Howard, Howard. DiMaios concern? An economic impact study hasnt been done. Tampas Mobility Director Vik Bhide said hes confident he and his team will do right by the businesses. We know well be able to do well by the community with the team that we have, he explained. News Channel 8 reporter Nicole Rogers asked, What do you say to the business owners who say thats not enough, and theyre worried their entire business could be gone? I would say 2 things, Bhide responded. I dont know their businesses of course and what barriers they have, but we know what they need. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weve considered this, he continued. Weve given a lot of thought to it and we have partners who have tremendous experience working in urban environments. As for what comes next? Get the designers to work and we are going to hit the ground running, Bhide explained. And for the people opposed to the project? Well have to convene with the property owners, SoHo Business Alliance General Manager Steve Michelini explained. Theyve already engaged with a series of law firms with all of the businesses on South Howard and see what they want to do. Thursdays vote is not the end all be all. What happens now is the builders and designers can begin working on this project. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its leaving some saying theres still wiggle room to get this plan on another road while others say Thursdays stamp of approval just all but ensured South Howard Avenue will not have even one full lane open for at least two years. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) A mother accused of killing her baby and leaving the infants remains in an Upper Peninsula campground toilet in 1997 is set to go to trial. On Dec. 12, a court is set to determine if statements Nancy Ann Gerwatowski made to police about the death of her child, along with information about an abortion consideration and a lack of prenatal medical care, can be used in the trial, Detroit NBC affiliate WDIV reports. According to a release from the state, Gerwatowski allegedly gave birth in 1997 to her baby while home alone in Newberry, and the baby died of asphyxiation. The state alleges that the baby could have survived if she had sought medical intervention. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Suspect identified, extradited to Michigan in Baby Garnet cold case The remains of the baby were later found in a pit toilet at the Garnet Lake Campground, located in Hudson Township, 20 miles away from Newberry. The baby was a term or near-term infant, according to the state. Investigators were not able to identify the baby, who they called Baby Garnet, and the babys death became a cold case. That changed in 2022, when a forensic genealogist was able to track down relatives of Baby Garnet using a public DNA database. Gerwatowski, who told investigators she was the babys mother, was arrested and brought back to Michigan from Wyoming state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She has been charged with open murder, involuntary manslaughter and concealing the death of an individual. WDIV reports the concealing a death charge could be dismissed. If convicted, she faces up to life in prison. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. The mother of Pauly Likens, a 14-year-old transgender girl who was killed and dismembered in Pennsylvania last summer, is calling for expansion of a state hate-crimes law to cover crimes motivated by the victims sexual orientation or gender identity. Likenss mother, Jen McClure, spoke Wednesday at a Transgender Day of Remembrance vigil in Pittsburgh. She and others have urged state legislators to take action to amend the law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pauly was a beautiful, brave 14-year-old whose only crime was wanting to be herself, to be happy with who she was and live her best life, McClure said at the event, according to TV station WPXI. The hate has got to stop. Laws need to change. Likenss remains were found in early July in a lake in Clark, Pa., in the northwestern part of the state. She was last seen alive in person June 22. DaShawn Watkins, 29, is charged with murder in the first degree, aggravated assault attempts to cause serious bodily injury or causes injury with extreme indifference, abuse of a corpse, and tampering with/fabricating physical evidence. He has pleaded not guilty. He is jailed in Mercer County, Pa., and is set to go on trial next year. Pennsylvania is one of 13 states that have a hate crimes law but do not cover crimes based on sexual orientation or gender identity, according to the Movement Advancement Project. Eleven have laws that include sexual orientation but not gender identity, and four have no hate-crimes law at all. Hate-crime laws often allow for enhanced sentencing of those convicted of the underlying crime. Federal law the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009, signed into law by President Barack Obama covers sexual orientation and gender identity, but not all crimes can be prosecuted at the federal level. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Pennsylvania Youth Congress, an LGBTQ+ rights group, has asked the U.S. Attorneys Office for Western Pennsylvania to consider federal hate-crimes charges in Likenss death, but there has been no response, said Jason Landau Goodman, the groups board chair. A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorneys Office said there would be no comment on investigations. There have been at least 27 murders of transgender-affected people [The Advocate counts 30] here in the United States, just in the past year, Landau Goodman said, according to WPXI. We know from members of our local community in Mercer County that they alleged murderer was targeting trans women and femmes that day, to attack and kill, he added. State Rep. Dan Frankel of Pittsburgh, a Democrat, has introduced LGBTQ-inclusive hate-crimes legislation in the past and plans to reintroduce it in the new session, he told WPXI. Trans women continue to suffer as victims of violence, but Pennsylvania doesnt even acknowledge that crimes motivated by anti-LGBTQ+ bias exist. Today, I am thinking of all the people who love and miss Amariey and Pauly, and I renew my promise to them that I will keep up the fight in Harrisburg to pass my bills to track, prevent and address hate crimes, he said Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Amariey is Amariey Lei (some sources give her name as Amarey Lej), a 21-year-old Black trans woman who was shot and killed in Wilkinsburg, a community near Pittsburgh, on January 1, 2022. At the vigil, speakers called for further action on her case as well. The Allegheny County police have been investigating, but no charges have been brought. They ask that anyone with information contact their tip line, (833) ALL-TIPS. This article was updated to include sourcing from local affiliate WPXI. MSNBC on Friday changed its headline to a story on Laken Riley, the 22-year-old Georgia nursing student who was murdered by an illegal immigrant earlier this year, after it was met with widespread outrage on X. The initial headline to the opinion piece, written by legal analyst Danny Cevallos, was Laken Rileys Killer Never Stood a Chance. That was altered on Friday to The Guilt of Laken Rileys Killer Was Never in Doubt. MSNBCs story was posted a day after Jose Ibarra, a 26-year-old Venezuelan gangster who entered the U.S. illegally, was found guilty of murdering Riley in February. Ibarra was found guilty on an additional nine charges, including kidnapping and aggravated assault with intent to rape, and sentenced to life in prison without parole. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The outlets first headline was skewered by many on social media, including Joe Rogan, Utah Sen. Mike Lee and Arizona Rep. Andy Biggs. Others called it sickening, next level depravity and pure trash. Here is a look at some of the reactions: What the fuck is this shit pic.twitter.com/sUcH8Wsuru Joe Rogan (@joerogan) November 22, 2024 Laken Rileys killer is now the victim, according to MSNBC https://t.co/EGw9UWQgT3 Mike Lee (@BasedMikeLee) November 22, 2024 Look at how @MSNBC framed the conviction and sentencing of Laken Riley's killer. Jose Ibarra never stood a chance? No. Laken Riley never stood a chance against this monster. Absolutely sickening. pic.twitter.com/KAjlfNMgM3 Adam Johnston (@ConquestTheory) November 22, 2024 An actual headline from MSNBC: Laken Riley's killer never stood a chance Ask yourself: Why is MSNBC writing sympathetic headlines for an illegal alien monster and killer? Why is MSNBCs legal analyst Danny Cevallos ok with this headline? https://t.co/hSfaMIUxqW pic.twitter.com/8YLarS5ba5 Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) November 22, 2024 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Laken Rileys killer never stood a chance because HER BLOOD WAS ON HIS CLOTHES along with the rest of the evidence. Ffs, MSNBC. https://t.co/1dwP50J96S Sara Miller-Woods (@Millerita) November 22, 2024 Woke MSNBC sympathizes with illegal aliens who murder young Americans. Do they know who actually never stood a chance? Laken Riley. She was targeted by a vile criminal and fought for her life for 17 agonizing minutes. This headline is repulsive. pic.twitter.com/DifUJVsGaD Rep Andy Biggs (@RepAndyBiggsAZ) November 22, 2024 MSNBC going to bat for Laken Rileys killer is next level depravity. The media hates you. pic.twitter.com/PD6FwOiS2P (@RandomHeroWX) November 22, 2024 Omg. Laken Rileys killer never stood a chance MSNBC is trash. Pure trash. https://t.co/5LAxRDIbqt Kathleen McKinley (@KatMcKinley) November 22, 2024 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Riley, a nursing student at August University, was murdered in February after going out for a job near her campus. During the trial, the court was presented with footage of Rileys mom dropping to the ground in agony as she was told by police officers that her daughter had been killed. Before the verdict on Wednesday, a number of Rileys family and friends shared impact statements inside an Athens, Georgia courthouse. The pain I feel is unexplainable every day I am reminded my daughter is gone I will never hold her hand or feel her hug, said Jason Riley, the victims father. Our world has been torn apart. I am haunted by the fear she felt in those final moments. The post MSNBC Alters Sickening Laken Riley Killer Headline After Outrage Online appeared first on TheWrap. Ratings continue to sunset at MSNBCs Morning Joe after the hosts surprised audiences earlier this week by announcing they had gone to visit Donald Trump at Mar-A-Lago following years of feuding with him. On Wednesday, MSNBCs morning mainstay lured an average of 647,000 viewers overall, and just 51,000 viewers between 25 and 54, the demographic most coveted by advertisers in news programming. On Monday, the four-hour program reached 770,000 overall and 86,000 viewers in the demo, meaning Wednesdays overall audience fell by 15% and its viewership among people between 25 and 54 tumbled nearly 41%. More from Variety Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The figures mark the second consecutive decline in viewership since co-anchors Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski told viewers Monday that they had gone to visit the former and soon-to-be next U.S. President at his home in Florida in a bid to reach a sort of detente after years of criticizing him on the program. On Tuesday, the four-hour broadcast of the show captured 680,000 total viewers, and 86,000 viewers among adults between 25 and 54, both representing a decline of 12% from Mondays program. MSNBC could not be reached for immediate comment on the shows audience trends over the last three days. The ratings dip comes amid rising uncertainty at MSNBC, which is part of a pack of cable networks set to be separated from NBCUniversal under a spinoff plan revealed earlier this week by corporate parent Comcast. At a meeting on Wednesday with Mark Lazarus, the NBCU senior executive slated to be CEO of the new company, MSNBC personnel asked questions about whether the network would have to change its name or remove some of its signature markings due to the separation, which is expected to take place over the next 12 months. Lazarus was unable to give significant detail about plans, including whether MSNBC would be able to use the newsgathering of NBC News, which has helped fuel programming for years. On Monday, Scarborough and Brzezinski told viewers that they had agreed to restart communications with Trump, a move that angered some die-hard fans of the progressive cable-news outlet. The two had not spoken directly to Trump since March of 2020, except for a call Scarborough made to him following the recent attempt made on Trumps life in Butler, Pa. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We didnt see eye-to-eye on a lot of issues and we told him so, Scarborough said Monday, citing issues such as abortion and the potential for retribution against political enemies and the media. The announcement surprised many. In 2018, Trump shocked media figures when he made remarks about Brzezinskis appearance. Crazy Mika and Psycho Joe are phrases he has tried to make common, even though the hosts have with Willie Geist maintained one of the longest-running anchor teams on a national morning-news program. On a podcast run by The Daily Beast Thursday, Brzezinski said she had heard words of encouragement from people that I respect a great deal, leaders, people I dont usually hear from who are really powerful, who just wanted to let me know that that was the right thing to do. But she also said she felt like she was being treated like a punching bag by observers and commentators. The media landscape right now is dominated by echo chambers, she added. Its my job to talk to people I dont agree withor even feel threatened by. Best of Variety Sign up for Variety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. LANSING The Board of State Canvassers unanimously certified statewide results from the Nov. 5 election Friday and any uncertainty about who was elected to the Michigan State University Board of Trustees has been resolved. Michigan's certified results show former President Donald Trump, the Republican nominee for president, won the state with 49.7% of the vote, defeating Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee, who received 48.3% of the vote, by just over 80,000 votes. In the MSU board race, the official results show Republican Mike Balow finishing first with 24.9% of the vote and Democrat Rebecca Bahar-Cook finishing second, with 24.24% of the vote, to win the two open board seats. The results show Republican Julie Maday placing third, with 24.20%, more than 4,100 votes behind Bahar-Cook. Democrat Thomas Stallworth placed fourth, with 22.6% of the vote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Balow's victory was never in question but the contest for second place was thrown into confusion as a result of a data input error in Allegan County. That county had correct unofficial results on its own website but an employee omitted a zero when inputting unofficial results to the state, reporting that Bahar-Cook received 2,363 votes in Allegan, instead of 20,363. Based on the inaccurately reported unofficial results, Maday had declared victory and Bahar-Cook had come close to conceding. Maday conceded in a Wednesday Facebook post, after counties around Michigan certified their results. "I want to congratulate both Mike Balow and Rebecca Bahar-Cook," Maday said. "While it has been a tumultuous past two weeks, my sole focus will continue to be on sustainably advancing the collective interests of Michigan State University and its stakeholders." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bahar-Cook said she felt pretty confident of her victory once the data entry error in Allegan County was revealed but she is glad to have the election resolved. Through the process, she said she did have moments of wishing the MSU election was resolved sooner, she said. But having spent more than five years on the Ingham County Board of Canvassers, she said she understood the process and the importance of having it in place. At MSU, Bahar-Cook said her primary focus will be the university budget and looking at alternatives to increasing tuition for students. At Friday's Board of State Canvassers meeting, state election director Jonathan Brater said there were several cases of inaccurate reporting of unofficial results, but as is typically the case, all such errors were detected and corrected either before the start of county canvasses or during those canvasses. Human errors understandably happen, sometimes late at night or in the early hours of the morning following Election Day, by workers who have put in extremely long days working on the election, he said. Some errors were the result of incorrect programming or settings on tabulators and those were also caught and corrected, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "That's why we have canvasses," Brater said. The Board of State Canvassers, like all county canvassing boards, has two Democratic members and two Republican members. Certification of the election results triggers a 48-hour time period for statewide candidates and candidates for certain other offices to request recounts. Candidates seeking recounts of county-level results have until six days after the completion of county canvasses. The deadline for completion of county canvasses was Nov. 19. Contact Paul Egan: 517-372-8660 or pegan@freepress.com. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: MSU board race resolved as state panel certifies 2024 election Elon Musk has hinted he could buy MSNBC, the Left-leaning TV network, in a move which could see a dramatic realignment of the political news landscape. The billionaire tech entrepreneur, who has railed against the Left-wing media, floated the idea in a post on his own social media network, X, jokingly asking how much it would cost. Quoting a post from an account which claimed the network had been put up for sale by Comcast, because lying non-stop to your audience is a lousy business model, Donald Trump Jr tagged the mogul and wrote: Hey Elon Musk I have the funniest idea ever!!! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In response Mr Musk wrote: How much does it cost?. In a follow-up post he added: The most entertaining outcome, especially if ironic, is most likely with a laughing crying face emoji. Mr Musks purchase of Twitter which he rebranded as X saw the landscape of the social media platform transformed. As one of his first acts, he reversed a ban on Donald Trumps account. Channels in Trumps crosshairs In recent weeks Bluesky, an alternative social media platform, has been attracting liberal users from X. MSNBC along with a raft of other channels is already in Mr Trumps crosshairs, with the president-elect threatening to get the Federal Communications Commission to revoke their licences. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In recent months he also announced he was suing CBS for $10 billion, claiming its editing of an 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris amounted to election interference which the channel has denied. Last year he accused MSNBC of election interference, which he compared to a 24-hour hit job. The channel is one of at least 20 news organisations which Mr Trump has sued over its overestimating the losses made by his Truth Social network. Earlier this week, broadcasting behemoth Comcast announced plans to spin off a raft of its channels including MSNBC and CNBC. While hiving off the streaming companies would not need FCC approval, there would still be some regulatory hurdles for any company to take over the broadcasters. Broadcasting bombshell There are only two media entities that Donald Trump dislikes more than CNN. One is MSNBC and the other is NBC, Craig Moffett, a media veteran and founder of media analysts MoffettNathanson told CNN. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Trump has already said he will strengthen political control of the FCC. Mr Musk floating the idea of buying MSNBC was described as a bombshell on the broadcasting landscape by Thomas Whalen, associate professor of social sciences at Boston University. I think how Vladimir Putin and oligarchs have been buying the free media in Russia, he told The Telegraph. MSNBC is still a network which is providing real criticism of Trump and his policies. CNN is now playing both sides against the middle. Musks move seems like a hostile takeover and it bodes badly for the media moving forward. 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. Getty Images After being removed from a campaign rally for Vice President Kamala Harris in October, a former Democratic candidate for U.S. House is suing the venue, arguing he was removed on account of his religion, race or ethnicity. Ahmed Ghanim, who unsuccessfully sought the Democratic nomination for Michigans 11th Congressional District, attended a rally for Harris held at the Royal Oak Music Theatre on Oct. 21, after receiving a confirmed invitation. According to the suit, Ghanim was later approached by U.S. Secret Service agents and escorted to the back of the venue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a video of the incident, Ghanim asks why he is being removed from the venue, to which one of the agents responds Im not kicking you out. The venue is kicking you out. His suit notes that Ghanim is a Muslim, racially Egyptian, and ethnically Arab and was the only attendee to be removed from the event. According to a report from The Detroit News, the Harris Campaign later said it regrets this action and its impact on Dr. Ghanim and the community, and he is welcome at future events. While Ghanim has publicly called for a ceasefire in Israels war on Gaza and criticized Harris and President Joe Biden for their policies supporting Israel, he told the News They kicked me out without providing zero reasons provided to me. I didnt have anything. There is no provocation. I didnt even have any like a Palestinian kaffiyeh, any signs or a banner, nothing. None of that is allowed inside. In the suit filed with the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan Southern Division on Thursday, Ghanim argues he was subjected to intentional discrimination in violation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and denied public accommodation in violation of Michigans Elliot-Larsen Civil Rights Act. He has also requested damages for intentional infliction of emotional distress. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The theater will have 21 days to respond to the suit after being provided with a copy of the summons in a civil action, issued Friday. Court records do not currently identify an attorney for Royal Oak Music Theatre, and a request for comment left with the theater was not immediately returned. (The Hill) An international team of scientists finally identified a mystery chemical prevalent in U.S. drinking water, sparking concerns about potential public health risks. The compound, called chloronitramide anion, forms from the decomposition of inorganic chloramines disinfectants used to safeguard people from diseases like typhoid and cholera, the researchers said in a study, published Thursday in Science. NBC News reported that the chemical was first detected about 40 years ago, but with the help of advanced tools, scientists were recently able to identify it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the United States alone, more than 113 million people, or about a third of the countrys population, drink chloraminated water, or water that contains these disinfectants, according to the study authors. Over 83 tons of ground beef recalled nationwide, illnesses reported: USDA While the toxicity of chloronitramide anion is still unknown, the researchers expressed alarm about both its prevalence and its similarities to other problematic substances. Its presence is expected, quite honestly, in all chlorinated drinking waters to some extent, because of the chemistry, senior author David Wahman, an environmental engineer at the Environmental Protection Agency, said during a press call prior to the articles publication. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It has similarity to other toxic molecules, Wahman added. The authors therefore emphasized an urgent need for further research to evaluate whether the chemical poses a public health risk, stressing that merely identifying the compound was a challenge. Because this compounds so small, we couldnt really break it apart, said co-author Juliana Laszakovits, a postdoctoral researcher at ETH Zurich, in the press call. The fragments that formed werent able to be detected by the mass spectrometer. Whooping cough cases have quintupled. These states have it worst But by combining classic synthesis methods with advanced analytical techniques, including both high-resolution mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry, the scientists were ultimately able to isolate and identify chloronitramide anion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They measured the compounds concentration content in a range of chloraminated U.S. water systems, detecting levels as high as about 100 micrograms per liter surpassing most regulatory limits for other disinfection by-products, which hover between 60 and 80 micrograms per liter. The researchers also noticed that the compound was absent from water systems that use disinfectants other than chloramines. Lead author Julian Fairey, an associate professor of civil engineering at the University of Arkansas, stressed in a statement that even if the new compound is not toxic, there is much knowledge to gain from their study and future related research. Finding it can help us understand the pathways for how other compounds are formed, including toxins, Fairey added. If we know how something is formed, we can potentially control it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nexstars Ashleigh Jackson contributed to this story. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. MT. JULIET, Tenn. (WKRN) Mt. Juliet police once again credited Guardian Shield technology for assisting them in the apprehension of a wanted suspect on Thursday. Global Vision Bible Church preparing for final service under a tent before moving to Lebanon The Mt. Juliet Police Department said in a post to social media the Guardian Shield license plate reader program informed officers of the whereabouts on a wanted suspect. The suspect was reportedly wanted for fleeing a Mt. Juliet crash two days prior. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New hemp rule could leave industry in ashes, farmers, retailers say Officers were able to intercept the vehicle on Old Lebanon Dirt Road near Division Street, the post added. A 44-year-old Nashville man, who was not named in the post, was arrested on the warrant. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) Mayor Freddie OConnell has pledged resources that would make downtown Nashvilles riverfront area safer. The allocation in the capital spending plan comes after a 22-year-old tourist, Riley Strain, drowned in the Cumberland River earlier this year. Strains body was discovered in the Cumberland River during a two weeklong search. RELATED: Mayor Freddie OConnell submits $527 million infrastructure-heavy capital spending plan Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Months later, a New Jersey woman survived falling into the river in the same area. Theres an ongoing assessment of overall safety, OConnell said during a July press conference. Over the last several months, OConnell has spoken about whats being done to make downtown Nashvilles riverfront safer. Through his proposed capital spending plan, $1.5 million of the half billion-dollar initiative could go toward just that. A spokesperson for the mayors office said that money would be used for safety along the river and its bank. Those initiatives include fencing and other safety enhancements. In a Friday press release from the mayors office, nearly $15 million would go toward land acquisition to buy right of way between James Robertson Parkway and Jefferson Street for the East Bank boulevard. Another $6.6 million is slated for design work related to infrastructure needs, including new utilities and a transit hub. Over $12 million more would go toward street grid construction and infrastructure relocation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Metro Council Member Jacob Kupin told News 2 that, following Strains death, there have been more focus on safety enhancements near the Cumberland River. I think that theres more and more appetite for the river engagement, Kupin added. Ive had some people worried that were restricting access to the riverfront and that is not the case. These are taller cliffsides that people should not be accessing the river from that were trying to protect and make beautiful and make a great walkway. MNPD creates plan for traffic enforcement following Council pressure In addition to waterfront security, another $250,000 could also go toward a dock for emergency boat access. These are all possible changes that Kupin hoped would create a safer experience as downtown Nashville grows. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We know that the East Bank is going to be a draw for people and its going to bring people to our town, Kupin said. I think this investment speaks to the future of our riverfront. Follow this link to see more details on the East Bank Development, which is comprised of a 550-acre area adjacent to the Cumberland River. The capital spending plan will now go before Metro Council for consideration and final approval. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) A 16-year-old died after being thrown from an SUV during a single-vehicle crash in Nashvilles Priest Lake area Thursday night. The incident was reported at approximately 8:20 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 21 on Smith Springs Road near Butler Road. Family of woman killed in crash at Loretta Lynn Ranch files $160M wrongful death lawsuit The Metro Nashville Police Department said the preliminary investigation indicates Jamon Hurt, 16, was driving a 2008 Toyota Sequoia west on Smith Springs Road when the SUV ran off the road and overturned, ejecting him. The Nashville teen was brought to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where he died. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to authorities, there was no evidence of impairment being a factor in the wreck. The steel belt was reportedly showing on the drivers side rear tire, which was blown out, but officials will need to investigate further to determine whether that contributed to the crash. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com Police said Hurt was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the incident. No additional details have been released about Thursday nights deadly crash. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. North Dakota Rep. Lisa Finley-DeVille, D-Mandaree, speaks during a presentation about the proposed Maah Daah Hey National Monument at the North Dakota Heritage Center and State Museum on Nov. 22, 2024. (Mary Steurer/North Dakota Monitor) A group of North Dakota tribal citizens and conservation advocates are calling on President Joe Biden to make roughly 140,000 acres of undeveloped federal land in western North Dakota into a national monument. The proposed Maah Daah Hey National Monument would preserve land recognized as sacred by members of the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation and other Native cultures, advocates said during a Friday morning press conference at the North Dakota Heritage Center and State Museum. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maah Daah Hey means grandfather, long-lasting in the Mandan language. With its close proximity to President Theodore Roosevelt National Park, the area is popularly remembered for its ties to the former president and cowboy culture. The country should honor Native historical and cultural ties to the land as well, said Michael Barthelemy, director of Native Studies at Nueta, Hidatsa, Sahnish College in New Town. What were proposing, as part of this national monument, is a reorientation around that narrative, Barthelemy said. When you look at the national parks and you look at the state parks, oftentimes theres a singular perspective as Indigenous people, we kind of play background characters. The monument would include 11 different plots of land along the Maah Daah Hey Trail between the north and south units of Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Badlands Conservation Alliance Executive Director Shannon Straight likened the proposal to stringing together the pearls of the Badlands. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The tribal councils of the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation, the Spirit Lake Nation and the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe have passed resolutions supporting the creation of the monument. It is important that the Indigenous history of the North Dakota Badlands is formally recognized, state Rep. Lisa Finley-DeVille, D-Mandaree, said during the presentation. If created, the Maah Daah Hey National Monument would also allow Indigenous people to reconnect to our ancestral lands. The land is managed by the United States Forest Service. Turning the 11 plots into a national monument would protect them from future development, according to the groups proposal. The land is surrounded by oil and gas development, maps included in the proposal show. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maah Daah Hey map In addition to being an area of significant cultural heritage for Native tribes, its also home to sensitive ecosystems, unique geological features and fossil sites, the proposal indicates. Dakota Resource Council Executive Director Scott Skokos said Friday the group has visited Washington, D.C., twice so far to speak with President Bidens administration including the U.S. Forest Service, Department of the Interior, United States Department of Agriculture about the proposed monument. The reception has been pretty good, Skokos said. He said the group hopes to see action from Biden on the monument before he leaves office in January, but is also open to working with President-elect Donald Trumps administration on the project. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We believe this is a good idea, regardless of whos president, Skokos said. Advocates said the designation would not impact recreational access to the land, and that cattle grazing would still be permitted. In a statement to the North Dakota Monitor, U.S. Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., called the proposal premature at best. He said he was not convinced the proposal had sufficient local support from North Dakota residents and worried the project would lock away land as conservation. Any proposal should have extensive review as well as strong support from local communities and the stakeholders who actually use the land, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When asked for comment, the North Dakota governors office provided this statement from Gov. Doug Burgum: North Dakota is proof that we can protect our precious parks, cultural heritage and natural resources AND responsibly and sustainably develop our vast energy resources. To learn more about the proposal, visit protectmdh.com. The website also includes a petition. Presidents can designate federal land as national monuments under the Antiquities Act of 1906. The first land to receive this status was Devils Tower in Wyoming, which Roosevelt proclaimed a national monument that same year. Should Maah Daah Hey become a national monument, itd be the first of its kind in North Dakota. This story was updated with statements from Gov. Doug Burgum and U.S. Sen. Kevin Cramer. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX As more and more travelers prioritize local, authentic experiences, Native-owned tour outfitters are rising to meet the demand and share their cultures that have been sustained through generations of genocide and forced assimilation. For Native guides, tourism can be a means of reclaiming narratives that have long been shaped by external and antiquated beliefs about their cultures. According to the latest data from the American Indian and Alaska Native Tourism Association (AINTA), the three years between 2017 and 2020 saw a 230 percent increase in American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian-owned tourism firms, and they estimate those numbers are climbing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For travelers seeking to explore Indigenous cultures with experiences that support Native American communities, here are seven Native-led adventures in the U.S. to add to your bucket list. Nathan James, a Navajo trail guide for Totsonii Ranch, leads a horseback-riding tour of Canyon de Chelly National Monument in Eastern Arizona. Photograph by Kevin Moloney, The New York Times/Redux Explore a sprawling canyon in Navajo Nation, Arizona Canyon De Chelly is in the center of the Navajo Nation's sprawling reservation. In Chinle, Arizona, the 83,000-acre canyon is one of the longest continuously inhabited landscapes on the continent, with Dinecommonly known as Navajo peopleoccupying the area for 5,000 years. It is also the site where a pivotal moment in the tribe's history began. Known today as the Long Walk, between 1863 and 1866, the U.S. Army, in its relentless campaign of Indian removal and westward expansion, forced nearly 10,000 Dine to trek more than 300 miles from Canyon de Chelly to Fort Sumner in current-day New Mexico. Canyon De Chelly is still home to a handful of families and visitors can only enter when accompanied by a Dine guide. Lupita McClanahan, 69, a Dine elder as well as the owner and operator of Footpath Adventures, grew up on the vast canyon floor beneath its towering sandstone walls. Throughout the spring and fall, McClanahan leads groups on a four-day cultural immersion tour into the canyon. On an unforgettable backpacking adventure, visitors hike an ancient sandstone trail, explore Dine petroglyph, cliff dwellings, and caves, and participate in cultural activities like grinding corn, making shampoo from yucca, and coming together for traditional song and dance, all while McClanahan imparts generations of Dine stories. Kayaking in Pavlof Harbor is another way to explore Chichagof Island, Alaska, home to the densest brown bear population in the world. Photograph by Michael Melford, Nat Geo Image Collection On Chichagof Island, a grizzly bear walks in the Pavlov River while fishing for salmon near Fresh Water Bay. Photograph by Jonathan Kingston, Nat Geo Image Collection Track brown bears on Chichagof Island, Alaska Chichagof Island, an island in Alaska's Alexander Archipelago, is home to the densest brown bear population on Earth and features a landscape that embodies Alaska's majestic natural beauty: thick spruce forests, alpine ridges, snowcapped mountains, yawning rivers, and shimmering glaciers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement John and Marilyn Hillman, both Tglingit, launched Wilderness Island Tours in 2021 after cruise lines installed docks in their small town of Hoonah, which brought ships full of tourists to the island. Wilderness Island Tours is the region's only Indigenous-owned, land-based tour operator. Their tours take visitors on driving excursions through the island's stunning landscape to see its famous brown bear population and learn about the natural resourcesprotein-rich sockeye salmon and Sitka black-tailed deer, and medicinal herbs and plants like devils club and s'ikshaldeen, and sweet treats like bright red nagoonberriesthat have sustained its Alaska Native inhabitants for thousands of years. For the Hillmans, who have spent their whole lives on the island, witnessing the excitement of someone seeing a bear for the first time is one of the greatest joys of sharing the beauty of their homelands. "The best part is that when we come across a bear, people get so excited," Marilyn laughs. "I tell them how you have to be very quiet and have to learn to whisper otherwise they'll go back into the woods. Then we see the bear. They forget about being quiet, and they scream with excitement." In Idaho, the Nez Perce Tribe offers guided tours to explore Nimiipuu petroglyphs and visit historical areas where the tribes folklore originated. Visitors can also see cultural demonstrations and teepees, like the ones seen above, found on the reservation. Photograph by Jim and Jamie Dutcher, Nat Geo Image Collection Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Immerse yourself in Nimiipuu culture, Idaho Voted the best cultural heritage experience by AINTA in 2021, the Nez Perce Tribewho call themselves Nimiipuuoffers multi-day cultural immersion tours to visitors of their reservation in northern Idaho. The jam-packed experience includes exploring hundreds of Nimiipuu petroglyphs along the banks of the powerful Snake River in Hells Canyon, a guided tour of the Nez Perce National Historical Park that features 38 historical areas and story sites where pieces of Nez Perce lore originated, and cultural demonstrations of singing, dancing, drumming, and storytelling. The tribe offers single-day experiences, including Appaloosa horseback riding sessions, class III white water rafting on the Salmon River, and jet boat tours. See wild mustangs on a 1,400-acre sanctuary, Wyoming On the Wind River Reservation in central Wyoming, home to the Eastern Shoshone and the Northern Arapaho tribes, the Oldham family cares for more than 250 wild mustangs on the Wind River Wild Horse Sanctuary. Contracted by the Bureau of Land Management as a public off-range pastureone of four around the U.S. and the only one on a reservationthe Oldhams welcome visitors to the 1,400-acre sanctuary for guided tours to see the wild horses up close and learn about their significance to different Native American cultures, such the Dine, Lakota, Shoshone and Arapaho. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jess Oldham, Dine, says the majesty of the wild horses leaves visitors in awe. "You can feel their power. When they start running, they just sound like a thunderstorm. It makes your heart feel," Oldham explains. Dine-owned tour company, Ancient Wayves River and Hiking Adventures can arrange day-long and multi-day hikes that include jaw-dropping views of the areas natural wonders in Utah such as the Valley of the Gods in Bears Ears National Monument. Photograph by Andy Mann, Nat Geo Image Collection Hike trails to see 100,000 archeological sites, Utah When Dine citizen and owner of Ancient Wayves River and Hiking Adventures, Louis Williams, takes visitors onto the San Juan River, it's not long before they are pulling off onto its sandy bank so he can give them a glimpse of an ancient world. "We go a half mile, even less, we're pulling off because we're going to a petroglyph panel, or maybe a site where the Clovis people [an ancient people dating back to 10,000 B.C.] were hunting," Williams says. "There's a lot of history out here." Located in Southeast Utah on the Navajo Nation Reservation near Bears Ears National Monument, Ancient Wayves River and Hiking Adventures offers day-long and multi-day hikes as well as river tours led by citizens of the Native American tribes for whom it is sacredlike the Dine, Zuni, and Hopi. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The national monument encompasses 1.3 million acres in San Juan County, Utah. The area's vibrant red mesas, deep canyons, plateaus, peaks, and valleys hold thousands of years of history and culture for the area's tribes, many of whom still use the lands for ceremonies and cultural practices. It's estimated that there are 100,000 archeological sites in the area, including petroglyphs and the remnants of ancient people (housing structures, tools, pottery, and more) that occupied the area as early as 11,000 B.C. Bears Ears National Monument is home to an estimated 100,000 archeological sites, including the Big Man Panel (petroglyphs) found in Grand Gulch, Utah. Photograph by Aaron Huey, Nat Geo Image Collection Learn to make traditional stone pipes, Minnesota Plains tribes have been quarrying catlinite (a type of argillite) from Pipestone National Monument for thousands of years to handmake pipes widely used in traditional ceremonies. In the southwest corner of Minnesota, Keepers of the Sacred Tradition of Pipemakers, a Native American non-profit organization, keeps the art and tradition of pipestone-making alive. Led by Bud Johnson, an enrolled member of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, groups offer multi-day experiences curated around the cultural foundations of the area's 23 affiliated tribes, including storytelling, dances, and ceremonies, a guided tour of Pipestone National Monument, and an overnight stay in a primitive traditional dwelling. Throughout the experience, expert pipe carvers lead participants in carving their pipes from deep red, soft catlinite pulled from one of the 56 quarries in the national monument. Embark on an adventure to explore Wabanaki culture, Maine Led by Mahoosuc Guide Service in collaboration with guides from Penobscot Nation, The Way of the Wabanaki takes visitors on a four-day adventure into the cultures of Maine's first people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The trip starts with a seven-mile canoe down the Penobscot River to Sugar Island, home to a Wabanaki culture camp holding ceremonies, gatherings, sweat lodges, trails, and powwow grounds. For the next two days, Penobscot tribal members, cultural keepers, and guides lead groups in basket weaving, birch bark canoe building, medicinal plant identification, flint knapping, and shelter making and exploring the island's trails. Elyse Wild is an award-winning journalist covering Native American communities, the publisher of Vulgar Advice, and co-creator of the Missed Connections podcast. Matika Wilbur photographed members of every federally recognized Native American tribe. She named the series Project 562 for the number of recognized tribes at the time. She published a book of her photos titled "Project 562: Changing the Way We See Native America." Photographer Matika Wilbur was on assignment in South America when her grandmother appeared to her in a dream and told her to go capture her own people. Wilbur, who is Native American, listened. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She embarked on a yearslong project photographing members of every federally recognized Native tribe in North America. In 2023, she published her collection of photos in a book titled "Project 562: Changing the Way We See Native America." Wilbur spoke with Business Insider about her project, her photos, and the importance of agency in Native American representation. Take a look at Wilbur's powerful portraits. Matika Wilbur. Matika Wilbur She drove hundreds of thousands of miles and photographed members of different Native American tribes for Project 562. The Walkers on their "Journey for Existence." Matika Wilbur When Wilbur began her project in 2012, there were 562 federally recognized Native American tribes. Now, there are 574. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The project has grown from a photo series to a documentary project to a full-blown archive of Native people, their communities, and their stories. Chief Bill James, Lummi Nation. Matika Wilbur "We're always redrafting the language to describe this project," Wilbur told Business Insider. Wilbur photographed her subjects on black-and-white film using a method called the Zone System. Bahazhoni Tso, Navajo Nation. Matika Wilbur Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Zone System creates more dynamic range in the images. She's drawn to peer portraiture with simple landscape backdrops. Dr. Mary Evelyn Belgarde, Pueblo of Isleta and Ohkay Owingeh. Matika Wilbur "I figured that that was sort of irresponsible when I started this project, to travel all over the country and not show the landscape," Wilbur said. She let her subjects choose where and how they'd like to be photographed, giving them agency over how they'd be represented. Leon Grant, Omaha. Matika Wilbur "Sometimes I'll be in the Grand Canyon and I'd rather take somebody's picture at Havasupai Falls because it's magnificent and there's this incredible blue-green water coming out of the ground ... and they want to be photographed on their front porch because they love where they live," she said. "I'll do what they want to do because people should be represented in a way that is important to them, especially in Indian Country." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We've been photographed so many times by non-Indians and we've had our stories told so many times by people outside our community, and they get the story wrong," Wilbur said. Darkfeather, Bibiana, and Eckos Ancheta from the Tulalip tribe. Matika Wilbur In the above portrait, Wilbur photographed three members of the Tulalip tribe: Darkfeather, Bibiana, and Eckos Ancheta. "We aim to correct that narrative through honest individual agency and storytelling," she said. Jaclyn Roessel, Dine' (Navajo Nation). Matika Wilbur Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dine' (Navajo Nation) member Jaclyn Roessel posed for one of Wilbur's portraits. Wilbur asked people questions about themselves and their lives as she took their pictures. Jennie Parker and granddaughter Sharlyce, Northern Cheyenne. Matika Wilbur Their conversations touched on family, love, heartbreak, moments that shaped them, and their hopes for the future. She also asked about their Native American identities. Rupert Steele, Goshute. Matika Wilbur "I find that people have really interesting things to say when you ask them what it means to be whatever their tribe is, and then when you ask them what it means to be an 'Indian,'" she said. "I'm fascinated by that." Sometimes her subjects wore traditional Native clothing, while others wore everyday outfits. Ailee Fregoso, Cheyenne River Sioux. Matika Wilbur Ailee Fregoso of the Cheyenne River Sioux tribe showed off her colorful fringed shawl. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wilbur published her work in a book called "Project 562: Changing the Way We See Native America." Rosebud Quintana, Northern Ute and Dine. Matika Wilbur Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The book, published in 2023, became a New York Times bestseller. What began as a photo series has become an archive rich with history, culture, language, and resilience. Kumu Ka'eo Izon, Kanaka Maoli. Matika Wilbur Wilbur also cohosts the podcast All My Relations, in which she and Adrienne Keene a professor who is also Native American discuss their relationships to land, ancestors, and other Native peoples. Wilbur values the connections she's made throughout the creative process. Myra Masiel Zamora, Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians. Matika Wilbur "I didn't know that strangers can become family relatively quickly," she said. "It's such a whirlwind of a journey." Editor's note: This story was originally published in 2016. It was updated in 2022 and 2024. Read the original article on Business Insider PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) At its peak, more than 40,000 people called Vanport home during the World War II era. Vanport students, including Eva Red Birds grandma, in a school yearbook before the May 1948 flood (Eva Red Bird) The public-housing community wedged up against the Columbia River was unofficially Oregons second biggest city, with much of the minority population working in local shipyards as part of the war effort. The stories of the vast community where a park and raceway now stand are well known in Oregon history, but the contributions of the Native Americans remain a largely untold chapter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My great-grandparents moved here to Portland during World War II to work in the Kaiser shipyards. They lived here in Vanport, said Eva Red Bird. Her grandparents grew up enjoying everything the pop-up city had to offer. They went roller skating, [and] went to the movie theatre. They rode bikes, played marbles, Red Bird said. Evas grandmother would speak of her childhood often, and perhaps nothing left more of an impression than the massive flood of May 1948 when a swollen Columbia River came roaring over its banks. An undated photo of kids playing in Vanport before the 1948 flood (Vanport Placemarking Project & OR Historical Society) She described them as Cracker Jack boxes. She describes watching homes and roofs just being ripped apart during the flood, she told KOIN 6 News. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many residents, especially African Americans and Native Americans, received little to no notice a flood was imminent. Historian David Hedberg said the devastation was overwhelming. Photo in the immediate aftermath of the Vanport flood, May 1948 (Vanport Placemarking Project & OR Hist Society) Photo in the immediate aftermath of the Vanport flood, May 1948 (Vanport Placemaking Project & OR Hist Society) Photo in the immediate aftermath of the Vanport flood, May 1948 (Vanport Placemarking Project & OR Hist Society) They lost everything. If they were lucky, they got a suitcase out of the house, said Hedberg. Right now, hes working to gather an oral, multi-perspective collection of Native American stories and accounts as part of a new effort by the Vanport Placemarking Project. Theres so much history here. One of the most successful daycares in the country. This had its own school systems, movie theatres, Hedberg said. It really was its own town. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Preserving the history some 76 years after the flood is critical, according to Christina Felix, one of the Vanport projects board members. The years go by and they dont listen to their elders, or record their stories, and its very, very important because that history will be gone, said Felix. Last year, Felix and Hedberg recorded audio sessions with Frank Blair, who also grew up in Vanport I was 13 when the flood came. But I was 12, 11, I was old enough to get into trouble, Blair told them. It [the school] was like the United Nations. There was Chinese, there was Japanese, there was German. We were all thrown in there together. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Felix said eventually they hope the research becomes a part of Portlands city archives. Its all part of an effort to solidify the Native American experience at what was a bustling melting pot of cultures in the Pacific Northwest. Often times, our stories are forgotten or told last. But there definitely was a large Native population here, and I wouldnt be here if that population wasnt here, said Red Bird. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte is convening a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council next week, a spokesman said on Friday, after Russia deployed a new missile in Ukraine in what was widely seen as a dangerous new escalation. Moscow's use of the experimental intermediate-range ballistic missile in a strike on the major Ukrainian city of Dnipro will be the focus of Tuesday's meeting, the NATO spokesman said. Russian President Vladimir Putin said six non-nuclear warheads hit the industrial city of Dnipro in eastern Ukraine on Thursday morning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Putin threatened to use the new weapon, called Oreshnik, in more attacks. In a video address, he said the missile travels at hypersonic speed and cannot be intercepted. The Russian president said the use of the weapon was in response to the recent decision by the US and other Western allies to allow Ukraine to use long-range weapons to hit Russian territory. "This escalation, provoked by the West, has led to the regional conflict in Ukraine taking on global dimensions," he said. NATO's consultations in Brussels are being organized following a request from Kiev and are to take place at ambassador level. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The NATO-Ukraine Council met for the first time last year at a summit in Lithuania. The new body was created for exchanges in crisis situations and seeks to enable closer cooperation until the conditions for Ukraine's admission to NATO are met. These include an end to Russia's full-scale invasion as well as domestic reforms in Ukraine. The NATO-Ukraine Council will meet next Tuesday in connection with Russia's first use of an experimental ballistic missile on Ukrainian territory. Source: French news agency AFP, citing officials familiar with the matter, as reported by European Pravda Details: A meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council is being convened on 26 November in Brussels at Ukraine's initiative to discuss Russia's use of a medium-range ballistic missile in an attack on the city of Dnipro. Kremlin ruler Vladimir Putin presented the Oreshnik missile as an experimental weapon derived from the older RS-26 Rubezh intercontinental ballistic missile, which has the potential to carry a nuclear warhead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Background: Ukraine's Air Force reported that Russia had used an intercontinental ballistic missile during the attack on Dnipro on the morning of 21 November. Ukrainska Pravda sources suggested that the weapon in question could have been a Rubezh missile, which is capable of carrying a nuclear warhead. Subsequently, Russian leader Vladimir Putin stated that a medium-range Oreshnik missile had been used in Ukraine. The United States confirmed that it had received a warning from Russia about the planned launch half an hour before the very launch took place. Support UP or become our patron! On Wednesday state Senate Republicans completed the override of Gov. Roy Coopers veto of House Bill 10. The new laws main effect will be a massive increase in funding for private school vouchers. But it also includes a requirement that sheriffs assist U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) by detaining arrested individuals who are suspected of being in the country illegally. ICE could then take custody of those individuals for deportation. The law applies only to those accused of serious crimes, which may dampen concerns that 287g could result in a traffic stop leading to deportation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But this tightening of the dragnet for unauthorized immigrants in North Carolina comes as President-elect Donald Trump is apparently preparing to carry out his pledge to deport millions of illegals nationwide. Advocates for immigrants say the states Republican lawmakers have added to fears that have grown since Trumps election. The Houses vote to override the governors veto of HB10 is not about public safety or education, said Iliana Santillan, executive director of the North Carolina Latino advocacy group El Pueblo. If it were, these legislators would be strengthening our public schools, supporting our teachers and building bridges with our immigrant communities not tearing them apart. Forcing sheriffs to cooperate with ICE has the surface appeal of removing potentially dangerous immigrants, but it creates legal issues of its own. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sheriffs in several of the states urban counties have balked at using local law enforcement to do ICEs work. They say its unconstitutional to hold people who are otherwise eligible for release. But they also worry that turning their departments into an arm of ICE will alienate immigrant communities and discourage the reporting of crimes and assistance in prosecuting criminals. Wake County Sheriff Willie Rowe, who opposed the requirement, said, I remain concerned that this bill, and any misunderstanding of it, may make our immigrant community hesitant to call for law enforcement assistance, thus increasing the likelihood that they may be subjected to victimization. State Rep. Destin Hall, a Caldwell County Republican and the newly elected House speaker, is a backer of the ICE cooperation requirement. He says its about protecting the public from people who have committed serious crimes, but deportation can also be about punishing the innocent. Children lose parents, the elderly lose providers and employers lose workers. In an interview with the News & Observer, Hall said that the sheriffs who do not want to be seen as an extension of ICE are essentially putting partisan politics ahead of public safety. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But sheriffs in areas with a large immigrant population are not concerned about appeasing immigrants. They are concerned with preventing and solving crimes. Forcing sheriffs to cooperate with ICE ahead of Trumps plans for massive deportations intensifies the wariness immigrants now feel about any interaction with the government, Santillan said. Undocumented immigrants and those related to them, she said, will be less likely to report crimes, seek medical help or enroll their children in school. People are not going to want to engage with any government office because of the fear, she said. There are an estimated 11 million people in the nation without authorization. More than 300,000 of them are in North Carolina. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a practical matter, its not possible to deport all those people. It would involve tremendous costs to the government, to the economy and to the nations history of welcoming immigrants. Those who commit crimes whether citizens or not should be prosecuted with due process. But intimidating whole communities by making undocumented immigrants who are arrested disappear from the U.S. creates more problems than it solves. Republican lawmakers should have allowed those in local law enforcement the flexibility to use their own judgment about how best to protect the public. Associate opinion editor Ned Barnett can be reached at 919-404-7583, or nbarnett@newsobserver.com NC State Board of Elections executive director Karen Brinson Bell and Senate President Phil Berger. (File photos) The states top election official wrote Senate leader Phil Berger with an urgent plea to retract his statement casting doubt on election results. The legislature passed a bill this week that, along with several provisions removing powers from offices that will be filled by Democrats in 2025, drastically limits the time counties would have to count ballots. Counties usually certify vote totals 10 days after an election. A few counties took longer this year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the Senate session this week, Berger, a Republican, told reporters, were seeing played out at this point another episode of Count Until Somebody You Want to Win Wins, The Associated Press reported. Counts of absentee and provisional votes put incumbent Democratic Supreme Court Justice Allison Riggs ahead of Republican Appeals Court Judge Jefferson Griffin in the Supreme Court race. She had been trailing by about 10,000 votes on election night. Griffin asked for a recount, which is ongoing. Hes also challenging more than 60,000 ballots. In her letter Thursday, state Elections Director Karen Brinson Bell told Berger his words contributed to the false idea that elections cant be trusted and may put local election workers in danger. WUNC first reported on Brinson Bells letter. You are a top leader of our state government, she wrote. What you say matters. When you tell your fellow citizens that an election is being conducted fraudulently, they listen. I fear for the people running elections in this state, including in your own community, that some misguided people will conclude from your statements that actions must be taken, perhaps through the use of threats or violence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is not an idle worry. We watched this play out in the wake of the 2020 elections, in state after state, after other political leaders made similar baseless accusations of wrongdoing. It led to the exodus of seasoned workers from the elections profession. And it led to untold amounts of emotional distress experienced by hardworking, salt-of-the-earth public servants. Election workers, including in this state, will bear those scars. And the fallout continues, with citizens still being told regularly by political leaders, social media personalities, and foreign malign actors that elections are not to be trusted. Your comments, I fear, only contribute to this unacceptable reality in a very significant way, due to your position of authority. I ask you, What sort of free society do we have when the people running elections fear for their lives? Bergers office did not respond to an email Friday morning requesting comment on Brinson Bells letter. Senate Democratic Leader Dan Blue issued a statement Thursday calling Bergers comments dishonest and hypocritical. Senator Bergers comments are not about election integrity theyre about revenge, Blues statement said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When Republicans lose, they follow the same old playbook where they cry foul in a disturbing pattern of behavior that erodes public confidence in our elections and insults the intelligence of North Carolinas voters. The State Board of Elections has made it clear that the processes in place ensure transparency and fairness in our elections. I urge Senator Berger to retract his comments immediately, as requested by the State Board, and to focus on building trust in our electoral system instead of tearing it down. McCrory decries bill that grabs powers and further alters election laws Former North Carolina Republican Governor Pat McCrory (File Photo) Former Gov. Pat McCrory, now state chairman of a group called RightCount, condemned passage of the power shift bill, which was fast-tracked through the legislature. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McCrory, a Republican, criticized the bill for taking power to appoint the Board of Elections away from the governor, even though he signed a law in 2016 that would have weakened that power for future governors. The bill passed this week was presented as one for hurricane relief, but included provision after provision stripping newly elected Democrats of their powers and responsibilities. In addition to shortening times for counting votes, the bill gives new Republican State Auditor David Boliek the power to appoint the Board of Elections and gives the Board a 3-2 Republican majority. Under current law, the governor appoints Board members, choosing from lists forwarded by the state Democratic and Republican parties. The governors party has a 3-2 majority on the board. Democratic Gov.-Elect Josh Stein would appoint members, and the Board chairman would be a Democrat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement North Carolinians, including me, elected the state auditor to investigate waste, fraud, and abuse in state government not appoint the Board of Elections, McCrory said in a statement. The North Carolina Constitution assigns appointment powers of this nature to the governor, not the state auditor. Both political parties should stop playing games with the administration of elections, which shakes the confidence of voters in our voting system, McCrorys statement said. Republicans have been trying to strip the governors power to appoint Board members and change the partisan makeup of the Board for years. In 2016, McCrory joined in those efforts. After his defeat in 2016 and days before he left office, McCrory signed a law stripping governors of their power to appoint a majority of board members and expanding Board membership from five to eight. The law gave the governor four appointments and Republican legislators four appointments. Gov. Roy Cooper sued over the law and won. Belgian authorities said on Friday they had seized almost five tons of cocaine stashed in shipping containers at Antwerp port, as part of a cross-border investigation into a drug-trafficking ring. Prosecutors said eight people were detained following searches carried out in Belgium and the Netherlands earlier this month. The inspections led to the seizure of $193,000 in cash as well as weapons, jewelry, luxury handbags, watches and 4.78 tons of cocaine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The probe focused on a criminal organization involved in trafficking cocaine to Belgium from South America, Central America and Canada, the prosecutor's office said in a statement. The group allegedly facilitated the clearing of suspicious containers in the port of Antwerp and, in return for payment, provided logistical assistance to other organisations, it said. Antwerp's port is one of the major gateways for drugs smuggled from South America to the European market, and busts in and around the vast facility occur frequently. Cocaine seizures there hit a record 116 tons last year. Last month, a Belgian court jailed dozens of people in the country's biggest ever drug trial, with the ringleaders sentenced to up to 17 years behind bars. A policeman stands guard before the court's verdict in the country's biggest ever drug trafficking trial at Brussels correctional court, at Justitia, in Brussels, on October 29, 2024. / Credit: ERIC LALMAND/Belga/AFP via Getty Images Earlier this year, police announced the takedown of a major network transporting Latin American cocaine into Europe by boat in an international operation involving 50 arrests across eight countries. Around that same time, authorities in Paraguay announced the largest cocaine seizure in the country's history, after officials were surprised to find more than 4 tons of the drug stashed inside a shipment of sugar bound for Belgium. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe talk women's sports movement and their podcast Gaetz on not returning to Congress after dropping out of Trump attorney general consideration Trump "hush money" case sentencing delayed for third time since guilty verdict Russia's ground forces participating in combat against Ukraine amount to almost 580,000 soldiers, Vadym Skibitskyi, the deputy head of Ukraine's military intelligence agency (HUR), told Interfax Ukraine on Nov. 21. Russia has been looking to increase the number of personnel to fight its war against Ukraine. The Russian government's recently exempted defendants from criminal liability if they join the Russian army and introduced additional financial rewards for contract service to shore up more manpower. Skibitskyi clarified that the number of Russian troops includes those serving in Russia's Kursk Oblast as they fight off Ukraine's incursion into the area, Interfax Ukraine reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement About 60,000 Russian military personnel are currently serving in Kursk, Suspilne reported previously, citing its undisclosed source in the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces. Skibitskyi added that a grouping of almost 35,000 Russian Guard troops, also known as Rosgvardia, was also deployed to the Russian-occupied territories in Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin said in June that nearly 700,000 Russian troops were fighting in Ukraine. In October, Russian casualties amounted to 600,000 since the start of the full-scale invasion, according to Pentagon estimates. The figure came at a particularly deadly stage of the war for Russian troops. According to reports from the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces, September was the second-most lethal month for Russian soldiers since February 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As casualties climb, Russian forces continue to press on in eastern Ukraine, focusing on the cities of Pokrovsk and Toretsk in Donetsk Oblast. Outnumbered and outgunned, Ukrainian soldiers are slowly losing ground under Russian pressure. Read also: For 2nd day straight, Russias reported losses in Ukraine surge to record levels Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Ukrainian intelligence has revealed that the ground component of Russian forces involved in combat against Ukraine, including troops stationed in Russias Kursk Oblast, numbers nearly 580,000 personnel. Source: Major General Vadym Skibitskyi, Deputy Head of Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, in a comment to Interfax-Ukraine Quote: "Nearly 580,000 is the ground component directly engaged in combat." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: He clarified that this figure includes Russian military personnel stationed in Kursk Oblast. Additionally, Skibitskyi noted that the Russian National Guard (Rosgvardiya) has deployed nearly 35,000 troops in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. Background: In June, Russian leader Vladimir Putin claimed that nearly 700,000 Russian servicemen were fighting in Ukraine. In December 2023, he stated that 617,000 soldiers had been involved in the war. At that time, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) highlighted Putin's remarks indicating that Russian forces lose approximately 20,000 personnel monthly in Ukraine. This number roughly matches or is slightly lower than the number of new soldiers Russia generates each month. Support UP or become our patron! Nov. 21The University of Texas Permian Basin is proud to announce that faculty members Dr. Rebecca Babcock, the Principal Investigator (PI), and Marlon Fick, the Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI), have been awarded a prestigious National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) grant under the Dialogues on the Experience of War program. This grant supports critical discussions exploring the human experiences of war and military service through the lens of the humanities. Additionally, UTPB faculty members Clark Moreland and Maria Avalos will serve as discussion leaders for the project, facilitating meaningful conversations that promote understanding and connection. The grant will support the two-year project titled "Mending Mental Gaps: Negotiating Combat Trauma via Visual/Textual Humanities," which will grant veterans, active military, and the West Texas community the opportunity to engage in war-themed literature through organized discussion groups and, eventually, communitywide panel events. The goal of the grant is to provide a setting and context for veterans to connect, build relationships, and share their experiences. The program aims to promote dialogue and reflection for veterans to develop a voice, while negotiating unseen wounds and addressing civilians understanding on how to support troops, a news release said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The first group discussion will take place at 11 a.m. Friday, November 22, at the Heimmermann Center, UTPB Campus (2nd Floor, Mesa Building), featuring guest speaker Major (S) Thomas A. Denninghoff from the Virginia Military Institute. Local veterans and community members interested in becoming discussion leaders are encouraged to attend and participate in this meaningful conversation. "Despite the numerous Department of Defense (DoD) sponsored programs addressing suicide prevention and efforts to encourage mental health counseling, veteran suicide rates have consistently risen over the past two decades. Addressing this problem at the community level gives veterans the chance to see that they are not alone in their fight," Denninghoff said in the release. Discussion themes will include honor, camaraderie, displacement, mental gaps during trauma, and the second shock of homecoming. The project will focus largely on the Vietnam War and those in Iraq and Afghanistan. With support from Student Veteran Services, Babcock and Fick are looking to recruit student veterans and veterans in the community to participate. "Consisting of less than 1% of the general American populace, Veterans have unique perspectives on life and lessons that we can all learn from. We lose those perspectives and lessons if our communities can't connect with their veterans and show them that they belong and that their experiences are valid and meaningful," said Major Denninghoff. Groups will be led by trained discussion leaders who will have the resources and skillsets to assist service members, veterans, and their family members interested in discussing, or even writing, about their military experiences. (Bloomberg) -- Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu severely criticized the International Criminal Court for issuing arrest warrants against him and a former minister, and said his government wont be deterred from continuing its war against Hamas in Gaza. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Hague-based courts announcement on Thursday was anti-Semitic and Israel will keep defending its citizens, Netanyahu said in his first direct comments on the warrant. Israel will not recognize the validity of this decision, he said. No war is more just than the war that Israel has been waging in Gaza after Hamas attacked us unprovoked, launching the worst massacre against the Jewish people since the Holocaust. The ICC also issued warrants for Israels ex-Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Hamas commander Mohammed Deif. Israel said the latter was killed in Gaza months ago, though Hamas, an Iran-backed militant group designated a terrorist organization by the US and others, never confirmed his death. While Netanyahu is unlikely to ever stand trial at the ICC, he will have to be careful where he travels. Most of Israels major allies including the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Japan are ICC signatories and, in theory, should arrest him if he visits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, Hungary became the first ICC signatory to say it would disregard the ICCs move. Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a close ally of Netanyahu, on Friday said hell invite the Israeli leader to Budapest and guarantee he wont be detained. Israels main backer, the US, is not a signatory and condemned the ICC. The ICC issuance of arrest warrants against Israeli leaders is outrageous, President Joe Biden said. There is no equivalence none between Israel and Hamas. We will always stand with Israel against threats to its security. Israel wants Biden to impose sanctions that would ban ICC personnel from the US, among other steps, according to an Israeli official who asked not to be identified. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If he doesnt, Israel hopes President-elect Donald Trump will. Other ideas include sanctioning countries that accede to the ICCs arrest warrants, the official said. Michael Waltz, who Trump has chosen as his national security adviser, said the court has no credibility. You can expect a strong response to the anti-Semitic bias of the ICC in January, when Trump enters office, Waltz said. Israel went to war with Hamas after the militant group raided the south of the country on Oct. 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 people and taking 250 hostage. Around 44,000 people have been killed in Israels subsequent offensive in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health authority in the Palestinian territory, which doesnt distinguish between combatants and civilians. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ICC warrants are for crimes against humanity and war crimes, the court said. Those include starvation as a method of warfare as well as murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts. Much of Gaza has been turned to rubble and the conflict has triggered anti-Israel protests in the US, Europe and Arab world. Talks Stalled Truce talks between Israel and Hamas, mainly mediated by the US, Qatar and Egypt, have been stalled for months. While Israel has destroyed much of Hamas infrastructure and killed perhaps half its roughly 35,000 fighters, theres still heavy fighting in the north of Gaza. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The US previously said the ICC would jeopardize the cease-fire talks if it issued arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant. The United Nations says theres a humanitarian crisis in much of Gaza and that aid organizations are struggling to provide enough assistance. The US and other countries have urged Israel to allow in more food, medicine and fuel. Israel has said its doing all it can to get aid into Gaza and that many of the trucks that cross into the Palestinian territory are looted by Hamas and other groups. Aid organizations blame Israel for the breakdown of law and order. The Israeli government has repeatedly denied the allegations of the ICCs chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, who sought the warrants from the courts judges in May. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Israeli military adds that it complies with international law and takes plenty of action to try to ensure civilians arent harmed by its air strikes and ground operations. Israels conflict against Hamas has spread to Lebanon, where the Israeli military is fighting Hezbollah, another Iran-backed group designated a terrorist organization by the US. Truce talks for that war have progressed this week, with Amos Hochstein, one of Bidens Middle East envoys, traveling to Lebanon and Israel to meet officials. He said hes managed to bridge some of the gaps between the sides, but its still unclear if he can clinch a deal. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 2024 Bloomberg L.P. (Summer freeway photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) After a surge of heat-related workplace injuries in Nevada, state regulators approved a permanent heat stress standard Wednesday to protect the safety and health of indoor and outdoor workers. Regulators said the new heat standard now four years in the making was spurred by a dramatic increase in heat-related complaints and workplace injuries reported to the Nevada Occupational Health and Safety Administration starting in 2021. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That year, Nevada OSHA received 344 heat-related complaints from workers throughout the state, a significant increase from an average of about 118 heat-related complaints from 2015 to 2020. As temperatures increase in Nevadas cities, the number of workers exposed to dangerous temperatures shows no signs of abating without specific heat illness regulations in the state, said regulators. In 2024, Nevada OSHA received 467 complaints, the largest number of complaints in the agencys history. Approval of this regulation is a critical step to reduce the health risks of heat exposure for Nevada workers in indoor and outdoor settings. This regulation is the culmination of four years of discussion and engagement with various stakeholders to develop a framework that works for Nevadas workers and employers, said Division of Industrial Relations Administrator Victoria Carreon, in a statement. Businesses with more than 10 employees will be required to perform a one-time job hazard analysis of working conditions that could expose workers to heat illness for more than 30 minutes within a one hour time period under the new regulations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If working conditions exposing employees to heat-illness are identified, employers will be required to create a written plan that provides workers with portable water, and a rest break when a worker exhibits signs or symptoms of heat illness. The standard also requires employers to provide workers a way to cool down in their written plan, in addition to training workers and supervisors on the risk factors for heat illness, how to avoid it, procedures for complying with the standard, and emergency procedures if an employee becomes ill. Employers will also be required to make a good faith effort to repair defective air conditioning units for indoor workers as soon as practical. Heat illness results from the bodys inability to cope with heat and cool itself and can cause heat cramps, heat exhaustion, fainting, and even a potentially fatal heat stroke. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Construction workers, car dealers, bakers, tire shop employees, delivery workers, trash collectors, and workers in dozens of other industries are at high risk of heat-related hazards in the state, according to the Nevada Department of Business and Industry. Various industries pushed back on the regulation during the rule-making process. Several small businesses in Nevada filed comments with regulators opposing the proposed Nevada OSHA heat illness regulations, arguing they would adversely impact businesses. American AVK Company, a manufacturing plant in Minden, told regulators in August that the proposed regulation would increase costs of employee training, maintenance, and energy costs. Civil Werx, a general contractor in Las Vegas, also told regulators the company was concerned employees could take advantage of the new regulation and incur fines from OSHA despite best efforts to comply. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nevada regulators acknowledged the new heat illness regulation may have a small direct adverse effect on small businesses, but said the new rule would also directly benefit small businesses by reducing employee injuries and lost time from occupational exposure to heat illness. Other business groups, including the Vegas Chamber, told regulators that multiple industries would be able to comply with the regulation without it being overly burdensome. There are no federal standards to protect workers from heat-related hazards, leaving states to set their own. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has been developing a federal heat rule that would protect both indoor and outdoor workers, but the process could stall as the new Trump administration takes office next year. Developing a Nevada-specific heat illness standard has been an ongoing effort for regulators. Nevada will now join five other states that have created their own regulations that protect workers from heat-related hazards. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before the new regulation was approved, state regulators in Nevada had the option to go after employers under a general duty clause rule, which requires workplaces to be free from recognized hazards, but the clause does not provide clear instructions for heat-related hazards or mandates for employee training. Other attempts to create a heat illness standard for Nevada employers have been unsuccessful. The Legislative Commission rejected an earlier version of the regulation in 2022, and lawmakers failed to advance a bill in the Nevada Assembly last year that would have protected workers from extreme heat by requiring employers to provide workers with water, breaks, and shade during excessive heat days. The fumbles delayed the implementation of heat illness regulation, allowing hundreds of incidents of dangerous heat at job sites that were reported to Nevada OSHA this year. In the coming weeks, the Division will post additional guidance for employers on their website (dir.nv.gov). Enforcement of the regulation will begin 90 days from the publication of the guidance. A rendering of an activity space offers a glimpse into the modern environment planned for young patients at Newport Hospitals new adolescent behavioral health unit. The facility will also include therapy rooms and an enclosed outdoor section. (Courtesy of Newport Hospital) This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, please call or text the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988. The construction of a new eight bed, adolescent behavioral health unit at Newport Hospital is starting sooner than expected thanks to $5 million in donations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The hospital, which is part of the recently rebranded Brown University Health, announced this week that its broken ground on the unit and estimates the project will take around a year to complete. The eight beds will be reserved for stabilizing adolescents ages 12 to 18 who are experiencing behavioral health challenges. The collaborative effort with East Providences Bradley Hospital expects to serve approximately 240 young people annually. Dr. Jeffrey Gaines, Newport Hospitals chief medical officer, said in a phone interview Wednesday that the new unit will help serve local youth who live in Aquidneck Islands towns Portsmouth, Middletown and Newport as well as the neighboring communities of Jamestown, Tiverton, Little Compton and possibly even parts of southeastern Massachusetts like Fall River. If you have a kid in crisis in Jamestown right now, they would have to go all the way up to East Providence to be treated at Bradley, Gaines said. Bradley is the oldest and first youth psychiatric hospital in the U.S., but its location can put distance between families whose children need intensive mental health care but dont live in the area, Gaines explained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Imagine if youre a parent and you have an adolescent thats maybe 14, 15 years old, thats in crisis and now you have to be separated from them by a potentially 45-minute to an hour drive. So its a barrier that does keep people, unfortunately, from going into care. Gaines said the new unit will cater to anybody whos in a crisis such that theyre potentially thinking about hurting themselves or being violent toward others. The inpatient level care is meant to be for short stays, ideally two weeks or less. The unit could also help reduce the number of kids who linger in emergency departments waiting for beds sometimes for several days. Gaines, whos worked in emergency departments for two decades, said they are not a place for a teenager experiencing darker moments: Imagine you are reaching a breaking point with an adolescent. You bring them to the hospital, and now they have to sit in the ER for three days to get help. Youre going to be worse, not better. The new unit joins a spate of recent initiatives to fortify Rhode Islands weak array of behavioral health services for young people. This year has seen the closure of St. Marys Home for Children, a controversial residential treatment facility, as well as a federal investigation into children hospitalized for too long at Bradley due to state social services lacking paths for care after discharge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last week, advocacy groups filed a complaint in U.S. District Court in Rhode Island against the state for failing to meet federal mandates for Medicaid-eligible youth who need behavioral health care. There have also been calls to reform the way the state structures its social services for kids with mental health needs. Asked if there has been more attention on young peoples mental health since the pandemic, Gaines agreed, and he pointed out that as pandemic relief funds evaporate, the onus for funding is spread across multiple parties. Teachers used to have behavioral health specialists or assistants in the classroom, and now a lot of those positions have been eliminated, Gaines said. So attention is one thing, but dollars is another, and so the resources, unfortunately, have gone down. The $5 million in donations for the project came from a variety of sources, including $1.125 million from the van Beuren Charitable Foundation. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday defended a recent controversial decision by the California Air Resources Board to tighten a carbon-reduction rule, telling reporters in Fresno that blame for gasoline price increases rests with oil companies. The Low Carbon Fuel Standard, a $2 billion credit trading system that mandates and incentivizes cleaner fuel production, includes a rule requiring a 20% reduction in the greenhouse gas emissions from fuel by 2030. But the state air board voted Nov. 8 to make the rule stricter, imposing a 30% target by 2030, and 90% by 2045. Opponents of the decision, and the air boards projections from 2023, say the move could cause a 47 cent spike in gas prices by next year. The democratic governor rejected the notion that gas prices will see a sudden spike related to the air boards decision and took aim at the oil industry, which he said has fooled Californians for years on the topic of gasoline prices. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just two years ago, you were paying $2.61 more per gallon than the national average, Newsom said. The state didnt increase taxes, didnt increase fees, did not impose any new regulations. They (the oil companies) took advantage of market conditions. Newsoms visit to the Central Valley comes after Republican President-elect Donald Trump won Fresno County for the first time in his three presidential campaigns. The California governor previously told news outlets he would be going on a tour of the California counties where Trump won in the presidential election to talk about economic concerns. On Thursday, Newsom touted the California Jobs First initiative at Fresno City Colleges west side campus, acknowledging the Fresno regions years-long work on a comprehensive program to drive economic development and opportunity. Ashely Swearengin, president and CEO of the Central Valley Community Foundation, hands California Governor Gavin Newsom a binder detailing the Sierra San Joaquin Jobs Initiative during a press event announcing a jobs creation plan to bolster the states economy at Fresno City Colleges west campus on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. After his speech on the jobs initiative, Newsom defended the Low Carbon Fuel Standard as he took questions from reporters about gas price concerns. He said the low carbon standard, first created in 2011, has led the state to transition almost half of our dirty diesel to cleaner diesel, its created thousands and thousands of jobs, hundreds and hundreds of businesses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It allows us to invest over $4 billion a year in economic development to regions like this, Newsom said, referring to the Fresno region. It has inspired companies, many of which are participants in the Sierra and San Joaquin (jobs) plan. Although the air board projected in a 2023 report that the tightening of the carbon-reduction rule could increase gas prices by 47 cents, the agency later took that projection back. Literature on its website says the Low Carbon Fuel Standard will impact retail gas prices, but the exact cost is unknown due to a variety of factors. A special session in the California legislature earlier this year that focused on curbing gasoline price spikes produced a law that requires oil refineries to have reserves large enough to keep market supply stable therefore keeping prices stable when their facilities are undergoing maintenance. Thats why we called a special session, Newsom said. I care so much so that were actually calling them out. Big Oil has been screwing you. If you think Big Oil has your back, you got another thing coming. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The governor also took shots at the next president, saying clean energy initiatives are especially important for California to protect and pioneer because of a likely shift in policies and approach that will be taking place with the Trump administration. We know what happened last time Donald Trump was president: He vandalized our progress, he vandalized our programs, Newsom said. Billions and billions of dollars of your money in the Central Valley are at stake if we roll over and we play nice. By Gabriela Selser (Reuters) -The Nicaraguan parliament, dominated by the ruling Sandinista Front, on Friday approved a constitutional reform that hands more power to President Daniel Ortega, his wife the vice president, as well as the Central American nation's police and military. The reform increases the president's control over the media, extends the presidential term to six years from five, and changes the roles of vice president and president to those of "co-presidents." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vice President Rosario Murillo, who is Ortega's wife, will now become his co-president. The two have been married since 2005 and she was made vice president in 2017. Ortega has cracked down on dissent over recent years. More than 200 political prisoners were freed early last year and expelled to the United States, including five former presidential hopefuls who had been jailed after seeking to challenge the increasingly authoritarian Ortega in a 2021 election. Under the new reform, the co-presidents will have control over the legislature, judiciary and electoral, public administration, and oversight bodies as well as autonomous entities. It also mandates that the state will ensure media are not "subject to foreign interests and do not spread false news." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The reform must pass a second legislative vote next year before becoming law. Government critics have said the reforms legalize the "absolute power" already exercised for years by Ortega and Murillo. The Organization of American States, a regional diplomatic body, has said that through the reform Ortega and Murillo intend to "increase their absolute control of the state and maintain their position in power." The reform, which 79-year-old Ortega sent to Congress on Tuesday "as a matter of urgency," was approved unanimously by 91 lawmakers. The head of the legislature, Gustavo Porras, confirmed during Friday's session that the reform would be voted on and approved for a second time on Jan. 10, following Nicaraguan law that says constitutional changes must be approved in two legislative periods. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Porras brushed off criticisms of the reform, calling them "a stupid way of carrying out opposition." Dora Maria Tellez, a former Sandinista guerrilla expelled to the United States after being jailed in 2021, told Reuters that besides giving "constitutional status to everything that the dictatorship has been doing de facto," the reform was paving the way for Ortega's succession. "The co-presidency gives Rosario Murillo total power in Nicaragua, which she will end up assuming when Daniel Ortega is gone," Tellez said, adding the co-presidents' ability to appoint vice presidents "clears the way for the children of the ruling couple to be constitutionally placed in the line of succession." UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said the changes marked a concerning further erosion of checks and balances on executive power. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "If adopted, these changes will sound the death knell for fundamental freedoms and rule of law in Nicaragua," he said in a statement. (Reporting by Gabriela Selser; Writing by Sarah Morland and Aida Pelaez-Fernandez; Editing by Stephen Eisenhammer, Leslie Adler and Alistair Bell) The sudden withdrawal of former Florida GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz, President-elect Donald Trump's embattled pick for attorney general, amid opposition from Senate Republicans, marks the first major setback for Trump as he fills his Cabinet -- but other high-profile nominees also appear to be facing mounting pushback from members of his own party. In a recent episode of her SiriusXM radio show, Trump's former ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, skewered Tulsi Gabbard, the president-elect's selection for director of national intelligence, and his choice for health and human services secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. -- blasting both nominees for their foreign policy ideologies. Speaking about Gabbard, Haley said she had "major issues" with her being proposed and reiterated comments Gabbard has made in the past that she said run counter to the views of the U.S. intelligence community, including blaming NATO for the invasion of Ukraine and her decision to meet with Syrian dictator Bashar Assad in 2017. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "She has defended Russia, she has defended Syria, she has defended Iran, and she has defended China," Haley said. "DNI has to analyze real threats. Are we comfortable with someone like that at the top of our national intelligence agencies?" PHOTO: Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley introduces Republican senate candidate, Dave McCormick at a campaign rally, Oct. 30, 2024, in Pennsburg, Pa. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images) MORE: Tulsi Gabbard, Trump's pick for top intel role, draws scrutiny over Russia comments In presenting her argument, Haley also emphasized various occasions in which Gabbard -- a former Democratic congresswoman who ran for the party's presidential nomination in 2020 before becoming a Republican -- has directly clashed with the president-elect. "She opposed ending the Iran nuclear deal. She opposed sanctions on Iran. She opposed designating the Iran military as terrorists who say death to America every single day," Haley said. "She said that Donald Trump turned the U.S. into Saudi Arabia's prostitute. This is going to be the future head of our national intelligence." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Haley also referenced Gabbard's assertion in a 2020 interview that the Trump administration provided "no justification whatsoever" for authorizing the strike that killed Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani, which Gabbard also described at the time as an "illegal and unconstitutional act of war." PHOTO: Former U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard attends a campaign rally of Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump at PPG Paints Arena, Nov. 4, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (Jeenah Moon/Reuters) MORE: Tulsi Gabbard's transition from Democrat to high-profile role with Trump's 2024 campaign team "She tried to limit Trump's war powers against Iran. She tried to cut our annual defense budget so that we couldn't punish Iran and hinder their influence," Haley said. Speaking about Kennedy, Haley said he is "not a health guy" but a "liberal Democrat" who spent his time in Washington siding with progressive policies while also criticizing his views of U.S. adversaries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "He said he would consider admitting Russia into NATO," Haley said, an apparent reference to Kennedy's contention that Moscow should have been admitted to the alliance following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Haley also denounced Kennedy's support for thawing relations with China, which she said could have deleterious implications for American healthcare. "During COVID, we talked about how 90% of our medications were coming from China and how dependent we are. He wants us to deescalate tensions," she said. Haley was Trump's primary opponent in the content for the GOP's presidential nomination but endorsed him after dropping out of the race in March. PHOTO: In this Oct. 9, 2018 file photo President Donald Trump meets with Nikki Haley, the United States Ambassador to the United Nations in the Oval office of the White House in Washington, DC. (Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images, FILE) MORE: Tracking Trump's picks to serve in his Cabinet, administration Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After winning the White House, the president-elect publicly announced he would not invite Haley back to serve in his second administration. But Haley, at least outwardly, has maintained a cordial relationship with Trump and brushed off the snub, insisting she made it clear she had "no interest in being in his Cabinet." Sources tell ABC News that Gaetz bowed out of what was shaping up to be a futile confirmation battle on Thursday after it became clear to Trump's team that the former Florida lawmaker, who is facing sex trafficking and drug use allegations, had "no path" to securing 50 votes in the Republican-led Senate. While it's not clear that either Gabbard or Kennedy face similarly long odds in the chamber, both have been lambasted by Republicans in recent days. Former Republican Rep. Joe Walsh slammed both candidates during an interview on Sunday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "These people have no business running these departments," he said. "This is like a revenge against Dr. Fauci when it comes to RFK Jr., but Tulsi Gabbard, the best you can say about her is she's a Putin cheerleader. That's the best you can say." Gabbard has also attracted the ire of the "Wall Street Journal's" right-leaning editorial board, which said she has "given no indication across her long political career that she is the right person" to lead the intelligence community. The Trump-friendly New York Post took aim at both Gabbard and Kennedy, calling the former congresswoman a "dreadful" pick and saying "it's hard to see" how Kennedy could lead the Department of Health and Human Services to "practical solutions." During the confirmation process, Republicans are expected to press Kennedy, who switched his party affiliation from Democrat to independent in 2023, on a range of views including his criticism of vaccines and history of supporting abortion rights. PHOTO: Former Republican presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. gestures as he speaks ahead of former President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Nov. 1, 2024. (Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP via Getty Images) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But another controversial nominee, Pete Hegseth, the former Fox News co-host whom Trump has tapped to lead the Pentagon, appears to be gaining GOP support. Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma said Hegseth would be a "perfect" secretary of defense. Hegseth has been accused of sexual assault in 2017, and new details about the allegation emerged on Wednesday when a police report on the incident was made public. He has denied all wrongdoing and was never charged with a crime. After Hegseth met with Republicans on Capitol Hill, several Republicans appeared poised to look past the accusations against him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Since no charges were brought by the authorities, we have only press reports," Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi, the ranking Republican on the Armed Services Committee, said. Haley skewers Trump picks Gabbard, RFK Jr. originally appeared on abcnews.go.com More than a half-dozen people were charged this week when police found multiple types of drugs during an investigation looking to address quality of life issues in Waterbury. The investigation was carried out Monday and was a joint effort between the Waterbury Police Departments Gang Task Force and Auto Theft Task Force as well as the Connecticut State Police Violent Crimes Task Force, according to Waterbury Lt. Ryan Bessette. Bessette said the operation was aimed at addressing issues involving narcotics, trespassing and other quality of life concerns at a residence on Willow Street. According to Google maps, the mixed-use building houses business on the first floor and housing on the upper floors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bessette said the investigation led to law enforcement finding drug paraphernalia, crack cocaine and fentanyl as well as $552. Those who were arrested include: Jennifer Martinez, 23, of Waterbury who was charged with second-degree criminal trespassing and possession of narcotics with intent to sell. She was also found to have a warrant out for her arrest, according to Bessette. Martinez was held on a $5,000 bond and was scheduled to be arraigned in Waterbury Superior Court on Tuesday. Ashley Chausse, 32, of Torrington was charged with second-degree criminal trespassing, possession of a control substance (first offense) and possession of drug paraphernalia. She was released on a promise to appear and is scheduled to appear in court next Tuesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Michael Thompson, 27, of Waterbury was charged with second-degree criminal trespassing, possession of narcotics with the intent to sell, possession of control substance (first offense) and interfering with an officer. Bessette said he was apprehended after a brief foot pursuit and was remanded into the custody of the Connecticut Department of Correction. Jarmar Redding, 37, of Waterbury was charged with second-degree criminal trespassing, possession of narcotics with the intent to sell and interfering with an officer. Redding was apprehended after a brief foot pursuit after attempting to flee, according to Bessette. He was released on a promise to appear and is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday. Jesse Spence, 43, of Waterbury was charged with second-degree criminal trespassing. Spence was released on a promise to appear and is scheduled to face a judge on Tuesday. George Miller, 53, of Waterford was charged with second-degree criminal trespassing. He was held on a $25,000 bond and remanded to Connecticut Department of Correction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lorenzo Case, 60, of Waterbury was charged with second-degree criminal trespassing. He was released on a promise to appear and is expected to appear in court on Tuesday. Eugene Foote, 45, of Waterbury was charged with second-degree criminal trespassing. He was released on a promise to appear and is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday. Nov. 21New Mexicans could see an outcome as early as next year on whether the state will ban the use of a specific group of chemicals commonly known as PFAS in oil and gas operations. Last week, the state's Oil Conservation Commission held a four-day-long hearing on an application to prohibit the use of perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances PFAS in oil and gas exploration, development and production. The proposal would also require operators to disclose their use of chemical products, even if it's classified as a trade secret, in certain instances. The issue dates back to May 2023, when Santa Fe-based environmental organization WildEarth Guardians filed a proposal with the Oil Conservation Commission to ban the use of PFAS chemicals in oil and gas operations and adopt chemical disclosure and reporting rules in the industry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PFAS is known as a forever chemical it doesn't naturally break down and has been known to cause health problems like cancer. The federal government has faced intense scrutiny over PFAS in New Mexico with Cannon Air Force Base, near Clovis, spreading PFAS contamination in recent years. The PFAS ban proposal is modeled on legislation passed in Colorado, according to WildEarth Guardians. Currently, the Oil Conservation Commission doesn't require oil operators to report or disclose proprietary or trade secret information. WildEarth Guardians wants to change that. The environmental organization proposed the state require operators disclose the trade name of chemical products used in downhole operations like fracking. Chemical disclosure information would then be available publicly on a preexisting permitting data portal, per WildEarth Guardian's proposal. "It is our belief that these aren't trade secrets anyway, because we're not asking for the recipe; we're just asking for the chemical constituents. And the public has a right to know," said Mariel Nanasi, executive director of New Energy Economy, another environmental organization advocating for the PFAS ban. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The New Mexico Oil and Gas Association argued in its filed exhibits that the Oil Conservation Commission doesn't have the authority to require operators to "wave their claims of trade secret." In its own rulemaking amendment proposal, NMOGA said it supports requiring operators to certify with the commission "that no intentionally added PFAS were used in their hydraulic fracturing operations," a practice also known as fracking. However, the state's Oil Conservation Division doesn't agree with the term "intentionally added" because it could create situations where the state has to litigate operator responsibility. "For example, if a third party adds PFAS but doesn't tell the operator, or the operator doesn't make the third party certify it, the operator could state they didn't know about it, so it wasn't intentional on their part," OCD explained as part of its modification reasoning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The division compromised with a proposal that operators should file a certification that no PFAS chemicals were added to the fluid used in completing or recompleting a well. Another big point of contention is defining what exactly PFAS is, which would impact exactly how many chemicals could be part of a ban or reporting requirements. The Oil Conservation Commission doesn't currently define PFAS in the rulemaking being considered, and WildEarth Guardians proposed defining it as perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances that are a class of fluorinated organic chemicals containing at least one fully fluorinated carbon atom the most narrow proposal suggested. NMOGA proposed a much broader definition: a perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substance with two or more sequential fully fluorinated carbon atoms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Oil Conservation Division met somewhere in the middle of the two organizations. Its definition lists PFAS as any chemical with at least perfluorinated methyl group or a perfluorinated methylene group, excluding those with a hydrogen, chlorine, bromine or iodine atom attached to the subject carbon atom. Moving forward, the Oil Conservation Commission a separate entity from the Oil Conservation Division will send transcriptions of the hearing proceedings to all involved parties, at which point they need to submit final written arguments. There's no set deadline for that, according to an EMNRD spokesperson. Once the written arguments are in, the commission deliberates. There's also no deadline for that. The earliest the commission will make a decision is the first quarter of 2025, according to EMNRD. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I think that the commission will probably do the right thing in the case," Nanasi told the Journal earlier this week. She also said the commission wouldn't let her interview NMOGA's expert witnesses on the record about their work with GSI Environmental Inc., which Nanasi believes is a conflict because it serves oil and gas and chemical companies. NMOGA has repeatedly argued it supports a science-based ban on PFAS in oil and gas. Missi Currier, president and CEO of the association, sent an email statement to the Journal again expressing that. NMOGA didn't respond to questions about the credibility allegations of its expert witnesses. "(NMOGA) has supported this ban since WildEarth first proposed it," Currier said. "Any allegations to the contrary are not only meritless but also a baseless attempt from certain organizations to detract from the truth, which is that NMOGA has and will continue to support a ban on PFAS in oil and gas operations." Recent claims circulating on social media have suggested that Andrew Tates human trafficking case has been dismissed. However, these reports are misleading. While a Romanian court recently ruled in Tates favor on certain legal matters, the case remains active. In this article, we will delve into the details of whether Andrew Tates human trafficking case was dismissed. Was Andrew Tates human trafficking case dismissed? A Romanian appeals court recently ruled in favor of Andrew Tate and his co-defendants, including his brother Tristan Tate, in a case involving charges of human trafficking, rape, and other crimes. The Bucharest Court of Appeal found significant flaws in the prosecutions case, including irregularities in the indictment and the inadmissibility of key evidence, such as victim statements and testimonies from witnesses. As a result, the court ordered the removal of this evidence and instructed the prosecution to address these issues. While the courts decision was a legal win for the defendants, it did not dismiss the case entirely. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ruling sparked confusion on social media, where multiple posts falsely claimed that Tates human trafficking case had been completely dismissed. These misleading claims gained traction on platforms like X (formerly Twitter). However, the court did not dismiss the charges entirely. It provided the prosecution five days to rectify the identified issues, after which they must decide whether to proceed with the trial or drop the charges. Tates legal team celebrated the exclusion of this evidence. However, they emphasized that the case is still ongoing. Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan were arrested in Romania in December 2022 by Romanias anti-organized crime agency, DIICOT. They were arrested on charges related to human trafficking, sexual exploitation, and forming a criminal group. Tate is also facing legal battles in the UK. This includes a civil lawsuit from four women accusing him of sexual assault and coercion. The post No, Andrew Tates Human Trafficking Case Was Not Dismissed appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More. ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA) The Tampa Bay Rays may be saying farewell to Pinellas County. Team President Brian Auld sees no path for a new ballpark in St. Petersburg, Florida. We need to establish that no, there is not (a deal). We cant make the terms of the last one work because we cant get the ballpark built in time for the 2028 season, Auld said. Auld also doesnt see a path forward to playing at Tropicana Field in time for the 2026 season because of the damage from Hurricane Milton. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are looking at a 2026 situation where the city is trying to have the stadium ready, and we have to make alternative plans and all the cost that come with that. That is actually more problematic for us. Thats why weve been working on trying to get to a settlement, Auld said. Im very concerned that when you look at a building with already 10 years past its intended use of life and start looking at its interior, there could be issues that arent even related to the hurricane that we have to manage. We arent million dollar ballplayers, were hourly employees, Trop employees worry about stadium deal The St. Petersburg City Council has decided not to approve over $23 million to repair Tropicana Field after Hurricane Milton destroyed the roof on the home of the Tampa Bay Rays. The council originally voted 4-3 to approve the repairs but later reversed course and decided not to approve them after hearing what Audl told reporters during the council meeting recess. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Auld said he blames commissioners for the delayed vote, which he said makes the cost of a new stadium more expensive. Auld sent a letter to commissioners warning them the team would not pay for any overruns. The county does not want this deal to move forward. We cannot keep having people move down here, signing contracts, spending our money when its pretty clear that there is a negative vote in our favor at the county right now, said Auld. The council also delayed a vote about issuing bonds, or borrowing money, to help pay for its portion of the new stadium. However, the city administrator said they are waiting for Aulds legal team to send a formal request to terminate the contract for a new ballpark. RELATED VIDEO: The city council previously approved the repairs before walking back the vote. The report above was on the initial decision Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This follows a decision from earlier this week by the Pinellas County Commission to delay until December a vote on bonds needed to finance the new planned ballpark for the Rays. The goal for St. Petersburg city leaders was to have the Tropicana ready for the 2026 season. A no vote effectively kills the current deal: Commissioners speak ahead of Rays Stadium bond vote Mayor Kenneth Welch sent a statement after Thursdays decisions: While we are disappointed that we are pausing the repair of Tropicana Field and the bond issuance that would finance the citys contribution to a new stadium, we believe there remains a path forward. My administration is prepared to bring a modified plan back to City Council for their consideration. However, I want to make it clear that this plan will not include additional funds from the City. We maintain our position that the Historic Gas Plant District is an equitable economic driver that will benefit future generations. Ultimately, we remain committed to carrying out our contractual obligations and stand ready to work with our partners in the weeks ahead. The dome of Tropicana Field is seen torn open due to Hurricane Milton in St. Petersburg, Florida, on October 10, 2024. (Photo by Miguel J. Rodriguez Carrillo / AFP) (Photo by MIGUEL J. RODRIGUEZ CARRILLO/AFP via Getty Images) Auld doesnt see the team leaving Tampa Bay even though it appears their future in St. Petersburg hangs in the balance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We want to stay in Tampa Bay. It has been our goal from day one. It continues to be our goal, Auld said. The Rays will play next season at Steinbrenner Field, the New York Yankees spring training facility in Tampa, Florida. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. (DC News Now) The Fairfax County Commonwealths Attorney Office announced Friday that no charges will be filed against two officers who shot and killed a man at a McDonalds parking lot in May 2023. After reviewing body camera footage, surveillance video, dispatch records, reports and more, the Attorneys Office said their investigation revealed that the Fairfax County officers acted in an objectively reasonable manner, based on the totality of the circumstance and that deadly force was reasonable immediately necessary to protect themselves. As we previously reported, the incident happened on May 11, 2023 in the Alexandria section of Fairfax County. The attorneys office said officers with the Fairfax County Police Department were called to investigate a U-Haul box truck, that was reported stolen, at the Citgo gas station, on Richmond Highway. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Once on the scene, officers approached 38-year-old Brandon Lemagne, of Newport News, who was the driver of the truck, and tried to speak with Lemagne near his police cruiser. The officer informed Lemagne that he was being detained because the truck was reported stolen. PREVIOUS COVERAGE | Man killed by Fairfax County police after assault involving officer named Officials said thats when Lemagne, lunged at the officers gun. During the struggle, the officer called for backup and demanded Lemagne let go of his gun, but he refused. As the struggle persisted, Lemagne placed his foot on the gas and the cruiser took off into the McDonalds parking lot and hit another vehicle. At this point, backup arrived and another officer ran toward the cruiser as shots were being fired. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the Attorneys Office, when the second officer approached the police cruiser, they found the officer pinned under Lemagne. The second officer ordered Lemagne to get on the ground and attempted to pull him out of the cruiser, but was unsuccessful. The officer then removed Lemagne from the cruiser and shot him, according to the Attorneys Office. Both officers reasonably believed Mr. Lemagne was armed with a deadly weapon he took by force from another officer and was driving an SUV in a reckless manner as a means of escape, which together threatened serious bodily injury or death to surrounding civilians, stated Attorney Steve Decano, in a release. Lemangnes autopsy revealed that he died from multiple gunshot wounds. Officials also learned that he had amphetamines in his system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Accordingly, I find no violations of criminal law on the part of Officers Grubb and Momon and decline to bring any criminal charges against these officers, said Descano, in a release. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. TOPEKA (KSNT) The City of Topeka is announcing new information about its arrangement with its new police chief. Chris Vallejo, Topekas next police chief, does not have an employment agreement with the City of Topeka. Dan Garrett, director of communications and media with the City of Topeka, said the chief of police is considered an at will position. This means there is no employment contract between the City of Topeka and Vallejo. Garrett told 27 News the citys Human Resources Department stated Vallejo was offered a starting salary of $175,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Emporia residents to decide on new recreation center Wednesday, Nov. 20, Topeka City Manager Robert Perez announced Vallejo will be the next police chief. Vallejo will take over in his new role the week of Jan. 20, 2025. For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News. This weeks storm was deadly and devastating for many families in Western Washington. But amid the damaged homes and downed trees, people also jumped in to help their neighbors. Its nice to have those people, says Lynn Zielasko, a long-time resident of Lake Stevens. Zielasko says Tuesday night was a night shell never forget. I was on the phone and looking at the trees going crazy. When all of a sudden- here came the tree, says Zielasko. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She posted images to social media, showing how a tree crashed into her truck and home. She says within minutes people started reaching out; some people she knew, while others were total strangers. People offered her a place to stay, a generator, gas, heaters, and even their tree removal services; free of charge. The acts of kindness gave her a sense of pride in her hometown. When things happen, people show up, says Zielasko. On Friday, KIRO 7 witnessed city-wide offerings of help in big ways and small. One resident put out a roadside charging station for neighbors without power. The Lake Stevens Community Food Bank lost power, only to gain dozens of new volunteers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People showed up to Thursdays distribution with backup generators, lights, and food to make sure no one went hungry. We needed some extra hands and the community really stepped up, says Anthony Hawley with the food bank. Across town, widespread power outages meant hot meals were in short supply. Ome Arias still had power, so she went to work in her kitchen. I was like Im in a position of privilege right now. What can I do to help the community?, says Ome. She settled on making hot soup, with supplies donated by Lake Stevens residents. She then loaded the back of her car and drove into the darkened neighborhoods nearby to knock on strangers doors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was just so heartwarming every time I went to a door. People were in coats inside their houses. Blankets. And I was like I have a warm meal for you guys. Would you like it?, says Ome. She says she was able to feed about 40 families in one night. Our world needs more selfless people, says Zielasko. NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) A Norfolk man was sentenced on Thursday after he illegally sold machine gun conversion devices to undercover agents, a release states. On Dec. 15, 2022, 33-year-old Austin Perrine met with an undercover agent from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The meeting took place at a bar in Virginia Beach, where Perrine discussed dealing machinegun conversion devices which render semi-automatic firearms capable of automatic firing with the single pull of the trigger, as well as building machineguns, pistols and silencers and having access to cocaine. Perrine pulled two conversion devices from his clothing and sold both to the agent for $1,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Jan. 4, 2023, Perrines residence was searched in Norfolk. Agents recovered two handguns and various ammunition, magazines and firearms parts. As a felon, Perrine cannot legally possess a firearm or ammunition. He was sentenced to two years and three months in prison for illegally trafficking machineguns and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Continue to check WAVY.com for updates. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com. Norfolk Public Schools announced Friday the launch of an efficiency and modernization initiative that will likely result in the closure of some schools. In a news release, officials said the division is forming a long-range facility committee to look at options to optimize resources and create a city-wide plan. The existing school portfolio was designed for a larger student population in a different era, and modernizing NPS requires a shift toward newer, fewer schools that can provide all students with the enriching, well-resourced educational environments they deserve, according to information posted on the divisions website. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Enrollment has declined over the last decade, with the division losing about 400 students a year. Officials say this has impacted the budget and made it difficult to maintain current facilities. The citys schools are currently equipped to serve about 37,000 students. Enrollment today is closer to 27,000. More than half of Norfolks public schools are over 50 years old, and a 2019 report identified about $500 million in building maintenance needed. Community members interested in joining the steering committee can fill out an application form on the school divisions website. The committee will meet 3-5 times between January and June to review data and explore options. The division also plans to host community meetings and focus groups throughout the process. BUNCOMBE COUNTY, N.C. (WSPA) A man was sentenced to over 70 months in prison for trafficking drugs and breaking into vehicles in Black Mountain, according to the Buncombe District Attorneys Office. Officials said 35-year-old Melvin James Russell Jr. pleaded guilty for charges of felony trafficking opium/heroin, trafficking in methamphetamines and five counts of breaking and entering a motor vehicle. The Black Mountain Police Department initiated an investigation in May, regarding a series of complaints of breaking and entering motor vehicles. Officials said during the investigation, officers obtained a search warrant and searched Russells residence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the investigation, Russell was found in possession of five grams of fentanyl, 55 grams of methamphetamines and evidence pointing to his involvement in the vehicle break-ins. Russell was sentenced to 70-93 months in custody and is to pay a $500,000 fine. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS. FARMERSBURG, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) The North Central Beta Club recently competed in the National Beta State Convention, and they came home with plenty of hardware. Beta is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States. It prepares students from 4th to 12th grade to be successful in school and life. Beta was founded on the four pillars of Beta. These are academic achievement, character, leadership, and most of all, service. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Throughout the year, students perform acts of service in the local community and then compete at the state convention. One student, Brynley Grabbe, says there are many categories of competition. I personally compete in the academic tests and speech, others in the visual arts. Theres also on-site cake decorating this year. The big ones are art, tests, and speech. This year, North Central came home with 44 plaques across the different categories, and several students have moved on to compete at the national convention in Florida this summer. Elyse Freeman says she enjoys this part the most. My favorite part is going to all the conventions and meeting a lot of different people and seeing how the personalities are. Most of the time, they are really exciting. They do a lot of different things and its really interesting learning about all the cultures and everything about Beta. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Members of Beta, including Devan Freeman, say the club has helped them mature. If this sounds like a club to anybody that they would like to join, please talk to someone in your school. Its an amazing opportunity, everybody can benefit from it. It has helped me grow my leadership and social skills immensely. The National Beta Convention is still a few months away. The students will head down to Orlando, Florida to compete in June. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyWabashValley.com. ST. LOUIS An event was held Thursday night to honor victims of tragic hit-and-run accidents in our area. The group Fighting Hit And Run Driving (H.A.R.D.) hosted the event at the North County Innovation Center to raise awareness and remind people that we all can make a difference in helping to put an end to distracted driving. The event, dubbed a Day of Remembrance for Families Impacted by Traffic Violence, highlighted stories about families impacted by hit-and-run incidents. Fighting H.A.R.D.s founder, Tiffanie Stanfield, lost her sister, Jameca, to a hit-and-run incident in 2016. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She was killed walking in a crosswalk across the street, and a driver was driving 85 miles per hour in a 25-mile per hour zone, she said. Stanfield decided to turn her pain into a purpose. Fighting H.A.R.D. pushes for traffic safety improvements, changes to state laws, and provides resources for victims families as they begin the process of navigating hit-and-run tragedies. They also recently partnered with the Missouri Coalition of Roadway Safety. Fellow traffic safety advocate Tom Everson traveled from Omaha for Thursday nights event. Everson founded a similar group, Keep Kids Alive, Drive 25, more than two decades ago. Man arrested, charged in womans St. Louis death after Clayton abduction Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You know, were part of a club that nobody would ever want to belong to, Everson quipped. With so many distracted drivers these days, Everson challenges all of us to ask two questions before getting behind the wheel. Who do you love, and who loves you? Everson asked. Because our answers to those questions are every reason we should need to slow down, to buckle up, to stop at stop signs, to put our cell phones aside, and just focus on the task at hand. Stanfield said until then, she will keep fighting against hit-and-run driving. There is someone out here with a voice, one voice at a time, thats speaking out on behalf of your family. Your loved one. Your friend. Your associate that has been impacted by traffic violence, and in this case hit-and-run driving, Stanfield said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stanfield said her organization is looking to share more stories of people impacted by hit-and-run incidents. If you would like to share your story, you can do so by visiting their website. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. The North Dakota Supreme Court hears arguments involving abortion via Zoom on Nov. 21, 2024. (Screenshot via Bismarck Tribune) North Dakotas solicitor general called on the North Dakota Supreme Court to reinstate an abortion law struck down by a lower court until a final decision in the case is made, arguing that the ban must remain in effect because the state has a compelling interest in protecting unborn life. We say that not to be dramatic, but because the district court seems to have lost sight of that, Phil Axt told justices Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ban, signed into law by Gov. Doug Burgum in April 2023, made abortion illegal in all cases except rape or incest if the mother has been pregnant for less than six weeks, or when the pregnancy poses a serious physical health threat. South Central Judicial District Court Judge Bruce Romanick vacated the law in September, declaring it unconstitutionally vague and an infringement on medical freedom. He further wrote that pregnant women in North Dakota have a fundamental right to choose abortion before viability exists. The law went into effect just weeks after the North Dakota Supreme Court ruled the states previous abortion ban unconstitutional and found that women have a right to seek an abortion for health reasons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Axt argued Thursday that Romanicks judgment striking down the 2023 law conflicts with the Supreme Courts prior ruling, and that Romanicks legal analysis contains glaring errors. Axt claimed theres nothing in the state constitution that supports a right to abortion until the point of viability. Its been clear since our territorial days that in order to justify killing another human being, there must be a threat of death or serious bodily injury, Axt said. Meetra Mehdizadeh, an attorney representing the plaintiffs, said to reverse Romanicks decision even temporarily would be to disregard many serious problems he identified with the statute. The ban does not sufficiently explain to doctors when they may legally provide abortions which chills their ability to provide necessary health care for fear of prosecution, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The district court correctly held that the ban violates the rights of both physicians and patients, and staying the judgment and allowing the state to continue to enforce an unconstitutional law would be nonsensical, Mehdizadeh said. Axt countered that the law is not vague, and that doctors are incorrect to assume they would face criminal penalties for good-faith medical decisions. If doctors are confused about the ban, said Axt, the solution is not striking down the law it is providing some professional education. In briefs filed with the court, the state also argued that Romanicks judgment vacating the law seems to conflict with his original order declaring the law unconstitutional. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the order identifies a right to abortion until the point of fetal viability, Romanicks judgment does not include any reference to viability. The state is now confused as to whether it can now enforce any restrictions on abortion, Axt said. North Dakota still must observe abortion regulations established under other laws not challenged in the lawsuit, Mehdizadeh said. Axt further claimed that Romanicks judgment should be put on hold because it addresses a novel area of law, and because it takes a supermajority of the Supreme Court to declare a statute unconstitutional. Statutes should not be presumed unconstitutional until this court has had an opportunity to weigh in on the matter, and a super majority of this court is of that opinion, Axt said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Justice Daniel Crothers said he questioned Axts logic. Any novel issue where the district court declares something unconstitutional, its sounding like youre suggesting that we should presume that its wrong, Crothers said to Axt. The appeal is the latest step in a lawsuit brought against the state by a group of reproductive health care doctors and a Moorhead, Minnesota-based abortion provider, Red River Womens Clinic. The clinic previously operated in Fargo, but moved across the state line after Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ban, passed with overwhelming support by both chambers of the Republican-dominated Legislature, set penalties of up to five years in prison and a maximum fine of $10,000 for any health care professionals found in violation of the law. Thursdays arguments were only on whether Romanicks decision should be put on hold during the appeal, not on the merits of the case itself, which the Supreme Court will consider separately. The justices took the matter under advisement. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX North Korea has received Russian air defense systems in return for its support of the Kremlins war in Ukraine, South Korean officials have declared. The transfer of these weapons is the latest development in the deepening military relationship between Pyongyang and Moscow, which has also seen more than 10,000 North Korean troops sent to Russia in recent weeks to fight against Ukraine. According to Shin Wonsik, top security adviser for South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, Russia has provided surface-to-air missiles and other unspecified air defense equipment. This will be used to reinforce the air defense of the North Korean capital, Pyongyang, Shin told a South Korean SBS TV program today. Shin Wonsik, security adviser for South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, while he was still serving as South Korean Defense Minister, in July 2024. Photo by Yoshikazu Tsuno/Gamma-Rapho/Pool/Anadolu via Getty Images Anadolu While the specific type of air defense systems wasnt disclosed, Lee Illwoo, an expert with the Korea Defense Network in South Korea, said that the S-400 surface-to-air missile system was most likely. This system, which combines long-range surface-to-air missiles, launchers, ground-based radar systems, and other components, is among the most advanced available anywhere. As well as being widely used by Russia, including in the war with Ukraine, they have been exported to Algeria, Belarus, China, India, and Turkey. The S-400 has a maximum range of up to 250 miles and can tackle lower-end ballistic missile targets, as well as aircraft and cruise missiles. You can read more about the system and its capabilities here. A diagram showing various typical components used within an S-400 battalion. RIA NOVOSTI Overall, the S-400 would make sense for North Korea, especially in a strategic role for the protection of Pyongyang since the country otherwise lacks modern air defense systems in this class. The protection of the capital primarily relies upon mainly outdated surface-to-air missiles and anti-aircraft artillery. Meanwhile, North Korea is increasingly active in building its own types of air defense systems. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While North Korea claimed to have operationally fielded the domestically produced KN-06, also known as the Pongae-5, long-range surface-to-air missile system as long ago as 2017, the current status of this is unclear. Even if it has been more widely deployed, it is likely less capable than the S-400. The KN-06 is understood to be based on the Chinese HQ-9 system, which itself is derived from the Russian S-300 an air defense system that is a generation behind the S-400. North Korean leader Kim Kong Un watches a test launch of the KN-06 surface-to-air missile. North Korea State News Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Potentially, other air defense equipment may have been provided by Russia, too. According to Kim Dae Young, a military expert at the Korea Research Institute for National Strategy, counter-drone equipment may also be of particular interest to North Korea, which faces a growing threat from South Korean and U.S. uncrewed aerial vehicles. At the same time, long-range S-300s or even Pantsir series short-range air defense systems would be useful for North Korea. The threat posed by drones to Pyongyang in particular was recently highlighted when North Korea accused South Korea of using drones to scatter propaganda leaflets over its capital. Videos released by the North Korean authorities showed two different types of UAVs. That incident, which you can read about here, came after waves of excrement and trash-filled balloons launched by North Korea into the South, a campaign of disruption that started this summer, accompanying a period of worsening tensions on the peninsula overall. Photos released by the North Korean state news agency KCNA last month appear to show drones, which it says were used to drop propaganda leaflets over Pyongyang. KCNA South Korea refused to confirm whether or not it was behind the alleged drone flights. As TWZ highlighted at the time, The ability of drones sophisticated or otherwise to penetrate the heavily defended airspace over the North Korean capital will surely be a considerable worry to officials there and would appear to highlight deficiencies in the Norths best air defense coverage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Very likely, any military campaign launched by South Korea against the North would see extensive use of drones, including to confuse and overwhelm air defenses. This is especially relevant in the case of Pyongyang, which would be on the receiving end of decapitation strikes against the leadership. A South Korean F-15K drops two Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM) onto an island target in response to a North Korean IRBM launch earlier the same day Oct. 4, 2022. Photo by South Korean Defense Ministry via Getty Images Whatever the types of air defense systems that have apparently now been supplied are, they will be a significant boost to the North Korean military officially, the Korean Peoples Army. At the same time, its clear that Russia is in dire need of air defense systems, with the war in Ukraine putting significant stress on its existing surface-to-air missile stocks. Currently, there is a huge demand for such systems to protect the homeland as well as to defend airspace over the front lines. Presumably, its been determined that giving up some S-400s or whatever other systems is worth it for what they are getting in exchange from North Korea. The arrival of new military hardware from Russia was long expected, by way of thanks for North Koreas increasing support for the Kremlins full-scale invasion of Ukraine as well as the counteroffensive in Russias Kursk region. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New: North Korean troops have been spotted in Ukraines eastern Kharkiv region, a spokesperson for Ukraines military in the region told CNN. I can confirm to you that, according to radio intercepts, North Korean units have been spotted in the Kharkiv region, said Yevhen Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) November 22, 2024 Pyongyangs support for the war has seen the supply of a diverse range of weapons, including millions of badly needed artillery rounds and various kinds of other ammunition. A recent assessment from the South Korean National Intelligence Service (NIS), based on intelligence provided by the Ukrainian Defense Intelligence Directorate (GUR), listed North Korean weapons collected from the battlefield, including claimed 122mm and 152mm shells, Bulsae-4 anti-tank missiles, short-range ballistic missiles such as the KN-23, and RPG anti-tank rockets. Considering the size of containers loaded on cargo ships traveling between North Korea and Russia, it appears that a total of more than eight million 122mm and 152mm shells have been provided to Russia so far, NIS concluded. A photo has emerged showing examples of the North Korean-made self-propelled artillery system under transport in Russia, the clearest suggestion so far that Pyongyang is also now providing Moscow with these kinds of weapons for its war in Ukraine. That would hardly be a surprise at this point, with North Korea having supplied Russia with huge amounts of weaponry, as well as having committed to the deployment of thousands of troops for the conflict. While all this equipment is in great demand from the Russian side, the deployment of North Korean troops in support of the offensive in Ukraine is an even more significant symbol of the growing military cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last month, Lt. Gen. Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Ukrainian Defense Intelligence Directorate (GUR), told TWZ that there were nearly 12,000 North Korean infantry troops training in eastern Russia to fight Ukraine. Since then, there have been accounts of North Korean soldiers taking part in combat, including unconfirmed videos purporting to show fatalities. Earlier this week, The Wall Street Journal reported that a senior North Korean general had been wounded by a Ukrainian strike in the Kursk region. Ever since North Korea stepped in to assist Russia, there has been a good deal of speculation as to what it might get in return. As well as financial reward, including economic cooperation and energy shipments, it was long suspected that North Korea would likely benefit from Russian advanced weapons and technological expertise. There are reports out of South Korea that Russia may have already been helping North Korea develop a space-based surveillance system, as part of a quid-pro-quo arrangement. Surveillance satellites are one area in which North Korea has had some notable failures, while Russia has much more relevant experience. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There have been suggestions that Pyongyang might receive new Russian combat aircraft to overhaul its badly aging air force. The delivery of air defense systems could even be an indicator that fighters might be next for North Korea. Even if such a transfer were to involve older, surplus MiG-29 Fulcrums, these would likely be welcomed by Pyongyang. North Korean Pukguksong-5 SLBMs on parade in early 2021. Korean Central News Agency www.twz.com Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There have also been concerns that Moscow might provide North Korea with technologies to help accelerate its nuclear and long-range ballistic missile programs. Russia would also be a prime candidate to assist North Korea in pushing forward its submarine program, which also includes a growing family of submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) as well as increasingly advanced submarine technologies. While these remain possibilities, it appears that the first tangible benefits headed to the Korean Peoples Army will be high-end air defense systems. With North Korean troops only starting to appear on the battlefield in support of Russia, its highly likely that Pyongyangs assistance will continue, and even be stepped up, which will likely lead to more Russian arms heading to North Korea. Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com It seems that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un isnt interested in reviving his relationship with Donald Trump this time. The Wall Street Journal reports that Kim is unenthusiastic about reviving talks with the United States during Trumps second term, expressing skepticism during a speech Thursday about what could actually be achieved. We have already explored every possible avenue in negotiating with the U.S., Kim reportedly said at a Pyongyang defense expo. He added that Americas unchanging aggressive and hostile policy toward North Korea is clear. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kim also called the U.S. a superpower that prefers the use of force to coexistence, claiming that the previous negotiations during the Trump administration didnt lead anywhere. Plus, the Journal reports that North Korea doesnt have as big of a need for sanctions relief as it did during the Trump years, having expanded its nuclear arsenal and strengthened economic and military ties with Russia. Today, Kim is just not that into Trump anymore. He doesnt have much of a willingness to disarm and passed a law allowing the country to make preemptive nuclear strikes. Vladimir Putin is giving Kim things Trump cannot: military technology as well as diplomatic protection at the United Nations Security Council. But Trump and Putin also have a disturbingly close relationship, meaning that there still may be a path open for the president-elect to pursue better relations with North Korea. Lest we forget, Trumps talks with Kim during his first term started with love letters before falling apart and devolving into insults and threats. Trump still reminisces about those early days and, referring to Kim, said, I think he misses me at the July Republican National Convention. It doesnt seem that Kim has the same fond memories as Trump, though, making new talks unlikely unless the president-elect convinces Putin to facilitate things and Kim comes around on the idea. But that seems implausible when the effort last time resulted in North Korea calling Trump a dotard and a heedless and erratic man. Russia gave North Korea oil and anti-aircraft missiles in return for military support in Ukraine, according to a South Korean official, and satellite imagery analysis. North Korea has dispatched 10,000 troops to Russia, with most of them deployed in the western Kursk Oblast and taking part in combat, a Pentagon spokesperson said during a press briefing on Nov. 12. South Korea's national security advisor Shin Won-sik on Nov. 22 said Moscow had provided Pyongyang with economic and military technology in exchange for the troops. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It is understood that North Korea has been provided with related equipment and anti-aircraft missiles to strengthen Pyongyang's weak air defense system," Shin said in an interview with South Koreas SBS News. Elsewhere, the BBC on Nov. 22 reported that Russia is estimated to have supplied North Korea with more than a million barrels of oil since March this year, a breach of international sanctions. Pyongyang is subject to a strict cap on oil transfers, imposed by the U.N. Security Council in 2017 after a series of nuclear weapons tests. The claim was based on an analysis of satellite imagery by the Open Source Centre, a non-profit research group based in the U.K. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.K. Foreign Secretary David Lammy told the BBC that the oil is payment for weapons and troops sent to Moscow to fuel the war in Ukraine. North Korean leader Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a strategic partnership agreement in June. Under the treaty, the two countries pledge to help each other if either is attacked. North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui visited Moscow and met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Nov. 4. "Our country will stand firmly by our Russian comrades until the day of victory," Choe said, calling Moscow's offensive against Ukraine a "sacred struggle." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Ukraine's former commander-in-chief and current ambassador to the U.K., claimed that the direct involvement of Russia's allies such as North Korea in the war against Ukraine was evidence of a global conflict. Read also: Investigation: Who helped Russians increase production of domestic attack drones despite sanctions Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. North Korean troops have been partially redeployed to the border with Ukraine in Belgorod Oblast of the Russian Federation. Source: Andrii Kovalenko, the head of the Centre for Countering Disinformation at the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine, on Telegram Quote: "A part of the military from the DPRK has been redeployed to the border of Belgorod Oblast." Background: As reported earlier, since March 2024, Russia has supplied North Korea with more than a million barrels (56,000 tonnes) of oil, likely in payment for military support. On 10 November, The New York Times reported that a 50,000-strong group of Russian and North Korean troops was preparing to launch a large-scale counteroffensive in Kursk Oblast. Bloomberg reported that North Korea could send up to 100,000 troops to support Russia's war in Ukraine. Support UP or become our patron! North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Nov. 21 accused the U.S. of stoking global tensions that could escalate "into the most destructive thermonuclear war." Speaking at a military exhibition in Pyongyang, Kim claimed his previous experience of negotiating with Washington had proved to him that the U.S. was "aggressive and hostile" towards his country. "Never before have the warring parties on the Korean peninsula faced such a dangerous and acute confrontation that it could escalate into the most destructive thermonuclear war," he said in comments reported by Reuters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We have already gone as far as we can on negotiating with the United States, but what we became certain of from the result is not the superpower's willingness to coexist, but its thorough stance of power and aggressive and hostile policy toward us that can never change." Kim's comments came on the same day that Russian President Vladimir Putin said his country had launched its "newest missile," an IRBM called "Oreshnik," in an attack on Dnipro, eastern Ukraine that morning. He said the test was in response to Ukraine targeting facilities in Russia's Kursk and Bryansk oblasts with long-range, Western-supplied ATACMS and Storm Shadow missiles on Nov. 19 and 20. The Oreshnik missile is designed to carry nuclear weapons. However, Putin said it was not armed with a nuclear warhead in this instance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Putin warned that Russia would use weapons against any country whose arms are used to strike Russian targets. North Korea has dispatched 10,000 troops to Russia, with most of them deployed in the western Kursk Oblast and taking part in combat, a Pentagon spokesperson said during a press briefing on Nov. 12. Russia is mustering a force of 50,000 soldiers, including North Korean troops, to launch a counter-offensive against a Ukrainian salient in Russia's Kursk Oblast, the New York Times reported on Nov. 10. 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read also: Investigation: Who helped Russians increase production of domestic attack drones despite sanctions Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. CHICAGO A popular arts program at a North Side public high school is slated for cutbacks next year, prompting outrage from students and parents. Senn High School in Edgewater is proposing new changes to its arts-based curriculum for incoming students. Senior Leo Spiegel told WGN News via Zoom that he is frustrated by the schools decision to reduce its unique arts-based curriculum. Senn High School is special in the sense that we get two art classes a day, Spiegel said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chicago father writes childrens book to help heal, spread hope after 2022 shooting death of 15-year-old son Spiegel, an aspiring actor, added that the move would lessen art classes for first-year students, sophomores, and juniors to one per day. Currently, students in the schools fine and performing arts program can choose from dance, theater, music, or visual arts and take two consecutive classes in their chosen discipline. Starting the following school year, incoming students in the arts program will only take five courses, down from the eight previously offered. In June, a bunch of our transcripts got audited from seniors from last year, and some did not pass because they did not have the graduation requirements that were needed, Spiegel said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to a CPS spokesperson, the cutback will not impact students graduating in 2025 and 2026. Still, the school is making changes to ensure that current freshmen, sophomores, and incoming students meet computer science and physical education requirements to graduate. On Thursday, Senn art parents delivered a letter to the citys Board of Education expressing concern about the program. Students in IB (International Baccalaureate) diploma programs across Chicago are granted these PE waivers because theyre seen as being prepared to go to college, Spiegel said. The Senn high schooler argues that the arts program is unique, bringing valuable opportunities to many students across the city who dont attend selective enrollment schools. Spiegel hopes the district can find a better solution than reducing class time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Suzy Donnellys daughter is a first-year student in the schools electric acoustic music program. Donnelly told WGN News that she moved her family from the suburbs to the city six months ago to ensure her daughter could attend Senn and partake in the distinctive, competitive program. Donnelly believes the schools communication could have been better. To get this information, all of a sudden, out of nowhere, for a program that has been humming along very nicely for 15 years almost, thats what ming blogging, is that all of a sudden, its an issue, she said. Barber offers free haircuts to unhoused men, helping them regain confidence Arts programs are just as important, he said. They prepare you for college. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Spiegel and other students will attend the CPS board meeting on Dec. 12 to continue advocating for the programs restoration to its original format. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. NORTH SIOUX CITY, S.D. (KCAU) Flood recovery is still ongoing along Penrose and Northshore Drive, but recent updates from city officials show progress in the near future. Hopefully by the time we hit the real winter weather, well have a hard surface to drive on and a lot of shaping of the soil and a lot of debris cleaned up, North Sioux City ward 4 council member Greg Meyer said. Iowa DOT hiring over 600 seasonal plow drivers Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As of recently, teams have been working to grade Penrose Drive to place a granular surface on top of it, while also preparing Northshore Drive to receive a temporary asphalt roadway. We think it will be better for a snow plow with the removal of snow and for ice treatment with our sand and salt operations, Meyer said. As much traffic as this road will probably see, we thought it would be better to have an asphalt surface. To aid the McCook Lake recovery process, the city awarded a contract for the demolition of 20 homes that were impacted by the flood. The city fire marshal and the building inspector, as well as a consultant, determined that the homes were unsafe and the homeowners determined that they werent going to rebuild the home and were willing to let them be removed, Meyer said. They were actually red-tagged homes, so it was a situation where they needed to be removed for health and safety reasons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The city is hoping to have the demolition project reimbursed by FEMA, but like many of the impacted residents, there is some frustration at the rate of recovery. Former Argonaut Apartments building being demolished Were learning a lot about FEMA, Meyer said. Were all first-time experiencing these flood events, and hopefully never again, but its a slow process. Theres a lot of steps that are required through FEMA and were endeavoring to do it as quickly as possible, but theres a lot of things to go on and its not happening as fast as any of us would like it to happen. City officials say a permanent solution to Northshore Drive will be constructed at some point in the future with expected completion prior to the 2025-2026 school year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Two Palm Beach County deputies are dead and a third is fighting for his life after they were hit by an SUV. It happened Thursday near Loxahatchee, the Palm Beach County Sheriffs Office said. The deputies were on motorcycles when it happened. PBSO identified the deputies killed and the one who was injured on Thursday night, posting the following on its social media pages: It is with profound sadness that we share the loss of two of our own: Corporal Luis Paez & Deputy Sheriff Ralph Butch Waller. Both were tragically struck and killed by a driver on Southern Blvd while conducting traffic enforcement. Deputy Ignacio Dan Diaz was also critically injured in the crash and is currently fighting for his life. Our hearts are heavy as we mourn the loss of our brothers, honor their memory, and support their families during this devastating time. Please keep Deputy Diaz in your prayers as he continues to fight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To serve and protect was their oath; to honor them is our duty. #PBSOFallen It is with profound sadness that we share the loss of two of our own: Corporal Luis Paez & Deputy Sheriff Ralph Butch... Posted by PBSO - Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office on Thursday, November 21, 2024 [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] The St. Johns County Sheriffs Office shared a message of condolence on its social media pages, saying Please keep the PBSO - Palm Beach County Sheriffs Office in your prayers as we join them in grieving the loss of two deputies after a horrific traffic crash. Another deputy involved in the crash is in critical condition fighting for his life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said on social media that he and First Lady Casey DeSantis are praying for the families of the two deputies killed and the deputy that was hurt: Our thoughts are with the families of the two @PBCountySheriff deputies who lost their lives today when their motorcycles were struck by a driver in Palm Beach. @CaseyDeSantis and I are praying for your comfort in this difficult time. We are also praying for the quick and full recovery of the deputy who is currently undergoing treatment. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Nassau County Sheriff Bill Leeper sent out the following message to the PBSO: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On behalf of the entire Nassau County Sheriffs Office, I extend our deepest condolences to the PBSO - Palm Beach County Sheriffs Office family following the tragic loss of two motor officers and critical injury of a third in this mornings devastating incident on Southern Boulevard in Palm Beach County. The sudden loss of these dedicated deputies reminds us all of the unpredictable dangers our law enforcement officers face each day. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the fallen, the injured deputy, and the entire PBSO family during this difficult time. Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. U.S. flights to six airports in northern Haiti can resume this week, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The restart comes after the FAA prohibited U.S. airlines from flying to Haitis airports earlier this month because some planes were hit with bullets amid escalating gang violence in the country. Pilots can fly planes to six airports in Haiti: Port-de-Paix, Cap-Haitien, Pignon, Jeremie, Antoine-Simon and Jacmel. Flights to Port-au-Prince, Haitis capital, are still prohibited, the FAA said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The FAA issued a modified Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) adjusting the area in Haiti where U.S. civil aircraft and U.S. pilots can operate. The new NOTAM prohibits operations below 10,000 feet in specified areas of Haiti identified in the NOTAM until December 12th, the FAA said in a statement to The Hill. Prior to todays restrictions, the FAA prohibited operations in the entirety of the territory and airspace of Haiti below 10,000 feet for 30 days, the agency added. Nearly two weeks ago, a JetBlue flight, going from Port-au-Prince, was hit by a bullet, an inspection showed. The plane landed safely at New Yorks John F. Kennedy International Airport. The incident was reported shortly before Spirit Airlines Flight 951, leaving from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., was shot at as it was approaching Haiti. The pilot diverted the plane safely to Santiago, Dominican Republic, while one attendant was injured. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Haiti has experienced instability following the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moise. In recent weeks, violence in Haitis capital, stemming from armed gangs, has intensified with more than 20,000 fleeing their homes, according to the United Nations. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. NORTON, Ohio (WJW) A Norton fire inspector was trapped inside a facility Tuesday morning after a valve failure during the decommissioning of an old CO2 fire suppression system. Just before 9:30 a.m., Norton Fire and Police Departments responded to a Mayday call reporting that the inspector had become trapped while working to deactivate the system. Over 83 tons of ground beef recalled nationwide, illnesses reported: USDA Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The valve failure resulted in the release of about 1,000 pounds of CO2 into the space where the inspector was located, according to a press release from the Norton Fire Department. A company employee and a member of a local fire safety company were able to get out on their own. The company employee was able to get back into the building to rescue the inspector. Woman who escaped years of captivity says APL raided her animal rescue Both the inspector and the employee were transported to a local hospital. They are both in good condition, according to officials. Authorities continue to investigate the incident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 Norwegian man working as a security guard for the US Embassy in Oslo was arrested this week on allegations of spying for Russia and Iran. According to Norways public broadcaster NRK, the man is in his 20s and was arrested at home in his garage on Wednesday. He is charged with attempted aggravated intelligence activities against state secrets and admitted to having collected and shared information with Russian and Iranian authorities, according to NRK. The arrest comes amid ongoing concerns about Moscow and Tehrans espionage and influence operations around the globe. Western officials have disrupted plots from Tehran to harm or kill individuals, including an alleged assassination plot against President-elect Donald Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Also in November, the Wall Street Journal reported that incendiary devices which had ignited in Germany and the United Kingdom in July were part of a covert Russian operation aiming to start fires aboard cargo and passenger flights heading to the US and Canada. The man accused of espionage in Norway is charged with having obtained information that may be detrimental to the security situation for third countries, and the question is whether the information he has is of such a nature, his lawyer John Christian Elden said, adding that his client had not acknowledged that he is a spy. Elden said his client does not plead guilty but consents to two weeks imprisonment, NRK reported. Norways intelligence and security service PST confirmed to CNN Friday that it had arrested the individual for intelligence activities against state secrets and illegal intelligence against other states. A spokesperson for PST also confirmed that the person was employed as a security guard at the American embassy in Oslo. They declined to offer further information, citing the early stages of the investigation. A US State Department spokesperson told CNN that they do not comment on allegations related to intelligence or personnel matters, but as always appreciate our close coordination and cooperation with the Norwegian police on a range of critical issues. We refer you to Norwegian authorities for further information, the spokesperson said. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com OSLO, Norway (AP) A Norwegian student in his 20s was arrested on suspicion of spying for Russia and Iran while working as a guard at the U.S. Embassy in Oslo, authorities in Norway have said. The man, who has not been identified, was ordered to be held in custody for four weeks. He runs a security company jointly with a dual national of Norway and an unspecified eastern European country, according to Norwegian public broadcaster NRK. Oslo police said Friday they would review the company's operating license. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Norway's domestic intelligence agency, PST, said Thursday night that the man was arrested in his garage at home on Wednesday on suspicion of having damaged national security with his intelligence-related activity. The arrest warrant from the district court, says, among other things, that the police found records of the man's assignment dialogue with a person who was apparently guiding his espionage activity, according to NRK. The man has admitted to collecting and sharing information with Russian and Iranian authorities, the court order says, according to NRK. It is too early to talk about the details of the man's activity, PST spokesman Thomas Blom told a news conference Thursday night. PST has confirmed the man was employed as a security guard at the U.S. Embassy in Oslo. There are no other suspects in the case at this point. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The suspect's attorney, John Christian Elden, told NRK that the man admits he worked for a foreign country but does not plead guilty of espionage. He is charged with having obtained information that could harm the security situation of third countries, Elden said. It was revealed Friday that the man is studying for a bachelor's degree in security and preparedness at Norways Arctic University, UiT. It is a second such case at UiT in recent years, according to NRK. One of the people the West swapped with Russia in a major prisoner exchange in August was a UiT guest researcher who claimed to be a Brazilian named Jose Assis Giammaria, arrested on espionage allegations in 2022. The police revealed him to be Russian, Mikhail Valeryevich Mikushin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Norway has a 198-kilometer (123-mile) -long border with Russia in the Arctic. Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Norway has heavily restricted entry for Russian nationals. In September, the Norwegian government said it was considering a plan to build a fence along all or part of its border with Russia. Protesters gathered outside Fulton County Jail and Fulton County Courthouse on Thursday demanding change and accountability in response to a 97-page report released by the U.S. Department of Justice last week that exposed inhumane conditions at the facility. I want them to know and to hear that this is not normal. Not all jails operate like this, said Ten Wilkerson, a Chicago-based activist who traveled to Atlanta to protest after learning about the deplorable conditions that have contributed to considerable loss of life. The determined group marched toward the jail, shouting chants of Labat must go in reference to Sheriff Pat Labat, who has come under fire numerous times for the many in-custody deaths in recent years at a facility predominantly made up of Black detainees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Detention in the Fulton County Jail has amounted to a death sentence for dozens of people who have been murdered or have died as a result of the atrocious conditions inside the facility, said Kristen Clarke, head of the DOJs civil rights division at a press conference last week announcing the completed investigation. Since 2022, six Black men have been killed in violent attacks in the jail, primarily via stabbings and strangulation. There were 314 stabbings there last year, 1 times as many as in New York City jails. The Justice Department concluded that Fulton County and the Fulton County Sheriffs Office were violating the constitutional and statutory rights of people incarcerated in the jail. The report ends with 11 pages of remedial measures the county must take to adequately meet the constitutional rights of the incarcerated population. Living conditions are hazardous and unsanitary, said Clarke. Housing units are flooded from broken toilets. Roaches, rodents, and pests abound. Standing water, exposed wiring, and vermin make living areas unsafe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This 16-month long investigation began after a letter from the Southern Center for Human Rights called on the DOJ to look into human rights violations due to LaShawn Thompson being found unresponsive in his cell in September 2022. In the aftermath of his death, a private autopsy requested by his family revealed that his body had been infested with bed bugs while he was still alive and that at the time of his death, he had not received medication for his diagnosed schizophrenia in more than 30 days. LA Pink, a local activist and business owner who has been an outspoken critic of the sheriff and jail conditions for years, said that while reading the report was overwhelming, she was not shocked or surprised by the DOJs findings. This was something that I already had been saying, Pink said. [The problems] are all the way down to the core, from the deaths to how things are being [handled] by the security officers. One of the sticking points in the report is the indifference jail officials show toward the daily violence inmates experience. In a single month last year, Fulton County Jail recorded more stabbings than Miami-Dade County Jail did in the whole year, despite having only two-thirds as many detainees, according to the DOJ. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The report indicates that violence is a feature of life at the jail, causing significant psychological harm to detainees, many of whom already suffer from one or more mental illnesses. Following the release of the DOJ report, Labat and Fulton County Commission Chairman Robb Pitts addressed the findings and suggested that they have already begun making some of the improvements advised by the report. Were committed to continue to work with the Bureau of Justice assistance program as well as the National Institute of Corrections when it comes to going through what some of these remedial efforts [will] look like, Labat said. For the protestors outside Fulton County Jail on Thursday, a complete overhaul of the system and how it treats people is necessary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I hear a lot of people, even in Fulton County, say, Oh, theyre criminals. Its a jail, its not supposed to be a hotel, Wilkerson said. But if you read those 97-pages sometimes they dont have water, or electricity you will see the basic necessities arent even being met. The post This Is Not Normal: Protesters Decry Atrocious Conditions at Fulton County Jail appeared first on Capital B News - Atlanta. ATTLEBORO, Mass. (WPRI) Even though Thursdays rainfall brought some relief from the critical drought, Attleboro Mayor Cathleen DeSimone warned that the city isnt out of the woods just yet. DeSimone has repeatedly urged residents to conserve water over the past several weeks as the city suffers historically low reservoir levels due to a lack of seasonal rainfall, which is relied on for their water supply. The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection issued a water supply emergency for the city as a result. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SEE ALSO: Attleboro facing water supply emergency as drought drags on DeSimone said that, while the rainfall is more than welcome, its not nearly enough to restore the citys reservoirs to the appropriate water levels. Its a reprieve, but we have a long way to go, DeSimone explained. We have to maintain use and at the same time try to start replenishing. DeSimone said residents should continue to conserve water as the city works to bolster the water supply. Outdoor water restrictions will remain in place for the foreseeable future, DeSimone said. We are still going to push hard for indoor water conservation by our residents and businesses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If everybody just does a little, it adds up to a lot in a city of this size, so its not over, she continued. DeSimone said the rainfall has certainly bought the city some time. She remains hopeful that it signals the beginning of the end of the drought. It will help for a while, she said. If it dries up again and we go another two months without rain well be back [to where we started]. But Im hoping this is a turning point. MORE: Attleboro setting up emergency water line with Pawtucket to boost supply Attleboro is in the process of establishing an interconnection line with the nearby town of Mansfield, which is expected to supply the city with between 250 and 500 gallons of water per day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The city is also working to establish an interconnection over the state line with the city of Pawtucket. That interconnection is slated to provide the city with up to a million gallons of water per day for roughly $35,000 a week. The Mansfield interconnection should be operational sometime next week, while the Pawtucket line will be up and running by early December. More Information: Attleboro Water Restrictions Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Pinpoint Weather 12 Alerts Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. Prosecutors have initiated 13 cases into the executions of 54 Ukrainian prisoners of war in October and November, which is a third of all such proceedings in 2024. Source: Taras Semkiv, Deputy Head of the Department for Combating Crimes Committed in the Context of Armed Conflict at the Prosecutor Generals Office, on the air of Suspilne, the Ukrainian public broadcaster Details: Prosecutors are currently investigating 53 criminal cases related to the execution of 177 Ukrainian prisoners of war. The majority of these crimes were recorded in 2024, with 37 cases involving the execution of 109 individuals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Quote: "In October and November this year, 13 criminal cases were registered concerning the execution of 54 Ukrainian prisoners of war. This represents a third of all cases initiated in 2024 for such crimes. Consequently, the total number of those executed increases every month. This indicates the involvement of military commanders rather than decisions made by individual rank-and-file soldiers." Details: Semkiv notes that these crimes occur across all frontlines, and the prosecutor generals office has identified the units involved. The deputy head also clarified that four criminal cases have been initiated in Russias Kursk Oblast concerning the execution of Ukrainian soldiers. Quote: "Our data indicates that at least 20 individuals were executed there. However, this crime remains largely concealed, and we currently lack complete information. It is clear that the total number of deaths could be significantly higher." Background: On 20 November, reports on social media suggested the potential execution of captured Ukrainian defenders surrounded in Russias Kursk Oblast. Dmytro Lubinets, Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliament) Commissioner for Human Rights, stated that he had sent letters to the UN and the International Committee of the Red Cross regarding this crime. On the same day, Ukrainian prosecutors launched an investigation into yet another war crime committed by Russian forces, who had executed Ukrainian prisoners of war on the Pokrovsk front in Donetsk Oblast. Support UP or become our patron! More details emerged Friday on how at least 32 Detroit Police officers were on the job without valid licenses, including those an official said had been working crucial cases like homicides and sex crimes. The bulk of the officers, hired between November 2019 and August 2024, worked for Detroit police and then at some point they left and then returned, said Tim Bourgeois, executive director at the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards. But when they were rehired by Detroit police, the department failed to request the reactivation of their licenses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That appears to be where the link was broken," Bourgeois said. MCOLES is a state agency that handles licensing for police officers and sets the standards and training for law enforcement in Michigan. Bourgeois said it wasn't clear who within Detroit police was tasked with submitting the requests for new hires. It's against state law for an officer to exercise law enforcement authority without an active license. Bourgeois said he was told by Detroit police that many of the officers had been in crucial units like homicides, sex crimes, and other violent crimes. An officer's license becomes inactive if he or she leaves an employer for any reason. To reactivate it, the hiring agency has to submit a request to MCOLES that includes an affidavit that the officer is fit to be a law enforcement officer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And an agency is required to notify MCOLES within three business days if an officer is hired, separated, or has their law enforcement authority removed, which Detroit didn't do for the affected officers, Bourgeois said. Agencies are also required to submit an audit to MCOLES each January confirming their rosters and ensuring all are licensed, but Bourgeois said the affected officers weren't among Detroit police's rosters in those annual reports. MCOLES first became aware of the issue in June, when Detroit police came to them after having difficulty reinstating law enforcement authority for an officer who had been placed on administrative leave due to an internal investigation, Bourgeois said. MCOLES then learned the officer didn't have an active license. Detroit police began an internal audit, Bourgeois said, and by September, at least six officers without active licenses were identified. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The number just kept growing," Bourgeois said. The state agency has identified at least 32 officers without licenses as of November. Detroit police said in a statement on Thursday the oversight is not "indicative of the quality of work each member performs on a day-to-day basis," Detroit police said, adding that its officers received proper training. Detroit police said the officers were taken off the streets and put on administrative duties, but it's still unclear how this will affect criminal cases that involved the affected officers. Wayne County Prosecutor Kim Worthy said Friday that she was notified the day prior of the officers without licenses and asked Detroit police for a list of all names. Worthy said she was notified of 34 officers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said she has already received some preliminary information from Detroit police and will determine next steps after she receives all information on the issue. Ron Thomas, the vice president of the Detroit Police Officers Association, said the officers "did absolutely nothing wrong." "If it were not such a serious matter it would be laughable that both sides are finger pointing and casting blame under the guise of 'transparency and accountability,' " Thomas said of Detroit police and MCOLES. "The citizens of Detroit and members of the Detroit Police Officers Association have to suffer because of bureaucracy and red tape. ... What we need is a guarantee this will be resolved as expeditiously as possible." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thomas said Interim Police Chief Todd Bettison assured him that the necessary paperwork has been completed and sent to MCOLES. It's relatively rare for officers to be working without active licenses, particularly at this scale, but it has happened, Bourgeois said. MCOLES notified the Branch County Sheriff's Office in February that a deputy had an inactive license. The sheriff at the time said his department was unaware of the issue. In that case, the local prosecutor dismissed criminal charges the deputy was involved in, including felonies. Andrea Sahouri covers criminal justice for the Detroit Free Press. Contact her at asahouri@freepress.com or on X: @andreamsahouri. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: How over 30 Detroit police officers worked without active licenses A Manhattan apartment building super who was once publicly hailed as a devoted caregiver allegedly persuaded a 100-year-old resident to grant her power of attorney before stealing more than $350,000 from the centenarian. Rosalind Hernandez, 56, was indicted Thursday for deceiving the elderly victim into giving her access to his life savings, which she then blew on clothes, lingerie, and other personal expenses for nearly a year starting in July 2023, according to the Manhattan District Attorneys Office. The victim relied on Ms. Hernandez for help, yet after she befriended him, she allegedly broke his trust and stole his hard-earned money for her personal greed, District Attorney Alvin Bragg said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those who prey on vulnerable older adults will be held accountable. Hernandez, who managed the 53-unit Chelsea co-op, befriended one of the residents and convinced him to grant her power of attorney. Google maps Hernandez, who managed the 53-unit Chelsea co-op, befriended the senior tenant and convinced him to grant her power of attorney to help handle his affairs after he suffered a nasty fall from which he wasnt expected to recover. The victim, who was living with family out of town after his injury, offered Hernandez $100,000 to sell his apartment and oversee his bank accounts, prosecutors said. Hernandez instead wrote checks totaling more than $450,000 to two people unknown to the victim, and racked up more than $6,000 on the victims debit and credit cards on purchases that included clothing, scantily clad undies, haircuts, and a subscription to an entrepreneurship training program for herself and her niece. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its unclear if the recipients of the checks also cashed in on the sick scheme, but Bragg said Hernandez netted more than $350,000 of stolen funds. She also funded her own Lyft account with his card and made over $900 worth of trips, prosecutors said. The geriatric victim, who eventually recovered from his injuries, uncovered the crimes when he returned home and regained access to his financial accounts. Hernandez once was praised as a lifeline for senior tenants in a 2023 New York Times profile. The profile labeled her as the unofficial companion and caregiver to the retirees, widows and widowers who lived in more than half of the apartments where she worked. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Defense attorney, Vik Pawar, said Thursday he will fight the charges against his client, according to the Associated Press. Hernandez is charged with second-degree grand larceny and third-degree grand larceny. A New York State Police narcotics investigator has been arrested for allegedly tipping off a fentanyl dealer about a covert investigation and then lying to the feds. Michael OFlaherty, 42, of Poughkeepsie, exploited his position of public trust to help a prolific drug dealer evade law enforcement, Manhattan U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said in a statement Thursday. The unidentified dealer, who previously served as an informant for the state police under the supervision of OFlaherty, was responsible for distributing tens of thousands of potentially deadly fentanyl pills, according to Williams. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement OFlaherty is accused of telling the dealer about a 2022 investigation into fentanyl pill distribution linked to multiple overdose deaths in upstate New Yorks Dutchess County. According to a report released that year, Dutchess County had the highest rate of overdose deaths in the state, with 43.3 deaths per 100,000 people. Among the 106 opioid-involved OD deaths recorded in the county in 2022, 98 of them involved fentanyl, officials said. When speaking with members of the team assigned to the fentanyl investigation, OFlaherty expressed a willingness to assist, but maintained a personal relationship with the dealer unbeknownst to his supervisors, prosecutors said. While pretending to collaborate with his colleagues, OFlaherty allegedly told the dealer about the ongoing investigation, advised them to destroy evidence and even tried to dig for sensitive details about the investigation, including the identity of another confidential source within the dealers network. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also tried to hide the nature of his relationship with the dealer by failing to tell his supervisors about personal phone calls and texts theyd exchanged, and ultimately by lying to federal investigators. OFlaherty was arrested Thursday morning and charged with obstructing justice and making false statements to federal agents. The defendants alleged conduct betrayed the oath he swore to protect New Yorkers and jeopardized the safety of fellow law enforcement officers, U.S. Attorney Williams said in a statement. WARWICK, R.I. (WPRI) Ocean State Job Lot is set to open its newest store in Warwick this weekend. The locally-owned discount retailer announced that the Quaker Lane store will officially welcome its first shoppers Saturday afternoon. Ocean State Job Lot bought the former Christmas Tree Shops earlier this year in hopes of revitalizing the desolate shopping plaza. SEE ALSO: Daves Hot Chicken to open in Middletown Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 39,000 square-foot store marks Ocean State Job Lots third in Warwick and 17th in Rhode Island overall. The Christmas Tree Shops, which was best known for selling a variety of seasonal items and home decor, filed for bankruptcy last year and closed all of its stores for good after defaulting on a loan. Ocean State Job Lot has made a name for itself over the past few years when it comes to revitalizing vacant storefronts. Since 2019, the retailer has bought a number of vacant Toys R Us stores throughout the Northeast and moved into several former Bennys locations across Rhode Island. Close Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. Nov. 21LIMA The Ohio Department of Transportation will introduce another roundabout to the Lima area following a public meeting and comment period. ODOT expects the roundabout, set for the intersection of state Route 65 and Bluelick Road just north of Lima's city limits, to be another example of the traffic structures promoting safety. "Ultimately, the roundabout's ability to significantly enhance safety was the deciding factor," ODOT District 1 deputy director Chris Hughes said in a statement. "By implementing a roundabout at this intersection, we will also improve traffic flow and provide a smoother commuting experience for the traveling public." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ODOT held a public meeting Oct. 3 and reviewed stakeholder and public feedback. The roundabout will be shifted slightly north of the existing intersection, and ODOT said it was selected to improve safety and congestion. "Public input revealed a preference for a roundabout or support for modifying the current signalized intersection to include extra turn lanes," ODOT said in its announcement. "No major concerns or unexpected issues were raised regarding any option." The department also considered adding turn lanes on Bluelick Road and constructing a roundabout to the northwest of the intersection. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ODOT will design the project starting in the winter until spring of 2026, acquire the right of way starting fall of 2025 and begin construction from summer to fall of 2027. In September (bit.ly/4fENCQy), ODOT shared information about how roundabouts in Allen County have reduced crash rates. The intersection of state Route 65 and Bluelick Road is the third of a series of projects it has planned in the area. For more information on the project, visit bit.ly/4dcYl2A. Reach Jacob Espinosa at 567-242-0399. Featured Local Savings ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) The City of Abilene is officially a Purple Heart City, recognizing the citys dedication to honoring those wounded or killed in combat. Abilene State Veterans Cemetery named Purple Heart location A ceremony was held at Abilene City Hall to unveil the signage for the Purple Heart City designation, and the Purple Heart Trail will run alongside the current Cedar Creek Waterway. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mayor Weldon Hurt proclaimed this during the city council meeting on Thursday, November 21. This recognition is a testament to our citys unwavering appreciation for the men and women who have sacrificed so much in defense of our country, he said. We encourage all Abilene citizens to reflect on the courage and dedication of our Purple Heart recipients and to continue to foster an environment of respect and gratitude for their service. I never thought Id live to see it: Veterans honored at WTRCs Hospice of the Big Country thank you dinner Vietnam War Veteran and Purple Heart Recipient Mike Hernandez said this designation is a way to honor those who have fought for our freedom. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It gives a great tribute to the men and women who have been wounded by our nations enemies and who have made their ultimate sacrifice for our country, Hernandez expressed. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com. BINGHAMTON, NY (WIVT/WBGH) Binghamton Department of Public Works spent much of today clearing out homeless encampments along the south bank of the Susquehanna River. At around 8 a.m. Thursday morning, police officers began notifying the inhabitants of the pending removal and giving them time to collect as many of their belongings as they could carry. Binghamton DPW, BPD clear out riverbank encampment Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cops even helped them push a shopping cart of their possessions. Over the past several months, these illegal encampments have begun lining both sides of the river, often between the flood control walls and the water. Mayor Jared Kraham says the city has compassion for the homeless and tries to connect them with services, but cant tolerate the growing mess. Binghamton Police respond to riverbank encampment We cannot just turn a blind eye to the fact that certain parts of our riverfront have become dumping grounds for trash and garbage, for hypodermic needles, human waste. These things are not sanitary, its a public safety emergency in my estimation, and its putting first responders at risk, Kraham said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kraham says police offer to help the unhoused receive shelter through the Department of Social Services. Local housing justice consultant and Binghamton City Council Member-Elect Rebecca Rathmell says all 150 shelter beds in our community are full and so are the roughly 300 hotel rooms that DSS contracts with when there is no room at the shelters. Rathmell says the number of unsheltered people in our area has exploded over the past decade, from roughly a dozen to over 70. She says uprooting these vulnerable people who have no other options without warning is cruel. They do not have anywhere else to go. When we penalize them by throwing their belongings in the garbage and issuing charges and fines, without providing any support or service coordination, that is inhumane, Rathmell said. Kraham says that isnt necessarily the case. He says DSS told him yesterday, that if someone requests shelter, it will be provided, even if it means transporting them to another community. Kraham says many of the people are choosing to live in encampments because they dont want to follow the rules of society. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Certainly, it should not be illegal to be homeless. It should not be illegal to be in a place where youre searching for services and need help. But that also doesnt give you a license to trash the riverfront, to light fires that could be potentially dangerous, to engage in other criminal activity. Jim, weve seen at these encampments sexual assault, weve seen arson, weve seen intravenous drug use, weve seen these individuals in these encampments threaten city employees, Kraham said. Kraham says all of those removed today had received multiple warnings to move and have even been ticketed for illegal camping. But Rathmell says it isnt enough. She says too often homeless people lose valuable possessions that they need to survive. Rathmell says she doesnt want people living along the river and under bridges, but that the city should coordinate their removal with local street outreach teams that regularly work with these individuals. We had an outreach team out here last night. There are elderly individuals with significant medical needs that were doing our best to supply for. But if we bring the medical supplies every week and then it keeps getting thrown in the dumpster, its not helping anyone. Its certainly not helping public safety, Rathmell said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kraham insists that the city does coordinate with human services agencies like the VOA and YWCA. In fact, he says police connected one of the individuals impacted today with Catholic Charities which was going to work to find him temporary shelter. Rathmell says the millions of dollars DSS spends each year on hotel rooms would be better spent developing more warming centers, shelters and housing. One thing both Kraham and Rathmell agree on is that an overall lack of quality affordable housing is at the crux of the homeless crisis in our area. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WIVT - News 34. This is Totally Normal Quote of the Day, a feature highlighting a statement from the news that exemplifies just how extremely normal everything has become. If Dr. Oz is about protecting and preserving Medicare and Medicaid, Im voting for the dude. Pennsylvania Democratic Sen. John Fetterman Its been hard to put a finger on it, but theres something different about John Fetterman of late. It started softly. His alliance with Republicans on restrictive immigration policies raised eyebrows and angered some activists, though Fetterman had said on the campaign trail that he was supportive of Title 42, one of the Trump-era immigration crackdowns. His total embrace of Netanyahu and the far-right Israeli governments campaign in Gaza, which has included him draping himself in the Israeli flag and jeering at protesters, felt a little extreme, even if he had also said he was pro-Israel on the campaign trail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then, last December, he announced he was not a progressive, despite having identified as a progressive for years. His famous pugnacity became trained more and more on members of his own party, and his own constituents, than on Republicans. So maybe Fettermans politics were always a little hazy, and maybe he was an equal-opportunity offender. But then, this week, when President-elect Donald Trump announced one Dr. Mehmet Oz as his nominee for the head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, it became clear: Fetterman has changed. In 2022 the two men ran one of the bitterest Senate races in recent memory. The Fetterman campaign thrashed Oz mercilessly and personally, for everything from his 10 houses to his out-of-state primary residence in New Jersey, to his use of the word crudite in a clumsy campaign stunt in which he tried to make hay out of the high price of groceries. In one particularly famous statement, Fetterman said, Remember the Oz rule: If hes on TV, hes lying. Oz, for his part, seemed to hate Fetterman right back, being so mean to him during their debate that he was accused of bullying. On the policy front, Fetterman crushed Oz specifically for his desire to privatize Medicare, along with his long history of selling misleading miracle-cure medical supplements. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And now, with Oz in line to win a plum appointmentone of the most important health care posts in America, to oversee the entire Medicare, Medicaid, and Affordable Care Act operationwhat is Fettermans response? Id have a beer with the dude. Im absolutely going to vote for the dude. Its an about-face about as total as one can make. Fetterman clarified that so long as Oz said he wouldnt cut Medicare and Medicaid, he would vote for him readily. One need not travel far for evidence that Republican nominees will lie in confirmation hearings to get approved: Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett said they wouldnt vote to overturn Roe v. Wade. Ozs confirmation hearing is going to be televised, and you know what Fetterman said himself about the doctors categorical dishonesty on air. Fettermans explanation for his newfound Oz support was not satisfying to his own former campaign staffers, one of whom took to X to express extreme alarm at the politicians turn. This is a huge personal betrayal to me, she wrote. Of course, Oz has a history of advocating for Medicare and Medicaid privatization; one need only have watched a Fetterman campaign ad to know that. And one need only listen to Fetterman himself to realize that Oz also has a history of saying one thing and doing another. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Not only is he one of the countrys highest-profile medical fraudsters; he was, notoriously, Fettermans personal nemesis. The first count remains truethe second, not so much anymore. Fetterman was once seen as Democrats most effective brawler when it came to battling Republicans. Now, with Trump riding back into Washington, the party has turned conciliatorynone more so than Fetterman himself, who, in just two years, has gone from brutally attacking Oz, on policy and on personality, to becoming his most enthusiastic, on-record yes vote in the entire chamber. To quote another Fetterman ad: He took advantage of his viewers. Now he expects us to trust him? That was supposed to be in reference to Oz, but its come to describe the senator himself. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) A man wanted for a murder in Ohio nearly a year ago was arrested in Las Vegas on Thursday, according to the U.S. Marshals Office. Daryl Patton, 29, was wanted by the Cleveland, Ohio Division of Police for aggravated murder and was arrested by the Nevada Violent Offender Task Force in the 3900 block of Cambridge Street near Flamingo Road and Maryland Parkway. According to police, in January a shooting took place in Cleveland leaving Martin Johnson, 27, dead on his front lawn. Johnson was shot in the waist and was later pronounced dead at a hospital, police said. Patton was then identified as the suspect in the shooting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. Marshals Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force then obtained information that Patton had left the state and was residing in Las Vegas. Following Pattons arrest in Las Vegas the U.S. Marshals office had the following remarks on the teamwork it took to locate Patton. This violent fugitive fled 2,000 miles across the country in an attempt to avoid arrest, U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott stated on Thursday. This collaborative arrest is the ultimate example of the nationwide reach and teamwork amongst the United States Marshals Service. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. An Ohio murder suspect was arrested by U.S. Marshals in Las Vegas on Thursday, according to a U.S. Marshals Service spokesperson. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Daryl Patton, 29, was wanted for aggravated murder by the Cleveland Police Department. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The shooting occurred in the area of East 95th Street and Pratt Avenue in Cleveland on Jan. 17, 2024. When officers arrived on scene, they found Martin Johnson, 27, on his front lawn with a gunshot wound on his waist. Johnson was transported to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead, the spokesperson said. Police later identified Patton as a suspect in the shooting and issued a warrant for his arrest. The spokesperson said U.S. Marshals learned that Patton left Ohio and was in Las Vegas. Members of the Nevada Violent Offender Task Force arrested Patton at an apartment in the 3900 block of Cambridge Street in Las Vegas on Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This violent fugitive fled 2,000 miles across the country in an attempt to avoid arrest. This collaborative arrest is the ultimate example of the nationwide reach and teamwork amongst the United States Marshals Service, U.S. Marshal Pete Elliot said. Anyone with information about any wanted fugitive can contact the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force at 1-866-4WANTED (1-866-492-6833), or you can send a web tip online. Tipsters can remain anonymous and reward money is available. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) Rising property taxes are one of the top complaints state lawmakers say they hear from Ohioans but the clock is ticking to get something done before the new year when lawmakers will have to start from scratch. Weve been talking about this for months, Ohio House Minority Leader Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) said. This is a choice not to take action. There are many solutions that give direct support to property owners that have bi-partisan support. Republicans select next Ohio Speaker of the House Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im hopeful [we will pass something before the end of the year], Ohio House Speaker Jason Stephens (R-Kitts Hill) said. Property taxes, as weve talked about, is a very complex issue. There are about 20 property tax bills that have been introduced these past two years to help bring Ohioans relief. Most of them are bipartisan, but efforts to pass them have been stalled, leaving Democratic leadership frustrated. I dont know that were going to get them done, Ohio Senate Minority Leader Nickie Antonio (D-Lakewood) said. I would love to see us be able to at least do the Homestead Exemptions and expand that. I think this is a matter of having the political will to step up and provide people with real relief, Russo said. Clearly, this election showed, people feel the impact of rising costs across many factors, one of which is the rising cost of housing, property taxes and we should be doing all that we can to address those issues here in the general assembly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sentencing postponed for former Columbus police officer convicted of murder This issue is also a top priority for Republicans, but Stephens said it is complicated. Its like a three-pronged stool, if you will, because the voters in every taxing district vote their own taxes, they pay those taxes to that local fire department, school, whatever, Stephens said. And if that is going to go down, if the taxes are going to go down for the taxpayer, then the revenue is going to do down for the local government unless the state comes in and subsidizes those taxes. Stephens said it is something lawmakers have been talking about and working on for months. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I know the property tax committee is working very hard on getting a consensus as to what is a doable solution for property taxes, he said. A property tax study committee was supposed to issue a report with the best solutions has yet to happen. Co-chairperson of the committee Rep. Bill Roemer (R- Richfield) said his goal is to have it out in December after consulting both Democratic members and Senate members. I want to try to come to some sort of consensus in the House report, whether I can do that or not I cant guarantee, but Im going to try, he said. After Thanksgiving break, I will work with the Senate and hopefully we will [reach a consensus]. Roemer said he expects, as far as legislation, for most of the big policy items surrounding the issue to be put into next years budget. If the property tax policy is put in the state operating budget, it will likely move along quicker than a typical bill and likely pass by the end of June. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SWAT team shoots overnight homicide suspect in Columbus Roemer and Stephens agree that some smaller items could still be passed by the end of this year. Whether making it more simple or making a more thorough process to put a levy on the ballot in the first place, those are the types of things I think we could do during lame duck, Stephens said. Any major sweeping property tax legislation is going to take a lot of conversation and weve had a lot of conversation these past two years, but it is still because it affects so many entities and every property owner in the state. Lawmakers have until the end of the year to pass any of the several bills introduced over the last two years. Any legislation that fails to pass will have to be reintroduced and the process to have them approved would start all over again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. This story has been updated to add new information and to add a video. Robert Burnside, a beloved high school principal in the Cincinnati suburbs, resigned Friday after he came under fire from his school district for helping a student who was experiencing homelessness. His resignation comes three weeks after he was put on leave pending an investigation. Records show the district investigated Burnside for allegedly allowing a former student who was experiencing homelessness to attend classes and eat at the school cafeteria. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Please be advised that I irrevocably resign my position with the Lakota Local School District Board of Education for personal reasons," Burnside wrote to Superintendent Ashley Whitely. His resignation is effective Jan. 30. "It has been truly an honor to have the opportunity to be the principal of Lakota East High School, and I will always be grateful for the opportunity that the Lakota Local School District has given me to lead in this capacity," his letter reads. More: High school principal under investigation after helping former homeless student Burnside will remain principal of Lakota East High School in title through Jan. 30 but won't return to the school, his attorney said. The next two months of his tenure will comprise a combination of administrative leave, sick leave and unpaid leave, for credit purposes to count toward his retirement. Lakota East High School Principal Robert Burnside has resigned. Lakota Local Schools did not respond to requests for comment on Friday other than to confirm that the school board accepted Burnside's resignation during an emergency meeting Friday afternoon. The district cannot comment on personnel matters or about individual students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Burnside was principal of Lakota East High School in Liberty Township, about 25 miles north of Cincinnati, since 2021. The district placed him on paid administrative leave Nov. 1 and launched an investigation into "a concern," Superintendent Whitely said in a message to district families. That concern turned out to be Burnside's involvement in assisting a former Lakota student who was unenrolled in the district earlier this school year, The Enquirer found in records obtained through an Ohio Public Records Act request. District administrators grilled Burnside in a Nov. 7 pre-disciplinary meeting about his relationship to this student and why the student was allowed on school grounds while unenrolled. Some of those questions included: "Where was he laying his head at night?" "How was he getting to East each day?" "What would have occurred if he had gotten in trouble? How would he have been disciplined if he was not a student in our school?" "Did he ever get hurt? If so, how? Did you consider the liability of this since he was unenrolled?" "Did you make arrangements with the cafeteria so that [the student] was able to get a lunch? Did you use your own money for this?" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The news garnered national attention and several of Burnside's former students spoke up in his defense online. "Mr. Burnside is hands down the best principal I ever had through schooling at Lakota," one user commented on The Enquirer's Instagram post about the story. "He was always joyful and excited to see everyone and knew everyone by name. He kept a lot of us from leaving during COVID and you can tell he has heart, passion, and care for everything he does." Another user commented: "Mr. Burnside is the most compassionate, understanding, and supportive school administrator Ive ever had the pleasure of learning under. Lakota East, and the Lakota Local School District are beyond blessed to have him, and any reaction on behalf of the school to him providing and caring for a student in need that isnt unequivocal praise would be a severe injustice to not only an excellent principal, but also to every kid in the district who looks up to the leaders in our community." Burnside said he is grateful for the support. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I am grateful beyond measure for the outpouring of support that I have received and I certainly have a desire to take the lessons from this period in time and to return to become an even better leader in the future," Burnside wrote in a statement Friday afternoon. "However, at this time, in the interest of my personal health, the well-being of my family, and to avoid creating divisiveness within the Lakota school community, I have made the decision to step down as the principal of Lakota East High School and have tendered my resignation." Why was the student unenrolled? It is unclear how or why the student was unenrolled from Lakota Local Schools. But there are federal legal protections for students experiencing homelessness under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act of 1987, which ensures that students experiencing homelessness have access to a free and appropriate public education. More than 24,000 students experienced homelessness in Ohio in the 2022-23 school year, according to the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce. Under this law, schools cannot unenroll students for experiencing homelessness. The law requires schools to have a local homeless education liaison on staff to serve as a contact person for students experiencing homelessness, and to automatically enroll students experiencing homelessness even if they don't have the records such as a permanent address typically needed for enrollment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Districts have to keep these kids in their home school unless the student's parent, or the student themselves, objects. Districts also need to provide transportation for students experiencing homelessness, even if those students are staying somewhere outside of the district's boundaries. The Enquirer has requested information from Lakota Local Schools regarding this law, the district's procedure for following it and if the district has a liaison for students experiencing homelessness. The school district has yet to respond as of Friday afternoon. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Lakota principal investigated for helping homeless student resigns OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) Oklahoma City Police are looking for a porch pirate who stole a package from a local residence in NW Oklahoma City. According to OKCPD, the suspect stole the package from a home near NW 63rd Street and N Tulsa Avenue. In a video released by police, a woman can be seen walking up to the porch of a local residence before picking up a package and walking off with it. OKCPD looking for NW OKC porch pirate. Image courtesy Oklahoma City Police Department. OKCPD looking for NW OKC porch pirate. Image courtesy Oklahoma City Police Department. OKCPD looking for NW OKC porch pirate. Image courtesy Oklahoma City Police Department. Anyone with information is asked to call OKC Crime Stoppers at 405-235-7300 submit an anonymous tip online. Officials say a cash reward is possible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. (Photo by Nuria Martinez-Keel/Oklahoma Voice) When it comes to K-12 education, setting passing scores on state assessments can be a boring and little-noticed process, but its one of the most important things a state can do to ensure student success. Why, you ask? Because a students score on the state assessment and whether that score indicates the student is at, below or above grade level performance is the only objective signal the state sends to parents about how an individual child is doing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In most states, students who are below grade levelin other words, who fall below the states passing scorereceive additional attention, supports, interventions and resources. Unfortunately, the Oklahoma Department of Education has undermined the integrity of this system by lowering passing scores on the states standardized assessments, effectively moving the goalposts on student achievement. When states determine passing scores on annual assessments, that line determines whether a student is on grade level or proficient in the subject. By substantially lowering that score, a large swath of Oklahoma students now appear more proficient on paper than they may be in real life. Some have said Oklahoma needed to reset cut scores because it revised the state standards and revised the state test. If Oklahoma had significantly changed its test, the best practice would have been to be transparent about these changes by renaming the test, altering the test scale and clearly communicating the reasons behind the adjustments. This transparency would have allowed stakeholders and the public to understand the new expectations and how they differ from the past. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unfortunately, that didnt happen. By Oklahoma lowering its passing scores, a potential challenge is posed within the state as well as regionally and nationally. This is because every state administers its own state assessment aligned to its own standards, making it difficult to compare scores across state lines. However, all 50 states participate in the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), otherwise known as the Nations Report Card, providing a way to compare performance across state lines. We can tell if a state has what we refer to as an honesty gap by looking at the difference between the percent of students the state reports as grade level on their state assessment to the percent of students who achieve proficiency on the national test. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than a decade ago, Oklahoma had a wide honesty gap. In 2013, Oklahoma reported that 69% of fourth graders were reading on grade level on the state test, but that same year only 30% of fourth graders scored proficient on the national test. This 39-point gap is a good indicator that Oklahoma had a very low passing score on its state test. In 2018, Oklahoma changed its state test and undertook a thoughtful process to significantly raise the bar on the passing scores on the state test. This positive change was reflected in the 2019 comparison between Oklahomas 4th grade reading scores and the national test scores, with only a one-point difference reported. So, what is the honesty gap this year? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The State Department of Education is reporting that for 2024, 47% of fourth graders are reading on grade level compared to only 24% scoring proficient on the 2022 national test, a gap of 23 points. Its clear that Oklahoma is going backward and lowering the passing score bar on the state test. This means tens of thousands of parents are being told their children are doing better than they actually are, making it difficult for them to truly understand their childs academic standing. The true measure of how Oklahomas students are doing will come when the NAEP results are released in early 2025. These results will provide an unfiltered look at student performance, free from the influence of lowered state expectations. If Oklahomas NAEP scores reveal a widening gap, it will confirm that the states recent changes were a disservice to its students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Oklahoma still has an opportunity to reverse this error. The department of education could reconvene a panel of teachers and experts to take another look at the standard-setting process, this time informing teachers of the impact of their recommendations before they are finalized. The state can clear the air and ensure that students are held to a standard that reflects their abilities and prepares them for future success. We encourage Oklahomas education leaders to take this step not just to restore public trust, but to ensure that every student has access to the high-quality education they deserve. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE OKLAHOMA CITY Fourteen counties, two cities and two school districts will split $2.5 million in grants meant to combat opioid addiction in Oklahoma and support recovery programs. The state Opioid Abatement Board awarded its second round of grants Wednesday out of the $1 billion the state received from pharmaceutical companies in lawsuit settlements over the past five years. The board gave out $11 million in June. Comanche and Osage counties received the largest sum of $300,000 each from the grants awarded this week, according to an announcement from Attorney General Gentner Drummond, who leads the Opioid Abatement Board. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im pleased we are able to provide resources for communities across our state to fight the crippling effects of fentanyl and other deadly opioids, Drummond said in a statement. These funds will help remove opioids from our streets and provide help for Oklahomans struggling with addiction. More: After 3 years of needle exchange programs, how far has Oklahoma come? Advocates see growth The money will support opioid abuse education, addiction treatment and strategies to decrease the supply of narcotics in Oklahoma, the Attorney Generals Office said. Comanche County will use the grant to provide housing for those recovering from opioid addiction, give transportation for drug court participants and finance an opioid task force. Osage County will partner with the Osage Nation to give treatment, prevention and counseling support services, according to Drummonds announcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Twelve other rural counties successfully applied for the grant, as did the city of Warr Acres and Ponca City. Lawton Public Schools and Owasso Public Schools also will receive funds. Lawton schools received $75,000, Superintendent Kevin Hime said. He said the district will use the grant to train teachers in the Good Behavior Game, which rewards students for limiting disruptive behaviors. A study of Baltimore first and second graders starting in 1985-86 found the students who participated in the Good Behavior Game had lower rates of substance abuse in adulthood. Owasso will use its $150,000 grant to hire a nurse at the districts alternative high school, Ram Academy, and for evidence-based prevention programs, communications director Jordan Korphage said. The school nurse will lead development of an opioid awareness curriculum for students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Opinion: Oklahoma's opioid epidemic requires urgent coordinated action The safety and security of students and staff is the top priority of Owasso Public Schools, Korphage said. These funds will help us educate students on the dangers of opioid abuse and promote healthy lifestyles, which are foundational for academic success. When students are physically and emotionally well, they are better equipped to focus, engage, and excel in the classroom. Oklahoma Voice is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Oklahoma Voice maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Janelle Stecklein for questions:info@oklahomavoice.com. Follow Oklahoma Voice onFacebook andTwitter. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Opioid addiction in Oklahoma: $2.5 million grant will help recovery Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) said Friday he would help President-elect Trump deport immigrants in his state who entered the country illegally, during an appearance on Fox News. Stitt has already placed the states commissioner of public safety in charge of these efforts, which will start within prison systems, as state records show more 500 prisoners are immigrants in the country without permission, according to the governors office. We want to be ready Day 1 in office when President Trump takes office. I put our commissioner of public safety in charge and I said, Listen, everybody thats in our prisons that are here illegally, that are breaking our laws, we believe in public safety, he said on air. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We want to protect the citizens of Oklahoma and we want to be ready to get them out of our state and out of our country before you see another one of the issues that affected Georgia with the Laken Riley case. He blamed President Biden for a four-year border crisis and uptick in immigration. The first thing were going to focus on are the people that have committed crimes. I think thats what President Trumps going to do. And then once you secure the border, which Biden has failed to do for the last four years, and thats why the American people overwhelmingly supported President Trump because they know hes going to secure the border Day 1, he added. Stitt said he believes in allowing immigrants to enter the country through legal measures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And then you can look at immigration policy and state-based work visas. Because if theres people that are trying to do the right thing, chasing the American dream, I believe we should match employers with employees and turn from education visas if youre getting an engineering degree from one of our universities to get them into the workforce, he suggested. But were going to start with the illegal activity. Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey (D) has decided not to use state police to assist with mass deportations. Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs (D) said she would help Trump but wont tolerate terrorizing communities. Trump has said he will spare no costs to oversee the largest deportation in American history on Day 1 of his administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Day 1 in office with an executive order, all President Trump has to do is go back to his policies of remain in Mexico and just instruct our Border Patrol to do their job. Its already a federal law that you cannot enter our country from Mexico except at a legal port of entry, Stitt said. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) Some Oklahoma Republican party leaders are questioning whether Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt, Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum and Labor Commissioner Leslie Osborn still belong in the party after voicing their support for a bipartisan-led initiative petition aiming to move Oklahoma to an open-primary election system. News 4 reported earlier this week about a bi-partisan group seeking signatures for a initiative petition to get State Question 835 on the ballot. Push to create open primaries in Oklahoma Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If passed SQ 835 would move Oklahoma away from its current closed, partisan primary election system, to an open primary system, allowing all registered voters to cast primary ballots regardless of party affiliation. Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt and Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum, both Republicans, came out this week in support of the movement. Oklahoma Labor Commissioner Leslie Osborn, also a Republican, previously voiced support for an open primary system as well. And I think the evidence bears it out, you naturally get a better outcome, Mayor Holt said while speaking about his support for open primaries on KFORs FlashPoint in September. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Holt argued Oklahomas current system of closed partisan primary elections, in which voters are only allowed to vote in a partys primary if they are a registered member of that party, produces candidates who pander the extremes, rather than candidates who appeal to the majority. Youre appealing, especially today, to a narrower and narrower slice of the electorate, Holt said. I often say that neither in Oklahoma City, nor the in the country, are people actually all that polarized. Maybe the extremes are. 15 percent at both ends. But theres a 70 percent of people in the middle that just want to work together and get things done. Flash Point: OKC Mayor David Holt joins the team to talk about Olympics and elections Its why this week, he threw his support behind the SQ835 ballot initiative proposal, to change Oklahomas primary system to something colloquially called a jungle primary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a jungle primary, no longer would each party run its own primary ballot, only open to registered party members. Instead, candidates from every party would all appear together on one, single ballot with their party affiliation listed next to their name. Every registered voter, regardless of their party affiliation, would be able to vote for one candidate. Then, the top two vote-getters would face off in the general election. In September, Holt said, save for listing a candidates party next to their name, thats the same system Oklahoma City and Tulsa use for their mayoral primaries. And people always look at Oklahoma City and Tulsa and sayfor whatever success or failures you have, it sure seems like youre electing mayors who unify people, that seem confident, that are well-liked across the political spectrum, Holt said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This week, Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum and Oklahoma Labor Commissioner Leslie Osborn, wholike Holtare Republicans, also endorsed the initiative. That led to Oklahoma state Republican Party chairman Nathan Dahm to send an email to Republican Party members this week, urging them to reach out Holt, Bynum and Osborn, and tell them to switch their affiliation to the Democratic Party. Voters weigh switch to open primaries amid concerns over political polarization Dahm likened an open primary system that would allow Democrats and Independents to possibly have an influence in the Republican primary to allowing an atheist to vote for who should be the pastor of a church. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement OKGOP Executive Director Stan Stevens told News 4 state Republican Party leadership fundamentally disagree with the idea of opening primaries to anyone who isnt a registered Republican. He says if Holt, Bynum, Osborn or anyone else they support cant win in a closed primary, thats their own problem to fix. If you get in a Republican primary and you cant beat the candidate, the other candidate running, then its just not resonating with the voters, Stevens said. I do think that the that in general this group is pushing this for that reason, though, that they want to move the party to the left by doing this, or at least moderate it. University of Central Oklahoma Political Science Professor Brett Sharp says, with how dominant the Republican party is in Oklahoma right now, hes not sure party leadership really have anything to worry about, regardless of whether Oklahoma moves to an open primary system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont know why the Republicans would be so opposed, because theyre so strong right now that theyre likely to get their top candidates, you know, as part of the primary, Sharp said. Sharp points out, there are many deep-red areas in Oklahoma where Libertarians, Democrats and Independents dont even bother running candidates at all, meaning registered Republican primary voters are the only ones who get a say in who represents everyone. I dont think thats healthy, Sharp said. While it may feel like an uphill battle in this state for any candidate left of extremely-far-right to stand a chance in a Republican primary in Oklahoma, Sharp says thats actually a relatively new phenomenon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People forget that we were a one party state for most of that 20th century, Sharp said. And that one party was Democrats. He says, while not as easy, there could be another path for candidates in the middle to someday win in primary elections, without changing a thing about the states election system. You start at the local level, start in school boards, start in city councils, get your folks elected, build a party base there and then move up, he said. Thats, I think, one of the key ingredients to the Republican success. News 4 reached out to Holt, Bynum and Osborn for comment. Holts office referred News 4 back to his comments on FlashPoint in September. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bynums office told News 4 no comment. Osborn did not respond. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. One popular way to explain the elections red wave in Americas cities is to argue that its a reaction to poor governance by Democrats. There are holes in this theory, but its an attractive framing because it provokes a productive type of soul-searching. After all, Democrats still do control most of the countrys big cities. If they want to win back urban voters, the ball is in their court. New Yorks lieutenant governor, Antonio Delgado, wrote as much in the New York Times on Thursday: The challenge for Democrats now is to prove we can govern. Republicans will control Washington, but we control cities and states across the country. Lets prove ourselves to be the party of competence by improving peoples lives with homes they can afford, quality health care, clean air and safe drinking water, high-performing schools and reliable transportation (emphasis mine). Fortunately, one powerful Democratic politician is poised to implement an ambitious, first-of-its-kind policy with the potential to improve the lives of millions in a big city. With proper execution, this initiative could restore the sense that Democrats know what theyre doing and, more broadly, that government can devise effective solutions to everyday problems. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its Delgados colleague Gov. Kathy Hochul, who is at last implementing a congestion toll around Manhattans two central business districts early next year. Congestion pricing is designed to raise money for public-transportation improvements and eliminate gridlock, bringing a host of positive externalities such as lower asthma rates, reliable freight delivery, faster emergency response times, and a functional bus network. A number of U.S. cities, including Boston and Los Angeles, have wondered if the tactic could help them manage the costs of gridlock. Now New York can light the way. Its exactly the kind of bold problem-solving that has seemed in short supply in urban governance over the past four years, during a pandemic recovery marked by a murder surge, the arrival of tens of thousands of migrants, rising homelessness, and out-of-control housing costs. New York City, with its indicted mayor and hapless City Council, has not been anyones idea of a model. Originally approved in 2019 under former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, the congestion toll was delayed by lawsuits, federal approvals, and the coronavirus. After a date was finally selectedJune 30, 2024Hochul intervened to stall the toll with just weeks to go, reportedly in an attempt to avoid a repeat of the 2022 midterms, in which Democrats wiped out in the congressional races in the New York suburbs, handing the GOP control of the House. Mission accomplished, sort of. Democrats took back three of the four seats they lost two years ago, and Hochul has now set a date for the policy to take effect: Jan. 5, 2025. This puts the governor in a strange position. She might well have written off congestion pricing as an inevitability, a technocratic solution devised years ago over which she had no control, and watched over its implementation with ambivalence. Instead, by first meddling with, then directing its delivery, at a price point she imposed out of thin air to replace the one chosen after months of deliberations, she has made congestion pricing her own. Just as pro-toll advocates labeled her Congestion Kathy when she delayed, anti-pricing opponents are now calling the policy Hochuls congestion pricing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The good news for Hochul is that road pricing has proved popular in London, Stockholm, and Oslo, with public opinion improving over time. The bad news is that Hochul does not have time on her side: She will likely face a primary challenge in 2026 and, if she prevails, a risky matchup against a Republican who is sure to make congestion pricing a campaign issue. (One Hudson Valley GOP congressman, Mike Lawler, has already cut an anticongestion pricing spot.) Further complicating matters: Hochuls public remarks about the wisdom of the policy have swung wildly. First, she was all for it; then she was against it on the grounds that a $15 toll would be a burden on hardworking New Yorkers (despite the fact that many families currently pay many times that amount to take a train downtown); now she is for it, again. But no matter. Her political fortunes are currently tied to the policys success, and so she has a strong incentive to ensure that congestion pricing lives up to its promise as a flagship blue-state policy. First, Hochul has to make the program a success inside the cordon in Manhattan. She is already off to a bad start. By overruling a board of experts and cutting the toll by 60 percent, she has also reduced the promised traffic decline to just 13 percent. That traffic drop will soon be partly filled by a rebound effect, as faster traffic speeds induce more trips. Before you know it, gridlock could once again be holding up fire engines and blocking crosswalks, and the toll will look like nothing more than a cash grab. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Former New York DOT Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan expressed this concern to Curbed last year: If congestion pricing does in fact remove 20 percent of the traffic and you just wind up with underused car lanes, its an invitation for motorists to fill them up again. It will harm the programs credibility irreparably. So the challenge for Hochul is to make sure that big changes accompany the rollout and are seen as part and parcel of the policy. (Nominally, this would be the citys responsibility, but neither the mayor nor the City Council president wants anything to do with it, and Hochul wields a lot of influence in City Hall right now.) Sadik-Khan has suggested establishing special lanes for e-bikes and scooters, building a pedestrian boulevard through Midtown, closing the Financial District to traffic, and constructing 14th Streetstyle busways on all the citys major crosstown thoroughfares. Big-ticket projects like those could mesh with the citys own initiatives, like a redesigned Fifth Avenue and daylighting at thousands of intersections. These changes would make it possible for congestion pricing to keep its promisescleaner air, faster ambulances and fire trucks, a functioning bus networkeven after the sticker shock wears off. Ideally, these initiatives would have gotten underway years ago. But as many cities learned when the pandemic hit, its a lot easier to do things quickly when there arent quite so many cars around. Second, Hochul has to guarantee that the toll works for New Yorkers outside the zone. That means making sure that the redistributional effect of congestion pricingtolling a few rich guys who drive into Manhattan to fund subways and buses for the massesis crystal clear. The transit improvements will be implemented by the MTA, which Hochul controls, and include faster trains, new elevators and escalators, and capital improvements like an extended Second Avenue Subway. Here, too, the MTA should insist that local jurisdictions provide signal priority at stoplights and dedicated emergency lanes for buses, EMS, police, and the fire department. Hochul can also reduce negative spillover, in the form of drivers parking just outside the zone or around outer-borough transit stops, by introducing parking permits in New York City. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And every single good thing the MTA does should be tied to the Robin Hood toll, with Hochul cutting specially made congestion pricing ribbons with all the subtlety of Donald Trump putting his name on those stimulus checks. Democrats have learned the hard way that there is no room for modesty in deliverism. (The Biden administration did plenty of governing, of course, but, without an effective communicator in the White House, failed to convince even the groups that had directly benefited from its policies.) Third, Hochul can address bad actors: She can crack down on drivers who use fake and defaced license plates (law and order is good!), a practice that will proliferate as the toll takes effect. These scofflaws steal more than $100 million from the city each year, and that doesnt even count the foregone state tolls on bridges, tunnels, and highways! Finally, Hochul can preempt a surefire right-wing critique by making a serious effort to reform the MTAs wasteful practices. Lawler, for example, has already framed congestion pricing as a way to make up for missing revenue from farebeaters. But the MTAs out-of-control spending has been a problem for years, and by promising reform, Hochul can argue shes fixing New York Citys transit funding on both sides of the balance sheet. It will be an uphill subway ride. Congestion pricing is unpopular, and framing it as a way to raise moneyas a tax, rather than as an infrastructure and quality-of-life improvementis a losing proposition. Josh Shapiro fixing I-95 this aint. But it will also be an interesting test of Democrats ability to defy the poll-driven politics that has led many voters to believe that they stand for nothing at all. Congestion pricing was a good idea; now Kathy Hochul has to prove it. KAYSVILLE, Utah (ABC4) One man was taken into custody after a standoff with police that lasted multiple hours and sparked a shelter-in-place order for a Kaysville neighborhood. The suspect, whose identity has been withheld by ABC4 to protect the victims, was booked into jail facing felony charges of burglary of a dwelling, kidnapping, and violation of a protective order. He also faces misdemeanor charges of unlawful detention, criminal trespass of a dwelling, interfering with a police officer, and two counts of domestic violence in the presence of a child. The standoff started around 8 p.m. on Thursday night, Nov. 21, in the neighborhood of Lincolnshire Way and Crestmont Way. According to court documents, the suspect had outstanding warrants and was preventing family members from leaving the home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 3 Utah children missing since 2022 found living with FLDS Church, returned to mother Court documents indicate that officers knocked on the door several times and gave several callouts for the suspect, but he did not respond. During this time, the family was able to safely get out of the home and were assisted by Kaysville Police. Just after 10 p.m., the South Davis Metro SWAT Team executed a search warrant to enter the home, where they reportedly found the suspect unconscious but breathing in a bedroom closet. The suspect was taken to a local area hospital for a medical evaluation, though Kaysville Police report he had no apparent injuries. Upon being released from the hospital, the suspect was booked into jail, where he has been ordered to be held without bail, pending a pretrial hearing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. While on his way back to shore off the coast of Norway, with a load of halibut on board the ygutt, Norwegian fisherman Harald Engen heard via radio that he had inadvertently managed to snag the biggest catch ever. The propeller of a 377-foot, 7,800-ton nuclear submarine, the USS Virginia (pictured), had snagged his net which had just been set, and marked with buoys, before the ygutt headed ashore and dragged the net 2 nautical miles out to sea, according to the Norwegian Broadcasting Corp. The Norwegian Coast Guard vessel that escorted the submarine out of the harbor quickly helped to remove the entanglement, the U.S. Navy explained, via the American Embassy in Norway. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Engen was told the net-napping occurred because its hard for submarines to see net buoys in wind and high waves. He was tempted to turn around to try to find it, but was told the net had already been cut loose. The chain of nets is at the bottom of the sea, Engen lamented. Its gone, and well probably never find it again. While he bears the Americans no ill will, Engen said, and thinks the incident will make a great pub story, he hopes the costly equipment will be replaced. A spokesman for the U.S. 6th Fleet, Lt. Pierson Hawkins, told Business Insider that when the U.S. is responsible for damage to civilian equipment, there is a claims process to reimburse the expense. Hopefully, sometime before Engen retires. OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) One person was injured in a stabbing in southeast Oklahoma City, police say. According to the Oklahoma City Police Department, officers responded to the area of SE 21st St. and Central Ave. LOCAL NEWS: One person dead after being struck by vehicle in NW OKC Upon arrival, they found one victim with stab wounds. They were taken to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials say no arrests have been made as the investigation continues. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) An 18-year-old is dead after a shooting Friday afternoon in the Marion-Franklin neighborhood. Columbus police responded to a call about 1 p.m. of a shooting near Lockberry Road and Southfield Drive. One person, who police identified on Saturday as Raheem Dawkins, was found injured and rushed to a hospital in critical condition. Dawkins was pronounced dead at 1:32 p.m. Bodycam shows shooting of teenage murder suspect in northeast Columbus Police said in an update that an adult identified himself as the person who shot Dawkins in an act of self-defense during an assault. An investigation has not revealed a specific motive but the adult was detained on Friday afternoon at the scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone with additional information is asked to contact police at 614-645-4503. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. OPELIKA, Ala. (WRBL) A 68-year-old Opelika woman is dead, and her husband now faces a felony murder charge connected to her death. Spencer Tracy Bell, 54, was indicted by a Lee County grand jury in October following the February death of his wife, Barbara Ann Bell, who had been hospitalized at East Alabama Health. Barbara Bell died on February 8, 2024, after being admitted to the hospital. Five days later, Opelika police arrested Spencer Bell on charges of Elder Abuse and Neglect in the First Degree. Authorities alleged neglect and mistreatment contributed to Barbaras declining health and eventual death. In late October a Lee County grand jury upgraded the charges against Spencer Bell, indicting him for felony murder. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Court documents reveal Spencer Bell was initially granted a $30,000 bond after his February arrest, which he posted within days. However, the felony murder indictment on November 5 led to his bond being revoked. Bell was taken back into custody on November 15 and Bells bond was reset at $250,000. His attorney has filed a motion for a bond reduction, citing Bells inability to pay the current amount. The defense argues Bell is not a flight risk, has minimal criminal history, and complied fully with his previous bond conditions.A hearing on the motion is scheduled for December 2. Opelika investigators continue to work with the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences to review evidence of Barbara Bells death and the alleged connection to abuse. Detectives have not released additional details about the nature of the neglect or the medical finding. Bell remains in custody at the Lee County Detention Facility pending the outcome of his bond hearing. WRBL will continue to follow the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL. Deterring a Chinese military takeover of Taiwan should be a high priority for the incoming Trump administration. China has long claimed Taiwan as its own and insisted that unification is a historical inevitability. The Peoples Liberation Army recently ringed Taiwan with a major military and Coast Guard exercise to demonstrate its sovereignty claim and to warn Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te against pursuing independence. Such military operations are designed to intimidate the people of Taiwan. Ever since former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi visited the island in August 2022, Taiwan has faced unrelenting pressure from Chinese military operations. At the same time, Beijing has stepped up its political campaign through the U.N. and in its diplomatic relations to seek political acceptance for its claim of sovereignty over Taiwan. Even as the U.S. and many of its allies criticize these Chinese actions, they often fail to grasp the strategy behind them: Beijing is laying the legal groundwork to use force against Taiwan eventually. During Chinas display of military power in the Taiwan Strait last month, the Chinese Ministry of National Defense announced that for the first time the Chinese Coast Guard an element of its armed forces conducted law enforcement patrols in the waters surrounding Taiwan. To challenge Taiwans authority to control the waters around its territory, China sent three Coast Guard flotillas to conduct what it referred to as a practical action to lawfully enforce control over Taiwan island in accordance with the one China principle. These were the kind of law enforcement exercises that only Taiwans Coast Guard normally has the right to undertake, such as boarding and inspecting foreign vessels. The intent was to signal clearly Chinas claim to sovereignty over the island. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A likely precursor to any use of force by Beijing will be a public assertion of sovereignty over Taiwan. By encircling the island with its law enforcement patrols and publicizing those patrols from the Ministry of National Defense, China essentially announced to the world that its campaign to control the island of Taiwan has moved to a new and more dangerous phase. Beijing has long claimed that there is one China, Taiwan is a part of China and the Peoples Republic of China is the only legitimate government of all of China. This is Beijings so-called One China principle, which the U.S. has consistently refused to endorse. American policy since 1950 has been that the sovereign status of Taiwan is undetermined, though it has shrouded the policy in ambiguous diplomatic language meant to smooth over differences and allow the two countries to develop stable relations. Further, American policy insists that the eventual resolution of sovereignty should be left to the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait to peacefully decide without coercion or the threat of force. Congress has also played a role in developing Americas Taiwan policy. The 1979 Taiwan Relations Act urges the U.S. to make defensive weapons available to Taiwan and states that Congress would consider any effort to determine the future of Taiwan by other than peaceful means, including by boycotts or embargoes, a threat to regional peace and security and of grave concern to America. Collectively, these views are known (somewhat confusingly) as Americas One China policy. And although the U.S. is the most vocal nation in distinguishing its policy from Beijings One China principle, other countries quietly hold similar views. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Recent Chinese Coast Guard operations challenging Taiwans right to control the waters around its territory pose a direct challenge to American policy and create a dilemma for all nations that desire to see Taiwans status be resolved peacefully and without coercion. Accepting the actions of Chinas Coast Guard as lawful is to accept Beijings One China principle and to acquiesce in Chinas claim that Taiwan falls under its sovereignty. Furthermore, to accept that Taiwan is under Chinese sovereignty is to accept Beijings assertion that any future use of force would be a purely domestic matter to allow the Coast Guard patrols to go unchallenged seals Taiwans fate. But to oppose the Chinese Coast Guards actions poses an open challenge to China and risks destabilizing blowback. American policy should focus on reducing the risk of further cross-Strait escalation even at the cost of potential instability in the U.S.-China relationship. Accordingly, the U.S. should publicly condemn Beijings recent actions as destabilizing to regional peace and stability, call upon like-minded states to make similar statements, and reinforce the American commitment to a peaceful resolution by advancing Taiwans capacity to defend itself and our own capacity to support its defense, if necessary. Similarly, it is time for the U.S. to actively and publicly counter Beijings political campaign in the United Nations and elsewhere, through which it distorts the meaning of U.N. General Assembly Resolution 2758. The official record shows that in passing the resolution in 1971, countries intended only to transfer the China seat in the General Assembly and the Security Council from the Republic of China (Taiwans formal name) to the Peoples Republic of China. There is no evidence for Chinas claim that the resolution establishes, as a matter of international law, Beijings One China principle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In fact, in 1971, then-Chinese Prime Minister Zhou Enlai noted that given the text of the resolution, the status of Taiwan is not yet decided. The Chinese government has likewise used Resolution 2758 and bilateral normalization agreements with other member states to falsely claim that its One China principle is a settled fact. Like the military exercises, Beijings persistent efforts to embed its beliefs in U.N. statements are aimed at winning acceptance of its proposition that Taiwan is part of China and a settled issue in international law. This is far from the truth, but convincing other nations to go along may allow Beijing to claim that its use of force to achieve unification should be considered lawful. The Trump administration should play a proactive role in refuting these mischaracterizations and the flawed claims of Chinese diplomats. The failure to firmly counter Chinese military and diplomatic actions risks signaling that the U.S. will tolerate a future in which the people of Taiwan are forced to accept Beijings rule. Hong Kongs experience stands as a stark example of the dangers of this path. Accepting that Taiwan is already sovereign Chinese territory could have the unintended consequence of undermining deterrence and provoking a massive conflict. Peter A. Dutton is senior research scholar in law and senior fellow at the Paul Tsai China Center at Yale Law School. Bonnie S. Glaser is managing director of the Indo-Pacific Program at the German Marshall Fund of the United States. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The next Congress has all but taken shape under Republican control, but a more fundamental, behind-the-scenes change is also coming one that will require more effort and collaboration from a dysfunctional legislature thats at least as divided as the rest of the country. How is our current Congress supposed to do that? It may sound impossible, but its not. If congressional leadership earnestly commits to diminishing partisan acrimony and gridlock, theyll find the tools to do it. In June, the Supreme Court reversed itself in a consequential decision for all three branches of government, overturning its 1984 Chevron U.S.A. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc. ruling. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For decades, this gave Congress an out from making hard decisions, and our elected representatives outsourced tricky policy details to an unelected federal bureaucracy. Now, the court has effectively told Congress that it can no longer let the executive branch do its work for them. The original Chevron decision concerned whether the Environmental Protection Agency overstepped its bounds when regulating air pollution sources. Executive branch agencies are supposed to figure out some details as they enforce Congresss laws, but sometimes those laws are so vague that its not clear where the bounds are. Chevron deference held that regulatory agencies are the experts and that their interpretations of the law deserve deference from lower courts. This left bureaucrats with a big advantage in legal challenges, as courts deferred to their judgments when the laws were vague. After 40 years and 18,000 court decisions affecting more than 3,000 agency decisions citing Chevon, the Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo ruling has reversed this precedent. The new case was prefaced on the federal bureaucracy requiring fishermen to have government regulators on board and charging these businesses $710 per day for the privilege. With tiny profit margins to begin with, this put a tremendous burden on small fishing fleets that Congress never intended. There have been many similar situations over the years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Judges must now decide whether agencies have gone beyond congressional delegations of power, and Congress must now create rules with details something members had been happy to avoid. One congressional chief of staff once told me that people in Congress dont want to be held accountable for making those decisions; they want to pass vague laws and then forget about them. Later, they can always hold hearings to decry the results. The problem with relying more on Congress is that, like the rest of the country, it has become more polarized in the last 50 years. Today, there are only about two dozen moderates in both parties versus 160 in 1971-72, when we were divided over the Vietnam War, Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy had been assassinated and Richard Nixon was soon to resign in disgrace. In addition, party leaders dictate more of the agenda, often from the far right and far left, and government shutdowns are regular occurrences. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I participated in a unique way to bridge the partisan divide for the good of our democratic republic. It was created by Braver Angels, which started in 2016 with a small group half composed of Donald Trump voters and half Hillary Clinton voters, who tried to see if they could find a way to start talking to one another. Its rather simple: To begin, bring an equal number of reds and blues together. Next, using a structured format one which encourages ideas and allows for challenges to the chair hold a conversation in which people admit to what they actually believe without trying to score points against the other side. Within several hours, not only do both parties understand more about the other, but they find a good deal to agree on, including solutions for the big problems we face like crime, global climate change, debt and immigration. This defuses the tension and allows people to come away feeling refreshed, encouraged and hopeful. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The evidence shows that it works. Nearly 70 percent report ending up with a positive view of the other side and 80 percent say they were able to find common ground. Dislike for the other side dropped from 38 percent to 21 percent. One former political participant said, Taking Braver Angels into Congress could make a fundamental prospective change. Now theres an idea. As the organization states, At the heart of all that civilization has meant and developed is community the mutually cooperative and voluntary venture of man to assume a semblance of responsibility for his brother. Its not a triumph of one party over another that we need. Its a way to live and work alongside each other today, tomorrow and in the generations to come. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Richard A. Williams is a former director for social sciences at the Food and Drug Administrations Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, chair of the board of the Center for Truth in Sciences, and a senior affiliated scholar with the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The political left already hates Elon Musk. But its anger toward the disruptive billionaire, Tesla founder and now Donald Trump bestie is only going to get worse. Musks likely success in artificial intelligence poses a long-term threat to liberals who hope to dominate not only how we look backward that is, how our history is written but also the political climate in which we move forward. Just as Musks purchase of Twitter crushed liberals stranglehold on social media, his growing presence in AI promises to dilute the lefts control of the emerging technology. The Democratic establishment, led by the Biden-Harris White House, is not taking Musks political realignment lying down. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The New York Times reports that Musks multiple businesses have been targeted in at least 20 recent investigations or reviews, including over the safety of his Tesla cars and the environmental damage caused by his rockets. Many of these attacks are idiotic, including the FAAs delay weeks ago of a rocket test because a similar launch had disturbed birds nests nearby. Never mind that the U.S. is in a critical race against China to get men to the moon, and that the rocket in question has been commissioned by the U.S. government to get the job done. More craziness against Musks firms came from the Justice Department, which claims SpaceX has illegally discriminated against asylees and refugees in hiring. In other words, SpaceX, a company engaged in top secret undertakings for our government, is being sued for only hiring U.S. citizens or green card holders. You cant make this up. The left is furious that the Tesla founder set out to restore free speech by buying Twitter (now X) and then published the infamous Twitter files, exposing efforts by federal officials to censor conservative voices. Amazingly, they hate him for putting electric vehicles on the map actually enabling their climate change ambitions because he used non-union labor to do it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Elon has also dared to criticize the government by charging on X that if the FCC had not illegally revoked almost $900 million awarded to SpaceX Starlink to provide internet access to rural areas, satellite kits would probably have saved lives in North Carolina after Hurricane Helene. Liberals rage against Musk is bound to get worse. Soon they will figure out that Elon could be the sole impediment to liberals taking charge of what AI teaches our kids about U.S. history or economics, and permanently skewing Americas and even the worlds body of knowledge leftward. Musks growing investment in AI, which is quickly emerging as everyones go-to source for information, will likely prevent progressives from establishing a monopoly on revisionist history, in which the U.S. can be portrayed as a nation born in racism and sustained by exploitation and patriarchy. Musk is busily creating his own artificial intelligence firm, xAI, just recently raising another $5 billion in financing that valued the start-up at $50 billion, more than twice its valuation just a few months ago. xAIs main product is its Grok chatbot, launched in late 2023 and created to compete with the much larger OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT. (Musk co-founded OpenAI in 2015 but then fell out with his partner in that venture, Sam Altman.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now he is in the hunt, building a data center in Tennessee and lining up Nvidia chips to build its AI models. Though a relative late-comer, Musks extraordinary successes in rocketry, EVs, satellite communications and elsewhere suggest he is poised to become an important player. Just as X became a loathed rival to Meta and TikTok as a source of information, so will xAI present users with a distinctly different view of the world and how it functions. This is not conspiracy-mongering. With the emergence of ChatGPT, reviewers have complained that the chatbot is left-leaning; the company admitted as much by posting that it is trying to address the bias by correcting the model to become more neutral. The company stated, Our guidelines are explicit that reviewers should not favor any political group. Biases that nevertheless may emerge from the process described above are bugs, not features. A study last year by several universities concluded that AI inevitably carries political bias. The tilt is provided by what materials are used in training the models and how human creators try to correct for said bias. Given the extreme leftward tilt of most academic texts, one can only imagine how the training will go. The bottom line is that bias is almost impossible to eliminate, even if AI players want to do that (which is not a given). Musks emergence as a player in the AI world is reassuring, in that balance is important. As an article in MITs Technology Review on AI bias pointed out, A chatbot offering health-care advice might refuse to offer advice on abortion or contraception, or a customer service bot might start spewing offensive nonsense. Just as Twitter provides voices on both sides of the political spectrum, xAI will presumably offer a similar diversity of views. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Musks business journey has driven him to abhor government overreach. When an entrepreneur is constantly tripped up by red tape and targeted by obstructionist bureaucrats, he tends to embrace limited government and push back. In agreeing to co-manage the Department of Government Efficiency with Vivek Ramaswamy, Musk gets to act on his new-found conservatism, working to significantly downsize our federal bureaucracy. Musk is working to make our government accountable, to safeguard free speech in the U.S., and now will help protect the truth. That these are all gigantic (and critical) undertakings goes without saying. xAI is set to debut the third version of its Grok language model in December. Musk has said it will be the worlds most powerful AI by every metric. Let us hope so. Liz Peek is a former partner of major bracket Wall Street firm Wertheim and Company. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. President-elect Donald Trump has got to be feeling good right now. His running mate, JD Vance? Not so much. In the weeks since Election Day, Trump has been busy announcing his picks for various Cabinet roles and basking in the glow of his second campaign win. At his side has been First Buddy Elon Musk, the billionaire who once said hed rather stay out of politics and then set that side to barnstorm Pennsylvania on Trumps behalf has settled in nicely and become a central figure in the transition, making himself home at Mar-a-Lago and tweeting up a storm about his new advisory role. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Clearly the feeling is mutual. Whether letting Musk join a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy or naming him to spearhead a made-up agency to curb government spending, Trump clearly thinks theres a lot of value in his relationship with the fellow billionaire. But while hes put Musk in a drivers seat, Vance has found himself standing outside the car. So what exactly is Musks new role in the incoming Trump administration? The Tesla founder will oversee a wholly made-up Department of Government Efficiency alongside Vivek Ramaswamy. How dumb is that? They are creating an agency to get rid of other agencies. And to layer on the bureaucracy of it all, two people with competing agendas will be in charge. While this so-called government efficiency department already seems like an oxymoron, it should also be viewed as a classic quid pro quo. Trump has always been transactional. The richest man in the world leveraged his bank account and his social media platform to boost Trumps campaign with a sea of misinformation. Now Musk is cashing in. The currency: power. If Musk is given carte blanche to eliminate government positions, whats to stop him from firing the regulators who keep his businesses and his investments in check? These types of relationships are the ones to watch out for over the next four years in Washington. America is witnessing what happens when a private citizen amasses power solely based on their proximity to the president of the United States. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As for Trumps actual incoming vice president, he just cant find himself a seat at the cool kids table. Last weekend, Trump shared a picture of his inner circle on his private plane enjoying McDonalds. Trump was surrounded by Musk; his son Don Jr.; House Speaker Mike Johnson; and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Not pictured: Vance. Instead, Vance was given the thankless task of convincing Senate Republicans to confirm Trumps menagerie of misfit MAGA sycophants to the Cabinet. While Musk is sitting in on phone calls with Trump, Vance wasted his time trying to convince his fellow Republican senators to back Matt Gaetz, just a day before Gaetz withdrew his nomination for attorney general. That must be the worst assignment for a vice president since President Joe Biden charged Vice President Kamala Harris with solving the root causes of global migration. Vance also skipped out on his day job in order to help Trump fill a seat that is not vacant. In a since-deleted social media post, Vance defended missing votes in the U.S. Senate because he was too busy meeting with Trump to interview candidates to lead the FBI. (Vance returned to Capitol Hill Tuesday to vote against Bidens judicial nominees.) A reminder: The term for current FBI Director Christopher Wray does not expire until 2027. Trump handpicked Wray in 2017 after Trump fired then-FBI Director James Comey. It appears Vance let this one slip, confirming Trump indeed intends to break another norm by replacing the head of Americas top law enforcement agency again! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its this kind of norm-breaking that Republicans in the Senate must decide to confront or let slide. Trump is testing them. He has already floated the idea of pushing through his largely unqualified Cabinet by using recess appointments to get around confirmation battles. Incoming Senate Majority Leader John Thune has two choices: capitulate to Trump or control the situation. To that end, as a sitting member of the Senate, what counsel is Vance offering that Thune would take? Over the next four years, Senate Republicans have the opportunity to prove the U.S. Congress is indeed a separate but equal branch of our government. But if they cede more power to the executive branch by bowing down to Trump, people like Elon Musk will ultimately benefit. Either way, it appears Vance is just along for the ride if only he could get in the car. Lynox Norman contributed. For more thought-provoking insights from Michael Steele, Alicia Menendez and Symone Sanders-Townsend, watch The Weekend every Saturday and Sunday at 8 a.m. ET on MSNBC. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com Editors note: This was updated to correct a change in the language of the Constitution. We regret the error. The decisive Republican victory in Election 2024 has given Donald Trump a strong mandate for change. Overhauling the federal government tops his list of priorities. He has long railed against rogue bureaucrats of the deep state, federal employees with civil protection whom he accuses of at best incompetence or at worst corruption. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump plans to reissue his 2020 executive order, converting government with civil service protection workers to Schedule F employees easier to fire. Trump is also drafting an executive order to create a review board allowing him to remove senior military officers and replace them with generals and admirals loyal to himself. He is even considering court martialing or charging with treason military leaders involved in the Afghanistan withdrawal Making civilian bureaucrats more compliant would hamper agencies ability to exercise their regulatory function and provide services. But making the military completely subservient to the president would be downright dangerous. Such a move would overturn a principle established at the beginning of the republic: Military personnel must be politically neutral. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Founders saw how European despots used their armed forces to oppress their own people. Thats why they did not want a large peacetime military, relying instead on state militias that a cadre of professional soldiers could lead during times of war. When President George Washington suppressed the Whiskey Rebellion in 1794, he relied on troops from the Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland and New Jersey militias. The army expanded dramatically to fight the Civil War, reaching a peak strength of more than 2.6 million, but it was rapidly demobilized following Reconstruction. By 1890, it had fewer than 30,000 officers and men. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The military expanded again to fight World War I, growing to approximately 2.9 million in 1918 but shrank to 247,000 in 1923. The World War II military reached a peak strength of more than 12 million. Post-war strength declined but has never fallen below 1.3 million. Today, the armed forces number approximately 2.1 million. Although Americans accept the need for a large professional military, they have never lost their unease over how it might be used against them. In 1878, Congress passed the Posse Comitatus Act, which prohibited the use of the army for domestic policing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a safeguard to political neutrality, in 1789 the first Congress required soldiers to swear an oath to support the Constitution of the United States. During the Civil War, Congress changed the wording to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic. The current oath also requires enlisted personnel (but, significantly, not officers) to obey the orders of the President of the United States. Therein lies the rub. What if the duty to obey orders conflicts with the obligation to defend the Constitution? During Trumps first administration, the Pentagon opposed using troops against protestors or to support the presidents efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Would a Pentagon staffed with loyalists show the same restraint? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I need the kind of generals that Hitler had, Trump allegedly remarked in a private White House meeting. People who were totally loyal to him, that follow orders. His campaign denied he said that, but either way, Trump has made clear his desire for a more compliant officer corps. He has vowed to purge the military of what he calls woke generals. Critics fear this criteria will be used to get rid of those he considers insufficiently loyal. As commander in chief, the president has the authority to appoint senior officers with the advice and consent of the senate, the same caveat that applies to cabinet secretaries. It remains to be seen how willing the Republican-controlled Senate will be to confirm nominees, no matter how controversial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president-elect has wasted no time in testing the waters, nominating Pete Hegseth to be Secretary of Defense. The Fox News talk show host is a National Guard veteran who rose no higher than the rank of major and has no experience running a small company, let alone a massive federal agency. According to one retired military official, loyalty to Trump seemed to be Hegseths main qualification. If the Senate approves his nomination, that will signal a willingness to comply with the president-elects other military appointments. If Trump gets the military he wants, how might he use it? He will surely deploy troops to the southern border as he did in 2018. He might also use the army to round up and deport illegal immigrants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The legal justification for this lies in a modification of the very act designed to keep the armed forces out of domestic affairs. In 1981, Congress amended the Posse Comitatus Act, authorizing the military to assist with drug trafficking interdiction. Some experts fear that it allows for wider use of the military for civilian law enforcement. The president-elects threat to go after those he considers domestic bad actors is particularly worrying. In an October interview on Fox News, asked how the government should handle post-election violence if he were to win the election, Trump spoke of the enemy from within. We have some sick people, radical left lunatics, he declared. And I think theyre the big and it should be very easily handled by, if necessary, by National Guard, or if really necessary, by the military, because they cant let that happen. According to some legal experts, the Insurrection Act (passed in 1807 and last modified in 1871) might allow him to use the army within the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Article 253 of the act empowers the president to deploy the armed forces to suppress, in a State, any insurrection, domestic violence, unlawful combination, or conspiracy, if it opposes or obstructs the execution of the laws of the United States or impedes the course of justice under those laws. The Supreme Court would be the final arbiter of whether using troops domestically is legal, but it has shown a willingness to allow presidents wide discretion when it comes to executive authority. Under these circumstances, we can only hope that the president will choose senior officers wisely, and senators from both parties will fulfill their obligation to preserve the apolitical military that has served us so well for more than two centuries. Tom Mockaitis is a professor of history at DePaul University and the author of Violent Extremists: Understanding the Domestic and International Terrorist Threat . Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Pressure, pressure Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) is feeling it from Team Trump. Unfolding is a Shakespearean power struggle between President-elect Donald Trump and DeSantiss political future. The conflict was triggered when Trump nominated Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) as secretary of State. Lara Trump, his daughter-in-law and current Republican National Committee co-chair, instantly emerged as his replacement. Rubio won his third reelection in November 2022, so DeSantis must appoint someone to fill his seat for the next two years. In November 2026, the winner of a special election will finish the remaining two years of Rubios term. In 2028, Florida voters will elect a senator for a new six-year term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The stakes are high. Among Florida Republicans, America is now Florida, reflecting how the state has morphed into the epicenter of GOP political power. On Nov. 5, Trump won the former swing state by a jaw-dropping 13 percentage points, solidifying its status as one of Americas reddest large states. Therefore, whomever DeSantis appoints to the Senate could become a major Republican player. And as an incumbent, the appointed senator would stand a strong chance of winning the 2026 special election and full term in 2028. That reality presents a potentially career-altering roadblock for DeSantis, a presidentially ambitious 46-year-old who will be term-limited out of office in early January 2027. DeSantis is now paying for his failed overzealous aspirations. After winning his 2022 reelection in a 19-point landslide, the impatient DeSantis announced for president in May 2023. By every metric, his disastrous primary campaign was a case study in what not to do. After Trump crushed him to take the 2024 Republican nomination, DeSantis brushed himself off and returned as the successful governor of the nations third most populous state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Once DeSantis leaves the governors mansion, he will need another high-profile office or Fox News show to remain relevant. The most obvious path is through the Senate, where he could park until the next opportunity arises. In theory, DeSantis could run for president anytime until 2056, when he would be 78 Trumps current age. This is what makes DeSantiss appointment so essential to his political dreams. From stage right, enter Lara, Eric Trumps wife and MAGA It Girl. After the Rubio announcement, she made it abundantly clear throughout all Fox News programming that she wanted the title Senator Trump. Lara has political momentum after successfully co-chairing the Republican National Committee to a White House, Senate and House trifecta. During the campaign, she was always the sculpted-to-perfection, camera-ready spokeswoman for the Trump agenda. Lara told Sean Hannity, for example, that she would love to serve the people of Florida. Cue the flood of high-profile endorsements: Senators Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.), and Pam Bondi Trumps new pick for attorney general with more expected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Adding family heft, on Sunday at Fox News, Laras brother-in-law, Donald Trump Jr., proclaimed, I think she would be great. Earlier this week on News Nation, Scott (DeSantiss predecessor as governor) boldly predicted, I think hes going to pick Lara Trump, because he knows she is clearly qualified. Why all the Senator Trump rah-rah? A beneficial MAGA incentive forces DeSantis to show loyalty to King Donald for his disloyal presidential run. Will DeSantis play sacrificial lamb, surrendering the Senate seat he had been eyeing for his future? Lara would keep the seat warm and likely win in 2026 and 2028. After all, Florida is Trump Country, and America is now Florida. Furthermore, she could be Trumps eyes and ears in the Senate, reporting any hint of disloyalty among the troops newly led by Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.), who bested the MAGA-backed Scott to get his new post. DeSantiss impending decision has garnered attention and speculation. On Nov. 18, the governor said he would decide in January and announced his criteria in a post on X: Florida deserves a senator who will help President Trump deliver on his election mandate, be strong on immigration and border security, take on the entrenched bureaucracy and administrative state, reverse the nations fiscal decline, be animated by conservative principles, and has a proven record of results. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Was DeSantis describing himself? It sounds like a future DeSantis for Senate campaign ad. And maybe it was since no Florida law prohibits the governor from appointing himself. Moreover, DeSantis is a native Florida man, so anything is possible and acceptable and then forgotten. Still, appointing himself would be risky. It worked out well for only one of the nine governors who tried it previously all the others went on to lose, no matter how popular they had been as governor. In addition to that, DeSantis could expect category-five winds from an outraged Team Trump. A similar bold course of action, albeit one with identical consequences, would be for DeSantis to resign from office and let Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nunez upon becoming governor appoint him to Rubios seat. There is also the keep it in the family option where DeSantis appoints his wife Casey, who is popular and equally ambitious, as the placeholder senator until the 2026 special election. Then, from the governors mansion throughout 2026, DeSantis could launch his Senate campaign a playbook successfully used in 2018 by then-governor now-Sen. Scott. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This placeholder option continues to be widely discussed, with DeSantiss Chief of Staff James Uthmeier mentioned most frequently. DeSantis knows this two-year Senate appointment reflects an ongoing battle with Trump forces working against his future, which explains the orchestrated exuberance for Sen. Lara Trump. To that point, in July, an influential Trump insider texted me, Ron is finished. He will never hold public office again. I will do whatever is necessary to ensure that that is the case. Loyalty matters. He is a devoid of character. Loyalty matters, as reflected already in Trumps Cabinet appointments. DeSantis showed disloyalty when he launched his ill-fated presidential campaign. But now he can show sacrificial loyalty by kissing the ring and appointing Sen. Lara Trump. DeSantis has a choice. He can do what is best for himself, or he can acquiesce to Team Trumps pressure campaign and hope theres a reward for his loyalty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Myra Adams is an opinion writer who served on the creative team of two Republican presidential campaigns, in 2004 and 2008. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Amid the flurry of names being tapped to join President-elect Donald Trumps incoming administration, Ive been dreading one in particular: Russell Vought. He is the president-elects choice to again become the director of the White House Office of Management and Budget. Normally obscured from the limelight, its a crucial role in coordinating how the executive branch functions on a day-to-day basis. Vought served as deputy OMB director for most of Trumps term and as director in its final year. The Government Accountability Office determined while Vought was there that OMB violated federal law by following Trumps orders to withhold money Congress had appropriated. I would be shocked if Voughts return to the Eisenhower Executive Office Building doesnt coincide with a renewed string of similar accusations of lawbreaking to the detriment of Americans. Since he left the White House in 2021, Vought has been a radical voice in the ear of MAGA Republicans in Congress, urging their most destructive tendencies. The Washington Post reported in February 2023 that the think tank Vought runs, the Center for Renewing America, encouraged the GOP to take a chainsaw to the budget by advocating for $2 trillion in cuts to Medicaid, the health program for the poor; more than $600 billion in cuts to the Affordable Care Act; more than $400 billion in cuts to food stamps; hundreds of billions of dollars in cuts to educational subsidies; and a halving of the State Department and the Labor Department, among other federal agencies. Combined with his role in helping prepare to transform the Heritage Foundations Project 2025 into a reality, his likely return to OMB is deeply troubling. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All signs point to Vought urging Trump to act unilaterally in pursuing the devastating budget cuts that Congress has long refused to implement. He recently told former Fox News host Tucker Carson that hed use a renewed role at OMB to tame the administrative state. Voughts position reflects the Project 2025 chapter he wrote, wherein he outlined how OMB could be used to centralize unchecked executive power in the White House. Vought also told Carson that hed work with the blue-ribbon commission, known as the Department of Government Efficiency, that business bros Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy are poised to lead. Only Congress has the power of the purse under the Constitution; lawmakers decide how much money to raise via taxes and to spend on federal programs. But with Vought at OMB, hed likely try to enact Musk and Ramaswamys recommendations whether lawmakers agree or not. After all, in a Wednesday op-ed in The Wall Street Journal, the billionaires lay out their intent to focus particularly on driving change through executive action based on existing legislation rather than by passing new laws. Their stated goals include slashing scores of government regulations, cutting a commensurate number of federal jobs and refusing to spend billions of dollars that Congress has decided to spend. And by using a process known as impoundment, Trump could theoretically order Vought to simply not spend the money appropriated to whatever agencies or programs he wanted choked off. It was a favorite trick of President Richard Nixon, who refused to spend funds on domestic programs that the Democratic-controlled Congress had passed. After his resignation, Congress passed the Impoundment Control Act to formally limit the White Houses ability to determine which appropriations to use. In 2019, Vought and his then-boss, OMB Director and acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, violated that law by following Trumps orders to withhold millions of dollars in military aid for Ukraine. (Trump wanted to pressure Ukraine to give him dirt on Joe Biden ahead of the 2020 election; he was impeached for those efforts but was acquitted in his Senate trial.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Supreme Court has never had to weigh in on the Impoundment Control Acts limits on the president. But William Rehnquist, then an assistant attorney general under Nixon at the Office of Legal Counsel, didnt agree with Nixon that impoundment is constitutional. The future conservative chief justice wrote as much in a memo to OMB, and later told Congress the same in testimony, though he did carve out potential exceptions for the presidents authority as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and his authority over foreign affairs. Vought would agree with that assessment, based on his willingness to impede the delivery of funds to Ukraine under Trump. And it seems likely that at least two of Rehnquists intellectual successors, Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas, would want to expand the presidents authority in this regard. Whether Chief Justice John Roberts, who clerked under Rehnquist, would want to as well is an open question. Vought seems determined to force Roberts to answer. A policy brief published in September on the Center for Renewing Americas website argued that the Impoundment Control Act itself is a violation of Article II of the U.S. Constitution. That argument is unsurprising given the dedication to the unitary executive theory that Vought and the other former Trump administration lackeys at the think tank espouse. But theres a chance that the justices agree, toppling the Impoundment Control Act despite its role as a pillar supporting the separation of powers. If thats the case, then the power of the purse would be flipped on its head. Congressional appropriations would no longer be the amount the president must spend but the maximum a president could spend. It would essentially cut a hole underneath the budget and erase millions of dollars in funding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vought being reinstalled at OMB would expose as lies the Trump campaigns denials that Project 2025 would be the administrations blueprint. But his appointment would also give him the keys to singlehandedly control the countrys spending. It wont matter that theres no law allowing Vought to play the role of the kings treasurer, at least not if members of Congress remain asleep to the reality that its their power he wants to steal. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com Recently, a mother and father sued their sons school because he was punished after being caught using AI for his class assignment. News like this always gives me pause, because it suggests that every party in the story was wrong. The son, for example, probably should have told his teacher that he would use AI to help complete his assignment. The teacher should have also talked with their students about when its okay to use AI to complete homework and when it isnt. The teachers administrators have also had the better part of two years to design a comprehensive response to students using AI-generated content in assignments. The parents in this story also have their share of the blame. A response to a lack of policy should not be reason enough to sue a school for perceived opportunities lost. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I am not a lawyer, but I do know that litigation this early into the development of AI EdTech is a recipe to stifle innovation and create unnecessary backlash. I am a tenured professor and educational psychologist focused on understanding how educational technologies impact students learning and motivation. As the associate director of USCs Center for Generative AI and Society, I have studied how students and educators have responded to the age of AI-driven tools and have found many misconceptions and a general lack of foresight sometimes even a lack of hindsight to learn from previous mistakes, as was the case for Los Angeles Unified School Districts most recent EdTech debacle. AI-driven educational technologies are not the solution to all of educations ills, as some prominent venture capitalists would have you believe. But neither are they the monsters under our metaphorical beds. Instead, they are simply another set of tools that will become integrated into the instructional landscape. Mark my words, in about five years, we will have figured out what AI in education is good for and what it isnt. After that, we will simply see AI the same way we see our smartphones as mundane technologies that serve a narrow purpose, sometimes doing harm and other times doing good. We will likely not be able to anticipate how much of either dynamic AI is capable of in the near term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What I do know right now, however, is that we cannot litigate our way into solving the AI question. If AI is to be used in education, then it cannot be done amidst an atmosphere of fear. Students should be encouraged to experiment with AI so they can better understand how new AI can help them learn, how it can motivate them, and how it can help them discover new ways of exploring the world around them. Educators should similarly explore AI solutions so that they can fill gaps that are present in their educational setting and personalize content for their students. None of this can happen when everyone is looking over their shoulder, wondering who will set a rule that can be accidentally broken, or wondering if overly litigious parents will make accusations about denied civil liberties when their child uses a technology that is still under development. Innovation and development cannot happen under those circumstances. Instead, everyone should take a deep breath and understand that AI in education is here to stay, but we are still figuring out its place in schools. In the meantime, the adults in the room should create policies that foster curiosity among their students and staff so that the truly useful aspects of AI in education can emerge. Those policies should be drafted now and should focus on documentation so that if AI is used, educators know how it is used. Educators should encourage their students to use AI when developmentally appropriate, and parents should trust educators to make that call. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stephen J. Aguilar is a tenured professor at the USC Rossier School of Education, specializing in educational psychology. His research focuses on the impact of educational technologies, including AI, on student learning, motivation and educational outcomes. He is also the associate director of USCs Center for Generative AI and Society Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. On Thursday, former congressman Matt Gaetz announced he was withdrawing from consideration by President-elect Donald Trump to serve as attorney general in his administration. The day before, after a two-hour closed-door meeting, the House Ethics Committee announced it would not at that time be releasing a report on Gaetz, the culmination of an investigation into allegations that Gaetz participated in sex parties, took illegal drugs and had sex with a minor. Gaetz reportedly announced his withdrawal on X after he was asked for comment about testimony concerning an alleged second and previously unreported sexual encounter with the minor, according to CNN. (Gaetz has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and the DOJ closed its investigation into him without bringing charges.) Gaetz was just one of many controversial Cabinet picks weve seen from Trump as he prepares to re-enter the White House, with Democrats and Republicans alike expressing surprise and concern. In fact, Gaetzs sudden decision to remove himself from consideration one day after he courted senators was less surprising, to some, than the pick itself. Holy s---! I didnt see that coming, Sen. John Fetterman reportedly said sarcastically after learning of Gaetz's withdrawal. Some GOP senators are reportedly relieved by the news. Yet Gaetz's withdrawal and the uncertain future of the ethics report dont derail the trajectory the president-elect has already set for his future Cabinet one that embraces not only the unqualified, but also men accused of sexual assault. There is no relief in sight when the allegations against Gaetz did not automatically disqualify him for consideration on Day One. There will be no relief as a result of his withdrawal, which potentially allows the former congressman to sidestep accountability and avoid further scrutiny, either. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Instead, lawmakers will continue to scratch their proverbial heads over Trumps pick of former WWE executive and former Small Business Administration administer Linda McMahon for education secretary or television host and surgeon Mehmet Oz as the administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. By any logical, reality-based standard, these picks would be unanimously viewed as laughable, inappropriate and even dismissible but Trump has made it clear that normal standards no longer apply. When Trump named Gaetz to head up the Justice Department, attention promptly turned to the sexual assault allegations surrounding the embattled lawmaker, including claims he had sex with a minor and was allegedly involved in sex trafficking alongside his former friend Joel Greenberg, who pleaded guilty to sex trafficking in 2021. Why is he so intent on picking the most controversial firebrand he can think of for every post? NBC News Chuck Todd wrote, arguing that politically, it just doesnt make a lot of sense for Trump to name a man investigated by the House Ethics Committee on allegations of sexual misconduct. A bevy of GOP senators were reportedly stunned, and not in a good way, by the Gaetz pick. Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho, responded to the news by asking one reporter: Are you s------- me? Yet, to be surprised at any of this feels painfully naive. The overall troubling theme is that men accused of sexual misconduct are not a bug, but a feature of the inner circle Trump is assembling for his administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2016, when the country first decided that a man accused of sexual assault or harassment by more than two dozen women was fit for the highest office in the land, I was admittedly shocked. I watched in horror as acquaintances and family members celebrated Trumps ascension when, just weeks prior, he was heard on tape bragging about grabbing women by their genitals without their consent. I tried and failed to follow the mental gymnastics deployed by some of the very people who at one point offered their heartfelt condolences, well-wishes and righteous indignation after I was sexually assaulted by a former co-worker, only to praise their god when Trump secured an electoral college victory. I navigated post-traumatic stress disorder triggers as first-time president Trump endorsed Roy Moore, a man accused of pursuing relationships with underage girls (Moore denied the allegations), and defended his former White House staff secretary Rob Porter after he was accused of multiple instances of domestic violence (Porter denied the allegations but resigned from his post). I wept as now-Justice Brett Kavanaugh was confirmed to the Supreme Court his accuser Christine Blasey Fords testimony discarded like the rape kit I endured that still, to this day, sits on a shelf somewhere in Oregon collecting dust and indifference. Now, as the country prepares for Trump 2.0 despite his two impeachments, 34 felony convictions and a jury finding him liable for sexual abuse, that shock has eroded. And its been replaced by a cold disassociation that overtakes the body and mind when so many promises that good will overcome evil and justice will prevail crumble in front of your eyes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is a feeling many, including the 1 in 6 women and 1 in 10 men who will be victims of sexual assault at some point in their lives, know all too well. Its what bombards the senses when you live in a country where fewer than 7% of rape cases will end in a conviction. Its the familiar gut-punch that precedes a local prosecutor telling you theres not enough evidence to go to trial; theyre sorry, but theres nothing they can do; this is what happens when its he says, she says. Its also why more than 200 survivors of sexual assault and gender-based violence signed a full-page ad in The New York Times urging begging voters not to reinstate Trump to the Oval Office. While others may have forgotten the tumult that defined his first presidency, those of us who called sexual assault hotlines at record-breaking rates during confirmation hearings and listened to him claim his accusers were too ugly to rape have not. We know all too well how the country has historically placated toxic, misogynistic men in positions of power, overlooking or even embracing their sexist rhetoric as simply men being men or, later, engaging in locker room talk. We can still recall some Republican lawmakers calling our bodies hosts and claiming legitimate rapes dont result in a pregnancy, only for the same political party to pretend it respects life and upholds family values. Its why very few of us were shocked when Gaetz at one point allegedly showed sexual videos of women to his fellow congressmen on the House floor, or when he cast the sole no vote on a 2017 anti-human trafficking bill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And its why we werent surprised when prosecutors closed the investigation into whether Gaetz recruited women online for sex and paid with cash apps without bringing charges. Even with Gaetzs withdrawal, Trumps Cabinet picks are shaping up to simply be a disaster a collection of men accused of sexual assault, harassment or rape whose career trajectories appear unfazed by the allegations. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who was accused of sexually assaulting a woman in the 90s who worked in his home, responded to the allegation by saying on Breaking Points podcast that he was not a church boy and admitting he has so many skeletons in my closet. And then theres former Fox News host Pete Hegseth, who was investigated in connection with allegations of sexually assaulting a woman in 2017 and then paying to keep her silent. No charges were brought and his attorney denied the allegations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In this context, the president-elects pick of Gaetz for attorney general feels, despite his withdrawal, like just another the canary in the coal mine, warning those who need reminding of whats likely to come. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) You may not be much of a Black Friday shopper but you still love a good deal, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has got you covered. They will offer free admission on Nov. 29 to all Indiana State Park properties that normally charge a gate fee. This includes all 24 state parks and Redbird in Sullivan County.Visit any of our properties on the Friday after Thanksgiving, and youll score the best Black Friday deal around free admission to explore the beautiful scenery and the chance to get away from it all, relax and recharge, said Dan Bortner, DNR director. Opt Outside Day participants can be entered in drawings for 2025 DNR annual entrance passes, Outdoor Indiana magazine subscriptions, Indiana DNR camping and inn gift cards, and opt outside promotional gear. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you either or both of the following, and youll increase your chances of winning prizes: 1. Share your photos. Post photos of your adventures at DNR properties on social media. When posting photos, use the hashtag #OpOutsideIN2024 and tag the DNR or the property you are visiting in your post. More details and rules of the contests are at on.IN.gov/optoutside. 2.Opt Outside Scavenger Hunt. Download and complete the form at on.IN.gov/optoutside and email it to SPContests@dnr.IN.gov to be entered in a separate drawing for prizes.will offer free admission on Nov. 29 to all Indiana State Park properties that normally charge a gate fee. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyWabashValley.com. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Friday said he would not comply with an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC). Orban invited Netanyahu to visit Hungary and said Budapest would "deny the arrest warrant if he accepts the invitation." The comments came one day after the court in The Hague issued the warrants against Netanyahu, as well as his former defence minister Yoav Gallant and Hamas military leader Mohammed Deif, for alleged war crimes relating to the conflict in Gaza. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speaking on Hungarian state radio, Orban blasted the ICC's decision as "cynical" and said it constituted "interference in an ongoing conflict for politic purposes." The Hungarian leader - seen as a close ally of Netanyahu - said the ICC's arrest warrant was a contravention of international law and "adds fuel to the fire." Orban's defence of Netanyahu stands in contrast to the stance adopted by the European Union's outgoing top diplomat Josep Borrell, who on Thursday said all EU countries must carry out arrest warrants issued by the ICC. "It is not a political decision. It's a decision of a court, of a court of justice," Borrell said while in Amman. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ICC ruling said there were grounds to believe that Netanyahu and Gallant "intentionally and knowingly deprived the civilian population in Gaza of objects indispensable to their survival, including food, water, and medicine and medical supplies, as well as fuel and electricity." Hamas commander Deif, whom Israel says it killed in July, was also accused of responsibility for crimes against humanity and war crimes including murder, torture and rape over his alleged role in the October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Friday slammed an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC), as Germany remained evasive on whether it would comply with the ruling. Orban invited Netanyahu to visit Hungary and said Budapest would "deny the arrest warrant if he accepts the invitation." The comments came one day after the court in The Hague issued the warrants against Netanyahu, as well as his former defence minister Yoav Gallant and Hamas military leader Mohammed Deif, for alleged war crimes relating to the conflict in Gaza. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speaking on Hungarian state radio, Orban blasted the ICC's decision as "cynical" and said it constituted "interference in an ongoing conflict for political purposes." The Hungarian leader - seen as a close ally of Netanyahu - said the ICC's arrest warrant was a contravention of international law and "adds fuel to the fire." Netanyahu's office later thanked Orban for his support and said Hungary stands on the side of justice. It remains to be seen, however, whether the Israeli prime minister will take up Orban's offer of a visit. Orban's defence of Netanyahu stands in contrast to the stance adopted by the European Union's outgoing top diplomat Josep Borrell, who on Thursday said all EU countries must carry out arrest warrants issued by the ICC. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While countries such as the Netherlands and Ireland have already signalled they would do so, Germany has yet to confirm if it would comply with the ruling. In Berlin, government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said officials were carefully examining "domestic steps" following the court's ruling. A decision on whether to arrest Netanyahu or Gallant would follow in the case that either were expected to visit Germany, Hebestreit said. He added that Germany is a major supporter of the ICC, but stressed that the country shares "unique relations with and a great responsibility to Israel." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The comments were echoed by Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, who told broadcasters RTL and ntv that Germany would comply with the law at a national, European and international level but said a visit by Netanyahu was a "hypothetical question." "We are now examining closely how we will deal with it," Baerbock said. No mechanism to enforce arrest warrants The ICC ruling on Thursday said there were grounds to believe that Netanyahu and Gallant "intentionally and knowingly deprived the civilian population in Gaza of objects indispensable to their survival, including food, water, and medicine and medical supplies, as well as fuel and electricity." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hamas commander Deif, whom Israel says it killed in July, was also accused of responsibility for crimes against humanity and war crimes including murder, torture and rape over his alleged role in the October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel. Signatories to the Rome Statute, which established the ICC, are obliged to execute arrest warrants issued by the court. However, the court has no mechanisms to enforce its warrants, including one it issued for the arrest of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Orban previously said he would not comply with the ruling should Putin visit Hungary, while Mongolia recently refused to arrest the president despite being a party to the court. Viktor Orban has invited Benjamin Netanyahu on a state visit to Hungary, defying the International Criminal Courts (ICC) decision to issue an arrest warrant for him. The Hungarian prime minister was the latest leader to criticise the ICC ruling, labelling it a political decision that discredits international law and could add fuel to the flames in the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. Hungary signed the Rome Statute of the ICC in 1999, ratifying it two years later, meaning it is technically obliged to arrest the Israeli prime minister should he step foot in the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Netanyahu thanked Mr Orban for the invite and for his warm support of Israel. Mr Orbans rejection of the ICCs ruling marks a split among European countries after Italy and the Netherlands vowed to arrest Mr Netanyahu, as well as Yoav Gallant, the former defence minister, if they visit their country. The ICC arrest warrant against Prime Minister Netanyahu is brazen, cynical and completely unacceptable. I invited Prime Minister Netanyahu for an official visit to Hungary, where we will guarantee his freedom and safety, Mr Orban said. He added that the disgraceful decision would have no impact whatsoever on Israel and Hungarys relationship. Mr Orban says the ICCs arrest warrant for Mr Netanyahu is political saying it discredits international law - Bloomberg/Akos Stiller Mr Netanyahu responded: I thank Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban for the warm support for me and the State of Israel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Against the shameful weakness of those who have lined up alongside the outrageous decision against the State of Israels right to defend itself, Hungary like our friends in the US has shown moral clarity and steadfastness on the side of justice and the truth. Mr Orban has become an outlier in Europe in recent years, particularly over his willingness to maintain open communication with Vladimir Putin during the war between Russia and Ukraine. His decision to invite Mr Netanyahu to Hungary is marked contrast to the position of fellow European Union member states, including Ireland, Italy, and the Netherlands. Guido Crosetto, Italys defence minister, told RAI television on Thursday: We would have to arrest them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added that it was not a political choice but that Italy was bound as a member of the ICC to act on the courts warrants. It followed a call by the EU on its member states to respect and comply with the arrest warrants following the ICCs landmark decision. Josep Borrell, the EUs foreign policy chief, also disputed Israels claim that the courts decision was political. Mr Netanyahu condemned the ICC decision on Thursday, labelling it an anti-Semitic decision motivated by hate. 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. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) Oregons Climate Protection Program is set to make a comeback about a year after an appeals court determined it was invalid. The program the Environmental Quality Commission approved on Thursday will impose limits on the greenhouse gas emissions brought on by fossil fuel companies, like NW Natural and Cascade Natural Gas. Second wind, rain event of the week arrives in PNW [The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality] manages the emissions cap by giving out a limited number of free credits to regulated entities, which include fossil fuel suppliers and large manufacturing facilities, DEQ explained in a release. Each credit allows one ton of emissions. Each year the cap, and therefore the number of credits given out, declines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the agency, these restrictions are projected to help the state achieve its goals of reducing emissions by 50% in 2035 and by 90% by 2050. The program was originally green-lit in December 2021, but the Oregon Court of Appeals struck it down two years later following a lawsuit from stakeholders in the fossil fuel industry. Plaintiffs claimed the commission made errors in its rulemaking process for the program, and the appeals court later agreed it was invalid due to an administrative failure. Drone helps rescue two more mushroom hunters in Skamania County In January, DEQ revealed it would not appeal the ruling. The department reported it would spend the first quarter of the year reinstating the program through an updated rulemaking process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The amended rules establish that the agency will work alongside the Oregon Public Utilities Commission to determine whether the program is significantly increasing customers gas bills. The environmental quality department will also monitor whether Community Climate Investment projects align with its efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Starting in 2025, fossil fuel companies will have three years to show they are in compliance with the terms of the program. The second compliance period will run from 2028 to 2029. Sea turtle dies after attempted rescue on Oregon Coast Oregon is committed to acting boldly and consistently to do our part to protect our climate, Gov. Tina Kotek said in a statement. The Climate Protection Program will keep polluters accountable and fund community investments that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Oregon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to CPP, the state has also banned the sale of new gas-powered vehicles starting in 2035. Oregon recently reached a milestone in this goal, announcing there were more than 100,000 registered electric vehicles as of mid-November. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. Oregon's battles against any federal regulation under the next Donald Trump administration are likely to play out in court. (Getty Images) During the just-concluded campaign for attorney general, Republican Will Lathrop dodged a question about whether he supported his partys presidential candidate by saying he was laser focused on public safety issues in Oregon and not on national politics. National issues, he suggested, were not a major part of the job for an Oregon attorney general. He was wrong. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whats become obvious in the days since the election of Donald Trump as president is that the line between Oregons and national issues could be erased, and that courtrooms and specifically those likely to be frequented by Oregons attorney general will be a primary battleground over the broader subjects of safety and security. Oregons next Democratic attorney general, Dan Rayfield, reflected as much immediately after his race was called. In some of his first remarks post-election, he said, In light of this weeks election, our work to defend Oregons values and the rule of law against national attacks will be front and center like never before. As the last line of defense for the rights and freedoms of Oregonians, we will be prepared to stand firm against the unconstitutional and unlawful threats President-elect Trump promised on the campaign trail. Oregon statewide officials overall have been less strident than those in some other blue states with their responses to the incoming federal administration, but their comments have included warnings that offensive federal policies wouldnt go unchallenged. Gov. Tina Kotek, for example, said, While I seek to work with the incoming administration, I will not stand idly by as abortion access, environmental standards, civil liberties or other priorities come under attack from national partisan politics. Rayfield seems likely to ask the Oregon Legislature in coming weeks for more money to do battle with the Trump administration. And hes likely to get it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That would mirror most of the blue state attorneys general. Washington state, for example, situated much like Oregon, also has just elected a new AG with the incumbent, Bob Ferguson, a veteran of many battles with the prior Trump administration, moving up to governor. A number of California-Oregon-Washington legal initiatives may be on the way. Rob Bonta, Californias attorney general, said, If Trump attacks your rights, Ill be there. Washingtons incoming AG, Nick Brown, remarked that, We will be prepared for whatever comes and do everything in our power to defend the rights of Washingtonians, the people of this great state, and to make sure that when there is an illegal action, that we look very closely to see if we can bring a case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Where might the battles be located? You can start with some of the topics Trump emphasized in his campaign. Oregons protections for immigrants and transgender people are two likely targets. Education policy may shift dramatically, since theres discussion of eliminating the U.S. Department of Education, though its reach is not as broad as some critics appear to think. The Affordable Care Act is again, as during the first Trump term, very much at risk. Trumps discussion of election fraud has faded since his win, but Oregons vote-by-mail process may become a target anyway. But the meaningful list of battlefields is much longer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2017 the Trump administration proposed to decrease the size of the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument, which had been expanded by President Barack Obama. The effort failed. But the effort did not happen because Trump made a personal push for it; the proposal came from Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke. In all presidencies, many administration proposals come from officials other than the president, and the list of those initiatives could be extensive. Taken together, many changes in environmental rules and management could happen. On the campaign trail, Trump indicated that Californias water woes could be solved by draining water from the Columbia River: So you have millions of gallons of water pouring down from the north with the snow caps in Canada and all pouring down. And they have essentially a very large faucet. And you turn the faucet and it takes one day to turn it. Its massive. This may have been nonsensical, but if Trump did decide to follow up, the legal battles over water could be heated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Different approaches to policy, even when not outright or obvious reversals, could matter. Native American tribes have expressed concern about this, noting unwelcome changes in policy during the first Trump administration. Policy clashes are likely, too, in areas like housing, where the state has begun efforts to ease housing shortages and pricing but the next Trump administration is likely to push very different approaches. The battle begins on Jan. 20. It will not end quickly. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Jacqueline Orr talks in her Albany home about her experience while incarcerated at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility, Oregon's only women's prison. Orr received a $1.5 million settlement after an injury. (Ben Botkin/Oregon Capital Chronicle) Jacqueline Orr walks gingerly through her Albany home, clutching a cane. She keeps her living room dim because overhead lights can hurt her eyes. She can no longer play the six-string acoustic guitar that hangs on her wall. The 57-year-old woman talks gently, pausing to collect her thoughts at times. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yet she wants to share her story of suffering and her struggle for financial compensation. She wants to give Oregonians a glimpse of conditions inside the states 12,000-inmate penal system and the damage that can follow poor medical treatment. She said her situation is not unique. A number of cases have emerged in recent years of inmates struggling to access medical care. Orr was a healthy individual when she entered Coffee Creek Correctional Facility in 2017 on a store theft and burglary conviction. She was active in prison and even participated in 5-kilometer races with other inmates. In 2018, she suffered a traumatic brain injury. She slipped off the bumper of a truck that the prison used to transport women in custody to work sites. She hit her head, leaving her permanently injured. She left the Wilsonville prison in 2019 needing around-the-clock care and help with simple tasks like taking a shower. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The prison failed to provide the care she needed for the injury, she said, and so after she was released, she took the Oregon Department of Corrections to court for civil rights violations. The case in U.S. District Court in Portland lasted nearly three years. In September 2023, the agencys attorneys agreed to a $1.5 million settlement to end the case, records show. I dont understand because it costs more money than it would take for them to take me to a doctor, said Orr at her home in Albany. Amber Campbell, a spokesperson for the Oregon Department of Corrections, said in a statement the agency is continuing work to improve health care of incarcerated people at Coffee Creek and other prisons throughout the agency. Campbell said the agency has changed its transportation for inmate work crews to improve safety. The agency has nurses and primary care physicians on staff and a process for referrals when incarcerated people need to see neurologists or other specialists, Campbell said. Campbell said that inmates have received treatment from neurologists. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of many Earlier this year, a voluntary accrediting organization flagged myriad problems with medical care at Coffee Creek, including a backlog of nearly 600 appointments to see specialists and a lack of adequate health services. Orr said a lack of care can have a lasting effect. I just want to be heard, and I want them to know that they changed everything about my life when they didnt give me help, Orr told the Capital Chronicle. In December 2018, Orr was due out of prison in less than a year. She was assigned to work on an ecology project called the Viola Project that grows violets to help an endangered butterfly species thrive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To get inmates to the job site at a nearby greenhouse, the prison transported them in a box truck, where they stood inside without seatbelts, seats or windows. The rear door of the truck remained open during the transport, and inmates had to climb in and out of the truck, using a metal bumper as a step, the lawsuit said. Without proper steps or handrails, the incarcerated women would help each other in and out of the truck and down 3 feet to the ground, the lawsuit said, noting prison staff did not help them. This transportation system had a record of problems. A year earlier, another woman fell from the back of the same truck bed and suffered shoulder and back injuries. But no changes were made. On Dec. 20, 2018, Orr exited the truck and stepped on the bumper in the rain. Her foot slipped on the slick metal and she fell face forward. Her head hit the ground and she was transported to the emergency department at Legacy Meridian Park Medical Center in Tualatin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After emergency treatment, Orr returned to the prison but not for long. On Jan. 1, 2019, less than two weeks later, prison staff sent her back to the hospital emergency room, where doctors recommended a neurologist and physical therapy. They noted her balance was impaired and other problems. Her teeth were knocked out and unsteady on her feet, she was unable to shower. My face was all blue and black and I couldnt walk, she said. Two days later, Coffee Creek medical staff ordered physical therapy but noted no neurology approved, the lawsuit said. But Orr never got to see a neurologist, even though the emergency room physicians recommended it. And she didnt have physical therapy beyond one appointment. She shuffled through the prison with a walker and eventually a cane, with heavy doors slamming behind her throughout the day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They never took me, Orr said. I never got on the list to go to the neurologist. Coffee Creek medical staff noted a host of problems related to the traumatic brain injury: light and noise sensitivity, impaired balance, headaches, burning eye pain, dizziness, sadness, an unsteady gait and difficulty speaking. Orr was due out in August 2019, but unable to secure housing to accommodate her disability. That bumped her discharge date back nearly two months to Sept. 26, 2019. Jacqueline Orr keeps her acoustic guitar in her Albany home but since her traumatic brain injury at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility, shes not been able to play it. (Ben Botkin/Oregon Capital Chronicle) The aftermath Even after injuries, prison staff were slow to change the transportation arrangement for inmate workers, the lawsuit alleges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A week after Orrs injury, a third woman fell while entering the truck when her foot slipped on the bumper, injuring her back in a fall. Three injured women and several months later, the corrections agency added an anti-slip step to the truck and grab bars on each side, the lawsuit said. Orr now lives on Social Security disability and cannot work. She cannot drive and crowds make her uncomfortable. Years later, Orr still struggles with anger knowing she likely would be in much better shape if she had received more treatment right after her injury. She goes to counseling to work through her emotions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I have a lot of anger for those people that make the decisions to not help you, she said. I never was an angry person before. Its a new emotion. In Orrs case, she said, the agency never apologized to her, even after agreeing to settle her case for $1.5 million. At one point in the case, the governments attorneys met with her, she said. But they didnt do what Orr would have liked all along acknowledge their mistake. They never said, Were sorry, Jacqueline, Orr said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) As the weather gets colder, a local organization is helping those in need. The group Ours Brothers Keepers is making sure homeless teens have a place to stay. For five years, the non-profit has been steadfast in bettering the lives of teenagers in the community in many ways, one of which includes giving them a home even if its temporary. Ours Brothers Keepers Group Director Wesley Moore knows this work is imperative, especially around this time of year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its very important to us to help the youth who is homeless because we once were homeless, Moore said. During this time reaching from November to December, January, you start seeing an increase. Moore notes that due to the colder weather, they can go from housing 15 youths to 40 youths a day. For teens seeking help, like David Sanders, it means the world to them to find support. Its meant pretty much everything, Sanders said. (Ours Brothers Keepers) hasnt just been people who have been providing for me, but theyve been mentors, teachers, people who taught me a lot about life and helped me develop skills and learn lessons that I can take into the future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For the organization, its about more than just giving these kids a safe place for a night. While the kids are in their care, they can attend classes and learn career skills that will hopefully give them more opportunities in the future. Its very important for them to know that its a home, Moore said. Its not just like a shelter board, because you bring the love out of them. Something that they never experienced before, it also gives you the ability to be a better person in life and understand that its people out there to help them. Overall, they want people to know this is a safe place that can provide not only shelter but community. It is something that can help these young men grow into who they can be. I hope that every young man that comes here, whether it be a long-term arrangement or just coming in here to, you know, stave off like the elements outside, I hope that they can use what they learn here to go off and build something, Sanders said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The group is also in the process of building more rooms in another space that can house more youths in need. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. Why do so many passengers arriving at Orlando International Airport have to wait 90 minutes or more before their bags pop out onto a carousel? How often are departing planes delayed because of luggage holdups? What triggers hundreds of pieces of baggage to be mishandled, the term authorities prefer for accuracy but which passengers think of by another label: lost? With the crush of holiday travel coming soon, these are relevant questions for beleaguered passengers at the nations eighth busiest airport as they wait yet again next to MCOs balky baggage carousels. They wont get detailed answers from airport officials, who dont have or dont want to share them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But in a significant concession, the airports leaders now acknowledge the need for solutions as Orlandos airport gets even busier and its obsolete baggage system struggles to keep up. The needed fix is expensive, time-consuming and still-conceptual: A full rebuild of the older terminals baggage handling systems, costing upwards of a billion dollars and not ready until next decade. In the meantime, the airport is exploring a short-term solution: Diverting a significant chunk of the 30,000 to 70,000 bags those terminals handle daily to a remote handling facility. How much that would help remains to be seen. The manner in which tens of thousands of bags a day are shunted around at terminals A and B is akin to an aging car kept running with pliers and duct tape, racing from breakdown to breakdown and overheating. Entering the equipment-stuffed interiors of the airports baggage handling as the Orlando Sentinel did recently does suggest opening an oven. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We continue to Band-Aid this system, said Tom Draper, recently retired airport operations director, who, as others, warned of irritation among travelers and the need for lasting solutions. We cant keep putting it off. Airport celebrations over opening the glitzy Terminal C in 2022 and inaugurating upscale Brightline train service to Miami last year are being eclipsed now by comparative grunt work; billion-dollar renovations for fixer-uppers, Orlando Internationals original terminals A and B. Airport leaders have documented the terminals shortcomings and the list is long, without complete understanding of what needs to be done. The outer hubs of airline gates have too few bathrooms and food concessions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vehicle lanes where passengers are dropped off crowd dysfunctionally. Roads girding terminal A and B clog with traffic jams. Parking garages are notorious for filling and closing. It doesnt take an expert consultant to recognize those deficiencies they are obvious to travelers who must cope with them. But when a passenger flying out of Orlando arrives in another city to learn that their checked bag didnt also make the trip, its difficult for them to fathom what happened. Airport insiders know that travelers have little clue if a missing bag was a personal instance of bad luck or one of many regular mishaps due to mechanical indigestion in the bowels of Orlando International Airport. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The problems are exacerbated by the reality that baggage handling, in Orlando like other places, involves three main partners: The airport, operating a vast array of machinery and conveyor belts; the airlines, whose workers physically handle bags; and TSA, running baggage scanners the size of UPS trucks, and employing separate rooms where some bags get a closer look. Each of the partners knows its own missteps with bags but, according to knowledgeable participants interviewed by the Sentinel, has little incentive to share details out of fear of being blamed for those missteps. I wont quote or print your responses, said Scott Godwin, assistant director of airport operations, seeking to assuage those fears as he reached out to airlines in September for data in his quest to answer How do we know we have a problem? Southwest Airlines the busiest carrier at Orlandos airport and, with its free bags policy, the most burdened by far with luggage declined to comment to the Sentinel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A primary factor for the aging terminals baggage woes is a lack of digital automation able to record and report with precision where and why bags go astray. That requires the sophistication built into the two-year-old Terminal C. In Terminal Cs modern handling systems, bags are placed in trays with tracking devices that tell where every item is at any time. A and B handle luggage the old-fashioned way, dumping bags on conveyor belts equipped with a limited number of scanners designed to read baggage tags as they zip past. But the tags arent always aligned properly to be readable. Conveyor belts and their mechanical components are vulnerable to breakage, creating traffic jams. In the recent tour, a Sentinel reporter observed a cave-like room so filled with conveyors, motors, steel frames and TSA scanners that operators and maintenance providers had to contort themselves to get around, squeezing under and between the machines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Formerly a parking lot, the room was never equipped with air conditioning and swelters to more than 100 degrees at times. The airport authoritys assessment is there is little to keep or salvage of these baggage systems and that the solution is to abandon them entirely in favor of spacious replacements at the east and the west ends of the terminals. For critically needed temporary relief at A and B, the airport authority in September authorized a new solution that would mimic an old one called the Disney Magical Express. The Disney Magical Express was a fleet of buses employed by Disney and operated by the local Mears Transportation, shuttling guests and bags between the airport, resorts and Port Canaveral cruise terminals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The service, at no extra cost to guests, ran from 2005 to 2022, when Disney pulled the plug. What was magical for the airport about the operation was the relief from passenger and baggage congestion it provided: millions of travelers never arrived by car at the busy third-level drop off lanes and millions of their bags were never lugged into ticket lobbies. Instead, distinctively styled DME buses stopped on the terminals less congested first levels to disgorge passengers, while their bags at a rate of 10,000 daily, according to an airport executive were ferried to a facility outside of terminals A and B for TSA security screening. Unfortunately for the airport, say senior staffers, Disney Magical Express folded during the COVID years and the nations post-pandemic yearning for adventure erupted soon after. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Annual passenger numbers broke the 50-million mark last year at the airport. Orlandos baggage challenges are even greater than those numbers might indicate, because the vast majority of passengers use the airport for arrivals and departures, and not for connecting flights. The result is a heavier strain, compared to most other airports, on systems that check, screen and return travelers bags. Today, terminals A and Bs baggage systems are running at maximum capacity and are dealing with equipment at end of life, said airport consultant Frank Barich in an assessment for the airport authority. The authority put one of its newest members, Stephanie Kopelousos, in charge of investigating baggage troubles. She brought multiple perspectives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kopelousos is the administrator of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, the government arm of Walt Disney World. She previously was director of government affairs for Gov. Ron DeSantis, Florida Department of Transportation secretary and Clay County manager. Known as a policy and detail wonk, but not versed in baggage, she queried a lot of airport executives, aviation consultants, tourism veterans and other outsiders, and conducted site visits. The Orlando Sentinel obtained her probes records, which spell out with some specificity whats wrong with the airports baggage systems. The existing outdated baggage system is actually six systems knitted together, but operating separately, said Richard Clarke, airport authority chief creative officer, in a report to Kopelousos. This complexity and fragility makes it very difficult to incrementally improve the system with new technology. Kopelousos also gathered anecdotal accounts of long delays and up to 800 mishandled bags on particular days. In her presentation to the authority, she stressed that much is still murky. Obtaining clear and accurate data has proven to be particularly challenging, Kopelousos said in a presentation of her observations in September. By improving data collection and analysis, we can better track performance, identify bottlenecks, and implement targeted improvements. Her recommendation was for the airport to promote the start up of something like the Disney Magical Express, except it would be more inclusive of the tourism industry and the airport would underwrite some costs. The airport authority agreed to pay qualifying companies $6.75 for each bag transferred to a remote TSA screening site, easing the volume at terminals A and B, and as much as $25 million annually for that service. Baggage experts, when asked about the proposal, found it puzzling. They said $6.75 per bag would be lower than the cost of providing the service. Other financial backing would be needed, they said, though from whom remains unknown. While the authority has authorized the proposal, it hasnt moved forward with enlisting vendors who would provide the service. Instead, the authority this month held an industry day to solicit further input for enhanced Baggage and Check-in Services. The authoritys hope is to implement novel ways to check passenger bags at remote locations such as resort hotels, convention centers and cruise ports and haul them to TSA screening outside of terminals A and B. Passenger experience would be enhanced if they were able to relieve themselves from the burden of bringing bags with them to the airport, said Anthony Davit, airport chief operating officer, in Kopelousos probe. NEW ORLEANS (AP) One person was shot to death Thursday afternoon and three others were injured in the French Quarter, New Orleans' historic tourist district, police said. Police responded to the shooting at the intersection of Iberville and Royal streets at around 12:21 p.m. and had at least one of three suspects in custody, Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick told reporters. Kirkpatrick said at least three masked suspects were in a silver 2016 Honda Accord when they pulled up outside Dickie Brennans Steakhouse and opened fire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This was not random, and we could see that, Kirkpatrick said in a media briefing at the scene. The arrested suspect's name and the expected charges have not yet been released. Kirkpatrick urged the other suspects to come forward. We know who you are, she said. We're asking you to come in, turn yourself in. At least one firearm has been recovered, she said. Its the second shooting incident within a week in Orleans Parish. On Sunday, gunfire broke out twice as the Nine Times Social Aid & Pleasure Clubs second line parade rolled through a neighborhood, wounding 10 people, then killing two people and wounding a third 45 minutes later as the parade crossed the Almonaster bridge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tragically, we are faced with another mass shooting this week, said New Orleans City Council president Helena Moreno in a statement. This is an overall gun violence problem throughout our city and we cannot stand for it. This is not who we are and those responsible will be apprehended and fully prosecuted. Kirkpatrick noted that in November 2023, 20 murders were recorded. Thursday's shooting brings the number to nine so far for November 2024, she said. The last shooting involving multiple people in the French Quarter happened in Nov. 2022, when five people were shot, none fatally, in the 200 block of Bourbon Street. In Nov. 2016, one person died and nine were wounded in a shooting in the 100 block of Bourbon Street shooting. Meanwhile, the two victims from Thursday's incident were listed in stable condition and a third was in surgery, Kirkpatrick said. Dickie Brennan's Steakhouse was closed at the time of the shooting. No workers were injured and the business will remain closed Thursday, spokesperson Lindsay Ross told The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate. OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canada, which expelled six Indian diplomats over allegations they were involved in a plot against Sikh separatists, denied it had evidence Prime Minister Narendra Modi was linked to violence on Canadian soil. The Canadian foreign ministry last month alleged Amit Shah, considered the number two in Modi's government, was behind a campaign of intimidation in Canada. Ottawa says it has evidence linking Indian government agents to the 2023 murder of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada. This week, the Globe and Mail newspaper said Canadian security agencies believed Modi knew about the violent plots and said Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and national security adviser Ajit Doval were also in the loop. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nathalie Drouin, intelligence adviser to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, posted a statement of denial on a government website late on Thursday night. "The Government of Canada has not stated, nor is it aware of evidence, linking Prime Minister Modi, Minister Jaishankar, or NSA Doval to the serious criminal activity within Canada. Any suggestion to the contrary is both speculative and inaccurate," she said. Four Indian nationals have been charged in Nijjar's killing. India flatly rejects any suggestion its agents were involved in violence against Sikh separatists on Canadian soil. Canada is home to the highest population of Sikhs outside their home state of Punjab and demonstrations in favor of a separate homeland carved out of India have irked New Delhi. India calls the separatists "terrorists" who it says are threats to its security. (Reporting by David Ljunggren; editing by Jonathan Oatis) WELLINGTON, Ohio (WJW) Officials with the Friendship Animal Protective League said they are continuing to investigate after serving a search warrant at an animal rescue operated by Michelle Knight, who is now known as Lily Rose Lee. Friendship APL officials said they received a complaint of animal neglect and started an investigation. Woman who escaped years of captivity says APL raided her animal rescue Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On November 20th, 2024, after failing to gain the cooperation of the suspect, the Friendship APL Humane Agent executed a search warrant at the property, a release from Friendship APL stated. Inside the residential home that housed the rescue, the Humane Agent discovered several thin and/or emaciated animals, cages that appeared to not have been cleaned in weeks, a fly infestation due to unsanitary conditions, and dehydrated animals without access to fresh water, including bowls filled with mold and algae. APL officials said as a result of the conditions, 37 animals were removed from the property and that the operator of the rescue surrendered the vast majority of the animals. Lee said the rescue is housed inside her home. She said she cares for the animals and does not believe she has done anything wrong. My heart has a huge hole in it, Lee told the Fox 8 I-Team Thursday. I miss my support animals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement APL officials said 19 animals remain at the property. The animals removed from the property are currently impounded at the Friendship Animal Protective League and have received veterinary assessments and care. Lee said she was shocked the agents came to her house. I dont feel comfortable in my own home right now, Lee said. My babies are gone, and the only prayer I have is if you want to donate please contact me. Familys dog stolen from front porch in broad daylight Lee is not facing any criminal charges. Friendship Animal Protective League values its fellow animal rescue operations and understands that it is all too easy for animal rescuers to become overwhelmed. However, help in these situations can only be provided when that help is asked for or welcomed, the APL release stated. Further, to clarify statements being made by the suspect in this case, Friendship Animal Protective League has made no demands that the rescue operation obtain new cages, nor has it requested money from the operator of the rescue in order to continue operations. All animals remaining on the premises are in appropriate cages. Friendship Animal Protective League cannot share further details about this case as it is an active investigation. A probable cause hearing will be scheduled to determine where the animals that were not surrendered will be housed while the case progresses through the legal system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement APL officials say they do not know how long the investigation will take. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) A man is behind bars after allegedly stealing over $8,000 in jewelry from a Tampa Walmart on Nov. 5, the Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office announced Thursday. Detectives say they received reports of stolen jewelry from the Walmart at 6192 Gunn Highway and through investigation determined Mark Anthony Vega, 33, concealed $7,110 worth of jewelry in his backpack before leaving the store without paying. Credit: Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vega also allegedly stole $1,643 in jewelry from the same Walmart on Oct. 21, investigators said. The sheriffs office said Vega admitted to selling the stolen jewelry to pawn stores and is facing charges of retail theft of $750 or more, dealing in stolen property, and false information on a pawnbroker form. This arrest sends a clear message that retail theft will not be tolerated in Hillsborough County, said Sheriff Chad Chronister. Thanks to the hard work of our detectives, we were able to recover the stolen items and put an end to this suspects illegal activities. The sheriffs office said the investigation is ongoing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Sen. Thom Tillis promised Majority Leader Chuck Schumer he couldnt get the votes to push through President Joe Bidens nomination of North Carolina Solicitor General Ryan Park to fill a judicial vacancy. And late Wednesday night, Tillis says, Democrats struck a deal to throw out the nominations of Park and three other appellate court nominees, if Republicans would stop making other judicial Senate confirmations difficult. Republicans took the deal, Tillis said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That would mean President-elect Donald Trump gets to choose who replaces retiring Judge James Wynn on the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals. And Tillis warned Wynn and his colleagues not to try any funny business in the meantime. I expect that judges who submitted their retirements will not play partisan politics with a presidential transition and a bipartisan Senate deal going back on their word to retire, Tillis said in a written statement. No judges did this during the previous lame duck because the judiciary needs to be above partisan politics. Opposing Park Ryan Park, North Carolinas solicitor general, had been nominated for a judicial position on the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals. Tillis and Sen. Ted Budd, both Republicans from North Carolina, have been vocal critics of Park since Biden announced his nomination in July. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But both senators say they tried to stop Biden from making the nomination months earlier. This nomination is a non-starter and the White House has already been informed they do not have the votes for confirmation, Tillis and Budd said, in a joint statement in July. While the White House has fallen short of engaging the advice and consent process in good faith for North Carolinas judicial vacancies, we still hope to work together to find a consensus nominee who can earn bipartisan support and be confirmed. Within a month of Parks nomination, the solicitor general sat through a heated judiciary committee hearing listening to Tillis tell his colleagues that he believed Park was a partisan candidate, something Park denied. Then, last week, Parks nomination came up for a vote before that same committee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tillis blasted the White House counsel as being absolutely incompetent before the vote took place. He added that one of the people the White House considered for the job was former N.C. Supreme Court Chief Justice Cheri Beasley, who ran against Budd in his 2022 Senate campaign. He warned his colleagues that if they took this vote and helped push through Parks nomination, he would stop working across the aisle to help them block nominations they didnt like. And he warned that Republicans are about to have control of both chambers and the executive office. He fumed when they did it anyway. You dont have the votes Tillis left the committee hearing still angered by what had just taken place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He reiterated to reporters waiting for him in the hallway that Schumer could not get enough support on the Senate floor for Parks nomination to succeed. But Tillis refused to say which senators would vote with him. He said that would only help Schumers strategy. Tillis said what Tillis did next, and how he worked with Democrats, depended on what Schumer did on the floor. I will be instructed by Schumers behavior, Tillis said. Going forward, he gets to choose, and so do all the Judiciary Committee members who just enabled him with that vote. Elections and votes have consequences, and theyre about to see the consequences on this. Tillis did not say Thursday what this agreement meant to his future actions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Thursday. Under the Dome Get the latest news about North Carolina politics from The News & Observer's award-winning team. Get the free digest sent to your inbox by signing up here. OWENSBORO, Ky. (WEHT) The Aces are still undefeated on the year and now set to take on Monroe County on Friday. Owensboro Catholic has found a lot of their success through their air-raid offense. The cold weather wont change their mentality to sling the ball. Watch the story above to hear from the team. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW). (WKBN) Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro signed into law an amended bill granting more protection to victims pets in domestic violence situations on Monday. H.B. 1210, introduced nearly four years ago, amends Pa.s Protection from Abuse Act to give judges the ability to order a defendant to refrain from possessing, abusing or harming a petitioners companion animal. Previously, the act gave judges the ability to order many kinds of relief to prevent further abuse but did not give explicit authority to order protective measures for a victims pets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A violation of this order will result in an arrest and may be without a warrant. We have known for some time the horrific link between domestic violence and animal abuse, State Representative Christina Sappey said in a news release. Abusers will use harming pets to further torment the victim or keep them from leaving, exacerbating an already traumatic situation. According to the Humane Society of the United States, data on domestic violence and child abuse cases reveal that a staggering number of animals are targeted by those who abuse their children or spouses. Researchers have found links between coercive control and the abuse of pets, with abusers often using family pets as leverage in the torment of their victims. The new law brings the Commonwealth in line with 37 other states, plus Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico, and will go into effect in the next 60 days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. SHARON, Pa. (WKBN) Months after filing for bankruptcy, an agreement between Steward Health and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has yet to be made for the official sale of Sharon Regional Medical Center. Steward Health Care filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in May in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas where Steward Health is based. On Thursday, Pennsylvania filed a motion asking for more oversight in the sale of Sharon Regional to a third party. As of early September, the Commonwealth has engaged in direct and independent negotiations with MPTof Sharon-Steward, LLC and Medical Properties Trust, Inc., the leaseholder of the property, in connection with a sale to Meadville Medical Center. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the document filed on Thursday, the Commonwealth has been unable to reach an agreement with MPT and MPT-Sharon, even though Meadville has substantively progressed negotiations for the purchase. The Commonwealth asserts that MPT-Sharon and MPT do not have valid title to the Sharon Hospital Real Property and intends to seek certain relief against them. MPT asserts that those allegations are without merit. The Commonwealth and Buhl Legacy Trust are seeking: Declaratory relief To enjoin MPT-Sharon and MPT from further engaging in certain specified violations under Pa. law To impose a constructive trust on the Sharon Hospital Real Property prohibiting the transfer of such real property until the Attorney General and the Court of Common Pleas of Mercer County approve the transfer of such assets To impose an equitable lien on the Sharon Hospital Real Property in favor of the Attorney General To divest MPT Sharon and MPT from all legal and equitable ownership rights Recovery/reimbursement of certain legal fees Payment to Buhl Trust of $20.2 million plus statutory interest accruing from October 1, 2021 to today To disgorge MPT Sharon and MPT of rent they collected for the Sharon Hospital Real Property To compel MPT Sharon and MPT to provide an accounting in connection with Sharon Hospital Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The order was approved and signed by Steward and Pa. later Thursday afternoon. In mid-September, the Commonwealth agreed to pay Sharon Hospital $1.5 million per month for three months ($4.5 million) to maintain operations including payroll, rent, supplies and accrued expenses. There was no indication in the motion whether the payments would continue if there was no sales agreement for Sharon Regional by Dec. 1. The judge overseeing the case has yet to sign the motion as of Friday morning. The sales process has been a lengthy one, with delayed proceedings and a lack of qualified bids. Steward Health operates 31 hospitals across eight states, including Trumbull Regional Medical Center in Warren, Hillside Rehabilitation Hospital in Howland and Sharon Regional Medical Center. It is also the umbrella company for Steward Medical Group, which represents hundreds of providers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Insight Health Solutions was named the designated operator of the two Trumbull County hospitals in October. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. When Khun Kim left her rural Thai village at 15 with little more than a borrowed street cart and a recipe for pad Thai, she was not dreaming of Michelin stars or glitzy dining rooms. No, her ambitions were simpler serve good food, earn an honest living and perhaps, just maybe, build a better life for her family. Decades later, shes done all that and more, with her beloved noodle dish now gracing the menus of six elegant British restaurants under the Chaophraya banner. Its a significant achievement to be celebrating 20 years of Chaophraya, Kim says, with a note of pride. Her restaurants named after the river that is Thailands lifeblood span Aberdeen, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds and Newcastle. Each promises diners a taste of Thailand, but Kim hasnt forgotten her roots. I grew up in a really poor family in a tiny village in rural Sukhothai [northern Thailand], and as soon as I could, I wanted to make life better for my mum, whos still there. So, Martin [her husband and business partner] and I tore down the old house she was living in and built her the nicest one in the village complete with bedrooms and aircon. But the funny thing is, she never actually sleeps in the bedrooms, as shes so used to sleeping outside! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kims culinary journey began in Bangkok in 1993, with a street cart and a focus on what mattered most: flavour. It was there, serving her now-famous pad Thai, that Kim earned an award for its delicious balance of flavours. My experience preparing street food in Bangkok taught me to focus on simple, authentic flavours, she says. Fresh ingredients alone can be very powerful. I wanted to bring that same authenticity to a more refined restaurant setting in the UK. By the time Kim moved to Leeds in the late 1990s, she had perfected her pad Thai recipe, and it remains central to Chaophrayas menu today. Our pad Thai is special because it nails the balance of sweet, salty, sour and spicy using the best ingredients possible, she says. Over the years, weve tweaked it based on customer feedback, adjusting spice levels and adding options like gluten-free and vegetarian versions, but weve always kept it authentic. Its evolved from street food to something were proud to serve in a restaurant but the key really is always that perfect balance of flavours. It wasnt all plain sailing. Bringing authentic Thai cuisine to British diners came with its challenges. The biggest challenge weve faced has definitely been finding the right chefs and bringing them over from Thailand, Kim says. Were really committed to keeping our food as authentic as possible, which means having chefs who are not just trained in Thai cooking but have years of experience in the real flavours and techniques involved in authentic Thai cooking. Getting them the right visas and navigating all the paperwork has been tough, but its something were dedicated to making work because we know its essential for the quality of our food. Its all about staying true to the flavours, and sometimes that means jumping through a lot of hoops to get the right people on board. Chaophraya has locations in Aberdeen, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds and Newcastle (Crop45 Photography) The results of those efforts are tangible food that tastes as if its been plucked straight from the kitchens of Bangkok. But at Chaophraya, flavour is only half the story. At Chaophraya, we aim to offer great food while making everyone feel welcome, whether theyre here for a spontaneous meal or a special occasion. Its all about creating an experience thats both delicious and personal, she says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That personal touch extends to Kims advice for home cooks eager to bring a taste of Thailand into their kitchens. Thai cuisine is all about harmonising sweet, salty, sour and spicy flavours, she says. Taste the dish as you are preparing and adjust to make sure all those flavours work together. A little lime juice, a pinch of sugar, a splash of fish sauce and a hint of chilli can really bring everything into perfect harmony. Aroy mak mak! Essentially Thai for bon appetit! My experience preparing street food in Bangkok taught me to focus on simple, authentic flavours. Fresh ingredients alone can be very powerful. I wanted to bring that same authenticity to a more refined restaurant setting in the UK Shes insistent on quality ingredients, urging would-be cooks to head to their local Asian supermarkets. Still, Kim understands not every pantry can be perfectly stocked. She recommends staples like fish sauce, palm sugar and coconut milk as must-haves, along with lemongrass, galangal and kaffir lime leaves. For substitutions, she suggests soy sauce for fish sauce, brown sugar for palm sugar and fresh ginger for galangal. For Kim, though, the best results come from authenticity, even if it means putting in a little more effort. Stir-frying is a great place to start its quick, high-heat cooking thats perfect for dishes like pad Thai and basil stir-fry, she says. For those ready to take on a bigger challenge, she encourages making curry pastes from scratch. It makes a real difference despite the extra effort, giving you control over flavour and making your curries so much fresher. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two decades on, Kim has watched as British diners palates have expanded. When we first opened 20 years ago, we found that we needed to tweak things much more than we do today people werent used to Thai flavours. However, today we find that this is less of the case, she says. This shift has opened the door to more adventurous dishes and even regional Thai cuisine. Isaans fiery salads and southern Thailands rich coconut curries are ripe for discovery. The future of Thai cuisine in the UK will likely see an even greater emphasis on authenticity as Western palates continue to adapt to and embrace more complex Asian flavours, she says. Kim is also betting on food theatre, spurred on by social medias hunger for the visual. Thai cuisine, with its vibrant colours and ingredients, lends itself perfectly to this trend, she says. Chaophrayas Christmas menu features dishes like roast duck with cinnamon and orange sauce (Crop45 Photography) At Chaophraya, that future is already being served. Weve put a lot of thought into [our festive menu] to offer a true taste of Thailand to celebrations this Christmas season, Kim says. Dishes include sweet chilli maple glazed pigs in blankets, roast duck with cinnamon and orange sauce, and Panang weeping tiger. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whether in her restaurants or in readers homes, Kims mission is clear: to share the flavours and culture of her homeland. Thai food is all about balance, flavour and sharing, she says. Its a way to connect with others, and Im so proud to see it bring people together here in the UK. For those inspired to bring a taste of Thailand into their own kitchens, here are a selection of recipes from Chaophraya, showcasing the vibrant flavours and authentic techniques that make Thai cuisine so irresistible. Chicken Thai tacos These little taco bites combine all four of the essential Thai flavours (Crop45 Photography) A Chaophraya signature creation red curry and coconut milk chicken served on soft rice flour tacos topped with crispy shallots. These soft creamy tacos with just a hint of spice combine all four of the essential Thai flavours, salty, sour, sweet and spicy, offering a true taste of Thailand with each bite. Full of all the flavours from a classic red curry, they make the perfect dinner party canape to impress guests, or to enjoy all to yourself as an appetiser. Makes: approx 20 Thai chicken taco bites Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ingredients: For the taco sheets: 50g glutenous rice flour 150g rice flour 2.5g ( tsp) salt 20g (1 tsp) granulated sugar 200ml coconut milk 60ml hot water For the taco filling: 300g chicken mince 52.5g (3 tbsp) red curry paste 30g (1 tbsp) chilli paste in oil (known as Nam Prik Pao) 22.5g red onions 30g (2 tbsp) pad Thai sauce (or use 15g tamarind concentrate) 22.g palm sugar (palm sugar usually comes hard as big chunks make sure to pound or break it into small pieces so it can be dissolved easily) 60ml coconut milk 30ml oil To garnish: 30g crispy shallots (or crispy onions) 12g salad cress 40ml coconut milk Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 20 baby viola flowers Method: 1. Begin by making your Thai taco sheets: mix glutenous rice flour, rice flour, salt, and sugar in a large bowl. 2. Add the coconut milk to the bowl gradually and mix until thickened. 3. Add the hot water gradually to the bowl to loosen to mixture, then add the rapeseed oil and mix till smooth. 4. Use a flat pan to make the taco sheet. Apply a little bit of oil to the pan to prevent sticking, then carefully spoon 20g of the mixture into the pan to make a circular disc and cook on medium-low heat for 1-2 minute on each side. The taco sheet should be 5mm thick and have 8cm diameter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 5. Once you have a stack of approximately 20 Taco sheets ready, its time to create your filling: cut red onions into small dices. 6. Heat oil in a wok and sweat the red onions over a medium-low heat until fragrant before adding other ingredients (1-2 mins), then add the red curry paste and chilli paste in oil and continue to stir on medium-low heat until fragrant (1-2 mins). 7. Add coconut milk and continue to stir until oil starts smearing (2 mins). 8. Then add minced chicken, palm sugar, and pad Thai sauce. Continue to stir-fry until the chicken is cooked (5 mins). 9. Finally, its time to serve up: place the taco sheet on serving plate/tray. Put a spoonful of the Thai chicken taco sauce on each sheet, then drizzle a little bit of coconut milk and garnish with crispy shallots or onions, salad cress, and flowers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chefs tip: Add in chopped red chilli if you love spice! Drink pairing: This dish would pair well with a Sauvignon Blanc or Singha Beer. Royal lamb massaman curry This curry is a true Thai fusion dish that is rich in flavour but relatively mild in spice. Sous vide lamb, carrot, and potatoes are combined with Massaman sauce, cardamom, cinnamon, and cloves, then topped with crispy shallots and toasted cashew nuts to create a fragrant curry that is both sweet and spicy. Paired with coconut rice, it makes the perfect meal that will transport your taste buds to Thailand. Serves: 4 Ingredients: For the massaman paste: 12 large dried chillies Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 1.5 tsp coriander seeds 0.5 tsp cumin seeds 4 cardamom seeds (without shell) 4 cloves 1 mace 1 nutmeg 1 cinnamon stick 1 tbsp diced galangal 2 tbsp finely chopped lemongrass 1 tsp kaffir lime peel (or lime leaves if not available) 8-10 garlic cloves 5 tbsp finely chopped shallots (or red onion if not available) 0.5 tsp ground white pepper 1 tsp shrimp paste 1 tsp salt For the massaman lamb curry: 250g diced lamb 150g potato 100g carrot 50g onion 30g roasted cashew nuts 400ml coconut milk (100ml for stewing lamb) 500ml water 0.5 tbsp salt 50ml cooking oil 1 tbsp tamarind concentrate 40g palm sugar 1 cinnamon stick 2 star anise 2 bay leaves 1 tbsp fish sauce 1 tbsp crispy fried shallots 30g (2 tbsp) roasted cashew nuts Method: 1. To make the massaman paste: roast coriander seeds, cumin seeds, cardamom seeds, cloves, nutmeg, mace and cinnamon one by one over low heat until fragrant. Grind finely and set aside. 2. Soak the dried chillies until soft, drain and dry on kitchen paper. Pound chillies with salt until fine. Gradually add white pepper, galangal, lemongrass, kaffir lime peel, garlic and shallots, pounding until combined. Add shrimp paste and roasted spices, mixing thoroughly. 3. To cook the curry: stew the lamb in 100ml coconut milk and 500ml water with 0.5 tbsp salt. Simmer on low heat for 1.45-2 hours until tender. Reserve the stock. 4. Peel and cut potato and carrot into chunks; dice onions. 5. Heat oil in a pot over medium-low heat. Add 2 tbsp Massaman paste and stir until fragrant. Add 4 tbsp coconut milk and stir until oil separates. 6. Add stewed lamb, bay leaves, cinnamon stick and star anise, stirring until fragrant. 7. Add potatoes, carrots, onions, the remaining coconut milk and reserved lamb stock. Bring to a boil, then simmer until the vegetables are cooked. 8. Season with tamarind concentrate, palm sugar and fish sauce. Simmer for another 30 minutes or until the sauce is intense and ingredients are tender. 9. Serve in a bowl, garnished with roasted cashew nuts and crispy fried shallots. Chefs tip: Toast spices individually to ensure even roasting. If roasted together, smaller spices may burn while larger ones remain under-roasted. Drink pairing: Pair with a Portillo Malbec or Rosso Trevenezie Cabaletta. Chicken or tofu pad Thai Pad Thai is the most well-known Thai dish, and Kims version is award-winning (Crop45 Photography) The national dish of Thailand! Pad Thai is the most well-known Thai dish, traditionally made with rice noodles, crunchy vegetables and a sweet and tangy sauce, with your choice of chicken or tofu. It combines salty, sour, sweet and spicy flavours the four essential Thai flavours making it an authentic dish that will appeal to all taste palettes. Paired with prawn crackers for a bit of extra crunch, this dish is a staple of Thai cuisine. Serves: 4 Ingredients: For the pad Thai sauce: 315g sugar 205g palm sugar 45g salt 40g tomato paste/puree 95g ketchup 450g tamarind concentrate 90g red onion 45g cooking oil 135g water For the chicken pad Thai: 40ml cooking oil (2.5 tbsp) 10g sliced red onions (1 tbsp) 15g tofu (1 tbsp) 10g chopped sweet turnip (1 tbsp) 120g sliced chicken 1g salt 0.3g ground white pepper 1 egg 90g rice noodles (3mm) 100g Pad Thai sauce 50ml water 20g julienned carrots 40g bean sprouts 20g spring onions 0.25 lime 2g red chilli (1-2 slices) 2g coriander (1-2 stems) 5g crushed dried chilli (0.5 tbsp) 15g crushed toasted peanuts (2 tbsp) Method: 1. To make the sauce: finely chop red onions. Heat oil in a pot and sweat onions until fragrant. 2. Stir in tomato paste and cook until aromatic. Add water, sugar, palm sugar and salt. Stir until dissolved. 3. Add tamarind concentrate and ketchup. Simmer on medium-low for 15 minutes, stirring to prevent burning. Cool and refrigerate for up to 7 days. 4. To make the pad Thai: soak rice noodles in water for 30 minutes until soft. Drain and set aside. 5. Marinate chicken slices with a pinch of salt and pepper. Prepare vegetables and tofu. 6. Heat oil in a wok. Stir-fry chicken until halfway cooked. Add red onions and tofu, stirring until fragrant. 7. Add egg and scramble. Stir in sweet turnip. 8. Add rice noodles, Pad Thai sauce and a splash of water. Stir until noodles absorb the sauce. 9. Add vegetables and mix. Serve garnished with coriander, red chilli, peanuts, dried chilli and lime. Chefs tip: Soak rice noodles until soft but firm to prevent them from becoming mushy during stir-frying. Drink pairing: Pair with Sauvignon Blanc (Chicken) or Singha Beer (Tofu). Prawn Thai basil fried rice A go-to dish for Thai people! This street food classic is both salty and spicy, offering a unique dish full of flavour from chilli and basil leaves. Traditionally served with a fried egg, its a perfect way to experience a taste of Thailand. Serves: 2 Ingredients: 30ml oyster sauce (2 tbsp) 10ml soy sauce (2 tsp) 5ml dark soy sauce (1 tsp) 4.5g sugar (1 tsp) 30ml water (2 tbsp) 40ml cooking oil (20ml for rice) 15ml fish sauce (1 tbsp) 1 egg 120g king prawns 10g birds eye chilli (8) 10g garlic (4 cloves) 15g diced green pepper (1 tbsp) 15g diced red pepper (1 tbsp) 30g diced onions (2 tbsp) 5g basil leaves (10-12) 40g cucumber (3 slices) 0.25 lime 300g steamed jasmine rice Method: 1. Finely chop chilli and garlic. Reserve half for a dipping sauce (mixed with fish sauce, sugar, and lime juice). 2. Dice vegetables and peel cucumber slices. Clean prawns. 3. Fry egg in hot oil until crispy and set aside. 4. Heat oil in a wok. Stir-fry garlic and chilli until fragrant. Add prawns, vegetables, water and sauces. Stir until prawns are cooked. 5. Add basil and jasmine rice. Stir until well mixed. Serve topped with fried egg, cucumber slices and dipping sauce. Chefs tip: Use cold rice for firmer texture and fragrant basil leaves added at the end. Drink pairing: Pair with a rum-based cocktail. Banana fritters A traditional Thai dessert. These sweet banana fritters are deep-fried until crisp and served warm with honey drizzle, aerosol cream, and a scoop of coconut ice cream. Serves: 4 Ingredients: 2 bananas 130g self-raising flour (100g for batter, 30g for dusting) 30g sugar (2.5 tbsp) 2g salt (0.5 tsp) 30g desiccated coconut (6 tbsp) 10g sesame seeds (1.5 tbsp) 100ml coconut milk 120ml cold water 15ml cooking oil (1 tbsp) 30ml honey (2 tbsp) 10g aerosol cream (optional) 60g coconut ice cream Method: 1. Mix batter ingredients: 100g flour, sugar, salt, coconut milk, water, oil, sesame seeds and desiccated coconut until smooth. 2. Heat oil to 170C. Peel and quarter bananas, dust with flour, coat in batter and fry until golden brown. Drain excess oil. 3. Serve with honey drizzle, cream and ice cream. Chefs tip: Use semi-ripe bananas for the perfect balance of sweetness and texture. Drink pairing: Pair with Irish Coffee. By Mushtaq Ali PESHAWAR, Pakistan (Reuters) - Angry crowds gathered in the remote Pakistani mountain town of Parachinar on Friday, incensed by an attack on an escorted convoy of buses in which 40 Shi'ite Muslims died after being sprayed with automatic fire in an ambush. The Parachinar district, on Pakistan's northwestern border with Afghanistan, has frequently experienced violence between its Sunni and Shi'ite Muslim communities over land and power. Travellers to and from the town ride in convoys escorted by security officials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The region's Shi'ites, who are in the minority in the predominantly Sunni Muslim nation of 241 million, have also been attacked by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Sunni Islamist militants, who consider them heretics. Local official Javedullah Mehsud said the death toll from the attack had risen to 40, including eight women, and that 29 people were being treated in hospital, nine of them in critical condition. He and a hospital medical officer said all the dead were Shi'ites. There was no immediate claim of responsibility. Mehsud said two Sunnis had been killed in reprisal attacks. All markets, education institutions, transport and other businesses in the town of Parachinar were closed, residents said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A police officer who asked not to be named said hundreds of angry citizens had gathered in the main bazaar, and that the situation was highly volatile. One of the wounded, Jamshed Hussain, said by phone from a hospital bed that he had been travelling in the convoy of around 100 vehicles accompanied by police. He said some of those travelling in the convoy had stopped and attacked it, starting with the escort, spraying the vehicles with bullets from both sides. "We don't know them but they were armed with rifles and they stopped the vehicles and started firing on the passengers from a close distance," Hussain said. (Writing by Asif Shahzad; Additional reporting by Saud Mehsud in Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan; Editing by Kevin Liffey) Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw confirmed two deputies died and a third is in critical condition after being struck by an SUV along Southern Boulevard near Lion Country Safari on Thursday, Nov. 21. The three officers had pulled over to the shoulder of the road with a faulty PBSO motorcycle, awaiting a fourth deputy and jumper cables when the 31-year-old woman swerved into them, trying to avoid a crash with the slowing car in front of her. The officers were flown to St. Marys Medical Center in West Palm Beach. Florida police unions and sheriff departments showed their support both online and in person. Hours after the crash, law-enforcement officers including Broward County Sheriff's Office deputies held a procession for the officer in critical condition and the two killed. Florida leaders and politicians took to social media to share their condolences and pray for the families. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read full story: Everything we know about the crash that killed 2 PBSO deputies, critically wounded a third Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office memorializes deputies injured, killed in crash Deputy Sheriff Ralph Butch Waller served with distinction for over 18 years in our Motor Unit. He began his law enforcement career with the Royal Palm Beach Police Department, earning a reputation for dedication and professionalism before the department merged with PBSO in pic.twitter.com/V1jy4LiaCo PBSO (@PBCountySheriff) November 22, 2024 Corporal Luis Paez dedicated over 36 years of his life to law enforcement, beginning his career with PBSO in January of 1988 as a Corrections Deputy. He later transitioned to Road Patrol and ultimately served passionately as a Motor Deputy for more than 20 years. His dedication pic.twitter.com/uM692nUwQx PBSO (@PBCountySheriff) November 22, 2024 This is our hero, Deputy Ignacio Dan Diaz, currently fighting for his life. Deputy Diaz joined PBSO in 2004 and has been a valued member of our Motor Unit for over 10 years. He is currently in critical condition. We ask for your thoughts and prayers for him and his family pic.twitter.com/PHH4TGHvQo PBSO (@PBCountySheriff) November 22, 2024 It is with profound sadness that we share the loss of two of our own: Corporal Luis Paez & Deputy Sheriff Ralph Butch Waller. Both were tragically struck and killed by a driver on Southern Blvd while conducting traffic enforcement. Deputy Ignacio Dan Diaz was also critically pic.twitter.com/AaTzOH3gJS PBSO (@PBCountySheriff) November 21, 2024 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our PBSO family is grieving a profound loss today. This tragedy has deeply impacted not only our Motor Unit but our entire agency. We ask for your understanding and patience as we navigate this heartbreaking time. #SheriffRicBradshaw pic.twitter.com/gluKyoYJVY Sheriff Ric Bradshaw (@RicBradshaw) November 22, 2024 Florida county sheriffs, police unions extend their condolences to PBSO The Florida Highway Patrol extends its deepest condolences to the @PBCountySheriff family, friends, and loved ones of the two deputies who lost their lives in a tragic crash, while another remains in critical condition. https://t.co/NAZv18Qlom FLHSMV (@FLHSMV) November 21, 2024 We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of the motor officers from the Palm Beach County Sheriffs Department in yesterdays accident. Our heartfelt condolences go out to their families, friends, and colleagues. #YourBestChoiceMDCPS pic.twitter.com/H9JAKRpCAU Miami-Dade SchoolsPD (@MDSPD) November 22, 2024 Please join us in keeping the @PBCountySheriff and the loved ones of these Deputies in your thoughts and prayers. pic.twitter.com/f1RLnznBOo Fort Lauderdale FOP (@FtLFOP) November 22, 2024 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Polk County Sheriff's Office offers our sincerest condolences for members of the @PBCountySheriff, the people of Palm Beach County, and the friends and families of the victims of the horrible crash in Loxahatchee Thursday morning, November 21st. We pray for the families of Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd (@PolkCoSheriff) November 22, 2024 We extend our heartfelt condolences to our brothers and sisters at the Palm Beach County Sheriffs Office. Our thoughts and prayers are with the deputies' families, friends, colleagues and the entire community during this difficult time. Rest in peace pic.twitter.com/t1WEqSqKZ3 Sheriff Gregory Tony, Ph.D. (@bsosherifftony) November 21, 2024 Law enforcement officers honor PBSO deputies killed Thursday in memorial procession In a powerful show of unity, hundreds of law enforcement officers gathered for an emotional procession for two Palm Beach County deputies who died in a crash on Southern Boulevard hours earlier. Read: https://t.co/7xXHzenfCv pic.twitter.com/MlKmYr8IJU FOX29WFLX (@FOX29WFLX) November 21, 2024 #HappeningNow Broward Sheriffs Office deputies arrive for procession for two Palm Beach County Sheriffs deputies killed in a crash. Another deputy remains in critical condition at hospital @nbc6 https://t.co/wThLDDWUFG pic.twitter.com/8nEDIQNHy8 Marissa Bagg (@MarissaNBC6) November 21, 2024 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement West Palm Beach Mayor Keith A. James releases statement of condolences West Palm Beach Mayor Keith A. James released a statement regarding the crash on the City of West Palm Beach website Friday. West Palm Beach Mayor Keith James calls on county commissioners to approve the plan for a Vanderbilt business school in his city. We are so saddened by the news of the recent loss of the PBSO officers who gave their lives to protect our community. Their unwavering commitment to protect and serve will forever be remembered and appreciated by our community," James wrote in the statement. "Unfortunately, they paid the ultimate sacrifice as they worked to protect the safety of our community. Our community owes each of them an eternal debt of gratitude." "Our deepest sympathies and condolences go out to the families and loved ones of the deceased. There can be no worse pain than to learn that your loved one will not be coming back home," he continued. "To each of the family members of the deceased, our thoughts and prayers for you to receive supernatural strength to get through this most difficult time." The mayor ended his statement praying that the PBSO family as well as the families of the deputies "find a source of supernatural comfort and peace" during this difficult time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "May God bless you all. More Florida politicians and government officials shine light on fatal car crash Our thoughts are with the families of the two @PBCountySheriff deputies who lost their lives today when their motorcycles were struck by a driver in Palm Beach. @CaseyDeSantis and I are praying for your comfort in this difficult time. We are also praying for the quick and full Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) November 22, 2024 Just spoke to Sheriff @RicBradshaw to let him know Ann and I are praying for the @PBCountySheriff team, the families of those who lost their lives and those who were injured. Our brave men and women in uniform willingly put their lives on the line every day to keep us safe, but Rick Scott (@SenRickScott) November 21, 2024 Praying for Sheriff @RicBradshaw and the entire @PBCountySheriff law enforcement family after learning about a critical incident involving three PBSO deputies. https://t.co/jrW9Ohrh1z AG Ashley Moody (@AGAshleyMoody) November 21, 2024 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This morning, we are heartbroken by the tragic loss of two Palm Beach County Sheriffs deputies, with another fighting for his life following a crash on Southern Boulevard in Loxahatchee. pic.twitter.com/u3BM5tlMQ9 Mike Caruso (@RepMikeCaruso) November 21, 2024 Ashley Ferrer is a journalist at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: PBSO Deputies killed in car crash on Southern Blvd. in West Palm Beach WASHINGTON President-elect Donald Trump has tapped former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi as his choice for U.S. attorney general following Matt Gaetzs withdrawal of his nomination. Trump announced late Thursday that he would nominate Bondi to become the nations top law-enforcement officer, citing her work as a prosecutor. Pam was a prosecutor for nearly 20 years, where she was very tough on Violent Criminals, and made the streets safe for Florida Families, he said in a statement. Then, as Floridas first female Attorney General, she worked to stop the trafficking of deadly drugs, and reduce the tragedy of Fentanyl Overdose Deaths, which have destroyed many families across our Country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bondi is likely to have an easier time winning Senate confirmation than Gaetz, who faced opposition from some Senate Republicans. Bondi, 59, is a Trump ally who served as one of his defense attorneys during his first impeachment trial, when he was accused of abusing his power by withholding military aid from Ukraine to pressure Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky to announce an investigation into a political rival, then-former Vice President Joe Biden. The Senate acquitted Trump of the charges. Attorney General: President-elect Donald Trump has tapped former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi as his choice for U.S. attorney general following Matt Gaetzs withdrawal of his nomination. Trump announced late Thursday that he would nominate Bondi to become the nations top law-enforcement officer, citing her work as a prosecutor. Bondi also served on Trump's Opioid and Drug Abuse Commission during his first term and acted as a campaign surrogate during this year's presidential contest. She was among a group of Republicans who attended Trump's hush-money trial in New York earlier this year to show their support for him. Bondi was Florida's attorney general for eight years, from 2011 to 2019. She was the first woman elected to the position. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Justice Department has more than 100,000 workers covering a broad range of interests. The department prosecutes federal criminal laws through U.S attorneys offices and through its main headquarters, and brings civil lawsuits to enforce civil rights and antitrust laws. The department oversees agencies such as the FBI; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the U.S. Marshals Service and the Bureau of Prisons. "For too long, the partisan Department of Justice has been weaponized against me and other Republicans - Not anymore," Trump said in his statement. "Pam will refocus the DOJ to its intended purpose of fighting Crime, and Making America Safe Again. I have known Pam for many years She is smart and tough, and is an AMERICA FIRST Fighter, who will do a terrific job as Attorney General!" A new era in American politics: When sexual misconduct allegations are overlooked Bondi is Trump's second choice for attorney general and the second Floridian has has tapped for the job. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier Thursday, Gaetz, a former Florida congressman, withdrew his nomination amid continuing allegations of sexual misconduct. The DOJ which Gaetz would have led if he became attorney general investigated allegations that he committed statutory rape by paying for sex with a 17-year-old girl and for her to travel with him across state lines. That probe was dropped without charges. But the House Ethics Committee, a bipartisan panel equally divided between Democrats and Republicans, was also investigating those and other allegations and had planned to vote on whether to release a report on their findings just two days after Gaetz abruptly resigned his House seat last week. Did Matt Gaetz resign from Congress? What to know after he backs out of Trump's AG role Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A lawyer for two witnesses said his clients testified before the Ethics Committee about the allegations. One said she saw Gaetz allegedly under the influence of drugs and sexually abusing the 17-year-old, though she said she did not think Gaetz knew the girl's age. Gaetz has denied the allegations. But he said he decided to withdraw his nomination because it had become a distraction for Trump's transition team. Contributing: Riley Beggin Michael Collins covers the White House. Follow him on X @mcollinsNEWS. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who is Pam Bondi? Donald Trump taps new attorney general nominee Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images If not Matt Gaetz, who will Donald Trump pick to run the Justice Department as attorney general? On November 21 the president-elect nominated Pam Bondi. But who is she? For one, she is not the subject of a sex trafficking investigation, unlike Trumps previous pick, Gaetz, who withdrew his name from consideration after meeting with Republican Senators. The Trump Cabinet Could Include Multiple Alleged Sexual Predators Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sexual misconduct allegations havent disqualified Trump from the presidency, and that privilege apparently extends to some of those he wants to surround him. For too long, the partisan Department of Justice has been weaponized against me and other Republicans - Not anymore. Pam will refocus the DOJ to its intended purpose of fighting Crime, and Making America Safe Again, Trump said of his new nominee on social media. "I have known Pam for many yearsShe is smart and tough, and is an AMERICA FIRST Fighter, who will do a terrific job as Attorney General!" So, whats the deal with 59-year-old Republican lawyer Pam Bondi? Heres everything we know. Bondi was Floridas first female Attorney General. Bondi served as the AG of Florida from 2011 to 2019, largely focussing her efforts on the opioid crisis. Along with fellow lawmakers, she enacted the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program, an initiative to encourage safer prescribing of controlled substances and to reduce drug abuse and diversion within the state of Florida. Bondi staunchly opposed gay marriage. In 2014, Bondi worked to freeze appeals by same-sex couples suing the state over Floridas gay marriage ban, arguing that disrupting Floridas existing marriage laws would impose significant public harm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After promising to protect the LGBTQ+ community following the tragic mass shooting at Orlando's Pulse Nightclub in 2016, she was confronted about her previous statements by Anderson Cooper. I have never seen you talk about gays and lesbians and transgender people in a positive way until now, he said at the time. Throughout the viral confrontation, Bondi argued she was just defending the constitution, adding, Ive never said I dont like gay people. Thats ridiculous. She has strong ties to Trump. Not only did Bondi serve as one of Trumps lawyers during his first impeachment trial, she served on his Opioid and Drug Abuse Commission during his first term. Shes also a chair at the America First Policy Institute, which was founded in 2021 to promote Trumps policy agenda after he left office, per Axios. Shes been at the center of a Trump-related controversy. Per Politico, Bondis reelection campaign received a $25,000 donation from the Donald J. Trump Foundation in 2013, at the same time her office was receiving complaints from Floridians who claimed they had been scammed by Trump University. She then declined to pursue a fraud investigation on behalf of the state of Florida into the now-defunct school. Trump later paid a $2,500 fine for the improper donation. According to The Independent, both Trump and Bondi have denied that the donation was improper. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eventually, in November 2016, Trump paid $25 million to settle three lawsuits against Trump University, one of which was brought forth by New York States attorney general. NPR reported at the time of the settlement that the deal included payouts to more than 6,000 Trump U students who paid thousands of dollars for courses they describe as worthless. She was at the center of a strange dog-custody battle involving victims of Hurricane Katrina. In 2005, Bondi fostered and then adopted a St. Bernard who was rescued during Hurricane Katrina. When his original owners, Steven and Doreen Couture, came looking for him, she refused to give him up, claiming that he had been abused under their care. The Coutures denied the allegation and enlisted legal services to assist them in getting their two dogsboth of whom had been adopted outback in their custody. According to local news reports, the Coutures left their dogs at a makeshift animal shelter after their home was destroyed by Katrina. During the storm Steven had stayed with the dogs, but with about seven feet of water in his house, he ended up on the roof of his home. When a boat arrived to rescue him, he was told he had to leave [the dogs], the Ocala Star Banner reported. When he returned home after the storm, he found both dogs but was told he could not leave the area with them. Instead he gave them up to the local animal shelter. They told me they would hold them for at least six months, until I get a place, he told the Banner. That was the assurance they gave to me. Bondi later returned the dog to the Coutures. She has criticized criminal cases against Trump and the prosecutors behind them. Bondi, who has been described as a loyalist to the president-elect, has publicly criticized the criminal cases against him, per the BBC. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She has called prosecutors in the federal cases against Trump horrible people who were weaponizing our legal system in order to further their careers. When Trump was convicted on 34 counts of falsifying business records in his criminal trial earlier this year, she told Fox News, Its a sad day for our justice system. Originally Appeared on Glamour Pam Bondi, the former Florida attorney general who is now President-elect Donald Trump's pick to be U.S. attorney general, has always been a favorite among the state's ruling Republican class. Bondi, the first woman attorney general in the state serving 2011-2019, led the legal fight against gay marriage. She waged a war on drugs and "pill mills." She brought adorable dogs to Florida Cabinet meetings. But she also was caught up in an uproar over a curiously-timed political contribution from Trump and was once involved in a "canine custody battle" over a St. Bernard that became separated from its family during Hurricane Katrina. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 59-year-old Tampa Bay-area native got her start in the Hillsborough County State Attorney's Office as a prosecutor, then spent a long stretch as the office's spokesperson. Now she is known as a longtime Trump loyalist and for her strong advocacy for conservative causes plus, she's no stranger to controversy. Here are five memorable Florida moments from her time here as a statewide official: Florida's 'pill mill' legislation saved lives In 2011, Bondi vowed to crack down on "pill mills," clinics that overprescribed opioids like Oxycontin and exacerbated the already deadly overdose crisis. The year before, out of the top 100 doctors buying the most Oxycodone in the United States, 90 were in Florida, according to Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Bondi made combating prescription drug abuse a "top priority," and with Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Legislature passed legislation (HB 7095) and established the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program, which did result in a decrease of prescribing and use. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The program required the opioid-prescribing clinics to register with the state and have a physician-owner. The law created established prescribing requirements and prohibitions for doctors at these clinics. The "pill mill crackdown" did lead to a decrease in overdoses linked to prescription opioids and heroin, and, according to one researcher, prevented more from becoming addicted. One study estimated 1,029 lives were saved from prescription opioid overdose over a 34-month period as a result of the legislation. Florida's Governor Rick Scott, left, along with Attorney General Pam Bondi and House Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, applauding passage of the drug bill in the Florida House of Representatives on May 6, 2011. Bondi opposed gay marriage in Florida In 2014, a group of gay marriage advocates sued the state of Florida alleging the state was discriminating against LGBTQ residents by not recognizing marriage certificates from other states. Bondi fought against the suit, arguing a 2008 ballot referendum in which 62% of voters agreed that the definition of marriage should be between a man and a woman was the reason she still opposed same-sex marriage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anything less than the best defense of our voters policy preferences would disenfranchise the electorate, undermine the judicial process, and cast aside the professional responsibility that guides me every day as attorney general, she said in a statement in 2014. Toward the end of the year, Florida filed an emergency petition to keep the state's marriage ban after Tallahassee-based U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle ruled that it was unconstitutional, but six months later the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling ended the state's fight and declared gay marriage constitutional in all 50 states. After the ruling, Bondi said the Supreme Court had finally provided "the clarity our state and country was seeking": "Legal efforts were not about personal beliefs or opinions, but rather, the rule of law," she said in a statement. "The United States Supreme Court has the final word on interpreting the Constitution, and the court has spoken." In 2016 in a tense on-air moment with CNN's Anderson Cooper, who confronted Bondi over her opposition to same-sex marriage in Florida in an interview after the Pulse shooting in Orlando, Bondi said she never said she disliked gay people. "That's ridiculous," she said. BEDMINSTER, NEW JERSEY - JULY 07: Pam Bondi, former Florida Attorney General, speaks during a press conference announcing a class action lawsuit against big tech companies at the Trump National Golf Club Bedminster on July 07, 2021 in Bedminster, New Jersey. Former president Trump held a press conference with executives from the America First Policy Institute to announce a class action lawsuit against Facebook, Twitter, Google, and their CEOs, claiming that he was wrongfully censored. Since being banned from the social media companies, former president Trump has continued to spread lies about the 2020 election. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images) Bondi's reelection campaign gets wrapped up with Trump University Four days after Bondi announced Florida would join a New York investigation against Trump University, a for-profit seminar series that advertised teaching real-estate success, a $25,000 check from Trump's foundation was donated to a political group backing Bondi's re-election campaign, called And Justice for All, in 2013. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the time, the New York Attorney General was looking into Trump's seminars, which consumers said were scams. Many alleged they paid for training materials and personalized instruction which were never delivered. Then Bondi canceled her plans to sue and cited insufficient grounds to proceed after a deposit from Trump's charity, the Donald J. Trump Foundation, according to the Associated Press. At the time, Bondi said there was nothing improper about accepting a donation from Trump. She added it involved a small amount of money compared to the cost of running a statewide campaign and rejected a suggestion that politically it might have made sense to return the check. A state prosecutor cleared her of any wrongdoing a week after a federal judge approved a $25 million settlement between Trump and students who paid his university for the real-estate seminars. Bondi argued she tried to give the money back to the foundation; Trump was fined by the Internal Revenue Service for using charity money for a political contribution. Using a charity to make a political contribution is a federal offense. PENSACOLA, FL - JUNE 06: Workers remove small globs of oil that have washed up on Pensacola Beach from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico on June 6, 2010 in Pensacola, Florida. Early reports indicate that BP's latest plan to stem the flow of oil from the site of the Deepwater Horizon incident may be having some sucess. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Florida settles with BP over oil spill In 2015, Bondi helped Florida secure an over $3 billion settlement after the BP oil spill, saying it would prevent the state from going down a "black hole" of litigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Florida received $3.25 billion, with $2 billion of that going to economic damages the most money of any state, according to a 2015 Associated Press article. On April 10, 2010, BP's offshore drilling platform called Deepwater Horizon exploded in the Gulf of Mexico and left oily water and beaches on the coast of Florida, killing sea life, including dolphins, fish and birds. Out of the settlement, $680 million was allocated for restoration projects. The state received an initial payment of $400 million in 2016 and will receive $100 million every year through 2033. Attorney General Pam Bondi frequently brought dogs from the Leon County Animal Shelter to Florida Cabinet meetings, hoping to get them adopted. On April 22, 2014, she found a taker for 'Wrangler,' a mixed-breed pup she carried around the meeting room. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bondi brought dogs to cabinet meetings to help them get adopted It wasn't unusual for a furry four-legged friend to accompany Bondi to the lower level of the Florida Capitol for cabinet meetings. "Attorney General Pam Bondi frequently brought dogs from the Leon County Animal Shelter to state Cabinet meetings, hoping to get them adopted. On April 22, 2014, she found a taker for 'Wrangler,' a mixed-breed pup she carried around the meeting room," wrote then-Democrat Capitol reporter Bill Cotterell. Wrangler was just one special guest. Socks, a black and white border collie and lab mix, was invited to the 2012 Christmas tree presentation ceremony. But one dog caused controversy for Bondi. Before she was attorney general, she went through a custody battle over her dog, a St. Bernard named Master Tank, who was rescued after Hurricane Katrina and was adopted by her through the Pinellas County Humane Society. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The dog's original family from Louisiana had been trying to get the animal back, but Bondi refused to return him, telling the then-St. Petersburg Times: "I took a dog who was a walking skeleton. That's what was wrong with him before the hurricane." Bondi settled the case with the family and returned the dog, and she ended up getting another St. Bernard. (This story was updated to add new information.) Ana Goni-Lessan is the State Watchdog Reporter for USA TODAY - Florida and can be reached at AGoniLessan@tallahassee.com. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Who is AG nominee Pam Bondi? 5 Florida moments that define her Within hours of former U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz bowing out of his nomination for attorney general, President-elect Donald Trump named former Florida Attorney General and long-time Trump ally Pam Bondi to take Gaetz's place as the country's top law enforcement officer. Pam was a prosecutor for nearly 20 years, where she was very tough on Violent Criminals, and made the streets safe for Florida Families, he said in a statement. Then, as Floridas first female Attorney General, she worked to stop the trafficking of deadly drugs, and reduce the tragedy of Fentanyl Overdose Deaths, which have destroyed many families across our Country. Bondi is a long-time Trump ally and previously served as one of his defense attorneys during his first impeachment trial. Trump previously talked about bringing Bondi into his first administration and there was speculation at the time that he might make her attorney general to replace Jeff Sessions in 2018. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unlike most of Trump's other, more controversial cabinet picks for his second term, Bondi has experience in the office she has been nominated for, having served as Florida's Attorney General for eight years under Gov. Rick Scott. Here's what to know. Who is Pam Bondi, Trump's new pick for Attorney General? Pamela Jo Bondi, 59, is a Tampa native, born in Temple Terrace. Bondi, a fourth-generation Floridian and daughter of Temple Terrace mayor Joseph Bondi, received her BA in Criminal Justice in 1987 from the University of Florida and her Juris Doctor in 1990 from Stetson Law School. She worked as a prosecutor in Hillsborough Countys 13th Judicial Circuit for nearly 20 years before running for the office of state Attorney General. She won in 2010 and became the first woman in Florida to hold the office. During her time in office, Bondi led an unsuccessful multistate lawsuit to overturn the Affordable Care Act, led a statewide effort to eliminate "pill mills," pulled the state into a lawsuit against Obama's immigration policy, defended Florida's same-sex marriage ban (although she has said she was simply upholding the constitution), co-authored a presidential report on the opioid crisis and worked with multiple agencies and legislators for programs and laws to fight fentanyl trafficking. What are Pam Bondi's Trump connections? Bondi has long been a Trump supporter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Would Pam Bondi be the first female U.S. Attorney General? Bondi would be the first Republican woman to hold the office. Janet Reno was the first woman to be the U.S. Attorney General. She served under President Bill Clinton for eight years, making her the second-longest-serving attorney general in U.S. history. President Barack Obama named Loretta Lynch the second woman, the second Black American, and the first Black woman to the position in 2015 where she served until 2017. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sally Yates was Trump's first acting attorney general in 2017, but Trump fired her after just 10 days when she refused to enforce or defend his new Muslim ban that restricted travel to the United States from seven Muslim-majority countries. Days before she was fired, Yates also warned the White House counsel that then-National Adviser Michael Flynn was vulnerable to Russian blackmail and also could face criminal charges. Flynn resigned in February 2017. She later testified about it before a Senate Judiciary panel into Russian interference in the election. Is Pam Bondi married? Bondi was married to Garret Barnes in the early 90s but the couple divorced after 22 months according to the Tampa Bay Times. In 1996, Bondi married Scott Fitzgerald but they divorced in 2002. In 2012, she was engaged to ophthalmologist Greg Henderson. What does the Attorney General do? Since 1789, the Office of the Attorney General has evolved into the head of the Department of Justice and the chief law enforcement officer of the United States federal government. The attorney general supervises and directs the 40 components and agencies the the Justice Department, including the FBI; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the U.S. Marshals Service and the Bureau of Prisons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Justice Department has more than 100,000 workers covering a broad range of interests. The department prosecutes federal criminal laws through U.S attorneys offices and through its main headquarters, and brings civil lawsuits to enforce civil rights and antitrust laws. "For too long, the partisan Department of Justice has been weaponized against me and other Republicans - Not anymore," Trump said in his statement. "Pam will refocus the DOJ to its intended purpose of fighting Crime, and Making America Safe Again. I have known Pam for many years She is smart and tough, and is an AMERICA FIRST Fighter, who will do a terrific job as Attorney General!" Michael Collins, USA TODAY, contributed to this story. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Pam Bondi is Trumps new Attorney General after Gaetz withdrawal Just hours after Matt Gaetz withdrew his nomination as attorney general, Donald Trump found an acceptable face of the MAGA movement to replace him. Pam Bondi, the former Florida attorney general, spent eight years as the Sunshine States top lawyer and has maintained her long association with the president-elect since leaving office. The former prosecutor is a firm supporter of Israel and called for a crackdown on pro-Hamas demonstrations that erupted at college campuses last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The thing thats really the most troubling to me [are] these students in universities in our country, whether theyre here as Americans or if theyre here on student visas, and theyre out there saying I support Hamas. she told Newsmax. Frankly they need to be taken out of our country or the FBI needs to be interviewing them right away. Ms Bondi previously called Israel our greatest ally in the world in an interview with Fox News, and her support has been welcomed by Jewish lawmakers. Robert Wexler, the former Democratic representative of Florida, told Jewish Insider: When it comes to the interests of the Jewish community and having an attorney general that will fight for the protection of the Jewish community, we could not do better than Pam Bondi. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As attorney general, she opposed same-sex marriage and unsuccessfully attempted to undo Obamacare, which guarantees health insurance coverage to Americans. Ms Bondi appears to be far more qualified than Mr Gaetz, who only practised law for a couple of years before going into politics. But like the former Florida congressman, her loyalty to Mr Trump is beyond question. Eight turbulent days after Mr Gaetzs nomination was announced, she will likely soothe the fears of Republican senators who will be asked to confirm her. Many were said to be alarmed at the prospect of elevating Mr Gaetz to the Cabinet table, amid claims which he denies of having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old schoolgirl. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Having named a successor, Mr Trump is not being shy about what he expects Ms Bondi to do if and when she becomes head of the justice department. Ms Bondi was on Mr Trumps team during his impeachment battle in his first term of office - Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Having complained for much of his first term about how Jeff Sessions, his first attorney general, failed to take control of the department, Mr Trump has learned his lessons as he plans out his second term. In a statement on his Truth Social platform, the president-elect said Ms Bondi would refocus the justice department on fighting crime instead of targeting Republicans. Mr Trump has been the subject of two federal criminal cases. The message appeared to be aimed as much at his new attorney general nominee as it was to the media at large. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pam was a prosecutor for nearly 20 years, where she was very tough on violent criminals, and made the streets safe for Florida families, Mr Trump continued. Then, as Floridas first female attorney general, she worked to stop the trafficking of deadly drugs, and reduce the tragedy of fentanyl overdose deaths, which have destroyed many families across our country. She did such an incredible job. Ms Bondi was the first female attorney general of Florida - Pam Bondi/Instagram Mr Trump announced Ms Bondi as his nominee for attorney general after Matt Gaetz bowed out - Instar Images Nevertheless, Ms Bondis time as attorney general was not without controversy and her association with Mr Trump occasionally landed her in hot water. In 2014, Ms Bondi came under fire when she asked Floridas governor to postpone the execution of a murderer because it clashed with one of her campaign events. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She later admitted the mistake, saying there was nothing more important than seeing justice done. The 59-year-old was also forced to deny claims that she had not pursued legal action against Trump University where students claimed to have been cheated out of thousands of dollars in tuition fees because of a $25,000 donation she received from the then reality TV star. If confirmed by the Senate, Ms Bondi will become the USs chief law enforcement officer - Pam Bondi/Instagram Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Trump has praised Ms Bondis many years of experience within the justice system - Pam Bondi/Instagram Mr Trump later agreed to settle for $25 million during his 2016 election campaign in a lawsuit brought by the New York attorney general. After leaving office, Ms Bondi joined the Trump team as one of the lawyers who fought his first impeachment battle. In his first term, Mr Trump was accused of conditioning military aid to Ukraine on an investigation into a political rival: Joe Biden, who would go on to fight and beat Mr Trump in the 2020 presidential election. The then president would eventually be acquitted by the Senate following a trial, with senators voting largely along party lines. Ms Bondi later joined the America First Policy Institute, the MAGA think tank and recruiting ground for members of the new Trump administration, as the head of its legal arm. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. When Donald Trump was on the verge of losing the 2020 election, Pam Bondi jumped in a car. On Nov. 4, 2020, the day after Election Day, the former Florida attorney general and Rudy Giuliani raced from Washington, D.C. to Pennsylvania so they could help fire the first shots in Trumps bid to reject the results of that contest an ill-fated effort that would lead to Giulianis disbarment and criminal charges against Trump. Those shots included sowing doubt about the counting process and serving as Trumps eyes and ears while he raged against the results from Washington. Bondis manic road trip is emblematic of the role Bondi has played for Trump in recent years. She hasnt drawn many national headlines and doesnt radiate scandal like Trumps first choice for attorney general, Matt Gaetz. But when Trump has faced threats to his political career and livelihood, Bondi has been there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When Democrats impeached him in 2019 for seeking political favors from Ukraine, Bondi took to the Senate floor as part of his legal team and delivered a dissertation on Hunter Bidens seamy relationship with a Ukrainian energy company. Earlier this year, when Trump was on trial in Manhattan for covering up hush money payments to a porn star, Bondi was at his side and made the rounds to media outlets to rip the case as a sham. And as the legal threats against Trump mounted, Bondi served as a reliable surrogate. All of these prosecutors hate Donald Trump, she said in May on Fox News. They have a personal vendetta against him. Now, Trump is turning to Bondi for her ultimate assignment: overseeing the agency that has tormented him and threatened to put him in jail for seeking to subvert the 2020 election and hoarding classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate. How Bondi would wield power as attorney general is unclear. Whereas Gaetz had long articulated his distrust of federal spying programs, called for breaking up and relocating the FBI and demanded an end to Jan. 6 prosecutions, Bondi has remained publicly silent on those issues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though Bondi, like Gaetz, is steeped in Florida Republican politics, she would bring a more traditional resume to the Justice Department. She spent two terms as attorney general of Florida and later took up lobbying for a firm known for its Trump ties, Ballard Partners. Bondi has also recently worked behind the scenes at the Trump-aligned America First Policy Institute, where she acted as chair of its legal battles in the heart of the culture wars. Bondi didnt take a prominent role in court in most of those fights, although she was listed as an attorney for AFPI representing two sets of Colorado public school parents who filed a lawsuit last year alleging that their children attended Genders and Sexualities Alliance meetings without their knowledge, that school officials encouraged the students to keep their attendance at the sessions secret and that the discussions encouraged students to express gender fluidity. A federal judge in Denver threw the case out in May. The parents appeal of that decision is pending. Theres no indication that Bondi attended the only in-person conference in the case. Another AFPI lawyer is set to argue the appeal in January. Despite a limited social media presence, Bondi has been a frequent guest on friendly Fox News and Newsmax shows, even hosting Foxs The Five while serving as Florida AG in 2018. Shes spoken at Trumps nominating conventions and at other annual conservative gatherings like CPAC. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bondis recent lobbying clients at the federal level include sheriffs groups and an investment firm active in developing affordable housing, Alden Torch Financial. Lobbying disclosures show she advocated for a low-income housing tax credit. Bondi took a break from her lobbying work in late 2019 and early 2020 to serve as a special assistant to Trump as part of his impeachment defense team. Before and after her White House stint, she was registered as a foreign agent for the Middle Eastern emirate of Qatar, advising that nation on relations with the U.S. and combating human trafficking, according to federal disclosures. President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday was forced to choose a new nominee for attorney general after his first choice withdrew from consideration amid a storm of controversy around sexual misconduct allegations. With former Florida congressman Matt Gaetz out of the running, Trump has turned to another of his most ardent loyalistsPam Bondi, the onetime attorney general of Florida, to take charge of the Justice Department. Although Gaetz has always denied the allegations against him, Trump reportedly called Gaetz before he withdrew to say he wouldnt get the votes to be confirmed by the Senate. Bondi, by comparison, should have an easier time getting the upper chambers approvalbut she also is no stranger to controversy. Hardcore Trump loyalist Like Trumps other Cabinet picks, Bondi has been fiercely loyal to Trump. She endorsed Trumps first candidacy for presidency in March 2016 shortly before the GOP primary in Florida, throwing her support behind him over her own states candidate, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL). Bondi was an early supporter of Trump, endorsing him in March 2016. She then served on Trumps first transition team at the beginning of his first administration and had previously been in contention for attorney general when Trumps first official in the role, Jeff Sessions, was given the boot in 2018. William Barr ultimately got the gig instead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bondi was also part of the team helping Trump fight his first impeachment trial in 2020, in which Trump was accused but ultimately not convicted of abusing his power over and obstruction of congressional investigations. At the time, Bondi boosted the messaging of Trumps other allies attacking the impeachment and accusing Joe Bidenthen a private citizen after the end of his vice presidencyof being involved in corruption with his son, Hunter. Those allegations have never been proven. As well as winning Trumps approval, Bondi is close with his daughter-in-law Lara Trump. On Tuesday, Bondi backed Lara Trump to replace Rubio in the Senate if he is confirmed as secretary of state. No one works as hard as Lara Trump, Bondi said in a statement of support. Making history In 2010, Bondi became the first woman to be elected as Floridas attorney general. She did so after securing the support of former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin in the primary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During her time in the role between 2011 and 2019, Bondi took a strong stance on issues including human trafficking and mounted an unsuccessful legal challenge to overturn then-President Barack Obamas Affordable Care Act. She also started Floridas litigation against drug companies manufacturing opioids. Bondi was by Trumps when he was president and she was Florida attorney general. In 2013, she was criticized for asking then-Gov. Rick Scott to delay a killers execution because it clashed with a fundraiser for her re-election campaign. Bondi apologized for the request and said it wouldnt happen again. The Trump University saga It was also in that year that Bondis office received complaints about Trump University, the president-elects now-defunct for-profit school. Her aides claimed Bondi was considering joining a lawsuit brought by New York against Trump University over fraud allegations. After Bondis political action committee received a $25,000 check from Trumps familys charitable foundation, Bondis office chose not to pursue the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both Bondi and Trump have denied wrongdoing over the payment. Trump did eventually pay a $2,500 fine to the IRS in 2016 in relation to the donation, which breached laws against charities supporting political activities. In January 2017, just before his first inauguration, Trump also paid $25 million to settle fraud cases against Trump University. Spreading the word After the end of her tenure as Floridas attorney general, Bondi joined Ballard Partnersthe lobbying firm where Susie Wiles, Trumps campaign chief and new White House chief of staff, was a partner. Bondi also lobbied on behalf of a Kuwaiti firm, according to the Associated Press , and registered as a foreign agent for the Qatari government. She has also represented the likes of General Motors, Uber, and Amazon, according to The New York Times . Like other Trump Cabinet picks, Bondi has gained national attention through appearances on Fox News. She supported Trumps baseless claims about widespread election fraud in the 2020 election and was asked to substantiate claims about fake ballots that she made in one awkward exchange during a Fox & Friends interview. Bondi did not back up her claims. Bondi with Corey Lewandowski in Philadelphia in November 2020. A dog scandal South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem isnt the only appointee to Trumps new administration with a dog-based scandal to her name. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bondi was once embroiled in a bizarre and very public spat with a Louisiana family whose doga St. Bernard named Master Tankwent missing during Hurricane Katrina. The family claimed that Bondi had stolen the dog, while Bondi alleged that the family had neglected their pet. The family denied the allegation and filed a lawsuit, but the case was settled before going to trial. Bondi returned Master Tank to the family. President-elect Donald Trump wasted little time selecting another candidate for attorney general after Matt Gaetz dropped his bid amid sexual misconduct allegations. Pam Bondi, Florida's attorney general for eight years, was part of Trump's defense team during his first impeachment trial and supported his false claims of fraud following the 2020 election. She's remained in Trump's orbit since then, continuing to advise him on legal matters. Despite the shake-up, Bondi seems easily positioned to pick up the mantle on Trump's goal of overhauling the Justice Department and his pledge for retribution against political opponents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "For too long, the partisan Department of Justice has been weaponized against me and other Republicans - Not anymore," Trump wrote in his official announcement of Bondi for attorney general. "Pam will refocus the DOJ to its intended purpose of fighting Crime, and Making America Safe Again." MORE: Trump announces Pam Bondi as his AG pick to replace Matt Gaetz PHOTO: In this Feb. 22, 2018, file photo, President Donald Trump watches as Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi speaks during a meeting with state and local officials on school safety in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, D.C. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images, FILE) In August 2023, during an appearance on Fox News, Bondi railed against the criminal indictments against Trump and what Fox host Sean Hannity described as a "two-tiered system of justice." "When Republicans take back the White House, and we will be back in there in 18 months or less, you know what's going to happen? The Department of Justice, the prosecutors will be prosecuted -- the bad ones -- the investigators will be investigated," she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Because the deep state last term for President Trump, they were hiding in the shadows," Bondi continued. "But now, they have a spotlight on them and they can all be investigated We can clean house next term and that's what has to happen." She also implied action could be taken against President Joe Biden amid Republican allegations that Biden was personally involved in and benefited from his family's overseas business dealings, which have yet to be supported by direct evidence. "When we have a new administration, absolutely, Sean. It has to," Bondi said at the time. The comments echo Trump's own vows on the campaign trail to go after his perceived political enemies, intelligence officers, prosecutors and more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump in 2016 led chants of "lock her up" against Hillary Clinton, though he never went after her legally once in office. Bondi, at the 2016 convention, when the crowd shouted "Lock her up," responded: "'Lock her up,' I love that." PHOTO: In this Nov. 4, 2020, file photo, former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, center, speaks during a news conference on legal challenges to vote counting in Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia. (Matt Slocum/AP, FILE) MORE: Trump's dark 'retribution' pledge at center of 2024 bid, but can he make it reality? Bondi was also a supporter of Trump's false claims regarding the 2020 election, helping file several unsuccessful lawsuits alleging voter fraud. She appeared alongside Rudy Giuliani in Philadelphia the day after the 2020 race declaring Trump "won Pennsylvania" while votes were still being counted. The state went for President Biden by roughly 80,000 votes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Critics say the comments raise questions as to whether she could be trusted to enforce the law. "As AG, would she drop cases against violent insurrectionists? Continue pushing the Big Lie under oath?" Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff, who next year will join the Senate, wrote on X. "She will have to answer those questions and a lot more during her confirmation hearings." ABC News' Soorin Kim and Peter Charalambous contributed to this report. What Pam Bondi, Trump's new AG pick, has said about investigating DOJ prosecutors originally appeared on abcnews.go.com House Democrats elected a new slate of legislative leaders Thursday, including a representative who will become the first Black woman caucus leader in the commonwealths history. All 19 members of the House Democratic caucus selected Louisville Rep. Pamela Stevenson to become the new minority floor leader, the highest-ranking post for Democrats in the House. Louisville Democrat Rep. Al Gentry will join her as minority caucus chair and Lexington Rep. Lindsey Burke will serve as the minority whip. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stevenson is a retired U.S. Air Force colonel who spent 27 years as a Judge Advocate General and is now a private attorney. She is the first Black woman, and second woman overall, to lead a legislative caucus in the Kentucky General Assembly. I want to thank my fellow caucus members for their support and look forward to working with them, Gov. Andy Beshear and our legislative colleagues across the aisle, Stevenson said in a Thursday evening news release. We may be a new leadership team, but we are as committed as ever to pursuing our timeless goals of building on the commonwealths many successes while better ensuring that all citizens are able to enjoy that prosperity. Stevenson fell short in last years race for attorney general, losing to GOP Attorney General Russell Coleman by 16 percentage points, 58-42. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She became widely known in Kentucky and the country over the past few legislative sessions for her fiery floor speeches denouncing Republican legislation. Many of them went viral on video-based social media platforms such as TikTok. Stevenson has served House District 43, which covers parts of downtown and West Louisville, since winning election in 2020. She will replace longtime Rep. Derrick Graham, D-Frankfort, as leader. Gentry is best known for his work to push through the legalization of medical marijuana, an effort that took several years but made it over the finish line in the form of Senate Bill 47 in 2023. He replaces Rep. Cherlynn Stevenson, D-Lexington, as caucus chair. I have been proud to be part of this caucus for the last eight years, and it means a lot to be selected for this new role, Gentry said in Thursdays release. Our legislative priorities have significant public support, from raising the minimum wage to providing significantly more funding for public education. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Burke, the lone Lexington member of leadership, is relatively new to the legislature but has made her mark in a short time. An attorney and social worker, she replaced former state representative Kelly Flood. Her House District 75 covers much of West Lexington, including the majority of the area within New Circle Road between Leestown and Nicholasville roads. I have dedicated most of my life to helping others, and it means so much that I now have a chance to step up and take on this important responsibility, Burke said. Burke will take the role from Rep. Rachel Roberts, D-Newport, who did not run for reelection this year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Democrats, since losing the majority in the House in 2016, have been on the outside looking in when it comes to the passage of legislation. Democrats lost a significant amount of what sway they had left in 2020 when their number of representatives went from 38 to 25, and that number dropped again, to 20, in 2022. This year, during the general election, they lost one incumbent and flipped one previously Republican seat in Lexington-centric districts. The incumbent loss threw the caucus for a loop. Outgoing caucus chair Cherlynn Stevenson was the only member of leadership running for reelection this year. However, she was defeated narrowly in her politically purple 88th House District by GOP candidate Vanessa Grossl. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Democratic candidate won the Fayette County portion of that district, but Grossl won the parts of the district in Scott County by a wider margin. The House Democratic caucus numbers 19 to the Republicans 80, because Democratic Rep. Daniel Grossberg, D-Louisville, was expelled from the caucus in a unanimous vote, according to a Democratic lawmaker present at the time, and urged to resign by the states highest-ranking Democrats after Herald-Leader reporting on his behavior towards women. Grossberg has not resigned. UPDATE: Burkett has been found safe. BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) The Panama City Police Department is seeking the publics assistance in locating a missing woman. Stephanie Burkett, 56, was last seen on Thursday around 4:00 p.m. in the 500 Block of East Highway 98 in Panama City. Burkett has dark blonde hair, hazel eyes, 507, and 180 lbs. Authorities urge anyone with information on this case to call PCPD at 850-872-3100, or they can report their tips anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 850-785-TIPS. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) The holiday season kicks off in Sioux Falls with the Parade of Lights next Friday. The annual parade in downtown Sioux Falls, down Phillips Avenue, will be broadcast over the air on KELOXTRA and livestreamed on KELOLAND.com. Deadly crash in Northwest Iowa The parade is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. and go until 9:30 p.m. on Friday, November 29th. According to Downtown Sioux Falls, the parade has reached capacity for this years float participants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Action News Jax Investigates found there are still problems despite a federal investigation, that ended with the district promising changes. Action News Jax Annette Gutierrez spent the last month looking into the data after a state report showed thousands of restraints being used on special needs students. Since those numbers came out, parents reached out claiming there are still problems with restraints, the lack of record keeping, and keeping students from reaching their educational goals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We as parents are sending our kids to school [to] what is supposed to be a top-notch school district, and we have to question if our child is going to end up in handcuffs or if theyre going to be in some kind of restraint when we pick them up, St. Johns County parent Bilyana Linton said. And thats a very scary proposition for us. From physical restraints Our son was coming home saying theyre manhandling me, St. Johns County parent Marilyn Lisewski said. to mechanical restraints He was handcuffed with his hand behind his chair, Linton said. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Parents said their children arent getting a full education because they spend their time being restrained in school. But this is something district leaders said isnt true. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its really a last resort, St. Johns County School District ESE program specialist George Freeman said. If there is an imminent risk of serious injury to the student or to somebody else, that is when we would implement a restraint. Freeman said they only use this method when necessary, especially after a federal civil rights investigation found St. Johns Schools retrains students more than any district in the state. In the 2018-2019 year, they reported more than 1700 restraints. One child was restrained more than 120 times. We were very uncomfortable with the numbers, too, Freeman said. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] While the numbers have dropped since that investigation, parents like Marilyn and Kevin Lisweski said things are not better for their son, Caden, who has autism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He had been going to Pine Island Academy when his behavior started to flare up last school year. They sued after Caden came home one day bleeding, and the school never reported it. The Lisweskis said restraints only became an issue for Caden when the school removed the behavioral resources that were helping him. Hes in a state of fight or flight all day in school because hes worried about who is going to put their hands on them next, Kevin said. RELATED: Federal investigation reveals St. Johns County schools restrained students with disabilities The Lisewskis said they only got video evidence showing a struggle in the hallway between two teachers and his son, because they sued, and the court ordered the district to share it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its hard to trust the school after that, Marilyn said. Freeman said this incident was an anomaly and *they are* transparent with their reporting. When our numbers were so high, we still continued to report, Freeman said. The Lisweskis arent the only ones. Bilyana Linton said her sons services were also taken away last year. He has autism, and Linton claims Beachside High teachers were triggering him every day to the point where he was suspended more than 60 times in one school year. That to me was an astronomical number of suspensions for one child with disabilities and it was all due to his disability so he was basically being punished for them, Linton said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It got to the point, where he was removed from school permanently. In April and May, he was home because the principal decided to issue a no-trespassing letter to him, Linton said. Because of this note, the school failed to meet his individualized education plan. Freeman said they remove services when they see a students behavior improving. READ: Life-altering consequences: New training aims to discourage school threats Were always trying to move students toward a less restrictive environment and toward more options, more independence, Linton said. But it backfired for both Caden and for Lintons son. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Linton sued, transferred her son to a different school, and got his disciplinary record expunged. She said she believes it stemmed from the district failing to train teachers properly. He didnt do anything to justify the suspensions, Linton said. The data following the compliance review shows the districts numbers dropped by about 94 percent since 2018. READ: Campaign by Wells Creek neighbors pulls through; new traffic light installed But parents arent buying it. I think theyre creatively using different definitions, Kevin said. Civil rights attorney Stephanie Langer represents the Lisweskis along with several other families suing against the district. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And we have caught the school district several times not being truthful about what occurred to the student on that date, Langer said. When they got in trouble or when the investigation began, they stopped reporting the restraints that were occurring. Both Caden and Lintons son are doing better one because of a school transfer, the other because they are homeschooling. Langer said she does believe things have improved slightly, but not nearly enough. READ: St. Johns neighbors concerned over the price of incoming Walmart Supercenter in World Golf Village I believe we are being transparent, Freeman said. Really, our attitude is if theres a problem, we need to fix the problem. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Freeman said they want every student to succeed and they are not finished putting in work. We have made great progress and were not through, Freeman said. We continue to work on it. St. Johns County is number one in the state for a lot of different things. And we are one of the being number one in this area as well. Following the investigation, the district came up with a resolution agreement to update policies and procedures, create specific professional learning, monthly monitoring of restraint, and offer to meet with families of students who have been restrained to discuss current support needs and whether compensatory services are needed due to being restrained. Below are some more ways the district said it is working to fix the problem: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Focus We attribute our significant decrease in incidents of restraint to our continued focus on getting our students the individualized support they need to be successful. District Behavior Specialists In 2014-2015 we had 7 positions supporting our schools & currently, we have 19 positions. This support has resulted in improved behavior programming for students. District Behavior Technicians We have increased from zero to 14 positions across the last several years. Behavior Programs We have behavior programs at 13 school sites (KES, SWE, WES, FCMS, GRMS, MMS, LA, LPA, TCA, BTHS, NHS, PMHS, SAHS). Separate Day School A couple of years ago we restructured The Evelyn Hamblen Center to have a strong therapeutic focus. This included hiring more mental health counselors, behavior paraprofessionals, and other support staff. District Review Committee Any school can schedule to meet with the DRC for problem-solving. Crisis Management Training Ukeru focuses on building relationships, Trauma Informed Care, and De-escalation strategies. It includes the use of pads for blocking physical aggression when it occurs. Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. ON AUGUST 24, 2022, an 18-year-old named Jack Adlerstein checked into the Baylor Scott & White North Dallas Surgicare center. He had come in to have an injury repaireda deviated septumfollowing a dirt-bike accident. Its a common procedure. While he was under anesthesia, the teens blood pressure soared to 200/150, a dangerously high figure. The local news reported the dramatic details: Fluid filled his lungs and then his heart stopped. He was transferred to an ICU. Hours later, he awoke without the ability to speak or move, and doctors worried about lasting neurological damage. During all of this, Ashley Burks, the facility administrator, called the surgery centers governing chair. Its happening again, she said. The North Dallas Surgicare center occupies a handsome, modernist building near the North Central Expressway. It is partly owned by physicians, which means that trained medical professionals rather than corporate bureaucrats decide how it operates. (Proponents of this model say it can result in better care.) The rest belongs to Baylor Scott & White, a health-care conglomerate that manages 48 hospitals and more than 900 patient-care sites in Texas. It employs some 7,300 doctors and 49,000 health-care workers across the state, making it the largest not-for-profit health-care entity there and one of the biggest in the country. Mistakes happen at the center. Mistakes happen at hospitals everywhere, because medicine is not an exact science. Unexpected events occur, especially at large hospitals, given the transparent number of procedures that are done there. But what had been taking place at the North Dallas surgery center was frighteningly abnormal. At least 11 unexplained emergencies occurred with OR patients in the summer of 2022. In August alone, when Adlerstein had his near-fatal incident, the center had the same number of transferswhen problems require moving a patient to an emergency medical facilityas the number recorded in all of 2021. It was as if some awful curse had befallen it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We couldnt find similarities in all the cases. There wasnt the same nurse in the room or wasnt the same doctor and it wasnt in the same operating room. We looked at all of the things and were extremely perplexed, Burks later testified in court. We were desperately trying to figure out what was wrong. The surgery centers unsettling emergencies extended beyond its patients. In late June of 2022, Melanie Kaspar, M.D., a 55-year-old anesthesiologist there, had begun to feel unwell. She tried to work through it. One day, she brought an IV bag home, intending to self-medicate by rehydrating with it. Some renovations were being done in the house, so her husband, John, helped connect her IV bag and she left to rehydrate in the apartment above their garage. Some minutes later, John received a call from Melanie. She was shrieking into her phone. When he reached her, John asked if the IV bag, still connected to her arm, was the cause of her agony. No, its my arm and my chest! she screamed. While John was on the phone with 911, Melanie collapsed, spoke incoherently for a few seconds, then fell silent. In a panic, John began CPR. By the time the paramedics arrived, Melanies heart had stopped. Initially, her sudden death was thought to be due to a heart attack. But even in his immense grief, John found this difficult to comprehend. An avid cyclist and an adventurous traveler, his wife had been in excellent health. Two months later, an autopsy vindicated his doubts. Coroners found high levels of bupivacaine, a nerve-block medication commonly used for local anesthesia and pain management, in her bloodstream. They determined that the cause of death was a fatal dose of that drug, though it was unclear how shed received it. It appeared that her death had not been a mere misfortune after all. Khampha Bouaphanh/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/Tribune News Service/Getty Images Around the time that Melanies autopsy report was completed, another anesthesiologist at the North Dallas center, Chad Marsden, M.D., came into the facility. His plan was to comb over patient files, looking for a connection among all the unexplained eventsone of which had happened while he was working in the OR the week before. Inexplicably, the patients heart rate continued to climb up and up during follow-up surgery after a tummy tuck. That situation had been confusing and frankly very scary, he later testified in court. As with all of the similar incidents at the Surgicare center that summer, the patient survived after receiving emergency care. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When Dr. Marsden got to the center to go through the patient files, he learned another emergency was under way. It was Jack Adlerstein, and the doctor rushed to the operating room. There, he recounted something that had occurred during the incident in his OR: A tech had swapped out an IV bag minutes before he noticed the patients blood pressure escalating. His theory sounded outlandish, he admitted, but I think there might be a problem with the IV bags, he said. He convinced Burks, the administrator, to exchange Adlersteins IV bag for a fresh one. It worked. After the teen was transferred to the ICU and stabilized, Dr. Marsden inspected all of the IV bags and wrappers in the OR. He spotted a tiny puncture hole in the plastic wrapper of the bag that had been changed out. The bag was eventually tested for contamination. Bupivacaine, the same drug found in Melanie Kaspars system, was present in the saline, alongside two other powerful drugs, lidocaine and epinephrine. When the surgery center learned about Melanies autopsy results, it was ruled too similar to be a coincidence. A disturbing reality was beginning to take shape: Someone at the North Dallas Surgicare center was tampering with those bags. CLINICIDE REFERS TO doctors who intentionally cause a patients death during treatment. It was coined in 2007 by Robert M. Kaplan, a forensic psychiatrist in Sydney, Australia. Though the term is relatively new, the phenomenon is old. One of the first documented cases was that of William Palmer, who poisoned several patients in mid-19th-century England. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other grim notables include Harold Shipman, a British general practitioner who is thought to have murdered as many as 450 patients in the late 20th century, and Michael Swango, M.D., an American who killed 60 patients in several U. S. states, Zambia, and Zimbabwe between 1983 and 1996. Nurses have also been prolific killers. In fact, one 2006 study of serial murder by health-care professionals, published in the Journal of Forensic Sciences, found that nurses accounted for 86 percent of the prosecutions of these cases. The personality types and profiles of perpetrators are myriad, but these people all do harm under the cover of care. The authors of a 2020 paper in the British Medical Journal were blunt: Arguably, medicine has thrown up more serial killers than all the other professions put together. Varied as the psychological motivations behind clinicide may be, the critical issue is the power doctors hold over life and death, says Kaplan. Psychopaths, like Shipman and Swango, use the thrill of killing to overcome their inner emotional numbing, and there is also a gray zone for those with massive hubris who will not accept criticism of their work and see themselves above the issues affecting their patients, he adds. All of this raises the question: How can we, as patients, trust that our doctor is not one of the bad ones? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In America, there are systems that are supposed to weed out the rotten apples. In 1986, Ronald Reagan signed into law the Health Care Quality Improvement Act. This enabled the formation of the National Practitioners Data Bank (NPDB), a federal database of physician disciplinary, malpractice, judgment, and conviction reports. It was intended to prevent dangerous doctors from jumping from state to state and to provide legal protection for those reporting negligent colleagues. How is it, then, that nearly four decades later, the problem of lethal health-care professionals persists? That they can rampage through reputable facilities like the Baylor Scott & White North Dallas Surgicare center? One reason is that the average health-care professional is simply not on the lookout for malicious colleagues. Medicine is messy, and you dont always get the results you hope for or your patient hopes for, says Kaplan. So theres a great degree of tolerance for adverse events. That takes you a long way before somebody starts thinking, Damn, is he deliberately killing these people? RAYNALDO ORTIZ JR., M.D., a 61-year-old anesthesiologist, received his Texas medical license in 1991. Domineering and full of swagger, he eventually started his own business, Garland Anesthesia Consultants. It contracted out anesthesiologistsincluding himselfto health-care facilities. Ortizs pudgy, forlorn face belied his reputation for being quick-witted and an effective charmer in professional settings. He was known as a lavish spender, according to David Billman, M.D., who is part of an anesthesiology group that competed with Ortizs for decades. The Dallas anesthesiology market was highly competitive, and Ortiz would woo surgeons with expensive dinners and event tickets. By 2017, it was estimated that his company was raking in up to $9 million in revenue annually. Ortiz was able to purchase a Corvette, a Lexus, and three Mercedes. He bought a mansion with a large pool in Murphy, a wealthy Dallas suburb, that was valued at $1.3 million. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But he also had a tendency toward rage. During the height of the pandemic, Ortiz became irate when a surgery administrator ordered him to wear a mask. In an angry fit, he shouted into the other mans face. He made such a scene that security had to be called in. The administrator he threatened, Jeremy Johnson, recalled that Ortiz could be rough with patients while they were intubated if he became frustrated, according to the local news outlet D Magazine. Johnson also said that he feared Ortiz might retaliate against him or his family for speaking out. Dr. Billman remembers a similar vibe: Everyone gave Ray a wide berth because there was a perception that he wasnt a guy youd mess with. Ortiz had been that way for a long time. In 1995, he was arrested for assaulting his wife, who then divorced him. The two eventually entered a settlement for an undisclosed sum. A decade later, another woman filed for an emergency protective order against Ortiz, also alleging assault. In 2014, he was arrested for assaulting a third woman, who thereafter filed for an emergency protective order. (With that victim, yet another settlement was reached for an undisclosed sum.) Ortizs neighbor Roxanne Bogdan witnessed that assault and testified on behalf of the victim during the protective-order hearing. A few months afterward, Ortiz shot Bogdans dog with a pellet gun. He was charged with a Class A misdemeanor (which the Texas Medical Board referred to as a crime of moral turpitude). He was fined $4,000, ordered to pay the dogs veterinary bills, and given two years of community service. Mark Harris Months later, he received a public reprimand and a $2,000 fine from the Texas Medical Board for failing to notify all hospitals of the charge. One board record also referred to Ortizs history of violence against women. Despite the arrests, he was allowed to continue practicing after a 14-day suspension. This was not so surprising: State medical boards rarely draw a straight line between personal misbehavior and professional misconduct. A doctors personal and professional realms are routinely viewed as unconnected. Any medically related or felony criminal judgments or convictions are required to be reported to the NPDB, but strictly personal or minor offenses are not. This is a norm that runs deep through the culture of physicians. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I know surgeons that do a wonderful job, but their personal lives, on many levels, are wheels off, says Dr. Billman, the Dallas anesthesiologist. But Id let them operate on me because theyre great surgeons. When you get into pure criminal behavior, there is a limit, but Im setting that bar pretty high. Kelsey McKay, a patient advocate and former prosecutor in Texas, says that medical boards, which are composed mostly of doctors, often argue that even an extreme case of personal misbehavior by a physician is not a patient issue and therefore not relevant. Thats a standard shes trying to change. Sexual assault and domestic violence are public-health issues, she says. If the medical community is not going to do anything about this, then who is? By 2020, Ortiz was working at a Baylor Scott & White Surgicare center in Garland, Texas. In November, a patient he was overseeing there had to be resuscitated and transferred to an ICU after Ortiz failed to notice that the patient was having difficulty breathing. Whether it was an oversight or something sinister isnt clear. But not long after, he relinquished his privileges to practice at the Garland surgery center and continued working for other facilities. Dangerous doctors frequently change locations after incidents, says Robert E. Oshel, Ph.D., a retired associate director at the NPDB who now advocates for patient safety. Hospitals, fearful of being sued by vengeful physicians, might pressure them to leave quietly before an investigation is initiated-. Hospitals can then avoid having to report anything to the NPDB. They also avoid potential legal battles and embarrassing public scrutiny. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Leaving the Garland center didnt allow Ortiz to escape notice forever, however. The Texas Medical Board weighed in on the near suffocation there in a report issued two years later. For a short period, hed be monitored by another physician who would review at least 30 of his patient records and prepare written reports documenting any perceived deficiencies. He also had to complete medical training classes and pay a $3,000 penalty. Citing Ortizs rehabilitative potential and present value to the community, the Texas Medical Board did not revoke his license. In its report, the medical board acknowledged Ortizs past reprimand over failing to disclose the dog-shooting incident to all health-care entities and the board. But this savage act of animal cruelty, it determined, was not based upon any activity related to the practice of medicine. ON THE EVENING of August 24, 2022, the same day as Adlersteins emergency and Dr. Marsdens IV-bag inspection, the FDA was notified by Tenet Healthcarethe company that operates the Baylor Scott & White North Dallas Surgicare centerabout the potential tampering Dr. Marsden had discovered. The center was temporarily closed, and an investigation was immediately opened. The FDA investigators reviewed the surgery centers security footage. The cameras had only recently been installed. One camera watched over the area where the IV bags were stored, a stainless-steel repository known as a warmer. When investigators went over this footage, they noticed an unsettling pattern. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just prior to several of the adverse OR incidents, Ortiz could be seen setting IV bags into the warmer. This was unusual: IV bags are typically handled by techs, not doctors. In the footage, Ortiz often glanced around from side to side, as if scanning for witnesses. In one instance, he left the operating room with an IV bag concealed in what appeared to be a paper folder, then swapped the bag with another from the warmer. Adjacent to the warmer was a medical cabinet containing lidocaine, bupivacaine, and epinephrine. These were the same drugs found in Adlersteins IV bag, and the one found in Melanie Kaspars system in her autopsy. In one recording, Ortiz was seen filling syringes with drugs. A number of the OR events happened soon after video surveillance showed Ortiz placing bags in the warmer. He became an immediate suspect. On September 9, just over two weeks after the FDA got involved, the Texas Medical Board suspended Ortizs license. In its ruling, it cited the suspicious surveillance footage. Ortiz didnt know his license was suspended until a local reporter called him for comment. She quotes Ortiz as saying, Im just devastated. I didnt do it, maam and insisting that the only thing he would ever add to an IV bag was antibiotics. When the reporter asked if he was concerned about the patients who had suffered emergencies, he told her, Am I concerned? I didnt do anything. Fox News Screengrab A few days later, the police pulled over Ortiz in his white two-door Mercedes with expired plates and arrested him. A single incident of seemingly intentional patient harm would be disconcerting, announced Chad E. Meacham, the U. S. attorney for the Northern District of Texas at the time. Multiple incidents are truly disturbing. Ortiz was denied bail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His arrest reverberated throughout Dallas. The city was still reeling from 2017s much-publicized Dr. Death trial, involving the local surgeon Christopher Duntsch, who had a drug habit; his 38 career surgeries resulted in 33 injured patients and two deaths. People questioned, again, how a man with such a sordid history could have been allowed to continue administering care at all. Why was someone with such a violent past given so many slaps on the wrist? wondered prominent medical YouTuber Dr. Michael Cellini soon after Ortizs indictment. Like, what does it take to lose your license? The guy actually shot a dog because he was angry. Isnt that a red flag for being a physician? According to the Texas Medical Board, Ortizs prior history was not, in fact, pertinent to his practicing medicine. While Dr. Ortiz had previous encounters with law enforcement and prior disciplinary history with the Board, specifically a prior conviction for animal cruelty, that is not necessarily grounds for license revocation, a representative for the board told Mens Health. Furthermore, an arrest itself, with certain exceptions, is also not necessarily actionable by the agency. Patient advocates routinely criticize state medical boards for inaction. But some boards are more proactive or responsive to patient complaints than others. Public Citizen, a watchdog group, analyzes state boards for how often they take serious disciplinary actions against a physician, such as suspensions or license revocations. In its latest analysis, from 2019 to 2021, Michigan topped the list for the highest rate of serious disciplinary actions, with 1.74 per 1,000 physicians annually. Ohio and North Dakota were next. California, the state with the most licensed doctors, ranked 27th. These differences among states may stem from differences such as staffing and fundingmany boards lack the resources to investigate all or even most complaints. There are also varied laws pertaining to patient safety and medical malpractice in every state. For instance, not all states allow boards to conduct investigations without an outside complaint. In any case, activists do not consider the legal system protective enough of patient safety. Most of the laws are written to protect the livelihood of the physician over the welfare of the patient, adds Michelle Monserratt-Ramos, a patient-safety advocate with the nonprofit Consumer Watchdog who lost her fiance to a negligent doctor. If only we had a system that also watched out for the person on the table. IN APRIL OF THIS YEAR, after Ortiz had been in detention for more than a year and a half, his federal criminal trial began in Dallas. During the trial, prosecutors played the suspicious surveillance footage for the jury, alongside a slow drip of anecdotes and context. Dr. Marsden recalled that on the day of the scary incident with his patient, an IV bag had arrived in the OR cold. An FDA criminal investigators testimony pointed out that no incidents had occurred while Ortiz was on vacation. Prosecutors also revealed that Ortiz had been operating under considerable personal stress. Despite his flashy lifestyle, he was in immense debt, investigators found. In court, he was assigned a public defender, being financially unable to afford his own attorney. He owed several million dollars to the IRS. Back in 2022, he told staff members that he felt he was being crucified by Baylor Scott & White over a situation that happened at the North Dallas center prior to the Jack Adlerstein incidentone that was eerily similar to his failure to notice the patients respiratory distress in Garland. The North Dallas center launched a disciplinary inquiry five days after the incident. (Baylor Scott & White did not respond by press time to a request for comment.) Ortiz said that losing his privileges at that facility would be devastating financially. Prosecutors argued that the inquiry made Ortiz angry and caused him to retaliate. When I was watching the trial, it looks like he was trying to sabotage his colleagues to make it look like, Hey, Im not the only one having adverse events during my surgeries, says Stacey Hail, M.D., a Dallas toxicologist who was an expert witness for the prosecution. So there appears to be some kind of underlying antisocial disorder that, coupled with some of the disciplinary measures, may have caused him to act like that. Such disorders, says Kaplan, the forensic psychiatrist, are common in perpetrators of clinicide. Ortizs defense tried to muddy the waters, casting doubt on the idea that the victims had been poisoned and emphasizing some of their underlying health issues. The lawyers suggested that colleagues had the same opportunity to pull off the alleged sabotage. The jury didnt buy it. Mark Harris After nine days of jury trial and seven hours of deliberation, Ortiz was convicted on ten charges: four counts of tampering with consumer products resulting in serious bodily injury, one count of tampering with a consumer product, and five counts of intentional adulteration of a drug. He was not charged with Melanie Kaspars death, for reasons that are not fully clear. (The DOJ does not discuss its charging decisions publicly, a representative from the DOJ told Mens Health.) On November 20, he was sentenced to 190 years in prison. During the course of the trial, which featured forensic experts and tearful witnesses, he betrayed no emotion. He was the only person in the courtroom wearing a face mask. Melanies widower, John, testified. (Even though Ortiz was not charged with her death, the rules of evidence in federal criminal trials allow all the harms allegedly caused by a defendant to be considered by the jury.) He sat through each day of the trial, and at the reading of the verdict, he sobbed. Theres no closure. My best friend is gone, he said shortly after. Ill have regrets forever for not yanking the IV bag out of her arm. Speaking to reporters after the verdict, one juror said, It kind of makes you question if you even want to go to a doctor yourself. PATIENT ADVOCATES AND lawmakers are trying to increase transparency and accountability in the medical system to make it easier to identify and dislodge dangerous doctors. One major result: California passed a law in 2018 that requires doctors to notify patients if they are on probation for certain offenses that have directly resulted in patient harm. Another one: Texass H. B. 1998, which was signed into law last year. It increases the obligations of Texas hospitals to report any disciplinary actions regarding a physician to the NPDB, takes into account criminal activity as part of their professional profile, and effectively bars a physician whose license has been suspended or revoked in other states from practicing there. The Ortiz case was cited by lawmakers as a motivating factor behind the bill. Its Democratic coauthor, State Representative Julie Johnson, whose wife is a physician, actually had surgery at the North Dallas center when the incidents connected to Ortiz were taking place. This, of course, made the issue very personal, she says. Everybody wants the medical board to do its job, but they were not doing their job, says Johnson. What we realized when I met with them is that they didnt have enough of the tools and the teeth to do their job. We tried to address a lot of those issues in 1998. She just won a congressional seat in Washington, and hopes to pursue these issues on the national level. While hospitals are beginning to be held accountable for reporting issues to boards, transparency to the consumer is still obscured. Robert Painter, a Texas attorney focused on medical malpractice cases, points out that hospitals and physicians have been granted massive amounts of confidentiality in legal proceedings that are not afforded to other professions. Even in the event of medical malpractice, victims or would-be patients are not allowed access to important hospital records pertaining to the physician in question. With engineers, if theres a question about air-conditioner maintenance or fire sprinkler systems and theres a legal claim, then in the legal process, you can subpoena that information and review it forensically, says Painter. But not in the medical profession. You just have a black hole. When hospitals are forced to reckon with the damage caused by dangerous doctors, they may try to do so as quietly as possible, further obscuring them from public view. Often this takes the form of cash settlements, or what some call go-away payments. In the fallout from the Ortiz case, Baylor Scott & White reached confidential settlements with at least two of his 11 victims. Patients arent completely helpless when it comes to identifying ill-intentioned doctors. One resource is DocInfo.org, which is managed by the Federation of State Medical Boards, a nonprofit representing all medical licensing boards in the U. S. On the site, you can search the educational and professional backgrounds of more than a million U. S. doctors, as well as see any action taken against them by state medical boards. Before you schedule your next checkup, make sure your doctor checks out, the website reads. Still, with how ineffective many state boards can be, that may not be enough to fully sniff out such doctors. The only comprehensive source for license sanctions, clinical-privileges sanctions, and malpractice payments is the NPDB, but by law its information is not public. Oshel, formerly of the NPDB, recommends petitioning your local political representative to change this. After all, if hospitals are not going to do their due diligence, patients must be allowed to do theirs. JACK ADLERSTEIN, the teenager whose near-death emergency led to Ortizs downfall, has recovered from his ordeal. (As a result of the settlement agreement with Baylor Scott & White, the Adlersteins declined a request to be interviewed.) One might think the family would find it hard to trust the medical profession after what happened. After all, Ortizs actions were not only criminal but also a monumental betrayal of the trust that is at the heart of the doctor-patient relationship. But speaking to a local news station after Jacks recovery, his father, Dovi, was more sanguine. He expressed his gratitude to Dr. Marsden for his life-saving intervention. Hes the reason we have this guy around, Dovi said, sitting next to his son. Were forever in his debt. All of his doctors, really. As for Ortiz, he added, I hope that he can comprehend the magnitude of what he did and spend the rest of his life marinating in it. You Might Also Like PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) A Central Falls man who says he was wrongfully accused of murdering a 10-year-old-girl is heading for settlement talks with Pawtucket, just days before the case was set for trial. Joao Monteiro was arrested in 2019 and charged in the 1988 cold case murder of Christine Cole, whose body was found on a beach at Conimicut Point Park in Warwick four months after she vanished. Pawtucket police arrested him and the case made headlines for seemingly solving an enduring mystery. Investigators pointed to DNA evidence as the key evidence that led them to Monteiro, and the fact that he had lived above a local market where Cole was last seen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But seven months after his arrest, charges were dropped after prosecutors found the DNA evidence was not an exact match, putting Monteiro in a group of roughly 2,000 people that could have been responsible for the crime. In 2021, Monteiro sued Det. Susan Cormier, Pawtucket and its police department, as well as the R.I. Department of Health and Tamara Wong, the technician who conducted the DNA testing. He claimed defamation, false imprisonment and constitutional violations. The trial was set for Dec. 2, but on Friday a settlement conference was set after both parties met with U.S. District Court Judge Mary McElroy. The case was transferred to U.S. District Chief Judge John McConnell, who will preside over the settlement talks scheduled to begin on Monday. Pawtucket and the other defendants were dealt a blow last year when McElroy decided not to dismiss the case, ruling there was enough evidence for a jury to decide the outcome of the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In her decision, McElroy found critical information was omitted from Monteiros arrest warrant, which a jury could find was motivated by ill will and not a neutral desire to discern facts. The missing evidence included the detail that Monteiro didnt live above the market Cole visited until 13 years after her death, and that the victim was reportedly seen walking near where a different suspect frequented. In the wake of his arrest, Monteiro said he was fired from his job of 15 years and became homeless, according to court documents. If an agreement is reached by the parties it would need to be approved by McElroy, or the case would again be scheduled for trial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tim White (twhite@wpri.com) is Target 12 managing editor and chief investigative reporter and host of Newsmakers for 12 News. Connect with him on Twitter and Facebook. Sarah Doiron contributed to this report. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. Donald Trump unbridled and emboldened, his control of the Republican Party all but complete, canny about the mechanics of government in a way he was not eight years back when his first election was such a shock is headed again to the White House. But how exactly might this tour differ from the last tumultuous term? To get a better sense of what is to come in the Senate confirmation hearings for his controversial Cabinet picks, his first 100 days and beyond I convened a quartet of POLITICO colleagues whove watched and covered Trump from the get-go: Anita Kumar, Eli Stokols, Kyle Cheney and Meridith McGraw. Their composite take: Trump is Trump, always has been, always will be fractious, breakneck, unscripted but after Jan. 6, two failed assassination attempts and an array of prosecutions (and convictions) didnt stop him from getting reelected by a larger margin than the first time he won, he has, they say, a different sort of confidence and nerve. The GOP establishment is no longer so much trying to control him as he is testing the absolute limits of its willingness and ability to stand up to him. Its a moment thats in some sense reminiscent of points in his past that ultimately led to trouble for Trump Icarus-like inclinations that have made for scrapes hes had to work hard to survive. At least for now, though, barreling toward what promises to be a contentious four or more years, the 45th and now 47th president is proceeding with an air of untouchability. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We had this conversation before the especially controversial Matt Gaetz withdrew from consideration as Trumps desired attorney general. But plenty of boundary-stretching Cabinet candidates remain. Hes daring Senate Republicans to go against him but hes also daring the entire government apparatus to defy him, McGraw said. Theres an audacity to all of it. If there is a vestige of a guardrail left, in Cheneys view, its that the protection afforded him by the position only lasts as long as his occupation of the office. All the forces that were coming for him have been kind of defanged and obliterated, he said, but that doesnt mean that hes impervious to them forever. This transcript has been edited for length and clarity. What so far strikes you all as most meaningfully different about this Trump transition versus the first Trump transition? Is it the picks? Is it the pace? Is it something else? Anita Kumar: People said after he won that, Oh, you should know what this is like because we went through this before. But I actually think its very different. Last time he did the transition, he had an office space from the government [in Washington]. Press was allowed to come in there. They had press calls from the transition. Donald Trump did some press conferences. He at least saw the media, and he let the media see the people going up to Trump Tower to essentially interview for jobs. So it just felt very different than what hes doing now, which is social media, press releases. We havent had a press conference from him. We havent had transition staff talking to us. And hes just putting out these picks, and its way faster than last time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And the picks are really different. Last time he picked people he didnt really know, who were more establishment people. I know people will balk at that because many of them werent. But compared to who hes picking now, they were more sort of Republicans that people knew that maybe he didnt know. People said, Oh, you should, you should talk to this guy or You should interview this guy, and he did. This time its people he knows, that have been with him for a while, and that he feels like are really loyal. Meridith McGraw: I think you just have to look at what a spectacle it has been both times but in different ways. As Anita was saying, the parade of people coming through Trump Tower, the speculation about who may and who may not get a pick, who was having meetings with Donald Trump there was the fanfare of some of them in 2016 coming to Bedminster for photo ops and meetings with Trump. There was Chris Christie, James Mattis, and some very tabloid-y, New York moments like when Mitt Romney and Reince Priebus and Trump were caught at Jean-Georges in New York eating frog legs and it was such a moment of humiliation for Mitt Romney. Trump really just didnt know what he was doing, I think. This time whats different is all of this is happening behind closed doors for the most part, with the exception of glimpses of it from social media or when Trumps allowed the press to come into the room like when he announced Doug Burgum off the cuff, for example. And Trump has, I feel, a different kind of confidence with things this time around. He knows how government works. He knows what pressure points there are in the government to push. And I think thats what youre seeing with some of these picks. Its not only loyalty. He knows that by picking certain people, hes daring Senate Republicans to go against him but hes also daring the entire government apparatus to defy him. I had one adviser who put it to me this way: Look, he survived two assassination attempts, hes been indicted how many times he really is at this moment feeling kind of invincible and sort of emboldened in a way that he never has before. Thats all playing out with some of the people hes picked. Theres an audacity to all of it. Kyle Cheney: It felt very much in 2016 like he was being handled by other people. He had Reince as his chief of staff and it felt like the RNC infrastructure was sort of driving the train, and he was just there, being reeled back in from the crazy stuff that they were afraid he might do. Whereas this time it seems like hes leading everyone the other way around hes still got those people around him, but hes the one pushing them more in the direction of his sort of natural instincts that he was being restrained from eight years ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eli Stokols: The first time there was shock. They werent expecting to win, and it was this really uncomfortable merger between Trump and Trump world and the RNC establishment. And now, eight years later, Trump has subsumed the entire party establishment. He is the establishment. And they were planning on winning for a long time, and so there is more confidence to this. If that was a merger, then this was the takeover. But the takeover happened over the last eight years, and now it feels like this is the relaunch. So theres all these people who have grafted onto it, who are more in Trumps image and know how to curry favor with him far better than they did before. And yet, as someone coming back to Trump world after four years covering Biden world on Earth 2, you come back to Earth 1, and youre like, Oh, actually, all these things are the same. And Boris Epshteyn is still there putting things in Trumps ear and making him do things. And theres still these little proxy battles among staff and people. The dynamic around him thats existed in every organization hes ever run, which is people currying for favor or trying to elbow other people out, all those things seem like theyre still there. For as much as this is kind of a more professionalized operation, its still kind of off-the-cuff. It still has that holy shit feel. Is there something noticeably different about Donald Trump, not the Trump orbit, not the would-be Trump White House, but about the man himself versus this time eight years ago? Eli Stokols: Hes the same guy. He still says the same kind of wild stuff and talks for two hours at rallies. But my sense is that, if anything, hes aged a little bit. I didnt really buy the Oh, I was almost killed by the assassination, and now I have this new perspective on life that obviously didnt really last in terms of his campaign speeches. But I think just having gone through eight years of ups and downs in politics, having gone through all these legal challenges, having run three times now, it does feel like maybe theres a sense of I did it and Im back and nothing can get me and almost being at peace. Not like everything else from here is gravy, and hes just going to be a normal president and color within the lines, but it doesnt feel like theres something eating at him the same way there was. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Id be interested in Meridiths sense of how much he still is animated by grievance, of people saying mean things about him on TV. I wonder if hes going to sit in the dining room and watch coverage of his presidency this time and react to it, and were going to have that same kind of Hall of Mirrors dynamic that we had the first term, or if hell be a little more sanguine. Anita Kumar: Well, we ran a whole list of everybody he says he wants to get back at on Day 1. Eli Stokols: Right. I think it will definitely be a revenge tour. But I just sort of wonder if there will be places where hes a little more subdued. Meridith, do you have a sense of that? The words subdued and sanguine not typically words one hears when talking about Donald J. Trump. Meridith McGraw: Just thinking back to four years ago and where we were as a country, we were in the midst of the Covid pandemic. In the 2020 campaign, Trump couldnt be this entertaining jokester having fun and going with the flow with stuff. And Im not making light of Trump or his power or what hes capable of doing once hes in the White House, but something that has sort of struck me just covering his campaign and this moment when hes jetting off to a SpaceX launch and hes having black-tie galas at his mansion by the sea every night, and when he was going on all these podcasts where hes just ripping jokes and having bro time for hours is that hes having fun again. And of course, revenge, retribution, grievances, all of that is embedded in who Trump is and what he wants to accomplish, but also you just feel like hes having fun with stuff right now. Do any of you see any difference that you would tie to Susie Wiles versus Reince Priebus? Kyle Cheney: The difference is Trump. Susie Wiles, of all the people he could have picked to be his chief of staff, may be among the more conventional political operatives, in kind of a way that Reince was. But the difference, again, is what we said earlier. Back then, Trump was being handled by people, and now hes doing the handling. Hes not going to be managed by her, and he wasnt really managed by Reince, either. But I think there were more people around trying to contain him and his impulses. I dont imagine shes going to have some different effect on him. If anything, the effect of anyone around him will be less this time than it was last time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eli Stokols: What I remember about the first term is that there was this Steve Bannon faction in the White House, and then there was Jared and Ivankas world, and they were just completely like opposite ends of the earth. It feels like maybe now theres less bipolarity within the organization. There may still be some rabble-rousers and maybe Elon Musk and Boris Epshteyn are yelling at each other over shrimp cocktail at dinner, but you wonder: Will there be that kind of tug of war going on, or is it a more unified operation that [Wiles] is going to get to try to run, somewhat more cohesive than it was eight years ago? Do you think Trump deliberately, or even just effectively, shifted the idea of what is an acceptable nominee? John Ratcliffe was considered extreme in 2019 now lets make him the head of the CIA. Why is he doing that? Kyle Cheney: Theres definitely an Overton window thing going on. But also hes testing pressure points now, and he understands that hes at the peak of his power and hes going to dare people to defy what might have been considered extreme or unconfirmable picks in the past dare four Republican senators to say no. And I think well find out if hes shifted the window. But if there are four or five senators who will hold the line regardless of Trump being at the apex of his power then maybe he hasnt shifted it that much. But he probably has to a degree. The outrageous nominees might be a distraction from other outrageous things that have nothing to do with his prospective Cabinet, right? Anita Kumar: Things that we never would have thought possible, eight years ago, or 12 years ago, or right before he was running, were kind of used to now. Thats the criticism of the media: that were all so used to it now that we dont pay enough attention to some of the things that he does. Im not saying thats true, but I understand how people say that, because there are so many things happening, and he has changed the conversation. Things we just couldnt have fathomed I mean, a man that has been convicted of felonies ran for president and won. Just let that sink in. What are the chances of every nominee getting confirmed? Kyle Cheney: Nothing conventional is true anymore, but usually someone whos nominated doesnt get confirmed in almost every White House. There will probably be some big fights over Pete Hegseth and Tulsi Gabbard and RFK Jr. too. Whether the Senate has the will to deny more than one of them, I dont know, but I suspect at least one. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eli Stokols: But it almost just feels like: Why wouldnt he push? He was indicted, he was twice impeached, he did this insurrection, he was under investigation all these places and accused of sexual abuse by all these women and he won. And at every point over the last eight years, the Republican Party bent the knee. So, if you really want change at the DOJ, why wouldnt you try? I mean, its not surprising that he would shoot his shot. Kyle Cheney: But we can think of the five or six senators who would be that person to say no. The Senate is the least susceptible institution to his pressure. It doesnt mean theyre not susceptible. It just means of all the institutions they are the least susceptible. Which is exactly why hes going at them, in this way, right now. Kyle Cheney: Right. Well find out exactly just how susceptible to his pressure they are, and whether the old norms still apply of the Senates where some of these crazy things go to die. I mean, Susan Collins has a very different calculus for what to do than some other senators. John Thune is not exactly of the Trumpy side of the party, but he has a different constituency now. And the calculus there is totally different than any other part of any other institution in the government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eli Stokols: Thom Tillis, he may have a hard time, because hes coming up for reelection, and Democrats, aside from the top of the ticket, did pretty well in North Carolina. The bigger dynamic that Im thinking about is its been eight years, and I think theres this fatigue with the outrage. A lot of the electorate just doesnt care. They dont care that Trump does things that other people cant do. They dont care that he gets in trouble. Theyre fine with it. And the resistance that you saw in 2016 and 17? It does not feel like thats going to manifest in the same way. Maybe Republicans in the Senate who are institutionalists will say, No, this advice and consent role is really important. Were not going to give that up. But theres also the broader dynamic with the electorate. He doesnt have a huge mandate on anything other than the economy. But he did win by his biggest margin ever in spite of all of it. Its been eight years and hes still standing and everyone else is exhausted. And it seems to me that people who do care, care the other way. They actively want him to break the Senate, if thats the right way to put it. This is what theyre asking him to do. This is why they re-elected him. Eli Stokols: I think thats right. Anita Kumar: Theres been reporting out there from us and others that that his supporters love this. They love that hes putting these people out there. They are supportive. They want these people. So, if some of these nominees are rejected by the Senate, will Trump consider it a loss, or will there be a way in which he casts it as a loss for those senators whove gotten in the way? Kyle Cheney: There were all these threats from the sort of online MAGA right that anyone who votes against the Trump nominee will get primary threats. And I dont think some of these senators take that too seriously, for the reasons we discussed. Im curious about the notion of political capital, and the traditional sense that normally youd say, Does Trump want to spend all his political capital ramming through Matt Gaetz? I dont think Trump thinks about political capital that way. I think the only people who do would be the ones who have elections to worry about, which Trump never will again. And so I think that its just not the sort of normal opening to a presidency that we would see where someone says, What do you want to spend your first 100 days thinking about? Based on what youve all seen and heard throughout the campaign, but especially in the last few weeks since the election, what do you think will be different about the second Trump term relative to the first Trump term? Meridith McGraw: Ive been so struck by how many familiar faces are coming back into the fold. Its been a pretty consistent cast of characters, and theres some new major roles that have stepped onto the stage, but a lot of the supporting actors are still there. I think in this White House, again, the biggest difference is just going to be that Trump knows how all of this works, and the people around him know how government operates and how to get things done, and Trump just has a greater awareness of who to call and what levers to pull to enact his agenda this time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anita Kumar: I agree on the first part. Its the same people I covered with you, Meridith, all those years ago. I just keep thinking about how it felt like he didnt have anyone or anything in place eight years ago, and he kind of just took the RNC and just moved a lot of those people in Sean Spicer being the first press secretary and all that sort of stuff. And now it feels like thats not really happening, because he has his own team in the RNC now. I do think, though, that people [shouldnt be] surprised about what hes doing and what hes going to do on Day One. He did the same thing last time, just that nobody really believed him. Hes kind of outlined the things hes going to do. And I think we should take him at his word, because he did push through, or he tried to push through, the things that he said he would on immigration and other things. Eli Stokols: Itll be interesting to watch the dynamics of the people in his ear. The Elon Musk aspect of this is endlessly fascinating. There was no one quite like that in his first term, sort of sitting shotgun with him as hes going into the White House. The guys interests and power are already profound. Is there an eventual personality clash, or is Elon empowered to undercut Marco Rubio as secretary of State and go out and backchannel with other heads of state? Weve always seen that in any Trump organization: the kind of infighting, the angling, people sort of competing for primacy. So Im sure that will continue. Everyones a MAGA person now, but there are still differences, like personal interests and people with policy goals. Were seeing that with protectionism stuff in the Treasury secretary post already. Theres all these little fights that take place right around him at all times. And I think thats a really interesting storyline that will be similar in a lot of ways to what we saw the first time. Its always been the case he wants people around him to be squabbling but I do wonder, in a more institutional sense, what could stop him or slow him down this time. Is it sort of the same standard guardrails, or is there something else? Kyle Cheney: Theres one thing, and its self-preservation. Thats Trumps operating principle in everything hes done since the first time. As Eli was saying earlier, this peace and serenity hes feeling is based on the fact that he thinks he may have finally self-preserved. All the forces that were coming for him have been kind of defanged and obliterated. But that doesnt mean that hes impervious to them forever. If he were to do something that crossed lines into impeachable or criminal territory again, you could have a Democratic majority in two years in either chamber of Congress, and then he has the post-presidency to think about. His New York criminal case, which probably wasnt going to result in a stiff sentence anyway that could come back in four years. All these things hes escaped right now that doesnt mean hes escaped them forever. Youre pointing to the same checks that tried to check him before and failed. Kyle Cheney: Thats fair. But I think Trump knows how unbelievably fortunate he was for that. That was through lawyering and delays, tactics that will not be available to him, because he will never be a candidate for this office again. Those were what protected him. As an 83-year-old guy leaving the White House, he could still be spending many years having to fight off these kinds of efforts if he crosses certain boundaries. I just think its that self-preservation instinct, which is not much of a check, but I think its still an impulse that checks him to a certain degree. What is your wildest prediction for the next four years? Kyle Cheney: Im trying to decide if Democrats retake the House, whether they will impeach him again, or will be too afraid to impeach him again. I havent decided which is the better prediction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eli Stokols: I think it all goes great and he unifies the country. Love that. Meridith, any final words? Meridith McGraw: I think the only predictable thing about Trump is how unpredictable he can be, and hes proved it to us once again over the past two weeks. I think he proved it to us in some ways with this win, frankly. And I think were going to have to be prepared for a lot more twists and turns in the next few years. NEW MEXICO (KRQE) The feds are proposing protections for a tiny desert-dwelling fish native to the Pecos River basin of New Mexico. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has announced plans to list the Pecos pupfish as a threatened species. Pupfish are less than two inches long and their colors vary from gray, brown, to iridescent blue. Santa Fe Midtown Development closer to getting underway The Center for Biological Diversity said conservationists petitioned for pupfish protection almost 20 years ago but it took a 2020 lawsuit for the agency to commit to a deadline, deciding whether the species warrants protection. A senior scientist at the center said Pecos pupfish are disappearing from their native habitat because of invasive species, oil and gas extraction, and other threats. Thursdays decision opened a 60-day comment period and a final decision should be made within a year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. ALABAMA (WRBL) A pedestrian was killed in a single-vehicle crash Wednesday evening, according to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. The crash happened around 5:15 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 20 on U.S. 29 near the 199 mile marker in Lee County. ALEA says Angel M. Elliot, 43, was in the road when she was hit by a 2019 BMW X5 and was pronounced dead at the location. According to ALEA, the vehicle was being driven by John L. Webb, 58, of Valley. Troopers with ALEA are still investigating the crash. No further information is available at this time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) Las Vegas police are searching for a driver after a pedestrian was hit while crossing a road in the east valley. It happened Thursday shortly before 7 p.m. along Flamingo Road near Maryland Parkway. The driver of the vehicle did not stay at the scene of the crash, according to police. According to the Nevada Department of Transportation, all lanes were closed following the crash and reopened around 7:50 p.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. Pennsylvania Education Secretary Khalid Mumin announced he will step down Dec. 6, 2024. (Commonwealth Media Services photo) Pennsylvania Education Secretary Khalid Mumin will resign from his position in Gov. Josh Shapiros cabinet next month, the governors office announced Friday afternoon. Mumin was confirmed in June 2023 about six months after Shapiro took office and has presided over some of the administrations early successes such as increasing funding for K-12 public schools by $1.5 billion over the last two budgets and providing free breakfast for 1.7 million public school students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mumin will resign Dec. 6 and Executive Deputy Secretary of Education Angela Fitterer will take over as interim secretary. A statement from Shapiros office did not say why Mumin is stepping down. Shapiro said in a statement that Mumin has dedicated his life and career to ensuring that Pennsylvania children have a quality education that sets them up for success. He has led the Pennsylvania Department of Education with passion and integrity. I am grateful for his service to Pennsylvanias students and educators and wish him great success in his future endeavors, Shapiro said. Mumin said it has been the honor of a lifetime to serve as education secretary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I began my career as a teacher in a classroom, and those early experiences watching students get excited about learning inspired me to become a principal, a superintendent, and ultimately Secretary of Education, so I could continue to fight for those students to get more support and more opportunities, Mumin said. Im so grateful to Governor Shapiro for this opportunity to lead the Pennsylvania Department of Education and help build a bright future for Pennsylvanias students and educators. State Sen. David Argall (R-Schuylkill), chairman of the Legislatures education committee, said he wished Mumin the best and added, I look forward to working with Acting Secretary Fitterer and the governors nominee to improve our education system, from Pre-K to graduate school. State Rep. Jesse Topper (R-Bedford), the ranking Republican member of the House Education Committee, said that from his point of view in the legislature there were some definite bumps during Mumins tenure as he presided over transformational change in the department. Its important to understand that running a bureaucracy of that size is different than being a great superintendent in a school district, big or small, Topper said. I think there are times when those coming from the academic world find it a little jolting what theyre going to encounter in the realm of government. I think he found it challenging, as all of these roles are. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before Shapiro tapped Mumin for his cabinet, he served as superintendent of the Lower Merion school district in Montgomery County. Mumin, who began his career as a classroom teacher in the Franklin County community of Scotland in 1997, also has served as superintendent of the Reading public schools. Dan Urevick-Ackelsberg, senior attorney at the Public Interest Law Center, said Mumins background gave him a useful perspective on Pennsylvanias schools. Lower Merion is among the states wealthiest communities, while Reading is one of the least. He came to office with the experience of seeing everything that Pennsylvania public schools can offer and the kind of disparity that underfunding public schools creates, Urevick-Acklesberg said, adding that an important part of Mumins legacy will be the first steps the commonwealth took toward bringing its public schools into constitutional compliance. Mumins tenure coincided with the resolution of a decade of litigation over the states public education funding formula, which a group of school districts, parents and advocates argued put students in less wealthy areas at a disadvantage because of its reliance on property taxes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Commonwealth Court judge ordered Shapiro and the General Assembly in February 2023 to correct the inequities and a interbranch commission found the state needed to invest $5.4 billion in underfunded schools to bring them up to par with the states most successful school districts. This years budget includes about $526 million toward that goal, but lawmakers were unable to reach a compromise that would guarantee future installments to close the gap. Sen. Lindsey Williams (D-Allegheny), who is the ranking Democrat on the Senate Education Committee, said she was grateful for Mumins service and experience as an educator, which helped the administration and lawmakers achieve shared goals such as strengthening career and technical education programs, investing in student mental health, repairs for schools and providing free menstrual products for students. The governors office also credited Mumin with bringing together higher education leaders together to rethink higher education in Pennsylvania, establishing a state Board of Higher Education to provide more support for public universities and make college education more affordable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Topper said the Education Departments communications with the General Assembly were often found lacking by some members. Topper pointed to the higher education reform initiative, which the Shapiro administration billed as a blueprint for higher education, that many Republicans criticized for lacking detail or a clear proposal for how it would be funded. Williams noted that the next four years will bring profound challenges for public education, as President-elect Donald Trump appears poised to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education. This week he appointed professional wrestling executive Linda McMahon to head the agency. Given the President-elects nominee to head the federal Department of Education, any successor to Secretary Mumin must be prepared to defend Pennsylvania students constitutional right to a high-quality inclusive public education, Williams said. Fitterer, who will serve in Mumins place until Shapiros nominee is confirmed in the Senate, has a 25-year career in state government, serving in former Gov. Tom Wolfs administration, as legislative director for the education department and in crafting public policy in the House and Senate. (This article was updated about 4 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024, to include additional comments.) County officials perform a ballot recount on June 2, 2022 in West Chester, Pennsylvania, for the Republican primary between Dr. Mehmet Oz and David McCormick. On Friday, the recount of this year's U.S. Senate results for McCormick and incumbent Democratic Sen. Bob Casey was stopped after Casey conceded. (Photo by Mark Makela/Getty Images) Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt has told counties to end their Senate race recounts after U.S. Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) conceded to Republican Dave McCormick. Continuing the recount would not be in the best interest of taxpayers, Schmidt said in a statement on Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The recount was estimated to cost Pennsylvania taxpayers around $1 million. Casey conceded on Thursday evening after facing criticism, primarily from Republicans, over forcing the recount. The Associated Press called the race on Nov. 7, but Casey refused to concede. When the recount was ordered on Nov. 13, the candidates were separated by a roughly 0.43% margin, close enough to trigger Pennsylvanias automatic recount rules. However, McCormick had a wide enough lead that any significant change to the results was unlikely. Multiple lawsuits have been filed since the recount began over how and whether to count mail-in and provisional ballots with errors like missing signatures. It is unclear at the moment what will happen to the ongoing legal challenges. Schmidt said that while county-by-county recounts in the Senate race will end, two election audits will continue. Those are intended to ensure accuracy and security of the election and include counting randomly-selected batches of ballots. When the audits are complete, counties will have until Nov. 25 to certify the results of the election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Casey was first elected in 2006 and is the longest-serving Democratic senator in Pennsylvanias history. McCormick, a hedge fund manager, painted him as a do-nothing senator who had been in Washington too long. Casey ran on a pro-labor platform, touting his support of unions. Ultimately, however, Pennsylvania, like much of the country, swung conservative. Republicans won every statewide race in Pennsylvania, including president-elect Donald Trump. McCormick first sought election to the U.S. Senate seat in 2022, but lost in the Pennsylvania Republican primary to Dr. Mehmet Oz, who was backed by Trump. This year, McCormick was uncontested in the primary, and earned the endorsement of Trump and other notable Republicans. Hell be sworn in on Jan. 3, 2025. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX (WHTM) Pennsylvania Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt has ordered counties to halt recounting ballots in Pennsylvanias U.S. Senate race. The order comes a day after incumbent U.S. Senator Bob Casey conceded the race to Republican Dave McCormick. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Nittany Insiders An automatic recount had been triggered after the initial tally showed Casey within a half point of McCormick. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thank you to all of Pennsylvanias elections officials for their hard work throughout this election cycle, including counting millions of ballots and continuing to diligently conduct two audits to ensure every eligible vote cast in the Nov. 5 election is accurately counted, said Schmidt on Friday morning. Casey called the race one of the closest in our Commonwealths history and said Pennsylvanians can move forward knowing their voices were heard. Every day I have served in public office, Ive fought for Pennsylvania workers, children, seniors, people with disabilities, and our veterans, said Casey, who will leave the Senate as Pennsylvanias longest-serving Democrat after 18 years. During that time, Ive been guided by an inscription on the Finance Building in Harrisburg: All public service is a trust, given in faith and accepted in honor. McCormick, a former hedge fund CEO and Army veteran, said he extended sincere gratitude toward Casey and his family. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I am so honored to represent every single citizen in Pennsylvania in the United States Senate and will fight for you every day, added McCormick. Counties must certify election results by November 25. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27. LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) A Philadelphia man was sentenced to up to five years in state prison for sexually assaulting a woman in 2023. According to the Lancaster County District Attorneys Office, Nhan Nguyen, 30, forcefully removed a victims pants and underwear, despite them saying no and physically resisting, and digitally penetrated them in 2023. The victim told police that Nguyen had introduced himself to them using a fake name and entered their bed uninvited despite their pleas for him to stop, the DAs office said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The DAs office said Nguyen also apologized to the victim over text, saying his actions were wrong and Im just stupid. During the investigation, Nguyen told police that he assaulted the victim because he thought it was allowed. Judge Dennis Reinaker sentenced Nhan Nguyen this week to felony aggravated indecent assault without consent and misdemeanor indecent assault without consent, per the DAs 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 ABC27. HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) Pennsylvanias Secretary of Education Dr. Khalid N. Mumin will step down from his role on Dec. 6, according to Governor Josh Shapiros office Shapiro credited Mumin with helping get billions of dollars invested into public schools during his two years as secretary. It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve as Pennsylvanias Secretary of Education, Secretary Mumin said in a statement. I began my career as a teacher in a classroom, and those early experiences watching students get excited about learning inspired me to become a principal, a superintendent, and ultimately Secretary of Education, so I could continue to fight for those students to get more support and more opportunities. Im so grateful to Governor Shapiro for this opportunity to lead the Pennsylvania Department of Education and help build a bright future for Pennsylvanias students and educators. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The state has made historic investments in public education during Mumins time, including over a $1 billion given to schools from two state budgets. Free breakfast has also been given to millions of students, there also was more of an investment into students mental health. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Local Business Beat Prior to serving as Secretary of Education, Mumin was a teacher, dean of students, principal, and central administrator for 25 years. He also served as the Superintendent of Schools at Lower Merion School District and he was the Superintendent of Reading School District. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Executive Deputy Secretary for the Department of Education Angela Fritter will serve as Interim Acting Secretary. She has over 25 years of experience working for the state government and she has served as Deputy Chief of Staff to former Governor Tom Wolf, Deputy Secretary in the Governors Office of Legislative Affairs, and Legislative Director at PDE, among other positions. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27. ESCAMBIA COUNTY, Fla. (WKRG) A Pensacola man faces nearly a decade in prison plus probation and restitution fees after he was involved in a scheme using fraudulent checks, according to the Florida State Attorneys Office. Judge grants mistrial in Sheila Agee trial due to unhinged juror Officials identified the man sentenced as Elijah Simmons. Simmons was sentenced on Nov. 12, 2024, after being found guilty on charges of racketeering, conspiracy to commit racketeering, trafficking in debit cards, carrying a concealed firearm, unlawful possession of personal identification information and less than 20 grams of marijuana, according to a State Attorneys Office news release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Court documents said the above charges and sentencing were related to a pattern of behavior that Simmons and codefendants partook in between Jan. 1, 2022, and Aug. 16, 2022, with depositing fraudulently produced checks. Defendant would recruit other conspirators to provide their banking information for deposits and withdrawals in an attempt to disguise the source of the checks, the release said. 15 additional defendants were prosecuted for their roles in this large scheme. An extensive investigation resulted in charges for 64 fraudulent checks and 40 victims with a total loss of approximately $251,643.9. Following the investigation led by Sgt. Greg Goult of the Escambia County Sheriffs Office, Simmons was sentenced to 8 years in state prison followed by 20 years of probation with $124,883.43 in restitution charges. Mobile police investigating Tuesday night convenience store robbery Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Assistant State Attorney Robert Paul Gillespie prosecuted the case along with the dedicated staff of the economic crimes unit, the release said. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5. Semperis, a pioneer in identity-driven cyber resilience, has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Australian businesses in safeguarding their cybersecurity environment. This initiative follows the latest US$125 million funding round raised in June 2024, aimed at accelerating product innovation and expanding Semperis' presence across the ANZ region. Since its establishment in Australia earlier this year, Semperis has achieved over 100% annual growth, supported by strategic alliances and partnerships that provide organisations with critical tools to address escalating cyber threats. The company has more than doubled its local team since July 2024, adding around ten new partners in the ANZ region, including Katana1, CyberCX, Kirra Services, Perfekt, and NextGen. The company has also seen significant success in the financial services, telecommunications, and education sectors across Australia, although specific customer names remain confidential. The latest Semperis Ransomware Risk Report 2024 reveals that 83% of organisations targeted by ransomware attacks have paid a ransom, with 74% experiencing multiple attacks. This rise in cyber incidents has prompted the Australian government to expand its cybersecurity frameworks to better protect high-risk infrastructure and critical systems. Mickey Bresman, CEO of Semperis, highlighted the rising cybersecurity challenges facing Australias digital economy. With online attacks now occurring every six minutes, cybercrime in Australia has surged by 23%, resulting in average losses of $71,600 per scam in 2022-2023 alone. This surge in cyber threats is driving more Australian companies to shift from reactive defence to proactive identity security measures, said Bresman. In 2025, Semperis will embark on an aggressive growth strategy across the Asia Pacific region, with Australia playing a key role. To date, the company has experienced triple digit revenue growth and has signed distribution agreements across major Southeast Asian countries, India, Australia, South Korea and Taiwan, effectively growing partnerships by over 100 per cent. To support this expansion, Semperis plans to double its local headcount in 2025 before expanding in phases to fulfil the steady demand for identity-focused cybersecurity solutions locally. With the increasing sophistication of identity-driven cyber attacks, more Australian organisations are looking at ways to strengthen their cybersecurity postures, said Gerry Sillars, Managing Director of Semperis, By focusing on identity management as the new security perimeter in protecting the critical assets of organisations and nation states, we help Australian companies to proactively identify, halt and rectify attacks and rapidly recover in the event of a disaster. Further strengthening its leadership team, Former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has joined as a Strategic Advisor. With over 25 years of experience in cybersecurity and strategic technology implementation, Malcolm will provide guidance on Semperis' growth initiatives across Australia. His extensive expertise in scaling tech enterprises and forging strategic partnerships will be instrumental in driving Semperis' expansion and enhancing its service offerings to meet the regions evolving cyber resilience needs. The rise of identity-centric cyber threats has underscored the need for proactive solutions that go beyond traditional cybersecurity measures, said Malcolm Turnbull. I am looking forward to working with Semperis in expanding its presence in Australia, empowering organisations to stay ahead of evolving threats and build a robust cyber resilience framework. As part of its commitment to close the global skills gap, Semperis is also providing certified training programs to accelerate the knowledge and capabilities of Australias local workforce, starting with pre-sales engineers from January 2025. These programs are designed to upskill pre-sales engineers in identity security, with plans to expand training to other markets. The healthcare and financial services sectors in particular are set to benefit from these tailored offerings. To learn more about Semperis and identity threat detection and response (ITDR) solutions, visit: Semperis.com. About Semperis For security teams charged with defending hybrid and multi-cloud environments, Semperis ensures the integrity and availability of critical enterprise directory services at every step in the cyber kill chain and cuts recovery time by 90%. Purpose-built for securing hybrid Active Directory environments, Semperis patented technology protects over 50 million identities from cyber attacks, data breaches, and operational errors. The worlds leading organizations trust Semperis to spot directory vulnerabilities, intercept cyber attacks in progress, and quickly recover from ransomware and other data integrity emergencies. Semperis is headquartered in Hoboken, New Jersey, and operates internationally, with its research and development team distributed throughout the United States, Canada, and Israel. Semperis hosts the award-winning Hybrid Identity Protection conference and podcast series (www.hipconf.com) and built the community hybrid Active Directory cyber defender tools, Purple Knight (www.purple-knight.com) and Forest Druid. The company has received the highest level of industry accolades, recently named to Inc. Magazines list of best workplaces for 2022 and ranked the fastest-growing cybersecurity company in America by the Financial Times. Semperis is a Microsoft Enterprise Cloud Alliance and Co-Sell partner. BLACKROCK CAMP, Fiji It was clear the visit was a success when the pig came out. Lloyd Austin watched a welcome ceremony at a military base near Fijis capital of Suva, having become the first American defense secretary to visit the island. His trip was itself a message, giving heft to negotiations over basing and logistics access for the U.S. military. But first came the hourlong ritual, where Fijian soldiers in military and traditional dress presented a whale tooth and a roasted pig between chants and dancing. Later he watched a rugby match, having played the sport himself at West Point. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The trip was a mix of strategic and personal that has defined his time as secretary in the region. Fiji is his last stop on a trip across the region to meet with allies for his last time as secretary. In his four years, Austin has helped recast Americas military role and presence in the Indo-Pacific. Its allies are working more often with each other, and America is working more closely with its allies. This approach has allowed the U.S. to spread out its forces into smaller groups, long a priority in a region concerned by Chinas rapid military buildup. To help defend against the increasingly capable Peoples Liberation Army, the Pentagon wants its forces farther forward than the U.S. west coast or Hawaii. But it doesnt want them to be concentrated into only a few positions, like Japan and South Korea. The more densely packed they are, the more vulnerable they are to Chinas stocks of missiles and rockets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In response, the U.S. has signed new basing agreements with old and new allies, such as the Philippines, Australia, Papua New Guinea and small islands in the Pacific. Fiji is the latest part of that effort. The U.S. is negotiating two separate deals with the island government in Suva. The first is a status of forces agreement, or a SOFA, pronounced like the couch. This would allow the Pentagon to station troops there either permanently or temporarily, though U.S. defense officials speaking before the visit said they didnt know how many would be there. The second is an acquisition and cross-servicing agreement, or ACSA, a narrower deal that would allow the U.S. to leave stores of military equipment on the island. Austin will sign this pact on the second day of his visit before departing back for Washington. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While reshuffling its forces around the region, the Pentagon is also opening more sites to repair weapons in the theater, rather than needing to pull them farther and longer away from a fight. The logistics deal is meant to help with such far-flung supply lines, which could be under threat during a conflict. Fiji is far closer to China than the U.S. mainland but by no means close, still thousands of miles away. And while its one of three Pacific Island countries with a standing military also one America hosts an exercise with each year that military is one of the smallest in the world. Regardless, China is also lobbying countries like Fiji that it has more to offer than the United States or its allies. Sensing a chance to deny military access to Washington, and secure the same for itself, Beijing has increased those efforts in recent years. Most successfully, it convinced the Solomon Islands to break relations with Taiwan in 2019. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chinas argument has only grown easier amid dysfunction in Washington, which only this year almost let a decades-old basing deal with other Pacific Island countries lapse. Austins visit is meant to be a sign of commitment. In his two days on the island, hell meet with Fijian government officials and announce almost $5 million in aid to help replace small arms for the countrys military. Hell also carry a message that the U.S. is open to more exercises with the armed forces here, similar to the bevy of new or larger drills America has launched with regional allies in the last four years. It will make it a lot easier for us to be able to expand the complexity of what we do, a senior U.S. defense official said of the negotiations. Every November since 1969, organizations across the country have sought to break the stigma surrounding epilepsy by celebrating Epilepsy Awareness Month. Throughout the month, advocates aim to provide supportive community spaces for people with the neurological condition as well as learning opportunities for community members. In Wisconsin, health and advocacy organizations are using the spotlight to train and educate community members about the condition and push for legislation that offers a broader support system for individuals with epilepsy in schools, the workplace and at home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People in Milwaukee who are interested in learning more about epilepsy can engage with organizations like the Epilepsy Foundation of Wisconsin and Epilepsy Families of Southeast Wisconsin, which seek to continue the mission with resources and events. That includes the recent creation of a portable epilepsy emergency card that guides bystanders on how to assist someone having a seizure. An Epilepsy Families of Southeast Wisconsin emergency safety card for individuals with epilepsy. It's a whole lot that we need to do so people can feel comfortable when they go out in public," said Anderlyne Canada, CEO and director of Epilepsy Families of Southeast Wisconsin. "They need other people to understand when they are having a seizure and not be afraid of it." Here's what to know: What is epilepsy? Epilepsy is described by medical professionals as an uncontrolled burst of electrical activity in the brain that leads to a seizure. A seizure can cause immediate changes to bodily function, mobility, consciousness and ability to communicate, and, in some cases, can place individuals in life-threatening situations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The condition is usually diagnosed and identified in people between the ages of 5 and 20 years old, according to the Epilepsy Foundation of Wisconsin. There are a variety of different causes for a seizure including infection, stroke, head injury, trauma or genetic abnormalities. Typically, seizures last 30 seconds to two minutes. If a person experiences multiple seizures in less than 24 hours, they can be medically recognized as having epilepsy. Canada detailed that when a person has epilepsy, their symptoms might be expressed in a variety of ways. For example, individuals might solely associate the condition with seizures. However, Canada said "brain storms" can appear in a variety of forms, including what might seem like "zoning out" or not paying attention. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It's important that people know what to do when people are having a seizure, because sometimes it is shocking for people to see," Canada said. "Part of our training that we provide to our clients and to their families is simply awareness." How many people in Wisconsin have epilepsy? According to the Epilepsy Foundation of Wisconsin, more than 100,000 people in Wisconsin have epilepsy, and one in 26 people nationally are diagnosed with epilepsy in their lifetime. Though epilepsy can commonly be managed through medication and regular treatment, each year, it is estimated that over 3,000 people die from Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP). Does Wisconsin offer resources to learn how to assist a person experiencing an epileptic seizure? There are a variety of programs throughout the state of Wisconsin to teach people how to aid an individual experiencing an epileptic seizure. The Epilepsy Foundation of Wisconsin and 211 Wisconsin regularly host virtual seizure first aid certification trainings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Experts say that if a person witnesses someone having an epileptic seizure, they should try to keep the person calm, roll them onto their side and call 911. If the person falls or experiences the seizure in a highly trafficked area, individuals should attempt to create a barrier around the space and protect the person's head to ensure they are not in close proximity to sharp objects. Individuals experiencing a seizure should not be held down or restrained because this can intensify stress factors and cause additional health problems, Canada said. Over the past two years, Epilepsy Families of Southeast Wisconsin also developed and distributed a portable epilepsy emergency medical card for individuals with epilepsy to carry. The bright orange emergency medical information packets come with a carabiner that can be attached to an individual's pants, backpacks, jackets or can be turned into a necklace. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The cards list the name of the individual wearing the card and includes a step-by-step guide for aiding a person experiencing a seizure. Canada advises any bystander or person offering medical assistance to stay by the person's side until paramedics arrive and the seizure has subsided. Events and learning opportunities The Epilepsy Foundation of Wisconsin is partnering with Joey's Song to offer a free ticket to a concert at The Sylvee in Madison for individuals who become Seizure First Aid Certified. Free trainings will be hosted on Dec. 7, 11 and 18. For more information, visit https://epilepsywisconsin.org/joeys-song Seizure Safe Schools is a national legislative effort to encourage schools to provide training to support students with epilepsy. To get involved, contact the national advocacy team at publicpolicy@efa.org or contact the Epilepsy Foundation of Wisconsin office. The National Epilepsy Walk at the National Mall in Washington D.C. is on March 13, 2025. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: An epileptic seizure can occur at any time. Here's how you can help Two major corporate landlords that own thousands of rental homes in the Indianapolis area face class-action lawsuits that allege their sweeping bans on renters with criminal records unfairly bar Black tenants from their properties. The Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana, a nonprofit fair housing organization in Indianapolis, filed lawsuits Wednesday against real estate giants Progress Residential and Tricon Residential on behalf of Indianapolis resident Marckus Williams. Williams, a 39-year-old Indianapolis native, had separate rental applications denied in late 2022 when background screenings flagged two felony drug convictions that had already been expunged from his record. Progress Residential, the largest owner of single-family homes in the nation with more than 90,000 properties in 19 states, owns more than 2,800 homes in five Central Indiana counties, according to the Fair Housing Center. Tricon Residential, headquartered in California, owns upward of 40,000 single-family homes in North America. Both landlords are owned by New York private equity firms; Progress belongs to Pretium Partners and Tricon to the Blackstone Group. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Fair Housing Center says both landlords disproportionately screen out Black renters with policies that bar tenants who hold certain felony and misdemeanor convictions. This practice, the center says, leads to discrimination against African Americans, who are convicted and incarcerated at higher rates than those of other races. The lawsuits state that both companies disqualified tenants whose third-party background checks revealed felony convictions for serious offenses such as homicide, sex crimes and drug sales or manufacturing. People with lesser felonies or misdemeanors were denied if their offenses had occurred within a certain number of years. The organization said policies like Progress Residential's that ban all felony convictions in the 10 years before Williams applied would exclude eight times as many Black applicants as white applicants. Tricon banned such convictions within seven years of an application. Progress Residential's policy of denying housing for serious misdemeanor convictions within three years would affect four times as many Black renters, the Fair Housing Center found. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tricon also denied anyone with a record of an eviction filing within the past two years, even if that filing had been dismissed or decided in their favor, according to the Tricon lawsuit. The Fair Housing Center said in Marion County, such a policy makes Black renters more than twice as likely to be denied as white renters. Nationwide, while less than a fifth of U.S. renters are Black, more than half of all evictions are filed against Black tenants, research shows. The lawsuits argue that without independently reviewing violations flagged during rental screenings a policy the Department of Housing and Urban Development has recommended for years renters like Williams, who is African American and recently opened a grocery store after spending a decade in prison, can be wrongly excluded. Amy Nelson, executive director of the Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana on Friday, Oct. 15, 2021, is photographed outside the Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana. We want these screenings to be based upon who people in fact are today, and not outdated records and past mistakes that make sweeping assumptions from years ago ...," Amy Nelson, director of the Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana, told IndyStar Thursday. "Everyone deserves a second chance." A spokesperson for Progress Residential said the company "is committed to promoting a fair and equitable screening process for all applicants. Although we do not comment on pending litigation, we take these allegations seriously and are currently reviewing the claims made in the lawsuit."Tricon, on the other hand, called the allegations "baseless" and said the company adheres to all fair housing laws. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We review resident applications fairly, ethically, and objectively, employing a 'blind' screening process not dissimilar from procedures used to review applicants for mortgages, apartment rentals, car leases, and credit cards," Tricon spokeswoman Tara Tucker said in a statement to IndyStar. How Wall Street cashed in: Homebuyers outbid in droves by investors in central Indiana Tenant denied for drug convictions despite sealed criminal record Co-founder Marckus Williams smiles and laughs with a customer, Dora Powell, on Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023, at Indy Fresh Market in Indianapolis. The locally run grocery store recently opened at 6160 E. 38th Street, an area that lacks stores that sell fresh, nutritious foods. "This is beautiful," said Powell, who lives nearby. "It's awful nice." After spending a decade in prison and several years living with a family member, Williams was looking to move to his own place, he told an IndyStar reporter Thursday. Toward the end of 2022, he applied for two rental homes, one owned by Progress Residential and the other by Tricon. Williams learned his applications had been denied because the screening software uncovered his 2006 conviction for cocaine possession and his 2012 guilty plea to three counts of drug possession. In both cases, the system also wrongly mistook his participation in a court-ordered reentry program in 2017, after he had been released from prison, as a third conviction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I had to eat, support my family ...," Williams said of the drug convictions. "I don't glorify it. I just had to make ends meet." After his release from prison, Williams had worked with a lawyer to seal both convictions, he said. Williams and his then-partner sent the landlords proof of the expungements and pleaded their case in repeated phone calls, but neither landlord approved his application, he said. As a result, Williams said, he spent the month of December without a home. "I felt broken. I felt devastated. For the month of December, I was sleeping in the car," Williams said. "All my money was going to the gas tank to keep me warm. I had to spend Christmas in the car, New Year's in the car. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eventually, a different apartment complex accepted Williams. The stable housing positioned him to open a new grocery store, Indy Fresh Market, last year in an area of the east side that had lacked access to fresh produce. Williams still runs the store and holds a second job working for the United States Postal Service, he said. He now lives in a new rental home in southeast Indianapolis with his wife and three children. "To all of the housing agencies," he said, "please give people a second chance." Fair Housing Center urges other tenants to reach out The lawsuits seek compensation for Williams and other victims who come forward, as well as for a court order forcing the landlords to stop their alleged discriminatory practices. Both lawsuits were filed in federal court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nelson said the Fair Housing Center, represented by Washington-based civil rights law firm Relman Colfax and Fishers firm RileyCate, wants to hear from other tenants who may have been wrongly excluded by background checks. Anyone with complaints against Progress Residential can fill out this form on the center's website. To lodge a complaint against Tricon Residential, fill out this form. Email IndyStar Housing, Growth and Development Reporter Jordan Smith at JTsmith@gannett.com. Follow him on X: @jordantsmith09 This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indianapolis landlords sued for alleged discrimination against Black renters PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) The Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce has announced the organization will be rebranding starting Monday. On Thursday, 500 local businesses joined the Chamber of Commerce at the Peoria Civic Center for its 49th Annual Thanksgiving Luncheon, where guests enjoyed a traditional Thanksgiving meal. The Chamber said the years theme, The Journey Forward, was meant to look forward to a new future. They hoped to emphasize the organizations commitment to grow with the community, as well as its efforts to evolve with the needs of local businesses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President of Eureka College, Dr. Jamel Wright, was this years keynote speaker. At the event, she delivered a powerful speech, drawing on metaphors from The Wizard of Oz. During her speech, she encouraged leaders in the community to remember those who still need help in our community. There are people in this room who dont have access to the resources many of us are blessed with. We cant ignore them or the challenges they face. For they, too, were on this yellow brick road with us. Jamel said. We can only, only get to our Emerald City if we find ways to assist them as well. At the luncheon, the Chamber of Commerce was excited to talk about its partnership with the women-owned business Rise Up Marketing to create a new logo. The Chamber said the new logo uses design elements that signify the interlinking communities within the Peoria area, emphasizing the strong bond that exists between the Chamber, local businesses, and residents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The organization will also be unveiling a new website, where the Chamber plans to put a spotlight on various local businesses each month. The Peoria Chamber of Commerce also presented awards to locally-owned businesses at the event. The 2024 Business Excellence Awards were given out to the following people and businesses. Athena Woman of the Year: Michelle Conger Outstanding Business Award (150+ Employees): Illinois CancerCare Outstanding Small Business Award (1-150 Employees): Peoria Friendship House Above & Beyond Award: Matt George Tom Connor Award: Reverend Alvin Riley Community Wealth Award: CASA of the Tenth Judicial Court Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The President and CEO of the Peoria Chamber of Commerce, Jessica Linder-Gallo, said that the organization is optimistic for the future ahead. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Pete Hegseths chances of being confirmed to lead the Defense Department have sharply declined on Polymarket. The plunge, from an 89 percent chance at his announcement to a low of 47 on Thursday afternoon, came shortly after Donald Trumps other controversial cabinet appointee, Matt Gaetz, pulled himself from the running. His odds slightly rebounded on Friday morning to a 57 percent chance, but are still well below their peak. Complicating things for the 44-year-old Hegseth is the recent release of a police report that contains graphic sexual assault allegations against him from 2017. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The alleged rape, as police described it, was reportedly unknown to Trumps transition team prior to announcing it wanted Hegseth to lead the Pentagon. Pete Hegseths odds of confirmation according to Polymarket investors. Hegseth, a former National Guard officer and Fox News commentator, told police the incident was consensual and he ultimately wasnt charged. However, he still paid the woman a settlement to fend off a lawsuit his lawyer described as being baseless. While Hegseth has been absolved of criminal prosecution, the same was true of Gaetz after the DOJ probed him for potential sex trafficking. However, the scandal-scarred Gaetz still had his confirmation throttled by a handful of Senate Republicans who reportedly told Trump they would refuse to vote yes. Pushback to Hegseths appointment hasnt been as severe as Gaetz, but it appears those wagering on Polymarket feel theres an increasing chance hell fail to be confirmedeven with a +3 Senate majority for Republicans. There have even been reports from Mar-a-Lago insiders that claim Trump has started putting together a replacement list. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Trumpland source told The Washington Post theres also fears in Trumps camp that the thrice-married Hegseth hasnt been properly vetted and that more unsavory details about him may eventually come to light. Donald Trump was interviewed by Pete Hegseth when the latter still worked for Fox News. Polymarket grew in popularity in the buildup to the 2024 election. It allows foreign citizens to place wagers on U.S. politicssomething thats illegal statesideusing cryptocurrency, with a scenarios price rising or lowering based on the number of yes and no investments that users make. The prediction market was famously more accurate than most political polls about the presidential election, which it had Trump winning comfortably over Kamala Harris. While theres been significantly less money placed on cabinet picks than the general election, the online market has still accepted $3.7 million in wagers on whether Hegseth will be confirmed or not. The odds for other Trump appointees remained much higher than Hegseth on Friday morning. Most had chances in the high 90s, like Elise Stefanik and Lee Zeldin, but Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (72 percent) and Tulsi Gabbard (69 percent) still arent viewed as total locks to be confirmed. Pete Hegseth, Donald Trumps pick for defense secretary, has said that leftists are Americas internal enemies and suggested a Democratic victory could have ended in a civil war. Trump named the 44-year-old veteran and former Fox News host as his nominee for secretary of defense earlier this month. Now, The Guardian reports the man who could lead the Pentagon once wrote in 2020 that the U.S. might undergo civil war if Democrats won. In his book American Crusade, Hegseth laid out the strategy we must employ in order to defeat Americas internal enemies and called on the GOP to mock, humiliate, intimidate, and crush our leftist opponents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement America will decline and die, Hegseth wrote, referring to a now-moot future where the Joe Biden won the election, according to The Guardian. A national divorce will ensue. Outnumbered freedom lovers will fight back. The U.S. armed forces are similarly-minded freedom lovers who would have to make a choice, he continued. If confirmed, Hegseth would lead the Pentagon and assume the second-most powerful position in the militarys chain of command. Allegations of sexual assault and white supremacist associations have come to light after Trump tapped Hegseth to lead the Department of Defense (REUTERS) The military and police, both bastions of freedom-loving patriots, will be forced to make a choice, Hegseth wrote. It will not be good. Yes, there will be some form of civil war. John Whitehouse, news director at Media Matters for America told The Guardian the veteran has always given off a proto-fascist vibe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The thing that appealed to him was going into Iraq as a crusader, and when that went wrong he started looking at America through the same lens, Whitehouse told the outlet. The Independent has contacted Trumps transition team for comment. In the days since Trump tapped him to lead the Pentagon, allegations against Hegseth of sexual misconduct and white supremacist associations have come to light. Hegseth was accused of sexually assaulting a woman in Monterey, California in 2017. The woman said Hegseth took her phone, blocked the door to a hotel room and refused to let her leave before assaulting her, according to a police report of the incident released Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The veteran has denied all wrongdoing. The matter was fully investigated and I was completely cleared, he said of the incident. Meanwhile, Hegseth has the phrase Deus Vult tattooed on his bicep, which has been used by white supremacists. "Deus Vult" is Latin for "God Wills It," and was a rallying cry for Christian crusaders in the Middle Ages. The tattoo previously resulted in Hegseth being flagged as a possible Insider Threat by a fellow service member due to its associations with white supremacy, the Associated Press reported. Mr. Hegseth has the necessary experience and qualifications to implement President Trumps pro-America policies, and none of these left-wing media concocted falsehoods will work to stop that mission, Steven Cheung, Trumps communications director, previously said in a statement regarding the tattoo. Following the departure of Donald Trumps attorney general pick Matt Gaetz, who was forced to step down after being dogged by allegations he slept with a high school girl, attention will turn to his defence secretary hopeful, Pete Hegseth. Mr Hegseth is also at the centre of a media scandal as he is accused of sexually assaulting a woman at a political Conference in California. Both men deny the allegations against them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Republicans rally behind former Fox News host Hegseth, our experts have their say on whether he will face the same fate as Mr Gaetz. Youd have to be hopelessly naive or Ann Selzer not to predict that Trumps nomination picks for Cabinet would run into trouble even before the official hearings. Matt Gaetz is now out of the running to become the next head of the DOJ, with eyes now swivelling to the similarly embattled Pete Hegseth, proposed as secretary for defence. Its hard not to wonder whether or not Trump was playing four-dimensional chess here. Gaetz stepping down will buy a ton of goodwill with the Republican Party, if only out of relief. Democrats holding their breath in anticipation of more chaos might find themselves disappointed theres no guarantee that the pressure placed on Gaetz will transfer to Hegseth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It would be a dangerous thing indeed for the Republicans to appear weak to outside pressure. Hegseths removal, voluntary or otherwise, would only embolden those who want to see the backs of RFK Jr, Tulsi Gabbard, Howard Lutnick, and Steve Witkoff. The stakes are too high to play nice. Hegseth is an extremely strong candidate in his own right. A veteran who served two tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, the former TV personality has focused his ire on the woke US military, which has traded the value of merit for the hollow bauble of representation. Hes willing to fire extraconstitutional and agenda-driven generals. And his loyalty, surely the most important prerequisite for serving on Team Trump, is indisputable. That his selection enraged military swamp denizens will only make him more attractive to the incoming president. You know youre doing something right when the Atlantics Jonathan Chait calls you Donald Trumps most dangerous Cabinet pick. Hegseth is undeniably radical, and Republicans may feel that they are being prudent in trying to avoid another Brett Kavanaugh confirmation debacle. But being seen to back away from another candidate could backfire spectacularly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Take it from Senator Tommy Tuberville. Just how many Democrats voted against Bidens Cabinet nominees, including those who pushed for exactly the sort of disastrous far-Left policies that threw the election? Zero. Standing in front of the Senate floor, Senator Tuberville reminded the assembled officials that there is a difference between rubber-stamping and taking a stand for transformative leadership. As Barack Obama said, elections have consequences. MAGA is a transformative agenda, and needs transformative leadership. Anything less is a betrayal of the mandate for radical change the American people handed Mr Trump on November 5. It was a major setback when Matt Gaetz was forced to abandon his nomination for attorney general on Thursday, and the Trump team will be desperately keen to avoid a repeat performance over Pete Hegseth. So concerned are they about a narrative developing, a spokesman for the transition team emailed reporters shortly after Mr Gaetz dropped out to remind them of 11 endorsements Mr Hegseth has already received from Senate Republicans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fear is that moderates will smell blood, and look to block further appointments that carry a risk of impropriety. Mr Hegseth has denied the allegations of sexual assault made against him. Realistically, it seems very unlikely that a GOP-controlled Senate will try to frustrate Mr Trumps appointments any further. Mr Gaetz acted as something of a lightning rod for moderates fretting about his choices and there are some who think that was a deliberate strategy from the president-elect. At a risk of making a prediction that later unravels with events, I think Mr Gaetz is probably the last nominee we see who is forced to stand down. Mr Trump, for all his bombast, is keen to avoid burning through political goodwill among his Republican colleagues before he has even taken office. The sensible option would be to keep his powder dry for when he needs the votes later on. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His choice of Pam Bondi, a former Florida attorney general, to replace Mr Gaetz is a strong hint he has finished with his most controversial nominations. I think Mr Hegseth will squeak through. 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. ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. A quo warranto petition aiming to unseat a St. Louis County Councilman over a nepotism claim was officially withdrawn on Thursday. The petition had challenged Dennis Hancocks authority to hold a role on the St. Louis County Council after recent allegations of nepotism. Prior to the petition being withdrawn, a court ruling had been scheduled for Friday. In August, following the allegations, St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell filed an order to prevent Hancock from acting as St. Louis County Councilmember. Hours later, a judge issued an order allowing Hancock to stay in his role. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hancock later told FOX 2 that he admitted to trying to hire a family member, but he also contends that family member was never officially hired. Hancock has been serving as a county councilman for District 3 in St. Louis County for several years and he was formerly the mayor of Fenton, Missouri, from 2001-2013, according to a St. Louis County biography page. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. Rubrik, Inc. (NYSE: RBRK), the Zero Trust Data Security Company, today announces a new cyber resilience solution for Microsoft Azure Blob Storage. As organisations become increasingly dependent on the cloud, there is an inherent risk for security blind spots and vulnerable sensitive data. Rubrik brings cyber posture and cyber recovery to provide Microsoft Azure Blob Storage customers further visibility into their cloud data, enabling business agility and resilience. Microsoft Azure Blob Storage provides secure object storage for cloud-native workloads, archives, data lakes, high-performance computing, and machine learning. Optimised for storing massive amounts of unstructured data, organisations across all industries use Microsoft Azure Blob Storage as a critical repository for sensitive business information, personal data, compliance records, and data powering artificial intelligence (AI) training models. Simpson Strong-Tie is dedicated to innovation and superior service in the construction industry, said John Meng, the VP of IT Infrastructure & Operations at Simpson Strong-Tie. Disruptions in business can affect both our employees and our customers as well as our ability to provide exceptional service. By leveraging Rubriks solutions, including Azure Blob protection, we can ensure comprehensive data protection, compliance, and cyber resilience, which allows us to safeguard sensitive information and provide peace of mind to our employees and customers, knowing that their data is secure. Rubrik Zero Labs recently found that 70 per cent of all Rubrik observed data in a cloud environment is object storage, which potentially has far lower security coverage compared to on premise and SaaS data, said Anneka Gupta, Chief Product Officer at Rubrik. More shocking is that nearly 90 per cent of that data is estimated to be either text files or semi-structured files, representing data types that may vary in being machine readable or covered by prominent security technologies and services. Thats a double whammy until now. The rise of generative AI and large language models is producing an explosion of data that needs to be secured, said Aung Oo, General Manager of Microsoft Azure Storage. Protecting that torrent of critical AI data at scale in cloud object repositories like Azure Blob Storage requires a purposefully designed cyber resilience solution that Rubrik delivers. Key benefits of the new services for Microsoft Azure Blob Storage include: Autonomously discover, classify, and provide context on all Microsoft Azure Blob Storage data, without that source data leaving the customers environment. Assess the security posture of sensitive data against security policies and data requirements for your business. Continuously monitor sensitive data within Microsoft Azure Blob Storage for risky user activity and provide early warning of emerging threats. Identify and remediate redundant Microsoft Azure Blob data to help reduce cloud costs. Support storing backup data to Microsoft Azure Blob Storage Cool and Cold tiers to lower total cost of ownership Rapidly recover the most recent clean copy using a range of recovery patterns, including object-level and whole container. Todays announcement is an extension of Rubriks long-standing relationship with Microsoft to help customers further strengthen their cyber resilience. Most recent integrations include comprehensive management of Microsoft 365 with an expansion of the Microsoft 365 Backup offering, as well as Rubrik Security Cloud with Microsoft Sentinel and Azure OpenAI Service. In 2023, Rubrik became a member of the Microsoft Content AI Partner Program after joining the Microsoft Intelligent Security Association (MISA) and unveiling an integration with Microsoft Sentinel. Additionally, Rubrik was named 2024 Microsoft Healthcare Partner of the Year. Rubriks new data protection capabilities for Microsoft Azure Blob Storage are now generally available. To learn more, visit our solution page and visit the Rubrik Booth #511 at Microsoft Ignite. WINCHESTER, Va. (DC News Now) The Shenandoah Valley region has found an innovative way to deliver health care in communities where there is a shortage of medical professionals. A partnership with Frederick County, Virginia public schools and the Claude Moore Charitable Foundation is making scholarships for pharmaceutical technician training a huge success. Lily Dodson, a senior at James Wood High School, is immersed in a rewarding learning experience through the schools Dowell J. Howard Pharmacy Technician Academy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said she likes that youre filing prescriptions, youre getting to work one-on-one with patients who go to the doctor, pick up their prescriptions and go home. So its nice to have a good impact on somebodys day. Tisha Hicks leads the pharmacy technician program for Frederick County schools. There is a great need for these technicians. But, the truth is, anything in the medical field, this class can be a basis for, she said. Maryland Delegate Brooke Grossman behind bill to change street names referencing Confederacy George Hummer, the superintendent for Frederick County Public Schools, takes pride in the program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a way for students to not only learn about different skills and put those skills to work toward application, but it actually provides a way for them to give back, he explained. The program would not be possible without scholarships from the Claude Moore Foundation, a charitable trust that has donated more than $20 million for career and technical education in the region. Ben Thompson sees that investment pays off with training that gives students real-life experience by the time they graduate. We work with the Claude Moore Foundation to make these programs become a reality for our kids, said Thompson. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Claude Moore Foundation is thrilled with the success of the program. This is all about extending opportunities, said Shirley Bazdar, with the foundation, on a visit to the pharmaceutical lab at James Wood High Schools Dowell J. Howard Career and Technical Center. This is what the Claude Moore scholars program is all about. While the national certification rate for graduates of pharmaceutical technical training is 69%, the rate for graduates of the Claude Moore Foundation-funded program in Frederick County, Virginia, is a perfect 100%! Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. PHENIX CITY, Ala. (WRBL) A Phenix City man died on Thursday night a few days after being shot at a local apartment complex, according to the Russell County Coroners Office. Initial Report: Shooting at Phenix City apartment complex leaves victim with life-threatening injuries Russell County Coroner Arthur Sumbry Jr. tells WRBL Princeton Kelly, 30, was pronounced dead at Piedmont Columbus Regional at 10:06 p.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The shooting happened at Frederick Douglas Apartments at about 8:35 p.m. on Monday. Kellys body will be sent to the Alabama Department of Forensic Science for an autopsy. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL. Nov. 21A jury in Philadelphia awarded $11 million in damages to U.S. Army veteran George Abrahams, who claims his SIG Sauer P320 pistol fired in its holster without his hands touching the gun. Abrahams is the latest to prevail at trial against the international gun manufacturer, according to his attorneys at Saltz Mongeluzzi Bendesky PC. After a three-week trial, the jury found that SIG Sauer defectively designed the P320, was negligent in selling the gun and showed reckless indifference to the rights of others in the distribution of the pistol, according to a news release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The jury awarded $10 million in punitive damages and $1 million in compensatory damages after deliberating over three days. SIG Sauer, whose U.S. headquarters is in Newington, "knowingly and negligently compromised safety in the name of profit," Robert W. Zimmerman, the plaintiff's lead counsel, said in a statement. "The jury saw the P320 for exactly what it is, defective and dangerous," he said. "We successfully argued that SIG Sauer knew of the risks of the P320s design, predicted these risks would injure its customers, and saw these risks play out in the real world." In a statement, SIG Sauer says it will be filing a motion for a judgment in its favor notwithstanding the verdict and, if denied, will be appealing the decision on multiple grounds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The jury agreed that plaintiff's own negligence contributed to his accident. Plaintiff agreed the trigger on his P320 pistol was pulled fully rearward with at least 7 pounds of force," the statement read. The P320 pistol is designed to discharge when the trigger is pulled and that is what happened in this case, the company contends. SIG said Abrahams ignored numerous safety rules and warnings in handling his gun and "had never trained with or fired his gun before the discharge occurred despite having purchased it more than a year and a half before his accident." Abrahams filed the lawsuit in June 2022 when the gun went off inside his pants pocket as he walked down a flight of stairs. He is considered "permanently injured" after the bullet tore through his right leg, according to his attorneys. Saltz Mongeluzzi Bendesky PC represents more than 100 other P320 victims. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In June, a jury in the federal trial court in Atlanta awarded Robert Lang $2.3 million, finding that a defect in the P320 caused him to be shot in the thigh while taking the gun out of its holster in 2018. The company also was found negligent in not warning customers of the risks. The P320, which was introduced in 2014, is one of the most popular guns in the U.S., with more than 2.5 million sold, according to the company. SIG maintains the P320 pistol "is innovative and safe, with numerous related patents, including several relating to safety mechanisms." "It is among the most tested, proven, and successful handguns in recent history, with versions being selected as the official sidearm of the U.S., Canadian, Australian, and Danish militaries, among many other military and law enforcement organizations worldwide," the company statement reads. Attorney Zimmerman disagrees. "The only way for SIG Sauer to avoid injuring or killing innocent victims is to redesign this gun to include a safety like other gun manufacturers," he said. A federal grand jury has charged energy company Phillips 66 with illegally dumping large quantities of oil into Los Angeless sewer system and failing to report the issue. The Justice Department announced Thursday that a grand jury issued a six-count indictment against the firm for allegedly discharging hundreds of thousands of gallons of industrial wastewater from its Carson oil refinery into Los Angeles Countys sewer system. Specifically, the company is accused of two incidents of significant dumping in 2020 and 2021. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In November 2020, the company allegedly dumped 310,000 gallons of industrial wastewater containing 64,000 pounds of oil and grease into the sewer system over a 2.5-hour period. This amounts to more than 300 times the concentration of oil and grease allowed under Phillips 66s permit, according to the Justice Department. It is accused of releasing another 480,000 gallons of wastewater, containing at least 33,700 pounds of oil and grease, over a 5.50-hour period in February 2021. If convicted on all charges, Phillips 66 faces up to $2.4 million in fines and five years of probation. In a statement, the company did not directly say whether it committed the violations it has been accused of. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Phillips 66 will continue its cooperation with the U.S. Attorneys office and is prepared to present its case in these matters in court, according to a statement shared by spokesperson Thaddeus Herrick. The company remains committed to operating safely and protecting the health and safety of our employees and the communities where we operate, the statement said. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Stephanie Azar, commissioner of the Alabama Medicaid Agency, leads the Medical Care Advisory Committee meeting on Nov. 21, 2024. A physician on the committee said Alabama is missing federal funds for pediatric firearm safety counseling. (Alander Rocha/Alabama Reflector) A physician told Alabamas Medicaid Agency Thursday that the state needed to spend newly-available federal money to address child gun violence cases. We learned that there would be money on the table for state Medicaid to reimburse pediatricians for firearm safety counseling, which is something were already doing in our primary care clinic, said Dr. Morissa Ladinsky, a University of Alabama Birmingham (UAB) provider representing primary care providers, during a meeting of the agencys medical care advisory committee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Alabama Medicaid pays health care costs of about 80% of child gun violence cases. New federal guidance allows states to pay providers through Medicaid for parental and caregiver counseling on firearm safety and injury prevention. In fiscal year 2022, nearly 57% of all Alabama children were covered by Medicaid, according to Alabama Medicaid, and firearms were the leading cause of death in 2022 among Alabama children aged 1-17, according to the Center for Gun Violence Solutions at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Alabama had 25.5 firearm deaths per 100,000 people in 2022, the fourth-highest gun death rate in the nation. Alabama had more total gun deaths that year than New York State, which has almost four times the population of Alabama. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ladinsky said that care for each child gun violence victim amounts to several hundreds of thousands of dollars. Commissioner Stephanie Azar said that the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which oversees both programs, was supposed to send the agency a letter, or something along that line, but they have not received any communication or notification on the funds available. But if we do, I want to certainly let you know, Azar said. Dr. Marsha Raulerson, a pediatrician representing the Medical Association of the State of Alabama, said that it may even increase Medicaid payments to pediatricians, which she said has the lowest reimbursement among specialties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So many pediatricians have hung it up because they cant make a living, Raulerson said. Raulerson also pointed to gaps in Medicaid coverage, such as dental care for children with disabilities. She said children with intellectual disabilities often need to be sedated for dental care, which requires a hospital setting, and there arent enough dentists that accept new Medicaid patients. Raulerson, based in Escambia County, is having to refer patients to Selma for this dental care. If I talk to a dentist in Mobile, sometimes I can talk them into seeing one my patients, but some of them are having to go to Selma, which is a very long way from Brewton, so that thats an ongoing, serious issue, she said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) Piedmont Augusta announced it is providing $1.9 million to over 30 non-profit organizations in the community on Thursday. The donation is part of an affiliation agreement between Piedmont and the former University Health Care System, with Piedmont agreeing to provide $2 million a year for 10 years to local non-profits. As we move throughout the community, we witness and hear stories about the hard work being done, and the lives that are changed and impacted for the better, said Hugh L. Hamilton, chair of the Piedmont Augusta Board. We could not be more thrilled that Piedmont embraces the importance of supporting our partners in keeping the community well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ALSO ON WJBF: High school construction students compete in East Georgia Skills Challenge While we are known for our exceptional clinical outcomes, the impact Piedmont makes in our communities is core to who we are and what we do, said Lily Henson, CEO of Piedmonts Augusta Hub. Recognizing we are stronger when we pool our energy and resources, we are thrilled to begin the celebratory season of giving thanks by honoring, supporting and strengthening our partner organizations who are in the trenches helping all members of our community achieve their potential. Here are the following organizations Piedmont is supporting in 2025: 143 Ministries Apparo Academy Augusta Dream Center Augusta Locally Grown The Augusta Training Shop Beulah Grove Community Resource Center/Lamar Medical Center Boys and Girls Club of Greater Augusta Cancer Support Services Child Enrichment Christ Community Health Services Columbia County Health, Wellness & Fitness Expo Compass for Hope Druid Park Community Health Center Family Promise of Augusta GAP Ministries Harrisburg Family Health Care Helping Hands Heritage Academy Hope House I Am My Brothers Keeper McDuffie Manna Neighborhood Improvement Project/Medical Associates Plus New Bethlehem Community Center Project Life Project Refresh ReStart Augusta RISE Augusta SafeHomes Turn Back the Block Tuttle-Newton Home Via Cognitive Health Westabou Montessori School Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) A Wind Advisory has been issued for areas west of the Blue Ridge from noon on Friday to 6 a.m. on Saturday. Winds will increase during the afternoon with gusts of 45 to 55 mph possible. The stronger winds will be at the higher elevations. Snow will continue for the western slopes of the mountains with occasional flurries or snow showers moving eastward. Winter Storm Warnings and Winter Weather Advisories continue through Saturday. Total accumulations will remain in the higher elevations close to the West Virginia border and into the Mountain Empire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There may be a lull in snowfall Friday morning, but it will pick up again during the afternoon as more energy drops to the southeast. Temperatures will get cold overnight, with a freeze possible across most of the region. Temperatures will be slightly cooler Friday afternoon with highs in the 40s. Warmer air returns for the weekend and the first half of next week. Next week, there is a daily chance for showers. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFXRtv. Pittsburgh police are searching for an 18-year-old suspect they say broke into a home and robbed a 97-year-old in the middle of the night. Mom yelled up the steps, Debbie, who was that boy in the house? the homeowner told Channel 11. She lives there with her 97-year-old mother. It was frightening knowing somebody was in the house, she said. The pair lives on Chartiers Avenue. According to Pittsburgh Police Zymerire Trent broke into their home through a first-floor window. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He stole a laptop and briefcase while coming in contact with the 97-year-old. She said they pushed her back into the bedroom and they were holding something tight. She didnt know if it was a gun, but thought it was a gun. I mean, shes such a sweet lady. Its terrible it happened to anyone, especially her, neighbor Tyler Richter said. Police describe Trent as a Black male, about 5 feet, 5 inches tall, 140 lbs with brown hair and brown eyes. They also say hed been arrested by Ross Township police just two days before the break-in. There, he led police on a chase in a stolen car but was released on non-monetary bond the same day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I understand due process and everything else, but to find out something happened two days before and theyre out on the street again? Terrible situation, Richter said. It makes you a little angry about it. Wait, if he did all this and they had him in custody, why didnt they keep him? Now, they have to look for him again, the homeowner said. It couldve been prevented if they had done the job from the beginning. The mom and daughter have since had a new security system installed. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WJHL) Two non-profits suing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and other federal agencies over CSXs rail repair work in the Nolichucky River gorge have asked a federal court to temporarily halt those agencies approvals for the work. 3 federal agencies sued over CSX rail repair work in Nolichucky Gorge The Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) filed the motion for a temporary injunction Wednesday in the Western District of North Carolinas federal court. American Whitewater and American Rivers had filed their suit against USACE, the U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lawsuit claims the agencies are allowing CSXs post-disaster work along roughly seven miles of destroyed rail line inside the gorge without having appropriate safeguards in place to protect the river and the habitat that lives inside the remote area. SELC attorney Patrick Hunter told News Channel 11 Monday he had hoped the work, which SELC and other observers believe has involved damaging mining of rock from the riverbed, would shift to a more environmentally responsible approach after the filing. Hed warned that if CSXs contractor didnt change course by the end of Tuesday SELC would file an injunction motion. River Advocates (the plaintiffs as a whole) support expeditious rebuilding of the railroad, but not in a way that destroys the recreation, scenery, and ecology of the Gorge, its importance to local business, or increases the risk of downstream flooding, Wednesdays motion states. The motion says plaintiffs have repeatedly asked the agencies to put required protections in place, to no avail. River Advocates have also asked CSX to put protections in place, the motion states. CSX says it will not do so unless forced hence this motion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CSX has told News Channel 11 in statements that the $200 million-plus project, which began shortly after the remnants of Hurricane Helene destroyed the line inside the gorge on Sept. 27, is being done to ensure the rail infrastructure is recovered and restored in the safest and most environmentally responsible way. That statement also says CSXs contractor is recovering track material from the river that includes rail, ties, rock, track panels, bridge spans and other rail bed fill material that washed into the river Local officials weigh in on CSX rail work in Nolichucky SELC writes that an understandable need for swift recovery must be balanced with environmental protection. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our federal laws recognize this tension and provide for expedited permitting procedures without waiving core legal requirements, the motion states. Compliance with these laws ensures recovery can be prompt without sacrificing bedrock legal protections. The motion asks the court to enjoin Defendants approvals but allow them to re-issue approvals and permits with the mitigation requirements necessary to comply with the law, which would protect the Gorge. It explains several types of permits that USACE and other agencies told CSX it will need to continue its work. But the motion also says dozens of hours attempting to work with Defendants in order to avoid litigation came to nothing, in part, due to unwillingness by the Corps to inform CSX of the ordinary high-water mark in the river, below which the Corps has jurisdiction. The motion spends a significant amount of pages arguing various reasons why the approvals should be deemed unlawful and set aside according to the federal Administrative Procedure Act. It cites the Rivers and Harbors Act, the Clean Water Act and the Endangered Species Act as all being violated by the current authorizations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The admittedly unusual situation that required the agencies to contemplate after-the-fact permits doesnt support allowing the activity thats taking place, the motion states. (B)y not imposing protective conditions now, the agencies are foreclosing the possibility of complying with the law in a future after-the-fact permit, the motion says. Accordingly, compelling the agencies to issue lawful permits at any time necessarily requires compelling them to impose necessary protective conditions now. The motion argues that the current activity is causing irreparable harm to the plaintiffs, both environmentally and economically in the case of the whitewater rafting community. It notes CSX is currently rerouting its cargo around the gorge and will have to continue doing that for weeks or even months. Any temporary monetary harms to CSX a Fortune 500 company pale in comparison to the irreparable harms being inflicted on River Advocates and their members, the filing states. It then cites a previous case in which a judge found temporary economic harm can be outweighed by the permanent harm to the environment that comes from the filling of streams and valleys. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather. New Relic , the Intelligent Observability Platform, announced the appointment of Charlie Thompson as Senior Vice President and Managing Director of EMEA to drive growth and market expansion across the region. In this role, Thompson will oversee sales initiatives and help enterprises use New Relic to drive innovation, improve reliability, and deliver exceptional customer experiences. Sales veteran to strengthen and accelerate growth in EMEA Thompson brings nearly two decades of experience leading global sales teams at high velocity technology companies. Most recently, he led international sales as Appians Senior Vice President of EMEA and LATAM, where he spearheaded significant growth, building enterprise and partner business with key wins at major customers. Prior to Appian, Thompson held sales and leadership positions at Pegasystems, Detica and Fujitsu. Known for building high-performing teams and fostering collaboration to achieve customer success, Thompson has a proven track record of driving impactful outcomes and building strategic partner ecosystems. His career began with 16 years of distinguished service in the British Army, where he retired as a Major after completing multiple tours of duty throughout the world. Charlie brings extensive expertise in international markets, global sales, channels, enterprises, and working across a wide variety of industries, said New Relic CEO Ashan Willy. He has a proven track record of success in growing sales and winning in highly competitive markets. His focus and understanding of driving customer value will be essential for us as we fulfill our mission of bringing the New Relic Intelligent Observability Platform to every enterprise across the globe. Accelerating innovation in observability New Relic continues to solidify its leadership in observability with groundbreaking advancements. Recent innovations include a collaboration with NVIDIA to offer New Relic AI monitoring for applications developed with NVIDIA NIM, the launch of the first integrated, AI-strengthened digital experience monitoring (DEM) solution, and the introduction of New Relic Pathpoint. These advancements equip businesses of all sizes to optimise digital application performance and reliability at scale. New Relic is leading the market with its AI-strengthened platform, the industrys only true consumption-based pricing model, and its team, said New Relic Senior Vice President of EMEA Sales, Charlie Thompson. The company continues to innovate and provide unmatched customer value. I look forward to working closely with the team to help leading global companies eliminate interruptions in digital experiences with New Relic. For more information on career opportunities at New Relic, visit www.newrelic.com/about/careers. CHICAGO After more than five hours of presentations, testimony and input from the community, the Chicago Plan Commission on Thursday voted to move forward with a proposed quantum computing campus on the Far South Side. The planned Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park development brings with it the promise of thousands of new jobs, a boost to the economy, more affordable housing opportunities and other benefits, but it hasnt been without pushback from some local organizations and community members. Thursdays vote was just one hurdle the team behind the project faces as it looks to have the property rezoned. It will now move to the citys zoning committee and, if approved, would still need to go in front of the full City Council. Nov. 2023 | Quantum capital of the world: Emerging field that could solve unsolvable problems Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement April 2024 | Pritzker announces plan to make Chicago quantum technology capital July 2024 | Biggest quantum computer coming to Chicagos South Side Oct. 2024 | The 78 loses anchor tenant to new South Side site Developers are planning to build on the lakefront site of the 440-acre former U.S. Steel South Works plant, located at 8080 South DuSable Lake Shore Drive in the South Chicago neighborhood, which has sat vacant for more than 30 years. What theyre going to give us is an opportunity. That is all weve been asking for is an opportunity; an opportunity to work in our neighborhood, to live in our neighborhood said Andres, a lifelong resident of the 10th Ward, whose grandfather worked at the former steel plant as a union pipefitter. I remember all the stores. I remember all the businesses, but when the mills went away, so did everything else. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The anchor tenant, Silicon Valley-based PsiQuantum, is partnering with Related Midwest, a developer behind mixed-use properties and affordable housing communities in Chicago, as part of the public-private partnership with the state. The mid-summer announcement for the development came on the heels of Governor JB Pritzker announcing his plan to make Chicago the nations quantum technology capitol. Pritzker, who has been a champion of the effort, allocated $500 million for quantum technologies in the FY25 budget, with a majority of those dollars earmarked for the campus. On Thursday, nearly 70 people signed up to speak at the meeting, but not all took the microphone. Many who did were highly supportive of the project, others raised reservations and concerns, particularly on environmental issues, and several were flat-out opposed. I understand that theres a sense of urgency and a desire to really break ground and move quickly, but the reality is that were dealing with a lot of concerns both environmental and community concerns that need to be addressed, said Edward Warden, the president of the Chicago Ornithological Society. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Warden calls this a long overdue boom for the community, noting decades of disinvestment, but said the group he is part of is concerned about some areas of the proposed development. Park 566 and Steelworkers Park, adjacent to the proposed development area, are known to be some of the highest density breeding bird sites and migratory bird sites in all of Chicago, sometimes harboring species that arent found anywhere else in the region, he said. During the meeting, the team behind the development said they are taking steps to utilize bird-friendly glass, controlled artificial night lighting, and other measures to protect bird migration patterns. Theres a particular concern for bird safety, said one of the presenters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Warden said he is not opposed to the project but would like to see developers pump the brakes for now and would like to see a community benefits agreement, something Amalia NietoGomez, executive director of the Alliance of the Southeast, also echoed. NietoGomez said a letter the alliance previously submitted was signed by 80 community organizations, asking for ten defined community benefits, including education, the environment, and jobs. We urge the plan commission to slow the process down and defer action on this proposal, said Oscar Sanchez, co-executive director of the Southeast Environmental Task Force. Were not saying against. To folks addressing environmentalists, were saying, were not accepting breadcrumbs.' Several other advocacy groups were in attendance for Thursdays meeting, including the Alliance of the Southeast and the Environment, Transportation, Health, and Open Space (ETHOS) of the South Shore. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those of us that are opposing the zoning today, it lumped us all as conservationists. Yes, we do care about the wildlife, the birds, the bees, but we also care about ourselves, said ETHOS co-chair A. Anne Holcomb. This is a toxic brownfield that youre talking about building in, and we dont even know whats in the ground or what concentrations. At the meeting, those involved in the project addressed concerns and said the site, which is planned to house the most powerful quantum computer, would operate on zero-carbon electricity and have no emissions nor smokestacks. They promised environmental concerns will be mitigated. According to a report from Crains Chicago Business, the project has been met with opposition from Friends of the Park, a group that took aim at the failed George Lucas project and urged a no vote at Thursdays meeting. This is a wonderful opportunity to provide new technology in an area that we werent sure whether it would fit or not or what type of industry would work on that site, Jorge Perez, business owner, and CEO and founder of Lake Effect Community Development told WGN. This is exciting that we finally have that fit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Perez was among others that represented organizations providing their support for the project. Representatives from the Field Museum also gave their backing for the project. During the meeting, presenters also shared plans to generate thousands of jobs through paid partnerships with local colleges and said they have been meeting with school officials. The project would be built on ground belonging to two wards served by Ald. Peter Chico (10th Ward) and Ald. Greg Mitchell (7th Ward), both staunch supporters of the project. Mitchell spoke to the commission during the meeting, urging them to approve the proposal. He said he felt this was the final opportunity to transform the Southeast Side. He also praised the community for using its voice and engaging in conversations about the future of Chicago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is the design after the decline. We are going to make this happen, said Mitchell. My concerns are the same concerns you hear today; the remediation efforts, whats in the soil, but we will never until we get in there. We will never know until we try. So far, three community meetings have been held for the public to weigh in on the proposed development, one each in August, September, and October. Its enough already. If you really want to help us, then the way to help yourself is actually communicating with us, said one community member. Some community members feel their concerns have fallen on deaf ears, but the team behind the project said that isnt the case and they vow to uphold environmental standards. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont want you to think that somehow we are not seriously aware of what we have to deal with, and we have to deal with it in the appropriate way that meets those regulations, said Don Biernacki with Related Midwest. We are aware. We are very much aware of finding, not only what is in the soil, studying whats there, working with IEPA. We are committed to following those regulations. We inform ourselves of what the situation is, and in this, there are thousands and thousands of pages of documents that relate to this and a history behind there. Rosa Escareno, Park District Superintendent and commissioner, said she is thrilled for the project to move forward and said this is an opportunity to develop and enhance land in ways in which the Park District doesnt have the means. This type of project will not only ensure were further enhancing these parks and now, with what was just committed here publicly, the donation of these private spaces to allow the openness into this entire lakefront access, is what we strive for. Our goal to expand green space and to ensure the green space is public and accessible to all Chicagoans, is really what we advocate for in these projects, said Escareno. Escareno called the currently vacant area not only underdeveloped but dangerous and said the Parks District is looking forward to what comes next and will be at the table and listening to concerns of residents, many of which they hear on a frequent basis at their meetings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to a third-party study, the proposed development would create an estimated 175,000 quantum-specific and quantum-related jobs, as well as about 20,000 construction jobs developers touted, to get the project done. This is an opportunity thats a no-brainer in my mind. For friends in the community to be objecting to this, I feel, is short-sighted, said Mark OMalley with Calumet Area Industrial Commission. While the plan was approved at Thursdays meeting, commissioners noted that their conversations with developers are just beginning. Another meeting has been scheduled for Dec. 10 with project developers. It will be held at Bowen High School, located at 2710 East 89th Street in Chicago. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. The Scoop Proponents of US legislation that would formally establish a public AI resource and data hub, providing cheaper access to the technology, are making a last-ditch effort to push the plan through during this congressional session. While the CREATE AI Act has bipartisan support, some conservative lawmakers are concerned about the funding needed to provide compute power to academics, nonprofits, and researchers. The bill would establish the National AI Research Resource to give access to more powerful AI tools that only the largest companies like Google and Microsoft currently enjoy. While Republicans tend to shy away from supporting new government funding for academic programs, the pitch for this plan has been popular because of the recent national focus on beating China as the top AI developer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democratic Sen. Maria Cantwell is leading the effort to get it approved as part of a legislative package before the end of the year, according to people with knowledge of the matter. It would need to overcome conservative opposition, and have congressional leadership make it a priority to push the plan through. Cantwells office didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. The bill is also co-sponsored by Republican Senators Todd Young of Indiana and Mike Rounds of South Dakota. Conservatives have increasingly called for creating an AI Manhattan Project, a government-led program aimed at developing the most advanced technology ahead of China. Earlier this week, 77 institutions, from large tech companies like Amazon to universities in Indiana, Louisiana, and Texas, signed an open letter asking Congress to pass the bill. Russell Wald, executive director of the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AI, has been making the rounds in DC this week, arguing that the program is critical to US national security because it will help train the next generation of AI researchers, feeding the innovation pipeline that has kept the country in the top spot of global AI ecosystems. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Time is of the essence, Wald told Semafor. While US companies are ahead of China on the most advanced AI models, he says China is putting more money into its academic ecosystem, which could help the country make its own AI breakthroughs. China is supplying their people with the resources. We are not. So we need to take a minute to think about that, he said. Know More While the biggest tech companies now employ many of the best AI researchers, Wald and others have argued that the next breakthroughs could still come from academia, where the lack of commercial incentives allows unfettered exploration. One of the most important things about this broad base of public sector investment is that it is what industry builds on, Wald said. Earlier this week, Wald was with Fei-Fei Li, an AI pioneer and co-director of the institute, imploring legislators to vote on the bill. Li was an advocate who helped the idea get off the ground, and Wald has been working on it for five years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its unclear whether the plan will pass during the lame duck session theres a version sitting in the House and another in the Senate but it could be attached to a more urgent bill, considering its bipartisan support. Reeds view There are a lot of brilliant minds doing AI research for tech companies these days, and many of them are making millions of dollars per year. Still, academia is a draw for brilliant people because of the freedom to try anything. As much as some tech companies try to recreate the leeway of academia, the private sector just cant replace it. And, as ChatGPT has turbocharged the productization of AI, big companies are becoming less and less academic, as Semafors reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But in order to continue making AI breakthroughs, academia needs access to a wealth of data, and compute power at its disposal. One way to look at this is if the private sector or a government-backed Manhattan Project could more swiftly carry the AI ball across the Artificial General Intelligence goal line. Maybe, but it probably makes sense to plan for another possibility: It will take more basic research and creativity to find the breakthroughs required. Another possibility is that the private sector is able to scale up the capabilities of AI models, but is unable to make the technology reliable and trustworthy enough to release into the world. In that case, wed need a breakthrough to make it safe, which might require the kind of research that often comes from academia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In essence, the bill cant hurt the US. Funding basic scientific research, like the intent behind the CREATE Act, has always paid off for the US economy in the long run. Room for Disagreement The AI Now Institute of New York University has argued that while the NAIRR proposal claims to democratize access to these resources as a way of contending with the concentrated power of the companies that control AI infrastructures, it would in reality almost certainly work to expand and entrench the power and control these companies have. Nov. 21Planned Parenthood of Northern New England says requests for long-acting reversible contraceptives have nearly doubled at its clinics since Donald Trump won the presidency and Republicans gained control of Congress. In the week after the election, Planned Parenthood of Northern New England received 215 appointment requests for long-acting contraceptives, including birth control implants and intrauterine devices, at its clinics in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont, almost twice as many as its normal weekly bookings of 111. In Maine, bookings went from an average of 26 weekly appointments to 48 in the week after the election. While President-elect Donald Trump has said he would not support a national abortion plan, reproductive rights advocates have doubted he would refuse to sign such a bill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advocates have also raised concerns that the Trump administration will restrict access to reproductive health services and could try to use a 19th century law the Comstock Act to forbid shipping mifepristone, the abortion pill, across state lines a claim Trump denied during the campaign. Abortion rights advocates also warned that a Trump administration could make it more difficult to access contraceptives. Almost all Republican politicians are anti-abortion, and starting in January Republicans will control all levers of the federal government, with the presidency, both houses of Congress and the U.S. Supreme Court's conservative majority. Senate Republicans this spring blocked a bill that would have enshrined a federal right to contraception. U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, was one of two Republicans to vote in favor of the bill, the other being U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nicole Clegg, CEO of Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, said in a statement that "our patients are worried." "They are concerned that they may not be able to access the care they need or make the best choices for their health," Clegg said. "Election outcomes shouldn't have this type of impact on people's lives. People shouldn't wake up one morning and find that getting the method of birth control they want or need is now out of their hands. These are personal decisions and shouldn't be subject to political whims." Clegg, in an interview with the Press Herald, said there are a host of reasons why patients are choosing to get long-acting contraceptives before the Trump administration takes over on Jan. 20, including cost. The Affordable Care Act mandates that most birth control be covered in insurance plans without any out-of-pocket costs. Even if the ACA is not repealed, Congress could pass laws reversing ACA rules, requiring that patients pay for contraception. Usha Ranji, associate director of women's health policy for KFF, a national health policy think tank, told the Press Herald that free or nearly-free contraceptive care could get the axe during the second Trump presidency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ranji said a lawsuit against the federal government, Braidwood Management vs. Becerra, takes aim at preventive services covered under the ACA, including contraception. "The Trump Administration may not defend the case and Project 2025 specifically criticizes (the federal Health Resources and Services Administration), and calls for them to reissue new recommendations, so it's possible that the contraceptive coverage requirement could be at risk going forward," Ranji said. Project 2025 is a plan put forward by Trump advisers for a second Trump administration, although Trump disavowed Project 2025 during the fall campaign. Clegg said another worry is that federal cuts to Planned Parenthood could result in reduced services at the clinics. "For many patients, PPNNE is their provider and what if (the Trump administration) defunded my provider?" Clegg said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maine Family Planning, Maine's other abortion provider, did not have statistics on its appointment requests available on Thursday afternoon, officials said. The first Trump administration, which ran from 2017-2020, instituted a gag order on what abortion clinics could say about abortion care to their patients, resulting in a cut in federal funding to Planned Parenthood. The Supreme Court in 2022 reversed Roe v. Wade, leaving decisions about whether abortion is legal up to the states. While Maine passed laws increasing access to abortion, 21 states either banned abortion outright or placed strict restrictions on abortion care. In addition to the interest in long-acting contraceptives, the number of vasectomy consultations, 26 in the first two weeks of November, had already surpassed Planned Parenthood of Northern New England's monthly average of 23. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Also, Planned Parenthood has experienced an increase in patients reaching out about the potential for reduced access to gender-affirming care during the Trump administration, although there was no data released about an increase in these concerns. Copy the Story Link This message was on display Wednesday at the Kentucky Capitol as the League of Women Voters of Kentucky released a new study of antidemocratic tactics employed by the General Assembly to fast-track bills into law and exclude the public from participating in the process. (Kentucky Lantern photo by McKenna Horsley) Our representative democracy rests on a fundamental principle: We, the people, have a right to participate in decisions that affect us. One year ago, a League of Women Voters of Kentucky report described how Kentuckys General Assembly has increasingly fast-tracked legislation in ways that weaken that principle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In our newest report, How Can They Do That? (Part 2), we show that the legislature continued to fast-track legislation in 2024, and used four additional tactics that undermine public participation. The four fast-track maneuvers identified in 2023 that were used again in 2024 are: Holding required bill readings before (rather than after) committee action, giving the public little time to review and understand bills. Replacing original versions of bills with last-minute committee substitute versions that are not available to the public before the committee vote. Holding full House or Senate floor votes the day bills get committee approval, allowing the public only a couple of hours to contact their legislators. Holding floor votes on free conference committee reports the day they are released, even though the reports may add provisions that the public has no time to review. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We hoped that shining a light on these practices would discourage their use. Sadly, in 2024, the maneuvers were used with roughly one-third of House bills and one-quarter of Senate bills that became law. This years report documents four additional tactics that challenge the Democracy Principle: Loss of prefiled bills that had, in the past, allowed Kentuckians an early start on preparing for upcoming legislative sessions. Shell bills with little or no substantive language are filed as placeholders for more substantial changes to be inserted at the last minute. Committee meetings held at irregular times or not at all, making it nearly impossible for members of the public to adjust their schedules and attend. Inconsistent access to records of legislative action, including committee minutes and Journals of Proceedings required by the Constitution of Kentucky. Using these tactics in combination has a negative compounding effect on public participation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For example, Senate Bill 299 (passed in 2024) began life on Feb. 27 as a half-page shell bill that changed the word he to he or she in a two-sentence law about pari-mutuel betting. However, that short version ballooned into a 282-page substitute bill that made sweeping changes to horse racing and gaming statutes. The wholesale transformation occurred in less than 60 hours at the end of March, using several fast-track maneuvers and tactics. The substitute version affected not only the horse racing industry, but also charitable gaming organizations, whose representatives had little time to understand and give input on the bill. The League asks the General Assembly to strengthen public participation through rules that: Schedule the three bill readings after committee hearings. Make committee substitute bills available at least one day before committee meetings. Allow at least one day between final committee action on bills and floor votes. Allow at least one day between free conference committee revisions and floor votes. Restore prefiled bills. Limit the use of shell bills and propose substantive bills before filing deadlines. Transact most committee business during regularly scheduled meetings. Announce additional committee meetings in the daily legislative calendar published the night before. Make records of legislative proceedings and committee meetings available to the public promptly. The League of Women Voters of Kentucky supports informed and active citizen participation in government. We urge the General Assembly to restore and expand our voices in the lawmaking process. And we call on the public to remind legislators that we, the people, have a right to participate in decisions that affect us. Scandal-ridden former representative and failed attorney general nominee Matt Gaetz has pledged not to rejoin Congress. We can all only hope he keeps that promise. In an appearance on The Charlie Kirk Show on Friday, Gaetz told the right-wing shill that he will be fighting for President-elect Donald Trumps agenda from a new perch. I do not intend to join the 119th Congress, Gaetz said. There are a number of fantastic Floridians whove stepped up to run for my seat, people who have inspired with their heroism, with their public service. And Im actually excited to see northwest Florida go to new heights and have great representation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gaetz resigned from the 118th Congress days before a House Ethics Committee was set to wrap up its probe into allegations that he trafficked and had sex with a 17-year-old girl at a sex party. Gaetz fervently denied the allegations, even resigning from Congress last week as evidence piled up. While the probe has still yet to be released, the House Ethics Committee reportedly obtained documents that showed Gaetzs payment to the 17-year-old girl on Venmo. Multiple Senate Republicans, including Mitch McConnell, said they had qualms with Gaetzs nomination, and Gaetz finally announced he would not pursue the attorney general nomination after CNN reported the House Ethics Committee somehow had even more evidence against him. Gaetz is still eligible to serve in the 119th Congress, even though he told Kirk he wont. He could still run to be reelected to his own seat or hope that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis appoints him to take Marco Rubios spot as senator after Trump nominated Rubio for secretary of state. Trump has pegged his loyalist former impeachment hearing attorney Pam Bondi as Gaetzs replacement for attorney general. And in Florida, a woman equally strange and bigoted as GaetzMichelle Salzmanis set to run for his open seat. By Krisztina Than and Friederike Heine BUDAPEST (Reuters) -Prime Minister Viktor Orban invited Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday to visit Hungary but several other European nations said the Israeli premier would be detained if he set foot on their soil, following the issuing of an arrest warrant for him. The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants on Thursday for Netanyahu, his former defence chief Yoav Gallant, and for a Hamas leader, Ibrahim Al-Masri, for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza conflict. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All EU countries are members of the court, which means they are supposed to enforce its warrants. But the diverging reactions - and the fact that EU heavyweights Germany and France have not said if they would arrest Netanyahu - highlight the major diplomatic and political challenge posed by the ICC decision, which drew swift condemnation from Israeli leaders and the White House. "For us Europeans, this warrant exposes a real dilemma between international law, which is our law, and our foreign policy, especially for those member states that are unconditionally backing Israel," Eurointelligence analysts wrote in a note. Assuring Netanyahu that he would face no risks if he visited Hungary, Orban branded the arrest warrants a "brazen, cynical and completely unacceptable decision". Orban, who is often at odds with his EU peers, has forged warm ties with Netanyahu. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Today I will invite Israel's prime minister, Mr. Netanyahu, for a visit to Hungary and in that invite I will guarantee him that if he comes, the ICC ruling will have no effect in Hungary, and we will not follow its contents," Orban said. The ICC, which does not have its own police force to carry out arrests, has only limited diplomatic means to force countries to act if they do not want to. The Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Finland, Portugal, Slovenia and Ireland, are among EU states that have said they would meet their ICC commitments. Netanyahu will be arrested if he set foot in Ireland, Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris told RTE radio. "Yes absolutely. We support international courts and we apply their warrants," Harris said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cyprus, which has close ties to Israel, regards the warrants as binding in principle, a government source told Reuters. GERMANY TORN But Berlin declined to spell out what it would do until and unless Netanyahu planned to travel to Germany, adding that legal questions had to be clarified regarding the warrant. Germany "is one of the biggest supporters of the ICC - this attitude is also the result of German history," a government spokesperson said. "At the same time, it is a consequence of German history that we share unique relations and a great responsibility with Israel," the spokesperson added, alluding to the Nazi era. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement France was also non-committal, toning down its initial reaction, which had been to say that its response would align with ICC statutes. Paris said on Friday it took note of the ICC decision but that it was not a ruling but a "formalisation of an accusation". France has been working on Lebanon ceasefire efforts and officials said cornering Netanyahu now could scupper those efforts. Non-EU Britain - also an ICC member - was similarly circumspect in its response. In the Netherlands, far-right leader Geert Wilders said he would meet his "friend" Netanyahu in Israel soon, even though the Dutch government has said it will act on the ICC's arrest warrant if the Israeli leader were to visit the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wilders is the leader of the largest Dutch government party, but is not himself a cabinet member. The Czech Republic, which like neighbouring Hungary has traditionally sided with Israel, appeared similarly conflicted. The Czech foreign ministry said Prague would respect its international legal obligations, while Prime Minister Petr Fiala described the ICC decision as "unfortunate" and said it would undermine the court's authority. Israel launched its assault on Gaza after Hamas-led militants stormed across the border fence, killed 1,200 people and seized more than 250 hostages on Oct. 7, 2023, according to Israeli tallies. Since then, more than 44,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, according to the health ministry there. (Writing by Ingrid Melander; Reporting by Krisztina Than and Anita Komuves in Budapest, Friederike Heine in Berlin, Anthony Deutsch and Charlotte Van Campenhout in Amsterdam, Michele Kambas in Nicosia, John Irish in Paris, Conor Humphries in Dublin, Angeliki Koutantou in Athens; Editing by Gareth Jones and Andrew Heavens) BRISTOL, R.I. (WPRI) After nearly 400 years, the Pokanoket tribe can finally return to their ancestral land, marking a historic victory for Rhode Island and the nation. On Friday, Nov. 15, Brown University finalized the transfer of 255 acres in Bristol to a preservation trust established by the Pokanoket Indian Tribe, fulfilling a pledge agreement reached between the two entities in 2017. Under the agreement, Brown committed to the orderly transfer of a to-be-determined amount of the lands which will ensure appropriate stewardship and management of this unique, historical sacred and natural resource for generations to come. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The tribe holds significant historical importance as one of the first to sign a peace treaty with the pilgrims who arrived in Massachusetts and to participate in the first Thanksgiving in 1621. The land is also deeply meaningful to Native American and Indigenous communities, as it is the ancestral home of the Pokanoket leader Metacom (King Philip) and the site of his death in 1676. This land is special to us and we can now take care of it the way the Creator intended for us to do so, Pokanoket Tribe Chief Sachem Dancing Star said. The approximately 375-acre Mount Hope property in Bristol has been home to the Haffenreffer Museum of Anthropology and a center for educational programs and field research since its donation to Brown in 1955, according to the university. Russell Carey, Brown Universitys executive vice president for planning and policy, said the universitys goal has always been to preserve the land, while also ensuring Native tribes have access to their historic sites. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Carey, when the property was donated in 1955, the Haffenreffer family also included a letter noting that they felt sure that the Trustees of an institution like Brown will not be unmindful of the propertys great natural beauty, its historical background or the best interests of the Bristol community. Those words remain as true and relevant today as when they were written nearly 70 years ago, and the steps we are taking to preserve the land in perpetuity are, we believe, fully consistent with that vision, Carey said. Raymond Two Hawks Watson, executive director of the Center for Indigenous Peoples Rights, described last Fridays transfer as a testament to the Pokanoket tribes persistence in fighting for their lands. Its representative of who they are as people, Watson said. Im also hoping that this is a wake-up call that its about that time to start making some reconciliation with some things that happened in the past. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Carey added that the university plans to move the Haffenreffer Museums collections to Providence next fall and expects full vacancy of the facilities by summer 2026. In addition to the 255 acres, Brown also decided to sell around 120 acres separate from the Mount Hope property to the town of Bristol. The sale of these parcels, which we expect to be finalized early in 2025, to the town of Bristol for preservation and conservation will ensure that no development occurs on them and further protects and buffers the land being placed in the preservation trust, Carey said. In the video below, The Boston Globes Ed Fitzpatrick joins 12 News at 4 to discuss the land transfer and its impacts. Close Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. WARSAW (Reuters) - Poland and Slovakia will sign an agreement on cooperation in ammunition production next year, Polish Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said on Friday after meeting his Slovak counterpart Robert Kalinak. Poland said this month it plans to invest 3 billion zlotys to boost ammunition production, aiming to ensure it has sufficient supplies in the event of an attack from Russia. The government also signed a letter of intent with domestic companies to make the nitrocellulose and multi-base powders necessary for producing ammunition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We have agreed with (Deputy) Prime Minister Kalinak that we will sign an agreement in this regard in the first half of 2025", Kosiniak-Kamysz told reporters. "(Slovakia's) production capacities (...) are much higher than in Western Europe, than in any other country in this part of Europe, in my opinion, and Poland can participate in this and be a co-leader in ammunition production, if it benefits from this experience." (Reporting by Pawel Florkiewicz and Anna Wlodarczak-Semczuk; Editing by Frances Kerry) WARSAW (Reuters) - Recent events show that there is a real risk of a global conflict breaking out, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Friday, after Russia fired a hypersonic intermediate-range ballistic missile at a Ukrainian city. Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that the strike was a response to the U.S. and UK allowing Kyiv to strike Russian territory with advanced Western weapons, a move he said had given the conflict "elements of a global character". Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called the Russian missile strike another escalation after deployment of North Korean troops on Russian soil. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The war in the east is entering a decisive phase, we feel that the unknown is approaching," Tusk told a teachers conference. "The conflict is taking on dramatic proportions. The last few dozen hours have shown that the threat is serious and real when it comes to global conflict." Poland, which borders Ukraine, Russia and Belarus, has been a leading voice calling for members of NATO to spend more on defence, and is itself allocating 4.7% of gross domestic product to boosting its armed forces in 2025. Russia said on Thursday that a new U.S. ballistic missile defence base in northern Poland will lead to an increase in the overall level of nuclear danger, but Warsaw said "threats" from Moscow only strengthened the argument for NATO defences. (Reporting by Alan Charlish, Pawel Florkiewicz and Anna Wlodarczak-Semczuk; Editing by Peter Graff) Honolulu police have arrested a 23-year-old man on suspicion of first-degree terroristic threatening and second-degree assault in Kakaako. Police said the incident happened at 4 :20 a.m. today. The suspect was allegedly seen running from a possible break-in into a car, according to a police bulletin, when he threatened a man in his 40s with a dangerous instrument. Another man in his 40s intervened, according to police, and the suspect injured him with a dangerous instrument. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police have arrested the suspect, who remains in custody pending the investigation. 9 Comments By participating in online discussions you acknowledge that you have agreed to the. An insightful discussion of ideas and viewpoints is encouraged, but comments must be civil and in good taste, with no personal attacks. If your comments are inappropriate, you may be banned from posting. Report comments if you believe they do not follow our. Having trouble with comments ? . CADDO PARISH, La. (KTAL/KMSS) Civil rights and criminal defense attorney Meghan Matt said incarcerated people face harsh realities, including violence. However, it is not always from other inmates. Often the most violent are those within the prison walls tasked with caring for the people in their custody, the guards, and the staff, and so unfortunately, we do see this quite a bit, said Matt. Matt spoke following Thursday mornings report of two corrections officers at Caddo Correctional Center who were arrested on multiple charges for using excessive force with an inmate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lieutenant Breck Scott, public information office with the Caddo Parish Sheriffs Office, said they received an administrative remedy procedure or a formal inmate complaint on November 8th. A Louisiana bill could send more minors to adult prisons The first deputy was caught on camera doing a battery on an inmate while he was handcuffed, the other deputy was in the cell with him but they werent able to see anything, him making any kind of contact to the inmate, said Lieutenant Scott. Preston Eichelberger faces two counts of aggravated battery and two counts of malfeasance in office. Corey Steadman faces one count of aggravated battery, two counts of second-degree battery, and two counts of malfeasance in office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People who are incarcerated still have rights as human beings. They still have fundamental rights, and part of that is, you know, the right to be free from excessive force, said Matt. She says that accountability is the first step despite protections being offered. Louisiana law proposes 25-foot barrier between citizens and officers If I walked up to somebody tomorrow and I beat them very brutally, I would get arrested as I should. The police and guards and correctional institutions they should have the same level of accountability, said Matt. Lieutenant Scott says the deputies are being held at the Caddo Correctional Facility as the investigation is ongoing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Matt says if this situation arises for you or a loved one, you should file a complaint with the facility and contact attorneys. Folks deserve to have this level of attention around this situation all the time. This is happening all over Louisiana, said Matt. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Nov. 22 (UPI) -- A suspicious package found outside the U.S. Embassy in London Friday was destroyed in a controlled explosion as London police closed Ponton Road near the embassy. In a Friday morning X post, London Metro Police said, "We're aware of speculation online about an incident in the vicinity of the U.S. Embassy in Nine Elms. Cordons are in place in the area as a precaution while officers investigate a suspect package. We can confirm that the 'loud bang' reported in the area a short time ago was a controlled explosion carried out by officers." Police said initial indications were that it was "a hoax device" and an investigation is underway. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The U.S. Embassy is back to normal business operations, with the exception that all public appointments (visa appointments, passport appointments, and other American Citizen services) for 22 November have been canceled," The U.S. London embassy said on X. "Applicants will be contacted via email to reschedule. Local authorities investigated and cleared a suspicious package outside the Embassy." The embassy thanked London police for swift action responding to the suspicious package. London's Gatwick Airport south of London also evacuated a terminal Friday after a prohibited item was found in a passenger's luggage. "The South Terminal has been evacuated as a precaution while we continue to investigate a security incident," the airport told CBS News Friday. "Passengers will not be able to enter the South Terminal while this is ongoing. Safety and security of our passengers and staff remains our top priority. We are working to resolve the issue as quickly as possible." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. Embassy in London opened in the current location at the start of 2018. Located on a large campus place away from major roads, the embassy is surrounded by security fortifications. It's a 12-story building that cost roughly $1 billion to build and is surrounded by a moat. STRUTHERS, Ohio (WKBN) A Riffle Street man is in the Mahoning County Jail on drug charges after reports said police found a drug lab in his home while serving a search warrant for the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force. Read next: Police chase ends in multi-vehicle crash involving U-Haul Michael Gonzalez, III, 36, was arraigned later Friday in municipal court on felony charges of illegal assembly or possession of chemicals for the manufacture of drugs, a third-degree felony; illegal production or cultivation of drugs, a second-degree felony; and aggravated possession of drugs, a third-degree felony. Bond was set at $50,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reports said when members of the task force began searching the home at about 9:15 a.m. they found a loaded handgun as well as material that could be used to make and store marijuana. Gonzalez was the target of the search warrant, reports said, and a family member is a convicted felon and not allowed to have a gun, reports said. Because the gun and the other items were found, an officer typed a separate search warrant to search for more evidence of drugs, and the warrant was approved by a judge. Police found materials to make DMT, a drug that is similar to LSD, and several mushrooms. Reports said when questioned by police, Gonzalez admitted to manufacturing DMT. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Charges from the warrant served by the human trafficking force are pending. Several items for that investigation were seized and will be tested, reports said. Gerry Ricciutti 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. Nov. 21Elkhart police have named Charles Bell Jr., 26, of Elkhart, as the accused in connection with a stabbing Monday night. Police reported that at 5:22 p.m. officers made contact with a 49-year-old man who had been stabbed in the 1200 block of South Main Street in Elkhart. During the investigation, officers located 26-year-old Bell in the 1300 block of Eden Street and took him into custody at about 5:28 p.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Medics transported the victim to the hospital for evaluation and treatment of potentially life-threatening injuries. The victim reported to police that he knew Bell and claimed he'd stabbed him and took his backpack. Bell was arrested and booked into the Elkhart County Jail on preliminary charges of robbery with serious bodily injury, a Level 2 felony; aggravated battery, a Level 3 felony; and resisting law enforcement, a Class A misdemeanor. His bond is set at $150,000. Five-car pileup in Goshen Five vehicles were involved in a pileup on U.S. 33, just south of Bashor Road at 6:01 p.m. Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Goshen police reported that Juan Pineda Fuentes, 36, of Goshen, was northwestbound on U.S. 33 in a 2017 Chevrolet Traverse and was rear-ended by a 1997 Chevrolet Astro Van driven by Jose Lariz Villalpondo, 58, of Goshen, leading to the pile-up. Villalpondo told police he was waiting at the light when his vehicle was struck from behind and the impact pushed his vehicle into another. Villalpondo's Chevrolet Astro Van struck the back of a silver 2012 Buick Regal driven by Joseline De La Rosa, 17, of Ligonier, which was pushed into a maroon 2008 Kia Sorento driven by Dayana Lizardo Inciarte, 40, of Elkhart, which was pushed into a brown 2013 Honda Odyssey driven by Jordan Swartzentruber, 30, of Goshen. Villalpondo was trapped in his vehicle and required medical attention. He was transported to Elkhart General Hospital. Inciarte was also transported to Goshen Hospital for possible whiplash. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fuentes was cited for operating a vehicle while never obtaining a license and not having insurance on the vehicle he was driving. Attempt to avoid crash goes wrong {p dir="ltr"}A teenager was hospitalized following a single-vehicle crash Wednesday evening.{p dir="ltr"}Goshen police report that at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Joseph Cassell, 48, of Goshen, was traveling south on Main Street and another vehicle attempted to make a U-turn at the overpass near Prospect Avenue.{p dir="ltr"}Cassell told police that the other vehicle turned too quick and he wasn't able to stop so he made an evasive maneuver and jumped the curve to go around the other vehicle.{p dir="ltr"}Cassell was unharmed but his passenger, 17-year-old Lilly Cassell, was transported to the hospital for abdominal pain. Minor crash hospitalizes driver Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A woman was hospitalized following a crash in Goshen Wednesday evening. Elkhart County deputies report that at 5:56 p.m., Andrew Lengacher, 22, of Goshen, was traveling west on C.R. 18 waiting to make a left turn onto C.R. 23 in a 2011 Chevrolet Silverado and allegedly failed to yield the right of way, crashing into a 2011 Toyota Prius driven by Madison Coleman, 24, of Goshen, who was continuing straight on C.R. 18. Coleman was transported to Elkhart General Hospital for a bleeding nose due to the airbag deployment. Lengacher was cited for failure to yield. HIT-AND-RUN Goshen police were called to the 200 block of Johnston Street at 11:39 a.m. Wednesday where it was reported that a vehicle owned by Green Oaks of Goshen was struck by another vehicle but the other vehicle left without exchanging information. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A 64-year-old Millersburg woman reported to Goshen police that a hit-and-run occurred in the parking lot of Menards, 1925 Lincolnway East, on Tuesday. After investigating the reported incident, police learned the damage did not occur in the parking lot as originally thought. A 60-year-old Elkhart woman reported to Goshen police at 5:48 p.m. Wednesday a property damage crash where the other driver left the scene. Police stopped and identified the other driver and completed a crash report and case report. The case will be sent to the Elkhart County Office of the Prosecuting Attorney for review. A 21-year-old woman reported to Goshen police at 8:35 p.m. Wednesday that her vehicle was struck while it was parked unoccupied in the 1600 block of South 16th Street and the driver involved left the scene without providing vehicle information. ARRESTS Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A 33-year-old woman was arrested by Goshen police at 7:49 a.m. Wednesday on a charge of operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangerment after she was stopped for a traffic infraction near the intersection of North Indiana Avenue and West Lincoln Avenue. SEX CRIMES Goshen police received a report from the Department of Child Services at 6:30 a.m. Wednesday for review. Goshen police received a report from the Department of Child Services at 6:50 a.m. Wednesday for review. CRIMINAL MISCHIEF A woman reported to Goshen police at 8:24 p.m. Wednesday that someone was trying to break into her home in the 300 block of South Seventh Street. Police on scene found a smashed pumpkin and damage to her vehicle, but were unable to locate the accused. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement THEFT A 54-year-old woman reported to Goshen police at 7:40 a.m. Wednesday a theft from her vehicle in the 400 block of Reynolds Street. A 45-year-old woman reported to Goshen police at 12:44 p.m. Wednesday that someone entered her vehicle overnight. A 37-year-old woman reported to Goshen police at 3:01 p.m. Wednesday the theft of a laptop and purse from her vehicle in the 600 block of South Fifth Street. A 27-year-old woman reported to Goshen police at 11:04 p.m. Wednesday an auto theft in Brookside Manor. A 78-year-old woman reported to Elkhart County deputies that between Oct. 1 and Tuesday multiple checks containing dues to an organization were stolen from her mailbox in the 27000 block of Sunset Strip in Elkhart or during transit. One of the checks was also reportedly changed to $1,000 before being cashed from one of the bank accounts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jet Technologies, 53893 N. Park Ave., Elkhart, reported to Elkhart County deputies that between 7 p.m. Nov.14 and 4:30 a.m. Nov. 15 someone cut the lock from a fence and stole a black 2008 U.S. Cargo single-axle utility trailer. A 31-year-old man reported to Elkhart County deputies that between 8 a.m. Nov. 16 and 10 a.m. Wednesday someone he knew stole an S&W Model 59 handgun from the 52000 block of C.R. 29 in Bristol. A 36-year-old woman reported to Elkhart County deputies that overnight between Nov. 8 and 9 someone broke into her vehicle in the 17000 block of C.R. 22 in Goshen and took her debit card information. FRAUD Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A 51-year-old woman reported to Goshen police at 4:10 p.m. Wednesday fraudulent activity. POSSIBLE THREAT Goshen police were made aware of a threat that was made in the 1200 block of South Indiana Avenue at 8:04 p.m. Wednesday. The investigation is ongoing. PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now) Laurel police said an officer was injured after a drunk driver crashed into a police cruiser early Thursday. Police said that around 2 a.m., a police cruiser was hit by a vehicle at Van Dusen Rd and South Arbory Lane. Woman dies after car crashes into pole in Montgomery County The driver was not injured. Officials confirmed the driver was drunk at the time of the crash. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The police officer was treated at the hospital for his injuries and released on Thursday. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. A woman told police in California in 2017 that she had been sexually assaulted in a hotel room by Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trumps pick for defense secretary, according to a police report obtained by NBC News. The 24-page report from the Monterey Police Department includes graphic details, as well as differing narratives from the woman identified only as Jane Doe and Hegseth about the encounter. Monterey police had initially released a one-page statement last week confirming that it had investigated a sexual assault allegation against Hegseth in October 2017. Hegseth, a former Fox News host, has denied wrongdoing and was not charged with a crime. Last weekend, his attorney told NBC News that Hegseth paid the woman an undisclosed sum as part of a civil confidential settlement agreement and maintains his innocence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The attorney, Timothy Parlatore, told NBC News on Thursday: This police report confirms what Ive said all along. The incident was fully investigated and police found the allegation to be false, which is why no charges were filed. According to the report, which does not specify why charges were not filed, the incident is alleged to have taken place after Hegseth and the woman attended a Republican womens event. A nurse later told police that the woman thought that something may have been slipped into her drink, as she cannot remember most of the nights events. But the woman told police that she did recall being in a room with Hegseth, who she said took her phone away and blocked the door when she tried to leave. She also recalled saying no a lot. According to the report: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement JANE DOES next memory was when she was on a bed or a couch and HEGSETH was over her. HEGSETHS dog tags were hovering over her face. HEGSETH was bare-chested, but JANE DOE does not know if his shirt was completely off. JANE DOE did not notice any tattoos, scars and or marks on HEGSETHS body. JANE DOE stated she had seen HEGSETH fully nude during this incident. The next memory JANE DOE had was when HEGSETH ejaculated on her stomach. HEGSETH threw a towel at her and asked her are you ok? The woman went to a hospital for a sexual assault exam four days later. Hegseth told police that there was always conversation and always consensual contact, according to the report. Hegseth also told police that the woman showed early signs of regret afterward but did not elaborate. After meeting with senators on Capitol Hill on Thursday, Hegseth said that he is looking forward to the confirmation process, telling reporters: As far as the media is concerned, Ill keep this very simple. The matter was fully investigated and I was completely cleared, and thats where Im going to leave it. The Trump transition team did not immediately respond to NBC News request for comment. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com VERNON HILLS, Ill. An investigation is underway after a shooting at a Vernon Hills shopping center on Thursday night. According to Vernon Hills police, the shooting happened at the Hawthorn Hills Square Shopping Center in the 700 block of North Milwaukee Avenue just before 7 p.m. Officers said an altercation broke out between two people who know each other when one of them pulled out a gun and opened fire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The victim, whose age has not been determined, was shot multiple times and was later taken to the hospital. Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines Officers said a suspect wanted in connection with the case has been identified, but no arrests have been made. A search for the individual responsible is ongoing, but authorities said preliminary information suggests that there is no ongoing threat to the immediate area. Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to contact the Vernon Hills Police Investigations Unit at 847-247-4893 or Lake County Crime Stoppers at 847-662-2222. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. LEXINGTON, N.C. (WGHP) The Lexington Police Department is still investigating the disappearance of a woman who was last seen two months ago. 31-year-old Nancy Bunly was last seen leaving her home on Sunday, Sept. 22. Friends, neighbors help in search for missing North Carolina woman She is five-feet-four-inches tall, 120 pounds and could possibly be driving a black 2017 Honda Pilot with the North Carolina license plate RBA-2896. Nancy Bunly Black 2017 Honda Pilot On Oct. 3, investigators announced that they had expanded their search effort into the Abbotts Creek area and asked people to review their Ring camera and other security system footage from 3 p.m. on Sept. 22 to Sept. 23 for signs of the Honda Pilot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a Friday news conference, the LPD confirmed that although they have yet to locate Bunly or the vehicle, the investigation remains active. Investigators say that a minimum of 48 additional supplemental investigative reports have been filed in the case as of Friday morning. The police department called for the community to continue sharing the photos of Bunly and the missing vehicle as part of the search effort. Police encouraged people not to limit their search for the vehicle and Bunly to just the city of Lexington but throughout the greater Triad as well. Anyone who sees Bunly, or her car, or has any information on her whereabouts is asked to call Lexington police at (336) 243-3302 or Lexington Area Crime Stoppers at (336) 243-2400. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX8 WGHP. Stefanie Damron was last seen walking out of her house and into the woods located on the West Road in New Sweden" on Sept. 23 Maine State Police A new photo of Stefanie Damron, the Maine teen who has been missing for two months now. A new photo of Stefanie Damron, the Maine teen who has been missing for two months now. Police in Maine have shared an update, and released new photos, nearly two months after a local teenager went missing. Stefanie Damron, then 13, was reported missing on Tuesday, Sept. 24, one day after she was last seen walking out of her house and into the woods located on the West Road in New Sweden, according to Maine State Police (MSP). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The teens parents, Christopher and Lisa Marie Damron, said in a previous statement that their daughter "got into an argument with her sister" and then "walked off" and into the woods, WGAM-TV reported. Now, police are releasing additional photographs of Stefanie as they continue their "extensive investigative efforts." "These photos appear to show a younger Stefanie - the most recent photo we have is the one we've posted previously with the flower in her hair (from Summer 2024)," they wrote. Investigators have conducted many interviews and followed up on leads in Maine, nationally, and in Canada," police said in their latest news release. "The Maine Warden Service and Maine State Police K9 Unit have searched large parcels of land near Stefanies last known location." Maine State Police Stefanie Damron, who disappeared after leaving her home in Maine in September 2024. Stefanie Damron, who disappeared after leaving her home in Maine in September 2024. Authorities have described Stefanie as 5' 0 and 130 lbs., with green eyes, and shoulder-length brown hair. They also said she was last seen wearing blue jeans, a long sleeve blue shirt, and black Harley Davidson hiking boots. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stefanies parents said in their statement that they were not home when their daughter disappeared. "We live a half mile back in the woods and our kids are very comfortable in their surroundings so there was nothing to raise flags the first few hours," they explained. 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. Jerri Harms, Stefanie's great-aunt, told the Brooklyn Squad podcast that the girl and her parents moved from Texas to New Sweden in 2020, as previously reported by the Bangor Daily News. Harms claimed that Stefanie had previously tried to run away a number of times, but was always found by relatives in the woods. Maine State Police A new photo of Stefanie Damron release by police two months after she disappeared. A new photo of Stefanie Damron release by police two months after she disappeared. A citizens group has helped search the woods in New Sweden in wake of Stefanies disappearance. Were not going to stop until we find her, Whittni Nichols, who is also part of a Facebook group called Help Find Stefanie Damron, told the Bangor Daily News. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Please keep your eyes open and sharing," Stefanies mom wrote on Facebook on Sunday, Nov. 3. "Help us bring our baby girl home safe and sound. Related: Family of Teen Who Disappeared a Month Ago Says She 'Got Into an Argument' with Her Sister, Then 'Walked Off' MSP did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for an update on the search. Anyone with any information about Stefanies whereabouts is encouraged to call Maine State Police at 1 (800) 924-2261 or (207) 532-5400. An anti-Semitism campaigner claims police told her they wouldnt be able to prove that a man who admitted to destroying an Oct 7 memorial committed a hate crime. Video footage that circulated on social media just days before the anniversary of the Hamas terror attacks showed a man attacking the Jewish memorial in Hove, East Sussex. However, Heidi Bachram, who reported the incident, claimed that officers told her they would not be treating it as a targeted attack on Jewish people or a hate crime, despite a man handing himself in to police over the video. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They said the man would be given a conditional caution for criminal damage and the case would not be passed on to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) as a potential hate crime, she added. Sussex Police insisted on Friday that the case was still ongoing and a final decision had not been made. But Ms Bachram claimed officers who visited her home on Thursday said they couldnt prove the incident was a hate crime a decision that would ultimately sit with the CPS if it was passed on. The Oct 7 memorial that was attacked in Hove - Heidi Bachram/X/Twitter The 52-year-old said officers updated her on the case after a man had been interviewed on a voluntary basis having handed himself in. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She told The Telegraph: They said that he claimed his friend had just died and that the memorial had triggered him because the flowers triggered his grief over the friend that had died. Ms Bachram, a Brighton resident, added that officers had also told her the man involved was suffering from poor mental health at the time. She said: They played it like it was not targeted, it wasnt about the memorial, it wasnt about Jews, it wasnt about Israel even though in the video you can hear him arguing with a guy that intervened and he says do you know what theyre doing and he says murdering later on. They told me they couldnt prove it was a hate crime and that they want to give him a conditional caution for criminal damage instead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They dont want to pass it to the CPS. Theyre calling it criminal damage, but there is no hate element to it. A Sussex Police spokesman said: On Oct 4, police received a report of a Jewish memorial being damaged in Palmeira Square, Hove. Officers arrested a 58-year-old man on Oct 7 on suspicion of racially/religiously aggravated criminal damage. He was bailed pending further enquiries. On Nov 8, a 78-year-old man attended Brighton police station and was interviewed under caution in relation to the offence. The investigation remains ongoing at this time. 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. State police have been opening mail sent to the Idaho Secretary of States Office since September after a threatening package containing a manifesto and white powder was mailed to the states election official. The U.S. Postal Service intercepted the package before it made it to the Idaho Capitol, and it was taken to an Idaho State Police forensics laboratory for testing, Nicole Fitzgerald, chief deputy for the secretary of state, told the Idaho Statesman by phone Thursday. The FBI has been investigating the widespread incidents, which Fitzgerald said they determined at the time to be an immediate threat. Idaho was one of at least 20 states where election administrators received similar suspicious packages that month, according to news reports. Similar packages were also sent to election officials in nearby Utah, Wyoming and Colorado. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Idaho State Police and the FBI did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The package sent to Idaho included a manifesto related to the 2024 presidential election between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, Fitzgerald said, and was mailed from Oklahoma with a return address to the United States Traitor Elimination Army. After testing, the white powdery substance found inside was determined to be harmless, she added. Nothing in the package was specific to Idaho. It appeared to come from members of the sovereign citizens movement, a loose network of conspiracy theorists and anti-government activists, Fitzgerald said. Idaho State Police officials suggested that they open and examine mail sent to Secretary of State Phil McGranes office as an added precaution, Fitzgerald said. State police plan to do so until the end of the year, out of concerns about further security risks following the presidential election, Fitzgerald said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We took them up on it to keep our employees safe, she said. Weve appreciated them taking that on for us during this time. The mail inspections have caused mail delivery delays of up to four hours on busy days but have not caused service delays to citizens, she noted. Its certainly worth the peace of mind for our employees, she said. Nov. 22A West Newton auto shop is facing criminal charges after state police said employees there were putting inspection stickers on vehicles they didn't actually inspect, according to court papers. When a state trooper visited Martinelli Auto Service in August for an audit, he reported seeing two vehicles with new inspection stickers that would not have passed an inspection. One of them, a Chevrolet car, had a hole in the frame and balding studded tires, according to court papers. "Both vehicles had obvious rust that would prevent the vehicle from passing a state inspection," Trooper Jason Ashton wrote in the complaint. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PennDOT officials contacted state police in July with suspicions that the North First Street shop was illegally distributing inspection and emission stickers. During a surveillance operation on Aug. 1, police reported seeing five vehicles within an hour pull into the business and employees removed old stickers, replacing them with new ones. Troopers said no inspection was done on any of the vehicles, which were at the shop for a short amount of time one as quick as 16 minutes, according to court papers. Police said they contacted the vehicle owners, some of whom refused to discuss the situation while others claimed they had no idea their vehicle wasn't actually inspected. Martinelli Auto Service is charged with 11 misdemeanor counts each of of deceptive business practices, unsworn falsification to authorities and tampering with records, as well as 11 counts of failing to meet the requirements for issuing inspection stickers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A message left at the business Friday was not immediately returned. It was unclear if the business had an attorney. No court action had been scheduled. Pennsylvania regulations require that passenger cars and light-duty trucks be inspected annually. Those checks are aimed at safety and look at suspension components, steering, braking systems, tires and wheels, lighting, glass, mirrors, the body and the frame, among vehicle parts. Renatta Signorini is a TribLive reporter covering breaking news, crime, courts and Jeannette. She has been working at the Trib since 2005. She can be reached at rsignorini@triblive.com. Boris Pistorius has ruled himself out as the next leader of Germanys Social Democrats (SPD), clearing the path for chancellor Olaf Scholz to take the embattled party into snap elections. In a major blow to some figures in the SPD who wished to oust Mr Scholz, the popular defence minister announced that he was not available to run for the party leadership ahead of elections in February 2025. This is my sovereign, personal decision and only my decision, he said on Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I have emphasised this over and over in recent weeks and Im saying it again as clearly as possible: In Olaf Scholz, we have an excellent chancellor. He led a coalition, that would have been challenging in normal times, through perhaps the biggest crisis of recent decades, added Mr Pistorius. Opinion polls suggest Mr Pistorius is far more popular than the beleaguered chancellor. Scholz faces his Biden moment Rumours have swirled for weeks that some SPD chiefs desired a Biden moment where the chancellor would bow out and allow Mr Pistorius to lead the centre-Left party into the elections. But the failure of that strategy in the US, where Kamala Harris replaced Joe Biden but then lost to Donald Trump, appears to have quelled the rebellion in Mr Scholzs SPD. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Pistorius himself denies that the notion of replacing Mr Scholz as the partys chancellor candidate had even crossed his mind. This damages my party, which Ive been a member of for 48 years now, he said of the intense speculation about him potentially becoming the next SPD leader. I didnt start this debate, didnt want it, and never put myself in discussion for anything. Its now our collective responsibility to end this debate, there is a lot at stake, he said. In response to Mr Pistoriuss announcement, a lead commentator for the German magazine Spiegel said the SPD was now stuck with the weakest candidate of all time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its author, Christoph Hickmann, compared Mr Scholz to an architect who constructs a hideous, useless building and then goes to ask the neighbours if theyd like him to refurbish their property as well. Mr Pistoriuss comments clear the way for Mr Scholz to remain as party leader in what is likely to be a very painful election for the SPD. Opinion polls suggest the centre-Right Christian Democrats (CDU) party, led by Friedrich Merz, will roundly defeat the SPD in the February elections. The SPD is set to come in either second place or in third place behind the hard-Right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. Mr Scholz is said to be so unpopular in his party that he was in effect banned from campaign events during a recent state election in Brandenburg, where the SPD narrowly defeated the AfD. 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. Over the past several months, public radio station WDET-FM (101.9) executives said it had been successfully tinkering with programming changes to boost donor and listener support. It had even changed the name of one of its most popular shows, "Detroit Today," to "Created Equal," so it could syndicate it to other cities. But after failed contract negotiations with Stephen Henderson, the host of one its most popular shows, the nonprofit station owned by Wayne State University is facing a public relations and potential financial challenge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Henderson who has several journalism awards, including the 2014 Pulitzer Prize for commentary became the subject of several news reports this week after he said he is quitting the radio station. However, his announcement went beyond bidding farewell. It was a stern critique of the station. Henderson, 53, said in posts Wednesday on X and Facebook that his decision to leave was "in response to nearly three years of disinvestment by the station in the show, and my work and ideas." He noted the station "faces severe financial difficulties" and that it had proposed cutting the show he hosted for nearly a decade, "Created Equal" to "once a week, with no full-time staff assigned" during recent contract negotiations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What's more, it came less than two weeks before the station began its holiday fundraising campaign, which station executives acknowledge could affect how much money the station will have to work with. According to the station, about 60% of the station's $5 million budget is from donors. Neal Rubin: Devin Scillian, longtime anchor on WDIV-TV in Detroit, will retire in December WDET programming changes WDET General Manager Mary Zatina and Program Director Adam Fox told the Free Press on Thursday that Henderson had informed them he was quitting but they were not expecting his social media post. "I didn't get the impression he was going to take this tack," Fox told the Free Press, acknowledging the station planned to cut the show from five days to one day a week, which would mean less pay. "We didn't want to end things with Stephen, period." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Free Press left Henderson messages seeking additional comment. Henderson said in his social media posts that the station's proposed cuts to the show represented "an unsustainable withdrawal of commitment to the show (the stations most-listened-to local program) and its mission." In an online response to a question about what he would do next, Henderson said he has "many things in the works," and is "going to take a nice December break," gather his thoughts, and then, "have some discussions with other outlets." Zatina and Fox said one idea for the show had been to expand it from a budget of about $300,000 to $500,000, which would have made it better, but also have sapped resources from other programs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Instead, they said, with Henderson's departure, the show will no longer be a part of the schedule. The station praised Henderson's journalism and thanked him for his "important contributions." This year, Zatina and Fox said, is the station's 75th anniversary year and they are "refreshing" WDET's programming schedule starting Monday, but the station is still committed to pursuing local stories about inequality. They also said they decided to make the programming changes now, before the holiday on-air fundraiser, which is set to start Dec. 3 and run through Dec. 7. This is, they added, one of the most crucial times of the year to reach donors. More: WDIV hires new anchor Ty Steele from Sacramento's KCRA-TV Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: Former Fox 2 Detroit reporter Erika Erickson returns to local TV with new job at WDIV Reporter, columnist, and editor Henderson, a Detroit native, graduated from the University of Detroit Jesuit High School and then the University of Michigan, where he worked for the student-run newspaper, the Michigan Daily. His career later took him to some of the nation's more significant newspapers, including the Baltimore Sun, Chicago Tribune, Lexington Herald-Leader, and Knight-Ridder Washington Bureau, where he covered the U.S. Supreme Court. He also was a columnist, editorial page editor, and managing director of opinion for the Free Press; but, he was terminated in 2017. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wednesday, he made the case in his announcement that budgets are "moral documents" and "reflections of the things we hold dear and those we see as expendable." Journalists, he said, are facing an "increasingly harsh and reductionist" landscape. WDET, Zatina and Fox said, isn't the only news organization facing mounting financial pressures. They also acknowledged that in some ways, their newsroom might even be vulnerable after Henderson's announcement because of its reliance on donations. Last month, the Columbia Journalism Review reported more than 8,200 American journalists lost their jobs since the beginning of 2022, about 9% of the 89,000 people in 2023 who were employed as newspaper, broadcast, and online journalists. Moreover, a separate Gallup study the same month found Americans have record-low trust in news media, with only 31% expressing a "fair amount" to a "great deal" of confidence in the media to report the news "fully, accurately and fairly." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Henderson said in his post he will continue doing journalism "on other platforms: at BridgeDetroit, the nonprofit news and engagement organization I co-founded in 2020; and on DetroitPBS, where I host American Black Journal and am a contributor to One Detroit." He added he has other projects, including the Great Lakes Civility Project with Detroit News Editorial Page Editor Nolan Finley, and they have co-written a book that Wayne State University Press is expected to publish next spring. Contact Frank Witsil: 313-222-5022 or fwitsil@freepress.com. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: WDET-FM host Stephen Henderson quits, calls out station's cuts PASCO COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) A Tampa Bay family was outraged after a teacher at their 9-year-old daughters school was accused of using A.I. to generate pornographic images using their daughters likeness. Prosecutors said the Steven Houser, 67, also possessed other child porn images, but the images generated using A.I. are not considered illegal under current Florida law. Close Thanks for signing up! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now 8 on Your Side The victims family said Houser knew their daughter was a victim of the foster system. She trusted and adored her teacher while her family said Houser preyed upon her. She doesnt understand how somebody that she cares so much about couldve done something like that to her, the victims father said. Largo police arrest man accused of stealing over $15K from client in estate sale For this familys protection, we are concealing their identity. This man is one of the victims fathers. Well call him Bob. We were told that one of the teachers used our daughters image to make some A.I. pornographic images to sexually gratify himself, Bob said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bobs 9-year-old daughter attended Beacon Christian Academy in New Port Richey from VPK until the third grade. Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco said what science teacher Steven Houser admitted to doing is not a crime. The problem we have is the state laws, federal laws, Nocco said. Theyre not keeping up with the technology thats out there, especially A.I. Authorities did however arrest Houser on possessing real child porn and engaging in a romantic relationship with a student. We have to be able to keep up with technology and in the courtroom so prosecutors can do their job, Nocco said. On Wednesday morning, the state offered Houser a plea deal of seven years in prison followed by ten years of sex offender probation with conditions, but before accepting the deal, he pushed back. He said it was either five years or seven years, and I said we would go with the five, Houser told the Judge. Houser tried to sweeten his deal, but the state attorney nor the judge would give in. It cant be five or seven, of course you would go with five. I would go at 5 too. said Judge Mary Handsel, Florida 6th Circuit Court. The state has made it abundantly clear the offer is seven followed by then, and todays the day that you can either accept that, or you reject it. Houser accepted the deal, but again, under current Florida law, the A.I. images of child pornography were not considered when weighing the plea deal, since they are not considered illegal. Investigative reporter Brittany Muller asked the victims family if they feel that justice has been served. Absolutely not, not at all, they responded. Bob wants to see stricter penalties for those who create child porn through the use of A.I. What would you do if it was your child? he said. Think about it your grandchild your niece anybody how would you feel? Because I would guarantee that you do something then. I guarantee that you would be pushing it federally I guarantee that you would be pushing it wherever you could. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) Authorities are searching for an armed suspect in Northwest Portland after he broke into an apartment Thursday morning, according to police. Residents in the area were alerted to shelter in place via text, email, and/or voice message on PublicAlerts, but the notice was lifted as of just after 4 p.m. St. Helens High School principal under investigation for neglect amid teacher sex abuse case Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police responded to the area of 1400 NW Pettygrove Street after receiving a report that the suspect had broken into an apartment of someone known to him around 11:15 a.m. When officers arrived, the suspect reportedly fled from the area. Police then set up a search perimeter in the area of NW 19th Avenue and Upshur Street. Police said the investigation led them to a group of tents in the area of Northwest 19th Avenue and Northwest Upshur Street. Officers surrounded the area and attempted to contact the suspect, but they were unsuccessful, Portland Police Bureau said in a release. As there was no safe way to know if the tent was occupied with an armed suspect, the incident commander recognized that tactical teams with additional tools, training, and resources would be needed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PPBs Special Emergency Reaction Team (SERT) and Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT) were called in to help look for the suspect and the search went underway at 1:18 p.m. Police determined the tent that the suspect was possibly occupying was empty. At 4:02 p.m., they cleared the scene and the shelter-in-place was lifted. PPB said the suspect is still being sought but isnt being identified yet due to investigative reaons. Stay with KOIN 6 News as this story develops. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. PORTALND, Ore. (KOIN) A new study from a team of researchers at Portland State University compares human-caused greenhouse gas emissions to past catastrophic events on Earth. From 1851 to 2021, human activity has produced 3.6 trillion tons of greenhouse gas emissions. Thats similar to asteroid collisions and major volcanic eruptions that were responsible for the last three mass extinction events, according to the study published in the journal Anthropocene Review. The genesis of the project was really trying to get a better handle on human activity, lead researcher and PSU Associate Professor Dr. Hal Nelson told KOIN 6 News. I think for humans, in general, its hard for us to realize as individuals how impactful we are as a species. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heaven spot turned deadly for teen tagger in PNW During the study, researchers compared the mass of greenhouse gas emissions to the mass of material kicked up into the atmosphere during planetary events. Among their findings, the researchers said that if produced by a volcano, the total of human-produced greenhouse gas emissions would rank as an eight, or mega-colossal, on the 0-8 Volcanic Explosivity Index. Thats equivalent to 73 Krakatoa eruptions, according to the researchers. The team also found if an asteroid strike produced as much matter as human greenhouse gas emissions have, the asteroid would be capable of causing global climatic catastrophe and would create a 35-kilometer crater on Earth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This isnt comparable to the dinosaur-killing meteorite the crater from that one was 150 kilometers; this one is kind of 35 kilometers across, Nelson clarified, But its still capable of causing global catastrophe. Oregon forecasts higher revenue, kicker for 2025-27 amid moderate economy The researcher noted this thought experiment comparing human-caused emissions to these events can help the public and elected officials have a better understanding of the climate crisis. Global warming is a really hard thing to understand because the primary gas that is causing it is carbon dioxide, which you and I are exhaling with every breath that we are taking so it seems pretty innocuous, right? Nelson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have this conception that the atmosphere is never-ending, but in fact, the atmosphere is not that tall in terms of where our waste gets stored in the atmosphere, Nelson explained, So, hopefully people can use the kind of metaphor of a meteorite crater and waste to understand global warming because all the recent warming and extreme weather events that weve been having, those all occur against naturally occurring variation in weather, and so for the average person, its really hard to say oh, this was due to global warming. Mount Hood sees snowiest early season start in decades The science is pretty clear on it that the world is warming and that humans are responsible, but for the average person, its really hard to understand that. And so, this just gives another way of thinking about it, he added. Moving forward, Nelson said governments need to take more action to address climate change. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We need government action and certainly the recent election is not going to help. Weve got a lot of climate skeptics that are in Congress a lot more climate skeptics that are in Congress that there are in the general population, Nelson said. What weve seen in the last 20 years is the lack of action at the federal level and that the states are taking the lead and local governments and so thatll have to be what happens going forward. Ultimately, to make a dent globally, we have the technologies that we need to reduce greenhouse gasses. We need to get them into the heartland, and we need to get them into developing countries because we cant just keep building coal plants, which we did as Americans and Westerners, he said. VIDEO: Beachgoers caught in possible sneaker waves south of Lincoln City According to Nelson, the West Coast states are leaders in energy policy, which should be implemented in other parts of the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Oregon and Washington have really aggressive clean energy standards for the electricity sector to include 100% renewables and were trying to get off methane. Obviously, natural gas keeps us warm and cooks our food, but its also a highly potent greenhouse gas and so we need to electrify these different end uses in residential and commercial buildings and the West Coast is definitely leading on that, Nelson explained. After this thought experiment, Nelson said there should be studies comparing peoples views on climate change before and after being exposed to concepts comparing the crisis to catastrophic events to see how it impacts beliefs in the science. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Members of the Pulaski County Board of Election Commissioners review irregular absentee ballots on Nov. 5, 2024. (Mary Hennigan/Arkansas Advocate) A Pulaski County clerk staff member may have violated Arkansas election law when they changed voters precincts, according to a memo from the countys election coordinator. The potential violation occurred on Oct. 21, the first day of early voting in Arkansas, and Election Coordinator Amanda Dickens received details of the incident the following week via a letter from Pulaski County Clerk Terri Hollingsworth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Oct. 23, 2024, we received a call that resulted in the discovery that [precinct part] 051.02 was changed to [precinct part] 001.04 by an employee in the voter registration department during the early voting period, Hollingsworth wrote. Letter from Clerk_FOIA_Redacted Hollingsworth said an internal investigation was promptly initiated and the issue was fixed on the afternoon of Oct. 23. The change affected 132 voters, but just four voters had cast their vote before the error was discovered and corrected, she said. The day after resolving the issue, the clerks office determined the employee who changed the precinct would immediately cease in election duties, Hollingsworth wrote. Documents attached to Hollingsworths letter show the employee was Deborah Smith. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Documents also show that changing these specific precincts is a multi-step process. David Scott, Susan Meadors and Sydney Rasch of the countys election commission voted Tuesday evening to file a complaint with the State Board of Election Commissioners, which oversees all elections in the state and can investigate complaints. The mere fact that it happened is an issue, in my opinion, Meadors said. I dont think anything should be changed unless the boundaries are being changed by redistricting. That should be the only time something should be changed, not by virtue of somebody making a change. 11052024_Letter to SBEC_PCBEC Complaint Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Scott and Meadors also supported sending a copy of the complaint to the attorney generals Election Integrity Unit and the Sixth Judicial District Prosecuting Attorneys office. Rasch abstained from voting on the actions. This affected the voters ballot that they voted on, Dickens wrote in a memo to state officials. These voters were given a ballot with races that they should not have voted on and in turn did not get to vote on races that they should have voted on. The precinct change meant that voters who should have voted in Arkansas Senate District 12, House District 66, Congressional District 1 and two positions in North Little Rock did not. Instead, their options were changed to House District 69 and Congressional District 2. The remaining races were absent and a circuit judge race was added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The precinct change affected residents who live in Hansfield Circle in North Little Rock. The four voters who cast the wrong ballot were not provided an opportunity to vote with the correct ballot because their ballots were already counted in the secured tabulator. Dickens said the ballots are nameless once they enter the machine. According to complete but unofficial results from the secretary of states office, Republican congressional incumbents Rick Crawford and French Hill were reelected by sizable margins. Senate District 12 was an uncontested race and Democratic Rep. Jamie Scott will assume that seat next year. House District 66 went to Democratic incumbent Mark Perry, and Republican incumbent David Ray won by a large margin in House District 69. David Scott said it was certain that the four voters did not have an effect on the results of the election in the precincts based on how large the margins were. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A media inquiry to the Pulaski County clerks office was not immediately returned Thursday. The clerks letter to county election officials noted its office is committed to ensuring a fair and efficient voting experience for all citizens. The commissioners meeting is available for streaming online. The complaint was first reported by South Arkansas Reckoning. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Whats next? SBEC Director Chris Madison told the Advocate Thursday that he is aware Pulaski County officials voted to file a complaint, but all recently filed complaints are shielded by the Freedom of Information Act. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Madison said if the election-regulating body has received the complaint, it will be reviewed for a potential investigation and sanction recommendations. The document would not become publicly available through the SBEC until 30 days after final action has been taken or a public hearing is announced. Madison said a complaint is typically under investigation for about four months. Dickens confirmed the complaint was filed Wednesday afternoon with SBEC. The SBEC has a record of approximately 40 complaints so far from the 2024 general election, which Madison said is on par with other general election years. Complaints are accepted until 45 days after Election Day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Election Integrity Unit at the attorney generals office has also received about 40 complaints related to the general election, spokesperson Jeff LeMaster said Wednesday. Launched last spring, Novembers election was the first general election for which the unit was up and running. The complaint from the Pulaski County Board of Election Commissioners had not yet been received on Thursday, LeMaster said. A spokesperson for the prosecuting attorneys office said the complaint had also not yet been received Thursday. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President-elect Donald Trumps pick for the nations top health post, has vowed to get the chemicals out of Americas food amid mounting concerns over the health effects of additives. These chemical ingredients - designed to enhance the flavors, textures, colors and shelf life of ultra-processed foods - are in many of the foods that Americans eat. But who determines whether they are safe? Subscribe to The Post Most newsletter for the most important and interesting stories from The Washington Post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In many cases, its not the Food and Drug Administration that decides if chemical additives are safe to use in food. Instead, its the companies that make and sell the products that contain them. Research shows that a regulatory loophole has allowed for Americas food to be saturated in largely unapproved additives. The health consequences can be dire. In one case two years ago, a toxic food additive known as tara flour that was allowed into the food supply through this loophole was blamed for sickening hundreds of people and sending at least 130 to the hospital. Now, a growing number of politicians and lawmakers are demanding changes. Kennedy has pledged to overhaul federal food regulations as part of his Make America Healthy Again plan. (A spokesperson for Kennedy did not respond to a request for comment.) And several states, including New York and Illinois, are considering new rules that would more strictly regulate the additives used by food companies. The average consumer would absolutely assume that new preservatives, ingredients and flavors in food are all checked out by the FDA before they arrive on our supermarket shelves, said Pieter Cohen, an associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, who co-authored a recent report on the loophole in the New England Journal of Medicine. Thats whats commonly believed. But its a false narrative. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement - - - A little-known loophole Under federal law, the FDA has a mandate to ensure that all ingredients used in food are safe. Companies are not supposed to use new food additives in their products until they have gone through a thorough safety review process and received premarket approval from the FDA. The problem, experts say, is that food additives are exempted from the premarket approval process if theyre considered generally recognized as safe, or GRAS for short. This designation was created so that common household ingredients with a long history of safe use in food - like oil and vinegar, baking soda, and everyday spices and seasonings - would not have to go through rigorous safety reviews. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under current rules, however, companies can skirt the premarket approval process and determine on their own that a new food additive or substance is generally recognized as safe. Exactly how companies go about determining that a new ingredient is safe is up to them. The FDA says that companies can convene a panel of qualified experts to evaluate the scientific data. But its not a requirement. And studies show that even when food companies do convene a panel of experts, the experts are usually handpicked and paid for by the companies, creating financial conflicts of interest. The food industry is deciding by itself without any input from the FDA what is safe for us to eat, said Thomas Galligan, the principal scientist for food additives and supplements at the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a consumer advocacy group. Most consumers would be shocked to know that the FDA has essentially handed the reins over to the food industry. An analysis published in 2022 by the Environmental Working Group, an advocacy organization, found that 98.7 percent of the roughly 766 new food chemicals introduced to the food supply since 2000 were not approved by the FDA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement, a spokesperson for the FDA acknowledged that under federal law, food companies do not have to get premarket approval from the agency to use ingredients in their products that meet the criteria for GRAS. The spokesperson said that the federal law governing food additives doesnt give the FDA the authority to mandate that companies provide the agency with any information about the ingredients they use in their foods that are considered GRAS. The food industry is responsible for ensuring the safety of the ingredients they use in foods before they go to market, the spokesperson added. All uses of ingredients considered GRAS, food additives, color additives and food contact substances must meet the same safety standard - reasonable certainty of no harm. Anna Rosales, the senior director of government affairs and nutrition for the Institute of Food Technologists, a food industry group, said in a statement that the process for approving new food additives should be more transparent. IFT believes it is essential to recognize that both pre- and post-market assessments should ensure end-to-end transparency in the approval of ingredients and foods, she added. Transparency is critical to building public trust and ensuring consumer confidence in the U.S. food supply. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement - - - How a safe food ingredient made people sick A tragic example of how this system can go wrong occurred two years ago, when nearly 400 people got sick after eating a ground beef substitute - called French Leek and Lentil Crumbles - sold by Daily Harvest, the popular food subscription service. More than 130 of the people who got sick were hospitalized with gastrointestinal distress, liver injuries and other symptoms, and at least 39 people had to have their gallbladders removed. Investigators determined that the most likely cause of the sickness was a new ingredient in the crumbles called tara flour - a high-protein flour made from the seeds of a tree grown in South America. Even though there were no published toxicological studies of tara flour and the FDA had not evaluated its safety, a company that imported tara flour from Peru had claimed that it was GRAS and supplied the ingredient to distributors in the United States. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Daily Harvest declined to comment. In previous statements, the company said that it was no longer buying ingredients from the producer that supplied it with tara flour. This was the first and only time weve used tara flour, the company said. Earlier this year, the FDA announced that it had evaluated tara flour and determined that it was an unapproved food additive that didnt meet the standards for being generally recognized as safe. The agency said it found that there was not enough data on the use of tara flour in food, or a history of its safe use, to consider it GRAS. The incident showed that companies can get away with using harmful new additives so long as they dont cause immediate symptoms, said Cohen at Harvard. If a new food ingredient doesnt make people immediately sick, and people are just getting heart disease and cancer, then no one is going to trace it back to the companies, he said. I went into this thinking that the vetting process for new food ingredients was weak. And instead what Ive learned is that the vetting is nonexistent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement - - - The fight against food additives Some state and federal lawmakers are pushing back. Last year, California became the first state to ban four food additives - red dye No. 3, brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate and propyl paraben - that have been linked to an increased risk of cancer and hyperactivity in children. Earlier this year, Democratic state lawmakers in New York introduced legislation to ban those same four food additives as well as three others that have been linked to health problems: titanium dioxide, azodicarbonamide and butylated hydroxyanisole, also known as BHA. These additives are collectively used in thousands of processed foods, such as bread, breakfast cereals, candy, pastries, fruit jams, frostings, frozen dairy desserts and frozen fruit bars. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The New York bill would require companies to tell the state if the products they sell in New York contain food additives that they privately determined were GRAS without notifying the FDA. The companies would also have to provide a report explaining how they assessed the safety of the ingredients and what evidence they have that shows that theyre safe. The reports would go into a publicly available database. Companies shouldnt find it difficult to disclose this information, said Anna Kelles, a nutritional epidemiologist and New York assemblymember who sponsored the bill. She said that under federal law, companies are already supposed to scientifically evaluate chemicals and do their due diligence to demonstrate that they are safe before declaring them GRAS. Its a transparency issue, Kelles said. All this bill is saying is, Hey, if you want to use this chemical in New York State then wed like to see your proof that this is GRAS, and once youve done that then you can go on your way. Another bill first introduced in Congress in 2021 by Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Connecticut) would go further. The bill, called the Toxic Free Food Act, would close the GRAS loophole and require companies to notify and get approval from the FDA before introducing new chemical additives into the food supply. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Companies would also be required to submit adequate safety data to the FDA, which would be made available to the public. The FDA has a mandate from Congress to ensure the safety of our food supply and it simply cant do that if it doesnt know whats in our food and whether or not chemicals came to market through a rigorous safety assessment, said Galligan at CSPI. - - - Additives linked to adverse health outcomes Five examples under the generally recognized as safe loophole - - - Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) -- Uses: A preservative found in breakfast cereals, potato chips, chewing gum, beer, butter and vegetable oils. -- Concerns: Studies have found that it causes cancer in animals. The federal governments National Toxicology Program says that BHA is reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen. - - - Carboxymethyl cellulose. Also known as cellulose gum or CMC. -- Uses: An emulsifier found in ice cream, salad dressings, candy, cookies, sauces and some peanut butters. It prevents oil and water from separating and improves the texture of some foods. -- Concerns: Studies have found that it disrupts the gut microbiome and promotes gut inflammation and other digestive issues. - - - Polysorbates -- Uses: A group of emulsifiers found in ice cream, salad dressings, icings, baking mixes, frozen desserts and other processed foods. They prevent ingredients from separating. -- Concerns: Studies have found that polysorbates promote intestinal inflammation and have a detrimental impact on both the function and composition of the gut microbiome. - - - Erythritol and xylitol -- Uses: Erythritol and xylitol belong to a group of low-calorie sweeteners called sugar alcohols. They are found in many foods, including chewing gums, breath mints, protein bars, low-carb ice cream, and sugar-free desserts and candies. -- Concerns: Scientists at the Cleveland Clinic have found that consuming xylitol and erythritol increases the risk of cardiovascular events such as heart attacks and strokes. Their studies indicate that these low-calorie sweeteners promote the formation of blood clots. - - - Propyl paraben -- Uses: A preservative found in tortillas, pastries, jams and baked desserts. Also used in many cosmetics. -- Concerns: Some researchers have found that it can mimic estrogen and disrupt hormone signaling, leading to diminished fertility and other problems. Related Content How a change in rice farming unexpectedly made Indias air so much worse Trinity Rodman has learned how to fail. Shes better for it. RFK Jr. weighs major changes to how Medicare pays physicians A violent clash of galaxies has been caught in unprecedented detail by one of the most powerful telescopes based in La Palma, Spain. The collision was triggered by a rogue galaxy, hurtling through space at an incredibly high speed of 2 million miles per hour (3.2 million kilometers per hour). This cosmic speedster collided with Stephan's Quintet, a group of five galaxies located 290 million light-years away. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The impact triggered a colossal shockwave, ripping through the galactic gas and dust. It's like a sonic boom from a jet fighter, but on a cosmic scale. "As the shock moves through pockets of cold gas, it travels at hypersonic speeds several times the speed of sound in the intergalactic medium of Stephans Quintet* powerful enough to rip apart electrons from atoms, leaving behind a glowing trail of charged gas," said Marina Arnaudova, the lead researcher from the University of Hertfordshire. WEAVE data overlaid on a JWST's image of Stephan's Quintet, with green contours showing radio data from the LOFAR telescope. The orange and blue colors follow the brightness of Hydrogen-alpha obtained with the WEAVE LIFU, which trace where the intergalactic gas is ionized. University of Hertfordshire Interaction between 2 galaxies Stephan's Quintet is a visual spectacle of galactic interaction. "Since its discovery in 1877, Stephan's Quintet has captivated astronomers, because it represents a galactic crossroad where past collisions between galaxies have left behind a complex field of debris, Arnaudova added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This galaxy group has been further energized by the recent passage of NGC 7318b, a galaxy that has barreled through the group at an astonishing speed. This violent cosmic event was captured by the William Herschel Telescope's Enhanced Area Velocity Explorer (WEAVE) in Spain. Shoackwave's influence As NGC 7318b hurtles through the cluster, it triggers a shockwave that ripples through the intergalactic medium. The team has made a surprising discovery about the shockwave created by the colliding galaxies. They found that the shockwave behaves differently depending on the environment it encounters. When the shockwave moves through cold gas, it acts like a powerful force, stripping electrons from atoms and creating a trail of ionized gas. However, as it enters regions of hot gas, the shockwave loses much of its energy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Instead of causing significant disruption, the weak shock compresses the hot gas, resulting in radio waves that are picked up by radio telescopes like the Low-Frequency Array (LOFAR), said Soumyadeep Das, a PhD student at the University of Hertfordshire in the press release. This dual nature of the shockwave was previously unknown to astronomers. This revelation was made possible by the combined power of WEAVE, LOFAR, the Very Large Array (VLA), and the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). "The details of the shock and the unfolding collision that we see in Stephan's Quintet, these observations provide a remarkable perspective on what may be happening in the formation and evolution of the barely resolved faint galaxies that we see at the limits of our current capabilities," said Gavin Dalton, WEAVE principal investigator at RAL Space and the University of Oxford. A team of 60+ astronomers discovered this spectacular event of NGC 7318b smashing into Stephan's Quintet. The findings have been published in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) After hearing a presentation on potential plans for both of the Quest Charter Academy buildings at their last meeting, the board of education for Peoria Public Schools is expected to vote on those plans Monday. The plan for the middle school would be to house its dual-language program, which involves classrooms of half English speakers and half Spanish speakers. Its currently located at Valeska Hinton Early Childhood Education Center and Whittier Primary School. As for the high school, three separate alternative programs for students would be housed there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PPS Board of Education hears presentation on Quest buildings plan Rise Academy is currently based at Trewyn School for K-5th graders who need a more therapeutic environment to learn, while Day Treatment is for 3rd-12th graders with similar needs to Rise students. Its also housed at Trewyn. The third program is called PAT, which stands for Peoria Adult Transition Academy, based at Jamieson School. The program is for young adults who have finished high school but need additional support and life skills training. The plans would start being implemented next school year if approved. Quest Charter Academy and Middle School officially closed earlier this year when the State Board of Education voted in May to accept the state superintendents recommendation to close Quest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The PPS school board voted in January to stop funding the charter schools and to fold the nearly 400 students into their system. Their rationale was that Quests appeal was that Quest leadership failed to meet eight of the 11 benchmarks set by the district. Among those benchmarks were: not receiving a commendable rating for the middle school through the state report card process. not meeting an acceptable four-year graduation rate. not having an acceptable attendance rate for its students. Student discipline and declining enrollment were also brought up as reasons to deny. Quest appealed that decision and in March, a hearing officer sided with them, saying the school district here shouldnt close the two schools. However, State Superintendent Tony Sanders recommended the state board ignore the March ruling. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Also on the agenda is the potential purchase of four electric wheelchair-capable school buses from Midwest Transit Equipment. They would cost just over $1.6 million, but the district is receiving a rebate of $1.3 million, lessening its cost to $230,148. It will be depreciated over a five-year period. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. While officers with the California Highway Patrol will no doubt tell you that in their jobs, they come across a broad spectrum of harrowing situations, helping a motorist safely deliver her newborn is not the most common. In what CHP officials referred to as a Freeway Miracle on social media, three officers helped a woman who was 38 weeks pregnant do just that on the 15 Freeway in San Bernardino County on Nov. 20. The new mother, identified only as Mrs. Accardo, and her sister were on the way to the hospital while she was in labor. Three CHP officers helped a woman in labor on the shoulder of the I-15 in San Bernardino County safely deliver her newborn on Nov. 20, 2024. (CHP) Three CHP officers helped a woman in labor on the shoulder of the I-15 in San Bernardino County safely deliver her newborn on Nov. 20, 2024. (CHP) Three CHP officers helped a woman in labor on the shoulder of the I-15 in San Bernardino County safely deliver her newborn on Nov. 20, 2024. (CHP) Its unclear what happened while the trio mother, baby and aunt were en route that prompted an emergency response, but CHP Officers Zamora, Rafael and Carrillo arrived on the scene quickly after being dispatched and transformed the freeway shoulder into an impromptu delivery room, officials detailed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Family of Maui woman who vanished in L.A. hold rally, plead for publics help According to the social media post, the three officers supported Accardo through her contractions until she was able to be safely taken to the hospital. In photos from the hospital, both mother and daughter appeared to be doing just fine. Thanks to their quick actions, both mommy and Isabel are safe, officials said. Welcome to the world, little one. Youve already made quite the entrance! Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. A downtown high school went a step further to understand the reality of being homeless. Cathedral Prep continued their annual Box Village Fundraiser tradition. JET 24s Rick Liebel honored at 2024 Niagara Awards A crowd of students will give up everything and will sleep outside in front of their campus in a cardboard box or tent to get a glimpse of the daily life the less fortunate face. This is the poorest zip code in America and there is a lot of homeless people doing this every day especially when it started to get cold outside and it puts us in a mind step where we only have to do this one night where they do this through the whole year, said Owen Fetzner, a Cathedral Prep student. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Veterans given free Thanksgiving dinners thanks to Erie VA Medical Center The event will also benefit Emmaus soup kitchen. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com. People incarcerated at the Orleans Parish Justice Center line up during a mock evacuation drill on June 15, 2023. (Nigell Moses/Verite) The Louisiana Public Service Commission reviewed the rates that prisons and jails charge inmates to make phone calls, following a directive from the Federal Communications Commission earlier this year mandating lower fees than are currently charged at Louisiana state prisons and most jails. At the meeting, held Wednesday in Baton Rouge, commissioners heard testimony from both prison and jail telecommunications companies and advocates pushing for free calls. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wednesdays discussion was strictly informational. The commission which regulates utilities, including telecommunications companies, around the state took no vote on whether to mandate lower rates, and commissioners have not said if or when such a vote will happen. Meanwhile, the new fee caps are facing legal challenges, including from Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill, who filed a federal lawsuit, along with Texas and Mississippi, seeking to overturn the FCC decision. District 5 Commissioner Foster Campbell, who called for the hearing, said the FCC mandate, which is set to take effect on Jan. 1, was a great Christmas present. Campbell, one of two Democrats elected to the Public Service Commission, has long criticized the high phone rates being charged to people incarcerated in the states prisons and jails. Hallelujah, Campbell said. This is a great relief for thousands of people in Louisiana. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new rule caps audio calls in prisons and large jails at 6 cents per minute well below the state average of about 14 cents per minute for prisons and 20 cents for local jails and limits the fees that providers share with jail and prison operators to 2 cents per minute. (Rates for small and medium-sized jails will be capped at between 7 and 12 cents per minute, depending on their average detainee populations. Those rates will take effect in April 2025.) The rule is also getting pushback from the prison telecommunications industry. Commissioners on Wednesday heard a presentation from Securus Technologies, the contractor that provides audio call services to the state prison system. In October, the FCC denied a petition from Securus, the countrys largest provider of telecommunications services to jails and prisons, to stay the commissions order regarding the lowered rates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At Wednesdays meeting, Michael Lozich, associate general counsel for Securus, said the company took issue with how the FCC decided on the new rates. To determine a reasonable rate, the commission divided the cost of providing telecommunications services by the total number of phone minutes used, including minutes that companies did not bill for. Securus maintains that the new rate should have been determined with only billed minutes, which would have led to a higher per-minute rate. Securus argued that the new rate limits did not comply with a congressional requirement for prison telecommunications companies to be fairly compensated, claiming the company would be subjected to irreparable harm in lost revenue and compliance costs. Securus argued it was impossible for providers to meet the January 1 compliance deadline. Under the current contract, people incarcerated in Louisiana state corrections facilities pay 14 cents per minute for audio calls, with the department taking 2 cents per minute from each call. Campbell asked about video call rates, which were also covered by the new FCC rule. (Its not clear whether the Public Service Commission has jurisdiction over those under state law, District 3 Commissioner Davante Lewis told Verite News after the meeting.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new FCC rule will cap video call rates at 16 cents per minute for prisons and 11 cents per minute for large jails. Rates for small and medium-sized jails will be capped at between 12 and 25 cents per minute, depending on their average detainee populations. The federal agency was only recently given the authority to regulate video call fees. Video call rates are often much higher. According to the Jefferson Parish Sheriffs Office website, the parish which contracts with Securus offers jail detainees one free video visit per week. Further video calls cost $12.99 for a 20-minute session, or about 65 cents per minute. An incarcerated man clears weeds outside the Department of Corrections headquarters in downtown Baton Rouge. (Louisiana Department of Corrections) Campbell asked Lozich why telecommunications companies cannot provide video calls at the same rate as audio calls. The underlying technology and the infrastructure is very different, Lozich said. When it comes to telephone technology, thats a pretty well-established technology thats pretty much off the shelf. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lozich said communications companies have had to develop special security features for video calls from jails and prisons. Campbell said the same argument has been used for why audio call rates should remain higher. Commissioners also heard from representatives from two other prison and jail phone providers ViaPath and NCIC Inmate Communications. NCIC President and co-owner Bill Pope said the company did not support the FCCs new rule because, he said, the agency did not work with telecommunications providers to develop it. When questioned about his lack of support for the new regulations, Pope said, that rule is gonna get appealed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pelicia Hall of ViaPath, however, said the company is prepared to implement the new rates. We have worked directly with the FCC. We are not appealing this order, Hall said. Were following their mission. A human right Representatives from two Louisiana criminal justice reform organizations the Promise of Justice Initiative and Voice of the Experienced, or VOTE and national nonprofit Worth Rises also appeared at the meeting, recommending that commissioners reduce the costs of calls with people in prisons and jails to zero. Ivana Cortez, a policy associate at Worth Rises, said the FCCs ruling represents the bare minimum of what regulators can do to ensure people behind bars and their loved ones are not strapped with the burden of high call rates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cortez shared rates for Illinois prisons as well as local jails in Austin and Dallas. Those ranged from about 1 to 2 cents per minute. Illinois state prisons and Dallas County contract with Securus. Nziki Wiltz, a political coordinator at VOTE, said her middle-class lifestyle as a teacher changed drastically when her son was incarcerated. I no longer was able to eat lunch with my friends. I started carpooling, she said. I made a lot of financial changes because I wanted to budget and be able to communicate with my son. It was a huge burden. Lewis, the other Democratic commissioner, who, like Campbell, has been a vocal critic of prison telecommunications fees, thanked Wiltz for adding a personal touch to the discussion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We look at these as spreadsheets, we look at these as numbers. We forget that there are people behind everything that we do, said Lewis, who represents New Orleans and Baton Rouge. Lewis reiterated his support for reducing call rates for incarcerated people to zero, calling human interaction a human right. The Louisiana Sheriffs Association, the powerful lobbying group that represents local sheriffs around the state, has come out against the FCCs rate reductions, joining Murrill in the federal suit. Michael Cahoon, an organizer at Promise of Justice Initiative, said that telecommunications cost-sharing structure where sheriffs are given a percentage of the fees charged to detainees explains their opposition to the caps. Right now the incentive by the sheriffs is for the rates to be higher because the commissions are higher because that cost is actually borne exclusively by the families, Cahoon said. If you cant afford that rate, its not like you can go to Mint Mobile or anywhere else. They have your loved one behind bars, and thats the only way you can talk to them. So thats a heck of a bargaining chip. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE This article first appeared on Verite News and is republished here under a Creative Commons license. SAINT CLAIR Few details are known about the afternoon shooting incident on Nov. 10 that briefly closed Walmart in the borough. No charges have been filed in the incident, which occurred just before 4 p.m. after two men were involved in a physical altercation and a third person, described as a victim, discharged a firearm inside the store, according to Saint Clair police. A Walmart spokesperson said Thursday the store was briefly evacuated after the incident. The store closed at 4 p.m. and reopened at 6 a.m. the next day; no associate involvement or injuries were reported, the spokesperson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The store has since resumed regular operations and there is no cause for ongoing concern, the spokesperson said, adding that Walmart has cooperated with local police and turned over all necessary information to aid in their investigation. The safety and security of our customers and associates is our top priority, the spokesperson said. The spokesperson said Walmart typically does not disclose information about its security measures. In a statement released Nov. 11, Saint Clair Police Chief William M. Dempsey said his department is committed to a thorough investigation into the shooting. He said the man who fired the shot inside Walmart is cooperating with investigators as they continue the probe into the incident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dempsey said more information would be released as it becomes available. He could not be reached Thursday. Previously, the chief asked for the publics help, saying that anyone with relevant information should contact Saint Clair police at 570-429-2240. According to a report published in 2023 by United for Respect, there were 26 gun-related incidents at Walmart stores across the country from Jan. 20 to May 29, 2023. The report said 23 people were injured and seven killed in those incidents. Between Jan. 1, 2020, and Nov. 22, 2022, there were at least 363 gun incidents and 112 gun deaths at Walmart stores, according to UFR, a nonprofit that advocates for workers rights. The release of a police report with graphic details of sexual assault allegations against Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trumps nominee to be Defense secretary, is stoking concerns among current and former Defense Department officials that the agency could backslide on efforts to put an end to those abuses in the military. Officials fear that Hegseth, whose nomination had already caused controversy due to his opposition to women serving in combat, could also hurt efforts to recruit women into the military. When you have a leader that has already been credibly accused of sexual assault and then already has other signals in his background that hes not concerned about the contributions that women can make to national security, it could create bad signals up and down the chain of command, said one Defense Department official, who like others was granted anonymity to speak candidly. I imagine there is already profound fear and anxiety among women in uniform. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2017, a woman told police that Hegseth, a former Fox News host and Army veteran, sexually assaulted her after barring the door to her hotel room and seizing her cell phone. The police report was released to the media on Thursday. Hegseth, who has repeatedly denied wrongdoing, was never charged. The Trump transition team did not respond to a request for comment. During Trumps first administration, sexual assault in the military began to tick up, starting in 2018, and then continued to increase, exploding as a major national issue in 2020 after Vanessa Guillen, a 20-year-old soldier, was killed by another service member after telling her family she had been sexually harassed. To have someone who now at least has had a police investigation and paid a victim, enforced a [nondisclosure agreement] regarding a sexual assault sends a horrific message, said a former DOD official. It likely means that any progress the department has made regarding sexual assault, sexual harassment is going to be at best, repealed, if not completely eliminated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the Biden administration, the Pentagon set up a 90-day independent review board to address sexual assault, which removed the job of trying sex crimes, domestic violence, and child abuse from military commanders and put them in the hands of specialist military lawyers. The military has also launched an effort to hire thousands of psychologists to help deal with sexual assault. The military has come a long way to provide spaces for victims to be able to see some change and feel empowered, said a second former DOD official. Military sexual trauma is now something that is universally recognized where it wasnt in previous decades. Katherine Kuzminski, director of the Military, Veterans, and Society program at the Center for a New American Security, a left-leaning think tank, pointed out that women at the Pentagon are concerned over a number of policies that will be under fire in the Trump administration. They include rules around women serving in combat and the litany of diversity programs within the department. All of those efforts are all DOD policy, not law, and so would be within [Hegseths] control, she said. The question then, is the impact that that might have on specifically the Army and the Marine Corps, given the opening of combat positions to women and just the overall culture within the services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The second former DOD official noted the Pentagon has made progress, even though the problem hasnt gone away. The military has come a long way to provide spaces for victims to be able to see some change and feel empowered, the former DOD official said. Military sexual trauma is now something that is universally recognized where it wasnt in previous decades. Service members now have greater leeway to separate from the military due to sexual assault, receive benefits, or change units quietly. I cant imagine how any victim wouldnt feel triggered by all of this news and then have faith in the system, the second former official said. But the effort to build the so-called Integrated Primary Prevention Workforce to serve at bases in the United States and around the world is already challenged by commanders who want to move their people into combat jobs. And there are still some in the military branches who dismiss sexual assault as a real problem. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Army is doing OK on hiring but isnt close to full up, the first DOD official said. Those are new billets and there is constant pressure not to hire people or shift resources. Commanders want to do things that arent prevention work. A Pentagonreport on suicide in the military released this month found that 3 percent of people who committed suicide reported to have suffered physical or sexual assault or harassment within the last year. Overall, reported cases of sexual assault in the military fell in 2023 according to the Pentagons latest numbers, but Brown Universitys Watson Institute estimates there were roughly 73,600 cases in 2023, a vastly higher number than DODs estimate of 29,000 that year. Current and former DOD officials worry that turning a blind eye to sexual assault could drive down recruiting and threaten retention at a time when the Pentagon is supporting allies in two wars and preparing for one of its own in the Indo-Pacific. It means we cant win, said Andrea Goldstein, the Navys former acting director for force resiliency who led efforts to prevent sexual harassment and assault inside the service. Its that simple. If you want to protect the peace and fight and win our nations wars, you need to have a strong, resilient fighting force. And if you are undermining that strong and resilient fighting force in the form of denigrating members of your formation, in the form of doing things that make them less safe particularly from other service members, then you cant achieve your mission. KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) How much are you paying for prescription medications? According to an East Tennessee insurance agent, on average, were shelling out about $1,500 a year. There is a way you can save, you just have to do a little leg work. Take, for example, Bobby Loftis of Knoxville. He depends on the asthma inhaler Breo. The steroid spray helps the popular hairdresser, now retired, stay active on his farm and hiking with his wife, Candy. It keeps me from having asthma, totally, Loftis said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Until recently, Loftis was paying $400 a month, out-of-pocket, for the medication. He met with Madison Insurance Group agent Sammy Sawyer, who primarily helps people with Medicare. He alerted Loftis to the Pharmaceutical Assistance Program that linked him to the manufacturer of his inhaler to see if he could save some money. Millions of Americans to see reduced medication costs in 2025: Report What they will do is, there are two applications, so there will be the patient application form and then the prescriber form which will be the doctor, whoever is prescribing the meds. You submit it, and then if everything is right, what theyll do if you meet the qualifications, youll get that at a lesser cost, Sawyer said. Loftis agreed to go online and fill out the necessary forms. To his surprise, the drug company sent him a three month supply of Breo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How much did he have to pay? Zero, said Loftis. Didnt cost me one dime. Nothing. Neighbor left stunned by explosion that leveled home in Choto community Find out more about the Pharmaceutical Assistance Program at www.medicare.gov. For other types of help in lowering your cost, visit www.ssa.gov. Sawyer said be leery if youre looking for savings online and someone wants to charge you. There are also Medicare prescription payment plans, but Sawyer doesnt recommend those. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WATE 6 On Your Side. Without the right-wing media juggernaut, Donald Trump probably wouldnt be president next year and wouldnt have won in 2016. That said, the progressive media landscape looks like it might be about to get a whole lot worse. Comcast, which owns NBC and its subsidiaries CNBC and MSNBC (among other media outlets) announced this week that itll be spinning off MSNBC (among others) next year. And the consequences are already showing up. It was reported this week that Rachel Maddow just took a substantial annual pay cut because of the uncertain future of the network. In part, this probably reflects a belt-tightening at Comcast, but it is also an indication of how legacy mediawhich now includes cable propertiesis taking a hit from newer digital media, from social media to podcasts to web-based networks and programs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The principal analyst and vice president of content for the market research company eMarketer, Paul Verna, told the AP: The writing is on the wall that the cable TV business is a dwindling business and, the AP noted, is predicting future consolidation of the networks or acquisitions through private equity. Private equity (like Bain Capital) and large media operation acquisitions have a long history of gutting media properties to increase their profitability; often this includes what a study by Stanford University researchers described as a trend to substitute coverage of local politics for coverage of national politics, and use more conservative framing. Air America radio (for which I wrote the original business plan and which carried my program) was on the air in virtually every major market in the United States, having leased over 50 major, high-powered radio stations from Clear Channel. My program regularly beat Rush Limbaugh in the ratings: When I was invited to the Obama White House following the 2008 election, one person associated with the campaign noted to me privately that they believed Air America had played a meaningful role in Obamas election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That same year, Mitt Romneys private equity company, Bain Capital, acquired Clear Channel and, in 2009, began reclaiming its stations, replacing Air America content with mostly sports. By coincidence, around that same time it appears Romney decided hed run against Obama in the next election. As Air America lost station after station, its ability to earn revenue through selling advertising collapsed. By 2010, the entire network was bankrupt just in time for Romney to run for president. Will the same thing happen to MSNBC? Stay tuned. Similarly, Republicans in Congress are salivating over Elon Musks rhetorical war with National Public Radio after the network stopped using Xitter when Musk labeled the news network as state-affiliated media. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the headline on Fox Business notes: Elon Musk renews calls to defund NPR after clip of CEO resurfaces on X: Your tax dollars are paying for this. Musk, of course, will be in charge of identifying those parts of government or institutions funded by government which can be cut to help pay for Trumps planned $4 trillion in tax cuts for billionaires. While it wont fit her proposed new role as U.N. ambassador, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, a top member of Republican House leadership, was unambiguous, posting to Xitter: I will DEFUND NPR. This is nothing new: Republicans in the House voted this past July to remove all federal funding for NPR by 2026; Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, working hand in glove with Marjorie Taylor Greene (who was just made chairperson of the new subcommittee charged with implementing their recommendations) could probably speed up that timeline. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While NPR goes to great lengths to avoid political bias in its news (the Corporation for Public Broadcasting even hired last month, in response to right-wing criticism, multiple editors specifically to spot and stamp out any progressive perspectives that may creep into its reporting), if the network were crippled, its safe to assume the roughly 1,500 right-wing hate radio stations in the country stand more than ready and willing to pick up its radio audience. Right-wing billionaires brought us Fox News, Sinclair, two other web- and cable-based right-wing TV channels, nationwide networks of hate radio (now also in Spanish), tens of millions of dollars in subsidies to right-wing podcast hosts, and the destruction of about half the nations local newspapers. Not to mention an entire network of billionaire-funded hard-right phony pink slime newspapers that pop up around the country every election year. Theres no equivalent politically tilted media systems on the left; Democratic-leaning billionaires have stayed out of the media space ever since Romneys company took down Air America. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The closest TV and radio counterparts we have are Free Speech TV (available on the web), Dish, Sling, Roku, AppleTV, and DirectTV, and the Progress Channel on SiriusXM (my daily program is carried on both). In the print media space, Substack is growing (although it also carries hard-right content) and provides a solid community of progressive publications (like HartmannReport.com), but thats a drop in a much larger ocean; even The Washington Post and The New York Times dont come close to the strength of editorial bias found in the Murdoch familys New York Post or The Wall Street Journal. Publications like The New Republic, Mother Jones, The Nation, and The Guardian provide solid progressive content, but all have funding bases that are trivial compared to conservative publications supported by right-wing billionaire networks. Ditto for websites like Raw Story, Common Dreams, Alternet, LA Progressive, Democratic Underground, and Daily Kos. As my old friend and the former CEO-founder of Air America, Jon Sinton, noted on his excellent reluctant Substack newsletter: The left-wing silo is barren. A couple of old-line newspapers and magazines. MSNBC and a handful of smallish digital platforms and shows. Pod Save America stands nearly alone as a left-leaning podcast with a large audience. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By contrast, the right-wing silo is vast and deep. It houses YouTubians, TikTokkers, broadcasters on Fox, Newsmax, Sinclair TV stations, and talk radio stations; posters on social media; and narrowcasters on myriad podcasts. All, I would add, heavily supported by right-wing billionaires. As Politico reported in 2014, the Heritage Foundation used to give $1 million a year to Sean Hannity and $2 million a year to Rush Limbaugh alone. A close acquaintance who was, for years, a mid-level right-wing talk show host told me how a dozen or more times a year hed give a speech at a random high school and would receive a check for $20,000$30,000 from a right-wing foundation as a speaking fee each time. It was their way of supporting conservative talk radio. Again, there is literally nothing like that on the left. Not even close. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ive repeatedly called for progressive billionaires to jump into the media space, and perhaps the Musk-Trump assaults that are coming will provoke some to act. It may be wishful thinking, but if it does happen it cant come too soon. In the meantime, we all must support (and share with our friends) those outlets where we find useful news and information; if we fail to, Americas media landscape may soon mirror Hungarys and Russias with every station and publication praising Dear Leader 24/7/365. At least 20 House Democrats have sent a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas demanding transparency and accountability related to reports of Muslim and Arab Americans particularly Palestinians facing discrimination under Israels Visa Waiver program. In the Friday letter first obtained by HuffPost and spearheaded by Reps. Jamaal Bowman (N.Y.) and Summer Lee (Penn.), the lawmakers expressed concern about Israel not complying with the Visa Waiver Programs requirements established last year. The program lets Israeli citizens enter the U.S. visa-free for up to 90 days for business, tourism or transit in return, all U.S. citizens can request visa-free entry into Israel under the same terms. One of the programs main requirements is that both the U.S. and Israel maintain reciprocal treatment of their citizens. This means that all citizens of one country who have applied through the program to enter the other country must be treated equally regardless of ethnicity, religion and national origin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But with mounting reports that Israel has been discriminating against Muslim and Arab Americans trying to enter the country, Thursdays letter calls for more transparency into the program, as well as additional documentation on Israels compliance and if violations persist, a suspension of Israels participation. The Visa Waiver Program is a privilege, not a right, Lee said in a statement about the program, which the U.S. uses with about 40 other countries. Reports of Muslim and Arab Americans being subjected to invasive questioning, discriminatory barriers, and systemic exclusion are deeply troubling and undermine the integrity of the program. Neither the State Department nor the Homeland Security Department responded to HuffPosts request for comment. Thursdays letter is not the first time lawmakers have voiced concern over Israels noncompliance with the Visa Waiver Program. Last year, 15 senators wrote to Blinken saying that Israel was not on track to meeting the programs reciprocity requirements by the Sept. 30, 2023, deadline. Blinken and Mayorkas agencies still designated Israel as eligible for the program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For decades, Israel has systematically discriminated against Arab, Palestinian and Muslim American travelers, a problem that has not been resolved over the last year that Israel has participated in the Visa Waiver Program, said Chris Habiby, the national government affairs and advocacy director at the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee. Among the reports raised by the lawmakers are Palestinian Americans essentially facing a two-tiered system, which is also documented in the July 2023 Memorandum of Understanding between the U.S. and Israel for the program. U.S. citizens carrying a Palestinian Authority ID who reside in the occupied West Bank must go through a different application process via an app, compared to other Americans who the letter says are given free access to the West Bank for any purpose with no restrictions on travel. Muslim and Arab Americans have recalled facing invasive questioning at check points by Israeli authorities, some of who will search and seize their belongings. Lawmakers also cite cases of Israel denying visa renewals and permit requests for Palestinian Americans based on irrelevant factors, instead issuing them a different color visa than other Americans. The denial of entry for Palestinian Americans to Palestine is part of a deeper campaign to erase the Palestinian identity, Bowman said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Visa Waiver Program agreement began before Hamas militants killed 1,200 people and abducted about 250 in southern Israel, an attack that resulted in the Israeli militarys ongoing U.S.-funded offensive that has killed at least 44,000 Palestinians and rendered Gaza uninhabitable. The Thursday letter expressed concern that since Israel invaded the enclave, U.S. citizens who are also listed on the Palestinian Population registry for Gaza cannot enter the occupied West Bank or Israel. The concern was backed up by the American Federation of Ramallah, which says it has received hundreds of firsthand accounts detailing the discrimination Arab Americans have faced when trying to enter Israel. On top of the apparent two-tier system, lawmakers raised the alarm on Palestinian American physicians who have been blocked by Israel from entering Gaza in order to render critical medical assistance in a territory reduced to rubble. Israels indiscriminate bombing of Palestinians combined with the ongoing aid blockade and health care collapse has led many in the international community to label the assault as an act of apartheid, ethnic cleansing and genocide. Palestinian American physicians have been providing critical medical care that Gazans desperately need, and denying their entry simply because of their heritage is denying a group of people with cultural and ethnic ties to the affected populations, not to mention with essential language skills, the letter stated. These cases seem to reflect systematic discrimination against U.S. citizens of a certain ethnicity, religion or nationality, which is directly in violation of the program requirements, it continued. Additionally, a central requirement of the VWP is that Israel maintains a non-immigrant visa refusal rate below 3%. After October 7, it is uncertain whether Israel has remained under the threshold. Related video: Are avocados and mangos funding cartels in Mexico? (KTLA) A Mexican cartel leader, who peddled thousands of kilograms of illegal drugs to the U.S., was killed by a business associate for lying or at least thats what the public was told. According to prosecutors, Cristian Fernando Gutierrez-Ochoa, a 37-year-old high-ranking official in the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion, faked his own death to avoid Mexican authorities and lived a life of luxury in California. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was arrested on Tuesday in Riverside. Gutierrez-Ochoa and the son-in-law of the CJNGs leader, Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, also known as El Mencho, are now facing international drug trafficking and money laundering charges in federal court. Americans urged to be cautious in Mexico after arrest of El Mayo Court documents state that Gutierrez-Ochoa began working for CJNG, which prosecutors called one of the most violent of Mexicos cartels, in 2014. Starting then, he coordinated the transportation and distribution of about 40,000 kilograms of methamphetamine and approximately 2,000 kilograms of cocaine in Mexico. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All of those illegal drugs were destined for the U.S., prosecutors said. Prosecutors say that Gutierrez-Ochoa allegedly used violence to further his drug trafficking. In November 2021, he allegedly kidnapped two members of the Mexican Navy after the wife of El Mencho was arrested by authorities. He was sought out by authorities and eventually fled to California and purchased a luxury home in Riverside under a fake name. The funds used to purchase that Riverside house were proceeds from CJNGs drug trafficking operations, prosecutors say. Court documents say El Mencho may have helped Gutierrez-Ochoa in his scheme by helping him fake his own death. El Mencho allegedly told associates he killed Gutierrez-Ochoa for lying. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gutierrez-Ochoa fled to the U.S. to be with El Menchos daughter, prosecutors say. As of Thursday, El Mencho remains at-large as a fugitive and faces several high-level charges from U.S. prosecutors. The U.S. Department of State is offering up to $10 million for information leading to his arrest and/or conviction. Prosecutors say Gutierrez-Ochoa is being charged with conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, knowing, intending, and having reasonable cause to believe that those controlled substances would be unlawfully imported into the United States, as well as conspiracy to launder CJNGs drug trafficking proceeds. If convicted, he can face life in prison. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. (Getty Images) This story was updated at 8:21 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024 with comments from state Rep. Matt Duffield. Arkansas lawmakers filed legislation Wednesday to repeal state law requiring fluoride in drinking water and allow local voters to decide whether a community will have fluoride in its water system. Fluoride became a national topic of discussion in September when a federal judge ordered the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to place more regulations on the concentrations of the mineral in drinking water because large amounts of it could impair childrens intellectual development. Dental experts recommend fluoride to prevent tooth decay. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It should be noted that this finding does not conclude with certainty that fluoridated water is injurious to public health; rather the Court finds there is an unreasonable risk of such injury, a risk sufficient to require the EPA to engage with a regulatory response, U.S. District Judge Edward Chen wrote in the order. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Preventions recommended fluoride concentration in drinking water since 2015 is 0.7mg of fluoride per liter of water, and the World Health Organization recommends a 1.5-mg maximum fluoride concentration. Rep. Aaron Pilkington, R-Knoxville (Arkansas Secretary of State) The American Dental Association responded to Chens order by reaffirming its stance that community water fluoridation is safe and beneficial to oral health. However, Arkansas Rep. Aaron Pilkington, R-Knoxville, said he had always believed until recently that fluoride in water was completely safe until learning about Chens ruling and decided it might be necessary to reevaluate water fluoridation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maybe Im wrong on this issue Im happy to be proven wrong but taking everything at face value, I think there is a new amount of skepticism when it comes to public health than in the past, said Pilkington, a co-sponsor of the bills filed Wednesday. Sen. Clint Penzo of Springdale and Rep. Matt Duffield of Russellville, both Republicans, are the primary sponsors of the bills. Sen. Bryan King, R-Green Forest, is also a co-sponsor. Rep. Matt Duffield, R-Russellville (Arkansas Secretary of State) As a society, I believe people need to be more aware of what they are putting in their bodies and our water supply needs to be part of these considerations, Duffield said in an email Thursday evening. The two bills come days after Republican President-elect Donald Trump announced he would nominate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services. The Democrat-turned-Independent ran for president and endorsed Trump after dropping out of the race. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump promised Kennedy a high-ranking health position in his administration before the Nov. 5 election, and Kennedy said on Nov. 2 that the new administration would advise all U.S. water systems to remove fluoride from public water on its first day in office. He called fluoride an industrial waste that causes a range of diseases, and health experts said his claims were misleading, according to KFF Health News. Duffield said the Arkansas bills were not a response to Kennedys comments. SB2 filed 11.20.24 The legislation Senate Bill 2 would delete an entire section of state statute that currently mandates: The company, corporation, municipality, county, government agency, or other entity that owns or controls a water system shall control the quantity of fluoride in the water so as to maintain a fluoride content established by the Department of Health. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Current law also requires the State Board of Health to adopt rules for permissible concentrations of fluoride to be maintained by a water system and requirements for maintaining those concentrations. Additionally, Senate Bill 4 would put fluoridation of water systems in the hands of city or county voters. A city governing body or county quorum court would be able to call an election on the matter with a majority vote, or 10% of the qualified electors in the public water system would be able to put the matter on the ballot in the systems service area by signing a petition. If such an election were to occur, a subsequent election on water fluoridation would not be allowed for at least four more years, according to the bill. Local governments in several states have already been debating whether to remove fluoride from their water systems in the two months since Chens ruling, The Associated Press reported Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SB4 filed 11.20.24 Pilkington said he is not sure if SB2 and SB4 will garner enough support to pass the Legislature but sees the bills as a starting point to address general concern about fluoride exposure. Most European countries do not mandate water fluoridation, and Duffield noted that only 25 countries worldwide add fluoride to their drinking water to some extent. An additional 28 countries have naturally fluoridated water, with some above safe levels, according to the National Institutes of Health. Pilkington also said other countries examples might be worth following if theres no evidence of poorer public health outcomes from less fluoride exposure. He compared the fluoride debate to the one over artificial food dyes, some of which have been found to contain substances that can cause cancer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its all about a larger discussion, especially in the conservative movement, to say, What are we doing to make sure the products on the shelves are actually good for us? Pilkington said. The Arkansas Center for Health Improvements Health Policy Board last year reaffirmed its support for required statewide fluoridation of public water systems. An Arkansas Department of Health spokesperson declined to comment on the legislation, and a representative from the Arkansas State Dental Association was not available for comment Wednesday or Thursday. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE As President-elect Donald Trump nears his return to the White House, the U.S. Navys nuclear-armed sea-launched cruise missile (SLCM-N) program started during his first term is potentially returning to the spotlight as well. It remains unclear whether Trumps second term will put wind in the sails for the program, which President Joe Biden proposed canceling in the 2022 Nuclear Posture Review. Questions remain about whether the deterrent juice is worth the financial and resource squeeze to field SLCM-N and its warhead in the next decade, and the potential role it could play in escalating hostilities, not lessening them. Concerns also persist about whether it will irrevocably change the very nature of the American attack submarine force, and if all those dollars could be better spent elsewhere. While the Navy has proceeded with standing up the program as required by Congress, sea service leaders have increasingly expressed concern about whether its a wise allocation of finite resources. And despite Biden White House and Navy hesitancy, Congress has continued to fund the program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But supporters argue that SLCM-N would provide a much-needed sea-based nuclear deterrent that is a rung below the strategic level on the nuclear warfare ladder, and that the commander-in-chief is owed a bevy of such options. Like its predecessor, the U.S. Navys scuppered nuclear-armed Tomahawk Land Attack Missile-Nuclear (TLAM-N), SLCM-N is envisioned as a lower-yield nuclear weapon launched from subs that would provide a new dimension to the maritime portion of the nuclear triad while allowing the United States to proportionately respond to a limited nuclear strike by an adversary. The guided-missile cruiser USS Monterey (CG 61) fires a Tomahawk land attack missile on April 14, 2018. (U.S. Navy) Seaman Trey Fowler Its part of an overall ability to build a flexible reaction, flexible deterrent, Bradley Martin, a retired Navy surface warfare officer and current senior policy researcher at the RAND think tank, told The War Zone. Being sea-based, it does allow concealment and less vulnerability than there might be if its sitting on an attack aircraft someplace. Meanwhile, a Navy request for information published on November 15 offers some of the most specific information released to date about how the Navy envisions outfitting SLCM-N in the Virginia class attack submarine fleet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The RFI is part of Navy market research focused on rapid development, integration, and demonstration of an SLCM-N all-up round, or a missile delivered ready to load onto an attack submarine. It seeks white papers featuring industry perspectives on either weapon system integration, cruise missile prototype development, or cruise missile subsystems. The request further notes that all nuclear warhead installation and missile storage, as well as missile onloading and offloading, will take place at existing ballistic missile submarine facilities at Kings Bay, Georgia, and Bangor, Washington. Any prototype must be able to be launched from a 87-inch Virginia Payload Tube, a Virginia Payload Module, or both. The Virginia Payload Tubes are mounted forward of the sail and house vertical launch cells for cruise missiles (primarily). The Virginia Payload Module will be installed on new Virginia class submarines and is large four tube vertical launch system structure that is installed amidships. (U.S. Navy) The Navy is also looking for missiles that are as modular as possible, including software and hardware, so that changes to the core missile body or common tactical systems dont require changes to warhead payload interfaces or avionics associated with the nuclear mission. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This open system approach is being pursued to allow for future technical insertion or technology upgrades as required through the life of the SLCM-N program, the Navys request states. The request also seeks the ability to break the missile into nuclear and non-nuclear parts. Technology proposed for the SLCM-N flight system must be producible and fieldable to meet an FY 2034 initial operational capability, the RFI states. However, prototypes will be required within 3 years. Still, much remains unclear about how this missile system will eventually manifest. The Navy has not released details regarding how many missiles it would plan to buy or the work that will be required to outfit submarines with the system. Even basing them at Trident facilities, which primarily host nuclear ballistic submarines, seems like a major hurdle to deploying them regularly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Congressional Budget Office estimated in July 2023 that the SLCM-N and its warhead could cost $10 billion from 2023 to 2032, and that such costs dont include systems integration, storage or operations. Count Vice Adm. Johnny Wolfe, director of the Navy Strategic Systems Programs (NSSP), as one of the SLCM-N skeptics. Wolfes office oversees the seaborne leg of Americas nuclear triad. Speaking at the Navy Submarine Leagues annual conference last week, Wolfe called existing plans to reach initial capability for SLCM-N by 2034 a very, very aggressive timeline, Sydney J. Freedberg Jr. of Breaking Defense reported. According to that outlet, Wolfe also warned in his conference remarks that the program would basically require an entire new workforce and industrial base, at a time when the Navy and American defense giants are struggling to deliver new ships and get existing ships out of maintenance on time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is truly a capability we have to build from the ground up, Breaking Defense quoted Wolfe as saying. Wolfe also quashed the idea of the Navy simply recreating a nuclear Tomahawk from the Cold War era. We cant reconstitute that, okay? Breaking Defense quoted Wolfe as saying. Its not that easy. A Navy spokesperson later confirmed to Breaking Defense that Wolfe was referring to producing an appropriate missile, and not the nuclear warhead, which would be the responsibility of the U.S. Energy Department. The requirement to deliver SLCM-N would increase the capacity requirement amongst industry to a level that had not previously been accounted for, the spokesperson said, according to Breaking Defense. Sailors assigned to the submarine tender USS Emory S. Land (AS 39) weapons handling division conduct an offload of a Tomahawk missile from the Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Asheville (SSN 758) in Guam in 2022. (U.S. Navy) Petty Officer 1st Class Victoria Kinney While some brass has expressed skepticism over the program, the Biden administration also warned in July 2023 of the trade-offs in going forward with SLCM-N. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Namely, in a policy statement, the White House said that deploying the system would reduce capacity for conventional strike munitions, create additional burdens on naval training, maintenance and operations, and could create additional risks to the Navys ability to operate in key regions, according to a report this month on the program by the Congressional Research Service. Indeed, taking SLCM-N to sea would require standing up a bevy of new Navy systems and protocols, as deploying and supporting nuclear weapons is a different reality compared to conventional munitions. New security protocols and personnel would have to be deployed. Highly specific surveillance and maintenance requirements would have to be enacted. This is in addition to specialized and highly secure communications systems needing to be installed and sustained in order to receive nuclear strike orders through proper channels. Such a capability would also require additional vetting and training of sailors assigned to such vessels. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its perfectly valid to say theres considerable costs that would go with putting this on a SSN, Martin said. There would be security protocols, command-and-control protocols that would have to be added. Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro also warned in testimony to the Senate Armed Services Committee in May that the program would fundamentally change the mission of many of these submarines themselves. Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro testifies to the Senate Armed Services Committee in May. (U.S. Navy) Petty Officer 2nd Class Jared Mancuso Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Del Toro noted that the Navy had stood up an SLCM-N program management office as required by law, but that he remained concerned that the program would operationally impact Navy submarines ability to do their jobs in the Pacific and elsewhere. That actually will prevent us perhaps from doing the things that we need to do tactically and operationally, by providing this SLCM capability to the submarine. Del Toro also noted how this multi-billion dollar program will prevent the naval enterprise from taking on other pricey priorities. The Navy said in 2022 that canceling the effort would save the service nearly $200 million in Fiscal Year 2023 alone, and $2.1 billion in the next five years, according to the CRS. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has also questioned the effort, testifying that year that the marginal capability that [the SLCM-N] provides is far outweighed by the cost, the CRS notes. But supporters of the program argue that the main reason for American subs in the first place is deterrence, and giving the president an additional submarine-launched tactical nuclear option has major advantages. The U.S. Navy has already fielded a lower-yield nuclear strike option in the form of the W76-2 warhead loaded onto an unspecified number of Ohio class nuclear ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs), boats that are already set up to fire nuclear weapons. Concerns over an adversary not knowing if a Trident launch is packing a low-yield or much more powerful payload is also an issue. The cruise missile delivery system fired by SSNs solves this issue to some degree, but also introduces others in terms of strategic ambiguity. If these boats can fire nuclear-armed cruise missiles, then will any cruise missile be interpreted as such during a crisis? Still, proponents think fielding the weapon is worth the effort. It provides significant flexibility to manage a crisis, Franklin C. Miller, a former senior defense official and National Security Council staffer, wrote in Real Clear Defense this summer. And while it doesnt these days, the U.S. Navys non-ballistic missile-equipped fleet does have a history of carrying nuclear weapons, Miller writes. Throughout the Cold War, U.S. carriers deployed with nuclear gravity bombs and ASW weapons; surface combatants carried a range of nuclear-tipped anti-air and ASW weapons; and SSNs carried nuclear-tipped torpedoes and the SUBROC ASW systems, he writes. From the 1980s until the end of the Cold War, surface ships and SSNs also carried nuclear Tomahawks (and those nuclear Tomahawks contributed significantly to deterring Soviet nuclear attacks on our aircraft carriers). The battleship USS Missouri fires a Tomahawk missile. (U.S. Navy) Several military leaders have also echoed the contention that the commanderin-chief should have several tailored tactical nuclear weapons options at their disposal. Miller cites repeated testimony by Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti saying that SLCM-N is a tailored option the President should have, while a recent CRS report notes then-Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Mark Milley expressed support for SLCM-N to Congress in April 2022, noting that the president deserves to have multiple options. Of course, the President does have multiple options outside the Navys leg of the nuclear triad. The Air Force has B-61 tactical nuclear bombs that currently equip certain fighters and B-2 bombers, which are highly flexible assets that can deal with broadcasting strategic intent and executing proportional strikes if called upon to do so. That service also has air-launched nuclear cruise missiles in its arsenal. As President-elect Trumps inauguration nears, and his politically appointed defense and Navy secretaries get to work, whether SLCM-N will return to prominence remains to be seen, but considering the program was born out of his last administration, its a definite possibility. At the least, its a program that warrants a really careful look, Martin said. Its costly and it definitely would create operational challenges and considerations for submarines, he told The War Zone. Is there a deterrent effect, and is it useful? Does it cause adversaries to think differently? If so, it potentially is worth the cost. Contact the author: geoffz@twz.com Nov. 21Prosecutors have dismissed charges against a 21-year-old Cuba, N.M., man arrested last month in connection with the June shooting death of a teenager in a small community in western Rio Arriba County, pending "further investigation." The dismissal which was filed "without prejudice," meaning the charges could be refiled comes after a judge denied the First Judicial District Attorney's Office's motion seeking to hold defendant Derik Madrid, 21, without bail until his trial in connection with the death of 18-year-old Trent Greene of Lindrith. "The state's theory of the case requires a number of legal gymnastics," state District Court Judge Jason Lidyard said during an October hearing. "The evidence is not strong." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The dismissal also comes after it came out in court last month that prosecutors did not turn one of the witness statements over to the defense, according to Madrid's lawyer Robert Gorence. He called this "the Baldwin phenomenon," referring to the involuntary manslaughter case against actor Alec Baldwin. A judge dismissed that case in July after finding some evidence had been stored under two different case numbers and one of the files hadn't been turned over to the defense. "The exact same thing happened in this case," Gorence said. Greene's body was discovered June 2 in a rural area near the intersection of N.M. 595 and N.M. 96, according to the Rio Arriba County Sheriff's Office. The recent Cuba High School graduate had suffered at least one gunshot wound. However, it wasn't until late September that authorities charged Madrid with felony murder, shooting at or from a motor vehicle, aggravated battery, aggravated assault and child abuse in connection with Greene's death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to witnesses who testified during an Oct. 2 hearing, Greene was struck by a bullet fired during an exchange of shots that followed a fistfight between a group of young men after a post-rodeo dance. Madrid and his brother had become involved in the fight before Madrid pulled and fired a gun, first while the brothers were leaving the rodeo grounds in Lindrith and again when they attempted to drive back to the scene, some witnesses said. The Madrids were confronted by another man named Trever Case, who testified he blocked Madrid's truck with his own outside the rodeo grounds and fired back after three shots fired by someone in Madrid's truck broke Case's windshield. Case told the court he fired 13 rounds back at Madrid's truck. He has not been charged in the incident. According to Gorence, it appears Greene was a passenger in Madrid's truck when he was struck by gunfire, which casts doubt on the state's theory Madrid killed Greene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I don't know what they're doing from an investigative standpoint but it's clear Derik Madrid did not fire a shot that killed the guy that was right behind him," Gorence said. He said Greene and Madrid's younger brother were close friends. "It's coming out ... somebody else shot after there was this massive melee and they were just trying to get out of there," Gorence said. "How does someone get charged with first-degree murder when they are trying to get away?" Gorence said he learned while questioning a witness at the preliminary hearing there were at least two case files one related to the police response to a report of shots fired, one related to the discovery of the body and he had only received the witness's statement from one of the files. Gorence said prosecutor Kent Wahlqist acknowledged during the hearing only one of the two statements had been turned over, but said it was because Wahlqist himself had been unaware another statement existed. "What I am telling you is that there seems to be a pattern in practice going on where [they] label stuff incorrectly, and therefore it stays deep-sixed, even from the prosecutor," Gorence said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gorence said Wahlquist told him following the discussion of the witness statement that prosecutors would need to go back and "reevaluate" the case. "I hope that revaluation comes up with the real perpetrator and that Mr. Madrid is exonerated," Gorence said. Sheriff's office spokesperson Maj. Lorenzo Aguilar confirmed in a phone interview Thursday there were two call-outs related to the case, but said all the contents of both files were turned over to the First Judicial District Attorney's Office. Asked if the sheriff's office had any other possible suspects, Aguilar said he was "confident" the right person was arrested. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "There is no other person we are looking at," Aguilar said. "Unfortunately it got dismissed. I think they are going to refile." The District Attorney's Office did not respond to emails seeking comment Thursday. Billionaire Elon Musk is calling out sanctuary cities for protecting child rapists, after federal immigration authorities announced the Massachusetts arrests of three undocumented migrants who were either convicted or charged with sex crimes against children. Why are sanctuary cities protecting child rapists? Unconscionable, Musk said in a post on his social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, on Wednesday, in commenting on the arrests in Massachusetts. Any politician who does so should be recalled immediately. Musks comments came as news broke about recent federal arrests of three foreign nationals in the Bay State, including a convicted child rapist and fugitive who fled his home country before serving a 14-year prison sentence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Alexandre Romao De Oliveira, 41, of Brazil, was earlier convicted of child rape in Brazil. Billy Erney Buitrago-Bustos, 42, of Colombia, and Mynor Stiven De Paz-Munoz, 21, of Guatemala, were each earlier arrested and charged with raping a child in Massachusetts, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcements Boston division. News of the arrests came as Boston Mayor Michelle Wu on Wednesday responded to President-elect Donald Trumps incoming border czar Tom Homan, who recently criticized Wu for her stance on immigration and vowing not to cooperate with federal authorities who enforce immigration laws. Boston is one of multiple sanctuary cities in the Bay State. What mayor or governor doesnt want public safety threats out of their communities? I mean thats your number one responsibility is to protect your communities and thats exactly what were going to do, Homan said in an interview with Newsmax on Monday. Romao De Oliveira, a convicted child rapist in his native Brazil, was arrested Monday in the city of Methuen, immigration officials said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Brazilian national fled his home country to evade justice, Enforcement Removal Operations Boston Acting Field Office Director Patricia Hyde said in a statement, adding that his arrest resulted from collaboration between ERO Boston, ICE attache offices around the world, and foreign law enforcement. The First Criminal Court of Jaru, Rondonia, Brazil convicted Romao De Oliveira on Feb. 10, 2022 of rape of a child and sentenced him to serve 14 years. He fled Brazil prior to serving his sentence. Federal immigration authorities said Romao De Oliveira entered the U.S. near Santa Teresa, New Mexico on Apr. 16, 2022, without admission by an immigration official. He was released from federal custody after having been served with a notice to appear before a judge with the Department of Justice Executive Office of Immigration Review. Why are sanctuary cities protecting child rapists? Unconscionable. Any politician who does so should be recalled immediately. https://t.co/GGhVB4sfm5 Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 20, 2024 De Paz-Munoz, who is accused of horrifically victimizing a Massachusetts child, was arrested on Nov. 12 in Great Barrington, a small town in western Massachusetts, Hyde said. He entered the U.S. on Sept. 24, 2020 near Eagle Pass, Texas, without admission by an immigration official, and was released by U.S. Border Patrol with a notice to appear before a judge with the Department of Justice Executive Office of Immigration Review. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Feb. 29, Great Barrington Police arrested De Paz-Munoz for rape of a child by force, rape of a child, and indecent assault and battery on person 14 or older, Hyde said. Guatemalan national accused of raping 10-year-old Mass. girl in federal custody after posting bail According to ERO Boston, an immigration detainer lodged with Great Barrington Police following his arrest was ignored and De Paz-Munoz was released on bail before federal immigration officers could respond to take him into custody. In 2017, the town of Great Barrington, one of multiple sanctuary cities in the Bay State, adopted a so-called trust policy that will not enforce federal immigration law or aid in the detention, transfer, transport or deportation of residents for civil immigration purposes, The Berkshire Edge reported at the time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats the policy that was adhered by the town and we follow it, Great Barrington Police Sgt. Adam Carlotto told Boston 25 on Thursday night. The department is bound by town policy in regards to detainers. The Berkshire County Superior Court charged De Paz-Munoz with the crimes, which remain pending. Alexandre Romao De Oliveira, 41, of Brazil, left, was earlier convicted of child rape in Brazil, and Mynor Stiven De Paz-Munoz, 21, of Guatemala, was arrested and charged with raping a child in Massachusetts, federal immigration officials said. Federal immigration officers arrested Buitrago-Bustos in Pittsfield in western Massachusetts on Nov. 15. On Oct. 8, 2023, Great Barrington Police arrested Buitrago-Bustos for rape of a child by force, statutory rape, and aggravated rape in what Hyde termed the most heinous and reprehensible of crimes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ERO Boston lodged an immigration detainer for Buitrago-Bustos with Great Barrington Police after his arrest. He was ordered held without bail following his arraignment in the Southern Berkshire District Court on Oct. 12, 2023. On March 18, the charges were elevated to the Berkshire County Superior Court. Guatemalan national arrested and charged with rape of Massachusetts child The Berkshire County Jail and House of Correction in Pittsfield honored the immigration detainer and released Buitrago-Bustos into the custody of ERO Boston on Nov. 15 after he posted bail, Hyde said. ERO Boston issued a notice for Buitrago-Bustos to appear before a judge with the Department of Justice Executive Office of Immigration Review. U.S. Customs and Border Protection admitted Buitrago-Bustos into the U.S. on May 4, 2016 at the John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, but he failed to leave under the terms of his visa, Hyde said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Buitrago-Bustos and De Paz-Munoz remain in federal custody. Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) Residents in several cities and towns across Serbia blocked traffic and stood in silence for 15 minutes on Friday to commemorate the 15 victims of a roof collapse in the country's north three weeks ago. Hundreds of people came out into the streets eight minutes before noon, at the exact same time when the outer roof on the railway station building in the city of Novi Sad suddenly fell on Nov. 1, crashing down on the people standing or sitting below. Initially 14 people were killed and three severely injured. One more person died on Sunday, bringing the death toll to 15. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The tragedy sparked anger and calls for answers. Many in Serbia believe that the roof collapse was the result of corruption and a lack of transparency that led to sloppy work in the renovation of the station building. Prosecutors on Thursday arrested 12 people in connection with the tragedy, including a former construction minister, Goran Vesic. The arrests followed a wave of protests that have challenged the populist government. This week opposition politicians blocked a court building in Novi Sad for three days in a row. President Aleksandar Vucic has described the protesters as thugs and bullies inflicting terror on ordinary citizens. Serbia's Defense Minister Bratislav Gasic said Friday's traffic blockades amounted to a classic abuse of democracy and civic liberties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The suspects detained on Thursday are facing charges of causing grave public danger and conducting irregular construction work, criminal acts that carry up to 12 years in prison. Opposition politicians behind the protests said they were skeptical and will continue to put pressure on authorities. Opposition parties have insisted on the resignation of Serbia's prime minister and his government, as well as access to full documentation in the train station building and other infrastructure projects. They are also seeking the immediate release of activists who were detained during recent protests, said politician Dragan Djilas. The railway station building in Novi Sad was originally built in 1964. It was renovated and inaugurated twice in recent years as part of a wider railway agreement with Chinese state construction companies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors said on Friday they have started questioning the suspects, who were not officially identified. However, many of their names were leaked to the media. The protest on Friday was held simultaneously in Novi Sad; the capital, Belgrade; the southern cities of Nis and Krusevac; and Kragujevac in central Serbia. Some people held banners with the names of the victims, or reading corruption kills. Scuffles erupted at some gatherings in Belgrade with angry drivers who wanted to pass. PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) When Providence City Councils Miguel Sanchez isnt at city hall, hes on the streets helping the homeless. Sanchez told 12 News hes seen a significant rise in Rhode Islanders needing help. Thats why he knew he needed to do something when he saw the U.S. Supreme Court ruling allowing cities to ban the homeless from sleeping outside in public spaces. In my opinion, its very anti-humanistic, Sanchez said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cities like Cranston and Fall River have already made moves to try and allow officers to fine those camping on public property due to public safety concerns. But Sanchez wants to prevent that from happening in the capital city, so he introduced a new ordinance. Its a pretty common sense proposal, he said. But Councilor Althea Graves told 12 News she believes the city should take a different approach to prevent the homeless from camping in public parks. We all know theres issues that come up in all communities, she said. Theres good, theres bad and theres ugly. We dont want the bad and the ugly in the parks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sanchez argues that his ordinance would only prohibit fines and would still allow officers to take action if theres a public safety concern. This doesnt do anything to tie the hands of our Providence Police Department and EMS service, or even other social services, he said. Whether the ordinance passes or not, both Sanchez and Graves agree that more needs to be done to address the ongoing housing crisis. I think were trying to put a Band-Aid on some of the things, Graves said. The biggest problem is getting housing and getting them a place to stay so they dont have to camp out on public property. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sanchezs ordinance now heads to Providences Special Committee on HOPE, where the measure will be discussed further and potential changes could be made. It will then head to the Providence City Council for a vote. 12 News reached out to Mayor Brett Smileys office, to which a spokesperson said he would be reviewing the ordinance alongside his legal team. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) Providence Mayor Brett Smiley applied his signature to the citys new comprehensive plan on Friday afternoon. City leaders craft the document every 10 years to set up goals for the coming decade in areas such as zoning, economic development, transportation and more. The plan was approved by the Providence City Council in a second and final vote on Thursday. A new zoning ordinance will enact various parts of the plan, according to the City Council. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here is a breakdown of the main additions in the newly-approved plan. Ban on new gas stations An amendment was introduced by Councilman John Goncalves that bans building new gas stations on land where housing can be constructed. READ MORE: Providence on track to ban construction of new gas stations There is an exception: if housing cant be built on that land, then the gas station could be developed. In October, Smiley was not on board with the proposals original language, which did not include the exception. Removing RIPTAs bus hub relocation Language backing the decision by the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) to move its transit hub out of Kennedy Plaza was removed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This change was proposed by Councilman Justin Roias. ALSO READ: Providence City Council removes RIPTA bus hub relocation from Comprehensive Plan Ultimately the decision for this move is up to RIPTAs board, but its the latest message by the City Council showing they oppose a relocation. Protecting rights for homeless Councilman Miguel Sanchez put forward an amendment that mandates any policies focused on homelessness and encampments to go by guidelines from the U.S. Interagency on Homelessness. This could include implementing city laws that would improve outreach to encampments and creating more permanent housing among other solutions. Committee focused on design standards A new committee will also be created to come up with design standards for neighborhoods in the city. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the proposals language, it emphasizes these standards wont increase development costs or add unnecessary time to the building process. This idea was introduced by Councilwoman Helen Anthony and the committee would be composed of designers, developers and community stakeholders. Carbon neutral by 2040 Another addition in this plan sets goals for the city to achieve the initiative of being carbon neutral by 2040. This was introduced by Councilwoman Sue AnderBois. The ideas implemented to achieve the goal is for all city buildings to be carbon neutral by that year, promoting more tree planting in low-canopy neighborhoods and increase more options for biking and walking in Providence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement BACKGROUND: Providence pledges to achieve carbon neutrality in city-owned buildings Addressing parking minimums Language was proposed by Council President Rachel Miller to decrease or ban parking minimums. Those in favor of this idea say parking minimums slow down opportunities to build more affordable housing. Zoning changes Inclusionary zoning and anti-displacement goals were also included in this document. Miller put forward the proposal, which has language encouraging developers to create housing anyone can afford regardless of income level. Renters who are on the verge of displacement will also have more protections in this plan. The section also includes working with Community Development Corporations to find which neighborhoods need affordable housing the most. Providence Port environmental regulations This section of the plan adds new regulations to the Port of Providence to protect the health and safety of people who live in the area, as well as the environment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The goal is to expand sustainable infrastructure while also prohibiting industrial facilities from polluting the air with high levels of fossil fuel combustion and manufacturing or storing harmful chemicals. Those prohibitions will be included in the upcoming zoning ordinance. NEXT: Providence to pay $15M in school funding fight settlement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) Providence will pay $15 million as a result of a settlement reached between the city and the R.I. Department of Education over increased school funding this week. The settlement was signed Friday morning, just days after a judge announced both parties reached an agreement. The resolution followed a lengthy and tense court battle and days of closed-door negotiations. The two sides had been at odds over how much Providence should increase education funding to comply with the terms of the Crowley Act, the law that governs school districts under state takeover. Providence schools have been under state control since 2019. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the agreement, the city owes the Providence Public School District $4 million for fiscal year 2024 and $11 million for fiscal year 2025. The $4 million payment has to be made within five days the agreement was fully executed, per the terms of the agreement. R.I. Education Commissioner Angelica Infante-Green said in a statement she was pleased the city was taking steps to fund the schools in accordance with their legal obligation. We are all committed to building a world-class school system that meets the needs and priorities of Providence students, families, and educators, and the citys commitment to provide additional municipal funding will help ensure PPSD stays the course, Infante-Green said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a letter to district families, Superintendent Javier Montanez confirmed the additional funding meant proposed in-year cuts to essential student services, like RIPTA bus passes, and winter and springs sports were safe. Montanez said the money would also help the district to secure special education teacher assistant positions, and continue English as a Second Language (ESL) certification reimbursement. Furlough days would also be avoided. Estimates of how much more city taxpayers may need to spend on the schools had been in the range of $11 million to $55 million. During an appearance on WPRI 12s Newsmakers, Mayor Brett Smiley said he was satisfied both sides could come to a compromise. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This was a bruising process and a bruising negotiation, Smiley said. But we now have certainty and most importantly the students, the families, the teachers of Providence can know that all of the cuts that were threatened arent going to take place. The mayor said there will not be a mid-year tax increase, but he said next years budget will require a tax increase that exceeds the 4% tax levy, which requires approval from the R.I. General Assembly. We are going to have a series of cost-cutting measures that will go through the rest of this fiscal year in order to pay this $15 million, the mayor said. And were going to make it work, but it will be a sacrifice. Smiley said the city will apply unused energy credits and federal COVID-19 dollars to help with the $15 million shortfall, but there was still $2 million in cuts the city would have to make. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The mayor said the city will still pause discretionary spending and keep a hiring freeze in place for the rest of the year, equating to about 100 positions. It will slow down service response times on a variety of topics. Smiley said. That will mean that the other employees in City Hall are going to have to work a little bit harder because theyre not going to have a full complement of staff. He said while there will be smaller program cuts, grants to youth supporting agencies, like libraries, social service partners, and recreation programs, were safe. Smiley also said the police and fire academies planned next year would take place according to schedule. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The agreement also requires that school funding would be increased in the citys annual budget. This year, the schools received $135.5 million from the city, a $5.5 million bump and the largest increase to the school system in 17 years, according to Smiley. The mayor said in 2026, Providence will earmark $147 million for schools, an $11.5 million increase. The schools would get $147 million in 2027, plus the percentage required by the Crowley Act, should the district still remain under state control. Smiley said he was happy the city, education department and school district could move forward. We can now have a chance to reset the relationship with the school department and get back to focusing on how to improve outcomes for all of our students before we get to cuts and taxes, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this year, the state takeover was extended for up to another three years. The mayor said last week hed like to the city to regain control as soon as soon as possible. Infante-Green said theres a process to follow if that transition were to take place. Every constituent has to meet those benchmarks for us to move in that direction, she said. But right now, we are where we are right now, were moving and putting things in place. Alexandra Leslie (aleslie@wpri.com) is a Target 12 investigative reporter covering Providence and more for 12 News. Connect with her on Twitter and on Facebook. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ted Nesi and Tim White contributed to this report. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. The Provo City Council is discussing changes to accessory dwelling unit requirements that could make acquiring approval for basement and mother-in-law apartment rentals more difficult. Currently, city code has two pathways to receiving approval for accessory dwelling units, commonly known as ADUs: a land use text amendment, meaning a group of homeowners can apply to have their areas land use amended to allow ADUs, or a special use permit. The issue has arisen after years of increasing tension among residents and city leaders, some of whom support adding more ADUs and some who oppose them in their neighborhoods. City leaders are now pushing to simplify the approval process and streamline enforcement through a group of proposals that were presented in Tuesdays meeting. Current pathways to ADU approval Multiple properties, such as entire neighborhoods, in areas in which ADUs are not allowed can apply for a text amendment to be added into the map of ADU-approved areas. The City Council approves or denies the request as a land-use decision. The process can be time consuming and requires a fee of $1,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For a special use permit, an individual property owner must gather signatures from neighbors showing a 66% majority approve of the ADU, submit documentation proving the unit meets the standards for an ADU and obtain a rental dwelling license. The permit is given based on an administrative decision of city staff to the property owner rather than by the City Council designating the land as approved. The Provo City Council is considering a proposal that would eliminate the special use permit pathway. During Tuesdays meeting, several residents voiced their concern about this pathway being removed. The proposal was ultimately continued for discussion at the next council meeting in two weeks. The proposal would take away the administrative pathway, but policy analyst Melia Dayley said there is a provision in the text amendment pathway where residents can gather signatures of approval from neighbors to waive the associated fee. Gathering signatures does not guarantee approval, but it does show the council the applicant has the neighborhoods support. Dayley said approximately 49% of residential zones in Provo allow ADUs, a slight decrease from last year at 54%. In 2023, there were 18 special use permits granted. Twelve have been granted this year so far, with another dozen under review. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dayley presented the proposal to the council Tuesday and said the Planning Commission recommended denial. The state Legislature says by default, ADUs should be permitted in all primary residential zones, but cities can prohibit them in up to a third of residential zones. College towns, such as Provo, however, were given an exception to prohibit ADUs in up to two-thirds of residential zones, city attorney Brian Jones explained. ADUs help a city grow sustainably Councilman George Handley said the average salary isnt enough to own homes in Provo, so many people are turning to accessory dwelling units to help afford mortgages. Single-family homes incur the greatest cost for cities as residents are spread out, and more roads and sewer lines are needed, so utilizing available space in basements at no extra cost to the city can be extremely beneficial, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The vast majority of those in the field of urban planning and smart growth know ADUs help a city grow sustainably while assisting homeownership, Handley said. The threat of ADUs comes from people operating them illegally, but there is no data showing the special use pathway has increased violations, he added. It would be better to strengthen the citys enforcement of ADUs and provide more legal pathways rather than restricting them, he said. The city passed proposals Tuesday that updated ADU requirements to require rental disclosures to be submitted to the city within 10 days of signing, simplified the code on agreements for single-family homes with more than one kitchen and refined documentation required to prove owner occupancy for ADU applicants. The council also approved lowering the age to 60 years old for extra living space for elderly people, which are similar to accessory dwelling units but have different requirements. Councilman Travis Hoban said it sends a real bad message to remove a pathway that is doing no harm but is important to the homeowners who need it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The city so far has been tactful in the rollout of ADUs and enforcement, but this proposal would push the city in the wrong direction as the rezone pathway isnt practical for most people, he said. Instead, the city should continue to roll out ADUs in a way it can enforce, he said. If we truly are supportive of homeownership and trying to enable good people to have an ADU, we should focus on enforcement and keep the pathway in place, Hoban said. Councilwoman Rachel Whipple said there has been a manageable number of applicants for special use permits, and through this process, the city can better ensure people are being compliant. These are not scofflaws. These are not people who are doing violations and causing problems. ... For an enforcement point of view, this has only been a good and useful thing. To revoke this would be to take a step backward, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whipple said she would be interested in expanding the use of ADUs in the city to serve homeowners and innocent tenants by making it legal for more properties. The special use pathway could use some improvements but shouldnt be repealed unless a better process was implemented, she said. Councilman Craig Christensen said his concern is with the enforcement of ADUs. He said he doesnt hate ADUs, he just doesnt think the special use permits are the right solution. I just think this piece of legislation is weak, he said. I would like to see it be an orderly way of going about it, so neighborhoods and streets and groups of streets decide that rather than going door to door. Public speaks out Resident Ashley Jensen said she used to be against ADUs when she lived on Dover Lane, where the street was filled with cars from a majority of properties renting illegally. Since then, she has become pro-ADU as long as enforcement is in place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I like that the city knows which ones are being rented. I like that they come in ... check that the living standards are good. Its better to just accept it and have rules around it so it keeps our city nice, she said. Jordan and Zack Wright lived in a Provo basement apartment for several years and felt it helped them become responsible adults who contributed to their community. As future homeowners, they wish to provide that same experience for others and think the council should focus on educating residents about regulations rather than eliminating the pathway. Its a shame that so few people use legal avenues to rent their spaces, Jordan Wright said. I hope that youll open your minds to the possibility that ADUs in neighborhoods not currently zoned for them, can in the right circumstances be a very good thing. PROVO, Utah (ABC4) A Provo mother was arrested on Wednesday after leaving her 1-year-old child alone for over two hours, according to Provo Police. The woman, 30, was arrested in Utah County on one charge of child abandonment (third-degree felony). At around 12:50 p.m. on Nov. 19, Provo Police received a call from a building maintenance worker at a Provo apartment complex. The individual told police he was performing annual maintenance when he found an infant child crying in an apartment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sales agent in Utah County pleads guilty to multi-million dollar scam An officer responded to the apartment and found the child wearing only a diaper. The officer tried to contact the childs mother, initially receiving no answer, but made contact at around 1:35 p.m. The woman reportedly claimed she was at the mailbox, but was not. She allegedly did not ask why police were contacting her, and arrived at the apartment complex 5-10 minutes later. The mother told police that she had hired a babysitter and that the babysitter was at her home when she left. However, upon being questioned at the police station, she claimed she had tried to get a babysitter, but that there were none available. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She reportedly left the child alone for around 2 hours and 15 minutes. The child was left alone, crying, without food, and without clothes/clean diaper, according to a probable cause affidavit. [The mother] intentionally ceased to maintain physical custody of the child, failed to make reasonable arrangements for the safety of the child, and intentionally failed to provide the child with food and clothing, the affidavit states. No further information is available at this time. Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. LifeWise Academy is a Hilliard-based religious instruction program that started in 2019 and now enrolls 50,000 students across 29 states. (Photo by Megan Henry, Ohio Capital Journal.) More than 400 people submitted a mix of proponent and opponent testimony on a bill that would require Ohio public school districts to put a policy in place that would allow students to be released from school for religious instruction. Supporters of the bill say this would leave the decision up to the parents, not the school district, to decide if their child can go to released time for religious instruction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Opponents argue these programs disrupt the classroom learning environment, cause children to miss valuable class time and students bully their classmates who do not attend. State Sen. Michele Reynolds, R-Canal Winchester, introduced Ohio Senate Bill 293 this summer and the Senate Education Committee heard in-person testimony from more than a dozen people during this weeks meeting. Ohio House Bill 445 is a companion bill and more than a hundred people recently submitted opponent testimony against the bill. Ohio law currently permits school district boards of education to make a policy to let students go to a course in religious instruction, so this would strengthen the state law by requiring a policy by changing the wording in the Ohio Revised Code from may to shall. This means that instead of being an option for Ohio school districts, it will be a mandate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The United States Supreme Court upheld released time laws during the 1952 Zorach v. Clauson case, which allowed a school district to have students leave school for part of the day to receive religious instruction. Supporter testimony Most testimony focused on LifeWise Academy, a Hilliard-based religious instruction program that began in 2019 and now enrolls 50,000 students across 29 states. LifeWise, a non-denominational Christian program that teaches the Bible to public school students during the school day, is in 169 Ohio school districts. I am here to support Senate Bill 293 because we believe parents should have the ultimate choice as to whether their children can receive religious instruction, said Joel Penton, founder and CEO of LifeWise Academy. Our organization has been growing rapidly because so many parents want their children to receive Bible education as part of their school day. Getty Images. He said religious education like LifeWise improves a students mental health, character, and grades. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State Sen. Andrew Brenner, R-Delaware, asked why LifeWise is receiving pushback now after being around for five years. I think its simply because its more popular, Penton said. The larger something becomes, the more it becomes a target. And for whatever reason, those who would oppose such efforts of students studying the Bible during school hours has at this point, I guess, hit their radar as something they want to attack. Westerville City Schools Board of Education recently voted to end their religious release time policy that allowed LifeWise Academy to take public school students off-campus for Bible classes during school hours. Hilliard City Schools Board of Education Member Zach Vorst was on the board when the district passed their release time for religious instruction policy in September 2022. He said there were concerns about fair access, logistics, safety, and missed class time when the policy was being implemented. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is zero expense to the district, in accordance with the statute, he said. The policy is working well and none of these concerns have come to fruition. Two of his children have attended release time for religious instruction programs. I appreciate the ability to choose, for our children, the opportunity to grow in our faith while participating in an educational opportunity, Vorst said. My daughters have had a wonderful experience learning and growing in their faith by attending. Westerville parent Kelly Walk wants to give the choice back to the parents. As parents, we no longer have the right or the choice to have our children excused from school to participate in the program, Walk said. LifeWise is simply about Bible stories. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Center for Christian Virtue Policy Director David Mahan shared results of a survey that found 99% of the 2,646 parents polled feel LifeWise helps their children make better decisions, and that they recommend the program to other parents. Responses from 769 educators were also included in the survey and 90% said their school and students benefit from the LifeWise program. Opponent testimony Morgan Zickes, public policy manager for Equality Ohio, talked about how release time for religious instruction programs negatively affect LGBTQ+ students and families. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Senate Bill 293 forces public schools to allow religious instruction of students that serves to further marginalize groups like LGBTQ+ students and families, Zickes said. LifeWises curriculum is blatantly anti-LGBTQ+, and we have seen this create a dynamic ripe for bullying and harassment of students already at higher risk, in districts that have adopted a similar RTRI policy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gary Daniels, chief lobbyist of the ACLU of Ohio, listed possible concerns that mandating a religious instruction program policy could create, such as a situation involving divorced parents. You got one custodial parent who says, Im fine with my child attending, but another parent does not, he said. How exactly does that get ironed out? Are these programs equipped to handle students with learning disabilities, IEPs, physical and behavioral health issues and so on? Zachary Parrish, a parent in Defiance Schools, testified about how his daughter has been bullied for not attending LifeWise. She goes to an uninstructed study hall in the schools gymnasium while her classmates attend LifeWise. In the schools internal emails a school administrator was found to be saying a student needs some Jesus in his life while corresponding with a LifeWise employee, Parrish said. They also show teachers referring directly to my daughter and others as LifeWise leftovers and admitting theres no instruction or educational plan for the children being sent to study hall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gahanna-Jefferson Public Schools Board of Education President Kara Coates said she opposes SB 293 for three reasons: elimination of local control, time available and disruption during the school day, and safety risks. LifeWise has previously approached Gahanna-Jefferson for release time, but they didnt adopt a policy. Some might say to use the lunch period, but that is a time students develop relationships with all their peers, which is also central to whole-child learning, she said. It will also cause significant disruption to the school day, affecting the learning environment for all students. The disruption is not only the departure and arrival but also students coming back with candy, invitations to recruit, and reported bullying. Follow OCJ Reporter Megan Henry on X. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE West Virginia PEIA Finance Board members (left to right) Michael Cook, William "Bill" Milam, Jason Myers, Amanda Meadows, Acting Chairperson Sarah Long and Director Brian Cunningham listen to speakers condemn the proposed cost increases during a West Virginia PEIA public hearing held at the West Virginia Culture Center in Charleston, W.Va., on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. (Chris Dorst | Charleston Gazette-Mail) Several of West Virginias public employees who spoke out against proposed health insurance hikes on Thursday had a similar message for the state Legislature: Fix PEIA. The finance board of the West Virginia Public Employees Insurance Agency was in Charleston, West Virginia for its sixth and final public hearing around the state about proposed premium hikes for the 2026 fiscal year, which starts next summer. More than a 100 people attended the meeting at the Culture Center. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In what would be the second round of rate increases in as many years, the finance board has proposed increasing premiums by 14% for state employees and by 16% for local government employees. Retirees would see their premiums increase by 12%. Both state and county employees would see an increase of 40% in their out-of-pocket maximum as well as increase in co-pays. A monthly spousal surcharge for state employees would more than double, from $147 to $350. The increases will equal roughly $113 million. Retired Kanawha County schoolteacher Dinah Adkins (at left) speaks against proposed increases in health premiums, deductibles, copays and surcharges during a West Virginia PEIA public hearing held at the West Virginia Culture Center in Charleston, W.Va, on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. (Chris Dorst | Charleston Gazette-Mail) Dinah Atkins told the board that some employees and retirees cant stretch their dollars any more than they already are. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weve got to take care of our retirees, Atkins said. Weve got to take care of our employees. Weve got to build a system that makes West Virginia look good, because right now, if I were a business coming into West Virginia and I saw how your public employees were treated and how your teachers were the lowest in the nation, I would hightail it out of here and head someplace else. She called on fellow PEIA members to contact their representatives in the statehouse. Its up to our legislators, she said. It doesnt matter who you voted for. Call the people in the Legislature later and tell them we need your help. Speaking to a reporter before the meeting at a teachers union rally, Dale Lee, president of the West Virginia Education Association, said union leaders are letting the process play out, before considering teacher walkouts. Teachers across the state walked out over pay in 2018 and 2019. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lee told the Culture Center crowd his anger is directed at the Legislature, not with PEIA officials. The Legislature ignored recommendations of a 2018-2019 task force meant to improve the health insurance program, he said. I have to tell you that, in my opinion, its because of the actions that we took in 2018 and 2019 and retaliation, he said. Lee called this years proposed rate increases unacceptable. One thing I do know is our educators and our retirees cant sustain this, cant continue to pay this, and it cant be on their backs, Lee said. So its time for the Legislature to say, Lets get back together and figure this out, but be serious about this time. Not just give us lip service, be serious and when we come up with a proposal that everybody at the table agrees with, providers, doctors, hospitals, employees, employers. Teachers and other West Virginia state employees and retirees attend a West Virginia PEIA public hearing about proposed cost increases at the WV Culture Center in Charleston, W.Va., on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. (Chris Dorst | Charleston Gazette-Mail) PEIA director Brian Cunningham said rising prescription drug costs particularly GLP-1s that treat diabetes are a big driver of the proposed rate increases. The drugs accounted for $53 million in net costs for the agency last year, he said. Earlier this year, the agency suspended a pilot program that covered the cost of the drugs to treat obesity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I can tell you with absolute honesty, and I think we speak for all the members of this board, we dont want to raise premiums. We dont want to change benefits, but unfortunately, health care costs are going up, not just for PEIA, but for all insurance plans around the country, Cunningham said. PEIA must generate enough revenue to pay the claims. There is no other money available, and thats why these changes are being proposed. Kim Fleck, deputy county manager and chief financial officer for the Kanawha County Commission, told the board that the proposed rate increases would negatively affect the countys dedicated first responders. Every single day, these employees, these individuals, go above and beyond, Fleck said. They leave their families to protect yours. They run toward danger to ensure your safety. And yet, under these proposals, they face punishing financial burdens, burdens that threaten their ability to provide for their own families. A 16% premium increase may just sound like another number in the budget, but to our first responders, it represents real hardships. The PEIA finance board will meet Dec. 5 to finalize its plan for next fiscal year. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) The South Dakota Public Utilities Commission is hosting a day-long gathering in the state Capitol building next week to learn more about operations such as data centers, cryptocurrency mining facilities and artificial intelligence sites that require large volumes of electricity. Kristie Fiegen chairs the state commission. She told KELOLAND News that more than a dozen officials from the electricity industry and several representatives of businesses from outside South Dakota that are big users are scheduled to participate and make presentations. DANR explains surety changes on limestone Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Tuesday, November 26, meeting starts at 9 a.m. CT in room 414. The audio will be live-streamed and recorded at sd.net. Its a changing world, according to Fiegen. Electricity demand has been flat or a small increase or a decrease in the last 20 years, she said. Commissioners want to be educated from our electric companies and transmission centers and data centers. We want to be sure we have reliability and affordable electricity and that the cost-causer pays. Among the things the commission wants to learn is whether legislation would be needed. They also want to learn whether a facility is willing to have its electricity supply interrupted at times of high demand, because that can help keep service reliable for current customers. At the same time, the commission doesnt want congestion on the grid because that can cause higher prices. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The commission has one request pending from a proposed data center that plans to open on the outskirts of Leola. The center has applied for permission to get electricity from Montana-Dakota Utilities rather than FEM Cooperative that serves rural customers of the area. Fiegen, a Republican, said that the policy of President Joe Biden, a Democrat, during the past three-plus years emphasized adding renewable energy and phasing out coal-fired powerplants. But, she said, renewables arent always there on hot and cold days, which presents another challenge for large-load users. The commission must be informed and ready in case there are more requests, according to Fiegen. We hear rumors when were out on the street. What we dont know is if those are the same people or not, she said. Large load is a little tricky because the data centers may be working with multiple providers trying to figure out where to get the best rate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin announced the "successful test" of the Oreshnik medium-range missile. According to him, the Russian Federation has several more of these systems, and testing will continue. Source: Russian state-owned news agency RIA Novosti Quote: "The weapon system tested yesterday is another dependable defender of Russia's territorial integrity and sovereignty. No one in the world has such weapons, as far as we know. Yes, it will eventually appear in other leading countries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are aware of the developments taking on there. But it will be tomorrow, a year, or two later, and we have this system today, which is critical." Details: On the evening of Friday 22 November, Putin met with the Russian Defence Ministry's leadership, the defence industrial base, and Russian missile manufacturers. Putin stated that the Oreshnik system tests were successful, and that Russia has a stockpile of these systems. Also, the Russian Federation's ruler stated that the Russians will continue to test the Oreshnik. According to Putin, Oreshnik is "the result of the work of specialists from the new Russia," rather than a modernisation of old Soviet systems. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Putin stated that the Oreshnik system in widespread use "will be comparable to strategic weapons" and that there is now nothing that can counter these weapons. In addition, Putin stated that Russia is testing many systems similar to Oreshnik. At this discussion, the Russians claimed that the Oreshnik could attack targets across Europe and recommended putting the system into service with the Russian army. Putin agreed. Background: Ukraines Air Force noted that during the latest missile attack on the city of Dnipro, Russia used an intercontinental ballistic missile. Ukrainska Pravda sources reported that it could have been a Rubezh missile, a potential carrier of nuclear warheads. However, two Western officials told Reuters that preliminary data did not confirm the use of an intercontinental ballistic missile by Russia. In his Thursday address, Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin indirectly confirmed US reports, stating that during the morning attack on Dnipro on 21 November, Russia used the Oreshnik medium-range missile. The United States officially confirmed that on the morning of 21 November, Russia struck Dnipro with a ballistic missile based on the RS-26 Rubezh intercontinental ballistic missile. According to Ukraines Defence Intelligence, the Russian troops attacked the territory of Ukraine using a ballistic missile on 21 November, probably from the Kedr missile system, as reported by Defence Intelligence of Ukraine. Support UP or become our patron! The News Russia is developing new weapons similar to the experimental intermediate range ballistic missile that the Kremlin fired on Ukraine on Thursday, as it seeks to expand its arsenal, President Vladimir Putin said in a public meeting with senior defense officials. Putin also said that Russia would continue using the powerful Oreshnik missiles, which carry multiple warheads and can hit top speeds of 8,000 mph, in combat depending on the situation and the nature of the security threats. The Kremlins top nuclear commander said the weapons can hit targets throughout all of Europe. The firing of the new ballistic missile marked a week of escalating tensions, as Ukraine started shooting Western missiles into Russian territory following Washingtons move to allow Kyivs use of the weapons, and Putin lowered Moscows threshold for the use of nuclear arms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Putin is saying to the West, stop, halt, back off, a former Kremlin adviser told Reuters. The Russian president has said that the missiles cannot be stopped by Western air defenses, although analysts noted that Russia has previously made similar claims about weapons that ultimately proved to be less capable than expected. US officials have stressed that there is no sign that Russia is preparing to use nuclear weapons, and an administration official told Semafor that Russia likely only has a handful of the missiles used to strike Ukraine. By Anastasia Teterevleva and Maxim Rodionov MOSCOW (Reuters) -President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that Russia would keep testing its new Oreshnik hypersonic missile in combat and had a stock ready for use, while Ukraine said it was already at work to develop air systems to counter the weapon. Putin was speaking a day after Russia fired the new intermediate-range weapon into Ukraine for the first time, a step he said was prompted by Ukraine's use of U.S. ballistic missiles and British cruise missiles to hit Russia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Kyiv was working with its Western partners to work out systems to counter "new risks". Putin described the first use of Oreshnik (hazel tree) as a successful test, and said more would follow. "We will continue these tests, including in combat conditions, depending on the situation and the nature of the security threats that are created for Russia," he said in televised comments to defence officials and missile developers. "Moreover, we have a stock of such products, a stock of such systems ready for use." A U.S. official, however, said the weapon Russia used was an experimental one. The official said Russia has a limited number of them and that this is not a capability that Russia is able to regularly deploy on the battlefield. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Intermediate missiles have a range of 3,000-5,500 km (1,860-3,415 miles), which would enable them to strike anywhere in Europe or the western United States from Russia. Security experts said the novel feature of the Oreshnik missile was that it carried multiple warheads capable of simultaneously striking different targets - something usually associated with longer-range intercontinental ballistic missiles designed to carry nuclear warheads. Ukraine said the missile reached a top speed of more than 13,000 kph (8,000 mph) and took about 15 minutes to reach its target from its launch. The firing of the missile was part of a sharp rise in tensions this week as both Ukraine and Russia have struck each other's territory with increasingly potent weapons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moscow says that by giving the green light for Ukraine to fire Western missiles deep inside Russia, the U.S. and its allies are entering into direct conflict with Russia. On Tuesday, Putin approved policy changes that lowered the threshold for Russia to use nuclear weapons in response to an attack with conventional weapons. SEVERE ESCALATION Zelenskiy, speaking in his nightly video address, has described Russia's use of the new missile as an escalation. "On my behalf, the Minister of Defence of Ukraine is already holding meetings with our partners regarding new air defence systems capable of protecting lives from new risks," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "When someone starts using other countries not only for terror, but also for testing their new missiles through acts of terror, then this is clearly an international crime." Ukrainians, he said, had to remain vigilant. "We must be aware that 'comrade' Putin will keep trying to intimidate us," he said. "That is how he built all his power." The Kremlin said the firing of the Oreshnik was a warning to the West against taking further "reckless" actions and decisions in support of Ukraine. The Oreshnik was fired with conventional, not nuclear warheads. Putin said it was not a strategic nuclear weapon but its striking power and accuracy meant that its impact would be comparable, "especially when used in a massive group and in combination with other high-precision long-range systems". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said the missile could not be shot down by an enemy. "I will add that there is no countermeasure to such a missile, no means of intercepting it, in the world today," he said. "And I will emphasize once again that we will continue testing this newest system. It is necessary to establish serial production." (Reporting by Anastasia Teterevleva in Moscow and Maxim Rodionov and Darya Korsunskaya in London; additional reporting by Steve Holland in Washington and Ron Popeski; writing by Mark Trevelyan, Editing by Angus MacSwan and Diane Craft) Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) believe that Russian ruler Vladimir Putin's statements demonstrate inconsistency in defining "red lines", which undermines the overall Russian escalation narrative. Source: ISW Details: Analysts believe that Putin's 21 November statement proves that Moscow's escalation rhetoric largely amounts to empty threats. Putin's recent threats target Western nations supporting Ukraine's long-range strikes on "Russian territory". However, Ukrainian forces have long targeted occupied regions the Kremlin unlawfully claims, including Crimea, annexed in 2014. Analysts point out that since April 2023, Ukraine has repeatedly struck Crimea using US-provided ATACMS missiles and UK-supplied Storm Shadow missiles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ISW analysts observe that the Kremlin's shifting rhetoric on "red lines" weakens its credibility. Despite repeated threats of retaliation against Western support for Ukraine, Russian authorities have consistently failed to follow through. Quote: "Putin previously threatened severe retaliation if Western states provided Ukraine with rocket artillery, tanks, warplanes, and the ability to strike into Russia, and Putin has constantly shifted the goalposts every time the West has called Putins bluff." To quote the ISWs Key Takeaways on 21 November: Russian President [sic] Vladimir Putin intensified his reflexive control campaign aimed at Ukraine and its Western partners by conducting an ostentatious ballistic missile strike against Ukraine that used multiple reentry vehicles on 21 November. Putin explicitly threatened that Russia may attack Western countries that support Ukrainian deep strikes in Russia and rhetorically connected the 21 November ballistic missile strike to Russian nuclear capabilities a marked intensification of an existing Russian information operation that aims to use explicit threats and nuclear sabre-rattling to discourage continued Western military support for Ukraine. Putins 21 November statement demonstrates that Moscows constant sabre-rattling largely remains rhetorical. Neither the Oreshnik ballistic missile strike nor Putin's 21 November statement represent a significant inflexion in Russian strike capabilities or likeliness to use a nuclear weapon. The Kremlin continues to demonstrate its full commitment to use the prospect of "negotiations" with Ukraine and the West to pursue nothing short of the total destruction of the Ukrainian state despite Russian President [sic] Vladimir Putin's efforts to posture himself as amenable to peace negotiations. North Korean troops are reportedly training alongside Russian naval infantry and airborne (VDV) units. North Korea's ability to learn and integrate lessons from fighting alongside Russia is likely to be significantly degraded if the Russian military command uses North Korean troops in the same highly attritional infantry-led assaults that it uses most Russian personnel. Russian forces recently marginally advanced in the main Ukrainian salient in Kursk Oblast southeast of Sudzha. Ukrainian forces recently advanced north of Vuhledar. Russian forces recently advanced northwest of Kreminna, southeast of Chasiv Yar, in Toretsk, southeast of Kurakhove, northeast of Vuhledar, and likely advanced northeast of Velyka Novosilka. The Russian State Duma adopted a three-year federal budget with record defence expenditures from 2025-2027. Support UP or become our patron! A former chaplain to the late Queen is among four priests who have had their licences suspended by the Church following a damning abuse report. The Diocese of London has withdrawn permission to officiate (PTO) from three clergy pending an investigation into their involvement in the abuse perpetrated by John Smyth, while the Diocese of Gloucester said it had suspended the PTO of Rev Nick Stott, a priest from Cheltenham. Smyth, a barrister who led Christian youth camps in Dorset known as the Iwerne Camps in the 1970s and 1980s, abused up to 130 boys across three countries before his death in 2018 in Cape Town, South Africa. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A PTO is a licence granted by a Bishop allowing clergy to conduct services and perform ministerial duties. Their removal marks a formal escalation in the Churchs response to the findings. It follows an intervention by the Bishop of Newcastle, the Right Rev Helen-Ann Hartley, whose call for the Most Rev Justin Welby to resign as the Archbishop of Canterbury proved decisive. On Wednesday, she called for those criticised in the report, by former social services director Keith Makin, to step back from ministry. The Telegraph understands that 30 Anglican Church officials face dismissal for failing to prevent the actions of the institutions most prolific child abuser. So far, only the Archbishop has resigned. But on Friday, a spokesman for the Diocese of London announced that working in co-ordination with the National Safeguarding Team, following the publication of the Makin Review, the PTOs of Hugh Palmer, Sue Colman and Rico Tice have been withdrawn pending further investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hugh Palmer, chaplain to Queen Elizabeth II from 2012 to 2020, was cited in the Makin Report for visiting a victim of Smyths abuse in hospital twice in 1982, with the first visit one day after the young man attempted to take his own life. Subjected to escalating beatings that left his backside bleeding, a victim attempted suicide by overdosing on pills and cutting his wrists. He dreaded an upcoming special and more severe beating of up to 400 lashes, intended to mark his 21st birthday - a milestone he resolved not to reach. The Makin report found that John Smyth was a serial abuser of children and young men - UNPIXS The report said: Hugh Palmer visits victim [and] tells victim he was extremely sympathetic to abuse suffered at [the] hands of John Smyth. The victim said they now suspect such visits were orchestrated by Smyth or the Iwerne youth camp network to monitor him, behaviour other victims alleged they also observed from evangelical clergy in the group. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The report said: Victims have told us that this contact was not requested by them, but that it was proactively made by the individual clergy, by letter or phone, at the time feeling surprised by this and recalled how this was an unusual step, not something they had previously experienced, except in terms of John Smyths approach to their grooming. At the time they felt it was offered in a supportive way but with hindsight, they reflected this may have been offered more for reasons of oversight and monitoring. Rev Palmer denied this claim, telling Makin that he had not realised the suicide attempt was connected with abuse and that his involvement was motivated by genuine concern. After Channel 4 News made Smyths abuse public in a series of reports broadcast in 2017, Rev Palmer called the victim. The survivor said: He was pretty clear that I hadnt talked about the abuse at all but that he knew a little by his second visit although it wasnt until the Channel 4 reports that he knew the full extent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rev Rico Tice had been granted PTO by the Diocese of London after leaving All Souls, Langham Place last year. Rev Rico Tice has been suspended pending further investigation - YouTube He announced his departure from the Church of England earlier this year in protest against moves to bless same-sex couples, opting to worship at a Presbyterian church. The prominent evangelical, who learned of the abuse in 1987, 30 years before it was made public, was described by The Times as saying his heart aches for Smyths victims. He said: As a university student in the spring of 1987, I was told that boys at Iwerne camps had been beaten. At that time I was not aware of the dreadful severity of those beatings, certainly not that they amounted to criminal assault. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added he had made my concerns known soon afterwards and said he reported what I knew to senior people in the Iwerne camp [run by Smyth] more than once. Rev Sue Colman, the suspended associate minister at St Leonards Church in Oakley, Hampshire, and her husband, Sir Jamie Colman, heir to the Colmans mustard fortune, funded Smyths youth camps in southern Africa from 1989. While it was announced on November 14 that the Diocese of Winchester had asked her to step back, she has now had her permission to officiate formally suspended in the London diocese. Rev Stott, who stayed with the Smyth in Zimbabwe on several occasions in the 1990s, is said to have witnessed surprising behaviour. Despite having been warned about Smyth by a clergyman, he became a trustee of a charity run by the Colmans that funded the child abusers African youth camps, and in 2001 took on a leadership role at the Zimbabwe camps. Rev Sue Colman is married to Sir Jamie Colman, heir to the Colmans mustard fortune Rev Stott told reviewers he was one of the first on the scene following the death of Guide Nyachuru, the 16-year-old boy who died in suspicious circumstances in a pool in one of Smyths Zimbabwe camps in 1992. Smyth was later charged with culpable homicide but the trial collapsed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said: My role was to go down to what we called the flag lawn right by the swimming pool. We probably had 45 minutes to an hour before the wake-up bell rang and my job was just to make sure while the body was still in the pool no-one else came near. The review outlined how Rev Stott was told of an issue with Smyth in the 1980s, but said the details were not disclosed to him. He said he felt at the time that it was not his place to go investigating rumours but in hindsight, he wishes he had done so. He added that he had a confidence that any matters would have been investigated and dealt with by people he trusted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rev Stott, Rev Colman and Rev Palmer have been approached for comment. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. A version of this story appeared in CNNs What Matters newsletter. To get the newsletter in your inbox, sign up here. When we asked CNN readers for their questions about the incoming Trump 2.0 administration, we got a lot of nervous and scared feedback. People have legitimate worries about President-elect Donald Trumps promises of mass deportation, how his pledges to cut taxes will affect Social Security benefits and even whether he will leave office in 2029 when his term ends. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here are the best answers from our reporters based on what we know right now for some of the many questions that poured in. Note: Weve edited some questions for style or to focus them on a single issue. I just included first names and state of residence based on the submissions. CNNs Catherine Shoichet has written extensively about immigrants in the US. Heres what Shoichet wrote in response: Immigrant advocates and legal experts Ive spoken with are very concerned about how the second Trump administration will approach deportations, given the intensity of his rhetoric during the presidential campaign and the announcements hes made so far about who will be shaping immigration policy in his government. The truth is, if you dont have status in this country, as this person doesnt, then you are at risk. I dont think anyone can assume that they are safe from his proposals, unless they have a legal basis to be in this country, said Lisa Graybill, vice president of law and policy at the National Immigration Law Center. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Former acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement Tom Homan, who Trump has tapped as his border czar, has said the administration will initially focus on public safety and national security threats. Hes also said he wants to increase worksite raids and that deporting families together would be a way to avoid separating them. Advocates caution that even those who arent the intended targets of an enforcement operation can end up in the wrong place at the wrong time. Theyre urging those with concerns to consult with immigration attorneys now about their cases, to connect with local immigrant advocacy organizations and to put plans in place for their families. American Immigration Lawyers Association President Kelli Stump said shes been urging clients to stay calm and do everything they can now to prepare. I get that people are scared and theyre nervous, she said, but its not time now to wait around and find out what will happen. Its time to act. Presidents have wide authority to declare a national emergency. Trump declared a national emergency when he was president the first time in order to unlock border wall funding that Congress refused to give him. Plus, President Joe Biden also deployed military personnel to the border to help border officials when a Covid-era policy that allowed the government to quickly turn away certain migrants expired. In this September 2023 photo, migrants who crossed the Rio Grande and entered the US from Mexico are lined up for processing by US Customs and Border Protection in Eagle Pass, Texas. - Eric Gay/AP How exactly Trump might use the military remains unclear. He has previously said that when he refers to the military, he would focus on National Guard troops and that local law enforcement would be key in his plans. Some states with Republican governors have already deployed National Guard troops to the border. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has also said he could invoke a law from 1798, the Alien Enemies Act meant to be invoked if the US is at war or if a foreign power threatens to invade or has done so to help in his deportation plan. Some countries will take deportees, but others will not. The US currently has the capacity to detain around 40,000 noncitizens daily. Stephen Miller, the aide who has formulated much of Trumps policy and thinking on immigration, has endorsed the idea of large detention camps to hold those awaiting deportation. The term concentration camp is a sensitive one given its connotation of the Holocaust. Immigrant rights groups already complain about conditions in detention centers. But its important to remember that anyone being deported should, by law, have access to a court hearing in the immigration court system. Currently, there is a yearslong backlog. There are many questions about Trumps plan, not the least of which is how a large system of detention and deportation camps would be paid for. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another comparison might be the internment by the US of Japanese Americans during World War II. Notably, during Trumps first term, the US Supreme Court overturned the 1944 ruling, Korematsu v. US, that justified the detention of Japanese Americans. The court did so in 2018 when it also upheld his ban on travel to the US by people from certain countries, most of them majority Muslim. I took this question to Jim Sciutto, CNNs chief national security analyst and the author of The Return of Great Powers: Russia, China, and the Next World War. His response: I dont speak to anyone in the US, Europe or Ukraine who expects business as usual. The question is not if Trump will change the US approach, but how much. For my book, several former Trump administration officials told me they expected him to end US support for Ukraine in a second term, part of a broader effort to improve US relations with Russia. Local residents take shelter in a metro station during an air strike alarm in Kyiv on November 20 amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. - Roman Plipey/AFP/Getty Images That said, there is another school of thought that Trump seeing the damage done by the US withdrawal from Afghanistan would not want to invite accusations of weakness if Ukraine were to fall or otherwise be further occupied by Russia. We dont know yet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What is clear is that he has said multiple times he intends to end the war. The question is: How far will he be willing to go to do that? And can he end it, given (Russian President Vladimir) Putin sees the Ukraine war as a strategic interest? His early Cabinet appointments are contradictory given some such as (secretary of state pick Marco) Rubio and (incoming national security adviser Mike) Waltz have in the past expressed support for Ukraine, while (director of national intelligence pick Tulsi) Gabbard blamed the invasion on NATO. Who knows what Trumps state of mind will be in January 2029, but he will have to leave office then, according to the US Constitution. Heres how the 22nd Amendment begins: No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump cannot run for president again. Donald Trump and Ivanka Trump walk to Marine One at the White House in Washington, DC, on January 4, 2021. - Joshua Roberts/Reuters If the US managed to hold an election during a global pandemic in 2020, it seems all but certain that there will be an election in 2028. Changing the Constitution is a long and onerous process. There hasnt been a new amendment ratified since the 1990s. The 20th Amendment lays out contingency plans for what happens in the extremely unlikely event there is no president-elect on Inauguration Day, but none of those plans include the sitting president staying in office. CNNs Tami Luhby covers Social Security and other social safety net programs. This is her response: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has promised to protect Social Security and not raise the retirement age or make other cuts. However, if nothing is done, the entitlement programs combined trust funds will run dry in 2035, according to Social Securitys trustees. After that, the program will only be able to pay 83% of benefits owed. But Trumps campaign promises, including eliminating taxes on Social Security benefits, tips and overtime, could drain critical tax revenue from the trust funds, speeding up their exhaustion by three years, a government watchdog found. For more, read Luhbys story on how a second Trump term could affect Social Security benefits. A village in Italy is offering $1 houses to people frustrated with the US election results. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres also been an uptick in interest in so-called golden visas, which are essentially purchased by rich people to get foreign citizenship or residence. A couple pull suitcases along an alley in Lisbon in February 2022. Portugal's Golden Residence Permit Program is popular among Americans. - Armando Franca/AP Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other countries offer dual citizenship to people who can prove they have ancestral links. But seriously. Whether you were born in the US or immigrated here, you know that power shifts in this country. It also shifts back. After every election, there are those frustrated with the result who look at leaving the country. But it never ends up being an exodus. For those not familiar, IDR/ICR/IBR is a reference to income-driven repayment plans that base monthly payments on a borrowers income and family size. The following answer comes from CNNs Katie Lobosco, who covers education policy: Its unlikely the Trump administration would claw back student loan forgiveness thats already been granted and the president-elect has not suggested that this is something on his to-do list. That said, theres a pending lawsuit currently before the 8th US Circuit Court of Appeals challenging the loan forgiveness provision in Bidens repayment plan, SAVE (Saving on a Valuable Education). Its possible that a ruling against Bidens plan could also apply to the forgiveness provisions in other income-driven repayment plans, including Pay As You Earn, or PAYE, and Income-Contingent Repayment, or ICR. Still, even if the court finds that debt cannot be forgiven under some income-driven plans, many experts say that it would be very difficult administratively to reverse student loan relief already granted. American voters gave Trump access to all of the countrys secrets when they elected him. And while most high-level US officials other than the president are traditionally vetted for security clearance, the president technically has the power to share secrets with whomever he chooses. CNN reported that Trumps team has dispensed with background checks conducted by the FBI for some of his Cabinet picks in an effort to speed up the process. Trump supports rescheduling cannabis as a lower-risk drug, a process that was started by the Biden administration. He made that clear when he broke with Republicans in Florida to vote for legalizing recreational marijuana in that state (the measure got a majority of votes, but fell short of the 60% threshold required under Florida law). He did not specifically endorse the SAFER Banking Act, but he did pledge to work with Congress to get safer banking laws for state-authorized companies. A president has broad powers if he invokes the Insurrection Act, which allows for the unilateral deployment of troops domestically under limited circumstances to defend constitutional rights. Those powers are constrained by the Posse Comitatus Act, a longstanding federal law that curbs the use of military to enforce domestic laws unless authorized by Congress. However, that law includes exceptions for rebellion and terrorism, giving the president broad discretion in deciding whether and when to invoke the Insurrection Act. Trump thought about using the military against protesters during his first term, but he faced opposition from within the Pentagon. For his second term, Trump has promised to find military officials more loyal to him and that hell fight an enemy from within of political opponents. There were a number of questions in this vein. Its true that Trump won the election with less than 50% of the vote. It was far from a landslide, and the country remains divided. For just about every Trump supporter, theres someone who voted the other way. Regardless, Trump says hell radically transform US government, something every American should be aware of. CNN is here to report on and give context to what Trump is promising, what he delivers and how those pledges and actions represent a new direction for the country. Heres an answer from CNNs climate reporter Ella Nilsen: Some climate groups have been formally urging Biden to declare a climate emergency for a little under a year, although the idea has been around for some time. Biden has issued plenty of executive orders on climate at the start of his administration, some of which were undone by courts. If Biden issued an executive order now at the end of his presidency, it would be quickly undone when Trump takes office. Many climate experts believe the more effective and durable way to fund the clean energy transition comes from Bidens 2022 climate law, which poured hundreds of billions into federal tax credits for businesses and consumers alike to invest in renewables, electric vehicles and energy efficient appliances. President Joe Biden discusses investments in conservation and protecting natural resources at Red Butte Airfield near Tusayan, Arizona, on August 8, 2023. - Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images That law is investing heavily in clean energy manufacturing and already transforming the American economy. Of course, its not totally safe either Republicans are talking about repealing chunks of the law to help pay for another round of tax cuts. But since the law has poured hundreds of billions and thousands of jobs into Republican districts, there are plenty of Republicans that have a stake in defending it too. Trumps past remarks provide some insight into how a second term can impact the LGBTQ community. The president-elect has labeled gender-affirming surgery for minors as child sexual mutilation. He pledged to make surgeries illegal under a Trump White House, promising to sign executive orders instructing federal agencies to not promote gender transitioning at any age. He has also repeatedly spoken out against transgender athletes participating in womens sports. Trump has said that on day one of his administration, he would reverse a rule implemented by Biden under Title IX that expanded protections for LGBTQ+ students. It is possible, but perhaps unlikely. At least one person mentioned by Trump as an enemy from within, Sen.-elect Adam Schiff of California, told NPR he doesnt want or need a preemptive pardon, adding that he has faith in the US system. I think this is frankly so implausible as not to be worthy of much consideration, Schiff said. I would urge the president not to do that. I think it would seem defensive and unnecessary. Interestingly, there were people who asked Trump for preemptive pardons before he left office the first time including Trumps pick to be attorney general in his second term, former Rep. Matt Gaetz, who withdrew his name from consideration for the role on Thursday. Trump did not grant those pardons. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com HAMDEN, Conn. (WTNH) Exploring the intersectionality of employers and the cost of health care was the focus of Fridays symposium at Quinnipiac University. According to experts, companies have been paying substantially more for health insurance premiums over the last 24 years. In 2000, employers contributed nearly $5,000 on average for premiums, costing the employee about $1,600. This year, employers are contributing nearly $20,000, and employees over $6,000. Will Connecticut be warmer this winter? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement High health care costs amount to less money for benefits and raises. As over a third of Connecticut residents struggle to pay their medical bills, government officials said the solution is complex and cannot be tackled by a single party alone. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. (WSAV) The Coastal Health District is warning residents about the dangers of rabies after a recent attack on St. Simons Island. CHD said a raccoon tested positive for rabies after attacking a feral cat in an area near Frederica and Harrington roads. This is an important reminder that rabies can circulate in several species of wild animals in coastal Georgia, including raccoons, foxes and bats, officials said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Raccoon tests positive for rabies in Effingham County CHD added that residents are urged not to feed wild animals or attempt to domesticate feral cats. Pet owners are reminded to ensure their animals get regular rabies shots, they continued. CHD did not immediately release details on the cats condition. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. This is part of a series of articles, each of which will take an in-depth look at the failing institutions, infrastructure and other parts of the public sector that typify the idea of Broken Britain The Old Cemetery in Bishops Stortford is the resting place of some prominent local figures. Sir Walter Gilbey, a wine merchant and philanthropist, was buried there in 1914. Members of the Sworder family, known for their long-standing fine art auction house, lie within its gates. The cemeterys 36 war graves commemorate those who served in the First or Second World War, and are tended by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But amid the cherry trees and huge old cedars, other plots in the mid-19th century Hertfordshire graveyard have fallen into disrepair. If not quite the bleak place overgrown with nettles described by Dickens in the opening churchyard scene of Great Expectations, there are graves here that lack a headstone and are no longer visited by the living. Under recent legislation, however, some could soon accommodate new occupants. Earlier this year, Bishops Stortford became the first town outside London where graves on unconsecrated land can be reused. The Bishops Stortford Cemetery Act, passed in March, allows the town council to extinguish rights of burial and disturb human remains in Bishops Stortford New Cemetery and Old Cemetery for the purpose of increasing the space for interments. Graves at The Old Cemetery in Bishops Stortford will begin being reused in the new year - David Rose If it sounds vaguely unpalatable, there are good reasons for the law change, which other local authorities have shown interest in emulating. In short, Britain is running out of places to bury its dead. If wed done nothing and nature had taken its course, within 12 years there would be no space left for people to be buried in Bishops Stortford, explains Huw Jones, chief executive of Bishops Stortford Town Council. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the act permits the reuse of most graves in the cemetery, there are protections for those with historical significance. Nor will a grave be reused if a relative objects. We wanted to emphasise that really were looking only to reuse graves that nobody cares about, says Jones. Those that are forgotten and where it doesnt hurt anyone to reuse it. The council is likely to start consulting with plot-holders relatives some time in the New Year, before beginning to reuse some older graves. But this could be just the start of it, as far as repurposing graves around Britain goes. The Law Commission is currently considering the reuse and reclaiming of all types of burial grounds, including the Church of Englands cemeteries and churchyards, as it warns that burial space is running out across England and Wales. Anecdotal evidence suggests pandemic pressures have exacerbated the issue in some areas. The proposals to address this are part of a consultation launched last month on updating the law on burial and cremation, parts of which are more than 170 years old. Under existing rules, where reuse is permitted, graves can only be considered if they are at least 75 years old. Under the new proposals, relatives would still get to veto a plot being repurposed. Final recommendations will be made to the Government at the end of next year. A nations growing inability to care for its dead The looming lack of burial space is far from the only problem faced by what is known as the death care sector. In 2020s Britain, the entire system is creaking from the soaring cost of funerals and cremations to underinvestment in the coroner service. For a whole variety of reasons, it is stretched to the point of bursting, says Deborah Smith from the National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ultimately, it is grieving families who will pay the price. Some already are, with waits of up to six weeks for funerals in parts of the country. This, warns Lianna Champ, founder of Champ Funeral Services, can take a serious toll on the bereaved. The risk is a hugely complicated grieving process that can actually affect mental health and affect families moving forward, she says. Delays, she agrees, have notably worsened since she joined the profession 45 years ago. A sign, surely, that were struggling with one of the very basic and universal rituals performed by civilised societies throughout human history. Show me the manner in which a nation cares for its dead, 19th century Liberal prime minister William Gladstone once said, and I will measure with mathematical exactness the tender mercy of its people, their respect for the law of the land and their loyalty to high ideals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So how has Britain become a nation suffering a growing inability to care for its dead in a proper and timely manner? The first part of the story is about demographics. Since 2011, the number of deaths in the UK has steadily increased. With the baby boomer generation hitting old age, this trend is only set to continue. It should be matched by the appropriate capacity increases in the death management process, notes a 2023 NAFD report on delays and capacity crises in the death management system. Their research suggests that so far this has not been the case; that instead, funeral directors have been left unable to protect bereaved families from a fragmented system that is struggling to cope with the needs of the nation. Investment in everything from hospital mortuaries to the training of pathologists has not kept pace with the death rate of an ageing population, and funeral directors have warned things could get worse yet, amid concerns that Chancellor Rachel Reeves reform of business property relief could put the industrys many family-run businesses at risk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our instinctive squeamishness about discussing the business of dealing with the dead wont help solve the problems. But, sector insiders suggest, the reality is that when governments have limited public money to spend, dealing with the living is (perhaps understandably) prioritised. The impact of this is felt at almost every stage of the process that follows a death. Not enough pathologists and pressure piled on coroners First the death must be registered, by law within five days (or eight in Scotland). But the system for doing even this is outdated, says the NAFD. Through no fault of their own, more than half of bereaved families in the UK are unable to hit the deadline, due to delays in securing registrar appointments, according to the NAFD report. Staffing shortages and shorter opening hours of registrars sub offices were cited among the reasons by funeral directors. A Bill that includes provisions to restore the right to register a death remotely temporarily introduced during the pandemic is currently going through Parliament. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That helps a bit but registrars can often be the cause of a delay, says Smith. They dont work weekends or Bank Holidays and tend to close over Christmas. This isnt the only bottleneck in the system. Unnatural, violent or sudden deaths where the cause is unknown must be referred to a coroner. He or she may then decide a postmortem examination is required, but here theres another hitch: a shortage of pathologists to carry out the work. The demand for pathology services is growing, with a greater number of tests required and an increase in complexity of those tests, says the Royal College of Pathologists (RCP). But much like the population itself, the pathology consultant workforce is ageing, with around a third aged over 55 in several pathology specialisms. The RCPs 2023 member survey revealed a stretched and stressed workforce. Staffing levels, the RCP warned, have not kept pace with demand and too few people are being trained to enter the profession. The pathology workforce is under immense strain at the moment because there hasnt been any workforce planning done by NHS England, and theres not a lot of data to tell us what shortages there are, says Dr Bernard Croal, RCP president. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The staffing shortfall is already significant, but that will get increasingly worse in the next five to 10 years, because the workload is likely to increase and the number of pathologists is not likely to go up, he says. Again, it seems, other services are being prioritised instead. Everything is being squeezed but pathology rarely gets [placed] at the top of the list because its not perceived as emergency front-line [work], its perceived as a backroom service, says Dr Croal. NHS England says it has increased training places for histopathology by a quarter over the last five years. But a spokesman says: We know services are under pressure, and were working with NHS providers, integrated care boards and the Department of Health and Social Care to boost the numbers working in pathology. Anecdotal evidence suggests the shortage of pathologists to carry out postmortem examinations may lie behind some of the pressures on the coronial autopsy system. But underinvestment in the coroner service itself has also been flagged as a problem. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In my view, the coroner service in England and Wales is, with very few exceptions, chronically under-resourced and underfunded, Thomas Teague KC, then chief coroner, told a Commons Justice Committee inquiry into the service in January. There are many areas where there are nowhere near enough coroners officers. Staffing was a problem in virtually all areas, he said, while some coroners premises were so dilapidated that they were frankly not fit for occupation. On visiting one and asking staff about their caseload, the entire coroners officer team burst into tears. Tears are more expected among the recently bereaved. But the suffering caused by the loss of a loved one is increasingly accompanied by financial misery too, with the price of a funeral plus professional fees and send-off costs reaching a record high last year. After two years of falling prices, funeral costs are rising again, according to SunLifes Cost of Dying 2024 report, published in January. The average cost of dying reached 9,658 in 2023, it said up from 9,200 the previous year. Amid a cost of living crisis, its not uncommon for families to struggle with this bill. One in five experience notable financial concerns when paying for a funeral, with most of them resorting to dipping into savings and investments, putting it on a credit card or borrowing from a friend or relative. The number of people selling belongings to pay for a funeral had risen to 18 per cent, said the report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, public health funerals, previously known as paupers funerals, are also on the rise. These funerals are arranged by the local council when, for instance, theres no relative to organise one, or the relatives of the deceased cant afford to do so. More than a quarter of funeral directors who organise such funerals said they had seen an increase in the number taking place over the previous year. The funeral directors themselves are not immune to financial pressures, either. In recent days, some have warned that Labours plans to scale back business property relief meaning exemptions will only apply to the first 1 million of a firms assets, with everything above that subject to a 20 per cent tax could spell disaster for family-run businesses throughout the country. Nigel Lymn Rose, the chairman of A.W. Lymn, a family funeral service in Nottingham, told The Telegraphs Daily T podcast this week that the reform might yet force families to sell up their businesses in order to settle bills with HMRC: Meanwhile, as far as the bereaved are concerned, delays caused by problems in the system can bring further pain to those in an already raw and vulnerable state. Bodies deteriorate, and if youre waiting too long [for a postmortem examination] its not the same as dealing with a fresh body, says Dr Croal. But the biggest impact is on the families who are waiting to get on with dealing with the loss of their relatives. If families are waiting weeks, potentially sometimes months, then that is an issue. Bodies waiting longer to be buried or cremated must, by definition, be stored somewhere above ground for longer periods. In England, almost half of funeral directors expressed concerns to the NAFD last year that their own storage capacity for deceased people was under pressure. We have had to hire, at extra expense, portable cooling units to keep the deceased as cool as possible before we are allowed to prepare, said one, quoted in the report. This makes our staffs job harder to obtain a peaceful-looking result as discolouration will have started. It upsets our staff greatly that we cannot give the very best and fastest viewing experience to already nervous families. A lack of mortuary storage capacity at hospitals and public morgues has been highlighted, too and attributed, again, to the failure of investment to keep up with increased demand. When deaths surge in winter, hospitals may be forced to look elsewhere for extra storage. Early last year, temporary mortuary sites had to be opened across the country to cope with the increased demand following the festive period. These were not always in the most obvious places: in Salisbury, Wiltshire, a council gritting yard was used as a temporary mortuary to accommodate an increase in need after the Salisbury District Hospital site reached capacity. In Wollaston, Northants, a former landfill site was turned into a makeshift mortuary. This followed a year in which more than 650,000 deaths were registered in the UK, an increase of nine per cent compared with 2019, and one of the largest excess death levels outside the Covid pandemic in half a century. When hospitals fail to find sufficient storage space, the results are not pretty. A report by the Human Tissue Authority in May found that bodies had been left to decompose at NHS hospitals across England due to inadequate storage facilities and lack of freezer space. At Leeds General Infirmary (LGI) last year, a body had waited 70 days to be moved into frozen storage and showed signs of decomposition. It was far from the only hospital where problems were highlighted, though many, including the LGI, said they had improved processes since they were inspected. Dr Magnus Harrison, the chief medical officer at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said in May this year: Our aim is to provide a safe and dignified service in our mortuaries for people who have died, and unfortunately in this instance this was not the case. We now have improved systems in place including better communication with our coroner and respective partners to ensure this doesnt happen again. NHS England says mortuary capacity is monitored regularly. While there are no national capacity issues, we will continue to monitor this closely throughout the winter months, says a spokesman. Once a body is released for burial or cremation, finding space in a cemetery, or booking a cremation at a suitable time, becomes the next challenge. Most people choose cremation, with the Cremation Society of Great Britain putting the proportion at about 79 per cent in the UK. A squeeze on public sector resources, however, is disproportionately affecting not only cemeteries but also crematoria, a state of the market report by the Association for Public Service Excellence found this year. The majority of UK local councils surveyed for the report agreed this was the case. The NAFD report also highlighted increased delays at crematoria due to the volume of demand. Many families were struggling to secure a cremation slot due to the relatively small number of cremations able to take place each day at the UKscrematoria. The number is increasing from 322 crematoria in 2022 to 334 in 2023 but insiders suggest there may not yet be enough. A lot of crematoria were built in the 1950s and 1960s and theres probably a lack of cremation facilities, says Lancashire-based Champ. We are served by three crematoria in our area, but if youre in a densely populated area served by one crematorium built in the 1950s, it puts a lot of pressure on the resources. Anxiety-inducing waiting lists The way deaths are handled is changing. As of September, all deaths not investigated by a coroner must be independently reviewed by NHS medical examiners (doctors contracted to scrutinise the cause of death). But the NAFD suggests the results of the reforms have been mixed, with some funeral directors criticising the new medical examiner system for introducing a new layer of bureaucracy. In some parts [of the country], medical examiners are working really well. In some places theyre not, says Smith. In certain cases, the GP tasked with referring the death to the medical examiner is, themself, the cause of another hold-up. David Barrington, director of Barringtons Independent Funeral Services in Liverpool, says this happened earlier this month when a man died in a local nursing home. His wife notified the GP on a Monday. But by Friday, the family was still waiting to hear from the medical examiner, whose job had to be carried out before the death could be registered. It transpired that the GP had taken five days to refer the death to the medical examiner. Some [GPs] seem to have decided, this is something we can leave until we feel like it, says Barrington. It can be anxiety-inducing for a grieving family when delays prevent them from registering a loved ones death, he says. [Sometimes] they find the GP hard to get hold of. Theyre looking after the living, thats understandable. But they also have the responsibility to do the administration of patients that have died. When you get to the point that there is a possibility the funeral may be postponed, that can really put stress on people. When the problem is in the coronial system the wait can be longer still. At one point in 2022, staff at Barringtons were waiting six weeks for cases to be allocated to a coroners officer. Sometimes it would be eight weeks before the body was released to the funeral home, by which point its highly likely theyve deteriorated significantly, Barrington says. Families are desperate to see them and it makes life very difficult. Sometimes the conversation youre having with the family is, we dont think you should see them. Its very important to say goodbyes and pay your respects to people, and some families find it really distressing when we say we dont think that is a good idea. Even once you get past the delays, graveyards like Bishop Stortford are rapidly running out of space - David Rose Were standing on the cusp of winter, when the death rate typically spikes. Inside the death care sector, there are fears for how the country will cope with the lack of capacity in an overstretched system. In the medium- to long-term, any solution will need to take various forms. Reform of what the Law Commission calls our piecemeal, complex and outdated burial law must be part of it. So will the training of more pathologists and investment in mortuaries and coronial services. The Government is considering the findings of the Justice Committees inquiry into the coroner service and a wider strategy for the development of the service is expected in the coming months and years. In times of great personal loss, every family rightly expects their loved ones to be treated with dignity and respect, says a Ministry of Justice spokesman. The Law Commission is currently looking at how best to create a legal framework that will provide a modern, certain and consistent regulation across different funerary methods. We will respond in due course. The graveyards, Charles de Gaulle once said, are full of indispensable men, In Britain, we might yet need to shorten the quote: to simply the graveyards are full. Unless, of course, we can find some 21st-century answers to the problem death poses to our creaking, overworked apparatus. Your input will shape how we report on this series. Please use the comments section below to send us your stories of Broken Britain and what other parts of our fractured institutions we should be shining a light on. Click here for our report on how Britain became a rundown and filthy dumping ground, here for our report on the IT systems crippling the NHS, here for our report on potholes, and here for our report on the UKs low wages crisis. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. A voter in Washington, D.C., brings her ballot to a drop box outside the Mt. Pleasant Library on Nov. 5. The citys voters delivered one of the few wins for ranked choice voting this election. (Noelle Straub/Stateline) Voters in several states last week delivered a stinging rebuke to ranked choice voting, clouding the future of an idea that had seen strong momentum in recent years. Ranked choice voting, which allows voters to rank political candidates by preference, is used statewide in Alaska and Maine and in major U.S. localities such as New York City and San Francisco. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But voters in Colorado, Idaho, Nevada and Oregon rejected ballot measures that would have adopted ranked choice voting for packed races. In Missouri, voters approved a ballot measure banning the approach statewide and locally, except for a grandfather clause for St. Louis municipal elections. Results are still too close to call on a measure to scrap Alaskas existing use of ranked choice voting. With 94% of results reported, the measure was up by about 2,400 votes. Voters this year were reluctant to make dramatic changes to the way they vote, said Chandler James, an assistant professor of political science at the University of Oregon. But I dont think that it spells the end for ranked choice voting in the future. Overall, we see that ranked choice voting is still growing. Deb Otis, director of research and policy at FairVote In the system, voters rank candidates on their ballots by preference first, second, third choice, and so on. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If no candidate gets the majority of first-preference votes, the rest of the rankings kick in. The candidate with the fewest first-preference votes gets eliminated, while those voters secondary choices are allocated to the rest of the field. The counting continues until one candidate gets majority support. Critics often blast ranked choice voting as being complicated and undemocratic, saying it violates the one person, one vote principle of American elections. But proponents argue that it forces candidates to appeal to a wider audience, leading to less toxic campaigning, and saves money on costly runoff elections. While it was a tough year for statewide ballot measures, the system had better success at the local level, including in the District of Columbia; Bloomington, Minnesota; Oak Park and Peoria, Illinois; and Richmond, California. Overall, we see that ranked choice voting is still growing, said Deb Otis, director of research and policy at FairVote, the nonpartisan organization leading the fight to adopt ranked choice voting. Im still really optimistic for how it will continue to grow. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And though it lost in Oregon, she pointed out that the measure had majority support in jurisdictions that currently use ranked choice voting, such as Multnomah (home to Portland) and Benton counties. In the District of Columbia, voters overwhelmingly supported a ballot measure to establish ranked choice voting for elections beginning in 2026 and to open the primary process to voters who are not affiliated with a party. The local political party leadership campaigned against the measure, as was the case in other places where ranked choice voting was on the ballot. But district voters, familiar with packed Democratic primary ballots where winners often fail to get majority support, adopted the measure with more than 72% of the vote. The districts party affiliation overwhelmingly leans Democratic. It was a sign of grassroots work for the past five years, said Porter Bowman, volunteer communications director for the Yes on 83 Campaign. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People are not OK with the status quo, he said in an interview. Folks were looking to city leadership and the state of politics in D.C. and wanting voters to have more choice and to be more involved in the process. The city council must still implement the voting system. But Republicans now control both chambers of Congress; that could put the system at risk, because Congress limits the districts autonomy. Last year, U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler, a New York Republican, introduced legislation that would have prohibited the district from using ranked choice voting in local elections. He also introduced a separate bill that would have prohibited states from using the voting system in federal elections. As usual, DC is running toward something that others have overwhelmingly rejected, he wrote on Instagram over the weekend. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lawler wrote he will continue to push his legislation to prevent the adoption of this convoluted voting system when Congress comes back to work this month. Hes previously pointed to delayed results in New York Citys elections using ranked choice voting and what he said was the confusion that came with it. FairVotes Otis said Lawlers legislation would be shortsighted, and pointed to how Republicans have benefited from the system. She cited Virginia, where the state Republican Party used it to nominate Gov. Glenn Youngkin in a 2021 state convention. Youngkin had a plurality of votes among a crowded field after the first vote; he won the nomination after six rounds of counting with 55% of the vote. Even so, Youngkin vetoed ranked choice voting legislation in April. Leaders in several Virginia localities said in the past week that theyre considering using ranked choice voting in the near future after Arlington County successfully implemented the method. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2024, Alabama, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi and Oklahoma enacted measures that banned the use of ranked choice voting a burgeoning trend in Republican-led states, reacting to key GOP losses in Alaska and Maine in recent years. Otis said her group is moving ahead with campaigns to bring ranked choice voting to local elections in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Boston and Denver in the coming years. Editors note: This story has been updated to reflect that Republicans have won control of both chambers of Congress. Stateline is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Stateline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Scott S. Greenberger for questions: info@stateline.org. Follow Stateline on Facebook and X. The Italian Renaissance diplomat Niccolo Machiavelli has become synonymous with subtle scheming. And now, an extremely rare first edition of his most famous work, the political manual The Prince, is going up for auction, with an expected sale price of up to 300,000 ($375,000). The copy of the early 16th-century book is one of only 11 first editions to be recorded, according to auction house Sothebys. While all the others are held by institutional libraries, largely in Italy, this example comes from a private collector and was previously unknown. The book was printed in 1532 and bound with Machiavelli's "Florentine Histories" in an Italian binding, according to Sotheby's. - Courtesy Sotheby's We were not aware of any other copies in private hands, and this is the first copy that we are aware of to have come to auction, certainly in recent decades, Gabriel Heaton, Sothebys Books & Manuscripts specialist, told CNN. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So, we have one of the great works of political theory of all time, one of the most famous books of the 16th century and its a very first edition, and unique opportunity for a copy to come to auction, he added. Heaton said the auction house is delighted and excited to offer the incredibly rare book at Sothebys in London in its next Books & Manuscripts auction, which runs from November 28 to December 12. He described this copy of The Prince, which is still in its early-17th-century Italian binding, as very interesting. This copy of "The Prince" is one of only 11 recorded first editions, according to Sotheby's. - Courtesy Sotheby's It is bound with another of Machiavellis works, a second edition of his longest book, Florentine Histories. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As well as being a writer, Machiavelli was a diplomat who served in the Florentine government until the republic was overthrown by the Medici family in 1512. He wrote The Prince in 1513, after being imprisoned on suspicion of conspiracy and retiring to his fathers property in the Florentine commune San Casciano. The political treatise, dedicated to Florentine ruler Lorenzo di Piero de Medici, was circulated as a manuscript before Machiavellis death in 1527. Seven manuscripts, some of which were written by his former colleague Biagio Buonaccorsi, are recorded to have been published after his death and before 1532. Approximately 15 editions were in circulation before the Catholic Church banned the text by listing it on the Index of Prohibited Books in 1559. The Index forbids books considered dangerous to the faith or morals of Roman Catholics. The text was only published again more than seven decades later. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The copy up for sale which was in an Italian library until the middle of the 19th century and passed through several hands before being acquired by an English private collector is from 1532. Its title page is removed, possibly in order to circumvent confiscation by the authorities, the auction house said, describing it as perhaps material evidence of the texts illicit status in Renaissance Italy post-1559. Machiavellis text advises princes to learn not to be good but to act according to necessity and this move away from looking at utopian ideals of the way humans and the world are, and instead at reality, led him to be considered the founder of modern political science. An early reader of this copy has put brackets in the margins of chapter 18, a section with some of the books most strikingly modern pronouncements about the necessity for a savvy politician to manipulate the gulf between appearances and reality to his own ends, according to its catalogue note, which adds that Machiavellis philosophical stance must be contextualised by the exceptionally volatile political climate of the time, during which even a skilled politician could undergo a sudden and dramatic fall from grace. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Machiavelli is a writer who has intrigued people ever since the book was first written. He gives a very clear-sighted view of the nature of political power, and especially the way that political power is exercised in times of turbulence and uncertainty, said Heaton. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Weve all heard Boston is threatened by rising seas associated with climate change. New research shows the city is facing another phenomenon that is expected to make flooding even worse. The city is actually sinking. To hear that Boston is sinking, it actually puts a pit in my stomach, said Boston City Councilor Gabriela Coletta Zapata, who represents East Boston, Charlestown, and the North End. So, if we have a declining surface, and we have relative sea level rise, that in turn creates more frequent flooding events, more severe flooding events, said James Heiss, Ph.D., an associate professor of hydrogeology at the University of Massachusetts-Lowell. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This sinking phenomenon is called subsidence. It is occurring in other cities like San Francisco, New Orleans, and Miami. Heiss said that even though the rate of depression is measured in millimeters, the negative effect is real. In New England, in Massachusetts, subsidence contributes about 15% of sea level rise. One contributing factor in cities like Boston is the sheer weight of development caused by heavy skyscrapers. Another reason particular to this region is traced back to the Ice Age. Heiss explained that the weight of glaciers forced the crust of the earth downward while along the perimeter of a glacier, the land would actually rise up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There was sort of this seesaw effect. Heiss added that now the land surface where the glaciers once sat is rising and the area along the perimeter is now subsiding. Sinking is about the last thing Boston needs. According to www.sealevelrise.org, the sea level has risen 8 inches since 1950 in the Boston area. Its expected to swell another 6 inches over the next 15 years. In some areas, it can lead to structural issues with building foundations, Heiss said. Thats why subsidence poses a threat to places like Bostons Back Bay which was built up with fill and expanded back in the 1800s. Councilor Coletta Zapata said her district in particular will be hit first and worst. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What concerns her most now is the sunny day flooding that happens during King Tides. Shes worried about when the next big storm hits Boston. The question that for me now remains is a matter of when, not if. The councilor told Boston 25 News this issue of subsidence is on the minds of city officials as they discuss climate change initiatives. When I hear that scientists are saying that Boston is sinking, I think about the real-world implications it has on the people that live in my district. . . these are peoples homes. So, what does it mean when thousands of people have to be displaced or businesses have to move because the flooding just becomes so overwhelming? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Coleta Zapata said the biggest challenge for Boston right now is figuring out how to pay to fortify the citys 47-mile-long coastline. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Nov. 21AUGUSTA A Republican lawmaker from Sanford accused of choking his wife less than two weeks before Election Day won his seat in the Maine House by a single vote, following a hand recount Thursday. The seat has been held by Rep. Lucas Lanigan, a Sanford Republican who was charged with aggravated domestic violence assault for allegedly choking his wife. He was challenged by Democrat Patricia Kidder. The race for House District 141, which represents parts of Shapleigh, Newfield, Sanford and Springvale, ended in a rare tie on election night. A hand count on Thursday determined Lanigan won by a single vote, 2,478 to 2,477, over Kidder. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The result was announced after lawyers from each party huddled for nearly two hours to discuss whether they agreed with the results. There were two disputed ballots. One appeared to have been a test ballot that was accidentally included with real ballots and the other had both candidates marked, Secretary of State Shenna Bellows said. House Minority Leader Billy Bob Faulkingham, R-Winter Harbor, said the one-vote margin shows that "every vote counts." He said Republicans came within 60 votes of winning a majority in the House and 225 votes from winning 78 seats. "I think the state of Maine has taken a major shift in our direction," Faulkingham said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ALLEGATIONS Lanigan is finishing his first term in the House. Less than two weeks before the election, he was charged with aggravated domestic violence assault, a Class B crime, after allegedly choking his wife during an argument. The alleged assault took place 11 days before the election. An affidavit says Lanigan choked his wife after she confronted him about an affair. Police issued a warrant for his arrest and Lanigan turned himself in to police the following day. He did not enter a plea at his first court appearance. His wife asked the judge and prosecutors to drop the charges, but Assistant District Attorney Linda Holdsworth-Donovan said victims regularly recant, sometimes because of pressure from the alleged perpetrators, and that the state was still pursuing charges against Lanigan. As of Thursday, the charge against Lanigan was still pending, according to a court clerk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democrats quickly called on Lanigan to resign and drop out of the race, but Republicans stood behind him, saying he deserved to have his day in court before being judged. Incoming House Majority Leader Rep. Matt Moonen, D-Portland, said Democrats continue to have concerns about Lanigan serving in the House while facing felony assault charges. "The allegations are very, very serious," Moonen said. "We are concerned about whether he should continue his service in the Legislature while those types of charges are pending. It is not ideal for the people of Shapleigh, Newfield and Sanford to have someone who is more focused on defending himself from criminal charges than representing their needs." Faulkingham agreed that the charges are serious, but said Lanigan deserves his day in court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "They're very serious charges, obviously," he said. "I think that's what led to this being a very close race. But Rep. Lanigan has due process, and this will all get sorted out in court." Kidder appeared to win the seat on election night. But election officials in Sanford discovered a mistake in the tally. Once corrected, the race ended in a tie, with each candidate earning 2,476 votes. More than half of the total votes were absentee ballots cast before Lanigan was arrested. According to the secretary of state's office, 1,306 absentee ballots were received before incident was reported, including 394 Republicans and 370 unenrolled voters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bev Uhlenhake, chair of the state's Democratic Party, noted that a significant portion of the votes came before reports of accusations against Lanigan and called the alleged incident "disturbing and disqualifying for anyone purporting to represent the people of Maine." "While Rep. Langian is entitled to his day in court; the people of Shapleigh, Newfield and Springvale deserve better," Uhlenhake said in a statement Thursday night. "I call on Maine's Republican Party & House leadership, Chairman Joel Stetkis & Minority Leader Billy Bob Faulkingham, to join me in demanding Rep. Lanigan's immediate resignation from the Maine State House." Lanigan did not respond to voicemails or emails Thursday night requesting a response to calls for his resignation and his reaction to the tight race. THE RECOUNTS Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The race is one of 11 recounts being conducted for state legislative races by the secretary of state's office an unusually high number. So far, six recounts have confirmed the election night winner five Democrats and one independent. A second recount involving Sanford candidates in House District 142 was canceled Thursday after Amy Bell, the Republican challenger to Rep. Anne-Marie Mastraccio, withdrew her request for a recount. Mastraccio led by 64 votes, with a margin of victory of 1.64%, slightly above the state's threshold. Democrats expect to hold at least 77 seats in the 151-seat House, enough to for them to maintain their majority. (Not including this race.) Republicans are expected to have 72 seats. And there are two independents, who won races against Republicans. The recounts are being taking place in a spacious room with a dozen tables at the Department of Public Safety headquarters in Augusta. Republicans and Democrats have a representative at each table along with a state election official. Four tables are sorting ballots, while the other eight tables are conducting the recount. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lawyers from each campaign periodically bounced from table to table to determine voter intent on disputed ballots and those that may have been marked as an overvote by the tabulator. Deputy Secretary of State Julie Flynn, who is the longest serving state election official in the country, said she has only seen one other tie in her nearly 30-year career a primary in Yarmouth. "It doesn't get any closer than a tie," Flynn said. Staff Writer Daniel Kool contributed. ------ How to get help IF YOU or someone you know has experienced domestic violence, you can call the Statewide Domestic Abuse Helpline at 1-866-834-4357. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FOR ASSISTANCE during a mental health crisis, call or text 888-568-1112. To call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, call 988 or chat online at 988lifeline.org. TO LEARN more about domestic violence prevention and response in Maine, visit the Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence website. FOR OTHER support or referrals, call the NAMI Maine Help Line at 800-464-5767 or email helpline@namimaine.org. Copy the Story Link The Red Cross is helping two people after a fire destroyed a West Milton home late Wednesday night. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The West Milton Fire Company responded late Wednesday night to the 1200 block of S. Miami Street on reports of the smell of smoke inside a home. There were potentially two people trapped inside, according to social media. As previously reported by News Center 7, several fire departments responded to provide mutual aid. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When firefighters arrived, they found the front of the house and much of the roof was on fire. There were two people outside the home. The department posted a photo on its Facebook page. It showed flames surrounding the house. The home was located 1,200 feet off the road down a narrow lane. First units on the scene initiated an aggressive attack into the front door and through the basement, David Jay, West Milton Chief told News Center 7. The first units on the scene initiated an aggressive attack into the front door and through the basement. The advanced stages of the fire and water supply issues complicated the attack. We eventually had 2,500 feet of supply line on the ground to supply our ladder and attack engine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The estimated cost of damages is $360,000. Jay said the fire appeared to have started on the porch. Tipp City, Union, Ludlow Falls, and the Laura Fire Departments provided mutual aid. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Nov. 22The Salvation Army has set a goal of raising $176,000 during this year's Red Kettle campaign, and it's already well on its way to the finish line. The nonprofit organization hosted its annual Kettle Kick-off at the Lodi Grape Festival's Cabernet Hall Thursday, and announced after a three-minute round of donations, that it had collected $153,461 this season. The Red Kettle Campaign, a nationwide fundraising drive where volunteers stand outside local businesses with donation kettles, ends Dec. 24. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Major Mark Thielenhaus said he hopes $150,000 could be raised by volunteers collecting donations in red kettles throughout Lodi this holiday season. He said that goal is roughly double than what was raised last year, but he believed it could happen. "Last year we did very close to ($176,000), and even after the campaign ended, people were still giving," he said. This season, the Kiwanis Club of Greater Lodi raised the most donations among civic organizations collecting $8,124. Lodi Tokay Rotary Club raised $6,465, while Lodi Rotary Club raised $6,029. And for another year, Annette Murdaca raised the most individually, collecting more than $79,000 for the campaign. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thielenhaus said the Salvation Army, like other organizations and community members, has seen its share of challenges. "We had a couple key donors that have been faithful to give for years, and through no fault of their own, still love the Army, but said they had to delay giving for a season," he said. "Some of you may also know that occasionally the prices of things go up. And we've had that experience at the Salvation Army as well." Despite an increase in costs and a decrease in donors, the organization still continues to serve the community, he said, noting that this year, 100 new families walked through the Hope Harbor doors for more than two months in a row this year, Those families, he said, had never sought help from the Salvation Army and needed help this year to make ends meet, he said. Just in October, Thielenhaus said, the organization sent 1,349 carts of food to residents in Lodi, and seven clients were admitted to rehabilitation centers. Eight new people arrived at the organization's shelter seeking assistance to get their lives turned around, he added, and two men were able to move into transitional living situations. One man was able to find permanent housing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Although our methods and plans sometimes have to shift a little, it's still our commitment to meet needs right here, in Jesus' name in Lodi," he said. "This past year has tested us with challenges, and there are some challenges ahead. The Salvation Army does not do retreat real well. We're made to advance." William Foster is one of the organization's former clients who was recently able to turn his life around after five years on the streets. Foster said he began drinking and smoking as a teenager, and became a father to two children in his early 20s. He thought becoming a parent would help him kick his bad habits, but he said he was too selfish to change. He said he soon realized he was not meant to be a father and had no patience for children, and also did not want to spend the rest of his life with them or their mother. At the age of 28, he said his outlook on life was pessimistic and he could not grasp the responsibility of parenting so he became homeless. "I chose to abandon my children and live on the streets," he said. "The feeling of being free I loved it. I had no responsibilities and I could finally do what I really wanted to do. Becoming homeless was frightening at first, but as I continued using, I made some new friends." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Foster said he spent five years on the streets, digging his meals out of garbage cans and spending his time angry and alone. During his time on the streets, he overdosed once, almost drowned in the river and had his leg broken after he was run over in a crosswalk. He soon met a woman and developed a relationship, and they eventually tried to become clean and sober through the Salvation Army. Foster said it took several attempts for him to turn his life around. It wasn't until he was hit by the car that things began to change. On Nov. 23, 2023, Salvation Army staff told him he had one last chance to change, and he said he took it seriously. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Salvation Army has restored me," he said. "It's working in all aspects of my life. I have consideration for others in my life. I have made a change for the better, and I know for sure the Salvation Army has performed a miracle on me." The Red Kettle campaign ends Thursday, Dec. 5. To donate, visit lodiredkettle.org. To volunteer and ring bells to collect donations, visit registertoring.com. In many states, the 2024 election saw citizens voting for more than just presidential candidates; contentious races for House of Representatives and Senate seats cropped up across the nation, and state and local measures on high-importance issues held places on ballots nationwide. While some cities or states saw proposals related to issues like abortion, taxes and local infrastructure, others saw propositions related to workers rights and wages. Alaska, Arizona, California, Massachusetts and Missouri were among them. More from Sourcing Journal Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The propositionsmostly focused around increasing the states minimum wagessaw varying success throughout the country. California Prop 32 Perhaps the most widely discussed minimum wage proposal was Californias Proposition 32, which would have increased that states minimum wage to $18 an hour. If the proposition had passed, it would have made Californias minimum wage the highest in the nation; the minimum wage would have immediately increased to $17 an hour for all companies with more than 25 employees. On January 1 the wage would have climbed further to $18 an hour for those companies. For companies with fewer than 25 employees, the $17 an hour minimum would have taken effect on January 1, and the $18 an hour minimum would have gone into force on January 1, 2026. It also would have provided cost-of-living increases to the minimum wage on an annual basis, based on the consumer price index (CPI) with a cap of 3.5 percent. However, the states proposition, which lacked support from the California Chamber of Commerce, failed in a vote with razor-thin margins. As of Nov. 21, 100 percent of votes had been reported, and 50.8 percent of Californians voted no on the proposition; 49.2 percent had voted yes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before the election, the chamber said Prop 32 would lead to higher costs, fewer jobs and a reduction of available work hours for employees in the state. Jennifer Barrera, president and CEO of the California Chamber of Commerce, said the organization was glad to see the results. CalChamber opposed Prop. 32 because it would have resulted in higher costs for small business employers and consumers, Barrera said in a statement. With the economy and costs top of mind for many voters this election, that message appears to have resonated. The votes failure comes on the heels of a statewide minimum wage increase for fast-food workers to $20, which Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law in April. Alaska Measure 1 Voters in Alaska approved a measure on the ballot that will increase minimum wage to $15 an hour by July 1, 2027. The measure also ensures employers of 15 or more give their employees the chance to accrue paid sick timeup to 56 hours annually. For companies with fewer than 15 employees, the paid sick time accrual allotment drops to 40 hours annually. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nearly 58 percent of Alaskans voted yes on the measure, while just over 42 percent voted no. On July 1, 2025, the minimum wage will increase to $13 an hour; in July 2026, it will go up to $14 an hour and will reach the full $15 promised in July 2027. Similar to Californias failed Prop 32, Alaskas Measure 1 provides that the wages will be reevaluated and adjusted annually after 2027 based on cost of living. Like those who were anti-Prop 32 in California, those who opposed Alaskas Measure 1 cited the potential for the requirements to hurt small business, pass increased costs onto consumers in an area where the cost of living exceeds that of many other areas in the United States and reduce the number of Alaskans in the workforce. In an opinion piece penned for the Alaska Beacon, the heads of several trade groups and the Alaska Chamber voiced their dissent for the measure prior to the election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Organizations like ours are sounding the alarm because we understand whats at stake for the businesses and workers we represent. Alaskans deserve better than this one-size-fits-all approach that fails to address the unique challenges we face. We need policies that support both employers and employees, not measures that drive up costs and hurt the people they mean to help, they wrote at the time. Meanwhile, proponents of the measure argued that it would bring Alaskans wages to parity with other West Coast states; Alaskas current minimum wage of $11.73, the lowest among nearby states like California, Washington, Oregon and Hawaii. Missouri Prop A Like Alaska, Missouri voters were presented with a proposal that bundled provisions for paid sick time with an increase in minimum wages. Proposition A put forth the chance for Missouri residents to see the state minimum wage increase to $13.75 on January 1, 2025, with an additional increase to $15 an hour at the outset of 2026. The minimum wage in the state today is $12.30. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The proposal also stated that employers would be required to provide one hour of accrued sick time for every 30 hours an employee worked. Unlike Alaskas sick time measure, Proposition A did not include a cap on that sick time. On Election Day, voters passed Proposition A57.6 percent of Missouri residents voted yes, and 42.4 percent voted no. The states three Democratic strongholds, the cities of St. Louis, Columbia and Kansas Cityas well as their surrounding areasbrought in a large proportion of the votes. People in those areas also voted at a higher rate for Vice President Kamala Harris. However, the states southeast corner also voted heavily in favor of Proposition A, despite a majority also voting for President-elect Donald Trump. The proponents and opponents of Proposition A shared similar sentiments to the labor group leaders and trade groups in California and Alaska. Massachusetts Question 5 While Alaska, California and Missouris ballot measures focused on the at-large minimum wages in those states, Massachusetts and Arizona had measures focused on tipped workers minimum wages on the ballot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Massachusetts proposal, called Question 5, would have incrementally increased tipped workers minimum wages until they reached the state minimum wagecurrently $15in 2029. According to the measure, tipped workers would have been able to earn tips on top of that. The minimum wage for tipped workers in Massachusetts today stands at $6.75, provided that the tips they make bring their average wage for the day to the state minimum wage of $15 an hour. If the tips do not fill that gap, the employer must pay the employee the difference. The proposal failed overwhelmingly in the blue state, with 64.4 percent of Massachusetts residents voting no, and 35.6 percent voting yes. Question 5 faced serious opposition from a variety of groups and individuals, including Massachusetts Governor Maura Healy, who called the measure a well-intentioned effort brought by out-of-state interests in an interview with Boston Public Radio. The interests Healy referred to come from nationwide labor group One Fair Wage, which is leveraging its resources to launch similar campaigns in various states. The groups Massachusetts campaign page notes that low wages are a significant driver for workers leaving Massachusetts restaurant industry. While Question 5 was one attempt to bridge the gap the group says the state has, it is also working with state politicians on legislation around the minimum wages. Arizona Prop 138 Voters in Arizona faced a more complicated proposal than those in Massachusetts when it came to tipped wages. Proposition 138 stated that, if passed, it would allow an employer, for any employee who customarily and regularly receives tips or gratuities, to pay up to 25 percent per hour less than the minimum wage, if the employer can establish that the employee is paid at least the minimum wage plus $2.00 per hour for all hours worked. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Simply put, that means that, unless tipped workers were making at least $16.35 hourly when including their tips, employers would be required to pay them the state minimum wage of $14.35, then allow them to earn tips on top of that. Today, Arizona law stipulates that as long as it can be proven that an employee makes at least the minimum wage when including their tips, an employer can pay that person up to $3 less per hour. That means that rather than adding tips on top of their wages, employees are left to bridge the gap between $11.35 and $14.35 with their tips. Prop 138 would have made that threshold higher, in turn making it more likely that employers would have been required to pay tipped employees the full minimum wage. Ultimately, Prop 138 failed, with just under three-quarters of residents voting no, and just over 25 percent of Arizonans voting yes. The Arizona Restaurant Association, Save Our Tips AZ and the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Phoenix were among the groups who wrote to Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs in support of the now-failed proposal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Danny Seiden, president and CEO of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Phoenix, said the chamber strongly supported the passage of Prop 138, which he argued would have been an improvement for workers, the economy and small business owners alike. This measure strikes the right balance between fair wages for employees and economic viability for businesses. Voting yes on this measure will ensure that tipped workers receive fair compensation while supporting the continued growth and success of our local economy, he wrote in correspondence to Hobbs. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) At the newly renovated Vernier Science Center on the campus of Portland State University, every detail of this building was intentionally designed with Indigenous people, culture and education in mind. The renovation was guided by a BIPOC student advisory board to ensure students feel connected to a place and supported in their studies. Emma Johnson, the Indigenous Traditional and Cultural Knowledge Coordinator at PSU, guided KOIN 6 News on a tour of the facility, providing information and background along the way. Johnson, who is a Cowlitz Tribal member and also Norwegian, grew up in southwest Washington on ancestral homelands. Emma Johnson, the Indigenous Traditional and Cultural Knowledge Coordinator at PSU, 2024 (KOIN) She said PSU wants to welcome specifically underserved BIPOC students in STEM to make sure that they know that this building supports their identities and their connections to their own respective sciences that are not Western science. Specificity by floor Each floor of the building is named: Wapato (the basement floor), then Salmon, Cedar, Juniper and Mountain Huckleberry. She said the purpose of the buildings signage is to connect people to place and make them more aware of whose land that theyre on and how the Native peoples of this region, their descendants, are still actively participating in community and tending to the land. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On each floor, visitors can scan a QR code to listen to those Native languages and see the bios of the speakers who are sharing their voices with you. Food lab Vernier Science Center also features a new food lab for the Indigenous Traditional Ecological and Cultural Knowledge (ITECK) Program. Were hoping to be this space that can uplift food sovereignty. And what I mean by that is people having the ability to process their own foods, know where those foods are coming from, know how it was preserved. We dont know those things when we buy food from the grocery store, Johnson said. A new food lab for the Indigenous Traditional Ecological and Cultural Knowledge (ITECK) Program at the renovated Vernier Science Center at PSU. 2024 (KOIN) Were working with Oregon State University Extension and theyre offering a food preservation class for urban Native folks to get certified in food preservation. Its not just for our students, its also for our Native community members to come in here and have access to basically, I dont know, a very fancy area that has all of the things that they might need to can salmon or preserve and work with corn. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Johnson said they want to make sure the space is used for more than just their program to provide folks that might not have access to an area like this with the opportunity to connect and learn. Art and culture reflected Throughout the Vernier Science Center, indigenous art and culture is reflected from ceiling designs that mimic weaving to an installation that features the four directions. There are also works by BIPOC alumni and regional artists in common spaces around the building. A carving done with Western red cedar done by a local Grand Ronde artist underscores the art and culture involved. Carving is such an incredible cultural practice that not everybody has access to, let alone understands what goes into it, like how you pick the tree, how you engage with that tree when you harvest, and what you give back for that harvest. Theres a lot that goes into the behind the scenes work of creating a piece of work like this, Johnson said. Highlighting a local tribal members artistry is really important and art provides comfort and connection and this ability to be in a space that recognizes that is really important. Libraries A new Indigenous library is inside the renovated Vernier Science Center. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were just trying to change what libraries really look like for our students on campus, especially students that are in the ITECK program, because theyre not just doing normal coursework. Theyre getting out on the land, working with the land, and they might need to rent waders for processing and collecting seed, the wetland, for example, Johnson told KOIN 6 News. A new Indigenous library is inside the renovated Vernier Science Center at PSU, 2024 (KOIN) Students in the ITECK program are working toward a certificate that helps them bring indigenous ways of thinking into the modern world. Our students come from a diverse array of backgrounds. We have students that are Native to this region, students that are Indigenous to places all over the world, folks that are non-Native, but are really trying to be very intentional accomplices in their work. And so, we have students coming from social work, environmental science, biology, liberal studies, social sciences, anthropology, like students are coming from all kinds of different disciplines and pursuing the certificate to bring forward with them into their respective careers, she said. Many of them are really just trying to build that connection to place, be good stewards, be really important connectors and community and uplift indigenous voices and teachings, which we need that, we cant do this work alone. What the future holds Work toward the future of Indigenous education, culture and community continues at PSU. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Currently we are deep in the design phase for our ITECK center on campus, which is located on our urban Oak Savanna, she said. There are also micro prairies and other important traditional foods and medicines that the birds and the pollinators really love. And one of the coolest things about this project is that were collaborating with the School of Architecture and have been since 2019, Johnson said. So its going to be probably the coolest building on campus. I love the Vernier Science Center. Its awesome. But once the ITECK Center is done, were hoping to open in fall of 2026, its going to be a game changer of lifting up an outdoor classroom, supporting Urban Oak Savannah restoration and revitalization, and really showing students how we can do that in an urban center. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. Police said the girl's remains were found "concealed under a plastic tarp" under some brush in a wooded area off of Moonshine Road in Lebanon County PA State Police Ruth Elizabeth Brenneman Ruth Elizabeth Brenneman Human remains found in Lebanon Township, Pennsylvania, in 1973 have been identified, officials in the state confirmed. Pennsylvania State Police Sgt. Josh Lacey announced in a press conference on Thursday, Nov. 21, shared by WHP-TV, that 14-year-old Ruth Elizabeth Brenneman of York County has been identified as the deceased girl found over 50 years ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He noted that her body had been found decomposed and concealed under a plastic tarp under some brush in a wooded area off of Moonshine Road approximately 47 miles from where she was from by two county game wardens on Oct. 10, 1973. The cause of death at the time was ruled undetermined. Lacey noted that investigators tried to identify the girl by creating two busts one through forensic analysis and another with the help of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children of what she could have looked like. However, it wasnt until her body was exhumed from a Lebanon County cemetery in 2016 for further analysis that a match was finally found. He said with the assistance of Astraia Labs and the Pennsylvania State Police they were able to positively identify her body this past October, through genealogy gathered after her remains were exhumed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. Lacey said Ruth was last seen in the beginning of the 1973 school year, noting that she had left for school one day and never returned home. He noted that the Pennsylvania State Police were continuing their investigation into her death, and noted there was some level of suspicion to her death given the way she was found. He said the coroners office was still determining whether her death was a homicide. PA State Police Ruth Elizabeth Brenneman Ruth Elizabeth Brenneman Related: Human Remains Identified as Portland Teenager Who Went Missing 54 Years Ago Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State Trooper Ian Keck also shared at the press conference that identifying Ruth was a key step in the investigation, as it would help them get a better idea about who she "associated with" and her "different activities" leading up to her disappearance. Just because we identified her today, that doesnt end our investigation, Keck said, per the Associated Press. Learning about her everyday life and who she associated with is a key part of this investigation. Lacey also shared a statement from the girl's family during the press conference, in which they expressed their gratitude for the work the officers have done in helping to identify Ruth and noted that their work has provided us some closure on questions that have lingered for the past 51 years. The Pennsylvania State Police have asked anyone with any information on the case to contact them at 1-800-472-8477, or t psptipsemail@gmail.com. GALLATIN, Tenn. (WKRN) A Christmas tree that displayed support for the LGBTQ+ community was recently taken down at a public library in Gallatin. The library has more than 20 Christmas trees on display around the building. Each tree is sponsored and decorated by different organizations. This year, one of the trees which was decorated with Pride colors garnered attention on social media and was quickly taken down at the direction of County Mayor John Isbell. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cut down your own Christmas tree at Land Between the Lakes He told News 2 the tree broke the decoration policy. For example, trees with political statements were not allowed. However, some residents believe the trees removal was done with deep meaning. A lot of this does seem like its not about the trees. It seems like its a lot more about what the trees represent, said Abby Bowers, a former Gallatin resident. I think a lot of people were really upset that, especially at Christmas time, that something like this would happen, said Hilary Lounder, a concerned resident. It kind of makes our county appear that were not inclusive and accepting, and thats the farthest thing from the truth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Spring Hill Public Library to reopen to public Friday Id like to say this was really shocking, but it really wasnt. My understanding is, Christmas is supposed to be to celebrate Jesus love for everybody. So it seems kind of counterintuitive to remove the tree, Lounder continued. The pride tree was dedicated to the Major Minors youth chorus, a branch of Nashville in Harmony, which is Tennessees first musical arts organization specifically created for people of all sexual orientations and identities. However, the organization told News 2 they did not sponsor the tree themselves. A parent did so anonymously. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The organization said they are disappointed by the trees removal. They added their mission is bigger than any object or symbol and that they will continue to use our music to build community and create social change in Middle Tennessee. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com Meanwhile, Isbell confirmed that he ordered the tree be removed, to prevent further escalation of tensions. In a statement, the Sumner County Mayors Office wrote, in-part: The decision comes after careful consideration of the trees association with a political statement, which has raised significant concern with the community and violated the terms of their agreement to place the tree. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement News 2 asked for a copy of the policy that was used for the decision to take the tree down, but has yet to receive it as of publication. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. Rep. Pamela Stevenson, the newly elected Kentucky House Democratic floor leader, speaks on the House floor during the 2024 legislative session. (LRC Public Information) Kentucky House Democrats have elected Rep. Pamela Stevenson of Louisville as their floor leader; she will succeed Rep. Derrick Graham of Frankfort who did not seek reelection to the House this year. Rep. Al Gentry of Louisville was chosen as House Democrats caucus chair and Rep. Lindsey Burke of Lexington as House Democratic whip. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kentucky Democratic Party Chair Colmon Elridge said in a statement, This team of proven fighters which includes the first Black woman to lead a legislative caucus in the Kentucky House will hit the ground running on day one, delivering common-sense solutions that lower the cost of living for working families, provide students a quality public education, and keep our communities safe. Pamela Stevenson, an attorney and retired Air Force colonel, ran for state attorney general in 2023 when Republican Russell Coleman was elected. KDP chair Elridge also thanked outgoing House Democratic leaders Rep. Cherlynn Stevenson of Lexington, who narrowly lost her race for reelection earlier this month, and Rachel Roberts of Newport who did not seek reelection. Republicans retained their supermajorities in both chambers of the legislature this year. Republicans hold 80 and Democrats 20 state House seats. In the Senate, Republicans hold 31 seats and Democrats 7. The legislature convenes for the 2025 regular session in January. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The head of the U.S. delegation headed to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly says Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus arrogance on defense spending threatens the future of the alliance. The Assembly is gathering in Montreal, and Rep. Mike Turner is certain to call out Canada. The Trudeau policies are the freeloading policies of a NATO of decay. If everyone had the policies of Trudeau, there would be no NATO, said Turner, who also serves as vice chairman of the Defense and Security Committee of NATO Parliamentary Assembly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Canada is expected to spend 1.37 percent of its gross domestic product on defense this year, well below the two percent target that heads of government agreed to in 2014. Members recently agreed that 2 percent should be a minimum, as concerns grow over Russias prolonged invasion of Ukraine. Trudeau insisted this week that his government has a concrete track to hit the minimum target by 2032. The world is getting more dangerous, more unstable, which is why we've committed to reaching the 2 percent, why we've almost doubled our investments in defense over the past years, and will continue to over the coming years, he told reporters at the G20 in Brazil. Canada is set to purchase submarines, upgrade its investments in NORAD and strengthen engagements around NATO, he said. Its still not quick enough for many Americans, especially under President-elect Donald Trump. Turner told POLITICO if countries like Canada dont step up, then there will need to be consequences for those who cheat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Republican lawmaker spoke to POLITICO this week about the Assembly, Canadas defense capabilities and his motivation for writing an op-ed that called Canada's prime minister NATOs greatest threat. The interview has been edited for length and clarity. Why did you write the Newsweek op-ed? The biggest threat to the future of NATO are those countries that are not performing. How do you feel about Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus defense policies? The Trudeau policies are the freeloading policies of a NATO of decay. If everyone had the policies of Trudeau, there would be no NATO. Think about the generations of lost capabilities, pilots, military capabilities, military strategists, that are not being handed down in the Canadian military because the military has so atrophied in its expenditures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You also just dont have the intellectual and physical capabilities of a generation of military leaders. Canada is a country of vast size and resources, but yet its military leadership has just starved. The Trudeau leadership has been of incredible arrogance that it has believed it is above the need to understand that the threats to democracy is authoritarianism. And the only preservation we could have for democracy is having a strong defense. Trudeaus policies have outsourced it. They have freeloaded on the backs of the American taxpayer. And the call from all the alliance that Canada agreed to also is that everybody pay their own fair share and get to above the 2 percent has been an obligation that the Trudeau administration just failed to achieve. Whats your message in Montreal this week? Every NATO parliamentary assembly meeting, the U.S. delegation continues to deliver the message of the need for countries to deliver on their 2 percent obligation. And it is not the United States imposed two percent obligation. It was a collective unified agreement of NATO countries to meet the 2 percent. Nations that have made that commitment and failed to achieve it are reneging on their own commitments. When do you think Canada will face consequences? The Trump administration has begun the process of saying ... NATO has begun the process of saying, if you knowingly and willingly agree to a financial commitment to NATO that you walk away from, you ought not to be equal to everyone else because youre being disingenuous. Youre being dishonest saying that youre going to meet a commitment that you dont. You are cheating everyone else and that has to be addressed to some extent by everyone else whos not cheating. Last year Donald Trump said he would encourage Russia to attack delinquent NATO nations. How should Canada interpret that message knowing he is going to become president come January? I would disagree that he actually said that. Look, if were going to have collective defense and collective obligations, you need to meet those collective obligations. If Canada does not meet those obligations, will there be repercussions? There are going to have to begin to be consequences for countries who cheat. Do you know what that would look like? No, but I think the dialogue needs to happen because countries are sending other nations the bill. Theyre also cheating their own countries because if you dont invest in your own country, your own industry, in your own capabilities, in your own people, you are robbing your future. Do you think Canada has control over its sovereignty if it doesnt have a strong defense? Well, it certainly doesnt have the ability to defend itself and to live up to its obligation in the NATO alliance to defend the alliance. What do you think of Trumps secretary pick, and what do you think his relationship with the Trudeau government will be? The United States has strong relationships with the Canadian people and certainly our military has strong relationships with the Canadian military. The issue becomes, is the Canadian government past the Trudeau administration going to value the Canadian military enough to make the requisite investment to honor it. Should Trudeau not survive the next election, whats your expectation of the next prime minister? Really for the future of Canada, anyone who picks up any reports from NATO and looks at what has happened to Canada over the past 20 years the direction in Canadian investment, specifically in the last 10 would know that Canadian leadership has got to change its focus to improve military investment. What do you make of Canada hosting the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Montreal and the Halifax International Security Forum despite not meeting its spending targets? Canada needs to stop being a bystander and the host and [start] being an initiator and a strong member at the table. Adding to the slender but growing body of research regarding outcomes for students with disabilities, the Center for Learner Equity has released a report describing innovative strategies 29 diverse charter schools and school networks have created to meet their needs. While some capitalize on the independent schools flexibility to rearrange elements of the classroom day as needed, and many have developed teacher hiring and retention strategies, the reports author says the main takeaway is that the most promising developments are the result of cultures that hold general and special educators jointly responsible for the success of all students. It comes back to the idea that the whole school owns the experience of students with disabilities, says Chase Nordengren, director of research for the nonprofit organization, which focuses on improving disabled childrens outcomes. They make sure general education teachers feel as prepared to meet the needs of students with disabilities as special educators. Put Students First: Support Journalism That Exposes Truth and Inspires Action. Donate to The 74 This stands in marked contrast to the way special education services are typically delivered, with students with disabilities pulled out of regular classrooms to receive instruction and therapies that general educators frequently know little about. Though experts have long decried this approach, which flies in the face of research showing disabled children achieve more in integrated classrooms than when isolated, charter and district-run schools often resist becoming more inclusive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To that end, the new report makes recommendations aimed at helping charter schools which typically enjoy a high degree of autonomy in exchange for meeting academic and financial performance targets address persistent inequities in how students with special education plans are served. Charter authorizers the organizations that grant schools permission to operate and oversee their performance should consider offering the schools they supervise technical assistance and specialized expertise that standalone schools may struggle to acquire, such as teacher training and a central hiring pool. All schools, regardless of type, should find ways for general and special education staff to collaborate and collect and analyze data about students with disabilities, the researchers recommend. Disability advocates have long complained that while over the last decade charter schools have become more accessible to families whose children need alternatives to traditional classrooms, little effort has been invested in identifying systemic improvements. Since 2008, the number of children with disabilities attending charter schools, which have historically enrolled fewer than their district-run counterparts, has risen steadily, from less than 8% to 11.5% in 2021, according to data from the Government Accountability Office and the U.S. Department of Education. Throughout that time, charters have enrolled 2% to 3% fewer special education students than traditional schools. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But even as enrollment has increased, outcomes for children with disabilities have barely budged, the centers researchers concluded earlier this year, following a two-year investigation. On the whole, charter schools do not outperform their district-run counterparts, even though they exist in part to develop effective ways of meeting the needs of historically underserved students. Almost no special education students are given access to college-readiness classes and programs, for example. Related Report: Almost All Disabled Students Lack Access to College Readiness Programs Following the July release of a report on those poor outcomes, the center turned its attention to a survey of schools that, intentionally or not, enroll higher-than-average numbers of students with disabilities. The new report describes some promising strategies. One 10-year-old Atlanta-area school enrolling grades 6 to 12, Tapestry Public Charter School, was founded on the principles of a longstanding but little-used strategy called universal design for learning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Broadly described, this means educators provide instruction in a variety of forms to enable all students disabled or not to engage with it. Staff have two hours a day to plan together and to collaborate with therapists, behavior specialists and other service providers. Half of Tapestrys 266 students receive special education services, and all core classes are co-taught by a special educator and a general ed teacher. This allows for personalized, small-group instruction in which educators can identify and address individual skills gaps. This both makes sure kids get the specific help they need and [arent] called out or singled out as needing it, says Nordengren. Everybody gets the support. A Washington, D.C., school serving 221 Black and low-income boys in grades 4 through 7, Statesman College Preparatory Academy was designed to provide structure for all of its students, including the 29% who need special education services. The school also employs a therapist who works one-on-one with staff. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We can do personal development better than we can do professional development, founder Shawn Hardnett told the centers researchers. And what we find is that people are better professionals because weve done personal work. In New York City, Mott Haven Academy is a pre-K-8 charter school founded to meet the needs of students impacted by the child welfare system. One in four students has a disability, and a third lack stable housing. Drawing on mental health and behavioral supports, the school uses the same instructional approaches with all 451 pupils, whether they qualify for special education or not. Mott Haven uses its flexibility as a charter school to structure staff time to allow educators and disability service providers to collaborate. One example: Instead of pulling a single student out of class for extra help, a speech-language pathologist helped the childs teachers redesign their instruction strengthening the general education teachers skills. Other common strategies include hiring general ed teachers who want to work with children with disabilities and special educators, and investing in ongoing training. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 29 schools surveyed landed on similar strategies, but for the most part did so independently, as they sought ways to address their students varied challenges, Nordengren says. What surprised me more than anything is how different these schools look from each other, he says. Each found a way to identify the particular needs of its students. Disclosure: The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation provided financial support to the Center for Learner Equity for this research and provides financial support to The 74. CRANE COUNTY, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- A Texas Department of Public Safety crash report has shed new light on a two-vehicle crash that left four people, including three Buena Vista ISD teens, dead Wednesday night. According to that report, around 6:45 pm on November 20, troopers were called to FM 1053, about one and a half miles south of SH 329 in Crane County to investigate a fiery crash. At the scene, investigators found a 2024 GMC Sierra and a 2012 Jeep Wrangler involved in a head-on collision. Troopers said the driver of the Sierra, identified as 48-year-old Gary Don Liles, of Odessa, was traveling southbound on FM 1053 while 18-year-old Jackie Jurado Perkins was traveling northbound in the Jeep. Jackies twin brother, Jaden Jurado Perkins, and their 16-year-old sister, identified by loved ones as 16-year-old Nautica Carrasco, were riding as passengers in the Jeep. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ECSO launches fundraiser to help family following devastating crash Investigators said both vehicles collided but have not yet determined what led to the crash. Upon impact, troopers said the Jeep caught fire and was fully engulfed when investigators arrived on the scene; all three teens died at the scene. Liles was taken to a hospital in Odessa where he also succumbed to his injuries and died. The investigation into the crash is ongoing. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Yourbasin. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) Nearly a dozen Middle Tennessee hospitals have been found in violation of price transparency, according to one report from a patients rights group. Across the state, only eight of nearly 70 hospitals reviewed were found to be in compliance with federal law, according to the report. New details of MNPD MOU with CRB released by Mayor Freddie OConnell In 2021, the federal Hospital Price Transparency Rule took effect, meaning hospitals are required to provide clear, accessible pricing information online. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cynthia Fisher, founder and chair of PatientRightsAdvocate.org, is passionate about patients knowing what theyre going to pay before receiving care. Price transparency protects patients, Fisher said. How?When we can see prices on where to get an MRI for $300 versus paying over $3,000, were able to shop. The report, published by Fishers website, found that only 12% of hospitals in Tennessee were found to be compliant with the federal standard. Further, only nineteen percent had sufficient pricing data. For over four years now, all consumers of healthcare are to know all actual prices from hospitals upfront before we get our care, Fisher said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you come across a hospital not willing to be upfront with pricing, Fisher said there are ways to stand up for yourself. To file a complaint about a facility not being compliant, contact the United States Department of Health and Human Services. You can just tell them its your right by law to know the prices in advance of your care and you would like to know what your insured rate is for the services rendered and what your expected out of pocket will be as well as what is that discounted cash price, Fisher said. Oftentimes, the discounted cash price is far cheaper than even your insured rate and the share you pay as a co-pay. Compared to the organizations February report, compliance has slipped in Tennessee; then, half of as half of hospitals reviewed were compliant. If you believe youve been overcharged, or for another way to check hospital pricing, you can visit their website. Its your money and we find that patients can actually negotiate and get the prices that are fair because theres plenty of profit to be made even in a fair price, Fisher added. Its the price gouging and the overcharging that we have the power to stop. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were all excited: Conservancy organization celebrates executive order to protect Duck River Several hospital associations named in the report responded with the following statements: Nashville General Hospital is dedicated to meeting all requirements of the CMS Pricing Transparency Rule. We are pleased to confirm that all required information is available on our website, ensuring compliance. The recent PRA report regarding NGHs compliance highlights a minor formatting issue in one file, where the header begins on row 2 instead of row 1. We appreciate this being brought to our attention and are actively working to resolve it. Thank you for your understanding as we continue to prioritize transparency and accuracy. Cathy Poole, Chief Marketing Officer Ascension Saint Thomas adheres to federal price transparency regulations and also provides patients with tools to estimate costs and offer feedback. Ascension Saint Thomas has no unresolved notices of non-compliance from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) the sole authority for verifying compliance with federal price transparency rules. The American Hospital Association (AHA) has consistently refuted the misleading reports on price transparency issued by Patient Rights Advocate as inaccurate. Our commitment to price transparency is steadfast, and we will continue to work with CMS to maintain compliance and ensure patients and consumers have access to the most current pricing information available to make informed healthcare decisions. Ascension Saint Thomas spokesperson VUMC remains committed to giving its patients the highest level of care regardless of their ability to pay. Prices for services, including those for pediatric services, are posted on our website. As always, our customer service representatives stand ready to assist patients and families seeking price assistance or in applying for community and government-sponsored programs. To obtain cost information, patients can visit the Vanderbilt Health website for Department of Finance for information on financial assistance eligibility. The website also provides a cost estimator tool that allows prospective patients, whether insured or uninsured, to estimate their costs for many common procedures and services. Jessica Pasley, Media Relations Manager, Monroe Carell Jr. Childrens Hospital at Vanderbilt Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. A U.S. Energy Information Administration report showed utility-scale battery storage capacity is rapidly increasing, helping the nation inch closer to meeting climate goals by 2030, reported EcoWatch. As of August 2024, capacity reached 21.4 gigawatts. This is a massive increase from the mere 4 megawatts the U.S. had in 2010. A surge in battery storage capacity began in 2020 and has reached an all-time high, with capacity increasing by 5 gigawatts in the first seven months of 2024 alone. This increased storage is a welcome addition to previous storage capacity, as renewable energy sources like solar and wind have also increased. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Increased battery storage is also critical for supporting the nation's electricity grids and balancing out power supply and demand to decrease power outages. Out of all the major U.S. power outages reported between 2000 and 2023, weather was responsible for 80% of them, according to Climate Central. More extreme weather as a result of rising global temperatures will lead to more power outages. Batteries don't generate energy, but storing it to be used when needed helps make the power grid and, in turn, our communities more resilient. John Moura, director of reliability assessment and performance analysis at the North American Electric Reliability Corporation, told the Guardian, "It's been extraordinary growth." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moura added, "It's still technology that we are getting used to working with because the system wasn't designed for it, but from a reliability perspective it presents a golden opportunity. This changes the whole paradigm of producing electricity, delivering it, and consuming it. Storage gives us a bit of a time machine to deliver it when we need it." Elevating our usage of renewable energy sources like solar and wind not only protects communities during extreme weather events, but it's also more affordable and cuts down on pollution output. Battery storage and solar energy have been the predominant sources of new utility-scale electricity generation capacity installed during the first half of 2024 in the U.S., per EcoWatch. Moura commented to The Guardian, "There are a lot of changes happening but monstrous action is still needed if we are going to make this energy transition." Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. A group of American Indian leaders in Colorado began to organize three years ago to study the history of Native Americans in our state. Their work is called the Truth, Restoration and Education Commission. Rick Williams, who is Oglala Lakota and Cheyenne, is President of People of the Sacred Land, the nonprofit that led the effort. / Credit: CBS Williams recalls the work to fundraise and hire researchers to pore over maps and historical records, "We picked 1850 as a year and we used only those tribes who had treaties and gave up land in Colorado." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The result is a series of recommendations, including a proposal to enact a fee on future real estate sales in Colorado to raise $80 million annually to distribute to Tribes. "We would like to see the state of Colorado and the federal government own their responsibility for restoring justice to Indian people in Colorado," said Williams. "It isn't doing land acknowledgments. It's about restoration. It's about restoring land. It's about helping us protect sacred sites. It's about trying to find ways to maybe bring these people home." Williams says large swaths of land in Colorado were taken by the U.S. government without Tribes formally ceding them. As settlers moved west, land was granted to homesteaders, institutions like Colorado State University, and the railroads. / Credit: People of the Sacred Land The researchers say land illegally taken from Tribal Nations in Colorado today would be worth more than a trillion dollars. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It was the intent of the United States government to erase us, the Indian problem, and they had every intention of trying to do everything they could to eliminate us," said Williams. He envisions an embassy to welcome Native people home to Colorado. And the building of an American Indian cultural history center. He said, "We want private landowners to know that we're not going to disturb their ownership rights. Our people went through that they've been alienated from their land for 150 years, and they don't want that to happen to anybody." Williams says there is plenty of land in the state available for restoration. And he adds that if Indians are ever to see any justice, they'll have to rely on the goodness of people. / Credit: People of the Sacred Land "It's absolutely amazing that we're still alive, that we still exist, that we still have a presence because the creator must have been watching out for us and we're supposed to be here," added Williams. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the recommendations of the commission was for CSU to return "19,000 acres of land of the original land grant to those Tribal Nations that it was illegally taken from." CSU sent CBS Colorado the following statement: "CSU is focused on building relationships with tribal nations, partnering with tribal leadership, developing and supporting programs and initiatives, and addressing university Native American issues. Examples of ongoing programs and initiatives include: In 2011, CSU created the Native American Legacy Award to provide in-state tuition to qualified out-of-state Native students. Since its inception in 2011, NALA has benefitted more than 400 CSU Native students.The Native American Cultural Center collaborates with campus partners to ensure a successful educational experience for students by providing support and services. Established in 1979, the office embraces and encourages a supportive environment based on the traditions and cultures of Native American peoples.Patrese Atine joined CSU on March 1, 2023, as its first Assistant Vice President for Indigenous and Native American Affairs. AVP Atine reports directly to the President and leads CSU outreach to Tribal communities, works with the CSU community on Native and indigenous issues on campus, and partners with Tribal leaders to increase student engagement and retention.The Native American Advisory Council to the President was established in 2018 to provide expertise and guidance to university leadership in designing strategies and promoting activities that support and address priorities for Native students and employees at CSU. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under state law, the Colorado State Land Board manages CSU lands. Some of the lands granted to CSU generate income, and a CSU System Board of Governors policy instructs a portion of that revenue from the endowment land income fund is used for the benefit of Native American students, faculty and staff." Williams said there should be greater accountability about the CSU lands endowment, "There never has been a public hearing about this issue and there should be for greater accountabilityThis issue goes beyond the land granted by the Morrill Act of 1862. What about the unceded land? How about a full accounting of the money generated each year? How come is there no input from the Tribes whose land was taken? What about the current land, shouldn't that be returned? What about the oil and gas revenue?" The office of Governor Polis said through a spokesman that it's received the TREC reports and is reviewing them. Read the full TREC reports here: https://peopleofthesacredland.org/ Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Humans in the Loop I Sunday on 60 Minutes NATO, Ukraine holding emergency meeting on Russia's new missile targeting Ukraine Will the Senate embrace Bondi for attorney general after Gaetz withdrawal? Senator Bill Cassidy stood up to Donald Trump in 2021 after the January 6 riot he was one of seven Republicans who voted to convict Trump. And in January, he will become chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension Committee, making the Republican gastroenterologist from Louisana one of the most influential doctors in America. But when it comes to Trumps nomination of Robert F Kennedy Jr, who has for years spread lies and misinformation about vaccines, Cassidy wants a second opinion. So I know that sounds novel around here, but I would like to talk to him, he told The Independent, when asked about his thoughts on the conspiracist.He added that it seems like a lot of stories are being written, and I have to make sure that I form my opinion on my own. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cassidy is not alone. The Independent spoke to many of the Republican senators who are doctors and would be responsible for confirming Kennedy, and specifically asked them about his promotion of the debunked theory that vaccines cause autism. Almost uniformly, they did not want to speak about Kennedys promotion of health misinformation. Senator Roger Marshall of Kansas, an OB/GYN, remained mum. I think it's a long answer, and I'm late for a meeting, so I'm not going to give you an answer, Marshall told The Independent. Kennedy, the son of the late former Democratic attorney general and senator from New York, staged a campaign for president this cycle, first running as a Democrat to challenge President Joe Biden for the party nomination before running as an independent. Eventually, he dropped out and endorsed Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since then, Kennedy has pledged to Make America Healthy Again and in particular target American food companies, as well as health researchers, for an overhaul. But his criticism of vaccines particularly the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine and his postulation that it causes autism has raised the most alarm bells. In the past, Trump has also speculated about the link between vaccines and autism, once claiming that the United States was experiencing an epidemic of the developmental disability. But in 2020, Trump championed the creation of the Covid-19 vaccine during Operation Warp Speed. Kennedy has harshly criticized the Covid-19 shot, and made false claims about its safety. Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky, an opthalmalogist with long-held libertarian views, told The Independent: I think he'll be a great HHS secretary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think we have what we call regulatory capture large corporations taking over the regulation of drugs and abuse of the system for too long, Paul added. Paul, like Kennedy, criticized the scientific consensus around Covid-19, notably becoming the first senator to test positive for the virus in 2020. He also regularly jousted with Dr Anthony Fauci during HELP Committee hearings. Kennedy, for his part, wrote a book in 2021 entitled The Real Anthony Fauci. Senator John Barrasso of Wyoming will become the most senior doctor in the Senate when he becomes majority whip. He gave a more mixed assessment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wait to see what he says in the hearing, he told The Independent, before adding for clarity: Im pro-vaccine and anti-mandates. Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, a moderate Republican on the HELP Committee who is not a doctor, said she hoped to talk to Kennedy. I happen to believe particularly childhood vaccines are something really important, she told The Independent. As a parent, I want to make sure that I protect my kids from measles or mumps or rubella or whatever it is... We're pretty amazing in terms of what we have developed to keep people healthy. The News Senate Republicans have a new headache as they weigh Donald Trumps more divisive Cabinet picks: Their prospects in 2026 rest on defending incumbents and those same incumbents could face primary threats from the right if they dont vote yes. Republicans havent even officially taken the majority yet, but intraparty protection is already on their minds. And as speculation mounts that a handful of Republicans might withhold votes from Trump nominees, senators are keenly aware that many of the potential rebels against the president-elect are also up for re-election in two years. So any GOP senators who might consider crossing Trump whether theyre leadership allies or known for their independent streaks could risk his wrath at a time when MAGA-aligned groups are particularly inclined to threaten a primary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Depending on how the next year goes, as many as 10 Republican senators could face challenges from the right (whether theyre Trump-backed or not). Matt Gaetzs withdrawal as Trumps attorney general nominee relieves some pressure by sparing them a vote on the most polarizing pick, but Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Pete Hegseth and Tulsi Gabbard remain potential flashpoints. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said of the potential primary threat: If youre afraid of elections, youre in the wrong line of business. We need to be respectful of the presidents prerogative to nominate his people and to have this team, Cornyn told Semafor. But its our job to vet them. Both so the public can have confidence in them, and also so the president can learn things that he may not know about that would be potentially embarrassing for him and his administration. Trump allies are already floating the idea of primary battles with GOP senators who defy the president-elect. Steve Bannon, a former Trump adviser whose War Room show is influential on the right, told Semafor that Republican senators [who] vote against President Trumps nominees are signing their political death warrants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even so, those same GOP senators could benefit with swing voters in general elections by not marching in lockstep with Trump or his picks. The most obvious in that group is Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, a ticket-splitting veteran who says she will treat Trumps nominees the same way shes treated them under past presidents, vowing deference but rigorous vetting. Were going to protect the majority. Thats what enables us to do all the things that we want to get done on the Trump agenda, Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, the incoming GOP leader, told Semafor. Hopefully well figure a path forward on [nominees] that enables the president to be successful and implement his agenda and set ourselves up for success in 2026. The 2026 Senate map has plenty of GOP incumbents who are already girding for challenges from the right, like Cornyn and Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, not to mention Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, who voted to convict Trump in his second impeachment trial. Cassidy will have to vote twice on Kennedys nomination, once in committee and on the floor, while overseeing a courtesy hearing. And hes already making his pitch for re-election as a number of Republicans, including state treasurer John Fleming, are weighing bids for his seat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ive not announced. But Im continuing to raise money and I have more cash on hand than any incumbent senators had running for re-election in Louisiana, Cassidy told Semafor, referring to a nearly $6 million war chest. With Trump, Cassidy added: I expect a good working relationship. I voted with him about 90% of the time last time, provided a lot of his policy initiatives on health care. I anticipate the same thing this time. Know More Senators interviewed for this story said any political squeeze from the MAGA camp will not weigh on their votes most of them know its been seven years since a sitting Republican senator, Alabamian Luther Strange, lost a primary. Trumps vow to challenge Thune in 2022 fizzled, and a more serious effort to defeat Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski also failed. That doesnt mean its not on senators minds. I imagine they think about it, said Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., said of his colleagues. He predicted that token defections are unlikely to prompt a volcanic reaction from Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As long as they get confirmed, hell be OK. He understands the art of the deal and the dynamics of the Senate. But thats where leadership helps, right? To make sure he understands the strategy and whats necessary, Cramer said. At the same time, trying to predict Trump is often a challenge. I cant imagine that the presidents approach would be: If you vote against any one nominee, I would primary you. That would seem counterproductive, one GOP senator said. However, this senator added: It would not surprise me if President Trump or some of his allies did end up opposing one or more members based on their opposition to one or more Trump nominees. The View From A Senate Republican incumbent Gabbards pick to be intelligence director, Kennedys to lead the Department of Health and Human Services and Hegseths to helm the Pentagon are the most challenging so far for incumbent senators to take on, particularly in the battleground states that will dominate 2026. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, another incumbent up for re-election wholl have to vote twice on Hegseth, professed no worry about the pressures. Were going to work on vetting the presidents nominees, and were just going to continue having conversations with them. And you know what? I think its all going to work out, she said. Burgesss view Ive talked to a lot of Republican senators about the Cabinet; almost all of them agree, either privately or publicly, that theyre not looking to exert some huge drag on Trump. And raw politics are part of that equation. Senators with the most independent voting records, like Collins or Murkowski, dont fear retribution from Trump in a primary. Neither does Mitch McConnell, who is stepping down as leader. Everybody else, though, has to pay close attention to their standing with Trump if they want to win re-election or even still maintain influence over the next two years. That means it may not even take a primary threat to smooth the way for Trumps picks. My hope is that my colleagues will give everybody a fair hearing and ultimately vote to confirm, said Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo. If we do our job, get a Cabinet in place that he trusts, execute on the agenda he talked about, were going to have great success in 2026. Senate Republicans are signaling that they are open to Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s nomination to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) despite his long-standing support of abortion rights and concerns emanating from anti-abortion voices about his selection. Several leading anti-abortion figures and outfits have expressed concerns about Kennedy. But while Senate Republicans say they have questions for Kennedy on the topic of abortion, they also indicate that they could end up backing him largely out of deference to President-elect Trump. Donald Trump was elected to shake up things [from] Washington business as usual, and I think thats the type of nominees hes picking, said Sen. Ted Budd (R-N.C.), a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee. President Trump is pro-life, so I dont think therell be any question with those who ultimately affect policy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kennedy, the one-time presidential candidate, sought the HHS post and has pushed to make America healthy again if he is given the nod by the upper chamber in the coming months. He has obstacles to overcome, headlined by his stance on vaccines and his call to remove fluoride from drinking water two moves that would come under intense opposition. But its his abortion-rights stance that is most anathema to Republican orthodoxy after the party helped cement the 6-3 conservative majority on the Supreme Court that overturned Roe v. Wade two years ago. Some Senate Republicans have indicated that they expect Kennedy to be scrutinized on that topic specifically when he meets behind closed doors with Senate Republicans individually and during his potential confirmation hearings after Christmas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That is a list of questions Im going to have for him during the confirmation process, said Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.), one of the foremost anti-abortion Senate Republicans. The Trump administration was pretty clear and consistent on all of those life issues at HHS in the first administration. I would assume theyll be just as clear in the second one. The newly minted member of GOP leadership noted that its not just Kennedy hell be looking at through this lens, adding that the eventual Food and Drug Administration commissioner nominee will face similar questions on the topic. He also signaled that he expects the Senate GOP conference to care more broadly about Kennedys stance on abortion. Thats a core issue at HHS, Lankford said. Thats entirely appropriate for us to get a chance to talk about it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its not just Senate Republicans who acknowledge the importance of the issue. Kennedy himself has privately acknowledged that he must navigate the issue effectively to win the requisite 51 votes. Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), a top Trump ally, told The Hill that he and Kennedy discussed his leanings on abortion rights, with the ex-presidential candidate noting that he is trying to further Trumps priorities, not his own. He says: You know my position on it. But Im also serving at the will of the president of the United States and representing his administration, and I respect that position, Mullin said of Kennedy. So that should be good enough for most people, Mullin added. Theres people who have different opinions in our conference too who are still Republicans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This has not stopped some leading anti-abortion figures from calling on members to spike Kennedys nomination. Former Vice President Mike Pence railed about Kennedys stance and at the idea that someone with those leanings would lead HHS under a Republican president. I believe the nomination of RFK Jr. to serve as Secretary of HHS is an abrupt departure from the pro-life record of our administration and should be deeply concerning to millions of Pro-Life Americans who have supported the Republican Party and our nominees for decades, Pence said in a statement. However, most anti-abortion groups arent following his lead. Instead, they have indicated that they are willing to give him some grace and wont slam the door in his face at the outset. Lime many newcomers to the conservative pro-life movement, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. needs further education on the reality of abortion and its harmful effects on children, women, public health and our nation, said John Mize, CEO of Americans United for Life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mize pointed to Kennedys comments during the Iowa state fair last year that he supported a federal abortion ban at 15 to 21 weeks of pregnancy as an encouraging sign that he will continue to take steps that align with the anti-abortions movement. During his long-shot presidential bid, Kennedy said at the 2023 Iowa state fair that he would support a federal abortion ban after the first three months of pregnancy if he were elected president. He quickly tried to backtrack on his comments and posted on the social media platform X that he believed abortion should be unrestricted until the point of fetal viability or around 24 weeks of pregnancy. Ive been a medical freedom advocate for my entire career and have fought for bodily autonomy, and I trust womens maternal instincts, he wrote. What if the baby has some fatal condition that ensures it will survive just hours or days after birth in intense suffering? Can we, should we, legislate such painful decisions and take them away from the mother? Is a bureaucrat or judge better equipped than the babys own mother to decide? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kennedys campaign also released a statement explaining that he had misunderstood the questions asked by the reporter, blaming the miscommunication on the crowded and noisy fair hall. Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life Action, said the organization is looking forward to speaking with Kennedy about his promise to make America healthy again and how his plan to do so addresses abortion. RFK Jr. has a proven track record of holding health care bureaucrats accountable for putting public health first, over political interests, Hawkins told The Hill. There is no more weaponized agency than HHS, where whatever is good for the Democrats big donor Planned Parenthood gets fast-tracked. Kennedy will need to win the trust of some more skeptical members of the anti-abortion movement if he wants to secure his confirmation as HHS secretary, however. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I admire RFK Jr., but he wont get confirmed if he clings to abortion after Kamala Harriss historic failure to sell it as a winning issue. Just as he bailed on other out-of-touch Democratic positions, he must abandon his outdated stance on abortion, said Shawn Carney, the CEO and president of 40 Days for Life. You cant crusade against Snickers bars in the name of health while discarding the unborn. Its inconsistent, unbelievable, and out of step with the pro-life majority, he added. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. WASHINGTON House Oversight Committee chair James Comer (R-Ky.) announced Thursday that Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) will chair a new subcommittee named after an internet meme from the early 2010s. President-elect Donald Trump tapped entrepreneurs Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to head an advisory panel called the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, thats tasked with identifying trillions in government waste. Not wanting to be left out, Republicans on Capitol Hill this week created a caucus (an informal group of lawmakers with shared interests) called Delivering Outstanding Government Efficiency, and now an official subcommittee, named Delivering on Government Efficiency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A lot of what DOGE is trying to do would fall under the legislative jurisdiction and the Oversight Committee, Comer said Thursday in an interview with right-wing influencer Benny Johnson. The acronym DOGE (pronounced dodje) refers to a once-popular image macro featuring a Shiba Inu dog with excerpts of its inner monologue represented by superimposed text. Heres a DOGE meme for the new subcommittee, courtesy of HuffPost: An example of the DOGE meme. Arthur Delaney Im excited to chair this new subcommittee designed to work hand in hand with President Trump, Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy and the entire DOGE team, Greene told Fox News Digital, which first reported the new committee. Musk has said he could easily cut at least $2 trillion out of the $6.5 trillion federal budget, which is an extremely unrealistic goal, especially if DOGE doesnt touch Social Security, Medicare or programs for veterans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite having the word department in its name, Musks DOGE initiative is not an official federal agency, and is more like the kind of ineffectual blue-ribbon commission that policymakers have often established when they cant figure out how to solve a complex policy problem. Its supposed to be up to Congress to decide how the government spends money, but Musk and Ramaswamy claimed this week they would pioneer new constitutional authorities for Trump to make their cuts without giving Congress a say. (Editors note: Ramaswamy holds shares in BuzzFeed, HuffPosts parent company.) The lawmakers getting in on the DOGE action seem to want to make common cause with Musk and Ramaswamy while reminding the duo whos actually in charge of spending. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It takes an act of Congress to do some of the things that they want [done]. If were going to cut anybody, or if were going to make changes, then Congress has to act, Rep. Aaron Bean (R-Fla.), co-founder of the new DOGE caucus, told HuffPost. Were the good government committee that tries to root out waste, fraud, abuse and mismanagement in the federal government, Comer said. So everything that Musk and and Ramaswamy are talking about pretty much falls under the House Oversight Committee. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), the top Democrat on the committee, mocked the new DOGE subcommittee in a statement. Its hard to keep track of all the new departments and bureaucracies the Republicans are setting up to study the size and efficiency of government, Raskin said. So now a noted student of American government, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, will chair a subcommittee to work with two unvetted billionaires who stand to receive billions more in government contracts and subsidies from the government under Trump. A reputed member of the Mexican Mafia was wounded in a shooting Saturday that left a second man dead in Los Angeles County, authorities said. At 11 p.m., Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies responded to a Veterans of Foreign Wars hall on Valley View Avenue in La Mirada, where they found two men with gunshot wounds in the parking lot, Lt. Steven De Jong said. Eric Ortiz, 34, died from gunshot wounds to the chest, De Jong said. The lieutenant declined to name the surviving victim, who remained hospitalized in critical condition. A law enforcement source who wasn't authorized to speak publicly identified him as Juan Garcia, a Mexican Mafia member known as "Topo." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement De Jong said a group of gang members who were not veterans had rented the VFW hall for some type of gathering. Most attendees had left by the time police arrived, and De Jong said his detectives have "no suspect information whatsoever." Originally from the Florencia 13 gang, Garcia, 63, served more than 17 years in federal prison for racketeering. He was convicted of inciting a riot at the Lompoc prison in 2003. Read more: Mexican Mafia settled scores with killing at Long Beach homeless camp, records reveal That melee started after prisoners brewed up a batch of contraband alcohol known as pruno, according to a law enforcement report reviewed by The Times. A lieutenant was escorting an inmate to his office for a breathalyzer test when Garcia stepped in front of him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "You are not taking anybody," he told the lieutenant, then shoved him. "Den les en la madre," Garcia said to the other inmates in the module, which prison officials translated as an order to assault the guards. Eight inmates attacked the lieutenant, punching, kicking and choking him, the report says. As he and about 40 other staff members tried to escape the cellblock, Garcia demanded that one of the officers apologize to him. The officer hesitated. An inmate punched him in the face. "I'm sorry," he told Garcia, who then let the staff leave, according to the report. The document says they carried with them a Muslim chaplain who had been beaten unconscious and a food services worker who had been attacked with a broomstick. The cellblock emptied of prison officials, Garcia broke all the glass in the module and sprayed a fire extinguisher, the report says. With the help of other inmates, he barricaded the entryway with washing and vending machines, then proceeded to smash all of the televisions, microwaves, sprinkler systems and ice machines. Other inmates also beat a prisoner who did not participate in the melee, according to the report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The associate warden issued riot gear and masks to the guards, who quelled the riot with tear gas, pepper spray, and "flash stun" and "multi blast" grenades, the document says. Twenty-eight staff members and four inmates, including Garcia, suffered injuries ranging from cuts and bruises to a hernia and serious head trauma. "This was a show of power on the part of inmate Garcia," an investigator wrote in the report. After pleading guilty to the crime of rioting at a federal facility, Garcia was sentenced in 2005 to another six years on top of his racketeering term. A year after his release in 2020, Los Angeles Police Department officers were patrolling 64th Street in South L.A. when they saw a silver Volkswagen Passat double-parked on the wrong side of the street, according to a probation report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They saw the driver, Garcia, hand a gun to a man standing next to the car, the report says. The man took off running. When the police caught up to him, the 31-year-old member of Florencia 13 seemed afraid to answer my questions and denied knowing Garcia, the arresting officer wrote in a report. Read more: The Mexican Mafia Tapes: Secret recordings reveal greed, betrayal and a deal with the feds Convicted of possessing a gun as a felon, Garcia was sent back to federal prison in 2022 to serve 15 months. Before he was sentenced, Steve Quinonez, chief executive of the Florence Firestone Community Organization, wrote in a letter to the judge that Garcia volunteered for his group. A "great leader with a big heart," Garcia mentored young people not to take "the wrong path in life," he wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement De Jong, the sheriff's lieutenant, asked that anyone with information about Saturday's shooting contact detectives at (323) 890-5500. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. ODESSA, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)-Meet Elvis and Eden 2-month-old Border Collie mix puppies look for forever homes. The puppies have had their first set of vaccinations and are quickly approaching their second set. Fix West Texas offers low-cost spay and neuter, vaccinations as well as surrenders for families who can no longer care for their furry friend. They also offer a food pantry for pets that offers little to no cost food options for dogs and cats as well as the various pet tools. As the holiday season approaches, there will be there restricted hours for a listing of that, just head to their website. If you are interested in adopting these furry friends, you can find more information here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. LIMESTONE COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT) Construction on a controversial rock quarry will remain at a standstill in the community of Belle Mina and frustrated homeowners will live to fight another day in the year-long battle. A Limestone County judge decided to extend a temporary restraining order imposed last week that stopped construction on the quarry in Belle Mina marking another small victory for people living there. 3 men charged in Lawrence County copper theft, agencies trying to recover copper in Tennessee River Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have been awakened at 11 p.m. at night and my wife is looking at me like what was that baby, I dont know, said Larry Fletcher who lives in Belle Mina. Fletcher explained how disruptive it was like living near the rock quarry prior to construction being stopped. He along with his neighbors packed the Limestone County Courthouse Thursday witnessing arguments from the Plaintiff and Grayson Carter and Son along with Stone LLC, the two companies involved with the quarry. Pastor Cody Gilliam has been vouching for the community and says the Alabama Department of Environmental Management did not properly determine the racial and economic makeup of the area prior to issuing a permit for the quarry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Second Albertville City Schools student dies after Wednesday wreck Gilliam and the rest of Belle Mina are pursuing multiple ways to prevent it from becoming a reality. The Title IX complaint was filed against the EPA against the Alabama Department of Environmental Management alleging racial discrimination, Gilliam told News 19. We have a majority-minority community that is majority impoverished. Whats most concerning for residents like Fletcher is how they say the quarrys presence will impact daily life if the order is lifted and construction resumes. Its disrupting our lifestyle and our homes, Fletcher said. We dont know if our homes are going to be affected by the blasting, we all have old historic homes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The people of Belle Mina are anxiously awaiting a judges decision hoping operations at the quarry will remain halted during the litigation process. However, after this latest injunction, its unclear when that ruling will happen. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com. Retired Army Gen. Mark Milley defended women serving in military combat roles on Wednesday as he seemingly slammed comments by former Fox News host Pete Hegseth, Donald Trumps pick to run the Department of Defense. Dont lecture me about women in combat. Women have been in combat and it doesnt matter if that 7.62 hits you in the chest, no one gives a shit if its a woman or guy who pulled that trigger, youre still dead, said Milley, a former chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during the president-elects first term. Milley, who has notably described Trump as a total fascist and the most dangerous person ever, made the not-so-subtle jab at Hegseth over remarks he made just days before Trump announced him as his defense secretary pick. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im straight-up just saying we should not have women in combat roles. It hasnt made us more effective, it hasnt made us more lethal, it has made fighting more complicated, said Hegseth in an appearance on the Shawn Ryan Show. Hegseth later clarified that he was referring to women in physical, labor-intensive roles in the military. Im talking about stuff that would need strength as a differentiator. Pilots? Give me a female pilot all day long, I got no issues with that, said Hegseth, a controversial choice for the DOD post who has faced a sea of questionsover a 2017 sexual assault allegation. Hegseths remarks would later get pushback from Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), an Army National Guard veteran who lost both her legs when her Black Hawk helicopter was attacked during the Iraq War in 2004. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I would ask him, you know, Where do you think I lost my legs? In a bar fight? Im pretty sure I was in combat when that happened, Duckworth said in an interview with CNNs Kaitlan Collins last week. Milley, who addressed the National Security Innovation Forum on Wednesday, emphasized that someones readiness standards are what matter in the military. If you meet the standards, our military must be and always should be a standard-based, merit-based military. Period, full stop. It doesnt matter if youre white, if youre Black, if youre a man, if youre a woman, if youre a Catholic, if youre a Protestant, Milley said. He later continued, Do you meet the standard or not? If yes, pass go, collect 200, join the infantry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Milley: Dont lecture me about women in combat. Women have been in combat Acyn (@acyn.bsky.social)2024-11-21T22:28:15.919Z Related... Fourth Judicial District Attorney Michael Allen spoke after the hearing and a full recording of the press conference can be viewed in the video player above. UPDATE: FRIDAY 11/22/2024 11:31 a.m. (COLORADO SPRINGS) Jon and Carie Hallford, owners of the Return to Nature Funeral Home in Penrose, appeared in El Paso County court on Friday, Nov. 22 at 10:30 a.m. for a plea hearing regarding their state charges which include more than 200 criminal counts of Corpse Abuse, Money Laundering, Theft, and Forgery. Courtesy: Muskogee County Detention Center, Jon and Carie Hallford Mugshots. On Friday, both Jon and Carie Hallford pled guilty to 191 counts of Abuse of a Corpse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This has been a huge emotional struggle for all the families that are present, Fourth Judicial District Attorney (DA) Michael Allen said during a press conference on Friday. The impact on these family members has been immense. During the hearing, Jon Hallford said he knowingly treated the bodies found at the funeral home in an improper way. Carie Hallford also took the stand and said that Jon wanted to protect her from the conditions inside the funeral home and said she hadnt gone inside for well over a year. She admitted though, that she knew about the conditions, did nothing to prevent it, and allowed what was happening inside to continue. Both the Hallfords now face up to 20 years behind bars concurrent to their federal sentences, according to the plea agreement. On Friday, DA Allen also spoke on the importance of achieving guilty pleas from both defendants. These are Class 6 felonies and nothing about these particular charges on their own require any sort of prison sentence, he explained. These are all the lowest-level felony charges that we have in Colorado, these are all typically subject to the potential for probation, so the fact that we were able to get a guaranteed prison sentence out of these plea agreements is really important. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The judge estimated that the federal sentencing would take place sometime in March 2025 and that the state sentencing would be on April 18 at 9 a.m. in El Paso County court. The judge also stated that he would not be taking victim statements until he had all the information during the state sentencing. The judge did make a distinction that he is accepting the guilty pleas but not necessarily the plea agreement, Allen added. He is going to reserve judgment on that until we get to that April 18th day in 2025. The Hallfords will both remain in custody until sentencing. ORIGINAL STORY: Return to Nature Funeral Home owners set to appear in El Paso County court for plea hearing THURSDAY 11/21/2024 4:26 p.m. Jon and Carie Hallford, owners of the Return to Nature Funeral Home in Penrose, will both appear in El Paso County court on Friday, Nov. 22 for a plea hearing regarding their state charges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The hearing, originally scheduled for Nov. 8, was rescheduled to Nov. 22 at 10:30 a.m. due to a snowstorm in Colorado Springs and across the state. According to the Associated Press (AP), in late October, the Hallfords pled guilty to federal fraud charges for defrauding customers and the federal government. Both also face more than 200 criminal counts in Colorado state court including corpse abuse, money laundering, theft, and forgery. Oct. 4, 2024, marked one year since law enforcement discovered the nearly 200 improperly stored bodies after the Fremont County Sheriffs Office (FCSO) initially responded to 31 Werner Road in Penrose on reports of a suspicious incident. About a month later after the initial investigation, on Nov. 8, 2023, the Hallfords were arrested in Wagoner, Oklahoma. FOX21 News will be in the courtroom on Friday and will update this article as we learn more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado. The third season of In the Dark, a true crime podcast from The New Yorker, digs up a murder case that many people in power would prefer buried: the killing of at least 24 men, women, and children in Haditha, Iraq, by U.S. Marines in 2005. Only one Marine was ever convicted of a crime in relation to the massacre ("dereliction of duty") and he served no jail time. Through Freedom of Information Act lawsuits and an impressive amount of gumshoe reporting, In the Dark uncovers details about the incident and the cover-up that are even more disturbing than what was revealed at the time, including the existence of a 25th victim, who died in a military hospital without his family being informed. "What Band-Aids do you want to rip off? This is pretty hurtful in the first place," Col. Gregory Watt, who oversaw the Marines' initial investigation, tells In the Dark. "Lots of people's careers were destroyed for this." When the reporter asks about Iraqi survivors, Watt insists that they must have moved on, because Arabs "have different values than we do." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Safa Younis begs to differ. "To show the truth, so that their blood isn't spilled in vain, to hold accountable the ones who did this," Younis says, is the only way to do right by her dead parents and siblings. She was 11 years old when she hid from the Marines under a couch, covered in her sister's blood. Many Americans, including the Marines involved in the Haditha massacre, treat the war in Iraq as an embarrassing mistake to walk away from. In the Dark reminds us that the victims can't do that. It was their country that got invadedand they're the ones who have to live with the consequences today. The post Review: A True Crime Podcast About a Massacre in Iraq appeared first on Reason.com. What hes saying: In a resurfaced August 2020 video from a press conference in Germany, Kennedy described the pandemic as a part of a sinister scheme that was planned from the outset. Although he admitted lacking evidence to prove his theory, he said it was created as weapons of obedience for authoritarian regimes. In those same remarks, he also compared the health response to COVID-19 to Nazi Germany testing vaccines on Gypsies and Jews, calling it a biosecurity agenda that would enslave the human race. In another video filmed in Huntington Beach, California, in June 2021, he claimed the pandemic was created to impose totalitarian rule through psychological warfare orchestrated with the aid of CIA experts. ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. A man paroled in December 2023 from Missouri state prison became a one-man crime wave in 2024, suspected of committing several thefts across St. Louis County. Charges were filed in at least nine cases, but he no-showed multiple court dates. According to court documents obtained by FOX 2 News, Treveone T. Smith, 22, was arrested several times this year and has at least nine active cases against him in St. Louis County Circuit Court, with additional prosecutions and convictions dating back to 2019 in St. Charles County. Calls to the Missouri Department of Corrections and the Division of Probation and Parole shed some light on this rinse-and-repeat offender. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Smith was charged with multiple car thefts and other stealing counts in St. Charles County and was eventually sentenced to probation. However, Smith violated the terms of his probation and was placed in custody of the DOC on July 6, 2022, and ordered to serve an eight-year prison term. Smith remained in state prison until he was paroled on Dec. 22, 2023. Five weeks after his parole, police and prosecutors said Smith embarked on a six-month crime spree across St. Louis County. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Breaking News In the earliest 2024 case, Smith is accused of breaking into an Overland HVAC business on Jan. 29 and stealing a safe containing $3,500 in cash and collector coins. Investigators tracked the vehicle used in the theft to Smiths residence but were unable to arrest him because he was out of state at the time. Smith failed to appear at his October court date, and the judge issued a warrant for his arrest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Law enforcement in Creve Coeur and Ladue allege Smith drove to Chaminade High School on Feb. 15 and stole credit cards from a vehicle parked on campus. Police did not specify if the victim was a student or employee at the school. Smith and an accomplice were later spotted on surveillance video at Schnucks stores in Ladue and Creve Coeur using the stolen cards to purchase groceries in the amounts of $411.90, $158.16, and $811.90. He failed to appear in court, and arrest warrants were filed against him in September and October. On May 29, St. Louis County police said Smith broke into a vehicle parked in a strip mall in the 12400 block of Tesson Ferry Road, stole the owners debit card and other items, and used the debit card to purchase several hundred dollars worth of groceries from the Concord Schnucks. Police said Smith was arrested and confessed, and prosecutors said he skipped out on his court date. On June 9, Chesterfield police allege Smith stole checks and currency from Bonhomme Presbyterian Church. The incident was recorded on surveillance video, leading investigators to make an arrest. Smith has a criminal summons to appear in court on Dec. 16. Sunset Hills police said that on June 12, Smith stole a vehicle parked at Stieren Park and later used the victims stolen credit cards to make purchases at Schnucks stores in Ladue and Des Peres. He failed to appear in court in October. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On June 22, Smith is accused of breaking into a vehicle parked outside the Crestwood Government Center on Detjen Drive and stealing the victims wallet. Surveillance video shows Smith and others arrive at the parking lot in a black pickup truck and try car door handles to see if any vehicles were unlocked. The victims credit cards were used at the Kirkwood Target store to purchase gift cards in the amount of $819.48 and $206. Exactly one week later, Crestwood police said Smith and others drove a white pickup truck to the Crestwood Bowl parking lot and that Smith broke into at least one car and stole cash. Smith was eventually charged in both thefts but no-showed his court dates. On June 30, Smith allegedly committed thefts in Shrewsbury and Ladue. Shrewsbury police said Smith broke into a car parked at Wehner Park and stole at least three debit/credit cards. Those cards were used to purchase a pair of $400 prepaid Visa cards at a Dollar Tree store in Maplewood. Smith was charged and, once again, failed to appear for a scheduled October court date. Finally, Ladue police said Smith drove to a gas station at Clayton and South Price roads and went up to a womans car parked at the pump while she was inside the business. Smith entered the victims car and stole her purse, which happened to contain more than $25,000 in jewelry. Security video was used to identify Smith and make an arrest. Police located some of the victims stolen items. Earlier this week, a St. Louis County Circuit Court judge issued a criminal summons ordering Smith to appear in court on Jan. 6, 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thus far in 2024, the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorneys Office has charged Smith with one count of stealing $25,000 or more; two counts of second-degree burglary; one count of stealing $750 or more; three counts of first-degree property damage; one count of second-degree property damage; eight counts of fraudulent use of a credit/debit device; and seven counts of stealing. Following our search of St. Louis County court records, FOX 2 News discovered Smith has two additional cases in Jackson County from March of this year. Arrest warrants were issued in March and April, respectively. Smith is being represented by public defenders in each county while those cases are adjudicated. A spokesperson for the Missouri Department of Corrections said Smith was returned to state prison on Sept. 18 to continue serving his original 8-year sentence. FOX 2 is working to ascertain if Smith was arrested for any additional crimes and exactly when he was taken into custody for good. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. TOPEKA (KSNT) What fines or punishments could a drone operator face for interfering with an active scene with law enforcement? Jilian Angeline, Public Affairs Specialist with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) told 27 News when people fly drones near emergency scenes, it greatly impacts the response time. When people fly drones near emergency situations, law enforcement agencies may be forced to ground their aircraft to avoid the potential for a mid-air collision, Angeline said. Delaying airborne response poses a threat to first responders and threatens the lives of those they are helping. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Tuesday, Nov. 19, one person died, and one was injured as a result of a head-on collision on U.S. 77 in Geary County. Geary County Emergency Management posted on social media that a LifeStar helicopter that responded to the crash had trouble getting to the scene due to a drone flying south of the scene. KDOT warns drivers of traffic changes on U.S. 75 during winter months LifeStar and other helicopters have to abort if drones are around. This affects the crew, the people on the ground and the patients we are working to save. Statement excerpt from Geary County Emergency Management social media post Drone operators caught conducting unsafe of unauthorized operations risk facing fines up to $75,000. Along with the fine, the FAA can also suspend or revoke the drone operators pilot certificates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Angeline, local authorities can request that the FAA issue Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFR). This restriction can be put in place for the safety of the aircraft working in emergency response activities, according to the FAA. For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News. YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (MyValleyTributes) Rita Vicarel, 94, passed away peacefully and surrounded by her family at Hospice House Of The Valley on Tuesday, November 19, 2024. She was born in Youngstown on February 16, 1930, a daughter of John and Minnie Palermo. Find obituaries from your high school She grew up on the east side, attending Immaculate Conception grade school and graduating from East High in 1948. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her first job was elevator operator at Ohio Edison where she thoroughly enjoyed the social aspect of her position. Subsequently, she worked varied jobs throughout life but her most important role was wife, mother, grandmother and homemaker. Rita married Fred Vicarel on April 18, 1953. They raised three children and shared 66 wonderful years together until his passing in 2019. Family was the center of Ritas life. She leaves sons, John (Sandra) Vicarel and Fred (Anna) Vicarel; daughter, Lori (Frank) Mancini; grandchildren, Jeffrey (Jessica) Vicarel, Laine Vicarel, Sophia (Carmen) Marinucci, Anita Mancini and Valentina Vicarel; great-grandson, Jordan Vicarel; brother, Jack (June) Palermo and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Rita was preceded in death by her husband, her parents and infant twin sisters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rita was very social and loved to entertain. She enjoyed dancing, shows, sporting events and frequent get-togethers of family and friends which were joyful hallmarks. In 1948, she and her closest girlfriends from high school formed a monthly 500-bid card club which lasted nearly 70 years. She had large families on both sides, and so planned and impromptu gatherings were frequent. Ritas interests were varied and she loved chatting about any topic. She took interest in each new turn in the lives her children and grandchildren to stay abreast of what everyone was up to. Overall, she loved people and was always welcoming anyone who dropped by. When visitors left, her catchphrase was Come back Again. Rita especially loved cooking, baking and all sort of crafty projects. Her spaghetti sauce, meatballs, pizzelles and holiday treats were legendary, as well as her innovative and detailed decorating of family birthday cakes. After the family moved to Boardman in 1977 she began hosting Easter brunch and Christmas Eve Eve dinner on December 23. These family traditions are carried on to this day by her loved ones, near and far. The family of Rita Vicarel would like to extend a special thank you to her dear cousins, Mary Ann and Rosemary, the staff at The Inn at Ironwood where she resided since March 2023 and the staff at Hospice House who provided excellent care in the final days of her life. We are forever grateful for their kindness, compassion, and love. As we must now sadly say There she goes. Shes leaving us. We will miss her. There is a lifetime worth of loved ones on the other side that are joyfully proclaiming Shes here. Shes joining us. Now the party can start! Family and friends may pay their respects on Monday, November 25, 2024 from 9:30 10:50 a.m. at St. Charles Borromeo Church, 7325 Westview Drive, Boardman followed by a Funeral Mass at 11:00 a.m. with the Very Rev. Msgr. John Zuraw J.C.L., V.G. as celebrant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Burial will take place at Calvary Cemetery, Youngstown. Arrangements have been entrusted to the professional care of the Rossi & Santucci Funeral Home, 4221 Market St., Boardman. Family and friends may visit www.rossisantuccifh.com to send condolences to Ritas family. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Rita M. (Palermo) Vicarel, please visit our floral store. A television tribute will air Sunday, November 24 at the following approximate times: 8:58 a.m. on FOX and 9:58 p.m. on MyYTV. Video will be posted here the day of airing. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. ALBANY, New York Rep. Ritchie Torres will conduct a tour of New York as he considers a run for governor and sharply criticizes fellow Democrat Gov. Kathy Hochul as a liability on par with President Joe Biden before he dropped his presidential bid. Torres has not set a date for the journey or established where he'll travel. But visits to communities outside of his Bronx House district could raise his profile in upstate and suburban areas, where he is not well known. I will confess that Im hardly an expert on every county in New York. But I look forward to traveling throughout the state, he told POLITICO. I hope to embark on a listening tour and find out about the needs of New York state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an interview, Torres gave a withering assessment of Hochuls political standing and her approach to the job as the states chief executive. He drew a comparison to Democrats efforts this summer to pressure Biden to drop his reelection campaign a push that only intensified after a poor debate performance with President-elect Donald Trump. I fear that Hochul may be the new Biden, Torres said. She may be in denial about the depth of her vulnerabilities in 2026. In the case of Biden, instead of speaking out early, we waited until it was too late. Lets avoid repeating history and lets avoid sleepwalking toward disaster and defeat. Torres has recently stepped up his criticism of Hochul, who suffers from basement-level favorable ratings with New York voters statewide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He worries the governor is not up to the task of winning a second full term as GOP Rep. Mike Lawler also weighs a bid for governor. Hochul could easily lose to Mike Lawler in 2026, Torres said. A Republican has not won a gubernatorial election since George Pataki secured a third term in 2002. Since then, Democrats have achieved a statewide grip on power, controlling all branches of government in Albany and both U.S. Senate seats. But there are signs that Democrats, who hold a more than 2-to-1 enrollment advantage over Republicans, are slipping with voters. Hochul may not be able to reverse the party's problems, he said. The case could be made that we need a Democrat who can win a general election, not an unpopular Democratic incumbent who is in grave danger of losing to a Republican for the first time in 30 years, Torres said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps showing in blue New York the Republican received 43 percent of the vote against Vice President Kamala Harris alarms Torres. Trump performed better in nearly all corners of the state compared with 2020 including in Torres district. Hochul herself won in 2022 by only 6 points over Republican Lee Zeldin. The blue wall in New York state shows real signs of cracking, said Torres, a moderate who shares Hochuls staunch support for Israel. His concern with the governor is not based on ideology but with the perception of competence. He took aim at her decision to pause the congestion pricing toll plan in June only to revive it after Election Day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This reflects the kind of erratic and chaotic governance one would expect from a Trump presidency, he said. Its embarrassing. Torres is not a declared candidate, and in his interview with POLITICO, he also said people have raised to him the possibility of running for New York City mayor amid the legal troubles facing incumbent Eric Adams. He's also not the only New York Democrat who's voiced concerns over the party's chances in two years against Republicans in a statewide race. New York City Council Member Chi Osse this week posted on X that Hochul is in danger of losing in 2026. And Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine warned over the summer that Democrats were in danger of losing their statewide dominance if they did not shift course to reflect the concerns of working people a refrain that has only grown louder within the party nationally after Harris' loss to Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, Hochul has strengths she can draw on less than two years out from her reelection bid. She built out the state Democratic Committees political infrastructure to aid swing district House candidates, and the effort worked: Democrats flipped four seats (a figure that includes Tom Suozzis February special election win). Hochul is expected to leverage that new political muscle in 2026, drawing on lists of volunteers and voter data in key areas of New York like Long Island. Gov. Hochul is proud to have led New York Democrats in a successful election cycle, giving Congressman Torres four new Democratic colleagues in Congress, Hochul spokesperson Jen Goodman said. The governor remains focused on delivering results for New Yorkers, from driving down crime to lowering costs for working families. A version of this story first appeared in New York Playbook. ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) A Rochester man has admitted his role in a drug trafficking operation, the U.S. Attorneys Office said Friday. 48-year-old Shawnle McClary pleaded guilty to drug and firearms charges that carry a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison with the possibility of life. Prosecutors said between 2021 and January of this year, McClary conspired with several others to sell cocaine and fentanyl. He would package the drugs from a location on Forester Street to stash or sell them on Angle Street. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On January 17, investigators searched multiple locations including McClarys Mobile Drive property in Greece. They recovered cocaine, fentanyl, and drug paraphernalia, along with $7,682 in cash, and seven loaded firearms. McClary pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, five kilograms or more of cocaine and 400 grams or more of fentanyl, and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The investigation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force made up of several agencies. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst. Four Italian peacekeepers were injured when two rockets hit the headquarters of the UN peacekeeping troops in southern Lebanon on Friday. "Two rockets struck the Sector West Headquarters in Shama, injuring four Italian peacekeepers who are now receiving treatment at the base hospital. Fortunately, none of the injuries are life-threatening," said a statement issued by the UN Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL). The rockets, likely launched by Lebanese Shiite militia Hezbollah or affiliated groups, hit a bunker and a logistics area used by the international military police, causing significant damage to nearby infrastructure, the statement said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the affected structures caught fire, but the blaze was swiftly extinguished by base personnel, UNIFIL said. "This is the third attack on this UNIFIL base in Shama in a week. Todays attack comes amid heavy shelling and ground skirmishes in the Shama and Naqoura areas in recent days, heightening tensions in the region." The peacekeeping force said it strongly urges combating parties to avoid fighting next to its positions. Inviolability of UN premises and personnel must be respected at all times. ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) Rockford Police arrested Darryl Lyles III, 20, for allegedly battering two nurses and an officer. On November 19, around 4 p.m., an officer was called to the UW Heath Swedish American Hospital on East State Street due to a patient being disorderly. The officer jumped in to detain the suspect when he shoved a nurse, according to a police report. While Lyles was being detained, he shoved the officer and struck her in the face, according to court records. Both of them ended up on the floor during the encounter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The nurse who was shoved told police she saw Lyles grab the officer by the neck. Another nurse said he was kicked against the wall and pinned under a desk. Lyles is charged with two counts of aggravated battery of a nurse and aggravated battery of an officer. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyStateline | WTVO News, Weather and Sports. By Anita Komuves BUDAPEST (Reuters) - Romania and Bulgaria may become full members of Europe's borderless Schengen travel zone in January 2025, Hungary said on Friday, adding a final decision would be made at next month's meeting of EU interior ministers. Romania and Bulgaria, both European Union and NATO members, partly joined Schengen in March, after an agreement with Austria which initially opposed their joining on the grounds they needed to do more to prevent illegal immigration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While air and maritime border checks between them and the other 27 countries in the travel zone were lifted, negotiations with Austria over land entry have continued through 2024. "The two countries have made significant steps to gain full membership," Hungarian Interior Minister Sandor Pinter told a news conference after talks with his Romanian, Bulgarian and Austrian counterparts. "We are...one step closer to Bulgaria and Romania becoming full members of Schengen." Pinter said a package of security measures would be presented at a meeting of EU interior ministers on Dec. 11, including arrangements for at least 100 border guards to protect the border between Turkey and Bulgaria. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu announced on Monday that the two countries would join the Schengen area next year but described the Budapest meeting, where the four interior ministers would agree the final document, as "crucial". Ciolacu said the Dutch parliament - which has opposed Bulgaria's joining - would also need to approve the document. Romania and Bulgaria are on major routes for the illegal trade in arms and drugs as well as human trafficking, but the European Commission said after a thorough investigation they met all Schengen requirements. Romania has described Austrian opposition as unjustified, citing data from border agency Frontex showing illegal migrants have mainly entered the EU from the Western Balkans, not Romania. (Reporting by Anita Komuves; Editing by Christina Fincher) BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) At the campaign headquarters of his far-right nationalist party in Romania's capital, George Simion hailed Donald Trumps reelection days before he runs in his own country's presidential race. He also denied allegations that he is a Russian spy. I would like for Romanians to feel that the leaders are rule-makers, not simply rule-takers, the Alliance for the Unity of Romanians leader told reporters Wednesday in Bucharest. Formed in 2019, the party known by its initials AUR proclaims to stand for family, nation, faith, and freedom. The 38-year-old candidate, who is banned from entering Moldova and Ukraine over security concerns, strongly denied "all the allegations regarding any kind of connections with the Russian intelligence officers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sundays presidential election has 13 candidates and is expected to go to a Dec. 8 runoff, potentially pitting Simion against Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, who is backed by Romania's largest party, the Social Democratic Party, or PSD. The European Union and NATO member country will also hold parliamentary elections Dec. 1 that will determine Romania's next government and prime minister. The presidential role carries a five-year term and has significant decision-making powers in areas such as national security and foreign policy. Ciolacu told The Associated Press he has a clear plan for a more developed Romania that leaves no one behind, an internal plan based on economic growth on investments and a plan for a more respected and influential Romania abroad. Unfortunately, we have political leaders who challenge our presence in the EU and NATO I believe that extremists must be politically isolated and not taken into account by any government, the PSD leader added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Besides Ciolacu and Simion, other key candidates are Elena Lasconi of the Save Romania Union party, former NATO deputy general secretary Mircea Geoana, who is running independently, and Nicolae Ciuca, a former army general and prime minister of the center-right National Liberal Party, which is currently in a tense coalition with the PSD. Claudiu Tufis, an associate professor of political science at the University of Bucharest, said polling data ahead of the race were unreliable, because theres a lot of attempts to generate a particular outcome. All that I can say for sure is that its probably going to be a fight between Simion and Lasconi," Tufis said. "I think it depends on the mobilization both within Romania and outside Romania. Some voters feel that none of the candidates in Sundays race is addressing issues they view as significant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think we are in a situation where an economic and social crisis is more and more present in our lives, said Catrinel Toncu, a 24-year-old anthropology student. I dont see any discussion on upcoming systemic changes. ... Each of them is problematic, in my opinion. Simion has long been a figure of controversy. He campaigned for reunification with Moldova, which this year renewed a five-year ban on him entering the country. In 2020, the AUR party went from relative obscurity to gaining 9% in a parliamentary vote, allowing it to enter parliament. Opponents have accused Simion and AUR of being extremist. In 2022, Israels ambassador to Romania condemned AUR for opposing a mandate for studying the Holocaust in Romania, which it deemed a minor issue. The party opposes same-sex marriage and has close ties to the Romanian Orthodox Church. At his party's campaign headquarters, Simion called Russian President Vladimir Putin a war criminal and said Western sanctions against Russia were not enough. But he also said he opposes Romania which has sent a Patriot missile system to Ukraine contributing further military aid to its war-torn neighbor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I am not a fan of continuing the war, and I hope that President-elect Trump will stop this war," he said. Tufis said Trumps reelection could bolster support for Simion, who has praised him. Trump is a disruptor, and Simion to some extent can be thought of in this way as disruptors of the political system, he said. After Russia fully invaded Ukraine in 2022, Romania has played an increasingly prominent role in NATO, including opening a training hub for F-16 jet pilots from allied countries and other partners, including Ukraine. Geoana, a former foreign minister and ambassador to the United States, told the AP that he believes his international experience qualifies him above the other candidates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think the political establishment in Romania is lagging behind Romanian society, he said. We are a big country, we are strategically immensely relevant for all our partners and allies, but Romania should become a truly multi-regional player and power. The former NATO official also acknowledged the rise of populism, saying that people who vote for such extreme solutions are the ones who were basically abandoned by the Romanian state and by the current political establishment, the ones in the small cities in Romania, the ones in the countryside. Presidential hopeful Lasconi, a former journalist and the leader of USR, told the AP she wants to "get rid of this label of us being a corrupt and poor country. She also vowed to prioritize pushing for Romanias full accession to the Schengen area, Europes ID-check-free travel zone. In all of the state institutions, the politicians, corruption is the biggest problem we are facing, she said. A few dozen of politicians that keep coming back ... who try to fill their pockets as much as possible, but do nothing for the people." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the main conditions of Romanias accession to the EU in 2007 was that it cracked down on endemic corruption. But it remains one of the blocs most corrupt members, according to Transparency International. Lasconi said she favors increasing defense spending and that supporting Ukraine to win the war is essential. Putin is not afraid of NATO. He is afraid of freedom. Freedom, democracy, and the rule of law are contagious, she said. The moment you have at your borders states where democracy works, many Russians might ask themselves questions. Eugen Ionescu, a 40-year-old restaurant owner, says he will be pushed to vote for a lesser evil in the anticipated runoff. Thats the situation in this country for 20 years, we have to choose the lesser evil were not going to vote for someone because we believe in the person. If Simion wins, however, he fears that all the little stability that we have at this moment as a country will be gone. In the HBO documentary Surveilled, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Ronan Farrow travels across the globe to investigate and expose the dark underbelly of the multi-billion-dollar advanced spyware industry. The film reveals that repressive regimes arent alone in using spyware to hack into citizens cell phones and computers clandestinely; democratic governments are also guilty of spying on unknowing individuals. In recent years, we have seen a succession of Western democracies, where people really thought, It cant happen here have these scandals where the use of commercial spyware technology spirals out of control despite constitutions in place that should prevent it, says Farrow, whose most recent article for the New Yorker details how the Trump administration could expand the use of commercial spyware in the U.S. More from Variety Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The article examines the Department of Homeland Securitys recently signed two-million-dollar contract with the Israeli spyware company Paragon. A number of experts told me that the Department of Homeland Security acquiring this technology doesnt necessarily mean, even if its intended for ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), that it will only be used by ICE for immigration purposes, says Farrow. Not that we should lack concern about ICE marrying up Donald Trumps promise of mass deportation with advanced spyware technology. But a lot of the privacy law experts that I spoke with told me that we should all really be concerned even if you dont think of yourself as being in a vulnerable category. Even if you are not a politician, an activist, or a journalist, you are still looking at a situation where you might not know that you are being targeted until after the fact, and thats another reason why it was important to me in this documentary, to tell the stories of innocent bystanders who are apolitical, who get caught up in these dragnets. Farrow began reporting on the spyware industry after he was the target of cyber surveillance during his investigation into Harvey Weinstein that would help launch the 2017 #MeToo movement. I came to (this subject) quite naturally in the course of being surveilled in various ways myself while reporting on tricky stories that pissed people off, says Farrow. It was personally frightening and devastating. Its not just information gathering; there is a dimension of intimidation to it and, maybe even more consequentially, it shrinks the space for us to do our work as journalists. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Directed by Matthew ONeill and Perri Peltz, Surveilled takes viewers inside the secretive industry while also illuminating how the digital spy business is reshaping contemporary concepts of privacy and power. The docu, which made its world debut at DOC NYC this month, examines ethical dilemmas that citizens and governments must now navigate in the brave new world of cyberespionage. Variety spoke to Farrow about Trump, the future of the #MeToo movement, and how to fend off being hacked. How could ICE use spyware to carry out Trumps plan to deport millions of undocumented immigrants? Farrow: I try to stay away from speculation other than talking about the capacities we have right now, the promises being made, and how those could collide in scary ways. We dont know what will happen, but I do know that an array of serious privacy law experts are in a state of high alarm now looking at the fact that Donald Trump is making this promise of mass deportation. Also, the threats he is making to subject political enemies to tribunals and the idea he has conveyed that journalists who protect sources should go to jail have put privacy law experts in a high state of alarm (because) those promises become a lot scarier when married up with this kind of (spy) technology that his administration will have at its fingertips. In the docu you interviewed people who help protect people and companies from cyberespionage. Since spyware is so prevalent now, do you think that news outlets will have to hire security teams to protect their journalists from being hacked? Its a huge concern. If we want freedom of expression and freedom of information, then we need to have privacy rights and devices that cant be so easily compromised. We need to have checks and balances on these (spy) tools, and one of the big casualties when those checks and balances go away and when these devices are just a public space, and there is no room for private conversations, is journalism. I dont want to see a reality in which the Trump administration makes good on what hes saying about imprisoning people in our profession who protect their sources. Unfortunately, that reality becomes a lot more likely to transpire if this tech is used in an unfettered way. How does the average citizen protect themselves against being hacked? Write to your representatives and call them to say that you want accountability on this issue. While there are few complete defenses against advanced hacking technology, a daily reboot of your phone is something multiple tech experts have advised in the course of my reporting. Trump was found liable of sexually abusing and defaming the writer E. Jean Carroll. Some of the men he has selected to join his Cabinet Pete Hegseth and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Matt Gaetz before he dropped out have been accused of sexual misconduct. What do you think this means for the future of #MeToo a movement against sexual violence? Are we going backwards? I cant give a satisfying answer to the question because the important part of my relationship with that reporting is that I really was just acting not as an activist but as an investigative reporter. The separate issue that you raised about Trumps appointments, I think, is just linked to this wider pattern that we are seeing with those appointments, which has been described by very credible journalists in recent days as a trolling operation. Having people who have disregarded and flouted the very thing that the agency they are going to be running is designed to protect thats happening over and over again. So, while it has a dimension of perhaps nose-thumbing at standards of consent and accountability around sexual violence, it is really just part and parcel with a moment in which this administration is coming in with a lot of evidence of a lot of different types of disregard for the rule of law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Surveilled is currently streaming on Max. Best of Variety Sign up for Variety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. A rough haircut was among a number of hate crimes reported to police forces across the country who were accused of wasting time by logging them. The customer reportedly contacted officers after claiming his barber was aggressive following a discussion about the Russia-Ukraine war. The victim claimed that he was targeted because he is Lithuanian and can speak Russian. Other ridiculous claims included a German woman being offended at being compared with a Rottweiler, as well as a neighbour deeming it homophobic to be referred to as Leonard in a hedge dispute. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some 13,000 non-crime hate incidents (NCHIs) were recorded in the year to June. A City of London Police log of the haircut incident reportedly said: The barber asked him about the present situation in Ukraine, the victim stated that all conversations with the barber were fine, but he stated that the barber was aggressive and rough whilst he was cutting his hair. The victim believes this was because he spoke Russian and is a hate incident. Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, said: The police should not waste any valuable time on incidents like this. There is plenty of real crime they should be preventing and solving. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An aggressively administered haircut is not a police matter. He told The Sun: The police should only spend time investigating or recording actual criminal allegations or incidents where there is a real and imminent risk of criminality subsequently occurring. The Government needs to urgently update the guidance to ensure this is the case. This nonsense undermines confidence in policing. Ex-Met detective Peter Bleksley added: This is ridiculous and shows how disconnected police are from what the public want. No wonder there is a crime wave in this country. The guidelines suggest you should only intervene in cases like this where there is fear of escalation whoever had a fear of escalation after a bad haircut? Allison Pearson was investigated by Essex Police over some social media posts - Elliott Franks A City of London Police spokesman told the newspaper: The report was made online and later withdrawn. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Elsewhere, Wiltshire Police investigated an incident where a person in the street said people were mocking the length of her hair. Retired Sussex Det Chief Supt Kevin Moore said: It is no good police complaining they have insufficient resources when they are wasting valuable time recording, then potentially investigating, such ridiculous matters. It is high time His Majestys Inspectorate stepped in to stop the recording of non-crime hate incidents. Either a matter is a crime or it is not. If it isnt, then police should not be involved. The incidents come as police come under increasing scrutiny for their handling of hate crimes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Thursday, Essex Police dropped its investigation into Telegraph journalist Allison Pearson. The award-winning writer was being investigated for allegedly stirring up racial hatred with a social media post made in November last year. Two police officers knocked on her door on Remembrance Sunday to tell her she was under investigation and invited her to a voluntary interview while refusing to tell her which post on X, formerly Twitter, they were talking about. After widespread backlash over the appalling inquiry, the force announced it had closed its investigation. Reacting to the decision, Pearson said: I am relieved but also it has been a dreadful experience, waking up, and going to sleep with dread. Waking up in the small hours thinking I am under police investigation, thats not nice for anyone, let alone a law-abiding citizen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I feel angry with Essex Police. I do not believe there was ever any case to answer. I was expressing my opinion in what I thought was a free society. 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. Nov. 22Springfield Mayor Rob Rue said at Tuesday's city commission meeting that the city will comply with the law if the new administration of President-elect Donald Trump mandates deportation of immigrants. At the beginning of the public comment session, the mayor read from a prepared statement on the issue, stating "As you know, immigration and specifically the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program is fundamentally a federal policy issue. The authority to make and enforce immigration policy and laws rests with the federal government. The city of Springfield has always and will continue to comply with the laws and regulations set forth by the federal government. "We understand that recent statements by President-elect Trump include the possibility of increased enforcement actions including potential deportations which may impact communities across the country, including ours," Rue continued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Today Haiti and its citizens remain a country that is eligible for Temporary Protected Status. We will continue to monitor and await further guidance on this matter as the federal administration transitions. We continue to ensure that our actions align with federal directives and will prioritize the well-being and security of all our residents. Rue concluded, "As developments arise, we are committed to keeping our community informed and in being transparent about our role in supporting these efforts." When public comments from city residents began at Tuesday's meeting, many of the speakers were among those who have regularly addressed the commission with allegations against the Haitian population over the past year. Some of these speakers claimed credit for helping to drive the dissent that resulted in the re-election of the former President. There were other speakers who expressed support for Haitian residents and their contributions to the Springfield community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moreno addresses TPS U.S. Senator-elect Bernie Moreno said Thursday night that Haitians living legally in Springfield will be allowed to stay until their temporary protected status ends on Feb. 3, 2026. "They're under temporary protected status. That status is good until February of '26," Moreno said at Ohio Republican Party headquarters in Columbus, according to cleveland.com. "That's the law. We're going to respect that. We're not going to change that." That newer comment from Moreno differs from older claims from Donald Trump on the campaign trail this fall, when he said, "We're going to have the largest deportation in the history of our country, and we're going to start with Springfield and Aurora (Colorado)." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It also differs in tone from comments made this week by Tom Homan, who Trump said he will appoint as "border czar." Homan told conservative Cleveland-based talk show host Tom Frantz that Temporary Protected Status is at the approval of the secretary of homeland security. "That can end tomorrow," Homan said. "And if TPS ends, they are removable." In other interviews, Homan said he planned to "take the handcuffs off ICE" and ramp up arrests by immigration and customs enforcement officials. Some of those comments focused on immigrants who don't have any legal status. Miguel Jerome, one of several leaders of Springfield's Haitian community, told this news outlet, "as we are getting closer to January ... probably a good majority of the people in town are talking (about) 'is it safe to stay in town?' " Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No one can put an exact figure on the number of Haitians living in Springfield, but city and Clark County officials, pulling from multiple data sources, have estimated the number at 10,000 to 15,000. Those Haitian immigrants also have a variety of immigration statuses some with Temporary Protected Status, some still at the less-protected level of humanitarian parole, still others with asylum cases. Any protection from deportation can vary depending on that status. Some of the Haitians are very new arrivals, but others have been here for as long as five years and work at a variety of local companies. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine warned in late October that if the Haitian population is removed from Springfield (or leaves on its own) the city's business community would suffer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The reality is that some of the economic progress that we have made at Springfield will go away," DeWine said. Moreno said Thursday that the companies that employ the Haitians should have been making plans for their departure all along, cleveland.com reported, as Moreno said they should know the temporary protected status would expire at some point. City addresses emergency powers Speakers at Springfield city commission also raised questions about the emergency powers employed by the city during the timeframe when the city became the focus of national attention and the target of bomb threats that continue to be investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement City officials say the FBI has shared no specifics with them regarding the site of origin of those threats, but say it has been confirmed as part of a swatting scheme originating from overseas. The threats prompted the state of Ohio to dedicate additional security to the city schools and drew support from other nearby communities who loaned officers to assist in addressing security concerns in city government buildings and at local non-profits and businesses. The provision for mayoral emergency powers was originally implemented in 2019 during the pandemic, officials said, and was reimplemented during the unprecedented experience of bomb and death threats directed at the city and city officials in September. "The Mayoral Emergency Proclamation gives state of emergency powers for security-related items only as related to threats," Rue said. "It helps us move efficiently to protect the city." City Manager Bryan Heck indicated that officials expect to rescind the Mayoral Emergency Proclamation at the next city commission meeting on Dec. 3. The Kremlin on Friday said Russia's launch of an experimental ballistic missile against Ukraine should be understood as a warning to the West, as NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte convened a key meeting to discuss the implications of the strike. "The Russian side has clearly demonstrated its capabilities," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in Moscow, one day after the Ukrainian city of Dnipro was hit with a new type of intermediate-range missile labelled Oreshnik. Peskov said the attack was a consequence of "reckless decisions" by Western countries, he argued, pointing to the move by the United States and its allies to authorize Kiev to hit targets inside Russian territory. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The contours of a further response, in the event that our concerns are not taken into account, have also been clearly outlined," said Peskov, according to the Interfax news agency. The spokesman also confirmed that Washington was informed shortly before the launch of the new weapon. Peskov's comments came one day after Russian President Vladimir Putin said six non-nuclear warheads hit Dnipro. In a video, Putin threatened to use the weapon again, saying it travels at hypersonic speed and cannot be intercepted. "This escalation, provoked by the West, has led to the regional conflict in Ukraine taking on global dimensions," Putin said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In response, Rutte said on Friday he would convene a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council. The body met for first time last year in Lithuania and seeks to enable closer cooperation between Kiev and NATO. The Russian attack was also described by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz as a "terrible escalation, just like the use of North Korean soldiers who are now being deployed and dying in this war for Putin's imperial dream." However, Scholz maintained that his government's refusal to supply Ukraine with long-range missiles to hit Russian territory was correct. He said it was necessary to ensure that the conflict in Ukraine does not escalate into a full-blown war between Russia and NATO, calling for prudence. "I stand by that," Scholz said. Further attacks on Ukraine's Dnipro, Sumy Attacks continued in Ukraine on Friday, with the Ukrainian air force reporting at least one missile strike on Dnipro. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was not immediately clear what kind of missile was deployed in the fresh strike, but explosions were heard in the city, public broadcaster Suspilne reported. In a post on Telegram, the Ukrainian air force said a projectile was flying at high speed towards Dnipro, which is home to the missile manufacturer Yuzhmash. Shortly afterwards, a picture of a cloud of smoke was shared in local Telegram channels, though its authenticity has not yet been confirmed. No information on damage or casualties was initially provided. Earlier, authorities in the north-eastern region of Sumy said two people were killed and a further 12 injured in a Russian drone attack. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The area is a key supply route for the Ukrainian troops that have occupied part of the Kursk region in western Russia. Aided by the West, Ukraine has been seeking to fend off Russia's full-scale invasion for more than two and a half years, recently marking the 1,000th day of the war. Russia will continue testing and start mass producing the new "Oreshnik" missile, an intermediate-range ballistic missile that was used to target Dnipro, Ukraine, this week, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday. "We will continue testing the latest system," Putin said at a meeting with the leadership of the Ministry of Defense and representatives of the military-industrial complex. "It is necessary to establish mass production. We will assume that the decision on the serial production of this system has been made. As a matter of fact, it is practically organized." PHOTO: This handout photograph taken and released by the Ukrainian Emergency Service on Nov. 21, 2024, shows Ukrainian firefighters work on a spot following an air-attack, in Dnipro, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (State Emergency Service of Ukraine/AFP via Getty Images) Putin said Russia will continue testing the new Oreshnik missile system, "including in combat conditions." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The tests were successful, I congratulate you on this. As already mentioned, we will continue these tests, including in combat conditions, depending on the situation and the nature of the security threats that are being created for Russia," Putin said. "In addition to the Oreshnik system, several systems of this kind are currently in operation in Russia for further testing," Putin added. MORE: Russia launches new IRBM at Ukraine, Zelenskyy says Putin is 'terrified' Russia warned the U.S. 30 minutes before the launch of its Oreshnik missile against targets in Dnipro on Thursday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian news outlet TASS. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Ukrainian air force said it had tracked the launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile, or ICBM, along with six additional missiles, all targeting the Dnipro region. The U.S. would later specify the missile was not an ICBM, but instead a shorter-range IRBM. The missiles were launched in about two hours, beginning at about 5 a.m. local time Thursday, and targeted businesses and critical infrastructure, but only the IRBM struck the city, Ukraine said. The six other missiles were shot down. There were no reports of casualties or significant damage, officials said. PHOTO: In this pool photograph distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik, Russia's President Vladimir Putin meets with the Tax Service chief at the Kremlin in Moscow on Nov. 21, 2024. (Vyacheslav Prokofyev/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) The IRBM appeared to have been launched from the Astrakhan region, in Russia's southwest, Ukrainian military officials said. The distance from what Ukraine said was the launch point to the strike location in Dnipro is about 600 miles, a distance shorter than what an ICBM would be expected to travel. The experimental Oreshnik missile was based on a Russian RS-26 Rubezh missile, deputy Pentagon press secretary Sabrina Singh confirmed Thursday during a briefing, without going into any other specific details. She also confirmed that the U.S. was notified "briefly" before the launch. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the Oreshnik missile launch Thursday during his evening address, saying a "new ballistic missile was used" and calling it "a clear and severe escalation in the scale and brutality of this war." Putin, in remarks Thursday following the missile launch, said Russia has the right to use its weapons against the military facilities of countries employing their weapons against Russia. MORE: Russia claims it shot down US-made ATACMS missiles and issues nuclear threat The missile launch arrived amid concerns that the conflict between Russia and Ukraine could further escalate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Russian Defense Ministry said Tuesday that Ukraine for the first time launched U.S.-made ATACMS missiles toward targets within Russia. An ammunition depot in the Bryansk region of Russia was struck, a U.S. official said. The incident occurred days after U.S. President Joe Biden approved Ukraine's use of the long-range American-made MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile System -- colloquially known as the ATACMS -- to hit targets in Russia's western Kursk region. Zelenskyy would not confirm if Ukraine had used ATACMS to conduct a strike on an ammunition depot in the Bryansk region of Russia, but said Ukraine has ATACMS and "will use all of these" against Russia. Hours after Russia said it had struck down several of the ATACMS, the Kremlin announced that Putin had updated the country's nuclear doctrine, a move that lowered the bar for Russia to respond with nuclear weapons. Russian ICBMs are capable of carrying nuclear warheads, but the IRBM fired on Thursday was not equipped with one. Russia to continue testing, start mass producing new 'Oreshnik' missile: Putin originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Nearly 60,000 Russian army personnel are currently stationed in Russia's Kursk Oblast, Suspilne reported on Nov. 22, citing its undisclosed source in the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces. Earlier reports from Ukrainian authorities said Russia had amassed 50,000 troops in Kursk Oblast, including North Korean soldiers, to attempt to push the Ukrainian military out of its territory. Ukrainian forces will remain in Kursk Oblast as long as "militarily possible," the source said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the source, the General Staff believes that the Russian troops are planning to reach the border with Sumy Oblast to create a "buffer zone" there, as Ukraine looked to do with its incursion into Kursk Oblast. Kyiv launched the surprise offensive into Kursk Oblast on Aug. 6. Russian forces have managed to reclaim around half of the territory initially captured by Ukrainian troops. Russia has also deployed thousands of North Korean troops in the embattled region, with some reportedly already clashing with Ukraine in small-scale battles. Around 11,000 North Korean soldiers were stationed in Kursk Oblast as of Nov. 4. According to Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, Russian forces have suffered 7,905 soldiers killed, 12,220 injured, and 717 captured during the three months of the Kursk offensive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read also: Russia preparing a 50,000-people-strong offensive in latest attempt to push Ukrainian army out of Kursk Oblast Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Russia fired what it said was a new type of ballistic missile at Ukraine this week. Putin called the missile the "Oreshnik" and said it had a "non-nuclear hypersonic warhead." Ukraine described the attack as a "severe escalation." Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday said his military had fired a new type of missile at Ukraine, describing it as a test and also a warning to the West. Putin called the missile the "Oreshnik" and said it had a "non-nuclear hypersonic warhead" and had hit a military-industrial site in Ukraine's eastern city of Dnipro. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also said it was capable of traveling at Mach 10 ten times the speed of sound. The missile, described by the US as experimental, appears to have the range to hit targets elsewhere in Europe. Here's what we know about the missile and what it could mean for the war and the West. An experimental missile Putin said the "Oreshnik" missile can't be stopped, though he and Russian officials have made similar claims in the past about other weaponry that proved anything but infallible. Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh called the missile "experimental" as it was the first time it had been seen deployed on the battlefield in Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said it was an intermediate-range ballistic missile based on Russia's RS-26 Rubezh model, and that it had a non-nuclear payload but could be refitted to carry different types of "conventional or nuclear warheads." Some military analysts contest the RS-26's classification as an intercontinental ballistic missile, arguing it falls between an ICBM and an intermediate-range missile. As BI previously reported, an ICBM has never been used in combat. Missile experts said the "Oreshnik" appeared to have a MIRV, or multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle, payload, which can carry multiple warheads. Firefighters at the site of a Russian missile strike in Dnipro, Ukraine, November 21, 2024. Press Service of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Dnipropetrovsk Region / Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images A larger range The missile's possible range is important. According to the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation, medium-range missiles can travel up to 1,860 miles, while intermediate-range missiles can travel up to 3,410 miles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The RS-26 has a range of up to 3,728 miles, The Financial Times reported. Matthew Savill of the UK's Royal United Services Institute told the Associated Press the range was "way beyond any of that seen in the conflict so far and possibly the first ever use in combat." Meanwhile, former Australian Army Maj. Gen. Mick Ryan described the attack as "a political strike not a military one" but wrote on X that an intermediate-range missile could "be used against almost any target in Europe and the United Kingdom." The first missile attack, however, was minimal. The local mayor said it had damaged a rehabilitation center, knocking out the windows and destroying a boiler room. A threat to the West It's not clear how much of an escalation this latest strike represents in practical terms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An unnamed US official told the BBC that Russia likely only has a handful of these missiles. And they said Ukraine had already faced significant missile attacks, including ones with much bigger warheads than this. Ukrainian soldiers firing mortars from trench positions. AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky Jakub Janda, director of the European Values Center for Security Policy, told BI that the move was Russia's attempt to intimidate the West into not giving Ukraine more support at a "critical" time. "From the Russian side, this is just a cognitive warfare move," he said. Meanwhile, Pavel Podvig, a senior researcher at the UN Institute for Disarmament Research, wrote on X that "using these kinds of missiles, whether RS-26 or a true ICBM, in a conventional role does not make a lot of sense because of their relatively low-accuracy and high cost." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "But this kind of a strike might have a value as a signal." A nuclear hint Putin described the strike as a response to Ukraine using US and UK-provided missiles on Russian soil this week. He said Russia "had the right" to strike countries that gave Ukraine weapons that hit Russia. But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called it "a clear and severe escalation" and called for worldwide condemnation. "Russia must be forced into real peace, which can only be achieved through strength," he added. Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow in September 2024. MIKHAIL METZEL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images At the same time, the strike may have been intended to hint at a nuclear threat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fabian Hoffmann from the Oslo Nuclear Project told Reuters that Russia chose a missile with a MIRV payload "for signaling purposes" because "this payload is exclusively associated with nuclear-capable missiles." Ryan, the former Australian officer, said Putin wanted to send a message to Europe about Russia's capacity, and to signal to the US ahead of the presidential transition that it should not give Ukraine advanced capabilities. But in a statement to BI, NATO spokesperson Farah Dakhlallah said Russia's strike "will neither change the course of the conflict nor deter NATO allies from supporting Ukraine." Read the original article on Business Insider The ballistic missile launched by Russia on Nov. 21 against the city of Dnipro was likely part of the "Kedr" missile complex tested in recent years, Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) said. Several companies part of the Russian military-industrial complex were involved in developing "Kedr," which was tested at the Kapustin Yar test site in 2023 and 2024, HUR said on Nov. 22. HUR's statement comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin said in his televised address to the nation on Nov. 21 that the attack was a test of Russia's "newest missile," an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) called "Oreshnik." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The missile was launched at Dnipro from Russia's Astrakhan Oblast and covered nearly 1,200 kilometers (745 miles) in 15 minutes, according to HUR. The missile was equipped with six warheads, each carrying six submunitions. The speed on the final section of the missile's trajectory was over Mach () 11. At a temperature of 15C (59F), the speed of 1 M in the atmosphere is 1,225 kilometers per hour (716 miles per hour). "It is an experimental system. Let's just say it's a medium-range ballistic missile. It is a carrier of nuclear weapons. The fact that they used it in a non-nuclear version is, as they (Russians) say, a warning from them that they have not gone completely crazy," military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov said at an event on Nov. 22. Budanov called Russia's latest development "a prototype," adding that it is not currently in mass production. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russian media circulated information about the development of a missile system called "Kedr" in 2021, labeling it "a new-generation strategic complex." Initial reports by Ukrainian authorities suggested that Russia had test-fired an intercontinental ballistic missile to target Dnipro. Later that evening, Putin said the new "Oreshnik" IRBM had allegedly been used. Little is known about the "Oreshnik" missile referred to by Putin, but military expert Yan Matveev told Russian independent media outlet IStories that it could be a modified version of the "Rubezh" IRBM. The RS-26 "Rubezh" is reported to have a range of up to 6,000 kilometers and can carry four warheads, each with an estimated payload of 0.3 megatons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read also: Russia reportedly uses new Oreshnik ballistic missile against Ukraine what we know so far Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Russia aims to launch the "Oreshnik" intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) into mass production, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Nov. 22 during a meeting with the representatives of the Russian Defense Ministry and the national military-industrial complex. A day prior, Putin said in an evening address that Russian forces had used the "Oreshnik" to attack the city of Dnipro in Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. Ukrainian authorities have not yet provided an official report on Russia's weapon used in the recent attack. Ukraine's military intelligence agency (HUR) suggested that this was not a new Russian design but part of Russia's Kedr missile complex that has been in development since at least 2021. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Putin denied that the Oreshnik is a modernization of old Soviet systems, as the missile is allegedly based on "the latest Russian developments." The Russian president added that there are no analogs of such weapons in the world, nor are there any means to intercept them. "Given its striking power, especially in mass use, and combined with other high-precision long-range systems Russia also has, its use against enemy targets will be comparable to strategic weapons. Although the system is not a strategic weapon," Putin claimed. Russian forces still have a stockpile of these missile systems ready for use, according to Putin. The Russian president also said that Russia will continue to test the Oreshnik missile, including in combat conditions. Putin added that Russia is working on a series of medium- and short-range missiles. Several Russian systems are allegedly being tested and planned for mass production. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Little is known about the "Oreshnik" missile referred to by Putin, but military expert Yan Matveev told Russian independent media outlet IStories that it could be a modified version of the "Rubezh" IRBM. The RS-26 "Rubezh" is reported to have a range of up to 6,000 kilometers and can carry four warheads, each with an estimated payload of 0.3 megatons. Read also: Russia reportedly uses new Oreshnik ballistic missile against Ukraine what we know so far Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Russia gave the U.S. a brief advance warning of the intermediate-range ballistic missile strike on Dnipro before the attack, according to comments a U.S. administration official made at a briefing on Nov. 21. The United States was pre-notified briefly before the launch, through nuclear risk reduction channels, Defense Department Deputy Spokesperson Sabrina Singh said. The warning, sent 30 minutes before the launch, was also confirmed by Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. had previously alerted Ukraine and its allies that Russia might test such an experimental missile. In the early hours of Nov. 21, a country-wide air raid alert sounded due to the threat of ballistic missiles, and later, the launch of several Russian Tu-95MS bomber aircraft. According to Ukraine's Air Force, the attack targeted the city of Dnipro using a number of different missile types. Late on Nov. 21, Putin said in a televised address that the attack was a test of Russia's "newest missile," an IRBM called "Oreshnik." Russia regularly uses close, and short range ballistic missiles in aerial attacks against Ukraine, but IRBMs and ICBMs are far larger, can be equipped with nuclear payloads, and are designed to hit targets at far longer ranges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read also: Investigation: Who helped Russians increase production of domestic attack drones despite sanctions Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's Defence Ministry said on Thursday that its forces had captured the eastern Ukrainian village of Dalne in the Donetsk region, a focal point of their advance in the 33-month-old war. Ukraine's General Staff made no acknowledgement of Dalne being in Russian hands. The Ukrainian military's late report mentioned the village as one of seven in an area where Russian forces had tried to pierce Ukrainian defences 26 times over the past 24 hours. It said 10 of 16 armed clashes in the area continued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reuters could not independently verify battlefield reports from either side. Ukraine's popular DeepState military blog said Dalne had fallen to Russia. "The dynamics of fighting for this village have not been to our advantage in recent days," DeepState said. Russian troops, it said, "have already raised their flag in the village and the enemy has already taken up positions in all parts of it." After failing to advance on the capital Kyiv in the first weeks of the February 2022 invasion, Russian troops have focused on capturing the Donbas, an area made up of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They have seized village after village in their steady westward advance through Donetsk region. Moscow's forces have been advancing in the last two months at their fastest rate since March 2022, according to open source data. The towns of Kurakhove, near Dalne, and Pokrovsk have been major objectives. Pokrovsk is the sole source of coking coal for Ukraine's steel industry. Some reports say Russian troops now hold positions less than 10 km (6 miles) from the town. Russian forces, who hold a little less than 20% of Ukraine's territory, have also made advances farther north on the logistics town of Kupiansk in northeastern Kharkiv region. (Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Andrew Osborn, Ron Popeski and Cynthia Osterman) Tucker Carlson says he tried to get House Speaker Mike Johnson to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin before approving more aid to help Ukraine. In Wednesdays episode of The Tucker Carlson Show podcast, the titular host and his guest Glenn Greenwald lamented a lack of communication between the United States and Russia post2020 presidential election. In general, they blamed the Democrats, who chilled relations after it became apparent that Russia had meddled on Donald Trumps behalf. But its the leadership of the Republican Party too, Carlson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I had a conversation with the speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, and he was about to appropriate tens of billions more for Ukraine, and I said, Well, why dont you check with Putin? Youre the speaker of the House, youre number three in line for the presidencywell what, Ill see if I can facilitate that? Ill call the press office, kind of set you up, why dont you talk to Putin? Much to Carlsons surprise, Johnson refused. I mean Im not attacking Mike JohnsonI guess I am attacking Mike JohnsonI dont know what Im saying, Im just reporting what actually happened, Carlson ranted. Dont you have a moral duty to get as much information about this war before you fund its continuation and the killing of all these people? Like, shouldnt you know more? Its unclear exactly when this exchange occurred, though Johnson helped secure bipartisan House support in April to pass $6.1 billion in military aid to Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Carlson seems to think Johnson ought to run his governing decisions past a foreign autocrat before making decisions for the American peopleand should speak to the leader carrying out the deadly incursion into another state before deciding to send aid there. Greenwald piped up to say that it wouldve been bad press for Johnson if it had gotten out, but that he should want to understand the Russian perspective on its own invasion. Carlson, a close ally of President-elect Donald Trump, has long pushed his distinctly pro-Russian views. Hes downplayed the countrys conflict with Ukraine and promoted a Russian-based conspiracy theory that the U.S. was plotting to supply Ukraine with bioweapons. (Its worth noting that Tulsi Gabbard, Trumps nominee to head up national intelligence, said something similar.) Carlson appears regularly on Russian state television and once conducted his own televised interview with Putin, during which the Russian president openly mocked him for just what a propaganda tool he had become. Soon hell have the ear of the acting president of the United States, who seems more than willing to seek Putins approval too. President Vladimir Putin confirmed on Thursday that Russia used an experimental intermediate-range ballistic missile in a strike on Ukraine for the first time, marking a dangerous new escalation in the conflict. In a video address, the Russian president also threatened to use the new weapon, called Oreshnik, in more attacks. He said the missile travels at hypersonic speed and cannot be intercepted. Putin said six non-nuclear warheads had hit the industrial city of Dnipro in eastern Ukraine on Thursday morning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to officials, there were no injuries in the attack. The Russian president said the use of the weapon was a reaction to the fact that the United States and other Western countries had allowed Ukraine to use long-range weapons on Russian territory. "This escalation, provoked by the West, has led to the regional conflict in Ukraine taking on global dimensions," he said. At the same time, he called the new system a response to the US wanting to deploy medium-range missiles in Europe and the Pacific. Putin said Russia would act in a "reciprocal manner" to "an escalation of aggressive actions," and would even consider carrying out missile attacks on Ukraine's partner countries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We reserve the right to use our weapons against military targets of those countries that allow their weapons to be used against targets on our soil," he said. Putin added that in the event of further attacks using the Oreshnik, Russia would warn the civilian population so that people can leave the danger zone. The United Nations described Putin's announcement as a "worrying development." "All of this going in the wrong direction. What we want to see is for all parties to take urgent steps to de escalate the situation," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in New York. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deputy spokeswoman for the Pentagon Sabrina Singh said Washington was "pre-notified briefly before the launch" through nuclear risk reduction channels. "I can confirm that Russia did launch an experimental intermediate range ballistic missile," she said. "Our focus remains on arming Ukraine and supporting Ukraine what it needs the most on the battlefield. And as a reminder, as this reckless rhetoric continues, Putin can choose to end this war today. He can choose to withdraw Russian forces and end this." The Ukrainian Air Force had reported the use of the missile earlier on Thursday, believing it to be an intercontinental ballistic missile. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the missile use was "a clear and severe escalation in the scale and brutality" of the war. "Putin is not only prolonging the war he is spitting in the face of those in the world who genuinely want peace to be restored," he wrote on social media platform X. "Russia must be forced into real peace, which can only be achieved through strength. Otherwise, there will be endless Russian strikes, threats, and destabilization not just against Ukraine." While the Kremlin emphasized the attack was not a nuclear one, experts consider the use of multiple warheads to be an indication that the missile could theoretically be equipped with a nuclear warhead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russia on Tuesday updated its nuclear doctrine to allow the use of nuclear weapons not only in response to a nuclear attack, but also in the event of a conventional attack on Russia or its ally Belarus that "poses a critical threat to their sovereignty and/or territorial integrity." Intermediate-range missiles have a range of up to 5,500 kilometres, while missiles with the capability to travel more than 5,500 kilometres are counted as intercontinental. According to the authorities in Dnipro, the same wave of strikes damaged an industrial plant in Dnipro and a centre for people with disabilities. Moscow accuses Kiev of using Storm Shadow cruise missiles The Defence Ministry in Moscow said on Thursday that Russia intercepted two Storm Shadow cruise missiles fired by Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If confirmed, this would be the first time Kiev has deployed the British-supplied missiles since the start of the Kremlin's full-scale invasion in February 2022. "The air defence forces shot down two British-made Storm Shadow cruise missiles, six US-made HIMARS reactive missiles and 67 drones," the Russian military said in a statement. The Ministry of Defence did not provide any information on where or when the incident occurred. However, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported on Wednesday evening that Ukraine appeared to have used British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles against targets in Russia for the first time earlier that day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Washington-based think tank, citing post-attack images, reported that Ukraine successfully targeted the headquarters of Moscow's Kursk counteroffensive in an overnight attack. The strike allegedly hit the Russian-North Korean headquarters in the Kursk region of Russia, utilizing British-supplied Storm Shadow cruise missiles and combat drones. The Russian military has reportedly amassed nearly 50,000 troops near Kursk, including around 10,000 North Korean personnel, for a counteroffensive aimed at reclaiming territory held by Ukrainian forces since the summer, though estimates vary as to the number of Koreans. The ISW analysis suggests that Washington's decision to permit Ukraine to use advanced weapons, reportedly the ATACMS long-range missiles, against targets on Russian territory may have paved the way for the deployment of similar systems from Britain. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The British government has so far declined to comment on the matter. Moscow recently said it would view the use of Western-supplied long-range weapons as an escalation of the conflict. Kiev recently marked the 1,000th day of the war, launched in February 2022 by the Kremlin. Moscow currently controls around one-fifth of Ukrainian territory, including the Crimean Peninsula, which it illegally annexed in 2014. Russia has supplied North Korea with over a million barrels (56,000 tonnes) of oil since March 2024, likely in payment for military support. Source: BBC, citing data from the UK-based Open Source Centre Details: Based on the Open Source Centre's analysis of satellite images, North Korean tankers made 43 voyages between a Russian oil terminal in the Far East and North Korean ports between March and November 2024. All vessels arrived in Russia empty and returned loaded with oil. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prominent experts and UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy told the BBC that they believed that with this oil, Moscow was paying Pyongyang for weapons and soldiers that North Korea is using to help Russia fight against Ukraine. The first documented shipment took place on 7 March, seven months after the first reports of North Korean ammunition shipments to Russia, and the last one on 5 November. "This steady flow of oil gives North Korea a level of stability it hasnt had since these sanctions were introduced," said Joe Byrne, senior analyst at the Open Source Centre. Support UP or become our patron! WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed Thursday, Russia launched an experimental intermediate-range missile toward Ukraine overnight. Putin is threatening more aggressive strikes against Ukraine and its allies. He says the U.S. is escalating the war by allowing Ukraine, for the first time, to launch long range missiles into Russia. The White House and Pentagon said Thursday the U.S. will continue to support Ukraine, despite Putins warning. This week Putin lowered the threshold for launching nuclear weapons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is more of the same irresponsible rhetoric that weve heard from Russia, says White House Press Secretary Karine Jean Pierre. Russia are the ones escalating this war. The Pentagon says the U.S. was notified ahead of the missile launch but refused to answer if Russian missiles could ultimately reach the U.S. Putin claimed the U.S. air defense system was incapable of intercepting one. Were not getting into that, says Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh. On Capitol Hill, Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) accused President Joe Biden of baiting Putin in his final weeks in office. He called his actions dangerous. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on the other hand is criticizing the president for not acting sooner to strengthen Ukraines defense options. History will record hesitation, indecision and cowardness said McConnell on the Senate floor Tuesday. President-elect Donald Trump is promising to usher in peace talks once he takes office next year. Speaking on a panel with the Atlantic Council Thursday, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Rep Michael McCaul (R-Texas.) cautioned the president-elect not to trust Putin. Dont ever underestimate him. Once KGB always. He wants all the Ukraine thats rightfully his in his mind, says McCaul. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. The Financial Times, citing an unnamed Ukrainian military official, has reported that Russia had struck the city of Dnipro with an RS-26 Rubezh intercontinental ballistic missile on 21 November. Source: Financial Times Quote: "The Russian [ruler] said an Oreshnik missile had been used to target a factory in Dnipro, which was formerly the Soviet Unions top-secret rocket-building facility. However, a senior Ukrainian military official told the Financial Times that the missile was an RS-26 Rubezh, which has a range of up to 6,000km." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read also: Russia strikes Ukraine with RS-26 Rubezh intercontinental ballistic missile Background: Ukraines Air Force noted that during the latest missile attack on the city of Dnipro, Russia used an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). Sources from Ukrainska Pravda reported that it could have been the Rubezh missile, which is a potential nuclear warhead carrier. However, two Western officials told Reuters that early reports do not confirm Russia's use of an ICBM. In his Thursday address, Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin indirectly confirmed US reports, stating that during the morning attack on Dnipro on 21 November, Russia used the Oreshnik medium-range missile. The United States officially confirmed that on the morning of 21 November, Russia struck Dnipro with a ballistic missile based on the RS-26 Rubezh intercontinental ballistic missile. Support UP or become our patron! KYIV (Reuters) -A Russian drone attack on the northeastern Ukrainian city of Sumy killed two people and injured 12 on Friday morning, regional authorities said. Twelve apartment buildings, five private residences, a store and three cars were damaged after three drones attacked the city around 5 a.m. (0300 GMT), the national police said. Volodymyr Artiukh, Sumy regional governor, said Russian forces had equipped drones with shrapnel for the attack on a densely populated area of the city. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This weapon is used... exclusively (to kill) people," Artiukh said, pointing to scars on a damaged building. "Not for a facility, but in order to destroy more people." The video posted by Sumy regional military administration following the attack showed damaged cars and buildings with blown-out windows. Russia has pummelled the region and its critical infrastructure in deadly attacks over the past weeks. An overnight drone attack on Tuesday on the small town of Hlukhiv in the region killed 12 people, including a child. On Sunday evening, a missile attack on Sumy killed 11 and injured 89 more people, in addition to leaving the region's administrative centre without power. (Reporting by Anastasiia MalenkoEditing by Tom Hogue and Gareth Jones) The Russian military says that the new medium-range missile it fired at the Ukrainian city of Dnipro can hit targets across Europe. "Based on the tasks set and the range of this weapon, it can attack targets throughout Europe, which sets it apart from other types of long-range high-precision weapons," the head of Russia's strategic missile forces, Sergei Karakayev, said at a meeting with President Vladimir Putin, according to Russian news agency reports on Friday. The intermediate-range missile system labelled Oreshnik, meaning hazel tree in Russian, can be equipped with both conventional and nuclear warheads, the high-ranking general said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the general, the missile cannot be stopped by anti-aircraft defences. Earlier, in a speech to military and defence officials, Putin had declared that the new missile was to be mass-produced. The Kremlin on Friday said that Russia's launch of the experimental ballistic missile against Ukraine should be understood as a warning to the West. Russian troops shot dead five captured Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers near Vuhledar in Donetsk Oblast in early October, the Donetsk Regional Prosecutor's Office said on Nov. 22. The killing of prisoners of war (POWs) is a violation of the Geneva Conventions and is classified as a serious international crime. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has launched an investigation into the killing of Ukrainian soldiers near Vuhledar, from which Ukrainian forces withdrew on Oct. 2. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators believe the soldiers were shot dead on the day the Ukrainian army retreated as Russian troops stormed their positions, according to the statement. During one of the attacks, the Russian military captured five unarmed Ukrainian servicemen. "They (the Russian military) killed one of them in a forest belt and took four of them to the road at gunpoint, where they also shot them dead," the Donetsk Regional Prosecutor's Office said. The regional prosecutor's office earlier reported that in a separate incident the Russian military had shot dead two Ukrainian POWs in Donetsk Oblast's Pokrovsk district in mid-November. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They were stripped naked and shot dead, according to the prosecutors. In a picture published by the prosecutors, two blurred naked bodies are seen lying on the ground. Law enforcement officers are currently investigating 53 criminal proceedings over the executions of 177 Ukrainian soldiers, while 37 proceedings of 109 executions were registered in 2024 alone, according to the Prosecutor General's Office. Read also: Burning horizon: As Russia makes gains near Pokrovsk, civilians remain frozen in inaction Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. The Estonian Ministry of Defence views the Russian medium-range ballistic missile strike, dubbed Oreshnik by Vladimir Putin, to be a political signal. Source: Gert Kaju, head of defence capabilities at the Estonian Ministry of Defense, at a briefing on Friday 22 November, writes ERR, as reported by European Pravda Details: Kaju recalled a Russian propaganda release that said the Oreshnik strike was carried out in response to Ukraine's use of Western Storm Shadow and ATACMS missiles against Russian sites. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He emphasised that in Russias case, we are dealing with "something that has not been used before, a completely different weapon system". Quote: "Whether it will be followed by the use of anything similar remains to be seen, but it is more likely to be to send a political message, because intercontinental ballistic missiles are significantly more expensive than the other weapon systems that are being used on a daily basis," the Estonian Ministry of Defence representative added. According to the Estonian Defence Ministry, fighting continues throughout the whole combat zone in Ukraine, and Russian forces are advancing despite enormous losses in certain cases, one killed for every metre of captured territory. Background: Kyiv has iniated a meeting of the Ukraine-NATO Council to consider the ramifications of the most recent medium-range ballistic missile strike on the city of Dnipro. Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky believes the recent Russian Oreshnik strike on Dnipro was primarily to intimidate the civilian population. Support UP or become our patron! Russian forces struck the village of Krasnotorka on the outskirts of Kramatorsk in Donetsk Oblast on the morning of 22 November, killing one person and injuring two others. Source: Vadym Filashkin, Head of Donetsk Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram Quote: "The village came under enemy fire this morning. Early reports indicate that there were six strikes." Details: Filashkin stated that all relevant services are working at the scenes, and the exact aftermath of the attack was being confirmed. "Be responsible! Evacuate!" he urged. Support UP or become our patron! The Russians have shot dead five captured Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers near Vuhledar, Donetsk Oblast. The prosecutor's office has launched an investigation. Source: Donetsk Oblast Prosecutor's Office Details: According to operational data, on 2 October, Russian Armed Forces assaulted the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near the town of Vuhledar. During the attack, the Russians captured five unarmed Ukrainian defenders. They killed one of them in a forest belt, brought four others to the road under the sights of automatic weapons, and executed them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Quote: "The killing of prisoners of war is a gross violation of the Geneva Conventions and qualifies as a serious international crime. Urgent investigative (search) actions are being taken to establish all the circumstances of the incident. The pre-trial investigation is conducted by the Main Directorate of the Security Service of Ukraine in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts." Background: The Office of the Prosecutor General states that the number of executions of Ukrainian prisoners of war is increasing every month. In October-November, the prosecutor's office opened 13 cases of executions of 54 Ukrainian prisoners of war, which is a third of all such proceedings in 2024. Support UP or become our patron! Russia's use of a purported new ballistic missile "will not change the course of the conflict, or deter NATO allies from supporting Ukraine," NATO spokesperson Farah Dakhlallah said on Nov. 21. Dakhlallah's comments came after Russian President Vladimir Putin said his country had launched its "newest missile," an IRBM called "Oreshnik," in an attack on Dnipro in eastern Ukraine earlier that day. "The Russian attack on Dnipro on Thursday is yet another example of Russia's attacks on Ukrainian cities," Dakhlallah said in comments reported by the Guardian and AFP. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Putin said the attack was in response to Ukraine targeting facilities in Russian oblasts using Western-supplied long-range missiles. On Nov. 17 U.S. President Joe Biden allowed Ukraine to use ATACMS missiles to strike deep into the territory of the Russian Federation. On Nov. 19, Ukraine launched ATACMS missiles for the first time in Russia's Bryansk Oblast, and on Nov. 20, it made its first use of UK-supplied Storm Shadow missiles. After depicting such a move as crossing another "red line" the Kremlin had drawn, Russian President Vladimir Putin previously said his country would respond. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "They probably considered testing a nuclear warhead, which was also rumored to happen soon, but decided that's too intense, and that could invite too much backlash, especially from partners, such as China and India," Fabian Hoffmann, a defense expert and doctoral research fellow at the University of Oslo, told the Kyiv Independent. "They probably thought that (the IRBM strike) is the next best option because it sends a clear signal to the West, while potentially not antagonizing critical international partners," he added. "So this strike is not for military value, this is purely, purely for political purposes." Read also: Investigation: Who helped Russians increase production of domestic attack drones despite sanctions Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Nov. 21 announced his country had launched a new type of missile in an attack on Ukraine, a demonstration of military might meant to deter Kyiv's allies from further support against his full-scale invasion. "There are currently no ways of countering this weapon. The missiles attack targets at a speed of 10 Mach, that's 2.5-3 km per second," he said. "We are ready for any developments. If anyone still doubts this, they shouldn't. There will always be a response." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Putin said the "new missile" was called "Oreshnik," but analysts and officials have since questioned the novelty of the weapon, as well as how effective it could be to prevent allies' support of Ukraine. Sign up for our newsletter WTF is wrong with Russia? Sign up What is the Oreshnik missile? According to Putin, Oreshnik, which means "hazel" in English, is a new invention that Western air defense systems would not be able to intercept. The Oreshnik is designed to carry nuclear weapons. However, Putin said it was not armed with a nuclear warhead during this attack. "In combat conditions, a test was carried out of one of the latest Russian intermediate-range missile systems. In this case, with a non-nuclear hypersonic version of a ballistic missile," he said in a live speech on Nov. 21. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Oreshnik described by Putin is so new that barely anything is known about it other than what he claimed during his speech. The reality however, appears to be slightly different. "I'd be extremely shocked if this missile system had more than 10% new parts," Fabian Hoffmann, a defense expert and doctoral research fellow at the University of Oslo, told the Kyiv Independent. "I think basically they just took apart the RS-26 or just cannibalized it, and then put together this new missile with a couple of upgrades, and a new paint job." The RS-26 Hoffman refers to is the RS-26 Rubezh, of which quite a bit is known. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement First produced in 2011, and successfully tested in 2012, the Rubezh is a 36,000 kilogram, nuclear capable, intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) with a known range of 5,800 kilometers. Its declared but undemonstrated range of 6,000 kilometers would only just nudge it into the category of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). Its development and deployment was actually halted in 2018 in favor of the Avangard hypersonic glide vehicle. The Rubezh is equipped with a MIRV payload, which stands for Multiple Independent Reentry Vehicles, which can be seen in videos of the attack on Dnipro. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Footage shows multiple projectiles hitting the ground, but without the large explosions normally associated with conventional missiles or payloads, suggesting it was carrying essentially a dummy warhead. On Nov. 22, HUR provided further details of Oreshnik, claiming it is actually just a different name for a previously known missile called "Kedr," translated as "cedar," which Russia tested in October 2023 and June 2024. The missile that struck Dnipro was equipped with six warheads, each containing six submunitions, and reached speeds exceeding Mach 11 (around 13,500 kilometers per hour) as it descended, HUR added. "I think it's really important that we don't overreact," Hoffman said, adding the missile itself isn't anything particularly new despite what Putin said on Nov. 21. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I like his 'hypersonic' comment of course he had to put that in, but every medium-range ballistic missile will reach hypersonic velocity at one point, so this is just nothing," he adds. A U.S. official speaking on condition of anonymity echoed the sentiment, telling the Kyiv Independent that while "we take all threats against Ukraine seriously, it is important to keep a few key facts in mind." "Ukraine has withstood countless attacks from Russia, including from missiles with significantly larger warheads than this weapon. "Let me be clear: Russia may be seeking to use this capability to try to intimidate Ukraine and its supporters, or generate attention in the information space, but it will not be a game changer in this conflict." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What is potentially new is the global geopolitical situation, the level of tension, and the threats of escalation. Read also: Russia reportedly uses new Oreshnik ballistic missile against Ukraine what we know so far What Oreshnik'sis deployment meant to achieve? The deployment of the missile came shortly after Russia adopted changes to its nuclear deterrence doctrine, which lowered the threshold for a nuclear response. The Kremlin was very clear that the doctrine changes were a signal to the West. "While the doctrine serves as a signal to decision-makers and national security apparatuses, the missile strike is aimed at the general public," says Matej Kandrik, the executive director at the Adapt Institute. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russia has deployed nuclear-capable missiles in Ukraine before, but Oreshnik's features, like its MRV (multiple reentry vehicle) capability, "invoke the scary, apocalyptic image of nuclear war and therefore allow our imaginations to do a lot of the work for Putin," Jenny Mathers, senior lecturer in international politics at Aberystwyth University, told the Kyiv Independent. Russia has been employing covert or overt nuclear threats to deter international support for Ukraine since day one of the full-scale invasion. The Kremlin's "red lines" failed to influence the West from supplying tanks, fighter jets, and long-range missiles. Putin is now attempting to demonstrate strength after U.S. and British missiles struck targets on Russian sovereign territory. "Putin's problem is that he is running out of ways to convey this message, given all the times that he and other senior Russian officials have warned against certain courses of action and hinted at dire consequences but then confined their escalation of the war to increasingly brutal attacks on Ukraine's civilian population and infrastructure," Mathers said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Kandrik, Putin's "ideal outcome would be a prohibition on the use of U.S.-provided deep-strike weapons within its territory and restrictions on future deliveries of such systems." Mathers also sees it as an attempt to deter broader Western support for Ukraine. Western officials denounced the IRBM launch as an escalation but also made clear that it would not deter their support for Ukraine. "Deploying this capability will neither change the course of the conflict nor deter NATO allies from supporting Ukraine," NATO spokesperson Farah Dakhlallah said. The calculus may change after U.S. President-elect Donald Trump takes office in January, as his team is likely to seek a quick settlement to "get out" of the conflict. It remains unclear whether the incoming president, who has often criticized military aid for Ukraine, will keep the long-range strikes policy in place if it could spark further escalatory moves by Russia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Putin knows that the clock is ticking for both Russia and Ukraine as we get closer to Jan. 20 and Donald Trump's return to the U.S. presidency," Mathers said. "Therefore, what Putin needs is to convey the impression that Russia is in a commanding position and can continue to fight for as long as it needs to in order to achieve victory." Experts say, however, that Oreshnik's launch is not the start of an escalation chain leading to a nuclear apocalypse. "Let's keep a cool head . We have a mechanism in place. It's called an escalation ladder with a lot of steps to go through between nuclear saber-rattling or nuclear messaging, which is what's happening now, and the nuclear first use of preemptive strike," Mathieu Boulegue, a senior fellow at the CEPA think tank, told the Kyiv Independent. "The Russian leadership is not suicidal. The moment they start going a bit too far in nuclear escalation this will be the end for the Russian regime." Federico Borsari, a resident fellow at CEPA, pointed out that Russia warned the U.S. about the missile's use in advance and that Iskander and Kinzhal missiles that Russia regularly uses in Ukraine can carry a nuclear warhead as well. Oreshnik's use "is clearly a political message," but not one indicating a nuclear escalation, he concludes. Read also: Investigation: Who helped Russians increase production of domestic attack drones despite sanctions Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Sugarloaf Mound, the last remaining intact Mississippian mound is one step closer to returning to the Osage Nation. Once part of Mound City, a network of over 100 earthen structures constructed by Native Americans between 800 and 1450 AD, Sugarloaf Mound is the sole surviving structure to a civilization nearly erased by colonization and urban development. The Mississippian culture, responsible for building Sugarloaf Mound and others, was one of the most advanced pre-Columbian civilizations in North America. At its height, it included Cahokia, a massive urban center just across the Mississippi River in present-day Illinois. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cahokia, known for its towering Monk Mound, still the largest structure in the Americas, was home to an estimated 20,000 people during its peak around 1100 AD. Sugarloaf and Big Mound were among the most prominent structures in what is now St. Louis. These signal mounds were positioned along the Mississippi River, allowing communication with Cahokia via smoke signals. The mounds of St. Louis stood as landmarks when the city was founded in 1764, even drawing visits from European royalty. However, settlers soon repurposed the structures, demolishing them to make way for roads, railroads, and the 1904 Worlds Fair. According to AP News, bones from Big Mound were reportedly discarded into the Mississippi River as the structure was dismantled. By the early 20th century, only Sugarloaf Mound remained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2009, the Osage Nation purchased a portion of Sugarloaf Mound and began stabilizing the site. A pivotal moment came recently when 86-year-old Joan Heckenberg, who has lived on the mound for 81 years, agreed to sell her property to the Osage Nation. Once Heckenberg moves or passes away, this part of the mound will officially return to the tribe. However, a house owned by Kappa Psi, a pharmaceutical fraternity, remains on the mound, and the fraternity has yet to commit to selling the property, AP News reported. Efforts to rematriate Sugarloaf Mound gained momentum with the 2023 Counterpublic triennial, a public art exhibition that turned the site into a symbol of Indigneous homecoming. Public programming led by the artist collective New Red Order, curator Risa Puleo, and the Osage Nation brought visibility to the sacred mound and its importance. The city of St. Louis has also taken steps to recognize the mounds significance. Alderman Cara Spencer announced plans for a resolution in January 2024 to formally acknowledge Osage sovereignty over the site. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Long-term plans include developing a cultural and interpretive center at Sugarloaf Mound, which overlooks the Mississippi River a few miles south of downtown. For the Osage Nation, reclaiming Sugarloaf Mound is more than preserving a sacred site, it is a step toward sovereignty and the restoration of their heritage. To be able to at least salvage one mound in St. Louis, on the west side of the Mississippi River it means a lot to us, to regain our heritage, Andrea Hunter, director of the Osage Nation Historic Preservation Office, told AP News. About the Author: "Kaili Berg (Aleut) is a member of the Alutiiq\/Sugpiaq Nation, and a shareholder of Koniag, Inc. She is a staff reporter for Native News Online and Tribal Business News. Berg, who is based in Wisconsin, previously reported for the Ho-Chunk Nation newspaper, Hocak Worak. She went to school originally for nursing, but changed her major after finding her passion in communications at Western Technical College in Lacrosse, Wisconsin. " Contact: kberg@indiancountrymedia.com ELIZABETHTON, Tenn. (WJHL) The Carter County Safe Haven Baby Box was blessed and opened on Thursday. It is at Carter County EMS Station 1. The baby box is the 12th Safe Haven Baby Box in Tennessee and the 290th in the nation. According to the organizations website: Safe Haven Baby Boxes offer a compassionate and secure option for mothers in crisis who are unable to care for their newborns. Designed with innovative safety features and installed on the exterior walls of fire stations and hospitals, each box ensures the safe and anonymous surrender of infants. The exterior door locks automatically when a newborn is placed inside, and an interior door allows medical personnel to promptly and securely retrieve the baby, ensuring immediate care and protection. Safe Haven Baby Boxes are a vital resource, providing a lifeline for mothers and a safe beginning for their newborns. Safe Haven Baby Box Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Monica Kelsey, founder of Safe Haven Baby Box, said the organization plans to have 300 baby boxes throughout the United States by the end of the year. Its just giving women what theyre asking for, which is the anonymous option of a surrender, she said. Were not telling a woman they cant walk in here and hand their child to someone. We want them to do that. But if they cant, we want them to utilize this box so that we dont find an infant deceased somewhere out in the community or a dumpster or a trash can. Nancy Garrison, deputy director of Carter County EMS, said the baby box was in a private area of the station and ensured it was safe and secure. All baby boxes are climate-controlled and wait approximately 60 to 90 seconds before alerting first responders. When they come here, its on the side of our building facing the pond. They can go all the way around the building once, pulling around the front and going to the left side of the building. Its well-lit. Theres a walkway, but there are no cameras. No one is watching that area of the building. So they would open the box, place the baby inside, and then close the door back. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the station may never see a baby in the box, Garrison said that the rescue squad has already undergone training to prepare for the possibility. In addition to the baby box, the organization has a hotline that can be reached via call or text at 1-866-99BABY1. Were not going to tell you what to do, Kelsey said. Were not going to tell you whats best for you. What were going to do is tell you whats available in your community, allow you to choose, and then were going to walk alongside you on your journey. Carter County EMS Station 1 is at 105 Lodent Way, Elizabethton, TN. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather. WINDHAM Windham Hospital, for the second time, was one of seven Hartford HealthCare hospitals to receive an A for safety from The Leapfrog Group, the nations leading independent hospital watchdog. On Tuesday, staff members were present inside the main entrance lobby of Windham Hospital on Mansfield Avenue to celebrate the grade they recently received. The celebration included taking pictures, giving out snacks and discussing the hospitals offerings. SALEM, MA The Salem Pantry was honored with Salem State University's inaugural Community Partner Award for its ability to grow to meet the food security demands of the region in the wake of the COVID-19 health crisis. Salem State University representatives delivered the award to The Salem Pantry at its annual Community Partner Breakfast on Nov. 13. "This year, we wanted to more broadly highlight our partners and the great work they do, with a special attention on how to build reciprocal community partnerships that are also equitable," said Katelyn Adams, assistant director of Salem State's Center for Civic Engagement. "When we were thinking about our partners who are truly being intentional and building equitable partnerships, it was without a doubt the Pantry that stood out." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Salem Pantry heavily expanded to meet the needs of the COVID-19 crisis and launched a truck-based mobile pantry operation. The Pantry now distributes 64,000 pounds of food across all sites each week, versus about 7,500 pounds in 2019 a more than 800% increase across five years. The Pantry ran a pop-up market for Salem State and its neighboring Rainbow Terrace in an underutilized space on Loring Avenue. It also launched "The Truck" that now hits each of Salem State's three campuses each week. "Food insecurity is a concern for many of our very own students, so we take this challenge seriously at Salem State," University President John Keenan said. "Students who come to campus nourished perform better in the classroom, leading to stronger outcomes academically and onward in life." The Salem Pantry was launched in 2018 after a study into the need for food in the community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Out of that, there was a finding that there was a chronic unmet need for food," The Salem Pantry Executive Director Robyn Burns said. "The model at 68 Loring Ave. was a defacto flagship for the Mobile Pantry program. As we were shifting models to The Truck, it gave us an opportunity to work much more closely with the university." (Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.) Salem State Honors The Salem Pantry With Community Partner Award originally appeared on the Salem Patch AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) The Salvation Army is known for helping others in need, and it was the same for after Hurricane Helene. For this episode of Your Hometown Road Trip, the team highlighted places that stepped up to help out the community. The team stopped by the Salvation Army Kroc Center and spoke with Major Jonathan Raymer to talk about what they did to help and why it was important for them to do it. Talk a little bit about what you do here. At the Kroc center we have members that come in, we have church here, we have some home schooling things, and just down the road we have our Center of Hope, where we have our homeless services and those kinds of things. So whats the mission of this place? The mission of the Salvation Army is to meet human need in Jesuss name without discrimination and to preach the Gospel. From that, you get different expressions of that, certainly the Kroc Center is one of them, we have our family stores around. Those family stores if you donate or shop there, those funds go to support our Center of Hope, where we have our homeless services. In the past three years, I believe weve taken right at 300 people from homelessness to being housed. Talk to me about what you did after Helene. We came here and tried to make an assessment of what we can do and Ill be honest, I was overwhelmed. At that point, there was no power, so we were trying to figure out what we could do. We came back the next day, had worship here, and when we finished 10 minutes after service, the lights came back on. That gave us an opportunity to do a couple of things, including telling the National Guard that we could house them here for a week, and it allowed us to do some response to the community. We were able to get a hold of our account that does food. That Sunday we were able to start producing meals. What were the reactions from people who got meals? The reaction was gratitude, and Ill tell you, this community is very much community minded, but that got pumped to a twenty during Helene. With all the other non-profits, with the churches, concerned citizens jumping in, we were able to serve meals out of this kitchen. We had two disaster unites that went out in to the community. It was good. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Salvation Army is getting ready for the Christmas season and encourages people to sign up and help any way they can. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) The San Diego City Attorneys Office has a strong warning to vape retailers still selling flavored tobacco products: comply with the law or face hefty fines. The crackdown comes after flavored tobacco sales were banned locally and statewide last year, with the goal of preventing minors from getting the products. City Attorney Mara Elliott says the growing popularity of vaping among teenagers is concerning, citing statistics that show 87% of teen users prefer flavored e-cigarettes. Kids get hooked on tobacco, and it can become a gateway to other, more addictive drugs, said Elliott. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Teens charged with hate crimes in connection to Hillcrest pellet gun attacks She accused some retailers of targeting minors with kid-friendly flavors like bubble gum and chocolate, as well as promotional ads featuring themes that would appeal to young people. One online retailer, Vapor Authority, advertised products like Unicorn Fruit-Loops and Halloween-themed vapes surrounded by candy, which Elliott called anvattempt to market to children. In response, the city has intensified enforcement efforts. After the statewide ban took effect on Jan. 1, 2023, the City Attorneys Office filed lawsuits against several local businesses for continuing to sell flavored tobacco. Those businesses eventually removed the products from their shelves and paid significant fines. Over 83 tons of ground beef recalled nationwide, illnesses reported: USDA Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, more than a dozen additional Southern California businesses face lawsuits for alleged violations, including well-known chains like Vape Smoke Universe, California Accessories LLC, Aroma Avenue, and Vape Avenue, which operates in Orange and San Bernardino counties. Online retailers Vapor Authority Incorporated and California Vape Shop are also being sued. Investigators from the City Attorneys Office have conducted undercover operations, purchasing banned products from stores and, in some cases, being escorted to back rooms where illegal items were sold. We take this very seriously, said Elliott. Our investigators confirmed that prohibited products were being sold. Some store owners even walked them to private rooms to showcase these illegal items. Businesses that fail to comply with the law could face fines of up to $2,500 per illegal sale, Elliott warned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The way to ensure compliance is to prosecute and enforce the law, attaching fines to violations, she said. FOX 5/KUSI has reached out to the business owners named in the lawsuits and is still waiting to hear back. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) There was a full house at the Marines Memorial Club in San Francisco as hundreds of community organizers and elected leaders gathered for the inaugural Amplifying Asian Voices gala. Co-hosted by KRON4s Stephanie Lin, the evening celebrated the strength of the AAPI vote this past election season. A number of Bay Area leaders were honored, including President of Oakland Chinatown Chamber of Commerce, Carl Chan, retired teacher, Marlene Tran, and President of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, Rodney Fong. One of San Franciscos oldest Starbucks to close in Pacific Heights Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The weekend event was organized by the Association for the Advancement of Asians and the Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs (APAPA) San Francisco chapter. United States Census data shows Asians are the second largest racial group in the Bay Area and make up 35 percent of San Franciscos population. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. Nov. 21A young girl who suffered a severe head injury in a suspected drunken driving crash last week on Rodeo Road faces "a long road to recovery," her mother said. Six-year-old Jaylah Martinez was released from the hospital recently and is now off a ventilator, her mother said Thursday. Dylan Michael Ortiz-Delgado of Santa Fe, the driver accused of causing the Nov. 15 crash, remains jailed. The DWI charge he faces is at least his third. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A GoFundMe campaign to raise money to cover Jaylah's medical expenses says she was placed in a medically induced coma after the Nov. 15 crash due to a fractured skull and brain bleeding, and was placed on a ventilator to help her breathe. "We want her to be the same happy girl that we know and love," the GoFundMe page states. The fundraiser had collected over $6,300 of a $20,000 goal by Thursday night. "It breaks our heart that she had to experience such a traumatic experience," Jaylah's mother, Sheila Martinez wrote in a message Thursday, noting the child's recovery will be difficult. "Brain injuries like the one she had are extremely dangerous, and we will be doing everything we can to help her heal." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ortiz-Delgado, 36, faces charges of great bodily harm by vehicle while driving under the influence, attempt to disarm an officer, reckless driving and leaving the scene of an accident, according to a criminal complaint filed Monday in Santa Fe County Magistrate Court. The crash occurred shortly after 2 p.m. Nov. 15 on Rodeo Road at the intersection with Galisteo Street. Police said in a statement of probable cause Ortiz-Delgado was driving a Ford Explorer westbound on Rodeo Road when he crashed into a Lexus sedan driven by Jaylah's father, who was attempting to make a right turn onto Galisteo. A 10-year-old boy identified as Jaylah's cousin was also riding in the car and was hospitalized after the crash with a concussion, police said in the statement. An officer wrote that shortly after he arrived at the scene, paramedics extracted Jaylah from the back seat of the Lexus through a window and rushed her by ambulance to Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center. From there, she was airlifted to a hospital in Albuquerque. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ortiz-Delgado told an officer he had consumed four beers before driving, according to the statement of probable cause. The officer was walking Ortiz-Delgado to his patrol vehicle across the street from the crash when Ortiz-Delgado reached for his handgun, the officer wrote. The officer punched him in the face twice and threw him to the ground, the statement says. Another officer alleged in the statement she saw two Santa Fe Brewing Co. IPA cans in Ortiz-Delgado's SUV. According to the statement, Ortiz-Delgado is suspected of running over a mailbox several miles away on Calle Halcon and leaving the scene shortly before the crash. At least one witness reported seeing him driving recklessly and passing other vehicles on the shoulder of Rodeo Road, police said. Investigators issued a warrant to test Ortiz-Delgado's blood-alcohol level the night of the crash. Santa Fe police Capt. Lawrence Barnett said the results of the blood test were not yet available Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A crash reconstruction that could determine the approximate speed Ortiz-Delgado was driving at the time of the crash was also pending, Barnett added. Ortiz-Delgado remains in the Santa Fe County jail, where he was booked on the evening of the crash. Prosecutors filed a request for him to be held in jail pending his trial. A hearing is scheduled Dec. 4 to determine if he will remain jailed. Prosecutors wrote in a court filing Ortiz-Delgado "has a history of intoxication and placing others at risk," adding he "poses a danger to the entire community, including the motoring public." He has been convicted of DWI twice in Santa Fe, once in 2008 and again in 2017. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An officer pulled Ortiz-Delgado over on Cerrillos Road in 2017 after he veered out of his lane five times, the officer wrote in an affidavit at the time. Police gave Ortiz-Delgado three breath-alcohol tests, which yielded results of 0.17 to 0.21, more than twice the legal limit for driving, the document states. A charge of aggravated DWI filed against Ortiz-Delgado in 2008 indicates a breath test showed his blood-alcohol level was higher than 0.16 in that incident as well. Sarah McBride of Delaware must have known this was likely to happen. As the first openly transgender person in history to be elected to the US House of Representatives, she's no doubt faced down plenty of abuse. Trans Americans are all too aware of the Republican Party's determination to use their lives as fuel for the culture war. Even so, the GOP's reaction to her historic win has been shockingly vicious. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Monday, South Carolina representative Nancy Mace filed a motion to ban McBride and any other trans women from all women's bathrooms in the Capitol, claiming that McBrides very presence threatened the "safety and dignity" of her colleagues-to-be. "This is not okay," said Mace, who posted or shared posts about bathrooms on social media 326 times in 72 hours this week, in an interview with ABC. "I'm a survivor of rape, I'm a survivor of sexual abuse, and I'm not going to allow any man in any female private spaces. Period, end of story." Far right firebrand Marjorie Taylor Greene backed her up, attacking McBride personally while repeatedly misgendering her. "[S]he's a man, a biological male," she said. "[She] needs to respect my space... because [s]he is not a woman." To whoever did this, thank you for the opportunity to once again, prove our point. And that's Congresswoman Nancy Mace, to you. Don't worry, we put this trash where it belongs. pic.twitter.com/LsEk312fw9 Rep. Nancy Mace (@RepNancyMace) November 21, 2024 If this was a normal place of employment, a HR manager would call this workplace bullying and were not even on day one of McBrides new job. As it happens, McBride is also a survivor of sexual assault, who explained how the myth of the "trans bathroom predator" was a key factor in keeping her silent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But on Wednesday House speaker Mike Johnson gave Mace and MTG's attacks the force of regulation, declaring that all single-sex Capitol bathrooms would be restricted to people of that birth sex. Mace also filed a bill expanding her bathrooms crusade to every federal facility, from museums through national parks to US Post Office branches. She's been open about the animus behind her attacks, telling the MAGA broadcaster Newsmax on Wednesday: "It is offensive that a man in as skirt thinks that he is my equal; that his challenges are the same as mine." None of this is surprising to trans people journalist Parker Molloy even predicted it last week. The posturing is also not going to stop McBride from doing her job, since all members have their own bathroom and unisex toilets exist throughout the Capitol. Instead, those most affected will be trans staffers, interns, reporters, and public visitors. What's notable, though, is McBride's cautiousness. "I'm not here to fight about bathrooms," she said in a statement on Wednesday. "I'm here to fight for Delawareans and to bring down costs facing families." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While calling the attacks "an effort to distract from the real issues facing this country," she largely declined to hit back directly against her harassers and said that she would comply with Johnson's rules. As far back as August, McBride a friend of the Biden family who has written movingly about losing her husband to cancer when she was only 24 signalled that she would take this approach when my colleague Eric Garcia asked her at the Democratic National Convention how she would push back against MTG and her ilk. "Well, I won't let them distract me," McBride said. "My focus is going to be on being the best member of Congress I can be... let their circus, let their cruelty, let their preoccupation with manufactured culture wars contrast with my approach to working on issues that actually keep people up at night." Im not here to fight about bathrooms. Im here to fight for Delawareans and to bring down costs facing families. pic.twitter.com/bCuv7pIZBY Sarah McBride (@SarahEMcBride) November 20, 2024 Democrats have largely followed McBrides lead, with a few outspoken exceptions, such as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and John Fetterman. In fact, it was reportedly McBride herself who asked her fellow Dems to not to make a big thing of it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The strategy behind this play is clear enough: Let Republicans cast themselves as culture war obsessives, willing to personally vilify a colleague for political points, while the Democrats gracefully rise above it and look statesmanlike by comparison. Tammy Baldwin, the first openly gay senator, told me about McBride: "she is focused on the people she serves and understands that our constituents trusted us to serve them because of, not in spite of, our lived experiences. pic.twitter.com/sIqmKvL4cc Eric Michael Garcia (@EricMGarcia) November 22, 2024 Speaking personally, I also understand the desire not to be goaded into a battle over one's own humanity. When I came out as a trans woman in 2021, I was excited to start writing openly about my experiences and my community. Still, I promised myself that I would also keep covering other issues, to be recognized as a reporter first and a Person of Gender second. Being the first minority in any institution can, frankly, suck. Enemies and allies alike will reduce you to your identity, no matter what you do. "The political career of this individual is all about being transgender," claimed Newsmax anchor Greg Kelly, ignoring McBride's long and consistent history of emphasizing bread-and-butter issues. But trying to rise above has its own dangers. Some trans people felt deeply demoralized and betrayed by McBride's statement, arguing that it set a precedent for further hate campaigns and sent a message that others should acquiesce when their rights come under attack. Others wished the Democrats had been more proactive from the start about supporting their incoming colleague. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Throughout the country, conservative invective against trans people appears to have inspired a new wave of violence and violent threats against trans people. For many, that is exactly the issue that keeps them up at night. Rep.-elect Sarah McBride, D-Del leaves a meeting of House Democrats on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024, in Washington. (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McBrides dilemma echoes the wider debate currently eating at the Democratic Party about how to deal with Republicans terror tactics. On the one hand, Kamala Harris was soundly defeated by a man who explicitly campaigned on comprehensively rolling back trans rights, and who made her (supposedly) trans-friendly past a centerpiece of his campaign. On the other, Harris largely did try to rise above, barely talking about the issue and largely refusing to even address Trumps attacks. To some progressives, that is proof that ceding the whole issue to conservatives will only invite further disaster. Yet while her party searches its soul, McBride is in an impossible position. When your workplace bullies are supported and protected by your institution's leadership Republicans will control Congress for at least the next two years you're basically screwed either way. Pushing back gives them the fight they want, and guarantees you'll stay in the crosshairs. But not pushing back risks emboldening them to bully others and sends the message that their behaviour is acceptable. It's an unwinnable game for McBride, as it would be for any of us. Unfortunately, the GOPs commitment to total war means refusing to play is not an option . Russia has sent North Korea 1 million barrels of oil since March, according to satellite imagery analysis. The findings underscore the growing partnership between the countries, which includes military aid. The oil shipments are in defiance of UN sanctions, which Russia has ignored in the past. An analysis of satellite images shows Russia defying sanctions to supply North Korea with at least one million barrels of oil this year, according to a new report. The findings underscore the increasing partnership between the two states, and the extent to which Russia is willing to flout international norms to pursue its war in Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The investigation, published jointly by the BBC and analysts at the UK-based Open Source Centre, used aerial and satellite images to track tanker shipping routes between Russia's port of Vostochny, in the country's far east, and five separate North Korean ports and oil terminals. In the imagery, vessels would set out from North Korea riding high in the water, but on their return would appear fully laden, the group said. In this image marked up by the Open Source Centre, the Yu Son was deemed to be carrying oil to North Korea. Canadian Armed Forces/Operation NEON / Open Source Centre In this image, the Yu Son looks empty. Canadian Armed Forces/Operation NEON / Open Source Centre The oil is payment for weapons and troops sent to aid Russia's war in Ukraine, the UK's foreign secretary, David Lammy, told the BBC. Open Source Centre used the imagery to estimate that between March and November this year, Russia provided North Korea with at least a million barrels of oil double the amount that North Korea is allowed to import under UN sanctions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The UN Security Council of which Russia is a permanent member sanctioned North Korea in December 2017, forbidding the transfer of more than 500,000 barrels of oil a year to the state. In March this year, Russia vetoed a UN Security Council resolution to extend the mandate of the expert panel tasked with monitoring the sanctions, effectively disbanding it. Russia's Vostochny port in 2008. Ursula Hyzy/AFP via Getty Images The Open Source Centre and BBC investigation, which Business Insider has not independently confirmed, appears to back up assertions made by a US official in May. The unnamed official told Reuters that in March alone, more than 165,000 barrels of refined petroleum had left Vostochny headed for North Korea, and that "Russian shipments have already pushed DPRK imports above the 500,000-barrel annual cap." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new findings also give further insight into the continued material exchanges between Russia and North Korea. Analysts have warned for months about the growing partnership between the two countries. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who signed a mutual defense agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin in June, has supplied vast amounts of ammunition and it is believed artillery to Russia to help in its invasion of Ukraine. Around 11,000 North Korean troops have also been sent to fight, according to Ukraine, with reports suggesting that as many as 100,000 could be deployed within a year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The two states have not made clear what the terms of the exchange are, but South Korean intelligence has estimated that it could be receiving about $2,000 per soldier a month, as well as food and access to advanced technology. Earlier this year, a Carnegie Endowment analysis said the partnership was taking shape against the backdrop of the "slow and irreversible breakdown of the Kim dynasty." But the oil transfers give North Korea "a level of stability it hasn't had since these sanctions were introduced," Joseph Byrne, one of the authors of the Open Source Centre report, told the BBC. Analysts have previously told BI that the relationship between the two states is largely transactional, but that for Kim it's a "win-win" as he gains access to much-needed resources. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kim is "getting paid, getting access to foreign technology," Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., a North Korea defense expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told BI last month. Read the original article on Business Insider (File/Getty Images) Imagine driving on smoother roads, spending less time in traffic, and sending your children to safer schools all made possible by voter-approved investments. Many South Carolinians have taken the first step, but will their trust in government leaders be rewarded? Voters in 12 counties and three school districts spoke loudly and clearly in this years general election, approving over $8 billion dollars in bond and sales tax referendums. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Counties where voters said yes to sales tax ballot questions: Aiken Allendale Barnwell Chesterfield Georgetown Greenwood Horry Jasper McCormick Orangeburg Richland York Where voters approved borrowing money for school construction: Aiken County Lexington-Richland School District 5 York 1 School District These decisions represent more than just a financial commitment theyre a collective vote of confidence in government leaders to address critical infrastructure needs. From crumbling roads to overcrowded schools, voters have signaled their willingness to invest in their communities. But with this trust comes a responsibility: Governments must deliver on their promises with transparency and accountability. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These votes, which dictate the ability of local governments to borrow or raise taxes, are pivotal to improving infrastructure and public services. Vote Yes campaigns are run by local chambers, businesses, and supportive politicians while opposition typically stems from environmentalists, not in my backyarders, and anti-tax fiscal conservatives. It is easy to understand why voters might support these referendums. South Carolina, like many states, faces a substantial infrastructure backlog, with deteriorating roads, bridges, and schools that need immediate attention. The ongoing population growth has forced the states Department of Transportation to focus on major infrastructure improvements such as highways that benefit the largest number of people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This focus, while warranted, puts less heavily traveled state-maintained roads far down on the priority list. Counties can allocate sales tax funds to improve local roads and intersections, while leveraging these funds to prompt the DOT to prioritize upgrades to state-maintained roads. The counties and third-party support organizations that passed referendums were successful in telling their story, helping link infrastructure funding to safety improvements, economic opportunity, and a better quality of life for area residents. Failed referendums often reflect a lack of voter confidence in the process, whether due to effective opposition campaigns or insufficient clarity about the benefits and safeguards. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In many cases, voters were asked to approve millions of dollars in bonds or sales tax increases without a clear picture of where the money will go or how success will be measured. Local governments can assuage these concerns by demonstrating to voters the safeguards that are in place to protect against mismanagement, the data that reflects the need for new funds, and the often less cost-effective alternatives. Ultimately, its about trust. When voters approve referendums, they place their faith in government leaders. Conversely, when referendums fail, voters are expressing skepticism. So how can governments who were successful in their referendums maintain and build upon the trust voters and taxpayers have instilled in them? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The perception is that once the votes are counted, bonds are issued, and sales tax collected, the public has little visibility into how the money is being spent. Local governments can counteract this by being transparent and accountable from the start. Citizens need detailed, accessible reports that outline the status of funded projects, a breakdown of expenses, and timelines for completion. Voters shouldnt be passive observers of how their tax dollars are spent. Local governments should engage citizens in the planning and oversight processes, ensuring that projects align with the communitys priorities and that taxpayers have a voice in the process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This engagement fosters not only better outcomes but also greater public trust in government institutions. In the Midlands, both Richland County and Lexington-Richland School District Five have wisely instituted citizen advisory committees that review, comment on and provide recommendations to their elected bodies and government officials. South Carolinians in these communities have made their priorities clear, entrusting government leaders with the resources to build safer roads, better schools, and stronger communities. Now, the onus is on those leaders to prove they are worthy of that trust. Transparency and accountability are not optional; they are essential to ensuring every taxpayer dollar is spent effectively and earns the publics trust. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Through detailed reporting, citizen engagement, and a steadfast commitment to openness, local governments can not only deliver on their promises but also strengthen public faith in the democratic process. This is a pivotal moment for South Carolinas future. Every dollar and every decision counts. Let us know what you think... (Bloomberg) -- Chancellor Olaf Scholz said voters should trust him to keep Germany out of a direct conflict with Russia, doubling down on a key campaign message after he was confirmed as the Social Democrats lead candidate for Februarys snap election. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Scholz sought to distinguish himself and his party from the poll-leading opposition conservatives, saying that while Germany stands firmly by its pledge to support Ukraine, its also imperative to prevent the conflict escalating into a war between Russia and NATO. His nomination is set to be rubber stamped at an SPD leadership meeting on Monday, despite his woeful personal approval ratings. There are many people who are worried, who are scared about security and peace in Europe, Scholz said Friday at an SPD event in Berlin, portraying himself as a shrewd, cautious guardian of the nation. Its important that we set a clear course that everyone can depend on, he added. So I am very sure that citizens who like to vote for democratic parties know full well which of these parties has committed to prudence. Scholz had faced mounting pressure to stand aside for Boris Pistorius before the popular defense minister took himself out of the running on Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pistorius, 64, has consistently ranked as Germanys most popular politician and was widely seen as more likely to mount a successful campaign against the conservatives under Friedrich Merz. Merzs CDU/CSU alliance is generally more hawkish on backing Ukraine and its lawmakers have lambasted Scholz for his refusal to supply the government in Kyiv with long-range Taurus cruise missiles. Scholz justifies his stance by saying that doing so risks drawing Germany directly into the war. In a survey for public broadcaster ARD published Thursday, Pistorius scored an approval rating of 61%, almost twice as high as Merz in second place on 34%. Robert Habeck, the Greens chancellor candidate and current vice chancellor, was third on 29% and Scholz a distant sixth on 20%. Germany is holding a national election on Feb. 23, seven months before the scheduled vote, after Scholz dismantled his ruling coalition with the Greens and the Free Democrats on Nov. 6 following a prolonged dispute over budget policy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His surprise sacking of FDP Finance Minister Christian Lindner, which left his government without a parliamentary majority, tipped Europes biggest economy into political turmoil at a time when its struggling to emerge from a prolonged period of stagnation. As well as his message to voters worried about conflict with Russia, Scholz also promised that Germany will continue to maintain defense spending at 2% of gross domestic the target for NATO members without compromising social welfare spending. To achieve that, a loosening of Germanys stringent borrowing rules, known as the debt brake, will be required, he added. He attacked Lindner over the Free Democrat leaders insistence on sticking to the borrowing limit, which ultimately led to the breakup of the ruling alliance another sign that the topic is set to be one of the most hotly debated in the weeks leading up to the election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In order to bring the vote forward from September, Scholz will submit to a confidence vote next month in the lower house of parliament. Once he loses that, he can ask the president to dissolve the Bundestag and confirm the date of the ballot. Recent opinion polls look bleak for the Social Democrat incumbent, who succeeded Christian Democrat Angela Merkel in late 2021. As things stand, Merzs CDU/CSU alliance would win with more than 32% of the vote, according to a polling average calculated by Bloomberg. The AfD would come second with roughly 18%, with the SPD third at about 15% and the Greens fourth at around 12%. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If Merzs bloc wins the election, he will almost certainly need to form a coalition with at least one other party to secure a Bundestag majority. With the FDP in danger of missing the 5% threshold for getting seats in parliament, his most likely partners are the SPD and the Greens. That raises the prospect of another government formed of parties with conflicting policies on how Germany should address challenges like technological transformation and climate change, as well as geopolitical threats like Russias war on Ukraine. In his speech Friday, Scholz joked that the election is bound to turn out well for the SPD. The reason? It falls on the birthdays of both Lars Klingbeil, a party co-leader, and Scholzs wife, Britta Ernst. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This story was produced with the assistance of Bloomberg Automation. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. NOTE: This article has been updated with accurate electric school bus numbers LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) Over the past few years, officials and activists in Michigan have pushed for a shift from gas to electric vehicles. Weve seen that shiftwith more than 14,000 EVs sold in 2023. Now, even schools are starting to make the transition with their buses. On Thursday, EV advocates met at Lansing Technical High School to discuss the benefits of going electric. They say electric buses will provide a safer, quieter, and cleaner ride for kids while reducing air pollution and saving money for school districts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Representatives from Michigan schools that have made the switch shared their love for the new buses at Thursdays event. Three Rivers Community School Districts transportation supervisor says its electric buses have outlasted battery lifespan expectations and saved the district about $40,000 since 2019. Were still doing a much better job than we have been for the past 80 years, said supervisor Kenni Jean Shrader. At this point, five years in now, we have not seen any battery degradationwith that being said, I have two more coming and Im applying for four more. As of August 2024, there are at least 4,500 electric school buses on the road and more than 12,000 committed electric school buses nationwide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If your school is looking to join in, funding applications for the Clean School Bus Rebate Program will be accepted through Jan. 9th. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WLNS 6 News. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) A 28-year-old Meadview, Arizona, man was arrested on Tuesday and faces charges of sexual exploitation of a minor, according to the Mohave County Sheriffs Office (MCSO). Allen Ray Long was arrested after investigators found images of child sexual abuse material on a device belonging to Long. An investigation into the matter began in September 2024, when authorities seized the device, according to MCSO officials. Meadview is a small community on the Arizona side of Lake Mead, about 33 miles northeast of Dolan Springs via Pierce Ferry Road. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Detectives are working closely with Kingman Unified School District No. 20, where Long is currently employed, to ensure that the images located do not contain any local youth, MCSO officials said. Police are continuing to investigate and trying to identify victims in the case. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. The effects of a chemical thats produced when water is treated for viruses and bacteria are unknown, but there's a clear "similarity to other toxic molecules" Getty Stock image of running tap water. Stock image of running tap water. Scientists arent sure whether a chemical that's commonly found in American municipal water systems is toxic. The chemical, chloronitramide anion, was discovered 40 years ago meaning people have been consuming it for decades. But scientists have only recently been able to properly identify it as a byproduct thats produced when chloramine is added to water, according to a study published in the journal Science. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Specifically, chloramine is used to kill viruses and bacteria, NBC News reports. And as the study explains, inorganic chloramines are commonly used drinking water disinfectants intended to safeguard public health and curb regulated disinfection by-product formation. But its impact on humans is unknown and concerning since it has similarity to other toxic molecules, study author David Wahman, a research environmental engineer at the Environmental Protection Agency, told NBC. Getty Stock image of tap water. Stock image of tap water. Related: More Than 150,000 Bottles of Water Recalled Due to Bacteria Concerns We looked for it in 40 samples in 10 U.S. chlorinated drinking water systems located in seven states. We did find it in all the samples. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the study says, chloronitramide anion could be in the water of up to a third of U.S. homes, since 113 million homes receive water thats been treated with chloramine. The studys lead author, Julian Fairey, told NBC, We dont know the toxicity, but this study has enabled us to be able to do that work now. Getty Stock image of an urban wastewater plant. Stock image of an urban wastewater plant. Related: Scientists Say They'll Cut Back on Bottled Water After Learning 1 Liter Contains a Quarter of a Million Pieces of Plastic One scientist pointed out that its likely the chemical is, indeed, toxic. Its a pretty small molecule and it can probably for that reason enter into biological systems and into cells. And it is still a reactive molecule, David Reckhow, a research professor in civil and environmental engineering at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, told NBC. Those are the kinds of things you worry about. 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. SULLIVAN COUNTY, Tenn. (WJHL) A Kingsport man has been arrested in connection to a 27-year-old cold case in Sullivan County. George Robinson (Courtesy of the SCSO) First Judicial District Attorney General Barry Staubus announced on Wednesday a grand jury returned a true bill presentment against George Scott Robinson for three counts of murder in the death of James Hutson, 17, on Sept. 6, 1997. Count One: Alleges premeditated murder that Robinson killed James Huston by stabbing him multiple times Count Two: Alleges Robinson committed murder in the perpetration of a burglary Count Three: Alleges that Robinson committed murder in the perpetration of the rape of Mary Hutson, the mother of James Hutson. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Staubus said Robinson is not charged for the rape or burglary due to the statute of limitations running out. Megan Boswell jury questionnaires for trial finalized On Sept. 6, 1997, officers responded to a burglary and brutal attack at a home in the 400 block of Rock Springs Road in Kingsport, Sheriff Jeff Cassidy said. Upon arrival, officers reportedly found James Hutson with multiple stab wounds. He was pronounced dead on the scene. Officers also found James Hustons mom, Mary, had been sexually assaulted. DNA evidence was then collected; however, no match was found. Despite efforts, the case remained unsolved and went cold, Cassidy said. James Hutson (Courtesy of the SCSO) Mary Hutson (Courtesy of the SCSO) In 2023, detectives reopened the case and began reviewing evidence alongside the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DNA evidence collected at the scene in 1997 was submitted to a private lab in Texas for Forensic Geneology Testing, according to Cassidy. The testing reportedly identified Robinson as a potential suspect. A DNA sample was collected from Robinson, and the TBI Crime Lab confirmed it matched the evidence from 1997. SCSO officers then obtained an arrest warrant for Robinson. After arriving at Robinsons apartment on Hillvue Drive in Kingsport, he reportedly refused to cooperate and barricaded himself inside. After several hours of negotiations, the Sullivan County SWAT Team entered the apartment. Robinson then shot himself, Cassidy said. As of Friday, he remains at an area hospital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement TBI Director David Rausch spoke at the press conference on the usefulness of advanced technology using DNA to solve cold cases. WJHL Photo Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After nearly 30 years, George Robinson likely thought he would never be caught, Rausch said. But thanks to the technology and the determination of these investigators, he now knows differently. At the press conference, family members of James and Mary Hutson spoke. First of all, I just want to say thank you, to all of you so much, a family member said. These are happy tears but these are also tears of missing my family. Its been really really hard, 27 years is a long time, but it always feels like yesterday. Mary Hutson passed away a year after the 1997 crime. No court date for Robinson has been set, as of Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The full press conference can be watched 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 WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather. (KRON) A Santa Clara University student was struck and killed by a car while walking near the schools campus, according to the Santa Clara Police Department. The crash occurred on Thursday morning on El Camino Real and Accolti Way near the Santa Clara University campus. Police responded at 11:58 a.m., locating a pedestrian on the ground with visible injuries. Officers rendered aid to the pedestrian. Medical personnel took the victim to the hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement San Jose boxing gym manager charged with sex assaults The victim was identified as an 18-year-old Santa Clara University student. The person driving the vehicle responsible for striking the student remained on the scene and cooperated with the investigation, according to Santa Clara PD. Drugs and/or alcohol do not appear to be a factor in the collision, according to authorities. Anyone who may have witnessed the crash is asked to contact Traffic Investigator David Machado at (408) 615-4764. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. NEW YORK Federal prosecutors on Friday urged a judge to deny Sean Diddy Combs latest bid for release from jail, arguing his consistent rule-breaking shows he cannot be trusted. In Manhattan federal court, Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik said Combs had demonstrated he could not abide by any conditions of release. Hes offered to put up $50 million and submit to 24/7 monitoring by a private security firm under home detention at an Upper East Side apartment without access to phones or internet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So far, three judges have declined to let him out since his arrest on sweeping sex trafficking charges. Judge Arun Subramanian reserved issuing a decision Friday and said he would do so promptly. In order for conditions to be sufficient, there has to be some level of trust that the defendant will follow them, Slavik said. Theres no way to trust that any private security firm could actually do what the court requires and could actually ensure compliance. Referencing his monitored communications in jail, the prosecutor said Combs had made clear through his own words that hes a danger and hes committed to concealing his crimes by any means necessary, including trying to bribe witnesses. She said he couldnt even abide by the rules behind bars, noting hed used prohibited methods of communicating with the outside world at Brooklyn MDC, including with his lawyers, and had directed associates to contact witnesses while, in essence, running a PR campaign from his jail cell. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What we have here is the defendants concerted effort to affect the integrity of these proceedings, Slavik said. He is saying, I want to, quote, Reach for this jury. I just need one. At the hearing, Subramanian asked Combs team to explain why handwritten notes a federal investigator photographed in his cell were not labeled as legal, as they have claimed. The judge took possession of the photographs from prosecutors earlier this week after Combs lawyers argued the notes were subject to attorney-client privilege, holding the physical copies up in court with the legal label the judge said was not pictured. The first time I actually saw the defense materials was when Mr. Combs brought them to court on Wednesday, Combs lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, said. As we sit here today, Im not sure when legal was written. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Agnifilo said Combs six or seven notepads in jail now all say legal and insisted they contained information relevant to his defense strategies. All Ill say is that, moving forward in this proceeding, please make sure that when representations are being made to the court, they are being made in good faith, and are true, Subramanian said. Slavik later said the discrepancies surrounding Combs notes showed his lawyers inability to control their client. Turning to explosive footage of Combs assaulting his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura, Slavik said Combs latest arguments that prosecutors edited it were a barefaced attempt to get rid of incredibly harmful evidence to his defense. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He throws her to the ground, he kicks her, he drags her. That part was not edited, the prosecutor said, noting Combs had even admitted to it and he apologized for it. This video is evidence that the defendant is a violent abuser and hes a danger to the community, Slavik said, noting Combs had tried to bribe hotel staff to delete it. The defendant knows that this is devastating evidence against him at trial and this is why, your honor, hes throwing anything at the wall to get this tape to go away. The surveillance video, first published by CNN in May, depicts a disturbing March 2016 incident in which Combs was seen brutally assaulting Ventura in the hallway of a hotel. He settled a lawsuit with Ventura for a reported $30 million in late 2023 and publicly apologized for the incident after the videos release this year. Its our defense to these charges that this was a toxic, loving, 11-year relationship, Agnifilo later countered, describing it as a consensual, long-term fraught relationship. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Bad Boy Records founder, brought into the courtroom just after 2 p.m., blew kisses to his mother and several of his children seated in the gallery and tapped his heart before hugging his lawyers. He wore beige prison garb over a white long-sleeved shirt. Combs has pleaded not guilty to racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and interstate transportation to engage in prostitution. The charges carrying a potential decades-long sentence accuse him of using his business empire to facilitate the sexual abuse and coercion of women he forced to participate in violent sexual performances called freak offs. The feds say he directed and videotaped the performances and drugged his victims into compliance and that he and associates engaged in forced labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery and obstruction of justice. Combs lawyer Anthony Ricco said Combs would be detained under more restrictive measures on the Upper East Side than at the MDC because he wouldnt have access to any phones, like contraband ones at the jail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bail proposal would see Combs monitored by Patriot Security Group and have no visitors except his lawyers and a handful of relatives approved by prosecutors and pretrial services. Agnifilo proposed the three-bedroom Manhattan residence as a location for Combs to await his May 5 trial after the judge said there was no way he could do so on Star Island in South Florida. Thats not going to work, the judge said. ______ The last Sears store in Washington state is not even going to make it through the holiday season. The former retail giants store at Westfield Southcenter in Tukwila is closing Dec. 15. Store closing signs are on display at the store, and advertised sales show items at clearance from 20% to 70% off. An online sub-Reddit thread about Sears stores and related news first posted images of the in-store ads announcing the closure Nov. 15. Earlier posts indicated portions of the store already were lean on inventory or empty altogether. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Seattle Times confirmed the closure this week. Calls to various departments of the Southcenter Sears by The News Tribune on Thursday were not answered. Parent company ESL Investments and its subsidiary Transformco no longer announce store closures. The last such announcement posted on Transformcos website was Jan. 21, 2022. When Sears merged with Kmart in the mid-2000s, thousands of stores were in operation. Now, there are fewer than 10 Sears stores remaining nationwide in four states and Puerto Rico; Kmart closed its last full-sized store in the continental United States last month. Bloomberg News in October reported that Sears was seeking rent concessions from landlords for its remaining sites. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, conditions at the Southcenter site have earned poor online reviews. One customers review on Google, posted a week ago, stated, Nothing is left. Soon, it is going to be closed, while others noted escalators that were shut down and an empty top floor. The Southcenter stores demise follows Sears shutdown in September of its other Washington state store at Valley Mall in Union Gap. It also follows news of American Freight closing its U.S. stores, including its one in Tacoma, which was previously a Sears Outlet store, on Sixth Avenue. American Freight merged with Sears Outlet in 2020. Sears exited the Tacoma Mall in 2018, the same year its Puyallup store at South Hill Mall was added to closures amid the retailers Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The end of Sears in Washington state is a spectacular fall from its history as one of Americas primary retailers, with its mail-order catalogs offering home shopping convenience to Americans and its annual Wish Books enticing generations of kids with pages of toys before the holidays. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The catalogs generated so much nostalgia that online archives are devoted to preserving them. But nostalgia only goes so far, as a USA Today headline stated in October 2018 amid the retailers bankruptcy: Sure, you remember Sears fondly, but why arent you shopping there? News Tribune archives contributed to this report. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) It has been a seasonable day across KELOLAND, with temperatures mainly in the 30s and 40s. Southwest South Dakota received warmer air, with temperatures in the 50s and even a 60 in Custer! Going into this evening, temperatures will begin to drop into the 20s for the night with some areas in the upper teens. Light winds will stick around with a few more clouds moving in. A ridge moving through the region will help keep us dry with highs near average for the start of the weekend. There will be more cloud coverage across the area with winds slightly increasing. A cold front associated with a low pressure system will move into South Dakota and move eastward Saturday night into Sunday. As the front passes, breezy NW winds will arrive and bring us colder air for the start of the work week and keep our highs just above freezing. A low pressure system in Colorado could bring chances of snow to our south, but precipitation chances for our area have decreased as most models are keeping us dry for now. That will not be the only thing to watch going into the holiday weekend as colder air will be brought into KELOLAND with highs dropping into the 20s, with even some teens. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) Good morning KELOLAND! Its a chilly start to the day, but a seasonably cool day is ahead with some sunshine and light winds through the region. Temperatures have dropped into the teens in many areas, with 15 this morning in Aberdeen and Watertown. A few clouds will be filtering across the region today with highs in the 30s and 40s. A few 50s will show up in the far south and southwest. Partly cloudy skies are ahead tonight, with partly sunny skies for many areas tomorrow as winds turn around to the southeast. It still looks dry for the first half of the weekend. A cold front and low pressure system will be on the move for the second half of the weekend. We expect some light snow chances by Sunday afternoon in western SD, with a chance of light snow spreading east Sunday night and Monday. Stronger NW winds of 15-30 are expect along with colder highs by Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You can see those trends on the map below. The pattern for next week is still messy, but the good news is the chance of big snow in KELOLAND are low for now. Having said that, a low pressure center in Colorado and Kansas could produce snow to our south starting Wednesday into Thursday. Also, a clipper-type system could arrive here from the northwest after Thanksgiving. Well watch it for now. Cold air will be lurking to our north much of the extended forecast. The challenge ahead will be determining how much and how fast that cold air will make a move toward KELOLAND. The time period just after Thanksgiving is looking colder, with highs in the teens and 20s looking more likely. Early December will be interesting to watch to see if the cold stay north or breaks loose and descends into the northern plains. Here are the details of the forecast. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. At this point, I can only assume you've heard of Keith Lee, the TikTok food personality who racks up millions of views for his food tours across the country. His videos have so much influence on the restaurant scene that the phenomenon has been dubbed the "Keith Lee Effect": cities prepare for his arrival, restaurants often see lines out the door from a positive review, or intense debate sparks after a particularly negative experience. Keith Lee holding a piece of roasted duck from a container, preparing to eat Keith Lee eating a serving of roast duck with a fork, wearing a patterned jacket and cap Keith Lee / Via tiktok.com With almost 17 million followers on TikTok, Keith has built his reputation as an authentic and relatable food critic. He refuses to accept free food or perks and promises to always give his honest, unbiased opinion on the food he eats and his latest bizarre experience with a Seattle sushi restaurant is no exception. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During his tour, Keith checked out FOB Sushi Bar, which he said was "one of the most recommended places" since he'd arrived in Seattle. FOB isn't like any other sushi restaurant, though. As Keith describes in the original taste test video, everything is "buffet style": you grab a box, approach a display of various pieces of sushi (based solely on his video, most seemed to be nigiri), use tongs to grab whichever ones you want, and then pay by weight at $14.99 per pound. Exterior of FOB Sushi Bar with stairs leading to the entrance. The reflection of trees is visible in the building's glass facade Plates of assorted sushi varieties on a counter, including seared salmon, spicy tuna, and unagi. Menu signs visible in the background Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Keith Lee / Via tiktok.com Due to a shellfish allergy, Keith's options were limited, but he was still able to get a few pieces. His first bite of salmon nigiri received a middle rating of 5/10; the salmon was fresh, in his opinion, but "not the freshest" he's had, and he mentioned that his main issue was the "overcooked" rice. He gave the next two pieces 6.5's, reiterating that the overcooked rice was "killing" it for him. Keith Lee eating sushi with chopsticks inside a car Person using chopsticks to hold sushi from a takeout box inside a car, focusing on eating while looking at the camera Keith Lee / Via tiktok.com His next piece is hamachi nigiri, and despite the overcooked rice, he says this one is his favorite, giving it an 8.5/10. Keith Lee / Via tiktok.com Unfortunately, this is where things start to go a little awry. People began flooding the comment section, claiming a "worm" was moving on the piece of fish. A viral video by creator @goojiepooj even slowed down the clip of Keith eating, which showed something visibly *ahem* moving on the edge of the hamachi. Keith Lee / Via tiktok.com Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you get queasy easily, I suggest skipping the following photos, but here is a closer look at the so-called "worm." Keith Lee holding a chopstick with sashimi in a takeout setting, wearing a beanie and casual sweatshirt, seemingly enjoying a meal Keith Lee eating sushi inside a car, holding a piece with chopsticks. They are wearing a black beanie and hoodie Keith Lee / Via tiktok.com Let's just zoom in a bit: Keith Lee / Via tiktok.com Keith seemingly doesn't notice anything in his video and continues on with his review, saying FOB Sushi Bar is "absolutely a place I would come back to" and that it's "heaven" for anyone who likes sushi. According to him, the line for the restaurant was out the door when he was filming. Keith Lee / Via tiktok.com Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite Keith's overall positive review and not noticing anything unusual with his fish, there was no escaping Wormgate. After facing scrutiny from all corners of the internet, FOB Sushi Bar posted a statement to Instagram a few days later. In it, they stated that the claims of worms in their sashimi were "entirely false." It seems the video they're referring to might be @goojiepooj's slowed-down clip (which has close to 8 million views) rather than Keith's original review. FOB Sushi Bar / Via instagram.com They go on to specify all the safety standards they adhere to when it comes to serving raw fish, including "freezing fish to specified temperatures," which "effectively eliminates parasites." While the type and size of fish, as well as the type of parasite, are factors to consider when using this method, the FDA does state that the temperatures listed below "are sufficient to kill parasites." FOB Sushi Bar / Via instagram.com According to FOB Sushi, that slight movement in the fish may have been from its "natural elasticity or the pressure of chopsticks when applied to its structure." FOB Sushi Bar / Via instagram.com They continue on to say that they are proud of their "meticulous fish-handling process" and "have never had any issues regarding food safety." FOB Sushi Bar / Via instagram.com Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sadly, for FOB Sushi, people weren't quite buying it and found it hard to believe that simply applying pressure with chopsticks to a piece of fish would cause part of it to move in such a way. Redjina Ph / Getty Images / @goojiepooj / Via tiktok.com Shortly after that statement was released, another TikToker (@joshuam_rivera) posted a video alleging that FOB Sushi was the reason his girlfriend was hospitalized. According to Joshua, the couple ate at the restaurant, and the next day, his girlfriend began feeling sick and exhibiting food poisoning symptoms. After going to urgent care and getting a stool test, the results revealed that she had a "form of E. coli." Joshua said in his video that she is still recovering in the hospital due to ongoing symptoms. Of course, whether or not this was from the sushi can't be confirmed or denied. E. coli can be found in many foods, most recently in carrots, which have resulted in hospitalizations, including in Washington. Joshua's video, coupled with the restaurant's statements, then pushed Keith to respond to all the controversy a day later. He says that in the slowed-down video of him eating the sushi, "it did appear that something moved," but admits he "didn't see anything until somebody pointed it out." Keith Lee looking at the camera, overlaid text: Keith Lee talks with hands visible; caption reads, Keith Lee / Via tiktok.com Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although he couldn't "confirm or deny" what it was, he supposedly felt okay but believed he needed to speak out. "I don't believe in tearing down any business, but at the same time, people's health are on the line," he says. Keith Lee wearing a bandana and a necklace, speaking in a car Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Person in a car wearing a bandana and casual jacket, appearing to speak or explain something Keith Lee / Via tiktok.com Regarding FOB Sushi's statement claiming that the tension from holding the chopsticks caused the fish to "move," Keith disagrees: "I've had sushi a thousand times, and I held sushi a thousand different ways, and never once have I seen sushi behave in that way." Keith Lee / Via tiktok.com And while he says he understands the risks of eating raw fish, he still wishes that the restaurant would "be more accountable" about the whole situation. Keith Lee / Via tiktok.com One day after that video was shared and garnered close to 30 million views, FOB Sushi posted another statement to Instagram, claiming they were closing their Seattle and Bellevue restaurant locations "until further notice." They are now supposedly "conducting a thorough investigation to address the situation." FOB Sushi Bar / Via instagram.com Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the Seattle Times, a health inspector "attempted to conduct an inspection" on Monday, the same day they announced the closure, but the doors were closed. Although we don't know the exact reason for the closure and subsequent inspection attempt, records do show that no health code violations were found when the restaurant was inspected in January. In fact, they received an "excellent" rating. Health officials are supposedly still planning to "follow up with the restaurant to discuss food safety measures." Previous reviews for FOB Sushi on Google and Yelp are also largely positive, with 4.6 and 4.5 stars respectively. However, some customers in a Reddit thread claim to have gotten sick after eating there. Let us know your thoughts on Wormgate in the comments. BuzzFeed has reached out to both FOB Sushi Bar and Keith Lee for comments but did not hear back from them at the time this was published. We'll update you if we do. A 33-year-old woman pleaded not guilty Thursday after being charged with first-degree murder in the death of her father after what police say was a violent attack at their home in early November. King County prosecutors charged Corey Lizette Burke, 33, with the murder of her father, Timothy Burke, 67, after they got into an argument over household lights on Nov. 5. She is being held on a $2 million bail. According to charging documents from the King County Prosecuting Attorneys Office, Corey started arguing with her father after he insisted on keeping lights on, which escalated when Burke allegedly decided she needed to do something about him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the argument, Burke went upstairs, got an ice axe, and confronted him in the basement. Detectives said she tripped him and used the axe to repeatedly strike him. She admitted to responding officers that she strangled him with her hands and the axe while he struggled to breathe, hurting his head, back and side. Burke struck her father multiple times with the ice axe, inflicting puncture wounds deep enough to penetrate his lung and rib cage, according to charging documents. Coreys father also had blunt force trauma to his head and what officers described as bite marks on his back. Burke stayed by her fathers side until he stopped breathing, according to charging documents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Afterward, she went upstairs and smashed several windows in her home, prompting neighbors to call 911. When officers arrived on the scene that night, they found Burke outside the home, visibly disoriented with blood on her face. She was reportedly unresponsive to questions, saying only that she was sick and hadnt eaten. Burke denied taking any substances but did not provide clear answers regarding the situation inside. Officers detained her after she refused to allow a search of the home and requested medical attention, claiming she needed to go to the hospital. Concerned about the welfare of Timothy, whom neighbors reported as elderly and often housebound, officers conducted a welfare check inside the home. They found him dead in a basement bedroom with obvious signs of trauma. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police found the bloodied ice axe on the floor in the upstairs living room and shattered glass from the windows lay scattered across the front yard. After Burke was taken to Harborview Medical Center, she was arrested in connection to Timothys death. During her interview with detectives, she admitted to the killing, describing feeling overwhelmed by her relationship with her father and recounting that she freaked out during their argument. She also provided further details on the attack, including her decision to strike him with the axe multiple times to ensure he wouldnt survive. The King County Medical Examiners Office later said Timothy died from a combination of severe blunt force trauma, puncture wounds, and asphyxiation. Nov. 21Cars lined Grand Avenue on Thursday morning as residents claimed boxes filled with all the ingredients for Thanksgiving dinner. Volunteers assisted at Second Harvest Community Food Bank with the 14th annual free annual Turkey Day distribution. Vouchers were given out to qualifying community members last week, inviting them to pick up food for the holiday meal. This year in St. Joseph, 500 turkeys were given away. In addition, Second Harvest distributed 250 turkeys each in Maryville and Trenton. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many receiving the boxes Thursday expressed gratitude for the food. Nancy Hall, a member of the St. Joseph Eastside Lions Club, came out to volunteer for Turkey Day. She said that even though it was cold outside, she thought it was important to be there and help. "People are gonna be hungry no matter what the temperature is," Hall said. "So, we need to help them no matter what." She also shared her favorite part of volunteering at Turkey Day. "We get to see lots of wonderful people who are here to help others and visit with them, and that's a really good thing," Hall said. "But most of all, it's that we're helping other people who need help. That's our biggest thing that we like to do." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mackenzie Osborn, the communications coordinator for Second Harvest, said the giveaway fills a need for many. "This region-wide event is important to the community because we know there are people who are doing their best and still might need a little extra help this holiday season," she said. "Thanks to this event, some of these families won't have to worry about where their Thanksgiving meal will come from." Second Harvest will have a Christmas distribution event next month. Dates for that program still are being finalized. LANCASTER, S.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) A second man has been charged with murder in the death of an 18-year-old man, according to Lancaster Police. On Wednesday, Nov. 20, Lamonta Roberts, 31, of Lancaster, was arrested in Richland County, South Carolina. Richland County houses the state capital, Columbia, and is over 50 miles from Lancaster. Roberts is charged with Murder, Possession of a Weapon During the Commission of a Violent Crime and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. He is being held at the Lancaster County Detention Center. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Roberts charges stem from the Sept. 4 murder of Jelani Jackson. Officers say they were called to Clinton Avenue near Ruth Streat just before 8 p.m. that evening, where they found Jackson shot. Jackson was taken to a local hospital but later died. Lamonta Roberts (Lancaster Police) Kenyan Blair (Lancaster Police) Days later, police announced that 19-year-old Kenyan Blair, who was already in jail for other charges, was charged with murder in connection with Jacksons death. In late September, police said that they were also searching for Lamonta Roberts. In October, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) announced that the shooting that led to Jacksons death was just one incident in a string of retaliatory, gang-related shootings in Lancaster. In total, six shooting occurred between Sept. 4 and Sept. 11. It is unclear if Blair or Roberts were connected with any of the other shootings or if they will face any additional charges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Multiple agencies are involved in this case. A reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the homicide and shootings. Anyone with information on these shootings is asked to contact ATF at 1-888-ATF-TIPS (888-283-8477), at ATFTips@atf.gov or online at atf.gov/contact/atf-tips. All tips are anonymous. Queen City News Lancaster Homicide, Alleged Shooting Spree Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Kingston police are asking for the publics help with the search of a missing woman. Whitney Spencer, 42, was last seen in the area of Court Street in Plymouth around 3 p.m. on Wednesday, November 20. Due to underlying conditions, Spencer is considered endangered. Spencer is approximately 55 tall, 215 pounds, with dark hair. She was last seen wearing a gray sweatshirt/jacket with gray sweatpants. If located, please contact the Kingston Police Department at 781-585-0523, the department wrote on Facebook. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Alexander Lukashenko, the self-proclaimed Belarusian president, has announced plans to completely disconnect the internet during the upcoming presidential elections if protests similar to those in 2020 occur. Source: BelTA, a Belarusian state-owned news outlet, citing Lukashenko's statement. Quote: "If this [protests ed.] happens again, we will shut it [the internet ed.] down completely. Let me be honest, this was almost always done, especially in the early stages, with my approval." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: During a meeting at Minsk State Linguistic University, on 22 November, Lukashenko responded to a question about internet shutdowns during elections, similar to what happened in Belarus in 2020. He explained that the internet was disconnected in 2020 because "the fate of the country was at stake". He also acknowledged that protests could flare up again during the upcoming elections. Quote: "No one [during the 2020 protests ed.] was holding down or beating anyone [protesters ed.]. There was no need to hold down or beat anyone. Belarusians are not that kind of people. I understood where it was coming from. It was all organised through the internet, primarily from Poland routes, where we would go, how we would go I understood where this could lead. We would have ended up with a war worse than in Ukraine. It would have been harsher." The next presidential elections in Belarus are scheduled for January 2025. Background: Lukashenko has been in power in Belarus for 30 years. However, after large-scale falsifications during the 2020 presidential elections, mass protests erupted in Belarus. Protesters demanded new fair elections, the release of political prisoners, and accountability for the beating and torture of peaceful demonstrators. Previously, Lukashenko also commented on the possibility of a woman winning the presidential elections in Belarus. Support UP or become our patron! ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WSPA) An orphaned black bear cub who was pulled from a tree for pictures in April has been released back into the wild. On April 18, video was captured of two bear cubs in a tree at an Asheville apartment complex. People were recorded pulling one of the cubs from the tree to take photos of themselves holding the cub. The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission said it is unknown why the pair of cubs were in the tree if they had been orphaned or if the cubs were waiting on their mother to return. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When wildlife officials arrived, only one cub was present, sitting in a retention pond on the apartment complex property. She was lethargic, limping and had a low body temperature. The other cub was seen running away and was never located. After the cub was deemed healthy and able to survive in the wild, she was given a tracking collar with identifying tags and marks before her release. Selfie bear, as officials called her, is doing fine. The GPS collar data shows that she is adjusting well to life back in the wild, said NCWRC Bearwise Coordinator Ashley Hobbs. Like most rehabilitated black bear cubs, we expect this cub to follow its instincts this winter and identify an appropriate location to den. Bear cubs are resilient animals, and it looks like this cub wont be an exception. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wildlife biologists with NCWRC advised against interacting with a bear cub thats alone. People who try to capture or handle a cub are not only risking the cubs safety, but their own if the mother bear is nearby, as she may try to defend her cubs, said Game Mammals and Surveys Supervisor Colleen Olfenbuttel said. By trying to capture a bear cub, you may cause it to become orphaned, injured or both. Officials released the female cub in a remote part of the western North Carolina mountain area. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS. Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey (D) conceded to Republican Dave McCormick on Thursday, solidifying the GOPs majority in the Senate despite an ongoing statewide recount effort. I just called Dave McCormick to congratulate him on his election to represent Pennsylvania in the United States Senate, Casey said in a video posted to social media. As the first count of ballots is completed, Pennsylvanians can move forward with the knowledge that their voices were heard, whether their vote was the first to be counted or the last. During my time in office, I have been guided by an inscription on the Finance Building in Harrisburg: All public service is a trust, given in faith and accepted in honor. Thank you for your trust in me for all these years, Pennsylvania. It has been the honor of my lifetime. pic.twitter.com/RSXEFwdge8 Bob Casey Jr. (@Bob_Casey) November 21, 2024 The race was called for McCormick by The Associated Press two weeks ago, but the state has been undergoing an automatic recount as the margin was within a 0.5% threshold. Republicans will hold a strong 53-47 majority in the chamber beginning in late January. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democrats had hoped to hold on to the seat, which Casey has held for three terms since he was first elected in 2006. But President-elect Donald Trumps power in the state helped elevate McCormick, a former hedge fund manager and Gulf War veteran, to Congress. This race was one of the closest in our commonwealths history, Casey said in a statement. I am grateful to the thousands of people who worked to make sure every eligible vote cast could be counted. When a Pennsylvanian takes the time to cast a legal vote, often waiting in long lines and taking time away from their work and family, they deserve to know that their vote will count, he went on. Thats democracy. McCormick thanked Casey later Thursday, saying the senator had dedicated his career to bettering our commonwealth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dina and I want to extend our sincere gratitude to Senator Casey, Terese, and their family for their decades of service, hard work, and personal sacrifice, McCormick wrote on X. I am so honored to represent every single citizen in Pennsylvania in the United States Senate and will fight for you every day. Thank you! Senator Bob Casey dedicated his career to bettering our commonwealth. Dina and I want to extend our sincere gratitude to Senator Casey, Terese, and their family for their decades of service, hard work, and personal sacrifice. I am so honored to represent every single citizen in https://t.co/aUxlLZJMua Dave McCormick (@DaveMcCormickPA) November 21, 2024 Fellow Pennsylvania Democrat Sen. John Fetterman thanked Casey for his service after the news, saying his colleague was a friend and mentor. His legacy is a better Pennsylvania, Fetterman wrote on X. Unassuming while delivering for PA for nearly two decades, he fought for working Pennsylvanians and unions, rural communities, seniors and people with disabilities. All of us. Bob Casey was, is, and always will be Pennsylvanias best senator. Related... Democratic Sen. Bob Casey has conceded to Republican Dave McCormick in Pennsylvanias U.S. Senate election after a close race triggered an automatic recount. Final race results are expected to be released next Wednesday, NBC News reported. McCormick would expand Republicans' Senate majority next term to 53 seats, helping pave the way for incoming President Donald Trump to get his agenda passed. I just called Dave McCormick to congratulate him on his election to represent Pennsylvania in the United States Senate, Casey said in a video posted to X. As the first count of ballot is completed, Pennsylvanians can move forward with the knowledge that their voices were heard, whether their vote was the first to be counted, or the last. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McCormick graduated from West Point in 1987 and served with the 82nd Airborne during the Gulf War. He worked at McKinsey & Co. and a software startup before entering the George W. Bush administration, where he was an undersecretary in both the Commerce and Treasury departments. McCormick then joined hedge fund giant Bridgewater Associates as its president, later becoming CEO. In 2019, he married Dina Powell, a financial executive and former deputy national security adviser to Trump. At the urging of Pennsylvania Republicans, McCormick made his first run for the Senate in January 2022, entering a crowded Republican primary that included celebrity doctor Mehmet Oz. McCormick and Oz quickly emerged as the top contenders, with both vying for Trumps endorsement. The former president went with Oz and dismissed McCormick as a liberal Wall Street Republican. Oz won the primary by less than 1,000 ballots, with both candidates receiving roughly 31% of the vote. After Trumps opposition likely doomed his last run, McCormick has kept the former president close this year and attacked Casey as a rubber-stamp vote for Democrats. Trump endorsed McCormick early, and now Republicans will be able to add his vote to their Senate caucus. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com Sen. Tammy Duckworth reacts to Trumps pick for Secretary of the Department of Defense, Pete Hegseth: I would be worried about Hegseth running a McDonald's, let alone the Department. This is absolutely insane. Republican U.S. Sen. Markwayne Mullin said he believes Oklahoma state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters should back off of his Bible mandate unless the religious text is taught by someone who graduated from seminary school. The senator from northeast Oklahoma told NewsNations show The Hill" that he wants his own children to know the Bible, but wants it to be taught by someone who was taught the text themselves. "I think it's a slippery slope when you put it in the hands of teachers that may not be believers that's going to be teaching the word that can easily taken out of context," said Mullin, a father of six who said his own kids go to public schools. Sen. Markwayne Mullin said he believed a mandate that Oklahoma schools teach from the Bible could be a "slippery slope." More: At least 7 Oklahoma superintendents are refusing to show Ryan Walters' video to students Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mullin's comments came a week after Walters announced the agency he leads, the Oklahoma State Department of Education, had purchased more than 500 Bibles for Oklahoma public schools at a cost of nearly $25,000. He said the Bibles would be used in Advanced Placement government classrooms. In his interview with "The Hill", which aired Wednesday, Mullins said that leaving public school teachers to educate students on the Bible could create confusion. He added that he's expressed these concerns to Walters, though Mullin didn't specify how the superintendent responded. "Keep in mind, that may be the only time that child gets the word taught to them," Mullin said. "If it's not taught right, the Bible warns of that." Dan Isett, a spokesperson for Walters and the education agency, did not respond to a request for comment on Mullin's remarks by the time of publication. Ryan Walters, Markwayne Mullin overlooked for positions in Donald Trump's Cabinet Both Walters' and Mullin's names were mentioned in recent weeks as potential picks for President-elect Donald Trump's Cabinet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mullin was reportedly considered to serve as secretary of the interior or veterans affairs, though Trump eventually appointed North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum and former Georgia Representative Doug Collins to those positions, respectively. Walters was rumored to be in the running for U.S. education secretary. In the days after the Nov. 5 election, he worked to elevate his national profile through a series of headline-making moves in Oklahoma and a flurry of national media interviews . His apparent campaign for the bid ended with Trump choosing Republican mega-donor Linda McMahon instead. More: Who has Donald Trump picked for his Cabinet? What to know about Bondi, Gaetz' withdrawal Though Walters never publicly acknowledged he sought the Cabinet post, the superintendent told Fox News host Trace Gallagher, Its an honor to be considered, before equating Trump to the United Kingdoms legendary wartime prime minister, Winston Churchill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Walters has continued to appear on national news outlets since Trump chose McMahon, namely to promote his Bible mandate and to defend his distribution of a video announcing his state agency's new Office of Religious Liberty and Patriotism. He instructed superintendents earlier this month to show students the video, in which he asked students who felt comfortable to join him in a prayer for Trump. Several Oklahoma school superintendents said they had no intention of showing the video despite Walters saying doing so was required. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Markwayne Mullin calls Ryan Walters' Bible mandate a 'slippery slope' WASHINGTON (NewsNation) A promotion for the general who was the last U.S. service member out of Afghanistan was put on hold by Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., NewsNation sources confirm. Lt. Gen. Christopher Donahue, who oversaw the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2020 was nominated to lead the U.S. Army in Europe and Africa. A source familiar with the confirmation process said its their understanding that Mullin held up the promotion, with his objection directly related to Donahues role in Afghanistan. SCOOP- Sen. Markwayne Mullin has put a hold on Army Lt. Gen. Chris Donahues promotion, the sole Senator blocking Donahue from moving forward. The Senate approved promotions for several hundred military officers Thursday. Donahues was the only one blocked. LTG Donahue was one pic.twitter.com/z9cUy9QrnM Joe Khalil (@JoeKhalilTV) November 22, 2024 Best Prime Day Deals for 2024: Big Black Friday savings are already live shop the best here Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The best gifts currently on sale for under $50 Stock up on stocking stuffers while theyre cheap BestReviews is reader-supported and may earn an affiliate commission. A NewsNation request for comment on Friday morning was not immediately returned. The Senate Armed Services Committee approved nearly 1,000 promotions, including Donahues, earlier this week. Who is Lt. Gen. Christopher Donahue? A career special operations veteran, Donahue is known as the last U.S. service member out of Kabul, with his image captured in a hazy, night vision photo as he stepped on the last U.S. military aircraft out of Hamid Karzai International Airport on Aug. 30, 2021. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Donahue was in charge of the 82nd Airborne while it secured the airfield at the airport, an often chaotic scene as Americans and refugees raced to evacuate Afghanistan before an Aug 31, 2021, deadline to leave. What is the promotion process? Donahue, President Bidens nominee to head the U.S. Army in Europe and up for promotion to four-star general, was one of nearly 1,000 military promotions the Senate Armed Services Committee approved on Tuesday. Donahues name, however, was not included in the promotions approved Thursday by the Senate before it left Washington, D.C., not to return until after the Thanksgiving Day holiday. While his blocked military promotion is unusual, as officer promotions are typically uncontroversial and easily passed by the Senate, its not unheard of. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., last year blocked several hundred general and flag officer promotions for months over his objection to the Pentagons policy of reimbursing those for travel costs when seeking an abortion out of the state in which they are based. Though a hold can still be bypassed via a vote by the full Senate, its seen as unfavorable given that it can eat up floor time. NewsNation affiliate The Hill contributed to this report. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. State Sen. Nate Boulton, center, speaks with other Democrats in downtown Des Moines on Oct. 16, 2024, the first day of early voting in Iowa. Former state Rep. John Forbes, left and Democratic congressional candidate Lanon Baccam, right, are also shown. (Photo by Kathie Obradovich/Iowa Capital Dispatch) Iowa Sen. Nate Boulton, D-Des Moines, conceded his race for reelection Friday after the recount for Iowa Senate District 20 concluded and found Republican Mike Pike maintained his lead. Boulton served in the Iowa Senate since 2017 and held the position of Iowa Senate Democratic whip in the most recent General Assembly. In his concession statement, he thanked his constituents and family for their support while congratulating Pike on his victory. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It has been the honor of a lifetime to represent my community, and serve my state, as a member of the Iowa Senate for the past eight years and as the Minority Whip this past session, Boulton said in a statement. The election is over and the recount has concluded. By one of the narrowest margins in the state, I will not be returning to the Iowa Senate this January. Pike, a plumber who has not previously held political office, did not respond to requests for comment on the race. The incumbent Democrat lost by 44 votes to his GOP challenger, according to preliminary results leading into the recount. An update on the final vote count has not yet been released. In addition to Senate District 20, covering eastern parts of Des Moines, Altoona, Pleasant Hill and southwest Ankeny, recounts were called for two other legislative races. Republican Mark Hanson requested a recount in his race to unseat Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott, D-Waukee in Senate District 14, and GOP challenger Nathan Ramker requested a recount in his race against incumbent Rep. Monica Kurth, D-Davenport for House District 98 earlier in the week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the recount outcomes from these two races have yet to be announced, GOP trifecta control of the Statehouse has already been confirmed. Republicans won a supermajority in the Iowa House and held onto their existing supermajority in the Iowa Senate in the 2024 general election. While Boultons loss will not have an impact on Democrats status as the minority party in the Iowa Senate, he was floated as a potential candidate to replace Senate Minority Leader Pam Jochum, D-Dubuque, who did not run for reelection in 2024. Senate Democrats planned to meet Friday evening to discuss their caucus leadership for the 2025 legislative session, Radio Iowa reported. Boulton said he plans to return to his law practice, where he specializes in labor law, workers compensation and personal injury. He said in his concession statement that he was pleased with the work he was able to accomplish at the the Iowa Legislature. Im proud of the work weve been able to do and the things we have accomplished over the past eight years, Boulton said. Fighting for Iowas workers leading an all-night floor (debate) to challenge legislation that gutted workplace rights for thousands of union workers who answer the call of public service. Fighting to protect injured workers whose bodies and earnings are damaged as they contribute to Iowas economic success. Standing up for kids and introducing and passing through the Senate bipartisan legislation designed to help them get coverage for the medical care they need. While this term in the Iowa Senate is ending, I remain dedicated to working towards economic and social justice as we pursue a brighter, stronger future for our community, our state, and our nation. With just weeks left in his single term in the Senate, Sen. Mitt Romney hopes to help the U.S. do a better job competing with China when it comes to investing in foreign development projects. He and his Republican colleague from Alaska, Sen. Dan Sullivan, introduced a bill Thursday designed to strengthen the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, in an effort to compete with Chinas massive Belt and Road Initiative. China has been funding infrastructure projects in developing countries through its Belt and Road Initiative, including rail lines, highways, ports, power plants and telecommunication lines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Romney and Sullivan want the U.S. to better compete in this space, and say the Development Finance Corporation, which funds projects in other countries in conjunction with private interests, should prioritize national security along with its other interests. The bill would add the U.S. Defense Secretary to DFCs governing board, and would require the DFC to prioritize projects that help the United States compete with China and other covered countries. The bill would also require the head of the DFC to report to Congress on how it is achieving foreign policy objectives. The Development Finance Corporation was created to respond to global development needs and the Chinese Communist Partys Belt and Road, but it is currently not living up to its potential, Romney said in a press release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Romney said the DFC needs to work for American interests and give other countries an alternative to accepting investment from China. Our legislation will do that by requiring DFC to prioritize projects that will help the United States better compete with China, continued Romney. Sullivan said a review of DFCs projects will show the organization isnt strategically focused. He thinks Congress needs to step in so the DFC will have a better focused on American national security interests. Sen. Romney and I are putting forward legislation to do just that, said Sullivan. I look forward to carrying this initiative forward in the new Congress as part of a larger bipartisan effort to address the threats posed by the Chinese Communist Party. Correction: Sen. Dan Sullivan represents Alaska. A previous version of this story listed an incorrect state. While the president decides whom to choose for the senior roles in his administration, theres no getting around the Senates role in confirming Cabinet nominees, as President-elect Donald Trump and his now-former choice for attorney general, Matt Gaetz, have learned. The president, according to Article II of the Constitution, is in charge of the executive branch, and that means choosing who serves in senior posts. Although inside-the-White House staffing decisions are the presidents alone (for instance chief of staff, domestic policy adviser), the president must share a bit of the appointment power with others in two primary categories. The first includes some independent agencies and inferior offices where, through law, Congress can give others appointment power and/or limit the presidents power to select or remove. The better-known category includes the most senior executive branch officers, who require confirmation by the Senate. This is found explicitly in the Constitutions text, but it is also central to the concept of separated powers. Preventing the concentration of authority and fostering competition among branches protects us from tyranny. This idea is so important that its understood to be essential to the republican form of government, which the Constitution guarantees to every state. Indeed, state governments have the same separation of powers and the same type of appointment and confirmation process (i.e., a governor appoints and a state Senate confirms). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Senates decision on confirmations, just like on impeachment convictions, is a matter of judgment. Each senator uses his or her own formula to decide whether to approve a selection. This calculation ought to include a determination of whether a candidate is professionally qualified and temperamentally and ethically fit for the role. But other possible considerations include general deference to the president, partisanship, geography, and policy preferences. One way to think about the Senates role is to remember that the Constitution says little about the components of the executive branch. It doesnt have a comprehensive list of departments or officers. Those are primarily determined by legislation. And since Congress decides which executive branch entities will exist, what powers they will have, and which top offices will be in those entities (and since Congress appropriates funds for all of this), Congress has a role in assessing the fitness of high-ranking officials. How the process works. We can think of five steps in the process. The first is done mostly out of sight, though its arguably the most important. The president identifies someone for a position and determines whether that person is aligned with the administration on philosophy and policy. This step also includes vetting, an assessment of whether the candidate has written, said, or done things that might be deemed disqualifying; whether the candidate is experienced, knowledgeable, and ethical enough to do the job; and whether the candidate is acceptable to the Senate. Vetting generally includes financial disclosures, examinations of potential conflicts of interest, and occasionally FBI investigations. This work is often shepherded by those inside an incoming administrations transition team or a sitting administrations presidential personnel office. The other steps in the process will flow smoothly if the presidents team has taken this step seriously. It is generally seen as a great embarrassmenta poor reflection of the administrations competenceif individuals later deemed unfit make it through this step. The second step is the official nomination. This, of course, means sending the right paperwork to the Senate, but it also includes matters of protocol such as making personal contact with senators and supplying supporting materials to their staffs. As with the first step, doing this well avoids hiccups down the line. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The third stepthe committee processis make-or-break. The nomination is almost always handled by a committee with primary jurisdiction over the nominees prospective role (e.g. Finance for the treasury secretary, Judiciary for the attorney general, and Armed Services for the defense secretary). Senators and staff review submitted materials and independently look into the nominees background. This leads to a hearing and, in most cases, the committee vote. The hearing and vote are obviously public and high-stakes, but they need not be full of surprises. Based on prior conversations with senators and staff, the administration and nominees have a sense of what will be asked and how the vote will go. If a senator has questions or concerns, those can be addressed before and during the public process. If the prior steps were handled well, this phase should present minimal drama. Indeed, in most casesfor instance, assistant secretaries, general counsels, and other lower-profile positionsif a candidate succeeds in the committee process, approval by the full Senate is very likely. If the committee decides to proceed with the nomination, it can report the nomination favorably (signifying majority support) or unfavorably. It can also report it without recommendation, which can signify that a majority is opposed to the nomination but agrees to have full Senate consideration. Two caveats: Smooth sailing can become choppy waters if something is discovered during the committee processfor example, a criminal prosecution or a controversial speech. If the discovery is sufficiently troubling, a nominee may withdraw, voluntarily or with the encouragement of the administration. Second, even if the administration and nominee have carefully followed the process, opponents may surprise the nominee with new allegations during the public hearing. This too can lead to a withdrawal, or the administration may press on. The fourth step is the floor vote. Assuming no procedural obstacles, a nomination moves to the full Senate after the committees favorable report. In many cases, especially in years past and especially for less prominent positions, a strong, favorable vote in committee means little organized opposition on the floor. A close vote in committee and/or a high-profile position may, however, lead to significant, contentious floor debate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lastly, if the nominee is approved by the full Senate, he or she receives a commission, is sworn in, and begins work. When things go wrong. We will never know how many potential candidates were scuttled prior to nomination. But it would be hard to overestimate the number. Administrations consider countless individuals for high-level roles; their tax returns are scrutinized, their writings are studied, they undergo background checks. Many dont make it through this process because the administration concludes that the nominee would not win Senate confirmation. Sometimes, it is never even made public that they were under consideration; sometimes, their names are announced but withdrawn prior to official nomination. In both cases, while these candidates were never technically nominated, the nomination process weeded them out. Gaetzs withdrawal as Trumps choice for attorney general is a prime example. Another is Susan Rice, who was evidently President Barack Obamas choice for secretary of state. Senate opposition mobilized, however, and she was placed instead as national security adviser, a position that does not require Senate confirmation. The Senate lists 27 examples of Cabinet selections faltering post-nomination. In some cases, a nomination is withdrawn. From left, Sen. Robert Dole of Kansas, Sen. Phil Gramm of Texas, John Tower, and Sen. Lloyd Bentsen of Texas are seated at the witness table during the Senate Committee on Armed Forces confirmation hearing for Tower to serve as secretary of defense, in Washington D.C.. on January 26, 1989 (Photo by Mark Reinstein/Corbis via Getty Images) President Joe Bidens nomination of Neera Tanden for Office of Management and Budget director was pulled back, as were Trumps first-term nominations of Andrew Puzder, Chad Wolf, and Ronny Jackson; Obamas nominations of Bill Richardson and Tom Daschle; and George W. Bushs nominations of Linda Chavez and Bernie Kerik. In rare instances, the full Senate votes to reject a nomination. This occurred with John Tower (George H.W. Bushs selection for secretary of defense in 1989) and Roger Taney (Andrew Jacksons selection for secretary of the treasury in 1834). These are in addition to withdrawn or rejected judicial nominees, like George Carswell in 1970, Robert Bork in 1987, and Harriet Miers in 2005. What about recess appointments? Presidents are empowered to temporarily install individuals in key positions if the vacancy occurs while the Senate is in recess (in these cases, the appointment expires at the end of the following session). Such recess appointments were more common generations ago when Congress could be out of session for long stretches (and unable to reconvene swiftly because of travel challenges). Recess appointments have generally been used in recent years only for lower level (non-Cabinet) positions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This recess authority has been seen as enabling the federal government to function in a way that both respects the presidents appointment power and the Senates confirmation authority. A president could press the Senate to adjourn so he could install senior officials without the confirmation process. Similarly, a constitutional provision allows the president to force an adjournment if the House and Senate disagree about when to be in session. In this way, a president and the House could, conceivably, collude to enable the appointment of high-ranking officials without Senate confirmation. But such maneuvers would violate the spirit of the Constitution by striking at the separation of powers and one of Congresss essential duties. Read more at The Dispatch The Dispatch is a new digital media company providing engaged citizens with fact-based reporting and commentary, informed by conservative principles. Sign up for free. The promotion of a notable Army lieutenant general, who has been tapped to lead U.S. Army Europe Command, stalled Nov. 21 when his name was left off a list of nearly 1,000 military promotions. Lt. Gen. Christopher Donahue, the current commander of the 18th Airborne Corps, which oversees the 82nd Airborne Division, 10th Mountain Division and 3rd Infantry Division, among other units, was among the names on the Pentagons recommended promotion list approved by the Senate Armed Services Committee earlier that week. However, once the list went to the full upper chamber of the Senate, his name did not advance, Politico first reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Senate will not return from its holiday recess until December. Last American soldier to leave Afghanistan to command US Army Europe The Washington Post has reported that Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma put a hold on the nomination, ostensibly to give President-elect Trump and the new Republican-controlled Congress time to weigh in on the promotion. Donahue has declined to comment on the potential promotion. Donahues stalled promotion comes amid media reports, including NBC News, that President-elect Donald Trumps transition team is compiling a list of current and former officers for possible court-martial who were involved in the U.S. militarys withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump representatives did not immediately respond to an email request for comment. Trumps transition team is contemplating making a commission to investigate the withdrawal, according to reports. The investigation would seek to identify individuals who were directly involved in the military leaders decisions about the conduct of the exit. Thirteen U.S. troops and an estimated 170 Afghan civilians were killed in an attack on the Hamid Karzai International Airports Abbey Gate during the withdrawal. An independent review published in 2022 by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction placed blame on both the Trump and Biden administrations for the calamity of the event. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Defense Secretary nominee and former Fox News host Pete Hegseth has previously said the U.S. military needs to be radically overhauled and that lots of people need to be fired, using the debacle of the Afghanistan exit as an example in his 2024 book, The War on Warriors. Stalled military promotions are not unprecedented. Last year, the Senate relied on a Senate floor vote procedure to bypass a hold by Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., which stalled the promotions of hundreds of flag and general officers for months in an effort to overturn a Pentagon policy that provides reproductive health care and abortion access for troops. In addition to pinning a fourth star, Donahue has been tapped to lead U.S. Army Europe Command at a volatile time with the current state of the Russia-Ukraine war. Donahue served in special operations before commanding the Armys Infantry School and Soldier Lethality Cross Functional Team. He then went back to his roots briefly to lead the Special Operations Joint Task Force-Afghanistan in 2019. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By 2021, Donahue was thrust into the publics attention when he was featured in a photo as the last U.S. soldier on the ground in Afghanistan. He led the 18th Airborne Corps and was on a contingent of 82nd Airborne Division soldiers who responded in 2022 when Russia invaded Ukraine. If confirmed, he would take charge of the Armys Europe-based assets and personnel as the United States continues in its support of NATO allies and Ukraine through training and military equipment. (WHTM) Pennsylvania will officially be represented by a new Senator next year. Senator Bob Casey (D) conceded the election, which he said was one of the closest in Pennsylvania history, to Dave McCormick. McCormick, the Republican challenger, led by about 16,000 votes as of Thursday afternoon. In a statement Thursday evening, Casey said he called McCormick to congratulate him. Close Thanks for signing up! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now This Week in Pennsylvania As the first count of ballots is completed, Pennsylvanians can move forward with the knowledge that their voices were heard, whether their vote was the first to be counted or the last, Casey said. This race was one of the closest in our Commonwealths history, decided by less than a quarter of a point. I am grateful to the thousands of people who worked to make sure every eligible vote cast could be counted, including election officials in all 67 counties. McCormick recognized Caseys years of service in a statement shortly after the concession. Senator Bob Casey dedicated his career to bettering our Commonwealth, McCormick said. Dina and I want to extend our sincere gratitude to Senator Casey, Terese, and their family for their decades of service, hard work, and personal sacrifice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An statutory recount was ordered last week as the race fell within a half percent margin. This is McCormicks second recount that he is involved in. In 2022, the Republican primary for U.S. Senate seat that he ran in also had to be recounted. Get the latest Pennsylvania politics and election news with abc27 newsletters! This is the eighth automatic recount triggered since 2004 in Pennsylvania. In four of the cases the recount was carried out the initial outcome was confirmed. In the other three cases the full recount was not completed due to a candidate waiving the recount. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27. STORY: Senegal President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has secured a large majority in parliamentary elections, winning a mandate to carry out an ambitious drive for reforms in the West African country. State TV said on Thursday that his Pastef party won 130 out of 165 seats. Faye originally swept to power on a promise of more jobs, lower consumer prices and improved public services. But in mid-September, months after he'd taken office with a landslide election victory, the president dissolved the house, accusing the opposition of refusing to pass bills. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now Dakar residents hope a big majority for the ruling party will clear the way for meaningful change including more efforts to fight illegal migration routes that originate from Senegal. "We expect the new assembly to pass laws focused on youth employment. We have seen the issue of illegal immigration. Our youth are dying at sea, and we need this issue to be addressed. We need jobs. What belongs to us in this country but was given to foreigners should be returned to us." Analysts say Faye's first challenge is coming up with a budget that balances both his voters' needs, and the wishes of the International Monetary Fund, with which his government is currently in talks. A $1.9 billion IMF program agreed in June last year has been on hold since it was discovered Senegal's debt and budget deficit were much wider than the previous administration had reported. Negotiations with the Fund to restart disbursements could last until mid-2025. COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) The sentencing for a former Columbus police officer found guilty of murder in the killing of an unarmed man has been postponed. According to a Franklin County Common Pleas Court official, the Nov. 25 sentencing date for Adam Coy is being rescheduled. The official said this is likely because Coys attorneys have filed a motion for a new trial. Coy, 48, was found guilty earlier this month of murder, reckless homicide, and felonious assault in the Dec. 2020 shooting death of 47-year-old Andre Hill. He is facing a mandatory 15 years to life in prison. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unsolved Ohio: Columbus woman missing for nearly seven years Online court records have not yet been updated to show when Coys sentencing hearing will be held. In their newest filing, Coys attorneys argue that prosecutors withheld evidence during the trial that they believe could have exonerated their client. On Dec. 22, 2020, at about 1:50 a.m., Coy shot Hill four times while responding to a nonemergency suspicious vehicle call on Columbus northwest side. Coy fired at Hill after he began exiting a garage at Coys request, with a lit phone screen held up in his left hand and his right hand at his side, not clearly visible due to a parked car. Coy testified he believed Hill had a silver revolver in his right hand, which ended up being a set of keys. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. This week, OzarksFirst is showing our gratitude for the men and women who are ready and willing to respond when disaster strikes. We traveled to Christian County to provide a free lunch to the volunteers that make up the Emergency Management Agencys Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). CERT is a program that trains citizens to know what to do in the event of a disaster. Theyre situated all across Christian County and can step in quickly to help their neighbors during the most critical times. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They are trained to do things like light search and rescue, fire suppression and disaster medical operations, Jamie Orlando, Assistant Director of Christian County Emergency Management, said. They can begin the process of getting the scene ready for first responders to show up in the event of a disaster. Serving the Ozarks: Greene County Sheriffs Office For CERT volunteers, that could mean getting a count of the injured, turning off gas lines, or helping people evacuate. In Christian County, the team is sometimes called in to also look for missing persons. It gives you the confidence to go out and be able to do these various tasks for your community, said Volunteer John Wall. First off, you start with your family, but then you work out to your community. And thats why its called the Community Emergency Response Team. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wall told OzarksFirst he joined CERT after helping at the Red Cross shelter set up in Missouri State Universitys McDonald Arena during the 2007 ice storm. The camaraderie of everybody working together for a common cause is great, Wall adds. It was a similar, but deeper calling felt by Jamie Orlando. She told OzarksFirst that her family lost their home in the Joplin tornado in May 2011. Serving the Ozarks: Ruck N Run We, like many other people, were just devastated and in a position where we couldnt really help ourselves, Orlando said. She told OzarksFirst volunteers helped her family clean up and save precious photos. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was because of people in emergency management and because of people who were volunteers that I was able to start rebuilding my life after that. Orlando is now Serving the Ozarks, teaching people how to help others in their toughest moments. Thats the good thing that came out of this, is that I get to be in a position where I can help people and I know the ways in which people need help intimately, Orlando adds. CERT members are given about 20 hours of training spread across three days. There are also CERT programs in counties all over the Ozarks if you want to get involved. To find information on the next round of training in Christian County, click here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) A sexually violent predator, who state hospital officials have unsuccessfully attempted to find a long-term home placement for him in San Diego County, is scheduled for release on a transient basis before the end of November. Merle Wakefield, 67, was granted the transient release by a county judge last month after the third proposal by the California Department of Hospitals to situate him at a home in East County was withdrawn amid local protests. During a court hearing Thursday to finalize plans for his release from a state hospital sometime before Nov. 26, the contractor who manages the sexually violent predator program, Liberty Healthcare, detailed what this release for Wakefield would look like. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trial date set for ex-Marine charged with murdering his girlfriend, fleeing U.S. Typically, a transient release means the sexually violent predator will be moved out of state prison upon the completion of their treatment and into non-permanent, outpatient-style housing not on to the streets. Under the conditions of his release, Liberty Healthcare told the court Wakefield will be placed in a vacant home where a sexually violent predator had previously been housed. If no home is available, they can house him in an RV, parked in a permissible location for vehicle habitation. Liberty Healthcare still plans to provide 24/7 supervision of his living accommodations, whether its through law enforcement or hired security, and track his movements with GPS monitoring. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The court also ordered the contractor to continue looking for a fixed placement after his release. The release of Wakefield, who has a history of violent crimes including rape by force and lewd acts with a child, has drawn significant blowback from local officials and community members since the state began the process more than a year ago. Sledgehammer burglars continue to target San Diego-area small businesses Poway Mayor Steve Vaus previously fought to make sure Wakefield wasnt placed in his community. Somebody that exploits others, that takes advantage of others in a violent fashion, that person has no business being out in any community, anywhere, anytime, Vaus said. The only viable option is to keep them on prison grounds. They can be outside the prison walls as far as Im concerned, but within the barbed wire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement, a spokesperson for San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan pressed that a transient release would not be suitable for Wakefield, arguing it is incumbent on Liberty Healthcare to find a place where he can be closely monitored and supervised long-term. [Liberty Healthcare] failed to do so despite the court giving them many chances and time, the statement added. We will continue to oppose transient releases and will insist that Department of State Hospitals fulfill their duty to find suitable fixed placement. Wakefield is one of two sexually violent predators who state officials have been looking to place in San Diego County. Alvin Quarles, also known as the bolder than most rapist, was also approved for a transient release by a court this month. A second hearing is scheduled for Quarles next month on Dec. 19 to further discuss his living accommodations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Sen. Greg Taylor, D-Indianapolis, reads a statement on Organization Day 2024. He didn't take questions from reporters. (Leslie Bonilla Muniz/Indiana Capital Chronicle) Explain it to me like Im five. How do you reinstall a senator accused of sexual harassment against three different women to a leadership post? Because thats exactly what some members of the Indiana Senate Democratic Caucus did on Monday, hours after the accusations went public. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And to make matters worse, the caucus followed it up with a confusing statement supporting women and promising to create a an accountable environment. But members didnt even hold their own leader accountable. It makes no sense. It all started Monday morning, when the Indianapolis Star broke the story of the allegations against Indianapolis Democrat Sen. Greg Taylor. Rumors were flying earlier, however, as word got out that Star reporters were calling other sources for comment. Many in the political sphere knew an article would be dropping soon. So, it shouldnt have been a surprise. The bigger surprise to me was that Taylor didnt deny the charges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His full statement says: As an elected official, I am responsible for maintaining high professionalism and respecting the boundaries of all I engage with. While this has always been my goal, there have been times when I may have blurred the lines and behaved in a manner that potentially made my colleagues or those who witnessed my actions uncomfortable. While it was never my intent to cause harm, I acknowledge that I have fallen short, and for this, I apologize. That, to me, makes a huge difference in what happened next. He wasnt refuting the allegations and claiming innocence at least not publicly. So why would six members of the 10-person caucus support him to continue leading the group? The vote We know who they are because the four members who voted against Taylor came out and explained why they preferred a new leader: Sen. Shelli Yoder, D-Bloomington; Sen. J.D. Ford, D-Indianapolis; Sen. Andrea Hunley, D-Indianapolis; and Sen. Rodney Pol, D-Chesterton. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite that, Hunley and Pol won leadership positions under Taylor. We will help move our caucus towards a future where this type of abhorrent behavior is not minimized or condoned, they said, in a joint statement about why they joined. You know who didnt put out a statement explaining their support? The six whose yes votes were required to keep Taylor in charge: Sen. Fady Qaddoura, D-Indianapolis; Sen. David Niezgodski, D-South Bend; Sen. Lonnie Randolph, D-East Chicago; and two new members, Sen. La Keisha Jackson, D-Indianapolis, and Sen. Mark Spencer, D-Gary. Taylor himself was the last vote, clinching the six votes needed to retain power. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I reached out to several of those senators to try to understand their reasoning but got no responses. Even the Indiana Democratic Party distanced itself from the caucus election results in a statement. We have taken a number of steps to address sexual harassment at the Indiana Democratic Party during my time as chair and we will be sharing more of that information with our state central committee at our next meeting, Chair Mike Schmuhl said, in response to a letter from 40 Democrat women. I think its also important to note that IDP is a separate employer from a political campaign, city government, or state government. That being said, our values are vital and I will work with these leaders and all stakeholders to build more trust within the party for the future. The rise in reports The number of similar stories has grown at an alarming pace in recent years as more women feel comfortable with coming forward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Indeed, some of these allegations against Taylor are years old but that doesnt make them less important or serious. Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsetts administration mishandled similar allegations involving a top aide, the Star and Mirror Indy reported. And in an opinion column, the Star revealed evidence that Sen. David Niezgodski, D-South Bend, harassed a young, female former employee: at the office, in voicemails, over texts, even showing up to her home. His company settled with the former employee for $8,000, according to the Star. Rumors abounded last year about a House Republican member too but the victim declined to speak. GOP Indiana Secretary of State Diego Morales in 2022 faced decade-old allegations of sexual assaults in interview transcripts published by political columnist Abdul-Hakim Shabazz. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Indiana Supreme Court suspended former Republican Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hills law license for 30 days in 2020 after finding he committed criminal battery when he groped four women, including a legislator, during a party at an Indianapolis bar in 2018. There is no excuse for what the caucus chose. And to follow the vote up with a statement calling for reform and supporting women is ridiculous. Members showed there are no consequences for actions. And that speaks louder than a lame statement. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX We've all had disappointing moments in our lives. One of those moments very likely happened to Ryan Walters last week when President-elect Donald Trump announced he would nominate the former administrator of the Small Business Administration, Linda McMahon, to be U.S. education secretary. Although Walters never openly and specifically campaigned for the job, he was among a handful of potential candidates being mentioned for it. The closest he came to expressing an interest was during an interview with Fox News, when he told host Trace Gallagher, Its an honor to be considered. The comment came just after Walters had compared Trump to one of the world's admired political leaders, Winston Churchill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Walters expressed no disappointment over not landing the top federal education job. In fact, he wrote on the social media site X, Congratulations @Linda_McMahon! Its time to get to work dismantling the US Department of Education. Fantastic addition to @realDonaldTrump team! But in the two weeks since Trump's election victory, Walters amped up the rhetoric while making an unusual number of national media appearances for a state superintendent from a small state and one that under Walters ranks almost dead last in most measures of educational success. State schools Superintendent Ryan Walters speaks during a GOP watch party on election night in Oklahoma City, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. Although Donald Trump won the election, he did not pick Walters to be his Secretary of Education. During that time, Walters has appeared on shows on national television programs talking up what he perceives to be the Trump education agenda. He announced a new Office of Religious Liberty and Patriotism inside the taxpayer-funded agency he leads, the Oklahoma State Department of Education. He ordered Oklahoma school districts to show to students and share with parents a video of him touting the office, then leading a prayer for Trump. And he announced he plans to create an education advisory committee to oversee what he expects to be federal public education policy changes made once Trump tales office in January. Given all that, it seems fair to think that Walters might be wondering, "what do I do now? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We're asking our readers to help out. Answer the question below and give Ryan Walters your best advice. We'll share your thoughts in a story soon. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Some say Ryan Walters was passed over by Trump. What's next? | Opinion NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) A Shelton man Friday was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison for unlawfully possessing an assault rifle and ammunition, according to United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut Vanessa Roberts Avery. Miguel Macho Rivera, 32, was sentenced to 60 months imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release. No injuries reported after house fire in Shelton Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was found guilty of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon in October of 2023. Averys office said Riveras criminal history includes convictions for felony firearm, robbery, and burglary offenses. In July of 2020, Waterbury police responded to a shots fired report. On scene, police said Rivera was found wearing a body armor vest and attempting to flee over a fence. Crash in Hartford leaves 2-year-old injured After he was apprehended, police said a search found a Romarm/Cugir, AK Type Model, 7.62 x 39mm caliber, and semi-automatic rifle containing a fully-loaded 30-round magazine in the area where he ran from. He was also found with a round of ammunition in his pocket. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While out on bond and waiting for a trial in this case, Rivera is also accused of illegally possessing a stolen 12-gauge shotgun, ammunition, and two Kevlar bullet proof vests. Hes been in law enforcement custody since July of 2022 and is also facing additional pending charges in Hartford federal court, according to Averys 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 WTNH.com. GREEN LAKE, Wis. Authorities are urging a Wisconsin man accused of faking his death and fleeing to Europe to come home and spend the holidays with his wife and three children. Ryan Borgwardt, 45, went missing on Aug. 12 while kayaking in Green Lake, about 50 miles northeast of Wisconsin Dells. Crews spent 54 days searching the lake, which is more than 200 feet deep at points, to no avail. The entire search effort cost nearly $40,000, according to Green Lake County Sheriff Mark Podoll. "Great news, we know that he's alive and well," Podoll said in a press conference on Thursday. "And, well, the bad news is that we don't know where Ryan exactly is, and he has not decided to return home." Podoll says investigators have been in email contact with Borgwardt since earlier this month and played a cellphone video he had sent them on Nov. 11. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I'm in my apartment. I am safe, secure," Borgwardt said in the video. Podoll says Borgwardt has since admitted to staging his disappearance by overturning his kayak, padding back to shore in a child-size inflatable boat, riding his e-bike to a bus station, bussing from Detroit to Canada and then flying to Europe. Ryan Borgwardt / Credit: Green Lake Co. Sheriff's Office Podoll says his investigators discovered in early October that Borgwardt had entered Canada a day after his disappearance. He synced his laptop to the cloud a few days earlier, swapped out his hard drive and cleared his search history. They also determined he had taken out a $375,000 life insurance policy for his family in January, transferred money into a foreign bank, set up a new email address and purchased airline cards. Podoll says Borgwardt had been in contact with a woman living in Uzbekistan, and they were eventually able to contact him via a Russian-speaking woman. Podell became emotional during Thursday's press conference, saying Borgwardt's family wants him to return home. He implored Borgwardt to "clean up the mess that he has created." "Christmas is coming, and what better gift he could give his kids is to be there for Christmas with them," Podell said. The sheriff says no criminal charges have been filed yet, but Borgwardt could be charged with obstruction of justice. Borgwardt is from Watertown, located about 50 miles northwest of Milwaukee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Amazon investing more in Anthropic, ChatGPT's competitor Latest news on Trump's future after sentencing delay, Bondi attorney general pick Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe talk women's sports movement and their podcast An on-duty law enforcement dog was shot and killed in southern Arizona on Nov. 19 after it attacked and seriously injured its handler. Cochise County Sheriff's Office is investigating the incident that resulted in the death of a 2-year-old K-9 partner named Hawk. The dog's handler, Tombstone Deputy Marshal John Cody, was attacked by the dog shortly after 5 a.m. Cody said Hawk had latched onto his leg and would not let go, according to CCSO. In an effort to get his K-9 partner off of him, Cody went into a bathroom on the second floor of the Tombstone Marshal's Office and partially closed the door. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to authorities, Cody used his service weapon to shoot Hawk after the dog "continued the aggression." The dog died and was later transferred to a facility for examination. Cody was airlifted to a Tucson hospital for treatment of his leg injuries and released that evening, according to CCSO. While it is unclear what prompted the dog to attack its handler, Marshal Jim Adams from CCSO said, "We are confident a thorough and objective evaluation of this unfortunate incident will be completed." Cody will remain off-duty on medical leave during the investigation. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Authorities investigating killing of K-9 in Tombstone by its handler This is a developing story. ABC4 will update this post as new information becomes available. Update: 11/22, 2:42 p.m. MURRAY, Utah (ABC4) Murray Police say they have taken a man in his 20s into custody, police have not released the suspects name at this time. Police also stated that the man who was shot and killed was also in his 20s. According to a press release from Murray Police, they took a man into custody around 12:00 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 22. Police are questioning the man and charges are currently pending at this time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police say the investigation is still active and ongoing at this hour and no further information is available. Original Story MURRAY, Utah (ABC4) A shooting in Murray has left one person dead with an investigation into the shooting ongoing. Kaysville neighborhood under shelter-in-place as police negotiate with barricaded person The shooting happened just after 8 p.m. in the area of 4400 S. Fairbourne Ave. when police say they responded to a call of shots fired. There police found a person with a gunshot wound and began life-saving measures, but was pronounced dead at the scene. Murray Police say there was one deceased party upon arrival. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police didnt have any suspect information because the investigation is currently ongoing into how the shooting occurred. Police tell ABC4.com they believe there to be no active danger to the public at this hour and that the incident was an isolated incident. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. MEMPHIS, Tenn. A double shooting in Orange Mound sent two people to hospitals Thursday night. Memphis Police responded to the 2700 block of Carnes Avenue near Buntyn at 8 p.m. One man was taken to Regional One hospital in critical condition. Another man arrived at Methodist University hosital by private vehicle; his condition is unknown. Memphis murders and homicides, 2024 map Police had no suspect information. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. MADISON, Wis. (WFRV) Two people were injured in a late afternoon shooting that occurred on the west side of Madison on Thursday. According to the Madison Police Department, officers were dispatched around 4:20 p.m. to the 5900 block of Schroeder Road. The shooting occurred around 4:17 p.m. and two people were injured. Texas man gets 20-year prison sentence for conspiring with Appleton woman to receive child pornography Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers arrived on the scene and provided medical aid, as both victims were taken to the hospital with injuries that are considered non-life-threatening. The Violent Crime Unit and detectives are actively investigating, however, anybody with information is asked to contact the Madison Area Crime Stoppers. No more details have been provided. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) A Caddo Parish jury has found a 45 years old Shreveport man guilty of first-degree rape of a child on Thursday. The child reported she was seven when the assaults began. According to the Caddo Parish District Attorneys office, on May 12, 2022, a nine-year-old girl told her fourth-grade teacher a male relative was having sex with her. The Shreveport Police Department and the Department of Family and Child Services responded to the case. The nine-year-old girl and a child witness took part in an emergency interview at the Gingerbread House, where critical testimonial evidence of the crime was preserved, stated the district attorneys office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the Gingerbread House interviews, Jonathan Tyrone Cooper was arrested for rapes that began when the child was seven and continued until she reported them at age nine, stated the district attorneys office. (Caddo Correctional Center) On November 21, the six-woman, six-man jury found Jonathan Tyrone Cooper guilty after deliberating for 45 minutes before the verdict. Cooper will return to court on January 8, 2025, for sentencing. The DA states he will face a mandatory term of life imprisonment at hard labor without the benefit of parole, probation or suspension of sentence. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) A Sioux City man has been sentenced for stealing money from a local credit union. According to court documents, Christopher Roberson, 51, pleaded guilty and was sentenced on Thursday for stealing a large sum of money from the Sioux Valley Community Credit Union. Roberson was arrested back in September for stealing $11,930 from the credit union on September 26. Sioux City reaches $40K settlement in age discrimination lawsuit Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Originally charged with second-degree robbery, Robersons charge was amended to first-degree theft as part of the plea agreement. The documents also state that Roberson was additionally charged with assault while engaging in a felony as part of the plea agreement. For his theft charge, Roberson has been sentenced to a 10-year indeterminate term to the Iowa Department of Corrections and has also been fined $1,360 with a 15% surcharge. The fine and surcharge are suspended, according to the documents. Roberson will receive credit for the time he has served since September 27. Additionally, Roberson must make restitution in the amount of $11,930 unless the money stolen is recovered. For the assault charge, Roberson will serve a 5-year indeterminate term which will be served consecutively to his 10-year term. He has also been fined $1,025 plus 15% surcharge. Like the other fine and surcharge, this has been suspended. Roberson is also supposed to pay court fees and attorney fees but it has been determined he is unable to pay these fees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports. SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) Some Sioux City residents may have received a letter regarding a lead service line connected to their home. Officials want to emphasize that your drinking water is safe. Anybody that got a letter is either going to have a confirmed lead, an unknown, or there was just a few that went out, were galvanized, said Kevin Kennedy, the water plant manager with the City of Sioux City. Thanksgiving garbage, recycling to be delayed one day Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In early October, the Environmental Protection Agency issued a ruling across the country requiring cities to identify and replace all lead drinking water systems within 10 years. The Sioux City water plant sent out 7,000 letters earlier this month, and officials say their phones have been ringing off the hook. The main concern is people get the letters, they dont know whats going on, they want to know whos going to pay for it, Kennedy said. And at this time we do not know. Its up in the air. Were trying to get some funding. And then the biggest question is people want to know the time frame involved to this. So I do try to tell everybody the three-year program to get everything in place for a program and then ten years to implement it. Officials estimate the replacements could cost between $5,000 and $10,000 per home. The city has identified 4,400 lead lines, and are currently unsure about an additional 2,600, but emphasized that homeowners dont need to act now on the issue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were doing our best to just let everybody know that theres nothing that needs to be done at this time, per the homeowners, Kennedy said. Its all on our side. Were tabulating the inventory, getting everything up to date. We do add a phosphate additive into the water to keep lead in suspension in your pipes. But if it wasnt for that, the lead pipes could be dangerous if the lead started leaching out into the drinking water. Sioux City reaches $40K settlement in age discrimination lawsuit Officials say the project is currently in the early stages and wont have exact details for a while. But if residents have any inquiries regarding the lead services lines, officials encourage them to reach out. If somebody has a question about what their service line material leaving the house is, they can give us a call here and we will set up a time, Kennedy said. Were not doing anything right at the moment. Well put everybody on a list, and in a later date well start coming out and trying to verify what service lines are leaving the houses for customers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kennedy says that he expects to begin work on the lead lines in 2027 and wrap up around 2037. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Editors note: This story has been updated to reflect the correct size of the donation. SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) While most Thanksgiving meal preparations start the day before, the Siouxland Soup Kitchen is starting the week before. With a total of 30 turkeys and over a dozen pumpkin pies generously donated to several groups in Ponca, the soup kitchen, along with several volunteers, is back at it for another year, whipping up a traditional Thanksgiving dinner for any residents who simply need a hot meal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thanksgiving garbage, recycling to be delayed one day Were the lucky ones that get to make everyones day by feeding them good food but its the community that comes together that donates it all, Lyn Kleunder with the Siouxland Soup Kitchen said. We just get to cook it and serve it. Thanks to one generous donation from an anonymous donor, the soup kitchen will be able to serve delicious Thanksgiving food on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4 p.m. to 6 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 SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports. More than 100,000 people in the city of Kryvyi Rih have been cut off from the heating system after a Russian attack. Source: press service of the Ministry for Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine Details: It is noted that currently, 934 residential buildings, 11 healthcare facilities, including Kryvyi Rih City Hospital No. 16, which has an inpatient department, 43 educational institutions, and a social services centre remain without heat in the city. This affects about 110,000 residents who are still without heating. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vasyl Shkurakov, First Deputy Minister for Communities and Territories Development, held an urgent meeting regarding the critical heating situation in Kryvyi Rih. Shkurakov instructed local authorities to prepare an emergency plan for the restoration of heating for all customers as soon as possible. The plan must include clear timelines, the individuals managing the process and a mechanism for daily reporting. It was reported that control over solving the heating issue has been assigned at all levels: the Ministry for Communities and Territories Development, Naftogaz (Ukraines main state-owned energy and fuel company), Dnipropetrovsk Oblast State Administration, and the local authorities. Moreover, the heating issue in Kryvyi Rih will be constantly monitored by the Heating Season Preparedness Headquarters. Nonetheless, the State Emergency Service of Ukraine together with the local authorities is ready to set up additional invincibility centres [heated premises stocked with food and power banks to assist residents facing hardships due to power cuts ed.] if needed. Support UP or become our patron! NEW YORK (AP) The microbudget movie "Hundreds of Beavers has turned into lo-fi legend. Mike Chesliks film, made for just $150,000 and self-distributed in theaters, has managed to gnaw its way into a movie culture largely dominated by big-budget sequels. Hundreds of Beavers is a wordless black-and-white bonanza of slapstick antics about a stranded 19th century applejack salesman, played by his friend Ryland Tews, at war with a bevy of beavers, all of whom are played by actors in mascot costumes. It's played in at least one theater a week since opening in January. On Dec. 5, it will play in more theaters than any point before. It's no overnight sensation. It's been two years since Cheslik first premiered Hundreds of Beavers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here's how it happened: Like all great ideas, Hundreds of Beavers started at a bar. In October 2018, Cheslik and Tews friends since they were 15 growing up in Wisconsin were talking over how they could expand from their last film, Lake Michigan Monster, an antic, even lower budgeted B-movie about the hunt for a Great Lakes sea monster. It culminated in an elaborate animation sequence by Cheslik, a trial run for Hundreds of Beavers. For their next movie, Cheslik imagined something reminiscent of childhood, with snowball fights and sled chases. Oh, and mascot costumes. Because mascots falling down is a universal language, Tews says. Everyone thinks thats funny. I love slapstick and I dont know why it was a dormant genre for so long, adds Cheslik. My guess is that when a country shifts from having more physical jobs to more of a service economy then the sense of humor becomes more verbal. The alligator in a pit is an HR referral instead of getting hurt at your job. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They made Hundreds of Beavers over two winters during the pandemic, with pick-up shoots in between. It wasnt particularly fun work they were outside in negative degree weather schlepping gear through the snow. But they were making exactly the movie they wanted, without compromise. And it didnt resemble anything at the multiplex. Ryland and I complained about movies a lot during the making of Hundreds of Beavers, Cheslik says. I think we just complained for six years straight. Cheslik and Tews are not proponents of high-priced gear. Making a movie, they say, doesnt have be an 8K camera and a rented location. Were not camera nerds, says Cheslik. We just like images with strong shapes. We like to say: Shapes are free. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In editing, Cheslik brought those shapes into greater relief. Hundreds of Beavers plays out as a surreal ballet of chiaroscuro pratfalls, with cartoonish figures set against a white winter expanse. The beavers, themselves, never totaled more than six, with Tews, Cheslik or friends variously acting inside the costumes. Almost every shot in the movie required at least some effects work. What you can do is go on your computer and take those six and duplicate them. Im talkin 12 beavers. Im talkin, imagine a number, 18, deadpans Cheslik. Its technical stuff. Once it was finally done, they excitedly hit the festival circuit. After debuting Hundreds of Beavers at the Fantastic Fest, they played more festivals. And then some more. The crowd reaction was great and they won an audience award at the Fantasia Film Festival in 2023. But a decent offer never came. The old way of shopping a movie at a festival, they found, didnt really exist anymore. Its not enough just to make a movie, says Tews. Thats just the very beginning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Producer Kurt Ravenwood decided to explore a self release. They sold streaming rights to Cineverse, the company that recently distributed the indie horror hit Terrifier 3. But they kept theatrical, merchandising and Blu-ray rights. It was a calculated risk to keep theatrical rights to ourselves, Ravenwood says. We had never, ever in our lives put on a theatrical run. But we knew that if we were able to get it booked, it would do well. They hired a distribution veteran to help book theaters and a publicist to spread the word. And they crossed their fingers. We believe that indie movies that go into the digital nothingness of streaming dont get into the culture, says Ravenwood. So we kicked it off with this roadshow. At first, we needed to prove to theaters that people would show up. Besides just the movie, wed bring the circus to town. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Calling it the Great Lakes Roadshow, they rented out theaters and played Hundreds of Beavers to mostly sold-out screenings in the Midwest. They didnt just play the movie, but created a vaudeville act to go along with it. The beaver mascot costumes came out of the closet. If anything, this is what Instagram creators and TikTok creators are used to every day, says Ravenwood. They both make the content and distribute the content via platform. If filmmakers want to reach an audience, they have to treat it like online creators treat it. Their quixotic gambit worked. People and media started taking notice. Beaver fever, as they say, took hold. None of it happened quickly, or easily. Ravenwood shipped a lot of posters and digital versions of the film. Cheslik and Tews spent two years just releasing their movie. Six years had passed since they had started. Making The Revenant looked, comparatively, like a piece of cake. But they did it. It was a life goal that was achieved, Cheslik says. Which is just a horrible thing to have happen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They are already pondering their next movie; notecards hung on the wall behind Cheslik. For now, hes only saying that it will, like Hundreds of Beavers, feature precise physical comedy. The beaver suits? Cheslik imagines they must now be filled with black mold that after being torn and repaired countless times, going through two Wisconsin winters, dozens of festivals and some 20 roadshows. Next time, he and Tews hope is a little easier a little easier to make a living from, and a little easier to find their way into theaters. I dont love when people say, Our goal with this film just to get it out there. I dont care if I make money, Cheslik says. Are these films vanity projects for trust fund hobbyists, or is this an industry? Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images Sign up for The Agenda Thems news and politics newsletter, delivered to your inbox every Thursday. The U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments next month in the landmark transgender medicine case U.S. v Skrmetti, which will decide whether Tennessees ban on gender-affirming care for trans youth violates the Constitutions equal protection clause. When arguments commence on December 4, the justices will review testimony from numerous sources including several doctors previously discredited by lower courts due to lack of experience and anti-trans bias. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As The Guardian reported this week, defense lawyers for the state of Tennessee have submitted testimony from at least five doctors who were reprimanded and/or had their statements thrown out by lower court judges in other gender-affirming care cases. Several of those doctors were hired by right-wing organizations such as the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), a group that has been at the forefront of anti-trans legislation in the U.S. and was accused last year of filing numerous anti-LGBTQ+ lawsuits under false pretenses. One of the most egregious examples named by The Guardian is pediatric endocrinologist Dr. Paul Hruz, who was previously hired by the ADF to testify against gender-affirming care in Arkansas. The judge in that case, striking down Arkansas care ban, declared that Hruz and other ADF medical witnesses were testifying more from a religious doctrinal standpoint rather than that required of experts. That accusation was supported by Hruzs alleged conduct during a 2013 meeting with a trans-affirming parent, in which he instructed the parent to read Pope John Paul IIs writings on gender, told her that her trans child was not normal and would never be normal, and stated he would never allow a gender-affirming clinic to be established at his hospital; most disturbingly, Hruz allegedly declared that [s]ome children are born in this world to suffer and die. Dr. James Cantor, a major name in anti-trans medicine, is also among the doctors testifying in U.S. v Skrmetti despite previously admitting in federal court that he lacks virtually any expertise regarding trans youth. Another, Dr. Stephen Levine, had his testimony tossed out by a West Virginia district court in 2022, with the judge noting at the time that other courts had also dismissed Levines testimony for anti-trans bias and misrepresentations of gender-affirming care standards. Like Hruz, both Cantor and Levine were previously hired by the ADF, according to The Guardians report, which was based on research conducted by the progressive watchdog group Accountability.us. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Supreme Court case rests on what can only be described as junk science unscientific, biased testimony from a small group of doctors who stand far outside of the medical mainstream, said Accountability.us president Caroline Ciccone in a statement on Thursday. These so-called experts testimony have been discredited by courts already. Its very telling that they cant come up with anything better. Why This Supreme Court Case on Trans Health Care Is Really Dangerous for All Americans The stakes in *United States v. Skrmetti* are even higher than most Americans realize and could have wide-reaching consequences if the court rules to keep the ban on gender-affirming care in place. Tennessees lawyers will also cite testimony from Dr. Michael Laidlaw, who spread debunked statistics about desistance in trans youth to defend Floridas care ban in 2022; and Dr. Geeta Nangia, who claimed during one Florida court case to have treated over a thousand patients with gender dysphoria but was rebuked by a judge for not clarifying how many of those patients she actually supported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ACLU attorney Chase Strangio, who will argue for the plaintiffs in U.S. v Skrmetti come December, told Them last month that although a Supreme Court decision against gender-affirming care wouldnt immediately ban that care in the U.S., that outcome would make it much easier for President-elect Donald Trump to push a federal ban, as he has promised to do. If the Court does issue such a decision, it will be with the aid of doctors whose views have been repeatedly rejected by other courts and a majority of medical professionals, including the American Medical Association. Its such a strange thing to watch, said Advocates for Trans Equality senior counsel Sydney Duncan in comments to The Guardian this week. Its as if the American Cancer Society recommended a certain standard of care for someone getting chemotherapy, but then a random doctor in a strip mall next to a Dominos Pizza with no cancer experience or research had a differing opinion, and were expected to take him seriously. Get the best of whats queer. Sign up for Thems weekly newsletter here. Originally Appeared on them. (Reuters) - Slovenia will respect arrest warrants for Israel and Hamas leaders issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) and "will fully comply", Prime Minister Robert Golob was quoted as saying by Slovenian news agency STA late on Thursday. The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants on Thursday for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defence chief, as well as a Hamas leader Ibrahim Al-Masri, for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza conflict. Slovenia became in June the latest European Union country to recognise an independent Palestinian state after its parliament approved the move with majority vote. (Reporting by Angeliki Koutantou; Editing by Toby Chopra) Snow flurries blew into the mountains of western North Carolina Thursday, drifting across communities digging out from Hurricane Helene. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Marshall, a small town about 45 minutes north of Asheville, saw snowflakes as people gathered for fresh brew at a coffee truck. During Helene, the French Broad River swept across Main Street and flooded every business, including Zuma Coffee and Provisions. The raging water drained away everything inside the shop. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The countertops, tables, chairs, all gone, said owner Joel Friedman. He opened the coffee shop 23 years ago and shuddered at the prospect of starting over. My first thought was no, absolutely not, he said. I had spent 23 years building this up and giving it everything I had, and the thought of doing it again was absolutely daunting, Friedman told Channel 2s Bryan Mims. But he does plan to build back, and a few weeks ago he set up a coffee truck along Main Street. I knew exactly what I had to do, and that was to get Zuma going again, Friedman said. Its kind of been the heartbeat of the community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The coffee was especially comforting as the area came under a winter weather advisory Thursday afternoon. Its a little bit of a normal day now, in the midst of nothing being normal, he said. TRENDING STORIES: The truck is open Monday through Saturday. Among those lining up for coffee was Mike Stoveken, who spent three days driving a fifth-wheel camper from the Colorado Rockies. His friends did not need the travel trailer, so they decided to donate it to storm victims in North Carolina. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I decided, I told my friends, Im gonna do something that makes me happy, Stoveken said. And part of that was when I got involved with this. It makes my heart happy to help these people. The camper came fully loaded with bulging bags of coats and blankets to provide for locals. The fifth wheel was destined for 52-year-old Eric George, who lost his job as a cook at the Marshall Main Street Cafe, which had to shut down because of extensive flood damage. Right now, George and his fiance are living in a 1987 RV, where he said hardly anything works. At least I have a roof, and I do have heat, George said. If it gets cold, I have plenty of blankets. But the fifth wheel could not make it up the narrow, twisting road to the spot where Georges RV is parked. The travel trailer will have to go to someone else instead. George said there is somebody in this community who needs it more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a blow, but you know what, Ill overcome, George said. Thats what we do stay strong, have a good support team around you. Everybody makes it. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] He and his fiance remain on a waiting list for another camper of living space. The First Baptist Church of Marshall has worked to provide shelter for people with nowhere to go. George is confident that Marshall will emerge stronger after this challenge. Its an amazing community, George said. How weve (come) together during this hurricane and lifted everybody up. NEW JERSEY (PIX11) Many New Jersey residents woke up to a blanket of snow and even some ice on Friday morning. The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning and Winter Weather Advisory for some parts of the state including Sussex, Passaic, Morris, and Warren Counties. Schools delayed, closed in New York and New Jersey due to snow Some areas of New Jersey could see up to 10 inches of snow accumulation, according to PIX11 meteorologists. In particular, southern Sussex, Morris, Warren, and Hunterdon Counties could likely see between six to 10 inches of snow. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By 9 a.m. Friday morning, northern Sussex County already had 10 inches of snow. Below are snow accumulations for other parts of the state. How many inches of snow has fallen in New York? New Jersey Snow Accumulation High Point: 10.9 Highland Lakes: 8.5 Mount Arlington: 2.0 Sparta: 1.0 Wantage: 0.9 Dominique Jack is a digital content producer from Brooklyn with more than five years of experience covering news. She joined PIX11 in 2024. More of her work can be found here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. NORTH CAROLINA (QUEEN CITY NEWS) Overnight snow accumulation has forced multiple school districts in western North Carolina to cancel classes on Friday. School districts in Ashe, Avery, and Watauga counties all have canceled school for Friday opting instead for a remote learning day. Watauga High School football will also have to put its playoff ambitions on hold as Friday nights second-round contest has been postponed until Saturday at 6 p.m. Update: Due to weather, tonights 2nd Round Playoff game has been postponed to Saturday at 6:00 PM. No practices are allowed today. Players, please check SportsYou for Saturdays game day schedule. pic.twitter.com/BaUWpvK2S7 WataugaFootball (@PerfectEffort14) November 22, 2024 Appalachian State University also announced they will make Friday a remote learning day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement WEATHER ALERTS: Click here for live, local weather alerts across the Carolinas Snow totals are expected to settle between 2 to 4 inches in most areas with higher elevations seeing upwards of 4 to 6 inches if not more in some isolated areas. The Winter Weather Advisory for Ashe, Avery, and Watauga counties will continue throughout the day and last until early Saturday morning. WEEKEND OUTLOOK: Freeze Warning in effect for several area counties We can expect snow to taper off Friday morning before returning intermittently through Saturday morning. Overnight lows will plummet again Friday night, bottoming out in the low 30s to upper 20s as mostly clear skies continue to dominate heading into Saturday morning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. After a seven-month hiatus, the board of the Social Development Commission announced plans to reopen the doors of the anti-poverty agency with select programs on Dec. 2. Here's what to know: What programs are returning? SDC is returning with four programs: Volunteer Income Tax Assistance, career services, child care and housing programs. The housing programs will include the first-time homebuyers and mortgage assistance programs. SDC also plans to restore its youth food program that served income-qualified daycares. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The programs will be held at SDC's main office at 1730 W. North Ave. and 6850 N. Teutonia Ave. Who is SDC's new CEO? The SDC board named Jorge Franco the new interim chief executive officer at Thursday afternoon's board meeting. Franco joined the SDC board this spring. He's also the CEO of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Wisconsin. He won't be compensated for his role as CEO, according to SDC attorney William Sulton. The agency's CEO has shifted a couple times since its abrupt closure in April. George Hinton was the CEO for 11 years. The SDC board asked for his resignation the same month the agency closed its doors. Pamela Johnson, SDC's director of human resources, became interim CEO, but left the position in May due to the agency's financial troubles, Sulton said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The position was left vacant until Vincent Bobot, longtime SDC commissioner, stepped into the role in September. Bobot wasn't compensated for his brief time as CEO. Who currently serves on SDC's board of commissioners? The SDC dramatically reduced its 18-seat board to just four active board members. The board began dwindling when Elmer Moore Jr., the CEO of the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority, resigned as chair in May. He served as chair for nearly five years, but decided to leave the position due to a lack of "consistent or reliable" information from SDC's finance director Patrick Kirsenlohr, Moore told the Journal Sentinel. Hinton and the agency have consistently faulted Kirsenlohr for misallocating funds from SDC's weatherization program. Barbara Toles, a former state representative, took on the role of chair for about five months. She removed herself from the board once the burden of rebuilding SDC with limited support became too great for her, Sulton said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Franco is now the board chair and interim CEO. Many board members have resigned, or their terms expired, over the months. At Thursday's meeting, the board attempted to fill leadership positions with its three remaining members. Bobot was named the board's secretary. He also serves on the SD Properties Inc. board. That's the tax-exempt real estate arm of the agency. The board also voted in a new member: Lucero Ayala. She's the vice chair of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Wisconsin and a licensed practical nurse. Jackie Q. Carter, whom Mayor Cavalier Johnson appointed to the board in June, voted against that decision, Sulton said. She also voted against naming Franco chair and naming Bobot secretary, according to Sulton. Sulton said Carter told the board she felt they were making decisions too hastily. Has SDC repaid its remaining employees? No. SDC had two outstanding payroll periods: April 15 and April 30. It paid $51,000 toward the April 15 payroll, but a handful of employees are still waiting for their checks, Sulton said. SDC still hasn't made a payment toward the April 30 payroll. Sulton said 85 employees are still awaiting payment from April 30. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to those unpaid employees, there are about 54 Americorps volunteers from SDC's Senior Companion Program and Foster Care Program who are also awaiting payment. SDC also owes money to employees for unused paid time off. The Department of Children and Families Services confirmed to SDC on Friday that the agency is still eligible for the Community Services Block Grant for fiscal year 2024. Sulton said the agency plans to use that grant to pay the majority of the outstanding wages and paid time off benefit. However, the grant can't be used to pay the Americorp volunteers, he said. Is SDC hiring employees? The agency will bring back 12 to 15 full-time employees when it reopens. The vast majority are former employees. The agency hired all new accounting and finance employees, Sulton said. Will SDC bring back its weatherization program? No. When news broke that SDC lost its weatherization program, Hinton, the CEO at the time, told the Journal Sentinel he estimated it'd take four years for the program to operate again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sulton, however, isn't sure of the timeline as of now. He is confident that the Wisconsin Department of Administration and the Wisconsin Department of Energy won't award them the grant in 2025. Is the DOA's audit of SDC still ongoing? Yes. The Wisconsin Department of Administration launched a forensic audit of the agency after shutting down the weatherization program. The department estimates the audit will be done sometime next year. Has SDC's issues with its bank and tech firm been solved? No. BMO Harris Bank froze the agency's bank account in April. This halted all deposits from other agencies' accounts to SDC. As a temporary solution, SDC closed its account with BMO and recently opened a new bank account with another bank, Sulton said. Caspian Technologies, SDC's tech firm, revoked the agency's access to its computer system, including emails, website and transactional information, in May. When SDC reopens, it will start from scratch with new email accounts and a new website, Sulton said. Is SDC still selling its properties? This is still up in the air. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SDC's main office at 1730 W. North Ave., its two parking lots and its warehouse and parking lot at 1810 W. North Ave. are all still listed for sale by Ogden & Company, Inc. But Sulton says the board is still on the fence about actually selling the properties. Collectively, the properties are listed above $3 million. What funding is still at SDC's disposal? The Department of Children and Families is the only state department that has confirmed to SDC it will give them funding, Sulton said. With SDC's career services starting up again, the agency hopes the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development will fund the program, he said. SDC is aiming to fundraise more and collect funds from private donors. Will SDC board meetings continue to take place in closed session? No, the board is aiming to be more transparent, Sulton said. For the first time since the agency was hit with financial troubles this year, the agency's board had its entire meeting open to the public on Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The view of the commissioners that are on the board now is that we need to be open," Sulton said. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee anti-poverty agency SDC to reopen after 7 month hiatus The organizations are asking for an accelerated closure of the Female Secure Intake Facility, New Jersey Training School for Boys, and Juvenile Medium Security Facility. (Illustration by Alex Cochran for New Jersey Monitor) Social justice groups want Gov. Phil Murphy and Attorney General Matt Platkin to expedite the closure of long-troubled juvenile jails and open an investigation into the Juvenile Justice Commission in light of both recent and decades-old accusations of sexual abuse by staff. In a letter sent to Murphy and Platkin Thursday, they say the pattern of abuse of young people in the states youth facilities is similar to the widespread abuses uncovered at the Edna Mahan womens prison, which led the governor to order the facility to close. And while Platkin has said hed close two of the states three juvenile facilities by 2028, activists want to see that time cut in half. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We cant continue to talk about a date thats four years from now and continue to subject girls or children in general to these types of conditions, this type of abuse, said Ashanti Jones of the New Jersey Institute of Social Justice. Three dozen social justice and advocacy organizations signed the two-page letter. They stressed their concerns surrounding charges against two correctional officers accused of sexually assaulting an 18-year-old resident of the Female Secure Care and Intake Facility in Bordentown. The facility has just five residents, so the states failure to keep them safe is alarming, the letter says. This incident highlights that New Jerseys incarcerated youth deserve the kind of protection that comes from a community-based, developmentally appropriate system of care that is grounded in restorative justice. They deserve an environment that prioritizes their growth, healing and well-being, which, as the recent charges reflect, is not available in the current system, the letter reads. The organizations are asking for an accelerated closure of the Female Secure Intake Facility, New Jersey Training School for Boys in Jamesburg, and Juvenile Medium Security Facility in Bordentown. Currently, the Female Secure Intake Facility and Training School for Boys are slated to close. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The letter also notes that 50 men filed suit in January alleging that between the 1970s and 2010s, while they were boys kept in the Jamesburg facility, they were sexually abused by officers, counselors, and other staffers. It calls for an investigation into the Juvenile Justice Commission, which oversees the states juvenile lockups. The governors office did not respond to a request for comment. Jones said the governors office acknowledged receipt of their letter. Tara Oliver, a Platkin spokeswoman, said New Jersey is committed to closing the Female Secure Care and Intake Facility as soon as practicable. It is part of larger reform efforts undertaken by the Juvenile Justice Commission (JJC) that have resulted (in) significant reductions to the female population, as well as the overall population of incarcerated youth. We continue to pursue these prevention strategies and alternatives to incarceration that reduce the need for incarceration of youth in the first place, and continue to improve the youth justice system overall, Oliver said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jones said there needs to be a prompt look into how allegations of abuse keep happening, whether thats by tightening hiring policies or strengthening background checks. And its important to make these findings public, she said. There has to be accountability here. We need an independent investigator to come in and actually figure out exactly where we may be compromised within the JJC from the top down, she said. Alice Ford, an outdoor content creator and show host, has spent a decade centering conservationist education on her YouTube channel. She said the glut of nature photos and short videos on social media is resulting in just people wanting to see a place more than they have respect for the place. (PCourtesy of Alice Ford) Dont pet the fluffy cows. Thats the Instagram bio tagline for the National Park Services popular account, which showcases stunning photos of the diverse terrains of the United States 431 national parks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The cheeky statement, followed by a buffalo emoji, is meant to make its 6 million followers laugh, NPS social media specialist Matthew Turner says, but its also a very real warning. We want you to be really prepared to stay this distance, and be aware of your surroundings at all times, Turner said. And to know that if you dont, there are consequences where you can get hurt. Technology and the rise of social media has driven new people to visit public parks and lands, as the platforms make it easier to showcase the great outdoors. But outdoor enthusiasts and environmental conservationists say social media has also contributed to selfie tourism or the influx of visitation to specific landmarks that go viral on social media. It also can describe the behavior of those that crowd a landmark or ignore safety protocol to get the perfect shot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Every year, there are incidents of people having such dangerous interactions with wildlife, or getting lost in the parks, or even losing their lives. Its hard to quantify how exactly social media influences the decision making or behavior of park visitors, but several nearly-fatal and fatal incidents have been connected to attempting to capture content. In 2018, a 29- and 30-year-old couple fell to their deaths in Yosemite National Park in California while attempting to take a photo at Taft Point. Several people have been attacked by bison in Yellowstone National Park over the last three years at least one was a tourist trying to touch a bison while recording with her phone. A selfie in and of itself can inspire others. Maybe you see a friend post from a great trip, and it inspires you to go, Phillip Kilbridge, CEO of NatureBridge said. But you better do it thoughtfully. You better realize that when theres a fence, its because theres loose rock on the other side, or theres a steep fall, or so many other unintended consequences. Attendees of NatureBridges outdoor environmental education program explore Yosemite National Park. The program attempts to teach kids to interact with nature without the interference of electronic devices or social media. (Courtesy of NatureBridge) Loving our parks to death Kilbridge runs NatureBridge, an organization that teaches young people how to explore the outdoors without technology. The organization was initially founded with the intention of exploring parks in their off-peak seasons, and teaching kids to learn more about themselves and the environment with low barriers to entry on cost and prior education. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The parks have seen a surge in visitors in the last few years, crossing more than 300 million visitors nearly each year since their centennial celebration in 2016. NatureBridge has brought more than 1 million kids through the program over its tenure and operates in Golden Gate National Recreation Area in California, Olympic National Park in Washington, Prince William Forest National Park in Virginia and Yosemite. It makes a conscious effort to explore areas and trails that are outside the most popular ones, but high visitorship is putting strain on the hotels and areas surrounding the parks, and as a result, its more expensive to operate the program. The social media effect on certain areas of the parks might be evident in some data from Yosemite National Park. Many drive in, take pictures at the iconic Half Dome and El Capitan rock formations, and then they head out, Kilbridge said. The focus is on documenting the visit and putting it on their checklist or bucket list, to prove that theyve done it. Youve probably heard the phrase, were loving our parks to death, Kilbridge said. But the truth is, were loving certain parts of certain parks to death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cynthia Hernandez, the National Parks Systems public affairs specialist, said the agency uses social media to show examples of good environmental stewardship. Staff love and encourage new visitors to the parks, but they want them to be educated on preserving the trails, picking up trash, and learning the history and culture of where theyre visiting. We ask visitors to be adaptable and to listen to the park rangers, Hernandez said. You know, if the parking lot is full, dont drive wherever. We like to say, what is your plan B? New Hampshires public and private lands are feeling the impact from some not-so respectful visitors this year, as its peak fall foliage season a few-week stretch in late September and October is bringing an estimated 3.7 million visitors this fall, the Washington Post reported. New Hamshirians, and their neighbors in Vermont, are dealing with clogged roads, crowded hiking trails, trespassing on private property and trash left behind by their visitors, many of whom are doing so in the pursuit of the perfect fall photo. Some towns have closed roads to non-local traffic, while others have had to pay for extra patrols during on routes leading to lookouts or popular spots. One group of neighbors in Pomfret, Vermont, has raised $22,500 in a GoFundMe to save their road from the surge of influencers, with the funds planned to go toward temporary closures and increased signage, the Post reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wesley Littlefield is a Salt Lake City-based marketing manager and outdoor content creator, and the effects Kilbridge described and New Englanders are experiencing are some of the many reasons hes become mindful of not overexposing certain locations. Littlefield has been posting on social media and making YouTube videos about fishing, kayaking and other outdoor adventures for a few years, and focuses on educating people on leave no trace principles. He loves exploring the Southwest, but some of his favorite trails and natural wonders have become overpopulated after gaining attention on social media. Horseshoe Bend in Arizona is a prime example, he said, as is Antelope Canyon, which sits on Navajo land. What was once a peaceful overlook is now packed with people looking to snap that perfect shot, often at the expense of the environment around them, he said of Horseshoe Bend. Youll notice things like litter, soil erosion and even permanent damage to local ecosystems. In extreme cases, wildlife habitats can be disrupted or destroyed, which takes away from the natural beauty and balance of these areas. Attendees of NatureBridges outdoor environmental education program explore Olympic National Park. (Courtesy of NatureBridge) Responsible exploration Littlefield said he loves that technology has allowed people to discover new places and share experiences. But carelessness in certain areas has made him more conservative with geotagging certain areas or fragile locations. Its his way of protecting them while still sharing his love for the outdoors, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We want these places to remain as beautiful and untouched as possible for future visitors, Littlefield said. Alice Ford is another content creator who is sharing her outdoor adventures online as a way to educate others about conservation. She hosts a show on PBS called Alices Adventures on Earth, has a masters degree in environmental management and has been making Youtube videos showcasing outdoor traveling, hiking and sustainable living for about a decade. Her bread and butter is in longer-form content where she gets to place the focus on education. I think theres an issue with these three-to-10 second videos showcasing a place, Ford said. Where youre just seeing the most beautiful part, and youre not learning anything about it, and youre then not doing any research. And youre just showing up because you want to get the exact same shot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When Ford travels, shes looking for those less-busy places, not just to discover somewhere new to her, but also to not contribute to the demand of places that dont have infrastructure to support an onslaught of visitors. Pulling off the side of a road inundated with visitors may not just cause traffic chaos, but also could damage wildlife and road infrastructure, she said. I think also another thing that Ive seen globally is just people wanting to see a place more than they have respect for the place, Ford said. There are very real physical dangers to jumping head-first into a hike or a trip without proper preparation, Ford said. Shes seen a rise in visitors to national parks and other places around the world attempting grueling hikes or exploring dangerous areas in extreme heat without the right footwear, food or water. Two people died during this summers brutal heat waves in Death Valley National Park in California, including a 57-year-old man who attempted a short hike on a day when temperatures reached nearly 120 degrees, which can quickly cause serious dehydration and heat stroke. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Michigan, The Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore a state park featuring miles of sand and bluffs has a dune climb thats been well-documented on social media. The hike includes 3.5 miles of sandy, steep terrain and can take three or four hours. The Lakeshore gets an average of 1.5 to 1.7 million visitors a year, and reached its peak visitorship in 2020 and 2021, Emily Sunblade the parks lead education ranger said. The climb has long been a rite of passage, but the park rangers said visitors have been recognizing the location because of social media posts of the famous sign outlining the $3,000 fee incurred for being rescued if you get stuck. The park instituted a preventative search and rescue program where volunteers stand at the top of the dune and check in with visitors before they attempt the hike in order to quell the strain on local rescue resources, which are performed by township emergency services. The volunteers ask visitors if they have enough water, and if theyre prepared for it to take two or more hours. It dramatically lowered the number of rescues needed, Sunblade said. The social media posts we are seeing are having a positive impact as people share their experience of what the hike was like, and what they wish they knew before starting, Sunblade said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As much as social media has the ability to overexpose and overwhelm one area with visitors, it remains an essential tool for the Parks Service and for content creators who aim to educate others on responsible visitorship. Its an important component of the digital toolbox for the Parks Service, Turner told States Newsroom. Their online profiles allow them to engage in real time with visitors and connect with people around the world. They use it as a forum to ask and answer questions, respond to outreach and share resources. And they do lean on memes and humor to get peoples attention and have people learn without maybe realizing theyre learning, Turner said. There are ways to add a photo-worthy spot to your travels, if you do so responsibly, Ford said. She suggests trying to research whats nearby those locations, and if the local community has been negatively impacted by visitors. If theres not enough restaurants, stores and accommodations, tourism may hurt the community or put a strain on its resources. Her hope is that folks are making informed decisions about their travel plans and considering the impact that social media may have on driving them to visit. I wish people would have more respect, not only for each other, but for the places that we visit, Ford said. And to just think a little bit more before we act in general, like whether thats the time youre taking to take a selfie at a popular destination, or the place in which were walking. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Recently, a chic New York restaurant and coffee shop, known for often having a line of eager customers out the door, went viral without even trying and for all the wrong reasons. Corey Kiser, a barista in Manhattan, took to TikTok a few weeks ago, posting about the food safety violations he'd seen at his place of work, Fellini Coffee and Cucina in the West Village. The video got millions of views and the attention of several media outlets but allegedly cost Corey his job. Corey Kiser / TikTok / Via tiktok.com Fellini has three locations in Manhattan and has garnered attention for its photogenic design, drinks, and food. The coffee shop and its sister restaurant (the Cucina) look like something out of an Italian film from the 1960s, with dark wood interiors, sleek espresso machines, and marble countertops. The company has an online presence to match, consistently posting images of Hollywood stars like Marilyn Monroe, Sophia Loren, and Aubrey Hepburn paired with photos of the coffee bar to its Instagram. Even the company's name, "Fellini," references the last name of famed Italian director Federico Fellini, whose decadent film is referenced on the restaurant's website: "Experience La Dolce Vita at Fellini." Umberto Cicconi / Getty Images In Corey's viral video, the (now-former) Fellini employee described the restaurant kitchen as "sickening." He also claimed that "all [the management] care about is show and Instagram" and that food is prepared on top of trash cans. He continued, alleging that "raw chicken is stored overnight at over 50 degrees. Someone's about to get seriously ill." Corey Kiser / TikTok / Via tiktok.com "I'm looking out for you guys," he added. "I hope I don't lose my job." Just two days later, he updated his followers: The coffee shop had let him go. Corey told TikTok users, "I no longer work at Fellini," continuing by sharing that the restaurant's owner asked him to leave immediately. Corey was allegedly told that he "didn't have to finish [his] shift if [he] didn't want to take the video down." Corey Kiser / TikTok / Via tiktok.com Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When speaking with Corey about the video and what prompted him to take his grievances to social media, he told BuzzFeed that he spoke to management at his job about his concerns before reporting Fellini to NYC health officials. He claimed: "When I initially filed an anonymous report with 311, they told me I could check my case number in literally 37 days to see. So, that's sort of what prompted my TikTok. I thought, if this walk-in freezer is 54 degrees, and you know, how many people could come in that could potentially get sick." Studio4 / Getty Images By no means new to the restaurant scene, Corey has spent his entire career in the restaurant world in Tennessee, Missouri, and now New York. "I have worked a couple of jobs that really set the bar high early on in my career regarding cleanliness and standard," he shared. "And, yeah, all the cafes that I have worked in New York have actually been pretty, pretty responsive when it comes to storing food and refrigerating things the right way." He had only worked at Fellini Coffee for a few months when he made his now-viral TikTok. Prior to making the video, Corey said he had voiced concerns about how the kitchen handled food, including management. He recalled: "I posted internally to Fellini's WhatsApp channel about the walk-in [refrigerator] temperatures being in the mid-40s. About two weeks passed, and all of my voiced concerns were just ignored. The temperatures climbed higher and higher." According to commercial kitchen equipment servicers, a walk-in refrigerator should hold food between 35F and 38F. Picture Alliance / picture alliance via Getty Images Thousands of viewers chimed in on Corey's claims in the comments: Christian Freitag / Getty Images / TikTok / Via tiktok.com New York-based TikTok creator, Rachel in a Real Way, posted her own PSA-style video after seeing a line outside Fellini even on the heels of Corey's video going viral. "There are people waiting in the Fellini line for coffee right now, even though one of the people who worked there posted about how they prepared food on trash cans..." she says. "These people don't know because they don't have TikTok. Yikes." That video has over 2.6 million views. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another New Yorker, Cam, aka @bravois4geminis on TikTok, filmed a busy night at Fellini days after Corey had posted his video. bravois4geminis / TikTok / Via tiktok.com Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She captioned the video "major tea" with a hand on her mouth as she walked by unsuspecting diners. bravois4geminis / TikTok / Via tiktok.com Corey said that at the coffee shop and Cucina, "There's an emphasis on that virality, on having pleasant aesthetics. I think if that is the core of what you're after, or if you can't think about the business aside from whether or not you're getting likes on Instagram, you know, I think those are questionable priorities." Ballyscanlon / Getty Images "It's a very, very unstable sort of place to work," Corey told BuzzFeed, explaining how staff were hired and dismissed, or quit, in what seemed like a revolving door of employment. "After I was fired, everybody was fed up, and most of everybody left immediately," he claimed. "Basically, they quit." Sheena Skemp / Getty Images/iStockphoto Corey shared the fallout from his viral moment to his TikTok. Health officials inspected the West Village Fellini location three days after his initial video was uploaded on Nov. 6. Corey Kiser / TikTok / Via tiktok.com Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The health department uses a point system to assess food safety standards being met. According to NYC's health inspection database, sanitary violations issued during the visit to Fellini's coffee shop amounted to 56 points for issues like the potential presence of filth flies and "improperly constructed, placed, or maintained" containers and equipment, among other food safety violations. Each violation contributes to the inspection's point count. For example: a score between 0 and 13 points earns an A grade, while getting a C inspection grade takes 28 violation points. The Fellini Cucina opened very recently and has not received a formal inspection grade possibly due to the fact that NYC's DOH is experiencing a "staffing crisis," as recently reported by Grub Street, with only "one inspector for every 414 restaurants." Cyrus Mccrimmon / Denver Post via Getty Images Two weeks after Fellini's health inspection report, there was still a line out the door to get into Fellini on a Saturday night. Meg Sullivan / @rachelinarealway / TikTok / Via tiktok.com Despite the persisting clout surrounding the restaurant, Corey maintains that "it was important to say something" and was grateful the DOH followed up on his report. BuzzFeed reached out to management at Fellini and the NYC Department of Health; neither responded to requests for comment. We'll update this post accordingly if they do. Cristian Fernando Gutierrez-Ochoa, 37, was arrested on Tuesday, Nov. 19, and charged with international drug-trafficking and money-laundering offenses Getty U.S. flag and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration flag U.S. flag and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration flag A drug-cartel leader who was accused of faking his death to live a life of luxury in California has been arrested and charged with international drug-trafficking and money-laundering offenses. The U.S. Department of Justice announced that Cristian Fernando Gutierrez-Ochoa was arrested Tuesday, Nov. 19, and faces charges including conspiracy to distribute 5 kg or more of cocaine and 500 g or more of methamphetamine, plus conspiracy to launder drug-trafficking proceeds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gutierrez-Ochoa, 37, is the son-in-law of the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacions leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes (a.k.a. "El Mencho") and a high-ranking member of the organization, according to the DOJ. He is accused of directing the importation of tons of methamphetamine and cocaine into the U.S. and engaging in violence to aid the cartels criminal activities. According to an unsealed criminal complaint, per the DOJ, Gutierrez-Ochoa began working for the Jalisco Cartel around 2014, and since then has personally coordinated the transportation and distribution of approximately 40,000 kilograms of methamphetamine and approximately 2,000 kilograms of cocaine from Mexico to the U.S. U.S. Department of State Reward poster from U.S. Department of State regarding Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, ak.a. "El Mencho" Reward poster from U.S. Department of State regarding Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, ak.a. "El Mencho" Related: 5 Young Men Were Kidnapped in Mexico And a Disturbing Video May Show One Being Forced to Kill His Friends He also allegedly kidnapped two members of the Mexican Navy in order to secure the release of El Menchos wife, who had been arrested by authorities before fleeing to the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gutierrez-Ochoa faked his own death and assumed a false identity to avoid criminal charges related to working with the Jalisco Cartel described as one of the worlds most violent and prolific drug trafficking organizations and to live a life of luxury in California, the DOJ claimed. 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. He resided in a residence in Riverside, California, purchased with the cartels money, and it was believed that his father-in-law aided in his efforts to create a new identity by telling associates he murdered him for lying, per the DOJ. The drug-cartel boss then allegedly sneaked him into the U.S. to be with his daughter. Defeating the two cartels responsible for the deadly drug crisis in the United States is the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)s top operational priority, and with the arrest of Cristian Fernando Gutierrez-Ochoa, we are much closer, said DEA Administrator Anne Milgram in a statement. Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty DEA Administrator Anne Milgram DEA Administrator Anne Milgram Related: California Woman, 30, Returns Home After Being Kidnapped in Mexico While Walking Dog 8 Months Ago Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The DOJ also noted in its release that Jalisco Cartels boss El Mencho is still at large. In an indictment brought forward in April 2022, El Mencho was charged with leading a continuing criminal enterprise to manufacture and distribute fentanyl for importation into the United States. A reward of up to $10 million is being offered for any information that would lead to his arrest or conviction, the DOJ also said. Gutierrez-Ochoa, meanwhile, faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison if convicted, per the DOJ. The DEA Los Angeles Field Division is continuing to investigate the case. The 27-year-old son of Norways crown princess has been accused of a second rape just days after he was arrested on suspicion of the same offense. Following a detention hearing at Oslo District Court on Wednesday for the first alleged offense, police prosecutor Andreas Kruszewski said Oslo Police District had requested that Marius Borg Hiby be held in custody for two weeks as a second alleged rape had come to light. The reason for this request is that we have uncovered another rape case overnight and this morning. This was identified in the investigative material, Oslo police said in a statement to CNN on Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police said they are investigating the second alleged incident thoroughly. The case involves sexual activity, not intercourse, with a woman who was incapable of resisting the act. This means that we are now investigating two rape cases involving Marius Borg Hiby, the police added. A sexual assault of this kind carries a maximum prison term of 10 years, according to Norways penal code. Hoibys lawyer, yvind Bratlien, told CNN Thursday that his client only pleads guilty to a case of one incident of bodily harm against his last girlfriend, criminal damage in her apartment and a threat. For the other circumstances, he does not admit criminal guilt, Bratlien said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hiby was first arrested on Monday night on suspicion of breaking the law relating to sexual intercourse with someone who is unconscious or for other reasons is unable to resist the act, police said Tuesday. They specified at the time that this accusation involved carrying out a sexual act without intercourse on a victim said to have been unable to resist the act. The first alleged victim is a woman in her 20s who did not know Hiby before she met him on the day of the alleged incident, her lawyer, Hege Salomon, told CNN. She was not in a relationship with Hiby. Norways Crown Prince Haakon told the countrys public broadcaster, NRK, that the situation is affecting everyone around Hiby. These are serious accusations that Marius is now facing. Today, we are of course thinking of all those affected, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added that the police and the judicial system must be given room to do their job. I trust that they will do that in a good way, he said. Hiby was born before his mother, Mette-Marit, married Crown Prince Haakon and became a princess in 2001. He is outside Norways line of royal succession. CNNs Catherine Nicholls contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) After months of beach parking controversy, the South Carolina Attorney General is weighing in on who has the jurisdiction to issue parking citations in the state. PCI Municipal Services took over parking enforcement and management on the Isle of Palms on March 1. The city of Folly Beach and the town of Hilton Head Island also have contracts with PCI. Isle of Palms officials said nearly $50,000 in additional revenue has been generated from parking fines compared to last year since then24% of which PCI takes home, per the terms of their agreement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This has raised concerns for residents and community groups, including the Charleston Beach Foundation, which characterized PCIs issuance of citations as aggressive and requested in July the city review the legality of its contract. According to the Foundation, the city disagreed that the duties performed by PCI violated state law. Isle of Palms Police Department to conduct weekend traffic checkpoints The group then contacted Sen. Larry Grooms (R-Berkeley) with their concerns, who in turn requested the attorney generals office weigh in on whether municipalities could contract with a third-party company to enforce parking ordinances. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You do not want to give a profit motive to a private entity to enforce the laws of our state, and so I asked for the opinion, Grooms said. We love our beaches and want to continue to have access to our beaches, he continued. There needs to continue to be rules and regulations. When it comes to the laws of our state, they should be enforced by uniformed law enforcement, not by private security forces. In a non-binding Nov. 15 opinion, the attorney generals office concluded local governments could not because parking enforcement falls under a municipalitys police power authority. Based on prior opinions of this Office, police power may not be delegated to private entities absent legislative or constitutional authority, the opinion stated. Finding no such authority, we do not believe a municipality may delegate parking enforcement to a private entity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Isle of Palms Mayor Phillip Pounds said they are reviewing the opinion and discussing the next steps with their legal counsel. Folly Beach Mayor Tim Goodwin said that the attorney generals finding is merely an opinion and declined further comment. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCBD News 2. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) introduced legislation on Thursday to eliminate the Department of Education, a move that would have the support of President-elect Trump. The proposal would get rid of the federal agency and move all critical programs to other departments. The federal Department of Education has never educated a single student, and its long past time to end this bureaucratic Department that causes more harm than good, Rounds said. Trump has repeatedly pledged to eliminate the federal department, and, with a Republican trifecta in government starting next year, the party might be able to fulfill that pledge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For years, Ive worked toward removing the federal Department of Education. Im pleased that President-elect Trump shares this vision, and Im excited to work with him and Republican majorities in the Senate and House to make this a reality. This legislation is a roadmap to eliminating the federal Department of Education by practically rehoming these federal programs in the departments where they belong, which will be critical as we move into next year, Rounds said. The legislation stands little chance in the current Democratic-controlled Senate, but Republicans are poised to take the reins of the upper chamber in January. While Republicans have championed the cause for years, Trump also had unified GOP control in his first administration but left office with the Education Department still in tact. The bill comes days after Trump nominated Linda McMahon, a former head of the Small Business Administration in his first term, to lead the Department of Education. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) An Eagle Point School District employee was arrested Thursday after accusations of sex abuse, officials said. According to the Jackson County Sheriffs Office, detectives arrested Amanda Rose Leonardo, 36, following an investigation that lasted a month. Leonardo is being charged with three counts of third-degree sexual abuse, luring a minor, tampering with physical evidence and providing liquor to a minor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement St. Helens Middle School teacher under investigation for offensive physical contact Officials said that the victims were high school-aged, but that the charges are unrelated to her position within the school district. The case remains under investigation and authorities are asking anyone with information about the suspect to contact the Jackson County Sheriffs Office. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. The Space Force expects to award as many as 20 contracts over the next two years for private companies to join its Commercial Augmentation Space Reserve, which will create a mechanism for the military to better leverage commercial capabilities both in peacetime and during a conflict. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall, who provides civilian oversight for the Space Force, approved the Commercial Space Offices plan for the program, known as CASR, last year. Since then, the office has developed an implementation strategy, which includes writing contractual language for companies that will participate in the reserve. Vice Chief of Space Operations Gen. Michael Guetlein said this week the service plans to award five contracts in 2025 and another 15 in 2026. Those arrangements will detail the level of commercial capability the service needs in peacetime and provide a mechanism and pricing structure that will allow the service to access more capacity during a conflict. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weve got a few things to work through about governance and contracting strategies, but we hope to have our first five contracts in 25 and then another 15 contracts or so in 26, he said Wednesday at the National Security Innovation Forum in Washington. The Space Forces acquisition arm, Space Systems Command, announced last year it was planning to create a commercial space reserve. The team met with industry in February 2023 and formed a task force soon after to work through legal, policy, contracting and programmatic concerns. The resulting strategy factors in those concerns as well as feedback from dozens of companies to ensure both the government and industry understand the requirements and risks associated with leaning more heavily on commercial systems during a crisis. The U.S. will need programs like CASR that provide options for excess capacity as it prepares for the possibility of a future conflict with China or Russia, Guetlein said. He argued that the militarys posture in the past has been to strive for efficiency and perfect solutions when buying new systems, but that approach may not work against a peer adversary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What we know about this next fight is its not going to be efficient, he said. And were going to have to get comfortable with being inefficient. That means I need redundant capabilities, excess capacity, proliferation. Developing an acquisition and contracting strategy for CASR has also required the Space Force to work through some of the trickier questions about how much it should rely on commercial capabilities during wartime. Those concerns were illuminated in September 2023 when SpaceX founder Elon Musk revealed he had opted not to activate his companys Starlink communication satellites in certain regions of Ukraine due to fears that Ukraines use of the service to launch an attack on Russia would escalate the war. The company provided Starlink terminals to Ukraine in the early days of the conflict and, at the time, was not performing those services through a contract with the U.S. military. The service is still working through language to include in CASR contracts that addresses these types of denial of service scenarios, a Space Force official told reporters this week. The service is also working with the Office of the Secretary of Defense to study options for potentially compensating CASR companies whose space systems are targeted by an adversary. As part of CASR and then also part of this study, we are looking into potential wartime insurance, the official said. I do feel like that is going to be a policy decision. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Companies selected for the reserve will participate in Defense Department war games, with the first CASR event slated for February 2025. Those exercises will help the Space Force get a sense of how much capacity is needed in different regions where the military operates. The service has initial funding from Congress for CASR but is still determining how much funding it will need for the program moving forward, according to Lt. Gen. Philip Garrant, head of Space Systems Command. Speaking Wednesday at a Defense Writers Group event in Washington, Garrant said he is working with SSC program offices to ensure that CASR needs are factored into a programs acquisition strategy. We dont want these teams to have to be doing everything as an afterthought, he said. We want it to be part of the original conversation. Nov. 22 (UPI) -- Spain's government said Friday five low-cost airlines have been fined $186.32 million for what Minister of Social Rights Pablo Bustinduy said were abusive practices like charging more for hand luggage or reserving adjacent seats to accompany dependent persons. The sanctioned airlines are Ryanair ($112,183,593.16), Vueling ($40,874,742.57), Easyjet ($30,290,803.51), Norwegian ($1,676,204.19) and Volotea ($1,237,990.35). The fines were proposed by Spain's General Secretariat for Consumption and Gaming. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Through a signed order, Pablo Bustinduy has confirmed the sanctions proposed by the General Secretariat for Consumption and Gaming, and has therefore rejected the appeals filed by these companies," Spain's Ministry of Social Rights, Consumption and Agenda 2030 said in a statement. The ministry added, "This is the first time that sanctions classified as very serious have been enforced by the General State Administration in the field of consumer affairs, whose ministry acquired sanctioning powers in June 2022." According to the Spanish government, the budget airlines were fined for charging extra for carry-on bags, for reserving adjacent seats on planes for minors and dependent people, not allowing cash payments at Spanish airports, imposing "a disproportionate and abusive fee" for printing boarding passes, and for misleading omissions of information and lack of clarity in prices published online making it difficult for passengers to compare price offers. Ryanair was also fined for charging "a disproportionate amount" for printing tickets when passengers don't have them at terminals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fines were calculated based on the benefits the airlines realized from the practices that drew the fines. The airlines can file an administrative appeal within two months before Spain's Administrative Litigation Division of the National Court. If no appeal is filed or f the appeal is rejected, the fines become final. SPARTANBURG COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) The Spartanburg County Sheriffs Office shared the results Friday of their yearly effort to crack down on various crimes. Spartanburg County Sheriff Chuck Wright said this years Operation Rolling Thunder was a success. He thanked the partnership of agencies across the state who came to assist. Wright said more than 300 pounds of marijuana was removed from Spartanburg County streets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The sheriffs office said the majority of the drugs seized, which included cocaine and THC wax, were being brought into the county, not just passing through. Traffic stops by race White Black Hispanic Other 251 252 101 83 37% 37% 15% 12% Ive been told, ever since I became sheriff, you will never win the war on drugs, Wright said. Ive heard that and heard that and heard that. Dont confuse that with the fight that we are going to put up to keep trying to make our community better for you. The operation totals given by the sheriffs office showed that the two most prevalent traffic violations included speeding and following too closely. Wright said 25 arrests were made throughout the week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ive got a big ol list of all the people who assisted us in some way, Wright said. All I can do is say thank you on behalf of the citizens of Spartanburg County for making our community and our life better. Wright was asked during a news conference about claims by the Institute of Justice that this operation pulls over certain groups of people. Wright said the only time a minority group was pulled over more than other groups was in 2006, and it had nothing to do with the color of anyones skin. In our policy, they go over it and sign it you just cannot stop people for that and we dont allow it, Wright said. We had some other agencies that were here that were stopping things that we didnt feel like met the criteria and they dont get invited back. Matter of fact we sent them home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The sheriff also discussed a stop during their operation in October 2022 involving a bus carrying students from Shaw University. After that stop, the universitys president claimed the stop and search of the bus was racially motivated. I want to touch on the bus thing again, that was a lie and we proved that with a video, Wright said. After we showed her the video that what she was told was an absolute lie, I never heard any more about it. During Operation Rolling Thunder, Wright said 100 vehicles were searched and more than $100,000 was seized. Wright also dismissed criticism that Operation Rolling Thunder is a money grab, explaining that $130,000 was not taken vehicles involving people with marijuana possession. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If it doesnt fit the law, we dont mess with it, said Wright. There is a bunch of cars that we stopped that we did not search, Wright said. We didnt have probable cause to do so and we dont stop color we only stop violations. The sheriffs office said there were 42 total criminal cases filed during their operation. They said some cases are 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 WSPA 7NEWS. SPRINGFIELD, Ohio (WDTN) An area first responder will take center stage at a historic Springfield venue tonight. At 6 p.m. inside of the State Theater in downtown Springfield, Max Miesse the theaters artist in residence will perform songs from his debut album Green Street. Miesse sang the vocals and played nearly all of the instruments within each track. He made a lyric video for every song on the album. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Miesse was born and raised in Springfield, having graduated from Kenton Ridge High School. He joined the Springfield Fire and Rescue Division three years ago. Last year saw him promoted to paramedic. Despite trying to keep his musical alter ego under wraps from his coworkers, it didnt take long for them to find out. Id been on the job like 8 or 9 months and I was very quiet. I was like, speak when spoken to, I didnt say a word. And I had a slot at an open mic at Peaches in Yellow Springs, and I was going up and I saw some firefighters in the crowd, I was like, oh no! Dont tell anyone! And they were like, we wont tell anyone. Miesse said. And of course they went and told everyone. Miesse spent five years working on the album and is looking forward to sharing it with the community. For him, his hometown is at the heart of the project. Springfield, no matter what happens, will always be home to me. The people here, this town, it means the world to me. I wouldnt ask for it any other way. And people who look down on Springfield, I think, dont see it in the right way. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When hes not debut an album, Miesse performs on the first and third Wednesday of every month. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com. SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) Friday marks the 61st anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. On November 22nd, 1963, President Kennedy was assassinated while visiting Dallas Texas. An eternal flame, burning brightly in Forest Park, represents the life and legacy of the late President John F Kennedy. Bright Nights at Forest Park begins Wednesday This eternal flame in Forest Park is dedicated to the memory of John F. Kennedy, and is only one of two made in his honor, the other is in Arlington National Cemetery. Congressman Richard Neal joined Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno and other elected leaders and community members to honor the 35th President of the United States, John F. Kennedy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement James Sullivan, who created the memorial with a group of others Springfield residents, including his brother, former Springfield Mayor William Sullivan, described Kennedy as a man for the people Sullivan remembers one of his fondest memories with John F. Kennedy. The night of the Inauguration, I was in Washington for it and I had the opportunity to go to the reception for him, and to shake his hand was a pleasure, but I had met him several times campaigning with Larry OBrien. He was just a gentleman, the whole family was, said Sullivan. Sullivan said Kennedy was an easy man to talk to so it is important to make sure his legacy lives on. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All of the members who helped to create the eternal flame-worked in Kennedys U.S. Senate campaigns as well as his Presidential campaign. Its been more than 60 years since JFKs assassination.. and there is continued fascination about what happened back in 1963. President-elect Trump promised during his reelection campaign that he would declassify all of the remaining government records surrounding the assassination if he returned to office. 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) A Springfield man has died after an officer-involved shooting on Lyman Street overnight Thursday. A call made to 911 sent officers to the area of the 0-100 block of Lyman Street at around 1 a.m. Upon arrival, officers located the caller, a 24-year-old man from Springfield, in an apartment buildings doorway allegedly with two firearms. Springfield baby shot in Hartford was in foster care Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Due to the circumstances, Hampden District Attorneys Office Spokesperson Elijah Ayers told 22News that during a short interaction with the man, two officers fired their service pistol, one officer striking and wounding him. The officers rendered medical aid and he was taken to Baystate Medical Center where he died from his injuries. On Friday, the District Attorneys office identified the man as Devin Lewis. However, they have not released the names of the officers involved. 22News filed a public records request for the 911 call, body camera footage, and police report but it has been denied at this time since it is still an active investigation. The investigation is being conducted by the Hampden District Attorneys Office and the Springfield Police Departments Detective Bureau. 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) Following recent accusations of sex abuse involving two St Helens High School teachers, local authorities are now investigating criminal conduct involving a middle school teacher in the area. Police received a report on Wednesday that a St. Helens Middle School teacher had been engaging in alleged offensive physical contact with students, police confirmed to KOIN 6 News on Thursday. Details of the crime were not immediately released. READ MORE: St. Helens High School principal under investigation for neglect amid teacher sex abuse case Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement St. Helens detectives immediately began conducting interviews and identifying possible victims, officials said. The investigation remains ongoing. Last week, news broke that two teachers one current and one former had been arrested due to sexual abuse allegations involving students at St. Helens High School. In the wake of the news, the school closed for several days, the board chair resigned, Superintendent Scot Stockwell was placed on leave and principal Katy Wagner was put on administrative leave. The St. Helens School District issued the following statement Thursday afternoon: We are appalled and deeply saddened by the crisis our school community is experiencing after arrests were made for child sexual abuse at St. Helens High School. We were also just informed of an active investigation by St. Helens Police Department of one of our middle school teachers for alleged criminal conduct. That teacher has been placed on administrative leave and we are cooperating with the St. Helens Police Department. Because this is an active investigation, we cannot comment further on this investigation at this time and must respect due process and privacy laws. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Families once again gathered at The Village Inn to watch the latest school board meeting on Thursday. Parents told KOIN 6 News they were shocked by the recent update, but also not surprised. To hear this is, like, its just like another slap in the face, considering the schools reopened. So thats how I feel about that, Amber Gilbreath said. I think were all very much like, How can this happen in our community or anywhere, and why did it happen? Stay with KOIN 6 News as this story develops. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. ST. LOUIS Authorities are asking for the publics help with locating a St. Louis homicide suspect wanted on several at-large warrants. The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department says John Phillips, 45, is accused in the murder of Mack Wagner, 62, on July 29, 2024. Wagner was fatally shot inside a gas station in St. Louis Dutchtown neighborhood. Whats behind the doors of this Festus, Missouri cave? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As of Friday, the St. Louis Circuit Attorneys Office has charged Phillips with at-large warrants for first-degree murder, armed criminal action, first-degree robbery, and unlawful possession of a firearm. Investigators say Phillips was previously arrested and charged in connection with a stealing case in 2023. If you have any information on Phillips whereabouts, police urge you not to approach him, but call CrimeStoppers at 866-371-TIPS (8477) or 911 immediately. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. ST. LOUIS The St. Louis Zoo has launched a new conservation initiative that will help support research, fieldwork, and outreach for wild polar bears and the people living amongst them. The St. Louis Zoo Wildcare Institutes Center for Polar Bear Conservation is the first new conservation center created by the zoo since 2019. Its designed to be an adaptable program dedicated to safeguarding the polar bear species that are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. They face significant threats, including the loss of sea ice habitat due to climate change. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement St. Louis-area accountant busted in $40K shopping spree while on vacation Polar bears are an incredibly important species. Theyre an iconic species that represent a lot of the arctic region, Julie Hartell-DeNardo, curator of carnivores at the St. Louis Zoo, said. And also, a lot of the change were seeing up in the arctic and the impacts of that on other species that are up there, as well as the people that live in the arctic regions. The Center for Polar Bear Conservation is now one of 17 St. Louis Zoo Wildcard Institute centers dedicated to the conservation of animals and their habitats globally. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those impacts would be measured by the impact we have on our guests here and what they can do to help mitigate the concerns of climate change. Conservation scienceways to improve what we know about polar bearstheres a lot about what we dont know about them, Hartell-DeNardo said. Theyre actually relatively understudied as an overall population. And when it comes to population management, making sure that we mitigate any problems or challenges that theyre facing in the wild. We do best to do so with the resources we have available. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. When someone fired gunshots into a vehicle, killing a man, an infant and a toddler were in the backseat, St. Paul police said of the daytime homicide on Friday. The children werent injured, but investigators found the carseat that held the infant had two bullet holes in it that were extremely close to striking the child, said Sgt. Mike Ernster, a police spokesman. Officers responded to the Summit-University neighborhood about 1:30 p.m. on multiple 911 calls reporting shots fired and that a person had apparently been shot. They found a man who had multiple gunshot injuries to his upper body in the 600 block of Aurora Avenue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The victim was inside a parked vehicle with another man and the two small children when a small dark vehicle, possibly a sport-utility vehicle, drove by and someone fired shots, Ernster said. He didnt have information Friday night about how the people in the victims vehicle were related or connected to each other. Police are investigating the circumstances of the shooting, which Ernster said investigators dont believe was random. The suspect vehicle drove away, heading south on Dale Street. No one was under arrest as of Friday night. With it being a midday incident and so many people around, we know other people witnessed it, Ernster said. If they havent talked to police, investigators are asking them to call 651-266-5650. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fire Department medics brought the man into an ambulance, where he died of his injuries. Police said they will release his name after the Ramsey County Medical Examiners Office confirms it. The homicide was the 30th of the year in St. Paul, one more than this time last year. Related Articles ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA) The Tampa Bay Rays may be saying farewell to Pinellas County. Team President Brian Auld sees no path for a new ballpark in St. Petersburg. We need to establish that no, there is not (a deal). We cant make the terms of the last one work because we cant get the ballpark built in time for the 2028 season, Auld said. Auld also doesnt see a path forward to playing at Tropicana Field in time for the 2026 season because of the damage from Hurricane Milton. We are looking at a 2026 situation where the city is trying to have the stadium ready and we have to make alternative plans and all the cost that come with that. That is actually more problematic for us. Thats why weve been working on trying to get to a settlement, Auld said. Im very concerned that when you look at a building with already 10 years past its intended use of life and start looking at its interior, there could be issues that arent even related to the hurricane that we have to manage. The St. Petersburg City Council has decided not to approve over $23 million to repair Tropicana Field after Hurricane Milton destroyed the roof on the home of the Tampa Bay Rays. The council originally voted 4-3 to approve the repairs but later reversed course and decided not to approve them after hearing what Audl told reporters during the council meeting recess. Auld said he blames commissioners for the delayed vote, which he said makes the cost of a new stadium more expensive. Auld sent a letter to commissioners warning them the team would not pay for any overruns. The county does not want this deal to move forward. We cannot keep having people move down here, signing contracts, spending our money when its pretty clear that there is a negative vote in our favor at the county right now, said Auld. RELATED VIDEO: The city council previously approved the repairs before walking back the vote. The report above was on the initial decision The council also delayed a vote about issuing bonds, or borrowing money, to help pay for its portion of the new stadium. However, the city administrator said they are waiting for Aulds legal team to send a formal request to terminate the contract for a new ballpark. The goal for St. Pete city leaders was to have the Trop ready for the 2026 season. Mayor Kenneth Welch sent a statement after Thursdays decisions: While we are disappointed that we are pausing the repair of Tropicana Field and the bond issuance that would finance the citys contribution to a new stadium, we believe there remains a path forward. My administration is prepared to bring a modified plan back to City Council for their consideration. However, I want to make it clear that this plan will not include additional funds from the City. We maintain our position that the Historic Gas Plant District is an equitable economic driver that will benefit future generations. Ultimately, we remain committed to carrying out our contractual obligations and stand ready to work with our partners in the weeks ahead. The dome of Tropicana Field is seen torn open due to Hurricane Milton in St. Petersburg, Florida, on October 10, 2024. At least four people were confirmed killed as a result of two tornadoes triggered by Hurricane Milton on the east coast of the US state of Florida, local authorities said Thursday. (Photo by Miguel J. Rodriguez Carrillo / AFP) (Photo by MIGUEL J. RODRIGUEZ CARRILLO/AFP via Getty Images) Auld doesnt see the team leaving Tampa Bay even though it appears their future in St. Petersburg hangs in the balance. We want to stay in Tampa Bay. It has been our goal from day one. It continues to be our goal, Auld said. The Rays will play next season at Steinbrenner Field, the New York Yankees spring training facility in Tampa. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA) A man has died after being found with a gunshot wound in St. Petersburg, officers announced. St. Petersburg Police Department responded to a call around 1:11 a.m. regarding a person down by the street. 2 Florida deputies killed, 1 injured in major crash When officers arrived at 22 Northeast Jefferson Circle North, they found an adult man by the street suffering from a gunshot wound, according to SPPD. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The victim was taken to the hospital where he died. Detectives have someone in custody and questioning him about the shooting. The two men knew each other, according to SPPD. This is a developing story. Stay up to date on the latest from News Channel 8 on-air and on the go with the free WFLA News Channel 8 mobile app. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. A Chinese company is challenging dominance of Elon Musk's Starlink in the Latin American region. Shanghai-based SpaceSail has inked a deal with Brazil to provide satellite internet in the region. The firm signed an MoU with Brazils state-owned telecoms company Telecomunicacoes Brasileiras (Telebras) during the recent visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping. Initially, the plan is to study the demand for satellite internet areas where fiber optic infrastructure doesnt work. SpaceSail to bring satellite-based internet access SpaceSail plans to bring satellite-based internet access to areas with limited connectivity by deploying its Qianfan, or Thousand Sails, constellation, a low-Earth orbit satellite network currently under construction that would support Brazils national digital inclusion policies, reported SCMP. Brazilian officials have reportedly been discussing satellite internet possibility with SpaceSail since August. SpaceSail's CEO had also met Brazilian Vice President Geraldo Alckmin. In October, officials from the Brazilian Communications Ministry SpaceSail's factory in China. The Shanghai-based firm is expected to kick start satellite internet in Brazil in two years. Elon Musk's open public dispute with Brazilian Supreme Court It came after Elon Musk has been in an open public dispute with Brazilian Supreme Court, which banned the X platform for a month in August. The court maintained that the social media platform failed to refused to comply with its orders. Starlink was caught in the crossfire, as its bank accounts were frozen to ensure the payment of fines levied against X. Starlink has rapidly grown to become Brazils top satellite internet provider, gobbling up 47 percent of the market. It provides connectivity to roughly 224,000 customers, mostly in remote parts of the country. Starlink is essential to farmers, companies from various sectors, and indigenous communities, according to The Brazilian Report. SpaceSail launched 36 satellites into low-Earth orbit SpaceSail, which has launched 36 satellites into low-Earth orbit, is expected to have over 600 satellites in orbit by late 2025. The company's plan is to launch a network of nearly 14,000 satellites for low-latency, high-speed, and ultra-reliable satellite internet services globally. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Currently, SpaceSail is in negotiations with more than 30 countries and is promoting commercial applications for its Qianfan constellation. Qianfan is one of two Chinese megaconstellations aimed at challenging Starlinks dominance. The other, Guowang, also known as SatNet, is being developed by China Satellite Network Group near Beijing and expected to comprise around 13,000 satellites. Construction on Guowang is set to begin soon, according to SCMP. https://twitter.com/mincomunicacoes/status/1859024586857414848 The company will start its satellite internet service in 2025. It will facilitate fields such as transportation, new energy, smart cities, smart agriculture, emergency disaster relief, and low-altitude economy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shanghai Spacesail Technologies Co., Ltd. has begun business negotiations with dozens of countries to promote the global commercial application and services of its constellation. Currently, China has 1,059 satellites in orbit, 492 of which are commercial satellites. By the end of June this year, 546 commercial space enterprises were registered and effectively operating in China. Brazil's deal with SpaceSail is likely aimed at warning Elon Musk and Starlink, which is the world's first and largest satellite constellation using a low Earth orbit to deliver broadband internet capable of supporting streaming, online gaming, video calls and more. So. You're in charge of cooking the turkey for Thanksgiving dinner. It can feel like a lot of pressure for perfection when it comes to seasoning, preparing and roasting the turkey, knowing that it will be the star of the meal. For first-time turkey cookers and tenured Thanksgiving chefs alike, there's good news: Butterball is here to help. The company's Turkey Talk-Line is open every November and December to give advice and answer turkey-related questions. You can call or text Butterball's turkey experts for individualized help. The company also offers how-to information on its website. A homemade turkey Thanksgiving dinner with mashed potatoes, stuffing and corn. Don't get asked to bring plates and napkins next year. Here's information on the hotline and some answers to make your turkey the most delicious. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Talking turkey: 7 methods for serving your very best bird this year What is the Butterball hotline? The Butterball hotline has been helping holiday chefs prepare their turkeys for more than four decades. Since 1981, the hotline has grown in its operations and popularity, becoming a staple for the holiday season. Today, the Turkey Talk-Line assists more than 100,000 chefs across the United States and Canada, according to Butterball. The line takes 10,000 calls on Thanksgiving Day alone. What is the Butterball turkey hotline number? To get in touch with a turkey expert, call 1-800-BUTTERBALL or text 844-877-3456. For questions on food safety, you can also ask an expert at the United States Department of Agriculture. The USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) is open on weekdays and on Thanksgiving Day to help. How long should I thaw a turkey? The amount of time it takes to thaw a frozen turkey depends on its size. For every four or five pounds, it will take 24 hours to thaw in the refrigerator, according to the USDA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For example, if your bird is 10 pounds, you should put the frozen turkey in the fridge at least 48 hours in advance. A completely thawed turkey can sit in the fridge for one or two days. A quicker method to thaw the turkey is by submerging the bird, still in its original wrapper in cold water. This way requires 30 minutes of thawing for every pound of turkey, according to Butterball. The water needs to be changed out every half hour and the bird should be cooked immediately after thawing. Avoid leaving the turkey sitting on the counter or in the basement to thaw. The USDA warns it is unsafe to leave any frozen package of meat or poultry for more than two hours at room temperature. Thanksgiving recipes: A feast of flavors for your holiday gathering How long should I brine a turkey? There are a lot of different ways to flavor your turkey before it goes into the oven or fryer. Using a wet brine is a more popular way to prepare the turkey. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There's no universal way to brine a turkey; different recipes mandate soaking the turkey for different amounts of time. It can take as long as 24 hours. Though, the turkey should be completely thawed before the brine. Prepare your prep time accordingly. How much does a turkey cost? Despite rising grocery prices, a turkey will cost you less this year. A University of Tennessee Extension study found that a frozen turkey will cost about $5 less this year than last year's price tag. A 16-pound bird last year would have cost about $30, but this year, the turkey should run you about $25. How many people does a turkey feed? Ann Berry, leader of the Thanksgiving price research and professor in the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences with the University of Tennessee Extension, recommends using Guest-imator to determine how much food to cook. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This online resource helps home chefs understand portion sizes for their guests. You can customize the proteins, sides and desserts for your holiday crowd. Guest-imator will tell you how many pounds of turkey you should buy. This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: When to start thawing a frozen turkey? How to speed it up? Who to call Nov. 21The State Ethics Commission announced Wednesday it is investigating Western New Mexico University following the state auditor's findings that the institution's president and members of its governing board wastefully spent tens of thousands of dollars over five years. The commission's probe will center around WNMU President Joseph Shepard and members of the Board of Regents, who racked up more than $363,000 for 402 instances of what the auditor described as "extravagant" travel and 91 purchases related to "high-end custom furnishings" for the president's official residence. The university, located in Silver City, also provided expense accounts and purchasing cards to someone not a WNMU employee, the auditor and the university both said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The noncompliant spending and actions occurred between July 1, 2018, and June 30, 2023, according to the auditor's office letter and news release. Now that the State Ethics Commission has received information from the auditor's office, it will treat the information as an informal complaint, which could result in a civil lawsuit in state court or a referral to other enforcement agencies for their review, commission spokesperson Amelia Bierle wrote to in a letter on Wednesday to State Auditor John Maestas. Not all informal complaints result in those two outcomes, she said, and whether to do so is determined based on the "statutory limits of the Commission's authority and the size and resources of the Commission's staff," Bierle's letter said. The commission's investigation, with no apparent deadline, could involve public records requests or contacting witnesses who may have information, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bierle concluded her letter by telling Maestas that the commission "(takes) all allegations seriously and can assure you that we are doing what is within the agency's authority and ability to remedy violations of New Mexico's ethics laws." Reached by phone on Thursday, Bierle said she could not comment on the alleged violations, citing nondisclosure provisions of the State Ethics Commission Act. She could not even disclose whether officials in her office have begun working on the informal complaint. The commission's probe is the latest development in the WNMU controversy. Maestas' earlier "letter of concern" to Board of Regents President Mary Hotvedt copied the commission, but the auditor was careful in an interview with the Journal this week not to explicitly say the commission was going to pick up the investigation. Hotvedt on Tuesday issued a prepared statement thanking the auditor's office for its work and noted that a special audit started by the university is ongoing. Mario Sanchez, WNMU assistant vice president of marketing and communications, told the Journal on Thursday that the university stands by the board president's statement even in light of the ethics commission's announcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The State Ethics Commission inquiry and the special audit are not the only avenues for investigation into WNMU's spending. The New Mexico Higher Education Department is also conducting independent audit of WNMU. Jodi McGinnis-Porter, a spokesperson for Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, wrote in an email to the Journal on Thursday that the Governor's Office finds the state auditor's findings "deeply concerning" and will work with HED to address these issues with the Board of Regents. Shepard, who has served as WNMU president since 2011, came under scrutiny for his spending late last year when the news organization Searchlight New Mexico reviewed the university's financial records. The expenses included trips abroad to court international students and lavish furnishings for the president's residence, including Indian dhurrie rugs and antique Tibetan chests. He conceded in the interview with Searchlight that the university never conducted a cost-benefit analysis to review such spending, but it did so after the allegations came to light. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) Most school districts in Nevada saw an increase in the 2023-2024 year compared to the previous year in the number of students earning high school diplomas, however, that wasnt the case in Clark County, according to data released by the Nevada Department of Education. The data on graduation rates was made available to the public on Thursday. The overall graduation rate for the Clark County School District was 81.5%, meaning nearly 18% of students didnt graduate on time. Thank you to our educators who remain committed to ensuring that our students are successful and prepared for life beyond graduation, CCSD Interim Superintendent Dr. Brenda Larsen-Mitchell said in a news release. Most school districts in Nevada saw an increase in the 2023-2024 year compared to the previous year in the number of students earning high school diplomas, however, that wasnt the case in Clark County, according to data released by the Nevada Department of Education. (KLAS) Larsen-Mitchell noted increases made among students who are American Indian/Alaska Native, Hispanic/Latino, and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander. However, the overall graduation rate at CCSD was lower than before the pandemic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were still seeing its effects, so were not going to change it overnight. But, we do, we do need to accelerate, Jhone Ebert, state superintendent of public instruction said. The it Ebert was referring to is pandemic-related student learning loss. Ebert said time and state funding are altering the trajectory. Do we think that the pandemic is over? Are we back to pre-pandemic graduation rates? No. We were at 84% prior to the pandemic, Ebert said. The new statewide graduation rate in 2024 was 81.6%. Some CCSD high schools had graduation rates far below that. NDE data on the graduation rate for the 2023-2024 school year showed Chaparral High Schools was 77%; Cheyenne High Schools was 78%; and Valley High Schools was 82%. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CCSD did not respond to an 8 News Now email on Thursday requesting an interview to discuss the data. Last month, Sierra Vista High School Principal Jessica Lovell spoke before the board of trustees on how she turned the school around. Sierra Vista had a 94% graduation rate in 2024, according to state data. It was very difficult coming back from COVID to get families involved, and so we worked really, really hard on that over the past four years, Lovell said on Oct. 10. In its news release, CCSD highlighted the following four high schools for having a graduating class of 100% in 2024: Burk Horizon Southwest CSN East High School CSN West High School Northwest Career and Technical Academy Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nye County had a 6.1% increase in its graduation rate compared to last year, which was the biggest increase in the state. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. State representative Marion L. Munley, former Chief Justice Supreme Court of Pennsylvania Michael J. Eagan or even President Joe Biden may be next in line for a big blue historical marker as the program marks its return after a two-year absence. Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission announced the return and revitalization of its historical marker program, on hold for the past two years. The commission, which works to select people, places, events and more to be commemorated with the iconic royal blue signs with gold letters seen across the Commonwealth, described the program as a vital tool for preserving and sharing the Commonwealths rich heritage with millions of Pennsylvanians and visitors across the Commonwealth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lackawanna county currently boasts 34 markers, including one commemorating the first electric trolley. * * With the Lackawanna County Courthouse as a backdrop, a historical marker for the 1902 Anthracite Coal Strike adorns the Adams Avenue side of the square. (CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO) * SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER A state historical marker is seen in Kingston near the entrance of Kirby Park Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) * Mary Ann Savakinus * Mary Ann Savakinus Show Caption 1 of 5 Expand Mary Ann Savakinus, the executive director of the Lackawanna Historical Society served on the marker application review panel in the 1990s, and used to have a sticker on her car, announcing: I break for historical markers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theyre doing their job, theyre telling the stories, Savakinus said. In addition to reviewing others applications, she saw several of her marker applications accepted, including the marker that led to her meeting her future husband, filmmaker Bob Savakinus. She called her husband the Rocky Glen marker guru, explaining that his first documentary was about the former Moosic amusement park. He was trying to save Rocky Glen, she said. Thats how we met, he came here and was trying to do research. Her one failure was when commission passed on both of her attempts to commemorate Egan, though he did receive a distinguished citizens marker in Scrantons Courthouse Square by the county. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When we had that placed, we gave up on going to the marker nominations, she said, adding, maybe well revisit him again in the future. There are others she thinks could stand to be nominated in the new round of calls, including the late state Rep. Marion L. Munley, the first woman to represent Lackawanna County in the General Assembly and President Biden. Though nominees should be dead for five years before receiving a nomination, presidents need not. Additionally, Savakinus highlighted a previous application she and Glynis Johns of the Black Scranton Project worked on together. Originally, Johns asked for help submitting a nomination for George Brown, a black businessman in Scranton in the early 1900s. But Savakinus felt his wife was, perhaps, a bit more inspiring of the honor. Louise Brown, the daughter of an area pastor, took over her husbands draying business after his death in 1923. Savakinus said this was in alignment with the premise that there should be proof that nominees set precedent, which a woman leading a truck business in the 30s, 40s, would do, Savakinus said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Savakinus also suggested someone might consider nominating where one of the oldest coal breakers stood. Mary Walsh, the assistant director of the Luzerne County Historical Society, said her group has two markers waiting to be erected. One is for Frances Dorrance, the first executive director of the Luzerne County Historical Society who, through her efforts, enacted the first Native American archaeological dig in Pennsylvania. The second is for Ham Fisher, a reporter for the Wilkes-Barre Record who saw national acclaim for his comic strip, Joe Palooka. The society typically tries to apply for markers, and may do so again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We always talk about it, she said. We might, we might not. It depends on if we have time or not.Walsh isnt sure who might be deserving of a marker. Now Im going to think about it, she said. To enhance the marker nomination process, the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission has added a more streamlined application, an improved evaluation process, a pre-application process to determine the viability of a nomination, and a YouTube video series featuring instructions on how to apply. In addition, the previously prohibitive expenses ranging in the thousands, to fund the markers manufacture once a nomination is approved, are no longer required. We are actually handling the cost of the marker in its entirety, said Jay Losiewicz, communications director for the commission. Anyone can submit an application and be considered for inclusion alongside the over 2,500 roadside and highway markers already standing across the state. Final applications for the first round of new markers are due April 1, 2025, and the first of the new markers will be cast and installed in 2026. NORTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. (WPRI) The second phase of an affordable housing development in North Kingstown officially broke ground Friday as part of a statewide effort to address the ongoing housing crisis. Community leaders, including U.S. Sen. Jack Reed, celebrated the start of Phase II of the Reynolds Farm Project, which will add 40 new units for residents 55 years and older. We have a crisis in affordable housing, but the critical thing is not just to recognize it, but to fix it, Reed said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reed noted that the majority of the project is funded by federal money, including $1.3 million from the Housing Trust Fund. He emphasized that more than a quarter of the units are reserved for individuals with the lowest income, those most at risk of homelessness. What weve found, unfortunately, is, that homelessness is growing overall throughout the entire population, but its really growing for seniors, Reed added. Thats why this is a very important investment. Its time to listen: Protesters demand action on homelessness as pallet shelters sit empty The Valley Affordable Housing Corporation and the R.I. Department of Housing were also recognized for their efforts in bringing the project to fruition after years of planning to meet the states growing need for housing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a significant moment for the state, not just because were building homes, but because were building the right kind of homeshomes that are affordable, accessible, thoughtfully designed, said Daniel Connors, the states interim housing secretary. NEW: McKee taps Deborah Goddard as new housing secretary Eleven units will be reserved for those earning at or below 30% of the area median income. Today our goal goes beyond bricks and mortar. We are committed to fostering vibrant, healthy communities, Valley Board President Paul Gagne said. Todays groundbreaking reflects this mission in action ensuring seniors in our state have access to stable and supportive homes where they can thrive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The project is expected to be completed by 2026. Rendering for Phase II of Reynolds Farm Senior Housing in North Kingstown Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) It is often said that art is a form of expression. Like life, wen it comes together, it can be a perfect picture. However, art can also be frustrating, especially when someone is trying to achieve exactly what they are looking for. There are so many kids and so many families, said Amiee Sadler, executive director of Miriams Promise. We all have the option to make those families complete, so its hard not to be helpful. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pedal taverns can operate during rush hour, must report route deviations to NDOT Sadler is with the organization Miriams Promise, a place that helps families through pregnancy, parenting and adoption. While they show the positive and beautiful side of extending a family, Sadler said theyre also aware of a problem thats far out of their control. Weve had families that come in who have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars for nothing, Sadler said. The problem has even reached the attention of Tennessees leaders. The adoption process is not always easy and one of the most significant barriers can be the cost, said Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti in a video message shared this week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Skrmetti and The Adoption Project have partnered together to raise awareness of the risks posed by illegal and unethical adoption facilitators. Adoption facilitators are not licensed and arent regulated. The scam often works like this: a facilitator will match expectant birth parents with adoptive parents in exchange for large, non-refundable fees that are meant to be paid in advance. The new law strengthens the ability to enforce existing prohibitions against unethical entities that are operating illegally in two ways, Skrmetti added. Last year, the state general assembly passed a bill to strengthen the enforcement of existing prohibitions, in two ways: Created an adoption facilitation claim that allows adoptive parents to bring a civil action against a facilitator Added violations against advertising, providing illegal payments, or providing adoption services using false, deceptive, or misleading tactics to the Consumer Protection Act Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ground broken on Nolensville Town Square development On Thursday, Governor Bill Lee launched a new program to reduce the cost of private adoptions. The grant will also be used to help the Department of Childrens Services (DCS) recruit more foster families. The move from Governor Lee comes at a point where DCS said that more than 8,000 youth are currently in their custody. However, as of publication, there are only about 5,000 approved foster homes across the state. The sheer number of children in need versus families who want to take them in is more equal than I think people realize, Sadler said. The number of families who are approved to is where we start to have issues. There are resources on how to find a licensed adoption agency for prospective adoptive families and expectant birth parents considering adoption. The Tennessee Department of Childrens Services has a list of licensed child-placing agencies in Tennessee. To file a complaint with the Tennessee Attorney General Division of Consumer Affairs, visit their Consumer Affairs page. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. (WHTM) In the past, Pennsylvania communities have tried to make their own firearm laws. Now, in a unanimous decision, the State Supreme Court says that cant happen. The ruling stems from a lawsuit that aimed to tighten gun laws. The plaintiffs argued that cities like Philadelphia which experience higher rates of gun violence should be able to create their own rules. Close Thanks for signing up! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now abc27 Evening Newsletter As long as the current laws remain unchanged by the general assembly, everybody has to march to the tune of the same song so to speak. Even though cities have tried state law aligns with the supreme courts decision communities are not allowed to create their own gun laws. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27. MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WIAT) Today, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency welcomed 21 new state troopers after a 10-week training. For these new graduates, joining ALEA means a lot more than just getting a new badge. Its a feeling that you cant describe to see your son following in your footsteps, said Ross Greenwood, father of one graduate. Greenwood has served in law enforcement for 31 years. Now, he is pinning a state trooper badge on his own son, Payton Greenwood. Im just here to make them proud, said Greenwood, who was president of his class. Make the ones who went before us proud- my dad proud, my family proud, the people of Alabama proud. Thats really what its all about in my eyes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even though serving in law enforcement can be dangerous, Greenwood said he is ready to help the state. Whether we gotta back up local officers or respond to calls on our own, were coming, and were well prepared, he explained. Riding around with him in his car and seeing the things he did kind of inspired me at an early age, said Caleb Toney. For Toney, todays ceremony also meant carrying on his fathers legacy. Cold and breezy weather ahead. Frost possible Friday and Saturday mornings But as I got older, I kind of just took it upon myself to kind of do my own background research and see if its really what I wanted to do. And pretty much my whole life, Ive always had a heart to want to help people, Toney said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As Toney explained, its that heart that gives him the confidence to serve his community. I gotta give honor to God. Thats who I pray to. Thats who keeps me safe when I leave the house. I tell myself everyday before I leave the house, whatever I gotta do to make it back home, he said. But I know first things first, as long as I give him thanks and pray to him first, I know Ill be okay. Lt. Jeremy Burkett, director of ALEAs Administrative Bureau, said recruiting more state troopers makes for stronger communities in Alabama. The more people that we have in our organization, the more people we have to go. Not only to execute our core functions, or our core missions, but also to augment and help the locals. And they need assistance, said Burkett. And whenever they call, were gonna come. When recruiting new state troopers, Lt. Burkett said they look for people who have a heart to go out and serve in their community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS 42. Florida is one of the most popular destinations for people moving from one US state to another. New census data shows that many more people moved into Florida than left between 2022 and 2023. The number of people leaving is up over issues such as rising costs and natural disasters. When Derek Edwards was living in Wisconsin and Colorado, he often traveled to the Caribbean via Florida. He liked his layovers so much that he decided to move to Miami when he was 28. Edwards, a teacher, said the weather has been worth it even if rent and groceries are more expensive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It's just beautiful," he told Business Insider earlier this year. "Just in case I don't stay in Florida forever, I'm going to go to the beach as much as I can." Drawn by the balmy climate, numerous outdoor activities, and more, hundreds of thousands of movers like Edwards choose Florida every year. Census data released on October 17 indicates that between 2022 and 2023, nearly 637,000 people moved to Florida from another state, while nearly 511,000 left the Sunshine State for somewhere else in the US. Those estimates come from the Census Bureau's release on state-to-state migration flows based on results from the 2023 American Community Survey. The annual survey asks, among many demographic and economic topics, whether respondents moved in the past year and, if so, which state they used to live in. The net inflow during this period, however, was not as dramatic as in the previous year. From 2021 to 2022, nearly 739,000 people moved to Florida, while almost 490,000 left for another state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Florida leavers have told BI in interviews that they are motivated by various factors, including increasing insurance costs, a rising cost of living overall, and the increasing intensity of natural disasters. Read on for an analysis of where movers to Florida came from, based on census estimates and where Sunshine State leavers headed for greener pastures. New Yorkers continue flocking to Florida New Yorkers still move to Florida in droves. The New York-to-Florida route taken by over 71,000 people was the second-most-popular route for all movers within the US between 2022 and 2023 behind only California to Texas. Still, it's a big drop from the 91,000 movers from New York to Florida between 2021 and 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many New Yorkers flee south in search of a cheaper life and better weather, though SmartAsset's analysis of IRS tax data found those who made the move in 2023 didn't save as much as those in previous years. Most still do save money: Someone making $100,000 in New York could save $37,166 yearly in Miami in 2023, compared with the $51,273 they might have saved in 2019, SmartAsset found. This is partly due to Florida's rising utilities and housing costs. Nearly 44,500 people moved from Georgia to Florida between 2022 and 2023 even though about 55,000 people moved from Florida to Georgia, likely driven by Georgia's relatively lower cost of living. Over 39,000 left California for Florida in that same period. Some people who moved out of the Golden State told BI their decisions were due to rising costs and shifting politics. Terry Gilliam, who moved from California to Florida over weather and political concerns, has started Facebook groups helping others make similar moves, which have attracted almost 300,000 members in total. People who move out of Florida tend to stay in the South Like in last year's release, Georgia was the most-popular state for those leaving Florida. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some former Florida residents who moved to Georgia have said they wanted a similar climate but needed to leave as the Sunshine State became more expensive and commercialized. Others cited skyrocketing home-insurance costs. About 50,500 Floridians moved to Texas between 2022 and 2023, well above the 41,700 in the prior period. Some who moved said rents were cheaper in Texas than in Florida and life was quieter. Texas is a popular place to move to for Americans leaving many states: It experienced a big net positive inflow between 2022 and 2023, with almost 612,000 moving in, while about 478,600 left. Many who move from Florida to Texas avoid the largest cities and buy property in the more-affordable suburbs. Just under 40,000 people relocated from Florida to North Carolina. Some have told BI that they moved to North Carolina for the state's natural beauty and employment opportunities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other popular routes take Floridians to New York, Virginia, and Tennessee, while Alabama is also in the top 10. John and Natalia lived in South Florida for most of their lives, but the rising costs of homeowner's insurance forced them to move elsewhere. The couple, who declined to share their last names with BI for privacy reasons, said they paid $6,000 for insurance one year and $12,000 the next. They moved to Dell Prairie, Wisconsin, and saw their monthly expenses come down immediately. "We didn't want to leave Florida," John told BI in 2023. "We just didn't see a future there for our kids. And if there was a future, it was a future of hardship." Read the original article on Business Insider British Gas is warning customers to stockpile food and water in the event of heavy snow, as Storm Bert barrels towards the UK this weekend. The storm is set to bring a multi-hazard event to the UK, including heavy snowfall, strong winds and potential flooding. Amber and yellow alerts are in place for swathes of the country from Saturday morning into Sunday, with warnings that rural communities in Scotland could be cut off. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In advice sent out to customers, British Gas has advised that people stockpile three days worth of goods if heavy snow disrupts travel and power. The company warned: Its a good habit to have at least three days worth of food and essentials stored in an easy-to-reach part of your home. Thats things like medicines, drinking water, non-perishable food and snacks and extra blankets. The current cold spell is set to end as #StormBert arrives into Saturday with temperatures returning to above average for the time of year as we go through the weekend pic.twitter.com/OusQYIHAY1 Met Office (@metoffice) November 22, 2024 British Gas added: You should also keep a torch, batteries and a phone charger close by too. It advised drivers to take food, water and blankets on any long car journey in case of becoming stranded. Police in Scotland have warned against road travel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Snow could reach up to 40cm on the highest peaks on Saturday as overnight temperatures drop as low as -6C in parts of Scotland, where an amber warning for snow and ice is in place. Parts of Dartmoor and South Wales could receive up to three months worth of rain over the weekend, with a risk of flooding. Winds could reach 70mph on some areas of the coast of Northern Ireland and western Scotland, bringing strong waves. Rough seas near the Tynemouth Pier lighthouse in the North East - OWEN HUMPHREYS/PA Oli Claydon, a Met Office spokesman, said Storm Bert was a multi-hazard event, with strong winds, some high snowfall accumulation, heavy rain, all in various parts of the UK. Because of the different nature of the weather across the UK, people really need to have an idea of what the forecast is for them specifically. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Further south its wind and rain, further north its snow then rain and wind. So it really depends on where you are in the UK. Keep on top of the forecast for your area, and prepare as necessary. Obviously, with snow and ice there could be some pretty tricky conditions, especially in the morning [on Saturday], so if you are going to leave the house pay attention to whats going on in your area with the local authorities. Dozens of schools in Scotland closed ahead of the storm, where a Met Office amber warning comes into force from 7am for parts of the Highlands, Aberdeenshire, Perth and Kinross and Angus. Repairs on a property in Ribblehead - DANNY LAWSON/PA Yellow wind, rain and snow warnings cover much of the rest of the UK. Wind warnings cover Scotland from 5am until 7pm on Saturday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rain and snow warnings cover northern England from 4am to 9am and Northern Ireland from midnight on Friday until 11am on Saturday. Rain warnings cover much of Wales from 6am on Saturday until 6am on Sunday, and South West England from 6am on Saturday until 11.45pm. A wind warning also covers coastal areas of southern England from 3pm until 9pm on Saturday. The storm forced the cancellation of Christmas events across the country, including light ceremonies in Essex and Perth. The storm is not expected to clear until Monday, when there will be still be showers and strong winds that will bring a chill, despite average temperatures, although conditions will be drier. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) Storehouse New Mexico provides free groceries to thousands of New Mexicans each year. They are currently looking for public support during the holiday months to help keep up with demand and continue feeding New Mexicans. Story continues below Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Storehouse has a food pantry located in Downtown Albuquerque on Broadway, just west of Central. They offer canned goods, shelf stable foods, meats, dairy products, fresh fruits and vegetables. Community members can get involved by donating, volunteering or hosting their own food drive. Storehouse has plenty of opportunities to any volunteers wishing to get involved. The Storehouse pantry is open Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 9 a.m. noon. For more information and for donation/volunteer opportunities, click here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. UPDATE: At 10 p.m. on Friday, NV Energy implemented a Public Safety Outage Management (PSOM) on Mt. Charleston, affecting 57 customers on Angel Peak. The PSOM may last until noon on Sunday, pending weather conditions. The time frame was extended due to updated weather forecasts, NV Energy stated late Friday night. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) NV Energy is advising some Mt. Charleston residents to be prepared for power outages Friday night and into Saturday as a storm approaches. Planned outages based on weather forecasts and wildfire risks are expected to affect the Kyle Canyon and Angel Peak areas. The outages could last as long as 16 hours, beginning at 10 p.m. Friday and continuing until 2 p.m. on Saturday, officials said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This timeframe includes the duration of the weather event and the time it will take NV Energy crews to inspect lines and other equipment for damage, vegetation or debris in order to safely restore power, according to an NV Energy news release. Residents and businesses are advised to prepare a safety plan, and NV Energy has tips at www.nvenergy/psom. Planned outages called Public Safety Outage Management (PSOM) events by NV Energy allow the power company to proactively de-energize lines for customers in high-risk zones to help protect the community and environment from wildfires. NV Energy said all impacted customers have been notified via phone, text and email messages. We continue to monitor the fire weather conditions and will provide regular updates to impacted customers regarding the status of the outage event, officials said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) The Storm Lake Fire Department has been awarded a Taylor Family Farms Foundation grant. The grant awarded the fire department with $15,000 that will assist in purchasing new radios for use by firefighter personnel, according to a press release. Iowa DNR recommends planting trees other than maple next spring The Taylor Family Farms Foundations goal is to positively impact peoples lives and/or enhance life in rural communities in southern Minnesota or Northwest Iowa. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Storm Lake Fire Department and the City of Storm Lake has expressed their appreciation for the grant. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports. The storm-weary West will not catch a break from the rounds of travel-disrupting rain, wind and mountain snow, AccuWeather forecasters say. Another stretch of busy weather will continue into early this week ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, this time reaching as far south as Los Angeles. The ongoing pattern across the Northwest and Northern California has produced rounds of drenching rainfall, mountain snow and intense coastal winds over the last week. Earlier last week, power outages in Washington alone rose to at least 600,000 customers due to intense winds across the region from a bomb cyclone. A bomb cyclone is a storm that strengthens so fast that the central atmospheric pressure plunges 0.71 of an inch (24 millibars) or more in 24 hours or less, often bringing damaging winds as the storm rapidly intensifies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The next storm began to impact the California coast Sunday and will eventually make its way inland and push snow across Nevada, Utah and parts of Colorado into Tuesday. Forecasters say that there will be a notable difference with this next round -- apart from the location along the West Coast being impacted. "Unlike the storms that have been bringing the flooding to Northern California last week, the atmospheric river, or stream of moisture into California, won't be as strong or as intense. The areas of low pressure spinning and coming in from the Pacific will be weak and won't steer a steady stream of the remaining moisture into any one place," highlighted AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dave Houk. However, because of the tremendous natural wall created by the Sierra Nevada, the tall mountain range will still squeeze out tremendous amounts of moisture in the form of heavy snow. Snow levels across the Sierra Nevada are projected to range from 5,000-6,500 feet. One to perhaps 2 feet of snow is forecast to fall on Donner Pass, California, along Interstate 80. The pass is about 7,000 feet above sea level and will be well within the bulk of the snow during the storm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, the heaviest snow will focus on the central and southern Sierra Nevada with this storm. Some of the central and southern Sierra Nevada will end up with whopping snowfall totals of several feet. The AccuWeather Local StormMax snowfall for this storm is 10 feet. Travel will be wintry over the passes, and roads could even close. As moisture plunges southward across California early this week, showers will creep toward the Central Coast and even Los Angeles. "Currently, it looks like Tuesday would be the best opportunity for rain in Los Angeles," noted Houk. GET THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While rain totals early this week as far south as Ventura and Los Angeles counties in California will not be notably high, any rain that reaches the Los Angeles International Airport will be welcome as the last time the site recorded measurable precipitation was on Nov. 2. Farther north across the state, rainfall totals will be a bit heftier in comparison but still not on the order of the prior rounds of rain observed over the last week. Want next-level safety, ad-free? Unlock advanced, hyperlocal severe weather alerts when you subscribe to Premium+ on the AccuWeather app. AccuWeather Alerts are prompted by our expert meteorologists who monitor and analyze dangerous weather risks 24/7 to keep you and your family safer. The Russian missile at the center of an unprecedented strike on the Ukrainian city of Dnipro earlier today has been identified by Russias President Vladimir Putin as an alleged new weapon, named Oreshnik. After the strike, the missile had been widely although not conclusively identified as the RS-26 Rubezh. Development work on this mysterious strategic weapon system was supposedly halted in 2018, although the Pentagon now states that whatever missile was used today in Dnipro was based on the RS-26, suggesting the design was revived at least to a degree, and has now been used in combat. You can read our initial report on the Dnipro missile strike here, as well as our analysis of Putins claims around the Oreshnik described as a medium-range or intermediate-range hypersonic missile here. Note: The missile shown at the top of this story is the RS-24 Yars intercontinental ballistic missile, a weapon on which the RS-26 is widely assessed to be based. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement First off, its worth recalling that the RS-26 is widely viewed as an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM), a class of weapon that has a range of somewhere between approximately 1,860 and 3,410 miles based on the ranges it achieved in tests. However, Russia has previously described it as an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), a type of weapon that can hit targets at more than around 3,410 miles. Ok, two reasons why I think Russia probably used a variant of the long-gestating RS-26 Rubezh IRBM: (1) Russia hinted that it resumed development of the RS-26 this summer and (2) that's what the Ukrainians predicated a day ago, down to the launch site. https://t.co/eUIPx7eqVt Dr. Jeffrey Lewis (@ArmsControlWonk) November 21, 2024 The reason for this discrepancy likely lies primarily in Russia having sought to remain within the limits of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, which outlawed ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges of 500 to 5,500 kilometers (310 and 3,410 miles). The INF collapsed in 2019. Some reports mentioned the RS-26 missile. Even if we believe them, RS-26 is not really an intercontinental missile. It was tested at the range of more than 5500 km, but it is in effect an intermediate-range missile, (think of it as SS-20 2.0): russianforces.org/blog/2017/07 2/ Pavel Podvig (@russianforces.org) 2024-11-21T10:11:00.678Z Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, it could explain why the Ukrainian military initially reported that the missile that struck Dnipro was an ICBM a claim that many Western officials subsequently denied, pointing instead to the RS-26 or an RS-26 derivative. Regardless, there is now a growing consensus that the missile used was a conventionally armed IRBM based on the RS-26. The launch site appears to have been Kapustin Yar, roughly 500 miles from the target. As for the RS-26, this is a solid-fueled, road-mobile missile that has been described in the past as a smaller derivative of the RS-24 Yars ICBM, although the exact relationship is unclear. Development of the RS-26 began around 2008 by the Moscow Institute of Thermal Technology. The missile is reportedly around 39 feet long and has a diameter of just under six feet. A road-mobile RS-24 Yars ICBM, from which the Russians reportedly developed the RS-26. Vitaly Kuzmin A first, unsuccessful test launch occurred at Plesetsk in September 2011. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a second test in May 2012, Russia demonstrated that the RS-26 could reach an intercontinental range, although it was widely assumed that this was only achieved with a light payload or no payload at all. Subsequent tests strongly indicated the missile couldnt fly beyond intermediate ranges with an actual warhead, which would have put it in contravention of the INF had it been fielded operationally prior to 2019. Amid this controversy, Russia had officially pulled the plug on the potentially treaty-busting RS-26 in 2018. In March of that year, only weeks after Russian President Vladimir Putin mentioned it in a provocative speech, Russia reportedly decided to shelve the development of the Rubezh, dropping it from the state armament plan for 2018 to 2027. Instead, the country would focus on fielding the nuclear-armed Avangard hypersonic boost-glide vehicle weapon. Previously, Putin had stated that the RS-26 would also serve as the primary launch vehicle for Avangard. A Russian Ministry of Defense video reportedly showing Avangard prototypes and a computer-generated depiction of its operational concept. The Avangard was included in the [state armament plan] programs final version as more essential to ensure the countrys defense capability, a Russian defense industry source said, according to state-run media outlet TASS. All the work on the Rubezh and the Barguzin [rail-mobile ICBM] was put on hold until the end of 2027. A decision on the works resumption will be made after the current armament program is fulfilled. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Without the RS-26, the Avangard has instead been fielded in a silo-based form loaded onto repurposed rocket boosters from old UR-100N UTTKh ICBMs. The hypersonic boost-glide vehicle may also become a payload option for the silo-launched RS-28 Sarmat ICBM, which has had a troubled development. There is clear evidence that a new RS-28 test launch earlier ended in disaster. A test launch of the RS-28 Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile. Russian Ministry of Defense screencap www.twz.com It was unclear exactly why Russia abandoned the RS-26, although it may simply have been a financial decision, especially with competition from a range of other advanced strategic capabilities the country is also pursuing. Cost concerns were certainly raised in the TASS reporting in 2018. It was initially planned to include both the Avangard and the [RS-26] Rubezh in the state armament plan, the anonymous defense industry source told TASS. It became clear later that funds would not suffice to finance both systems at a time. There may have been other issues, as well. After all, prior to being mentioned again in 2018, there had been scant official mention of the RS-26 at all for years. The Kremlin was supposed to demonstrate the system to arms control inspectors from the United States first in 2015 and then in 2016, but both of these inspections were missed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, in a 2021 report, the Pentagon stated that, despite the reports in the Russian press, work on the RS-26 and testing of associated equipment continued at least into 2018. With the demise of INF and the deepening tensions between Russia and NATO, it could be that Moscow has revisited the RS-26, perhaps in the form of the Oreshnik, although there is no evidence that either missile has so far been operationally deployed. Asked for his reflections on the Dnipro strike, and prior to the Oreshnik disclosure, Pavel Podvig, a senior researcher in the WMD Program at the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR), told TWZ that the missile used could have been an RS-26 employed on an experimental basis or perhaps some new type of missile in the same class. If that were the case, the new missile, Oreshnik or otherwise, would likely be very similar to the RS-26, according to Podvigs assessment. We don't know yet what this is and I leave it to the true OSINT experts to determine the novelty of the missile. But I'd be shocked if Russia managed to build an MIRVed MRBM without relying to at least 90% on an existing designs and cannibalizing RS-26 (or other missile) parts https://t.co/orh4r4h8e1 Fabian Hoffmann (@FRHoffmann1) November 21, 2024 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As to the likelihood of Russia having returned to developing IRBMs, more generally, Podvig says its entirely possible that Russia might have revived the RS-26 program. I wouldnt be surprised if there was some effort to create a missile that would be kind of similar to RS-26, or SS-20 and things like that. I would not be surprised if design bureaus started putting together a project of that kind, he added. There is also the possibility that, if a version of the RS-26 was used, this was simply a case of using up one of the non-operational or even prototype rounds in a combat mission, albeit now rebranded as Oreshnik. The combination of range to target (roughly 500 miles), the ability to evade Ukrainian air defenses, and the powerful signaling may simply have been too tempting for Russia. The RS-26 program was mothballed in 2018 russianforces.org/blog/2018/04 One cannot rule out that RS-26 was taken out of its "retirement" for a strike. This implies that Russia had a number of these missiles in storage for almost ten years. Not impossible, but rather unlikely. 3/ Pavel Podvig (@russianforces.org) 2024-11-21T10:11:00.679Z At the same time, using an IRBM of any kind for an operational strike will also provide Russia with very valuable information. After all, no ICBM or IRBM has ever been used in combat before. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the precise identity of the missile used remains a mystery for now, its also unclear what kind of payload it was carrying. When it was developed, the RS-26 was expected to carry either a single nuclear warhead or a nuclear multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle (MIRV) payload both options were tested in 2013. The Avangard was, for a while, also seen as an RS-26 payload. Clearly, the missile that targeted Dnipro was either conventionally armed or perhaps, unarmed. Videos of the strike show what appears to be six warheads hurtling toward the ground, consistent with MIRVs. The Ukrainian Air Force confirmed that Russia struck the Ukrainian city of Dnipro with a conventionally armed ICBM this morning, marking the first combat use of an ICBM in history. Footage from Dnipro showed glowing reentry vehicles hitting the ground around 5 AM local time. pic.twitter.com/PWTGajH9bT OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) November 21, 2024 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Podvig told us that an unarmed RS-26 (or similar IRBM) is not entirely impossible, but also raised the possibility of the missile being fitted with small explosive warheads. There is also the potential that the missile was carrying decoys or a combination of small conventional warheads and decoys. No big visible explosions indicate small warheads 6 groups of 6 projectiles means that you likely had 6 missiles with 6 large submunitions each While this can be ie 3 MIRVs in inert configuration and 3 heavy decoys I think the simpler explanation would be 6 heavy submunitions. krakek (@krakek1) November 21, 2024 A conventionally armed IRBM is an interesting proposition and its not clear if this would have been developed specifically for this strike, or for use in Ukraine more generally, or if it might reflect a broader interest in Russia to field conventional versions of its strategic missiles. Russia is not known to have looked at developing conventionally armed IRBMs/ICBMs, although, in the past, TWZ has looked at the potential arguments for doing just that albeit in the case of Israel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Amid a worsening crisis involving Iran, we examined the possibility of Israel launching an attack using a conventionally armed version of its Jericho IRBM best known as a launch vehicle for the Israeli nuclear deterrent. The same arguments could apply to Russia, which might want to make an extremely powerful show of force in the hope of signaling to the West that it should not become more deeply involved in the war in Ukraine. This is especially true for deterring the U.S. and its partners from allowing expanded targeting for its donated weapons inside of Russian borders. It's a signal. Whatever RS-26 true range or purpose, it's classified by Russia as a "strategic" system. Its use is meant to cross a threshold. And seems highly likely it is intended to mirror ATACMS use in Russia. Shashank Joshi (@shashj.bsky.social) 2024-11-21T09:27:05.796Z Tellingly, soon after the United States and other allies last week allowed Ukraine to launch long-range missiles into Russia, officials in Moscow warned that they might use a weapon never previously employed on Ukrainian territory. Using a conventionally armed IRBM may well be a response to that decision by the relevant Western powers. Not only is such a missile immune to Ukrainian air defenses but it also delivers a very robust message and one that will resonate across Europe. After all, this is a missile that can reach targets anywhere in the continent and which, on another day, could be topped with a nuclear warhead. If the missile was indeed filled with decoys and perhaps didnt even carry highly-destructive conventional warheads, that would very much point to signaling being the desired effect. On the other hand, a high-explosive warhead would be extremely destructive and might well be selected for a particularly important or heavily defended target. Should Russia want to target hardened or buried command centers and other key fortified sites in Ukraine, then it might call upon the same types of missiles again provided they are available in sufficient numbers. Even demonstrating such a capability is significant, since Ukraines air defenses mean that Russia could use such missiles to strike anywhere in the country with impunity. Again, if a conventional warhead can be used in this way, the implications of using a nuclear warhead become obvious. Russian war planners would have to weigh all this up against the possibility that Ukraine and NATO might misconstrue an incoming conventionally armed IRBM as a nuclear one. However, it should be recalled that all of the ballistic and cruise missiles launched against Ukraine so far by Russia also have the capability to carry nuclear payloads. As we suspected, it is now widely understood that Russia warned the U.S. of its intended strike by a conventionally armed strategic weapon prior to launch. Ultimately, we will need to wait for more evidence to determine the relationship between the RS-26 and the Oreshnik. It seems certain, however, that Russia has launched an unprecedented attack and one that does not have a historical parallel. Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) Teachers at Greater Albany Public Schools who have been on strike since last week held a direct action against the district Thursday afternoon amid canceled classes. On Thursday, the teachers union said they filed a complaint to the Oregon Department of Education, accusing the district of illegally engaging in pressuring parents to agree to Individualized Education Program plans that allegedly had less support for students. Students who have disabilities and need special education are required to complete IEPs each year, according to Disability Rights Oregon. St. Helens Middle School teacher under investigation Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement KOIN 6 News reached out to Greater Albany Public Schools for comment on the accusations surrounding IEP discussions. They have not responded on that issue yet. KOIN 6 also reached out to the Oregon Department of Education for comment. A spokesperson confirmed that the agency has received a complaint from a Greater Albany School District employee on this topic. Great Albany teachers strike amid ongoing contract negotiations. November 21, 2024 (KOIN). GAPS teachers assembled in strike lines across 21 schools early Thursday morning before gathering for a solidarity march with supporters in the community at Monteith Park in the early afternoon as part of a direct action. One demonstrator told KOIN 6 News she thinks students arent being taken care of and special education teachers are overworked. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They cannot adequately do their job with the amount of time that they have in a day. And its not their fault. Its just that they are only one person. And they have so many students on their caseload. I know that we just want what is fair and just and aligns with the law, which the district has not been following, said Samantha Stroop, an English teacher at Calapooia Middle School. In a video message sent to families, Superintendent Andy Gardner said the district presented two complete deal offers in the past few days, which have yet to be fully responded to. He said the district will continue to serve meals at their schools for students, despite classes not being in session during negotiations. He said the most significant areas of disagreement include class sizes and prep time. On Wednesday, the teachers union said a community member started a petition calling for the district school board to resign citing dysfunctional leadership which gathered 1,000 signatures in its first 24 hours. The teachers union said the direct action on Thursday afternoon culminated in educators, parents and community members marching together from Monteith Park to the district office where they dropped off 1,000 yellow pencils at the doorstep to represent the signatures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The district said that over the weekend they made significant movement toward an agreement with the teachers. However, the teachers union described mediation as prolonged and they lay the blame on the district. Armed suspect sought after NW Portland break-in Amid the negotiations, the district canceled classes this week, through Friday. The union acknowledged an agreement was made in the health and safety section of the contract but said that was the only movement in the mediation with the district in a few days. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Striking teachers in one of three North Shore communities have reached a tentative agreement with the city to return to the classroom after 15 days on the picket line. The Gloucester School Committee and the Union of Gloucester Educators have tentatively agreed on successor collective bargaining agreements for both the teachers and paraprofessional units, as well as a satisfactory return to work agreement, the union announced Friday afternoon in a Facebook post. We are pleased to announce that the strike is over and school will resume on Monday, Nov. 25, the union stated in the announcement. Further details about the scheduling of makeup days are forthcoming. The Massachusetts Teachers Association also provided a statement congratulating the Union of Gloucester Educators (UGE), commending their determination, in the face of out-of-touch political leadership. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement UGE mounted a righteous fight and earned the communitys support. The UGE not only fought for and secured better wages for paraprofessionals, but in doing so elevated for all to see the issue of poverty wages too often being paid to crucial educators in districts across the state. The Gloucester School Committee said they offered their last best offer to the union on Thursday. The agreement in Gloucester comes after Superintendent Ben Lummis warned that canceled days would be made up during February or April vacation. In all my years in public education I never imagined that I would see a situation like this that would impact our students in such a serious way, Lummis said. I am so sorry for our children. I am so sorry for our families. You all deserve so much better than this. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Teachers in Beverly and Marblehead have also been fighting for a new contract. Agreements havent been reached in those communities. In a statement, Beverly School Committee Chair Rachael Abell congratulated the Gloucester teachers. The Beverly School Committee would like to congratulate our colleagues in the Gloucester Public Schools on finalizing new contracts this afternoon for their teachers and paraprofessionals, Abell said. In a release, Abell shared a recent proposal that was sent to the BTA, which includes 6 weeks of paid parental leave and family sick leave. The offer also includes a $3000 raise to tenured paraprofessionals for their dedication to our children over many school years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Abell also called on the Beverly Teachers Association to back off of its unyielding financial demands. The offer we have put in front of the BTA puts us in a position to be next up for finalizing a deal if the union is willing to back off of its unyielding financial demands. In year four of our proposed contract, the highest-earning educator would make $124,281 in base wages and the highest-earning paraprofessional would make $42.77 per hour. We are urging the BTA to agree to our latest proposal so we can end this strike today and get our students back to school, Abell said. Beverly Superintendent Sue Charochak has warned of making up classes on vacation, as well as weekends, as the strike drags on. Gloucester and Beverly educators first announced their work stoppage on Thursday, Nov. 7. In Marblehead, teachers voted to strike on Friday, Nov. 8. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New court orders came down Thursday from an Essex County superior judge on the fines the teachers unions have faced over the last week, which increased by $10,000 a day. The judge suspended the fines for Friday to allow negotiations to continue without that burden, but the judge warned if no deal is reached by the end of the weekend, the fines would be back in place on Monday. Marblehead School Committee has also announced that they have yet to reach an agreement on negotiations following their 13th day of mediation. Teacher strikes are illegal in Massachusetts. BREAKING: Agreement reached to end teacher strike in Gloucester according to the School Committee. Watch @boston25 for updates on when schools will finally reopen after they closed for the last 2 weeks Litsa Pappas (@LitsaPappas) November 22, 2024 This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW CHICAGO Members of the Jewish community and their supporters gathered in solidarity on Thursday evening with two DePaul University students who were attacked in an incident police are investigating as a hate crime. Students Max Long and Michael Kaminsky, along with members of The Lawfare Project, the legal firm representing them, called on the school to create a safe space for students to protest and have open dialogue. Those gathered said DePaul hasnt done enough to protect its Jewish students. The university was well aware of the multiple threats made against Max and Michael, just as it was aware of the campus climate of hate targeting its Jewish students, but the university did nothing, the legal firms founder, Brooke Goldstein, told those gathered in front of the campus student center. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Long suffered a concussion on the afternoon of November 6 when he said he was approached by a man in a white T-shirt and ski mask who shook his hand and conversed for a few minutes. While they were speaking, Long said another man dressed in all black attacked him from behind, hitting over the head. The two attackers continued punching and kicking Long before turning their attention to Kaminsky, who suffered a broken wrist in the attack. Jewish student targeted in hate crime attack on DePauls Lincoln Park campus speaks out In front a DePaul public safety officer, Max and I were blindsided and ambushed by two individuals wearing ski masks, Kaminsky said. While I jumped in to try to fend off the attackers, the public safety officer who is employed by the university decided not to act. The victims say a pro-Palestinian counter protest group was across the street from them at the time of the attack. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When I did start to come back to consciousness and get up and understand what just happened, I stood up and I had students coming up to me telling me that I got what I deserve, Long told WGN. We need to now regain the trust and know that we can go to campus and feel safe and sit in class and not have to look over our shoulders. Long said hed reported in-person and online harassment to campus officials prior to the assault. While we were recovering from our injuries, students on this campus, in this very spot, distributed wanted flyers with my picture and name on them, Long told the rally-goers. If you need more conclusive evidence, look no further. Jewish Americans are under attack simply for identifying themselves as Jews and expressing their support for Israel. Photos provided by Chicago police show two persons of interest wanted in connection with the attack of two DePaul students on the universitys Lincoln Park campus. Photos provided by Chicago police show two persons of interest wanted in connection with the attack of two DePaul students on the universitys Lincoln Park campus. Photos provided by Chicago police show a person of interest wanted in connection with the attack of two DePaul students on the universitys Lincoln Park campus. About a week after the attack, Chicago police released photos of the people who are believed to have been responsible. Police have no one in custody. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DePaul University President Robert Manuel condemned the antisemitic targeting of the two Jewish students and said the school has stepped up security patrols in the wake of the attack. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. (Photo courtesy of Sapgyoho Amusement Park) Sapgyoho in Dangjin City is home to the closest theme park to Camp Humphreys, just a 30-minute drive away and a 50-minute drive from Osan Air Base. A drive of less than an hour offers an exciting day for your whole family to spend fun time while stationed in Pyeongtaek. If you travel across Sapgyo Bridge in the southern direction from the base, you may have seen the parks enormous Ferris Wheel with beautiful lights. Compared to other theme parks, Sapgyoho Amusement Park isnt large, so you may not spend an entire day here. However, its a perfect spot for those who prefer to have fun outings close to home. The amusement park offers a retro sentiment of Korea with the wonderful night view of the ocean and an opportunity to take a relaxing stroll along the seaside. The park doesnt charge an entrance fee. Instead, visitors purchase individual ride tickets, as the park does not offer all-inclusive passes. Address: 15, Sapgyocheon 3-gil, Dangjin-si, Chungcheongnam-do, Naver Map Hours: 10 a.m.10 p.m. (Closed only during rainy days) Great Ferris Wheel The most popular attraction at the park is by far the giant Ferris wheel, as it offers stunning views of the surrounding landscape. (Photo courtesy of Dangjin City ) Ticket: 6,500 won for those over 12 years old / 4,500 won for children ages 12 and under Skull Kingdom Haunted House This thrilling haunted house is known for its spine-chilling experiences and realistic effects, making it a popular date spot for couples. Skull Kingdom Haunted House (Photo courtesy of Sapgyoho Amusement Park) Ticket: 12,000 won for adults / 10,000 won for teenagers / 5,000 won for children 12 and under (children should be accompanied by a guardian) Other rides With around 12 attractions like Viking, Space Shot, Bumper Car and Disco, the park may be small in scale, but it offers plenty of fun for kids. Bumper Car and Disco rides have a height requirement of 130 centimeters or taller, and Space Shot and Viking require a minimum height of 120 centimeters. Bumper Car and Disco (Photo courtesy of Sapgyoho Amusement Park) Ticket: For each ride, 5,500 won for those 13 and older / 4,500 won for children 12 and under. World Art Circus Near Sapgyoho is a unique experience you will love. The World Art Circus is only a 10-minute walk from Sapgyoho Amusement Park and features captivating performances. The attraction is a Chinese circus with trapeze artists, aerial acrobatics, plate-spinning, gymnasts, lion dances and more. Performances run for one hour throughout the day. World Art Circus (Photo courtesy of World Art Circus) TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) A class project at Indiana State University raised money for a local fund that supports childhood cancer research. Students in ISUs Principles of Marketing Class designed and sold Welcome to Terredise shirts, featuring an image of the Vigo County Courthouse. Run to raise funds for childhood cancer research The proceeds from the shirt sales are going toward the Patrick S. Barrett Foundations PS We Love You Fund, which supports childhood cancer research. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to collaborating on a design for the shirts, the students were also tasked with finding local businesses to sponsor the project. Student Coordinator Zack Knuckles said the project taught them valuable skills about marketing, working together and making connections. This is an important project to have primarily because it gets you that education on what its going to look like in the real world, but its also going to give you direct feedback from a wonderful professor. Also, it gets you that connection with all of your peers, said Knuckles. He said the shirts are sold out and added that they sold over 200 shirts, raising at least $1,500 for the fund. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyWabashValley.com. GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV) Students at Northwest Wisconsin Technical College (NWTC) have spent the past year doing research to combat the worldwide antibiotic crisis. The Tiny Earth in Titletown Symposium returns on Dec. 6, which will feature a showcase of the students efforts in antibiotic research and discovery. While the event isnt for a few weeks, students wrapped up their last day of research on Thursday. Thus, some students got to show off a few examples of what theyve learned and how their research has developed over time, before the big show on Dec. 6. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Green Bay Packers Foundation awards $1.5 million in grants at annual luncheon Dr. Angelo Kolokithas, the program director of biology at NWTC has overseen plenty throughout the process and expressed excitement and pride over the students work. Its a really good thing because what were doing in the world right now is squandering our antibiotics by not finishing our prescriptions or in some instances, not prescribing them correctly, and were running out of antibiotics, Dr. Kolokithas said. Were teaming up with this organization (Tiny Earth) to find new antibiotics that can be used in medicine. At the same time, were trying to educate students and the community. For more information about Tiny Earth, visit their website. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. The Legislative Council Study Committee on Emergency Detention and Civil Commitment of Minors met Thursday to discuss draft bills. (Screenshot via WisEye) A study committee considered proposals Thursday to create new long-term mental health facilities for youth, expanding who could initiate an emergency detention and changing consent requirements for minors over the age of 14. Wisconsin children have been navigating significant mental health challenges in recent years, and the state has been exploring ways to improve support. The Legislative Council Study Committee on Emergency Detention and Civil Commitment of Minors, which includes four state lawmakers and other stakeholders, mental health providers, law enforcement, has been meeting since August to specifically focus on the current state of Wisconsins emergency detention and civil commitment laws as they applied to children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under state law, emergency detention is a process that allows law enforcement officers to initiate an emergency hold for up to 72 hours if they reasonably believe a person is unable or unwilling to cooperate with voluntary treatment. Civil commitment is the involuntary restriction of a persons liberty by a civil proceeding on the basis that the individual is in need of treatment or care for certain mental health, developmental disability or substance dependency issues in order to protect the individual or others from harm. The committee discussed six draft bills that would change the shape of the current processes. The committee will meet again in December to discuss the priorities further before voting on which bills should move forward for consideration by the Legislature. The idea here really is to roll up our sleeves and work together as a committee to turn these bill drafts into something that is workable, and that the Joint Legislative Council feels comfortable introducing in the next legislative session, committee co-chair Sen. Jesse James (R-Altoona) said at the beginning of the meeting Thursday. One issue the committee has focused on is limiting the number of children with severe mental health challenges who are sent out of state for care. According to the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families, from 2019 through 2023 there were 517 children placed out of state. Of those, 78 of them were placed out of state in 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The committee discussed multiple bill draft variations that would help the issue by supporting the creation of psychiatric residential treatment facilities or PRTFs in Wisconsin. The Legislative Fiscal Bureau has described them as long-term facilities that typically offer treatment for children diagnosed with psychiatric conditions, including bipolar disorder, disruptive behavior disorders, substance use disorders, severe emotional disturbance or post-traumatic stress disorder. Wisconsin does have three youth crisis stabilization facilities, but those are short-term facilities with a maximum of eight beds. There are currently no PRTFs in the state. James and Gov. Tony Evers both proposed initiatives for creating the facilities in the last legislative session but neither was successful. The committee considered three variations of drafts that would allow for the creation of the facilities. The first would allow the Department of Health Services (DHS) to certify the facilities to provide inpatient psychiatric services for individuals under age 21. Another one would require DHS to establish five of the facilities. The final measure allows DHS to certify the facilities, to limit the number of certifications it grants to operate a PRTF and would require DHS to request $500,000 in each year of the 2027-29 biennial state budget for the purposes of implementing PRTF certification. Some of the specific numbers are placeholders and could change. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Committee members acknowledged the role that the cost of the facilities could play in whether they would be built. Sharon McIlquham, assistant corporation counsel for Eau Claire County, said that the facilities would need to be required by law. If DHS isnt required to do it, its not going to happen because I dont know that those incentives are going to be enough for a private entity to take on the liability, the cost, McIlquham said. I understand theres a huge budget impact, but if we dont require them, I dont think its going to happen. We dont create things we cant sustain, Jill Chaffee, Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsins vice president of community based services, said. A really big issue that we have is that you have a grant and yes, thats super helpful and appreciated to start a program, however, then you are fully dependent upon the billing of fee for service or different payers. Sen. LaTonya Johnson (D-Milwaukee) pointed out that securing state money could be the biggest obstacle to creating the facilities. Wisconsin is expecting to have a $4 billion budget surplus by the end of the current fiscal year and it will be a major point of discussion in the budget writing cycle next year, however, Republican leaders have cautioned that the money will not be used to grow the size of government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is no money in the budget that specifically enforcesand we all understand why. They would have to rely on Joint Finance putting those funds, specifically for this cause, and as a member of Joint Finance, I can honestly say that we dont always do what we are supposed to do or appropriate some money that we should, Johnson said. Theyre already operating on a limited budget but then because of this bill, if it did go through, they would be forced to do with that limited budget and that jeopardizes other programs. Johnson added that the program is necessary but without a set dollar amount and the guarantee that the money will be allocated the proposal will face an uphill battle. James agreed, saying that he doesnt think any of their colleagues would be supportive of a mandate. Changing minor consent requirements Another proposal would amend the minor consent law when it comes to emergency detention. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Currently, state law requires that both a minor age 14 or older and the minors parent or guardian consents to outpatient or inpatient mental health treatment. If consent is declined by the parent or child, the other party may petition for review and approval of the treatment. The proposal discussed by the committee would change this to instead say that either a minor age 14 or older, or a parent or guardian, may consent to outpatient or inpatient mental health treatment. Green Bay Police Department behavioral health officer Sheila Carlson said the change is supposed to help address the issue of parents having to go home with a child if they refuse treatment and need to file a petition. Once kiddo goes home, thats when things start to get a little hairy, where parents are concerned and not really sure what to do, Carlson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deputy State Public Defender Katie York said that she was concerned about whether not requiring consent could reduce the effectiveness of treatment. If the statute says you dont need consent from the kid, is that going to encourage the practitioners to not sufficiently seek consent, and is that going to negatively impact the treatment going forward? I would envision, if you can get buy-in from the kid, its going to be much more successful than, well, we dont even need your consent, your parents signed off on it, York said. I dont know if that works in the real world. Expanding who could initiate minor emergency detentions The committee also considered creating an alternative way for initiating the emergency detention of a minor by allowing medical and behavioral health clinicians to initiate the emergency detention of a minor. Currently, only law enforcement officers are allowed to initiate the detention of someone an officer believes is mentally ill, developmentally disabled or drug dependent based on observable behavior that the individual is dangerous to themself or others, and a county department of community programs must approve the need for detention and the need for evaluation, diagnosis and treatment. The draft that the committee looked at would define clinicians as a psychologist, psychiatrist, psychiatric nurse practitioner, physician, physician assistant, private practice school psychologist, marriage and family therapist, professional counselor, advanced practice social worker, independent social worker, clinical social worker, clinical substance abuse counselor, or independent clinical supervisor. It would also require a clinician to be in good standing and may initiate an emergency detention only if the clinician has been certified to do so by DHS. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McIlquham of Eau Claire County said the list included in the draft was too broad and expansive. You start small and you can always expand it later, McIlquham said. Carlson of Green Bay, however, said that she has been involved in many cases with children where police arent necessarily needed. Kids are not combative, she said. Theyre just reluctant, scared and confused, and then you bring in a cop and then theres combative components to it. Wisconsin Psychiatric Association President Tony Thrasher noted that some health systems may not allow their employees to do it. I dont think theyre going to take on the liability. I dont think theyre going to agree to it.. Now that roughly 93% of all physicians are employed by large health systems, I just dont think theyre going to let them do it. I think theres a liability, once you start detaining them, thats going to cause financial conflict and placement conflict, and if youre allowed to detain them, why cant you treat them where theyre at? How can you have the power to detain and then not care for them and ship them somewhere else? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The committee also discussed a bill draft that would standardize the creation of a safety plan, which would be created by a minor with behavioral or emotional challenges and a facilitator, and then require DHS to develop and maintain a portal that is available throughout the state to facilitate sharing of safety plans among safety plan partners. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX California's strict toxic chemical rules are making a difference when it comes to residents' exposure to dozens of dangerous compounds, including cancer-causing PFAS. Environmental Health News reported on a new study that analyzed nationwide data on the levels of 37 toxic chemicals in people's blood before and after California introduced stringent chemical laws in 1986. The researchers found that Californians had lower levels of 18 dangerous chemicals in their bodies when compared to the rest of the country. "Our finding has potentially far-reaching implications," Claudia Polsky, co-author and director of the Environmental Law Clinic at the University of California Berkeley School of Law, said in a statement, per EHN. "It suggests a tangible public health payoff from the state's more stringent environmental regulations." Do you worry about having toxic forever chemicals in your home? Click your choice to see results and speak your mind The news site explained that the law, Prop 65, requires that products sold in California include labels if they contain potentially harmful levels of the 850 chemicals known to cause cancer, birth defects, or reproductive risks. It added that Prop 65's benefits extended beyond California, explaining that companies that send their products to California and other states were more likely to reformulate their products nationwide instead of creating different versions in different states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement BPA (better known as bisphenol A) and PFAS of which there are many varieties were among the chemicals found in lower levels in Californians. BPA has been linked to health issues like increased blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, per the Mayo Clinic. Exposure in children is of particular concern, as it can lead to developmental and health issues such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, anxiety, depression, early puberty in girls, diabetes, obesity, and heart disease, according to Columbia University's Center for Children's Environmental Health. Meanwhile, PFAS exposure has been correlated with a number of health risks, including increased cholesterol levels, changes in liver enzymes, decreased birth weight, and increased risk for certain types of cancer, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In addition to groundbreaking chemical laws like those in California, scientists are coming up with new ways to help us reduce our exposure to harmful substances. For instance, researchers at the University of California, Riverside, discovered a way to zap out two common types of PFAS in drinking water in less than an hour using hydrogen and UV light. Another group in Japan has found a way to break down some types of PFAS in less than eight hours using visible LEDs. 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. DOTHAN, Ala (WDHN) For around 12 hours on Thursday, community members filled the parking lot of a Dothan McDonalds to donate frozen turkeys, nonperishable items, and even monetary gifts to the Wiregrass Area Food Bank for the annual Stuff the Semi event. It is an annual event where anyone can fill a semi-truck with goods to help provide a tasty Thanksgiving meal to local needy families. From seasoned vets to first-time donors, multiple people stopped by throughout the day to give back and help those less fortunate. Gods blessed me in my life. I have never known what it is like to go hungry or be without. So, I just saw yall on television and thought I really needed to come out and donate so that everyone else can have a Thanksgiving meal too, Chanda Le, first-time donator. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Due to the progression of the Ross Clark Circle constructionthis years event looked a tad bit different from years in the past, as some found it challenging to make their way to the truckbut organizers say it has not stopped the people from giving back. If somebody wants to help the food bank, theyre going to find a way to get to the food drivethe canned goods are coming in, and the cash donations are coming in good, said David Hanks, CEO of Wiregrass Area Food Bank. Roughly 40,000 people around the wiregrass go without a Thanksgiving meal each year. Over 17,000 meals were donated to local families last year, and the Wiregrass Area Food Bank is expecting the same, if not more, this year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the midway point of Thursdays eventover 20 turkeys were donated, nearly matching last years final amount of about 30 frozen turkeys. And for those who wanted to come out and donate but did not have the time, donations can still be made online at WiregrassFoodBank.com Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDHN - wdhn.com. YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) A solemn observance is planned this weekend to honor those who have lost loved ones to suicide. Duane Piccirilli of the Mahoning County Mental Health and Recovery Board spoke with commissioners Thursday morning, telling them about a ceremony to be held on Saturday marking International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day. Piccirilli says the county recorded more than 50 suicides last year. He told commissioners that those who have suffered a loss need to know there is a place they can go for comfort. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have a quiet place for people to go and reflect but also it not only be for survivors of suicide, but for someone that may have lost a child or somebody that may have lost someone to a drug overdose just a quiet place to go, Piccirilli said. Saturdays event will begin at 9:30 a.m. at the community Campus of Care on County Line Road in Austintown. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. SULLIVAN, Mo. In compliance with federal laws, the City of Sullivan, Missouri, is requesting assistance from some residents to determine if their private water lines may contain lead. City leaders are looking to update their inventory service lines in compliance with the EPAs Lead and Copper Rule Improvements. Earlier this month, the city sent notices to nearly 2,200 residents whose private water lines may or may not contain lead. Because these are private service lines, the city cannot independently verify whether there are lead risks without assistance from residents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement St. Louis-area accountant busted in $40K shopping spree while on vacation The notices inform residents that their private water line has the designation of Unknown: Possibly Lead, or Unknown Material Unknown. It provides links to videos and documents on how to properly identify and report information about their service line. This is similar to a process the City of St. Louis Water Division has implemented to update service line inventory records. Sullivan City Administrator J.T. Hardy tells FOX 2, It has nothing to do with the citys water supply or water quality. It only has to do with EPA regulations of inventory, any potential lead lines that may exist, and water systems on the private side. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After records are updated, if lead is identified within private service lines, the city plans to provide further guidance to affected residents. For online resources from the City of Sullivan, click here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. NEW LONDON, Conn. (WTNH) The area around the Connecticut Superior Court building in New London temporarily sheltered in place on Friday after shots were fired in the area. Shots were fired at about 10:40 a.m. on Brainard Street, near the courts parking lot, according to police. The area sheltered in place until it was secured by officers. No one was injured, and police do not believe it was random. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Further details, including a description of a possible suspect, was not immediately made publicly available. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com. SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) San Francisco District 5 Supervisor Dean Preston is urging the city to acquire the troubled Fillmore Safeway, so the grocery store chain site could turn into affordable housing, he announced in a press release Thursday. Earlier this year, Safeway announced its plans to close this location after 40 years and sell the real estate property. Now, in a letter sent to the mayor (see below), Preston wants London Breeds administration to acquire the site and turn that into community housing. The Safeway, located at 1335 Webster St., was supposed to close in January of this year after shoppers and residents cited public safety concerns in the area. Last year, gates were installed at self-checkout kiosks to deter shoplifting. But the self-checkout stations have since closed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite those issues, San Francisco leaders, such as Preston, got involved and were able to push the stores closure to January 2025. In January, Safeway said it agreed to sell the land to Align Real Estate, which will use it for a mixed-use development project, including housing and commercial retail. San Francisco convinces Safeway to keep store in Fillmore open for another year A look outside the Fillmore Safeway located at 1335 Webster St. (KRON4 Photo) Letter-of-Inquiry-re-Safeway-Lot-4Download Jeff Bezos donates $2.5M to Marin homeless shelters The City should do everything possible to acquire this former redevelopment site to ensure that it continues to have a community serving grocery store and that the housing built here is affordable to the community, Preston said in a statement. We have a unique opportunity to prevent further displacement from the Fillmore and to bring displaced families back to the Fillmore lets make it happen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prestons office said Safeway and Align Real Estate declined requests to meet with and hear the community out. Other community leaders echoed the sentiment for Safeway to sell the 3.68 acres to the city and make way for affordable housing. This site is so important to the Fillmore and Japantown communities, noted Paul Osaki, Executive Director of the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California. Black and Japanese-American residents and businesses were forcibly removed through disastrous urban renewal redevelopment from these sites. Instead of more displacement, acquisition for affordable housing and a grocery store offers a different path forward, one in which those who have been driven out of this community by real estate speculation, greed, and structural racism, could return to this community. Preston lost his race for reelection earlier this month to Bilal Mahmood, and Breed lost her bid at a second term to nonprofit CEO and Levi Strauss heir Daniel Lurie. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Preston set a deadline of Dec. 3 for Breed and her office to respond to his inquiry. KRON4 reached out to Safeway and Breeds office for comment. We did not hear back in time for publication. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. The Supreme Court on Friday tossed Facebooks appeal in a securities lawsuit against the social media giant, indicating the court shouldnt have taken up the case. The unsigned, one-sentence opinion contained no explanation and said the case was dismissed as improvidently granted. It means Facebook will have to face a class action lawsuit over accusations it misled investors about the Cambridge Analytica data scandal, which stemmed from the company using data from tens of millions of unwitting Facebook users to support the 2016 presidential campaigns of Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Donald Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lawsuit concerns a securities filing Facebook issued in 2016 acknowledging that improper third-party use of its data could harm the business. The filing framed that risk as hypothetical, and the shareholders argue it improperly led them to believe that no such incident had occurred. After an intermediate appeals court allowed the case to move forward, the Supreme Court agreed in June to hear the case and held oral arguments earlier this month. At the arguments, the justices appeared split on whether to back Facebooks appeal as they peppered both sides with hypotheticals that stretched from meteor strikes to Molotov cocktails. The plaintiffs claims are baseless and we will continue to defend ourselves as this case is considered by the District Court. We are disappointed in the Supreme Courts decision not to clarify this part of the law, Meta spokesperson Andy Stone said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fridays decision marked the Supreme Courts first opinion day of its annual term, which began last month. It came earlier than the two most recent terms, when the first opinions were handed down in December or January. The Supreme Court rarely dismisses a case as improvidently granted. The court did so last term in a high-profile case involving emergency abortions in Idaho as well as a case the previous term regarding attorney-client privilege. Updated at 11:28 a.m. EST Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (WFLA) Floridas Surgeon General spoke on community water systems, a week after the City Commission voted to remove fluoride from the water. Dr. Joseph Ladapo addressed the new guidance for water treatment, saying fluoride is neurotoxic, causing adverse neurological effects. Florida Bar permanently revokes law license of jailed Polk County attorney, Jason Penrod He touched on several studies that show that higher levels of fluoridation impact intelligence and create problems with executive functioning and decision-making, along with behavioral issues in children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is public health malpractice to continue adding fluoride to community water systems, Dr. Ladapo said. Formal guidance will be issued to municipalities to stop adding fluoride, along with tools to view a map of the water systems affected, Dr. Ladapo added. The ultimate decision on adding fluoride in water is up to town, city and county leaders. Speak to your local leaders, he urged residents. 2 Florida deputies killed, 1 injured in major crash According to the Surgeon General and other officials, fluoride can be harmful to pregnant women and their unborn children. On Nov. 14, Winter Haven commissioners voted 3-2 to remove the fluoride by January 1, or as soon as reasonably practical thereafter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In August, a federal agency determined with moderate confidence that there is a link between higher levels of fluoride exposure and lower IQ in kids, the Associated Press said. The National Toxicology Program based its conclusion on studies involving fluoride levels at about twice the recommended limit for drinking water. However, the Florida Dental Association countered that a district court ruling against the EPA did not provide a scientific basis that fluoridated water is injurious to public health. Community water fluoridation is one of the most effective and affordable public health measures we can implement to protect our residents oral health, said Dr. Jeff Ottley, President of the Florida Dental Association. Adding optimal amounts of fluoride into our community water supplies can prevent at least 25% of tooth decay in children and adults, reducing the need for costly dental treatments. Decades of sound scientific research proves the safety and effectiveness of fluoridation and underscores the importance of continuing community water fluoridation for the well-being of Florida residents. WFLA live streamed the press conference at 10 a.m., which can be viewed in the video player above. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. LITTLE ROCK, Ark. A new report from the Surgeon General released this week shows there are still major issues with tobacco use among Americans, especially in Arkansas. The report shows that in Arkansas cigarette smoking is among the highest in the nation, as well as tobacco-related cancers. American Lung Association gives Arkansas an F for tobacco control Dr. Pebbles Fagan, the lead scientific editor of the report, is a professor and researcher at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She and her team traveled to Washington D.C. to meet with U.S. Surgeon General Vice Admiral Vivek Murthy. Fagan said the work marks a significant shift in how to eliminate tobacco-related disparities in health. Report: Rise in tobacco consumption in Arkansas schools The full report from the surgeon general can be found at HHS.gov. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLRT - FOX16.com. A suspect in the murder of a homeless Richland father was arrested Thursday in Portland, Ore. Isiah Nathanial Rodriguez, 28, was taken into custody on a $1 million arrest warrant issued earlier this week in Benton County Superior Court, said Richland Police Chief Martin Pilcher. Pilcher made the announcement at a 6 p.m. news conference Thursday. Isiah Rodriguez Rodriguez is accused of killing Michael A. Perkins, 36, at 4:15 a.m. Saturday in an outside breezeway of the Uptown Shopping Center in central Richland. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pilcher said they are still investigating what led to the confrontation. Online court records show hes from Richland but its not clear if he also is homeless. Perkins suffered from mental health issues, according to his family, and was known to sleep in the breezeway at the Uptown center. Some witnesses told investigators that Perkins and another man got into a confrontation that morning and Perkins was shot several times in the chest. Pilcher said witness accounts and security video from the area helped identify Rodriguez. Michael Perkins He was tracked to Portland and arrested Thursday afternoon with the help of other police agencies, including the Kennewick Criminal Apprehension (CAT) Team, Benton County Sheriffs Office Proactive Team, West Richland Police Department, Portland Police Bureau and the U.S. Marshal Service. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details about where he was arrested were not immediately available. Its unclear if Rodriguez has appeared yet in court in Oregon, and if hell waive extradition to be returned to Washington. Shooting victim Perkins brother, Steaven, told the Herald earlier this week that his brother struggled with schizoaffective disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. He said he suffered from delusions, which would leave him arguing loudly with himself. I have been letting him stay the night at my place when I was allowed to and doing my best to explain to him why he needed to keep up with treatment, he said. His lease limited how long his brother was allowed to stay without him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The combination of his mental health issues made it difficult to get him to seek treatment. When he was able to get help, treatment facilities werent able to keep him indefinitely. The shooting was the sixth homicide in Benton County this year. ABINGDON, Va. (WJHL) A suspect from California was arrested on Wednesday for scamming individuals out of thousands of dollars by impersonating U.S. officials, the Washington County Virginia Sheriffs Office (WCSO) said in a news release on Friday. The suspect allegedly posed as officials from the U.S. Treasury and U.S. Marshals Service, falsely claiming that the victims were experiencing issues with their Social Security, WCSO said. The victims then gave the suspect thousands of dollars in cash over several days. Bristol, Va. police warn public of circulating phone scam Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dongsheng Chen, 30, from San Leandro, California, was caught during a second attempt to scam additional victims. Chen was charged with the following, according to the release: Obtaining money under false pretense Attempted obtaining money under false pretense Conspire to commit obtaining under false pretense Chen is being held without bond at the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail. Chen was described by the sheriffs office as a U.S. Permanent Resident from China with a California address. Washington County Sheriff Blake Andis said that the public should be aware of a significant increase in scam-related crimes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather. DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) The man who was set to face trial for attempting to rob a Harrison Township Kroger Pharmacy in May has reached a plea agreement. Jeremiah Addison had been facing charges of attempted robbery, kidnapping and drug possession. On Thursday, Addison agreed to plead guilty to one count of Aggravated Robbery with a Deadly Weapon and two counts related to Kidnapping. On May 30, a man later identified as Addison reportedly entered the Kroger in the 3500 block of West Siebenthaler Avenue, went to the pharmacy and said he wanted narcotics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The suspect threatened the employee with a firearm and struck them in the face with the weapon, said the Montgomery County Sheriffs Office. He then fled the store with an undisclosed amount of narcotics. The employee was treated for minor injuries. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com. OLATHE, Kan. One day after police arrested him, the suspect in an Overland Park sexual assault case goes before a Johnson County judge. Gabriel Hernandez is accused of sexually assaulting an Overland Park woman in her home early Tuesday morning. He was arrested within one day of the police department asking for the publics help. Hernandez went before a Johnson County judge Thursday. The Judge set his bond at $750,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Newly renovated Johnson County park hit with vandalism You have count one rape, count two aggravated criminal sodomy, count 3 aggravated criminal sodomy, count 4 aggravated burglary and count five theft, the Johnson County judge shared Thursday afternoon in the courtroom to Hernandez. The first three charges that I cited are level one felonies, so the range of sentence is anywhere from 12 years up to 50 years in a penitentiary, depending on criminal history, Johnson County District Attorney Steve Howe said. Howe commending quick response from law enforcement with the identification and arrest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I commend the Overland Park Police Department, they got on this really quickly, worked really hard, along with our Johnson County Crime Lab. Those two agencies, along with some federal investigative help, were able to track down Mr. Hernandez and get him into custody, Howe said. We cant stop every crime from happening, but we can make a difference in regards to how we respond to these serious types of crimes. Download the FOX4 News app on iPhone and Android Hernandez is due back in court December 5. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. DES MOINES, Iowa A Des Moines man has been arrested in connection with two separate robberies of the same convenience store in Des Moines Easter Lake neighborhood. Thomas Frommelt Thomas Frommelt, 50, is charged with two counts of first-degree robbery and interference with official acts. Sgt. Paul Parizek, spokesman of the Des Moines Police Department, said Frommelt was arrested Thursday night. Teen charged with attempted murder in knife attack at Pella Middle School Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DMPD officers were called to the Git N Go convenience store at 2140 E. Park Ave. around 11:10 p.m. Thursday after a suspect, later identified as Frommelt, allegedly threatened the clerk with a knife. He took cigarettes and cash in the robbery and then fled on foot. The clerk told police they believed the suspect was the same person who robbed the store on November 11, 2024. Officers responding to the robbery spotted Frommelt near SE 21st St. and Park Ave. but he ran from them. A perimeter was secured and K9 help was requested from the Polk County Sheriffs Office. Sgt. Parizek said Frommelt was tracked to the 2100 block of E. Hughes Ave. where he was found hiding behind a garage. He wasnt compliant and was bitten by the K9 as officers took him into custody. Des Moines Fire Department medics treated Frommelt on the scene. Criminal complaints filed in the case claim Frommelt admitted to both robberies in a post-Miranda interview with police and described them in detail. The complaints say in each robbery the suspect displayed a large knife and demanded money and cigarettes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Frommelt is being held in the Polk County Jail. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to who13.com. (Reuters) -A breach of telecoms companies that the United States said was linked to China was the "worst telecom hack in our nation's history - by far," the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee told the Washington Post on Thursday. Earlier this month, U.S. authorities said China-linked hackers had intercepted surveillance data intended for American law enforcement agencies after breaking into an unspecified number of telecom companies. The hackers compromised the networks of "multiple telecommunications companies" and stole U.S. customer call records and communications from "a limited number of individuals who are primarily involved in government or political activity," according to a joint statement released by the FBI and the U.S. cyber watchdog agency CISA on Nov. 13. Beijing has repeatedly denied claims by the U.S. government and others that it has used hackers to break into foreign computer systems. "For quite some time, the US side has been floating all sorts of disinformation about threats of Chinese hackers to serve its own geopolitical purposes," Liu Pengyu, spokesperson for China's embassy in Washington said in a statement sent on Friday. "China firmly opposes and combats all kinds of cyber attacks." There were also reports Chinese hackers targeted telephones belonging to then-presidential and vice presidential candidates Donald Trump and JD Vance, along with other senior political figures, raising widespread concern over the security of U.S. telecommunications infrastructure. This is an ongoing effort by China to infiltrate telecom systems around the world, to exfiltrate huge amounts of data, Mark Warner told the Washington Post. The breach went further than the Biden administration has acknowledged, with hackers able to listen to telephone conversations and read text messages, Warner was cited as saying in a separate interview by the New York Times. "The barn door is still wide open, or mostly open," he told the publication. (Reporting by Costas Pitas; Editing by Kim Coghill and Diane Craft) JOHNSTOWN, Ohio (WMCH) Police in central Ohio are investigating a crime spree involving car break-ins spanning at least four communities. More than 30 vehicles were broken into or rummaged through in Johnstown late the night of Nov. 7, according to Officer Deirdre Fife with the Johnstown Police Department. She said many of those incidents took place in the Leafy Dell neighborhood. They hit a neighborhood really, really hard. They were walking up driveways. There are five of them. Walking up driveways and across lawns, it was like divide and conquer, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Residents shared some video with investigators. In one, a person can be seen breaking a trucks window, then jumping into the vehicle through it. In another, individuals are seen walking around a neighborhood checking cars. I think its devastating, Fife said. They were violated, theyre coming up close to their houses where their families are sleeping, thats pretty bold. Officer Fife was working that night. She said the department got a call about one break in, then realized there were many more. One firearm was stolen. And honestly, what was interesting is they left a lot of high value items behind. They didnt take a lot of high value things that they could have. They took some wallets, thats normal, but I think theyre targeting some firearms, Fife said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The vehicle the thieves are seen getting in and out of in the videos is an Infinity Q50, according to Fife. She said that vehicle was stolen in Upper Arlington and also used at car break ins in New Albany and Newark that same night. I believe with each incident they get away with, they are emboldened, Fife said. I believe that they grow more confident and think they wont get caught. Theyre mistaken, thats for sure. Fife reminded residents to close garages at night and not leave valuables or firearms in cars. Anyone who can help identify the thieves is encouraged to reach out to police, or email Fife. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) Surveillance video evidence came into play Thursday as suspects in the deadly Jefferson Street shooting appeared in court. In court, prosecutors showed footage of the suspects engaging in a shootout. Detective Adam Reese with the Metro Nashville Police Departments (MNPDs) homicide unit took the stand and described the scene on Jefferson Street, near where Tennessee State University (TSU) homecoming festivities had taken place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement TBI investigating shooting involving District Attorney General One person was killed and investigators said at least nine others were injured including children. Investigators determined the shooting stemmed from gang activity. Marquez Davis and DeAnthony Brown are both charged with criminal homicide in the death of 24-year-old Vonquae Johnson. The investigation found there was only one firearm recovered at the scene. From the video, detectives claim Davis initiated the violence, pulled his firearm first, and initially was the first to fire. Officials said three others with a rival group, including Johnson, were on a sidewalk adjacent to the parking lot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Detectives said since Davis and Brown are members of street gangs and witnesses were hard to find. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com Weve had people give tips and say they dont want to come forward because theyre afraid of retaliation from the gang, Reese said. They didnt want to come forward with names or anything like that and most of the people I was able to talk to were people actually wounded by the gunfire. This was a preliminary hearing. The case has been bound over to a grand jury. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. The Metropolitan Police said a "loud bang" heard in the area on Friday, Nov. 22 was a "controlled explosion" of the package A suspect package left outside the U.S. Embassy in London has been detonated in a controlled explosion." In a post shared on X (formerly known as Twitter) on Friday, Nov. 22, the Metropolitan Police confirmed that they had exploded the suspicious package after placing the area in lockdown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were aware of speculation online about an incident in the vicinity of the US Embassy in Nine Elms, the statement read. Cordons are in place in the area as a precaution while officers investigate a suspect package. Police said they would provide a further update in due course, before confirming in a follow-up post that the loud bang reported in the area a short time ago was a controlled explosion carried out by officers. Enquiries are still ongoing and cordons will remain in place for the time being, the second statement added. Yui Mok/PA Images via Getty The U.S. Embassy in London pictured on Nov. 22, 2024 The U.S. Embassy in London pictured on Nov. 22, 2024 PEOPLE reached out to the Metropolitan Police who had no further comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. Embassy also wrote on X, Local authorities are investigating a suspicious package outside the U.S. Embassy in London. Met Police are present and have closed Ponton Road out of an abundance of caution. We will provide further updates when available. Please monitor @metpoliceuk for updates. A police officer at the scene told The Independent, Its really quite serious at the moment. Per the outlet, those inside the building were placed on lockdown for an hour and a half as police and firefighters dealt with the situation. Yui Mok/PA Images via Getty A police cordon near the U.S. Embassy in London on Nov. 22, 2024 A police cordon near the U.S. Embassy in London on Nov. 22, 2024 Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. According to U.K. newspaper The Guardian, there is currently no evidence to suggest the package is linked to terrorism. The U.S. Embassy is located in Nine Elms, an area in southwest London in the borough of Wandsworth close to the River Thames. A suspicious package was discovered outside the United States Embassy in London on Friday morning, police said. The London Metropolitan Police immediately closed Ponton Road outside of the embassy in an abundance of caution, according to their statement, before they destroyed it in a controlled explosion. MORE: American citizen found dead at luxury hotel in Ireland Were aware of speculation online about an incident in the vicinity of the US Embassy in Nine Elms, the Met Police said. Cordons are in place in the area as a precaution while officers investigate a suspect package. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities updated the situation approximately an hour later after reports of a loud bang began circulating online. MORE: Baby red panda dies due to 'stress caused by fireworks,' renewing calls to ban their public sale PHOTO: Police investigate an incident, in London (Mina Kim/Reuters) MORE: Woman dies after being thrown from golf cart near private members-only club We can confirm that the 'loud bang' reported in the area a short time ago was a controlled explosion carried out by officers. Enquiries are still ongoing and cordons will remain in place for the time being, police said. The embassy returned to "normal business operations" shortly after the package was destroyed, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The US Embassy is back to normal business operations, with the exception that all public appointments (visa appointments, passport appointments, and other American Citizen services) for 22 November have been cancelled," the Met Police said. The U.S. embassy in London moved to a brand-new purpose-built location in January 2018. The 12-story government office -- complete with a moat surrounding it -- cost approximately $1 billion to construct and was funded entirely from proceeds of sale from other U.S. government property in London, according to the U.S. government. 'Suspicious package' found outside US Embassy in London originally appeared on abcnews.go.com A manager to a north Charlotte arcade faces 17 charges related to gambling, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department stated Thursday afternoon. Charges filed, evidence seized in Matthews illegal gambling investigation CMPDs Alcohol Beverage Control Unit and SWAT executed a search warrant at Galaxy 1 Arcade on North Tryon Street, seized a firearm, a substantial amount of cash, and illegal gaming equipment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The investigation began after multiple community complaints of illegal gambling and its ties to violent crime in the area, CMPD stated in a news release. The manager was also cited for working as unlicensed security. Tragedy struck the family of 73-year-old Jeriline Brady-McGinnis after police say she was attacked and mauled by her own dog. One of Brady-McGinnis four dogs attacked her and her husband on the evening of Nov. 18. When Boston police arrived to the scene, the Pitbull-mix named Buddha was no where to be found, but the couple was left with gruesome injuries, reported NBC Boston. Officers quickly began administering first aid to the couple, and thats when the killer dog came back for more. While they [police] were there, the dog returned and attacked the two officers, Deputy Superintendent Paul McLaughlin said during a press conference. All our victims were taken to the hospital where Brady-McGinnis would be pronounced dead, according to CBS News. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Out of all the victims, Brady-McGinnis injuries were the most life-threatening. A close friend to the woman named Jean McGuire told the Boston Globe She got attacked some way, and they [the Pitbull] ripped her arm. McGuire described her friend saying Shes very close to her animals, almost like children, I think. She took good care of them. She walked them every day. She continued saying Shes a wonderful person, very generous, very loving person, loved animals. Since the deadly incident, police have reportedly put the Pitbull down. Kim Beaudet, a neighbor, spoke to CBS saying it has to be done. You cant be attacking people or biting them. This was not just a little nip. Its a pretty bad attack. She continued saying the dogs arent really socialized... They werent particularly friendly, but they were always behind the fence. According to the Boston Police Department, its homicide department is handling the investigation because of the severity of the victims injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brady-McGinnis three children spoke to WBZ News to honor their mother. They said, Our mother was a loving and caring mother. She put her children first The heart and soul of our family is gone. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te will visit the self-governing islands allies in the South Pacific, where rival China has been seeking diplomatic inroads. The Foreign Ministry announced Friday that Lai would travel from Nov. 30 to Dec. 6 to the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu and Palau. The trip comes against the background of Chinese loans, grants and security cooperation treaties with Pacific island nations that have aroused major concern in the U.S., New Zealand, Australia and others over Beijing's moves to assert military, political and economic control over the region. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Taiwans government has yet to confirm whether Lai will make a stop in Hawaii, although such visits are routine and unconfirmed Taiwanese media reports say he will stay for more than one day. Under pressure from China, which claims Taiwan as its own territory and threatens to annex it by force if needed, Taiwan has just 12 formal diplomatic allies. However, it retains strong contacts with dozens of other nations, including the U.S., its main source of diplomatic and military support. China has sought to whittle away traditional alliances in the South Pacific, signing a security agreement with the Solomon Islands shortly after it broke ties with Taiwan and winning over Nauru just weeks after Lai's election in January. Since then, China has been pouring money into infrastructure projects in its South Pacific allies, as it has around the world, in exchange for political support. China objects strongly to such U.S. stopovers by Taiwan's leaders, as well as visits to the island by leading American politicians, terming them as violations of U.S. commitments not to afford diplomatic status to Taiwan after Washington switched formal recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979. With the number of its diplomatic partners declining under Chinese pressure, Taiwan has redoubled efforts to take part in international forums, even from the sidelines. It has also fought to retain what diplomatic status it holds, including refusing a demand from South Africa last month that it move its representative office in its former diplomatic ally out of the capital. (Bloomberg) -- Taiwan said it is working out the details of President Lai Ching-tes stop in US territory as part of a trip to Pacific Island nations, travels that would ratchet up tensions with China. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lai will visit the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu and Palau from Nov. 30 to Dec. 6, Deputy Foreign Minister Tien Chung-kwang said Friday at briefing in Taipei. When asked whether Lai would stop in the US as part of the trip, Tien said that the arrangements for the transits are still being carefully planned, and it is not convenient to disclose details at this time. Bloomberg News reported earlier that Lai would stop in Hawaii and an American territory, possibly Guam, as part of the South Pacific trip. Any stops by Lai on US soil would anger China, which has held major military maneuvers around Taiwan twice since he took office in May. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement China opposes nations it has official ties with, like the US, from meeting officials in Taiwan. Beijing views the democracy of 23 million as a province that must be brought under its control, by force if necessary. Lais travels come at a sensitive time, as Joe Biden prepares to leave the White House after repeatedly vowing to defend Taiwan from any Chinese invasion, muddying the established US position of strategic ambiguity. President-elect Donald Trumps comeback casts doubts over such reassurances, adding fresh turbulence to a major flashpoint between the worlds largest economies. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 2024 Bloomberg L.P. By Ben Blanchard and Roger Tung TAIPEI (Reuters) -Taiwan President Lai Ching-te will visit Taipei's three remaining diplomatic allies in the Pacific on a trip starting at the end of the month, his office said on Friday, but the government declined to give details on U.S. transit stops. Taiwanese presidents usually use visits to allied countries to make what are officially stop-overs in the United States, Taiwan's most important international backer and arms supplier, which frequently anger Beijing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On two occasions in the past two years China staged military drills around Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its own territory, after presidential or vice-presidential stopovers in the United States. On those stopovers, Taiwanese presidents often meet with friendly politicians and give speeches. Reuters reported last week that Lai was planning to stop off in Hawaii and maybe the U.S. territory of Guam while he was in the Pacific. Asked repeatedly by reporters at a news conference for details on the stop overs, Deputy Taiwan Foreign Minister Tien Chung-kwang said they were in the planning stages and would be announced at an "appropriate time". "But there is a principle, which is that they are handled with safety, dignity, convenience and comfort" in mind, said Tien. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement China will do all it can to stymie the trip - Lai's first abroad since being inaugurated in May - but Taiwan won't be deterred, he added. "We won't dance to their tune. We will do what we have to do and what we plan." Two sources familiar with the situation said details of the U.S. part of the trip would likely only come a day or so before Lai departed. Speaking in Beijing, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian did not directly address the prospect of Lai transitting the United States, but said the "one-China principle" was the general consensus of the international community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 'LONG TERM PARTNER' Of the 12 countries which maintain formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, three are in the Pacific - Palau, the Marshall Islands and Tuvalu - and Lai will go to all of them starting from Nov. 30, his office said. His official schedule has him then arriving in the Marshall Islands only in the following week, on Dec. 3, without saying where he would be in the intervening period. The Pacific island nations visits are also important as China is competing for influence with the United States there and has been gradually whittling away at the number of countries in the region who retain ties with Taiwan. In January, tiny Nauru switched relations back to Beijing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Palau, Marshall Islands and Tuvalu all put out statements on Friday saying they welcomed Lai's visit. "As a long-term partner and good friend of the Marshall Islands, we look forward to the warmly receiving President Lai," the office of President Hilda Heine said on its Facebook page. China has ramped up its military activities around Taiwan in the past five years, including holding another round of war games last month it said were a warning to "separatist acts". Taiwan's government rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims and says it has a right to engage with other countries and for its leaders to make foreign trips. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In August of last year, China held a day of military drills around Taiwan after then-vice president Lai returned from the United States, where he officially made only stopovers but gave speeches on his way to and from Paraguay. In April of last year, China also held war games around Taiwan in anger at a U.S. trip by then-president Tsai Ing-wen, who met then-U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy in Los Angeles. In 2017 and 2019, Tsai stopped in Hawaii during her visits to Pacific allies. (Reporting by Ben Blanchard and Roger Tung; Additional reporting by Kirsty Needham in Sydney and Antoni Slodkowski in Beijing; Editing by Christian Schmollinger and Michael Perry) Nov. 21Carla Muth's stories about her time as a high-ranking state official in the 1980s often focused on the cinematic: flying off in a helicopter to attend a meeting or paying a visit to the scandal-plagued psychiatric hospital in Las Vegas, N.M. But it wasn't all glamor and jet-setting for Muth, a health and environment secretary under then-Gov. Garrey Carruthers. "I think it was a lot harder for a woman to be a Cabinet secretary" in that era, son Darren Smith said of Muth, who died Oct. 29 at age 82. "I think ... some people gave her a pretty hard time." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That's possibly an understatement. Muth, a longtime nurse who moved into prominence in the public sphere under Carruthers, was at the very center of a bare-knuckle Roundhouse battle that became about as ugly and, in some quarters, as misogynistic as any. Muth had started out as a nurse at what was then St. Vincent Hospital and went on to found the Visiting Nurse Service and the state's first hospice service. She came into Carruthers' orbit through the recommendation of his chief of staff, Maralyn Budke. She was serving as deputy secretary in Carruthers' Health and Environment Department in 1988 when her boss, Secretary Larry Gordon, resigned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republican Carruthers, who was nearly halfway through his term by then, appointed Muth to take over the role. She was, according to earlier stories, the first nurse to be appointed as a Cabinet secretary. When it came time for her Senate confirmation in early 1989, all hell broke loose. The Senate Rules Committee, in a 5-4 decision following an hourslong hearing, recommended Muth not be confirmed. On the Senate floor, a majority of Democrats who criticized Muth's management skills and what they described as an inadequate level of concern for the mentally ill joined forces to reject her in a 27-14 vote. "The vote came after a rare six-hour filibuster in which Republicans read poetry, cited history and employed other tactics to delay the rejection they knew was inevitable," the Santa Fe New Mexican reported Feb. 11, 1989. Cabinet secretary confirmation rejections were as rare in the 1980s as they are today, but Carruthers refused to back down. He promptly named Muth "deputy secretary" and Budke "acting secretary" a workaround that all three told journalists would allow Muth to largely keep running the agency without the Senate's approval. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the papers the next day and in days to come, Senate Democrats raked Muth over the coals in aggressive, often sexist, terms. "Senate President Manny Aragon said the rejection was justified because Muth had to do more than make sure her offices have enough photocopiers," the Feb. 11 article said. A political columnist in The New Mexican later that year went even further, citing a debate apparently making the rounds at the time about whether Muth was "too tall ... too slender or too beautiful or too blonde" for the job. "Aragon maintains they are all wrong," columnist Jay Miller wrote. "He says he admires all those attributes in Muth and would love to 'take her home, except she has no heart.' " Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ultimately, Muth lasted in the job until September of 1989. In an interview Monday, Carruthers said back then there were "far fewer females in leadership roles than there are today," and it was not an easy period for his chosen appointment. But Muth stayed positive and professional throughout, Carruthers recalled. He remained her staunch ally throughout those rocky months. "Of all the people I've been associated with in government, Carla was probably the most congenial, most collegial, most cooperative public servant that I can recall," he said. Smith said he knew his mother felt she had to be strong when dealing with the "boys club" that ruled the Roundhouse roost in those days an attitude she always tried to pass along to her children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "She was kind of like, 'Hey, things are tough. Be tough,' " said Smith, now 57. "We learned a lot about being tough from her." Smith said he saw his mother's grit throughout his life. Born in Michigan in 1942 and raised in Los Alamos, Muth attended the University of New Mexico and lived most of her life in Santa Fe. Darren Smith said he and his brother, Greg Smith, were young when their parents divorced. He recalled his mother running the Visiting Nurse Service home health care agency during that period and described her as a single mother who was always "working her butt off." It was 1978 when she met Mark Muth while shopping for insurance for the Visiting Nurse Service, according to her obituary. The couple married the following year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Muth's time in the Carruthers' administration didn't scare her away from working in the policy realm; in later years she returned to the Roundhouse as a lobbyist for health care and nursing causes. She was also involved in an array of other organizations over the years, including Santa Maria El Mirador, a nonprofit serving adults with intellectual disabilities, where she served on the board for nearly a decade, said former CEO Mark Johnson. Johnson, who also worked with Muth on Carruthers' transition team, described her as a "trendsetter" who wasn't just a dedicated advocate for those with intellectual disabilities but also a natural strategic thinker. "She was ... a very strong financial leader," Johnson said. "She would always give advice and direction in terms of future planning and the direction of the organization." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Muth was a natural "people person," Darren Smith said. He recalled her drop-in visits during his days as a UNM student living with up to five roommates in typical undergraduate squalor. "She would pop in, and she would bring just like a huge amount of food because we were always starving," Smith said. "She would just laugh and joke with the guys and ... make fun of how dirty the house was." When Muth finally retired, she jumped into another passion: artwork. She became a juried member of the Santa Fe Society of Artists and the Pastel Society of New Mexico, showing her art both locally and nationally, her obituary said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Smith said she loved to paint landscapes and other representational artwork. "But she also spent some time doing a series that was kind of more symbolic," he said. "The symbolic stuff had a lot to do with ... women's empowerment." In later years, Muth was a warm presence for her grandchildren, regularly taking them to lunch or on other special outings, like an annual trip to the ballet to see The Nutcracker, Greg Smith said. "It was just a very special time," he added. Muth started to show signs of Alzheimer's disease about four or five years ago, her sons said, and declined slowly over that period. She was able to continue living at home with her husband throughout that time. "I miss her," Darren Smith said. "She was just an extraordinary woman." Pinellas County, Florida, and the St. Petersburg City Council recently voted to delay approving the sale of bonds to fund a new stadium for the Tampa Bay Rays, according to Fox 13. Had the funds been released, county and city taxpayers would have been on the hook for millions of dollars to house one of the least attended teams in the MLB. In July, the city and county approved a $1.3 billion plan to build a new stadium for the team. The stadium, which would be a part of a larger $6.5 billion redevelopment project, would be financed by St. Petersburg ($417.5 million) and Pinellas County ($312.5 million), with the Rays covering the remaining portion. After Hurricane Milton last month shattered the roof of Tropicana Field, the Rays' current home, the team moved to expedite public funding for the project. On Tuesday, Pinellas County Commissioners voted for a second time to push back funding for the new stadium. Before the meeting, the Rays sent a letter stating that the first delayed funding vote in October pushed back the expected opening of the new stadium to 2029 (from 2028) and had increased costs to a point that the team would not be able to absorb itself. After voting to delay, the Rays sent another letter stating that they were suspending their plans for the stadium due to the decision. St. Petersburg's city administrator expects the team to send an official termination letter to the city, according to the Tampa Bay Times. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ron Diner, founder of "No Home Run," an advocacy group against the stadium, told Reason that the letter that the Rays sent to the county commissioners before their funding vote played a large role in the decision to delay. Diner believes it turned the city and county against them because it signaled an intention to not follow up on their promise of paying for budget overruns. If delays in the construction of the stadium were already causing the Rays to not make ends meet, further overruns in the cost, which are very common in large projects like this, would have been left to the county and the city to cover, said Diner. The solution according to Diner would be for the team to move inland from St. Petersburg, closer to Tampa. "The stadium needs to be torn down and the city needs to redevelop the property," Diner stated. After both Hurricane Helene and Milton, the city should invest the money that would have been put into the stadium to fix the city's sewers and sea walls and prepare for future hurricanes, he said. The congested traffic of traveling into St. Petersburg for games and the city's small population base were also reasons that Diner noted for the new stadium. "Hopefully they move to Tampa," Diner stated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the 2025 season, the Tampa Bay Rays will play at George M. Steinbrenner Field, the spring training home of the New York Yankees. The field is set to be the smallest stadium in the MLB with a capacity of just 11,026. Tropicana Field was able to seat 25,025 people before it was destroyed. Last year, the Tampa Bay Rays were ranked 28th out of 30 teams in terms of attendancejust above the Miami Marlins and the Oakland A's. For now, residents of St. Petersburg can rest assured knowing that funds that would have been put toward the stadium are now available for repairs that the city needs following Florida's historic hurricane season. The post Tampa Bay Rays Cancel New Stadium Plans After Local Government Stalls Funding appeared first on Reason.com. HONOLULU (KHON2) Tamuras Market in Hauula will not be closing after all. Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You A last-minute agreement between the stores owner and the landowner will allow the market to remain open for at least five more years, with the option to extend the lease for an additional five years. The market had been slated to close at the end of the year when its lease expired and rent increases were set to take effect. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hauulas beloved Tamuras Market to close after 20 Years News of the closure had devastated local residents and customers, many of whom expressed concerns about losing their only nearby grocery store. In a statement, Tamuras President and CEO expressed gratitude for the overwhelming community support, noting how much the market means to local residents. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news Its clear that Tamuras is more than just a store its a vital part of this community, the statement read. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. A former Target employee has been offered her job back after the retailer apologized for firing her for wearing a nametag inscribed with trust in Jesus. Denise Kendrick, a devout Christian who worked as a cashier at a store in Fargo, North Dakota, said she was dismissed from her role over the alleged dress code violation. Kendrick said she arrived at work on Saturday wearing a plain red sweatshirt, jeans which are within Targets dress code guidelines and the handwritten nametag reading trust in Jesus beside her first name. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The cashier had been wearing the badge to work since Halloween, she said in a video on her YouTube channel on Monday. Kendrick was then approached by her manager who allegedly said she cant wear that nametag. Well, Ive seen people with rainbows on theirs, Kendrick retorted, referring to the multicolored symbol of pride for the LGBTQ community, she told KVLY 11. Im going to continue to wear this nametag. Kendrick claimed her employee responded: Well, you cant work here anymore. Target later apologised for firing Kendrick and immediately offered her the job back (AP) The manager refused to write a written statement about why she was fired, the former Target employee said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They instead allegedly handed Kendrick a piece of paper with a list of phone numbers and suggested making some calls if she had any questions about the violation of the dress code. Kendrick said she had worn Christian-themed shirts to work for months and had never had an issue, and was left confused why the nametag was any different. Just because Target is exclusive and they can express their beliefs (does not mean) that my religious freedom is lost, Kendrick said in the video on her YouTube channel. Targets Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) policy reads, in part, that it prohibits discrimination and an employees experience shouldnt be hindered by their religious beliefs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Target has since apologized and asked Kendrick if she would like her job back. Upon learning of the situation, we conducted a review and determined that the team member should not have been terminated. We apologized to her and offered to reinstate her immediately, they told the news station in a statement. We are taking the appropriate steps to address the actions taken by the individual leader involved in this situation and are working with the store to ensure our policies are appropriately followed moving forward. Kendrick said she took them up on their offer. They offered it to me immediately, she said in another YouTube video on Wednesday. I enjoyed my job at Target, and Im going to enjoy it again. Kendrick was due to return to work on Thursday, she said in the video. The Independent has contacted Target for more information. SMITHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) has been called to investigate a shooting in Smithville Thursday evening involving a Middle Tennessee District Attorney General, according to a spokesperson. The spokesperson said DeKalb County District Attorney General Bryant Dunaway requested the TBI help investigate a shooting on Bell Street Thursday afternoon. The TBI confirmed the District Attorney General for Warren and Van Buren Counties, Chris Stanford, was involved in the shooting. RELATED: 3 bodies found in northern Warren County Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A media release from Dunaways office clarified the TBI was called because the incident involved a report that Stanford had fired shots during the attempted apprehension of a man named Caleb Brookins on outstanding warrants out of Warren County. Dunaway added Brookins was later taken into custody on those warrants and transported to Warren County. The Warren County Sheriffs Office confirmed Brookins was charged with three counts of criminal homicide. As of publication, he is being held without bond in the Warren County jail. No injuries were sustained as a result of the shooting, the spokesperson added, though the investigation remains active and ongoing. The DeKalb County Sheriffs Office (DCSO) had sent an alert to some residents on Thursday asking residents to be on the lookout for an armed and dangerous suspect that was wanted for multiple shootings in the area of Bell Street. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime-related reports from across Middle Tennessee Sheriff Ray added that the incident unfolded after deputies received information that Brookins an alleged suspect in a triple murder was headed toward the Bell Street Apartments in Smithville. As law enforcement waited for him to arrive, they allegedly spotted him in the passenger seat of vehicle, which was driven by a woman later identified as 21-year-old Hannah Rose of Antioch. Deputies set up a perimeter, but Rose rammed her vehicle into a truck that was operated by the sheriffs office. The sheriffs office added that two DCSO employees who were inside the truck were not injured, but Rose did hit a Homeland Security officer and injured his leg. According to the DCSO, thats when Stanford fired shots toward Roses vehicle. However, neither the vehicle, Rose or Brookins were hit by the gunfire, officials said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Friday, Nov. 22, Stanford released a statement about the incident, which read in-part: Immediately after witnessing a Homeland Security Agent hit by a vehicle, the vehicle then drove toward me and others, accelerating quickly. I fired my service weapon in defense of myself and others at the scene. Based upon my training and the circumstances that presented themselves, I believe my actions were necessary and justified. Smithville mayor Josh Miller also posted to Facebook that authorities were searching for a very dangerous person. Shortly thereafter, Miller added that the person had been apprehended, thanking the law enforcement agencies involved in the search. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com In the same release, Dunaway stated that DeKalb County deputies also obtained arrest warrants, charging Rose with aggravated assault and felony evading arrest. Those warrants were issued for striking a law enforcement officer with her automobile while attempting to flee, based on facts known at this stage of the investigation. Rose was transported to the DeKalb County jail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Warren County Sheriffs Office posted to Facebook that they had reason to believe that suspects wanted in connection with a homicide there were in DeKalb County. The Warren County Sheriffs Office confirmed Rose and Brookins were apprehended in connection with the homicide. News 2 has reached out to the TBI for more information. Download the News 2 app to stay updated on the go. Sign up for WKRN email alerts to have breaking news sent to your inbox. Find todays top stories on WKRN.com for Nashville, TN and all of Middle Tennessee. This is a developing story. WKRN News 2 will continue to update this article as new information becomes available. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. AUSTIN (KXAN) The Travis County Juvenile Probation Department (TCJPD) announced it was awarded a $3,000 grant from the Texas Bar Foundation. The grant is expected to go toward the departments restorative juvenile justice program, which aims to educate youth on the impact of crime on victims. The Texas Bar Foundation is an organization that helps provide funding to enhance the rule of law and the system of justice in Texas, according to its mission statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since its creation in 1965, the organization has awarded more than $28 million in grants to law-related programs, per the press release. The Pot of Gold program benefits Travis County by serving as an avenue for justice and holding juvenile offenders accountable for the victims losses. It also fosters empathy by helping juveniles to internalize the consequences of their actions and understand the broader impact of crime on victims and their families, TCJPD Chief Juvenile Probation Officer Cory Burgess. The TCJPD also said the grant money would help victims receive financial compensation for property crimes through the Pot of Gold program. The department stressed the programs importance because victims of property crimes have to rely on the juvenile offender or their familys ability to pay financial restitution. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. WOODMERE, Ohio (WJW) The FOX 8 I-Team investigated an expensive dinner for local elected officials, and your tax dollars paid for it. The Woodmere Village Council called it a retreat. We asked, Why should taxpayers call that a good use of their money? Over 35 animals removed from Lily Rose Lees animal shelter We found the Woodmere Village councilmembers held a retreat at Heritage Steak & Whiskey. Records show the bill totaled $1,019.67. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The meals included an $86 ribeye, an $85 seafood dish, a $38 pork chop and more. Councilman Seth Young told us he ordered salad with steak. We asked, But at a time when people cant even afford groceries, why is this even necessary? Young answered, Council retreat. We do a lot of great things for the community, and it was a decision that was made as a whole. We also went to Council President Nicole Culliver. The I-Team said, And you guys had a retreat at a very fancy restaurant, how do you explain that? Culliver responded with, We live in this community and we support our community. Thats how we justify it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Woodmere may just be a tiny village in eastern Cuyahoga County, but you can find a wide variety of places to eat. Yet council members felt they had to meet at a white-cloth restaurant to support local business. We continued with Culliver, asking, You have no pizza shops? No subs? No place to buy peanut butter and jelly? She answered, Woodmere businesses. Woodmere Village. We are allowed to go in our own community. The I-Team looked into this after getting a tip from a concerned taxpayer. While the bill from the restaurant totaled more than a thousand bucks, you can add another $83 to the cost of the retreat for gift bags. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Familys dog stolen from front porch in broad daylight Council members at the retreat got gift bags with pens and cards to send notes to residents. In the meantime, we noticed the mayor of Woodmere was not at that retreat, so we went to see him. I was not invited, Mayor Ben Holbert said. When we went to see the mayor, he was getting ready to deliver food baskets to people in need folks who cant afford a fancy dinner out. Theyre elected officials. Im an elected official. And they made their decision, Holbert said. The council president told the I-Team, We are very aware of our funds. Culliver argues the village council does not waste money. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, we couldnt get a straight answer as we asked if council would hold the same kind of retreat again. I thank you very much for your questions, Culliver finally said. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. Your health insurance changed or even canceled without your knowledge. Its happened to families here in the Miami Valley, and hundreds of thousands across the country, who rely on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace. A News Center 7 I-Team investigation uncovered how rouge insurance agents made millions by taking advantage of consumers and your tax dollars. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The I-Teams lead investigative reporter, John Bedell, found out how bad actors were able to pull this off with very little information. Lorie and Randy Delaney, from South Charleston, say a rouge insurance agent treated their healthcare like a pinball bouncing them around from one plan to another to make money. I have insurance PTSD from dealing with all of this, Lorie said during a recent interview with the I-Team at their home in Clark County. Every month I had to check insurance (with Marketplace). Delaney said. I pick up the phone. I call. Im like, Do we have coverage? And theyre like, Yep, you got coverage, but its with United Healthcare. Im like, how is it with United Healthcare? I put it back to Medical Mutual. Why is it with United Healthcare? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Delaneys got an Affordable Care Act (ACA) plan when Lorie was working as a contractor and not eligible for her employers healthcare plans. To make sure both of our medicines were covered, I signed us up for Marketplace, Lorie said. But it was a trip to the pharmacy to pick up Randys insulin for his diabetes that let them know something was wrong. And when I got to the pharmacy, you can imagine my shock when they told us it was $1,096, Lorie said. I was like, uh, what? Yeah, theres no way were picking that up today. An insurance broker in Texas had enrolled Lorie and Randy in a new plan without their knowledge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The I-Team has talked with people across the country who have had their health insurance hijacked. Tiesha Foreman lives in Douglasville, Georgia. She told the I-Team the first sign of trouble for her was when her daughters pediatrician thought the family had no insurance. Its stressful, Foreman said. And scary. And its embarrassing because you have them looking back at you like, Why are you giving us this card saying that youre covered and youre not again? She later found out she had several policies at the same time after brokers she never met enrolled her. For three months, I kept trying to call on the phone, trying to talk to the marketplace to get them to understand I wasnt doing these applications, Foreman said. I didnt know who this agent was. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ashley Akra lives in Mint Hill, North Carolina, and told the I-Team it happened to her too. End of February 2023, someone signed us up back up to the Marketplace insurance without our knowledge or consent and for a full government subsidy as well, Akra told the I-Team. Our newborn needed medication. So we went to the pharmacy and they were like, shes not on your insurance. You have this plan, which was not my plan through my job. And thats how we found out. A class action lawsuit the I-Team reviewed claims families who rely on the Affordable Care Act Marketplace for healthcare are victims of a multimillion-dollar health insurance fraud scheme. The companies named in the lawsuit have denied wrongdoing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I believe this is the largest health insurance fraud case ever, attorney Jason Doss told the I-Team. Doss is a lawyer for one of the plaintiffs in the case. Doss says rogue insurance agents exploited a provision added during COVID aimed at letting low-income Americans switch their coverage any time, not just during open enrollment. The problem is: what if the bad guy owns the enrollment platform? They have the keys to the castle, Doss said. If insurance companies switch your ACA plan, they make money a monthly commission of about $20 per policy. All they need is a first name, last name, date of birth, and state, said insurance agent Callie Navrides, who is also one of the class action plaintiffs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Navrides says her clients kept getting switched without her knowledge. Over and over and over again, she said. And like a dozen times with just one person, like one client. The lawsuit says they got Navrides clients information using popup ads online advertising free money. Many customers thought they were just requesting information but got signed up for health coverage instead. The federal government says between January and August this year, nearly 275,000 people complained they were changed from or enrolled in plans without their consent. Each switch meant potential gaps in their health insurance coverage. Its just like somebody is in there just messing with your life every day, Delaney told the I-Team. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Feds have now suspended 850 agents and brokers for reasonable suspicion of fraudulent or abusive conduct related to unauthorized enrollments or plan switches. Since the lawsuit, any new agent on a policy must conduct a three-way call with the Marketplace and the customer. The Delaneys said their plan became such a hassle and so expensive that theyre now going without health insurance until December 1 when Lories insurance kicks in from her new job. I want to be an advocate for other people to help them navigate through this awful process with Marketplace, Lorie said. And the Delaneys are afraid this hassle isnt over for them. Even after their new insurance starts, theyre worried theyll get a surprise bill during tax season in the spring. Lorie said that rogue broker incorrectly adjusted their income several times, which can cause IRS penalties of thousands of dollars something she worries shell also have to fight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement sent to the I-Team, a spokesperson for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), which operates the Health insurance Marketplace created by the ACA, said: CMS continues to exercise its full statutory and regulatory authority to protect the integrity of the Federally Facilitated Marketplace (FFM), which include FFM platform and State-based Marketplaces that operate on the federal platform. CMS continues to protect consumers from unauthorized changes to their FFM enrollments. This includes reviewing and addressing consumer complaints as quickly as possible, updating Marketplace systems to prevent unauthorized changes, including unauthorized cancellations, with as little disruption to consumer access to Marketplace enrollment as possible, arming consumers with resources and information to help them avoid and report unauthorized plan changes by agents and brokers, and suspending and terminating the Marketplace agreements of agents and brokers who have engaged in fraud or abusive conduct. Beginning July 19, 2024, CMS began blocking agents and brokers from making changes to a consumers FFM enrollment, unless the agent or broker is already associated with the consumers enrollment. If a consumer would like to work with an agent or broker not already associated with their profile, the consumer must conduct a three-way call with the Marketplace Call Center and the new agent or broker. The consumer can also submit the change to their enrollment directly through the Marketplace Call Center, HealthCare.gov, or an approved Classic Direct Enrollment or Enhanced Direct Enrollment partner website with a consumer pathway. This same logic prevents agents and brokers from canceling a consumers enrollment if they are not already associated with the enrollment unless the consumer conducts a three-way call with the Marketplace Call Center and the agent or broker. The agency continues to conduct robust oversight and monitoring of agents and brokers on the FFM and is evaluating additional technological solutions to preserve access to high-quality, person-centered, and affordable healthcare coverage a critical priority for CMS and the Biden-Harris Administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to these actions, CMS has proposed additional measures to prevent unauthorized Marketplace activity among agents and brokers in the Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for 2026 Proposed Rule. This includes strengthening review and enforcement actions, expanding authority to suspend agents and brokers, and updates to consumer consent forms. Protecting the millions of people served by CMS programs remains the agencys top priority. CMS continues to leverage a broad array of resources to warn FFM consumers about potentially fraudulent agent or broker activity and misleading marketing websites. Consumers who believe they may have been the victim of unauthorized FFM agent or broker activity should call the Marketplace Call Center at 1-800-318-2596 (TTY: 1-855-889-4325) to resolve any coverage issues promptly. From June 2024 through October 2024, CMS suspended 850 agents and brokers Marketplace agreements for reasonable suspicion of fraudulent or abusive conduct related to unauthorized enrollments or unauthorized plan switches. Agents and brokers who are suspended are prohibited from participating in Marketplace enrollment, including receiving related commissions. For additional information about CMS actions to prevent unauthorized agent and broker Marketplace activity, see the statement we issued Oct. 17, 2024. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Matt Gaetz may have withdrawn his name from consideration to become Donald Trumps attorney general over sexual misconduct accusations but alleged sexual abuser Pete Hegseth is still fighting to persuade Republican senators to confirm him to one of the most powerful positions in government. Hegseth was already facing an uphill confirmation battle to become the Secretary of Defense given that he is best known as a Fox News host with no government experience. The emergence of a disturbing sexual assault accusation against him from 2017 isnt helping matters and Trumps team is pissed. According to four sources familiar with the situation, some top Trump transition officials and others close to the president-elect have been puzzled, if not infuriated, that Hegseth did not preemptively inform them of the allegations against him before they made their way into the press most notably through the publication of a police report detailing the alleged incident at a hotel in Monterey, California. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How did he not know? Why didnt he tell us? a source close to Trump says. Pete wasnt interviewing for a job at McDonalds; this is the fucking Pentagon! Even if the allegations are fake, it doesnt matter because he was supposed to tell us what we needed to know so we could be better prepared to defend him not learn about it from the media. There was, the sources say, a vetting process for the Hegseth pick, but it did not uncover these details, nor was it especially invasive. Trumps transition team did not sign agreements with the White House or the Justice Department to allow the FBI to conduct background checks on the president-elects nominees. When we ask, Is there anything else we need to know about? that is usually a good time to mention a police report, a Trump adviser says. Obviously he remembered that this all happened and there is no way I dont think he could have believed this wouldnt come out once he got nominated. Steven Cheung, the Trump campaigns communications director, says in a statement: Pete Hegseth dedicated his entire life as a warrior for the troops and for our country. He adds, With Pete as our Secretary of Defense, Americas enemies are on notice and our military will be great again. We look forward to his confirmation and to him serving as Secretary of Defense. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mediate has also reported on the Trump teams anger with Hegseth for not divulging more about the allegation before Trump announced the pick earlier this month, with one source noting: He told the campaign theres no issues. Hegseth went to Capitol Hill on Thursday to reassure senators that, despite the allegations, he should be placed in charge of the worlds most powerful military. Republican lawmakers gave mixed reactions when speaking with the media about Hegseths candidacy, with some brushing off the police report which was made public Wednesday as nothing more than allegations, and some, like Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), noting that it is a pretty big problem, given that we have, you know, we have a sexual assault problem in our military, per NBC News. The matter was fully investigated and I was completely cleared and thats where I am going to leave it, Hegseth told reporters after his day in Congress. Hegseth was accompanied by Vice President-elect J.D. Vance, who is currently a senator himself. Vance also accompanied Gaetz as he met with senators on Tuesday, a day before the congressman-turned-Cameo star withdrew his name from contention to become attorney general. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This story has been updated to include a comment from the Trump campaign. More from Rolling Stone Best of Rolling Stone Sign up for RollingStone's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Nov. 22A discussion and vote on allowing armed staff at Tecumseh Local Schools has been postponed until next year. The school board had a resolution on Tuesday night's agenda about allowing armed staff in school safety zones. However, school board President Sue Anne Martin made a motion to postpone this item until the Jan. 7, 2025, meeting, with all five members voting yes. The original resolution, states the board believes that "the safety of their students and staff is paramount" and that "approved administrators, teachers, and school support staff with appropriate training are capable to defend and protect students and that such protection is essential in creating and preserving a proper learning environment." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other language in the resolution includes: Trained, armed staff would be allowed as long as Tecumseh's school board notifies the public and pays all fees associated with the training and submits a list of authorized personnel to the Ohio School Safety Center. Approved personnel who meet the requirements of the law would convey or posses deadly weapons or dangerous ordnance into a school safety zone. The superintendent would create procedures for qualified people to be trained and approved by the Safety Committee, and would submit a list of authorized personnel to the Ohio School Safety and Crisis Center, "which shall not be disclosed and shall not be considered a public record." A few people spoke at Tuesday's meeting, expressing their agreement and concerns about arming staff. Sam George, who has lived in Bethel Twp. for 52 years, spoke from the perspective of a former paramedic. He mentioned a 1958 Chicago school fire where 90 students died. "It has been 66 years and no deaths since. How did they do that? What did they do? Well, they educated everybody within the building," George said. "They put automatic fire alarms in, smoke detectors and sprinklers. They're fighting from within," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement George said if and when there's a violent situation, people call 911 because police have the tools needed to control or eliminate the threat. "In the event the school resource officers are not in the building, five minutes could travel. It could be the arrival time of the police officer based upon the time the dispatcher receives the phone call and dispatches the police officer ... Do we really want to wait? Or do you want to have somebody from within that is trained with the proper tools? Let's take a lesson, learn from the fire deaths and apply it here," he said, saying he supports the arming of staff 100% and hopes others will as well. Robin Morris, a Park Layne Elementary teacher, talked about her concerns and questions, but said that having resource officers that show their faces and know the kids, makes them feel safe. "My first biggest concern is guns in school. If you are talking about trained staff, what does that look like? Who are we talking about? Are we talking about one gun that can serve somewhere tucked far safe away for one person that is trained to get to it in a situation or are we talking about staff that have their concealed and carry and they have a gun with them?" she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Morris said she is advocating on behalf of teachers and staff so their voice can be heard as well. "I just want us to really take some time and think about that and what that looks like, what that entails and how that will come about. Are the staff members going to have any kind of discussion about that, or is that completely a board decision?" she said. "I just want to make sure you know that we know specifically what we're talking about when we talk about training people, and how that would look, and I feel like the staff should have some input in that or at least some type of discussion before it's just decided upon." Kerry Cassell, who is employed by the district and is the teacher's union president, said she read about arming staff for the first time in this meeting's agenda. "I just want to know why now? We've had conversations many, many times over the years, and the board and administrators have always been opposed to arming teachers. I don't understand why now in November on a random Tuesday all of the sudden we need to pass a resolution to arm our staff," she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cassell said the teacher's union is going to send a letter to demand to bargain over this issue "because it's a change of working conditions for our staff." "My concern is the reality of the resolution is there will be teachers who no longer feel safe coming to work and that's not OK. We will have families that no longer feel safe sending their kids to our schools, and that is no longer OK," she said. PELLA, Iowa The Pella Police Department released more information on Thursday about a knife attack that resulted in two students being injured at Pella Middle School Wednesday morning. At around 7:41 a.m., before the start of classes, the police department responded to a report of a student armed with a knife inside the middle school. According to police, within two minutes of being alerted of the situation officers had secured the school and taken the student into custody. 2 suspects from Georgia arrested in West Des Moines bank robbery Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to police, a 14-year-old male student had brought a large kitchen knife to school and attacked multiple students in the cafeteria. The male student attacked a female student and hit her in the neck and back several times with the knife. The male student then tried to attack a second student, but was unsuccessful. The male student then attacked a third student, striking her in the arm with the knife. Police said the two students who were attacked sustained minor lacerations and were able to be treated and released at the scene. The male student has now been charged with the following in juvenile court: Three counts of Attempt to Commit Murder Two counts of Willful Injury One count of Assault with Intent to Inflict Serious Injury One count of Possession of a Dangerous Weapon by a Minor Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The investigation into the incident is ongoing and more information will be released when made available. The Pella Police Department is asking parents and students with any information about the incident to contact the department. Latest Iowa News: Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to who13.com. CHICAGO A search is underway on Thursday afternoon for the person who sexually assaulted a teen girl at knifepoint inside her home on the citys West Side overnight. According to Chicago police, the incident unfolded just before 1 a.m. on Thursday morning in the 300 block of South Kilpatrick Avenue, in Austin. Officers said the victim, a 13-year-old girl, was asleep inside her home when she was awoken by a person who was groping her while armed with a knife. The individual then fled the scene on a rental bicycle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement COPA releases new video of 2022 police shooting that left man paralyzed Chicago police are now searching for the person responsible, who was described as a clean-shaven Black male, who stands around 6 feet tall with a slim build. At the time of the incident, officers said the perpetrator was spotted wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, a green jacket, a black hat, a surgical mask that was covering his face and a blue rubber glove on his right hand. Police advise anyone who is confronted by an assailant to try and remain calm. Authorities warn the public never to pursue a fleeing assailant and instead work to remember any unique physical characteristics of the offenders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Charges filed against man accused in Southwest Side shooting that injured 1 Police say those who fall victim or witness a crime should call 911 immediately and provide authorities with a detailed description of the offenders. Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact CPD Area Four Detectives at 312-746-8251 or dial 911. Those with information that could help detectives in their investigation can also leave a tip at CPDtip.com. Tips can be filed anonymously. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. WALTON COUNTY, Fla. (WKRG) An Alabama teenager who was saved from a shark attack over the summer returned to Northwest Florida to thank the team that helped her recover. Man with outstanding warrants in Baldwin County considered armed and dangerous: Semmes police 15-year-old Lulu Gribbin of Mountain Brook was attacked by a shark on June 7, 2024, in Walton County near Rosemary Beach, News 5 previously reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her life was saved by Nurse Delanie Quinnelly Richardson with USA Health Childrens and Womens Hospital. Gribbin was then airlifted to the Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital after being saved from the attack. According to officials with Ascension Sacred Heart, Gribbin returned to Northwest Florida to thank her care team on Thursday. Hospital officials shared the following photos of the reunion with News 5: (Ascension Sacred Heart) (Ascension Sacred Heart) (Ascension Sacred Heart) (Ascension Sacred Heart) (Ascension Sacred Heart) (Ascension Sacred Heart) (Ascension Sacred Heart) (Ascension Sacred Heart) (Ascension Sacred Heart) (Ascension Sacred Heart) (Ascension Sacred Heart) (Ascension Sacred Heart) (Ascension Sacred Heart) (Ascension Sacred Heart) (Ascension Sacred Heart) (Ascension Sacred Heart) Gribbin also reunited with the flight crew who took her to the hospital after the attack, according to a Facebook post by Okaloosa MedFlight. We extend our gratitude to the Gribbin family for allowing us to share in her journey and for visiting with us today. We are lucky to have been a part of her story and have no doubt she will continue to amaze us all, the post said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Carey Dale Grayson executed by nitrogen hypoxia Gribbin, who lost one leg and one arm, has since returned to school in Mountain Brook. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. A teenage boy stabbed in the head at his Queens high school was attacked by at least three knife-wielding teens, two of whom he wounded while defending himself, a law enforcement source told the Daily News on Friday. The 16-year-old victim was attacked inside Long Island City High School on Broadway near 21st St. in Astoria at 2:25 p.m. on Thursday, cops said. The victim managed to disarm one of his assailants amid the fracas, turning the knife against his opponents and slashing two of his attackers, the source said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The violence spurred administrators to place the school into a soft lockdown and school safety agents rushed to break up the bloody knife fight, said DOE spokeswoman Jenna Lyle, who condemned the school hall violence. Violence has absolutely no place in our schools, and this behavior is unacceptable, said Lyle. Medics rushed the victim to Elmhurst Hospital Center in stable condition, cops said. Police held two 16-year-old boys for questioning after the attack, police said. A 15-year-old boy was arrested for assault and criminal possession of a weapon, cops said. The NYC Department of Education pledged to increase security at the Queens high school in the wake of Thursdays assault and will offer trauma counseling to students impacted by the assault, Lyle said. SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) Four teenagers accused of carrying out pellet gun attacks in Hillcrest earlier this year have officially been charged with felony hate crimes. Three 19-year-old suspects who were arrested arrested last week Anthony Lopez-Quinionez, Arturo Herrera-Sustaita and Angelo Nathaniel Aron made their first court appearance on Thursday. They join another 19-year-old suspect, Hernan Garduno Hernandez, who was taken into custody shortly after the assaults in early September. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Coronado schools placed on temporary lockdown after unsubstantiated threat According to police, these attacks occurred between Sept. 2 and Sept. 9 along University Avenue one of Hillcrests main commercial arteries. Gel-style pellets had been fired at people walking on the streets sidewalk, leaving several with minor injuries. Lopez-Quinionez, Herrera-Sustaita, Aron and Garduno Hernandez were specifically believed to have been involved in six individual pellet-gun shootings on Sept. 7, prosecutors say, all occurring around 10 p.m. between the 300 and 400 blocks of University Avenue. The teenagers pleaded not guilty to six felony counts of battery with a hate crime modification during their respective arraignments. They face a maximum of six years and four months behind bars if convicted on all counts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In order to convict them of a hate crime, deputy district attorney Abigail Dillon said prosecutors will need to prove that the criminal conduct was motivated to some degree by an underlying bias against a protected characteristic of the victim. That could be someones race, either ethnicity, nationality, religion, sexual orientation or gender, she said. Fernanda Ezquerro, the attorney representing one of the suspects, argued it is unclear whether prosecutors will be able to meet this burden of proof to show the criminal conduct was in fact motivated by a bias towards a protected characteristic. I would just ask everyone to keep an open mind, like I said these are young men. We dont know what the motivation behind this was, Ezquerro said. Three teenagers accused of carrying out a series of pellet gun attacks in Hillcrest make their first appearance in court on Nov. 21, 2024. (FOX 5/KUSI) The teens posted bail and have been released. As part of their release, the court issued a stay away order for the corridor of University Avenue where the attacks occurred. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The September pellet gun attacks came after a similar shooting in Hillcrest earlier this year, although authorities do not believe the two incidents are connected. The first string of pellet gun shootings in the early hours of May 18 hit four bars Richs night club, The Rail, Pecs Bar and Number One Fifth Avenue. A number of people were injured in the incident, including at least one who required minor surgery afterwards. San Diego police have not made an arrest in connection to the May attacks. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Bobby Pulido performs at Festival Arre 2024 at Foro GNP on Sept. 7, 2024 in Mexico City - Credit: Jaime Nogales/Medios y Media/Getty Images Bobby Pulido is leaving music to pursue politics. On Thursday, the Tejano artist behind hit Desvelado announced that hell be leaving music following a 2025 farewell tour to run for office in the 2026 midterm elections. To be quite honest, Im enjoying the most success Ive ever had. But like the saying goes: All good things must come to an end, Pulido said during a press conference. Today, Im announcing my farewell tour for next year. Its not a decision I have hastily made. Ive given it a lot of thought. I think my life has reached a full circle. More from Rolling Stone Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Growing up, public service always intrigued me. I was a Texas Boy Stater in high school and studied political sciences because it was a passion of mine, he added. In 2026, I will be running for office in an attempt to fulfill my lifelong dream: to serve my people. Pulido said he isnt ready to share what hes running for just yet, nor what party hell join. However, he joined Beto ORourke for a rally during his run for Texas Senate against Ted Cruz back in 2018. People are exhausted from a grueling political season. In due time, everyone will know what I stand for and in what capacity Id like to serve, Pulido said Thursday. The tour, named the Por La Puerta Grande Tour, will include a stop at Besame Mucho Austin next April. (He has yet to share the tour routing.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pulido started his speech by sharing his journey into music: He did well in high school and studied poli-sci at St. Marys in San Antonio before music flirted with me and he decided to drop out around the time that Selena Quintanilla was killed. Fighting back tears, Pulido thanked his friends and family, his ex-wife, and the folks whove supported his music career. Pulido launched his career in 1995 with the platinum-selling album Desvelado, featuring his smash hit of the same name. (The track resurged in 2007 after being featured in Kate Del Castillo film, Under the Same Moon.) His second LP, Ensename, featured the hit Se Murio de Amor. Throughout his career, Pulido failed to reach the same level of success as his Nineties LPs, releasing 14 albums throughout his career. However, he did earn a Latin Grammy for his EP Para Que Baile Mi Pueblo in 2022. Best of Rolling Stone Sign up for RollingStone's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. When Lucy Frazer, the former culture secretary, intervened to halt the sale of The Telegraph to a fund backed by Abu Dhabi, it was clear the Gulf states swoop on the British media would not go smoothly. Few could have predicted, however, that a full year later RedBird IMI would be left clutching a newspaper it was legally blocked from controlling. For staff at The Telegraph it has been a year of limbo, with executives blocked from making strategic decisions even as the media landscape shifts rapidly underfoot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Alice Enders, a media analyst, describes the newspaper as like a drifting ghost ship in Pirates of the Caribbean. Its very detrimental to people who work there being a journalist is a very tough profession and to be stuck in this sort of limbo for more than a year already is not good for the organisation in terms of its cohesion and direction of travel, she says. Frazers first intervention was to issue a Public Interest Intervention Notice (PIIN) last November, triggering a regulatory investigation into a complex deal that would see RedBird IMI repay 1.2bn in debt owed to Lloyds Banking Group by previous owners the Barclay family. Roughly half this sum would in turn convert into ownership of The Telegraph and the Spectator magazine. Following months of scrutiny and cross-party opposition from MPs the deal was scuppered in March with the introduction of new laws banning foreign state control of British newspapers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the diplomatic fallout spread, RedBird IMI put both The Telegraph and Spectator back on the block. Sir Paul Marshall, the hedge fund billionaire behind GB News, acquired the worlds oldest weekly magazine for 100m an eye-watering price tag that exceeded even RedBird IMIs best hopes. A sale of The Telegraph still has not been finalised, however. Dovid Efune, the little-known publishing entrepreneur behind online outlet The New York Sun, tabled the leading bid and is currently locked in exclusive discussions. Little-known entrepreneur Dovid Efune is locked in exclusive discussions to buy The Telegraph - Jared Siskin/Patrick Mcmullan But several potential backers have left talks to bankroll Mr Efunes bid, raising questions over whether he can assemble the 500m-plus required to buy the newspaper. So with just a week left until talks expire at the end of the month, uncertainty is mounting over whether RedBird IMI will be able to recover its costs. The troubles have fuelled speculation that RedBird IMI, which is majority-owned by UAE vice president Sheikh Mansour, has been over-optimistic in its hopes for the sale. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lord Saatchi, who was knocked out of the auction in August when his 350m bid was rejected, said he was sorry RedBird IMI overpaid. Marshall is understood to have baulked at the lofty valuation and opted to go into battle with Rupert Murdoch for the smaller and nominally cheaper Spectator instead. Among senior London investment bankers the saga has become the stuff of comic cocktail chatter. It is said in polite society that the founders of RedBird IMIs original deal adviser Robey Warshaw Sir Simon Robey and Simon Warshaw now claim ignorance of the debacle, directing questions at their junior partner, the novice investment banker and podcaster George Osborne. Tales are also told of a weekly call between Osborne, RedBird IMI chief Rani Raad and Raine, the adviser appointed to sell The Telegraph on. Sultan Al Jaber, the senior Emirati behind the original deal with the Barclay family, occasionally interjects with demands to the effect of get my damn money back, bankers claim. RedBird IMI has some tools at its disposal to push through a deal, including providing a vendor loan to Mr Efune to help him reach the necessary funding. However, sources close to the fund have denied it will opt for this route. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is also the prospect that all or some of the funding that came from US-based RedBird Capital around 128m could be rolled over into the new deal. Should Mr Efune not be able to find the funding, or if RedBird IMI is unwilling to slash the price tag to accommodate him, it raises the prospect of a fresh auction. Yet even a year after the PIIN was triggered, legal and regulatory questions remain. While the previous government pushed through new laws on foreign ownership of newspapers, secondary legislation outlining exceptions to the rules has still not been passed. Ms Frazer had said she was considering imposing a 5pc cap on foreign state investment, but this threshold has not yet been set. A cap on foreign state investment in newspapers mooted by Ms Frazer has not yet been set - Victoria Jones/PA Wire Rival media groups including Rupert Murdochs News UK and DMGT, the Daily Mail publisher owned by Lord Rothermere, have lobbied for this cap to be raised, warning of unintended consequences that would stymie investment in the British media industry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In response, ministers proposed to increase the cap to 10pc for diversified businesses whose UK newspaper holdings account for 20pc or less of their global turnover. Yet industry insiders point out that the UKs rules on newspaper ownership are now more stringent than national security laws that govern highly sensitive industries such as energy, defence and telecoms. Responsibility now lies with Lisa Nandy, the new Culture Secretary, to finalise the rules. Ministers are understood to be working on the legislation, with a decision expected in the coming months. But industry observers question whether this lack of clarity has put off prospective bidders. Sovereign wealth funds in countries like Norway, for example, could be cleared to bid if a suitable threshold were set. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The public interest regime remains a huge hurdle and no one would be stupid enough to close without that clearance, which will allow RedBird IMI to finally be shot of the asset it still in principle owns, says Enders. Meanwhile, The Telegraph remains in stasis. Under the terms of the PIIN, the independent directors overseeing the newspaper are barred from making any management changes without the Culture Secretarys consent. Responsibility to finalise newspaper ownership rules now lies with Lisa Nandy, the new Culture Secretary - Wiktor Szymanowicz/Future Publishing The Telegraph remains a profitable business, with operating profits of 54.2m in 2023, up more than a third on the previous year. Those profits, however, are not being invested in the future of journalism. The Telegraphs parent structure, starting with Press Acquisitions Limited, is paying tens of millions of pounds of fees to advisers and on liabilities including a 60m loan from Lloyds Banking Group. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A source close to RedBird IMI insisted that all profits remained within the business and were overseen by the independent directors, in line with the requirements of the PIIN. Nevertheless, uncertainty over future ownership has left executives with little scope to set out a long-term strategy and make investments in journalism. While the UAEs swoop on The Telegraph proved a headache for the previous Conservative government, it could now be up to Labour to determine the ultimate conclusion. Sir Keir Starmer will travel to the UAE and Saudi Arabia next month in a bid to drum up foreign investment for nuclear power and other infrastructure that might boost Britains weak growth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yet Sheikh Mansour is still likely to be reeling from his attempt to invest in the UK media sector. Enders says the process sorely tested his dignity. The lengthy delays to secondary legislation on foreign ownership have fuelled speculation that the Prime Minister could open the door to soften the rules, allowing some money linked to RedBird IMI to remain in the deal. So as he embarks on his trip to the Gulf next month, Sir Keir may face uncomfortable questions about how he plans to bring this long-running saga to its end. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. The Texas State Board of Education has approved the use of Bible-based lessons in public elementary schools. Officials voted 8-7 on the measure during a hearing in Austin on Friday. The new curriculum, developed by Bluebonnet Learning and the Texas Education Agency, pertains to reading and language arts lessons for kids in grades K-5 and math lessons for kids in grades K-8. The teachings call into question the constitutionally of such tax-payer-funded instruction. It remains unclear if the curriculum would violate the Establishment Clause in the First Amendment, which prohibits the government from establishing a religion or providing official support for a religion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The instruction includes lessons on Biblical beliefs, including the stories of Moses, the Good Samaritan, the Golden Rule and readings from the Book of Genesis. The curriculum is optional but schools could get additional funding if they implement the teachings, set to be available to educators in August 2025. Its approval is the latest development in a series of GOP efforts to bring Christianity into public school systems across the country. In Oklahoma, the states top educator, Ryan Walters, has ordered teachers to keep a copy of the Bible in classrooms. In Louisiana, officials hope to post the Ten Commandments in classrooms starting next year. Protesters gather outside a 2022 education board meeting in Austin (AP) Critics of the new Texas instruction raised concerns about how the lessons could inappropriately promote the Christian faith in classrooms, whether the materials are age-appropriate or will be effective. Those who support it, say the lessons could help develop students writing and reading skills. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following the vote, the Texas American Federation of Teachers said in a written statement that the new teachings violate the states Code of Ethics by infusing lessons with Bible-based references more appropriate for Sunday Schools than public schools. The group argues the new teachings come from idealogues instead of educational experts and is asking districts not to use them. At a moment of profound political division, this curriculum is a concerted effort to other and exclude students of differing cultures and religions through state-sponsored instructional materials. It is the latest evidence that Christian nationalists have bought their way into every governing body of the state, including the state Board of Education... We can anticipate what will come next, whether thats the erasure of contributions of marginalized populations in social studies or the minimalization of climate change in science. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President-elect Donald Trump has called for the disbandment of the federal Department of Education, for a more conservative agenda in public schools and for banning educators from teaching on critical race theory. In 2023, Governor Greg Abbott asked the Texas Education Agency to develop a new curriculum pending approval from the state Board of Education. Abbott has praised the materials and said they would help students better understand the connection of history, art, community, literature, and religion on pivotal events like the signing of the US Constitution, the Civil Rights Movement, and the American Revolution. Texas gave final approval Friday to optional biblical lesson plans for kindergarten through 5th grade classes in state public schools. The State Board of Education voted 8-7 to allow lessons on topics such as Jesuss Sermon on the Mount and the Last Supper, structured by the state-created Bluebonnet Learning. Schools are not required to implement the curriculum but would receive an additional $60 per student in funding if administrators adopt it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The curriculum will be available for the 2025-2026 school year. The measure is supported by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, who said back in May the lessons will bring students back to the basics of education and provide the necessary fundamentals in math, reading, science, and other core subjects. The materials will also allow our students to better understand the connection of history, art, community, literature, and religion on pivotal events like the signing of the U.S. Constitution, the Civil Rights Movement, and the American Revolution, Abbott added. Critics have said the curriculum disproportionately focuses on Christianity over other religions and is simply another attempt to blur the lines between church and state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Texas AFT [American Federation of Teachers] believes that not only do these materials violate the separation of church and state and the academic freedom of our classroom, but also the sanctity of the teaching profession. These prescriptive materials cannot meet all learners in all contexts, and teachers must be empowered to adapt to the needs of their students, the group said in a statement. The State Board of Education heard hours of testimony from more than 150 people this week for and against the curriculum. The move is likely to be challenged in court, as have related measures approved by some of Texass neighboring states. Louisiana is looking to add posters of the Ten Commandments into all public school classrooms, while Oklahoma is adding copies of the Bible to classrooms and mandating the book be used in lessons. Both states are facing legal challenges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. JUNEAU It was 2008 when a new company here hired Dan Wegener to fix some lights in an old building that had been used to make wooden pallets. At first, Wegener, an electrician who owns his own company, was skeptical about the new tenant and figured the venture in the city's industrial park on a hill overlooking Dodgeland High School would last only a few months. After all, who would spend more than $500 on a globe-shaped, self-cleaning robotic litter box for a cat? Wegener, now the city's mayor, has a clear answer. And it has meant huge investments and hundreds of jobs in his Dodge County community of 2,658 people. "It just baffles my mind. I don't think the community ever anticipated this" said Wegener, a life-long resident. "It's been nothing but a positive for the city of Juneau. I see a lot of people retiring here. This will be the last place they ever work." Over the last 16 years, that company, Whisker, has spent more than $14 million in improvements, expansions and additions for what is now more than 200,000-square-feet of manufacturing, warehouse and office space with a workforce here of more than 430 people. The company recently purchased an adjacent five acres for future expansion and is trying to build more parking for its employees. Hiring is a constant and the company is now on the fourth version of its Litter-Robot while also offering its customers litter, automatic feeders and even toys as part of its growing product mix that is sold direct via its website but also at major retailers like Best Buy, Walmart, Costco, Amazon, Target and PetSmart. The timing and the products by Whisker came on the heels of the 2008 recession, the rise of internet retailing and at a time of pet owners ramping up their ways in which to spoil their animals and themselves on new gadgets and trends. According to Bloomberg, the pet supply industry is expected to balloon from $320 billion to more than $500 billion by 2030. The sector includes toys, beds, organic foods, pharmaceuticals, specialized litter, clothing, daycare facilities, spas, grooming and veterinarian services in which pet owners routinely shell out thousands of dollars for kidney and cancer treatments, the repair of damaged ligaments and dental work. A robotic, self-cleaning litter box that can be managed from a smart phone fits right in to the impassioned, heart-felt spending habits of modern cat owners. "This is just a really cool product in terms of getting rid of a job that nobody likes to do," said Mike Lodl, senior director of operations for Whisker, but who has worked for GE Health Care and Trek Bicycle. "It allows you to be with your pets, enjoy your time together and not begrudge the job of scooping poop, which is not a fun thing to do." The Litter-Robot uses a rotating globe to separate clean litter from dirty clumps and then deposits them in a waste drawer. The unit senses when a cat enters the globe and then, after the cat exits waits a few minutes for the litter to clump. That's when globe rotates to separate the clumps from the clean litter with the clumps falling into the waste drawer, which is tightly sealed and concealed beneath the litter box. The Litter-Robot rotates in the opposite direction to put fresh litter back into place. The idea comes from Brad Baxter, a Lodi High School graduate who went on to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering at UW-Madison and spent 10 years in the automotive industry in Michigan where he was exposed beginning in the late 1980s to the intersection of plastic parts and electronics. He also was a budding entrepreneur who had had two cats, which meant keeping up with their litter boxes. That's when, in 1999, Baxter formed Automated Petcare Products, the precursor to Whisker, and began experimenting with self-cleaning litter boxes. "I knew I really wanted to build a business around a great product idea. So that's how Litter-Robot came about because it was sort of an accidental discovery that this was the thing I was going to go after," said Baxter, 58. "I had a couple of cats and I was struggling with a litter box problem and just started thinking about how I could automate it and make it better." Baxter ultimately began looking at other automated litter boxes, none of which met his needs, before he found a patent that appeared to do the job and would be the basis for today's Litter-Robot. Baxter reached out to the inventor, they got along and within a few months the two agreed to a licensing agreement with Baxter working in a basement in Pontiac, Michigan. In April 2000, Baxter was showing off his first product at a show in California but had no money for mass production. That's when he approached his parents in the town of Dane and they agreed to take a second mortgage out on their house and loan their son $35,000 in exchange for a 35% stake in the company. "The first five years of being in business, we lost a lot of money," Baxter said. "At the five year mark I realized I really have to retool and get costs down and make a pivot and that's what I did." Baxter moved the company in the early 2000s to Sun Prairie to be closer to Prairie Plastics, which manufactured plastic parts for the litter boxes in the city's industrial park. That was followed by a move to an old feed mill before relocating to Columbus to a building owned by Prairie Plastics, which provided more space as the company grew. In 2008, Baxter purchased a 33,000-square-foot building from the city of Juneau but at the time thought it was too big for his needs. Those thoughts were short-lived as sales continue to balloon. The company's annual revenue has grown 35 times what is was in 2015 with nearly 400 employees added since 2019, the same year a 30,000-square foot addition was constructed. In 2022, the company completed a $10.7 million project that created a 165,000-square-foot warehouse and distribution facility. The project was supported by $450,000 in state tax credits based on the company creating 150 jobs, something it has now surpassed. But expansion hasn't been limited to Juneau. Whisker's corporate offices are in Auburn Hills, Michigan, where Baxter just completed a stint as the city's mayor. In January 2023, Whisker completed a $3 million renovation of its headquarters which included a new 8,000-square-foot research and development space, a new atrium and more pet-friendly areas. Back in Wisconsin, the addition of Whisker is reminiscent of nearby Horicon, home to massive John Deere plants that employ more than 1,200 people and produce snowblowers, lawnmowers and side-by-side utility vehicles. Only while the John Deere Horicon Works has been a Dodge County staple since 1911, Whisker is a relative newcomer but making a similar impact on the area. "It just baffles my mind," said Wegener, who continues to do contracted electrical work for Whisker. "It's our John Deere." A new workforce housing project consisting of 30 units near the Whisker plant was completed this fall by the Dodge County Housing Authority but housing remains a concern for the community as vacant apartments and homes that go up for sale are quickly snatched up, Wegener said. Long the county seat of Dodge County, Juneau's downtown is sparse with several empty buildings with those that do have tenants consisting of taverns, a bowling alley, a motorcycle parts shop and a few hair salons. Wegener, who owns three buildings in the city's downtown is hopeful that the success of Whisker could create more businesses in the community. Employees at Whisker come from about a 30 mile radius, said Mike Marks, the company's production manager, who runs the first and second shifts at the plant that is air conditioned in the summer and remarkably clean and quiet year round. "We're obviously suffering from growing pains. You can have demand but trying to keep up the head count needed can be challenging," said Marks, who grew up in West Bend and lives in Hartford. "We've done a lot of hiring in the last two months and we're getting close to where we need to be." The production plant holds multiple assembly lines, one for repairing and rehabbing returned units that are then sold at a discount while one line is for the third generation litter box and another for the fourth generation product, the latest in the product line up. Plastic moldings for the litter boxes are still manufactured in Wisconsin by contracted companies in Sheboygan, Burlington and Eau Claire but all assembly is done in Juneau. Whisker also rents 20,000-square-feet of storage in Reeseville and Fall River. Quality tests are done along the assembly line to ensure the safety of the felines once they start using the litter box. To help ease the Christmas rush, production was "level-loaded" throughout this year, meaning the company produced more units throughout the year beyond demand in anticipation of more orders this fall and early winter. The Litter-Robot 4 starts at $699 not including the litter hopper or specialized litter. "We're building this kitty, no pun intended, down in distribution, so that when Black Friday comes, we're ready for 20,000 units that first day and on Cyber Monday," Lodl said during a tour. "When the dishwasher came out, you didn't need to get a dishwasher. You don't need to get a Litter-Robot but man it makes life way more enjoyable when you don't have to do that chore." AUSTIN (KXAN) High-speed rail could be coming full steam ahead to the Interstate 35 corridor amid new bill filings from Texas lawmakers pushing the initiative. State Rep. John Bucy III (D-Austin) filed House Bill 483 on Nov. 12, which calls for allocations of state funding to support the development of high-speed rail linking Dallas, Austin and San Antonio. In a statement to KXAN, Bucy said state leadership needs to explore more robust mobility opportunities, particularly as the state works to improve its infrastructure to accommodate surging growth. With I-35 a key economic hub connecting metros across the state, he prioritized this area as part of his legislative filing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Texans and those visiting our great state deserve robust options for travel and commuting. The IH-35 corridor is a major hub for work and recreation, and it only makes sense that high speed rail is an option for this corridor. You could live and work in Dallas, go to a meeting in Austin, have dinner in San Antonio, and be home in time to put your kids to bed. All of that without having to sit in heavy traffic or go through airport security. Its time for Texas to lead once more on infrastructure, including on transit. Making Texas as good as its promise must include extensive and modern transit systems. State Rep. John Bucy III (D-Austin) RELATED: Texas committee advocating for expanded rail funding in next legislative session State Sen. Sarah Eckhardt (D-Austin) filed Nov. 21 an accompanying bill in the Texas Senate, Senate Bill 424. Both chambers bills outline a proposed development agreement between the Texas Department of Transportation and a private partner to construct, maintain and operate the rail line. Each version of the bill defines high-speed rail as reaching minimum speeds of 110 miles per hour. Bucy and Eckhardt arent the only elected officials in favor of the proposal. Travis County Judge Andy Brown and Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai held a joint press conference in late September to discuss the Texas Passenger Rail Advisory Committee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That committee is focused on petitioning for expanded rail funding in the upcoming legislative session, which kicks off in January. If passed and signed into law, the I-35 rail corridor wouldnt be the first iteration of high-speed rail in development within the Lone Star State. Amtrak and Texas Central Partners are advancing the Dallas to Houston High Speed Rail Project, a 240-mile passenger route designed to transport riders between the two cities in less than 90 minutes. However, there are already some lawmakers challenging the funding endeavor. Rep. Cody Harris (R-Palestine) filed HB 1402 Nov. 19, which aims to prohibit spending public money to pay for the alteration of a roadway related to high-speed rail construction. His bill, if passed, wouldnt allow the Texas Legislature to appropriate money for the cost of planning, facility construction or maintenance, or security for, promotion of, or operation of, high-speed rail operated by a private entity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Each of the bill filings proposed an effective date of Sept. 1, 2025, should either iteration be passed by the legislature and signed into law. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. (WFRV) U.S. Attorney Gregory J. Haanstad of the Eastern District of Wisconsin announced on Tuesday that a 43-year-old man from Texas was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison by Senior U.S. District Judge William C. Griesbach. Bobby Matjeka of San Antonio was indicted by a federal grand jury in April for the charges. Court records show that Matjeka was engaged in an online conversation with an Appleton woman, encouraging her to send him sexually explicit images of her daughter who was 8 years old at the time. Five men arrested following undercover human trafficking investigation in Oshkosh Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Online exchanges took place over about a year surrounding the rape and sexual abuse of the womans children. He also received images of the child continuously, while planning to install hidden cameras in her home to view the abuse. Judge Griesbach called the offense deplorable and despicable at sentencing while emphasizing the effects that Matjekas actions had on victims, thus leading to a 240-month or 20-year sentence in federal prison. Green Lake Sheriff shares new details on Ryan Borgwardts faked death, urges him to return Matjeka will spend 15 years on supervised release following the completion of his prison time, while also being required to register as a sex offender under federal and state laws. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No more details were provided. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. Texas reached a $12.6 million settlement with TPC Group over environmental violations related to the November 2019 explosions at the companys Port Neches chemical plant, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced Friday. The settlement requires TPC Group to repair or replace its equipment and to pay $12.6 million in penalties for violations of state emissions laws at the companys Port Neches plant after the 2019 blast. The explosions the day before Thanksgiving 2019 prompted the evacuations of more than 50,000 people from the area about 100 miles east of Houston. The blasts spewed more than 11 million pounds of hazardous substances, causing more than $130 million in offsite property damage and additional impacts to human health and the environment, according to the U.S. Justice Department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Texas sued TPC Group in 2020, alleging that the company continued to operate its plant in Port Neches despite knowing that the facility had issues and for violating emissions limits even after the blast. The state also alleged that the Houston-based company violated clean air laws multiple times from January 2018 to September 2019. In a statement, TPC Group said that it was working closely with the Texas Commission on Environment Quality and the attorney generals office to ensure its compliance with the states emission limits. The company described operational challenges caused by custom emission control units that it installed while converting the Port Neches plant after the explosion. TPC Group is committed to complying with the emission limits of its permits and has been working diligently to address the issues, Sara Cronin, TPC Groups vice president of communications and public affairs, said in a statement. The agreement is reflective of our dedication to work every day to be a positive part of the communities in which we operate and a leader in producing C4 petrochemicals. In May, TPC Group pleaded guilty to a violation of the Clean Air Act and agreed to pay more than $30 million associated with the explosions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The company filed for bankruptcy in 2022. In August, it agreed to pay $150 million in penalties related to violations alleged by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. In Texas, we believe in ensuring all industries operate safely and being responsible stewards of our environment, Paxton said in a statement Friday. These penalties send a clear message: operate responsibly to protect the health and safety of your fellow Texans, or face the consequences. (Bloomberg) -- Thailands Constitutional Court dismissed a complaint against former premier Thaksin Shinawatra and his family-backed ruling party, a major reprieve for his daughters less than three-month old government. The nations main stock index advanced. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The court will not proceed with a petition filed by an activist lawyer because there wasnt enough evidence to back up his allegations, it said in a statement Friday. It was the first of many petitions related to Thaksins alleged influence on the ruling party or the government to reach the top court. Theerayuth Suwankaesorns petition urged the court to order Thaksin and the ruling Pheu Thai Party of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra to cease all alleged attempts to overthrow the democratic regime of government with the king as head of state. For now, the dismissal eases some risks of political uncertainty and investor angst in a country still recovering from the same courts shock August order to remove then prime minister Srettha Thavisin in an ethics violation case. The court had also disbanded Thailands largest opposition party Move Forward over its campaign to amend a law prohibiting defamation of the royal family. READ: Complaints Against New Thai PM Pile Up as Old Guard Wields Power Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thailands benchmark stock index rose as much as 0.8% after the court statement, while the baht pared losses against the US dollar. A two-time former prime minister, Thaksin is not a member of Pheu Thai party though hes considered its de facto leader. Thailands most popular politician, Thaksin is widely seen as wielding significant influence in setting the direction for his 38-year-old daughters government. Paetongtarn welcomed the court decision saying it was good news and further reinforced her governments stability. On Thursday, the prime minister assured investors that Thailand will remain politically stable and her government would complete its term in 2027. Thaksin has been dismissive about the legal challenges as well, saying they were nothing more than noise. READ: Thailand Seeks Foreign Investment as PM Plans for Trump Era Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since taking power in September, Paetongtarns government has come under great legal scrutiny over her fathers alleged control over the Pheu Thai-led government. Separately, the Election Commission has launched a probe into Thaksins alleged influence on the party, based on a number of petitions filed by activists and his opponents. The Shinawatras and Pheu Thai will continue to face legal challenges from the conservative establishment thats bidding to retain its influence after last years general election ushered in a civilian government, according to analysts. While the petitioners overarching accusation was somewhat far-fetched, opponents may still accuse Thaksin of breaching laws by wielding outside political influence or for other reasons, said Peter Mumford, Southeast Asia practice head at consultancy Eurasia Group. This could still ultimately be his and/or Pheu Thais undoing. Being under the control or influence of a non-party member is grounds for dissolution under Thai law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Return From Exile The 75-year-old former leader returned to Thailand last year after 15 years in exile in whats seen as part of a deal with the royalist establishment to help conservative parties stay in power. After serving a royally-commuted jail term, Thaksin has been actively campaigning for Pheu Thai in local elections while making policy proposals to the government to revive the nations ailing economy. Thaksin also faces a royal defamation case with a court set to begin the trial next year. His sister, former premier Yingluck Shinawatra, remains in exile after fleeing a court verdict in 2017. In the statement, the nine-member court said it had voted unanimously to reject five of six allegations in the petition concerning Thaksins meddling in the government and the ruling party. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The judges voted seven to two to dismiss another accusation that Thaksin was colluding with former Cambodian prime minister Hun Sen to get the two countries reach a deal on exploring a disputed gas field in the Gulf of Thailand. The controversial issue has recently resurfaced, prompting domestic backlash against the government. --With assistance from Pathom Sangwongwanich, Suttinee Yuvejwattana, Eduard Gismatullin and Lee Miller. (Updates with comments from Paetongtarn, analyst from 7th paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. [Source] Bangkoks Criminal Court has sentenced Sararat Rangsiwuthaporn, 36, to death for the cyanide poisoning of her friend, Siriporn Khanwong, in April 2023. Rangsiwuthaporn, dubbed "Aem Cyanide" (Ms. Cyanide) by local media, allegedly lured Khanwong to Ratchaburi province under the guise of a Buddhist ritual, where she poisoned her food and stole her valuables. The conviction, handed out on Wednesday, is the first in a string of 14 murder cases against Rangsiwuthaporn, who is accused of targeting friends and acquaintances she owed money to, often stealing their jewelry and belongings after their deaths. Police investigations revealed that Rangsiwuthaporn had been carrying out these poisonings since 2015, with one known survivor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her ex-husband, a former police officer, and her lawyer were also sentenced to prison for concealing evidence. Rangsiwuthaporn faces 13 more murder trials and over 80 charges in total. Trending on NextShark: Watch: BTSs Jin reacts to being named 'worlds most handsome man' Download the NextShark App: Want to keep up to date on Asian American News? Download the NextShark App today! SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) Get ready for Thanksgiving stuffing but brace for stuffed highways and long waits on your way to grandmas house. The early Thanksgiving travel rush begins this weekend. Its expected to be a record-breaking year with tens of millions of people traveling for the holiday. It seems like every holiday travel period now is reported to be record-breaking and the fact is that every single travel period happens to have more and more travelers. Early Friday morning before sunrise more than 160 travelers every 10 minutes made their way down the hallway to the security checkpoint. If you up that time a few minutes: more than 200 passengers are walking into the Savannah Hilton Head Airport every 15 minutes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In AAAs report for 2024 Thanksgiving travel, they say that nationwide nearly 80 million Americans will be traveling 50 miles or more for the holidays. Around 5.8 million will fly, with air travel up 11% compared to 2019. That marks a 1.7 million increase from last year. Here in Georgia, over 2.3 million people are expected to hit the roads or skies. Airport officials in Savannah tell WSAV they are anticipating more than 70,000 passengers, which is a 10% increase over the last year. To handle the rush, the airport is opening a new parking lot with a shuttle service and is fully staffed for the holiday. Pretty much every month for us has been bigger than the last year and the year before. I did not do the comparison for 2019, but we are about at a 5% increase this year over last year in terms of our available seats. So, we can expect to see at least that many more passengers as well, said Lori Lynah, the Director of Marketing and Air Service Development at the Savannah Hilton Head International Airport. International flights are up more than 23% than last Thanksgiving, and 40,000 more drivers will be hitting the roads in Georgia. Officials contribute this to low gas prices, and cheaper costs to fly overseas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This years extended AAA holiday forecast exceeds pre-pandemic numbers. When asked the question why each year more people are traveling over the holidays, the National Association of Realtors (NAR), says many people are moving farther away for work. According to data published by the NAR, the median distance people moved in 2022 was 50 miles, which is more than triple the median distance moved in the last 30 years. The report also found that 25% of buyers traveled over 470 miles to find their new home. According to INRIX, a company that offers transportation data and analytics, next Tuesday, November 26th and Wednesday afternoon on November 27th are the worst times to drive. Thanksgiving Day itself is the ideal moment. INRIX also adds that drivers heading home on Sunday following the holiday should depart early in the morning. Georgia drivers heading to Atlanta should plan in advance. AAA car rental partner Hertz reports that Atlanta is one of the top seven cities displaying the highest rental demand for the Thanksgiving holiday. If you are planning on flying, you should check flight updates through your airline either online or on the app, arrive 2 to 3 hours early, depending on parking, and TSA says anything over 3.4 ounces has to go in checked bags. The Savannah Airport will be utilizing every staff member that they have for the holidays, along with extra parking. They tell WSAV they are ready for the rush. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. GRIMES COUNTY, Texas (FOX 44) Three people have been arrested in connection to a narcotics search in Plantersville on Thursday morning. The Grimes County Sheriffs Offices Tactical and Containment Team (TACT) executed a narcotics search warrant at an address off of Mossy Knoll Drive at approximately 5:45 a.m. According to Sheriff Don Sowell, TACT Team members identified the target of the search warrant as Johnny Figueroa. There were two other people in the residence with him, identified as Morgan Kiser and Sarah Murphy. Johnny Figueroa. (Courtesy: Grimes County Sheriffs Office) Morgan Kiser. (Courtesy: Grimes County Sheriffs Office) Sarah Murphy. (Courtesy: Grimes County Sheriffs Office) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kiser was found to be in possession of narcotics and was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance, a state jail felony. Kiser was magistrated and has a $4,000 bond. Murphy was found to have an active warrant out of Harris County for Possession of a Controlled Substance, a third-degree felony. Murphy has no bond. Sheriff Sowell says Figueroa has been charged with Manufacture and Delivery of Controlled Substance, a first-degree felony; Possession of a Controlled Substance, a second-degree felony; Possession of a Controlled Substance, a Class A Misdemeanor; and Possession of Marijuana between Two to Four Ounces, a Class A Misdemeanor. Figueroa was magistrated and has $70,000 in bonds. Drug bust in residence with kids present brings arrests (Courtesy: Grimes County Sheriffs Office) Deputies recovered 178 grams of methamphetamine, 3.7 grams of amphetamine pills, 3.6 grams of Xanax, 11.3 grams of Hydrocodone, 3.8 grams of crack cocaine, and three ounces of marijuana. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sheriff Sowell says all three individuals have been booked into the Grimes County Jail. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KWKT - FOX 44. Sophia Gates Cascadia Daily News Three households received eviction orders after a tribal court hearing Friday in the latest chapter of a bitter conflict over Nooksack tribal enrollment. The residents must move out of their homes by 8 a.m. Nov. 29. Its been nearly a decade since the tribe revoked the citizenship of several hundred people, disputing a common ancestors Nooksack status. The disenrolled, all members of the same extended family, contest the validity of their expulsion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Among them are seven households, made up of more than 20 people, living in Nooksack Indian Tribe low-income housing through a federal tax credit program. The tribe has told the residents they must move out on the basis that their lack of Nooksack citizenship is disqualifying for the program. Now, three households are without legal recourse after a fight in the courts to keep their homes, said Michelle Roberts, one of the residents who received an eviction order. You try to prepare yourself, Roberts said, but when it actually happens, its still shocking. The other cases are still pending. More than 200 tribal members are currently in line for Nooksack housing, according to a news release from the tribe. Of those on the waitlist, some are homeless and 15 are elders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Nooksack Tribal Council sent a statement through spokesperson Abby Yates in response to an emailed list of questions and a request for an interview. The primary concern of the Nooksack people is the safety and wellbeing of our citizens, the statement read in part. We have people who are not Nooksack citizens and not low income refusing to leave our housing. No choice At Fridays hearing, Roberts read an emotional statement about the treatment of her family. We have been persecuted, wronged in every way that justice stands for, she said. Chief Tribal Court Judge Doug Hyldahl thanked Roberts for her comments, but said he had no choice but to issue an eviction order at this point after more than two years of litigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an interview prior to the hearing, Roberts said several of her family members facing eviction are elderly. Her dad has dementia, she said, which will make moving to a new place difficult. Whats going to happen to them when theyre sitting in their homes and theyve got armed tribal police or sheriffs or whoever pounding on the door trying to remove them physically? she asked. I just fear that their health is not going to be able to withstand that. In October, after a Tribal Court ruling against the residents, the tribe publicly offered the households an extension on their evictions through the end of the year. Roberts, writing on behalf of the family, presented a counteroffer: residents would occupy the homes until we pass on or move away, at which time they will automatically go to the Tribe, among other provisions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An attorney for the tribe responded the counteroffer was completely unacceptable. You and your clients have denied hundreds of qualified Nooksack Tribal members of the housing they have deserved for the past eight years while you employed delaying tactics to remain in housing for which you are not qualified, the tribes lawyer wrote. Your counteroffer would continue to deny Tribal members of housing for years to come. A conflict over eligibility Roberts has lived in her home near Deming for 17 years. The house is part of the federal Low Income Housing Tax Credit program. When she moved in, staff from the Nooksack housing authority told her that after 15 years, she would get the deed to her home no questions asked, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If they choose to, owners in that program can allow tenants to buy their homes after a 15-year waiting period. A 2005 copy of the Nooksack housing authoritys policies says the program is structured to be a rent to own program for 15 years. But in a recent news release, the tribe argued this is not a rent-to-own program. Instead, if the tenant at the end of 15 years qualifies for the program, that tenant has the opportunity to take ownership of the unit. In a later release, the tribe wrote that because Ms. Roberts attorney (sic) has litigated against the Washington State Housing Finance Commission, the commission was preventing the homes from transferring ownership. In other words, the disenrollees, not the Tribe, are blocking the conveyances from happening, the tribe wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The family sued the commission and Nooksack housing authority in 2022 in an attempt to stop the evictions, wrote Margret Graham, a spokesperson for the commission, in an email, noting the suit is suspended. She added: The Housing Finance Commission (WSHFC) has not suspended conveyances for any reason, and the tenants lawsuit does not prevent the Nooksack Tribe from moving forward with the process to sell eligible units to eligible residents. The Commission remains at the ready to assist the Tribe through that process. The tribe has also said the households do not qualify because most are not low-income and have other housing options, pointing to housing developed in Whatcom County by Shxwha:y Village, a Canadian First Nation, which family members are also a part of, as one example. This is not about them being elderly or unable to find housing, the tribe wrote in its statement to Cascadia Daily News. This is about them being spiteful and stealing resources from Nooksack citizens, as they have done for decades. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Roberts, who is on the Shxwha:y Village Council, said those homes are not ready yet. Some may be ready by the end of March, she said. Her understanding when she moved in was that residents had to qualify as low-income to get into the program, Roberts said, not that they had to maintain low-income status. Legal strife After the families received eviction notices in 2020 and 2021, they launched legal defenses. Roberts represents her family in court, though she is not a lawyer. In 2016, the tribe disbarred the familys attorney, Gabe Galanda, and others from his firm. Since then, the family has been unable to secure legal representation, Roberts said, apart from a period of time when the Northwest Justice Project took on two of the households cases. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Galanda said the tribe winnowed down the list of admitted lawyers in Nooksack Tribal Court when he was disbarred and that the last list hed seen only contained lawyers employed by the tribe. The tribe did not respond to questions about lawyers approved to practice in Nooksack Tribal Court. In Galandas view, two of the judges who ruled against the family in the eviction cases had conflicts of interest. One judge, Charles Hostnik, issued rulings for some of the households, Galanda said, and then later presided over an appellate court case for other households. Another judge, Rajeev Majumdar, presided over two different appeals, each for a different cohort of the households, according to court documents reviewed by Cascadia Daily News. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That wouldnt happen in any other court system, Galanda said. Youd be predisposed in the second opinion, or second case, based on your ruling in the first one. A staffer who answered the phone at the Nooksack Tribal Court referred Cascadia Daily News to the tribes spokesperson. Cascadia Daily News reached out to Hostniks former firm Thursday, but did not hear back from him prior to publication. Majumdar declined to comment, saying it would be inappropriate as the cases are still active. In response to a motion for recusal brought by the second cohort of households whose case Majumdar heard, he wrote the facts in the two cases were not identical, nor were the presentations or evidence reviewed by the trial court judges. Judges often hear the same legal arguments on different sets of facts, Majumdar wrote, and the facts determine whether the law and arguments apply or do not. Not walking away In its Nov. 13 statement, the tribe wrote the households facing eviction have a long history of threats and intimidation. We are concerned about the physical safety of their neighbors, the statement continued, and for the careers and physical safety of law enforcement and their families. The tribe cited an interview with a family member who said its going to get ugly if evictions take place and a 24-year-old Los Angeles Times article that referred to a crowd of family members confronting the Tribal Council over an enrollment audit in 1996. Galanda has countered that it is tribal officials and law enforcement who have intimidated the family members, not the other way around. He noted a 2019 lawsuit in which he represented a Nooksack father and daughter accusing a tribal judge and police of a harassment campaign after the father spoke out against the disenrollments. That case ended in a settlement. One former Nooksack council member was the target of digital sexual harassment after she publicly supported the disenrolled family. Before Fridays hearing, Roberts said the family intends to stand our ground in their homes and continue seeking outside intervention. We just dont feel like they have the right to take away our homes that we should own, she said. Walking away just wasnt an option for the family to do. In an interview after the hearing, she said that is still the plan, but indicated that could change if the health of older family members doesnt allow for it. We always had that hope that a miracle would happen, she said a miracle she now feels is out of reach. Meanwhile, the tribe stands behind its original position: we need our housing, its statement read. Editors note: This story and video have been updated to clarify which state agency has opened investigations into allegations of sex abuse at St. Helens High School. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) Amidst the ongoing sexual abuse cases in the St. Helens School District, the Oregon Department of Human Services said that they are investigating two more allegations of sexual abuse against St. Helens High School staff members as well as allegations of failure to report child safety concerns against the districts superintendent, who is on administrative leave. Alongside Eric Stearns and Mark Collins, who were arrested on sexual abuse charges earlier this month by St. Helens Police, ODHS said that there are two other staff members at the school who they are currently investigating on allegations of sexual abuse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im not exactly shocked that there are teachers who do that, who are being exposed for that, Leon, a sophomore at St. Helens high school, said. But I mean, every time it is still kind of like a disappointment or a letdown. Like, Oh, this person who I thought I could trust either being around, you know, the people close to me or to myself, is someone, like, so horrible. ODHS also shared that St. Helens School District superintendent Scot Stockwell, who was recently put on administrative leave, is also being investigated for neglecting to report child safety concerns. This development comes just one day after officials shared that St. Helens High School principal Katy Wagner is under investigation for neglecting child safety on campus. Beaverton students learn graffiti as an art form Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Thursday, police also revealed that a St. Helens Middle School teacher was being investigated for offensive physical contact with students. KOIN 6 News also reached out to Gov. Tina Koteks office asking if her office had any plans to intervene in the situation. On Friday morning, the City of St. Helens shared a letter with the community from Gov. Tina Kotek reacting to the ongoing situation and sharing what steps are being taken by the district. My duty as your Governor, and the superintendent of public education, is to ensure the safety and well-being of all students that enter our schools, each and every day, the letter reads. I am taking this issue very seriously and I offer my sincere condolences for the current situation that your community is facing, including the trust broken by the lack of transparency and immediate response to the allegations by district leadership. Gov. Kotek goes on to address the investigation, saying that ODHS is still investigating both the abuse allegations and allegations that mandatory reporters failed in their duty. She also shared that once investigations are complete, local law enforcement will be informed so that anyone involved can be held accountable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The administration at St. Helens High School has been given mandatory reporting training and Kotek said that the staff at both the middle and elementary school will also be receiving the training. Kotek also addresses the current lack of an interim superintendent, saying that if one isnt appointed within 14 days then the state will escalate and make a recommendation for the position. Southern Oregon school district employee arrested on sex abuse charges Read the full letter from Gov. Kotek below: Dear St. Helens Community, It is with a heavy heart that I reach out to you today. Over the last week, I have been closely monitoring developments for the St. Helens School District and community following the arrests of a current district employee and a retired district employee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My duty as your Governor, and the superintendent of public education, is to ensure the safety and well-being of all students that enter our schools, each and every day. I am taking this issue very seriously and I offer my sincere condolences for the current situation that your community is facing, including the trust broken by the lack of transparency and immediate response to the allegations by district leadership. As you know, the Oregon Department of Human Services Office of Training, Investigations and Safety (OTIS) is investigating these allegations of abuse and whether mandatory reporters in the district failed their legal obligation to report suspected child abuse. Once their investigations are complete, they will share their findings with local law enforcement, the school district, and relevant state agencies so these entities can take the appropriate course of action to hold accountable every person who failed their legal obligation to report suspected child abuse. In addition, OTIS has provided training on mandatory reporting to St. Helens High School administrative staff this week and will provide training to St. Helens middle and elementary school administrators by the end of December. Our children rely on us to recognize when something isnt right and to protect them by calling the abuse hotline to report suspected abuse or neglect at 855-503-SAFE (7233). The hotline is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. My team has been working with the Oregon Department of Education, education partners, and our congressional delegation to support the district. I understand that an acting superintendent will be appointed swiftly. If this expectation is not met within 14 days, I am prepared to escalate the states engagement with the district and make a recommendation for an interim superintendent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I stand with you and your community as you continue to navigate the impacts from this situation. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. This article was originally published in The Hechinger Report. Like learning to read by third grade, taking eighth grade math is a pivotal moment in a childs education. Students who pass Algebra 1 in eighth grade are more likely to sign up for more advanced math courses, and those who pass more advanced math courses are more likely to graduate from college and earn more money. Algebra in eighth grade is a gateway to a lot of further opportunities, said Dan Goldhaber, an economist who studies education at the American Institutes for Research, in a recent webinar. Researchers are trying to understand why so few Black and Hispanic students and low-income students of all races are making it through this early gate. While 25 percent of white students passed algebra in eighth grade in 2021, only 13 percent of Black students did, according to the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education. Put Students First: Support Journalism That Exposes Truth and Inspires Action. Donate to The 74 A collection of surveys of teachers and principals, conducted by the research organization RAND, suggests three problems at the poorest middle schools, which are disproportionately populated with Black and Hispanic students. Many dont offer algebra at all. Their teachers have less training and math expertise, and they describe how they spend classroom time differently than teachers do at wealthier schools. That means the most advanced students at many middle schools in poor communities dont have the opportunity to learn algebra, and many students at high-poverty schools arent receiving the kind of math lessons that could help them get ready for the subject. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Related Equity Builder or Racial Barrier: Debate Rages Over Role of 8th-Grade Algebra In 2023 and 2024, RAND surveyed more than 3,000 school principals and almost 1,000 math teachers across the country. The educators are part of a specially constructed national sample, designed to reflect all public schools and the demographics of the U.S. student population. A working paper analyzing some of the survey findings was released in October 2024. (That analysis was funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which is among the many funders of The Hechinger Report.) The poorest 25 percent of schools had vastly different course offerings and teachers than the wealthiest 25 percent. Most strikingly, nearly a quarter of the highest poverty schools didnt offer algebra at all to any eighth graders, compared with only 6 percent of the wealthiest schools. Conversely, poor schools are much less likely to adopt an algebra-for-all policy in eighth grade. Nearly half of the wealthiest schools offered algebra to all of their eighth grade students, regardless of math ability, compared with about a third of the poorest schools. Slide from a RAND webinar, Racial and Socioeconomic Divides in Algebra Teaching and Learning, presented in November 2024. Math teachers at high-poverty schools tended to have weaker professional preparation. They were far more likely to have entered the profession without first earning a traditional education degree at a college or university, instead completing an alternative certification program on the job, often without student teaching under supervision. And they were less likely to have a graduate degree or hold a mathematics credential. Slide from a RAND webinar, Racial and Socioeconomic Divides in Algebra Teaching and Learning, presented in November 2024. In surveys, a third of math teachers at high-poverty schools reported that they spent more than half of class time teaching topics that were below grade level, as well as managing student behavior and disciplining students. Lecture-style instruction, as opposed to classroom discussion, was far more common at the poorest schools compared to the wealthiest schools. RAND researchers also detected similar discrepancies in instructional patterns when they examined schools along racial and ethnic lines, with Black and Hispanic students receiving less optimal instruction than white students. But these discrepancies were stronger by income than by race, suggesting that poverty may be a bigger factor than bias. Slide from a RAND webinar, Racial and Socioeconomic Divides in Algebra Teaching and Learning, presented in November 2024. Many communities have tried putting more eighth graders into algebra classes, but that has sometimes left unprepared students worse off. Simply giving them an eighth grade algebra course is not a magic bullet, said AIRs Goldhaber, who commented on the RAND analysis during a Nov. 5 webinar. Either the material is too challenging and the students fail or the course was algebra in name only and didnt really cover the content. And without a college preparatory track of advanced math classes to take after algebra, the benefits of taking Algebra 1 in eighth grade are unlikely to accrue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Related San Francisco Voters Overwhelmingly Support Algebras Return to 8th Grade Its also not economically practical for many low-income middle schools to offer an Algebra 1 course when only a handful of students are advanced enough to take it. A teacher would have to be hired even for a few students and those resources might be more effectively spent on something else that would benefit more students. That puts the most advanced students at low-income schools at a particular disadvantage. Its a difficult issue for schools to tackle on their own, said Goldhaber. Improving math teacher quality at the poorest schools is a critical first step. Some researchers have suggested paying strong math teachers more to work at high-poverty schools, but that would also require the renegotiation of union contracts in many cities. And, even with financial incentives, there is a shortage of math teachers. For students, AIRs Goldhaber argues the time to intervene in math is in elementary school to make sure more low-income students have strong basic math skills. Do it before middle school, said Goldhaber. For many students, middle school is too late. This story was originally published by The Hechinger Report. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) Two cars and a truck were damaged after being hit by cinder blocks and other heavy objects thrown off an overpass in Vancouver early Thursday morning, authorities said. Just after 2 a.m., troopers from Washington State Patrol responded to I-205 between SR 500 and the Fourth Plain overpass after a driver reported an item had hit their vehicle. Drone helps rescue two more mushroom hunters in Skamania County Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On arrival, authorities said they found a cinder block had been tossed off the overpass and broke the vehicles windshield. Due to the damage, the vehicle had to be towed from the scene. Just before 2:30 a.m., troopers said they learned another vehicle had been hit by a heavy object from the overpass. A Vancouver police officer on the scene used a drone to search for a possible suspect in the area. Around ten minutes later, the driver of a box truck reported the hood had been hit by a large object, also from the same overpass. The driver told troopers they finished their delivery, but then found the object has damaged the trucks engine. City of Longview, police face lawsuit in New Years Day shooting death of suicidal woman Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No injuries were reported in any of the incidents. At this time, officials say they have not located any potential suspects. The incidents are all currently under investigation by Washington State Patrol. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. State Sen. Karen Keiser, seen here in the Senate chambers on Jan. 12, 2024, will retire later this year. (Legislative Support Services) Washingtons Senate Democratic caucus will soon have three openings. Sens. Karen Keiser, Patty Kuderer and Emily Randall are all planning to leave the state Senate in the weeks ahead, opening the door for three appointments ahead of the January session. Keiser announced earlier this year that she would be retiring. Kuderer and Randall were both elected to higher offices: Kuderer as state insurance commissioner and Randall to the U.S. House of Representatives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Each is in the process of stepping down with Keisers last day Dec. 10, and Randalls Dec. 8. Kuderer is still determining her final day, but said she will step down by Jan. 7 at the latest. House lawmakers have indicated theyre interested in the seats that Keiser and Kuderer are vacating, meaning there could be changes in that chamber too. While the three senators begin transitioning out of office, their local political parties and county officials will get to work appointing replacements, a multi-step process outlined in the state constitution. In short, local precinct officers will vote for their top three candidates and provide those names to a county governing body, which has the final say in who gets appointed. The replacement must be of the same party and district as the legislator who is leaving. If a majority of the county officials cant agree on a replacement, the governor must pick one within 30 days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whoever is chosen in this case will likely have less than a month to prepare for the legislative session scheduled to start Jan. 13. All appointees will serve until a special election held in 2025. Keisers retirement Keiser will leave behind a 30-year career in the state Legislature. Im feeling a little liberated, she told the Standard last week. Keiser represents the 33rd Legislative District, which covers communities south of Seattle, including SeaTac, Des Moines and Kent. The local Democratic party will meet this Saturday for a candidate forum where they will hear from people interested in the Senate appointment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both state representatives in the district, Tina Orwall and Mia Gregerson are expected to be in the running. If one of them is chosen to succeed Keiser, someone else from the pool of candidates will likely be chosen to fill the state representative spot. After the forum, the precinct officers will schedule a day to vote on their top three recommendations for the seat. Those names will be given to the King County Council, which Keiser said will meet on Dec. 10 to appoint the replacement. Kuderer prepares for insurance commissioner role Kuderer will take over as insurance commissioner on Jan. 15. Between now and then, she said she still has a lot to do to finalize her work in the Legislature. Im not leaving because I didnt like the work, she said. Im leaving because I was so excited about this opportunity. Insurance commissioner was the only office Ive ever been interested in other than the Legislature. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 48th Legislative District Democrats are planning for her replacement, a process similar to Keisers. The party will likely settle on their recommendations next month. Those will be sent to the King County Council, which will have final say on the appointment. Both of Kuderers seatmates, Reps. Amy Walen and Vandana Slatter, are interested in the position. If one of them is appointed, the council will concurrently appoint someone to fill their position in the House. Randall looks to the other Washington Randall is heading to Washington, D.C. to represent the 6th Congressional District, which covers the northwest corner of the state. She is replacing Democratic U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer who is retiring. In her resignation letter to Gov. Jay Inslee, Randall said she will take the lessons she learned from the Legislature to the other Washington and hopes her replacement finds as much joy in the position as she did. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I have never taken my elected position for granted, Randall wrote. The elections I won were close, and I have endeavored to build relationships with constituents of all political stripes. The 26th Legislative District Democrats in Kitsap and Pierce counties have started organizing to find a replacement. The local precinct officers are supposed to meet Dec. 8 to submit recommendations to the counties in the district. Once the recommendations are finalized, the Kitsap County Board of Commissioners and the Pierce County Council will hold a joint meeting to vote on the replacement. The Kitsap County Board of Commissioners has three members, and the Pierce County Council has seven members. To ensure each county has an equal say, every vote from a Pierce County Council member will equal three-sevenths of a vote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Three people eyeing the job are Laurel Kingsbury, a Peninsula Metropolitan Park District commissioner, Deborah Krishnadasan, a former Peninsula School District board member, and Renee Hernandez Greenfield, a tribal member who has worked in early childhood education. Editors note: A previous version of this story said the appointees will serve until the 2026 election. They will each be up for a special election in 2025. That has been corrected. President-elect Trump has spent recent days in meetings with potential picks to be his Treasury secretary but so far a final decision is hanging in the balance. Marc Rowan, Apollo Global Management co-founder; Kevin Warsh, a former member of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors; and Scott Bessent, Key Square Group founder, all traveled to Palm Beach, Fla., this week to meet with the president-elect, two sources familiar with the transition told The Hill. The meetings included Trump and members of his team, including Vice President-elect JD Vance and transition co-chairs Scott Lutnick and Linda McMahon, a Republican source said. Rowan traveled back to Trumps Mar-a-Lago residence Friday, the source added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a jump ball right now. Its somewhere between one of the three contenders, the Republican source said. The source described the current status as a three-way tie and added the timing of a pick would occur when Trump stops spinning the wheel. Its fluid, a source familiar with the transition said, adding that Trump is seeing how Warsh float plays. Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.) is also considered a contender for the role and was with Trump at the SpaceX launch in Texas on Tuesday. The Trump transition team did not respond to a request for comment. The jockeying for Treasury secretary has played out for several days, as Trump has struggled to find a nominee with a track record of supporting his tariffs plan while calming any potential jitters on Wall Street. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Treasury secretary is Trumps most important Cabinet pick left and will come after his pick for attorney general soaked up the spotlight Thursday with the withdrawal of former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.). Aside from the Treasury and the potential for Trump to ask former Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.) to be his Agriculture secretary Trump still has to pick who he wants to head the departments of Labor and Housing and Urban Development. Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-Ore.), who just lost her reelection bid, is considered a top contender for Labor and has been backed by the Teamsters. One of the contenders for Treasury could instead end up being tapped for head of the National Economic Council. Warsh has also expressed interest in being the next chair of the Federal Reserve after Chair Jerome Powells term is up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this week, Howard Lutnick was picked for Commerce secretary, taking him out of the running for Treasury, and McMahon was picked for Education 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. SIOUX FALLS S.D. (KELO) U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) announced the U.S. Senate passed a resolution honoring former Sen. Tim Johnson. The longtime senator died in early October. He had more than 30 years of public service in state and federal government and remains the last Democrat to serve in statewide office for South Dakota. Johnson never lost an election as a candidate and won one of South Dakotas most memorable elections by defeating Republican John Thune by more than 500 votes in 2002. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Remembering Tim Johnson Both Thune and Rounds attended Johnsons funeral. Part of the resolution reads: Whereas Tim Johnson served the people of South Dakota in the Senate and elsewhere for decades with honor and distinction and was known for his work ethic and commitment to South Dakota constituents,. You can read the full resolution here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com. Will TikTok be banned in the U.S. this January? A viral online post claims that the platform could be facing its final days in the U.S. market. BREAKING: TikToks last day is January 19, 2025, reads the post, which has spread on social media platforms including Threads and Facebook. The posts are not entirely incorrect, as they reference a deadline set by Congress for TikToks parent company to divest from its U.S. business, but are missing important context. A bill prohibiting Chinese ownership of TikTok, which passed earlier this year, does take effect on January 19, 2025. However, the prohibition is being challenged in court, and the incoming Trump administration has vowed to prevent its implementation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In April 2024, lawmakers passed the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, which required ByteDanceTikToks Chinese parent companyto sell its business interest or face a ban. The act, which broadly bans social media companies from being controlled by a foreign adversary country, passed as part of a broad supplemental appropriations bill that also included aid provisions for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. According to the act, ByteDance must execute a qualified divestiture of its TikTok platform within 270 days of the laws enactment, after which the prohibition will take effect. However, the legislation also includes a provision allowing businesses to challenge the prohibition with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia within 165 days of the bills enactment. ByteDance sued to block the prohibition on First Amendment grounds in May, and the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals heard the case in September. According to the New York Times, the court is expected to make a decision before the end of the year, giving the U.S. Supreme Court time to hear a potential appeal of the case before the prohibition takes effect in January. Last week, the Washington Post reported that President-elect Donald Trump would try to stop the ban from taking effecta promise he made during his campaign. Action by the Trump administration could include refusing to enforce the ban, encouraging lawmakers to repeal the prohibition, or assisting ByteDance in finding a path for divestment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you have a claim you would like to see us fact check, please send us an email at factcheck@thedispatch.com. If you would like to suggest a correction to this piece or any other Dispatch article, please email corrections@thedispatch.com. Read more at The Dispatch The Dispatch is a new digital media company providing engaged citizens with fact-based reporting and commentary, informed by conservative principles. Sign up for free. WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) Wichita State University is advising current and future students to start submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the 2025-26 school year. States and schools use the form to determine if a student is eligible for grants, scholarships and loans. WSU says students should fill out the FAFSA as soon as possible. The schools priority date for aid programs with limited funding is April 1, 2025. Other schools may have different priority deadlines. For example, Kansas State University has a priority date of March 1, 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Students can now apply for federal college aid. Officials hope for a smoother rollout this year Submitting your FAFSA is the first step to getting thousands of dollars in need-based scholarships, grants and work-study opportunities to make college more affordable, Sheelu Surender, executive director of Financial Aid and Scholarship, said in a news release. Applying early helps students guarantee they unlock as many dollars as they can. Tips for the FAFSA: Students new to FAFSA will first need a Federal Student Aid ID. They can get one at StudentAid.gov. Use your personal email address when creating your FSA ID to ensure you continue to have access to your account for future semesters. Students whose parents dont have a Social Security Number will need their parents to create an FSA ID that is separate from the students. Keep your FSA ID information saved in a safe location or use a password manager so you dont lose access. Click here for WSUs guide for everything you need to complete your FAFSA. Students with questions about the FAFSA or tuition can call Wichita States Office of Financial Aid at 316-978-3430 or schedule an appointment online. You can also learn more by visiting wichita.edu/FAFSA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV. MEMPHIS, Tenn. Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton says he will be looking into all criminal cases of a Memphis judge following controversy over the decision to release an attempted murder suspect without bond. Sexton made a post on social media calling out Shelby County General Sessions Judge Bill Anderson, noting that his approach to Memphis crime is softer than jello. I was wrong. [Steve Mulroy] is runner-up for being the softest on crime. Judge Bill Anderson is the winner his approach is softer than jello. Judge Bill Andersons decisions on the bench make Memphis unsafe. He stands with violent criminals rather than law enforcement, victims, families, and protecting Memphis. I have instructed my team to start reviewing all of his criminal cases. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is not the first time Judge Bill Anderson has received backlash following a decision in court. The ongoing tension between some state leaders like Sexton, Senator Brent Taylor, and District Attorney Steve Mulroy is now turning into all three vs Judge Anderson. Christopher Smith is facing three counts of attempted first-degree murder after a 12-hour standoff with police where shots were fired. He was released from jail on his own recognizance by Judge Anderson. Mulroy files emergency appeal after judge lets barricade suspect out of jail District Attorney Steve Mulroy voiced his concerns after Smiths release, stating that he does not agree with the courts decision and that he believes its sufficiently problematic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mulroy said that his office opposed Smiths release and suggested that the $200,000 bond he was given remain. The Shelby County District Attorneys Office has since filed a writ of certiorari, an emergency appeal, in response to Judge Andersons decision. Mulroy said this is the third time recently that his office has filed a writ after the release of a suspect by Judge Anderson. He said the practice is rare. State Sen. Brent Taylor slammed the release calling Smith a threat to public safety. Taylor also recently called out Judge Anderson after 18-year-old Tyreese Earnest, who is accused of shooting a FedEx employee in the hubs parking lot was released from jail without bond. He is facing an attempted second-degree murder charge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Man accused of shooting FedEx employee released without bond Judge Anderson continues to exhibit a blatant disregard for TCA 40-11-115(a), which elevates the safety of the community as the first consideration of bail, said Senator Taylor. Steve Mulroy also filed an emergency writ of certiorari in criminal court for this case. Anderson spoke with WREG following Detawn Gunns release without bond in September. He is accused of a shooting that injured several people at Railgarten and was charged with five counts of attempted second-degree murder. Mulroy has since filed a writ of certiorari in this case as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ive been doing this job for almost 15 years. I know what Im doing and I follow the law, Anderson said at the time. Commissioner Mick Wright spoke out about the judge at a recent meeting. I think he has a screw loose. I wish he would trade in his robe for an orange jumpsuit because I think he is a threat to the public, Wright said. We reached out to Judge Anderson, but he says he has no comment. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (WWLP) On Thursday night, a new Tobacco regulation passed in a vote in Northampton. Elderly driver dies after SUV crashed between I-91 bridges in Northampton Convenient store owners are condemning the Northampton Board of Healths proposal to move all nicotine pouch sales to adult-only stores. In a virtual public hearing tonight, local retailers argue that this regulation will impact business. Retailers argue that they follow the law, checking and scanning IDs prior to any purchase of tobacco. Others say moving the product from one store to another is unfair. Yes, they are nicotine products but as the FDA will say nicotine is not a carcinogen. It may be addictive, but people may enjoy it and we feel that adults have the right to make their own choices, shared Peter Brennan, Executive Director, of New England Convenience Store. The Northampton Board of Health says five stores sold to minors just last year. Retailers now have until the 1st of the year to sell their products. A letter along with a copy of the new regulation will also be sent to all the impacted businesses. 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Senator Tom Cotton threatened to invade a U.S. ally on behalf of Israels genocidal regime. The International Criminal Court issued fresh arrest warrants Thursday for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyau and Israels former Foreign Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, as well as Hamass military leader Mohammad Dief, alleging that theyd committed war crimes and crimes against humanity. While only a handful of the 124 member countries have signaled their willingness to follow through on the warrants, the Netherlands, where the ICC is located, made itself particularly clear: We are obliged to cooperate with the ICC we abide 100 percent by the Rome Statute, said Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp on Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cotton, a staunch ally of Israel, made a thinly veiled threat to take military action against the Netherlands if they deign to comply with the warrants they are legally required to comply with as ICC member states. The ICC is a kangaroo court and Karim Khan is a deranged fanatic. Woe to him and anyone who tries to enforce these outlaw warrants. Let me give them all a friendly reminder: the American law on the ICC is known as The Hague Invasion Act for a reason. Think about it, the Arkansas Republican wrote in a post on X. The Hague Invasion Act empowers the United States to free its allies from the clutches of the ICC using necessary and appropriate meansbut Cottons implication promises something much darker and full of woe. It seems Cotton has maintained the same bloodthirsty attitude from more than a year ago, when he said that Israel can bounce the rubble in Gaza. Anything that happens in Gaza is the responsibility of HamasHamas killed women and children in Israel last weekend. Its clear that Cotton cannot see that any other state actor has a responsibility for Israels ongoing military campaign in Gaza, which has killed more than 44,000 peopleincluding the U.S., which has readily funded Israels atrocities. The U.S. has consistently avoided any measures holding Israel accountable, backing off its hollow threats to withhold military support. There are no safety issues with our toothpaste, the company tells PEOPLE in response to the FDAs public warning letter Tom's of Maine (from left:) Tom's of Maine's Wicked Cool! Anticavity Toothpaste; (right) Toms of Maine's Simply White Clean Mint Paste (from left:) Tom's of Maine's Wicked Cool! Anticavity Toothpaste; (right) Toms of Maine's Simply White Clean Mint Paste Toothpaste from the popular Toms of Maine brand is made with bacteria-tainted water, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says in a recent warning letter they sent to the company and made public. The letter, which outlines "significant violations" discovered at the Sanford, Maine, facility, warns the company, "You are responsible for investigating and determining the causes of any violations and for preventing their recurrence or the occurrence of other violations." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Among the FDA's findings: Water samples used to manufacture Toms Simply White Clean Mint Paste contained Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which can cause infections in the blood or lungs, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. Alamy Stock image of Tom's of Maine products for sale. Stock image of Tom's of Maine products for sale. Related: Scientists Concerned About Unknown Levels of Toxicity in Chemical Common in U.S. Drinking Water Paracoccus yeei which the National Library of Medicine calls an Emergent opportunistic pathogen was found in samples of Wicked Cool! Anticavity Toothpaste. The FDA also said ralstonia insidiosa which can cause pneumonia, the National Library of Medicine says was "recovered from water points of use. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the FDA, the condition of the equipment in the plant, which was inspected from May 7 to 22, didnt meet their standards. Our investigator observed a black mold-like substance, on equipment, the letter said, pointing out that the substance was found elsewhere. The black substance was within one foot of stainless-steel pails and other product-contact equipment, the letter states, saying it was noted on the wall behind a water tank. Joe Raedle/Getty Tom's of Maine logo at the Sanford, Maine, manufacturing plant. Tom's of Maine logo at the Sanford, Maine, manufacturing plant. Related: 5 People Hospitalized After Eating Pesto That May Be Contaminated with Botulism In a statement to PEOPLE, a representative for Toms of Maine said We are confident there are no safety issues with our toothpaste and that it is safe to use. We test every batch of toothpaste we make including for harmful bacteria and mold to ensure its safety before it is released for sale." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We have been working with the FDA to remedy the issues raised in their May inspection of the Toms toothpaste manufacturing plant in Sanford, Maine, including implementing additional safeguards and making capital investments as part of ongoing plant upgrades. Toms is committed to continuing to make safe and effective natural products for our consumers and to maintaining the trust in our brand. 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. Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr announced this week that he is seeking the Republican nomination for governor of Georgia. This makes him the first gubernatorial candidate to do so, and hes jumping in early. The gubernatorial election in Georgia isnt until Nov. 3, 2026. The announcement didnt come as a big surprise, but the timing did, nearly 18 months before the primary. Im running to create jobs for hardworking Georgians, keep our families and our neighborhoods safe and vigorously defend our constitution and freedoms, Carr said in his announcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No other candidate has announced, Republican or Democrat, though the Democrats were quick to weigh in. Georgians have already endured eight years of this failed leadership, and were looking forward to rejecting it in 2026 in favor of a strong Democratic governor, Georgia Democrats said in a statement. TRENDING STORIES: Channel 2s Richard Elliot asked a couple of political experts the pros and cons of announcing his run so early. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Longtime political strategist Fred Hicks thinks Carr made the right decision after his potential Republican rivals, Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, got a lot of publicity during the election. But theres a risk. Hicks said he has to show his ability to raise money by the end of the year reporting period or else. If you do not have a strong disclosure out of the box, then that can tank your campaign right away. So this decision does have a little bit of risk for Chris Carr, Hicks said. Longtime University of Georgia political science professor Charles Bullock agrees and told Elliot if Carr puts up big fundraising numbers, it could keep other potential candidates out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If he were to come in and report, oh, extraordinary amounts of money raised here in five or six weeks that might even dissuade some people from even thinking about running. Theyd say hes already got, you know, quite a war chest and Im not sure I can match it, Bullock said. Bullock points out that if the expected candidates run, that could leave their current positions open, so more people might run for them, opening up more spots in the legislature. Donald Trump is putting the finishing touches to his second-term Cabinet as he prepares to return to the White House. Heres how the new Team Trump compares to the old guard and what he has learnt from them. Vice president Mike Pence was chosen as Donald Trumps running mate in 2016 for two reasons: he was a reassuring figure with solid conservative credentials who could bring over the evangelical base and, to Mr Trump, he looked straight out of central casting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The former Indiana governor a one time radio host who called himself Rush Limbaugh on decaf was almost invisible throughout his time in the White House with a boss who rarely shared the spotlight. He became a target for rioters storming the Capitol on Jan 6 2021, who chanted Hang Mike Pence after he refused to follow Mr Trumps demand not to certify Joe Bidens 2020 election victory. JD Vance, a first-term Ohio senator, has had an unlikely and meteoric ascent since Mr Trump tapped him as his running mate in July. A former marine who wrote a bestselling memoir about his hillbilly upbringing, Mr Vance was once a Trump critic who became a convert to the president-elects cause before winning an Ohio senate seat in 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Trump has selected a vice-president for term two who will prove more pliant than his first, with Mr Vance saying he would have refused to certify the results of the 2020 election results. Chief of staff Reince Priebus was the ultimate party insider and loyalist who found himself totally unequipped to handle Mr Trumps chaotic White House. The then president never quite trusted Mr Priebus after the former urged him to end his 2016 election campaign early, after Mr Trumps comments about grabbing women by the p---- emerged in the press. Mr Priebus finally resigned after being publicly accused by the White House communications director of leaking on national TV. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was the shortest tenure in history of any permanent chief of staff. Unlike Mr Priebus, Mr Trump is thought to trust Susie Wiles implicitly after resurrecting her political career to bring her onboard as campaign manager for his successful 2024 run. It remains to be seen how she will navigate the personalities and egos of the new White House. Ms Wiles does not thrive on conflict, unlike other members of the administration, and has been called the ice maiden by Mr Trump. But while previous chiefs of staff tried and failed to control the president, Ms Wiles has proved adept at managing her boss in their months together on the campaign trail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She is thought to have been successful in encouraging Mr Trump not to insult Michelle Obama after the former first lady referred to him as a small man. Secretary of state Rex Tillerson was an unlikely pick as secretary of state after spending his entire career at ExxonMobil, where he worked his way up from a civil engineer to become chief executive of the oil giant. He was notable for keeping a low profile in office, and managed to isolate staff in the White House as well as in the State Department. Some 60 per cent of top-ranking diplomats left during his tenure, while new applications fell by half. Mr Trump later suggested Mr Tillerson had been sacked because he was too soft on Iran although he was also reported to have privately called his boss a f---ing moron. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his almost 14 years in the Senate, Marco Rubio has been a fairly moderate Republican with hawkish instincts. He is seen as particularly tough on Iran, recently suggesting he could seek to strengthen oil sanctions against Tehran, as well as being a strong supporter of Nato unlike the president-elect. However, the Florida senator opposed billions of dollars in aid for Ukraine earlier this year and is in favour of a negotiated settlement to end the war with Russia, claiming that Washington is funding a stalemate. His time in the Senate should smooth his confirmation process, and he should prove more adept at working the government machine and keeping the White House onside than Mr Tillerson. Secretary of defence Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jim Mattis was one of the group of hires for the first administration that Mr Trump liked to call my generals. He particularly enjoyed Mr Mattis nickname: Mad Dog. He had retired in 2013 from Barack Obamas administration amid claims that the White House saw him as too hawkish on Iran, and went on to leave the Trump administration when the then president overruled him to withdraw troops from Syria. Mr Mattis eventually denounced Mr Trump as a threat to the Constitution for politicising the military and seeking to overturn the 2020 election result. Mr Trump, in turn, called him the worlds most overrated general. Pete Hegseths nomination as defence secretary took most commentators by surprise, given his relative lack of progression in the military chain of command. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Former Fox News host Mr Hegseth, who reached the rank of major, is set to take over a department of some 3.4 million employees and a budget of close to a trillion dollars. His nomination has been rocked by allegations that he sexually assaulted a woman in 2017 which he denies. He shares Mr Trumps isolationist views and opposition to woke s---, but the key factor in his favour may be the president-elects desire to avoid defiant authority figures like the generals of his first term. Homeland security secretary John Kelly, a former four-star general, had a relatively harmonious relationship with Mr Trump as his first homeland security secretary. Mr Kelly was tasked with implementing some of the most contentious policies of the first administration, including the so-called Muslim ban, the construction of a border wall and ramping up deportations of illegal immigrants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was later rewarded with replacing Reince Priebus as chief of staff where his relationship with the then president fell apart spectacularly. Mr Kelly would go on to brand his former boss a fascist who once admired the work of Adolf Hitler. Kristi Noem was seen as a strong contender for the job of Mr Trumps running mate until she admitted shooting dead a badly behaved dog in her memoir. The South Dakota governor regularly joined the president-elect on the campaign trail, memorably perching on a stool awkwardly at a town hall while he spent 30 minutes dancing to his favourite campaign tunes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president-elect wants to enact mass deportations and does not want a homeland security chief who pushes back. Ms Noem, who once plastered Mr Trumps face on a model of Mount Rushmore, seems to fit the bill. Attorney General Mr Trump never forgave Jeff Sessions for recusing himself from the FBI investigation into collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia. The then-president spent months attacking his own attorney general, labelling him very weak, and disgraceful, and mocking his decisions on social media. It was widely seen as a public humiliation campaign to shame Mr Sessions into resigning. Mr Trump went on to sack him after the mid-term elections and eventually replaced him with Bill Barr. Unlike Mr Sessions, who had spent decades in the Senate and decades more in Alabama politics, Matt Gaetz is the ultimate outsider who owes Mr Trump his political career. Other presidents would have wavered in their support for the former congressman, who has been accused of and denied a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old schoolgirl. Mr Trump doubled down. If he had managed to install him at the top of the justice department, Mr Trump would have had an ally with no other options who would do whatever he wanted. However, Mr Gaetz withdrew his name eight days after being nominated, saying he wanted to avoid a needlessly protracted Washington scuffle. UN ambassador As UN ambassador, Nikki Haley had to use her diplomatic skills to navigate the pitfalls of the Trump White House and barely put a foot wrong in doing so. She struck a tougher tone on Russia than Mr Trump although he kept her onside throughout the term, saying in 2018: We dont trust Russia. We dont trust Putin. A week earlier, the US president had said at a summit that he trusted the Russian leader over US intelligence agencies. Mr Trump had previously suggested Ms Haley could return to the White House, but was said to have been angered by the challenge she mounted for the Republican presidential nomination this year. Elise Stefanik was once a Trump critic and considered a moderate Republican, but has since moved wholeheartedly into the president-elects camp. As well as being a loyal backer of Mr Trump, she is a strong supporter of Israel and claims to have backed every single measure to aid the country during her nine years in Congress. There are signs that Ms Stefanik will not subtly distance herself from her new boss like Ms Haley. Asked by CNN if she still supported Ukraines admission to Nato, she replied in a statement that she fully supports President Trumps peace through strength policy. Press Secretary Sean Spicer had spent decades in Republican politics before becoming Mr Trumps first press secretary. He set out to prove his loyalty to the new president days into the role. He claimed, despite photographic evidence and to general incredulity, that the crowds that had gathered for Mr Trump when he was sworn in were the largest seen for any president. Mr Spicer was widely ridiculed for the claim, among others, and was memorably parodied as a snarling, hyper aggressive spin doctor on Saturday Night Live. He resigned amid reports that Mr Trump has become dissatisfied with his performance, saying afterwards: I had become the story too often. Karoline Leavitt will become the youngest White House press secretary when she takes up the post in January at the age of just 27. Unlike Mr Spicer, who was one of several imports into the administration from the RNC, Ms Leavitt has been with Mr Trump almost her whole career since entering the White House on a college internship, before going on to join his campaign officially. Ms Leavitt has proven adept at handling the president-elect and his occasionally outlandish claims, which will stand her in good stead for the post. White House communications director Sean Spicer was never chosen by Trump to become the White Houses communications director, but stepped in at short notice after Jason Miller dropped out. Mr Millers appointment had been announced just days before, until allegations of an affair with a fellow campaign staffer with whom he later fathered a child became public. Mr Spicer stepped away from the White House altogether after telling Mr Trump that he vehemently disagreed with the appointment of Anthony Scaramucci to replace him. The Mooch lasted just 10 days in the role. Steven Cheung, a former UFC spokesman, is a partisan political brawler who brings with him experience from the first Trump administration where he was an assistant communications director. Mr Cheung seems better suited to the world of political combat than Mr Spicer, and his return signals the new Trump White House will be just as aggressive as the 2024 Trump campaign. He is known for his bare-knuckle briefings, regularly accusing Mr Trumps critics of suffering from Trump Derangement Syndrome. Earlier this year, he labelled Ron DeSantis, the Florida governor, a cuck. NEW JOBS: Border czar Mr Trump will have not just one but two immigration hawks to spearhead his mass deportation plans with the appointment of Tom Homan as his border tsar. Mr Homan, a former acting head of immigration enforcement, knows exactly what levers the federal government can pull, and is seen as a bruiser with no qualms about pulling them. He was the architect of the family separation programme in which children who illegally crossed the border were separated from their families and kept in cages. Mr Trump backed away from the policy in 2018 at the behest of his wife, Melania, but may choose to double down this time around. NEW JOBS: DOGE, Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy By any stretch of the imagination, Elon Musk should have enough on his plate. He is the chief executive of Tesla and SpaceX among several other companies, and is a serial user of X, formerly known as Twitter which he owns. To add to those responsibilities, Mr Trump has appointed him to head up a new commission known as the Department for Government Efficiency (DOGE). Some of Mr Trumps former hires from the world of business have struggled to get to grips with running a department like Rex Tillerson. But Mr Musk believes himself the exception and claims he can slash $2 trillion from the federal budget. Mr Musk will head up DOGE with Vivek Ramaswamy, a former biotech entrepreneur who ran against Mr Trump for the Republican nomination this year. Unlike figures like Ms Haley, who turned their fire on the president-elect, Mr Ramaswamy paid tribute to him as the greatest president of my lifetime even as he sought to replace the Republican at the top of the ticket. He dropped out of the race after the Iowa caucus in January and quickly established himself as a useful surrogate figure in the Trump campaign. 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. Donald Trump insiders have ruled out the possibility of former special agent Mike Rogers being named as FBI director. Earlier reports suggested that Rogers was tipped to take the top job with controversial MAGA loyalist Kash Patel as his deputy. But Dan Scavino, who was last week named as the president-elects deputy chief of staff, revealed that Trump has ruled out Rogers, contrary to earlier reports. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just spoke to President Trump regarding Mike Rogers going to the FBI. Its not happening, he said in a post on X. In his own words, I have never even given it a thought. Not happening. Donald Trump Jr also weighed in on Scavinos post, writing: Winning. He added: Also relax about every rumor you hear online guys. Dont assume anything you read is true till the release goes out. That said if it looks like we are missing something glaring like this definitely point it out. Neither Trump Jr nor Scavino addressed the reports about Patel. Trump insiders have ruled out Mike Rogers for FBI director (REUTERS) Trump has made it clear he intends to shake up the bureau and could fire the current FBI director, Christopher Wray, who was nominated for the position by the president-elect in 2017. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rogers, who some viewed as a logical choice, is a former Marine and FBI agent who served eight years in the Michigan state Senate before representing Michigan in Congress from 2001 to 2015. He narrowly missed out on a Senate seat to Democrat Elissa Slotkin in this years election. In 2017, he was endorsed by the FBI Agents Association to become the next FBI director before Trump chose Wray instead. The pick of Rogers, alongside Patel, could have pleased Senate Republicans who have been nervous about Trumps plans to disrupt the FBI by putting a figure like Patel in the top job, sources had told CNN. The sources added it could have gone some way to appease those in his MAGA circle who have been frustrated about the lack of right-wing allies who have been given top jobs in his administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Andrew McCabe, the former Trump FBI deputy director, called Rogers a totally reasonable, logical selection, adding that he has the experience and knowledge of the intelligence community required for the role. Rogers was previously endorsed by the FBI Agents Association for the top job in 2017 (REUTERS) But he was scathing when it came to Patel, adding that no part of the FBIs mission is safe with Kash Patel in any position of leadership in the FBI. And certainly not in the deputy directors job. Its inconceivable to me that an outsider with no experience in the organization, no knowledge of the work and the scope of authority thats involved there could perform adequately, McCabe said. Patel is a Trump loyalist who has railed against the so-called Deep State and has reportedly been lobbying the president-elect for the top FBI job, according to CNN. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But even among the most staunch Trump loyalists, Patel is viewed as a controversial figure. On Steve Bannons War Room podcast last year, Patel said a team of all-American patriots in all levels of government in the next Trump administration will come after members of the press that he claims have lied about American citizens and helped Joe Biden rig presidential elections. Were going to come after you, whether its criminal or civilly, well figure that out, said Patel, who joined the Trump administration in 2019 as a dubiously qualified intelligence official. Were putting you all on notice, he said. And Steve, this is why they hate us. This is why were tyrannical. This is why were dictators, because were actually going to use the Constitution to prosecute them for crimes they said we have always been guilty of but never have. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a now-deleted social media post, JD Vance hinted about the kind of candidate Trump was mulling over for the role while he defended himself from criticism over his absence from a Senate vote. Trump MAGA loyalist Kash Patel is rumoured to be in the running for the role of deputy FBI director (REUTERS) I was meeting with President Trump to interview multiple positions for our government, including for FBI Director, Vance said. I tend to think its more important to get an FBI director who will dismantle the deep state than it is for Republicans to lose a vote 49-46 rather than 49-45. But thats just me. If he so chooses, Trump can bypass background checks for those he has nominated for key roles in his administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Incoming cabinet members have traditionally faced intensive screening from the FBI with a binary purpose: to help with the Senate confirmation process and to vet nominees for security clearance. Criminal histories, conflicts of interest, financial problems or other potentially disqualifying factors are typically investigated through this process. But, despite established procedure, the president does have the power to bypass such checks and grant immediate security clearance to officials. SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) The Montezuma Fire is still fresh in the minds of Kensington residents as they gathered to learn more about the intricacies of a nearly flawless firefighting effort from San Diego and Cal Fire crews taking the lead with a lot of help from all of the county with new technology also playing a big role. When the fire was going on Montezuma, I could look at my iPad and it was the dots on everybody, and everybody has a moniker on them, so I could see we had San Marcos; I could see we had Carlsbad, Rancho Santa Fe, Cal Fire. We had all these different agencies, everyone was involved, said Assistant Chief Dan Eddy from San Diego Fire-Rescue Department. The Montezuma Fire burned 40 acres, threatening dozens of homes, and in the end, only one home was lost. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We got to express our thanks to the firefighters involved because it could have been a lot worse, said Fernando Gracia, a resident from Kensington. The fire is still under investigation as to what started the Halloween blaze that evacuated hundreds and scared the community out of their wits, but now residents say they are worried about homeless encampments dotted through their canyon neighborhood just off of the San Diego State campus. Ive seen the people barbecue in the canyons right next to trees. Im surprised we dont have more, Garcia said. Residents peppered questions to firefighters, politicians and law enforcement officials, trying to get a better understanding on how to protect their homes for the next fire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One big help in the last fire was clean communication and a new free app called Genesys which leans on algorithms to assist evacuation routes for homeowners leaving the dangerous areas. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. RIESEL, Texas (FOX 44) A Union Pacific train derailment in Riesel has caused some road closures and rerouting of traffic. According to the City of Riesels Facebook page, the railroad crossing at Sanders Lane will be temporarily closed. Portions of Broadway Street will be closed for heavy equipment to clear the derailment. Travelers are urged to seek alternate routes and be safe. This is a developing story. FOX 44 News will have more information as it becomes available. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KWKT - FOX 44. On the night of the election, Red Broadwell was home with his cat in Wilmington, North Carolina, working on his masters thesis about transness and body horror in film. He tried not to doomscroll about the election results. But when the 23-year-old trans graduate student woke up the next morning to the news that Donald Trump had won the presidency, Broadwell began to panic. He said the results were genuinely sickening and caused him to experience panic attacks and bouts of nausea. He worried about his ability to continue taking testosterone and whether he would have to scramble to sort out top surgery sooner than he expected. Broadwell was finally able to start hormone replacement therapy last summer after moving out of Florida, which has banned care for minors and limited which providers can administer hormones to adults. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ive grown up in the South my whole life. I dont really want to leave, Broadwell said. I love it down here, and I dont want to abandon that. It sucks that every time theres an election, I have to ask, Whats going to happen to me and my friends? After Trumps victory, trans people across the country are grappling with questions about their legal protections and access to gender-affirming care and reproductive health, as well as concerns over their physical safety in short, what survival will look like. The Trevor Project, an LGBTQ+ youth suicide prevention organization, saw a 700% increase in people reaching out the day after the election compared to the weeks prior. During his campaign, Trump vowed to sign an executive order barring federal agencies from the promotion of sex or gender transition at any age, and has promised to restrict federal funding for hospitals or health care providers that perform gender-affirming care for minors. Republicans spent at least $215 million this campaign cycle on ads portraying trans people as a scourge to society, and the official party platform lists keeping men out of womens sports as a priority. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And over the last two weeks, Trump has been busy stocking his administration with authors of Project 2025 after claiming he knew nothing about the 920-page conservative playbook or who was behind it. Project 2025 outlines dozens of policies that essentially erase federal protections for LGBTQ+ people, including allowing Medicare and Medicaid to deny coverage for gender-affirming care; redefining sex as biological sex, a phrase that has been used by the right to discriminate against trans people and particularly trans women; and reinstating the transgender military ban. Its a waking nightmare, said Ash Orr, a trans organizer from West Virginia who is making plans to leave the red state with his spouse because of Trumps victory. He is worried about his ability to get testosterone and access reproductive care and Plan B in a state that has a near-total ban on abortion. Orrs nonprofit, Morgantown Pride, held a name change clinic and an event for Trans Day of Remembrance this week and for the first time, Orr said, they had to hire security to ensure the patrons were safe from anti-trans protesters. People have been emboldened, but this time, it feels completely unchecked, Orr said. The hatred coming toward our community has definitely intensified. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even in bluer areas like Philadelphia, trans people are racing to make sure all of their legal documents including passports, drivers licenses, birth certificates, social security cards and banking documents reflect their correct gender marker and name. Several states, like Florida, Texas, Arkansas and Montana, have made it more difficult for trans people to update their gender marker on state-issued documents and now many people are attending clinics hosted by community centers and law firms to finalize their paperwork ahead of any action under Trump that could make this process more difficult. Jordan Schwenderman, a transmasculine lesbian and public relations coordinator in Philadelphia, said they are working to update their name change with their health insurance. I dont want to give anyone another reason to justify not providing gender-affirming care to me because my name doesnt match my documentation, Schwenderman said. Kary Santayana, a nonbinary artist and content creator who worked on content for Vice President Kamala Harris campaign in Philadelphia, said that the outcome of the election has forced them and their partner to reevaluate some of their future plans. Santayana said the couple are in the early stages of talking about fertility and were hoping to get married next fall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But at this point, were kind of reconsidering everything. Were afraid if we freeze embryos, there will be legislation that will dictate what can happen to them with some sort of fetal personhood law under a Trump administration, Santayana said. Santayana has an X gender marker on their license to denote their nonbinary identity, and now wonders if having that letter on their state identification could disclose them as trans and put them in possible danger while traveling. I think in the safest way possible, Im going to keep showing up and keep being queer online, said Santayana, who makes queer fashion and lifestyle content. What these MAGA conservatives want is for us to disappear. While trans people have been preparing for life under Trump 2.0, the weeks after the election have also offered people an opportunity to gather in community, share resources and strategize. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jasmine Beach-Ferrara, who heads the Campaign for Southern Equality, said the organization has fielded many questions from people trying to plan for various worst-case scenarios. Some families of trans youth asked if they should prepare to travel internationally for gender-affirming care; others who already travel out-of-state for care wonder what might happen to their future clinic appointments if Trump imposes a federal ban on care for minors. Twenty-five states already have bans on gender-affirming care for minors. And several states have considered bills that would restrict access to care for adults, especially those who are on state insurance plans. As more and more states restricted trans health care, the Campaign for Southern Equality noticed a pattern of providers and pharmacies denying care to trans patients even in states where they were still legally allowed to provide it. The landscape for providers in red states has become very hostile as hospitals, clinics and individual physicians have become the subjects of lengthy investigations by conservative attorneys general. Beach-Ferraras organization created the Trans Youth Emergency Project in 2023 to help families of trans youth travel to out-of-state providers for gender-affirming care. The hope at the time was that one day, it would no longer be necessary, and that access to medical care, which has been proven to significantly reduce depression and other adverse health outcomes, would be protected at the federal level. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Next month, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments for U.S. v. Skrmetti, a high-profile case that will determine whether bans on gender-affirming care for minors violate the Constitution. The decision could come down from the 6-3 conservative-leaning court by next summer and throw a whole host of LGBTQ+ legal protections in jeopardy. While waiting on that decision, Beach-Ferrara said its helpful to think about the most immediate concerns. We have the time in front of us to focus on helping as many people as possible get the care that they need, she said. At CSE, we are thinking about what can we do today? What can we do tomorrow? How can we be prepared if a ruling like that does come down next summer and bans go into effect? Shes also thinking about what can be done at the local level. She lives in Asheville, North Carolina, a mountainous town that was destroyed by Hurricane Helene. In the aftermath of the hurricane, she said her community set up a supply station for queer and trans residents to receive hot lunch, free haircuts, massage therapy, and extra clothing and supplies for those who lost their homes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some people are coming just to be with queer community, she said. Some end up staying for hours during the day because its a safe space. As much as anything, people want to be connected and are trying to find their footing. Community care and mutual aid have long been a tenet of queer and trans political organizing, as well as organizing with leftist, feminist, abolitionist and Black radical political movements. Trans people have a deep history of helping one another survive, whether that be friends sharing hormones, crowdfunding payments for surgeries and rent, or even simply sharing information and guides for how to navigate the legal maze of changing ones documents. Jan, a 57-year-old trans woman living in New York City, has been focused on building community, not just among other trans people but with people in the city who have been made vulnerable and marginalized. Jan asked to be identified only by her first name out of concern for her safety. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jan said she woke up sobbing the morning after Election Day. But by that evening, she had organized a large group of trans people to have dinner together. She said she feels threatened and wonders if she can count on the current protections she and her family have in New York. This week, she watched with disgust as Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) barred Rep.-elect Sarah McBride (D-Del.), who is trans, from using the womens restroom. Jan, who has two kids and has been given the affectionate nickname antifa mom by some of her co-organizers, said that the community dinners and her participation in a local food distribution group have helped her feel less trapped by the ever-encroaching conservative and transphobic bent in national politics. The government is going to abandon us, but were not going to abandon each other, Jan said. We dont have to choose to abandon each other. Amid a growing transparency and political battle, Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza released partial details Thursday about a $115,000 security allotment county commissioners gave him earlier this year to help beef up security at his home. Garza disclosed for the first time that about $65,000 in public money was used for safety enhancements to his private residence and released a heavily redacted purchase order that did not show how the money was used or make clear to whom it was paid. Garza said in a statement that the security features would be returned to the county when he is no longer in office. He was reelected earlier this month to a four-year term. Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza released partial details about his use of county money for personal security measures and a series of social media posts that he deemed threatening as well as a handwritten note that threatened his life if he did not resign. Garza also released a series of social media posts that he deemed to be threatening as well as a handwritten note threatening death if he did not resign. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The disclosures marked the most significant response by Garza in the four months since the American-Statesman began examining the highly unusual county expenditure to add safety improvements to an elected officials home. It also comes 43 days after the Texas attorney generals office ruled that Garza and Travis County must release at least a portion of the records sought by the Statesman in a series of requests that began over the summer. In a lawsuit filed this month in a Travis County state District Court, Garza is fighting the release of other records that the attorney generals office ruled were public information. Garza in his suit alleges that the release of the documents would jeopardize his safety. Too often, serving in elected office comes with threats of violence, Garza said in a statement Thursday. In the face of those threats, we have a responsibility to continue to ensure the fair administration of justice and to keep our families safe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Garza said in the statement that he began receiving threats against his life and residence beginning in April 2023 when Gov. Greg Abbott announced he was pardoning Daniel Perry in the shooting death of a protester in downtown Austin three years earlier. He said later that year, online users suggested that Garzas policies could be changed if his personal address were posted online and his safety threatened. The Statesman reported earlier this year that a social media user posted Garzas address on X, formerly Twitter, from a screengrab taken from a publicly filed campaign finance report, prompting his request to county commissioners for security assistance. The Travis County sheriffs office, which usually receives initial reports about threats to officials, confirmed in August that it was aware of two previous issues of a concerning communication or a threat to Garza in 2023. In one instance, a letter mailed to his home was sent to the U.S. postal inspector for investigation. In the second, an email was sent to the county about Garza that officials did not deem to be an imminent threat. Commissioners, including County Judge Andy Brown, who employs Garzas wife as his chief of staff, have not explained why they made money available to Garza to secure his home but didn't offer the same protection to other elected officials at the time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Statesman previously reported that Travis County is on pace to receive more threats and concerning communications against judges this year than it has in the past four years, according to the sheriff's office, but found that none of the officials who have received threats were provided the level of security that Garza received. Garza said in his statement that at the time, the county initiated a comprehensive approach to addressing security for all personnel. Officials later approved a $1.8 million security team that will develop protocols about what might prompt personal security for an official. The Statesman found that it is not standard to use public money to provide safety improvements to an officials home and that such funds were typically not available to most local and state officials who have also received threats. The $115,000 allotment to Garza prompted questions about how the county distributes security resources among officials who receive threats and what the public should know about those expenditures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Attorney General Ken Paxton sued the county in September, saying that commissioners relied upon an agenda item that did not suitably notify the public. The case is pending, but commissioners have since sought to correct the issue. Last month, two state district judges also publicly asked the county to create a fund that could provide security enhancements to the homes of more than three dozen elected officials from the tax collector to the county attorney. The county set aside $500,000 for that effort. This story was updated to add a video. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Travis County DA Jose Garza releases partial records about security (Bloomberg) -- President-elect Donald Trumps uncertainty about his slate of Treasury secretary candidates has led to rival factions once again trying to win his favor. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After a flurry of meetings this week, including discussions with new contenders, Trump has yet to make a decision on who will lead the charge for the sweeping economic agenda that he promised voters. Apollo Global Management Inc. executive Marc Rowan pitched a tax policy vision that fell flat with some of the president-elects advisers, according to people familiar with the matter, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the talks. A major tax cut bill is a top priority for the incoming administration, with much of Trumps first-term cuts set to expire next year. People involved in the process see another contender, former Federal Reserve Governor Kevin Warsh, as wanting a job leading the US central bank when the Fed chair role opens in 2026. Trump passed over Warsh when he nominated Jerome Powell during his first term to lead the Fed, a choice he has since lamented. Warsh has been involved in transition efforts run out of Trumps Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach since Election Day, largely helping develop economic policy plans. But until Trumps advisers invited him to interview for Treasury secretary earlier this week, he had largely been seen as staying out of the administration to leave room to join the Fed, according to the people familiar. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The candidates for Treasury secretary who also include Key Square Group LP founder Scott Bessent and Tennessee Senator Bill Hagerty have fallen in and out of favor with Trump over the past two weeks. Another contender, transition co-chair Howard Lutnick was taken out of the running earlier this week when Trump named him to serve as Commerce secretary. President-Elect Trump is making decisions on who will serve in his second Administration. Those decisions will continue to be announced by him when they are made, transition spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said in a statement. A spokesperson for Hagerty did not respond to a request for comment. Representatives for Bessent, Rowan and Warsh did not respond to requests for comment. Since Election Day, Bessent has met with Trump multiple times and at least twice to discuss the jobs of Treasury secretary and director of the White Houses National Economic Council, another powerful post on a presidents economic team. The two jobs work closely together to move economic policy priorities through the executive branch and Congress, although its the Senate-confirmed Treasury chief who is traditionally the administrations liaison to markets and the Fed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While a decision on Treasury could have come this week after a series of meetings, the sudden withdrawal of Matt Gaetz as Trumps choice for attorney general on Thursday, and his quick replacement with Pam Bondi, consumed much of the discussion at Mar-a-Lago in recent days. The former Florida congressman bowed out after coming under intense scrutiny over an investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct. Investor Allies Bessent, who has been floated for the Treasury role since March, has a deep bench of supporters that come from both Wall Street and Trumps inner circle. That includes: former NEC director Larry Kudlow, long-time Trump adviser Steve Bannon and Hayman Capital Managements Kyle Bass. JPMorgan Chase & Co.s Jamie Dimon thinks highly of Bessent for Treasury secretary but does not consider him the only good candidate, Bloomberg reported last week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hedge fund founder Bessent and Warsh, who previously worked in investment banking at Morgan Stanley, are seen by market observers as choices that would come with deep knowledge of public markets. The US Treasury secretary oversees the $28 trillion market for government debt, and often steps in to calm markets in the event of exorbitant volatility or a liquidity crisis. Read: Warsh Seen by Markets as Seasoned Candidate to Lead US Treasury Rowan, meanwhile, would be a rare pick from the world of private equity. He would be an unorthodox pick to run Treasury, said Gregory Faranello, head of US rates trading and strategy for AmeriVet Securities. He noted that those who have experience at hedge funds, trading and investment banking have more daily involvement in global capital flows, payments, Treasuries issuance, among other areas in finance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The expectations of the Treasury seat are different when you think about the plumbing of the financial system, he said. Those working on Trumps transition efforts have balked at how complex a task it would be for Rowan to unwind his investments at Apollo in order to take the Treasury post. He is the fourth-largest Apollo shareholder, with a stake of about 6% thats worth almost $6 billion, according to public filings. That excludes his stakes in Apollos funds. Bannon assailed Rowan and his private equity background on his War Room podcast Friday. Apollo is one of the Wall Street oligarch predators. Theyre predatory capitalism, Bannon said. I dont know if it makes sense for President Trumps program if you have a guy like Rowan, that represents Apollo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Nov. 21U.S. Reps. Chris Pappas and Annie Kuster, D-N.H., opposed legislation which cleared the U.S. House over concerns that as written it could threaten nonprofit organizations that could be branded as terrorist organizations. The 215-184 vote for the Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act faces an uncertain fate in the Democratically controlled U.S. Senate for the balance of this year. Whatever happens in the final weeks of 2024, however, this issue is likely to be resurrected in the next Congress, which will be completely under Republican control. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last spring, this bill had overwhelming bipartisan support after widespread protests over the war in Gaza on college campuses with the implication that some of these groups were supporting "terrorism" against Israel. Pappas changed his vote from a week ago, when he was one of 52 House Democrats who had supported it. On Thursday, only 15 House Democrats voted yes after scores of nonprofit and civil rights groups across the country mounted a fierce lobbying campaign against it. "I strongly support the provisions in H.R. 9495 that stop the IRS from penalizing people who haven't filed their taxes because they are being held as hostages overseas and cut off potential funding streams to terrorist organizations," Pappas said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "In speaking to nonprofit leaders in New Hampshire doing vital work to increase housing, fight the opioid and addiction epidemic, and help families and small businesses thrive, it is clear that those who do this work every day in my district have concerns that more guardrails are needed to ensure this legislation is properly implemented." "For that reason, I will vote against H.R. 9495 on the floor today and will work with New Hampshire's nonprofit community to advocate for updates to the legislation that guarantees tax-exempt organizations can never aid terror organizations while providing needed safeguards to ensure that good actors are not wrongly targeted." Among the groups that Pappas heard from with concerns about the bill were the N.H. Charitable Foundation, the N.H. Center for Nonprofits, NAMI N.H. and the Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, according to Pappas's staff. Kuster says GOP failed to compromise Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kuster, who is retiring next month after serving six terms in Congress, said House Republicans refused to compromise on this measure. "Nonprofits in New Hampshire and across the country play a valuable role in supporting our communities, from helping individuals access substance use disorder treatment and recovery services to addressing homelessness and housing affordability, and so much more," Kuster said in her statement. "Today, I voted against H.R. 9495, misguided legislation that would have threatened nonprofit organizations' ability to carry out their crucial work. I support tax protections for Americans held hostage or wrongly detained abroad and urge Republicans to work in a bipartisan way to fix this problem rather than playing games with the non-profits Granite Staters rely on." The bill would give the Treasury Department the power to strip nonprofits of their tax-exempt status if they were found in support of terrorism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Groups could appeal that designation to the Internal Revenue Service or the courts but opponents said this branding could have a chilling effect on nonprofit advocacy and financial health. Kuster and Pappas did not cite the election of Donald Trump as a reason to oppose the bill. Yet many House Democrats speaking on the floor said they feared this would give Trump's as-yet-unnominated Treasury secretary authority to go after groups that have opposed Trump in the past. "It is not just Trump imposing a death sentence that should concern us, but it is his power to intimidate," said U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas. "Clearly the bill would have a chilling effect on any group that has the audacity to challenge his chilling vision." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement House Ways and Means Chairman Jason Smith, R-Missouri, criticized Democratic colleagues who changed their views. "Despite that consistent bipartisan support, the majority of our Democrat colleagues voted last week to block passage of this bill. Why? Because President Trump won the election," Smith said. "They now believe the authorities in this bill might be abused but every concern raised by Democrats has been addressed in this bill to ensure due process and to protect legitimate nonprofits." Leaders of groups who praised many House Democrats for changing their views noted that a broad coalition of Jewish groups in recent weeks had come out against it. klandrigan@unionleader.com This fall marks a momentous occasion for the Department of Neurology at the Medical College of Wisconsin and its clinical team at Froedtert Health as the department celebrates 50 years of advancing the neurosciences and expanding treatment options for patients with neurological disorders. This milestone is an occasion to reflect on the astounding advances in therapeutic options for tens of thousands of patients in Wisconsin, and their families, who live with a neurological disorder. Worldwide, 1 in 3 people are impacted by neurological health conditions. It is, in fact, the leading cause of illness and disability, according to the World Health Organization. When it began in 1974, the Department of Neurology had six neurologists and treated common neurological conditions at the time such as epilepsy, multiple sclerosis (MS), and Parkinsons disease. Newer medications were just coming out for the treatment of epilepsy such as Depakote, Tegretol, and Primidone (one of the drug trials for Primidone was actually done around 1970 at MCW). Since its founding, scope of medical expertise has grown Led by its first chair, Michael McQuillen, MD, the Department of Neurology grew significantly, expanding in both faculty and areas of expertise. Subspecialties were introduced: neuromuscular disorders, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, movement disorders, and memory disorders. McQuillen also brought on PhD basic science researchers, fostering a robust research environment within the department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Opinion: A tribute to a dedicated public servant and dear friend, Jonathan Brostoff Beyond clinical care, McQuillen understood the importance of patient well-being and ethical medical practice. He was instrumental in hiring a social worker for the department to address the broader needs of patients and their families. Moreover, he established the first medical ethics committee at MCW, laying the foundation for the compassionate and ethical care that continues to define the department today. By his departure in 1987, he had firmly established the department as a leader in both academic and clinical neurology and positioned it for future growth. Since McQuillens tenure, the department has continued to flourish under subsequent leadership. Today, Ekokobe Fonkem, DO, chairs the department, overseeing a faculty of over 75 neurologists, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. The departments clinical programs have also expanded to include a wide range of specialties, including endovascular surgical neuroradiology, headache medicine, neurointensivist care, neuro-oncology, and stroke care. Diseases that once used to cripple, can now be treated Today, patients like Karli, a young woman whose MS attack caused paralysis and the need to go on a ventilator, is walking again with a cane. A course of plasmapheresis followed by a bone marrow transplant quelled the attack; ongoing infusion therapy has slowed the rate of disease progression. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For Steve, a retiree whose Parkinsons disease and its telltale tremors prohibited him from driving and other daily activities, electrodes were implanted in the area of his brain causing the tremors using an innovative procedure called Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS). An impulse generator battery the size of stopwatch was implanted under his collarbone to deliver electrical stimulation to the area of his brain that causes the tremors, much like how a pacemaker for the heart works. This revolutionary treatment has allowed Steve to rediscover the freedom of driving a car and even riding a bike. In the last two years, the department has been a key partner in launching the Wisconsin Institute of NeuroScience (WINS), an interdisciplinary collaboration between Medical College of Wisconsin and its clinical partners that is poised to shape the future of neuroscience in Wisconsin and beyond. As the Department of Neurology celebrates its 50th anniversary, it stands as a testament to the vision and dedication of its founders and its current faculty. We are truly grateful for our patients and their families who have put their trust in our care teams. From its modest beginnings to its current role as a world leader in neurological care and research, the department continues to chart a path forward, ensuring that the next 50 years will be just as impactful. Paul E. Barkhaus, MD, is a neurologist at Froedtert Hospital and a professor in the Department of Neurology at the Medical College of Wisconsin, a partner of the Wisconsin Institute of NeuroScience. Currently, researchers are involved in nearly 40 clinical trials covering a variety of diseases related to the brain, spinal cord and nervous system. More information can be found at: Clinical Trials at Froedtert & MCW This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Medical College of Wisconsin and Froedtert mark neurology anniversary Nov. 22An Oxford man arrested last winter and charged with felony animal cruelty for allegedly abusing a cat that was later euthanized due to injuries will not go to trial in until next year. Zhean Bai, 28 ,was arrested in February at his Oxford residence then indicted on one count of cruelty to a companion animal, a fifth-degree felony. He was back in court Thursday for a hearing after his attorney filed a motion to withdraw from his case. Attorney Brandon Moermond said he requested to withdraw due to Bai's "inability to communicate with counsel and follow advice." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moermond said Bai also joined the request for him to leave the case. Butler County Common Pleas Judge Keith Spaeth granted the withdraw and scheduled Bai's jury trial for Jan 13. He is scheduled to be back in court with a new attorney on Jan. 10 for a pre-trial hearing. Bai's November trial was cancelled at the request of the defense that was awaiting an Ohio Supreme Court ruling that could affect his case. Bai is accused of capturing a cat then slamming it to the ground at a Hamilton apartment complex, causing the animal grave injuries. The cat was euthanized due to its injuries. Bai's former team of attorneys filed a motion to have the charge dismissed citing the pending case before the Ohio Supreme Court questioning the definition of a companion animal which raises the charge to a felony. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the motion, the attorneys questioned if the cat was a companion animal or a "feral cat" because "the cat was not owned by anyone in the apartment building, nor did it live in anyone's home." Earlier this month, the high court issued a unanimous decision saying a cat or dog does not need to be "kept" in order to be protected under the law. It reversed a decision by the Eighth District Court of Appeals that found the felony-level statute only applied to pets that received care from someone. Butler County Prosecutor Michael Gmoser acknowledged the supreme court ruling and said Bai's case will move forward with a plea or a new trial date. Bai is free on $50,000 bond. BELVIDERE, Ill. (WTVO) Alize Smith, 27, the man accused of killing Andrew Hintt, 31, and his two sons in 2021, will stand trial in March. Smith is charged with three counts of first-degree murder in the shooting deaths of Hintt and sons, 7-year-old Benjamin and 5-year-old Sebastian. Their bodies were found on Dec. 19, 2021, inside their Union Avenue Home. According to prosecutors, Smith and Hintt were involved in selling marijuana and that one man owed the other $10,000 at the time Hintt and his boys were killed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Smith was seen exiting their home that same day just after noon, taking the Ring doorbell off the door. Prosecutors said that a person was seen driving Hintts stolen truck on a Chicago tollway. Smith, of Huntley, was charged with the crime in January 2022. Smith served four years in prison for the 2016 robberies of a loan store in McHenry and a 7-Eleven in Huntley, using a BB gun. He was paroled in June 2021. His trial is set to begin on March 3rd, 2025. Smith faces life in prison if convicted. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyStateline | WTVO News, Weather and Sports. Might Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defence minister Yoav Gallant ultimately be handed over to the International Criminal Court by Israel itself? This was the suggestion made on Friday by Geoffrey Robertson KC, one of Britains most senior lawyers, who noted its what happened in the end with Serbias Slobodan Milosevic. It would be an easy way of disposing of [Netanyahu] were he to fail at the next elections send him off to defend himself, said Mr Robertson, the founder and joint head of Doughty Street Chambers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It lacks a certain Hollywood punch but most of those who end up in the dock at The Hague are eventually handed over by their own countrymen without a fight. In its first 20 years of existence, from 2002 to 2022, ICC judges issued 37 arrest warrants. Asking around the office, most thought that only two or three were brought to justice. But the real number is much higher: 21 people were detained and appeared before the court over the period, a hit rate of 56 per cent. Charges against another three were dropped as a result of their deaths. Its the passage of time and shifting political alliances that leave defendants vulnerable. That and the relentless grinding bureaucracy of modern justice. Geoffrey Robertson says Israel handing over Mr Netanyahu to the ICC would be an easy way of disposing of him were he to fail at the next elections - Tristan Fewings/Getty Images The case of Milosevic is instructive. He was first indicted in May 1999 for war crimes during the Kosovo War. Charges for crimes against humanity in Croatia and Bosnia were later added, including genocide and complicity in genocide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Initially, his people rallied around, swearing loyalty and promising to defend their guy to the last. But old bonds quickly faded. In October 2000, Milosevic was swept from power after mass street protests. In January the following year, the new Serbian authorities placed him under surveillance in Belgrade. He was then imprisoned and charged with fraud and abuse of power. All UN states were, meanwhile, ordered to freeze assets linked to Milosevic and his co-defendants. Aid for the countrys rebuilding was made conditional on his being handed over. Then on 28 June 2001 just ahead of an international donors conference Serbian prime minister Zoran Djindjic authorised Milosevics transfer to The Hague. A significant part of Serbia cheered the move, many having only then become fully aware of the horrific crimes he had committed in their name. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On 11 March 2006 after a long trial he died alone of a heart attack in his prison cell. The following year posthumous verdicts found him guilty of a slew of war crimes. Does a similar handover ultimately await Messrs Netanyahu and Gallant? Is it possible that in the end, Israels future leaders, like Serbia, will deliver them to the ICCs prosecutors in The Hague? Could Israels future leaders deliver Messrs Netanyahu and Gallant to the ICCs prosecutors? - ABIR SULTAN/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Mr Robertson, who first raised the prospect, conceded it was not likely in his interview on Channel 4. For a start, unlike Serbia, Israel is not a member of the ICC and so cannot be pressured as directly. Dahlia Scheindlin, an Israeli pollster, is also sceptical. She pointed to polling that showed 87 per cent of Israelis believe the ICC to be strongly or somewhat biased against Israel. If the question is turned around, 77 per cent of Palestinians think the same. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ms Scheindlin said there was zero chance of the two defendants being handed over by Israel as things stand. The situation domestically would have to become much worse for that to happen. Serbia needed everything from the West that Israel already has (or doesnt need), she added. Gershon Baskin, a former Israeli negotiator and peace activist, said he did not think Israel would hand over the two men, but that warrants for their arrest may create change. This might be the beginning of the end of Israels impunity on what it has done for years to the Palestinians, he said. Israelis dont accept the charges and have little ability to confront the reality of Israel committing war crimes. But Israel is gradually becoming a pariah nation and this is one big step in that direction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the end, it was a similar transformation in Serbia that led to the handover of Milosevic. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. The incoming Trump administration didnt waste any time after Matt Gaetz said that he was dropping his bid to become attorney general. Soon afterward, it announced that Pam Bondi, the former attorney general of Florida, would seek the top position at the Justice Department instead. Bondi, 59, who served as Floridas attorney general from 2011 to 2019 and represented Donald Trump at his first impeachment trial in the Senate, is both an experienced public official and a long-time ally of the president-elect. Gaetz reacted to the choice on X by calling her a stellar selection as well as a proven litigator, an inspiring leader and a champion for all Americans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement South Carolina Republican senator Lindsey Graham was even more effusive, posting: Well done, Mr President. Picking Pam Bondi for Attorney General is a grand slam, touchdown, hole in one, ace, hat trick, slam dunk, Olympic gold medal pick. She will be confirmed quickly because she deserves to be confirmed quickly. Democrats questioned her over loyalty to Trump, 2020 election denial, pardons for the January 6 rioters and the weaponization of the Justice Department, among other things, during the hearing. If Bondi is confirmed, it would put a Trump loyalist at the top of the American justice system, likely boosting a Trump-inspired overhaul of the Department of Justice. That may lead to the investigation of Trumps political enemies. The chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Iowa Republican Chuck Grassley, wanted to begin Bondis hearing Tuesday, but a delay in her background check and financial disclosures prompted the hearing to be pushed back to Wednesday and Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heres what you need to know about her. Ethical questions around campaign cash in Florida Trump and Bondi have ties that date back over a decade, to when Bondi was serving as Floridas first female attorney general. In 2013, as Bondis office was receiving complaints from people alleging they had been scammed by the future presidents Trump University seminars, her political committee received a $25,000 donation from the Donald J Trump Foundation. While New York pursued lawsuits related to the seminars, the Sunshine State did not. Both Trump and Bondi have denied the donation was improper or related to the charging decision. That wasnt the only campaign-related scandal during her time in Florida. Pam Bondi would play crucial role in 6 January cases, civil rights and election issues (Getty) That same year, she persuaded then-governor Rick Scott to reschedule the execution of convicted murderer Marshall Lee Fore to accommodate a fundraiser. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I should not have requested the execution be moved. It had been [delayed] twice, she said at the time, The Tampa Tribune reported. Im sorry. And it will not happen again. A record of high-profile cases Unlike some of the Trump administrations other nominees, who lack direct government experience related to their cabinet positions, Bondi has a substantial record in public office and has shown a willingness to take on high-profile cases. She helped appoint the special prosecutor who investigated the 2012 shooting of Trayvon Martin an unarmed Black teenager by a neighborhood watch volunteer. She also initiated a lawsuit in 2018 against the makers of opioid medications, litigation that eventually culminated in a $3bn settlement with the state of Florida after leaving office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bondis office also sued BP after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and helped net Florida a $2bn payout. A diehard Trump defender and political ally Since leaving office, Bondi has been a resolute ally of Trump. She served on Trumps opioids commission and helped coordinate his response to moments when his administration was in peril. In 2019, Trump hired her to help it fend off its first impeachment investigation, over allegations of a quid pro quo agreement to pressure Ukrainian officials to go after the Biden family. During the 6 January investigation, meanwhile, Bondi appeared on Fox News and denounced the process as a show trial, while reportedly being one of a number of Trumpworld figures to offer jobs to one of the key witnesses, Cassidy Hutchinson. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That support has included latching onto some of Trumps most inflammatory claims. At the 2020 Republican National Convention (RNC), Bondi joined the chorus of Republican officials accusing Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden of corruption. Our partys theme tonight is America, the land of opportunity, Bondi said at the RNC. But for Joe Biden, its been the land of opportunism, not opportunity. As a career prosecutor and former attorney general of Florida, I fought corruption and I know what it looks like, whether its done by people wearing pinstripe suits or orange jumpsuits. In November of 2020, Bondi was outside the Philadelphia Convention Center with Trump campaign officials as they alleged voter fraud, claiming the Republicans had won Pennsylvania even before the state had declared its election results. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The alliance continued after Trumps election defeat, with Bondi heading Trump-related political action committees, and serving as chair of litigation at the America First Policy Institute, a Maga-affiliated legal advocacy group that has denounced the prosecutions against Trump as a weaponization of the justice system and sought to limit future legal scrutiny of present and former presidents. The group has argued that the pro-Trump crowd at the 6 January insurrection at the US Capitol was unfairly prosecuted as the victim of a two-tiered justice system. If Bondi is confirmed as attorney general, she would be responsible for the Justice Departments sprawling 6 January case, the largest prosecution in US history, as well as the departments response to civil rights cases and allegations of voter fraud. She would be the third woman to serve as the attorney general and the first under a Republican administration. A canine custody battle Perhaps the most bizarre episode from Bondis history began in 2005 when she rescued a St Bernard puppy separated from its family by Hurricane Katrina, adopting it from Floridas Pinellas County Humane Society and changing its name from Master Tank to Noah. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When the dogs true owners, Louisiana couple Steve and Dorreen Couture, tracked it down to the lawyers custody, Bondi refused to return it. She accused them of neglecting the animal, saying it was a walking skeleton when she took it under her wing. The family denied the accusation and sued Bondi, sparking a 16-month legal battle, which ended with the two sides settling before it reached trial. Bondi returned Master Tank to the Couture family with a supply of food and medication. Plans for her to receive photos and updates on the puppys wellbeing soon fell apart and Bondi eventually bought herself another dog. Donald Trump moved quickly to replace Matt Gaetz as his nominee for United States attorney general, tapping Pam Bondi for the job within hours of the former Florida lawmakers withdrawal. Gaetz dropped out of the process saying his candidacy was becoming a distraction after the House Ethics Committee came under pressure to release the findings of its investigation into allegations he had sex with a minor accusations he has consistently denied. Bondi, 59, served as the Sunshine States attorney general from 2011 to 2019 and represented Trump in his first impeachment trial before the Senate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But she is not entirely free from controversy herself. She has been accused of declining to take part in a class action lawsuit against Trump University in 2013 after the Republican donated $25,000 to her re-election campaign. But, perhaps more bizarrely, Bondi found herself caught up in a canine custody battle where she was accused of stealing a pet dog. Pam Bondi speaking at a Donald Trump campaign rally in Greensboro, North Carolina, on November 2 2024. She has now been tapped to become Trumps attorney general (Alex Brandon/AP) The saga began when Bondi adopted a St Bernard dog which had become separated from its family by Hurricane Katrina in 2005 from Floridas Pinellas County Humane Society. She changed its name from Master Tank to Noah. When the animals true owners, Louisiana couple Steve and Dorreen Couture, tracked Master Tank down to her home in Tampa Bay in January 2006 and found him in the lawyers custody, their request for his return was refused. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Instead, Bondi accused the grandparents of neglecting the animal. I took a dog who was a walking skeleton, she told The St Petersburg Times at the time. Thats what was wrong with him before the hurricane. If I thought I was sending him to a stable environment, where he would be cared for, as hard as it would be, Id put him in my car and drive him back myself. I made a promise to him that I would protect him. The Coutures denied her accusation, revealing that Master Tank had suffered from heartworms since he was 10 months old and continued to demand his return. The family sued and a 16-month legal battle ensued, which ended with the two sides settling before the dispute came to trial. Donald Trump and the then-Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi in 2016. In 2006, Bondi found herself caught up in a canine custody battle (Loren Elliott/Tampa Bay Times via AP) Bondi eventually returned Master Tank to the Coutures with a supply of food and medication. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Plans for her to receive photos and updates on the pups wellbeing soon fell apart, with the Coutures claiming that the lawyer had failed to honor her promises to visit the dog and pay for his food and medical bills for life. It was a burden, it really was, Doreen Couture told The St Petersburg Times in 2010 about the ordeal. Financially, emotionally, it was a really rough time. Asked whether the family planned to keep lines of communication with Bondi open, she added: Why should I? She stole my dog She has no compassion at all. Bondi eventually got a new pup, another St Bernard named Luke. Ive received a tremendous amount of support from people and animal rights activists, and no criticism at all, she said at the time. Really, it has not been an issue. Matt Gaetz was Donald Trumps nominee for attorney general for eight days. The former Florida congressmans historically short stint as a presidential pick came to an end on Thursday when he bowed out of consideration, claiming he no longer wanted the frenzy over the sexual misconduct allegations against him to distract from the critical work of the Trump/Vance administration. Gaetz has long been under scrutiny for allegedly having sex with a 17-year-old girl at a party in 2017. The Justice Department investigated him over that and sex-trafficking allegations, but ultimately declined to bring charges. The House Ethics Committee also investigated Gaetz over the allegations, and was poised to release its findings before Gaetz resigned from Congress last week. The committees report was reportedly damning, and theres plenty to suggest that what is publicly known about Gaetzs alleged indiscretions is only the tip of the iceberg. CNN reported on Thursday that Gaetz gave up his bid for attorney general less than an hour after the network informed him they were releasing a report about how he allegedly had multiple sexual encounters with the then-minor. Trumps allies seemed well aware there could be more to Gaetz than meets the publics eye, and were worried it could have become a problem if Gaetz took the reins of Americas justice system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The recent drip-drip-drip of new revelations about Gaetzs alleged sexual activities in 2017 along with the promise of whatever bombshells lay within the ethics committees still-unreleased report inspired an undercurrent throughout Washington, D.C., of chatter, opposition research, and firsthand accounts from members of Congress. The rumblings, according to Republican and Democratic sources, led to concern within the career halls of the Justice Department as well as among some GOP lawmakers on Capitol Hill and even in certain corners of Trumps orbit that there was just too much secret, non-public personal baggage to Gaetzs name that could be used against him. As one Trump adviser put it, if Gaetz had become attorney general, he would likely would have been the single most blackmail-able person to ever serve as attorney general of the United States and thats not a risk you want to take when the whole job is going after criminals. The concern around Gaetz doesnt mean hes banished from Trumps world. The president-elect lauded him publicly after he withdrew his name from consideration on Thursday, and two sources within Trumps orbit tell Rolling Stone that they are pushing internally for Gaetz to get a cushy White House job in the incoming Trump administration that would not require Senate confirmation. There is some chance Gaetz could return to the U.S. Capitol he only resigned from the Congress currently in session, and in November was elected to represent Floridas 1st District in the session that will convene in January. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Gaetz indicated in his resignation letter that he did not intend to take the oath of office for the next Congress. He might not want to, anyway, given that it would mean he would once again be open to congressional scrutiny over his alleged sexual misconduct, drug use, and other indiscretions. Leaving the Hill to join the Trump administration might make more sense. Gaetz is somehow only one of several Trump administration picks to be connected to sexual misconduct. The medias attention as well as that of Senate Republicans is now likely to shift to Pete Hegseth, the Fox News host who Trump wants to run the Pentagon. Hegseth was on Capitol Hill on Thursday working to calm nerves over his near-total lack of qualifications to serve as Secretary of Defense, as well as a sexual assault allegation leveled against him by a woman who told police he raped her at a Monterey, California, hotel in 2017. Hegseth has denied the account, claiming the encounter was consensual. More from Rolling Stone Best of Rolling Stone Sign up for RollingStone's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. On the same day that former Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew himself from consideration as President-elect Donald Trump's attorney general, Trump announced that former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi is his second choice to fill that role in his administration. Bondi, 59, has remained in Trumps inner circle for years and has continued to advise him on legal matters. She was one of the lawyers who defended Trump during his first Senate impeachment trial. PHOTO: Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi takes the stage to speak at a campaign rally with Republican presidential nominee and former President Donald Trump in Gastonia, North Carolina, Nov. 2, 2024. (Brian Snyder/Reuters) "I have known Pam for many years -- She is smart and tough, and is an AMERICA FIRST Fighter, who will do a terrific job as Attorney General!" Trump said in a Truth Social post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: Trump transition live updates Bondi's nomination must be confirmed by the Senate. She did not immediately comment on Trump's announcement. For more than a decade, Bondi has been a key Trump supporter and has been involved in some controversies -- including the "big lie," pushed by Trump in 2020. She publicly espoused the false claim that he rightfully won the battleground state of Pennsylvania. PHOTO: In this July 7, 2021, file photo, Pam Bondi, former Florida Attorney General, speaks next to former President Donald Trump at Trump golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey. (Eduardo Munoz/Reuters, FILE) In 2013, the Trump Foundation sent a $25,000 donation to Bondi's fundraising committee for her attorney general reelection campaign. Around the same time, Bondi's office had on its desk a lawsuit that probed both Trump himself and Trump University, but it ultimately did not join the suit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bondi and Trump both denied allegations that the donation led to her decision to not join the lawsuit, which had been filed by the New York attorney general's office. She endorsed Trump for his presidential run and spoke at the 2016 Republican National Convention, leading a "lock her up chant" against then-Secretary of State Hilary Clinton. She also served as a co-chair of Trump's reelection bid and spoke at the Republican National Convention in 2020. MORE: What We Know About The Trump Foundation's Donation to Florida AG Pam Bondi's Fundraisers Bondi was elected attorney general in 2010 and was reelected in 2014. She left the office after reaching her two-term limit in 2019. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A year later, she was selected as part of Trump's defense team for his first impeachment trial. He was acquitted in the Senate. PHOTO: In this Nov. 5, 2020, file photo, Pam Bondi, former Florida attorney general, speaks during a news conference in front of the Convention Center, where votes are being counted, during the 2020 Presidential election in Philadelphia. (Bloomberg via Getty Images, FILE) Bondi has also been a registered lobbyist since 2019 at Brian Ballard's firm, Ballard Partners. Trumps chief of staff, Susie Wiles, is also a lobbyist with the firm. Bondis most recent clients include the Florida Sheriffs' Association, the Florida Sheriffs' Risk Management Fund and the Major County Sheriffs of America. Her quarterly retainer fees range from $20,000 to $50,000, federal lobbying disclosures show. She has previously represented investment firms and corporate clients like Amazon, General Motors, the MLB, Fidelity, Uber and the GEO Group, which is a private prison company, according to filings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2019 and 2020, Bondi was engaged in consulting and advocacy services on behalf of the Embassy of the State of Qatar regarding "matters involving anti-human trafficking," foreign lobbying disclosures filed by Ballard Partners show. Bondi registered as a foreign agent for the government of Qatar as part of her lobbying work. MORE: Tracking Trump's picks to serve in his Cabinet, administration After his impeachment trial, Bondi remained with Trump's legal team while he campaigned in 2020 and repeatedly made false claims about voter fraud when he lost to Joe Biden. Recently, she has been a member of the conservative think tank America First Policy Institute, which was formed by former Trump administration officials. She serves as AFPI's chair for the Center for Litigation, and co-chair of the Center for Law and Justice, according to the think tank's website. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bondi and AFPI attorneys were involved in preemptive election lawsuits in battleground states during this year's election. Trump has previously named his other personal attorneys to senior roles in the Department of Justice, including Todd Blanche, Emil Bove and D. John Sauer. Trump announces Pam Bondi as his AG pick to replace Matt Gaetz originally appeared on abcnews.go.com COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) Democratic U.S. Rep. Marcy Kapturs Trump-endorsed rival said he called the veteran Ohio congresswoman to concede defeat in the 2024 election. In a video posted to X, formerly Twitter, fourth-term state Rep. Derek Merrin did not rule out running for Kaptur's seat again in two years, but he said his immediate plans were to rest and recharge with his family. The race for Ohio's 9th Congressional District was not settled until this Wednesday, when official results landed Kaptur ahead of Merrin by about 2,300 votes, or 0.7% of the vote. That narrowly averted the automatic recount that would have been triggered at 0.5%. Libertarian Tom Pruss, whose campaign was boosted by more than $400,000 from the pro-Democrat Voter Protection Project, won more than 4% of the vote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Merrin pointed to the contest's huge price tag as evidence Republicans were competitive against the longest-serving woman in Congress. Guys, they spent over $10 million against us. Democrats propped up a third party candidate to siphon votes from us, they hit us hard for almost 100 days in the media, and, that's life, man, that's politics," he said. "We were fortunate enough to have the money to get our message out, and outside groups were able to talk about Marcy's record, and it was mainly a fair fight that way and Marcy Kaptur got more votes than we did, and I accept that. Merrin pledged to help the other GOP candidates who were successful in the state, as he faces a term limit in the Legislature at year's end. That includes President-elect Donald Trump, who won Ohio for the third time Nov. 5, and Bernie Moreno, who unseated veteran Democratic U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown. We stood up for our Constitution, we fought for lower taxes, fiscal responsibility, set a vision out for more prosperity in northwest Ohio and we weren't able to win," Merrin said, "but our message and team across America won. The man President-elect Donald Trump would go on to tap as his border czar spent the last several years making appearances on some of the most extreme right-wing media outlets in the country including a program hosted by an Adolf Hitler-admiring QAnon conspiracist and promising to implement a brutal regime of mass deportations if Trump returns to the White House. Tom Homan will have that opportunity in January, when Trump is inaugurated as the 47th president. Homan has been auditioning for a high-profile Trump White House role in parts of the right-wing establishment notably, as a Fox News commentator and as a fellow at the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank. He was among the authors of Project 2025, Heritages authoritarian blueprint for a second Trump administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Homan has also been a fixture in the fever swamps of far-right media, lending the imprimatur of his resume to white nationalist, anti-Muslim and QAnon figures. These appearances and interviews, some of which have gone unreported in the mainstream press, indicate Homan is prepared to go to extreme lengths to stem the invasion, as he puts it, of the country by immigrants. Homan didnt immediately respond to a request for comment for this story. Homan served as head of Immigration and Customs Enforcements deportation branch under former President Barack Obama, helping that administration eject a record number of immigrants from the country. Then, as acting head of ICE during the first Trump administration, Homan oversaw some of its most infamous policies, including the separation of migrant children from their families. He left that role in 2018 and began a career as an anti-immigration pundit on Fox. But Homan has also been a frequent guest on lesser-known programs, including the Patriot Streetfighter podcast hosted by Scott McKay. In a recent story about McKay threatening a local judge, News Channel 5 in Nashville described his history of extremist rhetoric: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A prominent figure in the widely mocked and discredited QAnon conspiracy movement, McKay himself has claimed that Americans are secretly living on Mars, suggested that Jared Kushner may be a clone created by the Chinese government, argued that Jews are pulling the levers of every institution of power on Earth, praised Adolf Hitler for fighting the same people that were trying to take down today and threatened to put bullets inside medical professionals involved in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. McKay made all of those statements prior to October 2023, when Homan appeared on his livestreamed podcast. The pair spoke for about an hour, and were joined by Chris Burgard, a producer for a two-year educational program Homan created called Defend the Border and Save Lives. In that conversation, Homan warned McKay that whats happening on the border under President Joe Biden could lead to the biggest national security failure since 9/11, and suggested men from countries who sponsor terrorism were pouring into the U.S. McKay recounted how he and Homan had met at Mar-a-Lago during a fundraiser where Homan was screening a film. This was a possible reference to a November 2022 event at Trumps Florida estate, which the Southern Poverty Law Center reported was organized by Homan and the United West, an Islamophobic group that says its devoted to stopping the invasion of millions of illegal aliens, many of whom are HAMAS and Marxist collaborators. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement United West and Homan collaborated on Death County & The River Of Broken Dreams, a documentary featuring footage of Homan at the Texas-Mexico border fearmongering about immigrants. The film was posted to YouTube in July 2023. Homans relationship with United West is alarming. The organization, listed by the SPLC an anti-Muslim hate group, is led by Tom Trento, who for over a decade has claimed that the U.S. is at war with Islam. I knew all my years of academic work in Islam and related areas of law enforcement and activism would be required in what will be an extended, vicious, deadly, horrible war in a clash of two incompatible civilizations, the Judeo-Christian West and Islam, Trento wrote in 2015. Trento also traveled with Homan to Israel last year. Together, they produced videos that were posted to Rumble, a platform that has become a haven for far-right extremists. One video shows Homan visiting the West Bank and speaking with Dany Tirza, a former Israel Defense Forces colonel who was the architect of Israels border walls on the West Bank and the Sinai Peninsula. Homan and Tirza discussed techniques for building border barriers. Im glad that we constantly trade technology on how to protect our borders, Homan told Tirza. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In October 2023, not long after his trip to Israel, Homan registered a new nonprofit called the Border911 Foundation to educate the American people about the facts of a non-secure border, IRS filings show. The foundation promoted a policy agenda that foreshadows Trumps most extreme immigration proposals, which include mass deportations and deploying troops to the U.S.-Mexico border, according to a joint investigation by five news collectives. Tom Homan, picked by president-elect Donald Trump, appears on a 2024 episode of anti-Muslim extremist Laura Loomer's show on Rumble. Screenshot, Rumble While promoting Border911, Homan made appearances across far-right media. Earlier this year he appeared on Loomer Unleashed, a show on Rumble hosted by Laura Loomer, the extremist MAGA influencer who made headlines this fall for developing a close relationship with Trump on the campaign trail. Loomer has advocated executing Trumps political enemies; said a judge overseeing one of the president-elects criminal trials should be deported; called for the mass deportation of Muslims; referred to Black congresswomen with racial slurs; pushed the white supremacist Great Replacement conspiracy theory; and spoken in genocidal terms about Palestinians, saying Israel should flatten Gaza. She enjoys a friendly relationship with Nick Fuentes, the Hitler-admiring white supremacist leader of the pro-Trump groyper movement. What is your reaction to just the failed House GOP leadership tonight and the four Republicans who voted against the measure to impeach Alejandro Mayorkas? Loomer asked Homan, referring to Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greenes (R-Ga.) attempt in February to impeach Bidens Homeland Security secretary over his handling of immigrants at the southern border. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement (Democrats saw the effort as less of a legitimate impeachment inquiry and more of a political stunt meant to push an extreme anti-immigrant agenda.) We couldve had him impeached tonight if it wasnt for four Republicans, Loomer went on. What is your message to the obstructionist Republicans that are participating in this active infiltration and invasion of America? I think what theyve done is a travesty, a clearly agitated Homan said, later adding: Im pissed off that you got four Republican congressmen who didnt vote to impeach this man. What is it gonna take? Loomer also asked Homan for his thoughts about Maher Bitar, a Palestinian American who Biden chose as Director of Intelligence. Loomer baselessly described Bitar as a jihadist Muslim with terror ties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im shocked by what you just told me, Homan said. Im gonna start putting pressure on people on the Hill to have oversight hearings. Look, howd this guy pass vetting? More recently, just weeks before Trumps election victory, Homan made an appearance at an extremist festival where his fellow speakers included QAnon conspiracists and church leaders wearing crowns of bullets, per a report from Wired. Trump comes back, I come back, and I will run the biggest deportation operation this country has ever seen, Homan told the crowd at the Rod of Iron Freedom Festival in Greeley, Pennsylvania. The event was organized by the Rod of Iron Ministries, a far-right pro-Trump religious group whose members revere AR-15s and brandish them during church services. During his speech, according to Wired, Homan pushed a version of the Great Replacement theory, a white supremacist myth that has inspired multiple mass shootings, and claimed that Democrats were allowing immigrants into the country to sway the election for Kamala Harris. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are the first administration in the history of this nation who unsecured a border on purpose, Homan said. This isnt an accident, this isnt incompetence, this is by design, folks. They obviously perceive a future political advantage, thinking maybe they are future Democratic voters. These millions of people that are released into sanctuary cities across this country who will be counted in the next census, which means what? Homan continued. More seats in the House for the Dems. Theyll own the House forever. This is what they want. They sold this country out for future political power. And to me, thats treasonous. Theres no other excuse for it. Homan is set to begin his tenure as border czar after Trump is inaugurated on Jan. 20, 2025. Related... President Donald Trumps picks for key positions in his second administration continue their Senate confirmation hearings, which began on Jan. 14. Marco Rubio, Trumps choice for Secretary of the Department of State, was the first to win confirmation, gliding through the process. On the other hand, Pete Hegseth, selected to be the Secretary of the Department of Defense, required Vice President JD Vances tie-breaking vote. The rollout was filled with controversy. At least five people tapped for senior roles in the new administration Hegseth, Matt Gaetz, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Linda McMahon, and Elon Musk are connected to sexual misconduct allegations. Gaetz withdrew his nomination to be attorney general amid a backlash about the allegations against him. Trumps picks also are largely anti-diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as peddlers of reverse racism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With each announcement of a Cabinet nominee, Trump moved closer to assembling a team of advisers with a long history of opposition to policies that support Black Americans. Trumps aides said that one of his main considerations for a role wasnt relevant policy expertise but instead loyalty to him. Republicans enjoy a 53-47 majority in the Senate. If all Democratic senators oppose a particular nominee, at least four GOP senators would need to defect to sink that persons bid. Heres an overview of where some of Trumps more high-profile picks stand on issues of race and identity that will have a major impact on Black life over the next several years and possibly longer. This story will be updated as the hearings proceed. Confirmed: Linda McMahon, Secretary of the Department of Education Responsibilities: McMahon will be in charge of setting federal education policy, determining how the federal governments education budget should be spent, how student achievement should be measured, and how to interpret federal regulations governing civil rights. Linda McMahon, former head of the Small Business Administration, will serve as U.S. secretary of education. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call Inc. via Getty Images) Trumps plans: During the campaign, Trump frequently impugned the department for allegedly being run by radicals, zealots, and Marxists and vowed to halt federal funding to schools that embrace racial equality or support the rights and dignity of transgender students. More broadly, Trump has threatened to close the department, though its uncertain how McMahon would do this closing the department would require an act of Congress. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Who is she? A former wrestling executive and a two-time U.S. Senate also-ran, McMahon has been a constant in Trumps universe for years. She donated $6 million to Trumps campaign after he won his partys nomination in 2016, and was the head of the Small Business Administration during his first stint in the White House. She has said that she initially wanted to be an educator. Confirmed: Kash Patel, FBI Director Responsibilities: Patel will lead the countrys top law enforcement agency and be in a distinctive position to exact the retribution that Trump has said that his political foes will face once he returns to office. Kash Patel, the former chief of staff to the secretary of defense during Donald Trumps first term, replaces Christopher Wray as FBI director. (Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images) Trumps plans: For years, Trump has disparaged the FBI, maintaining that its badly broken and has lost the confidence of America. Trumps plan to install Patel an arch-conservative Trump loyalist tracks with his desire to hollow out the FBI and staff it with people who will serve as attack dogs, going after the presidents perceived enemies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Who is he? A former federal prosecutor at the Justice Department and the former chief of staff to the secretary of defense during Trumps first term, Patel is a polarizing figure even within conservative circles. Like Trump, Patel has pledged to take on what he and other conspiracy theorists call the deep state, a reference to the baseless belief that a cabal of career government employees is plotting to sabotage the work of the Trump administration. Patel will politicize the FBI, and has openly talked about harassing and investigating government officials and journalists: Were going to come after you, he said in 2023. Were putting you all on notice. Confirmed: Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services Responsibilities: Kennedy will oversee the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration, and the National Institutes of Health, among other key agencies. He also will be able to set regulations governing the approval of vaccines and new medical treatments, and he will have the power to declare public health emergencies. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been confirmed as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Trumps plans: The presidents campaign was thin on a vision for health policy, but he said that he would let Kennedy go wild on health and dramatically shake things up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Who is he? Before his brief run in the 2024 race, where he hoped to peel Black voters away from the Democratic Party ticket, Kennedy was best known as a proponent of a range of conspiracy theories related to public health, especially on the topic of vaccines. He produced a documentary claiming that COVID vaccines were designed to harm Black communities and has peddled the lie that COVID targets Black Americans. Asked in 2024 whether he regrets contributing to a widespread sense of vaccine skepticism in Black communities, Kennedy told NBC News, No. Confirmed: Tulsi Gabbard, Director of National Intelligence Responsibilities: Gabbard will lead the U.S. intelligence community and offer advice to Trump on issues relating to national security. Former U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard is the director of national intelligence. (John Lamparski/Getty Images) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps plans: Russian President Vladimir Putin has showered Trump with praise since his election win, with many seeing this response as a signal that Russia expects friendly policy from the U.S., including an end to the conflict in Ukraine thats favorable to Russia. This has raised concerns about whether Trump might be deferential to Russia in a way that de-prioritizes U.S. security interests. Who is she? People including U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida have speculated whether Gabbard, a former U.S. representative from Hawaii, might be a Russian asset. Gabbard, who has denied the accusations, has stood up for Trumps cozy relationship with Putin, and has faulted the U.S. for Russias invasion of Ukraine, saying that the U.S. didnt take Russias security concerns seriously. Scrutiny of her possible foreign entanglements came weeks after an election in which the FBI accused Russia of interfering in ways that impacted Black voters. During this past election cycle, Trump-friendly Russia was said to have made bomb scares against polling places in areas near Atlanta with large Black populations a plot to suppress Black voter turnout. Its unclear whether Gabbard would stand up for American interests in the face of such threats. Confirmed: Brooke Rollins, Secretary of the Department of Agriculture Responsibilities: Rollins will manage a variety of key policy areas and welfare programs, including food quality, food stamps, and free school lunches. Brooke Rollins is the secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call Inc. via Getty Images) Trumps plans: Trump and his advocates have called for dramatically cutting the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which has been vital for shrinking food insecurity and helping Black communities combating poverty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Who is she? A Texas native, Rollins has been a central figure in Texas conservative movement for decades, and during Trumps first term, she led the White House Domestic Policy Council. Rollins was the president of the Texas Public Policy Foundation, a conservative think tank, for 15 years, starting in 2003. In that role, she advocated for various conservative causes, such as school choice, which critics have said takes money from poor Black public schools. In 2021, Rollins helped to launch the America First Policy Institute, a pro-Trump think tank thats expected to play an influential role in the next administration. Confirmed: Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, Secretary of the Department of State Responsibilities: As secretary of state, Rubio will be the countrys chief diplomat, representing the Trump administrations foreign policy agenda and helping maintain American alliances. U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida has been confirmed to serve as secretary of state. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images) Trumps plans: Some fear that Trump might eliminate parts of the department that dont align with his positions, such as the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, which helps to resettle refugees, and the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, which has investigated Israels violations of Palestinian rights. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Who is he? A onetime Trump critic who is the first Latino to serve in this role, Rubio is no stranger to railing against the departments diversity initiatives. In 2023, Rubio complained in a report that woke is weak and that the departments misguided focus on wokeness has undermined its effectiveness and distracted from its duty to protect and promote Americas national interests. He also added that such attention will only undermine our efforts on the world stage. Rubios remarks are more than a little concerning to advocates for increased inclusion in government, since experts have, for years, stressed that greater diversity makes the department better and more efficient, and helps it to achieve its foreign policy goals. Confirmed: Pete Hegseth, Secretary of the Department of Defense Responsibilities: Hegseth will manage the military, serving as the chief defense policy adviser. Fox News commentator Pete Hegseth is the secretary of defense. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Trumps plans: If the president follows through on his pledge to use the military to carry out mass deportations, he might politicize it in a manner that could spark a fight over reining in his authorities to deploy troops on U.S. shores, as Politico put it. Trump is also expected to bring back policies from his first term, such as his transgender military ban. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Who is he? Fox News commentator and Army veteran Hegseth got booted from Bidens inauguration because of his extremist tattoos, and hes made no effort to hide his disdain for diversity in the military. In the past, hes claimed that racial discrimination in the military is a lie, complained that Black troops are promoted simply based on their race, and repeated the white nationalist rhetoric of the great replacement theory, according to a Washington Post review. Hegseth also has urged Trump to fire officers pushing what he calls a woke agenda, even though racial diversity has been shown to improve the effectiveness of military operations. Hegseth will replace Lloyd Austin, the first Black person in the post. Confirmed: South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Responsibilities: Noem will be charged with overseeing domestic public safety, managing borders, enforcing immigration laws, and bolstering disaster preparedness. South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem is the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. (Scott Olson/Getty Images) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps plans: Noem will be a key figure in helping Trump to achieve his domestic policy agenda, in particular his logistically unwieldy scheme to carry out mass deportations of millions of undocumented migrants. Who is she? Like many of Trumps Cabinet and White House picks, Noem, who served as the governor of South Dakota until 2025, is an advocate of a litany of conservative causes. She has battled against transgender rights and critical race theory, and she also opposed implementing public-safety restrictions to slow the spread of a pandemic that disproportionately harmed communities of color. Additionally, Noem was a loud critic of the Biden administrations immigration policies, and on multiple occasions deployed members of the South Dakota National Guard to the U.S.-Mexico border, which she called a war zone. Confirmed: Lee Zeldin, Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency Responsibilities: Zeldin will be responsible for setting and enforcing the countrys environmental laws and regulations. Former U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin will direct the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (Leon Neal/Getty Images) Trumps plans: Trump has made plain that he wants to roll back dozens of the Biden administrations environmental protection rules, including rules aimed at restricting greenhouse gas emissions that pollute the climate and disproportionately harm Black communities. Who is he? A former U.S. representative for New York, Zeldin has a history of challenging environmental policies intended to help vulnerable communities burdened by climate change. When he was a representative, Zeldin joined most other House Republicans in opposing Bidens 2021 infrastructure bill, which addressed pollution from former industrial and energy sites, made communities of color more resilient to extreme weather events, upgraded power infrastructure, and eliminated lead pipes that contaminated drinking water. Confirmed: Scott Turner, Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development Responsibilities: Turner will guide policies addressing fair housing laws, which deal with issues including homeownership and discriminatory housing practices. Scott Turner is the secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Trumps plans: Peggy Bailey, the executive vice president for policy and program development at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, expect to see big budget fights in Trumps second term, given that there will be fewer moderate Republicans who might be able to rein in some of the presidents authoritarian impulses. Another source of tension is likely to be Project 2025 the conservative manifesto calls for, among other things, gutting a federal fund intended to grow the number of affordable housing units and strengthening work requirements for receiving federal housing subsidies. Who is he? Trumps lone Black Cabinet pick so far, Turner is a former professional football player and a former member of the Texas House of Representatives, where he served from 2013 to 2017. During Trumps first term, Turner was the executive director of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council, which worked on boosting opportunity zones, or areas beleaguered by high unemployment. While Trump often touted the initiative, research shows that it yielded mixed results, with well-off investors benefiting more than low-income residents. Confirmed: Pam Bondi, Attorney General Responsibilities: Bondi will lead the U.S. Department of Justice and function as the federal governments top law enforcement officer, representing the U.S. in legal matters and advising the president on request. Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, seen in 2020, is the U.S. attorney general. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Trumps plans: On the campaign trail, Trump inveighed against the Justice Department for pursuing two criminal cases against him the investigation into the Capitol attack on Jan. 6, 2021, and the classified documents case. Since Trumps election victory, the Justice Department has moved to wind down these cases, since department policy says that a sitting president cant be prosecuted. Trump wants to overhaul the Justice Department and staff it with people willing to do his bidding and turn the law against his supposed enemies, including racial justice organizers. Who is she? After his first pick, former U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, withdrew his name for consideration amid allegations of sexual misconduct, Trump tapped Bondi, a former Florida attorney general and longtime ally. Bondi entered politics as part of the Tea Party movement that arose in opposition to former President Barack Obama. She spearheaded a failed attempt to overturn Obamacare in 2012, according to CNN, and has become a fierce Trump loyalist in the years since. She was part of his rapid response team during his first impeachment, in 2019. Confirmed: Russell Vought, Director of the Office of Management and Budget Responsibilities: Vought will be at the helm of developing and executing the administrations spending and regulation policies. Russell Vought is the director of the Office of Management and Budget. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call Inc. via Getty Images) Trumps plans: The president hasnt given much in the way of details about what he expects Vought to accomplish in this role, but Trump has said in a statement that his nominee knows exactly how to dismantle the Deep State and end Weaponized Government and that he would restore fiscal sanity. Who is he? Once it became clear how unpopular Project 2025 was, Trump sought to distance himself from it on the campaign trail. But in tapping Vought, Trump is elevating the author of a chapter in the proposal on the need to increase presidential authority and broaden the powers of the OMB director, who according to Vought should be involved in all aspects of the White House policy process. A Christian nationalist and MAGA acolyte, Vought was the OMB director during Trumps first administration. In 2021, he founded the Center for Renewing America, a conservative think tank that was involved in the conceptualization of Project 2025; the groups mission is to be the tip of the America First spear. Stephen Miller, Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Responsibilities: Miller will have a major influence on the administrations future staffing hires for the White House and will train his attention primarily on homeland security, including immigration policy. Former White House senior adviser Stephen Miller will serve as deputy chief of staff for policy. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images) Trumps plans: Trump has said that, the moment he enters office on Jan. 20, he wants to mobilize the military to carry out mass deportations of millions of undocumented migrants, legal challenges be damned. To do this, he needs Miller to supervise building camps on open land in Texas near the border to hold people awaiting deportation. Who is he? As a senior policy adviser to Trump during his first administration, Miller shaped some of the harshest immigration policies put in place, including the Muslim ban and the family separation policy. After Trumps first term, Miller established America First Legal, a group that contributed to Project 2025 and intends to weaponize civil rights legislation against anti-white racism. The groups workings offer a window into the white-centered way that Miller not only sees the world but wants it organized. Miller was a senior adviser on Trumps 2024 presidential campaign. Hes the architect behind Trumps plans for mass deportations. In recent months, as Trump and his allies have vilified Haitian migrants and endangered their lives, Miller has used social media to fuel the frenzy, espousing the zero-sum view that President Joe Biden wants to help Haitian migrants at the expense of Americans. U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York, Ambassador to the United Nations Responsibilities: Stefanik would represent the U.S. at the United Nations, where she also would be tasked with championing the countrys interests and managing relationships with the international community. U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York has been tapped to be the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. (Kent Nishimura/Getty Images) Trumps plans: Some analysts expect Trump to exploit [the U.N.] as a theater to pursue a conservative global social agenda, as Richard Gowan, the U.N. director for the International Crisis Group, a think tank, told the Associated Press. This might include once again withdrawing the U.S. from the Paris climate agreement and exiting UNESCO, the U.N.s educational and cultural agency. Who is she? Stefanik represents a district in upstate New York and made a name for herself defending Trump during his impeachments. She also is a proponent of the great replacement theory, which promotes the idea that racial and ethnic minorities intentionally seek to replace white Americans, and has been hostile to the U.N. in the past. She recently called it a corrupt, defunct, and paralyzed institution thats beholden to bureaucracy. It remains to be seen how her racialized worldview could affect her engagement with majority-Black countries. Additionally, Stefanik has attacked people who support Palestinians, whom Black Americans have long felt solidarity with. Recall the campaign she was a part of against Claudine Gay, the Black former president of Harvard University, after the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel. This was an attack on her race and her gender, not on how she handled antisemitism on Harvards campus or on the rigor of her scholarship, Cornell William Brooks, a professor of the practice of public leadership and social justice at the Harvard Kennedy School, told Capital B. Brendan Carr, Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission Responsibilities: Carr would be charged with regulating communications. This includes communication of all types: television, radio, and satellite, among others. Brendan Carr, commissioner at the Federal Communications Commission, is poised to lead the agency in the incoming Trump administration. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images) Trumps plans: The FCC is an independent government agency, but that hasnt stopped Trump from saying that he wants it under his thumb. During the campaign, he said that he wanted the FCC to revoke CBS, NBC, and ABCs broadcast licenses because he didnt like how they covered him. Who is he? FCC chairs usually zoom in on issues such as the digital divide. But not Carr, a telecommunications attorney. Trumps choice for the position has been railing against diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts and against technology companies for supposedly censoring the free speech rights of election denialists. An FCC member since 2017, when Trump appointed him, Carr wrote the Project 2025 chapter on the agency, claiming that one of the chief goals the FCC under the new administration should be reining in Big Tech, by which he largely means pushing back against companies good-faith attempts to do things such as eliminate the spread of election denialism. Like others in Trumps orbit, Carr often talks about the importance of promoting a diversity of viewpoints, which in our current political climate is usually a way of elevating conservative voices, not racially diverse ones or equality-oriented ones. Elon Musk, Head of the Department of Government Efficiency Responsibilities: According to a statement from Trump, the primary purpose of this government efficiency commission is to slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure federal agencies. Trumps plans: The president said that he wants the commission to provide advice and guidance from outside of Government. Yet to be seen is how the commission will act on this advice, given that implementing changes of the scale Trump wants would require enormous political will from Congress. Who are they? Trump initially tapped Tesla and SpaceX CEO Musk and former rival Vivek Ramaswamy, a biotech entrepreneur, to lead the commission. The two men have built parts of their careers on smearing the significance of diversity in U.S. life, including at work. Strong philosophical differences over the commissions structure prompted Ramaswamy to exit in January. Musk frequently spends time complaining about the supposed scourge of wokeness. He has lambasted the imaginary woke mind virus consuming society, and he was roundly criticized in 2024 by civil rights groups for making the baseless claim that moves to increase racial diversity make workplaces less safe. Mehmet Oz, Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Responsibilities: Oz would lead a vital agency that provides health insurance coverage to more than 150 million Americans and manages north of $1 trillion in spending each year. Mehmet Oz has been tapped to be the next administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. (Leigh Vogel/Getty Images for Concordia Summit) He made an unsuccessful run for a U.S. Senate seat in 2022, campaigning as a Republican. And in the past before his failed run for office he supported Obamacare, according to CNNs KFile, though a spokesperson at the time denied that Oz would have voted for Obamas landmark law expanding health-care coverage. Trumps plans: As with other agencies on this list, Trump wants Oz to shrink spending that the president has deemed unnecessary. [Oz] will also cut waste and fraud within our Countrys most expensive Government Agency, which is a third of our Nations Healthcare spend, and a quarter of our entire National Budget, Trump said in a statement. Who is he? Oz is known mostly for being a cardiothoracic surgeon turned television personality. He was a regular on billionaire media mogul Oprah Winfreys show. The post What Trumps Cabinet Picks Mean for Black Americans as Hearings Continue appeared first on Capital B News. (NewsNation) Veteran political strategist James Carville and former RNC chief Ronna McDaniel agree that Donald Trumps controversial administration picks shouldnt surprise anyone. He said he was gonna do this, Carville said Thursday on NewsNations CUOMO. Look, he won the election saying he would be as disruptive as he possibly could. This shouldnt be a surprise to anyone. RNC Chief Ronna McDaniel emphasized that voters are focused on the economy, and on tangible results. Best Prime Day Deals for 2024: Big Black Friday savings are already live shop the best here Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The best gifts currently on sale for under $50 Stock up on stocking stuffers while theyre cheap BestReviews is reader-supported and may earn an affiliate commission. People are hurting in this country. This was an election about the economy. If they get the job done if they fix the border, bring costs down, and are effective nobodys going to remember what happened during this nomination process, McDaniel said. Trump picks Pam Bondi for next attorney general Success, she argues, can overshadow previous challenges, as people value meaningful change. Trump is rapidly filling his new administration with high-ranking nominations announced almost every day since his win. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rapid fire appointments include billionaire ally Elon Musk and former rival Vivek Ramaswamy to lead the new Department of Government Efficiency together and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as the head of the Department of Health and Human Services. Former Rep. Matt Gaetz, the former Florida representative, has withdrawn his name from the running for attorney general following controversy over his nomination. Gaetz announced on X he had made the decision to withdraw after meeting with senators for feedback. Bill OReilly: Donald Trump Cabinet will have zero policy input While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition. There is no time to waste on a needlessly protracted Washington scuffle, thus Ill be withdrawing my name from consideration to serve as Attorney General. Trumps DOJ must be in place and ready on Day 1, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Carville said he wasnt surprised at what happened to Gaetz and added that he thinks more stuff is coming out. I have a firm belief that human nature of this type is repetitive, Carville said. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. On the campaign trail over the summer, Donald Trump claimed that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un misses me, and that relations between their two countries would improve with a second Trump term. At a defense expo in Pyongyang this week, the North Korean dictator had a very different message. We have already explored every possible avenue in negotiating with the U.S., Kim said, according to state media, accusing the U.S. of an unchanging aggressive and hostile policy toward the country thats helped put international affairs into their most chaotic and violent state since World War II. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Throughout 2024, North Korea has been signalling a wariness to engage with the U.S. After Trumps comments about Kim in July, a state news agency said, No matter what administration takes office in the US, the political climate, which is confused by the infighting of the two parties, does not change and, accordingly, we do not care about this. The back-and-forth comes as relations between the U.S. and North Korea continue to deteriorate, despite Trumps multiple face-to-face meetings with Kim during his first term. North Korea says it isnt interested in engaging with the U.S., despite Trumps claims Kim Jong Un misses him (Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) The U.S. has continued high-profile military drills in the Pacific with North Koreas rival and neighbor South Korea, while North Korea has continued expanding its nuclear arsenal, and has sent troops and weapons to support the Russians in their war against U.S. ally Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump may think love letters are enough, but for the past five years Kim has shown hes determined not to lose face again, Hwang Ji-hwan, a professor of international relations at the University of Seoul, toldThe Wall Street Journal of the regimes recent statements. During Trumps first term, he alternated between chest-beating bluster and diplomacy with the North Korean leader. Early on, Trump mocked Kim as Little Rocket Man and threatened to unleash fire and fury after a North Korean nuclear test, prompting the North Koreans to brand Trump a dotard served by gangsters. Between 2018 and 2019, the pair met three times in Singapore, Hanoi, and at the Korean Dimilitarized Zone but failed to secure a potential agreement on denuclearization and sanctions relief. Since then, Russia and North Korea have continued to deepen their military and diplomatic relationship. Pyongyang has sent thousands of North Korean troops to help Russia in its stalled invasion of Ukraine, while Russian president Vladimir Putin has sent gifts including dozens of rare animals to the dictatorial regime. Pete Hegseth, the politically inexperienced weekend Fox News host whom Trump has tapped to lead the Pentagon, has been embroiled in scandal over the past week. The controversy has largely centered on reports that Hegseth paid off a woman who accused him of sexual assault, while he claims the encounter was consensual. (NBC obtained a copy of the police report; a spokesperson for Hegseth said, The incident was fully investigated and police found the allegation to be false, which is why no charges were filed. The police did not provide a reason for the decision not to file charges.) However, Hegseths actual politics have gotten far less attention, and in particular his apparent ties to Christian nationalism. That issue came into focus initially because two of Hegseths tattoo are associated with far-right extremist groups (Hegseth has said that the accusation is anti-Christian bigotry). Hegseth is doing little to dispel the perception of extremism, as earlier this week he called for an educational insurgency to take over American schools. As Right Wing Watch flagged, Hegseth made his comments Monday on a right-wing podcast while discussing a book he published in 2022, in which he and his co-author vowed to give patriotic parents the ammunition to join an insurgency that gives America a fighting chance against educators. Hegseth has ties to Christian nationalists, who see religiously affiliated schools some of which receive public funds as key to their efforts to blur the line between church and state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On the podcast Monday, Hegseth agreed when one of the hosts suggested Christian schools should be seen as bootcamps to groom children for the so-called insurgency. Thats what the crop of these classical Christian schools are gonna do in a generation, Hegseth said. Policy answers like school choice, while theyre great, thats phase two stuff later on once the foothold has been taken, once the recruits have graduated boot camp. Hegseth continued: We call it a tactical retreat. We draw out in the last part of the book what an educational insurgency would look like, because I was a counterinsurgency instructor in Afghanistan and kind of the phases that Mao [Zedong] wrote about: Were in middle phase one right now, which is effectively a tactical retreat where you regroup, consolidate and reorganize. And as you do so, you build your army underground with the opportunity later on of taking offensive operations in an overt way. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Obviously, all of this is metaphorical and all that good stuff, Hegseth added. Ask yourself: In a country where school violence is commonplace, do Americans really need a defense secretary who has promoted a war figurative or not on American schools? Consider the message this might send at a time when right-wing religious extremists already portray schools as enemy territory. And then consider how it looks to have the top civilian leader of the United States military affirming their views. Its typical for defense secretaries to have battle plans, of course, but if hes confirmed, Hegseth will be unique in that the war hes most prepared to wage isnt against a foreign combatant but against institutions and people hell be sworn to protect. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com Carleton College. Photo by Joshua Whitman. President-elect Donald Trumps promises to deport millions of undocumented people could discourage some college applicants including American citizens from seeking the federal financial aid that millions of students rely on to attend college. Trump has promised to declare a national emergency and mobilize the military to deport undocumented immigrants, though he has not provided key details of the plan: how those immigrants will be identified, notified of their deportation and transported out of the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The unknowns have placed students with undocumented parents in a risky position: the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, is how students access federal scholarships and loans, and its also how many universities calculate their own financial aid packages. It also asks for parents Social Security numbers. The application offers a separate identity verification process for parents without Social Security numbers, and some experts fear that data could be misused to identify and potentially deport those individuals. (The student applying for federal aid must have a Social Security number to complete the form.) The National College Attainment Network, which lobbies for increased college access, sent an email to members Thursday urging mixed-status families to make a considered decision about whether to submit a FAFSA. The situation underscores the many ways the newly re-elected Trump and his mass deportation plans could affect the lives of millions of immigrants and their families, in everything from health care to education and the criminal justice system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Higher Education Act prohibits the use of FAFSA data for anything other than processing financial aid awards, but Trump is not known for his fealty to legal details. The letter from the National College Attainment Network continues: We cannot assure you that individuals who are undocumented might not be identified and targeted for punitive action in the future. Because of the potential stakes of this process, we want every individual to have as much information as possible before submitting identifying information to the federal government For some, the potential risks could now outweigh even the considerable benefits of federal student aid. More than half of college students receive federal financial aid; without completing the FAFSA, students could face the full sticker price of college tuition. Minnesota State community and technical colleges cost more than $6,000 per year on average. Minnesota States four-year universities, which are thousands of dollars cheaper than the University of Minnesota, cost over $10,000 annually before financial aid not counting housing or food costs. The IRS also maintains protected data on taxpayers who dont have Social Security numbers many undocumented workers in the U.S. use an IRS-issued alternative taxpayer identification number but the U.S. Department of Education is a more likely political target. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has promised to shut down the Department of Education, which houses the federal student loan and grant programs. Eliminating the agency would require approval from the Republican-controlled Congress, and its unclear what the ramifications would be for federal financial aid. Trump has nominated professional wrestling mogul Linda McMahon to be secretary of the agency. Caitlyn Cole, director of career and college readiness for Achieve Twin Cities, said her team will troubleshoot individual student and family scenarios, and is awaiting guidance from the state Office of Higher Education. We do believe that Trumps threats will discourage mixed-status families to apply for the FAFSA, Cole said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Students with undocumented parents also encountered issues with the FAFSA last year. The federal government rolled out a new application, leading to major delays for all students, and causing glitches in the section of the form where people without a Social Security number could request alternative identity verification. The FAFSA for the 2025-26 school year opened Thursday, more than a month and a half later than the usual opening date of Oct. 1. American politics is a game of two parties in which Donald Trump wins either way. The president-elects first nominee for attorney general, the rubber-faced MAGA roue Matt Gaetz, was never going to pass the Senate. Gaetzs withdrawal on Thursday opens the path for Trumps second nominee, the Florida lawyer Pam Bondi, to start cleaning the stables at the Department of Justice. This is what Trump wants and what he means by revenge on his enemies. They include his false friends among Senate Republicans. Alexander Hamilton warned the Senate against appointing unfit characters to cabinet offices, and Gaetz was the least fit nominee in American history. A princeling of the Florida Republican Party, a Senator alleged that he boasts of necking powdered Viagra with energy drinks and is accused of drug-taking and bribery. He appears to have resigned his congressional seat to dodge the House Ethics Committees report on allegations that he had sex with a minor accusations he has denied. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pam Bondi is a real politician, not a social-media swinger. The Sunshine States attorney general between 2011 and 2019, she has serious convictions. None of them are criminal. The Senate will have no choice but to confirm her. A Trump courtier tells me Bondi is ferocious. Its almost as if Trump always knew she was the right woman to fix the Department of Justice, which became a one-eyed partisan operation under the Obama and Biden-Harris administrations. The Gaetz nomination rewarded the MAGA base who want to burn down the federal bureaucracies. The Bondi nomination, like Elon Musks appointment as the Doge of Government Efficiency, shows Trumps real second-term aim: to reshape the administrative state in the Rights favor. Only four of the 52 Republican senators opposed Gaetzs nomination. One of them, Mitch McConnell, will leave the Senate in January. He already looks like the ghost of the Uniparty past. Its Trumps party now, and hes going to cry Deep State as often as he likes. He won back the partys Senate majority. Hes the first Republican president to win the popular vote since George W. Bush in 2004. The Never Trumpers are reduced to a rump of media hacks, cashing out a diminishing stash of valid credit card numbers from 2016. The Trumpologists speak of 4-D chess, as though the orange man has a mind like Big Blue. But you dont need to be Garry Kasparov on an Adderall jag to outsmart Washington. A senators idea of negotiations is dipping into the bottomless pork barrel to secure federal funds, then putting out his hand for donations every six years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has called the bluff of the duffers in the Senate. Within hours of Gaetzs flameout, Senate Republicans were hinting that they favour the roid-raging Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. at Health & Human Services and the tattooed TV presenter Pete Hegseth as Defense Secretary. Hegseth is a MAGA founder, a Trump supporter since 2016. He too is pursued by an allegation of sexual misconduct (no charges have been brought and Hegseth denies it), but his policy positions are boilerplate Republican patriotism. RFK Jr. is, or was for most of his life, Democratic royalty. Tulsi Gabbard, Trumps pick for Director of National Intelligence, is another Democratic defector. And Marco Rubio, the nominee for Secretary of State, is a conventional Republican: a penitent anti-Trumper from the underclass of 2016, a master of the Senate soundbite who learned the hard way not to bite his masters hand, and yet another Florida Republican. Trump the fascist is playing the normal nomination game of trade-offs. Trump the purported MAGA maniac is picking ex-Democrats and mainstream Republicans. This is what a cabinet of all the talents looks like in the lurid age of social media. If he were a Democrat, the media would be calling him a unifier. They would be wrong. Trump intends to destroy the Washington village in order to save it. 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. President-elect Trumps ill-fated nomination of former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) to run the Justice Department marked an early sign of his potential limits in moving his nominees and dealing with Senate Republicans, giving him less wiggle room to get his Cabinet in place. Riding high off his electoral win earlier this month, Trump tapped Gaetz to become attorney general in what emerged as a quick test for Senate Republicans, with Trump expecting them to capitulate to him as they have numerous times over the years. But Gaetz turned out to be toxic. His withdrawal served as strike one for Trumps selections and as a warning from the Senate GOP that this situation should not be repeated, as the former president cannot afford to let one of his nominees fail on the floor in the coming months. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You have no idea how easy it is to vote against a person in power if you let them do it once, one GOP senator told The Hill. The experience also may be a lesson for Team Trump moving forward. You can pick somebody that is unconventional and generally antiestablishment but Gaetz is a reminder that the person matters, one Senate GOP aide told The Hill. I think Trump is cognizant that he doesnt want individuals who ultimately overshadow him and his agenda with their baggage. Senate Republicans for weeks have loudly proclaimed Trump has the prerogative to have his Cabinet selections put into place, with many signaling they are willing to move almost in lockstep with those picks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps selection of Gaetz, however, tested that theory immediately, leading the former House member to step aside after many lawmakers including a number of Trump allies made it clear they had little interest in confirming him, let alone holding a vote that would have been a difficult one for many to take. The eight-day drama prompted Trump to nominate former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi (R), who is expected to have a much easier time winning a floor vote. But whether Trump goes back to the well for figures in the mold of Gaetz after his failure to launch is an open question, with Republicans concerned that if any such nominee makes it to the floor and fails, the incoming administration may not recover. An early failed vote could have laid the groundwork for a lame-duck four years, the Senate GOP member said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republicans will now turn their attention to a trio of nominees former Fox News Pete Hegseth, former Rep, Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the former independent presidential candidate. Trump is hopeful none of them will meet the same fate as Gaetz, though questions are plentiful on each. The most immediate concern is Hegseth, the nominee to head the Pentagon. After he was nominated, a 2017 sexual assault accusation surfaced. He told reporters the matter was fully investigated, and I was completely cleared and thats where I am going to leave it. He is also facing questions about his strident stance against women serving in combat. But Gabbard, Trumps pick for director of national intelligence, could have an equally arduous road to confirmation as Hegseth. Gabbard, a former House Democrat, has raised eyebrows with past remarks on the Ukraine war that seemed to echo the talking points of Russian state media. This is of concern to a number of defense hawks and backers of Kyiv within the upper chamber, and that could give her trouble when all is said and done. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As for Kennedy, he is viewed as the most likely of the three to get through the Senate, despite his skepticism on vaccines and other positions senators may find questionable. But its the Gaetz experience that sources believe can be instructive in the coming days and weeks with these choices. I think this is a reminder that he can get people in there that are going to shake things up and are unconventional choices, but if you have somebody who has essentially been a terror when it comes to relationships on [Capitol] Hill and somebody that faces the personal baggage that he does that stuff gets in the way of Trumps ultimate agenda, the Senate GOP aide said. This does not mean Trump is left without arrows in his quiver, especially only weeks after his general election victory that brought with it majorities in both chambers. Among them is the potential for recess appointments to install one or more Cabinet choices. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The theory is unproven, but Trump could move to adjourn the Senate into recess if both chambers do not agree to do so. Some Senate Republicans still believe that is an unlikely road to be traveled down for numerous reasons. Foremost, it could harm relations with the upper chamber as it would mark an attempt to circumnavigate senators advice and consent role on nominees. Its hard for me to imagine a scenario where a Republican Congress would allow a recess appointment when we actually have the majority to make the decision, Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) told Politico Playbook on Thursday. But despite questions surrounding its validity, there was a reason Trump floated the idea mere days after his Nov. 5 win, with potential problems implementing his Cabinet in mind. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This was ultimately a test of where the threshold is for him to win a vote to recess in one of the houses. Because sure, it was problematic they couldnt get to 50 with Gaetz, but the real issue is, they couldnt get the House to vote to recess knowing it was about Gaetz, the Senate GOP aide said, noting that if any entity dislikes Gaetz more than the Senate Republican Conference, it is House Republicans. With the other nominees, I dont know that he has that same problem, they added. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. President-elect Trump is expected to name former Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.) to serve as secretary of Agriculture, a source close to the transition told The Hill. Loeffler is currently the co-chair of Trumps second inaugural committee, ahead of his January 2025 swearing in, along with real estate mogul Steve Witkoff. Loeffler briefly represented Georgia in the Senate after being appointed in 2019 following the resignation of former Sen. Johnny Isakson (R). She lost her bid for the seat in the 2020 special election to Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock. She had supported Trumps effort to overturn the 2020 election results and announced she would object to the certification of the results in Congress, but voted to certify the results after the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The former senator backed Trump during his Georgia criminal case, arguing the racketeering criminal indictment against him and his allies was politically motivated. She testified as a witness before a Fulton County grand jury in 2022 and was among the dozens of people the special grand jury recommended be indicted, but Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis (D) eventually decided against charging her. Loeffler penned an op-ed in February in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, calling on the judge overseeing the case to remove Willis. She argued Williss relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade made it impossible for her to have prosecuted the case against Trump fairly. Before serving in the Senate, Loeffler was CEO at digital asset company Bakkt. She was also a co-owner of the WNBAs Atlanta Dream and sold the team in 2021. The agriculture industry is closely watching Trumps transition, as Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has vowed to crack down on unhealthy foods if hes confirmed to run the Department of Health and Human Resources. Trump made gains among rural voters in pivotal battleground states such as Georgia and North Carolina, which helped fuel his victory in the 2024 race. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Updated at 3:05 p.m. EST Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. (Bloomberg) -- President-elect Donald Trump is expected to select Kelly Loeffler to run the US Department of Agriculture, according to CNN, enlisting a prominent ally and donor for a spot in his second-term administration. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump is expected to offer Loeffler the job soon, CNN reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter, who cautioned that the decision is not final until the president-elect announces it. Loeffler, a former Georgia senator, and her husband, Intercontinental Exchange Inc. CEO Jeffrey Sprecher both helped raise money for Trumps 2024 reelection bid. Loeffler is also the founding CEO of digital-asset marketplace Bakkt Holdings Inc. The president-elects own Trump Media & Technology Group Corp. is in talks to buy Bakkt, according to people familiar with the discussions. Bakkt, which was spun out of Intercontinental Exchange, the parent of the New York Stock Exchange, has been exploring a potential sale for months. Earlier: Trumps Media Company in Talks to Buy Bakkt Crypto Platform Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If confirmed by the US Senate, which will be in Republican hands in January, Loefflers role will go beyond just farm policy. The USDA also manages food stamps, school lunches and other nutrition programs, and its responsible for forest conservation, food inspections and rural development. But Project 2025, the Heritage Foundations manifesto for conservative policy seen by many as a guidebook for the incoming administration, calls that mission overly broad. That blueprint calls for reducing farm subsidies, slashing environmental regulations and cutting spending on nutrition programs, which would move to the Department of Health and Human Services. Trump has distanced himself from Heritages work, but hasnt put forward a detailed agriculture policy of his own. The next agriculture secretary will likely be swept up by the consequences of other Trump priorities. The threat of higher tariffs could prompt foreign nations to retaliate and divert or reduce farm exports, which Trump papered over in his last presidency by raiding billions in leftover funds from a crop insurance program. And Trumps promise of mass deportations of undocumented migrants could deprive agribusinesses of a key source of labor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The next secretary will also have to shepherd a long-stalled farm bill through Congress. The 2018 reauthorization was given a short-term extension after expiring last year, and a longer-term bill is unlikely to pass before the current Congress adjourns. Waiting until 2025 would give congressional Republicans more leverage. Heading the department often goes to farm-state politicians Iowa has produced the most agriculture secretaries, at six. And its a cabinet post that typically has some longevity: Former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack served twice under Barack Obama and Joe Biden. Former Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue was one of only five members of Trumps initial cabinet to serve until the final day of his presidency. (Updates with additional details throughout) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Former Rep. Matt Gaetzs (R-Fla.) withdrawal as a nominee has sent President-elect Trump back to the drawing board on securing an attorney general to lead an agency he sees as key to his plans for retribution. In turning to Gaetz, Trump tapped a fierce loyalist and one who shared his vision that a weaponized Justice Department had been turned against the president-elect in the form of federal indictments related to classified documents and the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. But just eight days after stunning Washington by announcing the Florida Republican as his pick to be the nations top law enforcement officer, Trump is going back through his list of potential contenders and recalculating the limits that might be imposed by a GOP-led Senate. Theres zero chance President Trump is going to allow there to be an attorney general who hasnt pledged total loyalty to him, both on personality and policy. Whether that certainty overlaps with a human being that 50 Senators will support is TBD, said a former President George W. Bush administration official-turned-lobbyist. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gaetz got a cold reception in the Senate as he was plagued by investigations by both the Justice Department and the House Ethics Committee into sex trafficking crimes, including allegations involving an underage girl. Gaetz has denied wrongdoing, and while the Justice Department decided not to bring charges, the Ethics Committee still contemplated the release of its report, which the Republican members of the panel ultimately denied. To find a replacement, sources close to Trump think someone who is loyal to the president-elect, much like Gaetz, could be named but perhaps without so much baggage. Its absolutely going to be a Trump loyalist, said a person with knowledge of discussions, adding that a Trump ally like Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) could get the nod. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), who just won reelection in 2022, has also been floated as an option, as has Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares and former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi. Bondi is the chair of the Center for Litigation at the America First Policy Institute, a ring-wing think tank working with the Trump transition on the administrations agenda. She is also a partner at Ballard Partners, which is the lobbying firm where Trumps incoming chief of staff Susie Wiles worked. Fellow Republicans would likely be supportive of a pick like Lee, who is well respected among his colleagues. I think Mike Lee would be a great choice. He clearly is one of these guys that has great respect in the United States Senate, everybody knows him, said Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), adding that Lee is someone both Trump and the Senate would have confidence in. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mike Davis, a former federal prosecutor and ally of former Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) aide, is seen as another option. Hes also the founder of the Article III Project, which claims to bring brass knuckles to fight leftist lawfare. Gaetzs withdrawal comes a day after Trump announced another name floated as an attorney general contender, Matthew Whitaker, to be the U.S. ambassador to NATO. And Trump has also already tapped Jay Clayton, Trumps former chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission, as U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, removing him from the running as a potential attorney general. Trump has also tapped several members of his personal criminal defense team to fill out the other top spots at the Department of Justice another example of Trump giving key positions to those he views as loyal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has made clear he is seeking an attorney general who would offer less resistance than the two attorneys general who served during his first term when it comes to protecting him from investigations. Trump at that time pressured leadership to conduct investigations of adversaries and railed against prosecutions of his allies as numerous of his associates were indicted. Its a departure from past presidents who often maintain a firewall between themselves and the Justice Department. Mark Paoletta, an attorney helping Trump plan for the transition at the Department of Justice (DOJ) who Whittaker said should be attorney general, has endorsed Trumps involvement in Justice Department matters in a future administration and has said any rank-and-file prosecutors not on board with Trumps plans should leave. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The President has a duty to supervise the types of cases DOJ should focus on and can intervene to direct DOJ on specific cases. He is the duly elected chief executive and he has every right to make sure the executive branch, including the DOJ, is implementing his agenda, he wrote on the social platform X earlier this month. He also said that although the DOJ will not launch political investigations just because you are a political opponent, the department wont offer a free pass if you have violated the law. Trump offered no reflection on his own thinking beyond thanking Gaetz. I greatly appreciate the recent efforts of Matt Gaetz in seeking approval to be Attorney General. He was doing very well but, at the same time, did not want to be a distraction for the Administration, for which he has much respect, Trump wrote on his social media site. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Matt has a wonderful future, and I look forward to watching all of the great things he will do! Al Weaver contributed. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The far-right Hungarian prime minister and friend of Donald Trump, Viktor Orban, is thumbing his nose at the International Criminal Courts arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Orban has invited Netanyahu to Hungary in defiance of the ICCs arrest warrants, which were also issued for former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Hamas military leader Mohammed Deif. The Hungarian leader called the warrants a complete defamation of international law and claimed they will worsen conflict in the Middle East. This is wrong in itself, Orban told Hungarian state radio Friday. So there is no other choice here: We have to confront this decision, and so later today I will invite the prime minister of the Israelis, Mr. Netanyahu, to visit Hungary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Netanyahu and Gallant were charged with crimes against humanity and war crimes for Israels brutal war in Gaza, which has killed more than 44,000 Palestinians including more than 17,000 children, all likely massive undercounts. Estimates in July from the medical journal The Lancet say the death toll could exceed 186,000. Trump and Americas far right have long admired Orban, with conservatives praising his authoritarian style of leadership. The conservative think tank The Heritage Foundation, which authored the Project 2025 manifesto, goes out of its way to promote the Hungarian leader. Trump and Orban get along very well, with the president-elect meeting him multiple times over the past year. The two authoritarians have a love of Netanyahu in common, with Trump praising the Israeli leader and absurdly accusing President Biden (who called the ICC warrants against Netanyahu outrageous) of being too tough on him. As long as Orban and Trump are in charge of Hungary and the U.S., respectively, wanted fugitive Netanyahu can probably count on the two countries to provide him safe havens from the ICC arrest warrant, because fascists look out for one another. Matt Gaetz withdrew his name for consideration to become President-elect Trumps attorney general on Thursdayending a chaotic eight day candidacy that saw the Trump loyalist defend himself against allegations of sexual misconduct and a looming report from the Houses Ethics Committee. But new reporting suggests Gaetz spoke to Trump before making the announcement, where the president-elect told the beleaguered former Florida congressman that he did not have the votes to get confirmed in the Senate and that his colleagues were too concerned about the scandals to move forward. Trump reportedly called Gaetz on Thursday morning to discuss the confirmation process, The Bulwark reported, citing a source with knowledge of the conversation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CNNs Kaitlan Collins backed up that reporting Thursday night, confirming the pair had spoken Thursday morning regarding skeptical GOP senators. It was really doing the math here, Collins said. With a 53-47 majority in the Senate, losing just three Republican votes would doom the ex-congressmans nomination. Two Republican senators, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine, already expressed skepticism over the pick. Gaetz said between four and six would vote against him, according to the Bulwark report, and the president-elect agreed he did not have the votes. Trump had been making personal calls to senators on behalf of the controversial nominee this week, but privately expressed concern he could not get through the confirmation process, The New York Times reported days before. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also sent Vice President-elect JD Vance to Capitol Hill to shore up support for Gaetz and some of the other Cabinet picks on Wednesday. After the meetings, Gaetz told reporters a more optimistic story. Senators have been giving me a lot of good advice. Im looking forward to a hearing. Folks have been very supportive, and theyve been saying we are going to get a fair process so its a great day of momentum for the Trump-Vance administration, Gaetz said. However, in a post on Truth Social Thursday, Trump said Gaetzs decision came down to the ongoing news cycle causing a distraction for the transition team. He was doing very well but, at the same time, did not want to be a distraction for the Administration, for which he has much respect, the president-elect wrote. The Trump transition team did not immediately return a request for comment from the Daily Beast. Less than two months before he returns to the White House, Donald Trump is embroiled in several lawsuits and legal threats against news organizations and seeking billions of dollars in damages. He is commanding Republicans in Congress to block legislation that would protect journalists sources while he takes advice from wealthy allies and right-wing groups who want to block publicly funded media from getting a single public dollar. Trump spent his three campaigns and first four years in office raging against a free press he calls fake news and the enemy of the people. He is now waging a legal war against the media in courtrooms across the country and preparing to take aim at an adversarial press once hes back in office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Wednesday, Trump demanded that congressional Republicans block a bipartisan bill intended to safeguard confidential sources, what civil rights groups have called the most significant measure for press freedoms in modern history. The bill Protect Reporters from Exploitative State Spying Act, or PRESS Act unanimously passed the House earlier this year but has been stalled in a Senate committee. REPUBLICANS MUST KILL THIS BILL! Trump wrote on Truth Social. Trump did not give a reason. The bill even has the support of Tucker Carlson and Republican leadership on the House and Senate judiciary committees. Brendan Carr, Trumps pick to lead the Federal Communications Commission, has suggested pulling brodacast licenses for television news networks (Getty Images) With many purportedly concerned about how Trump may impact our free press, it is unthinkable to allow a bill with as much bipartisan support as the PRESS Act to wither away and die, said Chip Gibbons, policy director with Defending Rights & Dissent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During his first term in office, Trumps attorney general William Barr had secretly pursued records from reporters at CNN, The New York Times and The Washington Post. Attorney General Merrick Garland later issued a rule that banned prosecutors from using subpoenas, warrants and court orders to seize records and notes from reporters, The PRESS Act would enshrine that policy into law. But the Heritage Foundation-backed Project 2025 recommends rescinding that policy altogether. Trump has since nominated several authors of the plan to his cabinet. The Independent has requested comment from Trumps campaign. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps far-right allies like Steve Bannon and Kash Patel, who has reportedly been floated for a leadership position at the FBI, have not been shy about their fantasies of a second Trump administration criminally prosecuting journalists and media organizations. We will go out and find the conspirators, not just in government but in the media, Patel said on Bannons War Room podcast last year. Yes, were going to come after the people in the media who lied about American citizens, who helped Joe Biden rig presidential elections were going to come after you, he said. Whether its criminally or civilly, well figure that out. Former Trump administration official Kash Patel has threatened to come after media organizations he says have lied about elections (AP) During his 2024 campaign, Trump sued ABC News host George Stephanopoulos for making patently and demonstrably false statements that the former president was found liable for rape in E Jean Carrolls defamation trial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Days before Election Day, Trump sued CBS News for $10 billion, alleging that the network deceptively edited an interview with his rival Kamala Harris to unlawfully influence the election. In the weeks between, Trump suggested that the broadcast licenses for major news networks should be revoked. His attorneys also made legal threats to The Daily Beast, The New York Times and Penguin Random House. His campaign filed a six-page complaint to the Federal Election Commission alleging that The Washington Post made illegal in-kind contributions to Harriss campaign by promoting stories about the vice president. Elon Musk, who will recommend drastic federal budget cuts, has already proposed slashing $535 million in public funding for local radio and television stations (via REUTERS) In his first term, Trump proposed dramatic cuts to public media funding, which was ultimately blocked by Congress but signaled his readiness to make deep and devastating cuts that would upend local news and public broadcasters that depend on federal dollars. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, who are co-leading a Department of Government Efficiency outside advisory group, have already proposed slashing $535 million to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which funds hundreds of locally owned public radio and television stations, and with a statutory mandate to a strict adherence to objectivity and balance in all programs or series of programs of a controversial nature. Musk, whose social media platform X is inundated with false statements and misinformation, has repeatedly called for the government to defund National Public Radio. Less than 1 percent of NPRs annual operating budget comes from grants awarded through federal agencies and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The worlds wealthiest person now has the ear of the president-elect, who has called efforts to curb the proliferation of mis- and disinformation on social media platforms the work of the censorship cartel. Republicans have characterized attempts to block out hate speech and dangerously false claims as a fight against free speech intended to shut out right-wing views, a campaign that Musk and Trump have made central to their respective agendas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps pick to lead the Federal Communications Commission Brendan Carr, who wrote Project 2025s chapter on the agency wants to use the agency to target social media companies over accusations of censorship. Carr will dismantle the censorship cartel and restore free speech rights for everyday Americans, Trump said in a statement announcing Carr in his administration. The Senate Judiciary Committee, led by Democratic chair Dick Durbin, right, is running out of time to bring the PRESS Act to a vote for consideration in the full Senate before Republicans take control next year. (AP) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Carr made headlines before the election for publicly accusing NBC of violating so-called equal time rules for candidates after Kamala Harris appeared on Saturday Night Live. In an interview with Fox News, he said the FCC should pursue every single remedy including pulling the broadcast licenses for networks that engage in egregious violations of broadcasting rules. Following Trumps election, the Committee to Protect Journalists called on the incoming administration to respect the fundamental right to a free press. Legal persecution, imprisonment, physical violence, and even killings have sadly become familiar threats for journalists across the world, the group said. They must not now also become commonplace in the United States, where threats of violence and online harassment have in recent years become routine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Clayton Weimers, executive director of Reporters without Borders US, invoked Trumps make America great again slogan in his defense of a free press. Freedom of the press is one of the core pillars of our democracy that made America great in the first place, Weimers said in a statement. Attacking the press is really an attack on American citizens right to know. Trumps new administration can and must change its tune with the media and take concrete steps to protect journalists and develop a climate conducive to a robust and pluralistic news media. President-elect Donald Trump notched his first major failure on Thursday when Matt Gaetz, his embattled nominee for attorney general, withdrew his nomination. The Gaetz nomination was always going to end poorly for Trump. No amount of arm-twisting could get the former congressman, who was under investigation by the House Ethics Committee, over the line with the Senate. The fumble shows that Trump grossly misread his mandate. In an election so clearly about reducing prices and frustration with the Democrats, he decided to go full ultra-MAGA. House Republicans felt the need to run interference for Trump and Gaetz; Senate Republicans played coy even as they knew the nomination was doomed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On top of that, as more ballots are counted from the general election, the less Trump can say that he has an overwhelming mandate. Yes, he won every swing state. But it looks like he narrowly won the popular vote. Decisive victory? Sure. Landslide win? Not exactly. And this is even before Trump is officially president. Imagine the whiplash that everyone in Washington will experience once he actually enters the White House. But Trump does not seem to have learned anything from this ordeal. Within hours of Gaetz rescinding his nomination, the president-elect had nominated Pam Bondi, the former attorney general of Florida, to lead the Department of Justice. Trumps selection of Bondi makes perfect sense. In 2016, when many Republicans gave mealy-mouthed support to Trump or said they support but dont endorse the nominee, Bondi gave a fire-breathing speech at the 2016 Republican National Committee calling to imprison Hillary Clinton. She leads the America First Policy Institutes legal branch and served as a legal adviser during Trumps first impeachment trial. She even campaigned for Trump in Gastonia, North Carolina during the final weekend of the 2024 election campaign. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bondi won her first election in 2010 as part of the Tea Party wave alongside Senator Marco Rubio, a sign that Florida was shifting from becoming a swing state to the MAGAritaville that it is now. Now Rubio is poised to become Trumps secretary of state. Both candidates will likely be easily confirmed. Bondi is a bog-standard conservative lawyer beloved by MAGA who appears to have no personal skeletons in her closet, and Rubio will likely get many Democrats to support his confirmation out of deference to a fellow senator. That does not mean that all of Trumps nominees will be easy to confirm. His nomination of Tulsi Gabbard, the former Democratic congresswoman who became an enthusiastic supporter of Trump, to be Director of National Intelligence already received criticism from many, including Nikki Haley, his former ambassador to the United Nations. Gabbard has proven a controversial choice, not least because of a meeting she once held with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Republicans will also likely face criticism if they vote to confirm Robert F Kennedy Jr, the environmental lawyer-turned-vaccine conspiracist, to be Secretary of Health and Human Services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But by far the biggest headache will be the confirmation process for Pete Hegseth, the former Fox News pundit whom Trump tapped to be his Secretary of Defense. Aside from the fact that Hegseth lacks the conventional experience to lead the department, this week, news emerged about a 22-page police report where a woman accused him of blocking her from exiting a room, taking her phone and then sexually assaulting her. Hegseth has denied the allegations, and says that the encounter between him and the woman with whom he later entered into a settlement agreement was entirely consensual. The fact that he paid money to the woman has raised eyebrows, however. His attorney says the payment was made because Hegseth feared the woman would file a lawsuit, which would lead to him being fired from Fox. Under normal circumstances, such revelations would immediately disqualify a cabinet nominee, let alone for one as vital as Secretary of Defense. The same types of senators reluctant to confirm Gaetz such as Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and others might wince at voting for someone like Hegseth. This coterie might also feel more emboldened to block him after they successfully iced out Gaetz. And despite Trumps grumbling about potential recess appointments, the Senate Republican conference might be inclined to oppose him adjourning the Senate in reality lest a potential future President Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez or President Josh Shapiro invoke the same authority under a Republican-controlled Senate one day in the far future. But of course, Trump has found ways to wriggle out of a bind in the past. Proof positive? On Friday, his sentencing for his New York guilty verdict was postponed indefinitely. By Luc Cohen NEW YORK (Reuters) -Donald Trump may seek dismissal of the criminal case in which he was convicted in May of 34 felony counts involving hush money paid to a porn star, a judge ruled on Friday, while also indefinitely delaying Trump's sentencing in light of his victory in the Nov. 5 U.S. presidential election. The sentencing had been scheduled to take place next Tuesday. Prosecutors with Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office this week asked New York state Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan to consider deferring all proceedings in the case until after Trump, 78, finishes his four-year presidential term that begins on Jan. 20. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lawyers for Trump, a Republican, have argued that the case must be dismissed because having it loom over him while he is president would cause "unconstitutional impediments" to his ability to govern. Bragg's office said it would argue against dismissal, but agreed that Trump deserves time to make his case through written motions. Merchan on Friday set a Dec. 2 deadline for Trump to file his motion to dismiss, and gave prosecutors until Dec. 9 to respond. The judge did not set a new date for sentencing or indicate how long proceedings would remain on hold. The judge also did not indicate when he would rule on Trump's motion to dismiss. The case stemmed from a $130,000 payment Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels for her silence before the 2016 election about a sexual encounter she has said she had a decade earlier with Trump, who denies it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Manhattan jury found Trump guilty of falsifying business records to cover up his reimbursement of Cohen. It was the first time a U.S. president - former or sitting - had been convicted of or charged with a criminal offense. Trump pleaded not guilty in the case, which he has sought to portray as a politically motivated attempt by Bragg, a Democrat, to interfere with his presidential campaign. "The American People have issued a mandate to return him to office and dispose of all remnants of the Witch Hunt cases," Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung said in a statement. A spokesperson for Bragg's office declined to comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Falsification of business records is punishable by up to four years in prison. Before he was elected, experts said it was unlikely - but not impossible - that Trump would face time behind bars, with punishments such as a fine or probation seen as more likely. Trump's victory over Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris in the Nov. 5 election made the prospect of imposing a sentence of jail or probation even more politically fraught and impractical, given that a sentence could have impeded his ability to conduct the duties of the presidency. Trump was charged in three additional state and federal cases in 2023, one involving classified documents he kept after leaving office and two others involving his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss. He pleaded not guilty in all three cases. A Florida-based federal judge in July dismissed the documents case. The Justice Department is now evaluating how to wind down the federal election-related case. Trump also faces state criminal charges in Georgia over his bid to reverse his 2020 loss in that state, but that case remains in limbo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As president, Trump would have no power to shut down the New York or Georgia cases because they were filed in state courts. His Justice Department may close the federal cases. Trump last week nominated his defense lawyers in the hush money case, Todd Blanche and Emil Bove, to serve senior roles at the Justice Department during his administration. (Reporting by Luc Cohen in New York; editing by Jonathan Oatis and Will Dunham) NEW YORK Donald Trumps sentencing for his conviction in the Manhattan hush money case will be delayed indefinitely, the judge who oversaw his trial ruled Friday, handing the president-elect his latest legal victory on his way back to the White House. In a one-page decision, Justice Juan Merchan postponed the sentencing, which had been set for Nov. 26, in order to weigh Trumps bid to dismiss the case entirely based on the fact that he is now president-elect. Merchan gave Trumps lawyers a deadline of Dec. 2 to file their arguments regarding their position that tossing the case is necessary to avoid unconstitutional impediments to President Trumps ability to govern. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has until Dec. 9 to file a response. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In court filings, Braggs prosecutors said they oppose Trumps effort to throw out the case, but didnt object to an indefinite delay of his sentencing. And they conceded that any sentencing might have to be postponed until Trump leaves office in January 2029. Trumps lawyers, meanwhile, have argued that even a sentencing after Trumps term ends would be impermissible under the law, saying the threat of a sentence would impede Trumps performance as president. Trump was found guilty in May of 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels. Though the sentencing was originally set for early summer, Trump twice succeeded in getting it postponed, ultimately pushing it until after Election Day. Once he became president-elect, many legal experts predicted Merchan likely wouldnt sentence him before his return to the White House. Tulsi Gabbard, Donald Trumps pick to lead the intelligence community, was briefly placed on a Transportation Security Administration list that prompts additional security screening before flights after her overseas travel patterns and foreign connections triggered a government algorithm earlier this year, three sources familiar with the matter told CNN. Gabbard was quickly removed from the list, a little-known program called Quiet Skies, after going public with claims she had been added to a secret terror watchlist. A federal official familiar with the program told CNN there are specified criteria for removing or adding individuals and that no one is removed from the list because of public statements they make. Gabbard has claimed she was put on the list because she had criticized then-presidential candidate Kamala Harris in an interview with Fox News something two of the sources flatly denied had anything to do with it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The TSA placed me on the Quiet Skies domestic terror watchlist in what I can only describe as the ultimate betrayal, she said in a post on X in September. The Harris-Biden regime has now labeled me a domestic terror threat. Why? They see me as a threat to their power. The episode has raised eyebrows among security officials, who point to Gabbards history of unusual relationships overseas. As a member of Congress in 2017, she worked outside of official channels to travel to Syria to meet with President Bashar al-Assad. CNN has reached out to Gabbard for comment. The circumstances that led to Gabbards inclusion on Quiet Skies may be entirely benign, these sources said. But for a nominee for a top position much less the director of national intelligence to have been placed on a government watchlist of any kind is highly unusual, if not unprecedented, several US officials said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under normal circumstances, one official said, Gabbard would be forced to explain the underlying foreign travel or contacts in question during her background check. But Trump has indicated that he may eschew the normal background check process for his top nominees, raising questions about what, if anything, Gabbard will be required to disclose or whether national security officials will even be given an opportunity to assess if Gabbards conduct posed any risk. The Quiet Skies algorithm looks at travel patterns, foreign connections and other data in a variety of government holdings, and if triggered, leads to additional security screening at the airport by Air Marshals. But it is not associated with the FBIs terrorist watch list. Security officials from multiple agencies told CNN that the program is known inside the government for having far laxer standards for inclusion. TSA would not confirm Gabbard was on the list when asked by CNN but noted the program is not a terrorist watchlist. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement TSA uses multi-layered security processes to protect the nations transportation systems and ensure freedom of movement for people and commerce, the agency said in a statement. TSAs Quiet Skies program is a risk-based, automated approach to transportation security, to include identifying potential risks and applying enhanced security measures. The statement continued: TSAs Quiet Skies program is not a terrorist watchlist. It leverages USG intelligence information and databases to apply screening measures. Its a screening mechanism, CNN national security analyst Carrie Cordero said of the program, which is based on different indicators that are assembled and flags an individual for further security screening before they get on a domestic flight. That screening, Cordero said, is to make sure that they are a safe person to get on an airplane. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The episode adds another specter of uncertainty to a nominee whose history of unorthodox foreign policy positions in particular public statements that critics say echo Russian talking points has already left some GOP senators profoundly uncomfortable. This story has been updated with additional details. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) President-elect Donald Trump is expected to move U.S. Space Command from Colorado Springs, Colorado to Huntsville, Alabama according to an interview by Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) on Alabama Radio FM Talk 106.5. Colorado Springs has been the home of U.S. Space Command since 1985. During Trumps first term, his administration ordered the move of Space Command from Colorado Springs to Huntsville. President Joe Biden reversed that decision. Now, Alabamas congressional delegation is optimistic a new Trump term means the base will move. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I feel really good about President Trump prioritizing this when he gets back in office, said Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.). President Trump selected Alabama because it was the best place when it came down to national security. Britt said her state has world class aerospace capabilities. The rockets that took astronauts to the moon were built in Huntsville. Theres no doubt Huntsville, Alabama is the best place, said Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.). Lawmakers from Colorado argue Space Command should remain in Colorado Springs. As the world becomes more dangerous, we cannot afford any lapse in combat readiness, said Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.). Moving an FOC combatant command would unavoidably cause such a lapse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Jason Crow (D-Colo.) said his states workforce is another strength. The Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade said Colorado ranks #1 per capita in aerospace employment. We cannot risk losing those highly skilled workers with a move and having to rebuild that over a 4-to-5-year period, Crow said. Rogers told the Alabama radio station he expects Trump will move Space Command during his first week in office. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. Now that Donald Trumps pick for attorney general has been forced to drop out following Senate confirmation concerns, the president-elect is reportedly taking a more strategic approach to installing a MAGA loyalist among the FBIs top leadership. Trump has long wanted to get rid of FBI Director Christopher Wray, who Trump himself nominated for a 10-year term back in 2017. He considered firing Wray in 2020 and has planned for months to get rid of him if re-elected. One of his top choices has been his long-time adviser and Steven Bannon ally Kash Patel, who frequently rails against the deep state and has come up with a plan to strip the bureau of its independence from the White House, according to the Guardian. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Senate Republicans have been reluctant to disrupt the agency by confirming a Trump loyalist committed to investigating the incoming presidents political enemies and purging career civil servants, according to CNN. Now, Trump is seriously considering a plan to put a more Senate-friendly candidate in the top spot and make Patel second in command, CNN reported Thursday. Trump is considering appointing his adviser Kash Patel as the FBI's deputy director. As the FBIs deputy director, Patel would help run the bureaus day-to-day but would not be subject to Senate confirmation. Meanwhile, Trump is reportedly considering Mike Roberts, an ex-FBI special agent and former Michigan congressman, for the director role. Even just giving Patel the second-highest job would imperil the FBIs mission, former FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe told CNN. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its inconceivable to me that an outsider with no experience in the organization, no knowledge of the work and the scope of authority thats involved there could perform adequately, he said. After his win, Trump began announcing Cabinet nomineesincluding his failed attorney general pick Matt Gaetzwith apparently little regard for whether they could survive the Senate confirmation process. Gaetzs nomination was derailed as details emerged about a House investigation into the former congressmans alleged sexual misconduct, which he denies. He also had a habit of trashing the very senators whose votes he would need for conformation. The Rogers/Patel plan, on the other hand, could appease both more traditional Senate Republicans and MAGA agitators anxious to see their allies in positions of power, CNN reports. The Daily Beast has contacted the Trump transition team for comment. Donald Trump has announced that former Florida attorney general Pam Bondi will be nominated as his US attorney general, after controversial first pick Matt Gaetz dramatically withdrew from the role. For too long, the partisan Department of Justice has been weaponized against me and other Republicans - Not anymore. Pam will refocus the DOJ to its intended purpose of fighting Crime, and Making America Safe Again, Trump wrote in a statement on Thursday evening. I have known Pam for many years She is smart and tough, and is an AMERICA FIRST Fighter, who will do a terrific job as Attorney General! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gaetz reacted to the choice on X by calling her a stellar selection as well as a proven litigator, an inspiring leader and a champion for all Americans. South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsey Graham was even more effusive, posting: Well done, Mr President. Picking Pam Bondi for Attorney General is a grand slam, touchdown, hole in one, ace, hat trick, slam dunk, Olympic gold medal pick. She will be confirmed quickly because she deserves to be confirmed quickly. Trumps latest nomination comes shortly after former Florida congressman Gaetz announced he would no longer be accepting the nomination, following backlash on both sides of the political aisle. Gaetz has previously faced allegations of sex trafficking a minor, though he has denied the accusations and has not been charged with a crime. While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition, Gaetz wrote on X earlier on Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is no time to waste on a needlessly protracted Washington scuffle, thus Ill be withdrawing my name from consideration to serve as Attorney General. Pam Bondi was attorney general in Florida and a legal adviser to Trump during his first impeachment (Getty) The President is likely to view his choice for AG and the Department of Justice as the vehicle for retribution and vengeance he vowed against his political enemies. Bondi, 59, serves as the chair of a legal arm of America First Policy Institute, a Trump-aligned group that has drafted policy recommendations for the next administration, and she has joined Trump in his contempt for special counsel Jack Smith and his investigations into the former presidents attempts to subvert the 2020 election and his possession of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago resort. She has also supported Trumps spurious attempts to reverse his election loss in 2020, falsely alleging mass voter fraud in states he lost. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his post on Thursday night, the president-elect waxed lyrical about Bondis resume. Pam was a prosecutor for nearly 20 years, where she was very tough on Violent Criminals, and made the streets safe for Florida Families, he wrote. Trump made the announcement in a post on Truth Social on Thursday evening (@realDonaldTrump/Truth Social) Then, as Floridas first female Attorney General, she worked to stop the trafficking of deadly drugs, and reduce the tragedy of Fentanyl Overdose Deaths, which have destroyed many families across our Country. She did such an incredible job, that I asked her to serve on our Opioid and Drug Abuse Commission during my first Term We saved many lives! In addition, Bondi served as one of Trumps attorneys in his first impeachment, where she amplified allegations that Joe Biden and his son Hunter were embroiled in corruption in Ukraine, fuelling Republican-led inquiries into the president that Trumps incoming administration is expected to revive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2013 she declined to join the attorney general of New York in a class action lawsuit against Trump University. It later emerged that the Donald Trump Foundation had made a $25,000 donation to Bondis re-election campaign days after her spokeswoman announced that she was looking at Trump University following a number of complaints in Florida about the institution. Bondi denied that the donation had any bearing on her decision not to join the case against Trump University. The case accused the university of illegal business practices. Trump finally settled three lawsuits for $25m. She was also a lead attorney in an ultimately unsuccessful attempt to strike down the individual mandate provision of the Affordable Care Act, and later joined 19 other Republican state attorneys general to overturn the ACAs ban on health insurance companies denying coverage to patients with pre-existing conditions. (Bloomberg) -- President-elect Donald Trump said he is nominating former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi to run the Justice Department, elevating another longtime ally to carry out his agenda on law enforcement, immigration and hot-button social issues. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A fierce defender of the former president, Bondi, 59, has repeated Trumps claims that the departments investigations of his conduct have been laced with politics. If confirmed for the role by the US Senate, shed oversee everything from defending controversial government policies in court to doling out billions of dollars in federal grants. With Bondi, Trump would get an experienced conservative lawyer without the political and legal baggage that forced his first pick for attorney general, former Florida congressman Matt Gaetz, to bow out earlier Thursday. The president-elect has said hell push for a radical transformation of the Justice Department, which has more than 115,000 employees. Subscribe to the Bloomberg Daybreak podcast on Apple, Spotify or anywhere you listen. Pam will refocus the DOJ to its intended purpose of fighting Crime, and Making America Safe Again. I have known Pam for many years She is smart and tough, and is an AMERICA FIRST Fighter, who will do a terrific job as Attorney General!, Trump said in a statement on his Truth Social platform on Thursday evening. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bondi didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. First Impeachment Bondi has been a loyal Trump ally for years. In 2020, she served on Trumps legal defense team during his first impeachment by the US House. Trump ultimately was acquitted of allegations that he abused his power by withholding military aid from Ukraine to pressure government officials to help undermine his then-political rival in the presidential contest, Joe Biden. As Floridas attorney general until 2019, Bondi earned national attention for her efforts to overturn Barack Obamas Affordable Care Act and provisions banning health insurance companies from charging more to customers with preexisting conditions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her decisions to co-host a Fox News television program while still in office and to ask then-Florida Governor Rick Scott to postpone a scheduled execution because it conflicted with a fundraising event also earned widespread media coverage. Traditionally, the Justice Department and the attorney general have maintained a distance from the White House, especially when it comes to making decisions about which sensitive investigations and prosecutions to conduct or end. Measures intended to insulate the department from politics and interference were put in place following the Watergate scandal in the 1970s. The department includes several agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation that the president-elect has criticized as well. Trump could move to fire FBI Director Christopher Wray, whose term isnt up until 2027. Federal Indictments Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During his campaign, Trump repeatedly said he plans to go after the enemy from within the US. He has also railed against federal indictments against him secured by Special Counsel Jack Smith for allegedly trying to overturn the 2020 election and illegally retaining classified documents. Bondi has publicly championed Trumps baseless claims of voter fraud during the 2020 presidential election. In an interview on Fox News in August 2023, she said the prosecutors will be prosecuted the bad ones once Trump is president again. The investigators will be investigated, she said. Because the deep state during the last term for President Trump they were hiding in the shadows. But now, they have a spotlight on them and they can all be investigated. The house needs to be cleaned out. Since leaving her job as Florida attorney general, Bondi became a partner at Ballard Partners, a lobbying firm that also employed incoming Trump chief of staff Susie Wiles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this year, Bondi also started working for the America First Policy Institute, a Trump-aligned think tank that has been focused on helping the president-elect develop policies, staff his administration and draft executive orders for his second term. Bondi worked on an opioid and drug abuse commission in Trumps first term, and the president-elect noted that work and her prosecution of drug cases as a state attorney general in his statement announcing her pick. Gaetz Loss Bondi came under scrutiny over a $25,000 donation Trumps now-closed foundation made to a political group in 2013 supporting her reelection bid. The donation was made after Bondis office said it was reviewing if there was reason to join a New York lawsuit against Trump University for defrauding students. After the donation was made, Bondis office announced it wouldnt join. A state prosecutor cleared Bondi and Trump of wrongdoing in 2017. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump initially picked Gaetz as his attorney general, but the former US representative from Florida said Thursday that he would no longer seek the post. He came under intense scrutiny over a long-running House Ethics Committee investigation into allegations that he engaged in sexual misconduct. The Justice Department also investigated Gaetz for alleged sex trafficking of a minor but informed his lawyers last year that the probe was closed without charges. Gaetz has denied any wrongdoing. It is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition, Gaetz said Thursday. (Updates throughout with additional detail.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) President-elect Donald Trump has named a new pick for attorney general after former congressman Matt Gaetz withdrew from consideration amid allegations of sexual misconduct. Trump named former Florida attorney general Pam Bondi to be his new pick for attorney general. She was part of Trumps defense team during his first impeachment trial. He will finish what he started to keep this a real land of opportunity for everyone., said Bondi. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pete Hegseth, Trumps pick for defense secretary, was on Capitol Hill Thursday meeting with senators. I want to thank the President of the United States for this amazing and humbling opportunity, said Hegseth. This was the first time he spoke publicly about his alleged sexual assault of a woman in 2017. A newly released police report includes details of an encounter he says was consensual. The matter was fully investigated, and I was completely cleared, said Hegseth. Bondi will begin the process of meeting with senators as they consider her. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) President-elect Donald Trump announced Thursday he will nominate former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi to be U.S. Attorney General. The announcement came just hours after his first pick, former Congressman Matt Gaetz, withdrew from consideration. Matt Gaetz withdraws from attorney general nomination For too long, the partisan Department of Justice has been weaponized against me and other Republicans Not anymore, Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. Pam will refocus the DOJ to its intended purpose of fighting Crime, and Making America Safe Again. I have known Pam for many years She is smart and tough, and is an AMERICA FIRST Fighter, who will do a terrific job as Attorney General! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bondi, who is from Tampa, served as the 37th Florida attorney general from 2011 to 2019 and made history as the first woman elected to the office. She spent more than 18 years as a prosecutor in Hillsborough County before that. She is also a longtime Trump ally, having served as one of Trumps defense lawyers during his first impeachment trial in 2020 and as a chair at the American First Policy Institute, a think tank set up by former Trump administration staffers. Gaetz was initially slated to fill the position but withdrew amid continued fallout over a federal sex trafficking investigation that cast doubt on his ability to be confirmed. The investigation ended last year with no charges, and Gaetz has denied any wrongdoing. He came to his decision after meeting with senators a day beforehand. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I appreciate their thoughtful feedback and the incredible support of so many, Gaetz wrote on social media. While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Matt Gaetz will not be Donald Trumps attorney general, but just because the president-elect isnt getting his first pick doesnt mean his priorities for the position have changed. On Thursday, Gaetz who reportedly promised Trump he would start cuttin fuckin heads upon his confirmation withdrew his name from contention when it became clear senators were unlikely to vote for a man accused of paying for sex with a 17-year-old. Pam Bondi, the woman Trump tapped as his replacement hours later, doesnt have nearly as much scandalous baggage, but shes made clear shes willing to help the president-elect exact his revenge fantasies if shes confirmed. The legal cases against Trump are clearly top of mind as he has considered who he wants to serve as attorney general. In a Truth Social post announcing Bondis nomination, Trump wrote that for too long, the partisan Department of Justice has been weaponized against me and other Republicans Not anymore. Pam will refocus the DOJ to its intended purpose of fighting Crime, and Making America Safe Again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bondi has herself supported retaliation against Trumps political rivals in the past. In 2016, during Trumps campaign she called for former Secretary of State Hillary Clintons security clearance to be revoked, and egged on supporters who chanted lock her up at the Republican National Convention. Lock her up, I love that, she told the crowd. Bondi supported Trumps false claims that the 2020 election had been fraudulently stolen from him, and has repeatedly attacked prosecutors and others who sought to hold him accountable for his efforts to overturn the election. In August 2023, Bondi told Fox News Sean Hannity that when Trump returns to power the Department of Justice, the prosecutors, will be prosecuted. The investigators will be investigated, she added, because the deep state last term for President Trump they were hiding in the shadows. But now they have a spotlight on them, and they can all be investigated and the house needs to be cleaned out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump named Bondi as his new attorney general nominee within hours of Gaetzs recusal. The first woman ever to serve as Floridas attorney general, shes known Trump for over a decade, and notably served as a member of his defense team during his first impeachment trial. She accused Joe Biden of corruption during the proceedings. Her relationship with Trump also caused controversy during her time as Floridas attorney general. In 2013, Bondi defended receiving a large campaign donation from Trump despite her office weighing the prosecution of nearly two dozen fraud complaints against Trump University. Within weeks of receiving the $25,000 donation, Bondi declined to join a multi-state lawsuit against the fraudulent Trump enterprise. Birds of a feather roost together, and though Bondi may not have been Trumps first choice, the two Floridians seem aligned in believing that the weaponization of the Justice Department is only a bad thing if its weaponized against Republicans. . More from Rolling Stone Best of Rolling Stone Sign up for RollingStone's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Donald Trump is set to offer GOP donor and former Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-GA) the role of Agriculture Secretary, CNN reports . The offer has not yet been finalized, but is currently in the works, according to two sources. Trump and Loeffler were due to meet at Mar-a-Lago Friday afternoon. Her last turn in government came after Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-GA) announced his resignation in 2019. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) selected Loeffler as his replacement, a decision that Trump was reportedly unhappy with. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In fact, Trump had another contender in mind, then-Rep. Doug Collins, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported at the time. Kemp overrode his concerns and appointed Loeffler anyway; Collins is now Trumps pick to head the Department of Veterans Affairs. Loefflers year in the Senate was marked by turmoil. Collins opted to run against her in the 2020 all-party special election, attacking her from the right, especially around her role as co-owner of the WNBAs Atlanta Dream, which had some associations with liberal causes. After the WNBA backed the Black Lives Matter movement during the racial justice protests of 2020, Loeffler came out against BLM. There is no room for racism in this country. We cannot have it, Loeffler said during a campaign stop . But there is an organization, different from the saying, an organization called Black Lives Matter founded on Marxist principles. Marxism supports socialism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Collins and Loeffler split the Republican vote in the November election, with Loeffler qualifying for the runoff. In that final contest, now-Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA) won by 2 percentage points, booting her out of her Senate seat. But Loeffler has stayed in Trumps good graces. She helped raise millions of dollars for the president-elects 2024 campaign, hosting a debate watch party for him over the summer that other MAGA World stars attended. She was back in the news just days ago, publicly backing former Rep. Matt Gaetz, her former critic, for attorney general before he withdrew from consideration. She is also a co-chair of Trumps second inaugural committee. WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) Floridas former attorney general is President-elect Donald Trumps top pick to lead the Department of Justice after Matt Gaetzs sudden resignation. Pete Hegseth says his Capitol Hill meetings, chaperoned by Vice President-elect JD Vance, went well, despite a 2017 police report alleging sexual assault following a Republican womens event. While Gaetz is no longer in the running to be in Trumps cabinet, some other picks are also facing controversy, as lawmakers have a lot to consider when they come back to Capitol Hill after Thanksgiving. Now that Floridas former attorney general Pam Bondi is the new nominee for U.S. attorney general, former Florida congressman, Matt Gaetz, who took himself out of the running for the job told conservative commentator Charlie Kirk he would not try to re-claim his congressional seat, despite his re-election, earlier this month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reaction to Bondis nomination as attorney general has been much more positive. Alabama Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville said on X, I look forward to the Senate quickly confirming her to be our next attorney general. President-elect Trumps pick for Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth, remains positive after his meeting with senators despite a police report revealing the details of a sexual assault allegation from 2017. Hegseth says its a non-story. The matter was fully investigated, and I was completely cleared, said Hegseth. Washington state Democrat Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal is not convinced. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont know the guy, but looking at it, Im afraid for the safety of women everywhere, said Jayapal. Missouri Republican Senator Eric Schmitt says he believes Hegseth is qualified. I look forward to talking more to Pete about what his vision is for our Department of Defense, said Schmitt. West Virginia Republican Senator Shelley Moore Capito says its President-elect Trumps cabinet. The president really should have wide latitude to have a team he has great confidence in, said Moore Capito. President elect-Trump is expected to name former Georgia senator Kelly Loeffler to serve as Agriculture Secretary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday tapped former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi as his new pick for U.S. attorney general. The announcement made in a post on Trumps social media site Truth Social came just hours after the president-elects first choice for attorney general, former U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, withdrew his name from consideration for the job. Gaetz had faced mounting scrutiny over years-old allegations of sex trafficking and drug use that put his confirmation by the U.S. Senate in question. READ MORE: Matt Gaetz withdraws as Trumps attorney general pick amid sexual misconduct allegations In announcing Bondi as his new choice to lead the Justice Department, Trump praised the former Florida attorney general as very tough on crime, especially when it comes to drug trafficking. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For too long, the partisan Department of Justice has been weaponized against me and other Republicans Not anymore, Trump wrote on Truth Social. Pam will refocus the DOJ to its intended purpose of fighting Crime, and Making America Safe Again. I have known Pam for many years She is smart and tough, and is an AMERICA FIRST Fighter, who will do a terrific job as Attorney General! Bondi did not immediately respond to the Miami Heralds request for comment on Thursday evening. Like Gaetz, Bondi has deep ties to Trump. But she is a far-more conventional choice for attorney general than the former congressman, having served two terms as Floridas top law enforcement official from 2011 until 2019. Bondi emerged as an avid supporter of the former and future president during his 2016 presidential bid. During a speech at the Republican National Convention that year, Bondi led chants of lock her up, referring to then-Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bondi also served on Trumps defense team during his first impeachment trial in 2019 when he was charged with abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. The U.S. Senate eventually acquitted Trump on both charges. Bondi rushed to Trumps defense again in 2020 during his push to overturn the results of that years presidential election. Speaking at a news conference in Philadelphia at the time, Bondi claimed that Trump had won Pennsylvania when, in fact, the state ultimately went for President Joe Biden. After finishing her second term as Florida attorney general, Bondi joined the lobbying firm Ballard Partners, leading the firms Corporate Regulatory Compliance practice a role in which she lobbied the federal government. She also currently helms the legal arm of the Trump-aligned America First Policy Institute, a right-wing think tank with ties to the president-elects orbit. Bondis ties to Trump have come under scrutiny in the past. She and Trump faced a bribery complaint in 2016 stemming from a 2013 donation Trumps charity made to a political committee supporting Bondis campaign for attorney general. The $25,000 donation landed around the same time Bondis staff reviewed a complaint about Trump University, a now-defunct business venture operated by the president-elects company. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bondis office was not involved in an active investigation into Trump University at the time. She staunchly denied suggestions of wrongdoing, arguing that she would never let money from anyone influence her official actions. Prosecutors with Floridas 20th Judicial Circuit ultimately determined that the bribery complaint lacked enough evidence to move forward. After Matt Gaetz removed himself from consideration for Attorney General on Thursday, President-elect Donald Trump announced his replacement pick just a few hours later: Pam Bondi, the former AG of Florida. I am proud to announce former Attorney General of the Great State of Florida, Pam Bondi, as our next Attorney General of the United States. Pam was a prosecutor for nearly 20 years, where she was very tough on Violent Criminals, and made the streets safe for Florida Families, Trump wrote on Truth Social. Then, as Floridas first female Attorney General, she worked to stop the trafficking of deadly drugs, and reduce the tragedy of Fentanyl Overdose Deaths, which have destroyed many families across our Country, he continued. She did such an incredible job, that I asked her to serve on our Opioid and Drug Abuse Commission during my first Term We saved many lives! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump went on to say that the partisan Department of Justice has been weaponized against me and other Republicans and that Bondi will refocus the DOJ to its intended purpose of fighting Crime, and Making America Safe Again. He concluded, I have known Pam for many years She is smart and tough, and is an AMERICA FIRST Fighter, who will do a terrific job as Attorney General! Gaetz bowed out of the appointment amid allegations of having sex with two minors, saying, While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition. There is no time to waste on a needlessly protracted Washington scuffle, thus Ill be withdrawing my name from consideration to serve as Attorney General, he added, stating that he will forever be honored that President Trump nominated me to lead the Department of Justice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The former Florida Congressman, who resigned from the House after being named to Trumps cabinet, has been under investigation by the House Ethics Committee. The committees report on Gaetz alleged misdeeds has not yet been released. Vanity Fair reported on Wednesday that Gaetz allegedly paid two women more than $10,000 for sex. The post Trump Picks Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi to Replace Matt Gaetz in Cabinet appeared first on TheWrap. Donald Trump said he will nominate former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi as his attorney general, hours after his first pick for the role, former Rep. Matt Gaetz, withdrew from consideration for the position. In selecting Bondi, Trump again chose a staunch loyalist who is seen as an overtly political operator. She defended Trump during his first impeachment in 2019 and appeared with him on the trail in the final days of the 2024 campaign. She is co-chair of the law and justice division at the pro-Trump America First Policy Institute, which has been likened to a Trump administration in waiting. And in 2013, while Bondi was serving as Florida attorney general, Trump donated $25,000 to a political action committee supporting her reelection. The timing was later scrutinized because Bondis spokesperson had told a newspaper just days before the donation that Bondis office was reviewing a class action lawsuit New York had brought against Trump University for fraud. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The attorney general post is perhaps the most important Cabinet position in Trumps second term. He was sometimes frustrated by the two men who served in the role in his first term, and hes expected to lean on Bondi to help him wield the Justice Department against his political enemies. If confirmed, Bondi will also be tasked with defending some of Trumps most controversial policies, particularly on immigration, and will be expected to help end the two federal cases against Trump unless special counsel Jack Smith winds them down before Trump takes office. For too long, the partisan Department of Justice has been weaponized against me and other Republicans, Trump said in a social media post announcing the pick. Not anymore. Pam will refocus the DOJ to its intended purpose of fighting Crime, and Making America Safe Again. Gaetz, whose initial selection for the position was marred by the specter of a looming House Ethics report on him, praised Trumps pick. She will bring the needed reforms to DOJ, he wrote in a post on X. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though Bondi may prove another polarizing pick, she is likely to be at least somewhat less controversial than Gaetz, who had few qualifications for the job and whose primary experience with the Justice Department came when it investigated whether he engaged in child sex trafficking. He denied the allegations and was never charged. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), a close ally of the president-elect, predicted that Bondi will be confirmed quickly because she deserves to be confirmed quickly. Trump chose Bondi because he believed she would be easily confirmed and she has proven her loyalty to him during their long-standing relationship, said a person close to both of them who was granted anonymity to discuss the rationale behind the selection. He wants to be able to pick up the phone and deal with his Cabinet the same way someone running a company would want to be able to with an advisory board, the person said. Liberal groups blasted the pick. Not being Matt Gaetz does not qualify you to be attorney general of the United States, Robert Weissman, the co-president of the liberal government watchdog Public Citizen, said in a statement. We should expect an Attorney General Bondi to serve as a Trump loyalist and attack dog at the expense of the Departments independence and integrity. Like many who jockeyed for jobs in a second Trump administration, Bondi attended Trumps criminal trial in New York and took to TV to criticize the proceedings, particularly the gag order the judge overseeing the trial imposed on Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bondi, 59, served as Floridas attorney general from 2011 to 2019. She was first elected to the position as part of the same tea party wave that brought then-Gov. Rick Scott into office. She had worked for the top prosecutor in the Tampa area and was the lead prosecutor in a case against guards accused of killing Martin Lee Anderson, a teenager who was in a juvenile boot camp. Bondi transformed the job in one key way by ending the practice of having the attorney general weigh in on the side of consumers in battles against utilities. Instead, Bondi focused on criminal cases and human trafficking. She came under fire early on in her tenure after firing two employees in her office who were responsible for investigating mortgage fraud. Bondi initiated Floridas litigation against opioid manufacturers that was eventually settled after she left office. She also launched a probe of alleged sexual abuse by Catholic priests in the state following revelations in Pennsylvania. In 2016, Bondi was criticized after revelations that she requested the $25,000 donation that Trump made through one of his charities in 2013 to a political action committee raising money for her reelection. The contribution came as Bondis office was weighing whether to take action in response to complaints against Trump University. Bondis office never pursued any investigation and did not join the class action lawsuit led by New York. While the donation was reported at the time, the issue flared back up after Bondi acknowledged that she had personally asked Trump for the contribution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bondi also defended Floridas ban against same-sex marriage and in one court filing from her office told a federal court that recognizing marriages in other states would disrupt Floridas existing law and would impose significant public harm. Some social conservatives, including Ralph Reed, a Trump ally who leads the conservative-leaning Faith & Freedom organization, defended the choice on Thursday evening. "Pam is a thorough professional, a seasoned and capable prosecutor, and a woman of enormous integrity who has Trumps respect and confidence, he said. She is uniquely qualified to restore the rule of law and put the blindfold back on Lady Justice and the Department of Justice." Bondi left office due to term limits and went to work for Brian Ballard, a lobbyist with deep ties to Trump. She briefly left that job to help with Trumps defense against impeachment charges leveled against him in 2019. She would be the first Republican woman to serve as attorney general if confirmed. Meridith McGraw and Kimberly Leonard contributed to this report. The fate of TikTok in the U.S. has been up in the air since 2020, when then-President Trump moved to ban the popular video app because of national security concerns. That set off four years of back-and-forth between the app's Chinese owner and the U.S. government, with a possible ban scheduled to go into effect one day before Trump's inauguration in January. One hitch: Trump recently changed his mind, joining TikTok in June and posting on social media, "Those who want to save TikTok in America, vote for Trump." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We're not doing anything with TikTok," he said. That has given some creators hope. "The fact that Trump did a whole 180 and wants to wait and reassess how everything is going with TikTok I think were going to be OK," said creator Kat Vera, 34, who posts fitness and car content and has 457,000 followers on TikTok. But there are factors that complicate the app's position. Several legal experts and tech industry observers said the path forward for TikTok is still precarious. "It's just a huge mess, and it isn't clear," said Carl Tobias, a law professor at the University of Richmond. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: TikTok sues U.S. government, saying ban violates 1st Amendment In April, President Biden signed a law passed by Congress that would require TikTok's Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to divest its ownership of TikTok by Jan. 19 or face a ban in the U.S. due to security concerns about the app's ties to China. Biden has the option to extend ByteDance's deadline, but some legal experts said that is unlikely. Changing the law would require approval by Congress, they said. Instead, some believe that the matter could be settled in the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals. TikTok and ByteDance sued the U.S. government in May, alleging that banning the app would violate 1st Amendment rights to freedom of speech and that the new law offers no support for the idea that TikToks Chinese ownership poses national security risks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Experts said they expect that the court will make a decision next month. If the court rules in favor of TikTok and ByteDance, then the law will be declared unconstitutional and the government is unlikely to appeal under the incoming Trump administration. But if the court rules against the app and the tech giant, they could appeal to the Supreme Court and ask to have the new law paused, said Michael Stovsky, a partner at law firm Benesch in Cleveland. "They're gonna probably ask the court to say, 'Look, don't enforce the law. Don't require it to divest until the Supreme Court has heard the case,'" Stovsky said. Representatives for TikTok and the Trump administration did not respond to requests for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: TikTok has been saved. But for music, is that a good thing? In a court filing, TikTok and ByteDance said that they've tried to work with the governments Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States to address security concerns since 2019. Under the terms of a deal spelled out in a 90-page draft agreement, information collected about TikTok users in the U.S. was to be handled by U.S. tech giant Oracle. The proposed agreement also called for Oracle to inspect TikToks programming code for vulnerabilities and for the platforms content to be subject to independent monitoring. If TikTok did not comply, the draft agreement called for financial penalties and also included the possibility of suspending TikToks operations in the U.S. TikTok and ByteDance said it's unclear why the committee ultimately determined the proposed agreement was insufficient. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, Trump has changed his tune about TikTok, at least in part for apparently personal reasons and his animus for the app's rivals. Earlier this year he called himself a "big star on TikTok." "If you get rid of TikTok, Facebook and Zuckerschmuck will double their business," Trump wrote on Truth Social in March, referring to Mark Zuckerberg, the chief executive of Facebook's parent company, Meta. "I dont want Facebook, who cheated in the last Election, doing better. They are a true Enemy of the People!" Republican leaders have accused the social media site of censoring conservative viewpoints, which Facebook disputed, saying it has guidelines that "do not permit the suppression of political perspectives." Trump, who has 14.6 million followers on TikTok, joined the popular video app months after he met with Jeff Yass, a ByteDance investor, major Republican Party donor and co-founder and managing partner of Susquehanna International Group, but Trump told CNBC they did not discuss TikTok. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People who had worked for Trump also have joined TikTok's cause. Club for Growth, a conservative economic organization, hired former Trump aide Kellyanne Conway to advocate for TikTok in Congress, according to Politico. But the Trump administration will have to deal with differing viewpoints within the Republican Party on TikTok, with some preferring a hard line toward China. "I think it's going to become a chip in a much larger game involving tariffs with China, security agreements, all that, and that TikTok is going to be part of a bigger equation," said Freddy Tran Nager, associate director of USC Annenberg's Digital Social Media master's program. TikTok has a significant presence in Culver City, employing roughly 440 people there, according to city estimates. The company, which has 170 million U.S. users, has been an important content promotion tool for video creators, small businesses, music artists and Hollywood studios. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this year, TikTok notified the state of California that it would lay off 58 employees in Culver City in July "due to restructuring." Positions affected included senior business analysts and global product specialists. Many creators have already diversified into publishing their content on other platforms, so they aren't solely reliant on TikTok. Some say the moneymaking opportunities are better on rival services. Read more: Amid the coronavirus lockdown, TikTok gives hope to L.A. entertainers Theodora Moutinho, a fitness creator and actor from Glendale, said she has learned to always adapt in the fast-changing world of social media. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 25-year-old became a creator in 2017 and today has 4.2 million followers on Instagram, 1.3 million on TikTok and 421,000 on Snapchat. These days, shes putting more effort into her Snapchat and Instagram accounts, while keeping an eye on newer platforms such as Bluesky. Ever since it was up in the air that they were going to take it off, not take it off, I kind of stopped really focusing on it, Moutinho said of TikTok. Because why try to grow something if it might come down? Times news researcher Scott Wilson contributed to this report. Sign up for our Wide Shot newsletter to get the latest entertainment business news, analysis and insights. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. The exact foreign policies that U.S. President-elect Donald Trump will pursue when he returns to the White House after a four-year interval are not yet clear. What is, at least for some notable observers, is that his reelection sounds the death knell of American exceptionalism. Of course, this isnt the first time that claim has been made about the U.S. generally or the U.S. with Trump as president specifically. The concern now is with how the U.S. will relate to the world under his second-term stewardship. In a recent op-ed for the Financial Times, Francis Fukuyama wrote that Trumps reelection represents a decisive rejection by American voters of the liberal and democratic ideals that have motivated U.S. foreign policy over the past several decades. Similarly, Dan Drezner, writing for Foreign Affairs, notes that while U.S. policy blunders, as well as Russian whataboutism have eroded the power of American exceptionalism, the second Trump administration will bury it. And the Chicago Councils Ivo Daalder asserts that Trumps return to the Oval Office marks the end of the Pax Americana, because Trump only cares about the U.S. winning, not leading. According to the argument behind these sentiments, there is a direct connection between U.S. global engagement and the values that have long underpinned that engagement. And in turning his back on the former, as Trump is widely expected to do, he will be disavowing the latter. Since ascending to superpower status in the mid-20th century, the U.S. has been the leading power of the liberal international order. That order has fostered peace and prosperity because it bases interactions between nations on open economic exchange, democratic principles and global institutions that embody international law. The U.S. is uniquely positioned to lead such an order, this argument continues, because it is itself uniquely virtuous in its embrace of free market principles, democratic norms and the rule of law. While far from perfect, it has, as the saying often attributed to Winston Churchill aptly put it, always ended up doing the right thingafter exhausting all other alternatives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is the standard story of American exceptionalism. But its easy to see why that story can be too simplistic. Being exceptional can also mean choosing to distance the U.S. from the issues and troubles that roil the rest of the world. U.S. foreign policy has a long tradition in that regard, dating back to George Washingtons warning to the nascent republic against becoming entangled in the power politics that consumed the European nations of that time. To get more in-depth news and expert analysis on global affairs from WPR, sign up for our free Daily Review newsletter. Not becoming entangled in the worlds problems doesnt necessarily mean being isolationist. It can also mean engaging the world, but on terms that benefit the United States, not others. As the international relations scholar Hilde Restad pointed out, historically speaking, this unilateral internationalism is the form in which American exceptionalism has been most consistently expressed in the conduct of U.S. foreign policy. Rather than being multilateralist or isolationist, Washington has long sought to do things its own way. If the U.S. sought to open markets, it was to support its domestic exporters. If it spread democracy, it was in order to keep distant threats at bay. Maybe those policies were also good for others. Maybe they were not. Regardless of how they benefited others, though, they benefited the United States. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unilateral internationalism has on more than one occasion led the U.S. to be a bit of a bullyeven, as I myself once put it, an asshole. Whether insisting that other nations lower their trade barriers, hold U.S. dollars, pay back debts, give up land for military bases or full-on annexation, Washington has a long history of being quite transactional with friend and foe alike. The notion of American exceptionalism is not an objective description of how the U.S. actually behaves on the world stage. It is instead a subjective perception, namely how the US. sees itself. The contradictions in how the U.S. has historically engaged with the world are consistent with historical contradictions within the U.S. itself, such as having been a slave-based market economy, a nation that welcomed immigrants while displacing the Indigenous population and a liberal democracy dominated by captains of industry. Exactly how the U.S. has pursued a unilateral internationalist foreign policy has varied with changes in domestic interests and political processes. For instance, multiple presidents have seen the U.S. as the indispensable nation, but what that meant and what policies that led them to pursue depended on their own psychology and understanding of world affairs, as well as on the political interests that brought them to office. It might be common to associate unilateral internationalism with the administration of former President George W. Bush and its invasion of Iraq in 2003. But even the outgoing administration of President Joe Biden, more closely associated with America is Back multilateralism, exhibited this trait. While Biden stood up for Ukraine against Russias military invasion, praised international institutions and expounded the value of global summits, he did so because it served U.S. interests, not out of an unconditional adherence to upholding those ideals. Consider that the Biden administration was quick to praise the International Criminal Court when that body took action consistent with its policy aims, namely indicting Russian President Vladimir Putin on charges of crimes against humanity. But its support for multilateralism was not unconditional, as it did not hesitate to criticize the ICC when it made a policy choice that it didnt like, namely indicting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on charges of authorizing war crimes. Whether one labels such inconsistency pragmatic or hypocritical, consistency in words and ideals is less important for a U.S. president than pursuing what is seen as best for the U.S. and harmful to US rivals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Should we expect anything different from Trump? He might try to pursue a throwback foreign policy, imposing 19th-century tariff levels and renouncing Washingtons international commitments. But that doesnt mean Trump will be going against the trend of unilaterally doing what benefits, as he sees it, the United States. The reader might be forgiven for seeing all of this and thinking that the U.S. doesnt sound exceptional at all: that it simply follows a realpolitik foreign policy like nearly all major powers, not having any permanent allies but only permanent interests. This is true, but the notion of American exceptionalism is not an objective description of how the U.S. actually behaves on the world stage. It is instead a subjective perception, namely how the US. sees itself. In this sense, Trump is no different than Biden and Bush, but also no different than former Presidents Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, Woodrow Wilson, Teddy Roosevelt, George Washington and every other U.S. president. They all saw the U.S. as special and exceptional, even if the hard truth is that the U.S. behaves on the world stage in the same way that any large state with industrial and geographic power would: It seeks to shape the world to serve its interests. This takes us back to the various comments that opened this piece. Drezner lamented that when the rest of the world looks at Trump, they will no longer see an aberrant exception to American exceptionalism; they will see what America stands for in the twenty-first century. I agree with him that Trumps second term will reveal what the U.S. stands for. But the world will not see what the U.S. has just now become in the 21st century. Instead, they will see America as the flawed world power it has always been. Paul Poast is an associate professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Chicago and a nonresident fellow at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. The post Trumps Return Will Expose American Exceptionalism, Not End It appeared first on World Politics Review. DUBAI, United Arab Emirates Shifting tectonic plates are triggering tremors of uncertainty from Beijing to Brussels as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office, and the effects could see U.S. priorities diverge from those of its closest European allies in ways unseen in decades. The incoming administration is likely to pressure European leaders to take a harder line on China, which it sees as Americas main enemy, but their countries are economically intertwined with both powers and their interests dont always align with Washingtons, several European officials and diplomats told NBC News. Were Trump to follow through on his vow to impose tariffs on imports on Europe as well as from China, they would likely deviate further. There is also uncertainty across the continent about what the new White House will mean for the war in Ukraine. Trump has repeatedly said he could end the conflict in one day, and despite Russias claims to the contrary, that boast has prompted fears he will push for massive concessions that favor Russian President Vladimir Putin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The impact of Trump is panic, one European Union official told NBC News on Sunday. They are going to have to make a decision and take a stand. But unity appears elusive. Several European leaders criticized German Chancellor Olaf Scholz after he called Putin to try and persuade him to negotiate last week, becoming the first sitting leader of a major Western country to speak with him since late 2022. President-elect Donald Trump addressing supporters on the night of his election triumph. Among them is Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who said it was exactly what Putin has long wanted as he tries to ease his international isolation. Europe is freaked out by all this, the E.U. official added. People had been saying privately, Well see what we do about Ukraine, well see what we do about China. But now the world is upside down and they dont yet know what to do. Eyes on Beijing There are signs that European countries may decide the answer is to move closer to China, potentially opening a rift with the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During his first administration, Trump was hyperfocused on China, and since then he has maintained his hard-line stance against the country, which both the U.S. and Europe view as an economic competitor and systemic rival, even as they count it among their biggest trading partners. Days before the U.S. presidential election, Trumps choice for national security adviser, Rep. Mike Waltz, R-Fla., wrote in The Economist that the next president should quickly end the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East and finally focus strategic attention where it should be: countering the greater threat from the Chinese Communist Party. Russian President Vladimir Putin with Xi in Kazan, Russia, last month. Relations between Europe and China have deteriorated in recent years over trade, human rights, Chinese aggression in the South China Sea and the status of Taiwan, the self-governing island that Beijing claims as its territory. They soured further after Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, with some European leaders suggesting Beijing should lean harder on Moscow to end the conflict. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, four European diplomats and officials from key Western capitals, who asked not to be named to be able to speak freely, said their countries are not seeking full-on confrontation with China. We dont want to be dragged into the foreign policy toward China which the new American administration will be engaged in, said one of the senior European officials. America is our friend and ally. But we have our own foreign policy and our own economic position toward China. At the Group of 20 summit meeting in Rio de Janeiro on Monday, Keir Starmer became the first British prime minister since 2018 to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in person. Starmer called for consistent, durable ties between the two countries, while Xi said they have vast potential for cooperation. Though Starmer told reporters he had had a frank discussion with Xi about issues where China and Britain disagree, he was criticized by British lawmakers for not publicly condemning the prison sentences handed down this week to 45 pro-democracy figures in the Chinese territory of Hong Kong, as well as the ongoing trial of pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai, a British national. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Xi also discussed the war in Ukraine as well as E.U. tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles in meetings with Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron on the sidelines of the G20 summit. British Foreign Minister David Lammy with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, in Beijing last month. In some ways, a second Trump term might be good news for Europe, because unlike President Joe Biden, he wouldnt care that much about rallying U.S. allies against China, said Wu Xinbo, director of the Center for American Studies at Fudan University in Shanghai. That will give Europeans more leeway in managing their relations with China, Wu said Monday at an event hosted by the University of Hong Kongs Centre on Contemporary China and the World. He also noted that a series of European leaders and other political figures have already been visiting Beijing in recent months in an effort to strengthen ties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chinese officials have also suggested that this could be an opportunity for improved relations with Europe. China supports Europe in playing a greater role in international affairs, but does not wish to see it pick a side and provoke bloc confrontation, Cao Lei, the Chinese Foreign Ministrys deputy head in charge of European affairs, was quoted as saying by the South China Morning Post this month. Russian threat For many Europeans, it is Moscow, not Beijing, that poses an immediate threat. In their view, China could help to pressure Russia over Ukraine as Xi loses patience with a war he did not expect would drag on for almost three years. One senior European diplomat said that while China has never explicitly condemned Russias invasion of Ukraine, it has helped in other ways to rein in Moscow. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They have been firm with Russia about not using nuclear weapons with Ukraine, the diplomat said. China is also concerned about the growing security ties between Russia and North Korea after the two countries signed a comprehensive strategic partnership in June, the diplomat added. The U.S. and others say that the secretive communist states leader, Kim Jong Un, has sent thousands of troops to fight for Russia in Ukraine in exchange for technical assistance with his nuclear and ballistic missile programs. China doesnt want a more capable North Korean military, the diplomat said. So I would expect this to be one of those issues that we could talk to the Chinese about seriously. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another European diplomat said Moscow will be the wild card in international efforts to end the Ukraine war. You can see the need for it from the Ukrainians, you can see the Europeans saying we arent going to finance this huge and endless fight, they said. Its trickier to understand whats in it for Putin. Though Moscow has signaled that it is open to talks, Russias upper hand on the battlefield may convince Putin that he can achieve more from fighting than settling. But the cost is wearing on European governments, which have provided Ukraine with tens of billions of dollars in military and other assistance. The pay, pay, pay strategy wasnt working, the E.U. official said. Europe now just wants to stop the war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But it is also desperate to avoid any whiff of surrender. The E.U. continues to say that Ukraine will negotiate when Ukraine wants to negotiate, another European official said, and that the E.U. will stand by Ukraine to the end. Keir Simmons reported from Dubai and Jennifer Jett from Hong Kong. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com (Bloomberg) -- Donald Trumps presidency is set to bring a fresh bout of volatility to markets, supercharging an options boom driven by retail traders. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tariffs, geopolitical tensions and uncertainty over government policies are poised to increase price swings, boosting the appeal of options. Retail investors have already flocked to the likes of Robinhood Markets Inc. and other trading apps to deal in short-term options on equity indexes and exchange-traded funds. Companies including CQG and Trading Technologies International Inc. (TT) are already gearing up to benefit from that. Chicago-based TT will give clients access to products including Cboes flagship S&P 500 options starting early next year. CQG is also adding equity options from mid-2025 and will give traders more tools and the ability to place more complex transactions later that year. Youre going to see more volatility spikes, Kevin Darby, vice president of execution technologies at CQG, said in an interview this week at the Futures Industry Association Expo in Chicago. When volatility goes up, volume goes up as well, so were going to see a lot of options volumes in 2025, in 2026. Zero-day-to-expiry options (0DTE) on indexes and ETFs have led the 60% growth in overall volume since 2020. The ultra-short term contracts have grown to about half of S&P 500 option volume. With momentum building for expanding the 0DTE options to individual stocks, panelists at the conference spoke about the need to protect retail investors from added risks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are complications around short-dated options positions that all the market participants, including small retail accounts, need to actually understand to have a good experience, Henry Schwartz, global head of client engagement, data and access at Cboe Global Markets, said at the event. Whether theyre making money or losing money, we want them to know what theyre doing and want it to be as kind of fair as possible. Options Clearing Corp. is already seeking to introduce more protections for options traders. The clearing house is planning to harden rules on intraday margins at brokers and dealers in the event their risk exposures breach certain thresholds. Still, retail investors have become more sophisticated. Younger traders are applying lessons from gaming, while in places like the US many people already manage their retirement accounts and know how to trade, said Keith Todd, TTs chief executive officer. The retail customer base is able to digest more complexity, said CQGs Darby. Theyre able to digest more complex financial products like options or binaries or event contracts and stuff like that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Demand for options is growing not just in the US but in other regions particularly India and across Asia leading the industry toward trading 24 hours, seven days a week. While nonstop trading is not imminent, exchange hours are likely only to increase. That international growth is attractive to companies like TT, said Alun Green, the firms managing director of futures and options. Its not just in India. Were seeing it across Southeast Asia, in Taiwan, South Korea, Green said. Youve got a lot of appetite to go for new international products. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. (Bloomberg) -- President-elect Donald Trump will bring legal baggage to the White House in January, even if he succeeds in pausing or getting rid of the four federal and state criminal indictments against him. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps reelection is expected to end the two federal cases, given the Justice Departments policy against prosecuting sitting presidents. His defense lawyers are arguing that the same immunity principles should apply to the two state prosecutions. But Trump still faces at least a dozen civil lawsuits, and the presidency wont provide any special protections or way out. The US Supreme Court has said that officeholders arent immune from being sued over their private conduct. Ongoing cases include attempts to hold him liable for the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol, and his appeals of a $454 million New York civil fraud verdict and rulings that he sexually abused and defamed writer E. Jean Carroll. Trump has also continued to press ahead with lawsuits against news outlets and journalists that he alleges defamed or otherwise wronged him. On Wednesday, a Trump lawyer urged a judge to fast-track his suit against journalist Bob Woodward and publisher Simon & Schuster over the sale of an audiobook of recorded interviews from his first term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps upcoming inauguration made the dispute timely and ripe because of the fear of further unaccounted for profit being made from the Presidents voice, his lawyer wrote. Asked about the pending cases, Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung said in a statement that the election made it abundantly clear that Americans want an immediate end to the weaponization of our justice system. Heres where the remaining civil litigation stands: Cases Against Trump Jan. 6 Trump is a defendant in eight lawsuits over the Jan. 6 attack brought by law enforcement officers, congressional Democrats and the estate of a police officer who died. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A federal judge in Washington rejected Trumps argument that he was entitled to absolute immunity. Last year, an appeals court upheld that decision but said he could re-argue for immunity if he could present specific proof that he was engaged in official conduct at the time. The parties spent the past year gathering evidence, and the lawyers are set to appear before the judge on Dec. 6 to discuss next steps. Joseph Sellers, a lead attorney for the plaintiffs, said that Supreme Court precedent dating back to the Clinton administration on the limits of civil presidential immunity was clear. I see no reason why there would be any different course, Sellers said. A lead attorney for Trump declined to comment. Central Park Five Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump faced a new lawsuit shortly before the election over comments he made during the September presidential debate about five men who were wrongly convicted in a 1989 jogger rape case and came to be known as the Central Park Five. This week, Trumps legal team filed a letter previewing that they planned to invoke Pennsylvanias anti-SLAPP law that bars lawsuits targeting protected speech on matters of public concern, among other reasons they believe the case should be dismissed. 2020 Election A few weeks after the 2020 election, voting rights advocates accused Trump of trying to disenfranchise Black voters by pressing false fraud allegations. Like the Jan. 6 liability lawsuits, the case became held up in a fight over whether Trump was entitled to immunity. After Trump lost that issue, the challengers hoped US District Judge Tanya Chutkan would take action before the latest election, but that didnt happen. Chutkan has yet to announce a new schedule. E. Jean Carroll Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump is appealing two verdicts finding he sexually abused Carroll decades ago and later defamed her when he accused her of fabricating the story to sell a book. A federal appeals court heard arguments in September in his challenge to the sex abuse verdict and a $5 million damages award. The other verdict, for more than $83 million in her earlier defamation case, is also on appeal. New York Fraud In February, a Manhattan judge entered a $454 million verdict against Trump after finding he exaggerated his wealth by billions of dollars a year in order to secure more favorable loan terms. Trump is challenging that decision and a New York state appeals court heard arguments in late September. Cases Brought by Trump Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Simon & Schuster Woodward and the publisher argue Trump doesnt have a copyright interest in the interview recordings and have moved to dismiss the case. If the suit survives, Trumps lawyer Robert Garson wrote in Wednesdays letter that they expect the judge to handle the next phase in a way that creates minimal interference with Trumps obligations. ABC A hearing is set for Nov. 27 in Trumps lawsuit claiming an ABC host defamed him in describing the result of the Carroll litigation. Last week, the judge denied a joint request to delay upcoming deadlines. With Election Day now behind us, there is no reason for any further delay, US District Chief Judge Cecilia Altonaga wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CBS Just before Election Day, Trump filed a case accusing CBS of deceptive practices by airing an edited version of an interview with Vice President Kamala Harris. The network recently asked for an extension to formally respond to the lawsuit, but previously released a statement calling Trumps allegations of deceit false. CNN Trump is appealing the 2023 dismissal of a lawsuit against CNN over use of the phrase the big lie in describing his baseless claims of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election. Trumps lawyers filed their latest brief in the 11th US Circuit Court of Appeals in September; the court hasnt set a date for arguments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Twitter/Meta/YouTube Trump sued Twitter (now X Corp.), Meta and YouTube after he was kicked off social media platforms following the Jan. 6 attack. He appealed after a judge dismissed the Twitter case, and the Meta and YouTube fights were paused while that dispute went to the 9th Circuit. The appeals court heard arguments a year ago and has yet to rule. On Wednesday just over a week after Trump announced that Xs owner Elon Musk would serve in his administration lawyers for Trump and X alerted the court that they were negotiating a settlement. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Trump nominated Pam Bondi for attorney general on Thursday. Trump said he wants to refocus the Department of Justice on crime and safety. Matt Gaetz withdrew from consideration for the role earlier on Thursday. President-elect Donald Trump announced Thursday he would nominate Pam Bondi, former attorney general of Florida, for US attorney general after his first pick withdrew from consideration. "For too long, the partisan Department of Justice has been weaponized against me and other Republicans - Not anymore," Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social announcing the nomination. "Pam will refocus the DOJ to its intended purpose of fighting Crime, and Making America Safe Again." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump chose Bondi, a longtime Trump ally who served as Florida's attorney general from 2011 to 2019, after former congressman Matt Gaetz withdrew from consideration for the role earlier on Thursday. Bondi also represented Trump during his first impeachment trial in 2020, when he was accused of trying to coerce Ukraine into investigating the Biden family. Representatives for Trump and Bondi did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Busiess Insider. Gaetz was nominated for attorney general on November 13 and submitted his resignation from Congress the same day. But his appointment faced an uphill battle over lingering concerns about sex-trafficking investigations involving the former congressman. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Justice Department opened an investigation into Gaetz in 2021 but ultimately declined to press charges against the lawmaker. The House Ethics Committee also launched a probe into the allegations in 2021. On Wednesday, the committee met to determine whether it would release a report on its investigation but deadlocked. Gaetz has denied any wrongdoing. Read the original article on Business Insider Matt Gaetzs past was too likely to come back to bite him. That was the belief inside Trumps inner circle as the former Florida Congressmans nomination to be attorney general came to an end, according to Rolling Stone. One Trump adviser told the outlet that if Gaetz had become the leader of the Department of Justice, he would probably have become the single most blackmail-able person to ever serve as attorney general of the United States and thats not a risk you want to take when the whole job is going after criminals. Gaetz lasted eight days before throwing in the towel, convinced that he didnt have the votes needed to be confirmed by the Senate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement on X Thursday, he said: While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition. Hours later, Trump nominated former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi in his place. Gaetzs nomination was caught up in claims that he had sex with a 17-year-old girl at a party in 2017. The Department of Justice chose not to bring charges against Gaetz after investigating him for the alleged encounter as well as claims of sex trafficking. The 42-year-old was subsequently investigated by the House Ethics Committee, and the panel looked set to release a report of the probe last week, but Gaetz resigned before the findings were shared. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Ethics panel only has jurisdiction over sitting members. CNN reported Thursday that Gaetz ended his bid to become the nations top law enforcement officer within an hour after being asked for comment on their report into allegations that he had several sexual encounters with the girl. Matt Gaetz speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in National Harbor, Maryland, on February 23, 2024. Trumps inner orbit believed that his past was too likely to be a problem if he became attorney general, according to a report (AFP via Getty Images) Trumps inner circle appeared to know that there could be more stories about Gaetz and his past alleged indiscretions coming. That led to worries on Capitol Hill, the halls of the Justice Department, and among those close to the president-elect that there were simply too many unknowns about Gaetzs past, especially with the reportedly damning Ethics Committee report possibly coming out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gaetz has always rejected all allegations of wrongdoing. But the worries around Gaetz and his past havent booted him from Trumps inner circle. The president-elect and Speaker Mike Johnson both issued supportive statements after Gaetz withdrew his nomination. There are also people in Trumps orbit who are pushing for Gaetz to get a significant role in Trumps second White House, a way to avoid having to be confirmed by the Senate. While Gaetz could return to Congress he was re-elected to his Florida 1st congressional seat for the next Congress he noted in his letter of resignation that he wasnt intending to take the next oath of office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A continued ethics investigation may also be a major deterrent against returning to the Capitol. Gaetz is just one of Trumps cabinet picks to have been accused of sexual misconduct. Secretary of defense nominee and Fox News host Pete Hegseth was at the Capitol on Thursday to meet with Senators set to vote on his nomination. Hegseth faces concerns about allegations from a woman who told police that he raped her at a California hotel in 2017, a claim that Hegseth has rejected, saying that it was consensual. Donald Trumps team has threatened to weaponize Elon Musk against any Republican senators who plan to block the confirmation of his cabinet picks, according to a report. One of the president-elects senior advisers warned senators that if they vote against his nominees, they could be forced to face primary challenges funded by Musk, ABC reported. If you are on the wrong side of the vote, youre buying yourself a primary, a senior adviser told ABCs chief Washington correspondent Jonathan Karl. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That is all, the adviser said. And theres a guy named Elon Musk who is going to finance it. The president gets to decide his Cabinet. No one else, the adviser added. Musk was instrumental in bankrolling Trumps presidential campaign and has been weighing in on the president-elects cabinet choices. The billionaire and Vivek Ramaswamy have been tapped to head up the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency to gut federal agencies and cut funding. One of Trumps senior advisers threatened to unleash Musk (pictured with Trump at his SpaceX launch) on Republican senators, according to a report (via REUTERS) The warning comes after Matt Gaetz, Trumps pick for attorney general, was forced to withdraw from consideration on Thursday following enormous backlash. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His future job as Americas top law enforcement official came to a crashing end with a phone call from Trump landing the final nail in the coffin. The announcement that he was dropping out came as allegations of sexual misconduct involving a 17-year-old girl and illicit drug use resurfaced and fueled doubts that he would pass the Senate nomination process. Gaetz denies all the accusations. CNN reported that, just an hour before announcing he was stepping aside, the publication had asked Gaetz for comment about new allegations that he had had multiple sexual encounters with the underage girl. But, according to a report, the decision to step aside came during a call between Gaetz and Trump himself. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A source told The Bulwark that the president-elect called Gaetz just hours before his withdrawal, warning him that he didnt have enough support in the Senate. You dont have the votes, Trump told Gaetz, according to the source. These senators arent moving. According to a second source, the former Florida lawmaker is said to have acknowledged that he was four to six Republican votes shy from the threshold needed. Trump could now have a fight on his hands to confirm Fox News host Pete Hegseth as his defense secretary. Matt Gaetz withdrew from the running to be Trumps attorney general (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) Hegseths nomination is in jeopardy following an allegation of sexual assault from 2017, which he denies. The allegation was reported to have taken Trumps transition team by surprise when it emerged last week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A newly-released police report revealed previously unreported details about the alleged assault which took place after a Republican womens conference at the Hyatt Hotel in Monterey, California, on October 8, 2017. The woman at the center of the allegation told police that Hegseth physically blocked the door to stop her from leaving his hotel room and took her phone away, before sexually assaulting her, according to the report, seen by The Independent. The woman, referred to throughout the 22-page report as Jane Doe, also told police she remembered saying no a lot to Hegseth. Hegseth has maintained that the encounter was consensual and, in the police report, he stated there was always conversation and always consensual contact between the two of them. His lawyer said Hegseth paid the woman in 2023 to head off the threat of a baseless lawsuit. No charges were brought against Hegseth. Former Rep. Matt Gaetz, President-elect Donald Trump's pick for attorney general, said Thursday he is withdrawing his name for the role -- just a day after Gaetz spoke with Republican senators on Capitol Hill about the nomination process. Trump has named Pam Bondi, the former attorney general of Florida, as his new pick for the role. Another controversial Cabinet pick, Pete Hegseth, is on the Hill on Thursday with Vice President-elect JD Vance to make his case for the secretary of the Department of Defense job. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, Trump continues to announce his picks for top jobs inside his administration. Latest Developments Nov 23, 4:34 PM Trump names longtime ally Brooke Rollins as secretary of agriculture President-elect Donald Trump announced Saturday that Brooke Rollins is his pick to lead the Department of Agriculture. The seat requires Senate approval. PHOTO: In this July 26, 2022, file photo, Brooke Rollins, AFPI President & CEO, watches as former President Donald Trump makes his way off stage after speaking at the America First Policy Institute Agenda Summit in Washington, D.C. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images, FILE) Rollins served in the first Trump administration, first as the assistant to the president for intergovernmental and technology initiatives and then later as the acting director of the Domestic Policy Council. After Trump left office, she became the president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute, a conservative right-wing think tank which is made up of former Trump staff members that promotes his agenda. -ABC News' Kelsey Walsh, Lalee Ibssa and Soo Rin Kim Nov 23, 5:12 PM Trump encourages Randy Fine to run for Rep. Waltz's open seat President-elect Donald Trump is already leveraging his endorsement powers to fill vacated House seats around the country as he pulls members of Congress into his cabinet. Trump encouraged Florida state Sen. Randy Fine to launch a bid for Florida's 6th District seat. Rep. Mike Waltz currently holds the seat, but Trump has tapped him as national security adviser. PHOTO: In this May 17, 2023, file photo, Florida State House Representative Randy Fine speaks during a press conference in Tampa, Fla. (Octavio Jones/Reuters, FILE) "Randy Fine has my Complete and Total Endorsement. RUN, RANDY, RUN!" Trump said in a Truth Social post. -ABC News' Lalee Ibssa, Kelsey Walsh and Soo Rin Kim Nov 23, 4:08 PM Incoming NATO secretary general met with Trump President-elect Donald Trump met with the new NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte Friday night at Mar-a-Lago, a NATO spokesperson said. "They discussed the range of global security issues facing the Alliance," they said. "The Secretary General and his team also met with Congressman Mike Waltz and members of the President-elects national security team," the spokesperson added. -ABC News' Lalee Ibssa, Kelsey Walsh and Soo Rin Kim Nov 22, 8:53 PM Trump picks Scott Turner to lead Department of Housing and Urban Development President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Scott Turner to lead the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Turner, a former NFL player and Texas lawmaker, served in the White House during Trump's first term as the first executive director of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council, "helping to lead an Unprecedented Effort that Transformed our Countrys most distressed communities," Trump said in a statement Friday. PHOTO: Scott Turner, former executive director of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council, during the America First Policy Institute's America First Agenda summit in Washington, D.C., July 25, 2022. (Bloomberg via Getty Images) In that role, Turner worked with former HUD Secretary Ben Carson on boosting economic development in "Opportunity Zones" across the country, created by the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which allowed people to invest in low-income areas and temporarily defer tax on eligible gains. Nov 22, 8:54 PM Marty Makary picked to head the FDA Trump said he has nominated Marty Makary, a Johns Hopkins surgeon and author who argued against pandemic lockdowns, to lead the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. If confirmed by the Senate, Makary's job would be to oversee the FDA's $7 billion budget and report to the health secretary. The agency oversees $3.6 trillion in food, tobacco and medical products, including some 20,000 prescription drugs on the market. PHOTO: In this Dec. 12, 2018, file photo, Dr. Marty Makary speaks during a screening of the HBO documentary film 'Bleed Out,' in New York. (Noam Galai/Getty Images for HBO, FILE) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president-elect said Makary "will work under the leadership of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to, among other things, properly evaluate harmful chemicals poisoning our Nations food supply and drugs and biologics being given to our Nations youth, so that we can finally address the Childhood Chronic Disease Epidemic." -ABC News' Anne Flaherty and Will McDuffie Nov 22, 8:55 PM Former Rep. Dr. Dave Weldon tapped as CDC director Dr. Dave Weldon, a former Florida congressman, will serve as the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. PHOTO: Rep. Dave Weldon speaks, Nov. 28, 2001. (AP) Trump described Weldon as a "respected conservative leader on fiscal and social issues." The post will require Senate confirmation starting in January 2025. Nov 22, 8:55 PM Trump names Dr. Janette Nesheiwat for surgeon general Trump has named Dr. Janette Nesheiwat as his pick for surgeon general. PHOTO: Dr Janette Nesheiwat attends the 10th Annual NAMIWalks NYC at South Street Seaport on May 7, 2016 in New York City. (Ryan Liu/Getty Images) The president-elect said the doctor, a Fox News medical contributor, is "a fierce advocate and strong communicator for preventive medicine and public health." The surgeon general is confirmed by the Senate. Nov 22, 8:14 PM Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer picked for labor secretary Trump said he has nominated Oregon Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer as labor secretary. "Lori has worked tirelessly with both Business and Labor to build America's workforce, and support the hardworking men and women of America," Trump said in a statement. The Cabinet position requires Senate confirmation. The Oregon congresswoman was elected to represent the state's 5th Congressional District in 2022 and she previously served as the mayor of Happy Valley, Oregon.She lost her bid for re-election two weeks ago. PHOTO: Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer participates in the House Transportation Committee hearing on 'Oversight of the Department of Transportation's Policies and Programs and Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Request' in the Rayburn House Office Building, June 27, 2024. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images) Nov 22, 7:39 PM Trump taps Project 2025 co-author to head budget office Trump announced he has nominated Russell Vought as the director of the Office of Management and Budget. The president-elect described Vought, who served in the same role during Trump's first term for several months toward the end of the administration, as an "aggressive cost cutter and deregulator." Vought has ties to Project 2025. He authored a chapter on "Executive Office of the President" for Project 2025's "Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise," which Project 2025 describes as "a comprehensive policy guide for the next conservative U.S. president." His Center For Renewing America is also listed as a member of Project 2025's advisory board, according to the plan's website. The position he's been nominated for requires Senate confirmation. PHOTO: Russell Vought, acting director of the Office of Management and Budget, arrives to testify during the House Budget Committee hearing on The President's 2021 Budget, in Cannon Building, February 12, 2020. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nov 22, 6:33 PM Billionaire Scott Bessent offered treasury secretary job: Sources President-elect Donald Trump has offered the treasury secretary position to billionaire Scott Bessent, multiple sources told ABC News Friday. Bessent has advised Trump on economic policy and has been a frequent presence at Trump's Mar-a-Lago club this week and last week. PHOTO: Key Square Group founder Scott Bessent speaks at a campaign event for Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump in Asheville, North Carolina, Aug. 14, 2024. (Jonathan Drake/Reuters) The position must be approved by the Senate. The announcement for the job was supposed to come earlier but had been stalled due to intense infighting among Trump's top advisers including transition co-chair Howard Lutnick about who should get the job. -ABC News' Katherine Faulders and Jonathan Karl Click here to read the rest of the blog. Donald Trumps transition team was taken by surprise when details about the sexual assault allegations against Pete Hegseth, the president-elects defense secretary nominee, became public this week. In yet another example of the transition team being blindsided by claims about Hegseth, members of the team were reportedly startled to see a California police report go public on Wednesday, detailing the 2017 night on which Hegseth was accused of sexually assaulting a woman. The heavily redacted report from the Monterey Police Department details two different accounts from a night of drinking at a hotel bar in 2017 that ultimately ended in a sexual encounter between Hegseth and an unnamed woman. Pete Hegseth, a nominee for defense secretary, told reporters on Thursday that the police report corroborated his assertion that he did not do anything wrong (REUTERS) The report arrives nearly a week after Trump tapped Hegseth to head the armed forces and reports emerged revealing Hegseth paid a settlement to the woman who accused him of assault. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Members of the Trump transition team were reportedly unaware of the settlement, which led to concerns about whether Hegseth was still fit to be the defense secretary nominee. They were dealt another surprising blow on Wednesday evening when the Monterey Police Department released the redacted report and revealed Hegseth was given a copy in March 2021. This is another instance of people being blindsided, so I think theres rising frustration there, a person familiar with the situation told the Wall Street Journal. If this continues to be a drumbeat and the press coverage continues to be bad, particularly on TV, then I think there is a real chance that he loses Trumps confidence, the person added. The Hegseth controversy could unfold similarly to the Matt Gaetz situation. After being tapped as attorney general nominee, negative press attention due to allegations of statutory rape and an unreleased House Ethics Committee report on those claims led to Gaetz removing himself from the nomination. President Donald Trump appears on Fox & Friends co-host Pete Hegseth at a Wounded Warrior Project Soldier Ride event in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Thursday, April 6, 2017 (AP) Details from the police report on Hegseth contain accounts from the former Fox News host, his accuser, a nurse who examined the accuser at a clinic, and the reporting police officer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It also contains text messages and call logs but does not include video surveillance footage. The unnamed accuser claims she met Hegseth at a hotel bar and believes something was slipped into her drink. She alleges that the two left the bar and got into a verbal argument at the hotel pool which prompted hotel staff to intervene. Eventually, the two went to Hegseths hotel room where she claims he forced himself on her. Hegseth told police he did not recall a verbal argument between the two and that the sexual encounter was consensual. Ultimately, the Monterey County District Attorney chose not to bring charges because they did not have proof beyond a reasonable doubt. The report does not conclude the allegations are false. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When questioned about the report, Hegseth told journalists on Thursday that the matter was fully investigated and I was completely cleared. A lawyer for Hegseth confirmed that the former Fox News host paid the woman a settlement to prevent her from coming forward with a lawsuit that could damage his reputation. That was reportedly not made clear to the Trump transition team, according to the WSJ. For now, the Trump team is continuing to back Hegseth. Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson for Trump and press secretary nominee, said in a statement, This report corroborates what Mr. Hegseths attorneys have said all along: the incident was fully investigated, and no charges were filed because police found the allegations to be false. Many of President-elect Donald Trump's picks to fill his Cabinet boast resumes that are thin on the kind of subject matter the agencies they would helm oversee. But that doesn't necessarily mean they're politically unqualified. The ongoing battle on Capitol Hill over Trump's selections underscores how outsider bona fides and shake-it-up attitudes now imbue would-be secretaries with credibility. That's in contrast to steady-as-she-goes mantras and beefy resumes in a government bureaucracy that voters believe has failed them, Republican operatives told ABC News. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The shifting vocabulary is just another example of Trump's ability to transform norms in Washington, but also of voter frustrations and a shifting electorate. And now, Democrats warned, targeting nominees' resumes risks reinforcing the image that the party is unreceptive to the beliefs of everyday Americans about what ails the country. PHOTO: Defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth departs following a meeting on Capitol Hill in Washington, Nov. 21, 2024. (Nathan Howard/Reuters) "I'm not endorsing anyone, but the argument that this person isn't qualified to do X because he doesn't have the resume or the establishment kiss of approval just reinforces that they don't get it," said Chris Kofinis, a Democratic strategist and former aide to Sen. Joe Manchin, I-W.Va. "Debating resumes when most people distrust government plays right into Trump's favor." "If you asked most American people, guess what they would say, 'What's the difference? It's not like they've been doing a great job beforehand, so now you're worried about this guy?'" Kofinis added of would-be nominees' qualifications. "The argument is, 'you need to have people with managerial and certain type of policy expertise to run these agencies.' Based on whose opinion? Based on experts' opinion, or based on the American people's opinion?" MORE: Trump team warns Republicans to support Cabinet picks or face primary funded by Musk Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has moved at a rapid pace to flesh out his upcoming administration, handpicking an array of establishment and unconventional people for top posts. Sen. Marco Rubio and Rep. Mike Waltz, two Floridians, were deemed establishment picks for secretary of state and national security adviser, respectively. The president-elect has also put forth Fox News host and Army veteran Pete Hegseth as his Pentagon chief, Linda McMahon to lead the Education Department, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem as homeland security secretary and former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii to be director of national intelligence. Former Florida GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz was also pegged to be attorney general, though he took his name out of consideration on Thursday. PHOTO: Linda McMahon, former administrator of the Small Business Administration speaks at Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, July 18, 2024. (Mike Segar/Reuters) None have particularly brawny resumes on those departments' subject matter, which Democrats have repeatedly noted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To be certain, resumes aren't the only issue at play. Gaetz and Hegseth are beset by sexual misconduct allegations, and Trump is still one to put a premium on loyalty as he sifts through is options for top administration posts. But Democrats have also worked to paint several of the picks as "unqualified" based on their relative lack of experience as well as by virtue of past personal issues and Trump's various policy pushes. The question, though, is precisely what the word "qualified" means after an election in which voters registered their discontent with business as usual via their ballots. "I think you can call some of these people outsiders, for sure. Others have experience, it's just not the experience that maybe the D.C. establishment is looking for. It's not somebody that worked their way up in this department and now is the person to do it. It's someone that's going to take a fresh look," said Nick Trainer, a GOP strategist and former Trump administration official. "Americans that aren't tuned into their government every day are shifting towards the Republican Party, and it's because these elites in the D.C. establishment and the Democrat Party don't get it," Trainer added. "They just don't understand that an average American in a Midwestern state or whatever doesn't care if their secretary of XYZ studied at Harvard. That's not what they want." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new standard is being established with the help of Trump's unique sway among his base, offering him the ability to inject credibility into his picks solely by virtue of his imprimatur. And now, Democrats are forced to grapple with precisely how to respond. The party is undergoing a post-election reckoning to understand how its brand became so unpalatable that Vice President Kamala Harris suffered a comprehensive defeat to a twice-impeached convicted felon. Tactical decisions over advertising, spending, media appearances and more have been cited as possible pitfalls for Harris. MORE: Tracking Trump's picks to serve in his Cabinet, administration But beyond tactics, Democrats lamented a reputation as elitist, inside-the-beltway experts with little knowledge or interest in what average Americans feel is important for the country. And going after cabinet candidates for lacking elite academic or government bureaucratic credentials risks exacerbating the issue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The dog whistle when it comes to how Democrats describe experience, is it means status quo," said Sean Spicer, Trump's first White House press secretary. Some Democrats said the likely nominees' past policy stances are ripe for criticism -- but that going after resumes could be risky. "Anytime we are showing elitism or being preachy, it's not good for our brand. But if we're calling out folks who have turned their back on workers or people that have done things that are not in the best interest of America or other things, then I think those are distinct questions that help the party," said Chuck Rocha, a Democratic strategist who is mulling a run for Democratic National Committee chair. "It's about not being with America, not being with the workers," Rocha added Wednesday. "I would argue against Matt Gaetz, sure, the sex parties and the other stuff is crazy, but he's also had a long resume of voting against capping insulin and other things that have really been bad for American workers." PHOTO: Rep. Matt Gaetz speaks during a House Judiciary Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Mar. 12, 2024. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images, FILES) Others advocated more of a wait-and-see approach. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "If your angle of attack is, 'person X is grossly unqualified,' let them prove they're not qualified," Kofinis said. "If you want to start earning trust back from the American people, stop being so quick to give an answer and conclusion, and wait." While Democrats are figuring out how to respond to Trump's picks and how to resurrect their brand more broadly, Republicans are satisfied to watch them twist in the wind. "Democrats are the resistance party. They're going to find whatever excuse they can to resist," said one former Trump campaign official. "So, I'm not surprised by that, but they're going to continue to hurt themselves, that's for sure. They're missing the point." Trump's Cabinet picks boast thin resumes. That's the point: ANALYSIS originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Welcome to the online version of From the Politics Desk, an evening newsletter that brings you the NBC News Politics teams latest reporting and analysis from the White House, Capitol Hill and the campaign trail. In todays edition, we report on the fallout from Matt Gaetz withdrawing from consideration to be the next attorney general. Plus, senior politics reporter Jonathan Allen puts the former Florida congressman's fall in historical context. Sign up to receive this newsletter in your inbox every weekday here. Trumps retribution campaign hits the harsh reality of governing in Washington By Henry J. Gomez, Olympia Sonnier, Jake Traylor and Julie Tsirkin Matt Gaetzs withdrawal Thursday as a candidate for attorney general illustrates the roadblocks President-elect Donald Trump could face as he attempts to convert his campaign of retribution into a governing coalition capable of working within the realities of Washington. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gaetz, until recently a Florida congressman, embodies Trumps grievance- and vendetta-driven agenda like few others can. He has been one of Trumps most pugilistic defenders and the bleeding edge of MAGA resistance in Congress, even against his own Republican leadership. But it was a tough sell from the moment Trump announced Gaetz as his choice eight days ago in a pick that shocked much of Washington. The Justice Department that Trump wanted him to lead had once investigated Gaetz in a sex-trafficking case it closed without charging him. Meanwhile, an unreleased report from a separate House Ethics Committee investigation also hung over Gaetzs head, and details of what two women who allege he paid them for sex told the committee were beginning to trickle out. Gaetzs hasty retreat is also emblematic of how the president-elect and his team often reject the conventions of Capitol Hill. Although Gaetzs liabilities and legal troubles were well documented, deeper vetting by Trumps team might have unearthed details of the ethics probe sooner. And there was little, if any, effort to take the temperature of senators before Trump surprised the political world with his announcement last week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At least five Senate Republicans were planning to vote against Gaetz and had communicated to other senators and those close to Trump that they were unlikely to be swayed, according to multiple people with direct knowledge. The no votes included Sens. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine and Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma, as well as Sen.-elect John Curtis of Utah. And at least 20 and perhaps as many as 30 Senate Republicans were very uncomfortable about having to vote for Gaetz on the Senate floor, one source said. Read more Putting Gaetzs withdrawal in historical context By Jonathan Allen Its rare for a newly elected president to lose a pick for any Cabinet post, much less attorney general. The last time the Senate actually voted down a nominee: George H.W. Bushs 1989 appointment of longtime Texas Sen. John Tower to run the Pentagon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But its not even Thanksgiving, and Donald Trump is already looking for a backup top law enforcement officer after Matt Gaetz withdrew his AG bid Thursday. Republican senators apparently found his recent charm offensive less influential than his long campaign to discredit them and the allegations of sexual misconduct against him, which Gaetz has denied. Gaetz had not been formally nominated Trump doesnt take office until January but he is the first attorney general pick to fall since 1993, when two of Bill Clintons selections, Zoe Baird and Kimba Wood, withdrew from consideration following revelations they had hired undocumented immigrants. New presidents typically compile Cabinet rosters with at least one eye on their chances of winning confirmation. Gaetz did not fit that mold. On a broader level, Trump has picked more fights with the Senate than most presidents. And he may find that the Republican majority there is less pliant than he would like. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Former Fox News personality Pete Hegseth, his choice for defense secretary, has run into some early resistance. So, too, have Tulsi Gabbard and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., his picks for director of national intelligence and secretary of health and human services, respectively. Their fates remain to be determined. But Trump isnt off to a good start. He will have to put more thought into nominating people who can win confirmation on their own, or whom he can push across the finish line with senators. Otherwise, he risks a repeat or worse of Barack Obamas Cabinet failures. In 2009, Tom Daschle (Health and Human Services), Bill Richardson (Commerce) and Judd Gregg (Commerce) all withdrew for different reasons. The last time around, Trump lost just one of his initial Cabinet picks, when Andrew Puzder withdrew as the labor secretary nominee in February 2017. More on the Trump transition Aside from Gaetz, two of Trumps other Cabinet picks, Hegseth and Kennedy, have also faced serious allegations of sexual impropriety, which they have both denied. A newly released police report details the allegations facing Hegseth. Trump plans to roll out a flurry of executive actions within hours of taking office, imposing more socially conservative health care policies on the U.S. military and setting in motion the large-scale deportation of people living in the country illegally. Dr. Mehmet Oz, Trumps pick to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, has had some evolving views on Obamacare and Medicare over the years, including advocating for a one-size-fits-all plan. Todays other top stories Buckeye State battle brewing: The jockeying for JD Vances Ohio Senate seat has begun, and the potential candidates statements about Trumps Cabinet picks are being closely watched. Read more Latest race call: Republican Nick Begich defeated Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola for Alaskas at-large seat, NBC News projects. Republicans currently have won a 219-213 majority, with three races yet to be called. While women have made significant gains in Congress in recent elections, that progress has stalled for the first time since 2016, falling short of the current record levels. Read more The nays have it: The Senate overwhelmingly rejected efforts from Bernie Sanders that would have blocked certain offensive weapons sales to Israel. Read more DOGE double-down: Republicans who lead the House Oversight Committee are planning to form a new subcommittee to work with Trumps proposed Department of Government Efficiency led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy. Read more Thats all from the Politics Desk for now. If you have feedback likes or dislikes email us at politicsnewsletter@nbcuni.com And if youre a fan, please share with everyone and anyone. They can sign up here. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Nov. 22 (UPI) -- As news of Donald Trump's re-election begins to ripple through North Korea's top echelons, surprise and curiosity are inevitable reactions among its high-ranking officials. How could a former president return to office after being out of power? For those used to the rigid succession of power in North Korea's single-family dynasty, this democratic turn of events would be both puzzling and thought-provoking. In a country where political power is synonymous with the Kim family's rule, the notion that a president could lose an election, regroup, and come back to power seems almost otherworldly. For North Korea's senior officials, knowledge of global events, including U.S. presidential elections, comes through highly controlled channels. Unlike ordinary North Koreans, who may never hear about Trump's victory, officials at the Central Committee, the Cabinet, and department director levels receive this information through confidential documents known as 'reference newspapers,' which are distributed in secret. The Party's highest leaders also attend restricted briefing sessions under Kim Jong-un's supervision. It's a tightly managed system, ensuring that only a select few are informed about events beyond North Korea's borders. When I was still in North Korea, I first heard of George W. Bush's election in the early 2000s through one of these reference newspapers. The concept of democracy, where presidents are chosen by popular vote and serve limited terms, seemed remarkable. At that time, as is likely the case now, many officials expressed fascination and skepticism. The idea that leadership could be anything other than hereditary, or that a leader could be publicly scrutinized and replaced was hard for us to fathom, trained as we were to accept that only the Kim family could rule North Korea. Even so, some officials could not deny there was an advantage to a system where fresh leaders could bring new perspectives and ideas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The structure of the U.S. election is strikingly different from North Korea's. In the United States, leaders are held accountable through the voting process, a stark contrast to North Korea's ironclad system of succession, where Kim Il-sung's descendants rule unchallenged. To North Korean officials, the idea of a former president being ousted and then winning back the support of his people would be seen as something akin to a political miracle -- particularly when compared to their lifelong pledge of loyalty to the Kim family. It is natural for North Korean officials to compare their political system with the U.S. system when exposed to this information. Trump's return, following a brief hiatus from power, stands in stark contrast to the rigidity of North Korea's succession structure. Some officials might even privately wonder about the merits of a system where a leader's hold on power is not absolute and can be challenged by the people's voice. Yet, despite any fleeting admiration for the democratic process, these officials remain pragmatic. North Korea's nuclear ambitions, embedded in the state's core ideology and championed by Kim Jong-un, are unlikely to change under any circumstances. While Trump's re-election may lead to renewed U.S.-North Korea negotiations, officials know better than to expect substantial changes. The high hopes North Korean officials once had during previous summits with Trump --hopes that sanctions might be eased or lifted -- were swiftly dashed when nothing materialized. By now, they understand that the presence of nuclear weapons makes it unlikely that the international community will ease sanctions. Even if Kim meets Trump again, the officials likely anticipate that the same stalemate will ensue, as long as Kim refuses to abandon his nuclear arsenal. The broader international landscape adds further complexity. Trump's recent statements about ending the Russia-Ukraine war have sparked speculation about a potential shift in North Korea's relationship with Russia. Only recently, North Korea and Russia signed a "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement," marking a deepening of their military cooperation. If Trump successfully negotiates an end to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, it could result in a decrease in North Korean-Russian military cooperation. Such a development would reshape Northeast Asia's security landscape, impacting not only North Korea but also its complex relations with Russia and China. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This evolving situation may push North Korean officials to consider adjustments in their foreign strategy. China has historically viewed North Korea's close relationship with Russia with caution, even disdain. Should North Korea lose Russia's support, it may find itself gravitating back toward Beijing, rekindling the delicate alliance that has long defined its relationship with China. While North Korean officials are well aware of the precariousness of their position, Kim Jong-un likely views Trump's re-election as an opportunity to leverage his diplomatic approach to the United States. Trump's foreign policy aims, which may include the prestigious goal of a Nobel Peace Prize, would require him to make tangible progress on issues like denuclearization. For Kim, this could be the moment to feign cooperation, possibly offering a few concessions or outdated nuclear facilities in exchange for sanction relief and a guarantee of regime security. This, in turn, could allow Kim to sustain his nuclear program while reaping significant benefits from the United States. If Trump and Kim were to reach such an agreement, it would carry significant risks for the stability of the Korean Peninsula and the wider Northeast Asian region. A deal that appeases both leaders' immediate interests but leaves North Korea's nuclear capability largely intact would create a lingering threat to regional security. Such a scenario could compel South Korea to seek independent security measures, amplifying instability across Northeast Asia. Meanwhile, North Korea's population would continue to suffer, deprived of both freedom and economic opportunity under an oppressive regime focused solely on sustaining its nuclear ambitions. The alternative scenario is that Trump uses his remaining time to pursue a genuine path toward North Korean denuclearization. If he were to achieve full denuclearization, it could represent a diplomatic breakthrough of historic proportions, potentially securing peace for the Korean Peninsula and liberation for North Korea's people. This path, however, demands not only Trump's resolve but also sustained international collaboration and pressure, with the South Korean government and the U.S. State Department playing pivotal roles in consistently conveying the risks posed by a nuclear North Korea. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The next four years under Trump's leadership will undoubtedly shape North Korea's future and could redefine the security dynamics in Northeast Asia. Kim Jong-un's regime, North Korean officials, and the people of North Korea will all watch closely, aware that the actions taken in Washington may have life-altering implications. As someone who once witnessed North Korea's inner workings, I urge the U.S. administration to approach North Korea with cautious optimism, balancing diplomacy with unwavering resolve. Only by understanding the intricacies of the regime and preparing for the worst can we hope to steer the Korean Peninsula toward a future of genuine peace and stability. Ri Jong Ho is a former senior North Korean economic official who served under all three leaders of the Kim family regime. His most recent role was in Dalian, China, where he headed the Korea Daehung Trading Corporation, overseen by the clandestine Office 39 under the direct control of the ruling Kim family. Before his assignment in Dalian, Jong Ho held pivotal positions, including Executive Director of the Daehung General Bureau of the North Korean Workers' Party, a role equivalent to Vice-Minister rank in the North Korean party-state. Subsequently, he was appointed Chairman of the Korea Kumgang Economic Development Group (KKG) under the North Korean Defense Committee by Kim Jong Il. Jong Ho is a recipient of the Hero of Labor Award, the highest civilian honor in North Korea. Following a series of brutal purges by Kim Jong Un, he defected with his family to South Korea in late 2014. Currently, Jong Ho resides in the greater Washington D.C. area. The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author. President-elect Donald Trump and his allies disavowed the conservative Project 2025 during the election, seeing the conservative transition plan and policy blueprint as a liability after Democrats used it to attack his campaign. Some close to Trump even suggested those tied to the effort would be shut out of a potential administration. They made themselves nuclear, Howard Lutnick, the co-chair of Trumps transition and his nominee to serve as Commerce Secretary, told CNBC in September. But with the campaign over, Trumps transition team is turning to Project 2025 to help staff the next administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Already, transition officials are taking suggestions for potential hires from the extensive personnel database created by Project 2025, a person familiar with the situation told NBC News. While Project 2025s massive book of conservative policy recommendations received most of the attention from Democrats, a central part of the effort was putting together a database that officials had framed as a conservative LinkedIn to help staff an incoming Republican administration. The person familiar with the transition said officials overseeing plans for some departments and agencies have started to reach out to potential hires whose names and contact information were part of that database. Individuals helping to fill out the personnel teams for the Trump transition operation have sought and used information from the Project 2025 database because of the enormity of the task of filling out the more than 4,000 political appointee jobs that will become vacant in 2025, this person said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres a lot of positions to fill and we continue to send names over, including ones from the database as they are conservative, qualified and vetted, the person, who worked on Project 2025, said. Hard to find 4,000 solid people, so we are happy to help. The receptiveness to using the Project 2025 database for potential hires comes as the transition has already shown it is open to tapping contributors to the effort for administration jobs, including Tom Homan as border czar, Brendan Carr as chairman of the Federal Communications Commission and John Ratcliffe as CIA director. Both Homan and Ratcliffe were listed as contributors to Project 2025, while Carr wrote a chapter on the FCC. Brendan Carr, a contributor to Project 2025, is Trump's pick to lead the Federal Communications Commission. Additionally, former Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought, a Project 2025 author who also served as the Republican National Committees platform policy director, is thought of as a potential administration pick, too. But not everyone is being welcomed aboard. Politico reported Thursday that the transition rejected a push for former Trump administration official Roger Severino, who wrote Project 2025s chapter on the Department of Health and Human Services, to serve as deputy secretary of the agency, over concerns about the anti-abortion policies he laid out in the policy blueprint. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The personnel database was a cornerstone of Project 2025. Under Paul Dans, a former Trump administration official who led Project 2025, the group built a database of more than 10,000 candidates vetted for their MAGA credentials who would build out the administration in the event Trump won, as ProPublica reported in August. The idea behind the effort was to ensure that a future Trump administration would have the foot soldiers necessary to rapidly enact his agenda upon taking office. But as tensions grew between the Trump campaign and Project 2025 which culminated with Trump repeatedly lambasting and disavowing the effort officials said they would not consult the database for potential hires. In his September interview with CNBC, Lutnick said he wont take a list from Project 2025. The transition team of Donald Trump has not touched it, has not gone near it, he said. And anybody who says its got anything to do with us is just not telling the truth on purpose. Because I am clear, clear, clear. Zero. Lutnick reiterated his point to the New York Post before last months vice presidential debate, calling Project 2025 radioactive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That wasnt the first time team Trump took aim at the Project 2025 personnel database. In July, a top Trump campaign adviser told Semafor: If youre an organization that is purporting to be pushing Trump policies, its probably the last organization that well take references from for personnel. But a Republican operative who spoke with NBC News shortly after Trumps electoral victory said its kind of bulls--- if they really try to keep all those dudes out. I think it would be a big mistake, this person said. Theres a lot of people with their name in Project 2025. Thats going to be a tough one to really stick by. I think theyll make an example of a few people. Hopefully some of them will be able to make it through. Asked about the transition using the Project 2025 database, a Trump transition official said: The transition is working to ensure great people are in position to deliver the promises made through President Trumps common sense agenda and overwhelming victory on Election Day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Project 2025 played a huge role in Democratic campaign advertising and in the partys anti-Trump message during both President Joe Bidens and Vice President Kamala Harris bids, sparking Trump and his allies to ratchet up their condemnations and claim the policy agenda was not Trumps. There was plenty of overlap between the Trump agenda and Project 2025 which featured contributions from dozens of officials from Trumps first administration. For instance, the Project 2025 policy blueprint and Trumps Agenda 47 featured similar ideas on mass deportations and slashing the federal bureaucracy. There were some differences, though, as Project 2025 included calls for banning pornography and dismantling the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. It also featured stringent anti-abortion rights policies that clashed with Trumps abortion message during the campaign. At a July campaign event in Grand Rapids, Trump said people on the severe right came up with this Project 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Very, very conservative, he said. Sort of the opposite of the radical left. You have the radical left and the radical right. They came up with this. I dont know what it is. Then you read some of these things and they are seriously extreme. But I dont know anything about it. I dont want to know anything about it. A September NBC News poll found that 57% of registered voters viewed Project 2025 negatively while just 4% said they viewed the effort positively. But even over the summer, Project 2025 insiders werent sweating Trump and his campaigns disavowals, viewing them as an effort to boost his electoral chances, not to flatly reject the ideas and people tied to the effort. Michigan state Sen. Mallory McMorrow, who railed against Project 2025 with a very large copy of the policy book at the Democratic National Convention in August, said Democrats need to focus on their policy response to the elevation of Project 2025s officials and ideas. She shared an Instagram post in which she promoted new legislation tightening restrictions around the collection and management of reproductive health data. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its easy to say we told you so, but more importantly, we now know what theyre going to do, so its on Democrats to decide how to fight back, McMorrow said. Which is exactly what Im doing. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Since March of 2023, Donald Trump has been indicted by grand juries on six occasions in four criminal cases, was convicted by a jury once, took one mug shot, was ordered to pay millions in damages by two civil juries, and was found liable for civil fraud by a Manhattan judge. But as Trump nears his return to the White House following his election victory this month, his criminal and civil legal issues are beginning to fade into the background of his rapidly moving presidential transition. MORE: Special counsel Jack Smith expected to wind down Trump prosecutions: Sources Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has denied wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty in each criminal case, and denies all wrongdoing in the civil cases. His return to the presidency is likely to result in his four criminal cases being dismissed or placed on hold for at least four years. Here is the status of each of his major cases. More than a year after he was indicted in New York on criminal charges of falsifying business records, Trump was convicted by a jury in May on 34 felony counts related to a hush money payment made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels in order to boost Trump's electoral prospects in the 2016 presidential election. Trump was originally scheduled to be sentenced in July, but his lawyers sought to have the case dismissed based on the Supreme Court's new ruling on presidential immunity, arguing that the conviction relied on evidence that should be off-limits. The judge in the case, Juan Merchan, has not yet issued a ruling on the impact of the high court's immunity decision. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: Judge delays Trump's Nov. 26 sentencing date in his hush money case After Trump won the election, his lawyers again pushed to have the case dismissed by arguing that sitting presidents should be immune from prosecution. Prosecutors have rebuffed that claim, arguing that Trump has already been convicted for entirely private conduct -- but they signaled a willingness to delay Trump's sentencing until he leaves office in 2029. Judge Merchan indefinitely postponed the case's Nov. 26 sentencing and gave Trump's attorneys a Dec. 2 deadline to file a motion to dismiss the case -- which could determine if Trump enters office with a felony conviction hanging over him. PHOTO: Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump arrives for a campaign rally at the Desert Diamond Arena, on Aug. 23, 2024, in Glendale, Ariz. (Evan Vucci/AP) Eight months after special counsel Jack Smith assumed control over the investigation into Trump's alleged election interference, a Washington, D.C., grand jury indicted Trump in August 2023 on criminal charges that he unlawfully sought to overturn the results of the 2020 election in order to remain in power -- but the case was sidelined as Trump's lawyers appealed based on presidential immunity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Supreme Court ultimately ruled in July that Trump should benefit from the presumption of immunity for any official acts undertaken while in office, and returned the case to U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan to determine if the allegations contain official acts. Prosecutors then revised their case against Trump -- removing any allegations related to official acts, including Trump's use of the Justice Department -- and had a grand jury issue a new indictment against the former president in August. Trump was reelected as Judge Chutkan was in the process of evaluating which parts of the indictment would be covered by presidential immunity. Smith then paused the case to "assess this unprecedented circumstance and determine the appropriate course going forward consistent with Department of Justice policy." MORE: At special counsel's request, judge pauses upcoming deadlines in Trump's election interference case Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Smith is expected to wind down his case against Trump over the coming months due to the longstanding Department of Justice policy prohibiting the prosecution of a sitting president. He faces a Dec. 2 deadline to advise the court of his next steps. Smith is also expected to issue a final report of his findings to Attorney General Merrick Garland, who will face the decision of whether to publicly release the materials. In the other case brought by special counsel Jack Smith, a federal grand jury in Florida indicted Trump and his aide Walt Nauta in June 2023 on criminal charges of retaining classified documents after leaving the White House and taking steps to thwart the government's efforts to get them back. In July 2023, the grand jury returned a superseding indictment against Trump and Nauta, as well as Mar-a-Lago property manager Carlos De Oliveira. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Overseeing the case for nearly a year, Judge Aileen Cannon -- who Trump nominated to the bench -- took up novel legal arguments posed by defense lawyers and delayed major rulings, preventing the case from reaching a trial. She ultimately dismissed the case in July over her finding that Smith was improperly appointed to his role. MORE: Special counsel asks judge to pause his appeal in Trump's classified documents case Smith appealed Cannon's ruling to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, arguing that legal precedent and history confirm the attorney general's ability to appoint special counsels. But after Trump's reelection, he asked the court to pause the appeal last week to evaluate the "unprecedented circumstances" as a result of the DOJ policy prohibiting sitting presidents from being prosecuted. The case is now on pause until Dec. 2 while Smith evaluates his options to wind down the case, including whether to possibly proceed with the case only against Trump's co-defendants. In August, Trump and 18 co-defendants were criminally charged in a sweeping racketeering indictment related to their alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election results in the state of Georgia, including Trump's asking Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to "find" the votes needed to win after losing to Joe Biden. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Four of the defendants in the case took plea deals, while some of the remaining defendants launched an effort to have District Attorney Fani Willis, who brought the case, disqualified over her relationship with a fellow prosecutor. Fulton County Judge Scott McAfee declined to disqualify Willis if the prosecutor resigned, but the case has been paused as Trump and his co-defendants appeal the decision. An oral argument for the appeal was initially scheduled for Dec. 5 but was unexpectedly canceled this week without explanation. MORE: Georgia court cancels hearing in Trump's appeal of Fani Willis disqualification case In the meantime, Judge McAfee has also chipped away at the indictment, tossing five of the 13 counts with which Trump was originally charged. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If the case ever returns to the trial court, Trump's lawyers could mount a presidential immunity defense to try to have the case dismissed, according to experts. When asked what the impact of a Trump election victory would be, defense attorney Steve Sadow suggested last year that the case would likely have to wait until Trump leaves office. The Fulton County district attorney's office has previously declined to comment about the future of the case. New York civil fraud case After a lengthy civil trial last year, a New York Judge found Trump, his adult sons, and their business associates civilly liable for committing a decade of business fraud. With interest, Trump and his co-defendants owe nearly $489 million and face prohibitions against running a company in New York. They arranged a $175 million bond secured with cash held in Trump's Charles Schwab account. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A New York appeals court appeared receptive to some of Trump's arguments challenging the ruling in September, with one judge characterizing the penalty as "troubling." A ruling on Trump's appeal is expected sometime over the coming months, and Trump could further appeal the decision to New York's highest court. E. Jean Carroll civil cases Trump owes the writer E. Jean Carroll nearly $90 million after he lost two civil trials to the former Elle magazine columnist. In 2023, a jury awarded Carroll $5 million in damages when it found Trump liable for sexually abusing her in the dressing room of a Manhattan department store in the 1990s then later defaming her on social media. The following year, a separate jury awarded Carroll an additional $83.3 million for defamatory statements Trump made while president. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump secured the smaller judgment with cash, and used a bond from Virginia-based Federal Insurance Company totaling $91,630,000 for the second judgment. He has appealed both cases. In September, a federal appeals court appeared skeptical of Trump's push for a new civil trial, suggesting it would be "very hard" to overturn the jury's 2023 verdict. "Mr. Trump's election to the presidency does nothing to change either the fact, as determined by two separate juries, that he sexually assaulted and defamed Ms. Carroll, or the applicable legal principles under which he was held liable for that conduct," Carroll's attorney, Roberta Kaplan, said in a statement this month after the election. Trump's trials: Prosecutors wind down federal cases as state cases could be placed on hold originally appeared on abcnews.go.com New York Supreme Court Judge Juan Merchan issued an order Friday that indefinitely postpones President-elect Donald Trump's sentencing in the Stormy Daniels hush money case. The order states that the court will grant a stay of sentencing, agreed to by both Trump and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, but it remains unclear if the case will now be entirely dismissed. Trump was originally found guilty of 34 felonies related to concealing payments to Daniels, an adult film actress with whom he had an alleged sexual encounter. However, due to his status as a presidential candidate and the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling on presidential immunity, his sentencing was delayed until after Election Day. Now that Trump is set to assume the presidency in January, legal rules and norms prevent a sentencing that would inhibit the head of state and government from carrying out the duties of his office. If the case is not dismissed, the earliest Trump could now be sentenced is in January 2029, after he leaves office. But his legal team is attempting to toss the conviction entirely, a move that Bragg has opposed. Merchan ordered Trump to file a formal motion asking for dismissal by Dec. 2 and for Bragg to respond by Dec. 9. The May 2024 convictions in his New York case marked the first time that an former president has been convicted of a felony. In January, he is also set to be the first sitting president to be bear the dubious honor. KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) Over the next 10 years, the Tennessee Valley Authority will be buying electricity produced through four dams that, together, generate three times the power of Norris Dam and are owned by two outside companies. The TVA released that it had entered a 10-year power purchase agreement with Argo Infrastructure Partners and Brookfield Asset Management to purchase power produced by the Cheoah, Calderwood, Chilhowee and Santeetlah dams, which are located in East Tennessee and western North Carolina. The dams are also known as the Smoky Mountain Hydroelectric facilities, which is jointly operated by Argo and Brookfield. Thousands of jobs, billions for the economy: Advanced energy in Tennessee Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Starting in 2025, the hydroelectric facilities will begin supplying the TVA and its customers with 14 gigawatt hours of carbon-free energy. The TVA said the partnership will advance its transition towards its 2050 net-zero carbon emission goal. TVA appreciates this partnership that enables more reliable, clean megawatts to be available when theyre needed, said Chris Hansen, TVA vice president, Origination and Renewables Solutions. We have a long history of effectively using hydroelectric power to provide affordable, reliable energy to our region, and this agreement builds on that success. All together, the four dams generate 377-megawatts of power, totaling 1.4 million megawatt-hours of carbon-free energy. The TVA said thats the equivalent to approximately 1.1 million tons of CO2 emissions avoided each year. In contrast, Norris Dam generates around 126 megawatts of power, according to the TVAs website. Jason Zibarras, the founder of Argo, explained over the 10 years of the partnership, 11 million tons of CO2 emissions will be avoided. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Raw fish found over ready-to-eat food at Sevierville restaurant In the effort to hit net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, the TVA has taken several steps, including announcing plans to retire and replace the Kingston Fossil Plant by 2027. In 2008, the plant was the site of the largest industrial spill in U.S. history when it released 1.1 billion gallons of coal ash. Earlier this year, the TVA announced the Kingston Fossil Plant would be replaced with a state-of-the-art energy complex. This announcement also comes after peak power demand in January, when there was frigid low temperatures and up to 10 inches of snow fell in parts of East Tennessee, broke a TVA record that was set in August 2007. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WATE 6 On Your Side. HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) Officials with the Gibson County Sheriffs Department say two were arrested while deputies were investigating the disappearance of Lora Overton. Gibson County Sheriffs Office searches for Lora Overton David Hughes and Theresa Wilkins were arrested Wednesday after police served a search warrant at a home in Gibson County. Hughes was arrested for possession of a firearm by a felon and Wilkins was arrested for identity theft. David Hughes and Theresa Wilkins (Courtesy of the Gibson County Sheriffs Office) A press release obtained by Eyewitness News says both arrests were unrelated to the search for Lora Overton. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A search warrant obtained by Eyewitness News says deputies with the help of the Indiana State Police were looking for: financial documents Lora Overtons personal belongings Lora Overtons social security benefits including documents, statements, receipts, mail notices and ledgers check books electronics biological evidence such as blood stains, spatter or smears DNA evidence derived from biological samples photographs or video recordings of the scene hairs fibers human tissue human bone. Deputies were investigating a home at 10281 East in Oakland City The disappearance of Lora Overton Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials with the Gibson County Sheriffs Office says Lora Ann Overton also known as Lora Ann Ridgely is a Caucasian Female that is approximately 502 in height and weighs approximately 100 pounds. Overton is known to have blonde hair and brown eyes. Those with information regarding the disappearance of Overton should contact the Gibson County Sheriffs Office For more information about Overton click here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW). COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) Police have arrested two suspects in connection with a fatal shooting that occurred one week ago just east of Downtown, Columbus. Giavon Hayes, 19, was arrested Tuesday by Columbus police and MiShawn Thomas, 18, was placed in custody Thursday by Reynoldsburg police. Both suspects were taken to Franklin County Jail and faces murder charges. Columbus school rewarding excellence with footwear Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The charges stem from a fatal shooting that occurred on Nov. 14 in the 900 block of Eaton Grove. Officers arrived to the Mount Vernon neighborhood and found 18-year-old Darnell Brown-Jones suffering from a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene at 10:29 p.m. On Thursday, Hayes was issued a $1 million bond in Franklin County Municipal Court, while Thomas has yet to appear in court. Police have not said what may have led to the shooting but ask that anyone with information regarding the incident to call the Homicide Unit at 614-645-4730 or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-8477. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. Two men have been convicted on charges relating to human smuggling in a trial over the deaths of an Indian family that froze to death crossing the U.S.-Canada border. Indian national Harshkumar Ramanlal Patel, 29, and Steve Shand, 50, an American from Florida, were part of a sophisticated smuggling operation that brought people from Canada into the U.S. illegally, prosecutors said. Patel coordinated the deadly crossing in January 2022, and Shand was a driver who was supposed to pick up 11 Indian migrants on the Minnesota side of the border. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Only seven made it across. Canadian authorities found Jagdish Patel and his wife, Vaishaliben, their 11-year-old daughter, Vihangi, and three-year-old son, Dharmik, frozen to death. Jagdish, the father, was discovered holding his infant son in a blanket. 39-year-old Jagdish Patel; his wife, Vaishaliben, who was in her mid-30s; their 11-year-old daughter, Vihangi; and 3-year-old son, Dharmik, froze to death while trying to cross from Canada into the US. (RCMP Manitoba) The two men were convicted by a jury in a federal trial in Fergus Falls, Minnesota. The trial has shone a light on a dramatic increase in the number of people crossing illegally into the U.S. from Canada in recent years, most of them Indian nationals. The U.S. Border Patrol arrested more than 14,000 Indians on the Canadian border in the year ending September 30, which accounted for some 60 percent of all arrests. By 2022, the Pew Research Center estimates there were more than 725,000 Indians living illegally in the U.S., behind only Mexicans and El Salvadorans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Indian officials say migrants find their way to the U.S. by taking advantage of student visas to Canada and crossing from there. This trial exposed the unthinkable cruelty of human smuggling and of those criminal organizations that value profit and greed over humanity, Minnesota U.S. Attorney Andy Luger told the Associated Press. To earn a few thousand dollars, these traffickers put men, women and children in extraordinary peril leading to the horrific and tragic deaths of an entire family. Because of this unimaginable greed, a father, a mother and two children froze to death in sub-zero temperatures on the Minnesota-Canadian border, Luger added. The jury in the trial, which began on Monday, heard testimony from an alleged participant in the smuggling ring and a survivor of the deadly journey. Border patrol agents and forensic experts also testified. ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. Authorities have arrested two teenagers in connection with another teenagers death in late October in north St. Louis County. The St. Louis County Police Department says two 16-year-old boys were taken into custody on Thursday in connection with the death of Jacob Bell, 18, on Oct. 26. The two accused teenagers are now being held at the St. Louis County Family Court on a second-degree murder charge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement St. Louis-area accountant busted in $40K shopping spree while on vacation Investigators say, on the night of Bells death, he was found inside of a vehicle that had struck a utility pole in the 7000 block of Dawson Place. He was also found with a gunshot wound. Bell was rushed to the hospital after that, but he was later pronounced deceased. Additional details in the investigation are limited at this time. Anyone with additional relevant information is asked to contact the St. Louis County Police Department at 636-529-8210 or CrimeStoppers at 1-866-371-TIPS (8477). Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. As attacks on LGBTQ+ rights intensify nationwide, the 2024 Municipal Equality Index offers a beacon of hope, showcasing significant advancements in city-level policies even as state legislatures continue to push anti- LGBTQ + agendas. Released by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation in partnership with the Equality Federation, the MEI evaluates 506 cities across the United States, examining their laws , policies, and services to gauge their commitment to LGBTQ+ equality. This years report notes that 130 cities earned perfect scoresa record high. According to HRC, these cities, representing over 25 percent of those surveyed, have demonstrated a steadfast commitment to inclusivity despite challenges posed by discriminatory state laws. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For LGBTQ+ people, building community isnt just a phrase, its a way of life, HRC president Kelley Robinson said in a press release. Local politics shapes our lives just as much as state or national politics does. Mayors and city councilors who take LGBTQ+ inclusion seriously build stronger communities, and in turn, their cities thrive. The 2024 MEI release coincides with a turbulent political landscape for LGBTQ+ rights. The American Civil Liberties Union reports that 558 anti-LGBTQ+ bills were introduced across state legislatures this year alone. These bills include measures restricting gender-affirming care, redefining sex to exclude transgender people, and implementing curriculum censorship. While not all these bills became law, their introduction and debate have tangible effects, creating a hostile environment for LGBTQ+ people. For instance, over 85 cities that provide transgender-inclusive health benefits for municipal employees have been unable to offer these benefits to minors due to restrictive state laws, the report found. Speaking at the MEI launch event in Tempe, Ariz., on Thursday afternoon, Robinson highlighted how local governments are leading the charge for equality even in states lacking non-discrimination protections. She pointed to the 130 cities achieving perfect scores as evidence of progress, emphasizing the importance of creating spaces where everyone can thrivewhether in schools, workplaces, or broader communities. Robinson noted that despite Arizonas lack of statewide protections, cities like Tempe have enacted measures that foster inclusivity, drive economic growth, and create more welcoming environments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is the perfect example of the work we will continue doing, she said. Support The Advocate's journalism. Find out how you can contribute here. Fran Hutchins, executive director of the Equality Federation, emphasized the importance of finding opportunities to protect LGBTQ+ rights. Local advocates are tirelessly working to shield their communities and affirm the power and strength of queer and trans individuals, even in the face of discriminatory state laws, Hutchins said in a press release. Despite these challenges, cities across the nation continue to defy the odds. The MEI recognized 76 All-Star Cities for scoring above 85 points despite being in states without LGBTQ+ non-discrimination protections. The UK is considering a ring vaccination strategy to contain any further cases of a new and more dangerous strain of mpox after four people tested positive in London. The approach, used successfully in past outbreaks of smallpox and Ebola, involves vaccinating contacts of confirmed cases like neighbours, friends, and colleagues - forming a ring around the positive case to stop further spread. At the moment known cases are small enough in number just to be isolated in specialist hospital wards. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If implemented, the strategy would focus on preventing imported cases of the Clade 1b straincurrently spreading rapidly in parts of Africafrom spilling over into the wider UK population. We are looking at a ring vaccination strategy to control the virus if more cases are detected in the UK, a well placed government source told The Telegraph. It could involve vaccinating a dozen to a hundred people around each case, depending on how many people an infected individual has been in contact with, the official explained. The UK already offers mpox jabs to men who have sex with men in certain locations across the country - AFP/PASCAL GUYOT Ring vaccination in certain situations ought to be a really good tool, but its going to take more understanding of what populations the new strain of mpox is affecting, they added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If clade 1b demonstrates the ability to spread more broadly beyond initial cases and their immediate contacts, the UKHSA will consider expanding the vaccination program to target specific groups, The Telegraph understands. For example, in 2022, an outbreak of a milder strain, clade II, began to spread amongst gay and bisexual men. In response, UKHSA launched a targeted vaccination campaign and offered jabs to men at clinics in Manchester, London, and Brighton - where the virus was most prevalent - who had multiple sexual partners, participated in group sex or attended sex-on-premsises venues. The strategy focused on an at-risk group, rather than the contacts of individual cases. Four clade 1b mpox cases have been confirmed in the UK since late October. The first involved a patient who had recently returned from Africa, followed by three household contacts who were also infected. All are currently being treated in isolation units in London hospitals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The mutant strain was first detected in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in late 2023. It is thought to be more transmissible and causes more severe illness than previous variants. Over 25,000 cases of clade 1b and 1,000 deathsprimarily among children under 15have been reported in the DRC, prompting the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare a global health emergency earlier this year. The virus has spread to several African nations, including Uganda, Burundi, and Rwanda, as well as in Sweden, Germany, India, Thailand and the US in travellers who have returned from the affected region. While the risk of catching mpox in the UK remains low, if required the NHS has plans in place to expand the roll out of vaccines quickly in line with supply, Steve Russell, NHS national director for vaccination and screening, said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Protect yourself and your family by learning more about Global Health Security Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. UK Defence Intelligence has identified the widespread use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) as a pivotal event that has altered the nature of Russia's war against Ukraine. Source: UK Ministry of Defence review dated 22 November on X (Twitter), reported by European Pravda Details: UK analysts highlight that numerous UAV attacks have likely given Russia the time and space to rebuild its long-range aviation fleet and associated stocks of cruise and ballistic missiles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The overall effect has intensified and complicated Ukraines air defence landscape, making it increasingly challenging. Using this combination of systems, Russian forces have been persistently targeting critical national infrastructure and Ukrainian airbases. These strikes are expected to continue this winter as Russia aims to break the resolve of the Ukrainian people, the review notes. In mid-to-late September, Ukraine successfully deployed UAVs against military targets in Russia, striking four Russian strategic ammunition depots hundreds of kilometres away from Ukraine. The total tonnage of destroyed munitions at these sites represents the largest loss of ammunition supplied by Russia and North Korea since the start of the war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Quote: "These attacks again highlight Russias inability to protect strategic military sites from Ukrainian UAV attack." Separately, UK intelligence points out that despite its technological and numerical advantages, Russia has been unable to secure air superiority over Ukraine after 1,000 days of the full-scale war. Additionally, Russia has resorted to using its tactical aviation, such as Su-34 aircraft, as airborne artillery. Background: Recently, UK intelligence assessed the changing quality of Russias armed forces since the onset of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The agency also noted that Ukraines successful actions against Russias Black Sea Fleet resulted in the destruction of about a quarter of its large vessels, including its flagship, forcing the fleet to retreat to the eastern part of the Black Sea. Support UP or become our patron! UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Friday 22 November about the situation in Ukraine in anticipation of winter. Source: UK Prime Ministers Office, as reported by European Pravda Details: Rutte and Starmer discussed the situation in Ukraine and "reiterated the importance of putting the country in the strongest possible position going into the winter." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They also discussed the recent deployment of North Korean forces to Russia. The officials agreed that it only underlined the "indivisibility of Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific security". Starmer emphasised the necessity for all NATO members to increase support for collective defence and provided an update on the government's efforts in implementing a strategic defence review. Background: According to media sources, Rutte will meet with US President-elect Donald Trump soon to propose a negotiation plan to end Russia's war against Ukraine. Recently, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy stated that Trump would not agree to end the war in Ukraine on unfavourable terms for the latter. Support UP or become our patron! UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said that the UK is not at war with Russia, but will support Ukraine to prevent Moscow from winning the war it has unleashed. Source: Starmer said this in an interview with the BBC, as reported by European Pravda Details: When asked whether the UK was "at war" with Russia in view of its recent steps to support Ukraine, the UK prime minister said no. "No, were not at war, but Ukraine certainly is, because Ukraine has been invaded by Russia, and that war has now been going on for just over 1,000 days," Starmer reiterated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Thats 1,000 days of aggression from Russia and 1,000 days of sacrifice for Ukraine, and that is why weve said consistently that we stand by Ukraine. We cannot allow Putin to win this war," he added. Background: On 21 November, Andrei Kelin, Russia's Ambassador to the United Kingdom, accused London of supposedly "directly participating" in the war in Ukraine unleashed by the Kremlin, although he did not provide any evidence to support his claim. Kelin's claims come amid reports that Ukraine has used UK-supplied Storm Shadow cruise missiles to strike Russian territory for the first time. Support UP or become our patron! President Volodymyr Zelensky has directed Defense Minister Rustem Umerov to engage with partners on acquiring advanced air defense systems, according to Zelenskys statement on Nov. 22. This initiative is in response to Russia launching a new type of intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) called "Oreshnik" against Dnipro, east Ukraine, on the morning of Nov. 21. The attack came in the wake of what appeared to be Ukraine's first successful strike of a military target inside Russia using the U.S.-supplied ATACMS missiles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The IRBM missiles are only guided during the initial stages of launch, so they can be less accurate than cruise missiles, but have the advantage of reaching incredibly high speeds sometimes more than 3,200 kilometers per hour as they approach their targets. "The Minister of Defense of Ukraine is already holding meetings with our partners regarding new air defense systemsprecisely such systems that are capable of protecting lives from new risks," Zelensky said on Telegram. He emphasized that Russia's testing of experimental missiles constitutes an international crime and criticized Moscow for escalating aggression despite global calls for peace. Zelensky promised to share details about the missile attack on Dnipro with international media, so that the full extent is known to global audiences. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read also: Russia plans to launch mass production of Oreshnik missile, Putin says Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. (Bloomberg) -- Ukraines parliament canceled Fridays plenary session due to the threat of a possible air attack on Kyivs government district, according to lawmakers. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The country is on high alert after Russia launched a new kind of ballistic missile at the city of Dnipro on Thursday, the latest escalation of hostilities in the long-running war. In the run-up to that attack, several embassies in the Ukrainian capital issued alerts and temporarily closed due to extraordinary risks. While the Ukrainian capital comes under near-daily attack by Russian forces, this is the first such move by the legislature in recent months. Lawmaker Yaroslav Zheleznyak told Bloomberg News that the session was postponed to next week. The government is working as usual and employees will head to a shelter in the event of an air alert, Serhiy Nykyforov, a spokesman for President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said, despite an earlier report from Ukraines public broadcaster Suspilne that some official institutions had reduced the number of staff on premise. The move was not without criticism. In a video posted to social media, opposition lawmaker Oleksiy Honcharenko said that lawmakers still gathered in 2022 even as Russian troops stood 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) outside Kyiv. Canceling the current session plays in favor of Vladimir Putins psychological attack, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ukraine faced another drone attack Friday morning on multiple cities. Strikes on the north-eastern town of Sumy killed two and injured 12 civilians, according to local authorities. --With assistance from Daryna Krasnolutska and Greg Sullivan. (Updates with comment from presidents spokesman on other institutions in the fourth paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. The NASAMS air defence system, which Canada ordered from the United States over two years ago, has arrived in Ukraine. Source: Canadian Defence Minister Bill Blair during a speech in the Canadian Parliament, writes CBC, as reported by European Pravda Details: Blair informed legislators that the NASAMS system, for which Ottawa spent over US$300 million, is now in the hands of Ukrainians. Quote: "I can't give you more information on that because of operational security, but we have been able to deliver at long last and I think it's going to make a difference because it will enable them to protect communities," the Canadian defence minister said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ottawa revealed intentions to deploy the NASAMS air defence system to Ukraine in January 2023. The idea was for Canada to pay the US government the whole cost of the system, while the US would enter into an arrangement to sell equipment directly to Ukraine. It was in early November, however, that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau informed President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that the NASAMS system was on its way to Ukraine. Earlier, it was revealed that the Canadian government had allocated CAD 763 million (over US$545 million) in its draft budget for 2025 for military assistance to Ukraine. Support UP or become our patron! KYIV (Reuters) -The Russian missile that struck the Ukrainian city of Dnipro on Thursday reached a top speed of more than 13,000 kph (8,000 mph) and took about 15 minutes to reach its target from its launch, Ukraine said on Friday in its first public assessment of the new weapon. Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow struck a Ukrainian military facility with a new intermediate-range, hypersonic ballistic missile known as "Oreshnik" as a warning to the West against supporting Ukraine's war effort. The attack took place with fighting in the war nearing the three-year mark and Ukraine firing longer-range missiles supplied by its Western allies at targets inside Russia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The flight time of this Russian missile from the moment of its launch in the Astrakhan region to its impact in the city of Dnipro was 15 minutes," the military's Main Directorate of Intelligence (HUR) said in a statement. "The missile was equipped with six warheads: each equipped with six submunitions. The speed at the final part of the trajectory was over Mach 11." Mach is a measurement of supersonic speed. Mach 11 equals about 13,600 kph. HUR added that the weapon was likely to be from the Kedr missile complex, which deputy head Vadym Skibitsky told Ukrainian media is related to the Oreshnik system and was first tested in June 2021. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Skibitsky said Russia could have at least 10 more such missiles to test before they enter mass production, news agency Ukrinform reported. Kyiv initially suggested Russia had fired an intercontinental ballistic missile, but U.S. officials and NATO echoed Putin's description of the weapon as an intermediate-range ballistic missile. Ukraine's foreign ministry on Thursday urged the international community to react swiftly to the strike. NATO will hold an emergency meeting with Ukraine at the alliance's headquarters in Brussels on Tuesday to discuss Moscow's strike, a NATO source said on Friday. (Reporting by Dan Peleschuk; Editing by Toby Chopra, Jon Boyle and Angus MacSwan) Key developments on Nov. 22: Russia likely used ballistic missile from 'Kedr' complex to strike Dnipro, intelligence says Russia plans to launch mass production of Oreshnik missile, Putin says North Korea received anti-aircraft missiles, oil from Russia in exchange for troops, reports say Russia has deployed nearly 60,000 troops to Kursk Oblast, media reports War in Ukraine at 'decisive stage,' risk of 'global conflict,' Poland's Tusk says The ballistic missile launched by Russia on Nov. 21 against the city of Dnipro was likely part of the "Kedr" missile complex tested in recent years, Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several companies part of the Russian military-industrial complex were involved in developing "Kedr," which was tested at the Kapustin Yar test site in 2023 and 2024, HUR said on Nov. 22. HUR's statement comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin said in his televised address to the nation on Nov. 21 that the attack was a test of Russia's "newest missile," an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) called "Oreshnik." The missile was launched at Dnipro from Russia's Astrakhan Oblast and covered nearly 1,200 kilometers (745 miles) in 15 minutes, according to HUR. The missile was equipped with six warheads, each carrying six submunitions. The speed on the final section of the missile's trajectory was over Mach () 11. At a temperature of 15C (59F), the speed of 1 M in the atmosphere is 1,225 kilometers per hour (716 miles per hour). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It is an experimental system. Let's just say it's a medium-range ballistic missile. It is a carrier of nuclear weapons. The fact that they used it in a non-nuclear version is, as they (Russians) say, a warning from them that they have not gone completely crazy," military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov said at an event on Nov. 22. Budanov called Russia's latest development "a prototype," adding that it is not currently in mass production. Russian media circulated information about the development of a missile system called "Kedr" in 2021, labeling it "a new-generation strategic complex." Initial reports by Ukrainian authorities suggested that Russia had test-fired an intercontinental ballistic missile to target Dnipro. Later that evening, Putin said the new "Oreshnik" IRBM had allegedly been used. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Little is known about the "Oreshnik" missile referred to by Putin, but military expert Yan Matveev told Russian independent media outlet IStories that it could be a modified version of the "Rubezh" IRBM. The RS-26 "Rubezh" is reported to have a range of up to 6,000 kilometers and can carry four warheads, each with an estimated payload of 0.3 megatons. Read also: Russia reportedly uses new Oreshnik ballistic missile against Ukraine what we know so far Russia plans to launch mass production of Oreshnik missile, Putin says Russia aims to launch the "Oreshnik" intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) into mass production, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Nov. 22 during a meeting with the representatives of the Russian Defense Ministry and the national military-industrial complex. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Putin denied that the Oreshnik is a modernization of old Soviet systems, as the missile is allegedly based on "the latest Russian developments." The Russian president added that there are no analogs of such weapons in the world, nor are there any means to intercept them. "Given its striking power, especially in mass use, and combined with other high-precision long-range systems Russia also has, its use against enemy targets will be comparable to strategic weapons. Although the system is not a strategic weapon," Putin claimed. Russian forces still have a stockpile of these missile systems ready for use, according to Putin. The Russian president also said that Russia will continue to test the Oreshnik missile, including in combat conditions. Putin added that Russia is working on a series of medium- and short-range missiles. Several Russian systems are allegedly being tested and planned for mass production. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read also: Investigation: Who helped Russians increase production of domestic attack drones despite sanctions North Korea received anti-aircraft missiles, oil from Russia in exchange for troops, reports say Russia gave North Korea oil and anti-aircraft missiles in return for military support in Ukraine, according to a South Korean official, and satellite imagery analysis. North Korea has dispatched 10,000 troops to Russia, with most of them deployed in Kursk Oblast and taking part in combat, a Pentagon spokesperson said during a press briefing on Nov. 12. South Korea's national security advisor Shin Won-sik on Nov. 22 said Moscow had provided Pyongyang with economic and military technology in exchange for the troops. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It is understood that North Korea has been provided with related equipment and anti-aircraft missiles to strengthen Pyongyang's weak air defense system," Shin said in an interview with South Korea's SBS News. Elsewhere, the BBC on Nov. 22 reported that Russia is estimated to have supplied North Korea with more than a million barrels of oil since March this year, a breach of international sanctions. Pyongyang is subject to a strict cap on oil transfers, imposed by the U.N. Security Council in 2017 after a series of nuclear weapons tests. The claim was based on an analysis of satellite imagery by the Open Source Center, a non-profit research group based in the U.K. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.K. Foreign Secretary David Lammy told the BBC that the oil is payment for weapons and troops sent to Moscow to fuel the war in Ukraine. North Korean leader Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a strategic partnership agreement in June. Under the treaty, the two countries pledge to help each other if either is attacked. North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui visited Moscow and met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Nov. 4. "Our country will stand firmly by our Russian comrades until the day of victory," Choe said, calling Moscow's offensive against Ukraine a "sacred struggle." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Ukraine's former commander-in-chief and current ambassador to the U.K., claimed that the direct involvement of Russia's allies, such as North Korea, in the war against Ukraine was evidence of a global conflict. Russia has deployed nearly 60,000 troops to Kursk Oblast, media reports Nearly 60,000 Russian army personnel are currently stationed in Russia's Kursk Oblast, Suspilne reported on Nov. 22, citing its undisclosed source in the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces. Earlier reports from Ukrainian authorities said Russia had amassed 50,000 troops in Kursk Oblast, including North Korean soldiers, to attempt to push the Ukrainian military out of its territory. Ukrainian forces will remain in Kursk Oblast as long as "militarily possible," the source said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the source, the General Staff believes that the Russian troops are planning to reach the border with Sumy Oblast to create a "buffer zone" there, as Ukraine looked to do with its incursion into Kursk Oblast. Kyiv launched the surprise offensive into Kursk Oblast on Aug. 6. Russian forces have managed to reclaim around half of the territory initially captured by Ukrainian troops. Russia has also deployed thousands of North Korean troops in the embattled region, with some reportedly already clashing with Ukraine in small-scale battles. Around 11,000 North Korean soldiers were stationed in Kursk Oblast as of Nov. 4. According to Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, Russian forces have suffered 7,905 soldiers killed, 12,220 injured, and 717 captured during the three months of the Kursk offensive. Read also: Russia preparing a 50,000-people-strong offensive in latest attempt to push Ukrainian army out of Kursk Oblast War in Ukraine at 'decisive stage,' risk of 'global conflict,' Poland's Tusk says The war in Ukraine has reached a "decisive phase," and the latest events demonstrate the real threat of a "global conflict," Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Nov. 22. Tusk's comments came in the wake of Russia's attack on Dnipro a day earlier, in which Moscow claims a new missile, an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) called "Oreshnik," was tested. Speaking at the Congress of the Polish Teachers' Union, Tusk referred to what he called "the events of the last dozen hours" as demonstrating there is a "serious and real threat of global conflict." "It would be hard for me not to say a few fundamental words today about the situation, because it is historic," he said in comments reported by Polish outlet Radio Zet. "The war in the east is entering its decisive phase. We all know it. We feel that the unknown is approaching. None of us knows the end of this conflict, but we know that it is currently taking on very dramatic dimensions." Russian President Vladimir Putin on Nov. 21 said his country had launched its "newest missile" in the attack on Dnipro, eastern Ukraine that morning. He said the test was in response to Ukraine targeting facilities in Russia's Kursk and Bryansk oblasts with long-range, Western-supplied ATACMS and Storm Shadow missiles on Nov. 19 and 20. The Oreshnik missile is designed to carry nuclear weapons. However, Putin said it was not armed with a nuclear warhead in this instance. Poland, one of Ukraine's staunchest supporters, is being pressured by Russia over the new U.S. missile defense base that opened in northern Poland on Nov. 13, as reported by Reuters. Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski also announced on Nov. 19 that key EU countries are ready to increase military and financial aid to Ukraine if the U.S. reduces its support. Read also: ATACMS, Trump, and the increasing importance of Kursk Oblast for Ukraine Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Kyrylo Budanov, Head of Ukraine's Defence Intelligence, states that as of October 2024, Russia was supposed to have manufactured two experimental missile samples from the Kedr missile system, one of which targeted Dnipro on 21 November. Source: Budanov during the Genocidal practices of the Russian Federation in Ukraine discussion, writes Interfax-Ukraine Quote: "I say it again. The missile is experimental. We know for certain that as of October, they should have manufactured two prototypes, possibly a few more, but believe me, this is a prototype, but not yet a mass production, thank God." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: Budanov stated that Oreshnik (as Putin termed the missile that targeted Dnipro) is the name of the research project, "it's just a cypher." "The system itself is known as Kedr. This is an experimental system. Let's just call it a medium-range ballistic missile. A nuclear weapons carrier. The fact that they deployed a non-nuclear version is, as they say, a warning from them that they have not gone completely insane," Budanov stated. Support UP or become our patron! The Russian troops attacked the territory of Ukraine using a ballistic missile on 21 November, probably from the Kedr missile system, as reported by Defence Intelligence of Ukraine. Source: Defence Intelligence of Ukraine Details: The flight time of this Russian missile from the moment of launch in Russias Astrakhan Oblast to strike the city of Dnipro was 15 minutes. The missile was equipped with six warheads, each equipped with six munitions. The speed on the final section of the trajectory is over Mach 11, which is 3.7 km per second. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several companies in the military-industrial complex of Russia are involved in the development of the Kedr mobile missile system: JSC Corporation Moscow Institute of Thermal Technology (Moscow); JSC Federal Research and Production Centre Titan-Barrikady (Volgograd); JSC Head Special Construction Bureau Prozhektor (Moscow); JSC Concern Sozvezdie (Voronezh); JSC Scientific-Production ompany Spetsenergomechanika (Moscow); LLC Research and Development Centre for Special Equipment and Conversion Continent (Moscow). The Kedr missile system was tested at the 4th Missile Test Range Kapustin Yar of the Russian Federation (Kapustin Yar, Astrakhan Oblast) in October 2023 and June 2024. Background: Ukraines Air Force noted that during the latest missile attack on the city of Dnipro, Russia used an intercontinental ballistic missile. Ukrainska Pravda sources reported that it could have been a Rubezh missile, a potential carrier of nuclear warheads. However, two Western officials told Reuters that preliminary data did not confirm the use of an intercontinental ballistic missile by Russia. In his Thursday address, Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin indirectly confirmed US reports, stating that during the morning attack on Dnipro on 21 November, Russia used the Oreshnik medium-range missile. The United States officially confirmed that on the morning of 21 November, Russia struck Dnipro with a ballistic missile based on the RS-26 Rubezh intercontinental ballistic missile. Support UP or become our patron! Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Ukraine's former commander-in-chief and current ambassador to the U.K., claimed that World War III is underway. Speaking at the Ukrainska Pravda-100 award ceremony on Nov. 20, Zaluzhnyi pointed to the direct involvement of Russia's allies in the war against Ukraine as evidence of a global conflict. "I believe that in 2024, we can absolutely assume that World War III has begun," Zaluzhnyi said. He emphasized that Ukraine is no longer fighting Russia alone. "Ukraine is facing soldiers from North Korea. Let's be honest. Iranian-made Shaheds [loitering munitions] are killing civilians in Ukraine quite openly. It's missiles made in North Korea that are being launched onto Ukraine, and they are openly declaring this. Chinese-made shells are exploding in Ukraine, and Chinese parts are used in Russian missiles." Zaluzhnyi argued that military experts widely agree these developments signify a world war. He urged global leaders to recognize the situation and take decisive action. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "What we've expected for so long has started. But I want to say that God Himself is giving a chance, not only to Ukraine but to the whole world, to have time to draw the correct conclusions now," Zaluzhnyi said. "It's still possible to stop it here, on the territory of Ukraine. But for some reason, our partners do not want to understand this. It's obvious that Ukraine already has too many enemies. Ukraine will survive through technology, but it is unclear whether it can win this battle alone. So I believe that the world war has already begun." Read also: Russia reportedly uses new Oreshnik ballistic missile against Ukraine what we know so far Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. The Cabinet of Ministers (Ukrainian government) has approved a draft law to increase the one-time monetary compensation for families of deceased non-regular fighters [the civilians who were not part of the regular armed forces or any other military unit but voluntarily defended Ukraine at the start of Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine ed.]. Source: Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal Details: Initially, at the start of the full-scale invasion, families of civilians who were killed in action defending Ukraine were entitled to compensation of 1.9 million UAH (about US$46,000). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We propose increasing this to 15 million UAH (US$361,000), which we believe is both right and fair. This will help support the families of those who were killed defending our state and its future," he stated. The draft law provides for compensation to the families of civilians who were killed between 24 February and 25 March 2022 while defending Ukraine alongside regular military units. Additionally, the legislation clarifies the criteria for granting the status of a family member of a deceased defender of Ukraine. Families who have already received partial compensation will be paid the difference to reach the new total of 15 million UAH. The draft law has been submitted to the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian parliament) for consideration. Support UP or become our patron! A Ukrainian parliament meeting scheduled for Nov. 22 has been canceled due to the credible threat of a targeted Russian strike on government buildings in Kyiv, a Ukrainian lawmaker speaking on condition of anonymity told the Kyiv Independent. Lawmakers were planning to hold an hour-long Q&A session at the Verkhovna Rada, the source added. An air raid alert was on in Kyiv and several central and eastern oblasts in the late morning of Nov. 22 due to a reported drone threat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The development comes amid escalating tensions in Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Nov. 21 said his country had launched its "newest missile," an IRBM called "Oreshnik," in an attack on Dnipro, eastern Ukraine that morning. He said the test was in response to Ukraine targeting facilities in Russia's Kursk and Bryansk oblasts with long-range, Western-supplied ATACMS and Storm Shadow missiles on Nov. 19 and 20. The Oreshnik missile is designed to carry nuclear weapons. However, Putin said it was not armed with a nuclear warhead in this instance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Putin warned that Russia would use weapons against any country whose arms are used to strike Russian targets. Read also: Investigation: Who helped Russians increase production of domestic attack drones despite sanctions Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. (Reuters) - Ukraine's parliament has postponed a sitting due to have taken place on Friday out of security concerns, public broadcaster Suspilne reported on Thursday, quoting sources. "On 22nd November, plans called for a session of the Verkhovna Rada (parliament), which included questions to the government, but this was cancelled for reasons of potential security issues," Suspilne said. It said the order told members to keep their families out of Kyiv's government district and quoted parliamentarians as saying that, for the moment, the next sitting was not scheduled until December. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The postponement occurred after Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin said Russia had struck the central city of Dnipro with a new medium-range hypersonic missile in response to Ukrainian use of Western missiles on targets in Russia. Putin suggested more could follow "in case of escalation of aggressive actions". Warnings of large-scale missile attacks prompted the U.S. and other embassies to close for the day on Wednesday. One opposition member of parliament, Oleksiy Honcharenko, expressed frustration at the cancellation in a post on the Telegram messaging app, saying an opportunity to put questions to the government had been lost. (Reporting by Ron Popeski and Bogdan Kochubey; Editing by Lincoln Feast.) Members of the Atesh movement have assisted Ukrainian forces in striking a Russian unit of attack drone operators on the Toretsk front in Donetsk Oblast. Source: Atesh partisan movement on Telegram Details: According to the report, an agent of the movement signed a contract with the Russian Armed Forces six months ago and was subsequently sent to a training centre for drone operators. After completing the training, he was assigned to a brigade in an appropriate position and deployed in the combat zone in the temporarily occupied territory of Donetsk Oblast. : Russian training centre. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Photo: Atesh movement Quote: "He provided Ukraine's defence forces with operational information all this time, including the locations of headquarters and ammunition storage points. Among the transmitted data was information about an enemy unit's offensive plans on the Toretsk front. The location of attack drone operators was revealed and a strike was conducted, resulting in the death of two occupiers and injuries to three others." Support UP or become our patron! Serhii Nykyforov, spokesperson for President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has stated that the Ukrainian President's Office is operating as usual on 22 November, adhering to standard security procedures. Source: Interfax-Ukraine news agency Quote from Nykyforov: "The President's Office is working as usual in compliance with standard security measures: if an air-raid warning is issued, we will proceed to shelters." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Background: The Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian parliament) cancelled a session scheduled for 22 November as MPs were warned of a possible Russian attack on the government quarter. At the same time, Interfax-Ukraine reported that employees of several government agencies located in the government quarter said they had not received any recommendations or warnings about their work on 22 November. Support UP or become our patron! The UN Climate Change Conference went into overtime on Friday evening as summit's presidency put forward a new draft text calling on industrialized countries to increase the amount of aid to poorer countries to $250 billion annually by 2035. The new sum would be about 2.5 times more than the amount of support currently provided and comes at the end of the COP29 conference that is focused on climate financing. The overall target is a sum of $1.3 trillion annually by 2035, with development banks and private sources of finance also playing a key role, along with other donor countries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Financial pledges to poorer countries to help them cut emissions have been at the centre of intense discussions in Baku, with conflict over which countries should pay and from what sources the money should be drawn. The conference, which has brought together tens of thousands of participants from nearly 200 countries since November 11, was scheduled to end to end at 6 pm (1400 GMT) on Friday. It could stretch into the weekend. The talks have grown increasingly heated as the summit draws to a close, as developing countries demand industrialized nations drastically increase aid. The latest proposal by the COP29 presidency came a day after the hosts unveiled a 10-page draft deal that left unresolved many issues. It did not stipulate whether only traditional industrialized nations would be expected to contribute financially or if wealthier emerging economies such as China and the Gulf states would also be encouraged to contribute. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The European Union and other powers have so far not publicly named any specific sums they would be willing to contribute. The demand from developing countries that most loans given to them be interest-free was also not taken up at the summit. To date, the major industrialized economies have mobilized about $100 billion annually so that poor countries can protect the climate and adapt to warming. "A punch in the face" The head of Greenpeace in Germany, Martin Kaiser, expressed his disappointment with the latest draft: "If the major economic nations really only want to provide $250 billion in just 10 years, they are punching the faces of people who have already lost their livelihoods or family members due to droughts and floods," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Climate expert Viviane Raddatz from environmental group WWF described the financing target as poorly defined, saying it was "not clear how much grants and public funds should flow in to this, and how much will come from private sources." Germany criticizes oil-producing countries As the clock ticked down on COP29, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock accused oil-producing countries such as Saudi Arabia of impeding progress. She said in Baku that some of these countries aimed to reverse the agreement made at the previous summit about reducing greenhouse gases and phasing out oil and gas use. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Baerbock said that Germany and the EU were insisting that everything that had been decided "so strongly and forcefully" at the climate conference in Dubai last year be included in this year's agreement, too. Specifically, this is: tripling the expansion of renewable energies and doubling energy efficiency by 2030 - and "transitioning away from fossil fuels." A record 281 humanitarian aid workers have been killed since January this year, according to the UN's emergency aid office OCHA, attributing the high figure to the war in Gaza. Most of the victims were local employees of non-governmental organizations, UN institutions and the Red Cross. Throughout the whole of 2023, 280 aid workers were killed. The UN's database showed 178 aid workers were killed in Palestinian territories so far this year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement OCHA said aid operations were also particularly dangerous in Afghanistan, Yemen, Ukraine, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan and South Sudan. Humanitarian workers are being killed at an unprecedented rate, their courage and humanity being met with bullets and bombs, said Tom Fletcher, under-secretary-general for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator. This violence is unconscionable and devastating to aid operations. States and parties to conflict must protect humanitarians, uphold international law, prosecute those responsible, and call time on this era of impunity, he said. A view of a destroyed building after Israeli attacks on Khaled ben El-Walid School of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) at Nuseirat refugee camp. Omar Ashtawy Apaimages/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa Workers sort peaches at a packing house after they were harvested from the trees of a Georgia farm in July 2023. Georgia has work requirements under its partial expansion of Medicaid, but its program has fallen far short of enrollment projections and has cost more than $26 million. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Trevor Hawkins, an attorney at Legal Aid of Arkansas, remembers how busy his job got when the state for a time imposed work requirements on Medicaid recipients: His office was swamped with frantic phone calls from people who said they couldnt comply with the new rule because they werent healthy enough to work or had to care for sick relatives. A whole heap of folks, after a month or two, started getting notices saying, Hey, youre out of compliance, and youre going to lose your coverage, Hawkins told Stateline. For many people, he said, keeping their coverage was absolutely vital to maintaining their health or getting better so they might work again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In June 2018, Arkansas became the first state to require some Medicaid recipients to work, volunteer, go to school or participate in job training to receive benefits. By the time a federal judge halted the policy in April 2019, 18,000 adults had lost coverage. Arkansas was one of 13 states that received permission to impose work rules on at least some Medicaid recipients during the last Trump administration. Nine additional states requested permission to enact Medicaid work requirements during Trumps term but had not won approval by the time it ended. When the Biden administration came into office, it rescinded all the approvals. But now that Trump is coming back, many of those states will try again and theyll have a supportive U.S. Congress in their corner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republicans on Capitol Hill are eager to find ways to pay for extending tax cuts enacted during Trumps first term in office, and Medicaid funded jointly by the federal government and the states is in their sights. Requiring states to establish Medicaid work rules, as many Republicans would like to do, would cut federal spending by an estimated $109 billion over a decade, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Thats because the cost for about 900,000 people would shift entirely to states, while another 600,000 people would become uninsured, CBO estimated. About 72.4 million people are enrolled in Medicaid. Arkansas renewed its efforts even before Trumps victory. Last year, Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders requested federal approval from the Biden administration to apply work rules to able-bodied adults who are covered through the states expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, and who are enrolled in health plans that Arkansas Medicaid purchases for them on the states health insurance exchange. That application is pending. Georgia, after prevailing in a legal fight with the Biden administration, already has work requirements in place for people covered by its partial expansion of Medicaid. And Idaho, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Tennessee have pending requests to require at least some of their Medicaid recipients to work. Meeting requirements Supporters say requiring Medicaid recipients to work, study or train for a career gives them a boost toward self-sufficiency and financial stability. Kristi Putnam, the secretary of the Arkansas Department of Human Services, said in a statement announcing her states latest request that it would challenge people to embrace economic opportunities that can lead to true job advancement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meaningful work connects people to purpose and through the pandemic we have seen negative mental health impacts from people feeling disconnected, Putnam said. Critics, however, say such rules end up hurting far more people than they help. In a 2020 study examining how the Arkansas work requirements played out, researchers from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found no evidence that the policy succeeded in its stated goal of promoting work and instead found substantial evidence of harm to health care coverage and access. More than 95% of the Arkansas beneficiaries the researchers surveyed already met the work requirement or should have qualified for an exemption. The main reason people lost coverage, the researchers found, was because they had trouble verifying that they were complying with the rules. Many of those who lost their coverage stopped taking their medications, delayed care and fell into medical debt. Our results should provide a strong note of caution for federal and state policy makers considering work requirement policies in the future, the researchers concluded. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under the rules Arkansas put in place during the first Trump administration, Medicaid participants under age 50 had to report that they spent at least 80 hours each month working, attending school, in job training or volunteering. The rule only applied to people who became eligible after Arkansas expanded Medicaid under the ACA to cover adults making up to 138% of the federal poverty level. And people were exempt if they were pregnant, had a child under 18 at home, were disabled, had to care for a person unable to care for him or herself, were in alcohol or drug treatment, or were in school or job training full time. About 70,000 of the roughly 270,000 Arkansans on Medicaid were subject to the new rules, and about 1 in 4 of those lost coverage. Unlike Arkansas, Georgia has not expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. But its Pathways to Coverage program, launched in July 2023, allows people with household incomes up to 100% of the federal poverty level who arent already eligible for Medicaid to enroll in the program if they fulfill work requirements. Georgias qualifying activities and exemptions are similar to the ones Arkansas had. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fiona Roberts, a spokesperson for the Georgia Department of Community Health, told Stateline that as of Nov. 15, there were 5,548 people enrolled in the program and that a total of 7,518 people had been enrolled at some point evidence, she said, that the program is helping people move from Medicaid to private insurance. Even eligible people can't keep up with it. Leah Chan, director of health justice at the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute But in its first year, Pathways to Coverage only enrolled about 4,200 people many fewer than the 25,000 the state had predicted. The cost of the program as of the end of 2023 was $26.6 million, and more than 90% of that went toward administrative and consulting costs, according to KFF, a nonprofit health research group. If Georgia had opted for a full expansion under the ACA, the federal government would have picked up 90% of the tab and the state would have covered about 359,000 people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Leah Chan, director of health justice at the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute, said work requirements are particularly challenging for people living in rural areas. If you dont have broadband internet at your house, youre not going to be able to upload the documentation and your pay stubs, Chan told Stateline. Even eligible people cant keep up with it, particularly in rural areas where there are additional barriers to participation. Learning from mistakes Benjamin Sommers, a professor of health care economics at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and one of the authors of the Arkansas study, said the experience with work requirements there and in Georgia should give other states pause. All that ended up happening was people lost coverage due to red tape, became uninsured, and in some cases, we saw that they had worse access to health care, Sommers said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Arkansas Republican state Rep. Aaron Pilkington, who serves on the health committee in his chamber, said Medicaid work rules are 100% on the table and something well look to ask for from the Trump administration. They can find work and get better health insurance through their employer, said Pilkington. He said the volunteering and education options make the rules even more attractive. Meanwhile, in some of the 10 states that have not expanded Medicaid under the ACA, the inclusion of work requirements might be the only way politically to get expansion over the finish line. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most of the Democrats Ive spoken to did not want the work requirements, but to get it passed through the Mississippi legislature its most likely going to have one, Mississippi Republican state Rep. Sam Creekmore told Stateline. Weve looked at Georgias plan. We recognize the pitfalls and are hopefully learning from mistakes. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Workers sort peaches at a packing house after they were harvested from the trees of a Georgia farm in July 2023. Georgia has work requirements under its partial expansion of Medicaid, but its program has fallen far short of enrollment projections and has cost more than $26 million. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Trevor Hawkins, an attorney at Legal Aid of Arkansas, remembers how busy his job got when the state for a time imposed work requirements on Medicaid recipients: His office was swamped with frantic phone calls from people who said they couldnt comply with the new rule because they werent healthy enough to work or had to care for sick relatives. A whole heap of folks, after a month or two, started getting notices saying, Hey, youre out of compliance, and youre going to lose your coverage, Hawkins told Stateline. For many people, he said, keeping their coverage was absolutely vital to maintaining their health or getting better so they might work again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In June 2018, Arkansas became the first state to require some Medicaid recipients to work, volunteer, go to school or participate in job training to receive benefits. By the time a federal judge halted the policy in April 2019, 18,000 adults had lost coverage. Arkansas was one of 13 states that received permission to impose work rules on at least some Medicaid recipients during the last Trump administration. Nine additional states requested permission to enact Medicaid work requirements during Trumps term but had not won approval by the time it ended. When the Biden administration came into office, it rescinded all the approvals. But now that Trump is coming back, many of those states will try again and theyll have a supportive U.S. Congress in their corner. Republicans on Capitol Hill are eager to find ways to pay for extending tax cuts enacted during Trumps first term in office, and Medicaid funded jointly by the federal government and the states is in their sights. Requiring states to establish Medicaid work rules, as many Republicans would like to do, would cut federal spending by an estimated $109 billion over a decade, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Thats because the cost for about 900,000 people would shift entirely to states, while another 600,000 people would become uninsured, CBO estimated. About 72.4 million people are enrolled in Medicaid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Arkansas renewed its efforts even before Trumps victory. Last year, Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders requested federal approval from the Biden administration to apply work rules to able-bodied adults who are covered through the states expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, and who are enrolled in health plans that Arkansas Medicaid purchases for them on the states health insurance exchange. That application is pending. Georgia, after prevailing in a legal fight with the Biden administration, already has work requirements in place for people covered by its partial expansion of Medicaid. And Idaho, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Tennessee have pending requests to require at least some of their Medicaid recipients to work. Meeting requirements Supporters say requiring Medicaid recipients to work, study or train for a career gives them a boost toward self-sufficiency and financial stability. Kristi Putnam, the secretary of the Arkansas Department of Human Services, said in a statement announcing her states latest request that it would challenge people to embrace economic opportunities that can lead to true job advancement. Meaningful work connects people to purpose and through the pandemic we have seen negative mental health impacts from people feeling disconnected, Putnam said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Critics, however, say such rules end up hurting far more people than they help. In a 2020 study examining how the Arkansas work requirements played out, researchers from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found no evidence that the policy succeeded in its stated goal of promoting work and instead found substantial evidence of harm to health care coverage and access. More than 95% of the Arkansas beneficiaries the researchers surveyed already met the work requirement or should have qualified for an exemption. The main reason people lost coverage, the researchers found, was because they had trouble verifying that they were complying with the rules. Many of those who lost their coverage stopped taking their medications, delayed care and fell into medical debt. Our results should provide a strong note of caution for federal and state policy makers considering work requirement policies in the future, the researchers concluded. Under the rules Arkansas put in place during the first Trump administration, Medicaid participants under age 50 had to report that they spent at least 80 hours each month working, attending school, in job training or volunteering. The rule only applied to people who became eligible after Arkansas expanded Medicaid under the ACA to cover adults making up to 138% of the federal poverty level. And people were exempt if they were pregnant, had a child under 18 at home, were disabled, had to care for a person unable to care for him or herself, were in alcohol or drug treatment, or were in school or job training full time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement About 70,000 of the roughly 270,000 Arkansans on Medicaid were subject to the new rules, and about 1 in 4 of those lost coverage. Unlike Arkansas, Georgia has not expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. But its Pathways to Coverage program, launched in July 2023, allows people with household incomes up to 100% of the federal poverty level who arent already eligible for Medicaid to enroll in the program if they fulfill work requirements. Georgias qualifying activities and exemptions are similar to the ones Arkansas had. Fiona Roberts, a spokesperson for the Georgia Department of Community Health, told Stateline that as of Nov. 15, there were 5,548 people enrolled in the program and that a total of 7,518 people had been enrolled at some point evidence, she said, that the program is helping people move from Medicaid to private insurance. Even eligible people can't keep up with it. Leah Chan, director of health justice at the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute But in its first year, Pathways to Coverage only enrolled about 4,200 people many fewer than the 25,000 the state had predicted. The cost of the program as of the end of 2023 was $26.6 million, and more than 90% of that went toward administrative and consulting costs, according to KFF, a nonprofit health research group. If Georgia had opted for a full expansion under the ACA, the federal government would have picked up 90% of the tab and the state would have covered about 359,000 people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Leah Chan, director of health justice at the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute, said work requirements are particularly challenging for people living in rural areas. If you dont have broadband internet at your house, youre not going to be able to upload the documentation and your pay stubs, Chan told Stateline. Even eligible people cant keep up with it, particularly in rural areas where there are additional barriers to participation. Learning from mistakes Benjamin Sommers, a professor of health care economics at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and one of the authors of the Arkansas study, said the experience with work requirements there and in Georgia should give other states pause. All that ended up happening was people lost coverage due to red tape, became uninsured, and in some cases, we saw that they had worse access to health care, Sommers said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Arkansas Republican state Rep. Aaron Pilkington, who serves on the health committee in his chamber, said Medicaid work rules are 100% on the table and something well look to ask for from the Trump administration. They can find work and get better health insurance through their employer, said Pilkington. He said the volunteering and education options make the rules even more attractive. Meanwhile, in some of the 10 states that have not expanded Medicaid under the ACA, the inclusion of work requirements might be the only way politically to get expansion over the finish line. Most of the Democrats Ive spoken to did not want the work requirements, but to get it passed through the Mississippi legislature its most likely going to have one, Mississippi Republican state Rep. Sam Creekmore told Stateline. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weve looked at Georgias plan. We recognize the pitfalls and are hopefully learning from mistakes. 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. South Dakota's Department of Social Services provides information on its website about Medicaid. (Seth Tupper/South Dakota Searchlight) Trevor Hawkins, an attorney at Legal Aid of Arkansas, remembers how busy his job got when the state for a time imposed work requirements on Medicaid recipients: His office was swamped with frantic phone calls from people who said they couldnt comply with the new rule because they werent healthy enough to work or had to care for sick relatives. A whole heap of folks, after a month or two, started getting notices saying, Hey, youre out of compliance, and youre going to lose your coverage, Hawkins told Stateline. For many people, he said, keeping their coverage was absolutely vital to maintaining their health or getting better so they might work again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In June 2018, Arkansas became the first state to require some Medicaid recipients to work, volunteer, go to school or participate in job training to receive benefits. By the time a federal judge halted the policy in April 2019, 18,000 adults had lost coverage. Arkansas was one of 13 states that received permission to impose work rules on at least some Medicaid recipients during the last Trump administration. Nine additional states, including South Dakota, requested permission to enact Medicaid work requirements during Trumps term but had not won approval by the time it ended. When the Biden administration came into office, it rescinded all the approvals. But now that Trump is coming back, many of those states will try again and theyll have a supportive U.S. Congress in their corner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republicans on Capitol Hill are eager to find ways to pay for extending tax cuts enacted during Trumps first term in office, and Medicaid funded jointly by the federal government and the states is in their sights. Requiring states to establish Medicaid work rules, as many Republicans would like to do, would cut federal spending by an estimated $109 billion over a decade, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Thats because the cost for about 900,000 people would shift entirely to states, while another 600,000 people would become uninsured, CBO estimated. About 72.4 million people are enrolled in Medicaid. Arkansas renewed its efforts even before Trumps victory. Last year, Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders requested federal approval from the Biden administration to apply work rules to able-bodied adults who are covered through the states expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, and who are enrolled in health plans that Arkansas Medicaid purchases for them on the states health insurance exchange. That application is pending. Georgia, after prevailing in a legal fight with the Biden administration, already has work requirements in place for people covered by its partial expansion of Medicaid. And Idaho, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Tennessee have pending requests to require at least some of their Medicaid recipients to work. South Dakota voters approved a ballot question earlier this month that authorizes legislators to consider imposing work requirements on Medicaid expansion recipients if the federal government allows it. Meeting requirements Supporters say requiring Medicaid recipients to work, study or train for a career gives them a boost toward self-sufficiency and financial stability. Kristi Putnam, the secretary of the Arkansas Department of Human Services, said in a statement announcing her states latest request that it would challenge people to embrace economic opportunities that can lead to true job advancement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meaningful work connects people to purpose and through the pandemic we have seen negative mental health impacts from people feeling disconnected, Putnam said. Critics, however, say such rules end up hurting far more people than they help. In a 2020 study examining how the Arkansas work requirements played out, researchers from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found no evidence that the policy succeeded in its stated goal of promoting work and instead found substantial evidence of harm to health care coverage and access. More than 95% of the Arkansas beneficiaries the researchers surveyed already met the work requirement or should have qualified for an exemption. The main reason people lost coverage, the researchers found, was because they had trouble verifying that they were complying with the rules. Many of those who lost their coverage stopped taking their medications, delayed care and fell into medical debt. Our results should provide a strong note of caution for federal and state policy makers considering work requirement policies in the future, the researchers concluded. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under the rules Arkansas put in place during the first Trump administration, Medicaid participants under age 50 had to report that they spent at least 80 hours each month working, attending school, in job training or volunteering. The rule only applied to people who became eligible after Arkansas expanded Medicaid under the ACA to cover adults making up to 138% of the federal poverty level. And people were exempt if they were pregnant, had a child under 18 at home, were disabled, had to care for a person unable to care for him or herself, were in alcohol or drug treatment, or were in school or job training full time. About 70,000 of the roughly 270,000 Arkansans on Medicaid were subject to the new rules, and about 1 in 4 of those lost coverage. Unlike Arkansas, Georgia has not expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. But its Pathways to Coverage program, launched in July 2023, allows people with household incomes up to 100% of the federal poverty level who arent already eligible for Medicaid to enroll in the program if they fulfill work requirements. Georgias qualifying activities and exemptions are similar to the ones Arkansas had. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fiona Roberts, a spokesperson for the Georgia Department of Community Health, told Stateline that as of Nov. 15, there were 5,548 people enrolled in the program and that a total of 7,518 people had been enrolled at some point evidence, she said, that the program is helping people move from Medicaid to private insurance. Even eligible people can't keep up with it. Leah Chan, director of health justice at the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute But in its first year, Pathways to Coverage only enrolled about 4,200 people many fewer than the 25,000 the state had predicted. The cost of the program as of the end of 2023 was $26.6 million, and more than 90% of that went toward administrative and consulting costs, according to KFF, a nonprofit health research group. If Georgia had opted for a full expansion under the ACA, the federal government would have picked up 90% of the tab and the state would have covered about 359,000 people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Leah Chan, director of health justice at the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute, said work requirements are particularly challenging for people living in rural areas. If you dont have broadband internet at your house, youre not going to be able to upload the documentation and your pay stubs, Chan told Stateline. Even eligible people cant keep up with it, particularly in rural areas where there are additional barriers to participation. Learning from mistakes Benjamin Sommers, a professor of health care economics at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and one of the authors of the Arkansas study, said the experience with work requirements there and in Georgia should give other states pause. All that ended up happening was people lost coverage due to red tape, became uninsured, and in some cases, we saw that they had worse access to health care, Sommers said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Arkansas Republican state Rep. Aaron Pilkington, who serves on the health committee in his chamber, said Medicaid work rules are 100% on the table and something well look to ask for from the Trump administration. They can find work and get better health insurance through their employer, said Pilkington. He said the volunteering and education options make the rules even more attractive. Meanwhile, in some of the 10 states that have not expanded Medicaid under the ACA, the inclusion of work requirements might be the only way politically to get expansion over the finish line. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most of the Democrats Ive spoken to did not want the work requirements, but to get it passed through the Mississippi legislature its most likely going to have one, Mississippi Republican state Rep. Sam Creekmore told Stateline. Weve looked at Georgias plan. We recognize the pitfalls and are hopefully learning from mistakes. 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. Republicans on Capitol Hill are eager to find ways to pay for extending tax cuts enacted during Trumps first term in office, and Medicaid funded jointly by the federal government and the states is in their sights (Getty Images). Trevor Hawkins, an attorney at Legal Aid of Arkansas, remembers how busy his job got when the state for a time imposed work requirements on Medicaid recipients: His office was swamped with frantic phone calls from people who said they couldnt comply with the new rule because they werent healthy enough to work or had to care for sick relatives. A whole heap of folks, after a month or two, started getting notices saying, Hey, youre out of compliance, and youre going to lose your coverage, Hawkins told Stateline. For many people, he said, keeping their coverage was absolutely vital to maintaining their health or getting better so they might work again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In June 2018, Arkansas became the first state to require some Medicaid recipients to work, volunteer, go to school or participate in job training to receive benefits. By the time a federal judge halted the policy in April 2019, 18,000 adults had lost coverage. Arkansas was one of 13 states that received permission to impose work rules on at least some Medicaid recipients during the last Trump administration. Nine additional states requested permission to enact Medicaid work requirements during Trumps term but had not won approval by the time it ended. When the Biden administration came into office, it rescinded all the approvals. But now that Trump is coming back, many of those states will try again and theyll have a supportive U.S. Congress in their corner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republicans on Capitol Hill are eager to find ways to pay for extending tax cuts enacted during Trumps first term in office, and Medicaid funded jointly by the federal government and the states is in their sights. Requiring states to establish Medicaid work rules, as many Republicans would like to do, would cut federal spending by an estimated $109 billion over a decade, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Thats because the cost for about 900,000 people would shift entirely to states, while another 600,000 people would become uninsured, CBO estimated. About 72.4 million people are enrolled in Medicaid. Arkansas renewed its efforts even before Trumps victory. Last year, Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders requested federal approval from the Biden administration to apply work rules to able-bodied adults who are covered through the states expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, and who are enrolled in health plans that Arkansas Medicaid purchases for them on the states health insurance exchange. That application is pending. Missouri Republicans have pushed for Medicaid work requirements repeatedly over the years, most notably after voters overwhelming approved expanding the programs eligibility in 2020. That push was briefly renewed earlier this year as part of a fight amongst Senate Republicans over renewing taxes that fund Missouris portion of Medicaid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Georgia, after prevailing in a legal fight with the Biden administration, already has work requirements in place for people covered by its partial expansion of Medicaid. And Idaho, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Tennessee have pending requests to require at least some of their Medicaid recipients to work. Meeting requirements Supporters say requiring Medicaid recipients to work, study or train for a career gives them a boost toward self-sufficiency and financial stability. Kristi Putnam, the secretary of the Arkansas Department of Human Services, said in a statement announcing her states latest request that it would challenge people to embrace economic opportunities that can lead to true job advancement. Meaningful work connects people to purpose and through the pandemic we have seen negative mental health impacts from people feeling disconnected, Putnam said. Critics, however, say such rules end up hurting far more people than they help. In a 2020 study examining how the Arkansas work requirements played out, researchers from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found no evidence that the policy succeeded in its stated goal of promoting work and instead found substantial evidence of harm to health care coverage and access. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than 95% of the Arkansas beneficiaries the researchers surveyed already met the work requirement or should have qualified for an exemption. The main reason people lost coverage, the researchers found, was because they had trouble verifying that they were complying with the rules. Many of those who lost their coverage stopped taking their medications, delayed care and fell into medical debt. Our results should provide a strong note of caution for federal and state policy makers considering work requirement policies in the future, the researchers concluded. Under the rules Arkansas put in place during the first Trump administration, Medicaid participants under age 50 had to report that they spent at least 80 hours each month working, attending school, in job training or volunteering. The rule only applied to people who became eligible after Arkansas expanded Medicaid under the ACA to cover adults making up to 138% of the federal poverty level. And people were exempt if they were pregnant, had a child under 18 at home, were disabled, had to care for a person unable to care for him or herself, were in alcohol or drug treatment, or were in school or job training full time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement About 70,000 of the roughly 270,000 Arkansans on Medicaid were subject to the new rules, and about 1 in 4 of those lost coverage. Unlike Arkansas, Georgia has not expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. But its Pathways to Coverage program, launched in July 2023, allows people with household incomes up to 100% of the federal poverty level who arent already eligible for Medicaid to enroll in the program if they fulfill work requirements. Georgias qualifying activities and exemptions are similar to the ones Arkansas had. Fiona Roberts, a spokesperson for the Georgia Department of Community Health, told Stateline that as of Nov. 15, there were 5,548 people enrolled in the program and that a total of 7,518 people had been enrolled at some point evidence, she said, that the program is helping people move from Medicaid to private insurance. But in its first year, Pathways to Coverage only enrolled about 4,200 people many fewer than the 25,000 the state had predicted. The cost of the program as of the end of 2023 was $26.6 million, and more than 90% of that went toward administrative and consulting costs, according to KFF, a nonprofit health research group. If Georgia had opted for a full expansion under the ACA, the federal government would have picked up 90% of the tab and the state would have covered about 359,000 people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Leah Chan, director of health justice at the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute, said work requirements are particularly challenging for people living in rural areas. If you dont have broadband internet at your house, youre not going to be able to upload the documentation and your pay stubs, Chan told Stateline. Even eligible people cant keep up with it, particularly in rural areas where there are additional barriers to participation. Learning from mistakes Benjamin Sommers, a professor of health care economics at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and one of the authors of the Arkansas study, said the experience with work requirements there and in Georgia should give other states pause. All that ended up happening was people lost coverage due to red tape, became uninsured, and in some cases, we saw that they had worse access to health care, Sommers said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Arkansas Republican state Rep. Aaron Pilkington, who serves on the health committee in his chamber, said Medicaid work rules are 100% on the table and something well look to ask for from the Trump administration. They can find work and get better health insurance through their employer, said Pilkington. He said the volunteering and education options make the rules even more attractive. Meanwhile, in some of the 10 states that have not expanded Medicaid under the ACA, the inclusion of work requirements might be the only way politically to get expansion over the finish line. Most of the Democrats Ive spoken to did not want the work requirements, but to get it passed through the Mississippi legislature its most likely going to have one, Mississippi Republican state Rep. Sam Creekmore told Stateline. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weve looked at Georgias plan. We recognize the pitfalls and are hopefully learning from mistakes. The Independents Jason Hancock contributed to this story. 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. FRUITA, Colo. (KREX) The Fruita Community Centers indoor pool is temporarily closed following an incident early Thursday. The closure stems from a pair of tempered glass goggles that broke in the pool. The Fruita Parks and Recreation Department said the shattered remains affect guests safety and could harm the filtration and mechanical systems that circulate the water. Due to these unforeseen circumstances, staff will drain the pool and thoroughly clean both the pool and deck, according to parks and rec. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were committed to reopening as soon as possible while maintaining safety standards, Fruita Parks and Recreation posted on Facebook. As a reminder, please avoid bringing glass items, including goggles, into the pool area. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your understanding. Despite the closure, the hot tub will remain open. For updates on the indoor pool, call the front desk at 970-858-0360. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WesternSlopeNow.com. An Oakland County jury found a Union City man guilty this week of breaking his dead fathers trust, cheating his brothers out of their inheritance and not properly filing taxes for years, all felonies. David White, 67, was convicted of criminal enterprise, embezzlement and tax evasion. White is set to be sentenced on Jan. 23. "The hard-earned savings and property of those who have passed must be managed with integrity and respect, not exploited by those entrusted with their care," Michigan Attorney General Nessel said, adding she seeks to protect "the estates of Michiganders." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The state attorney general's office, which prosecuted the case, said Friday that White's father, John Stirling White, died in 2014, and the son became co-trustee of a trust, which included revenues from the Winery Office Building in downtown Farmington. The Farmington building is a well-known landmark that the White family reportedly purchased in the 1970s. It was built in 1898 and generated the city's first electricity. It later became the LaSalle winery. Since then, it has housed local shops and has been a Halloween haunted house. The building also has a 51-foot smokestack that is a popular spot for hundreds of birds known as chimney swifts. Between September and October, as many as 50,000 of them gather there, making it one of the largest roosts of chimney swifts in North America. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement David White, the attorney general added, was removed as co-trustee in 2019 by the probate court as a result of ignoring court orders to produce financial accountings for the Trust. And then, Nessel's office said, an investigation revealed White embezzled at least $400,000. In some ways, though, the case is more than just about sorting out what should have happened to the trust and its assets, it also is a warning for anyone leaving behind significant assets after they die. More: Docuseries explores how Michigan man's collection of rare comics led to millions, misery Earlier this year, when charges were first brought against White, Nessel warned that people trust court-appointed administrators to handle estates ethically, and "our elderly deserve to know their life savings will be secure when theyre gone." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But, she added "family ties are no guarantee the estates of our relatives will be handled properly once they have passed," and at times the state must step in to "ensure the estates of those who have died are not pilfered or misused by those our seniors trusted most." Contact Frank Witsil: 313-222-5022 or fwitsil@freepress.com. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Union City man trusted with father's estate stole from it, jury finds GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) A Union City man has been found guilty of embezzling from a family trust, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said. On Thursday, a jury found 67-year-old David White guilty of one count of criminal enterprise, two counts of embezzlement by an agent/trustee of $50,000 to $100,000 or more, one count of embezzlement by an agent/trustee of $1,000 to $20,000 and six counts of failure to file taxes. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 23. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Attorney Generals Office said that White became the co-trustee of the John Stirling White Trust in 2014 when his father died. Despite John Stirling White having several adult children, the assets were never distributed to the beneficiaries due to ongoing litigation. David White was in control of the trusts income which came from The Winery Office Building in Farmington and access to its financial records. In 2019, he was removed as the co-trustee by the probate court due to non-compliance with court orders to provide financial accounting for the trust and an investigation was opened. The Attorney Generals Office discovered that David White embezzled at least $400,000 from the trust between 2014 and 2019. The hard-earned savings and property of those who have passed must be managed with integrity and respect, not exploited by those entrusted with their care, Nessel said in a release. I am grateful to the jury for securing this conviction. My department remains committed to holding accountable those who abuse this responsibility and protecting the estates of Michiganders. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. (WBOY) As part of Lung Cancer Awareness Month, WVU Medicines United Hospital Center (UHC) participated in the 49th annual Great American Smokeout on Thursday with the goal of encouraging smokers to make a plan that will help them quit smoking. Dr. Keith Niggemyer, pulmonologist and Medical Director at UHCs Lung Center said he understands quitting is difficult and said the best way to do so is reaching out for help. According to a press release from UHC, approximately 80% of lung cancers are caused by cigarette smoking, with lung cancers causing more cancer deaths than colorectal, prostate and breast cancer combined. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In West Virginia, there are more than 4,000 adults who die each year from their own smoking, according to the American Lung Association. The push to quit smoking also includes leaving e-cigarettes and vapes behind. Village Caregiving offering free scrubs, accepting Silver Tree donations Vaping is still a problem in terms of lung health. So anything a person inhales into their lungs that isnt clean air is hazardous to the lung, and thats because vape involves chemicals that they inhale into the lungs that can irritate the lungs and cause a lot of breathing difficulties, said Dr. Niggemyer. The recommended annual screening for lung cancer is for people aged 50-80 years old who smoke or have a history of smoking. Doctors added if you or someone you know is a smoker, you should reach out to your primary physician about qualifying for a lung cancer screening. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you need help, the West Virginia quit line is 1-800-QUIT-NOW. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBOY.com. ANDERSON, S.C. (WSPA) United Way of Anderson County donated $45,000 to three nonprofits Habitat for Humanity, Emmanuels Hammer and Rebuild Upstate to help low income families get their lives back on track. If you drive down the streets of Anderson County, it looks like everythings back to normal, but for many low income homeowners, life is anything but normal, said Zeke Stevenson with United Way of Anderson County. The money will go toward helping families with home repairs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres still a lot of that going on, said KC Carter with Emmanuels Hammer. We just recently had a tree removed from a home. This lady had no way of doing it on her own. With the donation, Habitat for Humanity said theyll be able to help fill the gap of what insurance doesnt cover. Theres a variety of ways that well be able to help in a different way for us that not only will help our homeowners, but also give us an opportunity to reconnect, said Kylie Herbert, Habitat for Humanity. The goal is to make sure families arent paying out of pocket. For families who are living paycheck to paycheck, who might not have a whole lot left at the end of the month that is crippling, said Stevenson. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Each organization said families will get help with tree removal, roof repairs, and remodeling damaged floors. This next step of having this particular donation allows us to make sure that they can continue to be successful in those homes, said Herbert. This is just one of the ways that we are giving back, by helping these organizations come alongside their clients to best serve them as they continue to recover from the Hurricane Helene that really has devastated our community, said Stevenson. The organizations already have a list of customers that will receive care, but they are always looking for volunteers to help with repairs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS. There will be an increased security presence at a school in Boston as police search for a man accused of inappropriately touching students on campus, officials said. A Boston Public Schools spokesperson said a suspicious individual recently touched a few students as they traveled between buildings at the Snowden International School at 150 Newbury Street. Officers responding to the school around 11:30 a.m. on Thursday learned a black man wearing a black Northface jacket, a black hoodie, blue jeans, and black Air Force 1 sneakers had been talking with students as they exited and entered a building on campus, according to a Boston police report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The students told officers that they had spotted the man hanging around the school area in the past, approaching students and asking for phone numbers, police said. One student alleged that the man touched his chest and asked, Yo bro, do you work out. Another student told police that he started texting with the man, but blocked his number when the suspect began acting weird. Snowden officials are working closely with police to identify the suspect and Boston Public Schools Safety Services will have an increased presence at the school over the coming days. We are also encouraging families to remind students about the importance of being aware of their surroundings and reporting any concerning behavior to their school, the BPS spokesperson said. The safety and security of our students and staff is our highest priority. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An investigation is ongoing. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW GREENVILLE, S.C. (WSPA) A drive-thru event in Greenville is giving away free turkeys, canned goods, sweet potatoes and more on Saturday. According to Molina Healthcare of South Carolina, approximately 650 turkeys will be given out from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Berea Middle School. Attendees can also get canned goods, sweet potatoes and other produce at the event. Data from Feeding America reports that 60,850 Greenville County residents are considered food insecure, or unable to afford adequate food. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Papis Tacos will give away free tacos to those who stop by. With flu season underway, the Prisma Health mobile clinic will administer free flu vaccines.. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS. KANSAS CITY, Mo. Urbavore Urban Farms Master Plan could go back to the City Plan Commission after Kansas City Council requested the plan be resubmitted with two big changes. The council wants a proposed new driveway to be moved 250 feet north and for the composting facility to be moved to the northwestern corner of the site, putting both considerably farther away from nearby homes. Its the latest development in a saga thats played out for roughly two years over concerns from some people who live near the urban farm about increased traffic on a residential street, proximity to composting, and some code violations on the property. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This was out of left field and we are absolutely shocked and I would say devastated, said Urbavores Brooke Salvaggio. NWSL lands as Kansas Citys Riverfront is on the rise The proposal from Councilwoman Melissa Patterson Hazley requested the revised plan to go back to the City Plan Council to formally document the changes to a development plan that is meant to resolve the code issues and address neighbor concerns. We have made suggestions to [Urbavore] but we havent been able to really nail those down as to what will be accepted and whats possible on the site, said Councilwoman Patterson Hazley. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Salvaggio and Urbavores Dan Heryer say the two conditions have already been ruled out, however. The parameters that were set forth today are not a workable solution and were going to have to move forward with some other resolution, said Heryer. Debra Nabors property is next to Urbavore and within 500 feet of the composting facility, according to her and city officials. She was in Council chambers when the latest conditions were put forward Thursday. If the city is going to vote to allow them to keep composting, of course Id rather they not, because its not legal in that area, but as far away from me as possible would be the best that I could ask for, said Nabors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The next City Plan Commission meeting is in early December but Urbavore tells FOX4 they are evaluating their options and arent sure what action they might take next. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. The United States Army has awarded Raytheon, an RTX business, a contract to work on directed energy wireless power beaming capabilities. The contract aims to build capabilities that will distribute power across the battlefield, simplify logistics, and safeguard locations for US troops. The move has been carried out with an intention to make logistics simpler for the US troops by removing the need for moving fuel and batteries across the battlefield. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The directed energy wireless power system, once developed, would be able to beam energy directly to the units and systems that need it to function. Any army formation is dependent on a large number of food, ammunition, surveillance and strike capabilities. Their mobility is dependent on the supply lines functioning efficiently. With modernization, there is a growing need for power in almost all departments on the battlefield especially with the increasing role of drones, and other unmanned systems. This leads to a lot of batteries being carried, even by soldiers in their backpacks. A battery running out of power on the battlefield - where recharging is not an option - can slow down the progress of an individual and, as a result, the whole formation. Therefore, the directed energy wireless power beaming capabilities can be a game-changer in the long run. US Armys contract to Raytheon for directed energy The work on the directed energy wireless power beaming capability is being conducted as part of a larger effort under the Department of Defense's Operational Energy Strategy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under the contract, Raytheons Advanced Technology team will develop advanced wireless power transmitter and receiver technologies to enable a long-range demonstration in line with the requirements of the US Army's manned and unmanned systems. The capability to beam power wirelessly will significantly reduce the need for troops to carry additional fuel and batteries, easing their logistics, increasing their operation time, and safeguarding their locations. In addition, wireless power enables energy uniformity in the battlespace, allowing ease of capture and delivery of energy to sensor systems without the need for concentrated fuel depots that could be vulnerable. "Wireless power and data can provide enhanced capability in the future manned and unmanned teaming battlespace," said Colin Whelan, president of Advanced Technology at Raytheon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This is extremely important in highly contested threat environments where operations are challenged." Past works in this direction Last year, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) had awarded a contract to Raytheon to design and develop a wireless, airborne relay system to transfer energy in contested environments. The project had a simple goal: giving US the ability to power anything on the battlefield from anywhere. It was a two-year, $10 million contract which asked the company to create a Persistent Optical Wireless Energy Relay (POWER) system. The POWER system would have used a number of high-altitude unmanned vessels, which would be equipped with laser-based power receiving and transmission facilities. At the time, DARPA had predicted that the tech could also be used in civilian situations to provide relief in case of natural disasters and power up devices in remote regions. (Reuters) - The United States on Friday barred former Colombian army commander General Mario Montoya from entering the U.S., citing what it called credible evidence he had been involved in the extrajudicial killings of civilians. Montoya has been placed on a designated list of people subject to U.S. sanctions "due to his involvement in gross violations of human rights," Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement. In August 2021, the Colombian attorney general's office said it would bring charges against Montoya for his alleged responsibility in 104 killings from November 2007 to November 2008. A court later blocked the move. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Montoya was commander of Colombia's army between 2006 and 2008, a time when the army was fighting Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia rebels. Montoya resigned in November 2008 amid allegations that army soldiers had killed civilians to present them as combat deaths. He has previously denied the charges against him. Blinken cited credible evidence that during his tenure, Montoya "was involved in extrajudicial killings of civilians, which were falsely reported as combat deaths during Colombias internal armed conflict." (Reporting by David Ljunggren; editing by Jonathan Oatis) On 21 November Mexicos Presidentsaid that her government has a plan to receive its citizens from the US if the incomingadministration launches mass deportations. End of preview - This article contains approximately 336 words. Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article Not a Subscriber? Choose from one of the following options By Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States believes that Russia fired a never-before-fielded intermediate-range ballistic missile on Thursday in its attack on Ukraine, an escalation that analysts say could have implications for European missile defense. The U.S. military said the Russian missile's design was based on the design of Russia's longer-range RS-26 Rubezh intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). The new missile was experimental and Russia likely possessed only a handful of them, officials said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ukraine's air force initially said the missile was an ICBM, sparking worries of a major escalation in the 2-1/2-year-old war. While launching an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) sends a less threatening signal, the incident could still set off alarms and Moscow notified Washington briefly ahead of the launch, U.S. officials said. The Pentagon said the missile was fired with a conventional warhead but added that Moscow could modify it if it wanted. "It could be refitted to certainly carry different types of conventional or nuclear warheads," said Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russian President Vladimir Putin, in a televised address, acknowledged Moscow had struck a Ukrainian military facility with a new ballistic missile and said it was called "Oreshnik" (the hazel). Jeffrey Lewis, a non-proliferation expert at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in California, said Putin had earlier hinted that Russia would complete the development of an IRBM system after Washington and Berlin agreed to deploy long-range U.S. missiles in Germany from 2026. "The RS-26 was always (a) prime candidate," Lewis said. Singh said the new variant of the missile was considered "experimental" by the Pentagon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It's the first time that we've seen it employed on the battlefield ... So that's why we consider it experimental," she said. Timothy Wright, at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, said Russia's development of new missiles may influence decisions in NATO countries regarding what air defense systems to purchase as well as which offensive capabilities to pursue. A new U.S. ballistic missile defense base in northern Poland has already drawn angry reactions from Moscow. The U.S. base at Redzikowo is part of a broader NATO missile shield and is designed to intercept short- to intermediate-range ballistic missiles. Still, Putin said Thursday's launch of the new IRBM was not a response to the base in Poland but instead to recent Ukrainian long-range strikes inside Russian territory with Western weapons. After approval from the administration of President Joe Biden, Ukraine struck Russia with U.S.-made ATACMS on Nov. 19 and with British Storm Shadow missiles and U.S.-made HIMARS on Nov. 21, Putin said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moscow said it targeted a missile and defense firm in the Ukrainian city of Dnipro, where missile and space rocket company Pivdenmash, known as Yuzhmash by Russians, is based. Russia, he added, was developing short and medium range missiles in response to the planned production and then deployment by the United States of medium and shorter range missiles in Europe and Asia. "I believe that the United States made a mistake by unilaterally destroying the treaty on the elimination of intermediate-range and shorter-range missiles in 2019 under a far-fetched pretext," Putin said, referring to the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty. The United States formally withdrew from the 1987 (INF) Treaty with Russia in 2019 after saying that Moscow was violating the accord, an accusation the Kremlin denied. (Reporting by Phil Stewart; Editing by Don Durfee and Sandra Maler) The United States is facing multiple nuclear competitors and there may be a need for adjustments to be made to the 2022 Nuclear Posture Review, according to Richard C. Johnson, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear and Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Policy (N-CWMD). The US Department of Defense (DOD) is examining these changes in the security environment and the resulting steps that might have to be taken in view of China's and Russia's enhanced capabilities. Furthermore, the possible lack of a nuclear arms control agreement after February 2025 might warrant an even more focused approach. Johnson made these comments while speaking on a panel at the Center for Strategic and International Studies Project on Nuclear Issues event in Washington, D.C. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He further stated that the US nuclear modernization program of record might be insufficient going forward. Changes proposed by new report on US nuclear deterrence Johnson stated that the DOD, in partnership with the National Nuclear Security Administration, has taken some steps to field capabilities to enhance the countrys nuclear deterrence. One of these measures is the B61-13 gravity bomb, delivered by aircraft. Further, it is also ensuring the enhanced readiness of nuclear armed and powered Ohio-class submarines. The Department of Energys National Nuclear Security Administration would produce the B61-13, which is a modern variant of the B61. The department submitted a report to Congress on November 15 that enlisted the countrys nuclear employment strategy, as revealed by Johnson. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 491 report also accounts for the new challenges that the US faces because of the growth, modernization, and increasing diversity of potential adversaries' arsenals. One of the report's key highlights is that the US plans to deter multiple adversaries simultaneously. It also states that the US requires the integration of non-nuclear capabilities, where feasible, to support the nuclear deterrence mission. The report also asks for the US to focus on escalation management planning for responding to limited nuclear attacks or high-consequence, non-nuclear strategic attacks. It also calls for the US to enable deeper consultation, coordination, and combined planning with allies and partners to strengthen extended deterrence commitments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Grant Schneider, vice deputy director for strategic stability at the Joint Staff, who also spoke, said that another part of the report is the significant intellectual and analytical work required to identify the range of scenarios and strategic circumstances that the U.S. might face alongside its allies going into the 2030s. "To be prepared for the 2030s, we have to modernize our nuclear forces, the nuclear command and control, and the associated infrastructure that will allow us to be flexible and adjust over time as new challenges arise, whether that's new threats or potential changes or delays in our modernization," Schneider said. Growing threats to the US from adversaries Earlier this year, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) launched its Yearbook, which stated that China is expanding its nuclear arsenal faster than any other country on the globe. The SIPRI Yearbook 2024 also stated that Russia is on top of the military stockpile list with 4,380 nukes. The number is not inclusive of the retired warheads which the countries are in the process of dismantling. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The report revealed that Chinas arsenal increased from 410 warheads in January 2023 to 500 in January 2024, and it is expected to keep growing. It is an approximate 20% rise in a single year, which is massive. It also mentioned that the Asian giant might be shifting its policies regarding nukes as it has likely also started deploying a few warheads on missiles during peacetime. Moreover, North Korea an ally of China and Russia has assembled around 50 warheads, as per the SIPRI Yearbook. It added that the country has enough fissile material to reach a total of up to 90 warheads. Moreover, the recent use of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) by Russia to hit Ukraine for the first time has also raised eyebrows globally. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its claimed to be the first military use of ICBM, which can carry nuclear warheads, in an active war. Russia had also recently changed its doctrine to lower the threshold for nuclear weapons use. With this, Russia can now use high-potential weapons in instances when a non-nuclear state supported by nuclear power attacks its territory. The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a bill that would empower the Treasury Department to eliminate the tax-exempt status of any nonprofit it deems to be supporting terrorism. The Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act was approved in a 219-184 vote, with all but one Republican backing it and only 15 Democrats voting for it, on Nov. 21, 2024. The Conversation U.S. philanthropy and nonprofits editor Emily Schwartz Greco spoke with Beth Gazley, an Indiana University scholar of nonprofits, local governance and civil society, to better understand the outcry over this measure which would have to pass in the Senate before a U.S. president could sign it into law. President-elect Donald Trump, who will take office in January 2025, will begin his second term with narrow majorities in both chambers of Congress. That means an identical or similar bill could come across his desk after being reintroduced in the next Congress. Why are so many people concerned about this bill? I believe that this is part of a strategy to preempt opposition to Republican policies and encourage self-censorship. Its a way for the GOP to try to restrict what activists and nonprofit organizations can say or do. And, essentially, its a threat to political opponents of President-elect Donald Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This kind of law could become a blunt sword that can be used against everybody. Im not the only one who feels this way. U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin, a Democrat who previously was a constitutional law professor, called the bill a werewolf in sheeps clothing. Raskin observed that rendering support to terrorists is already a felony and warned that this bill could end up capsizing all rights to due process. Several nonpartisan groups and associations representing a wide array of nonprofits, including the Council on Foundations, Independent Sector, the National Council of Nonprofits, and United Philanthropy Forum, issued a joint statement that condemned this measure ahead of its passage in the House. The groups said they were concerned that it would provide the executive branch with expansive new authority that could be abused. What do you think terrorism means in this context? An earlier version of this legislation was introduced in December 2023 and passed in the House in April 2024. Based on the timing, it was widely interpreted as an attempt to quell widespread protests by students and other people who were expressing their solidarity with Palestinians and their objections to Israels military operations in Gaza. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But this legislation could easily do far more than that because it does not distinguish between foreign and domestic terrorism whether its real or imagined. Until now, the Treasury Department has taken great care in how it defines domestic terrorism, observing on its website that the Constitution and U.S. laws protect a wide range of expression even expression that many might disagree with or find abhorrent, and even expression that certain foreign allies and partners of the United States prohibit and criminalize under their own laws. U.S. law stipulates that The Treasury Department has an obligation to remain nonpartisan in any of its interactions with tax-exempt organizations. As a result, making it easier for federal authorities to allege that a nonprofit is terrorist would be a big departure from American traditions. It could be turning the term into a kind of political rhetoric thats meant to intimidate activists, including those holding campus protests. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lack of a clear definition in the legislation would leave room for interpretation. Its not clear who would be held liable it might even be the nonprofits donors. Constitutional protections may protect people in the end who get caught up in these allegations, but theres no way to know how far this could go or how much it might upend their livelihoods while they defend themselves. What other concerns do you have? This bill reminds me of whats happening around the world in countries where support for democratic principles is declining and right-wing governments are restricting dissent. Im currently working with Jennifer Alexander, a public administration professor at the University of Texas at San Antonio, on a paper about this trend and how its tied to whats already happening in many U.S. states. Weve found this pattern most prevalent where the Republican Party has full control over the government the GOP occupies the governors mansion and has a majority in both legislative chambers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have found that at least 22 U.S. states have either passed new laws restricting protests or tightened laws that were already on the books, increasing the severity of possible punishment. These laws restrict public advocacy and organizing. I can see it being used to clamp down on environmental protests, like the ones held in Atlanta to object to the construction of a police training center in an urban forest, or in North Dakota, against the construction of an oil pipeline. This kind of measure could lead to more severe crackdowns, should there be a new wave of Black Lives Matter protests, similar to the ones in 2020 that followed George Floyds murder. Many of those demonstrations were organized by nonprofit groups. In Texas, state authorities have attempted to shut down charities that assist immigrants, leading to an outcry from civil rights groups. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita has launched a probe of companies and nonprofits, including the God Is Good Foundation, that have allegedly conspired to bring noncitizens to the state. What do you think would happen if this measure were to become law? I can see how people intending to continue with the kind of mass mobilization organized by nonprofits might decide to go underground to avoid the repercussions of activity that I would argue is clearly protected by the U.S. Constitution. Even without this measure becoming law, it has become possible for an organizer to be held liable in court for damage or injuries incurred during a demonstration even if they personally did not engage in violence or destruction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officially labeling an organization as terrorist can be very powerful. If this were to start happening, some of the population would never see that group any other way again. Many authoritarian regimes like to use this propaganda tool because it makes the public distrust those organizations. It places these organizations outside acceptable norms of civic engagement, despite nonprofits right to freedom of speech, assembly and petition embedded in the First Amendment to the Constitution. Beth Gazley does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. In a surprising development, the US Navy has released a Request for Information (RFI) regarding the development of a Nuclear-Armed Sea-Launched Cruise Missile (SLCM-N). The initiative aims to establish a modular and resilient cruise missile system that delivers a proportional response while ensuring essential adversary targets remain vulnerable. The goal is to deploy an operational system by fiscal year 2034, with prototype tests anticipated within the next three years. Sea-launched nuclear cruise missile The SLCM-N will be launched from Virginia-class attack submarines and is centered around an "All Up Round" (AUR) concept. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This includes an expendable booster, a nuclear-capable cruise missile, and a launch canister, allowing underwater launches from Virginia Payload Tubes (VPT) or Virginia Payload Modules (VPM). Additionally, the Navy seeks missiles that are as modular as possible, incorporating both software and hardware, to ensure that modifications to the missile's body or shared tactical systems dont necessitate changes to the warhead payload interfaces or avionics related to the nuclear mission. The open system approach is being adopted to facilitate future technical upgrades or technology enhancements as needed throughout the SLCM-N program's lifespan, the Navy's request indicates. The United States originally introduced nuclear-armed sea-launched cruise missiles during the mid-1980s with the deployment of the TLAM-N, a nuclear variant of the Tomahawk Land-Attack Missile. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These missiles, which had a range of about 2,500 kilometers (approximately 1,550 miles), were positioned on both surface vessels and attack submarines. After 3 decades In 1991, President George H.W. Bush declared the withdrawal of all sea-based tactical nuclear weapons, resulting in the removal of TLAM-N missiles by the middle of 1992. The Navy kept the option to redeploy them on attack submarines if necessary. However, in 2010, the Obama Administration recommended decommissioning the TLAM-N system, considering it redundant in light of other available nuclear capabilities. This retirement was finalized in 2013. The 2018 Nuclear Posture Review (NPR) under the Trump Administration advocated for the development of a novel nuclear-armed sea-launched cruise missile, now referred to as SLCM-N. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This initiative aimed to provide a "non-strategic regional presence" and fulfill the need for "flexible and low-yield options" within the US nuclear arsenal. The SLCM-N was designed to enhance deterrence against regional threats and reassure US allies. Allocation of funds In its Fiscal Year 2022 budget proposal, the Biden Administration allocated funding for the research and development of the SLCM-N. Nonetheless, the 2022 NPR suggested discontinuing the program, indicating that current capabilities were adequate to meet deterrent requirements. Despite this, Congress continued to fund the SLCM-N and its associated warhead. The Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act required the executive branch to ensure the SLCM-N's initial operational capability. Following this, the Administration has begun to take steps to implement the program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Supporters of the SLCM-N contend that it provides a flexible and survivable nuclear option capable of deployment in various regions without needing to station nuclear assets on allied territories. The SLCM-N would fulfill a critical role as a sea-based nuclear deterrent below the strategic level on the nuclear escalation ladder, emphasizing that the commander-in-chief should have access to such options. Similar to its predecessor, the Navy's discontinued TLAM-N, the SLCM-N is envisioned as a lower-yield nuclear weapon launched from submarines that would add a new dimension to the maritime segment of the nuclear triad, allowing the United States to respond proportionately to a limited nuclear attack by an adversary. Within a decade, it is expected that China will have as many nuclear warheads deployed as the United States. Pentagon estimates suggest that Beijing will have 1,500 operable nuclear weapons by 2035. It will mean for the first time since the end of the Cold War, Washington will have to contend with more than just a single adversary considered a nuclear superpower. And to make matters worse, both the Russians and Chinese have only recently signed a treaty of friendship without limits, cementing their opposition to the Western world order. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both Moscow and Beijing pose their own challenges to the United States. Vladimir Putin has repeatedly flirted with the prospect of a nuclear war since invading Ukraine, a Western ally, in February 2022. The Russian despot most recently signed into law lower thresholds for the use of nuclear weapons, in response to increased Western support to Ukraine. Whereas China has eyes on the seizure of Taiwan, another US ally and vital for the global supply of microchips. Experts widely believe Xi Jinping has ambitions to make the land grab beyond 2028, after the Chinese president won another term as the countrys leader. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A military attempt to capture Taiwan by Chinas Peoples Liberation Army could well put them in direct contact with the US armed forces. This is why there is a growing chorus of voices inside and outside of government in Washington that argue for Americas nuclear deterrent to be modernised at an accelerated rate. Normal practice would see an incoming administration, in this case Donald Trump, carry out a review of nuclear policy and strategy. These are timely and costly, and often are not finished by the time the presidents term comes to a close. Russia, if its leaders are to be believed, has already completed its own modernisation programme of its nuclear weapons programme. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some of this is also designed solely around destroying Americas possibility to retaliate in a first-strike scenario. Multiple nuclear competitors Worryingly, Chinese modernisation is happening even faster. The rapid expansion by both countries of their nuclear weapons means being left behind is a genuine concern for the Americans. Richard Johnson, who oversees nuclear policy at the Pentagon, recently warned: We are now in a world where were facing multiple nuclear competitors, multiple states that are growing, diversifying and modernising their nuclear arsenals and also, unfortunately, prioritising the role that nuclear weapons play in their national security strategies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But how could the US nuclear deterrent be brought up to scratch for an era of competition from Moscow and Beijing? One theory often spoken about is the scrappage of New Start, an arms reduction treaty signed with Russia, under which both sides are restricted to maintaining 1,550 deployed warheads each. The pact is due to expire in May 2026, and Putin has already insisted he is not interested in renewing it. As of 2023, the US had more than 3,000 unused warheads stockpiled, meaning it could significantly scale up the number of deployed weapons as a show of strength. And then there is the issue of modernisation to make sure of the US nuclear triad - a three-pronged delivery system of air, sea and land-launched weapons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Air Force General Anthony Cotton, Americas most senior officer in charge of strategic forces, argued recently it was crucial because both China and Russia needed to know how US forces would respond. We started talking about nuclear modernisation in 2010, but the world has changed since then, he said. Our posture must align with todays reality, where nuclear weapons are foundational to adversaries strategies, he added. That modernisation programme is currently a 30-year project, but if it doesnt happen sooner, China will have taken over as the worlds foremost nuclear superpower. 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. After getting elected to Congress on his second try two weeks ago, U.S. Rep-elect Tom Barrett, R-Charlotte, got busy on another goal: securing for himself and his staff one of the offices used by his great-grandfather when he had represented Michigan. On Thursday, Barrett succeeded. Barrett announced on social media that he had lobbied his way to getting Room 1232 in the Longworth House Office Building, which was one of the offices the late U.S. Rep. Louis Rabaut, a Democrat from Detroit, had worked in. In fact, it was the office from which Rabaut, who served from 1935-1947 and again from 1949-1961, made his most notable legislative mark, introducing the legislation that added the words, "under God" to the Pledge of Allegiance in 1954. State Senator Tom Barrett speaks during the MIGOP State Convention at the DeVos Place in Grand Rapids on April 23, 2022. (Rabaut is Barrett's dad's mother's father, by the way.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rabaut never met his great-grandson (who was born in 1981), having died in Hamtramck in November 1961 the Free Press reported some years later that Rabaut "suffered a heart attack and collapsed in the arms of a young congressman, John Dingell, during a speech at a Knights of Columbus hall in Hamtramck" and never revived. Louis Charles Rabaut on April 7, 1954. Barrett a former state senator who two weeks ago beat another former state senator, Curtis Hertel Jr., of East Lansing to take Michigan's open 7th Congressional District seat has been on Capitol Hill for more than a week, going through orientation ahead of joining the next Congress on Jan. 3. As part of that process, a lottery determines which new member gets dibs on any available office. So, Barrett set about contacting other members (as well as U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn, R-Iowa, who had the office and was willing to relocate). The congressman-elect penned a letter asking other members to consider helping him get the office whatever lottery number he picked saying that while he never met his great-grandfather "his legacy is something my whole family is very proud of." On Thursday, the lottery was held and Barrett drew No. 14. The good news, he said, was that the members with Nos. 1-13 were happy to accommodate him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We got it! Appreciate everyone who followed along and showed their support. Thank you to my Freshman colleagues, Republicans AND Democrats, who were kind enough to allow me to select the office once occupied by my great grandfather," Barrett posted on social media platform X. We got it! Appreciate everyone who followed along and showed their support. Thank you to my Freshman colleagues, Republicans AND Democrats, who were kind enough to allow me to select the office once occupied by my great grandfather. https://t.co/yKSDOJUcmu Tom Barrett (@tombarrettmi7) November 21, 2024 "To a person, they were very accommodating," Barrett told the Free Press later. "They appreciated the story and the family connection." Contact Todd Spangler: tspangler@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter@tsspangler This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: US Rep-elect Barrett gets office used by great-grandfather Russia launched a new type of intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) against Dnipro, eastern Ukraine, on the morning of Nov. 21. A U.S. official confirmed to the Kyiv Independent that the U.S. warned Kyiv ahead of the attack that this type of weapon may be used against Ukraine. "Russia likely possesses only a handful of these experimental missiles," the official said, adding that Ukraine has withstood countless attacks from Russia, including from missiles with significantly larger warheads than this weapon. Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed in a televised address to the nation later that day that the attack was a test of Russia's "newest missile," an IRBM called "Oreshnik." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The attack came in the wake of Ukraine's apparent first successful strike on a military target inside Russia using the U.S.-supplied ATACMS missiles. Putin said the strike was a direct response to the U.S. and the U.K. jointly approving Ukraines use of Western-supplied long-range missiles to target Russia. The Russian missile targeted an industrial enterprise in the city, and two fires broke out following the attack, Governor Serhii Lysak said. A rehabilitation center for people with disabilities was damaged as well. At least two people are reported to have been injured. "Russia may be seeking to use this capability to try to intimidate Ukraine and its supporters or generate attention in the information space, but it will not be a game-changer in this conflict," the official told the Kyiv Independent. Little is known about the "Oreshnyk" missile referred to by Putin, but military expert Yan Matveev told IStories that it could be a modified version of the Rubezh. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The RS-26 Rubezh intercontinental ballistic missile is reported to have a range of up to 6,000 kilometers and can carry four warheads, each with an estimated payload of 0.3 megatons. Fabian Hoffmann, a defense expert and doctoral research fellow at the University of Oslo, told the Kyiv Independent that the Rubezh is equipped with a MIRV payload, which stands for Multiple Independent Reentry Vehicles. Ukraine's U.S.-supplied Patriots have been effective at intercepting the ballistic missiles launched by Russia to date, but according to Defense Express, they are not currently optimized to intercept ICBMs. If Russia began to regularly launch ICBMs, Ukraine's air defenses would need to be bolstered by more advanced air defense systems like the THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense), the outlet reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read also: Russia reportedly uses new Oreshnik ballistic missile against Ukraine what we know so far Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) Utahs Hogle Zoo has transferred the Black-footed cat, Gaia, to Cameron Park Zoo in Waco, Tex. The move comes after a breeding recommendation from the Black-footed Cat Consortium, an organization responsible for helping to maintain a genetically diverse, biologically healthy population of black-footed cats under human care, according to a press release from Hogle Zoo. Gaia was reportedly a sensation at Utahs beloved zoo, arriving in 2023 from Fossil Rim Wildlife Center. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 3 Utah children missing since 2022 found living with FLDS Church, returned to mother A small black-footed cat is seen in a South African veld. (Getty Images) Her huge eyes, small demeanor, and vital role in conserving her vulnerable species made headlines across the globe, the release states. Hogle Zoo will reportedly continue to look after Black-footed cats in the future, bringing in kittens and educating the community about these charismatic but deadly cats. The Black-footed cat has a remarkable 60% hunting success rate, in comparison to a rate of only 20-25% among other big cats. They are also the smallest species of wild cat in Africa. Their native habitat is found in the arid eastern parts of Namibia, Central and Southern Botswana, and South Africa. Their name is reportedly derived from having dark pads on their paws. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While their hunting success rate is high, their natural habitat is reportedly challenging for them due to their shyness and preference for nighttime activity. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Homes in North Salt Lake are pictured on Monday, July 15, 2024. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch) Utah lawmakers are gearing up to take another stab at the states housing crisis and the next proposal is taking shape. In its last meeting before the Utah Legislatures 2025 legislative session scheduled to begin on Jan. 21, the Political Subdivisions Interim Committee on Wednesday voted to endorse a draft bill that takes another gentle, optional approach to encourage cities to plan for more affordable housing types in their communities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new bill would allow not force cities and counties to implement a density overlay in a housing-eligible zone of their choice. In other words, the bill would give city leaders another tool in their planning toolbelt to zone for certain, higher-density housing types in areas that are already classified for residential use. If a city were to adopt the so-called density overlay defined in the bill, in that area it would allow a minimum of eight housing units per acre, as well as allow the development of: Single-family homes on small lots that are no more than 5,400 square feet. Diverse housing options that could include a variety of side-by-side or stacked duplexes, triplexes, or fourplexes, courtyard buildings, cottage courts, town homes or live-work mixed use buildings where at least one housing unit sits above a commercial property. Or a combination of single-family homes on small lots and these types of diverse housing options. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill also says that if a city council adopts a density overlay in an area that is undeveloped (meaning no structures have been built at time of adoption), the county could add additional rules. Those requirements could include: Some or all of the homes offered for sale in the density overlay be deed-restricted for up to five years to ensure owner occupancy. Some or all of the homes in the area are offered for sale to an owner-occupier at a purchase price affordable to a household making no more than 120% of the countys area-median income. If theyre rentals, they may be offered for rent at a price point thats affordable to a household earning no more than 80% of the countys area median income. First steps toward a statewide housing plan Additionally, the bill would also direct the states Commission on Housing Affordability to begin preparing a set of regional strategic plans for housing across the state, meant to define success in housing policy for the region and set metrics and goals to address housing shortages and projected population growth in those areas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If passed, the bill would set a deadline of Aug. 31 for the Commission on Housing Affordability to report back to the Political Subdivisions Interim Committee with at least one recommended regional strategic plan for housing, as well as the commissions recommendations for how to divide the state into regions and any recommendations for potential statutory changes necessary to implement a recommended regional strategic plan. The bill largely drafted with input from the Commission on Housing Affordability, which met throughout the year to shape its recommendations for lawmakers in 2025 comes after a legislative audit issued a year ago warned time was running short for policymakers to tackle the states worsening housing crisis. That legislative audit called on lawmakers to create a statewide strategic housing plan, noting there is currently no state-level forecast of housing needs, or efforts to set statewide housing strategy or measure progress toward a common goal. The audit also encouraged lawmakers to explore policy changes like tying land use requirements to projected population growth (as seen in states like California and Oregon) and to consider upzoning, or requiring cities to allow more homes to be built on less land (as seen in Minnesota, Pennsylvania or, more aggressively, New Zealand). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill unveiled Wednesday takes maybe a half-step toward drafting a statewide housing plan starting first with directing the commission to begin by breaking the state up into regions. Steve Waldrip, Gov. Spencer Coxs senior adviser for housing strategy and innovation, told Utah News Dispatch last month that discussions around the statewide plan would likely focus on regional needs and what different types of cities will need to accommodate their housing demands rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. He also indicated that a full blown statewide plan wouldnt be ready for the 2025 session, but lawmakers could take steps to get it started. No mandates A big question heading into the 2025 session is whether lawmakers will take more aggressive steps to tackle the states housing crisis and whether it will use state preemption powers to do it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other proposals could surface and already have, including a bill Rep. Ray Ward, R-Bountiful, is pursuing to make single-family homes and accessory dwelling units a permitted use in urban cities. But the bill unveiled Wednesday and now headed for priority consideration during the session doesnt harness any state powers to force cities to zone for higher density or affordable housing types. Instead, it follows lawmakers past playbook of giving cities options rather than strong-arming them. Senate Majority Whip Mike McKell, R-Spanish Fork, who also co-chairs the Political Subdivisions Interim Committee, said the bill is all about being optional, optional, optional. We stayed away from mandates, McKell said, adding thats been a constant concern of this committee, is having strong mandates in the code. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Obviously, weve got a problem that we need to solve, McKell added, but he said the Commission on Housing Affordability will continue to work on solutions, and this bill seemed like a better approach at this point than handing down local mandates. Cameron Diehl, executive Director of the League of Cities and Towns, thanked lawmakers for the bill and applauded their emphasis on creating the tools, as opposed to the mandates. Over the last few months, Diehl has said the Leagues leaders have been having very similar discussions around the use of potential overlays to facilitate additional opportunities for homeownership and more opportunities for affordable homeownership. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What this is trying to do is create a tool very similar to the tools that we worked on in the 2024 legislative session, Diehl said. So while weve not taken a position on this exact language, we have spent the last couple of months as a league talking about what this sort of overlay could look like and how it facilitates affordable home ownership. Diehl also welcomed more conversations as the bill progresses through the legislative process. McKell called for the interim committee to endorse the bill and advance it for consideration during the 2025 legislative session with the understanding that as the session unfolds the bill could be changed. I think weve got this to a really good, strategic place right now, he said. Affordable housing is an issue were going to be working on for a long time. But I think theres going to be a lot of work where (the League of Cities and Towns) is going to have a lot of input moving forward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The committee voted to endorse the bill, with one no vote from Rep. Paul Cutler, R-Centerville. It now advances for further consideration during the 2025 session. More to come, Rep. Jim Dunnigan, R-Taylorsville, said after the vote. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Cody Stewart warned members of the Utah Legislatures Public Utilities, Energy and Technology interim committee this week about the complexities and challenges of Utah or a third party taking ownership and control of the soon-to-be retired coal units at a Delta power plant. This is not easy. I mean, this is a complex, nuanced, difficult, challenging situation. There arent any easy answers here, said Stewart, chair of the Decommissioned Asset Disposition Authority. And so I just wanted to be blunt about that that this is another one of these issues that will take some time to figure out, and hopefully the information we provide you will help you and assist you to do that. Or maybe a word is missing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Intermountain Power Agency, which owns the Intermountain Power Plant in Millard County, is shuttering its two coal-fired units next year after a mandate passed by California prohibited the use of coal to meet its energy needs. About 98% of the power generated at the 1,900 megawatt plant goes to California. There is a coalition of some municipalities that also take some of the power. The plant is switching to natural gas with a 30% blend of hydrogen as part of its IPP Renewed transformation. It is slated to deliver a much smaller amount of power 840 megawatts to the Southern Transmission System serving southern California. Los Angeles Power and Water, the largest purchaser of power from the plant, is the operator. But the fact that the plant sits in Utah, has rights to Utah water, operates as a political subdivision of the state and has been in several fights with Millard County over the years over tax payments grates on lawmakers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the legislative session earlier this year, lawmakers moved to preserve the operation of the coal-fired power units due to a power grid that is increasingly strained. The authority which Stewart chairs was created with an eye to examining the feasibility including benefits and pitfalls of continuing the operation of those coal-fired units. While retaining the units is a huge undertaking amid a regulatory crackdown on carbon emissions, Stewart said there is room for optimism with the incoming Trump administration. I do think that the playing field has changed dramatically in terms of maybe there are some enhanced flexibilities that we were not expecting a few months ago that may be available now. So that may change a little bit in terms of what the state could look at going forward and this is speculation on my part but based on some potential enhanced flexibilities that the new administration may be willing to grant to the state of Utah. Stewart said in this exploratory phase, the IPA board has been helpful in providing information. The state also tapped the resources of a law firm, Jackson Walker, to do an analysis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Where we stand is we have a preliminary draft report. This is a no excuses zone, said Michael Nassi, a partner in the firm. The state is in the process of revising its pollution plan to be in compliance with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys regional haze rule, and Nassi said the modeling by consultants does not show that continued operation of the coal units puts Utah at risk. The big question was can we actually retain these units without upsetting the apple cart, Nassi said. The preliminary analysis shows that the continued operation of the IPP units will not undermine, will not adversely affect the demonstration that Utah is going to stay below what we call the glide path for achieving natural visibility, Nassi said. Its not a huge surprise to me in my 31 years of experience doing this, but I know its a surprise to some. The modeling is complex. It takes a lot of verification, but its in process. And of course, what this means is that its good news for Utah. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nassi stressed that the preliminary analysis shows the continued operation of the coal-fired power units can be achieved without violating EPA standards, especially if state permitting does not cross the threshold of a major source of pollutants but is regarded as as a minor source of emissions. But his report acknowledged that the plants significant deferred maintenance on the units will require investment. IPA in its correspondence says repairs to the coal units will cost $125 million and there is not a sufficient supply of coal, or even sufficient interest by producers. The 2015 regulations put in place by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency are even a greater hurdle than the costs, it said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The agency says it has not done anything to impede use of the coal-fired units and has even communicated its objection to the EPA over its disapproval of Utahs plan to combat regional haze. Still, the agency said it does not have solutions to the impediments for the continued operation of the coal plants because those solutions do not exist. The Wednesday presentation before lawmakers presented a more optimistic scenario, but did stress the need for transmission of energy from the plant with its coal units that are relatively new. Lawmakers have reasoned that to shutter the coal-fired units completely would be unwise and the states options should be kept flexible given the growing strain on the grid. Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s false claims linking autism to childhood vaccinations are receiving new scrutiny now that President-elect Donald Trump has selected him to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, a sprawling agency with a budget of $1.7 trillion that oversees research into both autism and vaccines. The myth that autism is caused by childhood vaccines proposed in 1998 by a British doctor who was later banned from practicing medicine in the United Kingdom has been thoroughly debunked. Hundreds of studies have found vaccines to be safe. The World Health Organization estimates that over the past 50 years, immunizations have saved 154 million lives around the world. Kennedy, who espouses a number of health-related conspiracy theories, has pointed to vaccines to explain the substantial rise in autism diagnoses in recent decades, which have ballooned from an estimated 1 in 150 children in 2000 to 1 in 36 today. Research suggests that much of that increase is due to increasing awareness and screening for the condition; changing definitions of autism to include milder conditions on the spectrum that werent recognized in previous years; as well as advances in diagnostic technology. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For a very long time, the anti-vaccine movement has been exploiting families of autistic people, promoting a market for pseudo-scientific treatments that dont provide the answers theyre looking for and that can expose autistic people to real harm, said Ari Neeman, co-founder of the nonprofit Autistic Self Advocacy Network and an assistant professor of health policy and management at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. More discredited conspiracy theories linking autism and vaccines are not the answer. Timothy Caulfield, research director at the University of Albertas Health Law Institute in Canada, who studies health misinformation, said that people often are more willing to believe conspiracy theories about conditions such as autism, whose causes are complex and not fully understood, than diseases with clear causes. People seem less inclined to speculate, for example, about alternative explanations for Down syndrome, which causes intellectual disabilities and has long been known to be caused by an extra copy of chromosome 21. Its really a shame because there are vulnerable families [of people with autism] who need our support, said Judith Miller, a clinical psychologist and senior scientist and training director at the Center for Autism Research at Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia. Every dollar and hour spent trying to debunk a conspiracy theory is a dollar and an hour lost that could have been spent trying to understand how to help families. A complex condition Finding the causes of autism is complicated, because its not a single disorder, said Manish Arora, a professor of environmental medical and climate science at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Autism is a spectrum, not a single narrow disease, Arora said. Its many, many things under one umbrella. Although people diagnosed with autism often have similar strengths and challenges, there are many paths to autism and many presentations of autism, Miller said. Scientists have found a variety of risk factors for autism most of which exist before birth but there is no single cause for a neurological and developmental condition that affects how people interact with others, communicate, learn and behave. A number of the traits sometimes seen in people with autism such as being sensitive to loud noises, for example, or finding it difficult to interpret social cues are also found in people who have not been diagnosed with autism. Doctors diagnose autism based on a persons behavior, noting that there is no simple test for the condition, as there is for Covid or diabetes, said Arora, founder and CEO of a start-up company that researches biomarkers for autism and other neurological conditions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Finding the cause of an infectious disease such as influenza, which is caused by the flu virus is much more straightforward. While researchers continue to study the factors that influence the development of autistic traits, the one thing we know doesnt cause autism is vaccines, said Catherine Lord, a psychologist and researcher at the Center for Autism Research and Treatment at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine. Genetic vulnerability Doctors have long known that genes play a large role in autism, simply by noting that autism can run in families. For example, in identical twins who share all of their DNA if one twin has autism, the other usually does, as well. In the case of fraternal twins who share about half their DNA if one fraternal twin has autism, the chance that the other will have autism ranges from 53% to 67%, according to an analysis of research studies. Scientists have identified more than 100 genes related to autism, Miller said, and genes are believed to play a role in 60% to 80% of cases. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The genetics of autism have never been better understood, said Dr. Gregory Cejas, medical director of the Autism Clinical Center and Fragile X Clinic at the Washington University School of Medicine. Were making leaps and bounds about known genetic causes of autism. Yet genes clearly dont explain every case of autism. Autism is very different from conditions like sickle cell anemia or cystic fibrosis, which are caused by a single gene. Scientists believe that people develop autistic traits due to a combination of genetic vulnerability and environmental exposures, Lord said. People have found many, many different genetic patterns associated with autism, but none of them are only associated with autism and none of them are always associated with autism, Lord said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For example, fragile X syndrome caused by a mutated gene on the X chromosome is the most common known cause of autism. But only a fraction of children with the genetic mutation actually develop autism, Miller said. Its possible that this mutation leaves some people more vulnerable to developing autistic characteristics, while others with the same mutations dont develop autistic traits, because they are shielded by protective factors that have not yet been identified. Some people blamed the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine with autism because symptoms of the condition often occur at around 12 to 15 months of age, the same time toddlers get that immunization. But Miller notes that most of the genetic conditions that affect our life and health arent apparent at birth. Symptoms or characteristics wont show up until later, but the genetic code will have been with us the whole time. Prenatal vulnerability Many of the known risk factors for autistic characteristics occur before birth or at the time of delivery, Arora said. Babies who experience complications at birth, such as their umbilical cord becoming wrapped around their neck, have a higher risk of autism. So do babies born prematurely, perhaps because of something that happened in the womb. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Children are also slightly more likely to be diagnosed with autism if they have older fathers and possibly if they have older mothers, Miller said. Its not clear if something in the biology of older parents causes a child to have a higher risk of autism, or if socioeconomic issues could play a role. Its possible that older parents have better access to health care, making it more likely for their child to receive an autism diagnosis. A mothers health influences her childs autism risk in several ways, according to multiple studies: Children have a greater chance of being diagnosed with autism if their mothers were exposed to high levels of air pollution or developed a serious infection, such as the flu or pneumonia, while pregnant. While Neeman, of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, said hes not opposed to basic biological research on autism or its causes, he said those studies do little to help people with autism overcome the barriers they face in their everyday lives. He notes that only 8.4% of the $419 million spent on autism research in the United States is devoted to support and services for people with autism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We need an autism research agenda, he said, that reflects the true priorities of autistic people and our families: supports across the lifespan and inclusion in the community. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com VAN BUREN, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) The Van Buren Police Department says it is looking for a man who was last seen in August, according to a social media post. Chris Paul Widrig, 48, was last contacted by his family and friends on August 30 when he was supposed to be at the Greyhound Bus station in Van Buren, according to information posted on the Missing Persons Database. Chris Widrig, 48 (Courtesy: Van Buren Police Department) VBPD said Widrig was sent money for a bus ticket but it was never retrieved. He has family and friends in Georgia but his last location was in Van Buren. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone with information is asked to contact VBPD at 479-471-5057 or email eadams@vanburencity.org. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24. Editors Note: Call to Earth is a CNN editorial series committed to reporting on the environmental challenges facing our planet, together with the solutions. Rolexs Perpetual Planet Initiative has partnered with CNN to drive awareness and education around key sustainability issues and to inspire positive action. Call to Earth Day - Connected Generations celebrates the links between people and cultures and how these can help to play a vital role in preserving our planet. Bilkuin Jimi Salih doesnt remember how old he was when he learned to dive, only, that all the men in his family can do it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It might have been his grandfather who taught him, or his father, or even an uncle or cousin. He recalls swimming dozens of feet underwater among the reefs, collecting spider conches, abalone and sea cucumbers to sell at the local fish market. One of our specialties is that, because we live on the sea and were always in the sea, we can dive in the water for a long time, says Salih, via a translator. We learn by observing, and from there, we develop our own technique. To most people, Salihs free diving skills are highly unusual; but not to his community. Salih is Bajau Laut, an indigenous seafaring group in Southeast Asia that has lived a semi-nomadic lifestyle on the ocean for centuries. Living on boats and fishing for income and sustenance, the Bajau Laut arent just reliant on the sea: theyre biologically adapted to it, with larger spleens that give them the ability to hold their breath for far longer than the average person. Were very comfortable in the water, says Salih. The 20-year-old was born on board a lepa, a type of houseboat, on the shore of Omadal Island, off the coast of Semporna in Malaysian Borneo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But things are changing. For generations, his family has depended on the sea, keeping time by the rhythm of the tides and asking water deities for safe passage to travel, fish and dive. Their traditional lifestyle has always been low impact: they take only what they need to survive, moving from reef to reef as fish shoals migrate and allowing the ecosystem time to regenerate. We could easily get a bucket of abalone and sea cucumbers before, but now theres hardly any, Salih explains. Other high-value fish are also available less. So for us to rely on the sea as a source of living is now very difficult, very challenging. Like many other Bajau Laut in the region, Salih and his family gave up their houseboat and now live in a stilt house over shallow water. Lepas are costly and difficult to build, he says, and with the little income from fishing, families often cant afford to maintain them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More and more Bajau Laut are abandoning their traditional way of life, making them increasingly vulnerable to environmental changes. In decades gone by, when fish were lacking, families would simply move on. But adopting sedentary lives makes them less adaptable, and more reliant on a specific island or reef. As climate change threatens the marine environment more than ever, the traditions of the Bajau Laut are quickly disappearing. An underwater paradise A green sea turtle in Sipadan Island, Malaysia, a protected marine park that often ranks among the world's best diving sites. - kampee patisena/Moment Open/Getty Images Semporna should be an aquatic paradise. The coastal town is located near the top of the Coral Triangle, a 5.7 million square kilometer (2.2 million square mile) area of extraordinary marine biodiversity that encompasses the waters of six nations. In the 1980s, filmmaker and oceanographer Jacque Cousteau visited Sipadan Island off the coast of Semporna, and described its reefs as an untouched piece of art, turning the area into one of the worlds most coveted dive spots. But the reality is a little different. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The over-exploitation of fish stocks in Southeast Asia is being exacerbated by rising sea surface temperatures and ocean acidity, leading to a loss of fish habitats. In Malaysia, stocks of bottom-dwelling demersal fish are down by up to 90% in some regions. A ocellaris clownfish in Mabul Island, Malaysia. - Brandi Mueller/Moment RF/Getty Images A hypselodoris nudibranch, commonly known as a sea slug, in Mabul Island, Malaysia. - Brandi Mueller/Moment RF/Getty Images Coastal communities living by the sea are highly vulnerable to other climate change phenomena, including coral bleaching, rising sea levels, beach erosion, and extreme weather events, says Adzmin Fatta, program manager at Reef Check Malaysia and co-founder of Green Semporna, both environmental non-profits. The worsening marine environment and scarcity of fish has made many low-income fishers desperate. In a bid to compete with a growing number of commercial fisheries, many have turned to illegal, and often harmful, methods to increase their catch, like blast or cyanide fishing. Fish bombing is cheap and easy, says Fatta. A fish bomb costs around 15 Malaysian ringgit ($3.60) he says but could provide 2,000-to-3,000-ringgit worth of fish ($478 to $717). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fish bombing has been used in the region for decades. By 2010, an estimated 68% of the coral reefs in Sabah the state which occupies the east side of Malaysian Borneo had been damaged by cyanide fishing, and between 2010 and 2018, around 25% of Sabahs monitored reefs were disturbed by blast fishing. Plastic pollution is also a growing problem, adding more pressure to an already fragile marine ecosystem, says Robin Philippo, director of the Tropical Research and Conservation Centre (TRACC), a marine conservation organization working on reef rehabilitation near Semporna. Water bottles, crisp packets, and errant flip-flops are a common sight on the waves, and while many in the local community blame the Bajau Laut, Philippo believes tourism is responsible for the majority of this waste. The carrying capacity of Semporna compared to the waste that is being produced, I think thats the unsustainable factor, he says. Tourism is one of the countrys biggest economic sectors, and in Sabah, its growing rapidly, increasing 120% between 2004 and 2018. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pom Pom Island, where TRACC is based, used to be a major nesting site for the regions endangered green turtles. But now, the island is caught between many of these environmental pressure points. Its reefs have been largely destroyed by blast fishing, and new resorts are damaging the islands remaining beaches, says Philippo. With the amount of construction thats going on right now, the nesting turtles might completely disappear, he adds. Bajau students Haikal Nukiman (left) and Imran Abbisi are interns at TRACC. - Rebecca Cairns/CNN Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement TRACC's turtle hatchery on Pom Pom Island, Malaysia, helps monitor nests on nearby beaches. - Rebecca Cairns/CNN A stateless community Despite living in the region for decades, even centuries, many of the Bajau Laut in Semporna are stateless and not considered Malaysian citizens. This leaves them in legal limbo, with no access to state education, healthcare, or utilities like electricity, water, and waste management. There is limited data on how many stateless people are living in East Malaysia, or their demographics, but a recent population census estimated that 28,000 Bajau Laut are living in Sabah, around 78% of whom are undocumented. The social stigma of statelessness means that, often, theyre excluded from efforts to protect the ocean and their traditional knowledge isnt valued. Adzmin Fatta, who works with many stateless people in Semporna through Reef Check Malaysia, says one of the major challenges to conservation in the area is the unequal opportunities for the coastal communities. Struggling with basic needs like housing, income, and sustenance and without formal citizenship they often dont see themselves as having a role in conservation efforts and are not empowered to tackle environmental issues. The Sabunglanis are one of the few Bajau Laut families left in the region who still live on a lepa, or houseboat. The family matriarchs, Tursina (left) and Satulina (right), are pictured here with their grandchildren. - Rebecca Cairns/CNN It doesnt have to be this way, though. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Indonesias Wakatobi regency, another area where the Bajau, sometimes called Bajo, lives, the groups specialist knowledge was utilized in the creation of a national marine park. Theyre very well immersed in fishing grounds and seasonality, the migration of fish, but theyre also very well aware of areas that are damaged or depleted. They know very much about navigation, currents, and upwelling areas, says Rili Djohani, one of the leaders of this project in the 1990s and early 2000s and now executive director and co-founder of Coral Triangle Center, an NGO. Its maritime wisdom that you can actually build upon in terms of designing, for example, marine protected areas around critical habitats, like fish aggregation areas or coral reefs. However, across the region, Djohani hasnt seen many efforts to support the preservation of the Bajau Laut culture and traditional lifestyle. The lack of economic opportunity in fishing and seafaring occupations is pushing more young people on land to look for work in tourism, she says. There are many ways to meaningfully engage people in conservation activities. But we should not lose sight of how they can earn an income in a sustainable, long-term way for their own families, says Djohani. Drowning in plastic While poverty, statelessness and climate change are threatening the Bajau Lauts cultural relationship with the ocean, some young people in the community are finding new ways to reconnect with the marine environment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Imran Abbisi and Haikal Nukiman are both stateless and live in stilt houses in Kampung Bangau Bangau, a water village near Semporna thats largely made up of stateless people. Like many living in the community, Abbisi and Nukiman have Bajau Laut ancestry but dont want to follow in their parents and grandparents footsteps to spend their lives fishing. It used to be much nicer to spend the time in the ocean, but now theres more trash in the water so its not fun anymore, says Nukiman. Plastic pollution is particularly bad in their village, because theres no proper waste management system, he says, which means its harder to look for shellfish in the shallows. Unable to attend state school, Abbisi and Nukiman attend an alternative school run by education NGO Borneo Komrad, through which they got a four-month internship at marine conservation group TRACC. Abbisi and Nukiman have been heavily involved with the centers turtle hatchery, which monitors the islands beaches for nests, and releases baby turtles back to the ocean. Imran Abbisi (left) and Haikal Nukiman found their internship at TRACC through Borneo Komrad, an NGO helping stateless students access education. - Rebecca Cairns/CNN Borneo Komrad has several locations in Semporna for different age groups. Tertiary students attend its Kampung Air Hujung location, pictured here resting between classes. - Rebecca Cairns/CNN Low tide reveals trash near Borneo Komrad's education center in Kampung Air Hujung, Malaysia. - Rebecca Cairns/CNN Neither Abbisi nor Nukiman learned to free dive when they were growing up. But through TRACC, theyre trying it in a different way: with a PADI open-water scuba dive certificate, which will allow them to monitor the reef, collect data, and install artificial reefs. Abbisi describes his first diving experience as dreamlike, and says that he wants to protect the ocean for a much better world, for a greener world. While both students are enthusiastic about their work with TRACC, they dont know if theyll be able to continue to work in conservation. As stateless people, they will be unlikely to have the luxury of choice and their families rely on them to provide income. Robin Philippo, director of TRACC, hopes that the internship will give them more opportunities in the future, particularly in the eco-tourism and environmental sectors. While TRACC employs a lot of people from the Bajau community in its back-of-house operations, Philippo admits they havent tapped into the communitys knowledge about the ocean as much as they could have, largely because of the language barrier. But he hopes that will change, as young people like Abbisi and Nukiman, who speak Bajau as well as Malay, get more involved. Maintaining traditions A boat rows past the Bajau Laut water village on Omadal Island, Malaysia. - Rebecca Cairns/CNN Back on Omadal, Salih is also trying to teach the next generation about the environment. In addition to his part-time studies at Borneo Komrads alternative university, Salih is a teacher at Iskul Sama diLaut Omadal, a school on Omadal for stateless Bajau Laut, where he teaches Malay. The school also teaches students about marine conservation, pollution and coral restoration, and has also set up a waste management system, to give the community alternatives to throwing trash in the sea. Salih thinks there are opportunities for the community to modernize and grow, while preserving traditions. Many students attend only a morning or afternoon session at Iskul, and spend the rest of their time helping their family to fish or learning how to harvest from the sea. Bilkuin Jimi Salih speaks during an interview with CNN on Omadal Island, Malaysia. - Rebecca Cairns/CNN A welcome sign on Omadal Island, Malaysia. - Rebecca Cairns/CNN We need to learn that skill so that we can continue catching fish for our livelihood, says Salih. And while stilt houses are cheaper to build and easier to repair, at some point, he wants to return to living on a lepa, a houseboat, like the one he was born on. I would like to maintain the traditions, says Salih. I will encourage my children to look and learn from me how to build a boat, and ensure that they also continue teaching it to their children, so that the tradition does not end. This story has been updated with the full name of Iskul Sama diLaut Omadal, and new information about its teaching curriculum. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) Oklahoma City Police and Fire Departments responded to a fire started by truck that crashed into multiple parked vehicles in northeast Oklahoma City on Thursday evening. According to authorities, police arrived to the area near NE 115th Street and Oklahoma Avenue. Officials say a truck drove into three different vehicles that were parked near each other before catching fire. All vehicles were said to have caught fire. Vehicle crash in NE OKC neighborhood sparks fire. (KFOR) Vehicle crash in NE OKC neighborhood sparks fire. (KFOR) Oklahoma City Fire crews were able to knock down the fire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police say the driver was high at the time of the crash and was taken into custody. No injuries were reported. This is a developing story. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City. A vicar was left fearing for her familys safety after being sent hateful letters threatening to kill your bishops, a court heard. The Rev Julie Coleman of St John the Evangelist, Palmers Green, north London, was targeted in a nine-month campaign of harassment. Carlos Nunes, 41, sent the vicar two letters between April 23-29 this year with one letter stating kill the Catholics and Jews in the area and warning that areas are being armed with kids with homemade missile tech to kill your bishops. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The second letter, which was found by the Rev Colemans son at home, ranted about Adolf Hitler, Nazi Germany and Jews and their lies, the court heard. In a victim impact statement read by prosecutor Sian Ors, the Rev Coleman said: I fear for my safety and my children. I fear that if we were in the wrong place and at the wrong time we could get seriously hurt. Nunes, who is unemployed and lives with his mother in Tottenham, appeared in Highbury Corner magistrates court on Friday. He had pleaded not guilty to one charge of sending a letter containing gross and offensive material and one charge of racially or religiously aggravated harassment, but was convicted after a trial on Oct 9. Rev Julie Coleman was targeted by Nunes over a nine-month period - Facebook Bisma Singh, Nuness solicitor, said: He is remorseful. The defendant is currently unemployed and lives with his mother. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No explanation was offered for Nuness actions, with his lawyer saying: The pre-sentence report documents his behaviour and the reason he acted in the way he was thinking. Passing sentence on Friday, District Judge Caroline Jackson told Nunes: I think both of these offences are very serious. You targeted an individual with children, one of the children picked up the letters, and it has clearly had a big impact on Reverend Coleman. At the time it appears you had some relapse in terms of mental health. So if I take all of that into account, I will reduce the sentence from a custodial one to a community order. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nunes will have to complete 150 hours of unpaid work over an 18-month period as well as pay a total of 764 in court charges. He has been ordered to pay back 400 a month. He is forbidden from contacting Rev Coleman again. The Rev Coleman hit the headlines during the wake of the Manchester Arena bombing in 2017, when she vowed to wear her full uniform a black cassock every day until the first anniversary of the atrocity. At the time, she said: It is really personal to me as I have some really good friends in Manchester, including Muslims. The black cassock is my uniform. It is the same as Muslims having theirs; diversity makes us human. 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. BALLWIN, Mo. Family and friends of Bill Sei, 78, walked by rows of American flags as they entered Schrader Funeral Home & Crematory in Ballwin Thursday night. Sei, a U.S. Navy Vietnam veteran, was known for his unwavering support for the Greater St. Louis Honor Flight. Friends attending his visitation shared memories of his kindness. He loved everybody, and he especially loved veterans, Jim Pettit, Greater St. Louis Honor Flight community outreach director, said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During his 11-year tenure as a volunteer with Greater St. Louis Honor Flight, he made phone calls to more than 2,500 veterans to schedule them for their day of honor. Greater St. Louis Honor Flight takes World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War veterans to Washington, D.C., so they can visit the memorials built to honor their service and sacrifice. FOX 2 captured a special moment in 2021 when Seis turn arrived to make the trip to Washington, D.C. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News He always had a smile on his face, Becky Class, Greater St. Louis Honor Flight treasurer and board member, said. He was very humble, giving, and just a loving individual. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said some veterans feel uncomfortable accepting the trip at first. Sei would erase that unease. Any way that we can give back to them, its deserved, Class added. Seis efforts to help veterans experience their journey did not end when those trips ended. He actually ended up being friends with so many of the veterans, Pettit said. Among those paying their respects Thursday night was Michael Beasley, commander of American Legion Post 208 in Manchester. You cant praise Bill enough for the selfless acts that he did, and it wasnt just Honor Flights, he said. It was anything to do with veterans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. If you suspect child abuse or neglect contact the DCFS 24/7 hotline: 855-323-3237. For more information, visit dcfs.utah.gov. SARATOGA SPRINGS, Utah (ABC4) A 42-year-old Virginia man is behind bars tonight, Nov. 21, and faces several child sex crime charges after he allegedly played inappropriate games with children. Robert Paul Walker faces the following charges: One count of failure to register as a sex offender a third-degree felony Five counts of lewdness involving a child a class A misdemeanor One count of tampering with a witness a third-degree felony Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 3 Utah children missing since 2022 found living with FLDS Church, returned to mother According to an affidavit of probable cause, several victims, ranging from 10-12 years old, told police that they played games of Truth or Dare which would escalate to inappropriate dares. Victims said they also played other inappropriate games involving sexual acts. The probable cause statement said that Walker has a history of being a registered sex offender. According to arrest documents, the father of two of the children involved had known Walker for about nine years. Walker had reportedly told the father that he was a sex offender. The father also disclosed that Walker would check his two kids out of school and had an addiction to looking at child sexual abuse material. Police said that Walker told the father of two of the children that he had been grooming them. The father reportedly told police he regretted trusting Walker and allowing Walker to be around his kids. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police had also learned that Walker was only in Utah temporarily and is originally from Virginia, where he was registered as a sex offender. Saratoga Springs police arrested Walker on the prior charges and booked him in Utah County Jail. Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. Nov. 21A local volunteer group has filed a federal lawsuit claiming that a city of Dayton law prohibiting people from distributing food in public spaces downtown without a permit is unconstitutional. Nourish Our Neighbors alleges in a new lawsuit that Dayton's food distribution law violates its members' rights to free expression and engaging in charity. The group claims the ordinance violates constitutional protections under the First and Fourteenth amendments. City leaders and officials previously have said that requiring permits for food distribution is about ensuring safety and quality control. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A city spokesperson last week declined to comment, saying the city does not comment on pending litigation. Last spring, volunteers with Nourish Our Neighbors and other community members were told by Dayton police that they could not hand out food to homeless individuals in public spaces downtown without a permit. Volunteers had been gathering weekly at Courthouse Square to pass out meals to needy individuals. Some people were outraged when a volunteer was arrested by police after he gave a couple of burritos to a homeless man. Police said they had warned the man and other volunteers to cease distribution activities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nourish Our Neighbors said police after that incident continued to hassle the group's members during other meal distribution events downtown and tried to shut down the meal service. For weeks, some activists attended Dayton City Commission meetings to demand that the city's elected leaders rescind the food distribution ordinance. The ordinance was passed nearly two decades ago to put a stop to food service in public spaces in downtown after residents complained about nuisance activities involving homeless people and other attendees. Some downtown residents said that a park by the Dayton Metro Library had become an outdoor cafeteria where people littered, loitered, urinated and defecated in public. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dayton officials in the past have said that the food distribution law ensures that public spaces are kept clean and safe so that everyone can enjoy them. But Nourish Our Neighbors volunteers have accused the city of "criminalizing charity." The group has sued the city of Dayton and City Manager Shelley Dickstein. Nourish Our Neighbors is being represented by the Pacific Legal Foundation, a national nonprofit law firm that says it defends Americans threatened by government overreach and abuse. "Nourish Our Neighbors' volunteers are acting on their belief that society and the government have failed the homeless," Anastasia Boden, a senior attorney with Pacific Legal Foundation, said in a prepared statement. "Dayton can't force individuals who simply want to help the hungry to get an onerous, expensive and needless permit." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The city's food distribution ordinance requires people who want a permit to pay a non-refundable $50 application fee and submit information to the city manager about plans for restrooms, parking, traffic, crowd control, safety and other considerations. Some volunteers say the fee is a big burden. Nourish Our Neighbors says it cleans up after its events. Nourish Our Neighbors claims in its lawsuit that sharing food and feeding the hungry is a fundamental right. The group says requiring a permit to engage in charity violates the First Amendment and the due process and equal protection clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) The Columbus City Schools Board of Education has a difficult decision coming up: theyll soon vote on whether to close or merge nine school district buildings. During Thursday nights special meeting, board members discussed how some of them visited each of the nine schools. The board received a report in the summer from the superintendents office detailing which nine buildings should be closed or merged, but this was their first time seeing the schools since reading the report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Walking into those buildings, seeing these programs and services, it was a completely different experience, school board president Christina Vera said. It brought life to what we had been reading and, in some cases, made us question some of what we had been reading. After their visits, board members agreed that many of the buildings were old, outdated and had some infrastructure issues. Lindbergh Elementary School is one of the nine up for closure or consolidation, and after visiting, board members questioned why this one was on the list. Vera said this shows there is still a lot to consider before a vote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im just really proud of the work and the progress, but recognizing theres a lot more work to be done, she said. Vera said she hopes a vote will be on a meeting agenda sometime in December. She said she envisions the board voting on each school separately because the nine buildings are not a package deal. Once the vote does happen, Vera said she hopes students, families and staff can understand their decision. I can understand the potential, maybe, frustration or maybe even the unknown, but understanding that we really did take our time and our due diligence to visit, to ask the questions and to think about the larger vision of this district, Vera said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the special meeting, all the board members confirmed they are on the right track to make a decision soon. Vera said the goal is to hold the vote before the end of the year. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) Ohioans could decide next election whether to pass a proposed voting rights amendment that would permit counties to set multiple early vote locations, allow for same-day registration, and relax photo ID requirements. Proponents of the proposed constitutional amendment, named The Ohio Voters Bill of Rights, can begin collecting signatures after the Ohio Ballot Board ruled Monday that the proposal is singularly focused. Had the board decided otherwise, the proposal wouldve been split up and proponents wouldve been required to circulate multiple petitions. Republicans select next Ohio Speaker of the House Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Voters Bill of Rights would make several changes to Ohios voting process, like creating a system to update a persons voter registration automatically when visiting the BMV and overturning state law requiring a government-issued photo ID to vote in person. Attorney Jyoti Jasrasaria argued during the Monday meeting that the proposal should not be divided because each of these changes relates to voting. Here, each and every provision of the amendment relates to voting and, in particular, facilitating and securing the right to vote, Jasrasaria said before the boards vote, representing the proponent group named Ohio Organizing Collaborative. When a similar ballot measure was proposed in 2020, the Supreme Court ordered the ballot board to certify it as a single amendment. While Secretary of State Frank LaRose, the chair of the board, ultimately voted to keep the amendment as is, he argued that the proposal includes three broad subject areas. LaRose spoke against some of the proposals provisions, like same-day voter registration that he said could lead to a non-U.S. citizen submitting a fictitious registration. As Bitcoin skyrockets, a pending Ohio bill changing its use may be stuck Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The reason Ohio hasnt done [same-day registration] is that it takes away the time period necessary for the boards of elections to make sure that that is in fact a valid registration, that its not a made-up address, LaRose said during the meeting. It seems like this would really weaken our ability to protect that essential part of our process. Now, Ohio Organizing Collaborative can begin collecting the nearly 443,000 signatures needed in order for the proposed amendment to appear on the ballot. However, the group has yet to decide whether theyll aim to have Ohioans vote on the proposal during elections in 2025 or in 2026. [The proposal] is certainly meant to facilitate and expand the right to vote and this is a people-powered amendment that means to restore the right of a people-powered democracy to all eligible Ohioans, Jasrasaria said. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. Walmart must pay almost $35 million to one of its former truck drivers after a California jury found the retailer had falsely accused him of workers' compensation fraud and wrongfully terminated him. A San Bernardino County jury this week ordered Walmart to pay driver Jesus "Jesse" Fonseca $25 million in punitive damages, plus $9.7 million for future non-economic losses including enjoyment of life and mental suffering. The jury found that Walmart had falsely accused him of violating its integrity policy under its statement of ethics, attorneys for Fonseca said in a statement to CBS MoneyWatch. Walmart called the verdict "outrageous" and said it "simply does not reflect the straightforward and uncontested facts of this case." "Accordingly, we will pursue all available remedies," a Walmart spokesperson told CBS MoneyWatch. Fonseca, who worked at Walmart's Apple Valley distribution center in San Bernardino County for 14 years, was injured when another semi-truck slammed into his Walmart semi-truck from behind during a June 2017 shift for the company, his attorneys alleged in a 2019 lawsuit against the retailer. He filed a workers' compensation claim for his injuries, and was instructed by doctors not to push, pull or lift anything over 10 pounds, as well as to stop driving a commercial vehicle. Walmart failed to accommodate these work restrictions, the lawsuit alleges. Fonseca, who was placed on medical leave, was ultimately terminated, allegedly because Walmart surveilled him and discovered he'd driven a personal vehicle, according to his attorneys. Fonseca understood that he was allowed to drive personal vehicles, and was only restricted from driving commercially. The evidence in the trial "showed that Walmart's defamation of Jesse was part of a broader scheme to use false accusations to force injured truckers back to work prematurely or, if not, terminate them so that Walmart can cut down workers' compensation costs," said Beverly Hills trial lawyer David M. deRubertis, an attorney for Fonseca. Another attorney for Fonseca, Mohamed Eldessouky of Eldessouky Law, APC, said in a statement provided to CBS MoneyWatch that the verdict "sends a clear message." "If a company decides to question someone's character and integrity, it must do so carefully and honestly. Walmart should rethink how it treats the hardworking drivers who are the backbone of its business," Eldessouky said. Lowrider cars celebrated as cultural symbol among Mexican Americans | 60 Minutes GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colo. (KREX) The U.S. Marshals Services Colorado Violent Offender Task Force (COVOFT) in Grand Junction recently assisted in apprehending a Glenwood Springs man in Virginia. On Wednesday, Connor Dodgen, 31, was arrested after COVOFT officers from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation found a potential address for him. He is charged with multiple felony charges related to the sexual exploitation of a child in Garfield County. An arrest warrant for Dodgen was originally issued on Aug. 27 by the Glenwood Springs Police Department and the Garfield County Sheriffs Office. After learning he probably fled the county, the U.S. Marshals were requested on Nov. 13. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Working with U.S. Marshals in Virginia, and the Powhatan County Sheriffs Office, law enforcement discovered Dodgen was in Powhatan, Virginia. Id like to thank all involved personnel from the Eastern District of Virginia for the quick and safe arrest of this fugitive, District of Colorado U.S. Marshal Kirk Taylor said in a press release. I would also like to thank and recognize the amazing work of our COVOTF Task Force Officers in Grand Junction from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation who discovered this fugitives location far from Colorado. COVOFT is a multi-jurisdictional task force that targets the most violent offenders, including those wanted for murder, sex offenses, assault and other serious offenses throughout Colorado and the U.S., the press release said. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WesternSlopeNow.com. HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP) A man was arrested in Holyoke in connection with an armed robbery. Holyoke police arrest attempted murder suspect On Thursday, the Massachusetts State Police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section assisted Holyoke police in arresting 34-year-old Joseph Albelo. He was taken into custody on a warrant and faces armed robbery charges. No additional information was released in the case however, Albelo was sentenced in 2016 to three years in prison for stabbing a police dog in connection with an armed robbery in Holyoke. 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. The war in Ukraine has reached a "decisive phase," and the latest events demonstrate the real threat of a "global conflict," Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Nov. 22. Tusk's comments came in the wake of Russia's attack on Dnipro a day earlier, in which Moscow claims a new missile, an intermediate-range ballistic missile (ICBM) called "Oreshnik," was tested. Speaking at the Congress of the Polish Teachers' Union, Tusk referred to what he called "the events of the last dozen hours" as demonstrating there is a "serious and real threat of global conflict." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It would be hard for me not to say a few fundamental words today about the situation, because it is historic," he said in comments reported by Polish outlet Radio Zet. "The war in the east is entering its decisive phase. We all know it. We feel that the unknown is approaching. None of us knows the end of this conflict, but we know that it is currently taking on very dramatic dimensions." Russian President Vladimir Putin on Nov. 21 said his country had launched its "newest missile" in the attack on Dnipro, eastern Ukraine that morning. He said the test was in response to Ukraine targeting facilities in Russia's Kursk and Bryansk oblasts with long-range, Western-supplied ATACMS and Storm Shadow missiles on Nov. 19 and 20. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Oreshnik missile is designed to carry nuclear weapons. However, Putin said it was not armed with a nuclear warhead in this instance. Poland, one of Ukraine's staunchest supporters, is being pressured by Russia over the new U.S. missile defense base that opened in northern Poland on Nov. 13, as reported by Reuters. Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski also announced on Nov. 19 that key EU countries are ready to increase military and financial aid to Ukraine if the U.S. reduces its support. Read also: Investigation: Who helped Russians increase production of domestic attack drones despite sanctions Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Nov. 22Wasilla Republican Rep. David Eastman has filed a lawsuit that could put in jeopardy provisions meant to alleviate the cost of child care for Alaska families. Eastman is challenging a bill over what is called the "single-subject rule," which requires that provisions adopted in a single bill all relate to one topic. He is suing Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy and the state over Senate Bill 189, which was adopted by lawmakers earlier this year and became law without Dunleavy's signature in October. In a lawsuit filed Wednesday in Juneau Superior Court, Eastman represented by Juneau attorney Joe Geldhof alleged the adoption of the bill violated the Alaska Constitution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill extends the operations of several boards and commissions, including the Big Game Commercial Services Board, the Board of Massage Therapists and the Marijuana Control Board. On the final day of the session, however, the bill was amended to include a new state tax credit for certain corporations that contribute to the cost of child care or offer their employees child care, along with other changes to the state's existing child care assistance programs. The child care tax credit which was estimated to cost the state millions of dollars per year was endorsed by Dunleavy, who introduced it in a bill earlier this year. When Senate Bill 189 came to his desk last month, he quietly allowed it to become law without his signature. Its passage was celebrated by child care advocates who said the provisions included in the bill would help address ballooning costs for families in the state. The child care provisions almost failed to pass during the legislative session that concluded in May. In the waning hours of the session, as many bills were condensed into others in order for them to pass before they ran out the clock. Legislators added the child care provisions into an already expansive bill. The bill ultimately passed 33-7 in the House and 17-3 in the Senate. The 10 lawmakers who voted against the measure were all Republicans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the time, a legislative attorney told lawmakers that the bill even before the child care provisions were added "may violate the constitutional provision that limits bills to one subject." "I cannot identify a single subject that would unite all these subjects in a way that would likely withstand a challenge," attorney Allison Radford wrote in a May memo. Article II, Section 13 of the Alaska Constitution states that "every bill shall be confined to one subject unless it is an appropriation bill or one codifying, revising, or rearranging existing laws." Lawmakers who supported the legislation said after it passed that they thought the bill either wouldn't lead to a legal challenge because of the popularity of the child care provisions it included, or that it could withstand the challenge under a lenient interpretation of the single-subject rule. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his lawsuit, Eastman asked the court to stop the Dunleavy administration from executing the legislation, meaning that the various provisions enacted in the bill could be axed. The lawsuit alleged that the bill should not be allowed to become law because "the multiple subjects contained in SB 189 do not fall under one general idea." In an interview Friday, Eastman said the lawsuit was not motivated by the content of the bill, but by the way it rolled multiple unrelated policies into a single measure. "There's no problem with combining bills that are similar in subject matter. The constitution only draws the line when it is different subject matters, and I think clearly in this case, there are different subject matters. You've got child care issues and marijuana issues. There's no connection between those two things," said Eastman. Eastman said he thought that Dunleavy's decision to allow the legislation to go into law without his signature indicated the governor was already aware that there could be a "straightforward" legal challenge to bill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Spokespeople for the Alaska Department of Law did not immediately respond to questions about the lawsuit and the administration's plan for defending the bill. Eastman, who represents a Wasilla district, was defeated in the recent election and is not set to return to Juneau next year, marking the end of an era in which he was often rebuked for inflammatory remarks or otherwise causing friction among lawmakers. He drew repeated repudiations from his Republican colleagues, who refused to let him join the GOP caucus. Eastman said he planned to continue to be involved in "the battles of freedom." "Whether we're fighting for them in the Legislature or outside, I will keep fighting for those things," he said. Nov. 21For District Judge Henry Moore, it came down to one charge forgery. He grew quiet after listening to five hours of testimony in the case against a North Versailles woman accused of stealing money from the Pennsylvania attorney general's North Huntingdon office and the McKeesport branch of the NAACP. It was obvious to Moore that prosecutors had presented enough evidence Thursday that Brenda D. Sawyer, 61, likely was involved in the theft. But he said he struggled with deciding if there was enough evidence to hold the forgery charge for trial on accusations that she forged the name of the local NAACP treasurer to open a bank account. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "There are things that keep jumping through my head," Moore said. One of them was testimony from Westmoreland County Detective Ray Dupilka that indicated the NAACP bank account, which held grant money designated for reducing community violence, bore Sawyer's name and address, rather than a post office box the branch uses for its other accounts. Another was testimony from Mary Jane Kirby, NAACP McKeesport branch treasurer, who said she didn't have any role in opening the account. Prosecutors allege her name was forged on a document to open the account. "It wasn't my signature," she testified. "It said my name, but the signature wasn't even close." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moore ultimately held the forgery charge, and six others against Sawyer, for trial, though he said he thought the defense has a good argument on that count. Six witnesses testified during Sawyer's preliminary hearing Thursday. She was arrested in September on charges of dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities, forgery, obstruction, tampering with evidence and three counts of theft. She is accused of stealing $121,000 from the attorney general's North Huntingdon office, where she was regional director of the Bureau of Narcotics Investigation and Drug Control until retiring in February. She also is accused of stealing $52,650 from the McKeesport branch of the NAACP, according to court papers. Financial discrepancies at the North Huntingdon office came to light after Sawyer's retirement. She is accused of writing checks from two accounts agents use to make undercover and controlled buys of narcotics and depositing them into her personal accounts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eight evidence envelopes containing nearly $76,000 from the office's asset forfeiture evidence storage were missing during an audit, according to court papers. "She's using all of these funds as if they are her own," Assistant District Attorney James Lazar said. Dupilka testified that both Sawyer's personal bank accounts and her Rivers Casino players club account showed activity that corresponded with money removed from the attorney general accounts. He said there was an instance on June 1, 2023 when Sawyer made several deposits and withdrawals in various accounts, which prosecutors argued was indicative of money laundering. There were numerous cash withdrawals at the casino from the bank account designated for the NAACP community violence grant fund, according to court papers. Sawyer used NAACP money at the casino in the past, Kirby testified. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kirby first learned a few years ago of money being taken out of a general branch account, for which Sawyer had a debit card, at the casino. Sawyer claimed her personal debit card wasn't working and promised to put the money back into the NAACP account, Kirby said. "I didn't think it was a big deal because the money was placed back," Kirby said, adding that she didn't like the situation because the branch has to send their bank account statements to the national organization. When it happened a second time, Sawyer's debit card access was taken away, Kirby testified. "I told her that I just didn't think that was good book keeping," she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Michael Kanuch, who succeeded Sawyer as regional director, testified that he also encountered a situation with his former boss that caused him concern. That was in 2019 when Sawyer claimed she needed money to help with an investigation in McKeesport and took cash out of a safe deposit box at the bank, he said. Kanuch testified that he didn't know if the situation was legitimate or not, but he didn't question her "She's the boss" and privately created documentation of it. A couple months later, he saw that the money had been deposited back into attorney general accounts, but he had no way to verify if the serial numbers of the cash matched up. "It just didn't seem right to me and I was a little uncomfortable with it," Kanuch said. He and other employees testified about policies at the North Huntingdon office that call for agents to make formal requests of funds for drug buys. Checks were typically written out to the individual agent. But Sawyer had cash in her office and would sometimes give it to agents who requested it, according to testimony. That was not common practice at other regional offices around the state, said special agent Ryan Caputo, who works in the agency's internal affairs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Defense attorney Phil DiLucente focused his argument on the forgery count, saying that there was no evidence presented that Sawyer was the person who wrote Kirby's name to open the account. It is one of two counts Sawyer is charged with that, if convicted, could potentially result in the loss of her state pension. "That forgery charge ... it just wasn't proven," DiLucente said in asking for it to be dismissed. "There's just not a scintilla of evidence." Dupilka conceded that he doesn't have any direct evidence, but Lazar argued that circumstantial evidence indicated Sawyer was behind the forgery. Information obtained by the Trib under a request through the state's Right-to-Know Law showed that Sawyer received an initial lump-sum payment of $229,596.50 in member contributions plus interest on April 23. Money was taken out of that to repay the state some of the missing funds. Dupilka testified that about $75,000 has not been repaid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sawyer has received a gross monthly payment of $6,098.06 since her retirement, according to information provided by the state employment retirement system. She made an estimated $130,000 as a state employee. The Public Employee Pension Forfeiture Act requires a Pennsylvania State Employees' Retirement System member or participant who commits certain crimes related to their public office or employment to give up all pension and retirement benefits. Forfeiture comes into play when the person is convicted of or pleads guilty or no contest to a list of criminal offenses. In Sawyer's case, that appears to be forgery and tampering with records or physical evidence. Renatta Signorini is a TribLive reporter covering breaking news, crime, courts and Jeannette. She has been working at the Trib since 2005. She can be reached at rsignorini@triblive.com. Even Newsmax is turning its back on Representative Nancy Maces transphobic bathroom stunt. Speaking with Indiana Representative Erin Houchin about Maces recent efforts to keep Representative-elect Sarah McBridethe first openly transgender person to be elected to Congressout of the Capitol complexs womens restrooms, the far-right networks hosts struggled to point to any statistics that actually warranted the conspiracy. Do you have any idea how often an attack happens involving a trans person in a restroom? I havent heard of any cases at all, pressed Newsmax host Katie McCall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just because there arent cases of attack doesnt mean that having a man in a womans facility is not a violation of their privacy, Houchin said, before referring to an instance in 2023 when police were called on a 50-year-old transgender swimmer in a womens locker roomin Canada. when you've lost Newsmax ... pic.twitter.com/gHL0Ntz5q3 Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) November 22, 2024 Statistically speaking, the threat that transgender people pose to the sanctity of public restrooms is zilch. A 2018 study from the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law found that bathroom-related nondiscrimination laws pose practically no risk to women, and that claims to the contrary are little more than myths that are not empirically grounded. Even Maces own ex-staffers have gone nuclear on her over the transphobic stunt on McBride. On Wednesday, the lawmakers former communications director Natalie Johnson said that Maces attacks on McBride were little more than a ploy to get on Fox. Tweeting 262 times about a bill that applies to like .00000001% of Congress in 36 hours is definitely about protecting women. Its certainly not just a ploy for media attention, Johnson tweeted. Instagram / @Rhodes4pal Rhodes scholars have demanded the Oxford University programme stop aiding and abetting genocide in a protest at a formal dinner. Students at a gathering for the scheme, the oldest graduate scholarship in the world, were filmed wearing keffiyehs while a young woman gave a speech calling for it to divest materially from aiding and abetting occupation and genocide today. The speaker in the video is seen calling on fellow guests to stand in solidarity, stating: By standing we reject apartheid, settler colonialism, and our material investment in them globally from Kashmir to Puerto Rico. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She also mentions conflicts around the world, citing Lebanon, Syria, Yemen and Ukraine, as wars that require attention. The Rhodes Trust which manages the scholarship has a large investment portfolio which funds the programme. And in online material Rhodes scholars argued that the scheme needs to divest from funds linked to the state of Israel. Scholarship funds are also held by Barclays, which has been targeted by activists over its perceived links to the Middle Eastern state. The programme, founded by British diamond manager Cecil Rhodes, funds foreign students to study at Oxford. Scholars receive 20,000 a year in addition to having their fees paid for, but beneficiaries have turned against the programmes founder and namesake in recent years. Moral imperative to take action The dinner protest appeared to have been filmed by a group called Rhodes for Palestine. It is the latest dispute to engulf Oxford since students set up camp on university land in a pro-Palestine protest that caused some exams to be cancelled after activists stormed a building on campus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This group of Rhodes scholars has stated that while the Rhodes Trust has made significant efforts to confront the vast and irreparable harms of Cecil Rhodes colonial legacy, it must do more. A call to action by the group states that the Trust has a moral imperative to take action towards ending Israels ongoing violence against Palestinians. It further claims that the Middle East deeply parallels the histories of colonial violence and apartheid in Southern Africa. The group has called on the Rhodes Trust on Oxford University Endowment Management, which holds the majority of the Rhodes Trusts assets, to divest from the State of Israel, and to drop any companies sustaining Israeli occupation. Latest row to centre on Cecil Rhodes The divestment campaign is the latest row to centre on Rhodes, an empire-builder and prime minister of the Cape Colony, who made his fortune mining diamonds in colonial southern Africa. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some have accused him of laying the groundwork for apartheid, although he died in 1902, before the South African National Party formally introduced the system in 1948. In 2016, Ntokozo Qwabe, a South African Rhodes scholar, began a campaign to have a statue of Rhodes removed from the exterior of Oriel College, which he had supported financially. Mr Qwabe later refused to stand with France following the Islamist murders of Charlie Hebdo staff, instead accusing France of pursuing imperialism, colonialism, and other violent barbarities. Oriel opted not to take down the Rhodes sculpture, following reports that donors would pull their funding to the college if it bowed to activist demands. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Calls for the removal of the statue were renewed in 2020, following Black Lives Matter protests, but the college again refused to remove it. 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. WAVYs Navy Ship Salute is a feature on WAVY News 10 Today. Each month, in partnership with the U.S. Navy, WAVY-TV 10 will profile a different ship based at the worlds largest Navy base: Naval Station Norfolk. The series aims to better introduce our viewers to some of the largest floating taxpayer assets there are, as well as life aboard a U.S. Navy ship. NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) For this WAVY Navy Ship Salute, 10 On Your Side went on board USS Nantucket. The Freedom-class littoral combat ship was commissioned in Boston on Nov. 16, 2024. Our team was able to go on board to see the modern day technology this ship will utilize during its brief stop at Naval Station Norfolk before heading off to Jacksonville, Florida. A crew of about 75 people may sound humble when compared to other ships, but the enthusiasm is anything but. They loudly greeted our news crew with loud cheers, alongside their mascot. A crew member dressed in a whale suit clapped at the end of the line, affectionately named Thirsty the Whale. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ship is named after the island of Nantucket, and to build a esprit de corps, we picked the whale as our symbol to build camaraderie throughout the ship, explained CO Kari Yakubisin. So I blame the junior officers for that one. But I think its brought a lot of joy to the whole crew. That joy could be felt from bow to stern. Behind the positive mental attitudes are a keen laser-sharp focus on preparing USS Nantucket for action. After refueling and gathering supplies in Norfolk, it is off to Florida for the usual prep work put into a new ship. Over the next six or eight months well test the rest of the equipment on the ship to make sure it works, that if things break, that we can get them fixed, shoot the guns, operate the engines, Yakubisin said. Over the next couple of years, once we finish that up, the ship will be ready to play. The technology stands out from much of the fleet. This is plainly obvious inside the pilot house, with a modern control board to move the ship. Only three people need to be inside to pilot USS Nantucket. On older ships, you would need between ten and 15 people to drive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So we are able to be this minimally manned because of all the technology thats available to us, like autopilot, which steers incredibly well when were out at sea, explained auxiliaries officer LT. Junior Grade Meghana Komarraju. Another very cool steering feature that we have is Tiller mode right here. So you can kind of think of it like a video game. Up front, the Mount 110 is a 57 millimeter gun, able to shoot 220 rounds per minute. LT. Junior Grade McKenzie Eshleman said it can shoot all the way to the horizon. She also spoke to us about how the smaller ship just uses one anchor. She recalled crew members putting their search and rescue skills to the test while in Lake Erie. We received a mayday call from a sailboat, Eshleman said. They were in gale force winds. So we actually came alongside, brought the sailboat next to us, and the Coast Guard came in and helped evacuate the sailboat captain. So, saving his life. Weather permitting, U.S.S. Nantucket begins its trip to Jacksonville sometime on Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy asked Detroit police for a list of names of over 30 officers who were working without active law enforcement licenses, her office said Friday morning. Yesterday afternoon I was informed by (Interim) Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison that there is a certification issue that affects 34 officers," Worthy said in a written statement. I asked DPD for an immediate list of the names of the officers and other information." It's still unclear how this will affect criminal cases that involved the affected officers.Worthy said she's already received some preliminary information from Bettison. She said she will determine her next steps after she receives all information on the issue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: At least 32 Detroit police officers have been working without active law enforcement licenses The affected officers were hired between Nov. 2019 and Aug. 2024, according to the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards confirmed. Detroit police said the licenses were inactive or lapsed because the department failed to submit the proper paperwork to the state when the officers were hired. MCOLES said those documents include an affidavit from the head of department saying the officer is fit to be a law enforcement officer. It's against state law for an officer to exercise law enforcement authority without an active license. The officers were taken off the streets and put on administrative duties. Detroit police said in a statement on Thursday that it was not aware of the issue. The oversight is not "indicative of the quality of work each member performs on a day-to-day basis," Detroit police said, adding that its officers received proper training. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MCOLES will review the status of every affected officer and will determine if they are eligible for reactivation of their law enforcement licenses, the state agency said, and it will collaborate with Detroit police "to audit its entire roster and ensure all officers are actively licensed." Andrea Sahouri covers criminal justice for the Detroit Free Press. Contact her at asahouri@freepress.com or on X: @andreamsahouri. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Prosecutor Worthy wants list of Detroit police without active licenses The Surfrider Foundation and Oregon Shores Conservation Coalition joined forces in the Oregon Beaches Forever campaign to address the long-term future of Oregons beaches and explore policies for protecting them. The third of three free webinars, "Building Climate Resilience for the Oregon Shore," co-sponsored by the Oregon King Tides Project, takes place at 6 p.m. Dec. 6, presented by Peter Ruggiero. Ruggiero, a professor in the College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences at Oregon State University, has over two decades of experience in assessing the impacts of storms and climate change to beaches and dunes. For information, and to register for the webinar, go to bit.ly/4enSzf8. Nov. 21 (UPI) -- A volcano on Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula erupted for the seventh time since December in the southwest area of the island nation. The latest eruption created a fissure measuring nearly 2 miles in length after the eruption began at about 11 p.m. local time Wednesday night, according to Iceland's Meteorological Office. The fissure stopped expanding about three hours after the eruption, which was much smaller than the last eruption in the same area on Aug. 22, the Met Office reported. That eruption produced a fissure measuring 2.5 miles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The eruption is in the same place as the last one in August," Icelandic Tourist Board spokesperson Snorri Valsson told CNN. "The town of Grindavik is not threatened by the lava flow." Wednesday night's eruption did not interfere with air traffic to and from Iceland on Thursday, but it did prompt the evacuation of two hotels at Iceland's Blue Lagoon and a geothermal energy plant. Valsson said about 60 people were evacuated from Grindavik, as well as those who were at the power plant and the two hotels at the Blue Lagoon. The Blue Lagoon already was empty because the eruption occurred after its closing time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The eruption peaked at about 2 a.m., according to the Meteorological Office. The Reykjanes Peninsula in southwestern Iceland has produced 10 eruptions since January 2020. Iceland is one of the most active areas for volcanic activity in the world and is situated along an active geological boundary between Europe and North America. The volcanic activity is caused by the earth being pulled apart along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge instead of being a cone that erupts magma through a central chamber, University of Cincinnati earth sciences professor Thomas Algeo told ABC News. The eruptions on Iceland typically are less dangerous than cone-type eruptions because the lava flows are slower there and much less violent than volcanic eruptions located in the Earth's subduction zones, Algeo said. In addition to frequent eruptions, Iceland also is prone to seismic activity and one day in 2023 recorded more than 1,000 earthquakes over a 24-hour period. As storm after storm impacts the West Coast, producing intense and flooding rainfall, power-outage-inducing winds and over a foot of mountain snow, AccuWeather meteorologists are tracking where the storm track will shift next. The answer: inland from the West Coast into the northern Rocky Mountains and far northern Plains. Over the weekend, Arctic air blasted southward out of Canada into Montana and the Dakotas, setting the stage for the incoming storm to bring wintry conditions across the region. High temperatures on Saturday across portions of Canada, such as southern Alberta, Saskatchewan and far southwestern Manitoba, reached only into the teens and crested the lower to middle 20s Fahrenheit. Farther south into northern Montana, North Dakota and Minnesota, high temperatures will range from the teens and 20s F in the higher elevations and along the Canadian border. Deeper into the Front Range and North Central states, daytime temperatures will rise to only the 30s and 40s F for places like Rapid City, South Dakota, Denver, Colorado and Mankato, Minnesota. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many locations spanning central and northeastern Montana, western Wyoming and far northern North Dakota, will pick up between 1-3 inches and 3-6 inches while larger totals are likely to pile up in the higher terrain of the Idaho and Montana Rockies and into southern Canada, where snow depths can range to 6-12 inches and even as high as 12-18 inches. "The weekend forecast across the northern Rockies may have ski enthusiasts getting excited for fresh powder at area ski resorts as a storm is expected to bring a fresh round of snow. While a majority of the heaviest snow will fall north of the U.S. border, the potential for plowable snow exists across the far northern tier of the United States," explained AccuWeather Meteorologist Brandon Buckingham. The AccuWeather Local StormMax for this weekend storm is 30 inches, with the likelihood for the highest snowfall accumulations to occur across the southern Canadian provinces of southeastern Alberta and Saskatchewan. "Aside from the immediate impacts felt from the snow falling this weekend, this storm will also help to lay out fresh snow and a gateway for colder air to flow out of Canada and into the United States right around the end of the month. Snow can act to keep temperatures at the surface lower than surrounding areas without snow cover, making it easier for cold Canadian air to retain its bitterly cold feel even as it presses well into the states," noted Buckingham. GET THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Travelers hoping to navigate Marias Pass in Montana, at an elevation of over 5,200 feet, should closely monitor the ongoing weather conditions this weekend and prepare for alternative routes with upwards of a foot of snow expected along the corridor. While the winter impacts from the storm began to wane Sunday morning across portions of Montana and the Rockies, but zones just to the east in the far northern Plains will have to wait until later Sunday night for the snow to taper off. Early this week, snowflakes can return to the Great Lakes region as a storm reorganizes over parts of Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana and Michigan. Along the southern flank of the storm, periods of rain are expected to douse the Ohio Valley and eventually the Northeast as the system treks north and eastward. It will eventually swirl into southeastern Canada. Along the West coast, forecasters warn that the train of storms and winter impacts will not come to an end just yet. The active pattern looks to continue early this week as well with another storm entering the West Coast. Buckingham noted that the next storm is expected to be focused farther south as it enters the West Coast to bring rain and mountain snow to Central and Southern California, the Great Basin and into the central Rockies between the end of the weekend and Wednesday of this week. Want next-level safety, ad-free? Unlock advanced, hyperlocal severe weather alerts when you subscribe to Premium+ on the AccuWeather app. AccuWeather Alerts are prompted by our expert meteorologists who monitor and analyze dangerous weather risks 24/7 to keep you and your family safer. US and European officials see deterrence as a possible guarantee of security for Ukraine, in particular through the creation of conventional weapons stockpiles that would allow for an effective strike in the event of a possible ceasefire violation by Russia. Source: The New York Times Quote from NYT: "US and European officials are discussing deterrence as a possible security guarantee for Ukraine, such as stockpiling a conventional arsenal sufficient to strike a punishing blow if Russia violates a cease-fire." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: NYT reports that in addition, some officials have even suggested that current US President Joe Biden could return Ukraine's nuclear weapons, which were withdrawn after the collapse of the Soviet Union, as a deterrent. However, such a move would likely be complex and have serious consequences. Background: Russian officials believe that Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin is ready for a dialogue with Donald Trump on a ceasefire in Ukraine, but he rules out the liberation of occupied territories and insists that Ukraine abandon its NATO aspirations. Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin, said that Putin would not be satisfied with freezing the war in Ukraine, although he is supposedly prepared to negotiate with Kyiv. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expects support from US President-elect Donald Trump in the event of talks between Kyiv and Moscow regarding the war, and he said a "strong Ukraine" would be the foundation of those talks. Support UP or become our patron! On Thursday evening, President Vladimir Putin addressed the Russian people on the escalation of the Ukraine War. Putin vowed to strike military facilities of countries that use their weapons against Russian facilities and warned that in case of escalation of aggressive actions, we will respond resolutely in a mirror way. Putin also decried the increasingly global character of the Ukraine War and blamed the West for this trend. Putins incendiary comments should be taken with a big grain of salt. Since Russian Colonel General Anatoly Nogovitsyn warned of a nuclear attack on Poland over its hosting of US missile shield rockets in 2008, the Kremlin has used apocalyptic threats as an instrument of deterrence. Russias purchase of Iranian drones and recruitment of North Korean troops paved the way for the Ukraine Wars globalisation. To turn the tables fully on the West is a fallacious whataboutism. Especially as Ukraine is exclusively using Nato-class weaponry against military targets and Russia is using its imported weapons against civilian areas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That said, we should be cognisant of the escalatory spiral we find ourselves in. By allowing Ukraine to use ATACM and Storm Shadow long-range missiles to strike Russian territory, the US and Britain are arguably becoming parties to the conflict. The Pentagons impending deployment of US military contractors to repair weapons systems and Britains deliberations on sending military trainers to Ukraine augment this contention. An intermeshed Nato-Ukraine alliance bloc is facing off against a congealing Russia-China-Iran-North Korea authoritarian axis. This brings back memories of World War I. The gradual hardening of alliances converted a seemingly small-scale provocation, the assassination of Austro-Hungarian Archduke Franz Ferdinand in 1914, into a massive European war. The risk of a repeat scenario looms large, as the parameters of acceptable escalation continue to widen and hostilities between rival alliance blocs globalise. Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, there has been an alarming lack of consensus on what constitutes a legitimate military target. Russias use of arson attacks on industrial facilities in Europe, assassination attempts against pro-Ukraine figures and terrorism plots against civilian airliners put us on a slippery slope. The conversion of nuclear energy facilities into frontline combat theatres underscores the severe erosion of the protocols surrounding military targeting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the first week of the Ukraine War, Russia occupied the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone and Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP). While Ukraine recaptured Chernobyl in April 2022, attacks on the ZNPP persist. On April 15, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi warned We are getting dangerously close to a nuclear accident. If Ukraine launches ATACM strikes on Russian energy facilities that help finance the war, Russia could asymmetrically target the ZNPP. If radiation emanating from ZNPP spills into Poland, Article 5 may need to be invoked and a Russia-Nato confrontation could follow. The destruction of the post-Cold War arms control regime further raises the risk of escalation. The USs October 2018 withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty over Russian non-compliance and the Kremlins suspension of participation in the February 2023 New START treaty were serious blows to conflict governance Chechnyas leader Ramzan Kadyrovs support for the use of low-yield nuclear weapons use after Ukraines October 2022 triumph in Lyman and Kremlin advisor Sergey Karaganovs incessant calls for a Hiroshima-style nuclear strike in Europe risk normalizing nuclear warfare. Russias revisions to its nuclear doctrine, which followed Ukraines ATACM attack on Bryansk, codify what was already being feverishly discussed in the Kremlins inner sanctum. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The diverse inter-related array of provocations by Western adversaries raises the stakes further. In recent weeks, North Korea test-fired an ICBM, China intensified its Air defence Identification Zone (ADIZ) violations around Taiwan and Iran fired 180 ballistic missiles against Israel. These provocations are intensifying as US adversaries capitalise on President Joe Bidens lame duck status and try to complicate President-elect Donald Trumps less predictable agenda. And they are occurring in concert not in a lone-wolf fashion. From Russias facilitation of Houthi targeting of Western commercial vessels to provocative Sino-Russian military drills that could soon include North Korea, an authoritarian axis is crystallising. An intensified Russia-Nato conflict over Ukraine could cause a disastrous escalatory chain reaction in the Middle East and Indo-Pacific regions. The West should stand strong against Russias aggression in Ukraine. But this principled stance comes with grave risks that we must heed. 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. BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. (WBOY) While West Virginias medical cannabis industry is on the rise, the general public may not know what the grow-to-market process looks like. Harvest Care Medical in Bridgeport opened its doors to 12 News to give the public a behind-the-scenes look at one of the largest medical cannabis growers in the state. Harvest Cares cannabis plants in the early stages of processing (WBOY image). As one of nine growers and eight processing facilities across the state, Harvest Care Medical offers more than 200 SKUsor productswhich help contribute to the states $8 million average of total sales per month over the last 6 months, according to the West Virginia Office of Medical Cannabis (OMC). So with those numbers, why are so many investors hesitant? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Typically, when you dont know whats coming in the future, you either have a lot of risk or a lot of reward, and I think thats how a lot of the cannabis industry is viewed from an investor standpoint, Director of Plant Operations Lee Arco said. Harvest Care Medical and Country Growns CEO, Brad Doyle, also spoke with 12 News on the medical cannabis business. Its a growing business, its an exciting business, Doyle said. I would compare it to coming out of prohibition with the alcohol companies, and you look at whats happening now with the local breweries that are opening. A bud from Harvest Care (WBOY image). Second largest airsoft field in America is coming to Clarksburg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Per the OMCs regulations, any product sold within the state must be grown and processed within the state, and deliveries from processers to dispensaries must only take routes within state lines. The local aspect of the process has led to the creation of more jobs for West Virginians, but with neighboring states like Maryland passing recreational or adult-use cannabis regulations, West Virginias cannabis industry has already seen the ripple effects. When that state went adult use, our business kind of declined a little bit, Doyle said. In one of my visits up there, I visited [a] dispensary, and I counted 27 license plates from West Virginia that were shopping in a border states dispensary. Although the majority of West Virginias population fits the requirements to benefit from obtaining a medical card, the uncertainty of the right to possess a firearm while having a medical card can turn some prospective cardholders away. This is due to West Virginia House Bill 5488 and the Gun Control Act of 1968, the latter of which prohibits anyone who is addicted to any controlled substance from owning a firearm, including cannabis. A THC cartridge from Harvest Care (WBOY image). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ultimately, if they want to continue to use cannabis, in which they will, they have to go to the black market. So, were able to look at what that potential could be and its removing criminals that dont need to be operating in the state, but it also gives the patients or consumers in adult use market an understanding that theyre not putting any of their rights at risk by purchasing a product that is legal, said Arco. Arco and Lee encourage those interested in learning more about the industry and its products to contact the organization or its nearest dispensary locations. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. State Auditor Joseph Maestas (right) told Source New Mexico he expected a microscope is going to be focused on Western New Mexico University leadership. (Photo by Daniel Montano / KUNM News) A review that found wasteful spending and improper use of more than $360,000 in public funds by the head of Western New Mexico University has now caught the attention of state ethics officials. New Mexico State Auditor Joseph Maestas sent the findings of his offices investigation this week to the State Ethics Commission. The commission, an independent agency that oversees campaign finance, lobbying, government spending and conduct, automatically generated a letter Wednesday, saying it would take a closer look. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And thats likely all the commission will say, at least for a while. Ethics probes are made public once a settlement or a civil case in state court is filed. Informal complaint reviews are not public, said Amelia Bierle, the spokesperson for the commission. All complaints, reports, files, records all of that is confidential, Bierle said in a phone interview. We arent able to say anything more than that was an auto-generated letter sent out upon receipt of the referral. The information submitted by the auditors office would be subject to further review as part of an informal complaint, and could include public records requests, interviews with witnesses or additional questions, the commission stated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Western New Mexico University President Joseph Shepard and his wife, former CIA agent and one-time Congressional candidate, Valerie Plame, were subjects of a December Searchlight New Mexico story that showed the couple had spent tens of thousands in public money on international trips, wine, flowers and high-end furniture over five years. In response to a request for comment, Western New Mexico Universitys communications office sent out a written statement from governing Board President Mary Hotvedt. Hotvedt writes that the auditor raises serious concerns that have been addressed by Western New Mexico University leadership. In the statement, she lists that the governing board has reviewed cost disparities and updated policies to align with state regulations, initiated an independent cost-benefit analysis of international initiatives and engaged third-party auditor for an ongoing special audit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additional emailed questions to Hotvedt went unreturned Thursday. State agencies took notice in January, issuing letters stating the trips violated guidelines and, in the state auditors case, announcing a further look into the schools books. Western New Mexicos governing board has backed Shepard in public meetings, and in July gave him a bonus for exceeding expectations at his performance evaluation. That same month the board also adopted to its travel policy and approved a new policy to allow reimbursement to the university presidents spouse or domestic partner for travel. The Santa Fe New Mexican reported that Shepard collects an annual salary of $365,000 with contract options of $50,000 bonuses for good performance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this week, Maestas released a letter of concern to the universitys governing board, finding that between 2018 and 2023, there were several instances of wasteful spending including:. Almost $215,000 over 402 instances of noncompliant domestic and international travel. Nearly $150,000 spent in 91 total transactions on a university credit card. Providing an expense account and university credit card to a non-university employee, in this case Plame, the presidents wife. The use of the university credit card to purchase luxury furniture violated university policies that limit and require approval if items cost $1,000 or higher. The auditors office found the spending violated university policy and the Presidents employment contract. Further, University management and Board failed to uphold their fiduciary responsibilities, by neglecting to adhere to the corresponding elements as established in the Universitys policies, procedures, and rules regarding travel, per diem, and procurement, the auditors letter said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The letter said the office was encouraged that the universitys governing board updated its policies in July and commissioned an external audit. In an interview with Source NM, Maestas said the next steps are up to investigative agencies, such as the State Ethics Commission. We are not an enforcement agency, he said. We have a duty to inform and notify. Maestas cautioned that he expected a microscope is going to be focused on Western New Mexico University leadership. I think the biggest change needed is to truly lead by example and establish that tone at the top, he said. Emphasize the importance of adhering to these internal controls, policies and procedures because if theyre not adhered to, it opens the door for fraud, waste and abuse. The Writers Guild of America has a tentative three-year deal with PBS member stations. The union announced the new Public Television Freelance Agreement Friday, hours after the current contract expiration, which could have led to a strike if the parties hadnt been able to hammer out a new one in time. Earlier this week, the 94-member bargaining unit authorized a strike. More from Deadline Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, the unit will vote to ratify the new agreement. More specific deal points are expected in the coming days, prior to that vote. For the first time, the WGA says it was able to secure union protections for PBS animation writers, who were previously not covered under the Public Television Freelance Agreement. This week, Deadline revealed that more than 200 PBS animation writers signed a pledge of solidarity, promising not to cross their colleagues picket line. The latest contract also includes paid parental leave, AI protections, expanded union protections for made-for-new-media programs, increased residual payments for reuse on streaming services, industry-standard raises, and easier paths for members of writing teams to access health coverage, according to the union. THIRTEEN, GBH, and PBS SoCal are pleased to have reached an agreement with WGA East, the member stations said in a joint statement Friday. We look forward to continuing our work to deliver trusted public media to our audiences. Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Susan Smith drowned her two sons in 1994 Getty Susan Smith Susan Smith Susan Smith, the South Carolina mother convicted of killing her two children in 1994, was denied parole on Wednesday, Nov. 20. According to South Carolina Department of Corrections Communications Director, Chrysti Shain, Smith's life in prison after her failed parole attempt will be unchanged from before. Her next parole eligibility date will be in two years on November 20, 2026. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "She never left prison," Shain tells PEOPLE. "It will be exactly the same." Smith, 53, appeared before the parole board Wednesday morning, saying, "I know that what I did was horrible, CNN reports. She reportedly added: I am a Christian and God is a big part of my life and I know he has forgiven me and I know that is by his grace and mercy And I just ask that you show that same kind of mercy as well. On Oct. 25, 1994, Smith told police that a Black man had stolen her car, in which her sons Michael, 3, and Alex, 14 months, were sitting. She spent the following nine days making emotional pleas on national television for her children to be returned home safely. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Related: Susan Smith Is Denied Parole 30 Years After Drowning Her Sons. Her Ex-Husband Spoke Out Before Hearing However, she later confessed that she fabricated the carjacker story and that she instead let her car roll into a lake with her young children strapped inside their car seats. Authorities alleged at the time that Susan committed the crime because she was seeing a man who did not want children to interfere with the relationship. Smith continues serving her life sentence for the murders at the Leath Correctional Institution, a 39-acre women's prison located in Greenwood County, S.C. With the exception of being transferred for medical reasons, she has been at Leath since September 25, 2000. She remains in Dorm C1, in room 0103 after her parole hearing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "She's in the same place. It's exactly the same," Shein tells PEOPLE. Susan Smith She currently works as a wardkeeper assistant. She has held a number of prison jobs including: safety security clerk, senior teacher assistant, office clerk, landscape laborer, senior groundskeeper, food service aide, laundry helper, shipping and receiving clerk, bookkeeper, canteen operator, secretary, library helper and machine operator. Related: Susan Smith's Ex-Husband David Smith Made Tearful Plea for Her Not to Be Paroled After 30 Years: Thats Only 15 Years Per Child' She has earned no education credits during her incarceration. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. "I don't think she'll ever be rehabilitated," her ex-husband David Smith told Today on Wednesday. "I don't think she's, even to me, she's never been really sorry for what she did. Disciplinary Problems On Aug. 26, 2024, Smith was charged with a violation of the South Carolina Department of Corrections policy which forbids inmates from conducting interviews with media on the phone or in person. Inmates are, however, allowed to write letters. Smith was convicted at an internal hearing on Oct. 3. She lost her telephone and her prison-issued tablet, and her canteen privileges were suspended for 90 days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the incident report obtained by PEOPLE, she was communicating with a journalist discussing an interview, a documentary and ways to get paid. "They also discussed in depth the crime and the events leading up to and after it actually took place including such details as to what was in the trunk of the car when it went into the water and her plans to jump from a bridge while holding the boys but one woke up," the report states. According to the report, the journalist she communicated with deposited money into Smith's account. "Smith also discussed the release of the documentary and wanted to wait until after her parole hearing," the report states. Brooks Kraft LLC/Sygma/Getty Susan Smith Susan Smith During her time behind bars, Susan received disciplinary infractions for possession of a contraband razor, possession of cigarettes and violation of institutional rules. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Related: Years After She Killed Their Kids, Susan Smith's Husband Reveals What He'd Say to Her if They Came Face to Face She was also disciplined for having sex with a prison guard, Houston Cagle, in 2000, and a prison captain, Alfred Rowe, the following year. (Cagle pleaded guilty and spent three months in jail and Rowe also pleaded guilty to having sex with Smith and was sentenced to five years probation.) In 2015, Smith defended herself in a letter to The State, a South Carolina newspaper. "Mr. Cahill, I am not the monster society thinks I am," she wrote to reporter Harrison Cahill. "I am far from it." Matt Gaetzs brief stint as Donald Trumps nominee to lead the Justice Department has Washington reeling after a whirlwind week. The congressman from Florida resigned abruptly from the House days after winning another term, and stated that he wouldnt serve in the upcoming Congress set to take shape in January. His departure and his nomination to the post of attorney general were a shock to Republicans and Democrats alike on Capitol Hill. The drip-drip quickly began. First, it was revealed that Gaetz had convinced Trump to nominate him and resigned from Congress less than a week before the House Ethics Committee was due to release an extensive report on the allegations that he had sex with a minor while in office. Then, it was revealed the committee had interviewed his alleged victim. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Finally, on Thursday, CNN went public with a story confirming that Gaetzs unnamed accuser had told investigators about a second alleged sexual encounter at the same party between Gaetz and a 17-year-old girl. Gaetz flatly denied the emerging accusations. The network also revealed that his withdrawal from contention occurred just 45 minutes after their reporters asked for comment on the revelations of the second alleged encounter. So where does Matt Gaetz, rising MAGA star, go from here? Matt Gaetz was once one of his partys most attention-grabbing members in the House of Representatives until he resigned, facing an Ethics report into allegations that he had sex with a minor (Ginger Gaetz / X) First, and most obviously, he could return to the House. Its not entirely clear how that would work at the moment in his resignation letter to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, the congressman indicated that he was resigning not just his currently held seat but the one hed won in the upcoming Congress, too. He underlined that on Friday morning when he told Charlie Kirk that he does not intend to join the 119th Congress, which begins in January. So, barring a big U-turn, he doesnt seem to be entertaining the notion of heading back to the House of Representatives at least not yet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To fill that seat, DeSantis will have to call a special election. Gaetz, if he did run for the seat again, would have a baked-in advantage, and quite likely Trumps endorsement once more. But winning back a seat in the House (or just un-resigning) comes with a tradeoff: the Ethics report. Any return to the lower chamber of Congress would likely jump-start the calls from his enemies for the Ethics panel to release its investigatory report, which by all accounts is what Gaetz was trying to avoid from the get-go. Then theres the Senate. With Marco Rubio likely headed to the State Department, a vacancy is emerging in Floridas US Senate delegation. If Gaetz is looking for the opportunity to make a name for himself in the upper chamber, where competition for the camera lens is comparatively lower, this will be his last chance to do so for the next six years. Floridas other senator, Rick Scott, was just re-elected in November. In the coming days, DeSantis will appoint a replacement to serve in Rubios stead, and state officials will call a special election for that seat, too. And heres where that door has probably already shut for Gaetz: a DeSantis ally indicated to a conservative news outlet this week that Gaetz is not on the list for an appointment, period. Needless to say, DeSantis and Gaetz have never been the best of friends. Whoever does get the governors blessing will likely go on to pick up his and the president-elects endorsement in the immediate wake of the appointment, and will use that political strength in the special election to represent the seat for the remainder of Rubios term. With Gaetz apparently iced out of the process by one of his many GOP rivals, hed likely have to buck even more Republicans than hes typically used to in order to claim the seat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gaetz could also run for the governorship itself. DeSantis, for all of his popularity in the state, is term-limited. He faces his own political countdown after having lost handily in the 2024 GOP presidential primary and cultivating few (current) national prospects of his own. The governors race is right around the corner, in 2026. Gaetz has long been speculated to be eyeing a bid. But that brings to mind something that former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy told The Independent directly at the RNC in June, where he was publicly confronted by Gaetz himself on the convention floor. McCarthy said in an interview that Gaetz planned to run for governor, but would be blocked from doing so by the House Ethics report. Matt Gaetz onstage at the Republican National Convention in June (AFP via Getty Images) It was more of a threat than a warning, but it seems prescient all the same. Gaetzs biggest problem here is largely self-created. For all of his showmanship in the House, he is likely to face well-funded competition for the GOP nomination in 2026 if he runs for governor, including from some of his former colleagues. Representative Byron Donalds, another MAGAworld favorite, is also thought to be eyeing a bid and was especially cagey about his own national ambitions in an interview with CNN this week. Gaetz, who is not especially well-liked by his former colleagues, will likely see some line up against his rival(s) should he seek the nomination. Though once again, Trumps endorsement is likely to be an overwhelming factor determining the direction of the political winds in that race. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That leaves the private sector or a federal appointment that doesnt require Senate confirmation. Both options are open to Gaetz, and both would involve what he despises most: being away from the cameras. Short of reinventing himself as a MAGA media personality, there are few options in this sphere which allow him a glimpse of the limelight in the same way that ousting his partys own speaker or threatening to shut down the government once did. When it comes to predicting Matt Gaetzs future, that may be the most reliable method: identifying where he can find the most attention from the media. With a few options remaining open, its quite possible that Washington hasnt seen the last of him. The Biden administration has not seen any "indications of Russia preparing to use a nuclear weapon in Ukraine," White House Press Secretary Karin Jean-Pierre said on Nov. 21. Speaking at a press briefing, Jean-Pierre also said the administration was "not surprised by Russia's announcement that it would update its nuclear doctrine," and they believed it was "irresponsible rhetoric." Russian President Vladimir Putin approved the country's new nuclear doctrine on Nov. 19. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the changes should be seen as a "certain signal" to the West. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This is more of the same irresponsible rhetoric that we continue to hear from Russia, which we have seen for more than two years now, if you think about their aggression, their war against Ukraine," Jean-Pierre said. "We havent seen any indications of Russia preparing to use a nuclear weapon in Ukraine. We just have not seen that. "And observing no changes to Russias nuclear posture, we have not seen any reason to adjust our own nuclear posture or doctrine in response to Russias statements." Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh on Nov. 20 also dismissed Russias rhetoric surrounding its nuclear policy as a continuation of its behavior over the past two years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since the start of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russia has made a series of nuclear threats against Ukraine and the West, none of which have materialized. Read also: Investigation: Who helped Russians increase production of domestic attack drones despite sanctions Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. For more than two years, Megan Reed has awaited some form of justice for her son, Sinzae. The 13-year-old was shot and killed just yards from the front door of his home by a man who says he opened fire in self-defense even though, police say, there is no evidence that the child had a weapon. Reeds wait came to an end on Friday but perhaps not in the way that she hoped. Prosecutors in Franklin County, Ohio, this week began presenting their case against Krieg Allen Butler, 38, who has been charged with weapons offenses, but to the disappointment of Reed and local activists not homicide. Before the jury could deliberate, Butler decided to plead guilty to both charges in the two count indictment in exchange for a less severe punishment. He faced up to 4 years in prison, but instead prosecutors said they planned to recommend six months in jail followed by three years of probation which the judge accepted at Butlers Dec. 2 sentencing, during which Reed and other members of Sinzaes family gave victim impact statements. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors said in a statement that Butler has agreed to testify in the event that anyone ever is charged in connection with Reeds death. For Black residents here, the handling of the case feels all too familiar. Local advocates for criminal justice reform have said that there has long been an unequal standard for justice when suspects are white and victims are Black, as in the Butler case. But community activists are encouraged that their quest for equity may have taken a significant step forward earlier this month with the election of a Black woman, Shayla Favor, as Franklin Countys chief prosecutor. Favor has expressed a commitment to making the system fairer. I am quite humbled that the residents of Franklin County have elected me, Favor, 43, said in a recent interview with Capital B. They believed in the vision that I ran on. I had a highly contested primary. And so, it feels like we finished this round, and now were on to the next, the next battle thats before us. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reeds hope for justice, however, is tempered by the track record of unsolved homicide cases in Columbus, Ohio. Many investigations have gone cold in the city which has a 56% homicide clearance rate since 1965 with the perpetrators remaining unidentified, especially in 2021 when homicides hit an all-time high. Residents say this is a familiar pattern for Franklin County, particularly in cases involving law enforcement and particularly when those cases involve Black victims. Shayla Favor was elected in November to serve as chief prosecutor for Franklin County, Ohio. (Courtesy of Shayla Favor) Criminal justice reform advocates have accused the prosecutors office of racial bias in its handling of brutality allegations; since its founding, the prosecutors office has been led by white men, while many of those alleging abuse by the police are Black. After the election victory earlier this month by Favor, the first Black person to lead the prosecutors office, many Columbus voters say they are hopeful that accusations of police brutality will be investigated more thoroughly. Favors victory was historic: She won the primary against two other Black candidates Delaware City Attorney Natalia Harris and Anthony Pierson, deputy chief counsel in the prosecutors office. And in November, Favor beat her Republican opponent. Her win came just a day after Pierson secured Ohios first conviction in an on-duty police fatality case. The conviction of Adam Coy for the murder of Andre Hill, a Black man, represents a rare example of justice in police violence cases, said Karla White Carey, a board member for Ohio Families Unite Against Police Brutality. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nationwide, only six other police officers have been convicted of murder since 2005, said Philip Stinson, a criminal justice professor at Bowling Green State University who tracks the murder and manslaughter convictions and indictments of police officers across the country. count.murd.and.mansl.onduty.shootings.111924.1007Download During her campaign, Favor promised that she would reexamine cases in which charges had not been filed. I am more than willing to sit down with those family members who have been waiting on justice for their loved ones that were senselessly killed in our community, Favor said. I understand the weight of this moment Favor, who will give up her City Council seat when she takes office in 2025, has expressed her commitment to bringing about meaningful change. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The reality is that there is no relationship right now between this office and our community, Favor said candidly. And it is too late when a tragedy has happened to try to build that relationship. Building and rebuilding relationships with the community is a point of emphasis for Favor, and one that she said should be shared by the countys police officers. I have talked about accountability and the fact that nobody is beyond reproach, and that is as it relates to prosecuting police misconduct and public corruption, she said. Read More: In This Ohio County, a Historic District Attorney Race Spotlights Police Killings Ramon Obey II, a Columbus-based activist, said that Favors leadership brings fresh hope to activists and residents who have been waiting for justice in criminal cases like the Butler trial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Favors supporters say that her experience besides serving for six years on City Council, she also worked in the City Attorneys Office for nearly a decade has positioned her as someone who understands both the intricacies of the law and the widespread sense among members of the community that there has been an unequal pursuit of justice in the county, and will inform her approach to prosecutions. Favor is also focused on diversifying the prosecutors office: It employs 130 attorneys, but fewer than eight assistant prosecutors identify as people of color. She said she is also aware of the need to address systemic issues in the office: She plans to review 39 police brutality cases brought prior to 2018, especially those where charges were not filed. Each year, at least 1,000 people are killed by the police, according to the Mapping Police Violence database. A majority of those cases are traffic stops involving Black people. I think about the reality that I am facing, she said. I understand the weight of this moment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Carey views Favors historic win as a positive step. She also emphasized the significance of a Black woman holding this office, particularly given the history of systemic injustices. Ohio has had 110 overturned convictions since 1989; 67 of the exonerees in those cases were Black, according to the National Registry of Exoneration database. I was able to show my granddaughter what Black women are able to do if we put our minds to it, said Carey, 63. While giving Favor time to find her footing, Carey and others in the community said they are eager to hold her accountable, as they would any elected official. Favor has promised to work for transparency and accountability in the office. She has pledged to meet with families of victims who have been waiting for justice for loved ones killed in police encounters, like those of Casey Goodson Jr., Donovan Lewis, and TaKiya Young. These deaths have added to the long list of police brutality cases in Ohio. The Buckeye State has seen 377 fatal police incidents since 2013, with 38% of the victims being Black, according to the Mapping Police Violence database. One-third of those incidents have occurred in Franklin County, with 41 of those deaths attributed to Columbus police officers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When Favor is sworn in, she will join the less than 1% of elected Black women prosecutors across the country. Columbus voters who supported Favor also backed Vice President Kamala Harris in her historic run to become the first Black woman president of the United States. Their votes reflected a desire for change away from the white supremacy ideologies that were prominent during President-elect Donald Trumps campaign and first term. When I think about what this role means, what this moment in time looks like, I feel the heaviness, the weight of this moment, Favor said. This story has been updated. The post A White Man Pleads Guilty in the Shooting of a Black Teen but Not for Killing Him appeared first on Capital B News. Organic carrots and celery sold at Whole Foods Market in five states are being recalled amid a deadly E. coli outbreak that has stricken 39 people in 18 states. The recall, posted Thursday by the Food and Drug Administration, involves 15-ounce containers of Whole Foods Market-branded organic carrot sticks and organic carrots & celery sticks sold at Whole Foods Market stores in Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho and Nevada, according to the announcement by Sacramento, California-based F&S Fresh Foods. F&S initiated the recall after being notified by a local supplier, Grimmway Farms, of potential contamination with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli. The notice comes only days after a nationwide recall of multiple brands of whole and baby organic carrots. Label of recalled product. / Credit: U.S. Food and Drug Administration Federal officials are investigating the E. coli outbreak, which has killed one person and led to at least 15 people being hospitalized. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The F&S recall involves carrots and celery sold in plastic clamshells with the letters "GH" followed by three digits ranging from 236 to 284, and best-if-sold-by dates ranging from Sept. 1, 2024, to Oct. 19, 2024. While no longer sold in stores, the produce may still reside in people's refrigerators or freezers. The E. coli bacteria can cause serious, sometimes fatal infections in the young, elderly and those with weakened immune systems. The cream of the crop in butter In praise of Seattle-style teriyaki Good enough to eat: Noah Verrier's paintings of comfort food Despite the current political climate, a few textile thought-leaders still have hope for the climateenvironmentally speaking. That was the sentiment during the final seminar of this years iteration of Future Fabrics Expo (FFE) in New York City on Wednesday afternoon. A standing room only audience gathered at the Metropolitan Pavilion in Chelsea to hear some words of hope, as well as a few hot takes, during a panel centered around the United States evolving regulatory landscape and how its expected to impact the industrys sustainable strides. More from Sourcing Journal Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I fear that sustainable, climate-minded projects that were on the table and started to get going will be put on hold, Dana Thomas, author of Fashionopolis and former contributing sustainability editor at British Vogue, said. Frozen: just like what the New Yorks DA office did with its case against President Trump. But that also means that these initiatives werent in vainthe climate crisis isnt going anywhereand thus perhaps its time to start playing offense, Thomas continued. The Green Revolution creates jobs. As long as you know that and keep that in the back of your mind, the businesspeople know this, she said, referencing the TED Talk former vice president Al Gore made before COP26 that went viral for slamming the fossil fuel industry. They can keep milking the oil drilling because they dont want to have to change, but theyre going to have to change because of the regulatory rules coming down the pipe. Tricia Carey piggybacked off of that, touching on Tariff Armageddon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a lot of speculation; we can spend a lot of time talking about it or we can put that time into the doing, the industry veteran, formerly of Lenzing and Renewcell, said. And lets remember: this is a global industry. With the regulations coming inany of the global players will need to still make any kind of transition in material innovation. Thats especially true for California, considering SB 707 was signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom this fall. Besides, how likely is it that Bernard Arnaultthe luxury conglomerate titan in a billionaire bromance with Trumpwill adhere to the rules requiring Dom Perignon and Veuve Clicquot to pay tariffs, Thomas asked? Or that Louis Vuitton will pull out of Trump Towerthe building owned by the future presidentafter signing a five-year deal for the space with a rent of $20 million a year? Brands are not going to shut [innovation] down as theyve already invested too much into it to get it going and theyre seeing that people like that, Thomas said. Theyre going to have to continue with things like digital IDs in the European Union, thats a done deal. So, theyre going to have to have digital IDs in the American clothes, too; theyre not going to do it for some markets and not for others. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Considering Ecovative has been in the weeds of the green field since 2007long before sustainability was cool, director of marketing communications Lacey Davidson jokedthe mycelium bio-fabricator finds navigating these changes to be a net-positive. It was a really hard and slow uptick to [get] to where we are today as a company; having legislation and regulatory rules really helps these smaller brands and encourages stateside manufacturing, at the end of the day, [as] thats where our innovation is happening, Davidson said. But really establishing what were offering as better and easier to adopt, instead of having to look back on their current supply chain, we can fit into their supply chain. Remaining nimble is necessary, climate activist and United Nations consultant, Saad Amer, said. Especially considering the weirdly politicized doctrine that the Paris Agreement has been reduced to. [The Paris Agreement] was never binding, right? Whether we were a part of it or not, it didnt actually nominally change something that the U.S. was required to do by some international force, Amer said. At the same time, I think that is a very bad symbol. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With that in mind, accepting defeat is the wrong takeaway. Gathering momentum, capacity building, mobilizing for the midterms is top of mind for Amer. We cant just give up because of these hurdlesthats what they would like us to do, to just sit here, paralyzed by what the consequences might be, Amer said. But the reality is, the paralyzing consequences actually go to climate crisis, right? That is the real enemy we need to be fighting. Curious why a staggering amount of ground beef was recalled? Detroit-based Wolverine Packing Co. recently pulled 167,000 pounds of ground beef from shelves. This alarming recall has piqued the interest of many consumers, who wish to learn why the company has done the recall. Was the ground beef contaminated by dangerous bacteria? Heres a detailed look into the recall and its implications. Heres why 167,000 pounds of ground beef was recalled Wolverine Packing Co. recalled 167,000 pounds of ground beef as they were likely contaminated by E. coli. This was announced by the U.S. Department of Agricultures Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). The issue was initially reported to FSIS by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, which informed them that a group of individuals affected by the outbreak had consumed ground beef. The impacted products display the establishment number EST. 2574B, which can be found in the USDA Mark of Inspection. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The recalled fresh products have a use by date of November 14, 2024, while the frozen products were produced on October 10, 2024. For the unversed, E. coli is a harmful bacterium that can lead to serious health issues, including dehydration, bloody diarrhea, and abdominal cramps. Symptoms typically last from 2 to 8 days, with an average duration of 3 to 4 days. While many individuals recover within a week, some may develop hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a condition that can result in kidney failure. HUS can affect anyone, but it is most commonly seen in children aged 5 and under, as well as older adults. The USDA has advised anyone who is experiencing illness after consuming ground beef to contact their healthcare provider. Additionally, the FSIS has recommended that restaurants check their freezers and refrigerators for potentially contaminated ground beef. Restaurants are urged not to serve contaminated products and to either dispose of them or return them to the place of purchase. Furthermore, FSIS has also requested consumers to ensure the safe preparation of raw meat products, whether it be fresh or frozen. Additionally, consumers have been urged to only consume ground beef that has been cooked to a temperature of 160 Fahrenheit. The post Why Did Wolverine Packing Co. Recall 167,000 Pounds of Ground Beef? appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More. (WTAJ) Flags across Pennsylvania have been lowered to half-staff after a fire chief lost his life in the line of duty. Governor Josh Shapiro announced that, per the United States flag code, flags on all Commonwealth facilities, public buildings and grounds to fly at half-staff in honor of Battalion Chief John Walsh. Chief Walsh died while in the line of duty on Wednesday, Nov. 20. Fire chief dies while battling Pennsylvania house fire Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shapiro noted that flags will remain lowered to half-staff until further notice. While flags in Allegheny County are required to be lowered, all Pennsylvania residents are also invited to participate in this tribute. What does half-staff mean? In the United States, half-staff is a term used to describe the way a flag is raised. In this case, flags are raised halfway between the top and bottom of the flag pole to convey a message of respect and mourning. This custom is often observed following the death of a government official, military personnel or in response to a national tragedy. Get the latest news, weather forecasts and sports stories delivered straight to your inbox! Sign up for our newsletters. When the American flag is flown at half-staff, state and other flags on the pole should either be removed or also flown at half-staff. It is important to note that, when flying the flag at half-staff, it should be briskly run up to the top of the staff before being lowered slowly to the half-staff position. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTAJ - www.wtaj.com. (WHTM) Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has ordered flags be lowered to half-staff in honor of Battalion Chief John P. Walsh, who died while in the line of duty, on Wednesday, November 20, 2024, in Pittsburgh. The United States and Commonwealth flags on all Commonwealth facilities, public buildings, and grounds in Allegheny County will fly at half-staff immediately. Close Thanks for signing up! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Morning Weather Forecast Pennsylvanians across the state are also encouraged to participate in the tribute. The flags shall be lowered to half-staff until sunset on the date of internment, which has not yet been announced. Walsh, 60, suffered a medical emergency while in command of a fire response in Allegheny County. He served for 37 years and was described as a master tactician on the fire grounds by Fire Chief Darryl Jones. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27. The Illinois Supreme Court on Thursday reversed actor Jussie Smolletts conviction on charges that he falsely reported to Chicago police officers that he was the victim of a hate crime. The courts decision to overturn the conviction stemmed from what the court said was a due process violation. The courts decision said the prosecutors with the Cook County States Attorneys Office had decided to resolve the charges by requiring Smollett to perform 15 hours of community service and forfeit his $10,000 bond. But after this agreement was made, a special prosecutor brought the case back. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Smollett alleged to police in January 2019 that two men attacked him and called him slurs, and also said This is MAGA country. He said a noose was tossed around his neck. After a police investigation, Smollett was arrested on charges that he had staged the assault. Two brothers Abimbola Bola and Olabinjo Ola Osundairo said they helped to stage the attack. Smollett claimed and still claims to be innocent. The courts decision handed down Thursday doesnt address those events so much as what happened after, when Smollett faced prosecution after reaching a deal. While counsel for Smollett tried to raise this issue earlier saying he was duped by the State because it reindicted him after he had forfeited a substantial bond to the City of Chicago in exchange for getting the charges dismissed the effort did not work. Smollett faced a jury trial and was convicted of five counts of felony disorderly conduct. He was sentenced to 30 months probation, 150 days in Cook County Jail, and he was ordered to pay a $25,000 fine and $120,106 in restitution to Chicago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Illinois Supreme Court said the state is bound to the agreement it made because Smollett performed his end of the agreement in other words, the court said the state should have dismissed the charges. While the state argued it should have been able to bring the charges again anyway, the court said Illinois case law establishes this is unfair. Because the initial charges were dismissed as part of an agreement with defendant and defendant performed his part of the agreement, the second prosecution was barred, said the Illinois Supreme Court in its decision. The Illinois Supreme Court said it knew the case generated public interest and people believed the resolution of the original case to be unjust. Nevertheless, what would be more unjust than the resolution of any one criminal case would be a holding from this court that the State was not bound to honor agreements upon which people have detrimentally relied, said the court. Jussie Smollett's lead defense attorney Nenye Uche speaks to reporters during a news conference, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, in Chicago, after the Illinois Supreme Court overturned Smollett's conviction on charges of staging a racist and homophobic attack against himself in 2019 and lying to Chicago police. | Ashlee Rezin Nenye Uche, an attorney for Smollett, told CNN the case shouldnt have gone to trial. This was a vindictive persecution. This was no prosecution, said Uche, adding, Im sure Jussie would want an apology, but hes a realistic man, right? He knows hes not going to get it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are disappointed in the Illinois Supreme Courts decision today to overturn Jussie Smolletts convictions and sentence, including the award of over $120,000 in restitution to the City of Chicago for its overtime expenses in investigating Mr. Smolletts fake hate crime, said special prosecutor Dan K. Webb, the prosecutor appointed months after the agreement between Smollett and prosecutors was made, in a statement. Webb said he respectfully disagreed with the court and said Illinois law does not bar re-prosecution under the circumstances. Maria Valadez would like everyone to chill out. Every election, the prickly Lake County registrar follows California's litany of voting laws and certifies thousands of ballots by the time she is required to. And every year, people still complain. "The state gave us a deadline; we meet the deadline," an exasperated Valadez said from her small office in Lakeport as several staffers sat at computers verifying signatures more than two weeks after election day, when they had tallied fewer than half of the votes. "I just don't understand why do we need to rush?" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a state known for its slow processing of election results, Lake County, with only about 38,000 voters, is often the slowest of all. Ballots ready for processing at the Lake County registrar's office in Lakeport. For years, the rural Northern California county known for local disputes over marijuana cultivation and several brutal wildfires has been among the state's last to announce votes after elections, often frustrating candidates and befuddling political pundits. The reason appears to be a combination of factors, including an under-resourced elections budget in one of California's smaller, lower-income counties and a desire to keep a meticulous, steady process that was instilled by trusted staff decades ago, even as technology advances. Elections are a lot of security, transparency and accountability. That's what we do here. And it has been like this for all of the years Ive worked here," said Valadez, who was hired in 1995 and trained by the prior registrar, who was hired in 1977. "We have a lot of checks and balances. We do them as we go." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She repeated: "We have a deadline; we meet the deadline." State law requires counties to finalize their official results 30 days after the election, this year by Dec. 5. Though Valadez is adamant that she'll make it, the pace of progress is startling compared with most of the country. Shortly before midnight on election night, Lake County reported just 5,784 ballots. A few thousand more have been counted since. Yet by Thursday 16 days after the election Lake County still had more than 10,000 ballots left to count, according to the secretary of state. Workers process ballots at the Lake County registrar's office, which is slower than many others in submitting final election results. "I'm not unsympathetic to the challenges that come with unfunded top-down mandates from Sacramento, but there is a pattern of sheer awfulness with Lake County in particular going back at least a decade and they've earned all the scorn coming their way," Rob Pyers, who operates the election guide California Target Book, said on social media last week. He said Lake County is "in the running for slowest election department worldwide." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This year, that may not matter much. Unlike some other counties in California, where daily ballot counts are still changing results in tight races for the House of Representatives that will determine the size of Republicans' majority in Washington, Lake County did not have many hot contests on the ballot. Still, the slow count means residents are waiting to find out who will serve on local school boards, the Clear Lake City Council and the county Board of Supervisors. Lake County's lag has delayed statewide outcomes before. In the 2014 primary election, the race for state controller was razor thin. California voters had to wait a month to know who would compete in the general election as Lake County officials took their time with the final ballots even as they were barraged with phone calls from politicos feverishly refreshing their browsers for updates. Lakeport is the county seat of Lake County, which is often the slowest of all California counties to report election results. It was Lake County that declared Betty Yee had edged out fellow Democrat John Perez by fewer than 500 votes and would advance. The county met its deadline. Democracy lived on. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, it's a different world than when Valadez started working in elections 30 years ago, and her department's speed or lack thereof has spurred conspiracy theories like those inflamed by Donald Trump when he lost the election in 2020. As Valadez and her staff calmly processed ballots Wednesday, an angry man from North Dakota called to inquire about what's taking so long. Conservatives have singled out Lake County on social media as proof that deep blue California is aiming to rig elections. The man who lives 1,600 miles east and can't vote in Lake County suggested something nefarious was going on. Valadez invited him to visit her office off the shore of Clear Lake, to her tightknit community where the security guard at the courthouse next door calls entrants "kiddo." She has nothing to hide, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We take our job very seriously," Valadez said of her small staff. "The integrity of my work is very important to me." Lake County Registrar Maria Valadez at work in her office in Lakeport. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement California is among the slowest states to call elections not only because of its huge population, but also because of voting laws designed to increase voter participation, including sending all registered voters a ballot by mail, which can prolong when some races are called. "California deserves all the scorn it gets for holding up House election results," screamed a headline last week in the New York Post. The article went on: "Hey, bud, whats the rush? seems to be Golden State officials work ethic." Derek Tisler, who focuses on elections as counsel for the Brennan Center for Justice, confirmed that Lake County is among the slowest to process ballots in the U.S. this year. But that's OK, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We get impatient, but I think everyone would agree that at the end of the day, we want things to be accurate," Tisler said. "That is what election officials are going to prioritize. It makes sense they're doing things in a way that they feel confident in." As a wall of rain beat down this week on most of Lake County, a place that struggles with meth and opioid abuse, where 73% of public school students qualify for free and reduced-price meals, Valadez said she's doing her best "within staffing and resource limitations." Jim Emenegger processes ballots at the Lake County Registrar of Voters office. The Lake County registrar's office has five full time-employees, and one is on leave. A few retirees have been added as temporary help. The county population: 67,000 does not have a machine to verify signatures, instead verifying them manually. Kim Alexander, president of the nonpartisan California Voter Foundation, said places like Lake County don't get the same resources as bigger tourism destinations with urban centers and higher property taxes. The state does not help counties pay for elections staff or voting equipment even as it issues more mandates, she said, making local officials' jobs harder and uneven, depending on where they live. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I get really frustrated when I hear lawmakers complaining about how long it takes to count, because they could actually do something about it," Alexander said. "If elections were not a chronically underfunded government service, we could have faster results." Valadez also pointed to voting preferences as a potential reason for the timing of the county's results. Unlike a growing number of counties, Lake County does not offer voting centers, a hybrid model that allows voters to drop off ballots several days before the election. Voters here prefer to vote in person at their neighborhood polling precincts, and some are still getting used to receiving a ballot in the mail, Valadez said. But even if Lake County got a boost in funding, and more voters sent their ballots in by mail early, it's unclear whether elections officials would change much of their decades-old strategy. Diane Fridley and Jim Emenegger process ballots at the Lake County registrar's office. Wearing a bright red pixie cut and a Carhartt flannel, Diane Fridley, 71, worked to verify votes this week at a computer in the registrar's office in Lakeport, scrolling across the screen to identify any issues with ballots. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For more than 40 years, Fridley was the Lake County registrar. When she retired in 2019, she passed the torch to Valadez. But in between baby-sitting her grandchildren, Fridley comes in to help around election season. A Lake County native, Fridley remembers when voters had to bring their birth certificates to their polling stations. She has lived through the days of hanging chads. As someone who likes to have the same breakfast every morning a slice of apple pie and is hyper-vigilant about counting ballots, all the changes have been hard, but exciting. "Yeah, it takes us a little longer, but we dot our I's and we cross our Ts," she said. "We're positive whatever totals we have are correct. I'm not saying other counties don't do that, but we try to be perfect." Fridley and Valadez exchanged a knowing look. "There's a deadline for a reason," Fridley said, echoing Valadez. "We always meet the deadline." Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Donald Trump has tapped one of his impeachment attorneys, former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, to lead the Justice Department. For too long, the partisan Department of Justice has been weaponized against me and other RepublicansNot anymore, Trump said Thursday in a statement. Pam will refocus the DOJ to its intended purpose of fighting Crime, and Making America Safe Again. Bondi replaced ex-Florida Representative Matt Gaetz as the top contender for attorney general after he withdrew his nomination Thursday. Insiders believed that Gaetz never had a chance at passing the Senates rigorous nomination process, especially as the alleged sexual abuser faced intense scrutiny over the details of two federal investigations related to sex trafficking accusations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gaetz hurriedly withdrew his nomination following news that the House Ethics Committee had obtained evidence that there was a second incident in which the ex-congressman slept with a minor. As one of the few Trump nominees with relevant experience, Bondi could prove equally if not more dangerous than Gaetz in the crucial law enforcement roleas well as a relative shoo-in. Assuming that all Democrats will vote against Trumps nominees, the president-elect can only afford to lose three Republican votes to squeeze his candidates into the executive branch. Bondi, who served more than 18 years as a prosecutor, stands against a background of Trump nominees that authoritarianism scholars have described as anti-qualified. Bondi and Trump have been longtime allies. In 2013, his charity (illegally) issued $25,000 to her reelection bid for Florida attorney generalwhile her office was weighing whether to pursue charges against Trump University (she ultimately did not). Bondi was a star player on Trumps legal team during his first impeachment, and was a vocal opponent of Jack Smith during Trumps post-2020 legal woes, accusing the special counsel of weaponising our legal system for trying to hold the former presidents feet to the fire. As a child, 40-year-old Dontal Johnson dreamed of becoming a doctor, but never saw himself represented in the profession. "I had never seen a Black doctor growing up, and one of the crazier things is I never saw a Black doctor until I hit college," Johnson said. Johnson decided to apply to medical schools in Texas, but when a friend told him about a potential school in Nashville, Tennessee, full of Black students, he was in disbelief. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "He started describing a place of people that looked like me that were dentists, doctors, scientists. So I went home that night. It was still I had dialup internet so I had to wait for it to pop up. And then these photo stills came across from Meharry, and I applied that night at maybe like 1 or 2 a.m." After graduating from Meharry Medical College a historically Black institution he decided to stay in the community, and is now a pediatrician and professor there. "I think one of the things that's really coming to light, that patient population of African Americans and how systemic racism, how history, how the health care profession overall has not always been there for this patient population," Johnson said. Black patients have better overall health outcomes when treated by Black doctors, according to recent studies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To further those connections, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg recently announced a $600 million gift to all four medical schools at historically Black colleges and universities Meharry, Morehouse School of Medicine, Howard University College of Medicine and Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science. Together they have educated roughly 50% of all Black doctors in the United States, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges. Currently, African Americans make up about 14% of the population, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. But they represent just 5.2% of doctors nationwide, according to AAMC. "Having a health care professional is important in the community, but also having a Black health care professional raises all the boats," said Dr. Valerie Montgomery-Rice, president of Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia. "First of all, it's going to allow us to educate and train more Black and Brown physicians, and it's going to allow those students to have more choice in where they want to practice and to be less burdened with debt." That's something she's already seen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2020, Bloomberg gave the Morehouse School of Medicine $26 million to help students pay down debt. Resident physician Jamil Joyner received $100,000. "It not only says, 'We believe in Black doctors,' it says, 'We believe in Black institutions, and how they will play a role in changing health care for Black individuals,'" Joyner said. For Dr. Dontal Johnson, more investment in Black doctors is needed. "I'm a living witness of that, of training of African American physicians, physicians that cater and care for the underserved. So when you look at the data together and say that, hey, when we partner with African American physicians and we put them in communities, we actually see less strokes, we see less hypertension in the community, we see less obesity," Johnson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With healthier communities, comes a healthier nation. Saturday Sessions: The Coward Brothers perform "Early Shirley" The Coward Brothers discuss new album, make rare appearance on Saturday Sessions Saturday Sessions: The Coward Brothers perform "Tipsy Woman" WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) The former Park Elementary School is now the home of a winter shelter. Humankind Ministries is slated to open its doors by Dec. 2. City leaders say the ultimate goal is to eventually transition the emergency winter shelter into a full-time shelter, giving people needing support services 24/7. It would be not just a shelter but a pathway toward permanent housing. Were fully anticipating getting what they call a temporary certificate of occupancy or a TCO by probably end of business tomorrow, and then, well be able to fully hand over sort of the one-story wing of the facility to the operator, said Assistant City Manager Troy Anderson. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its the first step toward a larger plan. Our ultimate goal is to try to achieve, achieve functional net zero when it comes to homelessness, said Anderson. HumanKind Ministries talks about the new winter shelter Construction is almost over for the winter shelter, which consists of separate wings for women and men, a day room, and spaces for medical providers and social services. The shelter, including the gym, is at the south end of the building. They also have storage areas, bathrooms, and a kitchen area. The facility will support up to 260 beds, so 10 more beds than we had last year, said Anderson. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After March 31, the city is turning the old Park Elementary School into a multi-agency center. This is a goal, an objective to try and respond to the issues were having in our community around homelessness, mental health, substance abuse, and getting all of our partners under one roof to the greatest extent that we can, said Anderson. Humankind says that the facility will be set up this weekend. City officials add that this winter, the shelter will be funded by over $2.2 million from ARPA funds and another $600,000 in operational costs. Humankind is also investing 25% of that amount. The organization is seeking more donations and volunteers to run the shelter efficiently. Those who are interested in volunteering can click here to learn more. Those who are interested in donating can click here to learn more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV. WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) A Wichita man has been sentenced in connection to a fatal shooting last June. Damion Hazelton was sentenced to 180 months in prison and ordered to register as a violent offender upon release. The judge imposed the maximum sentence. Police arrest Ellsworth man in connection to overdose death Hazelton had previously pleaded no contest and was found guilty of four felony counts: Involuntary manslaughter, aggravated burglary of a vehicle, felon in possession of a firearm, and interference with law enforcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On June 23, 2023, police were dispatched to the 7000 block of E. Lincoln St. after receiving multiple reports of a vehicle collision and a shooting. Upon arrival, officers located a red SUV that had crashed into the building. Inside the vehicle was 49-year-old Chris Baker with a gunshot wound to the right side of his head. He died on the scene. According to court documents, surveillance video shows that Baker was inside his SUV that was parked in front of a residence when he was shot. Hazelton ran, and Baker drove off, crashing into a nearby building. Court documents state that witnesses saw Hazelton remove items from the SUV after the crash. He was also seen on surveillance video dropping items near apartments, including a watch pillow. Officers located an empty watch box inside the SUV. One killed in shooting, car crash in east Wichita in the 7000 block of E. Lincoln St., near Governeour (KSN Photo) One killed in shooting, car crash in east Wichita in the 7000 block of E. Lincoln St., near Governeour (KSN Photo) One killed in shooting, car crash in east Wichita in the 7000 block of E. Lincoln St., near Governeour (KSN Photo) One killed in shooting, car crash in east Wichita in the 7000 block of E. Lincoln St., near Governeour (KSN Photo) One killed in shooting, car crash in east Wichita in the 7000 block of E. Lincoln St., near Governeour (KSN Photo) Hazelton was located the next day and arrested without incident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV. Wichita residents step up to help others this Thanksgiving WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) Wichita groups are stepping up to make sure everyone has what they need ahead of Thanksgiving. On Friday morning, Wichita Public School students helped support the United Methodist Open Door Turkey Drive at Wichitas Water Walk. The event showcased bands, mascots, and floats to collect turkeys, side items, and money. Monetary donations can also be dropped off at the Open Door Community Food Ministry building, 2130 E. 21st. N., or made on the organizations website. So last year, we served 3,700, just over 3,700 families households the three days before Thanksgiving. That was a record and so the need is high, and were hoping to be able to meet at least most of that, Deanne Smith, United Methodist Open Door executive director, said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If people need assistance, holiday turkey boxes will be available for pick up Monday through Wednesday, Nov. 25-Nov. 27, between 9 a.m. and 11:45 a.m. and 1 p.m. and 3:45 p.m. You must have a valid ID for all household members, proof of address, and verification that the household income is 130% of the poverty level. Pickup is at 2130 E. 21st. N. For more, click here. Why is Thanksgiving so late this year? On Saturday, from 6:30 a.m. to noon, Central Community Church, 6100 W. Maple St., Wichita, will give away frozen turkeys and all the fixings you need to feed four to six people. The event will last until the food is gone. Bread of Life also has a Thanksgiving dinner giveaway on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. It is at 1301 E. Galena St. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV. The Macau governments recent estimate that industry gross gaming revenue (GGR) will reach MOP240 billion in 2025 could be significantly underestimated according to Citigroup. Citi analysts George Choi and Timothy Chau suggest that Macaus industry GGR could reach MOP243 billion (USD30.4 billion) in 2025, up 7% year-on-year, with EBITDA growing by 13% to USD9 billion. This forecast is higher than the Macau governments recent estimate of MOP240 billion (around USD30 billion) for 2025. Citis more optimistic projections are driven by expected increases in visitation, the rollout of smart gaming tables and the rising popularity of new side bets. The analysts note that the government has underestimated GGR in nine of the past 10 years by 10-60%, suggesting there could be significant upside risk to their own forecast. Growth in 2025 is expected to come from a combination of factors, including organic visitation increases and new cities added to the Individual Visit Scheme. Widespread adoption of smart gaming tables is set to play a crucial role, as these technologies enable more targeted player marketing and lead to a reduction in comp wastage. Citi calculates that a players theoretical GGR could increase by 5.9% on efficiency alone. Furthermore, the growing popularity of side bets, which are also easier to offer with smart table technology, can significantly enhance a players value. Citi estimates that a player with a tendency to place 10% of their wager on Lucky 6 is worth 125.5% more than a player who bets strictly on main bets. VC The summit of Mount Kearsarge on a warm Sunday afternoon in mid-August. (Dana Wormald | New Hampshire Bulletin) On the surface, it is easy to agree that New Hampshires Fish and Game Department needs more funding. Yet, securing additional public funding remains unlikely as long as the majority of state residents who neither hunt nor fish are asked to subsidize a small minority. Hunters make up just 3.2 percent of New Hampshires population, anglers about 10 percent, and trappers fewer than 600 individuals. Over the last two decades, legislative efforts to address the departments funding shortfalls have repeatedly failed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2007, an audit commissioned by the Legislature identified funding strategies, none of which were implemented. Similarly, a 2018 Senate commission proposed solutions that went unadopted. Proposals from these two efforts included: general funding for search and rescue; increasing the rooms and meals tax by one-eighth of 1 percent to be dedicated to the department; requiring decals for nonmotorized recreational boats; increasing matching general funds for nongame species; charging fees for launching boats at public launches; and increasing distribution to the department from the general fund. All these proposals were deemed inexpedient to legislate from the outset; the only one that even made into a bill, in 2018, was a proposal that a portion of rental fees for nonmotorized boats be deposited in the search-and-rescue fund. The bill was voted inexpedient to legislate. Most recently, in 2024, a Senate committee reviewed past proposals from these two efforts and did not have any specific recommendations, although an increase in funding from the general fund was the default solution discussed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This lack of progress persists despite clear evidence of broad public interest in wildlife. A recent survey by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with the cooperation of Fish and Game, found that New Hampshire residents who engage in nonconsumptive wildlife activities like viewing and photography outnumber hunters and anglers 4 to 1. These wildlife watchers account for 62 percent of the $5.2 billion spent on wildlife-related recreation in New Hampshire and provide approximately 60 percent of the departments funding, either directly through state and federal taxes or from the general fund. In my opinion, contributing to the disconnect between broad public interest and the lack of adequate funding is the fact that New Hampshire Fish and Game commissioners are, by law, exclusively hunters and anglers. This excludes over 85 percent of residents from representation in decision-making about the states wildlife, a resource held in public trust for all. Legislative attempts to broaden commission representation recommended in a 2008 audit and proposed in multiple bills since have been blocked. Without a more inclusive commission that reflects the interests of all New Hampshire residents, there is little incentive for the majority wildlife watchers, conservationists, and other stakeholders to support increased public funding. Taxation without representation has never been a winning strategy. It is time for the Legislature to align the departments leadership with the values and contributions of all New Hampshire residents, not just the few who hunt and fish. CLAY COUNTY, Mo. A customized WINNER license plate spotted in Missouri came with an ironic twist: It led to the arrest of a man accused of stealing a truck with the license plate and possessing meth. Deputies with the Clay County Sheriffs Office in western Missouri spotted the truck around 12:30 a.m. Thursday. A short later, it led to the arrest of Nick E. Bross, 50, of Independence, Missouri. The WINNER license plate raised the alarm to something suspicious. It was attached to a pickup truck outside of an undisclosed convenience store. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Man arrested, charged in womans St. Louis death after Clayton abduction The license plate was observed to be bent and with a Nevada state tag. At some point, deputies learned that the license plate had been expired for nearly a decade and that the pickup truck was stolen. Deputies questioned Bross about the stolen vehicle after he came out of the convenience store. He allegedly gave a fake name before deputies identified him at the scene and linked him to the stolen vehicle. After that, deputies searched the vehicle and found a bag of meth, along with other drug paraphernalia. The Clay County Prosecuting Attorneys Office formally charged Bross with one felony count of second-degree drug trafficking on Friday. The Clay County Sheriffs Office says a subsequent investigation is ongoing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. Nov. 22 (UPI) -- A Wisconsin sheriff's deputy came to the "rescue" of a 10-year-old who called 911 to ask for help with math homework. The Shawano County Sheriff's Office said on social media that a dispatcher answered a 911 call "from a 10-year-old who called to say that he needed help with his math homework." "He stated his family 'wasn't very good at math either' and he needed help," the post said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sheriff George Lenzner said dispatcher Kim Krause explained to the young caller that 911 was not the appropriate number to call for homework help, but she also offered her assistance. "She had some time, so she said, 'Can I help you with the problem?' And well, he gave this long problem with decimals and she was unable to help him, so she informed him, 'Well, let me see if I got a deputy near your residence,'" Lenzner told Good Morning America. Deputy Sheriff Chase Mason was in the area and agreed to take a look at the math problem. "Personally, I am also not overly proficient when it comes to math, but nonetheless, I responded to assist," Mason wrote in his report about the incident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mason, who has a stepson the same age as the caller, sat down with the child and was able to "solve the decimal related math problems," the Facebook post said. "Our young caller was provided a business card and was told we are always here to help, except next time he should probably use the non-emergency line if it's not a life-threatening situation." LAFAYETTE COUNTY, Wis. (WFRV) A juvenile in rural Lafayette County was identified and questioned after posting a social media reference to a potential school shooting, authorities confirmed. The Lafayette County Sheriffs Office received the alert from the Wisconsin Department of Justice Wisconsin Statewide Intelligence Center. The post was flagged due to concerning language. Wisconsin man arrested for string of summer robberies; publics help requested Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deputies quickly launched an investigation, determining the post originated in rural Lafayette County. They made contact with the juvenile responsible, who admitted to creating the post. After further inquiry, authorities found that the post did not indicate a credible threat, and the juvenile had no intent to carry out any harmful actions. Man accused of killing pregnant woman in Wisconsin arrested months later in Texas Any such comments made verbally or through social media are taken seriously and are fully investigated, stated Lafayette County Sheriff Reg Gill. The case will be referred to Lafayette County Juvenile Intake, with potential consequences also being considered within the school system, officials noted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. The Wisconsin man accused of faking his death in a kayaking accident has emerged alive after sending a video message to investigators. Ryan Borgwardt, the 45-year-old father of three who authorities in Wisconsin believed faked his own death, confirmed he was alive, Green Lake County Sheriff Mark Podoll announced at a press conference on Thursday, though Podoll added he believed Borgwardt was still living outside of the United States. Borgwardt went missing while kayaking on Green Lake in central Wisconsin in August. Authorities found his capsized kayak, life preserver in the lakebut failed to find his body. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After combing the lake with divers for 54 days, the sheriff announced last week investigators believed he faked his own death. On Thursday, Podoll said they had confirmation that Borgwardt was still alive. The great news is that we know that he is alive, the sheriff said. The bad news is, we do not know where Ryan exactly is, and he has not yet decided to return home. Podoll shared a short video Borgwardt recorded for investigators, confirming he was alive and well. Im in my apartment. I am safe, secure, no problem, Borgwardt said in the short clip filmed on a phone. The footage showed few details of the apartment Borgwardt was staying in. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The sheriff said they were still in daily communication with the missing kayaker, and even pieced together how he managed to pull the disappearing act off. NEW VIDEO: We are now hearing from Ryan Borgwardt, the Watertown man accused of staging his death and fleeing the country. The Green Lake County Sheriff's Office released this video and while they don't know where he is, they now know he is alive and well. More tonight at 4pm pic.twitter.com/1amdWz7dAf Andie Bernhardt (@AndieBernhardt) November 21, 2024 According to Podoll, Borgwardt stashed an ebike near the boat launch before taking his kayak out onto Green Lake. He then overturned his kayak and dumped his phone in the lake, before using a child-sized inflatable boat to paddle to shore. Once back on shore, Borgwardt then got on his ebike and traveled roughly 70 miles to Madison, Wisconsin, where he boarded a bus to Detroit, then another to cross the Canadian border. Once inside Canada, he continued traveling to an airport before boarding a flight. We do not know exactly where hes at, Podoll said. We know that its some place in Eastern Europe. Investigators previously said he had been in contact with a woman from Uzbekistan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He didnt expect us to go more than two weeks in search of him, Podoll said at Thursdays press conference. Well I hate to tell you, he picked the wrong sheriff and the wrong department. Borgwardt could face obstruction of justice charges once he is back on U.S. soil, the sheriff said. Authorities also want Borgwardt to pay up to $40,000 in restitution for the search and rescue mission in Green Lake. Nov. 21 (UPI) -- A Wisconsin kayaker who allegedly faked his death over the summer is alive and "safe" but won't disclose his location, police said Thursday. Police contacted the man and asked him to provide a video of himself. They say Ryan Borgwardt, 45, a husband and father of three, fled the country after the August 12 incident to meet with a woman. Green Lake County police tracked Borgwardt down in recent weeks and made contact with a woman who speaks Russian, Sheriff Mark Podoll said at a news conference Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "On Nov. 11, we got in contact with Ryan through her. That was a big turning point," he said. When they reached Borgwardt, they confirmed his identity by asking questions only he would know the answers to, Podoll explained. Borgwardt said the date was Nov. 11 and that he was safe in the video, which he appeared to have taken himself. It was not clear from the video where he was, but the background suggested he may have been in an apartment. "Well, that's the great news," Podoll said. "Great news that we know he's alive. "The bad news is we do not know exactly where Ryan is." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Podoll said while his exact location is unknown, officials believe he is in eastern Europe and does not appear to be in any danger or being held against his will. "We do not know where Ryan exactly is. He has not yet decided to return home. We've had nearly daily communications with Ryan," Podoll said, and added that Borgwardt has not contacted his wife or children. Borgwardt's last communication with his wife was on Aug. 11 during a kayak outing. He told her he was turning his kayak around on Green Lake and was heading to shore, Podoll said. He was reported missing the next day after his overturned kayak and life jacket were found floating in the lake the next day. Responders reported Borgwardt had drowned, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials got a lead in the case when they discovered that Canadian police had run his name on Aug. 13 which led to them learning that he had been communicating with a woman from Uzbekistan, they said. They discovered that he had replaced his laptop hard drive after he made searches asking about moving funds to foreign banks, then got a new passport and life insurance policy. Podoll said Borgwardt, once contacted, told authorities in detail about his actions. "He stashed an e-bike near the boat launch. He paddled his kayak in a child-sized floating boat out into the lake. He overturned the kayak and dumped his phone in the lake," the sheriff said. "He paddled the inflatable boat to shore and got on his e-bike and rode through the night to Madison, [Wisconsin]. In Madison, he boarded a bus and went to Detroit, and then the Canadian border. He continued on the bus to an airport and got on a plane." "We are continuing to verify this information," Podoll added. A Wisconsin father-of-three who allegedly faked his death after vanishing during a kayaking trip and fleeing to Europe said he is safe, but has not yet decided to come home from the mystery location. Ryan Borgwardt was reported missing by his family on August 12 when he didnt return home from his trip to Dodge Memorial Park in Green Lake, leaving behind an overturned kayak and life jacket, leading responders to believe that he had drowned. However, last week, the 45-year-old began making contact with police after investigators connected with a woman who speaks Russian, Green Lake County Sheriff Mark Podoll said at a news conference on Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The sheriff showed a muffled selfie-style video that Borgwardt sent to the police at an undisclosed location, which the kayaker claimed was filmed on the morning of November 11. Im in my apartment, he says in the clip seen by The Independent, panning around a nondescript room, before adding: I am safe, secure, no problem. Ryan Borgwardt made contact with police via video message and said hes safe but wont reveal his mystery location (Green Lake County Sheriff's Office) Hope this works, he concludes as he stops the camera rolling. Podoll noted that making contact with Borgwardt through the woman was a big turning point. The great news is we know that he is alive and well, the sheriff said. The bad news is we dont know where Ryan exactly is and he has not yet decided to return home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since making contact, Podoll said authorities have had nearly daily communications with Borgwardt. No criminal charges have been filed. The mysterious case began when authorities found Borgwardts vehicle and trailer parked in the lot and a capsized kayak in the western part of the lake where the water is around 220 feet deep, according to the Green Lake County Sheriffs Office. Borgwardt faked his disappearance and fled to Europe, police say (Green Lake County Sheriffs Office) A fisherman found Borgwardts fishing rod in the same lake and his tackle box containing a wallet, keys, and a license. His wife, who he last had contact with on August 11, feared he had drowned. The search for his body went on for more than 50 days, with divers scouring the lake on several occasions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, in a bizarre twist, its believed that the father-of-three staged the accident and then fled the country for Europe, Sheriff Podoll said during a press conference on November 8. While searching Borgwardts electronic devices for clues, they discovered that he had been communicating with a woman from Uzbekistan online before leaving for the kayaking trip. He had also opened a new bank account, obtained a new passport before leaving his original one at home, and then wiped his computer. According to officials, Borgwardts alleged plot had been in the making for at least seven months, revealing that it started when he purchased a $375,000 life insurance policy. The Independent has contacted the Green Lake County Sheriffs Office for more information. CLARK COUNTY, Wis. (WFRV) A 21-year-old man from Chili has been arrested in connection with a series of summer robberies in Clark County. According to the Clark County Sheriffs Office, Zachary Wolf was taken into custody for multiple alleged crimes, including armed burglary, burglary, theft, criminal damage to property, and bail jumping. Wolf is currently being held in the Clark County Jail on a $50,000 cash bond. Man accused of killing pregnant woman in Wisconsin arrested months later in Texas Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The robberies reportedly occurred in southeastern Clark County and the Willard/Rock Dam area. Investigators have recovered some stolen property in the Clark County Forest near Wildrock Campground. As the gun deer hunting season approaches, hunters are being urged to remain vigilant and report any unusual items or stolen property they may find in the woods. Fond du Lac County first responders assist with 250+ calls for service during first snowfall of season Authorities are seeking additional information to identify other potential suspects and recover more stolen property. Anyone with tips is encouraged to contact the Clark County Sheriffs Office at 715-743-3157. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No further details were 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 WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. Lawmakers are confused about the governments prediction that gross revenue from casinos will be MOP240 billion in 2025, as expressed yesterday during a Legislative Assembly (AL) session where next years budget proposal was debated and voted on. While some considered the amount a very conservative forecast, others expressed fears that the government could be overestimating receipts and underestimating regional competition and other external factors. The Secretary for Economy and Finance, Lei Wai Nong, was at the AL to present the bill and, as usual, did not elaborate much on how the government arrived at this forecast. The first concerns were expressed by lawmaker Leong Sun Iok, who noted that the estimate of MOP240 billion represents an average of MOP20 billion a month over the next year, a figure that has only been reached in two months this year so far (May and October), with the current average for the first 10 months of the year being MOP19 billion. The same lawmaker also noted that there are increasing challenges to this industry as other areas in the region are legalizing gaming activities. Lawmaker Ngan Iek Hang agreed, noting that the figure reached in October this year (MOP20.8 billion) was already very high and surpassed the highest amount obtained in any month in 2023. Ngan expressed concerns about whether it would be possible to ensure that every month in 2025 will be as profitable as October this year. Ron Lam took the opposite view, noting that the government systematically chooses to present very conservative forecasts for gaming industry results, hinting that there are potential other interests on the line. Lam said that by presenting a conservative forecast, the government easily dismisses the idea of increasing social benefits, subsidies and other governmental support to the population and businesses. Also commenting on the topic was Lo Choi In, who did not take a side but said only that the government needs to have a more global perspective of the gaming numbers and should not base the annual budget on just this factor but on others too. Jose Pereira Coutinho also shared fears of increased competition from neighboring regions, noting that Macau has seen a very large number of visitors, but these visitors are spending a lot less and in an imbalanced manner which is mostly benefiting big companies and not small businesses. Leong also noted that claiming that tourists spending does not equally benefit everyone in society, with most people earning less than before. He called on the government to correct this imbalance. In response, Secretary Lei excused himself from answering most of the questions, arguing that this budget is not for the current government but for the next. Its a basic budget to ensure the payment of contracted expenses and the normal functioning of services, he remarked, deferring the majority of the questions and skepticism from the lawmakers to March or April next year when it is expected the new government will present its policy address for the year. Trying to explain how the government reached its figure of MOP240 billion, Lei said only that it was based on the previous results and the results obtained over the past 10 months, together with the forecast increase in the number of visitors expected this year to 36 million or more, an increase of 9% when compared to this year. With the increase of patrons [to the casinos], the tax collected over the gaming revenues will also increase, and that is the calculation we have made, the Secretary said, adding that the government also expects better performance from the non-gaming sectors next year. I believe that the next government will discuss with you your questions. We cant do this. We are not in a position to do so. This should be a discussion to have at the Policy Address for 2025, he concluded. Ron Lam unhappy with budget priorities During the brief discussion over the 2025 budget proposal, lawmaker Ron Lam expressed his dissatisfaction with the governments budgetary priorities. The benefits stay the same, the pensions for the elderly are unchanged, but the budget of TDM [public broadcaster] is going to grow over 35%, he said, adding, I fail to understand the priorities of this government. Also unhappy with the cash handouts system being kept as it was was lawmaker Leong Hong Sai, linked with the Macau General Union of Neighborhood Associations (commonly referred to as Kai Fong). The lawmaker said that society is not happy with the mechanism and asked if the government is expecting to change the criteria mechanism to prevent people that do not reside in Macau and that have left for a long period receiving this subsidy. ITHACA TOWNSHIP, Wis (WFRV) Two suspects have been arrested for stealing aluminum cans from a donation drop-off site benefiting the Ithaca-Weston Wrestling Club. According to a press release from the Richland County Sheriffs Office, the incident happened Wednesday morning, November 20, at the corner of Willow Creek Road and State Highway 58. Green Bay man known as Ghost charged with selling cocaine, hid drugs in air freshener can Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Richland County Sheriffs Office says they were alerted by a concerned citizen who provided photos of the suspects and their vehicle. With assistance from the Muscoda Police Department, authorities quickly located the individuals involved. The release states that 66-year-old Henry McMillian, of Muscoda, was taken into custody on charges of theft and felony bail jumping. 31-year-old Sarah Rice, of Avoca, was also arrested and charged with theft. The Richland County Sheriffs Office commended the community for its vigilance and urged residents to install security cameras. Its not really an emergency, I just need a little help on one math problem: Shawano County Sheriffs Office releases hilarious 911 call for help on homework Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No additional information has been provided 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 WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. A shrinking share of income from Wisconsin residents and business goes to education and other public services, while corrections and police costs increase. (Getty Images) Wisconsin residents and businesses pay less than 10% of their income on state and local taxes, according to a new report published Friday, continuing a trend that has been underway for more than two decades. The report, produced by the Wisconsin Policy Forum, credited rising incomes, a 2021 state income tax cut and state limits on local property tax increases for helping to reduce Wisconsins state and local tax burden. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wisconsin residents and businesses paid 9.9% of their income to cover state and local taxes in 2022, the report finds. Thats a drop from 10.3% in 2021 and from 12.5% in the year 2000. The trend might not last, however. Initial information on collections suggest little change in the state and local tax burden for 2023, which could continue in 2024 and 2025, the report states. While income growth has been strong, taxes have also grown in at least some areas. On average nationwide, state and local taxes amounted to 11.1% of individual and business income in 2022, according to the report 1.2 percentage points more than Wisconsin. The share of Wisconsin income going to those taxes has never been so far below that of the nation, the report states. The report reflects only state and local taxes, not federal taxes, which the Wisconsin Policy Forum analyzes separately. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Wisconsin taxpayers are paying a little less, the state is also spending a smaller share of its income, particularly for education, the report finds. Direct state and local spending grew by 7% in 2022, reaching $65.06 billion. But spending fell as a share of state income, to 18.3% in 2022 from 18.6% in 2021. Overall K-12 spending in Wisconsin rose 4.4% in 2022, but that was less than half of the 9.8% increase nationally, the report states. Spending on K-12 education was 5.1% of state income in 2000 the eighth highest among states. By 2021 it had dropped to 3.9%, and by 2022, to 3.8% ranking 31st from the top. This represents a major shift in the single largest area of state and local spending, the report states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The report sets the stage for the top priority for lawmakers and Gov. Tony Evers in the coming year drawing up Wisconsins 2025-27 state budget, with likely debates over school funding and the states projected surplus of about $4 billion. A trend for two decades In the year 2000, Wisconsin ranked third among the 50 states in the share of personal income going to state and local taxes, according to the Wisconsin Policy Forum. By 2022, the states rank had dropped to 35, an all-time low. Wisconsins ranking in taxes per capita has also fallen. In 2021, when the total annual state and local tax bill averaged $5,689 per capita, the state was in 24th place. In 2022, Wisconsins fell to 29th place, with an average bill of $5,966 per capita. The share of income from Wisconsin individuals and businesses that goes to pay state and local taxes has been shrinking for more than two decades, Wisconsin Policy Forum calculations show. (Graphic courtesy of Wisconsin Policy Forum) The single largest contributor to Wisconsins lower tax burden was a change in the state income tax brackets included in the 2021-23 state budget, reducing the third bracket from the bottom to 5.3% from 6.27% reducing state tax revenue by $1 billion in 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The report points out that its calculation shows only a drop in Wisconsins average tax burden some taxpayers here benefited less and others more. Legislative Fiscal Bureau estimates compiled when the change in the third bracket took effect showed 98.9% of the total decrease was expected to go to tax filers with state Adjusted Gross Income of more than $40,000 and 74% of the total to filers with income of more than $100,000, the report states. In 2020, before the change took effect, Wisconsin ranked 13th among states for the share of personal income going to the state income tax. By 2022, with the tax cut in effect, the states rank fell to 30th. Two other changes may have contributed to that shift, according to the report. One affected business owners who received Paycheck Protection Act pandemic relief loans, but then were allowed to keep the money instead of repaying it to the federal government. In 2021 Wisconsin enacted legislation waiving state income taxes on those funds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition, Wisconsin revised its income tax tables for 2022, reducing the amount of tax money the state collected that would subsequently be refunded to taxpayers. Corporate income and general sales tax revenues also grew more slowly in Wisconsin compared to nationally, the report said, also likely contributing to the states lower relative tax burden. The report found that property taxes, which fund public schools and local and county government, grew 2.9% in 2022, keeping pace with the national average. Wisconsins 2021-23 state budget included a freeze on per-pupil revenue caps to local school districts. That limited how much local districts could raise property taxes without getting voters permission through a referendum, as well as how much state aid they could collect. As a result, the share of Wisconsin income paid to property taxes dropped to 3% in 2022 from 3.2% in 2021, contributing a significant share of the overall decrease in the states tax burden, the report states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The states higher than average property taxes particularly on homes remain the most salient tax for most state residents, the report states. That may keep some taxpayers from grasping the overall decrease in taxes that has taken place over the past two decades. Where costs are rising Higher education spending has risen slightly in recent years, from 1.8% in 2021 to 1.9% in 2022, and Wisconsins rank has risen, too, to the 20th highest state on that measure. Spending by state and local government on the prison system, jails and other corrections costs rose 11.3% in 2022, with Wisconsin ranking 9th among states in its corrections spending as a share of state income, according to the report. Police spending in Wisconsin rose 5.8% in 2022 ahead of the national average of 3.8%, and putting the state at 27th highest for police spending. Fire protection spending has fallen, however, both in the amount of money allocated and the states ranking for firefighter spending as a share of income. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Public social services spending, such as for Medicaid, increased 6.5% in 2022. Wisconsin ranks 21st nationally for that spending as a share of state income. Looking ahead, the report suggests that the 2024 wave of successful referendum measures, primarily for public schools, will lead to property tax increases by the end of this year. These increases should also help to counteract at least somewhat the drop in K-12 spending levels as local school leaders try to rebuild their budgets after the two recent years of frozen revenue limits, the report states. But it also forecasts conflicts ahead between lawmakers who have continued to press for reducing Wisconsin taxes and the Evers administration as well as local taxpayers who approved school referendum questions and want to see increased financial support for public schools in the 2025-27 budget. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX A womans Ancestry DNA kit solved a nearly 30-year-old cold case, but it resulted in her grandmother facing a possible life sentence in prison. TikTok user Jenna recently went viral after she explained how the results of her Ancestry DNA kit led to her grandmothers arrest. She began her video with a bit of background on her family, noting that she never met [her] grandmother and didnt even know her name until she was about 15. She then explained that her grandmother was a suspect in the unsolved Baby Garnet case, which was very popular in the town she grew up in. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Back in June 1997, the Mackinac County Sheriffs Office and Michigan State Police opened the investigation after the remains of a deceased infant were discovered in a campground pit toilet at the Garnet Lake Campground in the Upper Peninsulas Hudson Township, according to the Michigan Department of Attorney General. At the time, an autopsy determined the decedent to have been a term or near-term infant of a gestational age of 36-42 weeks. The deceased infamously became known as Baby Garnet for the next 27 years. However, it wasnt until May of this year that Nancy Ann Gerwatoski was charged with one count each of open murder, involuntary manslaughter, and concealing the death of an individual. Woman says her grandmother was identified as a suspect in the 1997 Baby Garnet case (@__jennarose__ / TikTok) Shell now go to trial for the cold case murder, and is facing a life sentence in prison if shes found guilty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In her TikTok video, Jenna noted that while she couldnt share everything that happened to her grandmother, she could share her story about getting an ancestry DNA kit two years ago. She explained that she received a phone call from a police officer in Michigan one year after she got back her Ancestry results. [He] was like, I just want to let you know I re-opened a cold case from like 25 years ago... and your DNA is a direct match to the victim of this case, she said, referring to the Baby Garnet case. As Jenna spoke with the officer, he said he wanted to connect her with a woman from Chicago, Illinois, who runs a worldwide database. However, Jenna admitted she had a few concerns when she spoke to the woman from Chicago after she was asked for a password. The TikToker felt like she was being scammed, so she hung up the phone. It wasnt until a week later that her mother had called her, telling her to come home. When she arrived, Jenna saw one of her cousins, who had told her that the phone call with the woman in Chicago was not a scam after all. When Jenna called the woman back, she agreed to put her DNA into the worldwide database. From there, her DNA came back as a distant relative to someone involved in the Baby Garnet case. After her mother also agreed to offer her DNA, Jenna soon learned that her grandmother was a suspect. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement [They] ended up finding out that its not a distant relative to my mom, but a direct relative, Jenna told her TikTok followers. And the only other people it could have been was my moms mother. They kind of started doing their own investigation and figured out thats who it was. So we were mind blown. Jenna added: Mind you, Ive never met this woman before. She is literally the f***ing person that theyve been looking for for 25 years. And its all because of a f***ing Ancestry DNA kit. Despite detailing how the investigation unfolded since receiving her Ancestry DNA results, Jenna revealed that she was unable to discuss anything else about the incident. The Independent contacted Jenna for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to local Michigan news outlet Wood TV, Nancy Ann Gerwatowski was arrested in July 2022 and placed in the Mackinac County Jail on an open murder warrant as the suspect in the 1997 Baby Garnet case. Her arrest came after investigative efforts were renewed in 2017, when a Michigan State Police detective sargent initiated familial genetic genealogical tracing with the assistance of a private laboratory and the Federal Bureau of Investigations, who by this time had possessed the skeletal remains of Baby Garnet, as noted by the state of Michigan. A lab received remains to test in 2020, and in 2022 a DNA profile was developed and returned indicating a specific familial lineage, the state reported. These results led investigators to Nancy Gerwatowski, who was then living in Wyoming. The Michigan attorney generals office stated that additional DNA testing of Gerwatowski obtained through a search warrant had indeed confirmed her parentage to Baby Garnet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The state also claimed that Gerwatowski was alone when she delivered her baby, who died due to asphyxiation. However, the babys death could have been prevented by medical intervention, which Gerwatowski reportedly did not seek. A hearing is scheduled for December 12, according to court records, to decide if Gerwatowskis statement, abortion consideration, and her lack of prenatal healthcare can be used in the trial. The hearing will also determine if her concealing the death of an individual charge can be dismissed. OGDEN, Utah (ABC4) An Ogden woman is behind bars and facing three charges stemming from a road rage incident in Riverdale. No credible threat at Olympus Jr. High following bomb scare Kay Marlene Scharff Conde, 34, of Ogden, faces the following charges: Robbery (road rage) a second-degree felony Vehicle burglary (road rage) a third-degree felony Reckless driving (road rage) a class A misdemeanor Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As noted, each charge carries a road rage enhancement, which was passed earlier this year in the 2024 legislative session. According to the probable cause statement, on Nov. 19, the victim, who was not identified by police, was driving north on I-15 in a Tesla that had its 360-degree camera activated. The suspect was seen to have been following too close to the Tesla. Conde was seen making an improper lane change and did not remain in a single lane during the incident. The victim said she took the Riverdale Road exit and the suspect followed her at this point, the victim reportedly knew she was being followed. The victim pulled into the drive-thru of Habit Burger. When the victim came to the drive-thru window, Conde approached the car and started to yell and swear at the victim. The victim had $20 to pay for her food, which during the incident, Conde took and walked off. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Conde was located by police through her license plate information and police drove to the address and made contact with Conde. Police said that she admitted to the incident the day before. Police arrested and booked Conde on the aforementioned charges. Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. Nov. 21A Florida woman faces felony charges after police allege she attempted to steal almost $240,000 from a local woman's bank account. Santa Fe police arrested Monika Hope Wellmann, 47, of Lake Worth, Fla., on Wednesday afternoon at Washington Federal Bank on St. Michael's Drive, according to court documents. Wellmann is accused of using a Santa Fe woman's military identification card to attempt to transfer $239,500 from her home equity loan into a Chase Bank account. Staff at the bank first notified the police around 1 p.m. when Wellmann first attempted the transfer and "they knew she was being fraudulent," an officer wrote in an affidavit. A bank teller told Wellmann the bank's system was down, the affidavit says, and then he texted the police officer about an hour and a half later when she returned to attempt the transfer again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wellmann provided her information to police upon her arrest, the officer wrote, but she declined to be interviewed about the allegation. She was booked into the Santa Fe County jail. She faces charges of attempted fraud, forgery and identity theft, according to a criminal complaint filed Thursday in Santa Fe County Magistrate Court. Nov. 21A Florida woman faces felony charges after police allege she attempted to steal almost $240,000 from a local woman's bank account. Santa Fe police arrested Monika Hope Wellmann, 47, of Lake Worth, Fla., on Wednesday afternoon at Washington Federal Bank on St. Michael's Drive, according to court documents. Wellmann is accused of using a Santa Fe woman's military identification card to attempt to transfer $239,500 from her home equity loan into a Chase Bank account. Staff at the bank first notified the police around 1 p.m. when Wellmann first attempted the transfer and "they knew she was being fraudulent," an officer wrote in an affidavit. A bank teller told Wellmann the bank's system was down, the affidavit says, then texted the police officer about an hour and a half later when she returned to attempt the transfer again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wellmann provided her information to police upon her arrest, the officer wrote, but she declined to be interviewed about the allegation. She was booked into the Santa Fe County jail. She faces charges of attempted fraud, forgery and identity theft, according to a criminal complaint filed Thursday in Santa Fe County Magistrate Court. KANSAS CITY, Mo. One woman is facing charges following a chase that led to a trooper-involved shooting earlier this week. Jackson County prosecutors this week charged Dacoda S. Jackson with first-degree assault and resisting arrest. According to court documents, just before 12:30 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 17, a Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper initiated a traffic stop for a driver speeding on northbound Interstate 35, south of Missouri Highway 210 in Clay County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The suspect driver failed to yield and exited northbound I-35 to Missouri 210 and traveled back onto southbound I-35 in Jackson County. Merriam police investigating shooting connected to crash A Kansas Highway Patrol helicopter helped monitor the chase while MSHP troopers called it off but remained in the area and followed updates from the helicopter pilot. Eventually, the KHP helicopter had to stop to go to another call on the Kansas side. Troopers continued to the last known location of the suspect vehicle where the suspect came to a stop at Linwood Boulevard and Van Brunt Avenue. Troopers tried to stop the suspect from leaving again by place a patrol vehicle in the front and rear of the suspect vehicle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Court documents say as troopers exited their patrol vehicles, the driver reversed, striking one patrol vehicle. The suspect then began driving forward in the path of a trooper who was standing outside of their patrol car. The trooper fired his weapon at the suspect vehicle and the suspect continued to leave, traveling west on Interstate 70, before exiting at Prospect Avenue. The suspect came to a stop at 13th Street and Prospect Avenue after becoming disabled. The suspect then left on foot but was then taken into custody. Through a review of video footage and witness interviews, it was determined that Jackson was the driver of the vehicle. After she left on foot at Linwood and Van Brunt, she moved to the front passenger seat, as a rear seat passenger. She was found to have multiple gunshot wounds and was taken to University Health Truman Medical Center for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. No troopers were injured during the incident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Download the FOX4 News app on iPhone and Android One witness stated he and a juvenile male passenger were seated in the rear seat of the suspect vehicle during the incident. He claimed he did not know who was driving the vehicle, but described her as a black woman. He said he had been asleep in the vehicle but awoke to the sound of gunfire. Jacksons bond has been set at $75,000 cash only. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. An investigation is underway after a shooting at a Worcester apartment building on Thursday night left a woman dead and a man seriously injured, authorities said. Officers responding to reports of a possible shooting on Brookside Avenue just before 6:30 p.m. found a woman and man suffering from apparent gunshot wounds inside an apartment, according to the Worcester Police Department. The woman was pronounced dead at the scene. The man was rushed to the hospital for treatment. Their names havent been released. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There was no word on the mans condition as of Friday morning. Video captured by a Boston 25 News photographer showed a man in handcuffs being loaded into the back of a Worcester police van. Police didnt say if the man is connected to the shooting or if charges have been filed against him. Detectives are working to determine what led up to the shooting. Jose Rivera lives at the apartment complex and saw first responders swarm the building on Thursday night. I just saw a bunch of commotion, ambulances, and police cars, they were actually here all night until this morning, said Rivera Friday morning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said tenants were not allowed in the building for a period of time during the investigation, nobody knew what was going on so people were desperate to find out if their family members were ok but yeah its just been chaos since about 7 p.m. last night. The shooting has been unsettling for neighbors like Rivera. These are supposed to be you know apartments so-called nothing really happens. And nothing really has happened for the year and a half that Ive been here. But its terrifying. You know Worcester lately has a lot of stuff thats happened in the area so yeah its terrifying, he said. Anyone with information is urged to contact Worcester police at 508-799-8651. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now) Police in Montgomery County are investigating after a woman died in a crash in Gaithersburg Thursday night. The Montgomery County Department of Police (MCPD) said that around 10:30 p.m. on Nov. 21, officers and medics responded to the 13300 block of Darnestown Road for a crash. Police aim to curb holiday crime rate with increased presence in Silver Spring Once at the scene, officers learned that a blue 2007 Toyota Camry was traveling west on Darnestown Road when it crashed into a wooden utility pole. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police said a 41-year-old woman died at the scene from her injuries. Her name has not been released, as of Friday morning. MCPDs Crash Collision Reconstruction Unit is working to learn what led to the crash. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC. Health officials asked the public for help Friday identifying a woman who has been hospitalized in Los Angeles for more than a month. The patient, listed as Jane Doe, was brought to Los Angeles General Medical Center on Oct. 11, 2024, according to a Los Angeles Health Services news release. The unidentified woman was involved in an auto vs pedestrian accident, the news release stated. She was described as a 54-year-old woman about 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighing 132 pounds. Officials asked the public for help identifying a patient at Los Angeles General Medical Center on Nov. 22, 2024. (L.A. Health Services) Her hair and eyes are brown, according to the hospital. No identifying marks or tattoos were listed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone with information about the patients identity was asked to contact the Los Angeles General Medical Center Department of Social Work at 323-409-5253. After-hours calls between 5 p.m. and 8 a.m. should contact the Department of Emergency Medicine, Social Work Department at 323-409-6883. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. The 2024 Global Investment Promotion Conference in Guangzhou saw 1,933 projects signed, totaling 2.26 trillion yuan ($313.5 billion). A list of the top 100 foreign-invested enterprises in Guangdong was revealed, with investments totaling $36.6 billion, each contributing over $100 million to the provinces economy. Related MEMPHIS, Tenn. A pedestrian on a scooter crashed into a Memphis Police car in Downtown Memphis on Friday morning, police say. The accident took place at Union Avenue and B.B. King just before 7 a.m. Reports say the woman crashed into the police car while the officer was inside. The woman was taken to the hospital in non-critical condition. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. For the record: 4:53 p.m. Nov. 23, 2024: An earlier version of this article misspelled the last name of Sade Elhawary. Even in a state known for crafting first-in-the-nation progressive laws and leading on reproductive rights, men have long outnumbered women in the California Legislature. The Capitol's male-dominated culture was evident when hundreds of women spoke out about sexual harassment during the #MeToo movement. Then came the shocking image of a masked lawmaker carrying her newborn into the Assembly chambers during the depths of the COVID-19 pandemic because she was denied a request to work remotely after giving birth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It wasn't until 1989 that a woman wore pants on the Senate floor, after a fed-up lawmaker defied the Capitol dress code on a cold day in Sacramento. But now gender equality in California's Capitol is nearer than ever, after voters elected a record number of women to the Legislature. When lawmakers are sworn in on Dec. 2, women will hold 59 of the Legislature's 120 seats. "They have an opportunity to exert power in a way that hasn't been done before," said Susannah Delano, executive director of Close the Gap California, which works to elect progressive women. "There's a difference between lip service and good policy that is really vetted by the people who are going to be impacted, and women have a track record of powerful listening and inclusive, responsive solutions." The new record, with women holding 49% of legislative seats, marks a vast increase over the last decade. Women's representation in the California Capitol is up from nearly 31% in 2020 and 25% in 2016, according to the Center for American Women and Politics. In 1980, just 9% of California state lawmakers were women. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For years, California has lagged behind other states including Nevada, Arizona and Colorado when it comes to legislative gender equity. The change in Sacramento was fueled in part by major turnover in the Legislature this year, creating new opportunities for candidates to run without challenging an incumbent. More than a dozen of the newly elected women won seats held by men, many of who were forced out of office by term limits. It comes after a majority of Californians voted for Vice President Kamala Harris over former President Trump and some are still reeling from the loss of what could have been America's first female president. Newcomer Sade Elhawary, a Democrat from South Los Angeles who is replacing termed-out Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer, is among the record number of women who will meet for a special legislative session in Sacramento next month to devise new ways to shield the state from Trump's federal agenda. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She pointed to Trump's history of sexual misconduct allegations that include a jury finding him liable for sexually abusing advice columnist E. Jean Carroll, which Trump has described as a made-up, fabricated story. "Women in the Legislature are really going to be on the front lines as we look to both hold Trump accountable and protect Californians from all the things that might happen. I think we have to suit up," Elhawary said. "We still suffer from the evils of sexism in such a real way." While Democrats are praising the gender gains as a way to further secure liberal priorities such as abortion rights, Republicans are also celebrating. Suzette Valladares, a former assembly member who is replacing termed out Sen. Scott Wilk (R-Saugus) for the Santa Clarita Valley Senate seat, said working moms like her are well positioned to address Californians' escalating concerns over the cost of living because they are attuned to family budgets and child care fees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "When I served in the Assembly, we had a women's caucus that truly was bipartisan. We made a conscious effort to support each other's bills," she said. "I think it's going to produce some amazing pieces of policy." It's hard to say if the shakeup in the Legislature will produce tangible reforms. California has already passed equal pay laws that do more to close salary gaps between men and women than most states and is home to the most stringent sexual consent requirements. But some priorities of the Legislative Women's Caucus have stalled as California faced a multibillion dollar budget deficit, including a bill that would have expanded Medi-Cal coverage of diapers vetoed last year by Gov. Gavin Newsom, who cited cost concerns. Marva Diaz, a political strategist who mostly represents female candidates, said identity politics remain important to California campaigns despite the drubbing Democrats took nationally in this election, in part due to Trump's strategy of appealing to young men. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "You recognize that you are different and that you are missing at certain tables. We need more women CEOs. We need more women in the business sector," Diaz said. "I think that it's going to take women in the Legislature in order to make that progress." The California Legislative Women's Caucus was formed in 1985 and its founding members include Democratic Rep. Maxine Waters, a trailblazing and powerful member of Congress, and Rose Ann Vuich, the first woman elected to the state Senate who was known to ring a bell each time her colleagues in the Capitol addressed members as "gentlemen." State Sen. Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) made history in 2018 when she became the first woman and the first openly LGBTQ+ person to serve as the leader of California Senate. She was the first woman to lead both houses of the state Legislature, having also served as speaker of the Assembly. Now, she's one of three women who have declared a run for governor in 2026. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Only men have ever served as California governor. Atkins said it is overdue for voters to put a woman in the state's highest office, and not just for representation purposes. "I think it matters that there are women in this race. I actually think women govern differently," Atkins said. "I think we think about the bigger picture." Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. At 6:21 p.m., Worcester Police Officers responded to reports of possible gunfire at Brookside Avenue. Upon arriving at the scene, officers found a female and male both suffering from gunshot wounds. Both victims were given aid on scene, and when paramedics arrived they pronounced the female dead at the scene. EMS transported the male victim with serious injuries to the hospital. Detectives were called in to assist Worcester police with a follow-up investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you have any information regarding the incident, police ask you call the Worcester Police Detective Bureau at (508) 799-8651. Those who wish to remain anonymous may do so by texting 274637 TIPWPD + your message or send an anonymous web based message at worcesterma.gov/police. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Channel 2 Action News is learning more about what led to a 69-year-old woman with autism being left in a hot van unattended for more than 2 hours. The Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities released findings from a September 2024 report on the incident. Investigators found there was evidence of neglect on behalf of the two employees responsible for a 69-year-old. Channel 2 investigative reporter Ashli Lincoln first reported on this incident in October. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It happened in the parking lot at Arbor Place Mall in August. Someone passing by called the police for help after seeing 69-year-old Brenda Ballard in the back of a van on a hot August day. Two employees with the Chanan Foundation forgot about Ballard while they took a group of disabled individuals to the movies and lunch at Arbor Place Mall. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One employee told investigators prior to the incident there were no specific processes in place regarding signing individuals in and out of day programs. The report also states individuals are not assigned to a specific instructor and there are no trip logs or attendance sheets. The Chanan Foundation CEO told police at the hospital the employees broke policy and would be terminated. However, the report states both employees were only suspended for three days and were allowed to return to work. After the incident, the document notes the foundation started implementing head counts before leaving the facility. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Each staff member will have a list of assigned individuals and will use a list to verify checkoffs throughout the outing. The CEO has not responded to Channel 2 Action News request for comment regarding the report, but did say in a previous statement: For privacy reasons, we do not discuss personnel actions or the individuals to whom we provide care. However, we have been made aware of the situation, and we enacted additional safety protocols to protect those whom we serve. TROTWOOD, Ohio (WDTN) A food drive will be held at the Trotwood Fire and Rescue Station 72 today through the end of the weekend. The city of Trotwood announced that the Holiday Help Out Food Drive began Friday at 6 a.m. This is the ninth year of the event, which is organized through a partnership between the city and The Good Neighbor House. WROU Program Director and on-air personality Faith Daniels will broadcast live the entire weekend from the fire station as donations are collected. Hot 102.9s Kev Nash and 1410 ESPNs Justin Kimmer will broadcast alongside Daniels. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More Ohioans expected to travel for Thanksgiving this year than 2023 The annual food drive is always important, but this year it is more important than ever. We know so many working families are food insecure and we just want to do our part to help. This is only possible with the help of the community and our partners, the City of Trotwood, Fire Chief Rick Haacke and Station 72, Attorney Blake R. Maislin, Cartwright Family Foundation, Realtor Sean Lightfoot, Abundant Life Christ Centered Ministries, The Steve Harvey Morning Show, Teddy Byrd Promotions, Titan Graphics, Raising Canes, and our loyal listeners and supporters. Faith Daniels, WROU The donations will provide for families in need of a holiday meal as well as restock the nine pantries of The Good Neighbor House. Accepted donations include non-perishables, personal care products, gloves and hats. These items can be provided without leaving your vehicle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Holiday Help Out Food Drive runs until Sunday, Nov. 24. Visit the fire and rescue station on 5469 Little Richmond 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 WDTN.com. KINGWOOD, W.Va. (WBOY) The Kingwood detachment of the West Virginia State Police is offering a way to share joy this holiday season by accepting donations of new unwrapped toys and canned goods for the annual State Troopers for West Virginia Needy campaign. Donations will be accepted at the detachment, located at 50 J. T. Brammer Lane, on weekdays beginning Monday, Nov. 25 until Thursday, Dec. 12 according to a release from the detachment. Adopt an Angel Tree Child Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sergeant Silas Belt, the detachment commander, said of the annual event, We are pleased and privileged to be a part of this campaign with all who give. There is an increased need in our local communities this year so now, more than ever, contributions are vital. The donations will support the Salvation Army, Toys for Tots and Food for Preston to assist local families. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now WBOY Daily News Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBOY.com. (Bloomberg) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Morocco on his way home from the Group of 20 summit in Brazil, underscoring Beijings push to develop ties with Africa. Most Read from Bloomberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Xi was received at the airport by Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan and Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch on Thursday evening in Casablanca, according to a report by state broadcaster China Central Television. Xi said China is willing to push forward more cooperation under the signature Belt and Road Initiative, the report added. The stop was intended to advance the nations strategic partnership, according to Moroccan state media outlet MAP. The visit was Xis first to Morocco as president and wasnt mentioned by Chinese state media beforehand. Under Xi, China has redoubled efforts to enhance ties with developing nations, partly for economic reasons but also to counter the US-led global order. China has been building a battery supply chain for Europe in Morocco, which has free-trade agreements with the US and the European Union. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this year, Zhejiang Hailiang Co., a major producer of copper tubes and rods, announced plans to build a plant in Morocco for $288 million to make new-energy materials, including lithium-battery foil, tapping rising global demand. Moroccos state-owned investment fund La Caisse de Depot et de Gestion and Gotion High-Tech Co. signed an agreement last week to advance the development of an electric battery gigafactory in Kenitra, north off the capital, Rabat. The project Moroccos first gigafactory aims to produce lithium-ion battery cells and packs. (Updates with more details from Chinese state media.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Xi Jinping was unusually candid with Joe Biden in their last meeting as their countries' leaders. Xi outlined China's "red lines" for the US, including the country's rights to development. Beijing was setting ground rules for the incoming Trump administration and its China hawks. China's leader, Xi Jinping, is gearing up for Trump 2.0 with some ground rules for the administration's China hawks. Last weekend, Xi met US President Joe Biden at the 31st APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Lima, Peru. He told Washington not to cross "four red lines" which analysts say is a clear message for the incoming Trump administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The four hot-button issues are Taiwan, democracy and human rights, China's path and system, and the country's rights to development. "These are the most important guardrails and safety nets for China-US relations," Xi said, according to a readout from the Chinese foreign ministry. Xi's explicit message is notable because it appears to be the first time these "red lines" have been issued at the presidential level, said Igor Khrestin, a managing director of global policy at the George W. Bush Institute, a think tank. "This is an attempt to 'set the floor' for US-China relations, in light of the uncertainly surrounding the second Trump Administration," Khrestin told Business Insider. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To be sure, it's not the first time Beijing has mentioned "red lines" in diplomatic settings, and the four no-go zones are consistent with China's position on the issues. Its foreign minister, Wang Yi, has warned against crossing Beijing's "red lines" in the past. The remarks show Beijing is paying close attention to the nomination of China hawks in Donald Trump's administration, including Florida Sen. Marco Rubio who has been sanctioned by Beijing to the position of secretary of state. Xi's language raised some eyebrows, with analysts calling it "harsh" and deeming China's foreign-ministry readout "strikingly negative" in some sections. In an article published Tuesday by the Lowy Institute, a think tank, Jersey Lee, an international-affairs analyst, said Xi's remark that "if U.S. side always says one thing but does another, it will be detrimental to its own image, and undermine trust between China and the United States" was "surprisingly frank." Xi named Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te Of the four "red lines," Taiwan is the most sensitive issue between the two countries, as Xi has repeatedly said over the years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beijing claims Taiwan as its territory and has said recently that it'll never commit to renouncing the use of force over the island. The area is strategically important to the US as a leader in semiconductor production and as a key security hub. The sensitivity over Taiwan is even more apparent because last weekend may have also the first time that Xi called Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te of the Democratic Progressive Party whom Beijing branded as a separatist by his name. Chinese leaders rarely mention Taiwanese leaders by name in public. "If the US side cares about maintaining peace across the Taiwan Strait, it is crucial that it sees clearly the true nature of Lai Ching-te and the DPP authorities in seeking 'Taiwan independence,' handles the Taiwan question with extra prudence, unequivocally opposes 'Taiwan independence,' and supports China's peaceful reunification," the Chinese ministry readout said. The White House's readout of the same meeting, however, didn't mention Lai. That prompted Tsai Ming-yen, the director of Taiwan's National Security Bureau, to question whether China's state media and its foreign ministry were using cognitive warfare tactics. Rockier times ahead of US and China In 2018, Trump said he had an "incredible relationship" with Xi. But things could change dramatically with the President-elect calling for 60% tariffs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beijing seems to prefer a more conciliatory approach with Trump's new team in the short term to avoid dramatic developments, Khrestin said. "Since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Xi Jinping has consolidated in his view that the United States and its allies have become intractable impediments to China's rightful rise as the dominant global power," Khrestin said. Trump 2.0 doesn't change that long-term calculus, and the US-China relationship is likely to worsen in the long run because Beijing is inflexible in its "red lines," he added. Read the original article on Business Insider In 2022, former New York City Department of Corrections Commissioner Louis Molina testified before the city council about the flood of fentanyl coming into Rikers Island, the city's infamous jail complex. "How does fentanyl get into our jails?" he asked. "The short answer is that most of it enters in letters and packages laced with fentanyl, literally soaked in the drug, and mailed to people in custody." To illustrate the problem, Molina had a powerful prop: A child's drawing of a reindeer that had been mailed to a Rikers Island inmate and tested positive for fentanyl. It was because of letters like this, Molina explained, that his department was proposing ending delivery of physical letters to jail inmates and instead sending them scanned and digitized copies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There was only one problem: The field test used on that reindeer drawing wasn't reliable, and a drug lab would later invalidate the results. Rudolph was clean. In fact, a report released Wednesday by the New York City Department of Investigation (DOI) found that, when it sent 71 pieces of mail that tested presumptive positive for fentanyl to a drug lab for verification, 85 percent of the items came back negative, including the reindeer drawing. The DOI concluded that "field tests are not reliable, particularly with respect to the identification of fentanyl in items such as books, clothing, greeting cards and other materials sent through the mail." The basis for the DOC's proposed policy ending physical mail delivery to inmates was a falsehood, and not a particularly good one. The problems with these drug field tests are well known: They've resulted in hundreds of documented cases of wrongful arrests around the country, and several state prison systems, including New York's, have suspended their use. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The test kits use instant color reactions to indicate the presence of certain compounds found in illegal drugs, but those same compounds are also found in dozens of known licit substances. Over the years, police officers have arrested and jailed innocent people after drug field kits returned presumptive positive results on bird poop, donut glaze, cotton candy, and sand from inside a stress ball. A study published earlier this year by the Quattrone Center for the Fair Administration of Justice at the University of Pennsylvania estimated that these tests may result in up to 30,000 wrongful arrests a year. The DOI says reliance on these field tests led officials to incorrectly focus on mail instead of other, more obvious, vectors for contraband. "DOI's investigations have shown that contraband enters DOC facilities through means including DOC staff, and that DOC has failed to fully implement DOI's prior recommendations, particularly those intended to strengthen controls around staff contraband smuggling and thereby to limit vulnerabilities in this area," the report says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The New York City Department of Corrections did not have an immediate comment on whether it will continue to use the field kits and digitized mail, but in a statement, it said: "Field tests are a tool used to quickly assess potential threats, and while not perfect, they play an important role in our safety protocols. We will review the report and continue to refine our testing processes to ensure the highest standard of safety for all involved." But prisons and jails don't use these field tests as a first step in identifying potential drugs; they are typically the only step. As the DOI report notes, field tests "are not subject to confirmatory laboratory testing as a routine matter." The Supreme Court ruled that prisoners have no constitutional right to demand that drug tests be sent to outside labs for verification, and prisons are free to punish them based on the results. Reason reported on how federal inmates are subjected to solitary confinement and other discipline based on unverified field tests, despite the fact that the manufacturers warn that the results are preliminary. In 2020, the New York state prison system suspended the use of drug test kits manufactured by the company Sirchie because of concerns over their reliability. An investigation later revealed that 2,000 state prisoners had been wrongly punished with solitary confinement, canceled parole hearings, and loss of visitation rights because of field tests that were later invalidated by drug labs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And in 2021, a Massachusetts judge ordered the state prison system to stop using Sirchie's test kits for synthetic cannabinoids, writing that they were "highly unreliable" and "only marginally better than a coin-flip." The injunction was in response to a class action lawsuit filed after a dozen Massachusetts attorneys said they were falsely accused of sending drugs to their incarcerated clients, who were then put in solitary confinement for receiving legitimate legal mail. Another class action lawsuit was filed against Washington's state prison system last year for punishing inmates based on the results of unverified field tests. New York City's Rikers Island also used test kits manufactured by Sirchie, but it switched to another brand, DetectaChem, last year. The problem has nothing to do with the brand, though. It's that the tests do not give the user conclusive results about the presence of drugs in the first place. In 2018, a California judge noted that one color test identified chocolate as presumptive positive for heroin, and if one accepted the logic that the test could identify heroin, "it would also be true that it is a presumptive positive test for chocolate." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sirchie notes the clear warnings on its website: "ALL TEST RESULTS MUST BE CONFIRMED BY AN APPROVED ANALYTICAL LABORATORY! The results of this test are merely presumptive. NARK only tests for the possible presence of certain chemical compounds. Reactions may occur with, and such compounds can be found in, both legal and illegal products." Molina testified in 2022 that "books are for reading, not for lacing with fentanyl," and he was perhaps more correct than he realized. The post New York City's Push To Ban Mail at Rikers Was Based on Drug Test Kits With an 85 Percent Error Rate appeared first on Reason.com. The criteria for purchasing residential units at the Macau New Neighbourhood in Hengqin have been adjusted significantly, effective immediately. These changes include the removal of the age limit for buyers, lifting the five-year resale restriction and modifying the calculation method for determining how many units a buyer can purchase. Notably, married couples are no longer counted as a single unit in these calculations. This initiative has been approved by the Executive Committee of the Guangdong-Macau In-Depth Cooperation Zone. As of mid-November, over 750 households have moved into the neighborhood. Related President-elect Trumps sentencing in his New York criminal case will not go forward as planned next week as his attorneys push to dismiss the prosecution following his election victory. Judge Juan Merchan, who oversees the trial proceedings, announced the adjournment in a letter Friday. The judge halted the case to accept additional written briefing on Trumps argument that his return to the White House compels the court to toss his 34-count felony conviction entirely. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (D) is opposing that request. Instead, Bragg floated that Merchan could freeze the proceedings while Trump is in office, meaning the conviction would remain on the books but sentencing wouldnt occur until 2029, at the earliest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Merchan ordered Trump to file his formal motion asking for dismissal by Dec. 2 and Bragg to respond by Dec. 9. The judge will then decide how to proceed. Though both sides agreed to delay the sentencing, the new schedule aligns with Braggs request. Trump had asked for a slower timeline that would push the dismissal battle closer to his inauguration. The Hill has reached out to the district attorneys office for comment. Steven Cheung, Trumps campaign spokesperson and incoming White House communications director, called the ruling a decisive win for the former and future president. President Trump won a landslide victory as the American People have issued a mandate to return him to office and dispose of all remnants of the Witch Hunt cases, he said. All of the sham lawfare attacks against President Trump are now destroyed and we are focused on Making America Great Again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The former presidents criminal defense strategy long rested on delaying until after the election. Trump successfully staved off trial in his other three criminal prosecutions, and in the only case that did reach a verdict, the New York hush money case, he successfully pushed the sentencing until after voters headed to the ballot box. The jurys verdict made Trump the first former U.S. president convicted of a felony. When he returns to the White House, he would become the first person to assume the nations highest office with such a criminal record if the conviction stands. With his White House victory secured, Trumps team now believes his criminal cases must be tossed. They have moved most aggressively to pull the plug on the hush money case, given that Trumps sentencing date of Nov. 26 was rapidly approaching on. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement [D]ismissal of this case is necessary under the Constitution and federal law to facilitate the orderly transition of Executive power and in the interests of justice following President Trumps victory in the Electoral College and the popular vote in the 2024 Presidential election, Trump attorneys Todd Blanche and Emil Bove, whom the president-elect recently nominated to senior Justice Department roles, wrote in a letter last week. The jury of 12 New Yorkers in May found Trump guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records to conceal a hush money deal his ex-fixer made with a porn actor ahead of the 2016 presidential election. Though Trump could face jail time, such a sentence is rare for first-time offenders on charges like his, and he is expected to seek a delay of any punishment pending a lengthy appeal. Before sentencing, Merchan was also set to rule on whether the verdict can stand following the Supreme Courts presidential immunity decision. Merchan delayed his ruling and the sentencing until shortly after the election and then put it on hold upon Trumps electoral win. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both will remain on hold at least until the judge decides how to proceed in the wake of Trumps election. His imminent return to the White House has already pumped the brakes on his other criminal prosecutions. Courts agreed to special counsel Jack Smiths requests to halt his federal election subversion case and his appeal seeking to revive his documents case as prosecutors assess how to wind down the cases. In Georgia, where Trump is accused of attempting to subvert the states 2020 presidential election results, an appeals court without explanation took a scheduled oral argument in a defense challenge off the calendar. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Updated at 11:45 a.m. EST Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) A man accused of a stabbing at a Youngstown group home was indicted Thursday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court. Read next: Police chase ends in multi-vehicle crash involving U-Haul Devin Nash, 30, faces four counts of felonious assault, a second-degree felony, for an Oct. 26 attack at an Ohio Avenue group home on the north side that put two people in the hospital. At the time, one of the victims was in critical condition when he was initially treated. Both victims were stabbed, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police said a disagreement preceded the stabbings. Nash was not at the home when police arrived about 1 p.m., but he was found a short distance away on Logan Avenue and taken into custody without incident. Police did not say if he was a resident of the home. He has been in the Mahoning County Jail on $50,000 bond since his arraignment in municipal court. His lawyer said at his preliminary hearing that he expects to ask for a mental health evaluation for his client once his case is heard at the common pleas court level. Nash was also charged with felonious assault in June 2022 after a man was stabbed during an argument at a home on Illinois Avenue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors had to dismiss the case in July 2022 because the victim never appeared for Nashs preliminary hearing. Nash was also accused of stabbing someone in 2018 in Boardman. Court records show he was ordered to undergo a competency exam when his case was heard in Mahoning County Area Court in Boardman and a competency hearing was set, but court records do not show the results of the hearing. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. In response to Russia's use of the new Oreshnik missile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has instructed the minister of defence to hold meetings with Ukraines allies to obtain air defence systems that "can protect lives from new risks". Source: Zelenskyy's evening address Quote: "On my instructions, the minister of defence of Ukraine is already holding meetings with our partners on new air defence systems the kind of systems that can protect lives from new risks." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Today, more details about the new missile that Russia used to hit [the city of] Dnipro have been established. And we will provide all the details to journalists international media. The world must know the truth and realise that the only party that does not want peace is Russia. That is why Russia needs escalations." Details: Zelenskyy stressed that Russia's use of other countries to test its new missiles through terror is definitely an international crime. "And coming from Russia, this is a mockery of the position of states like China, the states of the Global South, some leaders who consistently call for restraint, but in response invariably get some new escalation from Moscow," Zelenskyy said. Background: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier, Interfax-Ukraine cited sources in the General Staff of Ukraines Armed Forces as saying that Ukraine is working with its US partners to obtain a THAAD anti-ballistic missile defence system or upgrade the Patriot in the wake of Russia's attack with a new experimental missile type. Russian leader Vladimir Putin said that during the morning attack on Dnipro on 21 November, the Russians used an Oreshnik medium-range missile. Defence Intelligence of Ukraine reported that Russian troops attacked the territory of Ukraine using a ballistic missile on 21 November, likely from the Kedr missile system. Support UP or become our patron! Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine, reacted to the cancellation of the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliament) meeting on 22 November due to a potential Russian attack on the government quarter, urging that information from intelligence services not be interpreted as permission to take a day off. Source: Zelenskyy's evening address on 22 November Quote: "Today is already the 1003rd day of this war. All the security protocols are the same now as before. If you hear an air-raid alert you have to react, take care of yourself and go to the shelter. Whatever the Russian missile threat is, it cannot be ignored. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But when there is no air-raid alert state, productions, embassies all must work in the same way. And take information, including from the intelligence services, as information, not as permission to take a day off. This applies to everyone from the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and other structures and branches of government to regional and municipal authorities. When the siren sounds we go to the shelter. And when there is no siren we work and serve." Details: Zelenskyy warned that Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin will continue to threaten Ukrainians. However, it is critical to be able "to know how to respond correctly and do everything possible to bring this war back home to Russia, and to make them feel there [in Russia ed.] what war is." Background: In his Thursday address, Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin indirectly confirmed US reports, stating that during the morning attack on Dnipro on 21 November, Russia used the Oreshnik medium-range missile. Putin also claimed that in the future, Ukrainian civilians will supposedly be warned about the use of Oreshnik medium-range missiles. A scheduled session of the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliament) for 22 November was cancelled. Members of parliament were warned of a potential Russian strike targeting the government quarter. Support UP or become our patron! HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) A Zimbabwean court has convicted an opposition leader and 34 activists on charges of participating in an unlawful gathering, more than five months after they were taken into pre-trial detention. Jameson Timba, interim leader of a faction of the splintered Citizens Coalition for Change opposition party, and the activists face up to five years in prison or a fine. Sentencing is set for next week, said Webster Jiti, one of the activists lawyers. The court acquitted 30 others who had been detained together with Timba. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police arrested the activists on June 16 at Timbas residence in the capital, Harare, and charged them with disorderly conduct and participating in a gathering with the intent to promote violence, breaches of peace or bigotry. The court in September acquitted them of the disorderly conduct charges. Their lawyers said they were at the house for a barbecue to commemorate the Day of the African Child, a calendar event of the African Union. Amnesty International described the detention as part of a disturbing pattern of repression against people exercising their rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and expression. The rights group called for an investigation into allegations that some of the activists were tortured while in police detention. President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who promised democratic reforms after taking over from the late repressive longtime ruler Robert Mugabe in a coup in 2017, denies the allegations, but has also repeatedly warned the opposition against inciting violence. PERU Peru residents will soon be able to sign up for fiber internet. Surf Internet, an Elkhart-based internet service provider, is in the process of building out up to two gigabit per second fiber internet to most residents of the city of Peru. Work is underway in the citys near east side in the blocks in and surrounding Lincoln School Apartments from the Wabash River to the south and the railroad tracks to the north and is expected to be completed by the end of the year, weather permitting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The company held a groundbreaking Tuesday at Davis Park near where construction is already underway, with company, city and economic development officials in attendance. Gene Cruise, CEO of Surf Internet, said the company hopes to complete its buildout by the end of 2025, putting online a few hundred houses a month. Its foray into Peru is approximately a $5.5 million investment. Once complete, nearly all of Peru will have access to up to 2 gigabits per second internet connection and another option for an ISP. Currently, the area is served by Comcast, ATT, satellite internet and fixed wireless, according to the FCCs broadband map. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cruise said Surf Internet can offer a number of things other providers cant, including symmetrical download and upload speeds, all-in pricing, no data caps and contracts and price-lock for life. I think were all really tired of getting screwed around by the bigger company, Cruise said. You never know what your bill is going to say. With us, what you see is what you get. Theres no hidden fees. Cruise said the average bills for Surf Internet plans will be between $50-$80 a month, with some packages lower and higher than those amounts. Surf Internet can be reached at 888-274-6381. You are the owner of this article. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva yesterday [Macau time] welcomed President Xi Jinping for a state visit at the Alvorada Palace in Brasilia, the latest sign of deepening ties between the two countries that analysts say may accelerate as Donald Trump returns to the White House in 2025. China overtook the U.S. as Brazils biggest export market in 2009. Since then, the links between the two nations have strengthened in trade and investment and yesterday the two leaders signed 37 agreements in areas ranging from trade and tourism to agriculture, industry, science and technology, health, energy, culture and education. That reflects a broader trend, experts said. Last week, Xi inaugurated a $1.3 billion megaport in Peru, perhaps the clearest sign of Latin Americas reorientation. Latin America has always been forgotten by the United States and the European Union. Who fills that void? China, said Flavia Loss, an international relations professor at Foundation School of Sociology and Politics in Sao Paulo. Donald Trumps election is already accelerating this proximity. Were clearly seeing it happening now, live, she added. The state visit by the Chinese leader comes more than a year after Lula visited China seeking to strengthen ties and mend relations with its biggest trade partner after a rocky period under his predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro. Repairing relations with China is also part of his strategy to replace Brazil on the international scene after a period of isolation under Bolsonaro who showed little interest in global affairs. In remarks to journalists, Lula said that what China and Brazil do together reverberates around the world highlighting the collaboration of both countries within the United Nations and BRICS group of developing nations. Xi referred to China and Brazil as reliable friends with a shared destiny and positive forces to promote peace. From January to October 2024, trade between the countries amounted to $136.3 billion, according to a Nov. 13 statement from Brazils presidential palace. Since 2004, when President Lula visited China for the first time, bilateral trade has grown more than 17 times. Exports to China were greater than the sum of our sales to the United States and the European Union, Eduardo Saboia, secretary for Asia and the Pacific at the ministry of foreign affairs, said in the statement. China has been pressuring Brazil to join its Belt and Road Initiative, BRI, which started as a program for Chinese companies to build transportation, energy and other infrastructure around the world. While initially cautious, Brazil has considered the idea and is seeking partners in areas such as funds to limit human-caused climate change and finance adaptation measures, said Pedro Brites, an expert on China at the Getulio Vargas Foundation, a university and think tank in Sao Paulo. But Brazil, as this state visit shows, has managed to seal good agreements with China without having joined, so I dont know if the gain is still worth it in Brazils calculation, he added. While Trumps return to the White House may accelerate the proximity between China and Brazil, adhering too much to Chinese leadership could come with a cost for the South American nation, causing rifts with Washington and European nations, said Brites. Brazil will maintain its rapprochement and bargain to a certain extent, but I think there will be a limit, he added. ELEONORE HUGHES, RIO DE JANEIRO, MDT/AP The Macao Foundation has signed an agreement with the University of Macau (UM) to provide over RMB1.1 billion for land acquisition in Hengqin, intended for the universitys new campus. This funding commitment follows UMs recent announcement to invest MO946 million in the same initiative. The land spans roughly 375,600 square meters and will feature a complex with an architectural area of 710,000 square meters. A government statement highlighted the foundations long-standing support for higher education in Macau, tracing back to the universitys origins as the University of East Asia. UM plans to establish new faculties focused on medicine, information technology, engineering, and design at the Hengqin site. Rector Song Yonghua indicated that these developments aim to increase student enrollment to at least 25,000, with over half pursuing masters or doctoral degrees. The new campus is projected to be operational by 2028. Additionally, in October, UM established a new company with a registered capital of RMB50,000, with Song appointed as chair of its board of directors. Earlier this year, the Zhuhai UM Institute of Science and Technology has received more than 150 government-funded science and technology projects. These include 96 projects funded by the National Natural Science Foundation, 11 key projects and projects of the National Ministry of Science and Technology, six other national projects, and 43 provincial and municipal scientific research projects. Staff Reporter Lawmaker Jose Pereira Coutinho has urged the new government to increase the salary of all civil servants by 3.2% in 2025. The lawmaker sent this message to the government during yesterdays plenary session of the Legislative Assembly in a speech delivered in the period before the agenda. Pereira Coutinho urged the new government to increase the salaries of all civil servants by three points on the civil servants salary index, that is, from the current 94 to 97 points, explaining that this must be done taking into account the continuing loss of purchasing power of the majority of civil service workers. Pereira Coutinho added that, in the past five years, civil servants, especially those on the front line, have been asked to carry out all kinds of tasks that were not part of their official duties, which was reflected in the brutal increase in overtime work, much of which has been paid with years of delay and only after several complaints. The lawmaker claimed that many workers have also been forced to be on standby with their mobile phones available 24 hours a day, including weekends and public holidays, and even been prevented from leaving Macau due to the demands of specific jobs. According to the lawmaker, the compensation for this constant availability is just MOP47 per day on weekends and public holidays. Pereira Coutinho noted that some public service employers have continued to exploit workers using this availability regime, which is affecting their ability to rest and limiting sleep. He said that although they are being harmed, workers do not dare to refuse these tasks or make official reports of these cases due to the fear of retaliation. It is worth mentioning that the vast majority of public administration workers, especially frontline workers, are disappointed, saddened, and demoralized by the continuous and gradual loss of purchasing power due to the increase of prices [for] essential goods, he said, adding that, contrary to Chief Executive Ho Iat Sengs affirmation earlier this week, the fulfillment of the goals proposed in his political program back in 2019 are far from having been accomplished. We note that, over the last five years, there has been a low rate of implementation of the 2019 Political Program called Synergies and Advancement, Change and Innovation, especially concerning Increasing the Level and Quality of Public Governance and the Accountability of Government Officials, he remarked. The lawmaker added that public services are created, or people are appointed to management and leadership positions to their own liking, in a sort of Jobs for the Boys and Girls [scenario], in which they handpick certain people of their preference, bypassing the meritocracy and professional experience of more competent workers. In addition to increasing civil servants salaries, Pereira Coutinho also called for reform of the general and special careers of civil service workers to be implemented as a matter of utmost priority, noting that there is a special urgency for those careers with extremely low salary rates which are unsuited to the volume, complexity and responsibilities of the tasks they are obliged to perform. Finally, the lawmaker wants to see more transparent governance and greater accountability for those in power. Workers also call for a salary update During the AL debate for the approval of the 2025 budget proposal, lawmakers Leong Sun Iok and Ella Lei, both representing the interests of workers, also reinforced some of the requests made by Pereira Coutinho, especially concerning the salary increase for civil servants. Leong noted that during the five-year term of Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng, the salaries of these workers were only increased once and workers have been losing purchasing power. Lei added a reminder that society follows the government: the government is an indicator for private companies, noting that it is very important that the government considers this salary increase as a reference for the whole of society and not just for the civil servants. Another lawmaker, Lo Choi In, also addressed the topic, although taking a more conservative approach. Lo called for an indexing of the salary update to a ceiling so that at least the workers with lower salaries can see some increase. Budapest has a serious drugs situation which must be brought to a stop, the head of the Fidesz-Christian Democrats group in the Budapest assembly said on Thursday. Alexandra Szentkiralyi said on Facebook that drugs had never been cheaper or easier to get hold of than today, and she added that the city council should play a key role in taking up the fight against drugs, yet it was doing the opposite. She insisted that the city's drugs strategy was not anti-drugs, but created by "pro-drugs activists" who lobbied for the freer and more comfortable consumption of drugs. "Budapest residents have never been asked about this," she said, adding that the mayor, Gergely Karacsony, and his team "have set the task of ensuring comfortable drugs regulations for young people in clubs". Szentkiralyi said drugs were inspected but then returned to users. "As a mother with a teenage daughter, how can I feel that she is safe in the capital if the City Council encourages consumption?" she added. The Fidesz politician said the Hungarian capital was involved in concealed drugs liberalisation, using various means to support drugs users instead of helping prevention and fighting crime. Source: MTI - The Hungarian News Agency, founded in 1881. ********************************* You're very welcome to comment, discuss and enjoy more stories via our Facebook page: Facebook.com/XpatLoopNews + via XpatLoops groups: Budapest Expats / Expats Hungary You can subscribe to our newsletter here: XpatLoop.com/Newsletters Do you want your business to reach tens of thousands of potential high-value expat customers? Then just contact us here. US president-elect Donald Trump knows Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky well and if he reaches out to them, the Russian and the Ukrainian presidents will both show respect towards the United States, the former US ambassador to Hungary said in an interview with public television broadcast on Wednesday evening. Referring to Trump's pledge towards peace in Ukraine, David Cornstein said Zelensky was fully aware that "the entire ammunition is coming from the United States" which was why he said it would be worth listening to Trump's advice. Ending the war is also in the interest of central Europe, and a priority issue for Trump, Cornstein said. No country has the right to invade another independent state, he added that "it is unacceptable". He noted that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban had made efforts right from the beginning to have the warring sides sit down for talks, adding that the whole world should have followed suit. Speaking about the close ties between Orban and Trump, Cornstein said both of them "are very strong leaders governing along the same principles". Also, they fully agree on cardinal issues such as migration, the importance of family and the economy, as well as the state's role in those ares, he added. The former ambassador said that under the Biden administration there had not been any dialogue between the US ambassador and the Hungarian government. "But, if invited, Trump would most certainly pay a visit to Hungary," he confirmed. Source: MTI - The Hungarian News Agency, founded in 1881. ********************************* You're very welcome to comment, discuss and enjoy more stories via our Facebook page: Facebook.com/XpatLoopNews + via XpatLoops groups: Budapest Expats / Expats Hungary You can subscribe to our newsletter here: XpatLoop.com/Newsletters Do you want your business to reach tens of thousands of potential high-value expat customers? Then just contact us here. The award-winning Valley of Arts, named the Best Eastern European Festival at the Heavent Festival Awards in Paris, has announced its 2025 line-up. This prestigious recognition places the festival prominently on Europes cultural map, surpassing notable competitors such as Serbia's Exit Festival and Kosovo's Sunny Hill Festival. Returning for its 34th edition, the Valley of Arts will run for 10 days from July 18 to 27, 2025, bringing a mix of familiar faces and first-time icons to the picturesque Hungarian villages of Kapolcs, Vigantpetend, and Taliandorogd. To celebrate its recent award, the festival has unveiled special holiday promotions for fans. Known for its multi-disciplinary approach, the Valley of Arts offers nearly 3,000 events spanning music, theater, literature, and visual arts. Major performances will take place at the festivals largest venue, the Panorama Stage, featuring prominent acts like Carson Coma, fresh off their European tour; Elefant, who will open the festival; Beton.Hofi, making a return from hiatus; and rising hip-hop artist Co Lee, who will perform with a full band at the Loter Stage in Taliandorogd. The Loter Stage, a new favorite since its launch two years ago, will also host Analog Balaton, the internationally acclaimed Jazzbois, and Moriones, a former festival volunteer who has since become a celebrated performer. Fans can look forward to timeless performances at the Cirque du Tokert Stage by enduring icons such as Zoran and Zsuzsa Koncz, the latter making her debut at the festival. This stage will also feature A Grund vigszinhazi fiuzenekar, a captivating fusion of theater and music led by Mark Ember and Jozsef Wunderlich. So, here are the ones we will definitely meet in 2025: Beyond its diverse music program, the Valley of Arts has traditionally showcased nearly every field of art during its ten-day run, including theater, literature, and visual arts, with close to 3,000 events each summer. This year, for the first time, the Valley experience will extend beyond the three host villages, offering an even broader array of activities and programs for attendees to enjoy. Fans who purchase discounted Christmas passes, available in 5-day or 10-day options, can choose an exclusive gift to complement their purchase. They may select a coupon booklet offering special discounts at partner venuesincluding Adapter, the Museum of Ethnography, Art-Szinter, the Archive, Momentan Theater, the Hungarian Architecture Museum, the Transport Museum, Kerekdomb Festival, and Budapest's 2nd District, the newest participant in the festivalor opt for a festival T-shirt or hoodie instead. During the event, Budapests 2nd District will host its own courtyard, enhancing the festivals vibrant atmosphere with contributions from partners such as Juranyi and Dante. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the Valley of Arts official website at: https://www.muveszetekvolgye.hu/ticket Photo credit: Istvan Fekete New Delhi: Vivek Agnihotri is known for his bold and thought-provoking films and has carved a niche for himself with his compelling portrayal of real stories and sensitive issues. Some of his acclaimed and blockbuster films include 'The Kashmir Files', 'The Tashkent Files,' and 'The Vaccine War,' each tackling crucial aspects of history and contemporary society with a focus on uncovering hidden truths. The director is now shooting for his next film The Delhi Files which has generated significant anticipation, especially given his track record with films that delve into real-world events and controversial topics. Vivek posted a picture with four girls who are a part of the film. Have A Look At The Post: The director posted the picture along with a caption, These young and innocent Bengali girls have no idea what terror is going to hit their characters soon. From the sets of #TheDelhiFiles Earlier, 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. Have A Look At The Post: 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. New Delhi: Anupam Mittal, the founder and CEO of People Group and Shaadi.com, took a swipe at Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal on November 22 after the latter recently announced he was on hunt for a chief of staff. In a social media post, Mittal said he, too, was looking for a chief of staff but there was a catch. Shaadi.com founder Anupam Mittal chimed in humorously, sharing a playful LinkedIn post inviting candidates unable to afford the Rs 20 lakh to apply for his own Chief of What? position if they are unable to pay his friend Deepi Rs 20 lakh. All those who can't afford to pay my friend Deepi 20 lacs, pls send me your application. I am looking for a Chief of Staff too although I don't know exactly what one does, I figure it can be your first assignment. I want you but you must be willing to do the following, Anupam Mittal wrote. He then added that the suitable candidate has to accept compensation, send in their resume, Go through HR, and Carry the title of ChiefOfWhat? for 6 months. Take a look at his entire post here: What did social media say? One user commented, Honestly, I wouldn't expecting this from Anupam Mittal sir. He is nice and wise guy and I respect him. Competition is good in any part of life but should be based on ethical and moral values. This is for what our civilization is known for thousands of year. Grabbing an opportunity is good thing but not this way. In a journey of life, be it personal or professional somwhere we are loosing these values in hunt of progress. No lecture of philosophy, but this is the first thing that came in my mind when I saw this post. Anupam Mittal How about letting our AI describe what your Chief of Staff needs to do , and then screen the resumes you receive on email and auto invite the top candidates for an initial AI interview, to only leave you with the Top 50 or 100 candidates to go the final rounds with? We have built EduBild, an AI platform to automate the screening process. Would be very interested in running a pilot for your Chief of Staff position . Another commented. Washington: The White House has said it is aware of the allegations against Indian billionaire Gautam Adani, chairman of Adani Group, who was indicted in New York over his role in an alleged multibillion-dollar bribery and fraud scheme. Addressing reporters during her daily briefing, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre expressed confidence that Indian and the US could navigate the issue without compromising their robust partnership. "So, Obviously, we're aware of these allegations, and I would have to refer you to the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) and DOJ (Department of Justice) about the specifics of those - of those allegations against the Adani Group," she said. Jean-Pierre said that the relationship between the US and India remains solid. "What I will say is on the US and India relationship, we believe that it stands on an extremely strong foundation anchored in ties between our people and cooperation across a full range of global issues," she said. She further expressed confidence in the ability of the two nations to navigate the situation. "What we believe and we're confident about is that we'll continue to navigate this issue as we have with other issues that may have come up. And so the specifics of this, this is something that the SEC and DOJ can speak to directly, but again, we believe that...this relationship between India and the US has been built on a strong foundation," the White House spokesperson added. The US Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York had earlier unsealed criminal charges against Gautam Adani, his nephew Sagar Adani and other executives linking them to an alleged bribery scheme. On Thursday, the Adani Group strongly refuted bribery allegations made by the US Department of Justice and the US Securities and Exchange Commission against directors of the Adani Green terming them baseless. Adani Group spokesperson, in an official statement, said all legal recourse will be taken. "The US Department of Justice and the US Securities and Exchange Commission against directors of Adani Green are baseless and denied," the statement read. The group further highlighted a key aspect of the legal proceedings. "As stated by the US Department of Justice itself, 'The charges in the indictment are allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.' All possible legal recourse will be sought," the statement said. New York: With the US filing civil and criminal charges against billionaire Gautam Adani and seven others over a multi-million-dollar bribery scheme, a prominent attorney here has said that the case could escalate significantly, potentially leading to arrest warrants and even extradition attempts. Adani, India's second-richest man, and seven others, including his nephew Sagar Adani, have been charged by the US Department of Justice with paying bribes to unidentified officials of state governments in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha to buy expensive solar power, potentially earning more than USD 2 billion in profit over 20 years. Adani Group, however, denied the charges saying the allegations by US prosecutors are "baseless" and the conglomerate is "compliant with all laws". US Attorney Breon Peace has the right to get arrest warrants issued against Adani and seven others indicted and serve them on the nations where they reside, Indian-American attorney Ravi Batra told PTI on Thursday. He further said, If that nation, as India does, has an extradition treaty then according to the bilateral contract between sovereign nations, the resident nation must turn over the person extradited by the United States. There is a process that the resident nation must comply with, consistent with its laws. Batra noted that ultimately, extradition occurs absent the rarest of circumstances, as in the case of former Chilean president Augusto Pinochet. The United Kingdom did not extradite him solely on humanitarian grounds. "It's hard to see the Pinochet precedent apply to this case involving Adani and seven others," he said. The India-US Extradition Treaty was signed in 1997. Peace, the US Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, has announced a five-count criminal indictment against 62-year-old Adani, his nephew Sagar, an executive director at the conglomerate's renewable energy arm Adani Green Energy Ltd, and its former CEO Vneet S Jaain. The indictment charged them with conspiracies to commit securities and wire fraud and substantive securities fraud for their roles in a multi-billion-dollar scheme to obtain funds from US investors and global financial institutions based on false and misleading statements. The indictment also charged Ranjit Gupta and Rupesh Agarwal, respectively a former CEO and former chief strategy and commercial officer of Azure Power Global, and Cyril Cabanes, Saurabh Agarwal and Deepak Malhotra, former employees of a Canadian institutional investor, with conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. In a statement on Wednesday, Peace said the defendants orchestrated an elaborate scheme to bribe Indian government officials to secure contracts worth billions of dollars and Adani, Sagar and Jaain lied about the bribery scheme as they sought to raise capital from US and international investors. Batra said the US law develops very long arms when our capital markets are involved...While the eight-charged defendants have constitutional presumptive innocence, that evaporates if an honest and thoughtful defence, if one exists, is not proffered skillfully". According to the US Justice Department, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) prohibits paying foreign officials to influence actions, induce unlawful omissions, or secure improper advantages. The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has also charged Gautam and Sagar Adani and Azure Power executive Cabanes with "violating the anti-fraud provisions of the federal securities laws". Gautam Adani Bribery Case: The Congress has stepped up its attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Central government over the billionaire industrialist Gautam Adani US indictment case. After senior party leader and Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday urged the Centre to take immediate action against the billionaire industrialist in the bribery case. Kharge accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government of shielding Adani and asserted that the grand old party will raise the issue during the upcoming Parliament session and demand an inquiry into the charges. While speaking to reporters, Kharge called for Adanis arrest and claimed that the Central government knows everything. "We will raise the issue in Parliament, and we will demand an inquiry. As he (Adani) is in India, action should be taken against him; he should be arrested. The government knows everything, so they should quickly take action against him in corruption cases," the senior Congress leader said. Adani has been charged by US prosecutors for allegedly being part of an elaborate scheme to pay a USD 265 million (about Rs 2,200 crore) bribe to Indian officials in exchange for favorable terms for solar power contracts. Adani along with seven others, including his nephew Sagar, have been charged by the US Department of Justice with paying bribes to unidentified officials of state governments in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha to buy expensive solar power, potentially earning more than USD 2 billion in profit over 20 years. Adani Group has denied all charges and termed them "baseless.". Noting that for five to six years, the Congress has repeatedly raised the issue and made efforts to corner the government. "They (Adani and company) are involved in corruption cases. But Modi does not even utter anything against him," Kharge said. "Home Minister Amit Shah has ED and CBI with him. Despite having all these agencies, why is no inquiry being done? Last time when we raised the issue following the Hindenburg report, they were dismissive about it, saying it is a foreign thing, it is false." The Congress has been saying things against Adani and will continue to say what it has to, the party chief said. "But from abroad too, corruption allegations are coming; they (US) are clearly saying it. If the allegations are false, file a defamation case against them. You may accuse us (Congress) of making allegations politically, but everybody is saying itHindenburg, America." The Supreme Court of India has expressed concern over the lack of effective implementation of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) Stage 4 restrictions in Delhi, which were necessary to curb severe air pollution levels in the National Capital Region (NCR). The court's intervention comes after the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi spiked to hazardous levels earlier this week, triggering the need for stricter pollution control measures. Heavy Vehicle Entry Ban During a hearing on Friday, the Supreme Court questioned the Delhi government's ability to enforce the GRAP Stage 4 restrictions effectively. The bench, led by Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih, noted that it was "very difficult" to assume that truck entries were being fully prevented, despite the stringent guidelines in place. The court further pointed out that the Delhi government and city police had failed to ensure that heavy vehicles, including those registered outside Delhi and not carrying essential items, were not allowed into the capital. To verify this, the court directed authorities to submit CCTV footage from 13 major entry points into Delhi, to confirm whether trucks had been permitted to enter despite the ban. Court Orders Investigation into Lapses In a bid to hold authorities accountable, the Supreme Court appointed 13 lawyers to visit the 13 key entry points and submit a report by November 25, detailing whether the GRAP Stage 4 restrictions were being adhered to. The court also suggested that police personnel be deployed at these points to monitor and prevent the entry of heavy and light commercial vehicles (LCVs) that do not carry essential goods. The investigation is expected to shed light on the true extent of non-compliance and provide a clearer picture of the enforcement failures in Delhi. GRAP-4 Restrictions and Their Importance Stage 4 of the GRAP, implemented when the AQI surpasses the 'severe-plus' category (AQI > 450), includes measures such as a ban on the entry of heavy vehicles and a halt to construction activities in public projects. The aim is to reduce vehicular emissions and dust pollution, which contribute significantly to the deterioration of air quality in the capital. The Delhi AQI hit a critical 457 on Sunday, rising further to 485 by Monday morning, well above the threshold for GRAP Stage 4 to take effect. However, the Supreme Court pointed out serious lapses in the enforcement of these restrictions, particularly regarding the entry of trucks and commercial vehicles. Urgent Action Required Earlier in the week, the Supreme Court had highlighted the constitutional duty of the central and state governments to ensure that citizens live in a pollution-free environment. The court had expressed frustration over the delay in implementing the GRAP, especially Stage 3 and Stage 4 measures, which should have been enforced even in anticipation of the AQI crossing hazardous levels. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) came under criticism from the court for its delayed response. The bench asserted that waiting for improvement in the AQI before enforcing the necessary measures was an inappropriate approach. Immediate action, the court stressed, was needed to curb the pollution crisis Macaus visitor arrivals bounced back strongly in October 2024, reaching 97.7% of the level seen in October 2019, according to data from the Statistics and Census Service. The total number of visitor arrivals in October 2024 stood at 3,135,358, a 13.7% year-on-year increase and 24% month-on-month growth. The recovery was driven by a 23.2% surge in same-day visitors to 1,789,072, while overnight visitors grew by a more modest 3.1% to 1,346,286. However, the average length of stay of visitors shortened by 0.1 days year-on-year to 1.1 days, with that of overnight visitors remaining unchanged at 2.3 days. Mainland China remained the primary source market, with visitors from the mainland increasing by 16.1% year-on-year to 2,263,443. International visitor arrivals also rebounded, climbing 31.2% year-on-year to 212,284, which was 98.8% of the October 2019 level. Key source markets like the Philippines, Malaysia and India all posted solid gains, while Thailand saw a 14.5% drop. In the first 10 months of 2024, total visitor arrivals went up by 28.1% year-on-year to 29,056,272, which was 87% of the figure in the same period in 2019. International visitor arrivals increased 85% year-on-year, 73.1% of the 2019 level. The total number of visitor arrivals in Macau is projected to exceed the official target of 33 million, potentially reaching 34 million, according to Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, director of the Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO). Her remarks to the press are aligned with outgoing Chief Executive Ho Iat Sengs indication in a Legislative Assembly address earlier this week that visitor arrivals could indeed reach 34 million this year. This updated projection follows the governments announcement that Macau had welcomed over 30 million tourists by Nov. 10. VC In a significant development in the ongoing investigation of the Baba Siddique murder case, the Maharashtra Police arrested Sumit Dinkar Wagh, a 26-year-old man from Nagpur, on Friday. Wagh is the 26th person to be arrested in connection with the crime. He was apprehended by a crime branch team that traveled to Nagpur as part of their investigation. Wagh is being brought back to Mumbai for further questioning. According to officials, Wagh played a key role in transferring money to several suspects involved in the murder. He allegedly provided financial support to Nareshkumar Singh, the brother of an earlier arrested accused, Gurnail Singh, as well as other individuals linked to the crime, including Rupesh Mohol and Harishkumar. The transactions were made via internet banking, and Wagh used a newly procured SIM card, which was registered under the name of Salman Vora, another arrested accused. Vora had been taken into custody on November 17 by the Akola Crime Branch in relation to the case. Ties to Wanted Accused Shubham Lonkar Investigators have revealed that Waghs actions were carried out under the direction of Shubham Lonkar, a wanted individual with ties to the same tehsil as WaghAkot. The two men are known to have been close friends and collegemates. Lonkars involvement in the case, along with his connections to the crime, is central to the ongoing investigation. Arrest of Main Shooter The investigation received a significant breakthrough on November 10, when Shivkumar Gautam, the alleged main shooter in the case, was apprehended in Uttar Pradeshs Bahraich district. Gautam had been on the run since October 12 and was arrested while attempting to cross into Nepal. Authorities believe that Gautam played a crucial role in the execution of the crime and had even visited the crime scene in Bandra East after the murder. Additionally, he was seen at Lilavati Hospital in Bandra West, where he went to confirm that Siddique had died. New Delhi: Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Friday praised Delhi Chief Minister Atishi while also taking a dig at Aam Aadmi Party's national convenor Arvind Kejriwal. LG Saxena appreciated that the Chief Minister of Delhi is a woman, but also added that Atishi is a "thousand times better than her predecessor." "I am very happy that the Chief Minister of Delhi is a woman. I can say with confidence that she is a thousand times better than her predecessor...," he said while addressing at the 7th Convocation of Indira Gandhi Delhi Technical University for Women (IGDTUW). Notably, Kejriwal during his tenue as Chief Minister, was constantly at odds with LG Saxena, and the two made strong remarks against each other. The Delhi LG took to social media platform X, to inform about the event. He said that this convocation marks a celebration of progress and the vital role women play in shaping a technologically advanced and equitable future. "Presided over the 7th Convocation of Indira Gandhi Delhi Technical University for Women (IGDTUW), in the presence of Hon'ble Delhi CM @AtishiAAP and Prof. Yogesh Singh, VC, DU. Young bright women graduating today will be breaking barriers, redefining gender roles, and stepping into a rapidly changing world with technical expertise and determination. Their bright, young minds are a testament to the innovation and resilience needed to lead in this era of transformation.," LG Saxena stated in a post on X. "These young women carry not only the promise of bright futures but also a new-found responsibility to contribute to their parents and families, society, and nation-building. This convocation marks a celebration of progress and the vital role women play in shaping a technologically advanced and equitable future. My good wishes to the graduating students and their parents, as indeed to the faculty and the management of IGDTUW," he added. Kejriwal, who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in March this year, in connection with the Delhi excise policy case, came out of Tihar Jail last month, after being granted bail by the Supreme Court. After coming out, in a surprising move, the AAP national convenor announced his resignation from the CM post, and said he won't take the position, till the public gives him the "certificate of honesty" by making AAP victorious again in the assembly elections next year. Party leader and minister Atishi succeeded him as the Chief Minister. The assembly elections in Delhi will be held next year. Meanwhile, the Delhi Assembly 'Winter Session' session is to be convened from November 29 to December 3, according to a notification released by the legislative Assembly Secretariat on Monday. "Hon'ble Members are informed that the sitting of the Third Part of Fifth Session of Seventh Legislative Assembly of the National Capital Territory of Delhi will be reconvened on Friday, 29th November, 2024 at 11:00 A.M. in the Assembly Hall, Old Secretariat, Delhi," read the official notification. Fajar Realty is a leading player in the Dubai real estate market, providing skilled service for a variety of property needs. Fajar Realty has a handpicked portfolio for buy-to-let and profitable Dubai property investment. With Dubai being a global business and tourism hub, demand for rental homes and short-term rentals has increased, guaranteeing high ROI in Dubai real estate. Fajar Realty's client-focused approach makes them a trusted partner in real estate, whether you're interested in the sumptuous elegance of Dubai luxury villas or the contemporary appeal of studio apartments in Dubai. Kiran Khawaja CEO of Fajar Realty has been the inspiration for the real estate professionals across the globe and has carved a niche for herself in the real estate sector in the region, which has set her apart from the real estate companies in the region. The most recent was at Gulf Achievers Awards where she was awarded as the Best Real Estate Company of the Year. Kiran has always been in the limelight and has won many awards and recognition in her illustrious 18 years journey. It may be recalled that Kiran has won many accolades and awards for her hard work and zeal. She walked away with 'Asia Business Outlook Top 10 Most Promising Global Leaders from Pakistan 2023' and the much-coveted 'Being her Excellence Best Real Estate Broker 2023'. Further adding to her accolades are an array of awards, with Fajar Realty securing honors such as the 'DAMAC Top Performing Agency', 'Azizi Agents Award Gala 2023' the 'Emaar Token of Appreciation Award', additionally, they were given the Mena Leadership Award for 2023 and many more. Under leadership of Kiran Khawaja, Fajar Realty has traversed a long way and has carved a niche in the world of real estate not only in Dubai but overseas as well. Kiran Khawaja, CEO of FajarRealty, spoke at length about her expansion plans and explained, We started Fajar Realty in 2021 in Dubai. We owe our success to our ability to identify emerging trends and capitalize on them. In the first quarter of 2024 we plan our maiden international expansion. Our first overseas office at Kigali will help us in making inroads into Africa. This global perspective sets Fajar Realty apart from its competitors and broadens the horizons for clients seeking diverse real estate opportunities. Kiran Khawaja is already proving to be a game changer not only in Dubais real estate market but is making heads turn with her international moves. The real estate market in the UAE presents a steep challenge, but one that Kiran Khawaja is clearly capable of conquering. For more information about your property needs, please contact us or visit our website: fajarrealty.ae (This article is part of IndiaDotCom Pvt Lts sponsored feature, a paid publication programme. IDPL claims no editorial involvement and assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in the content of the article.) New Delhi: A fishing vessel collided with a submarine of the Indian Navy about 70 nautical miles off Goa coast and a massive rescue operation is underway to trace two missing crew members of the vessel, officials said on Friday. The incident happened on Thursday evening. The fishing vessel, Marthoma, had 13 crew members and 11 of them were rescued in the search operation, the Navy said. The Navy deployed six ships and an unknown number of surveillance aircraft in the rescue mission. "An Indian fishing vessel Marthoma with a crew of 13 reportedly collided with an Indian Naval unit on November 21 about 70 nm North West of Goa," an Indian Navy spokesperson said. "Search and rescue efforts were immediately launched by the Indian Navy with six ships and aircraft. Eleven crew have been rescued so far," he said. The rescue efforts for remaining two crew members of the fishing vessel is underway and is being coordinated with the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Mumbai. The Navy has ordered a high-level investigation into the incident. The spokesperson said additional assets, including from the Coast Guard, have been diverted to the area of the incident to augment the rescue efforts. The alleged cash-for-jobs scandal in Goa has set off a political firestorm, with Opposition leaders uniting in their demand for transparency and a thorough investigation into alleged corruption within the State's recruitment processes. At the outset, the INDIA bloc members have claimed that government jobs were sold to the highest bidder, bypassing qualified candidates and undermining the integrity of public institutions. In a letter to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Goa Forward Party chief Vijay Sardesai expressed grave concerns over the presence of an organized "Job Mafia" syndicate within the government recruitment systems, which he claimed compromises fair hiring practices in the state. Press Conference by INDIA Alliance on Cash for Job Scam https://t.co/ywjVkavNml Vijai Sardesai (@VijaiSardesai) November 22, 2024 Former Goa Congress chief Girish Chodankar claimed that Chief Ministers wife Sulakshana Sawant allegedly promised jobs to the youth. Chodankar claimed that preliminary investigations have revealed a network of middlemen, political operatives, and public servants who facilitated the exchange of money for such job offers, often at the expense of qualified candidates. AAP Goa Chief Amit Palekar has demanded for a comprehensive judicial probe, calling for an investigation led by a retired judge. State government officials however rejected all the allegations leveled by Opposition parties against the CM and his family as well as the party BJP. So far, nine individuals have been arrested, including individuals linked to the Home Department, the Public Works Department (PWD), and the Goa Public Service Commission (GPSC). As of the latest updates, several people have been arrested, including lower-level officials and political figures connected to the ruling BJP, with more arrests expected as the probe progresses, said the Congress party leader. Vijai Sardesai, the leader of the Goa Forward Party, has emerged as a key figure in exposing the scam. The Opposition leaders including those from Aam Admi Party (AAP) have argued that these arrests are part of an attempt to downplay the severity of the issue. Sardesai claimed that the BJP has lost the moral and legal right to rule due to the scandal. He also raised alarms about the involvement of party cadres in the recruitment process, questioning how the government could justify arresting its own members. A dedicated SIT should be established to investigate the job scam, composed of professionals from outside the state administration to ensure an impartial review, demanded Sardesai. AAP leader Palekar said current arrests are just eyewash and fail to expose the full extent of the corruption involved. He insisted that the scandal is far more systemic, involving powerful individuals from multiple political parties. As the geopolitical tides shift in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), the Indian Navy has emerged as a linchpin of stability, safeguarding critical trade routes, countering piracy, and fostering regional security. Responsible for policing a maritime corridor that carries over 80% of global seaborne trade, the Navy's evolving role reflects India's aspirations as a maritime power and its pivotal contribution to global commerce and energy security. From its traditional focus on coastal defence to its expanded mandate as a "net security provider," the Indian Navy's transformation is emblematic of India's ascent as a maritime power in a multipolar world. This article explores how the Indian Navy navigates complex challenges in the region, leveraging its capabilities to maintain order in one of the world's busiest waterways. The Indian Navy's Strategic Evolution: A Shift from Shore to Deep Waters Historically, India's naval priorities were focused on coastal defence, primarily land-based threats. However, the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, orchestrated by seaborne militants, exposed vulnerabilities in the maritime domain, compelling India to rethink its naval strategy. The watershed moment came in 2015 with the release of Ensuring Secure Seas: Indian Maritime Security Strategy. The document articulated a bold vision: India would act as the IOR's "net security provider," expanding its naval footprint from the Straits of Malacca to the Persian Gulf and beyond. This shift aligned with India's strategic interests in securing the sea lanes of communication (SLOCs), which are vital for its energy imports and burgeoning trade. The Navy's transformation has been bolstered by modernisation efforts, including the induction of advanced warships, submarines, and surveillance systems. Integrating indigenous shipbuilding into the fleet's development also underscores India's ambitions for self-reliance while enhancing its blue-water capabilities. Operations That Define Excellence: The Navy in Action The Indian Navy's operational achievements exemplify its strategic vision and technical prowess. In 2024 alone, a series of high-stakes missions underscored its commitment to regional stability: - Operation MV Leela Norfolk: In January, the Navy's elite MARCOS (Marine Commandos) neutralised a hijacking in the North Arabian Sea. The mission, executed with precision, ensured the safe return of crew and cargo. - Operation MV Genco Picardy: Responding to a distress call in the Gulf of Aden, the Navy thwarted a drone attack on the vessel, demonstrating its readiness to counter asymmetrical threats. - Operation Iman and Lorenzo Pua 04: Off Somalia's coast, the Navy secured two hijacked vessels, freeing their crew and affirming its anti-piracy credentials. Such missions highlight the Navy's agility, operational expertise, and role as a dependable partner for nations reliant on secure Indian Ocean routes. MARCOS: The Navy's Tip of the Spear Central to the Navy's operational success is its Marine Commandos, or MARCOS. Trained to operate in high-risk environments, these commandos are equipped for amphibious raids, counter-terrorism missions, and intelligence operations. Often compared to Britain's Special Boat Service (SBS) and the US Navy SEALs, MARCOS personnel undergo gruelling training, with only a fraction making the cut. Their capability was evident during Operation MV Leela Norfolk, where their rapid response neutralised the hijackers, preventing a potential crisis. The Gulf of Aden: A Strategic Priority The Gulf of Aden, a gateway for global energy shipments, remains a focal point of the Navy's maritime strategy. With piracy resurging in these waters, the Indian Navy has maintained a robust presence, deploying a rotating fleet of warships and patrol vessels. These deployments are not just about counter-piracy; they represent India's broader strategic intent to assert influence in key chokepoints and contested waterways. The Navy reinforces its commitment to maintaining stability in a region critical to global trade by ensuring secure passage through the Gulf and Western Arabian Sea. Global Partnerships and Strategic Recognition India's maritime efforts have not gone unnoticed. The Navy's proactive role in the IOR has drawn praise from international partners, including the United States, which views India as a regional stabilising force. China, on the other hand, remains wary of India's expanding naval footprint. The Indian Navy's presence counterbalances Beijing's growing influence in the Indian Ocean, particularly as China seeks to extend its Belt and Road Initiative through maritime investments. India's partnerships extend beyond geopolitics; joint exercises with allies such as France, Japan, and Australia demonstrate the Navy's emphasis on interoperability and collective security. Initiatives like the Information Fusion Centre-Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) also facilitate real-time data sharing, enhancing India's maritime domain awareness. A Blueprint for the Future Looking ahead, the Indian Navy envisions a formidable expansion of its capabilities. The induction of additional aircraft carriers, enhanced submarine fleets, and advanced surveillance systems are on the horizon. This modernisation aligns with India's dual objectives: ensuring self-reliance through indigenous defence production and fostering strategic partnerships to address emerging challenges. Projects like the INS Vikrant, India's indigenously built aircraft carrier, signify a leap forward in achieving these goals. India's commitment to maritime security also extends to its environmental and humanitarian efforts. The Navy plays a crucial role in disaster relief, search-and-rescue missions, and combating illegal fishing, showcasing its multifaceted utility in the region. India's Role as a Net Security Provider The Indian Navy's evolution from a coastal defence force to a regional security provider reflects India's strategic ambitions in the Indian Ocean. By securing vital trade routes, countering piracy, and responding to emerging threats, the Navy protects India's interests and contributes to the global common good. As the IOR becomes an increasingly contested arena, the Navy's role in shaping a stable maritime order will remain indispensable. The seas are more than a strategic frontier for Indiathey are a vital artery of its economic and geopolitical future. Through its proactive and adaptive approach, the Indian Navy anchors itself as a guarantor of security in one of the world's most critical regions. Written By: Ashish Singh, Defence Expert Kerala Lottery Results Friday 22-11-2024 LIVE Updates: The Kerala Lottery Department, on behalf of the Keralan government, announces the "Nirmal NR-407" Lucky Draw Result today Nirmal NR-407, November 22, 2024. The draw will be held at Gorky Bhavan near Bakery Junction in Thiruvananthapuram. The Kerala Lottery Result 2024 for "Nirmal NR-407" will feature 12 series, with changes in series possible each week. A total of 108 lakh tickets are available for purchase weekly. The ticket prices may vary. Check the Nirmal NR-407 results right here to see if youre the first-place winner of 70 Lakhs. Stay tuned to this website for the live update of Kerala Lottery Nirmal NR-407 results today. Kerala Lottery Result 22-11-2024 November: FULL LIST OF WINNING NUMBERS FOR NIRMAL NR-407 Draw LUCKY TICKET NUMBER FOR 1ST PRIZE OF RS 70 LAKHS IS:NV 630165 LUCKY TICKET NUMBER FOR 2ND PRIZE OF RS 10 LAKHS IS: NW 732068 LUCKY TICKET NUMBERS FOR 3RD PRIZE OF RS 1 Lakh ARE: LUCKY TICKET NUMBERS FOR CONSOLATION PRIZE OF RS 8,000 ARE: NN 630165 NO 630165 NP 630165 NR 630165 NS 630165 NT 630165 NU 630165 NW 630165 NX 630165 NY 630165 NZ 630165 (For The Tickets Ending with The Following Numbers below) LUCKY TICKET NUMBERS FOR 4TH PRIZE OF RS 5,000 ARE: 1379 1585 1650 2124 2625 3625 4344 4691 4723 4724 4793 4837 5273 7270 7509 8561 9595 9928 LUCKY TICKET NUMBERS FOR 5TH PRIZE OF RS 1,000 ARE: 0020 0324 0726 0736 1806 3018 3379 3493 3858 4026 4051 4140 4545 4695 4907 5510 5785 5814 5931 6131 6504 6590 7160 7381 7482 7553 7663 7759 8090 8283 8373 8599 8967 9132 9884 9967 LUCKY TICKET NUMBERS FOR 6TH PRIZE OF RS 500 ARE: 0067 0194 0291 0327 0363 0447 0482 0485 0609 0687 0729 0849 0923 0939 0973 0984 1077 1194 1254 1380 1398 1791 2078 2384 2828 2877 2903 3043 3083 3596 3610 3646 3689 3909 4002 4085 4092 4411 4451 4786 4828 5014 5038 5141 5524 5655 5826 5843 6468 6539 6976 7163 7171 7244 7420 7447 7485 7560 7615 7814 7875 7903 8488 8587 8668 8729 8789 8797 8803 8966 8989 9051 9097 9136 9334 9424 9621 9657 9976 LUCKY TICKET NUMBERS FOR 7TH PRIZE OF RS 100 ARE: 0028 0043 0050 0132 0207 0213 0282 0348 0404 0426 0481 0516 0569 0575 0783 0968 1028 1093 1117 1120 1140 1542 1887 1902 1978 2008 2454 2592 2676 2856 2986 3133 3168 3174 3297 3348 3365 3554 3606 3845 3850 3861 3980 4009 4046 4116 4179 4246 4304 4374 4385 4450 4565 4588 4704 4872 4877 4921 5062 5070 5159 5234 5256 5553 5627 5687 5727 5827 5867 5943 6118 6216 6277 6293 6305 6367 6373 6449 6454 6471 6554 6679 6729 6803 6846 6883 6901 7017 7060 7126 7326 7354 7465 7522 7524 7551 7561 7659 7746 7811 7879 7940 7944 8127 8380 8436 8446 8703 8759 8799 8826 9226 9263 9291 9390 9447 9615 9628 9656 9829 9915 9948 KERALA LOTTERY RESULT TODAY 22-11-2024 November: NIRMAL NR-407LOTTERY PRIZE DETAILS 1st Prize: Rs 70 Lakhs 2nd Prize: Rs. 10 lakhs 3rd Prize: Rs. 5,000 4th Prize: Rs. 2,000 5th Prize: Rs. 1,000 6th Prize: Rs. 500 7th Prize: Rs. 200 8th Prize: Rs. 100 Consolation Prize: Rs. 8,000 (NOTE: Lottery can be addictive and should be played responsibly. The data provided on this page is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as advice or encouragement. Zee News does not promote lottery in anyway.) Maharashtra Poll: With election results just a day away, the Mahayuti and Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) seem to have jumped the gun in staking claims for the Chief Minister's chair. Even before the first votes are counted, fissures have emerged within both alliances, with constituents already at odds over who should lead the next government. The MVA with Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP (SP) and the Mahayuti, which includes the BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP, are both confident about forming the next Maharashtra government once the counting concludes on Saturday. Lets have a look at who are the top contenders from each faction. Who Will Be Maharashtra CM If Mahayuti Wins Shiv Sena MLA and party spokesperson Sanjay Shirsat was one of firsts to make comment on alliances CM face saying that the 2024 Assembly Elections was contested with current Chief Minister Eknath Shinde at the forefront. "Voters have shown their preference for Shinde through voting. I think it is Shinde's right (to be the next CM) and we are confident that he will be the next CM," PTI quoted Shirsat as saying. Meanwhile, BJP leader Pravin Darekar has backed Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis as the party's choice for the Chief Minister's position. "I think if anyone from the BJP is becoming the CM then it will be Devendra Fadnavis," he said. "Whatever the results, the NCP will be the kingmaker," NCP leader Amol Mitkari said while endorsing Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, his party chief, as the contender for the Maharashtra CMs post. However, Fadnavis maintained that all three Mahayuti allies would come together to make a well-thought-out decision. The BJP, contesting the highest number of seats in this election (152), is confident of emerging as the single-largest party. Throughout the campaign, while the Mahayuti alliance avoided naming a Chief Minister candidate, BJP hoardings prominently featured Devendra Fadnavis, who took the Deputy CM position in 2022. Who Will Be Maharashtra CM If MVA Wins In the Maha Vikas alliance Congress chief Nana Patole asserted claim of the Chief Ministerial chair, citing voting trends that suggest Congress will secure the most seats in the new assembly. However, later in the day, Patole backtracked, stating that the final decision on the CM post would be made by the party's High Command. The u-turn came after Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray) leader Sanjay Raut criticized Patoles statement, questioning whether he had the Congress High Commands approval to make such a claim, as "no one else would accept it." Raut suggested that if Patole had indeed been chosen as the CM candidate by the Congress High Command, then party leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra should publicly announce it. On the other hand, BJP leader Pravin Darekar dismissed Patoles aspirations to become Chief Minister, calling them "Mungerilal ke haseen sapne" (mere daydreams). (With PTI inputs) Assembly Elections 2024 Results: The results of fierce electoral battle in Maharashtra will unfold tomorrow with the leaders of ruling Mahayuti and opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) expressing confidence of their victories. Arrangements are also in place for counting votes for Jharkhand assembly polls and bypolls on 48 assembly and two Lok Sabha seats across 15 states. Votes will be counted from 8 am and trends are expected to emerge in the next two hours in Maharashtra and Jharkhand. In Maharashtra, Mahayuti, which includes BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP is locked in a fierce contest with MVA that includes Congress, Shiv Sena(UBT) and NCP(SP). Polling for the 288-member Maharashtra Legislative Assembly was held on Wednesday, with 66.05 per cent polling recorded in the state against nearly 61 per cent in the 2019 Assembly elections. Mahayuti and MVA leaders are both interpreting the increased voting percentage as a sign of greater support for them. State's Chief Electoral Officer S Chockalingam lauded efforts for increased voter participation. "Election Commission of India gave a lot of focus, attention and time for Maharashtra this time. Each and every strategy was conceptualised and implemented with high precision. This resulted in a huge number of addition in the voter list also between the Parliament election and the current election. Efforts made to make voting easier, especially in a place like Mumbai where we had some problems at the time of Parliament elections but this time everyone praised the arrangements," he said. "So, so much work has been done. The Election Commission thanks all the voters who came out to vote on the day to ensure that history is created... We have increased by 5 per cent more. We want to thank all of them. Nearly 6 lakh officers and employees were putting their efforts into welcoming the voters and ensuring that they vote very easily," he added. In Mahayuti, BJP is contesting the largest number of seats at 148 followed by Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde at 80 and NCP led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar at 52. There are six more seats where Mahayuti candidates are in the fray. In MVA, Congress is contesting 102 seats, Shiv Sena (UBT) 96 seats and NCP (SP) 86 seats. Two seats are being contested by Samajwadi Party and two seats by smaller MVA allies. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi exuded confidence in MVA reclaiming power in Maharashtra. "People of Maharashtra are going to free them (Mahayuti) for the next 25 years. The government of loot, corruption, and Adani is going to end. We will get the majority. They are booking helicopters because they know people will ask them questions, and they need to run away," she told ANI. Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Prataprao Jadhav also expressed confidence of MVA's victory. "Mahayuti will form the government. We are going to win with a majority...The result will be in our favour... The name of the CM will be announced after the result. There is no competition in the alliance...We will get above 200 seats," he said. Most exit polls predicted Mahayuti's victory with some suggesting that it is a tight race between the two alliances. BJP general secretary Tarun Chugh said INDIA bloc will be "wiped out" in the results for Maharashtra and Jharkhand assembly polls. "Those who have been blaming EVMs for their defeat, when they won the elections in Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh and Telangana, the EVMs were correct. Just like people rejected Congress in Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana, similarly in Maharashtra the Congress-led alliance will be wiped out, the people will give a befitting reply to the corrupt, parivarvaad parties. PM Modi's government, which works for the poor, women and the youth will get the blessings of the people," Chugh told ANI. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said MVA will get 160-165 seats. "The results will be out tomorrow. We are sure that we are going to get the majority. 160-165 of our MLAs would be elected... The 'Khokha walas' will pressurise them, so we have made an arrangement for them to stay together in a hotel... Sharad Pawar, Congress and Uddhav Thackeray will have a role to play (in choosing the CM face)... The MVA will get the complete majority and we will make a unanimous decision... No formula has been made yet, everyone will sit together and choose the CM," he said. This is the first election after splits in the NCP and Shiv Sena. In the 2019 elections, BJP won 105 seats, undivided Shiv Sena 56, undivided NCP 54, Congress 44, independents 13 and others 16 seats. The results have implications for all the players, particularly NCP and Shiv Sena. Uddhav Thackeray lost his chief ministerial position due to split in his party in 2022 and the party has been keen to prove a point in the assembly polls. His key rival Chief Minister Eknath Shinde also gained popularity due to welfare measures initiated by Mahayuti government and there is a seeming clash over who is true inheritor of Balasaheb Thackeray's legacy. NCP also suffered a split with Ajit Pawar joining the ruling alliance as Deputy Chief Minister in July last year. His uncle Sharad Pawar, who now heads NCP(SP), kept a tight campaign and has been keen to see that there is no dent to his long legacy in politics. A lot is at stake for Congress in the Maharashtra assembly polls after the party is seen to have bungled its prospect in the Haryana assembly polls earlier this year. BJP has formed its third successive government in Haryana earlier this year. Results will also be declared tomorrow also for Jharkhand assembly polls tomorrow and for bypolls to 48 assembly and two Lok Sabha seats. In Jharkhand, while the ruling JMM-led alliance is banking on its work and promises, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance is hopeful of getting people's support on its promises and work of central government. The campaign saw BJP leaders targeting JMM-led alliance over its performance and raised the issue of "infiltration" and tribal rights in the state. The state went to polls in two phases - November 13 and November 20 - for 81 assembly seats. Exit polls have been split in their predictions concerning Jharkhand with most of them stating that BJP-led NDA will win the polls. The BJP-led alliance in Jharkhand includes the All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU), Janata Dal (United), and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) while the JMM-led alliance consists of Congress, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), and the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist). Leaders of parties in the two alliances expressed confidence of their victories. BJP leader and former Jharkhand Chief Minister Babulal Marandi said NDA will win more than 51 seats. "BJP workers have worked hard on the ground and based on the information received from them, I can say that the BJP-led NDA alliance will win more than 51 seats in the Jharkhand assembly elections," he told ANI. Congress leader Ghulam Ahmad Mir, who is AICC-in-charge of the state, said people have voted for JMM-led alliance. "BJP has hidden their face after the first phase of the election here...In the second phase they have done face-saving...People have voted for the Hemant Soren government...We are going to win more than 50% seats," he said. Congress leader Rajesh Thakur said the truth will come out in the results and BJP's claims will turn out to be wrong. "BJP is saying they would get 55 odd seats, last time they mentioned 65 seats. When someone contests elections, a party contests elections and all feedbacks come, they speak their mind. Results will be out tomorrow and the truth will come out. We trust the public. With the kind of mandate they have given, we can say that we are going to form the government once again. We are going to form a strong government. We will also ensure to provide (government) scheme to those who have been deprived," Thakur told ANI. Counting of votes will begin at 8 am and officials said all arrangements have been made for the process. Varun Ranjan, Deputy Commissioner and District Election Officer, Ranchi, said that the officials were briefed regarding counting process and do's and don'ts. "We have also explained them scenarios like if there is data missmatch in EVMs, if data is not coming on EVMs, then what they have to do. They have also been told how to count postal ballots," he said. Jharkhand saw 67.74 per cent voter turnout in the two phases of elections. Jharkhand Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) K Ravi Kumar said on Thursday that the voter turnout in the second phase of state elections was 68.95 per cent. "The strong rooms of all the assembly constituencies have been sealed. The scrutiny has been done...There has been no recommendation for repoll in any of the constituencies. Combining both phases, the voter turnout is 67.74 per cent... The final voting percentage will be declared on counting day, combining the votes of the postal ballot also," he told reporters. Prominent candidates in the fray included Chief Minister Hemant Soren, his wife Kalpana Soren, and his sister-in-law Sita Soren from the JMM. Key BJP leaders in the second phase included former Chief Minister Babulal Marandi, Assembly Speaker Ravindra Nath Mahto (JMM), AJSU Party chief Sudesh Mahto, and Leader of Opposition Amar Kumar Bauri. A total of 528 candidates were in the fray in the second phase of the Jharkhand elections, including 55 women, one third-gender candidate, and 472 male candidates. The first phase of the Jharkhand polls was held in 43 of 81 assembly seats on November 13. Among the constituents of INDIA bloc, JMM is contesting on 43 seats, Congress 30, RJD on six and CPI(ML) four. BJP is contesting 68 seats, AJSU 10, JD(U) two and LJP one seat. In the previous assembly election, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha won 30 seats, the BJP won 25 and Congress won 16 seats. The bypolls have also strongly fought in various states besides Uttar Pradesh, where nine assembly seats saw polling on Wednesday. Bypolls were held on 48 assembly and two Lok Sabha seats across 15 states. In Wayanad in Kerala, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is making her electoral debut. The bypolls were held in two phases. The bypolls in Uttar Pradesh are significant for the BJP and Samajwadi Party as both the parties are aiming to seize momentum for 2027 assembly polls. The ruling BJP suffered a setback in Uttar Pradesh in the Lok Sabha polls earlier this year as it won 33 seats with Samajwadi Party winning 37 seats. Congress and Samajwadi Party fought the Lok Sabha polls together and in the assembly polls the former is extending its support to the latter. Chief Minister Yogi Adiyanath campaigned extensively for the bypolls. Votes will be counted in Katehari, Karhal, Meerapur, Ghaziabad, Majhawan, Sisamau, Khair, Phulpur, and Kundarki constituencies. Reports said five Uttar Pradesh policemen were placed under suspension by the Election Commission over complaints that they were preventing voters from casting their ballot in three constituencies. Opposition SP accused the ruling BJP of misusing government machinery to prevent SP supporters, especially "burqa-clad women", from casting votes. In Karnataka, Channapatna bypolls saw a high profile competition between NDA candidate Nikhil Kumaraswamy and CP Yogeshwara on November 13. Nikhil Kumaraswamy is the son of former Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kuamaraswamy. Wayanad seat was vacated by Priyanka Gandhi's brother Rahul Gandhi, who also won Lok Sabha polls from family stronghold of Raebareli. Priyanka Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi campaigned extensively in Wayanad. Apart from Uttar Pradesh, seven assembly seats in Rajasthan, six in West Bengal, five in Assam, four each in Punjab and Bihar and three in Karnataka went for bypolls. As Maharashtra gears up for the election results, both major alliances in the state are confident that they will form the next government. However, behind closed doors, the focus is not only on who will be the Chief Minister but also on safeguarding the elected legislators. Even before the results are out, political parties are making arrangements to ensure their MLAs stay intact and do not defect to rival groups. In today's episode of DNA, Zee News explains about resort politics and MLA poaching. Pre-emptive Measures to Safeguard Legislators With Maharashtra's election results set to be announced in less than 24 hours, political parties are already strategizing how to prevent any potential defections, using lessons learned from past experiences. Exit polls indicate a neck-and-neck battle between the two main alliances, with both parties hovering around the crucial 145-seat mark needed for a majority. However, the majority remains uncertain, sparking fears of political maneuvering to break alliances or lure away members. The Rise of Resort Politics In Maharashtra, "resort politics" is nothing new. Over the last two years, the state has witnessed the use of luxury resorts to "safeguard" elected representatives. In this high-stakes election, preparations for a repeat of this phenomenon have already been set in motion. Both the Mahayuti and Mahavikas Aghadi alliances are reportedly making arrangements for their victorious legislators to stay in secure locations to ensure their loyalty and prevent defections. MVA's Preparations: Resort Politics and Helicopter Moves Among the most significant preparations is the Mahavikas Aghadi's (MVA) strategy, with key figures like DK Shivkumar being entrusted with the responsibility of keeping the winning MLAs united. Reports suggest that hotels have already been booked for these legislators, particularly in Bengaluru, and even in Telangana. In addition, there are whispers of helicopter bookings to ensure that MLAs can be quickly moved to safe locations if needed. Political Leaders Open About Resort Politics While resort politics might seem like an underhanded tactic, it is widely accepted in Maharashtra's political landscape. Political leaders themselves have openly discussed these measures. This marks a shift from the past, where the mention of such arrangements was more discreet. As the election results draw near, the political parties are gearing up for another round of 'securing' their MLAs to avoid any last-minute surprises. Opposition Criticizes the Preparations The ruling BJP has taken a jibe at these preparations, accusing the opposition of resorting to such tactics to secure their position. During the election campaign, a slogan "Batege to Katenge" (those who separate will be cut off) was used, but now the slogan has morphed into a more cautious "Ek Rahenge to Safe Rahenge" (sticking together is the safest route). This shift in messaging signals the intense focus on keeping the legislators intact post-election. Resort Politics in Action Maharashtra's history is dotted with examples of resort politics, the most famous being in 2022 when the Shiv Sena split. Eknath Shindes faction of MLAs was flown to Guwahati and kept in a five-star hotel for several days. Similarly, during the Maharashtra Legislative Council elections in July, political parties once again moved their MLAs into hotels to prevent cross-voting. Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena faction stayed at the ITC Grand Central Hotel, while the Shinde faction lodged at the Taj Hotel in Bandra. BJP's legislators were housed at the Taj President Hotel in Colaba, all to prevent defections and maintain party unity. Tighter Control in the Upcoming Election The stakes are higher this time around, with reports suggesting that parties are making even more stringent arrangements. After the election results are declared, each party will reportedly transport their MLAs using their own partys helicopters and accommodate them in their own hotels or resorts to keep them away from rival influences. This preparation is aimed at preventing any potential offers or deals from undermining the party's post-election strategy. Ensuring Loyalty in High-Stakes Politics The intense focus on securing legislators reflects the cutthroat nature of Maharashtra's political scene. Parties are determined to avoid any surprises or defections that could derail their chances of forming the government. Whether through hotels, resorts, or helicopters, the arrangements are all part of a larger effort to prevent external influences from tampering with the political outcomes. In this fiercely competitive environment, ensuring the loyalty of MLAs is paramount, and every possible measure is being taken to safeguard against any last-minute changes in allegiances. Maharashtra Assembly Election 2024: The intense campaigning for the Maharashtra assembly elections concluded on November 18 and people voted on November 20 to elect representatives for all 288 seats in the state assembly. The outcome of the elections is scheduled to be announced on November 23, marking a significant moment in Maharashtra's political landscape. Maharashtra's political landscape is divided into six distinct regions generally, including Marathwada, Vidarbha, Western Maharashtra, North Maharashtra, Mumbai and the Thane-Konkan. Each region has its unique cultural, geographical, and economic characteristics, contributing to the state's diversity and complexity in terms of politics, development and identity. Vidarbha region located in the eastern part of Maharashtra, consists of 11 districts and 62 Assembly seats. This region spread across Maoist-affected Gadchirroli to Nagpur. The area is also known for cotton production but is often perceived as underdeveloped compared to the western and coastal regions of the state. In the 2014 Assembly elections, the BJP secured 44 out of 62 seats in Vidarbha, while the Congress won 10. The BJP-Shiv Sena alliance, led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, completed its five-year term in power. In the 2019 assembly elections, the BJP won 29 seats, while the Congress secured 15 in Vidarbha. The BJP-Shiv Sena alliance initially formed the majority but the coalition soon dissolved which led to a period of political crisis in Maharashtra. Historically a Congress stronghold over Vidarbha regions but later in the 1990s BJP make inroads. In the assembly election 2024, political heavyweights from both alliances, including Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, state BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule, and state Congress president Nana Patole, are contesting from the region. In this recent elections, The BJP in alliance with Ajit Pawar-led NCP and Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena under the ruling Mahayuti is contesting against the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance which consists of Shiv Sena (UBT), the NCP-SP and the Congress. Kolkata: As the results of the bypolls for six Assembly constituencies in West Bengal will be announced on Saturday, the question floating around is whether the rape and murder of a junior doctor of RG Kar Medical College impact the results. The six Assembly constituencies are Sitai in Cooch Behar District, Madarihat in Alipurduar, Taldangra in Bankura, Medinipur in West Midnapore district and Haroa and Naihati in North 24 Parganas. The polling was done on November 13 and one person died in clashes on the polling day. Bypolls were conducted at these six Assembly constituencies as the legislators from here got elected as Lok Sabha members in the general elections this year. In the 2021 West Bengal elections, barring Madarihat, where the BJP candidate got elected; Trinamool Congress candidates emerged victorious in the remaining five constituencies. Trinamool Congress leadership is confident of bagging victory from all the six Assembly constituencies in the polls and they have claimed that the RG Kar tragedy will not have any impact on the results. One of the reasons behind their confidence is that in the bypolls there had been four-cornered contests involving Trinamool Congress, BJP, CPI(M)-led Left Front and Congress, which ensured a three-way division in the Opposition votes thus benefiting the ruling party. The Left Front and Congress have not carried forward their seat-sharing arrangements in the bypolls which started since the 2016 West Bengal Assembly elections and continued till the general elections this year. Rather a new political equation in the state's Left politics has evolved in the bypolls where the Left Front sacrificed the Naihati seat for the CPI(M-L) candidate. Political observers feel that the bypoll results are extremely crucial in the sense that they would to a great extent decide the strategies for both the ruling and Opposition parties for the crucial West Bengal Assembly elections scheduled in 2026. Mumbai: AR Rahman and Saira Banu announced their separation after a long marriage of 29 years, the couple left many shocked with their separation announcement. There is a lot of speculation around what went wrong between the couple. One of the moves that grabbed attention was Rahman's bassist Mohini Dey too announced her divorce hours later the music composer and this led to speculation about the connection between these two. However Saira's lawyer refused any connection between the two parties and now in her fresh statement, she had requested privacy. While speaking to ANI Lawyer Vandana Shah confirmed that the decision of divorce is mutual and emphasised the importance of family's privacy," The divorce hasn't happened yet. I am representing both of them. I can't reveal the reason, but it is a marriage of 29 years. In every marriage, ups and downs are common. It is a painful decision, but it is a joint decision. Family's privacy must be respected at this point of time". Saira's lawyer issued a statement of divorce that read," After many years of marriage, Mrs. Saira and her husband, Mr. A R. Rahman, have made the difficult decision to separate from each other. This decision comes after significant emotional strain in their relationship. Despite their deep love for each other, the couple has found that the tensions and difficulties have created an insurmountable gap between them, one that neither party feels able to bridge at this time. Mrs. Saira and her husband Mr. A R. Rahman emphasize that they have taken this decision out of pain and agony". Rahman and Saira got married in 1995. Mumbai: Amid swirling rumours connecting AR Rahman and his bassist Mohini Deys respective divorces, the legendary composers daughter, Raheema Rahman, has spoken out against the baseless speculation. Recently, Rahman and his wife, Saira Banu, announced their separation, followed by Mohini Dey sharing her own decision to part ways with her husband. The timing of these announcements led to unfounded rumours suggesting a connection between the two. Raheema, taking to social media, slammed the rumours, saying: Always remember Rumours are carried by haters, spread by fools, and accepted by idiots. She further urged people to get a life and stop spreading false narratives about her family. Saira Banus lawyer, Vandana Shah, also condemned the rumours in an interview with Viral Bhayani, calling them ridiculous and contemptuous. She even added deeply insensitive to make such baseless connections when both parties are already navigating a painful phase in their lives. Both Rahman and Mohini Dey have remained silent on the matter, choosing to focus on their personal journeys and professional commitments. Fans and well-wishers have rallied behind the family, urging the public to respect their privacy during this time. New Delhi: Allu Arjun starrer 'Pushpa 2: The Rule' is undoubtedly one of the biggest releases of the year that everyone is eagerly anticipating. While excitement for the film is always at its peak, the makers have left everyone stunned with the biggest trailer launch event in Patna for this biggest film of the year. The trailer launch was extraordinary, and so is the trailer itself. Showcasing the rage of Pushpa Raj reaching a whole new level, the trailer has received tremendous love from across the nation and is now trending at #1 on YouTube across India. The makers of Pushpa 2: The Rule took to their social media to share a poster revealing that the trailer is trending at #1 on YouTube across India, with over 150 million views and 3 million+ likes. Have A Look At The Post: They further wrote in the caption, "PUSHPA RAJ'S RUTHLESS RULE #Pushpa2TheRule Trailer TRENDING #1 on YouTube with 150 MILLION+ VIEWS & 3 MILLION+ LIKES #RecordBreaking Pushpa2TRAILER #Pushpa2TheRule #Pushpa2TheRuleOnDec5th" Directed by Sukumar, the film featuring Allu Arjun, Rashmika Mandanna, and Fahadh Faasil. The film is produced by Mythri Movie Makers and Sukumar writings with music on T Series. Pushpa 2: The Rule will be released on 5th December 2024. Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that the Ukraine war has acquired the characteristics of a global conflict following missile attacks by the West on Russia's Kursk and Bryansk regions. "Since this moment, as we have underscored repeatedly, the conflict in Ukraine, provoked by the West, has obtained elements of global nature," he said, IANS reported. Russian President Putin promised that Russia would respond decisively in case of escalation in Ukraine, IANS reported citing Xinhua news agency. He emphasised that Russia has the right to target the military facilities of countries that use weapons against Russia. While targeting the US, Putin said, "I would like to stress once again that it is not Russia that is destroying the international security system, but the US." Meanwhile, Putin confirmed that Russia has successfully tested the new medium-range ballistic missile, Oreshnik and also criticised the West for escalating the war by letting Ukraine strike Russian territory with long-range missiles. In response to the use of American and British long-range weapons, on November 21 of this year, the Russian armed forces launched a combined strike on one of the facilities of the military-industrial complex of Ukraine," the Russian President said, IANS reported. A massive explosion rocked the area outside the US Embassy in London on Friday. The blast has raised concerns amid heightened tensions from the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and the Russia-Ukraine war. The Metropolitan Police confirmed the explosion and quickly cordoned off the area around the embassy, located in the heart of Central London. Known for being one of the citys most secure and high-profile districts, the embassys immediate vicinity was evacuated as a precautionary measure. Authorities have declared the area a security risk while the cause of the explosion is investigated. In a statement, the police urged the public to remain calm and cooperate fully with security agencies as they assess the scale of the threat. The investigation is ongoing, with officials working to determine the source of the blast and whether it is linked to broader security concerns. Evacuations and Heightened Security As a result of the explosion, several nearby buildings were also evacuated, and employees were relocated to other facilities. Londons Metropolitan Police assured citizens that their safety was the top priority and that further updates would be provided as more information becomes available. Additionally, the US Embassy issued a statement acknowledging the explosion but stressed that investigations into the cause were still underway. The embassy assured the public that it was working closely with local authorities to determine the next steps. Suspicious Incident at Gatwick Airport According to the media reports explosion occurred at a time when another security incident was unfolding at Londons Gatwick Airport. A suspicious package was found at one of the terminals, leading to the evacuation of part of the airport. Although there was no immediate link between the two events, the simultaneous occurrences heightened concerns about security across London. With the blast taking place amid global tensions, including the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict and the war in Ukraine, security agencies are on high alert. Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely, advising the public to stay vigilant while investigations proceed. As of now, there is no official confirmation on the extent of casualties, but the incident has significantly disrupted the usual calm in one of Londons busiest areas. The United States on Friday rejected the International Criminal Court's (ICC) decision to issue arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, who are accused of "crimes against humanity and war crimes." White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre expressed concern over the decision in a press briefing, stating, "We fundamentally reject the court's decision to issue arrest warrants for senior Israeli officials." She criticised the prosecutor's haste in seeking the warrants and pointed out troubling process errors that led to this outcome. Jean-Pierre also added that the United States has been clear about the ICC's lack of jurisdiction over this matter. "Whatever this prosecutor might imply, there is no evidence, none between Israel and Hamas, there's just none," she said. The White House is working closely with its partners, including Israel, to discuss the next steps. Jean-Pierre reaffirmed, "We fundamentally reject that the ICC has jurisdiction over the situation, and so that's something that we've been pretty clear about and we'll continue to." This statement comes as the US continues to show support for Israel amid the ICC's charges against its leaders. Meanwhile, the ICC in The Hague on Thursday issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant, accusing them of "crimes against humanity and war crimes." The charges include allegations of targeting civilians and enforcing policies of starvation in Gaza. Prime Minister Netanyahu condemned the ICC's decision in a statement on his social media platform, calling it "antisemitic" and comparing it to the infamous Dreyfus trial. In a video posted on his X handle, Netanyahu said, "The antisemitic decision of the international court in The Hague is a modern Dreyfus trial, and it will end the same way." Netanyahu drew parallels between his situation and the false treason charges against French Jewish officer Alfred Dreyfus over 130 years ago. Referring to Emile Zola's famous essay J'accuse, which defended Dreyfus, Netanyahu said, "Now an international court in The Hague, also headed by a French judge, is repeating this outrageous offence. It is falsely accusing me and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant of deliberately targeting civilians." He defended Israel's military actions in Gaza, claiming that the measures implemented were necessary to minimise civilian casualties. "We issue millions of text messages, phone calls, and leaflets to warn the citizens of Gaza to get out of harm's way, while Hamas terrorists do everything in their power to keep them in harm's way, including using them as human shields," Netanyahu said. Netanyahu dismissed accusations of imposing a starvation policy, highlighting that Israel had supplied 700,000 tons of food to Gaza. He stated, "We've supplied Gaza with 700,000 tons of food to feed the people of Gaza. That's 3,200 calories for every man, woman, and child in Gaza. And these supplies are routinely looted by Hamas terrorists, who deprive their people of much-needed food." He also noted that Israel had facilitated the vaccination of 97 percent of Gaza's population against polio. Netanyahu called the ICC's charges baseless, asking, "What in God's name are they talking about in The Hague?" The Israeli Prime Minister further criticised the ICC for focusing on Israel while ignoring war crimes in countries like Iran, Syria, and Yemen. He also denounced the court for its failure to act against Hamas, describing their atrocities during the recent Gaza conflict. "No biassed anti-Israel decision in The Hague will prevent the State of Israel from defending its citizens," Netanyahu asserted. He thanked allies, particularly the United States, for condemning the ICC's move and reiterated that Israel does not recognize the court's jurisdiction. The Israeli PM said, "We will continue to do everything we must to defend our citizens and defend our state against Iran's Axis of terror, which includes Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and others." "Our enemies are your enemies, and our victory will be your victory--the victory of civilization over barbarism and tyranny," Netanyahu added. Donald Trump Administration: US President-elect Donald Trump, who is currently busy assembling his dream team for his second term in the White House, faced a significant setback on Tuesday when his first choice for the post of US Attorney General, Matt Gaetz, withdrew his name. However, undeterred, Trump promptly tapped Pam Bondi, the former Attorney General of Florida, to fill the role. According to Trump, former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetzs nomination was creating distractions for the administration. Gaetz is being investigated in a federal sex trafficking case. Reflecting on his decision, Matt Gaetz said, While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition. There is no time to waste on a needlessly protracted Washington scuffle, thus Ill be withdrawing my name from consideration to serve as Attorney General," Gaetz said. In a social media post, he stated that he would continue fighting for the country but from a different role. He further backed Trumps new choice, former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, stating, Shes a proven litigator, an inspiring leader, and a champion for all Americans. She will bring the needed reforms to DOJ. Who is Pam Bondi Pam Bondi (59), a longtime ally of Donald Trump, actively defended him as one of his lawyers during his first impeachment trial. The case centered on allegations that Trump attempted to tie U.S. military aid to Ukraine with an investigation into then-Vice President Joe Biden. Bondi played a key role on Trumps Opioid and Drug Abuse Commission during his first term and acted as a campaign surrogate in this years presidential race. Earlier this year, she joined a group of Republicans at Trumps hush-money trial in New York to publicly show support for him. As the leader of the America First Policy Institute, a think tank established by former Trump administration officials, Bondi further solidified her ties to Trumps political circle. Based in Tampa, Bondi made history as Floridas first female attorney general and served as a prosecutor from 2011 to 2019, bringing 18 years of legal experience to the table. Matt Gaetz Faces Sexual Misconduct Allegations Two women recently testified before the House Ethics Committee, claiming that Matt Gaetz paid them for sex multiple times starting in 2017, during his tenure as a Florida congressman. They also alleged that he had sexual relations with a 17-year-old at a party in Florida that same year, which would have been statutory rape since the legal age of consent in the state is 18. That investigation, however, ended without charges. Meanwhile, Peter Hegseth, Trumps nominee to lead the Pentagon and a former Fox News anchor, is also facing sexual assault allegations. Hegseth has denied the claims, stating he was previously investigated and cleared. (With agency inputs) This contest is now closed. Check back here in mid-November 2026. Our biennial Long Poem Prize is open! We welcome submissions from Canadian and international writers anywhere in the world. EXTENDED DEADLINE: February 5, 2025 at 11:59pm (PST) Early Bird pricing deadline: December 31, 2024 at 11:59pm (PST) Two winners will receive a prize of CAD $1,250 each and be published in the magazine's summer 2025 issue #231. This contest is offered every second year, alternating with the Novella Prize . Entries accepted via Submittable only (see below for instructions). Contest Judges Read the judges' bios here. Or click their names above to read interviews with them on what they're looking for in winning entries. Book Prizes In addition to the $2,500 in prize money, we're giving away two bundles of poetry books to two lucky contest entrants! All you have to do is submit your work to the contest, and you'll be automatically entered to win. After the deadline, we'll pull two names from the list of entrants. Guidelines Each entry must be a single poem or cycle of poems that will occupy between 10 and 20 printed pages when published in The Malahat Review. Poems published in the magazine occupy no more than 35 lines per printed page , a line-count that includes all spaces and breaks between lines, stanzas, and sections. In a cycle of poems, each poem must begin on a new page, even if the preceding poem ends before the 35th line is reached. In a multi-part poem, the author may decide whether or not each section begins on a new page. *Click here for further information about the 35-line rule.* , a line-count that includes all spaces and breaks between lines, stanzas, and sections. In a cycle of poems, each poem must begin on a new page, even if the preceding poem ends before the 35th line is reached. In a multi-part poem, the author may decide whether or not each section begins on a new page. *Click here for further information about the 35-line rule.* Collaborative long poems by two or more authors are eligible. All entries are judged anonymously. No identifying information is to be included on any poem submitted. Multiple entries are allowed (at a reduced fee, if paid for at the same time as the initial entry: see Entry Fees and How to Submit below). and below). Entrants who submit more than one long poem to the contest in the same year may be shortlisted for only one entry and may win only one of the two prizes. Entry Fees CAD $35 for each entry from Canada *early bird discount until Dec. 31, 2024: CAD $20 *early bird discount until Dec. 31, 2024: CAD $20 CAD $45 for each entry from elsewhere *early bird discount until Dec. 31, 2024: CAD $30 *early bird discount until Dec. 31, 2024: CAD $30 CAD $15 for each additional entry (any writer, any country) See How to Pay (below) for detailed instructions. Entrants receive a one-year print subscription to The Malahat Review for the initial entry only. Additional Entries To receive the reduced entry fee(s) of CAD $15, any additional entries must be paid for at the same time as the first entry; such additional entries should be submitted online within 24 hours of the initial entry. Eligible Entries No work simultaneously submitted elsewhere, already published, or already accepted for publication is eligible for consideration (even if only excerpted, or even if revised since original publication). We consider any appearance in print or online to be a publication, including newspapers, newsletters, magazines, anthologies, chapbooks, books, websites, blogs, social media, etc. This restriction applies regardless of the size of the print run or the extent of the circulation of previously published work. Failure to comply with these criteria for eligibility will immediately disqualify any entry, regardless of when the ineligiblity is discovered in the process of adjudication (submission, processing, screening, shortlisting, final judging). The entry fee for a disqualified submission will not be refunded, and the entrant will still receive a one-year print subscription to the magazine. Notification The two winners will be notified by email. Other entrants will receive notifications of the shortlist and winners via Submittable messages. The shortlist and winners will be announced in April 2025 on our website and social media. Both winners will be interviewed, and the interviews will be published on our website, and in a summer edition of Malahat lite. How to Pay (credit card) Go to our online store to pay your entry fee(s). Payment must be made online through our store before submitting, since you must include your ORDER# with your submission. We accept VISA, Mastercard, or American Express. No password is needed in order to pay your entry fee on our store websitesimply choose guest checkout. Online payments will not be accepted after the contest deadline. If you have any problems with payment, please email malahat@uvic.ca . How to Pay (cheque or money order) If you are unable to pay by credit card, you can mail a cheque or money order made out to The Malahat Review in CAD$ or USD$ to: The Malahat Review, Clearihue Bldg, University of Victoria, PO Box 1700, Stn CSC, Victoria, BC, V8W 2Y2, Canada. Instead of an order#, you must indicate "cheque" or "money order" as required on the submission form in Submittable. Cheques or money orders must be mailed with a postmark date of no later than February 5, 2025. How to Submit Only online submissions made through The Malahat Review's Long Poem Prize portal on the Submittable website will be accepted. will be accepted. Acceptable file formats: Word (.doc or .docx) or PDF . . You can make only one entry at a time on Submittable; to submit additional entries, whether at the reduced rate (paid for at the same time) or at a standard rate, simply follow the same process as with the initial submission (the ORDER # will be the same for additional entries paid for at the same time as the initial submission; it will be different for an entry or entries made at a later date, since these require the full fee). Click the Submit icon below in order to enter the Long Poem Prize contest on Submittable: Previous Long Poem Prize Winners Refugees affected by armed conflict in Myanmar may continue their studies in the Philippines through the support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). University of the Philippines Los Banos (UPLB), Batangas State University (BatSU), Lyceum of the Philippines University Batangas (LPU Batangas), and Saint Louis University Baguio (SLU Baguio) opened their doors to Myanmar refugees to study agriculture, engineering, hospitality management, and education. - Advertisement - The participating Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Institute of International Education (IIE), the contractor for the Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship Program (DISP) funded by USAID, in the presence of CHED Secretary Popoy De Vera and USAID-Philippines Director of Office of Education Michelle Chen to launch the DISP. BatSU catered to 11 Myanmar scholars taking their masters in data science, as well as bachelors degrees in civil engineering, computer engineering, and electrical engineering. LPU-Batangas likewise has five scholars taking bachelors degrees in international travel and tourism management. Meanwhile, UPLB has four scholars from Myanmar who are taking a Masters degree in natural resource conservation and a graduate diploma in environmental planning. Finally, SLU Baguio has 11 scholars taking up bachelors degrees in nursing and secondary and special needs education, as well as a masters in inclusive language education. Currently, DISP has the largest presence in the Philippines with 31 Burmese scholars studying in different universities in the country. Through this five-year initiative, scholars in Myanmar are given regional and local higher education scholarships and a variety of higher education opportunities via multimodalities in several Asian countries including Burma, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and the Philippines. CHED said another batch of scholars is expected to study in the Philippines through USAID-DISP next school year. In the autumn of 1914 Lenin began a detailed study of Hegels writings. His notes contain a brilliant insight into the dialectical method, of which he was a master. In this article, Hamid Alizadeh draws out the essential aspects of this method, underlining the fundamental importance of theory for the communist movement. In the summer of 1914, war broke out in Europe and the course of world history changed overnight. With the blessing of the treacherous Social-Democratic leaders, the European bourgeoisie dragged humanity down into a spiral of infernal carnage, in which tens of millions of workers and peasants were sent to the slaughter. The betrayal of the leadership tore apart the Second International, the main organisation of the international workers movement, leaving the world proletariat defenceless as reaction raised its ugly head everywhere. Meanwhile, the forces of revolutionary Marxism had been reduced to a tiny minority, scattered across Europe and without a clear platform or lead. Lenin found himself in Poland when the war broke out and had to hastily move to Switzerland. He had not anticipated the betrayal of the leaders of the International and was initially shocked at hearing the news of the German party having voted for war credits in the Reichstag. Now the International was in ruins, the class struggle in Russia was receding in the face of the war and Lenin was isolated from all but a handful of his comrades. Yet, precisely at this moment in time, when the immediate organisational and political tasks loomed larger than ever before, Lenin threw himself into an in-depth study of Hegelian philosophy. But why bother, some might ask, to immerse oneself in abstract theoretical questions in such a crisis? To the mechanical mind this might appear strange and even ridiculous. What about the needs of the party? Surely the task in such a situation is to focus on the immediate practical matters at hand! Such a response would certainly harmonise with the crude bourgeois portrayal of Lenin as a philistine, so-called man of action; a stern master conspirator who did not indulge in such trivial matters as philosophical contemplation an image, by the way, that the Stalinist caricature of Lenin does not veer too far from. In reality, such a view sharply contrasts with the real method of Lenin and of Marxism in general. What set Lenin apart from the other leaders of the Second International was, first and foremost, his clarity and his consistent class position qualities that were solely based on his theoretical insight. In 1914, the war blew over the world situation like a giant tornado, ripping up everything firm and solid in its path. Every country was thrown into a state of violent turbulence. All political trends were put to the test and the slightest weakness ruthlessly exposed. In such conditions, impressionistic improvisation could achieve exactly nothing. The Marxists had foreseen the war. Nevertheless, it was a new situation, which required the skillful reorientation of the party. This was the context in which Lenin embarked on a new journey into philosophy as a means of deepening his understanding of the laws of nature and society. His philosophical notebooks from this period, and in particular his notes on Hegels Science of Logic, are not only a treasure trove of ideas, they also provide us with a highly instructive account of Lenins approach and attitude towards theory. Lenins method Lenin was by no means a stranger to Hegel or philosophy in general. He studied Marx and Engels philosophical works keenly, as well as Plekhanovs philosophical writings, which played a key role in developing the early core of Marxist revolutionaries in Russia. He also had embarked on a period of serious philosophical study in the aftermath of the 1905 revolution, and wrote a book, Materialism and Empirio-Criticism, against the revisionist ideas of Bogdanov, a Bolshevik leader who had drifted into the orbit of reactionary bourgeois philosophy. Thus, as his philosophical notebooks reveal, Lenin was already a master of dialectics before 1914. Nevertheless, one never senses in him the slightest hint of comfortable self-satisfaction with his political and theoretical level. For the duration of his life, as is the hallmark of every master, Lenin approached theory with the humility and diligence of a student. He methodically went through Hegels Science of Logic, taking detailed notes and contemplating each and every concept presented in it. This was by no means an easy task. In his own words, parts of the work appear to be the best means for getting a headache![1] But nothing worthwhile comes without a struggle, and the acquisition of the most advanced ideas will, by necessity, require serious labour. In his notes we can see how Lenin, like an anatomist, carefully dissected and evaluated every part of Hegels work, before putting them together and viewing the ideas as a whole. In doing so, he not only mastered Hegels method, but also critiqued it, separating the living kernel from its dead husk. Lenins method of study was itself a masterclass in dialectics. Trotsky summed up this approach in his article How Lenin Studied Marx: Study, which is not merely a mechanical repetition, also involves a creative effort, but of an inverse type: To summarise another mans work is to lay bare the skeletal framework of its logic, stripping away the proofs, the illustrations and the digressions. Joyously and fervently Vladimir advanced along this difficult road, summarising each chapter, sometimes a single page, as he read and thought and verified the logical structure, the dialectical transitions, the terminology. Taking possession of the results, he assimilated the method. He climbed the successive rungs of another mans system as if he were himself constructing it anew. All of it became firmly lodged in this marvellously well-ordered brain beneath the powerful dome of the skull. [2] Lenins philosophical notebooks bear testament to his determined mind, which incessantly searched for new ideas and angles that could expand his understanding of the world around him. While he met organisational questions with the utmost flexibility, his insistence on theoretical clarity was what set him apart as an outstanding leader, and the Bolshevik Party as the only consistently revolutionary trend of its time. Do we need philosophy? Without revolutionary theory there can be no revolutionary movement. This idea cannot be insisted upon too strongly at a time when the fashionable preaching of opportunism goes hand in hand with an infatuation for the narrowest forms of practical activity. [3] Many communists can quote Lenins famous words or at least the first sentence from memory, and lose no chance to do so. But does that mean that they understand the full significance of it? Familiarity can be treacherous. It can lull people into a false sense of certainty and thereby hinder them from grasping the depth of things. Here we see the difference between Marxism and the empiricism that characterises bourgeois philosophy today. For Marxists, the immediate matter at hand is only a snapshot; one flake or aspect of a given phenomenon, which must be studied, unfolded and understood in its concrete totality. For the empiric, the immediate is all there is and everything else is a book sealed with seven seals. The ruling classes of Europe each approached the war from the standpoint of their own narrow national interests / Image: public domain The reformists uncritically adopt bourgeois philosophy and, like their masters, bow their heads and bend their knees to the so-called established fact. Herein lies the philosophical core of opportunism. The approach of the reformists to the First World War provides a case in point. The ruling classes of Europe each approached the war from the standpoint of their own narrow national interests, which they justified by reference to lofty abstractions, such as defence of the fatherland or the right of nations to self-determination. And so it went that the rulers of one nation after another entered the war following the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, each blaming the other for provoking hostilities. That is the extent to which the bourgeois understand the First World War: as a series of decisions made by a series of rulers. On the surface of things, this course of events did take place, to be sure, but there is more to the matter than its surface appearance. The Social Democrats of the time argued along the same lines, albeit with left-leaning rhetoric. The Austrian Social Democrats echoed the anti-Russian and anti-Serb sentiments of the war party in Vienna. Plekhanov and the opportunists in the Russian Social Democracy spoke about the threat of reactionary German imperialism and the need to come to the aid of oppressed Serbia. Meanwhile, the German Social Democrats voted for war credits based on the need to stop reactionary Russian imperialism, and so on and so forth. They all viewed the war solely from the perspective of their own national capitalist class, and on this basis they rushed to the defence of the fatherland, eagerly voting to send millions of workers to their deaths. Lenin, on the other hand, explained that the war was a product of the whole preceding period of capitalist development. The rise of giant industrial monopolies and the dominance of finance capital marked a new stage in the history of capitalism, in which the constant need to export capital had propelled the advanced, imperialist countries into a ferocious struggle for the division and redivision of the globe, in search of fields of investment, markets, and spheres of influence. In such conditions, Lenin explained, defence of the fatherland was merely a cover for a defence of the narrow interests of the ruling classes of each nation that is, in the interests of the exploiters and oppressors of the proletariat and working poor masses. Here we see in practice, the difference between blindly accepting the dominant philosophy of the ruling class as opposed to taking a conscious revolutionary philosophical standpoint. In the ascending phase of capitalism, bourgeois philosophy was used as a powerful weapon against feudalism and its ideological defenders in the Catholic Church. Under the banner of science and reason, it exposed the hypocrisy and irrationality of feudal society. But with the capitalist class at a dead end, the nature of its philosophy has also changed and become entirely conservative. Like the dogmas of the church that it once fought, the bourgeois doctrines of our day stand for the defence of the status quo. Whereas the old church doctrines prescribed faith and scripture as the path to truth, todays academic establishment and other paid pundits preach the irrationality of nature and society and raise immediate subjective experience their subjective experience to be sure! to be all that exists. In the past, the clerics preached about the divine order of things, with the king at the top, followed by the feudal lords and at the bottom, the lower classes. Today, the high priests of capital preach the inviolability of capitalism the market, private property, the nation state and all the reactionary moral manure that these bring with them as the immutable essence of mankind. Bourgeois philosophy has, by necessity, turned into its opposite. Rather than revealing the truth, the true purpose of the ideas that are now disseminated through official religion, the media, schools, etc. is to cover up the truth. The truth is therefore the most important weapon of the working class. Like all revolutionary classes before it, the proletariat must adopt a conscious revolutionary philosophy if it wishes to understand the workings of capitalism and how the system can be abolished. Abstract thought The truth is concrete,[4] Lenin often repeated, after Hegel. And Marxism deals first and foremost with the truth. But that does not mean that abstract thinking, as such, is untrue. Far from it. As Lenin writes in his conspectus of Hegels Logic: Thought proceeding from the concrete to the abstract provided it is correct (NB) (...) does not get away from the truth but comes closer to it. The abstraction of matter, of a law of nature, the abstraction of value, etc., in short, all scientific (correct, serious, not absurd) abstractions reflect nature more deeply, truly and completely. [5] Real knowledge is not the mere stacking of facts one on top of the other. The point is to understand the relation between those facts. That is the role of philosophy: to furnish us with a worldview, a method of approaching the nature and society around us. Abstract thought is true insofar as it reflects reality. The main question is, of course, how can we reach such truth? Dialectics Hegels revolution in philosophy was predicated upon his Objectivism that is, in his belief that the world exists independently of mankind, and that it functions on the basis of its own inherent laws. On such a basis, the task of science and philosophy is not to conjure up a system to forcefully drag over the world, but to investigate the world as it is, on its own account, and thereby to derive the laws that govern it. In his Logic, Hegel brilliantly conducts this treatment on scientific thinking itself. Step by step, he proceeds to trace human thought as it unfolds on its own account. Starting with the most simple and general concept possible, he proceeds to lay bare the laws that govern rational thought as such. In the opening of the book he invites us to contemplate the simple concept of Pure Being. Here Hegel means pure in the sense that it is completely indeterminate and undifferentiated, with no boundaries, no special characteristics and nothing in particular that defines it just, pure Being. As Hegel remarks, no matter how hard we try to think about it, we cannot say anything about such a being, since anything that we say would limit and define it, and hence it would not be pure any longer. Hence, in this pure form we cannot in reality talk about any particular being at all. We therefore arrive at the conclusion that Pure Being is no different than Nothing. The idea of Pure Being, in other words, immediately leads us to the idea of Nothing. Upon reflection, however, we find out that this is not our end destination. As it turns out, the idea of pure nothing, in its emptiness and indeterminateness, is no different than Pure Being. The two concepts therefore transition into one another as soon as we try to fix them in our thoughts: each immediately vanishes in its opposite, writes Hegel.[6] And it is here, in this unity of Being and Nothing that we meet a new concept or category, namely Becoming: a higher concept, which carries Being and Nothing within it. In this simple example, or thought experiment, Hegel has outlined the germ of all of dialectics starting with the fundamental principle that everything is in a state of uninterrupted change, of coming into being and passing away. Shrewd and clever! Lenin comments, Hegel analyses concepts that usually appear to be dead and shows that there is movement in them. Finite? That means moving to an end! Something?means not that which is Other. Being in general?means such indeterminateness that Being = not-Being. [7] The path of change Movement and self-movement (this NB! arbitrary (independent), spontaneous, internally-necessary movement), change, movement and vitality, the principle of all self-movement, impulse (Trieb) to movement and to activity the opposite to dead Being who would believe that this is the core of Hegelianism, of abstract and abstruse (ponderous, absurd?) Hegelianism?? This core had to be discovered, understood, [salvaged], laid bare, refined, which is precisely what Marx and Engels did.[8] For the petty-bourgeois empiric, things remain the same or at the very best move in a circular fashion. Since today is like yesterday, tomorrow will be the same again. The existing state of affairs appears almighty before him and hence he sees no option but to ceaselessly moan about it, while rejecting any attempt to break with it. He will always find ways to prove that capitalism is here to stay, that the working class will never move, or that the revolutionary party cannot or should not be built, and so on and so forth. Insofar as he accepts change, he attributes it to external forces. Ultimately, he capitulates to the status quo, because he cannot imagine it changing. In reality, however, that development is inevitable. Nowhere in heaven or on earth, Hegel writes is there anything which does not contain within itself both being and nothing. [9] While Hegel furnishes us with no examples from heaven, the earth is saturated with them. Change is the fundamental mode of existence of all matter. All things that come into being carry the seeds of their destruction within themselves. This struggle between the old and the new, between being and nothing, lies at the core of development and capitalism is no exception. The forces that lead towards the downfall of the system come entirely from within its own womb, namely the modern proletariat. The foremost characteristic of the proletariat is that it is a class that does not own any property and which is forced to sell its labour-power to the capitalist in order to survive. Its interests are directly opposed to the essential pillars of capitalism: private ownership of the means of production and the nation state. Every step forward in the development of capitalism forges the workers into a formidable class in opposition to the bourgeoisie, thereby preparing the downfall of this same ruling class. But this is not a linear and gradual process. To the capitalists, revolutions are the work of cunning and charismatic leaders who suddenly appear on the scene, just as the strike is blamed on the agitator. In reality, every revolution is the result of long periods of rising social contradictions, where the interests of the ruling class clash with the interests of the proletariat. The transition of quantity into quality and vice versa or, in other words, leaps is a fundamental trait of all development / Image: public domain For years, however, the regime can appear to be unaffected. The workers will bow their heads and accept the dictates of the bosses. Sooner or later, however, a tipping point will be reached where one accidental event unleashes all the pent up anger: the dams burst and the masses flood the scene of politics. Apparent stability gives way to the most intense turmoil. Meanwhile, the revolutionary forces, which until yesterday were relegated to the periphery of the labour movement, suddenly find themselves in the centre stage. All of this happens in the most abrupt and violent manner, seemingly without warning. The reformists who yesterday wrote off the working class due to its so-called low level of consciousness and weak organisation are dumbfounded by events that they did not expect and cannot control. This merely reveals their superficial approach. It is said that there are no leaps in nature, writes Hegel, in a passage heavily underlined by Lenin, and ordinary imagination, when it has to conceive an arising or passing away, it thinks has conceived them (...) as a gradual emergence or disappearance.[10] In reality, the opposite is true. Development is never merely linear or gradual. It is composed on the one hand of periods with small quantitative and gradual changes, which in turn give way to sudden sharp qualitative leaps; and on the other hand qualitative shifts, which give way to quantitative bursts. Hegel continues: Water on being cooled does not little by little become hard, gradually reaching the consistency of ice after having passed through the consistency of paste, but is suddenly hard; when it already has quite attained freezing-point it may (if it stands still) be wholly liquid, and a slight shake brings it into the condition of hardness.[11] The transition of quantity into quality and vice versa or, in other words, leaps is a fundamental trait of all development. However, in order to understand the forces driving these shifts and which direction development will take, we need to go beyond the standpoint of common sense. What is needed is to take a closer look at the forces and undercurrents that are not immediately visible to the naked eye. Underneath the surface On the surface of things, as we go about our daily lives, we think of things as simple and fixed. We are certain that a man is a man, a dog is a dog, this is this, that is that, and so on and so forth. And yet, as soon as we focus our sights, this certainty disappears. For in our search for the archetypal dog, we must acknowledge that no such thing exists; all dogs are different. Even if we take our singular canine friend, Fido, we will notice that todays Fido is not entirely like yesterday's. He is very different from the pup we originally befriended years ago and, in a moment, he will differ from the Fido of the now. As soon as we try to hold them in our minds, all fixed and rigid concepts slip through our fingers and dissolve into an infinitely varied world. The postmodernists stop at this point and declare Difference to be the essence of the world. Everything is different from everything else they proclaim, and therefore our general concepts and categories are merely imaginary constructs. But they speak too soon. Because once we turn our gaze to that world of boundless difference, what will immediately stand out to us is that in spite of the constantly changing state of everything, with striking clarity at all levels, is the recurrence of similar patterns and laws, which rule with an iron hand. At a first glance, no two dogs are alike. Yet some essential attributes appear in all dogs, which makes them dogs. And even though every cell, molecule and atom of Fidos body is in a state of constant motion and transformation, there nevertheless remains something innate that transcends every fleeting and accidental instance of our canine friend. The identity of things does not exist apart from their difference, but through it. In the old Platonic philosophy the essence of things were ideal archetypes, which stood above or in opposition to the vibrant and multifarious world that we experience. For postmodernists, the essence of things are merely mankinds arbitrary mental constructs that we project onto external reality. On this question, Lenin writes: The more petty philosophers dispute whether essence or that which is immediately given should be taken as basis (Kant, Hume, all the Machists). Instead of or, Hegel puts and, explaining the concrete content of this and.[12] As modern science has proven again and again, the essence of things what makes them what they are is merely the inherent relations of things themselves. It is the internal dynamics of matter, which arises from and expresses itself in the infinite shapes and configurations that nature takes on around us. Charles Darwin, in his theory of biological evolution explained how all organisms develop through the natural selection of mutations that increase their ability to survive and reproduce. From so simple a beginning, he writes, endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been, and are being, evolved.[13] The law of evolution does not stand apart from living organisms, it is their mode of development. What sets mankind apart from other animals is precisely our ability to abstract these aspects of things, aspects which are not immediately visible to the naked eye, to contemplate them and thereby to attain a deeper understanding of the phenomenon as a whole. Our ideas and general conceptions, in other words, are approximations to the real laws and relations that govern the world. The deeper we are able to descend into things, the more of their relations we are able to uncover, the more precisely can our ideas reflect the essence of things themselves. As Lenin writes: Nature is both concrete and abstract, both phenomenon and essence, both moment and relation. Human concepts are subjective in their abstractness, separateness, but objective as a whole, in the process, in the sum-total, in the tendency, in the source.[14] Contradiction Ordinary thinking grabs hold of one, immediate, aspect of a phenomenon and counterposes it to the rest of it. For everyday tasks that method holds true. But if we look closer, we will see that nature is not one-sided and simple, but many-sided and contradictory. One-sided abstractions are dead, explains Hegel in a passage highlighted by Lenin, but Contradiction is the root of all movement and vitality, and it is only insofar as it contains a Contradiction that anything moves and has impulse and activity. [15] Something moves, Hegel tells us, not because it is here at one point of time and there at another, but because at one and the same point of time it is here and not here, and in this here both is and is not.[16] That is the course of all movement and development. Dialectics does not exclude the one-sided world view of everyday thinking; it absorbs it as one aspect of a higher truth. It embraces all aspects of a phenomenon its inner and outer relations and holds them in their contradiction as a complex whole. Once we acknowledge this, an entirely new world opens up for us. An interconnected world where the parts exist in a reciprocal relation with the whole; where being flows into nothing and vice versa; where quantity flows into quality and vice versa; where identity and difference interpenetrate one another; where the form and content are locked in a constant struggle; where simple principles are at the basis of the most complex processes, and so on and so forth. The condition for the knowledge of all processes of the world in their self-movement, in their spontaneous development, in their real life, is the knowledge of them as a unity of opposites, writes Lenin, adding: Development is the struggle of opposites.[17] Lawfulness The deeper we are able to penetrate into a phenomenon and the better we can trace its inner contradictory relations, the less haphazard or arbitrary it will appear in our eyes. Instead, what will gradually take shape is its necessary or in other words, its lawful path of development. Through the application of the dialectical method, Marx uncovered the laws of capitalism / Image: public domain Here we have an entirely different way of viewing the world than the dead categories of bourgeois philosophy. The dialectical view reflects not only the external properties of a phenomenon or its transient stages, but the totality of its development in its successive stages, from coming into being until its inevitable passing away. This method lies at the core of Marxism. Lenin wrote: In his Capital, Marx first analyses the simplest, most ordinary and fundamental, most common and everyday relation of bourgeois (commodity) society, a relation encountered billions of times, viz., the exchange of commodities. In this very simple phenomenon (in this cell of bourgeois society) analysis reveals all the contradictions (or the germs of all contradictions) of modern society. The subsequent exposition shows us the development (both growth and movement) of these contradictions and of this society in the [summation] of its individual parts. From its beginning to its end.(...) Such must also be the method of exposition (i.e., study) of dialectics in general (for with Marx the dialectics of bourgeois society is only a particular case of dialectics).[18] Through the application of the dialectical method, Marx uncovered the laws of capitalism. And on this basis he was able to accurately predict, in general outline, the entire development of capitalist society after his death; a development that necessarily leads towards the coming to power of the proletariat and the abolition of private property and the nation-state. It is on the basis of the perspective, developed initially by Marx and Engels based on the study of human history and which is being proven correct on a daily basis that our communist programme is formulated. Hence, Lenin wrote: It is impossible completely to understand Marxs Capital and especially its first chapter, without having thoroughly studied and understood the whole of Hegels Logic. Consequently, half a century later none of the Marxists understood Marx!![19] Reading Hegel right-side up Hegel brilliantly developed the most comprehensive exposition of dialectics as the science of movement and change. To this day, his ideas stand head and shoulders above the official philosophical doctrines of the capitalist class. But in Hegels hands, dialectics received a mystical, idealist form. Here they were not the inherent laws of development of nature, but the laws of development of what he called the Absolute Spirit or the Absolute Idea. The Idea becomes the creator of Nature, he writes to which Lenin merely replies with: !!Ha ha![20] For Hegel, the logical categories, such as Being, Nothing, Becoming, Quantity, Quality, Essence, Appearance, etc. have an independent existence as the component parts of this all encompassing Idea, which in turn has expressed itself through nature. Once it has unfolded itself into nature, it is in rational thought that the Absolute finds its highest form, peaking with Hegelian philosophy itself. Hegel insisted on the ultimate primacy of abstract thought over human activity. Insofar as he included activity as a key component of his logic, this was first and foremost as a logical category. Throughout his logic he insists that the reader must leave behind the external world and stay in the realm of pure thought. And yet, he was forced, again and again, to veer towards materialism, by his own logic and in order to prove his points. As Lenin noted : [I]n this most idealistic of Hegels works there is the least idealism and the most materialism. Contradictory, but a fact![21] Hegel belonged to the camp of philosophical idealism, which holds that mind is the primary component of reality and that the external world, in one way or another, is a derivation or reflection of mind. All religions fall into the camp of philosophical idealism and Hegel made no secret that he was formulating a religious system. Marxists are philosophical materialists. As opposed to the idealists, we believe that there exists only one world, namely the material world that we can sense and interact with. The human mind is a product of this material world and our ideas are merely reflections of it. I am in general trying to read Hegel materialistically. wrote Lenin, Hegel is materialism which has been stood on its head [] that is to say, I cast aside for the most part God, the Absolute, the Pure Idea, etc.[22] Lenin can do that because the concept of the Absolute Idea does not play any fundamental role in the essential aspects of Hegels ideas. In fact, as Friedrich Engels noted, Hegel says absolutely nothing[23] about the Absolute Idea. Marxists do not believe that dialectics has any existence separate from nature. The laws of dialectics are not the laws of ideas, but reflect the inherent lawfulness of nature itself at the most general level. By our interaction with the world, we humans are able to discover these laws at deeper and deeper levels. That is the basis of Marxist philosophy: dialectical materialism. Logic is the science not of external forms of thought, Lenin wrote, but of the laws of development of all material, natural and spiritual things, i.e., of the development of the entire concrete content of the world and of its cognition, i.e., the sum-total, the conclusion of the History of knowledge of the world.[24] It was one of Marx and Engels great achievements to rescue dialectics from the shackles of Hegels dead idealism and to turn it right side up. And while the dialectics of nature is demonstrated daily by the advances of science and culture, Hegels idealism that is, his Absolute Spirit merely remains as a lifeless exoskeleton, which had to be moulted for the real living organism underneath to continue developing. Theory and practice Where do ideas come from? These enchanting phantasms roaming about our inner worlds; their specific origins have long been forgotten, and hence, for thousands of years men have imbued them with mystical qualities. In idealism, ideas face mankind as powerful forces standing above nature and society. But ideas do not have an independent existence. Neither are they, as the subjectivists would imagine, impenetrable barriers between human beings and the external world. The mind is a regulatory function of our species, which through labour bridges the gap between us and the nature that surrounds us. Through thousands of years of trial and error we have developed ideas and general conceptions / Image: public domain The production of ideas, of conceptions, of consciousness, is at first directly interwoven with the material activity and the material intercourse of men, the language of real life, explains Marx.[25] Out of our constant interaction with the world around us, what Marx calls the metabolism between man and nature, arise conceptions that allow us to understand our surroundings and adapt them to our needs. By doing so we also change ourselves. Our ideas, such as the categories of logic, are not supernatural phenomena; they merely reflect nature itself and their origins lie in human social activity. For Hegel, Lenin notes, action, practice, is a logical syllogism, a figure of logic. And that is true! Not of course, in the sense that the figure of logic has its other being in the practice of man (=absolute idealism), but vice versa: mans practice, repeating itself a thousand million times, becomes consolidated in mans consciousness by figures of logic. Precisely (and only) on account of this thousand-million-fold repetition, these figures have the stability of a prejudice, an axiomatic character.[26] The dialectical character of thought that Hegel mapped out in his Logic, in other words, is merely a reflection of the nature that men interact with. Lenin paraphrasing Hegel writes: Nature, this immediate totality, unfolds itself in the Logical Idea. He goes on to say: Logic is the science of cognition. It is the theory of knowledge. Knowledge is the reflection of nature by man. But this is not simple, not an immediate, not a complete reflection, but the process of a series of abstractions, the formation and development of concepts, laws, etc., and these concepts, laws, etc., (thought, science = the logical Idea) embrace conditionally, approximately, the universal, law-governed character of eternally moving and developing nature.[27] Through thousands of years of trial and error we have developed ideas and general conceptions diving ever deeper into different aspects of nature, ideas which have become the concentrated essence of human experience. Dialectics is the crowning achievement of this development so far. But knowledge is not a one-way stream, imprinting the results of our activities in our brains; there is a reverse simultaneous process in motion as well. Having deduced different aspects of the law-governed world, abstract thought allows us to contemplate and deepen our ideas, in order to improve our practice further down the line. It is ultimately in practice that our ideas face up against the objective world that we seek to change. And it is through this process that they gain objectivity: The unity of the theoretical idea (of knowledge) and of practicethis NBand this unity precisely in the theory of knowledge, for the resulting sum is the [objective idea].[28] For the philistine, theory represents a curiosity at best. But it is the dialectical interplay of theory and practice, one leading into the other, that characterises the endless process of the deepening of mans knowledge of the thing, of phenomena, processes, etc., from appearance to essence and from less profound to more profound essence.[29] This is a process that at the same time enhances and broadens mans mastery over nature. The deeper knowledge we have of the laws that govern our world, the more efficiently we can reach our aims and aspirations. And here we see the importance of theory for Communists. As Trotsky explained: Infinitely more exacting, rigorous and well-balanced is he who views theory as a guide to action. A drawing room sceptic may scoff at medicine with impunity, but a surgeon cannot live in an atmosphere of scientific uncertainty. The greater is the revolutionists need for theory as a guide to action, all the more intransigent is he in guarding it. Vladimir Ulyanov mistrusted dilettantism and detested quacks. What he valued above all else in Marxism was the severe discipline and authority of its method.[30] The victory of foresight over astonishment Trotsky once defined Marxist theory as the advantage of foresight over astonishment. And it was precisely this foresight and deep understanding that allowed Lenin and the Bolsheviks to prevail in the face of extreme adversity from all sides. At the beginning of the First World War, the Bolsheviks could be described in terms of power, influence and resources as one of the weakest political trends in Europe. Under the impact of the wave of patriotism, which was whipped up by tsarist authorities and the consequent mood of national unity, the party lost the majority of its support amongst the Russian working class. The revolutionary wave that was brewing in Russia before the war was immediately cut across and tsarism was temporarily strengthened. The revolutionary elements were once again relegated to the periphery. To make matters worse, many of the best workers were sent to the front as punishment for their activities in the factories and elsewhere. The main Bolshevik leaders, for the most part, were in exile in Europe where the lines of communication had been cut or severely disrupted by the war. Reaction was raising its head and gaining ground everywhere in Europe and the working class was on the retreat. Armed with guns, tanks and bombs, the bourgeois of Europe were massacring their way through the continent and anyone who stood in their way could easily be pushed aside or, if need be, sent to the front and eliminated. Meanwhile, the European Social-Democratic leaders, who had swung behind their own ruling classes, appeared to sit comfortably in the laps of their bourgeois masters. For the Bolsheviks, with weak finances, little to no apparatus, and party organisations in total disarray due to the war, the idea of taking power might have appeared to be further away than ever. And yet, only a little more than three years after the start of the war, all of this had turned to its opposite and the Bolshevik Party was leading the workers and peasants of Russia to power in the October Revolution of 1917. A greater demonstration of dialectics could not be imagined! Here we see the power of ideas in practice. The success of the Bolsheviks can be reduced to the success of the Marxist method, to the method of dialectical materialism. Lenin and the Bolsheviks insisted on a working-class position and refused to make the slightest concession to the national chauvinist shifts that the war produced across Europe. And while the war initially strengthened the ruling class, it later became the biggest driving force of revolution by sharply bringing out the class contradictions in society. Thus, the revolutionary message of the Bolsheviks, which received no popular echo whatsoever in the early days of the war, became the rallying cry of the Russian masses, and spread terror amongst the ruling classes of the world. Opportunism is the abandonment of long-term perspectives in favour of immediate short-term objectives. Dialectics is the science of going beyond the immediate and understanding complex and drawn-out processes in their totality. It was dedication to theory and a mastery of dialectics that gave Lenin an towering advantage over his enemies. In politics, an infatuation for the immediate appearance of things leads to flippant sloganeering and an infatuation for the narrowest forms of practical activity. Lenin and the Bolsheviks, however, transcended appearances and addressed the essence of things, regardless of the immediate impact it had on the party, because they knew that in the end only the truth would bring them closer to the victory of the working class. This was the key to their success. Leon Trotsky summed up the core of the matter: It is historical experience that the greatest revolution in all history was not led by the party which started out with bombs but by the party which started out with dialectic materialism.[31] References [1] V I Lenin, Conspectus of Hegels Book The Science of Logic, Lenin Collected Works, Vol. 38, Progress Publishers, 1961, pg 176 [2] L Trotsky, How Lenin Studied Marx, Fourth International, Vol.11, No.4, July-August 1950, pg 126 [3] V I Lenin, What is to be done?, Wellred Books, 2018, pg 26 [4] V I Lenin, One Step Forward, Two Steps Back, Lenin Collected Works, Vol. 7, Progress Publishers, 1961, pg 412 [5] V I Lenin, Conspectus of Hegels Book The Science of Logic, Lenin Collected Works, Vol. 38, Progress Publishers, 1961, pg 171, emphasis in original throughout [6] G W F Hegel, The Science of Logic, Cambridge University Press, 2010, pg 60 [7] V I Lenin, Conspectus of Hegels Book The Science of Logic, Lenin Collected Works, Vol. 38, Progress Publishers, 1961, pg 110 [8] ibid. pg 141 [9] G W F Hegel, The Science of Logic, Cambridge University Press, 2010, pg 61 [10] V I Lenin, Conspectus of Hegels Book The Science of Logic, Lenin Collected Works, Vol. 38, Progress Publishers, 1961, pg 123 [11] ibid. pg 124 [12] ibid. pg 134 [13] C Darwin, The Origin of Species, P F Collier and Son, 1909, pg 529 [14] V I Lenin, Conspectus of Hegels Book The Science of Logic, Lenin Collected Works, Vol. 38, Progress Publishers, 1961, pg 208 [15] ibid. pg 139 [16] G W F Hegel, The Science of Logic, Cambridge University Press, 2010, pg 382 [17] V I Lenin, On the Question of Dialectics, Lenin Collected Works, Vol. 38, Progress Publishers, 1961, pg 360 [18] ibid. pg 360-361 [19] V I Lenin, Conspectus of Hegels Book The Science of Logic, Lenin Collected Works, Vol. 38, Progress Publishers, 1961, pg 180 [20] ibid. pg 174 [21] ibid. pg 234 [22] ibid. pg 104 [23] F Engels, Ludwig Feuerbach and the End of Classical German Philosophy, Karl Marx Frederick Engels Collected Works, Vol. 26, Progress Publishers, 1990, pg 360 [24] V I Lenin, Conspectus of Hegels Book The Science of Logic, Lenin Collected Works, Vol. 38, Progress Publishers, 1961, pg 92-93 [25] K Marx, The German Ideology, International Publishers, 1947, pg 13-14 [26] V I Lenin, Conspectus of Hegels Book The Science of Logic, Lenin Collected Works, Vol. 38, Progress Publishers, 1961, pg 217 [27] ibid. pg 182 [28] ibid. pg 219 [29] ibid. pg 222 [30] L Trotsky, How Lenin Studied Marx, Fourth International, Vol.11, No.4, July-August 1950, pg 127 [31] L Trotsky, In Defence of Marxism, Wellred Books, 2019, pg 106 A shooting broke out on the evening of Thursday, November 21, at the residence of Akol Koor, South Sudans recently dismissed intelligence chief, according to a military source. Media reports suggest the incident occurred during an attempted arrest. The gunfire began near Jubas airport and lasted for about an hour, a journalist reported. Military spokesperson Nul Ruai Kong confirmed to UN peacekeeping radio that the shooting involved security forces stationed at Koors residence for additional protection. It was a misunderstanding among our forces, which escalated into gunfire, said Kong, adding that two soldiers were injured. Authorities quickly intervened to de-escalate the situation and ordered the forces to cease fire. Akol Koor, who had led the National Security Service (NSS) since South Sudans independence in 2011, was dismissed by President Salva Kiir in October and reassigned as governor of Warrap state. The government has not explained the transfer, which came weeks after South Sudan announced a two-year postponement of its first elections, originally scheduled for December. South Sudan has been mired in political instability and ethnic conflict since its independence. A civil war between President Kiir and his rival Riek Machar erupted in 2013, claiming 400,000 lives and displacing millions. Hundreds of participants have gathered in Nigers capital Niamey for the inauguration of a historic Conference in Solidarity with the Peoples of the Sahel that takes place against the backdrop of what some describe as a decisive uprising against French imperialism in the Sahel region. The conference, organized by Pan Africanism Today and the West African Peoples Organization (WAPO) and supported by popular organizations in neighboring Benin and Ghana, aims to express support and solidarity with the Alliance of Sahel States (ASS), made up of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, which have been cut off from much of the international community following recent series of military coups. Many people outside think we are living under a military dictatorship, said Nigerien leader Aboubakar Alassane of WAPO. But the delegates who have come to attend the conference are seeing that we are free and exerting independence like never before, he added. Addressing the delegates at the Mahatma Gandhi International Conference Centre in Niamey, Achy Ekissi, the secretary general of the Revolutionary Communist Party of Ivory Coast (PCRCI) described the process, which has been initiated by AES, as Africas second struggle for independence. The second will be true independence, Ekissi said and stated that we were deceived when we were told we achieved independence in the 1960s from French colonization. Other speakers have also highlighted how France has used its colonial pact to exert control over the natural resources of its African colonies even after their formal independence, leaving them with no capacity to develop infrastructure, education and healthcare. 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: Professor Marco Petasecca, Dr Jessie Posar, Professor Attila Mozer. Credit: University of Wollongong An international research team, led by the University of Wollongong (UOW), has found wearable organic X-ray sensors could offer safer radiotherapy protocols for cancer patients. More than 400 people are diagnosed with cancer every day in Australia and 50% of these people will go on to be treated with radiotherapy. The side-effects of cancer treatment, including radiation, can be debilitating. Dr. Jessie Posar from UOW's School of Physics is leading the research team exploring the behavior of organic X-ray sensors. Their paper "Flexible Organic X-Ray Sensors: Solving the Key Constraints of PET Substrates," published today (November 22) in Advanced Functional Materials, shows promising results. "Radiotherapy aims to use an external beam of ionizing radiation to kill or damage cancer cells without damaging surrounding healthy cells or organs. This requires precise delivery of the treatment protocols to optimize outcomes and minimize side effects," Dr. Posar said. "For example, acute skin toxicity is a common side effect and it's experienced by 70% to 100% of patients with breast cancer. So, it's clear that the safe use of radiation in medicine is paramount to better health outcomes for Australians." The researchers examined advancements in wearable organic X-ray sensors and found they could potentially transform future treatment options for cancer patients. "Unlike traditional silicon-based detectors, organic semiconductors are inexpensive, lightweight, printable, stretchable and offer the first biocompatible response to ionizing radiation due to their carbon-based composition," Dr. Posar said. "These sensors can directly monitor radiation exposure of the body, allowing real-time adjustments during cancer treatments, minimizing damage to healthy tissues. However, the behavior of organic X-ray sensors is still unknown and that's what our team wanted to explore." The researchers delved into the electronic performance and radiation stability of organic X-ray sensors under clinical radiation beams. "Under conventional radiotherapy conditions we have demonstrated that organic sensors can detect incident X-rays with no dependence on the energy or dose-rate of the incoming beam, while transmitting 99.8% of the beam," Dr. Posar said. "This means it can be worn on a patient to monitor X-ray exposure without impacting treatment protocol to improve safety and clinical outcomes." The researchers worked with the Australia's Nuclear Science and Technology Organization's (ANSTO) Australian Synchrotron, one of only two places in the world developing a radiation therapy treatment modality. Termed Microbeam Radiation Therapy, the modality aims to treat otherwise untreatable tumors including brain cancer. Dr. Posar said while it has shown promising treatment outcomes, there is no detector capable of providing quality assurance, limiting treatment efficacy and patient safety. "Our study demonstrated that flexible organic sensors can detect microbeam X-rays with a precision of 2% and that they exhibit similar radiation tolerance to silicon-based detectors ensuring reliable and long-term use under these dangerous radiation fields," Dr. Posar said. "There is still a lot of unknown physics to explore. But our work shows that organic semiconductors exhibit the ideal properties for wearable and personalized X-ray sensing to improve the accuracy and safety in oncology towards tailored radiation delivery that maximizes therapeutic effectiveness and reduces harm to healthy tissues. "This innovation could revolutionize personalized radiation therapy, offering a new level of safety and effectiveness in patient care." The next stage of research will involve data science approaches to accelerate the discovery and translation to real work applications. Dr. Posar said continued international collaboration will be instrumental in current and future developments in this space. Her colleague and mentor, Professor Marco Petasecca from UOW's School of Physics, reiterated the importance of collaboration. "Our team has a long track record of collaboration, which reaches out nationally and internationally with the best groups in the world in the field of developing organic sensors," Professor Petasecca said. "We regularly collaborate with Professor Paul Sellin at the University of Surrey; Professor Beaturice Fraboni at the University of Bologna; Dr. Bronson Philippa at James Cook University; Associate Professor Matthew Griffith at the University of South Australia; the Center for Organic Electronics and the Australian National Fabrication Facility Hub at the University of Newcastle." Professor Attila Mozer from the Intelligent Polymer Research Institute at UOW said being involved in this research has been an un-learning journey to discover something new. "The performance of organic diodes exposed to natural sunlight has increased by almost 600% over the last two decades, because of the work of tens of thousands of scientists and hundreds of millions of dollars in funding across the globe over that time," Professor Mozer said. "When we started using essentially the same materials for radiation detection, we needed to un-learn most of the well-established paradigms to make the progress we have presented today. It's been a really fascinating aspect of this research." UOW Ph.D. student Aishah Bashiri, with the thesis topic on novel radiation detectors for dosimetry in advanced radiotherapy techniques, is supervised by Dr. Posar, Professor Petasecca and Professor Mozer. She is the paper's first author. More information: Aishah Bashiri et al, Flexible Organic XRay Sensors: Solving the Key Constraints of PET Substrates, Advanced Functional Materials (2024). DOI: 10.1002/adfm.202415723 Journal information: Advanced Functional Materials 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: Annual trends in severe maternal morbidity (SMM) and route-specific birth complications in Illinois from 2016 through the first 6 months of 2023. N=988,480 births at 127 Illinois hospitals, January 2016June 2023. All annual comparisons P<.001. Births with SMM are identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Preventiondefined 21 indicators of SMM and the associated International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes. Cesarean birth complications include ICD-10 codes associated with operative complications in addition to infection, thrombosis, or hemorrhage-related diagnoses associated with the birth hospitalization. Vaginal birth complications include infection, thrombosis, and hemorrhage-related diagnoses associated with the birth hospitalization. Credit: O&G Open (2024). DOI: 10.1097/og9.0000000000000046 A new study from Northwestern Medicine reveals a troubling rise in severe maternal health issues and birth complications in Illinois from 2016 to 2023, closely linked to increases in chronic health conditions affecting pregnancy, such as high blood pressure, gestational diabetes, mental health disorders and especially obesity, which saw the largest increase in annual rates. The study highlights significant racial and socioeconomic disparities, finding that non-Hispanic Black mothers faced more than double the rate of severe complications compared to non-Hispanic white mothers, and that living in high-poverty neighborhoods elevated maternal health risks across all racial groups. "Despite significant recent statewide quality-improvement efforts, these birth outcomes are worsening for all ages, reflecting the worsening pre-pregnancy health of the reproductive-age population in Illinois," said corresponding author Dr. Mugdha Mokashi, a resident physician in obstetrics and gynecology at the McGaw Medical Center at Northwestern. The findings reflect national trends demonstrating the increasing prevalence of conditions such as obesity, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and gestational diabetes among pregnant people of all ages, she added. The study provides the most updated data on maternal morbidity and delivery complications within the state of Illinois. The findings were published Nov. 21 in the journal O & G Open. "Our findings underscore the role of social determinants of healthsuch as race and incomein driving disparities in maternal health, suggesting that efforts to reduce maternal morbidity need to address both racial inequalities and economic hardship," said study co-author Dr. Lynn Yee, associate professor of obstetrics and pulmonology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and a Northwestern Medicine maternal fetal medicine physician. Breaking down of the findings In the study cohort of 988,480 births at 127 Illinois hospitals between January 2016 to June 2023, the overall rate of severe maternal morbidity rose from 1.4% in 2016 to 2% in 2023. Vaginal birth complications increased 22.4%, and cesarean birth complications increased 48.9%. Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and anemiaboth of which increased over the study periodwere significant risk factors for severe maternal morbidity and birth complications. The largest increase by far was in annual rates of obesity from 2016 to the first six months of 2023 (7.8% to 22.3%). Additionally, there were increases in gestational diabetes (4.2% to 5.5%), depression (2.5% to 6.6%), anxiety (3.1% to 10.4%) and other chronic comorbidities (4.7% to 7.4%). Non-Hispanic Black patients had more than double the severe maternal morbidity rate (2.6%) compared to non-Hispanic white patients (1.1%). Health counseling before pregnancy is important Maternal health affects almost everyone, and those thinking about pregnancy should be sure to check in with their health care provider to screen for any chronic conditions they may have before getting pregnant, the study authors said. "Pre-conception counseling is such an important way to make sure that all of your health conditions are optimized prior to pregnancy," Mokashi said. "There are many important policy and public health initiatives in Illinois that people may be interested in learning more about." 'It's not just because the people getting pregnant are older' While not the original aim of the study, the scientists did additional analysis that found the increased prevalence of maternal health issues and birth complications is not simply because the people getting pregnant are older. The findings reflected an increase in hospital coding for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, gestational diabetes, anemia, depression, serious mental illness and other chronic conditions, especially obesity, even among those giving birth who are younger than 30. "In brief, even young pregnant patients have more medical conditions and complications in pregnancy," Mokashi said. What can be done? Policies for poverty alleviationsuch as the proposed refundable child tax credit in Illinois, House Bill 4917, if passedhave demonstrated improvement in maternal health, the study authors said. Perinatal quality initiatives in California have reduced postpartum hemorrhage-related morbidity. Similarly, the Illinois Perinatal Quality Collaborative is working to reduce cesarean births and address racial disparities through Promoting Vaginal Birth and Birth Equity initiatives. Increasing access to doula support and patient navigator programs could also be useful supports, Mokashi said. In 2024, the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services adjusted reimbursement for doula services. At Northwestern, research on patient-navigator programs have shown promise in reducing care disparities for low-income minoritized patients postpartum. And at the federal level, passage of the 13 bills comprising the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act re-introduced in 2023 would provide critical funding support to increase data collection and quality initiatives for prevention of maternal morbidity. More information: Mugdha Mokashi et al, Trends in Severe Maternal Morbidity, Obstetric Comorbidities, and Birth Complications in Illinois, O&G Open (2024). DOI: 10.1097/og9.0000000000000046 Nearly half of L.A.'s record homelessness budget went unspent: city controller Xinhua) 08:52, November 22, 2024 NEW YORK, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Nearly half of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass' record 1.3 billion U.S. dollars homelessness budget for fiscal 2023-24 went unspent, The Los Angeles Times reported on Thursday. Kenneth Mejia, the city controller of Los Angeles, the most populous city in the western U.S. state of California, found that only 599 million dollars had actually been spent, and an additional 195 million dollars was encumbered, leaving at least 513 million dollars unspent, said the report. Mejia blamed "a sluggish, inefficient approach" for the underspending, listing lack of staff and resources, programs spread over multiple city departments and council offices, obsolete technology and absence of real-time data as contributing factors. According to Mejia, the city spent or encumbered only about 30 percent of its 262 million dollars in grants from the state Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention Program and 58 percent of its 267 million dollars budget for Bass' Inside Safe encampment reduction program. The city also spent or encumbered less than half of the 150 million dollars it received from Measure ULA, the so-called "mansion tax" on real estate sales of 5.15 million dollars or more, and also failed to spend 30 million dollars from other federal, state and local grants and 16 million dollars for substance use disorder treatment beds, according to the report. Meanwhile, the City Administrative Office questioned some of Mejia's findings. It said 100 million dollars of the "unspent" Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention funds included multiyear grants not intended to be spent in one budget year. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) The abduction of Ugandan opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye in Nairobi has sparked international outrage and raised concerns about growing transnational repression in East Africa. Dr. Besigye, a vocal critic of President Yoweri Museveni, was last seen at a Nairobi apartment complex on November 16, 2024. His location remained unknown until November 20, when family members confirmed he was being held at a military jail in Kampala, Uganda. Amnesty Internationals Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, Tigere Chagutah, condemned the abduction, calling it part of a disturbing trend of transnational repression. Chagutah pointed to similar cases of foreign dissidents being abducted on Kenyan soil, emphasizing that the abduction bypassed formal extradition processes. It sends a chilling message to those opposing the Ugandan government, Chagutah said. Dr. Besigyes lawyers have accused both Kenyan and Ugandan authorities of collusion, but the Kenyan government denies any involvement. Amnesty International has criticized both governments for undermining the rule of law and violating human rights. On November 20, Dr. Besigye appeared before the Makindye General Court Martial in Kampala, alongside fellow FDC member Haji Obeid Lutale. Both were charged with security-related offenses, including the unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition. Amnesty International has urged the Ugandan government to end its crackdown on political dissent and ensure the safety of opposition leaders. These abductions and arbitrary detentions are clear violations of international human rights laws and cannot be justified, Chagutah concluded. Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has accused security agents of harassment and surveillance, claiming unmarked cars have been trailing his movements. Gachagua, who was impeached in October, took to Twitter (X) to express his fears for his safety and to urge Kenyans to hold the government accountable should anything happen to him. In his posts, Gachagua alleged that individuals, suspected to be police officers acting under President William Rutos administration, have been monitoring his activities. Security agents in unmarked cars have been following me wherever I go. They are parking at the entrance of my Nairobi residence, taking note of all my visitors, and they trail me whenever I leave the house, even all the way to my rural home in Nyeri, Gachagua stated. He further revealed details of a vehicle he claimed followed him on Sunday. Last Sunday, the below saloon car that was parked at the entrance to my residence trailed me to PCEA Kerarapon Church, followed me to where I went for a late lunch and back to the house! Upon checking the NTSA portal, I noticed that the number plates are registered to a lorry, Gachagua disclosed. The former Deputy President described the surveillance as overtly threatening, adding that the persistent stalking has left him fearful for his life and that of his family. This kind of intimidation was last seen during the era of the dreaded Special Branch under Mois 24 years of misrule. In this era of extrajudicial killings, forced abductions and disappearances by state agents, I have thought it important to share with Kenyans the harassment and intimidation I am going through, and inform them to hold the state responsible if I am harmed by state agents, Gachagua declared. He concluded his remarks with a plea for peace, urging the government to stop targeting him. You hounded me out of office. Now, let me enjoy my peace as a private citizen, he stated. Gachaguas statement highlights growing concerns over alleged state-led harassment in Kenya. Kenyas lawmakers have rejected a proposed amendment to the Energy Act, 2019, which aimed to increase levies on electricity and petroleum. The amendment, included in the Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill, sought to double the levies collected by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) from 0.5% to 1%. National Assembly Energy Committee Chair Vincent Musau led the opposition, warning that the proposed levy hike would exacerbate already high energy costs. I recommend deleting the amendment to Section 20(1), which proposed increasing EPRAs levies on electricity and petroleum. Doubling these charges would place an additional burden on consumers at a time when we are striving to lower energy costs, Musau asserted. Legislators strongly supported the decision on the House floor, citing the already heavy tax burden on Kenyans. Kenyans are struggling with high electricity bills. Raising EPRAs levy from 0.5% to 1% is unacceptable, and I fully support removing this amendment. We should focus on lowering energy costs, said Marakwet West MP Kangongo Bowen. Mathare MP Anthony Oluoch warned of the broader economic impact, stating that high electricity costs could deter investment and drive investors to neighboring countries with cheaper energy. Funyula MP Wilberforce Oundo also praised the rejection of the amendment, highlighting Kenyas high electricity costs. Kenya has some of the highest electricity costs in the world. I fully support the committees stance on rejecting this amendment, Oundo stated. The MPs also rejected a proposal to exempt all levies collected from the Consolidated Fund, arguing that it would undermine parliamentary oversight of EPRAs finances. In contrast, lawmakers approved an amendment granting EPRA the authority to regulate crude oil, aligning with Kenyas growing petroleum exploration efforts, especially in Turkana County. We are preparing for the regulation of crude oil, not necessarily for domestic use but to manage transit and pipeline operations for potential customers, Musau explained. Additionally, MPs passed amendments imposing stricter penalties for energy infrastructure theft, including the forfeiture of vehicles used to transport stolen equipment. We must send a strong message to those who steal energy infrastructure, said Hon. Mary Emaase. This is a serious offense that plunges entire communities into darkness. Thieves must face severe consequences. The Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill, as passed, aims to balance regulatory reforms with consumer protection, ensuring affordable energy while tackling infrastructure theft. Kenyas Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Principal Secretary, Dr. Korir SingOei, has addressed potential concerns regarding the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSSM) to Haiti, especially if US President-Elect Donald Trump decides to withdraw. SingOei reassured that the MSSM aligns with Trumps stance on immigration, dispelling fears of the missions discontinuation. He explained that stabilizing countries from which immigrants originate is key to addressing migration issues. The MSS aims to create the conditions necessary for the flourishing of Haitian society, which in turn addresses the issue of illegal immigration at its source. We dont see a misalignment with Trumps immigration strategy, SingOei stated. The PS clarified that the MSSMs presence in Haiti is based on a United Nations (UN) Security Council resolution, which received the full endorsement of the UN council. SingOei emphasized that the US, as a UN Security Council member, cannot unilaterally halt the missions progress due to a change in leadership. One cannot say that merely because theres going to be a change of guard in the US that the MSS will not be supported, SingOei remarked. SingOei also revealed that discussions are underway for a new resolution to transition the MSSM from its current Trust Fund financing to a direct UN Peacekeeping force. This shift would allow the mission to draw resources from regular contributions from all UN member countries. The Trust Fund mechanism was intended as a temporary measure to establish security, with plans for a full transition to a UN mission, SingOei added. The PS addressed the governments Ksh.2.1 billion expenditure on the Haiti mission, explaining that it is standard for countries to pay upfront in peacekeeping operations, similar to Kenyas previous involvement in the DRC. He emphasized that the mission is financed through a Trust Fund and that countries contributions are refunded. This is the normal practice. The resources will certainly be reimbursed to Kenya. The financing mechanism for it is through a trust fund which enables countries to make contributions. It is just that the resources are never available at the get go and yet the deployment has to take place, SingOei explained. SIU chooses new Black Resource Center coordinator by Christi Mathis CARBONDALE, Ill. Dina Timmons, a double alumna of Southern Illinois University Carbondale, is the new coordinator for the Black Resource Center, a unit of the Student Multicultural Resource Center (SMRC). Im excited to be a resource and work with students through the SMRC, Timmons said. I believe that to retain and recruit students you have to have representation. That is what this position calls for, and Im here for all of it. As program coordinator for the Black Resource Center, I intend to focus on a number of things. Timmons assumed her new role Oct. 16. She said she plans to: Bridge gaps between Black and brown students and Black staff and faculty as well as the Southern Illinois community. Foster a sense of belonging among the students she works with. Build pipelines for students to connect to Black alumni. Actively advocate for students. Dina has worked in multiple departments across campus, helping students connect to valuable resources that lead to Saluki success, said Renada Greer, executive director of the SMRC and TRiO Student Support Services. We look forward to her bringing that experience to the SMRC. She also possesses a wide network of faculty, staff, alumni and community members, which she plans to utilize to connect our students to opportunities in college and beyond. Longstanding SIU connection A native of Chicagos west suburbs, Timmons has lived in Southern Illinois since 1993 and earned her bachelors degree in liberal arts and her masters in public health at SIU. While still a student, she served as a mentor for the Career Preparation Program and worked at the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute. In addition, she held graduate assistantships with Paul Simon Institute and TRiO. After graduating, she was a field representative for Sen. Roland Burris downstate office before returning to SIU as a program coordinator for the Master of Public Administration program in the College of Business and Analytics. In 2021, she became the program coordinator for the colleges graduate programs office. The mother of sons Jace and Jelani, Timmons has also been active on campus and in the community. A former Civil Service Council member, she also serves as a trustee for the Village of Colp. Bushra Bibi, the wife of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Founder, Imran Khan in a video message said on Thursday that in the political environment of Pakistan, Khan was like the lotus flower, emerging from mud. Bushra Bibi said that Khan is suffering because he is fighting for the sake of real freedom and justice of the nation. "In the whole political system of Pakistan, Khan is like the lotus flower emerging from mud. We must save Khan because the difference between these people and Khan is that they want to come to power, and Khan only comes to please Allah. He is fighting for real freedom and justice only. Many people say that we in our meetings raise slogans of Al-Jahad. We never ask our workers to raise slogans of Jihad. It comes from their hearts and do it themselves. Khan is being punished for his resolve for country''s freedom and justice," she said. https://x.com/PTIofficial/status/1859621584945791442 Bushra Bibi called on party supporters from all walks of life to join the protest on November 24. "Today I have come to give a message for Khan. He has appealed from all Pakistan that on November 24, everyone should become a part of the protest. This war is not just for Khan, but it is the real war of freedom in your country. Khan has invited people from all walks of life to join this protest. He called on students, teachers, farmers, human rights activists and even rickshaw drivers to join the protest. He said that if children join the protest, then God willing we will succeed. Khan has told Judges and appealed to Lawyers that I am in jail today for violating the law, so it is your duty to become a part of the protest. From every place and organization lawyers should lead in their uniform and reach Islamabad on November 24. Khan has sent us many messages but we will bring them with time in front of you," she said. Bushra Bibi said that the only condition when Khan would change the date of the protest is when he comes out of the jail and addresses the nation himself and gives the plan of action to the people. "Many people are saying that the date of November 24 should be changed. And we will make fun of Khan. Only one condition can change the date, that Khan comes out and himself tells the line of action to people. Apart from that, the date will not change at any cost. Therefore, if you receive any wrong message, you should not believe it. Because Khan has sent a special message that the date will not be cancelled until he himself doesn''t talk to the people of this nation himself," she said. Bibi called on to all people to participate in the protest and questioned the officials, appealing in an emotional tone that the protesters are their family. She appealed to them to not hurt them, or oppress them. She also said that PTI has never taken the law in their hands, nor would they ever do so. "It is your duty for all of us and our community as we as a society are witnesses of such things about how PTI has been tortured. I want to question the officials and the police personnel that these are your brothers and sisters that have come out to protests. Why do you oppress them? It is their legal right. How do you take laws in your own hands? You oppress, you shell, vandalise things and arrest people unlawfully. You don''t care about the laws. But, on top of that, we are blamed and jailed. Why? We have never taken laws in our hands, and will never do so," she said. Bibi said that lawyers and judges must protest for Imran Khan because he is jailed for fighting for the country''s sake. "Today, Khan is jailed for the country to get justice. So, is it not the duty of the lawyers and judges to become a part of the protests? Or does Pakistan belong just to Khan? Does Khan have to make all the sacrifices? Do you all not belong to this country? And do you not trade here? Is this not your home, or don''t you have children here? Have you ever thought that Khan is 72-years-old? Does he not feel like staying at home with all the comforts and enjoy his life? Today he stays in a small jail, where he has been staying since over 1.5 years. He is staying there so that this place gets justice. Is it not the duty of the judges and lawyers, who claim to uphold the law, to protest for a person who wants justice? They sit quietly. We also got to know that there''s a petition being filed to stop Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. No law states that one can be stopped from protesting. We are asking you to stop this injustice. These protesters are your brothers, sisters and children... How long will you do such things to your country, and how many people shall be punished?" she said. Bushra Bibi also said that Khan will not take revenge, as he feels it is wrong for a person in power to do so. She also appealed the party supporters and workers to not take the law in their hands. "We are requesting you to not take the law in your hands. This is wrong news that Khan will take revenge. He says that to take revenge after coming to power means to attract the wrath of God. Khan said that all the time that I spent the jail, I have felt a connection with Allah. I have learnt to open the door of forgiveness after coming to power, not that of oppression. Whoever is saying that Khan will take revenge, is lying. Khan has always said that he never thought of taking revenge. Because not only does God like taking revenge, nor should a man take revenge after coming to power," she said. Earlier in the day, Anti-terrorism court (ATC) handed over Imran Khan to police on a five-day physical remand in a New Town police station case, ARY News reported. According to ARY News, the case includes charges of arson, resistance against law enforcement, damage to property, and other related offences. Anti-terrorism clauses have also been added to the case against Imran Khan. (ANI) The minister stated this during his address at the UK India Business Council's 'UK-India Technology Futures Conference' held in New Delhi on Thursday. Highlighting India's capabilities, Goyal stated, "India is the best place in the world to provide sustainable infrastructure to the digital world. In addition to a robust legal system, India is going to bring out a new legal framework to ensure data privacy that will encourage free flow of data among trusted partners." He emphasized the intersection of sustainability and the digital world, pointing out that data processing systems will consume a significant portion of energy in the future. "Major portion of energy will be consumed by systems that will churn out data, and that will have an impact on sustainability issues," Goyal said. The minister also noted India's extensive interconnected energy grid, which will reach a thousand gigawatts by 2030, combining traditional and renewable energy sources. "For data centres, this huge amount of clean energy provides an unheard-of reliability and sustainability," he added. Goyal also stressed the potential for collaboration between India and the UK, particularly leveraging the UK's innovation-driven universities and India's large pool of STEM graduates. He proposed five areas for partnership which includes Developing AI learning platforms and integrating virtual reality into education, Collaborating on telemedicine to reduce healthcare costs in the UK and provide quality healthcare in remote parts of India, Creating climate modeling tools to predict and manage natural disasters, Advancing precision farming and residue-free agriculture to improve productivity and Innovating in industries like organic chemicals, engineering goods, and food products to capitalize on technological advancements. Goyal concluded by emphasizing that the growing demand in India's emerging market makes it a promising destination for partnerships in cutting-edge fields. (ANI) SMPL New Delhi [India], November 22: Symbiosis Institute of International Business (SIIB), Pune, is set to welcome its next cohort of MBA students for the academic year 2024-25. The institution, renowned for producing globally competent leaders, has announced the last date of registration for admissions through the Symbiosis National Aptitude Test (SNAP) 2024. Interested candidates must complete their SNAP registration by November 22, 2024. The institute offers three specialized MBA programmes: International Business (IB), Agri-Business (AB), and Sustainability Management (SM). Known for its dynamic curriculum and strong industry interface, SIIB's programmes are designed to equip students with the essential skills and global perspective necessary in today's complex business environment. Candidates can register for SNAP 2024 at the official website, with the entrance exam scheduled on December 8, 15, and 21, 2024, across 80 cities in India. Dr. Alka Maurya, Director of SIIB Pune, shared her enthusiasm for the incoming class: "We are thrilled to welcome our new batch of students and carry forward the SIIB legacy of excellence. Our diverse curriculum integrates real-world applications and focuses on vital areas such as globalization, sustainability, and innovation. This approach not only builds professional skills but also instills a global mindset, preparing students to succeed in today's competitive landscape. " Placement Success and Career Opportunities SIIB continues to achieve impressive placement outcomes, with the highest package reaching 24.65 LPA for the 2022-24 batch. The institute's placement cell maintains strong relationships with industry leaders, drawing top recruiters such as Infosys, Accenture, IBM, Tata, Axis Bank, Wipro, Deloitte, Cargill, and Asian Paints. With a focus on long-term career growth, SIIB's graduates are well-prepared for roles in both established and emerging industries. Ranked as the 22nd Best B-School in India by The Week (2024) and holding the 41st position in Business Today's 2023 rankings, SIIB has consistently demonstrated its leadership in business education. Global Partnerships for a Global Perspective SIIB's international collaborations with prestigious institutions, including the University of British Columbia, HSB, Leeds Beckett University, RUDN University, Berlin School of Economics & Law, and the Lisbon School of Economics and Management, enable students to experience global business perspectives. These partnerships foster cross-cultural learning and provide research opportunities, allowing SIIB students to build a network that extends beyond India. Programme Overview 1. MBA in International Business (IB): This programme focuses on global trade, finance, and cross-cultural management. Graduates are prepared for careers such as International Business Consultant, Export/Import Manager, and Global Supply Chain Manager, excelling in multinational corporations and consulting firms. 2. MBA in Agri-Business (AB): Recognizing the significance of agribusiness, this programme covers areas like rural marketing, commodity trading, and agricultural supply chain management. Graduates pursue roles such as Agribusiness Consultant and Commodity Trader, contributing to sectors including agro-processing and rural development. 3. MBA in Sustainability Management (SM): With sustainability as a core focus, this programme prepares students to lead in sectors like renewable energy, environmental management, and sustainable business. Graduates are equipped for careers as Sustainability Consultants and Climate Change Analysts, addressing critical global issues. An Educational Approach Rooted in Real-World Impact SIIB's pedagogy combines traditional academic frameworks with hands-on learning through case studies, internships, and live projects. This practical approach is supported by regular industry expert lectures, workshops, and international immersion programmes, ensuring that students are equipped with both theoretical knowledge and practical skills. "At SIIB, we aim to create leaders who are equipped to navigate today's global economy confidently," added Dr. Maurya. "Our focus on critical thinking, innovation, and sustainable business practices is designed to instill both professional expertise and a sense of ethical responsibility in our students." To know more, visit: https://siib.ac.in/ (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by SMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) India PR Distribution Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], November 22: Culinary enthusiasts in Mumbai have a new destination for authentic Italian cuisine. Ravioli's Pasta Fresca, the innovative venture by Ravi Patel and Poonam Karambelkar, is now offering freshly handcrafted pasta meal kits that bring the heart of Italy straight to your kitchen. After relocating from London in 2019, Ravi and Poonam--both passionate admirers of Italian culture and cuisine--were inspired by their travels across Italy to create an outlet that captures the essence of Italian home cooking. Their vision was simple yet ambitious: make high-quality, fresh pasta accessible to everyone, regardless of their culinary expertise. "We wanted to share the joy of authentic Italian cooking without the hassle," says Ravi Patel. "Our meal kits are designed to make the process enjoyable and straightforward." Located in a state-of-the-art kitchen in Juhu, Ravioli's Pasta Fresca blends tradition with innovation. Each meal kit includes: * Freshly Handcrafted Pasta: Made daily to ensure peak freshness and flavor. * Authentic Sauces: Crafted with ingredients sourced directly from Italy, capturing regional tastes. * Easy-to-Follow Instructions: Step-by-step guides that make cooking a delightful experience for all skill levels. To enhance your dining experience, they also offer a selection of ready-made starters and desserts. Begin with an antipasti platter featuring Italian cheeses, cured meats, and olives. Conclude your meal with classic desserts like tiramisu or rich panna cotta, embodying Italy's renowned dessert artistry. "Our goal is to inspire home cooks to explore Italian cuisine effortlessly," adds Poonam Karambelkar. "Quality ingredients and simple instructions can transform anyone into a chef." To celebrate their grand opening, Ravioli's Pasta Fresca is offering an introductory discount. Use the code INTRO10 at checkout to enjoy 10% off your first order. About Ravioli's Pasta Fresca Founded by Ravi Patel and Poonam Karambelkar, Ravioli's Pasta Fresca is dedicated to bringing authentic Italian flavors to Mumbai through handcrafted pasta meal kits. By combining premium ingredients with user-friendly instructions, they aim to make Italian cooking accessible and enjoyable for everyone. Join the Culinary Journey Embark on a flavorful adventure with Ravioli's Pasta Fresca. Experience the joy of creating delicious Italian meals at home without the fuss. For more information or to place an order, visit their website at www.raviolis.in or follow them on Instagram @raviolis.in. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by India PR Distribution. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) SMPL New Delhi [India], November 22: Symbiosis Law School (SLS) Pune, a prestigious branch of Symbiosis International (Deemed University), has announced the last date of applications for its highly regarded 5-Year B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) and B.B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) programmes. Prospective students can apply through the Symbiosis Law Admission Test (SLAT) portal, with the final deadline set for November 22, 2024. These programmes are thoughtfully designed to deliver a multidimensional legal education that integrates critical subjects, preparing graduates to excel in an ever-evolving legal landscape. Reflecting on the changing demands of today's legal profession, Dr. Shashikala Gurpur, Director of Symbiosis Law School, Pune, emphasizes the importance of bridging the gap between legal theory and real-world application. "Many young professionals lack the skill set to navigate complex issues in governance, social justice, and corporate responsibility," she explains. "Our programmes aim not only to provide in-depth legal knowledge but also to cultivate the analytical and problem-solving skills essential for driving impactful change." The B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) programme offers a unique blend of legal studies with the humanities and social sciences, grounding students in areas such as governance, administration, and social issues. This interdisciplinary approach allows graduates to contribute meaningfully to societal progress by addressing human rights, environmental concerns, and global challenges. Equipped with skills beyond traditional legal roles, graduates emerge as leaders prepared for diverse, impactful careers in both social and corporate spheres. Similarly, the B.B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) programme integrates legal education with business administration, preparing students for careers in corporate governance, legal compliance, and business ethics. This combination nurtures expertise in both law and business, empowering students to navigate complex challenges in global markets. Graduates acquire essential skills in legal research, critical analysis, and technological literacy, making them competitive in a rapidly globalizing world. Candidates applying to either programme must have completed their Standard XII (10+2) or equivalent from a recognized board with a minimum of 45% marks (or 40% for SC/ST candidates). This academic requirement ensures that students entering the programmes are well-prepared for the rigors of a legal education. At SLS Pune, the Career & Professional Development Cell provides holistic support to students, helping them refine their professional skills and explore diverse career paths. Throughout the academic year, students receive guidance in areas such as advocacy, legislation, and legal services. The cell maintains strong relationships with industry-leading recruiters, including ACC Cement, Aditya Birla Group, Ernst & Young, and Deloitte USI, ensuring students gain access to valuable internship and placement opportunities. The SLS Pune Alumni Committee and Cell actively foster connections between students and alumni, establishing a supportive network that enhances learning and career development. Through initiatives like the Alumni Portal and social media campaigns, such as "#KnowYourAlumni," graduates share valuable insights and experiences, offering guidance to current students. This engagement not only builds a sense of community but also showcases the diverse career paths pursued by SLS Pune alumni. With the application window open until November 22, 2024, interested candidates are encouraged to apply for the 5-Year B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) and B.B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) programmes to kickstart their journey at SLS Pune. For additional details and to apply, visit: https://www.symlaw.ac.in. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by SMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) New Delhi [India], November 22: O.P. Jindal Global University is proud to announce the Inauguration of India''s First Constitution Museum and the Inaugural Session of the National Convention on the Constitution of India, on Saturday, 23rd November 2024 at O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU), Sonipat. The prestigious event will take place in the esteemed presence of the Speaker of Lok Sabha, Om Birla, Chief Minister of Haryana, Nayab Singh Saini, Minister of State for Law and Justice, Arjun Ram Meghwal, and Chancellor of JGU and Member of Parliament, Naveen Jindal. It is an unparalleled initiative and a landmark institution in the annals of Indian constitutional history. The Chancellor of O.P. Jindal Global University Naveen Jindal, M.P. (Lok Sabha) said, "We dedicate the Constitution Museum to the nation, encouraging the youth of India who are the leaders of tomorrow, to embrace the Constitution of India as a beacon of knowledge that shapes and governs the future of our country. The first-of-its-kind Constitution Academy is an ambitious project which has never been envisaged by any other institution in India. It is a living testament to our democratic governance structure which has instilled India with glory and triumph in its foundational principles. The Constitution has guided our country towards equality, development, balance, and growth, while protecting its people and staying true to India''s spirit as a free and independent nation." JGU has established India''s First Constitution Museum to enrich the understanding of the Constitution with various sections highlighting its significance and the historical debates that shaped its creation. The museum will feature engaging installations and interactive displays that illuminate the journey of the Constitution over the past 75 years. The museum will be a key destination for understanding the Constitution, with sections dedicated to each part of the document and its significance. Through many formats--textual, audio-visual, experiential-- the museum will ignite visitors'' interest in the Constitution, its evolution and its various components. Professor (Dr.) C. Raj Kumar, the Founding Vice Chancellor of O.P. Jindal Global University said on this momentous occasion, "The year 2024 commemorates the 75th year of the adoption of the Constitution, which took place on November 26, 1949, but came into force on January 26, 1950. This marked the inception of India as a democratic republic. India today is revered not just as the world''s largest democracy, but as a country governed by a set of forward-looking and equitable provisions enshrined in its Constitution. The Constitution Museum and The Rights and Freedoms Academy was set up on the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution. The museum pays homage to this exceptional document representing the hopes and aspirations of a billion-plus people. It is also a tribute to those remarkable men and women who spent years drafting the Constitution. At the helm was Dr B. R. Ambedkar, known and revered as the Architect of the Constitution." (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by OP Jindal University. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) VMPL New Delhi [India], November 22: Livpure, one of India's leading customer-centric brands, has announced impressive Q2 results, reporting a 50% revenue growth in quarter 2 over last year. This growth was driven by innovative product launches, strategic marketing investments, and the early festive season boost. The company's ongoing efforts in value engineering and transformation have continued to pay off, enabling Livpure to gain a firm competitive edge in the market. Livpure's growth trajectory in Q2 has been marked by strong performance across various segments, with General Trade revenue growth reaching an impressive 55%. E-commerce and General Trade recorded a combined growth of 66%, while the Modern Trade segment surged with a 150% growth rate. In the service category, revenue grew by 40%, and Livpure's core category i.e. water purifiers saw a growth rate of 38%, highlighting the brand's commitment to addressing customer needs through superior quality and service. As a result of this top-line expansion, EBITDA saw a remarkable increase, climbing 271% compared to last year's Q2 and delivering a 400 basis points improvement quarter-on-quarter. This increase demonstrates Livpure's effective operational strategies and its efficient response to rising demand, which enabled the company to leverage operating efficiencies for higher profitability. Expressing optimism about the company's continued growth trajectory, Rakesh Kaul, Managing Director of Livpure, said, "Our Q2 results highlight the success of Livpure's transformation journey, built on a foundation of innovation and operational excellence. We are deeply committed to developing products that resonate with our customers, supported by our strengthened go-to-market strategy. The strong results we have achieved this quarter give us even greater confidence in our ability to drive sustainable growth well into the future." In addition to strong financial performance, Livpure launched a series of new products that exemplify the brand's commitment to sustainability and technological advancement. The newly introduced Sereno Stainless water purifier aims to enhance user convenience while delivering enhanced filtration capabilities, ensuring healthier drinking water for families. Livpure has also expanded its portfolio with the entire range of BLDC chimneys, offering customers stylish, energy-efficient solutions that operate quietly, addressing the growing demand for functionality and aesthetics in home appliances. Looking ahead, Livpure remains committed to its mission of delivering value to customers through advanced, user-centric solutions. The company's transformation efforts, backed by relentless innovation and a deep focus on customer experience, are expected to sustain its momentum and strengthen its position in the market for the coming quarters. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, on Thursday, stated that India remained a trusted partner offering both political and economic stability in a time when many democratic countries faced turmoil, highlighting India's achievement in retaining political stability, which helped the country to establish itself as a trusted trading partner. Speaking at the News9 Global Summit, the Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Railways, and Electronics and Information Technology, Vaishnaw, underscored India's strength and resilience of the economy. "The success of our government reflects the fact that good economics can also make good politics. While many democratic nations have faced turmoil, India remains a trusted partner, offering both political and economic stability," the minister said. The Union Minister highlighted the 6-8 percent growth rate of the economy, adding that the growth is poised to continue this trajectory for many years to come. The Union Minister also underscored the government's commitment to sustainability and the environment. He said, "While we continue to grow, we are conscious of our environmental footprint. I am pleased to report that India is on track to meet its commitments under the Paris Agreement." Vaishnaw added that about 45 percent of India's total power generation capacity comes from renewable sources. He added that the government is establishing the world's largest renewable energy with a capacity of 40,000 MW at an investmentof 1.2 billion euros. Pointing out the changes in global order, the union minister asserted that we are living through one of the most transformative phases. In the last five years, the world has experienced a global pandemic and witnessed two major geopolitical conflicts, he added. Referring to the significance of India amid the changes in global order, he stated that the country offers trust, talent, and stability and is uniquely positioned to thrive in this changing environment. We firmly believe in democracy, multilateralism, and a rules-based international order, he added. (ANI) Press Release November 22, 2024 Dela Rosa: Senate's proposed budget for OPAPRU, Nat'l Amnesty Commission to ensure ex-rebels reintegration Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa is pushing for sufficient budgetary support to the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity and the National Amnesty Commission (NAC) to ensure the full reintegration of former rebels to the communities. Dela Rosa stressed this during the Senate plenary deliberations on the proposed P6.352 trillion national budget for 2025 as he defended the allocations for both agencies. Under the Senate's version of the 2025 General Appropriations Bill (GAB), the OPAPRU was given P7.094 billion. Of the said amount, over P5 billion was allocated for its PAyapa at MAsaganang PamayaNAn (PAMANA) projects. Amid concerns on PAMANA's supposed overlap with the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict's (NTF-ELCAC) Barangay Development Program (BDP), Dela Rosa explained the need to support the budgetary need of OPAPRU's program as the infrastructure projects under this are implemented at the municipal or provincial level. Unlike the NTF-ELCAC's BDP which only caters to former rebels from the New People's Army (NPA), Dela Rosa said the PAMANA program benefits all ex-combatants such as those from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Moro National Liberation Front. According to Dela Rosa, the budget sponsor of the OPAPRU, the program covers social protection projects, roads and bridges, water supply systems, flood control systems, evacuation centers, and fish ports in 13 regions, 31 provinces and 38 municipalities. Dela Rosa assured the Senate that the OPAPRU manages the funds intended for the PAMANA infrastructure projects and it has a high 90.15% disbursement rate for this program. Meanwhile, OPAPRU was commended for its P50,000 per year educational assistance to the children of decommissioned MILF combatants in Marawi City and for its establishment of over 200 modified shelter units for ex-militants of the MNLF. Dela Rosa, a staunch advocate of ex-rebels' reintegration to society, also defended the budget of the NAC which was allocated with P144.383 million under the Senate's version of the GAB. "We are optimistic that we will reach our target with the caveat that the 10 additional local amnesty boards will be established as soon as possible," Dela Rosa said. "We are expecting, with the 2-year [application period], around 40,000 decommissioned combatants from MILF, 2,000 from MNLF, 1,200 from RPA-ABB, 39,000 plus from CPP-NPA-NDF," he added. Currently, there are nine local amnesty boards which are located in the National Capital Region, Bacolod City, Iloilo City, Cagayan De Oro, Cotabato City, Pagadian City, Davao City, Basilan, and Sulu. Since the NAC started receiving applications on March 13 this year, Dela Rosa said a total of 1,559 former rebels have already applied for amnesty. VMPL Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], November 22: Amulya Mica is thrilled to announce the grand opening of its newest Style Studio in Kolkata, at 51 C R Avenue near Central Metro Gate no.1 Kolkata-12, West Bengal. This exciting new store offers a wide range of high-quality laminates, perfect for any home or business renovation project. The grand inauguration ceremony commenced with a traditional puja at 1 PM, followed by a ribbon-cutting event at 1:30 PM by the Managing Director, Rakesh Agarwal, and the Director of Marketing, Shailja Agarwal. The opening of the style studio also witnessed the launch of all new C4 1mm catalogue collection which is the fourfold benchmark of brilliance Inspired by the 4Cs of diamonds Color, Clarity, Cut and Carat C4 collection four pillars: Classic, Contemporary, Creative & Color, Superiority and reflecting the highest standards of design. The catalogue was highly appreciated by all the business partners like architects, dealers and distributors for is premium collection of designs which can give homes a luxurious look at an affordable price. The event garnered significant attention, with the presence of prominent national media houses such as The Telegraph, Times of India, and Sanmarg. Addressing the press, Shailja Agarwal emphasized Amulya Mica's vision for growth: "Our focus is on integrating digital with offline operations to deliver a seamless experience for our customers. With a comprehensive range of laminates, plywood, and WPC under one roof, we aim to expand our presence further across Eastern India." Rakesh Agarwal, MD Amulya Mica with the vision of creating such 100 style studios across pan India with already 30 plus such stores stated Amulya Mica Kolkata Style Studio and all other such studios are committed to providing customers with the best possible shopping experience. Our knowledgeable staff is dedicated to helping you find the perfect laminate for your project. The inauguration witnessed the gracious presence of Kolkata's renowned architects and interior designers, who explored the store's extensive product range, including the newly launched shades in the 1mm category. Notable attendees shared their insights: Rajkumar Saraf of Saraf Interiors praised the product's exceptional quality. Sushil Sultania highlighted the unmatched service and diverse product range provided by Amulya Mica. Dulal Basu from Creative Interio described the flagship store as a "game changer," commending the innovative Scratch Ex 1.25mm sheet. Rajendra Kumar Agarwal from Hira Designs emphasized the importance of new shades in maintaining market leadership. Deepak Dubal, an experienced interior decorator, affirmed the brand's durability and reliability for long-term use. Manoj Jaiswal, the designer of the Kolkata gallery, expressed admiration for the store's execution, surpassing his expectations. Pradip Sitapara, with 40 years in the industry, applauded the new Fluted collection for its vibrant colours and customer appeal. Amulya Mica: Amulya Group started two decades back in 1998 and has become a preferred brand of choice for interior products. The company has grown from strength to strength and having begun its operations from one product today has evolved into multi product company offering High Pressure Decorative Laminates, Plywood, PVC & WPC Panels & Doors, PVC Laminates, Blockboards, Flush doors, PVC Door Frame, Cladding as exterior laminates To know more visit us at www.amulyamica.com Follow us on Social Media: https://www.youtube.com/@amulya_mica https://www.facebook.com/share/5SeKnVkMwjAo2L9f/?mibextid=qi2Omg https://www.instagram.com/amulya_mica?igsh=aDJkYWNrZmFmZDV4 https://www.linkedin.com/company/amulya-mica/ (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) NewsVoir Pune (Maharashtra) [India], November 22: If you're looking to invest in a growing sector in India, the Bajaj Finserv Consumption Fund could be a suitable investment option. With the NFO (New Fund Offer) ending today, November 22, 2024, this could be the time to consider adding this scheme to your portfolio. Let's break down why investing in this fund makes sense, especially given the current boom in India's consumption sector. India's growing consumption boom India's middle class is expanding rapidly, and with it, consumer spending is increasing. This is great news for investors, as a growing middle class means rising demand for various goods and services. Let's look at a few key trends that are shaping the consumption landscape in India: Consume Better: Consumers are now looking for more than just affordable products. Quality has become important, and people are willing to pay more for premium or luxury items that improve their lifestyle. Consume Well: Health and wellness are becoming top priorities for Indian consumers. People are more conscious about what they eat and are shifting towards healthier products like immunity boosters, keto-friendly foods, and organic goods. Consume Easy: Convenience is another major factor. E-commerce platforms and food delivery services are growing rapidly because consumers want products and services that save them time and effort. Consume More: With rising incomes, especially in rural India, more people are able to spend on non-essential items like electronics, leisure products, and travel. This is helping to increase overall consumption. Key features of Bajaj Finserv Consumption Fund The Bajaj Finserv Consumption Fund aims to take advantage of these trends by investing in companies that could benefit from India's growing consumer market. Here's why this fund can be an interesting choice: Focus on growth trends: The fund focuses on identifying companies that are positioned to benefit from the rise in consumer spending. By investing in sectors like retail, FMCG, automobiles, and e-commerce, the fund targets areas that could see significant growth in the coming years. True-to-Label strategy: The fund will focus specifically on companies linked to the consumption sector, which ensures the investment strategy is clear and well-defined. Market cap agnostic: The Bajaj Finserv Consumption Fund invests across the market capitalization spectrum. This means it can include both large, stable companies and smaller, high-growth firms, giving it a balanced approach. Future-focused: The fund aims to stay ahead of the curve by investing in emerging trends. It looks for companies that have strong future growth potential, which can provide better performance in the long run. Who should invest in this fund? The Bajaj Finserv Consumption Fund may be a good fit for different types of investors: Lumpsum investors: If you're thinking of making a one-time investment, this fund could be a good opportunity to tap into India's consumption growth story. Investors with a higher risk appetite: This fund focuses on a sector with high growth potential, which means it can be riskier. However, the opportunity for relatively higher returns can make it suitable for those who are comfortable taking on some risk. Long-term investors: If you're planning to invest for five years or more, this fund could help you benefit from the long-term growth of India's consumption sector. Diversifying your portfolio: If you're already invested in stocks and other funds, this consumption-focused fund can offer a way to diversify your portfolio. Starting an SIP in the Bajaj Finserv Consumption Fund If you're someone who prefers to invest gradually rather than making a large lumpsum investment, starting a Systematic Investment Plan or SIP investment might be a good option. With an SIP, you can invest a fixed amount each month. This allows you to benefit from rupee cost averaging--you buy units at different prices depending on the market's ups and downs. Over time, this can help smooth out market volatility and make investing more manageable. Why now is a suitable time to invest? The NFO for the Bajaj Finserv Consumption Fund ends today. With India's consumption sector experiencing such strong growth, this is an exciting time to invest in a fund that focuses on the future of consumer spending. Whether you prefer a lumpsum investment or want to start an SIP, this fund offers a chance to be part of India's consumption boom. If you're looking to grow your money over the long term and tap into the rising demand for products and services in India, the Bajaj Finserv Consumption Fund could be a suitable choice for you. Mutual Fund investments are subject to market risks, read all scheme related documents carefully. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) PNN Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], November 22: Maiden Forgings Limited (BSE - 543874), one of the leading manufacturers of a wide range of Bright Steel bars and wires from the past 35 years, has announced its Unaudited Financial Results for the H1 FY25. H1 FY25 Key Financial Highlights * Total Income of Rs 109.19 Cr * EBITDA of Rs 9.77 Cr * EBITDA Margin of 8.95% * Net Profit of Rs 4.05 Cr * Net Profit Margin of 3.71% * EPS of Rs 2.85 Commenting on the performance, Nishant Garg, Managing Director of Maiden Forgings Limited said, "We are pleased to report stable performance during H1 FY25, achieving a total income of Rs 109.19 Cr and also improving our net profit margin, despite the challenging environment for the steel industry. This resilience underscores our strategic focus on value-added and specialised products, enabling us to maintain steady operational levels even in a subdued market. Our recent acquisition of 4 acres of landmarks is a significant step towards consolidating our facilities. This initiative will enhance our manufacturing capacity, streamline operations, and improve cost efficiency through advanced technologies. We are confident that this consolidation, along with our strong operational strategy, positions us well for sustained growth and value creation for our stakeholders in the future." Key Operational Highlights (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) VMPL Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], November 22: QualityKiosk Technologies, a global leader in digital assurance and reliability engineering solutions, is today announcing its strategic partnership with Qualitia. Using Qualitia's Boson platform, an AI-powered, self-healing solution specifically optimized for Salesforce deployments, they aim to deliver seamless, scalable test automation for the banking/insurance (BFSI) and software/SaaS platform sectors. Salesforce's rapid release cycles and critical role in business operations demand robust and adaptable test automation. Traditional tools often struggle with the platform's dynamic nature, leading to high maintenance and delayed rollouts. The Boson platform addresses these challenges by leveraging AI to automatically adjust to software changes, ensuring continuous testing with minimal manual intervention despite frequent updates to the customer's Salesforce functional environment and data structures. Partnering with Qualitia enables QualityKiosk to deliver these capabilities to clients, drastically reducing testing times and supporting faster, reliable deployments. Qualitia's unique approach, which leverages Salesforce metadata, enables faster, simplified test creation and execution compared to other platforms, making it especially valuable for organizations prioritizing speed and accuracy in their digital transformation efforts. "Traditional testing automation tools used by banks and financial companies are no longer adequate to test Salesforce deployments. By combining our expertise in quality assurance with Qualitia's platform we help clients overcome the unique complexities of Salesforce deployments. With this approach we can literally automate thousands of test cases within days to achieve faster, more reliable results. We've made a commitment to enhancing business transformation in BFSI for our clients, and this partnership is a key enabler to that commitment," said Maneesh Jhawar, CEO of QualityKiosk. QualityKiosk's clients will have global access to Qualitia's Boson platform, allowing them to benefit from a tailored approach to Salesforce testing that not only increases efficiency but also streamlines deployment workflows. "Our partnership is a testament to the dedication both companies have to investing in the Salesforce space," said Rahul Chaudhari, Founder and CEO of Qualitia. "QualityKiosk provides top-tier quality assurance and BFSI domain expertise. Together we will help customers go live successfully with a 90% reduced time to deployment and smooth ongoing operations." The partnership also brings a new reseller model to the market, with QualityKiosk now licensed to provide Qualitia's solutions, offering its clients an alternative to conventional test automation tools. QualityKiosk Technologies QualityKiosk is a focused Reliability, Cloud, AI, and Product Engineering solutions provider. The company, established in 2000, offers diverse services enabling organizations to adopt and adapt AI in Product Development, Quality and Reliability Engineering, CloudOps and Automation. In an AI-first world, QK synthesizes deep domain expertise with excellence in technology to consistently deliver great experiences for its customers' customers. Operating in more than 25 countries and with over 3,500 employees, QualityKiosk helps leading brands in banking, capital markets, insurance, automotive & manufacturing, technology & digital natives, consumer goods, and healthcare to transform their digital capabilities. The company's expertise and achievements have garnered recognition from esteemed global advisory firms such as Forrester, Gartner, and The Everest Group for innovative, IP-led solutions and the significant value those solutions deliver to clients. For more information, visit www.qualitykiosk.com. Qualitia Qualitia (qualitia.ai) founded in 2011 by Rahul Chaudhari and headquartered in Pune, India, is a world-leading technology product company at the forefront of scriptless test automation solutions. Qualitia is proud to count the top insurance companies, many large global banks, market leading stock exchanges and depositories among clients it has served for many years now. Qualitia is committed to innovation, reliability, and enhancing software testing efficiency globally. Follow Qualitia on LinkedIn and X. For further information contact: Cathy Chandhok, CMO at QualityKiosk Technologies +91 981 150 2386, Cathy.Chandhok@qualitykiosk.com Himanshu Goyal, Qualitia Inc, +91 981 981 9160, himanshu.goyal@qualitia.ai (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) VMPL Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], November 22: ASBL, a leading real estate developer based out of Hyderabad, has been recognized as one of the Top 100 Real Estate Leaders by Construction Week. They have solidified its reputation by strategically selecting prime locations for its residential projects, thereby contributing to the city's urban development and offering residents an enhanced lifestyle. Through meticulous analysis and foresight, ASBL has established properties in high-demand areas such as the Financial District and Kukatpally, aligning with the evolving preferences of modern homebuyers. Strategic Location Selection; A Catalyst for Urban Growth: ASBL's approach to real estate development is deeply rooted in comprehensive market research and analysis. By identifying emerging locales with significant growth potential, the company has not only provided residents with premium living spaces but also played a pivotal role in the development of these areas. The Financial District, for instance, has transformed into a bustling hub of economic activity, attracting both businesses and residents. ASBL's projects in this area have contributed to its rapid development, offering residents proximity to major IT companies, financial institutions, and educational centers. Similarly, Kukatpally has emerged as a sought-after residential destination, thanks in part to ASBL's developments that have enhanced the area's infrastructure and lifestyle amenities. The company's commitment to selecting locations that offer convenience, connectivity, and growth prospects has been instrumental in shaping Hyderabad's urban landscape. Meeting the Demand for Quality Housing: Hyderabad's real estate market has witnessed significant growth, with a notable increase in housing demand. According to industry reports, the city recorded a 49% annual growth in housing sales in 2023, solidifying its position as one of India's leading real estate hubs. ROOF AND FLOOR "Our strategic approach to selecting prime locations, combined with a deep understanding of customer needs, has been the driving force behind ASBL's success," said Ajitesh Korupolu, Founder & CEO of ASBL. "We believe in building not just homes but vibrant communities that elevate the lifestyle of our residents. By combining thorough research, customer feedback, and a commitment to quality, we continue to set new benchmarks in Hyderabad's real estate market." ASBL's projects in prime locations have been well-received by homebuyers seeking quality housing options that offer both luxury and practicality. The company's focus on delivering well-designed, functional, and aesthetically pleasing homes has resonated with buyers, contributing to its success in the competitive Hyderabad real estate market. Enhancing Lifestyle through Thoughtful Design: Beyond location, ASBL places a strong emphasis on creating living spaces that enhance the overall lifestyle of residents. The company's projects are characterized by thoughtful design, incorporating modern amenities, green spaces, and community-centric features that cater to the diverse needs of today's homebuyers. ASBL's developments in the Financial District and Kukatpally offer residents access to state-of-the-art fitness centers, recreational areas, and co-working spaces, promoting a balanced and fulfilling lifestyle. By integrating such features, ASBL ensures that its properties provide more than just a place to live--they offer a holistic living experience. Commitment to Quality and Customer Satisfaction: ASBL's success is also attributed to its unwavering commitment to quality construction and customer satisfaction. The company adheres to stringent quality standards and employs innovative construction techniques to deliver projects that stand the test of time. Customer feedback is integral to ASBL's development process. Through initiatives like ASBL you/Design, the company actively engages with homebuyers to understand their preferences and incorporate their insights into the design and development of its projects. This customer-centric approach has earned ASBL a reputation for reliability and excellence in the Hyderabad real estate market. About ASBL: ASBL is a booming real estate company. Over the years, ASBL has carved a niche in the field of construction technology through robust backend systems in place. Their focus is delivering high-quality products in committed timelines. In a short span, ASBL has successfully planned the construction of more than 6 Million Sq. Ft. of Residential Area in Hyderabad's top locations -Kokapet, Financial District and Gachibowli. The brand is seizing every opportunity to bring about distinct, avant-garde offerings to their patrons. ASBL's major projects include ASBL Loft, ASBL Spectra, and ASBL Spire which is currently ready for handover. With their feet firmly planted in the present, their strategy and firm virtue of customer-centricity ensures a future-ready outlook for the company. Please visit https://asbl.in/ For media queries, connect: Sri Kalyani Nippani | kalyani.nippani@adfactorspr.com | +91 8095437541 Debapriya Panigrahi | debapriya.panigrahi@adfactorspr.com | +91 70085 97550 (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) BusinessWire India Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], November 22: The flagship e-commerce initiatives of the Tata Group--Tata CLiQ Fashion, Tata CLiQ Luxury, and Tata CLiQ Palette have announced their highly anticipated annual Black Friday Sale. Scheduled from November 23 to December 2, 2024, the sale will offer consumers the perfect opportunity to shop from brands they love the most across a range of categories, including apparel, beauty, accessories, footwear, home, jewellery, kids, watches, and more, at never-seen-before prices. From exclusive offers to limited-hour flash deals, it's time to browse and shop as we kick-start the holiday season celebrations. Gopal Asthana, Chief Executive Officer, Tata CLiQ, said, "The Black Friday sale is indeed an exciting time. With unbeatable offers on a wide range of leading brands across categories, it is our biggest sale event for the holiday season. With the rebranding of Tata CLiQ to Tata CLiQ Fashion, we've not only strengthened our portfolio as we switch our focus to fashion and lifestyle but also enhanced the app and web experience to offer consumers a seamless, fashion-forward shopping experience. On Tata CLiQ Luxury and Tata CLiQ Palette, we've further expanded our offerings with the addition of new categories, brands, and exclusive collections to cater to the current trends and demand. We anticipate strong growth compared to last year's sale event, with categories such as winter wear, western fashion, and wedding attire expected to perform particularly well given the current season. We look forward to ending the calendar year on a high note." This Black Friday, Tata CLiQ Fashion is embracing the theme 'Embrace your every colour', inviting shoppers to explore their unique style and celebrate individuality. The platform's fashion-forward collection empowers consumers to mix, match, and stand out as they curate their looks with boundless creativity. With up to 85% off, consumers can avail blockbuster deals on the latest styles and collections from renowned brands across fashion and lifestyle, in addition to added benefits such as additional coupons, 100% cashback, and bank offers. Refresh your wardrobe this season with unbeatable deals on menswear and womenswear from sought-after brands like BIBA, Fabindia, Jack & Jones, Levi's, Pepe Jeans, Under Armour, U.S. Polo Assn., Vero Moda, and more, up to 30-80% off. In the footwear category for men and women, adidas, Asics, Bugatti, Metro, On, Puma, and more are up to 30% - 70% off. Additionally, Red Tape will be at flat 80% off and Woodland will be at flat 50% off. Timepieces from brands like Armani Exchange, Guess, and Tommy Hilfiger are up to 50% off. Brands in the eyewear category are up to 85% off. Don't miss out on savings on handbags from Aldo, Guess, and Hidesign as well as luggage from Aristocrat, Calvin Klein, Skybags, and Tommy Hilfiger. In the jewellery category, Giva will be available at a flat 55% off, and Joyalukkas, Mia by Tanishq, and P.N. Gadgil will have exciting offers one can't miss. D'decor and Pure Home & Living in the home category are up to 25% off and Wonderchef is up to 45% off. If one is looking at shopping for gadgets, avail exciting offers on Apple, Samsung, and Sony accessories, along with Marshall products. With up to 60% off, Tata CLiQ Palette is encouring consumers to 'Go Big on Bold' by offering attractive deals on beauty this Black Friyay Sale, making it the perfect time to indulge and stock up on beauty products. Avail offers and gifts with purchases on make-up brands like Maybelline New York and Sugar Cosmetics. With the onset of winter, give your skin the care it deserves by shopping for skincare essentials that will be up to 60% off. In the luxury section, Clinique and M.A.C will be up to 30% off, along with complimentary gifts on all orders. Milkshake and Olaplex haircare products will be up to 15% off, with complimentary gifts included on select purchases. Additionally, fragrances from brands like Ferragamo, Rabanne, and Versace will be available at up to 10-40% off. Consumers can now access Tata CLiQ Palette on Tata CLiQ Fashion app. Tata CLiQ Luxury, India's premier luxury lifestyle platform, invites consumers to dive into a world of exceptional finds at extraordinary prices. 'Expect the unexpected' this Black Friday Sale with up to 50% off, surprise giveaways, unexpected price drops, and much more. Step out in style this holiday season with menswear brands like Boss, Brooks Brothers, Gant, Lacoste, and True Religion up to 40-60% off, and womenswear brands like DKNY, Forever New, Guess, and La Vie En Rose up to 30-50% off. The kids' fashion and accessories category also has offers on brands like Baby Jalebi, Boss Kids, Choupette, and Joie. In the Indiluxe section, House of Masaba, Mason Home, Mokobara, Ritu Kumar, Saint G, Shantanu and Nikhil, and more are up to 30-60% off. If one is looking at investing in a new timepiece, brands like Maserati, Michael Kors, and Versace are up to 40-45% off. Eyewear brands like Burberry, D&G, Prada, Ray-Ban, and Tom Ford have special offers. In the jewellery category, Swarovski and Ted Baker are up to 50% and 70% off, respectively. Avail exceptional offers of up to 30-50% off on Aspinal of London, Guess, Samsonite, and Tommy Hilfiger in the accessories section. Footwear brands like adidas Originals, Aldo, New Balance, and Under Armour are also offering up to 35-50% off. Make the most of the irresistible offers on home brands like Ellementry, Haus of Bars by Speedx, Le Creuset, Mason Home, Noritake, Smeg, Spread Spain, and Whispering Homes. Fragrance enthusiasts can avail offers up to 50% off on brands Armani, Jean Paul Gaultier, Yves Saint Laurent, and more. In addition, enjoy exciting offers and complimentary gifts from Estee Lauder, Jo Malone London, M.A.C, and Tom Ford fragrances. Skincare brands like Paula's Choice is at a flat 15% off, and one can avail gifts with every purchase on Forest Essentials. Tata CLiQ Fashion, Tata CLiQ Luxury, and Tata CLiQ Palette are offering a 10% instant discount on ICICI Bank and American Express credit cards. Tata CLiQ Fashion and Tata CLiQ Luxury will also offer 10% instant discount on RBL Bank credit cards. These offers are only valid from November 22 - December 02, 2024, subject to T&C. Shop here - https://www.tatacliq.com/ https://luxury.tatacliq.com/ https://palette.tatacliq.com/ (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) NewsVoir Pune (Maharashtra) [India], November 22: Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth, Pimpri, Pune, proudly welcomed its newest cohort of undergraduate students from Medical, Dental, Optometry and Allied Health Sciences programs at the grand Deeksharambh Induction Ceremony. The event, held at the esteemed Vidyapeeth auditorium, was a landmark occasion marking the beginning of an academic journey for these students. The ceremony was inaugurated by Dr. Avinash Supe, Director, Clinical Governance and Head, Hinduja Hospital, Mumbai, who addressed the students, inspiring them with insights into the healthcare profession's significance and the commitment it requires. Distinguished dignitaries at the induction included Dr. P. D. Patil, Chancellor; Dr. (Mrs.) Bhagyashree P. Patil, Pro Chancellor; Dr. N. J. Pawar, Vice Chancellor; Dr. Smita Jadhav, Secretary of Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth Society; Dr. Yashraj P. Patil, Treasurer of Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth Society; Dr. Somnath P. Patil, Secretary of Dr. D. Y. Patil Unitech Society; Dr.A.Rekha, Dean of Dr. D. Y. Patil Medical College, Hospital & Research Centre; Dr. D. Gopalakrishnan, Dean of Dr. D. Y. Patil Dental College; and Dr. J. S. Bhawalkar, Registrar. Faculty members, administrative staff and current students extended a warm welcome to the new batch. In addition to introductory speeches, the ceremony included an overview of the institution's values, code of conduct, academic programs and resources available to support students throughout their educational journey. Dr. Avinash Supe, Director, Clinical Governance and Head, Hinduja Hospital, Mumbai, delivered an inspiring address, stating, "Congratulations to each of you on securing admission at Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth, an achievement that underscores your dedication and excellence. This institution is equipped with advanced infrastructure and a progressive academic environment that not only fosters technical expertise but also nurtures leadership, problem-solving and ethical decision-making skills essential in today's evolving healthcare landscape. As you commence this transformative journey, leverage these opportunities to cultivate resilience, innovation and a collaborative spirit that will distinguish you in the global medical community. Remember, true success lies not just in what you achieve, but in the integrity, empathy and commitment you bring to every step of the process." Dr. P. D. Patil, Chancellor of Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth, Pune (Deemed to be University), highlighted the institution's commitment to nurturing students who are equipped not only with academic acumen but also with values that define true healthcare leaders. He remarked, "Today marks the beginning of an incredible journey for our new students, as they step into the world of healthcare with dedication and passion. At Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth, we are committed to providing them with not only the knowledge and skills they need but also the values that define true healthcare leaders. We look forward to seeing them transform into compassionate, capable professionals who will make a difference in countless lives." Dr. Bhagyashree Patil, Pro-Chancellor of Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth, Pune (Deemed to be University), expressed her pride and enthusiasm, saying, "At Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth, students gain access to state-of-the-art infrastructure, world-class education and an environment that fosters innovation and research. Beyond academic excellence, we are dedicated to holistic growth, empowering students to become empathetic leaders who approach healthcare with courage, self-belief and unwavering determination. Embrace this journey with confidence and compassion, knowing you are not just shaping your future but redefining the landscape of healthcare. We are here to support you every step of the way, ensuring you have the tools and guidance to excel and make a meaningful impact." Dr. Smita Jadhav, Secretary of Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth Society, shared her thoughts on the occasion stating, "At Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth, we believe in nurturing not only academic brilliance but also the values and resilience that shape true leaders. Our commitment is to create an environment where students are empowered to excel academically, think innovatively and uphold empathy and integrity in every step of their journey. We are confident that our students will rise to the challenges of the healthcare field, carrying forward a legacy of excellence and service that impacts lives and communities." Dr. Yashraj Patil, Treasurer of Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth Society, Pune (Deemed to be University), emphasized the Vidyapeeth's commitment to supporting students, stating, "Our commitment to excellence is unwavering. We provide state-of-the-art infrastructure, cutting-edge technology and a forward-thinking academic environment that empowers students to reach their fullest potential. Our mission is to blend rigorous academics with innovative practices, ensuring that every student is prepared not just for a career, but for leadership in the rapidly evolving world of healthcare. We stand by our students, equipping them with the tools, knowledge and resilience needed to make meaningful contributions to society and transform lives." Dr. Rekha Arcot, Dean of Dr. D. Y. Patil Medical College, Hospital & Research Centre, Pimpri, Pune, said, "Congratulations to the students and parents for joining Dr. D. Y. Patil Medical College, Hospital & Research Centre, Pune, an institution known for its state-of-the-art infrastructure and immersive, student-centric learning environment. With extensive academic programs and a commitment to cutting-edge research and accessible healthcare, we provide the foundation for academic and professional success. Under the visionary leadership of our management, we ensure that students thrive in an environment rich in co-curricular and extracurricular opportunities, setting the stage for lifelong learning and impactful careers." The induction program featured a tour of the campus facilities and interactive sessions aimed at fostering a sense of community among students from diverse healthcare disciplines. The emphasis was on teamwork, ethical practice and the holistic development of every student, ensuring they are prepared to make a meaningful impact in the field of healthcare. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) VMPL New Delhi [India], November 22: The Business Fame, a premier platform for technological innovation, proudly hosted the 2nd edition of the Premier Technology & Innovation Confluence 2024, held from November 09 to 10, 2024. This landmark event brought together renowned tech leaders, innovators, and industry experts to collectively explore and shape the future of technology. The two-day gathering featured engaging panel discussions, interactive workshops, and unparalleled networking opportunities, focusing on transformative trends and breakthroughs in technology. The event aimed to empower tech enthusiasts, professionals, and entrepreneurs to become catalysts for innovation and positive change in their respective industries. Riya Gote, an accomplished writer, trainer, and Founder of Scriberlee, successfully moderated the event, ensuring insightful and thought-provoking conversations throughout the sessions. Her expertise and leadership added tremendous value, contributing significantly to the event's success. Highlighted sessions included keynote speeches by industry pioneers and interactive forums addressing pressing issues and opportunities in emerging technologies such as AI, blockchain, and sustainable tech solutions. The Business Fame remains committed to fostering a collaborative ecosystem for innovation. Highlighted Sessions and Featured Speakers: Panel 01 : AI and the Workforce: How Artificial Intelligence and Cloud Are Shaping Professional Skills. Venkata Suman Doma (Solution Architect) : He is a Seasoned Architect with 14+ Yrs. experience in Enterprise Architecture, Design, and Development of IT applications. Has worked in various multinational companies in the software industry - domains ranging from Telecommunications to Banking n Finance to Audit. He has consistently received many Outstanding performer awards thought his career and has a Hackathon win credited to his name. Risen from a Software developer to an Enterprise Architect, Suman has worked in India and USA in the software industry. Jaganmohan S Kankipati (Sr. Integration Architect): Jaganmohan S. Kankipati is a Senior Integration Architect with over 19 years of experience in middleware, enterprise applications integration, Cloud Engineering, and EDI/B2B solutions. He has expertise across diverse domains, including healthcare, retail, logistics, and banking. A distinguished IEEE member, Jagan has led innovative initiatives, architecting secure Enterprise B2B application solutions that set industry standards. His leadership has driven operational efficiencies, enhanced system performance, and achieved significant cost optimizations, making him a recognized leader in next-generation IT strategies. Narender Nalla (Staff Software Engineer) : Having around 20 years of experience in IT. Currently working for Home Depot as an architect. Passionate in AI and related technologies and currently exploring in Supply Chain and it's impact to humanity. Sri Hari Chitturi (Lead Software Architect): A seasoned professional with 17 years of industry experience, Sri Hari has collaborated with prominent financial clients such as Bank of America and Wells Fargo, as well as healthcare giants like Anthem. Specializing in AI and cloud-based technologies, he has successfully led and empowered teams to deliver innovative solutions, driving impactful AI and cloud initiatives across diverse projects. Panel 02: AI-Driven Diagnostics: Revolutionizing Healthcare Precision. Vedamurthy Yogeshappa (Architecture): He is a dynamic architect specializing in data analytics, governance, and AI, with expertise in cloud technologies and business intelligence. Known for his leadership and strategic vision, he has driven impactful data initiatives, enhancing business performance and aligning goals with data as a core asset. His career includes pivotal roles in healthcare management, where he advanced customer success through predictive analytics and led data practices, both on-premise and cloud, to optimize solutions, foster innovation, and empower data-driven transformation. Leela Prasad Gorrepati (Sr. Big data Engineer) : Brings over 15 years of extensive experience in Information Technology, specializing in Big Data technologies such as Hadoop, Spark, Kafka, Spark Streaming, Python, and Scala, alongside cloud computing. He is proficient in C, C++, and Visual C++ and has played a key role in developing data lakes, data pipelines, and migrating traditional data warehouses to Big Data processing and NoSQL systems. His depth of experience encompasses all stages of the project development life cycle, including use case analysis, design, development, testing, implementation, and production support. Renowned for his innovative contributions, he has authored numerous research articles and is recognized as an expert in healthcare and Windows graphic driver domains. Jerry John Thayil (Business Systems Architecture Director): He is harnessing the power of Artificial Intelligence to revolutionize U.S. healthcare. I enhance patient experience and operational efficiency by leveraging advanced analytics and LLMs. My expertise in integrating EMR and EHR systems promotes personalized care, while predictive analytics and wearable technology enable real-time insights and proactive health management. Sudheer Kumar Lagisetty (Healthcare Data Specialist): With 20 years of experience in the healthcare industry, he is deeply passionate about making a meaningful difference in people's lives. His work in healthcare analytics focuses on leveraging data-driven insights to improve outcomes and contribute to the well-being of society. Srinivasa Rao Pamidi (Lead Data Engineer, Architect): He is an experienced software engineer with over 10 years of expertise in designing and implementing robust software architectures, with a strong focus on healthcare, banking, and financial services. He brings specialized experience in applying AI to healthcare, enhancing patient care, predictive diagnostics, and operational efficiency. Srini's background includes leading development teams, optimizing system performance, and building scalable, secure solutions that meet industry standards. His commitment to quality and innovation enables him to consistently deliver impactful, user-centered applications that drive value and efficiency. Lohith Malige (Senior Consultant): He is a distinguished IEEE member and a certified expert in data center technologies, is celebrated for his unparalleled contributions to the domains of data center consolidation, migration, and cloud engineering. Over an illustrious 16-year career, he has masterminded groundbreaking initiatives, architecting and implementing sophisticated, secure infrastructure solutions that set new benchmarks in global industry standards. His visionary leadership and technical acumen have driven transformative operational efficiencies, elevated infrastructure performance, and achieved remarkable cost optimizations, establishing him as a luminary in the advancement of next-generation IT strategies. Jaishankar Inukonda (Healthcare Data Specialist) : He is a distinguished leader in healthcare technology and data engineering, bringing over 19 years of experience in driving transformative innovations. Renowned for his expertise in advanced data solutions, artificial intelligence, and machine learning, he has played a pivotal role in revolutionizing the healthcare industry. His groundbreaking work has enhanced operational efficiency, improved healthcare accessibility, and elevated patient care standards. As a thought leader and innovator, Jaishankar continues to set benchmarks for technology-driven advancements in healthcare globally. Dhivya Sudeep (Application Architect and Analyst - Healthcare Client): With 17+ years in IT healthcare, Dhivya Sudeep brings expertise in software analysis, design, and development, adeptly turning business needs into technical solutions. Her career includes roles as Associate System Engineer, Technical Lead, Business Analyst, and Application Architect. Skilled in Z/OS application development and databases, she's been key in innovative healthcare solutions. Co-author of a SPRINGER book on Big Data, she's passionate about cloud tech, AI, and IBM Watson, known for her strong communication and team-oriented approach. Vidya Rajasekhara Reddy Tetala (Healthcare Data engineering specialist): Vidya Rajasekhara Reddy Tetala is a seasoned Healthcare Specialist with over 19 years of experience in the IT industry. He possesses profound expertise in data engineering, cloud technologies, and AI/ML solutions. Throughout his career, Raja has consistently harnessed advanced technologies to deliver impactful solutions and set new standards in healthcare data optimization, making a significant impact on the national healthcare landscape. His innovative strategies have enhanced operational efficiencies, reduced costs, and improved patient outcomes, solidifying his reputation as a leader at the intersection of technology and healthcare. Arun Kumar Ramachandran Sumangala Devi (Architect II- Software Testing) : Arun Kumar Ramachandran Sumangala Devi is an award-winning global leader in artificial intelligence, recognized with honours like the 2024 "Fortune Leadership Award for Best Technical Implementation in AI" and the "Titan Innovation Award." With 18 years in healthcare and software testing, he currently serves as Architect II at UST Global Inc. and as an AI advisory board member for Ashland University. Author of two AI books, he has contributed extensively to AI in healthcare, education, and research, holding a UK patent for an AI-based patient monitoring dashboard. BHASKARA RAO AREPALLI (Data engineering & Analytics specialist in Healthcare) : A highly innovative data engineer and healthcare analytics expert with extensive commitment to improving patient outcomes, further smoothing health operations by making use of data. He is an expert in the fields of Data Warehousing, ETL Processes Advanced Analytics, ensuring the smooth process of collecting, transforming, and analyzing clinical and operational data. They work with SQL, Python, and big data tools to provide visualizations through a range of data visualization platforms that help present the raw data to actionable insights in support of evidence-based decisions and improvements in patient care and resource optimization in the health environment. Panel 03: Navigating the Next Era of Cloud Computing: Innovations and Industry Shifts. Manikandan Natarajan (Supply Chain Architect): Manikandan Natarajan, a distinguished IEEE Senior member and certified SAP Planning expert, brings 19 years of excellence in supply chain and ERP solutions. Recognized for his achievements in ERP consolidation, migration, and cloud-based planning, he has architected secure, sophisticated supply chain solutions that set global standards. His visionary leadership and technical expertise have driven transformative efficiencies, enhanced real-time planning, and achieved significant cost savings, establishing him as a leader in next-generation IT strategies. He is also an active member of ACM, BCS, and editorial boards in GRD and IJFMR journals. Jayanna Hallur (Sr. Lead Software Engineer ) : Jayanna Hallur, Sr. Lead Software Engineer at CapitalOne, brings over 24 years of expertise in software and data engineering. Known for impactful solutions in Big Data, healthcare data, Observability Intelligence, and Site Reliability Engineering, he utilizes advanced data engineering techniques to drive transformation in cloud and hybrid environments. His skills in tackling data challenges, optimizing infrastructure costs, and pioneering open-source solutions have positioned him as a distinguished leader in data management and technological innovation. Panel 04: Harnessing AI for Advanced Data Security: Trends and Best Practices Anil Kumar Moka (Lead Software Engineer): Anil is a seasoned polyglot Data Software Engineer and visionary technical leader driving innovation and excellence across multidisciplinary platforms with over 17 years of professional experience. Saranya Balaguru (Manager Product & Technology Solutions specialized in Automation & AI) : Saranya Balaguru is an accomplished RPA Solution Architect and Manager of Product and Technology Solutions with over ten years of experience. She is a leader, innovator, and change-maker, recognized for her strategic vision and commitment to excellence. Saranya has delivered transformative automation solutions that streamline processes, reduce costs, and boost efficiency. Passionate about healthcare, she drives impactful projects that enhance patient care while inspiring her teams to advance automation and AI. Bhavin Lakhani (Project Controls Specialist Lead): Bhavin Lakhani is the Project Controls Specialist Lead, PMP, CCM, & Chartered Engineer, bringing extensive experience to bear upon consulting services in Project Controls, Project Management, Risk Management, Estimating, Owner's Representative, & MWBE Outreach & Compliance. He has a career that is stamped by the excellent execution of critical projects across distinguished organizations. He is a Fellow Member of the Indian Institution of Engineers & Life Member of the ACCE, ICI & IBC. Also, he holds membership for prestigious construction organizations such as ASCE, PMI, CMAA, CIARB, & IEI. He has a Master of Science in Environmental Technology and Sustainability and a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. Those credentials bear immense witness to his background capacity to synthesize technical experience with complete mastery of the construction industry provenance. Lastly, we would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to our partners: Supporting Partner - Scriberlee Associate Partner - Metapreneur IT Service Partner - Inprotech Vision Thank you for your invaluable support in making this event a grand success! For media inquiries, please contact: Ajay Bairagi Founder | The Business Fame Website: www.thebusinessfame.com Email: events@thebusinessfame.com Phone: +91-8421361724 (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) NewsVoir Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], November 22: At Lord's Mark Industries Limited, led by Sachidanand Upadhyay, we are committed to fostering positive change within the industries we operate in and actively contributing to the advancement of society as a whole. A dynamic and rapidly growing conglomerate with business units in Solar, Diagnostics and MedTech sectors, the group strives to drive innovation, quality and excellence in everything they do. Sachidanand H Upadhyay is the key promoter of Lords Mark Industries Ltd. A technocrat with a keen vision for growth, he leads the group from the front. Born on December 3, 1977, his educational foundation was laid at Vidya Mandir School in Dahisar. However his entrepreneurial aspirations were ignited by the likes of Ratan Tata. Commencing his professional journey with M/s Ion Exchange (I) Ltd, Upadhyay garnered extensive experience through pivotal roles in renowned corporations such as Nutrients Confectionery, Hindustan Lever Ltd. and Blue Dart, before he ventured out on his own in 1998 with Lords Mark Industries. Leveraging his expertise in the paper industry to find a firm footing in the business firmament, he has since then diversified into Solar/LED industry, Healthcare, Automotive and Pharmaceutical sectors. With a legacy spanning 25 years, the group has now established itself as a prominent player in the market. As part of their growth strategy, they have expanded their presence with subsidiaries in upcoming and growing sectors of the Indian market like EV, insurance, defence, biotech and MedTech. They are also actively exploring opportunities for expansion into the global market. Under Upadhyay's leadership, Lords Mark Industries has grown exponentially in the past decade. Realizing the importance of technology and the need to keep abreast with the evolving needs of the consumers, he has developed an ecosystem that is always tuned in to the environment. This thinking is the core of the DNA of the group. Keeping value creation at the heart of every decision, the company has prudently spread itself across four business units including paper, renewable energy, healthcare, and diagnostic and EV infrastructure technologies. In the future, it plans a big foray into the Automotive, Insurance and Organic space. Its vision is to deliver value to all stakeholders and partners by creating sustainable businesses and becoming a globally recognized brand in conglomerate industries. With a strong commitment to customer satisfaction, innovation, and social responsibility, Upadhyay is an excellent example of a leader who has worked continuously in the direction of fulfilling the company's vision of delivering value to each stakeholder and partner by creating sustainable businesses. Under Upadhyay, Lord's and its subsidiaries have made a mark in Electric Vehicle, Genome Testing, Vitamin Industry and Healthcare. Growth through diversification has become the norm for them, emerging as the cornerstone of their success. The Lords Group has been engaged by the Government of India for its Smart City projects to provide solar lighting systems. The company has tied up with the world's largest electronics conglomerate Philips, to provide solar lighting in Bihar, installing the smart solar street light system based on RMS (Remote Monitoring System). Lord's has also joined hands with the Government of India in "SAUBHAGYA" to provide lights to every home in a village - UPNEDA-UP, APDCL-Assam. Sachidanand Upadhyay certainly is lighting up a bright future for the country. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) The Competition Commission of India (CCI), in association with Merchants' Chamber of Commerce and Industry, organised a Regional Workshop on Competition Law at Kolkata on Friday, according to an official release. During the Inaugural Session of the Workshop, Ravneet Kaur, Chairperson CCI delivered Keynote Address where she highlighted the instrumental role played by trade and industry chambers in providing a platform for engaging in open dialogue and exchanging ideas that drive the economy forward while maintaining a level playing field. At the same time, she urged the associations to operate within the framework of competition law. She further stressed that CCI remains committed to working proactively and collaboratively with trade associations to ensure compliance with competition laws. Referring to the recent pathbreaking reforms effected in the competition law regime, she pointed out that regulatory landscape has evolved significantly with the introduction of the Competition Amendment Act, 2023, to address the emerging challenges and strengthen the commitment to making India a global hub for business. These transformative amendments have been implemented by the CCI, she said specifically highlighting that introduction of commitments and settlements regime is a game changer in how competition law is enforced. This mechanism enables businesses to voluntarily offer solutions that address competition concerns without undergoing lengthy legal proceedings. It allows for quicker market corrections, conserving regulatory resources, and provides businesses an opportunity to avoid adversarial proceedings, the release said The Chairperson expressed confidence that the Workshop will serve as a platform to foster meaningful discussions, enhance understanding, and build synergies between regulators and industry participants. Competition law continues to serve as a catalyst for innovation, economic growth, and consumer welfare. Following the Inaugural Session, two Technical Sessions were conducted by the Officers of CCI. The first Session focused on 'Collusive Conduct and Leniency' and second Session focussed on 'Competition Law Compliance: Do's and Don'ts for Enterprises'. (ANI) Trump and His Allies Courted Assyrians and Smaller Faith Groups (AP) -- A social-media tribute to Coptic Christians. A billboard in Amish country. A visit to a revered Jewish gravesite. While Donald Trump's lock on the white evangelical vote is legendary, he and his campaign allies also wooed smaller religious groups, far from the mainstream. As it turned out, Trump won by decisive margins, but his campaign aggressively courted niche communities with the understanding that every vote could be critical, particularly in swing states. Voter surveys such as exit polls, which canvass broad swaths of the electorate, aren't able to gauge the impact of such microtargeting, but some backers say the effort was worth it. Just one week before the election, Trump directed a post on the social-media platform X to Coptic Christians in the United States --- whose church has ancient roots in Egypt. He saluted their "Steadfast Faith in God, Perseverance through Centuries of Persecution and Love for this Great Country." "This was the first time seeing a major U.S. presidential candidate address the community in this manner," said Mariam Wahba, a Coptic Christian and research analyst with the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a Washington-based research institute. "It was really a profound moment." She said many Copts share the conservative social views of other Christian groups in the Republican constituency, and they may already have been Trump supporters. But the posting reinforced those bonds. Coptic bishops sent the president-elect congratulations after his victory and cited their "shared social and family values." Some Assyrian Christians -- another faith group with Middle Eastern roots -- similarly bonded with Trump, whose mispronunciation of "Assyrian" at a rally created a viral video moment and drew attention to their support. Sam Darmo, a Phoenix real estate agent and co-founder of Assyrians for Trump, said many community members cited the economy, illegal immigration and other prominent voter issues. They echoed other conservative Christians' concerns, he said, on issues such as abortion, gender identity and religious expression in public. But he said Trump supported various Middle Eastern Christians recovering from the Islamic State group's oppressive rule. Darmo also credited Massad Boulos, father-in-law to Trump's daughter Tiffany, for mobilizing various Middle Eastern Christian groups, including Chaldean Catholics, and other voters, particularly in Michigan, such as Muslims. "He brought all these minority groups together," he said. "We're hoping to continue that relationship." But members of Middle Eastern-rooted Christian groups, and their politics, are far from monolithic, said Marcus Zacharia, founder of Progressive Copts, a program of Informed Immigrants, an organization that promotes dialogue on sensitive topics among such groups in the United States and Canada. He said many younger community members question Trump's stances on issues such as immigration, and sense that conservatives sometimes tokenize them by focusing on the plight of persecuted Christians in the Middle East while neglecting wider issues of repression in countries there that the U.S. supports. He said there needs to be more informed dialogue across the political divide in these communities. "There is no more high time than these next four years to have that way of conducting conversations," he said. Courting the Amish Republicans also made an aggressive push for Amish voters, particularly in the swing state of Pennsylvania, where they are most numerous at about 92,000 (many below voting age). The GOP has made similar efforts in the past, even though researchers have found that less than 10% of them typically vote, due to their separatism from society. But Republicans used billboards, mailers, ads and door-to-door campaigner to drive turnout in Lancaster County, home base to the nation's largest Amish settlement. On Election Day, Amish voters Samuel Stoltzfus and his wife Lillian Stoltzfus said they were supporting Trump, citing their anti-abortion beliefs. "We basically look at it as murder," Stoltzfus, 31, said outside a polling center in the Lancaster County community of New Holland, where dozens of other members of the local Amish community voted. Trump has wavered on the issue, dismaying some abortion opponents, though many have said Republicans still align more closely to their views. Stolzfus added: "Make America great again and keep the moral values," he said. "Let's go back to the roots." Steven Nolt, a history professor at Elizabethtown College in Lancaster College who studies the Amish and their voting patterns, said that while it's too early to say definitively without further research, he doesn't see evidence of a larger turnout this year. Lancaster County as a whole -- most of which is not Amish -- is a GOP stronghold that Trump won handily, though both parties' votes edged up from 2020, according to unofficial results posted by the Pennsylvania Department of State. Trump's biggest increases were in urban or suburban areas with few Amish, while some areas with larger Amish populations generally saw a modest increase in the Trump vote, said Nolt, director of the college's Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies. "Bottom line, percentage-wise, not much change in the parts of Lancaster County where the Amish live," he said. Paying respects at a Chabad grave Trump directly reached out to members of the Chabad Lubavitch movement, a prominent and highly observant branch of Orthodox Judaism. On Oct. 7, the anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel that triggered the Gaza war, Trump made a symbolically resonant visit to the "Ohel," the burial site of the movement's revered late leader, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson. Wearing a yarmulke, the traditional Jewish skullcap, Trump, who has Jewish family members, brought a written prayer to the Ohel and laid a small stone at the grave in keeping with tradition. The site in New York City, while particularly central to Chabad adherents, draws an array of Jewish and other visitors, including politicians. About two-thirds of Jewish voters overall supported Trump's opponent, Democrat Kamala Harris, according to AP VoteCast, a survey of more than 120,000 voters. But the Trump campaign has made a particular outreach to Orthodox Jews, citing issues including his policies toward Israel in his first administration. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan here on Friday attended the 'Odisha Parba' at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi. He also visited the stalls with Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, which set up by the people of Odisha to showcase the art and culture of Odisha. Speaking to ANI, Pradhan said, "The 7th edition of 'Odisha Parba' is being hosted in Delhi. The Odia samaj is here to showcase the art, culture and food of Odisha. People are very excited for the festival." He also said that President Droupadi Murmu inaugrated the Odisha Parba. According to an official PIB release, the President said that Odisha Parba has played an important role in making people aware of the rich heritage of Odisha's art, literature, dance, music and cuisine. She appreciated all stakeholders for organising this event for a decade in New Delhi. The President said that the Kalinga War turned 'Chandashoka' into 'Dharmashoka'. This war teaches us that peace is important for progress. Some parts of today's world are facing conflicts. The Kalinga war chapter of Odisha's history can show the path of peace to the world. The President said that the most important aspect of Odisha's culture is tolerance. She urged people to live with affection and harmony and work to the best of their ability for India and Odisha. Earlier in the national capital, Dharmendra Pradhan met with a high-level delegation from Johns Hopkins University (JHU) on Sunday, during which the two sides explored the potential for establishing an offshore campus of the prestigious US university in India. The 12-member delegation was led by JHU's president Ronald J Daniels. The delegation also included officials from Gupta Klinsky India Institute (GKII), an internal unit of JHU with a mandate to bring the JHU community with Indian partners through research, education, policy and practice. During the meeting, the discussion centred on strengthening academic and research collaborations between JHU, a private research university in Baltimore, Maryland, United States, and premier Indian Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). Pradhan emphasised the potential for collaborations to foster innovation and entrepreneurship among students in both nations, the education ministry said in a statement. (ANI) Actor Raima Sen paid emotional tributes to her father Bharat Dev Varma who passed away on November 19. On Friday, Raima took a stroll down memory lane and shared unseen pictures on Instagram. "Daddy Can't write anything yet . Words fall short of what a great father and husband you have been . Till then dad may you be happy wherever you are and live king size like you always did. will miss you always and love you," she said in a note. https://www.instagram.com/p/DCq3jkNT0Pd/?img_index=3 Celina Jaitley and Sanjay Kapoor paid their codonlences in the comment section. Celina dropped sad and heart broken emojis while Sanjay wrote, "Deepest condolences." Actor Moon Moon Sen's husband, and father of Raima and Riya Sen, Bharat Dev Varma, passed away at his Kolkata residence. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had expressed her grief. She wrote, "Saddened by the demise of Bharat Dev Varma, the husband of filmstar Moon Moon Sen, and himself a great well-wisher of mine. He was indeed very loving and affectionate to me, and I shall always treasure his memories. He truly considered me as part of his family, and his demise is a great loss for me. After getting the news this morning, I visited their Ballygunge residence, where their daughter Riya was present. Moon Moon and Raima are coming from Delhi. I paid my respects to the departed and condolences to the family." Mamata also visited their residence in Kolkata to express her condolences. In a video shared on her official social media page, the TMC leader, while addressing the media, shared that Moon Moon and Raima were in Delhi when the news broke. Mamata also mentioned that Bharat Dev Varma appeared to be in good health. "I spoke with Moon Moon. She was not aware. He was a very decent person. I have lost a well-wisher, a family member. I have lost someone my own. The local councillors are here. The police have been instructed to create a green corridor as soon as Moon Moon arrives. He was not unwell, as far as I know. Two nights ago, they had a party. In winter, strokes and heart attacks happen early in the morning," she had said. Moon Moon Sen married Bharat Dev Varma in 1976. (ANI) Amid an ongoing controversy over the Waqf Board land issue, Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders staged a protest against the state government, demanding the removal of the term "Waqf Board" from government records and raising concerns over alleged encroachments by the Waqf Board. Former Minister BC Patil, BJP Haveri district president Arunkumar Pujar, former MLA Virupakshappa Bellary, along with other BJP leaders and activists, participated in the protest. The demonstrators were later detained by the police. Protests were held in front of Deputy Commissioner (DC) and Tahsildar offices across the state under the banner 'Our Land, Our Right'. Speaking about the state-wide protest, Karnataka Legislative Council LoP Chalavadi Narayanaswamy said, "All over Karnataka, our leaders are holding a state-wide protest for three days (on November 21, 22, and 23) to demand the removal of the Waqf Board from government records. The Waqf Board should be removed because it is capturing farmers' land. It is a wrong move..." Earlier, amid the uproar over the issue, the Karnataka Government's Principal Secretary of the Revenue Department issued a directive to all Regional Commissioners and District Commissioners regarding the Waqf matter. The letter warns of disciplinary action against officials who alter land mutation records or issue eviction notices to farmers under the Waqf Act. The order, issued on November 9, directs officials to withdraw all notices served to farmers, revoke any land mutation orders issued by authorities, and halt ongoing mutation work. Meanwhile, Jagdambika Pal, Chairman of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024, stated on Thursday that the committee's report is ready and will be submitted to the House on time. A meeting of the JPC was held on Thursday at the Parliament House Annexe. Addressing the media, Pal said, "This is not the last meeting. If the questions raised by members are answered, their opinions will be considered for the proposed amendment, and a consensus will be formed. Our report is ready, and the committee will submit it on time." The JPC is expected to present its report on the bill to the House by the end of the first week of the Winter Session of Parliament, scheduled to run from November 25 to December 20. The JPC's work forms part of a broader national effort to reform the Waqf Act and ensure that waqf properties are used for the greater benefit of the community. (ANI) Odisha Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida announced that the state government will launch the third phase of its cash transfer scheme, 'Subhadra Yojana,' on Sunday, November 24. Speaking to ANI on Thursday, Parida said the scheme will be launched in Sundargarh district, highlighting that it will benefit more than 20 lakh women. "We will launch the third phase of Subhadra Yojana on the 24th (November) in Sundargarh, and this time we will include more than 20 lakh women. As per our promise to include over one crore women in the Subhadra Yojana, I believe we will achieve this target by December," stated Deputy Chief Minister Parida. Earlier this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated 'Subhadra,' the flagship scheme of the Odisha government, in Bhubaneswar. According to a government release, it is the largest women-centric scheme in the state, aiming to benefit over one crore women. Under the scheme, all eligible beneficiaries aged 21 to 60 years will receive Rs 50,000 over five years, from 2024-25 to 2028-29. Beneficiaries will get Rs 10,000 annually in two equal installments, credited directly to their Aadhaar-enabled, DBT-linked bank accounts. During the launch, the Prime Minister initiated the transfer of funds to the bank accounts of over 10 lakh women. On a separate note, Odisha Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo commented on the Maharashtra and Jharkhand exit polls. He stated that no party other than the NDA could provide a stable government in these states. Speaking to the media, Deo remarked, "The wait is just for two more days. The people of India want a stable government, and I believe only the NDA can deliver that stability." (ANI) The Assam Rifles in two joint operations with the Anti-Narcotics Squad of Mizoram, recovered 107 grams of heroin worth Rs 74.90 lakhs and apprehended three individuals, according to a press statement from Assam Rifles. Both operations were conducted on November 20 in the Dawrpui and Thuampui areas of Aizawl, Mizoram. The apprehended accused have been identified as Lalpeksanga (29) and Lalfamkima (22), both residents of the Salem Veng area in Dawrpui, Aizawl while the third accused apprehended in the second operation has been identified as Lalchawisangi (35), a resident of Champhai, Mizoram. Based on specific intelligence, the officials of Assam Rifles and Anti-Narcotics Squad conducted two different joint operations on Wednesday. The contraband was carried by suspects in a transparent polythene cover. As per the release, the entire consignment along with the apprehended individuals have been handed over to the Anti-Narcotics Squad, Excise and Narcotics Department of Mizoram for further legal proceedings. Earlier, Assam Rifles and police recovered a huge consignment of Methamphetamine tablets and heroin worth Rs 85.95 crore in two separate operations in Mizoram's Zokhawthar, officials said on Wednesday. "In a significant success against drug cartels, Assam Rifles, acting on precise intelligence, seized 28.520 kg of Methamphetamine and 52 gms of Heroin No 4 worth Rupees 85.95 crore in two separate operations on 20 Nov 24. This substantial recovery marks another milestone in Assam Rifles' relentless efforts to eliminate the drug menace from Mizoram and protect India's borders from the rising threat of narcotics smuggling," an official release said. The operation of recovery of Methamphetamine tablets was launched after receiving credible inputs about the movement of a suspicious consignment across the Tiau River, by two persons. As the joint team of Assam Rifles and Police closed in, the traffickers attempting to evade capture, fled the scene and crossed over to Myanmar abandoning their load. A thorough search of the consignment by the team led to the recovery of 28.520 kg of Methamphetamine tablets, valued approx at Rupees 85.56 crore, it said. In the second operation one woman and a man, both residents of Myanmar were apprehended after they were found in possession of 52 gms of Heroin No 4 worth Rs 39 Lakh while moving in a Kenbo Bike. The seized contraband along with other items and the bike were handed over to the Police Department, Zokhawthar, for further investigation and legal proceedings, the release added. (ANI) This accolade was conferred on the state on November 21--- World Fisheries Day. Uttarakhand Secretary of Animal Husbandry and Fisheries BVRC Purushottam received the award from Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairy Raj Rajiv Ranjan Singh at a ceremony held in New Delhi on Thursday. As per the CMO, the state's milestones in fisheries development include 'Trout Farming Expansion,' wherein, the fisheries department has established over 1,400 trout raceways across the state, boosting trout farming and production. In infrastructure development, the state has developed a state-level aquapark and a wholesale fish market in Udham Singh Nagar, creating significant opportunities for fish farmers under the Matsya Sampada Yojana. In terms of market linkages, a landmark agreement was signed between local fish farmers' groups and ITBP (Indo-Tibetan Border Police) for fish supply, providing farmers with reliable market access and enhancing their income. These initiatives are part of Uttarakhand's concerted efforts to empower fish farmers, promote sustainable aquaculture, and diversify livelihood options in the Himalayan region, the CMO statement mentioned. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami congratulated the Fisheries Department and fish farmers on this recognition. "This award reflects the dedication and innovative approach of the state towards empowering farmers and promoting sustainable livelihoods. The government remains committed to enhancing the income of farmers and livestock farmers through various schemes and initiatives," CMO quoted the Chief Minister as saying. (ANI) Union Minister Prahlad Joshi on Monday wrote to Justice Michael D'Cunha, expressing regret and apologising for his recent comments regarding the D'Cunha Commission. According to sources, the commission, tasked with investigating alleged irregularities during the COVID-19 pandemic, recently submitted an interim report recommending action against former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa and former minister B Sriramulu. The report alleged that the then BJP led government purchased Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits at inflated prices, despite cheaper local alternatives being available. Addressing the report during an election rally in Shiggaon, Joshi lashed out at Justice D'Cunha, accusing him of acting as an "agent." The remarks sparked a row which in return prompted the minister to issue a public apology through the letter. In his letter, Joshi wrote: "I am writing to you with reference to the recent statements made by me, which seemingly has raised a controversy. The same has occasioned me to address the present letter. At the outset, I must state that in my long years of public life there has been no occasion where I have directly or indirectly made any remark or statement which has had a tendency to lower the reputation of any past or present member of the judiciary. I do believe that judiciary and all the Hon'ble judges form the bulwark of the working of our constitution. They without a doubt have an important role in the sacred duty of discharge of justice." Joshi further in his letter clarified that his comments were not intended to defame Justice D'Cunha or the commission. The Union Minister stated: "To set the record straight, it would therefore be necessary to clarify that the statements made by me were only and only in the context of the procedure adopted by the commission in not affording an opportunity to the persons allegedly indicted. It was neither calculated nor designed to bring either you or the commission under any disrepute or to lower your image in the minds of the right-thinking people of the society." He concluded with an apology: "At a personal level I must state that if the statements made by me unintendedly have caused any hurt or misgivings to you I do regret the same and place my sincere apology." Joshi also expressed hope that the letter would peacefully resolve the issue. (ANI) A thick layer of smog engulfed the national capital on Friday while the air quality index in Delhi remained in the 'very poor' category, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). At 7 am on Friday, the CPCB recorded Delhi's AQI at 371, which placed it in the 'very poor' category. According to the CPCB data, the AQI measured at Chandni Chowk till 7 am was 359, IGI Airport (T3) 357, ITO 344, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium 342, RK Puram 372, Okhla Phase 2 374, Patparganj 379, Sonia Vihar 400 and Aya Nagar 359. However, several places in Delhi are still in the 'severe' category for air pollution, with Anand Vihar recording an AQI of 410, Bawana 411, Mundka 402, and Wazirpur at 413. An AQI between 0-50 is considered good, 51-100 is satisfactory, 101-200 is moderate, 201-300 is poor, 301-400 is very poor and 401-500 is severe. Suryakant, who was out for a morning walk on Lodhi Road, said the pollution situation in Delhi is very bad and the number of people coming for morning walks has reduced. "The pollution situation in Delhi is very bad. It is unfortunate. Schools have started online classes. The number of people coming for morning walks has also reduced. Eyes are burning," he said. Prakash Kumar Singh, a Class 12 student, informed his classes have also gone online, due to the high AQI. "Pollution has increased. When the weather changes, pollution always increases in Delhi. We are youngsters, so it doesn't affect us much, but the condition of the elderly is getting worse. I am also a student and my classes have gone online, so it is very good because the AQI is very high," he told ANI. Gaurav a tourist who had come to visit India Gate said that the pollution is causing itching in the throat, sore throat, and a burning sensation in the eyes. "Pollution is causing itching in the throat, sore throat, and burning sensation in the eyes. The only solution for this at the moment is to wear a mask and stay at home. The government should reduce the sources of pollution. Pollution is causing trouble for the elderly," he told ANI. Meanwhile, the situation is slightly better in Uttar Pradesh, as Lucknow recorded an AQI of 268 at 7 am on Friday, which has been categorised as poor by the CPCB. In Noida, a thin layer of smog engulfed the city, where the AQI was recorded at 262, which is categorised as 'poor' according to the CPCB. In Agra, the iconic Taj Mahal looked ethereal amid a thin layer of fog. According to the Central Pollution Control Board, the air quality in the region is in the 'moderate' category. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that the city witnessed 'light fog' today. Stephanie, a tourist from London, said that the Taj Mahal is absolutely amazing, but there is a lot of pollution in the air. "I think the Taj is absolutely amazing. It is very beautiful, especially in the morning when there is a lot of fog and the river water is rising. It looks very beautiful. But I think there is a lot of pollution in the air; you can smell the smoke. But it makes for a very beautiful picture," she told ANI. Delhi has been battling severe air quality and thick smog for the past few weeks. At 8 am on Thursday, the city's AQI was recorded at 379, categorised as 'very poor' by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Earlier on Thursday, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) launched a scathing attack on Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav and accused him of being indifferent to the growing pollution crisis in north India. Citing a national daily's report titled "AQI in north India hits 'severe plus' levels; toxic smog now visible even from space," the AAP wrote on Twitter (formerly Twitter), "Bhupender Yadav ji doesn't care". In view of the alarming pollution levels, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) implemented Phase IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in Delhi-NCR from November 18. Phase IV of GRAP includes restrictions such as a ban on entry of trucks and suspension of public works projects. (ANI) The apprehended person has been identified as Ali Ahmed (42), a resident of the Lakhimpur district of Assam. Pranab Jyoti Goswami, CPRO of Assam police said that in the ongoing investigation of STF in the Fake Currency Case, a raid was conducted in the Kharikata area under Sonapur police station jurisdiction by STF Assam on Thursday evening, after which an accused was arrested. "During the raid, the STF team recovered and seized Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN) of face value Rs 4,59,000 (918 notes of denomination 500), one Mobile Phone, and 8 numbers of tape. The team also apprehended Ali Ahmed (42), a resident of Lakhimpur district. Further investigation is underway," Pranab Jyoti Goswami said. In a separate operation, an STF team seized 121 grams of heroin and apprehended one person at the Boko area in Kamrup district on Thursday. The accused has been identified as Sorif Ali (41). Police also recovered one mobile phone and cash from his possession. The Assam Police CPRO said that acting on intel about possible transportation of contraband, a team of STF chased and intercepted a public vehicle in the Boko area under the limits of Boko police station in Kamrup district of the state. "From a vehicle, a person was apprehended and upon search a total of 9 soap boxes containing heroin weighing 121 grams were recovered which were duly seized following all norms of NDPS/BNSS. The team also recovered one mobile phone and cash from his possession. The apprehended person was identified as Sorif Ali (41 years old)," Pranab Jyoti Goswami said. (ANI) Yuvajana Sramika Rythu (YSR) Congress Party or YSRCP on Friday clarified that there was no direct agreement between Andhra Pradesh (AP) distribution companies (DISCOMs) and Adani group. The statement came after US proecutors charged Adani Group chairma Gautam Adani and others linking them to an alleged bribery scheme. Earlier, Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited (SECI), a government of India entity under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, came under attack by Congress leader Jairam Ramesh who alleged that SECI was the "key player" in the "corruption scandal". "It is necessary to mention that SECI is a Government of India enterprise. There is no direct agreement between AP DISCOMs and any other entities including those belonging to the Adani group. Therefore, the allegations made on the State Government, in the light of the indictment are incorrect," YSR Congress Party said in a statement on Thursday. The Andhra Pradesh government when Jagan Mohan Reddy was the Chief Minister came into an agreement with SECI for a 25-year period to procure power to the extent of 7,000 megawatts at Rs 2.49 per kWh (Kilowatt hour). "The Government of Andhra Pradesh entered into an arrangement to procure power from SECI (Solar Energy Corporation of India) to the tune of 7,000 MW at Rs. 2.49 per kWh for 25 years with 3,000 MW commencing in FY 2024-25, 3,000 MW commencing in FY 2025- 26 and 1,000 MW commencing in FY 2026-27 with a waiver of the ISTS charges," the statement read. "Owing to reasons that the project didn't entail a burden on account of ISTS (inter-state transmission system) charges, allowing for the procurement of power at cheaper rates, the project would "substantially" benefit the state with savings worth Rs 3,700 crores per annum", the statement read, adding that the total benefit to Andhra Pradesh would be immense on account of the agreement being for 25 years. Meanwhile, Opposition parties on Thursday pressed for a JPC probe into alleged bribery allegations with Congress leader Jairam Ramesh alleging that a key player in the "corruption scandal" is the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), a Government of India company. The Adani Group has denied the allegations made by the US Department of Justice and the US Securities and Exchange Commission against directors of Adani Green. BJP said the law will take its own course and slammed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (ANI) The Border Security Force (BSF) Tripura Frontier organised a motorbike rally on Friday as part of the array of activities to commemorate the establishment of the force in 1965 and celebrate BSF Raising Day on December 1. The motorbike rally is being organised by BSF Tripura and will depart from Albert Ekka Park after being flagged off by IPS, DG, TP Amitabh Ranjan. The bike rally is one of the programs in the series of several programs being organised to celebrate the BSF Raising Day. Earlier, Rajesh Kumar Langeh, Second in Command announced that the motor rally would take place on November 22, 2024, at 8:30 AM, with participation from BSF, CRPF, TSR, Assam Rifles, Tripura Police, and other central and state forces, as well as semi-military personnel. The general public of Agartala will also take part in the rally, Kumar Langeh added. The main objective of this motorbike rally is to unite and raise awareness among the general public, he added. The BSF Tripura Frontier has announced the celebrations for the BSF Raising Day on December 1. This includes a blood donation camp, border tours for children, motivational speeches, and lectures at educational institutions, aimed at fostering awareness and community engagement. A key highlight of the celebrations is a motor rally scheduled for November 22 starting at 8:30 AM. The rally will see participation from various forces, including BSF, CRPF, TSR, Assam Rifles, Tripura Police, and other central and state security personnel. Semi-military personnel and the general public of Agartala will also join the rally, which will commence at the BSF camp in Lichu Bagan and conclude at the BSF camp in Gokulnagar. The primary objective of the motor rally is to unite the public and raise awareness about the role and contributions of the BSF in safeguarding the nation. This initiative underscores the BSF's commitment to fostering a strong bond with the community while promoting a sense of pride and responsibility among citizens. Rajesh Kumar Langeh, Second in Command, said, as per the order of the Border Security Force (BSF) Headquarters, Tripura Frontier, we will be celebrating the 1st of December as BSF Raising Day, which marks the day in 1965 when the BSF was raised. On this occasion, several activities will be organized, including a blood donation camp, a border tour for children, motivational speeches and lectures at schools and colleges, and a motor rally, he said. (ANI) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson CR Kesavan on Friday lashed out at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for demanding the arrest of Gautam Adani following the indictment by a United States (US) court in a bribery case, calling him an "unreliable chronic liar." Meanwhile, Adani Group has denied charges levelled by the US court as being "baseless." "Rahul Gandhi is an unreliable chronic liar who rambles and rants about Prime Minister Narendra Modi to distort facts. Gandhi's erratic press conference yesterday was a display of desperation which the people will not believe because it was baseless and bogus. Falsehood is being fabricated. People don't believe Rahul Gandhi because this has been his history in the past. Before I come to that Rahul Gandhi yesterday specifically harped on three things - he talked about corruption, protection and PM Modi," Kesavan said. The BJP spokesperson said that the UPA government led by the Congress was a colossal of corruption and people rejected it in 2014 because it symbolises corruption. He further accused Congress of spreading "venom" against the Prime Minister. "The crux of the matter is that from 2004 to 2014, the UPA led by Congress was a colossal of corruption. The people rejected the Congress government in 2014 because it symbolised corruption. Since then, PM Modi has earned the trust of the people by ensuring corruption free inclusive governance. This is why he has been voted into power three consecutive times. Rahul Gandhi knows this and the Congress spread venom because it doesn't know how to deal with the Prime Minister," Kesavan said. Taking a dig at Rahul Gandhi, BJP's Kesavan said that Rahul Gandhi was exposed in the HAL matter that he raised during the previous Lok Sabha elections as the company's revenue has been increased by six times. "During the 2019 elections, Rahul Gandhi had talked about HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited) saying that it was being weakened. He alleged that another corporate company was being favoured and HAL's rights were being snatched away. To this, HAL union workers refused to meet Rahul Gandhi saying that people are underestimating the capacity of HAL and they don't want to be dragged into the slugfest. They know that the issue was being politicised baselessly. Now a report has come out which says that HAL's revenue is six times more than what it was. This is the reality and see how Rahul Gandhi has been exposed," the BJP spokesperson said. Meanwhile, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Thursday called for Gautam Adani's arrest and said that it is "clear" and "established" that the Adani Group Chairman has broken both American and Indian laws. "Wherever there is corruption, investigation should be done. But the investigation will begin with Adani. Unless he is arrested, it won't be credible. So, begin it from there. Arrest Adani, interrogate him and then nab whoever is involved. In the end, Narendra Modi's name will come out because BJP's entire funding structure is in his hands. So, even if the PM wants, he can't do anything. In a way, Adani has hijacked the country. India is in Adani's grip," Rahul Gandhi said. A five-count criminal indictment was unsealed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, charging prominent Indian executives including the Chairman of the Adani Group Gautam Adani by linking them to an alleged bribery and fraud scheme. (ANI) After Congress MP Rahul Gandhi called for the arrest of Gautam Adani and said that it was "clear" and "established" that Adani Group had broken American and Indian laws amid the alleged bribery charges against him by the United States, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav on Friday said that Rahul Gandhi had said the right thing. Speaking to ANI, Yadav said "Rahul Gandhi has said the right thing that Adani should be arrested. Adani should be arrested." Earlier, on November 21, opposition parties pressed for a JPC probe into the alleged bribery allegations on the Adani group company and also attacked the Modi government over the issue. BJP said the law will take its own course and slammed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his attack on BJP-led government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge demanded a comprehensive Joint Parliament Committee (JPC) investigation into the matter including Adani group's investments in foreign countries. "When a top-ranking Indian businessman is indicted by a foreign country, it tarnishes our image at the global stage. The Indian National Congress has been continuously objecting to unethical business practices which profiteer and promote certain individuals by implementing Modi Govt's policy of creating monopolies in key sectors and concentrating wealth in the hands of few by giving undue favours," the Congress chief posted on X. Kharge said that the entire vicious nexus involving cronies compromised bureaucrats and certain politicians has to be "investigated and dismantled." "This nexus severely hurts our people - poor and middle class, aspiring entrepreneurs, MSMEs, Startups and crores of small and medium retail investors, for it widens inequalities by snatching savings and opportunities," Kharge added. He also took a dig at PM Modi's "Ek Hain, Toh Safe Hain" slogan and alleged "One Monopoly to protect the looted SAFE!" Kharge said that "comprehensive JPC", which not only investigates every aspect of the working of the "Adani Group, the deliberate institutional erosion of the SEBI, SECI and government bodies, and the deals of the Adani Group in foreign countries is the need of the hour." "As Shri Rahul Gandhi mentions, this investigation should start with Mr. Adani. Only then, we as a country can ensure that the hard-earned money of our people remains SAFE, inequalities are reduced, our systems enable a conducive environment for market competition, become transparent and accountable and ignite the spirit entrepreneurship for all," he added. Meanwhile, the Adani Group has denied the allegations made by the US Department of Justice and the US Securities and Exchange Commission against directors of Adani Green. (ANI) Manipur Police on Friday arrested seven more individuals in connection with arson and property damage incidents involving elected members on November 16. This brings the total number of arrests to 32. According to Manipur police officials, the new arrests were made on November 20 and 21. In connection with cases related to arson/damage of properties of elected members on 16.11.2024, Manipur Police arrested 07 (seven) more persons on 20.11.2024 and 21.11.2024 in addition to the 25 (twenty-five) persons arrested on earlier days", the police officials said via a post on X. Those arrested have been identified as Wahengbam Jyotikumar Singh (26), Khundrakpam Bikram Singh (41), Monish Nepram (31), and Aribam Mirachandra Sharma (41),.Elangbam Harison Singh alias Dada (34), Lourembam Norojit Singh alias Nonni Singh (40), Laimayum Kedarnath Sharma (37). Further investigation is ongoing, said the Manipur Police on their social media platform X. Police also conducted search operations and area domination by security forces in the fringe and vulnerable areas of hill and valley districts. Movement of 50 and 432 nos. of vehicles carrying essential items along NH-37 and NH-2 has been ensured. Strict security measures are taken up in all vulnerable locations and security convoy is provided in sensitive stretches in order to ensure free and safe movement of the vehicles. A total of 105 Nakas/Checkpoints were installed in different Districts of Manipur, both in the hill and the valley and no one was detained by Police in connection with violations in different districts of the State. In related developments, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh has responded sharply to Congress leader P Chidambaram''s criticism of his handling of the ongoing crisis in the state. Chidambaram had posted, then deleted, a message blaming the Chief Minister for the crisis, suggesting that the situation in Manipur was a result of his leadership. In response, Singh accused Chidambaram of being the "root cause" of the ongoing violence in the state. Meanwhile, several Manipur MLAs passed a resolution on Monday outlining their demands in response to the violence. The resolution called on the central government to reconsider the imposition of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in the state. The MLAs also demanded an operation within seven days against Kuki militants, who are accused of killing six people, including women and children, in Jiribam. Additionally, the resolution called for the transfer of three key cases to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), including investigations into the killing of six civilians, a woman who was burnt, and a woman farmer. The recent escalation followed the discovery of six bodies, leading the state government to suspend internet services in seven districts as a precautionary measure. (ANI) BJP leader Shehzad Poonawala on Friday stepped up his attacks on Congress MP Rahul Gandhi for his remarks following allegations by US prosecutors against Gautam Adani and others in a purported bribery scam. Reacting to the remarks, Poonawala said that some people start opposing the economic progress of the country while opposing a person or a party. In a veiled attack, he also accused the Congress and Rahul Gandhi of becoming "puppets" of certain foreign powers. Speaking to ANI, Poonawala said, "Some people start opposing the economic progress of the country while opposing a person or a party. Some people sitting in our country have become puppets of certain foreign powers and sleeper cells of the economic anarchy. Is it a coincidence that before the beginning of the Parliament session some or the other baseless foreign report emerges and the Parliament session is hijacked?... Sometimes it is Pegasus report, Rafale report, Hindenburg report and now there is a new report." Referring to the documents, he further said that whatever is in the report are allegations against those states where there were Congress or INDIA Alliance governments, however, he stressed that allegations are yet to be proven. "The report says that the allegations are yet to be proven. The allegations are against those states where there were Congress or INDIA Alliance governments.... Congress has become a mouthpiece of such powers... Is Congress with those forces that want to harm the country? They want to harm the economic interests by being the puppet of people like Soros..." he said. Opposition parties on Thursday pressed for a JPC probe into alleged bribery allegations with Congress leader Jairam Ramesh alleging that a key player in the "corruption scandal" is the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), a Government of India company. After US prosecutors charged Gautam Adani and others in an alleged bribery case, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi demanded Adani's arrest, claiming it is "clear" and "established" that the Adani Group Chairman has violated both American and Indian laws. The Leader of the Opposition also expressed concern, questioning why Adani remains a "free man" in India. He said, "Chief Ministers have been arrested, and Adani has allegedly committed a Rs2,000 crore scam among others, but there is no investigation." The Adani Group has denied the allegations made by the US Department of Justice and the US Securities and Exchange Commission against directors of Adani Green. While the BJP said the law will take its own course and slammed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (ANI) During the ongoing assembly session in Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan said that the National Employment Scheme aims to generate seven crore man-days (the amount of work a person does in one day) and provide 30,000 development works through Palle Pandugu initiative. The Palle Pandugu initiative includes constructing 3,000 kilometres of cement concrete (CC) roads and 500 kilometres of bituminous (BT) roads. Deputy Chief Minister Kalyan accused the previous government of diverting Rs 13,000 crores and destroying the system, saying that his government was reviewing the diverted funds. "To provide employment opportunities in rural areas, the National Employment Scheme was implemented. After the formation of the NDA coalition government, a budget of Rs 4500 crores was allocated, covering wages and materials. The scheme aims to generate seven crore man-days, providing thirty thousand works through the Palle Pandugu initiative, which includes constructing 3000 kilometres of CC roads and 500 kilometres of BT roads. We will complete all these works, including 20,000 mini Gokulams (cowsheds). Signboards and information boards have been set up in the villages. The previous government destroyed the system, diverting Rs 13,000 crores and we are currently reviewing the diverted funds," Andhra Pradesh Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan said. The Deputy CM said that the National Employment Scheme would provide employment opportunities in rural areas. "Employment opportunities in rural areas will be provided through the National Employment Scheme. Cleaning of ponds and lakes will be carried out. A total of 1.49 lakh job cards have already been issued for 100 days of work, and 5.85 lakh wage seekers are currently employed," Deputy CM Kalyan added. He also said that the graveyards should be surrounded by a compound wall. Earlier, the Telangana government on Thursday banned the use of single-use plastic in the district. Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan directed the use of biodegradable material as a replacement. To control air pollution, the previous government released Rs 19.15 crore under the National Clean Air Program (NCAP) scheme from the year 2022 to 2024. Additionally, the Union government had also allocated Rs 129.25 crore to tackle pollution, however, due to negligence by the previous government, the pollution control measures were less effective. (ANI) Mumbai Police investigation into the Baba Siddiqui murder case has revealed that prime suspect Akashdeep Gill, arrested in Punjab, used a labourer's mobile hotspot to communicate with key conspirators, including mastermind Anmol Bishnoi, police said. Gill was identified as the logistics coordinator in the murder plot orchestrated by notorious gangster Anmol Bishnoi. "In a significant development in the Baba Siddique murder case, Akashdeep Gill, arrested from Fazilka, Punjab, disclosed during interrogation how he communicated with key conspirators using a labourer's mobile hotspot. This method was employed to evade police detection," Mumbai Crime Branch said "Gill admitted to using the hotspot of a labourer named Balwinder, allowing him to appear offline and avoid tracking. The Crime Branch is currently searching for Gill's mobile phone, which may hold vital evidence related to the case. Gill has been identified as a crucial logistical coordinator for the murder plot orchestrated by gangster Anmol Bishnoi," they said. On November 12, Killa court in Mumbai sent Shiva Kumar, the main accused and shooter in Baba Siddiqui murder case, along with four other accused, to police custody till November 19. Shiva Kumar and four other accused were arrested by a joint team of Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) and the Mumbai Crime Branch from Nanpara area of Uttar Pradesh's Bahraich on November 10. NCP leader Baba Siddique was shot dead by three assailants near his son, MLA Zeeshan Siddique's, office in Mumbai's Nirmal Nagar on October 12. Police have also arrested Salman Vohra and Akashdeep Singh in connection with the murder. Vohra has been accused of financing the murder. A gang led by jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi has claimed responsibility for the murder. According to the information received from a senior officer of the Mumbai Crime Branch, the investigation of the Mumbai Crime Branch has revealed that after the murder of Baba Siddiqui, a big leader of Pune was also on the radar of the Bishnoi gang. On November 16 Shubham Lonkar, the mastermind and wanted accused in the NCP leader's murder had allegedly planned to kill Aftab Poonawala, the accused arrested in the gruesome Shraddha Walker murder case, according to sources. As per the sources, Lonkar, allegedly associated with Lawrence Bishnoi gang, continuously planned for a month in 2022 to kill Poonawala in Delhi's Saket Court. Accused Aftab is currently lodged in Delhi's Tihar Jail number 4. (ANI) A day ahead of declaration of results of the Maharashtra Assembly, President of the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) President Prakash Ambedkar said on Friday that if his party obtains the required numbers in the polls, it will choose the side that can form the government. "If VBA gets the numbers, tomorrow, to support a party or an alliance to form the government in Maharashtra, we will choose to be with one who can form the government. We will choose power!" posted Prakash Ambedkar on X. This comes as a message for both - the ruling BJP-led Mahayuti and the Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (INDIA) bloc. VBA chief Ambedkar cast his vote for the Maharashtra assembly elections at a polling booth in Akola on voting day---November 20. The voting for 288 assembly seats in Maharashtra concluded on Wednesday, and the counting of votes is scheduled for November 23. Most exit polls have projected that the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance is likely to form government, while some predicted a close contest. Maharashtra recorded a 62.05 per cent voter turnout, the Election Commission of India (ECI) said on Wednesday. The ECI said that simultaneous polling for all 288 seats in Maharashtra concluded peacefully. Despite a range of measures by the Commission for ease of voting, and motivational campaigns, urban voters in the state continued their dismal record of low participation in cities like Mumbai, Pune and Thane. In Maharashtra, the primary contest is between the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance and the Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). The ruling BJP-led Mahayuti alliance includes the BJP, Shiv Sena, and the Nationalist Congress Party, while the opposition MVA comprises the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction). This election is significant as it is the first assembly poll in the state following the split in the Shiv Sena and NCP. (ANI) As many as 10 Naxals have been killed in the encounter that broke out between the District Reserve Guard (DRG) and Naxals in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district on Friday morning. Inspector General (IG) Bastar, P Sundarraj shared the development and said, "10 Naxals killed in an encounter with DRG in southern Sukma, Chhattisgarh. INSAS, AK-47, SLR and several other weapons were recovered. The search operation is underway." As per an official update at 11.30 am, "10 Naxal bodies have been recovered in the search operation. INSAS, AK-47, SLR and many other weapons have been recovered. The search operation is going on." "DRG and CRPF forces had left on the intelligence of Naxal members of Konta and Kistaram Area Committee of Sukma district. The encounter between the DRG team and Naxalites is continuing in the forest hills of villages Korajuguda, Dantespuram, Nagaram, and Bhandarpadar under the Bhejji police station area of Sukma district," the official update said. Earlier in the day, IG Sundarraj said that the exchange of fire had been underway since morning and a search operation was ongoing. Speaking on the operation, Chief Minister Vishnudeo Sai said that his government is working on the policy of zero tolerance towards Naxalism. He also said that ensuring development, peace and security of citizens in Bastar is the top priority of his government. He said that the era of peace, development and progress has returned to Bastar. Congratulating the security forces for their courage and dedication, he said that the elimination of Naxalites from Chhattisgarh is certain. The Chhattisgrah CM said that the state government is moving ahead in a planned manner towards fulfilling the target set by Union Home Minister Amit Shah of eliminating Naxalites from Chhattisgarh by March 2026. Earlier on Wednesday, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi to discuss the progress in combating Naxalism in the state and expressed confidence in making the state 'naxal-free' by March 2026. The CM said that the state government and the security forces have been working relentlessly in the direction of uprooting the Naxals from Chhattisgarh and fulfilling the Union Home Minister's commitment to eradicating the Naxals by 2026. "I met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and apprised him of the Naxal activities in Chhattisgarh. In the last 11 months, nearly 200 Naxals have been eliminated, and nearly 600-700 have surrendered. We are fast moving towards the Prime Minister's and Home Minister's aim of making India a Naxal-free country by March 2026," CM Sai told reporters after the meeting. Earlier, security forces conducted a joint search operation in the jungles of Abujhmad at Kanker in Chhattisgarh's Bastar region after five Naxals were killed in an encounter in the area. The joint search operation involved personnel of district reserve guards (DRG), special task force (STF), Bastar Fighters and Border Security Force (BSF), officials said. Two jawans were injured in the gunfight that broke out between security forces and Naxals on November 16. A large cache of weapons was also recovered during the exchange of fire between security forces and Naxals in the Abujhmadh jungle on the Kanker-Narayanpur border in Chhattisgarh. (ANI) An actress-cum-complainant in the sexual harassment case against seven individuals, including Malayalam film actors Mukesh M and Jayasuriya, has announced that she is withdrawing her complaints. The actress said that she will send an e-mail to authorities including the Director-General of Police (DGP) investigating the matter. She cited a lack of support from the government as the reason for stepping back from the case. This comes after a case was filed against the actress under the POSCO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act on a complaint made by one of her relatives who alleged the actress misused her and took her to some place offering roles in movies. However, the actress has claimed innocence and said that the POSCO case against her was false and she failed to receive support from the government to prove the same. The actress had accused actors Mukesh M, Jayasurya, Maniyanpilla Raju, and Idavela Babu of both verbal and physical abuse during their collaborations on film projects. The Justice Hema Committee report highlighted the sexual harassment allegations faced by some members of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) executive committee. Earlier in August, the Kerala Police registered an FIR against actor and Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPI(M) MLA from Kollam, Mukesh M. "FIR has been registered against actor Mukesh, CPI (M) MLA from Kollam constituency. The FIR was registered on the basis of the complaint of an actress," Kerala Police told ANI. The police also added that another FIR has been registered against Actor Jayasurya on the complaint of the same actress, under section 354 which deals with intent to outrage modesty. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) had taken the statement of the actress. Speaking to ANI, the actress detailed her experiences, alleging a range of misconduct. "Once, as I was coming out from the toilet, Jayasurya hugged me from behind and even kissed me forcefully... After that, Idavela Babu expressed his interest in a sexual relationship with me," she claimed. (ANI) Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai commended security forces for their 'indomitable courage' and 'dedication' after they successfully eliminated at least 10 Naxals under an operation in Sukma district on Friday morning. The Chief Minister highlighted that this achievement by the security forces is commendable, as the state government continues its strong fight against Naxalism, adhering to a policy of zero tolerance. He reaffirmed that ensuring development, peace, and security in the Bastar region remains the top priority of his government. "Displaying their indomitable courage, the security forces took major action against the Naxalites in Sukma district this morning and killed 10 Naxalites in an encounter. This success achieved by the soldiers is commendable. Our government is fighting strongly against Naxalites by working on the policy of zero tolerance. Ensuring development, peace and security in Bastar is the top priority of our government," posted CM Deo Sai on X. As many as 10 Naxals were killed in the encounter that broke out between the District Reserve Guard (DRG) and Naxals in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district on Friday morning. Inspector General (IG) Bastar, P Sundarraj shared the development and said, "10 Naxals killed in an encounter with DRG in southern Sukma, Chhattisgarh. INSAS, AK-47, SLR and several other weapons were recovered. The search operation is underway." As per an official update at 11.30 am, "10 Naxal bodies have been recovered in the search operation. INSAS, AK-47, SLR and many other weapons have been recovered. The search operation is going on." "DRG and CRPF forces had left on the intelligence of Naxal members of Konta and Kistaram Area Committee of Sukma district. The encounter between the DRG team and Naxalites is continuing in the forest hills of villages Korajuguda, Dantespuram, Nagaram, and Bhandarpadar under the Bhejji police station area of Sukma district," the official update said. Earlier in the day, IG Sundarraj said that the exchange of fire had been underway since morning and a search operation was ongoing. Earlier on Wednesday, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi to discuss the progress in combating Naxalism in the state and expressed confidence in making the state 'naxal-free' by March 2026. The CM said that the state government and the security forces have been working relentlessly in the direction of uprooting the Naxals from Chhattisgarh and fulfilling the Union Home Minister's commitment to eradicating the Naxals by 2026. Earlier, security forces conducted a joint search operation in the jungles of Abujhmad at Kanker in Chhattisgarh's Bastar region after five Naxals were killed in an encounter in the area. The joint search operation involved personnel of district reserve guards (DRG), special task force (STF), Bastar Fighters and Border Security Force (BSF), officials said. Two jawans were injured in the gunfight that broke out between security forces and Naxals on November 16. A large cache of weapons was also recovered during the exchange of fire between security forces and Naxals in the Abujhmadh jungle on the Kanker-Narayanpur border in Chhattisgarh. (ANI) Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) President YS Sharmila slammed the former Andhra Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy, questioning him for recieving alleged bribes in deals that he made with the Adani group during his tenure and accusing him of giving Andhra as a blank cheque to Adani. During a press conference on Friday, the APCC President accused Reddy of making Andhra state an "Adani state." This came afterthe US Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York unsealed criminal charges against Gautam Adani and other executives on Thursday linking them to an alleged bribery scheme. According to the SEC's allegations, the bribery scheme was allegedly orchestrated to enable the two renewable energy companies to capitalise on a multi-billion-dollar solar energy project that the companies had been awarded by the Indian government. Sharmila alleged that the president of the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), Jagan Mohan Reddy, had also received a share from the deal. "Yesterday, the Justice Department of the USA and the Securities and Exchange Commission made some allegations against Gautam Adani & Co. The Securities Exchange Commission is like SEBI in our country. They say that Gautam Adani and his team have given bribes to top officials who might be CM's of various states. Out of this, Jagan also received it," she said. "Gautam Adani paid or promised an incentive to the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister to enter into a power supply agreement to the tune of USD 200 million... A case has been registered and an arrest warrant has been issued against Gautam Adani in this issue," Sharmila said. "Adani has insulted the country and Jagan Mohan Reddy has insulted Andhra Pradesh... Jagan got 1750 crores in this deal of electricity agreement. On the other hand, 17,000 crores are being put on the people through DISCOMS. It might not be related but it is an existing fact," she further added. "How much bribe did Jagan get in this deal? Jagan Mohan Reddy should answer. How many such projects has Jagan Mohan Reddy given to Adani? How much bribe did Jagan Mohan Reddy get in each of these deals? Jagan Mohan Reddy has given Andhra state as a blank cheque to Adani. He has made Andhra state an Adani state," she alleged. Sharmila further said that the Congress party has demanded that the current Andhra Chief Minister, Chandrabau Naidu, cancel the electricity deal and called for blacklisting Adani. "The Congress party demands from Chandrababu Naidu that this electricity deal should be cancelled. Adani should be blacklisted. All the deals that Adani and Jagan made should be enquired into and all of them should be reviewed...Congress is also demanding a Joint Parliemenrttay Comission into the corruption of Adani," Sharmila said. Meanwhile, BJP MP Daggubati Purandeswari slammed the Congress party and its allies following the recent allegations from the US SEC against the Adani Group, claiming that during the time of deals, power distribution companies in Odisha, Jammu and Kashmir, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh, and Andhra Pradesh signed Power Sale Agreements (PSAs) with the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), stating that "all individuals linked to these corruption allegations are associated with the Congress party and none are from the BJP." "Recent allegations from the U.S. SEC against the Adani Group have raised serious questions. The SEC claims there were bribery incidents involving former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy and other officials. They allege that between July 2021 and February 2022, power distribution companies in Odisha, Jammu and Kashmir, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh, and Andhra Pradesh signed Power Sale Agreements (PSAs) with the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI). Notably, Andhra Pradesh committed to purchasing 7 gigawatts of solar power--the largest commitment of its kind in India. Congress govt in Chhattisgarh. BJD govt in Odisha. DMK govt in Tamil Nadu. YSRCP govt in Andhra Pradesh. This situation poses a significant question for Rahul Gandhi, since all individuals linked to these corruption allegations are associated with the Congress party and none are from the BJP. Let us not forget ADANI's proximity to Robert Wadra; how can he hold the BJP accountable?" Purandeswari said on X. The Adani Group has denied the allegations made by the US Department of Justice and the US Securities and Exchange Commission against directors of Adani Green Energy. (ANI) Karnataka BJP staged a protest against the Karnataka government over the Waqf issue related to lands belonging to farmers on Friday. Karnataka BJP president BY Vijayendra said that every decision taken by the Karnataka government is anti-poor. Karnataka BJP president BY Vijayendra said, "Every decision taken by the Karnataka government is anti-poor. The latest decision in Karnataka of a 20 percent hike in government hospitals and medical colleges indicates that the Congress government is desperate to raise its resources to fulfil its guarantees. I demand that Siddaramaiah withdraw such an anti-poor decision... BJP is not opposed to the cancellation of BPL cards. He further said that a scientific approach is required before cancellation of the BPL cards. "Our point is when the Siddaramaiah government is in distress and is unable to raise the resources to fulfil their guarantees, they are taking all these routes... Our point is that before the cancellation of the BPL cards, a scientific approach is required... Just because someone has a pancard, doesn't mean they are rich," he further added. He alleged that the government wants to cancel 20 lakh BPL card to save money. BJP leader CT Ravi said, "Congress can build a Congress Bhavan worth Rs. 1000 crores if it wants. Do they have a lack of money? Thousands of crores are rupees are found in the houses of Congress leaders... Congress government has taken away 14 lakh ration cards." Amid an ongoing controversy over the Waqf Board land issue, Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders staged a protest against the state government, demanding the removal of the term "Waqf Board" from government records and raising concerns over alleged encroachments by the Waqf Board. Former Minister BC Patil, BJP Haveri district president Arunkumar Pujar, former MLA Virupakshappa Bellary, along with other BJP leaders and activists, participated in the protest. The demonstrators were later detained by the police. Days after Jammu Development Authority demolished the shops of several Kashmiri Pandits in Muthi Phase-2 quarters in Jammu, the migrants who have nowhere to go have urged the Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner (Migrants) to rehabilitate them. 12 shops were demolished out of which 8 shops were running. Kashmiri migrant shop owners said that the relief they get is not sufficient to run the family and they were dependent on the earnings from the shops. Kashmiri Migrants living in Migrant quarters of Phase 2 Muthi camp had been running shops opposite to the Quaters for last more than thirty years. According to them their shops were demolished without notice and now they had no earning and only dependent on migrant relief which they get from the Government . Ashok Raina a shop owner said, "I came during 90s. My shop was here since last 35 years. The day camp was built we had started the shops. The then commissioner supported us. We started small shops for our livelihood. Our children were taught from this money. Day before yesterday some instruction came JDA. Without any notice, they told to vacate the shops. Earlier also they came. They said that we would take action only after compensating." He further said that yesterday without any notice they carried out the demolition. "In half an hour they did it. We were on the streets and felt like we are in 90s again. Commissioner allocated space to keep luggage. We were told that we would be rehabilitated. No government official came to see our plight. There were 8 to 10 running shops. When I came I was young. Now I am old. What will be do?," he further said. Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner (Migrants) Arvind Karwani said that the shops were constructed on JDA's land. "JDA has demolished them. We dont have many details because JDA is a different agency. We have already floated a tender for the Muthi Phase-2 migrant camp. There had been a demand from the locals that shops should be constructed like other camps... The tender has been floated and the work will begin soon... Those who had their shops since the 1990s would be given a preference... The allotment would be done as soon as the hops are made... All the eligible people would be given shops," he said. Another shop owner said all these land belonged to revenue authority. "We built temporary houses. No one condemned the act. Where will we go? We had a general stores," he said. President Muthi Migrant camp Anil Bhan said that JDA has demolished 10 shops without notification. "The famililes came here 35 years ago and depended on it. We are fighting for it since last 3 years. There was a stay. JDA was told not to carry out demolition till new shops are built. The old quarters are intact. After this the debris have not been removed. Here construction of EWS colony has been sanctioned but work will statrt after 6 months. Relief commission has promised that new shops will be built but no authority from state government came here," he said. He said that the JDA could have waited for 2 months. 10 houses were running their livelihood. (ANI) Amid the continued tension and unrest in Manipur, the state's Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Friday said that the government supports the agitation against the killing of innocent people but some "gangs" have looted and burned ministers' houses in the name of democratic movement. The Chief Minister affirmed that he has already condemned the violence and the government has initiated legal actions against it. Speaking to reporters, N Biren Singh said, "I already said and condemned. Those who are genuinely agitating against the killings of innocent people are genuine, we support their movement and agitation because everyone has the right to democratically agitate. But in the name of the democratic movement, some gangs have looted, burned ministers' houses and looted their properties. So, we have already initiated appropriate legal action. We have already who's who identified through CCTV and I feel shame to express this publically that this is happening in Manipur and looting is taking place in the name of agitation. This is a matter of shame. We will take legal action..." Earlier, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh hit back at BJP chief JP Nadda's letter criticising his party for trying to 'sensationalise' the Manipur issue and claimed that his letter was 'full of falsehoods' and a '4D exercise' of denial, distortion, distraction, and defamation. This comes after BJP national president JP Nadda criticised Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge's letter to President Droupadi Murmu on violence in Manipur and attacked the party, saying that the party was trying to 'sensationalise' the issue amidst the ongoing tension and unrest in the state. The BJP chief attacked the Congress and said that the party was creating a 'false, incorrect and politically motivated narrative' to rake up 'political mileage' and peddle its 'nefarious agendas.' Several Manipur MLAs on Monday passed a resolution listing their demands including asking the central government to review the imposition of the Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA) in the state. The resolution also said that a mass operation must be initiated within seven days against the Kuki militants allegedly responsible for the killing of six people including women and children in Jiribam. It also demanded the transfer of three key cases to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) that are linked to the death of one woman who was burnt, the killing of six innocent civilians, and the killing of a woman farmer. The MLAs in their resolution decided to declare Kuki militants responsible for the killings of six innocent people including women and children to be declared an "unlawful organisation" within seven days. This escalation comes after six people were found dead. In response to the incident, the Manipur government had initially suspended internet services in seven districts. (ANI) The Assam Congress on Friday demanded a discussion about the 90 MW solar power plant in Assam set up by Azure Power and Adani Green. The state unit of the Congress said that the matter of Assam should also be discussed when the JPC is formed. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi is protecting Gautam Adani. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is also involved in this solar scam, who is the most corrupt Chief Minister of India. In August 2021, Gautam Adani visited Assam and met Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and in February 2022, Adani's company Adani Green and one Mauritius based company Azure jointly started 90 MW solar project in Assam which was inaugurated by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma," Bhupen Kumar Borah said while speaking to ANI. Further, he said that the US court had already declared in the documents that the then Andhra Pradesh CM Jagan Mohan Reddy had signed an agreement with the Adani group. "US court already declared in its documents that then Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Jagan Mohan Reddy signed an agreement with Adani group to purchase 7000 MW solar. According to the report, Rs 25 lakh to be given to then Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh against to purchase 1 MW. The Assam Chief Minister also started 90 MW solar power project in Assam along with Azure and Adni and signed an agreement for 25 years that APDCL will purchase the power from this Adani company. Our demand is that, when the JPC will form Himanta Biswa Sarma's involvement with this solar scam should be discussed. The same Adani is trying to get 7000 bighas of tribal land in Dima Hasao district," Bhupen Kumar Borah said. He also alleged that the Assam Chief Minister was planning to give 7000 bighas of land to Gautam Adani. "The Assam Chief Minister is also involved in the entire scam. When our leader Rahul Gandhi will raise this issue in the parliament, the Assam Chief Minister's involvement will also be discussed and it will be included in the JPC inquiry. Our leader Rahul Gandhi already announced that whoever is involved, whoever may be in power, you can take action against them. That is the stand of the Congress party. But first you have to start the inquiry from Gautam Adani. If you arrest Jharkhand Chief Minister, Delhi Chief Minister in Rs 30-40 crore scam, why do you not arrest Gautam Adani, this is our question," Bhupen Kumar Borah said. Earlier, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi had called for Adani's arrest and said that it was "clear" and "established" that Adani Group had broken American and Indian laws. The Adani Group has denied the allegations made by the US Department of Justice and the US Securities and Exchange Commission against directors of Adani Green Energy. (ANI) A police case has been registered based on a complaint following a clash between two parties over some issue during a wedding ceremony in Uttar Pradesh's Meerut, officials said on Friday. Superintendent of Police (SP) City Ayush Vikram Singh said that there was no information of firing in this matter and such fact has not emerged even after the police carried out investigation. "Yesterday, in Lisari gate police station area, a dispute was reported between two parties who were present during a wedding ceremony. After this, the two parties clashed with other each over some issue. "We have no information of firing happening in this case. Such fact has not emerged even during the investigation. We have registered a case in this matter on the basis of a complaint," Ayush Vikram Singh, Superintendent of Police (SP) City said in a video uploaded by Meerut Police. (ANI) Following Kerala High Court order to Crime Branch to probe into state minister Saji Cherian's remarks on the Constitution, Law Minister P Rajeev on Friday said that there is no impediment to him facing the investigation while continuing as a minister at the same time. Law Minister P Rajeev said, "High Court dismissed the plea for a CBI investigation. There is no ethical issue in Saji Cherian continuing as a minister. The High Court should have heard his side of the story as well. Supreme Court rulings already exist on such matters. Saji Cherian himself has clarified that natural justice has been denied in this case. It is essential to hear him too. There is no impediment to him facing the investigation while continuing as a minister." Earlier in December 2022, the Kerala Police final report cleared former Minister and present Cultural and Youth Affairs Minister Saji Cherian's name in an alleged case of insulting the Constitution of India. Cherian courted controversy while addressing a CPI(M) programme at Mallappally in Pathanamthitta district and had said in his remark that India's Constitution can be used to "loot" the people of the country. The police's final report was submitted before Thiruvalla magistrate court. The police report said, "After going through the video and other records, they could not prove that the former minister has intentionally insulted the constitution or its architects. The reports say that they also got a legal opinion on this." The police report said that the former minister was criticising that the government machinery was using the constitution for exploiting the labourers and that he did not insult or defame the constitution or its architects. The police in its report had requested the court to accept this and close the case. Earlier on December 8, Kerala High Court dismissed a petition seeking to declare that Saji Cherian is not entitled to hold the office of the post of MLA after his alleged remarks on the Constitution of India. "Indian constitution can exploit people. British prepared it, Indians wrote it and implemented it. It's been 75 years. India wrote a beautiful constitution that can be used to loot. In that constitution, there are few places that have references to secularism, democracy but it can be exploited," he said. "We all say that we have a beautifully written Constitution. But, I will say, the Constitution is written in such a way that it can be used to loot the people of the country," said Cherian, while addressing a CPI-M programme at Mallapally in Pathanamthitta district in July 2022. The petition was moved by Malappuram native Biju P Cheruman in July 2022. The petitioner had contended that Saji Cherian publicly insulted the Constitution in a public speech at his political meeting and his conduct is violative of Articles 173(a) and 188 of the Constitution of India. (ANI) The Supreme Court on Friday said that it would pass an order on November 25 on a batch of petitions seeking to delete the words 'secular' and 'socialist' from the Preamble of the Indian Constitution. A bench of Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar, while hearing the petitions, observed that being socialist in the Indian sense is understood only to be a "welfare state." The bench said secularism is part of the basic structure of the Constitution and the 42nd Amendment had been examined by the Supreme Court earlier as well. The apex court was hearing petitions filed by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy, lawyers Balram Singh, Karunesh Kumar Shukla and Ashwini Upadhyay. Earlier also, the bench had said that secularism has always been held to be a part of the basic structure of the Constitution and orally observed that 'secular' and 'socialist' in the Preamble need not be looked at through the western lens. "Socialism can also mean that there should be equality of opportunity and the wealth of a country should be distributed equally. Let's not take the Western meaning. It can have some different meaning as well. Same with the word secularism," the bench had said. BJP leader Subramanian Swamy, who is one of the petitioners, had said that the two words inserted in the Preamble in 1976 cannot bear the date of the original Preamble, which was framed in 1949. Swamy in his petition had said that the two words, inserted in the Preamble through the 42nd Constitution Amendment Act of 1976 during Emergency, violated the basic structure doctrine enunciated in the famous Kesavananda Bharati judgement by a 13-judge bench in 1973, by which Parliament's power to amend the Constitution was barred from tinkering with the basic features of the Constitution. The framers of the Constitution had specifically rejected inclusion of these two words in the Constitution and alleged that these two words were thrust upon the citizens even when the framers never had intended to introduce socialist and secular concepts in democratic governance, Swamy had contended. It was contended that such insertion was beyond the amending power of the Parliament under Article 368. It was further stated that Dr BR Ambedkar had rejected the incorporation of these words, as the Constitution cannot thrust upon the citizens certain political ideologies by taking away their right to choose. (ANI) Political analyst Tehseen Poonawalla asserted on Friday that the opposition alliance Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) will form the government as results for the Maharastra assembly elections are set to be announced tomorrow. Poonawalla further said that the public sentiment in the state was strongly against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). "MVA will indeed form the government. One thing was certain in Maharashtra -- there was an anti-BJP atmosphere. Those who said 'batenge toh katenge' shifted to 'baatenge toh jeetenge'. Towards the end, they even released a fake audio clip of Supriya Sule and Nana Patole, which shows the BJP's nervousness. All the voters I spoke to in Maharashtra said 'sabse badi bhool, kamal ka phool'. They don't want the BJP back in power," he said while speaking to ANI. He also commented on the recent exchange of words between Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut and Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole over the chief ministerial face of the state. "I have seen how Sanjay Raut attacked Nana Patole. If the MVA forms the government, it's clear that Congress would emerge as the largest party. So, what is wrong if Nana Patole wants the Chief Minister to be from Congress? He is the state party chief and is expected to think in the best interest of his party. I think this can be resolved with suggestions from Sonia Gandhi and Sharad Pawar. However, the kind of language used by Sanjay Raut shows a lack of restraint. One of the key reasons behind the collapse of the previous MVA government was also Sanjay Raut," Poonawalla said. He highlighted that Congress leaders have constantly shown respect to Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackery and criticized Raut for publicly targeting Nana Patole. "Congress leaders speak respectfully for Uddhav Thackeray and Bal Thackeray... If the state Congress chief wants a Congress CM, what is wrong with that? Do they not have a legitimate claim? Publicly attacking someone repeatedly -- especially Nana Patole, who is an OBC leader is inappropriate. This behaviour shows arrogance, and the people of Maharashtra do not like this," Poonawalla added. Responding to Nana Patole's alleged remarks about a Congress-led MVA government on Thursday, Sanjay Raut dismissed the idea and said, "No one will accept this." "I will not accept this, and no one else will accept this. We will sit together and decide if Nana Patole has said this and whether Nana Patole has the Congress high command's backing. The Congress high command has said that if you (Patole) are becoming the Chief Minister, then Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and Sonia Gandhi should announce it," Raut told reporters. This assembly election is the first in Maharashtra following the splits in both Shiv Sena and the NCP. The counting of votes is scheduled for Saturday, November 23. Meanwhile, most exit polls have predicted the Mahayuti alliance of BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP will return to power, with the MVA, which includes Congress, NCP (SP), and Shiv Sena (UBT), putting up a good show but falling short of a majority. (ANI) Amid alleged bribery and fraud allegations by the US prosecutors against Gautam Adani, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) Working President KT Rama Rao on Friday took a dig at the Chief Minister Revanth Reddy led Telangana government and questioned why is the Congress state not cancelling business ties with Adani group despite Congress leader and Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi's request. "The man who is wrong in Maharashtra, whose investment is not right for Maharashtra, whose Dharavi project in Maharashtra is not right, then how he suddenly becomes good after crossing the border. How did an investment of crores come into being? The Telangana Government has signed an MoU with Adani's company. We are asking Rahul ji and Revanth ji only one question, if a small country like Kenya can cut off its entire business with Adani? Then why is the Telangana government, which is a Congress state, not cancelling it even after Rahul Gandhi's request?" said KT Rama Rao. Hitting out further he said, "Rahul Gandhi himself says that no one gives 30 or 40 crores like this, so why did Adani give you a hundred crores, disclose this also once and we request...If Adani is not good for the country, as Rahul Gandhi says, then how will it be good for us? Please answer once about this. Rahul Gandhi can't be running with the hair and hunting with the hound that is not how this works, he has to take a stand, if he's clear in his mind that Adani is a fraud, then his government in Telangana needs to cancel all the MoUs..." Earlier on Thursday, Rahul Gandhi called for Adani's arrest and said that it is "clear" and "established" that the Adani Group Chairman has broken both American and Indian laws. Meanwhile, Opposition parties on Thursday pressed for a JPC probe into alleged bribery allegations with Congress leader Jairam Ramesh alleging that a key player in the "corruption scandal" is the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), a Government of India company. The Adani Group has denied the allegations made by the US Department of Justice and the US Securities and Exchange Commission against directors of Adani Green. While the BJP said the law will take its own course and slammed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (ANI) Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai wrote to Chief Secretary Dharmendra on Friday, urging strict enforcement of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) to address the worsening air quality in the national capital. The minister highlighted the need for coordinated efforts in all departments to implement the Winter Action Plan-2024 and achieve sustained improvements in air quality. "I feel that we have to ensure strict implementation of GRAP guidelines and all departments must rigorously implement the measures outlined under GRAP without exception. This included restricting vehicular emissions, controlling construction dust, and curbing industrial pollution and all other actions as proposed and directed during various meetings taken in order to implement Winter Action Plan-2024," read the letter by the Delhi Environment Minister. Rai directed that all departments should also submit daily reports on actions taken and the progress made in implementing GRAP. "This data will be critical for monitoring the effectiveness of measures and identifying areas requiring additional focus," the letter added. The minister also recommended that various groups like market associations, residents and citizen groups should be involved and be made aware of their role in tackling pollution. "All the departments of Delhi government be directed to actively engage in spreading awareness among citizens through Resident Welfare Associations (RWA), Trade and Market Associations, Citizens group and NGOs etc regarding their role in reducing pollution, such as limiting vehicle use, avoiding open burning of materials, and adopting eco-friendly practices," the letter read. He stressed the importance of strict enforcement mechanisms to penalize violators of air pollution norms. "The enforcement mechanisms being followed by various departments must be further intensified. Strict penalties should be imposed on violators of pollution control norms, including unauthorized construction and demolition activities, open burning of waste.." it added. Delhi's air quality remained in the 'very poor' category, with an overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of 371 at 7 am, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Several areas recorded even worse air quality levels. The AQI recorded at Chandni Chowk was 359, IGI Airport (T3) 357, ITO 344, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium 342, RK Puram 372, Okhla Phase 2 374, Patparganj 379, Sonia Vihar 400, and Aya Nagar 359. Some locations fell into the 'severe' category, with Anand Vihar recording an AQI of 410, Bawana 411, Mundka 402, and Wazirpur 413. (ANI) Former Delhi Minister and AAP leader Kailash Gahlot, who recently joined the BJP, met Union Health Minister and BJP chief JP Nadda on Friday and discussed the preparations regarding Delhi assembly polls expected early next year. Delhi BJP Chief Virender Sachdeva was also present during the meeting. Gahlot described it as "courtesy meeting". "During the discussion, guidance was received on various issues related to the organization and public service," Kaikash Gahlot said in a post in hindi on X. "It was also discussed during the meeting that a BJP government should be formed in Delhi so that the national capital gets world class development and people get very good public services," he said. Gahlot later told ANI that they discussed the upcoming Delhi sssembly elections and ways to strengthen the BJP in the national capital. On AAP releasing the first list of 11 candidates for the upcoming 2025 Delhi elections, he said that names of six of the eleven candidates are not from the AAP cadre. "This is a sign of a lack of leadership in the AAP," he said. Kailash Gahlot resigned as Delhi Transport Minister and also from AAP on November 17 and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) next day. After leaving the party, Gahlot said that he reached the decision to quit AAP over a prolonged period of time. "It doesn't happen overnight, it happens over a prolonged period. It takes time to understand a few things. I am repeating this again and again that we are connected to some values and principles. If we see some dilution in the same, I think I mustered the courage to quit. Several others like me are unable to muster courage. I think they will continue," Gahlot told ANI. AAP won 62 out of the 70 seats in the last assembly polls. (ANI) Naresh Chauhan, Principal Media Advisor to Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu, on Friday provided a detailed update on the government's legal challenges and recent judicial developments that have brought relief in two critical cases. Chauhan confirmed that the Himachal Pradesh government had approached the Supreme Court to challenge a High Court order that had raised concerns over the appointment of CPS. The case, which was heard on Wednesday, pertains to the disqualification of certain members, with the government securing a stay on the order. Chauhan emphasized that the state had successfully obtained a stay in the first 50 cases where members faced potential disqualification. This order effectively prohibits any actions that could lead to disqualification, providing significant relief to the government. Chauhan also pointed out that the Supreme Court had not endorsed disqualification in the related case in Manipur, reinforcing that no similar disqualification would be applied to the MLAs in Himachal Pradesh. He expressed satisfaction with the development, welcoming it as a major win for the state government. "We are pleased with the Supreme Court's direction," said Chauhan. "Our case, along with others from different states, has now been clubbed together, and the court's stance on disqualification is a relief for us. This further strengthens the legitimacy of our elected representatives and affirms the people's trust in their chosen government." Addressing allegations from the opposition, Chauhan reiterated that attempts to destabilize the government were part of a deliberate strategy to weaken it from the outset. He referred to the opposition's consistent efforts to undermine the government, including through what he called "Operation Lotus," which involved the use of money power and agencies to try and topple the elected government. "The people of Himachal Pradesh have rejected these efforts," Chauhan asserted. "They have elected 40 MLAs with a clear mandate for development. The opposition needs to shift its focus and become a constructive, positive force, rather than constantly indulging in negative publicity." Chauhan highlighted another crucial legal victory for the state government concerning the closure of 18 hotels owned by the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC). The High Court had earlier ordered the closure of these hotels, a decision that had significant implications for the state's tourism sector. However, today the court granted relief by allowing the hotels to remain operational. "The High Court's decision today was a major victory for us," said Chauhan. "We have been granted permission to continue running the 18 HPTDC hotels, and the court has given us a reprieve in the first review itself. We are hopeful that in the next hearing, a committee will be formed under the leadership of a senior retired officer, who will prepare a report on the future course of action." The government, according to Chauhan, is open to discussions regarding the future of these hotels. Whether the government will continue to operate them or lease them out remains to be decided, but Chauhan emphasized that the government is committed to finding a solution in consultation with all stakeholders, while adhering to judicial guidelines. "The government is ready to discuss all aspects related to the operation of these hotels," he said. "We are working with an open mind to ensure that the state's tourism sector continues to thrive while addressing any legal and operational concerns." Chauhan said that the importance of collaborative efforts between the judiciary, the government, and other stakeholders in ensuring the state's continued development. He acknowledged that such legal challenges are not uncommon but assured that the government is always prepared to address them promptly and with the best interests of the people in mind. "We will continue working towards the development of Himachal Pradesh, and together, we will find solutions to any challenges that arise," he said. (ANI) Gujarat's dairy sector, managed under the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), continues to show impressive growth, with over 3.6 million farmer-members across 18,164 village cooperatives. As per an official release, the state's dairy network processes an astounding 215 million litres of milk daily, solidifying its position as a leader in India's dairy industry. In the fiscal year 2023-24, the sector achieved a remarkable annual turnover of Rs 80,000 crore, reflecting its robust expansion and the efficiency of its cooperative model. The growth is further highlighted by Gujarat's milk production, which has been increasing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 4.96 per cent, surpassing the national average of 4.57 per cent. This growth underscores Gujarat's dominance in India's dairy landscape and its contribution to the nation's milk production, supporting millions of farmers and contributing to the state's economy. Shankar Chaudhary, Chairman of Banas Dairy, said, "After 2014, when Modi ji became the Prime Minister of the country, a separate ministry for cooperatives was established, and Amit Shah was entrusted with this responsibility. Cooperatives, where small people can come together and work collectively, were presented as a model for the country. I believe this Amul model and the cooperative model have not only proven successful for the country but for the entire world." He added, "As of today, 35 lakh dairy farming families are generating a turnover of Rs 80,000 crore (96 billion USD). The remarkable system, where money is deposited into their accounts, has been made possible through the Amul model, the use of technology, and transparency, which has been institutionalized through laws." The cooperative sector, which began in 1942, has been a major driver of Gujarat's milk production. The dairy sector received a significant boost when Narendra Modi took over as the state's Chief Minister in 2001. He strengthened Gujarat's dairy cooperatives through infrastructure development, technological advancements, support for women, promotion of the Amul brand, and policies that fostered self-sufficiency and growth in milk production. A large number of farmers in Gujarat, especially those with small or no farmland, are engaged in dairy farming, significantly contributing to making Gujarat a role model for milk production in the country. These small dairy farmers deposit their milk in local cooperative societies. From there, the milk is sent to a dairy for quality checks. Only when the quality of the milk is ensured is it sent to larger plants. The entire process focuses on transparency and quality, ensuring that producers receive a fair price. This progress in Gujarat's dairy industry is improving people's lives. Faljibhai Patel, a dairy farmer in Ruppura village, said, "The milk business is doing so well that even though there are no industries in our district, it has become the main source of livelihood along with farming. Through this, we manage our households, educate our children, and benefit from many government schemes implemented in the mandals. We also receive support from union-promoted schemes, such as installing chilling units, building houses, and more." Another dairy farmer, Jayeshbhai Limbachiya, said, "My name is Jayeshbhai Limbachiya, and we are residents of Ruppura village. There is a very good milk dairy running in our village, and the whole village contributes milk to it. The profit from milk is very good. Banas Dairy, our main branch, is located here, and the government is also helping us a lot. We are benefiting from many schemes. Even those who do not have land are successfully running a milk business, managing their livelihood, and earning good profits." Gujarat played a key role in India's White Revolution by pioneering the cooperative dairy model, leading to the establishment of Amul. Today, it stands as a role model in milk production, with its efficient cooperative system, technological advancements, and significant contributions to both national and global milk supply. The state's innovative approach has made it the leading producer of milk in India. (ANI) The Delhi High Court on Friday issued notice on the plea of Kashmiri separatist leader Shabir Ahmad Shah who is lodged in Tihar jail in a terror funding case lodged by the NIA. He has challenged a circular requiring an NOC from the investigating agency for availing telephone and E-Mulaqat facility in Tihar Jail. Justice Jasmeet Singh issued notice on the plea and directed authorities to file a reply within four weeks. The matter has been listed on February 13. Shabir Ahmad Shah has approached the High Court for resumption of telephone and E Mulaqat facility which has been stopped in view of a circular requiring an NOC from the prosecuting agency. A petition has been filed through advocate Prashant Prakash. Advocate MS Khan argued that earlier the facility was there. However, it was withdrawn after the issuance of the circular. Senior advocate Siddharth Luthra appeared for the NIA and submitted that this issue is not connected with the NIA. It is well connected with the DIG Range prior permission/NOC is required for availing the telephone and E Mulaqat facility. He urged the court to implead Commissioner of Police Delhi to implead as the party. On the other hand, the Petitioner's counsel argued that the NOC of the prosecuting agency is required which is NIA in this case. The petitioner has stated that the Delhi Government on April 22, 2024, issued the Circular whereby introducing certain clarifications ostensibly in order to bring uniformity in all prisons of Delhi regarding the extension of phone calls and E-Mulaqat facility to the inmates. It is further stated that on May 22, 2024, the NIA, issued an Addendum to the Circular of April 22, 2024, with further clarifications, inter alia clarifying that E Mulakat and Telephone facility on or after April 22, 2024, should be allowed only after receipt of NOC from the Investigating Agency and the prisoners already availing the facility, the said facility will remain in force till NOC from the Investigating Agency is obtained. It is also stated that on May 24, 2024, a reply was given by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) whereby they did not give consent for providing E-Mulaqat and calling facility to the Petitioner. (ANI) A Bench of Justices MM Sundresh and Aravind Kumar sought response from government within three weeks and said that it would only examine if there are medical reasons to allow Asaram's interim release from jail. The bench said, "We will issue notice, but we will consider only on medical conditions." Counsel appearing for Asaram told the bench that he was suffering from serious medical ailments and sought his interim release from jail. Counsel said, "He has multiple blockages. Doctors advise, in winter, he should be temperature controlled room or else he will perish." However, the bench said earlier he refused treatment and wanted his choice of hospital. A sessions court in Gandhinagar, Gujarat in January 2023 convicted Asaram under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) in a 2013 rape of a female disciple at a Surat Ashram. In August, while hearing an appeal against the trial court verdict, the Gujarat High Court had declined to suspend his life imprisonment sentence. Thereafter, Asaram moved the top court seeking release from jail. (ANI) Ahead of the counting of votes for Maharashtra Election 2024, State's Chief Electoral Officer, S Chockalingam praised the efforts of the Election Commission's officers and employees and said ECI has given "focus, attention and time" for Maharashtra polls. "Election Commission of India gave a lot of focus, attention and time for Maharashtra this time. Each and every strategy was conceptualised and implemented with high precision. This resulted in a huge number of addition in the voter list also between the Parliament election and the current election. Efforts made to make voting easier, especially in a place like Mumbai where we had some problems at the time of Parliament elections but this time everyone praised the arrangements," he said. "So, so much of work has been done. Election Commission thanks all the voters who came out to vote on the day to ensure that history is created...We have increased by 5% more. We want to thank all of them. Nearly, 6 lakh officers and employees were putting their efforts to welcome the voters and ensure that they vote very easily...," he added. Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi exuded confidence in the opposition alliance Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) reclaiming power in Maharashtra as she took a dig at the ruling Mahayuti on Friday. Speaking to ANI, Priyanka said that the people of Maharashtra would free the Mahayuti for the next 25 years and claimed that the MVA would get the majority in the recently held assembly elections. "People of Maharashtra are going to free them (Mahayuti) for the next 25 years. The government of loot, corruption and Adani is going to end. We will get the majority. They are booking helicopters because they know people will ask them questions and they need to run away," she said. Prataprao Jadhav, Union MoS in the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare was confident that the Mahayuti alliance would return to power. "Mahayuti will form the government. We are going to win with a majority...The result that will be announced tomorrow will be in our favour...The name of the CM will be announced after the result... There is no competition in the alliance...We will get above 200 seats," he said. In Maharashtra, the BJP is in alliance with Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena Ajit Pawar-led and Nationalist Congress Party, called the Mahayuti. The Mahayuti is facing a tough battle against the opposition Maha Vikas Agadhi (MVA), comprising of Congress, Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena and Sharad Pawar-led NCP. One needs to secure atleast 145 seats to secure a majority in the 288 seat assembly. (ANI) Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Friday denied any involvement with the Adani group in procuring renewable energy for the state of Odisha. Releasing a statement to refute the "media reports relation to power purchase agreements in Odisha with Adani group," the party said that the agreements were made between two government agencies, the Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited (SECI) and Gridco, with no involvement of Adani group. SECI is a Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) under the Union Ministry of Renewable Energy, whereas Gridco is a PSU under the Odisha government. "The agreement was to procure 500MW of renewable energy from SECI at the lowest rates discovered by SECI and it was between two government entities. There was no engagement with any private party whatsoever, including the Adani group," BJD's statement read. The party also said that to meet the state's energy requirement, the government had been procuring from PSUs such as SECI and National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) from 2011. "Hence these allegations with respect to Odisha are baseless and incorrect," the party added. Up until June of this year, BJD was the ruling party in the state for the last 24 years, until the BJP won a majority in the assembly elections held earlier this year. Earlier, the state's Former Energy and Industry Minister and BJD MLA Pratap Keshari Deb dismissed allegations linking Former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's government to the alleged bribery case against Gautam Adani as baseless. "Allegations levelled against the previous BJD government as far as energy distribution and purchase is concerned is baseless because we do not have any such direct agreement of power purchase with the Adani group," he told ANI. US prosecutors have indicted Gautam Adani and seven others for allegedly bribing Indian government officials to secure solar power contracts. Prosecutors claim the Adani Group paid millions of dollars in bribes, with a significant portion allegedly directed at officials in Andhra Pradesh (under Jagan Reddy's YSR Congress), Odisha (ruled by Naveen Patnaik's BJD), Tamil Nadu (under DMK), Chhattisgarh (under Congress), and Jammu and Kashmir (under central rule). On Thursday, the Adani Group strongly refuted bribery allegations made by the US Department of Justice and the US Securities and Exchange Commission against directors of the Adani Green terming them baseless. (ANI) Samajwadi Party MP Zia Ur Rehman on Friday offered prayers at Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal amid tight security arrangements and said he is "against the survey" of the mosque and will fight it legally. Rehman reached Sambhal following a survey conducted in the mosque on November 19 and called it "unfortunate" and accused "mischievous elements" of disrupting Sambhal's harmony by filing a petition for the survey in the court. "Namaz should be always offered peacefully, but police administration has their own thoughts, why these arrangements have been done (police force has been deployed at the Masjid)...We peacefully offered the Namaz...What happened three days ago is unfortunate because all communities have been living in Sambhal in harmony. But some mischievous elements, who filed the petition, are trying to harm the environment...I am against the survey of whether it is Gyanvapi or Shahi Jama Masjid...We will fight this legally...," said Zia Ur Rehman on Friday. Notably, senior advocate Vishnu Shanker Jain has filed a petition in the court of the civil judge at Sambhal claiming the mosque being a temple. After this, a survey was carried out on November 19 in the presence of the local police and members of the mosque's management committee. Meanwhile, former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Mayawati reacting over the development said that the government and the Supreme Court should take cognizance of the "sudden dispute." In a post on X, Mayawati said, "The news of the sudden dispute, hearing and then the hasty survey carried out at the Shahi Jama Masjid of Sambhal district of UP is making headlines in the national domain and media, but the government and the Supreme Court should also take cognizance of disrupting the harmony and atmosphere in this manner." Earlier on Thursday District Magistrate, Rajendra Pensia said that a flag march was conducted by the police forces and the town turned into a fortress with two of the three approach roads to the mosque, located at the centre of the town, being sealed. (ANI) After 10 Naxals were killed in the encounter between security forces in Sukma district, Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma on Friday said that the government is ready to hold dialogue with Naxals. "Government is ready if they (Naxals) want to hold dialogue. But schools, power, water and roads will have to be brought to villages. How long will the people of Bastar be held captive?" the deputy CM told ANI. "Where there was talks of removing the camps in Kanker district as the region stabilised, people protested against it, saying that if the camps get removed then they (Naxals) will come back again and make our life difficult," he added. He also mentioned that next month a "huge event" is going to be organised in Bastar in which central leaders along with CM and others will be present. "Next month, in December, central leadership is also going to come to Bastar. CM too would go to that event. A huge event will be organised in Bastar. The soldiers, women are with us. Even people also say that something like naxalism should not exist," he said. He also expressed confidence in the mission of union government and union home minister Amit Shah to eradicate naxalism by March 2026 and said that the area will be free of the "red terror." Earlier in the morning, that broke out between the District Reserve Guard (DRG) and Naxals in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district. Inspector General (IG) Bastar, P Sundarraj shared the development and said, "10 Naxals killed in an encounter with DRG in southern Sukma, Chhattisgarh. INSAS, AK-47, SLR and several other weapons were recovered." The security forces have recovered all the ten bodies. Speaking on the operation, Chief Minister Vishnudeo Sai said that his government is working on the policy of zero tolerance towards Naxalism. He also said that ensuring development, peace and security of citizens in Bastar is the top priority of his government. He said that the era of peace, development and progress has returned to Bastar. He also congratulated the security forces for their courage and dedication, saying that the elimination of Naxalites from Chhattisgarh is certain. (ANI) All arrangements are in place for count of votes for Jharkhand assembly polls tomorrow with both NDA and JMM-led alliance hopeful of victory. While the ruling JMM-led alliance is banking on its work and promises, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance is hopeful of getting people's support on its promises and work of central government. The campaign saw BJP leaders targeting JMM-led alliance over its performance and raised the issue of "infiltration" and tribal rights in the state. The state went to polls in two phases - November 13 and November 20 - for 81 assembly seats. Exit polls have been split in their predictions concerning Jharkhand with most of them stating that BJP-led NDA will win the polls. The BJP-led alliance in Jharkhand includes the All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU), Janata Dal (United), and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) while the JMM-led alliance consists of Congress, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), and the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist). Leaders of parties in the two alliances expressed confidence of their victories. BJP leader and former Jharkhand Chief Minister Babulal Marandi said NDA will win more than 51 seats. "BJP workers have worked hard on the ground and based on the information received from them, I can say that the BJP-led NDA alliance will win more than 51 seats in the Jharkhand assembly elections," he told ANI. Congress leader Ghulam Ahmad Mir, who is AICC-in-charge of the state, said people have voted for JMM-led alliance. "BJP has hidden their face after the first phase of the election here...In the second phase they have done face-saving...People have voted for the Hemant Soren government...We are going to win more than 50% seats," he said. Congress leader Rajesh Thakur said the truth will come out in the results and BJP's claims will turn out to be wrong. "BJP is saying they would get 55 odd seats, last time they mentioned 65 seats. When someone contests elections, a party contests elections and all feedbacks come, they speak their mind. Results will be out tomorrow and the truth will come out. We trust the public. With the kind of mandate they have given, we can say that we are going to form the government once again. We are going to form a strong government. We will also ensure to provide (government) scheme to those who have been deprived," Thakur told ANI. Counting of votes will begin at 8 am and officials said all arrangements have been made for the process. Varun Ranjan, Deputy Commissioner and District Election Officer, Ranchi, said that the officials were briefed regarding counting process and do's and don'ts. "We have also explained them scenarios like if there is data missmatch in EVMs, if data is not coming on EVMs, then what they have to do. They have also been told how to count postal ballots," he said. Jharkhand saw 67.74 per cent voter turnout in the two phases of elections. Jharkhand Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) K Ravi Kumar said on Thursday that the voter turnout in the second phase of state elections was 68.95 per cent. "The strong rooms of all the assembly constituencies have been sealed. The scrutiny has been done...There has been no recommendation for repoll in any of the constituencies. Combining both phases, the voter turnout is 67.74 per cent... The final voting percentage will be declared on counting day, combining the votes of the postal ballot also," he told reporters. Prominent candidates in the fray included Chief Minister Hemant Soren, his wife Kalpana Soren, and his sister-in-law Sita Soren from the JMM. Key BJP leaders in the second phase included former Chief Minister Babulal Marandi, Assembly Speaker Ravindra Nath Mahto (JMM), AJSU Party chief Sudesh Mahto, and Leader of Opposition Amar Kumar Bauri. A total of 528 candidates were in the fray in the second phase of the Jharkhand elections, including 55 women, one third-gender candidate, and 472 male candidates. The first phase of the Jharkhand polls was held in 43 of 81 assembly seats on November 13. Besides Jharkhand, results will also be declared for Maharashtra assembly polls and bypolls across various states. Among the constituents of INDIA bloc, JMM is contesting on 43 seats, Congress 30, RJD on six and CPI(ML) four. BJP is contesting 68 seats, AJSU 10, JD(U) two and LJP one seat. In the previous assembly election, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha won 30 seats, the BJP won 25 and Congress won 16 seats. (ANI) The fourth edition of the Pan-India Coastal Defence Exercise Sea Vigil 2024 successfully concluded on November 21. The exercise was conducted in two phases, with Phase I extending from November 13 to 19 and Phase II conducted over a 36-hour period across all coastal states and union territories of India. The exercise demonstrated India's unwavering commitment to strengthening its maritime security and coastal defence mechanisms, spanning the entirety of India's 11,098 km coastline and its Exclusive Economic Zone of 2.4 million square kilometres, according to an official release. Sea Vigil 24 witnessed the participation of over 21 agencies across six ministries. These included the Indian Navy, Indian Army, Indian Air Force, Indian Coast Guard, State Marine Police, Customs, BSF, CISF, Port Authorities, and Fisheries Department, among others. The two days of Phase II of the exercise witnessed extensive deployment of more than 550 surface assets from various maritime security agencies and 60 air sorties with flying time of about 200 hours along the entire coastline of the country. The Coastal Defence and Security Readiness Evaluation (CDSRE) phase of the exercise, conducted over a period of seven days prior to the commencement of the tactical phase, witnessed a comprehensive audit of over 950 critical coastal locations. The audit included Fishing Landing Centres, Lighthouses, Major and Non-Major ports, Coastal Police Stations, offshore assets, Coastal VAs/ VPs and others. Notably, for the first time, officials from the National Security Council Secretariat participated in the CDSRE activities in Gujarat and West Bengal, the release stated. Sea Vigil 24 focused on enhancing coastal defence of the country and enhancing the security of vital maritime assets such as oil rigs, single point moorings (SPMs), cable landing stations, and non-major ports and nuclear installations along the coast. This has been one of the major focus areas during this exercise, and numerous initiatives were taken towards the same. According to the release, the Indian Air Force has deployed air defence systems on offshore platforms/oil rigs to secure offshore infrastructure. Special emphasis was provided for the safety and security of merchant ships, wherein simulated hijacking, naval cooperation and guidance to shipping, and rerouting of Indian merchant vessels were undertaken. Fishing communities of all states participated actively in the exercise and were enthusiastically involved in various duties with the maritime forces. The exercise also featured an expanded community outreach program aimed at fostering grassroots awareness of maritime security in youth, especially NCC cadets, Bharat Scouts and Guides, and students of coastal areas. The initiatives were organized by the Navy to build a robust, security-conscious coastal ecosystem that would reinforce nations coastal defence. As a key component of India's Coastal Defence Architecture, Sea Vigil 24 served as a platform for evaluating inter-agency coordination and identifying gaps in India's coastal security infrastructure. The seamless collaboration between the participating agencies highlighted their readiness to counter evolving maritime threats. "Since its inception in 2018, Sea Vigil has played a pivotal role in India's coastal defence preparedness by simulating real-time scenarios; the exercise provides valuable insights into the nation's maritime defence capabilities. The lessons learnt from the exercise aid in making the coastal defence architecture more robust and resilient to the prevailing situation," the release stated. "The successful culmination of Sea Vigil 24 underscores India's steadfast resolve to safeguard its maritime borders and the Indian Navy's commitment to handle its responsibilities of 'Overall Maritime Security.' With enhanced inter-agency cooperation, robust preparedness, and active community engagement, the exercise marks another milestone in fortifying the nation's coastal defence posture against emerging security challenges," it added. (ANI) Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Friday distributed food to the youth who had come for Territorial Army recruitment, at a camp in Pithoragarh. The administration has set up camps for such youth where food is being provided to them. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami also took information about various works being done by the departments during a review meeting with departmental officials in the district office auditorium in Pithoragarh. He reviewed the construction progress of the under-construction medical college and directed to expedite the construction work. During the review, the public representatives talked about making a shortcut route from the base hospital to the Ulka temple, according to a press release from Uttarakhand CMO. The Chief Minister, while taking information about the construction of multi-level car parking at Jakhani Tiraha, said that apart from the parking construction work, all the development works being done should be completed within the stipulated time, stated the release. During the review, the CM, while taking information about the progress of Dharchula to Tawaghat National Highway, directed the BRO officer and the district administration to speed up the work on priority and allocate the remaining compensation amount. He said that instructions were given to make arrangements and strengthen the connecting road for Adi Kailash. He said that this year the number of pilgrims coming to Adi Kailash is more than thirty thousand, and it is likely to increase further. During the review of PMGSY, he expressed displeasure over the pending works. He said that any kind of negligence towards the works will not be tolerated, the release added. The Chief Minister said, "It should be ensured that the benefits of various development schemes of the Central and State Government reach every eligible person standing at the last end. Transparency, quality and timeliness should be taken care of in the works. The government is continuously working to develop new tourist places. Strict vigil should be kept on the purchase and sale of land by outsiders." He said that it should be ensured that the public problems should be resolved at the level where they can be resolved. In the review meeting, the public representatives informed the Chief Minister about the development schemes and problems of their respective areas. During this, the Chief Minister launched the Sushasan Portal created by the administration in Pithoragarh district, the purpose of which is to resolve the complaints received by the citizens, the release stated. (ANI) The All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi and the Delhi Indian Institute of Technology have launched a ground-breaking new collaboration with University College London (UCL) to co-create pioneering solutions in the field of medical technology. For the first time, the three institutions will join forces to draw on their complementary areas of expertise to develop new technologies that help tackle some of today's biggest health challenges, said an official press release. On 22 November 2024, AIIMS New Delhi, IIT Delhi and UCL signed a Memorandum of Understanding committing to partnership in research and innovation. The partnership, which will seek to leverage industry connections across all three institutions, will pave the way for devising multidisciplinary solutions across healthcare, policy and social sciences to tackle pressing global challenges such as air pollution, health problems, and climate change. Together, the universities aim to advance the field of medical technology in cutting-edge areas such as detection, diagnostics and imaging; devices and implants; assistive technologies; digital health; artificial intelligence, machine learning and quantum; surgical and treatment interventions and sensing technologies. They will also aim to increase ongoing collaboration in areas such as staff and student exchange, joint programmes, workshops and conferences, and joint publications. Professor M Srinivas, Director (AIIMS) said, "This tripartite partnership between AIIMS, IIT Delhi, and UCL represents a transformative step in addressing some of the most pressing health and societal challenges. By combining our expertise in medical science, engineering, and global policy, we are creating a platform for MedTech innovation. Together, we aim to develop impactful solutions, set new benchmarks in medical technology and interdisciplinary research, and enhance patient care delivery." Dr Michael Spence, UCL's President and Provost, said: "At UCL we recognise the difference that international collaboration can make to solving pressing global challenges and we know the power that bringing together different disciplines can have. We are honoured and excited to embark on this new partnership with two such renowned Indian institutions and know we will achieve great things together to make a real difference in people's lives." As part of the trilateral agreement signing ceremony, the delegation visited the med tech facility mPRAGATI, a national centre for the development of medical devices and technology-based at IIT Delhi. UCL has enjoyed longstanding bilateral partnerships with both AIIMS and IIT Delhi and this is the first time the three institutions will collectively work together across disciplines. Professor Sumit Malhotra (AIIMS) and Professor PVM Rao (IIT Delhi) recently took part in the 'India Special' episode of UCL podcast 'Unlocking the SDGs: A blueprint for the future', hosted by UCL's Professor Monica Lakhanpaul and Professor Priti Parikh, exploring examples of innovative projects involving communities to tackle the Sustainable Development Goals. (ANI) Delhi's Rouse Avenue sessions court stayed the proceedings before a magistrate in a defamation case against Delhi Chief Minister Atishi on Friday. She has approached the sessions court against the summons issued in a case by BJP leader Praveen Shankar Kapoor. Special judge Vishal Gogne stayed the proceedings before the magistrate court and has listed the matter for hearing on December 2. During the hearing, counsel for Atishi filed a rejoinder to a reply filed by Praveen Shankar Kapoor on the revision. In the morning, the matter was listed before the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM) who proceeded with the matter. Thereafter, the matter was mentioned before the sessions court. Delhi CM had approached the sessions court against the summons issued on the complaint filed. On November 6, the court granted time to Delhi CM Atishi's counsel to file a rejoinder. Earlier, the BJP Leader Praveen Shankar Kapoor filed a reply to the appeal filed by Delhi CM Atishi. It was stated in the reply that the appeal is devoid of merit and liable to be dismissed. The sessions court had also called for the trial court record two days before the hearing before the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate. In the reply, it's stated that the order of summoning was passed after considering the facts, circumstances and material placed on record. It is also stated by the respondent that he represents the BJP as its media head and spokesperson of the Delhi Unit. Therefore, any defamatory post, article, or press conference circulated on social media is equally defamatory for him due to his long association with the party. The reply was filed by advocate Shoumendu Mukherjee counsel for Praveen Shankar Kapoor. Advocate Shoumendu Mukherjee appeared through video conferencing for Praveen Shankar Kapoor. The Magistrate at Rouse Avenue court had issued the summons to Atishi Marlena on May 28 this year. The Rouse Avenue court on July 23 granted bail to Delhi Atishi after She appeared physically and furnished the bail bond. Before filing the complaint, the Delhi BJP Leader sent a legal notice to AAP leader Atishi over her claims BJP approached her through a "very close" person to join the party. Notice sent by Delhi BJP leader Praveen Shankar Kapoor stated that on April 2, 2024, Atishi held a Press Conference and claimed that she was approached by the BJP to join the party. Notice sent through Advocate Satya Ranjan Swain on behalf of Praveen Shankar Kapoor had stated that Atishi deliberately and with malicious intent made statements which are not only false, scandalous, concocted and illusionary, but defamatory to harm the reputation of BJP but also of its members. "In the entire speech, she neither revealed specific information about the source of information nor you have given any details qua the act of BJP the act of BJP. Devoid of any specifities your statement is an intentional endeavor to reflect your own imagination and apprehension," stated the legal notice. The notice requested Atishi to immediately withdraw the said speech and telecast your apology prominently on your television and social media. AAP Leader and Delhi Minister Atishi had alleged that she was approached by the Bharatiya Janata Party to join them or else she'd be arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in the coming days. While addressing a press conference here, the AAP leader said, "The BJP, through one of my close aides, approached me to join their party to save my political career, and if I do not join the BJP, then in the coming month, I will be arrested by the ED." The AAP leader accused the BJP-led Centre of trying to threaten the party by using probe agencies. "I want to tell the BJP that we will not be scared of you. We are the soldiers of Arvind Kejriwal. We are aides of Bhagat Singh. We will continue to save the Constitution and will work to give the people a better life under the leadership of Arvind Kejriwal," she said. She further alleged that in the coming two months before the general elections, a few more leaders, including Raghav Chadha and Saurabh Bharadwaj, will be arrested by the central probe agency. (ANI) Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Friday praised Delhi Chief Minister Atishi while also taking a dig at Aam Aadmi Party's national convenor Arvind Kejriwal. LG Saxena appreciated that the Chief Minister of Delhi is a woman, but also added that Atishi is a "thousand times better than her predecessor." "I am very happy that the Chief Minister of Delhi is a woman. I can say with confidence that she is a thousand times better than her predecessor...," he said while addressing at the 7th Convocation of Indira Gandhi Delhi Technical University for Women (IGDTUW). Notably, Kejriwal during his tenue as Chief Minister, was constantly at odds with LG Saxena, and the two made strong remarks against each other. The Delhi LG took to social media platform X, to inform about the event. He said that this convocation marks a celebration of progress and the vital role women play in shaping a technologically advanced and equitable future. "Presided over the 7th Convocation of Indira Gandhi Delhi Technical University for Women (IGDTUW), in the presence of Hon'ble Delhi CM @AtishiAAP and Prof. Yogesh Singh, VC, DU. Young bright women graduating today will be breaking barriers, redefining gender roles, and stepping into a rapidly changing world with technical expertise and determination. Their bright, young minds are a testament to the innovation and resilience needed to lead in this era of transformation.," LG Saxena stated in a post on X. "These young women carry not only the promise of bright futures but also a new-found responsibility to contribute to their parents and families, society, and nation-building. This convocation marks a celebration of progress and the vital role women play in shaping a technologically advanced and equitable future. My good wishes to the graduating students and their parents, as indeed to the faculty and the management of IGDTUW," he added. Kejriwal, who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in March this year, in connection with the Delhi excise policy case, came out of Tihar Jail last month, after being granted bail by the Supreme Court. After coming out, in a surprising move, the AAP national convenor announced his resignation from the CM post, and said he won't take the position, till the public gives him the "certificate of honesty" by making AAP victorious again in the assembly elections next year. Party leader and minister Atishi succeeded him as the Chief Minister. The assembly elections in Delhi will be held next year. Meanwhile, the Delhi Assembly 'Winter Session' session is to be convened from November 29 to December 3, according to a notification released by the legislative Assembly Secretariat on Monday. "Hon'ble Members are informed that the sitting of the Third Part of Fifth Session of Seventh Legislative Assembly of the National Capital Territory of Delhi will be reconvened on Friday, 29th November, 2024 at 11:00 A.M. in the Assembly Hall, Old Secretariat, Delhi," read the official notification. (ANI) The Central Bureau of Investigation on Friday filed the 5th chargesheet against five accused before the Court of Special Judge for CBI in Patna in connection with the NEET-UG 2024 question paper theft case. The charge sheet has been filed under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 120-B (Criminal Conspiracy), 109 (Abetment), 409 (Criminal Breach of Trust), 420 (Cheating), 380 (Theft), 201 (Causing Disappearance of Evidence), and 411 (Dishonestly Receiving Stolen Property) and under Section 13(2) read with Section 13(1)(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018), said the CBI in a press release. The 5 accused individuals chargesheeted are Amit Kumar Singh, a resident of Dhanbad, Sudip Kumar and Yuvraj Kumar, both residents of Bokaro, Abhimanyu Patel, a resident of Nalanda and Amit Kumar, a resident of Patna. With this, the total charge-sheeted accused in this case stands at 45, and all of them are in judicial custody. The CBI had earlier filed four charge sheets on August 1, September 19, October 5 and November 7 against 40 other accused. CBI took over the investigation of the case from Shastri Nagar Police Station, Patna on June 23 this year. Names of the candidates, who are beneficiaries of the paper theft / unfair means and names of the MBBS students who had solved the stolen paper or who had appeared in the exam as impersonators have already been identified and shared with National Testing Agency (NTA) /Ministry of Education, said the CBI. The NTA conducts the NEET UG for admissions to government and private medical institutes in the country. This year, the exam was conducted on May 5. Initially, the Bihar Police had launched a probe after an alleged paper leak, later, the Centre handed over the probe to the CBI. Earlier, the investigation revealed that the NEET UG 2024 question paper was stolen from the control room of OASIS School in Hazaribagh on May 5. The theft occurred after the trunks containing the question papers arrived from the bank vault. According to the CBI, one of the accused Pankaj Kumar was allowed entry into the control room by the school's Principal, Ahsanul Haque, and Vice Principal, Imtiyaz Alam. "The accused Pankaj Kumar was clandestinely allowed entry into the control room by Ahsanul Haque, the Principal, and Imtiyaz Alam, the Vice Principal of the school as part of the conspiracy. Pankaj Kumar tampered with the hinges of the trunk containing the question papers, removed one question paper, photographed all its pages, replaced back the paper and resealed the trunk, and exited the control room," the CBI stated. After leaving the school, Pankaj handed the photographs of the question paper to his accomplice, Surendra Kumar Sharma, at Raj Guest House in Hazaribagh. The stolen question papers were printed and given to a group of MBBS students--Karan Jain, Kumar Shanu, Rahul Anand, Chandan Singh, Surbhi Kumari, Deependra Sharma, Raunak Raj, Sandeep Kumar, and Amit Kumar--who solved the paper, the agency had said earlier. Following this, the solved question papers were then distributed to the candidates present at the Raj Guest House, Hazaribagh. Further, the solved question paper was scanned and sent digitally to predetermined locations where the members of the accused gang received them.Only those who paid in advance could enter these locations, it said. After their exams, the candidates were prohibited from taking any printed copies with them. The CBI found half-burnt pieces of the question paper at Learn Play School, Patna, which led them to OASIS School, the CBI had said earlier.(ANI) Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal and JD(U) leader KC Tyagi on Friday exuded confidence in the BJP-led alliance's victory in the Jharkhand and Maharashtra Assembly elections. "Tomorrow the results are coming. I went to Maharashtra and Jharkhand. BJP is going to do well and in both Maharashtra and Jharkhand, we are going to form governments," Meghwal said. While Tyagi said that the 'Ladli Behen' scheme launched by the Mahayuti government will help the ruling alliance in Maharashtra to win the election. "I am hopeful that the NDA alliance will emerge victorious in the Maharashtra Assembly elections. 'Ladli Behen' scheme has created an atmosphere of support in favour of the NDA alliance," Tyagi told ANI. The counting for the assembly polls in Maharashtra and Jharkhand will be held on Saturday, November 23. Meanwhile, BJP's National General Secretary Tarun Chugh criticised the Congress for blaming EVMs for their defeat in the previous elections and expressed that the INDIA bloc led by Congress will be "wiped out" in the upcoming results for Maharashtra and Jharkhand assembly. "They blame EVMs for their defeat. But, when they won the elections in Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh and Telangana, the EVMs were correct," Chug told ANI. Saying that the people will bless the party to form the government, he said that the opposition's anger and desperation are clearly visible. "Just like people rejected Congress in Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana, similarly in Maharashtra and Jharkhand too, the Congress-led alliance will be wiped out, the people will give a befitting reply to the corrupt, parivarvaad. PM Modi's government, which works for the poor, women and the youth will get the blessings of the people," Chugh added. In Maharashtra, the BJP is in alliance with Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, Ajit Pawar-led and Nationalist Congress Party, called the Mahayuti. The Mahayuti is facing a tough battle against the opposition Maha Vikas Agadhi (MVA), comprising of Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SCP). One needs to secure atleast 145 seats to secure a majority in the 288-seat assembly. In the 81-seat assembly of Jharkhand, the BJP seeks to defeat the ruling JMM party. For this assembly elections, the BJP is in alliance with the All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU), Janata Dal (United), and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas). While the JMM-led alliance consists of Congress, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), and the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist). (ANI) Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena leader Shaina NC on Friday took aim at Maharashtra Congress Chief Nana Patole and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut, accusing them of being in competition as to who gives more controversial statements to grab the media limelight. She was reacting to the 'note jihad' allegations raised by Nana Patole against the BJP. "Nana Patole and Sanjay Raut are in a competition as to who gives more controversial statements only to hog the media limelight," Shaina told ANI. "The people who have the audacity to talk about 'note jihad' are the ones who have been propagating 'vote jihad', liquor jihad and all kinds of ill practices during elections. I am absolutely firm that it is going to be the Mahayuti that is coming to power. Their (MVA) vote has sunk and that is why they are left with no other statements but this. So, they are making controversial statements," she added. On Thursday, responding to the BJP's allegation of "vote jihad", Patole accused the party of distributing money and liquor in Maharashtra. "Was it note jihad," he asked. "The way BJP leader was held distributing money, so, was it note jihad? Due to fear of losing BJP trying to win elections by distributing money and liquor in Maharashtra," he alleged. Voting for the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly took place on Wednesday with a voter turnout of 66.05 per cent. The results will be announced on tomorrow. Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut dismissed Maharashtra Congress Chief Nana Patole's alleged remarks on Thursday that a Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government will be formed in the state and said that "no one will accept this." Speaking to reporters in Mumbai, Raut said that the matter needs to be collectively discussed with the alliance. "I will not accept this, and no one else will accept this. We will sit together and decide if Nana Patole has said this and whether Nana Patole has the Congress high command's backing. The Congress high command has said that if you (Patole) are becoming the Chief Minister, then Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and Sonia Gandhi should announce it," Raut said. Earlier, Patole had claimed that Congress would lead the MVA government in Maharashtra based on the voting trends and public feedback. The Congress Maharashtra Chief said, "Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government will be formed in Maharashtra under the leadership of Congress." (ANI) Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar exuded confidence that Maha Vikas Aghadi will win the Maharashtra assembly elections and form the government and the JMM-led alliance will form the government in Jharkhand. "We are going to win Maharashtra assembly elections comfortably and will form the government...," DK Shivakumar told ANI here ahead of the counting of votes for the Maharashtra and Jharkhand assembly elections. Replying to a query on the poll promises in Karnataka, DK Shivakumar said, "They (BJP leaders) made a false promise and tried to tell the people of Maharashtra that we have not implemented any of the promises (in Karnataka). I gave them an open offer to come to Karnataka and BJP leaders sent their workers to enquire and they have agreed that all the promises have been implemented..." The senior Congress leader also said, "Our government will be formed in Jharkhand also...We will emerge victorious on the Channapatna Assembly constituency..." The counting for the assembly polls in Maharashtra and Jharkhand will be on Saturday, November 23. In Maharashtra, the BJP is in alliance with Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, Ajit Pawar-led and Nationalist Congress Party, called the Mahayuti. The Mahayuti is facing a tough battle against the opposition Maha Vikas Agadhi (MVA), comprising Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SCP). One needs to secure atleast 145 seats to secure a majority in the 288-seat assembly. In the 81-seat assembly of Jharkhand, the BJP seeks to defeat the ruling JMM party. For this assembly election, the BJP is in alliance with the All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU), Janata Dal (United), and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas). While the JMM-led alliance consists of Congress, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), and the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist). Meanwhile in Maharashtra, ruling Mahayuti is poised to retain power and the NDA also has an edge to form government in Jharkhand, exit polls predicted on Wednesday after the polling concluded in the two states. Most exit polls also predicted that Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) would put up a strong show in polls but is unlikely to cross the majority mark in the 288-member assembly. According to the P-MARQ exit poll, the Mahayuti alliance would win 137-157 seats whereas the Maha Vikas Aghadi would get 126-147 seats and others 2-8 seats. Chanakya Strategies projected that Mahayuti will win 152-150 seats, MVA 130-138 seats, and others 6-8 seats. In Jharkhand, exit polls suggested the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) might replace the JMM-led alliance. The elections, held in two phases for 81 assembly seats, indicated a strong showing for the BJP-led alliance. According to Chanakya Strategies, the NDA is expected to win 45-50 seats, the JMM-led alliance 35-38 seats, and others 3-5 seats. Peoples Pulse exit poll predicted 44-53 seats for the NDA, 25-37 for the JMM-led alliance, and 5-9 seats for others. (ANI) The Bharatiya Janata Party held their national workshop for its organisational elections at the BJP Headquarters Extension under the chairmanship of Union Health Minister and party National President JP Nadda in Delhi on Friday, sources said. The meeting was held on the issue of the elections within the organisation, with dates for elections in the BJP Mandals along with the BJP state presidents to be finalised in the meeting. Notably, as the Maharashtra and Jharkhand assembly elections are over with results awaited tomorrow, the process of electing the next BJP national president has intensified. In this regard, the BJP organized an important meeting today. The meeting was held under the chairmanship of BJP National President JP Nadda. This meeting lasted for more than 5 hours in BJP Extension Building. Apart from the national office bearers, the state president and state organization general secretary from every state, in-charge and co-in-charge of all the states and state election officers and co-officers were also present in this meeting. Workshops were also organised regarding organisation elections, where all national office bearers from across the country, presidents of all states, and organisation ministers took part. The meeting also saw the presence of all the BJP state in-charges, co-in-charges, national presidents of fronts and election officers. The Organization festival meeting was organized at BJP Extension Headquarters. A workshop was organized today in the BJP Extension Building with about 125 top leaders associated with the organization including BJP national office bearers and state presidents regarding the election process of the organization. Speaking to ANI, the source said that the process of election of Mandal Presidents will be completed from December 1 to December 15. The process of election of district presidents will be held from December 16 to December 30. After that, the process of election of state presidents will start. The Workshop will be held on December 30 to elect the state president. The process of election of state president is expected to be completed by January 15. According to the sources, the next BJP national president can be announced by the end of January or February. National Election Officer, K Laxman and all three co-election officers appointed for the BJP President election were also present in the meeting. The discussions in the meeting mainly focussed on information about all the activities related to the local active membership campaign and organizational elections etc. According to sources, emphasis has been laid on making as many active members as possible. However, the target of active members has been completed up to 45 per cent and instructions have been given to complete the target by November 30 this year. Speaking further, the source said that for electing the Mandal President, the party has fixed the age of 35 years to 45 years, while for the Mandal elections, it is necessary to be an active member in the party working for BJP. For electing the district president, the party has set the age limit from 45 years to 60 years and the worker must be an active member of the party for 6 years. State workshops will be organized till November 27 and district workshops will be organized till November 2, in which the main issues will be discussed on how to take the election process forward. During the meeting, JP Nadda, along with other leaders, also gave floral tributes to the former leaders. The event aimed to bring together key party stakeholders from across the country to discuss and strategise for the upcoming organisation elections. The workshop is expected to provide a platform for party leaders to share experiences, discuss challenges, and outline strategies for effective election management. With the participation of top BJP leadership, this event is likely to have a significant impact on the party's organisational structure and election preparedness, the source added. (ANI) After Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Vinod Tawde demanded an apology from Congress leaders and issued a court notice to them, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Anand Dubey criticised him, suggesting that Tawde should instead file a case against BJP's "former ally," the Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (BVA). Dubey stated that while it is Tawde's right to file a defamation case against Congress leaders, he should also consider filing a case against BVA leaders Hitendra Thakur and Jagdish Thakur. "If he wants to press defamation charges against Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, he can do so as per the law... it will go to court. But if he truly wants to file a case, it should be against Hitendra Thakur and Jagdish Thakur of BVA, who were your former allies," Dubey said in a self-recorded video. Dubey further alleged that the controversy surrounding the 'cash-for-votes' scandal in Maharashtra arose only after BVA leaders accused Tawde of distributing money. "On November 19, when allegations of cash distribution were made against Vinod Tawde, we saw on television that two Bahujan Vikas Aghadi leaders accused Tawde of distributing money at a hotel. Following this, Congress leaders and MVA leaders commented on these allegations," Dubey said. Earlier, BJP National General Secretary Vinod Tawde accused Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, and Supriya Shrinate of attempting to defame him and his party. "Congress Chief Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, and party spokesperson Supriya Shrinate claimed that I was caught red-handed distributing Rs 5 crore to voters. They made all kinds of dramatic statements," Tawde told ANI. "They only aimed to defame me and my party. I am deeply hurt. I come from a regular middle-class family and have been in politics for 40 years, but I have never done anything of this nature," he added. Tawde further stated that the Congress leaders "deliberately spread falsehoods" to tarnish his image, prompting him to issue a court notice demanding a public apology. "They deliberately shared this untruth with the media and the public. Hence, I have issued a court notice to them, asking them to apologise publicly or face legal action," he said. On November 19, Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (BVA) workers caused a commotion outside a hotel in the Nalasopara assembly constituency in Palghar district, Maharashtra, accusing the BJP of "distributing money." Tawde had dismissed these allegations on the same day. (ANI) Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader Harish Rao, during his visit to the Khammam Cotton Market, raised serious concerns about the plight of farmers under the Congress government led by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy. He interacted with farmers to understand their struggles firsthand, according to a press release from Harish Rao's PRO. Accompanying him during his visit on Thursday were former ministers Gangula Kamalakar and Puvvada Ajay, MP Vaddiraju Ravichandra, MLC Tata Madhu, former MLA Venkata Veeraiah, former ZP Chairman Kamal Raj, former Chairman Errolla Srinivas, and several district leaders and party workers. Speaking to the media, Harish Rao criticised the Congress government for failing to fulfil its promises. "None of the commitments made in the Warangal Farmers' Declaration have been honoured," he said. He highlighted the dire situation of cotton farmers, who were promised a Rs500 bonus but are now struggling to even secure the minimum support price (MSP). "The promised bonus has turned into a bogus promise," he remarked, noting that cotton prices have failed to exceed Rs6,500 per quintal, based on market yard data. Farmers are also suffering the effects of unseasonal rains, which have damaged crops and reduced yields. A farmer, Shankar Ramadevi, who cultivates cotton on eight acres, expressed her distress, saying, "I couldn't harvest even five quintals, and what little I got didn't fetch the MSP." Harish Rao pointed out that the support price for cotton should be Rs7,500, yet farmers are being forced to sell at Rs6,500 due to middlemen's exploitation. "Middlemen are purchasing cotton at low prices and reselling it to CCI centres at a higher rate, pocketing the difference," he added. The Congress government's neglect is not limited to cotton farmers. Harish Rao highlighted that chilli farmers, who earned Rs23,000 per quintal last year, are now forced to sell at less than Rs13,000. He also criticised the government for its failure to deliver on promises such as loan waivers, Rythu Bharosa payments, and financial assistance to tenant farmers and agricultural labourers. Comparing the current situation with the previous BRS regime, Harish Rao noted that during K. Chandrasekhar Rao Garu's tenure as Chief Minister in 2021, cotton was purchased at Rs11,000 per quintal. "Why has the price dropped to half under the Congress government? This is due to unchecked exploitation by middlemen," he asserted. Harish Rao demanded immediate action to address farmers' grievances, including the establishment of Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) procurement centres at the Khammam Cotton Market, ensuring a support price of Rs7,520 per quintal for cotton, and providing the promised Rs500 bonus to farmers. He also emphasised the need for an urgent review meeting on cotton and paddy procurement. "While the Chief Minister is busy reviewing liquor sales, he has failed to address critical agricultural issues," Harish Rao said. "The Congress government must stop misleading farmers with empty promises. The tears of cotton farmers and their families cannot go unnoticed," Harish Rao stated. He concluded by reiterating the BRS party's commitment to supporting farmers and fighting for their rights. (ANI) India has reiterated its call for urgent reform of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), with Parvathaneni Harish, India's Permanent Representative to the UN, stating that the current structure undermines the organisation's credibility and effectiveness. Speaking at the Plenary of the Intergovernmental Negotiations on UNSC reform on Wednesday, Harish said, "My delegation agrees with the assertion that the UN Security Council in its current design is detrimental to the credibility and effectiveness of the UN and must be addressed at the earliest. We need a UN Security Council that reflects the new multipolar world of today." Harish also clarified India's position on the reform process, rejecting claims made by so-called cross-regional groups based on faith or religion, emphasising that such factors should not serve as the basis for representation in the Council. "My delegation does not support any claims being made by so-called cross-regional groups on the basis of faith or religion, which cannot be the sole basis for representation in the Council," he said. Harish highlighted India's support for creating new non-permanent seats while maintaining that such expansion should be limited to the non-permanent category. He also stressed the importance of equitable geographical representation in the permanent category. "India underscores equitable geographical representation in the permanent category. In particular, the inclusion of regions such as Africa, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Caribbean is essential for a legitimate and effective Council," he added. This inclusion, Harish argued, is vital for making the UNSC more representative of the global community and more effective in addressing the world's most pressing challenges. In his statement, Harish reaffirmed India's commitment to a reformed UNSC that reflects the evolving global dynamics and the diverse interests of the international community. India's reform proposal remains focused on ensuring all regions have a fair and meaningful voice in the Security Council's decision-making processes. (ANI) The two discussed issues of mutual interest and explored avenues to strengthen bilateral defence cooperation, according to a statement by the Indian Army, on Thursday. General Dwivedi arrived in Kathmandu on Wednesday for a five-day official visit at the invitation of General Sigdel. Earlier in the day, General Dwivedi paid tribute by laying a wreath at the Bir Smarak (Martyr's Memorial) at the Army Pavilion in Tundikhel, Kathmandu. He also received a Guard of Honour at the Army Headquarters. Highlighting the strong ties between India and Nepal, General Dwivedi was conferred with the prestigious rank of Honourary General of the Nepali Army, a tradition that underscores the deep-rooted historical, cultural, and military bonds between the two nations. This exchange of honourary generalships, a unique and cherished tradition between the Indian and Nepali Armies, dates back to the 1950s. Every three years, the Chief of the Indian Army is made an Honourary General of the Nepali Army, and vice versa. The practice reflects mutual respect and enduring friendship, particularly in the realms of military cooperation, defence collaboration, and shared strategic interests. The symbolic exchange of titles is more than a ceremonial gesture--it is a testament to the longstanding solidarity, trust, and shared commitment to peace and stability in the region. This tradition highlights the strong strategic partnership between the two forces, which collaborate on joint training, military exercises, and disaster response initiatives. Both armies share similar values and a commitment to regional security, with the Honourary Generalship reflecting their unity and shared purpose. The exchange is particularly significant given the unique socio-cultural bonds and open borders between India and Nepal. It underscores shared security interests and the deep camaraderie that transcends formal diplomatic relations. This enduring tradition reinforces the friendship and cooperation that have defined the relationship between the two nations for decades. General Dwivedi's visit and the conferral of this honour will not only enhance military ties but also reflect the deep respect between the armed forces of India and Nepal, further advancing the spirit of cooperation and mutual understanding. (ANI) Speaking at an Indian community event in Georgetown, Guyana's President Mohamed Irfaan Ali praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his exemplary leadership and transformative impact on India's global stature. Addressing the gathering, President Ali said, "...Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is a shining light in your leadership. It is no secret that the strength of your leadership, the passion and compassion of your leadership and the deliberateness of your leadership have placed India in a different light and realm around the globe. You have brought incredible respect. But more importantly, you have brought a level of dignity and pride to India that is unmatched, and we congratulate you on that." President Ali underscored India's growing influence in the world under PM Modi's leadership, noting, "Today, many developing countries and developed countries look to India for example, look to India for technology, look to India for research and development. That speaks volumes. It speaks about transformation. It speaks about a changed society and a society that is firmly rooted as a global leader, and we look forward to your continued leadership at a political level." In a heartfelt acknowledgement of PM Modi's visit, President Ali expressed his gratitude for the time spent in Guyana, stating, "My dear friend and brother, PM Narendra Modi, we had you for more than two days, but still, people cannot have enough of you. It is all because of your hard work, humility and the way you have led. This is not departure; this after today is saying, safe flight back home and we hope for your early return to our beautiful shores." PM Modi's visit to Guyana, the first by an Indian Prime Minister in over five decades, marked the third and final leg of his three-nation tour. During the historic visit, PM Modi co-chaired the 2nd India-CARICOM Summit alongside Caribbean leaders, further strengthening India's partnerships in the region. (ANI) Days after India strongly objected to a report in the Canada-based Globe and Mail newspaper that attempted to draw a connection between the death of NIA-designated terrorist Hardeep Nijjar to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Canada has officially denied the reports. Nathalie G Drouin, the Deputy Clerk of the Privy Council and National Security and Intelligence Advisor to the Prime Minister, in the statement issued by the Privy Council Office said, "On October 14th, because of a significant and ongoing threat to public safety, the RCMP and officials took the extraordinary step of making public accusations of serious criminal activity in Canada perpetrated by agents of the Government of India". The statement added, "The Government of Canada has not stated, nor is it aware of evidence, linking Prime Minister Modi, Minister Jaishankar, or NSA Doval to the serious criminal activity within Canada". "Any suggestion to the contrary is both speculative and inaccurate", the statement concluded. On November 20, India had strongly refuted the reports and said it should be dismissed with the "contempt they deserve." The Ministry of External Affairs had emphasised that "smear campaigns" like this only "further damage our already strained ties." "We do not normally comment on media reports. However, such ludicrous statements made to a newspaper purportedly by a Canadian government source should be dismissed with the contempt they deserve. Smear campaigns like this only further damage our already strained ties," said the MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiwal. India's ties with Canada have seen sharp deterioration with India repeatedly expressing its deep concern about extremism and the culture of violence and anti-India activities in Canada and has asked Canadian authorities to take action against these activities. Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had claimed that he has "credible allegations" of India's hand in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada last year. India has denied all the allegations, calling them "absurd" and "motivated" and has accused Canada of giving space to extremist and anti-India elements in their country. Earlier, India recalled six diplomats from Canada after they were declared "persons of interest" by the Canadian government in the investigation into the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.Nijjar was killed outside the Gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, on June 18 last year. (ANI) Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Thursday disclosed an alleged attempt to poison him and Vice President Geraldo Alckmin just days before he assumed office in 2022. Speaking at an event at the presidential palace on Thursday, Lula said, as quoted by CNN, "I have to be very thankful now, even more so because I am alive. The attempt to poison me and [Vice President] Alckmin did not work, we are here." The revelation comes as former President Jair Bolsonaro and 36 others face indictment in an investigation into a coup plot following the 2022 elections, according to CNN Brasil. The probe alleges that Bolsonaro had "full knowledge" of plans to prevent Lula from taking office after his electoral victory. Brazil's federal police submitted a detailed report to the Supreme Court outlining the findings. The report, spanning hundreds of pages, details plans to assassinate Vice President Geraldo Alckmin and Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes. The methods discussed included poison and explosives, CNN reported, citing police officials. On Tuesday, five suspects, including Bolsonaro's former adviser and retired general Mario Fernandes, were arrested in connection with the alleged plot. The suspects reportedly sought to create an "Institutional Crisis Management Office" to seize control of the government. In response to the indictment, Bolsonaro stated that he had not yet reviewed the charges. In a post on X, he said, "We have to see what is in this indictment by the Federal Police. I will wait for the lawyer. This, obviously, will go to the Attorney General's Office. It is at the PGR that the fight begins. I cannot expect anything from a team that uses creativity to denounce me." https://x.com/jairbolsonaro/status/1859674801419452478 He, as per the CNN report, also slammed Justice Moraes, accusing him of "leading the entire investigation, adjusting statements, arresting people without charges, fishing for evidence, and having a very creative team of advisers." Among those indicted are Bolsonaro's former defence minister Walter Braga Netto, ex-security chief Augusto Heleno, and other senior officials. Bolsonaro's son, Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, dismissed the allegations on X, saying, "As disgusting as it may be to think about killing someone, it is not a crime." The investigation adds to the ongoing tensions after the January 8 riots, during which Bolsonaro supporters stormed government buildings in protest of Lula's victory. (ANI) The White House has said it is aware of the allegations against Indian billionaire Gautam Adani, chairman of Adani Group, who was indicted in New York over his role in an alleged multibillion-dollar bribery and fraud scheme. Addressing reporters during her daily briefing, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre expressed confidence that Indian and the US could navigate the issue without compromising their robust partnership. "So, Obviously, we''re aware of these allegations, and I would have to refer you to the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) and DOJ (Department of Justice) about the specifics of those - of those allegations against the Adani Group," she said. Jean-Pierre said that the relationship between the US and India remains solid. "What I will say is on the US and India relationship, we believe that it stands on an extremely strong foundation anchored in ties between our people and cooperation across a full range of global issues," she said. She further expressed confidence in the ability of the two nations to navigate the situation. "What we believe and we''re confident about is that we''ll continue to navigate this issue as we have with other issues that may have come up. And so the specifics of this, this is something that the SEC and DOJ can speak to directly, but again, we believe that...this relationship between India and the US has been built on a strong foundation," the White House spokesperson added. The US Attorney''s Office for the Eastern District of New York had earlier unsealed criminal charges against Gautam Adani, his nephew Sagar Adani and other executives linking them to an alleged bribery scheme. On Thursday, the Adani Group strongly refuted bribery allegations made by the US Department of Justice and the US Securities and Exchange Commission against directors of the Adani Green terming them baseless. Adani Group spokesperson, in an official statement, said all legal recourse will be taken. "The US Department of Justice and the US Securities and Exchange Commission against directors of Adani Green are baseless and denied," the statement read. The group further highlighted a key aspect of the legal proceedings. "As stated by the US Department of Justice itself, ''The charges in the indictment are allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.'' All possible legal recourse will be sought," the statement said. (ANI) Arab League condemns U.S. veto on UN resolution demanding Gaza ceasefire Xinhua) 08:57, November 22, 2024 CAIRO, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Arab League (AL) Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit condemned on Thursday the United States for vetoing a UN Security Council (UNSC) resolution that called for a ceasefire and an end to Israeli aggression in the Gaza Strip. "The U.S. stance, which is internationally isolated and politically and morally denounced, constitutes a green light to Israel to continue its bloody campaign against the Palestinian civilians in Gaza, including hunger and compulsory displacement, to empty the Strip of its residents," Aboul-Gheit said in a statement. By using the veto right, the United States is encouraging Israeli forces to continue the war in Gaza and consolidating the international impotence in facing the most dangerous regional conflict, he said. The United States on Wednesday vetoed a UNSC draft resolution that called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, drawing harsh criticism from most of the UN members. The draft, put forward by the council's 10 non-permanent members, demanded an immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire, as well as the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages. The 15-member council voted 14-1 in favor of the resolution, and the United States used its veto as a permanent council member to block it. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Fourteen-year-old Nsajigwa Michael is among around 25 Chinese and Tanzanian children learning Chinese calligraphy and painting at the Chinese Cultural Center in the bustling port city of Dar es Salaam. "China is a country with a wealth of culture, and I want to learn more about it," said Nsajigwa, a sixth-grade student at Lexis School in Oysterbay, during an interview with Xinhua ahead of World Children's Day on Nov. 20. "My seven-year-old younger brother is also interested in Chinese culture. He is learning Chinese calligraphy, which is the art of creating decorative handwriting or lettering with a pen or brush." In addition to learning Chinese painting, Nsajigwa, who resides in Kinondoni, Dar es Salaam, is also studying the Chinese language. "These classes have given me a deeper understanding of Chinese culture. They have also helped me make many Chinese friends, and I look forward to visiting China in the future," he said. The Chinese Cultural Center in Tanzania, established in 2013, hosts children twice a week. The center aims to inspire critical thinking, emotional intelligence, and artistic expression among its young learners. Besides Tanzanian children, many Chinese children living in Tanzania also study at the center. "I have made many Tanzanian friends in the class, and they have shared many fascinating things about their country with us," said Jiang Yanchen, a Chinese student who moved to Tanzania with his parents for work. Feng Yingqiao, a Chinese teacher who has been teaching Chinese calligraphy and painting at the center for the past two years, explained her approach. "Many Tanzanian children are of great interest in Chinese culture. My classes help them better understand Chinese traditional culture through calligraphy and painting," she said. "These art forms are not just skills but windows into China's rich cultural heritage." Feng noted that she often integrates Chinese history into her calligraphy and painting lessons to help students develop a deeper connection with the culture. "My classes have sparked a growing interest in China's history and arts among the children," she said. "I teach once a week, and many of my students come from Chinese families working in Dar es Salaam. Learning calligraphy and painting is also about preserving their cultural identity." Feng emphasized that her work goes beyond teaching skills. "I'm helping to build a cultural bridge between China and Tanzania, fostering cultural exchange and mutual understanding among the children," she added. Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a meeting with the Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Amor Mottley during the sidelines of the India-CARICOM summit. He thanked the government and the people of Barbados for conferring the Honorary Order of Freedom of Barbados Award upon him. In a post on X, Prime Minister Modi expressed, "Had a very good meeting with Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley of Barbados. Our talks covered areas such as science and technology, healthcare, education, climate change and agriculture". He said, "I am grateful to the Government and people of Barbados for conferring the Honorary Order of Freedom of Barbados Award. This honour is dedicated to the people of India". Speaking to the media earlier, PM Mottley had said that the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi marked a "historic moment" for the CARICOM countries and that they were honoured to have the summit. "I think we are all happy that we can have this opportunity to meet with PM Narendra Modi. It is a historic moment for most of us in CARICOM to be able to meet with and have the CARICOM-India at the level of Heads of Government", she had said. The Barbados PM, while speaking to ANI observed that the last time the leaders met was on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. She said that the interactions between them, "speaks of the strength of the relationship between the two regions". India and Barbados enjoy close and cordial relations and interact actively in the UN, Commonwealth, NAM and other international fora. A statement by the External Affairs Ministry highlighted that Barbados has been supporting India's candidature on various multilateral platforms including elections of different bodies under the UN. Approximately 3000 people of Indian origin have settled in Barbados and most of them have since acquired local nationality. (ANI) Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held meetings with the Japanese Defence Minister, General Nakatani and the Defence Secretary of the Philippines, Gilberto Teodoro in Laos. In a post on X, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said, "Had a very good meeting with the Defence Minister of Japan, General Nikatani in Vientiane, Lao PDR". Singh expressed confidence in the India-Japan partnership and said that it will "play a significant role in ensuring free, open and rules-based Indo-Pacific region". https://x.com/rajnathsingh/status/1859810688577020068 The meeting comes on the heels of EAM Jaishankar's remarks during the 7th India-Japan Indo-Pacific Forum. Jaishankar had noted, "India - Japan Special Strategic Global Partnership serves a cause of regional peace, international stability and global prosperity. It is a bilateral relationship of great trust and growing substance. Our convergences are built on the alignment between India's Act-East Policy, our Indo-Pacific vision of SAGAR, and Japan's Free and Open Indo-Pacific Vision, as well as our shared support for the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP). As we expand common interests and forge new modes of collaboration, our strategic partnership will progress accordingly." The meeting between the Indian and Japanese Defence Ministers comes when the two are in Laos to attend the 11th ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus forum at Vientiane. Rajnath Singh also held interactions with the Defence Secretary of the Philippines in Laos. He wrote on X, "Had an excellent meeting with the Defence Secretary of Philippines, Mr. Gilberto Teodoro". Singh said, "Philippines is an important partner in our Act East Policy and Indo-Pacific vision. India is strongly committed to further strengthen and expand defence cooperation with Philippines". https://x.com/rajnathsingh/status/1859812328897905149 The meeting becomes important as it happened days after India and Philippines marked celebrations of 75 years of establishing diplomatic ties on November 14. During the event, EAM Jaishankar had commented on how the defence and security collaboration between the two countries has moved forward. He had remarked, "Our convergences and shared interest in the Indo-Pacific have contributed to the strengthening of ties. India- Philippines friendship is truly an enduring one that is poised to now move to a higher orbit". Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday attended the 11th ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus (ADMM) in Vientiane, Laos. During the meeting, Singh underscored India's commitment to dialogue in resolving complex issues and emphasised that India firmly believes in constructive engagement among nations to achieve genuine, long-term solutions to global problems. The defence minister reiterated India's commitment to the promotion of peace and prosperity in the Indo-pacific and said, "In the context of promotion of peace and prosperity in the Indo-pacific, India stands for freedom of navigation and overflight, unimpeded lawful commerce and adherence to international law." Singh held several bilaterals on the sidelines of the summit. These include meetings with his American, South Korean and Australian counterparts amongst others. He also participated in an Indian Community event where he highlighted the progress India has made in various spheres in recent years. He dwelt upon the commitment of the government to make India fully developed by 2047. (ANI) The International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague has issued arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, accusing them of "crimes against humanity and war crimes." The charges include allegations of targeting civilians and enforcing policies of starvation in Gaza. Prime Minister Netanyahu condemned the "antisemitic" decision of the ICC in a statement on his social media platform comparing it to the infamous Dreyfus trial. In a video posted on his X handle, Netanyahu said, "The antisemitic decision of the international court in The Hague is a modern Dreyfus trial, and it will end the same way." Netanyahu drew parallels between his situation and the false treason charges against French Jewish officer Alfred Dreyfus over 130 years ago. Referring to Emile Zola's famous essay J'accuse that defended Dreyfus, Netanyahu said, "Now an international court in The Hague, also headed by a French judge, is repeating this outrageous offence. It is falsely accusing me and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant of deliberately targeting civilians." He defended Israel's military actions in Gaza, claiming that measures implemented were necessary to minimise civilian casualties. "We issue millions of text messages, phone calls, and leaflets to warn the citizens of Gaza to get out of harm's way, while Hamas terrorists do everything in their power to keep them in harm's way, including using them as human shields," Netanyahu said. Netanyahu dismissed accusations of imposing a starvation policy, highlighting that Israel had supplied 700,000 tons of food to Gaza. He stated, "We've supplied Gaza with 700,000 tons of food to feed the people of Gaza. That's 3,200 calories for every man, woman, and child in Gaza. And these supplies are routinely looted by Hamas terrorists, who deprive their people of much-needed food." He also noted that Israel had facilitated the vaccination of 97 percent of Gaza's population against polio. Netanyahu called the ICC's charges baseless, asking, "What in God's name are they talking about in The Hague?" The Israeli Prime Minister further criticised the ICC for focusing on Israel while ignoring war crimes in countries like Iran, Syria, and Yemen. He also denounced the court for its failure to act against Hamas, describing their atrocities during the recent Gaza conflict. "No biassed anti-Israel decision in The Hague will prevent the State of Israel from defending its citizens," Netanyahu asserted. He thanked allies, particularly the United States, for condemning the ICC's move and reiterated that Israel does not recognize the court's jurisdiction. The Israeli PM said, "We will continue to do everything we must to defend our citizens and defend our state against Iran's Axis of terror, which includes Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and others." "Our enemies are your enemies, and our victory will be your victory--the victory of civilization over barbarism and tyranny," Netanyahu added. (ANI) Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that Russia has successfully fired a hypersonic missile with a conventional warhead in Ukraine warning that Moscow "had the right" to strike western countries that provided Kyiv with weapons used against Russian targets. In a televised address on November 21 evening, Putin said that there are currently "no countermeasures for the Oreshnik missile" and assured that Russia will issue notifications before using this type of missile, state media reported. "We will do it due to humanitarian concerns - openly, publicly, without any concerns about any countermeasures from the enemy, who will also receive this information," Putin said according to TASS news agency. "Why without any concerns? Because there are currently no countermeasures for this weapon at this moment," Putin was cited as saying by the Russian news outlet. The new Oreshnik medium-range hypersonic ballistic missile which was used for the first time and struck a defence production site in Dnepr (formerly Dnepropetrovsk), was fitted with a conventional warhead, but is designed to carry a nuclear charge as well, according to the TASS report. Putin said that Russia is entitled to use its weapons against the military facilities of countries that allow their weapons to be used against targets in Russia. When using Oreshnik in the future, Russia will issue warnings in advance, allowing civilians to leave zones designated as dangerous, the Russian leader was cited as saying. Putin, in his televised address, said that that the strike was in retaliation to the attacks by US-made ATACMS and British-made Storm Shadow missiles on Russia. Russia said it struck Yuzhmash, a Ukrainian aerospace plant, with the nuclear-capable hypersonic ballistic missile, only carrying a conventional warhead this time. The missile was codenamed Oreshnik by its designers, which can roughly be translated as 'hazelnut tree,' Russian state media cited Putin as saying. The Oreshnik attacks targets at a speed of Mach 10, or 2.5-3 kilometers per second and as per Russian state media, modern air defence systems and missile defence systems deployed by the Americans in Europe cannot intercept such missiles. Meanwhile, the US Department of Defence is terming the new kind of missile launched by Russia against the Ukraine as "intermediate-range ballistic missile," or IRBM, in that it's the first time a weapon of its kind has been used on the battlefield in Ukraine, said the deputy Pentagon press secretary. "I can confirm that Russia did launch an experimental intermediate range ballistic missile," said Sabrina Singh during a briefing on November 21 at the Pentagon. "This IRBM was based on Russia's RS-26 Rubezh intercontinental ballistic missile model. In terms of notifications to the United States, the United States was prenotified, briefly, before the launch, through nuclear risk reduction channels," she said. Singh also said an IRBM and an intercontinental ballistic missile have similar flight paths, high trajectories and can carry large payloads. "But the main difference lies in the range and the strategic purpose," she said. As per an explanation by the CNN, the weapon known as Multiple Independently-targetable Reentry Vehicle (MIRV), carries a series of warheads that can each target a specific location, allowing one ballistic missile to launch a larger attack. MIRVs were developed during the Cold War to permit the delivery of multiple nuclear warheads with a single launch. The Minuteman III, which is the States' ICBM, is armed with MIRVs. Further, the Pentagon has described Putin's remarks as "dangerous, reckless rhetoric."Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a post on X termed the firing of the new medium range ballistic missile by Russia as a "a cynical violation" of the United Nations Charter and said it was "a clear and severe escalation in the scale and brutality of this war." Zelensky said that Putin is "testing" Kyiv's partners with his actions and called on world leaders to put pressure on Moscow. Zelensky accused Russia of taking a "second step toward escalation," saying the first escalatory step was involving North Korean troops in the war. Till the year 2019, the United States and Russia were both party to the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, which banned the testing and deployment of missiles traveling between 310 and 3,400 miles. The United States quit the INF treaty in 2019 soon followed by Russia. In his televised address yesterday, Putin was cited by TASS as saying that the United States has made a mistake by unilaterally destroying the INF Treaty in 2019 under a "far-fetched pretext." Meanwhile, earlier this week, the US Defence Department confirmed that the United States would provide to Ukraine antipersonnel landmines. "What we've seen most recently is because the Russians have been so unsuccessful in the way that they have been fighting they've kind of changed their tactics a bit and they don't lead with their mechanized forces anymore," US Defence Secretary Llyod Austin said on the sidelines of the 14th ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting Plus in Laos. "They lead with dismounted forces who are able to close in and do things to kind of pave the way for mechanized forces," he said. Further he said that in the face of changing tactics, the Ukrainians have been manufacturing their own landmines to slow down Russian advances. The US has also announced an additional USD 275 million security assistance package for Ukraine, which was the 70th tranche of aid since August 2021. This Presidential Drawdown Authority package provides critical capabilities, including munitions for HIMARS, artillery, anti-tank weapons, drones, and protective equipment. The Pentagon spokesperson in her briefing yesterday told reporters that the United States has no plans of updating its nuclear posture following Russia's combat test of its new Oreshnik hypersonic intermediate-range missile. "We haven't seen any adjustments that we've observed in their nuclear posture, and we haven't adjusted our nuclear posture in exchange," she said. Putin had earlier this week on Tuesday approved changes to Russia's nuclear weapons policy. It states that that any aggression against Russia by a non-nuclear state that is carried out with the participation or support of a nuclear state will be considered a joint attack. Russia said it may use nuclear weapons in the event of a conventional attack against itself or Belarus that "creates a critical threat to their sovereignty or territorial integrity". It further said that nuclear deterrent is aimed not only at other nuclear states but also at other countries that allow their land, water or airspace to be used to prepare or conduct aggression against it. Putin signed a decree approving the Foundations of State Policy in the Field of Nuclear Deterrence, the country's updated nuclear doctrine. Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov has warned that Russia's updated nuclear doctrine provides for the possibility of a nuclear response to the use of Western non-nuclear warheads against Russia. Earlier, he said that the US decision to allow Ukraine to use American missiles to attack deep into Russia meant a "qualitatively new round of escalation of tensions." (ANI) The United States on Friday rejected the International Criminal Court's (ICC) decision to issue arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, who are accused of "crimes against humanity and war crimes." White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre expressed concern over the decision in a press briefing, stating, "We fundamentally reject the court's decision to issue arrest warrants for senior Israeli officials." She criticised the prosecutor's haste in seeking the warrants and pointed out troubling process errors that led to this outcome. Jean-Pierre also added that the United States has been clear about the ICC's lack of jurisdiction over this matter. "Whatever this prosecutor might imply, there is no evidence, none between Israel and Hamas, there's just none," she said. The White House is working closely with its partners, including Israel, to discuss the next steps. Jean-Pierre reaffirmed, "We fundamentally reject that the ICC has jurisdiction over the situation, and so that's something that we've been pretty clear about and we'll continue to." This statement comes as the US continues to show support for Israel amid the ICC's charges against its leaders. Meanwhile, the ICC in The Hague on Thursday issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant, accusing them of "crimes against humanity and war crimes." The charges include allegations of targeting civilians and enforcing policies of starvation in Gaza. Prime Minister Netanyahu condemned the ICC's decision in a statement on his social media platform, calling it "antisemitic" and comparing it to the infamous Dreyfus trial. In a video posted on his X handle, Netanyahu said, "The antisemitic decision of the international court in The Hague is a modern Dreyfus trial, and it will end the same way." Netanyahu drew parallels between his situation and the false treason charges against French Jewish officer Alfred Dreyfus over 130 years ago. Referring to Emile Zola's famous essay J'accuse, which defended Dreyfus, Netanyahu said, "Now an international court in The Hague, also headed by a French judge, is repeating this outrageous offence. It is falsely accusing me and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant of deliberately targeting civilians." He defended Israel's military actions in Gaza, claiming that the measures implemented were necessary to minimise civilian casualties. "We issue millions of text messages, phone calls, and leaflets to warn the citizens of Gaza to get out of harm's way, while Hamas terrorists do everything in their power to keep them in harm's way, including using them as human shields," Netanyahu said. Netanyahu dismissed accusations of imposing a starvation policy, highlighting that Israel had supplied 700,000 tons of food to Gaza. He stated, "We've supplied Gaza with 700,000 tons of food to feed the people of Gaza. That's 3,200 calories for every man, woman, and child in Gaza. And these supplies are routinely looted by Hamas terrorists, who deprive their people of much-needed food." He also noted that Israel had facilitated the vaccination of 97 percent of Gaza's population against polio. Netanyahu called the ICC's charges baseless, asking, "What in God's name are they talking about in The Hague?" The Israeli Prime Minister further criticised the ICC for focusing on Israel while ignoring war crimes in countries like Iran, Syria, and Yemen. He also denounced the court for its failure to act against Hamas, describing their atrocities during the recent Gaza conflict. "No biassed anti-Israel decision in The Hague will prevent the State of Israel from defending its citizens," Netanyahu asserted. He thanked allies, particularly the United States, for condemning the ICC's move and reiterated that Israel does not recognize the court's jurisdiction. The Israeli PM said, "We will continue to do everything we must to defend our citizens and defend our state against Iran's Axis of terror, which includes Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and others." "Our enemies are your enemies, and our victory will be your victory--the victory of civilization over barbarism and tyranny," Netanyahu added. (ANI) Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met with US Secretary of Defence Lloyd J Austin and discussed the progress made in the India-US defence partnership, highlighting increased cooperation in defence operations, information sharing, and industrial innovation. The meeting was held on Thursday on the sidelines of the 11th ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM)-Plus in Vientiane, Laos. In a post on X after the meeting, the US Defence Secretary said, "Great meeting with Indian Defense Minister Singh in Laos. We're deepening our defence ties, from building interoperability through exercises like MALABAR to technology innovation through INDUS-X. Thank you, Minister Rajnath Singh, for your friendship and leadership." Rajnath Singh also posted about the meeting on his X platform stating, "It is always a matter of immense joy to meet my friend, Lloyd Austin. He has been a great friend to India. His contribution towards strengthening the India-US defence partnership has been exemplary." A statement by the Ministry of Defence further outlined the meeting's key points, with both sides acknowledging the advancements under the US-India Defence Industrial Cooperation Roadmap. The cooperation includes efforts to improve co-production arrangements for jet engines, munitions, and ground mobility systems. According to MoD, Singh during the meeting recalled his visit to the US in August 2024, where two important agreements were signed - the Security of Supplies Agreement (SOSA) and a Memorandum of Agreement regarding the deployment of Liaison Officers. Both leaders then welcomed these agreements and underlined efforts to enhance military collaboration and maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific region. During the meeting, Defence Minister Singh also referred to the successful QUAD Summit held in September, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi also participated. The statement added that Singh stressed the importance of working together on new initiatives such as the Maritime Initiative for Training in the Indo-Pacific (MAITRI) and a Quad Indo-Pacific Logistics Network pilot project. The leaders also expressed their support for the growing collaboration in defence innovation between governments, businesses, and academic institutions, encouraged by the India-US Defence Acceleration Ecosystem. The two sides agreed to continue building on the momentum achieved over the past two and a half years. (ANI) The details of the meeting were shared on X by the Indian Air Force. "In a step towards enhancing defence cooperation with Australia, the #IAF conducted the 11th edition of Indian Air Force-Royal Australian Air Force Air Staff Talks (AST) from 19 Nov 24 to 20 Nov 24 at New Delhi". It was noted, "The visit by the RAAF delegation was led by Deputy Chief of the Royal Australian Air Force and the talks highlighted the close ties between the two countries and close cooperation between the two services". In recent times, India and Australia have seen close cooperation in the defence sector. Recently, the two countries concluded the third edition of the India-Australia joint military exercise, 'AustraHind' on Thursday at the Foreign Training Node in Maharashtra's Pune. The two-week training program, designed to enhance cooperation and interoperability between the armed forces of the two nations, was held from November 8 to 21. Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh too held a meeting with Minister for Defence Industry & Capability Delivery of Australia Pat Conroy, during the sidelines of the 11th ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus in Laos. Rajnath Singh recalled that India-Australia partnership is grounded in shared interests, especially stability and security in the Indian Ocean region. PM Modi too had met his Australian counterpart recently on the sdelines of the G20 summit which recently concluded in Brazil. During his meeting with Australian PM Anthony Albanese, PM Modi had reiterated India's commitment to strengthening cooperation through the Quad. "The Prime Ministers reiterated their commitment to strengthening cooperation through the Quad as a force for global good, delivering real, positive, and enduring impacts for the Indo-Pacific", the joint statement issued by them had noted. (ANI) Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who is in Laos for a two day official visit, on Friday offered prayers at the Wat Si Saket - a Buddhist temple in Vientiane. As per a statement, Rajanth visited and sought blessings from Mahaveth Chittakaro, Abbot of Sisaket Temple. On Thursday, Singh while addressing 11th ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus forum at Vientiane in Laos said world should embrace Buddhist doctrines to find solutions to the ongoing conflicts and challenges to the international order. The Defence Minister asserted that it is "providential" that the 11th ADMM-Plus is being held in Lao PDR, which has internalised the Buddhist principles of non-violence and peace. He was of the view that it is time that the Buddhist doctrines of peaceful co-existence be embraced more closely by all, as the world is increasingly getting polarised into blocks and camps, leading to increasing strain on the established world order. "India has always advocated and practiced dialogue for resolving complex international issues. This commitment to open communication and peaceful negotiation is evident in India's approach to a wide range of international challenges, from border disputes to trade agreements," Singh said. "An open dialogue promotes trust, understanding, and cooperation, laying the foundation for sustainable partnerships. The power of dialogue has always proven effective, yielding tangible results that contribute to stability and harmony on the global stage. India believes that genuine, long-term solutions to global problems can only be achieved when nations engage constructively, respecting each other's perspectives and working toward shared goals in the spirit of cooperation," said the Defence Minister. Meanwhile Defence Minister on Friday met with his Japan counterpart Gen Nakatani and Secretary of National Defence (Defence Minister) of the Philippines Gilberto Teodoro on the final day of his three-day visit to Vientiane. The two sides reiterated the importance of defence industry and technology cooperation between the two countries. Recalling the milestone event of signing of Memorandum of Implementation of UNICORN mast in Japan last week, both sides agreed for enhanced cooperation in co-production and co-development in the defence manufacturing sector. To further improve inter-operability between the Indian and Japanese forces, Reciprocal Provision of Supply and Services Agreement between the two countries and participation of militaries in various bilateral and multilateral exercises were discussed by both the Ministers. They also agreed to explore new areas of cooperation in the air domain. Raksha Mantri welcomed the Philippines as country coordinator for India in ASEAN and ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM) - Plus forum for the next cycle. Both sides agreed to expand and deepen cooperation in exchange of subject matter experts, defence industry, counter-terrorism, space and maritime domain. Rajnath Singh attended the 11th ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting-Plus (ADMM Plus) on November 21 and emphasized that India stands for rule-based international order for peace and prosperity in Indo-Pacific. He also participated in an Indian Community event where he highlighted the progress India has made in various spheres in recent years. ADMM is the highest defence consultative and cooperative mechanism in ASEAN. ADMM-Plus is a platform for ASEAN member states (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam) and its eight Dialogue Partners (India, US, China, Russia, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand) to strengthen security and defence cooperation. India became the dialogue partner of ASEAN in 1992 and the inaugural ADMM-Plus was convened in Hanoi, Vietnam on October 12, 2010. Since 2017, ADMM-Plus Ministers have been meeting annually to bolster the cooperation between ASEAN and the Plus countries. Lao PDR is the chair and host of the 11th ADMM-Plus. (ANI) A deadly gun attack on passenger vehicles reportedly claimed the lives of at least 42 people, including journalist Janan Hussain in the Ochut area of Kurram district on Wednesday. Hussain, the General Secretary of the Parachinar Press Club, was returning from Malaysia to his hometown of Parachinar when the convoy he was travelling came under heavy fire. Janan Hussain had just returned from Malaysia and was on his way to Parachinar when the attack occurred. He was with other passengers when the shooting began. In a post on X, journalist Hamid Mir stated, "Another journalist Janan Hussain killed in Kurram yesterday along with 42 others. He was coming back from Malaysia and was going home to Parachinar. My condolences to his family and friends. 10 journalists have been killed in Pakistan this year 2024." The attack left the local community in shock, and shops and educational institutions in Parachinar were closed in mourning. Tributes have poured in for Hussain, who was remembered for his work and commitment to journalism in the region. According to district police and hospital officials, among the deceased were security personnel, women, and children. As reported by the Dawn, Deputy Commissioner Javedullah Mehsood has warned that the death toll may rise as more bodies are recovered. The convoy, consisting of approximately 200 vehicles, was travelling from Parachinar to Peshawar when it was ambushed by gunmen. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the massacre in a district of Pakistan known for ongoing sectarian violence between heavily armed Shiite and Sunni Muslim tribes, as reported by the Dawn. Authorities in Kurram attribute the recent outbreak of violence to a land dispute, which has fueled weeks of armed clashes and resulted in the deaths of over 100 people between August and October. The death of journalist Janan Hussain marked the killing of the 10th journalist in Pakistan in 2024, highlighting the dangers faced by the press in Pakistan. Kurram district, which borders Afghanistan, has long been plagued by sectarian violence and land disputes between local tribes, contributing to the instability in the area. The tragedy has sparked calls for urgent rescue operations and an end to the ongoing violence in the region. (ANI) Joint Awami Action Committee core member Shaukat Nawaz Mir has condemned the attack of police on the protestors and the residents after raising their voices against the controversial presidential ordinance which blocks all political rallies, gatherings, and protests in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Nawaz Mir lamented that the police tried to curb the members of the Joint Awami Action Committee by using violent measures. He said," Our core members have sustained injuries after the police used tear gas and attempted lathi charge on them." He further stated that the committee would lodge an FIR against the Deputy commissioners, SSP and Assistant commissioner of Kotli for using different methods of violence against the protesters. He criticised the government for its involvement in this violence and warned that the protest would continue till the revocation of the "black bill". On the other hand, the human rights activist Amjad Ayub Mirza condemned the attack by the police and stated, "PoJK is in revolt, again and protests have spread from Rawalakot to Kotli. Protesters control the streets tonight. Police are on the run. Fresh police contingents are expected to arrive from Punjab at any time". The residents also accused the government of creating a terror-like situation in the region. A resident while talking to a reporter said, "It is a clear failure of the government that police are using tear gas and stones to curb our voices against the black bill." Another resident accused Army Chief Asim Munir and said that they would continue the protest as they were not afraid of any violence used by the Pakistan police. The businessmen of the region also warned that they would not open their shops till the ordinance was revoked by the government. Recently, Mirza told ANI that protests have erupted across PoJK since the issuance of the ordinance, with the most recent demonstration taking place on November 19 in Rawalakot, Poonch division. The protest turned violent when police used tear gas and assaulted peaceful demonstrators. The controversial ordinance stated that to protest publicly one has to seek permission from the administration. The Deputy Commissioner of PoJK was given extensive new powers, which included the prerogative to award a maximum of three years' imprisonment for people who offend against the procedures set out by the ordinance. The ordinance also permits the designation of any area governor to declare any area as a "Red Zone". (ANI) Ridley Scott's epic historical action film "Gladiator II" left Chinese audiences stunned after its Nov. 19 premiere with brutal portrayals of Colosseum duels and Rome's political power struggles. A poster for "Gladiator II." [Photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures] A sequel to the Oscar-winning "Gladiator" (2000), the film stars Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger, Connie Nielsen, Denzel Washington and Derek Jacobi, and tells the story of Lucius, the son of Maximus and Lucilla (Nielsen) and portrayed by Mescal, becoming a gladiator after his home is invaded by the Roman army led by General Marcus Acacius (Pascal). Seeking revenge against Acacius, Lucius fights as a gladiator under Macrinus (Washington), a former slave plotting to overthrow the Roman co-emperors Geta and Caracalla (Quinn and Hechinger). Russell Crowe, who won Best Actor at the 73rd Academy Awards for his portrayal of the Roman general-turned-gladiator Maximus Decimus Meridius in "Gladiator," does not return in this new installment except in flashback memory scenes. Derek Jacobi and Connie Nielsen reprise their roles of Gracchus and Lucilla from the original film. A sequel to "Gladiator" was discussed as early as 2001, with ideas ranging from the Roman afterlife to different historical periods. Development stalled after DreamWorks sold the rights to Paramount Pictures in 2006. The film was finally announced in 2018, with Mescal being casted for the lead role in January 2023 and the rest of the cast being announced soon after. Filming ran from June 2023 to January 2024, with a five-month hiatus due to Hollywood labor disputes. "Gladiator II" delivers intense brutality and spectacular duels, pitting humans against fierce animals like tigers, feral baboons and a rhino. Its dramatic portrayal of two emperors, political conspiracies and power struggles in ancient Rome also left Chinese audiences breathless during its recent premiere in Beijing. Due to the nature of the plot, Chinese posters for the historic epic prominently feature a warning against children seeing the film, a practice similarly used for previous blockbusters that were deemed too violent or frightening, such as "Alien: Romulus." Chinese performers dressed as Roman gladiators pose for photos at the "Gladiator II" premiere in Beijing, Nov. 19, 2024. [Photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures] The film hits Chinese and American theaters on Nov. 22 and has already grossed over $87 million worldwide in some advanced markets. On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 74% of 202 critics' reviews have been positive, with the the critics' consensus reading: "Echoing its predecessor while upping the bloodsport and camp, 'Gladiator II' is an action extravaganza that derives much of its strength and honor from Denzel Washington's scene-stealing performance." The Chinese ship Yi Peng 3 has been monitored by a Danish naval patrol vessel after being seen near two undersea internet cables in the Baltic Sea that were cut on Sunday and Monday, as reported by Radio Free Asia. The severed cables were crucial for internet connectivity between Finland, Germany, Sweden, and Lithuania. This raised suspicious concerns over the activities of the Chinese ship. According to Radio Free Asia, MarineTraffic.com reported that the Yi Peng 3, registered in Ningbo, China, has been anchored in the Kattegat, a body of water off Denmark, near a Danish naval patrol vessel, P525. A second Danish Navy ship, the HDMS Soloven, which supports diving operations, was also reported to have been stationed near the area, adding to suspicions about the ship's presence. Marine traffic data from websites like MarineTraffic.com and Vesselfinder showed the unusual proximity of the Yi Peng 3 to the Danish naval vessels. Radio Free Asia reported that officials have declined to disclose whether the ship has been detained or inspected. The authorities have not officially linked the Chinese ship to the damage of the cables, but its movements are being closely monitored by both Swedish and Finnish investigators. According to various media reports, the authorities are still investigating the ship. The reports stated, "The vessel, which passed close to the damaged cables during the time of the incidents, is now under surveillance by the Danish navy." This is usual for Chinese ships to be questioned due to their activities around international marine infrastructure. The situation highlights rising concerns over the security of international undersea communication infrastructure. In May 2023 Palau accused a Chinese vessel of having slowed over undersea cable for such trespass into Palau's waters. Similarly, Finland investigated the Chinese-owned, Hong Kong-registered vessel that had trespassed into the undersea cable, damaging a natural gas pipeline in October 2024. (ANI) Sylvie Bermann, President of the World Nuclear Exhibition expressed confidence in India's nuclear supply chain and called it an asset not just for the country, but for the world. She further expressed her eagerness on India's representation at the World Nuclear Exhibition (WNE) in 2025. She further said that was impressed by the industrial facilities she visited, including Godrej, Hazira in Gujarat, and NTPC. "I am the president of the World Nuclear Exhibition, which is the largest one in the world. Last year, we had 88 nationalities, 24,000 visitors and up to 800 exhibitors, and we expect to have 20 per cent more in 2025. I came to India because I wanted to have a strong representation of India during this WNE, which will increase the internationalisation of this exhibition. At the same time, it will be good for India because India can showcase its exceptional competence in the nuclear industry," Bermann told ANI. Speakking on the Indian nuclear supply chain, Bermann said, "It is an asset because in India, I visited a lot of industrial facilities and I was impressed. I visited Godrej, also Hazira in Gujarat with ultra-heavy equipment and it is very impressive. I also visited NTPC and other industrial facilities. It's exceptional and so it's an asset for the world. That's the reason why I think it's good to be present at the WNE because some companies told me that we could meet as many people in these three days. It would be good for India and it will be good for all the nuclear industry in the world." Notably, the fifth edition of the World Nuclear Exhibition, an event by GIFEN (the French Nuclear Industry Association) organised by RX France was the largest civil nuclear event, which took place in Paris from November 28th to November 30th, 2023, with over 650 exhibitors and 20,000 attendees from 76+ countries. As a global platform for the civil nuclear industry, WNE united decision-makers from around the world. More than seventeen countries representing major nuclear players globally, displayed their exhibitors in national pavilions, including, China, Canada, South Korea, Japan, the Czech Republic, the United Kingdom, the United States, and France. The World Exhibition 2025 will take place from November 4 to November 6 in Paris, France. (ANI) The fifth edition of the historic Indo-Vietnam Joint Field Training Exercise, VINBAX-2024, successfully concluded its 48-hour joint validation exercise on November 19-20. The closing ceremony of this milestone event was held with a Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) Validation Exercise, 'Ex Raahat' at Kaushalya Dam today. In his closing speech, Lt Gen Rajesh Pushkar, GOC Kharga Corps, highlighted the significant elevation of India-Vietnam bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership. This milestone marks a new chapter in the relationship between the two nations. The Indo-Vietnam bilateral exercise has further solidified the joint vision for peace, prosperity, and people. Lt Gen Pushkar expressed his gratitude to the Vietnam authorities for the successful conduct of VINBAX-2024, which has effectively strengthened mutual understanding and enhanced inter-operability between the two nations. As India and Vietnam continue to play important roles in the Indo-Pacific and ASEAN regions, their bilateral relationship is expected to further deepen and broaden in the coming years, he added. On the occasion, Senior Colonel Dr Nguyen Ba Hung, Deputy Director of Peace Keeping Operations, Ministry of National Defence, Vietnam, congratulated both Indian and Vietnamese forces on the successful completion of their bilateral exercise. This bilateral exercise marks a significant milestone in strengthening the relationship between India and Vietnam, demonstrating their commitment to cooperation in disaster management and relief efforts. The exercise showcased high standards of skill and professionalism, enhancing the capabilities of the forces in medical and engineering areas for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations, he added. He also expressed his gratitude to the Western Command, Command Hospital, Air Force, and other Indian civil authorities for facilitating the Vietnamese soldiers during their training period in Ambala. Vietnam People's Army troops and Indian Army soldiers were participating in the "VINBAX- 2024", exercise with effect from November 4. Initially, the training focused on providing general orientation with the dynamics of a United Nations Mission. The Orientation Phase culminated with a Table Top Exercise, "Ex Blue Helmet". Both contingents shared their expertise and skills in the field of engineering tasks and medical tasks under United Nations mandate. The exercise VINBAX culminated on 19-20 November in Ambala. The Multi-Agency HADR Validation Exercise 'Ex Raahat' was carried out at Kaushalya Dam, Pinjore. The exercise showcased seamless coordination between the Indian Armed Forces, Para-Military Forces and civil administration in undertaking Joint Disaster Relief Operations incorporating various New Gen Equipment. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who concluded his three-nation official trip on Friday, highlighted a 7-curry meal served on on a water lily leaf by Guyana's President Irfaan Ali as one of his key experiences . PM Modi said that the meal showed the deep connections between India and Guyana. In a post on X, PM Modi said, "In Guyana, President Irfaan Ali served a 7-curry meal at his residence. Served on a water lily leaf, this meal holds immense cultural significance in Guyana, highlighting the deep and enduring connection between our two nations. I thank President Irfaan Ali and the people of Guyana once again for their warmth and hospitality." https://x.com/narendramodi/status/1859934836489875677 On Thursday, President Ali conferred Guyana's highest national award to PM Modi during a state dinner hosted by him and the First Lady. In a post on X, President Ali said, "Last evening, I conferred Guyana's highest national award, the Order of Excellence, on India's Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, during a State Dinner the First Lady and I hosted. This prestigious honour recognises Prime Minister Modi's exceptional leadership in championing the voices of developing countries on the global stage. His unwavering commitment to fostering international cooperation built on equity, shared progress, and mutual respect has left an indelible mark. His dedication to the ideals of solidarity and partnership has also strengthened the bonds between Guyana and India." https://x.com/presidentaligy/status/1859559295701950852 Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded his three-nation tour, departing from Georgetown, Guyana, on Thursday (local time) for Delhi. The visit marked the final leg of a significant journey that began in Nigeria, continued in Brazil for the 19th G20 Summit, and concluded with a historic State visit to Guyana. This marked the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the South American nation in over 50 years. During his time in Guyana, PM Modi co-chaired the 2nd India-CARICOM Summit, engaging with leaders from the Caribbean region to strengthen India's relations with CARICOM nations. (ANI) Following the US prosecutors charging Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani and others in alleged Solar Energy Contract bribery case, Vidya Bhushan Soni, former Indian Ambassador to Bangladesh, downplayed concerns over the framing of charges, emphasising that the Indian government is not involved in the alleged wrongdoing. He further noted that the issue revolves around a private firm's actions, specifically bribes paid to state government officials, which he called a side business that would not impact India's reputation. While speaking with ANI, Soni said, "...Framing charges is something that we don't have to worry about. They will go through the process, as I think the Washington press secretary also has mentioned that let the law take its own progress. Let the process start. And they will ask questions and they will ask documents whatever it is, some of them are already in their position." He added, "So we from India, we don't have to worry because it's something which a private firm has done. The Indian government is not involved. Yes, there is an issue of bribes being paid to government officials, but there were state officials, and it was not the centre which was doing it, and it was some side business which you may call it, so that shouldn't affect us, but our main concern is that Indian corporate image takes a hit." However, the former Ambassador expressed worry that the situation could degrade India's corporate image and deter investors, potentially creating a perception that India lacks transparency and rule of law. Soni told ANI, "That is what to my mind is worrisome because a kind of situation is being created by vested interests in the US whereby they are levelling charges which can affect investors to come to India, which means that there is no transparency in the Indian system because investment will take place only when there are people feel comfortable that the rule of law will prevail. So that is, I think, the effort on their part, but our system which will survive. These are hiccups which can happen, so I don't think we have to worry about it except that in the short term. In this uncertain situation. interests may like to fish in troubled waters for their benefit and to harm India." Earlier, the US Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York unsealed criminal charges against Gautam Adani and other executives linking them to an alleged bribery scheme. The Adani Group strongly refuted bribery allegations made by the US Department of Justice and the US Securities and Exchange Commission against directors of the Adani Green, terming them baseless. Adani Group spokesperson, in an official statement, said all legal recourse will be taken. "The US Department of Justice and the US Securities and Exchange Commission against directors of Adani Green are baseless and denied," the statement read. The group further highlighted a key aspect of the legal proceedings. "As stated by the US Department of Justice itself, 'The charges in the indictment are allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.' All possible legal recourse will be sought," the statement said.Amid these allegations, Adani Green Energy also informed stock exchanges that its subsidiaries have decided to defer their planned US dollar-denominated bond offerings. (ANI) The 22nd meeting of the India-Russia Working Group on Military technical cooperation and defence industry was held on Friday in New Delhi. The meeting was co-chaired by Sanjeev Kumar, Secretary, Defence Production, Ministry of Defence and A Boytsov, First Deputy Director of the Federal Service for Military Technical Cooperation of Russia. Sharing the development on X, the Ministry of Defence posted, "22nd meeting of #IndiaRussia Working Group on Military #TechnicalCooperation and #DefenceIndustry of India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military & Military Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-M&MTC) took place in New Delhi today." "The meeting was co-chaired by Secretary (Defence Production) Shri Sanjeev Kumar and First Deputy Director of Federal Service for Military Technical Cooperation, Russia Mr A Boytsov," the post added. https://x.com/SpokespersonMoD/status/1859910042700640484 Defence cooperation has been a cornerstone of the India-Russia strategic partnership, guided by the Agreement on the Programme for Military-Technical Cooperation. The Agreement for the period 2021-2031 was signed during the inaugural meeting of the India-Russia 2+2 Dialogue in Delhi on December 6, 2021. The two sides also have periodic exchanges of armed forces personnel and military exercises, according to the Embassy of India in Moscow, Russia. India and Russia have an institutionalised structure to oversee the complete range of issues of military and military-technical cooperation. The inaugural India-Russia 2+2 Dialogue (set up in 2021) was held in Delhi on December 6, 2021, on the sidelines of the Summit meeting. The Dialogue was chaired by Defence Ministers and Foreign Ministers of both sides. The India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-MTC), set up in 2000, is at the apex of this structure. The 20th edition of this meeting was held in Delhi on December 6, 2021. There are two Working Groups and nine Sub-Groups under the IRIGC-M&MTC, which review and discuss an array of military and military-technical issues. Over the years, cooperation in the military-technical sphere has evolved from a purely buyer-seller relationship to joint research, design development and production of state-of-the-art military platforms, as per the Embassy of India. Production of the Brahmos cruise missile is an example of this trend. The joint Venture namely Indo-Russia Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL) has been established and it has started production of AK-203 rifles in India under the "Make in India" initiative. (ANI) AIIMS New Delhi, IIT Delhi, and University College London (UCL) on Friday signed a trilateral agreement to advance medical technology through joint research, collaborative degrees, staff exchanges, and global industry partnerships. The initiative aims to develop affordable healthcare innovations to address pressing global health challenges. "For the first time, the three institutions will join forces to draw on their complementary areas of expertise to develop new technologies that help tackle some of today's biggest health challenges," the UCL, a prominent UK-based research university, said in a statement. The partnership will focus on cutting-edge solutions in diagnostics, imaging, assistive technologies, artificial intelligence, surgical interventions, and quantum sensing. Speaking to ANI, Dr Michael Spence, UCL President and Provost, said it will be a landmark opportunity in how we use medical technology to address some of the most pressing challenges. "We are incredibly excited to announce this new partnership with our longstanding collaborators at IIT Delhi and AIIMS. Each of our institutions brings a unique contribution and set of skills to what is set to be a landmark opportunity in how we use medical technology to address some of the most pressing challenges. It is also a fantastic example of how the UK and India can work together with a commitment to research innovation, student engagement and entrepreneurship," he said. The partnership will be underpinned by the development of staff and student exchange, joint research programmes, collaborative degrees, workshops and conferences, and joint publications, the UCL said. Professor Alok Thakar, Head of Centre for Medical Innovation and Entrepreneurship (AIIMS) termed the agreement a transformative step in addressing some of the most pressing health and societal challenges. "By combining our expertise in medical science, engineering, and global policy, we are creating a platform for MedTech innovation. Together, we aim to develop impactful solutions, set new benchmarks in medical technology and interdisciplinary research, and enhance patient care delivery," he said. Meanwhile, Professor Rangan Banerjee, Director, IIT Delhi, said: "IIT Delhi is excited to be working together with AIIMS and UCL in the area of medical technologies. We believe that science, engineering and medicine research and innovation can make a difference in people's lives by providing affordable healthcare. Our partnership is poised to make a difference through cost effective innovations in medical technology." (ANI) Paank, the human rights department of the Baloch National Movement has condemned the recent abduction of Abdul Rehman and Uzair Baloch by Pakistan security forces from the Kech district of Balochistan. Locals accused the government and lamented that the family of the victims were assured of their return but no effort was made by the government. In a post on X, Paank stated, "Paank is deeply concerned about the enforced disappearances of Abdul Rehman & Uzair Baloch, forcibly taken by Pakistani forces on Nov 18, 2024, from the Patani Zamran area, Buleda tehsil, Kech, Balochistan." https://x.com/paank_bnm/status/1859685899170377947 According to the Balochistan Post, the locals reported that Uzair Umeed's two sons, Nazir and Anif were forcibly disappeared a few months ago and then released after severe torture by the Pakistan security forces. The families of the loved ones have urged the human rights organisations and the authorities for immediate and safe release of the victims. They also demanded the government to immediately halt the violent practices by the security forces. The human rights department further stated, "We urge authorities to ensure their safe return and end this ongoing cycle of abductions." The increasing number of enforced disappearances has raised serious worries. More than 35 cases have been reported this month, and Paank has recorded over 110 disappearances and six extrajudicial killings in the past month across Balochistan, Karachi, and other areas of Pakistan." Earlier on November 10, Amir Baloch, son of Mohammad Ibrahim was abducted by the security forces from the Dasht Khadan area of Kech district. Later on the following day, labourer Hakeem Baloch was forcibly disappeared by the security forces. Recently, Paank also condemned the detention of Rashid Bangulzai and Farid Baloch from Balochistan. The human rights department has urged the authorities to ensure justice for the victims and conduct a thorough investigation into these abuses. The ongoing harassment of the poor and vulnerable, including the confiscation of vehicles, must stop immediately. (ANI) Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has strongly condemned the International Criminal Court's (ICC) arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling it "brazen, cynical and completely unacceptable." In a show of support, Orban invited Netanyahu to visit Hungary, assuring him of his safety and freedom during the visit. The latest development comes after the ICC in The Hague issued arrest warrants against Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, accusing them of "crimes against humanity and war crimes." The charges include allegations of targeting civilians and enforcing policies of starvation in Gaza. Sharing a post on X, Orban Viktor wrote, The #ICC arrest warrant against Prime Minister @netanyahu is brazen, cynical and completely unacceptable. I invited Prime Minister Netanyahu for an official visit to Hungary, where we will guarantee his freedom and safety. Sharing a video, he further said, "The fact is that international institutions do not act with prudence when it comes to making decisions. The decision taken by the ICC... is an outrageously brazen, I would say cynical decision. This is fundamentally wrong, this is a complete discrediting of international law... "...Later today, I will extend an invitation to the Israeli PM Netanyahu to visit Hungary, I will guarantee him that if he comes, the ICC's verdict will have no effect in Hungary and we will not adhere to its provisions but will proceed solely on the basis of the quality and state of Israeli-Hungarian relations. This means that PM Netanyahu can conduct substantive negotiations here in Hungary in sufficient safety if he accepts the invitation," Orban said. Meanwhile, the Israeli Prime Minister thanked the Hungarian PM for the warm support to Israel and praised the country for showcasing "moral clarity and steadfastness on the side of justice and truth." The Israeli Prime Minister on X wrote, "Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has sent a letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to stand by and support him and the State of Israel, and to invite him to make a diplomatic visit to Hungary." "Against the shameful weakness of those who have lined up alongside the outrageous decision against the State of Israel's right to defend itself, Hungary - like our friends in the US - has shown moral clarity and steadfastness on the side of justice and the truth. I thank Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban for the warm support for me and the State of Israel," the post added. Earlier, Prime Minister Netanyahu condemned the "antisemitic" decision of the ICC in a statement on his social media platform comparing it to the infamous Dreyfus trial. In a video posted on his X handle, Netanyahu said, "The antisemitic decision of the international court in The Hague is a modern Dreyfus trial, and it will end the same way." Netanyahu drew parallels between his situation and the false treason charges against French Jewish officer Alfred Dreyfus over 130 years ago. Referring to Emile Zola's famous essay J'accuse that defended Dreyfus, Netanyahu said, "Now an international court in The Hague, also headed by a French judge, is repeating this outrageous offence. It is falsely accusing me and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant of deliberately targeting civilians." He defended Israel's military actions in Gaza, claiming that measures implemented were necessary to minimise civilian casualties. "We issue millions of text messages, phone calls, and leaflets to warn the citizens of Gaza to get out of harm's way, while Hamas terrorists do everything in their power to keep them in harm's way, including using them as human shields," Netanyahu said. He also denounced the court for its failure to act against Hamas, describing their atrocities during the recent Gaza conflict. "No biassed anti-Israel decision in The Hague will prevent the State of Israel from defending its citizens," Netanyahu asserted. He thanked allies, particularly the United States, for condemning the ICC's move and reiterated that Israel does not recognize the court's jurisdiction. The Israeli PM said, "We will continue to do everything we must to defend our citizens and defend our state against Iran's Axis of terror, which includes Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and others." "Our enemies are your enemies, and our victory will be your victory--the victory of civilization over barbarism and tyranny," Netanyahu added. (ANI) Taiwan's Ministry of Defence stated that the aircraft and vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 am (UTC+8). 18 of the aircraft crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's southwestern and southeastern ADIZ. In a post on X, the MND said, "20 PLA aircraft and 6 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 18 of the aircraft crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's southwestern and southeastern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded accordingly." https://x.com/MoNDefense/status/1859763738024255993 Chinese incursion in the Taiwan Strait has risen. The MND detected 14 Chinese aircraft and six vessels on Thursday. The Taiwanese MND said in a post on X, "11 PLA aircraft and 8 PLAN vessels 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 and southwestern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded accordingly." https://x.com/MoNDefense/status/1859401344777351191 Earlier in the day, Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te attended the completion ceremony for the Taiwanese Navy's Shuei-Sing Barracks, which would enhance its training capacities. https://x.com/MoNDefense/status/1859844282842218983 In a post on X, Taiwanese MND said, "President Lai Ching-te attended the completion ceremony for the ROCN Shuei-Sing Barracks today. This base will serve as the new home for our Navy Underwater Operations Unit and enhance its training capabilities." Earlier on Monday, Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed gratitude towards the US, Japan, and Australia for their joint statement calling for peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, Taiwan News reported. https://x.com/TaiwanPresSPOX/status/1858435843511427524 This statement followed the 14th Trilateral Defence Ministers' Meeting (TDMM) in Darwin, Australia, where defence ministers from the three nations, Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles, Japanese Minister of Defense Nakatani Gen, and US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III reaffirmed their commitment to regional security. (ANI) China's independent music label Modern Sky announced on Nov. 21 that it has signed a landmark strategic distribution agreement with Universal Music Greater China. The agreement aims to introduce Chinese music and vibrant youth culture to a wider international audience. (From left to right) Timothy Xu, chairman and CEO of Universal Music Greater China, Shen Lihui, founder and CEO of Modern Sky, and Adam Granite, executive vice president of Market Development of Universal Music Group, pose for a photo. [Photo courtesy of Universal Music Group] Through a division of Universal Music Group (UMG), the deal gives Modern Sky's catalog and artists access to UMG's global distribution network, while also paving the way for future collaborations between the two companies. "We are thrilled to collaborate with Modern Sky, a label that has been instrumental in defining China's independent music culture and propelling it forward," said Timothy Xu, chairman and CEO of Universal Music Greater China, "This collaboration not only broadens the global reach of Chinese music but also highlights the distinct energy and creativity that define China's young generation today. Together, we aim to amplify these voices on the global stage, celebrating the role of Chinese music in today's cultural conversation." Shen Lihui, founder and CEO of Modern Sky, echoed Xu's enthusiasm, saying that the indie music label has "always embraced an independent spirit and a forward-looking vision" and is dedicated to portraying China's youth culture to the world. "Joining UMG's global network and its community of exceptional artists marks an exciting new chapter for us. Through this collaboration, we're thrilled to bring a fresh side of Chinese originality to the world, inviting audiences everywhere to experience the unique energy and cultural depth of China's youth," Shen added. Founded in 1997, Modern Sky is a pioneer in China's local music scene and a trendsetter within the country's youth culture. The label has a vast catalog of original works, adding hundreds of new tracks each year. Since its beginning, Modern Sky has produced over 500 albums and has worked with influential Chinese bands and international musicians, such as the Chinese post punk trio Re-TROS and the UK-based indie pop artist Abbie Ozard. Modern Sky currently represents over 150 acts from a diverse range of musical genres, including emerging talents like Matt Lv, Click #15, Aflou and DOUDOU. Besides producing and distributing recorded music, the label also organizes live performances and festivals. In 2009, it launched the Strawberry Music Festival, China's first large-scale, open-air music festival, and now organizes over 30 festivals and 1,000 performances annually across the country. The Chinese music label has accelerated its international reach in recent years by establishing divisions in New York, Liverpool and Tokyo. In 2014, it held its first international event, the Modern Sky Music Festival, in Central Park, New York, and has since hosted festivals in cities like Helsinki, Seattle, Los Angeles and Toronto. In 2025, the Strawberry Music Festival will debut in Tokyo. "Modern Sky's international reach and commitment to amplifying diverse Chinese voices make this partnership an exciting opportunity. This collaboration not only supports Modern Sky's journey onto the global stage but also opens up opportunities for UMG's international artists to connect with China's audiences. We are excited to foster this two-way connection, expanding horizons for both Modern Sky and UMG artists around the world," stated Adam Granite, executive vice president of UMG's Market Development. General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) of the Indian Army, who is on a five-day visit to Nepal, paid a courtesy call on Nepali Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Defence Minister Manvir Rai on Friday. "General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of the Army Staff, Indian Army paid a courtesy call to The Right Honourable Prime Minister Mr. KP Sharma Oli at his office on November 22, 2024. Similarly, General Dwivedi also had a courtesy call with the Honourable Defence Minister Mr. Manvir Rai at the office of Ministry of Defence, today," the Directorate of Public Relations and Information (DPR-I) of Nepal Army said in a statement. During the meeting, Prime Minister Oli expressed his happiness over the continued tradition of exchanging Honorary General rank between the armies of Nepal and India, according to the Prime Minister's Secretariat. General Dwivedi, who was honoured with the rank of Honorary General of the Nepal Army on Thursday by President Ramchandra Paudel, expressed his pride in receiving the prestigious recognition. He assured the Prime minister of his commitment to playing a pivotal role in enhancing the relationship between Nepal and India. Earlier this morning, General Dwivedi took off for a mountain flight after which he visited Nepali Army Command and Staff College at Shivapuri and interacted with student officers of Army Command and Staff Course. General Dwivedi arrived in Kathmandu on Wednesday on a five-day official visit. The five-member delegation, led by him, also includes Sunita Dwivedi, chair of the Army Wives Welfare Association of the Indian Army. On Thursday, General Dwivedi met his Nepali counterpart, General Ashok Raj Sigdel, Chief of Army Staff, Nepali Army and the two discussed issues of mutual interest and explored avenues to strengthen bilateral defence cooperation, according to a statement by the Indian Army. General Dwivedi on Thursday paid tribute by laying a wreath at the Bir Smarak (Martyr's Memorial) at the Army Pavilion in Tundikhel, Kathmandu. He also received a Guard of Honour at the Army Headquarters. Highlighting the strong ties between India and Nepal, General Dwivedi was conferred with the prestigious rank of Honourary General of the Nepali Army, a tradition that underscores the deep-rooted historical, cultural, and military bonds between the two nations. (ANI) A group of Pro-Palestinian organisations have taken the Dutch government to court, urging an end to arms exports to Israel and accusing the government of failing to prevent what they termed a "genocide" in Gaza, Al Jazeera reported. Further, the organisation emphasised that the Netherlands has a legal duty to prevent violations of international law, including the 1948 UN Genocide Convention, in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank. Wout Albers, a lawyer representing the coalition, said at a civil court in The Hague on Friday, "Today, the plaintiffs are here to hold the Dutch state accountable for failing to comply with international law by failing to intervene against violations of the rights of the Palestinian people committed by the state of Israel." "Israel is guilty of genocide and apartheid" and "is using Dutch weapons to wage war", Albers added. A coalition of Dutch and Palestinian organisations has joined forces to defend human rights in the Palestinian territory. The coalition includes three groups based in Palestine. In a court filing made in October, the groups requested that the court "include a ban on the export and transit of weapons, weapon parts, and dual-use items to Israel as well as a ban on all Dutch trade and investment relations that help maintain Israel's unlawful occupation of Palestinian territory," as per Al Jazeera. According to the report, the court is "looking into whether the [Dutch] state should be obliged to stop sending weapons, the state says that this decision is not up to the court to decide and is foreign policy". Judge Sonja Hoekstra noted: "It is important to underline that the gravity of the situation in Gaza is not contested by the Dutch state, nor is the status of the West Bank." But she said it was about "finding out what is legally in play and what can be expected" of the government. She acknowledged it was a "sensitive case". Further, the lawyer Albers noted that "Today is not about judging political choices, but about ensuring fundamental respect for the international rule of law and protection against violations of international law." According to Vaessen, the groups' demands build on previous decisions by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which earlier this year ruled that the occupation of Palestine is illegal. On Thursday, the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague issued arrest warrants for Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and Hamas's military commander Mohammed Deif for alleged "war crimes and crimes against humanity". Notably, Israel's war in Gaza has killed at least 44,056 Palestinians and wounded 104,286 since October 7, 2023. An estimated 1,139 people were killed in Israel during the Hamas-led attacks that day, and more than 200 were taken captive, as reported by Al Jazeera. (ANI) Nepal's ruling parties-Nepali Congress and CPN-UML (Communist Party of Nepal- Unified Marxist Leninist) are at loggerheads over Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) as Oli announced a visit to China from December 2. Both the parties on board the government have varied opinions about BRI pact introduced by China. CPN-UML led by Oli has been pressing the Sher Bahadur Deuba-led Nepali Congress to agree for selective projects to be funded under BRI in the form of loans. As the CPN-UML led by Oli converged a mass gathering in Kathmandu to show power which it claimed to raise awareness amongst people, Oli announced his planned visit to China. He also signalled that he intends to sign a few projects be it in loan during the visit with the coalition partner as well as the biggest party in parliament, the Nepali Congress. "Under my leadership, a team comprising members of the government will be going to China. As a Prime Minister, I am embarking on a visit to China from 17th Mangsir (December 2) and the visit will be very successful. I will explain to you how it was successful, you obviously would know it also I will update you about the achievements thus made. It's not that am going to China to roam around, it is for the benefit of the country, for the well-being of the country visits to foreign countries are made. We are presenting those visits as achievable and successful. It also would be an exemplary as well, I can confidently say it," Prime Minister Oli said in his address. Furthermore, Oli insisted on signing up for loans from China under the BRI framework as he started giving examples of the country's developmental stories. "As much as possible we don't want to take loans from anywhere; we are not in the condition that we can add on more loans but we have to increase our production. How can we increase our production? It's not something that we need to be depressed about. Rather we should be hopeful and raise awareness within our circle, other smaller countries aren't in the place where they're now," Oli stressed. Hours before the CPN-UML hit the street and Oli asserted on signing up for loan under BRI, the coalition partner- Nepali Congress had resolved to refrain from taking new loans under the framework until the Chinese government fulfils its grant commitments. During a meeting at the Federal Parliament building, to discuss Nepal's current economic situation and reform measures, the Nepali Congress decided against acquiring new loans associated with the BRI. Former Finance Minister and spokesperson of Nepali Congress, Prakash Sharan Mahat said the discussions highlighted that existing commitments from China must be honoured. "The Nepali Congress is not opposed to the BRI, we are simply saying that we cannot take on new loans at this time," he explained. "In terms of the support we need for connectivity, we initially required grant assistance for road construction. Many of the commitments made by the Chinese government in grants have yet to be fulfilled, and those need to be addressed first." Mahat further emphasized, "If the grant implementation itself is lagging, what is the point of discussing loans? The debt burden is already increasing. Therefore, we should avoid taking loans from any government, including the Chinese government." While the Chinese government is expected to implement grant commitments under the BRI, Mahat reiterated that new loans should not be pursued immediately. "Regarding the BRI framework, are we attempting to combine other strategic security aspects into this? We believe these matters require careful consideration," he stated. "For now, the focus should be on implementing the grants, especially those under the BRI, and avoiding new loans," he added. (ANI) Tanzania Ambassador Anisa Kapufi Mbega on Friday spoke about the upcoming International Gita Mahotsav in Haryana, and asserted that Tanzania will gain from the event, that will provide a forum for Indians and Tanzians to "forge collaboration in many areas". The International Gita Mahotsav will be held from November 28 to December 15 in Kurukshetra, Haryana, and Tanzania is the partner country. "International Gita Mahotsav is a platform where Tanzanians and Indian people can connect together to forge collaboration in many area. As partner country, we are expecting to participate fully and to use that opportunity to connect India and Tanzania and to forge more collaboration in many areas. I am sure Tanzania will benefit from Gita Mahotsav," Mbega told ANI. The Tanzanian Ambassador further said that is looking forward for the successful celebration of the event. "We are looking forward to the successful Gita Mahotsav celebration... We respect each and every religion, we believe in peace and harmony. Gita Mahotsav is a platform where we can all connect from different religions, different cultures...come and connect together and forge greater collaboration. So, I am looking forward to it," Mbega said. The Government of Haryana is celebrating Gita Mahotsav festival in collaboration with the Kurukshetra Development Board in Kurukshetra since 1989. In the beginning, only religious and cultural programmers were organised by the religious organisations and the Kurukshetra Development Board, but later on, a wide range of social, cultural, academic programmes got incorporated with the festival, as per the official website of International Gita Mahotsav. In the year 2016, Haryana took a decision to celebrate the festival of Gita Jayanti as International Gita Mahotsav in which more than two million people visited Kurukshetra. (ANI) Abu Dhabi [UAE], November 22 (ANI/WAM): Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy, held a meeting with Widiyanti Putri Wardhana, Indonesian Minister of Tourism, at the Ministry of Economy office to explore means to enhance tourism cooperation between the two countries. The meeting also focused on encouraging joint efforts to increase mutual tourism flows. During the meeting, the Minister of Economy emphasised the historical ties and strategic partnership between the UAE and Indonesia across all fields. The economic collaboration between the two nations continues to thrive, covering a range of vital sectors and initiatives, thanks to the shared commitment of both leaderships to advancing them. Bin Touq said, "The tourism sector is considered one of the key sectors that foster economic relations between the two friendly countries. In recent years, there has been remarkable progress in bilateral cooperation in this vital sector, with a total of over 174 flights connecting the two countries per month, operated by the UAE's national carriers." He elaborated on the UAE's efforts in developing the sector, highlighting the key role of the 'UAE Tourism Strategy 2031' in supporting its sustainability and competitiveness. The strategy has set a number of goals, including the strengthening of the UAE's position as one of the best global tourism destinations and raising the sector's contribution to the national GDP to AED 450 billion. Besides, it aims to attract additional investments worth AED 100 billion to the UAE's tourism sector and attract 40 million hotel guests to the country - all in line with the 'We the UAE 2031' vision. Furthermore, the meeting explored the potential for creating new opportunities in tourism, aviation, and travel for the UAE and Indonesian private sector. It highlighted the significance of fostering cooperation in Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) tourism and enhancing dialogue between tourism companies in both countries. The ministers agreed on the importance of implementing new training and recreational initiatives to stimulate increased tourism flows between the two sides. Also discussed was the importance of strengthening collaborative efforts to launch joint marketing campaigns in the upcoming period, with the aim of promoting prominent tourist attractions and destinations in both countries to increase the volume of mutual tourism flows. At the end of the meeting, Bin Touq extended an invitation to the Indonesian minister to attend the fourth edition of Investopia, set to take place in February 2025. The event will serve as an ideal platform to explore the UAE's abundant investment prospects for international investors and expand partnerships across multiple economic sectors. (ANI/WAM) The death toll in a deadly gun attack on passenger vehicles in Pakistan's Kurram has increased to 45, as reported by ARY News. The spokesperson of DPO Kurram said that the Deputy Commissioner and DPO reached the spot of the incident. The SHO Yar Muhammad said the injured were rushed to a nearby hospital, as per ARY News. ARY News stated that over 37 injured are currently under treatment in several hospitals of the district whereas the dead bodies have been moved to Parachinar for funeral. A journalist, Janan Hussain the General Secretary of the Parachinar Press Club, was returning from Malaysia to his hometown of Parachinar when the convoy he was travelling came under heavy fire. Janan Hussain had just returned from Malaysia and was on his way to Parachinar when the attack occurred. He was with other passengers when the shooting began. In a post on X, journalist Hamid Mir stated, "Another journalist Janan Hussain killed in Kurram yesterday along with 42 others. He was coming back from Malaysia and was going home to Parachinar. My condolences to his family and friends. 10 journalists have been killed in Pakistan this year 2024." According to district police and hospital officials, among the deceased were security personnel, women, and children. As reported by the Dawn, Deputy Commissioner Javedullah Mehsood has warned that the death toll may rise as more bodies are recovered. The convoy, consisting of approximately 200 vehicles, was travelling from Parachinar to Peshawar when it was ambushed by gunmen. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the massacre in a district of Pakistan known for ongoing sectarian violence between heavily armed Shiite and Sunni Muslim tribes, as reported by the Dawn. Authorities in Kurram attribute the recent outbreak of violence to a land dispute, which has fueled weeks of armed clashes and resulted in the deaths of over 100 people between August and October. The Toori tribe announced a three-day mourning in honour of those who died in the attack, as per ARY News. (ANI) Over the years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has transformed India's foreign diplomacy into a vibrant display of cultural diversity. With each international visit, he doesn't just carry India's diplomatic agenda but also its rich heritage, showcasing its traditions, languages, art and spirituality. Similarly, during his three-nation visit his visit to Nigeria, Brazil and Guyana, PM Modi presented global leaders with unique gifts from all corners of the country. Among the gifts presented by Prime Minister Modi, eight were from Maharashtra, five from Jammu and Kashmir, three each from Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan, two from Jharkhand and one each from Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha and Ladakh. The Prime Minister presented Silofar Panchamrit Kalash (Pot) - a stunning example of traditional craftsmanship from Kolhapur, Maharashtra, to Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He presented Warli paintings - a tribal art form originating from the Warli tribe primarily located in the Dahanu, Talasari and Palghar regions of Maharashtra, to Brazilian President Lula da Silva, who was also the host of the G20 Summit in Rio. Prime Minister Modi also presented several gifts in the customised gift hamper to leaders of CARICOM countries. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was given Natural Rough Amethyst with a Silver Camel Head on Top from Pune. A Hand Carved Silver Chess Set with Traditional Design was given to Potugese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni was presented with an Exquisite Silver Candle Stand, and a Hand Engraved Silver Fruit Bowl featuring intricate depictions of a peacock and a tree was given to CARICOM Secretary General Carla Barnett. The vibrant culture of Jammu and Kashmir was also represented through gifts of a pair of papier-mache gold work vases, that PM Modi presented to his UK counterpart, Keir Starmer. He also gave a Pashmina Shawl in a Papier Mache Box to the First Lady of Guyana and Kashmiri Saffron in the customised gift hamper to the leaders of CARICOM Countries. A Silver Photo Frame with floral Work showcasing the state's rich heritage of detailed metalwork and traditional motifs was given to Argentina President Javier Milei. 'Marble Inlay Work', also known as 'Pietra Dura' with base marble sourced from Makrana in Rajasthan was given to Norwegian PM Jonas Gahr Store; and Gold Work Wooden Raj Sawari figurine - a beautiful representation of traditional Indian craftsmanship, combining intricate gold work with finely carved wood, given to Prime Minister of Guyana, Mark Phillips. A Silver Clutch Purse studded with semi-precious stones handcrafted with intricate floral motif designs was presented to Brazil President Lula's spouse, Rosangela da Silva. Additionally, Araku Coffee, which is grown by indigenous communities in the Araku Valley in Andhra Pradesh, was presented in the customised gift hamper given to leaders of CARICOM countries. Sohrai painting from Hazaribagh, Jharkhand - known for its unique depiction of animals, birds, and nature and being a reflection of the agrarian lifestyle and the reverence for wildlife in tribal culture, was presented Nigerian Vice President Kashim Shettima. Khovar painting - a traditional art form that originates from the tribal regions of Jharkhand, given to Indonesia President, Prabowo Subianto. Other gifts include Finely Fretted and Engraved Silver and Rosewood Ceremonial Photo Frame from Uttar Pradesh was given to the President of Chile, Gabriel Boric. A wooden toy train, a signature product from Channapatnaa -- small town in Karnataka, was given to the younger son of Guyanese President Irfaan Ali. A Tanjore Painting from Tamil Nadu was given to French President Emmanuel Macron. A Madhubani painting, also known as Mithila painting, a traditional art form originating from the Mithila region of Bihar, was given to Guyanese President Irfaan Ali. In addition, a rare and exquisitely crafted Filigree Boat made of pure silver - a fine example of the centuries-old silver filigree art practised in Cuttack, Odisha was given to Vice President of Guyana, Bharrat Jagdeo and a Ladakhi kettle adorned with semi-precious stones was presented to Speaker of Guyana's National Assembly, Manzoor Nadir. Notably, PM Modi participated in 31 bilateral meetings and informal interactions with global leaders during his three-nation foreign visit from November 16 to 21. He held a bilateral meeting in Nigeria, 10 bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Brazil and nine bilateral meetings in Guyana. In Nigeria, PM Modi held a bilateral meeting with Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. In Brazil, PM Modi held bilateral meetings with leaders of Brazil, Indonesia, Portugal, Italy, Norway, France, the UK, Chile, Argentina and Australia. Amongst the 10 bilateral meetings in Brazil, PM Modi held talks with Prabowo Subianto, Indonesia president; Luis Montenegro, Portugal PM; Keir Starmer, UK PM, Gabriel Boric, Chile President and Javier Milei, Argentina President, as per the statement. In Brazil, PM also had informal interactions and pull-aside meetings with leaders of Singapore, South Korea, Egypt, the US and Spain and with the heads and executives of various international organisations like Ursula von der Leyen, European Union; Antonio Guterres, United Nations; Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, World Trade Organization; Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, World Health Organisation; and Kristalina Georgieva and Gita Gopinath, IMF. In Guyana, PM Modi held bilateral meetings with leaders of Guyana, Dominica, Bahamas, Trinidad, Tobago, Suriname, Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada and St. Lucia. Concluding his three-nation visit, he arrived in India today evening. (ANI) A Rawalpindi accountability court has issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Bushra Bibi, the wife of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, in connection with the GBP 190 million corruption case linked to the Al-Qadir University Trust, ARY News reported. The court, presided over by Judge Nasir Javed Rana, issued the arrest warrants following the ongoing investigation into the alleged financial discrepancies involving the former prime minister and his family. Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan was also presented before the court in connection with the case. Despite the new arrest warrants, both Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi had previously been granted bail by the Islamabad High Court (IHC) in relation to the National Crime Agency (NCA) settlement reference concerning the GBP 190 million. The IHC's two-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, had reserved its verdict after hearing the case. In a short order, the court had instructed the authorities to release Imran Khan against a surety bond of PKR 1 million, reported ARY News. Meanwhile, Bushra Bibi, in a separate development, issued a video message urging PTI supporters to participate in the party's planned protest on November 24. She referred to the protest as a "final or do-or-die" call, urging party workers to rally against the government. She claimed that negative propaganda against her family started after their visit to Madinah, Saudi Arabia, followed by calls for her character assassination and accusations against her husband, Imran Khan, of being a "Jewish agent." The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had launched an investigation into the alleged gain of hundreds of acres of land under the Al-Qadir University Trust, with the claim that it caused a loss of GBP 190 million to the national treasury. According to the charges, Imran Khan and others accused in the case allegedly misallocated PKR 50 billion (equivalent to GBP 190 million at the time) that had been sent by the UK's National Crime Agency (NCA) to the Pakistani government, ARY News reported. In response, NAB filed a corruption reference involving Imran Khan, his wife Bushra Bibi, and six other individuals related to the Al-Qadir University project, which was registered on December 26, 2019. (ANI) LITTLE ROCK, Ark. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission director tendered his resignation on Thursday at the monthly commission meeting. Director Austin Booth has been director since 2021. His resignation will become effective Jan. 4, 2025, when he will transition to the private sector. Helicopters drop gravel for Lake Conway habitat project, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Booth said he wanted to be able to devote more time to his family and allow someone else to take the reins of the agency and its pursuit of conservation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I want to thank my wife and my kids and my mom and dad and my in-laws for keeping me grounded, for their encouragement and for making sacrifices so I can be effective, Booth said. It has been an incredible three and a half years and I have no people to thank more than my family. Arkansas Game and Fish Commission dedicates water-control structure on Glaise Creek AGFC Commission Chairman J.D. Neeley thanked Booth for his service and dedication. On behalf of the other commissioners and the staff of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, I want to thank Austin Booth, our director, for the last three and a half years of tireless dedication to the Commission and the people of the great state of Arkansas, Neeley said in a statement. Theres a saying, Iron sharpens iron. His leadership has taken a tremendously skilled group of staff and strengthened our ability to put habitat and people first. courtesy Arkansas Game and Fish Commission courtesy Arkansas Game and Fish Commission courtesy Arkansas Game and Fish Commission During Booths service, officials said he oversaw the restoration of the commissions greentree reservoirs, important for duck hunting, the rebuilding of the Craig D. Campbell Lake Conway Reservoir, the first-ever stocking of Titan Maxx bass in a public reservoir, an expansion of the states bear season and the elevation of private land enhancement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Arkansas Game and Fish Commission initiative looks to open private waters to anglers The director also oversaw breaking Arkansas Youth Shooting Sports, Archery in the Schools and AGFC Shooting Range programs into a standalone division. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK. Visitors take photos of the main character from the video game "Black Myth: Wukong" at the Light of Internet Expo in Wuzhen, east China's Zhejiang province, on Nov. 20, 2024. The expo is part of the 2024 World Internet Conference Wuzhen Summit, held from Nov. 19 to 22 Wuzhen Summit. [Photo by Liu Caiyi/China.org.cn] With a focus on emerging digital opportunities around the world, the latest internet development reports highlight China's global leadership in the digital industry, with the country showing rapid growth and expanding international influence in the digital culture sector. According to the World Internet Development Report released on Thursday at the ongoing 2024 World Internet Conference Wuzhen Summit in Wuzhen, Zhejiang province, China ranks second among the 52 involved economies worldwide in internet development, with a score of 69 just behind the United States. This year marks the 30th anniversary of China's fully functional access to the global internet, during which time the country has witnessed a steadily improved cyber ecosystem, rapidly advanced core technologies, comprehensively enhanced cybersecurity capabilities, deepened legal governance and expanded international cooperation, said Wang Jiang, head of the Chinese Academy of Cyberspace Studies, the reports' publisher. Based on six indicators information infrastructure, digital technology and innovation capability, digital economy, digital government, cybersecurity and international governance in cyberspace, it said the global digital economy is experiencing a new wave of growth, with more development potential rapidly unfolding. With a specific focus on China's performance in terms of digital development, another report by the academy highlighted the impressive performance of the country's digital culture industry in recent years. According to the China Internet Development Report 2024, the country's online audiovisual market including long videos, short videos, livestreaming and audio sectors had reached a market size of 1.15 trillion yuan ($159 billion) by end-2023. Meanwhile, the domestic gaming industry's actual sales revenue stood at about 303 billion yuan during the same period. "In recent years, China's digital culture has flourished, producing high-quality works across fields such as mini-dramas, online literature, video games and digital animation," Wang said. The country's digital culture vitality is not merely limited to its domestic market. According to the report, China's online literature sector has also seen remarkable success overseas, with export sales of over 4 billion yuan, attracting 230 million overseas readers last year. Additionally, domestically developed games generated overseas sales of $16.37 billion in 2023, marking the fourth consecutive year of surpassing the 100 billion-yuan threshold, it said. "Our digital cultural products are now more diverse and globally accessible. A large number of high-quality creations have transcended cultural boundaries and gained recognition from audiences worldwide," said Qian Xianliang, deputy director of the Chinese Academy of Cyberspace Studies. For instance, the Chinese mythology-inspired video game Black Myth: Wukong has captivated domestic and international audiences, driving widespread discussions and sales of over $1 billion on online gaming platform Steam by October, Qian added. In addition, Chinese science fiction television series Three-Body has spearheaded Chinese cultural productions' globalization, reaching audiences in over 190 countries and regions, he said, adding that many Chinese online literature works have also been translated into English, French, Spanish, Arabic and many other languages, further extending their global reach. "The digital culture industry, represented by video games, short videos and livestreaming, has now become a cornerstone of China's cultural sector. It plays a pioneering role in driving the deep integration of culture and technology, embedding China's rich traditional culture into the fabric of modern civilization through digitalization," said Sun Jiashan, associate researcher at the Central Academy of Culture and Tourism Administration. Sun also emphasized the key role of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and large language models in driving digital culture growth. "Cutting-edge technologies are reshaping the international dissemination of Chinese culture. For example, AI-powered translation has significantly reduced the cost of translating Chinese online literature into multiple languages, enabling broader global accessibility in a way more efficient than ever," Sun said. "The achievements in digital technology and infrastructure are not only fueling localized production and dissemination of cultural works, but also promoting the values of cultural diversity and fostering dialogue and mutual respect among different cultures on a global scale," he added. Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy co-leaders of the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, an advisory group recently announced by Donald Trump laid out their vision for the initiative in a Wall Street Journal op-ed. Kinda. When you peel back the layers of whimsical, gauzy tech-bro speak, their ideas can be boiled down to one principle: massive cuts to federal programs that, when deployed elsewhere, have caused calamity. The op-ed is light on specifics. Musk and Ramaswamy claim theyll use lawyers and advanced technology (they dont explain what kind of technology) to sniff out what they claim are thousands of regulations they think should be cut (they dont list any of these regulations). Ramaswamy, for the record, has absurdly suggested cutting 75% of the federal workforce in the past (along with disbanding agencies like the Department of Education and the FBI). In their op-ed, Musk and Ramaswamy claim (without including any actual proof) that cutting these regulations will justify cutting throngs of federal jobs, though they say their department will help support the fired employees transition into the private sector. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They also claim Trump has unilateral power to stop Congress from funding government programs he doesnt like. This is a ridiculous, right-wing legal theory that Musk and Ramaswamy predicted will be affirmed by the Trump-packed Supreme Court, but on Wednesday's episode of "All In with Chris Hayes," it justifiably prompted House Democratic Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar, of California, to encourage the two men to reread Article I of the Constitution, which lays out Congress authority to act as a coequal branch of government. Op-ed be damned; I think Ramaswamy summarized the aims of this group much better earlier this week, when he openly endorsed the idea of instituting Milei-style cuts, on steroids. A reasonable formula to fix the U.S. government: Milei-style cuts, on steroids. Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) November 18, 2024 That's what's really at stake here: brutal cuts to the government. As Ive written previously for the blog, Argentinas president, Javier Milei, instituted severe austerity measures that caused his countrys poverty rate to skyrocket above 50% in the ensuing months. Musk has proposed similar cuts to the ones Milei instituted. And Ramaswamy clearly thinks even more crushing austerity than what Argentina has experienced should be on the menu for Americans. Milei, by the way, has said Musk and Ramaswamy both billionaires should push these cuts "to the very limit." To see how this kind of austerity has worsened poverty and malnutrition in Argentina, check out the Reuters report below. Musk and Ramaswamy's department doesnt have actual power to impose these kinds of cuts on its own. But one can tell from their op-ed, and their previous statements, that they're going to use every tool at their disposal to pressure the Republicans who do have real power to carry out their frightening fiscal vision. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com The number of reported bullying incidents among New Hampshire public middle school students ticked up 12.5 percent this past school year, state data shows, after it had appeared to plateau since the pandemic. But other metrics have been more steady. The number of reported public high school bullying incidents has decreased slightly from last year, and public elementary school numbers have stayed about the same. The new numbers come from an annual report by the New Hampshire Department of Education presented to the State Board of Education this month. But the chairman of the board, Drew Cline, argues they might not tell the full story. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In total, there were 805 reports of bullying incidents among the states 82,714 elementary school students; 684 reports among 30,097 middle school students; and 376 incidents among 52,124 high school students, according to the department numbers. The report suggests cyberbullying incidents are easier to prove than in-person incidents. Of the total 805 elementary school bullying reports, about 2 in 5 321 were substantiated by the school. Among middle schools, just under half 328 were confirmed; high schools substantiated exactly half, or 188. But for each age group, cyberbullying incidents specifically had a higher than 50 percent chance of being substantiated. Rich Farrell, the state Department of Educations investigator, argued the rise in middle school bullying is not particularly significant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im a little jaded, I think, because I think middle school is where youre going to find the majority of your bullying, Farrell told the board. So although it might jump off the page a 12.5 percent increase in middle school I personally dont see it as a big outlier. And he noted that the Department of Education was contacted 92 times last school year by parents who had complaints about alleged bullying and cyberbullying cases in their schools, a 16 percent decrease. The department followed up in five of those cases to determine whether schools followed the law, and in all five determined the schools had done so, Farrell added. But Cline has taken issue with the overall numbers being reported, and said the final numbers are likely a drastic undercount. And he said a state law could be impeding schools ability to fully report and take action against bullying. Statistically, I dont think its possible that we had 328 middle school bullying cases last year. We might have had 328 a day last year. But this is just simply not believable, these numbers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The states report indicates that while all school bullying reports plummeted to near zero levels in the 2020-2021 school year when most public schools were conducting remote learning they have begun to creep back to pre-pandemic levels. Adjusted for school enrollment changes, the number of elementary school reports is about at the level it was in the 2015-2016 school year, while the number of middle school reports is higher and the number of high school reports is lower. In middle schools last school year, bullying incidents related to physical characteristics made up 16 percent of all substantiated reports; incidents based on race made up 11 percent; incidents based on disability made up 8 percent; incidents based on sexual orientation made up 7 percent, and incidents based on gender made up 4 percent. The remaining reports were not categorized. Cyberbullying made up 21 percent of all substantiated bullying incidents in middle schools, 16 percent in elementary schools, and 35 percent in high schools. At a Monday meeting, members of the Manchester Board of School Committee peppered N.H. Education Commissioner Frank Edelblut at a meeting of the Manchester Board of School Committee earlier this year Department of Education Commissioner Frank Edelblut suggested at the board meeting the low numbers could be explained in part by a fear of speaking up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres sometimes just a reluctance for somebody to report bullying, because then that exacerbates bullying that actually takes place, he said. But in an interview, Cline argued it is also because schools are restrained by state statute. RSA 193-F lays out New Hampshires anti-bullying laws. It requires that school districts must take action against bullying, communicate any investigations and discipline proceedings to parents of victims and perpetrators, and annually report all bullying incidents to the state. The law also includes a definition of bullying, which counts it as a single significant incident or a pattern of incidents directed at a pupil, where one pupil physically harms another pupil, causes them emotional distress, interferes with their educational opportunities, creates a hostile educational environment, or disrupts orderly school operations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To Cline, that first part of the definition is fine. The second part causes problems. The statute continues to state that: Bullying shall include actions motivated by an imbalance of power based on a pupils actual or perceived personal characteristics, behaviors, or beliefs, or motivated by the pupils association with another person and based on the other persons characteristics, behaviors, or beliefs. The provision is vague, Cline argues, and can be interpreted in different ways. One interpretation is that the second part is an optional addition to the first but not necessary to prove bullying. But the other reading is that the states anti-bullying statute applies only to situations in which the alleged bully was motivated by an imbalance of power, and that if a school district cannot prove that motivation, it cant take action. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cline says that latter interpretation has been used before the State Board of Education during recent bullying appeals processes. Attorneys have quarreled over the law. Most school districts have procedures that allow parents to appeal school principals decisions to the superintendent and school board whether they believe their child was falsely accused or that their child was bullied but the district did not take action. Parents can eventually appeal all the way up to the State Board, which determines whether the school principal was justified. In one case the board heard recently, a student was appealing because the school had not taken action against another student for bullying, Cline said. But attorneys argued the student had not sufficiently shown that the alleged bullying was motivated by an imbalance of power. Bullying appeals before the State Board are held behind closed doors, and Cline said he could not name the school district involved. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Cline, the board ultimately sided with the school district, determining that the statute should be interpreted strictly and because motivation was not proven, the lack of action was justified. But Cline says the decision doesnt sit well. Im really uncomfortable with that interpretation, he said. I dont like it. But the board was torn, and I think still is torn, on whether that is the actual interpretation of this. But because its so badly worded we dont have a Supreme Court case telling us what the guidance is on it its a problem. This story was originally published by the New Hampshire Bulletin. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: NH middle school bullying: Is underreporting an issue? Delaware avoids a drought escalation for another week, with statewide rainfall measuring over half of an inch on Wednesday night. The state will remain in drought watch, where it has been for nearly a month. The Newark Reservoir will begin to refill from the White Clay Creek, and rainfall increased the flow of the Brandywine. Rain also pushed the salt levels of the Christina River down slightly. The Hoopes Reservoir, which backs up the Brandywine as Wilmington's main water supply, will also get topped off by the creek. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The line between salt and freshwater in the Delaware River remains near the Philadelphia International Airport. Rainfall in the northern part of the Delaware River basin can drive the salt line downstream toward its average location near Wilmington after a few days. Director of Delaware Water Resources Center Gerald Kauffman said the state climatologist said the dry weather pattern that has stuck around the region for months has broken and cooler, wetter weather is in store for the next few weeks. He called the rain a "good shot." The Delaware Water Supply Coordinating Council makes recommendations to the state government regarding drought policy, and Kauffman serves on it along with state climatologist, geologist and Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control. They met last week and expected a "tough decision" this week if drought conditions worsened. Kauffman said staying at a watch was the right move. "We can't predict the weather too much in the future, but I think it's the appropriate place to be," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A drought watch is the first step in the statewide drought response system. A watch calls for voluntary cutbacks on watering lawns and handwashing cars. Delaware has not moved past that step, but New Jersey and New York City have each issued drought warnings, which is an escalation from drought watch. Before the rainfall, the U.S. Drought Monitor showed areas in each county experiencing "extreme drought," while the rest of the state experienced "severe drought." This rainfall may have prevented a drought warning, but the drought is not over as a result of this rain. "It's going to take several pretty significant rainfall events like this before we really start coming out of drought conditions," National Weather Service meteorologist Alex Staarmann said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Staarmann said the rainfall is still beneficial, especially for bringing down fire risks. Brush fires have appeared across the Northeast, with an outdoor fire sparking near Newark along I-95 last weekend. He said the soil is dry and absorbent and is limiting runoff. Wilmington and Georgetown have not had more than an inch of rain since Sept. 1 and are on pace to smash the record for driest autumn. There is an annual rainfall deficit. Shane Brennan covers New Castle County with a focus on Newark and surrounding communities. Reach out with ideas, tips or feedback at slbrennan@delawareonline.com. Follow @shanebrennan36 on X, formerly Twitter. This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Rainfall keeps Delaware's drought status from escalating TOKYO, Nov 22 (News On Japan) - A man with a distinctive snake-like tattoo on his face has been arrested for shoplifting and assaulting a convenience store employee in Tokyo. The suspect, identified as 49-year-old Masakatsu Echizenya, is accused of stealing items from a store around noon on November 15th and violently attacking the employee who confronted him. Echizenya allegedly headbutted the male employee multiple times when approached outside the store. The stolen itemsa bottle of coffee and two pieces of breadwere dropped as Echizenya fled the scene. The employee sustained injuries requiring about two weeks to heal. On November 21st, Echizenya was captured on camera at Tokyos Seijo Police Station, his snake-like facial tattoo and piercing gaze drawing attention. Residents of the same building as Echizenya described him as having a contrasting demeanor. He looked intimidating at first, but he spoke softly and was surprisingly polite, one neighbor recalled. Another added, Hed greet people warmly and didnt seem like a bad person, even if his appearance was striking. Despite these remarks, Echizenya has reportedly refused to answer police questions, remaining silent during the investigation. Authorities are continuing to investigate his motives and other details surrounding the incident. Source: FNN Nov 22 (News On Japan) - Elon Musk, the incoming head of the newly established Efficiency Ministry under President-elect Trump, has vowed to reduce $500 billion in government waste annually. Musk, known for his admiration of Japanese culture, sparked speculation on October 21st with a social media post simply stating "Wabi-Sabi" in Japanese, prompting questions about his intentions. The post came shortly after Musk supported a tweet by Trump criticizing the Democratic Party. The term "Wabi-Sabi," representing Japans aesthetic of simplicity and impermanence, intrigued his 200 million followers. Automotive journalist Kawabata, who has interviewed Musk three times, noted his deep ties to Japan, citing visits to Fukushima after the 2011 earthquake and his donation of $2 million worth of solar panels. Kawabata remarked, "Musk is perhaps the most involved with Japan among Silicon Valley investors. His familiarity with concepts like 'Zen' suggests he might grasp the deeper aspects of 'Wabi-Sabi.'" While Musks exact intent remains unclear, some speculate the reference aligns with the minimalist philosophy of the Department of Government Efficiency. The departments primary goalscutting spending, reducing regulations, and downsizing bureaucracywere outlined in a recent op-ed co-authored by Musk in The Wall Street Journal. The department plans to eliminate $500 billion in unapproved or unintended expenses annually, overhaul outdated regulations, and curtail public sector roles. Musk has also proposed banning remote work, a strategy he previously employed in his companies, aiming for streamlined operations by mid-2026. Source: ANN Nov 23 (NHK) - China says it will resume allowing visa-free visits by Japanese nationals on short-term trips from the end of this month. China's Foreign Ministry said on Friday that the visa exemptions will apply to nine countries, including Japan. It said visa requirements will be waived from November 30 through the end of next year, for stays of up to 30 days. China previously allowed visa-free visits for up to 15 days, before suspending the program in March 2020 amid the coronavirus pandemic. Beijing says it has doubled the eligible length of stay for the convenience of travelers. China resumed visa exemptions for Singapore and Brunei last year, and added European and Oceanian countries to the program later on. Before the measure was suspended, many Japanese made short-term visa-free trips to China for tourism or business. After China's announcement about the visa exemption, Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru told reporters that his government had urged the Chinese side to take such a step to increase private exchanges between the two nations. Ishiba says he hopes the visa-free arrangements will prompt much more in the way of exchanges between the two countries. There is speculation that this decision was made to encourage more Japanese investment in China's economy, which has been slowing down due to an ongoing slump in the real estate sector. Beijing also appears keen to build ties with other countries, given the possibility that relations with Washington might worsen after president-elect Donald Trump returns to the White House in January. The question is how far this latest move will prompt a resurgence in travel to China among Japanese nationals for business and tourism. Salt Lake City, UT November 22, 2024 Motos America, Inc. announces its focus on streamlining operations and enhancing its core business following the revocation of its securities registration under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in a settled Section 12(j) action. While this change marks a shift in regulatory status, it aligns with Motos Americas mission to prioritize operational efficiency, community engagement, and exceptional customer experiences in the motorcycle dealership industry. The move is expected to reduce regulatory burdens and reallocate resources toward initiatives that directly impact the companys dealership network and customer base. This step allows us to focus more intensely on building a thriving and passionate community of riders while continuing to expand our dealership footprint, said Vance Harrison, CEO of Motos America. By reallocating resources previously directed at regulatory compliance, we can invest more heavily in our dealerships, customer programs, and long-term growth opportunities. The company emphasizes that this transition does not affect its commitment to transparency, accountability, or operational excellence. Motos America will continue to provide updates and communications to investors and stakeholders through its website and other channels. Motos America has seen significant growth in recent years, including the acquisition and revitalization of motorcycle dealerships across the U.S. The company remains dedicated to its vision of advancing the motorcycle industry while building a strong sense of community among riders. We remain committed to our stakeholders and will continue to demonstrate integrity in all aspects of our operations, added Harrison. Our focus is sharper than ever, and this change allows us to align with our strategic priorities while maintaining open communication with our community. Motos America will continue to evaluate new opportunities to maximize shareholder value and advance its business objectives. The companys management team is optimistic about the future and is confident this decision will enable Motos America to thrive in its competitive industry. For more information, please visit www.motosamerica.com About Motos America, Inc. Motos America, Inc. is a consolidator of motorcycle dealerships across the United States. The company is dedicated to fostering a passionate and engaged community of riders while promoting safety, responsible riding practices, and unparalleled customer service Artificial intelligence (AI) technology is driving a new technological and industrial revolution. However, there is concern about its application. At a forum highlighting responsible AI development and applications held in Zhejiang Province of east China, experts and industry insiders from both home and abroad have called for a people-centered approach to harnessing AI technology for the benefit of humankind. Malaysia's Deputy Minister of Communications Teo Nie Ching shared a chatbot story, in which an AI technology firm in the United States was accused by a woman of causing her 14-year-old son's death. The teenager committed suicide in February after becoming obsessed with a chatbot on a platform developed by the company, the mother was quoted as saying. The case was deemed to be an illustration of the potential threat posed by AI technology, warranting the need for effective AI governance. "Digital transformation is not only about technology popularization but also the necessity to take a more careful look at the human society and ethical values," said Teo on the occasion of the 2024 World Internet Conference Wuzhen Summit that closes on Friday. Many speakers at the summit reached a consensus on promoting the development of AI to improve human well-being, while also stressing this effort should prioritize social security, respect human rights, share global values, and take a people-centered, ethical approach. They suggested AI governance featuring joint efforts by the government, companies and society as a whole, while promoting technological innovation and international cooperation. Zhou Hongyi, founder of 360 Group, believes a people-centered principle is essential for science and technology. "AI should have a positive influence on humans. It ought to serve as an assistant instead of a replacement," he said. China has taken action to seek the coordination of AI development with governance. In July 2023, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) issued interim guidelines on managing generative AI services, the first of their kind in the world. In September 2024, a regulation on identifying AI-generated or composed content was drafted and released for public opinion. Zhang Weimin, an engineer with the CAC, called for greater awareness of social responsibility and the prevention of improper usage. Under the theme of "Embracing a People-centered and AI-for-good Digital Future -- Building a Community with a Shared Future in Cyberspace," participants at the summit also voiced support for the underdeveloped world to bridge the digital and AI divide. Nii Narku Quaynor, chairman of Ghana Dot Com, also known as the "father of the internet in Africa," shared his thought on the diversity and inclusiveness in the booming AI era. "The task facing Africa is how we are introducing AI and ensuring participation on the development side, as well as usage," noted Quaynor. He pointed out three areas that require attention: technical capacities and educational preparedness; the cost of equipment and infrastructure; and electrical power. "Cooperation is the answer," Quaynor said in an interview with Xinhua. He said he looks forward to deeper cooperation between Africa and China in cyberspace and expects that Africa can also contribute to this field. In China, AI is becoming an important engine for developing new quality productive forces. China is now home to more than 4,500 AI companies. Its core AI industry reached a size of more than 578 billion yuan (about 81.3 billion U.S. dollars) in 2023, up 13.9 percent year on year, according to official data. By George Oshogwe Ogbolu Chaos broke out on Thursday at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) FCT Council Secretariat in Utako, Abuja, when loyalists of Musiliu Ayinde Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, allegedly attacked members of the Bus Conductors Association of Nigeria (BCAN), an affiliate of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW). The BCAN group had rented the secretariats main hall for their official inauguration but were violently disrupted by thugs wearing caps bearing MC Oluomos photograph. The attackers stormed the venue, led by one Segun Aluwaye, who claimed to be the chairman of Berger Park. According to SaharaReporters, witnesses reported that the thugs forced their way through the NUJ Secretariats main gate, brandishing dangerous weapons such as machetes, knives, bottles, and sticks. They unleashed mayhem on government officials, guests, and participants, injuring several attendees and destroying property, including cameras, chairs, tables, and fans. The attack occurred shortly after the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, who was the special guest of honor, had left the venue. The ensuing chaos saw people fleeing in all directions to escape the violence. Even security personnel invited to the event, including officers from the Nigerian Police, Department of State Services (DSS), and Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), were not spared. Staff of the NUJ Secretariat were also targeted and injured. BCAN Chairman, Comrade Prince Israel Ade Adeshola, expressed shock over the incident, describing it as unfortunate. He said, We were at the NUJ Secretariat today to inaugurate our association, the Bus Conductors Association of Nigeria (BCAN). During the event, miscreants armed with cutlasses, knives, and other dangerous weapons stormed the venue, chased out our dignitaries and guests, and injured many of our members. They destroyed numerous items and disrupted the program. Adeshola added that the inauguration was aimed at combating One Chance crimes in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and establishing accurate data on conductors. He called on President Bola Tinubu and security agencies to intervene and hold MC Oluomo and his loyalists accountable. At the time of filing this report, it was unclear if any arrests had been made. However, police vehicles were stationed outside the NUJ Secretariat to prevent further disturbances. By Richard Ogunsile The Enugu State Government has expressed appreciation to the Government of the Republic of Finland for arresting Biafra agitator, Simon Ekpa. The Nigerian Defence Headquarters in Abuja, on Thursday, announced plans to extradite Simon Ekpa, the self-proclaimed prime minister of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), to face charges in Nigeria. Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, the Director of Defence Information, announced and confirmed that the Chief of Defence Staff, General Chris Musa, welcomed Ekpas arrest in Finland. Naija News reports that the stand of the Defence Headquarters comes after Ekpa was remanded by a Finnish district court in Lahti on probable cause for public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent in Nigeria. Reacting to the development, the Enugu State government characterized Ekpa as a common criminal, a fraudster, and a terrorist, asserting that he does not genuinely represent the interests of the Igbo people. Furthermore, the government labelled Ekpa as a murderer and a swindler, claiming that he takes pleasure in harming his own people while profiting from their suffering. Enugu State has declared its readiness to provide evidence of atrocities committed by Ekpa against the Ndigbo community to support his prosecution and conviction, whether in Finland or Nigeria. Naija News reports that this information was conveyed in a statement released by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, on Friday. The Enugu State Government welcomes the arrest of the Finland-based terrorist, Simon Ekpa. His arrest and trial will no doubt go a long way in strengthening peace, security, and stability in all parts of the South East. This arrest is in line with the demand of Governor Peter Mbahs Administration, which has repeatedly made it known that Ekpa is a megalomaniac, common criminal, murderer, and fraudster who takes joy in feeding fat on the manipulated emotions of Ndigbo and inflicting misery on the South East region. Ekpa has for long, and unfortunately from Finland, made a living by creating a siege climate and mentality in the South East, destroying lives, property, and the Igbo trademark of entrepreneurship and hard work. He thrives on manipulating, exploiting, and extorting the people on the pretext of fighting for their interest and for the restoration of Biafra, the government said. Ukrainian flag fluttering over the Verkhovna Rada building, on the Day of the National Flag, in Kyiv, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Photo by Roman PILIPEY / AFP) Kyiv shuttered parliament on Friday for one day, citing a potential Russian missile attack after President Vladimir Putin issued a warning to the West by launching a new intermediate-range missile at Ukraine. Moscows 33-month invasion of Ukraine escalated this week with Russias first launch of a nuclear-capable mid-range ballistic missile at the city of Dnipro on Thursday. The Kremlin said Friday that a hawkish address by Putin, in which he threatened to strike the West and said he was ready for any scenario, had been understood in the United States. Putin had said Moscow reserved the right to strike countries that allow Kyiv to hit Russian territory with their weapons, after the US and the UK gave the green light for Kyiv to do so. NATO and Ukrainian officials are due to meet Tuesday in Brussels to discuss the escalation, diplomatic sources told AFP. In Kyiv, which is frequently targeted by Russian drones and missiles, parliament cancelled its usual Friday questions to the government over fears of a strike. The central area where it is located houses the presidency, the central bank and other government buildings. It has until now been spared of bombings unlike the rest of the capital and access is strictly controlled by the army. Several MPs said they were working remotely and that Fridays session had been scrapped. Increased risk of attacks There are signals of an increased risk of attacks on the government district in the coming days. Also in Kyiv and Ukraine in general, MP Yevgenia Kravchuk told AFP. The presidency, however, assured its office was working as usual in compliance with standard security measures: if the alarm sounds, we will be in shelters. The apparent heightened risk comes two days after the embassies of several countries, including the US, said they were closed, citing the threat of a Russian attack. In Moscow meanwhile, Russian defence minister Andrei Belousov said Moscows advances in the war-battered eastern Ukraine had accelerated and also ground down Kyivs best units. We have, in fact, derailed the entire 2025 campaign, Defence Minister Andrei Belousov said of the Ukrainian army in a video published by the Russian defence ministry. Russia later said its forces had liberated the frontline village of Novodmytrivka, about 10 kilometres (six miles) north of Kurakhove, an embattled civilian hub in the eastern Donetsk region that the Krmelin claims is part of Russia. Observers of the conflict say Moscow and Kyiv racing to gain battlefield advantages ahead of January 2025, when Donald Trump who has vowed to end the war without saying how is due to take office in the US. Belousov spoke a day after Putin had addressed Russians, saying the war in Ukraine, which he launched on February 24 2024, had taken on elements of a global character. Putin said Russia had hit Dnipro with a new type of ballistic missile called the Oreshkin and that Moscow could launch more such missiles depending on the actions of the United States and its satellites. The attack, which apparently targeted an aerospace manufacturing plant in the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro, sparked immediate condemnation from Kyivs allies. Anything can happen It also shocked residents of Dnipro, which has suffered routine Russian bombardments throughout the invasion. Vladimir Riga, 66, was on his way to work when he saw an explosion. He said the attack damaged a rehabilitation centre and AFP saw workers boarding up the windows of the damaged building after the attack. Asked if it marked a new turn in the conflict and if he feared an escalation, Riga said, of course I am afraid. Anything can happen. The Russian attack also provoked calls for calm from Moscows allies, including China. Terrible escalation German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Friday described Russias deployment of the medium-range missile as a terrible escalation. The Russian attack came after Ukraine recently fired US- and UK-supplied missiles at Russian territory for the first time. Washington said it had granted Kyiv permission to fire long-range weapons at Russian territory as a response to the Kremlins deployment of thousands of North Korean troops on Ukraines border. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for a strong response from world leaders to Russias use of the new missile. Russian strikes meanwhile killed at least two civilians in the eastern Ukrainian city of Sumy near the border with Russia and one person in the Donetsk region city of Kramatorksk, local authorities said. By Soji Ajibola Oyo state-owned tertiary institutions' staff begin three-day strike today, Oyo govt shortlists applicants Oyo state government has shortlisted 15,000 out of the 22,235 applicants for the various positions in the Civil service. The Chairman, Oyo State Civil Service, Chief Kamoru Abiodun Aderibigbe disclosed at a press briefing in Ibadan on Friday. He added that out of the 15,000 shortlisted applicants, 900 successful candidates would be recruited to fill the vacant positions in the civil service. According to him, The recruitment is unprecedented in the history of Oyo State, as there has never been a time in the last two decades when such recruitment was done, as it has always been on cadre basis. The president administration had recruited 60 Environmental Health personnel in 2020, 692 Education Officers, 30 state Counsel in the same year, while 19 officers were recently recruited for the Ministry of Lands. As for the ongoing process, 22,235 applications were successfully submitted into the State government job portal out of which roughly 15,000 which is about 67% were qualified for recruitment into the cadres for which they have applied in line with the scheme of service and the parameters stated in our Tribune advertisement of 7th October, 2024. Consequently, the applicants have been divided into two groups of examining for competence. Those seeking employment as Education Officers, Environmental Health personnel, Social Welfare and Youth will sit CBT at the Arch. Bamidele Samson CBT Center, Opposite UCH, on Monday 25th and Tuesday 26th November, while others will sit for theirs at the Distance Learning CBT Center, Ajibode, Ibadan, on Thursday, 28th November, 2024. Invites are already being sent to successful applicants. Where an applicant is yet to get invite, he/she should continue to try and hopefully he will be invited if qualified. Where an applicant is yet to receive an invite, he/she should go to the Oyo State Government portal and refresh if qualified by all the parameters stated in our publication This aerial drone photo taken on May 9, 2024 shows containers being transported at the container terminal of Lianyungang Port, east China's Jiangsu Province. [Photo/Xinhua] China will make greater efforts to accelerate negotiations on joining the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (DEPA), the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said on Thursday. A ministerial-level meeting between China and DEPA member countries took place on Nov. 14, during the ministerial meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, with all parties participating in in-depth discussions on the progress of negotiations and work to be done in the next stage of the accession process. China began negotiations to join DEPA -- a new trade partnership agreement initiated by New Zealand, Singapore and Chile -- in August 2022. The country has since held five ministerial-level meetings and several technical consultations with DEPA members, discussing topics related to the digital economy such as business and trade facilitation, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies. China has also engaged actively in exchange seminars and promoted practical cooperation in specific areas with multiple DEPA members, including cooperation on electronic invoices and electronic bills of lading. China will work closely with DEPA member countries to explore the potential of digital economic cooperation and ensure the prompt implementation of specific collaborative projects, according to MOC spokesperson He Yongqian. Upon high instructions from King Mohammed VI, Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan received, Thursday evening in Casablanca, the President of the Peoples Republic of China, Xi Jinping, who is on a short visit to the Kingdom. The Chinese Head of State was welcomed by the Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan, upon landing at the Mohammed V International Airport in Casablanca. The Chinese Head of State is accompanied by a delegation including Cai Qi, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau and Director General of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party (CPC), Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, and Hua Chunying, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. President Xi Jinping was afterwards greeted by the Head of Government, Aziz Akhannouch. The Crown Prince and president Xi Jinping were then greeted by Chinas Ambassador to Morocco, Li Changlin, and other members of the Chinese embassy. After a brief break in the VIP lounge, the official procession headed to the Chinese Presidents residence in the economic capital of the Kingdom. This visit reflects the strong bonds of friendship, cooperation, and solidarity between the Moroccan and Chinese peoples, thanks to the shared commitment of King Mohammed VI and President Xi Jinping to advancing the Sino-Moroccan strategic partnership, sealed during the Sovereigns landmark visit to China in May 2016. The military rulers in Mali appointed spokesman Abdoulaye Maiga new prime minister, succeeding Choguel Kokalla Maiga. Choguel Maiga was replaced after he criticized the military regime in Bamako for failing to organize elections by March 2024 as promised. His statement angered the military rulers in the country, where they have been fostering their grip on power against the backdrop of a surge in Jihadist and separatist activity in its vast north. The military authorities have named loyalist Gen Abdoulaye Maiga (no relation) as the new prime minister. He briefly occupied the post in 2022, when the dismissed Choguel Maiga was hospitalized. The new prime minister was not among the military officials who seized power in 2020, but he subsequently joined them and has since been seen as one of Gen Goitas loyalists. The whereabouts of the renowned Algerian novelist and intellectual Boualem Sansal have been unknown since he landed in Algeria on November 16. His wife and friends fear he has been persecuted because of his ideas, as part of a larger crackdown on dissidents. Sansal, who was traveling from France, is an outspoken critic of the military regime in Algiers. His books and interviews offer a critical perspective into post-independence Algeria in which he blames the regime for installing a Soviet-like regime. In a recent interview, he criticized the regimes tactics in using France as a scapegoat to pin all Algerias woes on. He irked the military rulers when he mentioned the colonial origins of Algerias current borders at the expense of historical Moroccan territories. Sansal also revisited the Algerian civil war, known as the black decade, opposing Islamists to the state, when some 200,000 civilians died. The Algerian state imposes a blackout on that bloody era. Sansals case highlights the regimes targeting of renowned figures, including artists like Cheb Khaled who is facing a fomented espionage case. Khaled was targeted because he received Moroccan nationality in a context where the regime demonizes Morocco, according to observers. Kamal Daoud, who recently won Frances highest literary distinction, Le Goncourt, has also been smeared in the media. His fault was his award-winning novel Houris, set during the civil war. Houris is banned in Algeria, where the regime could persecute the writer had he not been already in exile in France. The examples mentioned above are but the tip of an iceberg made up of independent journalists and opposition leaders who have been thrown in jail on bogus charges or forced into exile since the advent of the duo Chengriha/Tebboune. Recently journalist and regime critic Hichem Abboud was kidnapped in Spain before he was miraculously rescued by Spanish Police. Some journalists in exile such as Abdou Semmar have been sentenced to death. The Republic of Panama decided on Thursday to suspend its diplomatic relations with the self-proclaimed sadr. In accordance with the rules of international law, the government of Panama has decided to suspend, as of today (Thursday), diplomatic relations with the self-proclaimed sadr, the Panamanian ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. The Republic of Panama, giving priority to the national interest and in accordance with the fundamental principles of its foreign policy, reaffirms its conviction in the objectives and values that guide multilateralism and reiterates its willingness to continue supporting the efforts of the Secretary-General and the international community, within the framework of the United Nations, with a view to achieving a peaceful, just, lasting and acceptable solution for the parties involved in the Sahara issue, the statement added. The Republic of Panama reaffirms its commitment to dialogue and multilateral cooperation, in full compliance with a constructive foreign policy aimed at strengthening international peace and security, the statement pointed out. In line with the international law, Panama has cut all ties with the self-proclaimed Polisario entity, SADR, the countrys foreign ministry said in a statement. The Republic of Panama, prioritizing national interests and adhering to the core principles of its foreign policy, reaffirms its commitment to the objectives and values that underpin multilateralism. The Republic reiterates its willingness to continue supporting the efforts of the Secretary-General and the international community within the framework of the United Nations, aiming for a peaceful, just, and lasting solution acceptable to all parties, the statement declared. Panama reiterates its commitment to dialogue and multilateral cooperation, in full compliance with a constructive foreign policy aimed at strengthening international peace and security, the statement added. Panama is thus the latest in a series of Latin American countries that retracted recognition of the Polisario. Last week, the parliament of Paraguay urged the government to back Moroccos autonomy plan. Ecuador has also cut ties with the Polisario and the Brazilian ruling party urged the government to back the autonomy plan. Morocco and Spain conducted a joint operation dismantling a terrorist cell loyal to IS with operations in the Sahel, Moroccan anti-terrorism agency BCIJ said. Nine individuals have been arrested in this operation in the Moroccan cities of Tetouan and Fnideq and in Madrid, Ibiza and Ceuta. BCIJ said the equipment seized during the operation, including bladed weapons and electronic devices, will undergo forensic analyses. Preliminary investigations showed the suspects, some of whom were previously imprisoned in Spain on terrorism-related charges, were promoting Daesh ideology and holding meetings in Sebta and Tetouan as part of planning and coordinating terrorist activities in the name of Daesh, with the intent to eventually join the organizations branch in the Sahel region south of the Sahara, BCIJ said. The statement highlighted that this joint operation falls within the framework of the continuous and exceptional security coordination between Moroccan and Spanish security agencies to counter the terrorist threats facing the two nations. Moroccan competition regulator fined Viatris $0.7 mln for failing to notify it of a merger, sources told Reuters. Viatris was created out of a merger between Upline and Maylan, which has business in Morocco. The fine amounts to 2.5% of Vitaris local Morocco operations and was already paid to the treasury. The council was also investigating other unnotified mergers that could include a joint venture between OCP group and Fertinagro Biotech or the take-over of Whirlpool Middle East and North Africa by Turkeys Arcelik. OCP told Reuters it has taken all due diligence and acted in compliance with the competition law. Chinas president Xi Jinping on his way from a G20 summit in Brazil stopped for a short visit in Morocco, an event that is reflective of the interest of Beijing in Morocco as a rising regional power and economic hub. Xi Jinping was received in Casablanca by Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan and Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch. This visit reflects the strong bonds of friendship, cooperation, and solidarity between the Moroccan and Chinese peoples, thanks to the shared commitment of His Majesty King Mohammed VI and His Excellency President Xi Jinping to advancing the Sino-Moroccan strategic partnership, sealed during the Sovereigns landmark visit to China in May 2016, reads a statement from the Moroccan news agency MAP One China Morocco considers the principle of One China a pillar of its ties with Beijing, which also respects the Kingdoms territorial integrity. The Kingdom hopes China would join a long list of influential countries that tool a stand regarding Moroccos sovereignty over the Sahara territory. As a permanent Security Council member, China has never blocked any of the recent resolutions that spoke favorably about Moroccos autonomy plan. In picking Morocco for a short visit on his way after the G20, Xi Jinping signals that China is about to make a U-turn in how it views the conflict. Rising Economic ties Chinese investments in Moroccos strategic sectors are on the rise, thanks to the business climate in the country, its strategic position as a gateway to the African, European and American market and the existence of qualified labor and vibrant clusters as well as world class infrastructure and leading ports, such as Tanger Med. For instance, China plays a significant role in the high-speed rail (HSR) project from Kenitra to Marrakech. Several Chinese companies have won major contracts for this project. For example, the company CREC 4 secured a contract worth 5.6 billion dirhams for earthworks and engineering structures. Additionally, Covec won a contract worth 1.3 billion dirhams for civil engineering works. China stands as a top trading partner for Morocco exporting over 6 billion dollars of manufactured goods to the country in 2023. Moroccos exports China were basically raw material. But in terms of innovation, China stands as a leading investor in Morocco, where it seeks to Moroccos strategic location and trade agreements, particularly with the United States and Europe. One of the largest investments is by Gotion High-Tech, a Chinese-German battery maker, which signed a deal for a $6.4 billion investment to construct Africas first EV battery factor. In May, Chinese auto battery manufacturers Hailiang and Shinzoom announced two separate plans to produce copper and anodes respectively for a combined total nearing 1 billion dollars in Tanger Tech. In April, BTR New Material Group signed a deal with the Moroccan government to set up a cathodes plant, critical to EV battery manufacturing. In September last year, CNGR Advanced Materials partnered with Moroccan private investment fund Al Mada to build an electric vehicle battery plant in Jorf Lasfar worth 2 billion dollars. Besides phosphates, Morocco is rich with cobalt, a critical requirement in EV battery manufacturing, needed by Chinese companies. The Islamic States Somali branch is still small but steadily growing, due to in part to what United Nations experts describe as an influx of foreign fighters, a new report published by the UN Sanctions Monitoring Team for Somalia warns. Foreign fighters arrive in Puntland [Somalia] using both maritime and overland routes, says the report, which is based on intelligence estimates from UN member states. The so-called IS-Somalia has thus more than doubled in size to between 600 and 700 fighters over the past one year. Foreign fighters from countries all across Africa and also some in the Middle East have expanded and enhanced the groups capabilities, the report noted, strengthening the terrorist organizations presence in Somalias Puntland region, including at the expense of its key rival, al-Qaida-linked terror group al-Shabab. The new report builds on previous warnings from US and Somali officials that hundreds of foreign fighters had been flocking to Somalia to join the ranks of the IS affiliate. This reporting on an influx of foreign terrorist fighters in Africa is concerning, said Austin Doctor of the National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology and Education Center (NCITE). The UN report also echoes concerns about the groups growing threat expressed in a study published by the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point in September. Over the last three years, the [IS-Somalia] has grown increasingly international, sending money across two continents and recruiting around the globe, the study found. There are also growing linkages between the group and international terrorist plots, raising the possibility that [IS-Somalia] may be seeking to follow in the footsteps of Islamic State Khorasan in going global, it added. China unveiled further details of its future manned lunar mission in a video released Thursday. The animation in the video, released by the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) at the Human Space Symposium, demonstrates astronauts driving a lunar rover on the surface of the moon, and displays a three-day driving route with the landing area at the center. According to the video, China's manned lunar landing mission will focus on mastering critical technologies such as manned Earth-Moon round trips, short-term stays on the lunar surface, and human-robot collaborative exploration. The mission will encompass a range of tasks, including landing, roving, sampling, research and returning to Earth. China's first manned lunar mission will begin with the launch of the Lanyue lunar lander aboard the country's new heavy carrier rocket, and Lanyue will then await the subsequent arrival of the Mengzhou manned spacecraft in space. Mengzhou will be poised for its rendezvous with Lanyue in lunar orbit, at which time the astronauts will transfer into the lander. The lander will then separate and descend to the moon's surface. Upon the completion of their lunar exploration, the astronauts will return to lunar orbit in the lander's ascent stage. This stage will involve re-docking with the spacecraft, and will mark the beginning of the astronauts' journey back to Earth. China aims to achieve manned lunar landing by 2030. By utilizing pre-crewed flight tests and manned lunar missions, China plans to conduct large-scale space science experiments targeting three key areas, including lunar science, lunar-based science, and resource exploration and utilization. Production and ground tests of prototypes of the Long March-10 carrier rocket, Mengzhou, Lanyue, the spacesuit to be worn by astronauts, and the lunar rover are underway as planned, according to the CMSA. "The development of the Long March-10 rocket, Mengzhou, and Lanyue with its lunar rover is progressing intensively," Zhou Jianping, chief designer of China's manned space program, told Xinhua at the symposium. "Several of these initial prototypes have been completed and are now in their testing phase to ensure readiness for future lunar missions," he said. The CMSA video also showcased prototypes of the manned spacecraft, as well as the lunar lander on its testing pad. Ground facilities and equipment for the production and tests have been completed and are operational, and the construction of the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site is proceeding as planned. At the Human Space Symposium, held Nov. 21-22 in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen, academicians, leading domestic experts and astronauts will address topics such as the scientific achievements of the space station and the construction and operation of the national space laboratory. The United States has reaffirmed its support for the Morocco-proposed autonomy initiative as a serious, credible, and realistic solution to the Sahara issue, and hailed King Mohammed VIs continued and valuable support to stability, security, and development across the region and the African continent. The remarks were made by U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, Barbara Leaf, on Friday in Rabat, during a press briefing following talks with Moroccos Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Bourita. Washington reaffirms its support for the Morocco-proposed autonomy initiative as a serious, credible, and realistic solution to the Sahara issue, said the U.S. official. Washington continues to support the UN Secretary-Generals Personal Envoy for the Sahara, Staffan de Mistura, in his efforts to advance negotiations toward a mutually acceptable political solution, she added. The U.S. official stated further that the United States appreciates King Mohammed VIs continued and valuable support on issues of common interest, emphasizing that this support enhances stability, security, and development across the region and the African continent. The United States values Moroccos crucial voice in advancing a more peaceful and secure Middle East region, as well as its leadership in responding to humanitarian needs in Gaza, Leaf added. She noted that Moroccos longstanding commitment to co-existence remains an important example in this context. The U.S. official said her meeting with Bourita is part of the close coordination and cooperation between the two countries on regional and global priorities. Morocco is one of our closest and oldest allies, she continued, specifying that her discussions with Bourita provided an opportunity to explore ways to deepen relations between the Kingdom and the United States. Photo: Phelan M. Ebenhack/AP Photo Hours after ringing the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange on a Monday last December, Omeed Malik hosted a party at the Core Club in midtown Manhattan. He suggested I come along. Just look decent, he texted me, after I asked about a dress code. It was a relatively small gathering. Skyline views. A few New York Post reporters were making the rounds, as were producers for Tucker Carlson, whose postFox News career Malik was funding. It was here that the financier wanted to tell me about his idea for a parallel economy a kind of Brexit for conservatives from corporate America, which he saw tilting inexorably into wokeness. Maliks answer to DEI, he told me, was his own acronym: EIG, or companies that prioritize entrepreneurship, innovation, and growth. 73 million people voted for Donald Trump, and the Brookings Institute quantifies that as 30 percent of American GDP, he said totaling roughly $7 trillion. Thats the third-largest economy in the world. Im happy to be the financier of the third-largest economy. I dont need to go to Vietnam or India. Im here. As we were talking, though, I couldnt stop looking at the orange horse-patterned scarf he wore around his dark suit. Hermes, he said. And so is the tie. I guess thats not necessarily a man-of-the-people look, but it looks good nonetheless. (As for me, well, I tried.) Nearly a year has passed, and it looks like Maliks pitch is meeting its moment. Donald Trumps second election win comes amid a massive corporate retrenchment: the scaling back of DEI, the lionization of anti-woke crusaders like Vivek Ramaswamy and Robbie Starbuck, and the end of the CEO as culture warrior. Malik was already one of the most quietly influential forces dismantling so-called woke capitalism. And now hes Donald Trump Jr.s new boss, after the president-elects oldest son a close friend joined his venture-capital firm, 1789 Capital, as a partner. Woke capitalism is a messy term, but theres no doubt that the last few years have been a strange time in corporate America. After the 2018 school shooting in Parkland, Florida, Wall Street banks stepped into the void left by lawmakers and limited business for gun sellers and manufacturers. Larry Fink, the CEO of private-equity giant BlackRock, wrote a letter that same year saying that corporations should not just look out for their shareholders, but make a positive contribution to society, and has sold financial products geared toward lofty environmental, sustainability, and governance (or ESG) goals. Diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, which challenged businesses to hire and promote women and minorities, proliferated. The marriage between capital and social justice was sometimes comically awkward. (See: the same jokes every June about weapons manufacturers rolling out their Pride logos on social media.) But to the conservative side of Wall Street, this wasnt just harmless posturing; it was a means of cutting off financing from businesses. We looked at a deal with an apparel company a big portion of this companys customers are hunters, Christopher Buskirk, a 1789 co-founder and chief investment officer, told me. A fund had a deal to buy this company, but broke the deal because, they said, the fact that some of their customers wore the apparel while hunting violated their ESG agreement. Malik is quite possibly the poster boy for the post-cancellation conservative glow-up. Born in New Jersey to Iranian and Pakistani immigrants, he was, in his own telling, a run-of-the-mill Democrat until a few years ago. He wrote speeches for a Democratic congressman, Donald Payne Jr.; after law school, he went to work for Jon Corzine, the onetime Goldman Sachs partner and New Jersey governor, at commodities trading firm MF Global. (Soon after Malik joined, the company collapsed into bankruptcy.) Within a few years, Malik was running one of Bank of Americas most important businesses, its prime-services desk, a special brokerage service that caters to hedge funds. He was the hotshot young Wall Street guy, and it was a business that Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs had had a lock on for 20 or 30 years, one former client said. He really put them on the map. On Wall Street, his vibe was decidedly preGreat Financial Crisis. With Omeed, it was back to the future, said Scott Bessent, founder of the hedge fund Key Group, who is currently in the running to be the next Treasury secretary. His companies are a modern model, but with an old-fashioned ethos. He wore mirrored aviators, flaunted nice clothes, partied with beautiful women. He would eventually land a walk-on role on the Showtime series Billions. If youd come across him at, say, Anthony Scaramuccis SALT conference for hedge-fund managers, youd find a man who had no second thoughts about enjoying his success. Then, in 2018, he was fired. Allegations of unwanted advances toward a female banker were leaked to business reporters. Malik filed a defamation suit against Bank of America, denying that he had done anything wrong. He also filed a claim against the bank alleging that he was fired in retaliation after complaining that one of his bosses didnt have the required securities licenses. (A markets watchdog later fined the bank over the issue.) Bank of America soon reportedly settled with him for eight figures, and he used some of that money to start his own investment bank, called Farvahar Partners. (He declined to comment on the settlement.) Other companies would follow: 1789 Capital, a venture-capital firm, would invest directly in companies. Colombier, a blank-check acquisition firm, would take them public through SPAC mergers. Soon he was again connecting companies with money from investors, this time in private, as well as public, markets a sign that his reputation wasnt really affected by the news. He does his work, and he understands the role that hes meant to play. And if he presents that he can do something, he does it. I havent seen him fail when he says hes going to do something, one person familiar with his business around this time told me. That night at the Core Club, Malik described to me how the pandemic had become a political breaking point for him. At the time, he was newly married and his wife was pregnant. Even though pregnant women were excluded from clinical COVID-vaccine trials, health officials still recommended they take the shots. He was against the prolonged lockdowns and vaccine mandates to re-enter public life. That was when I said Ive had it, and we moved to Florida, he said. Political-donation records show his break from Democrats started earlier, though. During the first half of 2019, almost all of Maliks donations went to Democrats, including $2,800 each to Joe Biden and Pete Buttigieg. By July, he had switched almost entirely to Republicans, including Donald Trump. By April 2020, he was contributing to Carlsons conservative outlet the Daily Caller, and by August, he had invested in the site. It was around this time that Malik and Don Jr. first co-bylined an op-ed that was critical of China. Malik and Don Jr. have been described as very close by three people familiar with their friendship often traveling and hanging out together. But Malik, a Mar-a-Lago member, has also been quietly making inroads with some of MAGA worlds most important figures not named Trump. He has backing from Rebekah Mercer, the Republican mega-donor, while Blake Masters, the Peter Thiel protege who has lost two bids for Congress in Arizona, sits on the board of 1789. He has donated to, and frequently interviewed, Tulsi Gabbard, the former Democrat. Malik was also described by one Trump adviser as part of J.D. Vances inner circle. Malik was one of the biggest backers of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., raising millions of dollars for his third-party election campaign. But he remained close to the Trump family, according to two people directly familiar with his relationships. He was day one, one said. Theres a group who just kept going after January 6, and he was part of that. (Maliks Instagram account on that day shows a video from the Capitol riots with the captionI dont care what side someone is on violence is unacceptable in every situation, but doesnt mention Trump.) Two people told me he was involved in getting Kennedy and Gabbard to endorse Trump, and helped them get administration appointments: Gabbard as the director of national intelligence, and Kennedy to lead Health and Human Services. But what good is a parallel economy when youve already won? 1789 has invested in companies like Substack, which has been a favorite of the conservative, non-elite media, as well as a pharmaceutical-delivery service that doesnt seem obviously involved in any culture wars. Malik took the retail company Public Square, a kind of Amazon for conservatives, public last year through a SPAC, and he now sits on the board. Since its debut, however, the stock is down about 90 percent from its peak, and its last quarterly report showed it made $6.5 million in revenue about what Amazon makes every ten minutes. (Malik holds a roughly 10 percent stake in the company and hasnt sold any shares. He has been collecting a $60,000-a-month consulting fee from the company, two people familiar with the arrangement told me. One of them said that arrangement ended in November.) Meanwhile, Jeff Bezos has been trying to get in Trumps good graces, and Amazons stock the real thing, not the anti-woke version is near all-time highs. With wokeness on the retreat, its not clear whether Maliks old playbook will be as relevant as it once was. But with his fortune and his deep connections to the incoming presidential administration, he probably isnt too bothered by that. When youre the loyal opposition, maybe its okay to have anti- in front of your name, Malik said during a November 17 CNBC interview. But I think we were validated in our thesis a couple of weeks ago. Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg. Photo: Jeenah Moon for The Washington Post via Getty Images The hush-money case against Donald Trump is moving inexorably towards its final resting place back on the same scrap heap it came from. But the DAs office isnt quite ready to give up just yet. In a court filing this week, prosecutors conceded that Trumps sentencing should be postponed while the parties litigate whether he has constitutional immunity, along with other novel issues arising from his status as president-elect. That part is entirely reasonable. But the marvel is that prosecutors somehow managed to type the following sentence without using Comic Sans font: Consideration must be given to various non-dismissal options that may address any concerns raised by the pendency of a posttrial criminal proceeding during the presidency, such as deferral of all remaining criminal proceedings until after the end of Defendants upcoming presidential term. In other words, the DA argues, we might still want to sentence this guy after hes done with his second term as president. In 2029. This is not a serious request. Theres no black-letter law here; once again, Trump has put us firmly in the land of wild law-school hypotheticals come to life. But theres no precedent for postponing a sentencing for four-plus years after a conviction. To the contrary, New York law requires that sentencing be held without undue delay. The practicalities underscore the absurdity of the DAs suggestion. Think ahead to 2029: Well have an 82 year-old, two-term former president facing sentencing on a nonviolent, state-level Class E felony (the lowest level in New York) for conduct that occurred 12-plus years before. Who knows wholl even be doing what by 2029. Will Alvin Bragg still be the DA? What will happen to the trial and defense teams by then? Will the judge still be on the bench? What will the country look like? Will everyone still be healthy and viable? There are a thousand variables at play. A lot changes in four years. Its over. Yes, there are legal issues that the parties and the courts can unwind if they care to Trumps immunity claim, first and foremost. But this case wont carry on while hes president, as the DAs office has apparently recognized, and maybe not even while hes president-elect. In one sense, Trump got very lucky. He won the election, and now, entirely unrelated to any substantive defense, hes scot-free. But Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg caught a break too. Given the cases inevitable demise, hell likely dodge the appellate process and the real possibility that an appeals court wouldve thrown out his bizarre legal concoction on the merits. The problems with the hush-money case were numerous. It had been rejected by the Feds at the Southern District of New York (Braggs old office, and mine) and even the Federal Election Commission as a regulatory matter. Braggs predecessor as Manhattan DA couldve charged the case but didnt and later referred to star witness Michael Cohen as more than a problematic witness. The legal theory here was, shall we say, inventive. The DA took one expired state-level misdemeanor, stacked another expired state misdemeanor on top of it, then piled a federal campaign-finance violation on top of that, and presto: an electroshocked state-level felony. No other state prosecutor anywhere, ever has charged a federal campaign-finance crime in state court, either as a count unto itself or as a predicate underlying offense. Theres good reason for that. Professor Rick Hasen, a liberal expert on election law, said (in a different context, unrelated to the Trump case) that someone trying to use state legal process to find a criminal violation for use of [federal] campaign finance money could be not merely frivolous but sanctionable, meaning so outrageous that a court could fine a lawyer who even raised the argument (the very same upon which Braggs case depends). In the end, the two people who benefited most from this case were the opposing principals. Regardless of the unsatisfying outcome for prosecutors, Bragg now has ensured that he has 100 percent name recognition and will be reelected for as long as he wants, possibly even to higher office, in heavily blue Manhattan and perhaps beyond. Its an unavoidable conundrum built into any system of partisan, elected local prosecutors. In any jurisdiction dominated by one political party Manhattan always votes over 80 percent Democratic any office seeker has every rational incentive to go after an unpopular politician from the other side, no matter the legal contortions involved or the ultimate outcome. Heres where I make the standard disclosure that Bragg is a friend and former colleague of mine at the SDNY. I have always liked and deeply respected him, and I still do. We cant possibly know for sure, but I strongly suspect that Bragg believes in this case. I dont think he brought it out of ill intentions. But its impossible for Bragg, or anybody seeking election or reelection as a DA, to completely divorce the political implications from a high-profile charging decision. The problem is not only that Bragg charged his case which was plainly the least serious of the four indictments, even if we assume that it was legally valid but that it was the first to be indicted and the only one tried. He poisoned the well for everything that followed. If you have four arguments and you lead with the worst one, youre sabotaging your own cause. Beyond that, Braggs charge was such an obvious stretch that it played right into Trumps persecution narrative on the campaign trail. Trumps serial prosecutions inarguably helped him emerge from the pack and win the Republican primary. There are too many factors to credit or blame any one of them for Trumps showing in the 2024 general election, his best ever. But its clear now that the general populace was entirely unmoved by the hush-money case. Heck, in Manhattan itself the scene of the crime! Trump did five points better in 2024 than in 2020, moving from 12 percent to 17 percent of the vote. Trump gained more percentage points in Manhattan than he did across the entire country. Its over now; Braggs case will never reach a conclusion, and Trump is headed back to the White House. Hes not getting sentenced now or in 2029. The DA has done enough damage. Its time to let it go. This article will also appear in the free CAFE Brief newsletter. You can find more analysis of law and politics from Elie Honig, Preet Bharara, Joyce Vance, and other CAFE contributors at cafe.com. Photo: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call/Getty Images On Thursday, former Florida congressman Matt Gaetz withdrew his name as Donald Trumps pick for attorney general. Gaetzs eight days as nominee were plagued by a series of investigations into an alleged sexual relationship with a teenager as well as a looming report by the House Ethics Committee, whose revelations were believed to be particularly damning. But within hours, the president-elect had announced a replacement: former Florida attorney general Pam Bondi. I have known Pam for many years She is smart and tough, and is an AMERICA FIRST Fighter, who will do a terrific job as Attorney General!, Trump wrote on TruthSocial Thursday. While Bondis lengthier legal experience and lack of questions about aberrant personal behavior might clear the way for her confirmation, she would still enter the role as a staunch Trump loyalist who represented him during his first impeachment trial and promoted his 2020 false election-fraud claims. Heres what we know about Trumps latest Cabinet pick. She opted against joining a Trump University lawsuit after receiving a donation In 2010, Bondi was elected as Floridas attorney general, becoming the first woman to hold that position in the state. She held the role until 2019. One flashpoint during her tenure came in 2016, when it emerged that Bondi had requested a donation to her campaign from Trump around the same time that her office considered joining a pending lawsuit against Trump University, a for-profit education program that was accused of fraudulent practices. The Associated Press reports that the $25,000 donation came from the Donald J. Trump Foundation and was transferred to Bondis reelection committee, And Justice for All, in 2013. Marc Reichelderfer, a consultant who worked with the Bondi campaign, told the AP that Bondi spoke with Trump several weeks before the attorney generals office indicated an interest in the Trump University case. After the donation was received, the state decided against pursuing an investigation into the matter. While there was never an investigation, staff, doing due diligence, reviewed the complaints and the New York litigation and made the proper determination that the New York litigation would provide relief to aggrieved consumers nationwide, Bondi spokesman Whitney Ray told CNN. The Washington Post reported that Trump paid a $2,500 fine to the IRS after the donation from his foundation was deemed to be improper, over rules that nonprofit organizations are barred from making contributions to political candidates. Bondi was a strong opponent of the ACA During her time as state attorney general, Bondi took a strong stance against the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. Her office took part in a multi-state lawsuit to overturn the legislation, a matter that went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. Bondi took also direct aim at then-President Obama for his health-care law during the 2012 Republican National Convention in a joint speech with Georgias attorney general at the time, Sam Olens. He talks about giving us more control over health-care decisions, but instead grants that power to government bureaucrats, according to the Tallahassee Democrat. She backed Trumps 2020 election-fraud efforts As Trump sought to challenge the 2020 presidential-election results in key battleground states, Bondi played a significant role. The Tampa Bay Times reported that the Florida attorney general joined Rudy Giuliani and others at a postElection Day press conference in Philadelphia, claiming victory for Trump while the votes were still being counted. Weve won Pennsylvania, and we want every vote to be counted in a fair way, she said, per the Times. Joe Biden would go on to win Pennsylvania. Around that time, Bondi did an appearance on Fox & Friends, where she raised the prospect of fake ballots without providing any evidence for her claims. For every vote that came in late, that was postmarked late that discounts every legal vote that came in, Bondi said, per the Times. That means the good residents who are all supporting us in Pennsylvania, their votes dont count by these fake ballots that are coming in late Theyre not letting us watch the process. She once was a registered foreign agent while lobbying for Qatar After leaving the attorney generals office, Bondi joined Ballard Partners, a lobbying firm established by a top fundraiser of Trump. The New York Times reports that Bondi had lobbied for several prominent clients, including Uber, Amazon, General Motors, as well as a Qatari government. For the latter, Bondi was required to register as a foreign agent for the government of Qatar. Bondi was part of Trumps legal team during his first impeachment Bondi was one of several lawyers tapped to defend Trump during his first impeachment trial in 2020 when the then-president faced charges of abuse of power and obstruction on Congress in connection to his interactions with Ukrainian officials. Bondi briefly paused her work as a lobbyist to join Trumps legal team. Bondi requested an execution be moved so she could attend her fundraiser Bondi received criticism in 2014 for asking then-Governor Rick Scott to change the planned date for an execution in order for her to attend her own reelection fundraiser. She later apologized for the request. The planned execution of Marshall Lee Gore had already been stayed twice by the courts, and we absolutely should not have requested that the date of the execution be moved, she said at the time, per the Tampa Bay Times. Ireland is set to become the next country to face a major threat to its power grid due to the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence. Dublin has emerged as the heart of Europes data center hub, and hyperscale cloud providers have quickly become a pillar of the countrys economy. But powering the data centers that house the cloud has become a monumental task with the runaway growth of AI. Artificial intelligence requires a stunning amount of energy to train and power its complex computation systems. Currently, the approximate amount of energy needed to sustain the sectors growth is doubling every 100 days. At a global level, the AI sector alone could be responsible for 3.5 percent of all energy consumption by 2030 according to expert projections. When you look at the numbers, it is staggering, Jason Shaw, chairman of the Georgia Public Service Commission, an electricity regulator, told the Washington Post earlier this year. It makes you scratch your head and wonder how we ended up in this situation. How were the projections that far off? This has created a challenge like we have never seen before. Already, the yearly power consumption of AI is more than most entire countries only 16 nations in the entire world consume more annually. Ireland is a hotspot country along with Saudi Arabia and Malaysia where existing energy supplies are simply insufficient to power the data centers currently planned. The almost overnight surge in electricity demand from data centers is now outstripping the available power supply in many parts of the world, Bloomberg reported in June. This has major impacts both adverse and otherwise on the economy writ large, especially since the tech sector is frequently prioritized above other key market sectors and services. That dynamic is leading to years-long waits for businesses to access the grid as well as growing concerns of outages and price increases for those living in the densest data center markets, Bloomberg went on to say. Irelands grid is wholly unprepared for this transition. Last year, data centers consumed 21 percent of all metered electricity, surpassing urban residential consumption. This runaway growth has put Ireland in a tough spot between energy security and keeping the lucrative data center sector within its borders. There is a risk that the pace of demand growth is faster than the speed of which generation and network infrastructure can be built, a spokesperson for the countrys energy regulator, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, told Politico this month. The spokesman confirmed that this dynamic could ultimately result in power shortages and increased costs for consumers among other long-term negative externalities. Ireland is not alone in this dilemma. The United Kingdom is expected to see a 500% increase of energy demand from AI over the next ten years. Sweden, which has a climate ideally suited to naturally cooling data centers, could see related power demand grow two-fold within the decade, followed by another two-fold increase by 2040. The United States, too, is already facing considerable power crunches due to AI expansion. At a global level, the energy consumption by data centers alone is expected to top 1,580 TWh around the equivalent of the entire country of India, the most populated nation on Earth. All this growth doesnt only pose trouble for energy and the economy. Its also a major issue for the climate. The dramatic increase in power demands from Silicon Valleys growth-at-all-costs approach to AI also threatens to upend the energy transition plans of entire nations and the clean energy goals of trillion-dollar tech companies, Bloomberg reports. However, AI could also prove to be the saving grace of the energy industry if employed strategically. The global clean energy transition, which represents an unprecedented process of planned rapid systems transformation, will require intelligent, responsive, and flexible computing systems able to rapidly recognize, respond to, and predict complex patterns of production and consumption. AI could therefore be invaluable in managing smart grids capable of handling huge inflows and outflows of variable energies like wind and solar. Its a double-edged sword, and making sure that AI will be employed wisely is a monumental task that will be make or break for countries like Ireland. By Haley Zaremba for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com This attack, and the continually shifting red line, can either be read as an escalation into a much wider war, or as a reflection of Putins scramble for more leverage. Hes lost control of the narrative, here, and not even a Trump victory has been able to turn that around. This is a frozen conflict, with Russia failing to make any notable strategic gains this year, and the Kremlins frequent nuclear threats have largely fallen on deaf ears, dulling its power as leverage. Thats not to say that the Biden administration isn't feeling some pressure to act more aggressively visa-a-vis Russias invasion of Ukraine to get out in front of a change in regime in Washington in January. The Biden administration has had a change of heart on letting Kyiv use long-range missiles against targets on Russian soil, and Moscows response on Thursday was a showy one. Putin launched an experimental hypersonic ballistic missile at Ukraine, underscoring what the Kremlin views as the red line in this conflictthe red line that would put NATO at war with Russia. The experimental missile was armed with a non-nuclear hypersonic warhead and aimed at a Ukrainian defense facility. Prior to Putins statement, Kyiv had claimed that Moscow had fired an intercontinental ballistic missile at Dnipro (which would have been a historical first) before Washington intervened to report it was an intermediate-range missile. The Biden administration has had a change of heart on letting Kyiv use long-range missiles against targets on Russian soil, and Moscows response on Thursday was a showy one. Putin launched an experimental hypersonic ballistic missile at Ukraine, underscoring what the Kremlin views as the red line in this conflictthe red line that would put NATO at war with Russia. The experimental missile was armed with a non-nuclear hypersonic warhead and aimed at a Ukrainian defense facility. Prior to Putins statement, Kyiv had claimed that Moscow had fired an intercontinental ballistic missile at Dnipro (which would have been a historical first) before Washington intervened to report it was an intermediate-range missile. This attack, and the continually shifting red line, can either be read as an escalation into a much wider war, or as a reflection of Putins scramble for more leverage. Hes lost control of the narrative, here, and not even a Trump victory has been able to turn that around. This is a frozen conflict, with Russia failing to make any notable strategic gains this year, and the Kremlins frequent nuclear threats have largely fallen on deaf ears, dulling its power as leverage. Thats not to say that the Biden administration isn't feeling some pressure to act more aggressively visa-a-vis Russias invasion of Ukraine to get out in front of a change in regime in Washington in January. The length of the missile in this war is an important aspect of east-west propaganda, and downsizing from intercontinental to intermediate takes some of the wind out of the Kremlins sails, even though Kyiv was happy to use this designation to raise the fear level and garner more support for its own use of long-range missiles against Russia. In the meantime, Russian forces have continued a slow but steady advance in the direction of Ukraines Pokrovs and Kurakhove directions, though the advances have not really won them any real strategic gains. In the same vein, Ukraine has maintained its hold on positions in Russias Kursk oblast and continues to target Russian military and energy facilities, without any real strategic gains, either. Nor has Russia's new nuclear doctrine, which was released right before the launching of the experimental missile, resulted in any strategic victories. The new and more aggressive doctrine was intended to result in a more resounding cry of fear, at least from Western Europe. We expect more moves designed to be more intimidating in the coming days and weeks, but our assessment is that this is pomp and circumstance against the backdrop of a partially frozen conflict. - Whilst majors tentatively eye opportunities in biodiesel or bioethanol as well, the main focus of the oil industry has been on hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) which make up 90% of those projects. - In contrast to loss-making renewable energy projects, the portfolio of oil companies in biofuels keeps on increasing with the worlds six largest oil majors collectively developing 43 biofuel projects. Whilst Slashing Renewables, Biofuels Become Next Best Thing For Oil - Norways Equinor has announced this week that it would cut 20% of the staff from its renewable energy division, some 250 employees, and will take on less project exposure in the upcoming years. - At the end of 2023, BP and Shell had 2.7 GW and 3.2 GW of operational renewable capacity available, however their potential capacity stood as high as 58.3 GW and 34.6 GW, respectively, suggesting ample divestments over the upcoming period. - BP has halted 18 potential hydrogen projects already and is set to divest several existing wind and solar operations, similarly Shell which cut back on its 2030 carbon reduction target, leaving TotalEnergies the only major to stick to its initial commitments. - European oil majors are winding down investments into renewable energy projects after the double whammy of low returns and skyrocketing costs prompted them to look towards more profitable deals. Oil Majors Give Up the Renewable Ghost - European oil majors are winding down investments into renewable energy projects after the double whammy of low returns and skyrocketing costs prompted them to look towards more profitable deals. - BP has halted 18 potential hydrogen projects already and is set to divest several existing wind and solar operations, similarly Shell which cut back on its 2030 carbon reduction target, leaving TotalEnergies the only major to stick to its initial commitments. - At the end of 2023, BP and Shell had 2.7 GW and 3.2 GW of operational renewable capacity available, however their potential capacity stood as high as 58.3 GW and 34.6 GW, respectively, suggesting ample divestments over the upcoming period. - Norways Equinor has announced this week that it would cut 20% of the staff from its renewable energy division, some 250 employees, and will take on less project exposure in the upcoming years. Whilst Slashing Renewables, Biofuels Become Next Best Thing For Oil - In contrast to loss-making renewable energy projects, the portfolio of oil companies in biofuels keeps on increasing with the worlds six largest oil majors collectively developing 43 biofuel projects. - Whilst majors tentatively eye opportunities in biodiesel or bioethanol as well, the main focus of the oil industry has been on hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) which make up 90% of those projects. - Amongst oil majors, BP stands out with the largest announced production capacity of biofuels, reaching a combined 130,000 b/d of ethanol and HVO/SAF capacity, partially aided by its purchase of Bunge Bioenergia, a Brazilian biofuel producer. - Chevrons 22,000 b/d Geismar project in Louisiana is the single largest greenfield project taking place, whilst BPs Kwinana project in Australia is the largest announced refinery conversion project so far. China Scraps Export Tax Rebates, Sends UCO Flying - China will be ending tax rebates on the export of Used Cooking Oil (UCO), implying a 13% change to the profitability of UCO outflows from the worlds largest producer, adversely impacting biofuel makers globally. - Accounting for almost 55% of global UCO flows, the tax rebate cuts will also impact oil products, metals, batteries and photovoltaics, however in biofuels the price reaction was almost immediate. - Recent offers on the Chinese market saw bids soaring above $1,000 per metric tonne, some 15% higher compared to the beginning of this month, with expectations of UCO rising further once Donald Trump is inaugurated. - China is tightening its SAF mandates, demanding at least 2% blending of SAF by 2025 which would require at least 3 million metric tonnes of UCO as feedstock, but that might not be enough to offset weaker exports. Japanese Electricity Generation Falls to Decade-Low - Japanese power generation dipped to its lowest in a decade in the year through March, whilst the Asian countrys electricity demand fell to a 28-year low as the double whammy of a shrinking population and energy efficiency brought about less power consumption. - Japans oil industry has been a harbinger of falling consumption, with demand peaking at 5.7 million b/d in 1996, only to steadily decline to 3.3 million b/d currently. - Shutting three major refineries in 2022-2024 alone, the number of Japanese refineries halved from 36 in the early 2000s, whilst gas generation has been declining every single year since 2017. - Nuclear has been the bright spot in Japans power industry, rising on the heels of returning post-Fukushima capacity with its overall share in generation rising to 8.5% in fiscal 2023, the highest since 2012. US Ethanol Exports Set for Record Performance - EIA records indicate that US ethanol exports are set to reach an all-time high this year after totaling 29.6 million barrels in January-August, up 35% compared to the same period last year. - US flows were boosted by a weaker performance from Brazil where domestic ethanol fuel demand soared to multi-year highs amidst favorable pricing ratios vis-a-vis gasoline, keeping a larger share of Brazilian ethanol at home. - Export economics remain attractive thanks to a bumper corn crop harvest in 2023 that depressed feedstock corn prices, lifting US ethanol production to a record production average of 1.113 million b/d in early November. - Canada has remained the most important market for US ethanol outflows, accounting for 36% of all exports, followed by the United Kingdom or countries like Colombia where the Petro government recently restored its E10 gasoline blending mandate. Indonesian Nickel Is Flooding The Market, Aggravating Inequalities - Nickel producers in Southeast Asia have entered a period of fierce competition as French mining major Eramet accused the Indonesian government of squeezing supplies of nickel ore to protect smaller local producers. - Eramet claims that the quota offered by Jakarta is 29% lower than expected, with the government seeking to keep prices rangebound within $15,000-18,000 per metric tonne. - Indonesia now accounts for more than 50% of global nickel output, spearheaded by Chinese smelters operating in the country, whilst the mining side is much more dispersed and combines giants like Eramet and Vale with smaller local producers. - As nickel is mostly used either in stainless steel or EV battery production, Indonesian miners have been focusing on higher-grade ore thats usually used for the former, at the expense of the less-rich limonite form that could impact EV battery pricing. China Binges on American LNG Before Trump Tariffs Kick In - Chinese importers of liquefied natural gas are ramping up LNG deliveries ahead of a potential trade war between the US and China, with overall imports rising by 63% in the first 10 months of 2024 so far. - Although is still placed only fifth in the total list of Beijings suppliers, shipping in 3.9 million tonnes so far this year, Chinese gas buyers have contracted a whopping 14 mtpa of US LNG starting from 2026. - The gas markets are speculating that should President Trump slap a 60% tariff on Chinese goods, China would retaliate by implementing levies on American gas, as was the case back in 2019. - From the US perspective, China accounts for 5% of LNG exports, with the Sabine Pass liquefaction facility running the highest risks of seeing Chinese buying dip, overtaking Freeport as the largest supplier this year. Iraq cut more oil production in October to comply with OPEC+ quotas, for which it has been under tough scrutiny. S&P Global notes a 3.28% drop in Iraqi exports for October, with production standing at 4.14 million bpd, compared to its 3.905M bpd quota. In the meantime, the market is now expecting to add a resumption of flows of oil from Iraqi Kurdistan to the mix, redirected through the federal government. The latest from Iraqi and Kurdish officials is that Kurdish oil flows will resume at an The capital of South Sudan (the landlocked oil producer reeling from the fallout of a civil war in neighboring Sudan) saw a shootout on Thursday when security forces attempted to arrest the newly independent countrys former intelligence chief. We are concerned about a potential power vacuum in South Sudan, which could be further impacted by the fighting in Sudan proper. Elections in South Sudan were planned for December, and a power struggle emerged several weeks ago when President Salva Kiirs government announced another postponement and simultaneously fired the countrys intelligence chief and the central bank head, attempting to line up allies for enough power to win elections. In the meantime, we are still waiting for the resumption of South Sudans oil exports through Sudan, though a month ago, announcements were made that pipelines damaged in Sudans civil war had been repaired and South Sudan's oil exports would be resumed. Politics, Geopolitics & Conflict The capital of South Sudan (the landlocked oil producer reeling from the fallout of a civil war in neighboring Sudan) saw a shootout on Thursday when security forces attempted to arrest the newly independent countrys former intelligence chief. We are concerned about a potential power vacuum in South Sudan, which could be further impacted by the fighting in Sudan proper. Elections in South Sudan were planned for December, and a power struggle emerged several weeks ago when President Salva Kiirs government announced another postponement and simultaneously fired the countrys intelligence chief and the central bank head, attempting to line up allies for enough power to win elections. In the meantime, we are still waiting for the resumption of South Sudans oil exports through Sudan, though a month ago, announcements were made that pipelines damaged in Sudans civil war had been repaired and South Sudan's oil exports would be resumed. Iraq cut more oil production in October to comply with OPEC+ quotas, for which it has been under tough scrutiny. S&P Global notes a 3.28% drop in Iraqi exports for October, with production standing at 4.14 million bpd, compared to its 3.905M bpd quota. In the meantime, the market is now expecting to add a resumption of flows of oil from Iraqi Kurdistan to the mix, redirected through the federal government. The latest from Iraqi and Kurdish officials is that Kurdish oil flows will resume at an undisclosed time in 2025leaving this whole thing wide open for more negotiation. The current negotiations see extraction and transportation costs (for the Kurds) increased to $20.6 per barrel, with $16 per barrel going to the operators. Discovery & Development PT Pertamina Hulu Rokan (PHR) has achieved Indonesia's first unconventional oil and gas discovery at the Gulamo DET-1 well in the Rokan Block, Dumai, Riau. The well marks a milestone for the national industry, with hydrocarbons flowing from the Brown Shale Formation after fracturing and flowback tests. PHR is planning additional exploration, including horizontal drilling and multi-stage hydraulic fracturing. This discovery bolsters energy security and advances its national lifting targets. Equinor (EQNR)s Bay du Nord project is still on hold, but the company remains optimistic about the prospect. The project would be Canadas first potential deepwater oil development, despite shelving it for up to three years due to high costs. The project, initially planned for $10B+, now targets a phased approach, starting with its best discoveries among five clustered oil fields. The proposed floating production system could produce up to 200,000 bpd, with subsea tie-ins integral to maximizing existing infrastructure. In other EQNR news, the company has discovered 1328 mboe in the Rhombi prospect near the Fram field in the North Sea, with slightly more than half being gas. Located 10 km north of the Troll field, the find was made via an exploration well and sidetrack drilled by the Deepsea Atlantic rig. The company plans to evaluate tie-in options with existing infrastructure to maximize resource utilization, profitability, and emissions efficiency. This marks Equinors first North Sea discovery of 2024, adding to the regions 12 discoveries between 2018 and 2023. Pakistan Petroleum Ltd (PPL) has made its third consecutive hydrocarbon discovery in the Shah Bandar Block, Sindh, at the Pateji X-1 well, drilled to 2,475 meters. The well tested at 11.7 mmscfd of gas and 198 bpd of condensate under a pressure of 2,578 psig. PPL operates the block with a 63% stake alongside Mari Petroleum (32%) and government entities (5%). This discovery strengthens Pakistans energy infrastructure, reducing reliance on imports and aiding foreign exchange reserves amidst ongoing energy challenges. Conrad Asia Energy is evaluating small-scale LNG options for its gas discoveries in Indonesia's Offshore North West Aceh (ONWA) and Offshore South West Aceh (OSWA) PSCs. The discoveries hold 214 Bcf of 2C contingent gas resources, with a $88M NPV net to Conrad, and plans are underway to acquire seismic data for additional exploration. A 2024 MOU with Pertamina focuses on small-scale LNG development and marketing, with initial feasibility studies supporting a plant under 0.5 mtpa near the discoveries. Deepwater areas in the PSCs offer multi-Tcf potential, with Conrad considering a farm-down of interests to advance the projects. ONGC has discovered gas-condensate in the Cauvery Basin offshore eastern India with the Chola-1 well, flowing 517,425 cubic meters/day of gas and 368 barrels/day of condensate from its second target. The well, drilled in OALP Block CY-UDWHP-2019/1, also delivered 295,490 cubic meters/day of gas and 111 bpd of condensate from its first target, marking a new pool discovery. ONGC has initiated a second well, Kamakshi#1, to explore Aptian sequences in the same block. Additional highlights include first oil from three new wells in Block KG-DWN-98/2, raising production to 25,000 bbl/day, and contracts to boost gas output by 5 MMcm/day offshore western India. Deals, Mergers & Acquisitions Exxon (XOM) has exited Surinames Block 52, transferring its 50% stake to Petronas, which will now hold full exploration rights, according to Staatsolie. Despite a 2020 gas find, volumes were commercially unattractive, prompting a second appraisal well earlier this year, which failed to change the outlook. Meanwhile, TotalEnergies (TTE) and APA Corp. (APA) have made five discoveries in nearby Block 58 since 2020, with 700 million barrels estimated in place, and recently committed $10.5B to develop the site. Analysts see Suriname edging closer to Guyanas energy boom status as investment momentum builds offshore. Africa Oil Corp. (AOI) has increased its stake in Impact Oil & Gas to 39.5%, securing greater exposure to Namibias Orange Basin, including the Venus discovery and exploration on blocks 2912 and 2913B. The Venus-1X well, drilled by TotalEnergies in 2022, revealed light oil and associated gas, exceeding pre-drill expectations. Impacts assets include additional potential in the Upper Cretaceous interval, as indicated by Shells Graff discovery in the adjacent block. This strategic move follows Africa Oils divestments in South Africa and regulatory approval for consolidating assets offshore Nigeria. DT Midstream (DTM) will acquire three interstate natural gas pipelines from ONEOK (OKE) for $1.2 billion, increasing its footprint in the Midwests growing energy market. The pipelinesGuardian, Midwestern Gas Transmission, and Vikingspan 1,300 miles with a combined capacity of 3.7 Bcf/d. The transaction, financed with $900 million in debt and $300 million in equity, aligns with DTMs pure-play natural gas strategy and is backed by take-or-pay contracts with utility customers. For ONEOK, the deal optimizes its portfolio following its $60 billion merger with Magellan Midstream Partners in 2023. Last month, commodity analysts at Standard Chartered reported that global oil demand hit an all-time high of 103.79 million barrels per day (mb/d) in August, marking the third successive month in which a new all-time demand high has been set. According to StanChart, global oil demand growth clocked in at a healthy 1.32 mb/d in August. Well, it appears that oil markets are poised to finish the year on a bullish note. On Tuesday, the Joint Organisations Data Initiative (JODI) released its latest oil market report. Following the release, StanChart has worked out that global oil demand in September clocked in at 103.012 million barrels per day (mb/d), the fourth consecutive month global demand has ever exceeded 103 mb/d. The y/y increase in demand in September was 1.136 mb/d, slightly below the average of 1.332 mb/d YTD but an improvement on August, when growth was just 0.631 mb/d. Previously, StanChart pointed out that oil demand growth, not absolute oil demand, is what has been slowing down from earlier post-pandemic years. Indeed, StanChart has noted that global oil demand has been setting a series of new all-time highs in the current year. StanChart reported that the largest demand gains in August came from Korea (219 kb/d), Italy (185 kb/d), Saudi Arabia (117 kb/d), Turkey (99 kb/d) and Spain (88 kb/d). StanChart has now revised its 2024 global demand growth estimate upwards to 1.45 mb/d, thanks to the bigger-than-expected growth in August. Related: Indonesia Pledges to Retire All Coal Power Plants Within 15 Years StanChart points out that traders continue to ignore the fact that non-OPEC supply has slowed more than demand so far in 2024. According to estimates by the IEA, non-OPEC supply growth slowed down from 2.40 mb/d in 2023 to 0.93 mb/d in 2024, while demand growth slowed down from 1.99 mb/d in 2023 to 0.86 mb/d in 2024. The IEA, therefore, estimates that non-OPEC supply in 2024 has grown slower than supply in 2023 by 1.47 mb/d while demand has slowed by a smaller margin of 1.13 mb/d. Other energy agencies have come up with even larger relative supply-side slowdown estimates than the IEA. For instance, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) estimates that non-OPEC supply has slowed by 1.89 mb/d from a year ago (from 2.52 mb/d in 2023 to 0.63 mb/d in 2024) while demand has slowed by 1.19 mb/d (from 2.10mb/d in 2023 to 0.91mb/d in 2024). StanChart estimates that non-OPEC supply has slowed by 1.83 mb/d in 2024 (from 2.50 mb/d in 2023 to 0.67 mb/d in 2024) while demand growth has slowed by 0.60 mb/d (from 2.05 mb/d in 2023 to 1.45 mb/d in 2024). Regarding the mid-and longer-term outlook, StanChart has reported that its model (and the EIAs) shows that market conditions would allow all the OPEC+ voluntary cuts being rolled back in 2025 without inventories increasing more than would be warranted by higher demand (about 0.3mb/d) if OPEC+ countries keep to targets and payback some past overproduction. The commodity experts have predicted that actions by OPEC+ are likely to determine the near-and mid-term oil price trajectory. According to StanChart, much of the negative sentiment that has dominated oil markets over the past three months can be chalked up to misapprehensions about the tapering mechanism for the voluntary cuts made by eight OPEC+ countries. Many traders are worried that the balance of oil demand growth and non-OPEC+ supply growth might not offset the scale of restored OPEC+output, leaving oil markets oversupplied. However, the experts have pointed out that this assumption flies in the face of continued reassurances from OPEC+ members that the tapering would be fully dependent on market conditions rather than being automatic. Trader focus has been on the question of how many barrels could be returned before a surplus emerged; however, positioning and price dynamics imply that the answer to that question is zero. In a November 3 press release, OPEC announced that output increases would be postponed by a month until the start of 2025. StanChart says the delayed return of more barrels to the market does not necessarily mean that OPEC felt the physical market could not absorb the oil, but rather reflects its awareness that extremely pessimistic 2025 oil balance predictions have viewed the tapering through that lens. StanChart says the latest announcement by OPEC strengthens the case that the pace of tapering will be market-dependent and not automatic as traders fear. This realization is likely to have driven the latest oil price rally. By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com China's Ministry of Public Security on Thursday declared that all large-scale telecom fraud centers located near the China-Myanmar border in northern Myanmar had been wiped out. Over 53,000 Chinese nationals suspected of telecom frauds have been arrested with cooperative efforts from Chinese and Myanmar police since the ministry launched a crackdown on telecom frauds in northern Myanmar last year, the ministry said in a statement. In a recent coup, 1,079 telecom fraud suspects were arrested in northern Myanmar's Tangyan area for the first time. The suspects were caught during a joint operation by police of southwest China's Yunnan Province and local law enforcers of Myanmar. All of the 763 Chinese citizens among them have been handed over to China, the ministry said, calling the operation another breakthrough in the crackdown campaign. According to the statement, China's public security bodies will continue to maintain high pressure in the crackdown on cross-border telecom fraud, especially in areas where scam dens are concentrated. Vowing to strengthen law enforcement cooperation between the police of China and Myanmar, the ministry warned the public against recruitment information about high-paying jobs overseas, as it might deceive them into crimes. The international community is concerned that Iran's nuclear program could be used to develop nuclear weapons. Iran will install new advanced centrifuges in response to an IAEA resolution criticizing its lack of cooperation. Iran has vowed to respond to a resolution adopted by the United Nations' nuclear watchdog that criticizes the Islamic republic for what it says is poor cooperation by installing a number of "new and advanced" centrifuges. The resolution, which comes shortly after the return of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi from a trip to Iran, reportedly says it is "essential and urgent" for Tehran to "act to fulfill its legal obligations." A joint statement by Iran's Foreign Ministry and Atomic Energy Organization said on November 22 that the country's nuclear chief, Mohammad Eslami, "issued an order to take effective measures, including launching a significant series of new and advanced centrifuges of various types." The Iranian announcement came after the IAEA's board on November 21 issued a second resolution condemning Tehran's cooperation with the agency after a similar warning in June. Some analysts say the resolution may be a step toward making a political decision to trigger a "snapback" of UN Security Council (UNSC) sanctions against Iran. The "snapback" mechanism is outlined in UNSC Resolution 2231, which enshrined a 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers. However, the option to reimpose the sanctions expires in October 2025. The IAEA resolution, put forward by France, Germany, and Britain and supported by the United States, comes at a critical time as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to return at the White House in January. SEE ALSO: Trump during his first term embarked on a "maximum pressure" campaign of intensified sanctions on Iran and unilaterally withdrew the United States in 2018 from a landmark 2015 agreement that lifted some sanctions on Iran in exchange of curbs to its nuclear program, which the West suspects is aimed at obtaining a nuclear weapon. Iran claims its nuclear program is peaceful. The resolution passed on November 21 also urged Iran to cooperate with an investigation launched after uranium particles were found at two sites that Iranian authorities had not declared as nuclear locations. Nineteen of the 35 members of the IAEA board voted in favor of the resolution. Russia, China, and Burkina Faso opposed it, 12 members abstained, while one did not vote, diplomats who spoke on condition of anonymity told the AP. It also calls on the IAEA to come up with a "comprehensive report" on Iran's nuclear activities by spring. During Grossi's visit, Iran agreed with an IAEA demand to limit its stock of uranium enriched at 60 percent purity, which is still under the 90 percent threshold needed for a nuclear weapon, but it is much higher than the 3.67 percent limit it agreed to in the 2015 deal. However, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, who was Tehran's chief negotiator for the 2015 agreement, warned that Iran would not negotiate "under pressure." Tehran has responded to previous similar resolutions by moves such as removing IAEA cameras and monitoring equipment from several nuclear sites, and increasing uranium enrichment to 60 percent purity at a second site, the Fordow plant. By RFE/RL More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Petrobras plans to pay ordinary dividends totaling $45 billion-$55 billion by 2029, with room for additional extraordinary distributions to shareholders in the period, the Brazilian state oil and gas giant said in the presentation of its five-year business plan. Robust free cash flow allows for solid dividend estimates, projecting US$ 45-55 billion in ordinary dividends in the base case, with flexibility for extraordinary payments, the company said. In its new 2025-2029 business plan, Petrobras plans total investments of $111 billion through 2029, up by 9% compared to the previous 2024-2028 plan. The $111-billion investments consist of a portfolio of $98 billion worth of projects under development and another $13 billion in the portfolio of projects currently under evaluation. The projects under evaluation consist of opportunities with a lower degree of maturity and subject to additional financing studies before execution could begin, Petrobras said. Separately, the Brazilian state oil giant said that its board of directors approved on Thursday the payment of extraordinary dividends in the amount of $3.4 billion (20 billion Brazilian reals) in December. The proposed distribution is aligned with the companys current Shareholder Remuneration Policy, which stipulates that Petrobras may distribute extraordinary remuneration to shareholders, provided that the financial sustainability of the company is preserved. Going forward, Petrobras will keep its commitment to ordinary dividends and exercise prudence when assessing extraordinary dividends, according to its shareholder remuneration policy, the oil giant said in its 2025-2029 business plan. In its financial and shareholder distribution strategy through 2029, Petrobras will focus on not exceeding its self-imposed limits of having a maximum of $75 billion of gross debt and a $6 billion minimum cash balance. In exploration and production, Petrobras will aim to maximize value by focusing on profitable assets, replacing oil and gas reserves, including new frontier exploration, and boosting natural gas supply. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com The Czech Republic will phase out Russian oil imports by July 2025, Deputy chairman of the statement pipeline company MERO suggested on Friday. The move is part of the country's energy diversification journey, although it hinges on the completion of a $60 million upgrade to the Trans Alpine (TAL) pipeline. The upgrade will double TAL's capacity to 8 million tonnes per year, enabling increased shipments of alternative crude blends from Latin America, Saudi Arabia, and the North Sea--making the shift away from Russian oil simpler. The move is also part of a broader EU effort to reduce dependency on Russian energy following the invasion of Ukraine. While the Czech Republic has historically relied on Russian crude for half its oil needs, the country has been strategically pivoting westward since 1995, when it constructed the IKL pipeline linking TAL to its refineries. However, one refinery, owned by Polands Orlen SA, has continued to process Russian oil due to exemptions from EU sanctions. This pivot isn't without its challenges. Private sector investments will be critical to infrastructure expansion, especially as the government has ceased funding such projects. Despite this, the Druzhba pipeline, a legacy of Russian imports, will remain as a backup and could even be repurposed for alternative crude supplies from Ukraine or Kazakhstan. The Czech Republics approach exemplifies a pragmatic balance between geopolitical necessity and market-driven solutions, with hopes of achieving both energy security and a diversified supply chain. In 2022, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said that the Czech Republics dependence on Russia for oil and diesel is one of the countrys greatest security risks, adding that it needed a complete overhaul. As of last year, the Czech Republic got 50% of its crude oil and 90% of its gas from Russia. By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Brent Crude oil prices are set to average $76 per barrel next year, down from an expected average of $80 a barrel in 2024, amid an expected surplus on the market, according to Goldman Sachs. Our base case is that Brent stays in a $70-85 range, with high spare capacity limiting price upside, and the price elasticity of OPEC and shale supply limiting price downside. However, the risks of breaking out are growing, the investment banks analysts wrote in a note carried by Reuters. Goldman Sachs expects 400,000 barrels per day (bpd) of surplus on the market in 2025. This surplus is expected to grow to 900,000 bpd in 2026. Therefore, the Wall Street bank sees Brent Crude prices averaging $71 per barrel in 2026. Goldman Sachs kept its 2025 average price forecast from last month when it said that it sees limited upside for oil prices next year amid sufficient supply and ample spare capacity. However, there is an upside risk to prices in the near term, if the U.S. enforces stricter sanctions on the Iranian oil industry and exports, according to Goldman Sachs. Brent Crude prices have the potential to spike to the mid-$80s early next year if Irans oil supply declines by about 1 million bpd in case of stricter sanction enforcement when Donald Trump becomes U.S. President, the banks analysts noted. Early on Friday, Brent Crude prices were up by 0.4% at $74.57, and the U.S. benchmark, WTI Crude, traded 0.36% higher at $70.40, amid renewed Ukraine-Russia tensions. Oil prices were on track to post a weekly gain after Russia shot a new kind of ballistic missile at Ukraine in the latest sign that the escalation there continues. The strike, featuring a hypersonic medium-range missile that has not been used before in warfare, came in response to a Ukrainian attack with U.S. and British ATACMS missiles on Russian territory. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Oil prices took the bumpy road upwards today, proving once again that global crude markets lack stability. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) climbed to $70.17 per barrel, up a decent $1.42 (2.07%) from yesterdays close, while Brent crude cruised to $74.29, up $1.48 (2.03%). Todays culprit? The ever-escalating Russia-Ukraine conflict. Oil traders are once again pricing in potential supply disruptions after Russia flexed its military muscles with hypersonic missile strikes on Ukraine after the latter fired U.S. and British-provided missiles into Russian territory earlier in the week. Its not exactly the peaceful resolution everyone was hoping for, and markets took notice. Analysts are warning that a Ukraine strike could potentially hit Russian energy infrastructure or trigger a Russian retaliation that could restrict oil production or exports. With Russia the worlds second-largest crude exporter, even just the threat of a production hiccup makes traders jittery. OPEC+, of which Russia is a member, is considering postponing output hikes planned for Decemberin what would certainly lend further support to crude prices. Meanwhile, China is throwing in its own curveball with fresh policies aimed at boosting trade and energy imports. Not everything was bullish, though. U.S. crude inventories rose by 545,000 barrels last week, according to EIA weekly dataa surprise for analysts who were expecting a smaller build. Gasoline stocks also climbed in a weak show for demand, and Iran agreed to stop stockpiling uranium, turning the tension down in that region at least one or two notches. The price moves put most oil traders somewhere between mildly optimistic and nervously clutching their Bloomberg terminals. With geopolitics keeping supply tight and demand signals sending mixed messages, analysts are generally expecting the volatility to stay put. The International Energy Agency, however, has renewed its bearish call for global oil supplies to comfortably exceed demand next year. By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Crude oil prices extended their gains today and were set to end the week higher after Russia shot a new kind of ballistic missile at Ukraine in the latest sign that the escalation there continues. The strike, featuring a hypersonic medium-range missile that has not been used before in warfare, came in response to a Ukrainian attack with U.S. and British ATACMS missiles on Russian territory. There were fears that Russia would escalate to using nuclear weapons, especially after President Vladimir Putin this week reiterated the changes in Russias nuclear doctrine, which stipulate that a nuclear strike is acceptable on a country that is not itself a nuclear power but is being supported by a nuclear power. Theres an element of uncertainty as to how far each party could go in its attacks, which is injecting some anxiety into the oil market, energy analyst Vandana Hari told Bloomberg. At the time of writing, Brent crude was trading at $74.34 per barrel, with West Texas Intermediate at $70.23 per barrel, both up on Thursday, after booking a 2% rise on Thursday. The price rise could have been more substantial, perhaps, had it not been for the latest EIA weekly petroleum status report, which showed builds in both crude oil and fuels. We will be expecting a rebound in production as well as US refinery activity next week that will carry negative implications for both crude and key products, Jim Ritterbusch from Ritterbusch and Associates told Reuters. In a note from earlier this week, INGs Warren Patterson and Ewa Manthey wrote that the impact of the Russian-Ukrainian escalation on oil prices was muted by the news that Iran was ready to cap its enriched uranium stocks, which would reduce the risk of harsher U.S. sanctions that would threaten supply security. They also noted the return to normal operation at the Johan Sverdrup field in Norway after a short suspension due to a power outage. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Administrators at the University of Nebraska at Omaha have paused funding for six student-run groups including those that serve international, LGBTQ+ and women students after anonymous complaints led to an audit of the groups activities. Leaders of the student groups say they were told their use of student fees to distribute resources such as free period and sexual wellness products and hold events like sexual education programming may violate Nebraska Board of Regents policy. The students say they were made aware of the funding pause at an Oct. 29 meeting where university officials shared the findings of a draft internal audit that stated the groups do not meet the requirement that student groups that receive money from student fees must benefit a broad-based student population, UNOs student newspaper, The Gateway, first reported. While the student directors of the student groups American Multicultural Students, International Student Services, Queer and Trans Services, Network for Disability Awareness, First Generation Student Agency and the Women and Gender Equity Center will continue to be paid, no new purchase requests since the October meeting have been approved, a university spokesperson said Tuesday. All six student groups are funded under the Student Government Association. The groups received $136,920 this year and their total expenditures were $123,072, according to a copy of the draft audit obtained by The World-Herald. While all University of Nebraska campuses have similar student fee structures, the draft audit only looked at the portion of UNOs student fees allocated to student government, student programming and the student newspaper under Board of Regents policies. The student groups vary in age, though some have been around for several decades. For example, the Women and Gender Equity Center was established as the Womens Resource Center in 1977. Jess Fernandez-Erazo, the student director of the Women and Gender Equity Center, said the lack of funding has meant the center is unable to continue offering free pregnancy tests, condoms and period products or hold any of its events. Fernandez-Erazo said the center had multiple events planned before the end of the semester, including two events to help students de-stress. Student fees are the centers sole funding source, Fernandez-Erazo said. The only way for us to continue to operate is for us to get our funds back; our funds reinstated, she said. Draft audit outlines potential policy violations In a statement released on Tuesday, UNO Chancellor Joanne Li said the Division of Student Life and Wellbeing requested the audit after students voiced concerns during the Student Activities Budget Commission process. According to the FAQ posted by the university, those concerns included nonstudents benefiting from purchases made using student fees and concerns about inadequate checks and balances for use of student fees, including where items were being shipped. The internal audit was a matter of financial stewardship, Li said. We all have an obligation to ensure that the universitys resources are utilized appropriately, for their intended purpose, and in compliance with applicable policy, law, and regulations. The draft audit states the six student groups should not receive or spend funds until the funding review is complete and the groups remaining balances will be reverted to the Student Government Association, which will be allowed to redistribute them. The intent of these agencies was never to operate for the benefit of the broad base of students, as required by (Board of Regents policy), therefore, the six agencies cannot receive Fund A fees, the draft audit states. The funding received by the student groups comes from the Fund A portion of student fees, which are charged each semester on top of tuition costs. The Fund A fees cost each student approximately $30 per semester for the current school year, according to the schedule of student charges. Fund A fees are considered a state resource once collected and must be used according to state laws, as well as university and Board of Regents policies, according to the university. The draft audit recommends the Board of Regents policy be revised by officials at all four University of Nebraska campuses in conjunction with students and with approval by the regents, after which the student governments bylaws regarding the structure and funding sources of the student groups be evaluated. University of Nebraska System Internal Audit Director Barbara Brey did not respond to calls or emails seeking comment. Students and administration hope to find a way forward Student body President Ishani Adidam said student government members and student group leaders were caught off-guard in October when they received the draft audit. Without any sort of notice, we were told to stop purchasing things, and that the activities and programming that we consistently have done for years and years was invalid and that we couldnt do it anymore, she said. In her statement, Li emphasized the audit remained in a draft phase. The audit resulted in numerous findings which represent an opportunity for process improvement, the statement said. The Division of Student Life and Wellbeing is actively working with our student leaders to respond to the audit and identify compliant solutions to be utilized in the immediate future. Li also expressed support for UNOs dean of students, Cathy Pettid, who oversees the Division of Student Life and Wellbeing and requested the internal audit. UNOs student government approved a resolution calling for Pettid to resign on Nov. 7, citing Pettids handling of the audit process as one of the reasons. Pettid referred a request for comment to a university spokesperson, who said Lis statement is the universitys official comment. Adidam said she and other student leaders have been working closely with the administration to find a resolution. She said she is optimistic that a solution can be found to resume university funding of the groups, though she is concerned future funding remains uncertain as the process to submit budget proposals to the Student Activities Budget Commission is set to begin in February. I think everyone is just in a place where theyre frustrated and dont really know how to turn that frustration into something productive, she said. For Adidam, the issue is not the regents policy requiring programs to benefit a broad base of students, but the auditors interpretation of the policy to mean reaching nearly all of the roughly 15,000 students on campus. We understand UNO is a very unique and diverse population, especially being an urban campus, and these agencies help us ensure that were reaching every single population on campus, she said, referring to the groups as agencies. All of our resources through our agencies are open to every single student. In her statement, Li said UNOs student groups have served an important role in supporting students and said she believes they will have the opportunity to continue to do so. However, we can only provide this support, and achieve UNOs collective goals, by remaining true to our commitment of transparency, accountability and integrity, she said. Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has called on the people of Rivers State to remain calm as the success of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) in the March 9 governorship election would be a sweet victory in the end. Wike made the statement when members of the National Assembly, elected on the platform of the PDP, presented their Certificates of Return to him at a ceremony in the Government House, Port Harcourt, the state capital, yesterday. He said that the will of the people of the state will prevail at the end, despite the conspiracy against the state. I know that PDP won the elections squarely. We believe in peace, therefore, Rivers people should remain calm. We believe in due process. I believe that INEC is doing their best to follow the due process. In the end, it will be a sweet victory. The will of Rivers people will prevail, he said. The governor described the political stand-off in the state as a drama fated to end. He said the people of Rivers people voted overwhelmingly for the PDP in all elections, while the anti-democratic forces attempted to snatch results at the collation centres. Let me thank the people of Rivers State for the love they have shown for our great party. It is not in doubt that Rivers people have shown our party, love. What is happening is sad. It is a drama. We have 13 House of Representatives seats and the PDP clinched all of them. We have three Senate seats, one has been declared and PDP won. When the remaining two seats are declared, PDP will win them. Eighty percent of the seats declared, PDP took all. You begin to wonder why any right thinking person would say, that, PDP lost the governorship election. Not that they say PDP lost to a party with a known logo, or even if you have seen the candidate one day in your life or seen his posters to make people vote for the candidate. For us, it is a drama. PDP won the election squarely, he said. Speaking on behalf of the newly-elected legislators, Senator-elect Barry Mpigi, said there is no need for anyone to panic as Governor Wike will be declared winner in line with the votes cast on March 9. He said, Rivers people are with Governor Wike as shown by their votes in all the polling units. We have looked round the 23 Local Government Areas and we have seen that the people of Rivers State voted for you. Dont panic, the vindication will come at the appropriate time, Mpigi said. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Friday convened an emergency meeting in Abuja to deliberate on the Supreme Courts judgement on same Friday on the governorship, National and State Assemblies elections in Zamfara State. ALSO READ: PDP takes over Zamfara The Commission in a statement by Festus Okoye, National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, in Abuja on Friday, acknowledged that the Supreme Court ruled that the All Progressives Congress (APC) did not hold valid party primaries as required by law. It held that all the votes scored by the APC in the said elections are wasted votes and declared that the candidates of political parties with the second highest valid votes and the requisite spread should be declared as having been elected, INEC remarked. The Commission will, however, continue the meeting on Saturday to further deliberate on the issues arising from the said judgment, while the final decision on the matter will be communicated to the public on Monday. A Chinese military spokesperson on Thursday said that the responsibility for the absence of a meeting between Chinese and U.S. defense ministers during the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting Plus lies entirely with the U.S. side. Wu Qian, a spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, made the remarks in response to a media inquiry. Wu said the United States cannot undermine China's core interests by selling arms to Taiwan on one hand while pretending that nothing happened and seeking to engage in military exchanges with China on the other. He urged the U.S. side to immediately correct its mistakes, earnestly respect China's core interests, and create favorable conditions for high-level military exchanges between the two sides. File Photo Worried by the incessant cases of child rape across the country, Nigerias Senate on Tuesday moved to frame laws that would make perpetrators face capital punishment. Moving the motion on Order 42 and 52 of Senate rules, Senator Rose Oko representing Cross River North Senatorial district explained that victims of child rape have been on the increase, a situation she said was worrisome, urging the upper chamber to intervene. Mr. President, distinguished colleagues, I rise on order 42 and 52 of Senate rules to explain a very disturbing issue of child rape. Mr. President, I want to say that this matter is alarming and we need to deal with it. Reacting, Senator representing Lagos Central Senatorial district, Oluremi Tinubu on Tuesday said those indulging in child abuse deserve death penalty. Tinubu wondered what perpetrators stand to benefit from such heinous acts, adding that, raping a child is synonymous to killing that child. Imagine a child who doesnt know anything and was raped. If you ask the child victim to stand in law Court, what would she tell the judge? Corroborating, Senator Sabi Abdulahi representing Niger North argued that the Senate must intervene by putting stiffer penalties for perpetrators. Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege stated that there were enough rape laws, stating that the challenges were those of enforcement and implementation. According to him, Court judges perhaps have too much discretion, saying that Senate should review these laws is geared towards tying their hands in a manner that they would be forced to pass judgement without deciding otherwise. Judges have too much discretion. Even governors too have prerogative of mercy where they visit prison yards and set inmates free. In his contribution, Senator Chukwuka Utazi representing Enugu North Senatorial district called for psychiatric test on perpetrators of child abuse. The lawmaker added that the school curriculum should also capture sex education from elementary level to higher institutions. Adopting the motion, Senate President, Dr Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan upheld the prayers and also upholding the review of all relevant laws that would ensure capital punishment for offenders of child abuse. Part of the payers sustained too was the training of the police and other security agents handling rape cases, while they also urged the public to serve as watchdogs against rape. The Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo has urged members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to make sure they cross over to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) before they die. Osinbajo made the appeal on a lighter note during a dinner to celebrate 80th birthday former National Chairman of (APC), Chief John Oyegun in Abuja, over the weekend. He said: Let me tell the story of a politician who was a long time, life Republican politician in the US. He was lying down on his sick bed and was about to die and he said I want to change my party, I want to become a Democrat so that tomorrow it will be announced that a Democrat died not a Republican. You can see that we politicians are very faithful and very loyal, indeed. I can only ask our friends in the PDP to also ensure that they cross over before they die. It is time for them to cross over. The Vice President went on to eulogise Oyegun for his attributes as an astute politician. He said: A police Inspector attached to the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) was killed on Monday night while four others were injured when their vehicle had a lone accident on Wukari Road in Ibi, Taraba State , The Nation reports. It was gathered that the operatives, who rode in a white Toyota Hiace bus with registration number (Abuja) BP222RSH, had gone to Ibi to arrest more suspects alleged to have ties with suspected kidnap kingpin Alhaji Hamisu Bala (aka Wadume). The eight-man team, led by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) James Bawa, it was gathered, had arrested the suspects and were on their way to Wukari when they had the accident. The importance of the Enugu-Onitsha expressway cannot be overemphasized. It is strategic, connecting the South-East and the South-South. It links Anambra, Enugu and Ebonyi states, as well as the northern states of Benue and Kogi. But there could hardly be a more wretched and forsaken place in this clime than the Ugwuoba section of the Enugu-Onitsha expressway. It belongs to another world and another age. It is the end of the world, so to say. It is the spot where justice was murdered. Over the years, the road has terribly deteriorated. It is filled with potholes, craters and gullies carved by erosion, making life miserable for commuters. Woe betide you if you pass the route during the rainy season. If you are driving, your vehicle will never be the same after a trip. Road to Golgotha Going out of Enugu metropolis, you enjoy the picturesque ambience of the colonial Milliken Hill, which the Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi administration inaugurated not too long ago. But when you get to the Enugu-Onitsha expressway, your anguish begins. The reporter had the misfortune of passing through the so-called road last Saturday and experienced the torture that commuters go through every day on that route. According to regular users of the road, the angels of mercy were even on duty that day. Even if your heart is made of steel, it will melt when you get there. Passing through that route is a perilous venture; its like a journey through the valley of the shadow of death. It requires special driving skills to navigate through the deep gullies. For both man and machine, the consequences of passing through that route could be dire. There, you dance if involuntarily without any music playing because of the wave-like motion of vehicles. Vehicles were trapped in the mud when the reporter got there at about 8am that day. For about one hour, no vehicle could meander through the conundrum and drivers, conductors and some passengers resorted to pushing trapped buses out of the muddy gully. It was gathered that sometimes, commuters spend several agonizing hours when a truck tumbles or gets stuck in the middle of the road to Golgotha. Both sides of the road are in an indescribable state of deplorability. And there were broken down, fallen and trapped vehicles on either lanes or what was left of them. Confusion incorporated At Ugwuoba, confusion reigns. Disorder is the order. Bedlam rings a bell. As Ali Mazrui would say, only a drunk can drive straight on this road. In their desperation to escape from the hell, some drivers drive into each others path, thereby aggravating the situation. The expressway section is not the only way out of Ugwuoba in Enugu State. There is also the old Enugu-Awka Road, which was rehabilitated by the Sullivan Chime administration, but it is now in distress. Because of the sorry state of the supposed expressway, many vehicles now ply the narrow old road, resulting in gridlock, particularly around Amansea Bridge. Indeed, Amansea has become the home of agony and grief. There, commuters running away from the horrors of the expressway see their ears with their eyes. Some portions of the road have failed, and when impatience on the part of the drivers or machine malfunction rears its head, there will be commotion like it was last Saturday. A driver, Dan Onyia, said: This Ugwuoba is a pain in the ass. Before setting out, you pray not to be trapped at Ugwuoba. What you are seeing now is childs play compared to what we experience every day on this road. We are lucky to be here early; I pity those coming after us because the situation would have worsened in the next few hours. The suffering is too much. Please, tell the government to help us. For Chief Anayo Umunnakwe, the state of the road is nothing but an act of wickedness. When the Igbo say that they are being marginalised, people will think that we are talking just for the sake of it. As far as Im concerned, and I have no apologies for that, this is a deliberate effort to punish Ndigbo. What does it take to fix an ordinary road? It doesnt require rocket science to fix a road. I think this Ugwuoba is the worst road in this country. Even in war-torn countries, you cannot see anything close to this. This is a tragedy; its mans inhumanity to man. Worse still, they have shut Enugu airport in the guise of rehabilitating the runway. How long does it take to fix a small thing like an airport runway? What it means is that you must travel by road, which is real torture. When I was coming to Enugu last week, I spent two days on the way. One side of the road in Asaba, the capital of Delta State, leading to the Niger Bridge has been closed for weeks in the name of rehabilitation. The result is a lot of delay because of the traffic congestion. After being in the traffic snarl for almost three hours, I was forced to go and sleep in Asaba. I think there is more to the torture we are made to pass through than the ordinary. The most annoying thing is that the governors will tell you that it is a federal road, he said. Like this, like that The ugly story of the Enugu-Onitsha highway is not restricted to the Ugwuoba section. Some portions in Awka, Dunukofia, Umunya and Awkuzu leave a sour taste in the mouth. Some portions are broken while erosion has swallowed some. In Awkuzu, one side of the road is closed. It was gathered that the romance of the road in the name of reconstruction has been on for awhile. Worse still, operatives of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) harass drivers there even as policemen were seen extorting money from helpless drivers. A driver said: It is compulsory that you must drop N50 any time they are on duty on this road. If you try to resist or give any excuse, you will regret it. The policemen can delay you for as long as they want. Those guys are heartless; they dont joke at all. Death trap Many fatal accidents have been recorded on that road, leading to deaths and incapacitation. Take this from the coordinator, Recover Nigeria Project (RNP), Comrade Obi Ositadinma: The bad portions of the road have claimed many lives and rendered others permanently disabled. Our so-called leaders pretend they are blind whenever they get to the bad spots. This, to us, is irresponsibility and an indication that the government does not care about the people. Last year, a pastor, his entire family and a neighbours only child, a girl, died in an accident at Ugwu Onyema while going for Sunday service. The accident was attributed to the ugly state of the road. The pastors aged mother remains inconsolable because he was her only son. Robbers/kidnappers paradise But the pathetic story of the road is not the only problem travellers face there. As someone noted, the Enugu-Onitsha expressway is a preferred hunting ground for robbers and kidnappers. It was gathered that violent and heavily armed robbers and kidnappers lay siege to the road whenever it pleases them. This is because it is relatively easy for them to pick their targets as a result of the terrain, and they usually operate unchallenged. Another commercial bus driver, Okoro, said: Every day, people are robbed on this road. The bandits torture passengers and molest women after dispossessing them of their belongings. Just pray that you are not a victim because it happens almost daily. Kidnappers are on rampage on this road. Because of the state of the road, they easily stop vehicles. But if you try to escape, they can open fire on the vehicle and they shoot with accuracy. They shoot like trained marksmen. If they stop a vehicle, they will evaluate the passengers thoroughly. Anyone that looks prosperous will be asked to come down and marched into the bush. If they see any high quality bag, they will take it. If you are travelling and you put on good clothes, jewelry and wrist watch, you are making yourself vulnerable. From an abyss of despair, a passenger, Mrs. Janet Amalaha, said: Each time I think of passing through the Enugu-Onitsha expressway, I develop high blood pressure. I hear all sorts of things happening on this road. My friends daughter was attacked and raped on this road. My kinsman was abducted on this road and his family paid hefty ransom before he was released after serious battering. It is because of the state of this road that banditry is thriving here. People are robbed here. People are kidnapped here. Women are raped here. All manner of things are happening here because of the state of the so-called expressway. This is a shameless country. Businesses dying The poor state of the road has also affected commercial activities. A trader, Mrs Christiana Ikem, said: Businesses used to boom along the expressway but not anymore. Travellers used to stop to buy yams, palm wine, abacha, fruits and other things but only a few apply the road now and even those who do cannot indulge in the luxury of stopping to buy anything after wasting so much time in traffic. The situation is really terrible, It was gathered that the cost of transport has skyrocketed. Justifying the endless increase in fare, a driver, Ibeabuchi, said: Things are really difficult for commercial vehicle operators because you are always visiting mechanics and buying spare parts because of the terrible state of road. During election season, they will bring construction equipment to give the impression that they are about to reconstruct the road. But immediately after the election, everything will come back to square one. Meanwhile, the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, has explained that construction activities on roads and other infrastructures across the country were being slowed by the rains. He said the rainy season was at its peak in the country hence the roads were in a precarious state. Former prime minister Abdelmadjid Tebboune has won Algerias widely unpopular presidential election without the need for a second-round runoff, the electoral commission said on Friday. Tebboune, 74, took 58.15 percent of the vote, trouncing his four fellow contenders, commission chairman Mohamed Charfi announced. Like him, they all served under the two-decade rule of Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who resigned in the face of mass protests in April. Protesters have stayed on the streets ever since, including on polling day, demanding the total dismantling of the system that has ruled Algeria since independence from France in 1962. It will now fall to Tebboune to try to restore stability, but he will first have to win over the millions who boycotted Thursdays vote, which saw the lowest turnout for a multi-party election since independence. Source: AFP For Oluwaseun Ayodeji Osowobi, Monday, 30 March, 2019 will linger in her memory, that was the day she was discharged from the Infectious Disease Hospital, IDH, Yaba where she battled to live. She was struck down by the deadly Coronavirus. Her journey to the dreaded IDH, began when she tested positive for Coronavirus after returning to Nigeria from the UK post-Commonwealth event. She felt ill thereafter and decided, as a responsible person, to self-isolate. On Monday, she was the only young female discharged from the hospital among the five people who beat Coronavirus. There were four other men. She recounted her experience in series of tweets on her twitter page. I was on drugs daily. Sometimes, Id take 8 tablets in the morning, 13 tablets in the afternoon, 10 at night. My system threw everything out! Water, food, soap & all disgusted me. But Id look at the wall & force myself to stay hydrated drank ORS. I FOUGHT TO LIVE! I FOUGHT! The next days were tough. No appetite. The nausea, vomit & stooling was unbearable. Im a blood type A & #COVID19 dealt with me. I thought I was going to die & contemplated a succession plan for @StandtoEndRape. Life finds ways of throwing LEMON at me. Ive struggled with coming forward, but I want to inspire hope. According to her, Days after, the doctors shared a good news that I tested negative. I shared this news with family & friends! My blood sample was taken & I also tried to donate my plasmapheresis to help others. I hoped to be discharged. I waited to be discharged, but for two days, nothing happened. I was unsure of what was going on. Why havent I been discharged? Should I be in the same ward? Could I get reinfected? I was worried but remained calm. On the 3rd day, doctors said, well, we worked with the info we had of you testing negative, but one result came back positive. Youll stay a few more days. You know we take nose, mouth & sputum samples. Am I still positive flushed face? I asked. No, youre negative, the doctor replied. The doctor apologised for the delay. I was anxious to go home but remained calm. I wanted to be free from this pain. I continued the medication and asked to be in a separate ward. Sadly, I remained in the same ward as all others rooms were full. Osowobi added: My ward had people who were positive. What if I get re-infected? For them, I was a beacon of hope & they needed me gone to register the progress. My family & friends were becoming anxious. People in my ward who earlier celebrated the news of my result suddenly lost hope. Why are you still here? You shouldnt be here with us. You should be separated from us now, People in my ward muttered. I tried to calm them. Today, I am PROUD to inform you that I MURDERED COVID-19 & have tested NEGATIVE TWICE! I HAVE BEEN DISCHARGED. I bless God for His mercies. The nurses at IDH Yaba were fabulous. They deserve accolades for their hard work. Osowobi thanked Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for coming to see her, as well as Prof. Akin Abayomi, saying that the food was good, coupled with his smiling face with heart-shaped eyes. Thanks to everyone who called, sent messages and tried to contact me. I am grateful and well. This experience reminded me of the value of friendship. Some people I refer to as friends speculated about this, but never reached out to check. Thank you still. Back to the grind smiling face with open mouth and tightly-closed eyes Coronavirus is NOT a death sentence. People can survive and I HAVE! We should encourage people to get tested & stop the stigma. Practise social distancing and stop the spread. To every young person out there, please give your lungs a chance to beat this. Can I encourage you to stop smoking & live a healthy life at this time? A healthy lungs is KEY! This another phase of my life & I HAVE won! I celebrate my resilience and strength. Call me SURVIVAYO Smiling face with 3 hearts, she added. Flash The Ukraine conflict has obtained features of a global conflict after attacks by Western missiles on Russia's Kursk and Bryansk regions, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a televised address on Thursday. "Since this moment, as we have underscored repeatedly, the conflict in Ukraine, provoked by the West, has obtained elements of global nature," he said. The Russian president vowed that Russia will respond decisively in case of escalation in Ukraine. He stressed that Russia has the right to use weapons against the military facilities of the countries that use their weapons against Russia. "I would like to stress once again that it is not Russia that is destroying the international security system, but the United States," Putin stressed in the speech. Meanwhile, he confirmed that Russia has successfully tested a new medium-range ballistic missile Oreshnik in response to enemy actions. Chinese ambassador hails economic partnership with UK Xinhua) 08:58, November 22, 2024 LONDON, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- The economic partnership between China and the United Kingdom (UK) has always been "a ballast and propeller" for China-UK relations, Chinese Ambassador to the UK Zheng Zeguang said here on Thursday. "Such cooperation has played an important role in our respective economic developments and brought tangible benefits to people in both countries," Zheng said in his speech at the seventh China-UK Economic and Trade Forum. Counting Hong Kong in, the annual bilateral trade between China and the UK has surpassed 110 billion pounds (139 billion U.S. dollars) and the two-way investment stock is over 130 billion pounds, according to Zheng. President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Keir Starmer met on the sidelines of the G20 summit on Monday, agreeing on the direction for bilateral relations and the actions to be taken. "We stand ready to work with the UK side to follow up on the common understanding between the two leaders and enhance dialogue, communication and collaboration wherever possible," the ambassador said. Zheng called on the two governments to reactivate dialogue on economy, finance, trade and many other areas. "We need to strengthen cooperation in trade and investment, clean energy, financial services, and medical services. Collaboration in AI, climate change, education, culture, technology and tourism should also be expanded," he noted. Companies should also be encouraged to explore third-party market cooperation, which will help them to fully complement each other's strengths and achieve win-win results, Zheng added. The ambassador called on the business communities to seize the opportunities, jointly break new ground in China-UK economic and trade cooperation, and make greater contributions to the sustained and sound development of China-UK relations. Speaking at the forum, UK's investment minister Poppy Gustafsson also stressed the importance of a constructive dialogue between China and the UK. "As the prime minister has asserted, we want our relations to be consistent, durable and respectful," Gustafsson said, noting that there has already been "significant engagement with China" under the new government which came into office in July. She acknowledged that while China and the UK have differences in certain areas, fostering cooperation remains crucial, "because that's how we drive growth together and realize a more prosperous future for both the UK and for China." (1 pound = 1.26 U.S. dollar) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Flash People forced to flee from the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Lahia are seen on a street in the Gaza City, on Nov. 17, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua] The International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Hague on Thursday issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif. In a statement, the ICC's pre-trial chamber accused Netanyahu and Gallant of committing "crimes against humanity and war crimes" between at least Oct. 8, 2023 and May 20, 2024, the date when the prosecution submitted the arrest warrant applications. The ICC stated that there are "reasonable grounds" to believe that Netanyahu and Gallant "each bear criminal responsibility as co-perpetrators" for committing war crimes of starvation as a method of warfare, and crimes against humanity of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts. The court's statement outlined a series of alleged war crimes, including "intentionally directing an attack against the civilian population," and depriving the "civilian population in Gaza of objects indispensable to their survival, including food, water, and medicine and medical supplies, as well as fuel and electricity." The ICC also issued an arrest warrant for Mohammed Deif, the commander of Hamas' military wing, accusing him of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in the territories of Israel and Palestine from at least Oct. 7, 2023. Although Deif has reportedly been killed by Israeli forces, the ICC noted that it cannot conclusively confirm his death. Prosecutor Karim Khan informed the court that available information from Israeli and Palestinian sources about his death remains inconclusive, leaving the arrest warrant active. In May, Khan initially requested arrest warrants for five individuals: Netanyahu, Gallant, Deif, and senior Hamas leaders Ismail Haniyeh and Yahya Sinwar. However, after confirmed reports of Haniyeh and Sinwar's deaths, the court withdrew those applications. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: The Central Neutron Detector installed in Experimental Hall B. Silvia Niccolai and her team at the Laboratory of the Physics of the two Infinities Irene Joliot-Curie (IJCLab), a joint research unit of CNRS in Orsay, France, Paris-Saclay University, and Paris-City University, began constructing the detector in 2011 with funding from the French National Institute of Nuclear and Particle Physics. Credit: Silvia Niccolai Protons and neutronsknown collectively as nucleonsare both the building blocks of matter, but one of these particles has received a bit more attention in certain types of nuclear physics experiments. Until now. New results published in Physical Review Letters describe a first-time glimpse of the internal structure of the neutron thanks to the development of a special, 10-years-in-the-making detector installed in Experimental Hall B at the U.S. Department of Energy's Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility. "We detected the neutron for the first time in this type of reaction, and it's quite an important result for the study of nucleons," said Silvia Niccolai, a research director at the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS). Niccolai proposed the experiment that enabled this measurement, which will help physicists better understand the structure and spin of both neutrons and protons. A new way to detect neutrons Nucleons are made up of smaller particles called quarks and gluons. Physicists don't yet fully understand how these constituent particles are distributed inside nucleons, or how they contribute to overall nucleon spin. Experimenters use the Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility (CEBAF), a DOE Office of Science user facility, to probe these particles, scattering electrons off nucleon targets and detecting the final products of these reactions. One reaction is called deeply virtual Compton scattering (DVCS). In DVCS, an electron interacts with a nucleon target. The nucleon absorbs some of the electron's energy and emits a photon, but doesn't break. In the end, three particles can be detected: the impinged nucleon, the photon it emitted, and the electron that interacted with the nucleon. Researchers have studied DVCS extensively using the CLAS12 detector, which stands for the CEBAF Large Acceptance Spectrometer at 12 GeV beam energy, as well as its predecessor, CLAS. However, the CLAS and CLAS12 detectors in Hall B have mostly been used to explore DVCS on the proton, which is easier to measure than DVCS on the neutron. Neutrons involved in DVCS are more difficult to detect because they tend to scatter 40 degrees up from the beamline, an area CLAS12 cannot access. "In the standard configuration, there was no detection for neutrons possible in these angles," Niccolai said. In 2007, she started thinking about how the CLAS collaboration of nuclear physicists could measure these neutrons. Her solution? The Central Neutron Detector. Niccolai and her team at the Laboratory of the Physics of the two Infinities Irene Joliot-Curie (IJCLab), a joint research unit of CNRS in Orsay, France, Paris-Saclay University, and Paris-City University, began constructing the detector in 2011. The team completed the detector in 2015. Two years later, it was installed in CLAS12. Pierre Chatagnon, a Ph.D. student at Paris-Saclay University at the time, joined the IJCLab team at Jefferson Lab to install the detector. He also wrote software to calibrate it. Today, he has returned to Jefferson Lab as a postdoc in Hall B. The Central Neutron Detector collected data between 2019 and 2020. While it was able to cover the necessary angles to detect neutrons, Niccolai and her team encountered an unexpected problem during data analysis: proton contamination. The detector was designed to discard charged, non-neutron signals. However, they found that the part of the detector responsible for vetoing protons had dead zones, allowing protons to sneak in and contaminate the neutron measurements. Fortunately, Adam Hobart, a researcher at IJCLab who led the data analysis for this experiment, was able to clean the data. "This was solved thanks to Adam's experience using machine learning techniques," Niccolai said. "He developed a ML-based tool to discriminate fake signals from real neutrons, and this was vital to achieve our final results." Using these ML techniques with the Central Neutron Detector permitted the first measurements of DVCS on the neutron that directly detect the neutron participating in the reaction. Many processes can occur between a beam electron and a nucleon target; directly detecting the neutron gives the researchers confidence that they are indeed detecting DVCS. "If you're not detecting the neutron, you have a certain range of possibilities of the process that is happening, and then you have less precision in the observables that you would measure later," Hobart said. 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. First-time flavor separation The theoretical framework known as generalized parton distributions (GPDs) transforms measurements from scattering experiments into information about the distribution of partons, the collective name for quarks and gluons, inside nucleons. There are four types of GPDs. The neutron measurements from this experiment allowed the researchers to access one of the least known types, denoted as GPD E. During the experiment, CEBAF's beam was polarized, meaning the spins of its electrons were pointed in the same direction. This allowed the researchers to extract an observable, known as an asymmetry, that depends on the spin of the beam. With this asymmetry, they were able to extract GPD E with unprecedented precision. "The GPD E is very important because it can give us information into the spin structure of nucleons," Niccolai said. When combined with other GPDs, GPD E can be used to quantify how much constituent quarks contribute to the total spin of the nucleon, which is currently unknown. Though that calculation will be carried out in future work, in this work the researchers took another step toward solving the so-called "nucleon spin crisis." Nucleons contain two types, or flavors, of quarks: up and down. A proton has two up quarks and one down quark; a neutron has two down quarks and one up quark. GPDs can be split up by quark flavor. Combining measurements of DVCS on the neutron with previous measurements of DVCS on the proton allowed the researchers to separate the imaginary parts of the GPDs E and H by quark flavor for the first time. Separating the distributions for up and down quarks will help physicists understand how different flavors of quark contribute to nucleon spin. Theorists Maria Cuic and Kresimir Kumericki also contributed to this first-time flavor separation, but the work of the entire CLAS collaboration was crucial to achieving these pioneering results. "We must give gratitude to the whole CLAS Collaboration," Hobart said. "Taking and processing the data is collaborative work." Proof of principle in hand, the researchers plan next to collect more data with CLAS12 and the Central Neutron Detector to make even more precise measurements. "But this first result is major," Niccolai said. "It feels like the completion of a cycle and a lifetime achievement because this is the first project that I took full responsibility for in my career. Finally arriving at a physically meaningful result and having it published feels like I've had another baby." More information: A. Hobart et al, First Measurement of Deeply Virtual Compton Scattering on the Neutron with Detection of the Active Neutron, Physical Review Letters (2024). DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.133.211903 Journal information: Physical Review Letters This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: An ancient site at the newly built Agias Sofias metro station ahead of its Nov. 30 official opening, in Thessaloniki, northern Greece, Friday, Nov. 22, 2024 part of the city's long-delayed subway system showcasing archaeological finds from decades of construction. Credit: AP Photo/Giannis Papanikos Greece's second largest city, Thessaloniki, is getting a brand new subway system that will showcase archaeological discoveries made during construction that held up the project for decades. The 9.6-kilometer inaugural line will officially open on Nov. 30, using driverless trains and platform screen doors. Construction began in earnest in 2003 and unearthed a treasure trove of antiquities in a vast excavation beneath the densely populated city of a million residents. "This project offers a remarkable blend of the ancient and modern, integrating archaeological heritage with metro infrastructure," Christos Staikouras, the transport and infrastructure minister, told reporters Friday on a media tour of the subway. Tunneling followed ancient commercial routes through the center of the port city that has been continuously inhabited since ancient times. It exposed a Roman-era thoroughfare, ancient Greek burial sites, water and drainage systems, mosaics and inscriptions and tens of thousands of artifacts spanning centuries, also through Byzantine and Ottoman rule. The tunnels had to be bored at a greater depth than originally planned, adding cost and delays, to preserve the ancient discoveries. Key pieces of what was found have been put on display along the underground network of 13 stations including a section of the marble-paved Roman thoroughfare at the central Venizelou Station. The newly built New Railway Station metro station ahead of its Nov. 30 official opening, in Thessaloniki, northern Greece, Friday, Nov. 22, 2024 part of the city's long-delayed subway system showcasing archaeological finds from decades of construction. Credit: AP Photo/Giannis Papanikos Ancient antiquities are displayed at the newly built Agias Sofias metro station ahead of its Nov. 30 official opening, in Thessaloniki, northern Greece, Friday, Nov. 22, 2024 part of the city's long-delayed subway system showcasing archaeological finds from decades of construction. Credit: AP Photo/Giannis Papanikos Metro wagons are parked at the newly built Pylaia depot ahead of its Nov. 30 official opening, in Thessaloniki, northern Greece, Friday, Nov. 22, 2024 part of the city's long-delayed subway system showcasing archaeological finds from decades of construction. Credit: AP Photo/Giannis Papanikos The newly built Agias Sofias metro station ahead of its Nov. 30 official opening, in Thessaloniki, northern Greece, Friday, Nov. 22, 2024 part of the city's long-delayed subway system showcasing archaeological finds from decades of construction. Credit: AP Photo/Giannis Papanikos Ancient antiquities are displayed at the newly built Agias Sofias metro station ahead of its Nov. 30 official opening, in Thessaloniki, northern Greece, Friday, Nov. 22, 2024 part of the city's long-delayed subway system showcasing archaeological finds from decades of construction. Credit: AP Photo/Giannis Papanikos A banner referring to the ancient antiquities on display at the newly built Agias Sofias metro station ahead of its Nov. 30 official opening, in Thessaloniki, northern Greece, Friday, Nov. 22, 2024 part of the city's long-delayed subway system showcasing archaeological finds from decades of construction. Credit: AP Photo/Giannis Papanikos A member of the cleaning staff walks through the newly built Nea Elvetia metro station ahead of its Nov. 30 official opening, in Thessaloniki, northern Greece, Friday, Nov. 22, 2024 part of the city's long-delayed subway system showcasing archaeological finds from decades of construction. Credit: AP Photo/Giannis Papanikos Reporters and officials use the metro during a media day ahead of its Nov. 30 official opening, in Thessaloniki, northern Greece, Friday, Nov. 22, 2024 part of the city's long-delayed subway system showcasing archaeological finds from decades of construction. Credit: AP Photo/Giannis Papanikos The newly built Agias Sofias metro station ahead of its Nov. 30 official opening, in Thessaloniki, northern Greece, Friday, Nov. 22, 2024 part of the city's long-delayed subway system showcasing archaeological finds from decades of construction. Credit: AP Photo/Giannis Papanikos "The project faced substantial delays and many challenges, including over 300,000 archaeological finds, many of which are now showcased at various stations along the main line," Staikouras said. The Thessaloniki metro was first conceived more than a century ago and its completion has been greeted with quiet amazement by residents who for years used the metro project as a punchline for bureaucratic delays and undelivered promises. Government officials said the cost of the metro so far has reached 3 billion euros ($3.1 billion) for the completed first line of the subway system and most of a second line which is currently under construction and due to be delivered in a year. The construction consortium was made up by Greece's Aktor, Italy's Webuild and Japan's Hitachi Rail. 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Photopolymerization ex vivo in zebrafish larvae and chicken brain. Credit: Advanced Science (2024). DOI: 10.1002/advs.202408628 Bioelectronics research and development of implants made of electrically conductive materials for disease treatment is advancing rapidly. However, bioelectronic treatment is not without complications. Researchers at Lund University in Sweden have taken another step forward by developing a refined method to create detailed and tissue-friendly bioelectronics. In a study published in Advanced Science, the researchers describe how they can use light to create electrically conductive materials directly in the body, showing promising results in animal trials. Bioelectronics is successfully used for treating heart arrhythmia, epilepsy, and neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's, to name a few. However, it's well known that today's bioelectrodes and implantation methods require the tissue to adapt to the electrodes, rather than the other way around. This can lead to complications. Roger Olsson, professor of chemical biology and drug development at Lund University, explains that current bioelectrodes often lead to complications like inflammation, scarring, and mechanical mismatch, especially in soft tissues like the brain. "Our goal is to create biocompatible solutions that seamlessly integrate with the body. This study shows that we are on the right path." To achieve this, the researchers have developed a so-called photopolymerization process suitable for living organisms. The method uses light-sensitive materials as building blocks to form soft, conductive structures directly in the body. These structures can be tailored to integrate seamlessly with soft tissues like the brain. "When the tissue is exposed to lightblue, green, or reda rapid reaction occurs within five to 30 minutes, forming a soft material, a hydrogel, that can conduct electricity. This material consists of so-called polymer structures and water," explains Fredrik Ek, the study's lead author. Fredrik Ek, also a researcher in chemical biology and drug development at Lund University, adds that this technique of using light allows the forming of detailed bioelectronic structures that integrate with the body's cells. "This has not been shown before for electrodes formed directly in tissues. The created structures are tissue-friendly and biocompatible, making them more suitable than today's bioelectronics for interacting with biological systems, such as regulating the electrical signals of nerves. This could be significant for treating neurological and neurodegenerative diseases," says Fredrik Ek. The researchers envision that this technology could transform the future of bioelectronic therapies. Unlike traditional implants, these light-created bioelectrodes are minimally invasive during implantation and don't require surgical removal, because they naturally degrade after use. The next step is to move from early trials in zebrafish and chicken embryos to evaluating the concept in larger animal models. More information: Fredrik Ek et al, In Vivo Photopolymerization: Achieving Detailed Conducting Patterns for Bioelectronics, Advanced Science (2024). DOI: 10.1002/advs.202408628 Journal information: Advanced Science This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: CC0 Public Domain A federal grand jury in Los Angeles voted to indict Texas-based oil refiner Phillips 66 for allegedly dumping hundreds of thousands of gallons of industrial wastewater from its Carson refinery into the Los Angeles County sewer system and then failing to report it, according to a statement from the U.S. Department of Justice. The corporation faces two counts of negligently violating the federal Clean Water Act and four counts of knowingly violating the Clean Water Act. If convicted on all counts, the company could face a maximum of five years of probation for each count and up to $2.4 million in fines. The federal indictment alleges that on Nov. 24, 2020, for two-and-a-half hours the Carson refinery discharged 310,000 gallons of industrial wastewater containing 64,000 pounds of oil and grease, more than 300 times what their permit allowed, into the Los Angeles County Sanitation District's sewer system. The company then allegedly failed to inform the district of the discharge. The sanitation district in December of that year issued Phillips 66 multiple notices of violation and the following month, a manager from the corporation allegedly wrote back acknowledging the discharge and stating that operations personnel would be retrained. Then, in February 2021, for five-and-a-half hours, the Carson refinery allegedly dumped another 480,000 gallons of industrial wastewater, with 33,700 pounds of oil and grease, into the LA County sewer system. The next month, the sanitation district again issued notices of violation and again, allegedly, a Phillips 66 manager acknowledged the discharge and failure to notify. The Carson refinery is slated to be closed, Phillips 66 announced, after Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill into law requiring California oil refineries to maintain a set amount of inventory in a bid to prevent gas price spikes due to low supply. However, Phillips 66 said the decision was not related to the signing of that bill, but "on consideration of multiple factors, including future options for the site as part of Phillips 66's ongoing review of its portfolio of assets." A company spokesperson told The Bee that Phillips 66 will continue to cooperate with the U.S. Attorney's Office, "and is prepared to present its case in these matters in court." "The company remains committed to operating safely and protecting the health and safety of our employees and the communities where we operate," the spokesperson said. U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada, in a statement, said that "protecting our environment is key to protecting our community." "Just like the rest of us, corporations have a duty to follow the law, so when companies contaminate, they must be held accountable. My office will continue to be vigilant in safeguarding our natural resources for all to enjoy," he said. 2024 The Sacramento Bee. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: In this photo released by Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA), a male emperor penguin dubbed Gus, is released back into the ocean off the south coast of Western Australia, Wednesday Nov. 20, 2024. Credit: Miles Brotherson/DBCA via AP The only emperor penguin known to have swum from Antarctica to Australia was released at sea 20 days after he waddled ashore on a popular tourist beach, officials said Friday. The adult male was found on Nov. 1 on Ocean Beach sand dunes in the town of Denmark in temperate southwest Australiaabout 3,500 kilometers (2,200 miles) north of the icy waters off the Antarctic coast, the Western Australia state government said. He was released from a Parks and Wildlife Service boat on Wednesday. The boat traveled for several hours from the state's most southerly city of Albany before the penguin was released into the Southern Ocean, but the government didn't give the distance in its statement. He had been cared for by registered wildlife caregiver Carol Biddulph, who named him Gus after the first Roman emperor Augustus. "I really didn't know whether he was going to make it to begin with because he was so undernourished," Biddulph said in video recorded before the bird's release but released by the government on Friday. "I'll miss Gus. It's been an incredible few weeks, something I wouldn't have missed," she added. Biddulph said she had found from caring for other species of lone penguins that mirrors were an important part of their rehabilitation by providing a comforting sense of company. "He absolutely loves his big mirror and I think that has been crucial in his well-being. They're social birds and he stands next to the mirror most of the time," she said. Gus gained weight in her care, from 21.3 kilograms (47 pounds) when he was found to 24.7 kilograms (54 pounds). He stands 1 meter (39 inches) tall. A healthy male emperor penguin can weigh more than 45 kilograms (100 pounds). The largest penguin species has never been reported in Australia before, University of Western Australia research fellow Belinda Cannell said, though some had reached New Zealand, nearly all of which is further south than Western Australia. The government said with the Southern Hemisphere summer approaching, it had been time-crucial to return Gus to the ocean where he could thermoregulate. Emperor penguins have been known to cover up to 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles) on foraging journeys that last up to a month, the government said. 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Flash Photo taken on Nov. 19, 2024 shows destroyed houses at a village in southern Lebanon, as seen from northern Israeli border. [Ayal Margolin/JINI via Xinhua] UN humanitarians said on Thursday that evacuation orders and air strikes forced more than 880,000 people from their homes in Lebanon, with more than 500,000 of them fleeing into Syria. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said those remaining in Lebanon face deteriorating food security. The International Organization for Migration reported that more than 880,000 people were displaced within the country, including more than 20,000 migrants who have been forced to flee both their homes and workplaces. The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) reported that more than 500,000 people left Lebanon for Syria and that more than half of them were children. UNHCR is supporting them, among others, by providing psychosocial support to help them deal with trauma and emotional impact of displacement. OCHA reminded that civilians must be protected regardless of their choice to stay in their homes or to flee. The office also said the World Food Programme (WFP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warn that food security in Lebanon is expected to worsen. "The ongoing escalation of conflict since September 2024 has severely disrupted supply chains, and deepened food insecurity, which now affects more than 1.2 million people," WFP and FAO said. "With nearly a quarter of the Lebanese population already suffering from inadequate food consumption, the situation is set to deteriorate further as food prices remain high." As an example, OCHA said WFP used 12 convoys to deliver food to more than 65,000 people, mostly in South and Baalbek-Hermel governorates, since September of this year in response to the challenging food security situation. 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: Tracking Success for the Good Business Charter (GBC): Developing an effective approach Companies can thrive without compromising their principles, according to new research by the University of York in collaboration with the Good Business Charter (GBC). The report delves into the journey of responsible businesses and organizations accredited by GBC, emphasizing the Charter's pivotal role in fusing ethical values with business success and sustained profitability. Key opportunities Business leaders and academics will gather in York on Tuesday 26 November to mark the launch of the new report, which was compiled by researchers at the University's School of Business and Society. The report outlines the values the GBC brings to businesses and society, and key opportunities for the GBC to build on its effectiveness; this includes strengthening verification processes, building brand recognition, and refining the framework to meet the evolving needs of businesses. Dr. Jacqueline You, Assistant Professor in International Business, Entrepreneurship & Strategy, in the School for Business and Society at the University of York, said, "Our findings show that good business is a powerful way to achieve sustained profitability. Businesses and organizations that adopt the Good Business Charter stand out as attractive employers, excelling in talent retention and recruitment. "They also foster stronger partnerships across supply chains, engage more effectively with local communities and appeal to responsible consumers and investors who value ethical and sustainable practices." An ethical roadmap The GBC, founded by Julian Richer, offers a clear, actionable roadmap for businesses of all sizes to embed responsibility into their operations. The Charter's 10 core principles, ranging from paying a real living wage to environmental stewardship, provide a comprehensive framework for ethical business practices. Jenny Herrera, CEO of the Good Business Charter said, "We welcome the report from the University of York, which reflects the Good Business Charter's unique role in promoting responsible business practices and provides useful insights on how GBC accreditation has positively impacted organizations' employee engagement, reputation and customer trust. "We're proud to offer an accreditation that aligns with core business objectives while promoting essential principles like fair wages, environmental responsibility and employee well-being. The University's findings allow us to explore potential enhancements which further support ethical and sustainable business practices across the U.K." Purpose over profit The report explores the GBC's journey so far and reveals its power to reshape the future of businessone that prioritizes purpose over profit and leads with ethical values. Professor Kiran Trehan, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Enterprises, Partnerships and Engagement at the University of York, said "At the University of York, our research is all about making business work better for societythat's what it's all for. This report shows that companies can thrive without compromising their principles. I look forward to seeing GBC continue their work in driving meaningful change across industries. It is work that benefits us all." 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. Responsible business York was the first university to receive accreditation from the Good Business Charter in 2021, in recognition of its commitment to responsible business practices. The event is hosted by the University of York in collaboration with the Good Business Charter (GBC) and will be held at Aviva, a large employer in York, whose commitment to ethical business practices aligns with the Charter's mission. Jack Thompson-Hall, Social Impact & Sustainability Manager at Aviva, said "For Aviva, the Good Business Charter is about more than standardsit's about fostering a workplace where every colleague feels valued and engaged. We're delighted to host the report launch at our Wellington Row office in York, highlighting how ethical practices can drive business success." The event will feature presentations from key stakeholders, panel discussions, and opportunities for networking. Attendees will gain insights into the practical applications of the GBC framework and its benefits for businesses and society. More information: Tracking Success for the Good Business Charter (GBC): Developing an effective approach. pure-research.york.ac.uk/ws/po ight_Report_2024.pdf 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: Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics (2024). DOI: 10.1039/D4CP02088J A team of researchers led by professors Wybren Jan Buma at the University of Amsterdam and Vasilios Stavros at the University of Warwick (U.K.) have laid the groundwork for using urocanic acid and its derivatives as a novel class of sunscreen filters. Urocanic acid is a naturally occurring UV-A and UV-B absorbing compound found in the skin. The team investigated the light-adsorbing, "sun-blocking" properties of urocanic acid and its derivatives, both in isolated molecules and in solutions. They present their results in two papers published in the journal Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics. According to Wybren Jan Buma, professor of Molecular Photonics at the UvA's Van 't Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences, the two papers provide detailed insight into the light-conversion mechanism of urocanic acid. "This is an excellent starting point for further optimization of its photoactive properties," he says. "We envision many specific applications of urocanic acid and its derivatives, notably in safe UV filters." He expects that urocanic acid can meet the need for better, safer and more efficient sunscreen agents, replacing synthetic filters that are under discussion because of potential adverse effects on health and environment. Natural sunscreen Urocanic acid is in fact a natural sunscreen. It is present in the upper layers of the skin and absorbs both UV-A and UV-B radiation, although with a sun protection factor (SPF) of a mere 1.58 it is much less effective than synthetic sunscreens. A more important drawback is that upon UV irradiation, urocanic acid can transform into an immunosuppressive molecular variant. "You might think that all this makes urocanic acid not fit for use in a sunscreen," Buma says, "but it is definitely worth investigating. We think it is possible to design effective urocanic acidbased biomimetic sunscreens with a more favorable toxicological profile and optimize their photochemical and photophysical characteristics." First fundamental understanding Buma and co-workers embarked on an extensive research program starting with high-resolution laser spectroscopy of isolated molecules and complemented by quantum chemical calculations. This led to a thorough understanding of how urocanic acid interacts with UV-light, and how this can be optimized by modifying the molecule. The team is the first to describe the photochemical and photophysical properties on such a fundamental level, Buma says. "Urocanic acid has for a long time remained an enigma for experimental spectroscopists and theoretical chemists alike. Our studies have in this respect revolutionized the field." His team also established that previously reported studies suffered from unnoticed experimental side effects, leading to data that should be assigned to decomposition products rather than actual urocanic acid molecules. Behavior in solution To confirm the behavior of urocanic acid and its derivatives under conditions of practical application, the research team also performed studies in organic solvents and aqueous solutions. In cooperation with Prof. Vasilios Stavros and co-workers at the Warwick Center for Ultrafast spectroscopy (U.K.), they applied time-resolved spectroscopy on timescales spanning 18 orders of magnitude; from femtoseconds to hours. These studies provided vital insight into how the photochemical and photophysical properties can be tuned not only by molecular modification but also by the solvents used. This paves the way for optimizing potential sunscreen formulations based on urocanic acid derivatives. Furthermore, the team identified stable derivatives that could also reduce the immunosuppressive effects of "plain" urocanic acid. These are currently being investigated, says Buma. "We expect that the present studies will incite a renewed interest in the photoactive properties of this class of molecules. That will ultimately lead to novel sunscreen filters, but also to novel applications in areas where photothermal materials are employed." More information: Jiayun Fan et al, Urocanic acid as a novel scaffold for next-gen nature-inspired sunscreens: I. electronic laser spectroscopy under isolated conditions, Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics (2024). DOI: 10.1039/D4CP02087A Jiayun Fan et al, Urocanic acid as a novel scaffold for next-gen nature-inspired sunscreens: II. Time-resolved spectroscopy under solution conditions, Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics (2024). DOI: 10.1039/D4CP02088J Journal information: Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics 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: Cal Poly physics major Reagen Garcia has collaborated with a team of scientists on the ongoing particle physics work taking place in Italy as part of the CUPID (CUORE Upgrade with Particle Identification) program. Credit: Cal Poly In an underground lab in a mountainous region of Italy that contains the coldest temperatures known to exist in the universe, teams of international scientists are to trying to solve one of the biggest mysteries in particle physics. And Cal Poly physics Professor Thomas Gutierrez is among the more than 150 leading international scientists taking part in the research. At Gran Sasso National Laboratory near Assergi, Italy, located about 80 miles northeast of Rome deep beneath the Appenine mountains, researchers hail from universities including UC Berkeley, UCLA, Yale, MIT, Johns Hopkins, and Cal Poly, as well as top European and Asian campuses. With other scientists, Gutierrez and his Cal Poly student team are exploring unproven theories related to nuclear decay, also known as radioactive decay, the process by which an unstable atomic nucleus loses energy through radiation. Their work strives to help better explain why the universe is full of matter, and to address other mysteries that have befuddled scientists for generations. "If you can find something that breaks the laws of physics, then that's discovery," Gutierrez said. "We're currently looking for is a type of nuclear decay that is currently forbidden by the laws of physics. It's not supposed to happen. So, if it does, which is what we're looking for, it tells you a lot about the way the world works." Cal Poly physics Professor Thomas Gutierrez (left) and Cal Poly physics student Reagen Garcia are collaborating on research related to the CUPID (CUORE Upgrade with Particle Identification) program involving a team of international scientists. Credit: Cal Poly The research continues scientific collaboration started under the international CUORE (Cryogenic Underground Observatory for Rare Events) program, which now is called CUPID (CUORE Upgrade with Particle Identification). The word "cuore" means heart in Italian; thus the acronym using "cupid" for the subsequent, latest stage of the program. Gutierrez's field of study focuses on neutrinos, which are tiny particles with very slight amounts of mass. Abundant in the universe at the big bang and traveling at near lightspeeds, neutrinos can also come from violent bursts like exploding stars. Neutrinos are often created by radioactive decay. Because they don't interact very much and are neutral, they can help explain enigmas of the universe related to matter and antimatter. In modern physics, all particles have antiparticles, their own antimatter counterpart: electrons have antielectrons (positrons), quarks have antiquarks, and neutrons and protons (which make up the nuclei of atoms) have antineutrons and antiprotons. "Under the laws of physics, there should have been equal amounts of matter and antimatter, and they should have all annihilated, gone away, and we shouldn't exist," Gutierrez said. "Yet this little sliver of matter that got left over is us. Why do we even exist? Why is that sliver there at all? So that's kind of a puzzle." Under a longstanding scientific theory, neutrinoswhich are neutral in chargemay be their own antiparticles. But this concept has never been proven. The CUPID work hopes to reveal the possibility of neutrinoless double-beta decay, a radioactive process in which an atomic nucleus releases two electrons but no neutrinos. Observing this decay would support the hypothesis that neutrinos are their own antiparticles. "If neutrinoless double beta decay happens, it tells us all this information about the foundations of how matter, not just this matter, but all matter exists," Gutierrez said. "This is very powerful." 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. Gutierrez and the international science team are collaborating on a study of tellurium dioxide crystals, a mixture of the element tellurium and oxygen. "There is a hypothesis that a tellurium isotope can undergo a neutrinoless double beta decay," Gutierrez said. About a third of the tellurium nuclei in this chunk of crystal is the right isotope, Gutierrez said. "The idea is to use a detector out of this crystal where it measures its own decay," Gutierrez said. "It will deposit a very certain amount of energy, raising the temperature, which we can observe. Through this testing, in a best-case scenario, what we'd like to be able to say is whether or not the neutrino is its own antiparticle." The Italian lab site shields cosmic rays and other natural radioactivity through about a kilometer of rock in each direction and a protective, six-centimeter-thick shield fabricated from boiled-down lead retrieved from an ancient Roman merchant shipwreck. The ancient lead used as a protective guard for the lab's research is free of its own radioactive material because of a natural process that takes centuries to transpire, demonstrating the effectiveness of centuries-old lead for science. The Italian facility is the largest underground research center in the world. The cold research conditions have been designed for temperatures of around 10 milliKelvin or -441.74 degrees Fahrenheit, the coldest volume of its size anywhere in the universe. Such cold temperatures help with particle science because when particles are cooled, they move far slower, allowing scientists to more precisely study their behaviors. People have been "pounding their heads against the wall trying to understand" theories around antimatter versus matter, and how neutrinos might be involved, Gutierrez said. "There are a lot of different avenues people have been exploring, but about 30 years ago this idea that if this decay occurs, then that tells us about the properties of matter, and that it would imply that the universe actually does favor matter over antimatter ever so slightly," Gutierrez said. Cal Poly students have already contributed and will continue to do so, including Reagen Garcia, a physics major, of Morro Bay, California. Part of her work includes conducting remote detector operation shifts of the experiment taking place in Italy. "CUORE needs to be constantly monitored, so remote detector operation shifts are an important part of the experiment," Garcia said. Garcia also conducted summer work at Yale University's Wright Laboratory, a collaborating institution for the CUPID experiment, where Garcia conducted testing of a particle detector system. "It was exciting to be part of such detailed, specific aspects of experimental design," Garcia said. "This past summer at Yale was the most exciting and rewarding research experience I have had the opportunity to be part of." This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: A timelapse image of the fireball event from start to finish. Credit: Western Meteor Group In an international study led by Western University and Lowell Observatory, scientists describe a pioneering, integrative approach for studying near-Earth asteroids based largely on a November 2022 fireball event that dropped meteorites in the Niagara region. The space scientists determined the composition and size of Asteroid 2022 WJ1 (WJ1) before it fractured upon entering Earth's atmosphere by comparing Arizona-based telescopic observations to video captured by Western's Southern Ontario Meteor Network cameras of the fireball (an unusually bright meteor) on November 19, 2022. The study, published today in The Planetary Science Journal, is significant not only because it reveals key details about WJ1, the smallest asteroid in space to be characterized to date, but also for establishing the methodology for studying other space objects that impact Earth. This is the first time telescope observation and camera captures have been used to study the same space object. The size of WJ1 was determined with the 4.3-meter Lowell Discovery Telescope (LDT) in Arizona. Observations from the LDT show the surface of WJ1 was rich in silica, meaning it had a medium-to-high albedo (reflected light). Astronomers use the reflected light to calculate the diameter, which was in the range of 40 to 60 cm (16 to 27 inches), making it the smallest asteroid on record. Credit: University of Western Ontario Combining two techniques "This is only the sixth asteroid discovered before impact," said Denis Vida, Western physics and astronomy adjunct professor. "Our new approach, discovering an asteroid through space observation and then subsequently observing it with cameras from the ground, allowed us to confirm that our estimates match well to estimates derived using a completely different approach." Using Western's meteor camera network, Western space scientists captured the asteroid as it entered the atmosphere above London ending near St. Catharines. Modeling based on Western's fireball observations gives the same initial diameter and composition estimate of the asteroid as was found by LDT. The fireball network and telescopic methods also tightly agree on the determination of WJ1's orbit prior to its arrival on Earth. "This is only the second time that an asteroid has been meaningfully characterized with telescopes prior to it impacting the Earth," said Teddy Kareta, postdoctoral associate, Lowell Observatory. "It's a testament to our good luck and preparation, but it's also due to the community that cares about keeping the Earth safe from these impactors learning to work together better." The telescopic and fireball camera data both suggest WJ1 fits into the S-chondrite category of astronomical objects, which are stony bodies rich in silica (thus the "S" designation). They are among the oldest bodies in the solar system and comprise the most common type of meteorite to hit Earth. "This first-ever comparison between telescopic and fireball camera data is extremely exciting, and means we'll be able to characterize the next asteroid to impact the Earth in even better detail," said Kareta. Likely, not all WJ1's fragments burned up in Earth's atmosphere. While initial meteorite searches and some Niagara region residents have searched for meteorite pieces, none have been found so far. Much of the predicted fall area is underwater in Lake Ontario. For the fall area on land, there are no plans to do any further official searching. "Two years on, any meteorites that fell on land will have blended in with the landscape," said Phil McCausland, a Western Earth sciences adjunct professor and Meteor Physics Group researcher. "That said, there are people in the area who are searching and know what to look for. We may still get lucky and find a meteorite or two from this fall in the coming months and years." View of the fireball from Hume Cronyn Memorial Observatory at Western University. Credit: University of Western Ontario 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. A fortuitous path WJ1 was first discovered by the Catalina Sky Survey in Tucson, Arizona in November 2022. Soon after, astronomers predicted the object would impact Earth within three hours. This offered just enough time for scientists to telescopically observe the object while it was still in space. It also gave astronomers time to gather the asteroid's precise position and motion to refine its orbit. Together, those factors allowed for a more accurate determination of where the asteroid would enter Earth's atmosphereover the Great Lakes, on the border of the United States and Canada. The predicted impact site proved fortuitous, falling right in the middle of Western's network of meteor-observing cameras in the same region. The few hours of advance warning about the asteroid impact allowed several members of the Western Meteor Physics Group and Western's Institute for Earth and Space Exploration time to drive and find clear weather to watch the incoming object, the first time in history that observers were alerted to see a natural fireball. A sequence of three images showing 2022 WJ1 streaking through the LMI field of view. Each of the individual streaks are how far WJ1 moved in an individual ten-second-long image. Credit: Teddy Kareta/Lowell Observatory Western physics and astronomy professor Paul Wiegert, a co-author on the study, was alerted early enough to see the fireball around 3:30 a.m. "I watched from Brescia Hill on the Western campus. Though cold and windy, the hill had a clear view to the east, where I expected to see only a distant flash. Then the fireball suddenly appeared, passing almost overhead. It was easily visible between broken clouds and noticeably orange-red," Wiegert said following the event. The LDT, stationed near Flagstaff, Ariz., was ideal for telescope viewing. Its capacity for rapid and stable tracking meant it could keep up with small and fast-moving near-Earth asteroids. Kareta, who just happened to be scheduled to observe with the LDT that night, imaged the asteroid with his team for about one hour before it was lost in the shadow of Earth. "At the time that we lost the asteroidwhen it got too dim to be seen in our imageswe had the telescope moving at five degrees per second to try to keep up with it. That's fast enough that most other telescopes would have had to give up considerably earlier," said Kareta. "It's tremendously fortuitous that this asteroid happened to fly over Arizona's dark skies at night before burning up over Western's excellent camera network. It's hard to imagine better circumstances to do this kind of research." More information: Theodore Kareta et al, Telescope-to-Fireball Characterization of Earth Impactor 2022 WJ1, The Planetary Science Journal (2024). DOI: 10.3847/PSJ/ad8b22 Journal information: The Planetary Science Journal This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: The ice front of a glacier in southern Patagonia. Credit: Henning Akesson In an era of dwindling glaciers, Southern Patagonia has managed to hold on to a surprising amount of its ice. But, a new study in Scientific Reports from INSTAAR postdoc Matthias Troch suggests that this protective effect might be pushed up against its limits soon. Before making predictions, Troch and his collaborators looked back in time. They used an equation that, when plugged into NASA's ice-sheet and sea-level system model, simulated glacial dynamics for the past six millenia. The results showed that precipitation, not temperature, was the main culprit of glacier fluctuation during around 4,500 of the past 6,000 years, or 76% of the time. In more recent years, increased snowfall protected the glaciers from rising global temperatures. These simulations were hyper-focused. The researchers singled out three connected glaciers on the wetter, ocean-facing side of the Patagonia range in Southern Chile. The region came with a distinct scientific advantage. In 2005, a team aboard the American research vessel Nathaniel B. Palmer collected a sediment core from a nearby fjord. Troch and his collaborators got their hands on the sediment core and used it to validate and refine their model. In essence, they had a physical piece of evidence to provide proof that they were on the right track. Once they had reconciled the numerical model with the sediment core, the researchers began to ask questions about the future. In particular, they were interested in what would happen to the glaciers under different emissions scenarios. If humanity stopped burning fossil fuels today, would the glaciers remain protected? What if we continued to increase our greenhouse gas emissions? Troch and his colleagues found that increased snowfall would continue to protect the glaciers from melt if regional warming was curbed at 1.5 degrees Celsius above turn-of-the-century levels. This benchmark is attainable. Yet, to limit warming to this level, humanity would need to rapidly decarbonizetemperatures are on track to climb to 2.8 degrees Celsius in Patagonia by the end of the century if current emissions persist. "The study underscores the need for deep emission cuts to protect glaciers, which is vital to limit global sea-level rise," Troch said. The researchers also modeled what would happen if we didn't cut back, and the outlook was not so sunny. A warmer, wetter climate could lead to rapid melt. "This could push glaciers into a new regime dominated by rain rather than snowfall," Troch explained. Troch hopes that research like his will bolster the global call-to-action for green policies and practices. While news about the climate is often gloomy, there are still many harms that can be prevented if humanity strives for sustainability. "If we can limit emissions there is hope for protecting maritime glaciers," Troch said. Troch also hopes that the study will catalyze further research into maritime glaciers around the world. The conclusions drawn in Southern Patagonia might be replicated in Norway, Alaska, Iceland or New Zealand. The only way to find out is further research. More information: Matthias Troch et al, Precipitation drives western Patagonian glacier variability and may curb future ice mass loss, Scientific Reports (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-77486-4 Journal information: Scientific Reports This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Spatial distribution of AMS, archaeological, and ethnohistoric data. Credit: Nature Communications (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-52597-8 Spanish explorers may have brought the first peach pits to North America, but Indigenous communities helped the ubiquitous summer fruit really take root, according to a study led by a researcher at Penn State. The study, published in Nature Communications, shows that Indigenous political and social networks and land use practices played key roles in the peach's adoption and dispersal across the continent, according to the researchers. "Peaches need a lot of care by people to be productive. They need to be planted in appropriate places with a lot of sunlight and the right soil drainage, and they need to be pruned," said Jacob Holland-Lulewicz, first author and assistant professor of anthropology at Penn State. "For a long time, the narrative was that the Spanish introduced peaches and then peaches spread very quickly. The reality is way more complicated. How quickly peaches spread is very much a product of Indigenous networks and land management." The researchers analyzed historical documents that mentioned peaches, such as the travel writings of French missionary explorer Jacques Marquette and English merchant Jonathan Dickinson. They also employed radiocarbon datinga method that measures the decay of radioactive carbon-14 atoms in organic materialto determine the approximate ages of peach pits and other organic samples, like carbonized tree wood, from 28 archaeological sites and two regional locales where archaeologists previously recovered preserved peach pits. The sites were located in the Carolinas, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Tennessee and Arkansas. The team found that peaches were likely widespread across Indigenous settlements in the interior southeast as early as the year 1620, roughly 100 years after the earliest Spanish expeditions in Florida and in Georgia's Oconee Valley. The timing suggests that early Spanish settlements becoming important trade nodes within existing Indigenous networks created the necessary conditions for the spread of peaches, according to Holland-Lulewicz. "Many narratives talk about the Spanish, or Europeans generally, arriving and then you see instantaneous changes to Indigenous histories and the spread of materials, but those initial interactions didn't cause major changes," he said. "It's not until Spanish networks and Indigenous networks become entangled 100 years later that we have the necessary conditions for the spread of peaches." Bayesian chronological model. Credit: Nature Communications (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-52597-8 The team also identified what are possibly the earliest peaches in North America at a Muskogean farmstead in the Oconee Valley. In the 1990s, the late Penn State archaeologist James Hatch recovered peach pits from the bottom of post holes that once housed support structures for the farmstead's house. The researchers radiocarbon dated charcoal, nuts and corn kernels from these post holes and found that occupation at the site began between 1520 and 1550 and ended between 1530 and 1570. This timing suggests that peaches had spread to the interior southeast possibly decades before the founding of St. Augustine in 1565, according to the researchers. 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. "Understanding the path that the introduction of species, such as peach trees, took through colonization and the role that Indigenous people and their long-term relationship with the environment played in shaping these histories demonstrates the importance of these events, people and processes to what becomes a broader American history," said co-author Victor Thompson, Distinguished Research Professor of archaeology at the University of Georgia (UGA) and executive director of the Georgia Museum of Natural History. "Further, the fact that all of this work took place on museum specimens underscores the importance of maintaining these collections for future study." Indigenous peoples not only adopted the peach but selectively bred new varieties outnumbering the varieties found in Europe even at this early time, Holland-Lulewicz said. "When Europeans started to move through and into the interior of the continent in the mid- to late 1600s, they noted that there were way more varieties of peaches being grown by Indigenous peoples than there were in Europe," he said, explaining that the fruit had become an important aspect of Indigenous culture. "At this time, Europeans are noting really dense peach orchards around Indigenous towns, but some of these towns and people had never previously interacted with or even heard of Europeans. In fact, there are records of Indigenous peoples describing peaches as an Indigenous fruit." The fruit had become so integral to Indigenous history and culture that when the ancestors of the modern-day Muscogee (Creek) Nation were forcibly removed from Georgia and Alabama during the 1800s, they took peaches with them. "There are Muscogee (Creek) peoples today who grow peaches as heritage crops," Holland-Lulewicz said. "The act of growing and caring for those peaches is an important cultural practice. These were the first peaches introduced in the 1500s and 1600s that were then carried halfway across the continent and continue to be grown today." More information: Jacob Holland-Lulewicz et al, The initial spread of peaches across eastern North America was structured by Indigenous communities and ecologies, Nature Communications (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-52597-8 Journal information: Nature Communications 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: Electron microscope images of sample A0180. (a) A backscattered electron image (BEI) showing a matrix dominated by phyllosilicate with framboidal (fM) and spheroidal (sM) magnetite, dolomite (D), and sulfide (S). Areas containing abundant organic matter (OM) are present. Credit: Meteoritics & Planetary Science (2024). DOI: 10.1111/maps.14288 Panspermia is the hypothesis that life can survive the transfer between planetary bodies as a secondary path for life to get started on planets throughout a solar system. The discovery of extraterrestrial life on asteroids or within meteorites would have profound implications for understanding the origins and distribution of life in the universe. Reports of microorganisms found in chondritic meteorites have long fueled debates about extraterrestrial life reaching Earth and possibly as an origin of life here. While studies have concluded these microbial signatures are just terrestrial contaminants, arguments for them being extraterrestrial travelers have continued. Researchers from Imperial College London have discovered that a space-returned sample from asteroid Ryugu was rapidly colonized by terrestrial microorganisms, even under stringent contamination control measures. In the study, "Rapid colonization of a space-returned Ryugu sample by terrestrial microorganisms," published in the journal Meteoritics & Planetary Science, researchers analyzed sample A0180, a tiny (1 0.8 mm) particle collected by the JAXA Hayabusa 2 mission from asteroid 162173 Ryugu. Transported to Earth in a hermetically sealed chamber, the sample was opened in nitrogen in a class 10,000 clean room to prevent contamination. Individual particles were picked with sterilized tools and stored under nitrogen in airtight containers. Before analysis, the sample underwent Nano-X-ray computed tomography and was embedded in an epoxy resin block for scanning electron microscopy. Rods and filaments of organic matter, interpreted as filamentous microorganisms, were observed on the sample's surface. Variations in size and morphology of these structures resembled known terrestrial microbes. Observations showed that the abundance of these filaments changed over time, suggesting the growth and decline of a prokaryote population with a generation time of 5.2 days. Population statistics indicate that the microorganisms originated from terrestrial contamination during the sample preparation stage rather than being indigenous to the asteroid. Results of the study determined that terrestrial biota had rapidly colonized the extraterrestrial material, even under strict contamination control. Researchers recommend enhanced contamination control procedures for future sample-return missions to prevent microbial colonization and ensure the integrity of extraterrestrial samples. Another factor in gathering contamination-free sampling is that everything used to collect extraterrestrial material originates on a planet awash in microbial life. NASA tries to avoid introducing Earth microbes to Mars by constructing probes and landers in cleanroom environments and has found the task nearly impossible. There have been species of microbes discovered in NASA clean rooms that not only evade disinfection methods but also adapt to using cleaning agents as a food source. 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. Microbial life on Earth is so abundant that no resource is left unexploited, and no niche left unoccupied. It is one of the reasons that all life on the planet is related through evolution, traced back to a common origin rather than having started from scratch many times. Genomic evidence shows this to be the case. The reason there have not been new forms of life originating on Earth, evolving alongside our microbial cousins, could be that there is simply no room for a newcomer. In a system where every niche is filled with more advanced life looking for a next meal, even if a new form of life got started, it would not last long. There is still hope for the panspermia hypothesis in the current study as it has reinforced a few key concepts. It demonstrates that extraterrestrial organic material can provide a suitable source of metabolic energy for organisms originating on Earth, showing that the microbes do not have a strict planetary preference. It also shows that even our best efforts to create a clean room environment are not enough to prevent life from finding a way in, something that has likely already introduced extraterrestrial Earth microbes to the moon and Mars. More information: Matthew J. Genge et al, Rapid colonization of a spacereturned Ryugu sample by terrestrial microorganisms, Meteoritics & Planetary Science (2024). DOI: 10.1111/maps.14288 2024 Science X Network 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: Melissa Miller in the Florida Everglades taking measurements of an invasive species. Credit: UF/IFAS Croc Docs Scientists at the University of Florida have developed a pioneering tool to bolster Florida's defenses against invasive species: a DNA-based environmental monitoring test that can pinpoint where they've been, aiding eradication efforts. Once a nonnative species gets into an environment, it is often too late to get rid of it, and the focus shifts to containment or long-term management. Both approaches come with heavy costs concerning native wildlife and funding, explained Melissa Miller, lead author on the study and an invasion ecologist at the UF/IFAS Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center (UF/IFAS FLREC). "We hope this novel eDNA sampling tool we have designed will help increase efficiency in invasive species management, allowing for early detection and rapid removal of nonnative species," she said. Known as a tetraplex digital PCR assay, this method of testing allows researchers to use water or soil samples for rapid and precise identification of Burmese pythons, northern African pythons, boa constrictors and rainbow boas from environmental DNAwhich scientists refer to as eDNAcollected in the wild. The test can identify four invasive snake species simultaneously. That eDNA refers to genetic material shed by organisms into their surroundings. Published in the journal of Ecology and Evolution, scientists at UF's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) tout this as a significant advancement in detecting invasive snakes and a strategic tool for protecting Florida's ecosystems. "Cryptic species, like most snakes, are problematic when introduced outside of their range, as detectability is low, even in high densities. With this new method, we increase our ability to detect these cryptic species tremendously, no matter how many there are," said Sergio Balaguera-Reina, co-author and research assistant scientist at the UF/IFAS FLREC. Brian Bahder in the lab extracting samples. Credit: UF/IFAS Tyler Jones Florida is home to over 500 nonnative species, with reptiles leading the way. More than 50 nonnative reptile species are now established across the state, with many posing severe threats to agriculture, native ecosystems, public safety and the state's economy. Current monitoring methods depend on visual surveys by scientists, which often fail to detect invasive constrictors because they're elusive and cryptic. Traditional survey techniques are estimated to identify less than 5% of Burmese pythons. In contrast, the newly developed tetraplex assay by UF/IFAS scientists can identify DNA traces of these snakes even weeks after they have left an area. This breakthrough offers wildlife managers a crucial tool to verify the presence of these hidden species and assess the success of removal efforts. "While eDNA sampling has been applied to detect non-native wildlife, the benefit of our methodology is that we can now sample for numerous target species within a single sample. This can aid natural resource managers by reducing costs required to survey for non-native species in multi-invaded ecosystems," Miller said. 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. "With the high accuracy and specificity of this testing for detecting invasive constrictor snakes, resource managers can implement effective management strategies, such as removal efforts, quickly and with confidence." The test was designed to operate seamlessly in Florida's varied and challenging environments, from dense Everglades habitats to urban areas where non-native constrictors are now found. With this DNA-based approach, wildlife managers can implement programs that monitor multiple species, prioritize response efforts and ultimately mitigate the ecological impacts of these snakes on Florida's ecosystems and Everglades restoration efforts. A Burmese python is submerged for eDNA analysis. Credit: Analise Fussell This Burmese python was submerged in a bin filled with water to simulate the aquatic environment where pythons typically inhabit. Then, researchers pulled several water samples to establish the eDNA analysis. Credit: Analise Fussell. Developing this tool required considerable work and significant technical advancements to ensure each target snake species' DNA is precisely identified. "The initial stage was designing the molecular test, which is essentially four tests in one," said Brian Bahder, a senior author who developed the eDNA methodology and an associate professor of vector entomology at UF/IFAS FLREC. "Each test is specific to a different snake species and was designed to detect DNA from the Burmese python, northern African rock python, rainbow boa and boa constrictor, ensuring no cross-detection among species." Bahder, whose expertise traditionally involves detecting lethal bronzing in palm trees, explained that the fundamental process of molecular testing is similar across different organisms, with the main difference being the DNA sequence. This makes many of the techniques easily transferable. Once the researchers successfully got the molecular test working, they conducted controlled experiments using known concentrations of DNA placed in water. They then used a vacuum pump to concentrate the DNA on a filter, which they tested to confirm that they could extract DNA from the samples and obtain accurate results. Following this, they conducted an experiment by placing a Burmese python in water and taking water samples at different time intervals to demonstrate the method's effectiveness. The data estimated the amount of snake DNA present in the water if sampled nearby. A field experiment also showed that snake DNA could be detected in soil where a snake had been resting up to two weeks after its removal. "These concentration estimates are the first steps in a larger monitoring effort, with further experimentation needed to determine the effects of time, distance and environmental factors on DNA detection rates," said Bahder. "Ultimately, this technology will be used to monitor and locate these invasive snakes, thereby validating removal efforts." The new assay aligns with ongoing efforts by state and federal agencies, which have invested more than $10 million from 2004 to 2021 to manage the Burmese pythons alone. "Successful detection and monitoring programs for invasive wildlife hinge on rapid detection and accurate identification of nonnative species," said Miller. The UF team plans to explore the tool's potential further, by expanding the assay to include additional invasive species and applications for monitoring ecological restoration outcomes. "There are two important next steps for harnessing the power of this eDNA analysis. First, we plan on adding additional species that can be identified using the tetraplex digital PCR assay, especially fish such as Asian swamp eels and bullseye snakeheads," said Frank Mazzotti, co-author and professor of wildlife ecology at UF/IFAS FLREC. "Second, to fully take advantage of this new methodology, we plan on implementing a regional multi-species sampling network with the purpose of early detection for rapid response to new invasions and evaluating success of removal efforts on existing invasions in the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan footprint." More information: Melissa A. Miller et al, Development of a Tetraplex Digital PCR Assay for the Detection of Invasive Snake Species in Florida, USA, Ecology and Evolution (2024). DOI: 10.1002/ece3.70598 Journal information: Ecology and Evolution 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: NASA/JPL-Caltech This illustration shows a hypothetical uneven ring of dust orbiting KIC 8462852, also known as Boyajian's Star or Tabby's Star. The star has experienced unusual dips in brightness over a matter of days, as well as much subtler but longer-term dimming trends. Scientists proposed several explanations for this unexpected behavior, ranging from Tabby's Star swallowing a planet to alien "megastructures" harvesting the star's energy. However, a study using NASA's Spitzer and Swift missions as well as the Belgian AstroLAB IRIS observatory suggests that the cause of the dimming over long periods is likely an uneven dust cloud moving around the star. Learn more about this enigmatic star, named after Tabetha Boyajian, the Yale University postdoc who discovered it with the help of citizen scientists. Provided by NASA This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: A fresh draft deal published at the deadlocked COP29 climate talks shows rich and poor countries still divided. Wealthy nations on Friday offered $250 billion a year to help poorer nations hit hardest by global warming but faced immediate calls led by Africa to give more as UN climate negotiations extended into overtime. At the COP29 talks in Azerbaijan, developing nations are demanding a bigger commitment from historic polluters most responsible for warming, but rich countries insist that massive financial pledges are not politically realistic. In a draft text revealed hours before two weeks of fraught bargaining were set to end, Azerbaijan said wealthy nations had committed to providing $250 billion a year by 2035. The text also sets an ambitious overall target to raise at least $1.3 trillion per year by 2035 from not only developed countries but the private sector. But a red line for many climate-imperiled nations at COP29 had been securing a new commitment from developed nations well above their existing pledge of $100 billion a year. The new target "is totally unacceptable and inadequate", said Ali Mohamed, chair of the African Group of Negotiators. "$250 billion will lead to unacceptable loss of life in Africa and around the world, and imperils the future of our world," he said. Climate finance from developed to developing countries. The Alliance of Small Island Developing States, for which climate change is an existential threat, said the target showed "contempt for our vulnerable people". But the United States signaled it was not looking to negotiate a higher figure. President-elect Donald Trump takes office in two months and is expected to pull the world's largest economy again out of climate diplomacy. "It has been a significant lift over the past decade to meet the prior, smaller goal. $250 billion will require even more ambition and extraordinary reach," said a senior US official, whose team in Baku comes from outgoing President Joe Biden's administration. Germany, a longtime leader on climate where elections are due next year, said any final deal was inevitable to include debt restructuring and other financial tools to raise the money, not just government money. Europe wants to "live up to its responsibilities, but also in a way that it doesn't make promises it can't live up to", German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock told reporters. COP29 lead negotiator Yalchin Rafiyev said negotiations would press on and that $250 billion "doesn't correspond to our fair and ambitious goal". Less than needed Activists point to studies that show that far more is needed for poor countries, which bear little responsibility but are disproportionately affected by record-high temperatures and rising disasters. Jasper Inventor from Greenpeace called the $250 billion offer "inadequate, divorced from the reality of climate impacts and outrageously below the needs of developing countries". But Avinash Persaud, special advisor on climate change to the president of the Inter-American Development Bank, said that the offer showed the talks were "within sight of a landing zone" for the first time. "There is no deal to come out of Baku that will not leave a bad taste in everyone's mouth," said the former advisor to Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley. The United States and European Union have wanted newly wealthy emerging economies like Chinathe world's largest emitterto chip into the pot. China, which remains classified as a developing nation under the UN framework, provides climate assistance but wants to keep doing so on its own voluntary terms. Apart from splits over money, many nations fear the climate deal in negotiation does not reflect the urgency on phasing out coal, oil and gasthe main drivers of global warming. Last year's COP28 summit in Dubai made a landmark call on the world to transition away from fossil fuels after long negotiations in Dubai. But a Saudi official speaking on behalf of the Arab Group said the bloc would "not accept any text that targets any specific sectors, including fossil fuel" in Baku. Top German diplomat Baerbock singled out Saudi Arabia and warned that its goal was "turning back the clock". 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. Criticism of Azerbaijan Azerbaijan, an authoritarian state that relies on oil and gas exports, has been accused of lacking the experience and bandwidth to steer such large and complex negotiations. "This is the worst COP in recent memory," said Mohamed Adow of the Climate Action Network. The EU had also called for stronger leadership from Azerbaijan, whose leader, Ilham Aliyev, opened the conference by railing against Western nations and hailing fossil fuels as a "gift of God". The annual UN-led climate talks come on what is already poised to be the hottest year in history and as disasters rise around the world. Just since the start of COP29 on November 11, deadly storms have battered the Philippines and Honduras, while Ecuador has declared a national emergency due to drought and forest fires and Spain has been reeling after historic floods. 2024 AFP This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain The federal government's proposed social media ban for under-16s has sparked widespread debate, affecting millions of young Australians, their families and educators. But will it actually work? While the aim behind this ban is to protect children from online harm, it appears to be more of a kneejerk reaction to win votes. In a world where technological advancement is accelerating and online communication is part of our everyday lives, teaching children about safe online use, rather than imposing bans, is a more effective way to protect them from harm while still allowing them to be technologically savvy. Critics such as independent MP Zoe Daniel highlight potential issues such as social media sites becoming less safe as adults increasingly share any content, believing that children no longer have access: "What we're doing is saying, 'Well, we're going to lock everyone under 16 out, and then everyone else can do whatever they want in there.' And also, we know that some people under 16 will get in." Daniel is not the only person to express concern. Former Labor and now independent Western Australian Senator Fatima Payman used TikTok slang to highlight that young people often feel unheard in parliament. Why a ban is the wrong way to go Young people live a lot of their social lives online. Shielding youth entirely could disconnect them from peers and affect their social well-being. This has been demonstrated in a study on international high school students, who are particularly at risk of loneliness and isolation and are often living away from family and friends. While this study was on international students, the results have implications for others who are at risk of feeling lonely and isolated. At 16, teens might face harmful content for the first time, including behaviors glorified on social media, which could be seen as "exciting." This risks amplifying the very problems policymakers aim to prevent. Australia recently revoked the visa of an OnlyFans star attempting to recruit 18-year-old boys at "schoolies" to create explicit content for her OnlyFans page. While this star's visa was revoked, other Australian-based OnlyFans creators have posted to TikTok showing videos of young men lining up to meet them. This is being considered by many as new predatory behavior to which young people might be exposed for the first time, with no education or support systems in place. If young people are not allowed to navigate social media until they are 16, how will they navigate the risks once they can? Instead, teaching young people digital resilience offers a more sustainable approach. 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. The Finnish approach Finland's approach to digital literacy education is comprehensive and integrated. It aims to equip citizens of all ages with the skills to navigate the digital world effectively. Finland's education system embeds digital literacy as a fundamental component of its curriculum, integrating technology across all grade levels to prepare students for the digital age. From preschool education, students are introduced to digital tools, safety and technology to learn responsible online behavior. As Finnish academics Sirkku Lahdesmaki and Minna Maunula highlight: "creating a secure and empowering connection with media is a shared educational responsibility that necessitates the active participation of both schools and families." Integrating digital literacy into the education system ensures skills are not taught in isolation, but embedded across the system. Digital literacy in Finland extends beyond formal schooling. Public libraries and community centers offer programs to improve skills among adults, ensuring that digital literacy is a lifelong pursuit. As they say, digital competencies are civic skills. This approach has been in place, with considerable success, for a decade. In 2014, in response to the rise of misinformation, Finland's government launched an anti-fake news initiative aimed at teaching residents, students, journalists and politicians how to counter false information designed to create division. This initiative is part of a multi-pronged, cross-sector approach to prepare citizens of all ages for the complex digital landscape. In addition, the education system was reformed to emphasize critical thinking. This taught students to identify bots, understand image and video manipulations, and recognize half-truths and false profiles. The approach has been practical, with Finland ranking first out of 35 countries in a digital media literacy index measuring resilience six times in a row. Similarities to smoking Some politicians have likened social media use to smoking in terms of addictive qualities and potential to cause harm. For example, South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas said: "The evidence shows early access to addictive social media is causing our kids harm [] This is no different to cigarettes or alcohol. When a product or service hurts children, governments must act." Drawing comparisons to smoking highlights the long-term challenges with tackling the issue. The proportion of Australians aged 14 and over who have ever smoked has significantly declined over the past two decades. But this is the result of a long-term change campaign that the government committed to in the 1990s. It has been successful largely due to a concerted public education campaign. The government's proposed legislation oversimplifies a deeply complex issue. Protecting young people requires long-term solutions such as fostering digital literacy, informed choices, and robust safeguardsnot rushed, over-the-top, short-term measures. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. OCEAN CITY Collectors scrambled to own a piece of Gillians Wonderland as items from the longtime amusement park went up for sale over the weekend, including one private collector who met a $10,000 asking price for the spinning signs that once stood along the Boardwalk. I didnt realize that there was so much passion for Wonderland, said John Polito, the owner of Obnoxious Antiques in Florence Township, Burlington County, which is selling multiple Wonderland items. Some will end up in the Ocean City Historical Museum, he said Wednesday, while others will be owned by collectors. Polito said he has been in business for more than 50 years, specializing in items from amusement piers, circuses, arcades and attractions. Weve always dealt with nontraditional antiques. Most of our stuff is the fun stuff, he said. No spinning wheels, butter churns or sideboards, but rather roulette wheels, fiberglass characters and former film props. Polito said he bought all of the items directly from Wonderland but would not disclose the total price. Jay Gillian, whose family operated Wonderland for decades, declined to comment for this story, saying at this point he just wants closure. Gillian, who has served multiple terms as Ocean Citys mayor, has been steadily in the news since announcing the amusement parks closure over the summer, saying he tried to keep it in operation but that it was no longer a viable business. Ocean City meeting on Wonderland moved to larger venue Ocean City officials announced Thursday that a 3rd Ward meeting to be led by City Council member Jody Levchuk will be moved from council chambers in City Hall to the larger Chris Maloney Lecture Hall at the Ocean City Free Public Library, 1735 Simpson Ave. Plans for the former Gillian's Wonderland are expected to be part of the discussion. Developer Eustace Mita had put millions into the property as the business neared foreclosure in 2022, in default of $8 million in debt. That left Mita with a deed to the property at Sixth Street and the Boardwalk, which he leased to Wonderland. Since the parks closure, Mita has floated a proposal for a 252-room hotel to be called Icona in Wonderland, at a cost of around $150 million. There has not yet been a formal application to the city, but Mita plans to request the area be declared a redevelopment zone as part of the proposal. As it stands, a hotel would not be allowed under the propertys current zoning, meaning other options would require a use variance from the Zoning Board or approval or a zoning change by City Council. Mita, too, recognizes peoples passion for the amusement park they visited as children, and to which they later brought their own children and grandchildren. In addition to the name of the project, he plans to put millions into preserving some of the most iconic elements, including relocating and renovating the looming Ferris wheel and the historic wooden carousel, originally built in 1926. The revolving signs were sold as a set, Polito said. As the sale began over the weekend, there has been extensive interest in the Wonderland collection, which includes multiple statues that were displayed around the park. Its an eclectic mix, with aliens, devils, cowboys, mermaids, a cartoonish train conductor and colorful beachgoers either offered for sale or already sold. Most of the items do not have a listed price, instead asking for interested parties to contact Obnoxious Antiques. The company has two warehouses, with the Wonderland items being held in the Burlington location. Quite a bit of the smalls sold, but most of the bigger stuff is still here. Its always the smalls that go the quickest, Polito said. He defined a small as an item under $500 that can be taken home in a car. $155 million Ocean City Wonderland hotel project to have 252 rooms, Mita says After extensive speculation about the future of the former Gillian's Wonderland in Ocean City, developer Eustace Mita brought a proposal for a 252-room hotel to be known as Icona in Wonderland to a meeting of the Boardwalk Merchants Association. Several of the items will return to Ocean City, he said, as part of private collections or to be donated to the Historical Museum. They include a plaque showing the parks mascot Wonder Bear, which investor Jason Sullivan stated on Facebook had been displayed since 2001 and would be donated to the Historical Museum. Polito said another investor purchased a Fun Deck sign, also with the intent of donating it to the museum. The museum intends to preserve the history of the park, but does not seem to be anticipating any donated items. We have no idea, said Carol Dotts, the museum treasurer, after being contacted Wednesday. This is the first Im hearing about this. The museum, inside the Ocean City Community Center at 1735 Simpson Ave., has what it describes on its website as an extensive collection, including items salvaged from the wreck of the Sindia in 1901, displays on the citys founding and the history of the Boardwalk and about Grace Kelly, a summer resident with her family long before she went on to Hollywood stardom and a later role as princess of Monaco. The Bitterroot River Protection Association is seeking funding for a lawsuit challenging the approval of a Ravalli County subdivision. The Bitterroot River Protection Association (BRPA) filed a complaint against Ravalli County in an effort to rescind the approval of plans made for the Sapphire Valley Estates 49.22-acre subdivision at Eight Mile Creek Road and Upper Woodchuck Road. The lawsuit seeks to enforce additional environmental impact analyses. The proposed 33-lot subdivision was subject to a two-part Ravalli County Commissioners meeting, the second part taking place last March and lasting almost six hours. Preliminary plat plans were approved on April 8, 2024, under the condition that the subdivisions well water usage would be monitored by Ravalli County. The BRPA, and other plaintiffs Karen and Charlie McGuire, who are homeowners in the Eight Mile Creek area, as well as the director of the Eight Mile Creek Company, Sean Roberts claim that the subdivisions environmental assessment and community impact report failed to adequately identify probable impacts to water resources, adjacent landowners, or public health and safety, and argue its approval was unlawful. Ravalli County failed to comply with mandatory duties under the Montana Subdivision and Platting Act (MSPA) when it failed to assure the developer provided an adequate Environmental Analysis and application, and when it failed to adequately evaluate the subdivision's impacts, reads the BRPAs lawsuit. The BRPA launched a GoFundMe page on Nov. 15 to help cover the costs of litigation efforts against Ravalli County. They have so far raised $1,075 of their $21,000 goal. The cost of the lawsuit was estimated at $55,000. We are currently $21,000 short of our goal. We need your help now! reads the fundraiser summary. The Sapphire Valley Estates subdivision underwent an environmental assessment and its developers filed a community impact report with the Ravalli Planning Board, who approved the application in February. Michael Howell, director of the BRPA, explained to the Ravalli Republic why the approval of the Sapphire Valley Estates subdivision sets a dangerous precedent for future development in the Bitterroot Valley. If you approve this, it may be OK, Howell said. But if you approve the one next door it might not be supposedly OK and if you put them all together, its not OK. Among the many problems Howell has with the subdivisions approval, the most significant is what he and other members of the public see as a blatant disregard for the Montana Subdivision and Platting Act, which requires proposed subdivisions to fulfill a detailed environmental impact analysis. Our lawsuit against the county is over the Montana Subdivision and Platting Act, Howell said. That act requires the county to examine these things; it requires the county to examine impacts on groundwater and surface water. The subdivisions environmental assessment provides a brief summary of how proposed plans will impact the natural environment, but Howell and others argue that this wasnt enough. Their decision was based on insufficient information and conclusory statements, Howell said. An excerpt from the environmental assessment says, Potential sources of pollution from this subdivision are being adequately mitigated to protect the surface water features. Septic systems are located and designed to prevent pollution from surface waters. Director of Ravalli County Planning Rob Livesay said there was nothing out of the ordinary in the Sapphire Valley Estates subdivision application. The subdivision regulations ask the applicant to submit an environmental assessment, not an environmental impact statement or an environmental analysis, Livesay said. You basically just have to describe the potential environmental impacts of the project on the area. Howell claimed these parameters are precisely the problem, and that Sapphire Valley Estates subdivision fails to sufficiently examine implications such as how proposed ground wells, stormwater pollution and offsite flooding will impact the quality of Eight Mile Creeks surface water, groundwater and aquifer. No one is even examining it, Howell said. The countys not examining the impacts of Eight Mile Creek, the DNRCs (Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation) not analyzing the impacts on the creek. But the Subdivision and Platting Act says that you should examine these things. Broadwater County case In the outcry against county commissioners, Howell and other members of the public repeatedly cited the results of the recent Broadwater County court case, an influential piece of litigation for their argument. We presented that to the county commissioners, Howell said. Over there, in that county, similar issues were taken into court and the judge found, in his opinion, that the subdivision act does require the counties to figure this out. Judge Michael McMahon, who oversaw the similar subdivision lawsuit in Broadwater County, ruled in favor of the landowners who filed a complaint against a preliminary plat approval and also criticized the projects environmental assessment for failing to include available groundwater information and summaries of probable water resources impacts. The Broadwater County case reexamines the standard for environmental assessment of subdivisions in Montana and throws into question the appropriate amount of involvement for the county and the DNRC. Livesay said that addressing environmental impacts can be subjective and a tough question to answer. From our side of things, the Ravalli County planning department reviewed it (the Sapphire Valley Estates application) with respect to our current subdivision regulations, Livesay said. We reviewed it in our standard protocol, the same way we review all other subdivisions and there wasnt anything particularly out of the ordinary in this subdivision. Livesay said the Ravalli County Planning Department has a set of regulations that have been the same for 12 years and that the Sapphire Valley application satisfied these standards. Well Exemption Another issue that oppositional landowners are adamant about addressing is the lack of permitting for the projects well water usage. Theres 30 wells involved in this proposed subdivision, but the county approved the subdivision without any examination of the impact of those wells, Howell said. DNRC exempts these wells and so each individual well on each lot is exempted from review because a single well on an acre property is deemed not to have any significant impact. Because of the subdivision's annual acre-feet of groundwater usage was below the amount that necessitates a permit, neither individual lots or the cumulative collection of groundwater wells required permitting for the subdivision's application. This exemption was mentioned in the Ravalli County Planning Boards Subdivision Report, which stated that because the subdivisions water usage is just less than 10 acre-feet a year (the proposed usage is 9.80 acre-feet a year), it did not require a groundwater appropriation permit. At 0.28 acre-feet per lot, the proposed subdivision will require 9.80 acre-feet of water annually. Per the information provided, the proposed groundwater use falls under the exception to permitting found in MCA 85-2-306 (iii), reads the subdivision report. As long as youre not withdrawing over that volume, you dont have to apply for a beneficial water right permit for your well, Livesay said. The anticipated use of the subdivision is less than 10 acre-feet, so they did not have to apply for a beneficial water use permit. As many members of the public at the March 4 commissioners meeting mentioned, low water levels are already a primary concern for Eight Mile Creek residents and some, like Howell, view the permit exemption as a legal loophole for the project. Many public commenters cited the Williamson Ditch diversion point, a spot in the creek bed that is known to run dry in the summer months. Theyve got enough people in the area expressing concerns about their wells going dry already, Howell said. Its a perennial flowing stream, but it gets dried by the extraction from the irrigation companies. Concerns about water usage in the area were also addressed in the lawsuit against the county. The Eight Mile Water Company provided Ravalli County correspondence indicating it is unable to guarantee the availability of irrigation water during summer season, and expressing concerns with the Subdivision's proposed irrigation works plans insofar as the potential for water shortages during the summer season, reads an excerpt from the lawsuit. Without analysis of how the subdivision will impact water quantity in the area, residents and local services, like the Eight Mile Water Company, are left guessing at the exact impact on the environment. Water scarcity concerns led to the project being approved under the condition that Ravalli County would monitor water usage, but Howell argues that monitoring water usage will not provide adequate information on how the subdivision is impacting the natural environment. All were asking is that the commissioners get the information, Howell said. Were not saying that you cant subdivide or you shouldnt subdivide, you just need to look at the impacts of that on the Bitterroot River. Howell said the BRPA will continue raising money for their lawsuit through fundraising efforts. Construction dates for the Sapphire Valley Estates subdivision have not yet been determined and no official court date has been scheduled for the lawsuit. Nava Thakuria A function to commemorate the completion of 53 years by the Directorate of Cultural Affairs (under Assam government) turned a serious and fruitful event to cherish the recognition to Asomiya (Assamese) as a classical language and also highlight the future course of actions for the government, concerned organisations, literary personalities and common people using the language both in written and colloquial forms in day-to-day conversations. The courtyard of iconic Rabindra Bhawan was decorated elegantly for the occasion with a colourful podium under Bokul (Spanish Cherry) plants. As the evening Sun set to disappear on the mighty Brahmaputra river touching the horizon, the program commenced with the participation of three outstanding resource persons in front of a decent gathering comprising many distinguished personalities. The panelists were unanimous in advocating for a comprehensive dictionary with standardised spellings to each and every word. They also emphasized on an internet-savvy apparatus to cross-check the mistakes instantly so that more and more correct words can be pumped into the digital space. Various jargons reflecting the useful modern technology needs to be incorporated possibly with authentic Assamese words and a careful monitoring of the language in the public domain emerge as the need of the hour. Earning the classical recognition as nearly two million people use Asomiya for their primary mode of communication and informal understanding, the language possesses a brighter future, argued the participants amidst rounds of applause from the audience, assembled in the historic premise. Director Rahul Ch Das welcomed everyone to the discussion on ????? ??????? ??????? ???? ??? ??????? ??????? (Melodious Assamese language and classical recognition) highlighting the eventful journey of Asomiya for the achievement and also essential future plans for the language, understood by millions of people in eastern India, where three resourceful personalities enriched the initiative with refreshing inputs. Dr Namita Devi from Barbhag College (under Gauhati University) narrated the voyage for the attainment, where litterateur, researcher and linguistic expert Dr Upen Rabha Hakacham from GU highlighted the historical inventiveness for assimilation to enhance the Assamese language & culture and Dr Arup Kumar Nath from Tezpur University spoke about the future trail for the language in the session, which was moderated by this writer. Elaborating her views, Namita Devi stated human society and civilisation are shaped through historical evolution that passes through a relentless process of synthesis and antithesis. Humans, as a species known as Homo sapiens, have developed language and culture through the assimilation process as people are migratory in nature and came into contact with different stock of people. The word culture indicates ideas, customs and social behaviours of a particular community and its traits and features reflect a specific character and identity. Same process follows for a language too, added the young and ingenious lady. Assamese language and culture are rooted in ancient Assam from the days of Pragjyotish-Kamrup-Kamata-Koch, where the language was formed by a group of people even though they were divided anthropologically and linguistically. Till today, each group maintains distinctive linguistic and cultural features. Linguistically, Assamese is a composite form of all tribes and stock of people living together and expressing their collective culture through it. Thus, the recognition of Assamese as a classical language has cleared the roots and identity of the culture with a strong foothold. It's time for the new generation to come forward with an effort to preserve, nourish and expand the language and cumulative culture of Assam, she stressed. Dr Nath also threw light on the glorious past of the easternmost Indo-Aryan language, which had its presence in rock different inscriptions, Charyapadas (ancient Buddhist tantric text), Ramayani & other mythology literature since the 4th century. Due to internal and external threats from various sources, Asomiya had to confront many challenges over time. With the classical status on its cap, the language (and its users) can now think of achieving many new heights in the days to come, commented the energetic scholar. He concluded with some valuable advices for the language-users including the need for advanced technological tools (like text to speech and vice versa, advanced machine learning, pdf to word conversion, etc), a solid unicode support, adequate technical terminology in Assamese and so on for the survival and flourishing of the language. Mentionable is that the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 3 October 2024 approved conferring the classical language status to Asomiya along with Marathi, Pali, Prakrit and Bengali/Bangla citing it to serve as a custodian of Bharat's profound and ancient cultural heritage, embodying the essence of each community's historical and cultural milestone. Primarily rooted in Sanskrit (even though maintaining some distinct features) Asomiya thus got an entry to the prestigious group of languages comprising Tamil (notified in 2004), Sanskrit (2005), Telugu (2008), Kannada (2008), Malayalam (2013) and Odia (2014). The Cultural Affairs initiative to celebrate the recognition was also augmented by the gracious presence of eminent personalities like Malaya Goswami, Manisha Hazarika, Satyashree Das, former directors including Swapnanil Barua, Barnali Sarma, Bishnu Kamal Borah with the students of Luit Konwar Rudra Barua State Music College and others. Geneva: Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) annual prize 2024 for the protection of journalists was awarded to Palestinian journalist Iyad Alasttal on 20 November. Since 7 October last year, more than 150 Palestinian and Lebanese journalists have been killed, which is an unprecedented toll in a conflict in such a short space of time. The PEC wanted to honour the memory of these journalists who have taken and continue to take considerable risks by awarding its prize to one of them. Iyad Alasttal was forced to flee Gaza because of Israeli reprisals for the attack launched by Hamas on 7 October 2023. In 2019, he launched the Gaza stories project, reporting on daily life in Gaza. During the war that began just over a year ago, Iyad Alasttal worked for French and Western media. Before taking refuge with his family in France last February, he spent five months under the bombs and narrowly escaped an Israeli strike in Rafah of southern Gaza strip. "Behind each of the Palestinian victim journalists there are parents, brothers and sisters, family, friends, a history and even followers. Banning our colleagues of the international press from entering the Gaza strip, eliminating those who are there, make it impossible to bear witness to the hell people are going through in Gaza, it makes possible to impose a single narrative that of the Israeli army to demonise the inhabitants of Gaza and justify all the massacres," said Iyad Alasttal while receiving the award. "Independent investigations into what amount to war crimes are essential to fight impunity and to bring to justice those responsible," commented PEC president Blaise Lempen, pointing out that Resolution 1738 adopted by the UN Security Council condemns deliberate attacks on media professionals and that the Geneva Conventions stipulate that civilians must be protected in all circumstances, without discrimination. The fight against impunity for the perpetrators of crimes against journalists is also the fight of public opinion for the right to independent, pluralist information, stated Blaise Lempen denouncing the obstacles to the work of journalists in the Palestinian territories. The PEC prize has been awarded annually since 2009 and is funded by the Jordi Foundation with 5000 Swiss Francs. The PEC thanks the French ministry of culture for hosting the event in Ferney-Voltaire. Last year, the award was conferred on CENOZO coordinator Arnaud Ouedraogo, whereas Russian journalist Ekaterina Glikman and Indian scribe Nava Thakuria received the annual award for the year 2022 and 2021 respectively. President-elect Donald J. Trumps thwarted attempt to install Matt Gaetz as attorney general is the first major failure of Trumps promised autocracy. It sends a message that just as in his first term, his antidemocratic excessesas we document at State Democracy Defenders Fund in our American Autocracy Threat Trackercan and will be checked. And although it is early days, it offers critically important lessons for the fight to protect democracy that lies ahead. 1. Constitutional checks and balances arent gone. Gaetzs nomination was a critical test of whether Congress would abdicate one of its core constitutional duties to the executive branch, further ceding ground to the increasingly powerful office of the presidency. Trump, following the model of other aspiring autocrats, has been focused on control over what is termed in international relations the power ministrieslaw enforcement, defense, and intelligence. In Gaetz, Trump thought he had found the perfect man for the job: a MAGA firebrand of unquestioned loyalty who would act upon Trumps desire to use the Department of Justices considerable resources to attack political opponents. The nomination was also a test of how ironclad Trumps control over congressional Republicans is: By picking an individual reported to be loathed by many of his colleagues, and who was the subject of an ethics investigation due to accusations of sex trafficking and accusations of sexual misconduct with a minor, Trump dared his party to accept an odious nominee. Related From Slate I Know Personally Exactly What Kind of Bully RFK Jr Is. Now America Will Too. Read More They called his bluff using Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution. It famously vests in the Senate an Advice and Consent role in evaluating a presidents choices for principal officers and Supreme Court justices. The Senates role serves as the main counterbalance to a president acting with impunity and installing those who might put loyalty to a person over loyalty to the Constitution in positions of immense power. And even though actual hearings and a vote on the nominee were months away, the senators made clear there was no need to wait. The votes were not there and would not be. Score one for the Constitution. While Gaetzs instant replacement, former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, is no Elliott Richardson, she is preferable to her fellow Floridian. 2. The media watchdogs still have teeth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The press coverage of the nomination was devastating, with every day featuring a drip, drip, drip of new revelations about the alleged sex and money misconduct that ultimately sank the nomination. Nor did Gaetzs lack of qualifications escape notice. His principal standing for the job was his apparent willingness to serve as Trumps hatchet man, with the press reporting on his many prior statements to that effect. Media also noted that Gaetz has no experience as a prosecutor. He hasnt served in the department in any capacity, and his tenure on the House Judiciary Committee alone does not qualify him to run a complex government agency. Advertisement Though viral social media stars garner attention as favored news sources, it is still the teams in newsrooms hunting for sources and checking the facts that are able to hold our public officials to account. Reporters excavated details of Gaetzs activities at parties in Florida, and unearthed the intricacies of witness testimony before the closed-door House Ethics Committee. The close coverage of the Ethics Committees report, of additional allegations of a second encounter with the minor, and of the broad disbelief from many Republican legislators, all contributed to public awareness of the deep flaws in the nomination. Advertisement The press did their job in covering all thiswe will need much more of that if autocracy is to be vanquished. And at a time when the president-elect has threatened to lash out against disfavored outlets, it will be incumbent on us to support and defend the press. 3. Public opinion and ethics still matter. Public opinion and integrity remain an influential force in shaping most political outcomes. Gaetzs baggageincluding those allegations of sexual improprieties and the risk that he would prioritize personal vendettas over public goodmade him politically toxic, even among his allies, who ultimately saw him as a liability. Advertisement Advertisement Adding to his troubles is that Ethics Committee report, which House Democrats continue to push to be released, despite his withdrawal. This highly anticipated report is expected to address a litany of ethical issues. Senators evidently recognized that voting for a figure with this baggage could not only alienate voters but could also jeopardize their own credibility. A high-profile confirmation battle carries a significant burden of public scrutiny and lasting political backlash. While voters may tolerate partisan politics in these nominations, it seemed they might draw the line at someone as transparently ethically flawed as Gaetzand senators knew it. Advertisement Advertisement 4. Trump is not all-powerful. Trump enthusiastically supported Gaetz, even dispatching the vice presidentelect, Sen. J.D. Vance, to lobby his congressional colleagues. Yet despite those efforts and many more, Trump was unable to force Gaetz into office, or even to sustain the nomination for 10 days. Even with Trump riding high from his presidential win, the effort totally flopped. That suggests that Trumps power is less than it may seem. This should give heart to senators and representativesand to us allwho are worried about Trumps bizarre and alarming nominees. Trump is not an immovable force of nature. When he goes too far, it is possible to push backand win. Gaetzs withdrawal is a reminder that, while imperfect, our democracy has the capacity to hold the line against corruption, incompetence, and self-serving leadership. We should learn the lessons of this early win well and apply them often in what will undoubtedly be turbulent and challenging years ahead for the American project. This week, North Carolina Republicans continued making moves in the halls of power to both seize authority over future elections and steal a victory for an apparently defeated Republican high-court candidate. As the votes were tallied and Democratic Justice Allison Riggs secured victory (pending a recount) by just 722 votes this week, Republicans in the North Carolina Legislature rolled out a massive, wide-ranging bill that included power grabs that give them more control over elections, the courts, and the executive branch. The bill passed both houses and faces a likely veto by Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper. At the same time, Riggs opponentCourt of Appeals Judge Jefferson Griffinfiled challenges that seek to cancel the ballots of 60,000 voters. By the end of Election Day, officials had tallied thousands more votes for Griffin than Riggs. But Democrats pushed the tens of thousands of voters who had cast a provisional ballot to cure their ballots, and Riggs ended up with 722 more votes in the end. Griffin alleges that some voters were ineligible and that some votes were improperly counted. Hes challenging some ballots sent in by overseas voters, including military familiesdespite the fact that he serves in the National Guard. Many of his challenges rely on legal arguments that have been rejected by courts in the past. The ballot challenges will be considered first by the local and state boards of elections. The state board was appointed by the governor and currently includes a Democratic majority. If the board rejects the challenges, Griffins last-ditch effort could go to state court, where Republicans have a 52 majority on the state Supreme Court and an even larger majority on the Court of Appeals. If Republican judges throw out enough votes in Riggs favor, Griffin could snatch victory from the jaws of a defeat. (Griffin has also requested a recount, but past recounts have only changed a few votes.) Justice Riggs has already overcome attempts by Republican politicians to manipulate the election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its not the first time that Republican politicians have attempted to undo election results. In 2016, after voters narrowly ousted Republican Gov. Pat McCrory, the lame-duck governor filed thousands of baseless challenges, almost all of which were dismissed. Advertisement This month, it took election officials in some counties nearly two weeks to count all of the ballots. Thats because there were more than 60,000 provisional ballots this year, many more than previous years. This was the first presidential election with a voter ID requirement, and eligible voters who lacked the required ID had to cast a provisional ballot that was only counted if they cured the ballot by bringing an ID to the local board of elections. Voters would have been forced to show an ID and faced similar threat of disenfranchisement for the past decade in North Carolina if not for Riggs work as a civil rights lawyer. Riggs persuaded federal courts to strike down a 2013 North Carolina voter ID requirement as intentionally discriminatory. The court found that legislators had targeted Black voters with almost surgical precision. (The lawmaker who sponsored the 2013 bill was elected to the Court of Appeals two weeks ago.) However, lawmakers passed a new voter ID law a few years ago. Advertisement Despite the influx of provisional ballots this year, a new bill moving through the state Legislature in the lame-duck sessions would make it impossible for local election officials to count all of these ballots in future elections. The bill would give officials three days to count the ballots, which took two weeks this year. Republicans just dont want to count all the votes. Advertisement And thats not the only bad provision in the bill. As Jefferson Griffin tried to prevent tens of thousands of votes from being counted, his fellow Republicans in the state Legislature engaged in another massive power grab that could help them manipulate future elections. Advertisement On Monday, they unveiled a bill to the public just before it was introduced in a committee and a few hours before the state House voted on the measure. Ostensibly, it was a hurricane relief bill to help the victims of Hurricane Helenebut the real beneficiaries were Republican lawmakers. The impetus for the legislation was clear: One GOP legislator even admitted these provisions of the bill were a response to some elections. Among other things, the bill takes power from the Democratic governor-elect and makes it much harder for voters who lack the required voter ID to have their ballot counted. It allows Republicans to take over election boards and creates new judgeships that will be filled by lawmakers, not the voters. It drastically limits the attorney generals power and other executive branch officials, as well as curtailing the governors constitutional authority to appoint judges. Advertisement Advertisement Republicans passed the lame-duck power grab just weeks before they will lose their veto-proof supermajority. Three House Republicans from Western North Carolina, which was ravaged by the hurricane, voted against the sham hurricane relief bill. If the legislation is vetoed and the three lawmakers dont support a veto override, it wouldnt become law. Advertisement The legislation would undermine the authority of Governor-elect Josh Stein and the incoming attorney general, Jeff Jackson, both Democrats. Among other things, Stein, who defeated self-described Black Nazi Mark Robinson by a sizable margin, would have his appointment authority sharply limited. The board of elections would no longer be appointed by the governor. Instead, elections would be administered by the newly elected Republican state auditor. The bill would achieve the goal that Republicans have sought for nearly a decade: GOP control of elections. Republican legislators in the past decade have passed several bills to change how the elections board is appointed, but all of them were struck down as unconstitutional. And when lawmakers tried to amend the constitution to seize control of the board, voters overwhelmingly rejected the proposal. Advertisement Yet now, as public attention wanes in the postelection period, they are once again thwarting the will of the voters. There should be no doubt that they want control of elections, because they intend to make it harder to vote. Indeed, a decade agothe last time Republicans controlled the elections board some local elections boards slashed early voting times and moved polling places. Advertisement As mentioned, this is not the first time that Republicans in the North Carolina Legislature have attempted to remake the state following electoral losses. The Legislature introduced a similar series of power grabs during the 2016 lame-duck session after voters ousted a Republican governor. This led to a massive protest at the state Legislature. Lawmakers backed down from many of their worst efforts, including a plot to pack the state Supreme Court to undo the voters decision to elect a progressive majority. Advertisement The new bill, though, includes similar power grabs. If it passes, the governor would be required to fill judicial vacancies with an appointee of the same party as the departing judge or justice. Republicans currently control the high court and the Court of Appeals. If a Republican judge dies, retires, or is appointed to a federal court by Donald Trump, the Democratic governor would have to choose an appointee from a list drawn up by the state GOP. The legislation also targets the courts, eliminating the seats of two judges who ruled against Republicans in voting rights cases. It creates, in their stead, two new special judicial seats that will be filled by legislative leaders, not the voters. Advertisement Advertisement If the bill becomes law, Attorney General-elect Jeff Jackson would also not be able to challenge the state Legislature in court. Though he was elected by voters to represent the state, Jackson would be barred from taking legal positions that the Legislature doesnt like. The attorney general-elect defeated a former Republican lawmaker who previously orchestrated power grabs in Raleigh similar to the ones being attempted now. Advertisement Many of these changes are blatantly unconstitutional. But lawmakers dont care. Thats because the GOP majority on the high court largely serves as the Legislatures rubber stamp. Last year, the Republican justices even overturned recent decisions that banned gerrymandering. This enabled legislators to redraw election districts to benefit their party. But despite this unfair advantage, Republicans lost their veto-proof majority. The voters of North Carolina made clear in this election that they are not interested in one-party rulebut thats exactly what Republican legislators are using the lame-duck session to cement. Lawmakers responded to the voters decision to elect Democrats to the executive and judicial branches by questioning election results and attacking the authority of those branches. Voters must make their voices known on these issues. They can speak out against the stealing of the high court election, as well as this voter suppression bill that could help Republicans steal future elections. What a week its been! But hey, we made it through. Time to crack a cold one, put up our feet, and browse the New York Times science section for something to take our minds off the news while we wind down. Mmm, heres something: She Went for a Walk on the Beach and Found a Rare Doomsday Fish Well, that doesnt sound great. Maybe the rest of the headline will be a little more lighthearted? In Japanese mythology, the deep-sea-dwelling oarfish is a harbinger of impending disaster. Ah. Lets hear some more about this striking creature from the depths of the ocean that was found recently by an oceanographer in Encinitas, California? With its long eel-like body, gaping mouth and bright red dorsal fins, its no surprise that the oarfish calls to mind a sea monster. Japanese mythology suggests that the appearance of the fish can signify impending earthquakes OK. But this was a random thing, right, not, like, the latest in a concentrated sequence of omens that are becoming impossible to ignore? At least three have washed up on Californian shores in recent months, including a 12-foot-long specimen in August, according to the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Oh. What does it mean? Who are these fish, and how many of them are out there? even basic knowledge about their existence is murky: how long they live, for example, or how many of them are in the ocean. Not great. Not great. And speaking of harbingers of doom, heres a paragraph from a Talking Points Memo story about secretary of defense nominee Pete Hegseth, a 44-year-old Fox News personality with no significant leadership experience who has been married three times and was accused of sexually assaulting a woman he met at a conference in 2017. (Police investigated the accusation, but he was never charged, and denies the allegations.) Hegseths upper body is covered in tattooed symbols that are commonly used in right-wing patriot or Christian nationalist circles, including one that refers to the year 1775, which may be a reference to the necessity of fighting a war against the American left: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement TPM reached out to Hegseth on Wednesday to ask about the [1775] tattoo and his position on the Pentagons measures to address patriot extremism in the armed forces. He did not respond, however, on Wednesday evening, we received a text message from a person who would not tell us their name and asked to be quoted only as an adviser to Pete Hegseth. After we agreed to those conditions, they sent a terse text. 1775 is the Army Birthday you ignorant jackass, the adviser wrote. 1775 is the Army Birthday, definitely-not-Pete-Hegseth, who will possibly soon be in charge of the worlds most deadly military force, wrote to a reporter. Happy Birthday to Army, and to the freaky Japanese fish who may be heralding our collective untimely demise! https://sputnikglobe.com/20241122/american-patriot--relentless-truth-seeker-sputnik-pundit-scott-bennett-passes-away-1120970163.html American Patriot & Relentless Truth-Seeker: Sputnik Pundit Scott Bennett Passes Away American Patriot & Relentless Truth-Seeker: Sputnik Pundit Scott Bennett Passes Away Sputnik International Scott Bennett, a former US Army Special Operations Officer, Psychological Warfare Analyst, and Sputnik pundit, passed away on Thursday, November 21, in Walnut Creek, California. 2024-11-22T19:07+0000 2024-11-22T19:07+0000 2024-11-22T19:17+0000 world scott bennett us sputnik russia https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/0b/16/1120970372_0:0:1350:759_1920x0_80_0_0_be698e737ea977288161b5ac553f9f53.jpg Bennett's colleagues and friends shared the sad news, expressing their deep grief over the loss of an American patriot, truth-seeker, and relentless advocate for peace.Scott's comrades-in-arms revered him as a distinguished officer in the US Armys elite Special Operations Forces, while international reporters highly valued his advice and analyses on pressing geopolitical issues.As a whistleblower, Bennett never feared to speak the truth and expose those in power who violated their obligations to high office. He repeatedly warned about the growing escalation in Ukraine, viewing the conflict as a proxy war led by US elites and a subservient Kiev regime against Russia. In 2023, Bennett traveled to Donbass to see the situation firsthand and share his knowledge with Americans, who he believed were misled by the US corporate press about the ongoing conflict and Washington's role in it.In a September interview with Sputnik, Bennett warned that the US Deep State would do whatever it takes to prevent Donald Trump from immediately shifting to negotiations to settle the Ukraine crisis if he won in November. Bennett also raised his voice against Israel's war in Gaza, denouncing it as genocide against Palestinians. "The Israeli government is trying to erase the Palestinian people and all memory of Gaza like chalk drawings from the blackboard, he told Sputnik back in April.The legacy of this fearless warrior and sincere man with a big heart will remain in the memory of his family, friends, colleagues, and millions of readers around the globe. russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International scott bennett https://sputnikglobe.com/20241122/biden-leaves-trump-bad-legacy-by-allowing-ukraine-to-use-long-range-missiles---lavrov-1120964973.html Russia Condemns Biden's Missile Policy as Harmful Legacy for Trump Administration Russia Condemns Biden's Missile Policy as Harmful Legacy for Trump Administration Sputnik International The administration of US President Joe Biden is leaving US President-elect Donald Trump "bad legacy" by allowing Kiev to use long-range missiles, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Friday. 2024-11-22T13:06+0000 2024-11-22T13:06+0000 2024-11-22T13:06+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine joe biden sergey lavrov donald trump united kingdom (uk) russia ukraine army tactical missile system (atacms) https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/06/18/1119107134_0:0:2950:1660_1920x0_80_0_0_35b7f8c1186663fc17f80feb1ae6f5f3.jpg "As for what to expect from Biden and his outgoing administration in supplying ATACMS and allowing the UK and French to use Storm Shadow..., of course, there is an element in this in order to leave as bad a legacy as possible to the next administration," Lavrov told reporters.Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a televised speech on Thursday that Ukraine fired US-supplied ATACMS missiles and the UK's Storm Shadows at facilities in the Kursk and Bryansk regions on November 19. Russia responded by launching a combined strike against a defense industry complex in Dnepropetrovsk on Thursday using the Oreshnik missile. https://sputnikglobe.com/20241119/lavrov-calls-use-of-atacms-in-bryansk-region-signal-that-us-wants-escalation-1120932047.html united kingdom (uk) russia ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International missile policy, us president joe biden, us president-elect donald trump, russian foreign minister sergey lavrov https://sputnikglobe.com/20241122/china-more-than-triples-purchases-of-uranium-from-russia-1120960801.html China More Than Triples Purchases of Uranium From Russia China More Than Triples Purchases of Uranium From Russia Sputnik International China more than tripled imports of Russian uranium in January-October, and if this trend continues, the country is expected to become the main buyer of uranium from Russia by the end of the year, Sputnik calculated on Friday based on Chinese customs data. 2024-11-22T08:41+0000 2024-11-22T08:41+0000 2024-11-22T08:41+0000 economy china russia uranium imports us https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/0b/10/1120903223_0:2:3632:2045_1920x0_80_0_0_1e3d935ea76113bc1f9822dcd82844a3.jpg In the 10 months of 2024, China purchased $849 million worth of enriched uranium from Russia. This is 3.2 times more than the amount purchased in the same period of 2023. At the same time, China's imports of Russian uranium doubled in October compared to September, reaching $216 million. South Korea has also seen a sharp increase in its purchases of Russian uranium - over the past 10 months, the country has imported $650 million worth of enriched uranium from the country, making it the second largest importer of Russian uranium. At the same time, the United States has reduced its purchases of Russian uranium compared to 2023: from January to September they amounted to $574 million, which is almost 32% less than the previous year. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240707/who-will-benefit-from-boom-in-uranium-demand-1119276273.html china russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International uranium from russia, russian uranium, china imports, chinese customs https://sputnikglobe.com/20241122/detailed-program-released-for-landmark-russia-asean-trade-and-investment-forum-in-malaysia-1120963476.html Detailed Program Released for Landmark Russia-ASEAN Trade and Investment Forum in Malaysia Detailed Program Released for Landmark Russia-ASEAN Trade and Investment Forum in Malaysia Sputnik International Organized by the Roscongress Foundation in partnership with the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE), the event will be a major platform for trade and investment cooperation between Russia and ASEAN countries. 2024-11-22T12:16+0000 2024-11-22T12:16+0000 2024-11-22T12:16+0000 economy anton kobyakov asean russia malaysia partnership https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/0a/15/1102498107_0:265:3170:2048_1920x0_80_0_0_22347c5fb579b25d7fb51e360fecf8cc.jpg The full program for the First International Business Forum 'World of Opportunities: RussiaASEAN,' on November 2627, 2024, in Kuala Lumpur, has been published.The agenda focuses on key areas including economic and financial collaboration, energy, transportation, technology, healthcare, education and tourism.The highlight of the program will be the plenary session on 'Russia and ASEAN: Toward a New Era of Trade and Economic Cooperation,' featuring prominent speakers.They include Deputy Russian Minister of Industry and Trade Alexey Gruzdev, ASEAN-BAC Malaysia Chairman Nadzir Razak, Ayrat Khairullin, Minister of Digital Development of Tatarstan and Abu Bakar Yusof, Deputy CEO of MATRADE.Other sessions will include discussions on the strategic role of energy partnerships, the potential for digital transformation and opportunities to strengthen tourism and educational ties. Among the notable speakers are Syed Saggaf Sayyed Ahmad, President of the Malaysian Oil and Gas Services Council, SME Association of Malaysia president William Ng and Alexey Poroshin, General Director of First Group and a representative of "Delovaya Rossiya."In total, over 100 representatives from the business, academic and media sectors, as well as experts and public figures, are expected to participate.The event also coincides with the 20th anniversary of Russias accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, highlighting the long-standing strategic relationship between Russia and ASEAN.Russian presidential advisor Anton Kobyakov said the forum would serve as an important platform for discussions on how global economic shifts can create new opportunities for collaboration.The release of the comprehensive program highlights the forums ambition to provide actionable insights and foster new partnerships.With a focus on addressing shared challenges and building on mutual strengths, the forum is expected to chart a course for deepened cooperation between Russia and ASEAN.Further details about the program and participants can be found on the Roscongress Foundations website. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240727/asean-countries-show-interest-in-russias-proposal-for-new-eurasian-security---lavrov-1119529774.html russia malaysia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International roscongress foundation, malaysia external trade development corporation, russia and asean countries https://sputnikglobe.com/20241122/harris-needed-hawaii-vacation-after-losing-presidential-election---white-house-1120958022.html Harris Needed Hawaii Vacation After Losing Presidential Election - White House Harris Needed Hawaii Vacation After Losing Presidential Election - White House Sputnik International US Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris, who lost the US presidential election to Republican candidate Donald Trump, needed to vacation with her family in Hawaii, White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre said. 2024-11-22T04:21+0000 2024-11-22T04:21+0000 2024-11-22T04:21+0000 americas kamala harris us donald trump hawaii white house https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/0b/03/1120761184_0:0:3072:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_f14ecc0a5bc775e68ef2874682a1865d.jpg "The vice president has taken time off to go spend time with her family. I dont think theres anything wrong with that. I think she deserves some time to be with her family and to have some downtime. She has worked very hard over for the last four years," Jean-Pierre said at a briefing. Harris arrived in Hawaii on Tuesday with her husband Doug Emhoff for about a weeklong stay, media reported. A presidential election took place in the United States on November 5. Republican candidate Donald Trump was declared the winner by all leading race callers and networks. Democratic candidate Kamala Harris conceded defeat in an address to supporters. The Electoral College will vote 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 presidential inauguration will take place on January 20. https://sputnikglobe.com/20241109/harris-may-be-appointed-supreme-court-judge-after-losing-presidential-election---report-1120832895.html americas hawaii Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International us democratic vice president kamala harris, donald trump, vacation with her family in hawaii https://sputnikglobe.com/20241122/iran-will-launch-lot-of-new-advanced-centrifuges-in-response-to-iaea-resolution-1120959661.html Iran Will Launch Lot of New Advanced Centrifuges in Response to IAEA Resolution Iran Will Launch Lot of New Advanced Centrifuges in Response to IAEA Resolution Sputnik International Tehran will launch a significant number of new advanced centrifuges in response to the resolution of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors on Iran, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said on Friday. 2024-11-22T06:44+0000 2024-11-22T06:44+0000 2024-11-22T06:44+0000 world tehran united kingdom (uk) middle east france international atomic energy agency (iaea) iranian foreign ministry https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/0c/02/1081337820_0:104:2000:1229_1920x0_80_0_0_bda6966b2e7ebe6d5d96244a5f2f2e4e.jpg "The Islamic Republic of Iran has consistently emphasized, at all levels, that taking confrontational measures and any misuse of the IAEA Board of Governors to pursue political and illegitimate objectives would elicit a reciprocal response. The details of Irans potential course of action had already been communicated to the Director General in advance. In alignment with this position, the President of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran has issued directives to initiate the operation of a substantial number of advanced centrifuges of various models," the ministry said in a statement.On Thursday, media reported, citing sources, that the IAEA Board of Governors had adopted a resolution criticizing Iran for its lack of cooperation on the nuclear issue. The resolution submitted by the United Kingdom, France, Germany and the United States was approved by 19 out of 35 countries. Russia, China and Burkina Faso voted against it, while 12 countries abstained, the report said on Thursday.The resolution requires the IAEA to prepare a comprehensive report on Iran by the spring of 2025, Reuters reported. https://sputnikglobe.com/20241114/president-pezeshkian-iran-has-never-and-will-never-seek-nuclear-weapons-1120888406.html tehran united kingdom (uk) france Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International advanced centrifuges, international atomic energy agency, board of governors on iran https://sputnikglobe.com/20241122/israel-preparing-to-attack-iranian-nuclear-facilities---reports-1120958424.html Israel Preparing to Attack Iranian Nuclear Facilities - Reports Israel Preparing to Attack Iranian Nuclear Facilities - Reports Sputnik International The Israeli authorities reached a consensus at all levels of the security system and political echelon on the need to attack Iran's nuclear facilities, Israeli news portal Walla reported, citing a high-ranking source. 2024-11-22T04:34+0000 2024-11-22T04:34+0000 2024-11-22T04:34+0000 world israel tehran middle east israel defense forces (idf) iran https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/08/0e/1119762524_0:218:3254:2048_1920x0_80_0_0_626feccc083703d3c7a37f383689718c.jpg Israel also allegedly has the technological capability to carry out such an attack, the report said on Thursday. Israel will not allow Iran to obtain nuclear weapons, the source noted. Economic sanctions against Tehran serve only as a deterrent and are not intended to eliminate Irans nuclear project, the source added. Last week, the Axios news portal reported that Israel's attack on Iran that took place in late October destroyed an active top secret nuclear weapons research facility of the Parchin military complex and affected the country's capability to resume nuclear arms research. The destroyed facility reportedly was a part of Iran's Amad nuclear weapons program, which Tehran is believed to have halted in 2003. In late October, the Israel Defense Forces said that they struck military targets in Iran in response to the October 1 attacks on the Jewish state. Media reported that the Israeli attack on Iran was limited to military assets and did not target nuclear or oil facilities. https://sputnikglobe.com/20241113/fbi-arrests-cia-insider-for-leaking-intel-on-israels-plan-to-attack-iran-1120876790.html israel tehran iran Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International iranian nuclear facilities, israeli authorities, security system, iran's nuclear facilities https://sputnikglobe.com/20241122/italy-canada-uk-to-arrest-netanyahu-to-comply-with-icc-ruling-1120958263.html Italy, Canada, UK to Arrest Netanyahu to Comply With ICC Ruling Italy, Canada, UK to Arrest Netanyahu to Comply With ICC Ruling Sputnik International Italian, Canadian and UK top officials pledged to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to comply with the International Criminal Courts ruling. 2024-11-22T04:30+0000 2024-11-22T04:30+0000 2024-11-22T04:30+0000 world benjamin netanyahu united kingdom (uk) israel italy international criminal court (icc) arrest https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/05/15/1118555784_0:320:3072:2048_1920x0_80_0_0_c1c03d282edf316901cb4f7291b7f9f8.jpg Earlier on Thursday, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes in Gaza. Later in the day, Netanyahu's office accused the ICC of isolating Israel and supporting terrorism against Israel. Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said that Rome will have to comply with the ruling if Netanyahu and Gallant arrive in Italy. Crosetto added that he considers the ICC decision to be wrong, as it puts Netanyahu and Gallant "on the same level" as those responsible for the "shameful attack" on October 7, 2023. At the same time, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that Canada will also comply with the International Criminal Court's arrest warrant for Netanyahu and Gallant. Later, a UK newspaper reported, citing a spokesperson for UK Prime Minister Keir Starmers office, that the United Kingdom will arrest Netanyahu and Gallant if they enter the country. However, the spokesperson reportedly added that Starmer will comply with the ICC decision once the order is ratified by a UK court. US President Joe Biden has called the International Criminal Court's decision to issue arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant outrageous.Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto called the International Criminal Court's arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant "shameful and absurd."On October 7, 2023, Israel was subjected to an unprecedented rocket attack from the Gaza Strip. In addition, fighters of Hamas infiltrated the border areas, opened fire on the military and civilians and took hostages. Israeli authorities say that about 1,200 people were killed during the raid. In response, the Israel Defense Forces launched Operation Iron Swords in the Gaza Strip and announced a complete blockade of the enclave. The death toll from the Israeli attacks has surpassed 44,000 in the Gaza Strip, according to local health authorities. https://sputnikglobe.com/20241121/icc-issues-arrest-warrant-for-netanyahu-gallant-for-alleged-war-crimes-in-gaza--statement-1120952729.html united kingdom (uk) israel italy Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International italy, canada, uk, israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu, international criminal court https://sputnikglobe.com/20241122/japan-prioritizes-energy-security-as-sakhalin-2-avoids-sanctions-impact-1120961355.html Japan Prioritizes Energy Security as Sakhalin-2 Avoids Sanctions Impact Japan Prioritizes Energy Security as Sakhalin-2 Avoids Sanctions Impact Sputnik International TOKYO (Sputnik) - The new US sanctions will not affect Sakhalin-2, the oil and gas project is important for Japan's energy security, Japanese Chief Cabinet... 22.11.2024, Sputnik International 2024-11-22T09:17+0000 2024-11-22T09:17+0000 2024-11-22T09:17+0000 world yoshimasa hayashi japan russia gazprombank treasury departments office of foreign assets control (ofac) https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/0b/15/1120947617_0:318:3073:2047_1920x0_80_0_0_7c79b4e1cbea6ade2f54f3b627f8d273.jpg "We are aware of the sanctions announced by the US against financial institutions, including Gazprombank. According to the US statement, Gazprombank's operations on Sakhalin-2 and Sakhalin Energy are not subject to sanctions. Thus, we believe that the Sakhalin-2 project will not be affected. The Sakhalin-2 project is important from the point of view of Japan's energy security. We will make every effort to ensure that there are no obstacles to ensuring stable energy supplies to Japan," Hayashi said. On Thursday, the US Treasury Departments Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced a new package of sanctions against Russia that includes 118 individuals and entities, including Gazprombank and six of its foreign subsidiaries. https://sputnikglobe.com/20241115/us-lawmakers-urge-biden-to-sanction-2-israeli-ministers-for-inciting-violence---reports-1120892409.html japan russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International yoshimasa hayashi, japan, russia, gazprombank, treasury departments office of foreign assets control (ofac) https://sputnikglobe.com/20241122/moscow-says-aim-of-oreshnik-missile-launch-at-ukraines-defense-industry-facility-achieved-1120964713.html Moscow Says Aim of Oreshnik Missile Launch at Ukraine's Defense Industry Facility Achieved Moscow Says Aim of Oreshnik Missile Launch at Ukraine's Defense Industry Facility Achieved Sputnik International Russia successfully used the Oreshnik medium-range ballistic missile for the first time in combat conditions, the goal of the launch at a Ukrainian defense industry facility in Dnepropetrovsk has been successfully achieved, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Friday. 2024-11-22T12:56+0000 2024-11-22T12:56+0000 2024-11-22T13:35+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine russia ukraine dnepropetrovsk russian defense ministry army tactical missile system (atacms) russia's new oreshnik ballistic missile https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/106995/19/1069951908_0:75:3379:1975_1920x0_80_0_0_6dd0db369145af386a5be38a755f8ae6.jpg "On November 21, 2024, in response to the use of US and UK long-range weapons against targets on the territory of Russia, the armed forces launched a combined strike against one of the facilities of the Ukrainian defense industry complex in Dnepropetrovsk. For the first time in combat conditions, the Oreshnik medium-range ballistic missile in non-nuclear hypersonic equipment was successfully used in the strike. The launch objective was achieved. All warheads reached the target," the ministry said in a statement. Over the past week, Russia has downed five US-made ATACMS missiles, as well as two UK-made Storm Shadow cruise missiles, the statement read. https://sputnikglobe.com/20241120/only-americans-can-do-it-why-ukrainians-cant-launch-atacms-alone-1120946127.html russia ukraine dnepropetrovsk Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International oreshnik medium-range ballistic missile, ukrainian defense industry, combat conditions https://sputnikglobe.com/20241122/oreshnik-missile-shows-russias-retaliatory-power-to-western-arms-supplies-1120963123.html Oreshnik Missile Shows Russia's Retaliatory Power to Western Arms Supplies Oreshnik Missile Shows Russia's Retaliatory Power to Western Arms Supplies Sputnik International MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russia's further actions if the West does not take its concerns into account have been outlined, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on... 22.11.2024, Sputnik International 2024-11-22T10:56+0000 2024-11-22T10:56+0000 2024-11-22T12:09+0000 world russia dmitry peskov vladimir putin army tactical missile system (atacms) ukraine russia's new oreshnik ballistic missile https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0c/1d/1115879805_0:0:3124:1757_1920x0_80_0_0_0a1b5bece541ad2d474c3c52588c2a70.jpg Putin said in a televised speech on Thursday that Ukraine fired US-supplied ATACMS missiles and the UK's Storm Shadows at facilities in the Kursk and Bryansk regions on November 19. Russia responded by launching a combined strike against a defense industry complex in Dnepropetrovsk, also known as Dnipro, on Thursday using the Oreshnik missile. The main message of Putin's statement is that the West's reckless decisions on the supply of missiles to Ukraine cannot remain unanswered, the official said. Additionally, Russia sent the US an automatic warning about the launch of the Oreshnik missile due to the fact that the missile is a ballistic one, the official said, adding that the missile "does not cause responsibilities like an intercontinental missile, but still, since it is ballistic, this ... operates in automatic mode." "The Russian side clearly demonstrated its capabilities," Peskov said. https://sputnikglobe.com/20241121/putin-russia-strikes-ukrainian-defense-facility-with-new-oreshnik-ballistic-missile-1120955755.html russia ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International russia, dmitry peskov, vladimir putin, army tactical missile system (atacms), ukraine, russia's new oreshnik ballistic missile https://sputnikglobe.com/20241122/over-6000-volkswagen-employees-protest-in-germany-against-layoffs---trade-union-1120958142.html Over 6,000 Volkswagen Employees Protest in Germany Against Layoffs - Trade Union Over 6,000 Volkswagen Employees Protest in Germany Against Layoffs - Trade Union Sputnik International More than 6,000 employees of the Volkswagen auto concern staged a demonstration in the city of Wolfsburg on Thursday against layoffs and plans to close some production sites, the largest German trade union, IG Metall, said. 2024-11-22T04:25+0000 2024-11-22T04:25+0000 2024-11-22T04:25+0000 world germany volkswagen wolfsburg demonstration salary rally https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/0b/15/1104500674_0:183:2873:1799_1920x0_80_0_0_f73d806dc16eab912a5841f6abc018b3.jpg "Employees from all Volkswagen plants in Germany went to Wolfsburg on Thursday, where the third round of collective negotiations between IG Metall and Volkswagen was held at the Volkswagen Arena. More than 6,000 workers came to the eastern part of Lower Saxony to express their dissatisfaction with the actions of the Volkswagen board at a high-profile rally," the union said in a statement. The union noted that larger protests could begin in December. During the negotiations, the union proposed a plan for saving 1.5 billion euros ($1.57 billion), which does not imply plant closures, mass layoffs or salary cuts, the statement read. In late October, Volkswagen works council head Daniela Cavallo announced plans to close three German plants to cut costs, potentially impacting tens of thousands of jobs. Volkswagen CEO Oliver Blume linked the cost-saving measures to increased competition in Europe and Germanys waning competitiveness, with layoffs potentially beginning in July 2025, according to media reports. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240906/zombie-volkswagen-consequence-of-years-of-foolish-german-government-policy-1120060138.html germany Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International volkswagen employees, volkswagen auto concern, trade union, taged a demonstration https://sputnikglobe.com/20241122/pepe-escobar-oreshnik---the-3-km-per-second-plot-twist-1120965738.html Pepe Escobar: Oreshnik - The 3 Km Per Second Plot Twist Pepe Escobar: Oreshnik - The 3 Km Per Second Plot Twist Sputnik International Nothing to see here. Just a hypersonic demo. Well, not really. The average American is only capable of making (some sort of) sense of the world through movies. So lets go back to a classic: the opening sequence of Coppolas Apocalypse Now the Vietnam war counterpart to Joseph Conrads Heart of Darkness, set in the Congo. 2024-11-22T15:59+0000 2024-11-22T15:59+0000 2024-11-22T15:59+0000 military russia vladimir putin ukraine nato european union (eu) army tactical missile system (atacms) kursk rs-26 rubezh https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/04/13/1118014720_0:169:1620:1080_1920x0_80_0_0_4210c5dab771f4cf62d04b4038178982.jpg In the movie, Captain Willard (Martin Sheen) is barely capable of enacting a drunken soliloquy alone in his room in Saigon. Hes waiting for his assignment: a special mission all the way to the Heart of Darkness (in the movie, represented by the illegal American incursion/indiscriminate bombing of Cambodia).Willard, in the V.O., barely mutters, Every minute I stay in this room, I get weaker and Charlie gets stronger. Charlie, out in the jungle, was how American GIs referred to the Vietcong.Cue from the American war how the Vietnamese refer to it to the US/NATO proxy war in Ukraine.Whats even more ominous is that Charlie, now, is not the Vietcong. Charlie now is nuclear, hypersonic Russia.Captain America believed it would intimidate Russkie Charlie with the authorization straight out of the Deep State for Ukraine to attack targets inside the Russian Federation with ATACMS.Such attacks had already happened in the past on Russias new territories. Still, two new ones were unleashed after the authorization, against Kursk and Bryansk; one with ATACMS, and the other with Storm Shadows.Then came the inevitable Russian response. What was that? New multiple hypersonics? Zeus? Superman?Deputy Chair of the Security Council, Dimitri Unplugged Medvedev, could not resist concise trolling; So thats what you wanted? Well, youve damn well got it!Collective West rats were predictably scurryin' all across the spectrum after watching what was first interpreted as a RS-26 "conventional warheads package" demo.Then President Putin went on the record.Key takeaways: Western long-range weapons have been used against Russia, which retaliated with the new, medium-range, ballistic hypersonic "Oreshnik" system against the Yuzhmash factory in Dnipropetrovsk; additionally, the use of long-range weapons by the enemy cannot affect the course of the Special Military Operation (SMO).But this was the key relevant message Putin relayed to the Americans, NATO and the collective West:We are conducting combat tests of the Oreshnik missile system in response to the aggressive actions of NATO countries against Russia. The issue of further deployment of medium-range and shorter-range missiles will be decided by us, depending on the actions of the United States and its satellites. The targets for destruction during further tests of our newest missile systems will be determined by us based on threats to the security of the Russian Federation. We consider ourselves entitled to use our weapons against the military installations of those countries that allow their weapons to be used against our facilities. And in case of escalation of aggressive actions, we will also respond decisively and in a mirror manner. I recommend that the ruling elites of those countries that have plans to use their military contingents against Russia seriously think twice about this.Sir, would you like some hazelnut salad?The initial interpretation of this de facto game-changing move was that Russia had launched a single RS-26 Rubezh road mobile missile against the Yuzhmash missile production factory in Dnepropetrovsk, equipped with six independent, non-nuclear (italics mine) warheads, each in turn deploying other warheads (call it 6x6 = 36).That in itself changed the essence of the war in Ukraine, as Putin himself had previously recognized when it comes to the authorization for attacks by ATACMS.Putin himself also referred to combat testing. What is established beyond any testing, in Putins own words, is that Hazelnut may be sent as a gift to any target across NATO.Oreshnik is as badass as missiles get. It may reach the UK in only 19 minutes; Brussels in 14; Berlin in 11; and Warsaw in 8 minutes. And, of course, traveling at over Mach 10, it simply cannot be intercepted by anything in the collective West arsenal. That includes the US.High destructive power is a given already guaranteed by the surprise factor; you only know what hits you after you get hit (maybe). One potential option is that Oreshnik targeted secret underground workshops at Yuzhmash, where NATO had sent equipment and parts for short-range ballistic missiles (500 km to 1,500 km).In his four books and in his blog, the indispensable Andrei Martyanov has made it clear that Russia has an overwhelming conventional escalation superiority compared to the Hegemon. So, yes: this testing of an IRCM (a conventional missile) with hypersonic MIRVs (Multiple Independent Reentry Vehicles) may be just a demo a preview of what else may be in store.As Martyanov remarked, this is not anymore just SMO. Indeed: for quite a while we have been way past a special military operation: this is a do-or-die NATO v. Russia hot war. Aggravated by the fact that the Hegemons ruling elites are congenitally incapable of stop escalating.Even the Oreshnik demo wont stop escalation. A plausible scenario is that US military intel learned about an impeding Russian mid-range ballistic missile strike and then informed Kiev and NATO. Moscow then warned the US 30 minutes before the strike (thats the norm, to prevent nuclear misunderstandings); the Americans not only confirmed it, but stressed there was no risk of a Russian nuclear attack on Kiev, now or in the foreseeable future.Oreshnik in fact is a tacit demo that Russia does not need nuclear power to solve anything in the Ukrainian theater of war.So lets assume that escalation has been controlled for now. Yet we still have nearly two months of a completely deranged US administration in power. NATOs congenital dementia suggests escalation will continue. The difference though is stratospheric: now they dont know if Oreshnik handing them a business card comes with a nuclear bomb on or not.For all the inbuilt dementia of the current exiting administration, Americans who only understand the world via movies may have forgotten that it was Trump 1.0 who withdrew the US from the INF treaty, in 2019. If the US had remained, Russia would not have been able to develop and use Oreshnik.But now its hazelnut salad time, everybody; a great way to regulate blood pressure. https://sputnikglobe.com/20241121/russias-hypersonic-oreshnik-missile-system-shows-nato-escalation-will-come-at-price---experts-1120957219.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20241122/oreshnik-missile-shows-russias-retaliatory-power-to-western-arms-supplies-1120963123.html russia ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Pepe Escobar https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/101642/49/1016424943_868:0:3100:2232_100x100_80_0_0_a742038b05a1847ce42e71952e4994d5.jpg Pepe Escobar https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/101642/49/1016424943_868:0:3100:2232_100x100_80_0_0_a742038b05a1847ce42e71952e4994d5.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Pepe Escobar https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/101642/49/1016424943_868:0:3100:2232_100x100_80_0_0_a742038b05a1847ce42e71952e4994d5.jpg hypersonic demo, oreshnik, oreshnik ballistic missile system, oreshnik medium-range hypersonic ballistic missile system, russian hypersonic weapons, oreshnik cannot be intercepted by us or european air defenses, ukraine conflict, nato's involvement in ukraine's conflict https://sputnikglobe.com/20241122/putin-remains-open-to-contacts-on-settlement-of-ukrainian-conflict---kremlin-1120962953.html Putin Remains Open to Contacts on Settlement of Ukrainian Conflict - Kremlin Putin Remains Open to Contacts on Settlement of Ukrainian Conflict - Kremlin Sputnik International Russian President Vladimir Putin remains open to contacts on the settlement of the Ukrainian conflict, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday. 2024-11-22T10:44+0000 2024-11-22T10:44+0000 2024-11-22T10:44+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine vladimir putin dmitry peskov joe biden ukraine army tactical missile system (atacms) https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/02/05/1092769850_0:96:3303:1954_1920x0_80_0_0_231a9fbbc96e6a2f710ce101c123926b.jpg "As for openness to dialogue, even in yesterday's statement, the president emphasized his readiness for any contacts with the aim of de-escalation, in order to avoid further escalation, and in order to reach a peaceful trajectory. Therefore, this openness of the president to contacts was, is and remains relevant to this day. The head of state himself said this," Peskov told reporters. There were no contacts with the current administration of US President Joe Biden after the combat test laucnhes of the Oreshnik missiles, Peskov added. On Thursday, Putin said that Ukraine had fired US-supplied ATACMS missiles and the UK's Storm Shadows into the Russian regions of Kursk and Bryansk on Tuesday. Putin said that Russia retaliated on Thursday by firing a brand new medium-range ballistic missile, Oreshnik, at a defense industry complex in the Ukrainian city of Dnepropetrovsk, also known as Dnipro. https://sputnikglobe.com/20241121/russias-hypersonic-oreshnik-missile-system-shows-nato-escalation-will-come-at-price---experts-1120957219.html ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International settlement of ukrainian conflict, ukrainian conflict, russian president vladimir putin https://sputnikglobe.com/20241122/russia-offers-to-build-spaceports-for-some-friendly-countries--roscosmos-chief-1120964819.html Russia Offers to Build Spaceports for Some Friendly Countries Roscosmos Chief Russia Offers to Build Spaceports for Some Friendly Countries Roscosmos Chief Sputnik International Russia has offered some friendly countries the construction of spaceports on their territory, this is most relevant for countries that lie on the equator, Russian state space corporation Roscosmos head Yury Borisov said on Friday. 2024-11-22T12:58+0000 2024-11-22T12:58+0000 2024-11-22T12:58+0000 world yury borisov russia roscosmos china south africa spaceport https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/0b/03/1103678587_0:212:2889:1837_1920x0_80_0_0_6bc0f19dca359a7dbe537539ab237855.jpg "Today, among the main partners, we can probably name countries such as India, China, Iran. We have big plans with South Africa, with a number of African countries, with Algeria, Zimbabwe, with Indonesia, with Malaysia," Yury Borisov told Solovyov Live channel. Roscosmos has added the building of ground infrastructure for the launch of carrier-rockets from the territory of friendly countries to its list of traditional services, Borisov said, adding that these proposals are especially relevant for countries that are close to the equator. Until recently and before the introduction of sanctions against Russia, around 70% of Roscosmos' exports went to "so-called unfriendly countries," Borisov said. Roscosmos' export policy is changing now, and active work is underway with countries in the southeast Asia, as well as with African countries, he added. https://sputnikglobe.com/20241021/roscosmos-watches-unidentified-objects-near-us-satellite-close-to-russian-orbit-1120626580.html russia china south africa Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International friendly countries, russian state space corporation roscosmos, build spaceports https://sputnikglobe.com/20241122/russian-ombudswoman-says-46-residents-of-kursk-region-return-home-from-ukraine-1120967652.html Russian Ombudswoman Says 46 Residents of Kursk Region Return Home From Ukraine Russian Ombudswoman Says 46 Residents of Kursk Region Return Home From Ukraine Sputnik International A total of 46 residents of Russia's Kursk Region returned home as result of negotiation process with Ukraine, Russian Human Rights Commissioner Tatyana Moskalkova said on Friday. 2024-11-22T17:00+0000 2024-11-22T17:00+0000 2024-12-23T17:36+0000 russia tatyana moskalkova ukraine russia kursk https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/0b/16/1120966870_0:13:1153:662_1920x0_80_0_0_e01bda7ab49bbe574f8d5b57e99c3d81.jpg "Today, a total of 46 residents of the Kursk Region returned to Russia from Ukraine as a result of the negotiation process with the Ukrainian side," Moskalkova said on Telegram. It was clarified that among those returned were a wheelchair user and 12 children.They were taken away by Ukrainian armed forces from the territory of the Kursk region, after the armed attack on the region in August, the ombudswoman explained.Moskalkova emphasized that this humanitarian effort was carried out through the combined efforts of the Russian Presidential Administration, the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, intelligence agencies, and Belarusian state authorities. In October, Moskalkova revealed that the office of the Commissioner for Human Rights had received appeals from the relatives of more than 1,000 residents of the Kursk Region, who were forcibly taken by Ukrainian armed forces. She described these actions by Kiev as a blatant violation of the Geneva Convention and later raised the issue with her Ukrainian counterpart, Dmytro Lubinets. The ombudswoman also stated that following the Ukrainian armed forces' incursion, at least 112,000 people were evacuated from the Kursk Region. Of these, around 12,000 are staying in temporary accommodation centers and social institutions, while the rest are living with relatives. Approximately 40,000 individuals declined evacuation and returned to their homes. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240914/russia-ukraine-exchange-103-prisoners-of-war-each---mod-1120149979.html ukraine russia kursk Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International russian special military operation, kursk region, prisoners exchange, ukraine, moskalkova https://sputnikglobe.com/20241122/russias-use-of-oreshnik-missile-a-grave-warning-to-nato-amid-danger-of-world-war---analysts--1120965488.html Russias Use of Oreshnik Missile a Grave Warning to NATO Amid Danger of World War - Analysts Russias Use of Oreshnik Missile a Grave Warning to NATO Amid Danger of World War - Analysts Sputnik International Russias strike on a Ukrainian defense facility using its new Oreshnik hypersonic medium-range ballistic missile is a serious warning to NATO, experts told Sputnik. 2024-11-22T14:14+0000 2024-11-22T14:14+0000 2024-11-22T14:18+0000 analysis russia ukraine army tactical missile system (atacms) storm shadow cruise missile vladimir putin russia's new oreshnik ballistic missile https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/0b/16/1120965309_0:138:3151:1910_1920x0_80_0_0_4b440a71fa6aff4b9de47512708c5793.jpg Russias strike on a Ukrainian defense facility using its new Oreshnik hypersonic medium-range ballistic missile is a a serious warning to NATO, Robinson Farinazzo, a retired Brazilian officer, told Sputnik. He underscored that US President Joe Biden crossed "a red line" by authorizing the Kiev regime to strike Russia with long-range American weapons. "Moscow is perfectly aware that this type of attack, technically difficult, can only be carried out with the support of NATO, in this case the US," he said. Other analysts agree:Washington is provoking an escalation that completely changes the nature of the conflict, military history expert Ricardo Cabral emphasized. The US allowing Kiev to use long-range weapons is "a continued psychological offensive" to test Moscow's tolerance, Venezuelan analyst Vladimir Adrianza noted, adding that the dangerous stage of the conflict stems from the voracious appetite of the US military, financial and technological complex. Moscow has every right to defend itself against NATO's sinister and criminal actions," noted Humberto Morales, professor at the Autonomous University of Puebla, Mexico. President Vladimir Putin has clearly conveyed the message that current events on the international arena demonstrate the suicidal and irresponsible behavior by the West which threatens total destruction, Lebanese political scientist Hassan Hmadeh underscored, adding, "The world must stand up to these evil people who are determined to destroy the planet, and the response must be commensurate with their actions." Washington's approval for Kiev to use US-made missiles is intended to force Donald Trumps future administration to operate in geopolitical chaos, Venezuelan international relations expert Wilmer Depablos said. With less than two months to go before the transfer of power, Biden is trying to make it as difficult as possible for the next president to resolve the Ukraine crisis, Iranian political scientist Emad Abshenas believes. Putin's order to use the Oreshnik missile is a warning to NATO countries amid the growing threat of a world war, Chinese pundit Sima Pingbang explained, going on to say that the Kiev regime has become an obstacle to peace and that Biden and Zelensky are unable to accept Moscow's victory." https://sputnikglobe.com/20241122/oreshnik-missile-shows-russias-retaliatory-power-to-western-arms-supplies-1120963123.html russia ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Svetlana Ekimenko Svetlana Ekimenko News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Svetlana Ekimenko oreshnik ballistic missile system, oreshnik medium-range hypersonic ballistic missile system, russian hypersonic weapons, oreshnik cannot be intercepted by us or european air defenses, ukraine conflict, nato's involvement in ukraine's conflict https://sputnikglobe.com/20241122/sputnik-and-qatari-media-group-dar-al-sharq-become-partners--1120960647.html Sputnik and Qatari Media Group Dar Al-Sharq Become Partners Sputnik and Qatari Media Group Dar Al-Sharq Become Partners Sputnik International Sputnik News Agency and Radio Sputnik have signed a memorandum of cooperation with Qatar's largest media group Dar Al-Sharq. 2024-11-22T10:50+0000 2024-11-22T10:50+0000 2024-11-22T10:50+0000 world qatar russia doha sputnik sputnik news cooperation https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/0b/16/1120959964_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_5711f769bee2fca6aecf36e14385bd9a.jpg The signing ceremony took place in Doha, where Sputnik was represented by Vasily Pushkov, head of the Directorate for International Cooperation, and the Dar Al-Sharq media group was represented by Jaber Salem Al-Harami, editor-in-chief of the newspaper Al-Sharq.The agreement confirms the parties' desire for long-term cooperation in the field of information exchange in Arabic and English, development of Russian-Qatari initiatives in the media sphere, as well as organization and implementation of joint programs and events. The document will become the basis for a permanent exchange of news materials between Sputnik and the newspapers Al-Sharq and The Peninsula, owned by the media group.During the signing ceremony, Vasily Pushkov expressed gratitude to his partners for their hospitality, and remarked: Dar Al-Sharq is not only the largest media group in Qatar, but across the entire Middle East. This is already our second partner from this wonderful country. We see a tremendous interest from new partners in Russian topics, a desire to understand and to be understood. In this context, our goals are mutual. In turn, Jaber Salem Al-Harami commented: We are proud to sign a cooperation agreement with Sputnik. This step, in our view, will not only strengthen media relations between Al Sharq and Sputnik, but also enrich the content of both sides, thanks to the effective work and high reputation of our media outlets. ""With the rapid development of the media landscape and the emergence of new tools, closer cooperation and diverse international connections are essential for utilizing the potential both parties possess and applying it more effectively," he added."We have many opportunities for collaboration to enrich content and provide new and diverse media materials for the audiences of both media groups. At Al-Sharq, we are delighted with this agreement and intend to continue strengthening it in the future, Al-Harami concluded.The memorandum was the second cooperation document signed with Qatari media. In September, an agreement with Qatar News Agency (QNA) was signed in Moscow. qatar russia doha Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International sputnik news agency and radio sputnik, qatar's largest media group dar al-sharq, memorandum of cooperation https://sputnikglobe.com/20241122/unhinged-germany-goes-ballistic-gears-up-for-potential-war-with-russia--reports-1120962638.html Unhinged Germany Goes Ballistic, Gears Up For Potential War With Russia Reports Unhinged Germany Goes Ballistic, Gears Up For Potential War With Russia Reports Sputnik International Previously, a scenario for a hot war between Russia and NATO was imagined in a classified Bundeswehr document cited by Bild in winter. It envisioned an escalation of tensions culminating in potential clashes by the summer of 2025. 2024-11-22T10:41+0000 2024-11-22T10:41+0000 2024-11-22T10:41+0000 world germany russia bundeswehr military & intelligence maria zakharova annalena baerbock nato https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/0b/16/1120959272_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_73805778073179e3ca06153481367d71.jpg Germany is implementing contingency protocols in preparation for a large-scale war with Russia, German media reported, citing a classified strategy paper. Fueled by hyped allegations of a Russia threat, the Bundeswehr has reportedly developed comprehensive plans for responding to a potential maneuver by Moscow on NATO's eastern flank in its Operation Plan Germany (Operationsplan Deutschland). Here are some details: Operation Plan Germany first surfaced following the COVID pandemic, and then earlier in the year, with German Brigadier General Thomas Hambach quoted as saying that the plan deals with issues ranging from homeland security and the protection of defense-critical infrastructure to deployment planning and national territorial defense. It also addresses the possibility of rapid NATO troop movements through Germany. Russian officials ridiculed the Bundeswehrs rich imagination at the time, with Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova comparing the leaked plan to a powerful horoscope, saying she wouldnt be surprised if the scenario was provided to the German military by the Foreign Ministry and its notoriously Russophobic chief, Annalena Baerbock. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240115/fact-check-is-russia-really-getting-ready-to-invade-nato-1116182337.html germany russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Svetlana Ekimenko Svetlana Ekimenko News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Svetlana Ekimenko is russia going to invade europe, does russia want to invade europe, is germany preparing for war with russia, will russia attack germany, nato's proxy war with russia in ukraine, russia's special military operation in ukraine, aid for ukraine https://sputnikglobe.com/20241122/us-doesnt-possess-isnt-even-working-on-missile-with-oreshniks-characteristics---experts-1120968866.html US Doesn't Possess, Isn't Even Working on Missile With Oreshnik's Characteristics - Experts US Doesn't Possess, Isn't Even Working on Missile With Oreshnik's Characteristics - Experts Sputnik International Russia's Strategic Missile Forces carried out a real-world combat test of the Oreshnik hypersonic missile system on Thursday, targeting a major Ukrainian defense enterprise. Sputnik asked military experts specializing in missiles how the new ballistic missile compares to US developments, and what explains Russia's lead in the field. 2024-11-22T19:25+0000 2024-11-22T19:25+0000 2024-11-22T19:29+0000 analysis viktor litovkin dmitry kornev vladimir putin military & intelligence russia darpa icbms russia's new oreshnik ballistic missile https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/0b/16/1120970653_6:0:1354:758_1920x0_80_0_0_18f74f226b9264dc62bf84ec42aa3730.png Washington's fateful 2019 decision to walk out of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty with Moscow has come back to haunt them, with Russia unveiling the Oreshnik (lit. Hazel) - a new hypersonic, medium-range ballistic missile with MIRV capability and the ability to accelerate to speeds up to Mach 10 (over 3 km per second) this week as the US continues the struggle to perfect and field its long-awaited LRHW Dark Eagle and DARPA OpFires medium-range missile designs.The development also bears some resemblance to the US's 2002 move to rip up the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty with Russia - which prompted Moscow to work on, and ultimately perfect, an array of new ballistic and glide hypersonic technologies in the late 2010s, among them the Kinzhal, Avangard and Zircon.Like these earlier systems, the Oreshnik hypersonic ballistic missile revealed to the world on Thursday is a first, and a step above comparable up-and-coming American designs, missile experts say.The unique feature of the Oreshnik missile system is that this is a hypersonic medium-range missile flying at a speed of Mach 10, retired Russian Army colonel and military analyst Viktor Litovkin told Sputnik.Russia now has proven hypersonic capability with the Oreshnik, the Mach 10-capable MiG-31-launched Kinzhal missile system, and the Mach 27-ready Avangard hypersonic glider, fitted aboard Russian ICBMs including the UR-100N, Litovkin pointed out.For his part, Russian military observer Dmitry Kornev told Sputnik that while the Dark Eagle and OpFires are still only undergoing trial operation, testing and development, the Oreshnik has been created, and created on the basis of tried and tested technologies and programs, which greatly simplifies mass production.Thursdays real-world combat deployment of the Oreshnik against a military target speaks to the fact that the system is ready for deployment, Kornev said, preempting President Putin's announcement at a defense briefing late on Friday that Russia has already amassed a stockpile of Oreshnik missiles and will continue to test them, "including in combat conditions, depending on the situation and the nature of the security threats that are created for Russia."Kornev chalks down Russia's ability to rapidly develop and ability to deploy new missile systems to the country's deep-rooted missile design philosophy, which differs greatly from that of the US, in the military expert's estimation.Kornev recalled that during the 1980s Euromissile standoff between the USSR and the USA, the Soviets' RSD-10 Pioneer missile was designed to ensure strategic deterrence on a continental scale, while the US Pershing and cruise deployments' key goal was to provide Washington with the capability to deliver a strike against enemy targets as quickly as possible from a forward foothold (a strategy which to lives on today with the Pentagons highly destabilizing Conventional Prompt Strike program). https://sputnikglobe.com/20241122/why-us-and-its-nato-allies-cant-intercept-russias-oreshnik-missiles-1120966598.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20241122/russias-use-of-oreshnik-missile-a-grave-warning-to-nato-amid-danger-of-world-war---analysts--1120965488.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20241121/russias-hypersonic-oreshnik-missile-system-shows-nato-escalation-will-come-at-price---experts-1120957219.html russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Ilya Tsukanov Ilya Tsukanov News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Ilya Tsukanov does us have anything like oreshnik missile, why can't us develop hypersonic missile https://sputnikglobe.com/20241122/us-investor-lynch-eyes-nord-stream-2-purchase-citing-strategic-value-for-us-1120959788.html US Investor Lynch Eyes Nord Stream 2 Purchase, Citing Strategic Value for US US Investor Lynch Eyes Nord Stream 2 Purchase, Citing Strategic Value for US Sputnik International American investor Stephen P. Lynch has expressed an interest in buying the Nord Stream 2 pipeline if it is put up for auction as part of the bankruptcy proceedings in Switzerland, the American newspaper writes. 2024-11-22T09:28+0000 2024-11-22T09:28+0000 2024-11-22T09:28+0000 world russia switzerland baltic sea nord stream us treasury department us nord stream pipeline nord stream nord stream 2 https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/03/0c/1117285675_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_71ec0928f82b4eedb8cbf3857f39c30a.jpg "An American investor with a history of dealmaking in Russia has asked the U.S. government to allow him to bid on the sabotaged Nord Stream Pipeline 2 if it comes up for auction in a Swiss bankruptcy proceeding," the report said.According to sources cited by the newspaper, Lynch expressed determination to buy the $11 billion Nord Stream 2 pipeline and applied to the US Treasury in February for a license to negotiate its construction with entities under US sanctions, noting that many investors might avoid the auction due to the difficult geopolitical situation.Lynch has advocated to US officials and lawmakers that owning the pipeline would give the United States a powerful tool in negotiating peace with Russia to resolve the conflict in Ukraine, while also supporting broader American strategic objectives.The Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines, built to deliver gas under the Baltic Sea from Russia to Europe, were hit by explosions on September 26, 2022. Germany, Denmark, and Sweden have not ruled out deliberate sabotage. The Russian Prosecutor General's Office has opened an investigation into it as an act of international terrorism. Russia has repeatedly requested information on other countries' investigations into the explosions, but never received it, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said. https://sputnikglobe.com/20241115/german-afd-urges-un-to-investigate-nord-stream-and-potential-government-role-1120893484.html russia switzerland baltic sea Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International american investor stephen p. lynch, nord stream 2 pipeline, bankruptcy proceedings, gas pipeline https://sputnikglobe.com/20241122/us-wont-recognize-its-mistake-uses-iaea-as-tool-against-iran--iranian-professor--1120969390.html US Wont Recognize Its Mistake, Uses IAEA as Tool Against Iran Iranian Professor US Wont Recognize Its Mistake, Uses IAEA as Tool Against Iran Iranian Professor Sputnik International "Western countries from the very beginning violated the [Iran nuclear] deal and ultimately Trump tore up the deal," Mohammad Marandi, a political analyst and professor at Tehran University, told Sputnik. "So it is not Iran's fault that we are where we are today." 2024-11-22T18:44+0000 2024-11-22T18:44+0000 2024-11-22T18:45+0000 analysis mohammad marandi donald trump iran tehran international atomic energy agency (iaea) iranian foreign ministry iranian nuclear program joint comprehensive plan of action (jcpoa) https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/102136/78/1021367876_0:162:3067:1887_1920x0_80_0_0_762b8eb22394f3ae63a4c13522bc82ab.jpg "Western countries from the very beginning violated the [Iran nuclear] deal and ultimately Trump tore up the deal," Mohammad Marandi, a political analyst and professor at Tehran University, told Sputnik. "So it is not Iran's fault that we are where we are today.""But instead of accepting the fact that they are to blame, the West wants Iran to be under maximum-pressure sanctions," he added, with the aim of halting "many parts of its peaceful nuclear program."The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) ordered the use of advanced centrifuges on November 22 to step up the enrichment of uranium. That was in response to the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) resolution condemning Tehran for "failing to cooperate" with the nuclear watchdog.The motion submitted by the US, UK, France and Germany got 19 out of 35 votes on the IAEA Board of Governors. Russia, China and Burkina-Faso voted against, and 12 states abstained.The AEOI denounced the resolution as "politically-motivated, unrealistic, and counterproductive," adding that technical and safety cooperation with the IAEA will continue, as in the past.The pundit argued that Iran has not violated international law and has always operated within the framework of the Non-Proliferation Treaty and IAEA regulations.By increasing the enrichment of uranium "the Iranians are sending a clear message to the West that they won't be intimidated and that if the West tries to use the IAEA to put pressure on Iran, Iran will make sure that Western countries pay a price for this," the professor stressed."The West is on the decline, but they continue to think that they dominate the world," he said. "They have always played a very negative role in our region." https://sputnikglobe.com/20241122/iran-will-launch-lot-of-new-advanced-centrifuges-in-response-to-iaea-resolution-1120959661.html iran tehran Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Ekaterina Blinova Ekaterina Blinova News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Ekaterina Blinova iran, iran nuclear program, iranian nuclear centrifuges, iran nuclear deal, jcpoa, biden administration, donald trump https://sputnikglobe.com/20241122/white-house-refuses-to-recognize-us-responsibility-for-escalation-of-conflict-in-ukraine-1120958698.html White House Refuses to Recognize US Responsibility for Escalation of Conflict in Ukraine White House Refuses to Recognize US Responsibility for Escalation of Conflict in Ukraine Sputnik International White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Thursday declined to acknowledge that US President Joe Biden's authorization of long-range strikes on Russia with ATACMS missiles had contributed to escalating the conflict, instead placing the blame on Russia. 2024-11-22T05:11+0000 2024-11-22T05:11+0000 2024-11-22T05:11+0000 world ukraine crisis ukrainian crisis us karine jean-pierre russia ukraine army tactical missile system (atacms) joe biden pentagon https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/0b/16/1120958873_0:1:3637:2047_1920x0_80_0_0_f09d5da8ffe275f1d6a2c3545db1d75d.jpg Every step of escalation comes from Russia. They are the ones who are escalating it, she alleged when asked whether Biden's decision to authorize strikes using long-range ATACMS missiles deep into Russian territory was a factor in escalating the conflict in Ukraine. Jean-Pierre claimed that neither Ukraine nor the United States bears responsibility for the escalation. The launch of a Russian missile will not deter US policy towards Ukraine, the press secretary added. The United States will continue to provide new weapons packages to Ukraine and work to expedite their delivery, she said.Washington has not seen any signs of Russia preparing to use a nuclear weapon in Ukraine, the White House spokesperson admitted.Washington is not seeking war with Moscow but will continue to send weapons to Ukraine, Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh added.Russia notified the US briefly before launching an intermediate-range ballistic missile against Ukraine, the Pentagon spokesperson acknowledged.Earlier in the day, President Vladimir Putin said that Russia fired a non-nuclear hypersonic version of a ballistic missile, striking a Ukrainian arms manufacturer in the city of Dnepropetrovsk in response to Kiev's use of US and UK longer-range weapons to strike Russian territory. https://sputnikglobe.com/20241121/putin-russia-strikes-ukrainian-defense-facility-with-new-oreshnik-ballistic-missile-1120955755.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20241105/putin-slams-plans-to-inflict-strategic-defeat-on-russia-as-mistaken-illusory-calculations-1120779286.html russia ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International us weapons for ukraine, us aid to ukraine, us funding for ukraine, us funding to ukraine, russian economy under sanctions, us sanctions, sanctions on russia, sanctions against russia, us hegemony, unipolar world, russophobia, russophoby, anti-russian bias, russia-ukraine war, proxy war, oreshnik, russian missile, russian army https://sputnikglobe.com/20241122/why-us-and-its-nato-allies-cant-intercept-russias-oreshnik-missiles-1120966598.html Why US and Its NATO Allies Can't Intercept Russia's Oreshnik Missiles Why US and Its NATO Allies Can't Intercept Russia's Oreshnik Missiles Sputnik International The Oreshnik missile flies at a speed of Mach 10, or 3 km per second, retired Russian Army colonel and military analyst Viktor Litovkin told Sputnik, explaining why it can't be intercepted by modern air defenses. 2024-11-22T17:00+0000 2024-11-22T17:00+0000 2024-11-22T17:00+0000 analysis viktor litovkin russia nato russian army aegis ashore hypersonic hypersonic weapons ballistic missiles medium-range missiles https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/0b/16/1120966422_12:0:837:464_1920x0_80_0_0_057e3fd6077a0b192622d82edbaf6e6c.jpg The unique feature of the Oreshnik missile system is that, firstly, it is a medium-range missile it flies to a distance of 1,000 km to 5,500 km and secondly, it is hypersonic, flying at a speed of Mach 10," retired Russian Army colonel and military analyst Viktor Litovkin told Sputnik. Mach 10, or 10 times the speed of sound, equates to 3 km per second, the pundit noted. There is not a single air defense or missile defense system in the world capable of intercepting those hypersonic missiles, Litovkin stressed. The missiles operating principle is similar to that demonstrated by the Kinzhal hypersonic missile, which is launched by the supersonic MiG-31K aircraft, or the Avangard hypersonic system's glide vehicle accelerated by the UR-100N UKh intercontinental ballistic missile, the expert explained. The missile is also equipped with multiple warheads, the pundit pointed out. Some military experts assume that the new Russian missile could carry at least six multiple independently-targeted re-entry vehicles (MIRVs). They suggest that it would take an extremely short time for the medium-range Oreshnik missile to reach key NATO targets in Europe. According to some estimates, the missile could reach the US Aegis Ashore missile base in Redzikowo, Poland in eight to 11 minutes. https://sputnikglobe.com/20241122/pepe-escobar-oreshnik---the-3-km-per-second-plot-twist-1120965738.html russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Ekaterina Blinova Ekaterina Blinova News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Ekaterina Blinova russia's medium-range hypersonic ballistic missile oreshnik, russia's oreshnik missile system, nato bases, oreshnik mach 10 speed, russia's new hypersonic missile, russian hypersonic missile kinzhal, avangard hypersonic glider https://sputnikglobe.com/20241122/zelensky-claims-ukraine-used-long-range-weapons-to-strike-russia-more-than-once-1120958556.html Zelensky Claims Ukraine Used Long-Range Weapons to Strike Russia More Than Once Zelensky Claims Ukraine Used Long-Range Weapons to Strike Russia More Than Once Sputnik International Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukraines recent attacks on Russias Bryansk and Kursk Regions were not the first time Kiev had used long-range weapons to strike Russia. 2024-11-22T04:47+0000 2024-11-22T04:47+0000 2024-11-22T04:47+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine volodymyr zelensky vladimir putin ukraine russia army tactical missile system (atacms) kursk https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/09/06/1120052329_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_c775164f776c31637ba51318fdcb1f20.jpg On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Ukraine had struck targets in the Kursk and Bryansk Regions on November 19, using US long-range ATACMS missiles and Uk long-range Storm Shadow missiles. Commenting on the Russian president's speech, Zelensky expressed the opinion that Putin was wrong in saying that "Ukraine's use of long-range weapons was some kind of new step." At the same time, he did not specify what weapons were used and when. The long-range ATACMS, Storm Shadow and Scalp missiles have been previously used by the Ukrainian armed forces against Crimea, the Lugansk People's Republic (LPR), the Donetsk Peoples Republic (DPR), the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions. At the same time, Zelensky complained about the lack of reaction from Western partners to Russias attack on a defense and industrial complex in the Ukrainian city of Dnepropetrovsk.Putin said earlier on Thursday that Russia successfully test fired a new intermediate range ballistic missile Oreshnik in response to the use of the US and UK weapons by Ukraine. https://sputnikglobe.com/20241120/ukraine-will-lose-if-us-ceases-military-aid---zelensky-1120937377.html ukraine russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International long-range weapons, ukrainian president volodymyr zelensky, ukraines recent attacks The Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association of New Jersey (SBOANJ) held its annual meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 20. During the meeting, the 2024 election results were announced. The only election held this year was in the owner category where incumbent Thomas Pontone was reelected. In the breeders category, incumbent Mike Gulotta and newcomer Julie Meirs were elected. Julie Meirs ran uncontested and replaced her uncle Rich Meirs, who retired after serving many years as a director. After the election results were read, the SBOANJ's legislative representative AJ Sabath joined the meeting via Zoom to discuss the recent announcement of Freehold Raceway closing in December. Sabath explained the importance of the legislation that is being drafted to allow state appropriation funds allocated to Freehold Raceway for 2025 to be reallocated to The Meadowlands. Currently, the legislation states that the funds are to be released to Freehold Raceway in 2025. Executive Administrator Al Ochsner informed the audience that the SBOANJ presented a strong case to the New Jersey Racing Commission that those funds should not be released to Freehold Raceway. The New Jersey Racing Commission agreed and approved the $1.6 million allocated for Freehold to be held by the commission until further notice. SBOANJ President Mark Ford stated that; "the SBOANJ has had meetings with The Meadowlands' management and the NJRC to try and find a resolution. At this time there are no finalized plans, there are many moving parts to the current situation that must be resolved before any announcements can be made. The legislation must first reallocate the purse funds before anything can move forward." The board of directors made it clear that their focus now and in the foreseeable future is on finding a suitable solution for all parties involved. The SBOANJ appreciates all the members who attended the meeting to gain firsthand factual knowledge of the SBOANJ proceedings. (SBOANJ) After a successful summer stint racing in the New York Sire Stakes, sophomore pacing filly Avyanna has returned to the circuit at Woodbine Mohawk Park and will target competition in Ontario heading into her four-year-old year. Back in the stable of Hall of Famer Paul MacDonell after a few months of rest, Avyanna tuned up for pari-mutuel action in the first of five qualifiers at Mohawk on Friday, Nov. 22. The three-year-old daughter of Roll With Joe out of Saulsbrook Alana a sister to current Mohawk top class campaigner Saulsbrook Victor made every call a winning one over the Mohawk oval on a less than ideal Friday morning with a wire-to-wire 1:55.4 score. Woodmere Delta (James MacDonald) followed to finish second, nearly five lengths back. Hailee Currie of Rocky Point, P.E.I. owns Avyanna, a five-time winner with a mark of 1:52 and more than $160,000 in career earnings. The full video stream is available below. For results from the qualifying session, click the following link: Friday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park (Qualifiers). (Standardbred Canada) Woodbine Mohawk Park would like to inform all racing participants that training on Wednesday, Nov. 27 has been cancelled due to renovation around the paddock. The rubber pavers outside of the paddock are being replaced. Please also note that during live harness racing on Monday, Nov. 25 there will not be any pavers, so caution should be used at the entrance to the paddock. Training is scheduled to take place tomorrow (Nov. 23), and next Saturday (Nov. 30) from 7 a.m.- 12 p.m. (Woodbine)